Blog Archives

Designed using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

1/24/2023

So I was playing around with the new AI technology from Microsoft and this is what it came up with. I asked for "imaginary English village Dorset 1950s" - or something like that, and it produced a not-bad village image. The wording, of course, is mine.

I must confess, this technology worries me, especially the technology that is going to replace writers any minute. And encourage a whole lot of cheating on college entrance essays, if we're honest.

If I were a graphic artist I would be worried, too.

Invitation to a Killer. Hardback available February 1, eBook February 7

1/22/2023

Edgar Awards

1/20/2023

https://mysterywriters.org/mwa-announces-2023-edgar-award-nominations/

Having been a lead judge for one of these categories I can tell you how difficult it is to sift through hundreds of entries and get consensus on just a handful.

I know a lot of these nominees personally so I can't get into commenting individually, but I will say congratulations on being nominated for this v important honor in the mystery world.

Forger

1/15/2023

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolfo_Kaminsky

I always wondered about the people who worked behind the scenes in WWII to forge documents so people could evade the Nazis. One such person was Adolfo Kaminsky, who died last week. He went blind in one eye from working ceaselessly to create passports, birth certificates, ration cards, and so on.

His daughter wrote a book called Adolfo Kaminsky: A Forger's Life. Here is the Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/Adolfo-Kaminsky-Forgers-Life-Sarah/dp/0997003472

Spare

1/14/2023

I won't be reading Harry's SPARE. The coverage of it has been so intense and widespread, I don't feel the need to. And now he's started to hint of even darker revelations to come in Book Two. (SPARED?) The publishers need him to earn out that massive multi-million advance for the two books.

Instead I'll be rereading Richard Osman's THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE, which is a little miracle of a book and deserving of all the praise it has received. Joyce, one of his creations, is a perfect character. You start to worry about all the characters, who are in their 70s. You want them all to live to be a hundred. But Osman is hinting one of them may be leaving us in a future book, possibly the next in series. I hope not.

California

1/11/2023

California is very much on my mind. I have family and friends there, up and down the state, and they're all being affected by the continuing deluge. We used to think we'd move there one day but honestly, it's not looking likely anymore.

Sending wishes for everyone's safety.

Kindle Unlimited Deal - 2 Max Books

1/10/2023

I'm not sure how long this promotion will run. It's up to the publisher. But if you are a KU customer, it's free, and I'd be happy if this promo introduces you to a new series. There are 7 books in the series, soon to be one more (Sept 2023).

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