Bylines

Recent Books

SYWTBAF — as it was known in our team’s shorthand — was a joy to work on at every turn. The personal interviews with nearly 20 professional fighters including men, women, boxers, MMA fighters, and trainers show first hand the amazing grit and inspiration these professionals take into the ring for every match. In this book, they share their hard-won lessons for anyone interested in what it really takes to be a champion.

Look for all 6 of the Australian Women’s Weekly series from DK which published in 2021 and continue into 2022.  It’s been great fun to edit, test, and adapt these recipes for the US market!

I enjoy working with local historians, business consultants, speakers and others who publish books for passion or because they have real knowledge to pass along:

Wine and Spirits Writing

Check out my latest wine writing about wine, travels, gear, cocktails and more at Wine and Whiskey Globe — part of the Globe family of websites.  Thrilled to be working with a good friend and former editor heading up the project!  I really enjoyed posting dispatches from our long delayed return to France last fall.

  • Postcards from France: Crossing Over (Nov 2021)
  • Postcards from France: Drenched in Chablis (Nov 2021)
  • Postcards from France: Dispatch from the Burgundy Event of the Year (Nov 2021)

Adam Smith Works

At Adam Smith Works, I have the distinct pleasure to write about the life and times of Adam Smith — specifically, food.  Exploring 18th century culture, dining habits, recipes, menus, and Smith’s life work to bring 1750s Edinburgh, France, Paris, and London to life. I’m becoming quite proud of this body of work.

Commentary

The government shutdown has us all thinking about politics and food — and where they intersect.  Read my latest column at Howey Politics Indiana.

Freelance/Feature Writing

As writers, we have a passion for sharing what we know about wine, farm-to-table meat, and artisanal cheeses, culture, and the arts.  Even better, I enjoy writing profiles of the people who produce, grow, and create the food we eat every day.  I’ve written features for Indianapolis Monthly, Dine magazine, Midwest Living, and NUVO.

Food/Wine:

Arts and Culture

Publishing and Authors

Fiction —  Dakota Stone Untitled #1 and #2

Genre: Mystery

Synopsis  Dakota Stone Untitled #1

After a career of undercover work in the FBI, someone wants Dakota Stone to retire.  When you’re pushing fifty, winning a knife fight isn’t as easy as it used to be.  So when Special Agent Stone finds himself set up by someone inside the Bureau, he seeks outside help from former flame Jacquie Daniels. As the bodies pile up along with the international intrigue, Daniels, a former prosecutor turned wealthy widow, is only too happy to help, even when the killers get too close for comfort.  From Italy to Indiana, these two realize it’s time to re-examine their lives as one fights betrayal and the other boredom.  Readers will enjoy a fresh take on the genre as Dakota and Jacquie find that life and work aren’t worth dying for.

Synopsis  Dakota Stone #2 — Screwed (working title)

When Jacquie’s personal attorney turns up dead in a Chicago hotel room, alarm bells start ringing when police find he’s been murdered with a rare, antique corkscrew in his ear. Luckily,  Jacquie knows exactly who to ask for help.  Infiltrating the world of wine collectors, Dakota Stone is quickly up to his neck in intrigue when Jacquie rescues him — again.  As the bodies pile up, they follow a shady criminal underground from France to Istanbul.  And who knew escaping from an old cemetery in Croatia could help them discover just what matters more in life — work, love or staying alive.

Resources

  • Nanowrimo.org — Huge props to Nanowrimo.org for keeping writers like me moving.  I’ve participated in several rounds of November as National Novel Writing Month and also Camp Nanowrimo in April and July.  If you thinking writing and these sorts of free group endeavors are important, become a supporter.  You’ll make a difference!
  • Scrivener — Not every writer loves Scrivner from Literature and Lattes, but if you’re writing a novel and need a place for notes, note cards, storyboards, and trackable characters, plus photos, research, and web links, Srivener is the robust software you need.  It’s a little difficult to map in your mind at first, so take advantage of the tutorials you’ll find online. You can draft in the program or draft externally.  Either way, you’ll find it invaluable, especially if you’re working on academic works or series writing.

Want to know more about my writing? Contact me and ask!

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