Lea Wait's Blog, page 174

A Day The Music Died

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Make no bones about it. This guy was cool!

The Day the Music Died

John Clark celebrating by sharing the life of one amazing guy. I’m not sure about where I first met BeBop. I suspect it was at a meeting on Sunday night in Gardiner, but I really didn’t get to know him well until we moved to Hartland in 2003. After that, he was a frequent reminder that recovery really does translate to “Happy, Joyous and Free.” When Bob shared his experience, strength and hope with others, he had a strong and expressive voice, one that I’m hearing in my head as I write this. His cadence was such that you paid an extra bit of attention, even though you often knew what was coming next. One of his trademarks was building to what the uninitiated thought would be a bit of profanity, then he’d pause and morph it smoothly into something much cleaner, but you got the point.

BeBop wasn’t perfect, but he had thirty years of working on himself to be better and it showed. One of my most recent exchanges took place a couple months ago. I’d spotted a request for proposals in the Bangor Daily News from the Penobscot Job Corps. Included was one asking for DJ services, so I cut out the ad and gave it to him. When I asked him later whether he’d heard anything, he frowned and said no response had been forthcoming. Too bad. Bob had a way of pulling kids (hell, adults as well) out of their shells and gertting them to feel good about themselves. He would have been perfect for this gig.

While he was a stalwart in the recovery community and an excellent chiropractor, it was his love of music and incredible memory for who wrote/performed/covered what, that I found most intriguing. A year ago, I took my neighbor Larry to get an adjustment. While Larry was no slouch when it came to music trivia, I sat in quiet amazement while he and BeBop had a 45 minute conversation about songs and performers after the treatment. Bet your healthcare provider never offered a similar service.

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Bob’s love of music and giving to others blended perfectly through his DJ services. Need someone to do music for your wedding? No problem. Likewise for birthday parties, anniversaries, you name it. Whenever there was a recovery themed dance or gathering, you could expect Bob and his equipment to be there and very seldom did he ask for, or expect payment. He was a fixture on Labor Day for the all day recovery picnics at Lake St. George in Skowhegan. When someone requested a song, 99 times out of a hundred, Bob not only could pull it up and play it, he could tell you a bit of its history as well as who else had recorded it. He played for my retirement party at the library as well as at the end of summer reading celebration for the kids.

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They make very few people like Bob and now the universe is one great guy short, but somewhere in heaven, BeBop is sipping coffee and talking music with Bo Diddly, Jimi Hendrix and Jerry Lee Lewis…And loving every minute of it.

I’ve copied part of his obituary, followed by three entries from his online guest book so you can know more about this man.

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WATERVILLE – On Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, Dr. Robert Adrien Carignan, loving father, grandfather, and community cheer-bringer, passed away at the age of 74. Bob was born Aug. 31, 1944, in Lawrence, Mass., to Adrien and Edith (Berry) Carignan. Known by many names, “Dr. Bob”, “BeeBop Bob”, and “Beepa”, to name a few, he graduated Tenney High School in 1962, and shortly after, joined the United States Navy as a Corpsman. After leaving the Navy he entered Northern Essex Community College. Bob’s love of holistic medicine guided him to Palmer College of Chiropractic where he received a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in 1972.

He received several commendations for his chiropractic service including a Merit Award from Palmer College in 1972, an Ambassador Award from Palmer College in 1977, and he was Maine Chiropractor of the Year in 1984. He was a member of the Maine Chiropractic Association (MCA) and State Representative for both the International Chiropractic Association and the American Chiropractic Association. Bob was a member of the Maine Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Knights of Columbus, and the Health Officer for both Hartland and St. Albans. In 2003, he received a Service Award in recognition for his energetic service to the MCA as “Mr. Entertainment” which merged his two passions of chiropractic and DJing.

Bob joined his love of nature, people, and health when he opened Hartland Family Chiropractic in 1974. If you knew him, you could appreciate his musical passion, which he pursued later in life. He opened BeeBop To Hip Hop DJ services and brought the joy of music to nursing homes, weddings, and family holidays. Many knew about his 30 year survival with alcoholism. In 2018, he received his 30 year chip; he was a true friend of Bill W.

“I walked into your office and you took one look at me and said, well…. your jaw is dislocated. I was in pain for a year and you fixed me. You were the best Dr. C ever! I will always remember you and your cute smile and very happy demeanor. You will be deeply missed by everyone Dr. C.

So saddened by the news of Bob’s passing.”

“Thoughts and prayers to Theresa, family, friends and patients of “Dr. Bob”. I’ve been a patient and friend of his for over 25 years. He always found time to fit me into his busy schedule when I’d call because I was in need of a good “snap, crackle, and pop” of my body. We’d laugh, talk and share our love of music during my visits with him. Between his DJ gigs, and my concerts, we had some wonderful chats about the tastes of music people had. I always felt better and my spirits were lifted after a visit with him. A big supporter of communities near and far. He will be missed by many for sure. Fly high and play music for the angels my friend. Till we meet again!!”

“Doc thank you for being you. I still can not figure how you made me talk when I did not have anything sensible to say (early on). Then later when I was all busted up you laughed at me and fixed me with a snap to get me in place. No more words, fare thee well, my friend.”

So many people have shared their thoughts on Bob’s passing that I’m including his Facebook page link for those who want to know more about this amazing man. https://www.facebook.com/bob.carignan.7

Seven Months Post-Diagnosis … And I’m Still Here

[image error]And Happy 2019! Last summer I never thought I’d be saying or writing those words. In case anyone missed the excitement of my health issues, in mid-June of 2018 I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, metastasized. I wrote about it in a blog here . 

I didn’t include that my oncologist had told me I only had four to six weeks to live. But a month later I wrote about what it meant to know you had a short time to live. I’d updated my will and related legal documents after my husband, Bob, had died in April, so all that was in order. I signed a DNR and posted it on my refrigerator – what one does in Maine, and maybe other places.

In late July and early August my daughters all came to see me “to say good-bye.” Most of them choose silver, jewelry, paintings, etc., to “remember me by” and shipped them out. I donated books and reference materials to a museum in Maine, and to several libraries that had supported me over the years. A local used book store bought my collection of mystery books. Bob’s art supplies went to some family members and two Maine community art programs. I tossed out a lot of files, and, most important to me, I self-published two historical novels for young people that my current agent wasn’t interested in selling, and my previous publishers of books for young people didn’t want.

[image error]My daughter Liz, who’d been engaged for 16 years, even got married. I remember telling her to move her wedding date a week up, in case I didn’t make it longer. She was married August 9 in the front yard of my home in Maine.

 

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My 4 daughters right after Liz’ wedding. From l-r, Caroline, Ali, Liz, and Becky.

It was a lovely and special day, and a tiny wedding. The wedding gown I’d bought for her 15 years ago still fit, and the groom ordered a tux from E-Bay — and it all worked. (I wrote a blog about it, of course!)

[image error]My next hope was that I’d see my two books — CONTRARY WINDS and FOR FREEDOM ALONE — in published form. I did. I bought a wig to wear to appearances, and even made a full-day school visit in September.

When I was still alive in October, my oncologist ordered more scans and — amazing! No; I wasn’t cured. But the cancerous lesions were gone from my liver, where they’d threatened an infection that would kill me quickly, and some pancreatic lesions were also gone. Clearly the doc hadn’t expected that to happen.[image error]

Liz was still with me. She got a job in a Maine supermarket and drove me to chemo appointments, did our laundry, and drove me crazy asking me how I was feeling and had It taken my pills? (Although that was all appreciated.) I made a few library appearances, and Skype visits. And in November, with transportation provided by fellow Maine Crime Writers Dick Cass and Bruce Coffin, I went to Crime Bake in Massachusetts and moderated a panel. My agent asked me which book I was going to finish next. (I have two under contract.) We decided on the next Mainely Needlepoint book — the ninth in the series.

Two of my other daughters decided to join me for Christmas “the way we celebrated when we were growing up.”  That meant I spent December using the strength I had to bake cookies and pies and muffins, and then had a party Christmas Eve and food Christmas Day. I didn’t get much writing done in December. But we had Christmas in Maine.

By New Year’s all of my daughter had returned to their homes. The editor of the Mainely Needlepoint series called to say the manuscript I was working on (THREAD AND [image error]BURIED) was scheduled for publication in October of 2019, the cover was done, and all other books scheduled to be published that day were in production. Could he have the manuscript by February 1? Optimistically, I took a deep breath and told him I’d try.

It took several days to take down Christmas decorations (a neighbor and his daughter took the tree out) and then I got to work. I wrote about 70 pages before I started to have pains — not pains connected to my pancreas or liver, though. I figured “no big deal,” although I was exhausted, couldn’t write more than a page or so, and started taking pain meds. After a few days of serious pain, I called my doctor, went in to see him, and was told I had a kidney infection. Messed up immune systems are part of this whole chemo deal.  So I went on heavy antibiotics, and rested more. (Couldn’t do much else.)  I lost almost 2 weeks of writing.

January 16, almost exactly seven moths after I’d been diagnosed, and having been off chemo for 6 weeks, I went back for more scans — and the results were the same as October. In other words — good. I was still dying, but the process was much slower than originally thought. I started chemo again. I also started acupuncture, to help with the neuropathy that was challenging my walking and typing.

[image error]So — I’m still here! My editor will not have my full manuscript February 1; he’s extended my deadline to March 1, or ASAP, and moved my publication date out. Frankly, he doesn’t have much choice. I’ve also started the process to self-publish my one remaining “finished but never published” manuscript: an adult mystery set in 1865 New York State, JUSTICE & MERCY. I hope it’ll be available in March. And my next Needlepoint mystery, THREAD ON ARRVAL, will ship April 30. It’s all set, and may be pre-ordered.

So, now you know all that’s been happening. And, the bottom line is still clear.

I’m still here. And, slowly but surely,  I’m writing on.

 

 

 

Weekend Update: January 26-27

[image error]Next week at Maine Crime Writers, there will be posts by Lea Wait (Monday), John Clark (Tuesday) special guest Paula Kenney, co-owner of Mainely Murders Bookstore in Kennebunk (Wednesday) a group blog (Thursday), and Kaitlyn Dunnett/Kathy Lynn Emerson (Friday).

In the news department, here’s what’s happening with some of us who blog regularly at Maine Crime Writers:

[image error]from Kaitlyn Dunnett: from January 27 until March 3, the ebook of my Kilt at the Highland Games and other cozies by Kensington authors will be on sale for ninety-nine cents as part of Kensington’s “Escape the Cold with a Summer Read” promotion. This is the tenth book in the Liss MacCrimmon series set in Moosetookalook, Maine and is set (big surprise!) at a Scottish festival.

Lea Wait: Just a note to say I’ll be Skyping with a book club in New York States on January 30. This time of year, especially, it’s lovely to be able to visit with readers without worrying about travel, weather .. or even much time away from writing. So just a reminder that a Maine author could visit your book club or library or school via electronic means  — to talk possibilities, contact Kate Flora, as listed below.   

 

An invitation to readers of this blog: Do you have news relating to Maine, Crime, or Writing? We’d love to hear from you. Just comment below to share.

And a reminder: If your library, school, or organization is looking for a speaker, we are often available to talk about the writing process, research, where we get our ideas, and other mysteries of the business. Contact Kate Flora

Writing, Maine, leaves and things, and the new sheriff in town

Last time I was here, I mentioned that a reader noted, with some irritation, how much “describing leaves and things” I do in my books.

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Will there be more leaves and things at the State House now?

Like many Maine writers, crime or not, I figure if you’re going to write about Maine, you might as well describe it, leaves and all. I like to have rivers, real ones and fake ones, tumbling through my prose on the way to the Kennebec, have mountains looming close by or shining in the distance. I have lots of trees, so yeah, leaves, too, and all that stuff.

And you know what? It may become a thing. This “leaves and things” business may burst through the flimsy bounds of Maine crime writing and actually become a part of regular everyday Maine conversation now that there’s a new sheriff in town who seems to like the leaves and things too.

I had the great pleasure earlier this month of covering our new governor, Janet Mills’ inauguration. It was a lot of fun, with music and plenty of warm good feeling, despite the cold Maine night outside.

Don’t get nervous. This post isn’t about politics. It’s about leaves and things and Maine crime writing. I promise.

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The Carrabassett River flows through some leaves and things in Franklin County.

Mills is from Franklin County, where my Bernie O’Dea mysteries are set, and one of the really fun things in her inauguration speech was the writer-like focus on setting. There was a big leaves and things vibe.

Here is some of what Mills said:

Many days I awake to see the mist rising from the Sandy River as it steers its course to the Kennebec, the winter’s breath unveiling a new day in my hometown, a new day in this state.

Then I hear the familiar sounds of chickadees, church chimes and Jake brakes.

This is home in Maine.

The Sandy River pours out of Rangeley Lake, meanders through town, and gains momentum on its way to the Kennebec.

There it joins other tributaries to become a powerful waterway, a loud home to eagles and salmon, stripers and sturgeon, on its course to Merrymeeting Bay.

The Sandy River connects my town to those up and downstream.

We become one with the rest of Maine, linked by water, woods, and land.

Former Governor Joshua Chamberlain described this link back in 1876:

“This great and wide sea…these beaches and bays and harbors…these things invite the brave, the noble…Thought comes here and dwells…They will love the land, and the land will give back strength.”

The Wabanaki people know this bond. Their wisdom was passed along by people like Joseph Attean, legendary Governor of the Penobscot nation, a brave, open-hearted and forbearing individual, who guided Henry David Thoreau in his first moose hunt, through the vast and primitive wilderness to Chesuncook Lake.

The plaque that overlooks Attean Lake — named for [Joseph] – reads,

“Rise free from care, before the dawn, and seek adventure.”

Today we rise, a new day before us, and seek adventure.

That was near the beginning. Later on, she went back to it as she wrapped things up:

Maine is our home. We are connected by the rivers and the land, the forests and the mountains.

We are strengthened by our connections.

We are one Maine, undivided, one family from Calais to Bethel, from York to Fort Kent.

We meet this evening, free from care, the heirs of Joseph Attean, Joshua Chamberlain, Fly Rod Crosby and Israel Washburn.

Tomorrow we rise before the dawn — like the mist over the Sandy River — and seek adventure, with hope in our hearts and love in our souls for the brand-new day.

Cordelia “Fly Rod” Crosby, by the way, from Phillips, in Franklin County, was the first registered Maine Guide, in 1897, and Mills quoted her as saying, “I would rather fish any day than go to heaven.”

Mills also gave a shout-out to Stephen King, and quoted Kurt Vonnegut.

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Janet Mills, attorney general at the time, speaks at the 2017 Crime Wave.

Astute crime writers and fans may remember Mills, attorney general at the time, gave a wildly entertaining speech at the 2017 Crime Wave mystery writing conference.

We knew then — didn’t we? — that she was one of us.

Mills, at both her inauguration and in speeches since, closes with “Welcome home.”

This isn’t about politics, it’s about leaves and things, and living and working as a Maine crime writer in the great state of Maine — right back at ya, Governor Mills.

 

Are Maine Winters Murder? Try Some Of This Stuff!

Sandy Neily sharing  here. (And there will be more good winter stuff; look for a special Maine Crime Writers “Cabin Fever” post, January 30th.)

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My deck, daylight. Before the plow …

It was late.  The snow was still falling furiously and I was still typing furiously, finally getting down a scene where my narrator Patton and her dog Pock face death. (Deadly Turn is due out in 2019). Snowplows rumbled on roads across the cove, swinging their lights back and forth over my desk. I typed on in Patton’s voice:

*******

“ ‘Don’t look,’ I yelled at Pock, dragging him up the rock. ‘Don’t look at the bad thing. Just don’t look!’

I couldn’t resist a peek. Instantly I wished I’d never seen that perfect wave in The Perfect Storm.  The wave swallowing the top of the rapids seem to hang in the air—heavy with pulsing weight. Then without breaking, it rolled downriver like a giant, white fist aimed at us. I dropped to the rock and wrapped one hand around the iron ring and another around Pock’s collar, twisting it tight so it wouldn’t slip off. I took a deep breath and curved my back into what was coming.”

*******

And then I stopped typing. Snow slapped my windows in a white wave so hard panes rattled and pictures fell off the sills. I opened the door to see what the plow had done.[image error]

Raven and I considered the chest-high wall of snow left by the plow. (See the picture.)

“You really need to pee before bed?” I asked.

She wagged, cocked her head, and jingled her collar. What do YOU think?

Unable to contemplate shoveling with pajama pants on, I simply yelled and charged the snow wall. On my back in the driveway, I had a clear view of Raven calmly stepping over me, squatting, and then climbing back over me into the house.

The next morning, (January 21, 2019) I realized the storm had been a “where-the-hell-is-the-car” storm. My Subaru was completely buried. After I found it, dug it out, and moved it, a car-sized snow angel outline decorated the stone wall. (See the picture: car outline.)[image error]

Yes, winter. It’s often a big deal.

So just to remind myself and our readers that there’s great reasons to savor Maine winters, here’s a list of winter things to do.

Now Get Out There!

Go to Maine Public’s online calendar; it lists indoor and outdoor stuff to do all over the state. (Don’t forget the Boothbay Opera house. It’s often very affordable. Across the street is a small bakery run by a Vietnamese family. The wonton soup and dumplings are to die for and totally unexpected. Boothbay? Winter?

[image error]Here’s my favorite indoor day trip strategy. Because (for just a few dollars a month) I am an Evergreen Friend at Maine Public, I have a card good for all kinds of discounts all over the state. My husband and I use the two-for-one restaurant offers all the time. Next up, a trip Rockland to the Farnsworth Museum (two for the price of one) and Café Miranda (same deal). Funky décor; amazing food.

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Skidompha Used Books Store

On the way home, we’ll stop at one of my favorite second hand books stores. Down a back street in Damariscotta, it hangs over the tidal comings and goings of the river. It’s light and airy, has a fabulous carpeted kids’ section, a riverside alcove with bird guides and binoculars, and room to explore or spread out and work. Oh, and the fireplace with cozy chairs.

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Kate Furbish, “Trillium”

Then next time we’re off to the Bowdoin Art Museum (it’s free) and an Evergreen Friends two-for-one meal at the Frontier. I’ve wanted to see the famous Maine botanist Kate Furbish exhibit there. (Ends in February.)

Now for the outdoors! You might be surprised.

HURRY UP! This ends January 31. If you always wanted to learn to ski or snowboard, or set up a friend or relative to learn the slopes Sunday River is offering the deal of the year. For just $29, you get rentals, a nice, long lesson, and the rest of the day to practice with a lift ticket. (This would normally cost around $275 I think.) Later on, just go to the Ski Maine website and cruise around on member websites (both cross country and downhill) to find affordable mid-week and two-for deals, especially at smaller hills.

Winter Kids! This non-profit exists to get Maine kids and families outside in the winter. The Passport Program offers free and discounted access to outdoor activities in Maine for kids grade five through seven. For most skating rinks and downhill and Nordic areas, the passport nets a free youth ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. “Family Days” offer further discounts. With twenty-five percent of Passport holders new to winter sports, the program is truly bringing new people to the Maine outdoors.

Strap on a pair of snowshoes and walk around the woods and fields finding tracks [image error] and scat. (Kids love scat clues.) How do you snowshoe? I tell folks, wear warm boots, just walk a bit wider and use some poles for balance. It’s sooooooo easy, feels great, and you’ll find wildlife all around you. In March, there will be hooting owls!  Track Finder and Scats and Tracks [image error] are my favorite guides: small, easy to carry, and easy to understand.  [image error]

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Reid State Park: snowshoe or ski in, hike the beach out.

Maine State Parks and Public Lands site has information on groomed ski and snowshoe trails and some wonderful winter beach walking.  (I noticed Lily Bay State Park, Greenville is not listed and it has great groomed and signed trails.)

Both the Appalachian Mt. Club and Maine Huts and Trails have wonderful hut to hut or camp to camp ski packages with amazing meals. (AMC will take your gear from sporting camp to sporting camp.) I also hop on their groomed trails for day excursions.

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Raven loves winter. Good idea. Let’s all get out there and rub it in!

Parks and Lands, AMC, and Huts and Trails sites are dog friendly. Clean up! Clean up!

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Raven and I waited for snowmobiles to pack down snow on Moosehead Lake before I put on my skis. Large fluffy tracks stalked the lake and then disappeared into the air near shore. A mystery! I thumbed through my Track Finder guide book. Lynx. Lynx jumping up a tree. Lynx in my backyard.

How cool is that?

Sandy’s novel “Deadly Trespass, A Mystery in Maine” won a Mystery Writers of America award and was a finalist in the Women’s Fiction Writers Association “Rising Star” contest. It’s at all Shermans Books and on Amazon. Find more info on the video trailer and Sandy’s website. “Deadly Turn” will be published in 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POPULAR CRIME PAYS

Foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o’erwhelm them, to men’s eyes. (William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I, Scene 2)

Susan Vaughan here. My husband shakes his head at my fascination with the court news and crime articles in the local newspaper and online. Hey, it’s not lurid fascination, well maybe a little. It’s research, honey, I tell him. Murder, fraud, justice system machinations, street violence, missing persons, escaped convicts, celebrity shenanigans—all fodder for fiction. Still, he rolls his eyes.

[image error]So I was surprised when he gave me the book Popular Crime by Bill James. Applying liberal doses of meticulous research, humor, and insight, James chronicles the history of tabloid crime in America. The phenomenon of dramatic crime stories is not new, modern, or American. The rule “if it bleeds, it leads” has always been true.

Take the case of Lizzie Borden. On a morning in August, 1892, Lizzie’s father and stepmother were murdered in their home. A violent attack with an ax or hatchet that left blood everywhere. I’ve always assumed Lizzie was guilty, maybe because of the nasty children’s rhyme, but James sets out to prove her innocence. Given the tight time frame, he says she couldn’t have [image error]committed the crime, cleaned herself and disposed of bloody clothing, and disposed of the murder weapon. The evidence against her wasn’t enough to convict her, and the crime was never solved. The case is the subject of several movies, including one on the Lifetime channel starring Christine Ricci.

[image error]The Borden house is ranked #3 by Trip Advisor of sights to visit in Fall River, Massachusetts. It is now a bed and breakfast with a small museum about the murders and Miss Lisbeth Borden. The house is also on the agenda for ghost tours.

Here’s a murder that was infamous in 1900. Elderly recluse William Marsh Rice made a fortune in Houston and moved back East during the Civil War, to a New York City apartment. For years, his relatives had fought over what he should do with his money. An attorney hired by Rice’s ex-wife conspired with the butler—yes, the [image error]butler—to drain away the man’s fortune. Murder wasn’t their initial intent, but when another lawsuit threatened their plans, the butler killed Rice with a chloroform-soaked sponge and sent the body to be cremated. The men hurried to cash large checks forged with Rice’s signature but bank executives called police. Because the crematorium took 24 hours to heat, an autopsy could be performed and proved murder. None of the relatives received William Rice’s money. His will left his fortune to a private institute that today is known as Rice University.

[image error]Lizzie Borden’s story isn’t the only one to be turned into film. In 1906, architect Stanford White was murdered on the roof of the old Madison Square Garden, which he had designed. The murderer was a wealthy young man who had married White’s former lover. This was the most famous case of that era and resulted in more than one movie. The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955) starred Joan Collins and Ray Milland. Ragtime (1981), starred James Cagney and Mary Steenburgen, among others, and Norman Mailer played White.

Crime stories about prominent people seem unusual because of the motivations and power of those involved, but actually remain much the same regardless of time and place. Rather than explain much about culture, perhaps they tell us more about human nature. And perhaps that’s one reason writers like those of this group study and write about crime.

And maybe readers like them for the same reasons. Do you?

New Books Up for Pre-order

by Barb, who’s in Key West where it’s a chilly 63 degrees. The natives are in down vests and (even more shocking) sox!

December was busy with the holidays and the release of Steamed Open on December 18. Now I’m happy to announce two new books for the new year. Both are available for pre-order now.

Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody. Jane Darrowfield is a non-Clambake series book. It’s exclusive in paper from Barnes & Noble for the first year, then widely available in all formats after that. It’s a part of an experiment by B&N and Kensington. I realize this is not a boon to Mainers, since we only have one B&N (in Augusta–there’s one in Newington, NH, too.) But it is available from B&N online.

Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody

Jane Darrowfield is a year into her retirement, and she’s already traveled and planted a garden. She’s organized her photos, her recipes, and her spices.  The statistics suggest she has at least a few more decades ahead of her, so she better find something to do . . .

After Jane helps a friend with a sticky personal problem, word starts to spread around her bridge club—and then around all of West Cambridge, Massachusetts—that she’s the go-to person for situations that need discreet fixing. Soon she has her first paid assignment—the director of a 55-and-over condo community needs her to de-escalate hostilities among the residents. As Jane discovers after moving in for her undercover assignment, the mature set can be as immature as any high schoolers, and war is breaking out between cliques.

It seems she might make some progress—until one of the aging “popular kids” is bludgeoned to death with a golf club. And though the automatic sprinklers have washed away much of the evidence, Jane’s on course to find out whodunit.

It releases June 25, 2019 and is available for pre-order here.

Haunted House Murder: I’m also excited about Haunted House Murder, the new novella collection by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and me. I love writing these holiday-themed novellas, all set in Maine, and I hope you enjoy reading them. This one is about Julia Snowden, her family and friends.

Haunted House Murder

Tricks and treats keep the Halloween spirit alive in coastal Maine. But this year the haunted house theme is getting carried a little too far . . .

HAUNTED HOUSE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER

Newcomers to Tinker’s Cove, Ty and Heather Moon have moved into a dilapidated house reputed to be a haven for ghosts. Now strange noises and flickering lights erupt from the house at all hours and neighborly relations are on edge. And when a local boy goes missing near the house, it’s up to Lucy Stone to unravel the mystery of the eccentric couple and their increasingly frightful behavior.

DEATH BY HAUNTED HOUSE by LEE HOLLIS

For the past two years, the house next door to Hayley Powell has sat abandoned after the owner died under mysterious circumstances. The Salinger family has recently taken possession of the property, but the realtor behind the deal has vanished—after a very public and angry argument with Damien Salinger. If Bar Harbor’s newest neighbors are murderers, Hayley will haunt them until they confess.

HALLOWED OUT by BARBARA ROSS

With its history of hauntings and ghost sightings, Busman’s Harbor is the perfect setting for Halloween festivities. But when a reenactment of a Prohibition-era gangster’s murder ends with a literal bang and a dead actor from New Jersey, Julia Snowden must identify a killer before she ends up sleeping with the fishes.

There’s nothing like home sweet home in this trio of Halloween tales . . .

This book is currently available for pre-order from all major retailers in hardcover and ebook formats. There will also be an audiobook version. Amazon*Barnes & Noble

I’m excited about these new books and can’t wait to share them with all of you.

Veganuary Potato Leek Soup for a Snowy Sunday

As you may or may not know, January is known in some circles these days as “Veganuary” – a month when carnivores the world over attempt to give up meat for thirty-one long days. We already keep a mostly vegan household here so it’s not much of a stretch, but I thought I’d share a recipe for anyone who might already be immersed in Veganuary, or who would like to give it a shot.

I would love to say that these are my personal inventions, but I’m not there yet – I am still fully reliant on the brilliance of others for my kitchen adventures. In the following, I use this vegetable broth recipe by the Minimalist Baker, followed by a potato leek soup recipe in the cookbook Eat Like You Give a F*ck, from Thug Kitchen.

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So, we start with the broth. I’ve been doing a lot of cooking lately, and about 60% of it has been soups. The rest has been bread, with the occasional dessert sprinkled in there. What I have discovered is that soup made from homemade broth has a depth of flavor that puts any bouillon cube to shame, and the boxed or canned broth isn’t much better. This takes a little bit of time, but veggie broth is easy to freeze and keeps for months. I try to do up a batch every couple of weekends, and freeze it in 2- or 4-cup portions in Mason jars. This broth by the Minimalist Baker is definitely the most flavorful vegan broth I’ve found.

VEGETABLE BROTH RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

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1 T avocado or coconut oil

1 onion, skins and all, roughly chopped

4 cloves garlic, skins and all, roughly chopped

4 carrots, unpeeled, roughly chopped

4 stalks celery, roughly chopped

9 – 10 cups water

1 cup collard greens, including stems, roughly chopped

1/2 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped

1 T dry rosemary

1 T dry thyme

2 bay leaves

4 T nutritional yeast

5 T tomato paste

1 t salt

1 t pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oil in large stock pot. Once shining, add onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and 1/2 t of the salt. Let the veggies sweat for 5 – 6 minutes, until soft.

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Add water, collards, parsley, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, the rest of the salt, and the pepper. Bring to a boil.

Once boiling, add nutritional yeast and tomato paste and lower heat to medium-low. Let the mix simmer on the stove for at least an hour.

After an hour or so, let the broth cool and then strain out the veggies. Freeze portions in Mason jars with at least an inch of head space and the top slightly loose to compensate for expansion.

POTATO-LEEK SOUP

INGREDIENTS

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1 T olive oil

1 lb golden potatoes, cubed and with skins on

3 medium-sized leeks, thoroughly washed and thinly sliced

3 garlic cloves, minced

4 cups vegetable broth

1 t salt + more to taste

1 t pepper + more to taste

1/2 cup scallions, chopped

1 t apple cider vinegar

Parsley for garnish

In a Dutch oven, heat oil until shimmering. Add leeks and let them sweat until softened, about 5 minutes.

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Add potatoes and garlic. Mix so that they have an even coating of the leeks and oil, then add broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.

Once boiling, lower heat to a simmer. Let the soup simmer for 15 – 20 minutes, or until potatoes are softened.

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When the potatoes are soft, use immersion blender or (carefully) put mix in blender. Blend until you have the consistency you’re looking for – I prefer a more rustic mix, so tend to leave it a little bit chunky.

Return mix to Dutch oven (if you removed it to blender). Add scallions, and 1/2 to 1 t of apple cider vinegar, to taste.

Garnish with parsley and serve with bread. I made a homemade rosemary loaf yesterday that went beautifully with this.

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So, that’s dinner. This particular recipe is admittedly short on protein, but if you’re concerned you could add silken tofu to the mix and it would make for an even creamier consistency, and would certainly up the protein quotient a bunch. If you’re doing that, just pay attention to your seasonings and adjust accordingly to make sure the tofu doesn’t make things bland.

Let me know if you do decide to give this recipe a try – I would love to hear how it turned out!

Jen Blood is the USA Today-bestselling author of the Erin Solomon Mysteries and the Flint K-9 Search and Rescue Mysteries. To learn more, visit http://www.jenblood.com. 

Weekend Update: January 19-20, 2019

[image error]Next week at Maine Crime Writers, there will be posts by Jen Blood (Monday), Barb Ross (Tuesday) Susan Vaughan (Wednesday) Sandra Neily (Thursday), and Maureen Milliken (Friday).

In the news department, here’s what’s happening with some of us who blog regularly at Maine Crime Writers:

 

 

 

An invitation to readers of this blog: Do you have news relating to Maine, Crime, or Writing? We’d love to hear from you. Just comment below to share.

And a reminder: If your library, school, or organization is looking for a speaker, we are often available to talk about the writing process, research, where we get our ideas, and other mysteries of the business. Contact Kate Flora

Walking the Winter Beach, Redux

Dear MCW blog readers:  Sometimes I scroll back through old posts and come upon one that’s ripe for a re-run, and so it is with this March, 2017 post about our Sunday beach-walking ritual. Forecaster chatter this week is we’re on the brink of the annual polar vortex, and Sunday is predicted to be chilly indeed. So if you take this post as inspiration to head out on a beach walk of your own, don’t forget to pull on your long johns, grab your thickest mittens and maybe even bring along a facemask for the half of the walk when-inevitably-you’ll be marching into the wind’s sharp teeth.  Enjoy!

by Brenda Buchanan

Sunday afternoons lend themselves to rituals.

Leisurely drives to who knows where. Gathering around the table for dinner with family and friends.  Kicking back with the Sunday papers, funnies and all, at least at my house, where we’ve never stopped immersing ourselves in newsprint. Joe Gale and his real-life counterparts (including three generations of Millikens) are our heroes.

Our central ritual is the Sunday afternoon beach walk, which happens year-round but is especially wonderful in the winter.  There’s nothing like a bundled-up exploration of what the tide has wrought to re-charge a girl for the week ahead.

For readers of this blog who don’t live near enough to a Maine beach to walk regularly in the cold-weather months, here are some favorite photos to get you through until spring.

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Some weeks the beach is drenched in sunshine.

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And sometimes skies are gray.

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More frequently than you might believe, the weather changes in the course of our walk.

[image error]Last Sunday the wind was howling at Pine Point Beach, transforming the waves into wild ponies.

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Yesterday I found this lobster trap, marooned in the dunes.

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Sometimes we’re entertained by intrepid surfers.

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And sometimes we entertain ourselves.

No two weeks are the same, on the beach as in life.

I can’t say I’m ever bored when propelling myself through the wind along the wrack line. When I can’t sleep, I sometimes try to conjure the sound of the waves hitting the shore, especially the winter beach, when stones tumble against each other at the verge, tapping in a rhythm that soothes my soul.

We typically stick close to home—Scarborough and Ferry beaches near Prout’s Neck, Pine Point when the wind and tide are right, Crescent Beach in Cape Elizabeth when we want to approach the shore from the woods.

Occasionally we wander up the coast to Popham or Reid State Park.

[image error]Something always provides a nudge of inspiration for a story.

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Do you have Sunday rituals? Or favorite beaches?

Brenda Buchanan is the author of the Joe Gale Mystery Series, featuring a diehard Maine newspaper reporter who covers the crime and courts beat. Three books—QUICK PIVOT, COVER STORY and TRUTH BEAT—are available wherever ebooks are sold.