Hanging in the bar at Sleuthfest 2004, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Tossing back a few with Randy Rawls and James O. Born.  Robert B. Parker was sitting about five feet away, but we were all too timid to buy him a drink. We'll pay for that when we have to defend our lives in the afterlife...

THE PHOTO PAGE

Several years ago, I wrote an essay on hardboiled versus noir literature that Stuart Kaminsky called, "Terrific!".

No good deed goes unpunished. Because he was so nice to me, I asked Stuart if he'd do a picture with me at Sleuthfest '04 in Fort Lauderdale. He doesn't know it here, but I'm pulling the tab off the back of his shirt. Still have it.

"Hey, who's that old guy with Rick Helms?"

Get me to tell you my Robert B. Parker story sometime. I come off as a real stalker.

This was at Sleuthfest '04. The Bobster had just gotten a titanium knee to replace his stock one. The drugs explain the smile.

 

Deadly Ink, 2004 (I think), Parsippany, New Jersey.

Signing and horsing around with Andy Straka, Shelley Freydont, John Westermann, and a very lethargic John Gilstrap.

Signing books at the Cool Springs Barnes and Noble, Nashville Tennessee, with Darren Butler and Reed Farrell Coleman.

Killer Nashville, 2006.

With Kelly Nichols, one half of P.J. Parrish, at the Opryland Barnes and Noble, Killer Nashville '06.

That's okay, Kelly. Half the time I don't know what I'm saying either.

With Alex Sokoloff, author of The Harrowing.

Killer Nashville, '06

Why is this woman smiling?

With MWA Queen of Everything Margery Flax, and Reed Farrel Coleman.

Killer Nashville, '06

At the party after the PWA Shamus Awards, Bouchercon 2006, Madison, WI. I didn't win, again, so there wasn't much left to do except drink and have a good time!

From top right: With old writing and drinking buddy - and Shamus and Anthony nominee - Jack Bludis. Yeah, I'm drinking a margarita - you wanna make something out of it?

Next I'm with Gary Phillips and the incomparable Scottish marvel Donna Moore.

Bottom left finds me with Ted Fitzgerald, the Shamus Awards Chair for 2006. I'm fishing in his pocket for the twenty I slipped him to rig the contest.

Bottom right is me and Kristy Montee, the other half of P.J. Parrish. We'd been nominated together three times for the Shamus, and both lost each time. That's okay, she finally won it in 2007. My turn's coming...