I was invited to speak at the Rancho Cordova Public Library
about my new release, El Tiburon. I can’t tell you the last time I went to a
public library. It was actually pretty neat. The quiet hushed atmosphere, the
respect for other people’s space and concentration. My event was called “Book Talk, El Tiburon by H. Schussman,” and I was warned that five to ten people would actually show up,
mostly to eat the snacks.
Luckily for me, a fan set me up to be interviewed by the
local newspaper. Margaret Snider from the Grapevine Independent wrote a great
article about me being a local author and how people should come meet me. It worked!
I had about twenty readers show up. They asked about Guatemala, the garbage
dump, writing, and how to get published… I talked with them for a good hour and
could’ve kept going!
I was especially intrigued by a lovely couple from India who
were visiting their son in Rancho Cordova. They read the paper and decided
since they were also authors, they should come see this American author. They
were delightful, asking relevant questions and having their photo taken with
me. A week later found us sitting in
their hotel room amongst children and grandchildren eating Indian snacks and
drinking American wine. Both are doctors and opened a hospital in a small city
in Western India. They specialize in Medical Tourism. By the time we left them
(five hours later) we had promised we would come to India and stay with them. I
can still see Rajeev’s face as he held out his hands and said, “You come to
India, and we will show you the underbelly of our country!” For those of you
who know us, you won’t be surprised that this sent a shiver of excitement
through me. Visiting a nearby forest to meet an indigenous people-group and
stay in a house on top of a hospital with two lovely doctors… oh the joy of a serendipitous
meeting.
