So, it’s three weeks since Island of the Madwas published; did you enjoy it? Now that you’ve read Ms Russell’s 15thmemoir, have you revisited the background images of her London and Venice? There’s a Pinterest page here, with a few others on Instagram. Perhaps you’d like to talk about Island of the Mad? You’re in luck,…
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As I’ve mentioned before, Island of the Mad, though originally intended as an escape from the events of 2017, has become all too relevant to daily life. Take the recent fashion choice of our First Lady as she set out to comfort a group of underage political prisoners: As various writers have pointed out (here and…
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My buddy Rick Kleffel and I got together to talk about Island of the Mad. I love doing interviews with Rick, one of those interviewers who not only reads the book, but thinks long and hard about it. He says: …perfect summer fun, and chock-a-block with enough thought-provoking needles and actual history to pleasantly fill…
Read MoreWhenever I set out to write one of my 1920s novels, I first choose the location, then rummage around to see who was there at the time. I’ve come across some fascinating characters that way–characters in both senses of the word: Sabine Baring-Gould in Dartmoor; Dashiell Hammett in San Francisco; Marshal Lyautey in Morocco—real life,…
Read More[A piece I wrote for Crime Reads, an excellent daily blog, about writing Island of the Mad and historical mysteries in general…] The historical mystery is a curious thing. Why worry about a crime that took place decades—centuries—ago? Surely it’s been long solved, with both victim and villain moldering in their graves. The past, after…
Read MoreToday is MAD! Island of the Mad launches today, so shove your way through the doors of your local Indie, or get on the horn to The Great Brazilian River or your favorite online retailer, and snag a copy (I’ve put the links below.) We had a fabulous pre-launch launch in Scottsdale, with Charleston lessons… and…
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(One week—seven days—to Island of the Mad…) When I decided to set a Russell & Holmes book in Venice, my time-table was fairly set: the chronology of the series has reached June, 1925, and unless I decided to skip some time, that’s when it would take place. Of course, summers in Venice are a mixed blessing.…
Read MoreWe have contest winners! The giveaway of ALL the Russell & Holmes books– is now closed. [Sorry!] But the lucky winners are: …of a signed copy of the US edition of Island of the Mad: David K. Elisabeth Simer Esther Bolick John Gourhan …and of the Grand Prize Fab Collection of Riches: Jean Utley! Plus…
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(Two weeks to the Island pub date!) These are your last days to put your name down for the giveaway of ALL the Russell & Holmes books. All of them… The drawing is on Friday, June 1. Go here to put your name down. And good luck!
Read MoreNot a lot of people can count play as part of the job. I’m very lucky this way, since doing fun things goes under the header of “building community” and that’s what authors do, right? So when I buy some sparkly flapper dresses and drag the family into climbing into them for photos, that’s the…
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