The fans have been gathered outside the hotel since late afternoon, held back by velvet ropes. Polite and courteous, they have bags and bags of memorabilia.

They are waiting for Shaquille O'Neal, in town with the Phoenix Suns, or so I gather.

Had two interviews this morning, on a terrific local television show and at a community radio station, where I sat down with my old friend Ed Goldberg, a fine PI writer. Ed does a great interview, no surprise there, but the television interview was also delightful. The station got a clip of my "performance" from HBO's The Wire and used it to promote my segment, which allowed me to use a favorite line: "As an actress, I'm a pretty good novelist." But they also delighted me by talking about Kathy Bates, and we had a lively exchange about the "hobbling" scene from "Misery."

Off to Powell's tonight. I'm up against St. Patrick's Day, but it's also the birthday of the incomparable Billie Bloebaum, everyone's favorite bookseller/fashion plate so as long as she's there, I'm happy.