Byron, I've had the same problem with the "friend" thingy. Never mind: I know we're friends and I may yet figure it out. Yes, Otis is here, but he hasn't posted in the forum yet. Bryon is here, too. And Caro. I just found her.

Sho'nuff, you're here--though when I cut and pasted, what came up was Otis Twelve. Turns out one needs spaces after I. and J. to find your website. I was gonna bid for "friend," but can find no such option on either of our profile pages. Navigation at this site is really something! I don't think it'd be worth while to increase the frequency of my visits to it: each visit I discover something else that doesn't work. Byron

Thanks, Daniel. I've replaced the flash ad (which is long and narrow and doesn't fit well), with the image above.

Ingrid, to get the flash ad working right, you have to add an image by specifying 'insert an existing image', then point it over here:

http://www.ijparker.com/images/island-flash-ad-3.gif

Oh, thank you. You are very generous. I like the forum and chatting with other writers (well, readers, too).

Thank you, Pepper. So that is what Shelf Awareness referred to when I got it in an e-mail. Still not quite sure what it is, but if people see it, then it must be good.

Saw your flash ad in the Shelf Awareness newsletter. Looks pretty cool!

I think the mention of the PW star is already up, Ann. As I said, Overbooked always gives me joy when I google book my titles. It's a wonderful thing to do for writers. I wish Kirkus, Booklist, and Library Journal had bothered to review. I seem to get fewer reviews every year.

Yup, I'm Ann the Overbooked . . . I'm working on the Oct featured titles now - Island of Exiles will be included (I'd planned on this before the nice note from you).

Thank you. Such praise always means much more from a colleague.

Well, you're on a short list of my favorite writers. (So is Naomi Hirahara, who's also on Crimespace.) I think you do all of it well -- plotting, characterization, structure, and (especially) setting. And I'm really picky.

Just found your comment, Timothy. Thanks. It's enormously appreciated. These days I live for reviews and the occasional praise from a reader. Word of mouth moves very slowly, at least in my case.

Boy, do you deserve that PW star. My editor sent me an ARC (I don't know how she got it, since she's at Morrow) and I devoured it: one extremely long night's worth of reading.

I've liked all your books enormously, and I hope this one goes through ten printings in six months.

Hi IJ- You might enjoy the Franklin. I'd recommend the slightly harder-edged "City of Shadows," rather than her sweet, but softer new one, "Mistress of the Art of Death." As you can probably figure from my site, I seem to have a higher tolerance for the softer stuff. (That said, I'm now reading Michel Faber's short story collection, "Vanilla Bright Like Eminem," and he is one sick f*ck.)

really top advice just now. thanks again.

Well, as you see, a lot of friendly and disreputable -- as well as very talented -- characters hang out here. And the discussions are mostly very good. Sandra Ruttan generally comes up with interesting topics.

Here at your request, Ingrid. Figure if you're hanging out at this locale, the company must be engagingly disreputable.

I took early retirement a few years ago to concentrate on writing. I live in Hampton Roads, Keith. Two years go I was in Raleigh for a signing. Absolutely loved that part of North Carolina.

Thanks, Lynette. I thought I'd beat you, but you're quite right.