Had my best public event so far at the Barnes & Noble shop in University Village on Saturday. Had a good turn-out, loads of fun questions, and was signing for nearly an hour. I also had the pleasure of meeting one of my favourite comics creators, the incredibly imaginative Jim Woodring -- check out www.jimwoodring.com for more info about him and samples of his incredible works. I wish we could have had a bit of a longer chat, but I had to make tracks to catch my plane. Flew out of Seattle at 6.31pm. Had a good time up there. Would have liked it if a few more fans had turned up at some of the public events, but those who did turn up were first-rate fans and made the events a pleasure for me.

Flew into Las Vegas, the next stop on my tour. Checked into my hotel, had a relaxing bath, put my ear-plugs in (hotels in Vegas can be noisy places sometimes!!) and hit the sack.

***I'm entering this on Saturday. I wrote it yesterday, to post, but there was a problem with my PC, so I couldn't add it until now!!***

Had a fun event at the Secret Garden bookshop last night. There wasn't a huge crowd, but there were some hardcore fans present, and the store was lovely. And it only just clicked with me that one of my favourite chilhood books was "The Secre Garden"!!! Why didn't I think of that and comment on it last night, when I was there?!? DOH!

Ended up doing FIVE events AND a signing today!!! The first was in the Youth Service Center in Seattle. This was my first time doing an event in a correctional facility and it was a fascinating experience. I had to enter via a metal detector, and leave my passport at reception. I was speaking to a small group, but almost all of them had read my books. Some had even read all 12 of my vampire books! We had a nice intimate chat about the series. In fact, this was the first time I've talked in-depth with fans about book 12 -- when I went on tour in the UK and Ireland last year, it was mostly just signings, so I never got a chace to really discuss the finale with fans!!!! So this event was a LOT of fun for me!

I popped into a book supplier after that, to sign lots of copies to send to stores. Then I went to Auburn High School. I was only meant to be doing one event, but they wanted me to do two. I wasn't happy about that in advance (it's never nice to be surprised with an "extra" event when you're on tour!), but the staff were lovely when I got there, and had decorated the library especially. In the end I had a great time and did two very different events, one focusing on "Cirque Du Freak", the other on "Lord Loss".

After that I did two more store events, at All For Kids and Third Place Books. The turn-outs were small, but again the fans who did turn up were really committed Shansters, and the shop staff were fab. I think the people who work in children's book stores (particularly indepedent stores) are some of the nicest in the world!!!!!

I'm quite tired right now, but I only have one event tomorrow, so it's not too bad!!! I certainly plan to sleep well tonight though!!

Oh, almost forgot to mention! My "escort" (the person who drives m from one event to the next) is a lovely lady called Tracey. She used to star in a local TV comedy show which was hugely successful in NorthWest America several years back! She now mostly gives talks about heart problems (she almost died from a heart problem while on air one night!), but takes around authors her spare time. This is the first time I've had a celebrity escort -- I have to say, it's pretty cool!!!!!!

 

Flew to Seattle from NY last night, after going to see Spamalot (HUGE fun -- I loved every zany minute of it, though my favourite part was probably the song about needing to find some Jews!!). Flew on Delta Song for the first time -- I thought they were pretty good, and didn't mind having to pay for food or movies. We have that system in Europe now, on many airlines, and if it keeps the costs of tickets down, HURRAH!!!!

I'm staying at a cool hotel in downtown Seattle, and an even cooler room -- the John Lennon suite!! I feel like a rock star!!!!

Did my first two events of my America 2005 tour this morning, in Salmon Bay School, and Whitman Middle School. Enjoyed them both. The students were older at the second event, so I varied my act from the first -- I try to pitch my events to the age level of my audience when I go to a school, having learned (the hard way) that a reading that works for 11 and 12 year olds might not go down at al well with 13 or 14 year olds!!!! I don't get the same sort of kick out of school events that I did when I first started touring, because I've done so many of them by now. But I still enjoy them -- each event is different, and I like the uncertainty of not knowing what the questions-and-answers session is going to bring!!!! I have my first public event later, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for agood turnout ...

Found out that one of my best friend's brother-in-law died in a motorcyle accident today. The friend is Liam Fitz, the guy behind Xeropoint and the designer of my web site. I write a lot about death in my books, because I think it's important to dwell on it and get to terms with it through fiction, since that can help you deal with it when it happens in real life. But it's still always a shock when it happens unexpectedly to someone you know. I've got to get on with my tour and keep my show on the road, but my thoughts will be with Liam and his family for the next few days.

Went to the Metropolitan Museum yesterday -- it's ENORMOUS!!!! Absolutely huge, full of stunning collections. We only got to see a few slices of it. Started off with a new, limited Van Gogh exhibitions -- over a hundred of his drawings. Fine stuff. Then we checked out the Egyptian section. It just kept going on and on and on ... full of amazing artifacts. Had a quick waltz through their African collection, then some of their modern art collection. After that we were just too exhausted to continue!!! We'll definitely be coming back for more the next time we hit NY!!!!

Went for pizza at a cool little pizzeria called Patsy's, up on 1st Ave, between 117 and 118th street. It's an old-style pizzeria, with huge, thin, delicious New York style pizzas. YUM!!!!

Then we went to see "Wicked". We saw it a couple of years ago, with the original cast. Bas loved it. I thought it was good, not great, though I enjoyed listening to the CD afterwards. This time, the actress playing Elphaba wasn't so strong (very good, but Edina Menzel (spelling??) was spectacular), but most of the other actors were fine. The sets are cool and the costumes are great. But I stand by my original verdict -- a fine, amusing, catchy, original play, but no classic!!!

Now I'm off to see "Spamalot", then flying on to Seattle for the start of my tour. I had a fab time in NY and can't wait to return!! Oh, and for those who were curious, I stayed in the Sofitel, and highly recommend it!!!!!!

Toodle-pip, Big Apple!!!!!!!

Went to see the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) yesterday. Some absolutely gorgeous paintings, including Van Gogh's "The Starry Night", which is one of my all-time favourites. Also loved Picasso's "Demoiselles D'Avignon" (not sure of spelling!!), and several of his other pieces. But there was also a lot of stuff in the museum that I thought was complete rubbish!!!! But I guess that's the wonder of modern art, indeed art in general -- what's garbage to one person is a marvel to someone else!!!!

Went for a nice long walk in Central Park after that -- always a highlight when I'm in New York! Then went to visit a couple of friends/work colleague of Bas's, Michael and Kathy, who are puppeteers. They were largely responsible for the creation of "Fraggle Rock"!!!! Spent a couple of hours with them, chatting about puppets, theatre and lots of other stuff.

Then went to the restaurant, "Jean-Georges" for dinner. VERY expensive!!! But also VERY delicious! A very nice restaurant, with nice, attentive staff and absolutely delicious food. It's an extravagance, sure, but if you have a few hundred dollars to spend, there are worse ways to blow it!!!

Howdy from New York!! The flight over was fine. I was flying business class, which is always nice, though Aer Lingus business class to NY from Shannon is nothing extra special, so I probably wouldn't bother with it if I had to pay by myself!!! My video screen wasn't working! The cabin wasn't full, so I could have moved, but then I decided I'd just read for the entire flight -- so I did!!!

First, I went through the page proofs of "Koyasan", which came just before I left. Didn't have to make any real changes, though I did find a few mistakes which I corrected! I'll send these home with Bas (who is in NY with me) to send to my editor next week -- and that will be the end of my work on "Koyasan"!!!

Then I spent most of the flight finishing "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown. It was nicely paced, with some good twists. Not as captivating as "The Da Vinci Code", but a good, enjoyable read.

After that I started "From a Buick 8" by Stephen King. It kicked off very engaginly, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops ...

Met Bas at our hotel, which is very close to Times Square. (She flew from Manchester -- she was at a wedding on Saturday.) We have a very nice room (it would need to be, considering the price I paid for it!!). Went for a little walk in the evening. Ate at TGI Friday's. Then I bought some art pieces by a guy called David Roy -- http://www.woodthatworks.com/ -- they're moving, wooden pieces, extremely cool!! I bought one a couple of years ago and was determined to look for more when I next came back! After that, we watched a bit of TV, then tucked in for a deep night's sleep.

Went to see Spurs play Everton yesterday. We won 2-0, sending us to second in the table!!! It's still very early in the season, but this is the best start we've had in years, so it's exciting times for us at White Hart Lane!!!! Long may they continue!! It was a lovely day for football -- clear sky, not too hot, a full and vocal house, a few drinks before and after the game ... perfect!!!!! Days like this remind me why it's worth going to football matches!!!

Returned home after the game, getting in just before midnight. I spent this morning making sure I have everything for my trip to the States -- I'll be away from home for more than three weeks, so there was a lot to pack!! I don't THINK I've left out anything important -- fingers crossed!!! Right, I'm off soon to catch my plane from Shannon to New York (I'm having a few days R&R before flying on to Seattle for the start of the tour). I'll be providing updates from the tour as often as possible, so keep checking back for all the latest news and gossip!!!!!

Flew over to London last night with my cousins, Lorcan and Kealan. (Lorcan, by the way, was partly responsible for Evra Von -- he can stick his tongue up his nose, which is where I got that part of Evra from!!!) Went to Thorpe Park with them and my brother, Declan, today. I hadn't been there in, I dunno, 18 years or more. It's changed enormously since then, and even more so since the first time I went, which was the year it opened -- back then, they had NO rides, just recreations of things like castles and roman buildings!!! I enjoyed it, especially the Collossus roller coaster, but it's certainly no match for Islands of Adventure or Busch Gardens in Florida!!!! But not bad for a UK park, and it was quite small and easy to walk around. Only downside was that I made the mistake of going on a spinning ride, and felt a bit sick afterwards, so I had to go easy in the latter half of the day!!! Oh -- they also have the best water slide I've ever been on -- it creates a HUGE wall of water, much of which falls back down on thos beneath -- we were SOAKED!!!!

After that, back in London, we went to see a play called "Thick" at the Warehouse Theatre in East Croydon. I'd seen the play a couple of years ago, in Edinburgh, and loved it. It's been expanded slightly since then, though it plays more or less the same as originally. Very funny and very moving. You can read more about it at www.thicktheplay.co.uk If you ever get the chance, GO SEE IT!!!!!!

Well, we're out of it!!!! We fought hard, but just weren't good enough on the night. The game ended 0-0, meaning Switzerland are through to the play-offs, while Ireland's World Cup campaign is OVER!!! I'm not too depressed -- I didn't believe we would win last night, and guessed that the game would end in a draw. In fact, in the end, we were lucky not to lose, as the Swiss had the best chances!!! We blew our hopes in the two draws with Israel -- we should have won both of those games, but didn't. C'est la vie!!!!

Apart from the result, it was a nice little trip to Dublin. The train went smoothly, the weather was perfect, I had a few drinks with one of my cousins (Little John) and a friend of his, the hotel I stayed at was nice (Bewleys) and I got back home on time this morning.

Started to read "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown. It's not quite as catchy as "The Da Vinci Code", but I'm enjoying it so far. His style is similar to mine in many ways -- we both like to make a story move forward as fast as possible, and to end chapters on catchy little (and sometimes big) cliffhangers!!! I know critics often turn up their noses as writers who focus on "insubstantial" matters like pace and plot devices, but I'll take a hot-as-hell story-line over a beutifully-written-but-dry-as-dust character study any day!!!! The best writers, of course, merge the two -- Shakespeare and Dickens spring to mind -- and it's good, as a reader, to vary the type of books you read. But if I could only choose one type, page-turner or "classic", to read for the rest of my life, I'd definitely go for the former!!! For me, above all else, reading should be FUN!!!!!!!

Spent the morning adding more photos to my site! I'm certainly making up for lost time!!! Added two more galleries, one from 2002 (which includes a snap of me on my 30th birthday, as well as one of my in a rather fetching wig!), the other from my trip to Napa Valley in 2004 during my USA book tour.

Right -- I'm off to have a spot of lunch, then I'm catching the train east to Dublin and Ireland's World Cup destiny ...