WHILE I’M WRITING… by Melodie Johnson Howe Like Steve I was going to show pictures of my office today. But I’m not sure I’m ready for my close-up. I went on the Murdurati Site and looked at some of the author’s offices, which I enjoyed very much. But I was struck by the sameness of […]

MACMELODIE by Melodie Johnson Howe My computer did what computers always end up doing. It threw a tizzy. Like a mean spirited soothsayer, it began to say that terrible things were going to happen to me if I didn’t escape. Then one day it freezes up. Like a child throwing a tantrum, it just stopped […]

Here’s the surprise I promised. Rejoice! —JLW THE GOOD-BYE TOUR ENDS; Melodie Returns by Melodie Johnson Howe When I wrote my last column I was leaving CB. In order to mark my departure I listed some wonderful, “Good-bye” book titles such as The Long Goodbye. So I thought I would like to begin my returning […]

THE CALIFORNIA CRIME WRITERS CONFERENCE: SELLING SHORTS by Melodie Johnson Howe and James Lincoln Warren The weekend of June 13-14, 2009, Sisters in Crime Los Angeles Chapter and the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America teamed up to present the California Crime Writers Conference in Pasadena, CA. The conference consisted of two days […]

SWAN SONG by Melodie Johnson Howe The Long Goodbye The Goodbye Look Goodbye, Columbus The Goodbye Kiss Farewell, My Lovely Goodbye, Mr. Motto Swan Song The Long Divorce Goodnight and Goodbye Goodbye, Mr. Thorndike Good Night, Sheriff Goodbye, Mr. Chips A Farwell to Arms Always Say Goodbye I could go on. But I’m not. This […]

PARADISE SUCKS by Melodie Johnson Howe This is going to be a very short column. I just had an emergency root canal. (An end to a perfect week.) The left side of my face feels like the Elephant Man’s looked. My dentist had the hands the size of Moose Malloy’s and I’m sure he wearing […]

TOO BIG TO FAIL by Melodie Johnson Howe While contemplating these iffy economic times I had a glorious revelation. I sauntered into my husband’s office to share it with him. He was busy cutting the Wall Street Journal into paper dolls. He looked up at me. His hair was unduly ruffled and his glasses were […]