Coming this summer, Marnie Baranuik is at it again, this time out-witching dark witches in STIFF COMPETITION, the next Between The Files story. I meant it to be a shortie, but the story was demanding we have more fun, so technically, I think at this length it’s called a “novelette,” which sounds like there should be a lot more wine and kissing with tongue.  STIFF COMPETITION (or “Stiffy” as I like to call it) is heading to my long-suffering editor, Bossyboots McMeaniepants, for his punishment with the Red Pen Of Doom in June. Which is (*eep!*) next week! I guess I’d better figure out how it ends, eh? Heh Heh.

On a light note… I know that Marnie’s world has been a little rough lately. She’s taken us to some dark places. And by us, I mean all of us. To be honest, I consider myself a hapless bystander most of the time when writing Marnie; she’s a strong personality, and when I try to manipulate her, she usually shuts me down pretty hard until I make the story go the way she thinks it should go. You may be pleased to discover that she wants to be ridiculous again, though she will deny it. although Marnie considers herself Marnie 3-point-oh, her most recent follies prove that Original Marnie is lurking not so far below the surface, and book six in the series (Oh yeah, impromptu title reveal: *trumpet toodles* CINERARIUM) continues that exploration.

On a darker note, my first psychological thriller CLOSET FULL OF BONES launches Tuesday, May 30th, and I’m very proud of the way it turned out. I hope you’ll enjoy it as well. I am hard at work on wrapping Marnie’s next two projects, but I think after that, my winter project will be another thriller. We’ll see what happens during NaNoWriMo. I’ve got a pesky dentist making trouble in my brain and he may have a weird story of his own.

Onward and upward, my wacky friends!