tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78613849230450060612024-03-14T03:21:11.047-07:00Writing in the Dark<p>I like the dark places, the night time cafes and honk of the cabs and the blinking neon. Midnight alleys swallowed by rain, fog horn wail, dramas played and finally played out.
Welcome to the blog of crime fiction writer Kelli Stanley.</p>Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-74833174284311577272010-11-04T15:45:00.000-07:002010-11-04T17:06:19.502-07:00The Big Thank You!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9e9jm1gzA2nLjJNR6fpnV1TyguaJfYNY5YnQcxiNXQOomf4cCbFhWiDXOkUSiFcUIm7haPqjZtfiu3M9tOy5XJcCr5BCcm1icoZANhzyUiPSI4gh4yyQ-hTMSkBEtre3olkBg2loidtI/s1600/city+of+dragons.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9e9jm1gzA2nLjJNR6fpnV1TyguaJfYNY5YnQcxiNXQOomf4cCbFhWiDXOkUSiFcUIm7haPqjZtfiu3M9tOy5XJcCr5BCcm1icoZANhzyUiPSI4gh4yyQ-hTMSkBEtre3olkBg2loidtI/s320/city+of+dragons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535845053899120098" border="0" /></a><br />Huge thanks to RT Book Review and their reviewers, for <a href="http://www.rtbookreviews.com/rt-awards/nominees-and-winners?award_type=book&year=2010">nominating CITY OF DRAGONS for a 2010 Reviewers Choice Award in Historical Mystery</a>!<br /><br />I'm honored to be in the company of Jeri Westerson, Rhys Bowen, Charles Todd, and Deanne Raybourn, and am looking forward to attending the <a href="http://www.rtbookreviews.com/convention-home">RT Book Convention in April </a>(my first!)<br /><br />It's hard to believe that November is here--especially with summer temperatures in Giants-loving, World Series winner San Francisco. Boy, typing those words felt good! ;)<br /><br />October flew by on a supersonic broomstick. First there was <a href="http://litquake.org/authors-crawl/lit-crawl-2">Litcrawl</a>, which was a load of fun--Michelle Gagnon, Simon Wood, Julianne Balmain and Seth Harwood and I all read from our books for "Mystery and Mayhem" at the Mission District Police Station. Wonderful crowd for the festival!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bcon2010.com/">Bouchercon by the Bay</a> was an incredible experience. I am awed every year by the sheer amount of dedication, time, energy and passion that Bcon volunteers bring to this event, and continually amazed at the miracle they make happen. San Francisco was an exceptional Bouchercon--and the City's weather cooperated and played nice.<br /><br />I was busy from Thursday morning (a guest at the Bouchercon newbie's breakfast) through very late Thursday night (with a very cool Subterranean Noir Manifesto event in North Beach, through <a href="http://www.citylights.com/">Peter Maravelis and the celebrated City Lights Bookstore</a>).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgl60iAtrlHV9EKMVL4IemcHnc2fnK5Q_wYgSTG9fvBiKIfONLwJ4aqxumxvhcBfvkQsKD1dt-k5Qlhn6USaqDJCsJs5kCLyW9q0l8GPL4hMRDldbF8aYU_-RYThkiC9oUx8AfpyfL5Fo/s1600/The+Curse-Maker.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgl60iAtrlHV9EKMVL4IemcHnc2fnK5Q_wYgSTG9fvBiKIfONLwJ4aqxumxvhcBfvkQsKD1dt-k5Qlhn6USaqDJCsJs5kCLyW9q0l8GPL4hMRDldbF8aYU_-RYThkiC9oUx8AfpyfL5Fo/s200/The+Curse-Maker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535845693054944802" border="0" /></a><br />Friday through Sunday zoomed by. I greatly enjoyed moderating a panel on books to movies (with the incomparable Val McDermid and terrific panelists Paul Levine, Derek Haas and Alexandra Sokoloff); was honored to be a panelist on the "San Francisco Noir Panel" moderated by Peter, with fabulous writers Domenic Stansberry, Lisa Lutz, David Corbett, and the Czar of Noir, Eddie Muller, all of whom were also part of the Noir Manifesto evening; met a ton of wonderful readers, spent some time with friends and colleagues and rooted for award-nominated pals; and did all the stuff authors usually do at Bouchercon--except for the bar. I came home before midnight, like a good girl.<br /><br />Once it was over, I caught the post-Bouchercon virus--and have spent the last few weeks fighting the typical nasty cough, sore throat, etc. etc. I'm almost back to normal. Watched a lot of movies in the meantime--and can't recommend DEAD OF NIGHT, a 1945 classic by the British Ealing Studios, highly enough. Not a noir, just a great horror movie.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ia1ljOeMZwT0WUW2ig-lxcv4FbFybL_OwJGRhPknnmEBRUrbntW_tWj87pp9wZUJvlGMv9RnErjsG27OVd_E7-M4J_r94GNWroAg3c-aRQkTnB8nruQDU50_5A-RE1OecDb-DoPihKg/s1600/giants-logo.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ia1ljOeMZwT0WUW2ig-lxcv4FbFybL_OwJGRhPknnmEBRUrbntW_tWj87pp9wZUJvlGMv9RnErjsG27OVd_E7-M4J_r94GNWroAg3c-aRQkTnB8nruQDU50_5A-RE1OecDb-DoPihKg/s200/giants-logo.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535846172371203858" border="0" /></a><br />In the meantime, the GIANTS won, my galleys of THE CURSE-MAKER arrived, and I've been in the midst of plans for a brand-new (and very content-rich) website, launching soon--complete with prizes and a party!<br /><br />On November 20th, I'll be stepping away from pressing deadlines to <a href="http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=1003439801">read at the recently-restored Sunset Branch library in San Francisco</a>, with authors Mark Coggins, Deborah Grabien, Michelle Richmond, Mary Germaine Hountalas, and Lois Ungaretti. The theme is "West Side Stories: Mystery and History."<br /><br />Thanks for reading Writing in the Dark, and stay tuned for updates on the new website ... it's shaping up to be quite a springy fall! :)Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-81103455930158370992010-09-23T08:57:00.000-07:002010-09-23T10:07:03.328-07:00Bouchercon Comes to San Francisco!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlyhlAhmEYWwhmRqPtajvKzMctn_oNF5ag-W9utTCuafz5OKHDwky0ZowE2XiVqmw4MhE95h87Abu_6saA2R1U0OSQ7Rs_mUX9u-LyxCSYeU8yBUa3n3U7oSbPXcn9Ivu6rZDnpj1DOg/s1600/bcon_by_the_bay.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlyhlAhmEYWwhmRqPtajvKzMctn_oNF5ag-W9utTCuafz5OKHDwky0ZowE2XiVqmw4MhE95h87Abu_6saA2R1U0OSQ7Rs_mUX9u-LyxCSYeU8yBUa3n3U7oSbPXcn9Ivu6rZDnpj1DOg/s320/bcon_by_the_bay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520154179454337890" border="0" /></a><br />In just three short weeks the city of San Francisco will be overrun by people thinking about murder.<br /><br />In a good way! ;)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bcon2010.com/">Bouchercon</a>, the world's largest crime fiction event, is coming to Hammett's city. Writers, readers, editors, agents, librarians, book collectors, book stores ... it's a giant festival of crime (writing), right here in my home.<br /><br />If you like mystery--and you live anywhere in the Bay Area--try not to miss it. The cast list is huge, and the events will knock your socks off.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bcon2010.com/">Bouchercon</a> is extra-special to me. My first large conference (in October, 2007, almost a year before my debut book was released) was in Anchorage, Alaska. I've written before about how much that seminal experience taught me; how it focused me on taking the plunge into writing the book that would become CITY OF DRAGONS.<br /><br />Bouchercon also served as my introduction to the crime fiction family at large ... and being a part of that family is truly the best part of being a writer. I dedicated CITY OF DRAGONS to my initiatory Alaskan experience, and I'm looking forward to another spectacular and special time right here in my own backyard, complete with Bertie, who gets to play Toto. ;)<br /><br />BTW, <a href="http://www.bcon2010.com/">Bouchercon</a> is pronounced "Bow-cher-con". I knew it originated with Anthony Boucher, a prolific mystery writer from the 40s who also used to review for our very own <span style="font-style: italic;">San Francisco Chronicle</span>! I used to think his last name was pronounced as if it were French (Boo-shaycon), as in the Rococo painter. However you pronounce it, it adds up to a whole lot of fun. :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADBGEH6rjtbOZr45B16kdKiWHXEXu3xneKmjiQ5PcI7Q79DSoTbBQY8mRivMguuVeYKn9GA7jhmZSIyv2t0FMz_NJX7BQBDrR97AWBrD6FWVWW7aKMLUfhlPIkun_LhWS6yR8XrZ_WDg/s1600/The+Curse-Maker.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADBGEH6rjtbOZr45B16kdKiWHXEXu3xneKmjiQ5PcI7Q79DSoTbBQY8mRivMguuVeYKn9GA7jhmZSIyv2t0FMz_NJX7BQBDrR97AWBrD6FWVWW7aKMLUfhlPIkun_LhWS6yR8XrZ_WDg/s400/The+Curse-Maker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520154392042485506" border="0" /></a><br />Right now, I'm preparing for the conference--working on the launch for a robust and exciting new website--and working on the next two Miranda Corbie books. And gearing up for THE CURSE-MAKER launch! We just received the final cover yesterday, and it's utterly fabulous--spooky, creepy, intriguing, mysterious, with evocative and subtle allusions to Roman culture. In other words: PERFECT!<br /><br />In two weeks I'll be participating in San Francisco's <a href="http://litquake.org/events/lit-crawl-2">LitCrawl</a>, the culminating literary trek of Litquake. I'm in Phase Two with friends <a href="http://www.michellegagnon.com/">Michelle Gagnon</a>, <a href="http://www.simonwood.net/">Simon Wood</a>, <a href="http://www.juliannebalmain.com/">Julianne Balmain</a> and <a href="http://sethharwood.com/">Seth Harwood</a>. We'll be reading in the Mission District police station in between lineups (no kidding!) so if you're in the area, c'mon by! No need to get arrested first. ;)<br /><br />At Bouchercon, I'll be <a href="http://www.bcon2010.com/program.php">participating on two panels</a>, and in the <a href="http://www.bcon2010.com/program.php">"black envelope" event</a> on Thursday night (about which I'm sworn to silence, but can only say: don't miss it!!)<br /><br />My panels are fabulous, and I have the thrill and pleasure of participating with good friends and favorite writers:<br /><br />Thursday at 4:30 PM: "Year of the Locusts: Books to Movies". I'm moderating, and the panel features Ken Bruen, Val McDermid, Paul Levine and Derek Haas.<br /><br />Friday at 3:00 PM: "No Minor Vices: SF Noir". Peter Maravelis is moderating, with David Corbett, Lisa Lutz, Eddie Muller and Domenic Stansberry.<br /><br />Is it any wonder I can't wait? :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNczGA09LVlJ0VTw9ZM-OuaBKsP9hBJy4MgZ3fKm1xOq2HfCFEhyphenhyphenFBvXTwUe8ajDTmPLxh4K02GzWT4p0N19rfs4qZwY70-P1CveWc_6nr5esF-qZ4fIbSylylmwY6wnN-1BgLyLwylY/s1600/1802408872.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNczGA09LVlJ0VTw9ZM-OuaBKsP9hBJy4MgZ3fKm1xOq2HfCFEhyphenhyphenFBvXTwUe8ajDTmPLxh4K02GzWT4p0N19rfs4qZwY70-P1CveWc_6nr5esF-qZ4fIbSylylmwY6wnN-1BgLyLwylY/s200/1802408872.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520155453092734322" border="0" /></a><br />Day passes are available for the conference. If you're in San Francisco from October 14th-17th, drop in--you won't be disappointed! Litquake one week, Bouchercon the next--San Francisco is Lit City in October!Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-71075135731872689842010-09-08T15:11:00.000-07:002010-09-08T15:54:12.755-07:00Springing Forward in the Fall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/lens1708913_1238734148twilight_zone_radio.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 224px;" src="http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/lens1708913_1238734148twilight_zone_radio.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It's funny how time works.<br /><br />The whole relativity thing may be provable mathematically, but I'm more interested in the emotional effects of how time <span style="font-style: italic;">feels</span> ... you know, how it speeds up and slows down all at once, depending on what you're doing--and sometimes who you're doing it with.<br /><br />The last couple of months have gone by quickly from the vantage point of today ... I spent most of the summer writing the sequel to CITY OF DRAGONS--tentative title is CITY OF SPIDERS--which will be out next year in the late summer or early fall. And while I was writing it--while I was following Miranda through some suspenseful and harrowing events--time was excruciatingly slow.<br /><br />But not really.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUbadT9Abuis5rW-SpKtvEpp4xZqBBGG9eyT42kGM0z_HRkMoKX_rSZPmY4AvNpUchyphenhyphen1w0fegUYcZOYk4W2Dlx1I2gMRXRNus6JOXKq6ZMkoyCHo103m99-V7KOXC2DqhXCW0aq98sAE/s1600/Curse+Maker.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUbadT9Abuis5rW-SpKtvEpp4xZqBBGG9eyT42kGM0z_HRkMoKX_rSZPmY4AvNpUchyphenhyphen1w0fegUYcZOYk4W2Dlx1I2gMRXRNus6JOXKq6ZMkoyCHo103m99-V7KOXC2DqhXCW0aq98sAE/s320/Curse+Maker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514676655870338882" border="0" /></a><br />Then came a week of copy editing for THE CURSE-MAKER, which is releasing February 1st, 2011. Now, I'm not a huge fan of the copy editing process, so it seemed much longer than a week. And while the non-writer part of my brain thinks February is a comfortable few months away (all those holidays, after all!), the writer part of my brain (which takes up more space) is about to panic. ;)<br /><br />So time isn't just relative between people ... it's relative within ourselves. But hey, this is <span style="font-style: italic;">Writing in the Dark</span>, not metaphysics, so I'm gonna try not to think about it too hard.<br /><br />What is coming up is <a href="http://www.bcon2010.com/">Bouchercon</a>, and this year I get to stay home. Yup, it's coming to San Francisco, which means no jet lag for me, though I still won't get to stay up as late as I'd like because I've got to get myself back home and don't have the luxury of just rolling into a hotel room. This year will be special, as all parties in San Francisco are!<br /><br />Before B'con is the big lollapalooza lit festival our City likes to throw: <a href="http://litquake.org/">Litquake</a>! This year I'm part of <a href="http://litquake.org/litcrawl">LitCrawl</a>, which means I get to hang out with wonderful crime writing friends and read from CITY OF DRAGONS inside an old police station. This qualifies as a cool and wholly unexpected perq of being a writer.<br /><br />We're also in the midst of designing a bigger and better website, of which <span style="font-style: italic;">Writing in the Dark</span> will be an integral part. It's based on the stuff I like to do when I'm on the web--i.e. have fun--so it's going to be more interactive and offer more historical extras to look at, listen to and watch. It also means I'm making it a resolution to update my blog more frequently, even if I have to act out the title!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkb7zGK5Kcv4s-wMeg8otfLbJ8_O2b1B0WobNfL4d6EfMIar14pMojh0uiWgX4mLqzFwLJ6XT83wFtnfKQNVbwojou_JZvkT_Ay03Cryn3HaUodxtXyvLqwj8vBG5zbAvxxP9IXBQdyE/s1600/FIRSTTHRILLS.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkb7zGK5Kcv4s-wMeg8otfLbJ8_O2b1B0WobNfL4d6EfMIar14pMojh0uiWgX4mLqzFwLJ6XT83wFtnfKQNVbwojou_JZvkT_Ay03Cryn3HaUodxtXyvLqwj8vBG5zbAvxxP9IXBQdyE/s200/FIRSTTHRILLS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514676973011131074" border="0" /></a><br />So cool stuff is coming up. Seeing THE CURSE-MAKER in print will be a dream come true, as Arcturus and Co. move to Thomas Dunne/Minotaur. Lots of research went into this one (research spent in Bath, England). And this series is more light-hearted than Miranda, so it complements what will be coming out in CITY OF SPIDERS.<br /><br />I'm working on the next books--and sketching out plans for a contemporary, stand-alone thriller. If I can squeeze in the time, I may write a short story or two. The experience of having "Children's Day"--my CITY OF DRAGONS prequel--published in FIRST THRILLS this summer was one of the major thrills of my life.<br /><br />I'll be back soon, writing about noir or about adventures in research, and in the meantime, want to thank YOU for reading, and send thanks to all those readers who brought a blog award to <span style="font-style: italic;">Writing in the Dark</span>. Thanks so much for your support!Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-55598612307799956682010-06-22T18:52:00.000-07:002010-06-22T20:23:38.679-07:00Rip van Who?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Irvington_statue_of_Rip_van_Winkle.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 142px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Irvington_statue_of_Rip_van_Winkle.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />You know, I think Washington Irving was on to something about Rip Van Winkle.<br /><br />Except in my version of the story, I fly to New York in April to attend my first <a href="http://www.theedgars.com/banquet.html">Edgar Awards Banquet</a> (it was amazing); catch a horrendous case of bronchitis on the flight home (or more likely on the way there, since I was seated in front of a poor, coughing teenager); am out of commission for a full two weeks; and then put my head down and ...<br /><br />WRITE. No sleeping, not for this Winkle.<br /><br />As we speak, I'm nearing the conclusion of CITY OF SPIDERS--the sequel to <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Dragons.html">CITY OF DRAGONS</a>. I hoped to have it finish much earlier, but this has been an extremely challenging year in many ways, even for a double Gemini with Multi-Tasking as my middle name. Somewhere in June, I even celebrated a birthday ... like van Winkle, I emerge from my blogless state older and a little confused.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT_R1AQrO2R7zQscakuI37HwMUTrcF0sdaiBJ5rlnzcY2vMY9V11WABoh5064gwSBXgu9rxBQAsIAAIsmvup-YH9HL94nrnEEk0qo1lOZtmhyzyqhbyhgf32fFZsjpSUpIfS7sDw_tzg/s1600/FIRSTTHRILLS500.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT_R1AQrO2R7zQscakuI37HwMUTrcF0sdaiBJ5rlnzcY2vMY9V11WABoh5064gwSBXgu9rxBQAsIAAIsmvup-YH9HL94nrnEEk0qo1lOZtmhyzyqhbyhgf32fFZsjpSUpIfS7sDw_tzg/s320/FIRSTTHRILLS500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485803213433729810" border="0" /></a><br />From you, dear blog readers, I have been absent in the spring ... but I hope you forgive me. :) As soon as CITY OF SPIDERS is finished, my goal is to wax weekly at Writing in the Dark!<br /><br />Now, today itself is of some note: <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Anthology.html">FIRST THRILLS</a>, the <a href="http://www.thrillerwriters.org/">International Thriller Writers</a> anthology featuring just a ton of wonderful authors, all of whom I'm honored to be published with--is released! My <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Anthology.html">Miranda Corbie short story "Children's Day"</a> is included, and takes place nearly a year before <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Dragons.html">CITY OF DRAGONS</a>--the entire story is set during the World's Fair on Treasure Island.<br /><br />I was also very lucky to be<a href="http://www.sfexaminer.com/lifestyle/Noir-novel-captures-San-Francisco-in-1940-96854444.html"> interviewed</a> by the <a href="http://www.sfexaminer.com/lifestyle/Noir-novel-captures-San-Francisco-in-1940-96854444.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">San Francisco Examiner</span></a>, and that article also came out today! So ... between the solstice, the launch of <a href="http://us.macmillan.com/firstthrills">FIRST THRILLS</a>, and the <a href="http://www.sfexaminer.com/lifestyle/Noir-novel-captures-San-Francisco-in-1940-96854444.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Examiner</span></a>, I decided to take a novel writing evening off. ;)<br /><br />I'll also be taking a weekend off to fly back to New York for <a href="http://www.thrillerwriters.org/thrillerfest/">Thrillerfest</a> in just a couple of weeks! And soon ... very soon, I hope ... CITY OF SPIDERS will, at last, be finished.<br /><br />THEN I sleep ... and start writing again. :)<br /><br />Thanks again for reading, and if you're up New York way for <a href="http://www.thrillerwriters.org/thrillerfest/">Thrillerfest</a>, I hope you stop by to say hello! :)Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-23809908956236292742010-04-11T15:07:00.000-07:002010-04-11T16:26:03.922-07:00Springing Forward<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtY2GcgOdg_i_JQVfIeiO1OdMkhUMMrYjlB-mNeQweN1SIDCDm9bB9qODANyk_2bJC5MRYgGjgoCePPOhbip9i5pcZuPhhhjUc_Af3nMk-IfrJCIY3lQlfZhKHeGUnc_vNy26aIiVlSJk/s1600/Kelli0399retouch-PMresize.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtY2GcgOdg_i_JQVfIeiO1OdMkhUMMrYjlB-mNeQweN1SIDCDm9bB9qODANyk_2bJC5MRYgGjgoCePPOhbip9i5pcZuPhhhjUc_Af3nMk-IfrJCIY3lQlfZhKHeGUnc_vNy26aIiVlSJk/s200/Kelli0399retouch-PMresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459018676433843938" border="0" /></a><br />T.S. Eliot may have characterized April as the cruelest month, but personally, I think he just needed a vacation. Such a pessimist ... without even the excuse of an IRS deadline. ;)<br /><br />So ... I can't believe spring is already here ... we were just in the throes of winter!<br /><br />Last time I posted, I was on my way to Los Angeles and <a href="http://www.leftcoastcrime.org/2010/">Left Coast Crime</a> ... which was a fabulous conference, as it always is, despite a nasty cold I developed a couple of days before the flight.<br /><br />Speaking of flight, what a thrill it was to ride <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/15/local/la-me-angels-flight16-2010mar16">Angel's Flight</a> and eat at China Cafe (rumored to be Marlowe's old hangout for chop suey) with friends and fabulous writers <a href="http://keithraffel.com/content/index.asp">Keith Raffel</a> and <a href="http://www.billcameronmysteries.com/index.shtml">Bill Cameron</a>. And to see <a href="http://rebeccacantrell.com/">Rebecca Cantrell </a>and <a href="http://www.ritalakin.com/">Rita Lakin</a> win awards (for the Bruce Alexander and Lefty, respectively). And to participate on a Pulp Fiction panel with some great writers, among them <a href="http://ericbeetner.blogspot.com/">Eric Beetner</a>, author of ONE TOO MANY BLOWS TO THE HEAD, who also very generously filmed<a href="http://www.spinetinglermag.com/2010/03/30/interview-kelli-stanley/"> a candid video interview</a> with me for <a href="http://www.spinetinglermag.com/">Spinetingler Magazine</a>. Another video, this one filmed by JohnRay Gutierrez of <a href="http://www.keplers.com/">Kepler's</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijdbsacUZfQ">in a film noir style</a>, was also a ton of fun--you can check it out below.<br /><br />While at LCC, I signed at the <a href="http://www.booksoup.com/">venerable Book Soup</a> on the Sunset Strip, had a chance to at least say hi to a lot of friends like the <a href="http://www.hollywest.com/blog/">delightful and talented writer Holly West</a>, and all in all, it was the best time I've ever had with a cold. :)<br /><br />Just a little later in March, I flew to Portland and the <a href="http://www.placonference.org//general_information.cfm">Public Library Association Conference</a>. This was quite an event--I loved meeting librarians from all over the country, had a chance to chat with friend <a href="http://www.libraryjournal.com/blogger/2115.html?q=Wilda+Williams">Wilda Williams</a> from <a href="http://www.libraryjournal.com/">Library Journal</a>, and generally enjoyed a fabulous time signing copies of CITY OF DRAGONS and giving them away. I only wish <a href="http://www.libraryjournal.com/blog/770000077/post/1370053537.html">we hadn't run out in such a short time! </a><br /><br />Same evening I gave a reading and signing at <a href="http://www.powells.com/info/places/beavertoninfo.html">Powell's in Beaverton</a>. If you haven't been to a <a href="http://www.powells.com/home.html?header=Logo">Powell's</a>, make it an ambition. These giant independent bookstores are monuments to literacy and the great reading public of Portland, and it was an honor to sign there.<br /><br />Throughout my Portland adventure, I palled around with stellar author and friend <a href="http://www.billcameronmysteries.com/index.shtml">Bill Cameron</a>. Bill lives in Portland, and I'm eagerly awaiting his next book, DAY ONE, a hot and riveting thriller from a superb writer. Don't miss it!<br /><br />On April 1st, I experienced the rare pleasure of reading CITY OF DRAGONS in a Chinatown bar. It was part of <a href="http://www.citylights.com/bookstore/?fa=event&event_id=934">Subterranean Noir, a Litquake/City Lights</a> event in which the brilliant <a href="http://www.domenicstansberry.com/">Edgar-winning author Domenic Stansberry</a> and I had a chance to showcase our work in the basement of one of Chinatown's most venerable "joints" ... and luckily for us, hardboiled writer <a href="http://www.markcoggins.com/">Mark Coggins (THE BIG WAKEUP)</a>, who is not only a great writer, but a great photographer, was on hand to shoot some film. You can read about it in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-coggins/subterranean-san-francisc_b_524865.html">Mark's blog on The Huffington Post</a>.<br /><br />I'll be heading back to the City of Angels in a couple of weeks for the <a href="http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/">LA Times Festival of the Book</a>, where I'll be signing with <a href="http://www.mystgalaxy.com/">Mysterious Galaxy</a> and <a href="http://www.mystery-bookstore.com/">The Mystery Bookstore</a>. A few days later, it's NYC and the Edgars, my first time attending the "Oscars" of the mystery-writing world.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1WUFiF17D-oiOvzDYN7SKFaWQfohljaMXGsZN9MbaNnavqA_xPThub7u_yocHDGlTF5kVTJTQ26TRdGtgZGZsqJukXWiGK9W28OAXCvDmNKVJSxORpIrEJZdLmCT6Je9qrDk-NCTwaw/s1600/city+of+dragons.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1WUFiF17D-oiOvzDYN7SKFaWQfohljaMXGsZN9MbaNnavqA_xPThub7u_yocHDGlTF5kVTJTQ26TRdGtgZGZsqJukXWiGK9W28OAXCvDmNKVJSxORpIrEJZdLmCT6Je9qrDk-NCTwaw/s200/city+of+dragons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459019073752336338" border="0" /></a><br />But what I've really been doing--and will be doing for the next couple of months--is writing. I'm deep into the sequel of CITY OF DRAGONS--working title is CITY OF SPIDERS--and am racing toward my deadline and the finish line.<br /><br />In other news, <a href="http://www.tantor.com/BookDetail.asp?Product=1664_CityDragons">the audio version of CITY OF DRAGONS</a> is now available, and I was thrilled and delighted to see <a href="http://www.mysterybooksellers.com/IMBA-Bestsellers">the hardcover reach #2 on the IMBA Bestsellers list</a> for February--and a heartfelt thank you to all the readers, bloggers, librarians, booksellers and friends and colleagues who made that happen! I was also privileged and honored by <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/28/RVN01C39QE.DTL">a recent review in the San Francisco Chronicle</a>.<br /><br />Have a wonderful April--and thanks for reading!<br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ijdbsacUZfQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ijdbsacUZfQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-12918196135379747582010-03-10T15:48:00.000-08:002010-03-10T16:18:13.827-08:00City of Dragons Tour - on the way to LCC!So last we met, I was in San Diego. Now I'm about to leave for Los Angeles and Left Coast Crime.<br /><br />What happened??<br /><br />Well, I've discovered a new law of physics. Time bends when you're on the road, true ... but when you get home--and try to continue a book tour from your own sweet domicile--time really messes with your head. It's also more tiring by far ... because you're having to juggle your "normal" life (in my case, a day job, taking care of springer spaniel Bertie, buying toothpaste, etc.) with your "writer" life (driving all over to events and signing your book).<br /><br />In short, everything snuck up on me, and I still haven't really caught up from the long distance part of the CITY OF DRAGONS march. But I did download some wonderful photos of the desert, and will post them soon ... I promise. In the meantime, here's a recap, from the middle of February to now:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mystgalaxy.com/">Mysterious Galaxy</a> is a wonderful store--known as the Cheers of the mystery world and for good reason! I had a blast hanging out with Patrick and Michael, and was sorry to leave ... but can't wait to return. They're the best!!!<br /><br />The next day (February 13th) we made a beautiful and really incredible drive across I-8, skimming along the US/Mexico border through California and southern Arizona. The geographic landscape was jaw-dropping. Craggy, desert mountains with piles of giant reddish boulders that looked like some gargantuan god piled them up to skim along a now-dead lake ... I yelped when I saw my first saguaro cactus, multiple arms stretching toward the sun. Ocotillo too, looking like desert-dancing seaweed against the dry, vulnerable earth. I fell in love with the desert on this ride, and can't wait to go back.<br /><br />We stopped for lunch in Yuma, easily imagining either Glenn Ford or Russell Crowe alongside the still prominent train that runs right through the town ... but the only thing criminal we found was the sinfully delicious Mexican food at Tacos Mi Rancho. Truly--the best, the very best, Mexican food I've had anywhere--including Texas. Yuma, I take off my hat to you!<br /><br />A bit later, we stopped at Dateland, Arizona, which is a wonderful little oasis that serves fresh date milkshakes and sells all kinds of dates. A grove--with grapefruit trees in front--looms in the distance over the diner and gift shop. It's one of those old-fashioned tourist places that are sadly disappearing, getting swallowed up in homogenized conglomerates disguising themselves as mom and pops (Starbucks, anybody?). We loved it! (and the milkshake was delicious).<br /><br />We turned north on a state highway, and finally made it into Scottsdale as the sun was setting. A beautiful place, and the land is so ... delicate. And beautiful. And gentle, too, at least in winter.<br /><br />Next morning, we had a great breakfast at a place called Butterfields, and then to a signing and Valentine's Day party at the <a href="http://www.poisonedpen.com/">Poisoned Pen</a>! I am a big, big fan of Barbara and Rob, and it was an honor to be there ... and an honor for CITY OF DRAGONS to make four of their "pick" lists, including the Hardboiled Club. I loved meeting everyone, and had a grand time, followed by dinner at a fabulous pizza place just down the street.<br /><br />The next morning we were off again, this time along I-10 to LA. Not as dramatically beautiful, but lovely nevertheless, and a mid-day stop in the fascinating little waterhole known as Quartzite, Arizona, is worthy of its own post. We also rested for a bit at the I-10 equivalent of Dateland, called the Chiriaco Summit--which houses not only a vintage-style diner, shop and tiny post office, but a George Patton museum.<br /><br />We finally made it to Culver City, our home away from home, and stayed in the Clark Gable suite at the Culver Hotel, which was a real treat. Gable must have helped sprinkle sleep dust, because we woke relatively refreshed, and ready for an equally long drive back to San Francisco up 101.<br /><br />Since arriving home, I've been on the road around the Bay Area, doing upwards of two signings a week, plus signing stock at Barnes and Noble ... and the tour isn't over. Tomorrow I fly to Left Coast Crime ... which is where I came in. :)<br /><br />I'm wrestling a cold right now, but plan to prop myself up on tea, Vitamin C and adrenalin, at least long enough to have a great time on a panel tomorrow afternoon and at a reading/signing at Book Soup tomorrow evening.<br /><br />Thanks for reading -- and hope to see you somewhere along the journey! :)Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-39615271241719526022010-02-12T16:56:00.000-08:002010-02-12T21:37:46.618-08:00City of Dragons - City of Angels Tour!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P9LcGIq5LNzB1ik5zmkk9kL-aXAoy-3pxKwFS91pxObvwafsbRVDwb-QZEvCPhOEgh1N6h2pf6DK2qfT1-NX5jjBvuKvq3GttmjNajtowjhh9Z_Ax_X_Lka1thQhA10YODc8-6S87YY/s1600-h/IMG_1104.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P9LcGIq5LNzB1ik5zmkk9kL-aXAoy-3pxKwFS91pxObvwafsbRVDwb-QZEvCPhOEgh1N6h2pf6DK2qfT1-NX5jjBvuKvq3GttmjNajtowjhh9Z_Ax_X_Lka1thQhA10YODc8-6S87YY/s200/IMG_1104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437593001436572754" border="0" /></a><br />Today I'm blogging from San Diego, where I'm looking forward to a signing at the fabulous <a href="http://www.mystgalaxy.com/">Mysterious Galaxy</a>!<br /><br />Time is whizzing by, calendar pages flipping in a black and white montage ... it seems like just yesterday (well, OK, the day before the day before yesterday) that we drove to LA.<br /><br />The drive down was beautiful (not many rain showers, despite prediction of thunder and hail), and we enjoyed a requisite stop for caffeine rejuvenation in Salinas for breakfast and spit pea soup rejuvenation at Andersen's Pea Soup restaurant in Buellton, outside Solvang.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4k0eRVHWrqT3Yc664Q2fHyOQvKIcG5wEs4tkHwobcW-PNYpiZZv6fWHwEVdFiiH82hsvX-Z1BPeK4zKpE0Q6x2vTizQgtJtJP-00ep_TUMkLDCFXYSBqm1wO2o98ZyVkYS_u0qhRWq4/s1600-h/IMG_1119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4k0eRVHWrqT3Yc664Q2fHyOQvKIcG5wEs4tkHwobcW-PNYpiZZv6fWHwEVdFiiH82hsvX-Z1BPeK4zKpE0Q6x2vTizQgtJtJP-00ep_TUMkLDCFXYSBqm1wO2o98ZyVkYS_u0qhRWq4/s200/IMG_1119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437594021019331234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCc3uHVp9OrkEzmW9MiiYuQ4MQoVrP0WwDtq38icYpwcGHx6K9CDMZ2ws8OifFL9dmMJjEwLK-ffEsNESvZ5P4dT5ZdSUzjqyX2aOZ9QiG13i07ab3PvYhi_GS7oqrTe7iam02H7gJqNM/s1600-h/IMG_1125.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCc3uHVp9OrkEzmW9MiiYuQ4MQoVrP0WwDtq38icYpwcGHx6K9CDMZ2ws8OifFL9dmMJjEwLK-ffEsNESvZ5P4dT5ZdSUzjqyX2aOZ9QiG13i07ab3PvYhi_GS7oqrTe7iam02H7gJqNM/s200/IMG_1125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437594298352376018" border="0" /></a><br />BTW--danish is Solvang is really Danish--and utterly delightful. One of the pleasures of driving down Highway 101, amid the stately mission bells along the old El Camino Real.<br /><br />We stayed at the Culver Hotel--a queen among hostelries, and right next to the Culver Studios (formerly RKO, Selznick and part of MGM). Who wouldn't want to stay in a beautifully refurbished historic hotel, with a great bar, food menu and the magic ambiance of former guests like Clark Gable and Judy Garland? (The Culver Studio's main building is the columned mansion seen in the Selznick opening credits of <span style="font-style: italic;">Gone With the Wind</span>).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYlpb7L_tFAnuYuFFOgX3r5lvyr4qy64e0H4n6e0A-N4r7rXdQMY95KAy8GTxOdkC-3mmkn0QgmTHdMyNChl87Ncs_cTU-5wrOHFQpbgTZbmw6yR4T9mMEQvlmlb2T7iiGUKCMnAlq28/s1600-h/IMG_1142.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYlpb7L_tFAnuYuFFOgX3r5lvyr4qy64e0H4n6e0A-N4r7rXdQMY95KAy8GTxOdkC-3mmkn0QgmTHdMyNChl87Ncs_cTU-5wrOHFQpbgTZbmw6yR4T9mMEQvlmlb2T7iiGUKCMnAlq28/s200/IMG_1142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437594668989420322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51N4ASZpW-TX-dC3nsXxjwKc3r2e8hlqaX6VKcrgJCqiEBTGqu7Twkm_I5Flyyr4LyNakH5sgV7HVpm74TUq3CNjXuXyrzCrLxcpsZjFXL8pznAVmkRn75yzNnSpG9nn_IfgL4VybkrM/s1600-h/IMG_1146.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51N4ASZpW-TX-dC3nsXxjwKc3r2e8hlqaX6VKcrgJCqiEBTGqu7Twkm_I5Flyyr4LyNakH5sgV7HVpm74TUq3CNjXuXyrzCrLxcpsZjFXL8pznAVmkRn75yzNnSpG9nn_IfgL4VybkrM/s200/IMG_1146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437595349281147842" border="0" /></a><br />On Wednesday, we drove to South Pasadena and Book 'Em Mysteries, where we met Jean, the indefatigable and fabulous Chair of the upcoming Left Coast Crime conference, and signed copies of <span style="font-style: italic;">City of Dragons</span>. Afterward a great visit and some good Mexican food across the street, it was onward to Pasadena and Vroman's, where I got all goose-bumply seeing City on the IndieNext Wall and the New and Noteworthy front table!<br /><br />Next, we drove to our "neighborhood" Barnes and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yLvkMIq-zjXYBQRAfJRyHV-oRY0GD1zLy0g9sNV4GtQFLdOcI9tIpHS_enplDQNNJXoGWbDATS9E7XUyU9sfiJOChUWA_0sLAE0X2_w_heF5ehYvCzLO4JWfOarHVN5XTStqlpZcRgw/s1600-h/IMG_1162.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yLvkMIq-zjXYBQRAfJRyHV-oRY0GD1zLy0g9sNV4GtQFLdOcI9tIpHS_enplDQNNJXoGWbDATS9E7XUyU9sfiJOChUWA_0sLAE0X2_w_heF5ehYvCzLO4JWfOarHVN5XTStqlpZcRgw/s200/IMG_1162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437596177742107698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrS712gxY0pmZdXM2CtLtrAxBFBQfMR5XT6L3xCMfuwnw66IY9LdZLZj3UmJg-meZ_RoXWtlwqntw9Xxw_bjCXh0rJgJoQkJccBk71-X82dVFcuxWLM4IpVTsgBMg1kqFNhwozQyMFMDw/s1600-h/IMG_1156.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrS712gxY0pmZdXM2CtLtrAxBFBQfMR5XT6L3xCMfuwnw66IY9LdZLZj3UmJg-meZ_RoXWtlwqntw9Xxw_bjCXh0rJgJoQkJccBk71-X82dVFcuxWLM4IpVTsgBMg1kqFNhwozQyMFMDw/s200/IMG_1156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437595756833814050" border="0" /></a>Noble in Marina del Rey (close to Culver City) and signed stock. And from there, I enjoyed the rather surreal experience of seeing my book on the New Arrivals table at the gigantic theme-park like Barnes and Noble in The Grove, near the Farmer's Market and the Miracle Mile in Los Angeles. Posters advertising upcoming signings for Raquel Welch and Melissa Rivers, etc. were all over the place, and the whole thing was, well ... very Hollywood ... in a retail Disneyland sort of way. ;)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqFEG7ywIKvYNgYbFtfBnHSJQWm_2CU-VAlgLpEdSslpjZtr9Jgf-1osRIj2TwPhq9_9FR6aoDsPGEpfq-r-ITvF5dWnV8xEq574UEIDOydA9t-g2sR87qfIvHhsSa035mMn_Tqufufw/s1600-h/IMG_1183.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqFEG7ywIKvYNgYbFtfBnHSJQWm_2CU-VAlgLpEdSslpjZtr9Jgf-1osRIj2TwPhq9_9FR6aoDsPGEpfq-r-ITvF5dWnV8xEq574UEIDOydA9t-g2sR87qfIvHhsSa035mMn_Tqufufw/s200/IMG_1183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437596566369454754" border="0" /></a>Thursday was wonderful--I had a signing at Mysteries to Die For, in lovely Thousand Oaks, and seeing Alan at this wonderful store is always a treat! Another treat was the tea room/cafe/chocolatier across the street--Chocolatine. Owned and operated by French chef Hugo, this was some of the best quiche -- and best chocolate! -- I've ever had. If you're ever in Thousand Oaks, shop at Alan's and try the chocolate! :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9b5olfVGt8Bhjk3ch8K5Jpr6NdzfYngGWmEEg6Gs7Msoh3bbXQlDjQpd5h9dAIp8Wow11cbcr6jGbBqNeBumktdnnOI1ODjkSpI1gZS4P-5yOvaMFqIXGvwUiW68QlIJeRSnGorak70/s1600-h/IMG_1201.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9b5olfVGt8Bhjk3ch8K5Jpr6NdzfYngGWmEEg6Gs7Msoh3bbXQlDjQpd5h9dAIp8Wow11cbcr6jGbBqNeBumktdnnOI1ODjkSpI1gZS4P-5yOvaMFqIXGvwUiW68QlIJeRSnGorak70/s200/IMG_1201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437596921190333874" border="0" /></a><br />Later in the evening, we capped off the LA tour with a heartwarming event at the marvelous Mystery Bookstore!! I love the staff--Linda, Bobby, Ingrid and Emily--and friends came out to officially welcome me to the City of Angels. Angels themselves (though of the crime fiction writing devilish kind), Brett Battles, Sue Ann Jaffarian, Eric Stone and Holly West reminded me why this is the best business to be in -- it's the company you keep! :) Thanks, guys!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhINuhwt8sd4rpK4CrXBeOHvJ4mifRwxIK4VP5hQzqYmZAawRG5IPQwdDo1S4mq1CLnS33eZmN5kb40vSLcBaB7BAOWWYpQ0iE4NIg4uTRLSNU5Yf104ctvWFXMKWlnDSR1almBItAO8/s1600-h/IMG_1209.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhINuhwt8sd4rpK4CrXBeOHvJ4mifRwxIK4VP5hQzqYmZAawRG5IPQwdDo1S4mq1CLnS33eZmN5kb40vSLcBaB7BAOWWYpQ0iE4NIg4uTRLSNU5Yf104ctvWFXMKWlnDSR1almBItAO8/s200/IMG_1209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437597291727319298" border="0" /></a><br />This morning, we headed down to San Diego, stopping at a just reopened very swanky restaurant in Oceanside called The Flying Bridge. And when I say swanky, I mean swanky--the architecture looks like Frank, Dean and Sammy could've eaten lunch here on the way to the track at Del Mar.<br /><br />The food was delicious, the service superb (ask for Summer--she's a great waitress!) and all in all, I highly recommend it.<br /><br />So that's the LA rap-up--next blog will be our San Diego sojourn and next stop will be Scottsdale and the fabulous <a href="http://www.poisonedpen.com/">Poisoned Pen bookstore!</a> Thanks for reading!Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-19722707083963832242010-02-09T17:00:00.000-08:002010-02-09T17:00:01.425-08:00City of Dragons Tour - The Great Northwest!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.biblio.com/bookseller_images/184561-photo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 176px;" src="http://www.biblio.com/bookseller_images/184561-photo.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >So for the first leg of the tour, we flew to Seattle the morning after the <a href="http://www.mformystery.com/">M is for Mystery</a> launch party, and relished being in my home state at Seattle's finest bookstore, <a href="http://www.seattlemystery.com/">Seattle Mystery Bookshop</a>, with the wonderful and awesome Fran and JB! I met some folks, signed books, hung out with the gang, blogged, listened to the soundtrack for <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.kellistanley.com/">City of Dragons</a> and had lunch with a friend in Seattle's oldest bar. Stayed at the Sleep Inn in SeaTac (and wished I actually could), but it was another early morning and a drive to Portland the next day.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EXhAyjKSUlyVW59Ge7TFlv1ztk795ugAfqDCU6N0zOkzZJmxIYRv1lDFMiGl7sAxY2ivKM1D5SPVOkBY0hb_OLFbMQhoWYLtef8U7rwFL_CrvrdBb_GRoHbr-wicXTMU9IonzTuc16Y/s1600-h/IMG_1061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EXhAyjKSUlyVW59Ge7TFlv1ztk795ugAfqDCU6N0zOkzZJmxIYRv1lDFMiGl7sAxY2ivKM1D5SPVOkBY0hb_OLFbMQhoWYLtef8U7rwFL_CrvrdBb_GRoHbr-wicXTMU9IonzTuc16Y/s200/IMG_1061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436114408734505954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Along the beautiful I-5, we stopped in Olympia to thank Linda Dewberry of <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/stores/whodunit-books">Whodunit Books </a>for nominating<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.kellistanley.com/">City of Dragons</a> for the <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780312603601/Kelli-Stanley/City-Dragons">IndieNext list</a>! We also enjoyed a great lunch next door at Olympia's finest sandwich shop.<br /><br />And I've gotta say ... as a native Washingtonian, I'm very proud of my state's hospitality. All along I-5, you come upon rest stops with highway signs advertising "free coffee." Charities get donations of coffees, cookies (sometimes cupcakes and donuts) and offer them to travelers, who then donate cash. It's a wonderful system. :)<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thebookpirate.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/MBTB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.thebookpirate.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/MBTB.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >In Portland, we stayed at an Arts and Crafts guest house in the Hawthorne District, close to <a href="http://www.mbtb.com/">Murder by the Book</a>. I love this store! Informative, friendly, wonderful, they--like <a href="http://www.seattlemystery.com/">Seattle Mystery Bookshop</a>--are a must on any northwest tour.<br /><br />Before the signing, we caught dinner at a cool restaurant called <a href="http://www.bellytimberrestaurant.com/">Belly Timber</a> that also had the advantage of being directly across the street (and it was raining--hard!). Tried some lovely fried chickpeas as an appetizer, and now I'm addicted. Seriously, if you're ever there, try 'em--they're even better than popcorn!<br /><br />Dear, dear friend and brilliant writer <a href="http://www.billcameronmysteries.com/">Bill Cameron</a> joined us at dinner and showed us how to cross a rainy and dark Portland street like a native. We had a good turnout for the Murder by the Book event, including the wonderful Theresa Bergen, ITW member and writer, who wrote a <a href="http://portland.readinglocal.com/2010/02/06/event-recap-kelli-stanley-reads-from-city-of-dragons-at-murder-by-the-book/">great recap for Reading Loca</a>l. I got the chance to pass around ephemera and answer a lot of interesting questions and do a little reading. And of course--had a lot of fun!!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenGuNdwqhWZb4M6Rpjr3WCxQkn4_XGJ2OJLVqPPUGgCJ4ueJpISBPB6OID_Y4QAy0vt9kicjaapYkqPpc2iNxIu6Rh6zbKpJtdsEy3KKove4SQ6HH-EF6aAI8zmd1VXc55mNPEJGkEHA/s1600-h/IMG_1097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenGuNdwqhWZb4M6Rpjr3WCxQkn4_XGJ2OJLVqPPUGgCJ4ueJpISBPB6OID_Y4QAy0vt9kicjaapYkqPpc2iNxIu6Rh6zbKpJtdsEy3KKove4SQ6HH-EF6aAI8zmd1VXc55mNPEJGkEHA/s320/IMG_1097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436115025698552370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >The next morning, we left for Seattle, eating lunch at a seafood cafe along the way (halibut tacos--yum!). We made good time--stopping for our prerequisite I-5 coffee--and squeezed in fifteen minutes of childhood thrills before heading to the rent car center and airport. :)<br /><br />I was born in Tacoma and lived there until I was seven, and have very fond memories of <a href="http://www.brown-haley.com/">Brown and Haley--makers of the famous Almond Roca</a>. And my mom used to take me to the factory outlet store ... which is still there!<br /><br />The building is adorable, and we found out that it was originally built for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, then transported to the factory when the fair ended. So my love of World's Fairs really did start early ... in person at Expo '67 and home in Tacoma with <a href="http://www.brown-haley.com/">Brown and Haley</a>!<br /><br />The next leg of the tour takes me down to Los Angeles and points south ... to Mysteries to Die For, Book 'Em Mysteries, The Mystery Bookstore, Mysterious Galaxy and Poisoned Pen! I'll be blogging from the road. As always --- thanks for reading!</span>Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-10981611835033240222010-02-08T14:52:00.000-08:002010-02-08T21:07:12.787-08:00City of Dragons Launch!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioHnsx94pfJnZ9wfckgFfSgAC8vTpYnPdpmfgpdddTMGfohw7DuvptBWllRHAQrW42GNtPZa_OnXGOkxxAxYVwcZXss-_R8LZXu9a66AOiGaHwvmpHksV2jcg-7QkyqO11zAMr-GLQMI/s1600-h/city+of+dragons.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioHnsx94pfJnZ9wfckgFfSgAC8vTpYnPdpmfgpdddTMGfohw7DuvptBWllRHAQrW42GNtPZa_OnXGOkxxAxYVwcZXss-_R8LZXu9a66AOiGaHwvmpHksV2jcg-7QkyqO11zAMr-GLQMI/s200/city+of+dragons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436101589003248978" border="0" /></a><br />Last Tuesday, February 2nd, was one of the most amazing moments of my life.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">City of Dragons</span></a> launched, released into bookstores and libraries and readers' hands ... despite the fact that at the time, it was blacklisted from Amazon, along with all other Macmillan titles.<br /><br />But it didn't matter.<br /><br />All the hopes, all the dreams, all the wishing and wanting and waiting. It coalesced into magic at my favorite bookstore, <a href="http://www.mformystery.com/">M is for Mystery</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8vmefPmvZvoztwbyJlDCLZPXbVsoSH_kPTWBPAFoC4iOSt5Gm7H286fbUJzO_Ipc17M96dEqUlWr5S1lfM1TsAe_dqa_kkDro5GhZ90VBCHR-o2Lc1w2fXtw0E5ydkwXDD07wTtCt_4/s1600-h/IMG_1032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8vmefPmvZvoztwbyJlDCLZPXbVsoSH_kPTWBPAFoC4iOSt5Gm7H286fbUJzO_Ipc17M96dEqUlWr5S1lfM1TsAe_dqa_kkDro5GhZ90VBCHR-o2Lc1w2fXtw0E5ydkwXDD07wTtCt_4/s200/IMG_1032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436101834306214658" border="0" /></a><br />So what are the ingredients for a once-in-a-lifetime moment that makes you incredibly touched and proud and feel like George Bailey at the end of <span style="font-style: italic;">It's A Wonderful Life</span>?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXnpaOfPFB2nUzYd_UUsID6mLZkseIrbDVzM0aorDt2BnQ-ZaWpUhZ797D_WkcpOL6sSLTx4Pej5WHDdQn9Je1tRTYHMogRUKj84-Oqr-F0CoF7m3srxFt6otRRKlDOWm0LBi422ks_k/s1600-h/IMG_1033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXnpaOfPFB2nUzYd_UUsID6mLZkseIrbDVzM0aorDt2BnQ-ZaWpUhZ797D_WkcpOL6sSLTx4Pej5WHDdQn9Je1tRTYHMogRUKj84-Oqr-F0CoF7m3srxFt6otRRKlDOWm0LBi422ks_k/s200/IMG_1033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436102134827758306" border="0" /></a><br />Well, Chinese food of all kinds ... bourbon and sake and drinks served by two of the most talented bartenders in the world -- Edgar nominee <a href="http://www.sophielittlefield.com/">Sophie Littlefield</a> and <a href="http://www.haileylind.com/">Julie Goodson-Lawes</a> ... goodie packs in Chinese New Year envelopes, complete with packs of candy cigarettes and party poppers ... Doll, the official mascot of Noir City, dressed in a fedora ... champagne toast ... and even a surprise birthday cake for Miranda.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCq6p5tmmPq96tOUN9h1c-lWrCf6jGNgxapmNxaXnRTAxc0V0efeCnuGg0ELwhzuQwJdDXloQ__95RMbun0f678cIi-uvcNwBGp8Iz_-hzdF1608GflP3eJGmRSYJQRJ7ifPtLAXiPFM/s1600-h/IMG_1030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCq6p5tmmPq96tOUN9h1c-lWrCf6jGNgxapmNxaXnRTAxc0V0efeCnuGg0ELwhzuQwJdDXloQ__95RMbun0f678cIi-uvcNwBGp8Iz_-hzdF1608GflP3eJGmRSYJQRJ7ifPtLAXiPFM/s200/IMG_1030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436102612915243410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvV6Wi8xfWyeFueJnFH21TCrx3U5dpdOPbIZSSJmZ5-k_plnpaXmMU_Tzhih_LuyFGl2hT20Cry8LQsf-mJXifQnKIZnYXaYPzE4LxpI2dTKwtPpJ-ZNJXSaoYYftJWP58xCPETeRTnU/s1600-h/IMG_1043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvV6Wi8xfWyeFueJnFH21TCrx3U5dpdOPbIZSSJmZ5-k_plnpaXmMU_Tzhih_LuyFGl2hT20Cry8LQsf-mJXifQnKIZnYXaYPzE4LxpI2dTKwtPpJ-ZNJXSaoYYftJWP58xCPETeRTnU/s200/IMG_1043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436102895378673250" border="0" /></a><br />And, of course, the most important ingredient: friends, starting with the amazing <a href="http://www.mformystery.com/">M is for Mystery staff</a>: Pam, Jen, Anne, Charlotte, and of course Ed Kaufman. I was truly, truly humbled, and the warmth and love and memory of this special launch into the major leagues will always be a highlight of my life. :)<br /><br />Books are like children ... it takes a village to raise them. And<span style="font-style: italic;"> <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/">City of Dragons</a></span>, Miranda and I are incredibly blessed and lucky to have the village--the family--that we do!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJRk6TNBGB7S5zckHk65gZvmiTnEE62AkLnmHdCVQDmLX3jS0ESYdd4PYzKYI3XozeNml5u59lpdiNPbP56aoO4fKvPanbXUXl9E2bek8z96eaZlMrbSScHQBL1HnXq1KiKq1C5-3phk/s1600-h/IMG_1052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJRk6TNBGB7S5zckHk65gZvmiTnEE62AkLnmHdCVQDmLX3jS0ESYdd4PYzKYI3XozeNml5u59lpdiNPbP56aoO4fKvPanbXUXl9E2bek8z96eaZlMrbSScHQBL1HnXq1KiKq1C5-3phk/s320/IMG_1052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436104824716023874" border="0" /></a>Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-23519215567833674242010-01-26T16:11:00.000-08:002010-01-26T18:35:00.183-08:00One Week Countdown ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0xba6N4hrrFUqZLTS5ETSofIPyg52qCBTiLmYz5kW_1xTg4DP67guotnExDuJwKypkaHsgOWDTmPTExX0qxOWf1U_E-TIXnGx-rYptYA8h2lakhVQt7hjo70W3M3UeAmYGNnZJ6rkOM/s1600-h/city+of+dragons.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0xba6N4hrrFUqZLTS5ETSofIPyg52qCBTiLmYz5kW_1xTg4DP67guotnExDuJwKypkaHsgOWDTmPTExX0qxOWf1U_E-TIXnGx-rYptYA8h2lakhVQt7hjo70W3M3UeAmYGNnZJ6rkOM/s320/city+of+dragons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431239107615462514" border="0" /></a><br />I looked around and it was January.<br /><br />Not New Year's Day, mind you, I remember that, even with the champagne. And I started the New Year off like everyone does ... full of plans and resolutions, one of which was to blog more often! ;)<br /><br />I hope you forgive me. The whirlwind that has been leading up to the official launch of <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Books.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">City of Dragons</span></a> has been whirling ever faster, and in between <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Events.html">book tour</a> preparations and everything else I'm also going on a virtual blog tour and hanging out with friends--so I actually have been blogging. You can catch me on <a href="http://workingstiffs.blogspot.com/2010/01/she-works-hard-for-money.html">Working Stiffs</a> and the <a href="http://femmesfatales.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/01/when-you-say-the-words-femme-fatale--who-do-you-think-of-besides-all-of-us-here-of-course-and-possibly-yourself-from-tim.html">Femmes Fatales</a> ... and <a href="http://laurabenedict.blogspot.com/">Notes from the Handbasket</a>, <a href="http://typem4murder.blogspot.com/">Type M for Murder</a>, <a href="http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/">The Rap Sheet</a>, <a href="http://meanderingsandmuses.blogspot.com/">Meanderings and Musings</a>, <a href="http://www.pensfatales.com/">Pens Fatales</a>, <a href="http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/">The Kill Zone</a>, <a href="http://page69test.blogspot.com/">The Page 69 Test</a>, <a href="http://mybookthemovie.blogspot.com/">My Book, My Movie</a>, <a href="http://coffeecanine.blogspot.com/">Coffee with a Canine</a>, <a href="http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/">Detectives Beyond Borders</a> and <a href="http://jensbookthoughts.blogspot.com/">Jen's Book Thoughts</a> are all upcoming!<br /><br />So how do I feel, now that <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Dragons.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">City of Dragons</span></a> is only seven days away? Well, a little like Dorothy walking into technicolor. I've been stunned by the reception, and am immeasurably grateful for the all the support from this incredible and generous community. I'm trying to keep centered--that's what my <a href="http://www.kimberleycameron.com/">wonderful agent</a> tells me to do, and she's always right--but it's difficult. I alternate between absolute exhilaration and fear and anxiety, with gratitude and acknowledgment of my own extreme good fortune as the constants. :)<br /><br />I'm looking forward to the book tour, which is taking me to <a href="http://www.seattlemystery.com/Events/events.html">Seattle</a>, <a href="http://mbtb.com/shop/">Portland</a>, <a href="http://www.mysteriestodiefor.com/calendar.htm">Thousand Oaks</a>, <a href="http://www.mystery-bookstore.com/blog/">Los Angeles</a>, <a href="http://www.mystgalaxy.com/">San Diego</a> and <a href="http://www.poisonedpen.com/">Scottsdale</a> ... I only wish I could venture farther. My ultimate goal is to be able to support myself through my writing, and if that day gets here, zipping all over and meeting wonderful readers is part of the plan! And I'm popping vitamin C and trying to get some rest, so I can withstand the rigors of travel in the rainy season. I hope to meet some Writing in the Dark readers along the way.<br /><br />And like every other crime fiction reader and writer, I am deeply saddened by the loss of Robert B. Parker. His blurb for <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Books.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">City of Dragons</span></a> was an incredible act of generosity--a trait he was well-known for. I was looking forward to thanking him in person--I plan to be in Boston in July. Instead, I joined many voices in a heartfelt tribute on <a href="http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2010/01/looking-for-robert-b-parker-fond.html">The Rap Sheet</a>. As we head into the hurly-burly of actual publication, I feel like Miranda has Spenser's hand on her shoulder.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gvHmI85M63JKDj2Uy2aRf7ptl1cQ0ZN1phOMgkBFNU-7ienKH33-mgL_aJgbEVOMlJo4bAh8CmhXQfsT4riHLDjfoNUVAJ0IV-XbvKonih1GrD7BKBD6eILJ2AbiI3OZ31d9m-Hsnnk/s1600-h/dragonfly-4311.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gvHmI85M63JKDj2Uy2aRf7ptl1cQ0ZN1phOMgkBFNU-7ienKH33-mgL_aJgbEVOMlJo4bAh8CmhXQfsT4riHLDjfoNUVAJ0IV-XbvKonih1GrD7BKBD6eILJ2AbiI3OZ31d9m-Hsnnk/s200/dragonfly-4311.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431240270001195874" border="0" /></a><br />So, my friends, once more unto the breach, to use a line that was probably corny when Shakespeare wrote it. We write, we revise, we copy edit, we proof and proof and proof ... and, eventually, we let it fly, hoping paper-thin wings can withstand the weather, hoping it reaches readers who will love it and cherish it and make it their own, make it something we could never imagine.<br /><br />Letting go is every author's challenge and every author's dream ... and in just a week, it will happen to <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Books.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">City of Dragons</span></a>.<br /><br />Thanks for being a part of it!!Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-89227947457780523692009-12-22T00:01:00.000-08:002009-12-22T00:01:01.038-08:00Bay City Holiday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqMyPYCkFW4LWQZnbmDxwelxhl52sNgt8XPRFSWGQNKorRQBcMbOj5ADoHchlhOY0WvjTVphZUDN6giNqE-jUaVvmpVjw8jOYwlOpMuI6gJQiFNzKXWOIIwjDjRejM9OSUdA7ZnTJQq8/s1600-h/Powell+by+Union+Square.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqMyPYCkFW4LWQZnbmDxwelxhl52sNgt8XPRFSWGQNKorRQBcMbOj5ADoHchlhOY0WvjTVphZUDN6giNqE-jUaVvmpVjw8jOYwlOpMuI6gJQiFNzKXWOIIwjDjRejM9OSUdA7ZnTJQq8/s200/Powell+by+Union+Square.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417899729173270802" border="0" /></a><br />I know San Francisco is supposed to be perennially shrouded in fog--and we do get quite a bit of the atmospheric pea soup variety--but sometimes it's just plain mild and sunny, even in December. Those are the days when you remember you're in California. :)<br /><br />During the holidays, there's an ice rink in Union Square, smack dab in the middle of the downtown shopping district ... right next to lit palm trees. And cable cars and the vintage streetcars that travel down Market are decked out in wreathes and garland ... and the rotating star at the top of the Sir Francis Drake is just a little extra bright.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhAXZINHuLe1mAw6dXg-J1ArWfmpodzaLXo9O9BhWakKO_8dvNtja5HoHF4gYzaUG4ITr8zA223AyKkeGS5alGujayIbwSpq5g0ShxvKnRG-IsN2wf3k8QnLAo2knhZKedp2oug02QZ0/s1600-h/Happy+Holidays+-+Banner.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhAXZINHuLe1mAw6dXg-J1ArWfmpodzaLXo9O9BhWakKO_8dvNtja5HoHF4gYzaUG4ITr8zA223AyKkeGS5alGujayIbwSpq5g0ShxvKnRG-IsN2wf3k8QnLAo2knhZKedp2oug02QZ0/s200/Happy+Holidays+-+Banner.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417900515050288962" border="0" /></a><br />I had occasion to go downtown on Saturday--a visit to Melissa at <a href="http://www.secretagentsalon.com/">Secret Agent Salon</a>, the most fabulous stylist and team in the Bay Area--and thought I'd share some photos of what San Francisco is like during the holiday season.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKxRqwkWUXNPj9qso6SHD7WdJgC4fIAGFDE7pZIaD5La2UWXDkf-iiqZD_9LYZxsguNuPWYWnBpPHj01V-9iTWplE-1KE32B5k72i4pnOJyN0Oy94InseY7-v6Q8eYVxEgpGrQePXEFo/s1600-h/Li+Po+-+Bar+in+Chinatown.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKxRqwkWUXNPj9qso6SHD7WdJgC4fIAGFDE7pZIaD5La2UWXDkf-iiqZD_9LYZxsguNuPWYWnBpPHj01V-9iTWplE-1KE32B5k72i4pnOJyN0Oy94InseY7-v6Q8eYVxEgpGrQePXEFo/s200/Li+Po+-+Bar+in+Chinatown.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417900167712006354" border="0" /></a><br />Chinatown, as you can see, was thronged with shoppers, bargain-hunting in the small stores that line Grant and California. Gold garlands added a festive touch to the always festive lantern street lights, while banners and lanterns make every day a holiday when you shop in Chinatown.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAPFrZmFHbnyyx-ANR83TX3J1GcWASAzLiwvhyphenhyphen8Zk2KiSWIMQenCfgopR8Xd8LuRwUlmaZxpPR81B9dmVvU95hlmoPtl5uQdwRfl5UtgVrtuoGDcBRQ3gAeCBXXz4dsMGjPC88uUmMNY/s1600-h/IMG_0905.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAPFrZmFHbnyyx-ANR83TX3J1GcWASAzLiwvhyphenhyphen8Zk2KiSWIMQenCfgopR8Xd8LuRwUlmaZxpPR81B9dmVvU95hlmoPtl5uQdwRfl5UtgVrtuoGDcBRQ3gAeCBXXz4dsMGjPC88uUmMNY/s200/IMG_0905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417900889959734786" border="0" /></a><br />Still ... atmosphere reins. The Li Po bar, like most of its brethren, opens early and closes late. And Sam Wo--one of my favorite places to eat, with its no-frills set-up, huge and delicious portions, cheap prices and dumbwaiter to deliver the food upstairs--is always quintessential Chinatown, as downscale as the <a href="http://empressofchinasf.com/">Empress of China</a> is upscale. (BTW, the Empress had a delicious drink of the same name, with Midori liqueur. Tell 'em I sent you. ;) ).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SLfBdZlBn3uYwa2toRJ-srXD3b_Paz1m-buPAIp7W6-gi4jK1hFMiT7IEopouAo8wWBGuKLt_cIyYV0gtadMHiw8V7mq6x64UUSdpaRD3N8jUEJm7t7ggHC7diuy-qhCVBizKl9a4N4/s1600-h/Xmas+Tree,+Menorah,+Union+Square.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SLfBdZlBn3uYwa2toRJ-srXD3b_Paz1m-buPAIp7W6-gi4jK1hFMiT7IEopouAo8wWBGuKLt_cIyYV0gtadMHiw8V7mq6x64UUSdpaRD3N8jUEJm7t7ggHC7diuy-qhCVBizKl9a4N4/s200/Xmas+Tree,+Menorah,+Union+Square.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417902002031088242" border="0" /></a><br />Not too many blocks away is Union Square, Christmas Tree and the Menorah keeping company with the Dewey Monument (the column), and the famous heart painted by Tony Bennett for our Hearts of San Francisco city-wide fund-raising exhibit a few years ago.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzvBl2IBmTlbkI25XqJBuZfyPNR2YzyW0MWvtYgNHhozw8ySgyBGcbBGY8e7GBhZMdCCUOw4Xt7JutVdx3JqY7m6viRlggtQoSUvhnsZ2Aj0cXRGTECgV4l_wnvIgGcIIEOOPynHQKqc/s1600-h/Tony's+Heart+in+SF+-+Union+Square.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzvBl2IBmTlbkI25XqJBuZfyPNR2YzyW0MWvtYgNHhozw8ySgyBGcbBGY8e7GBhZMdCCUOw4Xt7JutVdx3JqY7m6viRlggtQoSUvhnsZ2Aj0cXRGTECgV4l_wnvIgGcIIEOOPynHQKqc/s200/Tony's+Heart+in+SF+-+Union+Square.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417902234477887618" border="0" /></a><br />I was in Union Square for the ceremony when this particular heart was dedicated ... and had a chance to both hear Mr. Bennett croon a few notes of you-know-what song, and actually got to thank him for the years of artistry and enjoyment he's given me and millions of other fans around the globe. Tony may have been born in New York, but he's a San Franciscan, through and through. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurszTohY2juaS2e0A9xfTHdg2-8VUMmHO6ssyS1g9GqQbuSAzcDqrVGdvF7tqWKf0tEzPcH2bOZ4U3IT0ZLyd4PfrX26SPqHfcSkG88k3MX5vd1-MlIvdgT51FN-QoU6mO0ZwEkk3O_8/s1600-h/John's+Grill.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurszTohY2juaS2e0A9xfTHdg2-8VUMmHO6ssyS1g9GqQbuSAzcDqrVGdvF7tqWKf0tEzPcH2bOZ4U3IT0ZLyd4PfrX26SPqHfcSkG88k3MX5vd1-MlIvdgT51FN-QoU6mO0ZwEkk3O_8/s200/John's+Grill.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417902422662463458" border="0" /></a><br />Later in the evening--the sun sets early this time of year, particularly in the downtown canyons--I had a chance to eat at <a href="http://www.johnsgrill.com/">John's Grill</a>, another favorite restaurant, and celebrated home of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Maltese Falcon</span>. I indulged in a Bloody Brigid--their signature drink, named after Hammett's femme fatale, of course--and a <a href="http://www.jacklalanne.com/index.html">Jack LaLanne</a> Salad. I grew up with "The Godfather of Fitness", and he's still in good shape--and recently celebrated his 95th birthday at <a href="http://www.johnsgrill.com/">John's</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9dA-DqUw-z9gw9eul4eko1lZiC9zsdIM1JlH6QlCSD9SnKyrMAtLquAnLnRN4bJgcK3c4FhSlHR6QiXW_bntvbSE0p_eAFCXv03gDn6EmQ5F-QDJLo0V7T1ghOB6WGLMNfukdJKqfxQ/s1600-h/Flood+Building.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9dA-DqUw-z9gw9eul4eko1lZiC9zsdIM1JlH6QlCSD9SnKyrMAtLquAnLnRN4bJgcK3c4FhSlHR6QiXW_bntvbSE0p_eAFCXv03gDn6EmQ5F-QDJLo0V7T1ghOB6WGLMNfukdJKqfxQ/s200/Flood+Building.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417902949663248738" border="0" /></a><br />John's--which is next to one of my favorite buildings in the city, the stately <a href="http://www.floodbuilding.com/">Flood Building</a>, where Hammett worked as a Pinkerton (I worked in it during one summer, decidedly not as a Pinkerton)--has a cameo in CITY OF DRAGONS. A more prominent role in the book is played by the Pickwick Hotel, which dominates the corner of Mission and 5th, directly across the street from the Old Mint.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qo87uYOQ88iprAfts__2ywLq0NCgEQvN7S14GhQ1WzVm_6_MUdllngXDx7krKTeTIPjio-4YYjjlDEHvASgN1sj-gLNSCb-1aVs0yEqs215RJwbBau7CMu-QVVPaWT_7sCTPxigOJVs/s1600-h/Hotel+Pickwick+-+Night.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qo87uYOQ88iprAfts__2ywLq0NCgEQvN7S14GhQ1WzVm_6_MUdllngXDx7krKTeTIPjio-4YYjjlDEHvASgN1sj-gLNSCb-1aVs0yEqs215RJwbBau7CMu-QVVPaWT_7sCTPxigOJVs/s200/Hotel+Pickwick+-+Night.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417903191033727394" border="0" /></a><br />The Pickwick is mentioned in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Maltese Falcon</span>, and my own history with it goes back to a fondly-remembered 8th grade trip. :)<br /><br />Market Street is busy this time of year ... it boasts lighted snow flakes on every corner, and street musicians share the street with the homeless.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR58s84KYWMHJnWlrUxSKsx7ZrfaOE0_K6JY3MrFJD8paMPBhijl6UzZsnr98qhbZBX4WGDvKGg8GuKeFe2t9ejQyYbI8cZf8y_kYOidi1DLZzNuATlEcRFHcLQvYZpyCF0Ip2_FcZF-E/s1600-h/Market+Street+-+Shopping+-+Streetcar.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR58s84KYWMHJnWlrUxSKsx7ZrfaOE0_K6JY3MrFJD8paMPBhijl6UzZsnr98qhbZBX4WGDvKGg8GuKeFe2t9ejQyYbI8cZf8y_kYOidi1DLZzNuATlEcRFHcLQvYZpyCF0Ip2_FcZF-E/s200/Market+Street+-+Shopping+-+Streetcar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417903476457031346" border="0" /></a><br />San Francisco's not a perfect city, and it can be a mean and dangerous place ... even more so than in 1940. But there is something about the place we call The City that is timeless, that transcends its politics, its Mayors, its debauchery and its decadence.<br /><br />She's a grand old dame ... and a profound inspiration. I'm lucky to be able to spend the holidays with her! :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcbBZbbWuikphJAwYtoLkUqoPLIi3FHpTkyxa4Yrj69wvIPC5GMyXa9J0h6uTecXm8wxxu3MKb8R-PR2kI-c5_7euSTVcahNKeFBcpQ0c63s8SVHmiUYKJRkBOPbX7a_6apsAidwrRyo/s1600-h/Cable+Car.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcbBZbbWuikphJAwYtoLkUqoPLIi3FHpTkyxa4Yrj69wvIPC5GMyXa9J0h6uTecXm8wxxu3MKb8R-PR2kI-c5_7euSTVcahNKeFBcpQ0c63s8SVHmiUYKJRkBOPbX7a_6apsAidwrRyo/s200/Cable+Car.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417903841967781218" border="0" /></a><br />May you and yours have a joyous and festive season ... and thanks for reading Writing in the Dark! <a href="http://www.noircity.com/">Noir City</a> is just around the corner ...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1fbHKws8gnizHZs4tliyeYLPsst6OWEHEiYu85RhMWEfFt7NXT-f81wGq5pZsqSIzC3cAvwoAwlcPEIr3VMlZC7nyVeKK4sHiR8CLUontI0GYU2BkCPJw0wuA9ZS38VE10WEUKjE4b0/s1600-h/city+of+dragons.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1fbHKws8gnizHZs4tliyeYLPsst6OWEHEiYu85RhMWEfFt7NXT-f81wGq5pZsqSIzC3cAvwoAwlcPEIr3VMlZC7nyVeKK4sHiR8CLUontI0GYU2BkCPJw0wuA9ZS38VE10WEUKjE4b0/s200/city+of+dragons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417904069012947090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I also wanted to share some really wonderful news: CITY OF DRAGONS is an <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/">Indie Next Pick for February</a>, and just received a <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6712247.html?industryid=47141">starred review from Publishers Weekly</a>! I'm very, very grateful ... and proud that the subtitle is "A San Francisco Mystery." :)<br /><br />I'm also <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/newsletter.html">giving away a scarce signed advanced reading copy</a> of CITY OF DRAGONS, along with <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/newsletter.html">a gift basket from Chinatown</a>. Just go to my website and sign up for my newsletter to be entered ... the drawing will be at the end of December!<br /></div></div>Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-80268931205532380122009-11-24T00:01:00.000-08:002009-11-24T00:01:02.525-08:00GratitudeI seem to be posting from holiday to holiday these days. Partially from being behind (thanks to the flu) partially because life is whizzing by in a blur and there's a lot on all my myriad to-do lists.<br /><br />Hard to believe it's only three months until CITY OF DRAGONS is out. And still videos and podcasts to come!<br /><br />As for me, I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving. Whether or not I lose my noir street cred and sound like a sap, here goes ... I am extraordinarily thankful and blessed to have a lot of wonderful people in my life.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Cornucopia.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 361px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Cornucopia.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />To have both my dear parents. To have a wonderful family. To have a circle of amazing friends, many of them incredibly talented authors, whether of books or blogs or book reviews. To be blessed with the best agent and agent team, the most supportive, wonderful editor and publishing team. To have my books published in a very tough economic climate and get a chance to literally see my dreams come true.<br /><br />See? I told you I was going to be sappy. ;)<br /><br />But seriously, I am thankful for so many things, and one day just doesn't begin to cover them all. Right now, I'm looking at a gorgeous sunset over the Pacific Ocean. And I'm thankful for that, too.<br /><br />Wherever you are, dear reader--and I hope it's someplace warm and safe--I hope you have a joyous week ahead, whether or not Thanksgiving is part of this month's calendar. Thanks for reading, and see you soon!Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-38037872887775892602009-10-31T18:58:00.000-07:002009-10-31T19:51:14.366-07:00All Hallows' Eve<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkwZG-tvYkHo_jOt0qkbS4jpgwIPoEja8_ffMUvgB8TVWkQCk7rxP2EqQ-FCqxWkjAcR41EJ_Q07AeqGX1SvnDMNzUcg9M7EdIpUne6Hdy5EYYM76x1DObuHB4nIS66C1fZpcnzniV_Y/s1600-h/Twitterpic150px.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkwZG-tvYkHo_jOt0qkbS4jpgwIPoEja8_ffMUvgB8TVWkQCk7rxP2EqQ-FCqxWkjAcR41EJ_Q07AeqGX1SvnDMNzUcg9M7EdIpUne6Hdy5EYYM76x1DObuHB4nIS66C1fZpcnzniV_Y/s200/Twitterpic150px.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398958607797356818" border="0" /></a><br />As I write this, my neighborhood is full of ghoulies and ghosties and short-leggedy beasties, all scrambling for candy. Dressed in hodge-podge homemade costumes and store-bought accessories, kids of all ages revel in Halloween and the celebration of social trust it represents. I do, too. :) All Hallows' Eve is a magical night ...<br /><br />It was just three years ago, on a Halloween night in 2006, when I finished the sequel to NOX DORMIENDA. I had neither a publisher nor representation, and I wasn't at all sure I would be able to find either. But I had to finish MALEDICTUS (Cursed), had to finish a story that was wrapped up, in a way, with Halloween. A story dealing with curses, with ghosts, with necromancers, and with violations of that social compact that underlies our modern holiday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Jack-o%27-Lantern_2003-10-31.jpg/610px-Jack-o%27-Lantern_2003-10-31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 190px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Jack-o%27-Lantern_2003-10-31.jpg/610px-Jack-o%27-Lantern_2003-10-31.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sure, it takes place two thousand plus years ago, nine months after the events of NOX DORMIENDA -- in October, 84 A.D. But it's a Halloween type of mystery, and a continuation of Roman Noir, all the same.<br /><br />It's been quite a three years. NOX was published, won the Bruce Alexander Award for best historical mystery, was nominated for a Macavity, and will be published in Italy and Greece. My second series, set in 1940 San Francisco, is going to be published by Thomas Dunne/Minotaur starting with CITY OF DRAGONS on February 2, 2010. A short story prequel to CITY OF DRAGONS will be in FIRST THRILLS, an upcoming International Thriller Writers anthology featuring bestselling and emerging authors, publishing in June of next year by Tor ... my story "Children's Day" will be in print among writers whose work I venerate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoevmFTWn4MZ0HqU3Uei1FSfUHssUl3h6vdjURLJcZUyTn66dq3euWQPzCzOIaDD-NhkgUuRrGjpUegqz3ilnVSLNk7AXMLRcjNpBG3LbVaykmXMEeOCL64y-iglg3mCt8bsuL0kbdpd0/s1600-h/city-of-dragons180px.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoevmFTWn4MZ0HqU3Uei1FSfUHssUl3h6vdjURLJcZUyTn66dq3euWQPzCzOIaDD-NhkgUuRrGjpUegqz3ilnVSLNk7AXMLRcjNpBG3LbVaykmXMEeOCL64y-iglg3mCt8bsuL0kbdpd0/s200/city-of-dragons180px.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398959237395136386" border="0" /></a><br />And now ... the Arcturus Series will continue! My Halloween book, finished three years ago tonight, will be published by Thomas Dunne/Minotaur. We're calling it CURSED, and hoping that it does NOT live up to its name. ;)<br /><br />We celebrated at Bouchercon, this and other good news ... CITY OF DRAGONS will be available through all three major book clubs (Mystery Guild alternate selection; Book of the Month, Quality Paperback Book Club). We gathered as a community of mystery readers and writers and publishers and media, and in that gathering I celebrated career things, personal things, family things, mostly the feeling of being very, very blessed in many ways. I count those blessings every day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoqHc55ECxtAtiWw0PJ_zYgVcV13_aUBk7ITyfuJa6NmYNoDGw8NJZPdR-K1bXJwf0UtaZ2qXXfqpDIQdxgv2M_B1ScI9R9eW7_CLQI6qNQ-x96sJXUJZ4eIpIh_D3ihaRjHJg6a-SBA/s1600-h/cat02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 127px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoqHc55ECxtAtiWw0PJ_zYgVcV13_aUBk7ITyfuJa6NmYNoDGw8NJZPdR-K1bXJwf0UtaZ2qXXfqpDIQdxgv2M_B1ScI9R9eW7_CLQI6qNQ-x96sJXUJZ4eIpIh_D3ihaRjHJg6a-SBA/s200/cat02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398961401566156018" border="0" /></a><br />And on Halloween ... even with a lingering cough from a bout of bronchitis ... I like to spread those blessings around. :) Have a safe, blessed, and wonderful All Hallows' Eve ... and thanks for reading Writing in the Dark!Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-49937395675052877282009-09-23T18:46:00.000-07:002009-09-23T19:14:52.929-07:00Bouchercon Countdown!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9eunMEeE3z-PTxm31BUW3FB00Xx1L0yeXsofGbawkJNHhXuISceaueFTynclIWnuFoDMujBqERULxUtydSj_wV1NfIPcKXN0FGZG1aYjk_AnrgkbEf8rNcL9nMSpnWzQyXGW_3ZQoHU/s1600-h/indianapolis-big.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9eunMEeE3z-PTxm31BUW3FB00Xx1L0yeXsofGbawkJNHhXuISceaueFTynclIWnuFoDMujBqERULxUtydSj_wV1NfIPcKXN0FGZG1aYjk_AnrgkbEf8rNcL9nMSpnWzQyXGW_3ZQoHU/s200/indianapolis-big.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384850903039384210" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In about three weeks I'll be on the way to Indianapolis and my third </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.bouchercon2009.com/">Bouchercon</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">. I can't wait!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Dragons.html">CITY OF DRAGONS</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> got the push off from goal to paper after my </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.bouchercon2007.com/">first Bouchercon in Anchorage</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, in 2007. I now have the thrill of going to my third </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.bouchercon2009.com/">Bouchercon</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, knowing the book will be coming out February 2nd from Thomas Dunne/Minotaur Books, and that it is dedicated to my family and the friends I met in Anchorage.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />It's been quite a journey. :)</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />In the meantime, I've been busy. I'm involved in several events at the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://ppwebcon.com/">PPWebCon (first ever virtual crime fiction convention!)</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, and have a lot of work to do before leaving for Indianapolis. I just concluded a </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://jensbookthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/09/kickin-my-feet-up-with-kelli-stanley.html">two part interview</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> with Jen Forbus on the fabulous </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://jensbookthoughts.blogspot.com/">Jen's Book Thoughts</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">. I also enjoyed an </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://lettheshadowsfallbehindyou.blogspot.com/2009/09/behind-books-kelli-stanley.html">interview with thriller writer Kathy-Diane Reveille</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> on her wonderful </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://lettheshadowsfallbehindyou.blogspot.com/">Behind the Books</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> blog. I've got a post for the always interesting </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://bkwriter.blogspot.com/">WordNerd</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> coming up, and I just wrote a </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.popsyndicate.com/site/story/the_noir_bars_a_lonely_place_baby/">Noir Bar review</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> on one of my favorite film noirs--</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >In a Lonely Place</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">--for </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.popsyndicate.com/">Pop Syndicate</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I've also released the trailer for </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Dragons.html">CITY OF DRAGONS</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> ... and am proud to say that the footage is genuine 1940 San Francisco film, in color.</span> <br /><br /><object style="font-family: verdana;" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FuP8-TpihlM&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FuP8-TpihlM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I hope you like it ... and hope to see you at one or more of my stops along the way to </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.bouchercon2009.com/">Bouchercon</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> ... and maybe even at the conference itself. Thanks for reading Writing in the Dark!</span>Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-65883350874869882292009-09-01T16:10:00.000-07:002009-09-01T16:59:26.054-07:00Time is Relative ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvzX4bfc9PQIJnGoxVAsOoy_nniv2y1aUI_SXpCkvzG22pCvcajx_HtiC-9QB8ODxr3JPOfUlD9Xh2PUhoH6b7xFrfG5s5-5YmoqFvhC5e2JKls4Y-BwcDL9BGDYNiJ4EB1tHGia-dOI/s1600-h/To-Sir-With-Love.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvzX4bfc9PQIJnGoxVAsOoy_nniv2y1aUI_SXpCkvzG22pCvcajx_HtiC-9QB8ODxr3JPOfUlD9Xh2PUhoH6b7xFrfG5s5-5YmoqFvhC5e2JKls4Y-BwcDL9BGDYNiJ4EB1tHGia-dOI/s200/To-Sir-With-Love.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376651034419015890" border="0" /></a><br />Can you believe August is over, pfft, gone? Here we are, September 1st, suffering all the endless and aged puns on back to school. Back to Cool? School Daze? Ouch. Where's Lulu when you need her?<br /><br />I've been absent ... not, with apologies to Shakespeare, in the spring ... but throughout the month of August. Unfortunately--in the middle of the month, and while I was in the middle of setting up my new computer and reorganizing the messy but beloved room I write in--I can't call it a home office, that gives me hives--I came down with what the doctor thought was an upper respiratory infection. It soon migrated to my throat and probably became strep, after which he doused me in antibiotics and I emerged, Lazarus-like, about ten days later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6-NQg6bvH98hsRJecxqIh_WuRpuegUVr1QQb6WY8a7yrvpBIGybrQ5x4UdFP3zL7bvQfvTgDwR3kMI6vR-9e2Y9L_iHaA7yGrWJpJ2RUUkBXcaxzHLnQ54vkkEGyPYz5FjgruQyiGe4/s1600-h/chicken-soup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6-NQg6bvH98hsRJecxqIh_WuRpuegUVr1QQb6WY8a7yrvpBIGybrQ5x4UdFP3zL7bvQfvTgDwR3kMI6vR-9e2Y9L_iHaA7yGrWJpJ2RUUkBXcaxzHLnQ54vkkEGyPYz5FjgruQyiGe4/s200/chicken-soup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376651139937475442" border="0" /></a><br />That took care of the middle of the month. Fortunately, my mom was staying with me on a visit, and she took care of me. My mother's chicken soup is at least as salubrious as antibiotics.<br /><br />As soon as I became ambulatory, I plunged into going over copy edits for CITY OF DRAGONS. I just finished the process a few days ago, and that takes me to the end of the month. See what I mean? I've had Augusts that crawled by, but this one really flew.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmRsOuwOztaD0ODx2rwpgHUxLu7Toimd0QWWlTlyqNVJU5kmnw3W1gBIWcwez4Jp5jdh6vCUdC065xqcl5hCAA_8wu_5yjEqfJD446uTFm8ki-zQRNIcpnjcUBX2nOif1AnPxHHEElRE/s1600-h/1941+Calendar+Image+George+Petty-Good+Hook+Up.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmRsOuwOztaD0ODx2rwpgHUxLu7Toimd0QWWlTlyqNVJU5kmnw3W1gBIWcwez4Jp5jdh6vCUdC065xqcl5hCAA_8wu_5yjEqfJD446uTFm8ki-zQRNIcpnjcUBX2nOif1AnPxHHEElRE/s320/1941+Calendar+Image+George+Petty-Good+Hook+Up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376651892525021794" border="0" /></a><br />Now I'm getting ready for <a href="http://www.bouchercon2009.com/">Bouchercon</a> in October (my panel is Saturday) and preparing to launch the book trailer video for <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Dragons.html">CITY OF DRAGONS </a>next week. And finishing up a much-delayed Noir Bar article for <a href="http://www.popsyndicate.com/">Pop Syndicate</a>, and getting ready for an interview on one of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://jensbookthoughts.blogspot.com/">Jen's Book Thoughts</a>, and working on about a thousand other things--videos, podcasts, website stuff, articles, the <a href="http://ppwebcon.com/">Poisoned Pen Virtual Conference</a> on October 24th--and oh, yeah--the <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Dragons.html">CITY OF DRAGONS </a>sequel. The working title is COUNTRY OF SPIDERS.<br /><br />I'll be back next week with more news ... and maybe my mom's chicken soup recipe. ;) In the meantime, stay safe--and thanks for reading!Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-35897241876102172402009-08-03T19:24:00.000-07:002009-08-03T20:31:02.766-07:00Back to the Future<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifERMpLSm5MJRNXiYGYP5B6tBgORO1qcck02rlIe91U5XLeIA2fCfhWFW9ZOA9ZFxybcojbQhDRJjoGTTs-ly-iT_lHZ3Mphu6JPk3rkqD4AVmu5wDiRfYo1zmOr9Fb21CKNv9LnUHsYI/s1600-h/city+of+dragons.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifERMpLSm5MJRNXiYGYP5B6tBgORO1qcck02rlIe91U5XLeIA2fCfhWFW9ZOA9ZFxybcojbQhDRJjoGTTs-ly-iT_lHZ3Mphu6JPk3rkqD4AVmu5wDiRfYo1zmOr9Fb21CKNv9LnUHsYI/s320/city+of+dragons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365942186868874978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's been crazier than usual--and it's usually crazy! :) All good stuff--just a lot of it! We have so many cool plans for the website that require a certain mastery of technology and video software, I feel like I've enrolled in an intensive video-editing course.<br /><br />We're working on the book trailer for <a href="http://www.kellistanley.com/Dragons.html">CITY OF DRAGONS</a>, and will be launching </span>a <span style="font-family:verdana;">cool web map of San Francisco highlighting places mentioned in the book -- locations we'll explore in more detail through videos. I'll also be launching a series of podcasts about some of the historical and thematic aspects to the novel. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">All this by way of saying that I'm late to the gate with Writing in the Dark ... but if I'm tardy, at least you'll know where I am. ;)<br /><br />Friday, though, I was somewhere unexpected. And fun! I ventured out of foggy San Francisco to the 95+ degree weather of Davis (home of U.C. Davis and some of the best farm produce in California).<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHM8qFxJyzozbuAXDDYSoRrxohE9jJsgAaWwzrlTDfgo9zRo50C29wqh9t2xk56e-XpEWVBd20lp46-a_qXS024aX9o93aP8LbKu9va_VcCbbJTDXn0govhaj_SJCoRmzKSXl1f6GZ9zs/s1600-h/uc-davis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHM8qFxJyzozbuAXDDYSoRrxohE9jJsgAaWwzrlTDfgo9zRo50C29wqh9t2xk56e-XpEWVBd20lp46-a_qXS024aX9o93aP8LbKu9va_VcCbbJTDXn0govhaj_SJCoRmzKSXl1f6GZ9zs/s200/uc-davis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365942337651082626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The occasion? An invitation to speak to the national conference of the <a href="http://www.njcl.org/">National Junior Classical League</a>. About 1,300 junior and senior high school students from around the country converged at the university for a full week of colloquia, talks, and presentations, culminating in an outdoor Roman banquet that was strictly BYOT--Bring Your Own Toga.<br /><br />These are some of the brightest young people you'll meet anywhere. They all share a love of antiquity, history, literature. The NJCL was established in 1936--the '30s saw a big resurgence in fascination with the ancient world, not all of it sanguinary (i.e. Mussolini). It's now the largest classical organization in the world.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcHUzngOawERnZb8_AYKzme7XMo5vgMLD1Dj_a2XqPeUdXO1oJWL2JiElk772F26QdWxsBIhuMrLcuyboO5Wo9SgrmFnq5rv4iv0vfeLWSi00e4ggBZwV1JY58XAAOK-R-voEqTfr2Jw/s1600-h/TogaIllustration-main_Full.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 108px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcHUzngOawERnZb8_AYKzme7XMo5vgMLD1Dj_a2XqPeUdXO1oJWL2JiElk772F26QdWxsBIhuMrLcuyboO5Wo9SgrmFnq5rv4iv0vfeLWSi00e4ggBZwV1JY58XAAOK-R-voEqTfr2Jw/s200/TogaIllustration-main_Full.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365942526268854162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And given the daunting problems facing our ever-shrinking, ever-warming little planet, meeting these young men and women and their tireless, devoted teachers </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">certainly made me feel more optimistic about the future. I could insert any number of quotes about being doomed to repeat what we don't learn from the past, but hey--we already know that.<br /><br />I had a great time. And knowing that a writer I admire tremendously--Steven Saylor--spoke to the kids earlier in the week made it all that more special for me.<br /><br />To top off the day in the sun, we returned via the Napa-Sonoma Highway to pick up the dog at his B&B. Yeah, I know, you're thinking "California!" But if you can let your dog romp outside and have a great time in the (wine) country, why not? And the B&B owners are a wonderful French couple who take care the very best care of your dogs--but still let them be dogs.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkI4mPJelMBCnAjS3lENwHaby-eAXi2wcVtDLC9fyTyauDcmZ6HGEivHLKvgOAKxfsEZ5E4poPJobytzmL0BJI94gXG1-6Uu1r3w4FgdoQiP16CZbkdYQaGx3p10bN8yy0KEjbF2D_Ww/s1600-h/Napa_Valley_grapes_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkI4mPJelMBCnAjS3lENwHaby-eAXi2wcVtDLC9fyTyauDcmZ6HGEivHLKvgOAKxfsEZ5E4poPJobytzmL0BJI94gXG1-6Uu1r3w4FgdoQiP16CZbkdYQaGx3p10bN8yy0KEjbF2D_Ww/s200/Napa_Valley_grapes_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365943374285098402" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Anyway, across the street and just down the road from Bertie's vacation getaway, we spotted a new/old diner. An ancient landmark drive-in hamburger place closed down about a year ago, and finally--even in the middle of The Recession--a new business opened up in the same spot.<br /><br />And we found ...<br /><br />The best hamburgers in California. I'm talking absolute bliss, and I don't eat much beef. The place is called the Fremont Diner, and it's like comfort food except gourmet and healthy. I know that doesn't sound possible, but honestly--what else can you call a fried pie with no sugar added organic apricot filling? Or grass-fed Napa Valley beef burgers? Or milkshakes thicker than the blush on a Zinfadel grape?<br /><br />To top off the feeling of nirvana, they have a wonderful sense of design and simplicity in the interior, preserving the 30s/40s feel, sell homemade jam (Santa Rosa plum!), and have two sweet senior dogs who wander loose, accompany you to your car, and beg politely for food.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBPPo1fSXxlqKIHJe_u_RZJzNPhUNvRGCJznx87DqPrhZP1kjKNxypfk1K-lZ14b2lnuTEW1-sBF3UCZkIhnjx76sFSsVckoL1EYpxYh2XQqrg0FJnsGZ3bbBh8PSteJ-6gdVaTT_3Bk/s1600-h/Bertie.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBPPo1fSXxlqKIHJe_u_RZJzNPhUNvRGCJznx87DqPrhZP1kjKNxypfk1K-lZ14b2lnuTEW1-sBF3UCZkIhnjx76sFSsVckoL1EYpxYh2XQqrg0FJnsGZ3bbBh8PSteJ-6gdVaTT_3Bk/s200/Bertie.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365943643819831090" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It was so perfect that I'm beginning to wonder if it really does exist. Fortunately, I found evidence that they do on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/kellistanley#/pages/Sonoma-CA/The-Fremont-Diner/101342817963?ref=search">Facebook</a>. So ... if you're up in wine country, between Sonoma and Napa, and you get lost along the Carneros Highway ... don't worry. It's not the Twilight Zone--it's the Fremont Diner!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We're thinking of letting Bertie take more vacations ...<br /><br />Until next time ... thanks for reading! :) </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span>Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-6238603120875714692009-07-18T13:09:00.000-07:002009-07-18T16:08:21.952-07:00Happy Birthday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRz7k1Ah4bwLCRD0eQiBf_xCdBUJ9MRuXucLDWJSBsLSqVgf1u9WK3LInWM2_PSgqU9zEb9ICQiyfwJJAezeeIdhUZnu4O4uIItOAB3MQCZK3j8dpzJfAJbr4F1SNWJg_mdzXFuD2mVg/s1600-h/bookcover-noxfinal_small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 129px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRz7k1Ah4bwLCRD0eQiBf_xCdBUJ9MRuXucLDWJSBsLSqVgf1u9WK3LInWM2_PSgqU9zEb9ICQiyfwJJAezeeIdhUZnu4O4uIItOAB3MQCZK3j8dpzJfAJbr4F1SNWJg_mdzXFuD2mVg/s200/bookcover-noxfinal_small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359939768483572866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Not marble, nor the gilded monuments</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;</span><br /><br />Back in high school when I first read these lines I was struck by the poet's confidence in words. His cocky self-assurance that the gift of a few words will grant a more everlasting memorial than, say, the graveyard called the Pyramids or the love note known as the Taj Mahal.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But you shall shine more bright in these contents</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Than unswept stone, besmear'd with sluttish time.<br /><br /></span>Of course, that was the poet's persona--a brashly confident young man who, like many a poet before and since, used metaphors and rhythm and rhyming couplets to woo his lover of choice.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">When wasteful war shall statues overturn,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">And broils root out the work of masonry,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Nor Mars his sword, nor war's quick fire shall burn</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">The living record of your memory.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9DdKKGztCZ01vK5BCxut4FUF1FqQIg7vybXWpj3h1h1jpVIcHBYGbsSr9vImf6PFY0uuUiCqet43O_m9wb_vvlzDOOYiVt5z1Zw7LbMqX8Ulh2LM8p8o9yA5zCRMJyvV0iHE8y55_SY/s1600-h/tajmahal1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9DdKKGztCZ01vK5BCxut4FUF1FqQIg7vybXWpj3h1h1jpVIcHBYGbsSr9vImf6PFY0uuUiCqet43O_m9wb_vvlzDOOYiVt5z1Zw7LbMqX8Ulh2LM8p8o9yA5zCRMJyvV0iHE8y55_SY/s200/tajmahal1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359939494225392274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The living record of memory. Something all authors contend with, have struggled with, and it's a memory that has only become shorter and more overloaded with each passing century, decade, year, month. The young man who wrote this sonnet bravely wielded pen like sword against the aggregate forces of time and anonymity, seeking solace in the pursuit of affection and immortality in his attempt to win it.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">'Gainst death, and all oblivious enmity</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Even in the eyes of all posterity</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">That wear this world out to the ending doom.</span><br /></span><em></em><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>"Choose me," he whispers, "and you will live forever." Such is the potency of words; such is the power of poetry.<br /><br />Funny thing is, the young man who wrote this had no idea that 400 years later his words would be available 24/7, broadcast freely to a global market, translated by machines, not priests or scribes or scholars or his somewhat bitchy friend Ben Johnson.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7WCxLV7HLa68z3kVtX37oO8BgVgqisnSXnjDRFm7UP1ruYbMxy2xHSZo-OTocl4RBtU9Z9MK0BW0xr-9-X-xf0a7D8jXzXfGX5oGsM1LuzXEgW0NexjX3r34B6tn3Y_QGAn7syV6zgc/s1600-h/shakespeare9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7WCxLV7HLa68z3kVtX37oO8BgVgqisnSXnjDRFm7UP1ruYbMxy2xHSZo-OTocl4RBtU9Z9MK0BW0xr-9-X-xf0a7D8jXzXfGX5oGsM1LuzXEgW0NexjX3r34B6tn3Y_QGAn7syV6zgc/s200/shakespeare9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359939962260840850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The poet's name was Shakespeare, and he was whistling in the dark.<br /><br />Y'see, "sluttish time" is on my mind today, though I consider her more of a flirt. NOX DORMIENDA turned one on July 18th.<br /><br />Now, those who know me know I like to celebrate as much as possible ... but I'm kind of quietly humbled right now, amazed at how blessed I've been that this tiny little book from a tiny little publisher is still attracting readers and will hopefully be available from a larger press in paperback (with the sequel coming out next year). Stay tuned for further news ...<br /><br />In the year since NOX debuted, I've learned that the greatest gift of being a writer is the community I've met--readers, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">writers, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">book stores, publishers, editors, bloggers, reviewers, journalists, publicists, agents ... people. That is the sweetest blessing of all, and I am so, so lucky to be here and with them and on the road I've traveled!<br /><br />And what else has happened in the last year?<br /><br />Bruce Alexander Award. Macavity nomination. Foreign rights sold in Italy and Greece for NOX.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivb5QSj5OKwX1MXK_2n2FFHgFoMVnjZZuFMMKH6p07TSxCRUcivSiKD5KeRBR_-DRxIN1wRw38stGElTrPsVjC57QA4AJw3JbvRB3-E2Lc5Aa9QmGkcXsB2V7L6OOyate7CcSwYFOQ3JA/s1600-h/city+of+dragons.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivb5QSj5OKwX1MXK_2n2FFHgFoMVnjZZuFMMKH6p07TSxCRUcivSiKD5KeRBR_-DRxIN1wRw38stGElTrPsVjC57QA4AJw3JbvRB3-E2Lc5Aa9QmGkcXsB2V7L6OOyate7CcSwYFOQ3JA/s200/city+of+dragons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359940150416190082" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In January, in the midst of the publishing freefall, moving to Thomas Dunne/Minotaur with CITY OF DRAGONS, finding my dream editor and publisher thanks to my dream agent.<br /><br />And now, after a fabulous and incredible Thrillerfest, where the news was first announced, I can add that "Children's Day", my short story prequel to CITY OF DRAGONS, will be in the next ITW anthology--publishing June, 2010 by Tor. It's called FIRST THRILLS, and will feature 12 "bestselling authors of today" with 12 "bestselling authors of tomorrow". More details later, but how humbled I am to be keeping such company!<br /><br />It's been a year of bounty and profound gratitude, of feeling at home and like dreams really do come true if you wish upon a star, like living a Disney movie directed by Gary Marshall.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzE1vTSripwzmxnpSXI3kRlSTbbljCtk-wScPKShgEKxOpbp55C9H58Hf_nBUc2JHRuAPN9QdITkbRK0wqhh7MVzRswl2L8XEFyE1pNQ5_PhvoEGqUkVHNiO4p3plaObWA2fmkRRNaJD8/s1600-h/postcard-SF.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzE1vTSripwzmxnpSXI3kRlSTbbljCtk-wScPKShgEKxOpbp55C9H58Hf_nBUc2JHRuAPN9QdITkbRK0wqhh7MVzRswl2L8XEFyE1pNQ5_PhvoEGqUkVHNiO4p3plaObWA2fmkRRNaJD8/s200/postcard-SF.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359940347860813778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Last October, I thought NOX would be a bare blip on the radar screen, long forgotten a year later. And while I don't make any claim to it outlasting either monuments or someone's new marble countertop for the kitchen, the fact that I can celebrate its year-old birthday with the strong hope of continuing the series at a major publisher is, well, a miracle.<br /><br />Add CITY OF DRAGONS--what I hope will be a true breakout novel--and I just might break into song at any moment. ;)<br /><br />Thank you all for helping me get here, on this road and at this moment ... I'm lighting a candle ... and in the years ahead, hoping for a few more. :)<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTREiU2fQE6kOyyOyPdU-pCE3_ktfdBBNhs8XGHIIrcRu-OeCF2b1qPcM2ZEFF6HbyQ8OgTje6OMr2-Px0khmay4OjMXIE1cR4zcsSrEGs5Zwz1BOWlX0ieNwllm2-PFu4CLEY3bdJqX8/s1600-h/lit_candle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTREiU2fQE6kOyyOyPdU-pCE3_ktfdBBNhs8XGHIIrcRu-OeCF2b1qPcM2ZEFF6HbyQ8OgTje6OMr2-Px0khmay4OjMXIE1cR4zcsSrEGs5Zwz1BOWlX0ieNwllm2-PFu4CLEY3bdJqX8/s200/lit_candle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359940685216592338" border="0" /></a>Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-49315928865383689052009-07-05T19:08:00.000-07:002009-07-05T19:55:57.785-07:00New York, New York!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvmFbelcgBJXPTOI0lMLthQyWzuy9Aeky6leWT9qGWE49PBYAETuCaXQLco8eKbZhCYKgg84gmXMG7rHhKN16X_nShpr-6yzbtFlI8eQHCoFgy3uLndst8jGitwJpqHoaVEJJHujhgUw/s1600-h/Photo+of+New+York%27s+skyline+at+night.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvmFbelcgBJXPTOI0lMLthQyWzuy9Aeky6leWT9qGWE49PBYAETuCaXQLco8eKbZhCYKgg84gmXMG7rHhKN16X_nShpr-6yzbtFlI8eQHCoFgy3uLndst8jGitwJpqHoaVEJJHujhgUw/s320/Photo+of+New+York%27s+skyline+at+night.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355174936055756946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's been an adventurous week!<br /><br />No time to write about <span style="font-style: italic;">Vertigo</span>, unfortunately--gotta save it for next time. I haven't had much time to do anything but work on some deadlines for the website relaunch, which we wanted to have happen before <a href="http://www.thrillerwriters.org/thrillerfest/">Thrillerfest</a>, but looks like will happen the week after. And speaking of <a href="http://www.thrillerwriters.org/thrillerfest/">Thrillerfest</a> ...<br /><br />New York awaits! The conference is always exciting, and it's in the most exciting city on the planet, so ... I'm gearing up. Meetings. Parties. Panels. Non-stop, "city that never sleeps" fun! I leave early Wednesday, and will probably not be back to my <span style="font-style: italic;">Writing in the Dark</span> post until the following week, though I'm hoping to squeeze in a blog or a tweet or two.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-KUlXJZbLxJHtRKMUznLmUXs66pcgVWQTOcY3S0DAqPl2dg2c_pJKmfS13uORXrVy2rm8cxmpHoComIoNm6WKUFlQZ8j3jO0SMcvGA_0a6lUhyN_Btrmgn-ND_AXuy9RcnPXy4onIjQ/s1600-h/athens-greece.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-KUlXJZbLxJHtRKMUznLmUXs66pcgVWQTOcY3S0DAqPl2dg2c_pJKmfS13uORXrVy2rm8cxmpHoComIoNm6WKUFlQZ8j3jO0SMcvGA_0a6lUhyN_Btrmgn-ND_AXuy9RcnPXy4onIjQ/s200/athens-greece.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355174484299498386" border="0" /></a><br />What else? Well, we just got word that the Greek rights to NOX DORMIENDA have been sold, so Roman Noir will be available in Athens and all over the remarkably beautiful country of Hellas.<br /><br />I'm a bit emotional over the fact that my first foreign rights sales have been Italy and Greece--the foundations of western civilization, the countries and cultures I've spent so much time in, physically and mentally. From my first <span style="font-style: italic;">D'Aulaire's Greek Mythology</span> (checked out of a Tallahassee, Florida library when I was in the second grade), to now seeing my first book published in modern Greek ... it's like an affirmation. <span style="font-style: italic;">Efcharisto!</span><br /><br />Friday was photoshoot day ... we need new head shots for CITY OF DRAGONS, so ventured to the sunny side of the Bay and Berkeley, over to <a href="http://www.lisakeatingphotography.com/index.html">Lisa Keating</a>, photographer extraordinaire. Lisa makes you feel immediately comfortable, in a beautiful, airy, naturally lit studio, complete with a black lab named Happy, who makes you feel exactly that.<br /><br />Despite a TV movie-like mishap--my dry cleaner didn't give me my entire order, and so I arrived in Berkeley without a shirt and had to fight through horrendous 4th of July traffic to get back to San Francisco and then turned immediately around so I could make it back to Berkeley in time--the shoot was a dream, and makeup artist Tricia Turner and Lisa just the best people anyone--particuarly writers with nerves--could ever hope to work with!! I can't wait for the photos ... and yes, I wore one of my fedoras. :)<br /><br />Today was Sunday Breakfast with Friends time, a wonderful opportunity to see pals and brilliant writers <a href="http://www.laurabenedict.com/">Laura Benedict</a> (who lives in Illinois, so I never see her enough) and <a href="http://www.sophielittlefield.com/">Sophie Littlefield</a> (who lives in the Bay Area, but whom I still don't see enough!) We had an old-fashioned breakfast at an old-fashioned restaurant and I only wish I could spend more Sundays doing this ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJk_CTFjBPaZ4IV8qyGEohKcJaHoHH-uEv6hlgbbA3tasmyohus5864uMpwH1iupc-CdZg6ptM1oiYTDB3xjptjTqNXtLR-lDwmTC12AGkKp6UevfBnA9xRQYBovVZ2hdsqoR6JlaVqPE/s1600-h/thrillerfest-logo09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJk_CTFjBPaZ4IV8qyGEohKcJaHoHH-uEv6hlgbbA3tasmyohus5864uMpwH1iupc-CdZg6ptM1oiYTDB3xjptjTqNXtLR-lDwmTC12AGkKp6UevfBnA9xRQYBovVZ2hdsqoR6JlaVqPE/s200/thrillerfest-logo09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355174768897713570" border="0" /></a><br />So, until next time, thanks for reading <span style="font-style: italic;">Writing in the Dark</span>, thanks for checking out our new grog <a href="http://7criminalminds.blogspot.com/">Criminal Minds</a>, and I will do my best to convey some of the madness, fun, and exultation of <a href="http://www.thrillerwriters.org/thrillerfest/">Thrillerfest</a> in New York!Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-26256486067614866902009-06-23T17:46:00.000-07:002009-06-23T18:55:06.260-07:00For the Love of Chrysler ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOiC118ret0nlaTN62FS46Zu7OetU392JPMHt4kPyBCK2CvqNPQp463A01GDTNe63IBE9r75c0Qztis_9tr6aoJMkKVF0ifHM0AeNxcHWxBqnW9gX5JtHQWLpGPxGPA2O5uYvuMWXLjM/s1600-h/IMG_0563.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOiC118ret0nlaTN62FS46Zu7OetU392JPMHt4kPyBCK2CvqNPQp463A01GDTNe63IBE9r75c0Qztis_9tr6aoJMkKVF0ifHM0AeNxcHWxBqnW9gX5JtHQWLpGPxGPA2O5uYvuMWXLjM/s200/IMG_0563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350702640931441490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm a big believer in serendipity. You know, those chance encounters and opportunities that come your way and (as long as you're not actually starring in a noir) can lead to fabulous fun.<br /><br />As a writer, I like to let serendipity guide me sometimes, through plot points and character development ... and this weekend, a bit of research fell into my life the same way.<br /><br />I was in Tiburon Saturday--one of Marin County's most beautiful towns--visiting my <a href="http://www.reecehalseynorth.com/">brilliant and wonderful agent</a>. And it just so happens that Tiburon was hosting a one day Classic Auto festival at the same time.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvbxhdvTuRapAe24Yyoh-jBz-EmBYwA-EGwn_7BcqmHVKLeAX2BTyZZ9hHcXDDHD2EG80GAo9GncUdhprReNeYQE6d9bliyFm2tTmY6vP7RJqlm72kQ-Hg_qbAxv7tf18SDVLF2PRoG0/s1600-h/IMG_0582.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvbxhdvTuRapAe24Yyoh-jBz-EmBYwA-EGwn_7BcqmHVKLeAX2BTyZZ9hHcXDDHD2EG80GAo9GncUdhprReNeYQE6d9bliyFm2tTmY6vP7RJqlm72kQ-Hg_qbAxv7tf18SDVLF2PRoG0/s200/IMG_0582.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350706077310032834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now, I love classic cars--you know, when American cars were truly special, built to last, and featured rumble seats or (a bit later) some truly amazing fin work.<br />These cars are wonders of engineering, and at the Tiburon show, many were </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">lovingly restored or sported full ownership histories posted on the window.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">An event like this gives me the chance to really develop a feel for a period car model--a tremendous research opportunity for my 1940 series ...<br /><br />I'm not in Tiburon very often, but last year, when I was writing CITY OF DRAGONS, I happened to stumble in to Tiburon on another warm day. And--you guessed it--they were hosting the very same car show. The odds of me being in Tiburon on the day they host a day-long annual car show--twice, in consecutive years--well, that's just serendipity for you.<br /><br />Of course, inspiration struck. I'll be starting the sequel to CITY OF DRAGONS very soon, and it was both lucky and wonderful, lighting upon the chance to see<br /><br />a glorious 1940 Packard Station Wagon (Wood Sides)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJ4SVtXCM173-wdi-NQ376XQAi6z_xdRkabOe4Dptkb8ZaHgXdRyzYWLDNU4atnKxr96MLVzA-SFaD3GPnQUyaTZ_rq9Nqq5K39ydloNpxFYOmsrvwRJ9_8zj5ubHCPvewjkoCwkpIZ8/s1600-h/IMG_0573.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJ4SVtXCM173-wdi-NQ376XQAi6z_xdRkabOe4Dptkb8ZaHgXdRyzYWLDNU4atnKxr96MLVzA-SFaD3GPnQUyaTZ_rq9Nqq5K39ydloNpxFYOmsrvwRJ9_8zj5ubHCPvewjkoCwkpIZ8/s200/IMG_0573.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350703149535698850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghshNJ9HQCxes0oLZl99Dk8ysW7WOk_SRhTdjajchJRHXlEGOedX8p5DSLjkpFaNEcwZqrf91uIRydQ6tbTTMcg-58vd3b9yRMgiINLypazR-MVmgrnMI7iaFSabf0KPsAHG9C2Fm_H8U/s1600-h/IMG_0605.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghshNJ9HQCxes0oLZl99Dk8ysW7WOk_SRhTdjajchJRHXlEGOedX8p5DSLjkpFaNEcwZqrf91uIRydQ6tbTTMcg-58vd3b9yRMgiINLypazR-MVmgrnMI7iaFSabf0KPsAHG9C2Fm_H8U/s200/IMG_0605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350703602944763490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> <br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Or a 1940 Cadillac Convertible</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Or Gertie, a 1939 Chevrolet "Master Deluxe Business Coupe"<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqhOlTYRkL1uisvvvG-GEZlLsv96tVZpnNmgpA12oIjtBM1NgtH3pb_2dTL7zQqpOoaZ6dCBWw95dkxgYpn-nFQUJl3xiy-MPkdOqNnjli49SPh9bVscoDgG1i5ELhZ6Jijm3RjLEiic/s1600-h/IMG_0609.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqhOlTYRkL1uisvvvG-GEZlLsv96tVZpnNmgpA12oIjtBM1NgtH3pb_2dTL7zQqpOoaZ6dCBWw95dkxgYpn-nFQUJl3xiy-MPkdOqNnjli49SPh9bVscoDgG1i5ELhZ6Jijm3RjLEiic/s200/IMG_0609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350704615875545570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Or a 1934 Pontiac<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXIJHAdMpAUmIxEn_w02R4dxU_u8aqhU_jr99vko3vQlpyA-s5_z6qJQp1QODLqXOodd-A849og5JbcfLkUe3DiKEaIqg0HUQHoyQ7PF5d4cstb_3Px_qEXEMqLEwDc6RTritQBC5E2Y/s1600-h/IMG_0608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXIJHAdMpAUmIxEn_w02R4dxU_u8aqhU_jr99vko3vQlpyA-s5_z6qJQp1QODLqXOodd-A849og5JbcfLkUe3DiKEaIqg0HUQHoyQ7PF5d4cstb_3Px_qEXEMqLEwDc6RTritQBC5E2Y/s200/IMG_0608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350704850897867906" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">... or even a 1918 Pierce Arrow.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKhhsfAeXPDGhcWkBhrjiQcoKCiEWiv7bkGZZsyLn2Iq381oYtsfv4Fe7ZNvR8qLzeU-OdJACAwfvDdwC4rV2KKtbQctEftjLlGintKcUjzmWnmy39kibkVywbJPTsGJFFiLzl3vrD0Y/s1600-h/IMG_0623.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKhhsfAeXPDGhcWkBhrjiQcoKCiEWiv7bkGZZsyLn2Iq381oYtsfv4Fe7ZNvR8qLzeU-OdJACAwfvDdwC4rV2KKtbQctEftjLlGintKcUjzmWnmy39kibkVywbJPTsGJFFiLzl3vrD0Y/s200/IMG_0623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350705043360937698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">What car was my favorite? Well, I love the rumble seated 1934 Pontiac ... </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_g-kSm89Vq0CcqyfQBKW1LMsAhVn01hxh0yVB-sLde4qPcQi1ErsCEQJWc5U59Cj9sNDXmpqAmN9t4BeNzmZRpIElup_tD1KxUF5SbSsZjOXIYyeB-01fjexRNL6UD_yCfrPCdtT2SWU/s1600-h/IMG_0595.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_g-kSm89Vq0CcqyfQBKW1LMsAhVn01hxh0yVB-sLde4qPcQi1ErsCEQJWc5U59Cj9sNDXmpqAmN9t4BeNzmZRpIElup_tD1KxUF5SbSsZjOXIYyeB-01fjexRNL6UD_yCfrPCdtT2SWU/s200/IMG_0595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350705222920887746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">but I liked the idea of driving this 1967 Jaguar convertible.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0kjrmh2PFeDFxktUYilCwnLvPFZ_3UJSZUDpDahrlo8CMuRNh9x__GJDE_KUwnZ6O2Vj-QEOU4PNBecnPvEwaRbofVy7JIahQZj-zIns7AqDidyMPr3A3Py8eGeQIlEYvwVR5VSr-Gc/s1600-h/IMG_0586.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0kjrmh2PFeDFxktUYilCwnLvPFZ_3UJSZUDpDahrlo8CMuRNh9x__GJDE_KUwnZ6O2Vj-QEOU4PNBecnPvEwaRbofVy7JIahQZj-zIns7AqDidyMPr3A3Py8eGeQIlEYvwVR5VSr-Gc/s200/IMG_0586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350705453415334514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In a word ... classic. And serendipitous!! :)<br /><br />BTW, we launched <a href="http://7criminalminds.blogspot.com/">Criminal Minds</a>, our group blog and virtual panel, last week--and traffic has been brisk! Come by and comment in the month of June, and you could win a $50 Independent Mystery Booksellers Association member gift certificate, a $50 Barnes and Noble, and signed copies of our books! I post on Thursdays.<br /><br />Back soon, with photos of San Juan Bautista ... and a talk about<span style="font-style: italic;"> Vertigo</span>.<br /></span>Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-18889003204782829032009-06-16T19:56:00.001-07:002009-06-16T20:54:01.538-07:00Cover Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUfJV0Ot-09o91-f22c4XiIFHGem94pGb03kxIndM9JnAigKWGjDs5dZpQZo_CcZ8kZYdpCQfmEJQ3OoEJIeRy_-80aZXFqKf4uYHqspDZlWVO_LDcv2NUiNkh6Vmw_YTu-O6FJNPcIo/s1600-h/Gilda-Print-C10096716.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUfJV0Ot-09o91-f22c4XiIFHGem94pGb03kxIndM9JnAigKWGjDs5dZpQZo_CcZ8kZYdpCQfmEJQ3OoEJIeRy_-80aZXFqKf4uYHqspDZlWVO_LDcv2NUiNkh6Vmw_YTu-O6FJNPcIo/s200/Gilda-Print-C10096716.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348138158424983714" border="0" /></a><br />It's been an eventful few days! Ever feel like the days pass too quickly for you to grab--that they blend and weave, and before you know it a week has gone ahead of you? Yup. Just happened to me. Here's why:<br /><br />Last week, I finished revisions to MALEDICTUS, and the manuscript is now with my wonderful agent. First step on the road to seeing my first series picked up and moving ahead--complete!<br /><br />I posted my first <a href="http://www.popsyndicate.com/column/story/the_noir_bar_put_the_blame_on_mame">Noir Bar column for Pop Syndicate</a> ... on <span style="font-style: italic;">Gilda</span>, naturally. Who wouldn't want to launch a project with Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford? I'll be writing these <a href="http://www.popsyndicate.com/column/story/the_noir_bar_put_the_blame_on_mame">columns</a> once a month, and liberally sprinkling Writing in the Dark with a few noir reviews, too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxChyRb6HKwoXgvDyCJOd0qjTFM6-EQYhyphenhyphenGUJviO4RVaIUNeubYdqu0PD8Kegea6n1LfmYoFz0kX_ARNYViES8d8AbOOtF30xi6JseIaA4Tgpg9dpTMo21ZZveTtvNahdiEgz-kw5oMo/s1600-h/San-Juan-Bautista-Mission02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxChyRb6HKwoXgvDyCJOd0qjTFM6-EQYhyphenhyphenGUJviO4RVaIUNeubYdqu0PD8Kegea6n1LfmYoFz0kX_ARNYViES8d8AbOOtF30xi6JseIaA4Tgpg9dpTMo21ZZveTtvNahdiEgz-kw5oMo/s200/San-Juan-Bautista-Mission02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348138256010244146" border="0" /></a><br />Thursday was my birthday. According to astrologers, this is a "Solar Return" year--the sun was in the same spot in the sky as it was when I was born (lo, those many years ago!). My mom visited; we took a trip in pilgrimage down to <a href="http://www.oldmissionsjb.org/">San Juan Bautista and its mission</a>, where Hitchcock filmed <span style="font-style: italic;">Vertigo</span>. I'll post pictures from the trip in a later post on why Jimmy Stewart's character is so creepy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-AzYhu7v93b-JS7TCZZP3Jv-8u2RhBdl-R5fJkf21l_Q6jDOOLZZ_ufmY-2_YU8YOO-9p8_JyAjLd3tsRGbGcxcmigY3svjwentNH4Mm5UabWBoUnC1IcS0IfnBYesu3yXdcx5V_hX8/s1600-h/novak-and-hitchcock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-AzYhu7v93b-JS7TCZZP3Jv-8u2RhBdl-R5fJkf21l_Q6jDOOLZZ_ufmY-2_YU8YOO-9p8_JyAjLd3tsRGbGcxcmigY3svjwentNH4Mm5UabWBoUnC1IcS0IfnBYesu3yXdcx5V_hX8/s200/novak-and-hitchcock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348138385351847058" border="0" /></a><br />What else? Ate garlic ice cream in Gilroy, the <a href="http://gilroygarlicfestival.com/">Garlic Capital of the World</a>. Yeah, I know it's weird, but what else are you going to do on a warm June day in Gilroy? We ate fresh farm cherries, too, Ranier and Bing, and bought a pack of the largest, freshest and most delicious strawberries I've ever tasted ... organic and locally grown in Watsonville.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0saVuoWdum2HIURFJxQo7YIOcapWhA4LSUJICFEFIUnItvCHPm1NYqwtSKhfgEci-tI6_nxTkiD2ZviUX7RfsfhgJ893Tgr38JYKQfMKuLvUJ12SHJfFOP8DFUQLH74Moqakheu7Qlh4/s1600-h/taste-buds-festivals-gilroy-garlic-full.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0saVuoWdum2HIURFJxQo7YIOcapWhA4LSUJICFEFIUnItvCHPm1NYqwtSKhfgEci-tI6_nxTkiD2ZviUX7RfsfhgJ893Tgr38JYKQfMKuLvUJ12SHJfFOP8DFUQLH74Moqakheu7Qlh4/s200/taste-buds-festivals-gilroy-garlic-full.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348138529771925746" border="0" /></a><br />These are a few of the reasons I live in California ... the produce can be worth the insanity. ;)<br /><br />Took a trip to Chinatown, shot some photos for the new website, which is coming very soon. I can't wait!<br /><br />We launched a grog--that's a group blog, but you already knew that--on Monday. <a href="http://7criminalminds.blogspot.com/">Criminal Minds</a> is a brainchild (actually a dreamchild) of mine, and it's really special to see it come to fruition and so successfully. But with a lineup that includes CJ Lyons, Rebecca Cantrell, Sophie Littlefield, Shane Gericke, Tim Maleeny and Gabriella Herkert, you know it will be fun, fascinating and never a dull moment. :) <a href="http://7criminalminds.blogspot.com/">Check us out</a>--I post on Thursdays (it's the Thursday Child thing).<br /><br />Today, Becky Cantrell and I were visiting authors over on the fabulous <a href="http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/bn/board/message?board.id=MysteryGen&thread.id=6398&view=by_date_ascending&page=1">Barnes and Noble Mystery Book Club</a>. You can check out the conversation and see how we harass one another. ;)<br /><br />Last--but not certainly not least--I received my CITY OF DRAGONS cover yesterday ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2WqErhm2JyuuzQLBo0uwLHvitzlRgc1sGL8leeHogXW_1luZZKaB-O1hnzLEcH6hCIU2df55vKDjuxDl0yGG99mnbevfrlZx_jlpKwCkC6kkDv8zESPK_8mMcgoT8QpBr08YoYQ2RWM/s1600-h/city+of+dragons.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2WqErhm2JyuuzQLBo0uwLHvitzlRgc1sGL8leeHogXW_1luZZKaB-O1hnzLEcH6hCIU2df55vKDjuxDl0yGG99mnbevfrlZx_jlpKwCkC6kkDv8zESPK_8mMcgoT8QpBr08YoYQ2RWM/s400/city+of+dragons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348138761152393474" border="0" /></a>Wow.<br /><br />It's sublime--haunting--beautiful. Thrilling!! All the things I want my book to be.<br /><br />David Rotstein is a Senior Art Director at St. Martin's and a design genius. He's nominated three times over for an Anthony this year, and the breadth and depth of his work is amazing. I feel like I've won the Lotto, or beat James Bond at baccarat! Like I made a movie, and got Saul Bass to do the titles. I'm just humbled by this gorgeous, gorgeous work, and dancing the happy dance of cover love. :)<br /><br />What's next? Preparation for <a href="http://www.thrillerwriters.org/thrillerfest/">Thrillerfest in NYC</a>, where I'll be a Panel Master with a great team and a great topic: <span style="font-style: italic;">Now What? Keeping Readers Turning the Pages</span>. The panelists are James Scott Bell, Robert Ellis, Heywood Gould, Steven James and Charlie Newton.<br /><br />Much work ahead on the website. New postcards, new bookmarks. Preparation for a <a href="http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/70275">Litquake Fundraiser in San Francisco</a> later in July that's going to be a lot of fun!<br /><br />And always back to the cover. I stare ... and I smile. <a href="http://www.louiseure.com/">Louise Ure</a><a href="http://www.louiseure.com/">,</a> one of the wisest women I know (and a supreme talent in crime fiction), <a href="http://www.momentsincrime.com/2009/04/cover-story.html">is so right</a>--a cover like this makes you want to get everything color coordinated. Figure on seeing me in some gorgeous browns and warm tones next year, with a splash of red!<br /><br />Meanwhile ... have a wonderful week, and as always ... thanks for reading! :)Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-89139860714708931972009-06-04T18:03:00.000-07:002009-06-04T18:03:00.447-07:00Marathon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kcdIafQiOb68XS_VIrkEGDI737FhpCjNoqaZSLCUGozOKI2W7_xhDfiDAe-P274658NFrhDglD1TyV2rqRAxD8HuEMJ_VXLF3Y_je3xo4Wn5iTRwRvk2Stpnti2uKY8Auqu91Ft5oR0/s1600-h/Marathon_Man+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kcdIafQiOb68XS_VIrkEGDI737FhpCjNoqaZSLCUGozOKI2W7_xhDfiDAe-P274658NFrhDglD1TyV2rqRAxD8HuEMJ_VXLF3Y_je3xo4Wn5iTRwRvk2Stpnti2uKY8Auqu91Ft5oR0/s200/Marathon_Man+cover.jpg" /></a>This is late and will be briefer than normal ... especially for me ... but for all good reasons!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm on several deadlines at the moment, leading up to <a href="http://www.thrillerwriters.org/thrillerfest/">Thrillerfest</a> in New York</span>. I<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">'ve been running so hard, I'm getting flashbacks of <i>Marathon Man</i> and <i>Logan's Run</i>! (Reminds me ... I've got to make a dentist appointment).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So not much time left over for anything interesting, and I didn't think zzzz made for a good blog post. ;)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm also not writing much in the Dark this week because I've been working hard over a grog dream come true! No, silly, not the grog you drink, the grog you band together to save the world with! No, wait, that's the Justice League. Well, a group blog, anyway ... and I literally dreamed of it about a year ago. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's a <a href="http://7criminalminds.blogspot.com/">very special grog</a> ... more like a virtual conference panel! Seven crime fiction authors in a variety of subgenres will be answering questions every week about all kinds of things--the writing process, crime, life, etc. We hope YOU will send us in questions you would like to read ruminations about! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We call it <a href="http://7criminalminds.blogspot.com/">Criminal Minds</a>, and we're launching on June 15th. Next week, you'll be able to read about us and find out just how criminal our minds are. Then the 15th starts the panel rolling, with a new question to follow every week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We're also giving away prizes for the first month--signed books, gift certificates. So if you're a fan of Writing in the Dark, please stop by! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rRTq46H6mUwOXODdIXcSdiuiu_SZCzehO9z7YMUkDB0eV_A9P7242Y8Z_FCb9e7mFiGEQwrfRP0hUdQYwYSondBQUydv1LWsVgNvWtdgNFVqnlyV6Gt62A81q-srg3PPdOcRS7JDuoM/s1600-h/gilda2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rRTq46H6mUwOXODdIXcSdiuiu_SZCzehO9z7YMUkDB0eV_A9P7242Y8Z_FCb9e7mFiGEQwrfRP0hUdQYwYSondBQUydv1LWsVgNvWtdgNFVqnlyV6Gt62A81q-srg3PPdOcRS7JDuoM/s320/gilda2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'll also be appearing soon at <a href="http://www.popsyndicate.com/">Pop Syndicate</a>, a terrific website about everything pop culture. Pony up to the Noir Bar, my monthly column ... we'll be dishing about--what else? film noir. <i>Gilda</i>, my personal favorite, is what we start with. Over virtual cocktails, too! I'll still post noir reviews at Writing in the Dark when the mood strikes, and <a href="http://www.popsyndicate.com/">Pop Syndicate</a> will give me the chance to wax eloquent in a comfortable speakeasy setting. No such thing as too much noir!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So I'll see you next week ... gotta go finish that marathon! And thanks for reading! :) </span>Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com0San Francisco, CA, USA37.775196 -122.41920437.7073535 -122.5359335 37.8430385 -122.30247449999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-27279698649849629632009-05-25T17:02:00.000-07:002009-05-25T18:13:37.182-07:00Liberty for All<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lxhMkAIf8n4IdkYVjvTVP9A3agIlBgzULlVgpLnHebqPls6I5W0yr9U-MJjHGZArV_EUwb6ySTp2kw3j5WT1aGykxMqyB3z4LZ5npBHKdjaO9-MnYYsFTjlvAzp2kYT9ZUMN82S7BnQ/s1600-h/jobrien.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lxhMkAIf8n4IdkYVjvTVP9A3agIlBgzULlVgpLnHebqPls6I5W0yr9U-MJjHGZArV_EUwb6ySTp2kw3j5WT1aGykxMqyB3z4LZ5npBHKdjaO9-MnYYsFTjlvAzp2kYT9ZUMN82S7BnQ/s200/jobrien.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339931238358679938" border="0" /></a><br />It's been an eventful few days!<br /><br />Last week I received my ISBN number for CITY OF DRAGONS, an occasion for much celebration--which I did as a guest blogger on <a href="http://workingstiffs.blogspot.com/2009/05/come-fly-with-me.html">Working Stiffs</a>, through the generosity of the wonderful Joyce Tremel and other friends on that fabulous grog.<br /><br />My friend <a href="http://rebeccacantrell.com/">Rebecca Cantrell</a> is in town to launch her extraordinary novel, A TRACE OF SMOKE ... we were the literary salon guests of one of the most wonderful and fascinating people in a wonderful and fascinating business, <a href="http://www.mysteryreaders.org/">Mystery Readers International</a> founder <a href="http://dyingforchocolate.blogspot.com/">(and chocolate lover) Janet Rudolph</a><a href="http://dyingforchocolate.blogspot.com/">.</a><br /><br />Becky had a SRO launch party at one of my favorite places, <a href="http://www.mformystery.com/">M is for Mystery</a>--and if you haven't had a chance to pick up her book, you should. Historical noir at its finest--and at its darkest (the setting is 1931 Berlin).<br /><br />And I've been chugging away at various deadlines, editorial and non-editorial, with nary a moment left over for noirish indulgence. But soon, soon ... particularly as I'll be blogging over on <a href="http://www.popsyndicate.com/">Pop Syndicate</a> about my favorite film noir flickers.<br /><br />Today, however, I want to talk about Memorial Day and San Francisco.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXSFt8jdjLfSvbgj-hnJdTTcBez598gZI02xcPjGQ2K2Im_JLOaVYQETmP6-P4BpfETF8KBuDRUv_Hctdurrn-NDYs8WeriEdcJfNjg8a8zQiS3vVYS6ZStipAF-RsEDcS_WtMzRkgRc/s1600-h/SS-Jeremiah-OBrien.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXSFt8jdjLfSvbgj-hnJdTTcBez598gZI02xcPjGQ2K2Im_JLOaVYQETmP6-P4BpfETF8KBuDRUv_Hctdurrn-NDYs8WeriEdcJfNjg8a8zQiS3vVYS6ZStipAF-RsEDcS_WtMzRkgRc/s200/SS-Jeremiah-OBrien.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339931344488336338" border="0" /></a><br />Beyond the normal tourist sensations of Fisherman's Wharf--the ode to consumerism that is Pier 39, the gimmicky restaurants, the cheap t-shirts, the always-real and welcome barks of the sea lions and smell of sourdough bread--behind the wizard's curtain is another chapter of The City's history.<br /><br />I'm talking Pier 45.<br /><br />Just a short stroll down a working pier--yet miles away from the silver men and the keyboard players in the parking lot--is the <a href="http://www.ssjeremiahobrien.org/">Jeremiah O'Brien</a>. One of two remaining fully-functional Liberty ships surviving from World War II.<br /><br />She shares the berth with the <a href="http://www.maritime.org/pamphome.htm">U.S.S. Pampanito</a>, a valiant WWII era submarine that has been preserved under the auspices of the National Park Service: the <a href="http://www.maritime.org/store/membership.htm">San Francisco National Maritime Park Association</a>, to be exact.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.ssjeremiahobrien.org/">Jeremiah</a>, though, isn't part of the park. It stays afloat--and takes full-throttle cruises, particuarly during Fleet Week and for special commemorative occasions like the anniversary of D-Day--solely through memberships and volunteers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUq9BEgBfLWbYXw1Gz-dBhBMuTXvBH3ewNnpx6hd7lLojECofoAIpY6x9Tm147J3Uxy6qTmVeJYzCwKOoGmif4Ff7KsJzfV4ZUTwC8-lJEDzHsUI_Hj2TLgtZMnn3KDmMla230s4Y9Vc/s1600-h/obrien_launch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUq9BEgBfLWbYXw1Gz-dBhBMuTXvBH3ewNnpx6hd7lLojECofoAIpY6x9Tm147J3Uxy6qTmVeJYzCwKOoGmif4Ff7KsJzfV4ZUTwC8-lJEDzHsUI_Hj2TLgtZMnn3KDmMla230s4Y9Vc/s200/obrien_launch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339931481941644978" border="0" /></a><br />Think of it! A living, breathing, working ship, one of only two remaining of 2,710 built--iron and steel, history in the water. And all through the tireless efforts of volunteers who love her, who maintain her, and who make sure that the <a href="http://www.ssjeremiahobrien.org/">Jeremiah</a> will live over Memorial Days past counting.<br /><br />I've had the honor of sailing on her--for the 60th anniversary of D-Day. And while most of the world knows her--if they know her at all--from the engine room of James Cameron's <span style="font-style: italic;">Titanic</span> (yup, she doubled for the tragic White Star liner), her legacy, her courage, and what she stands for touches us all.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.ssjeremiahobrien.org/">Jeremiah O'Brien</a> is a Liberty ship. She is the last unaltered example of her kind. A floating museum of a war that was not predetermined, that was not a foregone conclusion. She and her sister ships ferried supplies and cargo to the front lines, and were a core part of the lend-lease program to Britain before the US joined the war. Roosevelt said this class of quickly built and aesthetically plain ships would bring liberty to Europe. And so they did.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuELDvXVyIrlZpgfp5nwBc6HGPMw8uZwZgU2lIhoH3lQPWUDihSIUvb1slSpWoD6leDy_ZlBl3WkacXsd_NWNq1-BuoIN5ijqdFq-HX-DzMqo804AxUqPftV6DsMnTJpmvP5rWPQgjno/s1600-h/Jeremiah+O%27Brien.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuELDvXVyIrlZpgfp5nwBc6HGPMw8uZwZgU2lIhoH3lQPWUDihSIUvb1slSpWoD6leDy_ZlBl3WkacXsd_NWNq1-BuoIN5ijqdFq-HX-DzMqo804AxUqPftV6DsMnTJpmvP5rWPQgjno/s200/Jeremiah+O%27Brien.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339931699834150146" border="0" /></a><br />In 1994, the <a href="http://www.ssjeremiahobrien.org/">Jeremiah O'Brien</a> journeyed from San Francisco to the beaches of Normandy, revisiting her part in Operation Overlord. She was the only large ship to return for the 50th anniversary.<br /><br />If you ever have a chance to see her, I hope you do. She--and the <a href="http://www.maritime.org/pamphome.htm">Pampanito</a>--are floating Memorial Days, 365 days a year.<br /><br /><br />Next: More film, more San Francisco and more news!Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-62307099863906267262009-05-12T17:56:00.000-07:002009-05-12T20:04:30.264-07:00Climbing the Noir Walls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7glmTm9lwUlUNW6lMbjBTSKO6TTdx9KY_xjKGeYpoFo4gtcarmpRnEai2RCwqrq4Hsyfdb6LzomHfbyf3RtOoLEX7-77Xt3ar4sxXYwRk_pbnapBQe0SSUfz4Aw_ahcYcaOxITruHMo/s1600-h/The_High_Wall_movie_poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7glmTm9lwUlUNW6lMbjBTSKO6TTdx9KY_xjKGeYpoFo4gtcarmpRnEai2RCwqrq4Hsyfdb6LzomHfbyf3RtOoLEX7-77Xt3ar4sxXYwRk_pbnapBQe0SSUfz4Aw_ahcYcaOxITruHMo/s200/The_High_Wall_movie_poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335138195892163346" border="0" /></a><br />"Murder! Infidelity! Brain damage!"<br /><br />That could've been the tagline for the MGM (yes, they made dark stuff too, not just glossy musicals) noir <span style="font-style: italic;">High Wall</span> (1947).<br /><br />Y'see, <span style="font-style: italic;">High Wall</span> is a terrific example one of a fascinating film subgenre ... the damaged vet/re-establish life and family noir, sometimes with amnesia thrown in as a sideline (others include <span style="font-style: italic;">The Crooked Way </span>(1949), <span style="font-style: italic;">The Blue Dahlia</span> (1946), <span style="font-style: italic;">Somewhere in the Night</span> (1946), and last week's <span style="font-style: italic;">Cornered </span>(1945)).<br /><br />Amnesia was a staple of films, particularly with war veteran heroes -- check out <span style="font-style: italic;">Random Harvest</span> (1942) for a quintessential example--but in the hands of the noir masters, these films weren't about amnesia as much as they were about wiping the slate clean.<br /><br />Think about it: after the cataclysm and upheaval of the world's biggest and bloodiest conflict--one that forever reshaped this country, overthrew Empires and remade the Superpowers--redefining one's place in the New World Order was imperative ... and frightening. Dramas like William Wyler's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Best Years of Our Lives </span>(1946)--which certainly possessed a few noirish touches--helped reestablish normalcy in a forever changed and abnormal world. But noir ... well, it tackled the anxiety head on.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoisjtAUm67qSjg2vp_cK-EnWx3Y90wSc7yKWzOLZtDQS8j43NQj7PdcuE2BNCDWErQIjBbWQOp0XzUMBAKIFQu80Kj-mjn68C4DbHv-54geySz4_gT4MHtKPMbFlYOkmPhnHUeGEvah4/s1600-h/Robert+Taylor+40s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoisjtAUm67qSjg2vp_cK-EnWx3Y90wSc7yKWzOLZtDQS8j43NQj7PdcuE2BNCDWErQIjBbWQOp0XzUMBAKIFQu80Kj-mjn68C4DbHv-54geySz4_gT4MHtKPMbFlYOkmPhnHUeGEvah4/s200/Robert+Taylor+40s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335138304877639970" border="0" /></a><br />Wartime marriage? Afraid you married a slut? Get in line, bub. Having trouble sleeping? Nightmares? Head injury? We know just how you feel. And thanks to the era's fascination with and confidence in psychiatry, we've got a cure, too, and she sometimes looks like Ingrid Bergman (<span style="font-style: italic;">Spellbound</span>, 1945) or Audrey Totter (<span style="font-style: italic;">High Wall</span>).<br /><br />These films said it was OK if you got hurt and you can't remember and nothing is what it seemed like in 1942. They said it was OK if you married in haste and she's been cheating on you with a black market 4-F. Don't murder the bimbo--just divorce her and move on to Veronica Lake. The films typically offered cures, either through therapy or a dame or both, and ended with the vet establishing a new family, location in a dislocated environment.<br /><br />And that brings us to <span style="font-style: italic;">High Wall</span>. Directed by the under-appreciated Curtis Bernhardt (<span style="font-style: italic;">Conflict</span> (1945) <span style="font-style: italic;">Juke Girl</span> (1942) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Possessed</span> (1947)), it stars Robert Taylor as a brain damaged flier who suffers black-outs ... and who has apparently strangled his greedy, adulterous wife (Dorothy Patrick). Enter Audrey Totter, in a rare non-femme fatale role, as devoted and caring psychiatrist Dr. Ann Lorrison, who treats Taylor while he's locked up in the looney bin. The once sleek and sophisticated Herbert Marshall plays the bimbo's boss (he's a publisher of a religious books) with a certain degree of both debauchery and pathos, and even H.B. Warner (<span style="font-style: italic;">It's A Wonderful Life</span>, 1946) shows up in a small role.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CT-pWXHoiwx7smGraT_JqxX6V406mKmLx8y1oxRcEFa3uHvb26GA49_fZbJTVMnk5QEXii9BNS4WTXipXnqJP0QiXA3RXULqH7qbqtERuppzh65Ox4uMl-gUEuWjoLPGD5c3UXMH1jg/s1600-h/Audrey_Glamour.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CT-pWXHoiwx7smGraT_JqxX6V406mKmLx8y1oxRcEFa3uHvb26GA49_fZbJTVMnk5QEXii9BNS4WTXipXnqJP0QiXA3RXULqH7qbqtERuppzh65Ox4uMl-gUEuWjoLPGD5c3UXMH1jg/s200/Audrey_Glamour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335138554393474162" border="0" /></a><br />Taylor turns in an able performance, proving he was more than just a pretty face. Like John Payne and Dick Powell, who made successful second careers playing tough guys in noirs, his film roles had been light comedies or romantic melodramas like <span style="font-style: italic;">Camille</span> (1937), and <span style="font-style: italic;">High Wall</span> gives him something sturdier.<br /><br />Totter, however, steals the show--as she usually did. And this time without being the bad girl! Paul Vogel's stunning cinematography (he filmed the Chandler adaptation <span style="font-style: italic;">Lady in the Lake </span>(1947), also with Totter, and a little gem with Marsha Hunt and Van Heflin called <span style="font-style: italic;">Kid Glove Killer</span>, 1942) makes me wish he shot more noir and less films like <span style="font-style: italic;">Jupiter's Darling</span> (1955).<br /><br />Sydney Boehm worked on the script, which is crisp and fast-paced, if not at the deliriously baroque levels of his masterpiece, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Big Heat</span> (1953). He later wrote <span style="font-style: italic;">Rogue Cop</span> (1954), another noir vehicle for Taylor.<br /><br />All in all, <span style="font-style: italic;">High Wall</span> is a terrific film, and a magnifying glass on the very real anxieties and social issues of the immediate post-war era. Unfortunately, you can't find it on DVD, but watch for it on TCM or try <a href="http://noirfilm.com/haves_page2.htm">The Danger and Despair Knitting Circle</a>, the best source for noir on the planet. So ... what have you been watching lately? ;)Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-53579993525993328652009-05-05T18:23:00.000-07:002009-05-05T20:08:12.302-07:00A Forgotten Corner<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD67a6VpCdOxgB_N_LjD4SnMrXxg6GtCOLtIzqAobYHFRzkan9BDFE_nvugvAEYdaT23Vhq1oPZQNhfeQHkXYqOImtof_p63HE-AriIO8n3RBJCROAmJjnCngYkzTY-pHfOB_PeaPkW_g/s1600-h/cornered1945dvdr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD67a6VpCdOxgB_N_LjD4SnMrXxg6GtCOLtIzqAobYHFRzkan9BDFE_nvugvAEYdaT23Vhq1oPZQNhfeQHkXYqOImtof_p63HE-AriIO8n3RBJCROAmJjnCngYkzTY-pHfOB_PeaPkW_g/s200/cornered1945dvdr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332541409240646530" border="0" /></a><br />Before I talk about <span style="font-style: italic;">Cornered</span>, a little-known Dick Powell noir, I need to confess. I'm not in a very noirish mood.<br /><br />NOX DORMIENDA was just nominated for a <a href="http://www.mysteryreaders.org/macavity.html">Macavity Award--the Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery Award</a>--and, well, I'm happy. Joyful. Surprised and shocked and ecstatic and humbled! More like a Busby Berkeley musical than the mean black and white streets.<br /><br />It's a wonderful honor to be in company with fellow nominees Rhys Bowen, David Liss, Jeri Westerson, Karen Maitland and Ward Larsen. Thank you, <a href="http://www.mysteryreaders.org/macavity.html">Mystery Readers International!!</a> So I'll do my hardboiled best, but if I suddenly start sounding like Mickey Rooney about to put on a show in a barn, you'll know why!<br /><br />Now, then (clearing throat). <span style="font-style: italic;">Cornered</span>. 1945. Directed by Edward Dmytryk, the man who helmed Dick Powell's arguably greatest noir role (as Philip Marlowe) in <span style="font-style: italic;">Murder, My Sweet</span>. Produced by Adrian Scott, producer of that earlier film. Unlike <span style="font-style: italic;">MMS</span>, though, Powell is not a professional gumshoe--actually, THE professional gumshoe--but rather a luckless Canadian airman, just demobbed from the War ... out to discover who ordered the murder of his young wife, a member of the French resistance. Along the way, the film reminds the world that fascism didn't end with the War.<br /><br />If you think Powell is too glib, too shiny, too pat, try this movie. He's got some glib moments--that's the script, and he is still Dick Powell--but the emotional darkness of the film will surprise you.<br /><br />There is a host of films--and a subset of noirs--that deal with post-War issues, particularly lost relationships. From amnesiac war veteran noir (<span style="font-style: italic;">The Crooked Way</span>, 1949) to the "I married a dame who turned out to be a slut" variety (Chandler's own <span style="font-style: italic;">The Blue Dahlia</span>, 1946), to the excellent <span style="font-style: italic;">High Wall </span>(1947), which is a combination of the two, noir was a cultural lens through which society could face the downside of hasty wartime unions ... and help redefine family for the burgeoning conservatism of the Ike years.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cornered</span> is unusual in showing a tragic loss--from the GI's perspective. And Powell is quite convincing with the pain he displays in Dmytryk's raw, fast-paced opening scenes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsOHEeOx4tB7qviinwtbWrW6wfuazNNCct_0oEqZO35ergyq-5jAeoRWaepb99lgg0urQDZCkn2h9GpRC8duTCIv-mTWsw8DAHUoJaqz21pO-hNdihNFScps_1EYjdgH6MFdN9eYKg5s/s1600-h/cornered1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsOHEeOx4tB7qviinwtbWrW6wfuazNNCct_0oEqZO35ergyq-5jAeoRWaepb99lgg0urQDZCkn2h9GpRC8duTCIv-mTWsw8DAHUoJaqz21pO-hNdihNFScps_1EYjdgH6MFdN9eYKg5s/s200/cornered1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332541508007624626" border="0" /></a><br />The setting quickly switches to Argentina--even before the war, a hot bed of fascism. Powell is in Buenos Aires to track down a mysterious German agent whose rumored death was just that ... and who also gave the order to murder Powell's wife. That, as they say, makes it personal.<br /><br />Walter Slezak lives up to his delightful name in a scene-stealing turn as a sleazy, sneaky peddlar of information. Morris Carnovsky (<span style="font-style: italic;">Dead Reckoning</span> (1947), <span style="font-style: italic;">Thieves' Highway</span> (1949)) is a fascist-fighting lawyer ... before the end of the movie, Powell will need him. Nina Vale is fetching in an Audrey Totter role, and even Jack LaRue (<span style="font-style: italic;">The Story of Temple Drake</span>, 1933) has a memorable part to play. French actress Micheline Cheirel plays a semi-romantic interest--Powell is too broken up over his wife to really pursue her--and carries it off well-enough to make me wish she'd made more films. Even Luther Adler, John Garfield's former theater partner, (<span style="font-style: italic;">D.O.A.</span>, 1950) glowers and glimmers in powerful turn.<br /><br />The script is juicy (uncredited Ben Hecht, credited John Paxton, who penned <span style="font-style: italic;">Murder, My Sweet</span> (1944)), the direction taut, and the cinematography essential, moody noir (cinematographer Harry J. Wild filmed <span style="font-style: italic;">MMS</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Pitfall</span> (1948) and other classics.) Unfortunately, <span style="font-style: italic;">Cornered</span> isn't available on DVD, so you'll have to look for it on TCM ... but rest assured, if you liked <span style="font-style: italic;">Murder, My Sweet</span> you should like <span style="font-style: italic;">Cornered</span>. It's worth the wait.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQZ78HdfQmzEBE_NwfRwCumKqrBx-UjycXBmXTZqJmCJa1GczEWaJy-VGTXNruMnBDjqxOx5O6EdHfvNSnTK_MOaxbcgFhIM_xtykMZCaITBBgl_iiGjz-9miohFQR0VI8mUcK0R8WNY/s1600-h/powell1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQZ78HdfQmzEBE_NwfRwCumKqrBx-UjycXBmXTZqJmCJa1GczEWaJy-VGTXNruMnBDjqxOx5O6EdHfvNSnTK_MOaxbcgFhIM_xtykMZCaITBBgl_iiGjz-9miohFQR0VI8mUcK0R8WNY/s200/powell1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332541725230526274" border="0" /></a><br />BTW ... Scott, Dmytryk, Carnovsky and Adler were all blacklisted. Dmytryk famously caved in to pressure after spending a few months in jail, and wound up naming names. Anti-fascism in the McCarthy era was synonymous with Communism ... a sad and ironic commentary that makes <a href="http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article.jsp?cid=64065&mainArticleId=208530"><span style="font-style: italic;">Cornered</span></a> more of a noir than it intended.<br /><br />I'll be blogging over on the <a href="http://thrillerfest2009.blogspot.com/">Thrillerfest blog</a> on Friday, guesting on <a href="http://workingstiffs.blogspot.com/">Working Stiffs</a> on the 22nd, and starting a regular film noir column at <a href="http://www.popsyndicate.com/">Pop Syndicate</a> in June ... so stop in and pour yourself a drink. :)<br /><br />Next time: I can't decide between <span style="font-style: italic;">Vertigo</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">High Wall</span>. I may flip a coin ... but not from the tower at San Juan Bautista!Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861384923045006061.post-23974483237809021822009-04-26T21:12:00.000-07:002009-04-26T22:05:20.657-07:00City of Angels, City of BooksI love L.A.<br /><br />I know as a San Francisco resident I'm not supposed to express my deep enthusiasm for our warm, sunny, and friendly neighbor to the south, but really ... the Bay Area needs to get over it.<br /><br />I enjoy driving here--California's bounty of beauty is showcased by the venerable and bell-lined Highway 101, extra hour of driving be damned. I enjoy staying here, particularly in one of my favorite hotels in the world, the historic <a href="http://www.culverhotel.com/">Culver Hotel</a> overlooking Culver Studios (formerly Desilu, formerly RKO, formerly Selznick).<br /><br />Hollywood history doesn't get richer than that, and hospitality doesn't come better than what you find at the family-owned <a href="http://www.culverhotel.com/">Culver Hotel</a> (neither does the scrumptious food, prepared in house by a supremely creative chef).<br /><br />I've been here since Friday-- we drove down for the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/extras/festivalofbooks/">LA Times Festival of Books</a>, ready to celebrate the sale of Italian rights for NOX DORMIENDA this week (coming soon in a mass market paperback edition in Italia!). <br /><br />Friday night brought a fabulous party at one of the best bookstores in the world, <a href="http://www.mystery-bookstore.com/blog/">The Mystery Bookstore</a> in Westwood. I saw friends, met new ones, ran into the wonderful San Francisco PI writer, Chandler fan and Richard Avedon of the crime writing community, <a href="http://www.markcoggins.com/">Mark Coggins</a>, whom <a href="http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2009/04/fest-of-west-part-i.html">it's a honor to be snapped by</a>, and partied with pals Susan Arnout Smith, Cornelia Read, Jeri Westerson, Louise Ure, Sue Ann Jaffarian, and a lot of other colleagues--here's the complete list, courtesy of the Mystery Bookstore:<br /><br /><strong>Shilpa Agarwal, Brett Battles, James Scott Bell, Cara Black, Marc Blatte, Carol Higgins Clark, Mary Higgins Clark, Dianne Emley, Tom Epperson, Christa Faust, David Fuller, Michelle Gagnon, Victor Gischler, Lee Goldberg, Chris Grabenstein, Robert Greer, Denise Hamilton, Naomi Hirahara, Gregg Hurwitz, Sue Ann Jaffarian, Craig Johnson, Leslie Klinger, John Lescroart, Paul Levine, Sheila Lowe, Lisa Lutz, Robert Masello, George Mastras, T. Jefferson Parker, Gary Phillips, William Rabkin, Cornelia Read, Patricia Smiley, Susan Arnout Smith, Mark Haskell Smith, Eric Stone, Kelli Stanley, Louise Ure, Sarah Weinman, Jeri Westerson, John Morgan Wilson</strong> and <strong>Edward Wright!</strong><br /><br />Saturday we visited two of the outstanding stores in the area, <a href="http://www.bookem.com/">Book 'Em Mysteries</a> in South Pasadena and <a href="http://www.vromansbookstore.com/">Vroman's in Pasadena</a>, found some gorgeous vintage jewelry at a thrift shop, and played tourist on Hollywood Boulvard at <a href="http://www.manntheatres.com/chinese/">Grauman's Chinese Theater</a>, where I literally stood in Humphrey Bogart's footsteps.<br /><br />Today was Festival day ... and it was overwhelming. First, the UCLA campus is breathtaking. And then ... Booths! Tents! Pavilions! Sugar-coated almonds! Flyers shoved at you from all directions! And, most importantly ... books. Books, books, everywhere. Hardcovers, softcovers, first editions, antiquarian, brand-spanking new. LA must be one of the most literate places in America, judging from the amount of people flocking to this incredible and amazing festival.<br /><br />I visited with my <a href="http://www.sistersincrimela.com/">Sisters in Crime</a>, where I ran into friends and chatted with other authors; I dropped by the wonderful <a href="http://mysteriousgalaxy.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp">Mysterious Galaxy</a>, San Diego's superlative specialty bookstore; and I signed at <a href="http://www.mystery-bookstore.com/blog/">The Mystery Bookstore</a> with Edgar nominees Tom Epperson and David Fuller, Lefty nominee, funny lady and friend Sue Ann Jaffarian, and as-sweet-as-her-books Joanne Fluke, who brought cream puffs for all.<br /><br />All in all, an amazing adventure, one I can't wait to repeat next year when RICE BOWL launches. I love fog, but sunshine, blue skies, and good books make for a true Dream Factory.<br /><br />Back soon with photos from the Festival and the road, as well as the promised review of Dick Powell's <span style="font-style: italic;">Cornered</span>.Kelli Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.com0