it's an incredible week at ALA in Chicago. it boils down to authors. i have got two new favs. Hannah Moskowitz is a talented young author i chanced upon at a reading. i thought i was there for another author. i am so glad i was early. she is incredible. i mean i feel like a fanboy (at my age). i am not in the YA demographic. not even close. yet her presence is magical--makes me remember when i was that age and i was so intent on living (i am not so earnest now just more relaxed i reckon). i heard her read from "Teeth" which i am now devouring. got an autographed copy in which she drew me a bow-tie (i'm easily amused). i even ate out in a restaurant by myself (really) and read her book while chowing down on deep dish pizza. it gave me strength to go out, get in the middle of an extremely uncomfortable situation, and be part of the maddening crowd. my agoraphobia be damned. that's something. i just had to go to another book signing of hers for "Gone, Gone, Gone." even got my picture taken with her. i know--pretty geeky. but what can i say.

and as if it couldn't happen again. i spent 45 minutes trying to find a meeting. never did. changed the room on me and never told me. after walking around in circles (i even passed the room the meeting was in four times) i said fuck it, not worth it. so i went up to the exhibition hall and meandered around. went by the reading stage and had to stop. the author was talking about how he came to write his book and i was hooked. there was just something that compelled me to hang around and listen. Samuel Park is his name. he wrote a book based on his mother and it sounded very good. about lost love, the chances we take, and what happens if the lost love comes back into your life. what do you do? "This Burns My Heart." immediately on my list after Hannah. he autographed the book and was so nice. he accepted my praise like he never heard it before and i know he has gotten so much. i appreciate that in an artist--humility. those musicians i have had the honor to play with that are my favorite people possess this humility regarding their gifts. so excellent!