tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86026654099716177732024-03-13T23:55:03.717-04:00Cozy Murder MysteriesA blog dedicated to cozy murder mysteries, the writers who write them and the readers who read them! Interviews, giveaways, reviews and more!Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-53545812182483559722011-01-03T21:48:00.003-05:002011-01-04T08:36:28.266-05:00Changes Keep ComingI know, I know, I keep changing the look of the blog. To be honest, I have no idea what I am doing. I have never worked on a blog before and have been doing a lot of research on how to make an impact with my blog and get more followers. I want it to be gender neutral, but I have to admit . . . . purple is my favorite color. I'm sure I will change the look the more I poke around Blogger. I have found that it is part of my DNA to be a researcher. I look up EVERYTHING! The blog will stay purple until I change my mind again-probably tomorrow. For now, I am a bit frustrated with Blogger and its limited options and my limited knowledge. I am going to call it a night and hope for more patience tomorrow.<br /><br />Until then . . . .MegMeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08731371176024199779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-44426320764484711452011-01-02T18:30:00.002-05:002011-01-02T18:40:02.615-05:00A New YearHi Everyone!<br /><br />It sure has been a while since my last post. Once Thanksgiving hit this year, I was one busy lady. I finally got my Donna F. Crow book, but haven't started it yet. Since I had to wait forever for it to come in the mail, I sunk my teeth in Laura Alden's Murder at the PTA. Love it! Since I am a stay-at-home mom with a son in elementary school, it really hits home. I'm not an active member of the PTA nor have I ever attended a meeting, but I have certainly heard enough about the PTA at my son's school and know how it works.<br /><br />This is Ms. Alden's first book and I can't wait for the second. It is a great cozy murder mystery. I don't want to give away the plot, but look forward to finding out who the killer is. I haven't a clue. That to me means its a good book. Some books make the killer easy to spot, not my favorite. I like to keep guessing until the end.<br /><br />Hope everyone had a great holiday season! Happy New Year 2011 to all! -MegMeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08731371176024199779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-47599142246306936022010-12-04T13:26:00.002-05:002010-12-04T13:38:05.364-05:00Still waitingHi everyone!<br /><br />Just a quick update to add to the blog to keep it somewhat active. Unfortunately, I am still waiting for Donna F. Crow's book "A Very Private Grave" to arrive from Amazon.com. I usually don't have to wait this long, but I am chalking it up to all the shipping they must have to do for the holiday season.<br /><br />While I have been waiting for this book, I read a "cozy" book, but it wasn't about murder. Sometimes, I just need a break from the murder mystery world and enter another one for a while. I've decided that I love books that are set in the South. I am hoping to visit some of those beautiful southern states one day. My first stop will be South Carolina. That's about as far as I have gotten with my "bucket list". I am going to blame Anne George for my love of the South since she was the first author I read in the cozy murder mystery world where the setting was in the South. <br /><br />I have decided that after I read "A Very Private Grave", I am going to ready Laura Alden's "Murder at the PTA". That one sounds right up my alley, being a stay at home mom and all. I can't wait! I may have to bump this one up if Amazon doesn't deliver to me soon. I can't stand to not have a book available to me to pick up and read whenever I get the chance.<br /><br />If anyone has read either one of these books, I'd love to hear your opinion on them!<br /><br />Until next time . . . . .MegMeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08731371176024199779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-28143299031539747922010-11-22T13:39:00.002-05:002010-11-22T14:02:00.506-05:00A big warm Thank YouFirst off, I want to send out a big warm Thank You to the ladies that have contacted me and have welcomed me to the blog. I truly appreciate you reaching out and making contact. I have a feeling this is going to be a fun journey for me.<br /><br />I have made contact with a few authors and am excited that they will be contributing to the blog. My first contact has been with Donna F. Crow. She has a new murder mystery out, A Very Private Grave, which is her first book in the new series The Monastery Murders. Before I have an author contribute to the blog, I have to read their book first. I feel that by reading the author's newest book, I will have a better feel for what to ask them and understand better where they are coming from. It's kind of like my own homework assignment. So starting this week, I will begin A Very Private Grave. I am really looking forward to it! <br /><br />Somehow, I have to find the time to sit down and read with Thanksgiving hot on my heels. I am hosting this year. I love to host Thanksgiving (mostly because I LOVE to cook), but it certainly cuts into my time to read. My two passions are reading and cooking.<br /><br />I am planning on contacting Donna F. Crow within the next few weeks to contribute to the blog.<br /><br />If you happen to be reading A Very Private Grave, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have for Ms. Crow and I will do my very best to get them answered for you.<br /><br />Happy Reading . . . .oh and Happy Thanksgiving! -MegMeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08731371176024199779noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-51049954044190724072010-11-17T19:00:00.003-05:002010-11-17T19:22:08.955-05:00An IntroductionHi Everyone!<br /><br />My name is Meg and I contacted Donna about taking over the Cozy Murder Mysteries blog. I am a huge fan of Cozy Murder Mysteries and came across this blog while searching for some new cozies to read.<br /><br />I plan on keeping the "Why I Write Mysteries" column and "Q & A" with cozy murder mystery writers. I am hoping to get to "meet" some of my favorite authors. <br /><br />A little about me, I am currently a stay-at-home mom to my two sons. One is 10 years old and the other is 1 1/2 years old. I started reading mysteries in general back in 2002. My first ever mystery was a Mary Higgins Clark one. The more I read, the more I realized how much I loved mysteries. My first Cozy Murder Mystery was by Anne George called "Murder Boogies with Elvis". I have read all her books in the series and fell in love with them. <br /><br />I think that everyone has their own definition of what a Cozy Murder Mystery is. To me, it takes place in a small town, with a lot of descriptive language so that you feel like you can imagine yourself living there. You get to know the characters and love to read about them developing as the author continues to write book after book about them. I love the thought of getting a good Cozy Murder Mystery book to read, crawling up in a nice soft spot with a cup of coffee and throw and just letting myself be taken away by the story.<br /><br />My favorite authors are Anne George, Diane Mott Davidson, Leslie Meier and Joanne Fluke.<br /><br />I would love to hear from the "Cozy" followers about what they would like to read about in this blog and am open to any ideas that may improve it and help us gain even more followers.<br /><br />I look forward to getting to know you all! -MegMeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08731371176024199779noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-74932674342879963892010-02-26T08:01:00.001-05:002010-02-26T08:01:00.524-05:00Are Crime Fiction Cliches Comforting?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S4P_FGRWJoI/AAAAAAAAAao/Re5pH3VbL8I/s1600-h/968046_sherlock_holmes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S4P_FGRWJoI/AAAAAAAAAao/Re5pH3VbL8I/s320/968046_sherlock_holmes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441473237841487490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" >Are Crime Fiction Clichés Comforting?</span><br /><br />By: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Brooklyn White</span><br /><br />We’re all guilty of using them once in a while or more often too; in fact, clichés are a constant weapon in any writer’s arsenal. The problem with using them however is that you have to be careful not to rub your readers the wrong way – one too many of them and they’re bound to label your writing a bundle of clichés that has no originality at all. Crime writing is an especially difficult genre when it comes to avoiding clichés; it’s so full of authors who exploit them and use them even without realizing they’re doing so, and very often, they continue to enjoy success even though they resort to clichés.<br /><br />But clichés are not all bad; actually, they can be quite comforting and even necessary at times, like when:<br /><br />• Readers are comfortable with a certain style of writing: I hardly ever read new authors unless I’m forced to do so because I have nothing else to read. That is when I explore new options and select one person whose writing suits my taste in books. In the course of this process, I’ve found that I gravitate to a certain kind of books, those that are written in a style similar to my favourite authors. Now these new books may not have the same clichés as the old ones, but the situations are similar, as is the method of solving the crime. Come to think of it, all of us choose what we’re comfortable with when it comes to change. So when clichés cause déjà vu, they may not be all that bad.<br /><br />• You have the same protagonist in all your books: If your hero is the same person (or team) in all your books, you’re bound to use clichés more often than not. Take the Perry Mason books written by Earl Stanley Gardner – Perry Mason, Della Street and Paul Drake are recurring characters, and almost every book features a case which is seemingly unwinnable at first glance, but which Mason solves with his usual ingenuity and quick wits when there are hardly any options left or time remaining. But you put up with the clichés because you know that Mason’s sense of deduction more than makes up for the rest of the banal stuff.<br /><br />• You’re writing a spoof: Any self-respecting spoof (it may not respect other books, but it sure does respect itself) must be full of clichés so that readers know it is a spoof from the word go. So you’re forgiven for using them, or rather, if you don’t use them, you’re not likely to be forgiven.<br />So if you feel the clichés flowing from your fingers onto your screen, don’t worry too much. Just eliminate the ones that seem too obvious when you’re doing your edit and keep the rest as part of your artistic license.<br /><br />This guest post is contributed by Brooklyn White, who writes on the topic of <a href="http://www.forensicsciencetechnician.org/">Forensic Science Technician Schools</a> . She can be reached at brookwhite26-AT-Gmail.com.Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-90719950965332135542010-02-16T08:01:00.000-05:002010-02-16T08:01:00.252-05:00Why I Write Mysteries - Phyllis Smallman<span style="font-style: italic;">Editor's Note: Welcome to Phyllis Smallman for today's 'Why I Write Mysteries' Column. Harriet Klausner, one of amazon.com's premier reviewers, says about Sherri Travis, Smallman's sleuth, in Margarita Nights: "She makes the tale fun with her sass, spunk and spitfire sleuthing. " Enjoy!</span>
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<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CADMINI%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S3QGhpGgg5I/AAAAAAAAAag/zZAg9T5Lpzg/s1600-h/PhyllisSmallman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 280px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S3QGhpGgg5I/AAAAAAAAAag/zZAg9T5Lpzg/s320/PhyllisSmallman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436977825181631378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Why I Write Mysteries.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Phyllis Smallman</span></span>
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">When I was asked why I write mysteries it didn’t take me long to come up with a dozen solid reasons. To start with, writing is the most fun you can have with your clothes on and mysteries are the most popular form of fiction in the world. <span style=""> </span>But more than that, I love mysteries, love to read them and love to write them. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The often reluctant and unprepared hero or heroine goes on a quest - often a life and death struggle, taking us with them on an epic adventure to right wrongs, to see justice done or to discover truth.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">These stories of crime explore the dark side of human nature; greed, anger, jealousy and even love when it’s beyond control.<span style=""> </span>All of these emotions are at the heart of a good mystery. Cautionary tales, they tell us what happens when our emotions get out of control. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Mysteries hold up a mirror to society, showing it without its make-up on, revealing all its warts. Mental illness, drugs, and the social problems we all have to deal with in our neighborhoods, workplaces and yes, even our families, are examined. We see how ordinary people deal with extraordinary circumstances, how they cope with what life sends them. And all this wrapped up in a puzzle.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Stories about crimes spot-light our fea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S3QGhT2AjNI/AAAAAAAAAaY/4dM-aja0vAk/s1600-h/Brewski+Web+Size.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 279px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S3QGhT2AjNI/AAAAAAAAAaY/4dM-aja0vAk/s320/Brewski+Web+Size.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436977819475283154" border="0" /></a>rs. Each of us feels as vulnerable to crime as we do to disease. All those little security signs in flower beds are the new crosses over doors to tell misfortune to move on.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And how many of us think human beings are becoming less moral and more violent?<span style=""> </span>Remember the first crime stories appear in the bible. <span style=""> </span>Cain murdering Able, Joseph being sold into slavery, the bible is full of tales of theft and murder and even tales of the slaughter of babies.<span style=""> </span>And you think identity theft is new?<span style=""> </span>Think of Jacob stealing Esau’s birthright. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Human nature flows through crime books, entertaining us, frightening us and even educating us.<span style=""> </span>That’s why I love a mystery!<span style=""> </span>I have a new one out in March, A BREWSKI FOR THE OLD MAN.<span style=""> </span>Holding your brand new book in your hands, well, it doesn’t get any better than that.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Phyllis Smallman </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.phyllissmallman.com/">www.phyllissmallman.com</a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-31758199878802746832010-01-29T12:21:00.009-05:002010-02-09T09:31:32.866-05:00Why I Write Mysteries - Nancy Means Wright<span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >*Editor's note: Welcome to Nancy Means Wright, author of the soon-to-be published historical mystery 'Midnight Fires', starring an admirable woman, Mary Wollstonecraft. Her official bio: </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Nancy Means Wright is the author of 15 books, including 5 mystery novels from St. Martin’s Press, and this April, an historical novel, Midnight Fires: A Mystery with Mary Wollstonecraft (Perseverance Press). She was an Agatha winner and nominee for two kids’ mysteries, and has published stories in American Literary Review, Level Best Books, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, et al). </span>Enjoy, everyone!!<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Why I Write (Mostly</span><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S2MeE9W-HbI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/nkkOJ1OVwwY/s1600-h/NancyMeansWright.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 187px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S2MeE9W-HbI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/nkkOJ1OVwwY/s320/NancyMeansWright.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432218646078168498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">) Cozy Mysteries</span><br />Nancy Means Wright<br /><br /> Shortly after I was divorced and had begun to teach in a small liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, I read a newspaper account about a pair of elderly Vermont farmers who kept their money in barn rafters and under mattresses. They were assaulted one night and the cash stolen—but the thieves were caught when they tossed the money about in bars and restaurants—and it reeked of barn! Up to that point, I’d published stories, poems, novels, and nonfiction books, but I hadn’t even read a mystery since fourth grade when, inspired by Nancy Drew, I penned a novella about the kidnapping of a pesky older brother—and my mother threw it out.<br /><br />But I felt like a pariah so far away from my Vermont family, and desperately needed to put some kind of order back into my life. And mysteries, I knew from Nancy Drew, begin in chaos, but invariably end up in order—something I craved in my disjointed life. Moreover, in a mystery, one can do in the bad guys, including one’s former husband, and end on a bright note. I knew then that I had to write one. I’d begin with that assault, but change those elderly brothers to a French Canadian farmer and wife, and set the story on a small town dairy farm. After all, I’d lived most of my life in Cornwall, a town composed largely of farms and orchards, where Jamaican pickers came each fall to sing like dark birds in the ripe trees.<br /><br />To me Vermont had always seemed an Eden, a place for healing and quiet meditation. But now I was beginning to discover the snake in the garden. Small independent farmers were being forced to sell their farms; I’d write in defense of those farmers. And I’d make the town of “Branbury” a character in the novel; I wanted a strong sense of place that was more than local color. But setting demands a sleuth. And knowing little about homicide detectives or PIs, I decided to make my sleuth an amateur, a good Samaritan farmer-neighbor to those assaulted men. Since I was going through a divorce, my fictional Ruth Willmarth would be a single mother of three. She would be like the novel’s author, the two of us trying to find out whodunnit and why—especially why—all those fractured relationships that can cause a murder. Ultimately, St. Martin’s Press published five Ruth Willmarth novels and a novella—until Ruth’s thirty cows were quarantined for mad cow disease, and the series came, like my first marriage, to an inevitable end.<br /><br />But I had to keep writing. Writing is a compulsion—it keeps me out of the psychiatrist’s office. It’s my meditation, almost my raison d’être. I published two mysteries for middle grade kids—one an Agatha winner; and then a memoir about family, with real life people in it. I’ve always loved writing about real people, present or past—especially those with whom I share feelings and principles. One of them is Mary Wollstonecraft, 18th century feminist who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman and led a wholly unconventional, rebellious life. I’d already published a small press book of poems in her persona, and now I wanted to write her into a mystery. She makes an ideal sleuth, I think, with her inquiring mind, her charismatic personality, and her daring. I would start with her year as impecunious governess to three unruly girls in Mitchelstown Castle in Ireland where, in my fictional telling, she saves a young rebel from hanging and tracks down the assassin of a roué aristocrat. A 2011 sequel will find her in colourful London, and then in bloody Paris during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, where in real life she lost her own head to a dashing but feckless adventurer. <br /><br />I’ve loved writin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S2Ma9v6kfuI/AAAAAAAAAaA/hy28ykWfn0A/s1600-h/cover+Midnight+Fires.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 287px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S2Ma9v6kfuI/AAAAAAAAAaA/hy28ykWfn0A/s320/cover+Midnight+Fires.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432215223675420386" border="0" /></a>g Midnight Fires, which will be published in April by Perseverance Press. Writing about Wollstonecraft offers the chance to get into her head, to become her, to feel her passions and pains, the way I felt my farmer Ruth’s pain when the Feds killed her favorite cow Zelda in the end of Mad Cow Nightmare. Writing, then, is both pain and deepest pleasure, when light and order prevail in the end. It has given so much insight into other people and other worlds. How can one ordinary person live so many different lives—and all at once!<br /><br />Nancy Means Wright<br />www.nancymeanswright.com<br />Midnight Fires: A Mystery with Mary Wollstonecraft (Perseverance Press--April,'10)<br />"Becoming Mary Wollstonecraft" Facebook pageDonna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-42053332391239829802010-01-28T08:01:00.001-05:002010-01-28T08:01:00.633-05:00Why I Write Mysteries - Penny Warner<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Editor's Note: Welcome today to a wonderful Thursday edition of '</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Why I Write Mysteries</span><span style="font-style: italic;">'. This installment features Penny Warner, author of the fun mystery '</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-style: italic;">How To Host a Killer Party</span><span style="font-style: italic;">' (Signet - February 2010 - Available Now!) This prolific author walks the walk and talks the talk, having written numerous non-fiction party handbooks. Enjoy, all!!</span>
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<br /></span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CADMINI%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="stockticker"></o:smarttagtype></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Georgia; panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoTitle, li.MsoTitle, div.MsoTitle {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; text-transform:uppercase; font-weight:bold;} p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText {mso-style-noshow:yes; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.apple-style-span {mso-style-name:apple-style-span;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:1893730344; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:1324778550 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; color:windowtext;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoTitle"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S13ZiiqaeSI/AAAAAAAAAZg/Z3hPMsFNjqo/s1600-h/PennyWarnerPhoto.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 235px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S13ZiiqaeSI/AAAAAAAAAZg/Z3hPMsFNjqo/s320/PennyWarnerPhoto.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430735913122167074" border="0" /></a><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">WHY I WRITE MYSTERIES? iT’S BECAUSE O</span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">F NANCY Drew<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoTitle"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoTitle"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">By Penny Warner<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoTitle"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">I didn’t plan to be a writer when I grew up. When I was</span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;"> a kid, I placed writers on pedestals—“writers” like Carolyn Keene, “author” of the Nancy Drew series. Larger than life, they se</span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">emed as fictional as their characters. Turns out some of them were—like Carolyn Keene. But not my other favorites like E.B. White, A.A. Milne, L. Frank Bau</span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">m. With authors like that, I found it hard to believe that an ordinary person like me could become a writer.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">Then, when I was in sixth grade, I got mono and missed two months of school. That’s when my mother handed me a copy of my first Nancy Drew mystery—“Secret in the Old Clock.” It wasn’t long before I became obsessed with the girl </span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">sleuth. I started wearing a trench coat, made my own sleuth kit, and wrote my first mystery, “The Mystery of Mr. X.” While Nancy Drew was fiction, she inspired me to follow my passion—and that passion turned out to be writing mysteries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">I’ve had 50-plus book</span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">s published over the </span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">years, including eight mysteries and THE O</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:stockticker><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">F</span></span><st1:stockticker><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">FIC</span></span></st1:stockticker></st1:stockticker><st1:stockticker><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">IAL</span></span></st1:stockticker></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;"> N</span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">ANCY </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:stockticker><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">DRE</span></span></st1:stockticker></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">W H</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:stockticker><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">A</span></span><st1:stockticker><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">NDB</span></span></st1:stockticker></st1:stockticker></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">OOK. Now the first book in my new mystery series, HOW TO HOST A KILLER PA</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:stockticker><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;">RTY</span></span></st1:stockticker></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-transform: none; font-weight: normal;"> will debut on February 2—and I owe it all to Nancy Drew. I’ve come to realize that everything I know about writing, I learned from reading Nancy Drew mysteries. I thought I’d share some of Drew’s clues to writing that worked for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">1.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span><b>Create unforgettable characters</b></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">:<span style=""> </span><i>“You know </i><st1:city><st1:place><i>Nancy</i></st1:place></st1:city><i>.” All agreed she possessed an appealing quality, which people never forgot.</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> ~ <u>Clue in the Diary</u><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">All stories are based on interesting characters—there are no exceptions. Introduce us to your character a little at a time, using action and dialogue (showing), rather than a thumbnail sketch (telling). Create </span><span style="font-size:100%;">realistic characters without using stereotypical traits, and include some surprises about the character that are believable. Finally, give the characters conflict—happy characters make dull characters.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">2.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span><b>Use dialogue</b></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">: <i>Suddenly the young sleuth snapped her fingers. “I know what I’ll do! I’ll set a trap for that ghost!”</i> ~ <u>The Hidden Staircase</u><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >Dialogue makes a story come alive. It also helps move the story along, increases pace and creates drama. Listen to re</span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >al conversations for realism, then edit and tighten them to make the dialogue readable. Keep attribution simple—use action or “said,” rather than adverbs and euphemisms for “said.” Finally, read your dialogue aloud.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">3.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><b>Set </b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>the scene</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;">: <i>Many Colonial houses had secret passageways. “Do you know any entrances a thief could use?”</i> <b>~</b><u>The Hidden Staircase<o:p></o:p></u></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></u></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >A vivid setting pulls the reader into the story. It also intensifies suspense and becomes a character in itself. Show the setting through the character’s eyes and include all five senses, telling details, and occasional metaphors.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="">4.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></b></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><b>A</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>dd mood and atmosphere</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;">: <st1:city><st1:place><i>Nancy</i></st1:place></st1:city><i> had heard music, thumps and creaking noises at night, and had seen eerie, shadows on walls</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;">. <b>~ </b><u>The Hidden Staircase</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >Give a sense of foreboding through description. Mood and atmosphere give the story depth and stimulate the emotions of the readers. Use foreshadowing to give the reader a feeling of unease.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="">5.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></b><b><span style=""> </span>Outline your plot</b></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">: <i>Ellen was alarmed. “We must do something to stop him!” “I have a little plan,” </i><st1:city><st1:place><i>Nancy</i></st1:place></st1:city><i> said</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;">. <b>~ </b><u>Quest of the Missing Map</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;">Before you begin writing, outline your plot so you know, generally, where the story is headed. You can keep it simple and just jot down the major plot points of the story—where the story takes a surprising turn and how it ratchets up the suspense. Or you can write a detailed chapter-by-c</span><span style="font-size:100%;">hapter outline, with the option of veering off if the story requires an alteration.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">6.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span><b>Start the clock ticking</b></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">: <i>“Hurry, girls, or we’ll miss the train to </i><st1:place><st1:placetype><i>River</i></st1:placetype><i> </i><st1:placetype><i>Heights</i></st1:placetype></st1:place><i>!” </i><st1:city><st1:place><i>Nancy</i></st1:place></st1:city><i> knew being on time was </i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>important.</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> <b>~ </b><u>Secret of Red Gate Farm</u><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style=";font-size:100%;" >Begin with the inciting incident, which starts the clock ticking. Include not only the situation, but where it takes place, and who’s involved. This is where you ask the story questions: What if….? Think about your goal as start the story and where it will lead.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="text-transform: uppercase;font-size:100%;" ><span style="">7.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Create conflict: </b><st1:city><st1:place><i>Nancy</i></st1:place></st1:city><i> struggled to get away. She twisted, kicked and clawed. “Let me go!” </i><st1:city><st1:place><i>Nancy</i></st1:place></st1:city><i> cried</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;">.<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> ~ </span><u>Secret of the Old Clock</u><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style=";font-size:100%;" >There is no story without conflict. The protagonist must come up against an antagonist, which can be a person, an idea, a corporation, or some kind of evil. Conflict helps reveal the protagonist’s needs, values, and fears, and causes her to confront her demons, challenge herself, and become a hero of sorts.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="">8.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></b><b><span style=""> </span>Pack it with action</b></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">: <i>“How do we get in?” “Over the top, commando style,” George urged. “Lucky we wore jeans</i>.” <b>~ </b><u>Clue in the Crumbling Wall</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Today’s reader wants action, so give your protagonist opportunities to do something physical. Give her a choice between fight or flight, and when she fights—make her strong but still vulnerable.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">9.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span><b>Spark reader’s emotions: </b><i>Nancy was too frightened to think logically. She beat on the door, but the panels would not give way</i></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">.<span style=""> </span><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">~ </span><u>Secret of the Old Clock</u><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Crank up the reade</span><span style="font-size:100%;">r’s involvement but increasing the character’s emotional risk. This way the reader will care about the story. If she can relate to the protagonist’s emotional jeopardy, she’ll be hooked on fin</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ding out what happens. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">10.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span><b><span style=""> </span>Raise the stakes: </b><i>In a desperate attempt to break down the door </i><st1:city><st1:place><i>Nancy</i></st1:place></st1:city><i> threw her weight against it again and again</i></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">. ~ <u>Secret of the Old Clock</u><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The story begins with a challenge for the protagonist. But that’s not enough. As the story moves along, something worse must happen. And just when you think it’s safe to go back into the water, things become even worse. Keep raising the stakes to keep those pages turning.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="">11.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></b><b><span style=""> </span>Make the situation hopeless</b></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">: <i>“We’re locked in!” </i><st1:city><st1:place><i>Nancy</i></st1:place></st1:city><i> exclaimed, and began banging on the door with her fist.</i><b> ~ </b><u>Nancy’s Mysterious Letter</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">When all seems lost an</span><span style="font-size:100%;">d the protagonist is about to give up because she’s running out of time and is under extreme pressure, she must find the courage to go on, make another decisions, and get herself out of this devastating trouble. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S13c2XpFSlI/AAAAAAAAAZo/Lkqx3DslF0U/s1600-h/HowToHostAKillerPartyCover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 298px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S13c2XpFSlI/AAAAAAAAAZo/Lkqx3DslF0U/s320/HowToHostAKillerPartyCover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430739552296061522" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">12.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span><b>Give the protagonist strength</b></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">: <i>“Girls don’t faint these days,” George scoffed.</i> ~ <u>Se</u></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>c</u></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>ret of Red Gate Farm</u></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">As the protagonist comes face to face with the </span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >antagonist, she must pull out all her reserves and use her own skills to cha</span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >nge the situation. This heroic attempt must also create growth and change in the protagonist.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">13.<span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style=""> </span>Don’t give up</b></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">: </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:city><st1:place><i>Nancy</i></st1:place></st1:city><i> tried to open the door. It was locked. Not easily discouraged, she</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i> tried a window; it was unlocked</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;">. ~<u>The Hidden Staircase</u><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I really believe the </span><span style="font-size:100%;">reason I’ve had over 50 books published is simply because—like Nancy Drew—I followed my passion and never gave up! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i style=""><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Penny Warner is the author of THE OFFICIAL NANCY DREW HANDBOOK, and the upcoming mystery series, HOW TO HOST A KILLER PARTY, from Penguin.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">She can be reached at<a href="http://www.pennywarner.com/"> <span style="color:#000000;">www.pennywarner.com</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i style=""><span style="font-size:14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-77261531627639065872010-01-27T08:01:00.001-05:002010-01-27T08:01:00.306-05:00Diane Gilbert Madsen - Q and A - Part 2<span>Editor's Note: Welcome back to Diane Gilbert Madsen for Part 2 of our Q&A!</span>
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<br />Diane Gilber</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S13d-lyv_-I/AAAAAAAAAZ4/MuF4oc6mpQ8/s1600-h/DianeGilbertMadsen"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 222px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S13d-lyv_-I/AAAAAAAAAZ4/MuF4oc6mpQ8/s320/DianeGilbertMadsen" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430740793045286882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">t Madsen Q&A - Part 2</span>
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<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CADMINI%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City" downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-weight:bold; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;} p.MsoBodyTextIndent, li.MsoBodyTextIndent, div.MsoBodyTextIndent {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-indent:36.0pt; line-height:150%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-weight:bold; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">CMM: Do you have a favorite place to write: office, library, under the stars? Under the stairs?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 36pt; line-height: 150%;">DGM: I usually write in my office which is in my home.<span style=""> </span>I live on a five-acre parcel in rural southwest <st1:state><st1:place>Florida</st1:place></st1:state> called Twin Ponds.<span style=""> </span>My office desk is positioned in front of a window overlooking <st1:city><st1:place>Sunrise</st1:place></st1:city> Pond, making it sometimes hard to concentrate, like the time I spotted a <st1:state><st1:place>Florida</st1:place></st1:state> Panther at <st1:time minute="30" hour="8">8:30 AM</st1:time> walking slowly around the pond toward my house.<span style=""> </span>I suspect he’d just had breakfast because he was very lethargic and sat down on the apron of my garage with his rump against the garage door.<span style=""> </span>It’s quiet and the desk is big – my husband put it together for me so I can spread out ideas and workbooks and research papers.<span style=""> </span>I like to have classical music playing in the background.<span style=""> </span>I have two little Japanese Chins, Sugar and Spice, and they always go into the office first thing in the morning – so you know I’m a creature of habit.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">CMM: You do talks and booksignings… have you had any interesting experiences during that?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 150%;">DGM: I love booksignings.<span style=""> </span>You get to meet the most interesting and friendly people and you often get to hear from other people who’d like to write.<span style=""> </span>I love to meet fans of my work who’ve read my book and want to get it inscribed. At a recent booksigning, I had Gary Reinstrom, the piper, come for a few hours.<span style=""> </span>He and my video were the hits of the evening. It was around Christmas and he played Christmas songs on the pipes.<span style=""> </span>It was wonderful.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<br />CMM: Reviews are a mixed blessing for most authors; we love the good ones, hate the bad ones, and know they are just one person’s opinion. How do you deal with negative reviews? Do you even read reviews? <p class="MsoBodyText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 36pt; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 36pt; line-height: 150%;">DGM: I just read an article on bad reviews and how a writer should NEVER comment on them.<span style=""> </span>That being said, I regard reviews as a marketing tool.<span style=""> </span>Good reviews help sell books and bad ones don’t.<span style=""> </span>Obviously I desire to have good reviews, which “A Cadger’s Curse” has luckily garnered.<span style=""> </span>But tastes vary – thank goodness – and not everyone is going to love you or your book.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">CMM: Did you always want to be a writer growing up, or did you have other aspirations?</p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">DGN: Growing up, I loved to read and went to the library faithfully every Saturday.<span style=""> </span>I would read anything, but I was especially attracted to mysteries.<span style=""> </span>When I was in grammar school, my cousin Sharon and I (in the same grade) liked to write “little mysteries.”<span style=""> </span>We would do alternate chapters and amaze ourselves at how the plot turned out.<span style=""> </span>I also loved the business world, and went on to become the Director of the Economic Development Department of the State of Illinois where I was in charge of the Tourism and Film and Economic Development offices.<span style=""> </span>Then I owned my own business for over 20 years, including my own grantwriting business here in <st1:state><st1:place>Florida</st1:place></st1:state> - talk about the urge to write and the urge to murder.<span style=""> </span>The more I learned about the business world, the more I wanted to write mysteries! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">CMM: What do you read? Any favorite authors?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 36pt; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 36pt; line-height: 150%;">DGM: My fav<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S13d-R8XBuI/AAAAAAAAAZw/A_PJZGvJKL8/s1600-h/CadgersCurse"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 287px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S13d-R8XBuI/AAAAAAAAAZw/A_PJZGvJKL8/s320/CadgersCurse" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430740787716884194" border="0" /></a>orite authors are Doyle, Sayers, Christie, Tey and John Dickson Carr.<span style=""> </span>I like to read Michael Connelly and Stuart Kaminsky (especially the Lew Fonesca series set in Sarasota), anything by Dick Francis, Nicholas Blake, Amanda Cross, Patricia Wentworth, Sara Woods, Barbara D’Amato, Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, and John Dunning.<span style=""> </span>There are so many good mystery writers out there right now, I can’t name them all.<span style=""> </span>It’s like a feast - the second golden age of great mystery writers.<span style=""> </span>I also like history and biography.<span style=""> </span>Right now I’m in the middle of reading<span style=""> </span>“The <st1:city><st1:place>Gardner</st1:place></st1:city> Heist” by Ulrich Roser; “Forty Odd Years in the Literary Shop,” by James L. Ford; “<st1:country-region><st1:place>Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region> is not for the Squeamish” by Bill Watkins;<span style=""> </span>“To the Tower Born,” by Robin Maxwell; “The Egyptologist” by Arthur Phillips; and “The Book of Air and Shadows” by Michael Gruber.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My website is:<span style=""> </span><a href="http://www.dianegilbertmadsen.com/">www.dianegilbertmadsen.com</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much to Diane Gilbert Madsen for joining us here at Cozy Murder Mysteries!<a href="http://www.dianegilbertmadsen.com/">
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<br />Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-1800662478966961432010-01-22T16:02:00.010-05:002010-01-25T08:27:00.261-05:00Diane Gilbert Madsen - Q and A with the Author! - Part 1<span style="font-style: italic;">*From the Editor: Welcome to Diane Gilbert Madsen</span><span style="font-style: italic;">. Here is a brief 'About the Author' to whet your appetite! 'Chicagoan Diane Gilbert Madsen has an M.A. in 17</span><sup style="font-style: italic;">th</sup><span style="font-style: italic;"> century English, was the State of </span><st1:state style="font-style: italic;"><st1:place>Illinois Economic Development Director</st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-style: italic;">, and later ran her own consulting firm. She’s listed in </span><i style="font-style: italic;">Who’s Who in Finance & Industry</i><span style="font-style: italic;"> and the </span><i style="font-style: italic;">World Who’s Who of Women.<span style=""> </span></i><span style="font-style: italic;">Fascinated by crime, history and business, her interest in writing murder mysteries was sparked when she met someone convicted of murder who was later exonerated. The encounter caused her to rethink how people form their first impressions of murder suspects. “A Cadger’s Curse,” is the first in the DD McGil Literati Mystery series, published by Midnight Ink. Diane and her husband Tom now live in </span><st1:state style="font-style: italic;"><st1:place>Florida</st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-style: italic;"> at Twin Ponds, a five-acre wildlife sanctuary.'</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> to Diane for taking the time to do this.<br /><br />*Note... today, coincidentally, is Robbie Burns Day (The Cadger's Curse involves Robbie Burns!) The Scot would be 251 today. Raise a glass of whatever you tipple!</span><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><br /><br />Q&A with Diane Gi</span></o:p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S12bjSdPRfI/AAAAAAAAAZI/8P4nsxnYLws/s1600-h/DianeGilbertMadsen"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 222px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S12bjSdPRfI/AAAAAAAAAZI/8P4nsxnYLws/s320/DianeGilbertMadsen" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430667756230886898" border="0" /></a><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">lbert Madsen</span><br /></o:p> <p class="MsoNormal">CMM: First, tell us a little about your writing history… did you write before the DD McGil series?</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 36pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p>DGM: </o:p>I’m an English major and our curse as well as our blessing is that we all write<span style=""> </span>-- or try to.<span style=""> </span>I did write an early murder mystery called “Wild Life” centering around art forgery, but it never got picked up.<span style=""> </span>Then I was interested in writing True Crime but got diverted when I started the DD McGil Literati Mystery series.</p>CMM: Now tell us about your DD McGil Literati Mystery Series; where did the idea for the series come from? What made you decide on a literature theme for your mysteries?<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 36pt; line-height: 150%;">DGM: The Literati Mystery Series is a melding of my two interests, history and mystery.<span style=""> </span>I like to read about famous authors.<span style=""> </span>They all have some hidden mysteries in their own adventuresome lives.<span style=""> </span>I like to take these incidents in authors lives and speculate on how the story might have continued after the final page.<span style=""> </span>So I decided to combine my speculations about incidents in authors lives with my other passion – mysteries - and create the Literati Mystery Series.<span style=""> </span>In the first book in the series, “<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">A Cadger's Curse – The Robert Burns Affair,</span>” the mystery revolves around an incident in Robert Burns’ life.<span style=""> </span>The mystery took shape when I read that Burns had taken a diamond tip pen and boldly scratched a treasonous verse on the window of the Lion’s Head Inn in <st1:place>Stirling</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>It was a wild and crazy thing to do and could very well have cost him his life.</p>CMM: You have a book video for A Cadger’s Curse… how did that come about? Did you do the video yourself or did someone else do it for you? <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 36pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p>DGM: I love all the book trailer videos.<span style=""> </span>I had one done through <st1:place>COS</st1:place> productions.<span style=""> </span>They worked closely with me and were excellent.<span style=""> </span>I had a friend, Gary Reinstrom, who is a Jacobite piper from <st1:place><st1:city>Sarasota</st1:city> <st1:state>Florida</st1:state></st1:place> who teaches the bagpipes, and he did a special arrangement of Auld Lang Syne which we used as the music for the video.<span style=""> </span>It turned out fantastic.<span style=""> </span>I use the book trailer video at speaking engagements and book signings, and it’s been very enthusiastically received.<span style=""> </span>I definitely plan on doing another one for my next DD McGil Literati Mystery, Hunting for Hemingway.</p><o:p></o:p>CMM: How do you create characters that can/will sustain a series of books? Do you know everything about them going in, or does that come bit by bit as you write the books? <p class="MsoBodyText2" style="text-indent: 36pt;"><o:p> </o:p>DGM: Characters need to grow and develop and take on a life of their own during a book and from book to book in a series.<span style=""> </span>In my case, I believe if I simply plot out a character, that character would turn out very wooden.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes a character surprises you and takes over and you find yourself writing things in a rush, not really knowing where it’s all coming from.<span style=""> </span>In A Cadger’s Curse, that happened with Aunt Elizabeth, or the Scottish Dragon, as she’s referred called.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">CMM: Cozy mysteries generally take place in a small town, but you’ve set your DD McGil series in <st1:city><st1:place>Chicago</st1:place></st1:city>. Was that a conscious choice? Tell us about your decision making process?<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: 36pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p>DGM: Location, location, location!<span style=""> </span>Maybe all cozy mysteries don’t have to take place in small towns.<span style=""> </span>I would classify my mystery, A Cadger’s Curse, as “a slice of life” – a</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 150%;">“not-quite-cozy” rather than a “cozy.”<span style=""> </span>I believe my story worked out very well in a large city where my heroine, DD McGil, can rely on a number of contacts offered in a large city.<span style=""> </span>The larger venue also allo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S12bjilJf_I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/tG4b8Dt8ZAo/s1600-h/CadgersCurse"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 287px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S12bjilJf_I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/tG4b8Dt8ZAo/s320/CadgersCurse" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430667760559030258" border="0" /></a>ws interactions which come out of “left-field” and keeps the<i style=""> mise en scene</i> changing and unexpected.<span style=""> </span>I don’t think I’m the only writer who’s done a “not-quite-cozy” in a big city.<span style=""> </span>I wrote about <st1:city><st1:place>Chicago</st1:place></st1:city> because it’s my hometown, and I know it well and love it.<span style=""> </span>I lived and worked there until I moved to <st1:place>Southwest Florida</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>I visit often and have many friends and family there and my visits keep me up to date on the city I love.<span style=""> </span>Like politics, I think all stories are local, and if you have a feel for a city or town, I believe you can make the venue work - even in a cozy or a “not-quite-cozy.”</p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Check back here Wednesday for Part 2 of Diane Gilbert Madsen's Question and Answer with Cozy Murder Mysteries!</span><br /></p>Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-18912681630793365902010-01-21T08:01:00.000-05:002010-01-21T08:01:00.699-05:00Anne White - Malice and the Road to Lake George<span style="font-style: italic;">Editor's Note: A big 'Cozy Murder Mysteries' welcome to Anne White, author of the Lake George mysteries, as she tells us about her experiences with Malice Domestic, a wonderful organization for authors of murder mysteries. Enjoy!!<br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Ten years ago, a talen</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S0JPlZ6zQCI/AAAAAAAAAYY/DPEo0MXZMdI/s1600-h/AnneWhiteHeadshot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 260px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S0JPlZ6zQCI/AAAAAAAAAYY/DPEo0MXZMdI/s320/AnneWhiteHeadshot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422984405338767394" border="0" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >ted young writer, Matt Witten, from nearby </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:city><st1:place><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >Saratoga Springs</span></st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >, taught a mystery writing course fo</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >r the Lake George Arts Project in upstate </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:state><st1:place><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >New York</span></st1:place></st1:state></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >.<span style=""> </span>Matt, who wrote a series of mysteries set in </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:city><st1:place><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >Saratoga Springs</span></st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >, including the prize-winning Breakfast at Madeline’s, is now in </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:state><st1:place><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >California</span></st1:place></st1:state></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" > where he’s been a writer for Law and Order, Poltergeist and other TV shows.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Matt was not only a great teacher; he was incredibly supportive and encouraging to his students. He urged me to finish my first Lake George Mystery, An Affinity For Murder, and to enter the Malice Domestic Unpublished Writers Grant competition, which he’d won a few years before. Malice Domestic, an organization of mystery writers and readers, holds a mystery conference every spring in </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:place><st1:city><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >Washington</span></st1:city><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >, </span><st1:state><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >D.C.</span></st1:state></st1:place></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" > (<a href="http://www.malicedomestic.org/">www.malicedomestic.org</a>).<span style=""> </span>I urge you all, especially those working on their first book, to check this out.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >The afternoon I picked up my phone and learned I was a winner of a Malice grant is still one of my all-time highs.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >The next thing I knew I was getting calls from a literary agent suggesting he represent me. I didn’t realize what a miracle th</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >at was – an agent calling me, not once, not twice, but three times, before I stopped putting him off<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >The ups and down which followed made for a wild ride. The grant ($500 then, now $1000, plus registration for the Malice conference) was a terrific boost, but financial problems at the company which published the book plunged me into despair. Fortunately, things straightened out, and two years later Affinity (Oak Tree Publishing) had been published and was nominated as a Malice Domestic Best </span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >First Mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Since then, I’ve published three more Lake George Mysteries (Beneath The Surface, Best Laid Plans and Secrets Dark and Deep) with the fifth, Cold Winter Nights, coming soon. (Hilliard and Harris)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >This time I’ve set the story in winter and have included some of the cold weather activities we enjoy here, like skiing at fabulous </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >Gore</span></st1:placename><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" > </span><st1:placetype><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >Mountain</span></st1:placetype></st1:place></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" > and other terrific ski areas. My characters take part in a colorful winter activity held each year at Lake George Village on New Year’s Day, the annual Polar Bear Plunge, in which almost 1000 men, women and adolescents wade, creep or dive into the icy waters in temperatures which often hover around 0 degrees. Believe it or not, this event has actually taken place for more than twenty years and grows in popularity all the time. I also introduced a fic</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S0JO-DGHTEI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/Lcp08NFBobY/s1600-h/ColdWinterNightscover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 281px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S0JO-DGHTEI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/Lcp08NFBobY/s320/ColdWinterNightscover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422983729197304898" border="0" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >tional winter activity, a Carnivale on the Ice, and set a maniacal killer in a Mardi </span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Gras mask in pursuit of Loren Graham, my protagonist.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Loren gave me so much trouble as I was finishing this book, I was tempted to let the villain catch her. But maybe your readers will want to find out what happens for themselves. Cold Winter Nights is now available from Amazon, and will soon be at Hilliard and Harris and book stores.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >The first four books were also published by Harlequin’s Worldwide Book Club. (<a href="http://www.eharlequin.com/">www.eHarlequin.com</a> Worldwide Library Worldwide Mysteries)</span></p><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Anne White</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:date year="2009" day="21" month="12"></st1:date></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" >: <a href="http://www.annewhitemysteries.com">http://www.annewhitemysteries.com</a></span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-16065443752901630872010-01-19T08:01:00.001-05:002010-01-19T08:01:00.485-05:00Why I Write Mysteries - Diane Gilbert Madsen<span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Editor's Note: Welcome to Diane Gilbert Madsen, who writes </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;"></strong></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >the DD McGil Literati Mystery series, published by Midnight Ink. From Diane's Website: "The DD McGil Literati Mystery Series features DD McGil, Insurance Investigator, probing the true mysteries and secrets that famous authors have in their past. The series gives readers an intriguing blend of mystery and history. If you think you know all there is to know about Robert Burns or Ernest Hemingway, you’ll discover some interesting – and deadly – mysteries afoot – all set in today’s world of academic and corporate treachery."</span><span style="font-size:100%;">
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<br /></span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link style="font-family: verdana;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CADMINI%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: verdana;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: verdana;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: verdana;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: verdana;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: verdana;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="date"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: verdana;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"></o:smarttagtype></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Why I Write</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S08ksJSNhzI/AAAAAAAAAYw/XKg1uYs9TW8/s1600-h/DianeGilbertMadsen"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 222px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S08ksJSNhzI/AAAAAAAAAYw/XKg1uYs9TW8/s320/DianeGilbertMadsen" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426596416829884210" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Mysteries<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Diane Gilbert Madsen</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Since the <st1:date year="2009" day="1" month="11">N</st1:date></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:date year="2009" day="1" month="11">ovember 1, 2009</st1:date></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> publication of “A Cadger’s Curse,” the first in the DD McGil Literati Mystery Series, this is a question I’ve been asked frequently, (<span style="font-style: italic;">why I write mysterie</span>s) and I find myself not giving any one answer.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: 12pt; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">One of the obvious answers is that I like to write, and I like to read mysteries, so I’m writing what I’d like to read.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">My goal is to write an entertaining, amusing story with a good plot, engaging characters, and clues that are fair but still manage to misdirect the reader.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I’m not striving to be socially relevant, and I don’t espouse causes.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I leave that to others.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I’m striving for goode olde entertainment. (Don’t you just hate it when people add all those extra “e’s?)</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:100%;">Another reason (and you probably won’t hear this from a lot of writers, but I’m being perfectly honest) is that over the years I’ve run across a number of people I don’t like, and writing mysteries give me a chance to kill off these folks.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">What a thrill to achieve the great satisfaction of getting rid of my foes and not have to suffer any real consequences!</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">“A Cadger’s Curse” has five murders -- five being better than one.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">My husband Tom tells me I’ll never have to see a psychiatrist because I purge all my angst through the murders in the books.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Tom also tells me he’s sure I’ll never run out of villains.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">(Does this mean he thinks I’ve made a lot of enemies?)</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">One unintended consequence of writing mysteries is that I have found people love to talk to a mys</span><span style="font-size:100%;">tery author.<span style=""> </span>It is great fun to talk with mystery fans, whom I find are invariably knowledgeable and friendly with wide </span><span style="font-size:100%;">ranging interests.<span style=""> </span>Many fans want to write their own mystery novel, and they like to get reinforcement to convince them that it can be done.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Writin</span><span style="font-size:100%;">g mysteries gives me an opportunity to combine a good mystery plot with interesting bits of history.<span style=""> </span>I’ve always been interested in both mystery and history, and combining them both in my DD McGil Literati Mystery Series has been a fun challen</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ge.<span style=""> </span>I enjoy doing the research.<span style=""> </span>For “A Cadger’s Curse,” I researched a true incident in the life of the </span><span style="font-size:100%;">great Scottish Bard, Robert Burns.<span style=""> </span>In the second of the Literati Mystery Series, “Hunting for Hemingway,” coming out in </span><span style="font-size:100%;">September 2010, I take the consequences of a pivotal event in Hemingway’s life into modern day <st1:city><st1:place>Chicago</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="font-size:100%;">.<span style=""> </span>The third in the Literati Mystery Series focuses on Sir Arthur</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Conan Doyle’s 1894 trip to <st1:city><st1:place>Chicago</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="font-size:100%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">When I attended the <st1:place><st1:placetype>University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>Chicago</st1:placename></st1:place></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> as an undergraduate, I loved to write.<span style=""> </span>Many of my fellow stu<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S08ksWBiHvI/AAAAAAAAAY4/AVQrJ9zs57o/s1600-h/CadgersCurse"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 287px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S08ksWBiHvI/AAAAAAAAAY4/AVQrJ9zs57o/s320/CadgersCurse" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426596420249591538" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">dents who had trouble with their English Lit papers would beg me for help.<span style=""> </span>The papers I wrote for them all got “A’s” for my efforts, but my professor would not give me an “A,” try as I might.<span style=""> </span>Soon this was the joke of the campus and stayed so through the years.<span style=""> </span>That’s why “A Cadger’s Curse” is dedicated to my college roommate, Alta Sumner, with these words, <i style="">“Thanks for helping me remember and helping me forget the infamous Dr. Bailey.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">A Cadger’s Curs</span><span style="font-size:100%;">e – Midnight Ink – November 2009<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >Hunting for Hemingway – <st1:time minute="0" hour="0">Midnight</st1:time></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" > Ink – September 2010</span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">http://www.dianegilbertmadsen.com<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<br />Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-34843439757192810782010-01-12T08:01:00.000-05:002010-01-12T08:01:00.332-05:00Why I Write Historical Mysteries - M. E. Kemp<span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Editor's Note: Welcome to M. E. Kemp, who writes an unusual historical murder mystery series set in Puritan-era America. Enjoy!</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Why I Writ</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S0JSN8VT6aI/AAAAAAAAAYo/bluw2r4Plts/s1600-h/MEKempHeadshot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 280px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S0JSN8VT6aI/AAAAAAAAAYo/bluw2r4Plts/s320/MEKempHeadshot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422987300794788258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">e Historical Mysteries<o:p></o:p></span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">M. E. KEMP</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I write a series of historical mysteries set in Colonial days with two nosy Puritans as detectives.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, Puritans were supposed to be nosy, to keep watch on their wayward neighbors.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">And a detective has to be nosy, so...</span></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">Actually, I decided upon Puritans as a reaction to all the medieval mysteries featuring monks, nuns, sisters, brot</span><span style="font-size:100%;">hers, etc.<span style=""> </span>Increase<span style=""> </span>‘Creasy’ Cotton is a member of the famous Mather family who led the largest and richest church in al of the colonies.<span style=""> </span>Except that Creasy’s congregation is made up of poor widows and sailors in <st1:city><st1:place>Boston</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="font-size:100%;">’s south end.<span style=""> </span>The Mathers were community as well as religious lead</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ers and were very busy people, father and son, so they delegate ‘Cousin Creasy’ to do the dirty work for them in such mundane matters as murder.</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Assisting him is Hetty Henry, a wealthy wi</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S0JSNss2BJI/AAAAAAAAAYg/5vQhfru_WbY/s1600-h/BawdyBelle-Cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 281px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/S0JSNss2BJI/AAAAAAAAAYg/5vQhfru_WbY/s320/BawdyBelle-Cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422987296598525074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">dow with connections to high and low society.<span style=""> </span>Hetty is such a pushy broad she took over the first book, MUR<st1:stockticker>DER</st1:stockticker></span><span style="font-size:100%;">, MATHER AND MAYHEM, and then the series.<span style=""> </span>The two are always quarreling, which helps to show humor in Puritan life.<span style=""> </span>The poor Puritans have gotten “bad press” over the centuries.<span style=""> </span>They were quite progressive in matters of education, style of dress and enjoyment of food, drink, and yes, SEX.</span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">They were a lusty peoples – how do you think we got here?<span style=""> </span>I believe American history is just as bloody and colorful as medieval Britain, so that’s what I try to convey in my books, which include DEATH OF A DUTCH UNCLE (set in Albany,) DEATH OF A BAWDY BELLE (the Salem witch trials,) and in my fourth book due out in ’10; DEATH OF A DANCING MASTER.<span style=""> </span>My books are based upon historical incidents but are works of fiction.<span style=""><br /></span></span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Email M. E. Kemp at: mekemp at nycap.rr.com<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Visit M. E. Kemp at: http://www.mekempmysteries.com<br /><span style="font-size:14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-87097531327565892012010-01-07T09:27:00.003-05:002010-01-07T09:31:26.503-05:00Great Writing AdviceI am always interested in good solid writing advice, and today, at Bookends Literary Agency's blog, one of the Bookends murder mystery authors, Jennifer Stanley, has some great advice; stay true to yourself!<br /><br />It's not like I haven't thought of this before, but I think I need reminders every once in a while.<br /><br />To read her post, go to: <a href="http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2010/01/take-riskstay-true-to-your-voice-by.html">http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2010/01/take-riskstay-true-to-your-voice-by.html</a><br /><br />For more about her books, go to her website: <a href="http://www.jbstanley.com./">http://www.jbstanley.com./</a>Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-47816878106315365122010-01-04T09:47:00.006-05:002010-01-04T10:59:38.952-05:00New Year, New StartI hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are going back to work/school/slothdom with a fresh outlook and fresh start.<br /><br />I finished two mystery books during the holidays:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Case of the Tough Talking Turkey</span> by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Claudia Bishop</span><br />(The Casebook of Dr. McKenzie #2)<br />Berkley (Prime Crime), August 2007<br />ISBN #0425216691<br />288 pages Paperback<br />$6.99<br /><br />This new-to-me-author is now going on my 'must-glom' list, because I love her 'voice'. Voice, impossible to define, impossible to mistake, is that elusive quality that carries a reader along to the finish with no effort. A writer's 'voice' won't work for every reader, so when you stumble across one that does, you hang on for life!<br /><br />This book, the second in the series, was funny, warm, smart and quick. I dub Claudia Bishop (if it hasn't already been done) the <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">new</span> Charlotte MacLeod, because that is exactly what Ms. Bishop's voice reminds me of, especially MacLeod's Professor Peter Shandy series.<br /><br />I also read <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Dashing Through the Snow</span>, a Christmas mystery by Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark. This was a slight, light, fast read, without a lot of meat. Quite frankly, it felt 'phoned' in, like the two didn't put a lot of thought or time into it. Aside from that, it was an easy and relatively enjoyable read, but not one I'll remember a week from now. Or even a couple of days.<br /><br />Website alert:<br /><br />As always, I like to pass along info on websites <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cozy Murder Mystery</span> readers might enjoy. Check out this site, Mystery Readers International.<br /><a href="http://www.mysteryreaders.org/">http://www.mysteryreaders.org/</a><br /><br />It lists reading groups, mystery bookstores, and is the online home of Mystery Reader's Journal. In association with that is this blog, by Janet Rudolph: <a href="http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/">http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />So... we're ba-ack! And ready for a new year of murder, mayhem and fun!Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-57141564319404680672009-12-15T11:25:00.014-05:002009-12-15T11:46:49.304-05:00December Berkley Prime Crime Line-upHere are some great new December releases from Berkley!!!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sye5hu9zWHI/AAAAAAAAAXo/DIUX7Blsyqc/s1600-h/ChristmasCookieKillercover"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sye5hu9zWHI/AAAAAAAAAXo/DIUX7Blsyqc/s320/ChristmasCookieKillercover" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415501066130380914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">The Christmas Cookie Killer</span><br /><p class="head1"><span class="p"><a href="http://berkleysignetmysteries.com/author322">Livia J. Washburn</a></span> </p> <p><i><b>Reprint - Originally published in Trade Paperback</b></i></p> <p>Phyllis Newsom stands a good chance in the Christmas cookie contest with her snowflake-shaped lime sugar cookies. But Mrs. Simmons' gingerdoodles might give her a run for her money—until she's found strangled in a pile of cookies. With many on Santa's naughty suspect list, this case is a cookie Phyllis means to crumble...</p> <p>(A Fresh-Baked Mystery #3)<br />Obsidian, November 2009<br />ISBN-10: 0451226666<br />ISBN-13: 9780451226662<br />272 pages Paperback (reprint)<br />$6.99</p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">~<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">::</span>~</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sye6Gpme2jI/AAAAAAAAAXw/XxExkc5ZGyg/s1600-h/DeckedWithFollyCover"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 313px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sye6Gpme2jI/AAAAAAAAAXw/XxExkc5ZGyg/s320/DeckedWithFollyCover" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415501700345551410" border="0" /></a><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);" class="head1">Decked with Folly</p><p class="head1"><span class="p"><a href="http://berkleysignetmysteries.com/author188">Kate Kingsbury</a></span> </p> <p><b>Make room for murder with all the trimmings in the latest of the Pennyfoot Hotel Christmas mystery series.</b> </p><p>It's the holiday season and the Pennyfoot staff is brimming with anticipation. The scents of the season overflow from the kitchen and the country club's halls are decorated with festive displays thanks to Cecily's dear friend Madeline. But when one of Cecily's candlesticks disappears, she realizes someone is lacking in Christmas spirit. </p><p>Petty thievery seems the least of Cecily's problems after she learns a former employee has been found dead in her duck pond. He hasn't worked at the Pennyfoot in years, but his ex-wife is still their head maid—and now she heads the list of suspects. And when Madeline has a vision of more misfortune to come, Cecily starts feeling more jinxed than jolly. Now a killer and a thief must be taken off the guest list in order to put the merry back into Christmas.</p> <p>(A Special Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery)<br />Berkley Trade, November 2009<br />ISBN-10: 0425230015<br />ISBN-13: 9780425230015<br />304 pages Trade Size<br />$14.00</p><p>Editor's Note: I have been meaning to check these Kate Kingsbury mysteries out for a while... this and the next are both Christmas mysteries!</p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">~</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">::</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">~</span></div><p class="head1"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Ringing In Murder</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sye77SHRpiI/AAAAAAAAAYA/HwRSaxOspHU/s1600-h/RingingInMurdercover"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sye77SHRpiI/AAAAAAAAAYA/HwRSaxOspHU/s320/RingingInMurdercover" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415503704085341730" border="0" /></a></p><p class="head1"><span class="p"><a href="http://berkleysignetmysteries.com/author188">Kate Kingsbury</a></span> </p> <p><i><b>Originally published in Trade Paperback</b></i></p> <p>This season, Cecily has a surprise for her guests: gorgeous Christmas crackers handmade for the Pennyfoot. But when a mysterious fire breaks out in an upstairs room, it kills the Christmas mood—and two guests. Now Cecily's dead-set on solving this mystery before another deadly present turns up.</p> <p>(A Special Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery)<br />Berkley (Prime Crime), November 2009<br />ISBN-10: 0425231208<br />ISBN-13: 9780425231203<br />256 pages Paperback (reprint)<br />$6.99<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">~</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">::</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">~</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sye61aMf1YI/AAAAAAAAAX4/hwZro3Cvg4I/s1600-h/TheYuletideWeddingscover"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 309px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sye61aMf1YI/AAAAAAAAAX4/hwZro3Cvg4I/s320/TheYuletideWeddingscover" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415502503663883650" border="0" /></a><p style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);" class="head1"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Mrs. Jeffries & the Yuletide Weddings</span></p><p class="head1"><span class="p"><a href="http://berkleysignetmysteries.com/author178">Emily Brightwell</a></span> </p> <p><b>Upper Edmonto</b><b>n Gardens looks forward to a jolly Christmas, until one humbug sings of murder—in Mrs. Jeffries's 26th mystery.</b> </p><p>'Tis the week before Christmas, and all through the house, every creature is stirring... </p><p>But just as Inspector Witherspoon's staff prepares for the long-awaited wedding of Betsy and Smythe, a Yuletide murder falls in the Inspector's lap. </p><p>A middle-aged spinster has been killed in what her murderer hoped would look like a random crime. But the Inspector's investigation reveals a web of lies, intrigue, and long-buried secrets. With uncooperative witnesses, sulking relatives, and a second Christmas wedding, a simple investigation seems unlikely. And the household will have to put aside its holiday spirit to save the Inspector's reputation.</p> <p>(A Victorian Mystery #26)<br />Berkley, November 2009<br />ISBN-10: 0425230465<br />ISBN-13: 9780425230466<br />272 pages Hardcover<br />$23.95<br /></p>**Editor's Note... Betty and Smythe are finally getting married? I'll have to read this one!! Great very fun series.<br /><br />Have any of you read these, or any other by these authors? Do tell us about them! I have read several of the Mrs. Jeffries historical mysteries and they are light, entertaining and great fun. Not deep in any sense, but good solid murder mystery entertainment.Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-17903410317692794562009-12-11T08:01:00.001-05:002009-12-11T08:01:00.711-05:00How to write a Holiday Mystery<span style="font-style: italic;">*Editor's note: We have a special treat today. Maggie Sefton, author of Berkley Prime Crime's Knitting Mystery series is celebrating the paperback edition of her bestselling 'Fleece Navidad' and is here today to give us a little insight into writing the holiday-themed mystery. Please welcome her kindly a</span><span style="font-style: italic;">nd enjoy!! </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">HOLIDAY MYSTERIES—WARM AND FUZZY OR</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">CHILLY?</span></span><br />by Maggie Sefton - Author of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Fleece Navidad</span><br /></div><br /> When my publisher ask<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx5QfEjHhSI/AAAAAAAAAXI/3C3FxO7vnOk/s1600-h/MaggieSefton.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx5QfEjHhSI/AAAAAAAAAXI/3C3FxO7vnOk/s320/MaggieSefton.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412852296873116962" border="0" /></a>ed me to write a Holiday-themed mystery for my Knitting Mystery series, I knew I had a problem. The series, featuring 30-something corporate refugee, Kelly Flynn, is set in a college town in northern Colorado and has many scenes in Kelly’s favorite knitting shop where her friends gather around the knitting table to socialize, hash out problems, and work on their fiber projects. In the previous five books in the series, I deliberately used those “warm and fuzzy” scenes to allow Kelly to sort through all the information and clues she uncovers when she’s investigating a murder. “Sleuthing,” as her friends call it.<br /><br />It should be pointed out that Kelly is not a cop, nor a private eye, nor a lawyer. She’s a CPA and has absolutely no business messing in murder. But---she can’t help herself. She can’t resist a puzzle. And solving a murder is an irresistible challenge. Kelly’s analytical mind goes on automatic. Having been a CPA myself, it really is almost automatic. We simply have to analyze a problem, weigh and measure, and—here’s the key—look for things that don’t belong.<br /><br />Whether it’s on a balance sheet or in searching for clues, Kelly naturally picks up details that others do not, even police officers. That makes for a confrontational relationship between Kelly and the Fort Connor Chief of Detectives. Kelly’s convinced he’s never forgiven her for finding her aunt’s killer—the real killer—the one who strangled her aunt in her cozy cottage across from the knitting shop. Kelly proved the cops had the wrong guy in jail.<br /><br />So, what’s the problem?<br /><br />Well, I knew that many of the readers would be expecting more than the usual warm and fuzzies in this book simply because it’s set during the entire month of December. They would want “holiday” warm and fuzzies—scenes of hectic preparations, shopping, characters knitting mittens, and holiday parties. I even found the perfect holiday title for the book: FLEECE NAVIDAD.<br /><br />The problem is I just can’t have the characters sitting around wrapping presents and drinking wassail. I have to kill someone. After all, that’s what I do. I kill people on paper for a living. So a body has to hit the floor. And my problem was how to insert that in the midst of all the holiday cheer.<br /><br />I finally decided that I would “play off” the crime scene talk and Kelly’s sleuthing against the holiday cheer, deliberately putting them together in the same scenes. Warm and chilly. And with the help of some fascinating new characters who walked to center stage for this book, it was easy.<br /><br />To me, it’s all about the characters, and these two people exhibited charming and attractive sides of their personalities as well as darker sides. And since both these women had opposing goals, they clashed. Accusations began to fly and scandals from the past came out. And I deliberately chose to have it all happen right there at the knitting table, crowded with shop regulars knitting charity hats, mittens for disadvantaged children, as well as holiday gifts. The normally congenial atmosphere disappears. People choose sides and argue. Loudly. In fact, it gets so acrimonious one afternoon that the normally-cheerful shop owner, Mimi, throws everyone out into the cold.<br /><br />Add to that, the victim is a librarian. Gasp! How could I do that? Librarians are my favorite people. And to make it worse, Juliette, had found love for the first time. To think someone could run into her one night then drive away and leave Juliette to bleed and die alone in the dark. . . how heartless.<br /><br />We novelists are a cruel lot. We kill all sorts of people—nice sweet people and nasty mean brutes. We do not discriminate. And Juliette was the perfect victim. Of course, the plot definitely thickens when police discover that her death was not accidental, but deliberate. Someone lay in wait for Juliette to appear that night in her beautiful Christmas cape.<br /><br />Kelly has her hands full trying to unravel this puzzle. On top of that, Kelly tries to keep the peace between two spinster sisters who’re at odds with one another. The fractious arguments around the knitting table are taking their toll on relationships.<br /><br />Before I knew it, there was plenty of contrast for the holiday warm and fuzzies. And just to make sure the temperature didn’t get too chilly, I allowed Kelly and Jennifer to get in touch with the holidays—up close and personal. They’re recruited to oversee the Saint Mark’s Catholic Church’s Christmas Eve Nativity Pageant, complete with a cast of surly thirteen-year olds. The original leader was poor Juliette, our librarian victim. So Kelly and Jennifer—the two lapsed Catholics in the group—take over the job.<br /><br />They soon discover this project will require more than their usual organizational skills. Let’s put it this way--Joseph is wired into his iPod, the shepherds are texting, and Mary has a nose ring.<br /> However you choose to celebrate the holidays, enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx5Qey4ZAiI/AAAAAAAAAXA/zpYFaBkNbRs/s1600-h/FleeceNavidadCover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx5Qey4ZAiI/AAAAAAAAAXA/zpYFaBkNbRs/s320/FleeceNavidadCover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412852292130505250" border="0" /></a><br />Maggie Sefton is the New York Times Bestselling author of the Knitting Mystery Series, published by Berkley Prime Crime and set in Colorado. The paperback edition of last year’s hardcover Barnes & Noble Bestseller, FLEECE NAVIDAD, was released November 3rd. It’s available in bookstores, specialty shops, and online. Visit her at her website: <a href="http://www.maggiesefton.com/">http://www.maggiesefton.com</a>. Visit Maggie’s blogsite at <a href="http://www.cozychicksblog.com/">http://www.cozychicksblog.com</a>.<br /><br />(Article previously published in Mystery Readers Journal).Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-69357933926252254502009-12-10T14:05:00.005-05:002009-12-10T14:28:40.608-05:00Mystery MiscellanyNews Release - December 9th, 2009<br /><br />Mystery Writers of America - Dorothy Gilman, author of the tremendously fun Mrs. Pollifax series, has been named this year's Grand Master, kind of a lifetime achievement award.<br /><br />Read all about it!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mystery-writers-of-america-announces-the-2010-grand-master-raven-and-ellery-queen-award-recipients-78861587.html">Dorothy Gilman - Mystery Writers of America 2009 Grand Master!</a><br /><br /><br />Just a note to tell those of you who don't know about Berkley's Prime Crime webpage... have a look! I love how it's laid out. Just looking at some of the covers make me drool! You can search by sub-genre, which is nice. I love that they have categories for animal lovers, culinary, even hobbies! I want books for Christmas!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://berkleysignetmysteries.com/">Berkley's Prime Crime books!</a><br /><br />If you haven't already, sign up for the newsletter!<br /><br />And remember to come back tomorrow for the wonderful piece on 'how to write a holiday mystery' by Maggie Sefton, author of the Knitting Mysteries!Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-46263116099415662122009-12-09T08:01:00.000-05:002009-12-09T08:01:00.424-05:00Santa Clawed by Rita Mae Brown - Review<span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">*Editor's Note: Welcome Ariel Heart once again and her review of a fun holiday-themed mystery. I have to say, I have read many of the Mrs. Murphy/Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries, and tho</span><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">ugh I started readi</span><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">ng th</span><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">em with some en</span><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">thusiasm, I have no</span><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">t been able to finish the last couple I've tried, even one I received as a gift from someone who knows I love mysteries and cats! Ariel's review has made me reconsider, and I may try this one as, in addition to loving mysteries and cats, I love holiday themed books!</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Enjoy!!</span><h1><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Santa Clawed</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx0kBFNAz5I/AAAAAAAAAWY/XDSQlrEAEKQ/s1600-h/SantaClawed-cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx0kBFNAz5I/AAAAAAAAAWY/XDSQlrEAEKQ/s320/SantaClawed-cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412521928164429714" border="0" /></a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0cm 0.0001pt;"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Author</span></strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">: Rita Mae Brown<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0cm 0.0001pt;"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Copyright</span></strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">: Nov 2008 (Bantam); 288 pgs. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0cm 0.0001pt;"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Series</span></strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">: #17 in Mrs. Murphy mysteries <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0cm 0.0001pt;"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sensuality</span></strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">: N/A but adult themes<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0cm 0.0001pt;"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Mystery sub-genre:</span></strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;" ><span style=""> </span>Cozy</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0cm 0.0001pt;"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Main Character</span></strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">: Harry Haristeen, former postmistress now farmer with her tiger-stripped cat Mrs. Murphy, gray cat Pewter and Corgi dog Tucker<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0cm 0.0001pt;"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Setting</span></strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">: Crozet, Virginia – Holiday season</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;color:black;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Obtained book through:<span style=""> </span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;" >Library Find</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
<br /><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;" ><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">If you love animal cozy mysteries, then the NY Times Best-selling Mrs. Murphy mysteries are a must.<span style=""> </span>The series is dubbed after Mrs. Murphy, Harry’s tiger-stripped cat who runs the house.<span style=""> </span>The books are even touted as being co-written by Sneaky Pie, Rita Mae’s cat so you get the full animal viewpoint during the stories.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Harry has recently married the local equine vet, Fair and is now a full time farmer.<span style=""> </span>This installment is set during the holidays so eloquently portrayed by Miss Brown.<span style=""> </span>Harry and her new hubby go tree shopping at The Brother’s of Love Tree Farm, only to find their perfect tree is already decorated with a dead body of a brother.<span style=""> </span>Harry had gone to High School with the dead monk, Christopher Hewitt.<span style=""> </span>She felt he was really turning his life around after being released from jail, and then his throat was slit and a Greek coin, an obol, placed in his mouth.<span style=""> </span>Harry is rather shaken by the murder and begins investigating, again aided by her three pets.<span style=""> </span>Soon, Brother Christopher is not the only murder victim – all with their throats slit and an obol in their mouths - and the usually bright holidays have a fearful pall fall over the town.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This story is a wonderful read, the characterization is finely done and the town richly brought to life with its myriad delightful characters.<span style=""> </span>Rita Mae’s characteristic animal viewpoints are spot on and often laugh-out-loud funny.<span style=""> </span>You actually start to wonder if Rita Mae doesn’t actually hear her animals for real to be able to write them so convincingly.<span style=""> </span>The story is character driven and yet sports a solid mystery plot with a few surprises along the way.<span style=""> </span>There is not one area I could think of that could be done better.<span style=""> </span>Don’t let the multiple deaths deceive you, this book will still put you in a bright holiday mood.<span style=""> </span>This is one of the best cozy mysteries around and I highly recommend it.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CADMINI%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoBodyTextIndent, li.MsoBodyTextIndent, div.MsoBodyTextIndent {margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:36.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">As Harry Haristeen walked across the large quad to the great hall, her two cats and corgi behind her, she wondered if people today could build as securely as our forefathers did.<span style=""> </span>Seemed like things were built to fall apart.<span style=""> </span>Grateful that she lived in an old farmhouse built about the same time as the church, she paused on her way to the work party long enough to make a snowball and throw it up in the air.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Tucker, the corgi, jumped up to catch it.<span style=""> </span>As she did, the snowball chilled her teeth, so she dropped it.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Dumb!” </i>Pewter, the portly gray cat, laughed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>"I knew it would do that, but if she throws a ball, I have to catch it.<span style=""> </span>That’s my job,”</i> Tucker defended herself.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Harry decided to sprint the last two hundred yards to warm up.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The tiger cat, Mrs. Murphy, shot past her.<span style=""> </span>The shoveled walkway was covered with inches of fresh snow but easily negotiable.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Pewter, hating to be outdone, couldn’t get around Harry so she leapt onto the snow, where she promptly sank.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Tucker, trotting on the path, called out, <i>“Dumb.”…<o:p></o:p></i>
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Upon entering the great hall, Harry inhaled the fragrance of oak burning in the two fireplaces, one at either end.<span style=""> </span>The aroma of a well-tended fire added to winter’s allure.<span style=""> </span>Harry loved all the seasons.<span style=""> </span>Winter’s purity appealed to her.<span style=""> </span>She loved being able to see the spine of the land, loved popping into a friend’s house for hot chocolate or serving the same.<span style=""> </span>Born and raised here, she was buoyed up by close friendships.<span style=""> </span>People might feel alienated in big cities, but she couldn’t imagine that emotion.<span style=""> </span>Tied to the land, the people and animals that inhabited it, Harry knew she was a lucky soul.</p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I highly recommend this book.<span style=""> </span>It has a good balance and is well written providing suspense, tens</p> <p class="MsoNormal">ion, humor and even the holiday spirit in one package.<span style=""> </span>By the end of the book, you will feel as though you have actually spent time in the small town of <st1:city><st1:place>Crozet</st1:place></st1:city> and have gotten to know some wonderful people.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Five out of Five Cozy Armchairs!
<br /></p><h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx0kvF64FOI/AAAAAAAAAWo/tn_hLVBo_bk/s1600-h/Armchair.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 58px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx0kvF64FOI/AAAAAAAAAWo/tn_hLVBo_bk/s320/Armchair.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412522718630778082" border="0" /></a></h1> <h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx0kvbn57II/AAAAAAAAAWw/SphT-xmeZzM/s1600-h/Armchair.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 58px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx0kvbn57II/AAAAAAAAAWw/SphT-xmeZzM/s320/Armchair.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412522724456787074" border="0" /></a></h1> <h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx0kA5-vMAI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/3RoOHDPSuW4/s1600-h/Armchair.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 58px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx0kA5-vMAI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/3RoOHDPSuW4/s320/Armchair.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412521925151764482" border="0" /></a></h1> <h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx0kvgVXA8I/AAAAAAAAAW4/kxb9zJFqx3M/s1600-h/Armchair.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 58px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx0kvgVXA8I/AAAAAAAAAW4/kxb9zJFqx3M/s320/Armchair.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412522725721179074" border="0" /></a></h1> <h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx0ku8GQ7dI/AAAAAAAAAWg/s-RXkQcWWx8/s1600-h/Armchair.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 58px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx0ku8GQ7dI/AAAAAAAAAWg/s-RXkQcWWx8/s320/Armchair.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412522715994189266" border="0" /></a></h1>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 153); font-family: Lucida Handwriting,Cursive;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 153); font-family: Lucida Handwriting,Cursive; font-size: 100%;"><em>Ariel</em></span>
<br /><span style="font-family: ";";">About the reviewer:
<br /></span><p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ";";">A.F. Hear</span><span style="font-family: ";";">t<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ";";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ";";"><a href="http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com/">http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com/</a>
<br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ";";">Ms. Heart is a </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: ";";">Colorado</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: ";";"> gal who does not like snow but loves the low bug population.<span style=""> </span>She has been told she was an odd child for playing Cleopatra with her Barbies and dressing up her poodle.<span style=""> </span>She is taking that active imagination and writing her first novel. <span style=""> </span>She shares her writing progress (and much more) on her blog “Mysteries and My Musings.”</span></p></span>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-81453286719070892162009-12-08T08:18:00.007-05:002009-12-08T08:57:37.305-05:00It's That Time of Year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx5bI_ZH3NI/AAAAAAAAAXY/AOC2vYNK_dI/s1600-h/1244020_christmas_5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 249px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sx5bI_ZH3NI/AAAAAAAAAXY/AOC2vYNK_dI/s320/1244020_christmas_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412864012159802578" border="0" /></a>If you actually <span style="font-weight: bold;">sang</span> the title of this entry, then you are in full-blown <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">holiday</span> mode, and so am I! Oh, I still have work to do... lots and <span style="font-style: italic;">lots</span> of work. But I'm in the spirit.<br /><br />And whatever you celebrate, whether it be:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Hanukkah</span> - Begins sundown, Friday, December 11th thru the next 8 days.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Islamic New Year</span> - December 18th<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 51);">First Day of Winter</span> - December 21st.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Christmas</span> - December 25th<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">Kwanzaa</span> - December 26th, thru January 1st<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">New Year's Eve</span> - December 31st<br /><br />I hope you enjoy the season, whatever it means to you.<br /><br />And in that spirit, <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">tomorrow</span> I have a review of a <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Christmas</span>-themed mystery - <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Santa Clawed</span> by Rita Mae Brown, and <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Friday</span>, a special treat, an article on writing the holiday-themed mystery by <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Maggie Sefton</span>, author of the New York times bestselling Knitting Mysteries!<br /><br />Enjoy all, and don't drink too much eggnog!Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-24211825191470809962009-12-04T00:01:00.002-05:002009-12-04T07:44:29.397-05:00Q&A with Sue Ann Jaffarian - Part 2<span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >*Welcome, readers, to Part 2 of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Sue Ann Jaffarian's</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Q&A with Cozy Murder Mysteries</span>. Let's get right down to business!</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">CMM</span> - You have a grea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sw7ChVHhA7I/AAAAAAAAAWA/a7WYmhLtTPs/s1600/399px-Camryn_Manheim.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 279px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sw7ChVHhA7I/AAAAAAAAAWA/a7WYmhLtTPs/s320/399px-Camryn_Manheim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408474080378684338" border="0" /></a>t quote from <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Camryn Manheim</span> (love her on Ghost Whisperer) about your Odelia Grey books: <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><em><strong>"I w</strong></em></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><em><strong>i</strong></em></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><em><strong>sh I'd had Odelia Grey as my paralegal when I was on The Practice. Gutsy, smart, and loveable, she is the</strong></em></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><em><strong> p</strong></em></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><em><strong>erfect take-no-prisoners </strong></em></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><em><strong>heroine for today's woman."</strong></em><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong> </strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Camryn Manheim</strong></span></span></span></span> How did that come about? Did you approach her, or do you know her?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">SAJ</span> - I have not had the pleasure of meeting Camryn Manheim personally.<span style=""> </span>My dream was to get a blurb from her, so I </b><b style="">hunted down her contact information and asked her if she’d do it. She was so</b><b style=""> gracious to consent and gave me such a fabulous blurb.</b><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">CMM</span> - Reviews are a mixed blessing for most authors; we love the good ones, hate the bad ones, and know they are just one person’s opinion. How do you deal with negative reviews? Do you even read reviews?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">SAJ - </span></b><b style="">I read all reviews, even reader reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Of course, I rejoice in the good ones, but I do not let the bad ones bother me. As you said, they are just one person’s opinion, and the good ones definitely outweigh the negative reviews. There have been many books I haven’t </b><b style="">enjoyed that others have raved about, so I understand that my books may be subject to similar opposing views.<span style=""> </span>It’s all a matter of personal taste.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></b></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="font-family: arial;">One thing, though, I really wish readers would think twice before posting really tacky and/or hateful reviews anywhere on any book.<span style=""> </span>If you don’t like a book, say so and say why in an intelligent, well-thought out manner.<span style=""> </span>It doesn’t help anyone when reviewers think they’re bei</b><b style="font-family:arial;">ng cute by being vicious. Those folks have no idea what goes into producing a book.<span style=""> </span>If they did, they would use better judgment.<o:p></o:p></b></span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />CMM - </span><span style="font-family:arial;">You do a lot of personal appearances. Have you had any funny/touching/interesting encounters with readers? </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">SAJ - </span></b><b style="">My readers ROCK! I can’t begin to tell you the e-mails, snail mail, even gifts I’ve received from readers from all over.<span style=""> </span>But I think the funniest encounter was when I was waiting in a line at a book conference and a reader tried to pitch me my own book.<span style=""> </span>Seriously!<span style=""> </span>I didn’t have my name tag on and she obviously thought that I, as a fat woman of a certain age, should read the Odelia Grey novels. She went on and on about how much I’d enjoy the books until someone </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sw7A3RvCpJI/AAAAAAAAAVw/GsFCVID7uuk/s1600/Ghost_a_la_Mode+Thumbnail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 104px; height: 160px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sw7A3RvCpJI/AAAAAAAAAVw/GsFCVID7uuk/s320/Ghost_a_la_Mode+Thumbnail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408472258404590738" border="0" /></a><b style="">pointed out to her who I was. She just about died of embarrassment. Then we laughed and hugged. I’ve run into her since and we still la</b><b style="">ugh over it.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><b style="">On the touching side, I get a lot of e-mails from readers who tell me that having such a positive plus-size heroine makes them feel better about themselves. That’s golden.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-family:arial;" >CMM - </span><span style="font-family:arial;">As a paralegal yourself, do real life stories ever make a veiled appearance in your novels? </span><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">SAJ - </span></b><b style="">No, never.<span style=""> </span>What I do as a paralegal would put my readers to sleep in a nano-second. Trust me.<span style=""> </span>I do infuse some of the details of my job into Odelia’s day at the office, but never base any of the plots on cases or matters I’ve been involved with in my position as a paralegal. What I make up is soooooo much more entertaining.<span style=""> </span>Besides, a lot of folks at my office read my books, including many of the attorneys. It wouldn’t do for them t</b><b style="">o see office issues in the books, even if veiled over.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">CMM - </span>What do you read? Any favorite authors?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">SAJ - </span></b><b style="">I have so many favorite authors and so little time to read.<span style=""> </span>I try not to read books similar to my own, especially while deep into a manuscript. Favorites include Walter Mosley, Diana Gabaldon, Naomi Hirahara, Jan Burke, John Morgan Wilson, Eric Stone, Terry McMillan, Amy Tan, John Irving, Lisa Scottline, Lee Child. (How much space do we have?)<span style=""> </span>And I love discovering new authors.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">CMM - </span>Thank you so much, Sue Ann, for taking this time to be with us at <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Cozy Murder Mysteries</span>.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">SAJ - </span></b><b style="">THANK YOU!!! <o:p></o:p></b><b style="">And if any of your readers would like to sign up for my e-mail newsletter, <i style="">Hotflashes</i>, they should drop me an e-mail with <i style="">Add Me</i> in the subject line.<span style=""> </span>My e-mail address is sue@sueannjaffarian.com.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Find Sue Ann at: <a href="http://www.sueannjaffarian.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.sueannjaffarian.com/</span></a><br /></b></p>Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-16353040869042346102009-12-02T00:01:00.001-05:002009-12-02T00:01:00.803-05:00Q&A with Sue Ann Jaffarian - Part 1<span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >*Welcome, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Cozy Murder Mysteries</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > readers, to a wonderful Q&A with cozy murder mystery author </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Sue Ann Jaffarian</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >, author of the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Odelia Grey</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > and </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Ghost of Granny Apples</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> mystery series... as well as a new one she will announce here. Make her welcome, and after Part 2, on Friday, I'll provide an email link to sign up for her newsletter!</span> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link style="font-family: arial;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CADMINI%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: arial;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City" downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: arial;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><o:p style="font-family: arial;"></o:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">CMM - </span>First, Sue Ann, thank you so much for taking the time to do this. I <i style="">very much</i> appreciate it!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNormal">Tell us a little about your <b style="">Odelia Grey</b> and <b style="">Ghost of Granny Apples</b> series?</p><p face="arial" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Odelia Grey is a plus size, middle-aged paralegal living and working in Newport Beach, CA, with a penchant for getting into trouble. She quirky, funny, and often cranky with a very big heart. No matter how often she says she’ll never get involved with another murder, she just can’t say no when people ask for her help.<span style=""> </span>She’s also surrounded by a colorful and nutty cast of characters that include her husband Greg, who is in a wheelchair, best friends Zee and Seth Washington, and boss Mike Steele, an arrogant SOB of an attorney.<span style=""> </span>They have dubbed her “the corpse magnet” but love sticking their noses into trouble right along with Odeli</b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sw7Au9-0luI/AAAAAAAAAVo/gme-rfCX3wU/s1600/Sue+Ann+Jaffarian+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 209px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sw7Au9-0luI/AAAAAAAAAVo/gme-rfCX3wU/s320/Sue+Ann+Jaffarian+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408472115663116002" border="0" /></a><b style="">a. Roundi</b><b style="">ng out the group is detective Dev Frye who is constantly trying to keep Odelia and her posse out of trouble.<span style=""> </span>The 5<sup>th</sup> Odelia Grey novel, <i style="">Corpse on the Cob</i>, will be out February 2010.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">
<br /></b></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">The Ghost of Granny Apples mysteries feature the living/dead sleuthing duo of Emma Whitecastle, a divorced mom living in Pasadena who has recently discovered she can hear and see ghosts, and Granny Apples, the 100+ year old pioneer ghost of Emma’s cantankerous great-great-great grandmother. In the first book in the series, <i style="">Ghost a la Mode</i>, Emma meets Granny for the first time, and sets out to prove that Granny did not kill her husband, for which Granny was hanged.<span style=""> </span>Most of <i style="">Ghost a la Mode</i> takes place in the town of </b><st1:city><st1:place><b style="">Julian</b></st1:place></st1:city><b style="">, CA, a real former gold rush town in </b><st1:place><b style="">Southern California</b></st1:place><b style="">.<span style=""> </span>In subsequent books, Granny and Emma look into the long-forgotten murders of other ghosts. You might say The Ghost of Granny Apples mystery series is a cross between <i style="">Ghost Whisperer/Cold Case/Topper</i>.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">
<br /></i></b></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Ghost a la Mode</i> was released September 2009 and the 2<sup>nd</sup> book in the series will be out September 2010. Unfortunately, the title for book #2 is still up in the air with my publisher, but it opens on </b><st1:place><b style="">Catalina Island</b></st1:place><b style="">. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">
<br /></b></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">And the big news is I am working on a third mystery series. It is scheduled for release in the fall of 2011 and will involve the sleuthing team of Doug and Dodi Dedham, a retired couple who just happen to be vampires.<span style=""> </span>The working title for this book is <i style="">I Could Bite You Forever</i>. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">CMM - </span>How do you create characters that can/will sustain a series of books? Do you know everything about them going in, or does that come bit by bit as you write the books?</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">
<br /></b></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">It’s a combination of knowing and learning as you go. To sustain a series, the characters have to come alive on the page, both the good guys and the bad guys, and grow with each book. Unless, of course, you kill them off!<span style=""> </span>I usually start wit</b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sw7AuuFFELI/AAAAAAAAAVg/MnrZedo5-4o/s1600/Corpse+On+The+Cob+Thumbnail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 104px; height: 160px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/Sw7AuuFFELI/AAAAAAAAAVg/MnrZedo5-4o/s320/Corpse+On+The+Cob+Thumbnail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408472111394394290" border="0" /></a><b style="">h an idea for a character and jot down a few paragraphs about their back story that include their age, physical appearance, occupation, education level, family background, specific quirks, and general outlook on life.<span style=""> </span>After the foundation is set and I’m weaving them into the book, they start talking to me and I learn who they really are, warts and all.<span style=""> </span>As I discover new things about the characters, I update my character list so I have it as a reference for later books. As nutty as it sounds, the characters do talk to me, and they are stubborn and won’t always behave as I’d like, but I’ve learned that if I let them lead, the book is the better for it.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">CMM - </span>I just love your writing advice, “Don't let anyone, I mean anyone, pee on your parade!” Any other words of wisdom for would-be writers?</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">
<br /></b></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Keep your butt in the chair and keep plugging. Writing takes a lot of persistence and commitment, and going through the publishing process requires a lot of patience. Don’t be discouraged, but also be realistic. If you have dreams of making it big with your first novel, you will be very disappointed. It’s a tough business and it takes time and several successful books under your belt to establish a solid writing career. Also, be open to criticism. Know that when agents or editors are giving you advice on your work, it’s to help you, not to hurt you. A writer who cannot take constructive criticism of his/her work is doomed.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">CMM - </span>Do you have a favorite place to write: office, library, under the stars? Under the stairs?</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">
<br /></b></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">My best place to write is at my desk at home. It’s very messy and usually has a cat draped across it. The other cat likes to sleep on my feet while I work. It’s not fancy and doesn’t come with designer coffee, but I can work in my jammies and clean my bathroom or vacuum during breaks in the writing.<span style=""> </span>When on the road, I travel with an Alpha Smart, a portable word processor. It’s very lightweight and low-tech and I love it. I can work anywhere with it without needing to plug it in or worry about the batteries going dead. It’s perfect for writing on long plane rides. But I find when I try to work anywhere but at home, my attention wanders too much and I’m not as productive.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">CMM - </span>You have created a plus-sized heroine for your Odelia Grey series; how does her size impact how she sees/experiences the world? Are you plus-sized? BTW, One thing that’s always irritated me is that people perceive plus-sized people as being not only unfit, but lazy. Is Odelia intended to combat the image, or is being plus-sized just one small aspect to her character? </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">
<br /></b></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">I am a fat, middle-aged paralegal just like Odelia, but without the arrogant boss (mine’s lovely) and a nose for corpses. <span style=""> </span>And, yes, being big does influence how Odelia sees the world as she has been molded by her experiences, both positive and negative, as we all are.<span style=""> </span>In the first Odelia Grey novel, the reader is introduced to an Odelia who hasn’t been beaten down by the negativity towards her size, but isn’t as self-assured as she is in later books.<span style=""> </span>As the story in <i style="">Too Big To Miss</i> develops, we see her gain confidence and step up to take her place in the world, but with no apologies. I didn’t create Odelia to combat the negative image of fat people, but to shine a light on the positive. And, as the books go on, there is less of a need for Odelia to prove herself in all her plus size glory, and the people around her (and the readers) accept her for who she is – bright, funny and accomplished.<span style=""> </span>And isn’t that really what we all want?</b></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">*Editor's note... That's all for now, but Part 2 of Sue Ann's wonderful Q and A is coming up on Friday! Check back!</span>
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<br /><o:p></o:p></b></p> Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-39161486684257414522009-12-01T12:40:00.003-05:002009-12-01T13:00:03.034-05:00Coming soon...Just a note to tell you that the wonderful and gracious Sue Ann Jaffarian has kindly answered many Qs with fabulous As, So come one back tomorrow for Part 1 of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Cozy Murder Mysteries'</span> Q&A with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Sue Ann Jaffarian</span>, author of the wonderful Odelia Grey and new Granny Apples mystery series.<br /><br />Don't miss it!Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8602665409971617773.post-77235212768118768932009-11-28T09:00:00.008-05:002009-11-28T09:39:32.631-05:00MysteryNet... have you joined?Some days I think the internet has ruined life as I used to know it... the leisurely morning coffee with the newspaper, the radio giving me the local weather before I set out for the day, the sweet oblivion of not knowing what was going on in Hollywood stars' daily lives. It was a more insular, locally-based world, where my city was the most important locale of my life.<br /><br />But then, I wasn't a published author then. Publication and the internet kind of bisected for me, both happening in my home, coincidentally, around the same time.<br /><br />And now? Ten years or so later? Now I wonder how we <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> - as writers and readers - survived without the internet. And the medium is still morphing daily, changing, growing, becoming more pervasive, in a sense. I read my local newspaper online now, with my coffee, at my desk then check the weather and local radar - online - before starting work - at the same desk on the same computer.<br /><br />One of the best things about it is finding new places that you love, and this one is new to me. Or... I think I may have been there, but I certainly did not take advantage of all the wonderful facets of MysteryNet.com.<br /><br />At MysteryNet.com you can read short stories, solve daily 'Get-a-Clue' mysteries or monthly 'Solve-Its', look up every Nancy Drew book ever published, join in the forums or read members' short mystery stories and interact. You can even sign up to have a mini-mystery delivered to your email box!! How is it after more than ten years of being on the Internet I'm still finding new-to-me places? Especially about a topic I'm so passionate about as murder mysteries?<br /><br />So, for those interested, here is the link!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mysterynet.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 60px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qyckk9aoWK8/SxEzf_sD1aI/AAAAAAAAAWI/TFy6fn-3pPo/s320/button-mn-234x60.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409161252213872034" border="0" /></a>Donna Lea Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136523034196552960noreply@blogger.com5