A Week in the Windy City

Is it really summer? You wouldn’t know it by the weather in Chicago. I came prepared to melt and instead am pulling on a jacket after feeling a shiver. But then what else is new about Chicago weather besides being unpredictable.

Yesterday we ran into a storm so sudden and fierce that we couldn’t see the side of the toll road. The signs were visible, but unreadable, and the road was basically under water. We were lucky to find our exit. Abruptly the rain let up, but it had left huge puddles along the side of the road and when a bus went through one, it splashed so much on the windshield, for a few scary moments we couldn’t see anything but water while the car was still moving. Kudos to my son, the great driver.

Luckily, the weather was okay the day of my booth duty at the American Library Association. Ann from Georgia, thank you for stopping by to say hello. You made my day. The Sisters in Crime booth was a big hit and it was a pleasure to meet so many library people. The Sisters in crime library people Mary and Doris hosted the booth and certainly made me feel welcome. Mary had organized everything and made sure people passing by knew there were real live authors giving out books. Just like at the Printers Row Fair, Deb Baker and I shared a signing time. She’s always fun to be around.

I got a chance to check out the convention floor and was very excited to see Terri and Joanna’s books at the Midnight Ink booth. I wanted the nudge the people manning the booth and tell them Terri and Joanna were my blog sisters, but they were busy with real customers, so I let them be.

I recognized the Frozen Light jewelry woman from the vendor room at Malice Domestic. I wasn’t planning to buy any jewelry- like anybody ever really is - but she has such great stuff. You can keep your diamonds. I love sterling silver and turquoise and other colorful stones.

My son and his girlfriend joined me the day after the ALA and my plans for writing quickly got whittled down to some time in the early morning. It’s hard to turn down fun.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I had hoped to be able to include a photo of the cactus I mentioned crocheting last week. It’s not quite done. I found a photograph of a crocheted cactus online, but the directions for making it were sketchy at best. The cactus part is done, complete with blossoms. It’s the pot that the problem. It is trial and error to figure out how to make it and what kind of proportions it should have to balance off the cactus. Maybe in a couple of weeks it’ll be ready to be displayed.

Now I’m doing last minute preparations for my trip to Chicago Saturday. Actually, I’m writing this Friday night, so it’s tomorrow. I have this fantasy of traveling with no luggage since I have clothes, etc there, but it never works out that way. At least the suitcase I bring is small.

I am going to be at the American Library Association convention on Monday. I’ll be signing book from Noon to 2 pm at the Sisters in Crime booth. I remember going to Book Expo America at McCormick Place (which is where the ALA is) and seeing all the authors signing books in various booths. It’s a thrill for me to be on the other side of the table.

I get caught up in deadlines and worry about how my books will do, but when I step back, I realize how I am living my dream. All I ever wanted to be was a writer.

I’m guest blogger at www.FreshFiction.com on Monday, so it’s a double big day for me. There’s a contest for a signed copy of By Hook or By Crook.

So, that’s it for this week. Even a little suitcase takes time to pack.