I recently met filmmaker and mystery writer chick Meredith Cole at the Love is Murder mystery conference in Chicago and knew immediately that you would love her inspiring, incredible publishing story. She got started in June 2008 when her short story, Exercise is Murder, was an Ellery Queen Department of First Stories selection and now …Read More

So, when was the last time you cleaned the inside of your computer screen? (Thanks, Andrea H!)

The Benedict family loves its dogs. Longtime readers of my myspace blog will recall many tales of Hrothgar, the (almost) Labrador we adopted from the shelter not long after we moved to Illinois. And just last spring we announced the arrival of Scout, whom we adopted out of a shopping cart at our local grocery …Read More

Mario’s back, boys and girls! Jailbait Zombie, the latest installment in the adventures of undead Vampire detective Felix Gomez is out just today, and Mario has dropped by to clue us in on the post-apocalyptic films that shaped his deliciously twisted vision. If you haven’t checked out his work already, you can get to know …Read More

About a hundred years ago, I worked in the tech services department for a company that did huge corporate events. Mostly we served the Mega Beer Company, but we did our thing for a few other corporations as well. Here’s the scene: Slightly nervous men in suits standing on stages, reading bad speeches and even …Read More

I can’t tell you where this picture was taken or the mysterious, unidentified person who sent it to me, but, suffice it to say, it’s a picture of Isabella Moon in paperback–on a shelf, in a store. Remember that if you see such a sight yourself, in the same place, in person, you can email …Read More

To the left is a picture–a professional photo, mind you–of how properly forced Paperwhites should look. Now, I’ve never been very Martha Stewart-ish, but I do okay. I’ve always loved the idea of forcing bulbs. The Victorians were mad for it and came up with all kinds of clever dishes and containers to do the …Read More

Thanks for all the emails letting me know you saw ISABELLA MOON at Target. After I get my work done, I’m going to have to take a little trip out of town today or tomorrow to see it for myself. I’ll try to sneak a picture (shhhhh!). I hope the next picture of myself I …Read More

Did anyone else have a terrible Valentine’s Day? P was out of town and the children were doing a school fundraiser, so I found myself alone with the dogs, a whole lot of laundry, a bit of leftover chicken and no dark chocolate. Yes, I was feeling very sorry for myself! P did make sure …Read More

One week ago today I was on my way home from the Love Is Murder Conference up in Wheeling, Illinois. I took the train home out of Chicago’s Union Station–the ride was pleasant, but boarding was a surreal experience. What is it about train boarding announcements that cause people to immediately become angry and aggressive? …Read More