My good friend Lyn Darden and I don’t see each other but once or twice a year. We stay in touch by sending each other funny cocktail napkins and cards. We have an ongoing contest to see who can find the funniest. I had dinner at her house in NC recently, and she had these special glasses for me. They came with matching earrings attached! Michael, never one to pass up a photo op, caught me trying them on for size! (Size being the operative word here!)

Thanks, Lyn! They’re fabulous!

The paperback edition of SMASH CUT is now on sale! I must say that this book has one of the creepiest creeps I’ve ever created. The villain frightens me because he doesn’t look like a villain — and in my opinion that’s the most dangerous kind. He’s handsome, charming, rich, and enticing. Much like Satan must’ve looked to Eve.

And everyone who read this book in hardcover comments on the airplane scene. But, for those of you who haven’t yet had the pleasure, you’ll read no spoilers here! Enjoy!

The website redesign is coming along swimmingly and we plan to unveil the new sandrabrown.net by August 10th. For those of you keeping track, that’s also the date TOUGH CUSTOMER hit’s bookstore shelves. And for those of you just joining us, TOUGH CUSTOMER is the follow-up to SMASH CUT.

Not only will I be launching a completely redesigned website in the near future, but … an iPhone app! That’s right…you’ll be able to take me with you wherever you go.
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New this fall is a show from Investigation Discovery called “Hardcover Mysteries.” The same production company who did “Murder by the Book” for truTV is doing this series, and, because we worked so well together before, they’ve invited me to do an episode for this new show. I knew of an intriguing case that occurred in 1993 in Tyler, Texas. The production crew has been busily filming interviews with people who were involved, and, trust me, they’re compelling. Then it was my turn to film my segments. It was a long day, but I loved every minute of it.

Penny Sadler did my hair and makeup. When I was camera ready Dave Cargill, the producer, took over. (He’s a Scot. Combine his brogue with my drawl, and our conversations are hysterical!) For the next 8 hours, it was lights, camera, action…all that neat stuff.

Among the authors also doing episodes are David Baldacchi, Harlan Coben, Lisa Scottoline, and Sara Paretsky. “Hardcover Mysteries” will begin in the fall. I’ll share more details as soon as I have them! In the mean time, be sure to check out the new video in the ‘News’ section, and more behind the scenes photos.

I spent a busy week in New York just before the Mother’s Day Weekend — meetings with my publisher and agent. Discussions about the upcoming publication of TOUGH CUSTOMER (8/10/2010), finalizing the book cover, which we hope to unveil soon, deciding on the author photo for the back cover… Etc. etcera.

But it wasn’t all work. While there, I attended the annual Literacy Partners Gala at Lincoln Center. This is a literacy advocacy group in New York headed by my friend, columnist Liz Smith.  She attended the gala dressed in a

With Liz Smith and Tommy Tune

dazzling gold ensemble which, she teased from the stage, made her look like an Oscar. Her escort for the evening was multiple-Tony award winning performer and choreographer Tommy Tune — all 6’7″ of him! He’s originally from Texas, and Liz is from my hometown of Fort Worth, so here, amid all these New Yorkers, is a boisterous group from the Lone Star State!

I asked Liz if chicken fried steak was on the menu for dinner. She said she’d considered it, but lamented that the New York chefs wouldn’t get it right. (And since the best chicken fried steaks –where the breading is light and crispy, and the cream gravy has lots of black pepper — are usually found in truck stops, they probably wouldn’t!)

Also in that group was my husband Michael (who’s actually an Okie, but I’m working on that) and my daughter-in-law Victoria, who’s a Brit (and loverly). The other native Texan was son, Ryan. I’d bought a table for the event and hosted his agent Laurie Bernstein, film agent Don Levanthall, his editor Lauren McKenna, and the publisher of Gallery Books, Louise Burke. Ryan’s friend and fellow author A.J. Jacobs (The Year of Living Biblically) and his wife Julie rounded out our table. We were there to help raise money for Literacy Partners, but also to celebrate the recent release of Ryan’s book, PLAY DEAD.

And now, of course, it’s back to work, but check back soon for upcoming give-aways and touring news!