News

Greetings!

*blows off dust*

Last year was, um…a bit chaotic. This year, I’m aiming for a lot more productivity. Starting with…BLOGGING!

No, not my own blog (though I plan on reposting there). I will be blogging every Sunday on the wonderful international crime fiction blog, Murder Is Everywhere, featuring Cara Black, Leighton Gage, Caro Ramsey, Jeff Siger, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, and Michael Sears/Stanley Trollip AKA Michael Stanley. I’m taking over for Tim Hallinan (mighty big shoes to fill!), who promises to guest post when we need him (I’m thinking the week after next).

Anyway, my inaugural post is here!

Having a fantastic time at Bouchercon Cleveland. So fantastic that I have forgotten to post my panel times.

Tomorrow, Saturday Oct. 6, 10:15, Grand Ballroom A — “Murder is Everywhere” — international crime fiction authors explore the countries where their fictional crimes take place, with Timothy Hallinan, Jeff Sigur, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Michael Stanley, moderated by Peter Rozovsky.

Sunday Oct. 7, 10:15, Grand Ballroom A — “The Politics of Murder” — books with politically charged plots, with Allison Leotta, Pete Morin, Stuart Neville, Mike Lawson, moderated by me.

Also, my wonderful publisher Soho is hosting in the hospitality suite tomorrow from 12 – 2. And don’t forget Stuart Neville’s party celebrating the launch of his new thriller, “Ratlines,” tomorrow at 4 PM!

May 1 is the official launch date of GETAWAY! We will be marking the occasion with an event at Mysterious Galaxy Redondo Beach, starting at 7:30 PM, featuring reading, discussion, beverages and snacks. And you know what’s really cool? I’m celebrating with Dana Fredsti, whose wildly original take on the zombie mythos, Plague Town, from Titan Press, is burning up the charts!

Hope you can make it!

It’s 1:00 AM here in Venice, California, meaning that it’s the official launch day of “Year of the Tiger”—that’s “Rock Paper Tiger” in British! I’ve had such a great time working with editor Jane Johnson, editor Emad Akhtar and the entire Harper Fiction team.

BTW, you can see videos of me discussing the book at the HarperCollins crime fiction blog, Killer Reads — here, and here. I talk about China then and now, the heroine of the book, Ellie McEnroe Cooper, my checkered past, and a little about the business of writing. As a special bonus, you get to meet my cat, Ghost. She was born for the camera…

with Space Monkeys!

Now that my taxes are filed and I have a few days at home, time to catch up on a few things. First off, my pal Nathan Bransford’s second book, JACOB WONDERBAR FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSE, is out! This is a fabulous middle grade series, reminding me a bit of Douglas Adams and Roald Dahl. Don’t take my word for it–check out the trailer! And watch out for rogue space monkeys…

Tomorrow I will attempt an actual blog post on my recent adventures…

Here is my panel schedule for Left Coast Crime:

Friday March 30, 10:15 AM in the Magnolia Room: “Tough Chicks,” moderated by Sophie Littlefield, with Denise Hamilton, Julie Kramer and Helene Tursten!

Saturday March 31, 2:45 PM, in the Magnolia Room: “Been There, Wrote That–A Game Show,” moderated by Gar Anthony Haywood, with Bruce DeSilva, Catriona McPherson and Brad Parks!

I can’t wait!

Books! From the UK! Check out the gold foil! Yes, it’s YEAR OF THE TIGER, aka ROCK PAPER TIGER. It’s a real kick seeing how different the US and the UK versions of the book are. The great folks at Harper did some really cool things with this version. I love the gold tiger on the spine and elsewhere in the book! AND you get a preview of my next book, DAY OF THE DEAD aka GETAWAY!

I have a mailbox address that’s about a half hour’s walk from my house, where I have things like this sent. I decided to check it today, and as usual, I walked — it’s a nice thing to do after sitting on the couch all day.* I was thrilled to see that I’d gotten a package. I was not, however, expecting it to be quite this big. So, a half hour’s walk home with a big box of books weighing 6.2 KG (that’s British for close to 14 pounds).

I feel well-exercised…

And I might just have to do some kind of contest…

*NOTE: the couch AKA my office

But I already have some events scheduled!

Specifically, my official launch party at Mysterious Galaxy Redondo Beach!

But wait, there’s more! It’s also the Los Angeles launch party for Dana Fredsti’s first Ashley Parker novel, PLAGUE TOWN!

The connection? You’ll just have to come to the party to find out…

Next up, I will be attending Mysterious Galaxy San Diego’s 19th Birthday Bash! To wit:

“On Saturday, May 8, 1993, a new store opened in Clairemont Square, dedicated to the staff’s passion for books of “Martians, Murder, Magic and Mayhem.” Today, 19 years later, that passion continues. We invite you to join us on Saturday, May 5th, for our annual all day celebration, featuring some fantastic spotlight authors, special bargains, and, of course, cake!”

Other upcoming events: Left Coast Crime in Sacramento! (March 29 – April 1, details to come)

Literary Orange in Irvine! (Saturday April 14) — I’ll be on a panel at 2:30 with Gar Anthony Haywood and Gary Phillips!

Complete information on the handy calendar widget to your right!

Sisters in Crime Panel, click here for deets!

I’ll be at the Thousand Oaks Library this Saturday, Jan. 21, on a Sisters in Crime panel with fellow SinC authors Hannah Dennison, Jeri Westerson and Eric Stone. Should be a lot of fun, and yes, books will be for sale, and we’ll be signing them! Click on the link above for details!