Topic: disaster

Had a Book Talk event today at the Ridgeland Library. My short program became almost non-existent. An accident at Hwy 51 & Lake Harbour and this (below). No wonder I had a total of 4 people. One came early and had to leave (Lottie Boggan), and thus missed the madness. Two others got there and we suddenly heard all manner of emergency vehicles( Rob Finney--who should have stayed home!!! and Sam Perry--yes, my youngest came to support me). Then, one last person (Alana Harrigill) showed up as I was packing up, saying she had to drive around the world to get to my event.
I have confidence in my local police department to catch this vile person. These two incidents took place within a quarter of a mile and 2 miles of where I was safely ensconced right next door to the police station.

http://wjtv.com/2015/11/19/missouri-bus … ridgeland/

BTW, the accident was a hit and run from shoplifters at the mall 2 miles up the road. The shooter at the other incident went into Jackson and shot and killed a lady. He was caught. 2 of the folks in the hit and run were caught and one still on the loose.

But even in all this chaos, I sold a book--Whatever It Takes. Right this second, I'm happy to be safe at home.

Quote Post 1

Re: disaster

And your 'take' in $ per hour?  I was late to a closing because some twenty-something passed out while driving on heroin.  Give me a shooting and hit-and-run over over recreational causing of mayhem any time.

Quote Post 2

Re: disaster

You have the material for an article on the kinds of issues that writers find in the writing life. You can get paid enough by a writing magazine to make up for the poor attendance at the meeting.

Quote Post 3

4 Reply by j p lundstrom (edited by j p lundstrom 2015-11-20 20:13:21)

Re: disaster

Better yet, you can base your next novel on an author whose book event is invaded by a criminal on a shooting spree. He's wrecked his getaway car on the highway and he's desperate. He takes over the venue (library? bookstore?) holding the author and attendees hostage all night long, while police and FBI (yes, the feds want him, too) congregate outside. You can make it funny, like Cadillac Man, or grim, like all the others.  It'll be a best-seller, then a movie, then a Pulitzer prize-winner, and it will have been time well spent. Have fun with it.  JP

Quote Post 4

Re: disaster

j p lundstrom wrote:

Better yet, you can base your next novel on an author whose book event is invaded by a criminal on a shooting spree. He's wrecked his getaway car on the highway and he's desperate. He takes over the venue (library? bookstore?) holding the author and attendees hostage all night long, while police and FBI (yes, the feds want him, too) congregate outside. You can make it funny, like Cadillac Man, or grim, like all the others.  It'll be a best-seller, then a movie, then a Pulitzer prize-winner, and it will have been time well spent. Have fun with it.  JP

Go for it, JP!

Quote Post 5

Re: disaster

Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:

Had a Book Talk event today at the Ridgeland Library. My short program became almost non-existent. An accident at Hwy 51 & Lake Harbour and this (below). No wonder I had a total of 4 people. One came early and had to leave (Lottie Boggan), and thus missed the madness. Two others got there and we suddenly heard all manner of emergency vehicles( Rob Finney--who should have stayed home!!! and Sam Perry--yes, my youngest came to support me). Then, one last person (Alana Harrigill) showed up as I was packing up, saying she had to drive around the world to get to my event.
I have confidence in my local police department to catch this vile person. These two incidents took place within a quarter of a mile and 2 miles of where I was safely ensconced right next door to the police station.

http://wjtv.com/2015/11/19/missouri-bus … ridgeland/

BTW, the accident was a hit and run from shoplifters at the mall 2 miles up the road. The shooter at the other incident went into Jackson and shot and killed a lady. He was caught. 2 of the folks in the hit and run were caught and one still on the loose.

But even in all this chaos, I sold a book--Whatever It Takes. Right this second, I'm happy to be safe at home.

Looks like it has been a bad day for a few people. Glad you are safe though, that's the important bit.

Quote Post 6

Re: disaster

What a day--glad to hear you made it home safely.

Quote Post 7

Re: disaster

Thanks. I'm sad to report that the lady who was shot near me died.

FYI, before that during the business day, I went to teach class at one of the locations away from my office. When I went to find one particular client, I was told he was sick in the break room. I thought he probably had to stomach bug like many of us have had in the last couple of weeks, but I found him sweating profusely, a cold clammy sweat, and he had passed out. We got the paramedics. When I went to check his file for current meds, nothing was in there. The form I have all the clients I do intake on was not there. I did not do his intake. Thank God he was coherent enough to tell the paramedics he took blood pressure meds. I was worried about him having a heart attack or stroke. I ranted to my boss about that form not being in his file and have insisted that all clients fill it out from now on, whether or not I do the intake.

It was a day!

Quote Post 8