Neighborhood News

I have been vaguely aware that J. K. Rowling is going to be reading somewhere with two other authors. I wasn't paying much attention until about fifteen minutes ago. I was going for a walk on my street when Kate the nursing student who lives next door to me drove by and stopped to tell me that she is so incredibly excited because she's going to New York City tomorrow! To Radio City Music Hall! To hear J. K. Rowling read!

This nineteen-year-old young woman was delighted at the prospect of listening to an author read from her work. Kate had been trying to get affordable tickets and had given up. Then a friend, who was supposed to go with his mother, ended up having an extra ticket because mom had very poorly-timed back surgery.

So Kate's making a trip into the city. To hear an author.

Now, I'm not the world's biggest Harry Potter fan. But I have to say that it did my jaded old heart a world of good to see Harry and Rowling bringing so much excitement and happiness to someone.

Rowling is going to be reading with Stephen King and John Irving. As I was finishing my walk, I was thinking that it was a great idea to bring these three very different authors together. Each author will bring her or his fans to the event, and those fans will then be exposed to the other authors' work.

As if Rowling, Irving, and King need more exposure. But, still, it's a good idea.

By the way, Katie O. in My Life Among the Aliens and Club Earth was named for the Kate who lives next door to me and is going to Radio City Music Hall tomorrow.