Dirty Laundry

Starred Review, Steak, & The Stanley Cup Playoffs

First things first.  I was very excited to receive a STARRED REVIEW in Publishers Weekly on Monday!  Now, all those teens who asked for subscriptions to Publishers Weekly for their birthdays will see just how truly funny this book is.  I can see it now.  The issue arrives in the mail and they throw down the Xbox control to devour the latest publishing news, events and reviews.  Rifling through the pages.  Past the Galley Talk and the Deals pages and the Bestseller lists.  Until finally they come to the piece de resistance (excuse the lack of accents - I’m not sure how to do that on my blog) - the STARRED REVIEW of Swim the Fly.  The magazine will be hurled aside in a frantic scramble to get to the bookstore where someone like Helga (from Indigo) or the wonderful people at Kidsbooks will have placed the book face out for easy discovery.  Oh yeah (I’m nodding my head now in approval) that’s going to be sweet.

All kidding aside, I am completely stoked about the review.  Thank you Publishers Weekly and the anonymous reviewer who read my book.  Actually, thank you to all the reviewers (well, most of them anyway - you know who you are) who have been championing this book.  I’d like to be one of those people who says that they don’t bother reading reviews, that they really don’t matter, that I don’t Google my name and book title on a daily basis, but I’d be lying. 

And now, onto steak.  I used to be a vegetarian.  For quite some time, really.  There are many reasons to be a vegetarian.  Your own health.  The health of the planet.  The health of the animals.  And then, there’s the reason not to be.  (Vegetarians, you may want to stop reading now).  Charbroiled steak.  Today, I’m speaking specifically of the Gotham Steakhouse in Vancouver.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  My wife, stepson and I dined their last night and I must say, it was ridiculously delicious.  Not only the New York Strip.  But the Ahi Tuna, the garlic shrimp, the creamed spinach, and the cheesecake.  If you live in Vancouver, or are planning visit, I highly recommend a meal at the Gotham Steakhouse.

Finally, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing.  It’s the best time of year to be a hockey fan (and the worst time to be hockey fan’s significant other - unless, they too are hockey fans).  The Canucks have taken a commanding lead over the St. Louis Blues so I am very happy.  The Penguins are ahead in their series, so that makes me happy, too.  The Islanders have received the first pick in the entry draft and so, again, happy.  My wife is going away on a business trip for a few days, so, there not so happy.  But, that does allow uninterrupted hockey watching time (just don’t tell my editor - who’s expecting my new book in a couple of weeks.  If you happen to see her, tell her I’m writing during the commercials).

Posted by Don Calame on 4.21.09 at 11:21 am in Prattlings. (4) Comments