Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I made a gingerbread house for the first time a couple of weeks ago.  So much fun.

Soothing Water

Kemah, Texas. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2018.

Artist Trading Cards

Here are two ATCs created for partners in a Chtistmas ATC swap. Each partner was to get one ATC. Of course, I didn't make mine the same.

#NeverForget

Killer Nashville: With two top-notch writers

Jeffrey Deaver, me, Jeremy Finley.

Said Jeff: "We should write a book and this will be our author photo."

Killer Nashville: Criminal Minds

No, not the TV show, "Criminal Minds," but the best panel of the conference on Crime and Disorders of the Mind.

Among the six panelists: a cop, a retired Navy command master chief, a former police/investigative reporter, and a forensic psychologist.

Some highlights:
"Everyone in this room has something they are struggling with. But we don't wear it on the outside," said James Glass. The context there was prompted from an audience question was can someone be pure evil without a mind disorder?

"Influences in your life will make you capable of evil," said Jason Fort. As an example, he cited a person whose family was slaughtered. That person may not have started with an evil intent  but is after total vengeance.

And from the forensic psychologist: "Some people are missing parts you can't get spares for."

L-r: Jason Fort, James Glass, Steven Cooper, Sharon Marchisello, John Hegenberger, and Rick Helms.

Mystery writers gather at Killer Nashville

The 13th Annual Killer Nashville conference includes awesome speakers including Jeffrey Deaver and J.A. Konrath, author of the Jack Daniels series. Joe's after lunch Q&A offered this advice: "Have a gimmick." Readers don't have to remember his name or the names of his books, just that the main character is names Jack Daniels.

And on conflict:
"Characters have to be damaged."