Happy Thanksgiving! A couple things to touch upon here:

One, literally: You may remember that about two months ago I reported my Out of the Pocket was on a bestseller list. AfterElton.com's hot list had OOTP as the No. 7 novel (courtesy of Giovanni's Room in Philadelphia).

That was a week after my reading at the bookstore, so I was mostly joking about that. But this week, I found that I am still doing well at that store. I currently have the No. 1 selling gay book! Woo hoo!

Here is that list:

1. Out of the Pocket by Bill Konigsberg

2. Sarah by J.T. LeRoy

3. Unspeakable by Michael-Christopher

4. Skip Lane by Neil Bartlett

5. Got ‘til It’s Gone by Larry Duplechan

6. Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire

7. Finlater by Shawn Stewart Ruff

8. Indian Clerk by David Leavitt

9.
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I got pictures sent to me from a friend out in Phoenix. I will narrate:

This is me with my good friend and mentor Jim Blasingame at Changing Hands after a terrific reading there. No other person outside of Chuck is more responsible for the success of my novel than is Jim, who was there with my while I wrote it and has been a part of every step along the way.

Jim's girlfriend Nan joined us for this one.

I was up at Fieldston School in the Bronx today, and had a terrific time. What an amazing student body! After a morning assembly, we had an open period where it was advertised that students could come and chat and ask me questions. At first it looked like we had about five, and then this deluge of kids came by. We must have had 60-80 show up! They asked really smart questions.
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It's taken me nearly a week to get around to writing about my visit to Tempe and Phoenix. I've been a bit under the weather and have struggled to keep up with my normal duties.

So Tempe. I am still buzzing a bit from a fantastic event at Changing Hands Bookstore last Saturday night. I can't say how many people were there, although the two estimates made by friends were 70 and 100.

I've read Bill's writing, I've seen his picture. But I don't know what he sounds like, you may be thinking. Is he more David Sedaris, or Ernest Hemingway in his tone? Does he stutter? Does he lisp? Does he say "like" in every sentence?

Valuable questions all. And now you can find out the answer by listening to my podcast about Out of the Pocket. Penguin produced it and it is running this week on their website. It is also available on iTunes.

Back in New York after several weeks of touring.

Man, I'm not supposed to miss a week of blogging. Not good, not good. I've been in Arizona for the past six days and have been really busy. Yesterday, I sent in my revision for novel No. 2, and I'm excited to have that off my plate for the moment.

It doesn't get any less busy. Today I travel to SF, and have an interview today and a reading tonight at Books, Inc. at 7:30. Then I go to LA in the morning, where I have a free day and then a reading at A Different Light at 7:30.

It isn't over then.

Nothing I can say will fully express the excitement I have about the way the vote went. Wow. Finally, after eight years of ineptitude, we are going to have a president with a brain.

And I was extremely excited to find out this morning that Obama plans to have a cabinet that includes Republicans as well as Democrats. While I am a liberal Democrat, I strongly believe in fairness.

No long lines to speak of in Brooklyn Heights. I felt an incredible sense of pride when I flicked the lever for Obama, making it the first time since 1996 that I've voted enthusiastically.

But it's more than enthusiasm. I voted believing that if Obama does win:

1) Our standing in the world will improve.

2) The reckless path we are on will give way to one more in line with what I believe America is all about: freedom, progress, hope.

I have a recurring nightmare. It's nighttime and I'm in a city I don't know well, and I have to find this obscure address. When I get there, I am welcomed by Laura Lane (C.C. Babcock from the Nanny), who tells me they weren't sure if I'd get there. There are 12 other writers sitting on stools, and one empty stool left for me.

There is an audience of teenagers there. Then we authors are handed sketch pads, and told to draw our book. After which time people will judge our drawing skills.
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