Have just been invited to a publicity meeting by Bantam. It will be in late April, which is right on schedule for a Sept. book. This is where we discuss what their strategy is for ABSENT FRIENDS and where I fit in. Sometimes the author doesn't fit in at all. Thomas Harris, for example, famously refuses to even give interviews, so his books have to be publicized without him. On the other end of the scale some authors supplement the publisher's budget with their own nickels and send themselves on a much larger tour than the publisher would have. I understand Bantam relies more on advertising and behind-the-scenes bookstore stuff than touring. Whatever they think works is okay with me, though I like to tour; they're the experts at this part, and their skill at it is one of the reasons we went with them. (Again, not the royal "we," the me-and-my-agent "we.") But we're also hoping for press for this book, meaning I'll have to be available for interviews. Um, no problem.