Mint Julep Cups!

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.

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Mint photo credit: Conscious Design via Unsplash

Sullivan's Island & Edgar Allan Poe

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.

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Book “collage” photo credit: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

Pandemic Authors

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.

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Book “collage” photo credit: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

Dying Man Says, 'I am Murdered!'

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!

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Book “collage” photo credit: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

The Curious Mr. Sengier

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.

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Book “collage” photo credit: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

Government Loans for Mystery Writers—Not!

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.

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Book “collage” photo credit: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash