Month: September 2018

I’m always so nervous before giving a talk about any of my books. But I should have realized that the History Book Conference was going to be a whole other experience entirely. The people who run the conference and the people who attend are all history-lovers of course. What on earth was there to worry about?? It was amazing!! If you can make it next year, you really should attend. It was packed this year. Four authors were giving presentations during each session and every one of them was well-attended. A few shots before mine began.

Dr. Jeffrey Reid interviewed me for my presentation and that is him in the third shot.

I’ll be at the History Book Festival tomorrow in Lewes, DE! I’m going be interviewed about my book and the history of Blackwell’s Island by the esteemed Dr. Jeffrey Fried. FYI: Blanche Wiesen Cook is giving the keynote address tonight, and a lot of other great historians and writers will be there.

When I did my author photo this year I tried to have the books of friends, and books I used in my research in the background.

The windows in my apartment were so old and falling apart bats could fly in. For real. Proof here. I had a mosquito problem which I’ve posted about, and I was sure I would one day die from some mosquito born illness. Well, the city told my landlord he had to fix all the windows and he put in new windows instead! But look who christened my nice, brand-new windows!

I’m going to be giving a talk about my book Damnation Island: Poor, Sick, Mad, and Criminal in 19th-Century New York, at the Merchant’s House Museum, 29 East Fourth Street.

UPDATE: I just learned that we are rescheduling this for October. I will be back when we’ve worked out the new date.

On September 29th, I’ll be at the History Book Festival in Lewes, DE, where I will be interviewed about my book and the history of Blackwell’s Island by the esteemed Dr. Jeffrey Fried (Blanche Wiesen Cook is giving the keynote address for the conference, by the way!).

From the launch event for my book, hosted by Untapped Cities.

A shot of the subway platform at the Franklin Street stop. When Aretha Franklin died riders put up signs changing Franklin Street to Aretha Franklin Street, as an homage. Apparently the MTA added the signs saying respect.

When Echo had offices in Tribeca this was our subway stop. So I have intense nostalgia for this stop. Those were such great, exciting days. I was going to say, “not that these aren’t great days too,” except they’re not! I will hope for greatness again soon.