I’ve been listening to a lot of music from the 80’s and 90’s, which in my opinion was the Golden Age of sappy romantic ballads and fantastic music videos.  So, I went looking for my favorites.  And lo and behold, the magic of YouTube!  First … [Read more...]

Just today at the ASK THE AUTHOR message boards, Naomi asked about my writing process from idea to publication.  My response was this:  It depends on the book, though usually it begins with a really good first sentence/paragraph—one that sets up the entire story … [Read more...]

Oh, well, I’m totally comforted now.  *** From Publisher’s Weekly: “Once again, Liu has managed a brilliant blend of fantasy, action and romance in her latest Dirk & Steele novel, which follows the members of a paranormal detective agency�Liu … [Read more...]

I’m home.  The drive from Wisconsin to Indiana was uneventful, except for a brief encounter with a couple of elderly nuns who got on my tail in their blue minivan, and then proceeded to whiz past me at 90 plus miles/hour.  I’m not kidding.  I, too, was … [Read more...]

I took some photographs today of a place near my home.  Used to be a famous hotel, and now it’s undergoing renovations.  The West Baden Dome: former vacation spot of gangsters, presidents, celebrities, and a former monastary and boarding school.  What … [Read more...]

Novel writing is the best.  At least, it is now.  Give me a couple weeks and I’ll be gnashing my teeth, drinking vats of coffee, and generally making a mess of myself.  But Soul Song, my sixth Dirk & Steele, is coming along nicely.  And I think I … [Read more...]

Did I ever mention that I saw Morgan Freeman while having lunch with my agent and the folks from Dorchester while in Atlanta during RWA?  If I didn’t, I am now, and let me tell you that he is a handsome gentleman who is much better looking in real life than in the … [Read more...]

Pecans.  Pumpkin.  Whipcream.  And green tea.  Let no one say that I don’t know how to kick off the day. … [Read more...]

I stumbled upon the judge’s report of a 2005 writing contest, and a couple things caught my eye, which should prove helpful to any writer: THE USUAL SUSPECTS � Themes and genres. These included: Romance, with extremely variable results; Lust, generally more boring than … [Read more...]

First, with Neil Gaiman.  Second, with an Asian-American comic book writer, Gene Luen Yang.  Third, an old but good interview with Frank Miller.  And finally, an imaginary interview with Robin Mckinley, with yet another here. … [Read more...]