A Tribute of Honor

Since August, the Tower of London moat has been filled with 888,246 ceramic poppies, each representing a service member from Great Britain or its empire who was killed in World War I, the Great War, that ended on November 11, 1918. The poppies are due to be dismantled beginning on November 12 and distributed to people who have bought them for donations to military charities. I heard about the display from authors Charles and Caroline Todd and my co-worker Katherine Wells, who saw the installation and were very moved by it. Parts will be preserved in the Imperial War Museum.

A Terrific Mystery Panel!

Jill Hendrix, owner of Greenville’s Fiction Addiction, hosted a mystery panel including: Bryan Robinson, whose debut novel Limestone Gumption features a psychologist accused of murdering a local football legend when he returns to his boyhood home; Susan Boyer, whose Lowcountry Boil with PI Liz Talbot won major mystery awards; John Carenen, author of the Thomas O’Shea mysteries and a professor at Newberry College; Wendy Tyson, who has written the Allison Campbell series and a standalone thriller; and David Burnsworth, now living in Spartanburg but writing about his Sullivan’s Island experiences in Southern Heat. A wonderful evening with terrific authors!

The Hallo-wiener

Shari Randall's recent post on Writers Who Kill introduced me to a wonderful children's book by Dav Pilkey. The Hallo-wiener is about a dachshund named Oscar who attends obedience school and looks forward to having a fun costume for Halloween. Unfortunately, his mother, who calls him her "little Vienna sausage" makes him a hot dog bun with mustard on top. This outfit meets with derision from his classmates. At first, Oscar is downcast, but when he has the chance to save the day, with the help of his costume, he becomes the hero. Thanks, Shari, for this great howliday read!  

A Scary Good Time!

Lori and Scott Stepp

My friends Lori and Scott Stepp, with family and volunteers, operate the three spooky attractions of The Dark Knight's Terror Trail: an outdoor trail, a traditional indoor haunted house, and an expanded indoor/outdoor Zombie Zone. All the scares and thrills take place in one location, the Stepps' entertainment facility called The Castle. Game nights, parties, receptions, and summer camps are held there during the rest of the year, but in October, it is transformed into the ultimate Halloween experience. Visitors are welcome at any or all attractions on one or multiple nights through November 1. Treat yourself to the tricks!

MWA University Atlanta

This weekend, I attended the Mystery Writers of America University held in Atlanta, Georgia. The excellent program offered a wonderful group of speakers who took writers through the process of creating a mystery story from idea (Stacey Allen) to plot (Laura DiSilverio) to setting and description (Richie Narvaez) to character (Carolyn Haines) to revision (Hallie Ephron) to how to cope with the writing life (Hank Phillippi Ryan). The audience included beginning as well as established writers, all seeking inspiration and advice to help them prosper in their work. Thanks to MWA, Margery Flax, and Beth Terrell for this terrific event.

Congratulations to E.B. Davis and Shari Randall!

E.B. Davis

Congratulations to two fellow bloggers on Writers Who Kill who have short stories in and are celebrating the launch of the anthology Homicidal Holidays this weekend.

E.B. Davis, who asked me to join WWK, has been my online critique partner since I joined the Guppies. Her story, "Compromised Circumstances," involves college roommates dealing with diplomatic immunity for a crime that occurs on President's Day 1979 near Washington, D.C.

Shari Randall

Shari Randall, a writer and librarian, has modern-day teenaged library volunteers resolving a 1970s crime from clues from donated library books and recycled vintage clothes. Both stories make for excellent anytime reading.