From The Booking Desk:

I actually first “met” Marjorie Tucker on a discussion board completely unrelated to crime fiction. Both she and I are devoted fans of Broadway and we posted regularly on a theater discussion board that was extremely popular at the time. Somewhere in those comments, I discovered that Marjorie also loved crime fiction and was attending a convention – I think it was probably Malice Domestic, but it could have been Bouchercon. Anyway, that led to more talking about this odd coincidence and we did eventually meet in person, briefly. This was long before I had launched BOLO Books. Fortunately, starting the blog made our connections more consistent and I am always delighted when I discover Marjorie will be attending the same event as myself. Marjorie can always be counted on for interesting conversations and lots of laughter. She’s not a fan of photographs, so she took a different approach to the composite sketch image – however, this quote is about as “Marjorie” as I can imagine, so I think it is perfect! If you have (or when you do) meet Marjorie, I think you will agree.

Name: Marjorie Tucker
Location: Two hours to the right of New York City.

This person from my personal life is such an inspiration:

It’s got to be persons! My passions include art (I have taken art classes and I can draw a sphere like nobody’s business), theater (where I worked for ten years in my youth) and literature, especially the mystery community from the cutest cozy to the most tough-as-nails noir. It’s the mystery world that has become my tribe (and so I think it’s fair to say my personal life) and I find that inspiring in terms of belonging somewhere (even if, as a friend says, it’s with a bunch of people who skillfully and gleefully kill over and over). I have had the pleasure of giving a little back by working on projects like creating crossword puzzles based on a book to posting publishing day image countdowns for authors like Deborah Crombie, Laurie R. King, SJ Rozan, Louise Penny, Todd Robinson and Reed Farrel Coleman. I admire what they do so much and I am often so inspired by what they create that I feel the need to give back in some way. Besides just, you know. buying their books!

One of the people I admire most in the crime fiction community is:

SJ Rozan is a hero to me and I want to be just like her when I grow up! Not only is she a fantastically talented writer (her Lydia Chin/Bill Smith series, her standalones and her short stories), but she is the most well-rounded person I know with interests in basketball (she plays and she can be found regularly at Madison Square Garden cheering on her team), politics (she stands up for her beliefs in public), art (she’s a wonderful photographer), and travel (from Mississippi to Mongolia). She teaches writing (including at a workshop in Assisi, Italy each summer. And she is also an architect. And a poker player. And one smart cookie. Her enthusiasm for life knows no bounds that I’ve ever seen. When I get to talk to her at a book launch party (where she is often supporting the work of other writer friends) or Bouchercon or an Edgars Symposium, I count myself very lucky indeed. She lives her life to the fullest. Her flaw? That she has not been able clone herself several times over and spread the joy around, That blur headed towards you (or is it away) from across the room? That’s SJ, always in motion.

STALKER ALERT! If this fictional character were real, they would likely need to get a restraining order against me:

He has Brooklyn street smarts, he has a low tolerance for bullshit and he’s scrupulously fair, even to the idiots who annoy him (and there are many of those). But the reason that I would follow Reed Farrel Coleman’s creation Moe Prager anywhere (before the restraining order went into effect) is that he would treat me fairly and if I needed help, I would know that I could count on him. He keeps his word. He can’t help but hunt down the answer to a problem until it’s well and truly solved to his satisfaction no matter the personal consequences. I admire that sense of justice. And if there was a day when Moe was single and I was single and we shared a night of um…cuddling, hey, we’re consenting adults (even if at least one of us is fictional). TMI? Sorry about that! The series, nine books in all starting with Walking the Perfect Square is one of the few series that I have re-read completely from start to finish. Moe, you’re a mensch.

People are always surprised that I am a fan of this individual (singer, actor, or artist):

He’s an actor and he’s an artist. An animation voice artist, that is. I’m not sure how really surprising it is (as my tastes can travel a wide range from low brow to hoity toity) but I have a great fondness for the talents of H. Jon Benjamin who is the voice (and heart and soul) of both Sterling Archer, tuxedoed spy and bon vivant, as well as Bob Belcher of Bob’s Burgers, loving dad and beleaguered working class guy. Benjamin brings something wonderful to both of those characters and I find much delight in his work.

My personal catch phrase is (or should be):

The bumper sticker on my car says “Keep calm and carry on”, but my quiet inner voice catchphrase is “This too shall pass”. I always hope I follow the former and remember the latter.