Q: Two queries about CALIFIA’S DAUGHTERS this month. First, WDI asks, Do you pronounce Dian’s name “die-ann” or “dee-on”? Or somewhere in between? A: Personally, I take it to be the same as Dianne, although what does the author know? Q: And Elisa wants to know, When will Leigh Richards be writing again? I’ve just…

Anyone have questions for a December Q&A? Or are you too busy stirring up your figgy puddings?

Among the many things we have to be thankful for this time of year, I hesitate to introduce a note of the opposite (what in my youth would have been called a “downer”) but I’ve had judgment on TOUCHSTONE, and I’m sorry to say, it won’t be out in 2007. This is due to a…

Maybe I ought to finish off the November questions before I find we’re in December. Nothing like a national election to distract a person. Q: Neighbor in the Next Valley (you better not be the one with the goddamn dog that barks all night) asks: Okay if we’re not talking about sex any more; how…

Sure, the Macaca incident was one of those like Dean’s screech and Muskie’s tears that rode an election into the grave—not that the tears/screech/?? Would have been enough by themselves, but they were the straw that tipped the teetering public to one side, leaving the candidate riding his campaign like Rip Torn rode the bomb…

Both the House AND the Senate? Thank you, God. Thank you thank you.

Thanks for playing, more questions later in the week… Q: I have read all of your books multiple times but especially the Russell/Holmes series. When will the next in that series (please let there be more on the way!) be written/published? A: The next Russell will be written next year, published (God willing) in 2008.…

Okay, if we’re finished talking about sex, let’s accept the fact that it’s the first of November (oh, all right, it’s the second) and open this to Q&A. I’ll pick ten or twelve questions so make them good.

(Do I have your attention now, class?) I’ve been thinking about sex lately. My current villain’s sex, to be precise, what kind and how much to describe. Sex is a tricky thing for a writer. And I’m just talking about what’s on the page, so stop your sniggering, you in the back. Because it’s so…

I live in a farming community. If you have Brussels sprouts for Thanksgiving or a stuffed artichoke in a restaurant, you’re eating from a field I drive past. If you ever buy Driscoll strawberries, think of me. Apples, lettuce, celery, wine grapes, you name it—if it doesn’t need weeks of high heat, we probably grow…