Merry Christmas!

by Bethany Maines

Some years I'm more into the Christmas spirit than others.  This year I started listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. I've squeezed in my favorite Christmas movies - White Christmas and Die Hard. I have decorated the mantle with every single Christmas card, including the one from the distant family friends that came with a two page letter (who has the time for that??).  And I have wrapped all the presents and bought all the stuffs. Christmas is happening at my place. 

But not all years are filled with the Yuletide joy.  And I do remember a few seasons in which I wanted to stab the eye out of the next bell ringer and I deeply resonated with Hans Gruber.  Well, I mean to be honest, I still resonate with Hans Gruber.  Who doesn't want 600 million in bearer bonds and who wouldn't get mad about some stupid NYC cop ruining a perfectly good heist?  I mean, really.

But whether you're feeling like curling up away from everyone with a good book (ahem, here's a few you might like - Bethany Maines on Amazon) or you're going to be rocking it with family and friends - I wish you a Merry Christmas and a restful vacation.  And as Hans once said, "It's Christmas, Theo — it's the time of miracles." So maybe this year we'll all get our Christmas wishes (and 600 million in bearer bonds).

**

Bethany Maines is the award-winning author of the Carrie Mae Mysteries, San Juan Islands Mysteries, Shark Santoyo Crime Series, and numerous short stories. When she's not traveling to exotic lands, or kicking some serious butt with her black belt in karate, she can be found chasing her daughter or glued to the computer working on her next novel. You can also catch up with her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and BookBub.

Holiday Eats and Treats!

By Lynn McPherson

There are so many great things about the holidays. Today I’m going to talk about one of my favourite parts—the food! After conferring with my kids we’ve come up with some of our picks for the holidays. Let’s start with appetizers and finger foods…

Our top three choices for Go-To Snacks when friends drop by:

1.     Veggie Tray—okay, let’s get the healthy stuff out so everyone can make sure to take care of their bodies and keep everyone feeling good.

2.     Bread and Dips: fresh or frozen, bread can be warmed quickly and easily in the oven. Even if you haven’t been to the store in a few days, taste buds won’t suffer. Now, the dip? Hummus is always a good choice. Then there’s olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Finally, butter. On the holidays, butter is a treat I never skip.

3.     Chips: With so many varieties, you don’t have to stick to the basics. And why not add in a healthy choice for fun? Lentil chips. Quinoa chips. Veggie Straws. The list goes on.

Let’s move on to entrée ideas. You can’t have turkey every night!

1.     Schnitzel: Meat or plant-based, schnitzel is a fun alternative for the whole family. It's worth the effort.

2.     Lasagne: Why not? This is one meal everyone seems to enjoy. Filling and tasty. The best part is the entire meal is contained in one tray so it's minimal mess.

3.     Stir-Fry: Cut up your favourite veggies or pick up a frozen bag. Then it’s just a matter of some rice and your favourite protein—chicken? Tofu? Beef? Up to you.

Finally, we reach the desserts. With so many options, what should you choose? Here are my picks for holiday fun:

1.     Shortbread Cookies: Butter anyone? Enough said.

2.     Box of Chocolates: And why not? Everyone has a favourite.

3.     Gingerbread Cookies: Simple, classic, and fun for the whole family.

Now once you’ve bid your guests farewell and the house is quiet again, it’s time to grab a nice cup of tea and your favourite mystery. What better way to end a busy day?

What are your favourite holiday foods? Is there something you always have on hand for an impromptu get together?

Happy Holidays everyone!

Lynn McPherson has worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, ran a small business, and taught English across the globe. She has travelled the world solo where her daring spirit has led her to jump out of airplanes, dive with sharks, and learn she would never master a surfboard. She now channels her lifelong love of adventure and history into her writing, where she is free to go anywhere, anytime. Her cozy series has three books out: The Girls' Weekend Murder and The Girls Whispered Murder, and The Girls Dressed For Murder.  

[Lynn's Author Site] - [Buy Lynn's Book]

Comfort Reads

by Shari Randall

It's the most wonderful time of the year...and the time of the year when the sound of sniffles and sneezing is as prevalent as carols and silver bells.

If you do end up getting sick this winter, I hope it will be with the kind of cold that keeps you home, but doesn't knock you out completely. The best case scenario is that you're sick enough to stay cozy in bed, but well enough to binge all those shows your friends are talking about or enjoy one of the books on your nightstand.

I'm a realist. I stock up on Kleenex, chicken soup, and tea so I'll be ready when a cold hits. Being cooped up with a cold is bad, but being cooped up without something good to read or watch while on the couch is worse.

When I have a cold, there's nothing better than a warm cup of tea and a comfort read. So before flu season starts, along with chicken soup and Tylenol, I'm stocking up on good comfort reads. My comfort reads are classic cozy mystery favorites, short stories by Agatha Christie, the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman, or Alexander McCall Smith's Number One Ladies Detective series.

I wish you happy holidays, good health, and a great stockpile of comfort reads when you need them.

What is your comfort read go-to?

Shari Randall is the author of the Lobster Shack

mystery series from St. Martin's Press. Her latest is a holiday story called "The Queen of Christmas."

Holiday Traditions – Time for a Change

Holiday Traditions - Time for a Change

By Cathy Perkins

Clicking out Heels is also changing. Rather than our group’s question and answer posts for First Wednesday, we’ll focus on a peek behind the scene element. Barbara Plum kicks it off for us in January. Can’t wait to see what she shares!

Sometimes change is good. Doing the same things over and over can provide continuity and a sense of tradition, but they can also become stale and lose their original meaning.

Holiday traditions are changing in our family. Our children are grown, married, and starting their own families. While certain foods are still ensconced on the holiday table, this year, the family will gather around one of our children’s table. Added bonus? I don’t have to cook!

Because I’m not the hostess this year, rather than spending hours preparing, my husband and I took off for a working vacation in Hawaii. The vacation part? With warm sunshine, vibrant foliage and a blue ocean for inspiration, we had a wonderful time, hiking and snorkeling. 

While my husband played golf, I drew on that inspiring scene and finished Calling for the Money, the next book in the Holly Price mystery series. Now that we’re home again, initial comments are returning from my beta readers. The good news is they like it. Even better, they had a couple of great suggestions that I’ll work in before sending the manuscript to my editor.

What about you?

Are there certain traditions that endure with your family? Or are you making changes as well? 

An award-winning author of financial mysteries, Cathy Perkins writes twisting dark suspense and light amateur sleuth stories.  When not writing, she battles with the beavers over the pond height or heads out on another travel adventure. She lives in Washington with her husband, children, several dogs and the resident deer herd.  Visit her at http://cperkinswrites.com or on Facebook 

Sign up for her new release announcement newsletter in either place.

She's hard at work on sequel to The Body in the Beaver Pond, which was recently presented with the Claymore Award.

Debra & Kay "Do" Houston

by Kay Kendall

Avid readers and writers of crime fiction make up a warm and supportive community, both IRL (in real life) and online. This fact often astonishes folks outside this community. Isn’t it odd, they ask, that people who spend lots of time steeped in criminal activities of all kinds—even if it is fictional—are so nice?

Debra H. Goldstein & Kay Kendall, 2014, Killer Nashville

And now one of the nicest and funniest authors I know is coming to Houston. Debra H. Goldstein and I will do a talk and book signing together at Houston’s renowned store, Murder by the Book.

On Saturday, January 4 at 4:30 pm. (location: 2342 Bissonnet Street) you’ll find us doling out cookies, tea, wine, and opinions aplenty about reading and writing mysteries.

Debra writes funny cozy mysteries and will talk about her newest book, Two Bites Too Many. I write historical mysteries and will discuss my latest, After You’ve Gone.

Watch this space for news of a live feed on Facebook!
               
Debra and I are both bloggers here on the Stiletto Gang, but our pal-hood predates that by several years. We first met at the Killer Nashville conference in the summer of 2014 and hit it off immediately. Both of us came to our mystery writing later in life.

She had been both a successful labor lawyer and one of the youngest individuals appointed as a U.S. Administrative Law Judge. I had won international awards in my two decades of corporate communications. Both of us then cut our careers short (hers as a judge was a lifetime appointment!) to become fulltime mystery writers. Since meeting five years ago, we’ve each published more books and participated in several organizations promoting crime novels. This year our paths crossed again as members of the national board of Mystery Writers of America, with Debra representing the Southeast Chapter as president, and me as president of the Southwest Chapter.

I always have fun when Debra is around, and also learn lots of interesting things. I know you will too. If you are lucky enough to be in Houston on January 4, swing by Murder by the Book and see us. And everyone can see our live feed (and/or later video) on Facebook. We guarantee a great time!

~~~~~~~

Author Kay Kendall is passionate about historical mysteries. 

She lives in Texas with her Canadian husband, two house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Her second book Rainy Day Women won the Silver Falchion for best mystery at Killer Nashville. Visit Kay at her website http://www.austinstarr.com/  
or on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/KayKendallAuthor

 

Love in the Air

by Paula Gail Benson

When I first became serious about writing, a friend took me to a meeting of the Lowcountry Romance Writers (LRWA), a chapter of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), based in Charleston, South Carolina. At the time, LRWA was the one venue close to where I lived that consistently provided good information about the craft and business of writing. Although I didn’t write romance, I joined both the chapter and the national organization and I benefited a great deal from the programs and fellowship at LRWA.

http://lowcountryrwa.com/

By the beginning of last year, I had more options. I didn’t have to make the two hour drive to Charleston because I was actively involved in the Palmetto Chapter of Sisters in Crime that provides monthly programs and meets in the city where I live. In addition, I belonged to the Guppies, the online chapter of Sisters in Crime, and several other organizations that gave me the opportunity to learn about writing craft and business. I considered the matter carefully before renewing my membership with LRWA and RWA. Finally, I decided to give it one more year, even if I couldn’t make the meetings held in Charleston.

I’m so very glad that I did. LRWA decided to publish an anthology this year and allowed any of its members to participate. I had fifteen published short stories, mostly mysteries, but the first had hinted at a love story. Could I write another one?

The requirements were that the story had to be a romance taking place in Charleston, S.C., during the winter holidays. Any time period. 7,500 words (although that got extended later).

I faced two initial challenges: (1) could I write a credible romance, and (2) could I write a 7,500 word story (most of mine are in the 3,500 word range)?

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Lowcountry-Winter-Holiday-Collection-ebook/dp/B07XJZSRBT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39SS7H3SQCNG5&keywords=love+in+the+lowcountry&qid=1576438516&s=digital-text&sprefix=love+in+the+%2Cdigital-text%2C171&sr=1-1

Through the great process set up by LRWA, I found I was able to do both. In addition, I had the opportunity to network with some wonderful writers who became beta readers, editors, and marketing directors. Romance writers have developed an incredible ability to reach their audiences. From the experience of working on this anthology, I’ve learned so much and made many valued friendships.

My story is a time travel tale about two English graduate students, both unlucky in their first relationships, finding love with each other when transported back to a Charleston where the literary figures they have been studying lived. I was amazed to discover how many famous persons happened to be in Charleston the day before Thanksgiving 1936. I hope you might read my story to learn about those connections!

In addition, the anthology features stories about ghosts, pirates, magic, new loves meeting, old loves reuniting, families working out how to spend the holiday together, and people who thought love couldn’t possibly be in their lives encountering it. Here’s a list of the other authors, among whom I’m very proud to be included: Amy Quinton, Angela Mizell, Carla Susan Smith, Casey Porter, Elaine Reed, Gracey Evans, Jen Davis, Jessie Vaughn, Michele Sims, Rebecca A. Owens, Robin Hillyer Miles, Savannah J. Frierson, and Zuzana Juhasova.

Are you looking for a great holiday gift or a virtual trip to Charleston? You can’t go wrong with Love in the Lowcountry. Here’s the link on Amazon.

P.S. This first volume has been so successful; a new one is in the works. Guess who signed up to write another romance?

Failing the DHG Challenge, or Did I? by Debra H. Goldstein

I’m disappointed. I failed the DHG Challenge.

In my October 11, 2019 blog post, I wrote: “I’m making a conscious decision to stop and announce, “Not me, anymore.” I’m going to go back to making time for myself – whether exercising, reading, or hanging out on the couch, I’m taking back a few hours for myself. Will you join me?”

Later in the blog, I asked people to comment or write what they planned to do and how they were doing on the challenge. Initially, the response was positive. Most people were going to make more time for reading. One said exercise and a few can best be described as making time to veg. Did they succeed? I don’t know because very few wrote again after their first or second responses. What I do know is how I succeeded.

I failed in that I only exercised twice, read four books and didn’t hang out that much on my couch

(maybe I did succeed at that one when I was home). What I did do was more PR than I want to think about for Two Bites Too Many during its launch weeks; visited my sister, nieces, and new grandniece in California when I added a few days to attending the Kensington cozy cons in Redondo Beach and San Diego; hosted the entire family for the weekend when we blessed my newest grandchild in temple; spent a week in Dallas at Bouchercon; sadly said good-bye to a younger friend who died unexpectedly; held other friends close having been reminded of how valuable my friend “sisters” are; and joined friends at the Biltmore estate to see what the house looked like lit for Christmas (a bucket list item). All in all, I was a very busy lady.

And you know what, I may have failed some aspects of the DHG Challenge, but I lived every moment of the past two months and realized the importance of sometimes sacrificing “me time.” I also understood that there were times I needed to make for myself – and I did. That balance for me is the key to mental and physical health.

So, maybe I did pass the DHG Challenge.

A Naughty Holiday Poem by a Nasty Woman written by Juliana Aragon Fatula

Dear Reader,

It's a fool moon and I'm the biggest fool of all. Hope I don't offend, but, this is an adult poem.

I’m spending the ha ha holidays working on my murder mystery, a love story. 

Hey ya hey ya hey ya hey ya ya. 

I’m sad, mad, glad, bad. 

Hey. Happy whatever. 

The holiday blues has me by the shorthairs. 

My mom and dad both died on Christmas Eve. 

My older sister died of cancer at 42, my little sister at 58.

My grandparents lived to the ripe old age of 50. 

I’m spending the ha ha holidays working on my murder mystery, a love story. 

Hey ya hey ya hey ya hey ya ya. 

I’m sad, mad, glad, bad.

Hey. Happy whatever. 

My siblings went to prison for various crimes. 

The next generation were incarcerated feeding addictions. 

All my exes died: alcoholism, drug overdose, murdered in prison. 

I’m spending the ha ha holidays working on my murder mystery, a love story. 

Hey ya hey ya hey ya hey ya ya. 

I’m sad, mad, glad, bad.

Hey. Happy whatever. 

No one knows my troubles, but gawd.  

My adult son, an only child, feels abandoned, unloved, alone. 

I haven’t seen him since I told him to get the fuck out of my house. 

He’s homeless and almost fifty. 

I’m spending the ha ha holidays working on my murder mystery, a love story. 

Hey ya hey ya hey ya hey ya ya. 

I’m sad, mad, glad, bad.

Hey. Happy whatever. 

I’m a miserable piece of shit. 

No one except my dogs loves me. 

And my cats. 

And my best friend. 

And maybe my husband.

I’m not speaking to him, since he called me a fucking moron and told me to ssssh. 

Don’t ever ssssh me, asshole. Ever. 

I’m spending the ha ha holidays working on my murder mystery, a love story. 

Hey ya hey ya hey ya hey ya ya. 

I’m sad, mad, glad, bad.

Hey. Happy whatever. 

I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but there’s a ragin fire in me. 

My innocence robbed at five. 

I shoulda’ put a pencil in his eye.

Penetrated in the backseat through the backdoor. 

Shoulda’ accidently put the car in drive and stepped aside.

I’m spending the ha ha holidays working on my murder mystery, a love story. 

Hey ya hey ya hey ya hey ya ya. 

I’m sad, mad, glad, bad.

Hey. Happy whatever. 

Husband number one and two, dead and gone.

Husband number three, alive.

What do you want from me?

Need time to figure it out.

I’m a freak.

Hey. Happy whatever. 

Ha ha happy holiday.  

Hey ya hey ya hey ya hey ya ya. 

Dear Reader,

I probably shouldn’t tell you this but I’m struggling to finish my novel, The Colorado Sisters and the Atlanta Butcher.I’ve been writing for years and teaching writing workshops, but my story remains unfinished and there’s no one to blame but moi. 

I had an idea, after I visited a state park in Utah, and on the drive home to Colorado, it percolated in my mind, like a horror movie. I saw body parts chopped and blood everywhere. It was gruesome, but the man being butchered deserved it, so it was cathartic. Healing. 

Politics made me do insane things on paper. 

A wonderful woman in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a writer of world-renowned notoriety, read my rough draft and gave me a stern talking to about mixing politics, anger, and trying to fix the nation with a novel. 

She asked me simply, “What’s the story about?” 

It wasn’t about politics. It was a love story about the power of women when they bond together and save themselves, about the strength of women who rise above victimization and become survivors, about the tribe of women who had been marginalized, tossed aside, forgotten, imprisoned, beaten, stalked, raped, and asked to keep their mouths shut. 

The women of Emma’s House in the story of The Colorado Sisters and the Atlanta Butcher would neither remain victims, nor silent. They became sheroes. They rose from poverty and fought for their rights to an education, healthcare, love, and honor. They became role models for their children and the Northside of Denver. 

This wonderful writer from Las Cruces reminded me that I’m a feminist, a woman of color, and my responsibility, my storytelling, reflects my history of being a survivor, a mentor, an educated Chicana. You know there’s nothing scarier than an Educated Chicana, they are chingonas. And bad asses stick together. We change the world one story at a time. 

Happy Holidays and let their be peace on Earth.