A Saxophone Someplace Far Off Played

36 Responses

Bobbi, on March 30, 2012 at 12:05 pm said:

Jeez, can you throw one for me? I’ll book us a room in a Paris hotel…

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Allen Peacock, on March 30, 2012 at 12:06 pm said:

Congrats!

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gsprendergast, on March 30, 2012 at 12:08 pm said:

Cocaine? How retro.

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Jim Gibson (@WalkaboutJim), on March 30, 2012 at 12:12 pm said:

Damn. You are such a good writer. Glad I found your blog.

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Scott Atkinson, on March 30, 2012 at 12:19 pm said:

I finished The Variations the other day and loved it. Thought about writing an email, then didn’t.

Tall young men looking for agents are assholes.

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- Sarah W, on March 30, 2012 at 12:41 pm said:
  
  What about short women? Just asking . . .
  
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  - Scott Atkinson, on March 30, 2012 at 1:31 pm said:
    
    Ha. That was entirely self-directed, having once stalked Betsy for a short time at a conference.
    
    But to answer your question, short women are in the clear, except for the ones that happen to be assholes.
    
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  - Sarah W, on March 30, 2012 at 4:43 pm said:
    
    Thanks . . . I think. 🙂
    
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Judi, on March 30, 2012 at 12:24 pm said:

I applaud you. Having been caught by disapproving work colleagues having a not so newly married snog in a supermarket, I am all in favour of displays of affection at whatever age. Isn’t snog a truly awful English word?

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VintageVixen, on March 30, 2012 at 12:32 pm said:

Your party sounds amazing. It should be a scene in a film. I’d be curious to know if MaryJane made an appearance. Congratulations to you, John, and the lively guests. The right mix of revelers is always key. And there’s an art to creating the list.

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Anonymous, on March 30, 2012 at 12:43 pm said:

Beautiful book.

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november, on March 30, 2012 at 12:43 pm said:

OMG! Sounds like the perfect NY literary night. And congratulations on the book! Debut novels = hope for writers. Go forth…

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- Teri, on March 30, 2012 at 1:19 pm said:
  
  Exactly this. Congratulations to you and John both. And here’s to literary brawls!!
  
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Mike D, on March 30, 2012 at 12:45 pm said:

Sounds like a beautiful evening. Your image of the daffodils lingers in my mind, as does a cherry orchard (I’m in Chekhov’s corner), and the drunken kiss on Sixth Avenue sounds as romantic as any tender Dylan ballad. Cheers!

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Sarah W, on March 30, 2012 at 12:47 pm said:

Congratulations to John and also to you for setting aside your feelings about parties just for him.

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blocked4now, on March 30, 2012 at 1:09 pm said:

For so many reasons, you are my hero.

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virginiallorca, on March 30, 2012 at 1:27 pm said:

I am glad for you.

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lisahgolden, on March 30, 2012 at 1:29 pm said:

It sounds like something out of a screenplay. I hope you tuck it away.

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Catherine, on March 30, 2012 at 2:04 pm said:

Happy for you both. Loved the drunken kiss and the crappy hotel.

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Karen, on March 30, 2012 at 2:58 pm said:

Whadda way to close out the month of March! And the Ouija board was there to confirm next quarter’s book sales, right?

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Mary Lynne, on March 30, 2012 at 3:23 pm said:

Daffodils and a loaded bar and book people. Sigh.

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Shanna, on March 30, 2012 at 3:48 pm said:

I love this post. Can’t wait to read the book.

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Averil Dean, on March 30, 2012 at 3:56 pm said:

My favorite part is that the speech for John was all about you. Now that’s marriage.

Congratulations!

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Tetman, on March 30, 2012 at 4:06 pm said:

“[T]he relevance of Chekhov” to what?

That’s just my opening shot. A subject that can get me hopping up onto a soapbox real quick is “the relevance of Chekhov.”

But while I’m still down here at floor level, it is only proper that I offer my congratulations to John for the publication of The Variations.

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CJ, on March 30, 2012 at 4:31 pm said:

Love there’s blogging in his book. Hilarious.

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macdougalstreetbaby, on March 30, 2012 at 5:57 pm said:

I hope you took pictures.
Congratulations to you both. I’m looking forward to reading it.

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- Teri, on March 30, 2012 at 6:12 pm said:
  
  I see Patti Smith will be on CBS Sunday Morning. Looking forward to it. Don’t think I’ve ever seen her do an interview.
  
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  - macdougalstreetbaby, on March 31, 2012 at 6:52 am said:
    
    Check her out accepting the National Book Award in 2011. She’s adorable.
    
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Laura, on March 30, 2012 at 8:55 pm said:

I would love love love to see the scene with the tall young man pretending he’s not looking for an agent.

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- Anonymous, on March 31, 2012 at 12:55 am said:
  
  Ditto.
  
  Sounds like a great party Betsy.
  
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Wry Wryter, on March 30, 2012 at 9:09 pm said:

I feel soooo… left behind, my ass is in front of me.

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DeborahCT, on March 30, 2012 at 9:33 pm said:

Why didn’t you guys spring for a nice hotel–or I am missing the point?

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- Rea, on March 30, 2012 at 10:00 pm said:
  
  you can be noisy in a crappy hotel, no?
  
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Terry DeHart, on March 31, 2012 at 12:21 pm said:

Thank you for sharing this nicely surreal celebration. Congrats again to John.

There’s no reason the publishing journey should be as sterile as it’s become, for most. Content providers know that the bottom line is best explored in crappy hotels.

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Frank, on March 31, 2012 at 10:10 pm said:

A fine celebration for a fine book, deserving congratulations all ’round.

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J.D., on April 2, 2012 at 12:01 am said:

Eric Clapton’s song is as close as I have ever been or will ever come to cocaine. Of course, I realize I wasn’t invited and it’s none of my business. I just have a different idea of heaven and I take a different route to get there.

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