Bellingham WA

Met fellow blippers, Pilipo and Connections, at tonight's event at Bellingham, Washington State. Being a Saturday night it was a small, but intimate crowd that turned out to hear me speak, and it was a pleasure to have friends in the audience.

The one-and-a-half hour drive from Seattle was beautiful, through rolling pine forests punctuated by shimmering lakes and ringed by mountains turning purple in the setting sun. Our driver was a charming man called Lowell. He had a rich, velvety voice that brought Morgan Freeman to mind. Originally from Southern California, he came to Seattle as a young man to take a degree in business studies at the university here. Now retired, he drives for a car hire company just to keep himself physically and mentally active. Fortunately, he waited for us at Bellingham until the event was over and drove us back to Seattle - just as well, because if I'd been driving I doubt if I'd have been able to keep my eyes open.

Earlier, it was another early rise, and a twenty minute radio interview by phone for CBC, who will be airing it tomorrow to promote my event on Tuesday at McNally Robinson, Winnipeg - the biggest independent bookstore in Canada.

Then off to the Seattle Mystery Bookshop to sign pre-orders and stock of The Lewis Man.

After lunch I actually managed to get a couple of hours' sleep before Lowell came to pick us up.

What a beautiful town Bellingham is, and apparently has the lowest crime rate in Washington State. For a small town it certainly has a big bookstore in Village Books!

Tomorrow it's up and away first thing. A flight to Vancouver to pick up a connection to Winnipeg. Canada here we come!