Last Friday night while my husband and I watched a movie, I was shoveling popcorn in my piehole. And yes, I’d rather have been eating pie. When I finally took a breather, I could feel one of the little husks stuck on the right side of my tongue, a bit underneath. I didn’t worry about it; those things always loosen up. But it didn’t. I … Continue reading Things That Get Stuck
Vickie here, and it’s a pleasure to welcome as our guest today on Chicks fab author Nikki Knight, whose new Vermont Radio Mystery series just released this month! I had the privilege and good luck to get an advance read of Live, Local and DEAD, and it’s a stellar first entry to this fun series. Today, the author will tell us a bit about … Continue reading Guest Chick: Nikki Knight
Writing (and finishing) a manuscript is a big deal. And so is finding a publisher to get it out into the world for others to read. But once you’ve secured that contract, the next big question is, What will my cover look like? Because as we all know, people do in fact judge books by their covers. It’s the first thing that makes someone pick … Continue reading Sally’s Cover Reveal!
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 are these characters? What’s everyone’s back story? Victim, murderer, nosy neighbor, innocent suspect? The more ridiculous the better! Each comment can build on the next until we have a fully … Continue reading Time for a Chick Pic!
The Chicks are so happy and excited to welcome USA Today and Amazon bestselling author Lois Winston! Today the author of her popular Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series (book #10 is now out!) talks about that great mystery of life: how (and if!) to combine romance and mystery in a cozy. Take it away, Lois! Romancing the Mystery I once read that Agatha Christie didn’t believe … Continue reading Guest Chick: Lois Winston
Yes, beloved readers, it’s Valentine’s Day. Even if you celebrate Superbowl Hangover Day, Olympic Ice Dancing Recap Day, or your regularly scheduled I-Don’t-Like-Mondays Day, you’ll be bombarded with pink and red hearts and flowers and droolworthy chocolate recipes. You won’t find those here, but one of us Chicks has a public-service warning for you: Beware the Roses… Continue reading The Rose Wars
My daughter just turned 15. I know. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. But I don’t want to talk about teen angst, the dangers of social media, or why I’m accused of being “totally cringe” when I drive her and her friends around. I want to talk about fashion. I don’t know about where you live, but in my little corner of Oregon, the … Continue reading It’s, like, totally fashionable.
The Chicks are excited to welcome acclaimed short story author Sandra Murphy today, tackling a question we’ve all thought about… Where Do Ideas Come From? Something happens + a question = an idea for a story or book. Writers say, ‘I couldn’t think of anything to write’ or ‘The Muse wasn’t speaking to me.’ I don’t believe in writer’s block or The Muse. Ideas float … Continue reading Guest Chick: Sandra Murphy
Since it’s a safe bet that most everyone reading this blog is either a writer or an avid reader — or both, I thought we’d chat about first lines and drawing the reader in. Prospective readers browse in bookstores, libraries, and online stores stalking their next read. Titles and cover art make them pick up the book. The blurb or log line on the back … Continue reading First lines, last chance
Happy Lunar New Year! 2022 arrived with the roar of the tiger (#yearofthetiger–see what I did there?). If, like me, you need a fresh start, here’s your chance. The Lunar New Year can also be referred to as Spring Festival, and festivities can last up to fifteen days! That’s right. You can still join in on the fun. Cue gratuitous New Year treats: These nut-embedded … Continue reading Want a Do-Over?
Today the Chicks are delighted to welcome multi-faceted crime fic author Thomas A. Burns to the blog. Many know that Tom writes the Natalie McMasters Mysteries, but he also pens tales featuring the great detective Sherlock Holmes–and he has some fascinating info to share. The post is afoot… Continue reading Guest Chick: Thomas A. Burns
A few weeks ago, I spent some time visiting my mother. This involved watching a lot of black and white movies on TCM, her favorite movie channel. During one of the duller offerings – not all of TCM’s selections qualify as “classic” – my mind wandered to a true classic, The Wizard of Oz. It occurred to me that one simple word made the movie … Continue reading The Incredible Power of a Single Word
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