I wasn’t planning to attend another writing conference this year! I’ve already been to Left Coast Crime in March and the California Crime Writers Conference in June–one more conference than I usually budget in a year. But then this happened: The Claymore is for best 50 pages of an unpublished crime fiction manuscript. Finalists are … Read more
I started June by attending the California Crime Writers Conference (CCWC) for my first time. I highly recommend this biennial conference. Why? First, this is a small, intimate conference with about 200 attendees. You will not be lost in the crowd! You will rub shoulders and make valuable connections. I ended up seated at a … Read more
You’ve all heard of pop-up restaurants. Come and experience pop-up readers. Many of the authors in Fault Lines, the first anthology from the NorCal Sisters in Crime, will be giving flash readings at Borderlands Books: Sunday, April 28, 3 pmBorderlands Books866 Valencia StreetSan Francisco, CA The Bay Area Book Festival, May 4 & 5 in … Read more
When my husband contemplated coming with me to Left Coast Crime in Vancouver, I said, “It’ll be rainy and cold. It won’t be much fun taking in the sights in March.” Wrong. So wrong. Vancouver was the first highlight of the conference–sunny, abloom and full of wonder. WEDNESDAY HIGHLIGHT: On Wednesday evening, I participated in Hijinx and … Read more
Beautiful Vancouver, BC, here I come: Left Coast Crime Convention, March 28-31st. Five homies from Santa Cruz Women of Mystery will be there–same five as LCC Reno. My schedule is packed. Besides the many events I want to attend like the always hilarious Burning Love: The Sex Panel, I’ll be helping at Registration on Thursday … Read more
Fiction writing doesn’t have the flashy award shows like movies and music. But there are awards for writers that are just as meaningful to them as any Oscar. In the mystery genre, some of these awards–the Agatha, Derringer, Edgar and Macavity–include a category for short story. I am posting “Miscalculation,” my eligible short story here … Read more
It’s been a busy fall with no sign of slowing down. Join me for Story & Song, Thursday, Oct. 18th at Bocci’s Cellar in Santa Cruz. I’ll read a snippet of my story in SANTA CRUZ NOIR to the Santa Cruz Ukulele Club. “Miscalculation” features three nefarious ukulele players and six songs frequently played among … Read more
SANTA CRUZ WEIRD is coming! This new anthology brings you 18 short stories set against the weird and wondrous backdrop of Santa Cruz, California. The big launch will be at the Santa Cruz Art Center, on Sunday, September 16th at 6:30 p.m. Many of the authors, including moi, will be reading. There will also be … Read more
Why do some authors (whose books may not be any better than our own) end up on bestseller lists, while our books languish on the shelf? On August 12th, the NorCal Chapter of Mystery Writers of America invited guru Jane Friedman to unravel a bit of this mystery. Marketing, of course, is a large part … Read more
My writing life is busy, busy, busy. Here’s something new, original, and fun–a playlist to accompany Santa Cruz Noir. Want to see/hear what song I selected to accompany “Miscalculation”? Here’s the link. Some of my upcoming events include: July 27th, my blog Black, Black Heart will appear on Mysteristas. July 28th, the e-version of Lostart Street, my novel of mystery, … Read more