First Snow . . . And a Recommendation

Last week, temperatures hovered around 70F. This coming week, the first snow fell (just a dusting), but temps will plummet down to 22F.

Update on my writing. Between doctor visits, minor foot surgery, and sitting in that darn chair for six weeks with no laptop, I haven't gotten much done, though I'm slowly drafting Unleashed Pursuit, that story about a female police officer on the run. Since my only experience with police was completing a Police Academy many years ago, I'm diving into research. The best nonfiction book I've found so far is So You Want to Be A Cop by Alley Evola, jam packed with day-by-day stories about what it really means to be a police officer.

Frank Zafiro is another amazing resource. His twenty years of police experience has led him to write forty novels. One series is set in River City, a pseudonym for Spokane, which happens to be where I live. 

Not only is Frank an excellent writer, honest and with gritty details, he also introduces a side of Spokane I don't know much about -- the dark side, that is, what happens after midnight on those not always quiet city street.

He also generously gives insights into the day-by-day work of police officers, gutsy and committed, in their quest to protect their community. He recently presented a zoom workshop for local Spokane writers, sponsored by Auntie's Bookstore, on all aspects of writing police procedurals, separating commonly held beliefs about the police from harsh reality. And, Frank was a featured panelist at Boucheron 2023, in San Diego, a major conference for crime writers.

You might be interested: I just finished reading (and enjoyed very much) Frank's Worst Kind of Truth (Book 11 in his River City series), which follows Detective Katie MacLeod as she balances a heavy case load. Some cases she can resolve, even if they take time; others she doesn't have quite enough solid proof to bring about a satisfactory resolution whether through a court case or an arrest. This remains the 'worst kind of truth,' that even despite our best efforts, sometimes we're not successful.

This story unfolds with strong characters, real emotion, and a realistic appraisal of what police can or cannot do to protect others. If you like police procedurals, you'll find a complex story about a female detective and the many challenges she faces. 

You can find out more about Frank on his website HERE -- with much information about his novels, podcasts, events, and more.

Meanwhile, happy Halloween. May you enjoy the coming months of winter, as we move to Thanksgiving and, hopefully, a happy New Year's ahead.