It has been a long time since my last blog post.

It’s not because I’ve been lazy. Au contraire! Things have been a real juggling act with music and writing projects. For example, this week I’m going to Salt Lake City to conduct the 40th anniversary Vivaldi by Candlelight concerts, which has been a year-long project in preparation. In addition, I gave my first recital in Seattle a month ago, and my first recital on a Baroque violin. The program included sonatas by Pietro Castrucci, a long-neglected Baroque virtuoso, and whose Opus 1 sonatas had never been completely recorded until Centaur Records released my recording of them last spring, gaining glowing plaudits from The Strad, Early Music America, and American Record Guide.

Back in September I also had the honor of having two of my chamber ensemble compositions––”Conversations With Essie” and “The Legend of William Grandstaff”–– performed at the 30th anniversary of the Moab Music Festival in Utah.

And, since this time last year I’ve had two mysteries published––CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MURDER and ROUNDTREE DAYS, with a third, MURDER AT THE ROYAL ALBERT, due for a January 1, 2023 release. (Let’s hope that ROYAL ALBERT gets as glowing a review as the two previous mysteries!) To top things off, my short story, “A SCARAB FOR NORMANDY,” was selected for publication in the upcoming prestigious anthology, COOLEST AMERICAN STORIES 2023.

Most of all, though, it has been a great pleasure to be living in Seattle in order to be a hands-on grandparent to my two lovely, hilarious, and active little grandchildren, which has been the most fun and most exhausting endeavor of all. Many of you understand what I’m talking about.

So, you see, I haven’t been vegging by any means. And although I may have neglected my own blog, I recently had a guest post called “KILLING THE CONDUCTOR” featured in Janet Rudolph’s MYSTERY FANFARE, all about the motivation and inspiration for the Daniel Jacobus mystery series. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it.

Have a wonderful holiday season. And, please, don’t stay too busy!