Report on Austin Artworks Festival presentation

Hi, I suddenly remembered that I hadn't said anything about the Artworks Festival in Austin and my participation in it.  First of all, I really enjoyed walking around and looking at the paintings, photographs, craftwork, and pottery.  I also attended a couple of author presentations.

My presentation, with question and answer period went about 45 minutes.  About thirty people attended and I hope I entertained them.  I spoke about my writing process including layout and publication.

I sold twenty books with orders for several more.  To go back next year I'll have to finish and publish another book, which may happen, but I've decided that I'm going to take my time with the next one and polish it a bit ore than the other two, so we'll see what happens.

A little more from "The Book Club Murders

Claude had thought he would never see her again.  Fear seeped into his brain as he wondered how she had entered his apartment.  And the heat, the damn heat and sweat were driving him insane.  He was literally swimming in his own sweat soaked sheets and trembling as he watched her come closer.
"I thought we needed some time together," she said while removing her clothes and nestling close to his body, making the sweaty heat even more unbearable.
"I, I can't.  It's too hot in here.  Let me turn down the heat," he pleaded.
"You know I like it this way.  Stay in bed."   He felt her hand on his thigh.  She then began.
He felt himself involuntarily harden as her hand grasped him.
"No, no, no," he said, barely audible even to himself.
She continued as he gulped for air, almost not noticing she had mounted him, rhythmically rocking as he sweated and dreaded every second.  Her hair brushed over and back across her face as she moved, but he didn't see.  His eyes had closed when she had begun; he had not wanted to look at her.  Soon, however, their bodies were cooperating, moving in tandem to the rhythm dictated by her.
When he climaxed, she quickened her pace until she screamed and collapsed upon his chest.
Tears that he never saw rolled from her eyes, mixing with their sweat.
They lay like that for several minutes until, exhausted, she slid off him and rolled to the other side of the bed.  Claude gathered himself, noticed that the digital clock read 11:45 p.m., and slunk toward the bathroom, first stopping at the thermostat to turn the heat down.  He closed the door before turning on the light so she didn't wake.  He didn't want that.  He turned the shower on and kept it cool.  He stood, letting the cold water pelt his face, hair and body, turning so his back and buttocks could feel the refreshing, cleansing, spray.  Grasping the bar of soap, he scrubbed himself until his skin was red and tender to the touch.



Sheriff Cooper Lewis sat in his relaxed style, leaned back with his feet up on his desk in Spirit Grove.  He cradled a hot, bitter, cup of coffee in his hands and just sat, relaxing while he waited for Deputy Lisa Dolcheski to arrive for work.  At 8:04 a.m., the door swung open and Lisa popped in.
Lewis caught her eye and pointed toward the clock hanging above Lisa's head.  "You're late," he said amiably with a little smirk.
"I'm sorry, Cooper.  I got caught up with a marathon session of Star Trek episodes and stayed up too late."
"Never knew you were a Trekkie, Lisa."
"Oh yeah, big time.  I loved that show.  Anytime I see that it's going to be on I try to make sure I watch it."
"You should just get a DVR, record it ahead of time and watch it anytime you want.  Then, maybe you won't stay up so late and be late for work the next morning," he smiled when he said the last part.
"It won't happen again, Cooper."  She had said it while making clear she knew he was only joking.
She poured herself a cup of coffee, took a sip and grimaced.  "I'll make us a new batch," she said as she retained her grip on the pot and poured it out in the sink.  "So, anything new this early in the morning?"