...including Bouchercon November 2001 and USA East Coast tour
Here's a reminder, in case you'd forgotten
the name of the first book. This was taken
at a Barnes & Noble store during my first
visit to the USA in 2001. Note the crowds.
At Bouchercon, after receiving the Barry Award for
Best British Crime Novel and an Anthony Award
nominee's certificate, both for 'Black Dog'. The
awards are being admired by Robyn Glazer and
one of my very favourite readers, Maddy van
Hertbruggen. Maddy is moderator of a wonderful
mystery readers' internet group called 4MA.
She's
also one of the nicest people you could hope to meet.
I was spotted while browsing the
book dealers' room at Bouchercon.
This is Lola, from New York...
... and this is Coco, from Montgomery,
Alabama. I was already starting to look
like a cardboard cutout by then.
On stage with Qiu Xiaolong, a fellow
nominee for the Anthony Award.
Tip for Oscar nominees: this is how
you give the impression that it doesn't
really matter which of you wins.
With moderator Margaret Maron during the
'New Kids on the Block' panel at Bouchercon.
You can see that I'm doing my best to look
like a 'kid'. I'm not sure who Margaret was
shouting at, but I'm glad it wasn't me.
And how do you spell that? It's always a
dodgy
moment trying to get the reader's name right.
Jon is another member of 4MA.
I found a more or less willing
victim - I
mean, customer - for 'Dancing with the
Virgins' at Creatures 'n' Crooks bookstore,
Richmond, Virginia. This is Carrie, yet
another 4MA-er.
But the best poser by far was Hamilton, the
Creatures 'n' Crooks resident cat, who played
a vital part in the book signing.
With Tina McGill, owner of Mystery Books
in Washington DC. While I was there, Tina
provided a demonstration of that great skill
that all good booksellers have - matching an
author to a customer's tastes. The author wasn't
me in this case, but I was impressed anyway.
A great little mystery bookstore in
Manhattan
is Black Orchid. An equally great bookseller is
owner Bonnie Claeson, pictured centre. Also in
this photo are fellow writer Danuta Reah (right)
and mystery fan Sarah Weinman of RAM, the
rec.arts.mystery newsgroup.
With my Finnish publishers, Ulla and Raimo
Salogankas of Blue Moon Books. Their very
first published title in Finland was 'Black Dog'.
They went on to sign up some young unknown
British writer by the name of Ian Rankin.
Meeting readers at Dead on
Deansgate, the
UK's biggest crime fiction convention, held in
Manchester. This is Lindsey and Donna, who are
British members of - you guessed it - 4MA.
And there's even £1 off! With Liz Mack during a
signing at Book World in West Bridgford, Nottingham.
Surrounded by books, and talking. In
this case, at a wonderful independent
bookshop in the heart of the Peak District
- Country Bookshop, near Bakewell.
A close encounter with BBC television presenter
Pam Rhodes at the Lichfield International Arts
Festival. I was collecting an award for my novel
'The Only Dead Thing'. As you can see, the £5,000
cheque was already safely in my pocket!
And when I finally get home, there's
always a welcoming smile from Amy
the Desk Cat.
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