Roundtable question #3: what was your favorite moment as a mystery writer?

Writing is a job that is never dull, and we've talked about some of the low moments peculiar to being a writer.  As wretched as those lows are, however, they are matched by equally wonderful highs.  The Femmes Fatales remember some of their favorite best times.

Toni:  This is surprisingly hard--I've had an awful lot of great moments.  Winning the Agatha was in the top two or three, but the best has to be the moment when I found out that Zebra (now Kensington) had made an offer on Down Home Murder and two more books.  I literally could not sit still.  I was waiting for my husband Steve to get home, and dying to tell SOMEBODY.  Anybody.  Everybody!  So I'd grab the phone, thinking to call a friend or relative.  Then I'd remind myself I had to wait for Steve, and put it down again.  Off to the window to see if I saw him coming.  No Steve.  Back to the phone.  Pick it up.  Put it down.  Go to the window.  I don't know how many times I did that before finally I spotted him coming down the sidewalk.

I ran out, chased him down, and started yelling, "Three books!  I sold three books!'

He jumped up and down with me, though in fact, he thought I was saying, "Free books!  Free books!"  Which would have been good news, too, of course.  Finally I got the explanation out, and the celebrating began.  It's been a long time, and honestly, the celebrating has never really ended.

Mary:  At the Malice Domestic convention right after my first book came out, a man pushing a large red canvas bag on wheels passed me in a hallway. The front of the bag had a clear pocket, and in the pocket, standing out beautifully against the red bag, was my book. It was the first time I'd seen someone I'd never met with a copy.

Elaine:  My favorite moment is when the new book arrives. I open it up, examine the cover, open the pages and inhale the new book smell. At that moment, it is perfect. I never have the nerve to reread my books, but just holding them makes all the effort worthwhile.  As a joke, my Aunt Betty made me a book-sized baby carrier -- but she wasn't far off the mark.

Charlaine:  My favorite moment as a mystery writer. It’s hard to pick one out of so many happy moments. But it would have to be when I won the Anthony for Best Paperback Original.

Kris:   My favorite moment as a mystery writer? There are so many. Maybe when I write myself into a corner and a totally unexpected plot escape occurs to me that's absolutely perfect. Or when a character speaks up, in a voice completely her own, to tell me she's taking over this book. Or the times at appearances, or when readers email, and tell me how much enjoyment my writing has given them — those times are pretty special. But typing "the end" is also great, even if it's just after a first draft, because that's always an accomplishment.

Donna:  I've had a lot of favorite moments as a mystery writer, but if I have to pick one: the first time I saw my first book, Murder with Peacocks, in a store.  I was passing by the Borders at Pentagon City, on my way to Linens 'n' Things to get a few things I needed for a massive housecleaning and fixing up project, and even though I didn't have time to stop and go in, I slowed down when I went by the front of the store, because--well, it's a bookstore; how can you not?  And I spotted Peacocks right there on the front table.  When I tell people about this, they usually say, "And of course you went right and offered to sign them, right?"  No!  Remember, I was in the middle of that housecleaning and fixing up--I was dressed in grungy clothes.  I didn't want the store to think a bag lady had written the book.  I went home, took a shower, put on presentable clothes, and went BACK to sign stock. 

Dana:  My favorite moments have to do with feeling welcomed by the mystery community.  The very first was when Site Unseen came out, and I went to one of my first cons.  I'd driven through a terrible storm and was feeling tired and nervous, a newbie.  I showed up late, just in time to register, and was quite wet and bedraggled, but when I gave the person behind the desk my name, Ellen (now my friend) told me she loved my book.  Fatigue and worry vanished.  The latest was winning the Anthony for BPO for Ashes and Bones.  Nearly everyone I wanted to tell was within hugging or shouting distance.  Magic.