By Tracy Clark
This rolling Rogue has been busier than a one-armed paper hanger. I’ve been writing, of course, but also tossing my stuff into a carry-on bag and hitting the airports. Here are the short highlights, which I’ll relay mostly in photos. A little cheat this time since my deadline looms.
New Orleans Bourchercon in September was very, very good to me. I was fortunate to win my second Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original for my book, Echo. A million thanks to the nice folks who voted for my work. I am truly appreciative. I don’t remember what I said up there on the podium because I didn’t expect to win and didn’t write anything down. Big mistake. Anywho, I survived the sweatbox. The coolest thing about events like Bouchercon, though, is hanging out with friends, and I certainly did a lot of that. I always come away at the end of the time energized to write, which is a very good thing.
Black Book Bash, Jacksonville, Florida. This was the first event that assembled hundreds of writers of color who write in many genres, fiction and nonfiction, everything from YA to horror to romantasy and crime. How heartwarming it was and also reaffirming to see so many writers like me doing their thing and representing our community in such an energetic way. I can’t wait until next year!
As I write this, I’m working on my next book, You’ll Never Find Me. It’s my first standalone, so wish me luck. This one is certainly working a different creative muscle. Fingers crossed I don’t blow it. It does help a little that I’m writing parts of it in Maui. The palm trees swaying and all the pineapple, however, don’t scream dark and twisted to me, but I’m doing the best I can with it. LOL.
See you all on the other side.
Where’s the most distracting place you’ve ever had to write? Atop a roller coaster? In a hospital waiting room? On a cot, head under a blanket, in a youth hostel in the Swiss Alps?
Tracy Clark, a native Chicagoan, is the author of the Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series and the Det. Harriet Foster series. A multi-nominated Anthony, Lefty, Edgar, Macavity, and Shamus Award finalist, Tracy is also the 2020 and 2022 winner of the G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award. She is a member of Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
Best of luck on the standalone! I love the title.
Most distracting place ? I guess in a hospital bed—I wrote ‘The End’ and 10 minutes later the nurses came to wheel me into OR for a heart cath.
(Which showed nothing, heart was fine by the way.)
You certainly deserved that Anthony Award – way to go! Now, I can’t wait to read your new stand-alone. Be sure to tell us the release date!!!
Most distracting place to write? Probably aboard an Amtrak train that kept wobbling!!!
Karna Small Bodman
Your standalone no doubt will standout!
Most distracting place, Tel Aviv. Suicide bombers we’re on the uptick, my adolescent daughter was being treated for an autoimmune disease and terrified of the soldiers and guns. I did, however, make my deadline! And the daughter was cured!