The Chicks on the Case are delighted to welcome back Sybil Johnson, author of the Aurora Anderson mysteries. The fifth book in the series, Ghosts of Paintings Past, was published yesterday–just in time for the holidays! Unexpected Influences I’ve read tons of books and seen a lot of TV shows and movies over the years. Every once in a while I think about how fictional … Continue reading Guest Chick: Sybil Johnson
Ellen here, thrilled to welcome Laurie Chandlar to her first Chicks visit! LA writes the wonderful Art Deco Mystery series, set in my hometown of New York, New York. But I didn’t even know some of the fascinating facts she shares today about some of the city’s most iconic Art Deco sites… The Inspiring Art Deco of the Art Deco Mysteries Art Deco is one … Continue reading Guest Chick: L.A. Chandlar
Ellen here, happy to welcome Lois Winston , author of the awesome Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, to her Chicks debut! A pain-in-the-you-know-what mother-in-law. A chatty parrot. One inspired by real life, one total fiction. Read on to find out which is which… A Curmudgeon of a Mother-in-Law and a Shakespeare-Quoting Parrot What do a nasty mother-in-law and a Shakespeare-quoting parrot have in common? They’re both … Continue reading Guest Chick: Lois Winston
We hear the roar of engines. Not jets. Propeller planes. Jer and I run to our bedroom window just in time to see an inspiring sight… WWII trainer planes flying in formation over the San Fernando Valley. Jer and I clap and cheer like kids. This scenario has been enacted every Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Veteran’s Day, as well as a few other … Continue reading Heroes of the sky… and land and sea.
Nala was out of Milk Bones the other day, but the store only had large ones instead of the medium size I normally buy. It couldn’t possibly matter, I thought, and grabbed a box. At the next scheduled treat time, probably seven seconds later, I gave one to her, but had to convince her to take it. Same flavor, just bigger size. Much bigger size. … Continue reading Biting Off More Than You Can Chew
Ellen here! I recently happened upon V.M. Burns Mystery Bookshop Mysteries, and was hooked. V.M. does something that I’m awed by. She writes a mystery within the mystery. Her protagonist Samantha Washington aspires to be a mystery novelist. As she’s solving mysteries in the present, she’s writing her own mysteries, set in 1938 England. I was so intrigued by this feat that I asked V.M. … Continue reading Guest Chick: V.M. Burns
It’s a well-accepted tenet of fiction writing that you should get through your first draft quickly, not stopping to edit yourself, before you go back and start on the revisions. Otherwise, the reasoning goes, you’ll become mired in the details and lose track of the overall story. Well, I guess I must be a rebel, because that’s just not the way I fly. After coming … Continue reading Carving Out Your Words
Lisa here–and I’m thrilled to welcome back the ever-lovely and talented Angela M. Sanders, author of several fabulous mystery series, including the upcoming Witch Way Librarian Mysteries (can’t wait!). She always has interesting stories to share from her glamorous life, and here is one from her latest trip to France… Continue reading Guest Chick: Angela M. Sanders
Kathleen (a.k.a. Kathy) here with a little real-life mystery. A few years ago, I went to the mailbox and pulled out the usual jumble of 80% post-consumer-content papers. Bills. Statements. An assortment of catalogs. One #10 envelope caught my eye: a letter from the Multnomah County Circuit Court. I tore it open in the driveway and read. I was being called to appear as a … Continue reading Name That Mystery
Ellen here, and I’m so happy to welcome A.R. Kennedy to her first Chicks post. Don’t miss the darling photos of her doggies! My Writing Companions People often wonder how does a writer write. But a more entertaining question is “Who does a writer write with?” This author writes with these two small pups. They are usually running around my condo. Occasionally, they are sleeping. … Continue reading Guest Chick: A.R. Kennedy
Mystery writers often get asked, “Where do your ideas (for books, murders, characters) come from?” This is a question I field at pretty much every presentation and every interview I do. Since doing the cover reveal last week on social media for the new series I have coming out early next year, some people have asked, “Where did you get the idea for this series?” … Continue reading Just a Cupful of Inspiration
