Watching twelve hours of NFL football in a day? Excessive or glorious?

This issue of Black Cat Weekly features stories from their recent short story contest, including my story, “Captain Fluffy Sails Again!” (an honorable mention). This issue also showcases the winning story, “Kat’s Ninth Life,” by Pam Barnsley! From @wildsidepress!

Wednesday green bug picture.

"What Ned Said" by Gary Phillips getting some love from Robert Lopresti!

Birthday gift, assembled! A Flamin(le)go! Thanks, Aunt Susan!

I can’t tell black socks from blue socks but I know when the temperature of the swimming pool is off by one degree.

I’m thoroughly enjoying my re-watch of Breaking Bad. I’m giving it the one seed on my Best Drama Series list.

Today is Pub Day for COOKING UP DEATH! “When Death dons the chef's hat, your first bite might be your last!” Happy my story, “Togas and Toques,” is included (a reprint from NOIR AT THE SALAD BAR). Edited by the wonderful @lynworthen.bsky.social (Camden Park Press). Get your delicious copy today!

Not sure whether I need to grow up or glow up.

Just registered for StokerCon in June in Pittsburgh. Anyone else going?

Thing I like: warm weather Thing I dislike: cold weather

What? I thought this entire place was No Shamokin!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes and the familial wedding congratulations! It was QUITE the weekend!

Had an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING time at my older son’s WONDERFUL WEDDING! SO THRILLED to welcome the FANTABULISSIMO L.M. to the family!

I’m in a reading funk. I didn’t finish the last three novels I started. One I ditched on page 105, one on page 168, and the third on page 345(!). The books weren’t bad; I was just done with them.

ICYMI!

Contributor copies! From Crippen & Landru Publishers!

Has anyone seen my motivation? He’s been missing for weeks now, and I’m getting worried! If you spot him, please approach slowly, invite him in for a cookie, then lock him in the closet until I can retrieve him. Whatever you do, DON’T MAKE EYE CONTACT! That’ll just mess you up, trust me.

I think we just saw Starship Flight 11 streaking across the sky! Cool!

Vaxxed!

TODAY! Hey, SoCal friends, have some fun at Book Carnival! Eight contributors to HOLLYWOOD KILLS, all in one place, discussing their stories! I hear their dance number is spectacular!

I bought some hardware online for $65 (undermount drawer slides, pkg of 6 pairs). They were the wrong size. To return them, the shipping charge is…$65 (plus a potential re-stocking fee). Anybody in the neighborhood need some undermount drawer slides?

Our very first homegrown Meyer lemon!

Big thanks to Kevin Tipple for his very nice review of HOLLYWOOD KILLS! “Hollywood Kills: An Anthology is a highly entertaining read that is well worth your time. Every story in the read has its own multi act drama that creates an immersive world of criminal make believe.” Click to read more!

Because I know everybody wants an update on my fantasy football team: I'm 5-0, and I've had the highest score in the league two out of the five weeks. So...things should come crashing down any time now!

I registered for Malice Domestic!

I’m three quarters of the way through my WIP, and I’ve completely forgotten how to write a book. Also, Repetitive Dreck would be a good name for a band.

I had the good fortune to be interviewed by the vivacious Polly Campbell for her Simply Write podcast series. Have a listen! open.spotify.com/episode/7yTb...

Has everybody already upgraded to Windows 11? Should I be nervous about doing so?

Congrats to my buddy and anthology editor @curtisippolito.bsky.social and all the other contributors on the release of ON FIRE AND UNDER WATER: A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology. I just bought my copy! You should buy yours, too! From Rock & a Hard Place Press!

Big Congrats to my pal @almakatsu.bsky.social on the recent release of her latest blockbuster, FIEND! Do yourself a favor and READ this one!

Thanks to Kevin Burton Smith for the nice review of I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP on his terrific website, The Thrilling Detective! That book was a lot of fun to write!

I LOVE LIBRARIES! (photo taken at my local branch)

One of my superpowers is blending into the woodwork.

Box O' Boox

Def in a 6-7 mood.

I’ve seen the following in concert: The Stones, The Who, Springsteen, Yes, Beach Boys, Stephen Stills (CSN), Ringo (Beatles), Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Joan Jett, America, Paul Simon, Guess Who, Joe Cocker, Chicago, Doobie Brothers, Jackson Browne, and Peter Frampton. I know, I know, I’m old.

Today's homemade challah.

I’m taking a decision holiday. No decisions for a week.

MONDAY, 8 PM ET I'll be on The Nest, Owlcrate's app, talking about FIEND. Join us! thenest.owlcrate.com

Here’s a bread baker pro tip: Use pickle juice as the liquid in your dough mix.

After two weeks, there’s only one undefeated 2- 0 team in my ten-team fantasy football league. 👀

Don't recall ever seeing these before, so I looked them up. Their name is as cool as they are: basket stinkhorns! (Which would make a great band name!)

Canvas wraps for my most recent two books! (I hang them in my office as motivation.)

Sunday lizard photo: "Lizard with Leaf"

Hit 50K words in my WIP, right on schedule! Now I just have to figure out what the next 35K words should be!

I’ve been playing a fair amount of tennis lately, and while my game could use some serious improvement, I think what I really should work on is my racket-smashing. When I lose, I just say, “Good game.” If I demolished my racket into a warped mess, I might increase my intimidation factor.

More Bouchercon photos!

The HOLLYWOOD KILLS Bouchercon launch/group signing was a success! Thanks to all the wonderful contributors who participated! From Level Best Books!

Had traditional New Orleans food at every meal: red beans and rice (3x), jambalaya (2x), gumbo, shrimp Creole (2x), po’ boy, and beignets (?x). Vegetables? Do the pickle chips on the po’ boy count?