from Lisa Palac (mailto://lisapal@well.com) My new book, "The Edge of the Bed" is coming out next month and I'll be doing a 9 city tour including Cambridge MA, NYC, Chicago, Mpls, Austin TX, San Fran, LA and Santa Barbara and Seattle. My new web site just went up (lisapalac.com) and you can find detailed info on the tour and of course, so much more... Monday, May 4th Cambridge, MA Harvard Square Book Festival Club Passim, 47 Palmer Street 7:30 PM Wednesday, May 6th New York City The Edge of the Bed Book Party hosted by Time Out Invitation Only Thursday, May 7th Chicago Borders Books & Music 2817 N. Clark Street 7:00 PM Tuesday, May 12th Minneapolis/St. Paul Hungry Mind Bookstore 1648 Grand Avenue in St. Paul 8:00 PM Wednesday, May 13th Austin, TX Book People 603 N. Lamar 7:00 PM Thursday, May 14th San Francisco Bay Area Cody's Books 2454 Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley 7:30 PM Friday, May 15th San Francisco A Clean Well Lighted Place for Books 601 Van Ness Avenue 7:30 PM Tuesday, May 19th Seattle Elliott Bay Book Company 101 South Main Street 8:00 PM Wednesday, May 27th Los Angeles Midnight Special Bookstore in Santa Monica 7:30 PM

Novelist William Gaddis died yesterday, aged 75, of prostate cancer. Gaddis wrote the post WWII classics the Recognitions, JR, Carpenter's Gothic, and a Frolic of His Own. Apparantly, he was able to finish a fifth novel, "Agape Agape" before he died.

Kurt Vonnegut is in hospital.

I think I read that in the paper, his daughter made a statement about it. I devoured all his novels when I was a teenager.

Yeah, like the book with the drug-addict US prez with SIX breast nipples...

You are making me LOL!! Ice-Nine, anyone?

...who took the Torrette-Syndrome medication as civilization broke down around him? Ever read that?

I thought he was just naturally profane. You mean, he was unable to control these outbursts if he truely had Tourette's...or did he just take the medication to escape? Btw, what IS the medication for TS?

This wasn't a book event per se, but a "play" event, there was a reading of Elota's play last night at a gorgeous mansion near Zilker Park, the setting was awesome, the place was filled with writers, producers, playwrights, and assorted literati and Elota's play was marvelous. I'll have more comments in a little photo page I plan to put together. The play was set in the 30s? or some earlier eara and was about three women sharing a house and their trials in keeping it together. In line with some the plays themes, the large banquet table at the event has a wedding cake, compliments of Dorothy, and copious amounts of beer and wine. .]

What an incredibly great evening. They used to be "routine' in my life on the fringes of academe. I miss them exceedingly!

I can't even begin to describe this mansion, with it's view overlooking Zilker Park and the downtown Austin skyline. It was teh most magnificent house I've ever been in around Austin. I forget the name of the carrot topped lady who co-authored the play with Elota.

Sounds most elegant. Were you dressed in turtle neck and sandles? What IS worn to these occasions these days?

I just wore jeans, my columbia shirt and my photographers vest. I was taking shots with the digital camera.

Ah...! I am sure you looked elegant anyway...even with all of those pockets.

Austin's a pretty dress down place, even for these kinds of events. And I was doing video, so it made me look like the part.

Hilo's like that, as well. Just about no one owns a tie or suit unless they travel to the mainland on business a lot. Funerals are informal and so are weddings. "Aloha Attire" is usually specified in invitations, as I am happy with that for the most part. It gets to be an old thing when attending the symphony or a holiday event and I am all dressed up and my escort is in the same Aloha Shirt he has worn a thousand times before. Hawaii is like that. No matter how dressed up or down you are, there will always be someone there who is more dressed up or down than you are. "Hiding" behind a camera is a great way to attend something - especially if you do not know many people there. I gather you had a great time despite your video equipment "date."

I just read this week that nicotine is the drug of choice for treating TS, Marcia. I guess they give them the patch, not the real thing.

Interesting! A beneficial use of that otherwise noxious weed. I wonder how they found out...that just might be a very interesting story in itself!

Nicotine has long been known to intensify concentration...and TS sufferers often say that their symptoms diminish when they are focused on something intently, such as driving or reading. ? Maybe that's the link.

It sounds plausible. I am already too intense. No - that is tense. Oh well...it is still a Good thing I do not smoke!

I think the negatives far outweigh the benefits! (spoken by someone who is sitting here chewing Nicorette...)

TS or quitting smoking, Autumn?

ha-ha! I've been "quitting" for 12 years...I've gone months, make that years without smoking, but when the craving hits I need something. Even though my friends marvel at my "non-addictive" personality, I truly believe nicotine is addictive. Why else would I (or anyone) continue to do something I know is so very bad for me?

...and increasingly expensive! I think (having never had the cravings this is easy for me to say)I would take the money I ould have spent, put it in a safe place until I had enough to buy myself a really nice little reward (jewel-type)or does that not work?!

They've proven that nicotine is addictive. On animals of all types from lowly to mankind - everything which came into constant contact with it for a while ended up having to have it.

Franz Dobler, writer and journalist, holds a reading on Friday at the Nautilus bookstore in Hamburg. Franz is one of the nicest folks around, and I don't say this only because he's invited superstar to cohost his Get Country & Rhythm night on Saturday and regularly contributes to the mag.

Oooh! How fortunate for you. I have actually heard of this man, and you are going to be with him. Have a splendid weekend, Alexander...*Hugs*

What's his claim to fame?

May 23 Susie Flatau "Counter Culture" A Taste of Texas BookPeople 603 North Lamar Boulevard (512-472-5050) 7:00 p.m. "Texas: The Mythic Frontier" Sponsored by the Austin Writers' League and Barnes & Noble Barnes & Noble (Homestead) 44010 US Highway 183 (512-499-8914) 7:30 p.m. Elizabeth Crook Elmer Kelton David Marion Wilkinson May 24 Austin Elmer Kelton "Buckskin Line" and Other Readings BookPeople 603 North Lamar Boulevard (512-472-5050) 7:00 p.m. May 25 Austin "The Life of a Writer: From Concept to Paycheck" Sponsored by the Austin Writers' League and BookPeople BookPeople 603 North Lamar Boulevard (512-472-5050) 7:00 p.m. Nancy Bell Karen Stolz Don Webb Lawrence Wright Jim Bob McMillan, moderator May 27 Austin Audio Book Contest Award Ceremony Presented by the Austin Writers' League, Texas Library Association, Austin Public Library, and Earful of Books Earful of Books Fifth Street and Lamar Boulevard 3:00 p.m. May 30 Austin "Women's Voices in Publishing" Sponsored by the Austin Writers' League and BookPeople BookPeople 603 North Lamar Boulevard (512-472-5050) 7:00 p.m. Sharon Kahn Suzy Spencer Darleen Marwitz Ruth Pennebaker Stephen Harrigan "The Gates of the Alamo" Earful of Books Fifth Street and Lamar Boulevard 7:00 p.m. May 31 Austin Gregory Stephens "On Racial Frontiers" BookPeople 603 North Lamar Boulevard (512-472-5050) 7:00 p.m.

Some great events this month at BookPeople.

Sounds spectacular - my second favorite thing after Art Gallery exhibition openings... Have to check on Dobler on Google and see just exactly who he is - and email Alexander and see how he is doing. I worry when he is away so long.

Can you find out who the person is at Bookpeople tomorrow night while your on Google.

http://www.bookpeople.com/coe.html Your schedule is at the above url and it says May 23, 2000 (Tue) - 07:00pm Susie Kelly Flatau will be at BookPeople to sign her new book, Counter Culture Texas .

Does it sound like it's worth going to as an event? What does is say about Susie and her book?

It says nothing on that url. I'll check into it again for you. Doesn't sound like my favorite sort of topic or the sort of audience it probably will attract. But, check back... I'll let you know what it says about her and the book, if anything.

Ah...the cover of the book is of guys sitting at a counter eating...Not what I thought! Susie Kelly Flatau will be at BookPeople to sign her book on Tuesday, May 23. From the Publisher: Synopsis: Counter Culture Texas is an art book, printed on quality paper and carefully laid out. The photos are superbly done. Mark is a master of light and shadow, and he captures the look and feel of these great old places beautifully. Susie�s warmly written commentary enhances the special look and feel of this book of memories--the history of small town Texas written in countertops and chrome stools. Features: This is a beautiful record of Texas icons in the form of unique small hidden away places, photographed by Mark Dean in stunning black and white, with fascinating commentary by Susie Flatau. Susie interviewed the owners of many wonderful old landmark restaurants and bars, and she has woven a fascinating web of stories about these fast disappearing places. Descriptions of the places and neighborly chats with the visitors and owners are carefully recorded. The book will take the reader to another place and time and bring back fond memories for anyone who has ever sat at a counter and ordered a hamburger and a beer or a chocolate soda. About the Author: Mark Dean lives in Houston where he pursues his chosen profession of photography. He is an artist and is displayed in numerous galleries as well as commercially. Susie Kelly Flatau is a multi-talented writer, teacher, and artist. She has many prestigious awards for her work in teaching. 225 Pages 9.25 x 7.5

No big names in six-strong Booker short-list London, Sept. 22 (PTI): No big names found their way in the Booker shortlist announced last night, with the judges for the 50,000 pounds prize damning some entries as "rubbish" and "drivel". Led by Chris Smith, former British Culture Secretary, the judges claimed that "quite a number" of novels entered were surprisingly "bad". But the judges themselves were under attack after dropping many big-name authors -controversial NRI writer V S Naipaul, David Lodge, Justin Cartwright and A L Kennedy - when they drew up the long list. The final six-strong list pits Alan Hollinghust, Colm Toibin and David Mitchell, three novelists likely to feature high in the literary establishment over the next two decades against three almost newcomers, Achmet Dangor, Sarah Hall and Gerard Woodward. Chances of one of the triumvirate - Hollinghust, Toibin, Mitchell, scooping the Prize is bright. All the three have been short-listed for Booker before and they were installed as the favourites by bookmakers William Hill and Ladbrokes. Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, an unconventional sweeping novel telling the stories of six individuals - from a 19th century adventurer to a journalist in Ronald Reagan's California - was picked as the front-runner by both bookmakers. Born in Southport, Lanes, in 1969, Mitchell worked for several years as an assistant at the well-known Booker store Waterstone's branch in Canterbury, Kent, and was named on the Granta Best of Young British Novelists' list last year. Woodward's I'll Go to Bed at Noon, is only his second novel. Now teaching creative writing at Bath Spa University, the 43-year-old was until recently working part-time packing chocolate vending machines at Manchester University to support his writing. The novel is about a dysfunctional family damned by alcoholism. Like his first book, August, it is drawn on his own family. For several years, Woodward's mother was addicted to glue-sniffing. Hall's The Electric Michelangelo is a second novel. It is about a young man helping his mother to run a guest house in Morecombe who learns to become a tattoo artist. He sets off to Coney Island, New York, for adventure. Hall, 30, from Cumbria, learnt tattooing for research. The third unknown, Dangor, born in 1948 is a South African Muslim who was steeped in the anti-apartheid struggle and knew Steve Biko. After the ANC came to power, he ran the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and now works for the United Nations on AIDS programmes. His novel, Bitter Fruit, which opens with a rape followed by a murder and is set in post-apartheid South Africa, is based on Dangor's own life in a mixed race township and on his grandfather, who fled Gujarat after murdering his sister's rapist. http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/001200409221719.htm