Hi, Ellen here. See all the vintage cookbooks lining the top two shelves of one of our many bookshelves? Here’s what used to occupy them… You’ll notice the bags and boxes are filled with nothing but scripts. Scripts from forty-plus years ago. They were once so important to me that they made the journey across the country when I moved from New York to Los … Continue reading Purging the Past.
A few years ago, my cousin Marie and I met up for lunch at some trendy Manhattan restaurant. I don’t remember what we were talking about, but she suddenly went, “You’re a Californian.” My jaw dropped. I was appalled. I quickly corrected her. “No, no, no. I’m a New Yorker who lives in California.” I’m sure my instant reaction comes as no surprise. New York’s … Continue reading A cover reveal and a change of heart.
I’ve been back from Bouchercon for two weeks and you’ve probably seen a million pix by now, including some of mine. But… I feel a need to share. I haven’t been to a Bouchercon since 2016. I was all set to go to B’con in New Orleans in 2021 – and I actually did go, even though it was cancelled. My daughter was in college … Continue reading Back from Bouchercon – All the Pix and Feels
I semi-joke that I currently have two titles: Ellen Byron, Author and Marketing Director for Ellen Byron, Author. I’m thinking all authors these days can relate to this. Under the guise of my second title, I came up with what I consider a brilliant marketing idea: First Book Fridays. Readers like to start with the first book in a series and since I have three … Continue reading Throwing Promo Spaghetti at the Wall
It’s sum-sum-summertime and you know what that means. Family vacays! Growing up, that meant loading up the family station wagon and leaving at 2 or 3 a.m. (my favorite part of every trip) so we’d avoid traffic and start our trip with a full day of activities. I saw the sun rise over many East Coast states. In my family, summer vacation also meant trudging … Continue reading Hambones gotta hambone.
A funny thing happened on my way to post today. I forgot. Okay, that’s not funny, but it makes for a derivatively witty opening. As for forgetting, the theme of my life these days seems to be blockage. The condition that landed me in the hospital for a week has been changed from an ileus (I still don’t really know what that is) to IBS … Continue reading On Blockages, Literal and Figurative.
This week marks the 35th Malice Domestic, the convention celebrating the traditional mystery. If you’re attending, please say hello–we’d love to see you! Ellen Byron/Maria DiRico “Cozy Or Traditional – What’s The Difference?” panel (Friday at 2 pm) “Simply the Best: Our Agatha Best Contemporary Novel Nominees” panel (Friday at 4 pm) Book Signing (Saturday at 10 am) Kensington Multi-Author Book Signing Event (Saturday … Continue reading Gone to Malice Domestic 2023
I’ve had three medical May Days in my life. (I’m not counting an emergency C-Section because the preeclampsia that necessitated it had been rearing its ugly head for weeks.) When I was twenty-five, a cramp that wouldn’t go away turned out to be a rare tumor. (You can read about that particular adventure here.) Five years ago, a routine angioplasty revealed 70% percent blockage in … Continue reading After a Medical Crisis: What They Don’t Tell You.
Welcome to “Behind the Book,” our fun new Chicks on the Case feature! Join us as we Chicks share the real stories behind our stories. Inspiration, motivation, frustration, jubilation–you’ll find them all right here… Hi, Ellen and “Maria” here! You’ll notice I didn’t include the title of Catering Hall Mystery #4 in the header. And the cover image is on the bottom of this post … Continue reading Behind the Book: “Maria DiRico’s” Fourth Catering Hall Mystery
You know the let-down you feel on January 2nd after the holidays? That doesn’t happen in New Orleans. In fact, those wild ‘n wacky New Orleanians get MORE excited after Christmas because the minute the Epiphany kicks in on January 6th, Carnival Season begins. You can eat King Cake until Lent! You can go to parades! You can dress in my favorite colors, purple, green, … Continue reading It’s Mardi Gras Again!
Welcome to “Behind the Book,” our fun new Chicks on the Case feature! Join us as we Chicks share the real stories behind our stories. Inspiration, motivation, frustration, jubilation–you’ll find them all right here… Hi, Ellen here, pulling back the curtain on my new Vintage Cookbook Mystery. The main plot of Wined and Died in New Orleans is twofold: 1) a valuable cache of 19th … Continue reading Behind the Book: Wined and Died in New Orleans
Well, hello there! If you’re wondering to yourself,” “Wow, this post is late,” it’s because yours truly dropped the ball. I blanked. While there’s no such thing as a good excuse for flaking, here was my week last week: Tuesday night – cross our beloved dog Pogo over the rainbow bridge; Wednesday – pack for the first MWA board meeting of the year in New … Continue reading When Life Gets Away From You
Chicks on the Case 