I’ll be doing a book signing with my father (The author of the mystery novel Rude Promenade) at the Hawley Winterfest at the Hawley Public Library in downtown Hawley, Pennsylvania this Saturday, December 13, from 11:00AM – 3:00PM. Copies of both our books will be on sale. They make perfect gifts! (Hint! Hint!)
Or just come to say hi! It’d be nice to see my fans in Northeastern PA!
Goto www.hawleywinterfest.com for more information and directions!
first?
ok. now that the important stuff is done, will someone tell me where the heck is hawley so i can show up?
I miss your regular posts.
Me too Jan, me too.
I’ll be back soon. Man, it’s crazy Christmas time!
I vote more stories, less advertising/appearance plugs (or have a separate section for them. I get all excited to see a post, and then deflated when it’s about radio talk shows and such).
But, congrats on your success. You really do rock. 8D Happy Holidays too!
Waiter, I agree…It’s crazy Christmas time. Everybody chill ’til the freaking season is over. Merry Christmas! Enjoyed your book immensely, and looking forward to the post holiday posting!
Waiter, I just want to say that I have been enjoying your blog for the last year and a half, and am very happy to see your talent recognized by stellar book sales.
However, I also have to say that the content of Waiter Rant in the last few months has been just so noticeably half-hearted. This blog has become a way for you to pitch your latest appearances or projects, while providing only a few good entries that recall the moving reads you were writing two years ago, three years ago.
I don’t write this to insult or attack, but to express honestly the frustration and disappointment I have felt for a while now. After you got your book deal, I fully expected Waiter Rant to go on auto-pilot for a while. Months later, you still seemed to be missing at the helm and I made excuses–he’s just busy working on stuff, we’ll get the same Waiter back. Now it’s the end of 2008, and frankly, Waiter Rant continues to be 90% fluff.
I’d really like to see more meaty entries that do justice to your earlier work.
It’s become disappointing to come to this blog hoping for a new tale of adventure in the life of Waiter, only to find the latest entry is about some book signing to go, or radio interview to tune into, or research effort to support. Although this information is of interest to some readers I’m sure, it is not what made this blog great. I sincerely hope that you will begin to take the time and give us some great reading material again on this blog again.
Respectfully yours,
Joanne
OK, guys, seriously. I hate to spam up the comments like this, but it’s kinda hard to post stories about day-to-day life when nothing of note happens. When Waiter posts adverts/plugs instead of “what’s going on”, it’s because nothing else is going on. His appearances and book signings are “what’s going on”. Besides which, how else will he gain publicity? If he didn’t have the internet to advertise on, a lot less people would show up. So, seriously, give the guy a break.
Moving on, Waiter it’s great to see that you’re still getting around on your book tour, hope you make many more sales. I’m finally getting your book at Christmas!
All the best in this silly season,
Sledgehammer.
I have to agree with Sledgehammer somewhat. I’d rather see a post about an appearance and know Steve is busy than nothing and wonder.
So Steve
you comin’ South anytime soon?
The Low Country is famous for fine dining. You haven’t lived till you’ve had Shrimp and Grits. Charleston is warmer than Hawley.
Merry Christmas
Lani
No stress, please take time to enjoy your holidays with your loved ones.
Father & son at the same book signing, pretty cool ………. Pops has got to be proud. Parents feel like they did their jobs well when their kids surpass them right? I am assuming your book is out selling his.
I finally ordered your book from the UK because that cover means so much more. Don’t take me wrong, I’m not biter at the guests, I’ve been a professional waiter at 4 star, 5 diamond restaurants for the past 26 years & still love the bizz. We would never ever think of messing with the guest’s food no matter how bad the circumstances. Messing with their heads, now thats different, tricky thing to perform without hurting the house or your tip. It’s poetry when done right, Steve you use to do it so artfully might I add. It’s just that the UK cover is so much more relevant.
Hopefully you & Pops can make it up to Seattle for a signing, it be a honor to meet you both.
Look forward to reading your next post when ever you get out of the weeds………
I loaned my copy of the book to one of my favorite waitstaff. Everybody else who works there went to B&N to buy their own copies. Seems it was taking her too long to read mine.
I know just where to loan it next to get the same reaction. It’s an even bigger place with more staff.
Happy Holidays / Merry Christmas / Eat Blissfully
i enjoyed shrimp and grits last night at “wishbones” in downtown chicago. spectacular.
wow waiter!!!
what a dream come true to be at a book signing with your father. it is always a wish that our parents live to see the us reach success (whatever you define as success of course), but to have your dad also have the opp. to be right next to you promoting his own book, now that is something. wow.:) we should all be so lucky.:)
have a very merry xmas waiter!!! to you and your family, to all your readers, to your friends, and of course to your dog. hope he gets a nice chew toy or big bone.:)
mary
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
Write on, write on… whether it is promotion or a true observation of the world around us… waiter’s content makes me smile. We all have so many stories in this business… so glad you put yours to print.
Hey Waiter,
Thanks for not posting my comment just because I had the nerve to say (and I thought rather politely say) the way your attention to this blog has been declining while upping the self-advertisement.
I thought censorship could be the last thing you’d support. Especially when the comment was well-meant and valid.
Good riddance.
Just stopping by to wish you a Merry Christmas Steve-O … keep up the great work ..
Much Love bro
and just in case anyone wanted to hear “happy holidays, seasons greetings.. or some other politically correct dogma .. I’m NOT sorry .. in My heart, it’s Christmas .. so once again I’ll add.. Merry Christmas to All, and To All a Good Night :):)
Hi Waiter,
It’s been quite a while since I’ve been to check on your progress. So happy to hear the book is doing well. And, a joint signing with YOUR FATHER…how cool!!! Now if that isn’t news, I don’t know what is.
Have a safe and Happy Holiday Season 😀
Congratulations to you on your book! I just read it and could not put it down. Such a good read, it really opened my eyes to what goes on in a restaurant. Needless to say, I will never view dining the same way.
They were wrong in college….you really can write. Looking forward to the next one!
becoming a yuppie there.
Just finished the book Steve. What a fun read! I was a bit concerned at the end – it seemed like the restaurant business left you a bit cynical and mad, but not because of whom which the book (on first glance) would be most guilty – the customers. It seemed like the customers were a mildly irrating distraction from the most irrating of all – your co-workers and owners.
I know that owning a restaurant is a very difficult and exhausting business. I know this by having family and good friends in that business. I think you may have a future in consulting specializing in helping owners/managers make the most from their relationships with their workers. Making customers happy is a breeze compared to creating a positive work environment in a restaurant.
he he, I am giving your book to a friend who emarasses me every time we go out with his small tip and general poor treatment of the wait staff, think he’ll get the message????
I hope your book-signing doesn’t suck because of the weather. I’ll be there in spirit, but not in the flesh.
I was there! I hope you remember me 😀
You’ve mentioned Hawley in the past, Steve and I posted to say that I have frequently Woodloch Pines in lovely Hawley many times. Sorry I missed your signing, but wanted to wish you a Happy Holiday.
I haven’t been by in a while, but just picked up your book in Chapters, today as a Christmas gift for my 78 year old father who will Love it and wanted to drop a line to say I’ve been reading it, before wrapping, and am not disappointed! Your da bomb.
i just wanted to stop by and give you some major props on your book. ive been a fan of your site and got the book for christmas and couldn’t put it down..i even brought it to work and read during the slow shifts at the sports bar where i waitress. love it, love you, hope to see much more from you. i literally laughed out loud on the chapter where “crop dusting” was mentioned. that is a popular practice at my job haha. hope all is well!
Imagine my surprise to see that you are having a book signing in Hawley PA. I have read your blog for a while, and since I spent years in the “service” I have really enjoyed it. As a former NYer whose family is from Hawley(and Greeley) I just want to say thanks for making me smile. My Aunt owned Pat’s Bar on Main Street, and though I haven’t had contact with the family in more than 20 years I have fond memories of visiting with them when I was young. I loved going to Hawley, my grandmother had the Western Auto, and I can still remember sitting behind the counter and stealing the pretzel sticks from the jar on the counter. Once again, thanks for the smile.
I am almost done with the book, I almost do not want to finish it. I am a waiter, as I have been for the past, oh i don’t know, 6 years. It started off as a part time gig to pay some comissary money towards my ex (we were together at the time) boyfriends (if you dont know what comissary is, i wish i didnt) jail account. The past is the past for a reason right? Well it’s six years later and i work full time doing medical billing during the day and serve on nights and weekends. I agree with you when you say waiting tables is like a cocaine habit. I have tried to wean myself from the whole cash on hand deal. I just can’t, (partially because I don’t want to). The owners of the restaurant arent so bad, but lately they’ve been dining there with the extended family and staying after hours (we have the pleasure of waiting for them to finish their “FREE” meals. You would think that someone in their group would be able to fork up more than $20.00. It doesnt go very far when you’re dividing it amongst 6 people.
q6Csi5w9sJ9ur