Hello from Chicago!

In the Waste Land, T.S. Eliot wrote, “April is the cruelest month.” Thankfully, that hasn’t been my experience, especially this year. During April, I attended Left Coast Crime in Bellevue, Washington and afterward spent time in Portland, Oregon. Nine days of beautiful sunny weather in the Pacific Northwest and three on-time flights without any turbulence. I felt as though I won the weather/travel lottery. I wasn’t quite as lucky in May. After a long weekend in Upstate New York and Vermont, thunderstorms in Chicago delayed my flight home. Except for that, it was another great time spent visiting family and friends. My suitcase is in the closet now and will probably remain there until August. In the meantime, there’s plenty of summer activities to enjoy right here in the Windy City.

Shawn’s Special 17^th Strategy

April 17^th — The last time I saw my sister was in January 2020 at my book party for Relentless. We, of course, had no way of knowing that in a few weeks, COVID-19 would shut down the world. Only now do I feel as though traveling is back to “normal.” Attending Left Coast Crime in the Seattle area was a perfect opportunity to also visit my sister and her family in Portland. Our chocolate and raspberry celebratory cake represented the occasions we’ve missed during the pandemic years. And while I was in Portland, it was also great having lunch with a friend from California whom I met several years ago when I attended the Santa Barbara Writers’ Conference.

May 17^th — Much closer to home, I accompanied friends to an art exhibition at the Center for Life and Learning on Michigan Avenue. It was the first in-person show of artwork and creative writing since 2020.

During the Left Coast Crime banquet, I sat at a table hosted by Joe Clifford. I met Joe in 2019 at Bouchercon in Dallas, Texas and enjoyed talking with him again. Joe is a fascinating guy and a phenomenal writer. For more about him and a list of the books he’s written, check out his website. And here’s then-and-now photos from Bouchercon, 2019 and Left Coast Crime, 2024.

North Pond is a favorite spot for residents of the Lakeview and Lincoln Park neighborhoods to enjoy a beautiful natural setting in every season. Spring ushers in a special time with the arrival of adorable goslings and ducklings. On a Sunday morning, it looks like I arrived just as swimming lessons were over.

Until next time — here’s wishing you opportunities to spend time with family and friends, especially if it’s been a while.

Slainte!

Shawn