TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS… by Diane A.S. Stuckart I blame Maggie Toussaint for today’s blog post. When I submitted my January entry for this column, she emailed me back to say that she’d hastily read its title and thought it said something about peeing. We both LOL’d at that, but then she got me thinking. […]
True Life Experiences in Fiction by Nancy J. Cohen “How much of your books are true stories from your own life?” Writers are often asked this question. In response, I’d say that many of our personal experiences inspire our stories. For my current work in progress, our problems with bathroom renovators inspired the tale. The […]
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 […]
A socially distanced Valentine’s Day By Terry Ambrose Valentine’s Day, aka The Day of Love, is in our rearview mirror. And in the good old days, like maybe two years ago, many couples would have celebrated in the traditional fashion—fancy dinners, candlelight romance, candy and flowers. But, coming on the heels of 2020, and with […]
Happy Valentine’s Day! By Cheryl Hollon I’ve been receiving amazing Valentine’s Day gifts almost my whole life. Partly because my husband and I met on a blind date when I was only sixteen. Even then, he knew the secret to my heart and remembered the lesson every year. I love chocolate – a lot! Last […]
Cover Reveal Shrimply Dead By Maggie Toussaint A good book cover draws your eye and then encourages you to savor it. Ever since I signed my first book contract, I’ve been asked to make suggestions for the publisher’s cover artist. In nearly every instance, they used my ideas to create the cover. So when it […]
PICKING UP SPEED… by Diane A.S. Stuckart Today (January 28) is my birthday! No, I’m not going to tell you how old I am, although I’ll admit to being perilously close to a “milestone” celebration. While I’m not one who ignores birthdays—heck, I never pass up a chance to eat cake!—as each year passes I’m […]
When Life Imitates Art By Lois Winston I was in Nashville last month when very early Christmas morning the city was rocked by a bomb set off by a suicidal domestic terrorist. If such a thing can be said, I suppose he was a considerate terrorist. He parked his bomb-laden RV at a location and […]
New Beginnings by Nancy J. Cohen January is the start of a new year and also the beginning of decisions to come. Should you join a health club, plan the vacation you’ve always wanted or submit your manuscript to a publisher? We start out with great resolutions that often fizzle along the way. It’s best […]
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.” […]
