Wonderful news! The Short Mystery Fiction Society (SMFS) has announced the 2026 Best Anthology finalists, and SOWEST: DANGER AWAITS, from the Desert Sleuths Chapter (Phoenix) of Sisters in Crime, is one of the finalists. Even more exciting is that my short story, “Ariana,” is included in the anthology. Paperback and …
The Desert Sleuths Chapter (Phoenix) of Sisters in Crime will host WriteNOW! 2025, a virtual conference, on September 19-20, 2025. Rhys Bowen and Catriona McPherson headline a stellar cast of participating authors. In addition, craft workshops, pitch sessions, and manuscript review sessions are available. Registration and pricing information is available …
Thanks to the Desert Sleuths Chapter (Phoenix) of Sisters in Crime for accepting my short story, “Ariana,” for the forthcoming SOWEST: DANGER AWAITS! anthology. The collection will be available in September 2025.
I’m thrilled to announce that my short story, “The Ghost of Poe,” appears in Black Cat Weekly (Issue 166), published November 3, 2024. Many thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken and Wildside Press. Check it out: https://blackcatweekly.com/b/zdZAr.
ShortCon, the first conference focused on short-story writing by crime fiction authors, was held June 22, 2024, at Elaine’s Restaurant in Alexandria, VA. Forty-plus writers, including myself, heard Brendan Dubois talk about writing short stories for “fun and occasional profit.” Jackie Sherbow addressed what happens at the editor’s desk at …
The Virginia Festival of the Book, five days of literary events featuring local and national authors, wraps up tomorrow in Charlottesville, VA. The weather gods smiled today (less rain than forecasted) as we made our way to the Omni Hotel for the “Sequels and Segues: Crime Wave” panel featuring award-winning …
On Thursday, March 21, 2024, I attended a Fall for the Book event, “Thrillers, Killers, and Wine Chillers,” at Old Town Hall in Fairfax, VA. Award-winning authors Tara Laskowski and E. A. (Ed) Aymar discussed their most recent novels, Weekend Retreat and When She Left, respectively. Wine and crudités, accompanied …
Attended the 10th annual Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival in Suffolk, VA yesterday. Two excellent panels: “Woman of the People: Inspiring Female Characters” (l to r: Nancy Naigle, Kristin Kisska, K. L. Murphy, Courtney G. Foutz, Christine Trent), and “Nerve Shredders: Fiction to Keep You Up at Night” (l to r: …
On Februrary 28, Mark Greaney, author of the bestselling Gray Man series, entertained fellow authors and fans at Elaine’s Restaurant in Alexandria, VA. Jeffery James Higgins conducted a masterful interview, and there was a surprise visit by Senator Mark Warner (VA). It had been several years since we last saw …
I’m a big (huge) fan of book festivals. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the Williamsburg Book Festival in Williamsburg, VA. As usual, I came home with several books to add to my “To Be Read” pile, which is in danger of toppling. The two novels, both recently published, …
