Spring Conference
Eastern Illinois Univ., Charleston IL


April 9, Saturday, 10am-5pm
Authorfest
Shaumburg Public Library
130 S. Roselle Rd.
Shaumburg, IL

April 13, Wednesday, 6-8 pm
North Suburban Library District
6340 N. 2nd St.
Loves Park, IL

June 4-5
Printers Row Book Festival
Chicago


August  3-5
Catholic Marketing Network Convention
and Catholic Writers Guild Conference LIVE!
Valley Forge, PA

Saturday September 3

Byron, IL Public Library

11 am-1 pm

Bouchercon World Mystery Convention 2011
St Louis, MO
September 15-18

October 6
Aurora Public Library
Aurora, IL

October 9

DeKalb Big Read

DeKalb (IL) Public Library

2 pm

Tuesday October 18, noon

Byron Women's Club

Wednesday October 26

12:30 pm

Rock Valley College Library

October 22, Saturday
Booked for Murder
Madison, WI

Monday October 24, 6:30 pm

Moline (IL) Public Library

October 28, 9:30 am Central
Catholic TV

October 28-30
Magna Cum Murder
Muncie, IN

November 4
The Ken Hudnall Show,
Borderlands Radio Network (online), 7 pm CDT

November 16
The Frank Truatt Morning show
WTBQ-AM Warwick NY, 6:05 am CDT

November 22
Tron in the Morning
KCMN 1530 AM
Colorado Springs, CO
7:30 am MST/8:30 am CST

(new date) December 23
Midday Show 10:15 am CT
WJON St Cloud, MN 1390 AM

December 20
Crazie Dougie
WANB Waynesburg, PA
AM 1580 or 1210; FM 103.1
11 am ET/10 am CT


INTERVIEW from "Take One" magazine:

Q: You've been writing historical novels but are now turning toward mysteries. What makes a person want to experience a mystery? As more things become known in the world (say, the composition of Saturn's rings), does the hunger for mystery grow or lessen?

A: Mysteries - classic murder mysteries, I mean - connect with something deep inside us. They are the modern form of the medieval morality play, where the sleuth is Everyman who works against time, big money, a determined antagonist, daunting odds and his own flaws to expose evil and to restore the balance of justice. At the end, readers who identify with the successful hero or heroine feel a little better about the world and about themselves. A critic might say that mystery novels are escapist, since they offer a fantasy world in which justice prevails, right always wins over wrong, and love finds a way. But what's wrong with that? That's healing.

In addition, mysteries are close to the barest human desires and fears, and because they deal so openly with death, they have a built-in opportunity to explore life's higher mysteries. All literature tries to make meaning out of the frightfully short dash between our birthdate and departure date on our tombstones. As mystery writer William Faulkner said, fiction explores the high mystery of 'the human heart in conflict with itself.' 

Q: Writing is such a personal activity. Even with your background in teaching, is it hard to guide someone in how to write? What's the biggest obstacle in those lessons?

A: I like your term "guide" because that is about all you can do. You can show the way, point out features along the path, and explain how some things work. You can't teach desire and discipline, the two most important factors. A writer must have them already. Techniques can be acquired by imitation, experimentation, and habit. But what's really needed is vision, and, as Aristotle might add, a touch of madness.

Q: Your blog uses the name Johnny Dangerous. What makes you so dangerous?

A: My last name can be difficult to pronounce, so my colleagues had a little fun with it. I suppose it suits me, as I dare to interogate the prevailing postmodern dogmas of absolute uncertainty. As Aristotle says, there is truth outside our own subjective perceptions that can be known, if only imperfectly (or as St. Paul might say, "through a glass darkly"), and as Aquinas and Wittgenstein suggest, sometimes we must be told what it is by Someone from the outside.

Q: Your books combine history, religion, and mystery. When you look at the success of Dan Brown's "The DaVinci Code," what do you feel?

A: There's hope for any writer, even for work that is poorly written, badly researched, and built on a spurious premise. But seriously, this reminds us that stories have the power to shape perception; narrative puts a frame around our view of 'reality.' That's why it's important to deal honestly with the material. It's fiction, but we must try to deal with what IS. Serious fiction - even seriously written 'genre' fiction - is interested in the truth, especially in the truth of what it means to be fully human in both our dignity and our fallenness.

Q: The name of a character, especially the one who might be the lead in a series of books, can be quite important. Where did the inspiration for Reed Stubblefield come from?

A: Illinois cornfields in mid-March. On the rural drive to my college, I pass miles of stubbled fields full of shaven stalks, and the brittle, vulnerable remains reminded me of that line in Isaiah 42, "He will not break a crushed reed, or snuff out a smoldering wick; unfailingly He will establish justice." Reed Stubblefield is wounded in body, heart, and spirit, and he slowly, reluctantly recognizes the presence of grace in a story about justice and the possiblity of loving again after a major loss.

Q: Your second mystery, coming in Spring 2011, is set in the same location but features a Latina character, Selena De La Cruz, as the protagonist. Where did she come from?

A: Writers are often cautioned about allowing an intriguing minor character to run away with the story. As soon as Selena walked on the stage of the first novel in those cherry heels, with that feisty attitude and driving that fast car, I knew she had a story of her own. I had wanted to portray a very strong and positive Latin character, since the story dealt with prejudice against Latin American immigrants. In the sequel VIPER, we see Selena struggling to live in two worlds at once, coming to terms with her bicultural identity as a Mexican-American woman.

Q: Given your journalism background, have you ever considered the nonfiction realm of writing?

A: I've done some freelance magazine work and publish an essay now and then. However, 'telling all the truth but telling it slant,' as Emily Dickinson said, is much more fun.

Q: How many false starts, flame outs, and other aborted attempts currently reside in the dark recesses of your desk?

A: I've had my share. There is a sprawling historical novel set in the Roman Empire of the early 400s smoldering in my cabinet, a prequel to "The Throne of Tara" that is based largely on the life of Saint Patrick. I'm focused on the mysteries for now, but at times I still hear the thunder of hooves, the ring of steel on steel, the chant of monks and the crackle of Druids' fires coming from behind the doors.