Favorite Tour Interview

This may be my favorite interview from the entire book tour.

Love to KCRW for doing it — it mixes my top 5 songs with 5 points in my life. And you’ll hear how I got a gun pulled on me, and had Blues Traveler play in our kitchen.

Listen (don't just read the transcript) at: http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/gd/gd090128brad_meltzer

Gaiman, Meltzer, Lincoln

Finally uploaded the photo from the White House. Sad part? I’m more excited to hear about Neil’s new Batman story than to pay attention to stealing napkins at the White House.

Thank You

After twenty-two cities, a full month of touring, a silly amount of plane flights, and even a hurricane (yep, right at the heart of our Houston signing), I’m finally home, and just wanted to say thank you for what you unleashed. First, of course, I appreciate what you did with The Book of Lies, talking it up to whoever would listen and pushing copies on unsuspecting family and friends. It was one of the most outrageous launches we’ve ever had and I know -- as I’ve always known -- that it only happens because of your neverending help.

But most important, thank you for what you also did to save the house where Superman was created. As you know, the goal was to raise $50,000 just to work on the outside of the house. Instead, we raised $101,000. 101. Thousand. Which now means we’ll be working on the inside of the house as well.

So let me be clear: whatever we accomplished with this book and with the house, you did this. When I was worried about getting the word out there, you stepped forward without hesitation. You are a clear troublemaker and I love you for it. Make no mistake: what you did -- from passing the videos along, to facebooking, to myspacing, to all the rest -- made a huge difference. So thanks for the trust and the faith and of course for putting the word out there from day one.

After seven books now, I have to say, there’s only one thing that’s clear to me: and that is how many people are pulling for us from all sides, from so many different places. Family, friends, readers, booksellers, all the people who you say “You gotta read my friend’s book” to -- it’s the only reason this happens. And maybe it’s because of what we went through this year, maybe it’s because I’m getting mushy these days, but it matters. When you help someone -- it always matters.

I’m signing off and taking a break. But I’m sending so much love and thanks your way.

Butterfly kisses from Florida,

Brad

The White House

I'm typing in the airport, waiting for the return flight from the very last event -- the National Book Festival in Washington, DC. Key highlight (besides the author breakfast at the White House, where all the famous authors try to play it cool as they fill their pockets with White House napkins (The fools! The best stuff is the White House toilet paper!) was all the incredible folks who waited in the sun for an hour to say hi. Love to them.

And then, while I'm standing there in the White House and eyeing the napkin thievery, I finally get to meet Neil Gaiman, who then introduces me to...just, please, wait...Salman Rushdie.

Me, Neil Gaiman, Salman Rushdie. In the White House.

Did the world end and no one told me?

Pics shortly -- and don't forget, Monday is the last day of the auction: and the prices are cheap for that Ivan Reis Superman and Lois drawing (think wedding or anniversary present for someone). Also, the Heroes walk-on and the Siegel shirt are still out there until tomorrow.

Waiting to go home...

So close, I smell it.

LA

LA is sunny and beautiful and filled with handsome people that make me feel extra bald and pasty. But very excited to be on Attack of the Show (AOTS) on G4 today (one of my favorite shows), and extra excited because we're about to grab some In-and-Out Burger. Also, had Scott Brick (our voice on the audio books) there last night, so he made me sound super-baritone (that is a super power).

Three days to go.

Westside

On a plane right now headed to Pasadena and LA, home of Kaysu Ya, my favorite sushi place (which I have the publisher pay for, which is good since I eat it twice a day).

The third week of the Superman auction was amazing, and baseball caps off to Frank Cho, whose Supergirl pin up proved just how much the world loves, in his words, those big corn fed Kansas girls. We raised over $7,000 alone just from that, with a week 3 total of $17,766
.

But this week is the big final one: the walk-on part on Heroes...the Jerry Siegel t-shirt...and have you seen the dozen new items, including George Perez's Batman vs. Captain America donated by Doug Welch.

I know we've put the word out in week 1, but in this final week, I would love if you could help us push the auction and site and video one last time on facebook, myspace or even just via antiquated email.

The site is: www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com

Donations can be made here.

T-shirts can be bought here.

Hello West Coast...

Houston Cancelled And Auction Ending

Just found out that the two events in Houston for tomorrow (Tuesday) have been cancelled due to Hurricane Ike. I hear it's getting better there in some parts, but my publisher is terrified that it's something out of a zombie flick, and so, I'm headed straight to Philly instead. Special apologies to the incredible stores -- Murder By The Book and also Midnight Comics -- who are just some of the nicest around. Both know we'll figure out something really cool to make it up to them.

Also, today is the last day to bid on getting your name in the next novel -- and to bid on the other items in Round 2 of the auction to save the house where Superman was created. And next week...? We get Letterman involved. Plus lots more new items.

Love to all.

Austin

Headed to Austin today.

Amy's Ice Cream.

Waterloo Records.

And hanging out with the Calculator. The real one (coolest thing on tour this week? The girl who made a LEGO Calculator character is sending it to me).

Cleveland!

First, just a reminder that you can be a character in my next novel -- and i'll make you someone good too. Plus lots of other items that'll help raise money to save the house where Superman was created. Bid here.

Had our event in Cleveland last night, co-sponsored by the the Ohio Center for the Book and the Ohioana Library Association. Was wild to see so many of Jerry Siegel's relatives there, plus Joe Shuster's, plus the current amazing owners of the Siegel House, plus so many members of the Siegel & Shuster Society. Lovefest? For sure -- and was easily one of the best stops -- especially because I hadn't been there in so long, so got to meet so many people who have been reading the novels for years.

Onto Denver and then the hurricanes of Austin...

New Auction Items

Headed to Cleveland tomorrow. Can't wait to see reactions at the signing based on the e-mails I've been getting from Clevelanders.

Best part of last night's signing in Chicago? My first unrequited crush from elementary school came to visit. I wrote about her in my Terra story. She reminded me why I love old friends -- and why I should have given her a "Great" instead of a "Yuk" in the slam book.

Also, week one of the auction to save the house where Superman was created is officially over.

Insane. In the membrane. I said to my wife that I figured week one would get $10K (being over-optimistic). Shows what I f'ing know.

The closing auctions for week one were as follows:

Winning Bids:
Brian Michael Bendis $5,850.00
Neil Gaiman $1,125.00
Dave Gibbons $810.00
Jim Lee $14,101.00
Allen Bellman $150.00
Dan Brereton $587.88
Travis Charest $7,877.77
Greg Rucka $545.00
Ian Churchill $560.00
Ernie Chan $227.50
George Perez $2,625.00

That's $34,459.15 for week one auctions. And that's not including how many amazing people have made direct donations that came through OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.Com. With so many people donating just $10, $25...that's all we need. We just need more people to do it.

Also, don't forget the coolest T-Shirt that Chip Kidd has ever designed. The official Siegel & Shuster T-Shirt, with all profits going to save the house where Superman was created.

And so we begin the second week of the auction, the one where you can get your name as a character in my next novel.

Let me say, right now, that I'll give you a good spot. You won't be some waiter who disappears after one line (unless you have a really bad name, in which case I'm going to kill you early).

Week 2 auctions.

Also, the best part of this has been the outpouring of new items we've gotten for the auction. So many more coming. But this week, let's throw some love at J.H. Williams III, Jimmy Palmiotti and Mark Waid, who has given us CURT SWAN! (check out the art below)

Plus, just heard from Mark Millar, Jill Thompson, Mark Waid, and so many others. To all creators: we tried to reach out to everyone when we started, but it's clear we didn't reach everyone. We want you! If you have a truly awesome item, please email me through the site or facebook or myspace or anywhere because this is for all of us.

Additional Tour Cities

First, for those who asked specific questions about Brian Bendis and Jim Lee's auctions, answers below... And c'mon, that's gotta make the bidding go higher.

Q:When you say drawn on the cover to an issue of Powers, would it be possible to have "me" wearing a shirt that says my name on it so it's "obviously" me and there's no mistaking it? Also, will we get a chance to own the original art?

A:Yes to both.

Q:How large will Jim Lee's drawing be? Will it be pencil or ink? Can Jim draw Superman and Batman, instead of the winner?

A:11 x 17. Pencil and ink. It can be Batman or any other existing character from Marvel or DC or Wildstorm.

So, the first week of the tour is done. Beyond the highlight of meeting everyone, especially the Invisible Army members, was doing the local TV noon news in Miami with the firefighter band that was playing "Superman" while the Miami Dolphin cheerleaders came over to say hi. I swear, I tried to take a picture. Only in Miami.

We've added two additional cities to the tour. Stop by and say hello if you're in New Jersey (Hoboken, represent!) or Connecticut.

WESTFIELD, NJ
Saturday, September 20 – 7:00 pm

Westfield Library

550 East Broad Street

DARIEN, CT
Sunday, September 21 – 5:30 pm

Darien Library

35 Leroy Avenue

Tour Schedule

Thank you to everyone who stopped by last night in New York city. For everyone else, here's the tour schedule. Hope you can stop by and say hello. As always, I will sign anything and everything (books and comics).

BETHESDA, MD

Wednesday, September 3, 7:30pm

Barnes & Noble

4801 Bethesda Avenue

WASHINGTON, DC

Thursday, September 4, 7:00pm

Politics & Prose

5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW

BOCA RATON, FL

Friday, September 5, 7:00pm

Barnes & Noble

1400 Glades Road

MIAMI, FL

Saturday, September 6, 7:00pm

Books & Books

265 Aragon Avenue

CHICAGO, IL

Monday, September 8, 12:00pm

Borders Books & Music, State Street

150 North State Street

WINNETKA, IL

Monday, September 8, 7:00pm

The Book Stall at Chestnut Court

811 Elm Street

BIRMINGHAM, MI

Tuesday, September 9, 7:00pm

Borders Books & Music

34300 Woodward Avenue

CLEVELAND, OH

Wednesday, September 10, 7:00pm

Barnes & Noble, Woodmere

28801 Chagrin Boulevard

DENVER, CO

Thursday, September 11, 7:30pm

Tattered Cover, Highlands Ranch

9315 Dorchester Street

AUSTIN, TX

Friday, September 12, 7:00pm

Book People

603 N. Lamar

DALLAS, TX

Monday, September 15, 7:00pm

Borders Books & Music, Preston Road

10720 Preston Road

HOUSTON, TX

Tuesday, September 16, 6:30pm

Murder By the Book

2342 Bissonnet Street

PHILADELPHIA, PA

Wednesday, September 17, 7:00pm

Chester County Book Company

975 Paoli Pike

ATLANTA, GA

Friday, September 19, 7:15pm

Georgia Center for the Book/Decatur Library

215 Sycamore Street

STERLING, VA

Saturday, September 20, 1:00pm

Wegman's

45131 Columbia Place

BOSTON, MA

Monday, September 22 – 7:00 pm

Brookline Booksmith

279 Harvard Street

PASADENA, CA

Tuesday, September 23 – 7:00 pm

Vroman’s

695 East Colorado Boulevard

LOS ANGELES, CA

Wednesday, September 24 – 7:30 pm

Barnes & Noble, Encino

16461 Ventura Boulevard

SAN FRANCISCO

Thursday, September 25 – 12:30 pm

Stacey’s Bookstore

581 Market Street

CORTE MADERA, CA

Thursday, September 25 – 7:00 pm

Book Passage

51 Tamal Vista Boulevard

New York City

Just landed in New York city. First thing that happened is my dad called to complain that the Barnes & Noble in Union Square doesn't have big enough posters of me.

According to my sister, he wants to "ones like they have in Times Square."

One day, and counting.

Check back here tomorrow for the big news.

And thanks to all who have been helping all the way.

PS to every person who asked, yes. Of course, bring your comics to the signings. I will sign anything and everything.

You’re Invited

Just a reminder, the book tour (just like a rock & roll tour, but without all the groupies and sex and...well, without pretty much anything) starts on September 2nd — so if you moved in the past two years, please make sure we have your updated mailing info so we’re not sending the invites to the wrong address.

Also, if you would like to get an actual invite in the actual mail, please do make sure I have your mailing address by clicking here. For those who are new, we never sell your name (I hate those people). And for those who have asked, yes, of course, feel free to add any relatives or friends or Moms who you’ve turned onto the books, comics, whatever. To this day, the number one email I get is: My Mom reads you too now...

I friggin’ love that email. So please do invite Mom as well. You can also send it to me directly through MySpace, facebook, or email at bradmeltzer44 at gmail.com.

And as always, can’t WAIT to see you all on tour. It’s been a crazy year here so looking forward to recharging with you all.

Love,

B

New Book In The UK

It took them five months to translate all the "elevator" references to "lifts" (Joke. I think.), but this week The Book of Fate is being published in England, Ireland, Australia, and Zimbabwe. Really.

And in honor of that, we're...er...blogging this. I've been in London for a grand total of 48 hours and just love it here. It's the one place I wished I'd lived in at some point.

And if you buy the book, let me know if they added lots of "lift" references.

Much love,

B

Londontown

Here I am in London for the book tour for The Book of Fate, which is being published here today -- and in honor of this town (truly one of my favorites in the world), here's the opening page of script from Alan Moore's Watchmen (which upon reading this opening, pulled it ahead of Dark Knight for this week):

Page 1, Panel 1:

"Alright. I'm psyched up. I've got blood up to my elbows, veins in my
teeth and my helmet and kneepads securely fastened. Let's get out there and
make trouble this first page is..."

B

Win Dinner With Brad

You asked for it, here it is -- wanna eat dinner with me? Well, in the name of true love, all you have to do is pay for it. It's all to benefit literacy, so bid away -- and I'll see you in Palm Beach, Florida. All you have to do is get yourself there.

The auction runs until the end of the week:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330049496520

See you soon,

B

Thank you

After five weeks, twenty-five cities, thirty events, and one book-signing at a Wal-Mart with a star from Days of Our Lives who was so ridiculously handsome, I almost kissed him...I'm finally home from the book tour. Without a doubt, the single best part was all the love and support I got from you, our family and friends. This wasn't just a book tour -- it was a movement, and at every stop there were people who came up and told me that they heard about the book from this friend, that family member, this cousin, that sister. I can't tell you how much that meant to us.

Even the Days of Our Lives guy was impressed (although he had 200 fawning women in his line, while I had three friends from Illinois in mine. Total. Lesson: don't compete with soap stars). But all easy jokes aside, what happened -- what's still happening with The Book of Fate -- you built this. You did. And you're the one who should be taking a bow.

As I've always said, there's only one name on the cover of a book, but only a fool thinks it's a one-person show. So thank you for being part of that show. Thank you for buying the books and the comics, and for sharing them with so many others. Cori and I are just humbled by your love and support -- there's NO WAY we could do this without you.

Truly hope we get to see you soon. And sending lots of love and thanks your way.

Brad

Go to the White House, Meet Elmo

Just got back from the National Book Festival in Washington, where the best perk is breakfast at the White House with all the other authors. So...the White House. Are the eggs and french toast sticks better in the White House? Yes. They are. Even the french toast sticks are better, and it's hard to improve on french toast sticks. From my reseach for The First Counsel, I knew they also of course would have tons of presidential napkins for us to steal (Done). But the true highlight? Got to meet Elmo. From Sesame Street.

Let me say, I love the Muppets. Jim Henson is a personal hero, so the chance to meet the puppeteer who does Elmo...to see the magic that close...THAT was the thrill for me. Here's his book, My Life as a Furry Red Monster by Kevin Clash.

Plus, as Cori was talking to him, he offered to leave a message on our machine in full Elmo voice. The Fonz is cool. Beck is cool. But Sesame Street is cooler.

Screw anyone who says otherwise.

Love to all. And the letter for the day is E.

Brad

The Book of Fate On The Colbert Report

For those that have asked me, here is the clip of Stephen Colbert talking about The Book of Fate on Tuesday's The Colbert Report.

Click here to go to YouTube, or watch the video below.

Armageddon is just around the corner...

Stephen Colbert mentioned The Book of Fate on The Colbert Report last night.

West Coast begins

Landed in San Diego late last night and now ready for a week of In-and-Out Burger (which is a restaurant I love despite it sounding like bad porn).

So onto the west coast--looking forward to seeing Alex Sinclair, super colorist, tonight, comic folks all week, a surprise novelist for breakfast, as well as the Jack & Bobby posse in LA.

And with the time difference, I feel like I'm sleeping late.

Finally, sorry to the Portland folks -- it got cut from the tour at the last minute (just scheduling issues, no gossip), which truly bummed me out.

And going to the White House Saturday for the National Book Festival. Will of course report the insanity.

Thanks as always,

B

The boy named Sam

Day 15 of the book tour brings easily the most rewarding moment. I'm in Boston, Mass, with an hour to kill before the event at Brookline Booksmith begins. The vital piece is that it was in a restaurant on that very street that I first said, "I'm going to write a novel." The second vital piece is that there's also a comic shop on that street that I used to shop at. So to kill time, I dart into the comic shop, pick up a few books, and sign some comics for the manager.

Ten feet away, this boy and his Mom see me signing. The boy (Sam) doesn't know me from Eve, doesn't care what I do, but man, is he excited that I'm signing Justice League. So excited that he begs Mom to buy one...and when the manager tells them about my book signing across the street, he begs Mom to go to the event.

And Sam shows up, novel in hand. He didn't care what it was about. Didn't care if anyone else was there. He was just excited to meet a real writer.

In twenty years, I'm gonna be standing in line at Sam's booksigning. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Off to Philadelphia...

Brad

Bestseller List

I called my Mom first (my wife already pried it out of my publisher when they were trying to track me down). So I come out of the interview I was in, and get the news, and call my Mom, telling her The Book of Fate will be debuting at number 1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

My Mom starts sobbing, barely able to utter a word. And with her sobs come my own as the reality of it finally settles in. And in mid-sob, my voice cracks as I ask her, "Where are you?"

She chokes back her own tears and a sob and tells me, "Marshalls."

Of course my Mom's bargain hunting at Marshalls. Bet she bought some irregulars too. And that's why I love my mother--the one person who forever taught me to never ever ever ever change. For anyone.

Needless to say, this isn't just our victory. It's yours. All our friends and family and readers--you built this. When you bought those novels or took them out of the library or borrowed them, you built it.

And where did the publisher think the sudden push came from? Longtime readers who put the word out and comic readers who came over to the medium. That's right. You.

I've always said our longtime readers are the kindest and best. And having it in JLA 1 was one of the single most rewarding things I've ever been a part of. My publisher called it an experiment. It was never an experiment to me. It was a movement. A movement I'm so proud to be a small part of -- and a change from the snobbery that ranks thriller, mystery, and comic readers at the bottom of the literary pyramid.

If you're reading this, you're part of that same movement. So thank you -- for telling your mom and dad and family and friends and whoever else you called up and said, "You gotta read this book."

There's one name on the cover of every book, but only a fool thinks it's a one-person show. Thanks for being part of the show.

See you on the tour -- and of course, at Marshalls.

Much love and thanks,

Brad

NASCAR’s David Stremme & Brad

Here it is – the final round of our Celebrity Blog Tour. And for this one, we saved one of the funniest and best -- and our vote-getter for Rookie of the Year – NASCAR driver David Stremme.

Also, thanks to PerezHilton, USA Today's Pop Candy, PopSugar, AOL and NASCAR.Com for hosting the full blog tour.

And now, here’s Brad and David Stremme:

David Stremme: What inspired you to utilize NASCAR racing as part of the first chapter of The Book of Fate?

Brad Meltzer: My son, who was three at the time. No joke, the boy came out of the womb in a multi-colored jumpsuit. He went as Dale Jr. for Halloween. So when it came time to write Chapter One, I was about to start with a baseball scene (for my dad), but instead picked a NASCAR race (for my boy). Plus, NASCAR guru and my pal Mike Calinoff e-mailed me and said he liked my thrillers, so now I had an inside track.

Stremme: What is the fastest you have ever driven in a passenger car?

Meltzer: Whatever I was doing when me and my high school buddies took Howie Robinson's car for a joyride and crashed it. In the end, the car was only slightly dented--so we thought we got off easy. The next day, we found out we cracked the car's axle -- and we were so stupid, we didn't even realize that the car was six inches lower when we drove it home. When I told my Dad what we'd done, he looked me right in the eye and said, "You'll never be worse than I was as a kid. Don't tell your mother." The day Howie got the car fixed, a guy ran a stop sign and plowed into it, totaling his just-fixed car.

Stremme: How many speeding tickets have you gotten? ...Honestly.

Meltzer: Six. Plus fifteen fingers worth of warnings. I always make the cops nice in my books -- so they let me off.

Stremme: Does (your wife) Cori ever tell you to "slow down"? Do you listen?

Meltzer: My wife thinks I'm a maniac and that I drive like I’m sixteen years-old. Which is probably fair, although at sixteen, I used to think every red light was the three seconds before they yelled, “Gentlemen, start your engines.” Of course, that’s what I like most about NASCAR – on any given day, on any road, I can squint my eyes and pretend I’m in the race. And when you’re driving where I live in Florida? You are in the race.

Stremme: What was your first reaction to seeing the Daytona International Speedway?

Meltzer: The thunder, baby. No doubt. That sound…the way your teeth vibrate…the roar of 200,000 people in one place, all screaming over the chainsaw of engines. At University of Michigan football games, 100,000 people was a massive roar of a crowd. But Daytona? Think of your biggest football stadium -- and you can put two of those in Daytona. Right now, I can close my eyes and still feel it.

Stremme: I have fun going fast. What's fun about being an author?

Meltzer: When I pull up next to Dan Brown on the highway and nod at him like we’re friends, and then, when he least expects it, I tear the wheel to the right and bite his back bumper just enough to send his best-selling ass spinning like a helicopter as he careens into the cement wall, pissed at me, but already thrilled to plan his payback.

Thanks to NASCAR.Com for hosting this interview.


Looking for Brad on tour?

Liked this interview? Make sure you didn’t miss the ones with Damon Lindelof from LOST, former First Lady Barbara Bush, director Tommy Schlamme, and Adam Brody, star of The OC.

To find out which celebrities are actually Freemasons, click here.

And to see The Book of Fate doing the full NASCAR, click here.

Adam Brody & Brad

Adam Brody, star of The OC and Thank You For Smoking is slinging the questions at Brad today.

Just getting here now? Then you missed Damon Lindelof, former First Lady Barbara Bush, and director Tommy Schlamme.

And now, here’s Brad and Adam Brody:

Adam Brody: Which is your favorite film adaptation of a novel?

Brad Meltzer: Okay, I see how you're playing this game. You're just gearing up to grill me like those guys you hate at TV Guide. The answer's obvious: Lord of the Rings. Everyone says To Kill A Mockingbird, but let's be honest, the book is better. Especially for Scout. Also, the last Harry Potter movie -- Goblet of Fire -- ranks up there too. Far better than the book, which I just thought ran way too long. Plus, Charlotte's Web made me cry.

Brody: Which is your least favorite?

Meltzer: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Best book. Sorry to say, they just shanked that movie.

Brody: Who's on the verge of a comeback?

Meltzer: Wonder Woman. Really. Don't believe me? Joss Whedon is doing the film. That's right. Buffy's brains...Serenity's brawn. All on the big screen. My wife said she used to spin around, praying she'd turn into her.

Brody: Most underrated movie?

Meltzer: A few years back, I'd say The Big Lebowski, but it's somehow thankfully now everywhere. I also think Go, Man on the Moon, and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind were severely overlooked. But y'know what? Let me give my real answer. People hate sequels. I hate sequels. But I just saw Toy Story 2 again with my nephew. That and Rocky 3 (yeah, I said it) are just -- they're great. I mean it. Go watch.

Brody: What actor would you cast as yourself in your biopic?

Meltzer: You mean besides every flight attendant on every plane I go on telling me I look like that guy from ER? I say to them, "You must mean Clooney." They say, "No, the bald one."

Thanks to AOL for hosting the interview.


Looking for Brad on tour?
Liked this interview? Tomorrow – NASCAR superstar!
And to find out which celebrities are actually Freemasons, click here.

Tommy Schlamme from Studio 60 & Brad

Tommy Schlamme, master director of The West Wing, Jack & Bobby, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is on question-duty today.

Just getting here now? Then you missed Damon Lindelof and former First Lady Barbara Bush.

And now, onto Tommy and Brad…

Thomas Schlamme: Who would win in a fight -- real fight -- between the comic book Superman and the movie Superman?

Brad Meltzer: The true sad part is, this is a really good question. And the even sadder part? I'm fascinated by the answer. And so...I have to go with the comic book Superman for the win. Sure, the movie one can fly around the world to turn back time to save Lois...and he can lift that kryptonite land mass that was gonna make Luthor...um...have something to do in the movie...and yes, he has that cellophane S from Superman II. But in the full annals of Superman history, the comic book version has survived 14 types of kryptonite, a dozen trips to the Phantom Zone, hundreds of villains trying to beat him down on a monthly basis, death itself, and even that bad redesign of his costume in the 90s that made him look like an ice skater. Not in a good way.

Schlamme: What about a race between Superman and Flash?

Meltzer: If they run, Flash. If flying's allowed, Superman. What's strange is how sure I am of this. Sometimes, truly, I'm a sad pathetic man.

Schlamme: What's the hardest part about writing a fight scene?

Meltzer: Oh, I hate writing fight scenes. It’s a minefield of clichés. But people want ‘em. Don’t say no. They do. In the very first book I wrote, I was determined to challenge the genre. I had the big ending, and the big confrontation, and the gun to the hero’s head – and then, hoping to make it completely realistic, instead of having the hero kick the gun away like in the other thousand thrillers out there, I let the FBI come bursting in the door to save the day. That was my solution: be real and show how it really happens. Every reader of that draft – even the snobby ones – they just destroyed it. They needed to see the hero save that day. The only good news was, in the final version, I didn’t have him kick the gun.

Schlamme: Does anyone even care if fight scenes are realistic anymore, as long as they're entertaining?

Meltzer: In a movie, the fights are ridiculous. I love Rocky III. I truly do. But if any single man took that many punches to the face, they'd look like...well...let's just say there'd be no Rocky IV (which I realize is probably a good thing). But the point is, we don't care in a movie. We want to see the action go all fast and all furious. Did you see the recent Batman movie? I loved the fight scenes in there. I couldn't tell what the hell was happening or who was punching whom, but man, it was pretty. In a novel, people want it far more realistic. In The Millionaires, when they were in the underground tunnels under Disneyworld, I had the villain hitting the hero in the face three or four times, and the editors were like, “Whoa, whoa – he’d be unconscious by now.” And I’m thinking, “Didn’t you see Rocky III?”

Schlamme: Have you ever actually been in a fistfight?

Meltzer: Once. In Brooklyn, in fifth grade. But it wasn’t one of those someone-throws-a-punch- and-it-turns-into-a-wrestling-match fight that you usually see in the schoolyards. It was a fistfight. The first punch was thrown by him – he put his entire fist in my eye. And that’s when the switch flipped for me. I just started swinging and swinging and swinging at his face. My hand got so swollen from where my fingers were digging into my palm, I could barely make a fist. Finally, he collapsed, his nose and chin covered in blood. When we eventually got dragged up to the principal’s office, they made me wait there while they called his parents to take him home (he was too beat up to send back to class). The worst part was, he had one of those dads who was older than everyone else’s dad -- and when his dad came into the office, I’ll never forget the look on his face as this old man had to go over to his broken son. I still can’t shake the image. I eventually got sent back to class with a nice shiner, and when I walked inside, my class cheered. It was the worst victory of my life.

Thanks to PopSugar for hosting this interview.


Looking for Brad on tour?

Liked this interview? Tomorrow – a star from The OC…

To find out which celebrities are actually Freemasons, click here.

And to see The Book of Fate doing the full NASCAR, click here.

Brad on a racecar. Really. On it.

Of all the dumb cool things that’ve ever happened to me, from Woody Allen to well, my entire career, this is one of the most insane.

The Book of Fate on the #12 car for Fitz-Bradshaw Racing. It’s in the NASCAR Busch Series, and if Fitz-Bradshaw wins today in Richmond when this sucker hits the racetrack, we’re all getting cool jumpsuits!

Needless to say, my recent NASCAR obsession comes from my son, which is why I put it in Chapter 1 of the novel. But the true thrill from being involved with NASCAR has been my friendship with racing legend Mike Calinoff. He’s the one in the President’s limo in Chapter 1, but he’s also one of the truly nicest people I’ve ever met.

Go support him, and go support David Stremme.

And Mike, if the #12 wins today…Oy…

Brad

Barbara Bush & Brad. Really.

BTW, thank you for all the comments on the video we shot at the New York signing. Special thanks to PF Bentley who shot the video for us.

For those just tuning in, we promised we’d have cool bigshots interviewing Brad on the occasion of The Book of Fate and the book tour. Yesterday, we had Damon Lindelof from LOST. And today, here’s one of the biggest of all – former First Lady Barbara Bush. That’s right, Barbara Bush.

Take it away Mrs. Bush…

Barbara Bush: What're the top three albums that are on your iPod?

Brad Meltzer: I’m looking right now for what I played last…Guero by Beck, About A Boy by Badly Drawn Boy, and the new Chili Peppers double-disc. But I need to know -- can you tell me what's on yours?

BB: In all honesty Brad, I don’t know if I can narrow it down, Andrew Lloyd Webber is a favorite but I absolutely love any kind of show tunes -- you play a Broadway musical, and I’m going to be tapping my toes. On that note, music is considered art -- What's the worst piece of art you and your wife ever purchased?"

Brad: Something tells me my answer will be a lot less expensive than yours. But at the Broward County Fair, I once bought a picture of David Hasselhoff sorta painted on a mirror -- the whole thing framed in what could only be described as plastic wood. I thought it was cool because it had the Knight Rider car in the background. Don’t ask. I was thirteen.

BB: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose. While reading your website--

Brad: Wait, you read my website? Don't you have staff for that? Or like, the Pentagon?

BB: I have an iPod and a Blackberry. I know how to go to websites, Brad.

Brad: My mother's going to be mad at me for asking you that.

BB: I’m sure she will understand. Now, while reading your website, I saw that you received 24 rejection letters on your first novel, which still hasn't been published to this day. Do you draw any inspiration from that rejection?

Brad: Every single day I sit down to write, I think about those rejections. I had twenty-four people tell me to give it up. Does that make them wrong, and me right? Of course not. All it means is life is subjective. All you need is one person to say yes. So every day, I think about those letters. It puts it in perspective. It reminds me to never take this job for granted. And it tells me to never let anyone tell you No.

BB: Great attitude Brad, I might just send friends to you for advice now. What was your favorite book as a child?

Brad: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. What about yours?

BB: My favorite book to read to my children when they were being raised was Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McClosky.

Brad: See that's the thing. Mine is solely because my mom read it to me. Just sitting in her lap. That book makes me feel young and safe to this day. Plus, I love the illustrations. I was at a wedding where Eric Carle was a guest, and I had to fight everything within me to not go over and ask him to sketch something on a cocktail napkin for me.

BB: You should've asked.

Brad: Yeah...he wouldn't have said no to you.

BB: [Laughs] And where's your favorite place to escape?

Brad: The week before my wedding, my best friends rented a boat for two hours. We were still in school -- we had no money, no jobs…but for two hours, in Key West, we had this boat. The Captain had a radio that somehow -- magically -- I’m telling you, it played all your old favorite songs, and we just sat on that boat and drifted around. That was an escape.

BB: Final question: I know the answer to this one, but what details did you steal from the Office of George Bush and put in your new novel?

Brad: Ahh, you saw the advance copy, didn’t you? I didn’t know if it got there yet. Well…when I came to Houston -- and when I went up to Harlem to the Office of Bill Clinton – you both had the coolest offices around. You have to know that -- personally, I don’t have pictures of me and the Pope on my walls. But when I was looking for things to describe it the novel, I picked lots of the cool details, and of course, my favorite desk item of all time: that bronzed casting of Abraham’s Lincoln fist. C’mon, you have Lincoln’s fist. That beats my Kermit the Frog paperweight any day.

Special thanks to Whitney Matheson at USA Today's PopCandy for posting this to her blog on Tuesday.

Looking for Brad on tour?

Liked this interview? Tomorrow – we’ve got the man from Studio 60…

And to find out which celebrities are actually Freemasons, click here.

NPR Interview

Here's the interview from yesterday's All Things Considered on NPR. Now go give money to public radio!

B

Damon Lindelof from LOST & Brad

Rather than bore you with five boring questions from yet another reporter, we’ve asked some of the best celebrities, politicians, and personalities in the world to do their razzle and dazzle on you.

First up: Damon Lindelof, the co-creator of the TV show LOST. As for the rest, you really won’t believe it – we’ve got one of the stars from The OC, a former First Lady, one of the brains behind Studio 60, a NASCAR driver, and more.

These interviews make up the first-ever Celebrity Blog Tour – if anyone uses that term, we invented it here, so start paying royalties, sucker. You owe us! Anyway, this first one started on PerezHilton with Damon Lindelof, then we went to AOL with…you’ll see. Check back tomorrow.

And so, here’s Brad and Damon.

Damon Lindelof: When you were a little kid, what was your favorite thing to do in gym class? I ask this because most of us spazoids were terrible at the jock-attracting activities like basketball, football, baseball... well, ANYTHING with a ball really... but yet elementary school gym offered a wider curriculum of activities. So give it UP!

Brad Meltzer: Red Rover, Red Rover, we call Damon right over. No ball, no brawn, no athletics involved -- and the first little mind game they let us play. I wasn't strong or fast, but man, did the meatheads get pissed if they didn't get their name called. I took the smallest amount of pathetic joy in that.

Lindelof: You have a time machine. You can go back to ANY time in your own life and tell yourself to do something differently. You may NOT place any bets or give stock tips. To what point in your life do you travel and what do you tell yourself? Paradoxes are welcomed.

Meltzer: Brooklyn, New York, July 5, 1984. The day my family left Brooklyn to move to Florida. I was fourteen, my mom and dad had no jobs, no place to live, and only $1,200 to their name. They packed me and my sister in our crappy Dodge and began driving to Florida. So there, yes, it would've been nice to have someone whisper in my ear that things would be okay. But I was a cynic at fourteen and would've thought the current Me was a bald, uncool white dude, so I would've screamed, "Stranger!" and run away, thinking, "What a turd." Nice going, Me--brilliant at fourteen. Besides, all that fear and anxiety is the core of everything in my belly, so I'm glad I'd think I was a knob. Go, young cool Me!

Lindelof: Would you rather be referred to as a comic-book writer or a novelist in your obituary. You can only choose one.

Meltzer: This question haunts me. Daily. It cuts to the heart of all my fears and self-focused fantasies. Novelist is easily more "impressive" to the large group. It impresses my mom. It lets her brag to her friends. But as a matter of pride, I’m truly more in my own skin in the world of comics. I didn't read novels growing up. I don't read that many novels now. But comics? I read comics. I know them. I understand them. And they let me be part of the coolest, geekiest, saddest, happiest, smartest secret-club around. Comics are like high school sweetheart, and novels are like the sexy sultry blonde who would never date you when you were nothing, but shows up now once you've found a sliver of success. But even with all that ridiculous self-confession -- I still have to say "novelist" for my obituary. Not because it's cooler or more prestigious or more impressive to my mom. I say it because, when I write a novel, it's mine. The creation is mine. The creative process is mine. And to build that entire house with nothing but your own hands...to be the sole architect from idea to end...and to not need a large conglomerate's property to do it...that's something to be.
And Damon, I owe you a good two bills for that therapy session.

Lindelof: Earth has been ravaged by a hundred year war as humanity is forced below the earth, cowering in underground caverns until a victor is declared between the two mighty combatants. Robots vs. Zombies. Who wins that war?

Meltzer: Zombies, easy. Please, it's the first rule of Zombies: Nothing stops Zombies. Robots may make it through a sequel or two. The cybernetic forearm may survive until they can afford morphing effects. But lava eventually stops robots. Keanu stops Robots. Nothing stops Zombies. (Tomorrow I'm changing my answer. Robots can always create more of themselves).

Lindelof: What is the WORST ending of the BEST story?

Meltzer: I hate giving this answer--I actually regret it as I say the words: The easy answer is The Phantom Menace (just a shame), but the real answer has to be the last two Matrix movies. I remember exactly where I sat in the theater when I saw Star Wars at age 7. I remember where I sat when I saw the first Superman movie. And it never happened again until The Matrix. It was like that scene in Kavalier & Clay where they see Citizen Kane and they feel like the whole wide world just opened and expanded. That's how I felt with The Matrix. I came out of there and just felt the whole world of fantasy and geekdom and film and story all change at once. I was thrilled, inspired -- thankful even -- just to witness it. But the sequels...all the emotion was gone.

Special thanks to Perez Hilton for posting this to their blog on Tuesday.


Looking for Brad on tour?

Liked this interview? Wait till tomorrow – we’ve got one of the biggest of them all…

And to find out which celebrities are actually Freemasons, click here.

Video: Book Of Fate Signing In New York

Thank you to everyone in New York who came to the first reading and signing for The Book of Fate.

We look forward to seeing more of you at the upcoming appearances on the book tour.

In the meantime, here is a video of Brad talking about his visit to Bulgaria. Oh, and Wednesday afternoon we'll post the first interview in the Celebrity Blog Tour featuring Damon Lindelof, the co-creator of the TV show LOST.

Click here for the YouTube link or watch it here and you can also "Digg" this video on Digg.Com.

Cori

Kickoff for The Book of Fate

If you’re reading this, you’re a dear friend, a complete stranger, or (let’s be honest, shall we) most likely, you’re a relative. Hi Aunt Bunny!

It’s true. I have an Aunt Bunny.

So today kicks off the 25-city tour for the publication of The Book of Fate.

But rather than shill the new novel (you can read the Q&A for that), let me just take a moment to thank all of you who are reading this right now. This book is the culmination of three years of research and work, yet while there’s one name on the front cover, only a fool thinks this is a one-person show. So thanks to you, dear reader, dear friends (trust me, that’s the same group). I’ve been at this for nearly ten years now, and the best part is having you in my life.

So what else?

Wanna see Damon Lindelof, one of the co-creators of the TV show LOST, quizzing me something fierce? Go here. Plus, you’ll see my Q&A with a former First Lady as well (oohh, neat).

Wanna see which celebrities are Freemasons (and therefore part of the world’s oldest and largest fraternity)? Go here to see the game Warner built.

I’m off to New York right now for the big first event.

More to come tomorrow. And even more on Friday.

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TV Commercial - and JLA first responders

Just got the first look at the TV commercial for The Book of Fate. It's the first one with me in it, which also makes it the most strangely embarrassing. I was mortified doing it because it basically required me to say "I'm Brad Meltzer" -- no exaggeration -- thirty thousand times. Plus, I had to do it in that deep serious voice that makes me sound like the movie-preview-voice-guy.

I don't have movie-preview-guy voice. Never have. But I do now. Oh yes -- when you watch the commercial (I'll post it soon), they had to make my voice match the video, so they slowed it down and it got deepened into a slow rumbling baritone. Like me, only tough.

Also, for JLA, one of the first responses/questions I got:

From bluemeanie: I was wondering if you could settle a question that I have been debating on a comics forum with regards Vixen.

There are basically 3 camps on why she was included
1) Its a fairly obscure character you like and have plans for
2) Its a political decision to include a female black character
3) Its a commercial decision as she is in the cartoon
or maybe 4... a little of all the above

Answer: I'm sure there are people who would love to do it for 2, 3, or 4 (though see yesterday's post, been planning this since Identity Crisis) -- but c'mon, ask any writer out there -- only a fool wouldn't do it if they didn't like the character and have plans for the character.

And that's why EVERY character got picked. Love them. Plans for all of them. That's the seed in every story.

B

Tour Schedule (or, how to get your comics signed)

For those who asked, here's the tour schedule for The Book of Fate -- and yes, I'll be signing any comics you want to bring as well. See below for dates and cities.

Brad

NEW YORK
Tuesday, September 5
Barnes & Noble, Union Square, 7pm
33 East 17th Street
New York, NY 10003

WASHINGTON, DC
Wednesday, September 6
Politics & Prose, 7pm
5015 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008

STERLING, VIRGINIA
Saturday, September 9
Wegmans, 12pm
45131 Columbia Place
Sterling VA 20166

BETHESDA, MARYLAND
Saturday, September 9
Barnes & Noble, 7:30pm
4801 Bethesda Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

DALLAS, TEXAS
Monday, September 11
Borders Books & Music, 7:30pm
10720 Preston Road, Suite 1018
Dallas, TX 75230

ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Tuesday, September 12
Chapter 11 Books, Sandy Springs, 7pm
220 Johnson Ferry Road, NE
Sandy Springs, GA 30328

VERO BEACH, FLORIDA
Wednesday, September 13
Vero Beach Book Center, 7pm
2145 Indian River Blvd.
Vero Beach, FL 32960

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA
Thursday, September 14
Barnes & Noble, 7pm
University Commons
1400 Glades Rd.
Boca Raton, FL 33431

SARASOTA, FLORIDA
Friday, September 15
Kobernick House, 11:30am
1951 North Honore Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34235
Reading, Signing, Luncheon
Call for details: 941-552-1595

MIAMI, FLORIDA
Saturday, September 16
Books & Books, 7pm
296 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33145

ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS
Sunday, September 17
Wal-Mart/People Live! (1 to 3 pm)
Wal-Mart Store ..5199
475 East Route 173
Antioch, IL 60002

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Monday, September 18
Borders Books & Music, 12pm
150 N. State Street
Chicago, IL 60601

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Monday, September 18
The Book Stall at Chestnut Court, Winnetka, 7pm
811 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093

BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN
Tuesday, September 19
Borders Books & Music, 7pm
34300 Woodward Avenue
Birmingham, MI 48009

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Wednesday, September 20
Brookline Booksmith, 7pm
279 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA 02446

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Thursday, September 21
Chester County Book Co, 7pm
975 Paoli Pike
West Chester, PA 19380

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
Monday, September 25
Mysterious Galaxy, 7pm
7051 Claremont Mesa Blvd ..302
San Diego, CA 92111

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Tuesday, September 26
Book Soup, 7pm
8818 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
Wednesday, September 27
Vroman's, 7pm
695 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101

SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA
Thursday, September 28
"M" is for Mystery, 12noon
86 E. Third Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94401

CORTE MADERA, CALIFORNIA
Thursday, September 28
Book Passage, 7pm
51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Corte Madera, CA 94925

NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL - WASHINGTON, DC
Friday, September 29-Saturday, September 30
Washington, DC

PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Tuesday, October 3
Poisoned Pen Central, 12:15pm
215 E Grant Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
Tuesday, October 3
The Poisoned Pen, 7pm
4014 N Goldwater Blvd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

DENVER, COLORADO
Wednesday, October 4
Tattered Cover, 7:30pm
9315 Dorchester Street
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS
Saturday, October 7
Hastings, 7pm
2200 S. IH-35, Suite B1
Round Rock, TX 78681

Don't forget to vote for the next city!