Jeff—Saturday
I haven’t had time to reflect on 2015, and with the way 2016
is shaping up (TRANSLATION: Look at the US Presidential race—it makes Greek
politics look downright progressive), that might not be a bad thing. For sure, I don’t want to attempt
anticipating how this new year will fare in comparison.
Yes, there were ups and there were downs (aren’t there
always?) but reflection only brings to mind a song from Stephen Sondheim’s
Follies: “I’m Still Here.” Ain’t that
the truth, though sadly one of the song’s most celebrated performers, Elaine
Stritch, is not, but here’s
her memorable 2012 performance celebrating Sondheim’s 80th
Anniversary.
All of
which got me thinking about the good times. The grandkids for sure (their
parents sometimes:))
and, though I got to spend less than my usual time on Mykonos, I did get to
reacquaint myself with my farm.
And I spent a lot of time on tour.
That’s when I realized how blessed
I am to be living a writer’s life. Not
for the book sales, awards, movie deals, or wild sex parties (that fantasy was
for you EvKa), but the camaraderie of the crime writing community. At least for
me, that’s what this is all about.
After all writing may be a lousy
way to make a living, but it’s a wonderful way to make a life.
So, for cheery thoughts I turned to
my trusty bible of modern memories, aka my iPhone. Lo and behold, waiting for
me sat smiling proof of what makes it all so worthwhile. So, dear US Presidential candidates, please move
your practiced smiles off stage for a while in order that this little corner of
the social networking world can show some writerly faces representative of shared
good times in 2015.
It all began in September at Bloody
Scotland when Caro and Allan plied us with a magic potion that kept us smiling
all weekend. They must have had a lot of
it in reserve, because everywhere Caro went hysteria ruled.
A month
later most of our MIE crew turned up at Bouchercon in Raleigh, North Carolina,
and though Susan and Zoë missed this photo op, they were there to keep us on
the straight and narrow.
We did
catch up with Zoë a few days later at her signing on New York’s Upper Westside.
Then it was
off to meet up with Tim Hallinan and Martin Limon in Orange, California and
again in San Diego.
From there we
made it to Portland, Oregon, and while waiting for Mr. Tim to arrive, stumbled
into Powell’s, found the Eoin Colfer celebratory shelf, and paid proper homage
to a buddy, be he ever so Fowl—in an Artemis sort of way.
And when Mr. Hallinan finally did
arrive, the local asylum gates opened wide and out emerged the rarest of local strange
birds, a living breathing EvKa (left, below).
Fleeing Portland we made it to
Seattle, where along with the crew of Seattle Mystery Bookshop, we hung out
with fellow author Ingrid Thoft (on left).
We spent a solo day in Denver at
the Tattered Cover, but I’d grown used to sharing the load and so it was off to
Tucson and a duet with Donis Casey, author of the brilliant, All Men Fear My Name, followed by
teaming up in Scottsdale with David P. Wagner, author of the Italy-based Rick
Montoya series. Sadly my photographer assistant sat mesmerized at those events
and no photographic evidence exists.
Then came Chicago, at Christmas
time at Centuries & Sleuths, and I shared the stage with madrigal singers.
But my best holiday present was a
surprise visit from Leighton Gage’s wife, Eide, and daughter Melina!
And it all ended up in Minneapolis,
where Stan and I spent the afternoon with Pat Volgrap of Once Upon a Crime, the
legendary bookstore run by Pat and her husband, Gary Schulze. I love that place, but sadly it’s
closing. We shall though always have the
memories, and more importantly, the friendships.
Viva the writing life!
—Jeff
Posts
