Sometimes you just need a little boost to get a clear signal. My brain has been a lot like this picture; an antenna, encrusted in signal-blurring ice, frozen by elements beyond my control, engulfed in mists that shape-shift familiar landmarks into hunched and hidden versions of themselves.  The don't-get-up-from-that-chair-until-you-hit-one-thousand-words goal doesn't apply. I'm still writing like a fiend but with real-life stuff. It's my fiction writing that's taking the hit. The problem is that I really want to be making stuff up and writing it down. I don't want to b ..read more

Interviews and podcasts are part of the deal in being a writer. We often say we write for ourselves but it sure is nice to get our words out into the world, and being an invited guest on a blog, CCTV, or podcast is always an honor and a great way to expand our reach into new audiences.  Each host has a theme or a vibe they adhere to. I've done interviews that focus on my experience as an equestrian, fiction author, journalist, or social connector. I enjoy learning what the host found interesting in my background for their readers/viewers/listeners. As fun as these interviews are, I always ..read more

It never gets old to see my name under the "Best New England Crime Stories" banner. This year, my short story "Wooden Spirits" appears beside other award-winning authors. Wolfsbane: Best New England Crime Stories 2023 once again brings together many of the best writers in the genre in our region. These 21 stories cover the full range of crime fiction, from the traditional amateur sleuth to the cop in the world of self-driving cars and AI bots running your home. The award-winning authors take us to the streets of Boston where drug dealers congregate and yet show us the true character of some ..read more

I am absolutely rejoicing!  I've written about the launch and my excitement of my short story, CURRENTS, being included with crime-writing greats like Walter Mosely, Sara Paretsky, Naomi Hirahara, Gabino Iglesias, and more, but I've learned some thrilling news. CRIME HITS HOME has won the coveted Anthony Award for Best Anthology! My grandfather once said, "Show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are." If that saying holds true, then the great company I'm in means I write darned good stories. My story unfolds what happens when two assassins are stranded on a de ..read more

It's time to share some good news! The anthology, CRIME HITS HOME, has been nominated for an Anthony Award! This award recognizes excellence in all things crime-writing-related. From novels to short stories, to collections like anthologies, even a nomination is something to rejoice in. So, color me rejoicing!  I've written about the launch and my excitement of my short story, CURRENTS, being included with crime-writing greats like Walter Mosely, Sara Paretsky, Naomi Hirahara, Gabino Iglesias, and more, but I learned something else that has me stunned. Michael J. McCann, award-winning nove ..read more

  When: May 12 at 1:00 Where: Centerville Public Library, 585 Main Street, Barnstable, MA Your ideas. Our crime. Join four of New England's top mystery and crime writers for an afternoon of murder and mayhem. These Sisters (and Misters!) in Crime authors will create a new crime using ideas from the audience. While weaving their web of crime, the authors will pull back the curtain to explain their choices and show how a crime novel is created. Think of this as jazz improv for the homicidally inclined! Authors: Matt Cost Kat Fast Arlene Kay Connie Johnson Hambley ..read more

 AUTHOR CELEBRITY INTERVIEWS:  WILLIAM MARTIN & WILLIAM LANDAY ? I'm thrilled to have been asked to interview two AMAZING authors at the upcoming Newburyport Literary Festival. Known for gathering some of the best authors and newest literary voices, this lit fest has something for everyone. Set in the gorgeous seacoast town of Newburyport, this is one event you cannot miss! I have the pleasure of knowing both of these gentlemen from many New England author events. When the organizers of the lit fest asked me to interview them, I had to confess that each has been a not ..read more

What do you need to write a great mystery? Imagination, of course, and a certain approach to logic and clues that can unravel the most vexing crimes. Going to law school honed my skills of seeing beyond the obvious and red herrings. For me, getting a JD was my writing BootCamp, although I didn't know it at the time! I foolishly thought my conflict-hating self would just love that career. Nope. Not so much. Instead, a learned how to parse fact from fiction and how to present a case with (hopefully) airtight logic. Writing became my sculptor's clay. I learned that creating a compelling mystery i ..read more

What could be better in life than curling up with a good book on a cold winter morning with home-baked muffins and coffee on hand? How about adding chowder, conversation, and supporting local readers and writers? If you answered yes, then I have an event for you. The Bookworm Cafe has been a staple in our community to bring together authors and readers in a relaxed atmosphere. Authors talk about our craft to give readers a behind-the-scenes look at the writing and publishing process. I'll be giving a talk at 11:00 and sharing tips on how to get that story idea out of your head and different wr ..read more

I've decided that 2022 wasn't so bad after all. Many opinions this time of year revolve around how exhausting the past year was for them. Adjusting to new normals nudged folks out of their comfort zones, or cocoon zones. Working remotely had been pretty terrific for many of us. We didn't have to know if the pandemic was over or if we could simply exist in a place of benign neglect. I've been on the slow-to-adapt side of the Bell Curve. Yes, I'm fully vaxxed and boosted, but being a writer has its benefits, and not having to wear hard pants or heeled shoes are two of them. Zoom has been anothe ..read more