Despite the heavy afternoon schedule, we stole a little
morning time to visit some favorite area spots from when we lived there. We
savored breakfast in Chatsworth’s yummy Country Deli, where they have hilarious
murals of Orthodox Rabbis settling the Old West. And we took Annabelle for a
walk in Granada Hill’s Bee Park, where we walked our now-departed dogs for
ages. Love the meadering paths and the little bridges that cross the creek
there.
Then it was on to South Pasadena. I adore that downtown So
Pas neighborhood, and it’s great to see how bustling and vital it’s become
again. We found a newish bakery and bought sandwiches for the late night trip
home. Much better than the fast food we usually eat when on the road.
But first there was my Book ‘Em Mysteries signing. Book ‘Em
is another one of those bookstores that I really love to revisit, and where I
always enjoy signing. Barry Martin, Mary Riley and their manager Jean Utley
have created such a warm, inviting place, where it’s so nice to drop in and
chat with an appearing author and where you’re sure to find any and every
mystery that you’re looking for. It’s another place where this bookseller loves
to browse.
It was so fun catching up with Jean and her customers,
signing books for them, as well as all the old friends who also stopped by.
Then it was onto the South Pasadena Library Community Room,
where the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime meets. It was such a treat to
be back in my old SinC chapter, where I was president once upon a time. I have
so many fond memories of sitting in that room, listening to great speakers talk
about writing and mysteries, gazing serenely out the giant vintage leaded glass
windows in that room, at a magnificent Magnolia tree just outside. You can see a bit of the tree in this photo:
This time I was there as the meeting speaker, discussing for
a strong turnout — despite Superbowl Sunday — about mixing the paranormal into
mysteries, as well as what editors expect to see in the various cross-genre
fantasy forms that are popular today, and why mystery writers are so well
placed to capitalize on this trend. Meeting reader Rochelle Staab and I enjoyed
such brisk sales, the bookseller couldn’t shut down her selling station at the
time when they usually close the room!
Now we’re home at last, after having visited our other,
former home. Savoring the nostalgia of a former life. As a writing instructor
as well, it’s always rewarding to me to catch up with my former students,
learning how their writing is faring today. I got to spend good quality time
with so many of them this trip, including Sharlyn and Shannon Harley, Chris
Starkman, Jane DiLuccio, Susan Kosar Beery, Linda Nakamura, Diane Vallare and Evelyn Moore.
I’m probably forgetting others, and I’m sorry about that — you can blame it on
my aging, fatigued brain. It was also especially wonderful to see new SinC/LA
chapter president Patty Smiley and my old fellow board member Kevin Gillogly —
we three go way back together in SinC/LA.
Still, there’s nothing like returning to your real home, to
sleeping in your own bed. No matter how comfy hotel mattresses are, they’re
never quite the same.
Best part? Our cat Philly didn’t even stay too mad at us for
having left him. A good end to a great trip. Thanks to everyone who made it special.
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