Alafair Burke profile picture

Alafair Burke

alafairburke

About Me


I'm fortunate to be both a published author and a law professor, two rewarding roles that challenge different parts of my brain and personality. I've noticed that eyes tend to glaze over when I don my law prof hat so this space is dedicated to my books and to my life as a crime writer. I'm new to MySpace so forgive me as I figure out the nuances.
I am the author of four crime novels, including my forthcoming book Dead Connection, a thriller about a killer who finds his victims on a popular dating site (no, not on MySpace). Dead Connection marks a change for me. It is set in New York and introduces NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher. My previous books, Judgment Calls, Missing Justice, and Close Case, all feature feisty prosecutor Samantha Kincaid . Please visit my author website where you can sign up for my newsletter and learn more about my books .

My Interests

Reading, writing, watching either really good or really bad TV, cooking, wine, travel, golf, running, celebrity gossip (can't help myself), and, this one's a biggie, my french bulldog Duffer.

I'd like to meet:

Anyone who reads my books or who is interested in reading and/or writing thrillers and mystery novels. Any other french bullog or other pet devotees.

Music:

Depends on my mood. Prince, Clash, Stones, U2, Jay-Z, Killers, Blondie, B-52s, all of my old 80's europop, Bowie, Weezer, Janis Joplin, Aretha, Andy Gibb. Like I said, my taste (or lack thereof depending on your view) varies.

Movies:

Election, Godfather I & II, Groundhog Day, Sideways, Silence of the Lambs, Working Girl, Shawshank Redemption, Say Anything, Saturday Night Fever, Princess Bride, Rear Window, Edward Scissorhands, American Beauty. Anything with Maggie Gyllenhaal, who in my greatest fantasies adapts the Samantha Kincaid series.

Television:

30 Rock, Dexter, Weeds, The Office, Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls (though they may have jumped the shark with little Gigi), Buffy, Seinfeld, Project Runway, The Dog Whisperer, The Shield, Sopranos, Extras, Arrested Development. (Yes, I know half those shows are off the air. Doesn't matter.) I still love Law & Order but think someone needs to tell that new detective not to walk like the terminator ("Your clothes. Give them to me now.").

Books:

I get in trouble if I don't name every one of my friends, but I am fond of other writers with the last name Burke.

Heroes:

People I meet everyday who find small ways to make the world a better place (Say it all together now..."Awwww.")

My Blog

Am I the last person watching Ugly Betty?

If not, am I the only person who laughed when they played that song Hallelujah during Bradford's heart attack scene. It was ubiquitous on the O.C. Love live Caleb Nichol!
Posted by Alafair Burke on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:40:00 PST

What Bill Clinton’s reading

In case you didn't know, Bill Clinton is a voracious reader, a huge fan of crime fiction, and generous with personal praise to writers. He even called me once after Judgment Calls was published to say...
Posted by Alafair Burke on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 12:01:00 PST

DEAD CONNECTION tour - Day 20 - August 4

Well the names have all changed since you hung around, But those dreams have remained and they're turned around. Okay, so I was only gone for about three weeks, but it was still a good Welcome Back at...
Posted by Alafair Burke on Sun, 05 Aug 2007 09:37:00 PST

DEAD CONNECTION tour - Day 19 - August 3

A motley crew braved the heat for last night's signing at Barnes & Noble. In the house were Hofstra colleagues (from the twenty-somethings to the septuagenarians), Hofstra students (current and al...
Posted by Alafair Burke on Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:40:00 PST

DEAD CONNECTION tour - Day 15 - July 30

Ain't no party like a Portland party cuz a Portland party don't stop...The good readers of Portland turned out the crowd of the tour tonight at Powell's. Unfortunately, you'll have to take my word f...
Posted by Alafair Burke on Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:54:00 PST

DEAD CONNECTION tour - Day 11 - July 26

Today was the first significant flight delay of the tour, from Seattle to San Francisco.  Maybe the Gods really are trying to tell me I belong back in the Pacific Northwest. I rode in a Prius for...
Posted by Alafair Burke on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:46:00 PST

DEAD CONNECTION tour - Day 10 - July 25

Today I nearly had to throw down with the good folks at United Airlines in Denver. Long story. Involved me running two minutes behind the 45 minute cut off to check bags in Denver (b/c I spent 20 in t...
Posted by Alafair Burke on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 05:52:00 PST

DEAD CONNECTION tour - Day 9 -July 24

I swear, y'all.  I leave town for a week and Lindsay Lohan gets popped again?!  Seriously, what kind of entourage does she keep that allows her to engage in high speed SUV chases with a .12 ...
Posted by Alafair Burke on Wed, 25 Jul 2007 07:00:00 PST

DEAD CONNECTION tour - Day 8 - July 23

Today kicked off the second week of tour. The lowpoint was the start of the day, when my four year old nephew in Phoenix realized that mommy, daddy, Auntie Alafair, and he were all going to separate p...
Posted by Alafair Burke on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:23:00 PST

DEAD CONNECTION - Day 5 - July 21

It should be no suprise, but it's smokin' hot in Phoenix in July!  Barbara Peters and her ever-awesome colleagues at The Poisoned Pen hosted a terrific event, as usual.  Thanks especially to...
Posted by Alafair Burke on Sat, 21 Jul 2007 03:13:00 PST