I’m repeating the blog I posted on Travels with Kaye
yesterday, so if you’ve read that, go ahead and skip this. Now you have three
extra minutes in your day!
It was exhilarating and exhausting, as usual. This year I
was there to let people know about two new books of mine that both came out in
early April.
Here’s me at Malice Go Round, giving one minute of
information on each book. This is an event described as Speed Dating, But with
Authors. A pair of authors visits 20 tables of 8-10 people each, staying for 4
minutes and taking 1 minute to change tables. We tell the listeners about our
books and give them bookmarks and sometimes other things so they’ll remember
us. I paired up with Jim Jackson, James M. Jackson is his author name. His
newest book is ANT FARM, in his Seamus McCree series. My new ones are FAT CAT
TAKES THE CAKE (by Janet Cantrell) and REQUIEM IN RED (by Kaye George). This
event was Friday morning after I checked in Thursday night.
This picture was taken by Patti Phillips when I was at her
table.
After Malice Go Round, I walked over to Booeymonger’s with
Judy Penz Sheluk, who was at Malice for the first time. This sandwich and salad
place is where the Guppies have gathered for lunch ever since the convention
moved to Bethesda from Crystal City in Virginia. I got to chat with several
Guppies there.
Later that afternoon, I met with my agent, Kim Lionetti.
This is the only time I see her face to face, once a year. That night Berkley,
my Fat Cat publisher took us out to dinner at The American Tap Room.
Early Saturday, 7:30, was the Sisters in Crime breakfast,
where all the Guppies wear boas or reasonable facsimiles. Jan Rubens, who came
with Jim Jackson, took this picture of ALL the Gups that attended. After I wore
a feather boa one year and threw it away the same day, I wear my chartreuse
scarf.
I admit I deflated a bit and stayed in the hotel for lunch,
then went to my panel, “Death for Dessert: Sweet Murder” in the afternoon. Our
admirable moderator was Nancy J. Parra and the panelists were Kathy Aarons,
Maggie Barbieri, me, and Jessie Crocket/Jessica Estevao. We all write cozy
mysteries with dessert recipes in the back. We discovered that Jessie is
actually the only one of us who is a good cook. This photo was shot by Julie
Hennrikus.
I raced to the wine and cupcake reception given by my
agency, BookEnds, guided by Terrie Moran, who had also guided me to the dinner
the night before. If these people keep guiding me, I’ll never learn how to get
anywhere. Actually, I may not anyway, so I’m grateful for that!
Our panel signed books soon after that, then we did a
cocktail or so, then the Banquet with the Agatha Awards.
I highly regret that I wasn’t able to make it to the New
Authors Breakfast the next morning at 7. I chalked it up to getting older, but
I came down with a cold and bronchitis as soon as I got home, so I’ll blame
that instead. I’m making plans to hold a mystery conference/convention where
nothing starts earlier than 10.
My own camera, as usual, stayed safely tucked inside my
suitcase for the whole trip. Someday I’ll take pictures!
Another fun time talking to and seeing so many of my online
pals!
