This is my final States-based post for six-months. I’m off
to Mykonos on Tuesday. I know, you’re
all crying for me. Don’t worry, for I shall persevere…in the face of constant
challenges of the sort expressed in the photo at the top of this post.
I’ll arrive on Mykonos in the middle of Easter week. This
year Eastern and Western Easter fall on the same day, both during Passover.
Yippee, we’re closing in on World Peace.
Last Monday I got to say goodbye to Washington & Jefferson
College where I’d taught mystery writing during the frozen month of January.
I
was invited back for a springtime address to the English Department. What a
great bunch of folks. Some of my students even showed up, and others stopped me
on the campus to say Hi. I guess it pays to be an easy grader.:)
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| It beats a wanted poster. |
One of my students really surprised me. She’s a freshman and
unbeknownst to me a rising opera star. She was one of a dozen singers awarded a
coveted position this summer in EPCASO (Ezio Pinza Council for American Singers
of Opera—and you think governments are big on acronyms). In its 32nd
year, EPACSO’s website describes itself as a month-long Summer Opera Program with concentrated study
and training in voice, repertoire, and language for singers. The program is
specifically designed for those singers whose abilities indicate a realistic
possibility for a career in opera.
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| Ezio Pinza (1892-1957) |
Well
done, Jesse! And after that buildup how
can I not share with you a sample of her singing. Undoubtedly it was my mysterious teaching
that made her the star she is today.
Another of my students received a grant for this summer to study the habits of European-based mystery writers, of which Cara, Yrsa, and I are
included as targets. Savvy kids in my
class.
And on Wednesday night I said adieux to my Mykonos After
Midnight book tour with a MWA-NY panel titled “Mysteries in Translation” at
the New York Public Library. Annamaria,
Chris Pavone, and I were the panelists, moderated by Shizuka Obate.
Later, Annamaria, Chris and I joined friends in a spontaneous
dash over to a nearby Greek restaurant and a great fun time in a warm-up for my
coming week.
Now it’s on to finishing up farm work, packing, and writing.
Yes, finally, after five months of everything but writing…or so it seemed…the
time has come to turn to Andreas Kaldis #7 for 2015. Assuming I can come up
with an idea.
But that’s why I return to Greece, folks. For inspiration. And it never fails.
Bye-bye for now. Yiasu!
Jeff—Saturday
