Chicks Celebration: Launch of Writing the Cozy Mystery anthology

Welcome to “Chicks Celebration,” our fun new Chicks on the Case feature! Join us as we Chicks share what we’re currently celebrating (book release, new idea, recent read)… 1. Which Chick is celebrating? Jen 2. The reason for the celebration? The launch of the anthology, Writing the Cozy Mystery: Authors’ Perspectives on Their Craft. It released on August 5th. 3. What have you been doing to celebrate? A bunch of … Continue reading Chicks Celebration: Launch of Writing the Cozy Mystery anthology

Jennifer J. ChowAugust 16, 2024August 18, 202429 Comments

Jennifer. J. Chow

Pushing Myself

There’s this recurring dream I have where I’m taking a timed test. Did I mention that it’s a stress dream for me? For someone who’s a total nerd (confession: I was part of my high school’s Academic Decathlon team), you’d think I would enjoy exams. But I always felt the heavy weight of expectations. This was why I had to push myself to contribute to … Continue reading Pushing Myself

Jennifer J. ChowAugust 2, 2024July 30, 202432 Comments

Jennifer. J. Chow

Authentic Author Photos

I was meeting a fellow writer friend for lunch, someone I’d only previously interacted with online. When she showed up, she said, “You look exactly like your author photo!,” and she meant it as a compliment. This led me to wonder: How accurate should author photos be? I mean, I have friends who hate having their pictures taken. I know people who opt for … Continue reading Authentic Author Photos

Jennifer J. ChowJune 28, 2024June 25, 202431 Comments

Jennifer. J. Chow

Goat For It!

I think I first heard about goat yoga from fellow writer, Sarah M. Chen. Then AJ Devlin put it in his book. And Paula Charles/Janna Rollins has a goat yoga studio in her new series. So, of course, I jumped at the chance to try it…at a party. For her birthday, my friend decided to corral some goats. Yes, the goats will come to you … Continue reading Goat For It!

Jennifer J. ChowMay 24, 2024May 22, 202438 Comments

Jennifer. J. Chow

Bookless in Seattle

After Left Coast Crime, I experienced a little moment of panic at SeaTac airport. Where was my e-reader? I mean, I did spot a Little Free Library at the airport. Should I circle back? Good news is that I eventually found my tablet nestled in a side pocket of my luggage. Not that I had to worry. I did also have books packed away inside … Continue reading Bookless in Seattle

Jennifer J. ChowApril 19, 2024April 18, 202437 Comments

Jennifer. J. Chow

Realizations

For the last three weekends, I’ve been busy with bookish or writing-related activities. It seems like I haven’t had a “real weekend” in forever. While my hubby mistakenly believed the other day was Pi Day, I honestly thought, “What day is it even?” Case in point: When I went into the grocery store recently, I saw a Cheerios box with the word “Mom” on it; … Continue reading Realizations

Jennifer J. ChowMarch 15, 2024March 14, 202426 Comments

Behind the Book, Jennifer. J. Chow

Behind the Book: Ill-Fated Fortune

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– research, rewrites, tidbits– you’ll find them all right here… I visited a fortune cookie factory for book research. With a new series called Magical Fortune Cookie novels, I had to. Yeah, it’s a tough job, but someone’s … Continue reading Behind the Book: Ill-Fated Fortune

Jennifer J. ChowFebruary 2, 2024February 1, 202438 Comments

Jennifer. J. Chow

New Year, New Heart

Recently, my older daughter had to create a braided narrative for her English class. This means she wove together present and past timelines, along with different perspectives. Since the true story was supposed to contain a medical element, she decided to do an in-depth interview with my dad for inspiration. It’s been six years since my dad got a heart transplant, and it feels long … Continue reading New Year, New Heart

Jennifer J. ChowJanuary 5, 2024January 3, 202446 Comments

Jennifer. J. Chow

Why I Love Pods

I’m not talking about Cascade pods, though those keep my dishes clean. Or coffee pods (#TeamTea here, and I use bags or loose leaf). I’m referring to dolphins. Over Thanksgiving weekend, my extended family went whale watching. The last time we tried (at a different location), the kids were young, and one of them did not enjoy the rocky ride. Alas, that previous experience had … Continue reading Why I Love Pods

Jennifer J. ChowDecember 1, 2023November 29, 202325 Comments

Jennifer. J. Chow

A First Time for Everything

Last weekend, I participated in the inaugural Ashland Mystery Festival. It took place in Ashland, OR (not to be confused with Ashland, OH—as one reader pointed out to me). Anyway, I had a wonderful time there! Unlike most mystery conventions, which happen in the same hotel, this one (organized by the amazing Ellie Alexander) spread out the activities. There were loads of things to do: … Continue reading A First Time for Everything

Jennifer J. ChowOctober 27, 2023October 25, 202342 Comments

Jennifer. J. Chow

Who Likes Quizzes?

I like quizzes. What about you? Well, actually, I don’t like pop quizzes. I feel my kids’ pain when they talk about those—something clearly along the lines of feeling crushed by books: (Honestly, I still get stress dreams about taking exams.) Nevertheless, I’ve often enjoyed quizzes. These are the kind of questionnaires that come with glossy magazines. Nowadays, we can take fun tests online. Caveat: … Continue reading Who Likes Quizzes?

Jennifer J. ChowSeptember 22, 2023September 20, 202333 Comments