read your work and you're a slut

saturday and sunday at the decatur book festival went well. saturday not as well as sunday. i was assigned to work the roy blount jr. signing at the library. the auditorium filled up and people were waiting outside in a line and not very happy. there were three other volunteers but somehow i got nominated to stand outside and block the incoming traffic as the library auditorium was over capacity. it was hot. people were mean. i was surprised at how mean book lovers could be as they were there for a discussion and signing of a book not a national convention. i felt like the bad guy having to turn them away as some of them said they'd drive from alabama. a lot of them had darn good excuses as to why i should let them past me and into the library, "my husband is saving my seat", "i just need to go to the bathroom", "someone is waiting for me inside", "i'm here to surprise mr. blount's wife, she doesn't know i'm here" etc. anyway, you would think they'd paid for a ticket and were refused admission. at some point i was pushed and to think these were the ones that showed up straight at 10 when the talk began, i can't imagine if they'd been waiting an hour and refused entrance.
sunday was a bit better, my job was to bring ice cold bottles of water to all of the vendors that needed any, they loved to see me coming. they were appreciative and very thirsty....
after volunteering i saw karin slaughter discuss suspense writing and my favorite part was the author hollis gillespie, who wrote "bleachy haired honkey bitch" was in the audience and after another audience member commented on how karin didn't look like she'd be writing the violent stuff she writes, hollis raised her hand and stated to karin "i've read your work and you're sick" to which karin responded "well i've read your work and you're a slut" loved it..