Crystal Zevon

Corte Madera and Petaluma were full of surprises and special guests.  I drove up to Corte Madera early to have lunch with Julia Mueller (Warren’s girlfriend, now my friend) and she ended up telling a few Warren stories… like how he became a bird watcher.  Kathi Goldmark also came up to introduce me and tell a few more Rock Bottom Remainder tales.  It was a small gathering at 1 p.m., but a warm and welcoming group.  It was also video taped (I’ll have to find out where the video can be seen).
My high school friend, Sara James, met me in Corte Madera and we drove back to her fabulous home in Tomales for a cup of tea and a rest before going to Petaluma for the evening event.  As I walked toward the room where I was going to do the reading, there was this guy sitting in a chair by a post.  I barely noticed him until he said, “Hello, Crystal.”  I actually didn’t recognize him at first, but then he said, “Arny.”  Oh my God… it was Arny Geller who was best man at our wedding.  Actually, Arny goes back long before Warren as one of my dearest and oldest friends.  It was such a surprise and a total pleasure to see him there - and his former wife and his youngest son.  The hard part was having to leave — it was all way too short.  There was a fair sized crowd and at both bookstores, the hosts were just amazing.

I spent the night at Sara’s in Tomales, and we woke up early and took the coastal route back to my car in Corte Madera.  It was spectacularly beautiful and exactly what I needed.  Now I’m back at Kathi’s house in San Francisco feeling spiritually rejuvenated… and as I’m about to watch a Rock Bottom Remainders video, the phone rings and it’s Abby Holstein, my Harper Collins editor, telling me that the book is now in its 4th printing… 38,029 copies in print.

Meanwhile,  here’s another photo of Kathi, Sam and Dave from the event at Booksmith.

Filed by Crystal at 5:14 pm under Book
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Last night at Booksmith was a wonderful event, especially because of the great music.  I went out to dinner with Kathi and Sam afterwards and we all told Warren stories over dinner.  Sadly, the event wasn’t that well attended (not terrible, but only maybe 15 people or so).  I guess the publisher may be right that it doesn’t draw much after it’s been out because Kathi send out an e-blast to her list of about 800 and the store publicized it.  Guess I got too used to the East coast events which were so well attended.  In any case, it was a lot of fun.

Meanwhile, my sister has been hard at work in Colorado and has booked a whole tour there in August.  If there are any Colorado folks out there, please spread the word.  We’ll be traveling by car and the events should be a lot of fun.  A band of guys I grew up with is going to play at the event in Paonia.  Anyway, here’s the schedule.

221 E. Main Street 4-6 p.m.

Filed by Crystal at 9:33 am under Book
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Checking in from San Francisco… I’ll be at Booksmith tonight with Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Sam Barry and Pedal Steel player David Phillips who will perform “Carmelita” and “Don’t Let Us Get Sick” before I go on.  It should be fun.  Then, Kathi will tell a Rock Bottom Remainders story or two before she introduces me.  Hopefully, I’ll be less nervous than I was in L.A.  That was more about a sea of familiar faces, I think.  I don’t know so many people here.

Here’s the new news… I just sent my agent a proposal for a new book.  She liked it and Dan Halpern at Ecco Press has already responded favorably to the idea… As for what it’s about, I’m going to wait to see what happens before I reveal that info except to say that it would be a book in a similar style to “Sleep”.

Other news is that I’ve been invited to present at the Miami Book Fair in November.  The Rock Bottom Remainders will be there, too, so it should be a lot of fun.  I’ll keep you posted as things take shape.

Almost time for Mitch Albom to call in for his radio show, so I’ll sign off for now….

Filed by Crystal at 4:40 pm under Book
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The LACE opening and Jackson Browne concerts was more incredible than anyone could have imagined… I’m going to post a photo which won’t do it justice, but it was truly an event that no one in Barre, Vermont is likely to forget anytime soon.

Filed by Crystal at 8:55 am under Book
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My friend, Tony Campos, in Barre, Vermont taped this from my reading there on May 3rd.  He just let me know he’d posted it on You Tube… so for anyone who can’t make it to a reading, this is really one of my favorite passages from the book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qo1jl_eNq0 

Filed by Crystal at 7:42 am under Book, Book interview
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New York has been mind spinning.  I’ve done so many interviews I’ve lost count.  Last night was a pinnacle event for me because I attended my first Rock Bottom Remainders concert where they did a tribute to Warren.   Aside from an evening of hilarity and even good music, it was also like old home week.  Before the concert, my brother-in-law, Adi VonGontard (who took the photo of me on the book’s jacket) and I stopped into a pub across the street to grab a quick bite to eat and someone called my name.  It turned out to be Gary Cotugno (who has done so much to promote the book and to whom I’ve spoken but never met in person).  He and Joe Girani from WEHM 92.9 were sitting at the table next to us.  When we got to the venue, they put me to work signing the 150 books we’d donated to be sold for charities that promote reading, child literacy and freedom of speech.

www.getcaughtreading.org  www.826nyc.org  www.abffe.org

While I was signing away, someone tapped my shoulder and it was Sandy Zevon - Warren’s cousin (the cardiologist about whom Stumpy, Warren’s dad, once told me, “You know, if you ever need anything, you can always call on your cousin, Sandy.  He’s a fancy doctor in New York and he’s a Zevon.  He’ll always be there for you.”  (And, I have to tell you, Stumpy did not mis-speak.)  The next person to come up to me was one of my best friends from L.A., Bill Higgins who writes for Variety.  Next came my agent and friend, Marian Young.  Then, after the concert, I ran into Maggie Drennon who organized the Pittsfield, MA book event and Charlene and Greg Storey who have devoted more time and energy to getting Warren’s name recognized than I can tell you.
But, the highlight of the night was the tribute to Warren.  Mitch Albom’s spoken tribute literally made me cry.  I swear, you could FEEL Warren in the room.  In fact, I could almost see him up there with those guys.  Then Mitch sang a few lines from his (and my) favorite song… “Don’t let us get sick, don’t let us get old, don’t let us get stupid, alright?… Just make us be brave and make us play nice and let us be together tonight.”

Then, of course, the band joined in for “Werewolves of London” which brought the crowd to a near frenzy - in spite of standing shoulder to shoulder on a hot and humid New York night.

This is probably more than anyone wanted to know, but I woke up this morning still thinking about it, and I thought I’d share it here!  Now on to Barnes & Noble - Lincoln Center where Dave Barry will moderate a panel with Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Ridley Pearson and me.  Should be a lot of fun.

Filed by Crystal at 7:41 am under Book, Photos
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Filed by Crystal at 8:37 am under Book, Photos
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I’m at the airport in West Palm Beach and miracle of miracles, there is an internet connection.  So, I thought I would briefly report on the stellar event at Books & Books in Coral Beach.  Appearing with two of the funniest and most personable guys on the planet, Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry, was not only an honor but an absolute pleasure!  We had a crowd of about 120 (they tell me) and it seemed like we signed as many books.

Before we began, I told Carl how nervous I was and he said, “Oh, don’t worry.  Dave’s a pro.  He’ll take care of everything.”  Then, Mitchell, the owner of Books & Books (the world’s best bookstore, btw) gave us (and the book) this amazing introduction.  We climb up on the tall stools, settle in, then Carl hands me the mic!  What?!?!  I thought Dave was taking care of everything.  You mean I have to speak first?  Well, I was kind of struck dumb and numb.  Thankfully, these are sensitive guys and Carl took the mic and kindly asked me a question to get me started.  After that… well, we just all told the stories from our hearts and it was pretty wonderful.

I wish I could replay it all over and over… there I was with these two best selling authors… two guys whose writing I admired long before they even knew Warren… and, they are not only doing me the honor of speaking alongside me, but even complimenting my work… telling me Warren would be proud.  There is nothing more I could ask.

So, after a few days with Max and Gus, I’ll be in Stockbridge, Cambridge then Maine.  Hope to see you along the way.

Filed by Crystal at 2:24 pm under Book
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I just did two early morning radio shows in Florida and am leaving in an hour for Newark and the flight to West Palm Beach.  If anyone’s in the area, Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry will be joining me at the book event.  Hope to see some of you there.  Here’s the info:

Saturday, May 12, 2007
03:00 PM
BOOKS & BOOKS
265 Aragon AVE Coral Gables, FL 33134

Filed by Crystal at 8:10 am under Book
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… for another peaceful war?  I leave on Friday and I’m up against a wall.  I did 9 interviews today.  They were all great, all over the country, but left me very little time to do things like laundry and packing.  Tomorrow is pretty much the same, plus a book signing between 3 & 5.  So, I’m afraid the blog will suffer until I find some clear time.  Things are VERY exciting… I will check in when I can.  More and more ideas of things I need to put up here, so I shall return, I promise!  cz

Filed by Crystal at 7:29 pm under Book
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