Thanks for visiting the blog, Laura. I've been absent because life got in the way but I hope to ramp up the actual blogging again. (Seems the paying work gets more exercise, Yes?) It's an endlessly fascinating topic though. Now all I need to do is have my agent sell the book proposal on it and I can write >daily< with a good conscience.

Stop by anytime.

Andrea,
Appreciated the info on your CSI Effect blog. I know I'm amused by the instant DNA results on CSI shows.
--Laura

You're quite a lady, Andrea!
Thanks. and thanks so much for the comment.

Thanks for visiting my sight.
And I have to say I was really happy when my publisher let me keep the name " Corpse Whisperer."
cmr

Robin,

Yes, culture shock. The first sign I saw when I got here was: Hep Ur Sef (I was hoping that there wouldn't be more phonetic spellings). But, you know, come to think of it, these have now been adapted for today's license plates, haven't they? Ha!

I'm getting used to Arkansas....coming from Louisiana, it was a bit of a culture shock to me. But after 8 years, I'm getting the hang of things! LOL

I LOVE Fallen. GREAT movie.

Hi Andrea, Thanks for the invite. The puppy is an amazing Bull Terrier we had named Yappy. Unfortunately because of allergies we had to find the little guy a new home. The Big Dig was a messs, but is pretty much cleaned up now. About the 10 years to get the Fast Lane published, it was more a matter of sticking it in a drawer and not thinking about it, and then got lucky and was able to do something with it.

Leann,

Oh, yes, I remember your ear--I think someone took it for cauliflower and had it for lunch!

Just kidding. I'm sure you did great.

Hi Andrea,
Yes, we met and worked with clay, reconstructing skulls and such. I made the ugliest ear in the class!! I kept all my notes and handouts ... somewhere. Thanks for the heads up on promotion. Susan McB is a good friend, but she's busy doing little things like planning her wedding! Good stuff after all she's been through. Take care, L

Hi Andrea,

Your books should be on the desk of anyone writing mystery novels. Thanks for the add.

A helping hands monkey, how very cool.

Now that I know about your monkey named Ziggy, I'm madly in love with her. I always wanted my own little monkey. :-) I'm glad you posted the picture. What an amazing little beast. *swoon*

Ha! Monkey on your back. That's a good one.

Actually, Ziggy is a Helping Hands monkey and is now the helper/companion for a quadriplegic. Yes, after 13 years she went to college in Boston (their headquarters) and is a fine example of what bonding and love can do to make someone's life better and brighter.

Thanks for noticing her though, I am so very proud of my little girl (and I didn't have to pay for her college!)

Sue Russell is one smart lady to write about the baddest murderess in recent history! You're a smart lady too. Too bad you've got that monkey on your back.

Hello, Shane,

So glad you stopped by. Had I known I would have poured you a Southern iced tea (with a little pizzazz perhaps?)

Thanks for the invite into the genre pool. I'm actually going to attend a week-long intensive writing session with my friend, agent Donald Maass, in June. I figure a week away from the family in a lodge-type resort with other motivated individuals should get my thriller under way big time so I'm making the commitment. (I do have an extensive outline already, by the way.)

I often wonder though, how often the "jealousy" bug bites authors when their new contemporaries join their genre or do really well? I mean everyone has always been very nice to me but I admit to being jealous of successful friends on occasion. (One of my friends is Diane Fanning and she needs to clone herself she is so hot!)

CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS on your RT award for Best Debut Mystery of 2006!! I think that was probably no small feat.

I'm excited about meeting this new Fiction Crew. Oh, Susan McBride asked me to do the panel on "The CSI Effect" on Friday, the 27th, at 3:00 PM (I hope you'll come if you're not likewise engaged) so I do have some friends that are doing well (I'm driving to Houston with Charlaine Harris and we know she is doing GREAT). I guess you could say I kind of have good mentors (psychologically) anyway, and I'd like to make an entrance into the field. Thanks for laying out the welcome mat. If I can do what you seem to have accomplished, I'll be happy.

By the way, I heard RT can get a little wild. (Like cover models walking around with their shirts off and schtick like that--can't wait.)

P.P.S. I'll be at the RT convention, too. I get to pick up the RT award for Best Debut Mystery of 2006, an honor for which I'm still speechless. Say hello if you see me, and I'll do likewise.

P.S. Three novels at the same time? Yow! You're the hammer for sure!

There's plenty of room in the thriller pool, Andrea. Come on in, and enjoy the most fun group of people I know!