An evening of Argentine intrigue (in Seattle)
Last month I had the pleasure of launching Dead on Her Feet in Seattle at a really cool supper club, the Velvet Underground Dining Experience. We enjoyed some high altitude Argentine wines from John Isley of Vinos Argentinos, great empanadas and hors d'oeuvres from...
Unleash your inner Batman lately?
I'm driving along, minding my own business, when in the next lane I see no less than the caped crusader in his Bat-mobile. Isn't this funny, I think, some guy is pretending to be a super hero on his day off. Who is he? He must have a rich inner life. That got me...
The Genuine Imitation Plastic Kidnapping
I happened to be reading Publishers Marketplace, the industry rag that lets you know what books are being sold to publishers by various agents, and I came across a book that made me laugh so hard I nearly wet my pants. Here is the description: Les Edgerton's THE...
From Portland, With Love – ValenTango
For those of you who are not tango dancers, ValenTango is one of the most popular Argentine tango festivals in the US, run by Clay Nelson who is one of the most modest and generous men in tango. Every year he and his team put on a great event, and 2014 was no...
Antonia’s Rap Sheet
Kate Burkett, my marketing manager at Booktrope, had a very funny idea to create rap sheets for each of my main characters. Sort of like flash cards. Instead of mug shots I went for shoes - all of which you can really buy, if you look carefully...
Bill Kenower on writing, love, choice and ketchup
I met Bill Kenower recently at a Pacific Northwest Writers Association event where I learned he had recently published a really cool book on writing, called WRITE WITHIN YOURSELF: An Author's Companion. It speaks to why we write, and why we MUST MUST MUST write what...
Bitches rule!
Rosemary Harris has written a fun book that reminds me of The Women, if you happen to be a film fan. I love the premise. This from her website: "Are they really bitches? That depends who you ask...Rachel, Clare, Tina and Jane are four friends awaiting the...
Seattle Mystery Bookshop
There I was, browsing in one of my favorite mystery book shops, when in walked J.A. Jance herself. She'd come to sign some books the proprietor was holding for some special customers. We got to chat a little. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is one very good reason...
My Comme Il Faut tango shoe fetish
I have to confess, half the time when I am watching a really great tango dancer, my mind starts to wander to a somewhat unrelated subject. Shoes. Where did she get them? Can I get some? Could I dance in them well enough? Could I dance in them at all? I have a small...
Tango: The forbidden dance
My friend Karen Snepp is always sending me interesting articles. This one, from CBS News, does a great job of introducing the tango world. CBS's headline: Elaine Quijano takes us on a dancing tour of Buenos Aires, birthplace of the cultural phenomenon of the tango,...