My town’s independent bookstore, Reader’s Choice, closes its doors for the last time in just four days.
I’m sad to see it close, for several reasons:
–I hate to see any independent store—but especially bookstores and coffee shops, because that’s where I spend my disposable cash with greatest joy. That’s why I buy quite a few (although [...]

In a few weeks, I’m going to speak at a local junior high on career day. My assignment: talk about my career as a writer (why and how I became one, what I do) and answer questions.
Inevitably, a bright young person is going to ask me, “What should I study in college to be a [...]

Lots of writers auction off character names for charity, which is a wonderful, noble thing to do (and not bad PR, either.) But truthfully, I have only had one experience with auctioning off character names, and I don’t think I’ll ever do it again! Here’s the tragi-comic tale of why:
A married couple won the use [...]

First it was the “M,” and then the “N.” They have completely disappeared.
Now the “K” is fading, the “O” looks like a “C,” the “C” and the “D” are rough around the edges, the comma is all alone (the < having also completely disappeared, although the > is holding its own), and the single quote [...]

A few weeks ago, I was on my way to a signing at the wonderful The Mystery Company, in Carmel, Indiana. The drive from my door to the store’s door should take two hours and 15 minutes. So, I allowed 3 hours, given that it was raining heavily and to account for traffic. By [...]

OK—maybe this is cheating, because most of my blog today is going to be a long quote. But bear with me.
My husband and I saw “Walk the Line,” the biopic about Johnny Cash. (I’m old enough, by the way, to say I loved his music before it became “hip” to say that… and before you [...]

I’ve been framing covers from my Stain-Busting mystery series, so I can hang the covers on my office wall. I use very simple “float frames.” I just insert the cover between the two clear plastic layers, and snap the frame edges back on. Ta da! Framed covers, with no expense or effort for matting.
I bought [...]

A chipmunk falling off a log is more athletic than I am.
However, I’ve always admired athletes. I even make sports analogies about the writing life. I tell people—hey, don’t let rejection slips or failures get to you! After all, if you were playing baseball and you batted .300, you’d be doing well—even though that [...]

Follow-up to my TV debut… I survived!
I was so nervous about the whole 5-minute event (on WTOL “Saturday AM” show, in Toledo, Ohio) that I way over-prepared. All I was supposed to do was go on, talk a bit about my latest Stain-Busting mystery, what a stain-removal expert has to do with crime-solving… all while [...]

In three days, I will be making my network TV debut, on WTOL, the CBS affiliate in Toledo, Ohio. On a Saturday morning. At 8:45 a.m.
I’m complimented that WTOL wants to interview me about my series and I’m thrilled my publicist somehow set this up. I have not asked her why a station in Toledo–given [...]