M. Saylor Billings's Blog, page 4
April 2, 2012
Breakfast and Trivia at LCC 2012
You'll have to excuse me for not blogging on sunday about saturday's convention activities...I was asleep. Actually, long story short after 3 bites of my Saturday night dinner I was alerted to mushrooms in the dish and...massive headache...food allergies...I'm fine. Back to Saturday's convention activities this was the morning breakfast trivia crowd:
The trivia was led by Robin Burcell and James Rollins:
And they handed out free copies of James latest book, The Devil Colony.
But the key thing to remember here is I sat at a table where this guy, Al, was also seated. Which was strange because I had breakfast with Al the morning before. What's the likelihood, out of over 200 people, sitting next to someone twice? It was great though because we had a conversation about publishing and e-books, etc. It made me wonder who this guy was? And why do I keep running into him?
Which leads us to the first panel of the day Anglophilia, led by Jacqueline Winspear.
Left to Right: Rhys Bowen, Michael Kurland, Catriona McPherson, Carola Dunn.
The only person here whose work I'm embarrassed to say I wasn't familiar with was Catriona. I have remedied that situation now and I have a feeling this lass is going to be a breakout author in the near future.
The trivia was led by Robin Burcell and James Rollins:
And they handed out free copies of James latest book, The Devil Colony.
But the key thing to remember here is I sat at a table where this guy, Al, was also seated. Which was strange because I had breakfast with Al the morning before. What's the likelihood, out of over 200 people, sitting next to someone twice? It was great though because we had a conversation about publishing and e-books, etc. It made me wonder who this guy was? And why do I keep running into him?
Which leads us to the first panel of the day Anglophilia, led by Jacqueline Winspear.
Left to Right: Rhys Bowen, Michael Kurland, Catriona McPherson, Carola Dunn.
The only person here whose work I'm embarrassed to say I wasn't familiar with was Catriona. I have remedied that situation now and I have a feeling this lass is going to be a breakout author in the near future.
March 30, 2012
LCC/2012 Social Media
Blogs, Twitter, Networking. Check, Check, and Check
Panel from the Publicity, Reviewing and Social Media had some great pointers.
(Left to Right) Hillary Davidson, Dana Kaye, Janet Rudolph, Terry Jacobsen, and Sue Trowbridge
Panel from the Publicity, Reviewing and Social Media had some great pointers.
(Left to Right) Hillary Davidson, Dana Kaye, Janet Rudolph, Terry Jacobsen, and Sue Trowbridge
So here we are at The Killer Thriller Panel. Oo oo what a...
So here we are at The Killer Thriller Panel. Oo oo what are we going to talk about? I mean what kind of panel is this going to be? It's being moderated by Robin Burcell, who is a trained FBI forensic artist, hostage negotiator, cop, detective, all the goodies.
First up we are introduced to William Kent Krueger who (wait for it!) is talking about Hemingway's underwear...or lack of. (What?) Apparently, he read Papa at age 18 or 19 and then something about underwear and we confirmed everyone was wearing some. John Lescroart warned against taking children away from parents. Thomas Perry spoke about his main characters - oh P-AH-LEASE soooo that's pedestrian! and learning to write for female protagonists. - I mean c'mon! Show us your panties!!!! Oh and James Rollins, who's a big brainy handsome geek? He wants to put lasers on cats.
Bottom line here, (Double points for dual pun.) is these guys are not a bunch of scary police/security hyped paranoids - like one might think. Nope, they were a humble and gracious and a fun.
First up we are introduced to William Kent Krueger who (wait for it!) is talking about Hemingway's underwear...or lack of. (What?) Apparently, he read Papa at age 18 or 19 and then something about underwear and we confirmed everyone was wearing some. John Lescroart warned against taking children away from parents. Thomas Perry spoke about his main characters - oh P-AH-LEASE soooo that's pedestrian! and learning to write for female protagonists. - I mean c'mon! Show us your panties!!!! Oh and James Rollins, who's a big brainy handsome geek? He wants to put lasers on cats.
Bottom line here, (Double points for dual pun.) is these guys are not a bunch of scary police/security hyped paranoids - like one might think. Nope, they were a humble and gracious and a fun.
THE GREAT WEST COAST MYSTERY TABERNACLE FLASH MOB
AND NOW...The Birthday Song
Killing Imaginary People
I sat through the Tea and Cozy Panel and those women scared the hell out of me. Oh! Waaay more than joksters over at the Killer Thriller Panel. We had a retired parole officer who called interpol, oh sure, who's not chums with interpol? The Moderator is a retired physicist who makes quips to her male counterparts, "Oh I did't know there were male physicists." Seriously, the cojones on that one! And one of the panelists proclaimed "It's not illegal to kill imaginary people!" and "I've thought about killing someone with a cell phone...yes."
I think I, like a lot of people, thought 'well those cozy mystery writers aren't they a quaint bunch'. Yea, I was wrong. If I go missing anytime soon, please check these ladies alibi's first.
(L TO R) Camille Minichino, Elaine Macko, Barbara Graham, and Patricia Driscoll
I think I, like a lot of people, thought 'well those cozy mystery writers aren't they a quaint bunch'. Yea, I was wrong. If I go missing anytime soon, please check these ladies alibi's first.
(L TO R) Camille Minichino, Elaine Macko, Barbara Graham, and Patricia Driscoll
Morning at a Convention
So Friday morning at the LCC/2012 Convention. Writers who had new books out in 2011 were honored with a breakfast. So, here's the thing...I had a table for Saint Charles Place, which was really-really nice, but March 30 is my sister's birthday. What's the problem you ask? Well, I always call my sister with a birthday song on March 30...because it's her birthday. What'd you think I randomly chose March 30 every year to...
Anyway we were all given a moment or two to stand up and speak about our new books that had come out in 2011 and introduce ourselves to the crowd. Do I call sister or go to the breakfast and give my little dog and pony spiel?
I go to the Breakfast and use my introduction to create THE GREAT WEST COAST MYSTERY TABERNACLE FLASH MOB! Yes, I did. This was a completely foolish idea, to throw away my spotlight...or was it? Everybody joined in and laughed. It was great. I got it on tape an will post it under a Flashmob heading. Turns out all through the day people would stop me and say, "You know, you really stood out during breakfast..." It was great. In one of the afternoon panels I heard people in the row ahead of me talking about it. (Nicely, thank goodness.)
This was a great lesson to me. It's true, it could have sunk faster than the Titanic and that's the thing about taking chances, you never know.
Here's a picture of the breakfast people:
And if any of THE GREAT WEST COAST MYSTERY TABERNACLE FLASH MOB are reading this, THANK YOU.
Anyway we were all given a moment or two to stand up and speak about our new books that had come out in 2011 and introduce ourselves to the crowd. Do I call sister or go to the breakfast and give my little dog and pony spiel?
I go to the Breakfast and use my introduction to create THE GREAT WEST COAST MYSTERY TABERNACLE FLASH MOB! Yes, I did. This was a completely foolish idea, to throw away my spotlight...or was it? Everybody joined in and laughed. It was great. I got it on tape an will post it under a Flashmob heading. Turns out all through the day people would stop me and say, "You know, you really stood out during breakfast..." It was great. In one of the afternoon panels I heard people in the row ahead of me talking about it. (Nicely, thank goodness.)
This was a great lesson to me. It's true, it could have sunk faster than the Titanic and that's the thing about taking chances, you never know.
Here's a picture of the breakfast people:
And if any of THE GREAT WEST COAST MYSTERY TABERNACLE FLASH MOB are reading this, THANK YOU.
March 29, 2012
LLC/Sacramento: New FRIENDS
Meet Toni and Maggi of Western Mystery Hysterions Book Club. They're at .
Toni, shown on the left, was just talking about kinda having a blah day so I gave her one of my books. Then after the panel she won the raffle and got another book. Honestly, she was SO HAPPY about getting books. Whether or not you're an author, how can you not love that about a person? I'm so glad I met these two ladies.
Toni, shown on the left, was just talking about kinda having a blah day so I gave her one of my books. Then after the panel she won the raffle and got another book. Honestly, she was SO HAPPY about getting books. Whether or not you're an author, how can you not love that about a person? I'm so glad I met these two ladies.
Pictures from LCC/Sacramento
What do you do at the Crime Writers Convention? Kill off the PANELISTS! Kidding....maybe.
Left to Write are: D.P. Lyle, Lee Goldberg, Kirk Russell, Rebecca Cantrell, Gary Phillips
This panel was titled: Breaking the Rules. I'm not sure if it was a panel of crime novelists or improv players. Led by Lee Goldberg this group could give Upright Citizens Brigade a run for their money! Dear, Poor Kirk Russell juggled the boisterous personalities deftly however and good points were made on everything between writing colorful characters to e-publishing.
Left to Write are: D.P. Lyle, Lee Goldberg, Kirk Russell, Rebecca Cantrell, Gary Phillips
This panel was titled: Breaking the Rules. I'm not sure if it was a panel of crime novelists or improv players. Led by Lee Goldberg this group could give Upright Citizens Brigade a run for their money! Dear, Poor Kirk Russell juggled the boisterous personalities deftly however and good points were made on everything between writing colorful characters to e-publishing.
Left Coast Crime Convention
"Saylor here, I'll be blogging LIVE from the Left Coast Crime Convention. Oh Wait, the Sheraton in Sacramento doesn't have WIFI? WTF? Oh but the Starbucks across the street does? Free you say? VIVA LE STARBUCKS! Everyone to the Starbucks, all together - no pushing, we'll go in shifts." I mean really. Shame on you Sheraton. I get you wouldn't want non-paying passersby snoggin' off your terabytes but you are a CONVENTION CENTER. You make millions of dollars every year off of conventions. Do you really think people want to pay $2.50 for coffee? No, but they get free WIFI with it. So yes, I'll pay 2.50 for a cup of joe across the street and check my emails, instead of paying for coffee in your cafe.
So yesterday was the registration for the convention. I've been writing like a demon trying to get the 1st draft of The Rot is Deep, book 3 finished. I wanted to get it finished before this shmoozfest - mutual admiration society started. (That's not a dig, I'm genuinely excited to meet these folks.) My partner gets home and starts rooting through my convention papers and says: You know the registration is tonight.
Me: No, tomorrow night.
Her: No, right now.
Me: No, honey. It's tomorrow night.
Her: What day is the trash pick-up?
ME: -- Blank stare.-- CLOSE UP: on the paper she's looking at. CLOSE UP: on the clock. CLOSE UP: on my feet shuffling quickly through the house. Voice over: SSSSHHHHHHIIIIITTTTTTTTT!
At any rate we made it, barely. And now I'm very excited about the whole affair.
Here's a picture of my swag bag:
Now, I have to go or I'll be late...again. I'll blog again as soon as I get to Starbucks!
So yesterday was the registration for the convention. I've been writing like a demon trying to get the 1st draft of The Rot is Deep, book 3 finished. I wanted to get it finished before this shmoozfest - mutual admiration society started. (That's not a dig, I'm genuinely excited to meet these folks.) My partner gets home and starts rooting through my convention papers and says: You know the registration is tonight.
Me: No, tomorrow night.
Her: No, right now.
Me: No, honey. It's tomorrow night.
Her: What day is the trash pick-up?
ME: -- Blank stare.-- CLOSE UP: on the paper she's looking at. CLOSE UP: on the clock. CLOSE UP: on my feet shuffling quickly through the house. Voice over: SSSSHHHHHHIIIIITTTTTTTTT!
At any rate we made it, barely. And now I'm very excited about the whole affair.
Here's a picture of my swag bag:
Now, I have to go or I'll be late...again. I'll blog again as soon as I get to Starbucks!
March 11, 2012
What is that?
Can you see that? Hanging in the tree. That doesn't belong there. It's a bungee with hooks on it. Exactly, how did that happen? Is that some kind of suburban shoe flinging? Have we been marked by a notorious pram pushing gang targeting our home? It had to be tossed there. It's about 25 feet from the street, about 8 feet up, and 10 feet from our front door. It would be a herculean effort to snap a bungee that far off the road. Unless. Unless it was the birds! Hopefully, it didn't come from a parachuter. That would be most unfortunate.
