The “Throw Spaghetti at the Wall and Hope Something Sticks” Approach to Marketing

Through the years since my first mystery was published in 2015, I’ve developed a finely honed approach to marketing my books, something we are all tasked with these days. Let me bullet-point my approach for you: Yup. That’s it. One poor, lonely bullet point. Like all authors, I’ve blogged, guested on podcasts, and done in-person and virtual appearances at bookstores. My overall goal is to … Continue reading The “Throw Spaghetti at the Wall and Hope Something Sticks” Approach to Marketing

Ellen ByronJune 24, 2024June 22, 202440 Comments

Kathleen Valenti

The Creeps

As mystery readers and writers, our minds often turn to things that go bump in the night. However, I’d like to talk about a terror much more immediate and acute: things that creep in the day and night. I’m, of course, talking about spiders. We all have our phobias or the lesser, non-clinical version, phobiettes (yes, I made that up). Conventional wisdom places public speaking … Continue reading The Creeps

Kathleen ValentiJune 21, 2024June 18, 202450 Comments

Guest Post

Guest Chick: Tom Burns

We’re delighted to have author pal Thomas A. Burns Jr. visiting with the Chicks today. It’s nice to have a fella on deck, since we have more authors of the female variety that hang out with us on the blog. Tom writes the Natalie McMasters Mystery and also writes stories about one of the most beloved detectives of all time —Sherlock Holmes. Today he will … Continue reading Guest Chick: Tom Burns

Chicks on the CaseJune 19, 2024February 12, 202636 Comments

Cynthia Kuhn

a marathon, not a sprint

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about difficult long-term projects: how much endurance they require, how there are points where the desired outcome seems impossible, and how giving up may actually seem like the logical (and more attractive) option. For example, in my teaching job, it has been necessary to produce scholarship. Here’s how that process has tended to go. Have jolt of awareness that … Continue reading a marathon, not a sprint

Cynthia KuhnJune 17, 2024June 17, 202430 Comments

Becky Clark, Behind the Book

Behind the Books: Becky’s Crossword Puzzle Mysteries and a Giveaway

My Crossword Puzzle mystery series has a lot of moving parts. It has the crossword puzzles, for one thing. I got my love of crosswords from my dad—and made him so proud when I began doing them in ink. I learned how to construct them before I wrote these books which was as fun as it was maddening. I won’t go into all the rules … Continue reading Behind the Books: Becky’s Crossword Puzzle Mysteries and a Giveaway

BeckyJune 14, 2024June 7, 202433 Comments

Guest Post

Guest Chick: Lois Winston

Today we Chicks are delighted to welcome back fabulous author Lois Winston and celebrate the lucky-13th title in her Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, SORRY, KNOT SORRY. Join us as she gives the scoop on the origins of some of her most hilarious titles… Continue reading Guest Chick: Lois Winston

Chicks on the CaseJune 12, 2024June 11, 202434 Comments

Leslie Karst

Home Away From Home

“You spend half the year in California and half the year in Hawai‘i? What a perfect life that must be!” Such is the response I tend to get upon people learning of my dual life in Hilo, Hawai‘i and Santa Cruz, California. They’re right and they’re wrong. Yes, it is marvelous getting to live in two such beautiful locations. I’ve been in Santa Cruz since … Continue reading Home Away From Home

Leslie KarstJune 10, 2024June 9, 202445 Comments

Chick Chat, Group Post

Chick Chat: Favorite Pets

Whether it’s a clever cat, delightful dog, or rambunctious rodent, our pet project is rooting for and fawning over pets of all kinds. Today we’re talking about some of our favorite furry friends–in books and in life.

Chicks on the CaseJune 7, 2024April 4, 202512 Comments

Guest Post

Guest Chick: Molly MacRae

The Chicks are pleased today to welcome the fabulous Molly MacRae, author of the Highland Bookshop Mysteries, the Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries, and the brand new Haunted Shell Shop Mysteries, the first of which, Come Shell or High Water, releases on June 25th! Take it away, Molly: Sand, Shells, and Secret Cemeteries Here’s my recipe for a cozy mystery beach vacation: Come Shell or High … Continue reading Guest Chick: Molly MacRae

Chicks on the CaseJune 5, 2024May 29, 202429 Comments

Lisa Q. Mathews

The Trouble with Perfect

Lisa’s reporting in from Book Jail, where she’s diligently writing the next title in the Irish Bed and Breakfast Mysteries (launching with THE JIG IS UP on 8/20). Yes, she’s been spending plenty of time at home, but she’s also been living 24/7 in a crazy parallel universe… Continue reading The Trouble with Perfect

Lisa Q. MathewsJune 3, 2024June 2, 202430 Comments

Kathleen Valenti

Peevish

My son is home from college, and in addition to hauling along what seems to be a semester of dirty laundry, he’s brought a whole new vocabulary. I embrace linguistic trends. To me, they point to a language that’s alive and well. (Not a lot of new words and phrases in Latin.) And while I can, no cap, talk about how bussin his new drip … Continue reading Peevish

Kathleen ValentiMay 31, 2024May 30, 202441 Comments

Mysteries

Oops!

We inadvertently sent out today Molly MacRae’s guest post for next Wednesday. Although we immediately took it down, many of you still received an email regarding the post (which should now take you to a “Post Not Found” page). We apologize for this, and for clogging up your email with even more junk. But we promise you’ll get to see Molly’s marvelous post NEXT Wednesday, … Continue reading Oops!

Chicks on the CaseMay 29, 2024Leave a comment