An author knows the end is near when Amazon starts sending, "Are you sure your book is ready for publication?" notices, and I experienced the first of those over the weekend. That meant a day of making sure, checking everything twice and maybe once more.

YESTERDAY'S MURDER is pending. It can be pre-ordered, which is a good thing for authors. Every pre-order is counted on release day (August 3rd, in this case), so the book rises in the algorithms, which gets it seen by more people, who buy it...

Today I'm reminding myself that people have lived under repressive governments for millennia, from restrictive religious communities to grinding autocracies. They suffer, but they learn to laugh and love and live within the limits they face.

I'm reminding myself that the leaders of such societies tend to be megalomaniacs who demand constant praise, no matter how false and fawning it becomes. The sycophants willing to shower such leaders with false compliments are many, but in their hearts they...

I've always been a lover of classic Broadway shows. I adore the musical numbers, the themes, and the glorious energy displayed on stage. I'm amazed at great songwriters' ability to teach us as they entertain, with numbers like "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" from Grease or "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" from South Pacific..

Lately I've had a number from Camelot running through my head. Not the usual ones, like "If Ever I Would Leave You" or "Camelot," but one a group of knights sing...