Journeys in publishing (and life) can be rocky. Sometimes we need an extra sprinkle of fairy dust or luck to make it.
Today, we talk about how luck has—or hasn’t—played a role in the publishing and non-publishing aspects of our lives.
When authors are submitting a proposal for a series or for more books in a series, we typically are asked to suggest titles for those books, as well. Sometimes they fly; sometimes they get shot down by the publisher. We think the Chicks have had some pretty cool titles, including The Semester of Our Discontent and Til Death Do Us Party. Ellen’s latest release, Long Island Iced Tina, is a contender for best ever! (Look here for a list of all the Chicks’ books to date.)
But today we reminisce about those titles that didn’t make the cut — or the cover.
Continue reading “Chick Chat: What’s in a title?”
Sometimes it’s hard for us authors to believe we are really, truly…well, authors. What an honor and thrill that the words we tap onto our keyboards magically–or not so magically–become books that other people may read. We Chicks still pinch ourselves sometimes, but here are the moments we realized, Hey, this is real!
Continue reading “The Moment We First Felt Like a Legit Author”
We all love libraries; that’s a no-brainer, right? I mean c’mon, books. For free. With fabulous librarians who can help with a research question, or provide advise on whose mysteries are most like those by Diane Mott Davidson or Donna Leon. Not only that, but they buy and circulate books written by the CHICKS—wow!
Our Chick Chat question for today, however, is this: What is it about our own local libraries that we most appreciate? What special resources or services do our town’s libraries provide that we want to, er…crow about?
Continue reading “Chick Chat: Why Our Local Libraries Rock!”
Season’s greetings, beloved readers! We wish you and yours the happiest of happy holiday seasons and a bright New Year. We’ll see you in January – the 4th, to be exact – but thought we’d celebrate the end of a year by revisiting photos from each Chick’s early beginnings – including our newest Chicklet in the nest, Jen! Leslie Karst Ellen Byron Lisa Q. Mathews … Continue reading Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays!
‘Tis the season for brown paper packages tied up with strings, but instead of talking about our favorite things, we thought we’d share our not-so-faves–namely expressions that set our teeth on edge. Read our least favorite expressions then chime in with your own.
The Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, which is online this year, is happening this weekend–hope to see you there! We’ll be appearing on the following panels: Not So Secret Lives of Authors: Simon Wood (M), William Kent Krueger, Ellen Byron, Gary Phillips, Catriona McPherson Authors are forged by the things they’ve done… and the things they shouldn’t have done. Drop by the “Not So Secret Lives … Continue reading Bouchercon 2020
The topic of the day is hobbies! Old favorites, new adventures… and maybe some future hobbies suggested by you, our intrepid readers!
We Chicks just love our creative spaces. Really. Can you match the Chick with her writing coop? (It’s easy, actually, since our photos are right next to them…)
This week, some of the Chicks are attending Left Coast Crime. We’ll be appearing in the following panels, with book signings to follow. We are also looking forward to meeting those of you who signed up for our Author-Reader Connection. If you’re in San Diego at the conference, please say hello! Ellen Byron Fiction Writers are Professional Liars: But Can They Do It to Your … Continue reading Gone to Left Coast Crime 2020
The Chicks are thrilled to announce the birth of Vickie Fee’s fabulous new book, My Fair Latte! The delightful page turner is the first in her Cafe Cinema Series and we know you’ll love it. AND join Vickie and all us Chicks tonight as we celebrate the launch with a Facebook party from 7-8 p.m. CST!! Click here to buy My Fair Latte! To … Continue reading Happy Book Birthday, Vickie!!
Here Comes the Body, the first book in the Catering Hall Mystery series, by Maria DiRico – who also happens to be Ellen Byron – launched on Tuesday. Since the subplot revolves around a wedding, today the Chicks are sharing some wedding memories of their own- or someone else’s.
Chicks on the Case 