I have a great wife.
Exhibit One: She’s allowing me to take a two-week road trip out West with my “little friends” as she calls them.
Exhibit Two: She accompanies me to almost all of my writing events.
Last week I was invited to speak at the library in Fairview Park, a very nice suburb on Cleveland’s west side. They are doing a “Crime Wave at the Library” series this summer, featuring local mystery writers as well as the authors of non-fiction crime books. And of course Carol came along with me.
For more than an hour she had to sit through me saying the same stuff she’d heard me say a million times. My unremarkable observations. My unintelligible answers to very good questions. My stupid jokes.
One of the things I’m sure she enjoys is listening to me “blame” her for the Morgue Mama books. I mean “credit” of course, but “blame” gets the chuckle. Then I tell everybody that it was her suggestion that I write a mystery that led to the creation of Maddy Sprowls and the Morgue Mama series. Which is true.
One thing she does not do at these events, thank goodness, is sit there with that sparkly-eyed politician’s wife look. That Stepford Wives stare perfected by Nancy Reagan. When I peek over at Carol the stare I see is more “Why did I marry this goofball?’’
But I know she loves me. And if you’re going to do this writer thing, you’d better have a husband or wife who loves you. And respects what you do. And is willing to spend endless hours perched on hard metal folding chairs.
I am indeed a lucky man.
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Folding chairs etc. And Linda even took the jacket photo for the Sept. book, Stuff To Die For. So I charged the publisher $10,000 for the photo. I figures she’s worth it.
( still waiting for the check.)
by Don
on July 23rd, 2007 at 7:10 am
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CR, I’m speaking at the Fairview Park Library tonight as part of the mystery series. Want to send Carol over so I know there will be someone in the audience?
by Casey
on July 23rd, 2007 at 7:43 am
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Amen to all you said about a supporting spouse and a loving partiner and heck (just say it) soul mate :-))
My DH (Jim the Gem :-)) passed away June 29, we would have been married sixty years Dec. 3. I had sense enough to appreciate him, it was sudden (an aneurism on the abdominal aorta) and we were enjoying life and each other and making plans right up till death parted us. My two grown children are wonderful comforts and carrying on as Jim expects us to. (save any tears for those who haven’t lived :-)) abd write on.
Best always to you and Judy,
Jackie
he exdn wwondeful chiute
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Casey,
Don’t worry about the turnout at Fairview tonight.
I had about 25 and afterwards sold eight books.
Very nice people.
One cautionary note: the lecturn is on wheels so if you lean on it too hard you’ll go zooming across the room.
by C.R.
on July 23rd, 2007 at 7:59 am
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Ah, zooming across the room might add some zip (pun intended) to my talk.
And 8 books, eh? This sounds like a challenge! Of course I will completely forget to mention the challenge again should I sell less than 8.
by Casey
on July 23rd, 2007 at 8:04 am
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Jackie, what a touching, wonderful tribute! I’m sorry about Jim the Gem, but so glad you have such wonderful memories.
by Casey
on July 23rd, 2007 at 8:04 am
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C.R., what a nice blog. I hope it makes up for whatever you did to make her mad so you had to write it.
by Judy
on July 24th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
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Only a woman who forces her own husband to fake sincerity would assume that I wrote this because I had to!
by C.R.
on July 25th, 2007 at 7:42 am
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Oh, you caught me. Darn.
by Judy
on July 25th, 2007 at 10:11 am
