09.November.2007.Fri
Don’t forget – tomorrow at 1 PM, I’ll be appearing at the BORDERS in north Spokane. Hope to see a lot of friendly faces, old and new.
I will be appearing in Kennewick, WA at the Hastings Bookstore on December 1st, 2007 at 1 PM. If you’re in the Tri-Cities, please stop by.
I did an appearance at a private bookclub at Rockwood Lane last night. I just wanted to say thank you to a wonderful crowd that showed up. Many were in the bookclub, but others showed up for the event as well. The questions were great from the group and I really appreciated the enthusiasm.
Thanks to Rockwood Lane for having me!
Thanks to Rockwood Lane for having me!
23.October.2007.Tue
The first official review of Heroes Often Fail is in. Kevin Tipple takes a hard look at the novel on his blog: Right Here.
22.October.2007.Mon
Another great appearance this Saturday. Thanks to Aaron, the book manager, for coming by even though it was his day off (did I tell you book managers were cool?). The staff was great, as is always the case.
I had the opportunity to meet some very cool people, which is also always the case when I go to these appearances. I met some new readers (hello Deb!) and got to see some returning readers (hello Kevin!). Even saw some folks from work – small world, y'know?
Next up – November 10th at the Borders in North Spokane at 1 PM. If you’re reading this and you can make it, please come by. You don’t have to buy a book (though it is allowed), just say hello.
I had the opportunity to meet some very cool people, which is also always the case when I go to these appearances. I met some new readers (hello Deb!) and got to see some returning readers (hello Kevin!). Even saw some folks from work – small world, y'know?
Next up – November 10th at the Borders in North Spokane at 1 PM. If you’re reading this and you can make it, please come by. You don’t have to buy a book (though it is allowed), just say hello.
13.October.2007.Sat
My appearances at both the South Hill Hastings yesterday and the Shadle Hastings today went very well.
If I’d have thought to bring my camera, I’d be posting another picture, especially one of Trish, the book manager at Shadle. Another super person that deserves a huge thank you every time I come by (and not just for then, but for all she does to promote local authors all the time)!
I also wanted to announce that I’ve nailed down the date for my appearance at the north Spokane Borders – November 10th at 1 PM. Hope to see you there.
And don’t forget that I’m at the Valley Hastings on the 20th of this month from 4 to 7 PM.
Beyond that, I’ll be in Coeur d'Alene and Seattle in November and at Auntie’s Bookstore in December. You can check my website for a complete Appearance Schedule.
Thanks to all the nice people that took the time to stop and chat at my table this weekend, whether you bought a book or not (though many of you did – thanks!).
If I’d have thought to bring my camera, I’d be posting another picture, especially one of Trish, the book manager at Shadle. Another super person that deserves a huge thank you every time I come by (and not just for then, but for all she does to promote local authors all the time)!
I also wanted to announce that I’ve nailed down the date for my appearance at the north Spokane Borders – November 10th at 1 PM. Hope to see you there.
And don’t forget that I’m at the Valley Hastings on the 20th of this month from 4 to 7 PM.
Beyond that, I’ll be in Coeur d'Alene and Seattle in November and at Auntie’s Bookstore in December. You can check my website for a complete Appearance Schedule.
Thanks to all the nice people that took the time to stop and chat at my table this weekend, whether you bought a book or not (though many of you did – thanks!).
09.October.2007.Tue
My first bookstore appearance for Heroes Often Fail went very well. I’ve included two pictures from it. The first is just me with the books on my table (all copies of Under a Raging Moon had sold out by the time this photo was taken). The second is a picture of me with the book manager for the northside Hastings in Spokane. Her name is Brooke.
Little secret.
Brooke rocks.
She’s cool. Since the first time I walked into the store as a barely published local author, she has been hugely supportive.
Let me tell you about book managers in general – 99% of them are cool just like Brooke. They work in the bookstore because they love books. And they are very supportive of authors in general and local authors even more so.
Librarians are much the same.
I’ve been very lucky so far in my brief career to have wonderful support from these men and women in local bookstores and library systems. They’re super people.
Little secret.
Brooke rocks.
She’s cool. Since the first time I walked into the store as a barely published local author, she has been hugely supportive.
Let me tell you about book managers in general – 99% of them are cool just like Brooke. They work in the bookstore because they love books. And they are very supportive of authors in general and local authors even more so.
Librarians are much the same.
I’ve been very lucky so far in my brief career to have wonderful support from these men and women in local bookstores and library systems. They’re super people.
03.October.2007.Wed
Just a reminder that I’ll be appearing at the North Division Hastings in support of Heroes Often Fail on Saturday, October 6th from 2 PM to 6 PM. Come by and pick up your autographed copy.
Also, please check my website for future appearances throughout the rest of 2007 (including three more this month right here in Spokane) right HERE.
Also, please check my website for future appearances throughout the rest of 2007 (including three more this month right here in Spokane) right HERE.
01.October.2007.Mon
I will be appearing on the Mark Fuhrman show on Tuesday, October 2nd at about 9:30 AM (PST) to discuss the release of Heroes Often Fail. The show is carried on 1510 KGA AM in Spokane, Washington...and I am pretty sure you can listen live on the 'net right here.
29.September.2007.Sat
The Spokesman Review has written a story about me...pulling the veil of my true identity away.
You can link to it here.
There are some audio clips, too.
How I Began Writing
People’s Projections
About the River City Series
Plots
A Book Club Reaction
Writing Credits
Here’s the text of the story, in case the link doesn’t work:
SPD lieutenant also writes crime fiction
Jody Lawrence-Turner
Staff writer
September 29, 2007
He started putting pen to paper when he was 8 years old, crafting “goofy little stories.” By 12, he was writing “more vignettes than scenes” and that’s when he knew he wanted to be a writer.
“It just felt natural,” said crime novelist Frank Zafiro, now 39. “Sort of like a musician or a carpenter, I was just drawn to it.”
But even in his pre-teen years, the Deer Park native was realistic about a career as a creative writer.
“It’s not like you put a shingle out, and someone just starts sending you a check,” he said.
Two other jobs appealed to him – teacher and police officer. He opted for the latter.
Zafiro is the pen name used by Spokane Police Lt. Frank Scalise, whose first novel, “Under a Raging Moon” was published in 2006.
A follow-up book, also based on the fictitious River City Police Department hits book stores today. “Heroes Often Fail” is published by Aisling Press, a division of Oculus Media Group.
The first book was about a serial robber. The second is about a kidnapping. His third will be about a serial rapist – though not Kevin Coe, he says – and he plans a fourth “River City novel” about Russian gangs. Many of the characters in the novels continue throughout.
River City is a “barely fictional” Spokane. And Scalise said the character of Thomas Chisolm is “loosely” based on a real person – Spokane Police officer Thomas Chapman.
“The scar on the face is the same, the swagger is the same,” Scalise said. So is “the willingness and almost delight he takes to standing up to the brass.”
Otherwise the books are pure fiction. But because Scalise worried that people would think otherwise, he has been quiet about his dual identities. Even the short biographies at the end of his books – and others he’s contributed to – have been vague about his career.
But with the police administration’s blessing, he’s making it recognized.
“I think he’s been given a gift, and he should make it known,” said Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick. “His work is policing, but he’s also an author.”
Cpl. Brad Hallock, who’s known Scalise since they were in the police academy together, said the author is “able to capture the gritty realism about law enforcement” that other writers can’t if they haven’t worn a badge.
“It’s always a pleasure to read and critique his work,” said Jill Maser, a New Jersey writer to whom Scalise often sends stories for an honest opinion.
In addition to his novels, Scalise has also written instructional manuals for ITT Technical Institute and numerous short stories. He’s currently working on a children’s book and one about hockey, he said.
Through his stories, Scalise said, he tries to expose law enforcement’s human side, as well as an officer’s desire to “slap” someone who might deserve it, without suffering the repercussions.
“I think everyone has a dark streak in them,” Scalise said. And for him, “the writing is where it goes, where it comes off the shelf, and goes into the writing.”Scalise graduated from Deer Park High School in 1986 and went straight into the Army. He attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., to learn Czechoslovakian then spent 2½ years in Germany, working in military intelligence.
After a time in California, he returned to Spokane in 1992, and took tests to qualify for a job at the Police Department or Sheriff’s Office. He was offered jobs at both and started with the Police Department in September 1993.
While working full time, Scalise took classes at Eastern Washington University and received a bachelor’s degree in history in 1998.
He was promoted to lieutenant this summer and works in patrol. He also plays hockey a couple of times a week. And he has three children – 6- and 15-year-old sons, and a 13-year-old daughter – who spend about half their time with him.
“I write between the time I take my son to school and when I go to work (on graveyard shift), almost every single day,” Scalise said. “I tend to be a little bit obsessive.”
You can link to it here.
There are some audio clips, too.
How I Began Writing
People’s Projections
About the River City Series
Plots
A Book Club Reaction
Writing Credits
Here’s the text of the story, in case the link doesn’t work:
SPD lieutenant also writes crime fiction
Jody Lawrence-Turner
Staff writer
September 29, 2007
He started putting pen to paper when he was 8 years old, crafting “goofy little stories.” By 12, he was writing “more vignettes than scenes” and that’s when he knew he wanted to be a writer.
“It just felt natural,” said crime novelist Frank Zafiro, now 39. “Sort of like a musician or a carpenter, I was just drawn to it.”
But even in his pre-teen years, the Deer Park native was realistic about a career as a creative writer.
“It’s not like you put a shingle out, and someone just starts sending you a check,” he said.
Two other jobs appealed to him – teacher and police officer. He opted for the latter.
Zafiro is the pen name used by Spokane Police Lt. Frank Scalise, whose first novel, “Under a Raging Moon” was published in 2006.
A follow-up book, also based on the fictitious River City Police Department hits book stores today. “Heroes Often Fail” is published by Aisling Press, a division of Oculus Media Group.
The first book was about a serial robber. The second is about a kidnapping. His third will be about a serial rapist – though not Kevin Coe, he says – and he plans a fourth “River City novel” about Russian gangs. Many of the characters in the novels continue throughout.
River City is a “barely fictional” Spokane. And Scalise said the character of Thomas Chisolm is “loosely” based on a real person – Spokane Police officer Thomas Chapman.
“The scar on the face is the same, the swagger is the same,” Scalise said. So is “the willingness and almost delight he takes to standing up to the brass.”
Otherwise the books are pure fiction. But because Scalise worried that people would think otherwise, he has been quiet about his dual identities. Even the short biographies at the end of his books – and others he’s contributed to – have been vague about his career.
But with the police administration’s blessing, he’s making it recognized.
“I think he’s been given a gift, and he should make it known,” said Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick. “His work is policing, but he’s also an author.”
Cpl. Brad Hallock, who’s known Scalise since they were in the police academy together, said the author is “able to capture the gritty realism about law enforcement” that other writers can’t if they haven’t worn a badge.
“It’s always a pleasure to read and critique his work,” said Jill Maser, a New Jersey writer to whom Scalise often sends stories for an honest opinion.
In addition to his novels, Scalise has also written instructional manuals for ITT Technical Institute and numerous short stories. He’s currently working on a children’s book and one about hockey, he said.
Through his stories, Scalise said, he tries to expose law enforcement’s human side, as well as an officer’s desire to “slap” someone who might deserve it, without suffering the repercussions.
“I think everyone has a dark streak in them,” Scalise said. And for him, “the writing is where it goes, where it comes off the shelf, and goes into the writing.”Scalise graduated from Deer Park High School in 1986 and went straight into the Army. He attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., to learn Czechoslovakian then spent 2½ years in Germany, working in military intelligence.
After a time in California, he returned to Spokane in 1992, and took tests to qualify for a job at the Police Department or Sheriff’s Office. He was offered jobs at both and started with the Police Department in September 1993.
While working full time, Scalise took classes at Eastern Washington University and received a bachelor’s degree in history in 1998.
He was promoted to lieutenant this summer and works in patrol. He also plays hockey a couple of times a week. And he has three children – 6- and 15-year-old sons, and a 13-year-old daughter – who spend about half their time with him.
“I write between the time I take my son to school and when I go to work (on graveyard shift), almost every single day,” Scalise said. “I tend to be a little bit obsessive.”
14.September.2007.Fri
Here is a review I thought you might enjoy.
MAP OF MURDER review from MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW:
Map of Murder: Original Stories of Mystery and Suspense is an anthology of stories by diverse authors, sure to delight mystery and suspense connoisseurs. From a young college professor drawn into the seductive black arts of Louisiana, to a Texas police offer trying to keep the peace amid a fracas with a beautiful woman at its center, to a Chicago woman who finds a skull on her property and resolves to do something about it, putting her own life at risk, the stories range the gamut from contemplative to tense to puzzling to utterly terrifying. A quality smorgasbord of chilling fine writing.
The italicized part refers to my short story “In the Shadow of El Paso.”
MAP OF MURDER review from MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW:
Map of Murder: Original Stories of Mystery and Suspense is an anthology of stories by diverse authors, sure to delight mystery and suspense connoisseurs. From a young college professor drawn into the seductive black arts of Louisiana, to a Texas police offer trying to keep the peace amid a fracas with a beautiful woman at its center, to a Chicago woman who finds a skull on her property and resolves to do something about it, putting her own life at risk, the stories range the gamut from contemplative to tense to puzzling to utterly terrifying. A quality smorgasbord of chilling fine writing.
The italicized part refers to my short story “In the Shadow of El Paso.”
12.September.2007.Wed
I sat with a reporter from the local newspaper, The Spokesman Review, today for about two hours. She interviewed me about my writing and how it related to being a police officer. The angle of the piece is definitely human interest, but it should let a lot of people in this region know about the book. That can’t hurt.
This particular reporter is a good one. She actually offered some constructive criticism after reading Under a Raging Moon that led to some small but significant changes in Heroes Often Fail. So I was happy to sit for her.
Plus she bought the coffee.
Colin Conway, if you’re reading this – I got the Jack Collins special, as always.
For the rest of you, that means black. Black with no cream, no sugar, no foo-foo. Just black.
Back to the newspaper interview. The story should run by the end of the month. I’ll post a link when I know more.
This particular reporter is a good one. She actually offered some constructive criticism after reading Under a Raging Moon that led to some small but significant changes in Heroes Often Fail. So I was happy to sit for her.
Plus she bought the coffee.
Colin Conway, if you’re reading this – I got the Jack Collins special, as always.
For the rest of you, that means black. Black with no cream, no sugar, no foo-foo. Just black.
Back to the newspaper interview. The story should run by the end of the month. I’ll post a link when I know more.
11.September.2007.Tue
Virtually everything I include on this blog is related to my crime fiction writing – the books, the stories, the publishing side, the appearances, all of it.
I keep out observations about politics because no one cares what I think about this issue or that. And of those few who do care, half of them will agree and half will think I’m an idiot. That’s a good way to sell books, huh?
I also keep away from social commentary, entertainment news, family updates, personal stories (except those related to writing in some fashion) or anything that doesn’t somehow come back to River City fiction.
Today is different.
Today is September 11th. And just like every September 11th since 2001, it is a day that messes with me. It is a day of profound sadness.
I think about the hatred that caused men to fly those planes into the towers.
I think about the courage of the firefighters, police officers and EMS people who ran into those burning buildings.
I think about the destruction of the Pentagon.
I think about a field in Pennsylvania.
I think about courage.
I think about sovereignty.
Most of all, I think about the fact that our time on this small blue planet is so very brief. I wonder why we spend so much of it hating and destroying each other. But I also know that the warrior in me says that such questions are moot. When a man comes at you with a blade, you defend yourself with one.
What’s the point of this entry? There really isn’t one. There doesn’t have to be. Everything doesn’t have a point, folks. Unlike short story or a novel, there isn’t a tidy ending. Life has edges. Screws fall out.
Every year, I think about this. This year, I am writing about it. For the other 364 days, you’ll only hear about River City fiction and all the hoopla I can muster about that topic.
But not today.
Not today.
I keep out observations about politics because no one cares what I think about this issue or that. And of those few who do care, half of them will agree and half will think I’m an idiot. That’s a good way to sell books, huh?
I also keep away from social commentary, entertainment news, family updates, personal stories (except those related to writing in some fashion) or anything that doesn’t somehow come back to River City fiction.
Today is different.
Today is September 11th. And just like every September 11th since 2001, it is a day that messes with me. It is a day of profound sadness.
I think about the hatred that caused men to fly those planes into the towers.
I think about the courage of the firefighters, police officers and EMS people who ran into those burning buildings.
I think about the destruction of the Pentagon.
I think about a field in Pennsylvania.
I think about courage.
I think about sovereignty.
Most of all, I think about the fact that our time on this small blue planet is so very brief. I wonder why we spend so much of it hating and destroying each other. But I also know that the warrior in me says that such questions are moot. When a man comes at you with a blade, you defend yourself with one.
What’s the point of this entry? There really isn’t one. There doesn’t have to be. Everything doesn’t have a point, folks. Unlike short story or a novel, there isn’t a tidy ending. Life has edges. Screws fall out.
Every year, I think about this. This year, I am writing about it. For the other 364 days, you’ll only hear about River City fiction and all the hoopla I can muster about that topic.
But not today.
Not today.
03.September.2007.Mon
30.August.2007.Thu
I’ve added another book appearance in support of Heroes Often Fail.
Saturday, November 24 at the Seattle Mystery Bookstore, Seattle, WA
If you live in the Rainy City, Land of Coffee, and you can swing by, I’d love to see ya.
Saturday, November 24 at the Seattle Mystery Bookstore, Seattle, WA
If you live in the Rainy City, Land of Coffee, and you can swing by, I’d love to see ya.
12.August.2007.Sun
Just in case my writing ability isn’t good enough to pull it off (entirely plausible), the end of my previous blog entry was intended to be one hundred percent tongue-in-cheek.
06.August.2007.Mon
It probably seems that things are in a little bit of a lull right now, based on the frequency of my blog entries. But there is plenty going on behind the scenes. For me, the publishing “season” this year will begin in late September.
Heroes Often Fail will be released on either September 21st or September 28th. The cover is being designed by a local graphic artist. The first proof she sent is very good and I think it’ll be quite an attractive cover.
My submissions to the anthology Oh, Enemy Mine were all three accepted. This is also coming out from my River City publisher, the newly formed Aisling Press. The chief editor there is Bo Savino, formerly of Koboca.
The stories that will be in Oh, Enemy Mine are “Jack’s Town,” "No Worse Curse," and “Prank Call.” You can read more about them on the Short Stories page of my website.
The Christmas anthology from Wolfmont that benefits Toys for Tots will probably be out sometime in late October, if things go the same as last year. My story “Home for Christmas” is included.
And don’t forget that the Fall issue of Mysterical-E will contain my short story “And a Fall Cometh.” For those who read Seven by Seven, this is a sequel to “Pride Goeth.” It also features an appearance by Dominic Bracco and his crew.
In other news, I completed my revision of the hockey novel All That Counts. It is now officially in submission.
It also looks like my hockey series starring a young boy named Sam is a go with Aisling Press. The first book in the series will be written for the first reader age – six or so. Later, there will be books for other ages as well. The talented Katt Dunsmore is slated to illustrate.
Remember, both of these hockey projects will not be written as Frank Zafiro, but rather under my real name.
What is that, you ask?
All in good time, faithful reader.
Heroes Often Fail will be released on either September 21st or September 28th. The cover is being designed by a local graphic artist. The first proof she sent is very good and I think it’ll be quite an attractive cover.
My submissions to the anthology Oh, Enemy Mine were all three accepted. This is also coming out from my River City publisher, the newly formed Aisling Press. The chief editor there is Bo Savino, formerly of Koboca.
The stories that will be in Oh, Enemy Mine are “Jack’s Town,” "No Worse Curse," and “Prank Call.” You can read more about them on the Short Stories page of my website.
The Christmas anthology from Wolfmont that benefits Toys for Tots will probably be out sometime in late October, if things go the same as last year. My story “Home for Christmas” is included.
And don’t forget that the Fall issue of Mysterical-E will contain my short story “And a Fall Cometh.” For those who read Seven by Seven, this is a sequel to “Pride Goeth.” It also features an appearance by Dominic Bracco and his crew.
In other news, I completed my revision of the hockey novel All That Counts. It is now officially in submission.
It also looks like my hockey series starring a young boy named Sam is a go with Aisling Press. The first book in the series will be written for the first reader age – six or so. Later, there will be books for other ages as well. The talented Katt Dunsmore is slated to illustrate.
Remember, both of these hockey projects will not be written as Frank Zafiro, but rather under my real name.
What is that, you ask?
All in good time, faithful reader.
21.July.2007.Sat
It’s been a month, so I thought I should update you all on a few things.
First up, Heroes Often Fail is still on track for a September 2007 publication with Aisling. This novel is the next River City novel to be published. It takes places in March of 1995. The previous novel ended in September of 1994.
My story, “Home for Christmas,” will be appearing in a yet unnamed Christmas anthology that will benefit Toys for Tots. I appeared in last years edition, By the Chimney with Care, with my story “Three Days of Christmas.” Both stories feature Katie MacLeod in a contemporary setting, as a detective now. All profits will go to Toys for Tots. I won’t be paid for this story, though I will get a free contributor’s copy. Anyone who would like to buy a copy when the time comes can contact me directly or go to the publisher’s website at Wolfmont.
I completed the “Medium” story, now titled “Dead Even,” I have it submitted to the anthology I wrote it for. We’ll see if it is a fit or not. I sincerely hope it is, but if not, I believe Dominic from Jersey will find another home fairly quickly.
Another anthology, Oh, Enemy Mine, should have made its selections very soon. I have three stories in contention there. The publisher for this one is Aisling.
I’m roughly two-thirds of the way through the revision of my hockey novel, All That Counts. Once I’ve finished, I’ll begin the submission process. This one will be published under my real name and not the crime fiction pen name I use (Frank Zafiro). I’m hoping to find a home for this with a Canadian Publisher, too, given the subject matter.
On a personal front, I was recently promoted to lieutenant at work. However, anyone who thinks this means I’ll lighten up on Lieutenant Hart in the River City novels and stories is mistaken...as you’ll see in Hereos Often Fail!
Once Heroes Often Fail is released, watch for an appearance schedule. I’ll be doing a number of book appearances here in Spokane at local bookstores. Throughout the first six months after the book’s release, I will also be doing appearances around the region in places like Seattle, Portland, Tri-Cities, Olympia and elsewhere. If you are a bookstore manager or owner and would like to set up an appearance, please email me. I enjoy bookstore appearances quite a bit, because it is an opportunity to connect with the readers one on one. I received some excellent feedback from readers of the first book, Under a Raging Moon, some of which I incorporated into the newest book or other stories.
Fact is, folks, I’d write these books and stories even if they went into an Emily Dickinson trunk and were never read...but the fact also is, I absolutely love interaction with readers. You are the ones that keep my work from filling that trunk. You bring it alive in the world by reading it, sharing what you read with others and having that unique bond that author and reader experience, even if it is only for a few hours.
So thank you.
First up, Heroes Often Fail is still on track for a September 2007 publication with Aisling. This novel is the next River City novel to be published. It takes places in March of 1995. The previous novel ended in September of 1994.
My story, “Home for Christmas,” will be appearing in a yet unnamed Christmas anthology that will benefit Toys for Tots. I appeared in last years edition, By the Chimney with Care, with my story “Three Days of Christmas.” Both stories feature Katie MacLeod in a contemporary setting, as a detective now. All profits will go to Toys for Tots. I won’t be paid for this story, though I will get a free contributor’s copy. Anyone who would like to buy a copy when the time comes can contact me directly or go to the publisher’s website at Wolfmont.
I completed the “Medium” story, now titled “Dead Even,” I have it submitted to the anthology I wrote it for. We’ll see if it is a fit or not. I sincerely hope it is, but if not, I believe Dominic from Jersey will find another home fairly quickly.
Another anthology, Oh, Enemy Mine, should have made its selections very soon. I have three stories in contention there. The publisher for this one is Aisling.
I’m roughly two-thirds of the way through the revision of my hockey novel, All That Counts. Once I’ve finished, I’ll begin the submission process. This one will be published under my real name and not the crime fiction pen name I use (Frank Zafiro). I’m hoping to find a home for this with a Canadian Publisher, too, given the subject matter.
On a personal front, I was recently promoted to lieutenant at work. However, anyone who thinks this means I’ll lighten up on Lieutenant Hart in the River City novels and stories is mistaken...as you’ll see in Hereos Often Fail!
Once Heroes Often Fail is released, watch for an appearance schedule. I’ll be doing a number of book appearances here in Spokane at local bookstores. Throughout the first six months after the book’s release, I will also be doing appearances around the region in places like Seattle, Portland, Tri-Cities, Olympia and elsewhere. If you are a bookstore manager or owner and would like to set up an appearance, please email me. I enjoy bookstore appearances quite a bit, because it is an opportunity to connect with the readers one on one. I received some excellent feedback from readers of the first book, Under a Raging Moon, some of which I incorporated into the newest book or other stories.
Fact is, folks, I’d write these books and stories even if they went into an Emily Dickinson trunk and were never read...but the fact also is, I absolutely love interaction with readers. You are the ones that keep my work from filling that trunk. You bring it alive in the world by reading it, sharing what you read with others and having that unique bond that author and reader experience, even if it is only for a few hours.
So thank you.
16.May.2007.Wed
The Derringers were announced today and the winner is....[drum roll]....not me.
“The Worst Door” was nominated in the short short story category, but lost out to the eventual co-awardees of John Floyd and Steven Torres.
No one likes to lose (if they admit it), but the reality is that I’m truly honored to have been nominated for the second straight year. Really, I should say “selected”, because that is what happens with finalists. It is a blind judging process, so despite the fact that all judging has bias, it is as fair as it can get. I was honored to be a finalist last year with “Good Shepherd” and again this year with “The Worst Door.”
I’m not very familiar with Mr. Torres, but he seems like a decent guy. I am very familiar with John Floyd and I have to say that if a guy has to lose, it is somebody like John that you want to see win. He’s a class act, one hundred percent, and I congratulate him and all the other winners. Each one was very deserving.
“The Worst Door” was nominated in the short short story category, but lost out to the eventual co-awardees of John Floyd and Steven Torres.
No one likes to lose (if they admit it), but the reality is that I’m truly honored to have been nominated for the second straight year. Really, I should say “selected”, because that is what happens with finalists. It is a blind judging process, so despite the fact that all judging has bias, it is as fair as it can get. I was honored to be a finalist last year with “Good Shepherd” and again this year with “The Worst Door.”
I’m not very familiar with Mr. Torres, but he seems like a decent guy. I am very familiar with John Floyd and I have to say that if a guy has to lose, it is somebody like John that you want to see win. He’s a class act, one hundred percent, and I congratulate him and all the other winners. Each one was very deserving.
08.April.2007.Sun
I’m pleased to announce that my short story “The Worst Door” was selected as a finalist for a Derringer Award.
The Derringer Awards are given each year by the Short Mystery Fiction Society for...you got it, short mystery fiction. There are four categories, based on the length of the story.
Last year, “Good Shepherd” was a finalist in the Long category. “The Worst Door” is a finalist this year in the Short-short category.
Apparently, there were 170 nominees from which the 20 finalists (5 in each category) were selected. Selection occurred by blind judging. Now the winner will be selected by a vote from the membership of the Short Mystery Fiction Society.
It is a a deep honor to be a finalist. The award winners will be announced in about a month.
The Derringer Awards are given each year by the Short Mystery Fiction Society for...you got it, short mystery fiction. There are four categories, based on the length of the story.
Last year, “Good Shepherd” was a finalist in the Long category. “The Worst Door” is a finalist this year in the Short-short category.
Apparently, there were 170 nominees from which the 20 finalists (5 in each category) were selected. Selection occurred by blind judging. Now the winner will be selected by a vote from the membership of the Short Mystery Fiction Society.
It is a a deep honor to be a finalist. The award winners will be announced in about a month.
30.March.2007.Fri
I know this blog hasn’t been updated very frequently over the past six months. The reason for that is simple – I haven’t been doing much in the fiction realm during that time.
I have been writing some non-fiction. Specifically, I’ve done some course writing for a national chain of technical colleges. It has been very involved...but is now all but finished. While I am tinkering with the idea of writing a textbook on one of the topics I wrote a course for, for the time being, I am diving back into my true love —- fiction!
So expect to see more frequent entries here as I get those several short stories that have been simmering in my mind down on paper and as I work through the final revision of Heroes Often Fail before sending it to my publisher for a September release.
Things are about to start happening around here...
I have been writing some non-fiction. Specifically, I’ve done some course writing for a national chain of technical colleges. It has been very involved...but is now all but finished. While I am tinkering with the idea of writing a textbook on one of the topics I wrote a course for, for the time being, I am diving back into my true love —- fiction!
So expect to see more frequent entries here as I get those several short stories that have been simmering in my mind down on paper and as I work through the final revision of Heroes Often Fail before sending it to my publisher for a September release.
Things are about to start happening around here...
05.March.2007.Mon
The contest for the February book cover of the month is now on. Under a Raging Moon is one of the eligible entries. Please take the time to go and vote (even if you pick a different cover).
Here’s the link.
Here’s the link.
05.February.2007.Mon
UNDER A RAGING MOON is the book cover of the week on Erin Aislinn’s site. You can check it out (and vote for it) right HERE.
04.February.2007.Sun
Well, I attended my first writer’s conference this weekend – the Left Coast Crime Conference in Seattle. I’m still a little breathless from the long weekend, but I have to say it was better than any trip to Disneyland or a rock concert. I was amazed at how enjoyable it was to be around people with a similar love for crime fiction–both other writers and readers.
Although I was listed as a panelist in the program (page 39 for those of you following along at home), I didn’t end up on any panels this time around. Although I know I would have enjoyed that experience, I think that it may have actually been better for this first experience that I was not. It gave me the opportunity to take in the event.
What was the greatest part of LCC? You’d think it would be the panels, which were very interesting. But the greatest part was meeting all of the people that I met this weekend. Some were friends I already knew, some were friends I’d only ever met in cyberspace and some were entirely new to me. The fellowship and exchange of ideas was a thrilling experience.
So who am I talking about? Too many to list in its entirety...but I’ll give it a good try. Anyone I forget or slight, I apologize to in advance – chalk it up to a long weekend and airline haze (four hours in two airports in exchange for 34 minutes in the air – what a bargain, eh?).
Where to start? Well, how about some folks I already knew but was able to see again? Keith Raffel from Palo Alto was there with his daughter – I finished the final three pages of his book dot.dead while I was there. It’s a great read and the technical aspects combined with the thriller elements reminded me of Disclosure in tone. Keith’s a cool guy and I hope to bump into him again.
My Oregon friend, Ron Lovell made it. Among other moments, he and I shared a very rainy walk from the hotel down to the Seattle Mystery Bookstore (Speaking of SMB, they had a great calvacade of authors event and I was honored to be asked to participate. They treat you great at SMB and they have every mystery you could ever want – go there!). Ron’s a class act.
Crime and Suspense alumni Sunny Frazier and Kathleen Strasser were finally available to meet in the flesh. I was able to dine with them on Thursday evening and again at the Saturday night banquet, along with Patricia Harrington. Having exchanged a number of emails with both women, it was a pleasure to put a corporeal form to the ethereal messages! Sunny’s book is out now from Wolfmont and Kathleen’s will be out on July 7, 2007 from Koboca.
Also from C&S, as well as SMFS, I was very pleased to meet short story maestra, Fleur Bradley. I found in her quite a kindred spirit in regard to attitudes about writing, the business and people in general. (And even though she’s sick of hearing it, here’s a shout out to her husband who is serving in the USAF...thanks for your service, sir.) I’d exchanged a few emails with Fleur and have seen her on the discussion groups, but was not prepared for what a genuine and engaging person she is.
Publisher Jim Kavanagh and Editor/Publisher Karen Kavanagh made an appearance on Friday. They are putting out NEVER SAFE, a crime anthology from Seven Sisters Press, this month. My story, “Running into Darkness” appears in it. I got to see the final product and it is a very nice book. Jim and Karen were great people and made me even more glad to be a part of that project. Karen kept thanking me for being so nice, but all I could think of each time was, “But you’re the one who put me in your book!” Good folks, both.
Marilyn Meredith and her husband Hap were two of the most down to earth people I have met. Great to see them. Marilyn writes a series about a small town sheriff – check her out!
I ran into Bill Cameron again, after meeting him in Portland last summer. Bill’s novel, LOST DOG, will be out in April. Someone at the con asked me what it was about and I had to defer to Bill...but I can say that it involves a set of seemingly random events that become a confluence of very exciting moments.
Michael Donnelly was a well-spoken guy with a easy manner. He did an excellent job on his panel and was quite pleasant when I ran into him around the con.
I finally got to meet Deni Dietz, whom I’d shared an email or three. She was a busy girl, though, and we only managed to chat briefly on the elevator.
I kept running into Kit Ehrman, the writer of the Steve Cline series. She was kind enough many months ago to answer some questions for me via email. I was quite impressed with how nice she was about it and so I was happy to finally see her in person to say thank you.
Rob Lopresti is a name I’ve come across on SMFS and who I wanted to meet. I did, but a quick hello and a handshake was all we had time for, as I had to head to the next panel. He moderated a panel with great aplomb.
Con Lehane sat on the “Noir” panel and was not only funny, but insightful. His books on officially on the TBR.
Tim Maleeny was another great moderator and generally cool guy. His book STEALING THE DRAGON sounded like a good read...yep, TBR.
Speaking of cool guys, accents help, don’t they? It certainly seemed so in Peter May’s case. The friendly Scot kept popping up everywhere, but it probably just seemed so because he stood out in his kilt.
I was flattered to meet Margery Flax of Mystery Writers of America. Why flattered? Well, she knew me, for starters. Or of me, I should say. She was very gracious in explaining what MWA was all about and why I should join (I will be Margery. Soon!).
Most of the folks I met were writers or readers, but Jasmine Nakagawa was from Komenar Publishing. They focus on fiction and sound like a very classy outfit. They have an online fiction book club at www.habitualreader.com.
Anthony Bidulka is a Canadian writer from Saskatoon who writes about a character in the small praire town setting. He was one of many writers there who did a fantastic job while moderating one of the panels.
Elle Lothlorien has a book out called VIRGIN, which has a dash of Da Vinci Code to it. I only had a few moments to speak with her and we weren’t able to get together again, much to my disappointment. Of course, it should be no surprise that she was in high demand – her book has an exciting premise and if you go to her web site, you’ll see that she’s also quite attractive.
Incidentally, I had a conversation with another woman this weekend about that subject. She is also very attractive and we talked about how that beauty can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it markets well. On the other hand, people frequently marginalize a pretty woman’s intelligence or writing skill, almost as if you can’t be smart AND pretty.
People are strange. (Or maybe just poorly trained in reality).
As long as we’re talking about beautiful women who write (and I have to tell you, folks – most of them were quite lovely), I had a chance to briefly meet Alexandra Sokoloff. I’d wanted to share a few moments with her because of her screenwriting background, but once again, it didn’t work out that way. On one occasion, there was a little swarming going on and I didn’t want to add to the problem. On another, I was thoroughly enjoying the company I was in and didn’t want to break away. Nonetheless, Ms. Sokoloff seemed like she had a lot of good info on Hollywood...maybe I’ll have the opportunity to find out at some future date. Her book, THE HARROWING, is now on my TBR list.
Pamela Samuels-Young appeared on a panel about books series' and I bumped into her a couple of times. She recruited me as a law enforcement consultant and I returned the favor for a lawyer consultant. Pamela writes legal thrillers with a female lead (her bookmark reads “John Grisham with a sister’s twist”).
Speaking of lawyers, I had the good fortune to share a breakfast with Leslie Budewitz from Montana. In addition to being a lawyer, Leslie is a consultant for writers, providing legal research and manuscript consultation at her website. Leslie was a great conversationalist. Her most recent story was in AHMM, which is a prestigous market to crack (as of yet, I haven’t!).
I met, briefly, Bette and J.J. Lamb. I wanted to chat with them about the collaboration process, but one thing I have discovered now about conventions – there’s never enough time to talk to everyone.
One person I did get a chance to talk to was Linda Joy Singleton, who writes psychic YA titles for Llewellyn. She gave me some wonderful advice about children’s titles and “woo-woo” titles. Nice lady, too!
Rick Blechta probably won’t remember me, but I saw him on a panel and he was frickin' hilarious. The guy has great wit. I plan on picking up his book soon.
Jana Oliver likely won’t remember me, either...we talked for thirty seconds. But she was on a panel about supernatural mysteries and had some interesting things to say. This subject is something that interests me as a new and different type of project is currently brewing on my back burner...
Speaking of “woo-woo” in mystery, I finally met Kat Richardson, whose GREYWALKER is a smash hit. I’m halfway through it now and can say this – I can see why! Success is something I like to see for Kat, as she is a sincerely nice person.
Spitfire Maggie Sefton had me in stitches on Friday night, and it wasn’t just the wine, either. She writes the crime knitting series and if her humor in those books is anything like real life, don’t drink beverages while reading, because you will end up spraying stuff out your nose.
Priscilla Royal, who writes medieval history mysteries, and I had a brief but nice conversation about the subject. Despite her outward appearance, which runs directly to “history professor,” Priscilla has a fantastic sense of humor.
I did get a chance to meet Cornelia Read, whose book FIELDS OF DARKNESS was nominated for an Edgar. Cornelia was a very down to earth chick, though that didn’t stop me from getting her to sign my copy of the book. I wish her great luck on the award and I’m looking forward to the read.
Leann Sweeney plied me with wine and asked some law enforcement questions on Friday evening, which I was only too happy to answer. Her sister Candace was also in attendance (in fact, I think it was actually she who supplied the drink ticket). Both were very sweet women (and I do hope to hear from their associate, the nurse, at some point). Leann writes the Yellow Rose Mystery Series, which are classified as soft-boiled and set in Houston – another reason I liked her, by the way....I love Texas.
Fellow Spokane native Brian Thornton and I managed to exchange about 34 seconds of a conversation before we had to head in opposite directions. Still, it was cool to at least say hi to the guy.
Same with Tim Wohlforth, who is an anthology-mate in NEVER SAFE.
There were other cool folks there that I saw on panels but wasn’t able to meet – Harley Jane Kozak, Lewis Perdue, Rick Mofina, Mike Lawson, Charles Benoit and a host of others.
Oh, and a quick message to the young woman named Lisa whom Fleur and I spoke with at Friday evening’s gala....Lisa, congratulations on becoming a writer.
Lastly, I have to say thank you to Andi Shechter, who headed up LCC...great job, Andi!
That’s it, folks. My wordy post-mortem. I’m sure I missed more than I included and I apologize for that. All I know is that I had a great time and will definitely be attending others as I can afford it.
Although I was listed as a panelist in the program (page 39 for those of you following along at home), I didn’t end up on any panels this time around. Although I know I would have enjoyed that experience, I think that it may have actually been better for this first experience that I was not. It gave me the opportunity to take in the event.
What was the greatest part of LCC? You’d think it would be the panels, which were very interesting. But the greatest part was meeting all of the people that I met this weekend. Some were friends I already knew, some were friends I’d only ever met in cyberspace and some were entirely new to me. The fellowship and exchange of ideas was a thrilling experience.
So who am I talking about? Too many to list in its entirety...but I’ll give it a good try. Anyone I forget or slight, I apologize to in advance – chalk it up to a long weekend and airline haze (four hours in two airports in exchange for 34 minutes in the air – what a bargain, eh?).
Where to start? Well, how about some folks I already knew but was able to see again? Keith Raffel from Palo Alto was there with his daughter – I finished the final three pages of his book dot.dead while I was there. It’s a great read and the technical aspects combined with the thriller elements reminded me of Disclosure in tone. Keith’s a cool guy and I hope to bump into him again.
My Oregon friend, Ron Lovell made it. Among other moments, he and I shared a very rainy walk from the hotel down to the Seattle Mystery Bookstore (Speaking of SMB, they had a great calvacade of authors event and I was honored to be asked to participate. They treat you great at SMB and they have every mystery you could ever want – go there!). Ron’s a class act.
Crime and Suspense alumni Sunny Frazier and Kathleen Strasser were finally available to meet in the flesh. I was able to dine with them on Thursday evening and again at the Saturday night banquet, along with Patricia Harrington. Having exchanged a number of emails with both women, it was a pleasure to put a corporeal form to the ethereal messages! Sunny’s book is out now from Wolfmont and Kathleen’s will be out on July 7, 2007 from Koboca.
Also from C&S, as well as SMFS, I was very pleased to meet short story maestra, Fleur Bradley. I found in her quite a kindred spirit in regard to attitudes about writing, the business and people in general. (And even though she’s sick of hearing it, here’s a shout out to her husband who is serving in the USAF...thanks for your service, sir.) I’d exchanged a few emails with Fleur and have seen her on the discussion groups, but was not prepared for what a genuine and engaging person she is.
Publisher Jim Kavanagh and Editor/Publisher Karen Kavanagh made an appearance on Friday. They are putting out NEVER SAFE, a crime anthology from Seven Sisters Press, this month. My story, “Running into Darkness” appears in it. I got to see the final product and it is a very nice book. Jim and Karen were great people and made me even more glad to be a part of that project. Karen kept thanking me for being so nice, but all I could think of each time was, “But you’re the one who put me in your book!” Good folks, both.
Marilyn Meredith and her husband Hap were two of the most down to earth people I have met. Great to see them. Marilyn writes a series about a small town sheriff – check her out!
I ran into Bill Cameron again, after meeting him in Portland last summer. Bill’s novel, LOST DOG, will be out in April. Someone at the con asked me what it was about and I had to defer to Bill...but I can say that it involves a set of seemingly random events that become a confluence of very exciting moments.
Michael Donnelly was a well-spoken guy with a easy manner. He did an excellent job on his panel and was quite pleasant when I ran into him around the con.
I finally got to meet Deni Dietz, whom I’d shared an email or three. She was a busy girl, though, and we only managed to chat briefly on the elevator.
I kept running into Kit Ehrman, the writer of the Steve Cline series. She was kind enough many months ago to answer some questions for me via email. I was quite impressed with how nice she was about it and so I was happy to finally see her in person to say thank you.
Rob Lopresti is a name I’ve come across on SMFS and who I wanted to meet. I did, but a quick hello and a handshake was all we had time for, as I had to head to the next panel. He moderated a panel with great aplomb.
Con Lehane sat on the “Noir” panel and was not only funny, but insightful. His books on officially on the TBR.
Tim Maleeny was another great moderator and generally cool guy. His book STEALING THE DRAGON sounded like a good read...yep, TBR.
Speaking of cool guys, accents help, don’t they? It certainly seemed so in Peter May’s case. The friendly Scot kept popping up everywhere, but it probably just seemed so because he stood out in his kilt.
I was flattered to meet Margery Flax of Mystery Writers of America. Why flattered? Well, she knew me, for starters. Or of me, I should say. She was very gracious in explaining what MWA was all about and why I should join (I will be Margery. Soon!).
Most of the folks I met were writers or readers, but Jasmine Nakagawa was from Komenar Publishing. They focus on fiction and sound like a very classy outfit. They have an online fiction book club at www.habitualreader.com.
Anthony Bidulka is a Canadian writer from Saskatoon who writes about a character in the small praire town setting. He was one of many writers there who did a fantastic job while moderating one of the panels.
Elle Lothlorien has a book out called VIRGIN, which has a dash of Da Vinci Code to it. I only had a few moments to speak with her and we weren’t able to get together again, much to my disappointment. Of course, it should be no surprise that she was in high demand – her book has an exciting premise and if you go to her web site, you’ll see that she’s also quite attractive.
Incidentally, I had a conversation with another woman this weekend about that subject. She is also very attractive and we talked about how that beauty can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it markets well. On the other hand, people frequently marginalize a pretty woman’s intelligence or writing skill, almost as if you can’t be smart AND pretty.
People are strange. (Or maybe just poorly trained in reality).
As long as we’re talking about beautiful women who write (and I have to tell you, folks – most of them were quite lovely), I had a chance to briefly meet Alexandra Sokoloff. I’d wanted to share a few moments with her because of her screenwriting background, but once again, it didn’t work out that way. On one occasion, there was a little swarming going on and I didn’t want to add to the problem. On another, I was thoroughly enjoying the company I was in and didn’t want to break away. Nonetheless, Ms. Sokoloff seemed like she had a lot of good info on Hollywood...maybe I’ll have the opportunity to find out at some future date. Her book, THE HARROWING, is now on my TBR list.
Pamela Samuels-Young appeared on a panel about books series' and I bumped into her a couple of times. She recruited me as a law enforcement consultant and I returned the favor for a lawyer consultant. Pamela writes legal thrillers with a female lead (her bookmark reads “John Grisham with a sister’s twist”).
Speaking of lawyers, I had the good fortune to share a breakfast with Leslie Budewitz from Montana. In addition to being a lawyer, Leslie is a consultant for writers, providing legal research and manuscript consultation at her website. Leslie was a great conversationalist. Her most recent story was in AHMM, which is a prestigous market to crack (as of yet, I haven’t!).
I met, briefly, Bette and J.J. Lamb. I wanted to chat with them about the collaboration process, but one thing I have discovered now about conventions – there’s never enough time to talk to everyone.
One person I did get a chance to talk to was Linda Joy Singleton, who writes psychic YA titles for Llewellyn. She gave me some wonderful advice about children’s titles and “woo-woo” titles. Nice lady, too!
Rick Blechta probably won’t remember me, but I saw him on a panel and he was frickin' hilarious. The guy has great wit. I plan on picking up his book soon.
Jana Oliver likely won’t remember me, either...we talked for thirty seconds. But she was on a panel about supernatural mysteries and had some interesting things to say. This subject is something that interests me as a new and different type of project is currently brewing on my back burner...
Speaking of “woo-woo” in mystery, I finally met Kat Richardson, whose GREYWALKER is a smash hit. I’m halfway through it now and can say this – I can see why! Success is something I like to see for Kat, as she is a sincerely nice person.
Spitfire Maggie Sefton had me in stitches on Friday night, and it wasn’t just the wine, either. She writes the crime knitting series and if her humor in those books is anything like real life, don’t drink beverages while reading, because you will end up spraying stuff out your nose.
Priscilla Royal, who writes medieval history mysteries, and I had a brief but nice conversation about the subject. Despite her outward appearance, which runs directly to “history professor,” Priscilla has a fantastic sense of humor.
I did get a chance to meet Cornelia Read, whose book FIELDS OF DARKNESS was nominated for an Edgar. Cornelia was a very down to earth chick, though that didn’t stop me from getting her to sign my copy of the book. I wish her great luck on the award and I’m looking forward to the read.
Leann Sweeney plied me with wine and asked some law enforcement questions on Friday evening, which I was only too happy to answer. Her sister Candace was also in attendance (in fact, I think it was actually she who supplied the drink ticket). Both were very sweet women (and I do hope to hear from their associate, the nurse, at some point). Leann writes the Yellow Rose Mystery Series, which are classified as soft-boiled and set in Houston – another reason I liked her, by the way....I love Texas.
Fellow Spokane native Brian Thornton and I managed to exchange about 34 seconds of a conversation before we had to head in opposite directions. Still, it was cool to at least say hi to the guy.
Same with Tim Wohlforth, who is an anthology-mate in NEVER SAFE.
There were other cool folks there that I saw on panels but wasn’t able to meet – Harley Jane Kozak, Lewis Perdue, Rick Mofina, Mike Lawson, Charles Benoit and a host of others.
Oh, and a quick message to the young woman named Lisa whom Fleur and I spoke with at Friday evening’s gala....Lisa, congratulations on becoming a writer.
Lastly, I have to say thank you to Andi Shechter, who headed up LCC...great job, Andi!
That’s it, folks. My wordy post-mortem. I’m sure I missed more than I included and I apologize for that. All I know is that I had a great time and will definitely be attending others as I can afford it.
19.January.2007.Fri
I’ll be attending the Left Coast Conference in Seattle from February 1-4, 2007.
If you’re going, too, please don’t be shy – say hello if you see me! In fact, I’ve attached a newer one with me and my son up in Canada so you’ll recognize me. Love to shake hands and chat with any and all.
Also, I’ll be at the Seattle Mystery Bookshop on Saturday (the 3rd) from 2 PM to 4 PM with about a dozen other authors. I’ll be signing copies of Under A Raging Moon and possibly The EX Factor.
This will be my first conference, so I’m looking forward to it.
If you’re going, too, please don’t be shy – say hello if you see me! In fact, I’ve attached a newer one with me and my son up in Canada so you’ll recognize me. Love to shake hands and chat with any and all.
Also, I’ll be at the Seattle Mystery Bookshop on Saturday (the 3rd) from 2 PM to 4 PM with about a dozen other authors. I’ll be signing copies of Under A Raging Moon and possibly The EX Factor.
This will be my first conference, so I’m looking forward to it.
08.January.2007.Mon
I’m happy to say that in addition to the Spokane City and Spokane County Library systems, my novel Under A Raging Moon is now available at the Stevens County Library District.
Stevens County is just one county to the north of Spokane.
Stevens County is just one county to the north of Spokane.
15.November.2006.Wed
Not much new to report on the publication front, folks...I’ve been doing a lot of non-fiction writing and so my fiction has been in stasis.
I will be appearing in the December issue of MOUTHFULL OF BULLETS. Actually, I’ll have a fair amount of exposure there–my story, “Sign of the Burning Moon,” will appear. Kevin Tipple will be reviewing my book, “Under A Raging Moon,” and I will be one of the featured authors being interviewed by the editor, B.J. Bourg.
I’ll be making some local appearances again after Thanksgiving, beginning with the North Division Hastings in Spokane on Friday November 24th from 4 PM - 7 PM. Check my web page under APPEARANCES for more information.
I’d also like to mention that I was invited to visit with a local writer’s group here in Spokane by another author (Dawn Richard). The group is small but very friendly. They chat a bit and then share work for critique. Different genres are represented and different levels of development. I believe that a brand new writer and a published novelist would both be entirely comfortable. I was, and I intend to attend their meetings as frequently as I can. I think it is important for all writers to have the fellowship of other writers. Not only is there some technical gain, but the emotional support is crucial.
And, as writer Gary Provost once wrote, “Sometimes another writer will understand what the rest of the world will not.”
If anyone reading this is also a writing and is interested in this particular group, email me and I’ll put you in touch with Dawn. They seem to be very open to new members.
On another note, I’d like to report that when I check the status of “Under A Raging Moon” at the City and County library systems last week, every copy was checked out! Sure, that’s only five copies, but still...people are reading the book.
I will be appearing in the December issue of MOUTHFULL OF BULLETS. Actually, I’ll have a fair amount of exposure there–my story, “Sign of the Burning Moon,” will appear. Kevin Tipple will be reviewing my book, “Under A Raging Moon,” and I will be one of the featured authors being interviewed by the editor, B.J. Bourg.
I’ll be making some local appearances again after Thanksgiving, beginning with the North Division Hastings in Spokane on Friday November 24th from 4 PM - 7 PM. Check my web page under APPEARANCES for more information.
I’d also like to mention that I was invited to visit with a local writer’s group here in Spokane by another author (Dawn Richard). The group is small but very friendly. They chat a bit and then share work for critique. Different genres are represented and different levels of development. I believe that a brand new writer and a published novelist would both be entirely comfortable. I was, and I intend to attend their meetings as frequently as I can. I think it is important for all writers to have the fellowship of other writers. Not only is there some technical gain, but the emotional support is crucial.
And, as writer Gary Provost once wrote, “Sometimes another writer will understand what the rest of the world will not.”
If anyone reading this is also a writing and is interested in this particular group, email me and I’ll put you in touch with Dawn. They seem to be very open to new members.
On another note, I’d like to report that when I check the status of “Under A Raging Moon” at the City and County library systems last week, every copy was checked out! Sure, that’s only five copies, but still...people are reading the book.
17.October.2006.Tue
I had the time wrong on this Saturday’s time appearance. Here is the right time:
Oct 21, 2006 3 PM - 7 PM
Hastings Bookstore, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
If you’re around, come on by and meet Colin Conway and I and pick up your copy of The EX Factor. Under a Raging Moon, By the Chimney with Care and Seven By Seven will all be available, too.
Oct 21, 2006 3 PM - 7 PM
Hastings Bookstore, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
If you’re around, come on by and meet Colin Conway and I and pick up your copy of The EX Factor. Under a Raging Moon, By the Chimney with Care and Seven By Seven will all be available, too.
02.October.2006.Mon
Within the last couple of weeks, I have made three appearances at bookstores.
I visited the Hastings in Moses Lake, Washington.
I appeared at Whodunit? Books in Olympia, Washington.
I made my first visit to Seattle Mystery Bookshop in Seattle (duh), Washington.
Hastings has been wonderful to me at every branch and Moses Lake was no exception. For such a large corporation, the book managers take great interest in promoting local writers.
Independent mystery bookstores like Whodunit? Books and the Seattle Mystery Bookshop are absolutely awesome. The staff at both of these locations treated me very well and I was thrilled to be there. Both bookstores bought extra copies of the book to sell and in both instances, I left with a strong desire to come again!
My thanks to all three stores for hosting me!
I visited the Hastings in Moses Lake, Washington.
I appeared at Whodunit? Books in Olympia, Washington.
I made my first visit to Seattle Mystery Bookshop in Seattle (duh), Washington.
Hastings has been wonderful to me at every branch and Moses Lake was no exception. For such a large corporation, the book managers take great interest in promoting local writers.
Independent mystery bookstores like Whodunit? Books and the Seattle Mystery Bookshop are absolutely awesome. The staff at both of these locations treated me very well and I was thrilled to be there. Both bookstores bought extra copies of the book to sell and in both instances, I left with a strong desire to come again!
My thanks to all three stores for hosting me!
05.September.2006.Tue
I’ve been interviewed by Lonnie Cruse on her blog.
Lonnie is, among other things, a Sisters-in-Crime member who regularly interviews authors on her blog. She asked some great questions and was quite a gracious hostess.
The link to the interview is here*
Thanks, Lonnie!
*should you go to the blog and the interview is no longer the top feature, you can call it up from the menu on the right.
Lonnie is, among other things, a Sisters-in-Crime member who regularly interviews authors on her blog. She asked some great questions and was quite a gracious hostess.
The link to the interview is here*
Thanks, Lonnie!
*should you go to the blog and the interview is no longer the top feature, you can call it up from the menu on the right.
28.August.2006.Mon
I had two appearances this past weekend.
The first was Friday evening, the 25th, at a private book club. The turn out wasn’t as large as anticipated, but the hostess explained that this is simply the nature of the beast. Sometimes it is two people, sometimes twelve or more. Those that did show up were intelligent folks who asked some fun questions. And the chow was good.
Interestingly enough, one of the attendees sponsors exchange students and brought her four Japanese students along with her. All were girs and around 19 or 20. Very pretty and very polite. They seemed unduly impressed that I had written a book. Near the end of the night, I did my part for international harmony by giving each of them an autographed copy of Under A Raging Moon. They were returning to Japan the next day, so I thought it would be a nice momento. I am not certain how well each of them reads English, but perhaps they’ll get through the book. And who knows? Maybe I’ll get some rhythm from Japan and River City will become popular in Nippon. Either way, I felt like a shorter version of David Hasslehoff when they all clamored for a picture before they left.
My second appearance was Saturday, the 26th, at the Hastings bookstore in Coeur d'Alene. The staff there treated me very well–Kathy, Simone and Ann, thank you!–and the patrons were very laid back and friendly. The book sold well, as well as a few copies of Seven By Seven. I had a flyer for the anthology that will be released in October, The EX-Factor, on my table as well. That drew some interest and more than a few smiles.
The greatest part of both appearancs wasn’t the sales (which are heartening) or signing the books (which is a thrill), but rather connecting with the readers. So many people are enthusiastic about reading, and about crime fiction in particular, that it becomes an invigorating, encouraging time for me...time well spent.
The first was Friday evening, the 25th, at a private book club. The turn out wasn’t as large as anticipated, but the hostess explained that this is simply the nature of the beast. Sometimes it is two people, sometimes twelve or more. Those that did show up were intelligent folks who asked some fun questions. And the chow was good.
Interestingly enough, one of the attendees sponsors exchange students and brought her four Japanese students along with her. All were girs and around 19 or 20. Very pretty and very polite. They seemed unduly impressed that I had written a book. Near the end of the night, I did my part for international harmony by giving each of them an autographed copy of Under A Raging Moon. They were returning to Japan the next day, so I thought it would be a nice momento. I am not certain how well each of them reads English, but perhaps they’ll get through the book. And who knows? Maybe I’ll get some rhythm from Japan and River City will become popular in Nippon. Either way, I felt like a shorter version of David Hasslehoff when they all clamored for a picture before they left.
My second appearance was Saturday, the 26th, at the Hastings bookstore in Coeur d'Alene. The staff there treated me very well–Kathy, Simone and Ann, thank you!–and the patrons were very laid back and friendly. The book sold well, as well as a few copies of Seven By Seven. I had a flyer for the anthology that will be released in October, The EX-Factor, on my table as well. That drew some interest and more than a few smiles.
The greatest part of both appearancs wasn’t the sales (which are heartening) or signing the books (which is a thrill), but rather connecting with the readers. So many people are enthusiastic about reading, and about crime fiction in particular, that it becomes an invigorating, encouraging time for me...time well spent.
14.August.2006.Mon
I’ve been added to policewriters.com, a website about police officers turned authors. The entry about me is here.
I’m also mentioned on Lt. Foster’s blog, dedicated to criminal justice online courses. From what I can tell, Lt. Foster runs the policewriters.com site. The blog entry about me is here.
A double shot of light irony here. One is that I am currently working on non-fiction project, an online course job in criminal justice. The second thing is that I am the 87th officer to be added to this list. Ed McBain’s well-known series involved the 87th Precinct.
Hey, we all look for good portents where we can find them, okay?
I’m also mentioned on Lt. Foster’s blog, dedicated to criminal justice online courses. From what I can tell, Lt. Foster runs the policewriters.com site. The blog entry about me is here.
A double shot of light irony here. One is that I am currently working on non-fiction project, an online course job in criminal justice. The second thing is that I am the 87th officer to be added to this list. Ed McBain’s well-known series involved the 87th Precinct.
Hey, we all look for good portents where we can find them, okay?
13.August.2006.Sun
My appearances in Portland and Kennewick went well.
Murder By The Book is a quaint bookstore, specializing in mysteries. I mean the general mystery umbrella, including every sub-genre and related thriller genre you can imagine. Very nice staff and the other authors present were extraordinarily friendly. And ya gotta like a bookstore that not only has all the books in the Matt Scudder series, but has them on the shelf in order.
The other authors were:
Linda Kuhlman, in support of Koenig’s War,
George Wright, promoting his book Baker City 1948,
Ron Lovell, with several books, including Searching For Murder,
and Keith Raffel, whose book was Dot Dead.
At the Hastings Bookstore in Kennewick, I was treated very well by the book manager Deanna. I managed to sell a number copies of both Under A Raging Moon and Seven By Seven.
Both stores are stocking Under A Raging Moon.
Next weekend I’ll be at Field of Beans Coffee, located at 5520 N. Maple in Spokane. I’ll be there from 10 AM - 2 PM, so if you’re in the area, stop by! They make great Bloomie Smoothies!
Murder By The Book is a quaint bookstore, specializing in mysteries. I mean the general mystery umbrella, including every sub-genre and related thriller genre you can imagine. Very nice staff and the other authors present were extraordinarily friendly. And ya gotta like a bookstore that not only has all the books in the Matt Scudder series, but has them on the shelf in order.
The other authors were:
Linda Kuhlman, in support of Koenig’s War,
George Wright, promoting his book Baker City 1948,
Ron Lovell, with several books, including Searching For Murder,
and Keith Raffel, whose book was Dot Dead.
At the Hastings Bookstore in Kennewick, I was treated very well by the book manager Deanna. I managed to sell a number copies of both Under A Raging Moon and Seven By Seven.
Both stores are stocking Under A Raging Moon.
Next weekend I’ll be at Field of Beans Coffee, located at 5520 N. Maple in Spokane. I’ll be there from 10 AM - 2 PM, so if you’re in the area, stop by! They make great Bloomie Smoothies!
04.August.2006.Fri
I’ve added a few appearances, both in Spokane and elsewhere. The complete list is available here, but here’s what’s on tap:
August 10, 2006 6:30 PM - 8 PM
Murder By The Book @ 3210 SE Hawthorne, Portland, Oregon
August 12, 2006 12 PM - 3 PM
Kennewick Hastings @ 151 N. Ely, Highland Center, Kennewick
August 19, 2006 10 AM - 2 PM
Field of Beans @ 5520 N. Maple, Spokane
August 25, 2006 5 PM
Private Book Club (Special Guest), Spokane
August 26, 2006 3 PM - 7 PM
Coeur D'Alene Hastings @ 101 Best Avenue, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho
Sept 22, 2006 4 PM - 7 PM
Hastings Bookstore @ 601 S. Pioneer Way, Moses Lake
Sept 23, 2006 2 PM - 4 PM
Whodunit? @ 119 Fifth Avenue SE, Olympia
Sept 26, 2006 7:30 PM
Auntie’s Bookstore @ 402 W. Main, Spokane
Sept 30, 2006 12 PM
Seattle Mystery Bookshop @ 117 Cherry Street, Seattle
If you’re near any of these locations, please stop by and see me!
August 10, 2006 6:30 PM - 8 PM
Murder By The Book @ 3210 SE Hawthorne, Portland, Oregon
August 12, 2006 12 PM - 3 PM
Kennewick Hastings @ 151 N. Ely, Highland Center, Kennewick
August 19, 2006 10 AM - 2 PM
Field of Beans @ 5520 N. Maple, Spokane
August 25, 2006 5 PM
Private Book Club (Special Guest), Spokane
August 26, 2006 3 PM - 7 PM
Coeur D'Alene Hastings @ 101 Best Avenue, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho
Sept 22, 2006 4 PM - 7 PM
Hastings Bookstore @ 601 S. Pioneer Way, Moses Lake
Sept 23, 2006 2 PM - 4 PM
Whodunit? @ 119 Fifth Avenue SE, Olympia
Sept 26, 2006 7:30 PM
Auntie’s Bookstore @ 402 W. Main, Spokane
Sept 30, 2006 12 PM
Seattle Mystery Bookshop @ 117 Cherry Street, Seattle
If you’re near any of these locations, please stop by and see me!
31.July.2006.Mon
On August 19th, I will be appearing at Field of Beans, a coffee shop in Spokane (5520 N. Maple). The exact time on that Saturday hasn’t been set yet, but I’ll post it soon.
They have some great smoothies (the Bloomie Smoothie, in particular), so if you’re out and about in Spokane on the 19th, stop in and see me (and buy a book, eh?).
They have some great smoothies (the Bloomie Smoothie, in particular), so if you’re out and about in Spokane on the 19th, stop in and see me (and buy a book, eh?).
30.June.2006.Fri
I’ve had some additions to my appearance schedule in support of my first novel, Under A Raging Moon, with more to come:
July 8, 2006 4 PM - 7 PM
South Hill Hastings @ 2515 E. 29th, Spokane
July 15, 2006 10 AM - 2 PM
Victoria’s Espresso @ 517 N. Pines, Spokane
August 10, 2006 6:30 PM - 8 PM
Murder By The Book @ 3210 SE Hawthorne, Portland, Oregon
August 25, 2006 5 PM
Private Book Club (Special Guest), Spokane
August 26, 2006 3 PM - 7 PM
Coeur D'Alene Hastings @ 101 Best Avenue, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho
Sept 22, 2006 4 PM - 7 PM
Hastings Bookstore @ 601 S. Pioneer Way, Moses Lake
Sept 23, 2006 2 PM - 4 PM
Whodunit? @ 119 Fifth Avenue SE, Olympia
Sept 26, 2006 7:30 PM
Auntie’s Bookstore @ 402 W. Main, Spokane
Again, if you’re near any of these, please drop in and say hello!
July 8, 2006 4 PM - 7 PM
South Hill Hastings @ 2515 E. 29th, Spokane
July 15, 2006 10 AM - 2 PM
Victoria’s Espresso @ 517 N. Pines, Spokane
August 10, 2006 6:30 PM - 8 PM
Murder By The Book @ 3210 SE Hawthorne, Portland, Oregon
August 25, 2006 5 PM
Private Book Club (Special Guest), Spokane
August 26, 2006 3 PM - 7 PM
Coeur D'Alene Hastings @ 101 Best Avenue, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho
Sept 22, 2006 4 PM - 7 PM
Hastings Bookstore @ 601 S. Pioneer Way, Moses Lake
Sept 23, 2006 2 PM - 4 PM
Whodunit? @ 119 Fifth Avenue SE, Olympia
Sept 26, 2006 7:30 PM
Auntie’s Bookstore @ 402 W. Main, Spokane
Again, if you’re near any of these, please drop in and say hello!
15.June.2006.Thu
My novel, Under A Raging Moon, is now out in trade paperback! It is also available as an ebook (check out ePress-Online or Fictionwise!).
You can buy the novel directly from me ($9.95 plus $2 shipping), directly from the publisher, or order it from any bookstore (bricks and mortar or online). If you’re in Spokane, you can get a copy at any Hastings or at Auntie’s.
Don’t forget–you can read the first chapter for FREE on my website!
Congratulations to Marian Allen, who won the drawing for a free copy!
Also, congratulations to John Emery of Texas, who won a copy of Seven By Seven and Becky Johnson of Spokane, Washington, who won a Crime and Suspense T-shirt!
All of those prizes will be going out by the end of the weekend.
You can buy the novel directly from me ($9.95 plus $2 shipping), directly from the publisher, or order it from any bookstore (bricks and mortar or online). If you’re in Spokane, you can get a copy at any Hastings or at Auntie’s.
Don’t forget–you can read the first chapter for FREE on my website!
Congratulations to Marian Allen, who won the drawing for a free copy!
Also, congratulations to John Emery of Texas, who won a copy of Seven By Seven and Becky Johnson of Spokane, Washington, who won a Crime and Suspense T-shirt!
All of those prizes will be going out by the end of the weekend.
14.June.2006.Wed
I’ve added a couple of appearances in support of Under A Raging Moon. Here’s the update:
June 16, 2006 11 AM - 12 AM
Mark Fuhrman radio program on KGA 1510 AM
June 16, 2006 4:30 - 7:30
Valley Hastings @ 15312 E. Sprague
June 17, 2006 11 AM - 3 PM
Northside Hastings @ 7706 N. Division
June 23, 2006 11 AM - 2 PM
Extreme Caffeine @ 2706 N. Monroe
June 24, 2006 1 PM - 4 PM
Shadle Hastings @ 1704 W. Wellesley
July 8, 2006 4 PM - 7 PM
South Hill Hastings @ 2515 E. 29th
Sept 26, 2006 7:30 PM
Auntie’s Bookstore @ 402 W. Main
If you’re nearby, please stop in and see me.
June 16, 2006 11 AM - 12 AM
Mark Fuhrman radio program on KGA 1510 AM
June 16, 2006 4:30 - 7:30
Valley Hastings @ 15312 E. Sprague
June 17, 2006 11 AM - 3 PM
Northside Hastings @ 7706 N. Division
June 23, 2006 11 AM - 2 PM
Extreme Caffeine @ 2706 N. Monroe
June 24, 2006 1 PM - 4 PM
Shadle Hastings @ 1704 W. Wellesley
July 8, 2006 4 PM - 7 PM
South Hill Hastings @ 2515 E. 29th
Sept 26, 2006 7:30 PM
Auntie’s Bookstore @ 402 W. Main
If you’re nearby, please stop in and see me.
06.May.2006.Sat
My address to the reader’s group at the Valley Hastings went well. Nice people, with great questions and very good listeners!
Today’s appearance at the North Division Hastings also went well. People were engaging and the book sold well. In fact, except for the copies at the local bookstores, I’ve sold out! I have more coming from the publisher, however. Let me tell you, it is a nice problem to have.
Anyone wanting a copy can email me directly at frankzafiro@msn.com or get Seven By Seven at any local Hastings or downtown at Auntie’s. It is also available for order at any bookstore, online or bricks and mortar.
I hope to set up a couple more appearances in support of 7x7. Then, in June, my novel will be released...and I’ll be at it again!
Today’s appearance at the North Division Hastings also went well. People were engaging and the book sold well. In fact, except for the copies at the local bookstores, I’ve sold out! I have more coming from the publisher, however. Let me tell you, it is a nice problem to have.
Anyone wanting a copy can email me directly at frankzafiro@msn.com or get Seven By Seven at any local Hastings or downtown at Auntie’s. It is also available for order at any bookstore, online or bricks and mortar.
I hope to set up a couple more appearances in support of 7x7. Then, in June, my novel will be released...and I’ll be at it again!
04.May.2006.Thu
Tonight’s appearance/signing/whatever you want to call it includes a brief hiatus during which I’ll be addressing a reader’s group that assembles at this particular bookstore.
This’ll be a first for me.
Luckily, I’ve spoken in front of groups on a variety of other subjects, so hopefully that experience will carry through and I don’t catch fire and have to ditch my plane over the Indian Ocean.
I also spoke with the producer of a local radio talk show. She seemed real nice and had called me at work about appearing on the show to discuss the police volunteer progams I oversee. I said yes, of course, but as the conversation was ending, I changed hats and mentioned my writing career, Seven By Seven and Under A Raging Moon. Her interest seemed genuine, so you never know.
This promoting stuff is constant, I’m discovering. I’m attending a meeting of a regional authors & self-publishers group this morning. Not sure I’ll join, as that ‘self-publisher’ tag is one I’m wary of. Nothing at all wrong with it whatsoever, but in a number of circles it has a negative connotation. However, I am certain that a group like this would be chock-full of marketing ideas...so we’ll see.
This’ll be a first for me.
Luckily, I’ve spoken in front of groups on a variety of other subjects, so hopefully that experience will carry through and I don’t catch fire and have to ditch my plane over the Indian Ocean.
I also spoke with the producer of a local radio talk show. She seemed real nice and had called me at work about appearing on the show to discuss the police volunteer progams I oversee. I said yes, of course, but as the conversation was ending, I changed hats and mentioned my writing career, Seven By Seven and Under A Raging Moon. Her interest seemed genuine, so you never know.
This promoting stuff is constant, I’m discovering. I’m attending a meeting of a regional authors & self-publishers group this morning. Not sure I’ll join, as that ‘self-publisher’ tag is one I’m wary of. Nothing at all wrong with it whatsoever, but in a number of circles it has a negative connotation. However, I am certain that a group like this would be chock-full of marketing ideas...so we’ll see.
28.April.2006.Fri
My second ever signing at Extreme Caffeine in Spokane went great! The staff at Extreme Caffeine were wonderful and brew some great coffee. All of the customers were pleasant, even those who weren’t interested in my book (there were a couple). For the most part, every customer gave me a listen and took a card. At least 50% of the people I spoke to bought a copy of Seven By Seven.
The staff said it turned out to be a slow day, business-wise, probably due to the great weather–in the 70s here in Spokane. I wonder how many I’d have sold if it had been busy!
I still have two more scheduled appearances, though I am working on scheduling some more. The scheduled ones are:
May 4, 2006 6 PM - 8 PM
Valley Hastings @ 15312 E. Sprague
May 6, 2006 1 PM - 3 PM
North Division Hastings @ 7706 N. Division
Again, my thanks to a great establishment, Extreme Caffeine at 2706 N. Monroe in Spokane, Washington. Delicious coffee and friendly staff and a yummy deli menu...with a dash of literary salt.
The staff said it turned out to be a slow day, business-wise, probably due to the great weather–in the 70s here in Spokane. I wonder how many I’d have sold if it had been busy!
I still have two more scheduled appearances, though I am working on scheduling some more. The scheduled ones are:
May 4, 2006 6 PM - 8 PM
Valley Hastings @ 15312 E. Sprague
May 6, 2006 1 PM - 3 PM
North Division Hastings @ 7706 N. Division
Again, my thanks to a great establishment, Extreme Caffeine at 2706 N. Monroe in Spokane, Washington. Delicious coffee and friendly staff and a yummy deli menu...with a dash of literary salt.
22.April.2006.Sat
I had my first signing today from 1-4 PM at a local bookstore (Hastings, for those of you familiar with it).
Interesting, and fun, experience.
Sold some books, gave away a ton of bookmarks and business cards and talked with some great folks. Even came up with a Mastercard commercial!
3 hours at Hastings...no pay
3 cups of coffee...complimentary
1 copy of Seven By Seven...$13.95
Signing a copy of a book you helped write...priceless.
Next week’s appearance is at a coffee shop, so we’ll see how that one goes!
Here are the next three appearances:
April 28, 2006 11 PM - 2 PM
Extreme Caffeine @ 2706 N. Monore
May 4, 2006 6 PM - 8 PM
Valley Hastings @ 15312 E. Sprague
May 6, 2006 1 PM - 3 PM
North Division Hastings @ 7706 N. Division
Hope to see some of you there!
Interesting, and fun, experience.
Sold some books, gave away a ton of bookmarks and business cards and talked with some great folks. Even came up with a Mastercard commercial!
3 hours at Hastings...no pay
3 cups of coffee...complimentary
1 copy of Seven By Seven...$13.95
Signing a copy of a book you helped write...priceless.
Next week’s appearance is at a coffee shop, so we’ll see how that one goes!
Here are the next three appearances:
April 28, 2006 11 PM - 2 PM
Extreme Caffeine @ 2706 N. Monore
May 4, 2006 6 PM - 8 PM
Valley Hastings @ 15312 E. Sprague
May 6, 2006 1 PM - 3 PM
North Division Hastings @ 7706 N. Division
Hope to see some of you there!
15.April.2006.Sat
Well, the pre-orders are closed and I held the drawing tonight for the free copy of Seven By Seven.
Congratulations to the winner, Jeannie Sampson. Ms. Sampson is a pre-school teacher in Spokane and she will get her copy of Seven By Seven for FREE.
I also had three T-shirts to give away and drew those names from the pre-order list as well. Those go to:
Glenda Bogart of Spokane
Kika Morales of Spokane
Jill Maser of Philadelphia
Seven By Seven is officially released and is now for sale to the general public. The best (and cheapest) way is directly from me–plus I’ll sign it! However, you can also order it directly from Wolfmont, or through any bookstore. It will definitely be on the shelves at local Hastings here in Spokane within a week, and hopefully at Barnes & Noble, Borders and Auntie’s.
I have four scheduled appearances and am working on some others. Feel free to stop in at any of the following appearances:
April 22, 2006 1 PM - 4 PM
Shadle Hastings @ 1704 W. Wellesley
April 28, 2006 11 PM - 2 PM
Extreme Caffeine @ 2706 N. Monore
May 4, 2006 6 PM - 8 PM
Valley Hastings @ 15312 E. Sprague
May 6, 2006 1 PM - 3 PM
North Division Hastings @ 7706 N. Division
Hope to see you there!
Congratulations to the winner, Jeannie Sampson. Ms. Sampson is a pre-school teacher in Spokane and she will get her copy of Seven By Seven for FREE.
I also had three T-shirts to give away and drew those names from the pre-order list as well. Those go to:
Glenda Bogart of Spokane
Kika Morales of Spokane
Jill Maser of Philadelphia
Seven By Seven is officially released and is now for sale to the general public. The best (and cheapest) way is directly from me–plus I’ll sign it! However, you can also order it directly from Wolfmont, or through any bookstore. It will definitely be on the shelves at local Hastings here in Spokane within a week, and hopefully at Barnes & Noble, Borders and Auntie’s.
I have four scheduled appearances and am working on some others. Feel free to stop in at any of the following appearances:
April 22, 2006 1 PM - 4 PM
Shadle Hastings @ 1704 W. Wellesley
April 28, 2006 11 PM - 2 PM
Extreme Caffeine @ 2706 N. Monore
May 4, 2006 6 PM - 8 PM
Valley Hastings @ 15312 E. Sprague
May 6, 2006 1 PM - 3 PM
North Division Hastings @ 7706 N. Division
Hope to see you there!
08.April.2006.Sat
I will be making a number of appearances in Spokane in support of Seven By Seven.
Here are the first four:
April 22, 2006 1 PM - 4 PM
Shadle Hastings @ 1704 W. Wellesley
April 28, 2006 11 PM - 2 PM
Extreme Caffeine @ 2706 N. Monore
May 4, 2006 6 PM - 8 PM
Valley Hastings @ 15312 E. Sprague
May 6, 2006 1 PM - 3 PM
North Division Hastings @ 7706 N. Division
If you live in the Spokane area, come visit me during these appearances! It’s a great time to buy your copy and get it signed.
Here are the first four:
April 22, 2006 1 PM - 4 PM
Shadle Hastings @ 1704 W. Wellesley
April 28, 2006 11 PM - 2 PM
Extreme Caffeine @ 2706 N. Monore
May 4, 2006 6 PM - 8 PM
Valley Hastings @ 15312 E. Sprague
May 6, 2006 1 PM - 3 PM
North Division Hastings @ 7706 N. Division
If you live in the Spokane area, come visit me during these appearances! It’s a great time to buy your copy and get it signed.
04.March.2006.Sat
My web designer, tobejodok, did some major tweaking of my website to make it more readable and accessible to visitors. Hope you like it. And if you need some web work done, he’s a wiz!
27.February.2006.Mon
I’ve been going around to all the local bookstores to introduce myself and leave a card. I don’t believe that the time to create a relationship with a bank is when you need a loan, nor do I think that the first time I meet a manager at the store should be when I am asking for something.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how receptive all of the stores have been. Of course, the totally local store was a bit more receptive than the big-boy affiliate, but even the B&N and Borders folks were very cool. I believe I’ll be able to schedule a good number of local appearances in conjunction with both Seven By Seven and Under A Raging Moon.
That’ll be interesting, as I’ve never done an appearance or a signing.
Will I be able to stop smiling like an idiot?
I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how receptive all of the stores have been. Of course, the totally local store was a bit more receptive than the big-boy affiliate, but even the B&N and Borders folks were very cool. I believe I’ll be able to schedule a good number of local appearances in conjunction with both Seven By Seven and Under A Raging Moon.
That’ll be interesting, as I’ve never done an appearance or a signing.
Will I be able to stop smiling like an idiot?
19.February.2006.Sun
While showing my son what happens when I google my name, I came across something interesting.
Russel MacLean of Crime Scene Scotland eZine (you link there from my LINKS page) nominated my story ‘Saving Grace’ for The Million Writers Award. He also nominated my friend Colin Conway’s ‘Angel.’
What an honor. CSS publishes some great stuff and to think that they thought highly enough of my story and Colin’s to nominate them...well, that is fantastic.
Here’s the link, if you’re interested.
Looks like a lot of competition, but I’m just jazzed to have been nominated! So much so that I’ve been “stuttering” through this whole entry, making about a dozen typos per sentence.
Ach!
In related news, several of my stories have been nominated for the Derringer Awards. We’ll see if any make the cut to the level of FINALIST.
As a member of Short Mystery Fiction Society, I am allowed to nominate two. I took advantage, nominating “In The Pocket” by Colin Conway and “Hell Hath No Fury” by B.J. Bourg.
I think all the dust will settle by May or so...what was that old joke? How do you keep a turkey in suspense? Tell ya later.
Russel MacLean of Crime Scene Scotland eZine (you link there from my LINKS page) nominated my story ‘Saving Grace’ for The Million Writers Award. He also nominated my friend Colin Conway’s ‘Angel.’
What an honor. CSS publishes some great stuff and to think that they thought highly enough of my story and Colin’s to nominate them...well, that is fantastic.
Here’s the link, if you’re interested.
Looks like a lot of competition, but I’m just jazzed to have been nominated! So much so that I’ve been “stuttering” through this whole entry, making about a dozen typos per sentence.
Ach!
In related news, several of my stories have been nominated for the Derringer Awards. We’ll see if any make the cut to the level of FINALIST.
As a member of Short Mystery Fiction Society, I am allowed to nominate two. I took advantage, nominating “In The Pocket” by Colin Conway and “Hell Hath No Fury” by B.J. Bourg.
I think all the dust will settle by May or so...what was that old joke? How do you keep a turkey in suspense? Tell ya later.
13.February.2006.Mon
Sure, it may be premature, but better to have it in place now than be scrambling later.
So, please, if you’re reading this, take a moment to hop over to my site and click on the FORUM option (or for the quicker route click here) and join in on the ground floor.
If you don’t, it is going to look an awful lot like literary onanism, and nobody wants to see that!
Plus, as a bonus, no spam! (which is why I discontinued the comments section from this blog).
Look forward to seeing ya there!
So, please, if you’re reading this, take a moment to hop over to my site and click on the FORUM option (or for the quicker route click here) and join in on the ground floor.
If you don’t, it is going to look an awful lot like literary onanism, and nobody wants to see that!
Plus, as a bonus, no spam! (which is why I discontinued the comments section from this blog).
Look forward to seeing ya there!
I won second place in a love letter contest at Savage Press, under the psuedonym of Patrick Z.
Here’s the link if you want to read it.
The letter is entirely fictional. I was finally able to use my orphaned line of poetry, too. Pretty cool, eh?
Here’s the link if you want to read it.
The letter is entirely fictional. I was finally able to use my orphaned line of poetry, too. Pretty cool, eh?
02.January.2006.Mon
Due to excessive spamming, I have shut down the comments section of the Blog.
Please email me if you have something to say.
Thanks!
Please email me if you have something to say.
Thanks!
01.January.2006.Sun
Okay, so it is a cliche. So what?
My goals for 2006?
1. Complete the editing process with ePress and see my book “Under A Raging Moon” published.
2. Continue to write short stories (minimum of one per month, on average).
3. Revise “All That Counts” and get it placed.
4. Assemble my book of poetry (with illustrations) and get it
submitted...this is cheating a little, because it is mostly done,
just waiting on the illustrator to work his magic.
5. Here’s the more amibitious one...complete as many of my projected
novels as possible! As of today, that means seven.
But...one is Kopriva’s sequel that can wait.
Another is Irika’s story, which is still simmering, so that leaves five.
Of those, the most likely candidate for the next book is one I initially wrote part of back in 1995 – “Beneath A Weeping Sky.” I don’t think I’ll be able to salvage much of it, but some.
Another is “River City: Patrol,” which contains a good number of scenes I removed from the first two books in the series because they took away from the main plot...but in this book, those types of police calls *are* the main point. So there’s about 20-30% of the book already done (first draft).
So that leaves three from scratch..."And Every Man Has To Die," “A Village of Strangers,” and “Nor Shadowed Heart”...and I have very solid ideas on those plots.
So this is it...it’s in the record books...let’s see how I do, come December.
My goals for 2006?
1. Complete the editing process with ePress and see my book “Under A Raging Moon” published.
2. Continue to write short stories (minimum of one per month, on average).
3. Revise “All That Counts” and get it placed.
4. Assemble my book of poetry (with illustrations) and get it
submitted...this is cheating a little, because it is mostly done,
just waiting on the illustrator to work his magic.
5. Here’s the more amibitious one...complete as many of my projected
novels as possible! As of today, that means seven.
But...one is Kopriva’s sequel that can wait.
Another is Irika’s story, which is still simmering, so that leaves five.
Of those, the most likely candidate for the next book is one I initially wrote part of back in 1995 – “Beneath A Weeping Sky.” I don’t think I’ll be able to salvage much of it, but some.
Another is “River City: Patrol,” which contains a good number of scenes I removed from the first two books in the series because they took away from the main plot...but in this book, those types of police calls *are* the main point. So there’s about 20-30% of the book already done (first draft).
So that leaves three from scratch..."And Every Man Has To Die," “A Village of Strangers,” and “Nor Shadowed Heart”...and I have very solid ideas on those plots.
So this is it...it’s in the record books...let’s see how I do, come December.
23.November.2005.Wed
See my 10/10/2005 post about my story The Worst Door, and read the comments, if you’re interested at all in what I’ve been dealing with spam-wise.
06.November.2005.Sun
Take a look, if you haven’t yet, at my new website design. Go ahead, do it and come back. I’ll wait.
Cool, huh?
I’d like to take credit for it, but all I did was tweak some verbiage. The design was done by tobejodok. As soon as I can find his portfolio again online, I’ll post a link to it.
Although I felt good about the noobie work I did on my original site, there is no way I could get a site up this slick and professional-looking anytime soon. He did a fantastic job.
But tell me what you think.
Cool, huh?
I’d like to take credit for it, but all I did was tweak some verbiage. The design was done by tobejodok. As soon as I can find his portfolio again online, I’ll post a link to it.
Although I felt good about the noobie work I did on my original site, there is no way I could get a site up this slick and professional-looking anytime soon. He did a fantastic job.
But tell me what you think.
24.October.2005.Mon
My buddy, Colin Conway, recently (10/16/05) wrote a piece about spammers who were putting spam into the comments section on his BLOG entries.
You can read his take here.
Now, I’ve experienced the same thing.
Refer to his post for my very similar feelings.
If anyone knows how to shield against this, please advise. The last thing I want is that crap on my BLOG.
You can read his take here.
Now, I’ve experienced the same thing.
Refer to his post for my very similar feelings.
If anyone knows how to shield against this, please advise. The last thing I want is that crap on my BLOG.
17.September.2005.Sat
love what you’ve done with the place!!! Are you programming this with pure script, or using a wizard, or what? Looks real nice. Please note: I registered with my new email.
14.September.2005.Wed
Well, thanks to some input from a writer friend and some Usenet postings, I was able to repair the link on my site and made a couple of changes (first of many, I’m sure) to make it better.
I can now report that what is there is 100% up and running.
Again, any feedback is welcome.
I can now report that what is there is 100% up and running.
Again, any feedback is welcome.
The web page is up!
I am still having problem with one link, the one to my “Published Poetry” section. I want to get it fixed, but if I was forced to choose one link that had to malfunction to get the rest up, that would probably be my choice.
I am still having problem with one link, the one to my “Published Poetry” section. I want to get it fixed, but if I was forced to choose one link that had to malfunction to get the rest up, that would probably be my choice.
11.September.2005.Sun
September 11th should be a national holiday.
Every year, it comes and goes with some reverence, but not to the level that is deserves. I know that we did not choose the day. It was chosen by the murderous cowards who flew the planes. Or, more aptly, by their handlers.
Some would say that they were not cowards. Perhaps they went bravely to their death. I don’t know for certain. But I do know that they purposefully chose civilian targets and as a preemptive strike, that is a craven move.
“Oh, but what about Hiroshima and Nagasaki?” croons the left. “Those were civilians.”
Yes, they were. And I don’t feel good about that event. But we were at war, and had been for four years. All the cards were on the table. I won’t re-argue the debate about the A-bomb here, but no matter how the argument goes, one fact is unmistakable. American lives were saved.
The attack on our nation on 9/11/01 was a cowardly sneak attack directed at non-comabatants when no state of war existed. That, by definition, is terrorism.
I usually get through this day without shedding a tear. That is, unless I think about that field in Pennsylvania. Then all bets are off. Those men were brave. Those men rose from their seats and fought, knowing that death was certain either way. They chose to make their deaths meaningful and to save someone else in the process.
Those men are heroes.
Their deaths should be revered.
And September 11th should be a national holiday.
Every year, it comes and goes with some reverence, but not to the level that is deserves. I know that we did not choose the day. It was chosen by the murderous cowards who flew the planes. Or, more aptly, by their handlers.
Some would say that they were not cowards. Perhaps they went bravely to their death. I don’t know for certain. But I do know that they purposefully chose civilian targets and as a preemptive strike, that is a craven move.
“Oh, but what about Hiroshima and Nagasaki?” croons the left. “Those were civilians.”
Yes, they were. And I don’t feel good about that event. But we were at war, and had been for four years. All the cards were on the table. I won’t re-argue the debate about the A-bomb here, but no matter how the argument goes, one fact is unmistakable. American lives were saved.
The attack on our nation on 9/11/01 was a cowardly sneak attack directed at non-comabatants when no state of war existed. That, by definition, is terrorism.
I usually get through this day without shedding a tear. That is, unless I think about that field in Pennsylvania. Then all bets are off. Those men were brave. Those men rose from their seats and fought, knowing that death was certain either way. They chose to make their deaths meaningful and to save someone else in the process.
Those men are heroes.
Their deaths should be revered.
And September 11th should be a national holiday.
10.September.2005.Sat
Well, my new BLOG is here and I am working on the new website. I’m a noob at web-publishing, so I’m doing the best I can.
This is where I’ll discuss my short stories and novels, as well as my efforts (and hopefully some successes) to get them published.
Hopefully the site will be up and running soon.
Welcome aboard for the next “chapter.”
This is where I’ll discuss my short stories and novels, as well as my efforts (and hopefully some successes) to get them published.
Hopefully the site will be up and running soon.
Welcome aboard for the next “chapter.”
