By Joanna Campbell Slan To celebrate the release of Ready, Scrap, Shoot, the fifth book in the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery series (aka "Scrap-n-Craft Mystery series"), I wanted to do something really special. Something fun, something extra for my fans. So I've joined together with a dozen other mystery writers, and we're turning Friday the 13th into a lucky day for anyone who loves to read. Yep, today you can download thirteen great reads for free … [Read more...] about Lucky 13 — Thirteen Kindle Reads FREE Only on April 13!
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Keep It Spare and Lean: An Interview with Chris Grabenstein
Note: Chris Grabenstein will be one of the Guests of Honor at Sleuthfest, March 1 - 3, 2012. He's the author of the John Ceepak series, for which he won the Anthony Award for "Best First Mystery." JCS: Chris, I know that unlike most authors, you didn't just get a wild idea and start writing. Before you started your Cepak series, you studied James Patterson's success. What sorts of decisions did you make? How have they worked for you? … [Read more...] about Keep It Spare and Lean: An Interview with Chris Grabenstein
How to Protect Your Library–Books Are Meant to be Loved
Reading to my dogs. Note the "red eyes." Sigh. Am I really demonic? In this Sunday's New York Times, someone wrote into the Social Q's column with a question that illustrates life as we know it. Seems that "Anonymous in Vermont" had a calamity during the annual Christmas party. Thirty adults and 30 kids were in attendance. Unfortunately, one of the kids puked on Anonymous's e-reader--and ruined it. Now Anonymous wants to know, … [Read more...] about How to Protect Your Library–Books Are Meant to be Loved
An Interview with Julie James: 'My Writing Process Is My Own'
My guest--Julie James. Note: Each year I conduct interviews with famous authors who will be guests at various conferences. Julie will be appearing at Love Is Murder, Feb. 3-5, 2011, in Chicago.) 1. Julie, you were an attorney before you went into writing novels full-time. What is it about training as an attorney that seems to make for such fantastic authors? What did you learn in your work as a lawyer that you still use when you write … [Read more...] about An Interview with Julie James: 'My Writing Process Is My Own'
Why Electricians Should Not HONK OFF Their Mystery Writer Clients
Excerpt from my note to my contractor, Rob: It was a dark and stormy day when they found a body washed up on shore. "Oh, my god, it's that dreadful electrician," she thought as she stared down into his white and bloated face with the black electrical tape wrapped around his neck. The fish had eaten his eyeballs out. He lay there half in and half out of the water but he was wearing his gray shirt with his name embroidered happily in red. That … [Read more...] about Why Electricians Should Not HONK OFF Their Mystery Writer Clients
Happy Halloween! You're Invited to an Online Party!
If there's one holiday that gets my vote for TOTAL CUTENESS, it's got to be Halloween. HALLOWEEN PARTY ONLINE On Monday, October 31, we'll be inaugurating my new "fan page" on Facebook. Helping with the festivities will be 12 of my best author buds. Here's the lineup: 9 to 9:30 p.m. EST Mollie Cox Bryan (Scrapbook of Secrets) Angie Fox (A Tale of Two Demon Slayers) 9:30 to 10 p.m. EST Betty Hechtman (Behind the Seams) Laura DiSilveria (Die … [Read more...] about Happy Halloween! You're Invited to an Online Party!
