Today marked my 13th visit to Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, PA. (For those doing the math, that’s 12 novels and one short story collection, Like a Charm.) I traveled by plane, the first time I’ve ever done that, but I just wasn’t up for the up-and-back drive in one day, and I am trying to spend as many nights in my own bed as possible. My early a.m. Southwest arrival meant I got to have a marvelous brunch with Mary Alice Gorman, Richard Goldman and Kathy Sweeney. Mary Alice looked marvelous — wonderful new haircut and the usual exquisite jewelry. The event was terrific, per usual. And Richard gave me a copy of the new Michael Chabon ARC, which he had finished just the night before.
Meanwhile, I did kind of a stupid thing. Giddy with free time last night, I was reading Crimespace and I decided that I HAD SOMETHIING TO SAY. So I registered. Then I remembered — oh, wait, I’m trying not to be so promiscuous with my rather ordinary opinions and I didn’t post. But it turns out that I don’t quite understand the whole Crimespace/MySpace thing, and my e-mail is swelling with these messages from people who want to be my friends, most of whom ARE my friends, and my computer doesn’t seem to like the link much . . . oh dear. What have I done?
And here’s the thing: My big insight was just a little historical perspective on BSP (Blatant Self-Promotion). As originally used in the mystery world, there was some irony in it, a gentle joke. Personally I find BSP preferable to SDSP (self-deprecating self-promotion.) BSP, when I started this gig about a decade ago, was another way to say, “Sing out, Louise.” Make it short, simple and direct, without all the hemming and hawing.
The irony has been lost over the years and now some take BSP very literally.
I only do BSP when I meet a possible new significant other. Problem is, my wants and needs in a new guy are so particular that nobody wants to date me
but that’s okay too. I take MYSELF out to dinner to my favorite pub and flirt with the bartender, who’s Irish with the accent and everything. And his wife thinks its funny 
(Trust me, I’m no threat to her. Shes red-headed, green-eyed and gorgeous!)
So, the crimespace thing….I was going to join, but I barely have time for the MySpace page my son talked me into doing. Once I finish the novel, I’ll put more stuff up there that’s professional looking.
BSP…BSP…yea, the joke’s on the other folks who don’t remember that it means “BE BRIEF!”
About Crimespace… yes it sure is overwhelming at first! However I discovered that if you click on any *one* of the links in any one of the emails all the photos of people making requests pop up and you just click “accept” or “decline” underneath each one in the space of seconds (or minutes if you’re really popular!). Personally, I’m too gutless to ever click the “decline” button. Of course, then you have to delete all the emails in your inbox!
Fran, that helped a lot. Thank you.
I second your feelings about Mystery Lovers. I’m heading there for their annual festival on May 7. I went last year, and Mary Alice and her staff couldn’t be more wonderful.
I saw your lovely, shadowy outline-ish photo on Crimespace earlier, but it was in lurking mode. I’m finding it’s terribly time consuming so I check stuff out without signing in and if there’s an interesting discussion I might want to contribute to, I’ll sign in.
All those Friends, though, make me feel rather popular although it’s a bit creepy “accepting” Friends whom I’ve never heard of before. This is what keeps me from MySpace, although my editor keeps pushing it.
Yeah, Crimespace is totally bringing out my inner spammer when it comes to the friending thing. I do like the setup and as long as I don’t take it too seriously (or spend more than about 5 minutes on it every day or so) I have it under control…so far.
The friends thing on Crimespace is addictive. Laura, watch your mailbox for my invite. <g> Who can resist friends friends friends just for the asking? I’ve stayed away from MySpace, but I like CrimeSpace.
I’m going to the mystery festival at Oakmont for the first time this year — I’d never heard of it, neophyte that I am, until Noreen Wald and Chassie West told me I must go and described people bringing cardboard boxes to carry away all the books they buy. I’m not counting on extraordinary sales, but it sounds like fun in any case.
Hope you don’t mind another friend request…glad to see you there.
I’m on the list as well. I signed up a few weeks ago and I vary between spending no time at all on the site and totally OD’ing on it. Lot’s of cool people there though.
Hi Laura!
It was so great to see you yesterday at Mystery Lovers – and the sales were great too!
Started the new book last night and couldn’t put it down – love the way you’ve done the presentation of past and present.
Glad you got home safely to your own bed!
You can turn off the automatic friend notification emails. On the menu in the top right corner when you visit the site, click on “Email & Privacy Settings” and you can then uncheck the various email notifications you don’t wish to receive.
I’ve got a couple of folks in mind who are guilty of the SDSP crime! Yikes. Makes my skin crawl.
See you over at Crimespace, Laura. (And David, thank you, thank you for for email tip for the site.)