People always ask writers where they get their ideas. Always.
So I’m flying to L.A., leaving from Chicago, and a priest gets on the plane. He’s a big guy, older,with sparse white hair, wearing his priestly trappings including a priest’s collar. As do most of the passengers, he has a […]

In the fourth grade, Mrs. Cooper stood in front of our class and said “We’re going to write a book.” I don’t remember much about the fourth grade, but I do remember that. We, the class, were going to write a book. And we, the class, decided to write a mystery book […]

Several weeks ago, my son called me from the road. He was going to be in Sarasota for 45 minutes and wanted to know if we could meet for lunch. I said ‘of course’. He works for Fox News and is embedded with Hillary Clinton’s campaign. She was in town for […]

In an auction in Arizona I won a critique of my manuscript from Sue Grafton. Long story short…she loved my second attempt and told me she’d help me sell the book. At a conference she stood up in front of 1400 people and told them someone needed to buy my book. Charlie […]

Island Magazine reviewed the March book, St. Barts Breakdown, last week. Great review…except for the last line. Something like…”It’s not great literature, but it makes for a great day at the beach.”
It’s been a mean winter up north. I talked to some people this weekend at Left Coast Crime in Denver. They […]

Just got back from Sleuthfest in Deerfield Beach, Florida and I’m heading out to Left Coast Crime in Denver this weekend. They’re all great mystery conferences and great parties. But I wanted to invite all of you to the party for St. Barts Breakdown, March 11th, in Lima, Ohio at the Main Street […]

Since I saw most of the movies up for Academy Awards, I decided to watch the award show. John Stewart from Comedy Central was the host. Of course this was the first award show since the writer’s strike ended and I thought…they’ll be fresh and funny. They weren’t. I thought the […]

Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. John Kennedy, right? At his inaugural address. No, afraid not. John F. Kennedy is credited for saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” But […]

So I was on a plane most of yesterday, after a wonderful two day event in Alabama. The Sisters In Crime group headed up Murder In The Magic City in Birmingham ( great authors, great crowd), and a big signing and presentation in Wetumpka. Well, I never thought I’d ever visit there either, […]

If you thought Super Bowl Sunday was hyped, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!