The Authorized Version

Lent 2019

As this goes out I will be in England. Last month I mentioned I would be speaking at MysteryFest in Portsmouth. From there I will spend a week at the seashore all along the south coast of England, visiting Jane Austen’s favorite holiday spots as research for my next Elizabeth and Richard literary suspense. And then, up to Manchester to visit our daughter and her family.

Which is why my garden pictures are ones our...

My abject apologies to my highly valued Newsletter Subscribers for whom the pictures failed to come through! I don't know whether I'm more frustrated or disappointed, but I know...

Britain's Re-Told History Of Tragedy And Triumph Offers Hope For UK In 2019 As It Is Torn Apart By Brexit, Says Donna Fletcher Crow, Author Of The Award-Winning, Epic Novel 'Glastonbury'

To gain the future, Crow says, Britons must reclaim the past. A perspective from history can be an enormous help in holding to hope for the challenges of the present situation.

 Author Donna Fletcher Crow 

[Boise ID, January 2, 2018]  British history, forged and tempered in triumph and tragedies of every kind, has spawned a culture unlike any other on Earth. The United Kingdom has proven to be one of the most resilient nations that has ever existed, producing the largest empire ever known. Having seen more than her fair share of dark times, whether the Middle Ages, civil wars, revolutions or Brexit,...

Ah, the garden is having its winter’s rest and all the activity is cozily indoors these crispy days. No, I don’t have my Christmas decorations up yet, so I’ll share a few of my favorite pictures from last year to help get me in the spirit.

Many years ago, probably back in the 80s, I happened across Marjorie Holmes’ novel Two from Galilee and read it by the light of our Christmas tree. Since then, the tradition of reading a Christmas novel in December has been a part of my holiday celebrations. Anne...

.

Crow said she was delighted with the October 28, 2018, UPI article announcing the up-coming remake of Jane Austen’s perennially popular novel 'Emma' starring Anya Taylor-Joy. "Emma has been described by many, including such literary leaders as P. D. James, as the first mystery novel. In 'A Most Singular Venture' my hero Richard presents a course on 'Emma' at a Queens of Crime conference at London University, exploring his theory of a possible hidden murder in 'Emma'."

"Earlier movie adaptations, including those featuring Gweneth Paltrow and Kate Beckinsale have focused on the romance elements of the Austen novel. It will be interesting to see...

I was absolutely thrilled when Torch Trust in the UK contacted me a few months ago to say that they would like to make my Monastery Murders series available in large print for the visually impaired. They produce materials at the request of their blind patrons, so I felt doubly honored that someone had especially requested my books.

I had assumed that the books would resemble the large print books Thorndike Press did of my Cambridge Chronicles many years ago. I was surprised when A Very Private Grave, the first in the series, arrived a few days ago. The book is published in 5 volumes, each bound in pale green card stock, 8 X 12-inch pages, bold face, 25 point type. This is truly the brave new world of large...

During their 1799 excursion to Bath, Jane mentions in a letter that her brother Edward had gone out "to taste a cheese." At this year's Jane Austen Society of North America AGM in Kansas City, we followed Edward's example with a Cheese Tour of Jane Austen's England. Juliene Gehrer, AGM chair and author of the wonderful Dining with Jane Austen Cookbook was our guide, offering references from Austen's letters, novels and family cookbooks as we nibbled cheese explained to us by a local cheesemonger.

We started in the north of England with Cheshire cheese. This was the cheese of the Royal Navy and would have been eaten by Jane's brothers Charles and Francis during their voyages in the navy. It's low moisture content meant that Cheshire cheese kept well. Cheshire was the largest cheese producing area...

I'll bet you thought I was going to write about all that the Jane Austen Society of North America does to promote an appreciation of and education about Jane Austen through our Essay Contest for high school, college and graduate student competitions. Or perhaps the work some chapters do through scholarships, book groups or work with libraries. All of which would be perfectly true. But actually, my topic today is much more frivolous--shopping.

Let me say clearly at the start. I don't like to shop. But I make an exception every year at the Jane Austen Annual General Meetings because the Emporiums are always just so much fun. A large room filled with period-clad shoppers, visiting booths that offer everything Anne Eliot...

I have just returned from the Annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America in Kansas City, and a great conference it was. It was the largest AGM in history with more than 900 in attendance, 200 of whom were first-timers. Our theme, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the publication of Persuasion, Jane Austen's posthumously published novel, was "200 Years of Constancy and Hope." The Royal Navy, Captain Wentworth, Jane's sailor brothers, and seaside resorts such as Lyme with its famous cobb, featured largely.

My head is still swimming with the amount of knowledge imparted by the plenary and breakout session speakers. I took pages of notes from such Austen luminaries as John Mullan, Amanda Root, Sheila Hwang, Randi Pahlau, and Collins Hemingway which I...

Are you looking for a new angle to stimulate discussion in your book club? As we near Halloween and spooks and goblins begin appearing in store windows and front lawns, many thoughts turn to ideas of the paranormal, so why not prompt a discussion of "things that go bump in the night" by reading An Unholy Communion, book 3 in my Monastery Murders, and talking about the paranormal events Anthony, Felicity and their band of pilgrims encounter?

Here are some questions to get the conversation going:

Wales is often referred to as a land where “the veil is thin”. How do you think the...

#Mystery Exchange continues today with a book that tackles the horrific specter of sex-trafficking. Welcome, Linda Bredle to tell us about your book.

About the book: 

As a successful D.C. lawyer, Tatia’s mission in life was to destroy the sex trafficking trade in small-town America. She knew where to find it. She’d been there. With only apathetic foster parents to protect her, she fell prey to the local pimp. Trapped in the sordid underbelly of a small Texas town, she survived by sheer will. Her...

Welcome, Cathy Perkins to answer that age-old question:

Where do authors get their ideas? Someone told me they think an author’s brain is a scary place! We do constantly ask, “What if…?” 

Sometimes a daydream offers a story start, but ideas and inspiration can show up in the strangest places. My husband and I were hiking along the Snake River in a game management area called Big Flats (which happens to feature in So About The Money, the first book in the Holly Price Mystery series). We had to push through some tangled foliage at the shoreline. Being a mystery writer whose mind really can go strange places, I glanced over...

Today I welcome mystery and suspense author Avery Daniels to #Mystery Exchange. Avery and I both write mystery novels with amateur sleuths. Here you can get acquainted with her Julienne, then go on over to Avery's blog "Mysteries and My Musings" and read about Antonia, Lady Danvers.

I’m Avery...

Day 5 of my Mystery Exchange--and what fun this is to have such a variety of guests. The never-ending variety of creativity is really amazing. Today my guest is J.J.DiBenedetto to tell us about a whole series he has just re-launched in ebook, print and audio. A huge congratulations is due. I know how much work this is, and i think you'll agree with me that they look great.

When you have finished getting acquainted with The Dream Doctor Mysteries, go on over to J.J.'s Writing Dreams blog where I'm standing in the Author Spotlight.

Welcome. J...

Day 4 of my month-long Mystery Exchange. I'm especially happy to be exchanging today with the charming Stacy Juba because way back in 2012 (I had to look it up) I was one of 52 novelists and journalists to contribute an essay on what I was doing 25 years ago for her 25 Years in the Rearview Mirror. And here, 6 years later we're still doing pretty much the same thing, sharing adventures and the joy of writing with our readers.

When you're through here, slip on over to Stacy's blog and see my post on my latest Lord Danvers novel. Welcome, Stacy!

How do you call for SOS when only the killer...

Day 3 in my Mystery Blog Exchange. Today meet Kris Bock with her novel What we Found. Then go over to Kris's blog and read about my Victorian true-crime A Lethal Spectre, Lord Danvers investigates, 5. If you like mysteries based on true events, you'll enjoy both books.

Welcome, Kris. Tell us about writing What We Found.

Many writers are inspired by real events or people in their lives. This makes difficult situations a form of research. “This stinks, but maybe...

Day 2 in my July Mystery Exchange tour. My guest is Andi Ramos to tell us about her book Gumshoe Girl. After you get acquainted with Andi and her book here you can go over to Andi's blog and read about my amateur sleuths Lord and Lady Danvers. 

Andi, our characters are a century and a half apart, but they both manage to get involved in solving murders. Tell us about your Gumshoe Girl.

Sheagan O’Hare got more than she bargained for when her newly inherited detective agency lands its first case; a missing person, embezzlement, and murder. Sheagan’s out to prove she can hang with the...

Today I am doing a mystery blog exchange with P.J. MacLayne, author of The Marquesa's Necklace The Oak Grove Mysteries, Book 1). After you read this, you can go over to P.J.'s blog Mountain Musings and read about A Lethal Spectre, Lord Danvers Investigates, book 5. P.J. and I agree that our books should both appeal to the same readers.

P.J., tell us how The Marquesa's necklace came about. 

The truth is, I didn't set out to write a cozy mystery series. This book was supposed to...

Sally Wright author of exquisite mystery novels died June 15, 2018

"I have lost a treasure...such a friend as never can have been surpassed--" Cassandra Austen on the death of her sister Jane

Level-headed, clear-eyed, valiant-for-truth, Sally Wright saw and understood human nature as it is. Never dramatizing, never demonizing, she used this understanding and her passion for meticulous research to craft her six superb Ben Reese mysteries and her three, perhaps more personal, Jo Grant novels. The mystery-writing community recognized her excellence with an Edgar Award nomination.

Sally was pure class and a true for better-or-for-worse friend. The world needs more Sally Wrights. Sadly, we have one fewer. May she rest in...

Ascension Day, commemorating the bodily ascent of Christ into Heaven, 40 days after Easter, is one of the most joyous feast days in the Christian calendar. The celebration is always accompanied by lovely hymns such as "Hail Thee, Festival Day" and "Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise." And on one very special Ascension Day I was in the monastery which serves as a model for the Community of the Transfiguration where Felicity is studying and got to experience standing at the foot of the tower and hearing the ordinands far above me sing in the...

Oh, the joy of a new arrival, especially such a long-awaited one as A Lethal Spectre, book 5 in my Lord Danvers Investigates Victorian true-crime series. The often-asked question, "How long does it take you to write a book?" Always depends on how you count. There's the moment you get an idea, the moment you start your research in earnest, the moment you actually start writing, the moment you complete your edits...

And then, of course, there's the fact that each of those beginnings overlap. But for me, I would say that I've been wanting to tell this story since, many years ago, we watched a program about Victorian England on BBC and I heard about the Cawnpore Massacre for the first time. I thought I knew a bit about English history, but this...

The historic George, patron saint of England, is much disputed, but he was most likely a soldier who was martyred at the beginning of the Diocletian persecutions.  There are many explanations of the sources of the legends of his slaying a dragon but I like to apply it symbolically to his slaying the dragon of evil by standing strong for his faith.

At least, that's how I portrayed the story in the St. George section of GLASTONBURY, The Novel of Christian England, of my epic grail search novel. You can see the print edition here...

Even though it is World book Day, there seems to be little made of it in America—at least in my neck of the woods. But for several years now I’ll admit to reading with considerable envy my British writer friends’ announcements of event they were participating in for the day.

Well, it happened this year—I managed to be in England...

This month I’m especially telling readers about my Holy Week/Easter novel A Darkly Hidden Truth, book 2 in the Monastery Murders: 

Lent and Easter in a monastery—a sacred, set-aside time—until a valuable icon goes missing. And Felicity’s difficult  mother turns up unexpectedly. And a good friend turns up murdered... A clerical mystery in the classic English detective style.

It is part of Celebrate His Love, a group promotion, along with more than 25 great Christian reads. You can download...

What a special day this is—St. Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. At first glance they might seem at opposite ends of the spectrum, but at heart, both are expressions of love—human and divine.

So what better time could there be to offer two promotions for free romance books. Both offer many titles and...

Just a quick note to let you know that A Very Private Grave, book 1 in my Monastery Murders is only .99 through January 30. This is part of the Mysteries and Thrillers promotion that offers 24 edge of your seat reads free or .99 as well as a chance to win a $50 gift card. The offer runs through January 30, so do take a look.

This is a particularly timely offer because Lent starts in just 2 and a half weeks and A Very Private Grave opens on Ash Wednesday. Virtually...

 I am thrilled to be able to offer the complete six book boxed set of Where There is Love for only .99 this month. I have offered individual books from the set before, but this is the entire series, so you can get the whole sweep of events. 

This offer is part of the Swept Away Romance promotion which includes 42 other free/99 clean romances as well as a chance to win a $50 gift card. But you will have to act fast. This promotion ends January 16, although my above offer run all month.

Where There is Love: Six novels of the enduring legacy of love and faith. These are stories of real people and stirring historic events in England through the 18th and 19th centuries. Society leaders, university dons, famous preachers, celebrated sportsmen, powerful politicians, highwaymen and rogues… Stories told often in their own words as they direct—and are...

October 25 is the day the church remembers the brothers Crispin and Crispinian, cobblers who were martyred under Diocletian. The day has become more famous, however, as the day of the Battle of Agincourt because of the stirring speech Shakespeare has the young Henry V make to his troops on the even of battle.

In my book A Newly Crimsoned Reliquary, book 4 The Monastery Murders, Felicity, in Oxford, goes to a coffee house where a local actor is reciting the speech.

From the far side of the octagonal room an actor strode forward clad in a red and blue Plantagenet surcoat. “I thank you, brave fellows all.” He bowed and swept the room with his arm. “We join in revels as others could have done on this very spot to celebrate the victory of brave Harry, for this very building in which you are enjoying your libations, was more than a century old when Harry so inspired his...

As I have said before, one of the best things about attending the annual Jane Austen Society of North America AGM is the delightful people one meets. This year was no exception and one of my fun connections was a sister Austen Author Anngela Schroeder. We met the first day at afternoon tea and then had the fun of making Regency bonnets together.

Anngela mentioned that she was in the middle of a blog tour for the release of her newest Austen title The Goodness of Men. Since every minute was packed full of lectures, events and activities we had little time to...

In the intense schedule of this conference our only chance for worship was 7:30 at St. Mary by the Sea,...

Before starting my busy schedule of classes I stopped by the book table sponsored by the delightful Collins Hemmingway. Collins, author of The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen, delightful and well researched novels, kindly allowed me space to display my 2 mysteries with Jane Austen backgrounds on his table, along with Kim Wilson and Susannah Fullerton. I was delighted to be in the company of so many books I have read and enjoyed.

Then on to classes. First, on Jane Austen's Sanditon, the fragment she left unfinished at her death. I was especially interested in this as Sanditon will figure in the background of my next Elizabeth and Richard Mystery. Here is a projection of Austen's...

A light projection of Jane's silhouette reigns over the conference.

Day 2, morning outfit, off to trim a new bonnet

Stopped by the emporium for a little shopping and a visit with English friends from past conferences

Mary Guyat from the Jane Austen House Museum and Tim Bullamore, publisher of Jane Austen's Regency World 

Attended a special interest session on Jane Austen Churches. Since 2000 the Jane Austen Society of North America has designated  17 churches where Jane worshiped or have especially close ties with her family to...

Today the activities were all pre-conference events, the serious academics will start tomorrow. After a brief time on our balcony I was off to get acquainted with this enormous and lovely resort, and to enjoy the fact that the ocean is seldom out of sight.

As I mentioned in my last blog, one of the best parts is seeing friends from other conferences again. Frances Wills above and Syrie James below, were just two of them.

My major activity today was the two English country dancing classes I took. That was three hours of dancing. add...

the time Janeites across America, and, indeed, around the world, look forward to. It is the Annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America. This year we are meeting at Huntington Beach, CA. The theme, commemorating, the two hundredth anniversary of the death of Jane Austen, is Jane in Paradise, Intimations of Immortality.

Every AGM is a great mix of events. It is part Regency festival with most participants wearing period dress and taking part in workshops on bonnet making and other accomplishments for the Regency lady, tea parties, and a grand Regency Ball. Another part is the scholarly lectures that fill most of every day and leave one feeling as if they have enrolled in a college course. Then there are the tours to places of scenic...

"How is your book selling," is one of the most frequent questions authors are asked it is right up there with "Where do your stories come from." And, yes, sales are nice. Who does not need money and feel good about a nice royalty check in the bank. But for very few of us is that the main point.

Writers write because we have a story to tell. We labor hard to tell it the very best way we can, and then we want to...

My summer project is to get all of my Lord Danvers Victorian true-crime series re-edited and published in all-new editions. I cannot promise to have  all 4 books out by the end of summer, but I can report progress.

Grave Matters, book 2 in Lord Danvers Investigates, is now available in both print and ebook:

Antonia discovers a body at the opening of the Great Exhibition, in the presence...

First off, garden update. No progress but the force of nature herself, which is truly amazing. The man who is going to redo our wall is having surgery next month, and the re-working of the watering system is not even scheduled. In the meantime, I am absolutely amazed at the luxuriant green we are enjoying without lifting a finger. Not that I never doubted that God was a far better gardener than I am, but it is fun to see such a vibrant object lesson.

My one accomplishment has been to move my houseplants outdoors. In Idaho that is never to be done before Mothers Day. True to my usual 'waste not; want not' way of doing things I had a good selection of coleus carried over from last fall and, yes, if you are...

An All-Consuming Fire, Book 5 in my Monastery Murders, is available free through March 30 on Creative Christian Reads. And that's just the beginning. Twenty super Christian books across a wide variety of genres are all free. Plus, by signing up you will be eligible to win a $25 gift card.

I urge all my reading friends to check out this very special collection that includes mystery, romance, thrillers, historical, fantasy and more.  As the ad says, "Fill up you ereader"! And, as yet another bonus, when you choose to download a book (and you're welcome to download them al...

The freebies just keep coming! Yesterday I blogged about our great FREE 9-book set of mystery novels from Crime Cafe. Today I want to let you all know about the companion set of 5 mysterious short stories from best-selling authors which you can get FREE here.

Our focus on setting continues today as three of our short story authors share about the places their stories take you to.
First, join Jenny Milchman in Life in the head of a suspense writer. Life in a small town:

I make my way up the winding country road, feet skipping over each other in sudden haste, glancing over my shoulder. There's somebody behind me, walking at a steady clip. It's winter and we're both swathed in over-garments. It's hard to tell who might be following along--someone I know? A stranger? A man, surely, given his height, the bulky breadth of him in his dark, sweeping coat. I'm only out here on a short walk--a breather from the story I'm writing--a burst of exercise I had to push myself to take, given how warm and cozy my house was, how cold I feel right now. And how nervous. This is a long, lonely stretch of road. Nothing else out here besides the two of us, except for some cawing crows. If I turn around and walk back toward home, I'll have to go right past whoever this is. But I can't stay ahead of him either. He's speeding up. And he's longer legged than I, and faster. I usually only walk--jogging is for people more motivated and in better shape than I--but I break into a run as the person in back of me increases his pace. I whip my head left, then right. A house to one side--but empty, abandoned--I live in a cluster of mostly summer homes. Dense woods on the other; I picture a gnarled and twisting run through skeletal trees. Then the person is beside me. No time to make a choice. "I've never seen you run before!" he calls...

 January 2017

Hooray—I managed to type 2017 the first time, so now I can wish all my readers and friends a very Happy New Year!

As to my garden report, one word sums it up—snow! More than I have seen in Boise in my very long memory. It certainly gives new meaning to the term White Garden.

As to my writing report, I can announce with a great sense of accomplishment that I have managed to publish two boxed sets of my backlist series:

The Daughters of Courage  is my family saga of pioneers in the Idaho...

Do you have a cherished Christmas fantasy? Mine, which I’ve nurtured for years, but am yet to realize, is that I’ll have all my work and preparations done by the first week in December and then be able to spend the rest of the month sitting by a beautifully lit tree, sipping tea and reading Christmas stories. Well, as the song says, “You gotta have a dream if you’re going to have a dream come true.” So I’m still dreaming.

At least through the years I’ve had the joy of writing lots of scenes of Christmas into my novels, so if you envision a time for reading as part...

In today’s electronic market yesterday is sooo gone. Everything has to be new and fresh and of the minute. That can be exhausting. And discouraging for writers who have a backlist of really good books that just aren’t getting any attention.  My advice is, don’t fight the trend—go with it. For all the frustrations of electronic publishing, it does offer the opportunity of instant renewal.

If you are self-published, you can, of course, do this any time you feel something on your list needs a refresher. For those traditionally published, you’ll have...

 The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is marking 2016, the 400^th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, by sending a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio to every state in the union. The exhibit opened today at Boise State University and I was delighted to share this  great family outing and teaching moment with 3 of my grandsons.

During Shakespeare’s lifetime his plays, which were written to be performed, not...

 The newly released Where Love Restores, Where There is Love (formerly To be Worthy, the Cambridge Chronicles) has always been one of my favorites because it is the most thoroughly historical. This is a true story. I often say, “Even the animals are historical.”

The families of both the hero and the heroine were leaders socially, politically and religiously and, fortunately, both families have preserved their family records to professional standards. Indeed, the muniments of the Ryder family—the earls of Harrowby—although kept at Sandon Hall at the time of my research, are maintained under the auspices of...

 A review should be as much fun to read as the book itself. Sheila Deeth, an Amazon Top Reviewer, achieves that high level in her review of Where Love Illumines, book 2 in the Where There is Love series.

And, as a bonus, this is two reviews in one because she shares charming comments from her mum in England.  Thank you, Sheila and Mum!

“What a wonderful story," says my mother. "As a Methodist of 85 years standing I have read a lot about the early days of Methodism, both in stories and in factual accounts. The background to this book and the accuracy of the descriptions, both of apparel and of stately homes is astonishing. It is hard to realise that the book was written by an American author. I began to read it halfway...

The Idaho Chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America has an annual summer picnic which we sometimes bill as our Box Hill picnic after the pivotal scene in Emma. This years’ event was held today in the beautiful garden of one of our members. We held our annual book exchange where members bring Jane Austen themed books to share, had a short business meeting, and most of all enjoyed the delicious dishes members brought to share and visiting with like-minded friends.

Here I am setting out with my English cake (brought from Canada) and enjoying a mimosa with...

 Sally Wright's wonderful new novel Behind the Bonehouse launches today. In celebration of this publishing event I am privileged to share Sally's story with my readers. Such an in-depth interview is unusual for this very private author and such a lengthy post is unusual for this blog, but I believe you'll agree the content is worth it for its insight into a writer's life and to add extra meaning to your reading of this exceptional novel.

Building a Bonehouse

Right after I’d finished writing Breeding Ground in August 2013, and was about to begin a...

 Whee! It's a bit like jumping off that high-diving board.  Well, I hope it won't be like my one-time high diving board jump--that ended in a bellyflop. But just the little, jumping-off-the-kiddie-board thing which was ever so hard to do the first time--but once I"d worked up the courage and taken that first plunge, I loved it.

So here I am--launching my What's the Latest? newsletter:

Welcome to my World— An Invitation

To see the latest in my garden,

books, 

and a favorite video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhvyupqNhL8

(This one the trailer for Jane Austen's deliciously satirical novella Love and Friendship which I can't wait to...

 I’m proud to be a British immigrant to the “New World”, in my case Canada. Naturally the immigrant story resonates with me, and in my new release Sofi’s Bridge I enjoyed working with the various accents, brogues and dialects that make up the cultural melting pot in the US.  

Sofi is second generation Swedish living in Washington State. The...

 FINALLY, Behind The Bonehouse, the second Jo Grant horse country mystery, is ready for preorder on Amazon, and will be available on April 10^th as an ebook, and shortly thereafter in paperback.

Wright says, “This is a book that means a lot to me. It connects to my past and my present, and maybe predicts my future. It clearly deals with the grace of God and the plans he has for all of us.”

It wasn’t until thirty years...

I love these stories!

At long last the series I began as the Cambridge Collection for Regal Books, then completed as The Cambridge Chronicles for Crossway, is coming back with a whole new look as the Where There is Love Series from Verity Press.

After almost a quarter of a century working with these books I can still say, “These are wonderful stories!” Don’t get me wrong— this isn’t any kind of authorial pride. These are wonderful stories because of what these people of outstanding faith did in real life.

I vividly recall being inspired in my own faith when I read of their struggles and triumphs and I prayed to be able to tell their stories in a way that would bring them alive for modern readers. That is still...

My tradition has always been to make soda bread for St. Patrick's Day. This year was no exception, but, I must say, the product was exceptional. I used a book our daughter bought in Ireland years agho Classic Irish Rercipes by Georgina Campbell. All the recipes in the book look great, including three soda bread recipes. Here's the super-easy, Traditional White Soda Bread as I made it:

4 cups all-purpose flour (I used unbleached)

1/2 teaspoon salt (mine was rounded a bit)

1 teaspoon baking soda (again, rounded)

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 3/4 cups buttermilk (the recipe calls for 1 cup,...

My guest today is the amazing Debbi Mack. I have known Debbi for several years and am a great fan of her Sam McRae mysteries. I was hooked on the first one because, as a lawyer's wife, I appreciated how careful Sam is to stay within the lines of the ethics of her profession while solving crimes in a creative way.

Then Debbi invited me to be a guest on The Crime Cafe (interview here)  and to contribute to her Season One Story Package. This is a real bargain...

I'm delighted today to be joining in the general celebration over the launch of Wendy Jones' newest book Killer's Cross, book 3 in her phenomenally successful DI Shona McKenzie tartan noir series. Killer's Countdown, Killer's Craft and Killer's Cross have come out at the breath-taking speed of 3 books in 13 months so I've asked Wendy to talk to us about her writing process. Over to you, Wendy--

...

 My guest today is Christine Lindsay whose Twilight of the British Raj series has given me many pleasant hours of reading as it brought back memories of such great television viewing as "The Jewel in the Crown" and "The Last Viceroy" and more recently "Indian Summers."  It seems, however, that not all of Christine's potential readers take to the subject as naturally as I do. Tell us more, Christine.

            ...

Although born into the privileged world of New York in 1862 where, for women, social expectations eclipsed intellectual ambition, Wharton became the first woman to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the first woman to receive an honorary doctorate of letters from Yale University.

Wharton designed and built The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts, in 1902 to provide herself with a place of privacy and quiet where she could write and to showcase her architectural and landscape design theories. She wrote to a friend that she was a better landscape designer than writer.

Here at The Mount Wharton produced the novels that...

 Began Sunday as Jane Austen would have with Morning Prayers. The vicar read a sermon by the Rev. Thomas Sherlock, Bishop of London in the 18th century, whose sermons Jane read and admired and ended with a prayer Jane Austen wrote.

Just a touch of scandal before brunch:

A dinner cruise in the sunset on the Ohio River aboard the Belle of Louisville:

...

 Another full day of great events at the Jane Austen Society of North America AGM "Living in Jane Austen's World" in Louisvile.  Started out with a wonderful talk on the place of spinsters in Regency England by Amanda Vickery, historian, writer, BBC presenter and professor at Queen Mary College, London.                                                                                   ...

 Old Friends from my real life and from my literary life filled my day in Louisville. I began with a quick chat with Tim Bullamore, publisher of the wonderful "Jane Austen's Regency World" Magazine who comes to the JASNA AGM every year to bring delight tonew rreaders.

And then lunch with novelist Syrie James, author of Jane Austen's First Love, among other great reads.

At last night's screening of the BBC documentary "At Home with the Georgians" I was thrilled when presenter Amanda Vickery, who will be speaking to us tomorrow, read from the...

The jne Austen Society of North America's Annual General Meeting got off to a great start in Louisville today with a luncheon and fashion show and lots of browsing and some shopping in the two markets on offer: The Shoppes of Bath and The Meryton Market. The Idaho region includes my Elizabeth and Richard literary suspense A Jane Austen Encounter in their offerings.

 Shopping in the emporiums was a fashion show in itself:

A period-correct tailor demonstrated his skills:

Then a two hour English Country Dance lesson and I was ready to put my feet up.

...

 Almost a whole year after first sending the manuscript to my publisher, the message appears in my inbox: The Flame Ignites- Final Cover.

Deep breath. That word final is so--well, final. I've had what I want on the cover running in my head for all those months. What if my publisher's cover artist didn't agree?

Nothing to do but open the attachment and take a look. . . 

Huge sigh of relief followed by shout of joy. I love it! It's better than anything I had pictured. Hooray!!!

The Flame Ignites, the prequel 

How did it all begin? Before Elizabeth and Richard’s terror-filled mystery week in the Rocky Mountains . . . before murder accompanied their honeymoon . . . before the life-changing English summer when...

My guest today is the reverend Philip S Davies, Chair of the UK Association of Christian Writers and author of the young adult fantasy novel Destiny's Rebel which releases tomorrow—September 15— in the US. It released last week un the UK. Philip had his launch at the prestigious Blackwell's  Book Store in Oxford and today it is #1 on Blackwell's bestseller list for young adults.                                                                                                                                                   ...

Welcome, Wendy Jones, all the way from Dundee, Scotland, on the occasion of the release of your new book Killer's Craft!

May I start by saying thank you, Donna, for hosting me on the blog today. It is a pleasure to be here, especially since my second book, Killer’s Craft, has just been released. This is the second book in the Detective Inspector Shona...

I love farmers' markets— fresh produce, locally grown, unusual varieties of vegetables not easily found in stores. . . But the truth is, I seldom get myself out to a market. Always in a hurry. Pick something up quickly at the grocery store. . .

Now I have no more excuses. The Boise Farmers Market has established a Mobile Market that comes to...

 And here it is! Drum roll, trumpet fanfare~~

Killer’s Craft, Book 2 in Wendy Jones’ phenomenally popular D. I. Shona McKenzie series!

What fun to be taking part in the cover reveal of what is certain to be a spine-tingling read.

The book will be released July 20^th at Waterstone’s in Dundee Scotland. If that’s too far for some of you to attend, the book will soon be available for advance purchase on Amazon.

Read more about Wendy and her first book Killer’s Countdown here.

 I’m not sure how accurate the old saw about criminals revisiting the scene of their crime is, but I can testify to the truth of it for crime writers. Last month I had the delight of revisiting the scene of a murder I committed many years ago at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival in Ashland.  Well, at least, my villain in A Midsummer Eve’s Nightmare did.

                                                                 We never missed a season at Ashland for years and years, and then life got even busier—as it seems to do— and...

Donna: I am so happy to welcome Marilyn Meredith to "Deeds of Darkness; Deeds of Light: today. Marilyn and I first met sevral years ago on the mystery writers and readers loop DorothyL. Marilyn is one of the most active, prolific and generous writers in this very energetic group.

Marilyn, I know you keep up with family, are very active in your church and write at least two mystery series. Tell us more about yourself.

Marilyn: I'm also known as F.M. Meredith and am the author...

Welcome, Wendy. I'm delighted to have you as my guest today on "Deeds of Darkness; Deeds of Light." What a shame that our shring a cup of Scottish Blend tea has to be virtual. 

Donna, thank you for inviting...

 In America April 15 is the dreaded day taxes are due. But to lovers of Victorian mysteries it is a day of celebration this year, because Children of Silence, Linda Stratmann's latest Frances Doughty novel is now available— at least in ebook form, we'll have to wait until July 1 for the print edition, but it can be pre-ordered now.

To welcome Frances to this side of the Atlantic her creator Linda Stratmann, whom I first met a year ago at the Queens of Crime conference in London, is here to tell us about creating Frances' latest adventures.

Linda, thank you so much for visiting with us today on "Deeds of Darkness; Deeds of Light". For your purposes, however, it might be better if the title were "Deeds of Noise; Deeds of Silence" because your wonderful novel is all about the contrast between noise and silence and how painful noise can be to those who suffer with hyperacusis....

Books, espresso and conversation— what better way to spend a Thursday afternoon-evening in Roseburg, Oregon? April 24 4:00-6:00.

I will be joining the publisher/ author Jason Wilcox to meet writers and readers, discuss our books and the craft of writing, and to sign books and enjoy the latest latte at  While Away Books and Espresso in Roseburg, Oregon.

As “ Novelist of British History” specializing in the Christian history of England, I will be featuring my Monastery Murders series— contemporary mysteries with the clues hidden deep in...

Writers, Readers, and All Who Love Books are invited to Hastings in Nampa this Saturday from 4:00-8:00 where I will be one of four local authors who will be greeting readers, answering questions and signing books.

Popular Boise Valley author and speaker Ray Ellis will be featuring his new release Kraken.  When a stranger from Mike Stone’s past appears on his doorstep,...

I've always been fascinated by stories of the intrepid Victorian Travelling Women who conquered distant desert sands and scaled rugged heights— all in proper corsets and long skirts, of course. So I was doubly honored to be included in the exhibit of Idaho's literary traveling women at the BSU Library. .

A big thank you to Donna for inviting me to be a guest blogger today.  Donna and I both live in Idaho, we both love a good book, and we both love an adventure away from home, especially if it involves research for a new book.

My latest book, LOST AND...

 One of the most universally held daydreams of Janeites (perhaps second only to dancing with Mr. Darcy) is a visit to Chawton Cottage, Jane Austen's home where she lived so happily with her sister Cassandra, her mother and their friend Martha Lloyd, and where her writing at last truly flowered. For me, the dream came true in 2012 when I was following the Jane Austen Trail as research for my literary suspense A Jane Austen Encounter.

 Jane Austen was born on the 16th of December, 1775, at the quiet rectory of Steventon in rural Hampshire. Two Hundred and thirty-nine years later the world is still celebrating her birthday as a heartfelt "Thank you" for the enormous joy her six novel and assorted minor works have brought to our lives.

 It's so much more than a calendar! The hot-off-the-press 2015 Jane Austen Calendar by JT Originals is a guided tour of the locations of the wonderful 1995 BBC/A&E mini-series of Pride and Prejudice.

Through the months you'll visit...

 Mavens of Mayhem— what a great name! Mavens of Mayhem at Mysteries on Main Street— even better. (Just try saying it ten times fast.) And what a great event it was.

Mavens of Mayhem is the name of the upstate New York Sisters in Crime chapter who very kindly invited me to come along and share informally in their panel and book signing at the delightful Mysteries on Main Street book store in historic Johnstown, New York.

What a joy to be in a real book store with actual hold-in-your-hand paper books and to meet a real, live bookseller and talk to enthusiastic readers in person. Yes, it’s been a great convenience on our 6,000 mile road trip to have books on my...

 Have you ever wished you could get paid to live in Jane Austen's world? In some ways that seems to be what Tim Bullamore, publisher of the delightful Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine has accomplished. I met Tim and his magazine last year at the Jane Austen Society of North America AGM in Minneapolis. 

 I have enjoyed Fay Sampson's articles on this blog about how family research led to writing her excellent Suzie Fewings mystery series.  I'm doubtful that my foray into the Crow family past last week will lead to a mystery series for me— but then, you never know— and it has certainly led to increasing my already-alive appreciation for the heritage passed on to us by earlier generations and the importance of keeping that legacy alive.

So much of the Crow family heritage began in 1789 when John Wesley visited Clones, Ireland, and Christopher Crow  was converted under his preaching.  Our branch (well, my husband's actually, you understand) of Christopher Crow's family remains...

 Well, we always knew that the Crow/Crowe family settled in Peterborough, Ontario, when they emigrated from County Monaghan, Ireland, and then, a generation later hired a train along with the McCracken family and migrated to St. Paul, Nebraska, near Grand Island.  

 

 Well, yes, certainly there is the fun...

 A recent discussion thread on the DorothyL Listserve for mystery readers and writers has been to ask writers "How long will you keep writing?" My answer is: "As long as it's fun."

Well, retirement just moved a lot farther off. This weekend I am at the Jane Austen Society of North America AGM in Montreal promoting my literary suspense A Jane Austen Encounter and it's as much fun as I've ever had in my life. 

. 

Delightful people, excellent speeches, a dance workshop with Stan, afternoon tea,...

Our last day at the wonderful Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Great theatre and a lovely time relaxing. The examination of marriage continued today at the Courthouse Theatre with "The Charity That Began at Home" by St. John Hankin.

Hankin was one of London's leading playwrights a century ago, but is practically unknown today.  His works are making a comeback, however, at the Shaw Festival. In this "comedy for...

A beautiful Sunday in Niagara-on-the-Lake. We began the day by walking across the park to church— just as we do at home. But here we had the added delight of church bells calling us forward to worship. St. Mark's is an historic Anglican church begun in 1790 when the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts sent a priest from England. We were amazed when the current priest greeted us with "Welcome back." We had only been there once before and that a year ago.

 Three years ago we were planning a road trip to the eastern US when Stan saw an article in the Wall Street Journal about the Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Wow— an internationally recognized theatre festival in one of our favorite towns in the whole world. Well, since we would be within a couple of hundred miles anyway, we decided to take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend. 

Thursday, September 25, Ogden, Utah

Stan and I are Just starting out on a 6,000 mile road trip. This should be a fun adventure. We will attend the Jane Austen Society ofNorth America AGM in Montreal, research my next Elizabeth and Richard book which is to be set in New England, visit family, and meet up with some Sisters in Crime in New York.

Along the way we plan to listen to about a dozen audio books.  Today's listening: M.
C. Beaton's DEATH OF A GOSSIP. I vaguely remember seeing it on tv long ago
and probably read it about that long ago, but it's still a...

Well, it's been a busy summer— that's my only excuse— but I finally got to read Jenny Milchman's Ruin Falls which I've had right here on my shelf since I bought it at our shared panel and signing at Rediscovered Books last May. Yes, more than 4 months I've delayed the amazing experience of reading that book. Well, I suppose that's all right because delaying gratification makes one a better person, right?

I am so delighted to be part of the official blog tour to welcome Jane Austen's First Love, Syrie James' newest release, to my bookshelf and to the bookshelves of Austen lovers around the world. Syrie has written a fascinating article below on the question of whether or not Jane Austen indulged in the 18th century fashion of powdering her hair. But first, let me share my experience reading the book:

One of the functions of a...

 When writing about an historic period no research can beat actually being there. But how often does a writer have a chance actually to live in their time period when they are writing about the 14th century? Well, that's exactly what I was able to do last week.

Murder in Time, Another Ellie Quicke triumph for Veronica Heley. 

 Ellie Quicke remains...

 Few things can make a usually rational person want to run through the streets shouting or grab perfect strangers and tell them your news like the release of a new book. And that's exactly how I'm feeling at the moment— that breathless bubble in my throat that makes me want to jump up and down and, yes, run through the streets shouting.

We’re just back from a delightful research trip to Glastonbury, where I have set my latest crime novel, The Wounded Thorn. If I already have some knowledge of a place, it is good to write the...

The delightful Jenny Milchman and I have been online friends for nearly five years and have the joy of supporting each other through the ups and downs of the writing life.  I have twice been a guest on Jenny's "Made It Moment" blog and we have often moaned about the vat distance separating New York and Idaho. But Saturday night we finally got to meet in person.

 I was so privileged to be part of Jenny Milchman's 20,000 mile "World's Longest Book Tour."  Yes, that's twenty thousand...

I was recently asked to be part of a mini blog tour. Since the invitation came from Pen Wilcock http://j.mp/RFNNRq who has long been one of my favorite writers— and her invitation came from Claire Dunn http://j.mp/RFOLxi , another writer I greatly admire— I readily accepted.

Likewise, my invitations went out to two more of my favorite writers (okay— I have lots of favorites) Fay Sampson http://www.faysampson.co.uk/ and Dolores Gordon-Smith http://www.doloresgordon-smith.co.uk/ . Who accepted with equal affability.

That got me to thinking about how lucky I am to be a writer. Not just because I get to tell the stories I love to share, but, even more importantly, because I get to do it in company with such lovely people. The writing community may be unique in the support it gives to its members. There may be the odd limelight-grabber or back-stabber, but, if so, I’ve been fortunate enough not to encounter them. Perhaps in the heady heights of best-sellerdom, but not in...

Well, life is busy, but I'd been a member of the Idaho Writers' Guild (http://idahowritersguild.com/)    for  a whole year and hadn't been to a meeting yet. Every month I would recieve notice of the time and place— always a luncheon at a local restaurant— and I would put it on my calendar. And then not get there.

Finally it was time to renew my membership for another year. In other words,...

I am delighted to have Judy Alter as my guest today. I "met" Judy through a mystery Writers' listserve we both belong to and was fascinated to learn that in a creative sense, Judy and I have traded places. Judy grew up with an English father and now writes mysteries set in the American West. I grew up riding horses with my western father and write mysteries set in England.

Just as Judy mentions below, I have often wondered about the whys and wherefores of this and I hope, as Judy's friend says, bringing...

My guest today is the ever-creative Adam Graham. Welcome, Adam.  Tell us about your new book Slime Incorporated.

Now I can breathe! After months of holding my breath— because one never knows how a book will strike a reviewer— I gave a huge sigh of relief yesterday when the current issue of the wonderful magazine "Jane Austen's Regency World" arrived on my doorstep with a delightful review of A Jane Austen Encounter.

It's not just the fact that the reviewer says nice things— always acceptable to an author, of course—...

Donna: Veronica, Wwelcome to "Deeds of Darkness; Deeds of Light" and congratulations on your new Bea Abbot Mystery. Tell us about the release.

Veronica: Yes, FALSE DIAMOND duly came out last November here in the UK. It’s now available in America and all points south. Booklist had given it a good review but now I have – wait for it! – a starred review from Publishers Weekly.

Donna: Wow! That’s wonderful. Starred reviews are very hard to get.

Veronica: It would be extravagant to say that ‘now I can die happy’ and of course I don...

We’ve recently been having a fun discussion about P. D. James on that wonderful mystery lovers’ loop DorothyL. James is, naturally, a writer frequently discussed among that group of avid writers, readers, librarians, reviewers, booksellers, etc. This round we’ve been focusing (as much as we ever focus) on her Death Comes to Pemberley, The Children of Men, and Innocent Blood.

And, as you would expect, the responses and opinions have been as varied as the...

At last, at last! I've been waiting since last September (when the ebook came out) to announce that the paperback edition of A Jane Austen Encounter, my newest Richard & Elizabeth literary suspense, is available in paperback!

In celebration, I want to share one of my all-time favorite reviews I've ever received in my thirty-some years of writing:

  A thoroughly enjoyable, thoroughly English mystery 

The view from Box Hill in Surrey is incredible. ­But that’s just one of the places readers will visit in Donna Fletcher Crow’s The Jane Austen Encounter. Two professors of English on a second honeymoon have traveled from the US to England to encounter those places made famous by one of the world’s most famous writers. An erudite guide from Oxford directs their steps—she’ll direct which type of tea they drink if she gets the chance. And an underappreciated student asks their aid with her research project. But the best characters in this book, for me at least, are the places—Winchester, Bath, the rolling English country roads and the tiny remembrances of glories past. Author Donna Fletcher Crow renders voices very convincingly and creates a thoroughly enjoyable sense of place in this novel....

I first "met" Syrie James in what is perhaps the best way to meet any author, through reading her book. Others in my local JASNA chapter (Jane Austen Society of North America) recommended Syrie’s book The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen and I took their advice. I found the book "A Delightful Pastiche," as I titled my Amazon review: http://j.mp/1iHCpN9

Syrie James' Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen is one of the best Jane Austen spin-offs I've ever read. She did a great job of giving us the known outline of events in Jane's life, then filled in with possible scenes which Jane herself could have drawn on as background for her own stories. I had great fun identifying the...

Ah, a whole week in the California sunshine. And, as if that weren’t enough, I got to have lunch with my daughter-in-law Kelly and author Syrie James. I’ve blogged earlier about meeting Syrie at the Jane Austen Society conference last fall ( http://j.mp/1bf0Gpa ) and I’ll share more about Syrie and her latest book...

One of my favorite gems of wisdom I’ve attempted to pass on to our children is that life gives you second chances. And sometimes even third and fourth chances.

That’s certainly true in the case of books in this age of electronic publishing. And my Lord Danvers Victorian true-crime series is a case in point. I began the series in 1993— wow, that’s 20 years ago!— with A Most Inconvenient Death, telling the story...

I have dreamed of stepping back into Regency England since I first read Pride and Prejudice as a teenager. Attending the Annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North American last month was very nearly that dream come true. "Austenland for grownups."

The publication of my Jane Austen themed book A Jane Austen Encounter, book 3 in my Elizabeth & Richard literary suspense series was the perfect excuse.

so I packed my finery, reread Pride and Prejudice and Stan and I drove across the country to Minneapolis. Some of the events that gave participants a feel of living in the Regency, or having stepped through the screen of their favorite Jane Austen movie, were the afternoon tea,...

I would be so thrilled if any of my readers could join me--

Thursday, August 22
Kuna Public Library

'History and Me', presented by the Kuna Historical Society and Kuna Library, Thursday, August 22nd, is a presentation by Donna Fletcher Crow, a renowned author of more than thirty books who lives in Boise. Her discussion will begin at 6 PM at the Kuna Library and will include:
 

• Lifelong sense of and love of history
• Family roots in Kuna, Nampa and Boise
• Writing 'Daughters of Courage'
• Expanding to further shores

Donna's Trilogy, 'Daughters of Courage,' is about her relatives arriving in the early 1900's in the Kuna area. In her 'Author's Note' in her book 'Elizabeth', Donna writes: "This is a novel - a work of fiction - but one very dear to me because I was able to use so many bits and pieces of my own family history." Donna will provide time for questions and will have copies of her books to show and be available for purchase. Anyone who has copies...

Agatha Christie and all the Golden Age English mystery writers are wonderful. But what do you do after you've read all the books and seen all the television adaptations 11 zillion times? I turn to some of the excellent contemporary writers such as Dolores Gordon-Smith who resurrect that age in delightful classic-style mysteries. That's why I've invited my friend Julianna Deering to be my guest today to tell us about Rules of Murder, her new Drew Farthing Mystery And to discuss why she was drawn to writing in this genre.

Over to you, Julianna. Tell...

Readers in the Boise Valley area have an exciting opportunity to meet one of the most talked-about and beloved new writers to come along in many a year. Jenny Milchman, author of the stunning debut novel COVER OF SNOW will be at Rediscovered Books, 180 N 8th St. In downtown Boise at 11 o’clock Saturday morning July 27.

Jenny’s event will be a unique opportunity for readers and writers alike as she will be talking about life on the road...

One of my guiding rules as a writer (which I break only when absolutely necessary) is never to write about something I haven’t actually experienced. Of course, I must hasten to say that being murdered, falling off cliffs and finding dead bodies are a major exception to that rule.

But following the rule has led me to be uncharacteristically adventurous at times and provided some delightful experiences. For example, when my heroine Kathryn in the first of my Daughters of Courage family saga books had to go into a lava flow cave in search of a...

AN UNHOLY COMMUNION will be getting a lot of attention in the next two weeks.  This newly released installment in the Monastery Murders finds Felicity and Antony leading a group of young people on an historical philgrimage through mystical Wales. All is as idylic as Antony promised Felicity it would be until the lurking shadows that seem to have been following them take on more substantial form. And then they find a body face down in a holy well.

I am thrilled to announce that a beautiful all-new edition of GLASTONBURY, The Novel of Christian England, has just been released by Angelico Press http://angelicopress.wordpress.com/glastonbury/

I have always considered GLASTONBURY to be the centerpiece of my career— perhaps the book I was born to write. My lifelong fascination with the Arthurian legends has had much to do with my devout Anglophilia...

An Unholy Communion, the third book in my Monastery Murders series, was released in print in the UK and in ebook around the world last Friday (North American print release will be April 1), so I suppose I should be blogging about that, especially since it has been making the top 100 lists on AmazonUK for inspirational books— for which I am delighted and grateful. But sometimes there is something in a writer’s life even more important than than one’s own books and for me, Holy Week is certainly one of those times.

One of the great experiences of my life was spending Holy Week in the Community of the Resurrection in 2005. Normally I want to be in my parish church, experiencing the sorrow of the Great Three Days and the joy of Easter with my church family. But that year I had the total emersion of being in a monastery, participating in fifty-some services in one week, most of the rest of the time spent in silence, the services of the Triduum celebrated with all the fullness of the liturgy, gorgeous vestments and exquisite music— It was an experience that has informed every Holy Week I’ve experienced since then, although I...

Yes, I'm here at my desk in Boise, Idaho, but I just spent half an hour in Winter Springs, Florida, with the lovely ladies of the Christian Literature Fellowship Book Club. The ladies had already discussed my book A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE and Jean, the club director in whose beautiful home they were meeting, had told them to come prepared with a question for me.

It all began many, many years ago when Ellen, who has since become a dear friend, read GLASTONBURY and wrote me a wonderful fan letter. Remember...

Lovers of English history around the world were thrilled at the news that "A skeleton found beneath a Leicester car park has been confirmed as that of English king Richard III.

"Experts from the University of Leicester said DNA from the bones matched that of descendants of the monarch's family.

"Lead archaeologist Richard Buckley, from the University of Leicester, told a press conference to applause: "Beyond reasonable doubt it's Richard."

I have been a champion of King Richard III for many years, ever since reading Josephine Tey’s excellent historical sleuthing novel Daughter...

I have long been enamored with the beauty and the deep sense of the spiritual in icons. I have many hanging above my desk and find them an enhancement to my own morning prayers. So I use the theft of an icon as the inciting incident in A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH, book 2 in my Monastery Murders:

I then continue to explore the meaning and history of icons as Felicity races from convent to convent across England...

Donna:

K. Dawn, welcome to "Deeds of darkness; Deeds of Light." I love doing blog exchanges, so let me invite our readers to turn over to your blog www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com to read about my latest when they finish here. But first, K. Dawn, tell us what Double Identity is about.

K. Dawn:

Seventeen-year old Bree is shocked when she discovers she has a twin sister, even more shocked to find that she's an identical twin. When Bree's sister becomes obsessed with her boyfriend, Luke, Bree must decide who wants who and who's telling the truth.

Donna...

Donna:  love the Victorians, I love Scotland and I love Christmas, so it’s little wonder that I was immediately drawn to Liz Curtis Higgs’ new Christmas novella set in Victorian Scotland A Wreath of Snow. (And did I mention that I also love Liz Curtis Higgs?) 

For almost 14 centuries St. Cuthbert has been inspiring and mystifying people. His simple, holy life lived in as much obscurity as he could manage on not-remote-enough islands off the coast of Northumbria, the amazing account of the 200-year-journey of the Cuthbert Folk guarding his relics throughout northern England and southern Scotland, his uncorrupted body surviving the ravages of the Dissolution. . . the story continues to today, inspiring Believers anew with the power of Holiness.

My efriend, the English poet David Grieve who is also a chaplain at Durham Cathedral, was inspired anew this morning during his private prayers at St. Cuthbert's Shrine. This is the...

Donna:  My guest today is Ilene Schneider, author of the Rabbi Aviva Cohen mysteries Chanukah Guilt and Unleavened Dead and a rabbi herself.

First of all, Ilene, tell us about writing Unleavened Dead.

Ilene:  One day,...

Award-winning author and marketing guru Lillian Brummet joins us today to share tips for other writers, and to let us take a peek into her office life. Lillian is a radio host, a blog manager and freelance writer - she is also the author of 5 books to date. The main focus of all the work she and her husband are involved in is to inspire hope in others, helping them realize the value of their efforts and encouraging them to become more positive and proactive in life. Find out more about the Brummets @: http://www.brummet.ca and read my interview on "Finding the Drive to...

That's one thing about life in this electronic age— it's never boring. Just when you think you've caught up with the latest thing, along comes something new.

My learning curve today included entering the brave new world of Authorgraph. I was introduced to it by the amazing Stacy Juba, who is never behind the curve, I jumped in with both feet and found the water to be just fine.

I can now offer personalized autographs to my readers around the world. This is for any edition of any book I've written: Paperback, hardback, out-of-print, ebooks. . . if you can find it on Amazon I can send you a personalized autograph for it. And you don't have to buy the book on Amazon--or at all. I can send autographs to readers who have had my books for years, or haven't yet purchased (or been given) one. Of course, this works perfectly if you want to give an autographed book as a Christmas present or...

I am a firm believer in travelling light, so I’m delighted to have as my guest today Cara Lopez Lee, who travels even lighter than I do, to share how she decides what’s truly important in packing and in life. Cara is one of my fellow authors from the brand new e-book 25 Years in the Rearview Mirror, 52 Authors Look Back are doing a blog exchange today, so after you read Cara’s article here you can read mine on her blog at http://ning.it/SxQKgp

If you enjoy magazine columns and Chicken Soup for the Soul books, then you're sure to enjoy our collection of essays, designed to warm your heart, raise your spirits and compel you to examine your own life. Read about school days, quirky jobs, romance, raising a family, hard times, the writing journey, and find out what makes your favorite characters tick. Get a full listing of authors,...

I’m playing a new game called blog tag today I’m "it"! I was invited by the lovely Stacy Juba who included my essay in her ebook 25 Years in the Rearview Mirror, 52 Authors Look Back http://ning.it/OxPZSt If you enjoy magazine columns...

My guest today is Carole Shmurak , a fellow author from the brand new e-book 25 Years in the Rearview Mirror, 52 Authors Look Back . Carole and I are doing a blog exchange today, both discussing Dorothy L. Sayer's influence on our lives. So after you read Carole's interview here you can read mine on her blog at   http://wp.me/ph91A-6d
                       

If you enjoy magazine columns and Chicken Soup for the Soul books, then you're sure to enjoy our collection of essays, designed to warm your heart, raise your spirits and compel you to examine your own life. Read about school days, quirky jobs, romance, raising a family, hard times, the writing journey, and find out what makes your favorite characters tick.Get a full listing...

Donna: My guest today is the lovely Jessie Anderson whose young adult novel AT WHAT COST about an important and sensitive topic was released this summer. Welcome, Jessie.

Jessie: Thanks for having me, Donna!

Donna: To get started, tell us something about yourself, Jessie.

Jessie: I live in a small town in Western New York with my husband and three kids. I'm a former English teacher, and I now spend my time writing while the kids are at school and the baby is sleeping. I volunteer at the local library and sing in...

Karen McCullough, one of my fellow authors from the new e-book 25 Years in the Rearview Mirror, 52 Authors Look Back, and I are doing a blog exchange, so after reading her post here, you can check out my post on her blog at http://kmccullough.com/kblog/?p=376
If you enjoy magazine columns and Chicken Soup...

Welcome. Norma Huss. I love the fact that you call yourself "The Grandma Moses of Mystery Writing" and can't wait to hear how you earned that title.

Donna, thank you so much for hosting me on your blog today-and for exchanging blogs with me. Since this is an exchange, as soon as your readers finish here I hope they'll come on over to my blog and read your article there: http://tinyurl.com/cjhbcrf

We are both part of the 25 Years in The Rearview Mirror tour. If you enjoy magazine columns and Chicken Soup for the Soul books, then you're sure to enjoy our collection of essays, designed to warm your heart, raise your spirits and compel you to examine your own life. Read about school days, quirky jobs, romance, raising a family, hard times, the writing journey, and find out what makes your favorite characters tick. Get a full listing of authors, essay titles...

I'd like to welcome Beth Kanell, one of my fellow authors from the brand new e-book 25 Years in the Rearview Mirror, 52 Authors Look Back.  Beth is stopping by as part of the 25 Years in the Rearview Mirror Blog Tour. If you enjoy magazine columns and Chicken Soup for the Soul books, then we're sure you'll enjoy our collection of essays, designed to warm your heart, raise your spirits and compel you to examine your own life. Get a full listing of authors, essay titles and retailers here: http://ning.it/OHLH0y

With leaves turning autumnal and the stores filling up with trick-or-treats and spooky decorations, Beth is going to help us get in...

Today Tracy Krauss one of my fellow authors from the brand new e-book 25 Years in the Rearview Mirror, 52 Authors Look Back are doing a blog exchange today, so after you read Tracy’s interview here you can read min on her blog at http://ning.it/OxPZSt

If you enjoy magazine columns and Chicken Soup for...

As much as I love research trips that take me across the water to some of my favorite spots ( I'm often accused of choosing the settings of my books by where i want to go next— which is perfectly true) the down side of that is that I never go any place as just a tourist. if a site isn't on my research list, I don't take time for it.

That's why having a whole 24 hours of my own in London at the end of my recent research trip was pure luxury.

At least, that's how it turned out. I wasn't so sure at first. The day before I received a message from the friend I had planned to stay with that she had a family emergency and had to fly to Paris. Well, certainly London is full of (expensive) hotels. I didn't exactly worry that I'd be on the street, but my first thought turned to other friends (unavailable) and to the monks I had stayed with before (moved). How about the nuns my son-in-law stayed with?  No longer taking guests. Did they know of any other religious houses? Yes! The Franciscan Sisters of Malta—...

I'd like to welcome Vicki Delaney, one of my fellow authors from the brand new e-book 25 Years in the Rearview Mirror, 52 Authors Look Back. We’re doing a blog exchange today, so I’m guesting on Vicki’s blog at: http://ning.it/Olv8Hr

If you enjoy magazine columns and Chicken Soup for...

I am so pleased to have Claire Dunn as my guest today. I have just read a magazine article about Claire's new novel, actually her first novel, Mortal Fire, and a truly gripping excerpt from the book. I can promise, this is a book you don't want to miss! But before yourush out to buy the book, let's hear from Claire herself, and then, if you can, take just one more minute to hop on over to Claire's blog where she is hosting an interview with yours truly http://ning.it/NKGtuQ

And now, here's Claire—　

Donna, thank you so much for inviting me as your guest on your blog, and I have the pleasure of reciprocating with you on my blog! Although we work on opposite sides of the Atlantic, we write in a similar genre and our books have much in common, combining history, mystery and a touch...

second edition cover

ebook cover

Original cover

Yes, Glastonbury Tor has seen it all: Celtic Druids, Roman soldiers, Saint Patrick, King Arthur and his knights, Saint Dunstan and the builders of the magnificent Glastonbury Abbey, Henry VIII's vandals who demolished the abbey and executed the last abbot on the very top of the Tor. . .

But the ages I'm thinking of at the moment are mine because in the 20 years of its existence, my novel Glastonbury which tells all 1500 years of its history is now in its third edition. This time a special edition just for ereaders. http://ning...

As people around the world follow the London Olympics, Fay Sampson reports from England, sharing her response to the stellar Opening Ceremonies:

I’ve just had one of those exchanges with a reader that can make a writer’s whole week— or maybe even, month. One of the glories of the internet is making conversations like this available around the world. This one is from England, which I especially prize since that’s where my Monastery Murders series is set.

With permission from the writer, I’ll quote:

SC: Just finished reading "A Very...

"Donna, are you watching the Opening Ceremonies?  They just carried the flag to the top of Glastonbury Tor!" My friend rang from England. Another friend sent me a Facebook message from Kentucky.

We hadn't seen the opening of the London Olympics yet. But now we have! Glastonbury Tor recreated in the center of the Olympic stadium in London. A children's choir singing "Jerusalem":

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountain green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon...

Preparing for the upcoming launch of AN UNHOLY COMMUNION, the third title in The Monastery Murders, Monarch Books has decided to give the whole series a new, darker, more mysterious look. This is particularly appropriate because AN UNHOLY COMMUNION is a darker book as a quiet Welsh pilgrimage becomes a life-and-death struggle with evil.

Arriving at this new look has been an interesting process because the proposed cover they first sent me was somewhat more mysterious that that for earlier titles, but still in the original format of the series:

Not only will the look be different, the size will also be slightly different. I could give you the exact dimensions, but since it was explained to me in terms of millimeters it’s easiest just to say that it will be standard trade paperback which I’m told is the most popular in American...

Be sure you read to the end for details of how to win a free copy of A MIDSUMMER EVE'S NIGHTMARE.

"Write what you know" is the oldest chestnut in the arsenal of advice to writers. And probably the silliest. How many of us could write any sort of novel— let alone a murder mystery— based on what we know?

And yet, I'd have to say that all of my books have grown out of my real life experiences. Except for the murders, you understand. The fact that so...

I always look forward to receiving Veronica Heley’s newsletter. Veronica, the author of something like 72 books) is one of the most gracious ladies I know, and she’s the creator of one of my favorite fictional sleuths— Ellie Quick. I found this month’s newsletter so delightful and so informative I asked Veronica if I could share it with my readers. Besides Veronica’s charming voice coming through so clearly, it also gives a realistic and humorous glimpse into the life of a writer:　

May was a mixture of work and play. We stole away to our favourite holiday destination – Bruges – for a week, and I didn’t touch a computer for seven days. Well, I did think about this and that for the next book. It takes a long time for me to ponder this and that before I actually start writing the next story, so this was...

Celebrate with me! I just clicked the send button! With a great "Woo-hoo!" AN UNHOLY COMMUNION, book 3 in the Monastery Murders is on its way to the publisher!

Strapline: "A quiet Welsh Pilgrimage becomes a life-and-death struggle between good and evil"

People often ask me how long it takes me to write a book. This one has been quite a model of efficiency. Here’s the saga, beginning with that all-important research trip:

The idea rattled around in my head and in notes on my computer for some time, but by early in 2011 they were well enough formed that I was planning my research trip. I needed two things: to experience a walking pilgrimage...

I’m still shaking a bit--35 years in this business and I’ve just received the most amazing review of my career from "The Bookish Libraria"

The Bookish Dame's Review

Beginning week 3 of my Pump Up Your Book Tour and great fun it's been so far with two weeks yet to go. Just wanted to share some highlights to date:

From A YEAR OF JUBILEE REVIEWS

I love a good mystery and put it in a monastery and historic churches in London, makes it all the more fun and suspenseful! . . .

This novel is fast paced...

Whether an author loves or dreads them, whether you consider them the best part of the job or the worst part, the fact of the matter is that author interviews are part of the job. And it’s important to make the most of every opportunity.

Today I was interviewed for The Examiner which boasts 20 million readers...

It's always an open question— what's most important in how readers react to your novel: setting, plot, characters. . . ?

I most often choose what I'll read on the basis of background. I want to read a book set in a place where I want to spend time. Perhaps that relates to the escapism function of literature. But at the end of the day, no matter how much I love the place, if there aren't people I like there I won't finish the book.

That's one of the reasons I was so delighted with this new review...

Just received the Polish translation of A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE. The only words I can read are my name on the front and Kate Charles on the back who gave a very generous endorsement. The cover art is an interesting translation of the picture of Fountains Abbey from the English language version with the addition of Lindisfarne Castle on top— a perfectly valid addition since Lindisfarne does feature in the novel.

Oh, and Corpus Delicti which is their name for their mystery serios— a great choice, I think.

Translation:

MURDER IN THE CLOISTER

In life you...

Just as the Great Easter Vigil, traditionally celebrated just before dawn on Easter morning, is thehigh point of the Christian year, so is it the climax of Felicity's search for the murderer in A Darkly Hidden Truth:

They met in total darkness on the wide gravel path in front of the church. Felicity guessed it must be something before four a.m. A lone bird on an overhead branch proclaimed its faith in the approaching dawn, but the sky showed not a streak of promise. At least it had quit raining, but the pre-dawn damp was just as chill.

...

Yes, A Darkly Hidden Truth, The Monastery Murders 2, is a murder mystery with lots of action. Felicity spends most of her time finding dead bodies and solving the crime; chasing murderers and being chased by them; rescuing Antony or being rescued by him. But she does occasionally take time out for worship. After all, she is studying theology in a monastery and thinking of becoming a nun.

So here’s her Good Friday at the Community of the Transfiguration:

The Solemn Liturgy continued with readings, Psalms and prayers. All stood for the singing of the Passion according to St. John by the cantors. At the line ". . . He gave up his spirit" all genuflected and paused in silence. Cynthia was right. The silence was...

In A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH, the second of my Monastery Murders, Felicity, who enjoys extravagant liturgy to the fullest, has been anticipating experiencing the amazing experience she has heard that Holy Week will be in the Community of the Transfiguration where she studies in the theological college run by the monks.

As the Maundy...

Sally Wright is with us again today in her series about the backgrounds for her wonderful Ben Reese Mysteries. The Watches of the Night is my favorite of the series— along with Code of Silence and, well, all the others— so I'm fascinated to read of the impact discovering the perfect setting in Tuscany had on her writing.

 Over to you, Sally:

Settings get me started, and give me all kinds of story ideas, and then become as alive for me as the characters in my books.

The Ben Reese novels take place in the early 1960s, so there’s always a great deal of research that has to be done on site, especially since earlier...

A writer’s community is an important part of her life. We all need like-minded people to support us, encourage us, weep with us in hard times and celebrate with our successes. When I started out in this business more than 30 years ago my community experiences were limited to a once-yearly writers’ conference and a once-a-month meeting of local writers. Plus an occasional postal letter (written on real paper with a real postage stamp— remember those days?).

Now the world is at my fingertips and I belong to lots of writers’ groups, including...

Donna: Sally Wright is back with us today to share more about the backgrounds of her wonderful Ben Reese Mysteries— all of which are now available in ebook format. Today Sally shares about a passion we share— Scotland— followed by an equally enchanting location— Oxford. Looking at these pictures can give you some idea why I'm such a big fan of the Ben Reese books— reading them is like taking a trip to some of my favorite places.

Sally: Typically, I start with some idea of a basic plot, or a situation I want to explore, or a couple of characters I’ve become obsessed with - and then I go where I think I want to place the book. It’s when I get there and...

Donna: I am so delighted to announce that all six of Sally Wright's wonderful Ben Reese Mysteries are now available in ebook format! In celebration, I've asked Sally to give my readers a peek at the story behind the story and tell us about how she developed the backgrounds that play wuch an important part in these stories. 

Sally, let's start with the last of the series first. Tell us about Code of Silence.

Donna: Welcome Debbi. Thank you so much for being my guest and for hosting me on your blog today as well. 

I've been a fan of Debbi and her sassy, loyal, quick-witted Sam McRae ever since I won a copy of Debbi's first book IDENTITY CRISIS. That seems such a short time ago and here's Debbi with a track record of a New York Times bestseller and her third novel launching this weekend.

I think a lot of Debbi's success is due to the intelligence underlying her stories. They aren't just clever plots,...

Oh, my goodness, I had this great idea to do a series on the background of A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH, the newest of my Monastery Murder books, and here it is more than two months since my post on the atmospheric, soggy, boggy Norfolk Broads where dead bodies can be washed out of the earth and nefarious villains lurk in ancient church towers. Http://ning.it/wVudAM

Well, I suppose an article every two months can still be called a series, but that wasn’t exactly what I...

My guest today is debut novelist Becky Lyles whose romantic suspense novel I had the pleasure of reading pre-publication. My verdict: 

Now, Becky, tell us about your journey writing The Winds of Wyoming: 

In the writing world it could be 1776 all over again. Well, except for the reliance on up-to-the-minute technology, that is. But it’s certainly the day of independence and independents. Everything one reads about publishing focuses on the Indies. No, not the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia, but authors who are independently publishing their own books through the miracle of electronics. The idea is that they do all the work and reap all the benefits.

The argument often goes something like this: "...

2011 was a great year for the mystery novel, as authors young and old stepped up their game to produce some of the most nuanced and exhilarating works of the genre. While popular U.S. mystery authors like Janet Evanovich and Susan Grafton boast huge sales of their latest novels, lesser known authors published new works that challenged conventions of the genre. Louise Penny’s psychological thriller A Trick of the Light and Rosamund Lupton’s family-twist on the detective story in Sister are two entries that continue to keep mystery fiction continually fresh and exciting.

Thank you to Laura and Bruce at Rediscovered Books and to all my friends who came out to hear about the latest in the Monastery Murders, have books signed and to be so wonderfully supportive— and to my lovely husband who took the pictures. I love you all!

...

Welcome, mystery writer and rabbi, Ilene Schneider. I met Ilene on a mystery writers' loop where I've enjoyed her posts on mystery writing for years. Last summer when I needed research help regarding first century rabbis I turned to ilene. She was wonderfully generous in her help. (You should have fun finding your bits of wisdom when An Unholy Communion comes to light, Ilene.) For now I wanted to share her clerical mysteries from another perspective with my readers. Welcome, Ilene!

First, her bio: Rabbi Ilene Schneider, Ed.D., one of the first women rabbis ordained in the U.S., hasn’t decided what she wants to be when she grows up. She is currently Coordinator of Jewish Hospice for Samaritan Hospice, Marlton, NJ, where she lives with her husband, Rabbi Gary Gans, and two “millennial” sons. Chanukah Guilt is the first Rabbi Aviva Cohen mystery. She has completed the second, Unleavened Dead, and is...

Today I'm doing a blog exchange with K. Dawn Byrd. K. Dawn is a multi-published author who writes romance, romantic suspense, historical, and young adult fiction. She's an avid blogger and interviews authors who give away several books per week on her blog at www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com. If you're the winner of a book, be sure and ask the author to sign it for you. So when you finish here, hope on over to her blog to read my interview and enter the drawing for A Darkly Hidden Truth. 

When she's not reading or writing, K. Dawn enjoys spending time with her husband of 16 years. Their favorite evening consists of a leisurely walk beside a gorgeous lake near their home while plotting the...

One of the wonderful things about sending...

First the shouting and champagne cork-popping (or at least a can of Sprite) and then the nail-biting. After all the months of planning, researching, writing, editing, rewriting, comes the waiting. Then you see the page proofs and the cover— something akin to seeing the photos from an ultra-sound. Then more waiting. At last the book launch. And there is much rejoicing.

Only to be followed by more waiting for the reviews. What if, after all that— months, maybe years of your life— nobody likes it?

All of which helps explain my deep joy, gratitude and relief for the review I received today from the award-winning, highly respected mystery writer Radine...

In celebration of the January 1, 2012, North American launch of my clerical mystery A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH, Monastery Murders 2, I’m launching a series of blogs about the research for this contemporary murder mystery which requires Felicity and Father Antony, my amateur sleuths to spend considerable time exploring atmospheric places and understand a good deal of history in order to untangle the exceedingly tangled plot.

As you might guess, research is one of my great joys in the job of writing and Father Antony, who lectures on church history at the theological college Felicity is attending, shares my joys. Felicity, a thoroughly modern American woman, who chose to study in a monastery in rural Yorkshire in what she can only describe...

I have blogged before about the vibrant mystery writing and reading scene in Calgary:  recounts my delight in meeting Louise Penny and Peter Robinson at last year's Calgary Bookfest and http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/articles.php?id=41 reports on my two book signings at The Owl's Nest bookstore on the launch of A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE .

Tonight I was back again at The Owl's Nest with my Calgary crimje-writer friends Linda Kupecek and Jayne Barnhard.      

This event was...

I have twice had the experience of spending Remembrance Sunday, AKA Veteran's Day, in other countries in recent years and have found it a most moving experience both times. Both in England three years ago and this year in Canada the heartfelt nation-wide observances and the church services have been extremely affective.

This year in Calgary we began at my grandchldren's school on Thursday (since...

Friday, 7:10 A. M., 4 November, 2011: The phone rang. "Mum, my water broke. We’re our the way to the hospital."

Well, I had wanted to be there (there being across the border in Calgary) for the predicted 11/11/11 birth of our daughter’s third child— our 11th grandchild. But we weren’t scheduled to leave until Sunday, so this be Elizabeth’s first time to give birth without my being there— even though the other two were born across the water in England.

Nothing to do but get on with my day. The reading from Revelation 4:11 for Morning Prayer was especially appropriate; "Glory and honour and power are yours by right, O Lord our God. For you created...

I know, we haven't had Thanksgiving yet. But Halloween is over, although our neighbor's ghost is still blowing in the tree outside my window along with all the lovely autumn leaves. Still, it really is time to start thinking about your Christmas shopping— there's nothing worse than leaving that until the last minute.

So I've invited my friend Kathi Macias to help us out with a suggestion for the booklovers on your gift list. Kathi, tell us about your latest, A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY HOME.

Thank you, Donna. I'm so excited to have this opportunity to tell your readers about my first-ever Christmas novel. I've always thought it would be fun to write one, and now I've actually done it. In addition, I've contracted...

The second annual Idaho Book Extravaganza was officially a huge success. Participation trebled that of last year— and projections are that it will triple again next year. Boise’s Convention Center on the Grove was a perfect setting, especially with the autumn foliage on the trees filling the courtyard outside.

Although the official opening was earlier in the day, for me the event began Friday evening, with the awards ceremony for Idaho’s Top 50 Authors. I was thrilled to be one of the award recipients along with so many of my friends.

The Author Mixer followed. I shared a table with my sister writer Kelly Jones whose latest art history mystery THE WOMAN WHO HEARD COLOR was released earlier this month. I enjoyed meeting friends and readers old and new and signing my Monastery Murders A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE and A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH (not yet officially available in North America until January), and my epics GLASTONBURY and...

My guest today is novelist Donn Taylor whose novel The Lazarus File, like its namesake, has returned to life. I asked Donn to tell us about  the research and writing of this most unusual novel. Over to you, Donn:

Thanks for inviting me onto your blog, Donna, and thanks for the prompt about how I came to write my suspense novel The Lazarus File. For Lazarus has been resurrected once again—this time as an e-book available through Amazon and B&N.

Unlike my mystery Rhapsody in Red, which developed rather suddenly, Lazarus was a long time in coming about. In the mid-1960s I was assigned as commander of an Army aviation company in Verdun, France, and my pilots were flying deHavilland Otters all over free Europe and the Mediterranean area. I happened then to...

Thank you so much, dear, loyal friends, for voting for me in the Authors Show contest to be included in their book 50 Great Writers You Should be Reading. Thanks to your great response we did it and I'll have the fun of being included in the book.

All the finalists were asked to write an essay on the writing life. Here's my entry:

     The Most-Asked Question

No, the most-asked question is not "Where do your ideas come from?" Although...

My guest today is Chris Nickson, writer of noir historical mysteries set in Leeds. I met Chris through an online British historical novelists group and we connected because his books are set just a few miles from my fictional Kirkthorpe where The Monastery Murders have their beginnings before Felicity and Antony race further afield chasing and being chased by murderers.

I got to know Leeds and the area around it when my daughter and son-in-law were studying at the theological college that serves as a model for my College of the Transfiguration so I...

The first drawing I ever entered to win an advanced reader copy of a book on the mystery loop DorothyL was for Peg Herring's Her Highness's First Murder and I won! It was a delightful read,...

Dear Friends and Readers,

Please help! I’ve been chosen as a finalist to appear in the book Fifty Great Authors You Should be Reading. As you can imagine, I would be thrilled to have my profile and books listed in this book along with other up-and-coming authors.

But it’s up to you. All you have to do is click on this link The Authors Show 2011 Contest

Scroll down to the VOTE HERE link. (I think you can skip the survey.) Then scroll down to Donna Fletcher Crow (listed alphabetically) and click.

Thank you so much! I greatly appreciate your help. It would...

Sally Wright, one of my favorite authors, celebrating the ebook release of Out of The Ruins, #4 in her superb Ben Reese mysteries, recalls the serendipitous experiences and the extraordinary people that brought her to the writing of this book and draws some valuable life lessons. Welcome, Sally, it's always an honour to have you visit "Deeds of Darkness' Deeds of Light."

The writing of Out Of The Ruins grew out of a lot of serendipitous experiences that gradually floated together in my brain to form a fictional pattern. Now...

A good time was had by all. Especially by me.

The ladies of the Cross of Christ Lutheran book club couldn’t have given me a warmer welcome or more gracious hospitality. The scones were made from my own favorite recipe (but I didn’t have to make them) and each lady was given the recipe printed on peach paper rolled with a blue ribbon.

Once I had piled as much lemon curd, orange marmalade and  perfectly whipped cream (thank you, Cynthia) on my scone as I could manage— setting a good example for the others— we sat at long, white damask-covered...

Neither my husband nor I took Saturday off— that's one of the less felicitous things about both being self-employed and both working from home.  We tend to work pretty much nonstop.

Saturday evening we finally sat down and put our feet up to watch a favorite TV program— "MI-5" or "Spooks" depending which side of the pond you're watching it on.  Then the phone rang.

"Donna, what's going...

I’m celebrating early!

2012 will mark the twentieth anniversary of the publication of my historical epic GLASTONBURY, The Novel of Christian England. Yes, TWENTY years! And I’m not a bit grayer than when I started. ( I do write fiction, you understand.)

In this ephemeral market twenty years and still in print is no small thing. Although, I must explain that it did go OOP...

My guest today is Kathi Macias.  Kathi is known for writing award-winning books that tackle tough subjects.  I'll let Kathi tell you about it in her own words:

People often ask me why I write about such dark subjects, such as the Persecuted Church or human trafficking. I answer, “Because I am a Christian, and I believe I am called to be my brother’s keeper.”

Deliver Me From Evil, the first book in my new Freedom series, depicts the horrors of human trafficking. The three books in the series follow one after the other, taking the readers into the sordid world of young girls kidnapped or purposely sold into...

Oh, my goodness! There they are! All three of them!

That’s the way it is in this business: A publisher accepts a book— or in this case a series— and you’re very excited. Then you wait. And pray.

The cover artist asks you for input (if you’re very, very lucky) and you’re very excited. Then you wait. And pray.

Maybe you can’t tell a book by its cover, but let’s face it— if the cover isn’t good...

 I'm Back!

I wonder if anyone noticed I was gone? I noticed. Especially when I returned home to 781 messages in my inbox. That, however, is proof that I spent three weeks totally on vacation— I didn’t do e-mail even once. Romping with grandchildren is much more fun!

So what did you do? Thank you for asking. The family news first:

Stan and I drove to Calgary (15 hours straight through) for a half family reunion with two of our four children and their...

Well, sortof. "Holy Writ," an article in the July 16-22, 2011, issue of The Economist (p.62) reports that St. Cuthbert’s Gospel, a tiny book barely three inches across is to be purchased for £9 million. http://ning.it/qSn2dC

Well, now, that’s attention-grabbing news to any book lover. And I applaud the fact that private donors have given the money to buy the book from the Jesuits at the beautiful Stonyhurst College in Lancashire in order to keep the treasure in England— appropriately at the British Library.

But on a personal level, the really wonderful thing to me was that The Economist article recounted the fact that this Gospel book, made more than 1,300 years ago at the Venerable Bede’s monastery at Jarrow, was placed in Cuthbert’s coffin by the monks of Lindisfarne when they fled their island home in fear of Viking raiders in the year 793. The Gospel, along with other treasures including Cuthbert’s silver portable altar, richly embroidered vestments and an ivory comb, journeyed with Cuthbert’s body through northern England and southern Scotland for 200 years cared for by faithful Benedictine monks who became known as ...

I have long been a fan of Ellie Quick, Veronica Heley's gently determined, overage detective.  When I heard that Veronica has a new Ellie Quick adventure just out I cheered and then asked Veronica to share some of Ellie's background with my "Deeds of Darkness; Deeds of Light" readers. 

I asked Veronica especially to focus on the uneasy mother-daughter relationship between Ellie and her difficult daughter Diana.  I find...

Some days, well, let’s face it— most days— are pretty slogging: get up, get organized, morning prayers, exercise, read email, get to work. . . But once in awhile one gets a boost that gives energy to the whole day, maybe the whole week. I had one of those recently in the form of a letter from a reader. With her permission, I share:

Donna, I just read my first "Elizabeth and Richard" mystery. I loved it!!! I have to admit, when I started reading, I didn't think you could pull it off -- a murder at a murder mystery week? But, boy, you can spin a tale! I loved every moment of the intrigue, the romance, the suspense. I have to admit, I didn't like [the villain] from the get-go. He just got on my nerves, somehow. Richard, now, he's my kind of guy. Sweet, considerate, smart. And Elizabeth is a great character, of course. If only I could have seen photos of her outfits -- you made them sound so wonderful! I loved the scene where Elizabeth and Richard...

I have put forth a lot of effort this Fourth of July weekend encouraging readers looking for an Independence Day themed book to take a look at...

Looking for a politically-themed novel to go along with your Fourth of July weekend relaxing? STEPHANIE, Days of Turmoil and Victory, book 3 in my Daughters of Courage trilogy, might just be the mustard in your potato salad. (Actually, I use vinegar, but you get the image.)

For starters, how about spending your Fourth of July in northern Idaho at the 1971 rock festival sponsored by the Universal Life Church? Billed as a "church picnic" it was sure to be a bigger and better Woodstock: better bands, better weather, better drugs. Stephanie is all set to enjoy the warmth, the freedom, the creativity. And her...

I’m proud to announce that we have agreed a deal for The Hunted Hare to be published next year by Monarch as the first in a new crime series, The Aidan Mysteries.

The theme of the series will be the sacred places of the British Isles – a good excuse to revisit some of my favourite places. The first one is set in Pennant Melangell, a remote shrine church in the Welsh mountains. The legend is of a hunted hare that was found being...

Continuing the series suggested to me by my friend Rob Walker on how I titled my books, I move on to ELIZABETH, Days of Loss and Hope, book 2 in my family saga trilogy

The Daughters of Courage.

As I explained in last week’s article on the naming of KATHRYN, book 1 in the series, titles are the prerogative of the publisher, and after my previous experience of committing the solecism of insulting the name my editor had...

A very wise and generous writer friend, Rob Walker by name, advised me, "Donna, your titles are extremely good. You should, one by one over a period of time, discuss how you arrived at the title of each of your books."

Because I am an only child I’m a knee-jerk obedient so I try only to listen to good advice. I think Rob’s suggestion qualifies, so here goes.

I start with my newest series to go up on ebook format The Daughters of Courage, beginning, logically with KATHRYN, Days of Struggle and Triumph, book 1 in the trilogy. I’m especially anxious to get the word out about this book since my publisher, at my request, has just lowered the price to 99...

Welcome, K Dawn.  I just realized what fun this is to have a Byrd guesting on a Crow's blog.  And, as a fun turnabout, I'm also guesting on K Dawn's blog later today:  http://kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com/2011/05/register-to-win-donna-f-crowes-shadow.html#comments

Do you ever wonder what your grandmother or great grandmother would have to say about the internet and blogs and Facebook and Twitter and all the fun tools we have at our fingertips? Well, today my grandmothers made it into cyberspace. Of course, they did it virtually, as most things are done these days.

Today my pioneer family saga The Daughters of Courage went live on Amazon, Nook, and— get this— Amazon Germany. (What the Germans...

What a fun idea.  Mystery Writer and blogger Marilyn Meredith and I are exchanging blogs today.  Please stay right here and enjoy Marilyn's story of the influences on her writing life and learn about her latest book Angel Lost, but as soon as you're through, go on over to Marilyn's blog (http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/2011/05/donna-crows-research-for-her-monastery.html)  and read about how my research influences my writing and my recent experiences researching in Wales.

And now, Here's Marilyn: 

My Writing Life

Looking back, I think I was always a writer. My first attempt was before I could actually write. I would listen to the soap opera "My Gal Sunday" on the radio with mom and draw pictures about the story. Once I actually learned to write, I wrote all sorts of stories. At first, mostly like the ones I was reading in particular, I know I wrote my version of a "Little House on the Prairie" story. During my growing up years I wrote plays for the neighborhood...

Note from Donna:  I'm delighted with this article on research from my co-blogger Fay Sampson because the superb period detail she uses was one of the first things that attracted me to her books.

Imagine my delight a couple of weeks ago at being in St. David's Cathedral— way out on the very southwestern tip of Wales (next stop Newfoundland) and finding one of Fay's books in the bookstore: 

And now, from Fay—

I recently went to a writer’s conference where one of the speakers was a crime novelist. I was surprised to hear her say that she didn’t think...

Eboracum, the ancient Brigantian settlement which was garrisoned by a Roman legion in AD 71 and became capital of the province of Northern Britain, better known today as York, was the perfect meeting place for a group of history-loving mystery writers from three continents.

Dolores Gordon-Smith who lives in Manchester and sets her Jack Haldean mysteries in the 1920's, Jane Finnis who lives nearby and authors the Aurelia Marcella series set in Roman Britain, Rebecca Jenkins who lives in Durham and writes...

(As Jeeves said to Wooster.)

In plain English, I need your help, dear friends and gentle readers. In our brave new world, AKA The Jungle, of selling books electronically it’s all about getting your book to show up in the searches, especially on Amazon.

With just two clicks you can significantly help boost the sales of a friend’s book. But before I ask you to make those clicks, let me give you the numbers. About a week ago I read a significant article on marketing ebooks (or print as well, for that matter): http://randomizeme...

I’ve long said, and even before on this blog, that "Librarians are my best friend." It’s true for any reader, of course, but even more so for writers. Especially a writer of historical novels most of which are set 7000 miles away from home and require extensive research.

As I told the audience at the Spring Author Series at Library! At Cole & Ustick today, http://www.boisepubliclibrary.org/News_and_Events/Calendar/OnlineCalendar.shtml#/?i=1 I certainly would not have been there— nor...

With the expense of travelling these days and the easy, wide reach of the Internet, physical book tours and in-person book signings are becoming rarer and rarer. But there are still a lot of advantages to a real live author event.

Of course, number one has to be the joy of meeting your readers face to face, getting to show them your books and tell how they came to be, then the delight of a good question and answer session. A good book event always has a sense of energy that can inspire writers, readers and book sellers alike.

 ...

Kate, I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have the Queen of Clerical Mysteries visiting "Deeds of Darkness; Deeds of Light" Today. Before we get to your books, tell us something about yourself. I think all Anglophile Americans harbour just a bit of envy when they hear about a sister Yank...

My guest today is Rebecca Jenkins, AKA Martha Ockley who has an exciting new mystery novel just released by Monarch Books. 

Rebecca, I was so delighted to see your new book The Reluctant Detective in Monarch Books' new catalogue.  Tell us about Faith Morgan. 

Faith is a woman in her thirties who starts a career in the police-force then comes to believe that she is called become a minister in the Church of England.    Her decision to follow her...

In response to my earlier post regarding the long wait between book releases from one continent to another I had such interesting replies from friends around the world— with my undying gratitude— that I decided the conversation is worth being pulled from the comment box to its own post.

First, Julie wrote from Australia: "When will it be available in Australia?"

I immediately tried searching for A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE on Amazon AU and found it isn’t even listed. That prompted a quick query to my English publisher who...

An enormous "Thank you!" To all you who have asked, "When is the next one coming?" after reading A Very Private Grave, Book 1 in the Monastery Murders. Believe me, there is no sweeter music to a writer’s ears.

The good news is that Book 2, A Darkly Hidden Truth, is nearing the final phase of the editing process with manuscripts flying back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean by electronic magic between my brilliant and long-suffering editor Jan Greenough and myself. With each version the telling gets better and better. And with...

Donna:  My guest today— who isn't herself an escapee from a lunatic asylum, you undersatnd— is Debra Marvin.  Welcome, Debra.

Debra:  Hi Donna and thank you for inviting me to guest on your blog.

Donna:  I'm so glad you're here through the miracles of our electronic age.  Debra, I'll let you explain how we met.

Debra:  I recently put out a general call for help while composing a backlist of Celtic inspired books for my group blog, Inkwell Inspirations and it led to my meeting Donna‘online’. I&rsquo...

Of late I've become aware of an even newer, more immediate method of reaching readers than the virtual blog touring, which I enoy so much and had thought was cutting edge.  In recent weeks I've been interviewed over Skype twice, once as a video interview and once audio only, but including a Second Life connection, and I'm booked to do a podcast interview over the telephone.

It's all a lot of fun and I'm up for anything that helps me connect with readers, but I'm also very confused.  What's the difference between these various formats?  Is one better than another? ...

What a great day yesterday! A book signing for A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE at The Seattle Mystery Bookshop. It’s always fun to get out and about, explore new-to-me bookstores and meet readers, of course, but this day was so very extra special because a wonderful group of writer friends from the old days showed up.

First, about The Seattle Mystery Bookshop (http:/...

A mystery readers loop I belong to has been discussing the question, "Has a library changed your life?" Since my answer is such an emphatic "Yes!" I want to share the story in detail.

Waaaay back in the 1970’s when the earth and I were both a lot younger I had written my first novel, inspired by Georgette Heyer’s Venetia and set in post-Regency England. The book was Brandley’s Search, later to be reissued as Where Love Begins, part of my Cambridge Chronicles series. And at that moment it was in...

Okay, life, even the writing life, isn't a popularity contest, but I'll admit to scanning TOP TEN lists just on the chance I might find one of my books there.  Well, it did happen in 1996. So you can imagine my delight when I learned from Shannon Taylor Vannatter that my fictional romantic interview made the Top Ten list on her INKSLINGER Blog.       

                     ...

My guest today is New Jersey mystery writer Chris Redding.  Chris is visiting Deeds of Darkness; Deeds of Light as part of her blog tour for her new book Incendiary which releases in electronic format next week. Welcome, Chris, Best of luck with your new release and thank you for your timely holiday thoughts on family relationships.   

I am writing this blog on Thanksgiving weekend.  Why is this significant? Because my sister and her husband left a little over 24 hours ago, to drive back to North Carolina.  Up until a year and a half ago, they lived about 3 miles from my house. Work took them further away.  I've adapted, as I always do, to the change. Except for brief times when...

It was great at Rediscovered Books last night.  The additional snow held off long enough that the roads were reasonably clear and there was standing room only for my Boise launch party for A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE.

I read an excerpt from the book— enough to take them up to the blood-spattered body, of course, then spoke about how this story, that I had wanted to tell for so long, came to be after...

Having our Russian grandson with us for Thanksgiving has led me to muse on how fortunate we are to live in a country that sets aside a special day to give thanks to God.  And I am double blessed this year because I also got to celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada last month.  You can read my account of that here:  http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/articles.php?id=42

Also, preparing many of my mother's recipes for tomorrow's feast has provided opportunity for me to give thanks for my heritage and to ponder how  serving my mother's favorite dishes is a way of keeping her with me.  Interesting, isn't it, what an important link food is in keeping touch with...

Donna: My guest today is one of my favorite authors, Sally Wright, creator of the exquisitely written Ben Reese Mysteries.  Sally, tell us about Ben— the man in the books, the real-life man and the man who lives in your head. 

Sally: It's funny how writing a series of books about an ongoing character ends up making you feel as though you're talking about yourself.
I've been writing novels about Ben...

Jason Wilcox, Angela Abderhalden and I had souch a great time sharing a book at the Idaho Book Extravaganza we've decided to take our show on the road.  We'll be appearing at Hastings in Meridian this Saturday from Noon to Five.

We all love to talk to readers and writers, to share our books and show our book videos— and we especially love autographing books!  So if you're anywhere in the neighborhood of 1769 North Lake Place (between Locust Grove and meridian Rd. on Fairview) Saturday afternoon, please drop in and see us.

We have Mystery, history, romance, action, adventure, science fiction and thriller to offer.  That's a lot in just three books! ...

One of the best meetings this year of our Devon Writers Group was an inside view of a murder enquiry. Detective Superintendent Nigel Boulton talked us through 13 years of leading such investigations.

Did you know, for instance, that bodies, or, more usually, bits of bodies are routinely picked up by fishermen in their nets? That has something to do with our living at the westerly end...

I was thrilled when my publisher told me that Sam's Club is selling A Very Private Grave and it has been enormous fun to hear from friends around the country that they have, indeed, seen my book there.      ...

Meeting readers, connecting with writers, teaching classes on publishing, selling books. . . The First-ever Idaho Book Extrvaganza was an impressive success for all who participated.  The mayor of Meridian's opening speech set the theme for the weekend as she expressed her amazement that the Boise Valley was full of so much talent.  "We need to do more to get the word out,"  she declared.  Everyone heartily agreed.

After teaching my class on Writing the Realistic Novel, the importance and how-to of approaching research, I...

The glorious conclusion to my month-long stay in Calgary was getting to attend Wordfest with my mystery writer friend Linda Kupacek, author of Deadly Dues.

Wordfest is an International Writers Festival aimed at bringing readers and writers...

One of the great pleasures of a visit to Canada is how Canadian culture is such a skillful blend of American and English heritage and yet so distinctly Canadian.  This seemed especially apparent to me in experiencing my first Canadian Thanksgiving.

The holiday began by drawing from the English heritage as we celebrated...

Canadians are known for their open, welcoming hospitality and after my two book events there last week I can certainly vouch for that being a much-deserved reputation.

The Owl's Nest, an independent bookstore in the charming Britannia Shopping Plaza http://www.owlsnestbooks.com/ was the venue for both events:  a Saturday afternoon reading and book signing and the following Tuesday evening, a talk to Mystery Writers Ink, a very active writers' group. http://www.mysterywritersink.com/

The Saturday event had been advertised by the book store which maintains a regular schedule of speakers and I had sent postcards to my friends and contacts in the area, especially to the parish of St. John the Evangelist.  Mystery writers, old friends and parishioners turned...

The weather remains golden in Calgary, if cooler every day.  Today I noted a strip of frost on the garage roof.  Yesterday, though, we had a lovely outing to a near by historical site:  The Reader Rock Garden. 

In 1908 William Reader, his wife Rose and young son and daughter came to Calgary from England for Reader to assume the position of Parks Superintendent.  There had been 2 previous superintendents, neither of whom had done much or stayed long in this rather arid frontier outpost.

Reader and his family were given a fine Edwardian house on a...

Writers of historical novels--mysteries or otherwise--are often accused of living mmore in the past than the  present--at least, this historical writer is.  One of my favorite stories is of taking a chauffered punt ride Cambmridge with my teenage sons.  Throughout the ride I discussed the scenes on both sides of the Cam with our escort.  Afterwards my sons came up on each side of me and put their arms around me:  'Mom, you're amazing. You know everything.'

Talk about feeling chuffed!  When do your teenagers ever say that?  

And then the punch line:  'But it's all 200 years out of date...

A perfect autumn day in Calgary, sunny, golden and crisp. 

We took a long walk along the River Bow, complete with attempts at rock-skipping and two deer who observed us as intently as we observed them.

  Curves in the river path offered stunning view of the Calgary skyline, including the many cranes engaged in major construction projects in the city. especially on the Bow Tower which, when completed will be the tallest building in Calgary, designed by the architect who gave London its landmark Gerkin.

My son-in-law guide informed me that the only city in the world with more cranes engaged in building is Dubai.  Calgary now has 260 skyscrapers with 41 more under construction.  An additional 13 have been approved for building and 63 await approval.  Further evidence of the booming oil and gas industry that fuels all this activity was evidence in the two Canadian Pacific trains that crossed our...

Greetings from Calgary where we had a glorious sunny day--at last!  This...

A month in Calgary for a grandchild fix, a chance to do a bit of book promo and enjoy some lovely autumn color long before it comes to our trees south of the border, although I've learned that the iconic red maple leaf doesn't appear in the Alberta praries.

One of the highlights of our day yesterday was exploring the excellent military museums with displays that put the viewer in scenes typical of those encountered by soldiers in both World War I and II.  I was particularly interested in the World War I displays because my airplane reading was Dolores Gordon-Smith's excellent novel of that period FRANKIES' LETTER, not a battlefield novel, but rather, a spy novel about Anthony Brooke,  a young Englishman who had studied in Germany before the war and passed himself off as a native German as a student prank, but used the skill in deadly seriousness serving the intelligence service.  The tables are turned when...

We have had a string of delightful guests recently on Deeds of Darkness; Deeds of Light, and today I bring you another one.  Marian Allen and I have become friends through the wonders of virtual communication.  I especially admire her Flash Fiction— telling a short story in two or three sentences— because I am incredibly long-winded.  If you ash Marian about it below, I'm sure she will tell you how to get it on your Ereader for free.

I have also come to admire Marian as one of the most technologically savvy people I know, so today I've asked her to tell us what she learned in a course she took this summer about blogging....

I am delighted to have as my guest today DeAnna Julie Dodson, author of the popular Chastelayne Trilogy and the Annie's Attic Mystery Series.  Her books which fulfill her motto "Step Into Time" has won her thousands of devoted readers who are sure to be thrilled with her new historical mystery series set in the 1930's.  The book covers are mock-ups, but I think you'll agree with me that the final ones can't possibly be more stunning.  Over to you, DeAnna.

Good morning, Donna.  You ask, "What's...

I am so delighted that today our guest is Veronica Heley, an author much read and loved on both sides of the Atlantic.  Veronica has three mystery series which she will tell us all about.  Do leave her a comment or ask a question and be on the look-out for her books.

I started in crime many years ago - more...

A huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to all who entered my giveaway drawing to celebrate the North American release of A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE. I was completely chuffed to have 43 responses. . . until I read a posting on DorothyL that someone who did a giveaway on GoodReads had 600 responses. But never mind, your responses were quality!

I especially appreciate your taking time to give such thoughtful replies to my question, "Which endorsement did you like best and why?" The winners were pulled out of a hat (my rainy day in England travel hat) purely at random, but I did find it interesting that two of...

My guest today, coming to us all the way from Manchester, England, is Dolores...

Welcome, Edgy Christian Fiction Blog Tourers.  Can you believe this summer has gone so fast and this is the last post in our summer beach reads tour for edgy fiction?  Wait a minute— what am i saying?

 Me? Edgy? I’ve been known to describe my Monastery Murders series as "cozy thrillers." How edgy does that sound? And yet, I somehow feel that, as far as the Christian market is concerned, many will consider the high church world of A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE to be edgy.

So first, what is Edgy Christian fiction? That’s one of the topics we’ve set ourselves to explore on this exciting, first-ever blog tour by the "Marketing, Marketing, Marketing"...

My mother, a very wise woman, always said one should never pray for patience because the Bible says, "Tribulation worketh patience." So she always prayed for strength instead.

I can hardly say that the period of waiting between the June release of A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE in the UK and its September release in North America has been tribulation. But it has seemed like a very long time during which the best I could tell my lovely, and yes, patient, readers was,  "Well, you can pre-order it."

And it has taught me that one of the virtues of patience is that when the time finally arrives— and it always does— the...

Way back in the early 1990's when my Glastonbury was about to be published, my editor sent me a copy of his new release The Wounds of God the middle title in a trilogy by Penelope Wilcock.  I fell in love with...

Dear Gentle Reader— Ah, that lovely phrase snatched from Victorian novels— who would have expected to encounter its like in last Friday’s Wall Street Journal? (7/23/10) The "Dear Book Lover" column by Cynthia Crossen replied to a writer asking for "mysteries. . . for adults that aren’t, well, excessively adult" by saying that many libraries call them "gentle reads".

"Of course," Crossen reminds us, "one reader’s warm milk is another reader’s ipecac." And that can work either...

After more than 20 years as a professional writer and more than 30 books published, I spent 10 years in the wilderness of the unpublished. Coming back has been like starting a whole new career— at a time when most of my friends are retiring. Ten years ago there was no Facebook, no Twitter, there were no Ebooks and no blogs. It’s little wonder, then that I feel like Rip Van Winkle.

Facebook I came to easily since my daughter set up my account for me so she could more easily share pictures of my grandchildren. Now that’s a natural process. I, much later, set up my Author page with considerable trepidation. Who would care? Why would anyone join? I’m still amazed and...

What is Edgy Christian fiction, and why does it make for the very best in summer reading? A group of exciting and excited-about-our-topic authors will be exploring that subject this month in a first-of-its-kind blog tour which we invite our readers to follow with as much anticipation as we feel.

The schedule of fascinating topics and the blogs on which they will be appearing on successive dates are...

"Pick a date and we’ll do an Ebook push," my publisher said. This was my new, young, cutting edge publisher who tells me we’re here to "embrace the technology."

Okay, I’ll play your game. "Er— June 30." Sounded good to me. It was several weeks away— enough time for me to get used to the idea, and it was my daughter’s birthday.

A few days later he told me how to create an event on my Facebook page. I’m an only child, so therefore a knee-jerk obedient. Besides, I can push buttons when people tell me which ones to push. So I did. I heard from friends I hadn’t seen since college...

My children raised me right. Our sons grew up playing Dungeons and Dragons with their friends in our basement and our second son and his wife are enthusiastic members of The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) so I get it about roleplaying. But I really had no idea what I was getting into when I responded to a note on one of my mystery-reading loops offering author interviews on Second Life.

I had read about the latest virtual phenomenon in The Wall Street Journal, about how companies like IBM and Sony are establishing spaces on Second Life for business meetings, and universities have created classrooms where they hold actual classes teaching their students who show up in the persona of their avatars. And, yes, I saw the movie, so I knew what an Avatar was. But I really had no idea what a fun experience it can be to enter Second Life. ...

Donna’s right. Stories can ambush you from unexpected directions. I didn’t set out to write crime fiction. Honestly.

I’m a keen family history detective. I found myself amassing a load of colourful stories from the past, and having colourful experiences of my own while I investigated them.

So I set out to write a novel about Suzie Fewings, who is doing just that. But I hadn...