My interview with Pedro Pascal, the “new guy” on this season’s “Game of Thrones” – and an alumnus of Orange County School of the Arts – is in the just-out (May) issue of Orange Coast. On the series, Pedro portrays the mysterious and formidable Prince Oberyn Martell, aka the Red Viper. Break out the mead and mutton and read all about him.

March was jam-packed with mystery. Literally!

So glad to have been a part of “Calamari Crime” – that’s what this year’s “Left Coast Crime” convention was called – over four days in March in Monterey. Sat in on some helpful seminars, did a bit of networking (yeah, I’m writing a mystery), and really enjoyed listening to headliners including Sue Grafton, Louise Penny and Cara Black. A week later, Cara was one of the leading ladies – along with Rhys Bowen – at the O.C. Sisters in Crime “Ladies of Intrigue” day-long event, which featured author panels and signings. Nearly 100 people were in attendance. Book lovers, all. My kind of crowd!

Meet Latino journalist Ruben Salazar & saddle up with The Duke

The April issue of Orange Coast includes my article about prominent O.C. journalist Ruben Salazar, whose writings and tragic death made him a Latino martyr. It’s timed to a PBS documentary that airs on April 29. And, I review the new John Wayne bio in the latest BookPage: Scott Eyman hits the bullseye with John Wayne: The Life and Legend.

What a treat. I got to run off and join the circus – well, at least I got to hang out, meeting great people and seeing the coolest stuff – for my piece about the astounding prop house, L.A. Circus. The article appears in the current Emmy (Issue No. 1, 2014), accompanied by Corey Nickols’ fab photos. Need a circus tent? A carousel horse? Something gypsy or burlesque … ?

If you love a good mystery, you might want to meet the remarkable women who write them. Check out the Facebook page for SISTERS IN CRIME ORANGE COUNTY, which is sponsoring a get together called “Ladies of Intrigue” on March 29. As recording secretary of the group,  Yours Truly is working behind the scenes to make this a fab event!

Am currently enjoying the dishy You Must Remember This: Life and Style in Hollywood’s Golden Age, by Robert Wager with Scott Eyman.  RJ certainly knows his way around the topic: he’s been a Hollywood fixture since the 1950s, when he was a contract player for 20th Century Fox. TV audiences probably know him best for the popular late ’70s series “Hart to Hart,” and for his recurring role as Anthony DiNozzo, Sr. (father of Tony DiNozzo) on “NCIS.” I’ll be reviewing for BookPage.