From the Past: Runaway Devil (part 2) A forbidden teenage love; morbid plans for murder; and how a 12-year-old girl and her 23-year-old boyfriend murdered her parents and brother in defiance of their rules.

What a week between work and being sick! Thankfully I had this scheduled ahead of time - part 2 of the Runaway Devil story, at last, part 3 to follow. We explore the weeks leading up to the notorious triple homicide in a quiet Alberta town, #truecrime

open.substack.com/pub/laviniat...

Just surviving, I guess. My bday is next month and falls right on Mother's day. Hubby keeps asking what I want to do for my bday and my answer is always "nothing." Because, really, I can't even fathom doing anything that weekend beyond a mental breakdown.

Whew, haven't been here much. Been working, writing, trying to spring clean my house, and working through grief. My sister and I have been spending more time together. Only family I have left, really, since Mom died.

All but the first.

25 years ago today 💔

In memory Jeffrey Ross Hyman, better known as Joey Ramone, singer and songwriter of the punk rock band Ramones, who passed away far too soon at the age of 49 on April 15, 2001, at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

#punkrock #joeyramone #ramones #history #punkrockhistory #otd

So many creatives and they all deserve better than what the world is giving them

This is how I've been feeling about Mom's death last month. It's tragic for us. Gut-wrenching. We will love and miss her forever. But, I know she's no longer suffering. She is released of her pains and her fears of old age (Alzheimers).

Shanda Vander Ark: Woman convicted of murdering son testifies at Ginther hearing She complained her defense was ineffective and blamed her disabled son for his own death despite being convicted for it in 2023.

It never ends with this woman, really. She still doesn’t take accountability for the fact her abuse led to the death of her disabled son. It’s unbelievable, really. #truecrime #truecrimecommunity

open.substack.com/pub/laviniat...

When you make your morning coffee and open your laptop for a lovely, cozy Sunday of writing…. and are greeted by SO MANY tabs open from the chaos of the true crime rabbit hole I went down last night… why am I like this? #writingcommunity

How bout them gas prices

Make Country Outlaw Again

Beyond Cover 1: Chapter 9 Emily gives the phone over to Kazimir; Dwayne apologizes and opens up to her a little; Kazimir discovers the phone's secrets.

Chapter 9 of “Beyond Cover” is out! What will our dynamic duo discover on the cell phone Emily snatched up? And what new set of problems could it cause? #Booksky #readingcommunity #crimefiction

open.substack.com/pub/laviniat...

Just a reminder that the first “On the Case” newsletter in a month went out on Friday. If you’re interested in female killers past and current, criminal psychology, and analyzing old cases, come along. I also have plenty of backlog to read through! #truecrime

Beyond Cover 1: Chapter 9 Emily gives the phone over to Kazimir; Dwayne apologizes and opens up to her a little; Kazimir discovers the phone's secrets.

Chapter 9 of “Beyond Cover” is out! What will our dynamic duo discover on the cell phone Emily snatched up? And what new set of problems could it cause? #Booksky #readingcommunity #crimefiction

open.substack.com/pub/laviniat...

Just a reminder that the first “On the Case” newsletter in a month went out on Friday. If you’re interested in female killers past and current, criminal psychology, and analyzing old cases, come along. I also have plenty of backlog to read through! #truecrime

Looking for answers 👀 Find this serial for free on Substack! #WIPSnips #writingcommunity #readingcommunity #BookSky

Writing really will have you looking up the WEIRDEST things on a Saturday night. Here I am, with a whiskey, working on the “Martha Holmes” sequel. And I am looking up… shipping container business jobs. For background info on the case in this book. Um. Send more whiskey I guess? #writingcommunity

Oh that's awesome! I don't actually remember which of the Sherlock Holmes stories were my favorite, it's been many years since I read them. But I grew up with them and always loved them!

Five books to get to know me by:

1. Ann Rule "If You Really Loved Me"
2. Sherlock Holmes
3. Nancy Drew series
4. "Fabian of the Yard" by Robert Fabian
5. "Female Serial Killers" by Peter Vronsky

And that’s a wrap on chapter 9 for “Beyond Cover.” Can’t wait to post it for Tuesday. I’m just having a nice quiet Easter weekend at home. I went for a walk earlier. Got some fresh air and sunshine. I’ve got the windows open to let spring inside. It was a good day. #writingcommunity

I reluctantly posted these but I am so glad to be able to breathe these words to life, not just keep them hidden away.

Just replying to add #WIPSnips to this because clearly I forgot lol

Back after a rather difficult month. I don't have this specific word but "transformation" works too! #readingcommunity #writingcommunity #BookSky

POTUS Proposes Elimination of Federal Library Funding. The President again requested that Congress eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program. We've seen this before, and we're not going away. Fund Libraries, ALA 150, American Library Association.

"We are not surprised that the White House FY27 budget zeroes out funding for IMLS and IAL. The president’s intentions for IMLS were clear last year with the executive order to dismantle IMLS and cut off its funding [...] ALA members have a solid track record of defeating the president’s threats, but we do not underestimate the lengths to which he will go to undercut support for America’s libraries. ALA is working to make sure decisionmakers continue to hear from library advocates.” - ALA President Sam Helmick

NEW: The President once again called to eliminate federal library funding in his federal budget proposal. We have been here before. And when we make our voices heard, we can overcome this again.

Tell your Senators to reject the cuts & #FundLibraries in next year's federal budget: ala.org/showup

On the Case: True Crime Recaps (April 2, 2026) The end of the "Dangerous Daughters" series; Kouri Richins is convicted of her husband's murder; The Case Files explores the baffling Verity Beck case.

This week’s “On the Case” newsletter is up! We look at Kouri Richin’s conviction, the Case Files explores the baffling case of Verity Beck, and the final installment of “Dangerous Daughters” dives into using battered child syndrome as a defense in court. #truecrime

tinyurl.com/5n6ppeju

It takes women to bring peace

A Palestinian mom living in a refugee camp near Bethlehem, & an Israeli mother led hundreds of women barefoot through the streets of Rome, calling for peace on 3/26 didn’t get the attention it deserved

That's home. That's us.

This image of home just came down from the Artemis II crew.

Taken after their translunar injection burn, there are aurorae at top right and lower left, and zodiacal light at lower right.

Credit: NASA/Reid Wiseman

“All authors are using AI now”

Not true! Many of us just dig out our grade school diaries and change a few names.

Five shows to get to know me:

Law & Order (any of them)
That 70's Show
Hannibal
Luther
Critical Role