mcbruce56

Not Convinced

Over the weekend I decided to read a short book for my Sunday vacation. The choice was Ed McBain’s 60s novel, “Doll.” McBain, who died in 2008, is a Grand Master celebrated by the Mystery Writers of America. He wrote over 50 books in his 87th Precinct series, which is considered by the MWA asContinue reading “Not Convinced”

Conventional Wisdom

I have returned from the Killer Nashville convention in Franklin, Tennessee. I was nominated, for the third year in a row, for a Claymore Award (given to an unpublished manuscript). For the third year I went down to defeat. Sigh. But awards are unpredictable. Last year my comic novel, “The Return of Edsel Eddie,” lostContinue reading “Conventional Wisdom”

Go Buy It NOW!!!!!

Okay, fans and neighbors. Above is the cover of the JUly/August issue of Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. In it you will find a new Minerva James story, “Minerva James and the Wrath of Hera.” How will Minerva defend a woman accused of killing a beloved children’s clown on live TV? Read and find out. Also,Continue reading “Go Buy It NOW!!!!!”

Jane’s World

When Jane Austen died in 1817, her novels were soon forgotten. They were considered too tame, too normal. All they did was reflect her time, her society, her friends and neighbors. Not like the dramatic novels of, say, Dumas (of Three Musketeers fame) or Sir Walter Scott. No knights in armor, no swordfights. No carContinue reading “Jane’s World”

Stinky Humans

“You’re wrong about humans. Yeah, they may be stinky, greedy, stupid, foolish, dangerous and…uh, what was I saying?” “That humans are stinky.” “Yeah, they’re the worst…” That bit of dialogue has never found its way into one of my stories, but I think about humanity and all its perfidy quite often. As a mystery writer,Continue reading “Stinky Humans”

A Prayer for My Country

This is the song I hope to sing at Mass the day after July 4th. A Prayer for My Country Intro: We live in troubled times, Lord We talk in bitter rhymes, Lord We argue and we threaten and we fight. Yet after all these years I find Our lives are still intertwined This isContinue reading “A Prayer for My Country”

Flo

For the last few weeks I’ve had a companion when I take a shower. A rather aggressive female I named Flo. Flo is a house spider of the type pictured above. She’s not poisonous and is not interested in biting me unless I try to mess with her. In fact, according to Wikipedia, she’s notContinue reading “Flo”

My Moment With Brian Wilson

The sad news of the passing of Brian Wilson came across my Sirius XM radio the other night. He was a vital voice in rock and roll, a seminal figure in both the music and the legend of rock, a man who made music like no other. Years ago (in the late 90s) I wasContinue reading “My Moment With Brian Wilson”

Writing It Out

I recently broke my writer’s block. I did it by writing. Which is like saying, I got over my fear of heights by going on the high dive, I got rid of my unemployment by going back to work, I got rid of my lethargy by deciding to exercise. I mean, of course the wayContinue reading “Writing It Out”

Those Pesky Rights

There seems to be some confusion in America about Due Process and the right to a Writ of Habeus Corpus. I can understand. Why, it seems like only yesterday that no one worried about being abducted by government agents in America. Russia, yes. North Korea, yes. Burbank? Really? Since I am still a lawyer, IContinue reading “Those Pesky Rights”