Phoenix

partly cloudy - storms forecast....temps 80

Can you believe it? Phoenix has been sunny and hot for 150 years and the next day or so will be rainy and stormy. But, frankly, I don't really care. It's nice and warm and not too hot. Woke up early (because of the time difference) ordered breakfast and sat out on the balcony eating fruit, sipping a smoothie and coffee and enjoying the warmth. and the palm trees!!!

bliss.

What an amazing life. Am staying at a hotel with the silly name, Valley Ho (I know - don't say it). But terrific hotel - one of my favorite - though I have to say my room (an upgrade) is a little odd. Bathtub in the centre of it. There's a photo at the top. And while it has a lovely balcony, there's no view. It looks directly into the concrete wing opposite, and the guest rooms there. Though off to either side I can see palms...so that's great. I've actually asked if it's possible to get a room with a nicer view, since I'd hate to spend two days in phoenix and except for the warmth I could be in Moscow.

Woke up yesterday in the wonderful Norwich Inn, in central Vermont. Put the fireplace on. Showered and went down for breakfast. Then packed and got ready for the luncheon, organized by the Norwich Bookshop....a magnificent independent bookstore. One of the terrific and invigorating things about this book tour is seeing how many vibrant independent bookstores there are still. those that have survived seem to be thriving. Though I know it's hard work.

The Norwich bookshop in one such amazing bookstore.

Penny - who hosted the event and works at the bookshop - cut the last flowers from her garden...phlox, hydrangea, etc - and put vases in Sarah and my rooms. So beautiful. sort of bittersweet actually since it reminded me so keenly of home.

The event - a lunch at the Inn - was terrific. 50 plus people. Each with a copy of Bury Your Dead. I had a chance to chat with most everyone one-on-one...then while people were still eating I had to start the reading (thanks to Penny who kept us on schedule) because we had to be on the road from central vermont to New York City by 1pm at the latest. People were so tolerant. I'm sure they'd just as soon have been able to finish their lunch, then listen to me - but they had to multi-task. Eat and listen. I'm very gratful to the guests for understanding, and to the Norwich Inn servers for being as quiet as possible.

At 1pm Sarah and I rushed off....felt like thieves in the night...Sarah had already gassed up the car. (We keep getting these hilarious emails from Andrew Martin, the publisher, calling us Thelma and Louise and wondering if we need more ammo).

Five hours later (in rain and heavy traffic) Sarah pulled into JFK.

She did such an amazing job, getting us all over New England - with hardly any casualties.

I really, really want to thank all of you SO much. for buying Bury Your Dead. For spreading the news. for reading it and being so supportive...and telling others. And being SO careful not to ruin it for others. I know how hard that is...but my heart swells with gratitude and warmth when I read a review where people are kind - and considerate. Oh, I wish I could find the words to tell you how much I appreciate that. I really am deeply moved by your efforts.

And also want to sincerely thank all the people who take time from busy schedules and lives to come to the events! I'm surprised that I'm not really tired - and on the flight I thought about you, and realized I'm not tired because I feel all your good wishes, and it energizes me.

A huge thank you for that! And I hope you feel the energy and warmth I'm sending your way.

A day off today...feels amazing and a little odd not to be considering and preparing for the next event. Oh, it's raining! hard. Just ran out onto the balcony. warm shower...and very fragrant out - the moisture on the tropical flowers. so I get to experience what most humans have never seen...rain in Phoenix! Yet another gift of this wonderful tour.

Hope to see you along the way.

ahhhh

rainy, cool, temps 10

I'm in Norwich now, tucked up in a four poster bed at the Norwich Inn.

Had the most wonderful time last night at Bear Pond Books in Montpelier, Vermont. Evening started with dinner at 5:30 with Pat, the events co-ordinator and George who works at the store and at the library. he was the one who, a few years ago, discovered Still Life and told everyone about it.

Hand selling. Very powerful.

They were very kind and took me out to dinner at a restaurant called The Black Door. Terrific meal. Then we scooted across the street back to the bookstore. The place was packed. Standing room only. After spending some tours speaking to myself and the janitor, this is always a relief and a delight!

They were so welcoming, so warm. I felt completely comfortable. After the talk and questions I signed books, then headed up the hill to the Montpelier version of the old Hadley house.

Barely slept. I actually turned the room light on. The place gave me the willies. By 2am I still hadn't slept so I read some more then tossed and turned until it was time to call Michael. I'll tell you, he almost got a call at 3am.

Breakfast was a dreary affair with a television going in the background and a single table set for guests. The other guests, though, were delightful. A young couple from England, an older couple from Syracuse, NY, a tug boat captain on his way to South Carolina. We could not, of course, discuss our various experiences in the Bed and Breakfast since the owner and her surly help were listening, and had knives at their disposal. I wondered if everyone found it as dreary as I did. Like a rundown boarding house.

I leapt in the car just after 9am and headed south, toward Norwich. Michael, lovely man, had programmed our GPS for all my stops, so I just put it in and off I went. My 'plan B' - hatched amid the brocade curtains and screaming wallpaper of the B&B, was to go to Quechee and maybe do a massage somewhere. But I adjusted that plan in the night.

We were now on plan C. Which was, to find the Norwich Inn, book a room for the day, and finally get some sleep. But since I left so early I dropped into the village of Quechee, Vermont to visit the Simon Pearce glass factory. It's in an old mill...and is stunning. Beautifully renovated into a showroom for this hand-blown glass, but also local pottery and wood work...all sorts of beutiful pieces for the home. I bought Michael a Christmas gift then filled the car up with gas and headed to Norwich.

Found the bookstore...which looked absolutely picture perfect. White clapboard, traditional. huge windows, comfortable chairs, wooden bookcases...and warm, friendly staff. Apparently my event tonight is sold out. Such a relief to hear that!

By noon I was in a room at the Norwich Inn, reading, then napping.

Sleep would not have been an issue except after the event tonight I need to drive the 3 hours back to Sutton...hoping to arrive home by midnight. This is never optimal, but with very little sleep the night before it is even worse. And, God knows, tomorrow will be a long day.

But the people at the Norwich Inn could not have been kinder...finding me a lovely room and even giving me a reduced rate.

So now I'm awake, showered...and lying in bed writing to you. Not sure if I can blog tomorrow. We're heading to Montreal first thing. Michael has an 11:30 eye appointment, I have a 3pm dentist, then off to the airport and fly to London. We're being picked up by a car service at Heathrow and driven to John and Moira's village in Norfold - Eye. Hoping to see John that afternoon...then we'll take it from there.

Thanks for keeping me, and Michael, company. Hope you packed the hot water bottle for England - we're going to need it!