Today the Chicks are pleased to present the fabulous (and prolific) author Maddie Day, who also writes as Edith Maxwell. Her newest mystery, A Case For the Ladies, featuring sleuth Dot Henderson and pal Amelia Earhart as they investigate the murders of several young women in 1926 Boston, releases next month, and we can’t wait! And she’s giving away of a copy of the new … Continue reading Guest Chick: Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell)
It seems my home in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is receiving what lots of people across the nation were hoping to hear from Punxutawney Phil, the world’s most well-known groundhog — that there’s going to be an early spring. As Joni Mitchell famously said, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” Hey, Phil, can we take it back? According to the news, Punxutawney … Continue reading Don’t Know What You’ve Got
Growing up, we didn’t usually eat dessert or get it when we went out—except at Chinese restaurants, which gave us treats for free. Sometimes we’d receive orange slices, but other times, we got fortune cookies! Not only did I enjoy crunching into them, but I also appreciated the fortunes inside. I started amassing the messages. It helped that when we got into the restaurant business, … Continue reading Fortune Cookie Message Collector
We’re thrilled to welcome Julie Mulhern back to the coop! Today the multi-talented, multi-series-writing author gives us the long and short of writing shorter form fiction–complete with a prequel preview. Take it away, Julie! Part of the Process It’s a truth universally acknowledged, at least at my house, that it’s harder for yours truly to write a short story than a novel. Novels allow space. … Continue reading Guest Chick: Julie Mulhern
Hi, Ellen here. See all the vintage cookbooks lining the top two shelves of one of our many bookshelves? Here’s what used to occupy them… You’ll notice the bags and boxes are filled with nothing but scripts. Scripts from forty-plus years ago. They were once so important to me that they made the journey across the country when I moved from New York to Los … Continue reading Purging the Past.
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
Today we Chicks are delighted to welcome lovely and talented author Karina Bartow back to the blog. Karina is sharing her latest title in The Undefeated Detective series, ACCIDENTAL ALLIES, and posing a tricky question… Continue reading Guest Chick: Karina Bartow
Let’s begin by establishing that I am a person who wonders about things quite a lot. My husband, who is much calmer than I am in practically every way (unless he’s watching sports), has helped me realize that not everyone has the need to question, like, everything. It’s useful in some ways–I believe that being curious about something is a genuine path to discovery. And … Continue reading Just wondering. Again.
The other day I saw this meme and it made me laugh, so I reposted it to my Facebook page. Many of my friends saw it and laughed with me, proudly confessing they had at least one exactly like it, but shaking their cyber fist at the idea it was time to throw it away. I agree. Those cookie sheets are perfectly fine. They simply … Continue reading Becky’s Heroic Journey
That’s right! We’ve got a special going on for all you Barnes & Noble Rewards members. Use code PREORDER25 and get 25% off any preorders! (Print, ebooks, and audiobooks are all included.) Which books do we have lined up for 2024? FEBRUARY 20, 2024 ~ ILL-FATED FORTUNE ~ Jennifer J. ChowThe first in the heart-warming and deliciously mysterious Magical Fortune Cookie series: When Felicity Jin … Continue reading Special Alert: Preorder Deal on Chicks’ Books
Help us welcome one of our writer friends (see what I did there?) …. Mariah Fredericks! She’s traveling today, so her comments depend on the kindness of the wifi on the train. But be patient … she’ll be here. Writer Friends Writer friends—they’re the best. That person you can send the roughest draft of a chapter and they will tell you it’s awesome, amazing, so … Continue reading Guest Chick: Mariah Fredericks
Where do you get your ideas for characters? Are they based on people you know? Are they based on you? Such are the questions authors are often asked. And for me, the answers are: everywhere, yes, and yes. But it’s not quite so simple as that. None of my characters are based solely on any one person. Rather, they’re mostly an amalgam. Or perhaps the … Continue reading A Rainbow of Characters
Chicks on the Case 