Looking Back, Looking Forward--and Thank You

By Margaret Lucke

I'm the last act to be on the stage before we bring down the curtain on the LadyKillers. I want to say what a pleasure and privilege it has been to be part of this group of wonderful writers for the past seven-and-a-half years. I have enjoyed sharing my thoughts on writing, life, and chocolate chip cookies with you, our readers, and I've been delighted to get to know my fellow LadyKillers and to benefit from everyone's wisdom and wit.

As I look back on 2017, I find that it's been a somewhat tumultuous year for the nation and world. For me personally it has had its ups and downs. The downs I'm willing to put behind me, but I'm happy to remember the ups, which include many good times with family and friends, as well as these highlights:

* A trip to Hawaii in March for an excellent Left Coast Crime conference.

* A week in Beijing, from which I've just returned. We went for a celebration of our friend Diana Lu's milestone birthday and the Beijing opening of her fashion design business. We did a bit of sightseeing too -- the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and the 798 Art Area. (That's me on the Great Wall, bundled up against the frigid weather. Photo by Charles Lucke.)

* The publication of my mystery novel, Snow Angel, and the warm reception it has received. The story: On the eve of a high-profile murder trial, the star witness's seven-year-old daughter disappears. PI Jess Randolph's desperate search for the missing girl takes her from San Francisco to the snowbound Sierra -- and deep into the hearts of two shattered families. I hope you'll check it out if you haven't yet read it. Let me know what you think.        

Now we're hovering on the brink of 2018. I'm looking forward to the new year, hoping that the U.S. and the world will move toward peace, justice, and acceptance of all people.

What will my own 2018 look like? Here's a preview:

* A new book -- House of Desire, in which real estate agent Claire Scanlan teams up with a time-traveling "soiled dove" from the 1890s to solve a murder in a San Francisco Victorian mansion.

* A Mystery Writing class, which I'll be teaching for UC Berkeley Extension this spring. It's on Wednesday evenings, February 21-May 2, with no class on March 22 because I'll be going to:

* Left Coast Crime in Reno, which promises to be another outstanding conference.

To the contributors to the LadyKillers blog, and to all of our readers, thank you for your attention, your comments on my posts, and your friendship. Please keep in touch. You can reach me:

By email: [email protected]

On my website: www.margaretlucke.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/margaret.lucke

As my favorite New Year's toast goes, may the year to come be better than any that came before it, and worse than any that shall come after it. For 2018 I wish all of you happiness, health, prosperity, and peace. And of course, many good books.

Comments

[Michael A. Black]

I've enjoyed being on The Ladykillers with you, too, Peggy. Best of luck to you in the coming year and all those that follow. Take care.

[Ann]

It's been fun, Peggy. Wishing you well with all your endeavors. Sounds like you have a busy year ahead! Hope to see you here and there, and certainly in Reno!

[Margaret Lucke]

Yes, it has been fun. Warmest wishes to you, Mike and Ann, to all of our LadyKillers comrades, and to our readers. May we all have a 2018 filled with good reading, good writing, and good fortune in general.