writing

Advice to (Young) Magazine Journalists

Advice to (Young) Magazine Journalists

This will date me. I majored in magazine journalism in college, intending to work for big glossy magazine back when they were still relevant. The biggest and richest still are. The smaller ones struggle, or have evaporated. Still, I’m amazed by the variety of publications I see when I open the Apple News app on my phone, or scroll the magazines available via my Magzter app. I love browsing the magazine racks at Barnes & Noble, or Hudson News when I’m passing through airports. But seriously, how many of us know where we can find a solid newsstand anymore? They used to be ubiquitous when print was king.

About a decade after I went freelance, my old writing professor asked me to speak to his class of magazine journalism students. We kept trying to find time when I’d be able to fly up from North Carolina to Syracuse. I never did. But I did write the following memo, which I sent, and he distributed to his students. I offer now because beyond that one sharing, it’s never seen the light of day…

One-Legged Playboy Writes Constitution

Sleuthsayers blog logo

I’m back at Sleuthsayers, the mystery blog, today, writing about one of my favorite historical figures.

He was a man named Gouverneur Morris, who was a rake and scoundrel at the time of the American Revolution. His sexual exploits are legendary, as was the fact that he wore a wooden leg. (He lost his left leg in a carriage accident while in his twenties.)

He stands out in history for the work he did on the writing of the U.S. Constitution. Among other things, he gave America a phrase that we invoke to this very day whenever we speak of the document.

No, I won’t spoil it for you. You’ll have to read the story for yourself.

The link to the blog post is here.

If you like my work, kindly consider bookmarking Sleuthsayers. The next post will be in three weeks, in the depths of October. I’m planning something appropriately spooky and morbid.

If you’re looking for reading material during this hellish time, I hope you’ll consider one of my books or my wife’s. If ever there was a time for escapism, it’s now!

The e-book versions of both of my two most recent books, Murder on Book Row and the fantasy novel, Sorceress Kringle, are available at almost every online retailer. You can order print copies at the usual suspects online, or autographed copies from Malaprop’s, the bookstore in my nabe.



Independence Hall photo credit: Phillip Goldsberry on Unsplash

Mint Julep Cups!

Sleuthsayers blog logo

The Kentucky Derby was supposed to run back in May, but is happening tomorrow because of the pandemic. To celebrate, I’m looking into the colorful history of the event’s most famous libation, the mint julep. Specifically, I’m talking about the famous cup that the drink is typically served in.

I got thinking about this topic a while ago, when I tried to buy a pair of julep cups in my hometown, Asheville, NC, and struck unlucky. The Moscow mule copper mug is far more ubiquitous in my neck of the woods these days. But the julep cup has an interesting history that harks back to the post-WWII era and dips into presidential history as well.

The link to the blog post is here.

If you like my work, kindly consider bookmarking Sleuthsayers. The next post will be in three weeks.

If you’re looking for reading material during this hellish time, I hope you’ll consider one of my books or my wife’s. If ever there was a time for escapism, it’s now!

The e-book versions of both of my two most recent books, Murder on Book Row and the fantasy novel, Sorceress Kringle, are available at almost every online retailer. You can order print copies at the usual suspects online, or autographed copies from Malaprop’s, the bookstore in my nabe.



Mint photo credit: Conscious Design via Unsplash

Sullivan's Island & Edgar Allan Poe

Sleuthsayers blog logo

We live in the North Carolina mountains, which means that the nearest North Carolina beaches are something like 5+ hours away. That’s why it’s become our custom to head to the South Carolina coast instead. The nearest beaches are a more manageable 4.5 hours away.

And, as luck would have it, they’re temptingly close to Charleston, SC, which is one of the great historic cities—and a foodie destination, to boot.

The region is also chock full of literary history as well. One of the beach towns we visit every summer is Sullivan’s Island, famous for its association with the great freakish author, Edgar Allan Poe. He is the subject of my post this week at Sleuthsayers, the mystery blog.

I hope you’ll check it out, if you’re so inclined.

The link to the blog post is here.

If you like my work, kindly consider bookmarking Sleuthsayers. The next post will be in three weeks.

If you’re looking for reading material during this hellish time, I hope you’ll consider one of my books or my wife’s. If ever there was a time for escapism, it’s now!

The e-book versions of both of my two most recent books, Murder on Book Row and the fantasy novel, Sorceress Kringle, are available at almost every online retailer. You can order print copies at the usual suspects online, or autographed copies from Malaprop’s, the bookstore in my nabe.



Book “collage” photo credit: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

Pandemic Authors

Sleuthsayers blog logo

Every author dreams of being sent on a book tour, but not all of them are so lucky. You need to have an amazing sales track record to have your publisher spring for a tour of any duration these days. Most midlist authors squeak by on their own, cobbling together tours by pulling strings at every bookstore they know and scrimping along the way by crashing at the homes of very good friends.

Then came a virus.

2020 is the year authors are staying home, and mounting virtual book tours to spread the word of their new titles. The early evidence is that these tours truly are global. There’s a very good chance that word of your talk will spread beyond the local reach of the bookstore sponsoring your event. That’s the upside. The downside, according to some publicists we’ve talk to, is that the longer your tour goes on, the lower the attendance at the later live, virtual events. The theory is that if a reader really wants to know about a book, they’ll tune in at the first couple of events, watch a replay, and decide whether to buy the book. They don’t have to wait for the live event offered by a bookstore in their area.

This week on the Sleuthsayers, I’m looking at how two mystery writers are getting the word out, broadcasting their own own videos from the comfort of their own homes. One’s a very famous author, the other not so much. But they are both during some thing very interesting.

I hope you’ll check it out, if you’re so inclined.

The link to the blog post is here.

If you like my work, kindly consider bookmarking Sleuthsayers. The next post will be in three weeks.

If you’re looking for reading material during this hellish time, I hope you’ll consider one of my books or my wife’s. If ever there was a time for escapism, it’s now!

The e-book versions of both of my two most recent books, Murder on Book Row and the fantasy novel, Sorceress Kringle, are available at almost every online retailer. You can order print copies at the usual suspects online, or autographed copies from Malaprop’s, the bookstore in my nabe.



Book “collage” photo credit: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

Dying Man Says, 'I am Murdered!'

Sleuthsayers blog logo

To celebrate the Fourth of July, I’m presenting something truly strange. I love creepy true American stories, and the strange tale of how George Wythe—a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a mentor of Thomas Jefferson’s—met his fate certainly ticks all the boxes. His murder is the topic of my newest post up at Sleuthsayers, the mystery blog.

Fifty-six men signed the Declaration, and despite rumors to the contrary, only two were killed in unusual ways. One died in a duel. The other was old Mr. Wythe, Esq., who died in a murder by arsenic that feels ripped from an Agatha Christie novel. But not really terribly mysterious. The murderer left a trail a mile long, as you’ll see.

The link to the blog post is here.

If you like my work, kindly consider bookmarking Sleuthsayers. The next post will be in three weeks.

If you’re looking for reading material during this hellish time, I hope you’ll consider one of my books or my wife’s. If ever there was a time for escapism, it’s now!

The e-book versions of both of my two most recent books, Murder on Book Row and the fantasy novel, Sorceress Kringle, are available at almost every online retailer. You can order print copies at the usual suspects online, or autographed copies from Malaprop’s, the bookstore in my nabe.

Until next time, I hope everyone has a great Fourth of July!



Book “collage” photo credit: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

The Curious Mr. Sengier

Sleuthsayers blog logo

I had an interesting conversation with an interview subject this week that made a great lead-in to talk about U.S. nuclear history and medical supply chains surrounding the virus.

If I haven’t put you to sleep yet, maybe you’ll be moved to check out my latest post at the Sleuthsayers mystery blog today.

The link to the blog post is here.

If you like my work, kindly consider bookmarking Sleuthsayers. The next post will be in three weeks.

If you’re looking for reading material during this hellish time, I hope you’ll consider one of my books or my wife’s. If ever there was a time for escapism, it’s now!

The e-book versions of both of my two most recent books, Murder on Book Row and the fantasy novel, Sorceress Kringle, are available at almost every online retailer. You can order print copies at the usual suspects online, or autographed copies from Malaprop’s, the bookstore in my nabe.



Book “collage” photo credit: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

Government Loans for Mystery Writers—Not!

Sleuthsayers blog logo

This is as nutty as I get, folks. My latest post at the Sleuthsayers mystery blog today is heavily inspired by the government loans the U.S. feds are handing out to…well, just about anyone these days, if only to keep the economy going.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if writers—specifically mystery writers—could carve off a piece of that action? Well, now they can!

Please check it out, if you’re so inclined.

The link to the blog post is here.

If you like my work, kindly consider bookmarking Sleuthsayers. The next post will be in three weeks.

If you’re looking for reading material during this hellish time, I hope you’ll consider one of my books or my wife’s. If ever there was a time for escapism, it’s now!

The e-book versions of both of my two most recent books, Murder on Book Row and the fantasy novel, Sorceress Kringle, are available at almost every online retailer. You can order print copies at the usual suspects online, or autographed copies from Malaprop’s, the bookstore in my nabe.



Book “collage” photo credit: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

The Mysterious Flitcraft Parable

The Mysterious Flitcraft Parable

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I am now an official contributor to the mystery writers blog, Sleuthsayers, posting every three weeks.

My latest post is about an unusual anecdote that appears toward the beginning of the great mystery novel, The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett…

Powered by Squarespace