Some stories stick with you a long, long time. Twenty years ago, a friend named Rob recounted a horrifying scene that he had witnessed at a local country club. Rob was seated where he could observe a group of members who had been drinking heavily. One of them, a prominent local man, grabbed his wife by the crotch and announced to everyone, "See this? I bought and paid for it. None of you can afford it!" Rob later learned that this man regularly … [Read more...] about He Beat Her Regularly–and No One Said a Word
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Kiki in the News
It's been a thoroughly Kiki type of month.A couple of weeks ago while I was out shelling with my pal Nancy, I dropped my phone into the briney brink. Bad news. That meant I not only lost my photos, I also lost my ability to read email from the BlackBerry.Then I had my skin broken by a neighbor's dog, except I didn't know the dog belonged to a neighbor and the health department suggested I get rabies shots.But while I was having my share of … [Read more...] about Kiki in the News
Dead Armadillo Vase Brings $120 at Auction
Yep. Read it and weep. Today I auctioned off my precious armadillo, which I turned into this gorgeous (cough, cough) vase, for $120 to benefit the Boynton Beach City Library. Needless to say, the grand unveiling (in which I pulled off blue masking tape and a green garbage bag) brought a tremor of oooohs and aaahs from a stunned crowd of Friends of the Library. Never had they seen such splendid artistry!The winner asked me to autograph the base, … [Read more...] about Dead Armadillo Vase Brings $120 at Auction
Me and My Armadillo–When the Creative Urge Turns to Roadkill
About a month ago, I noticed a dead armadillo by the side of the road. He was a big guy, flat on his back, his legs punctuating the sky.I wanted that armadillo. I'd seen a stuffed armadillo holding a beer bottle on display in a local shop, but it wasn't for sale. I can't explain it, but that silly piece of taxidermy caught my imagination. I thought it was "way cool."Each time I drove past that dead armadillo on the road, I thought, "Gee, what a … [Read more...] about Me and My Armadillo–When the Creative Urge Turns to Roadkill
Murder in the Magic City
Can Murder Make Us Laugh? was the name of our panel, the last panel of the day in Birmingham, Alabama, where Margaret Fenton and her friends made all of us authors feel real Southern hospitality.The verdict? Well, you bet it can! Sue Ann Jaffarian was our moderator. I appeared with Rosemary Harris and Chris Grabenstein.Ask me about my dead armadillo. Go ahead. Ask me...I guess I was making a point.From left to right, starting in the front: Mary … [Read more...] about Murder in the Magic City
Humans Are More Alike Than Different: An Interview With Michael Dymmoch
Michael Allen Dymmoch will be the Local Guest of Honor for Love Is Murder 2011, held in Chicago, on Feb. 4-6. For more information, go to Love Is Murder. 1. I know that Michael Allen isn't your given name. Tell us about why you decided to create your own identity and how that influences you as a writer who creates identities on paper.I prefer not to answer questions about my name beyond saying that your real name is the one you make for … [Read more...] about Humans Are More Alike Than Different: An Interview With Michael Dymmoch
