Meeting Elizabeth Peters

Life is full of memories.

 

I feel so blessed to have so many good ones.

 

Here's one

 

 

Going to Malice in 2011

 

 

 Riding the train up with  Margaret and Joe Maron, and Bren Bonner.

Bren Bonner Witchger and Margaret Maron

Kaye Barley and Joe Maron

We started running into folks almost the second we walked in the door of the hotel.  Including Dorothy Cannell and Malice Guest of Honor, Jan Burke.

Dorothy Cannell, Jan Burke, Margaret Maron and Bren Bonner Witchger

And I couldn't wait to hit the dealer's room!

Kaye Barley and Margaret Maron

In case you don't recognize the fella behind Margaret, that's Don Longmuir who owns the wonderful Scene of the Crime Books.  It was at his booth I was lucky enough to find a hard back, first edition of Barbara Michaels' "Ammie,Come Home."  Was I excited?!  Pfft!  I guess!  I had brought my much loved, many times read, beat up, rag tag paperback copy with me for her to sign.  I was thrilled to have this copy instead. 


A couple days later, we gathered together to pay homage to the incredible Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels

Julian Cannell, Margaret Maron and Joe Maron

It was, without a shadow of a doubt, one of THE funniest skits I have ever witnessed.  Ms. Peters was joined by Joan Hess, Dorothy Cannell, Parnell Hall and Daniel Stashower (with a special appearance by Ammie from "Ammie, Come Home")

Elizabeth Peters aka Barbara Michaels aka Barbara Mertz

Joan Hess and Elizabeth Peters

Dorothy Cannell, Joan Hess and Elizabeth Peters

Joan Hess, Elizabeth Peters and Parnell Hall

Ammie from "Ammie, Come Home," Dorothy Cannell, Parnell Hall, Joan Hess, Elizabeth Peters and Daniel Stashower

Joan Hess and Elizabeth Peters

AND, I got to meet her.  Margaret Maron made the introduction,  and I proceeded to cry all over the gracious Ms. Peters (I wanted to die)

My thanks to Karen Kiley for this picture.   Margaret also took one.  The one Margaret took is a wonderful picture of Ms. Peters.  I, however, look like a lunatic.  Certainly not Margaret's fault - I just couldn't quit crying!!

Ms. Peters also agreed to sign books.

What a perfect day this was,

one I will never forget.

 

 

Barbara Mertz/Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels

 (1927-2013)

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/mystery-writer-barbara-mertz-author-of-more-than-60-books-under-pen-names-dies-at-85/2013/08/08/f8218304-0047-11e3-8294-0ee5075b840d_story.html

 

 

about those resolutions . . . .

Welcome to the New Year.

This is going to be a different sort of year for me than past years.

For one thing, it will be my first full year as a retired person.  That seems to be working out just fine, fine, fine.  (This is where I do a few back flips).


I'm finding myself more prone to just being quiet and doing a lot of pondering.  I like to ponder.

source:  parisandbeyond-genie.blogspot.com

Sitting quietly and allowing thoughts to just wander is a luxury.  One I'm allowing myself more of.

source:  chrisridley.photoshelter.com

And it's the year I'm truly going to try to stretch my wings.  To grow creatively.



And also try to learn to "just be."



It's the year I'll be attending my first Malice Domestic convention, which I am super excited about.   Some of my all-time favorite writers will be attending, Jan Burke is this year's Guest of Honor, Dana Cameron is Toastmaster.   And - a huge big major plus for me -  a woman I admire more than I can say, Elizabeth Peters aka Barbara Michaels, is being honored.  I would not miss this for the world!  I think I own every Barbara Michaels book published and re-read them all often.

I'm riding up to the convention on AmTrak.  My first experience on AmTrak.  I haven't been on a train since I was at Brandywine College and used to scoot around to a few favorite cities for the weekend - and loved it.  I'm pretty much through with planes, I think.  If I can't get there conveniently by car or by train, it's probably not gonna happen for me.  I worked in the airline industry for several years in the late 60s/early 70s and I remember how much fun it was; it is so far from fun these days that I've decided it's just something I'm not going to do.



This was year I gave in and made some resolutions.  Three of them.

One, to write.

Two, to read Julia Cameron's THE ARTIST'S WAY, and do the accompanying exercises.

Three, read David Busch's book about my camera and learn to use all its features.

So, nine days into the new year it may be time to give an accounting.

I'm writing.  Happily so!  I now have 48,214 written words.  Not that they're all great words, or even THE words, but it's a pretty decent start, I think.

I've been getting lots of questions about this new venture of mine, and I have to say, I'm surprised at how much interest y'all are showing - Thank You!!!

I'm not ready to say too much yet (isn't that bad luck, or something?), but I'll tell you what I feel comfortable telling you.  I started writing "The Book," in April of last year.  It takes place in the south (surprise!!  LOL!!).

 

Actually, truth be told, y'all are probably going to be sick to death of this book way before I ever get to "The End."

I'm reading THE ARTIST'S WAY, and have started doing the Week One exercises.  It's interesting.  Some of what she says is the sort of thing that makes me kinda itchy.  It's not my normal way of looking at things, or going about things.  I'm not one who puts the name "God" so "out there" in my normal course of conversation.  But.  At the same time, some of what I've read so far has resonated with me.  So, I'm going to continue and we'll just see how it goes.

Sadly, David Busch's book about my G12 camera is still sitting on my nightstand looking a little lonely.  But, it is after all, only the 9th day of the year.  There's still time!

The one thing that has suffered so far this year is my reading.  My "reading for fun" reading.  It's very unusual to have only read one novel in this many days.  I'm going to change that, or end up with a major case of the blues.

I hope all of you who made resolutions this year are feeling as though that's working out and feeling proud of yourselves.  And I hope you're all reading more than I seem to be!!!!!

Happy 2012!