Out with the old, in with the new hip — and accepting progress over perfection

The start of a new year is typically a time to make resolutions and plans. My resolutions are more like wish lists, because if I were truly resolved I’d be thin and have an immaculate and organized home by now. I started last year with a very definite plan and even followed through on my part. But, best laid plans…yada yada. I planned to have … Continue reading Out with the old, in with the new hip — and accepting progress over perfection

Vickie FeeJanuary 3, 2022January 2, 202237 Comments

Vickie Fee

It’s not a mystery

“How did you end up writing murder mysteries?” Implication being, “Why would a nice woman like you write about murderers?” I’ve been asked this question more than a few times. It started innocently enough for me. See if any of the telltale signs apply to you. You might be a mystery writer if: While driving you work out scenes, saying the dialogue out loud. At … Continue reading It’s not a mystery

Vickie FeeNovember 29, 2021November 27, 202133 Comments

Vickie Fee

Frightfully fun

It’s October, which means, well I guess it means a lot of things, but one of those things is Halloween! Here’s one from back in the day, with little sister and baby brother. If you look closely you can see sponge rollers in my hair, which means Halloween fell on a Saturday that year. Mama always rolled our hair into sausage curls for church. When … Continue reading Frightfully fun

Vickie FeeOctober 25, 2021October 25, 202148 Comments

Vickie Fee

School daze

I’ve been enjoying all the first day of school posts lately on Facebook of my friends’ kids and grandkids. Standing on the front porch are smiling youngsters holding a sign that says: “Duncan – First Grade” or “Natalie – Kindergarten.” When my sister’s oldest child started kindergarten, the teacher gave the parents little care packages to take home. (One way to get the lingerers to … Continue reading School daze

Vickie FeeSeptember 20, 2021September 20, 202147 Comments

Vickie Fee

When dreams chase you

I believe we should all chase our dreams. But, I’ve come to believe that when your dreams start chasing you, it’s time to stop running. Most of my life I dreamed of being a published author. I’d long had articles regularly published in suburban newspapers ringing Memphis, Tennessee, where I worked the better part of 20 years as a reporter. But I desperately wanted to … Continue reading When dreams chase you

Vickie FeeAugust 16, 2021August 15, 202145 Comments

Vickie Fee

Bad to the bone

As you’re reading this, I’m likely sitting at home propped up on pillows with an ice pack, or limping across the room hanging onto a walker. With my patient husband’s attention, and the aid of painkillers, I should be doing okay. I had hip replacement surgery on Thursday. Since I posted this before I checked into the hospital, I can only speculate about how I’m … Continue reading Bad to the bone

Vickie FeeMarch 29, 2021March 22, 202170 Comments

Vickie Fee

Where to start?

What’s the best point in the story to begin a book? I’ve gone through some rigorous writing exercises recently trying to figure that one out for myself! After three false starts, I think I’ve got it nailed down for my work in progress. (Fingers crossed.) With this in mind, I thought it might be fun to do a little writing exercise today on Chicks. Readers, … Continue reading Where to start?

Vickie FeeFebruary 22, 2021February 21, 202159 Comments

Vickie Fee

A day to remember — and to dream

My hometown of Memphis, Tennessee has some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, and (in my opinion) the very best pork barbecue you’ll ever taste. Memphis is famous for music from Beale Street to Sun Studios to Stax Records. Unfortunately, it’s infamous for some things, too. On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed by an assassin’s bullet while speaking from … Continue reading A day to remember — and to dream

Vickie FeeJanuary 18, 2021January 17, 202115 Comments

Vickie Fee

Writing advice that doesn’t apply to me

So, when you are a writer and you occasionally (daily) spend too much time on social media, you may start looking for writing wisdom and inspiration on Twitter. Unfortunately, I must not be like other writers because oftentimes these memes completely miss the mark for me. For example: You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write. … Continue reading Writing advice that doesn’t apply to me

Vickie FeeDecember 14, 2020December 13, 202044 Comments

Vickie Fee

All the things I’m (not) going to get done in November

Like many people I start each January with a list of resolutions of all the things I’m going to accomplish during this calendar year. You know the list – ambitious, optimistic, unrealistic goals. Most people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by March and have forgotten all about them by April. Not me. I stop actively pursuing those goals by March, but I tell … Continue reading All the things I’m (not) going to get done in November

Vickie FeeNovember 9, 2020November 9, 202028 Comments

Vickie Fee

Our Missing Links

The virtual version of Bouchercon, which was originally set to be held in Sacramento, California, happens online the middle of October. I’m truly glad they’re going ahead with a virtual event, in light of the Covid-19 crisis. But, seeing the posts this week about the upcoming convention has got me feeling a bit blue about missing the in-person connections of conferences, and has me reminiscing … Continue reading Our Missing Links

Vickie FeeOctober 5, 2020October 5, 202027 Comments

Vickie Fee

Startling milestones — I’m feeling old

Remember Macaulay Culkin, that cute little kid from the Christmas film, “Home Alone”? He just turned forty. Yep, you heard that right. Forty. If it makes you feel old, join the club. Actually, reading last week that Macaulay Culkin is forty was just the icing on my feeling-really-old pity party cake. August brought a couple of other startling milestones in my family. My youngest nephew, … Continue reading Startling milestones — I’m feeling old

Vickie FeeAugust 31, 2020August 30, 202037 Comments