The Briefing
Why in the world are 27,000 people subscribing to this guy’s newsletter?
It's not because I'm a New York Times bestselling author. Or because my Emma Noble thrillers are heading to Netflix.
None of that's true.
I'm just a guy sharing his work. Sometimes it's the creative process. Sometimes it's the business of publishing. And sometimes I over-share about what's happening beyond the writer's room.
If you like books and you like authors, come join the family.
The Emma Noble Series
“A propulsive, brilliantly executed thriller.”
Kirkus Reviews
BestThrillers.com
Best Political Thriller 2025
BookLife (Publishers Weekly)
Top ten books reviewed in 2025
T. Jefferson Parker, 3 x Edgar Award Winner
“Suspenseful and well written.”
What lands in your inbox
Recent Fridays
Don't call me Juliet
I realize something about myself that I'm not entirely proud of. Give me a compliment and I can't say no to whatever comes next.
This writing train runs on ego.
So when BookLife, the indie arm of Publishers Weekly, told me they were launching a platform to help authors navigate the business side—and wanted to start with me?
Yeah. Of course. Sign me up. I walked around with a balloon head for a few days.
And then I realized what they were asking.
It wasn't the video that made me nervous. It was pretending that my experience was transferable. Because it's not.
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A Quiet Exhale
Spring doesn't arrive in my part of New Hampshire until Mother's Day. You know it's here when the black flies invade.
While many of you have been mowing yards and admiring azaleas, we've been waiting for the ground to dry— picking fallen branches out of the yard and reconciling that 50 mph wind is more agreeable when it's above freezing.
This year, Mud Season was worse than usual. Sucking through the mud — and through a diagnosis.
But now? There's something different in the air.
It's here. A bit of warmth. Beech and maple leaves are unfolding on the branches and the lilies of the valley are sprouting by the front door. We made it. We're still here.