1   November 2007 TOP-OF-THE-AFTERNOON  BROADCAST   “Jordan, we’re live in sixty,” said Tracy Klein, my favorite field producer, nudging me to get into place. “Okay, hang on,” I said, distracted by a rush of butterflies and the sudden urge to pee, which happened every single time I was about to go on the air. I guess it was my body’s way of preparing me for the moment that never got old, but soon panic struck. My earpiece was in, but the anchors’ voices sounded like Charlie Brown’s parents. “Hey, you guys. I can’t hear. You’re not coming through very clearly. The echo is killing me,” I said. I looked up. Please, not today. In an instant, the sky darkened over historic Bronzeville on Chicago’s South Side, a sign of the dip in temperatures I re- called hearing on this morning’s weather forecast. Chicagoans and people all across this state have to deal with one inescapable fact, and that’s the cold. Sure, I’d heard people who claimed to love the change of seasons. But to a person from Austin, Texas, that sounded like a case of Stockholm syndrome. Or at least that’s what I told my friends from the Midwest…

1–What is the title of your latest release? WITCH IN RETROGRADE released January 2022. 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? 49-year-old Police Detective and witch, Sarah Jane Prentice, navigates life without her husband as she faces a serial killer in her town, a nosy spirit guide, and the loss of her magic. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Originally, I had the book set in Atlanta, but quickly realized its been more than 25 years since I lived there, and cities change so much. Placing it in California, specifically Silicon Valley gave me a great opportunity to share what I’ve learned living here for the past 10 years. I’ve really grown to love the area and setting is a character unto itself, so I’m excited about presenting it that way. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely. I like her a lot. Which is important to me as a writer because I intend to spend a lot of time with her in the future. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Smart, determined, no nonsense and loving. I know, I know that’s four. LOL 6–What’s something you…

All right, he’s always been a bit weird. But a serial killer? Actually, several children have faced this question about their fathers. Fred West and his wife killed at least twelve people. His daughter suspected something was up. So did the daughter of Edward Wayne Edwards, who killed five people. Here are six things you should you do, and two things you shouldn’t, if you think your father secretly kills people. Look into his childhood history. Sixty percent of serial killers wet the bed beyond the age of twelve. Many were abused as children. Others were peeping Toms and voyeurs who also had violent fantasies and were fascinated by fires. Jeffrey Dahmer and David Berkowitcz tortured animals. But it’s not like your father’s going to talk about his aberrant history. You should investigate with his siblings or cousins. You may find he didn’t do any of this. That doesn’t mean he’s innocent. Dennis Rader, the BTK killer who murdered ten people, had a perfectly normal childhood.  Analyze his abnormal behavior around you. Maybe he once inexplicably erupted in violence as Dennis Rader did when he lunged at his son and tried to choke him. Or maybe he goes out wandering…