I Write Dead People

I've spent the last 5 days in Vancouver, BC, Canada, both to enjoy/celebrate my 50th birthday (today) and to soak up local colour as research for Book 3. The Intahrwebs is a fine and generous place for information, but can't substitute for actually *being* there...experiencing for oneself the sights, sounds and scents of a location.

In addition to the wonderful city locations, we (mom, stepdad, sis and BIL) also drove up and down Vancouver Island, drove up a couple of mountains and let ourselves see/feel/smell nature. Odd thing, though - so far, there've been no smells. None. Not vehicle exhaust, not city stench (yay for that!), not even pine, earth, animal scents in the woods. Very unusual to my lower south nose. I'm guessing because the temperatures here stay so cool, things decompose at a slower rate (which often causes the smells of sea, woods, etc.) I suppose if I were a native woods creature rather than a bumbling human, I'd have more scent to go on.

I'm very glad I've placed Keira's family in BC, as the woods here (and by extrapolation, those up north) are perfect for them. Gorgeous tall trees, loads of underbrush and many places to hunt and hide.

Today is my last day in this wonderful city. I hope to be able to visit again. I could definitely live here. :)

...as in convention/conference, not confidence ::g::

One of my favorite things about being a published writer is getting to go to conventions. Yes, I went to them as a fan, and many many many times as a volunteer, but attending a convention as a panelist/participant is one of the best things ever.

Where else can you sit next to Barbara Hambly, Charlaine Harris, Nancy Holder, Nancy Pickard, Jeff Mariotte and discuss paranormal/mysteries/romance/kick-ass heroines and much more?

Sometimes, I look back at some of the panels I've been on and have retroactively pinched myself.

It's a rare honor and a treat to be able to play in the same sandbox as these folks.

I've been conversing (via email) with Carole Nelson Douglas, well known to many as a mystery author. Carole will have a book coming out in November from my own publisher, Juno books. I've known Carole for about 10 years now - known as in - see her at conventions, we know each other's names and recognize each other by face. Last May, when I did my Things That Go Bump in the Night panel at Malice Domestic, Carole was looking for a publisher for a paranormal romance. As luck, or whatever would have it - the book was accepted by Juno. Small, small world. ::g::

Hope to see folks at some of the conventions this year!

One day I turned around and it became winter. From balmy, nearly shirt-sleeve weather to frigid single-digit temps in a short week. This was quickly followed by the almost now-obligatory near-President's Day snow/ice storm.

Ah well.

That said, I'm busy coordinating my year's travel, mostly to promote my upcoming book, Matters of the Blood. I've sent registrations to the below cons. Hope to see folks there!

* May 4 - 6 - Malice Domestic
* May 25 - 27 - Mayhem in the Midlands
* July 6-8 - Readercon
* Nov 1-4 - World Fantasy

October 28, 2006

Dying To Write
MWA-MA’s First Annual Writer’s Conference
Saturday, October 28, 2006  -  9:00 a.m. –  4:30 p.m.  

Gawler’s Sons, Inc. Funeral Home
5130 Wisconsin Ave., NW,  Washington, D.C.   20016

I'll be moderating a panel entitled (what else?): We Write Dead People
My co-panelists include:

• Baltimore CSI John French
• Forensic taphonomist Allison Wilcox
• Randy Weagley, vice president of Joseph Gawler’s Sons.

That's pretty much it for 2006, but I've just registered for Bouchercon 2008: Charmed to Death, to be held in our own corner of the world, in Charm City, a.k.a. Baltimore. I'm also hoping to attend Balticon in 2007 and will be attending Malice Domestic in May.