Centuries from now scientists will discover that television was the first true time machine in its ability to distort time by stealing it without our even realizing it was happening. One minute you’ve sat down to watch a half hour comedy, and three hours later you’ve been transported into the future and an entire bag of Oreo’s has disappeared, and you feel slightly ill. Still, there are a few programs I enjoy and that I actually find useful as research.

Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel tops the list. If you’re working on a novel with a group of characters on any kind of quest/adventure where they’ll face mortal dangers – willingly – you’ll reap a bounty by watching a couple of episodes. And it’s just a terrific show.

It’s got everything – young, inexperienced rookies out to prove themselves, seasoned veterans who’ve seen it all, driven captains who will push their men to their very limits, unforeseen dangers that can strike at any minute, tension, camaraderie, heartache, fear, joy, and elusive treasure.

I like The Girls Next Door, too, for pretty much the same reasons…yup.

Sad news.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/04/david-eddings-dies

My sore throat has become a lovely little head cold and I’m surviving on wonton soup, ginger-ale, and chocolate ice cream…come to think on it, I eat like that even when I’m not sick.

It was a good BEA. There was more action at our booth this year than at L.A. last year, although I won’t miss the quietude that is Sunday (BEA goes to just weekdays starting next year). This time around I saw Julie Andrews (and I absolutely did not make any cracks about hills, music, or chimney sweeps) James Patterson, Joe Scarborough (talked with him briefly about an author of mine, Joseph Balkoski and their interview in Normandy back in 2004,) John Ringo (was able to thank him in person for blurbing my first book,) and many friends in the book industry including several over from the UK. I had a nice chat with George Mann of Black Library (of Games Workshop/Warhammer fame) and enjoyed the hospitality of David Farnsworth, President of Casemate Publishing, at his military history soiree at St. Andrew’s Pub on Saturday night.

It was a good show, much business and networking was done, as well as meeting old friends and making new ones, and I am so glad there’s a whole year to go before the next one.

While being at Book Expo America is in no way akin to digging ditches or fishing the Bering Sea as far as hard and dangerous work, it can still wear on you. I’m holding up well, except my throat has gone hoarse from all the talking. Meeting after meeting followed by lunch in a loud space followed by more meetings followed by dinner in a loud space followed by drinks in an even louder space and my vocal chords have been sand-papered to something that sounds like gravel in a mixer.

What a great morning! I met my adopted Jewish grandmother (a wonderful long story) this morning for breakfast and in honor of the terrific news I received I went with the French toast. It was amazing. The Gracie Mews on First and 81st are masters when it comes to breakfast. I usually eat there twice a week and I don’t think I’ve had a bad meal yet. Great coffee, fresh squeezed oj, terrific service…and reasonably priced, especially for New York City.

Vive la France! The subrights people at Simon & Schuster are really aces. Huge thanks to Lisa Keim for selling the French rights to A Darkness Forged in Fire to Fleuve Noir.