LIZA CODY

When the website went up August 1st last year I promised I wouldn’t flood subscribers with newsletters. I’ve managed to keep that promise for one whole year.

Apart from marking the anniversary, I’m writing to let you know that I’ll be coming to the US in October, to attend the Bouchercon in Indianapolis between the 15th and the 18th. If you’re not familiar with the event, it’s the largest conference for fans, writers and professionals in the mystery world – check it out on www.bouchercon2009.com.

I’m hoping to get together with my old co-conspirators, Michael Z. Lewin and Peter Lovesey, to do a panel called Dirty Rotten Liars. But the final decision is up to the conference organisers who’ll tell us at the beginning of next month. If you’re anywhere near Indy, do consider coming even if it’s only for one day. There’s a terrific Book Room and if you’re really unlucky you might meet an author or two.

This rare sortie into the wider world is because I hope that my book, Gimme More, will be out by October in the US. Originally due in March from Bloody Brits Press, it was delayed. But I’ve talked with the publishers and it’s definitely going to emerge one of these days. Once I know which day I’ll post it on my site.

Meanwhile I continue to work – yes, still on the book that features in the over-the-shoulder pictures on my site. It’s called HOPE AND ELECTRA or maybe THE DEVIL HAS NO SCENT or maybe… But it’s something I’ve been working on for a couple of years and now it’s nearly finished. I’ve done 3 drafts and had 300 last thoughts but I’m still not ready to send it out into the world by itself. Suppose it can’t stand on its own two feet? Suppose nobody likes it and someone steals its lunch money? Paranoid writers, eh?

One of the real surprises in the last year has been the number of people who’ve left messages on my ‘Discussion’ page. There hasn’t been much actual discussing, but that’s fine. Different people have different interests, and as I’m one of those folk who doesn’t really know what she thinks till she’s written it down, it’s been interesting to try to find rational answers to some of the questions.

It’s another cold, wet August here in England so no one can say there’s been much climate change. Nevertheless I’m hoping the slump, recession (whatever you choose to call it), and the ugly sight of total greed amongst our bankers, financiers and politicians might make us all rethink consumerism. I won’t bet the farm on it though – after all we’ve had an equal opportunities act in place for decades and women are still only earning 80% of what men get, and working mothers are still most likely to be on the breadline… and so on – well it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t end on a rant.

Be well and be lucky, but don’t be-have.

LC
3rd August 2009