As Joe Willard once asked Betsy Ray: Do you get these allusions? Although Joe Willard made literary allusions, while I usually fall back on musical comedy. At any rate, maybe the caffeine in Iowa is better or maybe I am just bored because I have done so much work this morning it scares me. I decided to begin preparing the first three chapters of the Novel-in-Progress to send to my editor, a spring ritual that I think we both find reassuring. And then I wrote 2,500 words on The Mystery Project. Granted, Read more [...]

Last night, I had dinner at an old friend's house where I -- face it, Pat, you know it's true -- shamelessly invited myself. I could imagine no greater treat than a home-cooked meal with a family. We had a lovely dinner, then gathered in front of the fireplace where we toasted marshmallows for s'mores and then younger brother faced off against older sister and her friend in several rounds of Stratego. (There was also a delightful interlude where everyone -- sister, friend, brother -- modeled sister's Read more [...]

Who knew I had so many friends in the Twin Cities? Sujata Massey provided me a place to crash Thursday night, I saw many of my favorite librarians yesterday and had dinner with one of my favorite TMP lurkers last night. Today -- more friends, in and around book-signings. Also, a new reader of this blog heeded the call and brought me wine last night. Iowa City, Des Moines, Omaha, Lincoln, Pittsburgh, take note! And although it's not quite 10:30 a.m., and a Saturday to boot, I've managed to put in Read more [...]

If there is someone keeping a little scorecard on us, here on earth, I think I should get a gold star for today. I went five hours at the Public Library Association and, except for two bathroom breaks and one gobbled bratwurst, was in constant motion, either speaking (on a panel with T. Jefferson Parker, C. J. Box, Linwood Barclay and Karen Rose, then in an interview for the virtual conference) or signing books. Happily, let me emphasize, always happily. In fact, I only broke away because I had a Read more [...]

I stayed up late last night, having dinner with an old friend after the Politics & Prose signing (thank you, Andrea and Jackie, for stopping by). I won't say I had regrets when my alarm went off at 5:45 a.m., but I know I packed poorly. I flew into Nashville, did six stock signings (or maybe seven) and then had the honor of speaking to folks at Ingram, the huge wholesaler. I also had excellent company in my media escort (a term that seems stranger in our post-Spitzer world), Sharon. As my blood Read more [...]

In the CrimeSpree Awards, with John Connolly's THE UNQUIET winning the top spot. (Actually, I don't even know that I'm second, but I'm second on the list.)

On the BookSense mass market bestseller list.

And, you know, forever in my own household, but so it goes.

Friend: How many people came to your signing last night? Writer: Almost 100.Friend: Almost 100 in a town the size of Sykesville! A likely story.Writer: Yes.Friend: What?Writer: Yes, A Likely Story.Friend: So how many people came to your signing last night? Writer: Almost 100.Friend: A likely story!Writer: Yes, A Likely Story. (with apologies to Abbott and Costello)A Likely Story is, you will have gleaned by now, a most unlikely story, a relatively new bookstore (just celebrated its second anniversary) Read more [...]

I had the weekend off, although there was a television interview Saturday morning and then a quick stop to sign stock at a local bookstore, the Ivy. But the rest of the weekend was wonderfully quiet, including some time in my office, paying bills and filing. I happened on the copy of my schedule that included all the events for this tour and counted 35, which didn't include 3 things I've set up on my own. But I'm more than halfway through and, as of April 5th, have no events that require travel. Read more [...]

My Last Luna Bar (with apologies to Robert Browning and Lizzie Skurnick) That’s my last Luna Bar in my knapsackLooking as if it were real food. I callThat bar a wonder, now: Fiber, protein, Worked into a day’s supply of Vitamin C“Will’t please you notice the Calcium?” I said“Luna Bar” by design, for never knew Strangers like you that orange-blue wrapperThe heft and satisfaction of its earnest nutrition,But to myself they turned (since none extols Nutz over Chocolate, quite like I)And Read more [...]

'Nuff said.

Well, enough said about me. Last night, waiting to go on the Chuckanut Radio Hour in Bellingham, WA (a blast), I got a congratulatory email from Linda Fairstein, whose book KILLER HEAT hit the Times list at #5. It was only later, reading the listserve DorothyL, that I discovered Linda has canceled several tour dates because of an illness in her family.

So send some positive thoughts her way, if you would.