Reading is a brave thing to do. We must sally forth into the unknown imaginative world. We must suspend our disbelief. We must agree to follow the rules of the text. We often end up living in a space of almost understanding. I want to take a moment to honor the almost. We tend to race past this; it’s not always comfortable to entertain uncertainty. … Continue reading Almost and In-Between
Writing comp titles really is an art form. Boiling a story down to “when x meets y” requires a lot of skill. Some tips I’ve heard before are: Nix the bestselling titles (a.k.a. Please don’t think you’re John Grisham) Try to use semi-current works Use ones in a similar genre (some folks recommend using just books, while others are okay with references to short stories … Continue reading The Art of the Elusive Comp
We have something super fresh and seasonal for you today: please welcome Melissa Bourbon and Wendy Watson, authors of several terrific series on their own who are now writing a series together: the Book Magic Mysteries! Nothing like a little magic just in time for Halloween… Hello readers! We are so excited to be with you on Chicks on the Case today. I’m Melissa Bourbon, and … Continue reading Guest Chicks: Melissa Bourbon and Wendy Watson
November is just around the corner, and we writers know what that means. Yes, the all-important Nov. 3rd (please vote!!), but also that exhilarating, frustrating, triumphant, despairing roller coaster of National Novel Writing Month, a/k/a NaNoWriMo. It’s a crazy 30 days, and we’re ready–but are some of us clinging a little too tightly to the safety bar? Continue reading Risky Business: NaNoWriMo 2020 Edition
Puzzling Ink, the first in my new Crossword Mysteries launches on November 3rd and I’m wiggly with excitement. Wiggly, I tell you! All the launch deets and how you can get your hands on a print copy (and win even MORE prizes) are here. I hope everyone has joined the Facebook groups Becky’s Book Buddies and Cozy Mystery Crew because that is where all the … Continue reading Crossword Conundrums
Sorry about the delay, friends! Sometimes… stuff happens. Anyhoo, we’re happy to welcome Anne Louise Bannon, author and president of the Sisters in Crime Los Angeles chapter, to her first visit with the Chicks, where she shares her very unique-for-L.A.-situation. I’M CARLESS IN L.A. My husband and I don’t own a car. We do live in the greater Los Angeles area, which is all about … Continue reading Guest Chick: Anne Louise Bannon
My law professor father used to like to say, “There are only two times I’m miserable—when I’m writing and when I’m not writing.” And I have to agree. Because when you’re in the middle of a book, you’re nervous about getting it right and angsting that you should be working on it whenever you’re not. But when you’re not in the middle of a book, … Continue reading Starting From Scratch
The Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, which is online this year, is happening this weekend–hope to see you there! We’ll be appearing on the following panels: Not So Secret Lives of Authors: Simon Wood (M), William Kent Krueger, Ellen Byron, Gary Phillips, Catriona McPherson Authors are forged by the things they’ve done… and the things they shouldn’t have done. Drop by the “Not So Secret Lives … Continue reading Bouchercon 2020
Ellen here, so happy to welcome my friend, Micki, aka M.E. Browning. Micki’s a fantastic writer and I’m super excited about her new procedural suspense mystery, SHADOW RIDGE. I loved reading about the unique collection of books that populate her bookshelf, and you will too. Welcome, Micki/M.E.! In Defense of the Incredibility Bookcase I came to social media kicking and screaming. During my twenty-two years … Continue reading Guest Chick: M.E. Browning
Ever since I began writing the Cajun Country Mysteries, a highlight of publication has been my annual panel appearance at the Louisiana Book Festival, which takes place in Baton Rouge either the last Saturday in October or first in November. I always combine the trip with a visit to New Orleans, especially now that our daughter has followed my path and is attending college there. … Continue reading A New Orleans Halloween
Here’s a snippet of a conversation between me and my best friend at a Jazzercise class some time ago: Me: Did you read about the body found floating in the Pacific? Bestie: Murdered by the scientist, right? Me (tying my shoes): Then decapitated. Bestie (lunging into a calf stretch): I think they only found the torso. Me: Oh, I hadn’t heard that. It was at … Continue reading Why Being a Mystery Author is Murder on my Social Life
The Chicks are thrilled to announce a new website feature: an Events page. We have lots of virtual appearances coming up and decided to share them all in one location. Check out the page to find out what panels we’ll be on at Virtual Bouchercon 2020, what bookstores we’ll be “e-ppearing” at, and more. We’ll include in-person events too, as soon as they begin again. … Continue reading News Flash: A New Chicks on the Case Feature
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