Harlan Coben At Book Passage - AND A Special Treat

This past Friday night, we went to see Harlan Coben at Book Passage in Corte Madera. This was his only Northern California appearance to promote his latest, Fool Me Once.  He was scheduled to address us all at 7:00, and we could save seats as of 5:30.  Since we were over an hour away for the ride home (it took us 2+ hours to get there!), we went over at 5:30 to get seats that would enable us to get the book signed quickly at the end of his talk and hit the road.  And this is when the coolest thing happened.  Katherine (seen below in the 1st picture), who is the event and conference coordinator for Book Passage, invited us (along with about 15 others) to a private room for a meet and greet with Coben at 6:00. We not only got to meet him (see the 3rd picture below) and avoid a long line after his presentation, but we also got wine and cheese.  Most importantly, though, we felt like big shots (even though we weren't/aren't).  A big thank you to Katherine for including us.  It was a special moment.  

And, as usual, his presentation was great.  He's very funny and extremely forthcoming about his writing and his career.  When asked what he would have done if he did not become an author, he said that he would have been a duvet cover.  I mean, come on, that's funny.  He also said that a writer without a reader is like a one-handed clap.

Here are some facts about Coben that you may not have known:

1.  His new book, Fool Me Once, is his 28th book.

2.  This book also has his very 1st female protagonist.  He said he was tired of the female in every book going to a secluded cabin in the woods by herself.  As you know from my review on the 17th, Maya is a very strong character.

3.  Coben has 60 MILLION BOOKS in print!  That is nuts.

4.  For those of you have always enjoyed his Myron Bolitar/Winn books, he's working on the next one now.  That is really good news for us fans (I'm one!) of this series.

5.  Myron's parents are somewhat patterned after Coben's own parents.

6.  He explained that the scariest noise imaginable when you are alone is a flushed toilet that you didn't flush!  Not surprisingly, he calls this a "flushed toilet moment."

I've told you this many times in the past.  This is someone you really want to see in person, if you get the chance.  And make sure you read his books.  They are, without exception, entertaining.  It seems he gets better with each book.

Katherine Petrocelli, event and conference coordinator

Elaine Petrocelli, owner

Harlan and yours truly

Harlan during his presentation

Yep, wine and beer

Partition in their meet and greet room - isn't it cool?