I was making the mental shift to author around the time a new local bookstore opened on Capitol Hill. I followed my instinct to the East City Bookshop grand opening, which included readings by a number of authors I never heard of. One was identified as an NYT bestseller or some other honorific.
That was reason enough for me to take a seat as Louis Bayard discussed his 2016 novel Lucky Strikes. During his remarks, he mentioned his affinity for white noise and black tea. Those two things are so integral to my being I can’t imagine life without them. I was compelled to talk to Bayard after the reading.
At the time, I hadn’t yet begun to learn how to write a book proposal or query agents. I just knew in my mind this was the direction I was going. Brimming with naive questions, I asked Bayard how a first-time author finds an agent. As usual, I had a notebook in hand and was actively processing others’ wisdom. Bayard paused thoughtfully then advised me to find out who Anthony Bourdain’s agent is, for example. So there’s a (handwritten) entry in my (physical paper) notebook dated 4/30/16 that reads, “Per Louis, find Anthony Bourdain’s agent.”
Of course, I’ve since learned of Bourdain’s Ecco imprint. Live and learn. Live. Not an inalienable conceit.
When Bayard cited the late great, it was recongition of Bourdain’s position in the galaxy. He was a North Star and a guiding light — a celestial fixture assumed to exist indefinitely.
For some, life goes on. We are writing books and gathering to celebrate them.
And so I attended another Bayard reading and reconnected with him at this year’s Literary Hill Bookfest. I reintroduced myself after Bayard finished reading from his new novel, Courting Mr. Lincoln.
There are so many levels and layers of memories at play here.
The 2017 Literary Hill Bookfest was where I read in public for the first time. It was scary.
I’ll always remember Bayard’s reference to Bourdain.
I’ll always associate Bayard with my vital white noise and black tea.
Time for some word association. White noise and black tea. White and black. Black and white. Black and white cookie. Community. Grounded.
Black and white cupcake. Souvenir of a journey of discovery. Peace.
Andrea Adleman | Cupcakologist 