Author Signing Events

Author signing events are a crap shoot. You never know how many people will show up or what the weather will be. But if it’s a group signing, there’s the opportunity to share stories with other authors. Last Thursday night authors Linda Berry, Beth Groundwater and I did a signing event at the Mont Blanc Boutique in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center in Denver. This is the second time in two months that the three of us have been scheduled together for an event. And guess what? It snowed both times. In December the weather was so bad that only Linda made it through the snow. This time all three of us braved the elements and appeared. We didn’t have a very large turnout, but I enjoyed the camaraderie of catching up on what we had all been doing in the last several months. Group signings are always more fun than sitting at a table by yourself.

Left Coast Crime Conference

Over the next month I’ll be reading a whole bunch of mystery novels. At the Left Coast Crime Conference in Los Angeles in March I’ll be moderating two panels: a Geezer Lit session with Rita Lakin, Cynthia Riggs and Margaret Grace and a New Author panel with Rachel Brady, Sophie Littlefield, Lenny Kleinfeld and Barbara Graham. I’ll also be Master of Ceremony for the New Author Introduction Breakfast. I’ve read books by Rita, Cynthia and Barbara and am looking forward to becoming familiar with the other authors. I have a big stack of book sitting on a table next to my easy chair in the living room. I’ll be watching some of the winter Olympics but also immersing myself in a fine list of mysteries.

The Writer's Life

I have a number of writing projects going on. I just finished a thriller that I sent off to my agent. We’ll see what happens with that one. I’m now in the process of rewriting and expanding the first novel in a new geezer-lit mystery series. I’m also working on a short story to submit for consideration for a Mystery Writers of America anthology. Then I’m preparing two workshops to give at the Northern Colorado Writers Conference in March. I continue to give my presentation, Aging and Other Minor Inconveniences, to groups—one retirement home and two service organizations scheduled next week. I was thinking this morning about the contrast between having a day job and being retired to write full time. One difference I can find is now I work seven days a week instead of five. But it's on my terms!

Writing a Synopsis

I enjoy writing novels and even like coming up with short, punchy blurbs or tag lines. But crafting a synopsis is a different story. I start with a basic outline when I’m beginning a novel. I then print this out to use as a guideline as I write. But my stories always go off in their own direction so when a novel is completed, I look back at my outline and find only part that has remained true to my original concept. I then use this outline to write a synopsis after the novel is completed. I write over the outline and have to change a great deal because of how the novel evolved. When I look at the first draft of a synopsis, I want to throw up. It’s a boring cut-out. Then I have to rewrite it to put some life into it. My druthers would be to skip a synopsis completely. I prefer someone reading my novel and getting caught up in the story and characters rather than having to digest a two-page summary.

Living With Your Kids Is Murder is a finalist for the Lefty Award at the Left Coast Crime Conference

I just received some exciting news. My novel, Living With Your Kids Is Murder, is a finalist for the Lefty Award at the Left Coast Crime Conference, taking place in March. The Lefty is given to the best humorous novel published in 2009. I'm in great company. The other finalists are:
Donna Andrews Swan for the Money
Denise Dietz Strangle a Loaf of Italian Bread
Rita Lakin Getting Old Is a Disaster
Kris Neri High Crimes on the Magical Plane

Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers of America

I’ve just been elected vice-president of Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers of America. As president, Mario Acevedo, says we’re the largest and smallest MWA chapter—largest in geography and smallest in number of members. It’s a great group of people, and we have monthly meetings at the Denver Press Club, the second Thursday of the month (except for June through August) which feature fascinating speakers and dinner. This last Thursday Dr. Joe Gentile, Forensic Odontologist, spoke on solving crimes through dental identification. Next month Lieutenant Sanchez of the Denver Police Department’s vice and narcotics unit will speak about the seamy and dangerous business of prostitution. In October Silvia Pettem will describe the Boulder Jane Doe case from 1954, and in November Detective Chuck Heidel will recount the Tantra Rapist case that was solved after eleven years of persistence. In December we’ll all be going to the Adams Mystery Dinner Playhouse for our holiday party. Anyone who is in the Denver area is invited to join the meetings. Visit http://www.rmmwa.org.

Aging and Other Minor Inconveniences

In conjunction with my writing, I’ve been giving a presentation titled, Aging and Other Minor Inconveniences, to organizations around the Colorado Front Range. Yesterday I gave a talk to a great group of people, the Boulder chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). The Colorado Federation President, Frank Impinna, also attended to initiate the new officers of the Boulder chapter. I enjoyed his presentation, and he shared several indicators of how you know you’re getting older. You know you’re getting older when someone compliments you on your alligator shoes and you’re barefoot. You know you’re getting older when getting lucky means finding your car in the parking lot. You know you’re getting older when a little action means taking fiber. You know you’re getting older when your sweetie says let’s go upstairs and go to bed and you answer, pick one.