March 2006

Newsletter 19

Hello one and all,

Yes, I’m still here. Even though Texas is in the throes of the worst drought since 1956, I have not dried up or burned down, thankfully. When we got an inch of rain in January, the first for months, the local paper’s headline was “At long last, a break in all the sunshine”.

Yes, I hear you soggy people in the Pacific Northwest groaning. What we really need these days is an efficient weather mage.

After the busy-ness of the first two-thirds of 2005, I had a quiet and restorative fall – which included reading the four most recent Harry Potter books within one week -- and I enjoyed the Christmas holidays with my family.  

Since the New Year I’ve been picking up multiple irons which have been sitting in the embers getting hotter and hotter. My first convention for 2006 was Love is Murder in Chicago, a small but delightful gathering of readers. I had a blast appearing on panels such as “Books with Spirit, Literally”. I even performed at the author’s talent show, playing a medley of music from THE LORD OF THE RINGS (I am so predictable) on a lovely if sadly out of condition grand piano. Fortunately the man who could *really* play the piano came last on the program.

Then there was ConDFW in Dallas at the end of February, always great fun and a chance to catch up with friends. Now I have a break until Malice Domestic in Arlington, Virginia in April. You can find details of my schedule and information on all my conferences (and I’m doing quite a few this year) on the News and More page on my website.

Which, you will notice, has been completely re-done, streamlined and tidied up, with several new photos. I’d say it was starting to look like an old attic stuffed full of junk, except my work is never junk. There’s just getting to be an awful lot of it, not that I’m complaining.

Among the literary irons in the fire was the publication of “Way Down in Egypt’s Land” in the anthology THOU SHALT NOT KILL, edited by Anne Perry. These are murder mysteries based (sometimes very loosely) on episodes in the Bible. "Topnotch entries include...Lillian Stewart Carl's "Way Down in Egypt's Land," a marvelous tale about 19th-century slavery..." – Publisher’s Weekly

“The Necromancer’s Apprentice”, which was originally in Murder by Magic, edited by Rosemary Edgehill, has been reprinted in THE ADVENTURE OF THE MISSING DETECTIVE AND 25 OF THE YEAR’S FINEST CRIME AND MYSTERY STORIES (which has to be the year’s longest title). "Inspired contributions include...Lillian Stewart Carl's "The Necromancer's Apprentice," which presents an interesting solution to the actual mystery surrounding the death of Amy Robsart, wife of Elizabeth I's favorite lord, balancing wizardry with astute deductions about the political motives of those who stood to benefit." – Publisher’s Weekly

This story is also available from Fictionwise.com, along with a long list of my other stories. And my novel SHADOWS IN SCARLET will appear on Fictionwise very soon now. “Presenting a delicious mix of romance and supernatural suspense, Carl (Ashes to Ashes) delivers yet another immensely readable tale. She has created an engaging cast and a very entertaining plot, spicing the mix with some interesting twists on the ghostly romantic suspense novel.” - Publishers Weekly

Also – ta da! – SHADOWS IN SCARLET and TIME ENOUGH TO DIE are at last available in paperback. Yes, Wildside Press has just brought out new editions, with gorgeous new covers. Please check the Books page of my website for more information.

In more paperback news, Wildside will be doing the trade paperback of THE SECRET PORTRAIT, the first book in the Jean Fairbairn/Alasdair Cameron series, in April. The hardcover was published by Five Star, went into a third printing, and is still available.

“As always, Lillian Stewart Carl crafts an exceptionally well-written and tightly plotted tale. And as always, her characters draw you into her stories until you find yourself standing in Jean's shoes on the staircase of Glendessary House while ghostly footsteps clump closer and closer. Engaging, absorbing, rousingly good and finally -- highly recommended. I very much look forward to more adventures with Jean and Alasdair.”  - Teri Smith, Crescent Blues Book Review

Be careful what you ask for, Teri – THE MURDER HOLE will be published by Five Star in August 2006.

Deep water . . .

Jean Fairbairn is off to write a story about the haunted waters of Loch Ness. She has an appointment with American scientist Roger Dempsey, who is using his latest gadgets to try and prove that the legend of the monster, Nessie, is true.

Jean’s business is checking out legends. Some hold water, some don’t, and some are about much more than H2O.

But the troubled water she finds at Loch Ness is colder than its snow-melt and darker than its peat-stained depths. Sonar and other remote-sensing tools might find Nessie, but what scientific instrument can plumb the mysteries of death?

Troubled, too, are the waters that run between Jean and Detective Inspector Alasdair Cameron. Will another encounter bridge the depths that lie between them? Or will their story end at the hands of a murderer, in the icy water of a loch that never gives up its dead?

I’m now starting the third book in the series, THE FAMILY SQUINT, although since I have to make time for that among so many other projects I couldn’t even begin to guess at a publication date.

As for a slightly older title, even though the paperback of LUCIFER’S CROWN is still available, it has officially gone out of print. Never fear, though, I have copies. If you would like an autographed copy of the trade paperback for only $8 (including postage), or the hardcover for $14 (ditto) please contact me through my website.

For all my other titles, including the story anthologies, please support your local independent booksellers. They would be glad to order anything that they don’t have in stock.