Architect turned award-wining author, S.J. Rozan, is our featured interview this week at Elaine’s Literary Salon
Meet the Author: S.J. Rozan was born and raised in the Bronx and is proud of it. She spent over 20 years as an architect in New York City and is kind of proud of that, too. Now she writes and teaches. She’s done 15 books in the Lydia Chin/Bill Smith series, two standalones, and two paranormals co-written with Carlos Dews under the name Sam Cabot. She’s also published eight dozen short stories and edited or co-edited three anthologies.
In 2024, with THE MURDER OF MR. MA, SJ launched a new series co-written with John Shen Yen Nee.
SJ’s work has won the Edgar, Anthony, Shamus, Nero, and Macavity Awards, and she’s a recipient of the Japanese Maltese Falcon. She’s served on the National Boards of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime and is a past President of the Private Eye Writers of America. She’s received Lifetime Achievement Awards from both Private Eye Writers of America and the Short Mystery Fiction Society. SJ has been Guest of Honor at Left Coast Crime, Toastmaster at Bouchercon, and an invited speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (2003). As if that weren’t enough, she has the key to the city of Fort Worth, Texas.
About her newest book, coming Nov. 10, 2026
: A missing shipment of weapons for China and the murder of an aspiring scientist kick-start a madcap dash through the world of seances, prizefighting, cutting-edge technology, Holmesian cameos, and many disguises.
London, 1924. Judge Cheng Gao Shang has been sent by Sun Yat Sen’s government to look into the death of Dee Ren Jie, the larger-than-life investigator who had kept the local Chinese community safe. But Dee isn’t dead; he’s hiding out with his friends Lao She and Sergeant Hoong while keeping a close eye on Cheng’s activities. Has Cheng actually come to London to track down a shipment of arms covertly sent from England, intended for Sun Yat Sen as he attempts to unify China?
Judge Cheng’s daughter, Irene, is also in London, and the intrepid, intellectually curious young woman quickly falls in with some very interesting associates. But tragedy soon strikes—or is it something more sinister? To find out, Dee Ren Jie will have to rise from the dead in this action-packed kung fu caper, the third installment of the Anthony Award–winning Dee and Lao Mystery Series.
Click here to buy all of S.J.’s books.
About our Elaine’s Literary Salon Host, Jeffrey James Higgins: A retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays, Jeff has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, National Geographic, and The New York Times. Learn more: jeffreyjameshiggings.com
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Elaine’s Literary Salon is located at Elaine’s Restaurant, 208 Queen Street, Alexandria VA
About Elaine’s Restaurant: A menu filled with delicious modern Mediterranean cuisine selections is sure to please everyone in your party. The dishes are inspired by exquisite food from Alexandria, Egypt — a blend of Middle Eastern and French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is named for the owner’s grandmother and is based on a promise she made at the age of 12, growing up in Cairo. “I promised my grandma I would someday own a restaurant and name it after her,” shares Cynthia, who is also an author. She and her husband, bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins, are proud to share my family’s recipes with new friends and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.” Located in an 1880s building, it was the former home of the beloved bistro Bilbo Baggins for 38 years. The newly renovated restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River and Founders Park, just a few blocks from The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.
About our Elaine’s Literary Salon Host 
And meet the PR Director for Elaine’s Literary Salon, InkandescentPR.com’s founder, Hope Katz Gibbs. With her team of award-winning journalists, illustrators and video producers, they help writers up their PR and marketing game with professionally produced podcasts on 
