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
Lisa here, and I’m so happy to introduce Jean Rabe, author of the newly pubbed THE DEAD OF JERUSALEM RIDGE, as our Guest Chick today! She has also been kind enough to offer our readers a chance to win a signed copy of one of her books, Winner’s Choice. Take it away, Jean! Continue reading Guest Chick: Jean Rabe
Lisa here, and do we Chicks have a treat for you today: a visit from Olivia Matthews, a/k/a Patricia Sargeant, author of the very popular Sister Lou Mystery series. Take it away, Olivia! Continue reading Guest Chick: Olivia Matthews
So it’s officially Monday and I’m at the keyboard, ready to plunge back into my manuscript-in-progress. Maybe “progress” isn’t quite the right word, but I’ve been thinking about it. And “plunge” might not be exactly the correct description, either. But I’m here, prepping to work, and that counts, right? Cue a few background bars of that inspiring oldie “Back in the Saddle Again.” On the other hand, please don’t. Continue reading Back in the Saddle (Again)
The other day I read a piece in the LA Times in which the writer advocated dressing up to Work From Home. Actually, he used the acronym WFH, which stumped me for a moment a two. (I kept reading it as WTH, which is something else entirely, also not to be confused with WTF). Anyway, he was outfit-shaming people for not looking “professional” enough for … Continue reading We’re Gonna Zoom, Zoom, Zoom-a, ZOOM!
It’s Valentine’s Day, and what could be a better way to celebrate here on Chicks than with a visit by New York Times bestselling author Susan Elia MacNeal? We love Susan’s books, and can’t wait to hear more about her latest, THE KING’S JUSTICE–and she’s also going to tell us about her mudlarking adventures in London. Take it away, Susan! Continue reading Guest Chick: Susan Elia MacNeal
Whether you’ve already seen Greta Gerwig’s new Little Women movie, or you’re still planning to, I promise: No real spoilers here. Of course, the book has been out for about a century and a half, there have been multiple previous film versions, and if you weren’t exposed to the general storyline through those, you probably saw the Friends episode where Rachel spills the beans about one sister’s fate to a devastated Joey. Continue reading Chasing Amy March
For most people, the holidays call to mind shining lights, steaming mugs of cocoa, gingerbread humanoids, and feasts that call for elastic waistbands. For me, they conjure up the memory of my friend sailing out of our second-story window. Let me explain. A few days after Thanksgiving, my mom left 12-ish-year-old me and my best friend alone for a couple of hours. She instructed us … Continue reading The Power of Imagination
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
Kathy here. The Chicks are thrilled to welcome bestselling, prolific (seriously!), and all-around-amazing author Vicki Delany, who’s turning a classic writing axiom on its ear. Take it away, Vicki! Write What You Want to Know There is an old adage: Write what you know. I’ve never agreed with that. Frankly, what most of us know (and thus what we do in our lives) isn’t very … Continue reading Guest Chick: Vicki Delaney
It’s mid-summer, and The Chicks are relaxing in their favorite outdoor spots with piles of books and pitchers of lemonade. (Okay, we’re actually writing, but you get the idea.) What creepy-crawly critters do we least want to join us? Pass the pesticide, and we’ll tell you… Continue reading “Bug-a-boos: Pests We Do Not Love”
My job as a mystery writer may include making up ways to kill people (on paper), but I don’t have the nerves to be a criminal in real life. Continue reading Secrets and back story
Chicks on the Case 