It's a Mystery

Sometimes writing is about re-inventing your life. Back in April of 2016, I wanted to fight scene for a mystery, but I had no clue how to start. Being all about real life research, I checked for martial arts schools near me. One offered a free trial of a week of classes.Perfect.  I planned to take a class or two, then write my scene. End of story. The instructor at the school taught Wing Chun, a…

Big news:  Mystery Most Devious, the newest Malice Domestic anthology was released last weekend in conjunction with the conference April 26 and 27, 2024 in Bethusda, MD.  Better news:  my short story, “Bodyguard of Lies” is included! The anthology is currently available from Wildside Press. Isn’t the cover fabulous? According to the blurb, Mystery Most Devious features mysteries in the Agatha…

Dear Followers, I’m sad to announce that it’s time to close up this Wrapped in Foil blog and Reading Through the States website. I’ve been blogging about children’s picture books since January 2009. A lot has changed over the years. Behind the scenes it has become more complicated and more expensive to maintain a website and blog. For example, each site needs an SSL certificate that costs around…

    Look for my short story “Hitman Walked Into A Romance”  in the newest Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Anthology Book 10, So West:  Wrong Turn.  It is available now via Amazon. Read these engaging tales of assassins, serial killers, family, motherhood, survival, trust, abuse, escape, blackmail, espionage, and romance … where one wrong turn made a difference. Join us at The Poisoned Pen…

Where have I been? Writing of course. But now it’s time to warm up the blog again because I’ve got some news. So excited to announce that my short suspense story “Hitman Walked into a Romance” will be published in the next Desert Sleuths Anthology,  So West:Wrong Turn. It will be released in time for our annual WriteNow conference around September 22, 2023. Stay tuned for details!  

For Multicultural Book Day, we are featuring Arletis, abuelo, y el mensaje en la botella by Lea Aschkenas and illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu . The English version, Arletis, Abuelo, and the Message in a Bottle, will be available in April 2023. Based on a true story. When a little girl from  rural Cuba who dreams of one day meeting people from other places finds a message in a…

Picture Book Writers: January Means Storystorm!

What’s the best thing about the New Year? It is time for Storystorm at Tara Lazar’s blog! Storystorm is one month of inspirational blog posts to help children’s book writers generate new story ideas. Although to register and win prizes you must sign up during January, the posts are available all year around. Hop on over any time you need a creativity boost. And be sure to check out posts from…

#BookBeginnings The Woman in the Library

Today I have The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill for Book Beginnings on Fridays, which ironically I picked up at the library. Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add your URL to the Book Beginnings page linked above. Hope to see you…

  I’ve been hearing a lot of praise for S. A. Cosby’s Razorblade Tears, so I thought I’d share it for Book Beginnings on Fridays. Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add your URL to the Book Beginnings page linked above. Hope to see you…

#BookBeginnings Exit Strategy by @LindaLRichards

Today I’m reading Exit Strategy by Linda L. Richards for Book Beginnings on Fridays. Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add your URL to the Book Beginnings page linked above. Hope to see you there!   Exit Strategy* by Linda L. Richards (*Amazon…

#BookBeginnings Scot Free by Catriona McPherson

This week I’m reading Scot Free by Catriona McPherson for Book Beginnings on Fridays. Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add your URL to the Book Beginnings page linked above. Hope to see you there!   Scot Free* by Catriona McPherson (*Amazon…

Have you ever read a novel because you liked the TV show or movie? That’s why I picked the Sandhamn Murders series by Viveca Sten for Book Beginnings on Fridays. Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add your URL to the Book Beginnings page linked…

#BookBeginnings #mystery The Man Who Died Twice

  Let’s take a look at The Man Who Died Twice: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery by Richard Osman for Book Beginnings on Fridays. Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add your URL to the Book Beginnings page linked above. Hope to see you…

#BookBeginnings One Step Too Far #Mystery

Let’s take a look at the brand new mystery One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner for Book Beginnings on Fridays. Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add your URL to the Book Beginnings page linked above. Hope to see you there!   One Step Too Far* by…

True Crime Story by Joseph Knox

  With the huge popularity of true crime — particularly true crime podcasts– it isn’t surprising that authors would want to explore the genre in their fiction.  For example, I already talked about how a true crime podcast drives the action in the novel Conviction by Denise Mina (previous post). Today let’s take a look at a novel that takes things a step further, True Crime Story:  What Happens to…

#BookBeginnings Girl Gone Missing by Marcie R Rendon

  Looking forward to reading Girl Gone Missing by Marcie R. Rendon for Book Beginnings on Fridays. Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add your URL to the Book Beginnings page linked above. Hope to see you there!   Girl Gone Missing* by Marcie R.…

#BookBeginnings Careless in Red

I’m reading Elizabeth George’s nonfiction book about writing, Write Away. To see how she uses the techniques she writes about,  I picked up one of her novels, Careless in Red, for Book Beginnings on Fridays. Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add…