The Forensic Reconstruction of George Washington, Part 1

How is it possible to forensically create an accurate, life-sized figure of someone long dead without having access to the deceased’s bones? The traveling museum exhibit, “Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon,” features three life-sized figures … Continue reading

Georgian Secrets: Ladies’ Undergarments During the American War of Independence

Readers occasionally ask me what ladies of the late 18th century wore for underwear beneath those lovely gowns and petticoats. Did they wear panties? What made their hips so huge and their torsos look like tubes?  On Sunday 19 September, … Continue reading

Encore of “Of Fairy Tales and Dragons”

Today author K.D. Easley posts my essay “Of Fairy Tales and Dragons” on her blog. If you missed the essay when it was originally posted on “Meanderings and Muses,” please join me today, learn what crime fiction and fairy tales … Continue reading

Marketing Mantras and Social Networking at Killer Nashville 2010

Mystery authors have mantras for the tools they use to market their books. At Killer Nashville 2010, five authors on the panel “Lightning in a Bottle: Marketing and Promotion” shared their mantras with the audience. Sunny Frazier: Embrace marketing. Learn … Continue reading

Jeffrey Deaver on “Combat Writing”

Prior to Jeffrey Deaver’s presentation at Killer Nashville 2010 on how he writes thrillers (check here and here for a recap of his presentation points), Clay Stafford conducted an interview with him. One question Deaver is asked often is how … Continue reading

Life Lessons from Sherrilyn Kenyon at Killer Nashville

At Killer Nashville 2010, conference founder Clay Stafford asked paranormal romance author Sherrilyn Kenyon how it felt to have sold more than 24 million copies of her books. She responded dryly, “It don’t suck.” Thus began Ms. Kenyon’s Friday morning session … Continue reading

Interview in the Nashville Examiner for Killer Nashville

With the approach of the Killer Nashville conference, the Nashville Examiner graciously interviewed me about the Revolutionary War in the South and the craft of writing. Currently they’re experiencing technical difficulties with the links in the interview — and I’m … Continue reading

Richard Krawiec on Writing and the State of the Publishing Industry in 2010

Many writers approach the process of manuscript submission using the same strategies writers used in 1990. Rapid, recent changes in the publishing industry render those strategies ineffective. Author, editor, and writing coach Richard Krawiec spoke about the publishing industry on … Continue reading