Perched at my kitchen counter with a mug of late morning coffee as I delete endless marketing pleas from every retailer I failed to stroll or scroll past fast enough, I’m in the depths of holiday prep despair. Christmas is indeed coming, and I am…nowhere. Continue reading Cold Case of the Missing Christmas Villagers: 2025 Update
Y’all. Y’ALL. I have started five different posts, each with a solid theme. But really what I want to do is put on my cozy pajamas, make a cup of hot cocoa, and sit around the fireplace laptop and chat. Can we just do that? I just got back from a five-day trip to New York — the first time I’ve ever been in December. … Continue reading Patience, Fortitude, and other things a writer needs
I have a confession to make: I’ve never understood fairy tales.
When I was little, my parents read to me each night before bed. Often they read fairy tales, and I liked some of them. (I was especially fond of “The Shoemaker and the Elves.” Who wouldn’t want clever elves doing their work for them at night? Continue reading Guest Chick: Lisa Harkrader
A-I is controversial. So, let’s play with it a bit here. It just serves as a bit of Christmas fun for us today. We’re not writing a book for an agent or editor.Let’s have A-I start the dysfunctional Christmas story and then switch to author writing. The first couple of hundred words spring forth from A-I. Here’s a ~175-word blog-style piece blending a femme-fatale vibe … Continue reading AI-AI — Wh0ah
The other day, my family and I went to the seaside, where I spotted objects floating in the water. “See those buoys!” I said, pronouncing the word like boys, whereupon the rest of my family looked at me oddly. They corrected me, stretching “buoy” into two syllables, more like boo-ee. (To be fair, after some online digging, it seems like the latter is the American … Continue reading Readers Who Mispronounce
We’re happy to welcome Melissa to the blog! The Abbey and its cozy community is such a great setting! Community Matters in Dropped Like a Bad Habit A favorite cozy mystery trope of mine is a close-knit setting where everyone knows each other. I feel like I’m right in the mix when watching a sleuth work their way through familiar territory to solve whatever crime … Continue reading Guest Chick: Melissa Westemeier
My love of Advent calendars is well-documented on social media, as evidenced by this photo of last year’s partial haul and yes, you read that right… My love/passion/obsession for this holiday tradition started when I was a kid. Every year, my mother bought a sparkly paper calendar that came from Germany. It looked like this one… As I got older, I generally sought out one … Continue reading Happy First Day of Advent Calendars to All Who Observe
Leslie here, with a very grand welcome to our beloved Catriona McPherson, whose Last Ditch Motel series, set in a fictional–not Davis at all!–Northern California town has tickled this California native’s fancy ever since the first book was released. And we’re in luck, because not only is the eighth in the series releasing this coming Tuesday, but Catriona herself is here today with a delightful … Continue reading Guest Chick: Catriona McPherson
Hi all, Ellen here! I’m thrilled to welcome back popular author Daryl Wood Gerber, who I am also lucky to call a good friend. I think you’ll find her post as inspiring as I do. And she’s hosting a giveaway for two books! Why Do I Write What I Write? By Daryl Wood Gerber Savor the Mystery! People ask me all the time: why do … Continue reading Guest Chick: Daryl Wood Gerber
It’s that time of year, and I know everyone is busy getting ready for hosting or traveling or kicking back, so I’ll keep this short. What are some of your memories (or traditions) from around this time of year? A few from long ago and far away: Hope you have a wonderful week! Continue reading May we interest you in a flashback?
I’m obsessed with bookmarks. I don’t know why so please don’t ask me to explain. I don’t have an allegiance to a particular type or style of bookmarks. Pretty pictures, patterns or simple words. Cardboard, fabric or plastic. Fancy or simple. Big or not so big. If it’s a bookmark, I want it. Continue reading That’ll Leave a Mark
Please join us in welcoming Cynthia Ellingsen, bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper and The Lost Letters of Aisling. Her latest book, The Cut of the Moon, is out now! Lately, I’ve spent much of my day traveling through time. It’s fun. There’s no stress about flight delays, what to pack, or whether to spend $8 on an airport coffee. I just get to hop … Continue reading Guest Chick: Cynthia Ellingsen
Chicks on the Case 