Don’t they say that if life gives you corn and sugar, make moonshine? Oh, well, I reckon most people say if life gives you lemons make lemonade. In any case I love the concept of making a good thing out of a not so good thing. 

You might remember that last year I participated in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC. Anybody who bought a book received either a shot glass or a chocolate cigar. I didn’t sell as many books as I hoped. I’ll chalk that up to going outside my target market. G...