Now available! Order online here

Appearances & Signings -- Past & Future:

April 19, 2003 -- Mystery & Imagination/Bookfellows Bookshop in Glendale, CA
My very first book signing took place here at this wonderful bookshop owned and very well operated by those good, kind, generous book people, Malcolm & Christine Bell. If you are a lover of books this is a bookstore you should visit. Not only does it have a wonderfully high ceiling allowing for very tall, beautifully organized bookcases, but also features a great loft area with books on the performing arts and children’s books. The Bell’s have decorated the store with huge blowups of famous book covers (their idea, later copied by a famous bookstore chain), and also movie posters of films adapted from books and staff-made posters of wit and charm. The Mystery & Imagination half of the shop features a great selection of used and collectable mystery and science fiction books. The Bookfellows half covers general fiction and non-fiction, children’s and books on the performing arts. But it is not just the books. The atmosphere is wonderful, as are the Bells and their staff. Drop in and say hi. If you can’t, check out their new website at www.mysteryandimagination.com. Mystery and Imagination Bookshop - used and out… At both locations you might just find some good deals, including one on a signed edition of Blood is Pretty, if one was so inclined.

With the wonderful Christine Bell who, with her equally wonderful husband, Malcolm, own, operate and nurture one of the finest collectors' book stores I've ever been to. Well organized, fun in its decor, spacious with the invigorating atmosphere of the love of books, Mystery & Imagination/Bookfellows Bookshop is a must visit for any book lover in or traveling to Southern California.

April 26, 2003 -- Los Angeles Times Festival of Books -- Sisters in Crime and Crime Time Books booth. What a fabulous time! 250,000 attendees roaming around the UCLA campus reveling in being surrounded by books. Those who stopped by the booth responded well to the book’s title and cover, and my survey question: Do you agree or not that blood is pretty? I usually got one of three answers: Yes, No, and I’ve never really thought about it before. Books were bought, I signed, and what a joy to get to know the Sisters, not to mention the dedicated-to-books Linda Bevins, the owner of Crime Time Books. In fact, here’s a great story about Linda that I really want to share. During the festival a young reader eyed with great desire the young adult mystery The Secret of Dead Man’s Mine by Rodney Johnson, who was also there signing his books. Unfortunately when he expressed that desire to his father he was told that they couldn’t afford it. The boy didn’t complain or protest, but Linda could see how deeply disappointed he was. She could also see that the father hated to disappoint his son, but hard facts are hard facts. Linda, thrilled to see a young person so passionate about reading, went up to the father and explained that when she was young she grew up in a household always struggling with money so she knew how it was, and hoped the father would not take offense, but, as she was the owner of the book store, she would love to give it to the boy as a gift. The father was, at first, reluctant, but Linda simply told him that the boy’s passion should be encouraged and, as it was in her power to do so, she hoped he would agree. He did. The boy was thrilled. Mr. Berlin may think there’s no people like show people, but I rather think that sentiment might well -- especially in this day and age -- apply more aptly to book people.

With the very generous bookperson, Linda Bivins of Crime Time Books.

This picture ran in the Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles newsletter, RANSOM NOTES. They captioned it: "Steven Paul Leiva gives thanks for getting the prime spot next to Joanne Fluke and her chocolate chip cookies." I couldn't have said it better myself. And, yes, her cookies are wonderful.

With Dan Barton, author of the Heckler series of mysteries set in the world of stand-up comedy.

Signing BLOOD IS PRETTY for, I hope, a future loyal reader.

May 10, 2003 -- Publication Party at the home of -- and hosted by -- Bob Bergen, Master of Many Voices. It was good of Bob to open his home and his heart. And what a great audience it was to read for! Bob is a hell of a talented guy and is, as you may know, currently the voice of Porky Pig. You’ve got to see the new “Duck Dodgers” show on the Cartoon Network wherein Bob as Porky plays the “eager young space cadet” to Daffy Duck’s “Duck Dodgers in the 24th and a Half Century.” I attended one of the recording sessions and I think it’s going to be a very funny show. If you’re interested in voice-over actors or cartoons, you should check out Bob’s website at: www.bobbergen.com. Bob Bergen Official Web Site. Some of the people in attendance at the signing included the lovely June Foray, Queen of Voice-overs, well known as the voice of Rocky the Flying Squirrel, and writer Kim Bass who wrote for “In Living Color” and created “Sister Sister,” now having a revival on The Disney Channel.

With host Bob Bergen and his alter ego, Porky Pig. Porky was kind enough to cater the event. Of course, now that he's back on TV in a big way with DUCK DODGERS on the Cartoon Network, he probably won't have time for this little side business of his.

Some of the lovely people who came to the publication party, many of them the faces in front of the voices you hear on cartoons and commercials. And, what a great audience they were!

With Bob and my daughter, Miranda, at the signing table. Miranda is a big fan of Bob's, and especially likes his work in the English versions of the films of the master of Japanese animation, Hayao Miyazaki

Miranda with screenwriter/director Kim Bass.

Making a point to one of my favorite people in the world, June Foray, Queen of the Voice-overs.

And here's the Queen of the Voice-overs with Bob, who may not (yet) be King of the Voice-overs, but he's a prince of a guy. Bob and June first met, by the way, under a table. The details of which I will let them explain, if they care to.

May 31, 2003 - Pasadena Antiquarian Book Fair, Pasadena, CA
They tell me I was first writer ever invited by the organizers of the fair to sign books at his own table. I consider that an honor and the day was a pleasure. Usually you go to antiquarian book fairs to check out collectibles, so it was a new experience for the attendees to see a newborn author hawking his wares. But they were quite tolerant of me and Blood is Pretty, some copies of which passed into the hands of willing readers. I have already heard from one of the buyers, who wrote me an e-mail of kind words about Blood is Pretty, which you can read on the Readers Review section of this site. I thank Shelia Bustamante-Nickerson for inviting me to participate.

All set up and ready to introduce the Fixxer to the attendees of the Pasadena Antiquarian Book Fair. My daughter sits and reads a Nancy Drew mystery. She's not yet old enough to be introduced to the Fixxer.

July 16, 2003 -- Dutton’s Brentwood, hosted by Ken Kragen & Cathy Worthington.
Ken is the fabulous personal manager and producer who has guided the careers of so many great performers such as the Smothers Brothers and Kenny Rogers, and is well known as the organizer of Hands Across America and USA for Africa, which gave birth to “We Are the World.” But, of course, he’s destined to go down in history as having taken my cover photo for Blood is Pretty. Cathy is his most lovely wife, superb horsewoman and lover of books. Dutton’s is one of the finest independent bookstores in Los Angeles, if not the country, and I thank Lise Friedman and the Dutton’s staff for having us. It was a grand evening, despite my being late because I left something at home. But I spoke, I read, sold books and signed. And -- this is a neat part about getting your name out there as an author -- renewed a friendship with someone I haven’t seen since I was a sophomore in high School. Ray Cervantes saw the listing of my signing in the LA Weekly and sent me a “are you who I think you are?” e-mail. Ray was a senior and the star actor in the Aztec Players, the drama club of Azusa High, when I was a sophomore. His performance in Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Managerie, I can say with no exaggeration, helped change my life. Not only was I hooked onto the power of the performing arts, but of the Word, whether spoken or written or, ideally, written to be spoken. Ray, of course, graduated that year, and I spent the next two performing with the Aztec Players, hoping I got close to moving people the way he moved me. Ray came to the signing and it was quite wonderful to see him again.

A warm, balmy evening in the courtyard of Dutton's Brentwood Books. Here I am trying to keep the audience enraptured while explaining why BLOOD IS PRETTY, despite its title, is not a serial killer novel.

July 26, 2003 -- Dark Delicacies Bookstore, Burbank, CA
A joint appearance with other authors at this most creepy (this is actually a compliment) bookstore. Dark Delicacies specializes in the literature of horror, so Frankenstien stands guard on the sidewalk in front of the store, the Grim Reaper greets you as you enter, and more books about vampires rest (in peace?) on the shelves than at any other location outside of the big Barnes & Nobel in Transelvaniya. My novel is not, of course, a work of horror. But it’s title fit in quite nicely. I want to thank author Michael Thal (wesite) for setting up the signing.

August 18, 2003 -- Azusa City Library
My hometown library, the place where I discovered the joy of reading, had me as their guest at their monthly Luncheon at the Library at noon. It was a great gathering of members of the “Friends of the Library” and city workers who take their lunch hour to talk about books. I talked about growing up in Azusa, and being thrilled whenever I saw a mention of Azusa in films or books, including an Abbott and Costello movie and Day of the Locust by Nathaniel West. I then read two sections from Blood is Pretty . The audience was quite warm in their appreciation. I sold books and signed them, of course, donating some of the well-gotten gain to the library building fund. Which I was very happy to have done, especially after Albert Tovar, the director of the library, showed me the plans for the proposed new library. It’s going to be a beautiful two-story building with an outdoor reading garden, a cafe, bookstore, facilities for adult literacy, areas for children and young adults, as well as a well stocked general area. It will be a real gem for Azusa, and possibly the major library of the east San Gabriel Valley.

Much as I did with the Dutton's crowd, here I am trying to keep the Lunch at the Library audience enraptured, but in this case, with tales of my childhood in Azusa.

And here they are, the Azusa audience enraptured.

With Albert Tovar, the director of the Azusa City Library. As you can see, he wore a blood-red shirt in my honor.

The Canyon City Book Club notice board tub-thumping my appearance. Azusa, by the way, IS the Canyon City.

The ladies of the Canyon City Book Club grill me as to actually why I think blood is pretty.

They must have liked my answer for they all requested to have their books signed.

At 7 that evening, Blood is Pretty was the book under discussion at the library’s Canyon City Book Club, I was there answering for what I have wrought. The club members are a group of bright, charming women who asked great questions. In answering some of them I actually clarified to myself why I made certain choices in the writing of Blood is Pretty. Books clubs like this have become an important new phenomenon in the world of books. And when an author can appear, or be there on the phone, as many are doing, it becomes a wonderful opportunity for readers to probe the mind that did the creation, and for writers to see the effect of his work on readers. For the novelist, it’s almost like the feedback a playwright gets when he sees his work performed before an audience. I want to thank the Canyon City Book Club for giving me such a great experience. I alo want to thank Albert Tovar, senior librarian Shahla Shahsavari, Marge Marston of Adult Services, and Karen Mingle for making the whole day such a great experience.

Here’s the author -- smart enough to write a book, but not smart enough to hold it up correctly.

Ah, that’s better. Plus it gives me a chance to put in a second picture of Donna Delacy of Portrait of a Bookstore, who was so welcoming towards me and BLOOD IS PRETTY, and was such a wonderful hostess for the event. Thanks Donna!

September 20, 2003 - Portrait of a Bookstore, Studio City, CA
Combined with the Aroma Cafe, a little oasis of literature in the desert of filmed entertainment. I have spent many hours there with a hot tea and something nice to eat, relaxing and reading. I look forward to introducing myself and my book to their patrons.

Mystery & Imagination’s temporary book shop at the West Hollywood Bookfair. As you can see, they were kind enough to give BLOOD IS PRETTY a prominent display.

The author by his prominent display displaying prominent pride

The lovely Christine Bell of Mystery & Imagination Bookshop setting the author up for some cajoling of reader’s interest. The author’s daughter sits in the background already interested -- in another Nancy Drew Mystery.

September 21st - West Hollywood Bookfair, West Hollywood, CA
I will be manning the Crime Scene booth from 3 PM to 4 PM and 5 PM to 6PM. The booth will host members of the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime; Uglytown Press and Mystery & Imagination Bookshop, which will be handling the sales of our books. I will be showing off Blood is Pretty and signing, as well as singing the praises of the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. You can check out the bookfair at www.weho.org. 2003 West Hollywood Book Fair

Cover page of the Sisters in Crime/LA newsletter announcing my reading.

January 11. 2004 - Sisters in Crime/LA Chapter Meeting
The Sisters in Crime/LA Chapter meetings take place in the community room of the South Pasadena Public Library. It’s a wonderful organization and they put on great meetings. But even if they didn’t I might go once a month just to visit this library, a 1920’s Carnegie library that was added onto in, I believe, the 1990’s. The high wood-beamed ceiling community room with its rustic metal chandeliers, used to be the extent of the original library. It’s a long room that features a wonderful tall window with the leaded image of a book in it, and that looks out upon two large pine trees and the west end of the small park-like grounds the building sits in the middle of. There’s a calm, small town atmosphere to South Pasadena that transports you nicely out of Los Angeles. It would actually be a good place to set a cozy mystery. Maybe one of the Sisters will do so. I myself am a Mister Sister, being a male, so not technically allowed to be anyone’s sister. I am not the only male member of the organization, which was first organized to lobby for equal treatment for female mystery writers from publishers, but is now also a great promoter of the mystery genre and offers community and support for all mystery writers of either sex. Fans can also join, and are encouraged to do so. You can check them out at www.sistersincrimela.com. At every meeting there is a main speaker illuminating something about the art and craft of writing; publishing; or law enforcement and crime. But before the main speaker a published member is allowed to read from one of their books. January was my month and I had a great time doing it. There’s always a good, responsive audience at a Sisters in Crime meeting, so it is a great way to hone your reading skills. Many thanks to Judy Smith, VP of Sisters in Crime, for putting it all together.