Insect model made by second grader
Ant model made by second grader
Just back from a successful classroom presentation of HOW TO BUILD AN INSECT. Second graders at Meridian Elementary are the best!!!
Yellow prickly pear cactus flower
White cactus flower
The cactuses are blooming. Can you tell the one that blooms at noon and the one that blooms overnight? #phoenixgarden #cactus
Wish we could edit these posts. It is CRIME BEFORE OUR TIME.
My short story set in the Song Dynasty, China, "On the Road to Hongzhou" has been accepted for Level Best Books' upcoming anthology CRIME BEFORE OUR TIME
My short story was accepted by Level Best Books for their upcoming anthology CRIME BEFORE OUT TIME, expected September 2026. This story was fun to write and I'm glad it found a home. I might even consider revisiting the characters. #DesertSleuths #WritingCommunity #Authorsky #Amwriting
Desert Slleuths monthly meeting features Power of the 3-Act Structure by Claire-Dee Lim
oin us to discover the Power of the 3-Act Structure with Claire-Dee Lim. Another free and virtual opportunity to learn about the craft of writing, coming Wednesday 4/15/2026 at 6:00 p.m. MST. Register for a link at desertsleuths.com
#writingcommunity
#writing
#amwriting
The Ink & Agave Writing Retreat doesn't start for two weeks, but I've already learned a lot about the craft of #writing #picturebooks.
kimtomsic.com/ink-agave/
Can't wait to attend!
So abundant right now
youtube.com/shorts/KHvC8.... Being a presenter always brings fantastic surprises. This family had raised painted lady butterflies and decided to bring them by our booth for release.
Shows presenters at Spring Equinox celebration
It felt more like summer at the Spring Equinox celebration at Mesa Red Mountain Library. But we still had a lot of fun.
Desert Sleuths President Claire A Murray with Desert Sleuths member Anna Dalhaimer Bartkowski stand behind a table full of anthologies and books by our members. Both Claire and Anna have stories in our SoWest: Danger Awaits! Anthology as well as books of their own for sale.
Another gorgeous sunny day with book lovers at Tucson Festival of Books! We hope you'll come by booth 426 and check out our literary wares.
#TFOB #SINC #Mystery #CrimeFiction #AmReading
Tucson Festival of books on University of Arizona campus,
The Tucson Festival of Books is just wrapping up. What a wild and exciting time it was. Thanks to the Tucson chapter of @sincworldwide.bsky.social and @desertsleuths.bsky.social
I love the blue iris. I was surprised the first time I saw one growing here.
Refreshing my science and nature blog today with a little spring cleaning.
blog.growingwithscience.com/2026/03/bug-...
@evaeldridge.bsky.social
@evaeldridge.bsky.social
More Trouble in Tucson is a new anthology edited by Eva Eldridge, Tucson Sisters in Crime.
More Trouble in Tucson anthology is now available books2read.com/b/MoreTroubl...
#SinC #MysteryWriters #BookSky
Text: Congratulations to the editors and authors of the Desert Sleuths chapter of Sisters in Crime FINALIST: Derringer Best Anthology Award "SoWest: Danger Awaits!" Images: Book cover of SoWest: Danger Awaits! which has the back of a man grabbing a gun from the waist of his jeans as he heads into the ominous desert. Plus the Desert Sleuths logo AND the amazing Short Mystery Fiction Society Finalist badge. DesertSleuths.com Shortmystery.blogspot.com
Amazing News! Our SoWest: Danger Awaits! Anthology is a Finalist for the 2026 Derringer Best Anthology Award.
Congrats to all of our authors and editors on the nomination!
Learn how to write with audiobooks in mind!
Chinese calligraphy practice on different paper.
My first Chinese calligraphy lesson with real ink. Such an amazing experience.
cover image of So West: Danger Awaits
@desertsleuths.bsky.social SoWest: Danger Awaits! has been selected as a 2026 finalist for a Derringer award for best anthology. See The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog for details. shortmystery.blogspot.com/2026/02/derr....
The fox wife, the secret life of the red fox, the ex-wife murder club books
When you write for both children and adults, your TBR pile can be eclectic. #amwriting #mystery #reading
Nice seeing you virtually today.
Greeting a husky puppy during a walk
Meet my new neighbor. So friendly and already knows commands.
Michael Bracken and Stacy Woodson provide an insider's look at writing for anthologies
Want to learn more about writing short stories for anthologies? Join @desertsleuths.bsky.social on Wendesday 1/21/2026. Register for free at desertsleuths.com/
New anthology coming out in March 2026 from Tucson Sisters in Crime called More Trouble in Tucson
Now what's new for 2026: My short story "Payback" will be included in the Tucson Sisters in Crime's anthology coming out March 2026, MORE TROUBLE IN TUCSON. Enjoy mysteries? Get carried away to Tucson from the comfort of your own home. #mystery #reading #anthology @sincworldwide.bsky.social
Thank you so much for editing the story and for writing the summary!!
A Killer Job, a short story by Roberta Gibson Came out in September 2025 in SoWest: Danger Awaits anthology
Looking back on 2025 before moving ahead to 2026. So grateful to @desertsleuths.bsky.social for including my short story "A Killer Job" in their most recent anthology. If you enjoy reading mysteries, anthologies are a great way to meet new authors! #mystery #anthology #amreading
Image: A Kindle device sits in the snow and shows the How NOT to Survive the Holidays book cover, next to a heart-shaped mug of steaming hot cocoa. The book cover image: A man that might be Santa in holiday Bermuda shorts lies in the morgue on a slab with a Santa hat between his feet. HIs head is not visible but there appears to be the hint of white beard. A sparsely decorated Christmas tree is partial visible off to the side. (lightly humorous image, not graphic) Text: Holiday thrills. Cocoa not included. How NOT to Survive the Holidays, A Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Anthology. Available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/How-NOT-Survive-Holidays-Anthology/dp/0982877455
Need some short, snappy mystery and crime stories? Our anthology, How NOT to Survive the Holidays, is perfect for a comfy reading binge or just a fun bite between holiday activities.
www.amazon.com/How-NOT-Surv...
Stack of recent picture books, from My Indigo World, to Wild Everywhere
Too many wonderful picture books, too little time to enjoy them all. Have you read any of these? #kidlit
Learned that the Prickly Pear Cactus's purple color is very specific pigments that also act like sunscreen, anti-freeze, and stop water loss. 💜🌵
Nature is cool.
#kidlit #kidlitart #kidlitillustrator #illustration #illustrator #science #sciart #cacti