Lawrence Block – From Sea to Stormy Sea

Wow! I was so much fun to talk with four contributors in From Sea to Stromy Sea, the third book in the acclaimed anthology series that is the brainchild of the brilliant Mystery Writer of America Grand Master, Lawrence Block.

It seems like such a simple idea, but it took Larry to come out with the idea of art meeting words in a wide ranging collection of stories. In this book, as in the others, he has gathered together sixteen authors who have written short stories based on masterpieces of American art.

It was an honor that I had the opportunity of interviewing authors from his previous anthologies, In Sunlight or in Shadow and Alive in Shape and Color. What I love about these anthologies is that I get to read stories from some of my favorite authors -- but also get to meet many new authors whose works I had somehow missed.

In this latest book the authors were invited to pick paintings exclusively the work of American artists and what a eclectic selection it turned out to be: Harvey Dunn, John Steuart Curry, Reginald Marsh, Thomas Hart Benton, Helen Frankenthaler, Winslow Homer, Rockwell Kent, Grant Wood, Childe Hassam and Andy Warhol.

As in the previous books, the production value of the books is terrific with beautifully illustrated full-color reproductions of the seventeen paintings.

The joy of an anthology is that it is like a box of chocolates. They make perfect gifts because everyone is sure to find some old favorites and many new flavors to savor. - PatZi (with a Z!)