The Chicks’ hot wheels…
Mercedes, Rolls, Teslas… are what we’d love to drive. Here are our actual wheels.
Continue reading “The Chicks’ hot wheels…”
Author: Ellen Byron
My Love Affair with a Vintage Car
(gratis image courtesy of Pixabay) One thing I’ve learned in L.A. is that certain cars reflect and even possess certain personalities. I can pretty much count on BMWs to zoom in and out of freeway lanes like a soccer forward moving down the field. Pickup trucks seem to revel in exceeding the speed limit and bullying people out of their way by tailgating. (Hence my … Continue reading My Love Affair with a Vintage Car
Chicks Interview: SinC President Diane Vallere
Diane Vallere is a powerhouse. Not only does she write four — that’s right, FOUR — mystery series, she’s served in a variety of volunteer positions, culminating in her current gig as national president of the renown organization, Sisters in Crime. How does Diane do it all, and what tips does she have for fellow authors? Read on… EB: How on earth do you write four series? … Continue reading Chicks Interview: SinC President Diane Vallere
Are cozy mysteries modern fairy tales?
For my sixteen-year-old daughter and me, the TV show Once Upon a Time is appointment viewing. (To be honest, we both have a crush on Hook, aka Guyliner. He’s so cute!!!!) As we watched the show a few weeks ago, it occurred to me that cozy mysteries have a lot in common with fairy tales. In both, the hero or heroine’s mission is to identify … Continue reading Are cozy mysteries modern fairy tales?
Gifts from the Writing Gods – that’s you!
One thing I love about writing my series is how someone’s off-the-cuff comment can inspire a subplot or even an entire plot. I’ll give you two examples straight out of my newest release, BODY ON THE BAYOU. (How’s that for a smooth segue into shameless shilling?) When I was mulling over a plot for the second book in my Cajun Country Mystery series – available … Continue reading Gifts from the Writing Gods – that’s you!
The Terror of Book Two
Tomorrow, September 13th, BODY ON THE BAYOU, the second book in my Cajun Country Mystery series, launches. I should be all… But instead, I’m all… When your debut novel gets published, you’re nervous, but it’s more of a giddy-nervous than an uh-oh-I-better-not-be-a-one-hit-wonder nervous. Everyone is excited for you. Family and friends buy your book just to show their support. There are contests specifically devoted … Continue reading The Terror of Book Two
And our votes for president go to…
This may come as a shock to some of you, but we’re in the middle of a presidential race. And it got us Chicks thinking… which of our characters would make the best leader of the free world? Who in our fictional world would we nominate for the toughest job on earth? Continue reading “And our votes for president go to…”
And they call it puppy love
How are these for opening shots? On the left you see Pogo. The white furbaby in the picture on the right is Wiley. Both were adopted from the Amanda Foundation, an animal rescue in Beverly Hills. I tell my husband all the time, “It’s the dogs or anti-depressants.” And I’m not kidding. I love my dogs. Like, crazy love them. Lucy, the first dog we … Continue reading And they call it puppy love
Ellen Does RWA
To be honest, I didn’t really do the Romance Writers of America convention. But I couldn’t resist an opportunity to pay homage to the iconic porn movie title, Debbie Does Dallas. Anyhoo, this year I had the great good fortune of having my debut mystery, Plantation Shudders, nominated for a Daphne Award in the category of Best Mainstream Mystery. The Daphne’s are sponsored by Kiss … Continue reading Ellen Does RWA
A Telemarketer Gave Me a Character
I was getting ready for work this morning when I got a telephone call. In a hurry, I didn’t check Caller ID. Here’s the conversation: Me: Hello? Woman on the other end: Ellen?(Tinkly laugh) Hi, wow, you’re harder to reach than the last cookie in the cookie jar. Me: (Confused) Who is this? Woman: Oh, it’s Jenny and I’m calling from the – Me: CLICK! … Continue reading A Telemarketer Gave Me a Character
My daughter the reader.
I’ve always been an avid reader. I have a small scar on my forehead from where I walked into a tree as a kid while I was deep into a book. When I gave birth to our daughter, I promised myself two things: she would never be a bully and she would always be a reader. These days, the former is easier than the latter, … Continue reading My daughter the reader.
Casting Call for Agatha Best First Novel Nominees
We invited this year’s nominees for the Agatha Best First Novel award to fantasize about what film or TV stars they’d cast in their mysteries should Hollywood come calling. TESSA ARLEN: Aha, I have already done this exercise with the wonderful Marshal Zeringue over a year ago. It is such a great question. So, for Clementine Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Montfort -my amateur sleuth, who … Continue reading Casting Call for Agatha Best First Novel Nominees
Chicks on the Case 