Having a Chick serve as toastmaster at a mystery conference is big news. But in 2026, not one but TWO Chicks will step up to take center stage, at two of our favorite mystery conferences, and we couldn’t be more excited! First up, at the end of the month, Leslie Karst will serve as Toastmaster for Left Coast Crime in San Francisco. Then, in April, … Continue reading Toasting the Toastmasters
Hey, everyone, Marla here! One of my favorite things about mystery conventions is meeting other mystery authors and readers, and last fall at Bouchercon I had the good fortune to meet today’s guest, author of THE MIDNIGHT TAXI, Yosha Gunasekera. For starters, she’s just a lovely human, and also, her new book looks amazing! Take it away, Yosha! I take a stroll in my neighborhood … Continue reading Meet Guest Chick Yosha Gunasekera
In honor of the wonderful and beloved Catherine O’Hara. From Delia Deetz to Moira Rose and everyone in between…what a sublime collection of unique, hilarious, and unforgettable characters she created! What are your favorite performances or moments, if you feel like sharing? Here are some of mine: Schitt’s Creek: Moira Rose filming the winery commercial, the way she takes her role in “The Crows Have … Continue reading In Honor of Catherine
We were dumped on. Where I live, the winter storm delivered about a foot of snow. And I must say, I’m not a great fan of these negative numbers masquerading as “temperatures.” As I’m typing this, it’s 3 degrees. Not a fan. It’s getting warmer, though. Thank goodness. Continue reading Take a hike
Jen here. Super excited to welcome Lori to the blog! I love the premise of Wreck Your Heart, and I appreciate Lori sharing about line dancing. I’ve done a little bit myself and enjoyed it! For one of my launch events for Wreck Your Heart, a mystery novel set in Chicago’s country music scene, the bookstore host hired a dance instructor to come teach us … Continue reading Guest Chick: Lori Rader-Day
It’s Jen’s book birthday today! The third book in her Magical Fortune Cookie series has baked up this mystery: Is Felicity to blame when a hotel guest drowns after eating her enchanted cookies? Felicity Jin returns in the third installment of the Magical Fortune Cookie series.A group of high school alumnae reunite years later and reserve rooms at Pixie Inn for an extended retreat. As … Continue reading Release Day: TELL-TALE TREATS
My life as an author has been pretty darn busy of late. But I’m not complaining—it’s busy in a very good way. You see, I’m currently working on/dealing with three different books all at the same time. First, I’m thrilled that Waters of Destruction, book two in my Orchid Isle series, has been nominated for a Lefty Award for Best Mystery Novel. The winner will … Continue reading Three Books at Once
Today the Chicks are excited to host some of the 2026 nominees for the Lefty Awards, to be awarded at Left Coast Crime: San Francisco Schemin’. We’ve asked each nominee to share about how they come up with titles in general and/or for their nominated book. Congrats, Lefty nominees! Lefty Nominees for Best Humorous Mystery Novel Ellen Byron, Solid Gold Murder Sometimes a title magically appears, … Continue reading Lefty Award Nominees~San Francisco Schemin’
Ellen here, welcoming Suzanne Trauth. As a Theatre Arts major, I can totally relate to her post! And she’s hosting a giveaway for a copy of her new book, The First to Die. Read on… Location, Location, Location! I’ve spent my life in the theatre—writing plays in grade school, directing the class play in high school, majoring in speech and theatre in college, while performing … Continue reading Guest Chick: Suzanne Trauth #giveaway
Lisa here, with exclusive life updates on 8 bratty but beloved characters from kid lit classics. Many of them grew up to be (spoiler!) bona fide members of the mystery community. Did your childhood literary idols make the list? Continue reading Sleuth, Author, Villain, Brat: Where are Your Fave Kid Characters Now?
by Marla Cooper The last couple of weeks, I’ve been putting the finishing touches on “Welcome to Cozy Town” — a comedic mystery short for lovers of cozy mysteries and amateur sleuths. It took longer than expected to write, but honestly I was having so much fun throwing every cozy trope I could think of into the mix that time got away from me. And … Continue reading Feline Detectives: Rating my Cats as Crime Fighters
We’re so happy to be hosting Kerry Peresta, author of the Olivia Callahan Suspense and Back Before Dawn. Please help us give her a warm welcome! When a Character is Cornered, the Claws Come Out Suspense is often mistaken for momentum (short chapters, ticking clocks, escalating perils), but none of that matters if the character at the center remains unchanged. In my own work, I … Continue reading Guest Chick: Kerry Peresta
Chicks on the Case 