A miscellany of thoughts about dogs, cats, writing, life in the Ozarks, & occasional book reviews
When I travel, I'm often asked "What's it like to live in the Ozarks?" Borrowing a Native American phrase I like to say that to live among these hills is to "walk in beauty." You needn't take my word for it, though. Here's a slideshow of photographs taken by Arkansas photographer David Dedman: These photographs capture the beauty of our …
Continue reading The Beautiful Ozarks
One of my favorite places in the world is a library. That's where I'll be today, visiting with fans and friends at the Fayetteville (AR) Public Library. If you're in the area, I hope to see you there! * I'll be back here soon to share more about facts and folktales in regional mysteries. Remember …
Continue reading Sharing a Love of Mysteries
According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, every fog in October means a snow in December. The hills and hollers I call home have been cloaked in fog at least five mornings to date, with friends in remote homesteads and farms reporting even more. We've been lucky (so far) that the sun breaks through by mid-morning and …
Continue reading October Journeys
I'm an "up close and personal" kind of researcher. So when I'm working on my regional series, that means I'm often out in the hills, meeting people and listening to the stories that have been handed down, one generation to the next, keeping the old legends alive. The story of the Yokum Dollar is one of …
Continue reading Folklore in Fiction
I’m honored to have been invited once again to the Fayetteville (AR) Public Library for a book discussion and signing of Deadly Ties, the first in the Waterside Kennels mystery series. If you’re in the area, please join me from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, October 11th. This presentation will explore the art of blending fact, …
Continue reading Fact, Fiction, and Folklore