Page 32 of The Librarian and the Rock Star

“In a meeting room? What if the interview was set somewhere more interesting?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re trying to get the public to get back in touch with the band. What if it was something more personal, like right here in your hotel room?”

“I guess so,” he said, surveying the mess of papers everywhere. “I have to clean up.”

“No! Leave it just like this. I mean, I’ll clear out the dirty dishes, but let them know that you are a writer and artist.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” he said. “Sure let’s do it.”

I sent Kelly a text immediately to redirect them to Jack’s hotel room. We left his papers and notes all over the coffee table, and I called down to room service for an assortment of bottled water and coffee.

We quickly skimmed the room, tidying away the dirty clothes and coffee mugs, and pulling two easy chairs over to the window to create an attractive area for them to shoot. I even dragged over a floor lamp and giant plant, so it looked like a typical interview set, but with a spectacular view.

Jack was looking a little nervous, so I ruffled his hair and pretended to arrange his T-shirt just so. “Wristbands,” I said, and he dug them out of his suitcase. “You always need a little bit of metal, don’t you? And this is a metal show.”

There was a knock at the door, and he kissed my nose before answering it. I attempted not to melt at the sudden constant affection, and ordered myself not to become used to it.

18. TV Time

LIVE – ROCKTALK SATURDAY WITH SAMMY

“Hello there, Toronto. We’re coming at you live from the beautiful downtown hotel room belonging to Mr. Jack Vegas, of Vegas Mud Disco.” The interviewer tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder, flashing a huge smile directly to the camera.

“Hey, Sammy – thanks for dropping by.”

“Thanks for having us in your private hotel room. Most people don’t like the media getting this close.”

Jack shrugged. “Meeting rooms were available downstairs, but that seems kind of boring and corporate, right? I’m sure your viewers would rather just hang out with us.”

“I see that you’ve been writing this morning.” The camera panned to take in the notes and scraps of paper all over the table.

“Sometimes I can’t sleep,” Jack said, “And when the thoughts are spinning in circles, I just grab a pen. I’ve heard it’s cheaper than therapy.”

Sammy laughed. “I’ve heard the same thing. Is this lyrics for the new album?”

Jack looked stern, pointing a finger at the cameraman. “Some of these are private, don’t zoom in too close.” He grinned, then turned back to the host. “There are probably some lyric fragments that will end up on the new album. Some of it is poetry, some of it is notes for stories on the new band blog that is starting next week.”

“Oh really? That’s exciting.”

“I’ve been told that we probably have a bunch of good stories – playing shows, trave

ling, meeting interesting people. So I thought I should write down some of these tales and share them with our friends and fans.”

“Sort of like a diary?”

“Well… a severely curated and edited diary, sure. You don’t want to hear about laundry day.”

Sammy nodded and laughed. “Any other interesting notes in that gigantic pile?”

Jack tilted his head to the side, lost in thought for half a second. “Sometimes I just scribble down my thought processes, because the act of committing something to paper changes the thought process itself. It’s one thing to think in your mind, but during the translation from thought to hand to pen to paper, sometimes the interior logic of a thought actually changes. Committing an idea to solid form can distill or crystallize the idea itself.”

“Wow,” Sammy said. “That’s a little deep for a rock and roll singer, don’t you think?”

Jack grinned. “We’re all wired differently. Some people read, some watch and interpret, some write – we all have ways that we process the endless information that flows through our minds. Look at Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden. He’s a singer, lyricist, airline pilot, author. Many people write songs as just one outlet.”

“I can’t wait to hear some of your new songs,” Sammy said.

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