Red Room Where the Writers Are

Ramadan Kareem! »

Depending on location, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan either began yesterday or begins today or tomorrow.  It depends on the sighting of the new moon during the ninth month of the Islamic calen

BURIED LOOT... IT'S STILL A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD  »

Remember the Stanley Kramer classic: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World with Spencer Tracy and all those crazy motorist chasing the Smiler's money buried under the "Big W?" Well, it's still a Mad, M

DEATHRYDE DIGS UP ANOTHER GOOD REVIEW  »

An excellent mystery novel for fans of the genre

Commentary on Senator Barack Obama's Visit to the Middle East »

In my daily Googling, I came upon these two commentaries about Senator Barack Obama, his recent visit to the Middle East, and his supposed frontrunner candidate for Muslim liaison.

FOX News Documentary: "Murder in the Family: Honor Killings in America" »

For those who may be interested, FOX News will be airing a documentary called "Murder in the Family:  Honor Killings in America" at 8 p.m. EDT tonight, July 26th, and 8 and 11 p.m.

And There Are Also Interfaith Dishonor Killings »

This poor teenager was trussed and tortured to death simply because he was a Christian sending text messages to a Muslim girl.  Surely there are better options.  :-(

Injustice and your DNA »

Imagine being arrested for a crime you didn't commit, a serious crime, maybe one in which you could lose your life if you're convicted.

Gays Are Killed for Supposed Honor, Too »

Many in the West don't realize it, but gays are too often the targets of dishonor crimes.  Sadly, this young man, Ahmet Yildiz, 26 years old, was shot to death in Istanbul, Turkey just five months

A Dishonor Killing Attempt in Henrietta, NY. . .and Other Thoughts »

Several news items caught my eye this week. . .

Films Noir »

I went to a party last night and met a lot of interesting people.

There Was Another American Dishonor Killing Today »

I had hoped to blog about another area of Jordan today, describe its beauty, tell a tale about it, and link to some photographs.  But when I performed my daily ritual of Googling for dishonor kill

Sharia Law in the UK? (Swoon) I Should've Celebrated Harder Yesterday »

The headline in yesterday's Daily Mail reads, "Sharia law SHOULD be used in Britain, says UK's top judge."  I'm not making this up. . .have a look for yourself:

Another Jordanian Dishonor Killing »

Below is an account of the latest Jordanian dishonor killing.  It's been fairly widely reported in the print media so, in memory of my late friend Pammy, I'm choosing the version her former employ

SF's crime cameras: from useless, to eyesores »

If the Keystone Kops had lived in the electronic era, their slapstick silliness would have included San Francisco's security surveillance cameras.

And This Is How a Canadian Dishonor Killing Is Being Reported »

Maybe there's yet hope for us all!

People Never Cease to Amaze Me »

As is probably the case with most writers, I get mail from my readers.  Fortunately, mine has been overwhelmingly favorable. 

On the Horns of a Dilemma. . . »

For some time now, I've been waging battle with myself. 

Sahar Al Haideri, An Honorable Woman »

Yesterday Amnesty International in London announced its 2008 media awards.  Its new media award had to be given posthumously because its recipient, 45-year-old journalist Sahar al Haideri, was

This Is How American Dishonor Killings Tend to be Reported »

Almost every day I go online and Google for news about dishonor killings.  It's a bleak and grim ritual, but one I feel compelled to do in honor of all the victims, and one that keeps me ahead of

Journey with Me to Amman, Jordan »

I am a shutterbug.  Not a good one, but I like having photographic evidence of my daily life.  When I am in my dotage and losing some of my marbles, my pictures will help me while away the time a

Appropriate Uses of Ghost Writers »

(This is a record for me!  I never blog two days in a row, but lately I've had some wonderments.)

Literary Hoaxes and Memoirs--Please Weigh In »

I am a marketer by training and profession (there, I admitted it!  and, yes, I've read most of your blogs about book marketing, but haven't contributed because I usually market bank products or te

Blogger's Block »

My dear friend, Pamela Bone of Melbourne, Australia, lost her battle with multiple myeloma--ironically, given her name, a bone cancer--about five weeks ago.  We met online, during her remission, 

SILENCED CRY ~ EXCERPT »

SILENCED CRY© Marta Stephens 2007 all rights reservedChapter 1

Everybody Has A Story. . . »

I was thinking. . .if it's the case that everybody has a story that would break your heart, does it follow that behind every book is a good and thus-far untold story?  Perhaps it's in the inspiration for it. Perhaps in the gestation of it.  Perhaps in the research for it.  Perhaps in the writing of it.  Perhaps in the publication and promotion of it.  Perhaps in the reader feedback. What is the story behind one of your books or written works? 

And Now, A Word From My Sponsors »

© Marta Stephens 2008 all rights reserved

If My Parents Ruled the World. . . »

By the standards of this case, most American girls would be murdered in their mid teens.

A Call to Action »

I was doing my usual daily Googling of dishonor killings and came upon this disturbing news:

The Need for Legal Reform in Jordan. . .and the Need for the International Community to Step Up »

I came upon the below (look wa-a-a-a-ay below, 'til you get to Right to Life Is Sacrosanct) opinion piece today and think it represents a good starting place for blogging about why

Glad to be this week's Red Room Rising Star! »

Hey, with so much going on, it's very cool to be caught here as a Red Room Rising Star for the week.

Book Launch of "Nothing But Red" »

Nothing But Red, edited by Skyla Dawn Cameron, is the anthology of literary and visual arts inspired by the impassioned plea of Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon in re

Podcast Fiction: Take my book. It's free. (In SF Chronicle) »

You've got to see the layout for this article in the print version to believe it. Seriously! Here's that PDF.

The Dishonor Killing of Du'a Khalil Aswad »

On April 7, 2007, a 17-year-old Iraqi girl named Du'a Khalil Aswad was stoned to death by a mob for falling in love with a boy outside her community and running away.  Du'a was a Kurdish Yez

Dishonor Killings in Jordan »

Much of my recent writing has been about "honor" killings or, as I've vowed to call them, dishonor killings.  For those who are not familiar with them, here are two recent, representativ

NEW STORY AT AMAZON SHORTS »

A new short story, “Wolf”

Bloomsbury Review praises SURREAL SOUTH anthology »

The January/February 2008 number of the invaluable Bloomsbury Review carries a very nice notice - written by Mark Budma

The Evolution of a Bestseller - Part 1 »

As my debut novel prepares to launch with a bang on Nov. 3, 2008, I thought I would look back to where this overnight success began.

Edgar Nomination for Blood of Paradise »

Blood of Paradise, my recent novel about corruption and betrayal in present-day El Salvador, has been nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America.

JACK WAKES UP hits AMAZON hard! »

March 16th: Today the Palms Daddies and Palms Mommas helped me rock Amazon.com back onto its heels.

The Salvador Option, Part 4: El Salvador Today »

Attempts to characterize the U.S. counterinsurgency effort in El Salvador as a “success” require a very limited definition of that word.