Guest Post

Guest Chick: Audrey Lee

We’re excited to welcome author pal Audrey Lee for the first time as our guest Chick. Audrey has made a huge splash into the mystery community. Earlier this month, she was a nominee for the Lefty at Left Coast Crime for Best Debut Mystery, The Mechanics of Memory! In her post below she tells how she also made an impression on her tax accountant! One lucky commenter will be chosen by Audrey for a hardcover copy of The Mechanics of Memory. Take it away, Audrey!

Earlier this year I sent all my business expenses to my accountant. An hour later, I received a call from said accountant. “You have some unusual charges,” he said. “First, Sisters in Crime?”

I patiently explained that Sisters in Crime is a national writing community. 

Audrey Lee (second from left) and some of her fellow nominees for Best Debut Mystery at Left Coast Crime in Denver earlier this month.

“Sure,” he said, sounding skeptical. “How about Capitol Crimes? Left Coast Crime? Killer Nashville? Something called, ah, Murder on the Bayou?”

You know how you don’t notice the mess in your own house until someone shows up and you see your living situation through their eyes? That’s what happened this tax season.

For those of you who picture authors sitting in Paris cafes scribbling in their leather journals, here’s a glimpse into my reality: I spend most days in my jammies, sitting on my rear, typing. During breaks, I refresh Goodreads and say to my dog, “But if they loved it so much, why can’t they give up that extra star?” On those rare occasions where I am forced to interact with humanity, I lament about brushing my hair and applying make-up. (PS – those podcast interviews? Still in my jammie bottoms.)    

Authors spend the majority of their time in solitude, putting the detritus swirling around in their brains onto the page. The majority of us are introverts. This is why it’s even more important for writers to see daylight every so often. 

I just returned from Left Coast Crime in Denver, and other than needing an oxygen tank and a tube of lip balm per day, I’m thrilled I went. Being a debut author with serious imposter syndrome, I haven’t forced myself into many of these opportunities, but I’m so glad when I do. First of all, how heartening is it that readers will give up their hard-earned money to spend a weekend talking about books? (Really dang heartening). I had so many wonderful conversations with book lovers, thriller lovers, and even some fans of my novel. Most importantly, I made it through my pitch during the New Author Breakfast unscathed.  

Despite what we do and what we call ourselves, the crime writing community is the most generous, giving, supportive group I’ve ever encountered. I came solo to the conference, and while I only knew a handful of people, I never felt alone. Authors I would never have the courage to approach went out of their way to say hello, ask questions, and then introduce me to more people. Readers stopped me to ask questions after my panels, have me sign books, or just ask if I was hydrating.

The moral of this story is: get out of your comfort zone on occasion and be with others who share an interest similar to yours. Revel in the chance to reap the wisdom of those with more experience. Remember what it felt like through your own journey and mentor someone who is starting on the path. And also, listen. Listening expands our worldviews, which in turn makes us more empathetic. And there can never be too much empathy in the world. 

By the way, my accountant eventually accepted that I was telling the truth. I mean, if I were an actual murderer, you’d think I’d be smarter than to join a bunch of organizations that boasted what they did right out there.

Yet on the other hand, the best place to hide is always in plain sight… 

In the comments, please share the first mystery conference you ever attended or an admired writer you nervously worked up the courage to speak to. One lucky commenter will win a copy of Audrey’s book!

About the book:

Memory is Copeland-Stark’s business. Yet after months of reconsolidation treatments at their sleek new flagship facility, Hope Nakano still has no idea what happened to her lost year, or the life she was just beginning to build with her one great love. Each procedure surfaces fragmented clues which erode Hope’s trust in her own memories, especially the ones of Luke. As inconsistencies mount, her search for answers reveals a much larger secret Copeland-Stark is determined to protect. But everyone has secrets, including Hope.

About the Author:

Audrey Lee started writing fiction at the young age of eleven, when she and her best friend co-authored a masterpiece about gallivanting around London with the members of Depeche Mode, Wham!, and Duran Duran. Unfortunately, these spiral notebooks have yet to find a publisher evolved enough to understand the genius buried within. As a result, The Mechanics of Memory is her first work of published fiction.Before she started writing fiction, Audrey received her master’s degree in education from UC Berkeley (Go Bears!) and spent over two decades in public education. When she isn’t writing books she consults with school districts about creating environments for students that are more equitable, culturally responsive, and socially just. Audrey lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, son, and Maltipoo, Luna. When not working, Audrey is compulsively organizing something, bullet journaling, cheering for her son at a dance competition, max betting on a slot machine, or watching the Golden State Warriors with a dirty martini in hand. Connect with Audrey at audreyleeauthor on Facebook and Instagram.

38 thoughts on “Guest Chick: Audrey Lee”

  1. At a conference last summer in Marin, I followed Samantha Downing (author of My Lovely Wife and Too Old for This) to the point of creepy stalker status. When I finally did approach her, I discovered she–like all authors I’ve met–is a kind and wonderful person. Now we have lunch on the regular, and she has done so much to support my career and help me navigate this wild journey of being a debut author. Not once has she mentioned my weird fan-girling issue, either. (Though I’ll probably end up as a serial killer in one of her books someday.)

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  2. Welcome, Audrey! Yeah, explaining the various names of crime fiction communities and get-togethers can be challenging to those outside the group. “I swear, it’s a professional organization. No, not THAT kind of organization!”

    My first mystery conference was Bouchercon 2012. I had nothing published. I got lost on my way to the hotel. But the minute I saw Hank Phillippi Ryan I knew I was in the right place. And I got to shake hands with Mary Higgins Clark, who was the GOH that year.

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    1. Thank you, Liz! My first was Bouchercon in San Diego, two years ago. It was nonstop action for five days, but well worth the trip. David Baldacci was the GOH that year. (I did not shake his hand, but did take a picture from very far away!)

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  3. Hi, Audrey! I love that exchange with your accountant. My first mystery conference was Malice Domestic in 2018. I wasn’t published in crime fiction yet, but I did have a book cover I could show off. It was thrilling, overwhelming, and exhausting. And I’m so happy I went and that I continue to attend. Cheers!

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    1. Overwhelming is right! The night I got home from Left Coast Crime, I slept for twelve hours. And now I realized I lied in my previous comment. My first conference with a book officially releasing was Bouchercon. My first ever writing conference was the San Francisco Writer’s Conference in 2020, the last thing I did before the world shut down. Still glad I did it, though, because I owe them my career!

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  4. What a great post, Audrey! I’m hosting the New Author Breakfast at Malice this year and I’m going to share this with my debut authors.

    Speaking of Malice, it was my first con when I won their grant for unpublished authors. I didn’t know cons existed. I’ll never forget the elevator doors opening and seeing hundreds of mystery lovers milling around. I was in heaven!

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    1. Thank you, Ellen! My non-writing job involves a lot of public speaking in front of really large audiences, but for some reason the New Author Breakfast was still a bit anxiety provoking. (It might have been the bell they ring if you go past 60 seconds!) But I’m still thrilled I did it, and proud to have lived to tell the tale…

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  5. Ha about your accountant, Audrey! But congrats on finding a loving community here & yay on your debut!

    I think the first con I went to was The California Crime Writers Conference, a joint effort of SinCLA & SoCalMWA that happens every other year.

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  6. Congratulations on your Leftie nomination, Audrey! This post made me laugh. As mystery authors, we do belong to some organizations that lift a lot of eyebrows! My first conference was Malice Domestic in 2022. I wasn’t quite published yet and was such a fan-girl. My biggest crushes have always been on authors and I honestly still can’t believe that I had a short encounter with Ann Cleeves! -Paula Charles

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    1. Glad I gave you a laugh, Paula! My husband always says I should never meet famous people because my behavior will go viral. But on the author side, my fantasy future is going to a restaurant, giving my name, and having the host say, “Wait. Are you Audrey Lee the writer?”

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  7. My first mystery convention was Left Coast Crime in Monterey back in 2014. I was a yet-unpublished writer, but the warmth and generosity of everyone at that con was simply astounding. What a beautiful community we have!

    Thanks so much for visiting the Chicks today, Audrey, and congrats on the Lefty nomination! Your book looks amazing, and the title is one of the best I’ve ever come across. Cheers!

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  8. Hi Audrey:

    It was so nice to meet you at Left Coast Crime! Congratulations again on your Lefty nom!

    My first mystery conference was Bouchercon in Long Beach–I didn’t know anyone and was completely terrified. Walked into the Sisters in Crime event, though, everyone was just so kind. I knew I had to join the group. (Also couldn’t believe that at the con I was able to speak, even briefly, with authors like Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, and Charlaine Harris. Was in total awe.)

    Thank you very much for visiting us today. Love this post! I’m looking forward to reading your book asap.

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    1. Thank you for having me, and so great to meet you as well! I joined Sisters in Crime at Bouchercon a few years ago, and am so glad I did. What an amazing, positive group of people! Now I need to score that hoodie Jen Chow mentioned…

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  10. Audrey, I think we met very briefly at LCC, but it’s nice to “see” you again. Thanks so much for guesting with us on Chicks, and huge congrats on both your book and nom. I had to add The Mechanics of Memory to my TBR immediately, of course. My first conference was New England Crime Bake in MA (held every November). I’d just moved back to New England, and the first person I saw? Hank Phillippi Ryan, whom I’d just seen on TV as a reporter on our local Boston station! Oh, and we members of SinCNE have been asked if we are…nuns working with the prison population.

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    1. Hank is serious writing royalty! (Talk about someone who brushes her hair consistently…) Thank you so much for having me on the blog. What a fun group of chicks (and/or nuns!)

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  12. I was so busy yesterday I didn’t get to read this!

    Fabulous stuff here. Congrats.
    my first mystery conference was Malice, which is what me got started the hobby of writing the stories down I make up when watching people.
    The author I was most nervous to speak to? Donna Andrews. It took like 17 years of seeing her at Malice before I spoke to her. I have no clue why I was scared, but when I did, I actually told her so.

    and don’t get me started on accounting. It’s my full time job for another 3 years. Why do you think I write about murder?!?!?!

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  13. I live far from any bookstores or conferences so all my author interactions have been online. I’m not sure what my first was, but during the beginning of the pandemic I was very appreciative of First Chapter Fun and A Mighty Blaze. Blogs like this one as well; even when I don’t comment it’s nice to check out the conversation. 🙂

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