Tomorrow marks the official release of my newest Orchid Isle mystery, Murder, Local Style. The book is set in a small neighborhood reminiscent of the street where Robin and I live in Hilo, Hawai‘i, and concerns the local orchid society that my protagonist, Valerie Corbin, joins in order to make some friends in her new-found home. Robin and I adore our neighborhood and are eternally … Continue reading My Mom, the Potter
Personal experience provides the best life lessons. I firmly believe that. To be clear, I’m grateful when people share their experiences with me. It shows a generosity of spirit when someone takes the time to explain a lesson they’ve learned just to spare us the same unpleasant experience. Continue reading Will we ever learn?
Marla here, welcoming Maddie Day back to the blog. One of the most fun parts about having guest Chicks is learning the interesting backstories of our fellow cozy mystery authors, and today’s story is the perfect example. Read on to hear about the time Maddie took on a traditionally male-dominated job — and comment for a chance to win a copy of A POISONOUS POUR! … Continue reading Guest Chick: Maddie Day
Titanic. Forrest Gump. Jurassic Park. Harry Potter. Bridget Jones’s Diary. Clueless. Pulp Fiction. Whitney. Grunge, prep, and hip hop. The 90s nostalgia is real. Did we ever really say Bye-Bye-Bye? Continue reading The 90s Called: They Want (the Real) You Back
Friends, I did it. I finally relaunched my Destination Wedding Mysteries on Tuesday, starting with book one, Terror in Taffeta. Now that the dust has settled and the flurry of last minute duties is over, here are some thoughts I wanted to share. I loved the cover design process as much as I thought I would. About a month before launch, I had a perfectly … Continue reading Behind the scenes of a book relaunch
Jen here. Excited to host Michelle on the blog today! We did a recent panel together, and I’m excited about her debut mystery. A cross-generational sleuthing duo? Yes, please! Michelle has also enjoyed the exciting traveling life of her main character Harry–see her amazing pics below! Who’d have thought that thirty minutes on a Saturday morning as a kid in front of a TV would … Continue reading Guest Chick: Michelle L. Cullen & #Giveaway
Join us in celebrating a very special book birthday with Marla Cooper! Today marks the relaunch of her Destination Wedding Mysteries. Originally published in hardback by St. Martin’s, TERROR IN TAFFETA is now available in paperback for the first time ever! Amazon | Goodreads ABOUT THE BOOK: Wedding planner Kelsey McKenna is just a few hours away from wrapping up her latest job: a destination … Continue reading Happy Book Re-Birthday: Terror in Taffeta
I usually glance at the next day’s weather forecast on my phone, so I have a general idea of what’s supposed to be coming our way. For about a week recently, I was constantly checking the weather. As most of you know, I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We get more snow than most people, and I’m accustomed to that since we moved … Continue reading Snowpocalypse comes to town
We recently had the Los Angeles Marathon, and two of my family members (spoiler: not me) ran it! It’s been said that writing is like a marathon, but is it really? The quote is often attributed to Robert McKee, and as I combed through running pics, I reflected on this analogy. Here’s my takeaway: SIMILARITIES Mileage 26.2 miles. Friends, this is long. Runners trekked from … Continue reading Is Writing Really Like A Marathon?
Hi, Ellen here, welcoming Laura Jensen Walker back to Chicks. Enjoy her journey from inspiration to publication for her latest mystery – and a giveaway! Authors, have you ever been told, “It won’t sell?” Laura was. But it didn’t stop her… Senior Sleuths – A Look Behind the Scenes of my New Cozy (Giveaway) Thanks so much to Ellen and the Chicks for having me … Continue reading Guest Chick: Laura Jensen Walker #giveaway
I’ve yet to meet a mystery convention I didn’t love. Each offers its own benefits. Thanks to Malice Domestic’s William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers, I have a mystery writing career. I have filled my belly with free hors d’oeuvres at Bouchercon parties hosted by publishers. And Left Coast Crime offers something you won’t find anywhere else: Author-Reader Connections. The concept is simple. … Continue reading Left Coast’s Author-Reader Connections
here are two distinctly different approaches to getting things done: There are the noble early birds who like a good lead time and believe that if you’re five minutes early, you’re ten minutes late. And then there are the clutch performers who thrive under pressure and love a good deadline, especially if they get to do jazz hands and yell “Ta-Da!” as the clock strikes midnight. Where do the Chicks fall on the spectrum? Let’s find out! Continue reading Chick Chat: Are you an early achiever or a deadline sprinter?
Chicks on the Case 