TANGLED IN YOUR OWN BOOTSTRAPS by Rob Lopresti I was recently at an independent bookstore, The Shredded Page, doing a reading for my new book, The Knitting for Zombies Diet. (Available now! The perfect stocking stuffer for Chanukah!) We had a good crowd, and I can say in all modesty that my audience appeared to […]

STEP INTO MY OFFICE by Rob Lopresti Several of us have chosen to take you on a walk through our offices. There was Steve’s and John’s and let’s not forget this loony masterpiece by James. I am probably missing a couple. Seems like a good time for me to play, so here goes. This is […]

THANKS TO MR. GIBSON by Rob Lopresti Tomorrow millions of Americans will be chowing down on turkey and the trimmings, and that made me think of the Thanksgivings of my childhood. And those memories brought to mind a very unusual style of storytelling. No, I am not referring to your Uncle Manny who regaled you […]

A WELL-DESERVED KICK IN THE SIDE by Rob Lopresti Thinking about villains last week made me think about that other regular in the field of mystery fiction, the hero’s sidekick. The loyal Watson’s main job is to make the hero look brilliant but he or she may also do the legwork, play the reader’s surrogate, […]

CHEERING THE VILLAIN by Rob Lopresti Melodie’s recent column about the bad guys got me thinking about my favorite villains. Let’s start out by eliminating a couple of obvious candidates. Professor Moriarty has had a very interesting (after) life since he went over the Reichenbach Falls but let’s face it, he only appeared in one […]

THAT SAN FRANCISCO TREAT by Rob Lopresti Robert and Terri Lopresti at Tarantino’s, talking to the Lawtons. Charles Todd is at right, sitting at the next table and talking to Janet Hutchings and Robert Levinson. Photo by Steve Steinbock I have had a chance to recover from my trip to Bouchercon, dig through my notes, […]

SUSPENDING DISBELIEF . . . BY A THREAD by Rob Lopresti Adapted from my column in Murderous Intent, Winter 1997. Alas, some things don’t change. Happy Halloween to you and yours and the broomstick you rode in on. I had a spooky experience today on the subject of . . . well, spookiness. Mystery writer […]