I'll still take more oldie stories if you've got one, but I'm back to ruminating on writing. I'm doing research for a sequel to Macbeth's Niece, and it reveals what a quagmire I've gotten myself into. You see, there's the real Macbeth, who lived and died a king and never murdered anyone that we know of, and there's Shakespeare's Macbeth, the character that most of us know. After he died (not killed by Macduff or anyone else at that battle, which was not at Birnam Wood), his stepson…

The heroine in one of my upcoming romances (MANHUNTER -- Silhouette Romantic Suspense) is a tracker who lives in the northern Yukon, and for research I’m devouring books on tracking and signs.

Now, when out on my daily runs or Nordic walks, you will find me looking downward, at the ground, watching for cougar,…

This is Oscar, the berry bear. I see him from my office window each day now as he comes to feast on a bush of ripe orange berries across the street. I know he's there when I hear the branches crashing.

And on my runs, I'm coming across one to four bears a day in the woods now, all eating madly and not at all interested…

We've fallen into a rut when it comes to Sunday's main meal. Every other week or so, my husband and I actually manage to be in the same place at the same time. When we are, I make it a point to ask what he has a taste for when it comes to dinner. The last few times, his answer has been predictable. Meat loaf. He always prefaces the choice with 'your wonderful' or 'world famous', which is intended to flatter me. Now I like meat loaf as well as anything, and I have a favorite recipe, but I…

In what has to be the most gaga news story of the week, the Chinese announced that it is now illegal to be reincarnated without official permission. This is obviously a maneuver that anticipates the death of the current Dalai Lama; the Chinese government

wants to be the sole authority on who the new incarnation is.

So I can understand the goal, even if I don’t sympathize with it. My…

My 8th Cooper and Fry novel, DYING TO SIN, will be published in the UK on 3rd September (and in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc shortly afterwards).

I can hardly believe that I've reached eight books in this series since BLACK DOG first appeared in 2000. And I'm currently at work on number 9!

Here's the publisher's blurb for DYING TO SIN:

"The atmospheric and terrfiying new thriller, featuring Detectives Fry and Cooper from the award-winning Stephen Booth. For…

Many congratulations to Allan Guthrie, who won the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award for his first novel TWO WAY SPLIT. I was really thrilled for Allan, and I could tell that he was genuinely gobsmacked to have won!

A big 'thank you' to everyone who voted for THE DEAD PLACE, and to the organisers of the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival (including, of course, sponsors Theakston's themselves) for supporting this award and putting on such a great event.

Interview with Christine Verstraete, author of The Witch Tree

August 27, 2007…

With one week left of my 'Touring the World' virtual book tour, I want to give you more samples of my work. Today's shocking short is one of my personal favorites, and the first short story of mine that Amazon picked up for their Amazon Shorts program.

So here's a sneak peek...

Picture Perfect…

I'm not actually a big baseball fan. I was when I was younger, but now, on the rare occasions I do what a sports event it is tennis or college football.

Go Penn State.

Anyway, last night I was at an Atlantic League game. Somerset Patriots vs the Road Warriors. And it really started out very boring. No hits for the first few innings. The Road Warriors had a guy who could steal bases. He was unstoppable. A fast runner. So finally the Patriots score two runs on a hit. Two…

Well, I'm fairly new to all this so may well make a few blunders re. adding Friends and stuff!

It's great to know that there are so many people out there who enjoy crime fiction. Kudos to those of you who also write - I would never be brave enough to try it, and certainly wouldn't have the dedication to put in the time and effort it needs, (and of course - having zilch talent would also be a drawback).