This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. Near my childhood home in St. Paul, Minnesota, you’ll find the Gibbs Farm, a historic farm homestead dating from the 1850s which includes a one room schoolhouse, barn, and household—all of it filled with a miscellany of pioneer life. Old books, clothing, toys, farm equipment, and household furnishings … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. At birth, we are given a name that’s not our choice, but that of our parents or guardians. It also can happen on a macro-level when you think of the names of countries. And when we understand how people outside the home react to our name—our self-image develops. … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. It’s entirely possible to buy tomatoes in many parts of the world without being able to speak the language. In Spanish and German, it’s called a tomate. In Hindi, they say tamaatar, and in Gujarati, tamota. In Turkish, domades. There seems to be one theme emerging, but there’s … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. My summer started out with grand plans: cross country travel for a book tour, and a chance to catch up with family and friends in the Midwest and West. But life throws you curveballs, doesn’t it? And my shocker was a big fat COVID-19 infection that occurred when … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. Today is the day I’ve been awaiting for a long time—well, for at least several years! The Mistress of Bhatia House has emerged from seclusion and is now book-touring her way across the USA. My novels usually carry titles that mention a person’s role—say, a widow, a prince, a daughter, … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. Surely, every writer has a different equation of how much writing they leave as is—and how much they willingly alter. Fine tuning is a major part of my work these days, and it’s every bit as challenging for me as getting the first draft on paper. For my … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. When the cloud came, I didn’t know what to expect. The Mid-Atlantic Area is known as a middling kind of place. It serves up four seasons, none unduly extreme. My city, Baltimore, usually has a hot and humid summer, but quite bearable. The area doesn’t have the disaster … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. What would it have been like to be a mischievous teenager, living in your parents’ mansion in St. Paul, Minnesota, during the roaring twenties? It sounds like I’m talking about an escapist YA novel. The truth is, the 1927 diary of such a girl exists. To my great … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. From where I sit, the view has changed. The windows which once offered views of my neighbors’ houses are now filled with nothing but green. The elms, oaks, and cherry trees have leafed out, giving a false appearance that summer has arrived. However, the temperatures in Maryland are … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. I’ve been thinking about the mystery author Anne Perry, who recently died in Los Angeles at age eighty-four from declining health. Anne wrote roughly 102 books and many short stories and essays over her forty-five-year career. The Times of London named her as one of their 100 Masters of … Read more