Posts by Laurie King
Kate books giveaway!
The fabulous Picador has set up a giveaway for their re-issued paperbacks of the first three Kate Martinelli books, A Grave Talent, To Play the Fool, and With Child. Their sweepstakes is here.
Read MoreLRK talks
The excellent and estimable Dan Stashower and I will sit on opposite sides of the country on Thursday (noon Eastern time) and have a conversation with Kojo Nnamdi about “The Enduring Popularity of Sherlock Holmes.” And Mary Russell, one hopes. It will be streamed, and you can ask questions, and–well, I hope you join us.…
Read MoreDeep Breath
When is the end not the end? When it’s a book, and its author knows that a first draft is crap. I sent a very rough first draft of Dreaming Spies off to my editor today. This proto-novel is an exceedingly thin 270 pages, missing one of its two endings, with sporadic character development, a…
Read MoreStoryteller’s whispers
Storyteller is a tease. Storyteller whispers in the writer’s ear, makes promises, leads the writer on… and then goes silent. There are basically two ways to approach a book. For some, Storyteller speaks in advance, clearly laying out the book’s logical sequence, opening hook to ending coda. For others, like myself, a book is an…
Read MoreBring on the trumpets: it’s 2014!
Having given a review of 2013 yesterday, you may ask me, what plans does LRK have for 2014? Not that I do Resolutions, but there’s a lot on my agenda, and yet more things crowding into the back of my mind. Although before we do that, may I be the first to issue many happy…
Read MoreThat was the year that was 2013
Looking at the family letter I always write during the Christmas season, I found myself trying to remember: what did I do this year, anyway? I know I had a book out, but… So I looked back at my calendar, and found that yes, I was a bit busy: In January, I was still wielding…
Read MoreSherlock is Free!
Some months ago my good friend Les Klinger filed a court case against the Conan Doyle Estate claiming that the Estate had no right to block the use of the characters as established in the first fifty of the Conan Doyle Holmes stories (the last ten of which, published after 1923, do remain clearly under…
Read MoreA relaxing event
Relaxation isn’t exactly the defining characteristic of this time of year. But to the rescue comes The Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. My local library Friends asked me to participate in a fundraiser that everyone can get behind. Here’s their flyer for the event: The First Annual Stay Home & Read a Book Santa Cruz…
Read MoreRoom with a view
When I went house-shopping almost two years ago now, my only requirement was that it be closer to family than where I was. However, before long I had to admit to my real estate agent that I’d been spoiled, and I didn’t think I could bear to live any place but on top of a…
Read MoreLaurie’s List
(Two weeks is plenty of time for Christmas shopping, right? Right??) Want to know some things I’ve fallen in love with this year, that now I’m giving to a lot of people on my list? Pre-reader book: Journey, by Aaron Becker. This is a gift of time as well, and self, since there are no…
Read More