Thanks to all my friends & partners on Story Empire, Savage Mayhem had an amazing book tour. At many stops, I shared an excerpt. At others, I chatted about why I focused on saving American Buffalo (species: bison, bison) instead of grizzlies, wolves, and lynxes like I’d planned. While writing Savage Mayhem, it stirred up long-forgotten memories in me. Hence my absence here. As a writer, I lean into my emotions rather than shy away from them, so it transfers to the page. It’s not always easy to bare your soul — I bawled while writing some scenes — but the honesty benefits the book. As a wri ..read more

The differences between human and animal eyes are just as interesting as the similarities. Eye shape can transcend class of animal, eyeballs don’t always align with body size, and pupils come in a variety of shapes. But what about the eyes of a predator? Do they differ in humans vs. animals? The Psychopathic Stare Believe it or not, research exists for what’s called “the psychopathic stare.” A 2019 study assessed two groups of incarcerated offenders, one with psychopathic traits and one without. Psychopaths spent less time looking at the eyes — and eye area — of others. If you’ve ever stared i ..read more

Impress your holiday guests with these fun facts about turkeys and Thanksgiving. I had a blast compiling these. Hope you enjoy them! 15: Only Male Turkeys Gobble Male turkeys are called “gobblers” because of their famous call — their version of a rooster’s crow — a loud shrill, descending, throaty jumble of sound that lasts about one second. Males often gobble from treetop roosts, where the sound carries better than on the ground. They gobble to attract females and to respond to other males. Sometimes one male’s call can lead to a group joining in, much like wolves howl in unison. Both male an ..read more

When we write in a certain genre, we assume readers will know what we’re talking about. With so many genres and sub-genres these days, it’s an unfair assumption and one I’ve continued to make since 2020, when I wrote Unnatural Mayhem. All this time, it never occurred to me that I might be confusing readers. Then I opened an email from one of my readers who asked me to define the eco-thriller genre. Talk about a wake-up call. But y’know what? They’re right. I’ve never defined the genre. So, let’s change that. Elements of an Eco-Thriller The term “eco-thriller” means the protagonist is protectin ..read more

Have you ever wondered how birds follow their migration route or how sea turtles find their way back to their birthplace? After all, sea turtles spend twelve years at sea before they return to dry land. Why don’t they get lost? What do they perceive that we miss? A lot, as it turns out. We know the molten material inside Mother Earth rotates, right? Otherwise, life on Earth wouldn’t have any protection from harmful radiation generated by the sun. This rotation produces a massive magnetic field that extends into space and provides reliable navigation for animals to orient themselves. Many speci ..read more

Polar bears are fascinating animals that roam across the Arctic, but they’re a lot more faceted than the adorable faces portrayed in children’s books and on Coke commercials. While researching these amazing animals, I discovered so many cool things. Too many to include in one article, but here are the highlights. How Big are Polar Bears? Polar bears are enormous, weighing more than 1300 lbs and span more than 8’6” from nose to tail, crowning them as the largest carnivore on Mother Earth. Though other bears can grow even bigger—Alaska’s 10’ long Kodiak bears beat them in size but they’re omnivo ..read more

After I read & blurbed Deep Fake Double Down, I asked my friend and TKZ blogmate, Debbie, if she’d give us an in-depth look at deep fakes. The more we learn, the better we’ll be able to protect ourselves. Or at least pause — take a breath — before we presume everything we see online is real. “Reality bleeds through the pages of Deep Fake Double Down—creepy, intense, and unputdownable. Burke’s intersecting plot lines and endearing characters strangle-held me from the first page to the last. A memorable thriller!”— Me ? The floor is yours, Debbie!   What is Deep Fake? Suppose one d ..read more

The other day I was on the deck, chatting with one of my crows. Thoreau is the chatterbox in the family. After the usual, “How’s your day goin’? Any h-a-w-k trouble today? Yes, I always spell it out. The word’s less volatile that way. After we chatted for a while, Poe flew in. As lead crow—and let’s be honest, a total diva—Poe would not be upstaged by Thoreau. So, Poe flew even closer and whispered to me. Of course, that drew me in. Poe’s never whispered to me before. I knew crow language included low-talking to one another. It means “this a private conversation. Do you mind?” As much as it pa ..read more

I am so filled with the holiday spirit, my insides are dancing and singing nonstop. There’s magic in air, palpable magic. Can you feel it? Animals do. Perhaps I should say “crows” rather than all animals. Two weeks ago, Poe and Edgar surprised me with such a special gift, it brought me to tears. A Christmas miracle. On Sunday, December 6, the day started like any other. After feeding my two fur babies—The Notorious P.I. G. (aka Miss Piggy) and Dee-Pac (aka Miss Dee)—I sloughed into an oversized yard coat lined with thick fleece and scooped sunflower seeds, kibble, and leftovers into containers ..read more

Recognized by its white head, brown body, and hooked yellow beak, the bald eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782. Unlike my amazing black beauties—crows and ravens—most people adore eagles. Perhaps it’s their mysticism and majestic nature. I will never forget an encounter I had with a bald eagle. On a return trip from running errands, Bob and I witnessed the most beautiful lavender sky. About two or three feet above our vehicle a bald eagle flapped its impressive wings in what felt like slow motion. Whoosh . . . whoosh . . . whoosh. And he stayed with us for o ..read more