Although I do astrology, I no longer ask people “What's your sign?” As an acquisitions editor for Oak Tree Press, I now ask authors, “What's your genre?”

The worst thing a writer can do is give me a blank stare. “Genre” is an essential part of the lingo in publishing lexicon. It's how we classify a book and decide if it fits our line.

Labeling books has practical reasons. Bookstores (when they existed) found it useful to put books…

“Bad decisions make good stories.”

I'll wager you are thinking of several bad decisions in your life and how those could be turned into a short story or a scene in a novel. You may have to change the names/locations/dates to protect the guilty (and save yourself a lawsuit) or you may have to embellish the facts a bit to make the anecdote play out a little better in written…

Sociopath or psychopath, so which is it?  We often see these two descriptions interchangeable among mainstream news media and entertainment arenas.  When I first began my study in criminology, I was initially confused by the terms and found that many individuals in the teaching area and general information found in college textbooks used each of these terms interchangeably.

Both…

Today you can learn how I came up with the characters in my latest novel AND win a prize on my blog, Another Writer’s Life http://ascamacho.blogspot.com/

Summer reading alert! Action fans will want to read High Treason, the 4th Jonathan Grave Thriller by NY Times bestselling author John Gilstrap, when it comes out in July.

And if you want to meet John Gilstrap, he’ll be interviewed during Saturday’s lunch, and teach a class, at the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity (C3) conference in Baltimore, September 13, 14 & 15. We will gather readers and writers of mystery, suspense, thriller, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and steampunk…

I published my first book, Code of Deceit, in 2007, and I was fortunate enough to have it hit several best-seller lists. I followed that one with Journey of the Spirit—now renamed The People’s Warrior. This one, a historical fiction did fairly well. It was even voted second best in the mainstream category by readers.

Then In 2008, I published Cold Tears. This book exceeded all my expectations, and I have high ones. Voted the best mystery in the world, the sales and accolades…

I'm trying to maintain a strong on-line presence. :-)

Today I discuss the importance of character names on my blog, Another Writer's Life. http://ascamacho.blogspot.com .

And the classy e-magazine Grove Street just released a book club and book lover’s edition. Aside from lots of other interesting content, this issue features an interview with yours truly. Check it out.…

It was a great idea: a 'Wine' & Cheese & Books party in a library. Snack and beverages prompted mixing and mingling. Each of the writers read from our work, then we had trivia contests and other book-related games. The only thing wrong with the event was that it was too short.

Also, my review of The Shadow Tracer is in this month’s The Big Thrill, the newsletter of the International Thriller Writers. What if you had to give up your entire life and disappear in order to keep…

CrimeFest 13 was buzzing. It was great to catch up with some of my fellow crime writers, meet lots of lovely crime fiction fans and meet up with my publisher, Severn House.

The panel session on Friday morning was well received by a lively audience and my In the Spotlight Session later the same morning where I talked about "The Perfect System for Writing a Crime Novel" was standing room only.…

An Eighteenth Century Thriller Anyone?

If you are not exclusively interested in Japanese history, here’s a book that has something for everyone: duels, romance, murder, intrigue, battles, irritating relatives, and eccentric elderly gentlemen.

On Kindle:          THE LEFT-HANDED…

Thanks to Vernon Field for his new review of The Troubleshooter: “Good action book with lots of ways to relate to the people involved. The plot is good and lets the reader get involved in the plot.”…

I'll be taking part at CrimeFest 2013 this weekend where I'll be on a panel on Friday 31 May and will also be talking to the audience about The Perfect System for Writing a Crime Novel.

My panel appearance is entitled: Evening All: A Policeman Calls. It takes place between 10:10 - 11:00am on Friday 31 May when I'll be appearing with fellow crime authors Ann Cleeves, Kate Ellis, J.C. Martin and Kerry Wilkinson.

I'll also be conducting an In The Spotlight session…

Today I explain why I’m looking forward to being on a panel at this year’s Thrillerfest in my blog, Another Writer’s Life http://ascamacho.blogspot.com/

When I created my historical mystery series, I needed a protagonist who was troubled, heroic and vulnerable. As a veteran, I understand that emotion one feels when one is discharged from the military and one has difficulty assimilating back into civilian life. War and the military have codes of honor that do not match-up with the civilian codes. We honor the war dead, but we don’t do much for the war living. All I need to give as evidence are the high suicide rates…

I’ve just made available a Free Preview of my upcoming Mike Gage Thriller,

BLACK KARMA.  You can view it at: http://www.createspace.com/Preview/1125051

(It presents the 1^st and 2^nd Chapters along with a 1 page synopsis.)

The book is targeted for a June release. Your reaction and comments are welcome on

that site, or you can just message me.

Tomorrow I’ll greet readers and other authors at a 'Wine' & Cheese & Books party. Yes, “Wine” is in quotes because no alcohol is allowed in Virginia libraries. We’ll make do with sparkling cider, real fancy cheese and indie authors reading from their books, courtesy of the Culture Club.

So come down to the Arlington Central Library at 7pm. You could win a prize, enjoy some good cheese and end up with some great new reading. The library is at 1015 N. Quincy St, Arlington VA.…

AKITADA # 11 IS HERE

DEATH OF A DOLL MAKER

Now on Kindle

An unexpected and dubious promotion sends Akitada to Kyushu, an outpost where illegal trade with China breeds treason and murder. Leaving behind his family, he faces obstruction and hostility at his new post and…

If you're an author who registered for the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity conference, we have moved the deadline to June 15 to submit a short story to be included in the collector's anthology that every attendee will receive in his goody bag when he arrives. Don't miss your chance to have everyone read your story alongside the likes of NY Times Bestseller John Gilstrap.

And if you HAVEN'T registered yet, it's not too late for you to be included in that special volume - but you…

In the latest video just uploaded here and on my You Tube Channel I'm talking to Tony Smith about the latest DI Andy Horton mystery crime novel, Undercurrent,set in the Solent area of Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight on the South Coast of England and about the flawed and rugged detective DI Andy Horton. (Recorded in March…