Tonight I’m speaking at the Maryland Writers Association - Howard County chapter - at 7 pm in the Elkridge branch of the Howard County library, 6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD.

Russian Roulette has been gathering nice reviews on Amazon.com among other places.  The one I want to point out today comes from Duaine Goodno.

I’ve known Duaine for several years because I used to work with his wife.  But while she has focused on government service Duaine has served in a different way, on months-long humanitarian missions in the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Afghanistan.  Taking a break from the action back home in the USA, Duaine read Russian Roulette and posted a review on Amazon.com.

Duaine did take me to task for Hannibal’s tendency to rush from one scene to the next.  It is true that a phone call in the middle of an interview will make Hannibal move on without finishing what he was doing.  But despite my detective’s weaknesses, Duaine said so many positive things about my novel that I had to use some of his words at this week’s featured review on my web site.  Scroll down past the videos to read it.

Thursday I get to pay the Maryland Writers Association back for their kindness.  I’ll be speaking at the Howard County chapter’s monthly meeting.  I intend to share a wealth of information about creating good characters and I know there will be lively discussion.  We’ll meet from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Elkridge branch of the Howard County library, 6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD.  All writers, and aspiring writers, are welcome.

To succeed, writers need both a strong ego and a mountain of humility. 

I arrived at Borders Saturday pumped up about my new novel’s first public appearance and walked in like I was THE author.  Imagine my surprise when I was greeted by a writer set up near the door – the lovely and talented B. Swangin Webster, author of “Let Me Just Say This.” 

I was quickly hustled to my space deeper in the store, where they had balloons, snacks and drinks set up around my much larger table.  The manager explained the little scheduling snafu that had arisen by the last-minute change in venue. 

I signed a lot of books that day, but never lost track of how charming and positive my fellow author was, and how effectively she was promoting her work.  That day neither of us was THE writer, but simply A writer, and I think it caused us both to step up our games.

Ego and humility.  It is good to remember that you are absolutely unique. 

Just like everybody else.

My new novel, Russian Roulette, is entered in the “Wake up… Celebrity Author” contest.  The book with the most votes by September 25^th will appear on the Barnes & Noble Bestseller List.  Please take a second to cast your vote  - click here!

Another great review of Russian Roulette is up on “Between The Lines.” 

The Russian Roulette blog tour continues on “In Reference to Murder“

I will be interviewed live on the Blog Talk Radio show Books, Blogs, Dogs, Networking & Life at 3 pm Eastern.  Please tune in.

Today’s book signing  - the first with Russian Roulette – is at Borders,  3304-A Crain Highway in beautiful Waldorf, MD, from 1 pm to 7 pm.

If you can’t make it catch me tomorrow in a live interview at 3pm EST on Books, Blogs, Dogs, Networking & Life!

Meanwhile the Russian Roulette blog tour continues later today at The Little Blog of Murder‏.

The very first bookstore event featuring Russian Roulette is tomorrow in the Borders superstore in Waldorf, MD.  The signing was originally scheduled for the nearby Borders Express but it kind of grew out of that space.  That store’s manager, Becky, is such a good friend that she convinced the Borders folks to move my signing to the much larger store down the street. 

If you stop by Saturday between 1 pm and 7 pm you can get one of the first autographed copies of Russian Roulette. The store is at 3304-A Crain Highway in Waldorf, MD.  Stop by, say hi, and   And If you tell me you saw this online you will get a special gift.