Had my first lie-in on the week today! Didn't have to get up until 08.15 -- hurrah!!!! Shaved, checked my e-mails, then went with Jennifer and our driver, Greg, to my first event at D.C. Public Library. There was a teacher and 3 kids there when we arrived. The teacher smiled and introduced himself and said that he'd have liked to bring more kids but he could only fit three in his car! For an awful moment I thought (and Jennifer did too) that something had gone wrong and that these three kids were going to be my entire audience!!!!!! But then we met the librarian and learned that more classloads were on their way, and minutes later I had a packed room -- phew!!!!! Acted out my "Woman gets her hand bitten off by the wolf man" scene from book one. The volunteers who came up to assist me were all very strong, which made it a lot of fun. Plenty of questions afterwards too.

Got a Carvel strawberry milkshake for the first time ever on our way to the next event -- tasty!! The event was actually a lunch at Francis Hammon High School. Lots of fun! Just ate and answered questions from the kids -- all boys, part of a boy's reading club at the school. Nice and relaxed, and the kids were huge fans of my books. The perfect lunch event!!!

A long drive to my next event, at the Carroll County Arts Council in Westminster. We arrived about half an hour late, because of a slight over-run at the lunch event, and very bad traffic. Had a huge crowd, full of enthusiastic and probing questions. Had to sign at super-swift speed to make sure everyone got their book signed in good time (not wanting to be late for my next event), so it was a bit of a rush for me, which was a pity, as I'd have liked more time to chat to the people who arranged the event, and have a proper look around the lovely old theatre. Oh well, hopefully I can return one day and arrive early next time!!!!!!