So I was at Costco, buying a couple of bottles of wine (great prices there, by the way), and went through the check-out line. I have long hair, so my face was shielded [...]

And now for something completely different.  This post is for writers like me who are impatient with clicking between open windows and open programs, or who want to quickly move through their manuscript.  [...]

I went to lunch with a friend and, at the end of the lunch, looked in my purse for one of those reward card thingies. You know, the kind where they hole-punch the [...]

I’ve frequently found that there are many people who don’t think of themselves as mystery readers. But because there are so many different types of mysteries—police procedural, thriller, private investigator, cozies, etc.—there’s really [...]

When I talk about writing, I usually use a sweeping statement: I love it! That’s true—sort of. Actually, I have more of a love-hate relationship with writing. A few things I don’t like: [...]

When I was a kid, there were some books that really fired up my imagination. I loved Alice in Wonderland. The White Rabbit made a huge impression on me and I remember wishing [...]

Since it’s a holiday, I thought I’d post something on the lighter side today. Recently, I had to come up with a pseudonym for myself for an upcoming project. I wish I’d found [...]

Yesterday I spent 4 1/2 hours at the roller skating rink with my second grade daughter and her friend.  They were absolutely delighted to spend the afternoon skating and I got a lot [...]

Yesterday was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 150th birthday and Conan Doyle’s greatest creation, Sherlock Holmes, is nearly as popular today as he was in the 19th century. Conan Doyle was a master at [...]

Right now I’m under a couple of tight deadlines and a little less clingy to my works-in-progress. But last year, I fiddled with my manuscript just about every waking hour (this would be [...]

I’ve mentioned on my blog before that I’m generally a fan of happy endings.  The Brady Bunch always ended happily, too—Mom and Dad had a talk with the wayward Brady child about whatever [...]

Today, I was put in a situation that I was not at all comfortable with.  In fact, I was stuck in a situation that I frequently have nightmares about. I was back in [...]

It’s funny how my perspective changed on book series when I started writing two different ones. As a reader, I was very impatient to see the next book in a series be released. [...]

Writing can be a very isolating activity.  Actually, it’s the perfect activity for an introvert (which most writers are by nature.) But most writers don’t just define themselves by their writing.  They’re also [...]

What would Edgar Allan Poe have thought about the observations this year of the 200th anniversary of his birth? I can’t help but think he would be stunned. This is a man who [...]

Most writers are avid readers, even when we can’t find enough time to do the reading we’d like to.  Since it’s a hot and summery Saturday (here in North Carolina, anyway), it seems [...]

There are lots of great stories out there about artists, inventors, and entertainers who got their best ideas through dreams.  How can I get in on this process?  Rolling Stone Magazine has an [...]

I think back to why I became a writer to begin with. It all started with a germ of an idea…multiplied by a hundred. Two hundred! Notebooks full of ideas: good ideas, rotten [...]

The fantasy: I knock out a ton of writing at the beginning of the day. The reality: I’m frequently distracted by email when I first wake up.  It seems vital to me that [...]

Defining yourself as a writer is a topic that I’ve touched on before. Agent Nathan Bransford’s blog post last week covered his exasperation with people whose identities are too wrapped up in being [...]

I’ve been learning Twitter this week, and I feel a little like the bald guy in “The Scream.” Folks who read my blog know that when it comes to reflecting on a topic, [...]

I’m a goal-setting kind of person. I love making lists and keeping notes. I like tracking my progress. And I like New Year’s resolutions. But I always feel sad at the end of [...]

I can be a squeamish reader. And a picky one.  I’ll give anything a whirl (particularly if it’s a book recommendation from someone I respect.)  But sometimes I don’t stick with a book; [...]

This post serves as a shout-out to all those parents out there who write.  All writers face obstacles to writing,  but this post specifically addresses the unique problems faced by moms and dads [...]

“From the moment I picked your book up until I laid it down I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it.” Groucho Marx “Prolonged, indiscriminate reviewing of books is a [...]

  I participate in a promotional group for mystery writers.  We have a great time, promote our books, and share ideas.  We talk about our books and answer questions about writing for readers. [...]

“Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money.” Jules Renard  (1864 – 1910) ”We do not write because we want to; we write because we [...]

Like many writers, I’m a huge fan of books. If I hear a recommendation, I’m there. The library has made it so easy for me—simply sign in online, request a book, and go [...]

I’ve been listening to dire warnings way too much lately. I’m something of a news junkie (print, web, and television), but I’ve had to cut back on my habit like so many others [...]

Writers’ roles in book promotion have changed a lot in the last twenty years.  Instead of being expected merely to write and edit, they’re looked at as partners in the publicity process.  If [...]