Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon Archive

September 11 in Mysteries: Date to Use, or Date to Dodge?

Mystery writers know dates matter. A crime on Christmas Eve sets up one kind of expectation, while a body discovered on Valentine’s Day adds a dark twist of irony. But what happens when the calendar lands on September 11? That date still carries enormous weight, and most writers are aware of it. Many tiptoe around […]

Murder, Murals, and Merlot: The Perfect Setting for a Cozy Mystery

“Location, location, location.” It’s the golden rule of real estate—and, as it turns out, just as important when plotting a mystery! While Lord Harold Samuel may have coined the phrase for property deals, I keep it top of mind when dreaming up the next charming-yet-sinister setting for my Webb’s Glass Shop series. Right now, I’m […]

June 19 and St. Petersburg

Today is June 19, 2025, also known as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day. It is a holiday that commemorates the day enslaved people in Texas, and later the rest of the United States, learned of their freedom. St. Petersburg, Florida, bursts into vibrant life each June as the city celebrates Gay Pride Month. St. Pete is […]

Fresh Starts and Winding Paths

Today, I’m thinking about fresh starts and how every career has its particular winding path. Every now and then, I believe it’s good for all of us to take a little pause, look around, and check in on where we’re going—and where we’ve been! For those who don’t know me, I’m the author of the […]

Celebrating St Petersburg’s Mural Culture

The Vibrant Mural Culture of Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, is a city that wears its creativity on its walls—literally. Over the past decade, the city has transformed into an open-air gallery, where vibrant murals bring life to buildings, alleyways, and public spaces. St. Pete’s mural culture is a testament to its […]

Celebrating International Sticky Toffee Pudding Day

Whether you prefer to enjoy sticky toffee pudding at a cozy restaurant or make your own from scratch, International Sticky Toffee Pudding Day is the perfect excuse to indulge. In a world filled with culinary delights, sticky toffee pudding holds a special place as a dessert that brings people together. So, this January 23rd, grab […]

Versatility of Pickles

Did you know today is National Pickle Day? Neither did I. The origins of National Pickle Day trace back to the early 2000s when the Pickle Packers International, a trade group representing pickle manufacturers, began promoting the holiday to bring awareness to the long history, cultural significance, and surprising versatility of pickles. However, […]

Addicted to Writer’s Conferences

My name is Cheryl Hollon, and I am addicted to writer’s conferences. I am absolutely addicted (in a good way) to mystery conferences. It’s where I get inspiration and support from fellow writers. I’m usually lucky to find my fellow Booklover’s Bench authors at some point. In the image below are Debra H Goldstein, Cheryl […]

Celebrating Happiness Happens Day

August 8th is Happiness Happens Day, a day dedicated to spreading happiness. This day reminds us to cherish the moments that bring us joy and appreciate the positive impact of happiness on our lives. Happiness Happens Day was founded by the Secret Society of Happy People (SOHP), an organization established in 1998 by Pamela Gail […]

Celebrating our Women Pioneers in Aviation

Did you know that on this day, June 20, 1966, Sheila Scott became the first woman to fly solo around the world? This remarkable feat caught me by surprise as I was searching for a topic for today’s Let’s Talk blog. Her journey is not just a tale of aviation but a testament to perseverance […]

Celebrating Indulgence!

Greetings, chocolate lovers! Today is National Truffle Day. For me, however, this celebrates a velvety ball of pure cocoa bliss, meticulously crafted to melt in your mouth, sending waves of euphoria through your taste buds. Not the fruiting body of a subterranean fungus. Oh, the marvels of chocolate truffles! They are the ultimate indulgence, perfect […]

Celebrating the Flavors of Math: Why March 14th Is Pie Day

In the world of quirky holidays and celebrations, March 14th stands out as a day dedicated to something everyone loves – pie! But why March 14th? The date corresponds with the first three digits of the mathematical constant π (pi), approximately 3.14. Hence, it’s affectionately known as Pi Day, when math enthusiasts and foodies come […]

A Crafty Takeover: Is your house a display venue for hobbies?

My husband’s hobby is taking over all the display space in our tiny apartment. I’m not protesting too much. The transformation is a result of my husband’s growing passion for building wooden models. His beautiful and intricately designed models are gradually claiming all the scarce display surfaces. Once upon a time, our dining sideboard stood […]

Sneaking Away to Read on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is my favorite holiday of the year. It is packed with turkey feasts, family gatherings, and expressions of gratitude. This year especially, I am thankful for a loving family that all live within a few minutes away. For the avid – no, obsessed reader, this holiday can offer a different kind of escape […]

Do you have a packing routine?

Do you have a packing routine? I have a ritual I’ve used since I started traveling internationally for my engineering job back in the 80s. Now that I’m attending mystery conferences, I use the same techniques. Here’s what my rack looked like for the largest and longest mystery conference, Bouchercon. It was held in San […]

Growing By Leaps and Bounds

My hometown is growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, our most popular local bird at this moment is the construction crane. At least eight, maybe more, high-rise developments are going up within downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. It’s exciting and alarming to see so much change so quickly. I’m not complaining. The adage is that […]

It’s National Camera Day!

I’ve always been interested in photography. I think it’s because my parents were both avid photographers. On the left is my mom’s ANSCO SHUR-SHOT JR box camera that she bought as a teenager. On the right is my dad’s camera, a Kodak Retina IA 35mm Film Camera with a Schneider 50mm f/3.5 lens. Mom had […]

National Family Reading Week!

It’s National Make-A-Book Day. Observed each year on Thursday of National Family Reading Week! This literacy initiative aims to promote the importance of reading and encourages families to read together. The history of National Family Reading Week was first established by the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL). Founded in 1989, the nonprofit organization is […]

It’s National Puppy Day!

National Puppy Day is a day that celebrates the joy and love that puppies bring into our lives. Observed every year on March 23rd, it has become a popular holiday for dog lovers around the world. But where did this holiday come from? In 2006 Colleen Paige, an animal behaviorist and author, founded the holiday. […]

It’s Groundhog Day!

Groundhog Day, which takes place on February 2nd every year, is a traditional holiday in the United States and Canada. It is based on the belief that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see […]

New Year Thoughts

For 2023, our author collective resolves to take positive actions to make the world better in some way. There’s so much we can do for the people we already know and for those we haven’t met yet. Here are a few thoughts about how one kindness often begets another. First we shouldn’t worry about what […]

Happy Holidays to All of You from All of Us!

Happy Holidays to all of our friends, fans, and writing communities! Our authors are here to share their self-care tips that help them make it through the busy holidays. When your schedule gets overloaded, remember to take time for yourself. It will get better. Plus, what fun it is to de-stress with us! Maggie Toussaint: […]

Time to Start my Advent Calendar

It’s the first day of December. Time to start my Advent Calendar! I’m a big fan. My earliest advent memory was when my mother bought one for us three kids when we were all under five. It wasn’t fancy. The calendar merely revealed a Christmas image, but still, we were so excited for each day […]

Today’s my Lucky Day

Today’s my lucky day! It’s October 13th. I’m one of those folks who adore the number 13. Not everyone is a fan, and some cultures are extremely adverse to anything associated with it. For me, it was the day I became a mother. It was also the day of my first international trip to the […]

My Appalachian Heritage

I’ve been celebrating the release of my latest mystery, DEATH A SKETCH (Paint & Shine Book #3). This book means the world to me. It is set in the county where my family originates. These precious guitars spent their existence in the talented hands of my parents. The long marriage of my parents – over […]

Once in a Lifetime

I’ve returned from a once-in-a-lifetime tour to visit a site on my bucket list – Petra, Jordan. I’ve been fascinated with this wonder of the modern world since it was featured in one of my all-time favorite movies: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The final scenes in the movie feature the iconic Treasury, the […]

Our Favorite Celebration

It’s our Anniversary! It’s a BIG anniversary! George and I are celebrating this one by repeating a previous favorite. We’re taking a Royal Caribbean cruise on one of their giant ships to Aruba and Curacao. We’ll be having a special dinner tonight. The internet service in these floating cities is abysmal, so please be patient […]

It’s National Tater Day

Today is special because it’s National Tater Day. Husband and I can’t resist them. If they appear on the menu, we’re probably going to order them. I’m so glad they have a special holiday. Our favorites (at the moment) are at Bier Boutique in the Round Lake area of St. Petersburg, FL. I’ve been walking […]

Valentine’s Day

by Cheryl Hollon My favorite holiday after Christmas is Valentine’s Day. My husband is terrible at remembering our other special days like birthdays or anniversaries, but he never misses Valentine’s Day. He’s knocked it out of the park every time. Most times, it’s a sweet popup card. Sometimes, it’s a fabulous box of chocolates. The […]

Let's Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon Archive

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