Carolina Crimes 2008, and Another Guest Blog

In place of the annual Cape Fear Crime Festival last Saturday afternoon, Dorothy Hodder and Phyllis Smith at the New Hanover County Library in Wilmington, NC arranged two panels of authors. All authors had books released in 2008 that dealt … Continue reading

First Guest Blog, An Excellent Review, A Stellar Book Blurb

Over the next few weeks, as I continue my physical author tour, I'll be guest blogging on some sites. Here's the link to "The South's Other War," my essay posted today about (what else?) the Revolutionary War in the South, … Continue reading

Skill Building for Writers

The Southeast chapter of Mystery Writers of America (SEMWA), the Triad chapter of Sisters in Crime (Murder We Write), and the Writers’ Group of the Triad united efforts to sponsor a free, one-day writers’ workshop Saturday 18 October at the … Continue reading

Moonlight & Magnolias 2008, Day 1

Herein begins the four-day adventure of a mystery/suspense author in the World of Romance. Before I left Raleigh on Thursday 2 October to head for Norcross, GA (metro-Atlanta) and the Moonlight & Magnolias conference, I’d been forewarned that there was … Continue reading

Moonlight & Magnolias 2008, Day 2

For most writers on the get-published track, a huge hurdle is pitching a book concept and obtaining buy-in from an agent or editor. The art of pitching is so in-demand as a topic that writers conferences often provide attendees the … Continue reading

Moonlight & Magnolias 2008, Day 3

Saturday dawned early. Too early. What was amazing was how wide-awake and sensational Anna DeStefano looked while welcoming the crowd of hundreds during the continental breakfast. I’m a morning person, but I don’t look sensational in the morning, you know? … Continue reading

Moonlight & Magnolias 2008, Day 4

Sunday dawned even earlier than Saturday. Spirits at the continental breakfast were subdued, as if by then all attendees felt “rode hard and put away wet,” as the Southern saying goes. Nicki Salcedo ‘fessed up that she’d gone to bed … Continue reading

Colonial North Carolina Family Day

The North Carolina Museum of History presented the community with a taste of colonial times on Saturday 27 September. Over 2400 visitors that day learned period games, dancing, quilting and crafts such as butter churning, wood carving, and corn grinding. … Continue reading

Autumn 2008 Tour into Western North Carolina, Day 1

I rolled out of Raleigh about 6:15 Thursday morning 11 September, expecting a 3.5 hour drive to Boone. Drizzle made an inauspicious traveling companion. More unwelcome was the thick fog that lowered over Highway 421 just west of Winston-Salem. In … Continue reading

Autumn 2008 Tour into Western North Carolina, Day 2

Friday 12 September didn’t dawn bright and clear in Boone. That nasty fog still socked us in. Around 8:00 a.m., when I was ready to leave, Marcia got in her car and drove out ahead of me, like a pilot … Continue reading