Laura Joh Rowland

Laura Joh Rowland is another member of my writing group in the Greater New Orleans area. She writes mysteries and has been doing so since the early 1990s. I know she’s on number 12 or 13 of her series set in old Japan during the days of the Samurai and the wandering poets. Above is the cover of her latest, Red Chrysanthemum, and it too features the detective character of Sano Ichiro. These are crackling good reads with clever plots and gem-quality prose. I don’t often read straight mysteries but these are good and I like the historical quality of them. You can get a little learning in with your fun.

Laura probably does more to keep our writing group “on task” than anyone else in it, and I appreciate that. She comes to the meetings with a lot of ideas about writing and about why one thing appeals to readers or does not. Sometime you’ll have to get her to explain her concept of “turbocharged sincerity.” Laura is also a talented visual artist. I wish I could say the same about myself.

If you haven’t read any of Laura’s stuff I think you’d find it a treat. You can check it out at her website.