Hello, Kids and All Readers, I have some family news to share! I became a grandmother for the fourth time on July 12. I have two grandchildren, a granddog, and now the newest addition–a grandcat! Agnes is an all-black cat with enormous amber-orange eyes. Perfect for Halloween, right? (But will she grow into them???) My…
Happy Fourth Birthday, Blackbird Writers! Hello, Dear Readers! This is an invitation to join the celebration: My fellow “four and twenty” Birds and I are celebrating four years flying together to “bring mystery and mayhem to the world,” one book at a time. Our flock of supportive mystery writers took flight in May 2020, thanks…
Hello, Kids and All Readers, Seven days a week, I take a three-mile walk to enhance and extend my healthspan and lifespan. The five different routes I mapped out years ago take me over much of my historical neighborhood of North Park in San Diego, California, USA. North Park is where I grew up and still live, so I have…
Hello, Kids and All Readers! Do you dare to enter Dr. Frankenstein’s La-BOR-a-tor-y? That’s where you’ll be when you read Upas Street: Shocking Specter, Book 6 in my Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries series, releasing in Fall 2024. I’m finally busily working on the first draft–yay!–which is due to my editor on March 10–yikes! As Detective…
Hello, Kids and All Readers! I hope each of you had a meaningful and joyous holiday season. Mine was wonderful! I drove a short distance across town to my cousins’ lovely vintage home that was aglow with scented candles in every room, a to-the-ceiling Christmas tree, a fireplace ablaze, and much good cheer. Eight of…
Hi, Everyone, The holiday season is here! I hope you’re getting into a festive spirit. I just returned from Pennsylvania where I had Thanksgiving with family. I traveled to my son-in-law’s parents’ home. Then, my daughter, son-in-law, two grandkids, and granddog drove up from Virginia for the big feast and long weekend. Everyone pitched in!…
Hello, Kids, Teachers, Librarians, Families, and All Readers, While on my usual early-morning walk today, I couldn’t help but think that it’s the First Day of School! Kids were supposed to start school yesterday here in San Diego, but Hurricane Hilary blew through as a tropical storm on Sunday and granted students a Bonus Day…
Hello, Adult Readers, You’ve probably noticed that in Hollywood, CA, many members of the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA are on strike, bringing focus to the emerging use (and abuse) of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the movie, television, and radio industries. Perhaps you aren’t aware that fiction and nonfiction authors are also demanding intellectual property rights and…
Hi, Kids and All Readers, As most of you know, today, June 19, is “Juneteenth”! Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, so some have the day off. The African-American community has been celebrating Juneteenth for generations. I hope you celebrate Juneteenth as the United States’ other Independence Day! So, what is Juneteenth? On June 19,…
Hello, Kids, Parents/Caregivers, Teachers, Librarians, and All Readers! Let’s face it. AI–Artificial Intelligence is here, and it intends to stay! That can be exciting, scary, or both depending on your perspective! Recently, while researching the ramifications of AI for authors, employees, students, and others, I encountered an aspect of AI called ChatGPT. Have you heard of it?…
