Happy New Year! I mean, sort of. I know we’re already eight days into this shiny, new year, but I’m still feeling the little spark of optimism I get each year around this time. This year will be DIFFERENT! This year will be BETTER! This year I will be MAGNIFICENT!
For at least three weeks or so.
I have a deep and abiding love for all things Halloween-related. So when the always-awesome Kim Davis asked me to be part of Kathi Daley’s “Halloween Spooktacular” on Facebook, of course I said yes. A Facebook party with a whole bunch of mystery writers and a whole lot more Halloween hijinks? No way was I going to miss that. Since I didn’t know what the other … Continue reading A Killer Halloween Wedding
There are lots of great things about being a mystery writer, but one of the best is watching people’s reactions when you tell them that you kill people for fun. Most mystery lovers are in on the joke, but it’s fun when someone’s eyes go wide as they wonder whether or not you’re actually dangerous. The good news is, you don’t have to write a mystery … Continue reading How to Cultivate an Air of Mystery
One of the reasons I love writing the Destination Wedding Planner Mysteries is that each book lets me spend time in a new location. I don’t just mean literally, like during research trips, but also mentally, like a mini-vacation every time I sit down to write. I can spend the day pretending I’m in a beautiful Mexican village or having a picnic in the wine country, … Continue reading What I Did(n’t Do) on My Summer Vacation
Last month I went on a road trip with one of my favorite people in the world. Along the way, I realized it was the perfect metaphor for the whole plotting vs. pantsing debate. So which am I? Both, as it turns out! Continue reading Plotter? Pantser? Or Road Tripper?
This week, we’re excited to introduce Guest Chick Leslie Karst, author of the Sally Solari culinary mystery series. Leslie’s appeared on the blog before, but she very modestly talked about her recipe for martini chicken instead of herself, so we wanted to take the opportunity for you all to get to know her a little better! Marla Cooper: In addition to writing mysteries and whipping … Continue reading Guest Chick: Leslie Karst
When I wrote about my visit to San Quentin prison with my NorCal Sisters in Crime chapter, I had a hard time keeping my story from sprawling on for pages and pages. I focused on one specific aspect of the story — meeting the prisoners — but didn’t get a chance to talk about the tour itself. A couple of people suggested I write a followup, so here goes! Continue reading “Doing Time, Part 2”
Last Thursday, my local Sisters in Crime chapter visited San Quentin State Prison. It wasn’t exactly what I expected; it was actually way better. I may never use it as “material” for one of my novels. But I definitely wanted to share it with you guys. Continue reading “Doing Time with my Sisters in Crime”
I was hoping she’d work out the kinks in my shoulders. Instead, she gave me some good material for a crime novel. Was it relaxing? Or was it an assault? I’m still not entirely sure… Continue reading Death by Masseuse
MARLA COOPER: Today on Chicks on the Case, I’m excited to introduce hilarious mystery author and all-around awesome person, Cindy Brown. When I met Cindy three years ago at Left Coast Crime, we were both at the exact same spot in our writing careers: We’d both just finished our first manuscript, neither of us had an agent, and we were both trying to figure out … Continue reading Guest Chick: Cindy Brown
When I was writing the second book in the Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Series, I attended a wedding fair in downtown San Francisco, and one thing that stood out to me was the idea of having a signature cocktail at a wedding. I ended up using that in the book, but instead of being at a wedding, the signature cocktail ended up being served at … Continue reading Make it a double: Two signature cocktail recipes for Dying on the Vine
So…. I may or may not come from circus folk. Find out about that time I was researching my ancestors and learned the incredibly true but somewhat exaggerated story of Oscar Kraus, The Kansas Giant, and his ongoing quest for true love. Continue reading “Circus Freak” Seeks Same: A Tall Tale
Chicks on the Case 