Self-serving Blog Today

I notice a lot of folks touting their scary stories, since it’s almost Halloween. If you’re still looking for some, these first three are cheap--99 cents!

These three were all written for the late, lamented Dark Valentine ezine:

Shipwreck, written on a challenge from a prompt 

Twelve DrummersDrumming (a very dark Christmas tale, but fitting for any season)

The Bathroom, inspired by the fall that tore my rotator cuff

This one is free!

My broken Roomba gave me fodder for a zombie story that appeared in Kings River Life Magazine last year.

Then there are these tales of the last day on earth, Nightfalls.

 (paperback also)

Some scary stories are in All Things Dark and Dastardly.

Kindle 

Paperback 

Mangled adult fairy tales in this grim collection, Grimm Tales.

Last, but not least, is BROKE, the third Imogene Duckworthy mystery, centered around a haunted house. All ebook formats at Untreed Reads. Paperback at Amazon. 

A Blast from the Past in Cressa Carraway Land

My niece sent me this picture of the author (me) at Crescent Lake from a few years ago. My nephew is in the foreground and my daughter is walking away. I’m not sure what I’m holding! It could be a very small fish.

One time when a bunch of family was gathered there, the kids caught 15 sunfish. Small sunfish. They were so proud of them, that my mom and I scale, filleted, breaded, and fried all of them. I think each fish was about 2 bites worth. This is proof that my mom was as crazy as I am. But the kids loved it.

For a visit to Crescent Lake Club with more sinister overtones, pick up a copy of EINE KLEIN MURDER, either in print, digital, or audio form. Great place to visit!

Yard Update

Our landscapers were busy last week! Five trees were removed, three from the front yard, and the many, many plants were removed. They were beautiful and we enjoyed them throughout the spring and summer, but weeding is not our hobby. So we’ve simplified.

New lawn has been seeded under the straw and the remaining green, which our landscaper refused to call grass, has been aerated and overseeded. Aerated the heck out of it, was the exact phrase.

Now we’re watering every other day and hoping to see nice, new, green grass in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, our neighbors have thanked us for removing the pampas grass. They can now see to back out of their driveway. We can, too! The pinestraw, weighed down by rocks, is covering up plastic that will, we all hope, kill the horrible English ivy that covered that part of the yard.

If You're Near Austin

I’m SO proud of the writing group I belonged to when I lived in Austin, Texas! They’re still writing, turning out priceless prose, some with publishing success, some are still breaking in. But all of them are out there swinging. The event they’re putting on, Anatomy of a Mystery, is just an example. On November 9th, at Book People, the free sessions will run from 9:30 to 2:00, with presentations by Reavis Z. Wortham, Karen MacInerney, and Janice Hamrick, all successful local writers. After the last presentations, the audience has a chance for discussion with the authors. There is also special swag available for the first 25 attendees.

They’re called Austin Mystery Writers. Check out the flyer: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=715858455094342&set=oa.415419301913685&type=1&theater

Here’s the facebook page also: https://www.facebook.com/events/195810233934581/

I’m loving living in Tennessee, but wish I were back in Texas for November 9th!

Some research notes for my prehistory novel

At one point, I thought I might include Endnotes in DEATH IN THE TIME OF ICE. I think they would have gotten in the way of the story, though, since it's fiction. I DID do a ton of research, though, and would like to let you in on a little of it, if you're interested.

Please click on the tab above that says Neanderthal. It says that because the title is too long for the tab. There's a lot to be said for short titles! Below the cover will be the notes. They're rather long and include the texts or websites I took the material from. If you decide to look at them, I hope you get something out of it!