-NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER-
K.R. Hughes & T.L. Burns
NEWS & EVENTS
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Book Fairs
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Oct 21, 2017 Book Fair - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Come by our booth!
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Mar 17, 2018 Book Fair - Come see us specifically from 12:30 - 2:00
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - 1401 E Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV, 89119
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Speaking Engagements and Workshops
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May 19, 2018 - Group Writing, 11:00 a.m. at the Aliante Lib, N. Las Vegas, NV
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Sep 8, 2018 - Script Writing from 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. at the Aliante Library, N. Las Vegas, NV
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Sep 15, 2018 - Writing as a Team, 11:00 a.m. at the Sahara West Lib, Las Vegas, NV
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Sep 19, 2018 - Beginning Book Writing, 6:00 p.m. at the Rainbow Lib, Las Vegas, NV
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Nov 7, 2018 - Marketing 101, 6:00 p.m. at the Centennial Hills Lib, Las Vegas, NV
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Nov 10, 2018 - Beginning Book Writing from 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. at the Aliante Lib, N. Las Vegas, NV
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Nov 28, 2018 - Marketing 101, 6:00 p.m. at the Rainbow Lib, Las Vegas, NV
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Feb 2, 2019 - Beginning Book Writing, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. at the Clark County Lib, Las Vegas, NV
March 23, 2019 - PBS Literary Event, 12:00 p.m. Location TBA
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April 20, 2019 - Marketing 101, 11:00 - 12:30 at the Clark County Lib, Las Vegas, NV
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With Donald J. Trump winning the election a lot of controversy has followed him but that isn’t unusual. Although we think, here in this new millennium, that we are in a unique place in history it isn’t entirely true.
Kennedy was in the same place. He needed to prove to the public that he had what it took to be a great leader. He narrowly beat Vice President Richard Nixon. He was unexpectedly placed in the middle of the Cold War with Russia. There were many social issues that needed to be addressed.
Kennedy and Trump both faced the nation with a renewed vigor and hope, which frankly the American public distrusted. They both entered the White House to problems with Russia, winning an election many believed was unwinnable, and dealing with racism.
While it is yet to be determined what legacy Donald Trump will leave the nation with, it is safe to say he is going to change America, much like Kennedy did. Hopefully it will be a positive change that will leave us with a much happier future and a warm fuzzy feeling when we remember Trump. Certainly, John F. Kennedy is remembered with fondness.
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BOOK THREE, BRIGHTEST DAWN, IS COMPLETE! You can now order the trilogy on Amazon.
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Current Project - Pod Casts
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When Las Vegas was first beginning to gather the reputation for “Sin City” it was run by the Mafia during the 1950’s and 60’s. The mob had run things for years but when the entertainers began getting involved that’s when the Vegas playground began to gain steam. Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack pretty much ran the town along with their cronies. What many people say they miss about those times includes the feeling of being safe, knowing that as an employee you were always taken care of, and the casinos were typically more friendly and welcoming to their guests than they are today.
Such iconic casinos include, The Palms, The Plaza, Desert Inn, and Sinatra’s own casino, the Sands. All of these were run with the highest level of customer service that is rarely seen today. Most of the guests were greeted by name when they came or went from the hotel.
The guests enjoyed the luxury of mingling with the stars. Celebrities would never have dreamed of distancing themselves from adoring fans, but frolicked in the pools with them or enjoyed the opportunity for a photo op. Fans made the man. They could make or break Vegas with what they reported when they arrived home, so fans were treated like valued friends or sometimes even like family.
Gaming was a different beast as well. Many people who enjoyed gambling never worried about leaving chips on the table to visit the necessary room or take a phone call. It never occurred to them that someone might make off with the stack. Why not, you may ask? Primarily because there was a strict code of honor among the men who gambled and the code was never broken unless the guest wanted to end up with broken knee-caps and left in the desert.
The mob simply took care of things. They were entrenched in the way of life here in Vegas unlike anywhere else on earth mainly because the city was run by them and there was no secret about it unlike in other places. Perhaps we’ve lost too much of the ‘family’ run feel of Vegas. The nostalgia is gone and we’re losing gamblers. Maybe if we brought some of the old world charm and gentlemanly conduct back into vogue, we’d be a much better society.
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Research
TL Burns is the guru of research. She utilizes the internet, library, thrift store books, and real people to gather the massive amounts of history that fills all three books. She has notebooks, index cards, sticky notes and scraps of paper all over her desk. But it's worth the effort, every high tech gadget; from car phones to torture devices, has been researched and authneticated for these books. For instance, did you know that Marilyn Monroe used to pretend she was a detective, would wear disguises, and call herself Zelda Zonk?
Creative Writing
KR Hughes is the creative writer in this duo, with her concise witty style she keeps the reader fully engaged. Her work has been compared to Dan Brown in the constant character changes with unimagined plot twists. It is impossible to guess the story line in advance. Once the ideas are hatched with Burns, Hughes then sits back at the computer and lets her fingers fly. Her brain is amazing. She takes pages of historical events and brings them to life in a humorus bit or a thrilling climax.
Teamwork
They get asked all the time "How do you do it? How do you work together? Do feelings ever get hurt or toes stepped on?" The collective answer is 'No.' They have learned to respect each other's gifts and help each other in any way they can to nurture those gifts. Burns loves research and history. Hughes loves writing and creating. Together they weave a believable, alternate history that the fans just eat up.
What's Next?
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The writing duo plans to write Cozy Mysteries, with Marilyn (a.k.a. Norma Baker) and her significant other, Bill Walton, as unwitting detectives. When Marilyn was alive she would pretend to be a detective, wear disguises and go around telling people she was someone else. What better roll for an actor and an ex Secret Service man. They live in Texas with Maf their dog, on a ranch for Bill to run and an acting studio for Norma. The first book will be out early 2018.