Catriona McPherson
@catrionamcp.bsky.social
500 followers 250 following 290 posts
Writer. Trying to turn privilege to good use. Blocker of all "both sides" BS. she/her Oh, and cats. And gardening. And cooking. Nearly forgot books. Books.
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catrionamcp.bsky.social
Two timelines - 1990 Kuwait and 2015 Texas - and the grinding tension of what you know is coming in both of them and when they crash into each other too . . . This is a fabulous #FridayReads from @pujaguha.bsky.social .
catrionamcp.bsky.social
Do you dog-ear, highlight, add your pearls in the margin? No judgement. It's reading notes this week at Criminal Minds.

7criminalminds.blogspot.com/2025/10/five...
Five stars (count them), by Catriona
7criminalminds.blogspot.com
catrionamcp.bsky.social
Who else just went:

"True. Wait, I thought Steve Scalise was a- Hang on, what's the Anti-Elf doing nodding along there? They can't be talking about . . . OMG, Dubai multiplexes don't project *that* much."
catrionamcp.bsky.social
Write a to-do-to-day list in bright marker on a piece of paper. The trick is to write down what you know you're going to do anyway and don't write down what you already know you're going to flake out of.
catrionamcp.bsky.social
Ooft. I'm reading Linda Castillo's AFTER THE STORM this fair #FridayReads. Which is great. But once I've read *it*, I've only got book seventeen, RAGE, left. I'm trying to keep that for the Christmas holiday. But I know myself . . .
catrionamcp.bsky.social
Holiday themes - US-style, so likes of Easter and Solstices. I'm a big fan of them as a jumping off point.
catrionamcp.bsky.social
Doesn't count unless

A. Big guys
B. Tears in eyes
C. Call you "sir"
catrionamcp.bsky.social
I'm giving the keynote (after lunch, soothing, soundtrack to a wee siesta) at the otherwise dynamic and sparkling
@capitolcrimes.bsky.social con this year.

If you're registered, waddaya wanna hear? I've got such a generic title I can talk about anything. Maybe not recipes- Wait! They'd work too.
catrionamcp.bsky.social
You got all four of us smiling!
catrionamcp.bsky.social
Rachel has her own clean, comfortable bed and is also allowed to sleep (like how would we stop her) on her pick of five couches and five armchairs in this house, but she prefers to curl up with Correspondence Anaylsis in Practice and The Study of Plant Disease Epidemics. #Caturday
catrionamcp.bsky.social
It is so terrifying - you give your big reveal a drumroll and everyone goes "Duh!". But ask your early readers to tell you what they thought, when, and when they finally worked it out.
catrionamcp.bsky.social
You're so eloquent. My sister's kids' worst insult when they were wee was "bumbaleary bum bum head" and I think it's worth dusting off for this moment.
catrionamcp.bsky.social
Not every day you wake up to discover that your beloved grandfather, who survived six years of Stalag 383 on non-compliance rations, because he refused to work for the Nazi war machine, was part of a major terrorist organisation. #ANTIFA
catrionamcp.bsky.social
"A loopy, lovable Northern California crew stops arguing among themselves just long enough to solve a baffling double murder."

Kirkus called me "brisk, quirky, comic, tangled, clever, tart".

Not "a tart" just "tart". Still something to aim for next time.

www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
SCOT'S EGGS | Kirkus Reviews
A loopy, lovable Northern California crew stops arguing among themselves just long enough to solve a baffling double murder.
www.kirkusreviews.com
catrionamcp.bsky.social
If that happened, I would accept that the Bible was fact and that Jesus thought CK was okay. But it's a big if.
catrionamcp.bsky.social
Physiotherapy on #Caturday. Knee on cushions, ice on injury, cat on chest.
catrionamcp.bsky.social
"never laid a finger on anyone". You so seldom see it outside divorce courts. "Abuse? Moi? Judge, I never laid a finger on her. She's crazy."
catrionamcp.bsky.social
Oh, Sally. Couching things juuuuust vaguely enough that we can be called out for understanding them? That's deliberate. Pointy hats and white sheets are hard to deny. Snide remarks about Black pilots are chef's kiss. Hope that helps.
catrionamcp.bsky.social
I've finished it now. I'm giving your profile pic one of Paddington's hard stares.
catrionamcp.bsky.social
Faith in humanity taken a bit of a beating? I prescribe @louberney.bsky.social's DARK RIDE, three times a day with food. #FridayReads. (My agent was on the judging panel for the Steel Dagger and sent the winner to me - thank you, @literarylisa.bsky.social!
Reposted by Catriona McPherson
desertsleuths.bsky.social
Catriona McPherson is the award-winning author of several mystery series as well as many standalone crime novels. She'll share her secrets about keeping things fresh & exciting!

Register for the WriteNOW! Conference at DesertSleuths.com
#DSWN25 #AmWriting #MysteryWriters @catrionamcp.bsky.social
WriteNOW! Conference
Fri-Sat, Sept 19-20, Virtual
Catriona McPherson - Panelist: Keeping the Creative Juices Flowing

Catriona McPherson was born in Scotland and immigrated to California in 2010. A former academic linguist, her multi-award-winning and national best-selling work includes the Dandy Gilver historical detective stories, the Last Ditch mysteries, and standalone novels including Edgar-finalist The Day She Died and Mary Higgins Clark finalist Strangers at the Gate. 

Friday: Agent pitch sessions ($35), an editor's assessment of your first 3 chapters ($60), and a writing craft workshop ($35)

Saturday: One fee for a full day of panels, a workshop, and presentations; $25 Desert Sleuth members; $35 all others

For registration and conference details:
http://desertsleuths.com/writenow-2025/