Guest Post: Randal Brandt

We are thrilled to be hosting a special guest today: Randal Brandt is Head of Cataloging and Curator of the California Detective Fiction Collection at The Bancroft Library (University of California, Berkeley). Randal has also been announced as the Fan Guest of Honor at Left Coast Crime in 2026 (where our own Leslie Karst will be the Toastmaster). Please join us in giving Randal a … Continue reading Guest Post: Randal Brandt

Guest Chick: Jenny Dandy

Today the Chicks are happy to present the marvelous Jenny Dandy, author of the Houses of Crime mysteries: The Brownstone on E. 83rd and The Penthouse on Park Avenue. Today she’s talking about characters inhabiting her dreams. Take it away, Jenny! What Are All These Characters Doing in My Bed? Well, more accurately, in my dreams. Yes, I dream about my characters. I don’t mean … Continue reading Guest Chick: Jenny Dandy

Guest Chick: Ann Claire

Happy Wednesday! Patricia here, and it’s truly my pleasure to welcome Ann Claire to Chicks on the Case. I love her post. As a writer and runner, it especially resonated with me. Whether you’re an aspiring author or a published author with millions of words under your fingers, I think you’ll find it inspiring, too. Welcome, Ann! Take it away! Mid-pandemic, my husband confessed. He’d … Continue reading Guest Chick: Ann Claire

Guest Chick: Molly MacRae & #Giveaway

Happy to have Molly back on the blog! I’m always excited to hear about origin stories, and Molly has a great one! Clouds in My Bathroom Sink – An Origin Story and a giveaway Origin stories are great. Though the origin of the phrase is a bit nebulous, first appearing in print sometime between 1910 and 1915, origin stories themselves are as old as human … Continue reading Guest Chick: Molly MacRae & #Giveaway

Chick Chat: Friday the 13th June Edition

Embrace the spirit of triskaidekaphobia: Friday the 13th is here! As luck would have it, superstition holds that bad luck may befall us due to any number of events, calendar-based or otherwise. We’re sharing our views on this most inauspicious of days, along with the ways we may (or may not) try to avoid bad luck.  Chime in with your Friday the 13th thoughts and … Continue reading Chick Chat: Friday the 13th June Edition

Guest Chick: Judy Penz Sheluk

It’s always a pleasure to host our beloved Canadian friend Judy Penz Sheluk, whose career is awe-inspiring. Not only is she an accomplished author, she’s also launched her own publishing imprint to resounding success. Today she’s going to talk about the inspiration for the theme of her latest short story anthology. I’m back visiting the Chicks once again, this time to tell you a bit … Continue reading Guest Chick: Judy Penz Sheluk

Guest Chick: Michele Drier

We’re so happy to welcome back the wonderful Michele Drier. Setting is a huge component of mysteries and Michele’s take on the topic is spot on. I’ve always considered setting as a character, both in my reading and my writing. Although I don’t write much detail about my characters—leaving it up to the readers to picture them for themselves—I do include details about where the … Continue reading Guest Chick: Michele Drier

Guest Chick: Deborah J. Benoit

Spring has sprung, and if you are a gardener–or someone who appreciates gardens–do we ever have the perfect guest with the perfect book for you (and she has kindly agreed to give away an autographed copy to one lucky commenter)! Please help us give a warm welcome to Deborah J. Benoit, author of  The Gardener’s Plot… Anyone who knows me knows that two of my … Continue reading Guest Chick: Deborah J. Benoit

Guest Chick: Barbara Nickless

Happy Wednesday, my friends! Patricia here, and I’m grinning from ear-to-ear. I’m excited to be hosting my first-ever Guest Chick. Barbara Nickless is a bestselling and award-winning author of thrillers novels. She’s joining us to explore the concept of “failing” with grace. Barbara, thank you so much for visiting with us. Take it away! I was a few minutes late meeting my cousin at a … Continue reading Guest Chick: Barbara Nickless