Penguins, rats, werewolves, and curmudgeons

The Penguin Who Knew Too Much is out this week!  This is the book in which Meg's father discovers a body buried in her basement--discovers it while digging a hole so he can install a prefabricated pond for the penguins that he has moved into the basement, unbeknownst to Meg and Michael.  The penguins are refugees from a small private zoo that is having financial difficulties.  Before the bank forecloses on the property, it very kindly (or wisely) allowed the owner to farm out the animals with volunteer foster families.  In addition to taking the penguins, Dad has also told all the other volunteers that if their charges get to be too much, "I'll be happy to take them off your hands--just drop them off at Meg's."  So when a rumor begins making the rounds that the body might be the zookeeper's, Meg starts sleuthing, partly in self-defense--she's afraid if the crime isn't solved soon, she and Michael will have the whole zoo in their back yard.

I'd have blogged about this earlier, but it's been a remarkably busy summer.  In addition to Penguins, I also have a short story out in the latest issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.  It's not a Meg story--the narrator is a rat. No, that's not a value judgment--he's a rat.  Rattus norvegicus. And in the story--no, wait; that would be a spoiler.  Anyway, it's the first story I've sold to EQMM, and I'm enormously pleased.

And in other short story news, Charlaine Harris and Toni Kelner have accepted another short story, "The Haire of the Beast," for their upcoming anthology Moonlight and Mistletoe.  All the stories are about werewolves at Christmas. Love it.

And in November, BenBella Books will release House Unauthorized: Vasculitis, Clinic Duty, and Bad Bedside Manner, a collection of essays about the TV show House--which includes my essay, "Sex, Lies, and MRIs."  As part of the rigorous and demanding research for my piece, I had to sit down and rewatch all the episodes of the show to date--two and a half seasons of them.  Some I rewatched twice.  Dedicated, that's me.  Keeping my ears open to see if BenBella wants any more essays.  Law and Order: Criminal Intent? I'm there, guys!  Boston Legal?  Darkly Dreaming Dexter? Clean Sweep? 

And I've also been making plans for some travel--check out the schedule page on my website for signings in DC, Virginia, Maryland, New York, and Michigan.  With more, I hope, to come.

Comments

[Susan C]

Looking forward to The Penguin Who Knew Too Much, actually I can't wait for The Penguin Who Knew Too Much. Thank you for writing more Meg books.

[Kaylee]

I've set aside the Penguin book (of which I have two copies, because I apparently ordered it 2x from Amazon, I was so excited). Once started on these books, I tend to devour them. The last one had me staying up until 2:40 am. Way too late.
But I'm almost sorry to her that the next book is going to be another "Meg". What happened to Turing Hopper & her alter ego's? I got into the series, and now I've gotten cut off. It's like a pusher hooking someone on a drug, and then withdrawing it!
Not only
Let me guess--your publisher said it wasn't selling well enuf. Well--maybe if they did some better promo, this series would get into hardback too. I didn't get around to trying Meg until I picked up one of the books at $3.99. No I'm mainlining hardbacks in pre-publication!
The picture on the new book is a definate improvement, too, by the way. One can tell from the bone structure that D. Andrews is far prettier than her old picture portrayed.
Thanks for the enjoyment and entertainment. I'm in chronic pain because of a physical condition, and can no longer work at my career. Donna Andrews has made many moments in my life much more pleasant. For that, I have eternal gratitude.

[Frances]

I'm very much looking forward to "Penguin" , unfortunately I'll have to wait until it comes out in paper back. Hard back is too expensive at this time.
Congratulations on the Ellery Queen sale and the Anthology sale. Werewolves at Christmas - hmm - I shall definitely have to look that one up.
I have a friend that's a "House" addict and I shall have to tell her about the new book. I did tell her that it seems that in regards to that old medical quote "When you hear hooves - think horses not zebras" - that when House hears hooves he thinks not horses nor zebras but rather Okapi.
Frances

[infoaddict]

Oh, maaaaaan ... another 12 months until the next batch of books!! I was lucky to find both the latest Turing and Meg in my fave Australian bookshop (Abbey's) a couple of weeks ago, which set off two extremely nice weeks of lots of excellent books coming in.

But the 12 month wait between the initial release and the Australian release is always a killer ... :)

On the other hand, it generally takes me that long to recover from reading another Meg book - they're utterly exhausting. Poor Meg never seems to get any sleep!!! At least Turing doesn't _need_ to sleep ... :)

[D1]

Aww.... now that you've got me HOOKED on Turing Hopper.... and actually interested in reading on to learn if they ever find and rescue T2.... there's no release plans for a new Turing mystery? THERE'S a crime! Turing is the best AIP in fiction I've come across, since K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider. PLEASE, let the Turing fans know if more is to come anytime soon...!

[Allie]

Just finished Penguins, what an absolute joyride! You are my favorite author. I tend to read in one sitting, so I stay up very late - and here I was, laughing so hard I was waking my family, lol! Thank you so much for this gem of a book. I adore Meg.

And I do miss Turing! Got my girlfriend hooked on those too.

[Lorraine]

I agree...what happened to the Turing series? She is such a delight!

[Lorraine]

I agree...what happened to the Turing series? She is such a delight!

[Brittany]

loved all turing hopper books.when are you gonna do more.