My cousin's new book just came out. Everyone go buy it.

[leftyladyfrommo]

Nancy Pickard The Scent of Rain and Lightening.

She's getting really good reviews.

[peacebird]

1. Love the title! Best luck to her!

[TNDemo]

2. I'll have to check it out.

How long did it take her to get published initially?

[leftyladyfrommo]

4. I don't know.

This is her 19th novel. I think she has been nominated for the Edgar 4 times. She has won some other honors - the Agatha and another one.

I do know that she just threw her first novel in the trash and started all over.

Her first novels were cozy myteries and they really did pretty well - the Jenny Caine series. Then she just kind of progressed to some weightier novels.

She's really pretty well known in the Mystery genre.

[Jade Fox]

3. People who write novels amaze me.....

and that there are so many who do it well amazes me even more!

Your cousin's books sound intriguing!

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. I couldn't write a novel. Way too complicated for me.

Her last novel came out in 2006 - The Virgin of Small Plains. It won a bunch of awards.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. I love the title, too.

Good for her.

It's a brutal industry, but she has done very well. That's awesome!

Thanks for letting us know. I love the grassroots connection to promote authors.

:hi:

[hippywife]

7. Sounds very interesting.

I just read a summary and requested it from the library (I hope you don't mind.) Thanx for the heads up. :D

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. Are you kidding. I get all my books from the library.

They are all at least $25 now - too much for me. I read a book a day. It would cost me a fortune if I had to buy them all.

Even paperbooks are $10

[hippywife]

10. I did request the book from the library

but I'm like number 26 of 28 holds at this point. She must be very popular.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. This book has been really well received.

She's gotten a lot of good reviews and I'm sure that is helping.

[hippywife]

13. I've started reading it.

Got it from the library. So far at 110 pages it's a very good book. Well written and leaves lots of mystery as to who committed the murder. Hell, I haven't even gotten to the murder yet, but close I think.

:hi:

[TheCentepedeShoes]

8. I enjoyed The Virgin of Small Plains

The library has Scent of Rain and Lighting but all copies are currently checked out. I'll get it when available or put in a request

[leftyladyfrommo]

12. Hey, she made the NY Times best seller list - #28

And USA Today Best Seller List #80 something.j

I think this is the first time she has made the NY Times list.

[TheDebbieDee]

14. I've never read any of her books, but she's got a number of titles

out, doesn't she? Is she from Missouri, too?

[hippywife]

15. This was really an excellent book.

Murder mysteries aren't my favorite genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to exploring more of her work.

[leftyladyfrommo]

16. She grew up in KC, Mo but now lives in Shawnee, Ks.

Shawnee is one of the little towns that make up Johnson County, Ks. Johnson county is kind of an affluent area where lots of people who work in KC live. But there are also lots of just regular middleclass folk who live out there, too. Its kind of an addition to KC. Probably 15 miles from downtown KC, Mo. It all runs together.

[SheilaT]

17. Your cousin is a sweet and gracious

lady, in addition.

Several years ago I had the privilege of hanging out with her several times in connection with Democratic Party events in Johnson County. I can say that here, can't I?

I will need to get her latest book.

[Hamlette]

18. will do, looks good thanks for the tip n/t

[tigereye]

19. she is a wonderful writer