My new blog today at http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com deals with the similarities between fixing up and selling houses and doing the same with manuscripts.

Morgan Mandel

I recently joined with several fellow authors--thank God someone invited me as I was beginning to feel a little like I had leprosy--on a blog we call Writers Plot: www.writersplot.typepad.com Recent self-serving posts of mine include such titles as There is No Off-Switch on the Crying Machine and Um, Officer ... I Swear I Didn't Do Anything. It's just the fun and the sometimes sad and lonely thoughts of a way-too-sensitive writer.

My…

If you live in a small town, you'll know what I'm talking about.

As you're driving, you see another vehicle and as you pass each other, you wave. (The left hand, two-finger wave, is my personal favorite).

I now live in a suburban community where, though not as frequently as in rural communities, you still see motorists wave or recognize other motorists. I…

A LOAD OF OLD BONES (Untraditional mystery- 3 POV- England-1950s) - VG

Hill, Suzette A. – 1^st…

Madness in the office today – though a kind of organised, fairly contained madness, which was nice. I do so love it when there’s a secretarial panic on – it makes it all worthwhile. Anyway, I rushed around in a fairly logical way organising a meeting for tomorrow with the Guildford School of Acting, who want to come in to talk about our Freshers’ Week DVD script ideas. This meant throwing myself on the mercy of the adorable Helen from Catering – where would I be without her? – who rushed…

Stop by my What's New page to read the latest news.

This month I talk about my trip to NY for Backspace Writer's Conference and Book Expo America; some great news for CAPTAIN AMERICA fans, film options for ASSUMED IDENTITY and CREEPERS and finally some Rambo IV News.

http://www.davidmorrell.net/whatsnew/dsp.whatsnew.cfm

Lesley Kagen, author of "Whistling in the Dark" is in Word Nerd's hot seat this week.

Check it out here.

Over at Criminal Brief, the question has been raised as to why so many seem to avoid the short story. The argument is made (I hope to get it right) that working in the short story form helps a writer focus on what is important. Many student writers (a lot is directed at student writers, I think) want to work on novels.

In the comments, I mention that it is not cost efficient for anyone who can sell a novel to spend the time writing short…

My wallet is only so big and I end up with more receipts in it than bills.

Do stores really think that I will set and read them in a spare moment. If it's cash it goes in the trash. Hey that rhymed.

Forgot to say (or perhaps I’m too ashamed to confess it), but Lord H and I bought a birdsong CD at the end of last week’s holiday, so we could wow our friends with our amazing ability to distinguish a woodpecker from a sparrow. However, there are 99 tracks on it, plus a booklet (which unfortunately doesn’t include pictures of said birds, which might have been more useful), and we’re so far only up to track 12. Well, there’s only so much constant tweeting you can take really. But I do think I…

Corona, Linda and I met tonight and had a small, but spirited, discussion:…

I haven't written a word on my novel in nearly four weeks. Oh, I've thought about said novel. I've written down twists and places that need reformatting. But I have yet to tackle the dreaded scene that haunts me.

I got hung up on POV based on some comments from a critique group. Now, all I can see is POV. I can no longer see the story.

Then, I started a new job. I work weird hours, but the character generation potential is awesome. I broke a tooth, and I mourn the loss of Cape…

I recently turned 53 and because I'm around so many females at work and home, I thought I'd do something manly to recognize by advancing years.

So I joined a local gun club, took my .44-Magnum revolver, and went shooting.

(Important note: When you ask ammunition clerks at the local Wal-Mart for hollow point .44-Magnum rounds, expect startled looks.)

So that birthday weekend I shot guns. I smoked cigars. I drank beer and…

Posted by Lorraine Bartlett

One of my newest friends on MySpace is the Roaming Gnome of Travelocity fame. Since I don't watch a lot of TV, I follow his exploits in USA Today. Yesterday, for instance, he was buried in the sand with a crab nearby. (I sometimes think that little guy gets more life experience than me!)

He's not my only gnome pal. I share my yard with three of them. They all came from the…