I’m trying something a little different this year in my articles for SleuthSayers, the mystery blog. I will try to focus on writing articles that fit the time or season of year more appropriately. In January, my thoughts typically run to productivity and creativity, as I plan my writing projects for the coming year. I thought it might be a fun idea to analyze those two areas of thought at the top of the year. Today, I’m looking at how various people in the arts regard their creative spark. Just where does the magic reside when you’re writing a story, crafting a piece of music, making a work of visual art and more? I pull together quotes from people in a range of professions, and I swear, they all have one thing in common…

The Sherlock Holmes mysteries consist of 56 short stories and four novels. And only one of those stories takes place at Christmas time in Victorian England. It’s the famous story, “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle,” which finds Holmes and Watson chasing a jewel thief in London who has stuffed his prize down the throat of a live Christmas goose. Yes, you heard me. A goose. First the goose is alive, then it’s not, then it’s well and truly cooked. And zaniness ensues. It’s fun story but there’s a huge gaping plot hole in the middle of it all…

This month I’m participating in the 100-word #adventghosts2024 flash fiction event run by writer Loren Eaton. You'll find links to all the stories participating in this event at his blog, I Saw Lightning Fall. Here’s my piece. Loren will be adding links to more stories as we get closer to Christmas, and as writers submit them. So be sure to check back. Here’s my story…

Well, the folks over at SleuthSayers, the mystery blog I write for, have me contributing a post on this, the deadest reading day of the year, Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when all good Americans are out spending themselves blind. Not to be outdone, I have managed to blame the entire Black Friday concept on short story writers, the very same folks who operate the SleuthSayers blog. I know, it’s wacky clickbait premise, but you can’t blame a guy for trying. My argument is based on one of the oldest American Christmas traditions…

If you’re thinking of getting any of my books for the holidays, it couldn’t be easier. I’ve got you covered, even for autographed books!

I usually don’t talk so openly about my family’s deep background but this week at SleuthSayers I’m sharing some old photos and history about my mother’s back story growing up in Italy. I think you’ll find it interesting. She grew up in a small Italian village, and that experience of wartime living affected her for the rest of her life

That’s the subject of my article, which I’m calling…

We’ve been lucky to escape many natural disasters despite living in the American South for 20 years. But all good things must pass. We arrived home after a short book event weekend a few weeks ago to discover how badly our home and city has been ravaged by the after-effects of Hurricane Helene. Parts of the city is underwater. Our home is still standing but buried under giant trees. Many businesses we have come to love and adore are devastated.

I usually talk about writerly stuff at SleuthSayers, the mystery blog, but this week I naturally felt compelled to share my eyewitness report of what we’ve experience on the ground here in Asheville, North Carolina…

As a gentleman of a certain age, I suppose I am shocked that Steven Spielberg’s film Jaws is fast approaching its 50th Anniversary. It’s not a film I saw as a kid. (I was 10 when the film debuted at the drive-ins of my youth.) But as an adult, I’ve not only watched it numerous times, I actually love it as a great film and a great piece of storytelling. Recently, when my wife returned a trip with a girlfriend to Martha’s Vineyard, where the film was shot, she brought back some Jaws swag for me that sent me down a rabbit hole of nostalgia and research…

The only real occupational hazard as a writer is that many people will ask you if you can help them write their book. The only appropriate answer to this question is “Hell no!” For lots of reasons. If they’ve never tried to write before, such people think it’s incredibly easy to write a book. You just sit down and type whatever comes to mind. How freeing! What could be easier? Well, it’s not easy. It’s the toughest and yet most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life. And sometimes, despite my misgivings, I help others achieve their dreams. But most people get the brush-off. Why?

I spotted a book online that grabbed me as soon as I read the premise. The great thriller writer John Grisham agreed to coach a personal friend of his write a first-time thriller novel. I was hooked, mostly because I was curious what Grisham’s advice would be. I’m a professional writer, and I’m always fascinated by how highly successful commercial writers work their magic. This book seemed too good to pass up. The book is called Writing with the Master, and before you run out and buy it, I think you ought to read my article first, because…