by Donna Andrews of the Femmes Fatales.
Yes, I know we just finished Malice 2018. I’ll do a bit of roundup on that eventually. Possibly later in this blog. Depends on how well my energy holds out. But first things first: you need to sign up for Malice 2019. Parnell Hall will be the lifetime achievement honoree. Chris Grabenstein will be the toastmaster. P.J. Coldren will be fan guest of honor. And I’ll be the guest of honor. (Sold on the idea? You can register on the Malice site.)
I’m still wondering if the Malice Board has any idea what they’ve wrought. Have they warned the hotel? Acquired seatbelts for all the chairs? P.J.’s pretty well behaved . . . I think. But as the Brits would say, Parnell and I have previous. Together. As do Chris and I. And putting the lot of us in one room?
This should be interesting. More on that later.
So . . . highlights of this year. I could happily listen to Catriona McPherson talk for hours, just for the fun of hearing her pronounce “book.” Nancy Pickard and Louise Penny are so delightful and gracious that we’d like them even if they didn’t write such damned good books. Brenda Blethyn was fabulous, and I am reminded that I need to catch up on the Vera TV series. So many books AND TV shows and so little time!
I must make a note to prioritize my cloning project, because once again there were too many things I wanted to see going on at once.
Thank goodness I was carpooling home with a friend, so I didn’t have to break my back hauling home all the books.
The new hotel got generally good grades, except for how spread out it is. I might just bring a segue for next year. Or a little red wagon to haul my stuff around.
My entree at the Malice banquet was not only edible but quite tasty. I can also recommend the hotel’s breakfast bar, which pretty much eliminated the need to eat lunch the days I was there.
I am thrilled for the Agatha winners; and also for the nominees, who are also winners. You don’t realize it until it happens to you, but the phrase “an honor just to be nominated” has become a cliche because it is absolutely how most people feel when they find themselves on the shortlist for something like the Agatha. (If you’re curious who won, here’s a list.)
Apologies to the wedding that was going on Saturday, and also to Sunday’s cotillion. Somehow I suspect neither group was entirely charmed to have us trudging through the periphery of their very elegant events, hauling our stacks of books and wearing shirts with slogans like “Support your local medical examiner: die strangely” or “Chicago Homicide: our day begins when your day ends.” But remember, it could have been worse--we could have been a science fiction/fantasy convention, bringing wookies and Xena impersonators into your midst. Although . . . hmmm.
The planning for next year has already begun!
P.s. And by the time Malice rolls around again, both Toucan Keep a Secret and Lark! The Herald Angels Sing will have come out. I’m just sayin’.
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