When I began to write “The Dead Sea Codex,” I realized that I didn’t really want to go back to Israel and risk being blown up by a suicide bomber. So I cheated; I stayed home in Illinois. I used today’s

virtual magic carpet, the Internet. Lucky me—I avoided the purgatory of crowded

airports and multiple gas-powered vehicles to traverse oceans and time zones

only to arrive sleep-deprived, sweat-stained,…

Just a quiz today and the answer to yesterday's. Cleopatra, of course. This one is more difficult, and you have to be a student of history...

Accident or Spousal Abuse?…

posted by Doranna Durgin



I have learned to think small, and it is good. "What?" you say? *blink* you say?



Small press, that is. After a career of MMPBs and the occasional hardcover, I've found small press.



It started with Nose for Trouble. NFT was one of those projects that illustrated just how many ways one author can be screwed by many large publishing houses. Initially, submissions were solicited by an editor on a concept…

A day early because of the holiday tomorrow, but here's the weekly author Q&A.

This week, the author up is James Grippando, author of the Jack Swyteck series and a new stand-alone thriller, "Lying with Strangers."

Read the interview here.

THE EAST BAY MYSTERY READERS GROUP -

3 July 2007 - Meeting Recap…

posted by Lorraine Bartlett

Pretty soon (this week?) my first published cozy mystery will be listed on Amazon. The world won't stop revolving--you won't even be able to pre-order it (that happens a few weeks later). But it's a BIG deal to me.

I'm not certain how soon after the announcement they upload the cover, but that's the next BIG step. A few weeks ago, my Writers Plot collegue Doranna Durgin shared her…

Allow me to preface this post: I do not like Miami. It just happens to be on right now. Again. For the forth time. Or fifth. I've lost count. And how do I know since I hate this cheesy segment of the CSI series? I don't know. That's scary.

On the oft rerun episode of CSI MIAMI tonight (Boavista's sista is kidnapped), the lab had a DNA comparison in less than 60 seconds.

All I have to say about this is ....…

Critique groups are funny business. I've been in two, one successfully (well, at least at first), and the other, well, let's just say it didn't go so great.

I want to have a group of writers I can trust, but where to find them, I'm not certain anymore.

What makes a good group for writers? Well, maybe I should touch on the things that are not so cool.

• People you can't trust. I'm not just talking copycats. I'm talking about those people you meet that the pit of your…

As part of the promotional efforts for our mystery, Murder Off the Books, my co-author and I, the collective Evelyn David, publish a monthly e-newsletter. In addition to information on Evelyn David's appearances and new projects, we also pen a column of tips and tricks for aspiring mystery writers.

This month our topic was heroes and their sidekicks. We have some great ideas for developing these dynamic duos, but we also created a fun quiz that asks you to…

One of the best, unkept secrets in Houston is The Final Twist, the Houston Chapter of Sisters in Crime, founded four years ago by Diana L. Driver, author of Ninth Lord of the Night.

Against the odds, and despite a membership scattered all over this very large and sprawling city, the chapter has grown, managing to not just survive, but to thrive.

TFT members are mostly published authors or aspiring authors--though we're proud to include in our membership a reviewer, a movie…

One of the things I've found hardest in writing is getting someone to read my work with a critical yet encouraging eye. First problem: I was for years an English teacher in our small town, so most people think if I wrote it, it must be okay. Not true, of course, but many would never "dare" to criticize and are therefore out of the running as first readers.

Then there are the people who would love a chance to axe something I've written, just to prove that they're smarter than I am. Not…

I'm now reading The Scout Master by Luisa Buehler and really enjoying it.

Since my last post I also read Married In Metropolis by Lonnie Cruse. GREAT!!!

And also To Love And To Perish by Laura Durham. Also, Great!

Dawn