SHORTS, NOVELS, AND OTHER THINGS
Today is a rather special St. Patrick’s Day for me. I’ve always worn green on the 17th of March but felt like phony because I wasn’t Irish. For years, I had heard stories about my ancestry – English, French and Polish – backed by stories from my family on both sides. Also maybe Native American? …
Happy St. Patrick’s Day – Surprise, I’m Irish! Read More »
Do you do research for your books/stories? Since I spent many years doing scientific research, I found it natural to see a need for at least some research in my writing. Writing a mystery book with a completely imaginary setting somehow didn’t resonate; I needed some real places to ground it. Previously I have spent …
Just thought I’d issue a bit of a warning. For last year’s A-Z blog challenge, I did odors – something every mystery writer should include in their stories. And it was a challenge! There are many blog writers out there whose musing on writing, specifically mystery writing, are so far beyond anything I would write, …
A-Z Blog Challenge is Coming! Read More »
It’s amazing to me how the South responds to a “winter event.” A winter event is snow, sleet, ice or any combination thereof, and despite the fact we usually have 1-2 of these each winter, the Southern states are woefully unprepared. Consider the situation in Atlanta, Georgia, where traffic during the recent winter event became …
Some Observations on Snow and Ice in the South Read More »
This is loooong overdue. I kind of hit a wall in early December with all of the holiday activities, and despite promising myself to post a blog, it just kept being put off. I know other writers go through this, and it was complicated by a lot of critiquing and working in fits and starts …
Having grown up in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and as one of the first guides at Plimoth Plantation, Thanksgiving has a special place in my heart. Working in the Pilgrim village, standing in reproductions of the crude homes in which the Pilgrims first lived, I could not imagine the hardships of that first bitter winter, when nearly …
May We Give Thanks Read More »
Tom Clancy died today, too young at 66. He was a towering author of technically detailed espionage and military thrillers spanning three decades. I was particularly impressed with his character Jack Ryan, with whom I was in love even before Hollywood’s depiction with the likes of Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, and Alec Baldwin. The guy …
I wil miss Tom Clancy Read More »
On this most auspicious day, I suspect people remember just where they were when they first heard the news of the attack. I know I do. I also remember the ensuing events, and the wars which we fought. On this day, I honor the memory of all the people lost on that day and the …
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Craig Johnson, the author of the series of Longmire mystery books I recommended several weeks ago, last Saturday at the Bookmark book fair in Winston-Salem. Johnson is a memorable character, one of those people who seem a bit larger than life, electrify personal interactions and occupy the entire …
I Met Craig Johnson! Read More »
Okay, I’ve been very remiss at blogging lately, but I have a good excuse – a knee replacement, which left me very tired and just managing day to day for a while. I am heavily into PT now and walking with a cane, which means more energy! So I’m beta reading a friend’s book and …
