Writer's Night at Barnes & Noble

I could talk about writing for hours.  Seriously.  I did it just the other night, and I felt like I needed a tether to keep me anchored to planet earth.  Such fun!  It was the Barnes & Noble writer's night in Cool Springs, TN (Franklin).  Community Relations Manager Robbie Bryan and wonderful friend Kathy Hardy Rhodes asked me if I'd be interested in talking to a group of writers about the "in between" stages of publishing - in between getting "the call" and seeing your book on a shelf.  Would I be interested?!  I brought so many visual aids, I had to roll them in in a cart - no kidding.  Please visit friend Kathy's blog  to read more.  Thank you, Robbie and Kathy!  And any where, any time, someone wants to chat about writing - bring it on!  But I warn you, I am nonstop chatter on this one.  :-)  

Peace!

Killer Nashville!

"It was Col. Mustard, in the library, with the candlestick..."

Who knew all those hours playing Clue when I was a kid would come in handy now, in my late twenties?    But I am *stoked* about an opportunity that popped up this week - I am presenting at Killer Nashville, a humongo mystery writers conference here in middle Tennessee! I'll be discussing writing for children and young adults on Sunday morning at 8 a.m.  (And yes, I can hear those of you who know me well laughing at the idea of me being coherent at such an obscene hour...)  My friend Tracy Barrett is on the panel, too, so we can gulp down several dixie cups of coffee first.  

I plan on focusing on a series of short mysteries for 6- to 9-year-olds that I wrote several years ago.  The characters, Officer Iguana and Sergeant Salamander, are Insect Inspectors; they are, according to their business cards, "The Best Pest Detectives."  Iggy & Sal solve crimes using facts about bugs.  Two of these stories appeared in Spider magazine a few years ago; three more are due next year.   I think it'll be big fun to talk about mysteries for kids, and just as fun to learn more about Dr. Bill Bass, founder of the Body Farm , who is the guest of honor.  Too cool!

I'm off to go bone up on skull fractures...  Get it?  Bone up?  Ha!  That's why I like kid lit - that stuff kills with the younger set.  Get it?  Kills...  :-)   

Yay, Killer Nashville!

An Interview with Little Willow

I'm so excited about an interview I recently did with Little Willow, book blogger extraordinaire!  Please, hop on over and take a look!  One thing that I really enjoyed about this experience was how thoughtful Little Willow's questions were.  And hey, check out some of the other authors she's been rubbing elbows with.  Not shabby company, eh?  :-)  

Thanks, LW!