La Mer

After checking out some music on writer friend John's blog, I started thinking about French music. La Mer by Charles Trenet has to be one of my favorite songs -- reminds me of childhood vacations in France, croissants with chocolate inside, real French bread, and sand between my toes.

Summer nostalgia. Enjoy.

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I Wanna Be A Millionaire...

For fun, check out Forbes' list of 10 Highest Paid Authors. Two kidlitters on there: Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling, so that's good news: we're reading kids books.

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To Represent, And Some Great Advice For Writers

To represent: over at the Reading Kitsap blog, writer friend Brian Thornton talks about his new book The Book of Bastards: 101 Worst Scoundrels and Scandals from the World of Politics and Power.

He gives some really great advice for writers on networking (and not your typical nonsense), so go over there and read it.

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Free Short Mystery

If you love mysteries (check), short stories (check), and things that are free (check again), you don't want to miss the free short story by Charles Todd called The Girl on the Beach that'll be available to download on August 31. It's a marketing technique publisher HarperCollins is trying out, which seems like a good thing to support. Long live shorts!

Check out the full story here.

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For A Laugh

Check out this blog: Oh Crap. My Parents Joined Facebook.

Funny, particularly those parents who beg their kids to be friends on FB. The parent in me sympathizes, the YA writer cringes. I'm torn.

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On Crime And Darkness
originally posted: August 23, 2010

Today over at Mulholland Books, author Megan Abbott talks about crime, crime fiction, and what our reactions say about us (readers). She says some very smart things, including this:

"...crime novels lay bare what we know on some deeper register: that our hearts are mysteries even to ourselves. And that, when we read crime fiction, we are permitted a clandestine tour into our own most-secret chambers."

Good stuff. Read the rest of it here.

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Blooming
originally posted: August 20, 2010

Everything is blooming here in Colorado. Gorgeous, but killer for this girl with allergies. Plus it's hot, which makes it hard to think and post something interesting here.

So I thought I would recommend a movie for your Friday, since that's all I got. The movie is The Brothers Bloom: funny, interesting and unexpected. I recommend it; it's out on DVD, so no need to leave the house.

Happy weekend, all!

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Fleur writes crime fiction, and is now working on a MG novel. Check out Fleur's website for more info.

Many of Fleur's short stories have appeared online and in print, in places like The Thrilling Detective, Shred of Evidence, Versal and Stories for Children. She teaches a fiction writing workshop at her local high school.

Fleur is originally from the Netherlands, and now lives in Colorado with her husband, two daughters, and way too many pets.