Updates for Jan 2010

Hi all: The good news is that my agent and I are again talking about where to take the Lacey mystery series. We're kicking around ideas. We're slow because I'm contracted at Berkley now for four more romances and three urban fantasies. A lot to write!

The Stormwalker series will lean more toward the mystery side: Think Jim Butcher or Charlaine Harris meets Tony Hillerman.

More information on that series can be found at the series page: http://www.allysonjames.com/stormwalker.html

I will be posting a first chapter there soon. The book is out in May.

I am excited by what my agent and I are discussing, and am more hopeful about the Lacey series than I have been. I'll keep you posted.

Asperger's character on Mystery!

Inspector Lewis Sunday night featured a character who had Asperger's (Episode title: And the Moonbeams Kiss the Sea). The character reminded me very much of the hero in my recent release, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. He never looked straight into anyone's eyes, he knew what time he arrived anywhere to the exact minute and how long he stayed, was an artist who could draw anyone rapidly after a quick glance, he knew the social things he was "supposed" to do, but didn't really understand or much care why, and he was the master of the nonsequiter. The actor who portrayed him did a wonderful job.

You can watch the show online until September 13:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/lewis/watch.html

Stormwalker

Right now I'm writing a fantasy/mystery/romance set in the Southwest U.S., a place I've lived for more than 20 years. (Stormwalker by Allyson James, Berkley, probably May 2010). The heroine is a young Navajo woman who makes her living as a photographer but also helps people in supernatural jams (locating missing persons, solving cold case murders).

I set the book in north central and northeastern Arizona, inventing a little town called Magellan, in small fictional Hopi County.

I travel frequently in this area and today was going over some of my "atmosphere" photos. I've set the fictional town of Magellan south of Winslow out in rolling desert hills. The elevation here is about 6000 feet, which means not so much cactus as scrubby juniper and cottonwoods (near water), and plenty of grasses. The rocks are mostly sandstone, and sudden washes and little canyons cut through seemingly flat land.

I was lucky enough last time I was there to drive out while storms built in the west and south. My heroine is a "Stormwalker" (which I invented), a person whose magic is tied to storms. She's very powerful when it's storming, not so much on a clear sunny day.

I like the area because at certain points, you can see miles upon miles in all directions.

Looking north and east to the painted desert and Navajo Nation.

Looking west from the same spot to the San Francisco peaks (highest point 12,000 feet), the traditional western boundary of Navajo lands and one of the four sacred mountains. The city of Flagstaff is in the foothills of this mountain range.

I'm working hard to get this book finished and thought I'd give you a taste of the landscape while I write.

Interview with RITA-nominee Suspense author Colleen Thompson

I love the RS novels of Colleen Thompson (which read more like mainstream mysteries than typical RS). She sets the books in different locations in Texas, and the settings play a large part in the stories (they become another character). Her recent RITA-nominated book, Triple Exposure is set in the south-west Texas, Big Bend area; and her latest release, Beneath Bone Lake is set in the Caddo Lake area on the border of Texas and Louisiana.

Please click over to my group blog (The Chatelaines) to read my interview with her:

http://thechatelaines.blogspot.com/2009/06/colleen-thompson-interview-and-giveaway.html

Brenda Novak's Auction to benefit Diabetes

Each year, suspense author Brenda Novak conducts an online auction, the proceeds of which benefit diabetes research. Last year the auction raised more than $250,000 (yep, that's $250K).

This year I'm donating a collection of the entire 8-book Immortals series, a multi-author series in a world I created, plus a dragon trilogy I wrote as Allyson James. (All autographed)

Click here to view

Also donated is a single signed copy of my historical (non-romance) novel, The Queen's Handmaiden.

Click here to view

There is tons more to bid on. Authors and bookstores donate books, plus editors and agents donate critiques. Plus jewelery and collectables, gift baskets, and unique items like:

Lunch with Diana Gabaldon

Lake Tahoe Weekend Getaway

Name a Character in NY Times Bestseller John Lescroart’s
2010 novel, Treasure Hunt

And dear to my miniatures-loving heart: Murder Ink, A Bookstore in Miniature

The home page of the auction is here: http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Home.taf

Bidding ends May 31!

Lindsey Davis

This weekend I listened to Lindsey Davis talk about her Falco mysteries and her latest book Alexandria. I snagged a copy and had it signed.

My friend who got me started on her was there as well, so we had a cozy mystery day.

If you haven't read the Falco series, start with Silver Pigs. Worth it. If you haven't heard Ms. Davis speak--find out where she's appearing and go! She is entertaining as all get out.

Time for a Levity Break!

It's been a wild, wacky, frustrating, weird past couple of weeks. Great buzz on my new release. Very weird problems with new release (not *everything* went wrong, but so many things did, and still are).

Plus this week I've turned in 1. proofreading of one book; 2. copyedits of novella; 3. submitted ms.; 4. submitted another ms. Not to mention writing blogs almost every day for my mini blog tour.

Happily I have everything turned in, my blog tour is done, and now I have two things on my immediate plate: more proofreading and starting a new ms. (due July 1).

It is far, far, far past time for a break. I'm going to return next week to reviews and interviews, but for now ... Sheep. (watch to the end; you'll be glad you did)