From the Booking Desk:

Bouchercon is in full bloom and I am so happy to have Clea Simon here with us today for the Composite Sketch series. I have only relatively recently met Clea – within the last year or so – but she has quickly become one of my favorite people. This sketch will go a long way to explaining why. I was recently able to have lunch with her, as well as tour the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum with her – a fun afternoon I won’t soon forget. If you see Clea walking about the halls of Bouchercon (or any convention really), be sure to say hello!

Name: Clea Simon
Location: Somerville, Massachusetts (Boston, if you want to link me to a known city)

This person from my personal life is such an inspiration:

My husband Jon. He’s dealt with personal loss with grace. Plus, as a writer and editor, he has switched careers, lost jobs and found others, and had one newspaper fold under him, and still he keeps going with grace and compassion – and he keeps writing too. My first and best reader, as well as my best friend.

One of the people I admire most in the crime fiction community is:

Wow, that’s hard. There are really so many: Erin Mitchell for her generosity and genius, Catriona McPherson for her talent and range, Kate Mattes (of Kate’s Mystery Books) for her friendship and getting me started. All the Sisters (and Brothers) in Crime who have been so welcoming and encouraging…

STALKER ALERT! If this fictional character were real, they would likely need to get a restraining order against me:

Aragorn, son of Arathorn. No duh.

People are always surprised that I am a fan of this individual (singer, actor, or artist):

Don Walser, the late great Texas yodeler. OK people who really know me aren’t that surprised.

My personal catch phrase is (or should be):

“Bash it out now, tart it up later.” – Nick Lowe. The man is a god. Rule to live by.