Catching up, Vintage clothing and more

I realize I've been silent on Rhys's Pieces, but my time has been fully occupied with hosting Jungle Red Writers last week, doing all the promo for the new Molly book, THE FAMILY WAY, and with trying to finish the first draft of the next Molly book before we close up the condo and leave Arizona for California on Monday morning.

I've also had some fun excursions this week: I went to visit a friend who collects vintage clothing. I'm going to be in a fashion show, dressed as my character Lady Georgie, so my friend Dinah let me try on wonderful real 1930s dresses. I turned down the really dainty and fragile ones, scared of what might happen if I sat down wrongly. But I did accept a fabulous apricot color evening cape in soft velvet, and a pair of real 1930s shoes. I'll wear these with navy silk palazzo pants and my blond flapper wig. (I'll post pix after the show.)

But here are some pictures I took at Dinah's house.

I also took my grandkids to a ghost town, did a tour of an old mine and let them pan for gold. What a fun day.

So now it's packing up and making sure the fridge is clean and empty and everything I need for six months is taken with me. And all I really want to do is finish the darned book.
Then off to Colorado on Wednesday for Left Coast Crime in Colorado Springs, then home to the Bay Area for several book signings with Cara Black.
Orinda Books March 28
Books Inc Laurel Village, April 17
Bay Books, April 22

Hope to see you at one of them.
AND this weekend, St Patricks Day, March 17, I'll be signing at The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale AZ at 2 p.m. Fun St Paddy's day party.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Molly Murphy wishes you all Top O' the Morning for St Patrick's Day.

But I have to confess I'm not a big fan of St Patrick's Day. it's not one of my favorite holidays. For one thing, I don't like corned beef and cabbage. Not too keen on Guiness. Also I associate it with people getting drunk and I have some less than stellar memories.

A few years ago my publisher came up with the brilliant idea of bringing me to New York to launch the new Molly book on St Patrick's Day. They set up events for me including one at the Police Museum, one at the SouthStreet seaport museum.

Good idea, right? The only trouble was that sane and normal people don't venture out in New York on St Patrick's Day when the streets are full of drunken men. So great venues, but nobody came. Lesson learned--some holidays are great to tie into, others not so great.

These days Molly is launched on March 1 (which happens to be St. David's Day--a much more sober festival invoving the wearing of daffodils or leeks but with no alcoholic connotations.

My favorite St Patrick's Days have been watching our little Meghan perform outside City Hall in San Francisco with her Irish Dance troupe. Now that's positive Irish energy.  So Happy St. Patrick's Day to you--however you choose to celebrate it!