Kathleen Costa is the lucky winner of Leslie Karst’s terrific new mystery, A Measure of Murder, the second in her Sally Solari Mystery series. Congratulations, Kathleen! Email your contact information to ellenbyronla(at)outlook(dot)com. Thanks to everyone who commented on Leslie’s post. And thanks to Leslie for sharing a fun story and delicious recipe! Continue reading And the winner is…
(gratis image courtesy of Pixabay) One thing I’ve learned in L.A. is that certain cars reflect and even possess certain personalities. I can pretty much count on BMWs to zoom in and out of freeway lanes like a soccer forward moving down the field. Pickup trucks seem to revel in exceeding the speed limit and bullying people out of their way by tailgating. (Hence my … Continue reading My Love Affair with a Vintage Car
Diane Vallere is a powerhouse. Not only does she write four — that’s right, FOUR — mystery series, she’s served in a variety of volunteer positions, culminating in her current gig as national president of the renown organization, Sisters in Crime. How does Diane do it all, and what tips does she have for fellow authors? Read on… EB: How on earth do you write four series? … Continue reading Chicks Interview: SinC President Diane Vallere
Tomorrow, September 13th, BODY ON THE BAYOU, the second book in my Cajun Country Mystery series, launches. I should be all… But instead, I’m all… When your debut novel gets published, you’re nervous, but it’s more of a giddy-nervous than an uh-oh-I-better-not-be-a-one-hit-wonder nervous. Everyone is excited for you. Family and friends buy your book just to show their support. There are contests specifically devoted … Continue reading The Terror of Book Two
Happy anniversary – to us! To celebrate the first anniversary of Chicks on the Case, we’re sharing our first-ever group post. Check out our fave mystery authors and books, and share some of your own in the Comments section. Ellen Byron My all-time favorite mystery is Agatha Christie’s last published novel, Sleeping Murder. It features some familiar Christie tropes, but I don’t care. Every time I read it – … Continue reading The Chicks Pick Our Favorite Mysteries
I was getting ready for work this morning when I got a telephone call. In a hurry, I didn’t check Caller ID. Here’s the conversation: Me: Hello? Woman on the other end: Ellen?(Tinkly laugh) Hi, wow, you’re harder to reach than the last cookie in the cookie jar. Me: (Confused) Who is this? Woman: Oh, it’s Jenny and I’m calling from the – Me: CLICK! … Continue reading A Telemarketer Gave Me a Character
Ask someone: “What’s your name?” and you’ll usually get a straightforward answer—crazy spellings aside. But a lot of times, especially with pen names, there’s a whole backstory behind those “Hello my name is…” stickers. This week, we talk about pseudonyms, mistaken identities, parental foresight (or lack thereof), and more.
Continue reading “What’s in a name? More than you might think.”
sSometimes, you just have to play favorites—and this is one of those times. Today we’re talking about which of our characters we most love to write. (Spoiler Alert: It’s not always who you think it’s going to be!) Continue reading “My Favorite Character to Write is…”
This week, we’re celebrating the release of Ellen’s Cajun Country debut novel, PLANTATION SHUDDERS. In honor of the new mystery series, which critics describe as a “brilliant book that takes us to Louisiana,” we’re sharing our favorite stories about the Pelican State. Don’t forget to share your own Louisiana stories in the comments section.
Continue reading “What’s your favorite story about Louisiana?”
Admit it. Sometimes certain things in a mystery story can bug us, just a tiny bit. (Okay, a lot.) Here are our top nominations for Pet Peeves in a Mystery. Feel free to comment or add your own. And if you ever catch one in our books, let us know!
Continue reading “What’s your biggest pet peeve in a mystery?”
