News Post: Mysterious Galaxy!
Yesterday, I had a privilege of ending my jaunt around Southern California with a reading at Mysterious Galaxy (web facebook twitter) in San Diego. They invited me down after the lovely co-owner, Maryelizabeth Hart kindly reviewed Spellwright. See facebook for the pictures.
But back to the point: This store is a gem!
The staff booksellers were warm, knowledgeable, and snarky snide charming. In particular, I traded jibes with Patrick Heffernan, a witty fellow who has promised to take my hair styling advice, and the wonderful Diane Bader, who I convinced to buy one of my favorite books about math or neurodiversity, Born on a Blue Day. In addition to the fantastic staff, MG fosters a lively community. I chatted with a few folks and was envious that they got to live so close to such a fine bookstore.
The store also does a brisk trade online, selling among other things, signed first editions. For example…just to pick something…totally at random…they now have fifty odd signed first edition copies of Spellwright…should you just happen to be interested in that title at all.
As for the reading itself, I had recently taken some (but not all) advice from the lovely Miss Gail Carriger’s blog post. However, this being my first event, I thought the whole shooting match would consist of yours truly, the staff, my cousin, and a plate of cookies. Fuck that, man, there was a whole _bowl_ full of cookies. There also was a goodly (yea, I say unto you goodly) sized crowd. It probably helped that I walked in with The World’s Cutest Niece, but they were immediately friendly and curious. When the reading commenced, a few folks had to put on sunglasses to block out the glare from my head; otherwise everyone laughed at the funny parts and went silent for the suspense. Afterward I fielded thoughtful questions, including questions from a pediatrician and a dermatologist, which was decidedly more fun than being pimped at the bedside. Afterward, I signed some books and chatted with folks before hunkering down to sign the aforementioned fifty odd books they’re holding in stock.
Most. Gratifying. Reading. Ever.
Comments
7 Responses to “News Post: Mysterious Galaxy!”
Lizette
1:39 am Mar-16-2010
He (you) speaks the truth, I was there. hehe. It was a pleasure to see you….and in defense of Khaled….he’s a dermatologist in training.
Currently on his residency. 
The chef in me *has* to ask….where did you get those cookies?!?! Chocolate and cranberry-filled raisin cookies. Amazing.
blakecharlton
6:21 pm Mar-16-2010
well it was a delight to have a dermatologist in training as well
it did make me go back and double check that i had accurately (i think) represented sarcoid scars. Khaled will tell you if i succeeded or not 
as for the cookies, as much as i’d like to take credit, i must admit that the good people of MG made them
Tyson
1:40 am Mar-16-2010
“one of my favorite books about math and neurodiversity”
This implies that you have more than one favorite book on that subject. Which I don’t find surprising.
Congrats on the successful reading. (And I liked the link on pimping.)
blakecharlton
6:22 pm Mar-16-2010
well, you caught me, it should have read (and now does) math OR neurodiversity.
stupid logic
thanks for the kind words!
Alan Kellogg
3:02 pm Mar-16-2010
Note how Blake neglects to mention the marvelous, magical, mythusmage (hi there).
I got there late, didn’t have a the money for a copy of the book, and Charlton rewards me by forgetting my presence there. Tis a cruel way of inflicting humility on a fellow.
And you should’ve seen him and Diane egging each other on. Were MG not a public space they’d both be preggers by now and expecting twins.
BTW, I mentioned how the magic system in Ars Magica is like a programming language. One thing I neglected to mention is that that same system is also a good look at how language works. Not just grammar and vocabulary, but metagrammar and metavocabulary. The meaning the structure of language imparts to the words a language uses. I’m currently re-reading Harry Turtledove’s Between the Rivers and noting how careful, and avid, the characters are to keep reassuring their god, Engibil that they, his worshippers fear and adore him, all in the hope Engibil will keep his deific nose out of their mortal business and leave him will enough alone.
For language is not just words, but how those words are used to construct a vision of reality, and how this construction can help or hinder our understanding of this universe we dwell within.
You could say that magic is the attempt to use words in a way that changes reality, done by those who won’t understand that words only describe reality, they don’t determine reality. Words only name what we know, they don’t establish what we know.
All that I got, in part, from a book I haven’t even read yet.
Blake, hope the rest of your tour is fun too.
blakecharlton
6:24 pm Mar-16-2010
neglects to mention? nay! i was merely saving you as the subject for my next blog post, but now that you’ve written such lovely words about the relationship between magic and language, i think i’d rather have you guest post it. seriously, may i post a version of this as a guest post?
Alan Kellogg
7:09 pm Mar-16-2010
I’d say no, but my ego won’t let me. Feel free, but be sure to include a link to Mythusmage opines