Class was never quite like this.

Wow, this is weird. This is really weird. Some kids took parts of my first novel Waylaid, including an excerpt from the Charlie Chan Is Dead 2 anthology that was titled “Late Bloomer,” and made a 10-minute video out of it.

Who are you? Where did you come from? Why did you do this?

Kaya’s logo. Tony the Tiger says smoking is g-g-g-r-r-eat, kids!

Friday March 21, 2008, 7:30 PM

Barnes & Noble
Greenwich Village
396 Ave of the Americas (Sixth Avenue and 8th Street)
New York City
212-674-8780

My first reading at this big chain, which seems to be losing outlets in Manhattan as fast as the old Tower Records. Quick! Save this store!

I just wrote a column for Seattle’s The Stranger about all the weird people who come to book readings:

Waylaid by Weirdness by Ed Lin

A lot of great things happen at readings, enough to make it more than worth my while to step up to the mic. I like hearing that someone loved my book—it made them laugh, cry, whatever. One guy even told me that he read my first novel, Waylaid, in one sitting. On the toilet.

Hey, it made me laugh.

The only downside to readings is when the Weirdies show up. Weirdies love mouthing along during the reading; asking many, many questions during the Q&A; and following the author for blocks afterward.

More here.

Well, when I rolled into Philadelphia, for the reading at UPenn I was sick. Just as well, because the entire Northeast was covered in a sleet storm. We were literally falling over each other on the ice as we fumbled our way to the Kelly Writers House. Even though we were about half an hour late, a roomful of people were patiently waiting. While I was reading I broke into a sweat and my glasses kept slipping off my nose, but, hell, nothing would stop me from reading for and poisoning the minds of young people! Thank you Mayumi, Warren, Jo and Jessica for having me and Lisa Chen over! Haverford and Bryn Mawr — you guys rock!

Then 24 hours later, it was off to the Asian American Writers’ Workshop for another reading with Tao Lin and Lisa. I’ve been a member of the Workshop since 1992. The place has had its ups and downs, IMHO, but it’s off to a great start in 2008. Lisa’s so shy, I just had to put a picture of her here. Thank you Nina, Jeannie and Ken for having us!

I’m still a little sick, so this is enough typing for me today. The tour continues next week in LA, SF, Berkeley and Seattle. Watch your ass, West Coast!