Authors often get asked how much research we have to do for each book. So, I thought I’d share a peek into a bit of the research for MY FAIR LATTE, which comes out March 3 – one month from today. (Think *pre-orders*!) Halley Greer, my unemployed barista protagonist, unexpectedly inherits a timeworn movie theater, which after some renovations, she reopens with a coffee/wine bar … Continue reading Research, or suffering for my art
The Halloween candy isn’t even stale yet and I’m already thinking about Thanksgiving. Because: I have much for which to be grateful. I love watching Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Miracle on 34th Street. And (who are we kidding), the annual feast! My list of Thanksgiving dinner must-haves: Turkey. I’ll admit here, somewhat red-faced, that I’ve never cooked a whole turkey by myself. My … Continue reading Another Thanksgiving, with all the fixins
Mystery writers often get asked, “Where do your ideas (for books, murders, characters) come from?” This is a question I field at pretty much every presentation and every interview I do. Since doing the cover reveal last week on social media for the new series I have coming out early next year, some people have asked, “Where did you get the idea for this series?” … Continue reading Just a Cupful of Inspiration
Every picture tells a story, even the outtakes — or sometimes, especially the outtakes. I was recently sorting through some of my “author” photos. You know, mug shots, pictures of me at events, signings, and other promotional type stuff. It occurred to me that “the Cloud” enables me to hang on to crummy photos almost indefinitely. I’m not terribly vain, so I decided to share … Continue reading Behind the scenes: Author “glamour” shots
If you’re on social media much, then you’ve likely seen posts listing wacky, made-up holidays. You know, like Today is National Popcorn Day (Jan. 19). These holidays are fun to think about and provide easy content on days when you’re stumped about what to post on Facebook (or your blog). Some of the made-up holidays provide suggestions that are just generally a good idea. … Continue reading I Missed Put a Pillow on Your Fridge Day
My job as a mystery writer may include making up ways to kill people (on paper), but I don’t have the nerves to be a criminal in real life. Continue reading Secrets and back story
(The answer to that question today is: stressful! Vickie’s on deadline with the manuscript for My Fair Latté, the first book in her new Café Cinema series, due tomorrow! So, here’s one of her posts from the Chicks’ archives we believe is worth a repeat.) I get asked this question and related questions —Why did you become a mystery writer? How did you end up being … Continue reading So, what’s it like to be a mystery writer?
Lots of authors and readers are gearing up for their annual pilgrimage to Bethesda, Maryland for Malice Domestic this week. Many have posted on social media how much they’re looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones, and how attending their first Malice was like finding their tribe. Kindred spirits. I felt that way, too. In fact, it was at my very first … Continue reading Unhappy camper, and finding your tribe
As a new author, I took to Facebook like a book nerd (which I am) in a library, but I originally resisted Twitter. It looked like a lot of gibberish to me with the abbreviated messages (remember when they could only be 140 characters instead of 280?). And all those symbols mixed in that I grew up calling pound signs looked ridiculous. My husband insisted … Continue reading Do hashtags give you a #pounding headache?
So, when you are a writer and you occasionally (daily) spend too much time on social media, you may start looking for writing wisdom and inspiration on Twitter. Unfortunately, I must not be like other writers because oftentimes these memes completely miss the mark for me. For example: You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write. … Continue reading It was the best of memes, it was the worst of memes
In December, my glasses broke. They didn’t come apart, mind you, they broke like a brittle bone. Not that there’s ever a good time to break your glasses, but in the middle of Christmas shopping isn’t the best time to have to suddenly shell out a few hundred bucks. But since I’d need a guide dog and a white cane to get around without them … Continue reading Buying new frames is a spectacle
When our niece Molly, who is fourteen now, was about two, we gave her a bouncing Tigger doll for Christmas. While enthusiastic with the idea, my husband later became less than enamored with this gift. After I had already wrapped the box and slipped Tigger under the tree, he started bouncing—and singing. He wasn’t moving very far, but he was making quite a racket. Naturally, … Continue reading The Gifts of Christmas Past
