I had drinks with the novelist in the well appointed hotel bar The Pied Piper downtown. 

I arrived on time and he was already there, drink ordered. 

As I sit, I have to tell him I will have to run in about 1 ½ hours max because a friend is in need and I promised I would meet her for dinner. Automatically puts us on the short term casual tone which is good. 

I sit and we start our get to know you conversations. He turns out to be a funny and quite articulate – novelist – and I have a really good time getting to know him. We talk about writing and books and coming from a family of people involved in theater – his mother – my parents – and find we have a delightful time. 

I have a couple of drinks and then have to run. I hate to go but he is gracious and walks me out and I order an Uber car to take me down into SOMA to meet my friend. 

I never hear from him again.