Ok, I admit it. I was checking myself out in the search engine.
I found two book-related oddities. The first was that Ouida Charles of the City of Palo Alto Library quoted my preview of the Ann Packer reading in her own press release on the event. I ended up missing the event; when Terry and I were in Alameda more recently — to meet visual artists Mateo Romero and Owen Smith at their library — I saw a flyer for an Ann Packer appearance at an indie there. Which I also missed.

I did have the chance to mention Ann to Sylvia Brownrigg, for what that’s worth.

The second book item is kinda creepy. There is an author from Guelph, Canada, near Toronto, who wrote a dark novel called “Love Object” and has what I hope is an inconsequential mention in a mock newspaper article about a “Mark Weiss of Palo Alto” who assaults someone in the restroom of the Fillmore (at a concert by a fictitious as far as I can tell band). I wrote her to correct her on the distinction between Fillmore East and Fillmore. Sally Cooper.

Subject :

Palo Alto City Library and Books Inc. Present Author Ann Packer
Contact : Ouida Charles, Library Services Manager 650-329-READ
Palo Alto, CA – The Palo Alto City Library and Books Inc. of Palo Alto are pleased to announce that Ann Packer will present her novel Swim Back to Me on April 18, 2012.

Many of Ann Packer’s stories focus on what it was like growing up in Palo Alto in the seventies. She will be speaking and signing books at the Downtown Library, 270 Forest Avenue. The program begins at 7 p.m.

Mark Weiss wrote in his blog (“Ann Packer to Rock Downtown Library”), “I’m excited to see that the local author, Gunn and Yale graduate, Ann Packer will be appearing and reading at the Downtown Library.”

Ann Packer’s collection of stories is emotionally searing. They are framed by two masterfully linked narratives that express the transformation of a single family over the course of a lifetime.

The Library and Books Inc. partnership brings novelists and short story writers to Palo Alto every month. Library customers with further questions should contact Ouida Charles, at ouida.charles@cityofpaloalto.org or 329-READ.

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Object-Sally-Cooper/dp/155002387X