THE ENDs by Rob Lopresti We who blabber regularly about writing often talk about how to start a book, or a story. And so we often give examples of great beginnings. Endings are important, too, but we are less likely to discuss endings – especially of mysteries. You know why. There’s a great taboo against […]

THE PAYOFF by Rob Lopresti I don’t know if you have been watching the TV series Lost, which is sailing to a conclusion this spring. It ain’t a mystery (although in one sense it is nothing but mysteries). But if you have been following it you might appreciate this recent comic: Made me laugh, anyway. […]

THE UNFINISHED MAN by Rob Lopresti A couple of weeks ago I attended a concert and happened to sit next to my friend Jane. We were talking about books and she told me that she had tried reading my story in the book Seattle Noir and had stopped halfway through. I was reminded of a […]

LOADED FOR BEAR by Rob Lopresti Today’s sermon has nothing to do with mysteries, or short stories. But it is all about literature. In fact, it is about one of my favorite old books and a newish sequel I just got around to reading. Way back in 1963 Frederick C. Crews was an up-and-coming young […]

If this piece looks familiar to you it is because it appeared briefly last Wednesday before I realized I had sent James the wrong column and he very kindly fixed it. If you commented on it last week, please feel free to include the same or a different comment today. (And if you didn’t see […]

Due to some technical problems, which I won’t go into here, next week’s Tune It Or Die! was published last night instead of the correct one, albeit with the illustration for today’s column. I forthwith present the correct column, which, as the Gentle Reader may appreciate, is the more appropriate one given today’s anniversary event. […]

WHAT MY CATS WOULD READ if cats could read by Rob Lopresti Chloe is a tortoiseshell lady of a certain age. She is the smallest, oldest, and dominant member of the feline force. Nonfiction: Chloe is known from the attic to the very basement as the Great Commun- icator. She never hesitates to tell us […]