Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays!

Season’s greetings, beloved readers! We hope you enjoy the yearly sharing of our holiday baby Chicks cards.   We’re taking a break for the holidays, but we’ll be back on January 5th. Until then, we wish you and yours the happiest of happy seasons and a bright New Year! Ellen Byron Lisa Q. Mathews Vickie Fee Cynthia Kuhn Kathleen Valenti Becky Clark Jennifer J. Chow … Continue reading Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays!

A cover reveal and a change of heart.

A few years ago, my cousin Marie and I met up for lunch at some trendy Manhattan restaurant. I don’t remember what we were talking about, but she suddenly went, “You’re a Californian.” My jaw dropped. I was appalled. I quickly corrected her. “No, no, no. I’m a New Yorker who lives in California.” I’m sure my instant reaction comes as no surprise. New York’s … Continue reading A cover reveal and a change of heart.

After a Medical Crisis: What They Don’t Tell You.

I’ve had three medical May Days in my life. (I’m not counting an emergency C-Section because the preeclampsia that necessitated it had been rearing its ugly head for weeks.) When I was twenty-five, a cramp that wouldn’t go away turned out to be a rare tumor. (You can read about that particular adventure here.) Five years ago, a routine angioplasty revealed 70% percent blockage in … Continue reading After a Medical Crisis: What They Don’t Tell You.

Happy Book Birthday, Maria DiRico, aka/Ellen Byron!

It’s Release Day for Four Parties and a Funeral, the fourth book in Maria DiRico”s Catering Hall Mystery series. Kirkus says “readers can’t help loving it,” and we agree! Congratulations, Ellen, we mean, Maria! You can pick up a copy through the link below. About FOUR PARTIES AND A FUNERAL… Agatha Award-winning author Maria DiRico returns with the fourth book in the Catering Hall Mystery … Continue reading Happy Book Birthday, Maria DiRico, aka/Ellen Byron!

Behind the Book: “Maria DiRico’s” Fourth Catering Hall Mystery

Welcome to “Behind the Book,” our fun new Chicks on the Case feature! Join us as we Chicks share the real stories behind our stories. Inspiration, motivation, frustration, jubilation–you’ll find them all right here…  Hi, Ellen and “Maria” here! You’ll notice I didn’t include the title of Catering Hall Mystery #4 in the header. And the cover image is on the bottom of this post … Continue reading Behind the Book: “Maria DiRico’s” Fourth Catering Hall Mystery

It’s Mardi Gras Again!

You know the let-down you feel on January 2nd after the holidays? That doesn’t happen in New Orleans. In fact, those wild ‘n wacky New Orleanians get MORE excited after Christmas because the minute the Epiphany kicks in on January 6th, Carnival Season begins. You can eat King Cake until Lent! You can go to parades! You can dress in my favorite colors, purple, green, … Continue reading It’s Mardi Gras Again!