It’s another full weekend as I try to help everyone in the area find one of my novels in their stocking. Friday evening I stop into Borders Books in Silver Spring, MD for a book signing from 5 pm to 9 pm. It’s one of the larger stores I’ve had good luck in, so visit me there, at 8518 Fenton Street, to see why.

I often like to use this blog to point you to an interesting website. Almost always it’s mystery-related, but to prove I’m an equal opportunity lover of literature, today I’ll talk about a romance site. Specifically, “Virginiais for Romance Lovers.”
 
Aside from the cool name, a play on my state motto, this site features the musings of half a dozen authors who apply the definition of “romance” very loosely. You’ll find discussions of the erotic, the humorous, the suspenseful and even the fantasy side of romance fiction. If you love a good book, you might be surprised to find something here that strikes your fancy.
 
I happened to be there today because Kat Lively - a staunch supporter of the mystery genre - posted a guest blog about an event I’ll attend next month. It’s a charity affair to support a bookstore in tough times. As its name implies, “Creatures ‘n’ Crooks” handles a broad spectrum of genre fiction, and writers of many stripes will be at the event. This post is a good place to start reading “Virginiais for Romance Lovers.”

I watch a lot of TV, but that isn’t where I prefer to get my religious
training. Unfortunately, I have some acquaintances who feel I am
missing out by not taking advantage of the inspiration available from
televised preachers. I usually let that conversation go about ten
minutes before I start to explain just how I worship and why. It is
about that time that I am generally reminded of faith-based rule #1:

People who want to share their religious views with you almost never
want you to share yours with them.

That’s okay. It usually ends the conversation, and I do have some
pretty strong convictions. One of them is complete faith that when
God, who created the entire universe with all of its glories, decides
to deliver a message to humanity, He WILL NOT use, as His messenger, a
person on cable TV with a bad hairstyle.

The weekend signing experiments were not all equally successful, butall were fun and profitable. Our choice for Waldenbooks in ManassasMall - Friday from 4 pm to 8 pm - may not have been the mostprofitable time selection. Still I signed a few books and had the joyof having one fellow buy one of my novels, wander off into the mall,and return an hour later to declare aloud in the store, “This is the best book I have ever read.” 

Saturday was a little better at Books-A-Million in Alexandria, VA. Noon to 4 pm was not a busy time, but a high percentage of their visitors left with one of my novels.

I did much better Sunday at the Borders Express in St Charles TownCtr. It seems that 2 pm to 6 pm is prime shopping time there. I hopeall the people who are getting my books for Christmas are happy whenthey open those packages.

Okay, I’ll admit that when we’re coming up on Christmas I hang in bookstores as much as they let me.  This weekend I’m haunting some of the smaller stores that have supported me through the year.  For example, tomorrow I’ll visit Waldenbooks in Manassas Mall.  That book signing will be from 4 pm to 8 pm to catch the early evening shoppers.  Mapquest rangers will find me at 8300 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA.

I often like to use this blog to point you to an interesting website, even if it is my own. Today I’d like to introduce you to Teresa Lickey.

I met Teresa at another smaller venue, the Borders Express in Dulles Town Center. She picked up a copy of Blood and Bone partially based on my rather egotistical sign: “If you like Alex Cross you’ll love Hannibal Jones.” She sent me an e-mail less than a week later with some very positive comments.

Thank you, Teresa, for your kindness. Everyone can know your exact reaction, because I’ve posted your words as the new featured review on my web site. I hope everyone will take a look.

This being the time of year we travel more, I am reminded of questions my kids used to ask when we were on the road.  One of them I never could answer adequately.

How do they get the deer to cross at that yellow road sign?

Friday I greeted travelers coming into and leaving Reagan National Airport.  The folks at the Borders there are always gracious to me and this was no exception.  I can’t wait to go back just before the inauguration - when lots of people will be flying into town to see the mixed-race hero fighting to bring justice to Washington DC.  And after meeting Hannibal Jones in one of my novels, maybe they’ll go see Obama.

 Signings are always fun, but teaching can be too.  Saturday I had an unusually good group in my class on creating characters.  I was impressed by the writing exercises they did during the one-day course and look forward to seeing more from all of them.

 But Sunday was the highpoint of my weekend.  I don’t generally talk about the writer’s club I belong to, the Northern Virginia chapter of the Virginia Writers club, but I am particularly proud of the meeting we had at a lovely local venue called Busboys and Poets.  Local thriller writer John Gilstrap joined us for coffee, tea and pastries.  His impressive presentation wowed our little group of writers, and I’ll be blogging about all he had to say.

 BTW, aside from being an entertaining speaker, John is a very entertaining author.

If you’re flying the friendly skies out my way Friday, stop into the Borders Books in Reagan National Airport. I’ll be there signing books for weary travelers from noon to 4 pm.

I often like to use this section of the newsletter to point you to an interesting website, even if it is my own. Today I’d like to introduce you to Kayla Williams.

I met Kayla at one of my many Mall store book signings.  She is a military veteran and author of “Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army.”  The book is her very honest account of her Iraq service.  Her personal memoir recounts the fear, bad weather, intermittent supplies, inedible meals and crushing boredom of life in the field.  She also gives a uniquely female take on the bantering and brutality of barracks life.

I didn’t know all that when she picked up a copy of Collateral Damage.  I checked her out after she wrote to me with a very considered review of the book, the kind only another writer might deliver, specifically commenting on characters, plot and setting.  I was flattered and humbled by her words, and just had to use them as my new featured review on my web site.

Thank you, Kayla, both for your service to our nation and for your kind words and canny critique.  Read Kayla Williams’ review.