February 10, 2004

Ann Vanderhoof, author of An Embarrassment of Mangoes, recounted on Sunday that when she was interviewing Farley Mowat many years ago he asked her if she was "a writer" too, meaning beyond the magazine she was working for. No, she replied. And then he asked her if she kept a journal or wrote letters, to which she replied yes. Then you're a writer, he said. Clearly, while that may be a start, it is not that simple. I think the other authors present and most of the audience knew this. Perhaps that is why her line was the shortest at the book signing afterwards.

Today I had a "boyz lunch" with Allan, Robinson and Justin at Walker Hill Korean BBQ and while being our usual silly selves we talked about what it would be like if we had a round table TV show where we simply held forth on current events and whatever was on our minds in our own inimitable way.

Tonight I shall dine with my lovely wife at 1055.