My GU-4

[fpw]

I don't want to get sloppy here, but the folks at GU-4 (and 1 & 2 & 3) have bonded so quickly and thoroughly, and are such nice, nice, people...I dunno, I'm glad I was the catalyst to bring you all together, and I'm proud to have you as readers.

[Maggers]

Oh hey, get as sloppy as you'd like, Paul. We'd eat it up.

Thanks for the kind words about all of us.

I must admit that I was a tad nervous about meeting you and having a place of honor right next to you at dinner. But you were so warm, kind, gracious, and just plain down to earth, you immediately put me at ease.

On another note, working with doctors as I have for so long, I am always on the lookout for "the doctor thing," as I call it. That would be the syndrome whereby doctors begin to think of themselves as better than the rest of us, where "MD" comes to mean "master of the divine."

As I said to you at breakfast on Sunday, you are not like that at all. You are such a wonderfully regular guy, completely normal (well almost, you do write wicked nasty stuff!) and approachable. Most of all, Paul, you are nice.

It's great to know you.

[Biggles]

On another note, working with doctors as I have for so long, I am always on the lookout for "the doctor thing," as I call it. That would be the syndrome whereby doctors begin to think of themselves as better than the rest of us, where "MD" comes to mean "master of the divine."


To Paul, "MD" just stands for "Me Doctor" (I think that's from Steve Martin, but I could be wrong). On a related point, having now had the pleasure of meeting Mary, I can see why they're such a great couple. As I said that night: If Paul ever decides to run for Governor or Senator from NJ, Mary will be a great asset. Maybe the total lack of pretension in Paul's personality in also why his writing is more accessible. I have other (less) favorite authors in the genre, but they take much longer to draw me into their work. Paul's writing is more efficient at setting the mood, developing the characters, and describing the action.

[Susan]

I don't want to get sloppy here, but the folks at GU-4 (and 1 & 2 & 3) have bonded so quickly and thoroughly, and are such nice, nice, people...I dunno, I'm glad I was the catalyst to bring you all together, and I'm proud to have you as readers.
The GUs are delightful because of the people. Especially you! You are great fun and we all genuienly love you. The fact that our favorite author is willing to hang out with us and become our friend is the biggest kick in the world. I'm so glad you enjoy the GUs as much as the rest of us do.

I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Susan

PS: It was a special treat to finally meet Mrs. Effy. She rocks!

[Biggles]

The fact that our favorite author is willing to hang out with us and become our friend is the biggest kick in the world. I'm so glad you enjoy the GUs as much as the rest of us do.


That's a good point. My wife can't understand it, so I put it in these terms: "If you had a chance to hang out with Mel Gibson, or Paul McCartney, or Dean Koontz (sorry Paul, but I haven't gotten her turned on to you yet) for a weekend, wouldn't you do it?". I don't think she'd feel comfortable around a celebrity, but then again, you don't come off as a celebrity. I think of you, and now Mary, as people I could go tailgating with, or snipe hunting. :D

[jimbow8]

I don't want to get sloppy here, but the folks at GU-4 (and 1 & 2 & 3) have bonded so quickly and thoroughly, and are such nice, nice, people...I dunno, I'm glad I was the catalyst to bring you all together, and I'm proud to have you as readers.
Thanks for bringing us together, Paul. I am honored to be included in the group. Your wife seemed lovely, though I didn't really get to talk to her since the girls hogged her the whole time she was there. :D And your granddaughter is adorable from the picture I saw.

[Biggles]

Thanks for bringing us together, Paul. I am honored to be included in the group. Your wife seemed lovely, though I didn't really get to talk to her since the girls hogged her the whole time she was there. :D And your granddaughter is adorable from the picture I saw.

The girls may have had more opportunity to talk to Mary, but she lit up the room from the moment she arrived. She's one of those all too rare people who bring a smile to your face just by being there.

[Maggers]

... Your wife seemed lovely, though I didn't really get to talk to her since the girls hogged her the whole time she was there. :D And your granddaughter is adorable from the picture I saw.

Yes, little Tess is adorable and the other little granddaughter, whose name escapes me, is absolutely beautiful. I saw her little head and curly blonde hair poking up over the banquette at the food court, but I didn't have the camera handy at that moment. Without a doubt, the Wilson clan is a good looking bunch.

And let me weigh in here on the wonderful Mrs. Effy. Mary was even more gracious than Paul, which would seem neigh to impossible but it's true. She was so interested in all of us gals, what each of us does in the world and how we came to be at the GU. She hung on our every word, which is a sure way to be remembered. It's said that we usually think of the most interesting people as those who are most interested in us. Mary is a very interesting woman, and lovely in the extreme.

[KRW]

That's a good point. My wife can't understand it, so I put it in these terms: "If you had a chance to hang out with Mel Gibson, or Paul McCartney, or Dean Koontz (sorry Paul, but I haven't gotten her turned on to you yet) for a weekend, wouldn't you do it?". I don't think she'd feel comfortable around a celebrity, but then again, you don't come off as a celebrity. I think of you, and now Mary, as people I could go tailgating with, or snipe hunting. :D

Because I've never been to a GU, I can only agree with the first part. I actually rank FPW higher than your examples, he is my "Nightworld"! Pun intended. But really, I believe FPW has a solid fan base. Even I introduce his work every chance I get to new people, and I will not stop. And since I've been following him from the mid eighties, I'm glad I was there to experiance his talent before most everyone else (cause he is gonna be BIG). And someday I will make it to a GU, and FPW will say "I need a differant target audiance"! :D


KRW

[Biggles]

Because I've never been to a GU, I can only agree with the first part. I actually rank FPW higher than your examples, he is my "Nightworld"! Pun intended. But really, I believe FPW has a solid fan base. Even I introduce his work every chance I get to new people, and I will not stop. And since I've been following him from the mid eighties, I'm glad I was there to experiance his talent before most everyone else (cause he is gonna be BIG). And someday I will make it to a GU, and FPW will say "I need a differant target audiance"! :D


KRW

I've also been reading Paul a long time, since "The Keep".

[KRW]

I've also been reading Paul a long time, since "The Keep".

Your not only a long time reader, you are also a collecter! I tip my hat! :)


KRW

[Biggles]

Your not only a long time reader, you are also a collecter! I tip my hat! :)


KRW

Sometimes I overdo the collecting, as you'll see if you read my post in the "Leather Bound" thread. I've gotten extras of several books, which I hope to use to entice someone to trade me an extra first edition of "The Haunted Air".