Patry Francis and The Liar's Diary

Today marks the paperback release of Patry Francis's The Liar's Diary. I had the great pleasure of reading this book when it was released in hardback last year, and I have to tell you, this isn't one to miss. It's on my list of the best of 2007. And as Patry struggles with cancer, it's my great pleasure to join over 300 other blogger to both wish her the best and to encourage you to read this amazing book.

The Liar's Diary is described as a seductive psychological thriller about a woman facing the dark truths at the heart of her family. Jeanne Cross's contented suburban life gets a jolt of energy from the arrival of Ali Mather, the stunning new music teacher at the local high school. With a magnetic personality and looks to match, Ali draws attention from all quarters, including Jeanne's husband and son. Nonetheless, Jeanne and Ali develop a deep friendship based on their mutual vulnerabilities and long-held secrets that Ali has been recording in her diary. The diary also holds a key to something darker: Ali's suspicion that someone has been entering her house when she is not at home. Soon their friendship will be shattered by violence—and Jeanne will find herself facing impossible choices in order to protect the people she loves.

Learn more about Patry at her website, and be sure to pick up her book. You can order it online here:

1. Amazon
2. Barnes & Noble
3. Powell's

Or find your nearest independent bookseller at Booksense.

Watch The Liar's Diary book trailer:



Listen to an audio clip from The Liar's Diary.

And to Patry, I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery. You've been a great friend to me and to all of us in the Killer Year. Be well, and keep writing!

Killer February

I'm thrilled to be able to brag about my friends and fellow Killer Yearbies Patry Francis and Robert Gregory Browne whose novels were just released!


About The Liar's Diary by Patry Francis, Tess Gerritson said, "Patry Francis is a sly and seductive writer, and in THE LIAR'S DIARY she inexorably sucks you in for a twisting ride full of dangerous curves and jaw-dropping surprises. This is one of my favorite reads of the year!"

In The Liar's Diary, a teenage boy is arrested for a particularly brutal murder. His mother seeks to learn the truth, and finds herself increasingly ensnared in a web of lies.


In Kiss Her Goodbye by Robert Gregory Browne, ATF agent Jack Donovan is just getting reacquainted with his estranged daughter, Jessie, when a ruthless gunrunner kidnaps her and buries her alive. With the clock ticking, Jack soon realizes that the only way he can save her is to follow a killer into the darkness of death itself.

Gayle Lynds said, "From rich characters to heart-pounding suspense, KISS HER GOODBYE explores not only the deadly terrain of murder but the nuances of the soul. It’s a first-rate novel that will glue you to your chair until you finish the last satisfying word."

Congratulations, Patry and Rob, on exciting and fabulous debuts. May these be the first of many!

I got a phone call

About this:

William A. Cameron
Saturday, January 20, 2007
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007, in Mountainview Christian Church in Gresham for William A. "Bill" Cameron, who died Jan. 18 at age 52.

Mr. Cameron was born Aug. 8, 1954, in San Francisco. A graduate of Willamette University, he lived in Portland before moving to Gresham in about 1995. He was a salesman for Anderson Builders & Construction. In 1986, he married Linda Anderson.

Survivors include his wife; son, William II; mother and stepfather, Martha and Joseph Norton; brother, Christopher Norton; stepbrother, Jeffrey Norton; and stepsister, Cheryl Herzog.

Remembrances to Habitat for Humanity. Arrangements by Omega.

He wasn't me. My middle initial is H, and I live further west. The fact that somene called me about it didn't surprise me, though. I've been hiding for a bit. As you may have noticed. But I have a good reason! At least I think so.

Next novel is coming along, but I am running up against a timeline thingie. What are they called? Deadline. That's it. It's partially self-imposed, partially from my agent. But I like it. It's helping me focus. I am almost done with the second draft, and my goal is to be done before I leave for Left Coast Crime next week. I have two chapters to get through, plus a new chapter which is about a third written. It will be tight, but I'm gonna do it.

Then, when I get back from LCC, I'm giving myself two weeks for a refinement and continuity revision. Then it's in the mail!

Plus, work suddenly went nuts. And by nuts, I mean all these crazy people (clients) coming out of the woodwork demanding satisfaction. If only what they wanted was a duel. What they actually want is for me to do work for them. Which is not something I'm complaining about, but it has contributed to this lack of sleep thing I've got going right now.

So this is a fly-by Hi! (Hi!) I may not surface again until after LCC, unless I do. But before I go, I want to encourage you to check out Chris Well's Interview of Patry Francis, fellow Killer Yearbie.

And also, here is a picture:




And another picture (the yellow one is the Killer Year chapbook):



This pic is brought to you through the encouragement of the loverly Julia Buckley!