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:

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Nancy Gardner

Hi Mary,

Black Books, I'll look for it on Netflix!

Thanks,
Nancy

Apr 13, 2007
Mary Saums

Nancy - yes, they probably do have Black Books. I'm afraid to even look into Netflix. Then I wouldn't have time to waste online. :)

Roger - you gotta watch the Wild Turkey. That stuff is foul.

Apr 14, 2007
Simon Wood

So you're reading Accidents. You'd better bloody like it. No pressure, of course...

Apr 19, 2007
Mary Saums

Intense. I have to put it down to breathe. :) It's scaring me. I think I'm going to cry.

Apr 19, 2007
Simon Wood

I made a girl cry...I am a cad...

Apr 19, 2007
LaTanya Pattillo

Mary-

Thistle and Twig sounds exciting. Can't wait:)

Apr 20, 2007
Mary Saums

Hi, Marika - I'm still learning how to get around the site, too. I could spend all day reading here!

Apr 23, 2007
Mary Saums

Thanks, LaTanya! I think I want to come to your house. Looks like somebody there is a good cook. :)

Apr 23, 2007
Mary Saums

Suzanne, I know your name, too, from either DL or 4MA. Yes, the more time I spend online, the more books I see recommended that I have to read!

Apr 23, 2007
Gumshoe Carl

I bought a copy of Thistle and Twig this weekend while in NYC. It looks a little cozy, well a lot cozy, but for you dear friend, I'll give it a try. I might have to take the cover off the book if I will be in a big crowd, like a plane, train, or pool. :) Congrats Mary.

Apr 23, 2007
Mary Saums

I can't believe they had a copy in NYC. What were they thinking. :) Yeah, swap the cover with a Hannibal book or something like that so nobody will look at you weird. :)

Apr 23, 2007
Tony Burton

Just finished Thistle and Twigg day before yesterday. I stayed up very, very late reading it and really enjoyed it, especially with my own Southern background. I do believe I know quite a few Phoebes, and they every one, in spite of their good hearts, annoy the heck outta me! But she is such a wonderful foil for Jane! So, I'd hug her neck anyway! (That's a Southernism, folks...)

Apr 24, 2007
Mary Saums

{{virtually hugging your neck}} Thanks, Tony!

Apr 24, 2007
012158

Mary,

I did a review a while back on Du Brul's newest book, Havoc, and have listed him probably in past monthly reads.

May 1, 2007
Sarah Wisseman

Thanks for the note about my article in Mystery Scene-great magazine. will I see you at Malice thsi coming weekend?

May 2, 2007
Mary Saums

Hi, Sarah - yes, I'll be there. Can't wait!

May 2, 2007
Donna Moore

Hi Mary - thanks for the chatter! I got the videos from YouTube. The Raveonettes Christmas song was used by a garden centre over here for their adverts at Christmas Time, but not the video. I bought The Switches album yesterday (along with the new one from BRMC, just out woohoo!) and it's really good.Delete Comment

May 2, 2007
JackBludis

Good to see you at Malice. I like your femme fatales site. You're on with some pretty high-powered woman there.

May 6, 2007
LC Fraser

Hi Mary, finally picked up mail today and thank you so much for the card. Friends are a very special thing to have around aren't they?

May 7, 2007
JackBludis

Whenever I see your picture, I think "4_MysteryAddicts." Then I see Nashville, TN, and think "Do I have that right?" Now, I know that I do.

May 8, 2007
Lesa Holstine

And, I finished Thistle & Twigg yesterday, and told Mary how much I liked it, particularly Jane and Homer. As Tony said, it would be easy to wring Phoebe's neck, but she means well.

May 8, 2007
Mary Saums

You're right, Lynne, and book friends are the best of all. Jack, wish you could've stayed longer at Malice. Yes, the Femmes are a great bunch of funny, smart ladies. I wrote a short Malice report on the Femmes blog. Still recovering!

May 8, 2007
Mary Saums

Thanks, Lesa! I'm partial to Homer myself. :)

May 9, 2007
Jon Jordan

Mary

If you like Black books you should check out Dylan Moran's stand up on DVD. He is even funnier on stage.
We also got some by Bill Bailey. Great stuff.

May 14, 2007
Jeri Westerson

Thanks for your good wishes, Mary. I'm hoping for good things here.

May 19, 2007
Harley

howdy, Mary!

May 30, 2007
Tom Cain

Hi Mary, glad to join your crew, particularly since you come from Nashville. I fell in love with Emmylou Harris when I was an impressionable schoolboy, back in the 70s, which led me into listening to country. Then my parents moved to DC in 78 and my mum used to have the country stations on the car-radio all the time, since when I've been a devotee, particularly of alt.country - Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, etc. I also spent a memorable few days on the road with the Dixie Chicks, a while back, covering gigs in New Orleans and San Antonio. Anyway, back to crime, death and murder ...

May 30, 2007
Rosemary Harris

Hi Mary,
Happy to be friends...the picture alone would have sealed the deal, but we're also St Martins sibs...

May 30, 2007
James Lincoln Warren

Thanks for the kind words about "Heat of the Moment", Mary. AHMM will be publishing another Cal Ops story called "Cold Reason" sometime in the indeterminate future, and I'm in the midst of a third.

For a real departure from my usual, though, wait until you see "When the Wind Blows" in AHMM, although I can't say when.

My avatar as Handel was inspired by the fact that we have much the same figure, and that his wardrobe was much more expensive than mine.

Jun 3, 2007
Glen C. Allison

Thanks for your comment, Mary. And congrats on your new mystery. I'll have to look for it. Love that about "Miss Marple with assault rifles". My kinda gal.

Jun 3, 2007
Rebecca26

Love the pic! I have seen your book on the shelf at my library and look forward to reading it soon.

Jun 5, 2007
Mary Saums

Thanks, Rebecca - is that a longhorn in your picture?

Jun 5, 2007
Rebecca26

I agree we have a lot of authors in common. I just found Peter Lovesey and I just adore him. My favorite Heyer mystery is Behold, Here's Poison.

Jun 5, 2007
Mary Saums

Lovesey will be the one of the Guests of Honor at Malice next year. Love the Diamond series, but as with all my other favorite authors, I'm behind. I think the last one I read was The Summons. Excellent book.

Jun 5, 2007
Skye L

Thank you for the comment on my blog. Yes, I'm a Willow fan and like you, tears are in place the minute I turn my DVD player on. Then again, my husband said I'm just an old romantic. . I just read about your book and it sounds very interesting with a great twist. Most definitely a "must" have.

Jun 7, 2007
Dave Zeltserman

Hi Mary, thanks for the invite--I see you're a fan of one of my favorites, Ken Bruen. Best of luck with "Thistle & Twigg" --Dave

Jun 11, 2007
Merrill Young

Darn! I missed it!
You were talking about Emmy Lou?
All the Roadrunning(with Mark Knophler) is on my top CD of the year list.
Well, OK, last year.

Jun 16, 2007
Mary Saums

I don't have that one yet, Merlot. Aren't they both great? I've always loved Emmylou's Luxury Liner album. My fave Knopfler song is ... ahh...CRS ... but I think it's called Hey, Romeo. Or Hey, Juliet. One of those Shakespeare people.

Jun 16, 2007
LC Fraser

Mary, you are too funny. I like Johnny Depp too though - i have to admit that one.

I have your books on order at Sleuth but did not get them in time to send with Patricia for you to sign them (drat it anyway). Thistle and Twig and one of the other series - Midnight Hour. Looking forward to reading them.

Jun 16, 2007
Mary Saums

I was serious, Lynne - I love Keith Richards! Okay, maybe I was kidding a little bit about the sex god thing. :) A few years ago, my husband and I decided that Santa would bring us the Stones' Four Flicks DVDs. I'm telling you, that thing is absolutely inspirational. Now if they'd only eat a little more, I wouldn't worry so about them being so skinny.

Patricia and Soren will be here tomorrow! Yay!

Jun 16, 2007
LC Fraser

I am so excited that Patricia is getting to meet up with you. Isn't the internet a cool place?

Yeah, the Stones were a tad on the thin side --- my aunt used to say that she liked a man to look lean and hungry. I think today they all want to look 'buff' although I am not sure where that term came from?

I still have dibbs on Johnny Depp. You can have Keith and we will give Patricia and Merlot the leftovers. There has to be some reward for being there first, right?

Jun 17, 2007
Merrill Young

Mary- do not pass go, do not collect $200- go out and buy that CD asap!
And the Knophler song is Juliet- I could fall for a guy who could write "..don't know how to do anything, 'cept be in love with you"

Jun 17, 2007
LC Fraser

Okay so I have started Midnight Hour. Want my opinion?

Jun 20, 2007
Mary Saums

Uh, sure, she said as she donned her Kevlar jacket. :) Cool hat. Did a certain fashion queen of whom we are both acquainted make that?

Jun 20, 2007
LC Fraser

It is my Mad Hatter hat and no, not made by our friend. Bet she would have put more feathers on it for me.

I am loving the book although you already made me cry - meanie! You have a great *voice*. Looking forward to seeing how it all pans out.

Jun 20, 2007
LC Fraser

You made me cry at the end too. Good story and now I want to read the next one in the series (it is a series right?) but will have to wait for Sleuth to get it in. Or trade with Merlot who has the second but not the first book. Not sure about trading though- I kind of like to keep all my books (and would like to keep anyone else's too but most folk are smart enough not to loan to me)

Jun 21, 2007
Merrill Young

Hmmmm.
I'm possesive about my books too.
(and it just-this-moment-occured to me- why didn't I bring the book to LCC so Mary could sign it??????)
We will have to do this exchange in person, Lynne

Jun 21, 2007
Mary Saums

Are you two coming to the Denver LCC? I haven't made up my mind yet.

Jun 21, 2007
LC Fraser

I wish. I rarely travel. But you could come to Bloody Words next year. I only have to get into the city for that one.

Jun 21, 2007
Merrill Young

I hope to, Mary.
I have a hotel reservation, but need passport and registration.
All depends if I change jobs and make more$ so that I can travel more.
Jack is making convention noises, maybe he'll come,too.

Jun 22, 2007