Thursday, October 14, 2010

California, Here I Come . . .

Right back where I started from...

Really. I was born in California, as the result of a military accident.  It was WWII  and my father was stationed out there. My mother had followed him from base to base during his training. (I guess that makes her a camp follower.)  But he was sent overseas (Burma) not long after my arrival and my mother and I returned to Florida.  

I've never been back -- never been farther west than east Texas, as a matter of fact.

Bouchercon, the big mystery convention, is being held in San Francisco this year so that's where I'm headed. I'll meet with Herself, my esteemed editor, and we'll discuss whether she wants more Elizabeth books. I'll be on a panel with four other mystery writers, talking about what influences show up in our books. I'll attend a Random House cocktail party and go to as many other panels as I can.  With any luck, I'll get a look at the world beyond the hotel.

And very early Sunday morning I'll head back home.  I'll have my laptop with me and try to post while I'm there. Failing that, look for me on Monday or Tuesday.
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28 comments:

joanna said...

Well Ms Vicki

Boom or Burst, or is it 'break a leg'? Either way, keep on writing your wonderful tales. Have loads of fun in San Fran, I am too far North to drop in for coffee and a chat -- sigh,

Cheers,
Joanny

BB said...

Awesome Vicki...have a great time. Take pics.

Marilyn & Jeff said...

I wish you well you everything, it sounds so interesting. Enjoy every moment. I spent a couple of days in San Francisco many years ago and my memories of it are all good.

Bernie said...

Vicki, this should be a wonderful trip with your peers, I know you will enjoy seeing your birth state and it all sounds rather exciting to me. I have been to Los Angeles and walked Rodeo Drive (noticed I said walked not shopped) and spent time at Disneyland and loved it.
Be well, stay safe and enjoy...Hugs

Martin said...

Have a safe journey, Vicki. I look forward to hearing about the trip, in due course.

Kath said...

High five and the secret handshake from one native born Californian to another!!! LOL! I was born north of San Francisco, and with the advent of the Korean War, Dad became regular (as opposed to reserve) Marines So I've only lived in CA sporadically.

Vicki, seriously. You editor better decide for a lot of the Elizabeth novels. I've just started the first, and the richness of the world you create is so compelling, I don't even care if there's a mystery. That's great writing. And I've been returning almost every book I've checked out of the library only partially read over the last yea, because they were not good enough to waste my time on.

Thankfully I own your book. And I'm going to fill out the form to call your work to the attention of our library. It's a county library and the south end of the county is in the foothills of the Appalachians. They need to pay attention. PRide in local heritage is strong here, so ...
Kath

Jules said...

How exciting a gathering of your peers and visiting your birthplace all at once. Have a marvelous time.
We are birds of a feather my Father returned from New Guinea for a week during the war, to a little town called Tocumwal and it took my Mother two and a half days to get there and then thay only had two nights together! Bingo ME!!! I didn't meet my Father until I was two years old!

Carol Murdock said...

Have a wonderful time Vicki! Don't worry about the farm, John, Justin and Claudi will hold the fort down!
XOXO :)

Brian Miller said...

how cool. i hope you have a wonderful time...

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Have fun in California Vicki. It's lovely there, even with all of its traffic. As they say, it's a long way from western North Carolina. I'm sure meeting up with old friends will be great.

I was born during the war also. My father was stationed in the Phillipines and did not see me until I was 18 months. I had a horrible case of the chicken pox. He must have wondered what happened to the kid in the pictures my mother sent.

Bon voyage,
Sam

Anonymous said...

Have fun in San Fransico Vicki, I hope you have time to make it down to the waterfront for a little R&R. Enjoy!

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

Laws, I am sad about not being there this year!

Good luck with your meeting with Herself (fingers crossed here).

Have a ball, Vicki! Can't wait to hear some stories and see some pictures!

Elora said...

Ciao! San Fran is a lovely place for a visit! Lots to see and certainly a change of scenery! Have a wonderful trip and best of success with it all!

Elora

Louise said...

Humph! Your editor better want more Elizabeth books. I am now a confirmed addict. Have a wonderful trip to California. Never been there, but I do want to go some day. Just don't like flying.

Liz said...

You'll love San Francisco, Vicki - don't miss Lombard Street the world's most crooked street and Fisherman's Wharf to sample the street vendors seafood - yum. Looking forward to your posts from there. ~Liz

Christine said...

Have a wonderful trip Vicki and enjoy the scenery! Will be watching for your next blog. Have a great weekend.

Tammy said...

I had no idea you were born a Californian! Hope you have a great time. Wave if you fly over Missouri! Wow...I sure hope that she wants more Elizabeth books! That would be just awful if she didn't......
Tammy

Merisi said...

Safe travels and a wonderful time at the convention!
I am looking forward to your report, whenever you are ready to share your experience there.

Bon voyage,
Merisi

JJM said...

"Discuss whether [Herself] wants more Elizabeth books"?!

I mean, great, yes, I hope you have a perfectly lovely trip to and a totally fantastic time in California and at B'con, of course of course, but ...

"Discuss whether [Herself] wants more Elizabeth books"?!?!

Please point out gently to Herself and the publisher that you now have a readership that, by the time the decision is made, will know about Little Things, and how to call them up in a Good Cause -- the Good Cause of more Elizabeth books, of course, for as long as you wish to write them; and more Vicki Lane books, naturally, for as long as writing still delights you -- and that distance will make no difference. [evil grin]

Mario

Friko said...

I hope you have a good time with your co-consprators.

btw. the bunting on my last post was just an ordinary vine, nit a liquidamber.

Suz said...

Cocktail party....hope it's not ho hum..wear red
funny you call her herself...I'll bet it fits her..ha ha ha
have a fun time and bring back some dirt in a bottle..for old time sakes

phyllis w. said...

Wishing you safe travels and a great time! And please inform Herself that you've barely scratched the surface of all the Marshall County mysteries that Elizabeth will become entangled in!

I finally got to start The Day of Small Things, and Least is really tugging at my heartstrings. I'm so glad Grandma showed up to love her.

Looking forward to pictures!

Folkways Note Book said...

Have a good trip Vicki -- dip your toes in the Pacific! -- barbara

gayle said...

It's funny that you post on going to CA..I wrote one too!! Have a wonderful trip ...can't wait to see the pictures!!

NCmountainwoman said...

Have a safe and wonderful trip.

maría cecilia said...

Well, have a great time over there!!!

Unknown said...

Have a wonderful time. Herself will be chuffed to be meeting you..she may be a bit nervous! I have been to San FRan.. the only bit of the US I have been to and I loved it. 'I left my heart..in San Francisco..'

J_on_tour said...

Great photograph of the bridge