So, my 49th is coming up. And I was wondering what I needed to do to make the upcoming year mean something. Because...the year before you turn 50 should mean something, shouldn't it?

So a couple weeks ago I decided I would lose 50 pounds before I turned 50. It's something I need to do anyway. And I want to look decent for my son's wedding. So Jeff and I developed a lifestyle change. Two weeks in, and we've each lost around 10 pounds.

I don't know how it will go, but hopefully…

HIGHBEAMS

by…

There are audio clips of Whiteout author Greg Rucka, director Dominic Sena and star Kate Beckinsale from Comingsoon.net, we also have the first Whiteout film poster.

There is a new promo Joker site for the upcoming The Dark…

THE EAST BAY MYSTERY READERS GROUP

DARK CARNIVAL

Tuesday July 3rd, 2007 - 7 p.m.…

I'm working on writing the first book in a promotional series I've been planning for some time. One of the things I want to do, is include thoughts, suggestions and experiences from authors :) I bet you have some awesome promo ideas and would like to know if you would like to provide a quote. I think that offers more varied info for the authors who read the…

http://mstephens-musings.blogspot.com/ I've had this blog for a while but haven't done too much with it. After spending the past four months blogging on the 18 or so sites that I belong to, I decided I needed to revamp my blog to not only promote my writing, but to also have a place where I can showcase other authors.

I'd like to invite you to vist my blog and look forward to your comments!

I'm not much into blogging. So here's a piece that originally appeared in "Mystery Scene...."…

posted by guest blogger Marilyn Levinson

I’ve started writing a new book – a Y A horror. Once again I’m a boy. I’m fifteen years old and I’ve just lost my family. What’s more, I’ve yet to discover I’m in the clutches of an uncle with evil intentions, not the least of which is to take over my body. Quite a switch from writing cozy mysteries for adults.

Adults? Kids? What’s the difference these days? How many adults have their noses in the latest Harry Potter, a series that…

posted by Leann Sweeney

My first grandchild will arrive in October, so before I spend three weeks in Seattle in the fall, I decided to fit in every appointment to every doctor or dentist I know. Plus, I start a new medical insurance deductible in September. That's an important scheduling factor. I know Aetna will be glad when this year is over. Between the Lyme meds and the physical therapy, it's been a pricey year for all of us.

I made the mistake of seeing the dentist first.…

Yesterday's post was on writing what you like versus what will sell. I find that among my works, I can't say which is better or best; I love whichever one I'm working on right now. I can't imagine being told what to write, and I guess that taking the creativity out of a person's work is what makes a writer a hack. Although I understand the need for editorial intervention once I'm done, before that point I have to write my story. It is this that makes me reluctant to join critique groups that…

Starting Saturday is a week exactly the anthesis of the writer's solitary life:

Catch a plane at 6 a.m on Saturday. Three events that day, culminating with one of my royal tea parties at the Mystery Bookstore, LA.

Then drive to San Diego. Royal teaparty. Fly home.

Monday, fly to Denver.

Tuesday two early morning TV shows. Evening event.

Wednesday drive to Boulder, evening event.

Thurs fly to Salt Lake, evening event.

Friday fly to Portland,…

I just finished book seven, and I have that feeling that I always get when I finish a nice fat mystery--kind of lost, like I was inhabiting a world and was suddenly sent home. A sort of death, really.

So now I must go through my book pile and decide what's next--but Harry, I must say, is a tough act to follow. JKR filled seven huge books full of history for each character so that a reader is left feeling that they grew up with these people, went to school with them--what an amazing…