sunny, temps 70
Baltimore! Bouchercon. Such fun. Left home (and Michael) at 9am - drove to the Burlington Airport. First time using it. There are two huge advantages to using it over the Montreal airport - especially for trips to the US. I pass through customs on the road, don't have to do the awful Mtl customs, especially coming back. a nightmare. And it was hundreds of dollars cheaper. Flew AirTran. Direct from Burlington to Baltimore. What are the chances there'd be a direct flight, but there was.
Was a little concerned about AirTran, never having heard of it before. Expected it to be like AirBob or AirLouise. Some guys former cropduster or bush plane. But it's a wonderful airline. Big 717 jet. I got to upgrade to Business for 50 dollars. Which, of course, I did. Also upgraded my hotel room to Club level.
Ah, luxury. Anyway, the flight was smooth, fun. Relaxing. Only took slightly over an hour. Then waited an hour for the luggage. But it finally arrived and I wasn't in a hurry. Didn't have anything until the book signing at the Mystery News desk at 4pm.
The Sheraton hotel seems good. My room is wonderful. Big corner King...21st floor. Windows on two sides - great view. very bright.
I only had time to drop the luggage, register for Bouchercon and head to the dealers room. For those of you who've never been to this convention, it's a riot. Thjousands of mystery readers and hundreds of mystery authors. The authors are put on panels, then sign their books afterward. There's a dealers room filled with mystery booksellers from the US and Canada. It's like a candy store. For anyone who adores mysteries it's heaven. And, of course, being surrounded by people who also adore the books is wonderful.
Did the signing - met up with the wonderful Chris and Lynn who own and publish Mystery News, a real agenda setter in the crime writing community. They also sponsor and organize the annual Barry Aards, given out tonight. Lynn and I are having dinner together tomorrow night. She's a wonderful woman, and someone I'm glad to call a friend.
Next door at Mystery Mikes they managed to get in hardcover copies of The Murder Stone, so I signed three cases for them and they said The Murder Stone was far and away their bestseller today at the convention. I'm thrilled to hear that.
I should be going to the ceremony tonight to open Bouchercon and give out awards but I'm a little tired and tomorrow's a hectic day - so have just ordered a burger and key lime pie.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Showing posts with label baltimore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baltimore. Show all posts
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Literacy Video
sunny, mild, temps 14
Again, another cold morning. Minus 2. But warmed up to 14. Beautiful day. Drove in to Montreal. Did a taped interview for All in a Weekend, with Dave Bronstetter, on CBC Radio One. Met a bunch of friends...Catherine, Anna, Shawn and Mike. It always feels a little odd being back - but a relief not to have to be on air doing a daily show. Had had enough of that. For everything there really is a season.
Got back in time to meet the man producing the literacy video. We set up a make-shift studio in our dining room and recorded. I hadn't had a chance to read the script, and it's quite hard to read something out loud, cold. A few stops and stops, but it went quite quickly. About an hour of script. Took about 1 1/2 hours. The hardest part, I found, was keeping up my energy level. You can really tell when a person isn't really 'there'.
Then responded to a bunch of emails. Poor UK publishers have been trying to send me flowers to celebrate the publication of THE MURDER STONE and the florists seem challenged. We actually stayed home - one of us - for two days, waiting. And now the florists have told the publishers they tried to call and deliver, but no one was here.
Quite maddening. There is actually a wonderful florist in Sutton who does spectacxular arrangements - just a little shop but a very gifted woman. Have suggested perhaps they could use her in the future. But it seemed heavy-handed to micro-manage the delivery of my own flowers.
But, this might be for the best, with Thanksgiving coming we'll have fresh flowers. If they can find us. I can't believe they've even tried. Between Michael waiting and the dogs who bark when a car even passes... but still.
Drive to Burlington Vermont airport tomorrow, (about 2 hours) then fly to Baltimore. Not far..about 1 1/2 hrs. Have a signing at the Mystery News desk at Bouchercon at 4pm tomorrow...and have given myself the evening off. Will order up room service, and read. Heaven.
Hope you enjoy our trip to Baltimore. Take your party frock.
Again, another cold morning. Minus 2. But warmed up to 14. Beautiful day. Drove in to Montreal. Did a taped interview for All in a Weekend, with Dave Bronstetter, on CBC Radio One. Met a bunch of friends...Catherine, Anna, Shawn and Mike. It always feels a little odd being back - but a relief not to have to be on air doing a daily show. Had had enough of that. For everything there really is a season.
Got back in time to meet the man producing the literacy video. We set up a make-shift studio in our dining room and recorded. I hadn't had a chance to read the script, and it's quite hard to read something out loud, cold. A few stops and stops, but it went quite quickly. About an hour of script. Took about 1 1/2 hours. The hardest part, I found, was keeping up my energy level. You can really tell when a person isn't really 'there'.
Then responded to a bunch of emails. Poor UK publishers have been trying to send me flowers to celebrate the publication of THE MURDER STONE and the florists seem challenged. We actually stayed home - one of us - for two days, waiting. And now the florists have told the publishers they tried to call and deliver, but no one was here.
Quite maddening. There is actually a wonderful florist in Sutton who does spectacxular arrangements - just a little shop but a very gifted woman. Have suggested perhaps they could use her in the future. But it seemed heavy-handed to micro-manage the delivery of my own flowers.
But, this might be for the best, with Thanksgiving coming we'll have fresh flowers. If they can find us. I can't believe they've even tried. Between Michael waiting and the dogs who bark when a car even passes... but still.
Drive to Burlington Vermont airport tomorrow, (about 2 hours) then fly to Baltimore. Not far..about 1 1/2 hrs. Have a signing at the Mystery News desk at Bouchercon at 4pm tomorrow...and have given myself the evening off. Will order up room service, and read. Heaven.
Hope you enjoy our trip to Baltimore. Take your party frock.
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