Free!

 Here's what you've been waiting for.

I'm giving away my life-blood (12 copies) on Goodreads.

Autographed with bookplates.

Get it while it's hot.

First Review of The Dutch Painter

 

So...it's still available to subscribers only on Booklist, but I have the okay to share with you the first review of

The Strange Case of the Dutch Painter:

The Holmes pastiche industry rolls on. This time we don't have a newly unearthed Watson

manuscript with a waspish Holmes and boneheaded Watson. Rather, the great man is

concealing his identity under a borrowed name, Vernet. Appropriate, since he's distantly related

to the artistic Vernet family and the case he's working is art theft. The ersatz Watson, there to aid

the investigation, is art maven Lermolieff, who understands his job is to observe Holmes-Vernet

as well as record the investigation. He has much to offer, from first finding the bloodhound "a

carnival attraction that took in clues and spat out solutions," to understanding that deduction

"was a mask for his real passion: justice." Their inquiry takes them through the Parisian art world in the waning nineteenth century and features encounters outlandish and entertaining. Holmes investigates van Gogh's suicide and crosses swords—literally—with Gauguin, while Lermolieff gets the world's first electroshock treatment. It's a fine tale, stylishly written.

— Don Crinklaw

Troll Troubles

 Having a problem with internet trolls? I can't help you. But real trolls, or at least real fairy-tale trolls? I've got you covered with The Two Brothers of Amalfi, in this month's Lagniappe section.

First Book

 I haven't mentioned my favorite cause in some time, but the need is as great as ever:

 First Book believes that education is the best way out of poverty for children in need. We address the needs of the whole child supporting their education, basic needs, and wellness – all of which are essential to educational equity. All of these resources are made affordable to our member network of more than 500,000 educators who exclusively serve kids in need.

Please give if you can.