I’ve turned over a new leaf–really, I promise.  Finding the right time to get back on a horse–or a blog–when you’ve fallen off is always difficult.  I kept waiting for the perfect post, which somehow never quite materialized.  But having spent a good bit of time the last few months updating the web page (although it is, of course, never finished) I’ve thought about ways to organize the blog that might help me structure the posts a bit better.  I thought I’d divide the posts into three main categories: The Writing Process;  Live From the Road; and The Bedside Table (or what I’m reading at the moment.)

But today is a catch up, although I think we could slip most of it into The Writing Process.  The thirteenth book in the Kincaid/James series, Necessary as  Blood, was released in the US on October 6th.  I had a whirlwind few weeks of promotion, where I got to speak to lots of lovely people and visit some of my favorite bookstores, particularly The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, Arizona, Murder by the Book in Houston, Texas, and the fab new independent store in Plano, Texas, Legacy Books.  I attended Bouchercon (and a great job was done by the folks in Indianopolis) where Where Memories Lie was awarded the Macavity for Best Novel 2009 (for books published the previous year) by Mystery Readers International.

It’s been an exciting couple of months.  Necessary as Blood made the New York Times Extended Best Seller List for the week of October 25 at #34.  This was my first time to make the New York Times list, so much excitement all round!  NAB (as we will now abbreviate) also made the IMBA Bestseller List for October at #3, and the Dallas Morning News Hardcover Fiction List at #1 for the week of November 1st.  First #1!!!!

And then, of course, it’s on to the next book, so I have been in London for the last few weeks writing and doing research on the not-yet-officially titled Book #14.  So more to come–Live From London!