Beginnings

On Sunday we do beginnings, taking a look at the start of a Peter Abrahams novel, including those written under the Spencer Quinn moniker™. Today’s a no brainer: It’s A Wonderful Woof, the first Chet and Bernie Christmas/holiday novel (the second being the newly released Up On The Woof Top). Why a no brainer?Because for today only, the digital version … Read More

On The Beach

At our neighborhood beach in December 2014: Pearl, Audrey, me. All three lovers of the water – but only two swam that day.

Mitch!

First, many thanks for the condolences on the death of Pearl. And I’m so moved by the suggestion made by some of you that she be the December Friend of the Month. But after some thought – or perhaps just something resembling thought – I’ve decided to follow our normal procedure. So now I switch on the random number generator. … Read More

Thank You

Many thanks for all your condolences about Pearl. (Stupidly I just glanced out my office window – as I often do – to see if she’s in her favorite spot on the lawn.) Today is the last day of the month, and therefore the last day of eligibility for anyone interested in being Chet’s December Friend of the Month. Just … Read More

Psychopomp Scene

The psychopomp scene in Of Mutts And Men came to mind today. A number of readers have commented on it. There can’t be many other – if any – psychopomp scenes in crime fiction, but it’s a different story in Greek mythology, of course. The Chet and Bernie psychopomp scene is found at the beginning of Chapter 9. (Of Mutts … Read More

Song For Chet

Did someone mention Song For Chet recently? Some nice things can happen in what my grandmother called “the writing game.” For example, we have this song that came out of Heart of Barkness, the Chet and Bernie novel about a fading country singer. A real song! Emmy Award winning Bob Edwards produced and made it happen, and also created this … Read More

Beginnings

Sunday is when we do beginnings, taking a look at the start of a Peter Abrahams novel, including those written under the Spencer Quinn moniker™. Since It’s A Wonderful Woof – the Chet and Bernie Christmas/holiday novel preceding the brand new one, Up On The Woof Top – how about we do it? You might say It’s A Wonderful Woof … Read More

PhD?

A Christmas and holiday trilogy, sort of: one short story and two novels. Santa 365, the short story, came first, then It’s A Wonderful Woof, and now Up On The Woof Top. Is there a PhD thesis in there somewhere? I certainly wouldn’t know – very much not an academic by nature. By nature I’m a professional athlete, lacking only … Read More

Reading Group News +

First, thanks for the excellent write-up re the history of the Plunderers – a beloved group here on the blog – in yesterday’s comments. Second, it great to see Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge on this list. Today is when I’m supposed to announce it. I may have jumped the gun on this earlier. But many thanks to the Women’s National Book … Read More