Tomorrow I return to book signing, this time at the Waldenbooks in Manassas Mall. If you're going to be in the area to do some shopping, stop by between noon and 4 pm, let me know you saw it in my newsletter, and get a special gift. The mall is at 8300 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA.

I know we're not ALL writers in here. If you build your library by belonging to a small book club, you might sometimes be lost for words after reading a new book. What should your reading group be discussing after this week's read? Well, one way to decide is to checkout Reading Group Guides.com - http://www.readinggroupguides.com - which is really an online community for reading groups. You can register your club there, and find reading guides for just about every popular book. Plus they offer… Continue

I was reminded recently that the things we hold most precious are only precious to us, not anyone else. You can't self your friendships. You can't list respect on E-Bay. And the most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.

The highlight of my week was a complete surprise. When I went to speak at a meeting of Arlington Chapter of the Jaycees a vaguely familiar fellow sat beside me and shook my hand. After a shameful delay I realized he was my fraternity bother Mark Altman. In my own defense I haven't seen this guy in 34 years or so, and we’ve both changed a bit in that time. But he remembered way more about me than I would have expected, including the superhero-littered skyline mural we painted on the wall in The… Continue

I'll spend tomorrow with lots of fellow authors at the Bay to Ocean Writers Conference - http://www.baytoocean.com. From 8 am to 5 pm, the conference offers inspiration and instruction (not to mention a fine lunch) to aspiring and emerging authors. We'll hear from Barnes & Nobles Community Relations Manager Hannah Miller, marketing pro Shar McBee, and the best editor I know, Melanie Rigney, will discuss the essentials of writing a good novel: characters, conflict and construction. And… Continue

I often point you to places on line that will help you find great writing. The Book Ninja - http://www.bookninja.com / - on the other hand, brings great writing to you. Almost every day, the Book Ninja gathers the most interesting, or controversial, or humorous writing about the world of literature from all over the internet. On your own you might miss an article about the new $100G Sami Rohr prize that asks, “Do Jews write Jewish novels?” or the piece in The Onion claiming satirically that the… Continue

Tomorrow night I join the Arlington Chapter of the Jaycees. Their monthly "Pizza Feast" begins at 7:30 pm, and it will be combined with a "Meet the Author Night," when I will discuss the process of writing crime fiction and mysteries. Aside from being able to meet me and get some signed novels, it's a great chance to find out about how you can get involved with this great organization of young adults in Arlington County. The meeting is in the… Continue

I was chastised lastt week for not voting in the primaries. Since I’m not committed to a party, I don’t think I should help choose their candidates. In that same conversation I was taken to task for the snide and sometimes humorous remarks I’ve made about all of the candidates. I… Continue

Sometimes in the process of finding myself on line I find some of the best web sites for those interested in the literary world. For example, just because I was at the same fiction seminar with Leslie Pietrzyk I was name-checked on her blog, "Work-in-Progress." -…

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Saturday at the American University fiction seminar I again came face to face with the fact that people actually go to college to learn how to write. Listening to a few Masters of Fine Arts I wondered if I would have been able to succeed in that environment or if instead some wise professors would have convinced me I have no talent. I think I've done pretty well living an "OJT" life, since Public…

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I had a great Saturday at the all-day seminar "A World of Fiction Writing" at American University, jointly sponsored by Washington Independent Writers. The speakers were great, especially the web-savvy team on the "Writers' Blogs," panel, and my fellow authors on the genre writing panel.



I had to leave a little early to get to the Borders Books & Music in the Capital Shopping Mall. I…

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I'm on my way out to the seminar "A World of Fiction Writing" at American University, then off to Borders Books & Music at The Capital Shopping Mall, so I don't know when I'll get a chance to post again.…

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There's so much going on this weekend I'll hardly be able to catch my breath, but what a wonderful way to get winded. It all starts tomorrow morning at the all-day seminar "A World of Fiction Writing" - http://www.washwriter.org/special.html - jointly sponsored by American University's MFA… Continue

I can never resist talking about it when I get positive feedback from a reader. That’s why I want to introduce you to Shelbie Wells.



We met at a Borders book signing, as is so often the case for me. I always ask people who purchase one of my novels to send me a note when they've read it to tell me what they think. Well, this was one reader who was true to her word and sent me a very flattering note about Blood and Bone, the book…

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As the presidential candidates rush toward their primaries we must remember to question everything we hear. Sometimes things that sound great on the surface don't stand up to a closer look. Consider their statements and question them, just as you would the words in a commercial. For example, I'm told on TV that Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day. If that's true, how come nothing is free yet?

This week's bad news is that I didn't get to the Love Is Murder writer's convention. United cancelled all its flights to Chicago Friday. I tried to get around this by booking a flight on US Air through Philadelphia. That was fine…

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My direct flight to Chicago was cancelled due to weather, I've searched for alternative transportation, and now find myself sitting in the Philadelphia airport waiting for a flight to the Love is Murder conference. Whiel I wait, I may as well tell you about another great blog.

Work-in-Progress is a cool place, a blog in which author Leslie Pietrzyk explores the creative process and all things literary. She posts almost daily, and on any given day you might find poetry from an upcoming…

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