Yep. This is me. At work in 1997. Boo!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
A Blog Post Every Day in November
As will a few friends from an online class I took in May/June, I will try to post to my blog every single day in November.
Why, you ask?
For one thing, I believe there are different readers out there in blogger world on the weekend, readers who are too busy to stop by during the week. I'd like to meet some of them.
Another reason? I'm hoping a daily blog post will lead to daily progress on my book, especially if I link the two together when I set my writing schedule. Even though I did not sign up for NaNoWriMo, I'm hoping to add 50,000 words to my novel during the month of November. That will bring me so close to the finish line that I'll surely have a solid first draft by the middle of December.
I'll also attend the Northern Colorado Writers Retreat at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch November 13-15. Last year I wrote 13,000 words at that retreat. I think I can do better this year, especially if I skip the campfire and the s'mores.
Big goals. One short month. Wish me luck.
Why, you ask?
For one thing, I believe there are different readers out there in blogger world on the weekend, readers who are too busy to stop by during the week. I'd like to meet some of them.
Another reason? I'm hoping a daily blog post will lead to daily progress on my book, especially if I link the two together when I set my writing schedule. Even though I did not sign up for NaNoWriMo, I'm hoping to add 50,000 words to my novel during the month of November. That will bring me so close to the finish line that I'll surely have a solid first draft by the middle of December.
I'll also attend the Northern Colorado Writers Retreat at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch November 13-15. Last year I wrote 13,000 words at that retreat. I think I can do better this year, especially if I skip the campfire and the s'mores.
Big goals. One short month. Wish me luck.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Colorado Snowstorm -- My Photos
I took a snow day yesterday. I finished reading The Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville (which I highly recommend for thriller fans), took a nap, and avoided work, which is why there was no blog post earlier this morning.We cancelled our travel plans for the weekend. And I took a few photos so I could show off our gorgeous Northern Colorado weather. This shot on the right is a bit of whimsy that ended up all over me when I opened the gate this morning.
Here's the rest of the story. Earlier this week there was a spectacular sunrise:
Late Tuesday evening the snow began to fall:
By Wednesday morning we had plenty of snow on the ground and the forecast of more to come:
By this morning, when I stepped outside to get the paper and take a few more photos, the silence was incredible. With the deep blanket of snow on the ground, no traffic, no wind, and not one single branch snapping under the weight of the snow, it was a special moment. We don't get to hear that kind of quiet very often these days.
Our official total snowfall so far is close to twenty inches. Since the wind is picking up, and is especially fierce to the east of I-25, roads are closing and drifts are growing. Where we live near the foothills in Northern Colorado, however, the snow may have run its course. It will be sunny over the weekend, and we'll be out and about in sweatshirts instead of overcoats and mufflers. In the meanwhile, this is what it looks like today:
Note the depth of the snow on the flat bird feeder to the left compared to the Wednesday photo above left.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Something About Snowstorms
By the time you read this, the big snowstorm may have moved into Northern Colorado. I'd be looking forward to it if we hadn't planned to travel this week. We'll wait it out through today before canceling anything. Northern Colorado weather doesn't always do what the forecasters predict.
I love snow. I love to stand at the window with a cup of coffee and watch it fall, love the eerie silence outdoors first thing on a frosty white morning, love to trudge out to the trees and use a broom to knock the heavy stuff off the branches. Shoveling snow? Don't love that quite as much, but I pitch in and help when necessary.
When I was a kid, a big snow was often an adventure. I lived on a farm in central Illinois where the winds blew huge drifts across the road in front of our house, making it impossible to leave for days. The power would go out as well. We had oil burning stoves in our kitchen and living room, so we kept warm, and my mom could heat water and food there as well. Since we didn't have a television yet, and personal computers didn't exist, there wasn't much left to do but go to bed early. No matter what you've read about Abraham Lincoln studying by candlelight, it's very hard to do once you're accustomed to electric lights.
One time there was a big storm with high winds, and my dad, mom, younger brother, and I were trying to make it home from town in a car. We got stuck where the snow had blown across the road about a mile from our house. We left the car behind and trudged through the drifts, first stopping at the only house along the way to warm up, then continuing until we made it home. My mother swears I repeatedly wailed, "We're all going to die out here."
As I mentioned yesterday, I was once snowed in for a long weekend with a husband and three teenaged boys. This was in town, and we did not lose power, so I spent a lot of the time wearing headphones which were connected to my stereo (no IPods or even Walkmans back then).
That time I was muttering, "We're all going to die in here." Those teenagers do not know just how lucky they were that the roads were opened up in three days...
Remember the snowstorm in The Shining? I'm just saying.
I love snow. I love to stand at the window with a cup of coffee and watch it fall, love the eerie silence outdoors first thing on a frosty white morning, love to trudge out to the trees and use a broom to knock the heavy stuff off the branches. Shoveling snow? Don't love that quite as much, but I pitch in and help when necessary.
When I was a kid, a big snow was often an adventure. I lived on a farm in central Illinois where the winds blew huge drifts across the road in front of our house, making it impossible to leave for days. The power would go out as well. We had oil burning stoves in our kitchen and living room, so we kept warm, and my mom could heat water and food there as well. Since we didn't have a television yet, and personal computers didn't exist, there wasn't much left to do but go to bed early. No matter what you've read about Abraham Lincoln studying by candlelight, it's very hard to do once you're accustomed to electric lights.
One time there was a big storm with high winds, and my dad, mom, younger brother, and I were trying to make it home from town in a car. We got stuck where the snow had blown across the road about a mile from our house. We left the car behind and trudged through the drifts, first stopping at the only house along the way to warm up, then continuing until we made it home. My mother swears I repeatedly wailed, "We're all going to die out here."
As I mentioned yesterday, I was once snowed in for a long weekend with a husband and three teenaged boys. This was in town, and we did not lose power, so I spent a lot of the time wearing headphones which were connected to my stereo (no IPods or even Walkmans back then).
That time I was muttering, "We're all going to die in here." Those teenagers do not know just how lucky they were that the roads were opened up in three days...
Remember the snowstorm in The Shining? I'm just saying.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Ten Things to Have on Hand in an Emergency
As I was trying to wade through my stacks of newsletters and pamphlets, I ran across a booklet on emergency preparedness that our county issued months, if not years, ago. That got me to thinking. Do I have an adequate supply of those items I want to have available in case of blizzards, quarantines, or a complete breakdown in the movement of goods and services across the country?
Okay, I know that last one sounds a little kooky, but were you around a few decades ago during the truckers' strike? If so, remember how tricky it was to get a loaf of bread? See my point?
What are the ten things I want to have on hand in an emergency?
1. A stash of canned fruits, veggies, and meats, plus cereals, rice, and beans.
2. Several jars of Kroger brand Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter. No substitutes.
3. Two cases of small bottled waters and several gallon containers of purified water.
4. Five big jars of instant coffee.
5. Charcoal for the grill and a sturdy pan or camping pot so I can heat water for coffee or cook rice and beans.
6. Lots of toilet paper. This obsession is left from my childhood on the farm when my mother habitually ran out. I will not say any more on this subject.
7. A full tank of gas in the car. As soon as I first climbed up behind the wheel of our John Deere tractor, my dad began lecturing about never letting the gas gauge drop below a quarter full. When I began Driver's Education classes, Dad's lecturing continued. Even though he died in 1982, I still feel him looking over my shoulder as he checks the gas gauge to see if I'm following his advice.
8. At least two hundred books. I have been known to read my way through some very tough situations, including the time I was snowed in over a long weekend with a husband and three teen-aged boys. This is the one item I've already accumulated.
9. Ten bars of Lindt 85% cocoa dark chocolate. Make it twenty bars, just in case.
10. A first aid kit containing bandaids, antibacterial ointments and wipes, and a dozen airplane-sized bottles of medicinal gin. Bombay or Tanqueray highly recommended.
Have you thought about emergency preparedness? If so, what indispensible items are on your list?
Okay, I know that last one sounds a little kooky, but were you around a few decades ago during the truckers' strike? If so, remember how tricky it was to get a loaf of bread? See my point?
What are the ten things I want to have on hand in an emergency?
1. A stash of canned fruits, veggies, and meats, plus cereals, rice, and beans.
2. Several jars of Kroger brand Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter. No substitutes.
3. Two cases of small bottled waters and several gallon containers of purified water.
4. Five big jars of instant coffee.
5. Charcoal for the grill and a sturdy pan or camping pot so I can heat water for coffee or cook rice and beans.
6. Lots of toilet paper. This obsession is left from my childhood on the farm when my mother habitually ran out. I will not say any more on this subject.
7. A full tank of gas in the car. As soon as I first climbed up behind the wheel of our John Deere tractor, my dad began lecturing about never letting the gas gauge drop below a quarter full. When I began Driver's Education classes, Dad's lecturing continued. Even though he died in 1982, I still feel him looking over my shoulder as he checks the gas gauge to see if I'm following his advice.
8. At least two hundred books. I have been known to read my way through some very tough situations, including the time I was snowed in over a long weekend with a husband and three teen-aged boys. This is the one item I've already accumulated.
9. Ten bars of Lindt 85% cocoa dark chocolate. Make it twenty bars, just in case.
10. A first aid kit containing bandaids, antibacterial ointments and wipes, and a dozen airplane-sized bottles of medicinal gin. Bombay or Tanqueray highly recommended.
Have you thought about emergency preparedness? If so, what indispensible items are on your list?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Colorado Author -- Charlotte Hinger
Saturday afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting Charlotte Hinger when we ended up on the same Barnes & Noble mystery panel (see yesterday's post and photos). Charlotte grew up on a farm in Kansas and was a long-time resident there. She has previously been published in short fiction, Kansas history, and a novel about life on the Kansas prairie, Come Spring.It's always great fun to meet new authors, and Saturday was no exception. Charlotte has an interesting background and a variety of writing experiences. Happily, we can now claim Charlotte as one of our Colorado authors. Her debut mystery novel, Deadly Descent, was recently released by Poisoned Pen Press.
Using her extensive knowledge of Western Kansas and the world of the historian, Charlotte has created a setting and a character she can write about with authority:
"In historian Lottie Albright’s Western Kansas community, false accusations threaten senatorial candidate Brian Hadley’s political career, secrets whispered to her as editor of the county history books spur a personal search for his aunt’s murderer. Ignoring warnings from her twin sister, Josie, that she is in over her head, Lottie dons a badge to have access to information. She delves into a horrifying “cold case” to prove her merits as a deputy and impresses Sheriff Sam Abbot with her ability to combine historical research methods and police procedure."
You can read reviews of Deadly Descent at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Barnes and Noble Centerra Book Signing
I joined four other mystery authors yesterday to participate in a panel and discussion at the Barnes and Noble Centerra in Loveland, Colorado. We managed to attract a few mystery readers to our tables to chat about our own books and mysteries in general, pass out our bookmarks and other promotional materials, and share the chocolate. It's a rare signing when I don't have a bowl of Hershey's Kisses sitting out to lure the readers a little closer.
When I first began to do these signings in 2007, I was very shy about approaching people. Braver now, I often walk through the mystery section of a bookstore or catch customers as they walk in the door, hand out bookmarks, and invite them to stop by the signing table to chat. I usually mention that there's no obligation to buy, that we just love the chance to talk to readers about books, getting published, book promotion, or any other subject they're interested in.
One reader wanted to talk about blogging. Another gave me a hard sell on the Twilight series, which I have not read yet since I have this (apparently) unreasonable dislike of vampires (also werewolves and zombies).
The super CRM at Barnes and Noble Centerra, Vivian Tapp, took this picture of the group toward the end of our two-hour event.
From left to right, we are Coloradoans Charlotte Hinger (Deadly Descent), Patricia Stoltey (The Prairie Grass Murders and The Desert Hedge Murders), Cricket McRae (Lye in Wait, Heaven Preserve Us, and Spin a Wicked Web), Mike Befeler (Retirement Homes Are Murder and Living With Your Kids is Murder), and former Coloradoan now living in Wyoming Tony Hayden (The River's Edge and Jaded Honor).
Learn more about Charlotte Hinger tomorrow on my Colorado author Monday.
When I first began to do these signings in 2007, I was very shy about approaching people. Braver now, I often walk through the mystery section of a bookstore or catch customers as they walk in the door, hand out bookmarks, and invite them to stop by the signing table to chat. I usually mention that there's no obligation to buy, that we just love the chance to talk to readers about books, getting published, book promotion, or any other subject they're interested in.
One reader wanted to talk about blogging. Another gave me a hard sell on the Twilight series, which I have not read yet since I have this (apparently) unreasonable dislike of vampires (also werewolves and zombies).
The super CRM at Barnes and Noble Centerra, Vivian Tapp, took this picture of the group toward the end of our two-hour event.
From left to right, we are Coloradoans Charlotte Hinger (Deadly Descent), Patricia Stoltey (The Prairie Grass Murders and The Desert Hedge Murders), Cricket McRae (Lye in Wait, Heaven Preserve Us, and Spin a Wicked Web), Mike Befeler (Retirement Homes Are Murder and Living With Your Kids is Murder), and former Coloradoan now living in Wyoming Tony Hayden (The River's Edge and Jaded Honor).
Learn more about Charlotte Hinger tomorrow on my Colorado author Monday.
Friday, October 23, 2009
The Bouchercon 21 -- 2009 First Novelists -- Part 5
Today I'm featuring the last four debut novels from the 2009 First Novelists speed-dating event at Bouchercon in Indianapolis. If you haven't found at least one book to add to your reading list, then I'm betting you don't read mysteries or thrillers. Here are the last four novels in this series:
STEPHEN JAY SCHWARTZ
Boulevard, published by Forge Books, is the title of Stephen Jay Schwartz's novel, a dark and gritty thriller set in Los Angeles.
"Hayden Glass never had it easy. After losing his father at a young age, he fought hard for everything he got, haunted by a shame that he could never define or conquer. Now a Los Angeles Police Robbery and Homicide detective, Glass is still haunted by the scars that formed in his childhood and left a permanent void in his soul. He deals with it in a very defeating way . . . . he strolls Sunset Boulevard, picking up prostitutes. Hayden Glass is a sex addict."
Buy this novel at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
DENNIS TAFOYA
Dennis Tafoya's novel from St. Martin's Press, Dope Thief, is about a small-time crook who makes a big mistake:
"Ray and his best friend, Manny, close ever since they met in juvie almost twenty years ago, have a great scam going: With a couple of fake badges and some DEA windbreakers they found at a secondhand store, they pose as federal agents and rip off small-time drug dealers, taking their money and drugs and disappearing before anyone is the wiser. It’s the perfect sting: the dealers they target are too small to look for revenge and too guilty to call the police, nobody has to die, nobody innocent gets hurt, and Ray and Manny score plenty. But it can’t last forever."
Dope Thief may be purchased at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
STEFANIE PINTOFF
In the Shadow of Gotham is Stefanie Pintoff's debut mystery, a historical novel set in New York City in the early 1900's. The Darkest Verse also features Simon Ziele and will be released in 2010.
"Detective Simon Ziele loses his fiancée and shortly thereafter heads to Westchester County to escape the violence of the city. But just a few months into his tenure, he catches the worst homicide of his career: a young woman is brutally murdered in her own bedroom in the middle of a winter afternoon..."
In the Shadow of Gotham is available from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
STUART NEVILLE
Originally published in the UK as The Twelve, Stuart Neville's thriller was released in the U.S. from Soho Press as The Ghosts of Belfast.
"Former paramilitary killer Gerry Fegan is haunted by his victims, twelve souls who shadow his every waking day and scream through every drunken night. Just as he reaches the edge of sanity they reveal their desire: vengeance on those who engineered their deaths. From the greedy politicians to the corrupt security forces, the street thugs to the complacent bystanders who let it happen, all must pay the price. When Fegan's vendetta threatens to derail Northern Ireland's peace process and destabilise its fledgling government, old comrades and enemies alike want him gone. David Campbell, a double agent lost between the forces of law and terror, takes the job. But he has his own reasons for eliminating Fegan; the secrets of a dirty war should stay buried, even if its ghosts do not."
Purchase The Ghosts of Belfast from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
Twenty-one seems like a lot of new novels to read, doesn't it? The trouble is, there were even more first novelists at Bouchercon who didn't participate in the speed-dating event. One was Andrew Grant (younger brother of Lee Child) who wrote Even. Another was Matt Hilton, author of Dead Men's Dust. I'm sure there were many more. So many books, so little time.
STEPHEN JAY SCHWARTZ
Boulevard, published by Forge Books, is the title of Stephen Jay Schwartz's novel, a dark and gritty thriller set in Los Angeles."Hayden Glass never had it easy. After losing his father at a young age, he fought hard for everything he got, haunted by a shame that he could never define or conquer. Now a Los Angeles Police Robbery and Homicide detective, Glass is still haunted by the scars that formed in his childhood and left a permanent void in his soul. He deals with it in a very defeating way . . . . he strolls Sunset Boulevard, picking up prostitutes. Hayden Glass is a sex addict."
Buy this novel at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
DENNIS TAFOYA
Dennis Tafoya's novel from St. Martin's Press, Dope Thief, is about a small-time crook who makes a big mistake:"Ray and his best friend, Manny, close ever since they met in juvie almost twenty years ago, have a great scam going: With a couple of fake badges and some DEA windbreakers they found at a secondhand store, they pose as federal agents and rip off small-time drug dealers, taking their money and drugs and disappearing before anyone is the wiser. It’s the perfect sting: the dealers they target are too small to look for revenge and too guilty to call the police, nobody has to die, nobody innocent gets hurt, and Ray and Manny score plenty. But it can’t last forever."
Dope Thief may be purchased at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
STEFANIE PINTOFF
In the Shadow of Gotham is Stefanie Pintoff's debut mystery, a historical novel set in New York City in the early 1900's. The Darkest Verse also features Simon Ziele and will be released in 2010."Detective Simon Ziele loses his fiancée and shortly thereafter heads to Westchester County to escape the violence of the city. But just a few months into his tenure, he catches the worst homicide of his career: a young woman is brutally murdered in her own bedroom in the middle of a winter afternoon..."
In the Shadow of Gotham is available from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
STUART NEVILLE
Originally published in the UK as The Twelve, Stuart Neville's thriller was released in the U.S. from Soho Press as The Ghosts of Belfast."Former paramilitary killer Gerry Fegan is haunted by his victims, twelve souls who shadow his every waking day and scream through every drunken night. Just as he reaches the edge of sanity they reveal their desire: vengeance on those who engineered their deaths. From the greedy politicians to the corrupt security forces, the street thugs to the complacent bystanders who let it happen, all must pay the price. When Fegan's vendetta threatens to derail Northern Ireland's peace process and destabilise its fledgling government, old comrades and enemies alike want him gone. David Campbell, a double agent lost between the forces of law and terror, takes the job. But he has his own reasons for eliminating Fegan; the secrets of a dirty war should stay buried, even if its ghosts do not."
Purchase The Ghosts of Belfast from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
Twenty-one seems like a lot of new novels to read, doesn't it? The trouble is, there were even more first novelists at Bouchercon who didn't participate in the speed-dating event. One was Andrew Grant (younger brother of Lee Child) who wrote Even. Another was Matt Hilton, author of Dead Men's Dust. I'm sure there were many more. So many books, so little time.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Bouchercon 21 -- 2009 First Novelists -- Part 4
Hang in there, only eight more fantastic mystery/thriller debut novels to go. For those checking in for the first time this week, I'm featuring the 21 First Novelists from the speed-dating event at Bouchercon 2009 in Indianapolis. I've given you 13 so far. Today we have:
LISA BORK
The Broken Vows mystery series begins with Lisa Bork's first entry, For Better, For Murder, published by Midnight Ink. For Richer, For Danger will be released in 2010.
"A corpse in her showroom Ferrari, an alleged violent argument with the victim, and a wad of cash hidden in her home make sports car boutique owner Jolene Asdale suspect to her Finger Lakes town and her almost-ex-husband, the deputy sheriff in charge of the investigation."
Buy For Better, For Murder from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
ALLAN E. ANSORGE
Crossing the Centerline, by Allan E. Ansorge, is published by Echelon Press.
"Someone is trying to kill Carl Fletcher, and for the life of him he cannot figure out why. After what appeared to be a hit-and-run accident that cost the life of his fiancée, the full use of his right leg, and his career, Carl seeks a new life as a charter boat captain. While he is out of town another failed attempt is made on his life. Michael McCaffery, Carl’s ex-partner in the Sheriff’s Department of Lake County, Wisconsin, finds the department is doing little to find out who is hunting Carl. Michael and Carl’s internet-addicted mother (who has been known to carry a side arm in her shopping bag) set out to find out who wants Carl dead and stop them."
To purchase Crossing the Centerline, see amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or order through your favorite bookseller.
ANNAMARIA ALFIERI
This debut novel, City of Silver, published by St. Martin's Press, is set in 17th century Peru.
"In PotosÃ, the richest city in the Western Hemisphere, Inez de la Morada, the bewitching, cherished daughter of the rich and powerful Mayor, mysteriously dies at the convent of Santa Isabella de los Santos Milagros, where she had fled in defiance of her father. It looks as though the girl committed suicide, but Mother Abbess Maria Santa Hilda believes her innocent and has her buried at the convent in sacred ground. Fray Ubaldo DaTriesta, local Commissioner of the Inquisition, has been keeping an eye on the Abbess, who is too “Protestant” for his tastes, and this action may be just what he needs to convince the lazy, cowardly Bishop to punish her."
Find this book at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
SHARON POTTS
Sharon Potts is the author of In Their Blood, from Oceanview Publishing.
"An ordinary family. A quiet neighborhood in Miami Beach. A shotgun blast. Nothing will ever seem ordinary again. When his parents are brutally murdered in their own home, Jeremy Stroeb, a disillusioned college student, is determined to learn the truth. Unaware that he's putting his own life in jeopardy and his sister at risk, he tries to find his parents' killer by getting on the inside of their worlds. But in doing so, Jeremy discovers his adolescent view of his mother and father was wrong. They weren't the people he had believed them to be."
You know where: amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
There are four more of these tempting tales of murder and mayhem left to go. Don't forget to drop by tomorrow for the rest of the story.
LISA BORK
The Broken Vows mystery series begins with Lisa Bork's first entry, For Better, For Murder, published by Midnight Ink. For Richer, For Danger will be released in 2010."A corpse in her showroom Ferrari, an alleged violent argument with the victim, and a wad of cash hidden in her home make sports car boutique owner Jolene Asdale suspect to her Finger Lakes town and her almost-ex-husband, the deputy sheriff in charge of the investigation."
Buy For Better, For Murder from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
ALLAN E. ANSORGE
Crossing the Centerline, by Allan E. Ansorge, is published by Echelon Press."Someone is trying to kill Carl Fletcher, and for the life of him he cannot figure out why. After what appeared to be a hit-and-run accident that cost the life of his fiancée, the full use of his right leg, and his career, Carl seeks a new life as a charter boat captain. While he is out of town another failed attempt is made on his life. Michael McCaffery, Carl’s ex-partner in the Sheriff’s Department of Lake County, Wisconsin, finds the department is doing little to find out who is hunting Carl. Michael and Carl’s internet-addicted mother (who has been known to carry a side arm in her shopping bag) set out to find out who wants Carl dead and stop them."
To purchase Crossing the Centerline, see amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or order through your favorite bookseller.
ANNAMARIA ALFIERI
This debut novel, City of Silver, published by St. Martin's Press, is set in 17th century Peru."In PotosÃ, the richest city in the Western Hemisphere, Inez de la Morada, the bewitching, cherished daughter of the rich and powerful Mayor, mysteriously dies at the convent of Santa Isabella de los Santos Milagros, where she had fled in defiance of her father. It looks as though the girl committed suicide, but Mother Abbess Maria Santa Hilda believes her innocent and has her buried at the convent in sacred ground. Fray Ubaldo DaTriesta, local Commissioner of the Inquisition, has been keeping an eye on the Abbess, who is too “Protestant” for his tastes, and this action may be just what he needs to convince the lazy, cowardly Bishop to punish her."
Find this book at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
SHARON POTTS
Sharon Potts is the author of In Their Blood, from Oceanview Publishing."An ordinary family. A quiet neighborhood in Miami Beach. A shotgun blast. Nothing will ever seem ordinary again. When his parents are brutally murdered in their own home, Jeremy Stroeb, a disillusioned college student, is determined to learn the truth. Unaware that he's putting his own life in jeopardy and his sister at risk, he tries to find his parents' killer by getting on the inside of their worlds. But in doing so, Jeremy discovers his adolescent view of his mother and father was wrong. They weren't the people he had believed them to be."
You know where: amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
There are four more of these tempting tales of murder and mayhem left to go. Don't forget to drop by tomorrow for the rest of the story.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Bouchercon 21 -- 2009 First Novelists -- Part 3
If you haven't visited earlier this week, you may want to check out the posts for Monday and Tuesday as well. This whole week I'm featuring the 21 first novelists and their debut novels as presented at the Indianapolis Bouchercon's speed-dating event last week. I have five debut novels for you today.
JAMIE FREVELETTI
Running From the Devil is the title of the Jamie Freveletti thriller published by William Morrow. Since I couldn't afford to buy every new title from these debut authors, at the end of the event I picked one story line from the many I wanted to read and chose Jamie's book to buy. There are so many good stories among these 21 novels, and all of the authors were so interesting, that it wasn't all that easy to make a decision.
"Emma Caldridge, a chemist for a cosmetics company, is en route from Miami to Bogotá when her plane is hijacked and spins out of control into the mountains near the Venezuelan border. Thrown unhurt from the wreckage, she can do nothing but watch as guerillas take the others hostage. An endurance marathon runner, Emma silently trails the guerillas and their captives, using her athletic prowess and scientific knowledge to stay alive. Those skills become essential when she discovers an injured passenger, secret government agent Cameron Sumner, separated from the group."
You may purchase Running From the Devil at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com and most booksellers.
JOHN C. FORD
John C. Ford is the author of The Morgue and Me, a novel for older YA readers published by Viking Juvenile.
"Christopher just needed a job to kill time the summer after high school graduation. He didn’t expect it to be in the morgue. Or that he would accidentally discover a murder cover-up. Or that his discovery would lead him to a full-blown investigation involving bribery, kidnappings, more murders . . . and his best friend."
Purchase The Morgue and Me at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com and through most other booksellers.
RACHEL BRADY
Final Approach, published by Poisoned Pen Press, is the debut novel of Rachel Brady.
"Sometimes clues just fall from the sky. Four years ago Emily Locke's life was shattered when her infant daughter and husband were lost in an inexplicable accident. She has nearly rebuilt her fragile mental health when Richard Cole, a disgraced former police detective now working as a PI, resurfaces. He wants help he says only she can provide—reconnaissance at a Texas skydiving establishment over a thousand miles away. Emily knows better than to work with him again, but can't refuse when she learns it's about a missing boy."
The book is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
REBECCA CANTRELL
The author of A Trace of Smoke, published by Forge Books, and next year's A Night of Long Knives, Rebecca Cantrell has set her mystery series in Berlin in the 1930s.
Excerpt: Every Monday the police changed out the oldest photographs to make room for the latest editions of those who carried no identification, as was too often the case in Berlin since the Great War.My eyes darted to the words under the photograph that had called to me. Fished from the water by a sightseeing boat the morning of Saturday, May 30, 1931—the day before yesterday. Apparent cause of death: stab wound to the heart. Under distinguishing characteristics they listed a heart-shaped tattoo on his lower back that said “Father.” No identification present.
I needed none. I knew the face as well as my own, or my sister Ursula’s, with our square jaws and cleft chins. I wore my dark blond hair cut short into a bob, but he wore his long, like our mother, like any woman of a certain age, although he was neither a woman nor of a certain age. He was my baby brother, Ernst.
You'll be able to find A Trace of Smoke in many bookstores as well as amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
JUDITH YATES BORGER
The title of Judith Yates Borger's debut novel is Where's Billie? Published in paperback by Nodin Press, Where's Billie? begins:
Excerpt: Looking back, I should never have returned that phone call.
"Hughes. I’m sending you a voice mail that’s been sitting in my queue since 6:00 this morning. Give it listen and then we’ll talk.” That was Thom Savage, my editor and the next one up on the newsroom food chain.
The newsroom’s first pot of coffee hadn’t even finished dripping as I picked up my phone and punched in the code to get my messages. A nasal, haughty voice played back. She said her name was Cathy Berry, and she was a subscriber living in Land o’ Lakes. Friday night, her daughter, Billie, left her three-to-eleven job at the SuperAmerica gas station on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. She never came home.
Purchase Where's Billie? at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and through most other booksellers.
I'll continue tomorrow with four more debut novels to get you into the mystery reading mood.
JAMIE FREVELETTI
Running From the Devil is the title of the Jamie Freveletti thriller published by William Morrow. Since I couldn't afford to buy every new title from these debut authors, at the end of the event I picked one story line from the many I wanted to read and chose Jamie's book to buy. There are so many good stories among these 21 novels, and all of the authors were so interesting, that it wasn't all that easy to make a decision."Emma Caldridge, a chemist for a cosmetics company, is en route from Miami to Bogotá when her plane is hijacked and spins out of control into the mountains near the Venezuelan border. Thrown unhurt from the wreckage, she can do nothing but watch as guerillas take the others hostage. An endurance marathon runner, Emma silently trails the guerillas and their captives, using her athletic prowess and scientific knowledge to stay alive. Those skills become essential when she discovers an injured passenger, secret government agent Cameron Sumner, separated from the group."
You may purchase Running From the Devil at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com and most booksellers.
JOHN C. FORD
John C. Ford is the author of The Morgue and Me, a novel for older YA readers published by Viking Juvenile."Christopher just needed a job to kill time the summer after high school graduation. He didn’t expect it to be in the morgue. Or that he would accidentally discover a murder cover-up. Or that his discovery would lead him to a full-blown investigation involving bribery, kidnappings, more murders . . . and his best friend."
Purchase The Morgue and Me at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com and through most other booksellers.
RACHEL BRADY
Final Approach, published by Poisoned Pen Press, is the debut novel of Rachel Brady."Sometimes clues just fall from the sky. Four years ago Emily Locke's life was shattered when her infant daughter and husband were lost in an inexplicable accident. She has nearly rebuilt her fragile mental health when Richard Cole, a disgraced former police detective now working as a PI, resurfaces. He wants help he says only she can provide—reconnaissance at a Texas skydiving establishment over a thousand miles away. Emily knows better than to work with him again, but can't refuse when she learns it's about a missing boy."
The book is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and through most other booksellers.
REBECCA CANTRELL
The author of A Trace of Smoke, published by Forge Books, and next year's A Night of Long Knives, Rebecca Cantrell has set her mystery series in Berlin in the 1930s.Excerpt: Every Monday the police changed out the oldest photographs to make room for the latest editions of those who carried no identification, as was too often the case in Berlin since the Great War.My eyes darted to the words under the photograph that had called to me. Fished from the water by a sightseeing boat the morning of Saturday, May 30, 1931—the day before yesterday. Apparent cause of death: stab wound to the heart. Under distinguishing characteristics they listed a heart-shaped tattoo on his lower back that said “Father.” No identification present.
I needed none. I knew the face as well as my own, or my sister Ursula’s, with our square jaws and cleft chins. I wore my dark blond hair cut short into a bob, but he wore his long, like our mother, like any woman of a certain age, although he was neither a woman nor of a certain age. He was my baby brother, Ernst.
You'll be able to find A Trace of Smoke in many bookstores as well as amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
JUDITH YATES BORGER
The title of Judith Yates Borger's debut novel is Where's Billie? Published in paperback by Nodin Press, Where's Billie? begins:Excerpt: Looking back, I should never have returned that phone call.
"Hughes. I’m sending you a voice mail that’s been sitting in my queue since 6:00 this morning. Give it listen and then we’ll talk.” That was Thom Savage, my editor and the next one up on the newsroom food chain.
The newsroom’s first pot of coffee hadn’t even finished dripping as I picked up my phone and punched in the code to get my messages. A nasal, haughty voice played back. She said her name was Cathy Berry, and she was a subscriber living in Land o’ Lakes. Friday night, her daughter, Billie, left her three-to-eleven job at the SuperAmerica gas station on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. She never came home.
Purchase Where's Billie? at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and through most other booksellers.
I'll continue tomorrow with four more debut novels to get you into the mystery reading mood.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The Bouchercon 21 -- 2009 First Novelists -- Part 2
The next four authors to pitch their books at the Bouchercon First Novelists speed-dating event were:
GAYLE CARLINE
I had become acquainted with Gayle Carline in May when we both took Dani Greer's online blogbooktour class. We finally met face-to-face when she sat down to pitch her novel, Freezer Burn, to the group. I've already read this excellent debut, so am happy to recommend it.
"Peri Minneopa has heard her name mangled a thousand ways and hates them all. What she does like are clean houses, and dirty martinis. She recently traded in her housecleaning business for a P.I. license, seeking low-risk assignments. Her timing seems perfect when she cleans a former client's freezer and finds a severed hand inside, wearing an expensive ring."
Published by Echelon Press, Freezer Burn is available from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and can be ordered through most booksellers.
KATE CARLISLE
Kate Carlisle's debut mystery is called Homicide in Hardcover (to be followed in February by If Books Could Kill).
"Brooklyn Wainwright is a skilled surgeon. Sure, her patients might smell like mold and have spines made of leather, but no ailing book is going to die on her watch. The same can't be said of Abraham Karastovsky, Brooklyn's friend and former employer. On the eve of a celebration for his latest book restoration, Brooklyn finds her mentor lying in a pool of his own blood."
Homicide in Hardcover is published in mass market paperback by Signet and may be purchased from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other booksellers.
MARGARET FENTON
Little Lamb Lost is the title of Margaret Fenton's debut mystery.
"Birmingham social worker Claire Conover honestly believed she could make a difference in the world until she gets the phone call she’s dreaded her entire career. One of her young clients, Michael, has been found dead and his mother, Ashley, has been arrested for his murder. And who made the decision to return Michael to Ashley? Claire Conover."
Oceanview is the publisher. Little Lamb Lost is available through amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other booksellers.
CONNIE DIAL
After 25 years with the LAPD, Connie Dial has a great background for a mystery writer. Published by The Permanent Press, Internal Affairs is a "gritty tale of murder and intrigue in Hollywood" and will soon be followed by Connie's second novel, The Broken Blue Line.
"Jim McGann, a deputy chief with the LAPD, goes out for his morning jog, only to find a cop car parked in front of his house. In the trunk is the mutilated body of Alexandra Williams, a police officer who had been having an affair with McGann."
Find Internal Affairs at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
Please drop in tomorrow for more debut novels of mystery and mayhem introduced during Bouchercon's 2009 First Novelists speed-dating event.
GAYLE CARLINE
I had become acquainted with Gayle Carline in May when we both took Dani Greer's online blogbooktour class. We finally met face-to-face when she sat down to pitch her novel, Freezer Burn, to the group. I've already read this excellent debut, so am happy to recommend it."Peri Minneopa has heard her name mangled a thousand ways and hates them all. What she does like are clean houses, and dirty martinis. She recently traded in her housecleaning business for a P.I. license, seeking low-risk assignments. Her timing seems perfect when she cleans a former client's freezer and finds a severed hand inside, wearing an expensive ring."
Published by Echelon Press, Freezer Burn is available from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and can be ordered through most booksellers.
KATE CARLISLE
Kate Carlisle's debut mystery is called Homicide in Hardcover (to be followed in February by If Books Could Kill)."Brooklyn Wainwright is a skilled surgeon. Sure, her patients might smell like mold and have spines made of leather, but no ailing book is going to die on her watch. The same can't be said of Abraham Karastovsky, Brooklyn's friend and former employer. On the eve of a celebration for his latest book restoration, Brooklyn finds her mentor lying in a pool of his own blood."
Homicide in Hardcover is published in mass market paperback by Signet and may be purchased from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other booksellers.
MARGARET FENTON
Little Lamb Lost is the title of Margaret Fenton's debut mystery."Birmingham social worker Claire Conover honestly believed she could make a difference in the world until she gets the phone call she’s dreaded her entire career. One of her young clients, Michael, has been found dead and his mother, Ashley, has been arrested for his murder. And who made the decision to return Michael to Ashley? Claire Conover."
Oceanview is the publisher. Little Lamb Lost is available through amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other booksellers.
CONNIE DIAL
After 25 years with the LAPD, Connie Dial has a great background for a mystery writer. Published by The Permanent Press, Internal Affairs is a "gritty tale of murder and intrigue in Hollywood" and will soon be followed by Connie's second novel, The Broken Blue Line."Jim McGann, a deputy chief with the LAPD, goes out for his morning jog, only to find a cop car parked in front of his house. In the trunk is the mutilated body of Alexandra Williams, a police officer who had been having an affair with McGann."
Find Internal Affairs at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
Please drop in tomorrow for more debut novels of mystery and mayhem introduced during Bouchercon's 2009 First Novelists speed-dating event.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Bouchercon 21 -- 2009 First Novelists -- Part 1
As promised, this week I'll be introducing debut novels of the new authors I met during the Bouchercon 2009 First Novelists speed-dating event sponsored by Mystery Scene. In an earlier post, I described how the event worked: mystery fans fan out and sit at round tables in a big room. The first-time novelists are sent from table to table to give three-minute pitches about their books and pertinent information about their backgrounds.
I'll be talking about the authors in the order they pitched at my group's table.
VINCENT MCCAFFREY
Author Vincent McCaffrey wrote Hound:
"A bookhound, Henry Sullivan buys and sells books he finds at estate auctions and library sales around Boston and often from the relatives of the recently deceased. He’s in his late thirties, single, and comfortably set in his ways. But when a woman from his past, Morgan Johnson, calls to ask him to look at her late husband’s books, he is drawn into the dark machinations of a family whose mixed loyalties and secret history will have fatal results."
Hound is available from Small Beer Press, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or may be ordered through most bookstores.
TRACY KIELY
The second new author to talk about her debut novel in three minutes was Tracy Kiely, author of Murder at Longbourn:
"Set in a picturesque Cape Cod B&B on New Year's Eve, the story follows Elizabeth Parker, a young woman on the mend from a bad breakup. Instead of a peaceful retreat, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and in the company of the nemesis of her youth, Peter McGowan - a man she suspects has matured in chronological years only."
Murder at Longbourn was published by Minotaur Books and can be purchased at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com or ordered through your favorite bookseller.
SETH HARWOOD
Jack Wakes Up is the title of Seth Harwood's debut mystery release.
"In the three years since Jack Palms went clean: no drugs, no drinking, no life, he's added fourteen pounds of muscle, read 83 books, and played it as straight as anyone can ask him. Now, when an old friend from L.A. calls, he hits the streets of San Francisco to help a group of Czech drug buyers make one big score, a single drug deal that he hopes will set him up for life. But when people start turning up dead, and an old nemesis on the police force calls, Jack finds himself with just 24 hours to track down San Francisco's biggest drug supplier or face charges that will put him behind bars."
The publisher is Crown Publishing. Buy at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, or order from your favorite bookseller.
BRYAN GILMER
Bryan Gilmer had two 2009 paperback releases through CreateSpace:
Felonious Jazz: is a a crime thriller novel about a disturbed musician committing the perfect jazz album of burglaries and killings in suburban Raleigh, North Carolina.
Kill the Story: A night-shift newspaper crime reporter must solve the murder of his rival at the local TV station -- before the people the dead man was writing about can stop him, too.
Both novels may be purchased through amazon.com.
Meet four more new authors and their debut novels here tomorrow.
I'll be talking about the authors in the order they pitched at my group's table.
VINCENT MCCAFFREY
Author Vincent McCaffrey wrote Hound:
"A bookhound, Henry Sullivan buys and sells books he finds at estate auctions and library sales around Boston and often from the relatives of the recently deceased. He’s in his late thirties, single, and comfortably set in his ways. But when a woman from his past, Morgan Johnson, calls to ask him to look at her late husband’s books, he is drawn into the dark machinations of a family whose mixed loyalties and secret history will have fatal results."Hound is available from Small Beer Press, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or may be ordered through most bookstores.
TRACY KIELY
The second new author to talk about her debut novel in three minutes was Tracy Kiely, author of Murder at Longbourn:"Set in a picturesque Cape Cod B&B on New Year's Eve, the story follows Elizabeth Parker, a young woman on the mend from a bad breakup. Instead of a peaceful retreat, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and in the company of the nemesis of her youth, Peter McGowan - a man she suspects has matured in chronological years only."
Murder at Longbourn was published by Minotaur Books and can be purchased at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com or ordered through your favorite bookseller.
SETH HARWOOD
Jack Wakes Up is the title of Seth Harwood's debut mystery release."In the three years since Jack Palms went clean: no drugs, no drinking, no life, he's added fourteen pounds of muscle, read 83 books, and played it as straight as anyone can ask him. Now, when an old friend from L.A. calls, he hits the streets of San Francisco to help a group of Czech drug buyers make one big score, a single drug deal that he hopes will set him up for life. But when people start turning up dead, and an old nemesis on the police force calls, Jack finds himself with just 24 hours to track down San Francisco's biggest drug supplier or face charges that will put him behind bars."
The publisher is Crown Publishing. Buy at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, or order from your favorite bookseller.
BRYAN GILMER
Bryan Gilmer had two 2009 paperback releases through CreateSpace:Felonious Jazz: is a a crime thriller novel about a disturbed musician committing the perfect jazz album of burglaries and killings in suburban Raleigh, North Carolina.
Kill the Story: A night-shift newspaper crime reporter must solve the murder of his rival at the local TV station -- before the people the dead man was writing about can stop him, too.
Both novels may be purchased through amazon.com.
Meet four more new authors and their debut novels here tomorrow.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Bouchercon 2009 The Rest of the Story
Friday afternoon I attended a panel called Second (or Third) Acts featuring Sarah Smith, Kate Gallison aka Irene Fleming, Dana Haynes, Bonnie Ramthun, and Ken Wishnia. This discussion involved career changes, the kind that are most often unexpected (such as when your agent retires or your publisher declares bankruptcy), but sometimes simply results from low sales. Whether an author takes months to recover or years, whether a change of genre is required, or even a change of name, the consensus was that authors can come back. They need to be patient, hang on to the day job, work hard, and never give up.
At 4:30 on Friday, my Illinois librarian friend, Molly MacRae, was the moderator for a later panel called You Talking About Me? Sarah Wisseman stepped in to replace C. J. Lyons who had come down with the flu. The other panelists were Ken Isaacson, Twist Phelan, and Hank Phillippi Ryan. This group debated the pros and cons of modeling characters after self, friends, or family (or even your enemies) and discussed the risks involved. Sounds like a serious panel, doesn't it. Don't be fooled. This group, led by a well-prepared and witty moderator, was very funny.
To finish off the day, the authors published by Five Star gathered once again in a dark corner of the bar and chatted with editor Deni Dietz and Tekno's John Helfers who keep us informed of the Tekno/Five Star relationship and plans for the future.
After a great night's sleep, and when I finally had consumed enough coffee to get going, I dropped by the Continuous Conversation rotation to see what the authors were talking about this morning. The three on the hot seat when I arrived were Suzanne Aruda, Beverle Graves Myers, and Alan Gordon. When Suzanne's rotation was up, she was replaced by Laurie R. King. And when Alan left at his turn, Megan Abbott joined the group. This Continuous Conversation was, I believe, the brainchild of Carl Brookins a few conferences ago, and it seems to be extremely popular with both authors and fans. The conversations go on all day and each author stays 45 minutes, but the rotation is set up so one author moves each 15 minutes.
I had to scurry off at 10:30 AM to attend a panel on Serial Killers. The moderator was Leonard Cassuto and the panelists were Matt Hilton, Johnathan Santlofer, Stephen Jay Schwartz, and Howard Shrier. I was especially interested in Matt Hilton, a Brit whose name and book I had discovered when I visited the blog of cyber friend Paul Brazill. Because of Matt's charming British accent and the story line of his book, I am now the owner of a signed copy of Dead Men's Dust.
1:00 PM was the Geezer Lit Comes of Age panel moderated by Mike Befeler. Panel members were Chester Campbell, Naomi Hirahara, Mary Saums, and me. We had a wonderful audience, and I had a lot of fun. I'm totally convinced that humor in any panel is the secret to keeping the audience interested and engaged.
So it only makes sense that I would head for The Humor Panel at 2:30. With Alan Gordon as the moderator, authors Donna Andrews, Chris Grabenstein, Harley Jane Kozak, and Allyson Roy tried to tell us how they go about writing funny, and how funny can be used with murder without offending the reader. I'm not sure anyone knows how they do it at the time they're writing. It just happens...or it doesn't.
The only event I have left to attend this evening is the Charity Auction. Since Donna Andrews and Chris Grabenstein are the auctioneers, and I've seen Chris in this roll before, I wouldn't miss it for anything. My contribution to the auction is a combination character name award with three other authors (Mike Befeler, Bonnie Ramthun, and Beth Groundwater). Whoever buys this prize will have his or her name attached to a character in each of our next books. That is, of course, if we all have new books. The chances are pretty good. But I think we're all hoping the buyer doesn't have a difficult name like Crystlemyer Crankerpoof.
The main thing going on tomorrow (Sunday) morning is The Bazaar where more than 100 mystery writers will be giving away signed books to convention attendees holding tickets (five of which we received with our registration package). I understand most of the books will be backlist books, but it hardly matters. There are so many great authors I haven't read, that any book is a good book to me.
After that, we're packing it up and heading for home. There will be no Sunday post. If all goes well, I'll begin telling you about the twenty-one 2009 New Authors from Bouchercon on my blog on Monday. Our regularly scheduled Colorado Author Monday will resume on October 26th.
At 4:30 on Friday, my Illinois librarian friend, Molly MacRae, was the moderator for a later panel called You Talking About Me? Sarah Wisseman stepped in to replace C. J. Lyons who had come down with the flu. The other panelists were Ken Isaacson, Twist Phelan, and Hank Phillippi Ryan. This group debated the pros and cons of modeling characters after self, friends, or family (or even your enemies) and discussed the risks involved. Sounds like a serious panel, doesn't it. Don't be fooled. This group, led by a well-prepared and witty moderator, was very funny.
To finish off the day, the authors published by Five Star gathered once again in a dark corner of the bar and chatted with editor Deni Dietz and Tekno's John Helfers who keep us informed of the Tekno/Five Star relationship and plans for the future.
After a great night's sleep, and when I finally had consumed enough coffee to get going, I dropped by the Continuous Conversation rotation to see what the authors were talking about this morning. The three on the hot seat when I arrived were Suzanne Aruda, Beverle Graves Myers, and Alan Gordon. When Suzanne's rotation was up, she was replaced by Laurie R. King. And when Alan left at his turn, Megan Abbott joined the group. This Continuous Conversation was, I believe, the brainchild of Carl Brookins a few conferences ago, and it seems to be extremely popular with both authors and fans. The conversations go on all day and each author stays 45 minutes, but the rotation is set up so one author moves each 15 minutes.
I had to scurry off at 10:30 AM to attend a panel on Serial Killers. The moderator was Leonard Cassuto and the panelists were Matt Hilton, Johnathan Santlofer, Stephen Jay Schwartz, and Howard Shrier. I was especially interested in Matt Hilton, a Brit whose name and book I had discovered when I visited the blog of cyber friend Paul Brazill. Because of Matt's charming British accent and the story line of his book, I am now the owner of a signed copy of Dead Men's Dust.
1:00 PM was the Geezer Lit Comes of Age panel moderated by Mike Befeler. Panel members were Chester Campbell, Naomi Hirahara, Mary Saums, and me. We had a wonderful audience, and I had a lot of fun. I'm totally convinced that humor in any panel is the secret to keeping the audience interested and engaged.
So it only makes sense that I would head for The Humor Panel at 2:30. With Alan Gordon as the moderator, authors Donna Andrews, Chris Grabenstein, Harley Jane Kozak, and Allyson Roy tried to tell us how they go about writing funny, and how funny can be used with murder without offending the reader. I'm not sure anyone knows how they do it at the time they're writing. It just happens...or it doesn't.
The only event I have left to attend this evening is the Charity Auction. Since Donna Andrews and Chris Grabenstein are the auctioneers, and I've seen Chris in this roll before, I wouldn't miss it for anything. My contribution to the auction is a combination character name award with three other authors (Mike Befeler, Bonnie Ramthun, and Beth Groundwater). Whoever buys this prize will have his or her name attached to a character in each of our next books. That is, of course, if we all have new books. The chances are pretty good. But I think we're all hoping the buyer doesn't have a difficult name like Crystlemyer Crankerpoof.
The main thing going on tomorrow (Sunday) morning is The Bazaar where more than 100 mystery writers will be giving away signed books to convention attendees holding tickets (five of which we received with our registration package). I understand most of the books will be backlist books, but it hardly matters. There are so many great authors I haven't read, that any book is a good book to me.
After that, we're packing it up and heading for home. There will be no Sunday post. If all goes well, I'll begin telling you about the twenty-one 2009 New Authors from Bouchercon on my blog on Monday. Our regularly scheduled Colorado Author Monday will resume on October 26th.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Bouchercon Night One and Morning Two
I wish I could tell you I packed it in after dinner and went to bed Thursday night. Really. But that's not what happened.
At 8:00 PM I attended the Toastmaster Interview with S. J. Rozan and discovered there was one more incredible author I didn't know about and must read.
Then, at 9:00 PM, I followed the trail of convention attendees over the crosswalk and through the corridors and up the escalators and around the corner and up more escalators and suddenly we were in Gameworks in the Circle Center Mall. The Indy Bouchercon Thursday Night Extravaganza was underway with food, music, games, and a talent show that only a crowd of mystery writers could conjure up in their wildest creative moments. There were several bizarre performances (think songs with lyrics like "With her head..tucked..underneath her arm," or "Open with an autopsy scene," and you can imagine the tone), a little stand-up comedy which was pretty good, and even a couple of folks with real talent. You notice I'm not naming names.
You'd think one would be finished for the day after that. But roommate Beth Groundwater and I decided to take one spin around the game room. We stopped to drive Indy cars, then put out fires, and finished up with shooting games, first the zombies and then the soldiers or drug runners or whatever they were. I think it was the zombie game that kept me awake all night, which was a problem since we were scheduled to attend the Sisters in Crime Breakfast at 7:30 this morning. We made it, but it wasn't easy.
At 9:00 AM, I attended the 2009 First Novelists Round Robin Event (or Speed Dating as some called it) where readers spread out at tables around a big room and the newly published authors are forced to move from table to table giving a three-minute pitch to sell themselves and their books. You'll be hearing more about this later, as I'm going to give you a big treat by listing these authors and their books, and giving you links to their websites and to amazon.com. I had marked quite a few as books I'll be wanting to read. So much talent, so many books, and so many really nice people. I will note for those readers who know Gayle Carline from the blogbooktour class, that she was one of the new authors present and she delivered an excellent pitch.
For those of you who commented on all that energy I displayed yesterday, here's where it all caught up with me. I admit it, I skipped Michael Connelly's interview just so I could go to the room and take a power nap. It was great.
I'll give you the rest of today's events in the next post. For now, I'm heading to bed. I'm hoping the zombies do not make an appearance tonight.
At 8:00 PM I attended the Toastmaster Interview with S. J. Rozan and discovered there was one more incredible author I didn't know about and must read.
Then, at 9:00 PM, I followed the trail of convention attendees over the crosswalk and through the corridors and up the escalators and around the corner and up more escalators and suddenly we were in Gameworks in the Circle Center Mall. The Indy Bouchercon Thursday Night Extravaganza was underway with food, music, games, and a talent show that only a crowd of mystery writers could conjure up in their wildest creative moments. There were several bizarre performances (think songs with lyrics like "With her head..tucked..underneath her arm," or "Open with an autopsy scene," and you can imagine the tone), a little stand-up comedy which was pretty good, and even a couple of folks with real talent. You notice I'm not naming names.
You'd think one would be finished for the day after that. But roommate Beth Groundwater and I decided to take one spin around the game room. We stopped to drive Indy cars, then put out fires, and finished up with shooting games, first the zombies and then the soldiers or drug runners or whatever they were. I think it was the zombie game that kept me awake all night, which was a problem since we were scheduled to attend the Sisters in Crime Breakfast at 7:30 this morning. We made it, but it wasn't easy.
At 9:00 AM, I attended the 2009 First Novelists Round Robin Event (or Speed Dating as some called it) where readers spread out at tables around a big room and the newly published authors are forced to move from table to table giving a three-minute pitch to sell themselves and their books. You'll be hearing more about this later, as I'm going to give you a big treat by listing these authors and their books, and giving you links to their websites and to amazon.com. I had marked quite a few as books I'll be wanting to read. So much talent, so many books, and so many really nice people. I will note for those readers who know Gayle Carline from the blogbooktour class, that she was one of the new authors present and she delivered an excellent pitch.
For those of you who commented on all that energy I displayed yesterday, here's where it all caught up with me. I admit it, I skipped Michael Connelly's interview just so I could go to the room and take a power nap. It was great.
I'll give you the rest of today's events in the next post. For now, I'm heading to bed. I'm hoping the zombies do not make an appearance tonight.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Bouchercon Day One
I'm writing this at 6:30 PM Eastern Time Thursday in Indianapolis as I rest up from today's activities and get ready for those left to enjoy this evening.
Here's what I did today:
8:30 AM -- Grabbed a venti non-fat latte and a slice of pumpkin loaf from Starbucks which is conveniently placed in the Hyatt Regency Lobby.
9:00 AM -- Attended the Killer Hobbies panel. Cozy mystery writers who base their tales on crafts are fun panelists because they usually have some wonderful stories to tell. I was especially interested in this panel because Beth Groundwater, my roommate, was one of the panelists. The crafty subjects ranged from Beth's gift baskets to Joanna Campbell Slan's scrapbooking, to knitting and crocheting from Sally Goldenbaum and Betty Hechtman, and to the miniatures of Camillie Minichino aka Margaret Grace.
10:30 AM -- Attended the Heroes For Our Times panel, which included moderator Phil Dunlap, Meg Gardiner, Robert Ward, Sally Wright, and (TA DA) one of our Wyoming favorites, Craig Johnson. I'm beginning to think that every mystery writer has a great sense of humor, even when they write serious mysteries. Why do you think that is?
In here I did a few online chores, ate lunch, hovered around the hospitality room until the soft serve ice cream was ready, ate two candy bars, and stopped by my room for Tums. As it turned out, the light in our bathroom was flashing on and off, so I went down to the lobby to ask for a bulb replacement. I found myself standing next to a tall good-looking guy, made eye contact and smiled as I walked up (I'm old but I'm not dead), and realized I was standing inches from Lee Child. My brain froze. What should I say? "Hi?" Or maybe gush, "I love your books." Or should I look around and nonchalantly ask, "Where's Jack?" I, of course, did none of those things. I simply told the desk clerk about the light, then left like a reasonable, normal grown-up. Darn it.
3:00 PM -- I had won a Hot Ticket to attend a small group session with thriller author Joseph Finder, so I found the little boardroom, took one of the last seats available which turned out to be right next to Joe, and participated in a very fun Q&A -- we now know stuff about Joe Finder's books and his writing career that you probably wish you knew.
4:30 PM -- I attended a panel called The Fixers, which was about the thriller protagonists who "fix" things. George Easter was the moderator, and the authors were Bret Battles, Andrew Grant, Mike Lawson, and (TA DA) Lee Child. Another good panel, and again, these guys were funny. And did you know Andrew Grant is Lee Child's brother? Other than the fact that they look a lot alike and both have British accents, how would you know?
Throughout the day I've had chances to sit and chat with mystery fans who don't write. Interestingly enough, we end up talking more about grandkids and where we live and our hobbies than we do about mysteries. This is one of the best parts of mystery conventions.
Okay, so here I am, sending this little report off today so I don't have to write a post at midnight. After I've eaten, I'll attend the Toastmaster Interview with S. J. Rozan at 8:00. And then at 9:00, it's off to Gameworks at the Circle Center Mall (hopefully I'll find that okay since there's a walkway from the hotel to the mall). This is the Thursday Night Extravaganza. All I really know about is the talent show, but I guess there will be lots of other stuff going on as well. Might as well check it out. Just because I have to attend a 7:30 AM event tomorrow morning is no reason to get any rest tonight.
I'll be back again sometime Friday afternoon or evening to let you know how things are going.
Here's what I did today:
8:30 AM -- Grabbed a venti non-fat latte and a slice of pumpkin loaf from Starbucks which is conveniently placed in the Hyatt Regency Lobby.
9:00 AM -- Attended the Killer Hobbies panel. Cozy mystery writers who base their tales on crafts are fun panelists because they usually have some wonderful stories to tell. I was especially interested in this panel because Beth Groundwater, my roommate, was one of the panelists. The crafty subjects ranged from Beth's gift baskets to Joanna Campbell Slan's scrapbooking, to knitting and crocheting from Sally Goldenbaum and Betty Hechtman, and to the miniatures of Camillie Minichino aka Margaret Grace.
10:30 AM -- Attended the Heroes For Our Times panel, which included moderator Phil Dunlap, Meg Gardiner, Robert Ward, Sally Wright, and (TA DA) one of our Wyoming favorites, Craig Johnson. I'm beginning to think that every mystery writer has a great sense of humor, even when they write serious mysteries. Why do you think that is?
In here I did a few online chores, ate lunch, hovered around the hospitality room until the soft serve ice cream was ready, ate two candy bars, and stopped by my room for Tums. As it turned out, the light in our bathroom was flashing on and off, so I went down to the lobby to ask for a bulb replacement. I found myself standing next to a tall good-looking guy, made eye contact and smiled as I walked up (I'm old but I'm not dead), and realized I was standing inches from Lee Child. My brain froze. What should I say? "Hi?" Or maybe gush, "I love your books." Or should I look around and nonchalantly ask, "Where's Jack?" I, of course, did none of those things. I simply told the desk clerk about the light, then left like a reasonable, normal grown-up. Darn it.
3:00 PM -- I had won a Hot Ticket to attend a small group session with thriller author Joseph Finder, so I found the little boardroom, took one of the last seats available which turned out to be right next to Joe, and participated in a very fun Q&A -- we now know stuff about Joe Finder's books and his writing career that you probably wish you knew.
4:30 PM -- I attended a panel called The Fixers, which was about the thriller protagonists who "fix" things. George Easter was the moderator, and the authors were Bret Battles, Andrew Grant, Mike Lawson, and (TA DA) Lee Child. Another good panel, and again, these guys were funny. And did you know Andrew Grant is Lee Child's brother? Other than the fact that they look a lot alike and both have British accents, how would you know?
Throughout the day I've had chances to sit and chat with mystery fans who don't write. Interestingly enough, we end up talking more about grandkids and where we live and our hobbies than we do about mysteries. This is one of the best parts of mystery conventions.
Okay, so here I am, sending this little report off today so I don't have to write a post at midnight. After I've eaten, I'll attend the Toastmaster Interview with S. J. Rozan at 8:00. And then at 9:00, it's off to Gameworks at the Circle Center Mall (hopefully I'll find that okay since there's a walkway from the hotel to the mall). This is the Thursday Night Extravaganza. All I really know about is the talent show, but I guess there will be lots of other stuff going on as well. Might as well check it out. Just because I have to attend a 7:30 AM event tomorrow morning is no reason to get any rest tonight.
I'll be back again sometime Friday afternoon or evening to let you know how things are going.
SinC Into Great Writing
Yesterday was the long afternoon and evening writing workshop and dinner sponsored by Sisters in Crime. It was outstanding. The four hour session with literary agent Donald Maass was exhausting and demanding. We had to think and work all afternoon. I have more than ten pages (college-ruled notebook) of notes and ideas that will launch a writing frenzy on my WIP when I get home. The method he used to get those writerly brain cells working was to suggest a topic related to character or story and then start asking questions about the topic while we jotted down answers off the top of our heads.
For example, he might ask, What is the one thing your protagonist would never do? What if your protagonist did that one thing? How would she feel? What would be the worst thing that might happen as a result? All the while he would continue asking more and more questions, delivering them as writing prompts. I came away with more story ideas that you can possibly imagine.
Maass is a topnotch speaker with a great sense of humor. If you ever get a chance to attend one of his workshops, I highly recommend it.
Our dinner speaker was the wonderful mystery writer and entertaining speaker, Nancy Pickard. After dinner there were two workshops to choose from. I selected Hallie Ephron's workshop on Plot Twists to sharpen my plotting skills. Again, more pages of notes.
I'm excited. Can't wait to get back to the book. I may even steal a bit of time during the conference. If you ever wondered whether good workshops, conferences and conventions are worth the money, I'd say yesterday's money was well spent.
Tomorrow I'll write about today's convention panels.
For example, he might ask, What is the one thing your protagonist would never do? What if your protagonist did that one thing? How would she feel? What would be the worst thing that might happen as a result? All the while he would continue asking more and more questions, delivering them as writing prompts. I came away with more story ideas that you can possibly imagine.
Maass is a topnotch speaker with a great sense of humor. If you ever get a chance to attend one of his workshops, I highly recommend it.
Our dinner speaker was the wonderful mystery writer and entertaining speaker, Nancy Pickard. After dinner there were two workshops to choose from. I selected Hallie Ephron's workshop on Plot Twists to sharpen my plotting skills. Again, more pages of notes.
I'm excited. Can't wait to get back to the book. I may even steal a bit of time during the conference. If you ever wondered whether good workshops, conferences and conventions are worth the money, I'd say yesterday's money was well spent.
Tomorrow I'll write about today's convention panels.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
What Is It About Cars?
Today I drive into Indianapolis, get rid of my lovely rental car, check into the hotel, and then attend the SinC into Great Writing event featuring literary agent Donald Maass, Nancy Pickard, Hallie Ephron, and Chris Roerden. The Donald Maass workshop will focus on the novels-in-progress of the attendees. I have my WIP with me, so I'm looking forward to great writing tips and a burst of writing energy.
But here's why I've decided to talk about cars this morning. I hate to give up the rental I had on this trip. It's a nearly new, black Pontiac something or other, sits low, looks sporty, and makes me feel lots younger than I really am. It might remind me of the dark blue Firebird I owned (and loved) for a couple of years in the early 80s.
The first car I ever owned, however, was a blue Dodge Lancer with peeling paint. When the weather got very cold, it wouldn't start unless I opened the hood and used my rattail comb to prop open the little thingie in the whatchamacallit, get behind the wheel and start the car, then retrieve my comb and close the hood. It worked 95% of the time. I thank a nice man with a tow truck for showing me that trick and saving me a ton of money during an extra cold Oklahoma City winter.
I'm not sure why we form these attachments to our cars, especially the cool ones, but there it is. Do you have a story to tell about your first and/or favorite car?
But here's why I've decided to talk about cars this morning. I hate to give up the rental I had on this trip. It's a nearly new, black Pontiac something or other, sits low, looks sporty, and makes me feel lots younger than I really am. It might remind me of the dark blue Firebird I owned (and loved) for a couple of years in the early 80s.
The first car I ever owned, however, was a blue Dodge Lancer with peeling paint. When the weather got very cold, it wouldn't start unless I opened the hood and used my rattail comb to prop open the little thingie in the whatchamacallit, get behind the wheel and start the car, then retrieve my comb and close the hood. It worked 95% of the time. I thank a nice man with a tow truck for showing me that trick and saving me a ton of money during an extra cold Oklahoma City winter.
I'm not sure why we form these attachments to our cars, especially the cool ones, but there it is. Do you have a story to tell about your first and/or favorite car?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Travel Tuesday
Today I'll be driving from Urbana, Illinois to just north of Indianapolis where I'll spend the night with my niece and her family. The drive will be mostly off-interstate. It takes longer, but it's pretty country and there are very few trucks along the way.
The weather should be dry. That will be a nice change. Last Tuesday I made the trip from the Indy airport to Illinois in the rain. It took three hours instead of the usual two and a half. Part of that was because I took a shortcut to the interstate to avoid the bypass around Indianapolis, and I ended up sitting at a railroad crossing while the longest train in the the history of the universe crept past. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but it was a very long train.
Yesterday was a leisurely do-nothing-except-run-a-couple-of-errands-day. The high point (not counting family time) was lunch at Steak n' Shake. We don't have S&S in Northern Colorado, so I make it a point to make my taste buds happy at least once when I'm back home.
Mom's parakeet, which seemed to be ailing a good part of the week, has perked up the last couple of days. Earlier in the week I was sure we'd be having a birdee funeral while I was here. Happily, she (Birdee) seems to have made a full recovery.
Can you tell I am totally not in writer mode? Even last Friday, when I was scheduled to speak to the creative writing class at my old high school, things didn't work out. The school was operating on a shortened schedule for early dismissal, and there was a scheduling snafu that resulted in me being on a tour of the school when I was supposed to be speaking to the students. I made it to the class in time for a two-minute rapid-fire pep talk.
As I explained to my hostess, the wonderful lady in charge of alums, writers are accustomed to events, presentations, and signings going wrong for one reason or another. We learn to go with the flow, and we don't worry about things we can't control. If we don't learn anything else from getting published, we definitely learn to be flexible.
More notes tomorrow, and after that I'll be reporting about the workshop and Bouchercon.
The weather should be dry. That will be a nice change. Last Tuesday I made the trip from the Indy airport to Illinois in the rain. It took three hours instead of the usual two and a half. Part of that was because I took a shortcut to the interstate to avoid the bypass around Indianapolis, and I ended up sitting at a railroad crossing while the longest train in the the history of the universe crept past. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but it was a very long train.
Yesterday was a leisurely do-nothing-except-run-a-couple-of-errands-day. The high point (not counting family time) was lunch at Steak n' Shake. We don't have S&S in Northern Colorado, so I make it a point to make my taste buds happy at least once when I'm back home.
Mom's parakeet, which seemed to be ailing a good part of the week, has perked up the last couple of days. Earlier in the week I was sure we'd be having a birdee funeral while I was here. Happily, she (Birdee) seems to have made a full recovery.
Can you tell I am totally not in writer mode? Even last Friday, when I was scheduled to speak to the creative writing class at my old high school, things didn't work out. The school was operating on a shortened schedule for early dismissal, and there was a scheduling snafu that resulted in me being on a tour of the school when I was supposed to be speaking to the students. I made it to the class in time for a two-minute rapid-fire pep talk.
As I explained to my hostess, the wonderful lady in charge of alums, writers are accustomed to events, presentations, and signings going wrong for one reason or another. We learn to go with the flow, and we don't worry about things we can't control. If we don't learn anything else from getting published, we definitely learn to be flexible.
More notes tomorrow, and after that I'll be reporting about the workshop and Bouchercon.
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Colorado Authors -- May and June
Since I'm still away from home and looking for shortcut blog posts for another week, today I'll link to some of the Colorado authors I've featured so far. Your holiday shopping trips probably include a few books, right? Please keep these authors in mind:
Mike Befeler, author of Retirement Homes are Murder and Living With Your Kids is Murder. Mike will be the moderator of the Bouchercon panel on Geezer Lit that I'll be on next Saturday.
Beth Groundwater, author of A Real Basket Case and To Hell in a Handbasket.
Lynda Hilburn, author of The Vampire Shrink and Dark Harvest.
Sandi Ault, author of Wild Indigo, Wild Inferno, and Wild Sorrow.
Cricket McRae, author of Lye in Wait, Heaven Preserve Us, and Spin a Wicked Web.
Janet Lane, author of Tabor's Trinket and Emerald Silk.
And finally, Tom Piccirilli, who has a new book, Shadow Season, scheduled for release October 27th.
Remember to stay tuned later in the week when I'll be posting from Bouchercon.
Mike Befeler, author of Retirement Homes are Murder and Living With Your Kids is Murder. Mike will be the moderator of the Bouchercon panel on Geezer Lit that I'll be on next Saturday.
Beth Groundwater, author of A Real Basket Case and To Hell in a Handbasket.
Lynda Hilburn, author of The Vampire Shrink and Dark Harvest.
Sandi Ault, author of Wild Indigo, Wild Inferno, and Wild Sorrow.
Cricket McRae, author of Lye in Wait, Heaven Preserve Us, and Spin a Wicked Web.
Janet Lane, author of Tabor's Trinket and Emerald Silk.
And finally, Tom Piccirilli, who has a new book, Shadow Season, scheduled for release October 27th.
Remember to stay tuned later in the week when I'll be posting from Bouchercon.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Living in the Past (for an hour or so)
This morning I will visit a creative writing class at University Laboratory High School (associated with the University of Illinois in Urbana) from which I graduated almost fifty years ago. Yep, I'm from the Class of 1960. That proves it. I'm practically older than dirt.
This should be a fun morning. I'll write more about the experience as soon as I can.
In the meantime, note that it's raining here in central Illinois, but back home in Northern Colorado, it snowed. Just in case you were wondering.
This should be a fun morning. I'll write more about the experience as soon as I can.
In the meantime, note that it's raining here in central Illinois, but back home in Northern Colorado, it snowed. Just in case you were wondering.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Mix and Match
What I'm Reading:
I was reading Warren Hammond's Kop on the airplane on Tuesday and was about halfway into the novel, (and enjoying it). When we landed, I tucked the book into the seat back pouch while I retrieved my purse from under the seat in front of me. I put my billfold in my purse, took my water bottle from the seat back and put it in my purse...and forgot the book. Some lucky reader now has a signed paperback copy of Kop.
As a result, I'm now going to start the other book I brought along: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
What I'm Thinking About:
Freedom of speech is a right I would give my life to defend. But listeners have rights too. If I don't want to listen to someone's speechifying, I have the right to walk away, change the television channel, or switch the radio station. Sometimes, however, we're members of a captive audience when a speaker, entertainer, or even a shuttle van driver unexpectedly launches into a political rant. The speaker might be loud and persistent, a verbal bully.
I'm serving notice that I will no longer remain quiet when this happens. If I cannot escape the situation (or don't want to walk out on a seat I paid for) and do not want to fight back, I will stick my fingers in my ears, cross my eyes, and chant softly, "I can't hear you, la la la la la la la."
Hopefully I will not be driving a car at the time.
This Week's Quote:
A Recommended Blog:
I don't know why I hadn't discovered this blog before, but thanks to Camille Minichino's guest appearance there, I found it this week. It's called Cozy Murder Mysteries.
One of the coolest continuing post topics is Why I Write Mysteries, written by various guest authors.
The Best Thing I Had to Eat This Week:
I had brunch at a restaurant in the Denver airport Tuesday before my 11:15 flight to Indianapolis. I usually have nothing more than a whole wheat English muffin (sometimes with crunchy peanut butter) with my morning coffee, so scrambled eggs, bacon, herbed potatoes, and a big fluffy biscuit was a treat.
I was reading Warren Hammond's Kop on the airplane on Tuesday and was about halfway into the novel, (and enjoying it). When we landed, I tucked the book into the seat back pouch while I retrieved my purse from under the seat in front of me. I put my billfold in my purse, took my water bottle from the seat back and put it in my purse...and forgot the book. Some lucky reader now has a signed paperback copy of Kop.
As a result, I'm now going to start the other book I brought along: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
What I'm Thinking About:
Freedom of speech is a right I would give my life to defend. But listeners have rights too. If I don't want to listen to someone's speechifying, I have the right to walk away, change the television channel, or switch the radio station. Sometimes, however, we're members of a captive audience when a speaker, entertainer, or even a shuttle van driver unexpectedly launches into a political rant. The speaker might be loud and persistent, a verbal bully.
I'm serving notice that I will no longer remain quiet when this happens. If I cannot escape the situation (or don't want to walk out on a seat I paid for) and do not want to fight back, I will stick my fingers in my ears, cross my eyes, and chant softly, "I can't hear you, la la la la la la la."
Hopefully I will not be driving a car at the time.
This Week's Quote:
"For a long time now I have tried simply to write the best I can. Sometimes I have good luck and write better than I can."
----------Ernest Hemingway (as noted at BrainyQuote).
A Recommended Blog:
I don't know why I hadn't discovered this blog before, but thanks to Camille Minichino's guest appearance there, I found it this week. It's called Cozy Murder Mysteries.
One of the coolest continuing post topics is Why I Write Mysteries, written by various guest authors.
The Best Thing I Had to Eat This Week:
I had brunch at a restaurant in the Denver airport Tuesday before my 11:15 flight to Indianapolis. I usually have nothing more than a whole wheat English muffin (sometimes with crunchy peanut butter) with my morning coffee, so scrambled eggs, bacon, herbed potatoes, and a big fluffy biscuit was a treat.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday Travel, Wednesday Rest
And that's why this blog post will be very short, followed by several other short posts (and not always posted in the morning). I'm visiting family in Illinois until next Tuesday. On Friday I'll speak to a creative writing class at my old high school, but that's the only writing-related activity I have planned for Illinois. Then I'll drive to Indiana and spend the night with more family.
A week from today I'll attend the Sisters in Crime Writing Workshop in Indianapolis, followed by the mystery convention Bouchercon where I have one assignment: participate in the panel on geezer lit.
I hope to do some quality blogging from the convention. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for fun things to write about so you won't be bored.
A week from today I'll attend the Sisters in Crime Writing Workshop in Indianapolis, followed by the mystery convention Bouchercon where I have one assignment: participate in the panel on geezer lit.
I hope to do some quality blogging from the convention. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for fun things to write about so you won't be bored.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
When We're Ninety-Three
One of the kind reviewers who read The Desert Hedge Murders began her comments with the observation that she'd doubted (at least at first) whether ladies in their eighties would be as energetic and spunky as my ladies of The Florida Flippers travel club. The reviewer noted, however, an example of a real life older mystery writer who was quite active, and agreed that there were some super-active seniors who might be frisky enough in their eighties to have an adventure or two.
Not long after that, I received an e-mail from a close friend who had just read the book and enjoyed it (of course, that's what friends do), but then she added a bit of personal information to explain why she'd gotten such a kick out of some of the elders' adventures. My friend (and her ninety-three year old mom) gave me permission to share this story and these photos with my readers:
Isn't that a wonderful lesson about enjoying life to the fullest, no matter your age? Doesn't it make you want to get fit and healthy so you can hit the road in your silver convertible or take a ride in the sidecar of a three-wheeler motorcycle...when you're ninety-three? I think my friend's mom sets a wonderful example for the rest of us, and we would do well to adopt her sense of adventure right now.
Not long after that, I received an e-mail from a close friend who had just read the book and enjoyed it (of course, that's what friends do), but then she added a bit of personal information to explain why she'd gotten such a kick out of some of the elders' adventures. My friend (and her ninety-three year old mom) gave me permission to share this story and these photos with my readers:
"My 93 yr. old mother is the oldest member of the Third Wheelers in Indiana. She attends the yearly gathering with [family]. Two years ago a surprise gathering of 12 three wheelers called to pick Mom up for the ride to the event. She rode in the side car, and they lead the rest of the bikers through town and to the farm outside Hartford City. Her neighbors were standing in their yards wondering what was going on. What a hoot."
"Mother also has a 2008 silver Sky convertible with red interior. She takes her 90 year old neighbor to church and then they go to Briners for lunch. There are two couples that have lunch there also. One Sunday the two husbands walked up to Mom's table and asked her how fast her car goes.... Much better than, 'How are you feeling today?' Many ways to have adventure in the choices we make."
Isn't that a wonderful lesson about enjoying life to the fullest, no matter your age? Doesn't it make you want to get fit and healthy so you can hit the road in your silver convertible or take a ride in the sidecar of a three-wheeler motorcycle...when you're ninety-three? I think my friend's mom sets a wonderful example for the rest of us, and we would do well to adopt her sense of adventure right now.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Colorado Author -- Stephen White
One of Colorado's most well-known authors is Stephen White, author of fifteen books in the series featuring Alan Gregory, a Boulder, Colorado psychologist. Since White practiced for over fifteen years as a clinical psychologist, he has an excellent background for creating interesting plots and characters.White's August 2009 release, The Siege, deals with a terrorist attack on the Yale campus and features suspended Boulder detective Sam Purdy, Alan Gregory's friend. Purdy is in Miami minding his own business when all hell breaks loose at Yale. The synopsis on White's website begins:
"As a lovely April weekend approaches on the Yale campus it appears that a number of students — including the sons of both the Secretary of the Army and newest Supreme Court Justice — may have suddenly gone missing. Kidnapping? Prank? Terrorism? The authorities aren't sure. No demands are made. But the high profile disappearances draw the attention of the CIA and the FBI's vaunted Hostage Rescue Team. Attention quickly focuses on the fortress-like tomb of one of Yale's secret societies."
Since the author's website has a complete biography, and there are detailed synopses for each of his books, I have included the links to the appropriate pages rather than reprinting additional materials here. If you haven't already read a Stephen White novel, you might want to start with The Siege. Looks like a good one to me.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Guest Blogging Today at Mystery Lovers' Kitchen
I'm into down home French-style Colorado cooking -- drop by Mystery Lovers' Kitchen to read my guest post.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Passing on the Heart of the Dragon Award
The Heart of a Dragon Award is a very special award for the blogger who inspires you and/or others to go above and beyond or the blogger who helps keep us all connected. Sylvia Dickey Smith of Rules to Live By was kind enough to pass this award on to me on September 23rd. Thank you so much, Sylvia, for the award, and for the very kind words.Here are the rules:
1. Post the award on your site with a link to the person who gave it to you.
2. Pass it on to the blogger(s) who inspire you and list why they are receiving the award.
3. Post a comment on their blog.
I am choosing to pass this award on to two writers who inspire me with their sense of adventure, their love of the written word, and their unique environments which help broaden the horizons of those who follow their blogs.
The first is Rayna M. Iyer (Bombay, India) at Coffee Rings Everywhere. If her interesting posts weren't a big enough draw, her photos will capture your attention and keep you coming back for more. Thanks, Rayna, for sharing your life with us.
The second blogger to receive the Heart of the Dragon Award is Sonia Marsh of Gutsy Writer. Again, it's Sonia's unique perspective and her fascinating environment that inspire and encourage me to step out of my comfort zone and look for adventure. I appreciate that.
Recipents of the award are invited to pass the honor along to others.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Passing on The B-I-N-G-O Beautiful Blog Award
On September 3rd, Jane Kennedy Sutton passed on the B-I-N-G-O Beautiful Blog Award (naming me B for Beautiful) at her blog, Jane's Ride. I acknowledged the award on September 8th, but did not pass it on at the time.As Jane said, it's getting harder to pass on these awards as so many of the bloggers we follow regularly have already received them. I think there's a lesson here. We need to get out of our ruts, explore, recommend. There's a great big world of wonderful people waiting to be discovered.
The idea here is to name recipients that fit the B-I-N-G-O labels:
B for Beautiful -- Kelly Moran at Author Kelly Moran's Blog -- I love the way Kelly's blog looks and the way the content slides up and down the background. And the background is beautiful.
I for Informative -- Carolyn Yalin because Carolyn goes out of her way to share helpful links and ideas with her readers.
N for Neigborly -- Linda Faulkner at Author Exchange Blog for tirelessly promoting authors and their books.
G for Gorgeous -- Janet Rudolph at Dying for Chocolate because there is nothing more gorgeous than chocolate.
O for Outstanding -- Elspeth Antonelli at It's A Mystery for her wit and wisdom and very interesting posts.
I hope you found someone new on this list.
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