First off we have Jim in front of the world’s largest thermometer in Death Valley, holding a copy of Fire and Ice.
I bet he was wishing more for the ice. Jim works for UPS and (if Cathy will permit me to say so) wears Brown’s shorts very well.

Next up is Kathy holding Prepared for Rage plus a good portion the rest of her Stabenow library in front of Mt. Rushmore.
The eagle-eyed among you will notice she is wearing her Danamaniacs cap.

That would be Kathy’s friend, Tim, also in front of Mt. Rushmore, holding The Singing of the Dead.
Just a guess, but I’m thinking he picked that title for that photo on purpose…

Lastly, we have Zena holding Breakup in Talkeetna during breakup.
The big grin on her face tells me she chose her title on purpose, too.

Had a fabulous time in Kansas City at the LitFest, where the writer in me felt like queen for a day and the reader in me was considerably heartened at seeing all those hundreds of people show up to celebrate books and writers. Nancy Pickard and I had a blast during our panel, and now her mom thinks we should take our show on the road. Our thanks to all who came! Especially ‘maniac David Plunkett, who won the Munro sweatshirt at the Johnson County Library event, and who has posted photos of marvelous moi on the Danamaniacs website.

I also visited the I Love a Mystery bookstore, in the Mission part of Kansas City (never did know which side of the Missouri River I was on so don’t ask me if it was Kansas or Missouri). It is a most delightful place, with books new and old and some really fun extras, including the skeleton in the top hat. Or was that the skull? Anyway, if you can’t find a good read there I give up on you. Becky had me sign lots of stock, including all her copies of my hardcover backlist, which are getting few and far between.

I just wish I’d known Laura Ingalls Wilder’s house was three hours south of my hotel.