The DC Chronicles: Dave's Book and Broken Ankle Sagas

[Dave Cullen]

Just a quick note to say that Jenny, Desperadum and I attended Dave's book signing in NYC last night.  Dave gave a very interesting talk about the book, the killers, his approach to writing the book, and how he focused on telling the stories of several representatve people.  Then he took questions from the audience until the person in charge indicated that time was up, and he was very pleasant with everybody who went up to have their book signed. 

If you've already bought a book, he will sign it, otherwise the bookstore has a big stack available to buy.  I brought my own book and bought an extra copy for someone else.  So there's no need to wait for the signing to buy your book.  We thought it would help to bring our receipts for books purchased elsewhere, in case anyone asked as we were leaving the store, but no one did.

I loved having you there.

It is really cool having Brokies, all around the country to share this with.

[Dave Cullen]

I had the pleasure of attending Dave's book signing last night at Boarders in Boulder.  It was really fun -- My first ever book signing.  Maybe about 30 people attended, more than they had set up chairs for.  I don't know how long Dave talked - for quite a while.  He joked that his publisher encouraged him to keep his answers short so as to be able to take more questions... alas we all know our Dave. 

It was so cool to see you there.

Short answers are tough. I had that problem again in NYC, but I think I got them tighter for the first time in Miami. (We had nearly 100 people there, which amazed me. And now a lot of people have read the book, which has changed dramatically just in the last week.)

To hear in his own words the main themes in the book was a real treat.  To watch his eyes glaze over as you just knew he was envisioning an interview with a person, or looking at some source material...  it was all just thrilling.

That is so nice. And it's mutual. What a treat to get to do it in front of people I know.

And you read my mind exactly. That's exactly where I go when that happens. Sometimes it's imagining the interview, or the scene out in Clement Park, and sometimes I'm imaging what I was thinking and or feeling when I figured out what I thought about it. A lot of it took a long time to figure out. Lots of walks and bike rides, where I do my best thinking. It clears my mind and suddenly the answers crystalize and pop into my mind. (At the gym sometimes, too. They have cards at the desk for personal trainers, which are blank on the back. I'll get off the bench press sometimes, make a beeline to the desk, grab a card, flip it over and start scribbling.

[Dave Cullen]

The Washington Post "Express"  has an article about Dave's book in today's edition.  They also report that there's a book signing at Politics and Prose in DC this evening.  I guess the Post didn't do their homework.  I hope there aren't a lot of disappointed people showing up for the cancelled signing tonight.

I think we canceled after they went to press. I'm glad they still ran the story, but wish they could have gotten the word out.

How did the piece turn out. I really liked the guy who wrote it, spent a lot of time on the phone with him a couple weeks ago.

[dejavu]

I'm kinda like -- who said they could only read it in the daytime?  ETA:  Linda and Oprah!

I don't have mine yet, but it kind of scares me too, because I was nearly as traumatized by Columbine as I was by 911.

Nah.....I woke up in the middle of the night to read it.  Or stayed up waaaaaay past my bedtime. 

[Dave Cullen]

Folks, Dave's book has hit the New York Times bestseller list at #7! Congrats to you, Dave!

I am delirious. So is my editor/publisher, and he is very even-tempered.

The book is now in its fifth printing. (So be careful and look for "first edition" on the copyright page if you care about that. They will be hard to find soon, if not already.)

[dejavu]

I'm very sorry about missing the DC reading. That's the reason we had to cancel. It was an afternoon taping, so I could not make it from Chicago to DC in time. (And we told the bookstore why, but could not tell others.)

I suspected that this was the case -- that you were doing some sort of additional publicity.

Shame about the DC signing, though, but I'm sure people will understand now that the reason has been explained.

[Dave Cullen]

FYI, if you're looking for links to some of the stuff addressed above, here they are:

NY Times bestseller list:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/books/bestseller/besthardnonfiction.html?_r=1

review in the NY Times Book Review in this coming Sunday's paper (online now):
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/books/review/Senior-t.html?ref=books

Oprah preview:
http://www.oprah.com/dated/oprahshow/oprahshow-20090415-columbine

More Oprah clips (where I actually speak):
http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090415-columbine-videos-ats

Oprah comments thread:
http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/106072

[Dave Cullen]

and a HUGE thanks to monica for making a zillion updates to my site.

it had fallen into disrepair. i had planned to spend much of the past few months working on it, but believe it or not, i've been working full time on the publicity stuff six days a week since december, and get more behind every day.

[LoveEmBoys]

and a HUGE thanks to monica for making a zillion updates to my site.

You're most welcome. 

[BrokenOkie]

Continued congrats, Dave!  Wow - you're a busy, busy guy. 

Don't forget to breath, perhaps even sleep now and again.

[LoveEmBoys]

Who needs sleep?
       (well you're never gonna get it)
Who needs sleep?
       (tell me what's that for)
Who needs sleep?
       (be happy with what you're getting
       There's a guy who's been awake
       since the Second World War)



BNL

[CellarDweller115]

Congrats to your success, and looking forward to how big this will be for you!

[huntinbuddy]

Yes indeed, congrats Dave!  A debut of #7 on the NYT bestseller list....IMPRESSIVE!!!

I haven't got my copy yet, but plan on doing so real soon.  Maybe send you up a couple more notches. 

Can't wait to see you on Oprah Monday.

[KittyHawk]

I had only 40 minutes after the taping to meet them before the car took us to O'Hare for a flight to Miami, but it was great to see them. I had just done a toast to my family, and gotten unexpectedly choked up doing it, when my publicist rushed in with the news. (At least I think it happened in that order. Did it, Lydia? My memories are kind of a jumble.)

  I think the order is right but you didn't mention what the publicist's news was - that Columbine would debut at #7 on the NY TImes bestseller list! 

[KittyHawk]

Dave is everywhere! As I drove home from the grocery tonight, I turned the radio on and a very familiar voice was talking to Tavis Smiley about Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. What a surprise!