Category: Writing

#thiswritinglife

I love the acknowledgements pages in historical novels, like the ones in Jim Benn’s Billy Boyles series. It is where the writing rubber meets the road; i.e., where the writer reveals where fact and fiction diverge (or don’t) in the narrative that precedes them. So here are the “notes and acknowledgements” from Disappearance of a…

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A week and a day away! Publication of the second Eye of Isis novel, that is, aka Disappearance of a Scribe. Barbara Peters calls it “On the Waterfront, Cleopatra style,” which epigram I promptly stole for the book’s tagline. Jimmy Hoffa would feel right at home. Excerpt: “Yes, Timo?” Tetisheri turned her head to see…

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Speaking of more fun things writers get to do– The Pratt Museum here in Homer has invited all the local writers, of whom there are many, into the museum to select one object and write 250 words about it for their newsletter. The short term goal is to alert newsletter subscribers to all the cool…

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Disappearance of a Scribe, the second novel in the Eye of Isis mystery series, publishes in January 2022. I’ll be launching it at the Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale on Saturday, January 15th, at 2pm. Click through the image below to pre-order your copy of the first edition hardcover, personally signed by moi. And here’s…

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Disappearance of a Scribe, the second Eye of Isis novel, publishes on January 15, 2022! Click here to reserve a copy of the signed first edition hardcover. (What, you haven’t read the first in the series, Death of an Eye? Tsk.) An excerpt: “Rhakotis sandals,” Tetisheri said. Aristander nodded. “I thought they were a myth.”…

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“On the Waterfront, Cleopatra style.” That’s Barbara Peters’ elevator pitch for Disappearance of a Scribe, the second Eye of Isis novel. An excerpt: Gaius Aurelius Cotta, legate of Rome to the Court of Egypt and Alexandria, cousin to Gaius Julius Caesar himself, was very much at his leisure, sprawled comfortably in the room’s most substantial…

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“On the Waterfront, Cleopatra style.”–Barbara Peters on the second Eye of Isis novel. An excerpt: She was about to cross the street when a cabrio pulled in front of her, obstructing her way. She looked around with what she felt was pardonable irritation. “Excuse me, sir, but I believe pedestrians have the right of way…

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I have coined a phrase: “When the muse knocks, you have to get up and answer the door.” By which I mean: Inspiration lurks everywhere, arms folded, tapping her foot, waiting for you to take notice. Like at the Homer Public Library Plant and Book Sale. Happens twice a year. Library sells books taken out…

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Impossible to absorb too much information when you’re writing about a time two millennia before your own. I hasten to add that I haven’t read all these books cover to cover, otherwise I would never have time to write any of my own. Often the most useful items in them are their maps and indexes.…

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The second Eye of Isis novel publishes on January 15, 2022. Barbara Peters of the Poisoned Pen Bookstore calls it “On the Waterfront, Cleopatra style.” Well, yes. The construction industry always was a deadly business. An excerpt: “We were in Rome, with Auletes and the queen, begging Pompey for money.” “Before my time.” “Just barely,…

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