... but because it's not possible to sustain the intensity with which I've felt this whole matter, this is likely to be the last word from me. Today's New York Times has a definitive article on what happened at Virginia Tech last week. Cho's whole life seems to have been a silent cry for help, up to the point where he decided to fight back. Unfortunately, this being Ammurrica, the way he decided to fight back was by arming himself. However long he may have had violent thoughts, we now know…

Are there any fans of Scooby Do out there? If there are and they were watching they must have enjoyed the latest outing for Sea of Souls (BBC1 Tues/Thurs), as it happens so did I.

It was the most splendid hokum involving murder, black magic and the transmigration of souls, all set in a remote house in Scotland that could have come straight from a Hammer Horror film.

Predictably most of the television critics were rather sniffy about the show on the grounds that the whole thing…

Managed to catch up with the neighbours opposite this morning while I was sorting the cars out - they're very sweet but they're the kind who find my writing life distinctly weird (as indeed do Marian & Siegi, our golfing friends), so I've learnt - as with M. & S. - not to bring it into the conversation when asked what I've been up to. So I've caught up on holiday news (not sure when the next will be yet), the daughter's wedding (quiet but pleasant) and her ensuing pregnancy…

On April 9, the 3rd Issue of The Outpost was posted. The Outpost features Australian crime fiction short stories and is published quarterly on the Crime Down Under site. So far we have seen a vast range of stories and the 3rd issue features more entertaining reading with a couple of dark humoured stunners punctuating some detective tales. You can also check back on the previous two issues…

We had a great time at Robin & Gavin's last night - as I thought, Liz and John were there too, and the six of us had a really good time. I think it's the best time I've had out at someone's house socially since Christmas - so thanks for making that possible, Robin! Whilst there, we were chatting about Liz's son, Rob, who's an up-and-coming actor and also very hot-looking too (down, girl, down!) - and so I've asked Sue (…

Well, now that Boucher book is turned in, I'm back to square one on trying to find a new subject for a biography. It's been something of a back and forth process to find someone with enough available personal data to write an entire book, a willing estate, and a person who hasn't been written about in the past.

In the course of looking though, I feel my addiction coming back. I love research! I love being able to get lost in the many details of times gone by and the myriad resources…

Once again, this week I'll be offering two ARCs. Wendy Howell Mills' latest Sabrina Dunsweeney mystery, Island Blues is due out in May, so I'm offering the ARC of the first in the series, Island Intrigue. I'm also offering the most recent Tarot Card Mystery by David Skibbins, The Star.

If you'd like to enter the contests, check out my book blog at www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com for details.…

This is another flash fiction piece that originally appeared at Tribe's excellent Flashing in the Gutters site.

Way out there, we couldn’t do anything but bury the girl and leave a marker for someone to find. With Ray already limping from his knee injury, we couldn’t carry her back, and if we just left her in the woods, half naked and cut up so bad, animals would come along and no one would ever find her, or even know who she was. So I dug with the camp shovel, doing what…

This short piece originally appeared on Tribe's excellent Flashing in the Gutters site.

Not your fault your first shot missed, not your fault the punk returned fire. Not your fault Reymond's vest didn't cover his paunch or that he stood stock still in the doorway, fumbling with the thumb break on his new duty rig.

Not your fault he got killed.

Punk was Reymond's word. Everyone on the street was a punk to him. Or a kid.

You don't have…

Okay, I admit it. I've met someone new.

Sigh. *batseyes*

Do you want to hear about him? I don't even know what to say, he's soooo dreamy. Which means, I admit, that I dream about him constantly. Daydream. You know. Oh my. But he's so amazing.

His name is Eager Gillespie.

Yes, I know, that couldn't be his real name? Could it? Maybe it is. When a while can be named Moon Unit or Metallica, Eager doesn't sound so weird. Of course, maybe it's…