One of the many things I love, love, love about storytelling is channeling the characters who inhabit the worlds I create. Becoming those characters during my writing sessions is like playing virtual dress-up. I can be clever, courageous and well-organized. And while I spend time in their world, my coffee mug is never empty—or at least not for long. Continue reading Character Lessons
I’m thrilled to welcome Michael Rigg, my Mardi Gras parade whisperer and fellow NOLA chronicler, to Chicks today. He’s been on quite a ride as he anticipates the release of his second Jonathan Gray, M.D. mystery – which is great, BTW! Thanks for the opportunity to update “the Chicks and Krewe” since my last visit on November 5, 2025. What a six-months it’s been! In … Continue reading Guest Chick: Michael Rigg
I was talking with someone at Malice Domestic a couple weeks back about the use of MacGuffins in mystery novels and films and afterwards got curious about the origin of the term—and the literary device, itself. So down the research rabbit hole I went. First, I wondered, what exactly is a “MacGuffin”? Basically, it’s an object, person, or secret in a story that drives the … Continue reading A MacGuffin By Any Other Name…
With Left Coast Crime and Malice Domestic behind us, and all of us living in different parts of the country, it’ll probably be a while before we get to see each other in person again. So let’s plan a hypothetical Chicks retreat — and everyone’s invited! So, Chicks: where would we go and what role would you volunteer for? Readers, you should chime in on … Continue reading Chick Chat: Where should we all go next?
Please join us in welcoming CB Wilson: gemologist, dog lover, and author of the Gem Hunters Mysteries and the Barkview Mysteries! CB has graciously provided a giveaway today, so please read on and reply below to be entered. What is a diamond specialist, really? A geologist who understands how carbon transforms under pressure deep within the earth? A trained gemologist who can grade clarity, color, … Continue reading Guest Chick: CB Wilson
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday…Having trouble remembering exactly what day it is? Well, good news! You can easily rule out Sunday… Continue reading Sunday Scaries, We Want You Back
Well, another Malice Domestic is officially in the books! It was my first time at the mystery conference since 2017 and it was so, so much fun to see old friends and meet new ones. Here are just some of the highlights: 1. Seeing Old Friends Malice truly is like summer camp where you get to see all your old friends. And hey, look! It’s … Continue reading A Few of my Favorite Memories of Malice 2026
I cannot cook. This malady largely stems from the fact that I do not like to cook and have put only as much effort into learning this skill as is required to keep myself and my two young’uns alive. My cooking style would most aptly be described as ‘how fast can I cook this meal’? (Insert my mom yelling “you can’t cook everything on high.”) “Fast” is a technique that doesn’t work well when cooking but it has worked for me with respect to writing. Continue reading Guest Chick: K.D. Richards
Scrolling around on my phone, I suddenly realized I have a birthday coming up very soon. Since I’m at an age that I don’t celebrate birthdays anymore, it’s not a big deal. The only reason it is a SEMI big deal is that it reminds me that my mom’s birthday is coming up kind of soon. She’s someone that I do still celebrate birthdays for. … Continue reading Just remembered that it’s not my birthday
Let’s give a warm Chicks welcome to Guest Chick Lina Chern, author of tarot card mysteries PLAY THE FOOL and TRICKS OF FORTUNE. Lina is giving away a copy of PLAY THE FOOL to two lucky winners! Read on, and leave a comment before midnight April 25 to enter. May the cards fall in your favor. Take it away, Lina! Do Tarot Cards Work? I … Continue reading Guest Chick: Lina Chern #Giveaway!
Hi all, Ellen here! Well, due to last week’s accidental publish of this post, it didn’t go out again today as your regular Monday blast. But I had fun writing it and I want you to read it, so I came up with a workaround – I hope. Click here or click on the photo below to read the post. Thanks for your patience! (And … Continue reading A link to “Swag from my TV Past”
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone in the mystery community who knows me that the minute I heard about authors making trading cards – authors Raquel V. Reyes, Daphne Silver, and Nicole Asselin to be specific – I was all in the idea. I made and ordered my own cards in about twenty minutes. Thus, I’ll soon add them to a supply of … Continue reading A Swag Blast from my TV Past
Chicks on the Case 