Photo by: N.L. Belardes
One Bakersfield Woman's Blog to Mankind
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Malcolm Margolin is POSH!
Heyday Publisher, Malcolm Margolin
The night before the Yosemite Writer’s Conference began, NL and I ran into Heyday publisher Malcolm Margolin at the Velvet Rose Italian Restaurant in Oakhurst. He sat alone, deep in thought surrounded by velvet rose paintings. NL went over and spoke with him. He stopped by our table on the way out. He remembered meeting me at the Great Valley Books Writer’s Conference in Merced even though we hadn’t spoken much then. “Where are you guys staying?” He asked.
“At the Tenaya Lodge.” NL replied.
“Posh!” Malcolm said on his way out.
Malcolm left and we ordered dinner…
“Posh. I think that’s my new favorite word.” I said as we commented on the irony of running into Malcolm in such a random manner.
Dinner came and we talked about our expectations for the next day. We watched in awe as our waitress balanced a large tray carrying full wine glasses while she bent down, picked something up off the floor and then did an amazing 360-degree spin while she stood up without spilling a drop.
The next day we ran into Malcolm again. First before the morning sessions and then later as we made our way to the Pavilion for the contest readings. “You gave me my new favorite word.” I told Malcolm as we walked down the stairs.
“What’s that?” He asked.
“Posh.”
“Oh.” He smiled. “It needs a better definition.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Like, She is posh.”
“Oh, I like that.” I smiled.
We later discovered that Malcolm had a touch of pirate in him, as he gave as good as he got at the pirate’s table. But it was at a much quieter dinner the next night where NL and I sat across from Malcolm and a lovely writer from the Bay area that I discovered Malcolm Margolin was POSH!
I sat listening while Malcolm shared stories, beautiful stories, and such unexpected stories about Hiroshima, Native American dream songs, writers, artists, poets, birds and the mysteries of the world. He is an amazing storyteller and he's met everyone and been everywhere... “Who is the most interesting character you’ve ever met?” Malcolm asked NL. NL told a story of one of his students legendary ancestors and then returned the question back to Malcolm.
I sat listening as Malcolm told a beautiful story about a most amazing person whose name I can’t remember and all I could think was; I hope he doesn’t ask me who the most interesting character I’ve ever met is, because my only claim to meeting someone famous is my gay pop star Darren Hayes. Or on the interesting side of the coin there was the transgender Victor who I taught how to apply his makeup during his journey to becoming Victoria.
But now… I think I would answer that question by saying Malcolm Margolin is the most interesting character I’ve ever met... He is posh.
Heyday Publisher, Malcolm Margolin
The night before the Yosemite Writer’s Conference began, NL and I ran into Heyday publisher Malcolm Margolin at the Velvet Rose Italian Restaurant in Oakhurst. He sat alone, deep in thought surrounded by velvet rose paintings. NL went over and spoke with him. He stopped by our table on the way out. He remembered meeting me at the Great Valley Books Writer’s Conference in Merced even though we hadn’t spoken much then. “Where are you guys staying?” He asked.
“At the Tenaya Lodge.” NL replied.
“Posh!” Malcolm said on his way out.
Malcolm left and we ordered dinner…
“Posh. I think that’s my new favorite word.” I said as we commented on the irony of running into Malcolm in such a random manner.
Dinner came and we talked about our expectations for the next day. We watched in awe as our waitress balanced a large tray carrying full wine glasses while she bent down, picked something up off the floor and then did an amazing 360-degree spin while she stood up without spilling a drop.
The next day we ran into Malcolm again. First before the morning sessions and then later as we made our way to the Pavilion for the contest readings. “You gave me my new favorite word.” I told Malcolm as we walked down the stairs.
“What’s that?” He asked.
“Posh.”
“Oh.” He smiled. “It needs a better definition.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Like, She is posh.”
“Oh, I like that.” I smiled.
We later discovered that Malcolm had a touch of pirate in him, as he gave as good as he got at the pirate’s table. But it was at a much quieter dinner the next night where NL and I sat across from Malcolm and a lovely writer from the Bay area that I discovered Malcolm Margolin was POSH!
I sat listening while Malcolm shared stories, beautiful stories, and such unexpected stories about Hiroshima, Native American dream songs, writers, artists, poets, birds and the mysteries of the world. He is an amazing storyteller and he's met everyone and been everywhere... “Who is the most interesting character you’ve ever met?” Malcolm asked NL. NL told a story of one of his students legendary ancestors and then returned the question back to Malcolm.
I sat listening as Malcolm told a beautiful story about a most amazing person whose name I can’t remember and all I could think was; I hope he doesn’t ask me who the most interesting character I’ve ever met is, because my only claim to meeting someone famous is my gay pop star Darren Hayes. Or on the interesting side of the coin there was the transgender Victor who I taught how to apply his makeup during his journey to becoming Victoria.
But now… I think I would answer that question by saying Malcolm Margolin is the most interesting character I’ve ever met... He is posh.
I think meeting Mr. Heyday books himself and actually having several casual conversations with him has go to be the BEST claim to fame ever! Especially for a writer like yourself. How exciting!
Did this past weekend inspire you to finish your book? I can't wait to read it!
Yes... the writer's conference has inspired me to finish my book. :)
ugh I hate when I don't catch my typo's. It has goT to be .. is what I meant. And .... whooo hooo! I love your style of writing. I can't wait! I think YOU are soooo posh!
You're right, Malcolm is completely posh. He shared such wonderful memories of meeting some of the greats of publishing... some of whom I also met, and it was like having been to the same, far planet. Malcolm has such a touch of elegance about him, that Old New York Publishing style. He would have been right at home at a dream dinner with Gutenberg, Herrick, Swift, Addison and Steele, (Samuel) Richardson, Wollstonecraft, the Woolfs, Cerf, Klopfer, Farrar, Straus, Cudahy AND Giroux, and so many others...