Beekeeper at the Libraries, #1!

Saturday sees the first in the Laurie Loves Libraries celebrations of the Beekeeper’s 30th birthday! This one’s a hybrid event, where I’ll be in my study talking with gathered patrons of the Williamsburg Library—and, with people online. I have to say, Williamsburg (headed up by the fabulous duo of Avery and Allison) really threw itself…

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Barnes & Noble special price

Today through Friday, you can pre-order THE LANTERN’S DANCE (in hardback, Nook, audio, or large print) from Barnes & Noble FOR 25% OFF the shown price. You need to sign up as a Rewards member (it’s free) or you can get 35% OFF If you’re a Premium member. (This might be US only, not sure.)…

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Why we Love Publicity and Marketing

As we’re on the edge of being able to get our hands on an actual finished copy of The Lantern’s Dance (Feb 13) I thought this was a good time to look at one of the last pieces in the process of getting a book from the author’s mind to the reader’s eyes: Marketing and…

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Castle Shade Readalong—a Facebook Discussion

New year, new opportunities…new Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes coming soon! With The Lantern’s Dance going on sale next month, my publisher and I thought it might be fun to hold a Castle Shade readalong, to remind us all of where our dynamic duo are coming from and to set us up for the new…

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2024!

Welcome to 2024: New year, new calendar, new thoughts. I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions, but around this time last year, I said that I wanted to focus on what has come to be known as “Swedish death-cleaning”—a rather noir term for dealing with all that stuff your kids won’t have any idea what to…

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To tree, or not to tree?

I used to always have a Christmas tree. Sometimes we would cut one en famille at one of the local tree farms, other times we bought it from a sales lot. Certainly when the grandkids were tiny, that was part of the fun. But then the lads grew a bit, and had their own tree…

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Russell #WHAT?

Those of you who’ve been following my Mutterings in recent months will have a good idea of why a book takes such a lllooooonng time from first draft to hardback on the shelf—but even my editor had to admit that it felt early to be talking about the NEXT Russell after Lantern’s Dance. But no,…

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Jobs Can be Fun

Okay, I’ll admit it: these four Beekeeper’s Apprentice 30th anniversary celebrations I’m planning for next year? Yes, I suppose you have to call it all part of promoting the Russell & Holmes series, but honestly, I’m having just a ridiculous amount of fun with them. The speakers for the events are a kick, tying their…

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Absolutely the Final Draft(s)

Because what I do for a living often seems like magic—I come up with an idea and *SHAZAAM* the book’s in your hand—I’m writing a series of spoiler-free blog posts about the actual process. (Though rest assured—it’s still pretty magical.) ** “So, how many drafts do you write?” the question goes. Well, it depends on…

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Researching the Bits

This is one in a series of blog posts (without spoilers!) about the writing process for The Lantern’s Dance. Sometimes, I go into a book knowing a fair amount about the setting and situation. Other times, I just know enough to know it’s interesting—but there will be work involved to flesh it out. The Lantern’s…

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