Richard's Poor Almanack

From time to time something truly funny turns up in the Washington Post. Usually it is a Richard Thompson satirical cartoon. Like this Literary Calendar.


Richard Thompson is also the artist behind the fabulous Cul de Sac strip and blog. He's got a new book out, a collection of the best comic strip going, called Children at Play.

Angels have landed

Angels of Destruction has landed in bookstores today, with the mysterious girl in the woods and the lovely green cover. Stock up today for the holidays.

Children's Book Review

A Sterling 'Book' of a Golden Age is my review of A.S. Byatt's The Children's Book, nominated for this year's Booker Prize. The winner will be announced the evening of October 6.

It was a great treat to review this novel, and in another decade, the whole thing will probably end up on Masterpiece Theatre as a six-week saga. But read the book first. It's always best in the imagination.

Paper Angels

You have been waiting. The paperback edition Angels of Destruction arrives October 13, just in time for you to pass out copies to all the Trick or Treaters.

The British Are Coming

Washington Independent Writers Conference

The American Independent Writers 30th annual conference is June 13 at George Washington University in Washington, DC, and I will be giving the keynote address.

The theme of this year's conference is "The Business of Writing in a Changing World," and if you want to write and publish, or if you already tweet, blog, and tell stories in print and electronic media, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet and network with agents, publishers, and other writers.

Included on the program are:

• Michael Shilling, author of Rock Bottom, a novel to give the plenary speech
  
• Authors from around the region and across the country
  
• Top freelance journalists
• Leading literary agents
• 16 How-To panels with more than 80 presenters

Hope to see you there and that you'll stop by after to pick up a signed copy of my novels. More info at www.aiwriters.org.

Fiction Nation

They say you never forget your first time. Or your 100th.

My first radio interview was with Kim Alexander and "Fiction Nation," and it turns out Angels is the subject of her 100th show. Where does the time go?

All you Satellite radio listeners, tune in to Book Radio, Sirius 117 and XM 163 for Kim Alexander and Fiction Nation, with yours truly.

And if you don't have one, get yourself a satellite radio. And don't forget to pick up a good book for Mom for this Mother's Day.