Messages to Azathoth: A Cinereous Dawn

Agent Diana Berrigan has now been writing Arkham Files stories for seven months. When she started, little was known about the team's target audience—the mysterious cybercriminal nicknamed Azathoth. Over the months, the team has learned his identity and what motivates him. As a result, the subliminal signals embedded within the stories have also evolved.

The new vignette: Wish on a Star

Writing over the holidays has become a tradition for me, and this December I'm writing a story set in January 2005. Recently I'd posted a vignette about Peter's birthday in January 2004, and the upcoming Wish on a Star vignette occurs on his next birthday.

Story Playlists

Penna and I both find it helpful to create playlists when we write a story. The selections act as a personal soundtrack. Some songs evoke the atmosphere of a story, while others depict the mood of a character or simply create a stimulating background to write. Music, just like a plot arc, can extend over several stories. Whenever I hear Crosby, Stills, and Nash, I'm transported back to Arkham. If I play Schubert, the plot bunnies for Klaus Mansfeld come out of hiding. I had Diana reference the process in the last chapter of Nocturne in Black and Gold when the top of her playlist for Cinereous Skies was "Run through the Jungle" by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Novel Progress: NaNoWriMo

This year I participated in my first NaNoWriMo. I'm pleased with what I accomplished, and thrilled that I exceeded the goal of 50,000 words. Thinking it over these last two weeks, I'm undecided if I'll attempt NaNoWriMo again next year. If I do, I'd like to take a different approach.

Arkham Files: A Hybrid Blend

The world of the Cthulhu Mythos, an invention of the horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, has been almost since its inception a collaborative effort. Lovecraft corresponded regularly with other writers, notably Clark Ashton Smith and August Derleth. They later became known as the "Lovecraft Circle." They all contributed to the mythology and sometimes referenced each other's works in their stories. The process has continued to this day. In my stories, I've borrowed elements from many Mythos authors while also adding characters and concepts that are generally not found in Lovecraft's fiction.

Novel Progress: selecting the starting point

When it comes to writing stories -- regardless of whether they're short stories or novels -- I struggle with deciding where to start. That was true for Prime, as well as for the vignette I'm posting for the Caffrey Conversation series this weekend.

Novel Progress: title reveal

In the days before NaNoWriMo began, I finally selected a title for my novel: Prime Conditions.

Team Suggestions for Cinereous Skies

In the final chapter of Nocturne in Black and Gold, several members of the team present Diana with suggestions for her upcoming Arkham Files story, Cinereous Skies. I've grouped below the ideas she's received. But be advised, Diana reserves the right to modify and tweak them as her fancy dictates.

Novel Progress: a character's obsession

For Coursera's Creative Writing: Craft of Plot course, one of the assignments was to write a scene where a character is obsessed with an object so much that, given the choice of living without the object or keeping it and dying within 24 hours, the character would be torn over the decision.

The Game's Afoot

The TV writers didn't equate Mozzie with Sherlock Holmes, but I've long thought Mozzie would view the master detective as a kindred soul. Mozzie would naturally be attracted to Sherlock's brilliant intellect. Both are masters at using disguises. Sherlock, like Mozzie, was an aficionado of classical music and an expert at analyzing cryptic codes. Sherlock's use of a drug to stimulate his deductive reasoning would, alas, also be something Mozzie would appreciate.

Wall Demolition

When it comes to con artists, everyone knows that White Collar's expert is Neal Caffrey. Although other team members may participate in a limited way, he does the heavy lifting. In the Caffrey Conversation AU, we've expanded on the concept. An integral part of Neal's con artistry is his instinct to shield others from any fallout related to his work.

Problem Solving a la Mozzie

When it comes to con artists, everyone knows that White Collar's expert is Neal Caffrey. Although other team members may participate in a limited way, he does the heavy lifting. In the Caffrey Conversation AU, we've expanded on the concept. An integral part of Neal's con artistry is his instinct to shield others from any fallout related to his work.

Cons within Cons

In Nocturne in Black and Gold, the White Collar team devised the U-boat con to take down Adler and Azathoth. Lurking under the surface are at least five other cons, any one of which could potentially torpedo an already elaborate scam.

The U-Boat Con

In The Nocturne in Black and Gold, the White Collar team devises a double-pronged sting to ensnare their two archenemies, Adler and Azathoth. They call it the U-Boat con. For readers who would like to refresh their memory on the significance of the U-boat, this is a review of the key elements.

Novel Progress: using fanfiction

The first assignment for Coursera's Creative Writing: The Craft of Character took me by surprise. Although the instructions didn't use the term fanfiction, that's what they described. We were to take two characters from a book, movie, etc. and place them in a conversation with a new character (in other words, an OC). After several days of indecisiveness about which fandom to use, I landed on sending Supernatural's Dean Winchester and Castiel to the world of my novel, where they encounter Amethyst. Yes, they talk to a duck.

Woman in Blue Redux

When I was posting the Arkham Files story, The Locked Room, I blogged about Diana and Tricia's use of events from The Woman in Blue. (Echoes of The Woman in Blue) In my latest story, Nocturne in Black and Gold, the White Collar team members are gaining a fresh appreciation of those earlier incidents and how they were being manipulated by the Mansfeld brothers.

Novel Progress: crime scene

The second assignment in Coursera's Creative Writing: Craft of Character was to describe a character who isn't in the scene. We weren't allowed to mention the character. Instead, the scene was meant to imply the traits and behaviors of a character who had been there. For this assignment, I sent my main character Zach to a crime scene, where he observes the aftermath of a small child in a jewelry store.

Unlucky in Love: The Clueless Con

In Caffrey Disclosure, a federal marshal told Neal he led a charmed life. Neal objected to the expression, yet it's fitting in many respects. A chance meeting with June enabled Neal to live in a mansion for a ridiculously low rental fee. His serendipitous encounter with Peter in St. Louis, the second chance at a new life, and his natural abilities are a few more of the ways Neal's been blessed. But there's one aspect of his life that has missed out—his love life.

Novel Progress: hospital scene

Previously I posted a backstory scene that ended with my main character Zach injured on a beach when he was a child. What serendipity that an assignment for  Coursera's "Creative Writing: the Craft of Setting and Description" called for a hospital scene. Now you can see a piece of what happens next.

A Silent Howl

When Penna suggested posting her latest vignette "Splash" in September, my first reaction was how welcome it would be. A feel-good tale of Henry adopting a puppy makes a great counterbalance to the turmoil Neal's experiencing in my current story, Nocturne in Black and Gold. But once I had the chance to read the vignette I realized how appropriate the timing was on a deeper level.

Our hearts go out to Las Vegas and Puerto Rico

One of the many delightful aspects of writing the Caffrey Conversation series has been the opportunity to explore different settings. Some are places we've visited only virtually, and hope to see in person some day. Others places are favorite haunts. Las Vegas is one of those. We're devastated at the pain, suffering and loss of life there this week, as we are for everyone impacted by the recent hurricanes that hit Houston, Florida and Puerto Rico.

Over the years we've collected a cast of kind-hearted characters, and here's how we envision their response.

Novel Progress: meet Amethyst

My latest assignment in Coursera's "Creative Writing: the Craft of Setting and Description" had me trying something new: writing in the second-person point of view. We were told to describe a ritual or routine for the character. The resulting scene won't fit directly into my novel, which I'm writing in third person. However, it's an amusing glimpse into the relationship between Zach and the duckling named Amethyst.

Brothers and Sisters

Like their canon counterparts, Neal and Diana have formed a comfortable friendship in the Caffrey Conversation AU. They enjoy teasing each other. Diana's no-nonsense snarky comments make an effective counterweight to Neal's wit. But we've also taken a few liberties with the canon portrayal.

Novel Progress: a slow-motion moment

In Coursera's "Creative Writing: Craft of Setting and Description" the first assignment was to take a brief moment in time and describe it in vivid detail, so that it seems to move in slow motion. I decided to write about my character Zach being shot.

The Many Faces of Mozzie

In Nocturne in Black and Gold, Neal returns to New York City as he continues to grapple with hearing multiple contradictory voices inside his head. Peter is anxious for him to see a psychologist for help, but Neal already has a specialist waiting for him at the mansion. Take a bow, Mozzie! Neal may not give you much respect as a love advisor, but as an expert on multiple personalities rattling within one cranium, he knows you're unsurpassed.

Novel Progress: Zach's backstory

My main character Zach has a backstory, of course. If you've read my Caffrey Conversation stories you know I looooove spinning long, complex backstories for my characters. For the Coursera "Creative Writing: Craft of Style" course, one of the assignments was to write a story approximately 600 words in length. The next assignment was to cut that first story in half, to around 300 words. I chose to write about an angsty incident in Zach's past.

When a Shapeshifter Can No Longer Shapeshift

Neal derives a sense of identity from what seems to be a non-sequitur, namely his ability to shapeshift. He is a superb con artist because, like an actor, he can immerse himself in a role and transform himself into another person. What would happen if he lost that ability?

Puppy Love: the Splash vignette

In case you're wondering, I haven't forgotten or abandoned the Caffrey Conversation AU. For several months, I've been pondering a story from Satchmo's point of view. What would a dog want to tell us a story about?

Novel Progress: Welcome to Zach's home

Since the last time I posted about the novel I call "Prime," I've exceeded my goal of writing 12,000 words in July's Camp NaNoWriMo. At the end of the camp, participants received an invitation to take a set of online writing courses to prepare for November's NaNoWriMo. Last week I completed Coursera's "Creative Writing: The Craft of Style" and now I'm working on the second course. Rather than posting dry updates about how the classes and writing are going, I thought it would be more fun to post a few of the things I'm writing for the courses. This time, I invite you to see the main character's home through the eyes of a visitor.

The assignment: to write a brief description, appealing to all of the reader's senses. I hope you like it!

Klaus Mansfeld: The Character Who Wouldn't Stay Dead

I introduced Klaus Mansfeld, aka the Leopard, in The Woman in Blue as a master art thief and mentor to Neal during his years in Europe. Initially I had no intention of Klaus hanging around. He was killed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art about a third of the way into the story, and I assumed I'd seen the last of him. But characters have a way of taking matters into their own hands and it wasn't long before I began to hear rumblings that Klaus was alive.

Target: Neal Caffrey

When master thief Klaus Mansfeld decided to persuade Neal to rejoin his crew, he called on his brother Rolf, the cybercriminal nicknamed Azathoth, for help. Rolf performed a detailed analysis of Neal to formulate his plan. He identified three key vulnerabilities to exploit.

Yellowface, the Adventures of a Bee Plot Bunny

Bunnyball is the term Penna and I use for bouncing ideas off each other. One of us will start with a concept and toss it to the other for her thoughts. When that bunny comes back, more often than not. other bunnies have hitched a ride. The initial bunny grows and grows, spinning off baby bunnies as it develops, until sometimes it's difficult to remember what we started with. And because we're writing a series that takes place over several years, we have the luxury of continuing the same bunnyball game over multiple stories. A case in point is Aidan's video, Yellowface the Masked Avenger.

Peter & Neal at the Crossroads: By the Book, Take Two

Last week in Ghosts of Caffrey Disclosure, I wrote about the connections between the events of the previous summer and those that take place in Nocturne in Black and Gold. But for Neal and Peter, even more pivotal is what occurred in Penna's story By the Book. That story takes place just after Neal was recruited and describes his first case. The lessons learned made a profound impact on both men and have led them to the crossroads they stand at now.

Ghosts of Caffrey Disclosure

It's no secret that I was inspired by Penna's Caffrey Disclosure for many of the scenes in Nocturne in Black and Gold. Several times Peter and Neal mention events which took place in that story. Sometimes the comparisons are unsettling. Could the ghosts of Caffrey Disclosure be haunting them now?

Two Puzzle Masters

In Nocturne in Black and Gold, Marta Kolar alludes to Rolf Mansfeld having become nearly as fixated on recruiting Peter as his brother Klaus is on Neal. It's easy to understand Klaus's motivation. The master thief known as the Leopard is quite familiar with Neal's ability, having refined his skills as a forger and cat burglar for two years. Klaus came to think of Neal as his younger brother and is now eager to welcome his wayward protégé back. But why is Rolf so interested in Peter?

A Thief Among Thieves

A few weeks ago, Penna wrote about the do-overs and keepers that the Caffrey Conversation AU has allowed us to perform. Removing the felon aspect to Neal's character has permitted us to establish closer relations between him and his fellow team members. It also gives Neal the chance to shed his former life while the team benefits from his expertise. In Nocturne in Black and Gold, particularly relevant is the team's attitude toward Neal's skills as a thief.

One More Light Goes Out

When I heard that singer Chester Bennington of Linkin Park had died, I relived many memories while listening to his music again last night. The songs took me back to the time when Caffrey Conversation was in its infancy.

Shining the Spotlight on Clinton Jones

Writing a long series has given us the luxury of fleshing out many of the supporting characters in White Collar. Agent Clinton Jones is a case in point. Although he appeared in most of the canon episodes, he seldom got to speak more than a few lines and relatively little is known about him. What does Jones do in his free time? What hobbies does he have? Is there any romance in his life? Penna and I've been working to fill in those blanks while also giving him the opportunity for larger parts.

Stepping Stones of Writing Goals

A lot of people hold fanfiction in disdain, but I firmly believe that the experience of writing fanfic has made me a better writer. Back when I was writing By the Book and plotting Caffrey Flashback and Caffrey Disclosure, I had an idea in the back of my mind for an original novel. That idea had been lurking in my mind for a while, and I had been worried that I wouldn’t be able to write a mystery. I told myself that writing the trilogy of Caffrey Conversation stories I was envisioning would give me useful experience. At the end of the trilogy I’d know if I could write mysteries that readers would enjoy. Each story served as a stepping stone toward my ultimate goal.

Subliminal Messages to Azathoth

Diana finished writing The Crypt shortly after the events in Echoes of a Violin. Peter is more convinced than ever that the cybercriminal Azathoth's ultimate goal is to have Neal work for him. Azathoth could coerce Neal by any number of means, but that wouldn't provide the satisfaction of turning Neal into a willing recruit. In The Crypt, Peter has directed the Arkham Round Table to send the cybercriminal a message: "If you're as smart as I think you are, you'll want me too." It's the initial strategy for what Peter has called the "ultimate long con" to bring Azathoth to justice.

Do-overs and Keepers

One of the goals of the Caffrey Conversation AU is to give Peter and Neal a do-over. I wanted to set up their working relationship of canon White Collar at a point earlier in their lives. If they became colleagues and friends before Neal was arrested – so that the arrest never happens – then they would be closer to being on even ground. Without the threat of sending Neal back to prison, with the pressure on Peter somewhat reduced as a result, I thought their friendship and working relationship would have a better shot at success.

Alien Worlds and Races in Arkham Files

In The Crypt, what was previously was hinted at is now apparent. The world of Lovecraft's stories has been expanded into outer space.

Chittaks and Zoogs

The world of the Cthulhu Mythos can be a bleak place. Monsters from beyond space and time that leave their victims paralyzed with fear or worse are the hallmark of Lovecraft's stories. There aren't many happy endings in Lovecraft's tales of terror. That the cybercriminal Azathoth identifies with Lovecraft is not an encouraging sign for the White Collar team. But Diana and her fellow plotters of the Arkham Round Table are not about to let Azathoth and his monsters have their way. Is it possible to write optimistic stories within the realm of the Cthulhu Mythos? They're determined to give it their best shot.

Azathoth, Meet Agrippa

In The Woman in Blue, Azathoth devised a mystery that revolved around a coded message in Latin, antique astronomical instruments, and the Renaissance astronomer Galileo. The Arkham Round Table created what they hope is an intriguing response to his challenge—a mystery woven around another giant of the Renaissance, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa.

By the Book: Panic Phrase

When I started writing By the Book – named for the panic phrase Neal’s supposed to use if he encountered danger during his first undercover assignment – there were a few elements that were panic-inducing for me. Recently I’ve made a few edits to the story, and revisited some of those initial fears in the process. The first fear: during the party scenes, characters were speaking French.

Inside the Arkham Files Vault

Background and story summaries extracted from the Arkham Files locked cabinet in the library vault at Miskatonic University

The Road So Far

Extracts from the Crossed Lines journal (updated through Bewitched)

Holidays with the Caffrey Conversation crew

Why is it that Silbrith and I are so drawn to holiday stories for this AU? After all, the series White Collar wasn't known for holiday episodes. The closest I can recall are the reference to Peter & Elizabeth's wedding anniversary in the pilot episode, and a later episode when El's parents visited on her birthday.

An Orchid By Any Other Name

Plot bunnies are sneaky little creatures. They can pop up anywhere. Lately I've found several irresistible cottontails playing among orchids. Their exotic colors, patterns, and shapes invite me to find a hidden meaning.

Here There Be Dragons

Earlier this year I volunteered to write a story in the Discworld fandom. Dragon’s Egg Blue features a baby dragon, and early in the writing process the phrase “here there be dragons” came to mind. It summed up the challenges I faced with the story, and also became part of the solution.

Playing with Fire

In Caffrey Conversation we've written several stories that include the celebration of holidays. For the Crossed Lines series, the pagan calendar—the Wheel of the Year—provides a rich playground. This cycle, which is linked to the solar solstices and equinoxes, is based on ancient festivals. Since Electra and her sisters are taking advantage of Wicca for their own purposes, I assumed pagan celebrations would hold a special significance for them. The initial concept for Fireflies at Midnight was to write a story revolving around the summer solstice. That the summer solstice is close to Father's Day was a moment of serendipity. The Wiccan term for the summer solstice celebration is Litha. When I discovered Litha is also known as the Fire Festival, I knew I had my theme.

Folks Like Us

Would you know a deity if you bumped into one on the street? I'd like to think I would. Surely they'd give off an aura or gauzy glow to give me a heads-up. But if history is any indicator, I could be out of luck.

Fathers and Sons

Fathers and Sons is the name of one of my favorite novels in Russian literature. The plot of this work by Ivan Turgenev revolves around the relationships between two young men and their fathers. That's also one of the main themes of Fireflies at Midnight.

The Twisted Sisters of Crossed Lines

When I began daydreaming plots for the Crossed Lines series, creating enemies for our remarkably talented heroes was particularly challenging. I could have latched onto any of a wide array of pre-existing villains from Supernatural mythology, but many of their bios didn't fit well into the stories I wanted to write. So I decided to pull out my cauldron and make new ones.

Neal and the April Fools

White Collar and the fan fiction based on the show is often angsty, and sometimes it's good to give the characters and ourselves a break. Fluff and humor were my goals when I wrote the April Fool short story. Neal and friends playing pranks on each other, that's going to be lots of fun, right?

How I met Neal Caffrey

March 21 is Neal Caffrey's birthday, and this year it has me reflecting on how I started watching White Collar and "meeting" the canon characters. It's a long story, and it brings me new insights into the fan fiction AU I created with those characters.

A Question of Ownership

At the end of Echoes of a Violin, Rolf and Klaus Mansfeld are confident that they're in the driver's seat. Soon Neal Caffrey will be working for them once more. Are they right?

When a Conscience Rattles the Cellar Door

In New York, Neal convinced himself that keeping Peter in the dark about the Braque painting was the correct course of action. This isn't a big issue. He routinely keeps secrets from others. For years he hadn't told Henry anything about his years in Europe. He shielded Mozzie from the truth about Klaus's character. Neal believes that it is in Peter's best interest not to know anything about how he and Klaus stole the painting that is now speculated to be the key to the location of a hoard of plundered paintings. He fully intends to return the Braque anonymously after he's uncovered its secret. So why, now that he is in Paris and preparing to put his plan into action, does he agonize about it so much?

Writing Retreat

Once upon a time, I said that when the Caffrey Conversation AU exceeded a million words Silbrith and I should plan to meet in person. After we reached that milestone we negotiated when and where to meet, and this month we held a writers' retreat, spending four days in San Francisco.

A Butterfly's Tale

Do you think Neal's a butterfly? He's been called one, both in canon and in our series.

Neal's Flight Instinct

Warning for minor spoilers for the Caffrey Conversation AU.

Penna started it off by expanding on what happened when Neal ran away after discovering the truth about his father. She added the concept that Neal took up running as a sport in high school to help combat his flight instinct. Neal is well aware that running away from issues isn't the best solution even if it sometimes seems unavoidable. It's an urge that he fights to suppress but doesn't always emerge victorious.

In my stories I extended the concept, comparing Neal's quicksilver nature to water. In An Evening with Genji, I have his art professor, Myra Stockman comment on it. She criticizes him for the lack of identity in his paintings. Like water, he assumes the shape of whatever vessel contains him while keeping his own personality hidden. In other words, he's a shapeshifter.

Neal equates his situation with that of the river. The riverbanks represent his efforts to control his instinct to flow free. If he doesn't win, the river eventually disappears into the ocean and is lost, a phenomenon he's well aware of. Even more distressing is what happens when a storm causes the river to overflow its banks and destroy its surroundings. Neal's greatest fear is that like that river he will hurt others. The loss of identity is a secondary concern.

June's mansion is next to Riverside Park where Neal can run along the Hudson River. In St. Louis as a child, he used to run along the Mississippi. One of Neal's paintings for his first-year exhibition was titled The River. He'd painted it during a bleak period of his life in The Queen's Jewels when he thought he'd have to abandon his dream of a new life in New York City. In Echoes of a Violin, he considers making rivers the theme of his second-year exhibition.

It was a moment of serendipity when I discovered the painting Time is a River without Banks. For me, it embodies how Neal feels about himself in Echoes of a Violin. Marc Chagall created the surrealist work shortly before the outbreak of World War II. The painting is viewed as a metaphor for the flight of Jews across Europe. The title is taken from Ovid's Metamorphoses. The lovers on the riverbank, the river, the violin, and the flying fish—all have a personal significance to Neal. The clock does as well.

Echoes of a Violin on Archive of Our Own
Echoes of a Violin on FanFiction

Trying new things: Crossovers

In a recent post I mentioned that Silbrith introduced meta concepts to our Caffrey Conversation series. She also introduced the use of crossovers, bringing Supernatural characters to our series. When I first started writing the series, I considered a crossover with Psych, but changed my mind. Here we are, four years after I published the first story in our series, and I've finally tried writing a crossover.

Costume Trivia Challenge

Just in time for Mardi Gras, it's time to play Caffrey Conversation Costume Trivia! Can you match the characters to the various disguises and costumes Penna and I have placed them in?

Trying new things: New Fandoms

Last year my intention to make a lot of progress on an original novel was overthrown by a number of factors including procrastination. Sigh. At least I have an outline and character sketches, and inspiration is flowing again.

This year I decided to try a few writing exercises to get me started. Those exercises involved fulfilling requests from a story gift exchange and from an auction, which pushed me into other fandoms. As much as I love White Collar and the Caffrey Conversation AU, it's been good to explore more worlds as a writer.

The Meta World of Writing Partners

Last week in Penna's post on metafiction, she described how we've used Arkham Files to write stories where the characters are aware they're in a work of fiction. Reading her thoughts on the subject caused me to reflect on the similarities between Arkham Files and the meta lives we're leading as writers.

Klaus Always Loved the Classics

In canon, Mozzie and Neal often referred to Kate's love for the classics. In our series, that fondness has been usurped by the two villainous brothers, Klaus and Rolf Mansfeld, and the classics they love are of the musical variety.

Trying new things: Meta

When I started exploring fan fiction back in 2012, I ran into a few White Collar “meta” stories that intrigued me. These were stories where Peter and Neal were aware that they were characters. One that particularly stands out in my memory featured them complaining about the concept of “whump” and wondering why fan fiction authors enjoyed making them suffer.

The Secret Side of Sara

It's a given that Neal keeps secrets. He's a master con artist, after all. Concealing his true self has become second nature. Neal hides things not only to protect himself but also to shield others from any fallout. There's also a playful aspect where keeping secrets has become a game. Neal enjoys being thought of as mysterious and deliberately cultivates the image. In Chapter 3 of Echoes of a Violin, Neal discovers that Sara also has a secretive side.

Neal the Romantic

Elizabeth had Neal pegged from the start. In the pilot episode of White Collar, Peter was hesitant to take a chance on Neal. He admitted to Neal that his wife was the one who convinced him. Peter thought it was crazy for anyone with such a short time left on his sentence to break out of prison. Elizabeth said he did it out of love for Kate. Peter told Neal she called him a romantic. Elizabeth was right.

Riverside Speakeasy

In The Locked Room, Diana inserted many references to events in The Woman in Blue. For details, see my post: Hidden Messages in the Locked Room. In the first chapter of Echoes of a Violin, a new Caffrey Conversation story, I returned the favor. And yes, I'm being more than slightly self-indulgent to have my characters throw a party to celebrate a story's completion. I am now searching for the perfect lava lamp for the writer's cave. Penna wrote about interactions between authors and characters in her latest post. Could I have taken it too far?

Authors and Characters

It started with an idea for a holiday story inspired by A Christmas Carol, where the Caffrey Conversation version of Peter would talk to the White Collar canon version of Peter. It turned into an opportunity to reflect on our role as writers.

Arkham Files Bestiary

Many of the creatures found in the Arkham Files are based on H.P. Lovecraft's designs, but Diana has taken dramatic license with their attributes. Some of the creatures, such as chittaks, were created by her. Assisting her in the project is one of Neal's friends from Columbia University, Richard Carlisle. Richard is a sculptor and, like Neal, a graduate student in the visual arts program.

Hidden Messages in the Locked Room

As part of the Arkham Round Table's strategy to bring down the cybercriminal Azathoth, Diana sprinkled many references to The Woman in Blue and Azathoth's house of horror in The Locked Room.