An extremely apologetic post

So. I did something stupid. I'm really sorry. 

The last blog I wrote, about how I had been here for almost three weeks, turned into news - and not in a good way. Man Flies 12000 Miles to Defy Lockdown sort of news. And I've managed to mess things up in Skye, which is the place I love most in the world.

So, to answer the questions I'm being asked most often right now:

What were you thinking? Why come back to the UK?

Because like so many other people, my homelife and work had been turned upside-down by the COVID-19 lockdowns. I was panicked, more than a little overwhelmed and stuck in New Zealand. I went to the UK government website (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice), trying to figure out what to do, and read:

I've been living in the UK since 2017, and all of my upcoming work is here - so 'you are strongly advised to return now' looked like the most important message. I waited until New Zealand was done with its strict lockdown, and took the first flight out. (And yes, the flights and airports were socially distanced, and, for the most part, deserted.)

Why go to Skye? Why not go somewhere else?

When I landed the whole of the UK was under lockdown rules.  I drove directly to my home in the UK, which is on Skye. I came straight here, and I've been in isolation here ever since.

What were you THINKING?

I wasn't, not clearly. I just wanted to go home.

Would you leave New Zealand again, knowing what you know now?

I got to chat to some local police officers yesterday, who said all things considered I should have stayed where I was safe in New Zealand, and I agreed that yes, all things considered, I should. Mostly they wanted to be sure I was all right, and had been isolating, and that I would keep isolating here until the lockdown ends, and to make sure I knew the rules. Like all the locals who have reached out to me, they've been astonishingly kind.

Since I got here Skye has had its own tragic COVID outbreak – ten deaths in a local care home. It's not set up to handle things like this, and all the local resources are needed to look after the local community. So, yes. I made a mistake. Don't do what I did. Don't come to the Highlands and Islands unless you have to.

I want to apologize to everyone on the island for creating such a fuss. I also want to thank and apologise to the local police, who had better things to do than check up on me. I'm sure I've done sillier things in my life, but this is the most foolish thing I've done in quite a while.

Labels: apologies

Tour Dates From a Vanishing Author

Sorry that I've been away. I am a bad blogger.

I've been putting off blogging until I had the details of the June AMERICAN GODS TENTH ANNIVERSARY tour, and the last date came in today. (Yes, I know I've mentioned some of these before, and some of them have been up on WHERE'S NEIL. But this is all of them together in one place.)

There's still some information I don't have. I am pretty sure that we'll do most of these events GRAVEYARD BOOK tour style -- do a really long event with lots of talking and reading and being interviewed and audience Q &A, with me pre-signing a few thousand books. It's possible that some of the events may actually have proper signings -- you'll need to ask them.

And an apology - the Washington DC date is already Sold Out. It sold out as soon as it was announced by the Press Club.

New York City – Tuesday, June 21 at 8:00pm. (Was sold out but they have opened the balcony so there are seats again.)
Address: 92nd Street Y, Kaufmann Concert Hall, Lexington Ave @ 92nd Street.
(Link: http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.asp?productid=T-LC5AE34)

Portsmouth, NH – Wednesday, June 22 at 7:30pm.
Address: The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, NH 03801
Hosted by RiverRun Bookstore,The Music Hall and New Hampshire Public Radio.
(Link: http://www.themusichall.org/calendar/event/neil_gaiman)

Washington, DC – Thursday, June 23 at 6:30 pm SOLD OUT. SORRY.
Address: National Press Club, 529 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20045
Hosted by Barnes & Noble.
(Link: http://www.press.org/neilgaiman)
(The Press Club will be selling signed books, though, through their website.)

Minneapolis/ St Paul - Friday, June 24 - 8:00pm
WITS at the Fitzgerald Theatre, 10 E. Exchange St.; St. Paul MN
With Musical Guest Josh Ritter
John Moe and John Munson in charge
(I think there's a real signing after this one, although there will, I hope, also be pre-signed books for those who do not want to wait.)
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/programs/wits/
There are still some tickets at http://fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org/tickets/box_office.shtml

(Local controversy about WITS including how much I am being paid to appear and who I am giving the money to at http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2011/05/gaiman_to_make.shtml)


Seattle – Sunday, June 26 at 7:00pm.
Address: Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave. Seattle WA 98101.
Hosted by University Book Store.
(Link: http://www.bookstore.washington.edu/events/events.taf?page=201106

Technically their tickets go on sale on the 21st but call 1800-3357323 (University Bookstore) & they'll take your order for tickets &/or the book. They'll also take your reservation.)

San Francisco – Monday, June 27 at 7:30pm SOLD OUT. SORRY.
Address: First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA
Hosted by Booksmith
(Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/179279

info: http://www.booksmith.com, and http://berkeleyarts.org)

Los Angeles - Tuesday, June 28 at 8:00pm
Address: Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(Tickets: http://rarebirdlit.myshopify.com/products/neil-gaiman-at-saban-theatre.

Info on www.sabantheatre.org and www.rarebirdlit.com)

Given the jaw-dropping speed with which some of these events have already sold out, or have nearly sold out, I suggest getting tickets early if you're thinking of going, and not putting it off until later.

....

The American Gods illustration above is from http://ka-ha-si.blogspot.com/2011/05/storm-is-coming.html and I loved it.


...

AUDIES 2011

I was thrilled to learn that the Audiobook of STORIES won the Audie Award for Best Short Story Collection -- congratulations to readers Anne Bobby, Jonathan Davis, Peter Francis James, Katherine Kellgren and Euan Morton.

...

Here's a really fun DOCTOR WHO interview that Charlie McDonnell did with me when I was in Cardiff last year:



Charlie is really nice. He also makes great videos and I like his music.

...

This is a great list of Things You Should Think About Reading in Genre: http://yetistomper.blogspot.com/2011/05/for-win-guide-to-2011s-best-of-best.html

...

Right now I'm hiding out in a house borrowed from friends, more or less off the internet (on a very old, slow, practically unworkable steam-driven local internet that probably still has valves, or even sprockets) to get some writing done for people who are waiting patiently for things.

It's fun, beautiful, I swam today for the first time in ages, tomorrow I have promised myself a run on the beach (if I put it down here it has to happen). But mostly I'm just writing.

Last week my glorious wife came out to the Midwest to visit me at home. (So far this year I've always gone to Boston or Brooklyn to be with her, or we've coincided in Mexico and Tasmania and such.) It was wonderful just spending quiet time together, and being with her and with my son Mike, his lady Courtney (Mike just moved to Chicago from San Francisco) and my youngest daughter Maddy.

We cuddled and talked and walked and talked and caught up, and on Monday we failed to go off with Sharon and Bill to inspect the bees because we were still cuddling and talking (fortunately I can check Sharon's Birdchick Blog and see that everyone's doing fine). I'm so curious about the Russian bees. We've gone from three Russian hives to two (we combined two hives into one, using the newspaper method).

And then, all too soon, it was over. It gets harder to say goodbye to Amanda each time, and we're still figuring out how two busy people who are on the road too much can be together as much as possible. We spent time on this trip staring at our calendars and working out times and ways we could match velocity. At some point this year we may go on the road together, we've decided.

It's going to be really hard when she makes her next album, and goes on the road for 18 months to promote it.

For now, you can get an idea of Amanda's schedule over the next few months, and some hints at a couple of not-yet-formally announced events of mine, including a London one, at http://blog.amandapalmer.net/post/6092365751/my-new-evil-plans-tour-dates-in-states-uk

...

Former Web-Elf Olga Nunes' plans to take over the world, or at least make art in it, continue to grow. I love the photo at http://olganunes.com/2011/05/post.php, (along with the ad from Kevin Smith's podcast for her LAMP project).

Matt Cheney's Sandman reactions and thoughts continue to be worth reading and following. The latest is "Soft Places", the Marco Polo story: http://www.boomtron.com/2011/05/sandman-neil-gaiman-meditations-fables-reflections-soft-places/. I hope he collects them one day.

Also pleased to see that they are inspiring discussion and thought. Cheryl Morgan takes Matt to task for a comment in an earlier review, while writing (from my perspective, anyway) the most perceptive and accurate summary of Wanda's role in A Game of You I've seen so far at http://www.cheryl-morgan.com/?page_id=10825.

Right. I need to go and make art.

...

Here's a photo from the last time I was here, eighteen months ago, with Amanda and Cabal.

He was teaching her Yoga on the beach.



And finally, Weird Things Customers Say In Bookshops. One bookseller's list. So funny. So sad. So strangely similar to things booksellers have told me all around the world. Read it and sigh.

Labels: american gods tenth anniversary edition, apologies, downward-facing dog, looking-off-to-the-side dog, Sandman, tour

leaving manila

Sorry I haven't updated -- The Philippines has been a bit hectic. Am still alive, all is good, and I'll try to write a longer blog entry than this on the plane tomorrow...

Labels: apologies

No Bookworm, I'm afraid

I was just told the Bookworm appearance in Beijing for tomorrow has been cancelled -- I'm not quite sure why or by whom or whether this was a Harper Collins decision or a Bookworm decision or (most probably) a series of miscommunications between the two: I was told yesterday that Bookworm "will not allow signing of books there since it is quite a few companies are involved," and then, a few hours later, told that I wasn't going. My apologies to anyone who was planning on being there to see me. Currently the only signing in Beijing is tomorrow at 9:30 am at the Book Fair.

I just did an interview with CCTV-9, along with a local literature professor and the director of the British Council, and I'll post here when I find out when it'll be broadcast.

Labels: apologies, Beijing, China