Today the Chicks are pleased to welcome Judy Penz Sheluk, author, editor, and publisher extraordinaire, whose newest anthology, Larceny & Last Chances, released just last month. Take it away, Judy! THE FINE ART OF COVER ART It’s said a good cover can sell a book. I’m not sure if that’s true but I do know, from personal experience, that some of my books have better … Continue reading Guest Chick: Judy Penz Sheluk
Hi, it’s Ellen! Sorry about the late post. I had four events – three events in one weekend – to shill for, I mean celebrate the launch of A Very Woodsy Murder, my first Golden Motel Mystery. Two out of the three were policed by those of a furry persuasion: bookstore cats. I don’t know why I haven’t paid attention to this phenomenon before. There’s … Continue reading Bookstore cats
Welcome to our new Chick Chat series: WIPs & RIPs, a bookish report of what we’re writing (a.k.a. Works In Progress), what we’re reading (i.e. Reads in Progress), and which projects we’re bidding a fond Rest in Peace. Read on, then chime in to tell us what’s occupying your WIP & RIP lists.
Continue reading “WIPs and RIPs”
We adore Nancy Cole Silverman and we double-adore having her on Chicks on the Blog. Today, the award-winning, multi-series writing author talks about old passions and new beginnings. Take it away, Nancy! I used to have a great aunt who, at 66, decided to go back to nursing school because she wanted to be a travel nurse and, at 70, build a harp because she … Continue reading You’re Never Too Old
It’s release day for A Very Woodsy Murder, the first book in Ellen Byron’s new Golden Motel Mystery series. What happens when Dee Stern, a burned-out sitcom writer, impulsively buys a retro rustic motel in California’s Gold Rush Country with her best friend-turned business partner who also happens to be her short-lived first husband? And their very first guest checks in but doesn’t check out… … Continue reading Happy Book Birthday to A VERY WOODSY MURDER!
With the Olympic Games starting soon, the excitement is palpable. Athletes coming together from around the globe is an amazing thing–conceptually, emotionally, and logistically. And even though the main goal is competition, so many other aspects can be marvelous to witness. The races, matches, and events themselves can be thrilling to watch, of course. The demonstration of talent and determination can be impressive and inspirational. … Continue reading Olympics Week is Here!
I have a daily “Unexplained Mysteries” calendar from the History Channel. Most of the mysteries aren’t very mysterious. Some of them are just ancient ideas that have been debunked by science. But some of them are truly perplexing and fascinating. Like these. Sometimes I mull these over while I’m swimming in the morning. Inevitably, though, my mind wanders back to all the unexplained mysteries in … Continue reading Unexplainable
We Chicks want to give a warm welcome to Sydney! She’s here to talk about different ways to discover a new book–including being drawn to beautiful covers! Judge a Book by its Cover? You Bet I Do! By Sydney Leigh With so many books coming out every month, even the most voracious of readers has to whittle down their list of TBR’s (To Be Read’s). … Continue reading Guest Chick: Sydney Leigh and #Giveaway
I don’t think of myself as a huge sports fanatic, but of late I’ve been doing an awful lot of sports watching: the Tour de France, the Euro Cup, baseball, Wimbledon. Part of it is the timing, since this is the period when those sporting events occur. But it’s also definitely an escape from, well…the world. Because truly, who enjoys reading the newspaper headlines these … Continue reading Why Can’t They All Win?
Writers know how to get things done. Writers know how to meet deadlines. Writers know how to research. Writers know how to…procrastinate. Today the Chicks share our favorite tactics for putting off finishing— or starting — that next book. Deep cleaning: Guests will be dropping by. Eventually. Deep research: You might need a shovel for this. Reading a book comp: your agent might ask. Right? … Continue reading Chick Chat: Procrastination
The Chicks are excited to welcome Gianetta Murray to the blog today. She has a wonderful tale to tell about her journey across the pond to a new life and how it inspired her enticing new mystery… Stranger in a Strange Land Despite a long career as a librarian and tech editor, I always knew I wanted to write a murder mystery someday. I was … Continue reading Guest Chick: Gianetta Murray and #giveaway
Strawberry season was a bust here in NH last month, thanks to extreme early heat and nonstop rain. Rinse and repeat. But I have high hopes for blueberry season later this month… Continue reading On Blueberry Hill
Chicks on the Case 