Traveling to Bethesda!

I'm nearly packed for Malice Domestic! Very excited to go, even though there's no nomination for me this year. I'm not even very nervous about my panel (The Paws that Refresh, Saturday, 3:00, if you're going, too). Maybe I've done enough of them by now.

Here's a story about my very first panel at a mystery conference. It was a short-lived conference in Plano, TX. It drew very good names, but only lasted a few years. I was attending as an unpublished mystery writer. I knew a few of the writers, though, some online and some in person.

There was a panel about to start and I was in the hallway outside the room. Cindy Daniel came up to me and said the panel was short a person and I had to fill in. I couldn't possibly do that! I'd never been on one! And I wasn't published. And the topic wasn't something I touched on in my books. She almost literally shoved me up the steps to the table and there I was--on a mystery panel.

As best I remember, the topic was prayer, or maybe religion, in mysteries. There was no overt prayer in the one I was writing. That one is published as EINE KLEINE MURDER now, by Barking Rain Press. But my character is a moral person. I might have said something like, she was brought up going to Sunday School and church, and prays, but it's not spelled out in the book. I must have said some other things about writing--or something.

When it was over, I was surprised that several people wanted to talk to me and said they liked what I had said. I think I might have been able to sell a book or two--if I 'd had any.

After that terrifying introduction to being on a mystery panel, there's never been another one as scary. Thanks, Cindy, for starting me out right.

No post next week, and maybe not the week after. But I WILL be back.

(Cross posted at http://janetcantrell.blogspot.com/)

A Few Crazy Things

I’ve gathered together a few possibilities for blogs, but realize that just one isn’t enough for a blog. So I’m giving you several of them.

First of all, this gift idea for writers—or anyone who jots down notes. Don’t ask me what waterproof paper is! 8 people gave glowing testimonials, although not one would give a complete name, I noticed.

Second, exploding butter.

In the microwave. 

On the stove. 

I’ll add that I’ve melted butter in pyrex in the microwave for years and have never had this happen. Still waiting for this big excitement!

Now that vinyl is making a comeback, how about a portablerecord player?

Electrified water never caught on

Before e-readers, there was the Fiske Reading Machine. It never quite caught on.

Hope you enjoy this collection of oddities!

Here's why this blog is late

Big News! My Austin writing group, called—appropriately enough—Austin Mystery Writers, had our very first short story anthology published this month! We've been celebrating in our giddy excitement. Here’s a bit about it:

The eleven stories in Murder on Wheels put the pedal to the floor and never let up! Whether by bus, car, tractor, or bike, you'll be carried along at a breakneck pace by the talented Austin Mystery Writers. These eight authors transport you from an eighteenth-century sailing ship to the open roads of modern Texas, from Alice's Wonderland to a schoolbus yard in the suburbs of Dallas. Grab your book, hold on to your hat, and come along for the ride!

Included are:

A NICE SET OF WHEELS, by Kathy Waller
FAMILY BUSINESS, by Reavis Z. Wortham
ROTA FORTUNAE, by V. P. Chandler
MOME RATH, MY SWEET, by Gale Albright
THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND, by Kaye George
BUON VIAGGIO, by Laura Oles
APORKALYPSE NOW, by Gale Albright
HAVE A NICE TRIP, by Kaye George
DEAD MAN ON A SCHOOL BUS, by Earl Staggs
HELL ON WHEELS, by Kathy Waller
RED’S WHITE F-150 BLUES, by Scott Montgomery

All of the included writers are Texans and I’m an Ex, still an honorary member of the writing group. Reavis and Earl were invited to give us extra class and they came through like the pros they both are. We’re thrilled that Wildside has published this and that it will be available at Malice Domestic in May! Meanwhile you can order copies in at least these places, probably more:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

And now, the REAL reason I’m late this week: I’m blaming everything on taxes.

April Fool!

I really wanted to try a prank, but I realize I couldn't possibly top these. Trouble is, I might have believed some of them!

http://hoaxes.org/aprilfool/

Spring!

I don’t have too much to say today, in the midst of edits on several projects and trying to squeeze in others.

But I would like you to see our daffodils before it snows on Saturday.

Fat Cat Spreads Out ARC Giveaway

Guess why I didn’t post last week? I was busy furiously editing to meet the deadline to turn in my manuscript for Fat Cat #3, as yet unnamed. I’d like to call it FAT CAT UNLEASHED, because Quincy, in the process of being leash trained, gets loose and finds—you guessed it, a dead body. However, there’s no official title yet. Lots of editing left, too!

Meanwhile, a couple of days ago, the ARCs (Advance Reader Copy) arrived for Fat Cat #2—FAT CAT SPREADS OUT! It does have a title and will be released June 2nd.

I have earmarked most of the ARCs to be doled out to reviewers. However, there are still a few left. Below is what the actual cover will look like.

I’d like to give away 2 of the ARCs at Janet Cantrell’s place (http://janetcantrell.blogspot.com/). If you’d like one, please hope over there and leave a comment. (You may see a post very similar to this one over there.) The giveaway will close midnight EST on Sunday, the 22nd.

Maybe, with this deadline met, I’ll post more regularly both here and at Janet’s.

Had Enough?

There’s something wrong with me. I love snow. (I AM ducking now.)

We’re not Boston, but it’s been bad here, too. Living in Knoxville, a typical snow is 1 to 1 1/2 inches, which stops the town for a day or two. Two weeks ago we had sleet for two days (about 2 inches), then snow on top of that, about 5 inches. Another snow a week later. Branches and power lines were down, especially to the area west of here where the elevation is higher. Schools and businesses here closed for two weeks. On the plateau (that higher area), they may still be closed. As of last night, some people were still in shelters. They hadn’t been able to live in their homes for over two weeks.

I know all of that. It’s treacherous, killing stuff. The death toll in TN was 30. Most of our problem, though, was the underlying ice and the unusually cold temperatures, so that the ice never melted.

The only time I’ve had enough snow is when we lived in Montana and Minnesota and it was still snowing in April.

Right now, if snow started falling, I would get an unreasonable, irrational feeling of elation. Is it because I’m part Scandinavian? I’m not sure. I wonder if this happens to anyone else.