So sorry about Tuesday. I live in Orange County and had a crazy day. So by five 5 p.m. I just didn't have the energy to make the drive. You should check out the great comments about the event on Kathryn Lilley's Crimespace page? Sounds like it went well.

I happen to think I'm a bit of an "expert" when it comes to PowerPoint. I do a lot with it at work and I've done several workshop presentations. If you're looking for someone who can teach the basics to others, I'm pretty comfortable with that. Let me know and I can email you a few pages of one of my presentations.

Here's another great way to promote your books. I just joined Shelfari to connect with other book lovers. Come see the books I love and see if we have any in common. Please join Shelfari and add me as a friend! Just click on the link below.

http://www.shelfari.com/invite/-pzgzLqriJ4IFDvfQIhwqg

Thanks for inviting me, Naomi! And, thank you for the nice comments about my report of Debby Atkinson's appearance at The Poisoned Pen.

Thanks for the invite, Naomi! Here's a newbie questio for you: If I "Click Here To Accept This Friend Request" do I need to do anything else when I'm directed to the person's Crimespace page?

Hi Naomi - thank you for the invitation - nice to meet you.

Hi, Naomi--thanks for being there for me. Now when I figure out how this works, I might be able to actually participate. In the meantime, if you don't hear from me in cyberspace, I am heading to Alaska for Bcon. See you there?

Hi Naomi! Yes, I'm getting very excited about the upcoming launch! Lots to look forward to. Thanks for stopping by!

Naomi...I sure was...one half of the reigistration chair..glad you enjoyed it.

Too bad you are not going to Alaska but it is a good thing to attend the Baltimore con as Ruth Jordan will do a good job. Now that you are an Edgar Award winner I hope you will still speak to me. That must have been a pretty exciting evening.

Thanks Naomi. Good suggestions all.

I'm glad you liked Infernal Affairs. Not only did I think it was A LOT better than The Departed, but it's maybe the only time in history that a U.S. remake (The Departed) of a Hong Kong film was bloodier than the original. And for no good reason.

Other HK gangster films? Hmmmm. My favorite is The Killer - Chow Yun Fat / John Woo. I'm also very fond of Hard Boiled - the first shootout scene in the tea house with the birds (I used to hang out there sometimes) is one of the great scenes of all time. I like Bullet in the Head and A Better Tomorrow 1 and 2 - 3 gets a little stupid but Anita Mui is great in it. Of the more recent ones, there's one called On the Edge that I like pretty well.

I can loan you a bunch of them if you want. Let me know and I'll bring them along next Wednesday.

Female roles do seem to be one of the great failings of most gangster films - from almost anywhere. Although it is true that the psychologist was particularly laughable in The Departed. I'll check out a Kore-eda film and let you know what I think.

Thanks, by the way, for the suggestion to contact Mark Schreiber. It's been done and my publisher is sending him some review copies.

Naomi --

Just finished "Gasa Gasa Girl" and really, really loved it. I'm holding "Snakeskin Shamisen" in reserve. Gotta parcel out the good stuff.

Are you friends with Emily Bronstein? And how does she come to know absolutely everyone in the world?

It's pretty wild that so many people are here and, amazingly, with minimal effort on my part. I'm cooking up some plans for the 1000th member. Possibly a public hanging. Something we can get everyone involved in. :)

Naomi, so nice to hear from you. I hope you enjoy my little lost pup! :D

Hey Naomi. The Edison was incredible. Thanks for the invite. Had a fantastic time. I think you left before the conversation went into the territory of Thai prostitutes. You missed all the fun.

Hah! Yeah, Eric had plenty of wonderful stories to provide.

Naomi,

I'm good-I'm using Firefox now and ning doesn't like it for some reason.

Watched 300 the other night-pretty good. Plan on watching The Host tonight or tomorrow. Otherwise it's been a quiet summer moviewise. I think the last big ones I saw were Letters from Iwo Jima and Last King of Scotland-both great.

Hope you're well!

Hi Naomi - thanks for the question on the book it really is an interesting anthology. I have to say I've got a sneaking like for the opening story - Dust Devils by Julie Waight (housework is dangerous :) ) I was also very surprised by Tara Moss's entry - Pscyho-Magnet - I confess to being very ambivalent about her books but the short story was really good. I'm going to start posting individual comments on the stories on my site (she says wondering where the time goes these days :) )

Hey there-watched Vacancy last night-had a couple of flaws, but not bad overall. Was interesting to see Luke Wilson be someone besides the goofy likeable boyfriend.

I just joined netflix-I get three movies at a time, plus seventeen hours viewing time online. It's probably a very good thing my mail goes to a po box or I might never leave my apartment again.

Naomi,sounds like you have a busy and interesting life. I live in a small, quiet town in southwest Florida. Nothing exciting ever happens here. Not like L.A. I see so much negative media exposure about L.A., it seems like a scary place to live.

Wow! I can't walk anywhere. The nearest grocery store is more than seven miles. And the nearest mall is forty five minutes away. I have to plan a whole day for shopping. There's not much diversity here, as far as ethnic foods and such. But it's a safe place to live. You can jog anytime without fear of being mugged. People ride their bicycle. Kids play without fear of kidnapping or molesting. Crime is low. I'm a small town girl from Georgia. I am very uncomfortable in big cities. I watched Atlanta change from a comfortable-size town to an Internationally-known big city, but it will always be a little southern town to me.

LOL! I live - Stephen's zombies haven't eaten my brain yet ;-)

That's the one! If a mwriter ever suffers from writer's block, they need only stop in for a meal and discreetly listen to the conversations by the LAPD & LA County Sheriff's Dept detectives & brass, and the City Hall insiders who eat there. It's been discovered by the location scouts, unfortunately, but it's still off the tourists' radar! I'm not a fan of tri-tip, but the regulars swear by it...

It's only open for breakfast and lunch by the way.

As a literary curator, I do research (and had put together a literary series in the past for a library & bookstore).

Naomi...

Thanks for welcoming me to Crimespace. I'm still trying to figure out how to use it (not a tekkie by any means). And thanks for the comments on the shirt. Banana Republic label via Out of the Closet thrift store for seven bucks. We missed you at the West Hollywood Book Fair on 9/30 but I imagine you had a fine time at Bouchercon. Take care, John.

Hi Naomi--yes I will, thanks! And I'll be bringing cookies! Look forward to seeing you! Best, Kathryn

Hi Naomi, thanks so much for the invite, sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I'm in the midst of sequel-writing madness and I'm getting wa-a-a-y behind with everything else in my life. Meanwhile, I wish I'd visited the Watts Towers on my visits to LA, instead of hanging around in endless movie junkets!

Ohh lucky you! I would love to see them in action. They're extremely passionate.

I'm almost floored by their dedication. Justine Larbalstier's and Scott Westerfeld's blogs have a huge following and the former updates regularly. They're always very interesting to read too.

Although i must say, i recognize you from your posts at Murderati! I know middle graders arent likely to read such a blog (,,,!) but it says something about getting a name out there. Whenever i'm at the bookstore or library i often go blank and it's usually the writers with blogs i read whose names come first to mind.

Actually, the main reason why i joined Crimespace was to find new books to read. *shifty* I'm busily making a new list. It's such a great community!

Thanks for your comment on my PW review, Naomi. It meant a lot. You made my day. I'm still floating.

Naomi, thanks for the advice. Would that be Shannon Jamieson-Vasquez at Berkley? We pitched to her, but she wasn't interested. However, she put my agent in touch with one of her colleagues, who signed me to a series, so it worked out all right anyway. Still, I would have loved to have worked with Shannon J-V!

Happy New Year, Naomi.
Umedeto etc...
Cara

Hi Naomi. Yes, I'll be at the Edgars banquet and the parties beforehand: one of the great perks of being a New Yorker! And I have a signing for Death Will Get You Sober scheduled in LA at the Mystery Bookstore on June 28. I'd be thrilled if you came. :) Liz

Aimée's tour of Paris? Great idea...
My son's eating through the bag of mikans and my husbands preparing the soup stock for ozoni...we do mochi at midnite.

Hi Naomi. Happy New Year! And thanks for the PWs - and the bonus mags of Crimespree, Mystery Scene, and Poets & Writers. Kathie sent me the cutest pic of her and Denny at their new home in Fresno. I'll have to email it to you.

Hi Naomi - best wishes for 2008! I am suffering from the dreaded lurgy that is sweeping the UK, so I am on my sick bed :o) Feeling better than I was and getting the energy to post again! Are you going to the Hell Of A Woman event at the Noir City Festival?

Oh that's a shame! I would love to have made it myself - it would have been great. I hope we get a chance to see Eddie's movie!

Hi Naomi,

Just picked up a copy of Summer of the Big Bachi over the weekend (been meaning to check out your work for a while). I haven't had a chance to read it yet, 'cause the hubster grabbed it first. He's totally digging it - think you've made a new fan!

Oh yeah, and he thinks SotBB would make a great movie. Now I want him to hurry up and finish it...

Thanks so much, Naomi. I'm thrilled about the Agatha nomination and awed to be in such good company. Liz
PS Did you ever get the info you needed about planning SinC's role in ALA?

Just saying Hi
I see you write for middle school kids. I've been working on reading programs for early grades. Hardest job I've ever had. But very rewarding.

Ho there Naomi! Hope you are having a great week!

Naomi, I love your new picture. You look gorgeous. And thanks for the comment on my site. I also hope that all is going well for you. I shall sign a contract for the next Akitada novel (already written) with Penguin soon. So we're limping along. Congratulations on the Japanese translation. I've been told that is hopeless for me. A German-American writing about 11th century Japan for the Japanese? It's probably considered blasphemous.
I did make a sale in Indonesia, though. :)

Hi Naomi,

thanks for the invite, hope you have loads of success as well as a great night at the pictures, Alison x

Thanks for becoming my friend, Naomi!

Thanks! my "Getting Even" book is great fun... unless you happen to be on the receiving end of the revenge!

Thanks, as always, for coming to The Mystery Bookstore, Naomi! And thanks for turning me on to Crimespace! Linda

Thanks for the comment on my page. More there. I'm always very glad when you post in the "Forum". Had missed you. You have a new novel out, I see. Excellent. Love title and cover. Will keep an eye out.

Naomi, I have a photo of you with the beautiful Snakeskin Shamisen on my photo page.