Have Suitcase, WIll Travel

Today at Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine's blog I write about the trip that inspired my story in the January/2019 issue, "Please Do Not Disturb."

Filling in the Landscape

I have an essay up at Trace Evidence, the Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine blog, about setting.  When do you use a real place and when do you create your own?  The hook, of course, is my story "A Bad Day For Algebra Tests," in the November/December issue.

A Good Day For "A Bad Day For Algebra Tests"

I am pleased to report that "A Bad Day For Algebra Tests" is currently sparkling up the November/December issue of my favorite magazine.  This is my 30th appearance in AHMM, and the third Bad Day story.  Each of these involves bad intentions and confusion in mythical Brune County, and features the ever-bewildered Officer Kite.

The Cop Who Liked Gilbert and Sullivan takes home a medal

My story "The Cop Who Liked Gilbert and Sullivan" (Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine #23) won the Derringer Award for long short story this year.  This is the medal that goes with that honor.  Toni Kelner was kind enough to accept it at Bouchercon and send it to me.  I t now hangs proudly on the office wall.  Thanks to Toni and to the Short Mystery Fiction Society!

Shanks on Crime in Japan

Look what arrived while we were in Louisiana.  This is my story collection Shanks on Crime welcoming six copies of its Japanese translation, Sunday Afternoon Tea With Mystery Writer.

When Women Didn't Count wins in New Orleans

Last weekend was the American Library Association annual conference.  At the Government Documents Round Table reception, held at the Louisiana Supreme Court building, I received the Margaret T. Lane / Virginia F. Saunders Memorial Research Award for When Women Didn't Count.  It's always a thrill to be recognized by your peers.  Western's Dean of Libraries, Mark Greenberg was there and kindly took this video.

Shanks at the Bar in Japan

My story "Shanks at the Bar" is making its first periodical appearance in the Japanese magazine Mysteries!  The exclamation point is theirs.