13 Helpful Comments to Inspire a Mystery Writer

Yesterday I saw an S.M.S. (Save My Sanity) tweet from a mystery author I’ve never met. Let’s call her Angie. She was manning her table at a book festival when a passerby noted her banner and estimated the likely number of readers for Angie’s sub-genre: 3. That could have ruined Angie’s day, if she hadn’t sold a bunch of books—and figured out a crucial element for her next mystery at the same time. Continue reading 13 Helpful Comments to Inspire a Mystery Writer

Lisa Q. MathewsOctober 17, 2022October 16, 202251 Comments

Guest Post

Guest Chick: Leslie Budewitz

The Chicks are tickled to welcome back Agatha award-winning author pal Leslie Budewitz as our guest chick today! The sixth entry in Leslie’s wonderful Spice Shop Mysteries, Peppermint Barked, is just out. And she is giving away a fab swag package to one lucky commenter on today’s blog! Take it away, Leslie! Killing it on the village streets “When people get arrested in your books,” … Continue reading Guest Chick: Leslie Budewitz

Chicks on the CaseAugust 17, 2022August 17, 202241 Comments

Lisa Q. Mathews

Chicks on the Road: Malice Domestic 2022

Lisa here! I just flew from Bethesda to Brooklyn after a trip to Albuquerque via Boston, and are my wings (and beak) tired. Actually, I took a few buses and trains in there, but you get the idea…Who wants to see a few Malicious pix? Continue reading Chicks on the Road: Malice Domestic 2022

Lisa Q. MathewsApril 25, 2022April 25, 202228 Comments

Vickie Fee

Snow on Easter or Spring in da U.P.

Most of you already know (especially if we’re friends on Facebook or friends IRL), that my hometown is Memphis, but I now live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I often get questions about where I live. Memphis summary: Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland, is there. Half a million people tour it each year. I think everyone should see the Jungle Room once, but once is … Continue reading Snow on Easter or Spring in da U.P.

Vickie FeeApril 18, 2022April 17, 202233 Comments

Guest Post

Guest Chick: Karina Bartow

Happy Wednesday, Everyone–which means we Chicks have a wonderful new guest for you to meet, if you haven’t already: the very inspiring Karina Bartow, whose latest book BROTHER OF INTEREST is now available. Take it away, Karina! Continue reading Guest Chick: Karina Bartow

Chicks on the CaseMarch 16, 2022March 15, 202225 Comments

Vickie Fee

School daze

I’ve been enjoying all the first day of school posts lately on Facebook of my friends’ kids and grandkids. Standing on the front porch are smiling youngsters holding a sign that says: “Duncan – First Grade” or “Natalie – Kindergarten.” When my sister’s oldest child started kindergarten, the teacher gave the parents little care packages to take home. (One way to get the lingerers to … Continue reading School daze

Vickie FeeSeptember 20, 2021September 20, 202147 Comments

Lisa Q. Mathews

It Was a Dark and Stormy Morning…

If you happen to be a Peanuts fan—or a writer—you’ve probably seen the cartoon of Snoopy on top of his doghouse, hard at work on his novel. He has the perfect opening line: “It was a dark and stormy night…” Continue reading It Was a Dark and Stormy Morning…

Lisa Q. MathewsJuly 19, 2021July 18, 202134 Comments

Vickie Fee

Bad to the bone

As you’re reading this, I’m likely sitting at home propped up on pillows with an ice pack, or limping across the room hanging onto a walker. With my patient husband’s attention, and the aid of painkillers, I should be doing okay. I had hip replacement surgery on Thursday. Since I posted this before I checked into the hospital, I can only speculate about how I’m … Continue reading Bad to the bone

Vickie FeeMarch 29, 2021March 22, 202170 Comments

Group Post

Chick Chat: What’s in a title?

When authors are submitting a proposal for a series or for more books in a series, we typically are asked to suggest titles for those books, as well. Sometimes they fly; sometimes they get shot down by the publisher. We think the Chicks have had some pretty cool titles, including The Semester of Our Discontent and Til Death Do Us Party. Ellen’s latest release, Long Island Iced Tina, is a contender for best ever! (Look here for a list of all the Chicks’ books to date.)

But today we reminisce about those titles that didn’t make the cut — or the cover.

Chicks on the CaseMarch 12, 2021March 12, 202158 Comments

Vickie Fee

Where to start?

What’s the best point in the story to begin a book? I’ve gone through some rigorous writing exercises recently trying to figure that one out for myself! After three false starts, I think I’ve got it nailed down for my work in progress. (Fingers crossed.) With this in mind, I thought it might be fun to do a little writing exercise today on Chicks. Readers, … Continue reading Where to start?

Vickie FeeFebruary 22, 2021February 21, 202159 Comments

Lisa Q. Mathews

Risky Business: NaNoWriMo 2020 Edition

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 Q. MathewsOctober 26, 2020October 26, 202034 Comments

Vickie Fee

Startling milestones — I’m feeling old

Remember Macaulay Culkin, that cute little kid from the Christmas film, “Home Alone”? He just turned forty. Yep, you heard that right. Forty. If it makes you feel old, join the club. Actually, reading last week that Macaulay Culkin is forty was just the icing on my feeling-really-old pity party cake. August brought a couple of other startling milestones in my family. My youngest nephew, … Continue reading Startling milestones — I’m feeling old

Vickie FeeAugust 31, 2020August 30, 202037 Comments