My Grateful List
I admit it. There are plenty of weeks when I forget to feel grateful for all the blessings in my life—like having a husband I’m still madly in love with after decades of marriage or the opportunity to do the writing work I love. Instead, I’m often guilty of focusing on the things that are…
Read More“The Boy Who Lived”
The other night, our son Joel was sitting outside on the porch with his eldest child, our grandson Cameron. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning landed dangerously close to them. The two raced to safety inside. Cameron turned to his father and said, “You know, Dad, we’re going to have to call you ‘the boy who…
Read MoreKassandra Lamb: Psych Prof Turned Mystery Writer, Still Educating While Entertaining
I’m so delighted to welcome Kassandra Lamb as a guest on my blog today. Kassandra’s newly released To Bark or Not to Bark is the twelfth book in her Marcia Banks and Buddy cozy mystery series. Below is Kassandra’s essay about her books, followed by a blurb about To Bark or Not to Bark, her…
Read MoreWriting May Be a Solitary Activity, but…
DEADLY SETUP came out on July 5, and I wasted no time ordering a box of books. I still get a thrill holding a copy of a new book I’ve written. And now I had 20 shiny new copies, both to send as thank you gifts to angels who helped me along the way and…
Read MoreThe Good News… and Not So Good News
Writing-wise, this was a lovely week. On Tuesday, DEADLY SETUP officially came out. Author Sarah Glenn hosted me on her blog where I wrote an essay, “Beyond the External Plot: What’s Your Book Really About?” in which I talked about the difference between DEADLY SETUP’s plot and its deeper themes. I’d love for you to…
Read MoreFrom Fantasy to Regency Mystery: Meet Prolific Author Janet L. Buck
I’m so delighted to welcome Janet Buck, who has a brand-new release this month, THE DEAD BETRAY NONE. Janet had a distinguished legal career prior to becoming a fulltime author. Below are her responses to my interview questions, followed by a description of THE DEAD BETRAY NONE, her buy links, and her bio and contact…
Read More“Are All Your Stories About People in the Arts?”
We were in the middle of a critique session when a fellow writer turned to me and asked, “Are all your stories about people in the arts?” I nodded and gave her the usual explanation, “Well, that’s the world I know.” But digging deeper, running throughout much of my work is the idea that the…
Read MoreThinking About Imposter Syndrome
The term imposter syndrome was originally coined by the psychologists Suzanna Imes and Pauline Rose in the 1970s. They believed that the syndrome applied mostly to high-achieving women. Further research, however, showed that its periodic sufferers can be just about anyone, especially those thrust into a new role, such as beginning college or getting a…
Read MoreFormer Judge Debra Goldstein Pens Award-Winning Mysteries
At Killer Nashville’s 2019 conference, I attended a mock court session in which Debra Goldstein played the part of the judge. It wasn’t much of an acting stretch for her! She served on the bench for many years before she turned to writing fulltime. I’m delighted to welcome Debra today as my featured guest author. Below…
Read MoreNew Release by Award-Winning Author Lynda Rees
As some of you know, I’m president of Derby Rotten Scoundrels, the Ohio River Valley chapter of Sisters in Crime. We have a lot of wonderful authors in our chapter, including our very own vice-president, Lynda Rees. She has a new release out today! Below is information about Heart of the Matter: Heart of the…
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