Pizza and a Movie: Sicario

Before I get to this week’s Pizza and a Movie, I have some changes in my schedule for October:

I’ll be at the Book and Art Fair in Griffin GA today, Oct 17, only;
I won’t be at FoxTale Book Shoppe on Oct 21;
I’ll appear and sign books at the Marietta Queen of Hearts Antiques & Interiors on Sat Oct 24 from 11 -2;
I’ll be a Panelist at the Killer Nashville International Writers Conference in Nashville.
My Panel is called “Women of Mystery: Female Sleuths” and will be on Sat Oct 30 at 12:30.

Now, for this weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Bacon
Mushrooms
1/2 Jalapeños, 1/2 Pineapple

Movie:

Sicario

This film was a clever, well done story of revenge. I don’t always go for movies like this, but it was engaging and suspenseful. I love Emily Blunt, too, who, last I read, is married to John Krasinski, who was “Jim” in The Office on TV. (And I love Jim, and John, who has the same birthday I do, by the way, which is coming up shortly…)

Now for the pizza. My husband wanted jalapeños on half of it, and so, instead of extra cheese on mine, I went with pineapple. That made it a bit difficult to choose the other two toppings, but after a short conference while Bill was pouring my husband’s beer (he already had my wine ready), we agreed on the bacon and mushrooms.

We sat outside because it was beautiful, and talked about a variety of things: work, home, plans, and our recent trip to Raleigh for Bouchercon 2015. He’s not going with me Nashville later this month, but I loved having him with me last weekend in North Carolina. After we left the conference, we drove over to Durham where I stopped in the Duke Hospital Gift Shop and left a signed copy of ALL THE ABOVE for the book buyer.

Then we made the short journey to Chapel Hill to see where our daughter, a UNC student who’s studying in France right now, plans to live next semester. Then we went back to Durham where some friends who’ve just moved there had invited us to stay the night. After watching the Falcons win, the four of us went to a French restaurant nearby.

So far, it’s been a great “birthday month!”

October 17, 2015 0

List Post: octobre 2015

It’s only October 2nd, but I’m going to be so busy this month that if I don’t get this done now, it won’t happen.

It’s Promotion month for UNDERWATER: Yesterday through October 31st, you can download my Suspense novel set in my home town of Atlanta for only $1.99! UNDERWATER is an Amazon HALLOWEEN KINDLE BOOK DEAL. Look for it under Mysteries/Suspense — Suspense — Psychological!

My trip to Raleigh is fast approaching! I’ll be a “Dark Romance and Dark Smiles” Panelist at Bouchercon next Friday at 10:00 a.m, and the next day I’ll be at the New Author Breakfast bright and early at 7:00 a.m.!
Note: even though I’m a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, I once worked in Durham, have visited Duke, and have flown in and out of RDU several times, this will be my very first trip to the state capital of Raleigh. I hear it’s nice. And I feel pretty comfortable in that neck of the woods, anyway.
My other appearances this month include the Book and Art Fair in Griffin GA Oct 16-18; book signing with fellow Sister in Crime Hank Phillippi Ryan at FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock GA Oct 21; and book signing at the Marietta Queen of Hearts Antiques & Interiors Oct 24 with authors Valerie Connors & Mike Buchanan. (See News and Events for times and details.)
At the end of the month, I’ll be at the Killer Nashville International Writers Conference with some Atlanta Sisters in Crime! My first time at this conference, and my third time ever (I think) in Nashville!
November Preview: in between 2 quick trips to Florida (I hope) I’ll appear yet again with some Sisters at the Ansley Book Club Meeting in Atlanta! Details to come.
Quoi d’autre? What else? Watching football, of course!

October 2, 2015

List Post, août 2015 (August)

Zut! August is almost over, and I haven’t done a list post for it yet!

Things have been cooking this month, so…

Voilà:

Signing copies of UNDERWATER and ALL THE ABOVE at this year’s Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, Sept. 5 from 4:00 to 5:00 at the Atlanta Writers Club booth!
Looking forward to serving on the Atlanta Writers Club Thriller Panel the next day, Sunday, Sept. 6 from 12:00 to 12:45 at the CITY HALL STAGE, then signing books again.
Enfin, moderating the AWC Urban Fantasy Panel the same day from 2:30 to 3:15 at the MARRIOTT CONFERENCE CENTER AUDITORIUM.

Speaking about my books on a panel at the Atlanta Sisters in Crime meeting on Saturday Sept. 12 from 10:30 to 12:30 with sister authors Sharon Marchisello, Lane Stone, Mary Anne Edwards, and Fran Stewart.
Going to Bouchercon 2015 world mystery convention in Raleigh, North Carolina from Oct. 8 – 11 (more on this later)!

Looking forward to meeting readers and signing books at the Book & Art Fair in Griffin, Georgia from Oct. 16 – 18.
Appearing at FoxTale Book Shoppe on Oct. 21 in Woodstock, Georgia with bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan and some other Sisters in Crime authors!

Planning to attend this year’s Killer Nashville International Writers Conference in Nashville from Oct. 29 – Nov. 1! 🎃

August 24, 2015

List Post, avril 2015 (April)

It’s a short list, but it’s a list!

Going to BUFORD, GA today from 4 to 8 pm with other local authors to participate in “Drop Everything and Read Month” at Queen of Hearts Antiques & Interiors! Come pick up signed copies of UNDERWATER & ALL THE ABOVE!
Thrilled with the responses so far about ALL THE ABOVE: My son’s battle with brain cancer. A reader: “Reads like a mystery…I was riveted by it…” FIVE STARS
Writing WIP (work in progress) daily, the end is in sight!
Reaching readers with a message about ALL THE ABOVE with more info about it…
Can’t wait to attend UNC Relay for Life in Chapel Hill on April 17! Help win the fight against cancer! More Birthdays!

April 2, 2015 0

List Post, mars 2015 (March)

Writing steadily…more on that later.
Enjoyed meeting authors and signing books at the 2015 Augusta Literary Festival! Thanks, y’all! Google the Augusta Chronicle for photos in its Sunday edition of March 8, 2015.
Looking forward to a research trip to Dallas this month.
Can’t wait to see the proof I ordered of ALL THE ABOVE, approve it, and release it on Amazon in paperback and Kindle!
Happy that UNDERWATER now has 60 customer reviews! If you enjoyed it, please add yours! Germany, you too!
In touch with the American Cancer Society to promote what they do and to publicize ALL THE ABOVE, the story of my son’s journey with brain cancer.
AND – grateful to UGA Relay for Life and UNC Relay for Life for posting info and photos about ALL THE ABOVE ahead of its release on March 31! Both events take place on April 17, 2015 – I will be at one, but wish I could be at both. More birthdays!!!
Waiting to hear from the German Cultural Center in Atlanta about a possible book signing – I have several copies of UNTER WASSER (UNDERWATER in German) that I’d love to sign. They have a book club, too!
Noticed it? My website TABS have changed. Check out ALL THE ABOVE – FAQ and BOOK CLUBS, with a “Contact me” form!

March 10, 2015

Reading, learning, and going places

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.

– Dr. Seuss

I’m going places – will you?

This weekend, I’ll be in Augusta, Georgia for the Augusta Literary Festival! Come chat with me and pick up a signed copy of UNDERWATER or the audio book!

March 4, 2015

List Post, février 2015 (already?!)

Writing back on schedule, after I had la grippe in January (despite getting my 1st flu shot in October)
Enjoyed meeting authors and signing books, after my “Member Minute” talk at the Atlanta Writers Club meeting on January 17
Excited that the Atlanta Chapter of Sisters in Crime (SinC) has nominated UNDERWATER for the Georgia Author of the Year Award (GAYA) in the Detective/Mystery category (which includes psychological thrillers) – winners will be announced June 6
Looking forward to Augusta in March and Chapel Hill in April (but don’t have to go back to NC in May anymore)
Can’t wait for the Feb. 24 release of UNTER WASSER, the German translation of UNDERWATER by AmazonCrossing
Ecstatic that someone I recently interviewed for research on my current work in progress (WIP) is currently reading UNDERWATER, and said he thinks I’m “a really good writer.” And, his assistant read it in a day, and loved it
Thankful to him and to a mutual friend of ours who also met with me, to help me fine tune some story details and make sure specifics are accurate and plausible
Very, very happy to find a new critique partner in my genre for my WIP…We’ve already exchanged several chapters and sent each other our feedback
Resolved to write more (non-list) posts on my blog this month as the days lengthen and springtime beckons

February 4, 2015

My (early) holiday rhyme

Here’s my holiday poem, two thousand fourteen

(the year, not the number; you know what I mean):

It’s the second I’m publishing in a blog post,

and, to write it well, I pledge, I’ve done my utmost.

I’ll begin with a rundown of news and events,

and I’ll try to be humorous, while making sense.

I’ll cover the highlights, a few lowlights, too,

kind of like a book trailer (or movie preview).

I started the year with a weekend trip north–

to visit some college friends, chat, and so forth.

We met in New York. Before saying, “au revoir,”

We had a great time catching up, in a bar.

Soon after, back home, in the snow, I got caught,

driving that afternoon (to have stayed home, I ought.)

But like tout le monde in this fair city, I thought:

“I can make it, I know the back-roads and what-not.”

Ha ha! I was wrong, I’m quite sure you have guessed.

That fiasco made national news. We were stressed.

I got home that day just before dark, and was thrilled

To be off of the roads. Then my wine glass, I filled.

In March and in April, to Texas, I flew

To events for my mom-in-law, and my nephew.

One birthday, one wedding. And then, a vacation:

To taste wine, out in Napa; that was my destination.

To the west coast, I traveled again in November.

What I did in between? I can’t really remember.

Except, work on my books (what I do every day).

I come up with the words that my characters say.

I had fun in Long Beach, meeting those who love writing.

Talking books and releases was very exciting.

Now my thriller, redux, in two days, you can find! *

You can read it next weekend, if you’re so inclined.

I’ll close with these wishes: I’d like to say, clearly:

Happy Thanksgiving, Fête de Noel! –Me (sincerely)!

* Click here to find in print, digital, and audio versions

November 23, 2014 2

Ceci et cela (This and That): List Post

Recently received: 2 handwritten thank-you notes in the mail. One from France, one from Dunwoody, GA
The one from France written en anglais, avec une photo; the other, from une amie de longue date (old friend)
Writing research: Found (long) paragraph in THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES describing how Sherman McCoy is “going broke on a million dollars a year!” (Chapter 6, p 137)
Missed her: mom’s neighbor, “Z” (with whom I practice français de temps en temps) home from France where she was for the summer, but already on her way back there for a week
Stacking up: Books to read, on my nightstand (see my Goodreads “to read” list)
Falling: Temperatures…and time to enjoy the patio le soir
Tried it: Zumba! Toning. A break from spinning class…Fun! but hard on knees.
Writing: between now and Thanksgiving: 50K words in WIP? (that’s just 5K a week)
Planning: My (solo) 20 minute Author Focus panel at Bouchercon 2014 in Long Beach, CA, le 15 novembre à midi
sprechen Sie Deutsch? Amazon Crossing of Amazon Publishing is translating UNDERWATER into German! Release date sometime next spring.
Organisez! My notes for Book 4 (WIP) and my French notes!
Traveling: Not me (until November), but those I know, to the Bahamas, Rosemary Beach (FL), Folly Beach (SC), Turks & Caicos, Martinique, Las Vegas, Australia, Fiji, Prague, The Dordogne (France), Paris…Of those, I’ve only been to Vegas and Paris
Preparing: Book 3, ALL THE ABOVE, a true story, for publication in early 2015 (probably February). It’s been edited, but needs a cover. Can keep some quotes of song titles in it, but not song lyrics 😦
Finally….watching: Football! UGA Bulldogs, UNC Tar Heels and Atlanta Falcons!

September 16, 2014 0

Author Focus Panel!

I’ve been asked to participate in an Author Focus panel at this year’s Murder at the Beach: Bouchercon 2014 in Long Beach, California!

The annual World Mystery Convention of readers, writers, publishers, editors and others who love crime fiction, thrillers and suspense is being held there over November 13-16, 2014.

My Author Focus panel will be at 12 noon on Saturday, November 15! Check out the programming schedule here !

I will be speaking and answering questions about my suspense novel UNDERWATER, to be released in November by Thomas & Mercer of Seattle, Washington. I will also be attending various other panels and activities at the convention, my first Bouchercon!

September 14, 2014 0