This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. Stacks of books, Sharpie pens, a microphone. A sea of empty folding chairs—and a slight rush of nervous energy. This scene is a cliché for any author who’s been fortunate enough to have a bookseller invite you sign books. I count myself very lucky to see whatever number … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. A dear niece’s birthday approaches next week. I had a brief moment of panic as I brainstormed a gift that could be easily mailed, and then calmed as I remembered the independent bookstore five minutes away. The Ivy Bookshop has been part of my life—my neighborhood bookstore—since the … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. In my long-ago life as a newspaper reporter, there were a few words I wasn’t allowed to use. No profanity, of course. And the other expression I remember was THE WHITE STUFF. White stuff was on the lips of every television weather reporter when they talked about snow. … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. Have you ever frequented a bookstore so often it became a second home? From the moment in childhood that my parents permitted me to walk to our neighborhood bookstore, I’ve engaged in this kind of squatting. From Micawber’s Books in St. Paul, to long-gone independents in Baltimore and … Read more