The Lion's Diamonds: A New Noirish-Crime Novella

Although I primarily write about food and drink, I've also penned the Tipsy Sensei series, supernatural thrillers centered on a Boston-based Sake expert who learns that the creatures from Japanese folklore are real. I've always enjoyed writing fiction and am pleased to announce that I'm published a new story today.

The Lion's Diamonds is a crime novella, a noirish tale about a diamond heist set in Massachusetts. Recently released from prison, Leonidas "the Lion" Blackwood is already looking for his next score when a perfect opportunity drops into his lap. To appease his parole officer, Leonidas works at a local church doing general cleaning maintenance. He learns that five million dollars in diamonds will be stored into a safe at the church. Leonidas isn't a safecracker but he knows the combination to the safe. The heist should be simple.

However, complications ensue, and Leonidas is soon on the run, trying to elude Russian gangsters, including a psychotic enforcer. Can Leonidas trust the sultry woman he met in a bar? Can he trust an old friend with whom he shared time in prison? Can he trust anyone? Is there any way that Leonidas can escape with the diamonds to a tropical island?

The Lion's Diamonds is available on Amazon as an e-book for only 99 cents. I hope you enjoy reading this new story and I would appreciate any feedback. And if you enjoy it, please also leave a review on Amazon. My new story has already garnered its first Five-Star review!

The Veil of Flowers

The death of millions, a huge communication problem, the Time of Great Heat, weird vibrations & the Great Spike. 

What do those matters have in common?  And what do they refer to?

You can discover those answers in my new wine-related short story on The Passionate Foodie: Fiction. This new story, The Veil of Flowers, has now been posted and is told from a unique point of view.  The seed for this story sprung from a recent tasting I attended, and the subject matter has been much on my mind during the last couple months.

I hope you enjoy the story and please provide me your feedback.

Feast For A Killer

What would you do if an assassin showed up at your front door, seeking your spouse? Would you try to fight him? Would you defer to his commands? Would you cook for him?

I explore this scenario in a new short story, Feast For a Killer, which you can find over at my The Passionate Foodie: Fiction blog. Central to the story is food, in particular some items of Russian cuisine, such as kotlety and medovnik. I hope you enjoy.

If you do read my story, I would love some input from you concerning your thoughts, positive or negative, about it.

Thanks!