New England

What have I been up to?

While the weather's still nice, I'm enjoying many author-related activities. For instance: Last Saturday I had a wonderful time with authors Max Folsom and Kara Lacey. We formed a panel arranged by the Springfield Library, Springfield VT and Sisters in Crime New England. It's such fun chatting with people about the writing life, giving them…Read more What have I been up to?

‘Tis the Season (for murder)

In the spirit of October, I'm posting an old poem of mine from seasons past (sung to the tune of "My Favorite Things"): Mysteries in millions And novels with corpses Bright copper daggers And all the pale horses Brown paper packages dripping with gore These are my favorites So let’s have some more! Cream-colored cupcakes…Read more ‘Tis the Season (for murder)

One of the best ways to spend a winter day in Vermont.

I'm not a winter sort of person. I used to live in Southern California. If I heard about an outdoor venue where I could promote and sell my books, it was an easy decision. Drive out, set up a table or share one, and sit back to enjoy whatever happened. At the very least, I…Read more One of the best ways to spend a winter day in Vermont.

A moment can change everything

At least for a while. This has been a summer of panic and procrastination for me. Plus some pleasure, especially traveling with my son and his seven-year-old grandson. But for months I’ve suffered the mother of all car electrical problems, not only expensive but turning trips to the grocery store and laundromat into disappointments and/or…Read more A moment can change everything

Come join us!

And bring your questions! On Aug 29 at Alumni Hall in Haverhill, NH, I will participate in a panel discussion about writing and publishing. I know I will have a great time comparing notes with authors Bernie Marvin, Zoe Tilley-Poster and Michelle Sherburne, moderated by my good friend and writer-buddy Hilary LLewellyn-Thomas.

Can I Get Here From There?

I spent most of my adulthood in the Southwest where the name “Garcia” (pronounced Gar-see-ah, or if you’re a snooty Spaniard, Gar-thee-ah) is as ubiquitous as Smith. So that’s how I pronounced the name of the little road here in New England until I was gently corrected. According to the folks here, it’s not Spanish…Read more Can I Get Here From There?

Different Memories

If my family had been a bit more prosperous, I might have been at Kent State University in Ohio on May 4, 1970. I might have somehow been involved in or witness to an infamous early shooting of students not by a crazed citizen but by a military body charged with protecting them. As it…Read more Different Memories

White is the New Orange

What is White? The other day I was filling out one of those forms that have little boxes to click: African-American, Asian-American, Latin-American, Native American. And White. Okay, there was one that said something like “prefer not to say”. To me that has always felt rather childish, like “Neener-neener, you can’t make me tell you.”…Read more White is the New Orange

A hard slog to an Easy Pass

2022 was a rough year, and no one was happier than I was to leave it behind. Or so I thought, until a couple weeks ago. Let me start at the beginning, which actually wasn’t until October 25, 2022. Coming home from a New England Library Association conference, I found myself on a toll road…Read more A hard slog to an Easy Pass

Hail and Good Riddance

For three weeks I watched my landlord’s son clear the driveway repeatedly of several feet of snow and ice. I huddled in my apartment while the power was off-and-on and the skies wept in dark despair. This week the sun came out and it all turned to warm ugly mud in a mood swing that…Read more Hail and Good Riddance