Friesians breed booth at Massachusetts Equine Affaire/Photo by Rhonda Lane
I’m still unpacking and sorting through all the material I picked up on my multi-purpose blog/book/research/networking/fun/neck-patting/hand-shaking/shopping weekend in Massachusetts.
Thursday and Friday were spent at Equine Affaire at “The Big E” in West Springfield. Toward the middle of Friday afternoon, I headed across the state to Dedham for the New England Crime Bake, a conference for writers of and fans of mystery and crime fiction.
And they weren’t as unrelated as they sound. For me, that is.
The mystery novel I’m writing features horses, specifically Tennessee Walking Horses. Of course, publishing pros have told me that horse novels don’t sell that well and to market my book as Something Else.
Um, okay. Can do that, too.
Anyway, some highlights from the EA/CB weekend:
* Meeting the delightful Fran Jurga, author of The Jurga Report for Equisearch and Fran Jurga’s Hoof blogs. Even though we’d missed cell phone connections, we still ran into each other on the crowded trade show floor in one of those OMG-it’s-YOU moments. Even though we’d never met previously. She recognized me from that contest video I made last summer. We had a fun chat before we each had to get going to our next stop.
* On the suggestion of Twitter pal Juliet Harrison, aka on Twitter as @lecheval, I met equine artists Terry Lindsey, Rita Dee and Sara B. Deponte.
* I also reconnected with all-too-modest Robin Bledsoe of Good Horse Books. For lovers of horse books, she’s a great person to meet – plus, she’s fun to talk to.
* Going on “virtual rounds” with Grant Myhre DVM during his presentation. His EA seminar consisted of showing slides of a horse’s condition upon arrival at his equine hospital in New Hampshire, then explaining about the treatment and then showing us the patient’s current condition via live webcam.
One of my main characters in my novel is an equine vet.
* Inspecting some of the many horse trailers and trailer/camper combinations as potential settings for a secondary crime scene in the book.
* Talking about horse books at the bookstore booths. And shopping for horse books at the same booths. (More about those booths in this post featuring the video I shot.) I bought books at both EA and CB venues.
My patient, understanding husband merely watched the bags come into the house. He didn’t even shake his head.
* Asking veterinarians questions about equine health treatments. Two days later, asking a retired state crime lab director questions about DNA degradation on a fictional murder weapon. The answers to those questions solved story problems in the novel-in-progress.
Characters, especially important ones, need motivations and dreams for dimension. And my book’s sleuth needed to stay “in play,” despite the documented CSI Effect.
* Being included in one of Barbara Vey’s Publisher’s Weekly “Beyond Her Book” blog post that included a section about the Sisters in Crime Guppy chapter, SinC’s online chapter for yet-to-be published authors.
Guppy stands for “Great UnPublished.” Get it? 
But members tend to stick around once they get The Call and even hit the best-seller lists. Like Lorna Barrett (who couldn’t attend Crime Bake) and Hank Phillippi Ryan (who not only attended CB but was a panelist and workshop instructor), among others.
* Hearing New York Times best-selling author Sue Grafton’s luncheon address. Sue gave us her charming-and-gentle version of tough love along with helpful tips. She all but said to 300 writers, “Listen, honey, here’s how it is — .” The lady is a titanium magnolia. She stayed for the entire conference, both days, and made a point to meet as many of us as possible.
Here’s Pat Remick’s delightful blog post about having served as Sue’s escort around town and the conference.
* Listening to NYT best-selling author Lisa Gardner admit that she doesn’t have time to write, either, but she makes the time anyway. And how brownies get her through the rough spots.
Somehow, chocolate-frosted rice cakes and green tea don’t have the same ring.
* Realizing during the crime lab supervisor’s PowerPoint presentation about blood spatter that I’d seen way more gruesome stuff from the equine vets.
Shocking Discovery
Among all the talk of murder, mayhem and horse injuries, my most earth-shattering discovery happened at Equine Affaire.
I’d worn a pedometer on Thursday. I had put it on when I left the Dennys where I’d had breakfast and didn’t take it off until I returned to the car in the Equine Affaire parking lot.
The grounds are sprawling and the exhibit halls huge. I had expected some serious distance.
But I was shocked to see that at the end of the day I’d only walked for a mile and a half???
I don’t believe it, either. Cheapo $5 pedometer.
Tags: Barbara Vey, Equine Affaire, Grant Myhre, Lisa Gardner, New England Crime Bake, Sue Grafton
November 20th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I laughed out loud at your revelation of being told that horse novels don’t sell! I heard that until I was exhausted, but didn’t give up.
And I’m here to tell you that the horse-loving reading public is alive and well! Keep at it, girl!
November 20th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Thanks, Toni. I do stubborn well, too.
Thank you so much for the encouragement.