J. H. Authors

One Woman. Three Names. Many Books.

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CLOCK AND DAGGER on August 2!

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Perfect Beach Reads! Instagram post 2 (1)I am thrilled that CLOCK AND DAGGER will be released August 2. I’m doing a blog tour–here are some of the sites with posts, give aways, reviews, or a combination of all three.

Thank you for your continued support on this journey!

Fresh Fiction—Guest Post (8/1)

Wicked Cozy Authors–Post and Giveaway 8/2

Wicked Wednesday 8/3

dru’s book musings—Guest Post/Giveaway (8/5)

A Cozy Girl Reads—Review/Giveaway (8/6)

Moonlight Rendezvous—Review (8/6)

Mysteries and My Musings—Review and Guest Post (8/8)

It’s Not Always a Mystery–Guest Post (8/8)

Marie’s Cozy Corner—Guest Post/Giveaway (8/9)

Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book—Review/Giveaway (8/10)

Carstairs Considers—Review/Giveaway (8/11)

Lori’s Reading Corner—Guest Post/Giveaway (8/14)

Gotta Write Network—Guest Post (8/17)

Killer Characters–Post and Giveaway (8/20)

Left Coast Crime

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AdventuresinPhoenixI am thrilled that I will be at Left Coast Crime this weekend, and not just because I want to escape the snow. Though there is that. Here’s what I am looking forward to!

I am on a panel, Saturday at 11am. Main Street Murder: Mysteries set along Main Street U.S.A. Jenn McKinlay will be moderating, and I will be paneling with Kate Carlisle, Cheryl Hollon, and Jennifer McAndrews.

I will be at the New Author Breakfast Friday morning. 

The wonderful Catriona McPherson is the toastmaster. I can’t wait to see her, and several other SinC board members like Lefty nominees Gigi Pandian and Diane Vallere, Leslie Budewitz, and Susan Shea.

I will be meeting three out of the four other Best First Novel Agatha nominees for lunch. How much fun is that?

I am 15 years into this mystery writing journey, and I know so many other writers. It is always a real treat to see friends, and to catch up.

Last but not least, my Wicked Cozy sistah Sherry Harris will be there as well. I think this may be a bit of Lucy and Ethel go to Phoenix. Stay tuned for updates.

 

Cover Reveal for CLOCK AND DAGGER

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ClockandDaggerClock and Dagger will be released on August 2. It is available for pre-order here. I love writing this series, and can’t wait for you to read the next adventure of Ruth Clagan.

Here’s a blurb about the book: Ruth has three days to pull off four events—including the grand reopening of Cog & Sprocket, the clock shop she inherited from her grandfather—so she doesn’t have time for Beckett Green’s nonsense. The competitive owner of a new bookstore, Green seems determined to put other businesses out of business by also carrying their specialty items. He’s trying to steal Ruth’s new watchmaker, Mark Pine, not to mention block her plans to renovate the town clock tower.

Ruth is already all wound up when she’s alarmed to discover Mark’s dead body. As the denizens of Orchard each chime in as to who they think the murderer is, Ruth needs to watch her back as she investigates on her own. Despite the danger, Ruth won’t stop until the killer is behind bars and serving time…

Isn’t the cover wonderful?

Agatha Pays Off

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Hank Phillippi Ryan did me the honor of interviewing me about Agatha Christie for the B&N Mystery Book Club blog. The interview ran today, and I am thrilled. Thrilled that she asked. And thrilled that I was able to answer.

Here’s a link to the blog. Granted, I have to figure out the head shot thing. And the fact that this blog is advertised means I need to step it up. But it is all good.

Thanks Hank!

The Role of Critic

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Social media. Criticism. The blogosphere. Critical Thinking. Change.

There was an article in the NY Times this week about plagarism in the digital age. The amount of information readily available just by surfing the web is incredible. When I was a kid, having research books at home were a luxury. Now these books are viewed as doorstops, though the information in them was vetted. Written through a single dimensional lens, but vetted. Now Wikipedia is the first stop for research. And sometimes it is just plain wrong.

But a lot of time it is just a puke of information, with no critical thought. There is so much information available that without filters, without someone to help parse it, it cannot be managed. By filters I do not mean to suggest someone who tells you what to think. What I mean is developing the skills to think for yourself. And to risk being wrong.

Civil discourse is a rare art these days. This includes politics, art, religion. Is it because of the many outlets social media provides? Or is it because we are so afraid of being “wrong” that we won’t risk being provocative, or thoughtful?

On the other side of this conversation, we are able to question qualifications and authority. Is s/he qualified to have an opinion?

All of us need to figure out how to deal with the deluge of information at our disposal. How to sort through it. Filter it for ourselves. Come up with an opinion. And share that opinion with civility.