Inundated by Biscuits

How am I inundated by biscuits?  In a good way! 

I'm referring to my Barkery & Biscuits Mystery series.

The first one, BITE THE BISCUIT, was published last May.  And now it's nearly May again, and the second in the series, TO CATCH A TREAT, premiers soon--officially on May 8.

Meantime, I'm still not quite through with the rough first draft of the third in the series--title to come--and won't finish it till I return from Malice Domestic, although I hope to find time on my trip this weekend to work on editing what I've written so far.

Plus, I just signed a contract for two more books in the series.  More Barkery & Biscuits!

In the meantime, there are also more biscuit issues.  I'm not much of a cook but my Barkery books each contain a dog treat and a people treat recipe.  I've been talking about some people treat ideas with a friend who's supplying recipes, but still need to work out the dog treat.

And in case you're not aware of it, can you guess the name of my protagonist Carrie Kennersly's dog in the Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries?

You got it.  Biscuit!

So Much to Do. So Little Time?

Last week I blogged about the California Dreamin' Conference and how much I enjoyed it.  I left on a family trip soon after returning home.  Did I enjoy that?  Oh, yes! 

But while I was traveling I didn't get much writing or editing done.  What I primarily accomplished was to start my latest to-do list, which I typed on my computer when I got home.   

Yes, I have a lot to do.  Much of it involves promotion, since my first Barkery & Biscuits Mystery, BITE THE BISCUIT, is a May release.  Some of it, unsurprisingly, involves writing, since the second Barkery & Biscuits Mystery's deadline is looming in the not-too-distant future. 

Can I accomplish everything?  I certainly hope so.  But it's frustrating to realize that having only one career at a time doesn't somehow make it easy to do it all.   

Previously, I both practiced law and wrote, in addition to raising a family at home.  I juggled and managed it.  Now, I'm an officially inactive lawyer and a very active writer.  I do get ordered around a lot by my canine family members.  And, yes, I'm juggling and managing that, too.  It seems as if I should have more time available with the more limited obligations.  But everything takes time!

So, as much as I enjoy blogging, I think I'd better get back to my novel writing now. 

What's on your agenda today?

Stuff Sneaks Up

It's been a busy week! 

First, I received what hopefully will be the final edits on my first Barkery & Biscuits Mystery, BITE THE BISCUIT, which will be a May release.  There were no major issues, but reading the manuscript and making final changes took time. 

 

Then we had a wonderful but unexpected visit from our older son, who doesn't live in L.A.  He was passing through on a quick business trip, so I wanted to spend as much time as possible with him.  That included having dinner with him and our younger son, who does live in the area.  That was fun! 

And... no, the computer technical difficulties I mentioned last week are not resolved.  Despite planning to take my computer in for repair, additional cleaning seemed to help... somewhat.  It doesn't overheat as fast, but it still eventually makes those noises.  One of these days, I realize that I will need to take it in for a repair. 

Meantime, I'm back to working on the second Barkery & Biscuits Mystery.  That's a good thing!  And hopefully I'll be able to continue despite the computer's complaining to me... as it just began to do again.  Sigh. 

What fun things are you up to?

Bye, Bye, Bouchercon

In my blog last week I said I was back.  That was partly true.  I also mentioned that I was off to Bouchercon next.  So was I gone again?  Yes... and no. 

Again, as I mentioned, it was sort of in my backyard--Long Beach, California.  I did in fact take the L.A. Metro there but only once, the first day I attended.  That worked out fine, but since I had to change trains and they both were locals, it took 1-1/2 hours to get to Long Beach and another 1-1/2 hours to return that evening.  That was fine on Thursday since L.A. traffic would have taken me as long as that or even longer.  But I stayed overnight in a nearby hotel on Friday since I had a couple of parties to attend on Friday night and my panel on Saturday morning was at 8:30 AM.  Commuting didn't sound very feasible.   

I also decided to drive on Sunday, when traffic tends to be light.  It did in fact take me about half of the 1-1/2 hour commute time each way to get to and from Long Beach.  The conference panels started at 8:30 AM again so I didn't have to leave quite as early as if I'd taken the Metro, and I returned home sooner to start writing again after my second hiatus in a couple of weeks.   

My recap?  Loved it!  Got to see lots of writing and fan friends I seldom see as well as some locals.  My panel Must Love Dogs and Cats was tremendous fun, and we had a good turnout despite the early hour.   Got to sign lots of my books afterward, too. 

I also met with editors from my two mystery publishing houses, Midnight Ink and Berkley Prime Crime, as well as the Midnight Ink publicist.  I got to sign and give away galleys of my first upcoming Barkery and Biscuits Mystery BITE THE BISCUIT, which will be a May 2015 release.  Parties?  Yes!   And I even got to see my dogs during a couple of the event's evenings, when I didn't stay in Long Beach.  Oh, yes, I saw my younger son, too, upon my return one night.  He'd stayed with the dogs the prior night when I wasn't there. 

The panels I attended were fun, but I unfortunately missed one program that I'd been really hoping to see: the cadaver dog demo.  Sigh.  A friend sent me some photos, though, and I'll buy the narrative CD. 

Did I enjoy it?  Absolutely!  Will I go to next year's Bouchercon?  Unfortunately, probably not.  It's in Raleigh, North Carolina, on the opposite coast from me.  And since I'm already signed up for at least three conferences next year I suspect I'll be pretty much conferenced out by then. 

But maybe another one sometime in the future.  I'd look forward to it! 

How about you--do you attend conferences about books?  Which ones?