It’s been nearly six years since I was invited into the feathery fold of Chicks on the Case. Over these 72-odd months, I have blogged about everything from writing to my overuse of exclamation points to my penchant for running in argyle socks. I’ve also had the incredible pleasure and privilege of collaborating with my dear, dear Chicks, hosting guests, and having hilarious, meaningful, and … Continue reading Free-Range
I’m getting ready for the fight of the year, and no, I’m not talking about boxers who don eponymous garb to jab and uppercut their way around the ring. I’m referring to the battle of the bons mots to see which will be crowned Word of the Year. I’m fascinated by these verbal fisticuffs. I love language in its ever-evolving iterations. How else can we … Continue reading War of the Words
As mystery writers and readers, danger seems all around us. Dark alley lurkers. Poisoned parsnips. Weaponized anacondas. (I’m just guessing on that last one.) But lately, I’ve encountered some unexpected hazards. At the keyboard. You see, Danger isn’t my middle name. It’s Typo. And sometimes Emoji-o (which should totally be a word). I’ve previously spoken of accidentally using the wrong emoji reaction on Facebook. I … Continue reading Danger isn’t my middle name.
What an absolute pleasure to welcome back longtime friend o’ the Chicks, J.C. Kenney, as our guest blogger! J.C. is a bestselling author, webcast host, cat lover, and all-around wonderful person. Today, he connects his latest release to some bookish geography, along with some great shout-outs and recommendations. Take it away, J.C.! Thank You, Florida Storytellers Hey there, folks! It’s always a blast to hang … Continue reading Guest Chick + Giveaway: J.C. Kenney
I’m a big fan of BuzzFeed quizzes. Curious which Pink Lady you would be? Wondering what your dessert preference reveals about your inner animal? Ready to help decipher “which celebrity my dad is talking about”? BuzzFeed has your back. Or tells you which famous background you most resemble. Either way, inspired by BuzzFeed, I’ve been thinking about creating my own quiz: a Nosy-O-Meter that measures … Continue reading Nosy-O-Meter
One reason I decided to double my major—and my fun—by adding psychology to my English literature studies was my fascination with dreams. Okay, sure, the idea of psychoanalyzing coworkers when I wasn’t diagramming sentences or analyzing Swift (two tasks I was certain I’d perform with my lit degree) had more than a little appeal. But it was the thought of being tasked with interpreting dreams … Continue reading Dream On
We adore Nancy Cole Silverman and we double-adore having her on Chicks on the Blog. Today, the award-winning, multi-series writing author talks about old passions and new beginnings. Take it away, Nancy! I used to have a great aunt who, at 66, decided to go back to nursing school because she wanted to be a travel nurse and, at 70, build a harp because she … Continue reading You’re Never Too Old
As mystery readers and writers, our minds often turn to things that go bump in the night. However, I’d like to talk about a terror much more immediate and acute: things that creep in the day and night. I’m, of course, talking about spiders. We all have our phobias or the lesser, non-clinical version, phobiettes (yes, I made that up). Conventional wisdom places public speaking … Continue reading The Creeps
My son is home from college, and in addition to hauling along what seems to be a semester of dirty laundry, he’s brought a whole new vocabulary. I embrace linguistic trends. To me, they point to a language that’s alive and well. (Not a lot of new words and phrases in Latin.) And while I can, no cap, talk about how bussin his new drip … Continue reading Peevish
The Chicks are over the moon to welcome back FOTB (Friend of the Blog) and author extraordinaire Liz Milliron. The author of two series and multiple short stories, Liz has made a name for herself with compelling characters, wonderful writing, and a dedication to community and craft. Speaking of names, Liz has a few words about that, as well. Take it away, Liz! What’s in … Continue reading Guest Chick: Liz Milliron
Welcome to a new Chick Chat series: WIPs & RIPs, a bookish report of what we’re writing (a.k.a. Works In Progress), what we’re reading (i.e. Reads in Progress), and which projects we’re bidding a fond Rest in Peace. Read on, then chime in to tell us what’s occupying your WIP & RIP lists.
Continue reading “WIPs & RIPs: Inaugural Post”
Facebook is like my very own time capsule. Every couple of months, it’ll unearth a photo or a post that reminds me that my hair used to defy gravity, I spent a lot of time cutting up grapes for my children, and once, when I didn’t realize the house was on fire, I responded to the gathering smoke by gleefully exclaiming, “Hey, smells like camping!” … Continue reading Are you there, Muse? It’s me, Kathy.
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