Fiction author Robin Brande talks about writing, reading, and other vital matters

So there I am last night, all keyed-up about my interview today with someone from my List of 30, and the people in the room next door decide this would be a splendid time to stay up all night, laughing, talking in that peculiar vocal register that penetrates walls and pillows and flesh stuffed into ears, and every time they think maybe everyone in the rooms around them may have finally dropped off just out of sheer exhaustion, tell a really raucous joke that requires hooting and snorting and guffawing until the person in my room with her arm already numb from having been wedged against the exposed ear to try to get even a moment’s rest is truly on her last nerve and thinks she may start screaming out show tunes just to use up the time.

And then my sweet husband, seeing the five-pound bags under my eyes at 5:45 this morning, offers to make the Starbucks run, while I’m near tears from my lack of sleep, and when he comes back he says, “Good news. The party just broke up.” Apparently he saw the last of the celebrants giving the hostess a peck on the cheek and toddling off SO SHE COULD GET SOME SLEEP! AARRGG!

Meanwhile the H and I hit the road at 6:30 AM to drive to Providence, Rhode Island so that I could have a face-to-face with Dr. Kenneth Miller, one of my List of 30.

This meeting was important for two reasons:

1. He is the author of Finding Darwin’s God, and an expert in the cross-over between evolution and religion (as in you can go ahead and believe in both. Yes, I’ll wait while you jump for joy). Dr. Miller was a blast to talk to–funny, interesting, able to explain complex scientific principles to an English major (a talent the world needs, as far as I’m concerned). As my husband deftly drove us back to NYC, dodging the NY Department of Corrections vehicle that suddenly decided to make an illegal left turn in front of us from the lane to our right–that’ll get the heart pumping–I got to think of all the new fun things I can squeeze into The Theory of Evolution this week before my final rewrite is due. Cool.

2. Having met and had at least a 20-minute conversation with someone on my List (my personal requirement–you can go with 5 minutes if you prefer), I can now move him off the list and add someone new.

Who is: MICHAEL PALIN! I can’t believe he hasn’t been on there before! What was I thinking? I love his travel shows, even more than his work on Monty Python. So Michael, if you’re reading this (and I’m pretty sure you are), you are now officially someone I’d like to meet. So let’s get crackin’.

Tomorrow I have the unique and wonderful pleasure of meeting my editor at Knopf, Michelle Frey, for the very first time. Having talked to her on the phone, I of course know exactly what she looks like. I’ve been seeing her everywhere on the streets of NY. I’ll let you know later if I was even close.

A few hours with the Knopf/Random House people tomorrow, then it’s back to the airport and back home. All I’ve done on this trip is talk and eat and fail to sleep. Isn’t that always worth traveling for? I think so.

Whoops, it’s 10:00. I’m guessing the hostess next door has fully rested by now, and it’s time to crank up the party mood once more. Whoo-hoo! Can’t wait! Sleep is for losers!

Hope you all get your full 8 hours tonight. I’m sure you, at least, deserve it.

Technorati Tags: Writing, Publishing, Sleep Disorders, New York, New York City, Michael Palin, Kenneth Miller, Evolution, Darwinism, Creationism, Fundamentalist, Fundamentalism, Science

Posted on Monday, June 12th, 2006 at 6:56 pm under Life, Science, Writing . Subscribe to responses: RSS 2.0 Comment Feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.