Last night I celebrated the release of THE PREY with a launch party. I invited family and friends and was humbled by the incredible turnout. Many of my friends that showed up were people I’d worked with for a long time, or a long time ago, before I quit my job in the California Legislature. They came to wish me well and support me, and I’ll never forget it. One long-time friend commented to my husband that he was 98% thrilled for me and 2% envious. He said, “Everyone wants to write a book, but Allison actually did it.” Whether… Read More

. . . I have a column posted called Why Murder? It talks about my drive to understand why people turn into monsters, and how that’s portrayed in my books.

In The Kill, there’s a scene where Zack and Olivia are reviewing official records that relate to the villain. As they begin to understand the killer’s background, Zack says: “I heard a phrase once, can’t remember where, that monsters are created. [He] is a product of his upbringing. Doesn’t make him any less guilty, but dammit, I hate that the cycle continues.” Zack couldn’t remember where he heard the phrase because I couldn’t remember where I heard it. I thought I might have read it in a Thomas Harris book or in a Keith Ablow book, but after skimming my… Read More

I had my son pull a number from a hat, and the winner is . . . Alphabeter! So please email murdershewrites5@yahoo.com with your address and I’ll send you an early copy of THE HUNT! I’m sorry I didn’t get my post up on the answers to the questions, life caught up to me this weekend . . . birthday parties, board meetings, cleaning, grocery shopping (the kids think I need to feed them), and I actually went to bed relatively early last night (10:30; early for me!) BUT I’ll post them on Thursday and maybe something these serial killer… Read More

It seems that the press love to attach monikers to serial killers. In my upcoming book The Hunt(Ballantine, February 2006), the press dubbed the man who tortures, rapes and hunts women in the wilderness as The Bozeman Butcher. But my killer is fictional . . . and as they say, truth is stranger than fiction . . . Most nicknames seem to fade away after the killer is apprehended . . . for example, I never knew until recently that Jeffrey Dahmer had been called the “Milwaukee Cannibal.” Some killers are better known by their moniker, such as “Son of… Read More

I have good news to share . . . I posted on my personal blog tonight that my debut novel, The Prey, hit the USA Today list at #88. I am thrilled and humbled. Thank you to everyone who bought The Prey and especially to everyone who recommended it to a friend.

On several writing loops, the subject of trends has come up. Most of the conversations have taken a panicky tone, so they caught my attention. For example: * Romance suspense is dead * The chick lit market is tight * Paranormal is hot, hot, hot, but no more vampires * All anyone wants is erotic romance I’m not an expert when it comes to publishing, but I know a little bit about economics. I’m not panicking. And neither should most people. Chick lit (which encompasses a wide range of female-focused stories that are defined more by tone and voice than… Read More

Wow. It’s here. Forget Christmas, the day I’ve REALLY been looking forward to this month has arrived. P-Day. (Publication Day.) Karin and I are off to do our first signing, and I’m so relieved to be signing with a friend. Today was my blog day over at the 2BRead blog, so check it out if you’re interested. It’s about not being stressed 🙂 And if this is your first time visiting MSW, rest assured that today is unique, we normally don’t engage in a bunch of blatant self-promotion other than our book covers to the right. And if you’re a… Read More

I was tagged . . . again . . . which is good and bad. Good, because it gives me something to blog about when I can’t think of something. Bad, because I feel guilty if I don’t do it. But I still love you, Edie! Here goes . . . Seven things to do before I die: Vacation in Ireland for a summer Take an Alaskan cruise Build my dream house Watch my grandchildren graduate from college (figure that gives me a long enough life since my youngest child is still only 18 months old!) Go to Disney World… Read More

FINALLY! My blog is up and running . . . not this wonderful forum, but my personal space 🙂 . . . I won’t be a daily blogger at home, but plan to post one writing or reading related article every week, hopefully on Mondays, but as you know, the best laid plans of mice and mothers . . . Anyway, I posted my reading secrets over there. Stop by and visit me sometime!