The Chicks are tickled to have author pal Gianetta Murray hanging out with us today on the blog. She will give us the inside scoop on spouses helping out with writing about murder (and various challenges involved). The Danger of Writing from Life The second Vivien Brandt Mystery, Dug to Death, almost ruined my marriage. To give credit where it’s due, my husband is funding … Continue reading Guest Chick: Gianetta Murray
Today, the Chicks have a special treat. We’re celebrating two book birthdays! Our book birthday twins are Lisa Q. Mathews and Patricia Sargeant. Continue reading Book Birthday Twins
Our next guest needs no introduction: A big feathery welcome to Tammy Barker, good friend of the Chicks and newly minted debut author of CALL-IN FOR MURDER, the first book in the Neon Desert Mysteries. Wait, what? Hold the phones! Someone else is barging–er, calling–in. You’re on the air with Miss LARE! Continue reading Guest Chick: Tammy Barker
My fellow chicks and I write about murder. We would absolutely NEVER consider killing someone in real life. (I think?) But when it comes to plants, if their death was considered a punishable crime, I’d be charged with involuntary manslaughter. I was recently a keynote speaker for a local nonprofit that supports pediatric orthopedics. It was a wonderful event, and the hosts gifted me with … Continue reading For the love of plants, keep me away from plants.
Lisa here, with exclusive life updates on 8 bratty but beloved characters from kid lit classics. Many of them grew up to be (spoiler!) bona fide members of the mystery community. Did your childhood literary idols make the list? Continue reading Sleuth, Author, Villain, Brat: Where are Your Fave Kid Characters Now?
It takes some effort to drag oneself out of bed on the first workday of the new year. But an e-blast from Left Coast Crime made it much easier for a few of our Chicks. Congratulations to Ellen and Jen for Lefty nominations in the category of Best Humorous Mystery and Leslie for a Best Mystery Novel nomination! And congratulations to all the nominees… For … Continue reading A wonderful start to the New Year…
My love of Advent calendars is well-documented on social media, as evidenced by this photo of last year’s partial haul and yes, you read that right… My love/passion/obsession for this holiday tradition started when I was a kid. Every year, my mother bought a sparkly paper calendar that came from Germany. It looked like this one… As I got older, I generally sought out one … Continue reading Happy First Day of Advent Calendars to All Who Observe
Hi all, Ellen here! I’m thrilled to welcome back popular author Daryl Wood Gerber, who I am also lucky to call a good friend. I think you’ll find her post as inspiring as I do. And she’s hosting a giveaway for two books! Why Do I Write What I Write? By Daryl Wood Gerber Savor the Mystery! People ask me all the time: why do … Continue reading Guest Chick: Daryl Wood Gerber
When I first started writing Battered, the first Whipped and Sipped Mystery, Ruthie Rosin, the character of the protagonist’s best friend and pastry chef, appeared before me almost immediately. She cared about the world and had a strong moral compass. Ruthie bears more than a passing resemblance to a real-life friend I adore in Colorado. Continue reading Guest Chick: GP Gottlieb
When I was writing my first book, Terror in Taffeta, Kelsey’s best friend and wedding photographer sidekick was named Brody. Just Brody. I wrote the entire book without giving him a last name. Eventually, I realized I needed to fix that. One of the first name combos that popped into my head was “Brody Marks.” Hmm. It sounded good. Too good, honestly. It had the … Continue reading Isn’t that name already taken?!
Crescent City Christmas Chaos, the fourth book in Ellen’s award-winning Vintage Cookbook Mystery series, launches today. We’re thrilled for her! About the book… It’s Christmas. It’s cozy. It’s culinary. It’s chaos! It’s the fourth book in this fabulous mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron. Have yourself a merry little . . . murder? Ricki James-Diaz … Continue reading Happy Book Birthday, Ellen Byron!
We Chicks have created – and continue to create – a vast array of characters. We think we know them pretty well. But sometimes a character is more fun to write than we thought they’d be. Today we share the characters we didn’t expect to enjoy writing as much as we do. Lisa Q. Mathews I think I knew as soon as Gladys Rumway appeared … Continue reading Chick Chat: Characters can surprise you!
Chicks on the Case 