This Malice was particularly exciting for me because my agent had just announced my new series--The Jane Eyre Chronicles, which features Jane Eyre as an amateur sleuth. I'll be writing these for Berkley. I met my new editor, Shannon Jamieson Vazquez. We had a lovely discussion about the books, and I can already tell Shannon will be a tremendous asset to my career. She's both thoughtful and insightful. My agent, Paige Wheeler, continues to astound me with her laser-sharp mind. She's just brilliant! What a dream team.
Here's what I learned this year at Malice:
1. Berkley hosts a great dinner for their authors. (I always wondered if it was as cool as I imagined. It was.)
2. Walking on grated sidewalks in high heels is not fun.
3. If the Metro train you're in breaks down, they'll make all of you get out. The conductor will check to see that the cars are empty, and you'll have to wait for a new train.
4. Bethesda is a northern suburb of DC. Really, it's right next to DC. The NIH (National Institute of Health) is in Bethesda, and it has a huge campus.
5. Margaret Maron writes hilarious doggerel.
6. Nancy Pickard is always gracious and sweet. But not that nice. She loves killing Kansans. (Okay, the not nice part is a joke, people!)
7. Elaine Viets does amazing research. (Her PUMPED FOR MURDER came out in time for Malice. You can win a copy. Keep reading.)
8. Hank Phillippi Ryan once said Kryptonite when she meant Krypton and has never lived it down.
9. Dorothy Cannell's mother-in-law was a real piece of work. (That's putting it nicely.)
CONTEST--
You can win an autographed copy of PUMPED FOR MURDER. Just share with us...what did you learn this week?
14 comments:
I learned you can stay up a lot longer than you thought you could - when there is a royal wedding in England and if there are tornado warnings out for your area and you have a huge old oak right outside your bedroom that you know will come crashing down into your room if you dare shut your eyes.
jane1 at cp-tel dot net
I learned free form crochet this weekend. Quite a step outside the box for an OCD individual like myself!
I learned how to get the battery out of my cellphone when I did't leave the little tab sticking out last time, (Small screwdriver.)
I heard a newly commisioned piece of music. (As Rivers Seek the Sea by Robert Convery, based on the poems of Christina Rosetti). And I learned some new stuff about liturgical colors, and how practicality collides iwth tradition... as in, we are not going to use the red banners only on Pentacost!
And I remembered yesterday that the talk I was giving on last year's Malice Domestic is tonight, but I did remember where I put my souveniers. Wish I had been there this year.
And I learned that the sun really can still shine in Chicago.
Becky Preston
Rebecca955@aol.com
...that Sue Grafton is funny.
...that me and my friend Aimee, who I just met for the first time at Malice, were probably separated at birth.
...that I always come home with new-to-me authors and their books
I learned how to change the oil in a tractor. Actually, two tractors. It was a dirty learning process!
REMIND ME, AFTER THE NEXT ROYAL WEDDING, NOT TO COMMAND THE WORLD TO PROVIDE ME WITH MORE AMUSEMENT, SOMETHING TO HOLD MY INTEREST. YES, I POSTED THAT COMMENT AS A JOKE ON FACEBOOK JUST BEFORE THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED OSAMA BIN LADEN'S DEATH.
NO, I EMPHATICALLY DO NOT THINK OF THAT AS ENTERTAINMENT. THE NEWS DID KEEP ME IN FRONT OF THE TELEVISION UNTIL MR. OBAMA LEFT THE ROOM, HOWEVER, AND I FOUND MYSELF THINKING A LOT ABOUT THE PAST TEN YEARS. WHILE I'M NOT MUCH OF A FAN OF THE DEATH PENALTY, I CAN SEE THAT ONLY BIN LADEN'S DEATH WOULD SATISFY THE HORDES WHO HAVE BEEN HURT, PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, BY HIS SCHEMES. STILL, I HAVE LEARNED THIS ABOUT MYSELF: I WILL ALWAYS WANT OUR COUNTRY TO TAKE THE MORAL HIGH ROAD. IF THAT CONSISTS OF A QUICK, RELATIVELY PAINLESS SHOT IN THE HEAD FOR A VILLAIN, SO BE IT.
I learned that my daughter has mono. She's ending up her freshman year at a university not too far from Bethesda.
I'm a fan of Elaine Viets and would love to win a copy of her new book!
You think Elaine Viets does amazing research? You should try reading Michael Allen Dymmoch's "White Tiger." She's never been in the service, doesn't have a relative who served, but her evocations of the times and combat experiences over there fairly sing with authenticity! I am in awe.
I really thought I answered this question. Goodness, maybe my mind is finally going! :) This week I learned to change the oil in a tractor. I feel quite accomplished.
This is my second attempt at commenting so forgive me if this posts twice.
I learned this week that my daughter has mono. She attends college quite close to Bethesda.
I'm a fan of Elaine Viets Helen Hathaway series and thank you for the chance to win one of her books.
And I learned NOT to ask for comments the same weekend as Malice and Festival of Mystery. I just made it home, and since our comments now have to be moderated, none of yours were published. Sigh. Usually I have enough sense to ask my blog sisters to "okay" comments, but this was a particularly tiring and jam-packed weekend, so I forgot. Mea culpa!
I learned how much fun book signings are, for the audience at least. Heard Elaine Viets, with 4 cohorts in crime. Would like her newest.
Hi, is there any news on when we might expect these Jane Eyre mysteries? I'm on a quest to read and review every Jane Eyre related novel I can find, so this sounds like another one for the reading list. :)
Hi, Traxy. Yes, I've since learned that the first book is scheduled for July, 2012.
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