First, thanks to the kind folks who inquired about my whereabouts. December was very, very busy for me — work, family, lots of travel, some personal stuff — and I just found that I wasn’t able to keep up. January brought the realization that I wasn’t having much fun on the website lately. I found myself reading furiously, trying to… Read more
I picked up Writing Out The Notes: Life in Great Big Sea at a Great Big Sea concert in Kent, Ohio a few months ago. I confess: I am a folk music fan. I have a tremendously eclectic taste in music; my iTunes library has everything from the Sex Pistols and Einsturzende Neubauten to Bobby Golodsboro and Glenn Gould and… Read more
This is a really special review and giveaway! Concrete Operational is a collaborative media project — a novel, art book and music cd — wrapped up in a fascinating package, each complementing the others. At the end of this post, there will be a chance to win a copy of the full set, so read a bit about the project… Read more
Hurray! Another mystery series! Regular readers know that I love a good mystery series, and Linda Castillo’s novels featuring Kate Burkholder have all the indications of a good series. In Pray for Silence we’ve got a main character with an interesting background and character flaws that will keep things interesting, a problematic love interest, engaging minor characters and a good… Read more
When the government attempts to ban a book, what do other authors think? I’ve certainly read comments from authors when the local library tries to ban Harry Potter or Captain Underpants or something else equally silly. But what sort or reaction would authors have if the government tried to make these books unavailable? Back in 1960, the British government tried… Read more
Back in the late 1700’s-early 1800’s, Japan was closed to the world around them. It was illegal for a Japanese citizen to leave Japan. It was illegal for foreign citizens to enter Japan, except under the most strictly monitored conditions. But countries around the world understood that Japan would be a lucrative market and trading partner, if only they could… Read more
Happy Wednesday! I’ve got a few more words this week from The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. I finished that one this week and it’s fabulous. I hope to have the review posted tomorrow. I’ve also got a word or two from my new book, Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo. It’s a good change of pace, a police… Read more
Time again for another Teaser Tuesday! This time, I am getting my post ready to go ahead of time; I’m on the road and it’s always difficult to get things posted when I’m in another time zone. When I get up for work tomorrow, this will be ready to go. This week’s teaser comes from my current book, The Thousand… Read more
Under the Poppy is a story of workplace romance and intrigue — that is, if your workplace happens to be a Belgian brothel in the 1870s and your coworkers are whores, mutes and puppets. It’s a complicated arrangement: Decca and Rupert own a brothel. Decca is in love with Rupert. Rupert is in love with Decca’s brother, Istvan, a traveling… Read more
Video Verite is a selection of short stories that explores our connection to the media. Our lives are filled with images, but not all of them are real. In a culture overrun with advertising, reality shows and celebrities famous for getting their faces on tv, how do we know what is truth and what is fiction? William Petrick’s stories touch… Read more