REARVIEW by Melodie Johnson Howe While James has fortified himself with various high tech objects for Bouchercon, I am wondering what to wear. I know I’m a writer and I shouldn’t be bothered about such things; but even Lillian Hellman worried about what she should wear when “asked” to appear at the House On Un-American […]

TOYS OF THE TRADE I’m gearing up for Bouchercon. In the process, I have acquired a few new toys I intend to take with me to Baltimore. First Toy: A Digital Recorder with a USB connection I’m the webmaster for the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. A couple of years ago, our […]

OBSERVATION and DESCRIPTION, Part III by Leigh Lundin Psych and The Mentalist Two recent television shows are Psych and The Mentalist. The main characters pretend to be clairvoyant, but use powers of observation to make the gullible believe they’re psychic. If not an original premise, it’s damn clever for television. Mystery novels have used phony psychics […]

A SENSE OF DISCLOSURE — PART 1 by John M. Floyd A few months ago a friend asked me if I’d written any short stories lately. I said yes, and she then asked if I was currently working on any more. Since I’m always working on more stories, I again said yes. Then she asked […]

A BANDERSNATCH MISHMASH by Steve Steinbock Has it been a week already? It’s late evening, and I’ve just set myself down to read today’s Criminal Brief column, and I see that it’s Thursday. I haven’t written my Bandersnatch for tomorrow. What a week it’s been! I’ve been reading like mad and writing even madder (more […]

SENSE AND SENSIBILITIES by Deborah Elliott-Upton George Bailey: You know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are? Uncle Billy: Uh huh. Breakfast is served, lunch is served, dinner … George Bailey: No, no, no, no! – Anchor chains, plane motors and train whistles. – from “It’s a Wonderful Life” If you had […]

DEPARTMENT OF ODD SOCKS III — REVENGE OF THE ARGYLES! by Rob Lopresti A few months ago I told you about the theft of maps and other material that my library suffered. The thief, James W. Brubaker, has pled guilty and on September 15 he was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to […]