In Print
Everyone has to start somewhere. Eventually this page will be called "Publications" and be filled with a myriad of short story collections and books. But since I have published only two short stories (thus far), this will have to do for now.
What a joy it was when my short story, "Pretty Is as Pretty Does," appeared in Issue #140 of Black Cat Weekly.
What's a wealthy socialite to do when she suspects her maid may be killing the other servants?
Read this fun story of intrigue and revenge here, just in time for Agatha Award consideration.​
I'm thrilled to be included among the wonderful company of authors in Mystery Most Diabolical. Like all Malice Domestic anthologies, this one is full of clever stories that entertain and surprise.
MD16 is published by Wildside Press, and is available online. I'm a proponent of giving your favorite independent bookstore or library a call to see if they have it in stock.
In Print...Not Written by Me
I'm never sure how to answer the question, "Are you an author or reader/fan?" Show me an author who isn't a reader and a fan! I don't yet have much of my own published work to offer, so I've listed several of my favorite authors* for your reading consideration. You might see a trend in the style, genre and time period of these books that is reflected in my work.
*Please be aware that my putting these wonderful authors on my page is in no way an endorsement by them of my writing. If you are one of these amazing people and would prefer not to be listed below, my sincere apologies and I'll remove you immediately.
It's a damn shame that Craig Rice isn't a household name these days, and shame on us for letting that be so. Her books are wonderfully plotted, with characters who would make for a legendary dinner party. God bless Penzler Publications for reissuing this and other classics of the Golden Age.
Picture Peter Wimsey in Australia, but whirl in a more Bohemian lifestyle. That's the best way I can describe the dapper Rowland Sinclair and his coterie of friends. These stories read like Golden Age classics, but in a style that's easy to fall into. Oh, how I wish Rowland and Phryne Fisher could meet on the street one day.
Craig Rice
Maisie has been in my life since she first appeared back in 2004. She was one of those fortuitous bookstore finds, when I did judge a book by its cover. She's the kind of character who stays with you long after you finish the book. Like Midsomer or Morse, the mysteries happen around the ups and downs of the character's life.
These books are like indulging in your favorite dessert on the balcony of a luxury cruise liner ghosting along the South of France. With more books in print than I have bones in my body (or close to it) Bowen is an undisputed master of the genre. 'Nuff said. Just get 'em and read 'em.
I was hooked on this series and McPherson's writing when I read the line, "that's when I would have fallen in love with him." Wait, what now? So many possibilities in so few words. Plus, she gives the reader room to think and fill in the blanks, which I prefer sometimes.
If you don't adore the adventures of Peabody and Emerson, then thanks for stopping by, but you'd best be on your way. There is so much to love in this series, which spans 30+ years of Amelia and Radcliffe's life. Is it a cozy? Is it a traditional? Is it a master class in Egyptology? Who cares. Just enjoy.
