North by Northwest

THE CURSE-MAKER has been out for a little over a week, (yay!) and now I start the out-of-state leg of my tour … back to my home state, Washington.

I admit it: I get a little choked up when I see Mt. Ranier standing over the Seattle-Tacoma-Puget Sound area, majestic and awesome and beautiful. I was born in its shadow, and I always feel like it protects me.

Seattle, of course, is home to one of the best mystery stores on the planet, Seattle Mystery Books. Fabulous people, fabulous store, and I love getting to hang out with friends like Fran and J.B.! It’s also the home to some of the best coffee anywhere. My own preference is the home-grown Tully’s, rather than their most famous (and ubiquitous) competitor.

On my first trip to SMP for NOX, I discovered a wonderful hat store in Seattle, too. Byrnie Utz–and it looks just like it must have seventy years ago! (It was founded in 1939, a year dear to my heart). Wooden shelving and cabinets, and even one of the vintage machines that can stamp gold lettering on the inside of your fedora rim. I’m not sure if I’ll get back to Byrnie’s on this trip, but I’ve got one more book launch coming up this year (CITY OF SECRETS), so if not now, then. 😉

One place I MUST go–on this and every trip–is the Tacoma factory outlet for Brown and Haley’s Almond Roca. I grew up with Almond Roca, and I love buying it for friends and colleagues. The outlet is actually a wonderful little round (and pink) building from the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962–the one that gave us the Space Needle, the monorail, and a fair-themed Elvis flick. 😉

So I’m looking forward to Seattle–and Portland, where I’ll get to spend time at two great bookstores, Murder by the Book and the fabled Powell’s–and see my dear friend and fellow writer Bill Cameron.

You know, there are many, many reasons to go on book tour, beyond the obvious ones of (hopefully) meeting new readers and selling copies.

Tully’s, Almond Roca and friends are just three more. 😉

Thanks for reading–and big thanks to those of you who’ve already picked up THE CURSE-MAKER!