NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET by Robert Lopresti Today we are going to discuss the disgraceful trend in popular music that glorifies criminal activity, violence against women, disrespect for the police, and the abuse of illegal substances, such as bootleg alcohol— Oh, you thought I was talking about rap music? Sorry. Songs about bandits have […]

TAKING IT PERSONALLY by Rob Lopresti A few months ago I had to work on the weekend. Not such a tragedy, but it was a rare thing in Bellingham: a May Saturday that was warm and sunny. (Old joke: In Washington state what do they call the day after two days of rain? Monday.) No […]

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN IT HAPPENED? by Rob Lopresti So, like the title says: Do you remember where you were when it happened? I’m not talking about the day a great leader died, or a plane crashed, or any of the other events that usually spark that question. I’m talking about a much more personal […]

THE JOY OF REWRITING. NO, REVISION. NO… by Rob Lopresti I recently had a week’s vacation with little to do but write. That’s a good thing. I wrote a four-thousand word short story in about two days, which is also good, for me. I predict it will be ready in to send out to a […]

DO THEY REST IN PEACE? by Robert Lopresti I was just reading the MWA Annual, the quasi-yearbook that the Mystery Writers of America distributes to everyone who attends the Edgar Banquet, and then sends out to those of us stragglers and cheapskates who can’t quite make it to New York for the feast. As usual, […]

FROM OUR NATION’S CAPITAL by Robert Lopresti Happy Independence Day. Here are some thoughts from a mystery writer’s trip to a conference in Washington D.C.last week. In the plane out I sat next to a ten year old who told me he had ADHD, and I believed him (he talked a lot). His mom sat […]

SING A SONG OF SIX-GUNS By Robert Lopresti I warned you that folk music would creep into this blog from time to time. Now’s your chance to flee and listen to your favorite Britney Spears album. Folk music is full of short stories, but how many of them are mysteries? Depends on your definition, of […]