On Saturday Louise Wareham Leonard’s “52 Men” will officially be available at Amazon and finer bookshops everywhere. Unofficially, we received a hand delivered copy from the author yesterday afternoon. We were just getting out of our car at Aman’s Farm Market, about to buy some fresh corn, when Louise approached us with a loose wrapped surprise.
We bought some ginger beer in Aman’s and headed over to Louise’s place to toast to the book and quickly got into a discussion about whether writers could have a relationship with other writers, artists with other artists and I was thinking it should be possible but I didn’t say so. I think Louise had her doubts whether anyone could have a relationship with either. Louise asked the group if they could channel any artist or writer who it would be. I was considering Philip Guston and trying to play that one out when the topic changed. Louise asked what we did today and we were able to address part of that inquiry. Peggi said we took a walk in the woods. And we went swimming. I really couldn’t remember what we did. I scanned a bunch of old photos that my aunt gave me. I posted something silly on my blog. I played drums while Peggi went to yoga but did I do any work? Thought provoking question and inspiring. I will have a better answer next time.
Peggi would have finished the book in one sitting if we didn’t have to leave the house near midnight to see the Perseid meteor shower. We drove to the beach and were surprised to see the parking lot full. The orange glow from the sodium-vapor lamp along Lakeshore Boulevard sort of impinged on the darkness but the atmosphere was just right. We had a hunch it might be even better above the pool on our street so we headed over there and saw a spectacular display.
Peggi says the book is great! I’ll get my hands on it tomorrow.
3 Comments
Yay! Now I am truly famous! Thanks for the write-up — and watch The Rumpus for my new piece “How to Date a Writer.” Meanwhile this video of yours “Lakeshore Boulevard” is the dreamiest most gorgeous thing ever. Weirdly it reminds me of Zodiac, the movie, though in a good way 🙂 O the mysteries of all that has gone on there, where you film, lakeside..
I have a few friends who are also novelists but we don’t talk shop much. It is essentially a solitary activity which is why I don’t do workshops or writers clubs. In my brief experience of them, most people in the room haven’t actually finished and published anything. I have a big respect for the concept of developing a body of work and give Louise a lot of credit for getting another one out there. I will be reading it. About halfway through my second one.
Thanks Martin! Writing has to be the most important thing in your life, I think, these days — if you are going to succeed at it.