New York, New York...!

by Nikki Logan

Start spreading the news… I’m leaving today…

Ferguson Photography
(Creative Commons)

Actually I left yesterday. By the time you are reading this I will be touching down in New York ready for my two-week Big Apple experience.

Hooray.

I peaked waaaaay too early for this trip and now just want it to be here and underway. I know there will be things that will not live up to my expectations but I also know there will be things that take me by surprise and delight me. I look forward to that.

RIVA (UK, July)

So this trip is most excellent timing given my July (RIVA) release ‘Rapunzel in New York’ is set in Manhattan. The border of Morningside Heights and Harlem to be specific, which is ‘uptown’ and near the Columbia University campus, the Manhattan School of Dance and a bunch of old libraries. Student country. I’ll try and get up there to see how well I captured its ‘feel’ in the story.

I’ll be signing copies of Rapunzel at the mass book signing to be held at the Marriott Marquis tomorrow evening (NY time). That event is part of the big annual convention of the Romance Writers of America which was my initial purpose in going, fabulous writer-related brain-stuffing all week! But I have a whole eight afterwards to get a taste of New York.

Our itinerary is stupidly large, of course. We’ll cull enroute. We’ll miss some great stuff, I’m sure, but we can’t see everything. I want to see architecture, I want to see parks, I want to see museums, I want to see the mysterious ‘lower’ New York beneath the pavement and the fabulous ‘overhead’ parks running the length of mid-town, I want to see Broadway and Jon Stewart and the Bronx Zoo. I want to see wildlife… and not of the party kind. Yeah… I won’t be seeing all that. But hopefully I’ll see enough of that to make it all worthwhile.

The gothic Woolworth Building
(Creative Commons)

I'll be touring Harlequin's offices which are housed in one of New York's oldest skyscrapers the very famous Woolworth Building. Post 911 this building has been off limits to walk-in tourists so getting a chance to see right inside it is very exciting. Not sure if I'll be able to get right to the top to take a photo, but I'll try.

I’ll also be attending a ball at the Waldorf Astoria’s Starlight roof which is so intensely surreal given that its had Elvis, Sinatra, the Beatles, silver screen movie stars, presidents, millionaires and mafia bosses across its plush carpets. And now me! *shakes head* How did I get here?

Alfred Eisenstaedt
Life Magazine

Because I’m far from home and can’t guarantee timely replies to comments, I’m not going to pose a question today. But I will direct your attention to yesterday’s SUNDAY SMOOCH which is a kiss from ‘Rapunzel in New York’. It may not be quite as famous as that other New York kiss but I hope you’ll enjoy it nonetheless.

(BTW, the nurse in this photograph being kissed by an anonymous sailor died this week in 2010. She was 91 and went on to become the public face of America's efforts during WW2. Therein lies the power of a good kiss.)

I never really felt a burning need to visit New York but it is so exciting to have both a reason to be there and a focus while there. I couldn't be more excited.

Until next time… signing off from New York…