Olsson's: Event News

Olsson's is a locally Owned & Operated, Independent chain of six book and recorded music stores in the Washington, D.C. area, started by John Olsson in 1972. As Event Coordinator, Tony Ritchie handles the author readings at our stores. Each week he blogs about his experiences.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Back from the 'Ho

With only a few hours of delay, I am headed back home from the trip to the ‘Ho.---This was typed on Monday evening while sitting in the Detroit Airport. For Four hours--- I thought the trip there was bad, hours of time smashed up against the window while the mom and dad combo next to me handed snacks and other goodies to the trio of kiddies across the aisle. I had the aisle seat originally but after seeing what I was getting into, I offered to take the window and let them sit in a long row.

The weekend itself was good. Almost the whole clan was there to greet me. After the hugs and the small talk, some of us made a bee-line to the Bar for a drink. One drink turned into three or four and then it was after midnight and time for a little nap.

The surprise party was a good time. I took pictures of all the kids and some of their parents. The party was sponsored by 7up as evident by all the cups strew about on the table. I think it was a good time in all. I spent a good amount of time with all of my sibs for the first time in about 6 years and drank a bit (okay, a lot) more than I normally would have on a holiday weekend. I even watched the Daytona 500. I fell asleep with 50 laps to go and missed the end, but I watched most of it.

Book CoverI got a chance to read a few books on my trip. Nothing pads your reading numbers like sitting on a plane. I finished the new (you will see it in April I think) Chuck Palahnuik, the new Mike Sager (another spring title) and a little book we are having an event for on the 27th. The event on the 27th is for Alan Drew and his new book, "Gardens of Water". I must be getting old and slightly soft because stories of familial love and all the strife that comes with it, I find very interesting. Because I am not a conservative Kurd living in Turkey after a horrific earthquake, I thought I might have trouble coming to grips with this story but I gave it a shot and enjoyed it.

If you are looking for something to do on the 27th of February and are in the Dupont area, you should come out and see Alan. Listen to what this debut-fiction-author has to say and then see for yourself. If my two cents were not enough, keep in mind that Random House has backed this kid enough to publish him, send him on tour to the East Coast all the way from Ohio and sponsor a bookseller lunch so those of us in the industry can gain a bit more insight. They hope that we will pass on what we learn at the lunch to you, the reader. As a dutiful bookseller, I am doing that right now. I have yet to figure out what side of the equation Alan is on. The book deals with a conservative trying to live in the modern world. I am going to have to talk to the author and get a bit more from him before I make any judgments.

You should come to Dupont and listen, then make your own judgments. This goes for all of you that are curious about the book club, Melisa from Austin and anyone else I have ran into at events in the last month.

See you there!

Oh, I still have not given anything to my Pops yet. I did take Louise’s advice to heart and spent a lot of time with him. We watched NASCAR and talked about all sorts of good junk. I still think I need to get him a little something. Maybe a life sized wall decal of the Number 3 Car for his office wall...

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Tony Ritchie is settling into the job of Events Cordinator. He has been working with authors and books for the last three years, two in London at Waterstone's and one here in the U.S. He reads lots of new fiction and is partial to debut novels. He is an occasional vegetarian and a non-practising Buddhist who watches documentaries, enjoys long walks on the beach and is training for the Olympics.

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