August: time for the beach, ice cream, cold beer, and summer reads.  Well, the beach isn't here, unfortunately. You'll have to head out for ice cream and beer (bring us back some!)  But we can help you with the reading.

We'll start close to home with Warren Hammond, author of the KOP future noir series, and fellow member of the Pearl Street Grill critique group.

Warren has decided to blog his twisted insights and dish on writing, the sci-fi/fantasy genre, and Kung Fu movies.  Visit Kopland.  Not at all dangerous except for the snarkiness.

And another critique partner, the fabulous Margie Lawson, has not only a super blog about writing advice, but she's also got a contest where you can win her lecture packets and registration to her workshops.  NYT bestsellers have paid big bucks to take Margie's awesome classes.  Here's a chance at her goodies and it's free!

The fantasy genre is crowded with vampires, zombies, ghosts, shape-shifters, you name it, everything it seems but witches (or at least, not enough of them).  Until now, thanks to Juliet Blackwell, who gives us Lily Ivory, a witch who opens a vintage clothing store in modern San Francisco.  Juliet has written under the pen name of Hailey Lind and was nominated for an Agatha Award for Feint of Art.  



This witchcraft mystery, Secondhand Spirits, is a cozy supernatural mystery that will enchant you with its breezy prose, humor, and wit. Juliet does a great job leading the reader through the Bay Area with such detail you can smell the coffee and the Pacific Ocean.  Catch Juliet blogging at Pens Fatales.

Our favorite PI, Colleen Collins sent this fascinating link to an article in Popular Science about the CSI Myth: the Shaky Science behind Forensics.  Meaning, you might get away with murder.

Back to August slumming.  Here's one of my favorite all time music videos and a cute summer tune. Love the animation.  Tom Tom Club and the Genius of Love.