Entering the 21st Century

Oh boy.

It's been exactly two hours since the doorbell rang and my new best friend the FedEx man handed me my brand new iPad2. My little International traveler has been winging its way to me since Monday, when it left China jetted to Hong Kong, stopped off overnight in Taiwan (naughty), then flew to Anchorage, where it hung out for a day with the mooses before leaving for Indianapolis and then on to Nashville and my place. Yes, I've been tracking it's progress with a zealotry I though I reserved for opening day numbers on Amazon - I visited the page multiple times a day, hitting refresh, refresh, refresh, savoring the adrenaline rush when a new entry popped up.

I am a geek.

I gave Randy an iPad last year for his birthday, and have tried very hard to let it be his, and not something I'm constantly borrowing just to have a quick look at.... you know? It's his. I didn't want to develop an attachment to something I wasn't able to use all the time.

But this little honey is mine. All mine.

My laptop sits closed, not forgotten, but lonely, to my left, like a boyfriend I'm cheating on with a new fella. I am flirting with another. It's way past midnight, we're hanging out at the bar, and I, unabashed hussy, am giving it all she's got. Put it this way - he has a beard, a Harley and just got me to do my fourth shot of tequila.

(And what comes on the iPod as I write that but AC/DC SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG. Oh yes you did, sugar.)

I've hooked my newcomer up to the keyboard dock Randy bought but rarely uses. I know that's essentially cheating, but this is for a good purpose - I'm about to take this sucker on a transcontinental journey and I'd really like to be able to leave my laptop at home. Two hours in, and I think I may be able to pull that off. Holy moly! This thing is freaking slick.

For the geeks out there who might be wondering, here's a list of the Apps I ran for:

Wunderlist
Squarespace
Evernote
Reeder
Instapaper
Dropbox
Mozy
Delta
Southwest
Nook
iAWriter
Pages
Pandora

and of course, The Weather Channel.

Flipboard was Randy's suggestion - and WOW. It's really cool, very visual.

So I did have a few problems - mainly user error - I deleted this post accidentally, then rewrote it and was shocked to find that Squarespace wouldn't let me back into it to edit once I'd hit save - hopefully a bug that will be fixed soon.

But I'm a wee bit in love. So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go try reading a book on this bad boy.

And hooah - Lent's technical over at 7pm.... I MADE IT!

Literary Libations #litlib

Calling All Nashville Publishing People

First Literary Libations on May 12, 5-7pm

Greetings!

The Nashville Dutch Lunch gatherings continue monthly with random by invitation gatherings in downtown Nashville hosted by various, beautiful writerly type people.

HOWEVER, JT Ellison and River Jordan were searching for a way to host a monthly gathering of writers, agents, publishers, librarians, booksellers, publicists, reviewers, journalists, and so forth where people could come at will and have no need to RSVP. Just a show if you care and dare.

So LITERARY LIBATIONS was born. SIMPLY PUT -

THE 4th THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH - 5-7pm we shall gather to talk writing, books, words, business, and road trip stories.

ALWAYS - at the Union Station Historic Hotel. Valet parking provided.

Join us for a grand time for the first Literary Libations on May 12, 5-7pm. Putting a little swank in our step and looking forward to seeing your faces. Feel free to pass the word to your writerly friends and associates. If twittering please use hash tag #litlib. For friends from out of town - this is just your general invite. Rooms are available at the beautiful Union Station, and for you to share with friends from across the miles.

All our best,

River and JT

PSA for Nashville Booklovers

I received this note today from my local bookstore, Mysteries & More. In light of the massive changes to the book market in Nashville, I thought I'd share it with you. I've gotten multiple notes lately asking where my books can be purchased in Nashville. Sadly, I fear this problem is endemic to all authors these days.

Mysteries & More is one of the last bookstores in Davidson County that stocks new titles, and a really sweet shop to boot. So if you're in Nashville and want to hit a real store, check them out. Also, if you're west of town, be sure to stop by Reading Rock Books in Dickson - another excellent independent store. I'll be doing signings at both stores in late September for the release of WHERE ALL THE DEAD LIE, so stay tuned to the Tours link for more info.

Here's the note I got from Greg this morning:

Fellow Mystery Lovers,

So far, the month of April has been one of our slowest since we opened the store.

We realize that the recent bad weather has probably been a contributing factor for this.

However, we also feel that the press reporting of some current events may have created some confusion.

We are sending this short note to clarify any misunderstanding that may be out there.

Here are the real facts:

-          Davis-Kidd bookstore is closed.

-          Borders bookstore in Cool Springs is closed.

-          Borders bookstore on West End will close the end of May.

-          Sherlock’s bookstore in Lebanon is closed.

-          MYSTERIES & MORE IS OPEN  - AND WILL REMAIN OPEN!

If you haven’t visited us for a while, please stop by and check out our recent changes including our expanded Younger Reader’s section.

And don’t forget that we order and ship any book in print (not just mysteries) and always at a 20% discount.

Thank you for your continued support, we appreciate it.

Mary & Greg

Mysteries & More…books to die for!

Editor's Note - Both stores can get you any book, regardless of genre.... : )

THE COLD ROOM is nominated for a Thriller!

Now that it's official, I can share the great news I received earlier this week - THE COLD ROOM has been nominated for a Thriller Award in the Best Paperback Original category. I am so honored to be included in this stellar lineup - with two dear friends as well - so it's triple-y joyous news.

Thank you, ITW. You've made this thrillerchick very happy!

Good luck to everyone - and see you in New York at Thrillerfest!

Here's the complete announcement from International Thriller Writers: (and check Best Novel - my inspiration John Sandford is nominated too!)

2011 Thriller Awards Nominees

ITW is proud to announce the finalists for the 2011 Thriller Awards!

Best Hard Cover Novel:

Michael Connelly - THE REVERSAL (Little Brown)
Jeffery Deaver - EDGE: A NOVEL (Simon & Schuster)
Brian Freeman - THE BURYING PLACE (Minotaur)
Mo Hayder - SKIN (Grove)
John Sandford - BAD BLOOD (Putnam)

Best Paperback Original:

Robert Gregory Browne - DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN (St. Martin's)
Max Allan Collins and Matthew Clemens - YOU CAN'T STOP ME (Pinnacle)
J.T. Ellison - THE COLD ROOM (Mira)
Shane Gericke - TORN APART (Pinnacle)
John Trace - THE VENICE CONSPIRACY (Hachette Digital)

Best First Novel:

Carla Buckley - THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE (Random House)
Paul Doiron - THE POACHER'S SON (Minotaur)
Reece Hirsch - THE INSIDER (Berkley)
Thomas Kaufman - DRINK THE TEA (Minotaur)
Chevy Stevens - STILL MISSING (St. Martin's)

Best Short Story:

Mike Carey - "Second Wind" (THE NEW DEAD, St. Martin's)
Michael Connelly - "Blue on Black" (Strand Magazine)
Richard Helms - "The God for Vengeance Cry" (Dell Magazine)
Harley Jane Kozak - "Madeeda" (Crimes By Midnight)
Nicolas Kaufman - "Chasing the Dragon" (ChiZine Magazine)
Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins - Long Time Dead (Strand Magazine)

Congratulations to all the finalists!

2011 Thriller Awards Winners to be announced at ThrillerFest VI July 9, 2011,
Grand Hyatt, NYC.

Special thanks to:

Allen Wyler, VP Awards
Julie Korzenko, Awards Committee Chair
Liz Wolfe, Awards Coordinator
And the 2011 Thriller Awards Judges

The Coolest Thing Evah!

Taylor has her own drink!

You must check this out - I was so honored to find out that Taylor had been chosen by the cool folks at FIND Investigations to be the focus on a personalized cocktail and cigar combo from Nashville's special top seceret speakeasy, The Patterson House.

Click here to see the recipe for Taylor's Old-School - a beautifully delicious throwback cocktail worthy of any fine evening. I wouldn't be surprised to see her regularly slouched at the bar, indulging her vices...

Special thanks to Hal and Kim for making this happen!