Monday I’m giving a lecture on the art and craft of writing. As if I know more than my cats about this. But that’s the funny thing about being published. Suddenly, everybody thinks you know something. Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. You give it a shot. I do know a decent novel is not done with smoke and mirrors. It takes a modicum of talent, a studious amount of technique, and a helluva lot of work.
It’s like playing tennis. The more you practice,… Read more
I don’t have writer’s block. If need be, I can sit down and write something. Aren’t I doing it now? Well, I didn’t say I could write something of value, just something. However, I have been working on the final cleanup of a novel I’ve been penning for the past six years, getting it ready for publication. You know how that goes: a tag line, a blurb, another tag line, a better blurb, a tag line that might make someone… Read more
Join me in getting to know author Lorrie Unites-Struiff a little bit better. A Heap of Trouble is a western humorous romance action story. That’s a lot of stuff for Struiff to put in one book, but she does it with style! This book has something for everyone and I love the cover. It’s, of course, by Suzannah Safi.
Lorrie lives in West Mifflin, PA, thirty minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. She lives at home with her husband and her favorite toy—a… Read more
How cool is this! Coinciding very nicely with my latest mystery novel offering, Persephone Cole and the Halloween Curse, is a Halloween contest at the Books We Love Publishing House, complete with a basket of goodies as a prize. Visit http://bookswelove.net/ for the details!
Persephone Cole and the Halloween Curse is the first of a mystery series taking place over the holidays and stars a 1942 female gumshoe nearly six feet tall and, nicely put, a … Read more
As part of Mystery Writers of America, I'll be one of eight authors doing readings for Noir at the Bar, at the Cornerstone Brewhouse in Berkeley sometime during 5:30-7:30 pm, on Saturday, June 3rd. My reading with be from The CEO Came DOA . It's just one of the many doings taking place at the Bay Area Book Festival running Saturday and Sunday, June 3rd and 4th. All my wonderful pals from Sisters In Crime with be there, too, so drop by! It will be a lot of fun. 
Coming soon!
The Culinary Art of Murder, Book 6 of the Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries, is on its way to becoming a reality in the summer of 2017!
Blurb: Lee’s Uncle Tío is smitten with the lady guest chef at a Silicon Valley culinary art institute. When the lady is arrested for two murders, a fellow chef and the dishwasher, Lee agrees to help find the real killer. But undercover work at the institute proves to be more dangerous than whipping up a chocolate soufflé. The killer tries to get Lee out of the way and permanently. With secrets as plentiful as sauces, can Lee find the killer before her own goose is cooked? If it turns out to be the ambitious southern belle chef, will Tío ever forgive Lee for sending his new lady love to jail?
Honeymoons Can Be Murder is now available for download only at Amazon!
Buy "Honeymoons Can Be Murder"
New spin-off series: A Lee Alvarez Mystery Novelette.
When PI Lee Alvarez goes on her honeymoon with bridegroom, Gurn Hanson, they find a dead woman practically on their doorstep. Kauai breezes may be soft, but there are gale force winds of accusation against Gurn. Will Lee find the real killer before her new hubby gets sent to a Hawaiian hoosegow?