|
Crisp air
flavored by woodsmoke, red and golden leaves amid the
green oaks and
eucalyptus, smashed pumpkins and other Halloween
wreckage on the streets. Autumn is
here.
This month sees the publication by Five
Star of Bill’s and my collection, CRUCIFIXION RIVER. Although it’s
billed as a western, the stories are also tales of crime
and detection. Five have been previously published, but
there are three new ones: a novella by the two of us, a
John Quincannon story by Bill, and a Sabina Carpenter
story by me. None have been collected in the same volume
before, and we’re very excited about
it.
November, of course, is the beginning of
the holidays. Special gatherings with friends and
family, leading up to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New
Year’s. This year is a bittersweet one for me: in May I
lost a beloved brother, but the gains have been great,
too. My closest sister and her husband (to say nothing
of their 28-pound cat) moved from Michigan to live five
minutes away from us, and dear friends from the
Sacramento area, who have stood by us through thick and
thin, bought a home here. The key word for this year’s
holidays is change, but they will be good
ones.
Similarly, Sharon McCone has been going
through changes in BURN OUT, to be published by Grand
Central Books (formerly Warner Books) next
October. In it, you’ll see a McCone you’ve never
glimpsed before: doubting her desire to go on with her
profession and deeply mired in depression. But, as with
her creator, doubts are resolved, depression lifts and,
as the holidays descend upon her, her life takes a new
and satisfying direction.
I hope you all have very happy
holidays. Back to you in the
spring!
|
