The August Newsletter: We've been on this shift too long

Take a break Driver 8 Driver 8 take a break

News

Obviously, the big news is that Big F@!king Deal is out!

You can head over to Amazon to get your copy — in paperback or Kindle, audiobook is coming SOON— or ask your local bookstore to order you a copy. I can’t wait for you all to get a chance to read it.

AND, it’s nominated for a Claymore Award at Killer Nashville for Best Comedy. Cross fingers!

Appearances

Next week I’m heading out to Killer Nashville, where I’ll be on three (3!) panels. That’s a lot of me!

Aug. 18th: Writing Comedy Including Comedic P.I. and Crime Caper!

Aug. 19th: Creating a Compelling Protagonist!

Aug. 20th: Crafting the Perfect Opener!

I think they’re going to be fab panels. I’m excited to contribute my POV on all of them. I got opinions and I’m gonna share.

After that… I’m off to Bouchercon in San Diego where I’ll be on Laugh It Up:  Humor Where the Bodies Drop. Sunday at 9 am, the night after the Anthony Awards. Maybe I’ll just stay up and roll in like a rock star.

What could go wrong?

Book Recommendation

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz is a different kind of mystery. In fact, the real mystery, you sort of piece together until the last third of the book when its revealed. Until then, you are dealing with the mystery of the Spellmans, a family of private detectives. Told from the point of view of Izzy Spellman, the eldest daughter who is sick and tired of her family and is ready to get out. She wants a normal life — for which she is ill-equipped for. Her parents offer her a deal, wrap up a cold case and she is out for good.

Of course, nothing is that easy.

The book is very character driven with a family that is complicated, hilarious and deeply flawed. One of the things I love about this book is Lutz’s use of tone. It’s dry and funny, dark yet hilarious.

In fact, it was one of the comp titles I used when I pitched my first book to agents and editors. Which brings me to…

The Comp Title Book Club created by my fabulous editor, Jessica Hatch.

It’s newsletter/book club for writers (and readers, of course) where instead of a writer promoting their book, they are going to talk about one of their… you guessed it… comp titles.

I’ll be there in September and I’ll be talking about The Spellman Files. So here’s your chance to read it and join us for the live interview. Wait. WHAT?! A live interview?

Oh, man. That sounds terrifying and great.

That’s it for this month. See you all in September!