May Day is Coming

A programming note:

Tomorrow, I’ll be blogging at InkSpot

and

I’ll also be guest blogging at Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen.
If you like cake, please stop by!

*****

This week, I also will be leaving my writing dungeon. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I’ll be at Malice Domestic (At 7:30 Saturday morning, I’ll be at the New Authors Breakfast, and later that morning, at 10:20, I’ll be on a panel (“Culture Clash”) with Rhys Bowen, Frankie Bailey, Kathleen Ernst, moderated by B.K. Stevens). If you see me, say hi.

Next Monday, I’ll be at the Festival of Mystery in Oakmont, PA. If you’re in the Pittsburgh area, I’d love to see you there!

Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’

I’m pleased to be interviewed today at Michele Emrath’s Southern City Mysteries. The World Blog Tour rolls on. Lookout, world!

Come By and Say Hi

This Sunday, I’ll be appearing at the International Festival of the Book in Kensington, MD, a day full of talks, signings, workshops, and panels. My panel, at 1:30, is called, “Why Write a Whodunit? Also on the panel are Donna Andrews, Con Lehane, Clyde Linsley, and moderator Adam Meyer. Two other excellent mystery panels precede mine—check the website for details!

One Man’s Junk is Another Man’s Junk

I’m guest blogging today at The Cozy Chicks, talking about garage sales and exposing one’s self. Sounds intriguing, no? Click on over and see.

Will the Real You Please Stand Up?

Today I’m guest blogging at Mason Canyon’s Thoughts In Progress. Stop by to see what my thoughts are, and how they’re progressing!

Reston Man

To learn more about the Reston Man who became a mystery writer (that’s me!), see the feature written by Aaron Leibel in Washington Jewish Week (the online version is here).

Thanks Aaron and WJW!

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The DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD World Blog Tour rolls on! Yesterday, I had a lot of fun at Erica Orloff’s blog talking about the writing process (and our “relatives”). Tomorrow, I’ll be at Mason Canyon’s Thoughts in Progress, and Thursday I’ll be blogging at The Cozy Chicks.

Small World

(If your name is Johnson or Smith or Thompson, maybe this won’t seem so unusual. To me, it’s pretty cool.)

Today I’m guest blogging on Author Erica Orloff’s Blog (my long lost “sibling”). Click over to learn more about my writing process and see how yours compares.

And if your name also happens to be Orloff, please be sure to leave a comment there!

Getting Unstuck

Today it is my pleasure to be guest blogging on Elizabeth Spann Craig’s Mystery Writing Is Murder.

Stop by for a few suggestions about getting past “stuck.”

(As always, no actual writers were harmed during the writing of this blog post.)

Query Weary?

Today I’m guest blogging at Galen Kindley’s Imagineering Fiction, where I’ll be passing along a few tips from my querying experience.

Do drop on by, won’t you?

Go For a Ride

Today’s stop on the DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD world blog tour: Jane Kennedy Sutton’s Jane’s Ride.

Today’s topic: How I choose which “novel” idea to pursue. Come by and take part in the fun.

With A Little Help From My Friends

The blog tour continues…

Today, I’m guest blogging on Margot Kinberg’s Confessions of a Mystery Novelist.

Click over and let us know how well you remember what you’ve read (or written!).

Meander On Over

Today I’ll be guest blogging about the wonderful crime fiction community on Kaye Barley’s Meanderings and Muses.

Stop on by and stay a while, y’hear!

Good Morning, Mitchell!

This morning, at 9:45 Central Time, I’ll be interviewed on Let’s Talk with Jena O’Connor. It can be heard on KORN 1490 AM in Mitchell, SD.

I’ve been to Mitchell!

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, my family went on a cross-country trek a few years ago and we visited Mitchell, SD to see the Corn Palace.

For those of you who don’t know about the Corn Palace, the entire exterior of the building is decorated with colored corn cobs. Very cool!

Some pictures from my visit:

If it’s Tuesday, it Must be Santa Barbara

This morning, I’ll be interviewed by Baron Ron Herron at 7:38 Pacific Time/10:38 Eastern Time on KZSB 1290 AM radio (Santa Barbara). This program also will be syndicated/rebroadcast on KNRY AM 1240 (Monterey), KNWZ-II AM 1270 (Palm Springs), and 99.7 FM (Queensland, Australia). G’day mate!

Hear it streaming on-line here.

Four years ago, the family packed up the minivan and embarked on a 7-week cross-country trip. It was (mostly) fantastic. Here are a few photos from beautiful California, along the coast and in Monterey.

Miscellaneous Monday

Last Thursday, I blogged (at InkSpot) about a few things I learned over the past year.

I’ve got a busy week planned:

Tomorrow, I’ll be interviewed by Baron Ron Herron at 7:38 Pacific Time on KZSB 1290 AM radio (Santa Barbara). Also syndicated/rebroadcast on KNRY AM 1240 (Monterey), KNWZ-II AM 1270 (Palm Springs), and 99.7 FM (Queensland, Australia). G’day mate! Hear it streaming on-line here.

On Wednesday, I’ll be appearing on the Let’s Talk with Jena O’Connor radio program, broadcast at 9:45 Central Time on KORN 1490 AM in Mitchell, SD.

On Thursday, I’ll be guest blogging on Kaye Barley’s Meanderings and Muses.

On Friday, I’ll be guest blogging on Margot Kinberg’s Confessions of a Mystery Novelist.

Whew!

Baby Pictures

I never met a bookstore I didn't love.

But I especially love my local Barnes & Noble in Reston, VA.

As soon as I heard the books were on the shelves (face-out, in two different spots!), I rushed to the store like a typical newbie author, camera in hand. I needed to make sure I got my dorky photo taken with my books before they all sold out :)

Mission accomplished!