Tricks of the Trade

Sometime in 1969, I walked into the office of my agent, Henry Morrison, and announced that I had a million-dollar idea. “I’m going to tell you the title and the subtitle,” I said. “Tricks of the Trade: a Hooker’s Handbook of Sexual...

Think Green!

        Verde, que te quiero verde. Verde viento. Verdes ramas El barco sobre la man y el caballo en la montaña. Con la sombra en la cintura ella sueña en su baranda, verde carne, pelo verde, y ojos de fria plata… I hope you don’t mind my quoting the...

Eight Ways to Count Your Spoons…

Ah, yes. Let me count the ways, while Bernie Rhodenbarr counts his spoons. But first an Act Fast! announcement, of special import to fans of Martin Ehrengraf and aficionados of finely printed books. Defender of the Innocent: the Casebook of Martin Ehrengraf is...

Merger stuns world of popular fiction

Publishing circles were reeling today after this morning’s surprise announcement of the merger of pop fiction titans James Patterson and Clive Cussler, who between them are likely to account for twenty bestsellers in calendar year 2014 alone. While neither...

A Toast to Rex Stout

Last night my Frequent Companion and I attended the annual Black Orchid Banquet of the Wolfe Pack, an international organization of Rex Stout devotees. I had the honor of presenting the annual toast to the man himself. As I mentioned on Facebook, my remarks constitute...