Mysteries happen all the time. Even to mild-mannered college professors. At work. (This is a true story.) After class one day, I went to my office to catch up on some grading. On the floor in the hallway, there was a small, saucer-shaped pod with what looked like a puddle of oil underneath. I yelped at the sight of it, and my neighboring colleague came … Continue reading Mysteries Everywhere
PROLOGUE… When Becky’s power went out, she and her hubs realized their battery back-up for their important stuff wasn’t working. Hubs got a new one and hooked it all up before leaving for work one morning. ACT ONE BECKY ENTERS, a look of befuddlement fixes to her face, and remains for an uncomfortably long time. Why? Because while she is finishing her morning’s work, the … Continue reading The Teriyaki Salmon Saga
[No money or consideration changed hands for the kind and generous words Brooke bestowed upon Becky and her book. But only because Brooke didn’t ask for any, and Becky is cheap. So very cheap.] Pantser or Plotter? If you asked me, I’d say I was a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl. As a completely solo parent of two lovely, sometimes challenging, mostly adult children, you might … Continue reading Guest Chick: Brooke Craig
James Joyce famously declared of Ulysses, his masterpiece love-letter to Dublin, that if that city “one day suddenly disappeared from the Earth it could be reconstructed out of my book.” But what’s fascinating is that, although Ulysses was written between 1914 and 1921, the last time Joyce actually set foot in Dublin was two years before he started writing, in 1912, after which he never … Continue reading Writing From Afar
Today is Becky’s 39th wedding anniversary, so instead of talking mysteries, we’re talking romance. But because it’s Becky, it’s light on the romance and heavy on the comedy. Weigh in with your favorite RomCom movie. And tell us, do you lean more toward the rom or the com?
Continue reading “Chick Chat: Favorite Romantic Comedy”
The Chicks are so pleased to welcome the lovely Linda Lovely! Linda is an accomplished writer with 11 books under her belt(!!). Today Linda shares her author origin story and offers wise words about the world of writing. Take it away, Linda! What A Book Club Taught Me About Writing A dozen years back, when I signed a traditional publishing contract for my first novel, … Continue reading Guest Chick: Linda Lovely
The One Where the Writer Tries to Write a Book in a Month. Seen this episode already? Or maybe the storyline sounds vaguely familiar… Welcome to the joys and potholes of National Novel Writing Month! Continue reading Look, Ma–No Hands!
A funny thing happened to me on the way to writing this post. I went to a comedy show. As a writer—and reader—of mysteries that endeavor to tickle the funny bone while putting the spine on ice, I am a big fan of comedy. Sitcoms. Romcoms. Dramcoms. Basically if -com is involved in any way, I’m in. I saw the ever-funny, never-for-children’s-ears Taylor Tomlinson in … Continue reading Funny Business
We Chicks have a treat to share with you to kick off Native American Heritage Month: a lovely post from Marcie Rendon, author of the Cash Blackbear crime novels–and listed in Oprah’s 2020 list of 31 Native American Authors to Read. Marcie’s also offering a giveaway to one lucky commenter: a half-hour Zoom chat! Take it away, Marcie… Continue reading Guest Chick: Marcie Rendon
I’m not donning a costume for Halloween this year. In fact, it’s been quite a number of years since I put on a disguise for All Hallows Eve. But I did spend some time over the weekend thinking back on Halloweens Past. One year when I was still in high school, I went out a double date with one of my best friends, her boyfriend … Continue reading Costumes I have known
Last weekend, I participated in the inaugural Ashland Mystery Festival. It took place in Ashland, OR (not to be confused with Ashland, OH—as one reader pointed out to me). Anyway, I had a wonderful time there! Unlike most mystery conventions, which happen in the same hotel, this one (organized by the amazing Ellie Alexander) spread out the activities. There were loads of things to do: … Continue reading A First Time for Everything
Today we welcome Julie Mulhern, author of the Country Club Murders and the Poppy Fields Adventures, whose new book, Killing My Softly, releases in December. Welcome, Julie! When I wrote the opening line of what would become my Country Club Murders series—”My morning sun doesn’t usually involve corpses”—I never dreamed I’d still be writing about Ellison and Frances and Grace ten years later. Ten years. … Continue reading Guest Chick: Julie Mulhern
Chicks on the Case 