Okay, Cyber Monday shoppers, there’s only some ever-decreasing number of shopping days left until your chosen holiday celebration! If you have a mystery lover on your list, here are 12 ideas under $30 that will help keep you on their good side. Last year, I know several people who actually received presents on this list, so this year, I’ve added some brand-new gift ideas. I know I was thrilled to receive official-looking crime scene tape in my stocking, so I thought it was only fair to spread the joy!

Continue reading “Criminally Thoughtful: 12 Gifts for the Mystery Lover”

It’s been hard to watch the news lately, so when I was thinking about what I wanted to write about this week, I decided I wanted to tell a story with a happy ending.

Last year, my dad passed away. (Don’t worry, despite the way it starts, this is a happy story!) He was 89 years old, and he lived on a ranch in Oklahoma. Part of his daily routine entailed taking care of a whole slew of dogs and cats, as well as eight horses.

Continue reading “The Legend of Cinco and Red Wing”

Yesterday was Father’s Day, which got me to thinking about my stepdad, Jim. We got stuck with each other when I was in eighth grade, and I often tell people how grateful I am that he didn’t smother me with a pillow. (I mean, come on, you were all eighth graders once; you know what I’m talking about here.) Not only did he not smother … Continue reading An Author’s Father Comes Around—Eventually

I’m going to keep this short and sweet this week, because my mind is on the task ahead of me: Book Two Revisions. (Dun, dun, DUNNNNN!!!) (That’s a dramatic musical vamp in case my attempted onomatopoeia wasn’t clear.) Continue reading “Writer’s retreat? Yes, please!”

I have an amazing collection of rare and antique books that any book collector would covet, and it’s literally invaluable—in that it has no value whatsoever, except in the currencies of aesthetics or entertainment. Continue reading “The Virtual Antiquarian”