Malice Domestic 2007

(The Month in Review, Part Deux)

About a week after Edgar Week was Malice Domestic.  I got in a couple of days early, and spent time running all over DC and Arlington, VA doing detail research for EXIT INTERVIEW, my WIP espionage thriller.  This included a tour of the Washington Post and a lot of walking.  One fun part was a visit to the International Spy Museum with fellow Femme Fatale Toni L.P. Kelner; I went crazy in the bookstore (again).   The weather was splendid; I've had three springs so far, one at VA Book!, the one in DC, and another, finally, here at home.  By the time Malice actually got started, I was about ready to be done, though I bet I wasn't quite as tired as the folks who'd come in fresh from the LA Times Book Festival.

We had a lot of fun on the "In the Tradition of Christie:  Murder at the Dig" panel, which was about archaeological mysteries. Mary Anna Evans, Lyn Hamilton, Maria Hudgins, and Sarah Wisseman provided great fodder for discussion. 

The Agatha Award banquet was the highlight of my Malice.  Toni Kelner won the teapot for best short story with her superb "Sleeping with the Plush."  Riotous applause ensued, and well deserved it was, too.  Yay, Toni!  (right, l-r, a bit blurry, my bad: Maria Lima, Sharon Short, Toni, Alan Gordon; in back, Laura Durham, Donna Andrews, Steve Kelner).  Not only did the wonderful Nancy Pickard (shown left with Maria Lima) win for Best Novel (for The Virgin of Small Plains), but when they announced that our friend (and fellow Femme) Charlaine Harris will be Guest of Honor next year, well, we about sprained our vocal cords.

I went home and collapsed for a week.  Then went on vacation.  I'm just about recovered now, the laundry's done, the email is caught up (well, almost), and I just have to sort through all the books I bought and notes I took.  It's good to be home and back to work.

Edgar Week

Okay, so I'm late again. I admit it.  But I've got pictures, so that counts, right? About a month back was Edgar Week, the MWA’s big shindig down in New York City.  I've never been before, and wasn't really prepared for the bustle of it all, but it was fun!  Tuesday night things were unofficially launched with the party at Black Orchid books (there was no room on the sidewalk, mystery writers as far as the eye can see, and, left, you can just about see my Evil Twin, SJ Rozan looking cool in her shades).  The old guard and the new met there, too: right, former MWA Executive VP Reed Farrel Coleman and present EVP Dan Hale.   Right through the symposium on Wednesday to the Banquet and the announcements of the 2006 Edgar Awards on Thursday evening, it was nonstop. 

And there was Stephen King.  You may have seen the post about why I'm sentimental about his books on the Femmes blog site (it’s the post called “Captain Trips:  a love story”), but just take my word for it:  it was cool.  I got to meet him, briefly, and, yes, he thinks my husband’s name is Charles, but so what?  Some of his books are among my all-time favorites (and thanks, Dan, for introducing us to Mr. King!).  Besides getting a book signed for my sweetie, the highlight for me was during the interview when Steve made a reference to Robert Heinlein and both Marcia Talley and I let out a whoop.   It’s just fun to talk to other writers, folks who really know their stuff, about books and writing. 

The Edgar banquet is like the prom for the mystery community. Everyone is on their best behavior (for a while, anyway), all dressed to the nines, and showing off their dates.  And so…the aforementioned pictures.

From left to right:  1. Da dress.  The theme of the night with black and a bit of red.  It’s not my usual overalls and t-shirt.  2.  With Gillian Roberts, who was the chair of the Best Novel judging committee (which kept me so busy last year).  She rules!  3.  With the sexy Margery Flax (the MWA Administrative Manager) and Robin Burcell.  4.  With Reed F. Coleman. 

And here I am with Mr. G, who’s looking very spiffy indeed.

 

 

 

Just when I thought I'd seen all the mystery writers, I saw a few more! I no sooner got off the plane from NYC then I headed to the Newburyport, MA literary festival, where I was on a panel with New England authors Linda Barnes and Archer Mayor. The panel was in a wonderful 18th-century church (the only time I ever expect to be speaking to an audience from the front of a church). It was a treat to chat with Linda and Archer about working on series books, characters, and the New England crime fiction scene.

N.B. Miss Lillian, "Assassin of the Old West," (seen here sitting on Dan Hale's shoulder) has been missing since the banquet.  I'm afraid the lure of Manhattan was too much for her.  The search continues.but since she left her boots behind, I suspect she's traded them in for some Manolo Blahniks and Saks in the city.