I can't believe I am back again writing an in-depth piece about enigmatic author and meteorologist Dave Hovde once again.  I thought two book reviews I had penned for Imperial Book Reviews would have been enough for me and certainly the readers however I could not have been more wrong.  I am not sure if it is a societal case of Schadenfreude or if his work has really caught on.  His two books "Avila Addendum" and "Cambria Conundrum" while literally non-existent in the United States (unpublished except by the author himself) have been translated to most languages in the Pacific Rim and between the two books has already sold more than 800-thousand copies world-wide.  He has become famous in parts of the world and I am at a loss to figure out why.

"Dragon Door" as they call him in Korea (and several other countries) has appeared on numerous radio and television programs and his quizzical answers to even the most basic questions seems to have captured the collective fascination.  Recently Hovde was host for the Korean Grammys and famously began the show with a rant about the European Debt crisis prompting several moments of unending laughter for generally unknown reasons and kissing pop sensation Adele for an uncomfortably long time on the cheek before telling her she had not won any awards "anywhere tea was a popular drink".  His success was bizarre as he was not translated for the audience.

Last time I visited with Hovde he was sorting out the details of one of his first interviews with a radio station in Seoul as part of a review I did for "Avila Addendum" (You can read it HERE)  Now I was asked by Streetsheet to track Hovde down again.  Apparently he talks to few western journalists about his endeavors.  I was the exception and asked again to try again for some access.

I figured there was little point of tracking him down while he was overseas as his schedule (and behavior) is famously chaotic.  I chose to wait for him back on the Central Coast where he is the meteorologist for the NBC affiliate in San Luis Obispo-Santa Maria and Santa Barbara.  It took three days to get to San Luis Obispo.  My flight from London to LA took the better part of the day, but it took two more days to get the last 180 miles as apparently there were a few clouds between LA and San Luis Obispo which is apparently flight-grounding.  When I did arrive my luggage did not.  Some students from the nearby university brought me downtown (as no cabs were available) where I found a shop selling Cal Poly sweatshirts and sweatpants.  I changed my three day old clothes and walked over to "The Firestone" for my first non-airplane food in days.  I walked in around 5pm to find most of the televisions on KSBY and watched the newscast.  I was stunned to see a sedate and controlled Hovde deliver the forecast.  It didn't even seem like the same swaggering quasi-hippy spitting out catch phrase after catch phrase I met at a London coffee shop only six months ago.

I had to figure out what was going on, but I had some time to kill.  I checked out a brick wall with thousands of pieces of gum stuck to it which passes as a regional attraction and also stopped by to pick up the latest gossip mags.  I figured since I was writing for one, I might as well read some.  The Royals and visitations by aliens were still dominating coverage but I did find a story about Hovde on the inside of The Sun.  He was rumored to be hanging around with Katie Price, the fashion model.  The tab had what was supposedly a picture of the two ducking out of a Berkshire pub however Hovde's abnormally large entourage covered almost the entire frame.  I made a mental note to ask him about it if I got the chance.

At roughly midnight I waited in the parking lot of the television station poised on a hill at the south side of the town.  I saw several expensive cars in the lot and parked my newly acquired rental near a BMW figuring it to be the kind of car Hovde would drive.  I didn't wait long.  I was shocked to see Hovde walk out of the station by himself and saunter over to a army green Kia Sportage.  I bolted from my car and rushed up to him just before he got in.  He extended a friendly smile and handshake.  He seemed like a different person.

"I'm not sure you remember me I am Evad Edvoh, a writer.  I interviewed you about six months ago."

"Oh, I remember you." (he said in a soft tone as if someone were listening and looked circularly)  "Hey, listen.  Let's not talk here.  Follow me we'll talk at my place."

About 15 minutes later we were at a sprawling house in the hills above Pismo Beach with a few cars in a circular approach to the front door.  I followed Hovde inside.  On large sectional couches at least ten different people stood to some level of attention including the 6 foot 8 inch bulk of a man I remember from our first meeting and the same three publicists.

The tall man extended an arm which was the size of my leg, at the end of it was a cell phone.  In a demure voice which did not fit the frame he announced, "Katie's on the phone."

Hovde expelled a mostly silent and exasperated 'ugh' and rolled his eyes.  The larger man turned and walked off.  I could hear him making some excuse to the person on the phone.

"You look ridiculous." Hovde said to me.

I had forgotten I was wearing clothing from the college store.

"You are staying right?  Chris, get this guy some clothes and get him a room.  (looking at me) We'll talk after you get settled in.  (looking at another group in the room, still talking to Chris) Those guys are still here?"

I looked over to see three young people hunched over video and audio equipment.  

"They have to finish their documentary.  I think.  I don't know none of em speak English, and I think they are having problems converting their power to ours.  They keep showing me cords and stuff.  They have been here three days."

"Just feed 'em.  They'll figure it out eventually."  Hovde walked off to a back section of the property followed by at least four people all talking simultaneously.

A few minutes later I slipped into the clothes offered to me by another person.  It was a shirt with "WWJSD" printed on it and a large picture of Hovde on the front.  I thought it was garish but if I hoped to interview Hovde I thought I would at least entertain him.  I walked out into the large living space and Hovde was no where to be seen but one of his publicists was, she was just getting ready to leave.

"What does this mean on the shirt?"

"What would Johnny Strongman Do?  It's a sensation overseas.  It's like the new Confucius.  We are writing several books right now to capitalize.  He's everywhere.  Sorry, I gotta go."

I stood in stunned disbelief.  The Johnny Strongman character in the books I reviewed was a nauseating narcissist, friendless, and dead by the fourth chapter of "Avila Addendum".  The lists of questions to ask Hovde was growing by the minute.