As an author building my brand, I know I shouldn’t post some of the things I do, even though I keep it on my personal page. And I’ve certainly gone against much of my family in my posts, although that is probably par for the course at this point in my life. Posting my opinion and fears made me feel better, despite possible ramifications.

Here’s why. A lot of writers (or anyone in a creative field) are highly emotional people. We live on a rollercoaster of ups and downs, and that’s sometimes DOUBLED because if we’re doing it right, we’re suffering through our character’s woes as well. My mind never stops, and it’s full of about 900 different threads. Some are work related, many are family: my parents; issues between myself and others that have me baffled and hurt; Grace’s daily stuff. At any given time, there’s a conversation going on in my head. It might be something I want to say to a family member but never can, or maybe how I’ll deal with the attorney for my parents tomorrow, or even how to help Grace work through an issue. My point is, it’s all fueled by emotion. And often fear of the unknown is right on its heels. So add in something as volatile as politics and the future of our country, and things become a powder keg.

We see so many terrible things going on, and we read way too much on FB, and we just keep absorbing and absorbing, and then we’ve got to speak.

I probably spoke too much. To all of the family members and friends I offended: I never meant to target you in anger. I never meant to say you personally are racist, anti-semitic, anti-everything but straight, white male. When I wrote those posts, I wrote them with a vary specific subset of Trump supporters in mind, but I probably generalized the posts too much. I’m sad for the divide it’s probably caused with some family members, although the gap was already very established. I’m sad for anyone I made feel badly or targeted by my posts because that’s just another form of hate and fear that so many of us are afraid of for the next four years.

I do stand by the things I said. Putting them on Facebook isn’t the answer, however, because all it does is incite arguments and push-back. Clearly, no Facebook or Twitter status ever swayed a vote. But when you run on emotion like I do, and your life is so full of personal and business responsibilities, you feel like social media is the only way you can make a difference and get your voice heard. And how can we stay silent when we see terrible things happening, and we have so much fear for our future?

Social media isn’t the answer. It’s full of targeted hate and threats. Trying to make any point on whatever platform you choose is probably going to be ignored at best.

So what can I do?  I can donate to the various groups who are willing and able to protect civil rights and the environment. I can keep my eyes open in my community for hate crimes or threats, and I can educate my child that we must be tolerant of others’ opinions even if we don’t agree, but intolerant of bigotry and cruelty. I can teach her that skin color and religious preference don’t matter, and that we stand up to bullying in any form. I can set the best example I can for her and encourage her to do the same for her peers. I can tell her that even though times are scary, we are all going to be okay.

Because I have to believe that’s true.

If you want to donate time and/or money to groups fighting to protecting civil and human rights, click here.

On Saturday night, the Chicago Cubs made history, breaking their so-called curse and making their first World Series since 1945. It all happened at Wrigley Field, where generations of faithful gathered to celebrate. These Cubs are young and hungry, and as potential league MVP Kris Bryant said, too young to care about curses.

But what about cracking under pressure? Cubs fans have seen it happen before. In 2003, we watched a more experienced team, with an all-star pitching staff, come apart after a crazy inning when a fan interfered with a play. Those Cubs lost their composure, their lead in the series, and eventually the NLCS. This year’s team is made of young, hungry guys who are mostly between 22-28, with the exception of catcher David Ross. He’s 39, and they call him Grandpa. Awesome, right? How could these young, relatively inexperienced guys handle such an enormous task?

This team started the season with great expectations by the fans, the media, the organization, and themselves. Four games into the season, one of their powerhouses tore his ACL and LCL. Many fans were doom and gloom. But the players held steady and went on to a 103 win season. Then came the postseason. They went into the NLCS the favorites, but ended up down 2-1 when their hitters were shut out for two games. Talk about pressure. An entire city and worldwide legion of fans has put their hopes on you, not to mention the bosses who hired you to produce glory.

Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, both MVP candidates, couldn’t hit a damn thing. Rizzo was something like 0 for 10, and it was getting scary. I had major doubts, in part because these guys are so young. The millennial generation (and those who came after) aren’t known for toughness. They’ve grown up in a different time, with a shift in education that in some cases makes it easier to be average and put out average effort. They’re among the “everyone’s a winner and gets a ribbon” generations, and many of those people have a hard time in college and the real world because they’ve never learned how to fail.

Rizzo’s a cancer survivor, so it’s no surprise he broke it open in game four and led the Cubs to major victory. But the other young guys stepped it up to. Even though Bryant’s bat remained cool, he earned walks and got on base. Javier Baez and Addison Russell, who both look like they should still be in high school, brought their bats and incredible outfield skills. Game 5 was more of the same.

Anthony Rizzo made the national news when a mic caught him apologizing to the umpire for his actions the prior inning when he thought he’d walked but had a strike called (I didn’t think he was disrespectful, and neither did the umpire, it seemed). Parents shared the video across Facebook as an inspiration to their kids.

And then came game 6 in Chicago on Saturday night. A team on the cusp of history. 300,000 fans waiting OUTSIDE Wrigley Field to celebrate, plus the lucky ones with tickets ready to watch the game. A Cubs pitcher on the mound with a hell of a task on his shoulders, including going against a 3-time Cy Young Award winner and the man who shut the Cubs out in game 2.

Starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks never wavered, never cracked under the pressure. Never faltered when his team earned an error. The crowd booed when he was relieved in the 7th because he was still in full control.

The hitters brought their bats, and the Cubs prevailed. Celebration ensued, with quite a few tears among the faithful. But of all their accomplishments this season, what’s impressed me most about this young team is their poise and grace. They’ve made their share of mistakes, but they learned from them and pushed forward instead of cracking. When times were rough and they weren’t performing to their (and millions of others) expectations, they didn’t crack or whine or call foul. They worked harder and came out of their slump. And they didn’t allow the Cubs sad history to affect them, especially manager Joe Maddon, who no doubt played a big role in cultivating talent and managing egos.

Kris Bryant said they were too young to worry about curses. Perhaps, but they defied a generational stereotype this season, showing young people how to play hard, work hard, and be humble. They showed our youth how to be grateful for their accomplishments and the importance of teamwork. They’ve inspired a whole new generations of fans by being great role models, and as a parent, I’m forever grateful.

Go Cubs Go!

GONE TO DIE (Lucy Kendall #3) will release in June, but I’ve got a surprise! I’m writing Lucy Kendall serial novella for mailing list subscribers! HEAR NO LIES takes place a few months before the events of ALL GOOD DEEDS (Lucy Kendall #1).

A bloody teenaged girl walking alone. A former Child Protective Services work hellbent on revenge. Will Lucy Kendall spot the madness before someone else dies?

Part one of HEAR NO LIES will be available to mailing list subscribers only starting April 17th, and a new installment will release each Friday. You won’t be able to read about Lucy’s life before Chris anywhere else, so make sure you’re signed up!

My parents still live in the same white farmhouse I grew up in, and sometime in the last several years they started locking up at night. But that was it. No one ever thought about locking the doors during the day, whether they were home or not. That changed a week ago when my dad came back from taking my mother to dialysis and a strange, white van was in the driveway. As he sat in his truck trying to figure out who the vehicle belonged to, a blond woman walked out of their house.

Dad confronted her, and she gave him some half-assed excuse about looking for Stockport, another tiny town every local knows how to get to. He didn’t see anything missing, and he didn’t call the Sheriff. But when Mom got home later in the day, she realized her Percocet was missing. I got involved and called the Sheriff. We didn’t have much hope of finding out who the woman was, and I posted a warning to local Facebook friends. Guess what? No less than five different people contacted me with her name and various but similar stories about her.

That’s when I got really pissed. If these people knew who she was just by description, how could the deputy not? I called the Sheriff with her name, and he knew exactly who she was. As a matter of fact, he’d had recent dealings with her. My father later identified a recent booking shot, and the deputy said he’d see what he could put together. Since my father caught her trespassing at the very least, we were hopeful she would be charged. From what I hear, it’s been very hard for the police to keep her nailed down with anything. I’m not sure why that is, and I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. But it’s infuriating. This girl preys on older people for their prescription medications, as if the senior community doesn’t have enough to worry about. On top of dialysis and watching everything she puts in her mouth, my mother now has to wonder if she’s totally safe in her own home.

Times have changed. The doors are locked now. Our kids will never know what it’s like to grow up trusting their neighbors, and that’s very sad to me. We now have to teach them to be wary of anyone who approaches them, and to constantly warn them that no matter how nice anyone looks, any individual is capable of harming them. It sucks, but that is at least something I can control.

Nearly two hours away from my aging parents, I’m frustrated. I’m waiting for an update from the deputy tonight, and if nothing is moving in the case, I’ll be talking to the Sheriff again. And I’m not above taking out an OP-Ed in the county newspaper, because if this girl isn’t stopped, she WILL prey on more senior citizens.

What about you, readers? Would you let things lie or keep pushing the issue?

Don’t forget, See Them Run (Lucy Kendall #2) is now available! And if you’re not a member of my mailing list, sign up now. A brand new character is coming to the Delta Crossroads, and I’m giving my mailing list subscribers a serial novella featuring the character for FREE. Coming in February!

Have a wonderful and SAFE holiday!

Lucy is a vigilante killer of pedophiles, and her preferred method is cyanide. In the first few pages of ALL GOOD DEEDS, it’s mentioned that she’s taken this idea from Richard Kuklinksi, also known as The Iceman.

Kuklinski, according to the undercover detective who spent 18 months building a case against him, liked to carry a nasal spray bottle filled with cyanide and give his victims a spritz. When I first starting researching for ALL GOOD DEEDS, I had my doubts about this method, so I contacted the writer’s go-to forensic guy, Dr. DP Lyle. He confirmed that cyanide absorbed through the skin would definitely kill in a matter of minutes, and that many times it’s missed at autopsy unless it’s being specifically looked for. So Kuklinksi’s method worked, but his cyanide trick was just one of many. He administered it by injection, putting it on food, by aerosol spray, or with the Lucy Kendall method: spilling it on the person’s skin.

Enjoying his notoriety after his arrest and subsequent conviction, Kuklinksi appeared in two HBO documentaries. He also met with a number of writers, psychiatrists and criminologists. He liked to list his methods of killing: firearms; ice picks; hand grenades; crossbows; chainsaws; and a bomb attached to a  remote control car. The Iceman nickname appeared after his claim that he froze corpses to disguise time of death.

As a contract killer for Newark’s DeCavalacante crime family and NYC’s Five Families of the America Mafia, Kuklinkski claimed to have murdered between 100 and 250 men. The crime families dispute his role in any contract killings.

Kuklinksi told police he dismembered his victims, as well as burying them, placing the body in the trunk of a car and having it crushed at a junkyard, leaving bodies on park benches, and placing them in a 55 gallon drum.

Although Kuklinksi had a flair for the dramatic and claimed to have a role in killing Jimmy Hoffa–a claim with zero evidence–the undercover investigation into his activities resulted in enough evidence for him to be convicted of five murders in 1988. He received consecutive life sentences for these murders.

Kuklinksi died in March 2006 in the prison wing of St. Francis Hospital in Trenton, New Jersey. He was 70 years old.

SOURCE

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Be honest. Even though some of you shudder in your boots at the idea of writing or reading about a serial killer, even more of you are fascinated by what makes this tick. Ted Bundy was a charming, terrifying psychopath. How many women did he really kill?

Jeffrey Dahmer was a beaten down, miserable man who mutilated gay men and boys. Gacy hid bodies in the crawlspace beneath his house. The Zodiac has never been caught, H.H. Holmes and Ed Gein were part of the inspiration for Leatherface, and of course, Jack the Ripper (and no, I’m not sold on the idea of his finally being identified).

These people have fascinated us for years. Bundy had groupies. Manson gets a ton of letters. Hannibal Lector, another mashup fictional creation of serial killers, is often cheered for by readers and viewers. And don’t forget Dexter, the psychopath we all rooted for until the very end. And no, we’re not talking about how the series ended. Sigh.

The point is, these people are an enigma, and that’s part of why we’re fascinated with them. When I originally started penciling ideas for my Lucy Kendall Series, I thought about the idea of two serial killers coming together and forming some kind of romantic relationship. The idea intrigued me for a minute, and then I quickly realized I had something much darker and juicier on my hands. Lucy Kendall, eradicator of pedophiles, was born.

See, she doesn’t believe she’s a killer when she first walks across the pages of ALL GOOD DEEDS. She’s performing a necessary duty to society, and if that means she’s risking her eternal soul, then so be it. Saving kids is worth it.

Enter Chris Hale, a strikingly good looking man who cheerfully tells her he’s a sociopath and they’re of the same ilk. He’s a serial killer too, and why don’t they join forces.

Panicked, Lucy denies, denies, denies. And she’s immediately intrigued by Chris. Is he really a sociopath? Maybe, although he seems much too compassionate. And is he truly a serial killer? She’s not sure, but she’s going to find out, because Chris has no intention of going away. But even more troublesome to Lucy is this notion that she herself is a serial killer.

She’s not one of those people. Is she?

AN EXCERPT FROM ALL GOOD DEEDS

“You. It’s not often I find someone who’s like me.”

“Like you?”

“In the same line of work.”

I said nothing.

“I don’t like to use the popular name for it.” He leaned over the table, into my space. His eyes burned even brighter up close. In another scenario, I would have matched his body language, flirted a little. A woman should always seize the opportunity to get up close and personal with a face like his. Unless he’s a stalker with the power to send her to the lethal injection chamber. “You know, serial killer. The term is so … trendy. I like to call myself the garbage man. Just taking out the trash.”

Of all the presumptuous, stupid things to say. I wasn’t a serial killer, and I had no interest in aiding this man’s sick fantasies. “I don’t know who you are–”

“Name’s Chris Hale. I’m a paramedic and an Aries. I love Indian food. Italian, too. And Mexican. Pretty much all food. I’ve got a major sweet tooth. Never done drugs, I’m an only child. I’ll spare you the sob story. Anything else?” He smiled again, the lines around his eyes crinkling in a ruggedly attractive way that probably made plenty of women act foolish.

Purchase ALL GOOD DEEDS now!

Don’t miss the official launch party for ALL GOOD DEEDS happening TODAY on Facebook! Starting at noon central, I’ll be sharing series secrets and giving away some seriously cool swag. Stop by and learn all about Lucy Kendall!

Let’s get something out of the way first, and that’s the fact that I am nuts. You don’t have to go on book tour for 7 months. Nobody goes on tour for that long. Heck, you don’t have to go on book tour at all.

But you might want to consider it. If not for 7 months, or 7 weeks, then how about 7 days? After all, 60-70% of readers like to buy books by browsing in bookstores. That’s a lot of potential fans for your work. Recent figures have digital book sales flattening while sales of hard covers are up, and trade paperbacks are holding steady. It’s really not clear which horse we should bet on.

Why not bet on them all?

Incorporating a real time, face-to-face dimension to your word-spreading efforts isn’t as difficult as you might think. And it adds something unique. As wonderful as the virtual world is—as much as it’s allowed us to spread our wings and “meet” people in places we could never reach—nothing quite duplicates the experience of hearing an audience member quote one of your own lines back to you. Or show you the page that got crinkled because what you wrote made her cry.

Taylor Swift says that one of her dreams was to stand on a stage and hear people singing her own lines. Here are ten tips that may lead you to your own Taylor Swift moment. And, if you’re not a fan of Taylor, no worries. Go out there and create your own dream.

1. Even if your book comes out from a major house, it may very well not wind up in a particular bookstore. Going to the store ups the chances that your work will be read—and hand sold for months or even years to come.
2. If you are self-published or published by a small press, learn the basics of the economics of bookselling. This won’t take long (I can even try and tell you). And it will allow you to offset some of the difficulties of having your book carried.
3. Just because they call them readings doesn’t mean you have to read. I have a suspicion that no one except our own children really likes to be read to for more than five minutes. If you do read, find a choice excerpt that shows your writing in its best light. A stylistically beautiful or suspenseful and grabby passage. But keep it brief. Audiences are more interested in the story of how you got published, or the Q&A portion of the night. If you have an interesting day job, hobby, or pursuit, tie it into your talk.
4. Consider pairing with another author. Joint events work double duty. Authors can combine their outreach efforts, and more than one author is often more fun for the audience. There’s a zing to an author give and take. Plus, if no one comes to your event, you can always buy each other’s books.
5. Book events don’t have to take place at bookstores. Consider libraries, schools, and book clubs, then get really creative. Have you written a historical or family saga? Genealogical societies are proliferating these days. Do you write a cozy mystery series? Craft shops and cooking classes might offer a great venue. Religiously-themed books may lend themselves to events at houses of worship. I’ve heard of writers planning events at quilting bees—or political protests.
6. Don’t forget that writers are readers. Writing organizations such as SinC, MWA, ITW, and SCBWI, as well as smaller, local writers groups and societies may be interested in helping to promote your event and in sending members to it.
7. Consider hiring an independent publicity firm. Although this will require some financial investment on your part, it can maximize the impact of in-person events. The right firm can get you dates at places you couldn’t get into on your own and garner local media coverage to bolster your time in any given area.
8. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn all feature ways to determine where your connections live. Why not let them know you’ll be coming to town—or even plan an event based on where some of them live? One of the most joyous experiences for me on the road was seeing virtual friends become real ones as well.
9. Don’t underestimate the legs that simply doing events will give you and your book. Blog about your experiences, use them to connect to another interest of yours that your readers might like to know about. Take photographs of scenery, explore hidden road food joints. Getting away from our computers can open up a literal world of possibilities connecting us to readers.
10. Finally, be a good guest. Bring a small gift for whoever is hosting you. Be lively, engage with your audience. Remember that you’re not just making fans out there—you’re making friends.

Jenny Milchman’s journey to publication took thirteen years, after which she hit the road for seven months with her family on what Shelf Awareness called “the world’s longest book tour”. Her debut novel, Cover of Snow, was chosen as an Indie Next and Target Pick, reviewed in the New York Times and San Francisco Journal of Books, won the Mary Higgins Clark award, and is nominated for a Barry. Jenny is also the founder of Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day and chair of International Thriller Writers’ Debut Authors Program. Jenny’s second novel, Ruin Falls, just came out and she and her family are back on the road.

To purchase Jenny’s books (highly recommended), visit her website!

My 10 Best (or Worst?) Search Terms

• How to kill with cyanid
• How does a body decompose in humidity
• How is a badly burned body identified
• Female Killers
• What poisons are traceable at autopsy
• Easiest way to dispose of a body
• Signs of a sociopath
• Modern day grave robbers
• Women who got away with murder
• Daryl Dixon coffee mug

Okay, so number 10 isn’t work related. But the one I got is pretty sweet. I’d prefer Norman Reedus’s face, but there’s the hubby to respect and all.

What about you? Would your computer history land you in the slammer? What’s the worst thing you’ve ever Googled?

Don’t forget, INTO THE DARK is being republished in May as INTO THE DEVIL’S UNDERGROUND. The book has undergone heavy editing, but if you can provide either proof of purchase or link to your review on Goodreads, I’m happy to give you a copy to read and review. Please contact me at stacygreenauthor@gmail.com. Deadline is May 5.

Tin God is still on sale for just .99! Start the Delta Crossroads Trilogy with a sale!

Trixie and her tight knit group solved mysteries together, and their original series carried them throughout their high school years. Trixie’s best friend, Honey, was rich and very much opposite her, but I loved the way they brought out the best in one another. And I loved the budding relationship between her and orphan Jim.

Don’t get me wrong – I loved Nancy, too, and she was definitely a big part of my original interest in mysteries. Both series stand up today in terms of red herrings and whodunits. But Nancy was the perfect girl, the rich girl, the beautiful girl. While I loved her, I never found myself nodding in agreement and feeling whatever the latest sense of injustice Trixie was going through.

It’s been many years since I’ve read the books, but it’s the first three that really stick out to me, along with a few select others.

The Secret of the Mansion (1948)

The Red Trailer Mystery (1950)

The Gatehouse Mystery (1951).

The Mystery at Bob-White Cave (1963)

The Mystery at Saratoga (1979)

The Mystery of the Midnight Marauder (1980)

There are a ton more Trixie books, and you can learn more about them here. These are timeless classics your kids will love, and I can’t wait until Grace is old enough to read them.

What about you? Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, or The Hardy Boys?

I’ve had an amazing week! Tin God is on sale for just .99, and thanks to my amazing readers, it became an Amazon bestseller for the second time. It also reached number 8 at Barnes and Noble, which was simply incredible! Thank you so much for helping to spread the word about the sale. You guys are awesome!

If you haven’t had a chance to start the Delta Crossroads Trilogy, now is a great time to pick up book one for just .99!

The Last Child by John Hart.

I started this book several weeks ago when we were at a swim meet. It’s very good, but I got away from it and haven’t gone back. DON’T TAKE THAT AS A SIGN OF QUALITY. This is what I do. I am a mood reader, which is bad because I need to be reading all the time. The book has a great premise and excellent, fast paced writing with good character development. I just have to get back to it.

Fear Nothing by Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner is the suspense queen as far as I am concerned. I’ve learned so much from her writing, and once I start reading one of her books, I usually can’t stop until I’m finished. D.D. Warren is a great character, and this looks like an excellent story.

In The Blood by Lisa Unger

I heard of this one via the Mystery, Crime and Thriller Group on Goodreads. It looks like something that is right up my dark ally, and I hope to get to it soon.

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Of course I’ve read this book, but it’s been a long time, and the newest Kindle version has a forward by Harris about creating Hannibal Lector. Likely a must read for any thriller writer!

Faithful Place by Tana French

I love French’s writing, and her Dublin detectives series, set in Ireland, is a fascinating study in characters. Her plots are twisty and suck you in from the start.

So what’s on your TBR list? How many books do you read a week?