Just Say 10 Words and Shut Up.

My friend Carrie (of the ditch story) recently helped me reach a positive-thinking Nirvana state, described today at the Stiletto Gang. We hope you'll click through, but making fun of us is not allowed.

Training to Write

Last year, Mystery Readers Journal called for articles related to sports mysteries. My Emily Locke series is set in various sporting communities, a different one in each book, so naturally I was excited to contribute my article Training to Write.

If you're a mystery fan, consider a subscription to Mystery Readers Journal. If you're a Twitter user, consider following the Journal's editor, "JanetRudolph." She tweets about Mysteries all the time. Janet also keeps a great blog about all things mystery at Mystery Fanfare.

Thank you, Wendy R.

A generous reader took the the time to write a kind review for Final Approach. When I encounter these, I can't explain how much they encourage me to keep writing.

The two biggest book-related compliments, in my opinion, are 1) when a person tells me s/he stayed up too late reading it, and 2) when someone likes it enough to spend time saying so on-line. Both absolutely make my day.

Thank you, Wendy R!

Ode to Revisions

You wear me down
Make me confused
I type in words I have already used

Forgot that guy's name
Need a new twist
Finding the stuff my spellchecker missed

Due date is coming
Brain waves are humming
If I don't fix this soon I'll be majorly bumming

Red ink in the copy
Notes everywhere
No time to be sloppy
My nerves are bare

Kiddos are loud
TV through the walls
Pulling out hair
Nonsensical scrawls

"Part of the process!"
"Good for your work!"
Revisions, I hate you.
You make me berserk.

Procrastination...
welcome back.
With you at hand I feel right on track.
Facebook, Twitter... all progress slowed
And my latest time waster,
Writing an Ode.