The first year we lived in our current house, it felt as though we’d been transported to Disneyland for Halloween–people up and down the street decked out their homes with oversized decorations and all sorts of curious items that spewed mist or growled sporadically or otherwise scared trick-or-treaters. Spooky music was blasted from various houses and neighbors dressed in elaborate costumes. There was a fantastic … Continue reading Hello, Pumpkin Patch

Usually, I love a good stroll down the office supply aisle. There’s something deeply comforting about looking at a colorful selection of writing utensils and notebooks. (That’s not just a writer thing, right?) But August means that it’s time to take a deep breath and gear up for the obstacle course also known as school-supply shopping!  Every year, we lurch around the store, while I … Continue reading That Time of Year Again

With Bouchercon coming up in August, I thought it might be useful to share a few tips for anyone who is going for the first time…some things may be useful for mystery cons in general. (And experienced con attendees, please add your suggestions too.)  Panel Hop (It’s Fine). There are so many panels scheduled that choosing among them seems impossible. But at Bouchercon 101, the very … Continue reading Some Things to Know Before You Go

As a young reader, I tore through the different series featuring Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, Bobbsey Twins, and Hardy Boys.  As a teenager, I favored mysteries by Phyllis Whitney, Agatha Christie, and too many others to count.  Yet I have no memory of reading a mystery for school (other than the mystery of math word problems).  Knowing at least the basic conventions of mystery is crucial for … Continue reading The Curious Case of the Classroom

Order item, which you need by Friday. Check online tracking service on Wednesday and see that it has already arrived in your city. Receive nothing on Wednesday.  Receive nothing on Thursday. Email customer service at store: explain that the item was in your city on Wednesday and was supposed to be delivered on Thursday but now it’s Friday and you haven’t heard anything. Receive no return … Continue reading How to Get a Delivery Appointment

Since we just passed a full year of pandemic quarantine life, I was planning to write something thoughtful and retrospective about that. It’s such a milestone. It’s important to think about, and I have been thinking about it for weeks. But when I sat down to write the post, I changed direction because–honestly, where I’m at right now is exhausted and in a mood. And I know … Continue reading I Have Some Questions

[While searching desperately for holiday bows in the basement, I found an old email about skating wedged into a box on my “wrapping center,” which started out as an empty table with plenty of room for wrapping but now contains the following: 9,462 pieces of kiddie artwork; assorted holiday decorations that we never put back in their proper storage places; and an old wooden Thomas … Continue reading Time Capsule: Skating Tale

Reading is a brave thing to do.  We must sally forth into the unknown imaginative world.  We must suspend our disbelief.  We must agree to follow the rules of the text.  We often end up living in a space of almost understanding. I want to take a moment to honor the almost.  We tend to race past this; it’s not always comfortable to entertain uncertainty. … Continue reading Almost and In-Between

Most of the readers I know don’t just “enjoy” reading—we love it. Must read. Can’t imagine a day without it. With this in common, it’s very interesting to consider how differently we all do the same thing. Some favor routine: a favorite time and location, perhaps with a desirable beverage. And many people are fond of reading in bed, snuggled under a cozy blanket with … Continue reading Variations on Reading

True things that I couldn’t have even imagined saying just a few months ago. My new goal is never to touch my own face. There are a bunch of bandanas in the dryer. I don’t think the dog wants to go for another walk. Wishing for a bottle of hand sanitizer for my birthday. What’s your favorite mask design? I’ll get a haircut next year, … Continue reading New True Things