Livin’ the Author Dream, Baby: Uncle Joey’s Big Night

April brings Spring-ier weather (usually), holidays, the Malice Domestic conference for mystery lovers, and…the Agatha Awards! This year the Chicks will be well-represented in Bethesda—can’t wait to see many of you there. Here Lisa takes us behind the scenes as she tries to reason with unsinkable Frankie impersonator Joey Romano from her nominated short story, “Fly Me to the Morgue”… Continue reading Livin’ the Author Dream, Baby: Uncle Joey’s Big Night

Lisa Q. MathewsApril 10, 2023April 9, 202335 Comments

Guest Post

Guest Chick: Patricia Raybon

Lisa here, just back from Left Coast Crime in Tucson. It was great to see so many of you, as well as several fellow Chicks. Today we’re thrilled to introduce Patricia Raybon, author of the Annalee Spain Mysteries, as our guest. Take it away, Patricia! Continue reading Guest Chick: Patricia Raybon

Chicks on the CaseMarch 22, 2023March 22, 202325 Comments

Lisa Q. Mathews

288 Hours to Paddy’s Day!

This year some of us Chicks will spend St. Patrick’s Day together—at Left Coast Crime in Tucson. We have a few Irish-themed treats up our sleeves, together with our friends from the Cozy Mystery Crew—but in the meantime, here’s a helpful guide to prepping for the day that’s ever-green (even in the desert). You don’t have to drink, and you don’t need to be remotely Irish to have fun! Continue reading 288 Hours to Paddy’s Day!

Lisa Q. MathewsMarch 6, 2023March 5, 202337 Comments

Lisa Q. Mathews

Plotting with Robots

Will robots write our books in the near future? True, we writers spend plenty of time pounding our heads instead of our fingers on the keyboard. But will we hand over our jobs to artificial intelligence? Lisa asked an AI bot to come up with 2 short mystery plots, just for fun … Continue reading Plotting with Robots

Lisa Q. MathewsJanuary 30, 2023January 29, 202340 Comments

Guest Post

Guest Chick: Tracy Clark

Lisa here, delighted along with my fellow Chicks to welcome multi-award-winning author Tracy Clark as our guest today. We’re sure you’ll enjoy hearing about her process for getting her new detective character to talk–or not. Take it away, Tracy! Continue reading Guest Chick: Tracy Clark

Chicks on the CaseJanuary 25, 2023January 24, 202322 Comments

Guest Post

Guest Chick: Judy Penz Sheluk

Lisa here, delighted to welcome amazing author, anthology editor, publishing entrepreneur, and our good friend Judy Penz Sheluk to Chicks today. Even though we can’t imagine the prolific Judy ever procrastinating on anything, she’s sharing a little secret… Continue reading Guest Chick: Judy Penz Sheluk

Chicks on the CaseNovember 30, 2022November 29, 202234 Comments

Lisa Q. Mathews

In the Mood for Crime Bake

It’s middle-ish November, and you know what that means: one of us Chicks is just back from the New England Crime Bake writers conference. Yes, we have photos (sort of), and our faithful Chick correspondent’s annual report… Continue reading In the Mood for Crime Bake

Lisa Q. MathewsNovember 21, 2022July 22, 202323 Comments

Chick Pic

Time for a Chick Pic

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 is this character? What’s their back story? Victim, murderer, nosy neighbor, innocent suspect? The more ridiculous the better!

Continue reading Time for a Chick Pic

Chicks on the CaseNovember 4, 2022November 3, 202212 Comments

Guest Post

Guest Chick: Diane Vallere

Lisa here, thrilled to welcome multi-talented mystery author and our ever-fashionable past Sisters in Crime president Diane Vallere to Chicks today. Even though it’s not technically Easter time (hey, candy is candy!), we readers always enjoy the thrill of the egg hunt. Join Diane as she shares how she hides those fun little nudge-nudge-wink-winks in her books… Continue reading Guest Chick: Diane Vallere

Chicks on the CaseOctober 26, 2022October 25, 202228 Comments

Guest Post

Guest Chick: Lori Roberts Herbst

Lisa here, and I’m delighted to welcome first-time Chicks guest Lori Roberts Herbst, who recently burst onto the cozy mystery scene with her fabulous Callie Cassidy Mystery series. Book One, SUITABLE FOR FRAMING, was just awarded the 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Cozy Mystery, as well as 2nd Runner Up for Best Book of 2021. Take it away, Lori! Continue reading Guest Chick: Lori Roberts Herbst

Chicks on the CaseOctober 5, 2022October 4, 202225 Comments

Ellen Byron

The Most Inane – or Most Useful Writing Tip Ever. You decide.

Much as I despise admitting it, words don’t always come to me as quickly as they once did. There’s nothing like having a word on the tip of your tongue, then have it dart away and zip around your brain like a fly trying to dodge a swatter. Recently I endured a particularly bad bout of what-is-that-damn-word-I-had-it-a-minute-ago-and-it-went-away-and-then-came-back-and-then-went-away-again-itis. The little devil of a word taunted me, … Continue reading The Most Inane – or Most Useful Writing Tip Ever. You decide.

Ellen ByronOctober 3, 2022October 13, 202247 Comments

Guest Post

Guest Chick: Donnell Ann Bell

Lisa here, delighted to welcome Donnell Ann Bell as our guest today on Chicks. I was delighted to meet this wonderful mystery author in person at Left Coast Crime last spring–we had plenty to chirp about over coffee! Here Donnell makes a case for coincidences–and tells us more about her latest, UNTIL DEAD: A Cold Case Suspense. Just look at that chilling cover, brrr… Continue reading Guest Chick: Donnell Ann Bell

Chicks on the CaseSeptember 7, 2022August 21, 202225 Comments