Will robots write our books in the near future? True, we writers spend plenty of time pounding our heads instead of our fingers on the keyboard. But will we hand over our jobs to artificial intelligence? Lisa asked an AI bot to come up with 2 short mystery plots, just for fun … Continue reading Plotting with Robots
It’s middle-ish November, and you know what that means: one of us Chicks is just back from the New England Crime Bake writers conference. Yes, we have photos (sort of), and our faithful Chick correspondent’s annual report… Continue reading In the Mood for Crime Bake
Yes, poppies were the evil flowers that put Dorothy and her friends to sleep in the Wizard of Oz. They also bring to mind the killer seeds of the opium crisis. But the blood-red, starkly bright poppy blossom also represents something more: the memory of lives lost in battle. And maybe–just maybe–a bit of hope for those left behind. Continue reading Poppies – 2022 Edition
Lisa here! I just flew from Bethesda to Brooklyn after a trip to Albuquerque via Boston, and are my wings (and beak) tired. Actually, I took a few buses and trains in there, but you get the idea…Who wants to see a few Malicious pix? Continue reading Chicks on the Road: Malice Domestic 2022
It’s March in the Northeast, the blustery month that comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Smack in the middle are St. Patrick’s Day, the Spring Equinox, and–for one Chick–another ever-green holiday, Christmas… Continue reading The One with the Lion, the Lamb, & No Snakes
Yes, beloved readers, it’s Valentine’s Day. Even if you celebrate Superbowl Hangover Day, Olympic Ice Dancing Recap Day, or your regularly scheduled I-Don’t-Like-Mondays Day, you’ll be bombarded with pink and red hearts and flowers and droolworthy chocolate recipes. You won’t find those here, but one of us Chicks has a public-service warning for you: Beware the Roses… Continue reading The Rose Wars
The late great legend Betty White once said that, in her day, “seeing pictures of people’s vacations was considered a punishment.” (She was referring to Facebook.) Well, dang. One cannot argue with Betty White. But if it’s okay, I thought I’d share a few random photos (with authorly commentary) from my incredible adventure last month in Cartagena, Colombia. Continue reading Notes from Cartagena: Blooper Reel
Remember that hilarious scene in Home Alone where the McCallister family runs around the house like crazy people before they leave for the airport and everything’s a mess? Yep, that is my house right now. And those people are me. I hope you’ll read on, but you’ve been warned… Continue reading The Big “What If?”
It’s said that writing is a solitary pursuit. Or is it? Continue reading Me, Myself, and My Characters
Recently I mentioned I’m a fan of the TV show Ted Lasso. Don’t worry, I won’t give anything away here, if you haven’t seen it yet. This is what you need to know: The bumbling, ever-positive Ted (played by an amusingly mustachioed Jason Sudeikis) is an American college football coach hired to coach a ragtag football (“soccer” to Americans) club across the pond. He literally knows zip about British football. But what he does have to offer is folksy advice—often unsolicited, but always on-point—to those who need a little motivation. Or a lot. Continue reading Through the Dark Forest: Ted Lasso for Writers
Early this morning I received an alert from my no-fail personal emergency broadcast system: my black cat, Lucy. Said emergency had nothing to do with the approach of Choose-Your-Category-Take-Your-Best-Guess Storm Henri. Her concern? Breakfast service, STAT. Continue reading Staying the Course
If you happen to be a Peanuts fan—or a writer—you’ve probably seen the cartoon of Snoopy on top of his doghouse, hard at work on his novel. He has the perfect opening line: “It was a dark and stormy night…” Continue reading It Was a Dark and Stormy Morning…
Chicks on the Case 