A few weeks ago, I spent some time visiting my mother. This involved watching a lot of black and white movies on TCM, her favorite movie channel. During one of the duller offerings – not all of TCM’s selections qualify as “classic” – my mind wandered to a true classic, The Wizard of Oz. It occurred to me that one simple word made the movie … Continue reading The Incredible Power of a Single Word
It’s the book birthday for the sixth book in my Agatha and Lefty Award-winning Cajun Country Mystery series. I’m so excited because it revolves around Halloween! Could there be a more perfect holiday for a series set in the state that bills itself as the most haunted in the country? To celebrate, I’m doing a half-dozen virtual events with some great authors. Tonight, I’m “at” … Continue reading MURDER IN THE BAYOU BONEYARD launches today!
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 July, and many of us authors are packed off, some kicking and screaming, with our manuscripts to virtual Camp NaNoWriMo for a marathon month of “focus.” Lisa has fallen behind, so she is cheating by posting her required letter home from 3 years ago (with a few updates). Please cheer her on–and for the love of Fluffernutters, don’t tell her counselor! Continue reading This Summer, at Writing Camp: A Letter Home from NaNoWriMo
Five little Chickies went to Left Coast Crime. One little Chickie went on an awesome family camping trip. And the three little Chickies who stayed home went wah-wah-wah! all weekend–and did their best to keep up with all the news from afar. Continue reading What Did (NOT) Happen at Left Coast Crime
We’re excited to have funny and talented author pal Shari Randall back for a visit today as our Guest Chick! Drawn and Buttered, the third entry in her delightful Lobster Shack Mystery series, will be released February 26! And the Chicks would like to extend our congratulations to Shari on her Agatha nomination! Her debut, Curses, Boiled Again, is on the ballot for Best First Novel, which … Continue reading Guest Chick: Shari Randall
Having the same name as someone else can be a source of pride – for instance, being named after a parent or grandparent. Or a source of annoyance – if you keep getting someone else’s mail. Or confusion – like, did you write that mystery about bionic Sherlock Holmes and his mutant sidekick Whatsit? (Um, no.) It can even be kind of cool. Today the Chicks are chatting about people not related to us, both the interesting and the infamous, who happen to share our names!
None of us Chicks, dedicated writers that we are, would ever knowingly eavesdrop, of course. That would be unforgivably rude. But sometimes we just can’t help but overhear some very interesting conversations. Might we ever use any of these gleaned snippets in one of our mysteries? Well…
Continue reading “Overheard”
Please join the Chicks in welcoming Nora Page, author of the Bookmobile Mysteries! I Am Not My Main Character (although we might have a few things in common) Hi, everyone. Thanks so much for inviting me, Chicks! I’m thrilled to be here! Before I get going, I owe a Chick an apology. Recently—during a buffet lunch, no less—I accused Chick Cynthia Kuhn of being smart, … Continue reading Guest Post: Nora Page
Our friend Judy Penz Sheluk joins us today to share the passion that inspired A Hole in One, the latest addition to her terrific Glass Dolphin Mystery series. This may be the sportiest post we Chicks have ever shared! Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots, but … Continue reading The Tao of Golf: Guest Chick Judy Penz Sheluk
Get the inside deets on New Orleans’ favorite holiday! Continue reading An Insider’s View of Mardi Gras
Chicks on the Case 