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    In 1917, The Evening Independent published an article on high heels that began: “Style decrees that women wear high-heel foot wear, which buckles up the toes, producing painful corns; then many women cut at these pests, which is a most dangerous preceding, because one is simply inviting infection or an awful death from lockjaw..."

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    I love research that takes you places. Because there are some forensic elements to the next book, American Blonde, I've been studying up on all things crime-related-- which led me recently to a crime lab workshop at L.A.'s regional crime laboratory...

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    In my research for American Blonde, I've been learning all about forensics and the Los Angeles County Coroner, particularly in the 1940s. But one of the most fascinating things I discovered is that the Los Angeles Coroner has a gift shop...

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    Imagine my elation when I lifted my head long enough from 1946 (where I'm buried in the next Velva Jean novel) to hear the news that M.A.C has just released an Archie's Girls cosmetic line...

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    In 2000, I did my first ever interview as a published author (for The Ice Master) with Connie Martinson, whose television show, Connie Martinson Talks Books, has been on the air since 1979. And, last October, I spoke with her about Becoming Clementine...

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    There are literary cats and then there are Literary Cats. I have three literary kitties and, while I love them equally, I am particularly bonded with Lulu. She, like Charles Dickens's Wilhelmina, is a Literary Cat of the highest order...

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    This week, in the spirit of Valentine's Day, popular e-zine Be Inkandescent is featuring an article on collaborating couples-- those who work side by side as they balance two powerful, time-consuming, stressful, successful careers. You can read the full article here, but I couldn't resist sharing a portion of it...

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    I used to love buying Valentine's Cards at Hook's Drugstore when I was growing up in Indiana. This year, as I'm working away madly on the next Velva Jean book, I started thinking about the type of card Velva Jean might send to her own Valentines...

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    Right now I am at my desk many, many hours every day (that includes weekends). The current project: American Blonde, the fourth novel in the Velva Jean series. Technically, I'm supposed to be editing the novel right now, based on my editor's first round of notes. But what I'm actually doing is re-envisioning and re-outlining and, for the most part, rewriting the entire book from about page 15 on...

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    Being a musician, one of the reasons I love the Velva Jean series is because of the music. I am deeply honored and proud to share with you a new song, entitled "The Santiago Blues," inspired by Becoming Clementine, and written by one of my very best friends...

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