Mary Saums

United States

Profile Information:

Hometown:
Nashville
About Me:
Book Fiend!

The first book in my new series, Thistle & Twigg, is about two little old ladies, one British and one Southern, who save an uncut forest and take on a bunch of well-armed paramilitary bullies. It's something like Miss Marple only with assault rifles. Very cozy. It came out in April 2007 from St. Martin's Minotaur. Mighty Old Bones, second in the series, came out in May 2008.

I post occasionally on the Femmes Fatales blog site at www.femmesfatales.typepad.com along with Donna Andrews, Dana Cameron, Charlaine Harris, Toni Kelner, Kris Neri, Elaine Viets, and Hank Phillipi Ryan.

I'm currently serving on the board of Sisters In Crime, and as vice-president of the Southeast chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
I Am A:
Reader, Writer
Website:
http://www.marysaums.com
Books And Authors I Like:
Ken Bruen, Colin Cotterill, Olen Steinhauer, Eliot Pattison, Dean Koontz, Michael Chabon, Lee Child, Stephen Booth, John Hart, PG Wodehouse, Liz Evans, Louise Penny, Donna Andrews, Dorothy Cannell, Donna Moore, Joan Hess, Reginald Hill, Peter Lovesey, Donald Westlake, Daniel Woodrell ... on and on...
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
Black Books, Dr. Who, Buffy, Firefly, Keeping Mum, anything with Bette Davis, Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple

Comment Wall:

  • Barbara Fister

    OH what a picture. Such a hoot!

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Fran Read

    I guess this is how you always look on a Sunday morning, Mary!

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Jack Quick

    Not just for Sunday breakfast anymore....

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Heh heh ... it's still Saturday night here, Fran. Just curling up with a good book, a cold drink and a nice Browning Hi-Power. Now if I could just get a kitty off the keyboard, I could type better.

    Barfly! I'll be happy to loan the book (if you don't already have a copy. :)

    Jack, where did you get that photo?

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    You know, that picture could inspire a story! 0

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Merrill Young

    OK, you win.
    That is THE BEST author picture on this whole...site? What DOES one call this place?
    Mary, my dearest dear, so nice to see you!

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Hiya, Sandra. How about this - a story about a little old lady whose art career never got off the ground until she took a job as an illustrator. She wanted to do a gardening book, but needed a high-dollar assignment to pay her elderly dachschund's vet bills and reluctantly agrees to illustrate a new 'self-help' book for seniors. :)

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Merlot, dahling! No, yours is the best picture. Actually, all your photos are the best. You know what my favorite here is - the picture of the Bible and Tire store. Hahaha!! Love it. It's also hard to beat Keith Richards in all that smoke. Love that guy, even in the weird headband.

    Apr 8, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    So cool to find another Buffy fan anywhere! People look at me funny when I make a joke or quote something for a situation that is from the show. Have watched them way too much.

    Agree with the others - love your photo!

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Yeah, me too, Lynne. Do you have the new comic book? I've been trying to find it locally, but no luck yet.

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Patricia

    Hi Mary....love the photo...but really shouldn't you have a more sinister look, nice to see you here!

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Jeffrey Marks

    Mary, How great to see you again. How have you been?

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    That IS my sinister look. :)

    Hey, Jeff. All is well. What book project are you working on these days? Boucher?

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Lynette Hall Hampton

    Hi Mary, good to see you again. I was in a meeting with Chris Roerden last night and your name came up. We were discussing first lines and she used one of yours as an example. Hope all is going well.

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Jenifer Nightingale-Ethier

    Great to see you here! Uh... just out of curiosity, where can I find a copy of that book? And does it come with the drink and cigarette for afterwards?

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Donna Moore

    Mary - lovely to see you! And I LOVE that picture - that's classic.

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Hi, Lynette! Long time, no see. Hope all is going well for you. Chris is coming to speak to our Sisters In Crime chapter this week. She's a doll

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Beeg - I'm afraid I don't have the cajones to describe even the undercover action in this riveting volume. You'll just have to see it for yourself. I believe Amazon is running a special on it right now if you also purchase the companion book, Cozy Boozers And Drug Users. :)

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Hey, Jen - love your photo. No, the book didn't come with any freebies. Oh wait, a little packet just fell out. Something herbal. Not sure if it's tea or an aphrodisiac. :)

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Donna! You have such a great page. Can't wait to read the latest 62 bus adventure. The bookstore photo - outstanding. And, of course, les shoes. :)

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Rose

    Hi Mary
    Glad to see you here.
    The book on your pix, is that the latest edition?

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Lourdes Fernandez

    Hi Mary,
    If they had an award for best photo here on CrimeSpace, you'd definitely win it!

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Thanks, Lourdes - good to see you!

    Rose - there's a new edition? :) Might have to check that out.

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Gumshoe Carl

    Glad you made it Mary. I was wondering when you were going to show up!! I'm looking forward to Thistle and Twig.

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Elizabeth Zelvin

    Hi, Mary! Always glad to meet another St. Martian. :) Who's your editor? Mine is Ruth Cavin, and we finally have a lunch date for about 5 months after I said yes to the book offer. I thought she'd never ask!

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Pari Noskin Taichert

    Mary,
    What a treat to see you here. You'll be at Malice, won't you? If not, I'll come and FIND you .

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Pari Noskin Taichert

    Oh . . .

    I just looked closely at your picture.

    Did you make the HATCH pins yet?

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Hi, Elizabeth. Kelley Ragland is my editor. She's wonderful. Hope to see you at a future con!

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Major Pari - haven't made any HATCH pins yet. Must think about that. Yes, I will be at Malice. Can't wait!

    For civilians who may not know, Pari is my top-ranking officer in HATCH (Hell Awaits The Cozy Hater), an international organization with the sole purpose of providing military defense for cozy readers. She acquired her rank through serious karate chopping skills, so don't mess with her. :)

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Ah, Carl - you look so debonair. :) Yes, I finally sat down and checked out the site. I love it. Cheers!

    Apr 9, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    It is a good thing I like cozies then. Not sure I am up to karate battling -- might break a nail. Ever wondered why no one teaches these martial arts in high heels? I keep wondering how practical they really are if you have to take your shoes off first

    Apr 10, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Lynne - I read an article about young inventors and what they were working on, and one young lady had plans drawn up for stack heels with a zapper in the toes. Not quite like a Tazer, but some kind of electrical shock for when you kick a bad guy in the shin. :)

    Apr 10, 2007

  • Karen from AustCrime

    Mary - I love that photo :) Can I borrow that book when you're finished with it?

    Apr 10, 2007

  • Julie Campbell

    Hi Mary! I'm hoping my library doesn't get Thistle and Twigg in until I get back from vacation so I don't lose my place in the "Holds" list. You are a pretty popular author here in little old Farmington, Michigan.

    Apr 10, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    G'day, Karen! Uh, sorry, but books in my reference section don't leave the house. :) I hear the Aussie version is much more graphic, anyway. :)

    Apr 10, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Hey, Julie and thank you for the 'holds' news - you brightened my day! Hope you have a fun vacation.

    Apr 10, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    Zapper shoes sound sensible to me. All girls should have a pair. Mothers should too.

    Apr 11, 2007

  • Simon Wood

    what a delightful picture...

    Apr 11, 2007

  • Mary Saums

    Uh, thanks, Simon. (I think) I just picked up your new book. Looking forward to it.

    Apr 11, 2007

  • Roger Jon Ellory

    Hi there! Thank you for the invite, and I am very pleased to accept. Wild Turkey is my choice of poison too!
    Best wishes for Thistle and Twigg, and I hope that it will be a roaring success!
    Roger.

    Apr 12, 2007