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Carmel Magazine’s October issue is finally out. Took them long enough, I’ve been waiting since August for this issue! If you look on pages 44 and 45 of the October issue you will see lil old me. Ashley did a beautiful article and I am so pleased with it. And Perry’s pictures were great, although he didn’t airbrush my double chin out like I asked him to.

I would send you to the Carmel Magazine website to view the issue, but as of yesterday they still have the August issue up there. But if you want to buy a copy of the magazine they have that info on their website at least.


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Other than appearing in magazines there has been a great deal going on lately. Hah! You thought I was going to say nothing has been going on didn’t you? Come on, admit it. Now that I’ve piqued your interest let me leave you hanging by telling you I’m not at liberty to discuss what is going on. The hubster and I haven’t even told the kids or the extended family about what is going on. We won’t know our plans for definite until the middle of October, so I’ll divulge our secret at that time. Lets just say there might be a moving truck involved. A big one. Or maybe not.

I would like to tell you I have been working like mad to finish “Cooking With Hoosiers” especially since the magazine article touted it as being published sometime in November 2007. But I have spent more time playing Bud Redhead and Bejeweled than I have been writing. Shame on me, I know. But it is raining today so I suppose I shall take up quill and ink and put pen to parchment. What better day for it, eh? Happy writing!

This past weekend I had the good fortune to be able to attend The Festival of the Book in Greencastle Indiana. They had several really good authors there. One author made such a good impression on me that I actually went out and bought one of his books! J.A. Konrath said that he read 100 best sellers before beginning his writing journey, so he could map out the elements that make a book a best seller. I don’t think it is any coincidence that writers are actually some of the most prolific readers there are. So I decided the best thing to do would be to cut out reading the other 99 books and just read Joe’s so I could see what good points he had gotten out of the 100 books he had read and put into his own. Why take the long way around the beltway when you can cross four lanes of traffic and take the short cut?

I picked up JA Konrath’s Whiskey Sour. I’m not going to ruin the plot for you by disclosing the contents, but I will say I want to be a wise cracking female Chicago detective who drinks bad coffee when I grow up.

What can I say about JA Konrath’s books that haven’t already been said?

His books are too thick to stick under that wobbly leg on your kitchen table.

His books have that same quick wit and humor that he bubbles with when you meet him in person. (Yes, I said bubbles)

The picture on the cover of his books will make you thirsty for a mixed drink.

All true comments, but yet, none quite fully relate the true experience of JA Konrath’s books. Suffice it to say that after reading one of his books, you’ll have a sudden desire to move to Chicago and drive a 1986 Nova while sloshing down rot-gut coffee and roughing up some perps. All the while, laughing your designer mini-skirted, panty hose encased ass off.

Hail to JA Konrath for actually delivering what he promises; one hell of a good read! Now go buy a book!

Nope, I didn't fall off the face of the earth, although sometimes it feels like it. I am dashing like mad crazy to get my next book finished before my Nov 1st deadline. Actually it's more like an October deadline as Nov 1st is the publish date. I don't think it's gonna happen.

In other news I am proud to report that the book my seven year old granddaughter and I wrote is on local bookshelves and has even sold a few copies. What more could any writer ask for, especially one that is seven years old.

Life is good. (knock on wood)