By coincidence, Lee Goldberghas just finished a book, too, and is cleaning his office. In the four days since I reached the end of TOUCHSTONE, I’ve cleaned my office, as well. Also written and sent off renovations for the web site to the techie marvel; put together a 1500-word article on Sabine Baring-Gould (the main…

There is an update on the Doug Preston case in Italy, over at M J Rose’s blog, and what you can do.

And today, Catherine of Wellesly (sounds like some 15th century monarch, doesn’e2’80’99t it?) has won her shiny new copy of the ARC for The Art of Detection. Only two left after she claims hers, next Monday’e2’80’99s drawing and the Monday following’e2’80’94and then the hardbacks will be on the edge of shipping, so we may even…

Yesterday, 4:00. Finished first draft. TOUCHSTONE. Brain. Fried. Can’e2’80’99t. Think. Emergency shutdown. Argghhh.

First pre-publication review for THE ART OF DETECTION comes from Kirkus, who suspends their traditional curmudgeonliness to say: ‘e2’80’9cKing’e2’80’99s imagination is as generous as ever, and her use of the Sherlockian canon to ventilate contemporary issues is clever and impassioned.’e2’80’9d My blushes, Watson. **Weds was a 24 hour day with nearly eight of that spent…

Q: Are we going to see any more Martinelli books in the future? And why was there a six year period between Nightwork and The Art of Detection? A: There should be another couple of Martinellis off in the future somewhere, not at all sure when. And the long gap was due to a combination…

Bow, bow you lower-middle classesBlow the trumpets! bang the brasses!(Isn’t this a good week to start out with Gilbert and Sullivan?) Anyway, start up the parade because we have another winner, number five, who I believe, if my eyes aren’t deceiving me, is new to the mailing list. Apologies to you who’ve been with us…

Yes, as those of you who read the most recent post may have realized by now, it’e2’80’99s the first of April, which makes it time for Ask Laurie. Send in your questions, I’e2’80’99ll see if I can get them all answered before the first of May rolls around’e2’80’a6 About the spam question’e2’80’94I’e2’80’99m happy to have…

I’e2’80’99m afraid these interminable spam postings have been the final blow for me with this blog. I’e2’80’99ve enjoyed it lots, but the time has come to concentrate on that part of my life that normally takes place before six in the morning. Thanks for reading, and I look forward to seeing you all at events.…

In case some of you missed this, we’e2’80’99re (we being the earth) due a cycle of huge solar storms beginning perhaps the end of this year, certainly by the end of 2007, just to make our joys complete. The sunspot cycle is projected to peak in 2012, at which time airplanes will be diverted from…