Hello, Kids and All Readers, You might say I’ve gone “raven mad” lately. I refer to the bird, not my mental state! Research for my Book 5, Jacaranda Street: Gravestone Image, has taken me to many sites about Edgar Allan Poe and ravens. I can’t seem to get enough of either topic. But for today,…
Dear Readers, During my research for Book 5, Jacaranda Street: Gravestone Image, which involves a mystery wrapped around the nineteenth-century American writer Edgar Allan Poe, I uncovered a fascinating, real-life mystery. If you’re a fan of Poe, you probably know that he died in 1849 at the age of 40. His cause of death is unknown,…
Dear Kids and All Readers, I set a goal for January 2023: On New Year’s Day, I would begin writing Book 5 in my Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries series. The day came and went. For various reasons–still in a holiday mood; more research needed; hot chocolate is ready?–I had not written one word of Chapter…
Dear Kids and All Readers, This is the time of year when many of us pause and reflect on the end of another year. The joys and sorrows of 2022 have been washing over me the last two weeks as I holiday shop, send cards, and wrap gifts. Mainly, I am filled with abundant gratitude…
Hello, Readers, As we get ready for Thanksgiving in the USA, our thoughts increasingly turn to FOOD as we plan the feast: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and . . . Spam? This week, I have found myself thinking about Hawaiian food, including Spam, no doubt in light of Saffron Street: Island Danger, recently released and set…
Hello, All Readers and Present or Future Herpetologists, Sneak Peek: In Book 4, Saffron Street: Island Danger, our four detectives travel to O’ahu to solve their latest case. Moki happily announces to Lanny that there are no “fangs of death,” i.e., snakes, on the Hawaiian Islands. Fearing reptiles as he does, Moki is pleased to…
Dear Readers, Current and Future Architects, and Fans of Ancient Egypt, Does Egypt call to you? If so, I think you’ll enjoy this . . . I have been a proud member of San Diego’s “Save Our Heritage Organisation” (SOHO), for many years. (Yes, that’s spelled with an “S,” not a “Z.”) SOHO does the important…
Dear KIds, Authors, and All Readers, Today, I’d like to share a tidbit from my upcoming Book 4, Saffron Street: Island Danger. It releases this fall. We authors often borrow from our own real-life experiences to bolster our storytelling. I am no exception. Here is the backstory behind the story: First, the story: In Book 4, Botanic Hill…
Hello, Kids and All Readers, Here comes Memorial Day, the official kickoff for summer! Like me, you’re probably already thinking about some fun summer plans. I hope you have vacation or down time coming to realize your dreams. Teachers and students, of course, look forward to their wonderful summer breaks to rest, recharge, and…
Dear Readers, My research for Book 5, Jacaranda Street: Gravestone Image, continues as I seek “the real” Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849). I plan to spin a mystery around some aspect of Poe’s life, but the story will be set in present day California. What I have discovered to date is that Poe used his writing…
