I also attended Malice Domestic this year, which I have done for the last several years. It’s for cozy mystery authors and fans, and it’s held near Washington, D.C. Right afterward is the Mystery Lovers Festival in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, just up the river from Pittsburgh, where I grew up. Of course I go there annually, too. It’s a good excuse to visit family. I was dismayed, though, that Malice conflicted this year with the L.A. Times Festival of Books, which I wound up missing. They’re different weekends next year, though, so hopefully I’ll get to both.
This year the Romantic Times BOOKClub annual conference was also in Pittsburgh, a couple of weeks before Malice. I’d considered attending, but figured I’d be better off, time and money-wise, choosing one.
As a mystery writer as well as a romance writer, I find there are a lot of really appealing conferences annually. Next year’s Left Coast Crime, in February, is in Hawaii. I’m definitely tempted. This year’s Bouchercon is yet to come, in Baltimore–near Glen Burnie, where my husband and I have a vacation home. But I’m unlikely to make it this year because of some other travel plans. I did attend the Printers Row Book Fair in Chicago since it coincided with my future daughter-in-law’s bridal shower in the area–an excellent excuse! It’s always great when there are additional reasons to choose a particular event. However, I won’t get to the West Hollywood Book Fair this year since that’s the weekend my older son is getting married.
Some day, I want to attend ThrillerFest. And to attend the Edgar Week celebrations of the Mystery Writers of America in New York City. And then there are the fun-sounding mini-conferences held by RWA chapters all over the country. And by Sisters in Crime chapters. And–
Well, for this week, at least, I’ll take a deep breath and be glad to stay home!
Linda O. Johnston
www.LindaOJohnston.com
www.KillerHobbies.blogspot.com
Linda O. Johnston is the author of 14 romance novels as well as the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime–and has 2 Silhouette Nocturnes and a Nocturne Bites upcoming!
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Linda O. Johnston enjoys writing, romance, puzzles, and dogs. A former lawyer, Linda is now a full-time writer and has published 57 books—so far.
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Linda O. Johnston enjoys writing, romance, puzzles, and dogs. A former lawyer, Linda is now a full-time writer and has published 57 books—so far.
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What does a writer do between drafts of a story? Well, that depends.
I finished a first draft of my upcoming fourth story in my Shelter of Secrets series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. It still needs some work, but it’s currently in the hands of my excellent beta reader.
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I’ve had a fun few weeks–including my usual writing. Plus, I heard that the Dog Writers Association of America, of which I’m a member, was looking for humorous articles for their upcoming issue of RUFF DRAFTS, their publication, so I of course had to submit a short article about how my puppy keeps me from concentrating on my writing by insisting that I play fetch with her while I’m sitting at the computer. Humorous?
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I recently got word that my next Alaska Untamed Mystery, CRY WOLF, number two in the series, is now scheduled for publication on November 7. I love the cover! And the series is the first in which I’ve taken a pseudonym: Lark O. Jensen.
It’s not my only remaining book this year. I was already aware that my Coltons of New York book for Harlequin Romantic Suspense is also a November release. CSI COLTON AND THE WITNESS is officially out on November 27.
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