Guest Blogger: Heather Graham

Saturday . . .

Someone mentioned the library to me today, and I went blank. It was just about my first event when I arrived, and it already seemed as if it had happened eons ago. Pittsburgh has been wonderful, nonstop - I'm trying to remember events in order. Thriller writer friends have attended this year, and it's been super to kind of inter-mingle groups. They've had a great time and been somewhat overwhelmed! Party, party, party. And workshops, great workshops. Events, speaking, rehearsing.

Okay, so last night, we finally get to the vampire party, and the sound gave. Joking, we thought it would be funny, next year, to do the show as an old silent movie, in black and white -- with captions! No sound difficulties that way! But we had some pretty visual stuff going. Lance -- you'll just have to see the pictures! Harley and Alex, gorgeous as usual, in a different way. Paul Wilson -- who would have suspected he could be such an actor! Helen stunning as the evil queen, Ali a little red riding hood you wouldn't expect! Dave Wilson from Thriller Writers made a great monster -- he's six feet five inches, so hey, made for the part! Debbie Richardson, Connie Perry, and my kids were all involved, so . . . stay tuned for pictures, lots of fun, even in silence. Oh, well. We live and learn!

This morning, Harley Jane Kozak, Dave, Connie, Lance, my daughter, Chynna, and I headed with a little skit to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. I was grateful to be there -- set up by CJ Lyons. There is nothing like performing for children, and nothing like seeing what little ones suffer to put any little problem in life in perspective. Harley is amazing. When she performs, I know why she was always such a good actress. When she speaks, her sense of humor, her grace, charm, poise and humility let me see why she writes such clever, funny, and intriguing novels! So, TV station, library, workshops, Golden Era party, workshops, rehearsals, Fairy Ball, Christine Feehan's wonderful 20's party, TV station again -- freezing, but hey, we suffer for our art, eh? More rehearsals, tech challenges and minor disasters, and amazing costume changes, the medieval skit for the kids, the bookfair. No one puts on a bookfair that can compare.

Oh, I forgot the tribute to 25 years. 25 years--since my first book, and for RT. Scary and great. I do mean great. I'm looking forward to the next 25 years. Next year, we'll be back in my home state. Florida. Orlando. Easy for me, great. I love Orlando.

Hey, y'all come down and see us. I know the hotel, it's beautiful. And you need extra days -- you don't get out much at an RT!

Give me a few weeks, and then, please, check in at heathergraham.tv, eheathergraham, and theoriginalheathergraham.com. You've got to see a few of the costumes we've had going . . . .

And I sure hope to get to see you next year. Oh, wait, still tonight to go. Still tomorrow morning. Hey, I never knew quite how my life would change when I met Kathryn Falk 25 years ago!

Heather Graham