Gone writing ...

... to steal a phrase - and blog heading - from Laura Lippman.

Working on revisions to the new novel this week, so blogging will be sparse until they're done (as if you hadn't noticed already). I have a couple unfinished things in the cooker that I'll eventually post, including "Big Apple Time Capsule Pt. 4," and a look at post-war British apocalyptic fiction. In the meantime, however, and till we're back to a regular blogging schedule, I'll try to provide some quick links for your edification and amusement:

+ Hours of fun over at the Bad Review Revue, as always, though they haven't updated in a while.

+ At The Rap Sheet, a look at the EXECUTIONER paperback series, a guilty pleasure of my teenage reading years, courtesy of British crime novelist Matt Hilton.

+ Crime writer - and Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement agent - James O. Born has re-emerged under the alias of James O'Neal. His first science fiction novel, THE HUMAN DISGUISE, will be out in May. He also continues to get naked every once in a while, over at his group blog.

+ A little retro girl-group fun from Sarah Borges and her band.

+ A great new look and layout to one of my favorite tribute sites, The Violent World of Parker.

+ And finally, with a tip of the hat to The House Next Door, a great moment in American acting, courtesy of Ryan O'Neal and Norman Mailer:

Sarah Borges in N.J.

Back in N.J., in the cold and damp, after nearly a month in Fla. and other southeastern climes.

Made it back to N.J. just in time for an intimate house (or rather garage) concert today in Freehold by the extremely talented (and adorable) Sarah Borges (above) and her band The Broken Singles, just kicking off a tour for their third album "The Stars Are Out." Sarah, a Boston native, is one of the best-kept secrets in American roots rock today, though The New York Times outed her in a rave review last year. She's got some real musical chops as well as a winning stage persona, and is also capable of writing ridiculously catchy songs. The new album leans more to rock than her previous discs, but it's just as infectious.

Here are a couple of Sarah's videos, first a twangy studio performance from her second album, 2007's "Diamonds in the Dark," and then rocking out Joan Jett-style on the first single from "The Stars Are Out."

I lied

Still on the road, so regular blogging will return next Sunday, March 15, likely with my thoughts on the new Warren Oates biography A WILD LIFE, by Susan Compo.

Spring is near.