Kevin Sampsell

The first part of my February book touring is done. Thanks to everyone who came out to the events in San Francisco (@ Books Inc and at the Rumpus) and Los Angeles (Skylight Books). I really need to start taking photos. Tuesday night in L.A. was especially pic-worthy, as I met a bunch of great people for the first time, like Matty Byloos, Conrad Romo, Ken Baumann, Nick Antosca, Sabra Embury, and Ned Vizzini. Earlier in the day, I also stopped by Book Soup and signed their copies too, thanks to the escorted kindness of Joe O’Brien. And special thanks to the Joel McHale family unit for letting us stay with them while in the fancy part of L.A.

The previous night in San Francisco was also one to remember, with Stephen Elliott hosting a great line-up for his Rumpus reading at the Makeout Room. I got to read with Daniel Handler but for some reason never had a chance to actually meet him. Drats! He read a really part from a book-in-progress, hilariously titled “Why We Broke Up.”

The piece I read at the Rumpus was Cruising, the chapter about my first sexual experience. Coincidentally, I also recorded that chapter at KQED earlier in the day for their show/podcast, The Writer’s Block. I say the F-word in it but the radio folks said that it was okay. I guess they have a good bleeping machine or something. I’ll let you know when that goes up to listen to it.

I also want to say thanks to Books Inc who hosted me last Thursday in San Francisco as well. I signed all the left-over books there as well as the following places I stopped in: City Lights, Booksmith, Dog Eared, and even a Borders downtown.

Thanks also to other SF folks like Matthew “Hattie” Hein, who let Barb and I stay with him and his wife for three nights, Chelsea Martin, Joshua Mohr, Beth Lisick, and Josh & Susan Citrak.

Now, I’m home for a couple of days before hitting Seattle this Friday night for a reading at Elliott Bay. I hope to see a bunch of friends at that event as well. And then the east coast!!

And hey–there’s some new stuff to see, like this interview on powells.com and this review at the Pacific Northwest Inlander.

More updates–and yes, hopefully photos!–next week.

KS