Murder in the Magic City is an annual book conference for writers and readers in Birmingham, Alabama. I just got back and can report that it was excellent. It's an invitation only event for writers -- so there were only 16 authors there. About 150 readers attended the main all-day event in Birmingham, and another 150 at a separate event the following day in Wetumpka -- about 50 miles away. Both were great. The area has an excellent community of readers, writers and friends. And the conference… Continue

I have a short story in the July 2008 issue of ELLERY QUEEN MYSTERY MAGAZINE (here's a mystery, the July issue is published in May!!)

I'm very excited. It's a rather unusual story called "Murder on the Main Line" and is based on a woman I knew and loved -- except for the murder, of course.

If you read it, please let me know what you think.

I just submitted my new book to my publisher! I'm waiting to hear what they think.

Finding the right title is an interesting process. This book started out as a short story published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in December 2006. That story was written under the title "Murder at the Ass End of Nowhere." Ass End of Nowhere is a phrase from my childhood -- used to describe my small hometown, or the even more remote, rural parts of the county.

But EQMM doesn't do ass,…

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In a word -- mush!

Bouchercon in Anchorage was 2 parts Jack London and 1 part Northern Exposure. Full of interesting juxtapositions and outright contradictions. No internet connection in the hotel (the Anchorage Hilton and city's tallest building!). But the governor spoke at the Award ceremony cocktail party. Lee Child wasn't there. But Dana Stabenow was everywhere. I wasn't allowed to show a dvd at my author's solo presentation. But they kept having CSI Alaska presentations…

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Just returned from a book tour through Florida and Sleuthfest in Miami. Sleuthfest was the bomb! Linda Fairstein, a friend from her days at the NYC District Attorney's Office, was great as always! Renee Balcer of Law and Order Criminal Intent was charming! We saw lots of fellow authors, old friends and new. John and Joanne of the Murder on the Beach Bookstore were just great. We sat on panels, signed books, caroused in South Beach with our terrific publishers and drank at the hotel bar every… Continue

Larry Light and I signed our new book, LADYKILLER, at New York's legendary Black Orchid bookstore on April 11th. The champagne was flowing and they nearly sold out of books! We had a ball!

We'll also be touring Florida cities the week of April 15 ending up at Sleuthfest in Miami.

"Ladykiller is a fast, thrilling read!" -- Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine

"I absolutely loved Ladykiller. Excellent writers, kept you wanting to pick up the book every moment you had time to read. The book will definitely be recommended to my bookclubs and anyone else I have a chance to tell."

-- Barbara Liss, BookClubs

"Ladykiller is addictive, intense, and not for the faint of heart." -- Armchair Interviews

"I would recommend…

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