.JPEG)
Among the great pleasures of this past year was having the chance to catch up with a number of people I'd not seen for quite some time. A particular highlight was a lunch with the dedicatees of Hemlock Bay, Ann, Lea, and Jo, who have been my PAs for a combined total of more than 30 years. There were also some truly poignant moments. This was the year when we lost - among others - David Stuart Davies and Catherine Aird, two stalwart members of the Detection Club, and both good friends for many years, as was Peter Lewis, who published a novel and an anthology of mine and was one of the first crime writers I ever met. We also lost John Pugmire, a locked-room-mystery-loving Brit who lived in the States and with whom I had a memorable train trip from New York to Washington DC the morning after I won an Edgar. David's widow asked me to speak at his funeral, something I've never done before, and that was for me a very emotional occasion. Some other dear friends suffered severe ill-health and I hope fervently for happier news from them next year.
It was lovely to spend time with the Whiteley family in Lunesdale and to attend, with them, an exhibition in honour of E.C.R. Lorac as well as the unveiling of her blue plaque!
Glenn Chandler was one of the splendid speakers at Alibis in the Archive...
...and I did a couple of events with Caroline England in the Isle of Man.
Plenty of events in London, including a memorial evening for Don Harris in Brooks' Club...
...a Jury Game along with fellow crime writers, hosted by my agents, Watson, Little...
All in all, a fantastic year. And made even better by the company of lovely people.
No comments:
Post a Comment