Lisa here, delighted to welcome amazing author, anthology editor, publishing entrepreneur, and our good friend Judy Penz Sheluk to Chicks today. Even though we can’t imagine the prolific Judy ever procrastinating on anything, she’s sharing a little secret… Continue reading Guest Chick: Judy Penz Sheluk
I know many of the readers of this blog would point to something such as the Nancy Drew or Encyclopedia Brown series as their early loves, but the first book I remember truly adoring as a child is Boats Finds a House, by Mary Chalmers. It’s a picture book about a cat who’s retired from working as a mouser and ratter on a sailing ship, … Continue reading From Boats Finds a House to Miss Marple Finds a Body
Leslie here, pleased to welcome to the coop the fab Liz Boeger, author of the Moccasin Cove Mystery series, whose newest book, APPLEJACKED, was released just last month. Take it away, Liz! Coloring Outside the Cozy Lines with a Non-Traditional Amateur Sleuth When I was first invited to visit with the Chicks, I’ll admit I was preening a bit at the thought of hanging out … Continue reading Guest Chick: Liz Boeger
It’s middle-ish November, and you know what that means: one of us Chicks is just back from the New England Crime Bake writers conference. Yes, we have photos (sort of), and our faithful Chick correspondent’s annual report… Continue reading In the Mood for Crime Bake
I’m going to be 10,000% honest—and please feel free to check that math: I’m a wee bit nervous about Thanksgiving. This is the first year in three decades that I’ll be spending it with different people in a different state doing different things. But with all of that differentness comes new experiences, a wealth of opportunities, and heaps of things for which to be grateful. … Continue reading Thanks a Little
The Chicks are thrilled to welcome Mariah Fredericks to the coop! Today, the Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee, whose novel The Lindbergh Nanny is racking up some serious accolades, shares how an unexpected turn turned into something unexpectedly wonderful. Take it away, Mariah! How Bad News Became a Fresh Start Any writer of a series knows: you never want it to end. It’s not just … Continue reading Guest Chick Mariah Fredericks
It hit me over the weekend that it’s the middle of November! Many of you who run your life by a fancy planner, or you know, look at the calendar every day, may have already been aware of this fact. But what does this actually mean? It is only six weeks until Christmas. Realizing I’m already behind on the season, and having been bombarded with … Continue reading In a pickle for the holidays
Language changes, evolves. I love that we find new ways of describing things and that we add helpful vocabulary. Unfortunately, I’m also currently feeling like I need to play catch-up. It’s like I’m Vizzini in The Princess Bride, and Inigo Montoya is telling me, “I do not think it means what you think it means.” Case in point: I often find myself asking my kids … Continue reading Slippery Meanings
Jennifer here, offering a warm welcome to Denise Swanson! She’s here to share about the fascinating hunt for great names. Thanks, Denise! The Name Game I’ve always been fascinated with names. Maybe because I always hated my first name. Granted, Denise is better than the one my parents first considered—Ernestina after my father. But I would have much preferred a more elegant name like Kathryn … Continue reading Guest Chick: Denise Swanson
This photo is both hilarious and heartbreaking. Last week, Jer and I traveled to Baton Rouge for the Louisiana Book Festival, then down to New Orleans for Halloween. Our recent college grad daughter Eliza is back home, and she babysat Pogo, our sixteen-year-old chihuahua mix rescue. Pogo has been on a bit of a downward slide over the last year. In September of 2021, he … Continue reading Trying to define the “Quality of Life”
Cozy readers—and especially Chicks on the Case readers—are some of the most creative folks on the planet, so we’re asking you to play Chick Pic with us! Give us a couple of sentences: Who is this character? What’s their back story? Victim, murderer, nosy neighbor, innocent suspect? The more ridiculous the better!
We’re so happy to welcome back the inimitable reviewer and author Sandra Murphy. Today she’s offering very wise words for both authors and readers. Take it away, Sandra! Do’s and Don’t’s of Book Reviews I review over 100 books a year for Kings River Life online magazine, cozies and thrillers, set in the present and in the not-too-distant past which means I spend seven or … Continue reading Guest Chick: Sandra Murphy
Chicks on the Case 