Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

July 2018

I hope everybody is enjoying the summer that took forever to arrive. Ah, but it finally did, skipping right over spring and making up for lost time by dazzling us with heat and humidity, the likes of which we haven’t seen in Minnesota for years. Well, it dazzles me, but I have the heat tolerance of a camel. In fact, I don’t even have central air, nor do I want it. I must have been an equatorial dweller in a past life (but not a camel.)

I forget from year to year that summer not only brings great fun and joy, but also a colossal amount of additional work, things you can’t get to in winter. I hope I’m not alone when I share a shameful secret � at the beginning of July, I’ve checked exactly one thing off my long to-do list, even though I don’t have the weather as an excuse. I’m now wearing the psychological equivalent of blinders, lest I dissolve into frantic weeping, wailing, and hair-pulling as I lament lost time and unfinished business. Somebody recently reassured me, ‘Things will get done when they get done.� Brilliant! My new motto!

One home project that is getting done is my garage, something that wasn’t even on my radar. This is a long story, so suffice it to say, if part of a ceiling comes crashing down, you’ve got a big problem. Use your imagination, extrapolate from there, and picture a dire scenario of lurking, hidden evil, waiting for the right moment to spring its horrible surprise. Even though I’m not capable of doing any of the work myself, I still feel a sense of accomplishment that partially mitigates my guilt over the things I’ve been putting off � tomorrow is another day, right? The perfect time to finally weed that garden! Paint those windows! Clean the tool shed!

If I’m sounding like an irredeemable sluggard, I assure you, my hands are far from idle. In fact, I’m busier than I have been in my life, which is saying something. I’m on deadline for the next book, #10 in the series (going well, I’m pleased to report), and doing lots of publicity work for The Guilty Dead, which will be out soon: August 23rd in the UK, September 11th in the US. I’m very excited and the early reviews have been terrific. People have been asking what it was like to write a book without PJ, and I explain that I didn’t � her spirit was with me every step of the way. It always will be.

We all know how quickly time passes, summer in particular, so let me offer some advice: if you see something you haven’t gotten around to yet, give yourself permission to avert your eyes, pour yourself a lemonade or a glass of wine, and enjoy the lush greenery, the flowers, the birds, and everything else that makes summer so special. Nature is vastly more beautiful than the result of any home improvement project. And always remember: things will get done when they get done.

Very best wishes,
Traci
pjtracy.com

I don't know about you all, but I'm still recovering from my Thanksgiving food hangover. Hope you all had a lovely one!

Amazingly, I managed to decorate my tree and house in spite of my torpor, which makes me very happy. It's so much work, so why not enjoy every single moment of seasonal decor before it all gets dismantled? I have four cats, so you would think they would dismantle it before I'd get a chance, but they ignore it. I feel extremely lucky, because I know that's unusual. A friend just sent me a photo of a Christmas tree lot -- the sign said: GIANT GREEN CAT TOYS FOR SALE.

My publisher asked me to write a short piece about Christmas and my top five reads. It won't go live until December 1, but I thought I'd share it with you all first, so here it is:

There is still magic in the world, really, there is! You’ll find it in books, of course, which is why we all love them, but to me, nothing more perfectly encapsulates magic than Christmas. I don’t think I’m alone in this belief, because some of the most beloved, timeless stories feature Christmas themes � it’s the perfect opportunity to combine luscious escapism with poignant allegory. And when else can you embrace unabashed sentimentality with abandon?

Perhaps it’s just the lens through which I see Christmas, but the world seems to transform into a better version of itself during the season. People’s hearts open and their spirits transcend the all-consuming, earthly ardors of real life and find time to make things special and perfect for family and friends. Things we take for granted the rest of the year reassert their importance and meaning. Dearly departed loved ones grace us with their presence and fill us with joy in the form of wonderful memories from Christmases past. Anything seems possible, wishes come true. Children see all of this better than anybody, and maybe that’s part of the magic, reconnecting with the innocence of childhood for just a little while and not feel silly about it.

Christmas is not just a time to reinforce connections with family and friends and community, it’s a time to revisit favorite holiday stories that capture the spirit of the season. I’ve compiled a list of my top five, ones I re-read every December in front of the fire while I wait for jolly old St. Nick.

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

This is quintessential O. Henry, a brilliant short story with a poignant, ironic twist. Set against the backdrop of Christmas and still very modern in its message, it showcases the selflessness and devotion of love and reminds us that the best gifts can’t be wrapped and put under a tree.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A superb juxtaposition of darkness and light. A dour, dark, and creepy paranormal excursion transforms into an uplifting tale about second chances. It’s never too late to take a different path, and if Scrooge can turn around, anybody can.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

This poem is beloved for a reason. It’s charming, vivid, and has the cadence of an addictive pop song you’re embarrassed to admit you like. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find many people who couldn’t recite at least part of this verbatim.

Christmas Eve by Nikolai Gogol

This is my wild card pick. Only a Russian author could incorporate the devil and a witch in a Christmas story and make it work. It’s pure Gogol - surreal, hilarious, macabre � but like all of his works, there is serious subtext beneath the quirkiness and ultimately, goodness and love conquer evil. Spoiler alert: the story ends with villagers spitting at a likeness of the devil in hell and calling him Poop Head.

Return of the Magi by PJ Tracy (of course!)

We wanted to put a modern, edgy spin on the story of the three wise men by following funny, flawed characters as they are grudgingly thrown together by circumstance and consequently take very personal, transformative journeys as an unlikely squad of misfits. Most important was to write a novel that embodied some of the wonderful things the Christmas season has always represented to us: love, hope, charity, redemption, and of course, a little magic. And no doubt you will find influence from all of the above.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I guess it’s not too early to say happy holidays! Halloween is the gateway, and now that it’s November, all bets are off. I’ve seen inflatable Thanksgiving decorations in yards and Christmas lights festooning trees and eaves. The weather in Minnesota is unfortunately enthusiastic about the holidays, too � we’ve had snow and it’s COLD. We went straight from summer to winter, never a dull moment here.

November is also busy on the publishing front. The UK paperback of Nothing Stays Buried is out tomorrow, and our heartwarming Christmas novel Return of the Magi will be available November 15 as an ebook. It’s gotten wonderful early reviews and if you’re still not quite in the spirit, this will take you there!

Wishing you all the very best and may you all enjoy a little magic during this season, and take the time out of your busy schedules to snuggle up with plenty of good books.

Here's a piece on detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth, featured on the Dead Good website UK:

Here is a piece I was asked to write about PJ -- our life and work together, and her death. It was probably one of the most difficult things I've ever written, but also the most rewarding.

Hi everybody,

Here's a link to an interview I did with Euan Kerr for MPR. Even my long-time agent learned a few things about PJ and I she didn't know!

Here's a link to an interview I did this morning with The John Hines show/WCCO Minneapolis, to promote the NOTHING STAYS BURIED launch August 1st!

Dear readers,

Enter now to win a full set of Monkeewrench books (US only).

I hope everybody had a wonderful, long holiday weekend. It's hard to believe the 4th of July is already behind us. This is when I start to anticipate the Minnesota winter and panic. I know that's kind of nihilistic (and a little neurotic), but I like to be prepared for the future.

Just wanted to let you know that THE SIXTH IDEA will be $1.99 at all e-tailers from July 9th through July 16th. A great opportunity to explore the Monkeewrench series if you haven't already. And don't forget, NOTHING STAYS BURIED will be out August 1st, less than a month away!

Keep enjoying the summer!

Traci

What a great time of year, being able to read in the sun again! I never thought the Minnesota winter would end, but it did (funny how that happens every year.) 2017 has been very strange, though, one of massive transition for me -- for those of you who don't know, my dear mother and writing partner PJ passed away in December after a long health struggle. She is so missed, every second of every day, but I continue writing about the Monkeewrench gang in her honor. Number nine is already in the can!

And even though PJ is no longer with us, she will be very present this year in the last works we wrote together: with the US paperback release of THE SIXTH IDEA June 27th (with a sneak-peek of NOTHING STAYS BURIED), and the hardcover release of NOTHING STAYS BURIED August 1st in the US, August 24th in UK/AUS/NZ. We also have a quirky, heartwarming Christmas fantasy entitled RETURN OF THE MAGI set to release electronically in the UK and territories later this year, more details to come. A pretty good send-off party for our very funny and very beloved gal!

I'm always available to answers any questions on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, and in the meantime, happy summer and very happy reading. (I certainly haven't forgotten all of you down-under, so I guess I should say happy winter?!) :)

Very best to you all,

Traci

Nothing Stays Buried

The Sixth Idea