P.J. Tracy's Blog: Autumn 2022
February 5, 2025
MONKEEWRENCH IS BACK!
Dear friends,
I'm thrilled to announce that the 11th Monkeewrench novel, THE DEEPEST CUT, will be released September 9th, 2025! After the marvelous detour I took to write about Detective Margaret Nolan (DEEP INTO THE DARK, DESOLATION CANYON, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, and CITY OF SECRETS), it was fun to be back with the gang!
Available for pre-order now! Happy reading!
I'm thrilled to announce that the 11th Monkeewrench novel, THE DEEPEST CUT, will be released September 9th, 2025! After the marvelous detour I took to write about Detective Margaret Nolan (DEEP INTO THE DARK, DESOLATION CANYON, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, and CITY OF SECRETS), it was fun to be back with the gang!
Available for pre-order now! Happy reading!
September 30, 2022
The Devil You Know
Oh, summer, we hardly knew ye! But it was a glorious one. For the first time in many, many years, I took a sabbatical to recharge body and spirit. It was incredibly restorative � I have always believed that when you are comfortable, there is no growth � but my perspective has since expanded, which is exactly the point of a sabbatical. Although I was slightly alarmed by how easily I slid into a life of languor. The pleasure was so anesthetizing, I barely noticed the lush beauty of summer fading. When did those potted plants die? When did the leaves start to change color?
Today, I refreshed the moribund landscape with pumpkins and mums, took my serious parka (cozy at forty below!) to the drycleaners, and excavated my sweaters, hats, gloves, and boots. You can never be too prepared for winter in Minnesota.
Yes, I’m back to reality now that autumn is officially here, and work-wise, I’ve hit the ground running with renewed vigor. I am incredibly excited for the January release of THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, the third book in the Detective Nolan series. It is a decadent confection of Hollywood scandal and tragedy (if you write about Los Angeles, you have to go there at some point), but at the foundation are the perceptions and heartbreaks of the characters -- familiar and new -- as they navigate emotionally hazardous, and sometimes deadly, terrain.
DESOLATION CANYON also comes out in paperback this October, and I’ve just turned in pages on a new project.
Here are two Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaways that are live now:
DESOLATION CANYON paperback:
/giveaway/sh...
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
/giveaway/sh...
And if you are so inclined, vote for the book on the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ reading list!
/list/book/6...
I hope you all had an equally wonderful summer; or winter, if you’re down under. I am keeping all of my Florida readers close to my heart and in my thoughts as they recover from Ian, as well as the folks still in the line of fire. Weather can be so terrifying, and I won’t be so quick to complain about the cold this year, because there are things that are so much worse. You can dress for sub-zero temperatures, but you can’t stop a hurricane.
Best wishes to you all!
Traci
Today, I refreshed the moribund landscape with pumpkins and mums, took my serious parka (cozy at forty below!) to the drycleaners, and excavated my sweaters, hats, gloves, and boots. You can never be too prepared for winter in Minnesota.
Yes, I’m back to reality now that autumn is officially here, and work-wise, I’ve hit the ground running with renewed vigor. I am incredibly excited for the January release of THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, the third book in the Detective Nolan series. It is a decadent confection of Hollywood scandal and tragedy (if you write about Los Angeles, you have to go there at some point), but at the foundation are the perceptions and heartbreaks of the characters -- familiar and new -- as they navigate emotionally hazardous, and sometimes deadly, terrain.
DESOLATION CANYON also comes out in paperback this October, and I’ve just turned in pages on a new project.
Here are two Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaways that are live now:
DESOLATION CANYON paperback:
/giveaway/sh...
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
/giveaway/sh...
And if you are so inclined, vote for the book on the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ reading list!
/list/book/6...
I hope you all had an equally wonderful summer; or winter, if you’re down under. I am keeping all of my Florida readers close to my heart and in my thoughts as they recover from Ian, as well as the folks still in the line of fire. Weather can be so terrifying, and I won’t be so quick to complain about the cold this year, because there are things that are so much worse. You can dress for sub-zero temperatures, but you can’t stop a hurricane.
Best wishes to you all!
Traci
October 26, 2021
DESOLATION CANYON
The follow-up to DEEP INTO THE DARK will be released January 18, 2022! DESOLATION CANYON is now available for pre-order.
Get a signed copy here:
Desolation Canyon
Get a signed copy here:
Desolation Canyon
December 24, 2020
Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas, happy holidays! Whatever you celebrate, do it large this year, even if your gathering is small or not at all. We’ve almost put 2020 behind us and that alone is reason for joy and hope and unabashed revelry. It has been a traumatic and challenging year (to say the least), but in spite of the hardships, the loss for many, and the general craziness and uncertainty, there is still so much to be thankful for: friends, family, memories, kindness, patience, generosity, and love. Out of darkness, let light shine. That is the true spirit of this season which culminates in a new year. May that light shine in all of your homes and hearts. Discover or rediscover what is truly meaningful and carry it with you always. Wishing you peace and happiness and a very merry Christmas.
Traci
Traci
August 30, 2020
August 2020/Alternate Universe!
August in an Alternate Universe
A friend of mine recently sent out a newsletter with this title, and it seemed so appropriate, I’ve decided to steal her idea. I hope she won’t mind. It’s not really plagiarism if you’re honest about it, is it?
Things have been so surreal for so long, this alternate universe is actually beginning to feel normal -- proof that we are able to adapt to anything in time, even if we don’t like it. It’s like getting mono � you feel so horrible for so long, you don’t realize the extent of your suffering until you’re healthy again. (I had a really bad case of mono.) This will all be behind us eventually, and it will be reason to party like it’s 1999!
I have always worked from home, so when this craziness began back in March, my writing life didn’t change at all (or so I thought.) My heart broke for the millions of people who no longer had jobs, and I considered myself very lucky indeed. Until I discovered I couldn’t focus, which meant I couldn’t work. The turmoil and uncertainty occurring in the world had snuck into my home and my head. In a convoluted way, my inability to work while others didn’t have the option felt like a betrayal.
You’d think writing about fantasy mayhem would have provided succor, but it really didn’t; nor did it allay my frustration. I reached out to other artists on the topic and learned I wasn’t alone; that our experiences were exactly the same. We loosely agreed that when you have to dig really deep and access your emotions as part of your daily grind, everything -- good and bad -- is vastly magnified (and vastly distracting.) Nobody is impervious to chaos. But I soldiered on and finally rediscovered my focus, even though the world is still upside down. I’m grateful for the aforementioned adaptation thing.
I’m also grateful for a beautiful Minnesota summer and the bounty of the harvest season. There is nothing better than gorging on ripe tomatoes and sweet corn. I’ll hate myself for saying this in a couple months, but I’m getting sick of my healthy diet of marvelous produce.
Book update: I’m thrilled to announce the January 12th publication of Deep into the Dark, my inaugural venture into an entirely new fictional world. I will never desert the Monkeewrench gang � they are an enduring tether to my deeply missed writing partner and mother, PJ -- but as life transforms after seismic shifts in circumstances, so do our hearts and minds and creative yearnings.
My decision to write about Los Angeles was easy: I lived there for a decade and had a capacious vault of experiences and observations just waiting to be opened. Exploring new characters and a new setting was exciting, energizing, and rewarding, and the book took shape in ways that even surprised me. The twists, turns, and general mayhem of the Monkeewrench series are all there in abundance, with the additional edge of Los Angeles� urban zeitgeist.
My personal relationships with brave men and women of the armed forces inspired one of the main characters -- Sam Easton -- a wounded combat veteran suffering from PTSD. The battle after the battle is often the most difficult, the struggles tragic and complex; I wanted to explore the depth of Sam’s strength and courage as he manages this in the face of a devastating series of events in his personal life.
Murder brings two strong and complicated women into his life: Melody Traeger and LAPD detective Margaret Nolan, who both have demons of their own. Together, they navigate love, obsession, grief, and revenge in the City of Angels.
I hope you enjoy!
Be well, take care of each other, and remember to enjoy every little thing.
Traci
A friend of mine recently sent out a newsletter with this title, and it seemed so appropriate, I’ve decided to steal her idea. I hope she won’t mind. It’s not really plagiarism if you’re honest about it, is it?
Things have been so surreal for so long, this alternate universe is actually beginning to feel normal -- proof that we are able to adapt to anything in time, even if we don’t like it. It’s like getting mono � you feel so horrible for so long, you don’t realize the extent of your suffering until you’re healthy again. (I had a really bad case of mono.) This will all be behind us eventually, and it will be reason to party like it’s 1999!
I have always worked from home, so when this craziness began back in March, my writing life didn’t change at all (or so I thought.) My heart broke for the millions of people who no longer had jobs, and I considered myself very lucky indeed. Until I discovered I couldn’t focus, which meant I couldn’t work. The turmoil and uncertainty occurring in the world had snuck into my home and my head. In a convoluted way, my inability to work while others didn’t have the option felt like a betrayal.
You’d think writing about fantasy mayhem would have provided succor, but it really didn’t; nor did it allay my frustration. I reached out to other artists on the topic and learned I wasn’t alone; that our experiences were exactly the same. We loosely agreed that when you have to dig really deep and access your emotions as part of your daily grind, everything -- good and bad -- is vastly magnified (and vastly distracting.) Nobody is impervious to chaos. But I soldiered on and finally rediscovered my focus, even though the world is still upside down. I’m grateful for the aforementioned adaptation thing.
I’m also grateful for a beautiful Minnesota summer and the bounty of the harvest season. There is nothing better than gorging on ripe tomatoes and sweet corn. I’ll hate myself for saying this in a couple months, but I’m getting sick of my healthy diet of marvelous produce.
Book update: I’m thrilled to announce the January 12th publication of Deep into the Dark, my inaugural venture into an entirely new fictional world. I will never desert the Monkeewrench gang � they are an enduring tether to my deeply missed writing partner and mother, PJ -- but as life transforms after seismic shifts in circumstances, so do our hearts and minds and creative yearnings.
My decision to write about Los Angeles was easy: I lived there for a decade and had a capacious vault of experiences and observations just waiting to be opened. Exploring new characters and a new setting was exciting, energizing, and rewarding, and the book took shape in ways that even surprised me. The twists, turns, and general mayhem of the Monkeewrench series are all there in abundance, with the additional edge of Los Angeles� urban zeitgeist.
My personal relationships with brave men and women of the armed forces inspired one of the main characters -- Sam Easton -- a wounded combat veteran suffering from PTSD. The battle after the battle is often the most difficult, the struggles tragic and complex; I wanted to explore the depth of Sam’s strength and courage as he manages this in the face of a devastating series of events in his personal life.
Murder brings two strong and complicated women into his life: Melody Traeger and LAPD detective Margaret Nolan, who both have demons of their own. Together, they navigate love, obsession, grief, and revenge in the City of Angels.
I hope you enjoy!
Be well, take care of each other, and remember to enjoy every little thing.
Traci
February 27, 2020
February 2020
February 2020
Well, I got through the majority of the winter without too much weather-related angst. It wasn’t nearly as bad as last year, and although it could still snow (lots), still get cold (very), neither will linger, so there are tulips and daffodils and hope on the horizon. The sun angle is strong enough now that ice and snow melt even if the temperature is below freezing, and the birds are cautiously trying out their spring tunes. A huge sigh of relief. Ditto from the cats, who have been very grumpy lately. They spend the majority of their waking hours trying to devise new ways of tormenting each other.
Writing newsletters only every six months or so does have an upside: I always have something to report. This February, I have a lot of exciting things to share, so let’s start with the new book, a psychological thriller that had me tied in knots while I was writing it. It is titled DEEP INTO THE DARK and it is not a Monkeewrench book! You see, my favorite friends needed a vacation, so I dove into a whole new cast of characters and setting � Los Angeles, to be exact. It was incredibly energizing to let my mind roam unrestrained and construct a whole new, wild world.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love the gang as much as ever, but time spent apart can be very productive in any type of relationship. DID will be released in February 2021 � a long wait, I know, but the publishing houses are reluctant to release much of anything during election season, so everything is getting pushed forward. Most people I’ve talked to about this feel just the opposite � they want a diversion from politics. But there isn’t anything I can do about it, so we just have to be patient. I wrote it as a stand-alone novel, but the publisher wanted a sequel (in progress), so I guess you could call DID the first book in a new series.
And please, don’t panic. ICE COLD HEART was not the last Monkeewrench novel, the gang will be back after their extended tour of the world’s greatest beaches. I will never stop writing about them, and doubt I could, even if I wanted to (which I don’t). In fact, they may have a renaissance on the screen!
Let me preface these next bits of information with a disclaimer: I am not an idiot. I know the film biz very well, and as far as I’m concerned, the deal is done when I see it on the screen. That said, I’m allowing myself some guarded optimism. I’m working with an incredible production company out of the UK and long story short, I co-wrote the script, they put together a brilliant pitch package, and it’s getting shopped around. The idea is a series for either TV or a streaming service like Netflix, and each season would span a book. Cool idea, huh? Keep your fingers crossed!
And believe it or not, at the same time this was unfolding, I was approached about turning RETURN OF THE MAGI, our Christmas e-book, into a full-length animated feature! Another cool idea, one I’d never thought of, but when I heard this, it really hit home, it would be a perfect animation! I can’t help but think PJ had a hand in this � as many of you know, Magi was our beloved pet project. Again, fingers crossed!
I sincerely hope that the next time I report to you, I will have news of great progress in the above endeavors. And in truth, I am pretty excited. Nobody should ever squander an opportunity for excitement, even if the long game isn’t a certainty.
So, that’s about all the news from my part of the world. Wishing you all, near and far, a wonderful 2020 filled with love, health, and happiness.
Best and cheers,
Traci
Well, I got through the majority of the winter without too much weather-related angst. It wasn’t nearly as bad as last year, and although it could still snow (lots), still get cold (very), neither will linger, so there are tulips and daffodils and hope on the horizon. The sun angle is strong enough now that ice and snow melt even if the temperature is below freezing, and the birds are cautiously trying out their spring tunes. A huge sigh of relief. Ditto from the cats, who have been very grumpy lately. They spend the majority of their waking hours trying to devise new ways of tormenting each other.
Writing newsletters only every six months or so does have an upside: I always have something to report. This February, I have a lot of exciting things to share, so let’s start with the new book, a psychological thriller that had me tied in knots while I was writing it. It is titled DEEP INTO THE DARK and it is not a Monkeewrench book! You see, my favorite friends needed a vacation, so I dove into a whole new cast of characters and setting � Los Angeles, to be exact. It was incredibly energizing to let my mind roam unrestrained and construct a whole new, wild world.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love the gang as much as ever, but time spent apart can be very productive in any type of relationship. DID will be released in February 2021 � a long wait, I know, but the publishing houses are reluctant to release much of anything during election season, so everything is getting pushed forward. Most people I’ve talked to about this feel just the opposite � they want a diversion from politics. But there isn’t anything I can do about it, so we just have to be patient. I wrote it as a stand-alone novel, but the publisher wanted a sequel (in progress), so I guess you could call DID the first book in a new series.
And please, don’t panic. ICE COLD HEART was not the last Monkeewrench novel, the gang will be back after their extended tour of the world’s greatest beaches. I will never stop writing about them, and doubt I could, even if I wanted to (which I don’t). In fact, they may have a renaissance on the screen!
Let me preface these next bits of information with a disclaimer: I am not an idiot. I know the film biz very well, and as far as I’m concerned, the deal is done when I see it on the screen. That said, I’m allowing myself some guarded optimism. I’m working with an incredible production company out of the UK and long story short, I co-wrote the script, they put together a brilliant pitch package, and it’s getting shopped around. The idea is a series for either TV or a streaming service like Netflix, and each season would span a book. Cool idea, huh? Keep your fingers crossed!
And believe it or not, at the same time this was unfolding, I was approached about turning RETURN OF THE MAGI, our Christmas e-book, into a full-length animated feature! Another cool idea, one I’d never thought of, but when I heard this, it really hit home, it would be a perfect animation! I can’t help but think PJ had a hand in this � as many of you know, Magi was our beloved pet project. Again, fingers crossed!
I sincerely hope that the next time I report to you, I will have news of great progress in the above endeavors. And in truth, I am pretty excited. Nobody should ever squander an opportunity for excitement, even if the long game isn’t a certainty.
So, that’s about all the news from my part of the world. Wishing you all, near and far, a wonderful 2020 filled with love, health, and happiness.
Best and cheers,
Traci
June 24, 2019
Happy Summer
Happy summer! It’s finally here, along with this newsletter, which is so long overdue, I’m mortified. At a speaking engagement in January, I appropriately did the mea culpa thing and apologized for being the worst newsletter writer to have ever lived. I don’t know why that is. I love to write, I love to talk, I’m extremely disciplined, and yet somehow, that discipline doesn’t transfer to conjuring a few hundred words for an update. Considering a novel is 80,000 words or more, you’d be right to wonder what my problem is. It’s clearly one of my weaknesses (along with my inability to read maps.)
Or maybe it’s because my life for the past eight months has mirrored Gino’s in a spooky way, consisting solely of twelve-plus hour work days punctuated by embittered grumblings (many of which included profanity) about winter. Neither is a compelling talking point and nobody should be subjected to them. Trust me, I was doing you a favor by staying off the grid.
But it’s a new season in many ways - the ice and snow has been replaced by lush green and abundant blooms, and the woods and my yard are filled with marauding critters that are thrilled to have their grocery store open once again, which includes my gardens. Oh well, we all need to eat, and I don’t mind sharing, especially since my human grocery store is open all year.
AND…I just finished a stand alone novel, tentatively titled Deep into the Dark. Writing a novel outside the Monkeewrench series with new characters and a new setting is something that’s been on my mind for a while, and I finally decided it was time to fully commit, which explains the long work days when I should have been on break. It’s too early for any details as it’s just hot off my computer, but I’m so excited about it. It really was the breath of fresh air I needed to re-energize and reboot my mind, even though it meant missing a mental vacation.
So now that I’m finally on mental vacation, you might wonder what that looks like. You’re in for a surprise, and I hope you’re not too disappointed by the reveal. The thrill of completing a new project is always mitigated by the abject shock of suddenly having hours of free time stretch endlessly before you (as if that was a bad thing.) What do you do when something that has consumed most of your waking hours for a year or more is suddenly gone? First, you go through a short mourning period. Mine lasts about three days, then I enter a state of confused limbo that I call writer’s purgatory, which is filled with insecurity and pointless internal conjecture about what I might have done differently in the manuscript, even though it’s already off to the editor. Still, I’m tempted to go back and rework it. I fight off the demons and remind myself this is the warning Klaxon that tells me to stop being a control freak, take a step back, and re-enter the real world.
And so I do. I jump on the endless list of neglected chores before I become an irredeemable sluggard, and fill those hours with productivity of a different kind. You wouldn’t believe the sense of instant gratification and accomplishment that comes from taking a jaunt on Amazon to buy glamorous items like vacuum cleaner bags and refrigerator filters. Better than two weeks in Fiji. That sounds hyperbolic, but it is the truth � when I’m into work, I’m gone. I can’t buy vacuum cleaner bags and I obviously can’t write a newsletter.
Honestly, life without writing is super boring, but in a good way, and I’m going to enjoy the boredom while I can. And in another week or two, I’ll probably be at it again, and I’ll be so happy, I’ll forget about the chores, the house projects, and yes � probably the newsletters.
On to current book news, which I’m very excited about as well -- you all probably know that the latest installment of the Monkeewrench/Twin Cities series, Ice Cold Heart, will soon be released � August 23 in the U.K. and September 10 in the U.S. This is my favorite book to date, VERY creepy and dark with some crazy twists that made me lose sleep while I was writing it. I hope it does the same for you (I mean that in the best possible way.) It takes places during a particularly brutal winter in Minneapolis. Those of you who endured the wicked 2018-2019 season here will nod your heads as you read the vivid descriptions of Hell on Earth � but most of it was actually written in the hottest months of 2018. Goes to show that we never forget. The U.S. paperback of The Guilty Dead will also be out this year, in July.
Enjoy your summer or winter, depending on your hemisphere, and thank you for being patient with me!
Happy reading!
Traci
Or maybe it’s because my life for the past eight months has mirrored Gino’s in a spooky way, consisting solely of twelve-plus hour work days punctuated by embittered grumblings (many of which included profanity) about winter. Neither is a compelling talking point and nobody should be subjected to them. Trust me, I was doing you a favor by staying off the grid.
But it’s a new season in many ways - the ice and snow has been replaced by lush green and abundant blooms, and the woods and my yard are filled with marauding critters that are thrilled to have their grocery store open once again, which includes my gardens. Oh well, we all need to eat, and I don’t mind sharing, especially since my human grocery store is open all year.
AND…I just finished a stand alone novel, tentatively titled Deep into the Dark. Writing a novel outside the Monkeewrench series with new characters and a new setting is something that’s been on my mind for a while, and I finally decided it was time to fully commit, which explains the long work days when I should have been on break. It’s too early for any details as it’s just hot off my computer, but I’m so excited about it. It really was the breath of fresh air I needed to re-energize and reboot my mind, even though it meant missing a mental vacation.
So now that I’m finally on mental vacation, you might wonder what that looks like. You’re in for a surprise, and I hope you’re not too disappointed by the reveal. The thrill of completing a new project is always mitigated by the abject shock of suddenly having hours of free time stretch endlessly before you (as if that was a bad thing.) What do you do when something that has consumed most of your waking hours for a year or more is suddenly gone? First, you go through a short mourning period. Mine lasts about three days, then I enter a state of confused limbo that I call writer’s purgatory, which is filled with insecurity and pointless internal conjecture about what I might have done differently in the manuscript, even though it’s already off to the editor. Still, I’m tempted to go back and rework it. I fight off the demons and remind myself this is the warning Klaxon that tells me to stop being a control freak, take a step back, and re-enter the real world.
And so I do. I jump on the endless list of neglected chores before I become an irredeemable sluggard, and fill those hours with productivity of a different kind. You wouldn’t believe the sense of instant gratification and accomplishment that comes from taking a jaunt on Amazon to buy glamorous items like vacuum cleaner bags and refrigerator filters. Better than two weeks in Fiji. That sounds hyperbolic, but it is the truth � when I’m into work, I’m gone. I can’t buy vacuum cleaner bags and I obviously can’t write a newsletter.
Honestly, life without writing is super boring, but in a good way, and I’m going to enjoy the boredom while I can. And in another week or two, I’ll probably be at it again, and I’ll be so happy, I’ll forget about the chores, the house projects, and yes � probably the newsletters.
On to current book news, which I’m very excited about as well -- you all probably know that the latest installment of the Monkeewrench/Twin Cities series, Ice Cold Heart, will soon be released � August 23 in the U.K. and September 10 in the U.S. This is my favorite book to date, VERY creepy and dark with some crazy twists that made me lose sleep while I was writing it. I hope it does the same for you (I mean that in the best possible way.) It takes places during a particularly brutal winter in Minneapolis. Those of you who endured the wicked 2018-2019 season here will nod your heads as you read the vivid descriptions of Hell on Earth � but most of it was actually written in the hottest months of 2018. Goes to show that we never forget. The U.S. paperback of The Guilty Dead will also be out this year, in July.
Enjoy your summer or winter, depending on your hemisphere, and thank you for being patient with me!
Happy reading!
Traci
September 30, 2018
A sigh of relief
Hello, everybody,
Just thought I'd share some news - I sent the manuscript of Monkeewrench #10 off, literally about ten minutes ago! It feels surreal, like it always does. It can't be finished, can it? What am I going to do now?
I'm sure I'll find something to occupy my time.
Also, wanted to pass along a couple interview links, TV and radio about THE GUILTY DEAD.
Yep, it's fall here, and chilly, downright cold, and I'm not happy about it. But being an eternal optimist, I think that every cold day brings us closer to spring!
Happy reading, everyone!
Just thought I'd share some news - I sent the manuscript of Monkeewrench #10 off, literally about ten minutes ago! It feels surreal, like it always does. It can't be finished, can it? What am I going to do now?
I'm sure I'll find something to occupy my time.
Also, wanted to pass along a couple interview links, TV and radio about THE GUILTY DEAD.
Yep, it's fall here, and chilly, downright cold, and I'm not happy about it. But being an eternal optimist, I think that every cold day brings us closer to spring!
Happy reading, everyone!
July 11, 2018
April and May newsletters
I realize I've been horrible at posting every newsletter here, so if you want to catch up on April and May, check out pjtracy.com, and sign up if you want them delivered to your inbox.
Cheers!
Traci
Cheers!
Traci
