Malice Doings

I'm going to imagine that you have never been to a mystery convention and tell you what happens, at least at this one. Malice Domestic is one of the larger cons, always held in Arlington, VA around the end of April. It's cozy based, which means most of those who attend write, read, or help to publish and promote cozy mysteries. These are mysteries that are less violent, less police oriented, and often involve amateur sleuths.

Today is the first day of the con, and people are checking in and learning their way around. This morning we'll have some introductory meetings, most of which I will not attend, since I've been here before. Those of us who don't attend a panel in any one time slot are likely to be found sitting in groups, talking about (or complaining about) the publishing industry.

After lunch we'll have panels that discuss or people who explain aspects of mystery. One of my favorites, The Poison Lady, is Luci Zahray, a full time pharmacist and part time adviser on how to kill people (IN YOUR MYSTERY NOVEL ONLY. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.)

We'll have other panels and interviews through the afternoon. I'll be looking for people I've met at other cons so we can catch up. I'll be checking out the book room, giving away freebies to publicize my books, and enjoying the ambiance.

Horton, We Are Here!

Two days' driving, but it was beautiful all the way. Traffic was okay and the Garmin did the rest. (I love that thing!) So here I am at the Marriott, wishing I could live like this for at least a month. Lots of people who love to talk about books, lots of fancy food and attentive hotel staff (if you tip well), and the chance to see old friends, make new friends, and see my heroes of the writing world.



Cool.

With Malice Aforethought

Day Two of Preparing for Malice: Now it's time to be sure I have all the non-clothing stuff covered.

I have packed bookmarks and books, business cards and copies of relevant documents. I have my passport (I know where D.C. is, but we may return through Canada, so there.) I have two suitcases: an on-the-road dufflebag and my official Malicewear suitcase. So what's left to do?

I need to make sure that my laptop has everything on it that I might need while I'm gone. I tend to forget to bring things like passwords and email addresses, and when I need to get into a site or contact someone, I can't. I know, there should be a file somewhere, and there probably is, but it won't be up to date and it won't be easy to find. Schedule that for this evening, while I watch the Tigers lose yet another game.

My panel is on the history of sleuthing, but I'm not the moderator, so I just have to discuss. That I can do. I should review the questions the moderator sent once more, though.

Then I have to make sure my S.O. can find things like cat litter and peanut butter, and I think I'm good to go!

Bound for Malice

It's been done before, and I know why. Bloggers need topics, and a trip is an easy one. So for the next week or so, I'll tell you about my preparation, travel, and experiences relating to Malice Domestic in Washington, D.C.


Today is Planning What to Drag Along Day: clothes, books, and assorted miscellaneous items.

We'll begin with clothes. Here is my process. I think about the things I will be doing on the trip, and carefully lay out an outfit for each activity. Travel clothes will be comfortable but coordinated. Appearance clothes will be chosen to hide my figure flaws as much as possible. I always pack a black sweatsuit (which my son calls my Ninja suit) to wear around the hotel room. It's non-tight everywhere and modest enough that I could wear it to breakfast or down the hall for a bucket of ice. Then the extras get added: sweaters and/or jackets in case the weather turns cold, an extra, neutral colored top in case of an accidental stain on a planned outfit (it has happened before), and jewelry to match appropriate outfits.

Then it's on to shoes, my nemeses. After thirty years of standing/walking on concrete school floors, there is no such thing as a shoe I can comfortably wear all day, so I shoot for best available, knowing that at the conference I'll change halfway through the day to give my poor feet a break.

There. The clothing choosing is done, today's task complete. However, I know myself, as Socrates said I should. When I am actually on the road and it's too late to change my mind, I will hate every one of these outfits and ask myself why I made such stupid choices.

Except the Ninja suit. That I always like.

I Have a Corset!!

You might recall that I need a Catherine Parr costume for a historical fashion show in July. For a while I thought I would never finish the corset, but John helped with the grommets last night, and now I have a complete set of Tudor underwear: shift, bum roll, farthingale, and corset. Crazy thing is, none of this will show--now I have to work on the items that will.

The corset was the worst, though, endless steps of intricate instructions that made my head hurt. I finally broke it down into steps, making myself complete one each day. Hmmm. That's how you finish a novel, too. The Bitch Principle (Butt In The Chair, Honey), usually works. This time it was just a different chair in a different room!

The Tangled Web of a Mystery Plot

I hope all you mystery readers appreciate the work we writers put into killing people.

For me, a plot has to make sense, be satisfying, and follow logically. I try very hard to avoid TSTL moments (too stupid to live) where a character goes after the killer alone, at night, in a swamp, in high heels or whatever.

I want my readers to have a fair shot at identifying the killer, but I really hope they are surprised, too. In the book I finished reading this morning at breakfast, the clumsy cop who got in the way of the investigation was just a bit too inept for believability, and I knew he was The Guy.

Of course there have to be red herrings (NPI), not too many, though. And when there is a scene where the killer spills his/her guts to the protag, I require a really good reason for them to be spending time together, not just a desire to gloat on the criminal's part.

The denouement, the "unraveling", should be evident by the time we get to it. There should not be long scenes where the sleuth explains motivation or complicated factors. Hints interspersed in the story should come together, so the reader thinks, "I should have seen it coming."

What all this does is make it difficult to write a good mystery. I would never claim that I'm great at all these things, but it is what a mystery writer should strive for: logic and believability, with an ending that wraps everything in a package that makes the reader say, "That's good."

Observations-You May Keep Them to Yourself

Two conversations I've had in the last week deal with other people's comments about oneself. The question that arose is why do people think they have to comment on what others do. Is it just a need to say something, or do they really feel that you need their advice? Those who make personal comments don't realize that it comes off as "I'm better/smarter/wiser than you, so I'm going to tell you how to become more like me."



Some examples: "Boy, you sure like to eat." "You should dump that guy. He's no good for you."

"I notice you wear a lot of black. Do you know that makes you look old?"



Nice people (like me) usually smile and change the subject or say something mildly defensive, like "I like black." But what we THINK is, "SHUT UP!"

Reading, Good Writing, and Kids

Coincidentally, in the last week I've had two former students write and very kindly give me credit for introducing them to their favorite authors. Not the same author, of course. I get it quite often, "I've loved Emily Dickinson ever since having your class," or "You introduced me to John Steinbeck." It's a former English teacher's greatest joy.



The world is wide, so wide, and there are so many good authors. A teacher's job, in my opinion, is to give students a peek at as many authors as possible, give them the tools to discover their greatness, and then get out of the way. Some will hate them all. That's okay; we need millwrights and technicians as well as lit lovers. Some will become fascinated with one author. I had a student once so enamored of Stephen Crane's poetry that he ignored everything else the class offered. I guess that's fine, too.



What a teacher hopes for, though, is students who understand the range of talent in writing. Is Dickens too wordy? Try Hemingway. Is cummings too out there? Try Frost. The goal is students who know not only what's out there, but what's inside them. Today they may get a laugh of our Shel Silverstein or a thrill out of Robert Browning. The day may come when they want more depth, and Hawthorne may actually appeal to them.



And if not, there's always someone else some long-ago English teacher introduced.

Networking

It's something you should never see, IMHO, but more about that later.



I spoke at a Career Day last week, and the topic of networking came up. The students didn't know what it was, but since I shared the stage with a newspaper reporter, we explained how we reciprocate in helping each other. I give her interviews that hopefully pull in readers. I aslo buy advertising space in her paper. She gives me publicity that should result in name recognition and book sales. Neither of us views the other as merely a profit opportunity.



Since I started trying to get published, I've made lots of contacts in the business: authors, editors, agents, reviewers, media people, and fans. Each of them has the potential to help my career, often in ways I can never foresee. For example, a friend from church bought my first book, liked it, gave it to her daughter, who liked it and passed it on to her husband. He liked it, too, and knew a reporter from a newspaper in a much larger town than mine, so he passed it on to her. She liked it and called me for an interview. That's how it works. Anyone who hears about a writer and has good things to say becomes a possibility for broadcasting that news to others. The net expands over time.



I always keep in mind, however, that a network is made up of people. To me, they're friends or at least acquaintances that I would help if I got the chance. I don't cultivate them with the idea that they can further my career, and I do my best to serve their needs, whether it's for a good book to read or a mention in one of my author talks or a professional attitude in work relationships. As I said at the beginning, networking should not be obviously seen. It comes from an understanding that we need to work together, and not just think, "Hey, here's a live one!"

Phoning It In

Just finished a book by an author I usually like. The plot was okay. The characters were there, and I knew what I needed to know about them. The ending was a culmination of plot events, and everything added up.



And I felt absolutely nothing.



I might have been reading the phone book or a cereal box for all the interest or excitement I got from the book. There was nothing wrong, not really, but something was just not right. I didn't care about the characters, didn't have much reaction when the murderer was revealed, didn't much care that the protagonist found love (or at least some hot sex) at the end.



Obviously, the author wasn't passionate about this one, and her lack of passion was most definitely catching. I propose that we write the books we really care about. Or don't write.

Thrown-away Words

It's the ides of April, so why don't we call it that?



I like the idea of a term for the middle of the month. We have the first of the month and the last of the month. So "the ides" is a good marker, letting us know we're halfway through. No one says it, though.



There are lots of words from the past that we've thrown away, words that are still good, like those rollover minutes on TV. Varlet. Whippersnapper. Mewl. Strumpet. I could go on.

Bookstores Done Right

When they're done right, bookstores feel kind of like home. You do as you like, stay as long as you like, have a snack, read a little, chat a little about your favorite things, and get intellectual stimulation from discussion with those who "live" there. I've been in lots of bookstores in the past few years, staying near a table of my books and directing customers to the bathroom or the nonfiction shelves. As I visit, I see the staff in action, and it's easy to tell the best stores.



Yesterday it was McLean and Eakin, a lovely place in Petoskey, Michigan, that exemplifies the good that bookstores do. The day began with the owner and me visiting a local school, where I talked about writing and she left the students with an invitation to come to the store and a list of books they might want to try. Then we went to the store, where I sold/signed books. My coming was advertised in their newsletter, and the front window showcased my work. There was a large display inside the store of authors booked to appear, including me. The staff pointed customers toward what they wanted, but when it was appropriate, they mentioned that there was an author in-house today in whom they might be interested.



It felt good to be made welcome, to be encouraged, to be treated as a partner in the process of matching people with books they will like. Much better than some bookstores where I've sat like a forgotten stepchild in a corner while the clerks recommend their favorite historical mystery writer without so much as a glance in my direction. No, it isn't all about me, but when I'm sitting right there...



On April 20, McLean and Eakin will celebrate reaching the $100,000 mark in giving back to their community. Gee: staff members who know all about books, a spirit of giving back, a welcoming atmosphere for every reader, and a true love of reading and books. That's a bookstore done right.
www.mcleanandeakin.com

Reading Men

I was talking to a friend today about reading and men, at least the men in my life. We wondered why many men don't read much until they're older, say, middle-aged. Once they start, they seem to be really into it, but why do they think it isn't cool or interesting or manly until they're forty?

Whan that Aprille with her shoures sweete...

April in the D. April in Paris. Pieces of April.



Whatever your impressions of the month, it seems to inspire folks. My goal is to finish my WIP before Malice Domestic, which is at the end of April. Somehow, in springtime, all things seem possible.

What Does Your T.V. Say About You?

I don't know why this came to mind, but it seems to me that what we watch on television says something about us as individuals.

Of course, there are plenty of factors that enter into the equation. People with little to do, such as the elderly or the unemployed, often watch shows they really don't like very well, just for something to do. I visited someone in a nursing home recently who was watching one of those Disney Channel teeny-bopper shows about junior high school angst. I know she didn't really care, but it was bright and lively, the opposite of the real world around her. And time is a factor, too. Those who work miss a chunk of the TV day, though I've known women who tape their "stories" so they don't miss a minute of soap opera action. I've also known people who hurry out of a meeting or other event so they don't miss the beginning of some show like BURN NOTICE or AMERICAN IDOL. I can't say that I've ever cared that much about anyone else's adventures, real or unreal.

Then there are the people who turn up their noses and say, "I don't watch T.V." Maybe they don't; I would never call them liars. It just seems like as the conversation proceeds, they know a lot about what's on and who is who.

Think about what you watch when you have the time, the inclination, and the power or choice (when your S.O. isn't holding the remote). What do you choose to watch, and what does that say about you? No answers here, but I really like the question.

I Want to Be a Cat

In my next life, I want to be a cat. The three things that matter to them are also important to me: napping, cleanliness, and play.

I could look much nicer if I spent roughly 20% of every 24 hours on grooming.

I would be less stressed, more alert, if I spent time every day exercising my muscles, honing my senses, and enjoying activities with no required result.

And if I could, in the middle of either grooming or playing, drop off to sleep for a while, I just know I'd wake refreshed and ready for ... more of the first two.

Meeting Writers

Which living writers would you most like to sit down for an hour with and why?



I'll start.

Margaret Atwood - She's just so brilliant.

Ariana Franklin - We'd have lots to discuss.

Sara Paretsky - What she's done in this business!



It isn't by design that they're all women. I'm sure there are lots of male writers

who would provide a fascinating interview as well. And my list might change

tomorrow.

The Ins and Outs of Sewing

I used to love it, but that was when I was broke most of the time. My kids could have new clothes without a lot of expense if I made them, and I was pretty good at pleasing their tastes, although one still hasn't forgiven me for the plaid '70s pants.



Later I was drama director at the high school where I taught, and again, cheap was good. My weekends were spent whipping up unique outfits from Wal-mart bargain fabric, shower curtains, old formals, and, in one instance, place mats. It was fun, and the results were gratifying. A costume could look elaborate without being particularly well made (our theme song was "From a Distance"). Since they only had to last through a few shows, pins, ties, and, in an emergency, duct tape, were intergral parts of many costumes.



Now I'm at work on something more difficult: a period costume for my gig at the Romance Writers of America Con this summer. I'm to be Catherine Parr, and it has to be right. No fun here, just a lot of work. So far I have the shift, the bum roll, and the hoop skirt done. I'm at work on the corset, but it's so complicated that I've limited myself to one step per day to limit frustration. To assure quality on the outer layer, I hired the dress itself, which consists of 9 yards of heavy fabric. Pictures will follow.



What I'm learning is that I don't like sewing that much any more. Gratifying, yes. But I'd rather be writing!

Why Do Women Do It?

Shave their legs. Powder their noses. Remove their back four molars. You know, the little things we do for beauty.



I'm making a Catherine Parr costume to wear in a historical fashion show this summer, and I keep asking myself, who would wear all this stuff? A fellow model just informed the group that for Victorian ladies, there were up to six layers of underwear. SIX!



Every era has its stories about the lengths women went to look "beautiful", whatever that term meant at the time. I'd love to hear from readers. What do you know/think about women and their quest for beauty? But I guarantee I'll come back to the question in the title: Why?

I'm on the Radio

Well, not until Sunday. I'm guesting on BLOGTALK RADIO's Red Rose Author show to talk about my new ebook, GO HOME AND DIE. Take a listen Sunday at 2:00 (they're cached so you can listen later if you're busy with Easter dinner at that point.)

Go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/redroseauthors

Hey, E-book Readers!

Somehow they just don't seem real. I got word this morning that my e-book, GO HOME AND DIE, has indeed become a published work. But where is the box of books I can unpack and admire?



My brain tells me that an e-book is real. Acquaintances tell me they love them. My publisher tells me it will soon be available on amazon. You can't get more real than that, right?



So I must believe it. To help with that, I'm giving away gift certificates for GO HOME AND DIE. Comment on this blog, and I'll enter your name in a drawing on April 5. The winner gets a PayPal gift certificate to purchase this Vietnam-era mystery. http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?products_id=697