Crusie Control II
Last week, instead of running home to hide at the end of a long mid-week workday, I dragged my lazy butt into D.C. to hear Jennifer Crusie give a talk at the Smithsonian. The list of authors for whom I would ride the metro is very short. I tend to get, shall we say, a bit sick on the metro. Not every metro - just the one here. No idea why.
Crusie gives her version of the evening here. She was what you would expect - funny and charming. I admire and adore her for many reasons, including: her terrific books; her insistence that romance novels receive respect; her dedication to craft; and her continued assistance to all writers and specifically to unpublished writers.
Her honest talk about her struggles with writing solo projects post Bet Me was interesting and inspirational. Her willingness to be vulnerable and tell the darker side of the creative process isn’t something you see everyday.
The bottom line is that she’s cool. For the two of you out there who didn’t plan to buy her new book Don’t Look Down by Bob Mayer, go pre-order it anyway.
February 8th, 2006 at 11:35 am
If Crusie and/or Crusie/Mayer ever come within decent driving distance to Chicago, I’d go see her in a heartbeat. I’d love to hear her story and how she struggled. Not because I’m gleeful over struggling. But if she once struggled only to overcome it and become what she has become, it gives me hope. Plus, I’ll bet she’s just a whole lot of fun to be around.
February 8th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
They’re hitting the road for the book tour. They could be coming close to you. It’s worth checking their site.
As far as the writing struggles go, Crusie says she’s still suffering from the problem. She’s not sure that she can write another single title on her own again. Very scary, I know. She finished a novella and this one with Mayer (and they’re working on a second), but her sole author single titles have stalled.
February 9th, 2006 at 8:51 am
I know that Mayer and Crusie will be coming to Baltimore sometime in May (I think). I wish I could go see them. But it’s Lacrosse season for one kids, planting season for the husband, and the other two kids will probably have swimming. Oh why did I get married and have kids?