Riverside Cocktail?
If there were a Riverside Cocktail, what would it be?
Last night, I had the great pleasure of entering yet another world (yeah, I kinda collect them), as my Swordspoint audiobook* producer, Sue Zizza, took me as her guest to the Audio Publisher's Association (APA) fall mixer.** It was upstairs in a bar on W. 54th St - a glorious schmoozefest of Voice Talent (big names like Barbara Rosenblatt & Katherine Kellgren, aspiring beginners hoping to get noticed, and solid citizens including our own Joyce Feuring, who was so terrific in our Witches of Lublin [as was Rosenblatt]) and publishers & producers - including the lovely Tim Ditlow of Brilliance Audio, fresh - and enthusiastic - from recording Holly Black ( blackholly) reading her own The Poison Eaters collection!
I'd been told to listen for possible voices for Swordspoint - but it was a big room with a loud sound system - by the end, my heart - not to mention my throat - ached for all the people who earn their livings by their voice being forced to shout at the top of their lungs just to say, "Hi, how are you?" for 2 hours.
But anyway: I also got to meet my company's executive producer - who justabout made me cry by placing her hand over her heart and saying, "I've just finished Swordspoint. You are the Edith Wharton of fantasy!"***
We then got down to the serious business of PR. "What's the drink in Swordspoint?" she asked. "Beer," my engineer (David Shinn) and I chorused. We contemplated various boutique beer labels someone could create. Then we got down to the serious question of the Swordspoint Cocktail.
Yes, I have an idea - but I want to hear yours, first!
And, yes - whatever it is, there will be a little plastic sword.
*Patience, patience . . . I should be able to announce the distributor & release date in just a few weeks! We are still recording.
** Yeah, I know - I thought that, too. But this time, the boys didn't all stay on one side of the room leaning against the wall. #cashbar
*** When I told this to Delia, she grinned: "Here's your elevator pitch, at last: 'My book is the love child of Alexandre Dumas & Edith Wharton!'"