I just finished the draft of book 5. Hooky Holidays, Holiday Homicide, Dead the Halls, Hooked for the Holidays. Who knows what the title will be? My mind is numb. This is a big deal because the deadline I set for myself was Saturday and here it is Friday and I’m done – Temporarily anyway. I’m taking the weekend off before I start rewriting. That’s taking the weekend off working on Book 5. Next to me is are the first pass pages of A Stitch in Crime. I got them yesterday and they need them back by next Thursday. I’ll be spending the weekend with Book 4 and passing out candy to the 300 or so trick or treaters that show up at our house.
I’m taking the rest of the evening off. Just crocheting and a romantic comedy.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Everything's amazing
I got to my computer late this morning, ready to get started on a full day of rewrites and editing False Impressions, the latest Stamping Sisters mystery. And then I remembered it was Friday, and I'd forgotten to blog. ACK! I went straight into panic mode. I've got too much to do, no time to do it in, I'll never finish, I'm an idiot.
I took a deep breath and asked myself; How is that a problem? I've been lucky enough to publish my mysteries, lucky enough to write for this blog, luckier still that people are reading this blog. All in all, this is not a bad gig. Beats digging ditches, as somone wise and old in my famiy probably once said.
Right now in the Bay Area, a major bridge has been closed due to structural problems. Not small problems, problems that resulted in damage to three cars and major traffic tieups. Luckily no one was hurt. Now this bridge, any bridge is a engineering wonder feat as far as I'm considered. We tend to forget that. One of the driver's is on TV already complaining that she hasn't been reimbursed for her rental car. It's been 3 days.
Comedian Louis CK gives a little perspective on last year's appearance on Conan. Everything's amazing and no one's happy. If you need a little reminder that our problems are often not as bad as we think, as I did this morning, watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOtEQB-9tvk
I'm pretty lucky that my life is amazing. I plan to be happy. Just as soon as I finish this blog post.
I took a deep breath and asked myself; How is that a problem? I've been lucky enough to publish my mysteries, lucky enough to write for this blog, luckier still that people are reading this blog. All in all, this is not a bad gig. Beats digging ditches, as somone wise and old in my famiy probably once said.
Right now in the Bay Area, a major bridge has been closed due to structural problems. Not small problems, problems that resulted in damage to three cars and major traffic tieups. Luckily no one was hurt. Now this bridge, any bridge is a engineering wonder feat as far as I'm considered. We tend to forget that. One of the driver's is on TV already complaining that she hasn't been reimbursed for her rental car. It's been 3 days.
Comedian Louis CK gives a little perspective on last year's appearance on Conan. Everything's amazing and no one's happy. If you need a little reminder that our problems are often not as bad as we think, as I did this morning, watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOtEQB-9tvk
I'm pretty lucky that my life is amazing. I plan to be happy. Just as soon as I finish this blog post.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Pros and Cons of Cameras
My husband Fred and I were traveling last week, and our younger son stayed at our house to watch the dogs.
Fred is a handy sort, and he had installed a security camera in the kitchen, where Lexie and Mystie hang out when no one is home, or when they just feel like vegging out. There are two-way microphones in the camera, although the one where we could talk directly to the dogs wasn’t working. We could hear them, though, when we tuned in to watch them on our computer.
One evening, as it was getting dark, we started watching... and didn’t see our younger pup, Mystie. We aimed the camera around the room, and were able to see that the gate closing the pups into the kitchen was latched. That meant she should be there. Lexie heard the camera moving and began to bark. Mystie’s usually the vocal one, but we neither saw nor heard her.
Panicked, I called our son. He was at the grocery store grabbing dinner, and he was certain that he had locked Mystie into the kitchen when he left. But Mystie is what I call our elusive puppy--she has slipped out doors behind me before I’ve noticed, so I was afraid that’s what she had done. And gone into the garage, with its door right off the kitchen. And run out onto the street when our son backed the car out of the garage.
Fortunately, our son was understanding. He left his groceries and hurried home to check. We kept watching on the camera. Still, no Mystie... until the garage door opened! Then both dogs ran toward the kitchen door to wait for our son.
Mystie had apparently been sound asleep behind the crate we leave open as a bed for the pups in the kitchen. In the growing dimness, we somehow couldn’t see her.
The moral of the story? I guess it’s that you can’t always believe what you think you see, or don’t see, on your security camera!
Have you ever thought something was wrong that turned out just fine?
Fred is a handy sort, and he had installed a security camera in the kitchen, where Lexie and Mystie hang out when no one is home, or when they just feel like vegging out. There are two-way microphones in the camera, although the one where we could talk directly to the dogs wasn’t working. We could hear them, though, when we tuned in to watch them on our computer.
One evening, as it was getting dark, we started watching... and didn’t see our younger pup, Mystie. We aimed the camera around the room, and were able to see that the gate closing the pups into the kitchen was latched. That meant she should be there. Lexie heard the camera moving and began to bark. Mystie’s usually the vocal one, but we neither saw nor heard her.
Panicked, I called our son. He was at the grocery store grabbing dinner, and he was certain that he had locked Mystie into the kitchen when he left. But Mystie is what I call our elusive puppy--she has slipped out doors behind me before I’ve noticed, so I was afraid that’s what she had done. And gone into the garage, with its door right off the kitchen. And run out onto the street when our son backed the car out of the garage.
Fortunately, our son was understanding. He left his groceries and hurried home to check. We kept watching on the camera. Still, no Mystie... until the garage door opened! Then both dogs ran toward the kitchen door to wait for our son.
Mystie had apparently been sound asleep behind the crate we leave open as a bed for the pups in the kitchen. In the growing dimness, we somehow couldn’t see her.
The moral of the story? I guess it’s that you can’t always believe what you think you see, or don’t see, on your security camera!
Have you ever thought something was wrong that turned out just fine?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Des Moines, IA
I'm in Des Moines, sitting in the still-dark morning, hoping I'm doing this right. I have a brand new computer I'm still trying to figure out, and using the motel's wi-fi system to get online. I think I'm there. I'm writing this directly on the post page, so if it's a little shaky, it's because it's done without much prep.
Today and tomorrow I'll be at the big quilt show at the Des Moines Events Center on Third downtown -- y'all come! I've done quilt shows before, sitting in Linne Lindquist's booth, The Craftsman's Touch. We usually do pretty well, as people who quilt very often do other needlework, too. I get to walk around the show on my breaks and never fail to be astonished and pleased down to my toes at the beauty and creativity of the quilts on display. I also often buy pretty pieces of fabric. In fact, hanging on my door at home is a big rectangle of Halloween-themed fabric I bought in Duluth some months back. It's meant to be the centerpiece of a quilt, but I just hemmed it and ran a dowel through the top. It features black silhouettes (sp?) of comic witches dancing on an orange ground.
Last weekend we were in Waukesha, Wisconsin, then Rockford, Illinois, and then Madison, Wisconsin on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. In Waukesha we stopped signed up in advance. The menu was based on a meal my character Godwin served to my sleuth Betsy and Godwin's new boyfriend Rafael. I think that is one of the coolest things anyone has done in connection with a signing! (The meal was delicious, too!) The weather was miserable so the turnout was smaller than expected, plus a feather arrangement I had put on my hat was blown away before I got there. I didn't notice it was gone until I got back to the hotel. It was a nice arrangement, too, of ostrich and peacock feathers. The weather continued bad to Rockford the next day, so the people who came were the ardent fans. Thank heavens I have some of those, I am so grateful!
The weather was nicer in Madison, and we had a very nice turnout. I read the Prologue to Blackwork, which is just about the right length and sets the theme for the book quite well. Which, come to think of it, is probably the purpose of a prologue.
All this travel, and some bad weather, means I haven't played any golf. I am hoping to get at least one more game in before winter sets in. I used to laugh at reports of golfers playing in the snow, but I think I'm starting to understand. I'm going to look around for one of those indoor ranges.
Time to go get some breakfast. Hope I have a good day at the Events Center!
Today and tomorrow I'll be at the big quilt show at the Des Moines Events Center on Third downtown -- y'all come! I've done quilt shows before, sitting in Linne Lindquist's booth, The Craftsman's Touch. We usually do pretty well, as people who quilt very often do other needlework, too. I get to walk around the show on my breaks and never fail to be astonished and pleased down to my toes at the beauty and creativity of the quilts on display. I also often buy pretty pieces of fabric. In fact, hanging on my door at home is a big rectangle of Halloween-themed fabric I bought in Duluth some months back. It's meant to be the centerpiece of a quilt, but I just hemmed it and ran a dowel through the top. It features black silhouettes (sp?) of comic witches dancing on an orange ground.
Last weekend we were in Waukesha, Wisconsin, then Rockford, Illinois, and then Madison, Wisconsin on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. In Waukesha we stopped signed up in advance. The menu was based on a meal my character Godwin served to my sleuth Betsy and Godwin's new boyfriend Rafael. I think that is one of the coolest things anyone has done in connection with a signing! (The meal was delicious, too!) The weather was miserable so the turnout was smaller than expected, plus a feather arrangement I had put on my hat was blown away before I got there. I didn't notice it was gone until I got back to the hotel. It was a nice arrangement, too, of ostrich and peacock feathers. The weather continued bad to Rockford the next day, so the people who came were the ardent fans. Thank heavens I have some of those, I am so grateful!
The weather was nicer in Madison, and we had a very nice turnout. I read the Prologue to Blackwork, which is just about the right length and sets the theme for the book quite well. Which, come to think of it, is probably the purpose of a prologue.
All this travel, and some bad weather, means I haven't played any golf. I am hoping to get at least one more game in before winter sets in. I used to laugh at reports of golfers playing in the snow, but I think I'm starting to understand. I'm going to look around for one of those indoor ranges.
Time to go get some breakfast. Hope I have a good day at the Events Center!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Halloween - a special holiday for mystery fans!
For a crafter there's nothing like having a crafts store within a mile of your home. (My husband says the same thing about Radio Shack, which is even closer.)
Jazzy Crafts in Castro Valley hosted a party for me on Sunday, to celebrate the release of the fourth Miniature Mystery, Mourning in Miniature.
The make-and-take was a mini Halloween bag, stuffed with one piece of candy! The Jazzy Crafts logo is on one side, a Halloween sticker on the other. Embroidery thread pushed through the marked holes makes handles. Famous supermodel Nina B. is holding up a sample. And I'm also including a template/printie that you can use to make your own mini Halloween trick or treat bag.
I'm not responsible for any tricks or other damage caused by the miniature nature of the treat!
Another handy thing about my neighborhood: next to the crafts store is an ice cream parlor. Guess where the party ended up?
What special items does your hobby offer for Halloween?
Speaking of which …
You may have read the tragic story of a man who'd been leaning over his balcony for 5 days before someone realized he'd been shot and was really dead. Passersby thought it was a Halloween decoration.
Now, next April, when you read my fifth release, "Monster in Miniature," you'll see that same scenario, BUT I swear, I submitted the manuscript on March 21 (the computer doesn't lie), so, no, I didn't take advantage of the real life incident. I'm wondering if it worked the other way.
Have you had experiences of art imitating life, or vice versa?
My Mother's Faith
Note: My sister Jane asked me to share a copy of this. She's printed out all the eulogies from my mom's memorial service, which we held down in Florida in August. When I pulled up my piece, I thought some of you might enjoy it, too. The photo is one of my mom as a child. I guess you could call it a publicity photo because it was used on the front of the brochure of the orphanage where she was given up as a child. -- Joanna (aka "Jonie")
My mother built her life around the church. Most recently, she attended healing services on Wednesday, worship on Sunday, and for as long as possible, she volunteered at the church thrift shop.
Back when we lived in Indiana, Mom helped with coffee hour, taught Sunday School and participated in any way possible.
Her goal was to raise us up in the Episcopal Church, but more importantly to teach us how to be good people. All these activities doubtless contributed to who we are today, but the most memorable lesson we derived didn’t come from sitting in the choir—or the Sunday School rooms—or the pews. It came from sitting in our car. The greatest lesson that my mother ever taught me in faith happened when she agreed to give a ride to Elizabeth Taylor.
I can imagine your thoughts: Elizabeth TAYLOR? And I’d guess you are thinking about the famous movie star.
No, not THAT Elizabeth Taylor.
I’m speaking of another Elizabeth Taylor—and trust me, this woman was not movie star material.
This Elizabeth Taylor was a unkempt newcomer who showed up one Sunday at church. Mom quickly learned that Elizabeth lived a block away from us—and didn’t have a car. So my mother volunteered to give Elizabeth a ride to services.
Which would have been well and good except…except that Elizabeth didn’t keep herself very clean. She had a bad case of body odor which she tried to cover up by dousing herself with a cheap and cloying perfume.
Summers in Southern Indiana are hot, muggy and miserable. The only air conditioning our car had was 460 air—four windows down, 60 miles an hour. It didn’t work in town. Between the heat and the closed surroundings, Elizabeth’s presence was especially…ripe.
So, one particularly stinky Sunday, after we got home from services, I started complaining, “Mom, do we HAVE TO give her a ride?”
Then Mom said something that I’ll never forget. She said, “Jonie, how can I sit there in Church, repeat the commandment to love my neighbor, and then, not give that poor woman a ride?”
She taught me a lesson I never forgot.
Some people take the Las Vegas approach to religion. You know what that is. You’ve heard the slogan: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Some people attend church or temple, and leave their religion at the door, as if it were a vestment to be shrugged off on the way to real life. My mom refused to do that.
What my mother taught me was that real faith is messy—and sometimes even stinky--it’s inconvenient, it calls upon us occasionally to put aside our concerns and needs as we care for other people. Let me back that up with scripture:
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
My mother built her life around the church. Most recently, she attended healing services on Wednesday, worship on Sunday, and for as long as possible, she volunteered at the church thrift shop.
Back when we lived in Indiana, Mom helped with coffee hour, taught Sunday School and participated in any way possible.
Her goal was to raise us up in the Episcopal Church, but more importantly to teach us how to be good people. All these activities doubtless contributed to who we are today, but the most memorable lesson we derived didn’t come from sitting in the choir—or the Sunday School rooms—or the pews. It came from sitting in our car. The greatest lesson that my mother ever taught me in faith happened when she agreed to give a ride to Elizabeth Taylor.
I can imagine your thoughts: Elizabeth TAYLOR? And I’d guess you are thinking about the famous movie star.
No, not THAT Elizabeth Taylor.
I’m speaking of another Elizabeth Taylor—and trust me, this woman was not movie star material.
This Elizabeth Taylor was a unkempt newcomer who showed up one Sunday at church. Mom quickly learned that Elizabeth lived a block away from us—and didn’t have a car. So my mother volunteered to give Elizabeth a ride to services.
Which would have been well and good except…except that Elizabeth didn’t keep herself very clean. She had a bad case of body odor which she tried to cover up by dousing herself with a cheap and cloying perfume.
Summers in Southern Indiana are hot, muggy and miserable. The only air conditioning our car had was 460 air—four windows down, 60 miles an hour. It didn’t work in town. Between the heat and the closed surroundings, Elizabeth’s presence was especially…ripe.
So, one particularly stinky Sunday, after we got home from services, I started complaining, “Mom, do we HAVE TO give her a ride?”
Then Mom said something that I’ll never forget. She said, “Jonie, how can I sit there in Church, repeat the commandment to love my neighbor, and then, not give that poor woman a ride?”
She taught me a lesson I never forgot.
Some people take the Las Vegas approach to religion. You know what that is. You’ve heard the slogan: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Some people attend church or temple, and leave their religion at the door, as if it were a vestment to be shrugged off on the way to real life. My mom refused to do that.
What my mother taught me was that real faith is messy—and sometimes even stinky--it’s inconvenient, it calls upon us occasionally to put aside our concerns and needs as we care for other people. Let me back that up with scripture:
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The Last Bouchercon Story
It’s been a week of Bouchercon stories. My trip was a little longer. I spent a few days before and after in Chicago. When I finally got home, I awoke in the middle of the night and thought I was in a hotel somewhere and was worried about check out time. What a relief to realize I was in my own bed.
Like Monica, I was worried no one would show up for my crochet project in he craft room, or if they did, I wouldn’t know how to teach them. I’m glad to say I was wrong on both counts. There was a nice turn out and I was able to help those that needed it. Then just like any group of crocheters, we sat around and talked while we worked. I certainly enjoyed it.
I went to one of the other craft room events, as well. Sally Goldenbaum had a knit a square to send to South Africa project. I quickly realized I’d forgotten how to cast on, but Sally showed me a new way and I was able to get started.
It’s very humbling to try something you’re not good at. I can fly with a hook, but I stumble with needles. Everyone else was making fancy variations to their square, while I kept taking out mine and starting again. When I finally got going on it, I realized I didn’t know how to end it. The only knit project I completed was a coin purse that kept decreasing until you had just one stitch. It ended just like crochet, by pulling the yarn through.
Sally showed me how to cast off, but the lesson went out of my head as soon as left the room. I ended up finishing it while in Chicago where I had a book on knitting that explained how to do it. I sent my not quite square square to Sally. I hope good intentions count for something, because my lopsided square is full of them. It’s a happy thought that it will become a part of a blanket for scarf to keep someone warm on the other side of the globe.
Since my deadline is looming, I spent a good deal of Bouchercon writing. I had left my computer in Chicago, so it was all yellow pad and pen, but I wrote 30 pages.
My favorite part of Bouchercon was meeting all the people. Even with the cold drizzle, I enjoyed talking to Camille and Ann Parker on our way back from the Etlejorg museum. I pushed myself to circulate at the Berkley party and was surprised at how many people I knew. Afterwards, Maggie Sefton, Sheila Connolly, Kate Collins, Kate Carlisle, Darryl Wood Gerber and I went to the revolving restaurant on top of the hotel and had a fun dinner. We stayed long enough to make two complete revolutions.
There was breakfast with Sandy Harding, who I would like even if she weren’t my editor. I met James Scott Bell in the elevator who it turns out to lives in a nearby San Fernando Valley community. I rode to the airport with Mike Befeler who I seem to run into everywhere. Last time was at Left Coast in Hawaii. I introduced myself to Charlaine Harris and told her how much I enjoyed her panel. Everywhere I went, I found people I liked, to talk to. Mystery writers and fans are the best.
I felt like the ugly ducking who’d finally found the swans.
Like Monica, I was worried no one would show up for my crochet project in he craft room, or if they did, I wouldn’t know how to teach them. I’m glad to say I was wrong on both counts. There was a nice turn out and I was able to help those that needed it. Then just like any group of crocheters, we sat around and talked while we worked. I certainly enjoyed it.
I went to one of the other craft room events, as well. Sally Goldenbaum had a knit a square to send to South Africa project. I quickly realized I’d forgotten how to cast on, but Sally showed me a new way and I was able to get started.
It’s very humbling to try something you’re not good at. I can fly with a hook, but I stumble with needles. Everyone else was making fancy variations to their square, while I kept taking out mine and starting again. When I finally got going on it, I realized I didn’t know how to end it. The only knit project I completed was a coin purse that kept decreasing until you had just one stitch. It ended just like crochet, by pulling the yarn through.
Sally showed me how to cast off, but the lesson went out of my head as soon as left the room. I ended up finishing it while in Chicago where I had a book on knitting that explained how to do it. I sent my not quite square square to Sally. I hope good intentions count for something, because my lopsided square is full of them. It’s a happy thought that it will become a part of a blanket for scarf to keep someone warm on the other side of the globe.
Since my deadline is looming, I spent a good deal of Bouchercon writing. I had left my computer in Chicago, so it was all yellow pad and pen, but I wrote 30 pages.
My favorite part of Bouchercon was meeting all the people. Even with the cold drizzle, I enjoyed talking to Camille and Ann Parker on our way back from the Etlejorg museum. I pushed myself to circulate at the Berkley party and was surprised at how many people I knew. Afterwards, Maggie Sefton, Sheila Connolly, Kate Collins, Kate Carlisle, Darryl Wood Gerber and I went to the revolving restaurant on top of the hotel and had a fun dinner. We stayed long enough to make two complete revolutions.
There was breakfast with Sandy Harding, who I would like even if she weren’t my editor. I met James Scott Bell in the elevator who it turns out to lives in a nearby San Fernando Valley community. I rode to the airport with Mike Befeler who I seem to run into everywhere. Last time was at Left Coast in Hawaii. I introduced myself to Charlaine Harris and told her how much I enjoyed her panel. Everywhere I went, I found people I liked, to talk to. Mystery writers and fans are the best.
I felt like the ugly ducking who’d finally found the swans.
Friday, October 23, 2009
PQF Redux
Last weekend, while my blog mates were at Bouchercon, I was at the Pacific International Quilt Show, held in Santa Clara, CA. Just up the road a piece. It's a big show with 400 pieces including quilts, wall hangings and garments and each year artists enter their work from all over the world. Local folks, too, and I saw several friends who had quilts hanging in the show.
I didn't expect to sell too many books this year. I thought everyone who wanted a copy already had it. I was wrong. There were plenty of newbies, new to the quilt show, new to me, new to the world of Dewey Pellicano.
Some of the sales may have been caused by the excitement my friends were creating. There was a little rivalry going on to see who could squeal the loudest when they passed the booth I was in. You'd have thought Elvis Presley had risen from the dead! Their cries took me right back to seeing the Beatles at Shea Stadium. I still think Ann took the prize - not that there is an actual prize. Just my undying gratitude.
I was sorry to miss Bouchercon, but not sorry to hang out with lovely quilters, vendors and friends at PIQF.
I can post a picture of my latest quilt now. It has arrived in the college dorm it was intended for, and so is no longer a surprise. My niece was very happy with it.
This is the little friendship bag I made for the exchange. Can you see how small it is next to my coffee cup? Cute, huh?
I didn't expect to sell too many books this year. I thought everyone who wanted a copy already had it. I was wrong. There were plenty of newbies, new to the quilt show, new to me, new to the world of Dewey Pellicano.
Some of the sales may have been caused by the excitement my friends were creating. There was a little rivalry going on to see who could squeal the loudest when they passed the booth I was in. You'd have thought Elvis Presley had risen from the dead! Their cries took me right back to seeing the Beatles at Shea Stadium. I still think Ann took the prize - not that there is an actual prize. Just my undying gratitude.
I was sorry to miss Bouchercon, but not sorry to hang out with lovely quilters, vendors and friends at PIQF.
I can post a picture of my latest quilt now. It has arrived in the college dorm it was intended for, and so is no longer a surprise. My niece was very happy with it.
This is the little friendship bag I made for the exchange. Can you see how small it is next to my coffee cup? Cute, huh?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Animals Help!
I had lunch last week with a long time friend whom I hadn’t seen for ages. We started talking about pets (of course!), and I learned he had absolutely no interest in them. That surprised me, since I always considered him a warm and caring human being. But we knew each other professionally at first, so the idea of pets hadn’t come up before.
As we continued talking, though, it turned out that he’s not completely averse to pets after all. He has a granddaughter with a disability. Every time they go walking by a pet store near his house, she asks to go in, and of course he obliges. She’s excited to see the animals. Just recently, her parents decided to get her a dog to keep her company and help her. They were going to a reputable breeder and not the pet store, and had researched what kind of dog would be best. My friend didn’t seem completely enthused about the idea, but he was happy about anything that might help his granddaughter.
I’m hoping for an update soon about granddaughter and dog and how they’re getting along. It sounds as if this could be a wonderful symbiotic relationship!
Do you have any friends who aren’t wild about animals? Do you ever say anything to them about it?
As we continued talking, though, it turned out that he’s not completely averse to pets after all. He has a granddaughter with a disability. Every time they go walking by a pet store near his house, she asks to go in, and of course he obliges. She’s excited to see the animals. Just recently, her parents decided to get her a dog to keep her company and help her. They were going to a reputable breeder and not the pet store, and had researched what kind of dog would be best. My friend didn’t seem completely enthused about the idea, but he was happy about anything that might help his granddaughter.
I’m hoping for an update soon about granddaughter and dog and how they’re getting along. It sounds as if this could be a wonderful symbiotic relationship!
Do you have any friends who aren’t wild about animals? Do you ever say anything to them about it?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Adventures at Bouchercon
That "Check Engine Soon" light turned out to be a killer. We stopped in Peoria – on our way to Indianapolis for Bouchercon – and the next morning asked our lovely new GPS how to drive to the car dealership at the address we entered into it. I was so grateful we had the device, as the way there was long and complicated! And it turned out the problem was serious. It cost us a lot of money and many hours of waiting for it to be fixed.
As a consequence, we arrived in Indianapolis hours later than we intended, continuing a series of misadventures by stopping at the wrong hotel – the Conrad (as in Hilton) instead of Embassy Suites. Wow, it was great to be treated as celebrities for a brief while. Polite and efficient men descended in a small horde, unloaded our trunk, signed us up for parking, and guided us to the hotel’s check-in counter. Where the clerk had, of course, never heard of us. But the horde was as efficient as reloading us as they had been in unloading, and our actual hotel was only half a block away. Where we had exactly one person come out with a cart to help us unload our suitcases and my four fancy hats – which, when I think about it, is one person more than we usually get at our motel stops. And he was very nice. Funny how fast we get used to first-class treatment, isn’t it?
The misadventures continued when Ellen slipped in the shower and slammed her forehead and nose into the toilet tank, releasing a large amount of blood and scaring both of us half to death. Over the next few days – including up to the present – a beautiful black eye formed, changing shape and color as time advanced.
Meanwhile, the convention went on. I taught a class on how to cross stitch a bookmark with an argyle pattern. I was SO NERVOUS before it started. I had never taught a needlework class before, what if they couldn’t understand my instructions? Worse (better?), what if nobody came? Well, they came, nearly thirty of them, and they understood my directions. I spent the whole class on my feet, walking among them, answering questions and making suggestions. It was great fun, and the students seemed to enjoy it, too.
My panel, Retail Murder, was likewise very well attended, and the audience seemed appreciative. Other panels I attended made me head for the dealers’ room to buy books by authors I had not previously heard of. Which, of course, is one of the reasons authors scramble to be on panels.
Here’s another misadventure: I couldn’t keep track of what day it was and so managed to miss the Berkley Reception given for its authors on Friday evening.
The great Bazaar, at which about 200 authors gave away hundreds of copies of their books, was a jam-packed success.
But one memory I'll always treasure from the convention is of the fan who caught up with me in a hallway to say she gave up stitching when her vision started to fail, but then read one of my books and it so strongly re-awakened the desire to do needlework again that, even though she can only do the simpler patterns, she has taken up her needle and is rediscovering the pleasure she once knew. Now isn’t that nice?
As a consequence, we arrived in Indianapolis hours later than we intended, continuing a series of misadventures by stopping at the wrong hotel – the Conrad (as in Hilton) instead of Embassy Suites. Wow, it was great to be treated as celebrities for a brief while. Polite and efficient men descended in a small horde, unloaded our trunk, signed us up for parking, and guided us to the hotel’s check-in counter. Where the clerk had, of course, never heard of us. But the horde was as efficient as reloading us as they had been in unloading, and our actual hotel was only half a block away. Where we had exactly one person come out with a cart to help us unload our suitcases and my four fancy hats – which, when I think about it, is one person more than we usually get at our motel stops. And he was very nice. Funny how fast we get used to first-class treatment, isn’t it?
The misadventures continued when Ellen slipped in the shower and slammed her forehead and nose into the toilet tank, releasing a large amount of blood and scaring both of us half to death. Over the next few days – including up to the present – a beautiful black eye formed, changing shape and color as time advanced.
Meanwhile, the convention went on. I taught a class on how to cross stitch a bookmark with an argyle pattern. I was SO NERVOUS before it started. I had never taught a needlework class before, what if they couldn’t understand my instructions? Worse (better?), what if nobody came? Well, they came, nearly thirty of them, and they understood my directions. I spent the whole class on my feet, walking among them, answering questions and making suggestions. It was great fun, and the students seemed to enjoy it, too.
My panel, Retail Murder, was likewise very well attended, and the audience seemed appreciative. Other panels I attended made me head for the dealers’ room to buy books by authors I had not previously heard of. Which, of course, is one of the reasons authors scramble to be on panels.
Here’s another misadventure: I couldn’t keep track of what day it was and so managed to miss the Berkley Reception given for its authors on Friday evening.
The great Bazaar, at which about 200 authors gave away hundreds of copies of their books, was a jam-packed success.
But one memory I'll always treasure from the convention is of the fan who caught up with me in a hallway to say she gave up stitching when her vision started to fail, but then read one of my books and it so strongly re-awakened the desire to do needlework again that, even though she can only do the simpler patterns, she has taken up her needle and is rediscovering the pleasure she once knew. Now isn’t that nice?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Bouchercon Highs ... and one low
Who knew that the famous LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana is on the magnificent grounds of the Indiana Museum of Art? That was my second surprise about Indiana, the first being that it's in the eastern time zone!
I'm adding my highlights to all the cyber-reports on the great BOUCHERCON 2009 in Indianapolis.
In no particular order:
• Friends and colleagues! I always find it amazing how many close relationships can form even with communication restricted to cyber networking and a few conferences a year. I caught up with one of our Killer Hobbies foundresses, Deb Baker, for example. Looking forward to her new beekeeping series next year.
• The crafts room! Joanna's great idea was a huge hit. I had a full house for my miniature flower-making hour. My favorite part was when the attendees went off track from my instructions and come up with creations I never thought of.
• The weather! I loved being in a real season again – cool, crisp, fall, with a smattering of rain!
• Dollhouses! Thanks to a former student who drove down from Crawfordsville to spend the day with me, I took a ride to Carmel, Indiana, to visit the Museum of Miniature Houses. The museum pictured is a MINIATURE museum, not the life size building!
I had a warm welcome and a special tour from Suzanne and Marilyn, along with stories and ideas for books to come. How can anyone resist this dollhouse room that has a secret panel behind a hidden door?
• The publishing industry! It's important to keep up with news in our business. At Bouchercon we heard from agents, editors, and booksellers. I was impressed that on one end we were able to watch a documentary on independent booksellers ("Paperback Dreams"), and on the other, we heard a speaker from amazon/Kindle.
LOWLIGHT
I heard that some booksellers pulled out of the conference, boycotting the amazon presentation. I can't imagine why. It seems to me that openness to all opinions and trends is necessary to keep our business vital.
Thoughts?
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Back from Bouchercon 2009
Just got home a few hours ago from Bouchercon 2009 in Indianapolis. Wow. What a terrific five days.
Bouchercon is a fan conference named for Anthony Boucher, hence it's Boucher's Conference, see? This year, my pal Jim Huang, from The Mystery Company in Carmel, Indiana, was the person in charge. Jim's a ball of fire, a great resource for the entire book industry. He really put a lot of thought and effort into the event. It was my first Bouchercon, so maybe all the rest have been super, but...I don't know how you could top this.
Of course, it's always super to visit with my mystery writing pals from around the country. Below is a photo of me and Deb Sharp, whose book Mama Rides Shotgun was featured on the Today Show. Here's a link: http://www.deborahsharp.com/
We met before we were published mystery authors. I have to tell you, there's a special bond among those of us who met before publication. We were kind to each other then, so we're cheerleaders for each other now. And Deb's just the sweetest, smartest person. I think you can tell that from her eyes, right? Some of you will recall her post about doing research on a trail ride. She's promised that we can go on a ride together next time I'm down in Florida. Giddyup.
Below is a photo of the massive Book Bazaar, an idea floated by my friend Joe Konrath. (You gotta love a guy who comes up and says, "Give me some love," then presents his cheek for a kiss.) Joe reasoned that at many conferences, attendees get free books--but not necessarily the books they want to read. Instead, he suggested that at this conference, each attendee receive 5 tickets redeemable for books by participating authors. I went through 75 books in about an hour! That was a thrill for me! And I was able to autograph them for new readers, which made the event really special. Did I mention I was seated next to Alexandra Sokoloff? http://www.alexandrasokoloff.com/index2.html (We were alphabetically arranged. Lucky me!)
I think we're proof that naturally curly hair rocks! I can't wait to read her book The Harrowing. Perfect choice for Halloween, eh?
As you can see from the photo, the lobby of the Indianapolis Hyatt was a total mob scene of happy book-lovers exchanging red tickets for new reads. In fact, the event proved so popular that they ran out of red tickets (people could purchase more and the $$ went to charity), and the organizers were forced to be inventive. They used brown bits of yarn instead! How's that for crafty?
I was followed in the Craft Room by my new/old friend Cricket McRae, author of Lye in Wait. I say "new/old" because we've met as Midnight Ink authors online, but we'd never met "in the flesh." What a delightful, fun person Cricket is! We chatted for hours. Check out her beautiful website http://www.cricketmcrae.com/
Bouchercon is a fan conference named for Anthony Boucher, hence it's Boucher's Conference, see? This year, my pal Jim Huang, from The Mystery Company in Carmel, Indiana, was the person in charge. Jim's a ball of fire, a great resource for the entire book industry. He really put a lot of thought and effort into the event. It was my first Bouchercon, so maybe all the rest have been super, but...I don't know how you could top this.
Of course, it's always super to visit with my mystery writing pals from around the country. Below is a photo of me and Deb Sharp, whose book Mama Rides Shotgun was featured on the Today Show. Here's a link: http://www.deborahsharp.com/
We met before we were published mystery authors. I have to tell you, there's a special bond among those of us who met before publication. We were kind to each other then, so we're cheerleaders for each other now. And Deb's just the sweetest, smartest person. I think you can tell that from her eyes, right? Some of you will recall her post about doing research on a trail ride. She's promised that we can go on a ride together next time I'm down in Florida. Giddyup.
Below is a photo of the massive Book Bazaar, an idea floated by my friend Joe Konrath. (You gotta love a guy who comes up and says, "Give me some love," then presents his cheek for a kiss.) Joe reasoned that at many conferences, attendees get free books--but not necessarily the books they want to read. Instead, he suggested that at this conference, each attendee receive 5 tickets redeemable for books by participating authors. I went through 75 books in about an hour! That was a thrill for me! And I was able to autograph them for new readers, which made the event really special. Did I mention I was seated next to Alexandra Sokoloff? http://www.alexandrasokoloff.com/index2.html (We were alphabetically arranged. Lucky me!)
I think we're proof that naturally curly hair rocks! I can't wait to read her book The Harrowing. Perfect choice for Halloween, eh?
As you can see from the photo, the lobby of the Indianapolis Hyatt was a total mob scene of happy book-lovers exchanging red tickets for new reads. In fact, the event proved so popular that they ran out of red tickets (people could purchase more and the $$ went to charity), and the organizers were forced to be inventive. They used brown bits of yarn instead! How's that for crafty?
My "contribution" to Bouchercon was the idea that we have a Craft Room. More than 200 people participated, making dishclothes (Betty Hechtman), counted cross stitch bookmarks (Monica Ferris), and "flower"art ( Camille Minichino). Killer Hobbies sisters rock!
My project was a scrapbook page. My wonderful friends at EK Success donated more than $20 in craft supplies per person, as well as supplying that wonderful page design I posted earlier. Gosh, we had so much fun! And that was so very, very generous of EK Success.
My dear friend Jamie Freveletti showed up to learn to scrapbook. http://www.jamiefreveletti.com/
Guess what? She took to it like the proverbial duck to water. Yep, you guessed it: Jamie and I met before we were published. Proof positive that when you run with good peeps, good things happen to you.
The women in my Craft Room group were just the sweetest, most creative people I've met in a long while. I gave them the basics about our page, and they were off, running and having fun. Gosh, their variations on the page layout were amazing. See them at "work" below:
I was followed in the Craft Room by my new/old friend Cricket McRae, author of Lye in Wait. I say "new/old" because we've met as Midnight Ink authors online, but we'd never met "in the flesh." What a delightful, fun person Cricket is! We chatted for hours. Check out her beautiful website http://www.cricketmcrae.com/Cricket's protagonist Sophie Mae sounds like all sorts of fun. I hope that Sophie and Kiki can get together some day and have an adventure! I mean, after all, our heroines can do anything, right? That's why they call it FICTION.
Here's to Bouchercon--the most fun I've had in a long, long time. It was a joy and a pleasure to "come back home again in Indiana." For a little girl from Vincennes, Indiana, the whole event was a fantasy come true! Imagine this: I'm all-grown up, traveling the world, and writing books. It just doesn't get any better than this.
Here's to Bouchercon--the most fun I've had in a long, long time. It was a joy and a pleasure to "come back home again in Indiana." For a little girl from Vincennes, Indiana, the whole event was a fantasy come true! Imagine this: I'm all-grown up, traveling the world, and writing books. It just doesn't get any better than this.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Notes from the Road
I’m writing this early and setting it up to post on my blog day. When it posts I'll be in Indianapolis at Bouchercon without my computer. It’s really Tuesday and I’m in Chicago. It’s amazing how the leaves have changed since I was here a month ago. The trees are still full, but the green is different. Some of the leaves are a bright yellow as if they have captured the sunlight. Sunlight from some other day since today is cold and gray. But then its cool and rainy in L.A.
Okay, this is just weird. I have the television on as I’m writing this. I don’t have cable or satellite here, so I end up watching mostly PBS. Nova just came on with a show about the mission to repair the Hubble telescope. I hear the name of one of the astronauts and it grabs my attention. I babysat for him. Immediately I have a memory of the first time. He was a year and a half old and in wet diapers. He’s changed a lot - obviously.
I ended up taking care of him and his sister for years until they moved to the suburbs. He wasn’t much of an eater and his parents were thrilled that I made smoothies for him with raw eggs in them. They weren’t called smoothies then and raw eggs weren’t viewed as salmonella carriers. The drinks made such a mark, they gave me a blender as a wedding present.
It’s making me claustrophobic just to look at the inside of the space shuttle. And watching them standing out in space trying to unscrew the old camera gives me the hebbie jebbies. I guess its lucky I didn’t want to be an astronaut because I’m sure I would have washed out.
I’m glad my only challenge tonight is to crochet a washcloth to use as a sample in my craft room demonstation.
Okay, this is just weird. I have the television on as I’m writing this. I don’t have cable or satellite here, so I end up watching mostly PBS. Nova just came on with a show about the mission to repair the Hubble telescope. I hear the name of one of the astronauts and it grabs my attention. I babysat for him. Immediately I have a memory of the first time. He was a year and a half old and in wet diapers. He’s changed a lot - obviously.
I ended up taking care of him and his sister for years until they moved to the suburbs. He wasn’t much of an eater and his parents were thrilled that I made smoothies for him with raw eggs in them. They weren’t called smoothies then and raw eggs weren’t viewed as salmonella carriers. The drinks made such a mark, they gave me a blender as a wedding present.
It’s making me claustrophobic just to look at the inside of the space shuttle. And watching them standing out in space trying to unscrew the old camera gives me the hebbie jebbies. I guess its lucky I didn’t want to be an astronaut because I’m sure I would have washed out.
I’m glad my only challenge tonight is to crochet a washcloth to use as a sample in my craft room demonstation.
Community
I’m signing books at Always Quilting, Booth 1021 at PIQF this weekend.
Reason #656 why I love being an author
British author Bryant Simon maintains that Starbucks is eroding communities. The availability of free wifi and the lure of take out food has destroyed any need for conversation and led to disjointed communities, according to him.
That couldn’t be further from the truth at my local franchise. If it were not for this coffee shop wouldn’t know many of my neighbors. I met them over there for often than at our pool or board meeting.
Not only that, the baristas are my champions. These mostly young, mostly college-educated kids like the idea of having a published author pecking away most mornings at one of their tables. While it rarely shows up in the form of free drinks, they often buy books and congratulation me on each new release. We even had a mini launch party, setting me up to sell books in the lobby. And thereby introducing me to even more people in my community.
My favorite part is when they send people over to talk to me. People interested in writing. A teenager’s mom came by asking for advice for the scribe in her family. I was glad to give this kid a tiny bit of advice. I sent another to join the California Writer’s Club.
Usually my advice is pretty simple. Write, don’t worry about publication. Try to find some like-minded people that will encourage you to keep going. And keep writing.
A few months ago, a good–looking, younger man approached my table. Let’s face it, one who would ordinarily never engage me in conversation. You heard it here first: I’m a sucker for braids on a guy. Also a sucker for anyone who wants to write but is afraid to start. I spent much of my life in that state, so I understand. What the inertia can do to you. How painful it is to repress a part of you that cries out for attention. The toll that tending to everything but takes.
I gave him by usual advice. Just try. Put pen to paper and see what happens.
He told me this morning that he can’t stop writing. That once he started, the words just come. His eyes shone with the mystery of it. He thanked me for the encouragement, and left.
I could do nothing but smile. Aw, the community.
Reason #656 why I love being an author
British author Bryant Simon maintains that Starbucks is eroding communities. The availability of free wifi and the lure of take out food has destroyed any need for conversation and led to disjointed communities, according to him.
That couldn’t be further from the truth at my local franchise. If it were not for this coffee shop wouldn’t know many of my neighbors. I met them over there for often than at our pool or board meeting.
Not only that, the baristas are my champions. These mostly young, mostly college-educated kids like the idea of having a published author pecking away most mornings at one of their tables. While it rarely shows up in the form of free drinks, they often buy books and congratulation me on each new release. We even had a mini launch party, setting me up to sell books in the lobby. And thereby introducing me to even more people in my community.
My favorite part is when they send people over to talk to me. People interested in writing. A teenager’s mom came by asking for advice for the scribe in her family. I was glad to give this kid a tiny bit of advice. I sent another to join the California Writer’s Club.
Usually my advice is pretty simple. Write, don’t worry about publication. Try to find some like-minded people that will encourage you to keep going. And keep writing.
A few months ago, a good–looking, younger man approached my table. Let’s face it, one who would ordinarily never engage me in conversation. You heard it here first: I’m a sucker for braids on a guy. Also a sucker for anyone who wants to write but is afraid to start. I spent much of my life in that state, so I understand. What the inertia can do to you. How painful it is to repress a part of you that cries out for attention. The toll that tending to everything but takes.
I gave him by usual advice. Just try. Put pen to paper and see what happens.
He told me this morning that he can’t stop writing. That once he started, the words just come. His eyes shone with the mystery of it. He thanked me for the encouragement, and left.
I could do nothing but smile. Aw, the community.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Pet Weather
It never rains in Southern California. Remember that old song? Of course, it’s wrong. It was raining here for a couple of days. We’re fortunate enough not to live in the areas that burned recently, so we weren’t in danger of any mountainsides sliding down on us.
But Lexie and Mystie weren’t especially happy pups.
At least half a dozen times a day, Mystie interrupts my work at the computer by levitating onto my lap and hugging my face till I let her out in the backyard for a romp. She even knows the word “romp.” And “r-o-m-p.”
But our backyard is still a mud pit at the moment. That means the dogs get to go outside into the paved dog run at the side of our house.
Lexie gets it. She even knows to go to the top of the steps and bark to let me know she wants to go out. The door to the dog run is downstairs.
Mystie, though, is clearly disappointed that she can’t go into the backyard and chase cats, birds, leaves and sunbeams. Of course there aren’t any sunbeams and shadows in this weather, either.
So... in what weather is your pet happiest?
But Lexie and Mystie weren’t especially happy pups.
At least half a dozen times a day, Mystie interrupts my work at the computer by levitating onto my lap and hugging my face till I let her out in the backyard for a romp. She even knows the word “romp.” And “r-o-m-p.”
But our backyard is still a mud pit at the moment. That means the dogs get to go outside into the paved dog run at the side of our house.
Lexie gets it. She even knows to go to the top of the steps and bark to let me know she wants to go out. The door to the dog run is downstairs.
Mystie, though, is clearly disappointed that she can’t go into the backyard and chase cats, birds, leaves and sunbeams. Of course there aren’t any sunbeams and shadows in this weather, either.
So... in what weather is your pet happiest?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
On The Road - Again
We’re in Peoria, Illinois, on our way to Indianapolis for Bouchercon, the country’s biggest mystery convention. It’s a little late and I’m tired, but trying to compose my post for tomorrow – when you should be reading this. Somewhere a little west of Cedar Falls the “check engine soon” light came on. The car seems fine except for a very faint whirring or clickety sound, but we’ll have it checked in Peoria before continuing.
Our little GPS is working very well, warning us of upcoming exits and keeping us on track. We’re taking a fairly complicated route, coming down I-35, then onto Iowa 18 and 218, then I-80 and now I-74.
We left a city covered in snow – the second snowfall so far this October! The first one, on Saturday, was more a dusting, but this one left more than two inches on the ground. We often get a little snow towards the end of October up in the Twin Cities – one year we had a blizzard on Halloween, but that was a rare exception. Snow this early is not unheard of, but it’s rare. What made it odder this time is that a lot of trees not only still had their leaves, but they were still green.
This past weekend I was a guest at Gaylaxicon, a GLBT sci-fi convention. I write mysteries, so in that regard I was a little out of place. On the other hand, there’s Goddy. He’s a major running character in the Betsy Devonshire mysteries and he’s very, very gay. Plus the newest entry in the series features Leona Cunningham, who is a witch. She casts spells, uses charms and is suspected of using a curse to murder a man who has been making her life miserable. The book is called Blackwork and I think it’s pretty good.
The con itself was very like other sci-fi cons I’ve been to over the years. A high percentage of young computer and science geeks, who are by and large intelligent, educated people, made up the attendees. I sponsored a beer tasting seminar which was not as well attended as I’d hoped, and so our larder is now well-stocked with exotic beers. Raspberry limbec, anyone?
I think Bouchercon is going to be great fun. I’ve got a panel with fellow authors Juliet Blackwell, Maggie Sefton, Kate Collins, and Madelyn Alt. We’re going to talk about how we weave the problems and joys of owning a retail store into our mystery novels. And, I’m teaching a class on making a counted cross stitch bookmark. Plus my publisher is holding a reception for all Berkley authors in attendance. Look for a report about the con next Wednesday.
Our little GPS is working very well, warning us of upcoming exits and keeping us on track. We’re taking a fairly complicated route, coming down I-35, then onto Iowa 18 and 218, then I-80 and now I-74.
We left a city covered in snow – the second snowfall so far this October! The first one, on Saturday, was more a dusting, but this one left more than two inches on the ground. We often get a little snow towards the end of October up in the Twin Cities – one year we had a blizzard on Halloween, but that was a rare exception. Snow this early is not unheard of, but it’s rare. What made it odder this time is that a lot of trees not only still had their leaves, but they were still green.
This past weekend I was a guest at Gaylaxicon, a GLBT sci-fi convention. I write mysteries, so in that regard I was a little out of place. On the other hand, there’s Goddy. He’s a major running character in the Betsy Devonshire mysteries and he’s very, very gay. Plus the newest entry in the series features Leona Cunningham, who is a witch. She casts spells, uses charms and is suspected of using a curse to murder a man who has been making her life miserable. The book is called Blackwork and I think it’s pretty good.
The con itself was very like other sci-fi cons I’ve been to over the years. A high percentage of young computer and science geeks, who are by and large intelligent, educated people, made up the attendees. I sponsored a beer tasting seminar which was not as well attended as I’d hoped, and so our larder is now well-stocked with exotic beers. Raspberry limbec, anyone?
I think Bouchercon is going to be great fun. I’ve got a panel with fellow authors Juliet Blackwell, Maggie Sefton, Kate Collins, and Madelyn Alt. We’re going to talk about how we weave the problems and joys of owning a retail store into our mystery novels. And, I’m teaching a class on making a counted cross stitch bookmark. Plus my publisher is holding a reception for all Berkley authors in attendance. Look for a report about the con next Wednesday.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Friendly Ghosts from the World’s Fair
I'm delighted to welcome MARK ARSENAULT to Killer Hobbies today. Mark is a Shamus-nominated mystery writer, a journalist, a runner, hiker, political junkie and eBay fanatic who collects memorabilia from the 1939 New York World’s Fair. His new novel is LOOT THE MOON, the second book in the Billy Povich series that began with GRAVEWRITER, a noir thriller praised for a fusion of suspense, humor and human tenderness. With 20 years of experience as a print reporter, Arsenault is one of those weird cranks who still prefers to read the news on paper. His Web site is: www.markarsenault.net
Here's Mark
Many of the quirks, habits and hobbies I’ve amassed in my life have been passed on to my fictional characters, sometimes without much deliberation. I credit my subconscious with doling out little bits of myself, which make characters on the page a little more human.
In my Billy Povich mystery series, one of my favorite characters—Billy’s crusty father, known as the Old Man—has been cursed with my infatuation with the 1939 New York World’s Fair. The reasons I invented for the Old Man’s obsession provided me some unexpected insights into myself.
The 1939 New York World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens, was thought up in the mid-1930s as a privately-backed economic stimulus project in the midst of the Great Depression. Major U.S. companies, such as Ford, General Motors and Westinghouse, agreed to invest in the fair and build pavilions to showcase cutting-edge gadgetry and consumer products, in keeping with the theme: “The World of Tomorrow.” Many visitors saw television for the first time at the NYWF. The clunky Westinghouse robot, named Elektro, was a huge attraction. Countries from around the world, including the USSR, were invited to build their own pavilions.
No fair of this scale had ever been proposed. It was 1,200 acres, built on a reclaimed ash dump. The project’s centerpiece was the Trylon and Perisphere, the tower and sphere that became the emblem of the fair. The Trylon and Perisphere are pictured on most of the memorabilia the fair produced. The NYWF ran two seasons, closing in October 1940, under the cloud of a world war.
My obsession with the fair began five years ago while writing a history project for The Providence Journal. Reading old newspapers from the 1930s, I came across a story on the World’s Fair, where my mother’s parents had honeymooned. I decided to research the fair a little deeper, to see what my grandparents had experienced. I fell in love with the streamlined Art Deco styling of the buildings and the artifacts, and I liked the fair’s optimistic attitude. Despite the Great Depression and the threat of war, the fair imagined the World of Tomorrow as a place where life was a little bit better.
Pictures of the fair were great, but I wanted a piece of it.
Hundreds of original World’s Fair souvenirs were for sale on eBay. For $15, I bought a thermometer with a picture of the Trylon and Perisphere. And like most addicts, I couldn’t stop. My collection expanded to include World’s Fair dinner plates, pencil sharpeners, salt & pepper shakers, a glass coin bank, a necktie pin in the shape of Elektro the robot, postage stamps, ticket books, and an original invitation to President Roosevelt’s speech at the opening ceremonies. I have two NYWF ceramic coffee creamers in the likeness of George Washington, who was a familiar image at the fair because it opened on the 150th anniversary of Washington’s inauguration. He’s the Father of Our Country and I pour half-and-half from his head.
In my new novel, Loot the Moon, Billy’s father collects World’s Fair memorabilia to pass on to his grandson. He tells Billy there’s immortality in those knick-knacks, because whenever the boy sees one of them, he’ll think of his granddad.
I wrote that scene in a flurry. Only later did I realize I was writing about myself. My most treasured World’s Fair item is a glass picture frame in which I’ve placed a scan of the only surviving photo from my grandparent’s honeymoon. They’re both gone now, but I think of them every time I come into my office where I display my collectibles. I still scour eBay for deals on memorabilia because I see friendly ghosts in every piece.
If I could borrow a time machine for one trip, I’d spend a day at the 1939 NYWF.
I can’t be the only nut who fantasizes about this sort of thing. If you could visit one place for one day in history, what would it be?
Monday, October 12, 2009
Crafting a "Riff" on Other Projects
In my preparation for Bouchercon, I've been "kitting" up the stuff for my scrapbooking class where we'll be making the page above. (See the Sunday post below for details.) Unfortunately, the creative bug hit me hard in the midst.
Maybe that happens to you, too? You're supposed to be doing "A" but you suddenly feel the urge to do "B," and away you go. I couldn't help myself. I stopped everything to see if I could translate the page above, to scraplift the design, and make a similar page in the Halloween spirit.
After a couple of false starts--I couldn't decide what paper to use for the branch--I came up with the page below:
Can you guess what I used for the branch? The owl was a hand-drawn and colored piece I created last year. I have a file of these, and frankly, I can't recall what was the original inspiration. Sometimes I'll look at a rubber stamp or clip art or even a purchased embellishment and decide to try for my own version.
I liked the finished page pretty well. One problem was replicating the border on the big area of yellow/gold paper. I did it with scalloped scissors and a hole punch, which totally wrecked the palm of my right hand. I've injured the muscle connected my thumb to my palm, and I never seem to let it heal right. Somehow I roll my hand when I put my purse on my shoulder in a motion that keeps ripping the same spot.
Another problem: Page protectors are generally smaller than 12 x 12 inches. It's a cheat. So after you make your page, you often find it won't fit in the plastic protector. Hence, the wonky trim job. After the scan I also noticed my jerry-rigged border isn't completely straight.
But the biggest bug-a-boo I have with the page is the owl. Other crafters would either have to download a copy of mine or get their own. I puzzled over that most of the weekend. In fact, my husband David and I were invited to Robert Duvall's farm in Virginia, so we had a nice, long drive in the country side. Mr. Duvall--Bobbie--talked to me about seeing an osprey grab a fish once only to have it snatched back mid-flight by a bald eagle. He said that image has never left him.
So, I've had birds on the brain.
This morning, I used my punches and created the owl below. The main paper is a sort of corduroy paper I had with ridges on one side and smooth on the other. I used a large oval punch twice. One oval is the body--with a flat piece trimmed off the bottom. I split the other oval and trimmed the interior edges to be concave for the wings--then I flipped these over onto the flat side of the paper. I have a neat punch to create file tabs in 2 1/4 by 3/4 inches (by McGill). I used it to create the head with the tufts of ears. Yes, I trimmed it, but I think you can still make out the base shape. The eyes are 1/2 inch circles of white with a 1/2 inch brown flower (daisy) stuck on them. Then I added two black brads even though owls' eyes are more like cats'. Finally, I used that daisy punch again and turned a petal into a beak.
How'd I do?
PS Happy Columbus Day! I hope you have the day off to do some crafting.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Packing It All In
I have to set aside working on the next crochet mystery to get ready for Bouchercon. I love to travel, but hate to pack. This trip is more of a challenge to pack for. Beyond the usual clothes and incidentals, I need to bring along crochet samples, bookmarks, autographed by author stickers and the pens that write on glossy bookmarks.
This year at the big mystery convention in Indianapolis named for Anthony Boucher, there is going to be something new. Since there is a whole niche of cozy mysteries that revolve around different crafts, they are having a craft room. From Thursday through Saturday, different authors will have about an hour to lead an activity. My blog sisters Joanna, Camille and Monica are all taking part along with me and a whole list of other authors.
My project is a Molly Pink Dishcloth, which is pictured at the top. It’s easy to make and hopefully can be made quickly. I sent the directions a while back so they could be copies and the woman I’ve been in contact with assured me they are getting the supplies. Good. If I had to bring 30 balls of cotton yarn, it would either be a clunky suitcase or no room for clothes. Still I want to bring samples of completed dish clothes and one made just to the point of adding the edging.
Then there’s my book. I might have set it aside tonight to get my stuff together, but I will work on it while I’m gone. That means taking along my notes. Notes that hopefully are all together. Thank heavens for laptop computers and flash drives, even though I’ve been known to carry along a hard copy.
Picking my crochet projects to work on during the trip is easy. There is the neck piece I want to finish on the plane so I can wear it at the convention, and the vampire scarf I’m working on for my next book.
Clothes are just an afterthought.
By the way, there is still room (at least last time I looked) in all the craft room activities. So, if you’re going to Bouchercon go to http//www.bouchercon2009.com/specialevents.html to sign up for any of the craft activities. There’s no extra charge.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Why?
Why I was late blogging today:
I lost touch with the day of the week because of a change in routine--a visit from a dear friend, her husband and grandson.
I blogged earlier this week for A Slice of Orange, the blog of the Orange County Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. My topic was the really fun West Hollywood Book Fair I attended on Sunday. To read more about that, here’s the link: http://occsliceoforange.blogspot.com/
My entry is the second on the page now.
I was plotting some romantic suspense ideas plus the first in my upcoming pet rescue mystery series, plus my thriller, plus.... You get it.
I’m on Pacific time.
Okay, the real answer is that I didn’t think about it till I’d shut my computer down for the night last night--even though I usually post before I head to bed.
So... sorry I’m late!
What do you do to ensure you blog when you’re supposed to... or do you?
BTW, I’ve been having fun spotting my latest release in bookstores. It’s harder to find than most, since it’s an anthology called AWAKENING THE BEAST, in which my Nocturne Bites “Claws of the Lynx” appears along with other Bites. Sometimes it’s shelved according to the last name of the first listed author, Lisa Renee Jones--so it’s at least under J which is also for Johnston. And other times, it’s stacked on dumps along with another new Nocturne Bites anthology!
I lost touch with the day of the week because of a change in routine--a visit from a dear friend, her husband and grandson.
I blogged earlier this week for A Slice of Orange, the blog of the Orange County Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. My topic was the really fun West Hollywood Book Fair I attended on Sunday. To read more about that, here’s the link: http://occsliceoforange.blogspot.com/
My entry is the second on the page now.
I was plotting some romantic suspense ideas plus the first in my upcoming pet rescue mystery series, plus my thriller, plus.... You get it.
I’m on Pacific time.
Okay, the real answer is that I didn’t think about it till I’d shut my computer down for the night last night--even though I usually post before I head to bed.
So... sorry I’m late!
What do you do to ensure you blog when you’re supposed to... or do you?
BTW, I’ve been having fun spotting my latest release in bookstores. It’s harder to find than most, since it’s an anthology called AWAKENING THE BEAST, in which my Nocturne Bites “Claws of the Lynx” appears along with other Bites. Sometimes it’s shelved according to the last name of the first listed author, Lisa Renee Jones--so it’s at least under J which is also for Johnston. And other times, it’s stacked on dumps along with another new Nocturne Bites anthology!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
BLACKWORK!
Yesterday, the sixth, was the official publication date for Blackwork, and I did a signing at a local Barnes and Noble – well, local in the sense that it was in Roseville, which is east of St. Paul, which is east of Minneapolis, which is east of St. Louis Park, the suburb I live in. For my birthday, which is this month, I received a GPS and I decided to try it out for directions to the bookstore. Fortunately, the thing is extremely easy to set up, and its directions were quite clear. If you take a different way, the woman’s somewhat mechanical voice says, "Recalculating," and swiftly figures a way to get you back on track. The turnout was good for a general bookstore, and they all laughed at the right places during my talk, and then asked good questions. One woman did ask me if I had aimed this book at the Wiccan market. Is there a Wiccan market? I said I didn’t have Wiccans in mind when I wrote the book, though two friends who practice Wicca did contribute to the plot. I said I needed an innocent suspect who some people could think used the black arts to commit murder. And I had this really cool way of killing someone that would work in a locked room and wouldn’t leave a mark . . .
Thinking of looking for a stocking stuffer? (Already? Yes, already!) The paperback version of Thai Die will premier on December 1. Also an "anthology" of the second trio of Betsy Devonshire novels (Unraveled Sleeve, A Murderous Yarn, Hanging by a Thread) will appear under the title Sew Far, So Good. This is also a warning to those looking for a new Betsy Devonshire novel and who might think Sew Far, So Good is one – it isn’t, it’s a collection of three already-published novels. FYI, Patterns of Murder is a collection of the first three Betsy Devonshire mysteries.
Today Laura Childs and I are going to be interviewed at KFAI radio in a recording to be broadcast later – next week, I believe. Hope I don’t blow it.
This weekend I will be at a science fiction convention aimed at the GLBT community, called Gaylaxicon. The con is to be held at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park, my own neighborhood. I’m going to be on a panel, do a group signing, join a group that does crafting (bringing my knitting), and then sponsoring a beer tasting. Blackwork features a Wiccan character whose "herbal preparation" of choice is beer. I had no idea when I set out to write it that there were so many varieties of beer – or that they were so different from one another. From the light and delicate fruit flavored limbecs to the thick, dark and bitter stouts, there is a beer to suit the palate of everyone – even those who, like me, have never thought they were fond of beer. To prove it, I have asked Michael Agnew, professional beer expert, to select six or eight widely-different kinds of beer to present to a paying audience.
I played golf on Monday morning, a chill, gray day, that had a forecast for rain that came true in the afternoon. Had the course practically all to myself, which was great, as on the third hole, the longest and for some reason my most difficult hole, my game came completely to pieces, and I took a shot off the tee three times (a "do over" or "McGuffin" it’s called) before I decided to just go ahead and play it where it last landed, about a dozen yards up the fairway. I think it took me about twelve strokes on that par three hole – on the other holes I scored between five and seven. Pathetic, I know, but a five on a par three isn’t bad for me.
Thinking of looking for a stocking stuffer? (Already? Yes, already!) The paperback version of Thai Die will premier on December 1. Also an "anthology" of the second trio of Betsy Devonshire novels (Unraveled Sleeve, A Murderous Yarn, Hanging by a Thread) will appear under the title Sew Far, So Good. This is also a warning to those looking for a new Betsy Devonshire novel and who might think Sew Far, So Good is one – it isn’t, it’s a collection of three already-published novels. FYI, Patterns of Murder is a collection of the first three Betsy Devonshire mysteries.
Today Laura Childs and I are going to be interviewed at KFAI radio in a recording to be broadcast later – next week, I believe. Hope I don’t blow it.
This weekend I will be at a science fiction convention aimed at the GLBT community, called Gaylaxicon. The con is to be held at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park, my own neighborhood. I’m going to be on a panel, do a group signing, join a group that does crafting (bringing my knitting), and then sponsoring a beer tasting. Blackwork features a Wiccan character whose "herbal preparation" of choice is beer. I had no idea when I set out to write it that there were so many varieties of beer – or that they were so different from one another. From the light and delicate fruit flavored limbecs to the thick, dark and bitter stouts, there is a beer to suit the palate of everyone – even those who, like me, have never thought they were fond of beer. To prove it, I have asked Michael Agnew, professional beer expert, to select six or eight widely-different kinds of beer to present to a paying audience.
I played golf on Monday morning, a chill, gray day, that had a forecast for rain that came true in the afternoon. Had the course practically all to myself, which was great, as on the third hole, the longest and for some reason my most difficult hole, my game came completely to pieces, and I took a shot off the tee three times (a "do over" or "McGuffin" it’s called) before I decided to just go ahead and play it where it last landed, about a dozen yards up the fairway. I think it took me about twelve strokes on that par three hole – on the other holes I scored between five and seven. Pathetic, I know, but a five on a par three isn’t bad for me.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Mourning in Miniature
Today is the release date for my latest Miniature Mystery, MOURNING IN MINIATURE. Subtitle: High School reunions can be murder!
This is my 12th novel - not a big number compared to others in this group, but I got a late start!
Question to self: are you as excited as when your first book came out 12 years ago?
I know the stock analogy, about how a mother loves all her children equally. (Really?) I still remember the first time I saw THE HYDROGEN MURDER, printed, with a jacket, my picture on the back flap -- quite a thrill. I made up a nice binder with everything that was ever mentioned about the book, even a simple listing in a tiny paper and all the invitations and flyers surrounding my events.
For the second book, I did the same -- almost, maybe with a little less conscientiousness. By the 5th and 6th books, I was tossing relevant literature into a large plastic box.
(Similarly, when my husband's first grandchild was born, his parents created a website for him, with daily updates on his micromovements. And for the second in that family? Let's just say we always get photos at Christmas.)
However, when anyone asks what's my favorite book, it's always the latest one. My most recent book is the best, not because of the particular plot or twists of phrase, but simply because it is the latest, and between books, I get to be that much better a writer. I'm better now than I was even eight months ago. Since then, I've written at least another 100,000 words (another book, plus blogs, short articles, interviews); I've had many more hours of brainstorming, critiquing, and preparing for writing classes. Of course I get better, so I can say with certainty, this book is the best one out, and MONSTER IN MINIATURE, due April 6, 2010 will be even better!
Do you have a favorite among your children, uh, books?
Celebrating my best with a DRAWING! If you'd like to be entered in a drawing for a mini crime scene, send an email to camille@minichino.com with KILLER scene in the subject line.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Learn a New Craft at Bouchercon!
This year at Bouchercon (http://www.bouchercon2009.com/), the world's largest mystery convention, we will be trying something new — a Craft Room! This is a chance for readers to participate with authors as we create and teach the hobbies we love so well. Below is a run-down of who will be teaching, what will be happening, and when. If you are attending Bouchercon, please sign up for your time in the Craft Room well in advance. I’d hate to see you disappointed, and I know these sessions will go fast. Killer Hobby Blog Sisters participation is denoted by an asterisk:
Thursday, October 15
10:30-11:25 am
Monica Ferris* : Crossed-stitch Bookmark
1:30-2:25 pm
Margaret Grace* : Miniature Flowers
3-3:55 pm
Betty Hechtman* : Crocheted “Molly Pink” Dishcloth
Friday, October 16
9-9:55 am
Maggie Sefton: A Simple Scarf
10:30-11:25 am
Penny Warner: Nancy Drew Sleuth Kit
3-3:55
Penny Warner: Party invitation/Memory Book Favor
Saturday, October 17
9-9:55 am
Sally Goldenbaum: Knit squares for Quilts
10:30-11:25 am
Beth Groundwater: Designer Gift Baskets
1-1:55 pm
Joanna Campbell Slan* : Scrapbook Page
2:30-3:25 pm
Cricket McRae: Fizzing bath salts
Here’s a bit more about your crafty author-hosts and their projects:
MONICA FERRIS*
Accidental Hoosier Monica Ferris was born in Terre Haute, but only because there was the closest hospital to her parents' home in Marshall, Illinois. She now lives in Minneapolis. After publishing novels as Mary Monica Pulver and Margaret Frazer, Monica began a new series for Berkley/Prime Crime. The titles include Crewel World, Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve, A Murderous Yarn, Hanging by A Thread, Cutwork, Crewel Yule, Embroidered Truths, Sins and Needles, Knitting Bones, Thai Die and Blackwork.
In the Craft Room at Bouchercon this fall, Monica will teach a simple two-color argyle pattern for a counted cross stitch bookmark. Visit Monica at www.monica-ferris.com
MARGARET GRACE (Camille Minichino)*
Camille Minichino is having a great time as Margaret Grace, even though MINIchino seems more suited to MINIature Mysteries, huh? On October 6 she'll welcome the fourth in the series featuring Gerry Porter, a retired teacher who does miniatures with her precocious 10- year-old granddaughter, Maddie. In Mourning in Miniature a 30-year high school reunion turns deadly and the pair are on the case!
Camille is excited about a product from the UK that she came upon a few months
ago: FlowerSoft. Using small pieces of wire, a pot of glue and a wonderful product made of colored foam, you can create beautiful flowers in our crafts room at Bouchercon. Stick these wonderblooms in a bead and you have a fantastic miniature vase of flowers.
Camille will bring all the supplies! Visit Camille at www.minichino.com
BETTY HECHTMAN*
Betty always wanted to learn how to crochet and always wanted to write mysteries. You could say her life turned on a granny square because through learning how to make them, Betty got the idea to put the two goals together and her mystery series was born.
Hooked on Murder, Dead Men Don’t Crochet and By Hook or By Crook are all national bestsellers. Hooked on Murder is in a fourth printing and Dead Men Don’t Crochet in a second printing. The fourth book, A Stitch in Crime, comes out in February. The series follow the sleuthing and crocheting activities of Molly Pink and the Tarzana Hookers and all include a recipe and an easy to make pattern.
Betty’s craft project is a Molly Pink Dishcloth. It’s an easy quick project and you get something useful out of it. Visit Betty at www.bettyhechtman.com
MAGGIE SEFTON
Maggie Sefton writes the Berkley Prine Crime Knitting Mysteries. Kelly Flynn is the young 30-something sleuth, CPA, refugee from East Coast corporate firm who's returned to her Colorado childhood home to solve a murder and goes on to find new friends, a new job, and a new boyfriend. Not necessarily in that order. Knit One, Kill Two is first in series. Seventh series release out last June is Dropped Dead Stitch.
Maggie is presently working on a new wool winter scarf from a reader-designed pattern which will appear in the June 2010 release. She’ll be teaching folks at Bouchercon to make a scarf. Visit Maggie at www.maggiesefton.com
PENNY WARNER
Penny Warner is the author of over 50 books, for kids and adults, both fiction and non-fiction. She is the author of The Official Nancy Drew Handbook (Quirk Books, Agatha nominee) and the Connor Westphal mystery series, featuring a deaf reporter in the California Gold Country (Macavity winner, Agatha nominee.) Her new series, How to Host a Killer Party, debuts in February from NAL/Penguin and features an event planner who lives and works on San Francisco's Treasure Island.
Penny is conducting two workshops: 1.) Nancy Drew’s Mysterious Sleuth Kit, filled with hidden compartments, cryptic clues, detecting tools, and Nancy Drew goodies. 2.) Killer Party Pop-Up Invitation/Memory Book/Favor. Visit Penny at www.pennywarner.com
SALLY GOLDENBAUM
Sally Goldenbaum has written (30+ novels), worked as a teacher (philosophy & Latin), NPR public relations, and a bioethics journal editor. Her new Seaside Knitters series is set on Cape Ann, north of Boston and features four women ranging in age from 34 to 80 who meet weekly in the Seaside Knitting Studio to forge friendships, knit wonderful creations, and explore the lives of the lovely residents of Sea Harbor, Maine.
Sally will help knit squares that will then be sent off to a wonderful lady named Sandy McDonald who is head of an amazing project called knit a square (http://www.knit-a-square.com/). The squares will be sent to a woman in South Africa who has organized a group that will knit them into blankets for children and families, primarily those suffering from AIDS. Visit Sally at www.sallygoldenbaum.com
BETH GROUNDWATER
Beth Groundwater is a Colorado-based mystery author whose first book A Real Basket Case was an Agatha nominee for Best First Novel. The book introduces Claire Hanover, who owns a gift basket business. Beth has also recently signed with Midnight Ink to publish two books in the Mandy Tanner river ranger series.
She’ll be helping participants assemble a gift basket. Visit Beth at www.bethgroundwater.com
JOANNA CAMPBELL SLAN*
Joanna is the author of Agatha-nominated Paper, Scissors, Death, the first book in the Scrap-N-Craft Mystery Series featuring a spunky widow named Kiki Lowenstein, a scrapbooker who refuses to let a murderer get away with, well, murder! The second in the series Cut, Crop & Die was released this June. Joanna is the author of 7 non-fiction books on scrapbooking, and she’s taught the craft online, in magazines, and around the globe.
Joanna grew up in Vincennes, Indiana, and graduated from Ball State University. She’ll be teaching participants to put together a custom-designed scrapbook page you can see here http://tinyurl.com/ycbn7yp You’ll have plenty of fun supplies to take home as well.
CRICKET MCRAE
Cricket McRae writes the Home Crafting Mystery Series featuring soap maker Sophie Mae Reynolds. Cricket lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she writes and practices the traditional home crafts for which the series is named. These include soap making, food preservation, spinning and cheese making.
Her class at Bouchercon will focus on how to make your own fizzing bath salts as well as information about other types of salts and milk bath formulations. Contact Cricket at www.cricketmcrae.com .
Thursday, October 15
10:30-11:25 am
Monica Ferris* : Crossed-stitch Bookmark
1:30-2:25 pm
Margaret Grace* : Miniature Flowers
3-3:55 pm
Betty Hechtman* : Crocheted “Molly Pink” Dishcloth
Friday, October 16
9-9:55 am
Maggie Sefton: A Simple Scarf
10:30-11:25 am
Penny Warner: Nancy Drew Sleuth Kit
3-3:55
Penny Warner: Party invitation/Memory Book Favor
Saturday, October 17
9-9:55 am
Sally Goldenbaum: Knit squares for Quilts
10:30-11:25 am
Beth Groundwater: Designer Gift Baskets
1-1:55 pm
Joanna Campbell Slan* : Scrapbook Page
2:30-3:25 pm
Cricket McRae: Fizzing bath salts
Here’s a bit more about your crafty author-hosts and their projects:
MONICA FERRIS*
Accidental Hoosier Monica Ferris was born in Terre Haute, but only because there was the closest hospital to her parents' home in Marshall, Illinois. She now lives in Minneapolis. After publishing novels as Mary Monica Pulver and Margaret Frazer, Monica began a new series for Berkley/Prime Crime. The titles include Crewel World, Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve, A Murderous Yarn, Hanging by A Thread, Cutwork, Crewel Yule, Embroidered Truths, Sins and Needles, Knitting Bones, Thai Die and Blackwork.
In the Craft Room at Bouchercon this fall, Monica will teach a simple two-color argyle pattern for a counted cross stitch bookmark. Visit Monica at www.monica-ferris.com
MARGARET GRACE (Camille Minichino)*
Camille Minichino is having a great time as Margaret Grace, even though MINIchino seems more suited to MINIature Mysteries, huh? On October 6 she'll welcome the fourth in the series featuring Gerry Porter, a retired teacher who does miniatures with her precocious 10- year-old granddaughter, Maddie. In Mourning in Miniature a 30-year high school reunion turns deadly and the pair are on the case!
Camille is excited about a product from the UK that she came upon a few months
ago: FlowerSoft. Using small pieces of wire, a pot of glue and a wonderful product made of colored foam, you can create beautiful flowers in our crafts room at Bouchercon. Stick these wonderblooms in a bead and you have a fantastic miniature vase of flowers.
Camille will bring all the supplies! Visit Camille at www.minichino.com
BETTY HECHTMAN*
Betty always wanted to learn how to crochet and always wanted to write mysteries. You could say her life turned on a granny square because through learning how to make them, Betty got the idea to put the two goals together and her mystery series was born.
Hooked on Murder, Dead Men Don’t Crochet and By Hook or By Crook are all national bestsellers. Hooked on Murder is in a fourth printing and Dead Men Don’t Crochet in a second printing. The fourth book, A Stitch in Crime, comes out in February. The series follow the sleuthing and crocheting activities of Molly Pink and the Tarzana Hookers and all include a recipe and an easy to make pattern.
Betty’s craft project is a Molly Pink Dishcloth. It’s an easy quick project and you get something useful out of it. Visit Betty at www.bettyhechtman.com
MAGGIE SEFTON
Maggie Sefton writes the Berkley Prine Crime Knitting Mysteries. Kelly Flynn is the young 30-something sleuth, CPA, refugee from East Coast corporate firm who's returned to her Colorado childhood home to solve a murder and goes on to find new friends, a new job, and a new boyfriend. Not necessarily in that order. Knit One, Kill Two is first in series. Seventh series release out last June is Dropped Dead Stitch.
Maggie is presently working on a new wool winter scarf from a reader-designed pattern which will appear in the June 2010 release. She’ll be teaching folks at Bouchercon to make a scarf. Visit Maggie at www.maggiesefton.com
PENNY WARNER
Penny Warner is the author of over 50 books, for kids and adults, both fiction and non-fiction. She is the author of The Official Nancy Drew Handbook (Quirk Books, Agatha nominee) and the Connor Westphal mystery series, featuring a deaf reporter in the California Gold Country (Macavity winner, Agatha nominee.) Her new series, How to Host a Killer Party, debuts in February from NAL/Penguin and features an event planner who lives and works on San Francisco's Treasure Island.
Penny is conducting two workshops: 1.) Nancy Drew’s Mysterious Sleuth Kit, filled with hidden compartments, cryptic clues, detecting tools, and Nancy Drew goodies. 2.) Killer Party Pop-Up Invitation/Memory Book/Favor. Visit Penny at www.pennywarner.com
SALLY GOLDENBAUM
Sally Goldenbaum has written (30+ novels), worked as a teacher (philosophy & Latin), NPR public relations, and a bioethics journal editor. Her new Seaside Knitters series is set on Cape Ann, north of Boston and features four women ranging in age from 34 to 80 who meet weekly in the Seaside Knitting Studio to forge friendships, knit wonderful creations, and explore the lives of the lovely residents of Sea Harbor, Maine.
Sally will help knit squares that will then be sent off to a wonderful lady named Sandy McDonald who is head of an amazing project called knit a square (http://www.knit-a-square.com/). The squares will be sent to a woman in South Africa who has organized a group that will knit them into blankets for children and families, primarily those suffering from AIDS. Visit Sally at www.sallygoldenbaum.com
BETH GROUNDWATER
Beth Groundwater is a Colorado-based mystery author whose first book A Real Basket Case was an Agatha nominee for Best First Novel. The book introduces Claire Hanover, who owns a gift basket business. Beth has also recently signed with Midnight Ink to publish two books in the Mandy Tanner river ranger series.
She’ll be helping participants assemble a gift basket. Visit Beth at www.bethgroundwater.com
JOANNA CAMPBELL SLAN*
Joanna is the author of Agatha-nominated Paper, Scissors, Death, the first book in the Scrap-N-Craft Mystery Series featuring a spunky widow named Kiki Lowenstein, a scrapbooker who refuses to let a murderer get away with, well, murder! The second in the series Cut, Crop & Die was released this June. Joanna is the author of 7 non-fiction books on scrapbooking, and she’s taught the craft online, in magazines, and around the globe.
Joanna grew up in Vincennes, Indiana, and graduated from Ball State University. She’ll be teaching participants to put together a custom-designed scrapbook page you can see here http://tinyurl.com/ycbn7yp You’ll have plenty of fun supplies to take home as well.
CRICKET MCRAE
Cricket McRae writes the Home Crafting Mystery Series featuring soap maker Sophie Mae Reynolds. Cricket lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she writes and practices the traditional home crafts for which the series is named. These include soap making, food preservation, spinning and cheese making.
Her class at Bouchercon will focus on how to make your own fizzing bath salts as well as information about other types of salts and milk bath formulations. Contact Cricket at www.cricketmcrae.com .
Saturday, October 3, 2009
A Few Words
I was shocked to realize it was October. The weather has been so warm here, somewhere in my mind I was still thinking summer. But with the new month came cooler weather. For the first time in a long time, last night when I walked the dog I needed a little jacket. The shorter days have snuck up on me, too.
The thing about the future is that it has the habit of eventually becoming the present. Bouchercon seemed to long away and when I finally looked at a calender, I realized It's less than two weeks a way.
I guess time is on my mind because my December 1 deadline for book 5 is looming bigger and bigger. The pages are piling up, but I still have a long way to go.
I think that's all I have to say for this week.
The thing about the future is that it has the habit of eventually becoming the present. Bouchercon seemed to long away and when I finally looked at a calender, I realized It's less than two weeks a way.
I guess time is on my mind because my December 1 deadline for book 5 is looming bigger and bigger. The pages are piling up, but I still have a long way to go.
I think that's all I have to say for this week.
Friday, October 2, 2009
fall cleaning
Ever since I sent off the manuscript for FALSE IMPRESSIONS, I've been in my sewing room cleaning. I find deep cleaning to be a satisfying way to end a book. For months I've been immersed deep in the characters' problems, concentrating on their messes and oblivious to the ones piling up behind me.
In this case, it was my sewing room. Five wire drawers that seemed like a good idea when we installed the closet organizing system but quickly became black holes. The thing about a drawer is you can close it. Out of sight, out of mind. If it's big enough, you can put most anything in there, without deciding if you'll actually use it again. If it's deep enough, nothing will be seen for years.
I emptied them out. Unfinished quilt tops, templates sets from barely remembered projects, all manner of interfacing and stabilizers and stiffeners. Notes, samples, failed experiments. Thank goodness I belong to a guild who will pass this stuff on. One woman's junk, another's treasure.
Now I'm at my mother's, emptying her sewing room. With a disabled husband to care for, she hasn't quilted in several years. We went through her fabrics, delighting in the pretty ones, remembering the quilts made. It was hard, but we passed all the fabric onto a local guild who will use it in quilts for vets and needy kids. It's easier to part with things you love if you know someone else can benefit.
I'm off to the library with her quilt books. She feels lighter, a little less burdened by her stuff. I'm hoping I can fit what I took from her stash into my suitcase.
In this case, it was my sewing room. Five wire drawers that seemed like a good idea when we installed the closet organizing system but quickly became black holes. The thing about a drawer is you can close it. Out of sight, out of mind. If it's big enough, you can put most anything in there, without deciding if you'll actually use it again. If it's deep enough, nothing will be seen for years.
I emptied them out. Unfinished quilt tops, templates sets from barely remembered projects, all manner of interfacing and stabilizers and stiffeners. Notes, samples, failed experiments. Thank goodness I belong to a guild who will pass this stuff on. One woman's junk, another's treasure.
Now I'm at my mother's, emptying her sewing room. With a disabled husband to care for, she hasn't quilted in several years. We went through her fabrics, delighting in the pretty ones, remembering the quilts made. It was hard, but we passed all the fabric onto a local guild who will use it in quilts for vets and needy kids. It's easier to part with things you love if you know someone else can benefit.
I'm off to the library with her quilt books. She feels lighter, a little less burdened by her stuff. I'm hoping I can fit what I took from her stash into my suitcase.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Yellowstone
Last week I visited Yellowstone National Park for the first time. I definitely hope it wasn’t the last.
Of course I’d heard of Yellowstone all my life. Was aware of Old Faithful. Figured it would be fun to see.
But the park’s so much more than that.
It’s a huge expanse of protected land that will never see development, and should never see development. It’s too amazing, too precious, as it is. And that’s something that I, a real estate lawyer, seldom say.
It’s numerous geysers smaller and larger than Old Faithful, some less and others more predictable.
It’s hot springs and boiling pools of water in gorgeous, concentric rings of brilliant colors. It’s naturally formed steps of travertine rock. It’s dragon’s breath puffing from caves and swiftly flowing rivers. It’s mountains covered by lodgepole pines and other trees, with wide, rolling fields below.
It’s large, lumbering bison (not buffalo, BTW, which come mostly from Asia and Africa) who appear to enjoy lumbering along the yellow line in the center of the two-lane roads through the park, ignoring the rules applicable to people to stay yards away from the wildlife.
It’s elk, who also appear frequently in the fields and woods, and along the roads. It’s beavers, who create dams in the rivers and occasionally appear atop them to check out who’s watching.
It’s bears and wolves, animals I only got to see in an educational venue in West Yellowstone. They didn’t appear to me in the wild, unfortunately. But that gives me yet another excuse to return.
Of course Yellowstone inspired me to come up with some story ideas. Don’t know if they’ll ever expand into a book or not, but I most certainly hope so!
Have you ever been to Yellowstone? What’s your favorite memory?
Of course I’d heard of Yellowstone all my life. Was aware of Old Faithful. Figured it would be fun to see.
But the park’s so much more than that.
It’s a huge expanse of protected land that will never see development, and should never see development. It’s too amazing, too precious, as it is. And that’s something that I, a real estate lawyer, seldom say.
It’s numerous geysers smaller and larger than Old Faithful, some less and others more predictable.
It’s hot springs and boiling pools of water in gorgeous, concentric rings of brilliant colors. It’s naturally formed steps of travertine rock. It’s dragon’s breath puffing from caves and swiftly flowing rivers. It’s mountains covered by lodgepole pines and other trees, with wide, rolling fields below.
It’s large, lumbering bison (not buffalo, BTW, which come mostly from Asia and Africa) who appear to enjoy lumbering along the yellow line in the center of the two-lane roads through the park, ignoring the rules applicable to people to stay yards away from the wildlife.
It’s elk, who also appear frequently in the fields and woods, and along the roads. It’s beavers, who create dams in the rivers and occasionally appear atop them to check out who’s watching.
It’s bears and wolves, animals I only got to see in an educational venue in West Yellowstone. They didn’t appear to me in the wild, unfortunately. But that gives me yet another excuse to return.
Of course Yellowstone inspired me to come up with some story ideas. Don’t know if they’ll ever expand into a book or not, but I most certainly hope so!
Have you ever been to Yellowstone? What’s your favorite memory?
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