San Gabriel Valley Literary Zombie Fest

Note the blossoming trees.  Are we actually in Japan?

Hey!  Do you see some literary zombies come to life in West Covina in and around the Library and City Hall?  That would be us.  John Brantingham's eyes have a vague, burned-out yet happy look.  Does he even recognize me as he says Hi, nods and smiles?

T. Anders Carson-- he worked like a dawg all day yesterday (as did all the other hosts and volunteers of the LitFest).  Then he and John stayed up yakking till 4AM this morning.  No wonder they had the hollowed out eye sockets of Zombiemen today.

My report on the LitFest:  IT ROCKS!  John said it would be-- and it is-- the greatest thing since ice cream, lap dancers and jewelry.  Something for everyone in the entire family.

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to introduce a batch of talented poets, all the way up to Suzanne Lummis, who appeared as the living incarnation of fun in the Seuss tradition of the word.  You know what Dr. Seuss said-- "It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how."  Suzanne knows how.  She wore the most fabulous green stuffed animal fur bolero jacket and the coup de grace were her green-tipped nails that matched both the jacket and her übercool green, patent-leather tote.  Man, I wish I had thought of all that.

The Fest is loaded with photographers, both amateur and professional.  I'm sure there are great shots of all of us at various podiums and on various stages.  I'll try to round some up for the next blog.

Today, I read a short fiction piece of mine that was published by Rind Literary Magazine and followed up with a few chapters of my newly minted book, Murder's Last Resort.  The other readers, who included Kevin Ridgeway, Dylan Gosland, Phillip Van Sant, Owen Torres and Melinda Smith KILLED! 

My literary parts are sighing with contentment.  The poetry and prose have been SMASHING.  I can't get enough of this stuff and want the festival to last for an entire week.

Lest you think I've forgotten my priorities, I must remark on the food trucks.  EXEMPLARY.

Come join us-- tomorrow's the grand finale.  I'll be introducing author Martin Lastrapes, one of my heroes of original thinking, at the Outdoor Stage at 2PM. 

I'll be reading from Murder's Last Resort on the Main Stage at 5PM, and I'll be introducing fellow Oak Tree Press authors Marja McGraw, the most organized author on earth, Morgan St. James, and Sunny Frazier-- also the Minotaur author of the popular Crispin Guest Series, Jeri Westerson.