Tag Archive for: Rainy Day Women mystery

Conferences for Writers—Part II, ThrillerFest

/in /by
By Kay Kendall

Many
differences make ThrillerFest stand out from other conferences that are offered
to crime authors. This annual conference of International Thriller Writers is
held at the same time every year and in the same hotel. It begins right after
Independence Day at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City and includes a full
six days of activities, each one priced separately. If you attend everything
that is offered, then your conference fee will be much higher than any other in
your whole year.
Rambo’s creator, David Morrell

While
ThrillerFest stands out because of its cost, it is also worth every one of your
hard-earned dollars. You will see more star power on one stage or at just one
of the many cocktail parties than you will ever hope to see in your whole life.
The literary energy and brilliance just zing. What’s more, all those big-name
authors are helpful and supportive to hopeful writers.
If you
are a debut author and get published by a press on the approved list, then you
can join the ITW Debut Author program in that year and receive even more
support and applause. I was urged to participate in 2013 when my first book Desolation Row launched. I figured I’d
go once and be done with such a pricey gathering. I was wrong. I returned in
2014 and again this year. Here are just a few of the reasons why—bestselling
authors who participated in this year’s programs.

Spy novelist Gayle Lynds

  • 2015 ThrillerMaster Nelson DeMille plus
    2015 Silver Bullet Recipient     Kathy Reichs
  • 2015 Spotlight Guests Mark Billingham, Charlaine Harris, and Greg Iles
  • 2014 ThrillerMaster Scott Turow and
    2014 Silver Bullet Award recipient     Brenda Novak
  •  Lee Child interviewed Billingham–they both grew up in Birmingham, England.
  • Rambo’s creator David Morrell interviewed DeMille—they
    both have long and stellar careers.
  • Gayle Lynds introduced her newest thriller THE ASSASSINS
  • Anne Perry flew over from the UK to talk about her historical mysteries.
  • Steve Berry moderated several panels.

Other favorites were Catherine Coulter, Clive Cussler, Jeffery Deaver, Joseph Finder, Heather
Graham, Laurie R. King,  CJ Lyons, Daniel Palmer, Chris Pavone, Hank
Phillippi Ryan, MJ Rose, Karin Slaughter, and RL Stine. Each has at least one huge bestseller, and most have many more.
This conference is only ten years old. The genesis came from successful authors
who wanted to help budding writers learn the ropes and get ahead. Co-founders David
Morrell and Gayle Lynds both attended this year as usual and remain always
supportive to other writers. The learning opportunities at ThrillerFest are
endless. If you are an aspiring or newly published crime writer and have not
yet attended this magnificent event, I encourage you to save up so that you too
can attend in 2016. I hope to see you there!

*******

Kay Kendall is a long-time fan of historical novels and writes atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit and turbulence of the sixties. She is a reformed PR executive who lives in Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to her bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too. RAINY DAY WOMEN published on July 7–the second in her Austin Starr Mystery series. The audio-book will be out soon. 

http://www.amazon.com/Rainy-Day-Women-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00W2X5SCS
*******

Conferences for Writers and for Readers—Part I

/in /by
By Kay Kendall


Today I’m sitting in for Stiletto Gang colleague and friend, Marjorie Brody. A
sudden death in her family has left her with an unbearable list of things to
do. Pinch-hitting for Marjorie gives me the chance to make back-to-back posts
exploring the burgeoning phenomenon of conferences designed both for readers
and for writers. 
 

Have suitcase…Will Travel!

Back in the days before I
was a published author, when I contemplated a writing career, I had no idea
that there would be so many opportunities to hobnob with other writers—and with
readers too. I had always thought that the life of a writer was a solitary one.
Then I discovered the wealth of conferences that blanket this continent. The
list of seminars for aspiring writers is long, and almost as long is the list
of conferences for both readers and authors. I swear you could spend your life
going from meeting to meeting. That is, if you had the money to do so.
I have ended up loving
the networking and marketing and meeting readers and other writers so much that
it’s easy to forget about the writing at the core of it all…which remains
sitting alone in that room and facing an empty screen and throwing type up on
it. For me, that is torture. Once I get past the first draft, then the rest is
glorious.
Starting in 2004, I began
attending one regional writing conference per year. Then, beginning in 2011, I
started attending Bouchercon. It must be the world’s largest con aimed at fans
of mystery authors. Then in 2013, the year my first book was published, I
attended three conferences in one calendar year, and that has remained my
standard to this very day. If my budget and my writing calendar allowed,
however, I would do even more. The most marvelous part of these gatherings is
meeting many people who were Facebook friends and now have turned into real
ones, not just virtual.
Three days ago I returned
home from the annual ThrillerFest in New York City, sponsored by International
Thriller Writers. ITW celebrates its tenth anniversary this year so the
conference was even more star-studded than usual. I participated in an authors’
round table, renewed old acquaintances, made new ones, sold some books, and
networked like crazy. In tomorrow’s post I will talk in detail about some of
the famous writers who spoke at ThrillerFest.
The month of October will
begin with Bouchercon in Raleigh, North Carolina, and end with Killer Nashville
in Tennessee. Half the size of ThrillerFest and Bouchercon, Killer Nashville is
an exceptionally supportive and friendly gathering. My more introverted author
pals are drawn to smaller conferences like this one. At each event I’ve
attended, one of these introverts confides to me how difficult it is to endure
so many people at once.
But now I am back in my
author’s lair, facing that empty PC screen. The nasty thing keeps whispering to
me that I must start writing my third mystery featuring my amateur sleuth,
Austin Starr. Tentatively titled Tombstone
Blues, this will be Austin’s most dangerous adventure yet when she and her
husband David tangle with Russian spies in Cold War-era Vienna. It opens only a
month after the conclusion of Rainy Day
Women, and David is still mad at her. Because she . . . but wait! I’m about
to give away too much. I must stop. I want this to be a spoiler-free zone!
*******
Kay
Kendall is a long-time fan of historical novels and writes
atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit and turbulence of the
sixties. She is a reformed PR executive who lives in Texas with her husband,
three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to her bunnies, she
loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too. RAINY DAY
WOMEN published on July 7–the second in her Austin Starr Mystery series. The
audio-book will be out soon. 

http://www.amazon.com/Rainy-Day-Women-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00W2X5SCS

*******

Motherhood and Murder

/in /by
By Kay Kendall
Author Kay Kendall and bunny Dusty

When
I conceived of my mystery series featuring Austin Starr, amateur sleuth, I knew
she would become a mother by book two. My heroine would have the temperament of
Nancy Drew, if only she had grown up, gotten married, and—wait for it—had a
baby. And so it came to pass. That book launches next week on July 7. In Rainy Day Women, Wyatt Starr makes his
first fictional appearance. He is three months old.
Sad
to say, his gestation and birth were not easy. Even though I tried to make him
an integral part of the story, when I took new pages to writing group on Wednesday
nights, one member invariably asked, “Where’s Wyatt?” Sometimes the woman said,
“Doesn’t Wyatt need a clean diaper now?” I admitted it was difficult caring for
a child—even a fictional one—while solving the murders of  women’s liberation activists. Eventually after
many sessions like this, I internalized the voice of that group member. She
seemed to sit beside me as I typed on my PC. “What’s Wyatt doing now?” she
whispered in my ear.
A
man in our group once pounded his fist and asked, “Can’t you get rid of Wyatt?
Austin Starr doesn’t need to be a mother.” I replied, “Yes, she does. Her
pregnancy is announced at the end of book one, and she will not miscarry.” All
group members agreed we had come to comprehend more fully why so few children are found running through
murder mysteries.  
Determined
to retain baby Wyatt, I needed to ensure I didn’t make any missteps about him on the page. After all, my own child was now in his forties. What did I recall
about the day-to-day care of an infant? Visits with my two darling
grandchildren weren’t enough to refresh my mind sufficiently.
Houston writers Cathy (l.) and Emily
That’s
where two budding novelists came into the picture.  I met Cathy and Emily at a
previous writing group I attended. Cathy was married and had children who were
four and seven years old, and Emily’s children were even younger. As we all
became good friends, I saw how much they had to juggle in their lives. Viewing
their unending childcare duties refreshed my memories of how my own life had
once been that hectic too, when my son was small. Both women were kind enough
to read through my manuscript before I sent it to my editor and found a few details
to tweak that related to Austin Starr’s baby. For their diligence, Cathy and
Emily earned hearty thanks in the acknowledgement section of my book.
But
one last read-through was required. My college friend Regina had earned

Dr. Regina Miller

her
Ph.D. in child psychology, and she agreed to read my manuscript looking for
missteps too. In fact, she did triple duty. Her command of the Russian language
is better than mine so she checked my occasional uses of Russian. Similarly,
being of Jewish faith, she reviewed my references to several characters who
were Holocaust survivors. Regina is also gratefully thanked in my
acknowledgements section.

I
encourage you to read Rainy Day Women
and decide for yourself if Wyatt’s welfare is adequately tended to. Just keep this in
mind. The mystery takes place in August 1969—so long ago that no laws existed
to require the use of car seats for children. Austin Starr was following the
custom of the day—and would not have been considered negligent—when she cuddles
her son while she is a passenger in a car. Children have come a long way, baby!
*******
Kay Kendall is a long-time fan of historical novels and writes atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit and turbulence of the sixties. She is also an award-winning international PR executive who lives in Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to her bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too. RAINY DAY WOMEN publishes on July 7–the second in her Austin Starr Mystery series. The E-book and paperback are available for pre-order now–for purchase on July 7th. The audio-book will be soon. 

Multi-tasking at Its Finest

/in /by

By Kay Kendall 

By the time you
are reading this posting, I will be busily multi-tasking in Vienna, Austria. This
two-week trip with my husband combines a boatload of pleasures and missions. First, it
marks our fortieth wedding anniversary and also the completion of Bruce’s
arduous treatments for neck cancer only four months ago. So what if our pace
will be slower than on previous journeys? We will be there and thankful. Many
years ago we spent three days in Vienna and always vowed to return. This is our
time.

We will return
to places we enjoyed before and see others we missed—like the museum located in
Sigmund Freud’s old apartment and office, where psychoanalysis was born. There
is a famous coffeehouse I want to return to, Café Sperl, and of course we will
return—perhaps even daily—to the Sacher

SACHER TORTE!

Hotel to partake of its stupendous
culinary creation, the Sacher torte. Then there will be the museums and palaces
of the old Hapsburg Empire and the Mozart concerts in old churches.

So much for
frivolity! In addition, I will be researching some of these locations and many
more for inspiration for my third mystery in the Austin Starr series. I know, I
know. The second one, RAINY DAY WOMEN, isn’t even published officially until
July 7, but I am keen to begin my next writing project.
In this new book
my amateur sleuth Austin Starr will get ensnared in an East-West spy plot when
she accompanies her husband David to an academic conference in Vienna. As I’ve often
stated, I’m a student of the Cold War years—a fan, sort of—and Vienna was the
epicenter for spying during many of those years.

If you’ve seen
the beloved classic film THE THIN MAN, then you have some idea of what I’m
talking about. After World War II, the victorious Allied powers divided control
of Austria and its capital city, Vienna. This stage lasted from 1945 to 1955 as
the Western powers (the U.S., Great Britain, and France) confronted their
previous ally, the Soviet Union. As a consequence, both sides—West as well as
East—had their spies entrenched and embattled in Vienna for a decade. 

The
problems caused by divided control of Berlin culminated in the building of the
Berlin Wall in 1961 and then ultimately its tearing down in 1989. The historic
period of a divided Vienna is less well known, and Austria’s geographic
location—providing a nexus between East and West—ensured that tensions would
remain high even after Austria gained self-government in 1955. Fourteen years
after that, I will plunk my poor unsuspecting amateur sleuth into a hornet’s
nest of spies.
 All that political
turmoil lends itself to drama, intrigue, and murder. So you bet I can hardly
wait to dig into Vienna. While Austin Starr will come along for the ride—at least
in my brain—my three house rabbits have to stay home with the dog. But don’t
worry about them too much. The live-in pet sitter we hire spoils them rotten
while we are away.
~~~~~~~



Kay Kendall is a long-time fan of
historical mysteries and now writes atmospheric mysteries that  capture the
spirit and turbulence of the sixties. She is also an award-winning
international PR executive who lives in Texas with her husband, three house
rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to the bunnies, she loves them
anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too. RAINY DAY
WOMEN publishes on July 7 and is the second in her Austin Starr mystery series.
The E-book version is available for pre-order now and the trade paperback will
be soon. 

Treat Yourself for Mother’s Day!

/in /by

By Kay Kendall

In celebration of my second mystery coming out in July, my publisher is offering through Mother’s Day my first mystery at 99 cents on Amazon. Imagine–the Kindle version of Desolation Row, for less than a dollar. 

I have officially hit the fun stage for the new book, It is edited
within an inch of its “life,” and proof read backwards and forwards. Eight authors read the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) and wrote fantastic blurbs for Rainy
Day Women. I’m excited and eager for its birth.

All of a sudden, I’m in a very different life. I had become
accustomed to sitting holed up in my (messy) writer’s lair, composing in
solitude. Those early drafts are sheer terror. That blank computer screen, waits impatiently to be filled with thousands of words. Sometimes when I’ve written a
few paragraphs that are really tough to pull out of my teeming brain, I
stagger to the door out of my cell—er, I mean, writer’s lair—and clutch the
frame, stopping to catch my breath. This doesn’t happen often, but it does
occur. I am astonished at how difficult the early drafts are, and I don’t enjoy them. This alone stage lasts a very long time, like forever!

Obviously, this is a stage I must burst through in order
to get to the good stuff. I love editing and can do it for hours on end. I love
playing with words, choosing just the right ones. I adore working with my
editor, and we have conversations back and forth about points I might never
have pondered without her questions. This is stage two—with a partner for
company, my editor. It lasts only a few months.
Then there is the stage I’ve just entered now—the third
and highly public part. I get to introduce my new baby to the world. Talking
about what I put into my mystery is a treat. After all, I wouldn’t have written what I did if I weren’t eager to share my thoughts with the world. When someone
wants to talk about my writing, my goodness, there is nothing better. Ever
since I took three years of debate in high school, I have loved public
speaking.

Since I already have one book published, I know better
what lies ahead for this second one. I am surprised that I am as excited with the
new book, however, as I was with the first. With luck, this excitement will
never go away for any future books. I never want to grow jaded with the
process.

Stage three lasts six to nine months, while the book is
new. I go to mystery conferences and meet readers, hold events at bookstores,
and generally have a whale of a great time. I came late in the day to my career
as a writer, but thank heavens I got here. Better late than never!
Speaking of better late than never, if you’ve never read Desolation Row, and take advantage of the Amazon Kindle special pricing, then you will be ready when the
sequel, Rainy Day Women, launches on July 7.
In the second book, intrepid amateur sleuth Austin Starr
searches for a killer of female activists in 1969, a year after Desolation Row took place. A murderer
stalks the members of women’s consciousness raising groups at the University of
Washington and the University of British Columbia.
During the week of the Manson murders and
Woodstock, new mother Austin bundles up her infant son Wyatt—just three months
old—and flies with him across the continent to help her dear friend Larissa during
her personal crisis. The Mounties have fingered her as their chief suspect in
at least one of the murders. More trouble
ensues. 
=======================
                                                                                                                                  

 Kay Kendall is a long-time fan of historical mysteries and now writes atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit and turbulence of the
sixties. She is also an award-winning international PR executive who lives in
Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly
allergic to the bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a
Bob Dylan buff too. 

The Sixties as Background for Murder

/in /by
By Kay Kendall
T. Jefferson Parker, the bestselling author of 20 crime
novels, once confided to me that his two mysteries that touched on the Vietnam
War had “my readers staying away in droves.” He explained, “Needless to say, I
never mentioned the war again.” Our paths intersected two years ago at a
thriller writers’ conference, shortly after the publication of my debut
mystery,Desolation Row. He believed
that his readers avoided the subject of a war that Americans know we didn’t
win. Were the sacrifices worth it? Let’s just not think about it.

T. Jefferson Parker and me

I knew the subject matter wasn’t popular, but it was a
book I had to write. I had to get that one out of my system so I could work on
the next subject I felt “called” to discuss, the women’s liberation movement of
the late sixties and early seventies. So, the bottom line for me is that even
if T. Jefferson Parker had warned me ahead of time to stay clear of the war
that many have compared to a quagmire, I would not have paid his advice any
heed. The story of Desolation Row had to come to light. I had to write that book
so that the others that were waiting in line behind it, more or less patiently,
could have their turn too.
The British statesman and philosopher Edmond Burke wrote,
“Those who do not know history are destined to repeat it.” As well, how can you
hope to understand how we got where we are now when you don’t understand where
we came from? Events that happened in the sixties and early seventies still
echo down the decades today. Just as some describe America’s battles in the
Middle East as “the Vietnam War in the sand,” the upheavals of women’s
liberation have not ended. If anything, the subject of women’s place in society
is even timelier than ever.

Rainy Day Women launches on July 7, and I can hardly wait. In book two of her saga, this time intrepid
amateur sleuth Austin Starr searches for a killer of female activists in 1969,
a year after the first mystery took place. A murderer stalks the members of women’s
consciousness raising groups at the University of Washington and the University
of British Columbia. During the week of the Manson murders and
Woodstock, new mother Austin bundles up her infant son Wyatt—just three months
old—and flies with him across the continent to help her dear friend Larissa
during her personal crisis. The Mounties have fingered her as their chief suspect
in at least one of the murders. More trouble ensues.  
I have waited decades to write this book. The women’s
movement played an enormous role in my life, and it’s not an exaggeration to
say that it underlines everything I do to this very day. Getting the fervor and
excitement of the time period right is important. Showing the raw sexism that
was exhibited by many men without any hesitation is also vital. Clearly I believe
in serving up a little history with my murder and mayhem. Just think–no VCRs, let alone DVRs, no cell phones or personal computers, no Kardashians! A long ago time indeed. 
I wonder if any of the other writers in the Stiletto Gang
(those of the right age, that is) participated in women’s liberation groups. Did
any of you readers? If so, I hope you will leave comments here about your experiences.
 I’d love to know how they compare with
mine.
 *******   
Kay Kendall set her debut novel, DESOLATION ROW–AN AUSTIN STARR MYSTERY in 1968. The sequel RAINY DAY WOMEN (June 2015) shows her amateur sleuth Austin Starr proving her best friend didn’t murder women’s liberation activists in Seattle and Vancouver. A fan of historical mysteries, Kay does for the 1960s what novelist Jacqueline Winspear accomplishes for England in the 1930s–present atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit of the age. Kay is also an award-winning international PR executive who lives in Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to the bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too.

Maybe It’s Normal, but I Don’t Have to Like It

/in /by
By Kay Kendall

This month I’m putting
final touches on my second mystery, rushing to meet a self-imposed deadline and
trying to make up for time lost with my spouse’s recent illness. The waiting
period before my editor’s comments arrived was agonizing. That was when I drummed my fingers on the table instead
of pounding keys on my PC.

What will my editor say?
Is my second book junk compared to my first one? Is it a hopeless mess? Have I
lost my touch—that is, any talent that I had to begin with? The days passed. The clock
ticked. I chewed my cuticles. I waited. 


All authors who address
the agonies of the writing and publishing process

mention that there are always
down periods when they doubt themselves. Even those who routinely issue
bestselling novels confess to having these feelings.


Okay, so misery loves
company. I admit that their angst makes mine lighter by seeming normal. Usually
that kind of reasoning works for me.

However! This week while
I waited for my editor’s next round of revisions, I decided this was no fun at
all. I didn’t care if it was normal. I didn’t care if others felt the same way.
I didn’t feel good about anything, and my nerves were shredded.

Yesterday when the long-awaited
documents hit my inbox, I opened them immediately, read through the general
comments, and scanned the three-hundred-page manuscript that will become RAINY
DAY WOMEN, the further exploits of my intrepid amateur sleuth Austin Starr.

After thirty minutes of
reading, I realized I had slid into a comfortable groove. I’d been here before
with mystery number one, DESOLATION ROW. I recalled enjoying this part of the
process—the to and fro with my editor. She’s a good fit with me. We happily spend time choosing the right synonym or arguing about the proper way to spell
whiskey. Or whisky, depending what country it comes from. Yes, I had worked through this once with the first book. You bet I could do it again. 

Since I have persevered,
not given up, not thrown in the towel, I have moved on to this delicious stage
of preparing my manuscript for publication. If it weren’t for the too-tight
deadline, I would be having a blast. I cannot burn the midnight oil as I once
did—never mind at 30. How about back when I could really tear up the track—when
I was 50? <Note to Editor Beth: Yes, I’ve indulged my flaw–a fondness for cliches–but I usually mean them tongue-in-cheek. I’ll enjoy them here all the better to rip them from the ms.>

And so it goes, as my
manuscript, my editor, my publisher Stairway Press, and I tramp ever onward to that hallowed
publication date. Please mark your calendars, my friends. RAINY  DAY WOMEN sees the light of day—despite its
title—on Tuesday, July 7.
                                                        *******

Kay Kendall set her
debut novel, DESOLATION ROW–AN AUSTIN STARR MYSTERY in 1968. The sequel RAINY
DAY WOMEN shows her amateur sleuth Austin Starr
proving her best friend didn’t murder women’s
liberation activists in Seattle and Vancouver. A fan of historical
mysteries, Kay does for the 1960s what novelist Jacqueline Winspear
accomplishes for England in the 1930s–present atmospheric mysteries that
capture the spirit of the age. She is also an award-winning international PR
executive who lives in Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel
Wills. Terribly allergic to the bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles
show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too. 



CHANGES—BIG AND SMALL

/in /by

By Kay Kendall

A few times during my
many years, I’ve reached a level of calm stability. My home life and work are
nicely balanced. My near and dear ones are healthy and reasonably happy. All
seems well.
When I realize I’m in
this condition, then I think, ah, this is
great. Once this stability becomes stasis, however, I get a little bored. And
then things* change, and the hits
just keep on a’comin and they don’t let up. At this point, I long to
be bored again.
Last August I‘d reached the
point of stasis. However, by then I’d learned enough to fear what lay ahead. And,
boy, was I right.
>My elderly mother-in-law declined,
and my husband spent a month in her faraway city tending to her. She passed on. 
>He immediately was diagnosed with a bad illness and went into gruesome
treatment.
>My daughter-in-law had a
strange illness that no doctor could fathom.
>A dear friend was
diagnosed with terminal cancer. She proceeded to have two strokes. I visited
her today in the nursing home.
>My writing had to give way for three months.
>My hairdresser of 22 years retired. 
In short, the roof fell in.                                              
And then the house next
door was torn down. See photo.
Now, here’s a funny
thing. That house was the worst on our block and had been deteriorating visibly
for twenty years. We waited and waited for someone to buy it, to tear it down
(this being Houston, after all, and everything gets torn down), and to rebuild.
I dreamed of when we’d live beside a McMansion, and our
home’s value would soar.
When all that finally,
finally began to happen, did I rejoice? No, I did not. Instead, I worried. The
jackhammers tearing up the cement would hurt our foundation. Our house would
develop cracks. The new neighbors would be dreadful. Things, in short, would
all go to hell. Or so I worried.
I have discerned a
pattern in myself regarding change. After I look forward to—even long for—change,
then when it finally arrives, I am displeased. Well, perhaps I do exaggerate.
I’m upset a little, and then I do adjust. But not until I have gone through a
period of great gnashing of teeth and ranting and raving.
Thank heavens that upset stage
has shortened over the years. These days I tend to get on with doing what I
must until, one day, I look up and see that everything is all right with my world
again. I used to fear I’d get stuck on a cycle I abhorred. Now I know that’s
not true. Things do change, whether you really want them to or not. They
change.
My husband’s illness has
taught me to stay in the half-full position. I eschew the half-empty one. That
way happiness does not lie. His condition is dangerous…it could be so much
worse. The doctors are fabulous in my large city. He will get well. So the
treatment is tough. He will get well. He is lucky. I am lucky.
I now apply this
half-full approach to everything I can think of that torments me. I haven’t become a Pollyanna. I don’t think everything
works out for the best. Instead, I’ve learned good things can grow out of
bad. If you only let them.
While all this may not make
sense to you, it does to me, and it took me a while to arrive at this
philosophical state. I celebrated a major birthday this week, by the
way. As my friend (since kindergarten) likes to say, we are still on the right side of the grass.

Once I thought her saying
was gruesome. I don’t anymore. It’s accurate. I know I’m lucky to be achieving
this large number of years. Some people never do. I’m one of the lucky ones.
Tell yourself that, too, no matter what. It can always get worse. Enjoy what
you have….By the way, I gave myself a new nickname. You may call me Zen. Or at least…Zen-esque! 
____________________
* For brevity’s sake, I
use the inexact term things to cover
a multitude of events, conditions, situations, settings, etc. etc 
*******   
Kay Kendall set her
debut novel, DESOLATION ROW–AN AUSTIN STARR MYSTERY in 1968. The sequel RAINY
DAY WOMEN (June 2015) shows her amateur sleuth Austin Starr proving
her best friend didn’t murder women’s liberation activists in
Seattle and Vancouver. A fan of historical mysteries, Kay does for the 1960s what
novelist Jacqueline Winspear accomplishes for England in the 1930s–present
atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit of the age. She is also an
award-winning international PR executive who lives in Texas with her husband,
three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to the bunnies, she
loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too. 

My First Three Authors—or RIP P.D. James

/in /by
By Kay Kendall
     When I was the age of 20 through 45, I only had occasion to see
live, in person, three authors of note. The first was Truman Capote, soon after
In Cold Blood became a bestseller. He stepped out on the basketball court of
Allen Field House at the University of Kansas, a diminutive figure in a place
usually dominated by giants. 
     He smiled faintly at a crowd of a thousand people
and began to read immediately from his non-fiction account of the murder of the
Klutter family on a farm in western Kansas. He hypnotized the audience with his
performance, despite his voice being so high-pitched that it almost squeaked.
In Cold Blood went on to become today’s second highest selling true crime book
of all time—behind only Helter Skelter about the Manson murders.
P.D. James, 1920-2014
          One of my majors in
college was English literature so it was natural for me to be in awe of famous
authors whose work I admired. While I never got closer to Mr. Capote than the length
of three cars, I sat at the feet, literally, of Margaret Atwood when she read
her poetry to an adoring throng of women at the University of British Columbia
some four years later. Strangely, this author’s gig also occurred in a
gymnasium—although much smaller in size of room and audience than Capote had
had. When Atwood finished reading one poem that really captured my heart, I
embarrassed myself by gasping aloud and clapping ahead of the other audience
members.
         Twenty years after
the Atwood encounter, I saw a notice in the Houston Chronicle stating that P.D.
James would appear at a Border’s bookstore on a coming Sunday. Excitement
flooded through me at this news. I’d read and enjoyed all her mysteries and
decided to attend this book signing. I’d never been to one before and figured
she would be an excellent choice to start with.
         That hallowed day
dawned wet and gloomy. Undeterred by the rain, I drove half way across Houston
(no small undertaking) to meet P.D. James and to have her sign her latest
mystery, Original Sin. The ninth book in her series starring Commander Adam
Dalgleish featured murder afoot in a publishing company in London.
         I arrived early at
the bookstore but rather bedraggled from tramping across the parking lot in
torrents of rain. Houston was experiencing what I’d learned to call its version
of a monsoon. Once inside the store, I was told by staffers that Ms. James’s
plane was delayed by the weather, but she was expected to appear shortly. We
were encouraged to wait. A group of thirty did so.
         After an hour had
passed, the throng had dwindled by half. The restless remnant was told the
author would come, no matter what, but it might be a long while. I turned to a
women beside me and said, in honor of the author’s British heritage, “In for a
penny, in for a pound.”
         After a total of
three hours, P.D. James finally arrived. By that time only five dauntless
readers remained. I was second in line. She signed my book and talked
pleasantly with me for several minutes. I was so thrilled I thought I might
levitate.
         Looking back two
decades later, I no longer recall what we talked about. I do remember how kind and
gracious she was. Meeting P.D. James remains a high point in my life.
         When I read of her
passing last week at the age of 94, of course I recalled my shining moments
talking with her. Knopf Vintage, her longtime publisher, calls P.D. James “the
everywhere adored queen of crime fiction,” and she certainly was that for me. 
          I
think it is important to meet one’s heroes, to learn that they are flesh and
blood like you, in order to be inspired to follow in their foot steps, in
whatever small way possible. Had the august author been too tired and cranky
after her travel delay to appear or to be gracious when she spoke with me, who
knows if I would have gone on to write my own murder mysteries?
My generation of boomers coined the term groupie.  I realize now that term applies to me. I am a
groupie of certain authors. No, not in the regular sense since I don’t want to
sleep with my favorite authors. I simply want to BE them.
Have you had similar memorable encounters with authors
who resonated with you? I hope you have, and if so, I’d love to hear your
tales. Please share.
*******
                                                                                                                                               

 Kay Kendall set her
debut novel, DESOLATION ROW–AN AUSTIN STARR MYSTERY in 1968. The sequel
is Rainy Day Women, will be out in 2015. Her amateur sleuth Austin
Starr must prove her best friend didn’t murder women’s
liberation activists in Seattle and Vancouver. A fan of historical
mysteries, Kay wants to do for the 1960s what novelist Jacqueline Winspear
accomplishes for England in the 930s–write atmospheric mysteries that capture
the spirit of the age. Kay is also an award-winning international PR executive
who lives in Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills.
Terribly allergic to the bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show
she’s a Bob Dylan buff too. 

 *******

More from BAKE, LOVE, WRITE–advice on love and writing!

/in /by

By Kay Kendall


The last time I posted here on The Stiletto Gang, I talked about the new cookbook of desserts called BAKE, LOVE, WRITE. I shared the recipe I contributed, called Aunt Martha’s Oatmeal Cake. Now I will also share my contributions for the love & writing parts! 
What’s your recipe for a lasting, loving relationship?

 Four ingredients make for a lasting,
loving relationship. The four C’s are: 
Caring           
Commitment 
Communication  
Conflict resolution.
If your relationship has those elements,
then chances are yours will go the distance. If things feel rocky, then analyze
against those four C’s. Get yourself to a trained therapist if you are having
trouble with conflict resolution, which of course rests on being able to
communicate well. 
Many couples have the first two—caring and commitment—but
founder on the next two. Luckily, with help and persistence, communication and
conflict resolution can be learned. And just because you and your partner talk
all the time does not mean that you are actually communicating. That’s a tricky one.
 What’s the best writing advice you ever received?
Be persistent and never give up. Most authors I know
make some false starts before they publish their first novels. It may take a
decade to accomplish your goal, but if you burn to write, then do keep at it.
The manuscript for my first novel I cannibalized for my second, so all that
work was not wasted. And my second manuscript became a published book last
year. One male mystery author says that writing
is like an informal game of golf—you get all the mulligans you want. While
you are practicing, take time to learn the craft. The internet provides a
wealth of information.
Take writing classes. Attend book signings. Find a
mentor. Participate in a writing group, as I have for many years, but finding
the right fit for yourself is key. Constructive criticism should be the rule,
and if the group or even one member delights in tearing people down, then run
for the hills. Writers’ psyches are fragile, and you want to be around
supportive folks. Also, attend writing conferences. You can learn from them,
but they’re also networking opportunities. All writers should
network—publishing is a relentless business.

A dessert cookbook with contributions by 105 authors…Bake, Love, Write is for sale in the major e-book formats at 99 cents and also on Amazon in paperback. 

*******

 Kay Kendall set her debut novel, Desolation Row—An Austin Starr Mystery, in 1968 in an anti-war group. The sequel is Rainy Day Women (summer 2015), and this time her amateur sleuth Austin Starr must convince police her best friend didn’t murder women’s liberation activists in Seattle and Vancouver. A fan of historical mysteries, Kay wants to do for the 1960s what novelist Jacqueline Winspear accomplishes for England in the perilous 1930s–write atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit of the age. Kay is also an award-winning international public relations executive who lives in Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to the bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too.  


*******