Let’s Talk with Debra H. Goldstein Archive

I hate construction

I hate construction. When we built our second and third homes, it wasn’t fun, but at least there were parameters from the builders on some of the decorating choices. There were only so many colors, carpet swatches, tiles, and cabinet colors to pick from (or pay an arm and a leg beyond the extras I […]

Frozen! Ice vs. Writer’s Block

I live in the South. People often think this means I run around in flip flops, shorts, and t-shirts. They don’t realize that there are times our temperatures drop into the 30’s, bone-chilling rain falls, it occasionally snows, or we get an ice storm. This past year, we’ve had abnormally hot days and weeks of […]

About Me – Debra H Goldstein

Talking about myself is difficult. Consequently, when I ran for positions in high school, during undergraduate school at the University of Michigan, law school at Emory, or as a civic volunteer, I usually used cartoon characters with speech bubbles coming out of their mouths to describe me. My website (https://www.debrahgoldstein.com) bio says that judge, author, […]

Celebrating and Understanding Days of Gluttony and Deprivation

When I find myself without a blog idea, I either consult a favorite book of quotes or check what holidays are being celebrated on the day my blog will appear. Today, May 28, I discovered an interesting contrast when I reviewed the featured holidays. For those who enjoy eating, today is International Burger Day, National […]

Creating Communities for Authors and Readers

This “Let’s Talk” column existed before I ever joined Booklover’s Bench. As there have been several authors who have contributed to this blog over the years, that equals more “Let’s Talk” posts covering more topics and thoughts than I could ever catalog. Why is that important to you and to us? Because it has let […]

I hate packing

I’ve been on the go throughout the country for the past three weeks. First, in a nine-day span, I managed to spend time in Denver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. I visited family during the first two stops. San Francisco was a combination of four days of work-related activities and catching up with friends and […]

Let’s Really Talk

Today, January 15, is MLK Day (Martin Luther King Day). There will be prayer breakfasts and other formal observances in most cities, as well as heavy media coverage. I, too, could devote my blog post to this holiday, but as a writer, I know there are more topics to possibly address than the obvious one. […]

Sadie Hawkins Day and Parity in the Mystery World

Today is Sadie Hawkins Day! This holiday was originally a fictional creation of cartoonist Al Capp (Alfred Gerald Caplin) in his Li’l Abner comic strip. In the cartoon, Hekzebiah Hawkins, afraid his daughter will never land a husband, declares a Sadie Hawkins Day during which she can break the societal norm that a man chases […]

National Daughters Day

Here’s to the daughters in my life – and to those in yours. Although International Daughters Day is celebrated on the 28th; today, September 25, is National Daughters Day. So, let’s raise our hands in a toast to the daughters that we have, have been, or were born to. In my case, I was the […]

August 14 Holidays

I am so bummed. Yesterday was National Left-Handers Day. As a southpaw, I would like to have written about the difficulties writing in long hand poses for writers (smudging the words with our left pinky). Alas, that is not to be. I must talk about what is celebrated on August 14. If you are in […]

Debra Goldstein presents Bethany Maines

Finding the Funny By Guest Author Bethany Maines My recent release, Between Floors, is the second book in the Valkyrie Brothers series. Each book has a hint (or more) of mystery, action, and romance, combining these various influences into one humorous adventure. However, that meant that I needed something funny to kick off each story. […]

Using Idea Gems and Imagination to Create Short Stories and Novels

Writers are often asked what the basis for their short stories and novels are. For me, the answer is simple. I use idea gems pulled from real life as the springboard for my imagination. Once my imagination kicks in, I polish or revise the mixture to create polished short stories or novels. For example, in […]

National Siblings Day

Today, April 10, is National Siblings Day. Research has demonstrated that 80% of American children have one or more siblings. I’m in the group that only has one. So, here’s a shout out to that one sibling, my sister, Michelle. In researching the day, I discovered that Claudia Evart, having lost her siblings at a […]

Short vs long

Some people think that a short story is merely an abbreviated novel or that a book is an extended short story. Both are true, but only in a limited sense in terms of their elements. As an author who writes both long and short, I’ve come to realize that although there is overlap, the two […]

New Release: With Our Bellies Full and the Fire Dying

This has been a wonderful week. In fact, I’ve been happy dancing non-stop. Let me give you a hint why I’ve been in such a celebratory mood. WITH OUR BELLIES FULL AND THE FIRE DYING was officially released on February 4 in print and e-book formats. It is a collection of eighteen of my short […]

A Day of Thanksgiving, Unthanksgiving, and French Toast

Today is not a day for writing. Hopefully, if you are observing Thanksgiving, today is a day for celebrating without having to buy gifts, family interaction (enjoyable or bickering), football games, the Macy’s parade, and turkey and other traditional dishes. I could go into the history of the holiday and how there was once numerous […]

The Road Not Taken

Robert Frost’s poetry has always intrigued me. Two poems – The Road Not Taken and Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening have served almost as a mantra for my interpretation of how life should be lived and understood. Imagine my dismay when I recently learned that The Road Not Taken, rather than being […]

August Marks My New Year

Most people think January 1 marks the beginning of a new year. Not me. I consider that date as only being the one on which I write a different year on my checks. In the South, my mind views August as the annual change, but modifies it to September in the North. Although I haven’t […]

July 4th – How Could I Ignore Writing About Independence Day

The Fourth of July means no mail, work, legal proceedings, or banking, as well as yes to parades, fireworks, and the eating of barbecue and watermelon. This U.S. federal holiday, officially called Independence Day, celebrates the Second Continental Congress’s 1776 ratification of the Declaration of Independence, which established the United States of America. The Declaration […]

The Joy of the Amateur Sleuth

Debra Goldstein presents: A guest article by Valerie Burns One of the key components of cozy mysteries is the use of the “amateur sleuth.” Amateur sleuths are individuals, usually female, who are not paid to solve crimes. They’re not trained members of law enforcement, nor are they highly skilled. Amateur sleuths are average people just like […]

Respect your cat day

I have a confession to make. When I began writing One Taste Too Many, the first book in the Sarah Blair mystery series, I understood that because it was going to be a cozy, the inclusion of a pet was highly recommended. My research showed that the preferred cozy animal was a cat. No problem. […]

Do You Want to Fly a Kite?

How many times in your life have you looked at a picture of a child running down the beach unfurling the string while a kite bobs above his head? When you hear the song “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” from Mary Poppins, does it become an instant earworm? Do you have a memory of trying […]

Pivoting to Win

I married into a family whose blood runs Crimson. They exalted Bear Bryant and now believe Nick Saban is a god. Each Saturday, if they aren’t in the stadium, they sit glued to the television. Usually, I don’t. It seems to me that the best part of a game – the only important part – […]

Taken from the Comics

Every week, my husband receives a sheet with cartoons from The Far Side, Maxine, and other pictures of signs that are in the public domain. He doesn’t waste his time perusing them, but he does pass the page to me as I find them a real hoot. Why? Because of the truth in them. Think […]

Opening Lines

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” (Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier) “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents, grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.” (Little Women – Louisa May Alcott) “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.” […]

The Art of Improvisation

Have you heard the one about the author who took ten years to write his first book? How about the tale of the writer who produces two to three books a year? I can’t provide the punchline for either of those questions, but I can explain the art of improvising a complete mystery in one […]

Should Have Played Poker is Back!

Most of you know me as the author of the Sarah Blair Mystery series, but there was a mystery book before this, SHOULD HAVE PLAYED POKER. I’ll start out with the publication timeline of that book, and you can see that while it was successfully published, it endured a downsizing company and the pandemic…Keep reading […]

National Library Day

Let’s celebrate! Today is National Library Day, which is part of National Library Week. This week, especially today, is when, since its 1958’s inception by the American Library Association, we give special recognition to libraries and librarians. Personally, I appreciate libraries and librarians every day. As a child, my mother took me to the library […]

Happy Birthday, Daddy! Thanks for Teaching Me to Love Words

Today would be my father’s ninety-seventh birthday, but he died at seventy-seven. I don’t write about him as often as I do my mother. Part of the reason is because her background as a Holocaust survivor, assimilation into American culture and English (without a trace of an accent), fierce protection of family and possessions, and […]

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: […]

Deadlines and Delay

Who hasn’t had a deadline to meet, but been afraid it will be missed? In most cases, even if it takes an all-nighter, the task is completed on time. Sometimes, though, it simply can’t be done. A family crisis, personal illness (can you spell Covid), mechanical failure of the printer or computer, or “the dog […]

Why I Celebrate National Literacy Day

Today, September 8, is National Literacy Day. It is a day that I can’t let pass without commenting on as a writer, reader, and mother/grandmother. As a writer, I hope people will find and embrace my books to escape from the moment. My writing goal, especially with the Sarah Blair series, is that my books […]

When Is It Time To Stop?

I’m a Type A personality. That’s the one where the person is considered highly motivated and competitive. For as long as I can remember, other than needing four to six hours of sleep, I tried to cram as much as I could into my waking hours. That is, until a bout of Covid in late […]

Celebrate June 2’s Holidays Per the National Holiday Calendar

When in doubt what to write, the easy brainstorming approach is to grab a topic from whatever national day in question falls on the day the blog will appear. Brain blocked, I went to the National Day Calendar and discovered that June 2 is National Bubba Day, National Rocky Road Day, National Rotisserie Chicken Day, […]

From Beginning To End, You Can Read-A-Long With Me

Once upon a time, a character, Sarah Blair, a woman who finds being in the kitchen more frightening than murder, came into my mind. I instilled Sarah, her family, and her friends, with the many of the same characteristics and traits that my family, friends, and I possess. To intrigue and amuse readers, tidbits of […]

Give me February 1 over February 14

by Debra H. Goldstein I am not a fan of Valentine’s Day. Hearts, cards, chocolates, flowers, and being taken out to dinner are nice, but February 14 has nothing on February 1. The truth is that Valentine’s Day, much like Christmas, has become commercialized. It has become a holiday of the masses with the vendors […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H. Goldstein

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Debra H. Goldstein

Changing Colors by Debra H. Goldstein When we moved into our house a year ago, the trees outside my office window were luscious and full of leaves in stark contrast to one dead tree that stood proudly in the midst of the greenery. In the Fall, the leaves fell, and all the trees more closely […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on September 9, 2021 by Debra H. Goldstein

Teddy Bear Love by Debra H. Goldstein Do you love fuzzy wuzzy cuddly teddy bears? Does simply seeing a stuffed bear evoke feelings of happiness or comfort? If any of this is true, this is your day to celebrate. Why? Because September 9 is National Teddy Bear Day. Although I have gifted many teddy bears […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Debra H. Goldstein

Saying Nothing in Five Hundred Words or Less by Debra H. Goldstein When you already write a minimum of four blogs a month (Booklovers Bench, the Stiletto Gang, Writers Who Kill, and It’s Not Always a Mystery) and then, as part of the promotion of a book that just released, create content for at least […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on June 3, 2021 by Debra H. Goldstein

Once Again by Debra H. Goldstein I did it again. I don’t mean being the proud mama of the fourth Sarah Blair book, Four Cuts Too Many, which Kensington released on May 25. Nope, I managed to have another kitchen disaster. Only this time, I wasn’t the only one who knew about it. It was […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Debra H. Goldstein

Chili and Chips or Clam Chowder? by Debra H. Goldstein I need you to explain something to me. Today is both National Chili Day and National Clam Chowder Day. Yesterday was National Tortilla Chip Day. Like the protagonist in my Sarah Blair mysteries, I am kitchen challenged, but even I know chili and tortilla chips […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Debra H. Goldstein

Following the Rules and Missing All the Fun by Debra H. Goldstein My Sarah Blair mystery series is considered by its publisher to be “cozy.” That may work for where it is placed on the shelf in a bookstore or for many of my readers, but as one reviewer remarked, “it is an edgy cozy.” […]

Let’s Talk about Resolutions

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Terry Ambrose

We hereby resolve to… by Debra H Goldstein, Nancy J Cohen, Lois Winston, Cheryl Hollon, Diane A.S Stuckart, and Maggie Toussaint I’ve given up resolving to do things like exercise, lose weight, or be a kinder person; so, my resolutions for 2021 (beyond hugging family and friends again) are 1) embrace my tendency to procrastinate […]

Let’s Talk about Light

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Terry Ambrose

Happy Holidays to All! What a strange year 2020 has been! And there’s good news-we’ve all survived the pandemic thus far. Keep up the great work of protecting yourself and your family by wearing masks and social distancing until we get through the vaccination process. Meanwhile, your friends at Booklover’s Bench want to help shine […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on November 12, 2020 by Debra H. Goldstein

Touchdown for Me by Debra H. Goldstein Yay! The election news is over. The hullabaloo of our local Alabama news cycle has quieted. The constant political ads for Doug Jones and Tommy Tuberville have ceased. Now, it is time to get back to what really matters in Alabama. College football. We all want to know […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Debra H. Goldstein

October 1 – Let’s Play a Game to Celebrate it! by Debra H. Goldstein It’s October 1. Do you know what that means? To me, it means fall, pulling a jacket out of the closet, college football, and thinking about what kind of Halloween candy I want to buy that I like, but promise myself […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on August 20, 2020 by Debra H. Goldstein

Anticipation by Debra H. Goldstein Anticipation. It’s a word that rolls easily off my tongue. For me, the concept of anticipation conjures up tingling feelings of being on pins and needles; of being so excited I can’t sleep; of holding my breath waiting for an outcome. The waiting is what’s key. The chorus of Carly […]

Let’s Talk with Debra Goldstein

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Debra H. Goldstein

National Stay Out of the Sun Day vs. National Bikini Day by Debra H. Goldstein When I write conflict into a story or chapter, I must balance different viewpoints, how varied characters react to the same stimulus, and show that the conclusions and behavior of the characters may reflect each one’s personal beliefs. A good […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on May 28, 2020 by Debra H. Goldstein

Driving Creatively by Debra H. Goldstein During the past weeks of social distancing, my husband and I fell into the habit of taking a daily drive. We didn’t need masks, gloves or any other personal protective equipment because we stayed in the car – just the two of us. The beauty of the drive was […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Debra H. Goldstein

Surviving the Kitchen in Any Month by Debra H. Goldstein Last week, Cheryl talked about comfort food. The concept amused me because I don’t think she would necessarily consider dark chocolate, pizza, and ice cream to fit that category on an ongoing basis. In our house, we’re not looking at comfort food – it’s more […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Debra H. Goldstein

Beginnings and Relics by Debra H. Goldstein Let’s talk about new beginnings and aged relics – lately, I’ve had an opportunity to see both up close. March heralds not only the first day of Spring, but it also marks the month during which I appeared on this planet. Consequently, I always anticipate both with an […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Debra H. Goldstein

How are you doing on your 2020 New Year’s Resolutions? by Debra H. Goldstein Have you managed to stick to your 2020 New Year’s resolutions or, now that we’re almost at the end of January, have you given up? I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I always keep my New Year’s […]

Holiday Let’s Talk

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Terry Ambrose

Happy Holidays! Today, we’re sharing how holiday traditions changed over the years. New birth and Hanukkah for Nancy. December holidays for our family in the earlier days meant gathering around the menorah each evening in the dining room, lighting the candles, and then watching our kids open one of eight or more gifts for Hanukkah. […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on November 28, 2019 by Debra H. Goldstein

Wasting Time by Debra H. Goldstein I waste a lot of time playing Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, FreeCell, Pyramid, and TriPeaks. These games came with my laptop and I consciously chose not to disable them. Sometimes I tell myself, I’ll play one game of solitaire and if my score is over 6 points, whatever I’m thinking […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Debra H. Goldstein

Alone or Not by Debra H. Goldstein Being alone. Is it something you treasure, or does it frighten you? My husband and sons can’t stand it. They run from one activity to another – from being with one friend to being amid a stadium of people. The idea of quiet solitude makes their skin crawl. […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Debra H. Goldstein

Gearing up by Debra H. Goldstein It’s coming! Will I survive? The mass market paperback and e-book versions of Two Bites Too Many, the second book in Kensington’s Sarah Blair cozy mystery series, have been available for preorder for several weeks, but today the book is in the store, the e-books will download, and preorder […]

Let’s Talk with Debra Goldstein

Posted on July 25, 2019 by Debra H. Goldstein

Good Humor Trucks and Books from My Favorite Authors by Debra H. Goldstein Do you remember white Good Humor trucks coming through your neighborhood? Their heyday was in the 1950’s, but the trucks, with their musical tones, were around into the 1970’s. How did you react when you heard a truck’s bells on your street? […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H. Goldstein

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Debra H. Goldstein

My TBR Shelf is Growing and Growing by Debra H. Goldstein I love to read. For years, before I started writing, I divided my To-Be-Read books between the top of a short bookcase in my home office and the corner of my dresser. When the books reached the middle of my dresser and my […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on May 2, 2019 by Debra H. Goldstein

Breaking the Tedium – What I do by Debra H. Goldstein Ever wonder what novelists do when they want a break from the tedium of trying to reach eighty-thousand words? Some go to the gym or take a walk, but I look for a short story submission call. Concentrating on writing a piece that ranges […]

Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein

Posted on March 21, 2019 by Debra H. Goldstein

New Kid on the Blog by Debra H Goldstein Do you remember being the new kid at school? You weren’t sure how to get around the building. You were sure your mother sent you to school in an outfit none of the other kids would be caught dead in. You were petrified no one would […]

Let's Talk with Debra H. Goldstein

Let’s Talk with Debra H. Goldstein Archive

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