I started teaching in 1970, and for thirty-two years I worked full-time in public high schools. In addition, I accepted part-time assignments in community colleges and in the teacher-credentialing program at San Jose State University. In the early days of my career, most of my high school students were immigrants and there was little information about the Mexican school system available. I enrolled at the University of San Francisco, and the result was my doctoral dissertation-- a description of literacy instruction in Mexico. From 1978 to 1998, I continued to visit some of the twenty-six schools used in the study and at the ten-year mark, I replicated half of the research. In 1998, I redid the entire study. Over the years, I published many articles, some teaching materials, and a couple of books based on my conclusions. In addition, I gave several speeches.

Now that I am retired, I can pursue my real passions which are cooking, drinking wine and writing fiction. Out of this love came Rick Podowski and the Hefty Trio. The four books are filled with descriptions of food and wine. Since by nature I am a researcher, I was forced to visit the twenty-eight wineries in the books and sample as appropriate (and sometimes I sampled more than what was appropriate!). In each case, I talked to the various people at the wineries and learned some wonderful stories about the lure of wine. This has been a great experience.

Website: http://www.rickpodowski.com

adoption    amateur detective    amateur detectives    food and wine mysteries    food and wine mystery    food mystery    high tech mystery    mystery    school based mystery    suicide    teachers   

• Murder Talks Turkey on June 07, 2011
  
  Murder talks Turkey is a fun read with lots of zany characters. I enjoyed the cultural aspects concerning the upper peninsula of Michigan, and it was nice to see older characters. The book did require the reader to stretch reality especially with the sex in the duck blind, the ex-sheriff with the mental problems, and the orange shoe gang. Overall, it's a fast paced read.
  
• The Healy Murders on Aug. 04, 2011
  
  This is not a book for the faint of heart. There's lots of blood, torture, and killing. It is well written, and although it requires some suspension of belief (like stealing a gun, and then walking out of the police station), it is fast paced and difficult to put down.
  
• Catho Darlington--Lessons Learned in the Space Age on Sep. 16, 2011
  
  I really enjoyed reading this book which is about a time when the kids had to create their own fun. Catho and her friends were always off on some adventure, and the adults just took it in stride. This book is in stark contrast to today's world where parents are afraid to let their kids play, and excitement comes from the computer screen.
  
• Ice on the Grapevine on Aug. 23, 2012
  
  This is a well-written, well-developed traditional mystery. The characters are very down to earth and engaging and this is especially true for the main character who is very patient and has lots of flaws. I look forward to learning more about Hunter Rayne as I read the other novels in the series. Reviewed by Bob Miller Global eBook judge 2012
  
• Olive Park on Aug. 23, 2012
  
  This is a very engaging story. The author did a great job of developing the plot and I found myself wanting to know more about the two detectives. I found the sections with the larger type distracting, but overall this was a great read. Reviewed by Bob Miller Global eBook judge 2012
  
• River's Bend on Aug. 23, 2012
  
  This is a great story and the author does a wonderful job of adding a Southern flavor to the mystery. The author also provides an historical narrative about the people who left the South for Mexico and ultimately for Brazil after the Civil War. If you like reading mysteries set in the South, then this book would be an excellent choice. Reviewed by Bob Miller Global eBook judge 2012