Drove down to LA last Friday morning. Swung by the house of Libby Fischer Hellmann's brother and picked her up. She was just in from Arizona. Headed to South Pasadena to say hi at Book 'Em Mysteries Bookstore where we signed stock. Then on to the Redondo Beach Library where the audience was small, but the conversation, moderated by the witty A.H. Ream, was terrific. The talented Eric Stone, author of Shanghaied, was there to wave the flag, too. Afterwards we repaired to a nearby drinking establishment to lie, gossip, and brag. Below from l-r, me, Bobby McCue of the Mystery Bookstore, A.H., Eric, and Libby.
After a drink, Libby and I drove back to Santa Monica for dinner with my godson Couper, my goddaughter-in-law Julia, and old Siebel pal Andy at the Border Grill.
Saturday morning I walked down to the beach in Santa Monica and watched the mobs of runners sprint, lope, jog, and stagger by.
Then I picked Libby up at her brother's, and we headed out to Mysteries to Die For in Thousand Oaks where we were greeted by an enthusaistic crowd of crime fiction fans. We shmoozed a little with Barry the proprietor, spoke, and then signed. What a terrific store!
Libby and I then raced to the wonderful Mystery Bookstore in LA where we sat around a table and yakked about our books and everything else with more friends, family, and fans. The store's Linda Brown tweeted during our conversation (you can see her tweets here). Did I really say writing was a drug? Anyway we got questions from friends including fellow MI writer Alan Orloff.
We got back to my place in Palo Alto around 10. My 10-year old graciously gave up his bedroom for Libby. When my wife and I got up Sunday morning, we found a vandalized car in front. As crime fiction writers, Libby and I inspected the evidence. Verdict? Stolen by joyriding teenagers. Police agreed.
We left the crime scene to head up to the Oakland Library. A good time there with fans and friends. A professor-friend brought her 2-month old along and a colleague of my wife's who came with her mother-in-law is 4 months from having a 2-month old herself.
Afterwards, I couldn't head across the Bay Bridge to drop Libby off at Cara Black's where she'll be staying the rest of the week. The confounded structure was closed! Took a 30-mile detour and got her there. Always great to see Cara. Great writer, great friend.
Put a thousand miles on the odometer in three days. A real road trip. Got a chance to listen to Michael Connelly's Nine Dragons which made the time whiz by.
Libby and I have a busy week. (See below.) Hope you'll come see us if you're in the neighborhood. We've been having a blast; the people showing up at the events might even have enjoyed themselves too.
Monday, November 2 | 7 PM
Discussion hosted by Janet Rudolph of Mystery Readers International
Berkeley, CA
Tuesday, November 3 | 7 PM
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Corte Madera, CA 94925
415-927-0960
Wednesday, November 4 | 7:30 PM
Books Inc
301 Castro Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
650-428-1234
Thursday, November 5 | 7 PM
M is for Mystery*
86 East Third Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94401
650-401-8077
