Love Naperville.  Pretty much a backyard for me, even if an hour away.  Easy way to spend a day with lots to do.

That being said, if there is a signing this year, I fully expect it not to hit Chicagoland.  IIRC, signings tend not to hit the same general areas two years in a row.

Not saying I wouldn't love to see it happen

(If this question is in another thread please point me there.)

In Blood Rites, why was Mavra's crew in place at Arturo Genosa's when Harry and Thomas drove up to the outer guard shack?  Its clear Mavra decided to draw Harry into attacking her so she could later blackmail him to get the word of Kemmler for her.

How could she have possibly have known Harry would show up there?

My personal theory is that she and the White King, as part of the Black Council, were working together.  Both Mavra being there with vamps at the guard shack as well as Madge, an ex-wife whom purposefully avoids making contact with Harry, indicate Papa Raith knew someone might interfere and that it might be Harry.  Blood Rites was the White King's attempt to break free from Maggie's death curse.

Just as we had seen Cowl and Kumori at Bianca's ceremony, it was also implied if not outright stated that Mavra was Bianca's teacher in the magical arts.  We find out later that Maggie Sr. was with the White King and wanted Eb's help with some plan and that Duchess Arianna was there as well.

This strongly implies that the White King was BC and that Arianna was as well.  If we tie in Mavra to the scheme, we have a link between these factions.  Mavra, I think, was there in part to gather new henchmen but also to prevent any interference to the White King's plans to bring Genosa 'back into the fold'.  Someone like Harry would be such an interference.

Since she 'failed' and the White King fell in that book, it also keeps in line with Harry's later musings that the Black Council plays all nice with each other until it is time to stick the knife in one of their fellow council members' backs.

Net results of Blood Rites for the bad guys:  Mavra gets blackmail material she later uses to get the word as well as deposing a fellow Council member.  Black Council removes a member that may have been to locked into out-moded thought processes.  Oh, and I think they gain a new Council member: Lara.

Whom better to join a group of self-serving, backstabbing, work-behind-the-scenes-to-destroy-everyone-else club than Lara Raith?  After all, she now has access to all of Papa Raith's knowledge.  I don't think Lara is one to just sit on information, such as it were.

You met me, am I really that bad?? Wait...don't answer that

Not you nor anyone I had a chance to speak with, but that damnable recorder on the other hand...

yeah as long as you got some sleep after.  MX you need a job with the phone company between last night and tonight

Oh no.  I spend too much time at work back and forth as it is.  I couldn't imagine selling them too.  Helping friends is worth it though

I actually have no idea where I am right now.

I hope you recovered ok from your late night, early rise

We need to get you one of these phone too  Verizon has a phone designed to take a beating called the Casio Commando.  Might last ya a bit

Thanks so much, MX!

Was very happy to record it.  Not bad for a first time recording from the phone, huh?  Hehe

It turned out great, MX OH I finally found my recorder *just falls over in a fit of laughter* on the desk in front of me...wow...am I tired or what?

I think that recorder is getting stolen by some of the Za=Lords guard.  Maybe they were spying on him and Mab