New Bolg

I have a new Blog site, more stuff about my current book, DETOUR TO MURDER. (It's a good one.)

I'll be posting there from now on. Here's the link:

http://jeffsherratt.blogspot.com/

SLEEPING BEAUTY

The first paragraph from SLEEPING BEAUTY, the mystery novel by the great one, Ross Macdonald.

“I flew home from Mazatlán on Wednesday afternoon. As we approached Los Angeles, the Mexican plane dropped low over the sea and I caught my first glimpse of the oil spill.”

This novel was published in 1973! Have we learned nothing?

Wait Until the Fat Lady Sings

This is interesting. It's a video clip featuring arguably the greatest opera tenor ever, Luciano Pavarotti, and—get this—Sheryl Crow. They're performing a duet, the aria "La Ci Darem La Mono" from Mozart’s superlative opera DON GIOVANNI.

The aria is from Act 1, Scene 3. Don Giovanni the notorious womanizer comes across a group of happy villagers celebrating the approaching marriage of Masetto and Zerlinda, a young and pretty girl. Giovanni manages to get Zerlinda alone and tries to seduce her, singing, "La ci darem la mono." (Put your hand in mine, dear) and "Partiam, ben mio, da qui." (Let’s get out of here, me and you.)

At first she's reluctant, but as the duet continues she finally gives in and they both sing, "Andiam!"( Let’s go!) I know, the scene could've come from a soap opera but it’s fun to watch.

Sheryl Crow obviously doesn't have the deep rich voice of a trained soprano such as Cecilia Bartoli or Renée Fleming, but she does a good job and there is no doubt that her looks would certainly stop Don Giovanni in his tracks.

The Annenberg Diamond

The Annenberg Diamond, a 32.01-carat emerald-cut diamond, sold for $7.7 million to an anonymous buyer at a Christie's auction held Wednesday, October 21st.

The diamond went for a world record price of $240,000 per ct. for a colorless diamond.

According to the AP, the diamond was donated by billionaire philanthropist Leonore Annenberg's estate. Annenberg had purchased it for her 90th birthday.

Sales from the entire auction totaled $46,513,050 million. — (AP 10/22/09)

Who says crime doesn’t pay? Read my next book in the Jimmy O’Brien Series, DETOUR TO MURDER, coming out in 2010.

Send me an email to get on my mailing list: jeffsherratt@aol.com

10 Fabulous Things about Being a Writer at a Book Signing

1. You get to meet pretty girls, and
2. Pretty girls tell you how great you are.
3. Pretty girls think you’re smart.
4. Pretty girls send you emails after the event
5. Pretty girls sometimes gush.
6. Pretty girls once in a while give you a hug
7. Pretty girls listen when you speak
8. Pretty girls smile and laugh at your corny jokes
9. Pretty girls buy your book and ask you to autograph it
10. You get free coffee from the bookstore staff.

Judd Strikes Again

For 35 years, television-radio consumer reporter and crusader, Judd McIlvain has fought for the "Little Guy". Now scam artists, crooks and dishonest companies who cheat hard-working Americans have even more to worry about with LA Talk's exciting new program "The Troubleshooter"!

Need some straight answers? Consumer Advice? Help defeating a company who is taking you to the cleaners?

Fear not! Just bring your problems to Judd McIlvain, the winner of 2 Emmys and 8 Golden Mike Awards for his tenacious investigative reports seen on television.

“Sure, it’s a compelling read,” he said. “But there are no pictures.”