November 25, 2012

THE PRESLEY PLOT MAKES HISTORY!!

THIS BETTER BE GOOD SINCE I USED TWO EXCLAMATION POINTS!! Well, actually, it is very, very good. For the first time since the Bronze Age (or maybe it was the Iron Age) Aberdeen Bay Press, the world’s foremost publisher of brilliant mystery novels, has decided to publish a SECOND EDITION of a book within a six month period!! (There are those two exclamation points again.) Would you like to guess the name of this best-selling book? That’s right….. THE PRESLEY PLOT!

Due to popular demand (and the fact that Amazon.com only has 3 copies left!) the publisher is re-issuing my book. And here’s the best part…. they have gone through the book with a fine tooth comb and corrected every spelling and typographical error that was in the first edition! Soooooo….. if you need a wonderful, enchanting, entertaining novel for the holiday gift giving season (and you can’t find FIFTY SHADES OF GRAY) zip on over to Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com and order you brand new, fully revised copy of THE PRESLEY PLOT. (Your brain will thank you!) Incidentally….. the new edition already has a pre-order of over 200 books!! So remember, he who hesitates, is lost!

If you are one of the lovely young ladies who is awaiting a book (Ms. Baum and Mrs. Isler) be patient! I will send one along as soon as they become available!

NOW FOR SOME OTHER ELVIS NEWS…….

Did you know that there is a “Little Graceland” in Texas? True enough. In the Rio Grande Valley town of Los Fresnos, Simon Vega curates a treasure trove of Elvis memorabilia at his LITTLE GRACELAND MUSEUM. (Mr. Vega actually served in the Army with Elvis!) The museum has pictures of Elvis, Elvis albums, Elvis 45’s (not the pistols) Elvis statues, Elvis mugs, and Elvis enchiladas. (Just joshing about the food.) In any case, the museum is open Thursday thru Sunday. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment. The next “Elvis Festivale” is set for January, 12, 2013, so if you’re in the area, swing by and join the fun. I have spent some time down in the Valley and can honestly say that it is a warm and charming location…. and the residents are simply wonderful.

NOW FOR SOME FINAL, EXCITING NEWS…….

Keep your eyes and ears focused on The New York Times, Fox News, Variety, and Popular Mechanics, for some very exciting news concerning the SECOND ADAM GOLD MYSTERY NOVEL! That’s right, my friends, book number two will be available in the not-too-distant future! The book is titled, MURDER ON MAIDEN LANE. This time around, Adam Gold will become entangled in a hunt for Captain Kidd’s treasure! The book has already received some glowing reviews, and if you believe the literary pundits, it is destined to become another best selling mystery novel. I shall, as they say, keep you apprised of the situation!

Until then, I remain, your humble correspondent. (Which is better than being a bumbling despondent.) Love to all …..

Doc Yanoff

November 21, 2012

GOBBLE GOBBLE!

HAPPY HOLIDAY! Did you know that the very first Thanksgiving was held in a car? Yep, in a PLYMOUTH! (The Pilgrims couldn’t afFORD anything else and they didn’t want to DODGE the party!) You can’t make these things up, folks. (Well, actually you can, but I won’t go there.) Anyway, a lot of Americans think this wonderful holiday has something to do with Captain John Smith and his main squeeze Pocahontas, but that is simply not the case. I will admit that Captain Smith (almost) lost his head over her, but that’s only because he was rude. (He kept pointing at her during dinner and then, after some cheap corn whiskey, he tried to poke her with his index finger. You should never,ever, poke a hontas!

As you can see, I know a great deal about indigent people. (Poor Indians) Did you know that Pocahontas was the daughter of Powhatan? Did you know that her uncle lived in New York City? (Yeah, his name was MANHATTAN) Did you know that one of her descendants was Nancy Reagan? (This is actually true.) But enough about her….. let’s get to the great holiday known for peace, love, and wonderful sales at the mall.

Interestingly, seven other nations celebrate THANKSGIVING! (Originally a day to celebrate a good harvest.) I, of course, celebrate life, liberty, family, friends, and steadily increasing sales of THE PRESLEY PLOT. (Do I have my priorities straight, or what?) We can all thank (no pun intended) FDR for making the day official. At his urging, Congress agreed to the 4th Thursday in November. FDR was an interesting fellow. Did you know that he was the first president to play Texas Hold ‘Em Poker? Sure, don’t you remember the NEW DEAL?

He also started the tradition of “pardoning” a turkey. (To make sure the herd continued.) This year our president intends to pardon Susan Rice! (Hey, come on, that was funny!)

Thanksgiving at our house in very, well, international. How so? We have a TURKEY, sitting in GREECE, and there are people with ROMAN hands and RUSSIAN fingers waiting for the bird to arrive. Last year my wife burnt the stuffing, which stuck to the bird. I had to kick the stuffing out of that fowl weather friend, but we did have a tasty meal. By the way, speaking of reasons to celebrate….. TODAY WAS THE BIG DAY! On this day, in 1955, ELVIS signed his contract with RCA, which included all of the famous sound tracks from Sun Studios in Memphis. I’m not sure if Elvis sold many records (ha ha) but I do know that the contract stipulated that the King produce eight sides per year, and that he received a 5% royalty. (Which is half of what I get from Aberdeen Bay Publishing.)

Well, I must go do some prep work for the big meal, so I will say goodbye until we meet again. I have sooooo much to be thankful for this year, and I know that most of you do too. We have a bunch of loved ones coming for dinner and when they all get here, I intend to remind everyone that our Founding Father (George Washington) put it best when he said that our young country should use the day “as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God.”

Well said, General! Be grateful! Be thankful! Be well!

Happy Thanksgiving and love to all…..

Doc Yanoff (The Prince of Puritans!)

November 11, 2012

SPEAKING OF TEXAS…..

“I SORTA GOT MY START IN TEXAS,” A reflective Elvis Presley told reporters at Dallas’ Love Field in August 1958. The King was on his way to Fort Hood at the time (to complete his basic training) and he told the reporters that just a few years earlier, a largely unknown ELVIS had thrilled audiences throughout the Lone Star State. In fact, one of Presley’s first shows was held in the East Texas town of Gladewater. (A charming hamlet that I visited several years ago, while I was doing some research for THE PRESLEY PLOT) Just for the record, I discovered that Elvis played more than a hundred shows in Texas from 1954 to 1956, arguably the most important years of his long career.

Since I am now a world renowned author of sorts (I said “sort of”) I would highly recommend that my brilliant blog followers check out a couple of books on the subject to satisfy their own curiosity about the King’s early years. Mr. Stanley Oberst (of Waco) has written two little gems titled ELVIS IN TEXAS and ELVIS PRESLEY: ROCKIN’ ACROSS TEXAS. These delightful books are most interesting and informative, and when combined with a revised edition of THE PRESLEY PLOT, make up the world’s greatest trilogy of Elvis Presley books. (According to the author of the last book mentioned.)

Incidentally, since I often mention and thank the many Elvis Presley Fan Clubs that have supported my book and blog, I would like to present you with some interesting trivia…… Did you folks know that the very first Elvis Presley Fan Club, founded by 17-year-old Dallasite Kay Wheeler, was formed in February, 1956?? Did you know that nine months later the club had over 5,000 members?? Did you know that she actually reviewed on the King’s Cotton Bowl performances?? Did you know that it’s not necessary to use two question marks at the end of a sentence??

Well, there you have it friends. Enough Elvis info to fill a trunk….. and speaking of trunks….. My darling Rachel (Eldest Daughter) is now on Safari in deepest, darkest Africa, surrounded by herds of elephants. (You’ve heard of Elephants, right?) I hope she packed her own trunk and brought a rifle. Her new hubby, Adam Zell, made friends with a Zulu war chief (who just happened to be a Pittsburgh Steelers fan) and the two of them went looking for Tarzan and Jane one night. (No telling what those crazy kids were up to.) Anyway, Adam sent me a most unusual telegram, which I would like to share with my readers:

WESTERN UNION. NOV. 9, 2012.

ARRIVED IN CAPE TOWN. STOP. NICE TOWN. STOP. VERY FEW CAPES. STOP. HAD TO USE MEN’S ROOM. STOP. NO PUBLIC TOILETS. STOP. HAD TO TAKE A PITH. STOP. USED PITH HELMET. STOP. LAST NIGHT WAS CRAZY. STOP. SHOT A LION IN MY PAJAMAS. STOP. HOW HE GOT IN MY PAJAMAS IS A MYSTERY. STOP. MUST LEAVE YOU NOW. STOP. HAVING AUTHENTIC AFRICAN LUNCH. STOP. BOILED MISSIONARY. STOP. I COULD MAKE MORE JOKES, BUT I’M SURE THAT YOU WANT ME TO ……STOP!!!

Ah, to be young and in love! Sounds like the lovebirds are having fun. Glad I took my credit cards back.

Thanks for tuning in this morning! I hope you all have a joyous Sunday and a productive work week. I will write again soon…..

Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

November 5, 2012

IT’S NOW OR NEVER!

GOTCHA! You thought I was referring to our presidential election, right? Well, I’m not. Kindly remember that this is, after all, first and foremost a site dedicated to enriching me as an author, I mean, enlightening the world about Elvis Presley. (One of the two!)

In any case, I was referring to the song “It’s Now or Never,” which reached the number one spot in the U.K. on this very day in 1960. I thought it was rather appropriate, considering our upcoming election. Please….. regardless of who you vote for….vote! A strong democracy depends on an informed and engaged electorate…. and please remember to spell my last name correctly…. there are two “f’s” in my last name. (and several more on my report cards!)

I mention the above only because I assume that most of you will be voting for me again. If not, I want my five dollars back. (and you will have no chance of being mentioned in the next “Acknowledgement Section.”) By the way, the next mystery novel, MURDER ON MAIDEN LANE, was just reviewed (albeit informally) by one of our local best-selling authors….. and the verdict was quite pleasant. Our semi-famous reviewer actually liked it better than THE PRESLEY PLOT! (Same as the Nobel Prize crowd!)

In all (or most) seriousness, this bodes well and I will be quite anxious to see what the publisher thinks. I should know something by the end of the month. (I know a few things now, but they have nothing to do with publishing.)

For those of you who are following the honeymoon adventures of my eldest daughter Rachel, I am happy to report that she and Adam have landed safely in London and are happily ensconced at the lovely Egerton House Hotel in Kensington. The amazing hotel staff greeted them en masse and were sweet enough to provide some complimentary champagne for the love-birds! After a brief nap, the kids intend to hit the ground running, which should be quite interesting with Rachel in charge. (Miss Rachel actually lived in London one or two summers, and she knows the city quite well.) Do not be surprised if Adam winds up in the Tower of London!!

For you ELVIS PRESLEY FAN CLUB MEMBERS…… I will be speaking and signing books at a fan club meeting in Waco, Texas, on Wednesday. You can get the details by checking your fan club mail box. (A notice was sent to all clubs yesterday.) The heading reads, “The Presley Plot Thickens!” All are welcome and there will be plenty of books to purchase. Hope to see you there!

Well, now that Rachel is in England, I am dog-sitting Baker….. and he has just signaled me that it is time to head for the dog park! (Don’t ask how) So….. I need to go and find his leash. (I really wish he would stop hiding the darn thing!) I enjoy having a granddog, but he always needs to go when I’m writing. (Hey, do you think he’s trying to tell me something?) Bad dog! It’s only a “ruff draft!” (I had to get in one doggie joke.)

Take care and enjoy our lovely weather……. Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

November 1, 2012

THE ROYAL WEDDING!

NO, I AM NOT REFERRING TO PRINCE WILLIAM AND CATHERINE MIDDLETON!

Although, they did have a nice affair. I am referring to my own princess….. MISS RACHEL S. YANOFF! Who has recently been wed and is now going by the name of Rachel Zell. As I’m sure you’ve guessed by now, my eldest daughter got married last Sunday! Her hubby’s last name is Zell, which means that she is now FURTHER back in the alphabet! (I don’t think she can get any further, thank God.) The Grand Affair was held on a picture perfect day in Austin. Sunny and mid-seventies. Not a cloud in the sky. The entire event was held at a private mansion on the shores of Lake Austin, which, thankfully, was completely filled with water and even had some lovely white swans swimming behind the marriage platform!

We were all thrilled that most of our guests from the east and Florida were able to attend. (Hurricane Sandy made things a little dicey for some.) Nonetheless, Rachel and Adam had a beautiful ceremony and then partied late into the night under a magnificent tent specially erected for their wedding. The food, music, and most of all the company, were nothing short of marvelous. The attendees drank tons of wine (always a good thing) and danced continuously.

One of the many highlights (aside from my minor accident with the gold cart) was the round of toasts that folks gave on behalf of the bride and groom. My toast was typically brilliant, but the best toast was given by Rachel’s gorgeous sister, Rebecca. OMG, did she hit a home run! She was cool, calm, and articulate……. and funny as hell. Miss Rebecca had everyone (including her father!) in stitches revealing some of Rachel’s “deep, dark secrets” of childhood. The lady is a natural born speaker. The Best Man also gave a fantastic speech. As a former collegiate speech teacher, I gave them both a grade of A. (Now they have to study for the mid-term!)

In case you’re wondering, I did manage to sneak in a mention of THE PRESLEY PLOT! I told the assembled guests that I felt funny giving a long speech, so with their permission, I would just read my ENTIRE novel! (I then offered to curtail my reading to the first 10 chapters.) Surprisingly, there were no takers. Ah well, a “profit” is never appreciated in his own land.

This coming Saturday, Rachel and Adam are off on their honeymoon. Those crazy kids are flying to London to stay at my favorite hotel in Europe (The Egerton House in Kensington) and then after 3 or 4 days in jolly old England, they are flying to Cape Town, South Africa! The city is incredibly lovely, and while they are there, they plan to go on a mid-week jungle safari! (After being around my family the last few days you would think they had their fill of wild animals!) But noooooo…… they want to see some Lions and Elephants and Zebras and other creatures of the brush. (I hope they meet Tarzan.) I knew Adam liked “games,” but in a jungle??) To each their own.

Now that the wedding bills are rolling in, I would urge you to buy hundreds of copies of THE PRESLEY PLOT to help defray the costs of this lovely event. (Nice try, Steve.) All right, never mind the books, how about remembering me in your prayers? Do they still send debtors to Australia? Hey, that would be a great way to get a free trip down under. Just file for personal bankruptcy and then start packing! God, I’m so smart… why didn’t I think of that earlier?

Well, G’Day, mates, I’m off to file Chapter 11 and pack my scuba gear for the Great Barrier Reef. I will write whence I land in Sydney, or with Sydney if he wants to come along. Until then, I remain your faithful outback guide and Aboriginal Author……

Love to all,

Crocodile Yandee (a/k/a Doc Yanoff)

October 21, 2012

BREAKING NEWS!

WHO NEEDS NORWAY? I say no way, Norway, you can keep that dang Nobel Prize for Boring Literature….. I have some really exciting news!

As some (most?) of you know, I was sailing through the Panama Canal on the day that the publisher sent me the final galleys for THE PRESLEY PLOT. Since I was preparing for a prolonged jungle trip (To visit the Embera Indians) my mind was on survival gear and head-hunting techniques, and so I did a VERY poor job of proofreading my own manuscript! Nobody to blame but myself, although I still think the tribal witch doctor put a curse on me. (He was a Jerry Lee Lewis fan.)

Anyway….. the good folks at Aberdeen Bay Publishing, having completely sold out of all the first editions of THE PRESLEY PLOT (and recognizing genius when they see it) have kindly agreed to make ALL OF THE CORRECTIONS for the second edition! For me, this is wonderful news. I was really annoyed that I did such a poor job proofreading, but now I have a chance to redeem myself. Frankly, this is probably the only reason that I did not win the Nobel Prize. (What else could it be?) In any case, the second edition will be out shortly and available on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Googlebooks.com, etc. If you bought a first edition and want to trade it in, just let me know and I will be happy to make an exchange. (I intend to give the first editions to a charitable organization.) However, I understand that error laden books are actually valuable if and when the author becomes famous….. think of the stamps that are so valuable because of printing errors. So…. you might want to hold on to your first copy.

And since we are on the subject of publishing….. the brilliant acquisitions editor at Aberdeen Bay Books (who is also an accomplished author) has requested that I promptly forward a copy of my second mystery novel titled….. MURDER ON MAIDEN LANE. I am hoping to hear something positive in a month or so, and I will keep you informed of my progress. Keep your fingers (and some of your toes) crossed for me! My editor, a wonderful professional named Karl Monger, actually enjoyed the second book more than the first, which is a very good sign. Of course, as you know by now, there are no guarantees in the competitive world of publishing.

Finally, I would like to remind those that live in or near Austin, that I will be a featured speaker/panelist at a mystery writers seminar this coming Wednesday. The event is being sponsored by the Austin Literary Salon. The location of the event will be at Wildflower Terrace Apartments, 3801 Berkman Drive. (In their main auditorium) The festivities begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. As I mentioned previously, there will be a panel discussion, a Q & A session, and then a book reading and book signing. Admission is almost free, and a gourmet dinner prepared by a world famous French chef will be available. (For the modest sum of $12,000 per person, not including wine.) What a bargain! What a steal! Buy a book! Get a meal!

All right, enough with the marketing routine. If you’re free, come down and join the fun. You will not be disappointed. They are expecting a sold out crowd, so plan to arrive by 6 p.m. if you want to get a good seat. (And remember to ask me some easy questions and laugh at all of my dumb jokes!)

Well, I’m off to get ready for another Sunday function with some of my major blog followers up in Round Rock. Mrs. Helena Bomblatus (a charming and lovely woman from Portugal) is hosting an elaborate (and authentic) dinner party, featuring gourmet goodies from the Azores. She is quite the chef, and I am anxiously awaiting her most recent culinary creation. It will also be nice to be surrounded by a fawning bunch of psychopaths, I mean, sycophants, who think I’m the best thing since white bread. Ah, the price of fame. Well, it’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it. (I can really sympathize with Brad Pitt.)

Have a wonderful Sunday and be careful out there…..

Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

October 17, 2012

INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY!

IF YOU WRITE MYSTERY NOVELS…. which I do, and you travel internationally, which I just did, would you be considered an international man of mystery? Groovy, baby! I thought so, too. And frankly, that’s better than being an international house of pancakes. (Certainly better than eating there!) The reason I ask is that I am contemplating a trip to Oslo, Norway, to supervise the voting re-count of the Nobel Prize for Literature. I still find it hard to believe that THE PRESLEY PLOT lost out to some hack story from Viet Nam or Ghana or Paraguay or wherever the heck that writer came from. (I don’t trust those Third World judges…. look at the last Miss Universe Contest. Miss Maldives wins? What’s that about?)

Speaking of international delights….. I would like to say “szia” to Miss Monika Leipniker, a beautiful and brilliant young lady from Hungary. I met Monika on my last trip to London and was very impressed by her keen wit and literary insight. (Which means she liked my book!) “Hogy vagy?” (How are you?) I hope all is well in Jolly Old England…. and remember, if it gets too cold in London, you’re welcome to come to Austin, Texas!

And since we’re on the subject of moving to Austin….. If any of my worldwide followers are planning a move to our lovely city, you must get your hands on a copy of the AUSTIN RELOCATION GUIDE….. the brainchild of a local genius (and world-class poker player) named Kevin Evans. Mr. E publishes a wonderful guide to our city, and in my humble view, it is definitely the place to start if you’re planning to relocate. (And let’s face it, the whole world wants to live in Austin…. except Miss Maldives.) You can reach my buddy Kevin at Kevans@argpub.com

Before I close, I would also like to welcome a few more Elvis Presley Fan Clubs.

THESE CLUBS ARE THE MAIN REASON THAT MY BLOG NOW HAS CLOSE TO 3,000 FOLLOWERS IN 37 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES!!

(Which is why I capitalized the entire sentence!)

So….. A big thank you to….. Itsonlylove4thepresleys@yahoogroups.com….. Bigethehounddogs@yahoogroups.com….. Crazy4Elvis42@yahoogroups.com….. and last, but not least, Elivslovemetender@hotmail.com

Incidentally, on October 16, 1956 (Yesterday) the Elvis Presley film “Love Me Tender” premiered in the good old U.S.A. (How’s that for timing?)

Well, time to walk the grand-dog….. Have a wonderful day and be careful out there….. Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

October 14, 2012

FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

I don’t know about you, but I think about food all of the time. (Except when I’m eating.) So….. I was very happy to celebrate my recent poker victory at a wonderful new Hill Country restaurant called VERDE’S MEXICAN PARILLA. (Parilla means “grill.”) Unlike THE PRESLEY PLOT, there’s no cover, but they do have a great story to tell. Cody Kidwell is the amazingly talented chef, and if you ever want to sample the best bacon wrapped quail on earth, then drive over to Hamilton Pool Road and pull up a chair on their lovely outdoor patio. (And don’t forget to order the tequila cheesecake!)

Now for some Elvis Presley Food Trivia…..

What was the King’s favorite snack?

A. Priscilla Presley

B. Possum & grits

C. Peanut butter, banana, and bacon sandwich

If you chose A or B we need to talk. The correct answer is C. (Everyone knows that Elvis was a health nut.)

And since we’re on the subject of Elvis Presley, I wish to extend a warm welcome to our newest Elvis Presley Fan Club groups….. Elvisworld@yahoogroups.com…..Kostas20052002@yahoogroups.com…..Elviest_ Group@yahoogroups.com…. and Elvis_101@yahoogroups.com

If you get a chance, please support these wonderful groups by leaving them a nice message. They all do a great job of keeping the memory of Elvis alive. Thanks again, folks!

By the way, I haven’t mentioned the Nobel Prize for Literature (and my apparent snub) because I have requested a re-count of the votes from a guy named Sven. (I will keep you “posted” on the outcome.) In the meantime, please join my Norwegian boycott by not eating pickled herring or grilled reindeer. (This should be fairly easy.)

Have a great week and be careful out there!

Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

October 7, 2012

LIFE IS A MYSTERY! (WHAT A “NOVEL” CONCEPT!)

OF COURSE, SOME DAYS ARE MORE MYSTERIOUS THAN OTHERS……

For instance, Wednesday, October 24th will be a VERY mysterious day. How so you ask? Well, I’m glad you asked. On that very day (actually, at night, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) yours truly will be a featured author/speaker/lecturer/know-it-all at the Austin Literary Salon!

So, you might ask, who are these folks? Well, since you asked, these are the wonderful folks who sponsor famous (and infamous) authors who live and work in the great state of Texas. Brilliant, creative, handsome, and modest writers like me. Shy types who feel funny about tooting their own horns. (Or here in Austin, Longhorns.) Writers like little old Stephen G. Yanoff, author of THE PRESLEY PLOT!

That’s right, for some inexplicable reason known only to God, I have been invited to discuss reading, writing, and arithmetic. (The math of making money in publishing.) Lord knows I have made a small fortune over the years. (The key word here being “small.”) Nevertheless, my expertise is sorely lacking, I mean, sorely needed. I am truly honored by the invitation and look forward to putting my best foot forward. In fact, I intend to show off both of my feet. (I’m no heel, though!) However, I do have a lot of “sole.” (How did I get on shoe jokes, anyway?)

Anyway, I will be participating in a mystery writers panel at the Wildflower Terrace Apartments in East Austin. (Located at lovely 3801 Berkman Drive, Austin, Texas.) The event will be held in their brand new auditorium and seats are on a first-come, first-seat basis….. so get there early for a good seat! Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and they are expecting a huge turnout due to guest speakers that will be present. (i.e., ME!) I understand that I will be forced to share the stage with Helen Ginger, one of the brains behind the Writers’ League of Texas and an author herself. Oh well, I’ll have to play nice and let her say a few words. Maybe I’ll hand her the microphone and say, “I’ve talked enough about myself, Helen. What do you think of me?”

Yeah, there’s an idea!

By the way, the Wildflower Terrace Apartments are located on the corner of Manor Road and Berkman. (At the entrance of the old Mueller Airport on I-35.) If you need more information, steal a copy of the Austin American-Statesman or find a copy of the Austin Chronicle that isn’t stained with picante sauce. You can also look for details in the book review section of the New York Times. (You can look, but you won’t find anything.) I wouldn’t buy any one of those Commie rags myself, but it’s your call. Frankly, if you need directions, you can always send me an email and I will get back to you in several weeks. (If I’m not playing video poker.)

Incidentally, the evening will include a panel discussion (why we’re discussing panels, I have no idea), a book reading, and an opportunity to actually buy a copy of THE PRESLEY PLOT and have it autographed by me! What joy! What fun! What royalties! (Hey, I never said I wanted to be a starving artist.)

Attendees are welcome to bring a camera or video recorder. (We’ll see what “develops.”) You can also throw under garments on the stage if you are so inclined, however, please note that this offer does NOT apply to ANY of my male friends or neighbors. Sorry, guys, we gotta draw the line somewhere.

In all seriousness, I hope to see you there! Most importantly, you will get to meet the charming and talented Terri Schexnayder, the organizer of this event and one of the remarkable women who make Austin such a great place to live and work. Trust me, you will love every moment!

Take care… and love to all.

Doc Yanoff

September 30, 2012

LOVE THY NEIGHBORS!

I sure do! Especially after our recent book reading/book signing block party, held yesterday on Merrywing Circle in lovely Austin, Texas. We had a great turnout, and much to my surprise, I was the featured entertainment!

Bowing to popular demand (some were just kneeling) I read several excerpts from my new mystery novel THE PRESLEY PLOT. Much to my delight, nobody booed or threw any food, so I went on to discuss the perils and pitfalls of modern day publishing.

After a thunderous round of applause (Yes, it was raining) I held a Q & A (Question and Answer) session, and that too went quite well. In fact, it was the first time I’ve held such a session outside of a police department, and I found it very educational. There were some great questions. I answered all of them as honestly as I could, but I did make up the part about me being nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. (Nobody challenged me, so I threw in the Oscar and Emmy for good measure.)

As a token of my appreciation to our hosts, the lovely and talented Erika Lima, and her brilliant and sophisticated husband Francisco, I brought a bag filled with books and gave each neighbor an autographed copy of THE PRESLEY PLOT. (Two wanted money, but they settled for the book.) Our neighbors were simply overjoyed, but just between you and me, I think a few of them thought that I was Stephen King.)

Nevertheless, a wonderful time was had by all. The event was sort of a “pot luck” deal, meaning that each neighbor brought a different dish and some liquid refreshments tailored toward adults. (i.e., booze) Patty’s pasta was the hit of the party, but all of the food was good, and so was the company.

One neighbor told me that if I was ever in his area I should drive by his house.

Hey, what did he mean by that?

Well, buckeroos, I have some gardening to do, so I must bid you farewell.

Keep those cards and letters coming and remember never to squat with your spurs on!

Happy trails!

Doc Yanoff