Category Archives: General

Guest speaker – Karin Slaughter

20150823_013944953_iOS20150823_024551122_iOS20150830_203757159_iOSOne of the highlights of the Writers’ Police Academy was the banquet where the guest speaker was Karin Slaughter.  I’ve read many of Karin’s books which are gritty crime fiction.  Her speech was hilarious as she based it on her family and growing up in the South.  If I didn’t enjoy her books so much, I’d suggest she had a future as a comedian.  I’d go to see her again in a heartbeat.  I’ve included pictures of her speaking, signing books right after I had mine signed, and the books I purchased.  I couldn’t put  Cop Town down when I returned home and finished it in short order.

Writers’ Police Academy 2015

Last weekend I attended the Writers’ Police Academy in Appleton, Wisconsin.  Previously it had been held in North Carolina, but attendance has outgrown the facility there.  The new Police Academy in Appleton was perfect.  Participants stayed at the Paper Valley Hotel in downtown and were bussed across town to the facility.  Sessions went from late afternoon on Thursday through Sunday at noon.  We were busy all the time.  This was not a writers’ conference.  No tips were offered about the craft of writing like other gatherings I’ve attended in the past.  Real police officers, coroners, forensic experts, ATF and former FBI agents were sharing what really happens at a crime scene and beyond. Enlightening! I’m hoping to attend next year, too.

Here are a few pictures of some of the events.  I went on a tour of the jail, but we were not allowed to bring in our cameras or phones.20150822_132632884_iOS  We witnessed a car chase and shooting, a well-trained police dog, and a plane where students learned about the tactics for handling an unruly passenger.  I’m not sure that you can see it, but the name above the gas pumps by the plane is Spill and Rob. All the instructors had a great sense of humor.  Fantastic weekend!20150822_203012857_iOS20150822_131701231_iOS

Death Knock Coming Soon

Death Knock-SOCIALMEDIA[1]The excitement is building at my house and it’s not just for Christmas.  My new book, Death Knock is coming out soon.  I don’t know the exact date yet, but for me it’s like waiting for Santa.

The cover shows that there is plenty of food in this book just as there was in my first, Death Nell.  I’ve even added recipes to the back this time.  There’s also a murder that puts Nell in hot water.

Order either (or both) of my books here on my website or on various other platforms.

The Perfect Ring

DSCN0633It’s round.  It’s beautiful.  It would give me great joy to have one right now.

I’m not talking about an engagement ring.  I’m talking about an onion ring.  Maybe it isn’t a symbol of true love, but a person can definitely love to eat them.  In Death Nell, Nell writes lovingly about some delicious onion rings she consumes.  What’s your opinion?  Do you like the big, thick rings with a heavy batter or do you prefer the lightly breaded little straws?  There’s no wrong answer.  I love each type as long as it’s cooked properly.  Where is your favorite place for onion rings?  Please share your choice and let the rest of us know where you like to eat a good ring.

Benefits of Good Coffee

A good cup of coffee cures a lot of ills.  I recently went to The Savory Spoon in Menominee, MI for lunch with a friend.  The whole meal was great including the coconut caramel cheesecake at the end.  The coffee hit a high note.  I’ve been drinking a lot of coffee lately, mostly at home, as I finish up my second Noshes Up North culinary mystery.  I’m excited about my new book and hope my readers will enjoy it as much as they did the first one – Death Nell.  I’m almost done, so I better take another sip of coffee and get busy!DSCN0709

Sail Away

I wasn’t exactly sailing the high seas here, but enjoyed some time on a catamaran.  My friend, Kathy and I went to Traverse City, Michigan to visit another friend, BarbDSCN0676.  That’s where we took our ride.  It was wonderful and so relaxing.  My mind wandered to the possibility of incorporating a catamaran in one of my books.  The possibilities are endless!