South Carolina Book Festival and touring

I am currently on the road touring for Field of Fire. For that reason I had two weeks of blogs preloaded so I could use them while in hotels in California, Texas or somewhere else in Florida. But I had such a great time at the South Carolina Book Festival that I had to write something about it while it is still fresh in my mind. I know we like to post something controversial but there was no downside to this weekend.

The best thing was meeting up with several other crime fiction writers. Bob Morris, who is touring with me on several spots, Jeff Shelby, some lunatic from N.C. named David Terrinore, Michele Martinez and Naked Author’s own Cornelia Read. What a great time. It felt like Bouchercon only less harried. The lovely Paula Benson is with us in the photo below.




The festival itself is put on by the Humanities Council and they did a wonderful job. Paula Millen is an incredible organizer. Debby and Jim Johnson were responsible for the stupid authors and did a great job making sure I didn’t get lost. Paula Benson, the aforementioned Debby and B.J. Wellborn moderated my panels and did it with grace and courage. The great Mary Harris kept us all in line and has one sweet ride.

Our tour of the S.C. Statehouse by the lovely Paula Benson was first rate. She works for Senator McConnell and has pretty good access after hours. She told us facts, like the stars on the outer walls that mark where Sherman’s artillery hit the building. She told us ghost stories and showed us the earthquake system the building is built upon.

The whole town is fun. Jim Sheehan, Jeff Shelby and I made a jogging tour through downtown and around the University of S.C. (They call it USC but I don’t want to confuse Paul Levine) campus. Sheehan wrote the Mayor of Lexington Avenue and he and his sister Kate are first rate.

I may have some more photos to post but I couldn’t let the opportunity to write about them pass. It is now indelibly marked as my favorite event.


I did have a couple of stops with Bob Morris in Florida.


I was surprised at the Vero Beach by a nice woman named Liz Lytle who Cornelia Read sent to say hello to me.



I leave early Saturday morning for California. I’m at Mysteries to Die For Saturday afternoon and the L.A. Mystery bookstore Tuesday at 7:00pm. Then Wednesday I’m at the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale. Thursday I’m at Murder by the Book in Houston. Shelby claims he’s driving over from Dallas to visit. We’ll see.

More to follow.