This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. I’ve been thinking quite a lot these days about human connection. Apparently, a loneliness epidemic is worsening—even though the pandemic is over. Twenty years ago, most Americans felt they had more close friends than they do today. In addition to the pandemic cutting down on gatherings that never … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. This year I moved my desk and laptop into the long skinny room running along the back of our third floor. And this has changed not only our house—but also my writing life. It’s always been a difficult room. An oddball zone with great windows, but nowhere to … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. A few weeks ago, I had the fun of interviewing a literary lion in Washington DC—and I received a gift that went far beyond the signed copy of a book. Sir Alexander McCall Smith was touring the United States in support of one of his newest novels, The Great … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. My family settled in Minnesota when I was seven. You’d think the Laura Ingalls Wilder books set in the prairies around the state would be the perfect fit for a book-loving, history fanatic. I liked them because they were set in the past, but I was obsessed with … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. What does it take to bring an idea into book form—and then to take one book into a series? My first mystery came out in 1997, and it turned into a series that lasted for eleven books. Then I went on to throw myself into a second series … 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. 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. We are emerging from a strange winter in North America. Recent snowfalls have shocked California and Arizona, while there was no virtually no snowfall in Maryland. The temperatures here in Baltimore were so mild that the ground could be dug in early January for the planting of trees. … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. The longer I spend as a writer, the more the profession teaches me. It’s only recently that I’ve figured out that the more important part of building my novels happens when I’m editing them. That’s not to say I want rather be an editor, rather than a creative … Read more
This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. I’ve invited a special guest writer this week. Daisy, approximately four years old by the human standard, is a Yorkshire terrier mix who has become the heart of our home. I am devoting most of my time this week to rewriting a manuscript, so Daisy kindly agreed to … Read more