From the Trenches
Lessons from the Road…or the Adventures of Thelma and Louise
by Cara Black, Libby Hellmann
Published by: Soho; Bleak House
The Experience
It’s that time again. I’m on book tour for Murder in the Rue de Paradis, the 8th Aimee Leduc Investigation. Actually this is going to be a joint blog with partner in crime and road runner Libby Hellmann. Her new novel is Easy Innocence (see in “Book List")
We’re going to share some lessons we’ve learned from the road. BTW, Libby insists that whoever Susan Sarandon played in the film is who she wants to be, which makes me the other one. Got that?
Lesson 1. Don’t go it alone. I’ve done tours alone, I’ve done them with people. It’s much more fun when you’re with someone who can share costs, driving, toiletries, and more. Also keeps you from talking to yourself.
Lesson 2. Libby and I toured together four years ago. Part of that time Kent Krueger was with us. Besides being a fabulous writer, he has an unerring sense of direction--even in Pittsburgh. We don’t have Kent this time, but we do have Lucy...Libby’s brand new portable GPS navigator and new best friend. Lucy never talks back, she’s patient when we make a wrong turn, and she always lets us know where we are and where we’re going. Even in Pittsburgh.
Lesson 3. Tour with someone who’ll turn to you in the car and say “You know, you ought to consider putting your climax a few miles south of here in Douglas, AZ.” Or, someone to whom you can say “I think Aimee would love that scarf, don’t you?” The best part of the long drives is the brainstorming...ideas, plots, character development, obstacles, and settings. I usually get back home fresh and inspired and ready to muscle up my writing.
Lesson 4. If a rental car company offers you a gold card, take it.
Lesson 5. Eat well at signings and other events. It might be your only meal of the day.
Lesson 6. It helps to travel with someone whose children are approximately the same age as yours. Those frantic cell phone conversations in rural Ohio during which your daughter tells you the police have just left the house, or your son tells you his best friend’s father’s car had a little problem while he was driving it, are much easier to tolerate when the person you’re traveling with understands.
Lesson 7. Don’t be upset when the empty seats at a signing event outnumber the occupied ones. It’s not your fault, it’s hers. On the other hand, when you finally meet a fan whom you’ve gotten to know through years of emails, there’s no better sense of affirmation. That’s really what it’s all about.
Lesson 8. Note to selves: Instead of a Ford Focus, need a convertible next time. But do not drive over cliff.
Also...find Brad Pitt or some other boy toy.