Hours in the day....

by: Joelle Charbonneau

I’m not sure who decreed that there shall only be twenty-four hours in a day, but at the moment I need to have a serious talk with that person. I mean…there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done. Housework. Cooking. Shopping. Errands. Pre-school field trips. Playground adventures. Writing. Lessons to teach. Reading. Family stuff. Friends. Etc… Etc… Etc…

This week I’ve felt the lack of time more keenly than any other. With one set of type set pages needing to be proofed and two other manuscript needing copyedited along with lots of writing to be done, blogs to write, a tot to race after, a holiday to shop for and enjoy family during…..there just isn’t enough time in the day.

What’s a girl to do?

During weeks like these I find myself wishing that I was addicted to chocolate. Instead, I find that I keep reminding myself to breathe. In. Out. This is where my singing training comes in handy. If there is one thing I am good at it is deep breathing. Then I instruct myself to remember that I can only do one thing at a time. Like many of the Stilettos, I have taken to making lists and I am telling myself that if I cross one thing off the list in a day the day is a success.

So today, I mail back the copy edits to THE TESTING. I will cross that item off my list and call today a success.

How about you? What item on your list have you or are you planning on crossing off today? Let’s celebrate these victories together!

Zoned for Murder

by Evelyn David

Zoned for Murder was published last week. It's our first mystery in the Sound Shore Times Mystery series.

Former Newsweek reporter Maggie Brooks has two kids, a dead husband, a mortgage to pay, and a lot of competition when she tries to get back into the shrinking newspaper business. Landing a job with a local paper, she's bored to tears covering bake sales and Little League games. But when a developer tries to build an outlet mall in a neighboring town, what starts out as potentially a great clip for her resume, suddenly turns dangerous and ugly. Someone will do anything to block the mall's construction. Dirty money, nasty politics, and shady land deals abound as Maggie pursues the scoop that might jumpstart her career. When murder is added to the mix, she realizes that meeting her deadline might be the last thing she ever does. Read Maggie's byline as she rebuilds her career, dips her toes into a shark-filled dating pool, and investigates a small New York town Zoned for Murder.

_____________

from Zoned for Murder:

Thinking back on it later, I realized that the explosion didn't happen at the exact moment I took the photo, but at the time it seemed liked it.

The warehouse floor erupted into a cloud of smoke and flames. Lumber was burning. I could smell the odor of gasoline. And worst of all, I realized that I wasn't alone in the loft.

Someone shoved me. I fell forward against the railing, my upper torso hanging over the rail. I could feel, but didn't see, somebody rush by me, leaping off the stairs. By the time I righted myself, the wooden staircase was obscured by smoke and no longer a safe escape route. It crossed my mind
that no one except my attacker knew I was in the loft. Sean probably thought I'd left by now.

My camera was still hanging around my neck but I'd managed to drop my purse, with my cell phone inside, somewhere. I wasn't sure if it had gone over the railing or if it was on the loft floor somewhere. It was getting harder to see as the smoke rose, along with my panic.

I retreated to the back of the loft area. I'd remembered a small window in the metal wall. Someone had thought to put it in to allow some natural light and ventilation. The window wouldn't offer me much more than a source of fresh air; it had to be a 30-foot drop from the window to the parking lot below.

The window was jammed shut. I grabbed one of the large buckets of paint and threw it against the glass. The first time it bounced off the window, leaving only a few cracks. The second time the frame gave way and the whole window fell out.

"That'll work too." I stuck my head out the window. I was seeing the back parking area. It was empty. I could hear sirens, but all the action, if there was any, seemed to be happening at the front of the building. I needed to get someone's attention.

All at once I could hear my cell phone ringing. I held my breath, got down on my hands and knees, and followed the sound. By the grace of God and Verizon, I found my purse lying near the top of the stairs. I grabbed it and rushed back to the window.

Caller ID indicated God was using Gene to do his bidding. Not exactly an angel, but I was in no position to be picky. The connection was not the best but I could make out his angry words.

"What's taking you so long? I don't care what your excuse is, if you're not here in ten minutes, you're fired. I'm on a deadline!"

"Yeah, me too. Could you call 911 and tell them your ace reporter is stuck in the loft of Sean O'Neal's burning warehouse?"

_____________

Zoned for Murder - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries - e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- Kindle (Exclusive at Amazon this month)
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- Kindle (Exclusive at Amazon this month)
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

Sullivan Investigations Mystery - e-book series
Murder Off the Books Kindle (Exclusive at Amazon this month)
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

Romances
Love Lessons - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

The Joy of Being Pregnant (and the Less Enjoyable Things, Too)

By Susan McBride

Now that I’m in my seventh month with Baby Emily due in late June (although my mom keeps saying, “No way you’re going to make it ‘til then!”), I thought I’d scribble down the fun stuff--and not so fun stuff--as I see it so far anyway.  It’s definitely been a new experience full of the unexpected, like the incredibly itchy rash I put up with for nearly six weeks before I broke down and took Prednisone; the pregnancy rhinitis that makes it feel like I have that Mucus Family from the TV commercial living in my throat; the swelling that can make my feet and ankles resemble puff pastry; the exhaustion and brain fog; and all the other reminders that I’ve got another being that’s taken me over.  Still, I wouldn’t trade any of that for the world, because the end result—a baby!—will be so incredibly worth it. If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that this pregnancy has certainly renewed my faith in miracles. After going through a bunch of bumps in the road these past five years, it’s awfully nice to be reminded of the good surprises life can bring!  And I can't imagine any surprise better than this. 

Okay, the things I love about being pregnant (in no particular order):

1. I can eat six times a day and no one says, “Haven’t you had enough? Put the bagel with peanut butter down and step away from the counter.” 

2. Going shopping for large shirts because I’ve outgrown my smalls and mediums is actually a positive thing. 

3. Feeling Emily move!  I just love the sensation of her squirming around, kicking, poking, twisting. It’s so reassuring, and I feel like we’re communicating.  She’ll poke me, and I’ll rub that spot and say, “Hey, baby!  How’s it going?”  It’s our own Morse code.

4.  Ed is in charge of cleaning litter boxes (although I have gloves to wear when it’s an emergency, although that’s only happened a handful of times).

5.  I never feel guilty when I sit down, put my puffy feet up, and rest.

6.  When I say, “After I turn the guest room into a nursery, I’m re-doing the living room,” Ed doesn’t bat an eye. (I’ve made a point to show him all the articles about pregnant women nesting.)

The things I (occasionally) whine about:

1.  I pee every 15 minutes.  Okay, maybe not that often, but it sure feels like it. By my ninth month, no doubt I’ll know the location of every public restroom in town.

2.  I can’t find a comfortable position to sleep. Every time I try to turn, it’s like moving a bowling ball around and requires readjustment of pillows, sheets, night gown, etc. Then by the time I’m settled down again, I have to pee.

3.  I can’t see much below my belly. Shaving has gotten very scary. The only time in the past when I nicked myself this much was when I was about thirteen and handed my first Daisy razor.

4.  It’s hard to gauge distances between my belly and anything. I’ve run into more bathroom vanities, kitchen countertops, doorways, and grocery carts with my baby bump than I can count. And every time I do, I stop and ask Emily, “Are you okay in there?” 

5.  Ed doesn’t want me going for pedicures as he’s afraid of my breathing in fumes from the salon and using equipment that other people’s feet have used.  And trying to give myself pedicures just isn’t the same, particularly since I have a hard time seeing my toes much less reaching them.

6.  Not being able to go outside and work in the yard and garden. I honestly miss pulling weeds, trimming plants, and digging in the dirt.  Not only is getting my hands in dirt a no-no (for the same reason I’m not supposed to clean litter boxes, the dreaded toxo!), but it’s very uncomfortable bending and squatting to work. So I think the green things around our house are going to look a little wild this year!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go pee, get something to eat, put my feet up, and engage in a little mommy-baby Morse code with Emily.  I think she’s trying to tell me which car seat she’d like me to order.

Left Coast Crime Report

Today I came home from Left Coast Crime in Sacramento. I arrived by train in California's capital 1t 12:30 p.m. and my panel was at 2:45. Whew! I checked into the hotel, took my suitcases to my room, headed back down to the reception area and registered for the conference.

I'm not exactly sure what else I did, probably found something to eat, but it was soon time to head for the room where my panel was located. Going anywhere involved going up or down two flights of stairs (until someone pointed out the way to use the elevators--unfortunately on my 3rd day at the con.)

My fellow panelists are in the back row from left to right:
Susan C. Miller, Clark Lohr, Vicki Doudera
Front row left to right: Me and Madeline Gornell

Our subject was Writing for Small Presses

The room was packed, and I think we did a great job telling why we'd gone with small presses, our experiences good and bad, and we were asked many, many questions. I even had one your woman ask to pick my brain privately. Of course I agreed and she talked to me for about 20 minutes.

Was this good way to sell books? Not particularly because we were told not to bring our books to show despite the fact that we were herded to the book room to sign books that no one really knew what to look for.

However, that did not keep me from have a grand time. Best of all was seeing so many author and reader friends that I haven't seen for far too long. I received and gave so many hugs, sat in the lounge and gabbed away, ate goodies and talked some more in the hospitality room, shared wonderful meals with so many friends.

All the panels I attended were great, the author sparkled.

Everyone asked about my husband who stayed home to fix our oven. It's amazing how many remember his name.

Monday morning I received my 4 a.m. wake up call. Got ready, finished packing. Looked over the hotel bill they'd shoved under the door--and of course it was wrong. So before I could check out I had to spend time with the desk clerk explaining what was my part of the bill and what belonged to my roommate. A taxi took me to the train station and I was on my way home by 6:45 a.m. The train sure beats going by air and it was lots cheaper.

Now that I'm home, I playing catch-up like crazy. And tomorrow is the first day of my blog tour for No Bells. The first stop is here: http://blog.marjamcgraw.com/

I'm giving away copies of prior books in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series to the person who comments on the most blogs. You can find the schedule on my blog site,Marilyn's Musings

 To tell the truth, I think I've got far too much to do. 


Marilyn a.k.a. F. M. Meredith


 

The Clock is Ticking

By Evelyn David


This week is BIG!

Today our new mystery, Zoned for Murder, has been published in all e-book formats. It's the first book of a new series, The Sound Shore Times Mysteries. Join us for the exciting new adventure we've created. Zoned for Murder has a killer story, compelling characters, and humor to make you laugh out loud.

Here's a quick synopsis. Former Newsweek reporter Maggie Brooks has two kids, a dead husband, a mortgage to pay, and a lot of competition when she tries to get back into the shrinking newspaper business. Landing a job with a local paper, she's bored to tears covering bake sales and Little League games. But when a developer tries to build an outlet mall in a neighboring town, what starts out as potentially a great clip for her resume, suddenly turns dangerous and ugly. Someone will do anything to block the mall's construction. Dirty money, nasty politics, and shady land deals abound as Maggie pursues the scoop that might jumpstart her career. When murder is added to the mix, she realizes that meeting her deadline might be the last thing she ever does. Read Maggie's byline as she rebuilds her career, dips her toes into a shark-filled dating pool, and investigates a small New York town Zoned for Murder.

Jean Rigod, avid mystery reader and reviewer, got a sneak peek at Zoned For Murder, and thrilled us when she wrote: What I truly loved about this new series was its complete believability. Maggie rings true as a reporter, friend, mother, and romantic interest.

We're doing a blog tour this week and spreading the word far and wide that Evelyn David's got the goods that will intrigue you, delight you, and make you want to know what happens next to Maggie Brooks (and it's BIG in book two).

Along with all the book hoopla, this week is also BIG because on Friday, April 6, it's first Seder for the Northern half, Good Friday/Easter weekend for the Southern half. In other words, BIG holidays coming up too. So in addition to sharing the good news about Zoned for Murder, one half of this writing duo will be making (BIG) matzoh balls, while the other half is dyeing eggs. We create these worlds of murder and mayhem, but each of us also lives in real worlds of mayhem (no murder so far, but the Northern half gives fair warning that matzoh makes her reallllll cranky).

Stiletto Faithful, in honor of our new book and the upcoming holidays, please share your favorite Passover or Easter memories and traditions.

Marian, the Northern half of Evelyn David and the one making matzoh balls

_________________

Review -
"With a solid foundation at its mysterious core, Zoned for Murder offers fans of fast-paced, traditional mysteries everything they are looking for: strong characters, tight plotting, and a conclusion that left me stunned. If you like strong female protagonists with imagination and ingenuity to spare, look no further than Maggie Brooks, a small-town journalist with big-time investigative chops. Evelyn David has done it again with a mystery that touches on universal themes such as family, betrayal, and love." – Maggie Barbieri, author of The Murder 101 Mysteries

_________________

Win a Free Copy - Leave a comment on this blog for a chance to win a free download of Zoned for Murder from Smashwords (all e-book formats are available there). One winner will be picked at random. Be sure to leave a contact email in your comment or drop us an email at evelyn@evelyndavid.com so we know how to send you the 100% off coupon code for the download.

_________________

Zoned for Murder - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries - e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- Kindle (Exclusive at Amazon this month)
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- Kindle (Exclusive at Amazon this month)
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

Sullivan Investigations Mystery - e-book series
Murder Off the Books Kindle (Exclusive at Amazon this month)
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

Romances
Love Lessons - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

Let's Hear It for the Girls!

by Mary Curran Hackett, debut author of Proof of Heaven

If you’re the only person who hasn’t heard about, read, or seen The Hunger Games then it’s safe to say you live under a rock—or probably more rightly—you don’t live with a teenage girl. If you haven’t, don’t feel badly. I am usually that “one person” (hyperbole, I’m aware) who is usually living under said rock, too. (In fact, I am notoriously late to every party—Mad Men, for example, I only just started watching. Downton Abby. Ditto. Thank God for Netflix.)  But, thanks to my daughter, Brigid, I was swept up into The Hunger Games mania early on and so, like hundreds of other moms, I was at the movie theater at 9 a.m. on the day of its release—along with a theater FULL of girls.

And yes, while the movie was exhilarating and didn’t disappoint readers and fans alike, that’s not what I was thinking about when I left the theater.  As my daughter talked 100 mph without, it seemed,  inhaling once, about the actors’ portrayal of the characters, the interpretation of the setting, scenes, and sanitization of the violence, and of course, Katniss and Peeta’s self-sacrifice and determination—I wanted to shout out to her: “YOU GO, GIRL! YOU GO! Get excited about books! Get excited about seeing your books on the big screen! Get amped up when talking about character development and setting.  You are every author’s dream, hon! An engaged, enthusiastic, passionate FAN.” As both a writer and her mother, I wanted to hug her. (But she’s a teen girl. So I knew better to wait until we were out of eyeshot of the hundreds of other girls, who wouldn’t be caught dead hugging their own moms.)

Through the entire drive home, I couldn’t help but think that my daughter, her friends, and all girls like her are the future of the reading world. They will be reading our adult fiction books five and ten years from now! It’s not very long at all. (They may even be reading our books now for all we know. I’ve seen my daughter with books I’ve only just heard about—and she and her friends were some of my first readers of my own novel Proof of Heaven.) Needless to say, they are an eager and hungry group, and there are soooo many of them. Best of all, they are a loyal, tweeting, networking lot at that. I don’t remember having the collective reading experience that my daughter has had. When I was a kid, we didn’t read long trilogies or series together and wait endlessly to see our favorite heroine to hit the big screen. In fact outside of Disney princesses, I don’t remember many female heroines at all in my favorite books or movies (leave out the obvious exceptions—Nancy Drew, Laura Ingalls, and Elizabeth Bennett).  And we certainly didn’t tweet or blog or even find out about books the way girls do now. Long story, short: If these girls are the future of the reading world, our future as women writers is a bright one. 

What our girls read, how often they do, and how they extrapolate meaning and context and apply it to their own lives is nothing less than, well, extraordinary.  My daughter’s generation was the generation born into a Harry Potter World. The first books she first read were by strong, determined, and innovative women. J.K. Rowling’s genius dominated my daughter’s young reading life, as did a quick succession of female writers whose books my daughter devoured daily. Brigid’s world has been filled with women authors writing about strong female characters—who are capable of doing so much even against so much adversity—like Suzanne Collins’ Katniss in The Hunger Games. And thanks to these formidable women writers and their memorable characters, our girls have been trained, in a way, to seek female writers with strong female leads out. If you don’t believe me, believe the ratings. The Hunger Games debuted as the third highest grossing film of all time on day one of its release. Thank you, girls. And thank you, Suzanne Collins, for creating such a memorable female lead. You, and all female writers like you, have blazed a wonderful trail for the rest of us. (Ahh, if only Mary Ann Evans could see us now! I doubt she’d ever want to change her name to George Eliot to sell a book!)

I guess without even realizing it, I’ve been thinking a lot about woman writers lately. Maybe it’s because I’ll be participating in Fifth Annual SWAN DAY International, celebrating women in the arts all over the world this coming Saturday, March 31st. On this day, we’re supposed to pause and reflect on what is women’s role in the arts now and in the future. I’ve paused. I’ve reflected, and I can safely say, as they do in The Hunger Games (sort of)…I think the odds are forever in our favor, ladies.

Mary Curran Hackett is married and the mother of two children. She received an MA in English Literature from the University of Nebraska and a BA from the University Honors Program at Catholic University in Washington, DC. Born and raised in Danbury, CT, she has traveled extensively and lived in various places throughout the U.S., but her favorite place in the world is home with her kids, husband, and her stacks of books. Like her character Colm Magee, Mary suffers various heart and brain ailments, but thanks in part to her brother, a physician, as well as her own doctors, she now has a pacemaker and a heart that beats on its own at least most of the time. PROOF OF HEAVEN is her first novel.

New York City!

by Maria Geraci


It's been 9 years since my last (and only visit) to New York City.
Back in 2003, I went to the Big Apple for the Romance Writers of
America Conference. Although my main focus was writing workshops, I
did manage to squeeze in some sight-seeing. This time, however, it
will be all play and no work.

Stuff I did last time:

Rode the subway
Walked a lot
Stood on top of the Empire State Building
Visited The Cloisters museum
Buggy ride in Central Park
Double decker Bus tour (but I was so tired, I fell asleep!)
Shopped at Macys
Saw a Broadway show--Aida--it was fabulous!
Ate a lot
Walked a lot (did I already mention that?)
Almost got run over by a taxi (numerous times)

Stuff I plan to do this time:

Ride the subway
Walk a lot
Stand on top of the Empire State Building
Visit a museum
Buggy ride in Central Park
Double decker Bus tour (and stay awake!)
Shop a lot
See a Broadway show-- already have tickets for Wicked!
See another Broadway show- either Memphis, or Jersey Boys, or even
possibly How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Eat a lot
Walk a lot (did I already mention that one?)
NOT get almost run over by a taxi

Did I forget something?

Villainy!

or How a Gas Cap Helped Me Write
by Bethany Maines
 

So today as I was driving to the Starbucks (because I was too lazy to make my own oatmeal) I saw a woman driving with her gas cap perched on the hood of her car. I was going to honk and try and indicate the issue when I realized that little door covering the gas hole was completely missing.  So I didn’t honk.  I figured that clearly this wasn’t the first time she had a problem like this and it might be better for her if she just rid the car of all accessories that weren’t bolted on.  Less to keep track of.

Facebook friend reaction says this was not the appropriately kind, good-Samaritan thing to do.  I should have honked and pointed, or pulled up alongside and yelled my message.  My reaction to such ideas?  Meh.  What would be the point?  She’d probably just do it again three weeks from now.  Some people are just Teflon coated against help.  And then I realized… I was the villain! Admittedly, the villain on a very small scale in a very tiny drama, but still, I was the bad guy!

Maybe I shouldn’t be so excited, but when I’m writing I sometimes I have a problem with villains. What excuse could possibly be enough to justify the villainous behavior of the bad guy? If my villain isn’t a sociopath or someone with a personality disorder of the highest degree, then they have to have a reason for doing what they do. At some point, they have to choose to do the bad things. And that where I struggle – coming up with reasons of sufficient validity to actually kill someone (or any of the other dastardly deeds they do). I remember a villain in one of my early attempts a novel writing seemed to have been cut from a Dickens novel – abused, with an evil uncle, penniless and starved as a child he set out to seek his revenge on all and sundry. He was one twirling moustache away from being Snidely Whiplash. My writer’s group told me in kind and restrained terms that just like my hero couldn’t exhibit all the traits and talents of herodom, possibly it would be more realistic if my bad guy acted like a human being.

In The Wild One Marlon Brando was asked “What are you rebelling against?” and he replied “What do you got?” Maybe that’s closer to the truth of villainy. It’s not that they’re not bad for a particular reason; maybe some villains are bad because they just don’t care.