Look what showed up in my mail this week. How cute is it?! While at Bouchercon 2011, I spent a couple of hours at the International Thriller Writers’ (ITW) table, handing out membership brochures and extolling the virtues of ThrillerFest. It was an absolute pleasure to hang out there because I got to meet many …Read More
I’ve been dithering about doing a blog about Bouchercon 2011, the mystery conference which ended last Sunday, because I had such a great time that every moment felt like a highlight. My post threatened to be 10K words, and I was feeling intimidated by all that territory. So I’m working hard to limit myself, here… …Read More
Once upon a time, my friend Jedidiah Ayres invited me to a bar. Wait. Let me start over… Jed invited Pinckney and me to read at a bar in St Louis’s UCity Loop. When Jed issues an invitation, one dare not refuse. He’s just too darn nice (but I don’t think he’d like that to …Read More
Some very wise person played Carole King’s classic song You’re So Far Away at Amy Winehouse’s funeral. It was reported in the press that it was one of her favorite songs. Could there be a more poignant choice for the celebration of the life of someone who has died so young? (Below, I’ve …Read More
The kids and I spent ten days in Washington, D.C. and environs this month. I took about 700 pictures–but I’ll only post a few of my favorites here. Don’t you hate it when people invite you over to see their boring vacation pics?! There are thousands of national treasures in Washington, D.C., but the Library …Read More
Meet Keith Raffel: Silicon Valley entrepreneur, former counsel to the U.S. Senate, and killer thriller writer. The action in his latest novel–Drop by Drop — bridges the country from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., and makes excellent use of all that intriguing intelligence knowledge he soaked up working in the nation’s capital. Keith has lots …Read More
Pinckney and I have always had a fairly unconventional daily schedule, given that we’re both writers. His various year-round academic duties keep him busy at odd times, as well. Back before we had kids, we had lovely evening dinner dates. We even went to *gasp* parties with other adults. And, wonder of wonders, I think …Read More
More flowery goodness from the Missouri Botanical Garden’s St. Louis Garden Tour… Here’s a story of major contrasts. The first pics are from a woodland garden/wildlife sanctuary that showcases many native plants in a natural setting. I really liked that the house was nice, but not crazy fancy, like so many of the homes on …Read More
I spent last Sunday with a good friend, visiting gardens that were featured on the Missouri Botanical Gardens’ St. Louis Garden Tour 2011. There were eight homes on the tour, and I think we made it to six. We skipped the bus/lunch tour, and drove ourselves. St. Louis is so easy to get around–if you …Read More
Whenever I correspond or tweet with writer Anthony Neil Smith, I feel like I need to man up. I find myself peppering my communications with words like “damn” and “Dude!” and “ammo.” I also start craving good scotch, neat, and wonder if I’d be good at smoking unfiltered Camels. Smith’s five novels and ubiquitous short …Read More