The reading went over like gangbusters. I chose some of the “humorous” cards to read, and for the first time ever people were really laughing it up. Kinda felt like I was doing a standup routine. Then I read two excerpts from the novel-in-progress and they liked those as well. During the Q & A afterwards, this very tall professorial type said that the section I read about Pere Lachaise was “right on the money.” That was very heartening; it’s the first time I’ve read that particular part in public.

The other two authors (Charles, a U of C writing teacher who read from his early 20something college slacker looking for love novel and Mack, a South Side minister who read from his book on the genesis of the Chicago Gospel sound) were great as well. Charles was there with some friends, one of which was the host of “Check, Please!” on PBS. Suzie had me autograph all the copies of 100SP before I left.

Afterwards my friend Steven bought me a beer at Heuttenbar and we talked about bands, music, and films. On the TVs they were showing women’s college softball.