I don’t know about you, but I often wish I could be in two places at once. Wouldn’t that be lovely? You could be spending time having fun while also at work.

But during the next week or so, I wish I could be five places at once. There are just too many mystery-related events that I would love to attend, not to mention the wonderful non-mystery event I’ll be at.

First, I would love to be at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

I’ve never been, but have heard only wonderful comments about this festival that will be April 25 and 26. The myriad authors and panels certainly appeal to me and I would have enjoyed moderating a panel or two.

But, I also have a personal connection. Along with Sarah Weinman and Dick Adler, I am one of the judges for the mystery/thriller category of the L.A. Times Book Prize. It would be lovely to be able to see the winner receive the award. (Oh, like you think I am going to give you the name here? Or even give away the winner’s gender? Just wait…)

I also wanted to attend the Edgar Awards symposium (April 29) and the banquet (April 30). I haven’t been able to attend for three years and had hoped to be able to return this year.

The Edgars are fun, at least I think so. Plus, I’ll take any excuse to wear my long dress.

But most of all, I wanted to attend Malice Domestic May 1 to 3 in
Arlington, Va.

I love Malice and its honoring of the traditional mystery. It has been at least five years, maybe more, since I have been able to make it to Malice and I miss this terrific conference.

The panels are insightful, the authors receptive and the fans are nice.

I have never had a bad time at Malice.

This year, Nancy Pickard is the guest of honor; Elaine Viets the toastmaster and Anne Perry will receive the lifetime achievement.

But again, I have a personal reason for wanting to attend this year’s Malice.

I would like to be there to cheer on Kate and Brian when they receive the Malice Domestic Poirot Award.

According to the Malice Domestic Website, “this award is presented to honor individuals other than writers who have made outstanding contributions to the Malice Domestic genre. The award is bestowed by the Malice Domestic Board of Directors and presented at the Malice Domestic conference. The Poirot Award is not an annual award.”

And I must say, the award is well deserved.

Let me also add congratulations to all the winners and the nominees.

So, I won’t be attending any of these mystery-related events.

Instead, I will be in Sarasota, Florida, for the American Theater Critics Association’s annual conference, which is normally held in June. But this year, ATCA’s conference falls smack in the middle of these other events.

My husband, Bill, is a theater critic and this conference is a great excuse to see live theater twice a day.

It helps that I am as interested in theater as he is. Heck, we even met in the theater.

We were among the handful of journalism majors who were also involved with the theater at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was an actor; I was his dresser.

But that’s another story.

Oh, well, maybe next year I can be in L.A., or New York City, or Arlington.

PHOTOS: Nancy Pickard, top, Anne Perry