As we wrap up my blogging week for Powells.com, I find myself dreaming about the future. So many people have already asked me what's next. What's next?
This is next. We were actually still refining the back cover text of
True Prep as recently as six or seven
weeks ago.
Having appeared on TV interview shows (Colbert Report is happening Monday, September 13th) and having spoken with a lot of print interviewers, I embark on a 27-city tour (I'll be at Powell's on October 26th). That's next. On and off, as one of my children begins her junior year in high school — SATs, SAT coaching, college prep pressure, extra-curriculars-a-gogo — I will be home and away, and most likely a little distracted.
And then I have a middle school-aged daughter, surrounded by middle schoolers! Frightening.
This tour will be my first electronic media tour, as I Skype with my kids, twitter my thumbs, and Facebook strangers and friends. Thirty years ago, I had no kids, and no strangers, and I simply made (gasp!) phone calls to my friends when I got lonely on the road. Using (shock!) telephones plugged into the walls of hotels!!!!! The surcharges!!!
But what's next, what's next? While taking notes for my next book, I will be in the early planning stages of the First Celebrity Pro-Am True Prep International Badminton Tournament. YES! You Powellers read it here first. This is me tossing my birdie into the ring.
Imagine the excitement! Professional badminton players (Note: is there such a thing?) paired up with celebrity preppy players such as David Hyde-Pierce, Rashida Jones, Ted Danson, George W. Bush, and John Cheever to raise money for Extreme Badminton programs at some of our finer preparatory schools. It's... well, still in the planning stages.
Of course, this is not just my own dream; I've heard from several of you whose REM sleep has been interrupted by thoughts of shuttlecocks shooting through the air. We'll need a decorations committee, a beverage committee, and of course, I'll be looking for sponsors and underwriters for all the preliminary events. Any thoughts and ideas from you, my wonderful bloggees, will be welcome. Watch this space for updates! Remember, without us, Extreme Badminton* might never become a reality.
*Extreme Badminton: No helmets, no safety belts, no protective gauntlets, no mouthguards, no goggles, no athletic supporters, no shoulder pads, no lip gloss.