It’s Fra-Gee-Lay!

by Bethany Maines

In the Christmas classic, A Christmas Story, the father wins a “major award” which turns out to be a leg lamp that arrives in a large box marked “fragile.” His love for the major award is only matched by his wife’s hatred for the fishnet clad leg and the battle between the two has never stopped being funny.

This week, I was reminded of the leg lamp when I won my own “major award.” I recently converted my story Blue Christmas to a screenplay and submitted it to some screenplay contests that provided feedback to all entries.  As a first time screenplay writer, it was the feedback that I was pursuing.  In novel writing, it’s hard to find a beta reader that can help identify problems.  Most readers are not analytical and are really just there to enjoy the book (and that is just fine and there’s no reason to change!), but to advance a project it sometimes requires someone be more critical.  I’ve been fortunate to find a handful of good beta readers for my novels, but when it came to a screenplay I was at a loss! So I was excited to get feedback from genuine screenplay professionals.

The first contest said my script was “VERY close” and provided some valuable insights.  And this week I received notice from the second contest that I had been selected as a winner! The only way I could be prouder is if it came with a leg lamp. Winners have their screenplay’s opening scenes read by professional actors in a “table reading.” Which is pretty much what it sounds like – actors at a table doing a reading of the script.  The table reading is filmed and posted on the contest site, so obviously I will linking that here when the video goes live.  I can’t wait to see actors saying words that I’ve written!  And I’m excited to continue my adventures in scriptwriting.

And case you want a sneak peak at this action-packed romantic comedy before it hits big screens (I wish!)...

$1.99 - Amazon · Barnes & Noble · Kobo · Itunes

High-rise burglary to pay for her grandmother’s cancer treatments might not be ideal, but Blue Jones is determined to do what it takes to get her grandmother the best care possible. She just didn’t plan on being tackled by gorgeous Jake Garner. Jake, drunk and recently dumped, mistakes Blue for the dog sitter and begins shoving his ex’s belongings at her including her French Bulldog—Jacques. But soon Jake is being pressured to return the dog and Blue is being targeted by mysterious attackers. Can Jake and Blue stop these mystery men without also getting Blue arrested for theft? For Blue, Christmas has never been quite so dangerous. For Jake, Christmas has never been quite so Blue.

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Bethany Maines is the author of the Carrie Mae Mystery Series, 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 fifth degree 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 YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and BookBub.

Oh, The Places We'll Go

By AB Plum

When writing a novel, time and place matter. They anchor, at the simplest level, the story setting. Characters don't exist in a vacuum so I like putting them in a place, at a time, when they have to make choices.

The Early Years, Book 1 in The MisFit Series gives the month, the city, and the specific location in the city. The narrator makes a choice to commit murder. He pinpoints at the micro level a horrific train accident and its relationship to him. The train station, the frigid cold, the crowds—all symbolize the trajectory of the narrator's future. 

All this setting gets settled in less than a page.

When I wrote the Danish descriptions, I did so from memory and with a few details from my husband, born in Copenhagen. All the while I wrote the MisFit Series, we discussed how much fun we'd have going back and staying for more than three weeks.

So, this summer, we'll leave Silicon Valley and stay in a Copenhagen apartment near where my husband lived as a little boy. (Go figure that my WIP is the Ryn Davis Mystery Series set in the shadow of Google. Who knows? Ryn may meet a Dane in one of the upcoming mysteries).

My plan is to absorb more than the kringles, polse, plaice, and rødgrød med fløde (flaky almond-stuffed pastry, hot dogs, flounder, and raspberry/strawberry porridge with thick cream). I hope to return to the US speaking en smule dansk (a little Danish). I plan to visit all the tourist spots and those out-of-way cultural and historical landmarks known only to Danish citizens. With lots of family there, I think we'll experience this setting more deeply than we now can only imagine.

I'll write my July blog from Denmark. My plan is to write about the main train station (Københavns Hovedbanegård). This setting is the scene referenced above in The Early Years. This setting lays the groundwork to delve into a psychopath's dark mind.

****** 

AB Plum lives with her husband and alter ego, Barbara Plum off the beaten path but writes in Silicon Valley—a setting unto itself. She tries to capture the nuances of the place in her new Ryn Davis Mystery Series.

Special Snowflakes

Before I was published, back when a pair of rose-colored glasses were fused to my nose, I was sure my first book was a special snowflake. Everyone would fall in love with it.

Maybe not everyone. Maybe not men (the first book I wrote was a romance). Maybe not women who read contemporary romance (the first book I wrote was a historical romance). Maybe not women who read Regency romance (the first book I wrote was set in New Orleans in 1902). Those maybes left me with a small (tiny) slice of potential readers but everyone in that slice would love it.

I’d written a niche book and the niche was small.

Not surprisingly (in retrospect) it took forever and a day for that book to sell to a publisher.

While I waited, I wrote a second book. A mystery. Had I taken off the rose-colored glasses, I’d have written a book about a woman who moves to small town, runs a dress shop, cooks amazing muffins, keeps a strangely intelligent cat, and talks to dead people. Instead I wrote about Ellison Russell, a woman who lives in the city of her birth, paints, can’t cook, keeps a dog, and finds dead people. Oh, and I set the story in the 1974.

The mystery sold. Quickly. Go figure.

Next week, the ninth book in the Country Club Murders releases. Ellison still paints, she definitely can’t cook, her dog has yet to solve a crime, and the rate at which she finds bodies would depopulate a small town.

Thank heavens for rose-colored glasses.

If you’ve not yet made Ellison’s acquaintance, the first book in the series is free (this week only, so grab it now)!

Julie Mulhern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Country Club Murders and the Poppy Fields Adventures. 

She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean--and she's got an active imagination. Truth is--she's an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.

My Best Friend, the Kitchen Timer

by Linda Rodriguez

I have a new best friend. Well, not really new. We've been very close before, and then as the press of daily life and work took over, we started to see less and less of each other. You know the way these things happen—not because of anything either of us did but the world got between us. I'm sure you have friends like that. It's not that you aren't still friends, but just that you don't have the chance to see each other that much anymore. Then, one of you goes through some kind of crisis, and suddenly the other is there with support and whatever help you need, and you're reminded of how much this neglected friendship means to you and swear you'll never let the world and work get in the way of it again.

When I had to leave my fulfilling career in higher education for medical reasons, it was devastating. At first, the doctors couldn't figure out what was physically debilitating me, so couldn't really give me much help. Eventually, they diagnosed me with lupus and fibromyalgia and prescribed steroids and DMARDS (disease-modifying drugs) to protect my organs from further damage and help begin to control the overwhelming fatigue, joint and muscle pain, and muscle weakness. (Fun lupus fact of the day: As with most autoimmune diseases, lupus has no medicines developed specifically for it, but uses organ-transplant-rejection drugs, cancer chemotherapy drugs, and other similar powerful and expensive remedies.)

Determined to become active again and work at the writing career I'd originally aimed at before being derailed by family needs into higher education administration, I began to use a kitchen timer to help me return from the helpless mists of illness. I would set it for fifteen minutes and walk around the house, then go lie down to recover, set it for another fifteen minutes and sit down to try to write, then go lie down to recover, set it again and do a simple household chore that didn't involve a lot of exertion, then go lie down, on and on ad infinitum throughout the day. My rheumatologist was impressed with the recovery I made with this simple routine and told me he wished he could get his other patients to do the same. Over months and months of this, I slowly built up a reasonably normal life again. I was actually able to function and to build a new career.

As I grew stronger and busier, I used my trusty kitchen timer less and less. It was nothing my friend had done, of course. Life just caused us to drift apart. Until another disaster stuck—breast cancer. After three surgeries in two months, culminating in a radical mastectomy, I found myself weak, fatigued, in pain, and brain-fogged from all the medications and treatments. Suddenly, my dear friend showed her loyalty and support again and helped me rebuild my strength and life.

We had been once again drifting apart when my last chemotherapy treatment suddenly included a new additional infusion, and the combination tipped me over into a massive lupus flare, even once the terrible chemo side effects settled down somewhat. Only this time, I couldn't take the medications that helped suppress the flare because of interactions with the chemotherapy and other cancer meds which were still circulating in my body. Once again, I was knocked flat, and my loyal, too-often-taken-for-granted friend, the kitchen timer, came to my rescue.

We were in the middle of downsizing a big, old house in which my family and I had lived for 42 years. I put off the realtor's walkthrough for another month. I was also in the midst of writing another book, which had a publishing deadline that I couldn't really put off. So I rose in the morning, ate breakfast, took what meds I could and waited for them to go to work. Then I set a timer and handwashed a few dishes (no dishwasher in that old house). I couldn't stand in one place for long without pain and weakness in leg muscles, but the warm water helped me get my hands to function. When the timer went off, I sat down to try to write a few words, setting the timer because sitting for very long caused problems with my knees and hips and writing on the computer or by hand for very long caused cramps and pain in my hands, arms, and shoulders. When the timer went off, I moved to the heavily-cushioned recliner to elevate my legs and rest my arms, setting the timer again. When it went off next time, I packed items for giveaway in boxes or filled trash bags and recycling bins from cupboards, closets, two attics, full basement, and garage. And eventually, we got through the move, things got better, and I neglected my old friend again.

Now, once again, my dear pal has turned up when I need her most, proving to be a most loyal and devoted friend, as I struggle with the aftermath of a shattered shoulder, destroyed rotator cuff, and the onset of yet another auto-immune disease. With her invaluable help, I feel sure I will do what I must and still recover my strength. I've come to realize that the problem with our relationship lies with me. I forget that I need to pace myself. I forget that I need the help of my friend, the timer. I get busy and self-involved and forget that I need this friendship. I have vowed that I'll not make that mistake again.

Do you have friendships that have drifted apart for similar reasons? Is there a good friend in your life that you see less and less often as you get busier?

Linda Rodriguez's Dark Sister: Poems is her 10^th book and is a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award. Plotting the Character-Driven Novel, based on her popular workshop, and The World Is One Place: Native American Poets Visit the Middle East, an anthology she co-edited, were published in 2017.  Every Family Doubt, her fourth mystery featuring Cherokee detective, Skeet Bannion, and Revising the Character-Driven Novel will be published in 2019. Her three earlier Skeet novels—Every Hidden Fear, Every Broken Trust, Every Last Secret—and earlier books of poetry—Skin Hunger and Heart's Migration—have received critical recognition and awards, such as St. Martin's Press/Malice Domestic Best First Novel, International Latino Book Award, Latina Book Club Best Book of 2014, Midwest Voices & Visions, Elvira Cordero Cisneros Award, Thorpe Menn Award, and Ragdale and Macondo fellowships. Her short story, “The Good Neighbor,” published in Kansas City Noir, has been optioned for film. 

Rodriguez is past chair of the AWP Indigenous Writer’s Caucus, past president of Border Crimes chapter of Sisters in Crime, founding board member of Latino Writers Collective and The Writers Place, and a member of International Thriller Writers, Native Writers Circle of the Americas, Wordcraft Circle of Native American Writers and Storytellers, and Kansas City Cherokee Community. Learn more about her at http://lindarodriguezwrites.blogspot.com

Summer Reading

by Sparkle Abbey

Though we know it's not quite summer, here in the midwest it's been feeling a lot like summer lately.

And after a particularly cold and awful winter, we are more than ready to break out the lawn chairs, lemonade, and, sandals.

As the longer days of summer approach, we've also been looking forward to some time to sit in the shade and read.

We're seeing summer reading recommendations pop up in our social media feeds and emails. Harper's Bazaar has a list of the 17 Best Summer Reads 2019 and Publisher's Weekly offers the Best Books of Summer 2019 list. And the lists go on from Barnes and Noble's Summer Reading List to the independent bookstore's Indie Next Summer 2019 Reading Group Recommendations.

And while many of those books sound like great reads, we know with everything else going on that we're not going to get to as many books as we'd like this summer, so we're going to have to prioritize. Maybe you can help us with that. We'd love to hear your recommendations.

What's on the top of your reading list for this summer?

Sparkle Abbey is actually two people, Mary Lee Woods aka Mary Lee Ashford and Anita Carter, who write the national best-selling Pampered Pets cozy mystery series. They are friends as well as neighbors so they often get together and plot ways to commit murder. (But don't tell the neighbors.) They love to hear from readers and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, their favorite social media sites. 

Their most recent book is The Dogfather, the tenth book in the Pampered Pets series.

Also, if you want to make sure you get updates, sign up for their newsletter via the SparkleAbbey.com website.

Clicking Our Heels - Reliving a Moment or Time from Our Pasts

Clicking Our Heels – Reliving a Moment or Time from Our Pasts

Although we often talk about recent things in our lives and writing, the Stiletto Gang members recently contemplated what one moment or time in our lives we would want to relive.

Judy Penz Sheluk – I’d love to go back to high school, knowing what I know now, and knowing that all kids probably felt as lost and nerdy as I did. And I’d write stories down, instead of keeping them in my head for 30 years.

Dru Ann Love - My first day at college – it was so unreal and new to me. I was the first in my family to go to college so it was a big deal. Meeting different people from all socio-economic status and this from a shy person. The very first person I met at college is still my friend today, in fact I just met up with her before a book signing I was attending.

Linda Rodriguez - The years when my children were very small. That time of babies and toddlers and preschoolers goes by so fast, even though at the time, it felt like it was taking forever.
 Shari Randall - Putting aside big, important emotional moments like weddings and the births of my children, I think I'd like to go back and relive a research trip I took to the Boston Ballet. I toured their facility from top to bottom, seeing things only the dancers get to see - the dance library, the costume shop, the shoe room. Then I was invited to sit in during company class - an hour long workout with dancers people pay to see, except they were doing a private performance just for me. Magic. It was the fulfillment of a childhood dream.

Kay Kendall - I would like to be 20-something and spend time with each of my four grandparents and my father. I would ask them all the questions about their lives that I have now that I am older that I didn't think to ask them back in the day.

Bethany Maines - There are a few moments in time that I feel like I botched and wish I could do over, but to just relive them as they happened?  I'm not so sure I would want to do that.  I think I'd rather concentrate on making the coming moments great.

Lynn McPherson - I spent a lot of time travelling solo when I was younger. I'd probably go back to that time to do and see even more. Thailand, Indonesia, and London were some of my favorites.

Cathy Perkins - Sure there are a few oops when I'd like a "do-over," but if I could go back and relive a time, it would be spending a day with my mother. Even better, if I could teleport her into the future, I'd introduce her to the wonderful men my daughters married that she never got me meet. But I really think we'd sit by the river and simply enjoy the moment. 

J.A. Phillippe - Oh man -- when I was 21, my family went on vacation to Hawaii for a family friend's wedding. It was sort of the last time we would all be together like that as my brother would pass away later that year unexpectedly. I'd love to go back and relive and enjoy it even more.

Julie Mulhern - There are a few moments of absolute happiness that would be fun to revisit. The call from my agent telling me about multiple offers for The Deep End comes to mind.

T.K. Thorne - Galloping my horse up a hillside, sharing his power and simple joy of running.

Debra H. Goldstein – Selfishly, I’d love to relive every moment of my life – good or bad because I feel like it is passing too quickly. That’s why, I’d go back to a day when I was sent outside to play for an hour before I could come in and read again. It was the longest hour of my life, but now I would enjoy time taking that long to pass.

The Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery & Suspense

Judy Penz Sheluk

I'm beyond excited to announce that the The Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery & Suspense is now available for pre-order on Kindle and in trade paperback at all the usual suspects. This is the first multi-author anthology to be published by my imprint, Superior Shores Press.

The original call for submissions went out on October 18, 2018, with a deadline of January 18, 2019. In all, 71 stories were received from the U.S., UK, Canada, Norway, Italy, South America, and Australia. Cutting the submissions in half, to a more manageable 35, was the first step. That done, I was left with the unenviable task of rejecting 15 stories I really, really liked.

It took multiple reads and an Excel spreadsheet that included word counts and basic theme/location/premise. To be balanced there has to be a mix of length, and premise. Three stories with black cats, for example, would never do. (As an aside, there are no black cats in the book, though there is cat food in one particularly creepy story.)

At the same time, I wanted an overall word count of approximately 70,000 words, and 21 stories in all. Hence, 20 stories at 2,000 words each wouldn't work, any more than 20 stories at 5,000 words would work. Which means that some great stories had to be rejected. I like to think all of those will find a "home" because they are definitely worthy.

And now, here's a brief synopsis of the book:

Whether it’s a subway station in Norway, ski resort in Vermont, McMansion in the suburbs, or trendy art gallery in Toronto, the 21 authors represented in this superb collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of the best-laid plans in their own inimitable style. And like many best-laid plans, they come with no guarantees. 

 The Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery & Suspense is available on Kindle, and in trade paperback at all the usual suspects, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Chapters.Indigo. Release date is June 18, but you can pre-order it now.  

Thrillerfest, Here I Come!

By Lynn McPherson


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I am absolutely thrilled to let you all know that I am going to Thrillerfest XIV in New York City this July. Now, I am a cozy mystery author so some readers may be wondering why I have chosen this particular conference to attend. There are so many reasons that I decided to share a few of them here.

First of all, it’s held in New York City. As a big movie fan, it’s hard not to love New York. From Goodfellas to Breakfast at Tiffany’s to Desperately Seeking Susan, it’s a place that always makes a good movie great. When I finally got to see New York in person, it did not disappoint. The energy and atmosphere make it a world-class city I’m always happy to visit. Inspiration is around every corner.

Secondly, Thrillerfest is an enticing conference for anyone who is looking for a literary agent. There is something called Pitchfest, where authors get the chance to pitch their work to agents looking for new clients. It’s a fantastic opportunity to try to find a good match for me. I’m working on a new series and I’m hoping to find a good agent interested in a long-term relationship. There is nothing else like it—Pitchfest is a unique event. If nothing else, it’ll be great experience and practice for the future.

Finally (and most importantly!), the line-up at Thrillerfest is top notch. The participating authors are exciting and will be really fun to see—including John Sandford, Harlan Coben, Lisa Unger, and James Rollins, among others. There is also the huge number of panels to attend—so many panels, so little time. I’m absolutely delighted to let you know that I won’t only be an audience member—I’ll also have the chance to participate in one. It is called Squeal, Panic, or Chill? Turn Off Your Job and Turn on Your Life. Led by Panel Master Bryan Robinson, and I can’t wait to be a part of the action.

So, there it is folks.

How about you? Where are you headed next and why have you chosen to go?

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 two books out: The Girls' Weekend Murder and The Girls Whispered Murder.  

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