JABBER-WALKING

by Steven Steinbock

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought –
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

Friends and faithful readers, it’s been a long – but not inglorious – two weeks. Between April 19 and May 1, I was home for just over a day. Monday mid-morning, after a week in Seattle looking at the College of Engineering at University of Washington, my son and I returned to Maine. I barely had time to let the jetlag sink in when I repacked my bags and went galumphing back to the airport at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Then it was four nights and five days in New York and Bethesda, MD for various mystery-related meetings, events, and gatherings. As I write this, I’ve been home for almost three days, and have been resting in the shade of my Tumtum tree long enough that most of the drugs have worn off and I can see (and type) fairly straight again.

Those four days and five nights were filled with dazzling fun, most of it in the company of Criminal Brief host and gatekeeper James Lincoln Warren. At risk of repeating myself (last week I mentioned my train ride with Commander Warren from Penn Station to Union Station) and putting you all to sleep, I thought I’d share a few of the highlights – in two parts – from my trip. Part one: NYC.

Wednesday, April 27. Noon

El Quixote restaurant in Chelsea is an appropriate setting for me to gather my knights (the executive board of International Association of Crime Writers, North American chapter) at a round table. The table was round, but there were no windmills to chase, but we did slay a few dragons and complete all the business on our agenda.

Wednesday afternoon, April 27.

Manhattan is a great place for walking. I walked from the restaurant (on 23rd and Seventh) to the Hyatt (on 42nd and Park), and then up to Lighthouse International (on E 59th near Central Park) where the MWA Edgar Symposium was taking place. At 5:30 a reception convened at which Mary Higgins Clark announced the award given in her name. I spent some time with my Sherlockian pal Bill Vande Water, and then, as is unavoidable at such events, I met up with Charles Todd .

Long before the party wrapped up, I wrapped myself up. Mr. Vande Water returned to Long Island while I and Mr. Todd, and his sidekick Linda Lou Long (heretofore referenced as “L-cubed”), made our way to The Algonquin Hotel where we met up with James Lincoln Warren, Melodie Johnson Howe, and Stephen Ross. If you read last week’s column, you know about that already.

Thursday, April 28.

I spent the morning writing my column for the following day. Then met up with James Lincoln Warren and Stephen Ross at a nearby delicatessen where we ordered sandwiches that were not quite as large as a subway car. It may seem backwards that Commander Warren, a Texas W.A.S.P., was guiding me, a pioneer of the Yiddish persuasion, to a New York deli. But then again, James is more worldly than I, and lives not far from the Pico-Roberts neighborhood of Los Angeles, sometimes called “Torah Town,” while I abide in Maine.

Melodie Johnson Howe and Linda Landrigan at the Edgar Banquet

Later in the afternoon, the lot of us, dressed in our festive garb, gathered at a party hosted by Peter Kantor, publisher for Dell Magazines. It was a modestly attended event, made special by the hospitality of the hosts and the extraordinary guest list. All my favorite authors from the pages of EQMM and AHMM were there: David Dean, Art Taylor, Doug Allyn with his wife Eve, S.J. Rozan, Elizabeth Zelvin, Dave Zeltserman, and many others. I spent some time chatting with Richard Dannay (the son of Fred Dannay AKA half of “Ellery Queen”), and of course with Janet (of EQMM) and Linda (of AHMM). I was happy to see Emily G., the former Assistant Editor at Queen. I was also delighted to meet Jackie S., the new Assistant Editor, as well as Emily H., the Editorial Administrative Assistant who was tending bar at the event. With two “Emilys” it was a little confusing.

I stuck with ginger ale. Always a good plan of action when faced with a long string of events, especially when two “Emilys” are present.

Next it was on to the Edgars, which were really well done. The food was great. The presentations top notch. A smooth passing of the torch from past president Laura Lippman to new president Lisa Scottoline. And no (actually there was one) long, overblown speeches.

After the Edgars I shared a cab with Charles Todd and L-cubed to an afterparty hosted by Otto Penzler. I engaged in a unique game of Ping Pong with Deadly Pleasures reviewer Larry Gandle. I drank ginger ale. A good time was had by all.

The rest of the evening was a blur, ginger ale notwithstanding, and I’m not sure I can say any more without embarrassing JLW or myself. (Stephen Ross was exceptionally well-behaved throughout. I kept waiting for him to break out in a rousing “Waltzing Matilda” or a Maori War Chant, but Stephen is far too restrained).

Friday, April 29.

At 8:15 am I phoned Commander Warren to make sure he was up and ready to catch our train to Washington, DC. It was a good thing I did. There is much to be said for ginger ale.

That marks the end of the first half of my April Adventure. Stay tuned for more.

And be sure to check back with Criminal Brief tomorrow as we celebrate our FOURTH ANNIVERSARY as the world’s leading weblog for short mystery fiction.