One Woman. Three Names. Many Books.
There will be a more comprehensive post next week, post Bouchercon, but for now all I can say is WOW. What a night at the New England Mobile Book Fair! So, so many people came by to wish me well. It was overwhelming.
Truly a wonderful day in my life!
I have been writing blog posts for the better part of the last week, getting ready to launch Just Killing Time. I am SO thrilled about this book, and I look forward to exploring the role of “published novelist” for the first time.
Tuesday night is the official launch party. 5:30-7 at the New England Mobile Book Fair. Then I am heading out to Bouchercon, where I will be on panel next Sunday morning. Over the next two weeks I am going to be doing a blog tour. I’ll be posting updates here.
This week the Wicked Cozy Authors are going to be celebrating the release. I will also be on Dru’s Book Musings (Tuesday), Maine Crime Writers (Tuesday), and Jungle Red Writers (Wednesday).
Today, March 8, 2015, is Daylight Savings time. Not my favorite day, since we lose a precious hour of sleep, and I never really recover.
It also is the first time in almost a year that I have posted on this blog. Not the first time I’ve done a blog post this past year. Over at Wicked Cozy Authors, my name crops up regularly. On Live to Write/Write to Live, I post every other week.
The year has also been a big one in my writing life. I am writing the Clock Shop Mystery Series as Julianne Holmes, and boy, has she been busy. My first novel, Just Killing Time, is going to be released on October 6. Book #2 is plotted, and being written (due May 15). Book #3 is due in January.
I am and at large member of the boards of Sisters in Crime, and Sisters in Crime New England. Both of these organizations mean the world to me, and I am thrilled to be involved. (If you are a mystery writer, join Sisters in Crime.)
So I’ve been busy, but haven’t been checking in. That will change, even though I’ve lost an hour. Though losing an hour is a fairly regular situation for me. NOTHING takes as long as I think it is going to take. You’d think by now I’d be better at it, but you’d be wrong. Even a ten minute walk takes twenty minutes these days, due in no small part to the mountains of ice and snow in New England, and the layers and layers of clothes I need to wear.
I sprang forward, rebooted the blog, and exercised this morning. Even though I lost an hour.
Passed on some good news on Wicked Cozy Authors!
This weekend I went to Bouchercon in Albany, New York. Bouchercon is one of (or the) largest mystery conference in the world. It was predicted that over 1200 were there over the 3.5 days.
While much can be said about the event itself, and will be on Wicked Cozy Authors later this week, what struck me is my journey as a writer. I attended my first conference in 2003 when I went to Malice Domestic. My friend was waiting in line to send back her books (I love bag of books conferences) and she met Dana Cameron, who told her about Sisters in Crime. We both joined. That fall we went to the New England Crime Bake.
I was thrilled, overwhelmed, anxious, and quite sure I would never “get there”. Ten years later, and I am actively involved in Sisters in Crime, both regionally and now nationally. I have been to every Crime Bake since 2003, and am now on the conference committee. I have had three short stories published. I have not managed the dream of holding a book in my hand with my name on it, but the dream doesn’t feel impossible. And it has become a reality for many of my friends.
Now, when I go to a conference, I take fewer notes at panels, but I still learn. I don’t buy as many books, but my Kindle gets a few additions. Conferences are a chance to catch up with friends, and to make new ones.
There are a lot of challenges to being a writer, and success is a moving target. But here’s what I’ve learned in the past ten years:
When you get to be a certain age (mine), you start worrying that you are losing your mojo. Your short hair looks like a helmet without some serious product. Eye makeup methods you have employed for years suddenly makes you look like Tammy Faye Baker. Your pants are too short, and belts become the enemy. The war against frumpy is on, and the battles are intense. I am fighting them, and fighting them hard. Above the ankle. Below the ankle, I surrender.
I live and work near Boston. My commute involves buses, trains, and walking. And since I have a 10,000 step a day goal (and a FitBit keeping me honest), I walk a lot. A number of events and business meetings kept me in “girl” shoes–boots with slight heels and flats with little support. None of these were too crazy, but they have taken a toll. My feet hurt. All the time.
So I recently bought some fun sneakers and Earth shoes. The sneakers can pass, sort of an updated 80’s vibe. (Remember–suits with sneakers?). But the Earth shoes. I’ll admit, they have an old lady vibe. But they are really comfortable, so I am going with it.
Here’s the question though–will this start creeping up past my ankles? Are yoga pants 24/7 next? I already wear the flowing jackets–will scarves help? How do I manage professional and comfortable,and toss in some hip? Or has the hip hopped?
Going to keep fighting the fashion fight. But those Earth shoes come in a summer floral print.