Thank you so much to everyone who commented during Octoberguest! Here are the winners: CarMar–Any book from Allison Brennan’s backlist Carolyn Burns Bass–Amanda Stevens’s novel, The Devil’s Footprints Becky LeJeune–Petiquette by Amy Shojai, or Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul (or Cat) Chester Campbell–Bill Cameron’s Chasing Smoke The Walking Man–Jennie Bentley’s debut novel, Fatal …Read More
Happy Halloween! I find myself a little stunned to realize that it’s Halloween already and we’ve come to the end of Octoberguest!. I’ve had so much fun this month and am very grateful to all of the wonderful writers who so generously contributed their work to the Handbasket. And I’d also like to thank everyone …Read More
As I looked over the list of Octoberguests, I realized that today’s guest Dorothy Francis may have written more books than all of this month’s guests combined: seventy-four books for both children and adults. I am in awe! Eden Palms Murder, Dorothy’s latest novel, features songwriter Bailey Green and is just now available from Five …Read More
In late 2006 I decided to take the plunge into the wacky world of social networking and joined Myspace. It was a revelation to me–a whole new way to explore the universe outside of my very small world of writing and parenting. I’m so glad that Jody Reale turned out to be a part of …Read More
If you chance to meet Amanda Stevens, don’t be fooled by her sweet, southern smile. She’s one scary thriller writer-chick. After you read her very timely post here at the Handbasket, you’ll want to check out her novels: the ultra-creepy The Dollmaker (where’s the film? that’s what I want to know!), The Devil’s Footprints and …Read More
I was so pleased when Jean Henry Mead agreed to be a guest at the Handbasket this month. Some time ago there was an interesting online discussion about why so many mystery and thriller protagonists were thirty years old–or perhaps thirty-one or thirty-two. (Was it at Sarah Weinman’s blog? Does anyone else recall this?) Thirty …Read More
J.T. Ellison pulls no punches. I love her direct way of talking about her work and the business of writing. (She’s a regular contributor to the Anthony-nominated crime-writing blog Murderati.) And J.T. is definitely serious about the business: Her first novel, the acclaimed thriller All The Pretty Girls came out just last November, the second …Read More
I met the delightfully vibrant Michelle this past summer when she was teaching the poetry section at the Tinker Mountain Writer’s Workshop. Her work is raw, honest and provocative and it was a privilege to hear her reading it (poetry is best enjoyed live, don’t you think? maybe with cocktails afterwards?). She’s also at work …Read More
Scary. Wild. Funny. Definitely over-the-top in the best way! That’s the only way to describe Mario Acevedo’s work. Mario writes the Felix Gomez vampire-detective series for Eos HarperCollins: The Nymphos of Rocky Flats, X-Rated Blood Suckers, and his latest novel The Undead Kama Sutra. I knew he’d be perfect to get us ready for the …Read More
Allison Brennan inspires me! After working in public policy for many years, she decided that she wanted to have a job that would allow her to spend more time with her kids. So she turned to what she loved–books! She blew onto the romantic suspense scene in 2006 with a trilogy, and followed it up …Read More