CANDY CADILLAC

“Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound…” It is perhaps a little known fact that Superman, the icon of the superhero genre, was originally envisioned as a detective, published in a black-and-white comic book entitled, Detective Dan: Secret Operative No. 48 and later, in Detective Comics No. 1 in March, 1937. Jerry Siegel created Superman in 1933, after his father, Mitchell, died during a 1932 robbery attempt at his Cleveland clothing store on the near-east side. Although Siegel never mentioned the death of his father in interviews, those who knew him believe it must have affected him. “It had to have an effect,” says artist Gerard Jones. “There’s a connection there: the loss of a dad as a source for Superman.” Meltzer states: “Your father dies in a robbery, and you invent a bulletproof man who becomes the world’s greatest hero. I’m sorry, but there’s a story there.”

On September 15th through 18th, St. Louis hosted the world mystery convention, Bouchercon 2011, at the Renaissance Grand Hotel. Mystery writers and fans convened and celebrated the mystery genre through panel discussions, book signings and special events throughout the week—but, equally significant, they met each other. In the mystery genre, good conquers evil, justice reigns victorious, and the world regains the order that we need to carry on in a world where bad things happen to good people. As the story above demonstrates, our heros are often born of the harsh reality that become our dreams when life gets too gritty. Still, reality matters. As authors, some of most poignant stories are derived from the harshest dose of grit that reality presents. For readers, the arrival of superman restores faith in justice and the good of humanity. “Faster than a speeding bullet.” Bouchercon 2011 – the ultimate reality show!

See my interviews with Jerry Peterson and Catherine Rankovic.

Situated on the Mississippi River, Memphis and St. Louis share the ambiance of a “River City”. On a recent visit to Memphis to appear on a morning talk show called “Alive at Nine”, I saw a bumper sticker that joked about how the City of Memphis hoped it grew up to be as big as its brother, the City of St. Louis. I don’t know if that’s true, but when an Eighties “hair” band called “The Aquanets” appeared in the studio at WREG, Channel 3, clad in full length fur coats, teased out wigs, purple leotards and tiger-striped Cowboy hats, the five hour drive from St. Louis to Memphis seemed insignificant. Scheduled to appear before my segment to promote my new release, St. Louis Hustle, they performed a snappy version of Van Halen’s “Jump”. The anchor team at WREG, Alex Coleman and Mary Beth Conley, as well as the staff, were warm and welcoming. A friend remarked, “These Memphis people are just so nice.”

Well, yes. They really are. They’re nice, they’re fun, and they’re just like family. For me, going back to Memphis is not just another visit. It’s like rediscovering a lost treasure. Now, that’s what I call a homecoming!

See my interviews with Jerry Peterson and Catherine Rankovic.

When sleek Emily Davies begs Elvin Suggs to trail her philandering husband, Nick, it seems like an easy request. Di distrusts Emily, a nurse at St. Louis City Hospital. Emily’s lies lead Elvin, Di and Cobra to the Coral Courts Motel, a notorious “no tell motel.” Soon, they are entangled in a web of lethal deception, as they solve the mystery of the St. Louis hustle.

The word “hustle” aptly describes April, 2011. From April 8-10, 2011, the Missouri Writers’ Guild presented its Annual Conference in St. Louis at the Sheraton Westport Hotel. On April 21st, I traveled to San Antonio, Texas for the Popular Culture Festival, where I appeared on a panel on Mystery and Detective Fiction with mystery author Sylvia Dickey Smith and Diane Fanning, true crime writer. On both occasions, I read portions of St. Louis Hustle, and it was like coming home. I walked the streets of New York during the week of April 25, as the Mystery Writers of America celebrated Edgar Week, and St. Louis was on my mind. Roots run deep.

For many of us, places evoke reality. Time has a way of healing or even erasing the past; what remains is meant to survive. For each of us, the story is unique, but the ending remains the same.

You can check out, but you can never leave…

See my latest interview with Jerry Peterson on the “About Claire” Page.

See my previous interview with Catherine Rankovic on the “About Claire” Page.

The popularity of internet dating sites suggests that people will pay—and pay—for a stab at such a love. Yet, plans and computers cannot predict or create chemistry. After all, people are not machines. Could it be that a perfect love does not match a “profile?” In the end, the heart knows what the mind does not. Still, the heart does not always choose wisely.

The late mystery writer Ed McBain once reflected that, in his opinion, love or money were the only two motives for murder. Given the right combination of motive, opportunity and means, however, people can get wildly creative—and careless. You may recall the scene in the film Body Heat, in which an ex-con, Teddy, reminds his lawyer of advice he once shared with him:

Anytime you try a decent crime, there are fifty ways you can mess it up. If you think of twenty five of them, you’re a genius–and, you ain’t no genius.

Such is the case in St. Louis Hustle, the second in the ‘Nam Noir series, scheduled for release in Spring, 2011 and the third, Candy Cadillac, to be released on December 11, 2011. The Wrong Side of Memphis fans will welcome the return of Elvin Suggs, and his sidekicks, Di Redding and Cobra Glynes. As new owners of the Grapevine Detective Agency, they accept their first cases—and wish they hadn’t. St. Louis landmarks include the Coral Court Motel and St. Louis City Hospital. For details, visit the media page, for a radio interview on 103.3 with Michelle Esswein
of Winning Women of St. Louis.

I look forward to seeing you at one of the signing events. Whether we are old friends or new acquaintances, your encouragement keeps me writing. Choose wisely!

See my latest interview with Jerry Peterson on the “About Claire” Page.
See my previous interview with Catherine Rankovic on the “About Claire” Page.

Our most cherished holiday traditions are usually preceded by much preparation and yes, hard work. The hustle and bustle of shopping, baking, and waiting for Santa–the expectancy-heightens our anticipation.

For me, the St. Louis Pet Expo kicked off Holiday Season 2010 on October 30 at the St. Charles Convention Center. In addition to our decorated booth, complete with characters from The Wrong Side of Memphis and Crazy For You, dog trick or treats from Treats Unleashed, and signed copies of my books, my Airedale, Jack, and I enjoyed stage time, where I read an excerpt from my new release, St. Louis Hustle. Please visit the 2010 Photo Gallery on my website for photos of our many exuberant visitors. I’ll bet you’ll recognize a human, canine or feline!

On Thursday, November 11, I signed books at the Holiday Magic 2010 Fashion Show-Luncheon-Boutique, sponsored by the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center Guild, at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Our new “Bunny” hoodies are perfect for holiday gifts, or better yet, buy one for yourself! (Bunny would.) And remember, you can never have enough bubble gum-scented shampoo-and oooh, don’t forget the lip gloss. Get it here. Get The Look in The Book. Charm your Lucky Day!

More Book Signings headed your way –
see you there!

December 4, 11am-1pm,
Rose’s Bookhouse, O’Fallon, MO

December 3, 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. and December 5, 10am-2pm,

St. Mark’s Church Book Sale, Affton, MO

Holidays are all about friends and family. It’s a time when we give thanks for each other, celebrate the end of one year and anticipate the opportunities of a new one. Thank you for your support and friendship during 2010. Cheers!

See my latest interview with Catherine Rankovic on the “About Claire” page.

Happy Holidays,

At first, I resisted. An event named “Killer Nashville” sounded, well…threatening. Still, I was intrigued enough to ask a few questions. Turns out, the extensive website, www.killernashville.com. had the “goods” for writers and fans of crime fiction. (Please note: crime fiction.)

According to the Frequently Asked Questions About Killer Nashville, “Killer Nashville was designed to launch new professional writing careers, promote published authors, and offer educational opportunities to anyone with an interest in crime fiction or in writing in general.” With a Special Guest of Honor like Jeffrey Deaver, author of thrillers like The Bone Collector, Killer Nashville 2010 promised a first class conference. I was not disappointed.

Founder Clay Stafford and Executive Director, Beth Terrell planned a weekend to remember! The conference was jam-packed with information for crime writers: writing techniques, forensics, crime investigation, contract negotiations, and marketing were just a few representative topics. An actual crime scene was recreated for viewing. Agent and editor pitch sessions and panels, as well as several bookstores, were available, (and busy), all weekend. Overall, about 400 people attended in 2010, up from 150 registrants in 2009.

I cannot say enough about the hospitality! All weekend, Killer Nashville rolled out the Red Carpet! At the Saturday evening dinner with Guest of Honor, Jeffrey Deaver delighted guests with an entertaining and witty description of how he chose “the writer’s life.” An informal jam session by the “Coffin Bangers,” a free-form group of musicians topped off the event. It was perfect.

After all, what’s in a name? After attending Killer Nashville, I can’t think of a better one. And how about those Coffin Bangers?

Until next year…

I had never been a guest on a live television show. Of course, I had spoken in public, (who hasn’t from time to time?), but this time was different. The makeup, the cameras, the microphone, the lights, and most conspicuously, the absence of a prepared script, all announced that it was time to “sit up straight and act like I knew what I was doing.”

How did it go? I think the best way for me to answer that question is to present the live interview. Let me know what you think! Now, it’s time for the countdown.

Five, four, three, two, one– “You’re on….!”

He means, it turns out, that winners don’t win matches–if you hit a shot that you will make one out of five times, it is an exception, not a long term game plan–and winners don’t build long term plans around exceptions. They play steadily, moving the ball around, looking for openings, and then seize them. It means being consistent.  Consistency, dependability and solid performance arising from long term practice sessions  “let it happen.”

But, as any writer knows, “Consistent” and “Long term plan” are listed under “No Fun” in the Writers’ Mental Reference. Add to this the “10-year rule,” the case that even the most talented need those years of hard work before achieving top performance, no matter what the endeavor, and the answer still remains the same: winning means hard work on a sustained basis. And, of course, competitions, like life in general, offer no guarantees.  Only the opportunity to give it your best shot.

Yesterday, the mail was kind. I received a contract for The Nearness of You, a suspenseful romantic satire. Projected release date: April, 2010.  The results of the international creative writing competition, the 2009 Faulkner Words and Music Competition, released its results–Unchain My Heart, my romantic suspense novel, was on the list. Please see www.wordsandmusic.org for details of the competition and the November festival in New Orleans. This year, the festival will be celebrating the Noir Novel, which is, pardon the pun, right up my alley.  Take a look and consider a weekend in the Hotel Monteleone. Noir in New Orleans–unchain your heart!!

Cheers,

Claire

For one thing, they were both “thrillers.” The sight of Michael (or not), or Farrah or her hair, was sensational.  They both had “it”, that magical quality that made them an overnight success.  They maintained their celebrity status in stunning looks for years, too–until they didn’t.

Their lives were haunted by personal tragedy–divorce, drugs, scandal and disease.  The details were highly public and pertinent.  Why did we care so much?  Media such as photos and videos and radios brought them into our homes.  It made them real, it made us care.  We never met them (most of us anyway), but we cared when they left us.

Although I am not Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett or any type of celebrity, I want to invite you to share in my personal thrill of my novel debut.  Please visit my photo gallery, where you will see photos of my book signings, readings and the launch party.  It was quite a thrill.

Shore ‘nuf,