Last weekend I attended the Texas Book Festival.  Saw friends, including former columnist John Anders and his wife

With Texas Atty General, Greg Abbott. We'll add more photos to the gallery and Facebook!

Helen Bryant-Anders, who’s a feature writer for the Austin Statesman.  She had just finished RAINWATER and wanted to talk about that.  But I had to share the stage, so to speak, with Ryan.

She’d also read his galley for PLAY DEAD.  When asked what kind of twisted mother raised a son who wanted to write about a football team of zombies, I blamed it on Michael’s side of the family — Bad Brown Blood.  I also got to chat with another pal, screen writer, Bill Wittliff.  (Legends of the Fall, Perfect Storm, Lonesome Dove.)

Emceeing the festival banquet was my friend Bob Shieffer of CBS news, who introduced me to the audience and gave me a terrific plug.  Seated at my table was Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott.

Following my program on Saturday morning, I signed books in the authors’
tent.  In my line was a woman who’d come all the way from Yorba Linda, CALIFORNIA, just to meet me!!  I was stunned by this level of loyalty.
She’d seen on my website that I was going to be in Austin and made a point to be there.  Thank you, Elaine Mock!  It was such a pleasure to meet you.  You can see a photo of Elaine and me in the previous blog post!