Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Malice Domestic 2011




My younger sister Tiffany
and me in Vegas
I am trying to use the little grey cells today, but I think I left them somewhere in Vegas.  And by the way, those ads lie - what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas.  At least not when you can post on FB so easily.

Tomorrow I fly to Washington DC to attend Malice Domestic.  Am I excited?  You better believe it!!  I love mystery conventions and writers conferences.  I call it being with "my people".  Yes, I am an editor now, but first and foremost, I am a fan.  I love books, the industry and readers/writers.  There is such a positive vibe going on.

But what is really driving my excitement is that I am going to meet a bunch of Inkers for the first time!  I feel so fortunate that I have a vocation where I am able to form wonderful and warm relationships with all sorts of people (not necessarily just my authors.)  But I think there is something special about an editor/author relationship.  Not only do I have a chance to read a manuscript long before anyone else, but I have a chance to form and guide a book/series.  I can go through a series of rewrites before that book is shown to anyone else here.  That alone is incredible.  I also am the voice for the author internally.  It's my job to represent the authors ideas and wishes when it comes to covers and titles when we have those meetings.  I get to make dreams come true.  Man, that is powerful and scary.  But it is exciting!  I am taking a chance on an author and he or she is taking a chance on me.  It's amazing.  I have found wonderful friendships with my authors.  They constantly cheer up my days and give me support when needed.  And hopefully I am able to give that back to them when they need it.  That is why I love my job and why I am looking forward to actually meeting all the wonderful authors that make up the Midnight Ink family.

One false move, and he'll be in the bath with a raging hangover...So, if you are attending Malice, keep an eye out for us.  I think we might just be a rowdy group waiting to stir up some trouble!  And please stop me and say hello.  I should be easy to spot - just look for the chickie with a huge grin and a gleam in her eye!

And if you are not attending Malice, why not?!  Make sure to try to get to one convention this year, whether it be Malice Domestic, Bouchercon or a smaller regional one.  The authors will surely appreciate it and I promise it will be great fun.

7 comments:

Vicki Doudera said...

As one of your writers, I'll admit that I can't wait to meet you at Malice, Terri! We've shared so much and yet haven't had the face to face. All that changes... soon... and it will be fun to catch up and meet everyone. Travel safe.

Deborah Sharp said...

Should be a fun time, and it's going to be great to see the new members of our Midnight Ink family (a dysfunctional family? Nah ...) Hope you post the picture that we take. I think with all of us attending, we'll be a lucky 13, right?

Alan Orloff said...

Ditto what Vicki said. And you're right Terri, we will be the rowdiest group at the convention! (Don't worry, what happens in Bethesda stays in Bethesda!)

Sue Ann Jaffarian said...

You all have a great time. Sorry I'll be missing it this year. snifffff....

Alice Loweecey said...

Just a few more hours (and a very long drive)!

Alan, I don't know about that--I'm bringing my camera and the cable that uploads direct to Facebook. *innocent grin*

Kathleen Ernst said...

I arrived in Maryland today. It will be fun to have such a MInker gang there! (And of course mean "gang" in the nicest possible way.)

Lois Winston said...

Can't wait to meet everyone! I'm hopping in the car in a few hours and hoping the rain storms aren't too bad. I'll be the waterlogged one dripping through the hotel.