Playing Chess

I pick up my grandson from school each weekday, and he comes to our house until mom or dad picks him up in the late afternoon. Lately, my grandson and I have been playing chess. He’s getting quite good at it. I usually win, but he also beats me once in a while. It’s enjoyable to watch him develop new skills.

Writing Conferences

I’ll be attending a writing conference in Los Angeles in May. I haven’t attended one of this in a number of years. When I lived in Colorado, I went annually to the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Conference. It was through this conference and a pitch session that I sold my first book, Retirement Homes Are Murder.

Trend in Modern Mystery Novels

I’ve notice that a number of modern mystery novels have multiple points of view and bounce back and forth between different time periods. What do you think of this?

Library Events

I enjoy library events and will be speaking at two libraries in May: the Agoura Hills Library on Saturday May 17 at 1 PM and the Villa Park Library at 2 PM on Saturday May 24.

Rereading My Published Books

I have a reading project. I decided to reread some of my originally published books beginning with the six books in the Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series. So far, I’ve read eight books out of my 23 published books. It was an enjoyable exercise to reacquaint myself with characters from these earlier books.

An Enjoyable Left Coast Crime Conference

Last Wednesday through Sunday I participated in the Left Coast Crime Conference in Denver. On Thursday I pitched to 18 tables of readers about my 3 most recent mystery novels: Murder in the Museo Kircheriano, A Mystery Yarn and The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes. On Friday I moderated the Meet the New Authors Breakfast, introducing 15 debut mystery authors. On Saturday I was on the Senior Sleuth panel. 

It was great catching up with old friends and making new ones. Here are fellow authors published through Encircle Publications: Curt Wendelboe, Cathy Dilts and B.J. Magnani.

Left Coast Crime Conference

I will be participating in Author Speed Dating today at the Left Coast Crime Conference in Denver. I’ll be teaming with fellow author Tom Farrell for each of us to give two-minute pitches as we move from table to table.