Monday, May 23, 2011

Mystery Blog Tour-Regan Taylor.

This is the official beginning of the Mystery Blog Tour and my first guest is the lovely Regan Taylor with her book "The Glass Cage. " Regan, take it away. BTW-Love the cover.









Regan








As I sat down to prepare my post for Carol I took a moment to think about a few of the things she had mentioned about herself and what stuck out for me is that she has some younguns’ in her life. I don’t go into detail but she’s got some under eighteens that are pretty special to her. That led me to thinking about my aunt – kind of the reverse situation. I’m definitely over 18, but my aunt and I share the kind of bond I picked up about Carol and her family.

My aunt Carolyn is the last of my dad’s siblings still living. She’s an awesome woman and over the years I’ve not just heard but been a party to some of her best stories. She’s a fighter in terms of holding on to life and making every day count and has completely supported my writing career.

Two years ago she was going into the hospital to have a pacemaker put in and at 3,000 miles away I was concerned. There were so many things still to tell her and share with her and while the prognosis was good, she was, at the time 84. (She’s now 86 and still an avid reader, especially of my books.) She’d read my sweet western, Indentured Bride and seemed to like my characters. The Spell and The Glass Cage from my McKenna Crime series hadn’t come out yet – but she has said she liked them too. While preparing to go into the hospital and making sure she had enough reading materials she scoured the internet for what might tempt her. She came across my first book – the one I never talk about. Yes, it’s still out there but you have to dig for it.

My aunt was thrilled! She just couldn’t believe her good luck.

Neither could I. (not).

I panicked. I called her and told her not to read it. I called my cousins and asked them to PLEASE take the book away from her. In my world aunts who also happen to be former nuns (another story) aren’t supposed to read certain kinds of books. I was on the fence about the romantic suspenses because, well, sometimes in suspenses and definitely in mysteries, people die. Right?

We all went back and forth debating the wisdom of her reading the book – or any of my others for that matter simply because I had put a label on her age. Okay, that and her former profession or calling. It was my cousin, Mary, who I’m closer to than a sister, who was the voice of reason.

In her matter of fact way she said, “I can’t think of a better way to test out the pacemaker, can you?”

My aunt, however, had a different perspective. Her comment was, “Just because I was a nun 65 years ago doesn’t mean I don’t know the first thing about life and, after all, I did have four children.” And, I might add, in her now 86 years she has seen a lot, maybe more than most of us will in a lifetime.

She is still an avid reader – and for writers and publishers out there – large print. There’s a world of readers out there who would read a lot more if they had large print available for them.

And she is my hero.

You can learn more about my books at
www.Regantaylor.com.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

More from OWFI

Steve Berry's lovely wife, Liz, Executive Director of Thrillerfest in New York, in July.

The wonderful thriller writer Steve Berry surrounded by adoring fans, Nita Beshears, Amy Shojai and Carol Shenold as he takes time out of a busy day to pose with us, gracious as always. It's a southern thang.







Monday, May 16, 2011

Prom in the News

Prom:
Invitation to prom on school wall.
Punishment dealt.
Boy banned from prom.
Media intervention.
Punishment recinded, changed.
Happy couple ready to dance.
The power of the press.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Conference pictures-OWFI 2011







Above-Lois and Joanna Tweedy. Left, Frank and Ron, can you tell it's happy hour? Me dressed for banquet.



















Amy's Queen dress to the right, my booksigning below.





















Amy and Joanna Tweedy, both sweet and beautiful. Me at my book signing.
I never seem to get the pictures placed right, must practice.
























































































































Thursday, May 12, 2011

OWFI and Beyond

OWFI conference was wonderful this year. We had a great time. I spent time with Amy Shojai http://www.amyshojai.com/, got to hear William Bernhart and Steve Barry as well as Liz Berry, great speakers. Also heard and visited with a lovely poet, Joanna Tweedy and her husband.



I was so impressed with Liz Berry, I'm making firm plans to go to New York next year for Thrillerfest. http://www.thrillerfest.com/



Now, I have to buckle down, finish Dead Fairies--I know, I've said that before, write a mystery and romance for WW this month. If I could sell some, it would help pay for the NY trip. I decided not to let myself get distracted my any other projects before Dead Fairies is done.



I'll get conference pics posted here and on facebook this weekend.



Don't forget, the Mystery Blog Tour is coming May 23 and my first guest will be Regan Taylor