Becky here. One of my favorite things about cozy mysteries are the punny titles. Heather writes two different series, and when I saw that her latest Charles Dickens title was Grave Expectations, I laughed out loud. But today I’m excited she’s talking about her new series … it sounds grave, er, great too! Hello, Chicks! Thanks so much for allowing me to visit today. I’m … Continue reading Guest Chick—Heather Redmond
Authors often get asked how much research we have to do for each book. So, I thought I’d share a peek into a bit of the research for MY FAIR LATTE, which comes out March 3 – one month from today. (Think *pre-orders*!) Halley Greer, my unemployed barista protagonist, unexpectedly inherits a timeworn movie theater, which after some renovations, she reopens with a coffee/wine bar … Continue reading Research, or suffering for my art
Today, we welcome the five finalists for this year’s Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery (three of whom just happen to be Chicks on the Case). Congrats to all! The winner won’t be announced until the Left Coast Crime banquet on March 14th, but in the meantime we thought it would be “humorous” to find out from the nominees which of their characters from their … Continue reading Who Are the Lefty Award Nominees’ Most Humorous Characters?
We are thrilled to welcome author James W. Ziskin! Novels in his critically acclaimed Ellie Stone series have been Anthony and Macavity award winners and Edgar, Anthony, Barry, Lefty, and Macavity finalists. Read on for a fascinating discussion of how he works with language in his latest mystery, TURN TO STONE, which is available now. Foreign Words in Foreign Lands I write a series … Continue reading Guest Post: James W. Ziskin
Which author’s real name is Kate? Whose is Mary, Marilyn, or Mariella? Pen names are a literary tradition. (Hello, Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell.*). The reasons for them are manifold. A publisher may request an author assume a new identity for business or financial reasons. An author might use a pseudonym to write in a totally different genre. (I’m talking to you, J.K. Rowling and … Continue reading The (Pen) Name Game
Yes, folks, today, January 24th, happens to be Global Belly Laugh Day. (Where the heck do they come up with these things, anyway? Could we invent a Global “Sit Around and Eat Donuts and Read Mysteries” Day? If so, I’m in!) So, to observe this momentous (and silly) occasion, we are sharing some of our favorite–or perhaps merely most groan-worthy–jokes and funny stories. Continue reading “It’s Global Belly Laugh Day!”
Please join us in welcoming Elizabeth Penney, author of the Apron Shop Series mysteries. Hems and Homicide, the first book in the series, is available now. Delighted that you are here today, Elizabeth! Creating Your Cozy Community Thank you to Chicks on the Case for including me as a guest! The cozy community of writers and readers is wonderfully supportive and close-knit. We have fun, don’t … Continue reading Guest Chick: Elizabeth Penney
The Study of Secrets (Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries #5) finds Lila on sabbatical in a charming Victorian mansion, where she is drawn into a new mystery. In keeping with the title, I’m going to share a few secrets… First, although the covers in the series look alike at first glance, do you notice that each one has a slightly different collection of items on the right? … Continue reading Cover Reveal: The Study of Secrets
We love mysteries here at Chicks on the Case, so here are some spooky things that have disappeared—poof—without a trace. The Little Mermaid’s voice—first in 1837 then again in 1989 then AGAIN in 2007 Agatha Christie—for ten days in 1926 Roald Amundsen—lost over the Arctic searching for missing explorer, 1928 Amelia Earhart—pilot, lost over the Pacific, 1937 Glenn Miller—big-band leader, lost without a trace over … Continue reading Disappeared
Leslie Karst here. Today, I am pleased as all get-out to welcome fab writer and super-fun gal, Tara Laskowski, to the Chicks. Tara was already well-known for her short stories (one of which won the Agatha last year), but has now also published a terrific novel, One Night Gone, which has just been nominated for a coveted Lefty Award! Take it away, Tara: As 2019 … Continue reading How Do you Define a Year?
Given today’s title, I’d forgive you if you thought this post was going to be about murder and mayhem in the mystery novel. But no, it’s about the writing of mysteries. Those flesh and bones, you see, are a metaphor. A host of ingredients are required to make up compelling novel (slipped in another metaphor—and a cooking one this time!): among them, plot and subplot, … Continue reading Flesh and Bones
Hi, Vickie, here. Today the Chicks are thrilled to welcome author Debra Sennefelder. Silenced In Sequins, the latest entry in her Resale Boutique series was released this week! Take it away, Debra! Inspiration From Prime Time I want to first thank the Chicks on the Case for this opportunity to visit with you today. I’m excited to tell you a little bit about where the inspiration … Continue reading Guest Chick: Debra Sennefelder
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