Tom Swift Writer’s Notebook

I signed the tall stack of books in a dash and along the way met many pleasant booksellers. Afterward, I joined four of them (and a fellow book-signer) for some Italian. Good food, great time. The next day I picked up some books — and engaged in interesting conversations about some of them. I met [...]

I have decided to suspend my writing career. I think we can call agree it’s the only prudent thing to do, given the financial crisis our fundamentally sound economy is enduring. These times are just too critical to do anything but sit and think about a subject that, like others, I admit I know almost [...]

My thanks to Mark Moore, senior subject librarian, and the rest of the staff at the amazing Cleveland Public Library for hosting yesterday’s panel discussion. The Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium is a terrific venue and a great crowd turned out. I am fortunate to have been included in such a first-rate event. As I mentioned [...]

Thanks to journalist Vince Grzegorek for his interest in the book and the event. Also, the panel got a plug in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cool.

One of the three is a distinguished professor emeritus of history at an accredited university who has written several acclaimed books. Another is a prominent baseball writer who is both a prolific author and a columnist at ESPN. The third is, well, me.
From noon to 1 p.m., Friday (June 27), Dr. Charles Alexander, Rob Neyer [...]

I had no idea what to expect. It’s summer. Lives are busy. I’m not exactly David Sedaris. Besides, Howie Mandel gives away a lot more than I do. But what a great time last night at the library.
A good crowd asked great questions — readers at my events always ask great questions — and the [...]

I love spending time in libraries and my next two trips should be memorable ones. Many thanks to the Oak Grove Public Library for its efforts to publicize tomorrow night’s event. Can’t say that I’ve seen my name in such large type before. Certainly not while driving in the old Carolla. I look forward to [...]

People frequently ask about what it feels like to publish a first book. More than the satisfaction of publication or the pleasant surprise of a flattering review the thing that hits, and hits even more often than the question is asked, is the kindness of readers. It’s the e-mail out of nowhere, thanking me for [...]

I have learned that during Saturday’s signing I will face off against another author: Lou Nanne.
If you live in Minnesota and you can explain what it means to ice a puck you know the name Nanne. He was an All-American for the University of Minnesota and a defensive stalwart for the Minnesota North Stars. After [...]

I will about double my yearly allotment of mall hours on Saturday when I spend most of the day in one large enough to hold seven Yankee Stadiums. But I won’t buy a new blue shirt and I won’t ride a single roller coaster (beyond the mental up-down that comes when I appear at a [...]

Father’s Day is sneaking up on you and, let’s face it, you don’t have a gift. Not only do you not have a gift, you don’t have time to shop for one. Or the first clue what to buy if, by chance, you do make it to a store in time. You wonder whether the [...]

Father’s Day is coming up! This year I have had that date mentally marked for months. Most years I have to be reminded by the thoughtful person in my marriage. I still don’t know what I am getting my dad but I have good idea (if I don’t say so myself) what you should get [...]

If you live in, or in the general vicinity of, the city of Northfield, you may very well already have had enough of me. Last month, I did two in-person events as well as a radio interview. Area print and online media have also placed my face before the unsuspecting public. But, like the one-eyed [...]

My traveling basket of candy and I will be perched at a table signing copies at the Books-A-Million in Hattiesburg at 2 p.m. this Saturday. If you’re in the neighborhood, I hope you will stop by. Even if only for a sugary treat.

Last night’s event has received some kind attention in the blogosphere. Blogger extraordinaire Griff Wigley posted several photos at the online joint every plugged-in Northfielder frequents. Fellow writer Rob Hardy wrote a gracious post at Rough Draft, a blog which belies its name. And owner Jerry Bilek uploaded audio to the Monkey Blog. Many [...]

The past fourteen hours have been special ones. Last night — a quintessential early Minnesota spring night (sleety, cold, miserable) — a heartening number of kind souls showed up at Monkey See-Monkey Read to listen to me read from and talk about “Chief Bender’s Burden.” And we sold more books than there were people. Wow.

A [...]

I will be a guest on the ArtZany! radio show at 9:05 a.m. tomorrow (Friday) on KYMN 1080-AM. ArtZany! is a unique show hosted by Paula Granquist that features artists, musicians and writers. Ms. Granquist and I will discuss the process of writing “Chief Bender’s Burden” specifically and the craft of writing nonfiction generally. There [...]

If you’re in the neighborhood and can tear yourself away from American Idol, I hope you will stop by Monkey See-Monkey Read tomorrow (Thursday) night.
Starting at 7 p.m., I will read from and discuss “Chief Bender’s Burden” as attendees nibble on homemade cookies and sip from tasty beverages. After I finish talking and answering candy-induced [...]

At the moment I am an author trying to persuade busy people to take time out of their lives to come to my readings. But usually I am on the other side — a reader in the audience. So often after an author speaks he or she offers to answer questions and everyone sits on [...]

I was sitting at the table the Minnesota Twins kindly offered inside Gate F, perhaps the main entry at the Metrodome, and I was ready. The table display included neatly stacked books, an oversized tabletop cover poster, a basket of old-time candy, and a pretty nifty electronic slideshow of Charles Bender-related images.
Books here! Get yer [...]