Light at the End of the Tunnel

I enjoy March because you can finally see some light at the end of winter’s tunnel – the longer, warmer days. Melissa has started planning the garden and I’m looking forward to the first buds on the trees. When I was a kid, this is when I would start oiling up my ball glove in anticipation of getting out on the diamond. It also was a time when the outdoor basketball court at the Lincoln Junior High in my hometown of Brilliant, Ohio, was the hub of activity for young men. Call your own fouls. Games were to 40, switch baskets when a team hit 20. Winners stay, losers walk, the next five guys in line take the court. Between games, we’d walk over to Homer’s Corner Market for an RC Cola.

I had a short story accepted by Mystery Weekly Magazine. It’s about a woman who kills her mob-enforcer husband. No publication date yet. I’ll keep you posted.  I just finished another short story. It’s in the editing phase. I usually have a lot of ideas for short stories, and I work on them between novels. It’s a fun diversion.

The Sacrifice of Lester Yates will be released April 27. It received a nice review at librarything.com – 4.5 stars. The reviewer called the book, “exceptionally satisfying.” The novel was supposed to be released April 6, but it was pushed back three weeks because of a COVID outbreak at the printing company.

I did an interview recently with Erin Moriarty for the television show, 48 Hours. She is working on a story that I covered for the Columbus Dispatch when I was the crime reporter. Not sure when it will air, but I’ll keep you posted.