It’s Children’s Book Week this week–May 13-19. What are your favorite children’s books? Most people have at least one favorite that they’ll never forget and that perhaps changed their life. Some of mine include Where the Wild Things Are; Hailstones and Halibut Bones; The Phantom Tollbooth; Harriet the Spy; the Madeline books; and Throw a Kiss, Harry! I have memories of my father reading me The Wind in the Willows, The Hobbit, and the original Oz books. When I had …

What are you reading this month? If you’re between seasons of the BBC show, Sherlock, or if your appetite for Holmes is whetted by watching the CBS show, Elementary, try My Dear Watson–my pastiche novel written by Holmes rather than by Watson. Wouldn’t you like to get inside the mind of the greatest detective of all time? If you’re looking for picture books for young children, I can offer several to choose from. I’ve been lucky enough to work with …

It’s National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, starting today, November 1. Write a whole novel in one month! Who’s committing to it this year? Myself, I’m not ready to do that this year, but many people do.  Instead, I’m picking up an old, discarded manuscript and committing to finishing it. Progress reports to follow!

I’m looking forward to participating as a panelist in this year’s Crime Bake Conference! It runs Fri-Sun, November 9-11, 2012, at the Dedham Hilton in Dedham, Massachusetts. I’ve never been a panelist before, so I’m thrilled. And the topic is one that’s close to my heart and to the plot of My Dear Watson. My particular panel is on Saturday morning at 10 a.m., and we are discussing “Who Says Women Are the Weaker Sex?: Writing strong, smart female characters who defy the …