Larry Karp's Books

        You think an author's work is done when the book is written and published? No way. That's when the work begins. First, you write...then you promote.
        So, right after his debut appearance at Seattle Mystery Bookshop, Larry and wife, Myra, took off to visit Arizona and California. First stop was Wednesday evening at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, where Larry sat on a panel with fellow-authors Marcia Talley and Deb Baker, and fielded questions and comments from Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen. A highlight of the appearance was a visit with Larry's high school classmate of fifty years ago, Sue Todd, who now lives in Scottsdale. Before leaving Scottsdale, Larry took the opportunity to get some editorial direction for his current book from Barbara Peters, who also happens to be his editor at the Poisoned Pen Press.
        Thursday, Larry and Myra visited with Mike Hayes, another Poisoned Pen author who lives in Tucson. Then they spent a pleasant hour, signing at the Clues Unlimited Bookstore.
        Friday morning, the travelers were heading west on Rt. 8; they stopped for a quick walk through Yuma, then headed on to San Diego for an evening appearance at Mysterious Galaxy. Old Home Week continued, as Larry visited with another Montclair College High School transplant, Barrie Grossman.
        The weekend featured two-a-days in the Los Angeles area, starting with Book Carnival in Orange, then The Mystery Bookstore in Westwood, Borders in Pasadena, and Book'Em in South Pasadena. The discussion at Book'Em was especially lively, since the audience included Allen LaVinger, a knowledgeable and enthusiastic ragtime fan, and Mark, a young man with a good deal of knowledge regarding the difficulties Blacks had to deal with in the entertainment field, since his grandmother was a (Black) opera singer.
        While in Los Angeles, Larry and Myra took time to visit with Larry's sister, Kate, who lives in Long Beach, and her author-friend, Jim Dawson, known as The Literary King of Flatulence, whose titles include Who Cut the Cheese? A Cultural History of the Fart, and Blame It on the Dog: A Modern History of the Fart.
         Altogether, a busy weekend. The ride up to northern California felt almost like down time. Then, the travelers spent a day with son Casey and daughter-in-law Maggie in Richmond; as always, Casey set Larry up with a couple of computer fixes. Wednesday, it was back down to San Mateo for the usual cordial reception from Ed Kaufman at M is for Mystery, and then back to San Francisco, where ragtime musician and radio host David Reffkin interviewed Larry for his weekly show, The Ragtime Machine. (The interview will air on January 29, 9-10pm PST, on KUSF). David's a friendly, relaxed interviewer, and the hour went past like a pleasant conversation.
        Friday, time for the West Coast Ragtime Festival in Sacramento. This yearly event featured three days of ragtime music and discussion concurrently in five rooms, and was a nonstop party. Signing books in The Ragtime Store took up most of Larry's time, so he got to hear less music than he'd have liked. He enjoyed a couple of sets by a lively new group, the Razzberry Jam Band, and did get to listen and talk to some other outstanding ragtime musicians, including Rich Egan, Virginia Tichenor and Jack Rummel, who specialize in the "folk ragtime" style of the real-life Ragtime Kid, Brun Campbell. Larry also acquired a couple of treasures. One was a rare specially-pressed 78rpm recording of Brun, during the 1940s, playing Maple Leaf Rag to promote the music of his mentor, Scott Joplin, and to provide for Joplin's widow, Lottie. The other treasure was a hardcover first-edition copy of Terry Waldo's book, This is Ragtime, signed not only by the author, but by numerous ragtimers mentioned in the book. Pat McAfee had carried the book to ragtime festivals for more than 25 years, getting signatures, and this year, she offered the book in a silent auction to help support the West Coast Ragtime Festival. Larry signed a copy of The Ragtime Kid for Pat, so each went home with the other's book.
        Home just in time for a good Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to daughter Erin's help in the kitchen.
        During the winter, Larry will visit Northwest bookshops, then go back on the road during the spring and in June - when he and Myra will go to the annual Scott Joplin Festival in Sedalia, Missouri. That should be a real barnburner.

*Click pictures to enlarge*

Larry meeting a gathering of fans (with Barbara Peters and Marcia Talley--and everyone looking expectantly at Deb Baker) at Poisoned Pen Bookstore, Scottsdale, Arizona (11/8/06)	Larry, with Daniel Piel from Clues Unlimited, Tuscon, Arizona (11/9/06)	Larry with high-school classmate Barrie Grossman at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore, San Diego, California (11/10/06)	Owner Ed Thomas with Larry at Book Carnival, Orange, California (11/11/06)	Interesting doo-dads and fun decor everywhere you look at Book Carnival, Orange, California (11/11/06)


Jeff, the events coordinator, with Larry at Borders, Pasadena, California (11/12/06)	Larry holds court at Book 'Em, South Pasadena, California (11/12/06)	Dave and Dianne Riedy, in period dress, on Dave's birthday, which he's celebrated at the West Coast Ragtime Festival for 15 years running. WRCF, Sacramento, California (11/17-19/06)	Larry, holding a book he acquired from Pat McAfee, with Pat McAfee, holding Larry's latest, "The Ragtime Kid" WRCF, Sacramento, California (11/17-19/06)	Rich Egan performing Corncracker Rag. WRCF, Sacramento, California (11/17-19/06)


The Razzberry Jam Band, with Sign Lady Katie Biggs, at WRCF, Sacramento, California (11/17-19/06)	Larry with aspiring mystery novelist Rosemary Mans at WRCF, Sacramento, California (11/17-19/06)	The Razzberry Jam Band with Washboard Kitty in full regalia at WRCF, Sacramento, California (11/17-19/06)

PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS: WEST COAST TOUR REPORT--NOVEMBER, 2006