Over the years, I’ve heard many authors describe their books as having come into being by some variation of this: “A character appeared and I followed.” Once upon a time, I found such explanations slightly frustrating: I had always longed to write a novel, and I even had the basic idea for a mystery in … Continue reading
In the mystery course I recently taught, we found the ending of Agatha Christie’s A Murder is Announced to be both disconcerting and glorious. There are many wonderful aspects to her writing, but we were most engaged by how she gracefully “undoes” the characters we felt we knew because she had built them so convincingly. … Continue reading
Yes, I already recounted the Ikea Bookshelf Saga, but may we please talk about bookshelves one more time, as a prequel of sorts? (Then, I promise, we never have to speak of them again.) It’s just that…they are so versatile and present. They can change a room, make artistic statements. There’s a reason they are … Continue reading
When Ikea opened in our town a number of years ago, I thought it would be fun to check it out. What I didn’t know was that the store is set up so that you are shuttled through every single section until you reach the end. You are swept along in one relentless flow through … Continue reading
We’re as excited as baby goats in springtime to announce the two latest Chicks to join us here at Chicks on the Case: Cynthia Kuhn and Vickie Fee. And in related news, we’re adding Wednesday posts! Vickie writes the Liv and Di in Dixie Mysteries, and Cynthia writes the Lila MacLean Academic Mysteries. … Continue reading
