Budding authors would do well to remember to read their prose aloud to try to hear how a stranger might interpret their words.  Remember, if a sentence can be read two ways we can count on a reader to see it the OTHER way.  One way to help avoid this problem is to be very careful with the placement of subject and object, and be aware of the immediate antecedent of any modifier.  For example, how would you read this sentence?

 She had a boyfriend with a wooden leg, but broke it off.

 Right.  The funnier way.

 And remember, tonight I’ll be at the Howard County Central Library with other contributors to “New Lines from the Old Line State: An Anthology of Maryland Writers” from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.  The library is at 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD.

It was a weekend of ups and downs but with good points throughout.  The weather was awful Friday night so the St Charles Town Center was empty, which means almost no one wandered into the Borders Express there to pick up one of my books.  It happens that way sometimes, but I did make more plans for the big release of Russian Roulette and thanks to my good friend Beth I did have some excellent barbecue at a Waldorf eatery.

On the other hand, my class at the Chesterfield County Public Library Writers Workshop was well received Saturday, and the short book signing afterward was very successful. 

By Sunday the weather was downright beautiful, so Fair Oaks Mall was packed and I signed enough books at the Borders Express there to make up for Friday’s disappointing showing. 

Even better, I was alerted to the very first published review of Russian Roulette.  I sent an advance review copy to Thomas Duff (aka “Duffbert”) who is one of the Top 25 Amazon Book Reviewers.  He wrote back in due time to thank me for the book and let me know that he posted his review to Amazon, Twitter, and his blog.  Now the review won’t actually appear on Amazon until the book leaves pre-sale status and becomes available, but you can read it now.

Tuesday I’ll do another library gig, but it’s not just about me.  I’ll be at the Howard County Central Library with several other contributors to “New Lines from the Old Line State: An Anthology of Maryland Writers.”  Between 7 pm to 8:30 pm we’ll each read a bit of our contribution to the anthology and sign copies of it afterward.  And if any of you show up there wanting a signed copy of one of my novels I’ll be able to accommodate you too.  The library is at 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD.

Today I’m one of the presenters at the Chesterfield County Public Library Writers Workshop and book signing, from 10 am to 4 pm, at 9501 Lori Rd, Chesterfield VA.

Then tomorrow it’s back to Borders Express, but this time it’s the store in Fair Oaks Mall.  I’ll be there 1 pm to 4 pm, signing books.  The address is 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA

Tonight I return to the Borders Express in St Charles Town Center for a book signing from 5 pm to 9 pm, at 5000 Highway 301 S Waldorf, MD.

Then tomorrow I’ll be one of the presenters at the Chesterfield”>http://www.chesterfield.gov/HumanServices/Libraries/wwrkshp.asp”>Chesterfield County Public Library Writers Workshop.  If you’re a writer struggling to get your work published, or even just written, this even could be a good place to get the information and inspiration you need.  Nine different writers will share our knowledge and experience of the craft and business of writing.  The event runs from 10 am to 4 pm and even includes a box lunch.  My lecture that afternoon will be on creating fascinating characters.  During the last hour we’ll have a mass book signing.  Come join us at the library at 9501 Lori Rd, Chesterfield Va.

Tomorrow night I get to return to the Borders Express in St Charles Town Center.  Aside from signing books from 5 pm to 9 pm, I’ll firm up more details for the release party of my next novel, Russian Roulette.  You can even ask me about it Friday at the mall, at 5000 Highway 301 S Waldorf, MD.

Can’t get there?  Get my novels at my web site.

In this section I like to point you to worthy additions to your personal library, and web sites that will help you find them.  Today I want to focus on CrimeCritics.com.

CrimeCritics.com is a sister site to the true-crime blog DreaminDemon.com.  But this site is all about reviewing fiction.  Books, films, television… if it has good guys hunting down bad guys, they probably have an opinion about it.  There are book trailers, author interviews and a very active blog.  In fact, they were blogging live from the Virginia Festival of the Book Saturday. 

These guys are serious fans.  If you want to hear informed opinions about which new mystery is worth reading, this is the web site for you.

When I participate at writer conventions or book festivals I always want to stand out.  I offer to do anything that needs doing, because that makes me memorable to the event organizers.  I want to be the first writer introduced, and whenever possible I try to have the last word.

It occurred to me that my behavior at book-related events is the opposite of the way I act in any other group dynamic.  Author ego aside, I never want to stand out because those who do usually become targets.  I learned this philosophy in the Army.  My first squad leader taught me this:

Don’t ever be the first, don’t ever be the last, and don’t ever volunteer to do anything.

I had a great time Saturday at the Virginia Festival of the Book.  First, I got to hang out with lots of members of the Virginia Writers Club that I don’t see often at our hospitality room.  Then there were the great panels which I always enjoy.  Brad Meltzer gave what may be the best luncheon talk I’ve ever heard.  And I got to renew acquaintances with several authors who are old pals. 

My publisher was there too, with a big collection of Echelon Press books.  And the author reception at the end of the day offered a chance to spend time talking to a couple of real book lovers over food and wine.  Altogether, it was a great day for this writer.

I’ll spend tomorrow surrounded by friends in Charlottesville at the 15th Annual Virginia Festival of the Book.  The Festival actually starts on March 18th and is five days of mostly free literary events open to the public, designed to honor book culture and promote reading and literacy.  I attend Saturday for two reasons.  One is the all-day Crime Wave portion of the Festival at the Omni Hotel.  It features a series of panels and presentations from crime fiction authors as well as the Crime Wave Luncheon with Brad Meltzer.  If you sign up we can have lunch together.

The other reason for my presence is to be one of the authors representing the Virginia Writers Club.  We’ll be in the hospitality room hosted by the Blue Ridge Writers Chapter of the Virginia Writers Club.  If you visit the Montpelier Room between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Omni you can learn all about one of Virginia’s oldest writing clubs - the Virginia Writers Club, founded in 1918.  You can meet and mingle with members and enjoy a showcase of our published works.  We will be signing my novels there.  So if you’re a mystery fan, or just want to meet some local authors, come join us at the Omni Hotel, 235 West Main St, CharlottesvilleVA.