Partners in Crime
Saturday, I spoke on a panel at the new Holly Springs Library and Cultural Center with members of the local crimewriters gang. From left, that’s Sarah Shaber of the Professor Simon Shaw Mysteries, Margaret Maron of the Deborah Knott Series, me, and Brenda Witchger, aka Brynn Bonner who writes short mystery stories and southern fiction. We had a delightful time chatting, taking questions and signing books. The new facility in Holly Springs is stunning! Can’t wait to go back.
I wish we had more authors visit my home town. Our bookstores have hosted Janet Dailey, Nicholas Sparks, Jacqueline Mitchard and Robert James Waller along with a host of new emerging authors…I once traveled to Chicago to meet Rosamunde Pilcher which was a very exciting event. But nothing would make me happier or fulfill my dream than to meet Diane Chamberlain and be able to talk with her one on one…the people at Holly Springs Library were so lucky!
I also had the great honor of meeting and shaking Hillary Rodham Clinton’s hand at her book signing for her book entitled ‘Living History’. That was a remarkable day.
It’s wonderful that you travel to meet an author, Margo. Two people traveled quite a distance to come to my February signing here. . . and they got lost and missed my talk! I felt terrible for them, but they were great sports. Congrats on meeting Hillary!
On that note, I’ll add that John and I watched a 1997 documentary last night called “The Sixties: The Generation that Changed America” (might be a little off on the title). This film should be mandatory viewing! Yes, there was hedonism and youthful selfishness, riots and bloodshed, but what positive change came out of it in the form of civil rights. The thing that got me the most though, and the reason I’d love everyone to see it, was listening to Johnson and Nixon and others as they escalated the war in Vietnam. If you weren’t looking at their faces, it was like listening to the news today. Kind of scary.
Someday I will travel to NC to 1 of your booksignings, Diane! Gary told me we’ll packup our ‘Kramer’ and drive in his big off road Dodge truck and visit the bookstore hosting you. Maybe 2008 will be the year, when your new books come out! My favorite booksigning event was the day I met Hillary. She was everything I thought she would be and more. I’ll never forget that day…when it was my turn for an autograph I merely said 5 small words to her and she dropped her pen, stood up proud and shook my hand…it was a shining moment for me. I’d really like to see that documentary on the 60’s…I wonder if it’s running on the satellite or if it was a special program on regular TV…I’ll have to watch for it.
margo, you’d be a good novelist, the way you drop that clue so the reader wants more! so what were the five words you said to hillary??
Meeting HIllary Clinton-Margo…I must admit that I am not unusally enchanted by meeting celebrities-but I admire her (she and I were born one week apart…and when reading her book, I often asked, “WHAT IF?”)
Also meeting Diane would be different-a really true email friend and celebrity at the same time.
I once sat with THE EAGLES (musical group) for an hour in hotel lobby-my kids were aggravated that I got no autographs…I was more interested in seeing Kennedy who was also there (TED) and was to run for Pres.
Now, I am enchanted with the l960’s-my time-and that’s what I write my little column about…When I was in Hyannis Port (school work), I liked seeing everything about the Kennedy’s and again saw Ted Kennedy as he was picking up his mail.
When I spent a month in D.C. (studying at The Folger’s and Georgetown) in 1996, I spent my lunch time sitting in the Senate…
I am very interested in politics and wish that our country would go back to the peaceful time we had for a few years…I agree with Diane about the documentary-it is frightening.
On a happy note-isn’t it great that in the midst of this terrible time-that two little boys were found in Missouri–I have followed that story.
P.S. Diane, you were with some of my favorite mystery authors.
A good book–well-let’s say-an interesting book I just finished by Francine Prose-A Changed Man…put it on your list-not light reading…
Francine Prose has also written a great book on writing…I ordered it from Amazon for one of my classes (grad school)
A CHANGED MAN-fiction-is good (I read it for my own…) However…the language…When I get a book that the book is absolutely not my TYPE…I usually don’t keep it-pass it on and warn the readers.
Diane’s books can be read and reread…over and over again-always something new to learn and no cringing.
I do understand (somewhat) some of the language in this book…it is about an ex neo-Nazi…
As to a new book from Diane…I will wait for them also-but I was happy THIS year to order her OLD books from her website-SO I was able to have NEW books…
Diane-totally understand…
Brenda
Diane, the 5 words I said to Hillary were ‘This is such an honor’…it had been explained to all of us before we had our books autographed that Hilllary would not be talking or responding to anyone, only signing each book…this was because of all the secret service surrounding her and because there were 1000’s waiting in line and they had to move people fast. When I spoke those words, she dropped her pen and stood to shake my hand and the newspapers and press snapped their cameras like crazy…it was a defining moment for me.
Brenda, I’ll check into the Prose book. Not quite in the mood to read about a neo-Nazi at the moment, though! Which makes me think of a movie I avoided for many years: “American History X.” It looked so violent and horrible. But John and I were on an Ed Norton kick a few weeks ago so we rented it and I loved it. Kind of a weird word to use to describe how I felt about the movie–but it was not at all what I expected. I was touched by it.
Wow, Margo! That must have been a thrill!
I can’t begin to describe the feeling…Hillary was awesome!
Agree about the Neo-Nazis—but the story was something I am glad I read—he changed…that’s the story…it is possible-despite what we think at times that folks can CHANGE. I did not like the language…
Okay, Margo-when we meet Diane, we will say the same words-but no pictures please.
I too like Hillary Clinton…
P.S. Ironic that Diane was with those authors as I just finished a Simon book…light reading…interesting but I had a difficult time keeping up with her characters. I will read another one…When I have too much trouble keeping up with characters and families, I am often lost… That is what is great about Diane’s books–we know who the characters are. One of the hallmarks of writing-permit us to KNOW the characters…feelings, etc.
uh oh, i was just thinking how many characters are in my WIP! that’s what happens when you start dabbling in a mystery, and there is one in my book. you need lots of red herrings. think of all the characters in an agatha christie novel!
that’s one reason i try to be careful with names. making them distinctive keeps the characters separate (i hope).
LOL Brenda! It truly WILL be an honor to shake Diane’s hand but I definitely want pics taken too! My Gary will be happy to do the honors of the picture taking! Diane, I’ve always been able to keep your characters separate with no confusion. Now Agatha Christie, that’s a diff matter…I practically kept a chart by my side when I use to read her books.