This weekend’s big event gives me a chance to hang with some of my favorite authors, and for a good cause.  Saturday, from 1 pm to 4 pm we’re holding a benefit for the Creatures ‘n Crooks bookstore in Richmond, VA.  For you, it’s a chance to mingle with authors, have a sweet snack and win some cool swag.  And every time you buy a book you’re supporting a wonderful genre-oriented bookstore.

 Independent bookstores have fallen on hard times and this one is no exception.  But the store has welcomed a lot of us to do signings, so I figure we should support those stores that support us.

 Apparently a lot of writers feel this way, because more than 100 of us from all over the USA contributed prizes to be given away throughout the month of January.  Every time someone buys a book from Creatures ‘n Crooks this month, they’re entered to win a prize.  Don’t live near Richmond?  No excuse!  Phone orders count too. 

 In addition to signed books from mystery, fantasy, horror and even nonfiction authors, the prize list grew to include a vampire basket from Charlaine Harris, a character donation from Margaret Maron , gold and sapphire earrings from Denise Swanson, a Carolyn Hart basket, a culinary basket from Joanne Fluke, a fantasy book crate with signed books by George R.R. Martin and a historical mystery book prize including a vintage Tiffany necklace.The list of authors planning to attend has exploded too. In addition to the aforementioned names, we’ll see and probably a few latecomers I don’t know about yet.

Tomorrow is the big finish of the event, and I’ll be happy to greet readers at the store, along with Katherine Neville, Donna Andrews, Ellen Crosby, Maria Lima, Ellen Byerrum,Andy Straka, Joseph Guion , John Gilstrap, Maggie Stiefvater, Kristy Tallman, Dennis Danvers, Elizabeth Blue, Tee Morris, and JB Stanley.  And probably a few latecomers I don’t know about yet. 

 It all happens at the Creatures ‘n Crooks bookstore, 3156 West Cary Street, Richmond VA.  If you want to make the scene, this is the literary place to be. 

Check out the whole list of reader reward prizes.

I like to use this blog to direct you to interesting web sites, even if I choose my own.  Today I’d like to introduce you to a fan named Earnest Frye.

Hearing from Earnest was cool because he shows how far reaching my work is, both in the real world and on the internet.  Earnest was one of those travelers who met me in an airport.  He decided to take home one of my mysteries, Blood and Bone, and a thriller, The Orion Assignment.  As always I invited him to e-mail me with some feedback.

But how much more fun it was to hear from him through Facebook!  Now he’s a friend, even though he’s down in Jackson, MS.  He had some very positive things to say about my novels, so naturally I am showcasing his words as this week’s featured review.  Thanks, Earnest, for finding me on line and I hope you enjoy my other novels too.

Read Earnest Frye’s review on My web site

I’ve recently added my novels to a web site called the Daily Book Show.  It’s a brand new website made for writers to showcase their works.  It’s also an easy and fun place to browse for books.

They display the cover of each book listed on the web site.  If you cursor over the cover you can read a brief synopsis of the book.  If you click on the cover you are instantly sent to where you can order it.  What could be simpler.  And you can test it out on any of my novels (Hint! Hint!)

They do shift around regularly.  My titles are on the front page right now, but they may slip back to the page for their genre from time to time.  So each day, readers get a different show.  Check out the Daily Book Show.

Preparing to do my taxes I just checked the year-end results of my
401K. In fact I took a good hard look at all of the various reserves
that are supposed to be my nest egg for the future.

And now I know why the man who invests all your money is called a
broker.

My book signing Saturday was an early one.  Nine a.m. at Borders in Baltimore Washington International Airport.  I don’t usually do these things in the morning but at the airport it worked out pretty well.  In fact, it was better than last weekend leading up to the inauguration.

The other news of note is that I’ve ended my tenure as president of the Northern Virginia chapter of the Virginia Writers Club.  Give a cheer to Larry Buttram who is picking up the reins to lead the group into the next great year.  Larry’s a mystery author too, and you’re missing out if you haven’t read his fine work.

Tomorrow I will complete the airport trifecta with a book signing at Borders in Baltimore Washington International Airport.  I’ll be greeting the early travelers that day, from 9 am to 1 pm.  Let’s hope that early flyers are mystery fans.  If you’re not in the airport this weekend you can order my novels through my web site

I like to use this blog to direct you to interesting web sites, even if I choose my own.  Today I’d like to introduce you to a fan named John Callow.

When he e-mailed me he said he didn’t think I’d remember him, but he was wrong.  He stopped by when I was signing books at Border’s in Manassas.  He was carrying the latest James Patterson book and I told him I wrote in a similar vein.  He went home with an autographed copy of Blood and Bone and I asked him to write when he finished it.

When he did write, it was with very flattering words for my book.  Because he was nice enough to write I’ve posted Mr. Callow’s words as the featured review on my web site.  Thank you John, for giving me a chance, then giving me encouragement.

If you remember the old geography TV show about Carmen Sandiego you’ll get the title. In this section I share my on line locations for those of you who do lots of surfing, linking and RSSing.

When I read that Red Room called itself the online home of many of the world’s greatest writers I knew I had to be there.  Red Room provides authors and members with free, easy-to-use online homes.  It’s a place for the literary community to promote their work, express themselves, and connect with their favorite authors.

In the Red Room, you can read, research, buy, manage content, create, socialize, and connect with other avid readers, published and aspiring writers, publishers, agents, students, researchers, and other literary industry professionals.  It’s a great place to learn more about and discover new favorite writers and books.

 Does anyone else think it is ironic to have this particular presidential inauguration the day after Martin Luther King Day?  While Obama has been called a seeker of consensus, I think Dr. King might have had some valuable advice for the new president.  It was Dr. King who said:

“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.”

I also hope that Obama will seek guidance in previous inauguration speeches, like those of Abraham Lincoln.  But he should focus on Lincoln’s SECOND inaugural speech, when the country was trying to recover from war and division.  Like Lincoln, Obama needs to take office,

“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan - to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”

A lot of people flew into Washington this last weekend and I saw many of them.  Things started slowly Friday at the Borders in Washington Dulles International Airport but late in the afternoon the book-hungry crowd moved in.

Saturday was an even more successful book signing at the Borders in Gateway Center.  I made lots of new friends in Bowie that day.

Things were surprisingly quiet at Ronald Reagan National Airport on Sunday.  Crowds were flying into the airport, but they just weren’t strolling past the Borders Express on the concourse.

In other news, I was honored by a mention on a great blog called “The Blood-Red Pencil,” a site Charlotte Phillips writes as a valuable resource for authors who need editorial help.  To answer a writer’s question about how to get cover blurbs Charlotte made reference to my nonfiction book, “Successfully Marketing Your Novel in the 21st Century.”  I’m always flattered by such references.

I’m also very pleased that Amazon.com has finally fixed the problems with the hardcover version of The Troubleshooter.  It’s in stock and to make up for any inconvenience they’re offering it 30 percent off the normal price, so this is a good time to pick up a copy.