I love winter. I love the cold, the rain, bundling up in blankets and thick socks. It doesn’t snow where I live, but it does get cold, and that’s okay with me! It’s also a time for Christmas books. There’s a plethora of Christmas books, mostly coming out in October and November, with pretty covers and heartwarming messages. I don’t write pretty and heartwarming, but I had a Christmas book idea … the Kincaid family reunion is threatened by murder. I wanted to call it KILLER CHRISTMAS, but my publisher nixed the idea. They feared it would limit the sales… Read More

First, I apologize for being late with the blog this morning. I had it on my calendar to write it last night, but then ended up watching BONES with my son and daughter and promptly forgot. Even though the writers totally screwed up season 6, the payoff was worth it. I’d give it an A-. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, though! I’m just pleased that Season 9 of BONES is almost as good as the first five seasons. As everyone who reads this blog regularly knows, television is my addiction. I love it, I think the writing… Read More

I just received one of the most thoughtful gifts from another writer — the charming bracelet pictured above. I never expect a gift — a signed book that I’ve endorsed is generally appreciated and always holds a special place on my shelf — but over the years I’ve received many little thank yous — chocolates (yum!), flowers (sweet!), notecards, wine, and more. And while I have certainly appreciated each and every one, this bracelet, and accompanying note, had that added personal touch that had me showing it to everyone today. Inside is a quote from my book STOLEN: “You make… Read More

This week and last I’ve been teaching a thriller/romantic suspense workshop online through RWA University. It’s been a lot of fun with great questions and interaction–and about my favorite subject — thrillers and romantic suspense! I love interactive workshops. To me, the Q&A is the most important, and fun, part of the adventure. I have a basic outline that I’ve taken from other workshops I’ve done on the topic, but wing it as I go along. Sort of how I write my books 🙂

Over the last few years, television has shifted from being a Fall Premiere Event where all the shows began, and summer was the time for re-runs. That system is no more, as many networks, both network and cable, now have three premiere seasons — Fall, Winter and Summer. JUSTIFIED, for example, will start in January or February of 2014; LONGMIRE will start in May or June. This makes it a lot more fun for television addicts like me to have new and exciting programming all year round. However, this fall has some amazing programming, and so far? The networks are… Read More

Over the last few years, television has shifted from being a Fall Premiere Event where all the shows began, and summer was the time for re-runs. That system is no more, as many networks, both network and cable, now have three premiere seasons — Fall, Winter and Summer. JUSTIFIED, for example, will start in January or February of 2014; LONGMIRE will start in May or June. This makes it a lot more fun for television addicts like me to have new and exciting programming all year round. However, this fall has some amazing programming, and so far? The networks are… Read More

I’m thrilled to introduce romantic suspense author Lena Diaz to Murder She Writes! I’ve known Lena through the Kiss of Death chapter for … years. 🙂 … I love how close the writer community is, especially our romantic suspense chapter. Lena herself was a Navy Brat, moving around the country following her father. Now, she resides in Florida with her husband of more than 20 years. Wow! Please welcome Lena … Readers often ask, “Where do you get your ideas?” Do they come from all those research books sitting on my shelf (see picture above)? Do they come from dreams?… Read More

I’m thrilled to introduce romantic suspense author Lena Diaz to Murder She Writes! I’ve known Lena through the Kiss of Death chapter for … years. 🙂 … I love how close the writer community is, especially our romantic suspense chapter. Lena herself was a Navy Brat, moving around the country following her father. Now, she resides in Florida with her husband of more than 20 years. Wow! Please welcome Lena … Readers often ask, “Where do you get your ideas?” Do they come from all those research books sitting on my shelf (see picture above)? Do they come from dreams?… Read More

I had a great idea for this blog, then promptly forgot it. It’s like that tickle in the back of your brain, that you know you know something, but you can’t remember what it is. Like a person’s name. Or an appointment you remembered that you forgot, but you can’t remember any details. So I started a different blog. I was going to write about mean reviewers, the kind who anonymously post bad reviews that are full of snark and personal slights instead of insight into why they didn’t like the book. But then I thought, why give those vipers… Read More

Wake Me Up When It’s All Over By Pamela Callow I must admit, Avicii’s Wake Me Up is my favourite song this week. Not only do I love the upbeat melody, and the raw soul in Aloe Blacc’s voice, but the lyrics resonate with me. The message – that we keep our eyes closed until we are older because we need to believe in our dreams – is one that I think works on so many levels.