August 2022 Edition

Reading

Gore Vidal reportedly once said, “Well, enough about me. Let’s talk about you! What did you think of my latest book?” There’s enough about me below. With the following, I hope you may enjoy these stellar books and streaming television series as much as I did.

Cover Story by Susan Rigetti – This one hit me right in my soft spot for stories about grifters and con artists. When I say the ending “literally took my breath away,” I mean it--literally! A naïve young woman is trying to find her place in the elite echelons of the fashion publishing industry, with all its superficial charms and deceits.

Disappeared by Bonnar Spring – Two sisters take their annual “just us” vacation to Morocco, and when one of them disappears, the other is determined to find her. Out in the back of beyond, whom can she trust? Anyone? All the rules are different there.

Five Decembers by James Kestrel – Named “Best Novel” by the Mystery Writers of America and others. Just before Pearl Harbor, a Honolulu police detective is investigating a double murder. The trail of the killer takes him to Hong Kong, where he’s captured by the Japanese. The audio version helped with the Japanese words, but isn’t essential.

Razorblade Tears by SA Cosby, with a brilliant narration by Adam Lazarre-White. Best, best, best in so many award programs. An unlikely pair of Southerners—one black, one white—unite to find out who murdered their gay sons.

On the Small Screen - The second season of the excellent British spy thriller, Slow Horses, based on the books by Mick Herron and starring Gary Oldman, is in the can and will appear on Apple TV+ at some point, probably this fall. Renewed for seasons 3 and 4. (Yay!)

Writing

Architect of Courage News

The book launch of Architect of Courage was eight weeks ago. Thanks to all who came to my launch party (what a happy occasion!), readings, and signings in Central New Jersey, Asbury Park, Chicago, and New York! Three book clubs will be discussing it in the next few months. (Does your book club read mystery/thrillers? They might like this one!) Here’s a quick blurb:

In summer 2011, the orderly life of Manhattan architect Archer Landis is upended by the murder of the woman he loves. When, to his surprise, the authorities link her to the Arab American community, their reflexive conclusion is “terrorist.” Landis sets out to prove them wrong but is hindered by additional mysterious attacks on everyone and everything he holds dear. To overcome these tragedies—and to survive—Landis must confront prejudice, self-doubt, the limits of loyalty, and a need for redemption that transcends revenge.

A big wave of appreciation to all those who have generously shared their positive feedback and recorded their thoughts on Amazon and GoodReads. I know I’m a broken record about this, but those Amazon reviews are so important. Supposedly 100 is the magic number at which Amazon tales note and helps promote a book. Remember, your comments don’t need to be New York Times Book Review-ready. A couple of sentences are plenty.

Readers and Reviewers Say

“You'll be kept guessing in a cleverly plotted story that has the power to wrong-foot and surprise.” And “this is a book about courage in its many forms and throughout that journey of discovery—for both reader and character—(the author) certainly puts us through the wringer!” - CrimeFictionLover.com

“A tangled web of deception comes to light. . . .Packed full of action, the story takes on the aspects of a thriller mixed with a dose of mystery.” - Novels Alive blog, connecting readers to stories

“I highly recommend this book to all thriller lovers and look forward to reading more from this author.” - Paws. Read. Repeat, book review blog

“characters created with care and complexity” “an absolute page-turner with every discovered clue revealing an ever more complex web of deceit and more mystery” “full of twists and turns” “the sense of menace keeps mounting” “couldn’t put it down” – Readers Like You

What’s Next, You Ask?

A few months back, I sent the first 50 pages of my unpublished novel set in Rome to the Claymore Awards competition sponsored by Killer Nashville. KN’s annual International Writers’ Conference attracts some 350 writers, forensic experts, and fans of crime and thriller literature. (I’ve gone twice.) Reportedly, the contest receives hundreds of entries, and mine is among the finalists in the “Best Thriller” category! I’ve struggled with a title—I like Wolves of Rome best, but so have too many other authors. For the Claymores, I came up with When There Are Wolves, You Need Lions. Hmmmmm.

(a)Rithmetic

11 - In the last year, seven of my short stories were newly published, two reprinted in Black Cat Weekly, and two more accepted but not yet in print. Find them on my website, under the “My Writing” tab, or see my Amazon Author page.

36 – Number of Amazon reviews for Architect of Courage so far

200 – Number of people who read my blog post on leading authors’ “rules for writing fiction”

2 – Number of cats staring at me as I write this

You received this quarterly newsletter as a result of your subscription to it. (Thank you!) You may unsubscribe at any time.