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Thursday, May 17, 2018

Malice Domestic 30 - Very special author and fan encounters and the cutest attendee ever!


Today, I'd like to slow down a bit and tell you some stories.  And share a few pictures.  As I said in my first post, I was alone at Malice this year.  That worked well, but I didn't have eating companions planned or friends to talk with at breaks.  I had to be 'brave' (and you need to know that for this lifelong introvert, that was scary) and initiate conversations.  I did that and it was very sweet and satisfying.  Let me tell you about a few people:



Early Friday morning, I saw this group of ladies - from L to R - Alice Loweecey (always in a hat and costume), Gretchen Archer (nominated for Best Short Story), and Dru Ann Love (has the great blog - dru's book musings - just nominated for an Anthony Award for Best Online Content!)



This is author Misty Simon (L), who I met outside the book dealer room and, yes, me (R).  When she came around at the Malice Go Round, I noticed her dress.  After seeing her in the hall, I told her that her outfit was great - the skirt had a creepy forest vibe.  Told her it looked like something Abby Sciuto would wear on NCIS.  She said, just wait until tomorrow for the skulls.
   


The next day, I looked specifically for Misty and found her wearing her 'skull' dress.  Great for a mystery convention, right?  So, I had to buy her book and get her to sign it.  Of course.  LOL



I also met author Susan Reiss in the book dealers room.  We talked about a bunch of things and she was so kind to agree to pose with her book, Hammered Silver (4th in her Silver Mystery series).  Susan was helping out in a special way in the book room.  As I so enjoyed visiting with her, I picked up this book and hope to try the other 3 as well. 



The picture here is of author Christine Trent (L) and yours truly (R).  This was taken after the live auction.  As I said yesterday, I won the items donated by Christine and I was thrilled with the Elizabeth George books.  However, I really, really wanted to support her and her new series about Florence Nightingale.  Christine had shared online somewhere (a blog post that I read probably) that she is writing this series as a tribute to her late mother, a gifted nurse.  She said she was so pleased that the first book, No Cure For the Dead, would be available during National Nurses Week, May 6-12.  It seemed fitting.  I said that I had already bought a copy of her book in the book dealers room, but was happy to obtain another copy with the auction win.  The first copy I wanted her to personalize to my daughter, a gifted Labor and Delivery nurse, for National Nurses Week.  We bonded over our special nurses and she wrote a very sweet note to my girl.  I told her that I was sure her mother would have been so proud of her.  And we agreed that we were the biggest fans of nurses.  I was glad we got to share our stories with each other.     



This picture was taken at the Sisters in Crime Breakfast that I attended on Saturday morning.  Both of these lovely ladies are authors - Jane Willan (L) and Triss Stein (R).  Had a great visit at our table.  I spoke with Triss outside the room and we continued chatting after we found a table and picked up our food.  She writes a series set in Brooklyn - published by the Poisoned Pen Press.  I've read the first book, Brooklyn Bones.  Jane was at her first Malice and she is the author of The Shadow of Death, the first Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn mystery, set in Wales.  I picked it up for my Kindle soon after the breakfast (and just finished it - loved it - watch for the review!).  The second book in the series is The Hour of Death and it will be published in October.     



These lovely authors are Nicole Leiren (L) and Libby Klein (R).  They were sitting next to each other at a signing and I was glad to get a great picture of both.  Libby's first book in her Poppy McAllister series is Class Reunions Are Murder.  Her second, Midnight Snacks Are Murder, will be out at the end of July.  I told her that I had a number of blogging friends who had enjoyed her 'Class Reunions' book - said it was reported to be very funny.  And I was pleased to get her to sign a copy for me.  Can't wait to read it.  She was delightful to visit with.

Before I show the cutest attendee at the conference, I want to give a shout out to a few others.  After I arrived tired and hungry on Thursday evening, I went to the restaurant for a salad and met another person coming in - it was author Nancy Cole Silverman, who suggested that we eat together.  Again, 'brave' - we had a wonderful meal and visit.  Nancy took a picture of us, but honestly I felt you could see up my nose - decided not to share it.  Ha!  She was great and I was happy to hear about her books and writing.  

I also sat with a couple of authors at the Brenda Blethyn interview and then for the opening ceremonies.  Two historical authors that I had definitely heard about.  Anna Loan-Wilsey writes the Hattie Davish series in 1890's America - Hattie is a travelling secretary and each book is set in a different place.  Anna told me she had lived in Texas, but now lived elsewhere.  Her friend was Ashley Weaver, writer of the Amory Ames series set in the 1930's.  I know some of you have read books in this series.  It was Ashley's first time at Malice.  She's a librarian in Louisiana and writes her books at night.  Amazing, I told her and will check them out as well.

As I mentioned on Monday, I had a nice visit with Karen Olson as we were both walking through the 'Silent Auction' room.  I told her that her 'Black Hat' books were big favorites of some of my blogging friends and she told me that she never intended for it to be a series.  Plus, she didn't know all that much about computers - which was fine in the first book, Hidden, when the protagonist is staying off the grid, but later, not so much.  She researches - a lot.  We also shared some other family things and I was so glad I got to talk to Karen.

And, yes, I saw other authors and visited with them all over the place.  Chatted with Louise Penny at the Starbucks in the hotel.  The day before, I had also chatted with Rhys Bowen at the same place.  And Lori Rader-Day suggested a great tea for me to try on the 3rd day at, yes, Starbucks.  So, hang out at Starbucks in the lobby of your hotel.  You never know who you will see!

There were several ladies that I ate with and sat with and visited with that were fans like me.  Some were at their first conference, some were veteran attendees.  I enjoyed every conversation and gave most of them my blog address.  Did not ask permission to share their names, so if you are reading this, ladies - thanks so much for making my time at Malice so...much...fun!!!   
        


Finally, this is the cutest puppy ever!  Koa is a service dog that accompanied his human (who is diabetic) to the conference.  They are from Hawaii and Koa was very, very popular with everyone!  Somehow, one just thinks that he might appear on a book cover somewhere.

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Tomorrow, the last post.  You're probably sighing with relief!  Ha!  We'll talk about the Agatha Awards Banquet and who won, my table host and do a wrap up.  See you tomorrow!

30 comments:

  1. I have just read all your Malice Domestic posts - great posts and great photos! What a fantastic time you've had - and so many authors and books - wonderful.

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    1. Thanks, Margaret! Yes, it was quite a fun time.

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  2. What a fab event. Thanks for sharing, Kay. And congrats on going it alone. Two authors I've read are Louise Penny and Rhys Bowen so I'm excited you had an opportunity to chat with them as well as all of the other authors. Wow!

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    1. I had met Louise Penny before more than once, but had not had the opportunity to meet Rhys. It was easier than I thought to strike up a conversation.

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  3. Fun post! Again let me say how much I loved Karen E Olson's White Hat series! Nice that you met her and some of the authors you named are new to me, so I'll look them up and see what they write. And Christine Trent, as I've mentioned, is a fun and informative historical author, having read several by her.

    Okay, I'll bite... what kind of tea did Lori Rader-Day recommend at Starbucks-- lol? I like to discover new to me teas and have quite a collection in my kitchen. I also love her books and am impatiently waiting for the new one.

    Thanks for sharing all your pics and thoughts this week! Last year when you went I discovered a few authors whom I went on to read and enjoy. I hope other bloggers have the same experience...

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    1. The tea was a Tazo tea (think that's the only kind that Starbucks sells) - wild sweet orange. She was drinking Earl Grey, but I don't like that. The orange tea was good. And thanks for the kind words about the posts. I really like sharing all this with other bloggers.

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  4. Don't know which I liked best--Misty Simon's dresses or Koa, the adorable service dog!

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  5. I feel like I've said the same thing on all your Malice Domestic posts but they all hold so true! This sounds like so much fun and the number of authors you got to meet is amazing. How did you have a conversation with Louise Penny and Rhys Bowen without squealing? A visit to this conference is definitely high up on my wish list.

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    1. Maybe you should make this your 'birthday' thing next year, Katherine. Ha! I had actually met Louise before and talked with her about a visit she made to Austin last year and also about the Poisoned Pen Bookstore (where I first met her years ago). You'll laugh at what I said to Rhys - I was deciding whether to get 1 banana or 2 for a snack in my bag and asked her what she thought - 1 or 2? She laughed and said get 2, then you'll have an extra' and then I told her so many of our mystery group loved her books, etc. It was very nice.

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  6. I am glad you were brave and talked to so many authors. It sounds like that was a good experience. I am very shy, that would be hard for me too.

    I love that skull dress that Misty Simon was wearing! and that very cute dog.

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    1. You know, as I visited with several authors (some of them looked a bit like they were shy too), they talked about how it was scary for them as well. Said they were used to being in their homes, in their jammies, writing and drinking tea. Not being with scads of people. That made me feel better. Think a lot of them are introverts as well. Ha!

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  7. You met Rhys Bowen and Louise Penny!!! That's fantastic!!

    Just added so many books to my wish list based on this post. Already downloaded Brooklyn Bones for my Kindle.

    I'm one of the bloggers who reviewed and loved Class Reunions are Murder. I'll be touring and reviewing McAllister's second book in the coming weeks.

    I've put the dates for the 2019 conference on my calendar and am working on convincing a colleague to come with me (we attend lots of publishers previews and conferences together--PLA, Book Expo), so I don't think it will be a tough sell. I've also forwarded all your Malice Domestic posts to her. I know, subtle, right? However, if she doesn't commit, I've decided I'll go by myself (I'm an introvert too). This conference is drivable distance for me and sounds too good to miss.

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    1. Catherine, I think that's wonderful! You considering going with a friend. I'm not going to be there next year, sadly, or I'd love to meet up with you. The conference is well attended, but it's also friendly and small-ish. As compared to Book Expo or something. Many of the people are older and also many have attended year after year. It helps, I think, to be familiar with current books and just books in general (which you are). That way you can decided what panels to attend and also you can recognize authors names on their name badges that hang around their necks. I found many of them very friendly, especially when you told them you'd loved their books or had heard good things.

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  8. I just bought the Kindle version of Murder at the Brightwell, the first in the Amory Ames series by Ashley Weaver. Thanks for mentioning her. I've not heard of these books, and they sound right up my alley (street in the old country).
    Also, Triss Stein. I really like those Brooklyn books, and hope she writes some more. I would think being there at Malice is an indication that she will.
    I love your nurses story. Such a lovely thing to bring your girl. Have I told you my mother was a nurse?
    Why aren't you going next year?

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    1. Good to know that you'll try Murder at the Brightwell. Hope it works for you. And hope Triss does decide to continue the series. No, I don't think you ever told me that your mother was a nurse. How did I miss that? Ha! As to next year, well, we're still trying to decide what we'll do for vacations at that time. Plus, Bouchercon (the big, big mystery convention) is in Dallas in October of 2019. I'm considering going to that one. We'll see.

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    2. Meant to say I like the gray hoodie-minus-the-hood shirt in the picture with Misty S.

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    3. Thanks! I've practically worn it out over this last winter. It's really too big now, but it still works well enough.

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  9. You can keep the stories of your time at Malice Domestic coming! I love hearing about the authors you met and the experiences. I find that usually events like these everyone is so welcoming that even if you are more of an introvert, chances are you'll find someone to talk to because you know at least you have something in common to be there!

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    1. Yes, most everyone is pretty friendly at these events. Just takes a little breaking of the ice.

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  10. Well done you for getting out there and chatting to so many people. As someone who's on the shy side myself, I know both how hard and how rewarding that can be. The dog is adorable!

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    1. The dog was cute and believe me, he knew it. Everyone was stopping by and petting him. I was glad that I decided to smile and be extra friendly as well. Once I got started, it was easier.

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  11. Way to be brave! Sounds like you met some great people because of it. And, oh my goodness, that is an adorable service dog. I've thought about getting one because of my diabetes, but I've never gotten further than thinking about it ...

    Glad you had so much fun at the conference!

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    1. Apparently, Koa is very good at his job - according to his 'human' anyway. We've met a lady and her dog in Ruidoso, NM who helps her with her epilepsy. I find all those dogs amazing!

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  12. What an awesome experience. I loved reading about your time there. It sounds like you met some great people.

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  13. "Chatted with Louise Penny at the Starbucks in the hotel." I love the way you just drop that in. :) How very cool, Kay!

    This was such a great write-up. I love all the photos and you look like you're having a grand time. Bravo for being brave! I'll bet it took several days before you came down from your high when you got back home.

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    1. It did take a bit of time. I was tired for sure. And then Nan's visit was immediately after, which was wonderful. And, I had met Louise more than once, so it was easier to chat with her.

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!