Alec Peche's Blog

Two years ago today, I loaded up my car with Lucy, Daniel, and what I can only assume was an unreasonable amount of optimism, and drove across the country from California to Wisconsin. Yes, Wisconsin . People questioned my sanity. I questioned my GPS. But here I am — thriving in a single-story, zero-threshold home where my knees and I have reached a fragile peace agreement. Speaking of knees: that agreement has been violated. Three weeks ago, I strapped on skis for my 47th year of...

On Valentine’s Day, while I was away on vacation, my dog Daniel passed away in his sleep. He was ten years old, and his death was completely unexpected. The day before, he had gone on two walks and happily greeted friends who were caring for him while I was away. I received a phone call informing me that he simply sighed and passed away while stretched out on a king-sized bed. Daniel at 7 months Daniel was half Doberman, about twenty percent Boxer, and twenty percent Newfoundland. When I...

I’ve mentioned before that I’m working on a new series featuring a group of kick-ass sixty-somethings solving crimes, armed with nothing but experience, sharp instincts, and a shared past in foreign service work. Progress has been… slower than I’d like. And yes, there are reasons—both craft-wise and personal. New book cover On the craft side, I finally figured out what was tripping me up. I was trying to make all the characters equals. That sounds noble, but it wasn’t working on the page. In...

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m a pantser. I don’t outline. I don’t roadmap. In my head, my characters walk onto a stage, start talking, and I write down what happens. Some writers plan every turn before they begin. I don’t. That’s not stubbornness—it’s how my brain works. The downside? It usually takes me two books to really understand who my characters are and how they’ll react under pressure. Only then can I reliably predict where they’ll drag the story next. Yes, it sounds...

Dive into 'Pasta to Poe' and explore a rain-soaked Boston adventure. Discover the blend of pasta, Poe, and a Nor'easter in this unique journey.

 New Year’s Resolutions… in October? I know—it sounds strange to be talking about New Year’s resolutions when the Halloween candy isn’t...

I’m working on Jill Quint series book 16, Sable Point Murder , as I mentioned in my last newsletter. The case is going to be set in an...

News from the world of Alec Peche Books.

Stained-glass art My next-door neighbor is a stained-glass artist. She can also sketch art. She offered to make me a stained-glass piece...

I captured this stunning sunset about two weeks ago. It’s so rich that it feels like AI. Alas, it was what I captured with my iPhone....