Nerve Tonics

Post-reading. Post-drink.

I've just finished reading part of All True at the Toronto Public Library's Eh List evening. A sexy part! My editor suggested I read a section from Daniel's teenage courtship of his eventual wife, Rebecca. If the ed. wants romance, romance she shall have. Reading aloud, it was fun for me to hear Daniel's voice at this point--though through my own voice--as I've never read this chapter out before. I can hear his turns of speech, his rhythms, so it came out pretty readily. Relief.

The room was icy, but 400 intrepid people turned out on the slushy evening, and I didn't have much time to sit and think, so the nerves didn't have a chance to jangle too badly. I was lucky to be up first, as I then got to sit back and listen to Miriam Toews discuss her books and life. She is a generous writer who radiates calm energy from the stage. And so beautiful.

And then my charming publicist and I went out for dinner and mojitos, and the rest is silence. Mostly because it's a little blurry.

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