If you’re heading to Left Coast Crime this week, please say hello! We are so excited to see everyone… and here’s where you can find us. ☀️Thursday 9:00 am Author Speed-Dating Jennifer Chow and Leslie Karst 3:45 pm The Liars Panel Johnny Shaw, Steve Brewer, Ellen Byron/Maria DiRico, Susanna Calkins, Wanda M. Morris 8:30 pm Toastmaster Kellye Garrett Hosts Game Night Ellen Byron/Maria DiRico, Marco Carocari, … Continue reading Left Coast Crime 2022
Historians don’t really know the origins of April Fool’s Day (and there is some dispute about how to punctuate it), but some believe it goes back to 1582 when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian. In the Julian calendar, the new year began with the spring equinox, which typically occurs somewhere around April 1st. Those sillies who didn’t get the news that … Continue reading Happy April Fish Day
Becky here. I’m thrilled to host Dawn Dixon today so she can tell you about the terror and exhilaration of debuting her novel, FAUX FINISHED. Have Book Club, Will TravelThis article originally appeared in the February 2022 Writers and Publishers newsletter. “Home again, home again, jiggety-jig,” I mutter unhappily as I pull up to my friend Carol’s smart brick ranch house. Its book-club day and … Continue reading Guest Chick: Dawn Dixon
During a gathering at my house not too long ago, my sister Laura mentioned how as a kid she often wondered what a “donzerly” light looked like, having always heard the first line of our national anthem as “Oh say can you see, by the donzerly light…” “I always imagined it to be some sort of amazingly beautiful kind of illumination,” she told us, “and … Continue reading The Donzerly Light
What’s so funny about crime? Well, nothing. But crime writing is an altogether different story, no pun intended. The Chicks got together recently to chat about some funny situations we’ve found ourselves in over the course of our writing career. Continue reading “Chick Chat: Funny Situations We’ve Endured … Or Caused”
We Chicks have a very special treat for you today: magical mystery author, locked-room expert and our good friend Gigi Pandian, whose latest Under Lock & Skeleton Key has just hit the shelves. Take it away, Gigi! Thanks so much to Lisa and Ellen for inviting me to join the Chicks today! Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about something that’s not a new idea, … Continue reading Guest Chick: Gigi Pandian
It’s March in the Northeast, the blustery month that comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Smack in the middle are St. Patrick’s Day, the Spring Equinox, and–for one Chick–another ever-green holiday, Christmas… Continue reading The One with the Lion, the Lamb, & No Snakes
In my day job as copywriter, I spend a decent amount of time coming up with names for companies, products, and services. Sometimes it’s an easy lift like, say, when I’m tasked with incorporating the owner’s namesake. (The George Foreman Grill comes to mind.) But more often than not, it’s a process that requires in-depth research, tedious trademark queries, and copious complaining. It isn’t just … Continue reading The name game
Happy Wednesday, Everyone–which means we Chicks have a wonderful new guest for you to meet, if you haven’t already: the very inspiring Karina Bartow, whose latest book BROTHER OF INTEREST is now available. Take it away, Karina! Continue reading Guest Chick: Karina Bartow
Like so many things, the writing life is easier if you celebrate the small victories along the way. Example: If I hit 1,000 words in my work in progress – Yay! Although, if you’re like me, it’s more like: I hit 1,000 words – gosh, only 79,000 more to go. It’s that feeling of stepping on the scales at Weight Watchers after being really, really … Continue reading How to tip the word count scales in your favor
The first time my husband read a book of mine, I waited with bated breath. Would he like it? Laugh at the right parts? Encourage me to continue spending gobs of time doing who knows what the writer’s life in my office? (Dear reader, he enjoyed the book. And that is why we’re still married. Just kidding. Obviously, it’s only one of the reasons…) The … Continue reading When Your Kid Reads Your Book…
Hi, Ellen here. I met Francelia Belton when I visited Colorado to teach workshops for the Sisters in Crime – Colorado chapter and we totally hit it off, both as writers and human beings. 😉 I’m thrilled to welcome her to Chicks with this wonderful post… “First Sentences are Doors to Worlds.” First, I’d like to thank Ellen and the other Chicks for having me … Continue reading Guest Chick: Francelia Belton
Chicks on the Case 