Sorry to blog so late, but free wifi hasn’t really come to downtown Houston. I found one coffee shop but their server has been down so service was sketchy, but the oatmeal is superb. It’s a wee bit different than Silicon Valley. I'm suffering from lack of connection with my friends via Facebook, the blog and Twitter.
I’m signing books at the mother of all quilt shows. International Quilt Association, IQA, has been putting on this show for nearly thirty years, and it is the biggest and the best show in the world. Fifty to sixty thousand quilters come through the doors and the exhibitors are from everywhere. It is a big deal to get your quilt accepted at Houston.
And it shows. The work here is exquisite. Walking through the quilts, it’s hard to remember where they started: with homespun fabrics and one patches. Anything goes now. Embellishments, fancy threads, silks, machine quilting, longarm quilting, handquilting. Everything and anything. Impressive.
It’s still a woman’s world. The men are peripheral. One guy introduced himself to me as his wife’s CEO – Carry Everything Out. I liked him because he insisted she buy both Wild Goose Chase and Old Maid’s Puzzle.
The booth demos are the most fun. I’ve watched the Stewart Gill girls with their lovely burrs and tartans on , stamp, paint and stencil with their textile paints. I watch the yoyo maker channel her inner grandmother as she scooped her needle around to make the tiniest yoyo hole ever. It’s fun talking to the gals from the bendable light telling them how much I love their product. They were telling me how many audio books a year they listen to. A lot! I need an audio book. Stat.
It's fun to be in a strange city with so many people who speak my language: Quilt.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Even More Traveling!
Sorry that I missed out on blogging last week. I knew I’d be traveling again but thought I’d have more regular Internet access.
The first part of this trip was a 5-day cruise to Bermuda. Fun! Did some touring and researching an idea for a thriller that I’m working on. One thing that was disappointing was that I didn’t see many pets--just a cat. There were plenty of pigeons, though. I also saw businessmen wearing their shirts and ties tucked into colorful Bermuda shorts. Not a lot of them, but enough to assure me this custom is still in effect.
Next, I went to New York and met with both my Berkley and Harlequin editors, as well as the senior editor for Silhouette Nocturne. I came away really jazzed and eager to get back home to write, especially since I’ve got more time to do it these days.
That night we saw a Broadway show, the live Mary Poppins musical. It was cute, and some of the special effects were amazing for a stage performance.
Finally, we attended the Baron Funds Annual Meeting, our excuse for going to New York. Despite the bleak economy these days, the people there were, fortunately, optimistic. Of course, that’s their job. Plus, as always, the surprise entertainment was wonderful! At lunchtime, there were 4 different venues and we unfortunately didn’t get to them all--but the entertainers included Faith Hill, Patti LuPone, Jessica Simpson, and two excellent Broadway Tony winners currently starring in South Pacific: Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot. The main surprise entertainment was Jerry Seinfeld, who gave a really great stand-up performance. He stepped in at the last minute, apparently, since the person originally scheduled had gotten ill out of the country. Seinfeld did an outstanding job!
Fun? Sure. But I’m through traveling for a while, and very glad to be home with my pups. They seem glad to have me around, too--both are eager for lots of attention and vie for who gets the next lap time. And, yes, although I did get some writing editing and research done on the trip, I am also glad to be back at work.
Anyone have any upcoming, exciting trips planned?
--Linda
The first part of this trip was a 5-day cruise to Bermuda. Fun! Did some touring and researching an idea for a thriller that I’m working on. One thing that was disappointing was that I didn’t see many pets--just a cat. There were plenty of pigeons, though. I also saw businessmen wearing their shirts and ties tucked into colorful Bermuda shorts. Not a lot of them, but enough to assure me this custom is still in effect.
Next, I went to New York and met with both my Berkley and Harlequin editors, as well as the senior editor for Silhouette Nocturne. I came away really jazzed and eager to get back home to write, especially since I’ve got more time to do it these days.
That night we saw a Broadway show, the live Mary Poppins musical. It was cute, and some of the special effects were amazing for a stage performance.
Finally, we attended the Baron Funds Annual Meeting, our excuse for going to New York. Despite the bleak economy these days, the people there were, fortunately, optimistic. Of course, that’s their job. Plus, as always, the surprise entertainment was wonderful! At lunchtime, there were 4 different venues and we unfortunately didn’t get to them all--but the entertainers included Faith Hill, Patti LuPone, Jessica Simpson, and two excellent Broadway Tony winners currently starring in South Pacific: Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot. The main surprise entertainment was Jerry Seinfeld, who gave a really great stand-up performance. He stepped in at the last minute, apparently, since the person originally scheduled had gotten ill out of the country. Seinfeld did an outstanding job!
Fun? Sure. But I’m through traveling for a while, and very glad to be home with my pups. They seem glad to have me around, too--both are eager for lots of attention and vie for who gets the next lap time. And, yes, although I did get some writing editing and research done on the trip, I am also glad to be back at work.
Anyone have any upcoming, exciting trips planned?
--Linda
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Magna cum Murder
Magna cum Murder was terrific for me this year. It was smaller than usual, so everyone got to meet everyone, which was great.
I had three great things happen there. First, Mattie Coleman had set up a booth selling her hats and clothes. For the first time in my life I had bought a pair of shoes with nothing to wear at home that matched. They are a brown suede with a reddish tinge, with a thin gold thread outlining a five-petaled flower on the toe. They are beautiful and, for a wonder (I have arthritic feet), comfortable to wear. And, I have a cloche hat in an odd beige trimmed in brown that was a gift that, again, nothing I own matched. So I brought them both to Magna, hoping Mattie could work her magic. And she did. She had a brown knit suit that sets off the shoes beautifully. And the trim on the hat matches, too – but for an oddity, the shoes hate the hat and it’s mutual. I have brown leather shoes to go with suit and cloche but I needed a hat to wear with the suit and suede shoes. And, again, Mattie came through. She had to go back to her shop, but she found this amazing hat, one of those that change color depending on the light and angle from brown to red to gold. Its shape is as of a garrison cap, and the top of it is covered with a tight bunch of ruffles in the same fabric as the rest of the hat. The edges of the ruffles glow red and gold, much like paper that has been burning in a fireplace. You can wear it about six different ways, and I’m sure I will. Anyway, the brown of it matches the shoes.
Second, they had a round table discussion up and running and I got to take part. It was unusual in that at any time there were three authors at the table, but every fifteen minutes one would leave and someone took his or her place. Each author stayed forty-five minutes, which meant that every forty-five minutes there was a new set of authors talking. There was no subject set, each one brought something (unless the discussion was already hot on a topic, which it usually was, though it shifted all the time). It was great! There was an audience whose members were also always shifting, and they could make comments or ask questions, too. I loved it, and hope to do it again in two years – no Magna next year, as it coincides in time and place with Bouchercon. Magna is in Muncie, just up the road from Indianapolis, the site of next year’s Bouchercon.
Third, I was asked to moderate a panel called You Are What You Write? First, I drew a super set of panelists: Louise Penny, Austin Comacho, Marion Moore Hill, and Sarah Wisseman. I decided on a philosophical, summing-up approach, as it was the last panel of the convention. I asked some obvious questions, such as How is the character in your books who is most like you also least like you? I asked, What problems did you have inventing a character you disliked or who is not at all like you? And the last question was the best, it got some amazing replies: "In Cruelest Month, Louise Penny (she was Guest of Honor at the con) suggests that the little town of Three Pines (in which her stories are set) is a happy place because the villagers throw away bad feelings. But a psychic visiting the town says that feelings have power and need to go to a specific place. There is a house on the edge of town that people stay away from because they think it is haunted or inhabited by evil spirits, but it’s really the ugly thoughts and feelings discarded by the villagers. We, as authors, create bad people and bad feelings. Does putting them onto paper discard them from our minds – or nurture them?" Louise thought that was the best question asked her at the entire convention. Sarah said she feels she takes wicked ideas out of her head and puts them into a book as into a box and can close the cover on them. Austin said he thinks of them as weeds and explores the possibility of identifying and uprooting a bad weed so it doesn’t become a whole field of them. Marion warned against becoming so friendly with wickedness that we "invite it to come in and sit down." What a great panel that was!
Well, I tried to post a picture of me in the hat, but somewhere along the line I made an error. I'll get it yet! (Just not this time.)
I had three great things happen there. First, Mattie Coleman had set up a booth selling her hats and clothes. For the first time in my life I had bought a pair of shoes with nothing to wear at home that matched. They are a brown suede with a reddish tinge, with a thin gold thread outlining a five-petaled flower on the toe. They are beautiful and, for a wonder (I have arthritic feet), comfortable to wear. And, I have a cloche hat in an odd beige trimmed in brown that was a gift that, again, nothing I own matched. So I brought them both to Magna, hoping Mattie could work her magic. And she did. She had a brown knit suit that sets off the shoes beautifully. And the trim on the hat matches, too – but for an oddity, the shoes hate the hat and it’s mutual. I have brown leather shoes to go with suit and cloche but I needed a hat to wear with the suit and suede shoes. And, again, Mattie came through. She had to go back to her shop, but she found this amazing hat, one of those that change color depending on the light and angle from brown to red to gold. Its shape is as of a garrison cap, and the top of it is covered with a tight bunch of ruffles in the same fabric as the rest of the hat. The edges of the ruffles glow red and gold, much like paper that has been burning in a fireplace. You can wear it about six different ways, and I’m sure I will. Anyway, the brown of it matches the shoes.
Second, they had a round table discussion up and running and I got to take part. It was unusual in that at any time there were three authors at the table, but every fifteen minutes one would leave and someone took his or her place. Each author stayed forty-five minutes, which meant that every forty-five minutes there was a new set of authors talking. There was no subject set, each one brought something (unless the discussion was already hot on a topic, which it usually was, though it shifted all the time). It was great! There was an audience whose members were also always shifting, and they could make comments or ask questions, too. I loved it, and hope to do it again in two years – no Magna next year, as it coincides in time and place with Bouchercon. Magna is in Muncie, just up the road from Indianapolis, the site of next year’s Bouchercon.
Third, I was asked to moderate a panel called You Are What You Write? First, I drew a super set of panelists: Louise Penny, Austin Comacho, Marion Moore Hill, and Sarah Wisseman. I decided on a philosophical, summing-up approach, as it was the last panel of the convention. I asked some obvious questions, such as How is the character in your books who is most like you also least like you? I asked, What problems did you have inventing a character you disliked or who is not at all like you? And the last question was the best, it got some amazing replies: "In Cruelest Month, Louise Penny (she was Guest of Honor at the con) suggests that the little town of Three Pines (in which her stories are set) is a happy place because the villagers throw away bad feelings. But a psychic visiting the town says that feelings have power and need to go to a specific place. There is a house on the edge of town that people stay away from because they think it is haunted or inhabited by evil spirits, but it’s really the ugly thoughts and feelings discarded by the villagers. We, as authors, create bad people and bad feelings. Does putting them onto paper discard them from our minds – or nurture them?" Louise thought that was the best question asked her at the entire convention. Sarah said she feels she takes wicked ideas out of her head and puts them into a book as into a box and can close the cover on them. Austin said he thinks of them as weeds and explores the possibility of identifying and uprooting a bad weed so it doesn’t become a whole field of them. Marion warned against becoming so friendly with wickedness that we "invite it to come in and sit down." What a great panel that was!
Well, I tried to post a picture of me in the hat, but somewhere along the line I made an error. I'll get it yet! (Just not this time.)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
You'll thank me later
Joanna's blog yesterday hit upon a question I've had for a long time. One of the maxims of the Catholic Church as I knew it in the pre-Vatican II days was Suffering Builds Character. On a daily basis our parents turned that into: the harder you work, the more you'll appreciate what you have.
Thus, the fact that I had my first job at 13, as soon as I could reach the cash register at the hot dog concessions on Revere Beach Boulevard, translated into what a stellar, upright person I'd turn out to be. I'd be so grateful later in life.
If my parents had it right, then we're all doing a disservice to our kids, making it easy for them, providing them with a worry-free childhood.
Through the years I've watched the next generation among my family and friends enjoy not only work-free high school days, but also "the college experience" – one young woman, in fact, lived less than a half hour away from campus, yet she lived in the dorm. She could have taken the wonderful, clean BART train (as opposed to the oldest system in the country, Boston's MTA) to class every day and still had free time. But her parents wanted her to have the college experience.
Is she worse off than I am? Less grateful for her education? Hard to tell.
I was led to believe that commuting a long distance every day to my college classes and working when I wasn't in class meant that my education would mean more to me. Again, one day I'd be so grateful that I didn't waste my youth hanging around college dorms, having fun with my classmates, instead of living on a steady diet of work and class and chores.
Was that a crock? How can I tell? Would I have accomplished more in life if I'd had the luxury of paid tuition? Would I have done better if I could have studied in the school library instead of on a rattling, swaying trolley?
Don't get me wrong – I don't want to go back and pick up what I missed. But I can't help wondering.
Monday, October 27, 2008
What I Remember Most: Reflection from Magna cum Murder
Last night around 1:30 a.m. (Okay, so that’s really this morning, isn’t it?), my son Michael called to tell us, “I really love it here at college. Thanks again for making it possible.”
My sleepy husband and I could barely focus on the call. We told him we loved him, and we’d talk to him at a more civilized hour. (Of course, for a teenager, 1:30 a.m. is incredibly civilized, but for us old goats, it’s way out of our comfort zone.)
I reflected on his call this morning because yesterday, I drove back from my alma mater Ball State University where I’d been attending the most excellence Magna cum Murder, a houseparty for 300 of your best mystery-loving friends. While I was there in Muncie, Indiana, I was interviewed by a grad student, Megan, for a video piece she hopes will be used on the alumni website. One of the questions she asked was, “What do you remember most about your years here at Ball State?”
Sadly enough, my answer was “I remember how incredibly poor I was.” As I said this, I caught a glimpse of the black boots I was wearing. One year when I was at college, I returned all my Christmas gifts and bought a cheap pair of boots. They weren’t leather. They quickly cracked and peeled. Now I was here, in Muncie, wearing real leather—and these weren’t my only pair of boots.
You see, my father had not allowed me to work during my high school years, except to earn a little money here and there to buy clothes. He bragged, “I’m going to send my daughter to college.” But the end of my freshman year, he ran off with a girlfriend, Vicky La Fever (I’m not making that up! If I were, I’d call her “Vicky La Slut”). He cut off all my funding for school. I told a teacher—I believe I told Marilyn Weaver who is now the head of Ball State’s School of Journalism, but was a graduate assistant then—that I wouldn’t be coming back to college. She strongly urged me to apply for loans and grants. I did, but my father duplicitously continued to claim me on his income tax as a dependent, so for a long while, it looked as though I wouldn’t qualify for any help. Eventually I did…but I had to work all my years in college. In fact, by my senior year I was working forty-hours a week in a management job at a pet shop, and carrying a full load of classes.
I still managed to graduate cum laude.
I’m glad my son will get his college education and be able to enjoy some of his time at college. It’s a precious time. A very special time. And while it’s good for kids to work, no one should have to spend every hour of every day for four years worried about having enough to cover their housing or eating surplus cheese and drinking dried milk just to survive. That’s a photo of the house I lived in where a girl later fell through the floor while sitting on the toilet—the wood was that rotted out.
To see pictures from Magna cum Murder, go to joannaslan.blogspot.com There I have a great photo of me and Monica Ferris!
What do you remember most from your years at college?
My sleepy husband and I could barely focus on the call. We told him we loved him, and we’d talk to him at a more civilized hour. (Of course, for a teenager, 1:30 a.m. is incredibly civilized, but for us old goats, it’s way out of our comfort zone.)
I reflected on his call this morning because yesterday, I drove back from my alma mater Ball State University where I’d been attending the most excellence Magna cum Murder, a houseparty for 300 of your best mystery-loving friends. While I was there in Muncie, Indiana, I was interviewed by a grad student, Megan, for a video piece she hopes will be used on the alumni website. One of the questions she asked was, “What do you remember most about your years here at Ball State?”
Sadly enough, my answer was “I remember how incredibly poor I was.” As I said this, I caught a glimpse of the black boots I was wearing. One year when I was at college, I returned all my Christmas gifts and bought a cheap pair of boots. They weren’t leather. They quickly cracked and peeled. Now I was here, in Muncie, wearing real leather—and these weren’t my only pair of boots.
You see, my father had not allowed me to work during my high school years, except to earn a little money here and there to buy clothes. He bragged, “I’m going to send my daughter to college.” But the end of my freshman year, he ran off with a girlfriend, Vicky La Fever (I’m not making that up! If I were, I’d call her “Vicky La Slut”). He cut off all my funding for school. I told a teacher—I believe I told Marilyn Weaver who is now the head of Ball State’s School of Journalism, but was a graduate assistant then—that I wouldn’t be coming back to college. She strongly urged me to apply for loans and grants. I did, but my father duplicitously continued to claim me on his income tax as a dependent, so for a long while, it looked as though I wouldn’t qualify for any help. Eventually I did…but I had to work all my years in college. In fact, by my senior year I was working forty-hours a week in a management job at a pet shop, and carrying a full load of classes.
I still managed to graduate cum laude.
I’m glad my son will get his college education and be able to enjoy some of his time at college. It’s a precious time. A very special time. And while it’s good for kids to work, no one should have to spend every hour of every day for four years worried about having enough to cover their housing or eating surplus cheese and drinking dried milk just to survive. That’s a photo of the house I lived in where a girl later fell through the floor while sitting on the toilet—the wood was that rotted out.
To see pictures from Magna cum Murder, go to joannaslan.blogspot.com There I have a great photo of me and Monica Ferris!
What do you remember most from your years at college?
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Blooming Crochet
I got the copy edit of my third book, By Hook or Crook. So all work on book four stopped since I get too confused trying to juggle stories. Actually, it was just the writing part I discontinued. I did still keep working on the crochet items for the fourth book.
I have been playing with different yarn and pattern ideas and came up with a clue based on glow in the dark yarn. It’s made by Bernat and yes, it does really glow in the dark. The wrapper says that if you leave in the light for five minutes, it will glow for five minutes. I assume if you leave it longer, it will glow longer. In any case, in book four it glows longer.
I’m guessing everyone isn’t as excited about this yarn as I am since Joann’s doesn’t carry it, and Michael’s had it on closeout. The wrapper had a pattern for a kid’s hat. I’m using it for embellishments.
I used glow in the dark pink to made a rose. Even without the glow in the dark aspect, the yarn is satiny and the flower turned out quite pretty. In book four, flowers in the special yarn are going to be decoration on a pouch purse which Molly Pink finds because the flowers show up in the dark.
All my flower making wasn’t confined to clues. I was to take part in a book fair put on by my chapter of Romance Writers of America at the Encino Barnes & Noble. I wanted to wear something crocheted, but it was too warm for a scarf. So, the night before I made a nice big burnt orange flower. I attached a pin back to it and had a perfect visual reminder of my craft.
Crocheted flowers are really fun to make and cool to wear.I got the copy edit of my third book, By Hook or Crook. So all work on book four stopped since I get too confused trying to juggle stories. Actually, it was just the writing part I discontinued. I did still keep working on the crochet items for the fourth book.
I have been playing with different yarn and pattern ideas and came up with a clue based on glow in the dark yarn. It’s made by Bernat and yes, it does really glow in the dark. The wrapper says that if you leave in the light for five minutes, it will glow for five minutes. I assume if you leave it longer, it will glow longer. In any case, in book four it glows longer.
I’m guessing everyone isn’t as excited about this yarn as I am since Joann’s doesn’t carry it, and Michael’s had it on closeout. The wrapper had a pattern for a kid’s hat. I’m using it for embellishments.
I used glow in the dark pink to made a rose. Even without the glow in the dark aspect, the yarn is satiny and the flower turned out quite pretty. In book four, flowers in the special yarn are going to be decoration on a pouch purse which Molly Pink finds because the flowers show up in the dark.
All my flower making wasn’t confined to clues. I was to take part in a book fair put on by my chapter of Romance Writers of America at the Encino Barnes & Noble. I wanted to wear something crocheted, but it was too warm for a scarf. So, the night before I made a nice big burnt orange flower. I attached a pin back to it and had a perfect visual reminder of my craft.
Crocheted flowers are really fun to make and cool to wear.
I have been playing with different yarn and pattern ideas and came up with a clue based on glow in the dark yarn. It’s made by Bernat and yes, it does really glow in the dark. The wrapper says that if you leave in the light for five minutes, it will glow for five minutes. I assume if you leave it longer, it will glow longer. In any case, in book four it glows longer.
I’m guessing everyone isn’t as excited about this yarn as I am since Joann’s doesn’t carry it, and Michael’s had it on closeout. The wrapper had a pattern for a kid’s hat. I’m using it for embellishments.
I used glow in the dark pink to made a rose. Even without the glow in the dark aspect, the yarn is satiny and the flower turned out quite pretty. In book four, flowers in the special yarn are going to be decoration on a pouch purse which Molly Pink finds because the flowers show up in the dark.
All my flower making wasn’t confined to clues. I was to take part in a book fair put on by my chapter of Romance Writers of America at the Encino Barnes & Noble. I wanted to wear something crocheted, but it was too warm for a scarf. So, the night before I made a nice big burnt orange flower. I attached a pin back to it and had a perfect visual reminder of my craft.
Crocheted flowers are really fun to make and cool to wear.I got the copy edit of my third book, By Hook or Crook. So all work on book four stopped since I get too confused trying to juggle stories. Actually, it was just the writing part I discontinued. I did still keep working on the crochet items for the fourth book.
I have been playing with different yarn and pattern ideas and came up with a clue based on glow in the dark yarn. It’s made by Bernat and yes, it does really glow in the dark. The wrapper says that if you leave in the light for five minutes, it will glow for five minutes. I assume if you leave it longer, it will glow longer. In any case, in book four it glows longer.
I’m guessing everyone isn’t as excited about this yarn as I am since Joann’s doesn’t carry it, and Michael’s had it on closeout. The wrapper had a pattern for a kid’s hat. I’m using it for embellishments.
I used glow in the dark pink to made a rose. Even without the glow in the dark aspect, the yarn is satiny and the flower turned out quite pretty. In book four, flowers in the special yarn are going to be decoration on a pouch purse which Molly Pink finds because the flowers show up in the dark.
All my flower making wasn’t confined to clues. I was to take part in a book fair put on by my chapter of Romance Writers of America at the Encino Barnes & Noble. I wanted to wear something crocheted, but it was too warm for a scarf. So, the night before I made a nice big burnt orange flower. I attached a pin back to it and had a perfect visual reminder of my craft.
Crocheted flowers are really fun to make and cool to wear.
Friday, October 24, 2008
No Lindsay here
Susan, Carol, Sharon, Jane, Linda, Cathy. These are my peeps. My fans. My homies. My book's demographics.
I signed books at the Pacific International Quilt Show last weekend and those were the names I saw over and over. Any funny spellings?, I’d ask. Plain Jane, I’d hear in response. Nope, just Mary, spelled the usual way. The most exotic was Cathy with a K or Linda with a Y.
No Brittany, or Amber. No Kymberlee. No Lindsay or Keisha. No Madison. One Glenda and a Elberta, but no Jessica or Nicole.
It won't surprise you to know that those names are in in the top ten for the birth year 1946 and beyond. By 1960, there were losing their stranglehold on the top twenty, and names like Lori, Lisa and Cheryl were being to creep in. Kimberly breaks the top ten in 1964 (but not Kymberlee). By 1968, Lisa has taken over as number one, and Susan is the only one left in the top ten.
Names are important in fiction. I like to make sure my names fit the characters and are age appropriate. You don't often see an 80-year old named Melissa, and if you name her that, you'd better have a reason. So I've thought long and hard about the names in my books.
Except Buster. What kind of a name is Buster for a heartthrob? He was supposed to just be the kid from the neighborhood who grew up to be a cop. Instead he'd morphed into the kind of guy all mystery heroines need -sexy, fun and packing heat. With a name that he'll have to grow into.
What's your favorite name? Why?
I signed books at the Pacific International Quilt Show last weekend and those were the names I saw over and over. Any funny spellings?, I’d ask. Plain Jane, I’d hear in response. Nope, just Mary, spelled the usual way. The most exotic was Cathy with a K or Linda with a Y.
No Brittany, or Amber. No Kymberlee. No Lindsay or Keisha. No Madison. One Glenda and a Elberta, but no Jessica or Nicole.
It won't surprise you to know that those names are in in the top ten for the birth year 1946 and beyond. By 1960, there were losing their stranglehold on the top twenty, and names like Lori, Lisa and Cheryl were being to creep in. Kimberly breaks the top ten in 1964 (but not Kymberlee). By 1968, Lisa has taken over as number one, and Susan is the only one left in the top ten.
Names are important in fiction. I like to make sure my names fit the characters and are age appropriate. You don't often see an 80-year old named Melissa, and if you name her that, you'd better have a reason. So I've thought long and hard about the names in my books.
Except Buster. What kind of a name is Buster for a heartthrob? He was supposed to just be the kid from the neighborhood who grew up to be a cop. Instead he'd morphed into the kind of guy all mystery heroines need -sexy, fun and packing heat. With a name that he'll have to grow into.
What's your favorite name? Why?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
SHORT COMMENTARY
I am getting some gorgeous submissions in my contest to find a boyfriend for my sleuth, Betsy Devonshire. Problem is, I like one thing about this entry, and another thing about that entry, so I’m seriously thinking about cherry picking the descriptions. (This name, that description, the other bio.) But then, how to distribute the prizes?
Meanwhile, if you want to have a go at some creative writing, invent a male friend for my sleuth, Betsy Devonshire. Betsy is middle aged, a little overweight, but she is attractive, bright and hard-working, owns her own business and some other properties, and has this strange talent for solving murders. See my web site, Monica-Ferris.com, for more information and the list of prizes. Contest ends November 15.
Turning off access to the Internet during the day is turning out to be a wonderful idea. My writing output has at least tripled. I didn’t realize how much time I’ve been wasting wandering over to check my e-mail or read a blog during my working hours.
We are leaving Thursday morning for Muncie, IN, to attend Magna cum Murder. It is a convention for fans and writers of the mystery novel. I’m moderating a panel this year, called You Are What You Write? Panelists range from writers of the very cozy to a writer of the very hard boiled, so this could get interesting. I’m also going to look for a new hat, as I do every year in Muncie. If can get my act together, there will be photos to post.
This is the season for apples. Minnesota’s own Harelson used to be my very favorite, and since they don’t travel I can’t share them with out-of-state friends. Nor do they "keep," so this is the sole time of year to enjoy them. But this year I’ve discovered Honeycrisp. Wow! They are sweeter than Harelson, but just as crisp and juicy. I bought a whole bag of them at the farmer’s market on Sunday and I’ve been gorging on them all week. I’m going to bring a few along in the car to entertain my taste buds on the long drive to Muncie.
I am discovering – surprise! – that blackwork stitching is hard! (Blackwork is done in geometric patterns with black thread on white cloth – it looks the same on the front and back because it was meant to trim cuffs and collars and to edge handkerchiefs. It’s very pretty with its stylized flowers and figures and animals.) I don’t know why I’m always surprised to discover this. I guess it’s because I was assured by stitchers when I got into stitchery that it isn’t hard at all, and somehow I still believe them when they say, "Oh, it’s easy! It’s just something I do to keep my hands busy." Uh-huh. "To do blackwork, you just go every other stitch in one direction and then fill in coming back." And when it’s a vine and you come to a four-petaled flower with a double cross in the center? "Well, you just look at it awhile and you’ll suddenly see how to do it. It’s not hard – and it’s fun." Uh-huh. I tried a relatively simple pattern, and I studied it six ways to Sunday, and thought I "saw," but when I finished there was this little gap and no way to get to it. Lying liars. I’m going to go see a woman who teaches the stuff to see if she can enlighten me. I follow the rule: write what you know – which means I’d better learn how it’s done. The book is called Blackwork, which means there had better be a chapter about the stuff. Which means I'd better get a grip on how it's done.
Meanwhile, if you want to have a go at some creative writing, invent a male friend for my sleuth, Betsy Devonshire. Betsy is middle aged, a little overweight, but she is attractive, bright and hard-working, owns her own business and some other properties, and has this strange talent for solving murders. See my web site, Monica-Ferris.com, for more information and the list of prizes. Contest ends November 15.
Turning off access to the Internet during the day is turning out to be a wonderful idea. My writing output has at least tripled. I didn’t realize how much time I’ve been wasting wandering over to check my e-mail or read a blog during my working hours.
We are leaving Thursday morning for Muncie, IN, to attend Magna cum Murder. It is a convention for fans and writers of the mystery novel. I’m moderating a panel this year, called You Are What You Write? Panelists range from writers of the very cozy to a writer of the very hard boiled, so this could get interesting. I’m also going to look for a new hat, as I do every year in Muncie. If can get my act together, there will be photos to post.
This is the season for apples. Minnesota’s own Harelson used to be my very favorite, and since they don’t travel I can’t share them with out-of-state friends. Nor do they "keep," so this is the sole time of year to enjoy them. But this year I’ve discovered Honeycrisp. Wow! They are sweeter than Harelson, but just as crisp and juicy. I bought a whole bag of them at the farmer’s market on Sunday and I’ve been gorging on them all week. I’m going to bring a few along in the car to entertain my taste buds on the long drive to Muncie.
I am discovering – surprise! – that blackwork stitching is hard! (Blackwork is done in geometric patterns with black thread on white cloth – it looks the same on the front and back because it was meant to trim cuffs and collars and to edge handkerchiefs. It’s very pretty with its stylized flowers and figures and animals.) I don’t know why I’m always surprised to discover this. I guess it’s because I was assured by stitchers when I got into stitchery that it isn’t hard at all, and somehow I still believe them when they say, "Oh, it’s easy! It’s just something I do to keep my hands busy." Uh-huh. "To do blackwork, you just go every other stitch in one direction and then fill in coming back." And when it’s a vine and you come to a four-petaled flower with a double cross in the center? "Well, you just look at it awhile and you’ll suddenly see how to do it. It’s not hard – and it’s fun." Uh-huh. I tried a relatively simple pattern, and I studied it six ways to Sunday, and thought I "saw," but when I finished there was this little gap and no way to get to it. Lying liars. I’m going to go see a woman who teaches the stuff to see if she can enlighten me. I follow the rule: write what you know – which means I’d better learn how it’s done. The book is called Blackwork, which means there had better be a chapter about the stuff. Which means I'd better get a grip on how it's done.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
We'll always have ...
I'm planning a Casablanca theme party for next Sunday. My clunky dining room table will be moved out and I'll have small tables set up, café style.
I had cocktail napkins personalized to say "Rick's Café Americain." There's a palm tree image on them, to remind you of Morocco. Or L.A., where the movie was shot. I found small votive lights with battery-operated bulbs that flicker like the real thing. (My safety-wise husband doesn't allow open flames in the house.) As part of the program we'll watch the movie on a 58-inch Hi Def TV screen. At least one of my brothers-in-law is dusting off his white tuxedo jacket.
Like my guests, I love that movie. But I can't watch the end. Too sad. Go with him, I want to scream. Go with Rick! You did all you could for Victor What's-his-name.
There are a number of other movies in this category – I love them but I can't watch the end. Godfather 3 is one. The ending broke my heart the first time I saw it, so I watch right up to that point, then it's off.
Don't even get me started on Italian opera. Rigoletto, for example. Remember: the scumbag Rigoletto thought he killed is singing in the distance; it's his own daughter in the sack he's dragging behind his poor humped back.
I can't stand sad endings. I know they're realistic, but I don't have to like them.
What do you think? Should Ilsa have stayed with Rick?
Monday, October 20, 2008
Age Creates Beauty--and the First Magnificent Monday Contest!
Sometimes God passes me notes in class. I was walking through a plant nursery with David, this scene caught my eye. I ran back to my car to grab my camera. (Being a scrapbooker has trained me well!) Okay, so maybe the original meaning was “foliage creates beauty,” but I think God wanted me to get this message: “Age creates beauty.” That’s really more like it, right?This last week David and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. Being the two wild animals we are, we went to IHOP. He ordered the crepes and I had pancakes. While we waited for our order, I spotted two state troopers at a nearby table. I went over, introduced myself and my profession, and asked about their firepower. As a result, one of them showed me his TASER, which charged with this HUGE crackling sound. David says the whole restaurant came to a screeching halt. I didn't notice. I was enthralled.
The server put our food on the table, wagged a finger at me and asked David, "Is that YOUR wife?"
Yep. And David thought it was funny, really funny.
I love him. My husband is a great guy. I don’t know how I could love him more. He’s my best friend. Every morning when I come down the stairs, he pauses and does this silly little head-cocked grin at me. “Who goes there?” he says. And we both laugh. It's our ritual. Of course he knows who the sleepy-head is. Guilty!
Then he fixes me coffee--with his latte machine that weighs a ton and sounds like a jet plane-- and we begin our day. The rituals of our life set my course, starting each new day with familiarity and love.
It’s been 25 years. Hard to believe. We’ve changed some since our wedding. I’m thicker around the middle, and I can see my face aging. He tells me that I'm beautiful. His hair is turning silver at the temples and he has crinkles around his eyes, which I love. I’m happy about those changes. I married a young man and now I live with a grown-up man. He’s all the world to me. He’s the first person I call when something good happens, and when I need advice (which he’s full of!), and when I need help. To me, he’s like the oak tree at the bottom of our hill…as the years go on, he seems stronger and more stately. (And maybe, well, we’re both a little nuts.)
He’s the most loyal person I’ve ever met.
He knows me better than anyone else does. And he loves me anyway.
The sign was right: Age creates beauty. I am thankful for the years we’ve had together, and I hope to be blessed with many, many more.
Magnificent Mondays CONTEST!
The Magnificent Mondays Contest starts TODAY! Remember, since this is the third Monday of the Month, one lucky person posting a comment can win a prize. In keeping with the season, our prize will be a copy of The Wheels of Darkness, a spooky thriller by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Want to enjoy a shiver up your spine? Post a comment today and maybe you'll win! Tell your friends and maybe they'll share!
And check out my personal blog http://joannaslan.blogspot.com/ I'll be writing about my year as a debut author PLUS offering cool prizes there as well. It's also the place to track my appearances--virtual and in the flesh.
Next Monday I'll tell you about the wolf sanctuary I visited on Bays Mountain, near Kingsport, Tennessee. (I had a howling good time!)
Next Monday I'll tell you about the wolf sanctuary I visited on Bays Mountain, near Kingsport, Tennessee. (I had a howling good time!)
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Deadly bath
Pardon me if I use a little of Sunday to send you to the Kill Zone where I'm guest blogging today. Our own Kathryn Lilley set it up.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Keeping Calm with Crochet
Some people think of October as fall, but in Southern California it’s fire season. The Santa Ana winds come in and blow at huge speeds and the humidity goes to nothing. That’s exactly what happened last Sunday. The only difference was it was a cold wind. A fire started in the wilderness area of the San Gabriel mountains and the wind began to spread it toward homes around the northeast area of the San Fernando Valley.
Monday morning the wind was even worse. It grabbed a heavy outdoor umbrella I’d folded down and sent it crashing into the lime tree. The winds always stir up trouble. There was even a news story about how in the past, that if you could prove there were Santa Anas blowing when you committed a crime, you could get off. Kind of the wind made me do it, I guess. For sure the wind makes everyone uneasy. I have heard that these dry powerful winds stir up the wrong kind of ions. The opposite of the good ones you feel by the ocean or a waterfall.
Palm fronds broke off the tall palm tree in the front yard and bounced off the roof into the backyard. Dust and debris mixed with ash from the fire and spread over the outdoor furniture. The air had the pungent smell of smoke and had an odd cast to it.
Another fire had started. This time much closer, directly north of us in an area called Porter Ranch. I know the area exactly. It’s on a ridge above the Valley floor and where my Joann’s superstore is. There are lots of newer houses surrounded by the brush covered Santa Susanna mountains.
All the regular TV shows were pre empted and I sat glued to the TV, watching as reporters in yellow fireman coats and goggles tried to interview people being evacuated from their homes. A lot of the people were dressed in work attire and had rushed home when they heard about the fire to get their pets, pictures and papers.
The wind was ferocious, sending burning embers everywhere spreading the fire. It jumped six lanes of the 118 freeway and the fire officials started talking about not being able to stop it and that it might burn all the way to the ocean some 20 or so miles away.
We weren’t directly threatened, though when the wind is like that you never know what will happen. I had a headache and was tense. There was only one thing that got me through the day.
Crocheting.
I had started making a scarf from a pattern I’d seen in a magazine. The sport weight yarn was nice to work with and the pattern simple to follow. As I sat glued to the TV, I moved through row after row of the scarf.
There were warnings that the wind was going to get worse overnight, but luckily that never materialized and it actually died down, so they were able to do water drops from helicopters all night. By morning the firefighters had begun to get some control.
I went up to Joann’s Super Store on Friday and passed only one fire truck, but a lot of burned hillsides. I drove on the freeway that the fire had jumped. The people evacuated are back in their homes. There were some homes lost, but luckily fewer than first reported.
When leaves turn red in Southern California, it’s because they’re on fire.
Monday morning the wind was even worse. It grabbed a heavy outdoor umbrella I’d folded down and sent it crashing into the lime tree. The winds always stir up trouble. There was even a news story about how in the past, that if you could prove there were Santa Anas blowing when you committed a crime, you could get off. Kind of the wind made me do it, I guess. For sure the wind makes everyone uneasy. I have heard that these dry powerful winds stir up the wrong kind of ions. The opposite of the good ones you feel by the ocean or a waterfall.
Palm fronds broke off the tall palm tree in the front yard and bounced off the roof into the backyard. Dust and debris mixed with ash from the fire and spread over the outdoor furniture. The air had the pungent smell of smoke and had an odd cast to it.
Another fire had started. This time much closer, directly north of us in an area called Porter Ranch. I know the area exactly. It’s on a ridge above the Valley floor and where my Joann’s superstore is. There are lots of newer houses surrounded by the brush covered Santa Susanna mountains.
All the regular TV shows were pre empted and I sat glued to the TV, watching as reporters in yellow fireman coats and goggles tried to interview people being evacuated from their homes. A lot of the people were dressed in work attire and had rushed home when they heard about the fire to get their pets, pictures and papers.
The wind was ferocious, sending burning embers everywhere spreading the fire. It jumped six lanes of the 118 freeway and the fire officials started talking about not being able to stop it and that it might burn all the way to the ocean some 20 or so miles away.
We weren’t directly threatened, though when the wind is like that you never know what will happen. I had a headache and was tense. There was only one thing that got me through the day.
Crocheting.
I had started making a scarf from a pattern I’d seen in a magazine. The sport weight yarn was nice to work with and the pattern simple to follow. As I sat glued to the TV, I moved through row after row of the scarf.
There were warnings that the wind was going to get worse overnight, but luckily that never materialized and it actually died down, so they were able to do water drops from helicopters all night. By morning the firefighters had begun to get some control.
I went up to Joann’s Super Store on Friday and passed only one fire truck, but a lot of burned hillsides. I drove on the freeway that the fire had jumped. The people evacuated are back in their homes. There were some homes lost, but luckily fewer than first reported.
When leaves turn red in Southern California, it’s because they’re on fire.
Friday, October 17, 2008
PIQF
I'm signing books today and the rest of the weekend at the Always Quilting booth at Pacific International Quilt Festival. This is a big quilt convention held in the heart of Silicon Valley. Sorta kinda like the one Dewey gets into so much trouble at in Wild Goose Chase. This is the first convention since the book came out. It's lots of fun meeting fans, and making new ones. I've seen my books at three, wow, three different vendors. Thrilling.
Now if I could just find the charger to my camera battery. I bought a new camera a while back because the old one took too many batteries. I was forever replacing those double AAs. Rechargeable battery seemed like a good idea. The last time I charged this camera up, I put the charger someplace new. I remember thinking, "Gee, I hope I remember where I put this. Oh, I will, because THIS is a much BETTER place for it."
I cannot find it. So if you'd like to see pictures of the quilts at this quilt show, head on over to my friend's blog. Jaye has taken wonderful photos: http://artquiltmaker.blogspot.com/
Off to the show. Stop by Booth 1021 if you're in the neighborhood.
Now if I could just find the charger to my camera battery. I bought a new camera a while back because the old one took too many batteries. I was forever replacing those double AAs. Rechargeable battery seemed like a good idea. The last time I charged this camera up, I put the charger someplace new. I remember thinking, "Gee, I hope I remember where I put this. Oh, I will, because THIS is a much BETTER place for it."
I cannot find it. So if you'd like to see pictures of the quilts at this quilt show, head on over to my friend's blog. Jaye has taken wonderful photos: http://artquiltmaker.blogspot.com/
Off to the show. Stop by Booth 1021 if you're in the neighborhood.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Transitions
I’ve been out of touch this week for a couple of reasons.
First, I was in Pittsburgh, where I grew up, over the weekend. My stepfather passed away last week, and I was there for his funeral. Three weeks earlier, I was in Pittsburgh for his 80th birthday party. He had decided a couple of years ago to have a party for his 80th birthday--before he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He had ups and downs as time for his party neared, and I had a concern he was hanging on long enough to celebrate. That apparently was the case.
At least, while I was there, I got to visit with my actual father and also saw my aunt. Among other things, I got to join them for a meal of matzo ball soup and corned beef sandwich at their favorite deli. Visiting with them helped to make the trip less painful.
Then I came back to Los Angeles for a final day at my part-time “temporary” law job that went on for 2 years. The major project I was working on was slowing down, at least for now. There were full-time actual employees who could take on any additional work, so my time was up. I’ll miss the people there. They are really nice, and it was fun being in an office atmosphere again. Writing is a wonderful career, but it is often solitary. The additional income didn’t hurt, either. Plus, I enjoy practicing law.
Now, I’m dealing with the changes in my life, both of them sad in different ways. At least, with the end of the law job, I’m looking forward to a lot more time to devote to my writing. I also hope to take on individual law projects when available.
Is anyone else reading this involved in any transitions?
--Linda
First, I was in Pittsburgh, where I grew up, over the weekend. My stepfather passed away last week, and I was there for his funeral. Three weeks earlier, I was in Pittsburgh for his 80th birthday party. He had decided a couple of years ago to have a party for his 80th birthday--before he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He had ups and downs as time for his party neared, and I had a concern he was hanging on long enough to celebrate. That apparently was the case.
At least, while I was there, I got to visit with my actual father and also saw my aunt. Among other things, I got to join them for a meal of matzo ball soup and corned beef sandwich at their favorite deli. Visiting with them helped to make the trip less painful.
Then I came back to Los Angeles for a final day at my part-time “temporary” law job that went on for 2 years. The major project I was working on was slowing down, at least for now. There were full-time actual employees who could take on any additional work, so my time was up. I’ll miss the people there. They are really nice, and it was fun being in an office atmosphere again. Writing is a wonderful career, but it is often solitary. The additional income didn’t hurt, either. Plus, I enjoy practicing law.
Now, I’m dealing with the changes in my life, both of them sad in different ways. At least, with the end of the law job, I’m looking forward to a lot more time to devote to my writing. I also hope to take on individual law projects when available.
Is anyone else reading this involved in any transitions?
--Linda
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
A NEW CONTEST!
Betsy needs a boyfriend. She has had two romances in the course of this series. The first was Morrie Steffans, a retired police detective who wanted Betsy to sell her shop and move with him to Florida. When she refused, he moved away alone. Down there, he found a new girlfriend. But he could move back. He is tall, with a lantern jaw and jug ears. He admires her talent for detective work, and has gentle manners. A widower, compassionate and decent. (I really liked him, I don’t know why I let him get away.)
The second was Stan Omernic, a hard-working police detective. Good looking in an Eastern European way, very competent. In Sins and Needles he is married (but he could get or already be divorced) with children. Honest, not too cynical, tolerant.
Neither of them does needlework.
The third? Well, invent someone, one of you. Or tell me why to bring back one of the above two.
Betsy is fifty-six, short, plump, intelligent, hard-working, funny, open-minded, a church-going Episcopalian. She is independently wealthy (though that may change if the economy keeps sliding). She owns her own business and sleuths on the side. She keeps a cat. She needs a boyfriend she can keep!
Because of my wide readership, I am offering a choice of prizes to the winner:
1) A hand-painted canvas by Peter Ashe called Winter Cottage, not stitched.
2) A sampler pattern called "A Sampler for Merry Pat" from Blue Ribbon Designs.
3)"The Long Thistle" cross stitch chart from Landmark Tapestries.
4) An autographed ARC (Advance Review Copy – bound galleys) of Thai Die.
5) An antique (around 1912) toy typewriter from Simplex.
6) A skein of fuzzy yarn (mohair, wool, nylon blend, 50 grams, 122 yards) in fall colors from The Gourmet Collection, suitable for knit or crochet.
The rules of the contest: You have until November 15 to invent a fictional male boyfriend for my sleuth, Betsy Devonshire. He needs a name, a physical description, and a solid outline of his character. Add any details you like, including how they meet – though that’s not necessary. Oh, I do need to like him, too. Winner gets his/her choice of one of the five prizes – oh, and a copy of Blackwork (in which the new boyfriend will appear), suitably autographed.
It’s possible no one will win, if I don’t like any of the entries.
Go to my web site, Monica-Ferris.com, and contact me through there. Thank you, and good luck!
The second was Stan Omernic, a hard-working police detective. Good looking in an Eastern European way, very competent. In Sins and Needles he is married (but he could get or already be divorced) with children. Honest, not too cynical, tolerant.
Neither of them does needlework.
The third? Well, invent someone, one of you. Or tell me why to bring back one of the above two.
Betsy is fifty-six, short, plump, intelligent, hard-working, funny, open-minded, a church-going Episcopalian. She is independently wealthy (though that may change if the economy keeps sliding). She owns her own business and sleuths on the side. She keeps a cat. She needs a boyfriend she can keep!
Because of my wide readership, I am offering a choice of prizes to the winner:
1) A hand-painted canvas by Peter Ashe called Winter Cottage, not stitched.
2) A sampler pattern called "A Sampler for Merry Pat" from Blue Ribbon Designs.
3)"The Long Thistle" cross stitch chart from Landmark Tapestries.
4) An autographed ARC (Advance Review Copy – bound galleys) of Thai Die.
5) An antique (around 1912) toy typewriter from Simplex.
6) A skein of fuzzy yarn (mohair, wool, nylon blend, 50 grams, 122 yards) in fall colors from The Gourmet Collection, suitable for knit or crochet.
The rules of the contest: You have until November 15 to invent a fictional male boyfriend for my sleuth, Betsy Devonshire. He needs a name, a physical description, and a solid outline of his character. Add any details you like, including how they meet – though that’s not necessary. Oh, I do need to like him, too. Winner gets his/her choice of one of the five prizes – oh, and a copy of Blackwork (in which the new boyfriend will appear), suitably autographed.
It’s possible no one will win, if I don’t like any of the entries.
Go to my web site, Monica-Ferris.com, and contact me through there. Thank you, and good luck!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Writing short
I feel like I'm channeling our on-leave Kathryn Lilley, who gave KillerHobbies some of its most memorable images. This photo is of a termite. In a minute you'll see what it has to do with writing.
I attended a short story workshop, given by Sophie Littlefield and Tim Maleeny, two very talented Sisters in Crime.
Having just submitted my twelfth novel to my editor, I found it a bit daunting to think short! Sophie and Tim were wonderfully instructive about structuring short stories in a different way from novels. Start with one idea, add one "concept" or story thread. Keep it simple, easy to pitch.
Hearing the various ideas and stories of the attendees was inspiring, but one stood out —from a woman who did a stint as a writer of radio commercials. She'd have to get a message across in as little as 30 seconds.
Here was her example, a commercial she wrote for a pest control company:
How does a termite hide in a wall?
He puts on a helmet and pretends he's a nail.
Canned laughter – then:
Termites – it's no joke.
Now I'm trying to squeeze my short story idea into a 30-second jingle!
Does anyone else find it hard to write short?
Monday, October 13, 2008
Chill Me, Thrill Me and The Big Read--Plus a Contest
I've had a dream week for an author.Chill Me, Thrill Me
On Wednesday, I was part of a panel called "Chill Me, Thrill Me" for the St. Charles City-County Library. The event was organized by Fedora AMIS, and our "Queen of Clues" was Eileen Dreyer. Let me tell you that Eileen is a tough act to follow on any panel because she's "roll in the aisles" hilarious. Eileen is a nurse by training, and she said that one reason she loves writing mysteries is that in her books the bad guys get theirs and the good people live happily ever after. Also on our panel was Wilfred Bereswill, who stopped by a local casino to do a little research beforehand, Eleanor Sullivan, who became a fiction writer after writing textbooks, and Angie Fox, who wrote before the sun came up on a daily basis until she penned a New York Times extended list bestseller which has just gone back for a second printing.
My friend and bookseller Lynn Oris was there from Barnes & Noble, so we went out to eat afterwards. She has such a lively mind, and she knows her books. I learned from Lynn that the practice of allowing booksellers to return unsold books began after WWII when the economy was bad. Bookstores were afraid to take a chance on new authors, so booksellers said let us ship you books and if they don't sell, return them.
The Big Read
On Friday my dear friend Emilie Richards came to town for The Big Read, and we had a perfect dinner at Cafe Napoli outside on the little patio where people-watching was almost as fabulous as the Chicken Napoli we ordered.
On Saturday, I met with Emilie, Tess Gerritsen and Julie Compton for an interview with Claire Applewhite. Claire asked great questions, and once it's done, I'll be sure to link this blog to it. I always enjoy seeing Tess. She has such a scientific mind, and she'd gone to The Big Read early to catch a panel on a topic that interested her.
I had "met" Julie over the 'net, and liked her immediately, so it was great to meet her in the flesh. She's from St. Louis, and set her book Tell No Lies here. I just started reading it and was blown away by her talent. Once in a while, you read a book and think, "Wow, I wish I'd written that." Tell No Lies made me pea-green with jealousy. That girl can WRITE.
I moderated The Big Read panel, and boy, was I nervous. I wanted to show Tess, Emilie and Julie in the best light possible--to ask questions that really gave the audience a sense of what fabulous women they are as well as a taste of what they write.
Marketing Your Book
After the panel, Angie Fox and I taught a class called Marketing Your Book. We had worked hard on the outline, and I believe that paid off. Emilie and Julie sat in. They said it was the best, most concrete session on the subject they'd ever heard. High praise from those two experts!
Julie, Emilie and I went to dinner at Trattoria Marcella's on The Hill, the Italian section of St. Louis, and then on to Ted Drewes for custard. (Angie had a babysitter to relieve.)
It's been a charmed few days. To celebrate, I made this Big Read journaling box. Isn't it fun? Email me at savetales@aol.com and I'll send you the file. Well, creating the journaling box was not nearly as much fun as I've had the past few days!
CONTEST
Introducing Magnificent Mondays! From now on the THIRD Monday of every month will be a Magnificent Monday. Starting NEXT Monday if you are one of the commenters, you can win a prize. In keeping with the season, our prize NEXT Monday, October 20, will be a copy of The Wheels of Darkness, a spooky thriller by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Want to enjoy a shiver up your spine? Post a comment next Monday and maybe you'll win! Tell your friends and maybe they'll share!
And check out my personal blog http://joannaslan.blogspot.com/ I'll be writing about my year as a debut author PLUS offering cool prizes there as well.
BLOG VISIT
I'll be a guest blogger on The Lipstick Chronicles, Saturday, October 18, 2008, the same day I'll be appearing at the Kingsport (TN) Times Women's Expo.
I figure we all need a laugh, and I think you'll get a chuckle out of my guest post about my husband's ongoing battle with moles.
Check it out at http://thelipstickchronicles.typepad.com
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Changes
Sometimes it’s good to break out of habit and do things differently. For Hooked on Murder, Dead Men Don’t Crochet and By Hook or Crook, my pattern of working has been pretty much the same. I would drink my morning coffee and handwrite on a yellow legal pad. Then sometime later I would type what I’d written into my computer.
It seemed to always take longer to type in what I’d written and I would end up continuing with the yellow pads, while trying to catch up with putting everything into the computer. It was easy to get the yellow sheets mixed up and there was the issue of reading my handwriting.
So, as I began my fourth book for now titled Murder and the Marshmallow Stitch, I thought I would cut out a step. No more yellow pads. I’d just go write to typing it in the computer. Sure that it would be faster, I tried working that way for a month. Usually I wait until I finish the first draft to read what I have, but this time, I started reading after completing three chapters.
I’m glad I didn’t wait. It was obvious when I read the fourth time I’d stopped in mid sentence and started the beginning over again that going right to the computer just wasn’t working. Oddly enough, it wasn’t faster either. When I work on the yellow pads, my pen can’t seem to move fast enough. Not so when it was my fingers on the keyboard.
So, this morning, I pulled out my pile of yellow pads and found a nice pen and started handwriting from where I’d left off typing.
So maybe it was good to try something different, but the old way worked better.
I had different experience with a crochet project I just started. I want to make a pair of wrist warmers. I happen to have very long arms and sleeves never cover my wrists, so aside from being cute, they seem useful. Generally crochet starts with a row of chain stitches, but this pattern mixes the row of chain stitches with the first row of double crochets. In essence you do the foundation chain stitches and the first row at the same time. They are called extended stitches and though I’ve seen them a few times before, it seems to be a new idea. I mentioned them to the leader of my crochet group and she had never heard of them.
At first the directions looked confusing. But as I did the first row, all of a sudden I understood what I was doing and it made perfect sense and was much easer than making the chains stitches and then doing the first row. Now I’m curious to see if I can change other patterns into using these extended stitches.
This time the new way might just change how I crochet from now on. I guess it’s good to have an open mind.
It seemed to always take longer to type in what I’d written and I would end up continuing with the yellow pads, while trying to catch up with putting everything into the computer. It was easy to get the yellow sheets mixed up and there was the issue of reading my handwriting.
So, as I began my fourth book for now titled Murder and the Marshmallow Stitch, I thought I would cut out a step. No more yellow pads. I’d just go write to typing it in the computer. Sure that it would be faster, I tried working that way for a month. Usually I wait until I finish the first draft to read what I have, but this time, I started reading after completing three chapters.
I’m glad I didn’t wait. It was obvious when I read the fourth time I’d stopped in mid sentence and started the beginning over again that going right to the computer just wasn’t working. Oddly enough, it wasn’t faster either. When I work on the yellow pads, my pen can’t seem to move fast enough. Not so when it was my fingers on the keyboard.
So, this morning, I pulled out my pile of yellow pads and found a nice pen and started handwriting from where I’d left off typing.
So maybe it was good to try something different, but the old way worked better.
I had different experience with a crochet project I just started. I want to make a pair of wrist warmers. I happen to have very long arms and sleeves never cover my wrists, so aside from being cute, they seem useful. Generally crochet starts with a row of chain stitches, but this pattern mixes the row of chain stitches with the first row of double crochets. In essence you do the foundation chain stitches and the first row at the same time. They are called extended stitches and though I’ve seen them a few times before, it seems to be a new idea. I mentioned them to the leader of my crochet group and she had never heard of them.
At first the directions looked confusing. But as I did the first row, all of a sudden I understood what I was doing and it made perfect sense and was much easer than making the chains stitches and then doing the first row. Now I’m curious to see if I can change other patterns into using these extended stitches.
This time the new way might just change how I crochet from now on. I guess it’s good to have an open mind.
Friday, October 10, 2008
gifts
The best part about being a quilter is the gifts made for me by my extremely talented friends. It's smart to cultivate gifted people because they give the best presents.
Case in point. My friend Virginia made this art quilt for my birthday. Can you see the little cover of Wild Goose Chase? So cool!
And if that wasn't enough, my friends at Always Quilting made me an Old Maid's Puzzle quilt to celebrate the publication of the second quilting mystery. Pernille organized, Kit quilted it and a dozen or so friends worked on blocks to include in the quilt. The best part was they did it right under my nose. I was in the room (hey, it's a big room) working on my own projects while they were sewing up the blocks.
I lied to them. Not on purpose. I told them I had never received a quilt before. That was almost true. I did get this quilt from my quilt guild when I left Pennsylvania to move to California. It's full of very cool sentiments.
Along the way, I've been given plenty of unique, handmade treasures. If you don't have a crafter as a friend, I suggest you start looking for one. Now. Christmas will be here before you know it.
Case in point. My friend Virginia made this art quilt for my birthday. Can you see the little cover of Wild Goose Chase? So cool!
And if that wasn't enough, my friends at Always Quilting made me an Old Maid's Puzzle quilt to celebrate the publication of the second quilting mystery. Pernille organized, Kit quilted it and a dozen or so friends worked on blocks to include in the quilt. The best part was they did it right under my nose. I was in the room (hey, it's a big room) working on my own projects while they were sewing up the blocks.
I lied to them. Not on purpose. I told them I had never received a quilt before. That was almost true. I did get this quilt from my quilt guild when I left Pennsylvania to move to California. It's full of very cool sentiments.
Along the way, I've been given plenty of unique, handmade treasures. If you don't have a crafter as a friend, I suggest you start looking for one. Now. Christmas will be here before you know it.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
A Terrible Tale
I was outraged this week over a story a friend at my law office told me. She lives in an apartment complex where the onsite management is... difficult. (I’d say something nastier but I don’t want to burden this blog.)
She told me that one of her neighbors, whom she knew well, went out one evening to get a group of fellow tenants some dinner and was hit by a car and killed. That’s awful enough.
She also said the victim lived alone, and his family was from out of state. They came to claim his body and the apartment manager promised to gather up his belongings and donate them to charity. Instead, they apparently took what they wanted and trashed the rest, including some nice artwork. My friend was able to retrieve a little of that, at least.
But my friend said the neighbors started asking each other who had taken in the victim’s rescue cats. No one had--and they discovered that the managers swooped them up and took them to a city shelter to euthanize. Since the shelter employees believed the cats were the managers’ and whatever additional tale they told, the poor, already traumatized kitties were killed. For no reason. There were those around who would willingly have adopted them.
I found this so sad from many perspectives, including all of the poor victims, human and feline. It’s at times like this that I wish my super-litigator character Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter, attorney and murder magnet, was really my alter ego--although I’m not sure that attempting to prosecute people like those managers for animal cruelty would teach them a lesson.
Can anyone reading this cheer me up with a story of something nice that’s happened to a pet this week?
--Linda
She told me that one of her neighbors, whom she knew well, went out one evening to get a group of fellow tenants some dinner and was hit by a car and killed. That’s awful enough.
She also said the victim lived alone, and his family was from out of state. They came to claim his body and the apartment manager promised to gather up his belongings and donate them to charity. Instead, they apparently took what they wanted and trashed the rest, including some nice artwork. My friend was able to retrieve a little of that, at least.
But my friend said the neighbors started asking each other who had taken in the victim’s rescue cats. No one had--and they discovered that the managers swooped them up and took them to a city shelter to euthanize. Since the shelter employees believed the cats were the managers’ and whatever additional tale they told, the poor, already traumatized kitties were killed. For no reason. There were those around who would willingly have adopted them.
I found this so sad from many perspectives, including all of the poor victims, human and feline. It’s at times like this that I wish my super-litigator character Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter, attorney and murder magnet, was really my alter ego--although I’m not sure that attempting to prosecute people like those managers for animal cruelty would teach them a lesson.
Can anyone reading this cheer me up with a story of something nice that’s happened to a pet this week?
--Linda
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
CHALLENGE!
I am facing an amazing challenge, the kind that strikes terror into the heart of anyone who has ever faced a deadline. I thought, when I had to do a major re-write of Thai Die, that everything to follow got pushed down the time line a couple of months. That though the original deadline for Blackwork was the end of 2008, it would now be due in February or even March.
Then I was invited to debut Blackwork at a science fiction convention called Gaylaxicon – and you don’t have to be a detective to understand what the focus of that con is. The person running it in 2009 is a good friend of mine, someone I’ve known for probably close to thirty years. And it will be in Minneapolis, a first for this convention. Gaylaxicon will be held October 9 – 11. The reason he wants to debut the novel is that he is a sort of Godfather to Godwin, the gay man who is my sleuth Betsy’s sidekick, mentor, advisor and good friend.
I thought it wouldn’t work, as now (in my mind) the due date for the completion of the manuscript should now be too late for that pub date. To confirm, I asked my editor at Berkley when the pub date for Blackwork might be. Well, she said, we’re talking October 2009. I told Don that it looked good for debuting the novel.
And at the same time I felt a little trickle of fear. It takes time for a novel to go from manuscript to finished product. March, or even February, to October is awfully short a time in the normal course of events. When, I inquired, is the ms due to you? And the reply came: The end of this year.
I’m on Chapter Six. Well, Seven if I split that one long chapter in two.
Part of me is in a mild state of panic – but another part of me is exhilarated by this challenge.
So watch this space! And if anyone has any advice or encouragement to offer, please feel welcome.
The coundown begins now
Then I was invited to debut Blackwork at a science fiction convention called Gaylaxicon – and you don’t have to be a detective to understand what the focus of that con is. The person running it in 2009 is a good friend of mine, someone I’ve known for probably close to thirty years. And it will be in Minneapolis, a first for this convention. Gaylaxicon will be held October 9 – 11. The reason he wants to debut the novel is that he is a sort of Godfather to Godwin, the gay man who is my sleuth Betsy’s sidekick, mentor, advisor and good friend.
I thought it wouldn’t work, as now (in my mind) the due date for the completion of the manuscript should now be too late for that pub date. To confirm, I asked my editor at Berkley when the pub date for Blackwork might be. Well, she said, we’re talking October 2009. I told Don that it looked good for debuting the novel.
And at the same time I felt a little trickle of fear. It takes time for a novel to go from manuscript to finished product. March, or even February, to October is awfully short a time in the normal course of events. When, I inquired, is the ms due to you? And the reply came: The end of this year.
I’m on Chapter Six. Well, Seven if I split that one long chapter in two.
Part of me is in a mild state of panic – but another part of me is exhilarated by this challenge.
So watch this space! And if anyone has any advice or encouragement to offer, please feel welcome.
The coundown begins now
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Where's the muse?
I shared another writing weekend with Ann Parker, author of the Silver Rush mystery series. As a break one evening, we watched a movie — about a writer. (What's wrong with us?)
This one was pretty good, but it would be have been much better if the screenwriter had had the benefit of our analysis. It's "Starting Out in the Evening," about an aging novelist (played by the great Frank Langella) and a young woman (Lauren Ambrose) writing a master's thesis on his work.
Langella's character gave out some gems about the writing process. The fictional novelist (a double whammy?) talked about following his characters around until they did something interesting. He also tried to disabuse the young student of the idea that all novels are autobiographical, or have to come from personal experience, or "say something" about the writer.
But to us, the best lines came from a review of the movie by Roger Ebert. Ann blogged about it yesterday. The Ebert quote:
"...I am no novelist, but I am a professional writer, and I know two things that interviewers never believe: (1) the Muse visits during, not before, the act of composition, and (2) the writer takes dictation from that place in his mind that knows what he should write next...."
Food for thought!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
A Work of Art for My Ezine
I send out an ezine (an online magazine) quarterly at least, and I'm trying to send it out bimonthly. It's always a lot of work, but it's work that I enjoy, and the discipline of sending it out keeps me exploring new ideas.
The ezine always includes freebies--downloadable art or patterns. Plus, a layout or two, and a project.
Recently I saw an online tutorial in how to use colored markers. I was inspired by the blended color effects the instructor could get, but I still am, um, colored marker challenged. They are typically too dark for me to use well.
However, I love water-color pencils. I like how fluid they are, and how well I can shade with them. Most often, I sketch the design in pencil, color with the water-color pencils, let the image dry, and go back over it with regular colored pencils and pens.
Here's one of the images I created this weekend, a black cat. I hope you like him! If you want me to send you the Adobe file, email me at savetales@aol.com and put CAT in the subject line. I think he's perfect for use on a Halloween page or a Halloween card.
What do you think? Is he the cat's meow?
That said, I wanted to create some seasonal images because I'm getting together
Different books?
No two persons ever read the same book.
-- Edmund Wilson
Have you ever LOVED a book that even your best reading buddy hated, or vice versa?
What's that about?
Saturday, October 4, 2008
What Almost Wasn't
The trip to Las Vegas turned out well. It still amazes me how much stuff three people needed for four days. I always like to be prepared when driving through the desert and had lots and lots of water, snacks, and umbrellas (in case we needed shade). Happily, we didn’t need any of it. Despite most of the backseat being taken up with whatever wouldn’t fit in the truck, I was able to crochet for quite a while both going and coming home. I was finishing up another cuddle blanket, which is the pattern in my third book now titled By Hook or By Crook.
When I went to the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace I was happy to see that the giant horse that stands at the entrance to FAO Schwartz was still there, meaning the store was, too. I went to the second floor prepared to see the crochet kit and relive my big moment all over again. When I passed the spot where the little blue suitcases with their granny square banners had been piled up, some drawing kits where on the eye level shelf instead. I had to search the area to even find the craft kits and when I did, they were all crammed together and I had a hard time locating the crochet kit.
It struck me as I looked through the cornucopia of craft kits, that had this been how they were displayed when I walked through the second floor a few years back, everything would have been different. I never would have even seen the banner with the granny square. No granny squares would have meant the idea of putting crochet and mystery together probably never would have occurred to me.
How interesting that my life turned on a display.
When I went to the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace I was happy to see that the giant horse that stands at the entrance to FAO Schwartz was still there, meaning the store was, too. I went to the second floor prepared to see the crochet kit and relive my big moment all over again. When I passed the spot where the little blue suitcases with their granny square banners had been piled up, some drawing kits where on the eye level shelf instead. I had to search the area to even find the craft kits and when I did, they were all crammed together and I had a hard time locating the crochet kit.
It struck me as I looked through the cornucopia of craft kits, that had this been how they were displayed when I walked through the second floor a few years back, everything would have been different. I never would have even seen the banner with the granny square. No granny squares would have meant the idea of putting crochet and mystery together probably never would have occurred to me.
How interesting that my life turned on a display.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Last Five Lessons
6. Work every day. Even if it’s just for a few minutes. Staying within the process you love is essential. Your whole day will be better for it.
7. Get with friends. Sew, stamp, write with your friends. You’ll make deeper friendships and the work will feel like play.
8. The one that makes me cringe makes the quilt or book sing. That bit of orange, or slime green, that outrageous remark by Kym is what makes people take notice and enhances the whole. If your first instinct is to include it, do it.
9. The sum is greater than the whole of its parts. Taken piece by piece, the quilt might not be wonderful. A great book is just a series of ordinary words. Strung together, in your unique way, though, you might have a masterpiece.
10. Red is a neutral. Life is meant to be lived in high def, not black and white. Go for your dream. It could come true. If I can do it, so can you.
7. Get with friends. Sew, stamp, write with your friends. You’ll make deeper friendships and the work will feel like play.
8. The one that makes me cringe makes the quilt or book sing. That bit of orange, or slime green, that outrageous remark by Kym is what makes people take notice and enhances the whole. If your first instinct is to include it, do it.
9. The sum is greater than the whole of its parts. Taken piece by piece, the quilt might not be wonderful. A great book is just a series of ordinary words. Strung together, in your unique way, though, you might have a masterpiece.
10. Red is a neutral. Life is meant to be lived in high def, not black and white. Go for your dream. It could come true. If I can do it, so can you.
Happily Ever After
A major reason why my blog post last week was so short and not very sweet was that I was in the middle of some family celebrations. For one thing, my older son and his fiancée got married!
As you may know, in addition to my Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series, I also write romances--usually paranormal or romantic suspense. But in all of them there’s a heroine who meets an irresistible hero, and no matter what else happens between them in the story we know at the end that they will stay together. In love. Happily ever after!
That, of course, is what I wish for my son and his bride. Eric is highly intelligent and very level-headed as well as an obvious romantic. His new wife seems delightful and smart as well as lovely. It’s my opinion that they have all the makings for a happily ever after, even in these days where many marriages are limited in time.
They’re off on their honeymoon now, and I’m back home. I got to visit their pup, a Puli who’s very cute. But I missed my own doggies, even though we now have a wonderful security camera that can be moved to view the entire area, and can also be set so that we can talk to the dogs and listen to them. I kept close watch over them while I was gone! Plus, I had good people around often to take care of them, including the excellent professional pet-sitter I’ve recently started using.
Didn’t have a chance to do much writing while on the road, but I’m getting back in gear now. I’m plotting the next Kendra story, which is always a delightful task.
And I love cyberspace! My son has let us know by e-mail that they arrived safely at their first destination. I wouldn’t want to bother them on their honeymoon but was thrilled to hear from him.
So... happy forever to them. And to us. And to you!
Is anyone else reading this celebrating a happy event?
--Linda
As you may know, in addition to my Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series, I also write romances--usually paranormal or romantic suspense. But in all of them there’s a heroine who meets an irresistible hero, and no matter what else happens between them in the story we know at the end that they will stay together. In love. Happily ever after!
That, of course, is what I wish for my son and his bride. Eric is highly intelligent and very level-headed as well as an obvious romantic. His new wife seems delightful and smart as well as lovely. It’s my opinion that they have all the makings for a happily ever after, even in these days where many marriages are limited in time.
They’re off on their honeymoon now, and I’m back home. I got to visit their pup, a Puli who’s very cute. But I missed my own doggies, even though we now have a wonderful security camera that can be moved to view the entire area, and can also be set so that we can talk to the dogs and listen to them. I kept close watch over them while I was gone! Plus, I had good people around often to take care of them, including the excellent professional pet-sitter I’ve recently started using.
Didn’t have a chance to do much writing while on the road, but I’m getting back in gear now. I’m plotting the next Kendra story, which is always a delightful task.
And I love cyberspace! My son has let us know by e-mail that they arrived safely at their first destination. I wouldn’t want to bother them on their honeymoon but was thrilled to hear from him.
So... happy forever to them. And to us. And to you!
Is anyone else reading this celebrating a happy event?
--Linda
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
I Love My Job
The Michaelmas Feast went well. To me, what makes a great party is the conversation. And we had some interesting opinions expressed, arguments (the good kind) made and defended, and some learning went on ("I didn’t know that!" said at least once an hour). The food was good, the wine better. Dessert was hot, home-made applesauce over a high-quality vanilla ice cream. Yum!
I find I’ve signed up for two big events in the spring. One is the Nashville Needlework Market, which formed the setting for my novel Crewel Yule – the one where an attendee is tossed over a railing twelve stories up at a thinly-disguised Embassy Suites Hotel. I am an associate member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America which backs the Market, and it is a terrific place to see the newest fibers, fabrics, patterns and gadgets. Needlework shopowners buy wonderful things to bring home to their loyal customers. One thing they’ll be offered in 2009 will be autographed copies of Thai Die. Oh, and as Associate Member (I sort of own Crewel World, by virtue of writing about the fictional shop in my books), I get to buy things at wholesale. Next year I’ll bring a former shopowner along as my own "associate," and she will help me understand what I’m looking at and select the very best items to write about in a forthcoming book.
The other event is Malice Domestic, a mystery convention held in Arlington, VA, every spring – this year it’s May 1 – 3. I hope to be on a panel. A special panel, perhaps. When filling out the form for authors, they left a place to suggest a topic for a panel. So I suggested web logs – Blogs. As in Killer Hobbies. I noted that several of the people who contribute to Killer Hobbies plan to attend, so here might be a ready-formed panel. That’s the panel I’d really like to be on.
I’m back at work on Blackwork, having finished the short story, "It Slices, It Dices." That story takes such dead aim at a particular anthology that if it doesn’t make the cut, I don’t know where else I might sell it. I’m enjoying watching Blackwork unfold. I have to call the Medical Examiner to ask how a particular death might be described when all the victim did was stop breathing and so die of suffocation. Nothing suspicious about the death, except that people don’t usually stop breathing for no reason. I am reminded of what the ME told me a few years ago: "If anyone you know dies in a way remotely suspicious, I’m going to do a very thorough autopsy." Well, I wish him luck with this one, there is nothing to be found. And yet . . . it’s murder.
I love my job.
I find I’ve signed up for two big events in the spring. One is the Nashville Needlework Market, which formed the setting for my novel Crewel Yule – the one where an attendee is tossed over a railing twelve stories up at a thinly-disguised Embassy Suites Hotel. I am an associate member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America which backs the Market, and it is a terrific place to see the newest fibers, fabrics, patterns and gadgets. Needlework shopowners buy wonderful things to bring home to their loyal customers. One thing they’ll be offered in 2009 will be autographed copies of Thai Die. Oh, and as Associate Member (I sort of own Crewel World, by virtue of writing about the fictional shop in my books), I get to buy things at wholesale. Next year I’ll bring a former shopowner along as my own "associate," and she will help me understand what I’m looking at and select the very best items to write about in a forthcoming book.
The other event is Malice Domestic, a mystery convention held in Arlington, VA, every spring – this year it’s May 1 – 3. I hope to be on a panel. A special panel, perhaps. When filling out the form for authors, they left a place to suggest a topic for a panel. So I suggested web logs – Blogs. As in Killer Hobbies. I noted that several of the people who contribute to Killer Hobbies plan to attend, so here might be a ready-formed panel. That’s the panel I’d really like to be on.
I’m back at work on Blackwork, having finished the short story, "It Slices, It Dices." That story takes such dead aim at a particular anthology that if it doesn’t make the cut, I don’t know where else I might sell it. I’m enjoying watching Blackwork unfold. I have to call the Medical Examiner to ask how a particular death might be described when all the victim did was stop breathing and so die of suffocation. Nothing suspicious about the death, except that people don’t usually stop breathing for no reason. I am reminded of what the ME told me a few years ago: "If anyone you know dies in a way remotely suspicious, I’m going to do a very thorough autopsy." Well, I wish him luck with this one, there is nothing to be found. And yet . . . it’s murder.
I love my job.
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