Visiting the Lowman Home Book Club

Last week, I truly enjoyed meeting the Book Club at the Lowman Home. Nancy Tuten, the group’s coordinator, helped distribute a collection of my short stories to the ten members in advance, including the two about film professor Ham and his daughter Jessica, “Mr. Claude North,” “Only the Sacrifice Knows,” “Nectar of the Gods,” “Long in the Tooth,” “Apple’s Lure,” and “Ghost of a Chance.” I spoke about my life, ideas, and writing, then answered questions about my critique groups and plays. When Nancy asked, one member identified "the pirate story" as her favorite. A lovely visit and lunch after.

Leslie Budewitz' Spice Shop Mysteries

Leslie Budewitz

Two-time Agatha Award winner Leslie Budewitz has a wonderful new series of Spice Shop Mysteries. The first, Assault and Pepper, was released in March, and the second, Guilty as Cinnamon, is scheduled for publication in December. The series protagonist is Pepper Reece, who after divorcing and losing her job as a law firm’s Human Resource officer, becomes the proprietor of a spice and tea shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. When a panhandler is found dead in her shop doorway and an employee is arrested, Pepper has to investigate, even though it means reconnecting with her ex, a bicycle cop.

Lee Robinson's Lawyer for the Dog

Lee Robinson

Released July 7, 2015, Lawyer for the Dog by Lee Robinson (Thomas Dunne Books) is the perfect summer read. Former public defender and now family lawyer Sally Bright Baynard is assigned by her ex-husband, Joe, a family court judge, to represent a miniature schnauzer named Sherman in a high profile Charleston, SC, divorce case. While Sally struggles with caring for her mother who has Alzheimer's, evaluating Joe’s feelings for her and whether they have a future together, and being attracted to Sherman’s charming vet, Sherman works his way into her heart and helps her find solutions. A sequel is forthcoming!