This weekend I’m in Rosemont - part of
the Chicago urban conurbation - for the Love Is Murder
conference. So, I leave snow in the Peak District …
… for snow in Illinois instead.
No fun to land at O’Hare and then spend
nearly an hour with the pilot rumbling round the airport perimeter looking for
somewhere to park amid the 200 other planes that were looking either to do the
same or for a cleared runway from which to take off.
And here was me thinking that places like
this were always better prepared for their weather than we ever are in the UK …
I was honoured to be invited to attend Love
Is Murder this year as one of their Featured Guest Authors. They’ve been
working me like a dog since I arrived and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Better than sitting around idly, any day.
Not only have I been teaching a master
class about getting your plot started, but also giving a self-defence
demonstration, and an improvisation over dinner that involved being given several
scenarios decided upon by the audience, plus occupations for characters we had
to weave into the story, a location and a sometimes frankly bizarre murder
weapon.
I spent today in a whirl, which did not end
after all my day’s panels and events were over as I discovered I had been
nominated for a Love Is Murder Lovey Award for Best Series. With my record of
always managing to be the bridesmaid rather than the bride I was overwhelmed to
emerge as the winner. And what a splendid improvised weapon the Perspex trophy
would make, too!
Yesterday (Saturday) is also National Libraries Day 2015,
and I celebrated this early by doing an event at the wonderful Lisle Library on Thursday evening. It
was lovely to be back at the library - they even baked
me a cake!
 |
| Pic courtesy of Patrica Ruocco, Librarian Extraordinaire at Lisle Library |
Libraries were a vital resource for me
growing up and their place in today’s fast-paced world is just as important as
ever. I’m constantly humbled by the dedication and enthusiasm of librarians like
Patrica Ruocco at Lisle.
So, today I’m taking part in a radio interview for the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network. My host at the Second
Sunday Crime show is fellow crime author Libby
Fischer Hellmann, and tomorrow (Monday) I hope to venture into the heart of
the city to take in an exhibition of photography.
 |
| l to r: John Kurtze, reviewer for Authors on the Air Global Radio Network; ZS; Pam Stack, Executive Producer for the same network; plus fellow mystery authors Raymond Benson, Tasha Alexander, Andrew Grant and Libby Fischer Hellmann. Pic courtesy of the delightful Pam Stack |
This week’s Word of the Week is retronym, which means a word that has to
be retro-fitted with an addition, newly because things change as time goes on.
Hence we need to specify ‘desktop’ computer as opposed to ‘laptop’ computer,
and ‘acoustic’ guitar to differentiate it from an ‘electric’ guitar. This word
was sent to me by our very own regular follower, Everett Kaser. Thanks, EvKa!
Posts
Do you care to expand on the bizarre murder weapons Zoe?
ReplyDeleteI'm tumbling it over in my mind... death by napkin, death by haggis, death by sarcasm, death by inappropriate blog comment....
Pizza cutter was one, piano wire was another. Icicle and ice pick. Death by sarcasm is always one of my favourites, though :)
DeleteOops. I was going to make an inappropriate comment, but...
ReplyDeleteToday I'm thankful for many things:
That you're where the snow is rather than me.
That I've found someone I can share interesting words with.
That I've found someone I can trade wisecracks with.
That I've found someone I share a love of art with.
That I've found so many wonderful authors and so many wonderful books (I'm reading AmA's "Strange Gods" right now, loving it).
That I've learned so many fascinating things about Scotland that I probably never wanted to know.
That every corner, nook, and cranny of this world can be just as fascinating as any other.
And it's not even Thanksgiving...
Thank goodness for that, EvKa, or apparently I'd be trying to deep-fry a turkey ...
DeleteEvKa sounds as if he's in love. Fully understandable. And congratulations to the object of his attention at bringing home the Lovey Award! Not only is it well deserved and long overdue, but--as you pointed out--it gave you a new perspex on life.
ReplyDeleteIt might sound that way at first blush (so to speak), but that tyarrhea (there's a brand-new, first time ever used anywhere word for you, Z) was actually aimed at many of the folks hereabouts, yourself included, and intentionally left somewhat vague. Everyone can decide for themselves into which category they think they best fit. :-)
DeleteThank you, Jeff. Does this mean I am now a fully paid-up lovey dahling? I was totally thrilled to find myself on the shortlist of nominees, never mind to be actually going up there to collect the award. Like you say -- a whole new perspex-tive on things :)
DeleteHow soon your affections turn to others, EvKa
DeleteYou're going to have to give me the definition of tyarrhea, as whenever I put it into Google it searches for diarrhoea instead ...
You've heard of "diarrhea of the mouth," no doubt. Tyarrhea is diarrhea of the fingers whilst typing on the keyboard...
DeleteAh-hah! A case of one of those words where you alter it slightly and come up with a whole new meaning. A bit like 'osteopornosis' which is a degenerate disease ...
DeleteGO ZOE!! HUZZAH AND HOORAH!!
ReplyDeleteWhen you are finished garnering well-deserved awards, come back to Italy. it is 52F here and sunny.
Ooh, don't tempt me! It's up to your ankles in snow here and although it's sunny, it's not exactly bikini weather.
DeleteIt is if you are adventurous!
DeleteThanks, Jono. Life is made for adventures, or what's the point of it?
DeleteBravo, Zoë
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cara. And Libby tells me you're her next guest on Second Sunday Crime. Can't wait to hear the interview!
ReplyDeleteI had the honor of attending the master class and taking tea with you at this conference - it was awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience and expertise!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lee! Great to meet you at Love Is Murder, too. Sorry for the slow reply -- I've been travelling home and it takes a while. I'll be typing up my notes from the master class and sending those out in the next few days. When my brain has stopped dribbling out of my ears ...
Delete