To answer Denise's question about pseudonyms:

I chose to write under my real name because it is so unique. If you Google "Beth Groundwater" all you get are website references to me and my writing. I couldn't have chosen a better writing name if I tried! My full first name is Elizabeth, so my writing name is not the same as the legal name I use to sign contracts & checks & such, but it's the name I answer to in real-life, so it's the one I wanted to use for writing, too.

Author friends who have used pseudonyms have done so because:

1) their writing was dark/sexy and clashed with their own or a spouse's real-life persona/career, as a minister, for example,
2) they were trying a new genre very different from one in which they've been writing and wanted to distinguish the two styles for their fans (an example is Nora Roberts and her J. D. Robb pseudonym),
3) they were writing a series as "work for hire" where the publisher developed the concept and characters and owns the rights to those, and the author wants to keep her real name to use when she writes books she developed on her own,
4) the author's real name just doesn't match the genre she's writing, such as "Daisy Goodman" writing horror.

I'm sure there are other reasons, too!

Beth wrote: "To answer Denise's question about pseudonyms:

I chose to write under my real name because it is so unique. If you Google "Beth Groundwater" all you get are website references to me and my writing...."

So Beth, you mention author friends that write under a pseudonym--what do you call them? What do they want to be called by fans? That is my dilemma.

The authors who I met by their real names before they published under pseudonyms still answer to their real names when I talk/email them. However, in a public setting, such as a mystery conference, they prefer to be addressed by their pseudonyms, so other fans don't get confused. Instead, I'm the one who gets confused!
- Beth

On Pseudonyms...

I have never even considered using a name other than my own. I feel very passionate that when a person writes and they sign their own true identity to the writing that they have made statement that they will remain true to who they are and not escape into a fantasy of writing under another identity. I know that not all authors agree...but I maintain that when I sign my real name, a name connected to who I am in everyday life that I am keeping it real... that I am holding myself accountable for my words.

Elizabeth Eagan-Cox
www.ElizabethEaganCox.net

Beth wrote: "The authors who I met by their real names before they published under pseudonyms still answer to their real names when I talk/email them. However, in a public setting, such as a mystery conference,..."

Thank you, Beth, that is helpful. If I understand you correctly when I write to an author it is preferred that I use their "real name" if I know it. If I am at a book signing it is preferred to use whatever name the book is published under so as not to confuse other fans. I can understand why you get confused. I would think that an author with multiple pen names would almost feel like a person with multiple personalities. I think it would be hard to get used to being called by some other name and actually remembering to answer to it. Like getting up in the morning and saying "okay, today I am Susan" and then remembering to answer to Susan when my real name is Denise.

The other tricky thing about "real names" vs pseudonyms for authors is trying to figure out the author's given name. If you look back to previous posts on this question we had a debate over Cleo Coyle's "real" name. I looked at her website and also found two pseudonym websites that listed her as Cleo Coyle and her pen name as Alice Kimberly under which she writes the "Haunted Bookshop Series". Come to find out her real name is Alice Alfonsi and that she co-writes both her "Coffeehouse series" and her "Haunted Bookshop series" with her husband under the two pen names. So nowhere that I looked (her own websites nor the pseudonym websites) had the correct information. We finally found the "real story" on Wikipedia. Go figure!

One series that I love, but rarely see mentioned is Nina Wright's A Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery. The characters are quirky and fun; plus the story lines are always good. There are 5 books in the series so far:

Whiskey on the Rocks
Whiskey Straight Up
Whiskey and Tonic
Whiskey and Water
Whiskey with a Twist

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/406...

Kimberly, I totally agree I love that series! Another one that is similar to Nina Wright, lots of humor is Susan Goodwill, there are two in the series; Brigadoom and Little Shop of MMurders.

The Jason Lynx mysteries by A.J. Orde (Sheri Tepper). These are out of print but available used.
Jason is an interior designer who gets involved in solving muders. Sherri Tepper also wrote another series as B.J. Oliphant which I haven't read.

Sandy wrote: "The Jason Lynx mysteries by A.J. Orde (Sheri Tepper). These are out of print but available used.
Jason is an interior designer who gets involved in solving muders. Sherri Tepper also wrote anothe..."

I've read both, and they're both good. It's been years, though, my mom had them.

I was looking through my notebooks and found a series that I thought was really really good but hadn't read in a while. I have never seen her work discussed in our group. I have sent an email to the author to see if she is going to write any more in the Claire Reynier series. The author's name is Judith Van Gieson and she lives New Mexico. Here are the two series list of books:

She has 2 series, I have only read the Claire Reynier series. Clair is a university librarian archivist. Here are the titles:

The Stolen Blue 2000
Vanishing Point 2001
Confidence Woman 2002
Land of Burning Heat 2003
The Shadow of Venus 2004


Her other series is the Neil Hamel series. Neil (female) is a lesbian/attorney. Here are the books:

North of the Border 1988
Raptor 1989
The Other Side of Death 1991
The Wolf Path 1992
The Lies That Bind 1993
Parrot Blues 1995
Hot Shots 1996
Ditchrider 1998


Her website is at www.judithvangieson.com

Her email is jvg24@aol.com

Do you guys consider Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon books cozies? Probably not as they get graphic with the murders sometimes, but they are really good books. Not a series I recall seeing mentioned here.

This series may not be considered cozies, but I love the Inspector Jury mysterys by Martha Grimes, especially the earlier ones.

Melodie wrote: "Do you guys consider Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon books cozies? Probably not as they get graphic with the murders sometimes, but they are really good books. Not a series I recall seeing mentioned here."

To answer your question, according to http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Nevada-Barr.... Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon series is a cozy. I haven't read it yet but do have Nevada on my very very long list of "to read".

Has anyone read any of the Jean Hager series? I think I have read everything that she has written. I liked all of her books:

The Tess Darcy, Iris House B&B series,
The Molly Bearpaw, Investigator for Native American Advocacy League,
Mitch Bushyhead, 1/2 Cherokee Police Chief

I wrote to Ms. Hager a while back and she has retired from writing.
She also has several pen names but I have only read the books published under the name Jean Hager.

Another series that I haven't seen discussed is the Nancy Herndon series with protagonist Elena Jarvis, a police detective. I also like her series written as Nancy Fairbanks with protagonist Carolyn Blue, a forty-something food writer.

Denise wrote: "Has anyone read any of the Jean Hager series? I think I have read everything that she has written. I liked all of her books:

The Tess Darcy, Iris House B&B series,
The Molly Bearpaw, Investiga..."
I loved Jean Hager's books and just managed to get "Redbird" and as a used hardcover I hadn't seen before, also "Masked Dancers" (used h/c) which I read as a library book a few years ago. I've read at least some of all three of her series.

Melodie wrote: "Do you guys consider Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon books cozies? Probably not as they get graphic with the murders sometimes, but they are really good books. Not a series I recall seeing mentioned here."
I suppose by some standards it would be a cozy, certainly a fast and interesting read. I've read a few and have several more in my to-be-read pile (huge pile!)

I also don't see much mention of Aaron Elkins, author of the Skeleton Detective Gideon Oliver series. Another of my favourites.

Betty wrote: "I also don't see much mention of Aaron Elkins, author of the Skeleton Detective Gideon Oliver series. Another of my favourites."

One of my favorites too, but I haven't read any in a long time, possibly because there haven't been any new ones lately?

I'm going to try to resurrect this thread. I just went through my authors that I have read to answer another question. While going through my "old favorite" authors I realized that no one talks about Katherine Hall Page's Faith Fairchild series. I haven't read any of these for a while, the last one I read was #15 in the series, The Body in the Snowdrift A Faith Fairchild Mystery. Looks like I have three to catch up on. I notice that she has one out for Christmas this year called The Body in the Sleigh.

I went thru some of the comments posted on this thread..and I dont think..anyone posted a comment about
G A McKevett. I have read one of her books and have a couple more on my shelf. Has anyone read any of her books and what did you think of them?
The one that I read is called Just Desserts.

Melissa wrote: "I went thru some of the comments posted on this thread..and I dont think..anyone posted a comment about
G A McKevett. I have read one of her books and have a couple more on my shelf. Has anyone re..."

Have read all the Savannah Reid books and am anxiously awaiting the next which comes out in January. I love all the characters, even Dirk, and reading one of those books is like visiting with old friends. I feel the same way about Earlene Fowler's Benni Harper series and Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles series.

Melodie wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I went thru some of the comments posted on this thread..and I dont think..anyone posted a comment about
G A McKevett. I have read one of her books and have a couple more on my shel..."

Melodie, What is the new Savannah Reid book called?
I havent read anything yet by Earlene Fowler or Susan Wittig Albert. Heard alot of nice things about their books, though!

Melissa wrote: "Melodie, What is the new Savannah Reid book called?.."

The new one for January is called .

Melodie wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Melodie, What is the new Savannah Reid book called?.."

The new one for January is called ."

Thanks Melodie!
I guess I better get this book wishlisted right away~

:)

Susan Conant's dog lovers mysteries (she wrote a fan letter to my Malamute once ;)

Tamar Myers Den of Antiquity (antiques) and her Penn-Dutch series

M.C. Beaton's Hamish McBeth and lesser known Agatha Raisin series

deb

Melissa wrote: "I went thru some of the comments posted on this thread..and I dont think..anyone posted a comment about
G A McKevett. I have read one of her books and have a couple more on my shelf. Has anyone read any of her books and what did you think of them?.."

I have read the first four of the Savannah Reid series. It has been a long time but as I remember they were okay but I just got sidetracked to other series and I haven't been back to McKevett. I have done this with several authors and need to go back and catch up or in some cases finish up the series that I have started.

Melodie wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Melodie, What is the new Savannah Reid book called?.."

The new one for January is called ."

Is Wicked Craving #15 in the series? I want to make sure I have them all listed.

Denise wrote: "Melodie wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Melodie, What is the new Savannah Reid book called?.."

The new one for January is called ."

Is Wicked Craving ..."

Yes, it's the 15th.

Denise wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I went thru some of the comments posted on this thread..and I dont think..anyone posted a comment about
G A McKevett. I have read one of her books and have a couple more on my shel..."

Denise, I understand about getting sidetracked. Thats whats happened with me. I have 3 (maybe 4?) of her books on my tbr shelf, and..I find myself trying to finish 5 books right now. lol
Im looking forward to reading more of G.A. McKevett books. :)

I need to quit adding new authors and new series to my "let's hurry up and read right now" and go back and finish up some of my old series friends. As I flip through my notebooks (my bible of what I have read, am reading, and want to read) I have so many series that there is anywhere from 1-3 books that I haven't read to finish the series. Then there are series like McKevett's Savannah Reid that I have read 4 of the books and there are now 15--and quite truthfully I probably should go back and read those first 4 because I really don't remember the stories. My mind is willing but my flesh is weak and even though I tell myself to quit adding new books now I just can't help myself. I see someone's post and the book sounds good or I read a review in the paper and I'm adding that book to my library requests. Books are my addiction. I confess, my name is Denise and I am a bookaholic.

I liked the Calamity Jayne series and don't see it on here often.

I'm going to try to get this thread going again. As I was flipping through my notebooks of authors/books that I have read I came across several that we haven't mentioned--and these are series that I really liked. I haven't researched yet to see if the series are finished or if something has happened to the author.

Has anyone read:

Julie Kaewert's series with protagonist Alex Plumtree, book publisher, set in England? The last book I have listed in this series came out in 2002. At that time there were six books in the series. The books were full of political intrigue and I thought they were very good.

Karen Irving's Katy Klein series--Katy is a psychologist turned professional astrologer. When I last looked there were three books in the series and she was working on the 4th. These were also very good.

Hazel Holt had a series featuring Sheila Malory, a British Literary Critic. The last time I looked there were 15 books in the series (I have read them all) and the 15th was published in 2004.

Nancy Herndon (who also writes under the name Nancy Fairbanks) had a series "starring" Elena Jarvis, a police detective, and the series was set in the southwest. The last time I checked there were 7 books in the series and the last one was written in 1999. I also like her Carolyn Blue series written under the Fairbanks name.

Janis Harrison had a nice gardening series with Bretta Solomon as the main character. The last book that I read (#6) was written in 2005.

The last one I'm going to mention is Jacqueline Girdner (aka Claire Daniels) had a fairly long series with protagonist Kate Jasper. The last book I read was #12 in the series and it was published in 2002.

Any other authors/series that you don't find anyone writing about?

Kate wrote: "Betty wrote: "I also don't see much mention of Aaron Elkins,..."
One of my favorites too, but I haven't read any in a ..."
Aaron Elkins has written 15 Gideon Oliver series, 3 stand-alones, 3 Chris Norgren series, and 5 Lee Ofsted series with his wife Charlotte Elkins.
Gideon Oliver:
1. Fellowship of Fear (1982)
2. The Dark Place (1983)
3. Murder in the Queen's Armes (1985)
4. Old Bones (1987)
5. Curses! (1989)
6. Icy Clutches (1990)
7. Make No Bones (1991)
8. Dead Men's Hearts (1994)
9. Twenty Blue Devils (1997)
10. Skeleton Dance (2000)
11. Good Blood (2004)
12. Where There's a Will (2005)
13. Unnatural Selection (2006)
14. Little Tiny Teeth (2007)
15. Uneasy Relations (2008)

Check out http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/e/aaro... for his biblio

Another is Shirley Damsgaard, who writes a hilarious witch series featuring a young reluctant witch and her grandmother in a small town. These are fun in the relationship between the two and with the younger witch's love life.
1. Witch Way to Murder
2. Charmed to Death
3. The Trouble with Witches (2006)
4. Witch Hunt (2007)
5. The Witch Is Dead (2007)
6. The Witch's Grave (2009)
7. The Seventh Witch (2010)

One more, Victoria Houston, whose theme is fly fishing in her murder mysteries. The new sheriff in town is a woman who loves to fish, a passion shared by a widowed dentist and an eccentric fishing guide.
1. Dead Angler
2. Dead Creek
3. Dead Water
4. Dead Frenzy (2003)
5. Dead Hot Mama (2004)
6. Dead Jitterbug
7. Dead Boogie (2006)
8. Dead Madonna (2007)
9. Dead Hot Shot (2008)
10. Dead Renegade (2009)

I enjoy seeking out series that have something entirely different in them. I love the things I learn in these books.

Many of our GoodReads authors are writing some really exciting series too. Worth checking them out.

In looking thru this thread again ~ I didnt notice the following author mentioned.. Miranda Bliss ~ Ive read one of her cozy mysteries, and really enjoyed it! I have 2 more on my To be read shelf!

Betty wrote: "Another is Shirley Damsgaard, who writes a hilarious witch series featuring a young reluctant witch and her grandmother in a small town. These are fun in the relationship between the two and with t..."

I've read about 4 of these and am ambivalent about them. I really like Abby, but really DON'T like Ophelia.

Denise wrote: "I'm going to try to get this thread going again. As I was flipping through my notebooks of authors/books that I have read I came across several that we haven't mentioned--and these are series that ..."
You didn't mention Aaron Elkin's latest Gideon Oliver, Skulduggery. I have just read it and it's excellent.

Betty wrote: "One more, Victoria Houston, whose theme is fly fishing in her murder mysteries. The new sheriff in town is a woman who loves to fish, a passion shared by a widowed dentist and an eccentric fishing ..."I love Victoria Houston, did you read the latest one ( Dead Renegade)? I'm waiting for it to arrive in the mail so I can read it.

Melissa wrote: "In looking thru this thread again ~ I didnt notice the following author mentioned.. Miranda Bliss ~ Ive read one of her cozy mysteries, and really enjoyed it! I have 2 more on my To..."I just got the newest Miranda Bliss, Murder Has A Sweet Tooth but haven't read it yet. Have you read it?

Lisa wrote: "Betty wrote: "One more, Victoria Houston, whose theme is fly fishing in her murder mysteries. The new sheriff in town is a woman who loves to fish, a passion shared by a widowed dentist and an ecce..."

I've only read the first few, need to do some catching up!

Alice wrote: "Denise wrote: "I'm going to try to get this thread going again. As I was flipping through my notebooks of authors/books that I have read I came across several that we haven't mentioned--and these a..."
Aaron Elkins' biblio listed Skulduggery as an independent stand-alone book. To my mind it does sound like a Gideon Oliver series though I agree.

Melissa wrote: "In looking thru this thread again ~ I didnt notice the following author mentioned.. Miranda Bliss ~ Ive read one of her cozy mysteries, and really enjoyed it! I have 2 more on my To..."

I really enjoy that series and have kept up with it!

Lisa wrote: "Melissa wrote: "In looking thru this thread again ~ I didnt notice the following author mentioned.. Miranda Bliss ~ Ive read one of her cozy mysteries, and really enjoyed it! I have..."

Lisa, No..I havent read Murder Has a Sweet Tooth yet..its on my wishlist on paperbackswap, and here at goodreads..
:) The only one that I have read so far by Miranda Bliss is called Dead Men Don't Get the Munchies its #3 in the series.. ~ but I enjoyed it so much, that I have 2 more of her books on my tbr shelf, (#1 and #2 in the series ) ~ I look forward to reading them very soon!

Kimberly wrote: "Melissa wrote: "In looking thru this thread again ~ I didnt notice the following author mentioned.. Miranda Bliss ~ Ive read one of her cozy mysteries, and really enjoyed it! I have..."

I thought Dead Men Don't Get the Munchies
was very good! Cant wait to read the rest in this series.. :)

Denise wrote: "In all of the postings that I participate in (Cozy currently reading, favorite cozy, what's next, just finished) I tend to see the same books and authors over and over. Have you read a series that ..."

great posts! Lots of new writers for me to read. Thank you

Angela H. wrote: "I have actually only read the first teddy bear mystery so far. "

I wasn't thrilled with the 2 I have read Angela

Here are some series that I have made a page for in my tracking binders but haven't read yet and don't remember seeing mentioned. If anyone has read any of these let me know what you think:

Valerie Malmont--Tori Micacle Series

Margaret Maron--Deborah Knott series

Stefanie Matteson--Charlotte Graham series

Taylor McCafferty--Haskell Blevins series

Val McDermid--Lindsay Gordon series

Annette Meyers--Smith & Wetzon series or Dutchman Historical Mystery Series

Camille Minichino--Gloria Lamerino, Physicist series or under the name Margaret Grace--Miniature series

Miriam Grace Monfredo--Seneca Falls Series 1850's historical

Susan Moody--Penny Wanawake series or Cassandra Swann series

Walter Mosley--Fearless Jones series or Easy Rawlins series

Shirley Rousseau Murphy--Joe Grey & Dulcie

Lynne Murray--Josephine Fuller series

(That's it for the M's--I'll do more at another time.)