Mary Feliz's Blog, page 2

Kirkus includes SNOWED UNDER in its list of Top Summer Reads

Kirkus Reviews includes Snowed Under in its list of Top Summer Reads in the July 1, 2020 Issue, (p. 174) of its magazine, saying "The author nails the terror of driving in blizzard conditions, the joy of snuggling under puffy quilts, and the winter desire for ‘food, fire, a little booze.’

The review appears in the Indie section, which it defines as any book not published by publishing’s remaining Big 5.

Interview with a Sidekick: Stephen Laird and "Munchkin"

Stephen Laird tells the story about his 250-pound Mastiff Munchkin and how they found each other one cold wet night and have been inseparable since.

Good Morning! I'm Stephen Laird, a good friend of main character Maggie McDonald. I'm writing today's blog post because Maggie's tied up. I'm hoping that's not with another murder.

Today's all about stories. Why I call my dog Munchkin, why Maggie's husband Max calls me the "Ninja Batman," and how Maggie nearly died from embarrassment after she called me her "Fairy Godmother."

I'm a big guy, and my English mastiff Munchkin outweighs me. Neither one of us is a critter typically referred to as Munchkin. I told Maggie the full story in her first adventure, Address to Die For, but suffice to say he didn't always weigh 250 pounds. We ran into and rescued one another near a back-alley dumpster on a cold, wet night and have been inseparable since. Maggie tells me the details of the story are sweet, and hearing it convinced her we'd be lifelong friends, but it's not an easy tale to recount, so I'll let you read it in the book.

As for the "Ninja Batman" quip that Max keeps making about me—he thinks he only says it when I can't overhear him. I'm neither, of course, but I have PTSD leftover from my time in Marine Corps Special Forces, and walking at night when the world is dim and quiet helps ease my anxiety. It also means that Munchkin and I are out and about when terrible stuff is apt to happen, so we're often first on the scene calling in the first responders. Max at first suspected me of being the bad guy causing all the trouble, but we're great friends now. I count the entire family as my friends. I can, will, and have protected them by putting my own life on the line. Maggie has done the same for me.

When Maggie and I first met, her family was in a pickle. They'd been locked out of their house during a murder investigation. I helped them with some of the comforts that mean so much when you're moving—Oreos, wine, and hot bagels. I can't solve all the world's problems, but hot bagels are easy to get hold of when you're awake in the wee hours. Later, when I helped her do the dishes, she referred to me as her "Fairy Godmother."  

Everyone else in the room burst out laughing, and poor Maggie didn't have a clue. I guess the subject hadn't yet come up between us, but I'm very happily married to the Orchard View Police Chief, Jason Mueller, who also served in the Marine Corps. I wasn't offended by Maggie's remark, but I could tell she was mortified. It's a story we both laugh about in retrospect and have retold many times. 

When I'm not backing up Maggie, I volunteer at the Veterans Administration Hospital in nearby Palo Alto, California, working in various programs that involve veterans (including K-9 vets) and service dogs.

Since most fans of Mary Feliz's books enjoy Munchkin more than they do me, here are two pictures of the goofy dude. The first was taken when he earned his name four years ago, the second is more recent. Adorable, right? People say the same about me, but I don't see it. 

For more stories about me, Maggie, and all the characters, human and otherwise, in the Maggie McDonald Mysteries, explore the website here or read the series, available wherever books are sold and here:

Beware the 'minor' character

This essay originally appeared on the My Journey Back blog on June 16, 2020 .

I bake cheekily decorated cookies for my friends, but I’m not above bringing them to the neighbors in the hope of grilling them about the latest murder. Now, of course, all my cookies demonstrate proper mask technique.

 I’m Elaine Cumberfield, a so-called minor character who appears in most of Mary Feliz’s six Maggie McDonald Mysteries. But I’d advise you never to underestimate me or any other “minor” character. We may be mere window dressing. More likely, we’re the pivots on which the plot will turn.

 Mary has described me as looking like the model for the Good Witch of the North and my Westie mailbox as “clever and cute—just shy of cutesy.” In her imagination, I look much like English actress Phyllida Law, but I prefer to think I’m my own woman. I wear gentle colors like lavender, periwinkle blue, and heather gray to set off my soft white cloud of hair. I bake custom cookies decorated in cheeky ways to tease my friends. For example, when my friend hurt his foot and was laid up for a while, I broke the foot off all the gingerbread cookies I baked for him.

 You could underestimate me, but I don’t recommend it. Almost every mystery employs a character like me. If we’re on the side of right and justice, the bad guys underestimate us, and it trips them up–every time. If we’re on the dark side, the protagonists almost always overlook us only to face dire peril. My investigative techniques could have molded strategy for the likes of Miss Marple or Columbo. I’m a time-honored trope, especially in cozy mysteries.

 Before I met Maggie McDonald, I taught, ending my career as a successful and well-liked middle school principal, so I’m no pushover. From that experience, I know it’s the “minor characters” you have to watch out for. What’s going on with the kids on the fringes that no one notices? A principal who ignores them won’t be around long.

 The same goes for characters in the fictional realm. In English Country House mysteries, readers must be wary of the servants, who are often invisible amid the dramatic angst of the upper crust. Conan Doyle uses Sherlock Holmes’s Baker Street Irregulars to get information from people who wouldn’t trust him. In Christie’s And Then There Were None, you can’t even trust the corpses to behave.

 So which characters should you suspect in Mary Feliz’s new book, Snowed In? All of them. I’m not in this book, so even knowing I’m on Team Maggie won’t help you. Don’t overlook anyone. As far as you know, nothing is as it appears.

 What kinds of characters are likely to fool you in mysteries? Do you like being able to solve the mystery or do you prefer to remain guessing until the great reveal?

 

In Mary Feliz’s imagination, I resemble Phyllida Law. I prefer to think I’m my own woman.

Fit or Flaw? Four ways to fold social issues into a cozy mystery

A storybook village and the cutest ski patrol ever. Without social issues hobbling the heroine, the mystery can turn dull and saccharine.

Conduct an internet search for “Cozy Mysteries” and “Social Issues.” The first hit you get may be an essay arguing that cozy mysteries are entertainment. Events should unfold in utopian paradises where the only problem is a pesky murder perpetrated by an outsider. https://www.cozy-mystery.com/blog/cozy-mystery-books-social-problems-tackled.html

But your second hit is likely an opposing opinion, saying that crime and social issues go hand in hand, particularly in real-life locations that appear idyllic on the surface. https://crimereads.com/small-town-mysteries-big-social-issues/

I may alienate half of your blog readers, but, hand to heart, I fall firmly in the second category. And here’s why. A critical element of all fiction is conflict. A character has a plan or goal. An opposing force thwarts that goal. The heroine hurdles roadblock after roadblock to fulfill her destiny. It’s a formula that holds for comedy, tragedy, movies, plays, opera, and, in my opinion, cozy mysteries.

And what’s the best way to create conflict in the small-town world of cozies? In my opinion, it’s the encroachment of timeless elements like jealousy, fear, anger, secrets, lies, and the quest for status or power—all things that threaten to tear the community fabric to shreds. And how do we know when something’s amiss in our sylvan glade? The introduction of troubles that don’t belong in our fantasy world. Obstacles that present a complicated puzzle for the amateur sleuth to solve.

If our investigator discovers a murder and it poses no problem for the community, she has nothing to do. Book over. Leave it to the cops, have a cup of tea, and move on. Only when a murder threatens to everything and everyone she loves can the story take off.

Can an author thread the needle between those who seek utopian entertainment and those love a tense page-turning yarn? Here’s what I do to play fair with readers yet stay true to the stories I need to tell. 

1.     The back-cover blurb signals that the conflict within the story puts the main characters at risk from criminal forces. That tells readers that the book is more than a romp with pratfalls and missteps.

2.     Social issues must be integral the story. They must be so tightly woven into the narrative that I can’t imagine the scenes unfolding without them.

3.     No preaching. If I knew the solutions to social problems, I’d tell everyone. They’d cease to exist. But social issues are mostly eternal and defy solutions. In real life, it’s hard to agree on where to begin tackling them. For that reason, within the context of the story, problems exist, but I don’t try to solve them. I may, however, have a character talk about why they’re so tricky to resolve. I may use the problem to benefit the investigation. Sherlock Holmes used his Baker Street Irregulars to go places he’d be too visible. In my third book, Dead Storage, Maggie McDonald gets to know some homeless members of her community for the same reason.

4.     Everything turns out fine. The reason mysteries in demand is that good wins in the end. That’s satisfying. Most cozy authors tie up loose ends, punish the bad guys, and restore the idyllic status quo. I do that, too. I wallow in the gory detail of the social issues – that would make the narrative too dark. But I hate to leave the secondary characters in a pickle, especially when the warm-hearted players in the story, Maggie, her family, and her friend Stephen Laird, are available to help.

 I can’t solve the problems of the modern world, but I can resolve the conflicts for my troubled story characters. So, I do.

Will those efforts make my novels beloved of those looking for light, escapist, utopian story-telling? Only they can decide. But for me, my characters, and my stories, a positive outcome for the community is essential. There’s always an element of hope and the power of love. 

What about you? What do you look for in a cozy? Does a light touch of social issues turn you off or bring a satisfying level of real-life risk? What do your favorite authors do in your favorite books?

 

7 Questions for Cozy Mystery Writer Mary Feliz

This interview first appeared June 17, 2020 on Ascroft, Eh? a blog written by Canadian author Dianne Ascroft.

 

I consulted the experts to get an insider’s perspective on everyday life as a local in California’s High Sierra during a three-day blizzard.

Tell us about your novel. Is it part of a series?

Snowed Under is the sixth book in the Maggie McDonald Mystery Series. It takes amateur detective to a Lake Tahoe ski resort to help her friend Tess clear out her family’s cabin for sale. An epic High Sierra blizzard hits, and they’re snowbound. Maggie, who lives in the Mediterranean climate of the San Francisco Bay Area, is out of her depth. Things go downhill when they stumble on a body frozen in a drift.

The entire series focuses on Professional Organizer Maggie McDonald and her family, including a golden retriever with separation anxiety. Helping clear out neglected storage areas gives Maggie access to all the places people hide their secrets, including the skeletons in their closets. In each book, a dead body trashes her detailed organizational plan. Her investigation takes her to some of the most beautiful places in the area and touches lightly on some of the problematic issues of California living.

Where did the idea for the mystery that is central to the story come from?

I’ve always been fascinated by the power of storms, and love the tropes of traditional mysteries that strand characters in remote country houses far from help in terrible weather. One of my favorite books is Storm by George R. Stewart. published in 1941. While the technology is dated now, it follows the development of a storm far out in the Pacific Ocean and follows it as it grows and makes landfall, wreaking havoc across California.

Another building block of this adventure was an article called Winter Warriors about the heroic efforts of the transportation workers who keep the Interstate 80 corridor open in weather akin to the storms that stopped fated Donner Party.

Is there a theme or subject that underlies the story?

Most of the story is a light-hearted romp through the beauty of the Lake Tahoe area in winter, and the coziness that comes from being indoors when the weather outside is treacherous. But there are hints of danger introduced by the weather, a murderer, and a variety other nefarious forces. In any international resort like Tahoe’s ski areas, you have people coming and going quickly. Some have great wealth. It’s adjacent to a private airport and a major interstate freeway which means bad guys can come and go swiftly. Smuggling and fraud of all kinds create a complex law enforcement problem I can’t begin to resolve them or understand in detail, but it adds creepy backdrop to an otherwise pastoral story.

How do you create your characters? Do you have favourite ones? If so, why are you partial to them?

Most of my favorite characters developed like that Pacific Storm in George Stewarts book, from a small blip in my brain to a full-blown personality that I sometimes forget is fictional. Their quirks aren’t always ones I plan. The antagonists are created to become the perfect foils for the characters I love so much. But I try to make them well-rounded with reasonable explanations for what they are doing. No one in my books is all bad or all good. I think there’s a very interesting line between good and bad, and like to look at the reasons that good people do bad things and bad people do good things.

My favorite characters to write about are Stephen Laird, one of Maggie’s best friends, and his mastiff, Munchkin. They both suffer from PTSD and look after one another, but are also strong, courageous, and eager to help others.

How do you bring to life the place you are writing about?

I write about the places in California that I love, most of which aren’t portrayed accurately on the screen. Lake Tahoe in winter was a favorite vacation spot for me and my boys when they were growing up. We spent many weekends and holidays watching the weather reports and wondering if we’d be able to get home, even with the snow chains we always carried. But a holiday in an area doesn’t shed much light on what it’s like to live there. For that insight, I consulted a dear friend whose family has a house on the North Shore, has spent decades visiting in the winter, and also lived there year-round.

What research do you do to provide background information to help you write the novel?

I do far more research than ever ends up in the books. I’m an information junkie and love wallowing in tiny details told in books, magazines, newspapers, and the people who live the experience. But only the most interesting details that serve the progression of the story make it into the book.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about the book?

I have no idea where the car mechanic and his unusual garage came from, though I did once enjoy a gourmet meal elegantly served in a former roadside service station.

 

Interview with Cozy Mystery Writer Mary Feliz by James Cudney

The life of a writer is often sedentary, but I try to visit with these neighbors every day for a walk at low tide.

This interview first appeared on June 15, 2020 on the blog page This is My Truth Now by James Cudney

What are your real, author, and/or pen names?

Mary Feliz is my real name and the name I use for my books.

What is your location?

Watsonville, CA on Monterey Bay

How long have you been published? What titles and/or series have you published and with which publisher?

My first book in the Maggie McDonald Mystery series was published July, 2016 by Kensington Lyrical. While I have the utmost respect for self-published authors who have to master so many different skills, I feel fortunate that all I need to do is write and help market my books. The series is:

Address to Die For 2016

Scheduled to Death 2017

Dead Storage 2017

Disorderly Conduct 2018

Cliff Hanger 2019

Snowed Under June 7, 2020

Tell us a little bit about your books including the genres. If you write a series, please share all past books, any upcoming releases.

Snowed Under releases June 7, 2020.

All my books are marketed as cozy mysteries and meet the criteria of minimal “on-screen” violence, torture, sex, or swearing. And they share many of the cozy tropes, including an amateur detective with a connection to law enforcement, a close-knit community, recurring animal characters, and light humor. However, my books also depart from the stereotypical cozy. Some of the characters are quirky, but not relentlessly so. There are moments of significantly increased tension, fear, and risk. Those who are killed aren’t all bad guys. The community suffers the loss of the deceased person and must solve the mystery in order to heal and move on. And each of my books touches on a social issue that is front and center in real-life California.

I use the social issues for several reasons. First, I think California is often portrayed as ditsy and shallow or as rich and frivolous. Mostly we’re ordinary working people trying to get the job done and spend time with my families. But we’re not immune to problems, either, ones we struggle to solve. And those problems often have an enormous impact on the most vulnerable people and create conflict. Conflict is the key to any mystery. Without extreme conflict that leaves someone with few options, few people would resort to murder.

I totally yield to Kensington’s wisdom in marketing my books as cozies, but if I were to try to pin them to a specific subgenre, I’d put them on the line between cozy and traditional. I’m a huge fan of Louise Penny, and while my books are lighter than hers, I think they have a similar mix of issues, quirky characters, and real-life drama. (I hope they’re at least half as good as hers!)

What type of reader are you hoping to attract? Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?

Most of my die-hard fans also read other cozies that edge toward traditional. They are fond of authors like Louise Penny, Leslie Karst, Ellen Byron, Julia Spenser-Fleming.

What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?

Keep going. The only difference between published authors and unpublished authors is that the published authors were too stubborn to quit. That’s the bumper sticker version of my advice. Dig a little deeper and you’ll see that those same stubborn published authors continue learning, working hard, honing their craft, and gobbling up advice. They often work with experienced developmental editors to nudge their books over the last hurdles. And they hang onto that dream of being published.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?

I think writing groups are essential to writers. No matter what career stage you face, you need help and support from other writers. And we need to help others. Much of our knowledge is hard-won. It’s important to help others to remind ourselves how far we’ve come and give back to the communities that helped us so that others will realize their dreams. I belong to Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime (National, as well as four chapters), California Writers Club, Cozy Mystery Crew and Santa Cruz Women of Mystery. I’ve volunteered quite a bit with most of those groups and always get out more than I put in.

What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

I’m a certified California Naturalist and revel in the natural world. I hike, quilt, and swim. Most recently, I’ve been sewing masks for neighbors, friends, and family who don’t sew.

Some authors like to make an argument or address an issue when they write. Is there an issue that you’re addressing with your book? If so, what is it?

I do this in all my books, because it’s a great way to bring many layers of conflict into a story. I stay far away from telling readers what think the solutions to the issues are. If I had all the answers, I’d be working in those fields, not writing. In Snowed Under, I touch lightly on issues of smuggling and human trafficking.

What’s the craziest/funniest/most enjoyable thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?

I think a lot of people are astonished by how much I know about illegally growing marijuana on public lands. It’s a huge and fascinating environmental and public safety issue. I dug deep when researching background material for Disorderly Conduct. I often hike in county, state, and national parks, and now can’t do so without looking for the signs of illegal “gardens.”

What do you like about writing in your genre?

Seriously? I have to say it’s not having to write sex scenes. I’m so afraid of getting so lost in the moment that I’ll end up with too many arms and legs. That would kind of spoil the mood. Somethings are better experienced first-hand than written about. Sex is one of them. Murder is not. But I also love the fact that cozies and traditional mysteries resolve all conflict in the end. The bad guys get what’s coming to them. The scars in the social fabric are healed. It’s satisfying. How I wish we could do that in real life.

Do you work from an outline or plot or do you just see where the characters take you?

An outline, but I revise the outline frequently as I go forward. My secondary characters have a way of running off with the plot. I always let them. If it works, it stays. If they do a fantastic job, they often end up taking a starring role in the next book.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in someone buying your book(s)?  Who designs your book covers?

Definitely. A strong professional cover signals so much to readers. I leave all that to the artists at Kensington and their Lyrical Press imprint. And they do a fantastic job. (The German shepherd, Mozart, has been in most of the books and is thrilled to have finally made it to the cover in the sixth book, where he shares the spotlight with perennial star Belle, the golden retriever. My only real complaint about the covers (and it’s minor) is that sometimes Belle looks more like a yellow Labrador retriever than a golden.

What is the one thing you would like your readers to know about you? Do you have anything specific you would like to say to your readers?

I still can’t quite believe I’m a published writer with books in libraries and bookstores. It’s such an honor to know that people read and enjoy my books.

Who are your own least and favorite characters?

There are definitely characters that I find annoying or hateful, but those are fun to write. Cathartic. But my favorite characters are definitely the animals. One of my editors keeps reminding me that I’m writing mysteries, not dog stories. But then I remind her that all the animals serve an important purpose. I can reveal so many nuanced details about a character, good or bad, by the way in which they act when they’re near an animal.

Interview with Maggie McDonald, Organizing Professional and Amateur Sleuth

Belle does a better job of taking care of her towels than anyone else in the family.

This interview with main character Maggie McDonald originally appeared June 14, 2020 on the blog of Diane Hernandez at Diane Reviews Books

1.     Hi, Maggie. I know you’re a professional organizer. I’m curious how you selected that occupation. Are you naturally neat? Is there a way to train for that career? 

 Thanks so much for allowing me to visit today. I love to talk about my job. Everyone seems to think that those in my profession are super-heroes of stuff. We’re not. Our careers would be easier if, like Mary Poppins, we could sing and point at toys until they marched themselves back into their cupboards.

I’ve always been a bit scattered. I’m your friend who can never find her keys. I cope by looking for ways to keep things more organized. I find life less stressful when it’s got a little structure to it. 

One way to train for a career as a professional organizer is to join NAPO, the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals. Their website is a great place to find an organizer if you need one and to take courses leading to certification in various specialties. Some organizers focus their work on offices. Others work with people with various disabilities. Some focus on the special needs of those going through major changes like death, divorce, or a move.

2.     There is an old saying, “the shoemaker’s children go barefoot” meaning that, after working all day at a job, you don’t want to come home and spend all evening doing the same task for yourself. How organized is your house? How about your life? 

 The first time I went to an organizing conference, I told my colleagues about my plan to start my business from a room in my home. “Wouldn’t that be efficient?” I asked. “Clients could come to my house.” 

 They all laughed and reminded me that we don’t get paid for organizing our own space. We may be organizers, but we’re also realistic. We know that kids, careers, and life create chaos that, within reason, should be celebrated and enjoyed. Our goal is not to completely rein in clutter. That way lies madness.

 For example, my family always left their towels on the floor or draped over a doorknob. My near-sighted husband finds it hard to thread the towel through between the hanging bar and the wall when he’s not wearing his contacts. (Towels have grown thicker over the past few decades but towel bars are still the same distance from the wall.) I installed lots of hooks instead. Problem solved.

3.     When organizing someone’s belongings, you suggest making four piles: garbage, recycling, donate, and keep. How do you decide what to keep? Are you following the “does it bring me joy” philosophy? What about workhorse items like black pants? They don’t make me particularly joyful but they are an easy wardrobe choice on Monday mornings.  

No offense to Marie Kondo, but the joy thing doesn’t seem very useful to me. Hammers, plungers, hangers, and toilet paper don’t bring me joy, but they’re essential tools. Part of my job is to simplify decluttering and prevent recluttering. Chopping belongings into four categories is plenty. I don’t try to fine-tune the “keep” pile. In the end, my client has gotten rid of a whole bunch of useless, outgrown, or broken items, leaving the treasures most important to them. I can work with that. I can organize that. It’s enough. 

4.     I recently bought under bed storage boxes and large plastic bags to organize my clothes closet. They are still sitting in the living room gathering dust. Do you have any motivating advice for how to begin a decluttering job?

There is lots of advice out there. Not all of it will apply to the way you tackle a task. For some people, doing it one box at a time is useful. For others, a total take-over weekend is best. If you can afford it, there’s nothing faster and more efficient than hiring a skilled organizer that will tailor her tricks to your goals and personality. 

5.     First, your best friend’s husband is murdered. Then, her neighbor’s husband is found dead too. Is your husband, Max, worried he will be next?

If you asked Max that question, he would lean back in his chair, tip his reading glasses down, peer over them, and say, “You know statistics don’t work that way, right?” But that’s Max. Everyone in Orchard View, Midsomer County, or Three Pines fears the “Cabot Cove Effect.” If you live in one of the cozy pastoral communities that dot the mystery fiction landscape, you have one of several roles:

a.              Murderer

b.              Sleuth

c.              Dead body

d.              Side-kick/Sounding board

e.              Conflict

Max knows why I keep him around and why Mary Feliz keeps including him in our story. He knows he’s secure—even in a world in which statistics don’t always work the way they do in real life. 

Belle sometimes has trouble remembering to put her toys away, but she tries.

 

Sister to Sister: Mary Feliz and Hank Phillippi Ryan

This interview originally appeared June 23, 2020 on the blog of Sisters in Crime New England

True story. Totally true. Like many of you, I’m working on my next book. Like many of you, I know it’s a process, and a journey, and a progression, and any other word you’d like to use. But bottom line, I have a deadline, and I’m behind, and I’m ridiculously distracted by the real world.

Adding to my dilemma, I’m in the middle of the book. The worst possible place. Sisters, it crossed my mind: this is the time it’s not going to work. No, honestly, I’ve written 13 books, and there’s not a time that I have not had that thought.

But then I thought: Well, yeah, but maybe this is the time it’s not going to work. 

And then… Hallelujah. I chatted with the fabulous Mary Feliz.

She is a dear friend, and a stalwart Guppy, and incredibly generous, and Mary, I am so grateful. This interview is life-changing! And, sisters, I hope it will be for you as well. 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  Do you remember the very first time you thought: I’m going to write a book, and I can do it. What was that moment?

MARY FELIZ:  When I was nine or ten, I wanted to write a book like The Bobbsey Twins. I knew I would have to have dialogue, but after a page and a half of "...," he said. and "...," she said. I got so bored that I left the project in a desk drawer. It took learning to type and the invention of personal computers and word processing before I'd tackle a project again? 

HANK: Did that first book sell? 

MARY: Um. No. I don't think I ever even showed it to anyone. More recently, I drafted a historical fiction for young adults, got an agent, and submitted it everywhere. Lots of people asked for full manuscripts, but no one wanted to publish it. Looking back, I don't blame them. It was a good novice effort, but the narrative structure was ghastly. It was also a book that was hard to peg. Where would it go on the shelf? When I came back to writing several years later, I knew I wanted to write a mystery that everyone would know how to market and sell. 

HANK: How many of your books have been published since then? What do you think about that? 

MARY: My sixth book released June 9 from Kensington's Lyrical Press. And I'm still sure it's a dream I'll eventually wake up from, feeling a bit sheepish. Me? A writer? My family would say, "Of course, you've worked so hard for so long." But they don't have the insider's perspective on how many deserving books never see the light of day. 

HANK: Gotta know, got to ask. Do you outline? Has your method changed over the years? 

MARY: Kinda sorta. I outline the characters, key plot points, and scenes for the whole book and write a synopsis. But every ten thousand pages or so, I have to either redo it because it veered off course while I was writing. After I finish the first draft, I redo the outline again. And then, of course, the real work begins. Big picture structural elements get tweaked to make the story more readable. Characters get fleshed out and I make sure they react emotionally to important moments and other pesky stuff like "What is dead guy's real name? And what happened to the wedding cake? Did the Chihuahua turn into a Pomeranian in mid-story?" 

HANK: What is the hardest part of the book for you? 

MARY: Halfway through, I panic. I'm not sure where I'm going or how I'm going to get there. None of the characters are behaving or helping in any way.  It's a little like putting together a jigsaw puzzle and becoming convinced that all the remaining puzzle pieces are hidden in some other box.

HANK: I SO agree! SO awful and very upsetting. So then what do you do? I guess—back to basics.

MARY: Yes. At least now I know that means I have to go back to the basics of storytelling and narrative structure. I haul out my index cards and map out the story on the floor. I figure out why each character might have wanted to kill the dead guy (that's seriously fun). Once I make sure every scene is in the right place and I have all the pieces I need up to the midpoint, the rest tends to flow from there. At least until I hit another structural defect and need to shore up some spots so the structure doesn't collapse. It's never so terrible that I need to completely revamp the beginning, but I do need to consult my story map and make sure I know where I'm going and which path I'm going to take. 

I guess it's like those folks who walk the Pacific Crest or Appalachian Trails. It's a long haul. They do research, plan their route, train, pack carefully, and repack. Finally, they're confident. They have everything they need and they know exactly where they are going. They look at their map and set off. But that doesn't mean they never look at the map again. If a trail is washed out or snowed in, they'll replan their route. If it's much hotter, colder, or wetter than they expected, they stop, rest, learn more, and regroup. Writing is very similar.  It just doesn't burn as many calories. 

HANK:  Oh, this is such a relief to hear. I’m so—grateful that it’s not only me. SO then—you get a first draft. Whew. Is your first draft always terrible? Has it always been? 

MARY: Yes! I think it always will be. One big thing that has changed is the way I write the book. When I was first learning to create a novel, I'd write a scene, then write another scene much later in the book before coming back to rewrite the first chapter. That poor first chapter was rewritten so many times even I don't remember all the iterations. Now, I usually come up with a first line in the middle of the night, and start writing forward from there. If I get stuck, I regroup and adjust the plan, but keep moving forward, making notes as I go along about things I need to fix or check when I write subsequent drafts.  

HANK: It sounds like you have a good system.  But was there ever a time when you thought you would give up writing? 

MARY: Usually after I hand in the book, I wonder if I can ever write another. But something pulls me back every time. Sometimes it's a contract deadline and sometimes it's a need to explore a new idea. There's a quote from Agatha Christie that I love.  It's "I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write even when you don't want to." I'm not as disciplined as Dame Agatha. I sometimes play hooky, but I always come back. 

HANK: I am making a t-shirt that says that! Perfect. Still, how often in your process do you have doubts about what you’re doing?  

MARY: All the time.  And especially right before the book comes out. Will it be printed right? Did we catch all of the typos? (No, we never do, no matter how many people have edited and proofread it.) How embarrassed will I be to have my name on the cover. Ack!  

HANK: What do you tell yourself during those moments of writing fear?

MARY: I reassure myself with a lesson I learned from quilting. That is that each project represents the best you can do AT THAT POINT. It will have mistakes. It will have things you want to change. But it still represents the very best you could achieve. You should be proud of that, no matter how much more accomplished you become. I think it bothered me more in the beginning, and that fear could derail me for days.

Now, I just take a shower, go for a walk, make dinner, and start again the next day. Some days, I set a timer and tell myself that no matter what, I have to sit at my keyboard for two hours, no matter what, even if I don't write a word. The words come. 

HANK: I do the timer, too! I am so pleased to be in this with you.  Do you have a writing quirk you have to watch out for? 

MARY: My characters are forever nodding and smiling. Nodding and smiling. And touching each other. In March, Snowed Under was in production. Overnight, my cozy mystery with the cute little pups on the cover turned into an edgy horror novel in which everyone engages in risky anti-social behavior like shaking hands, eating together in public, and touching things.   Like everything else, it no longer feels quite as cozy as it once did. 

HANK: SO funny. What’s one writing thing you always do—write every day? Never stop at the end of a chapter? Write first thing in the morning?  

MARY: I never end the day's writing without setting down a few notes about where the story will go next. Those notes help me get back into the story quickly the next day. 

HANK: How do you know when your book is finished? 

MARY: Honestly? When the book is due. Hopefully, at that point, it's as good as I can make it on my own and it's ready for input from others with a fresh perspective. I love getting editorial suggestions back and making the story even better than I imagined it could be. 

HANK: Speaking of suggestions. What’s the biggest mistake you see in people’s manuscripts?

MARY: I don't know if it's the biggest, but the one that drives me nuts is when writers put in dialogue what should be put in narration. So they have Bob telling Sam things like "Remember how your mom was murdered last year and you swore you'd find her killer?" Somehow, I don't think Sam needs Bob to remind him of that life-changing oath. Information like that has to be something Sam says himself, and if necessary, the reader is reminded of in narration. 

HANK: Do you think anyone can be taught to be a better writer?  

MARY: Absolutely. And I think that most people, if they work long enough and hard enough, will produce a novel worth publishing. It's just such a long haul from "I think I'll write a book" to a publishable novel that few people have the time, patience, tenacity, financial support, or sustained interest to get that far. Most published writers have a serious stubborn streak and a pinch or more of a mental health issue. Otherwise, they'd find something else to do that's more fun, more lucrative, and has a more immediate payoff. 

HANK: How do you feel about…stuff? Writing swag handouts giveaways that kind of thing. Do you think it matters? Do you have it?

MARY: I do have swag. And I do love it, for several reasons. First, I don't much like talking about myself or my books, but most people think my swag is adorable and that starts a fun conversation that's not about me. Lots of children and grandchildren of my fans have dolls or teddy bears who appear to be reading my books. 

Also, I think that people are reluctant to throw away something that's useful -- like sticky notes. So they have my book covers and list of titles in front of them all the time. And, the books match my personality and that of my main character, Maggie McDonald, who is a professional organizer (like Marie Kondo with heart). They're tidy and useful, but they are also different, quirky, and fun. 

HANK: You’ve seen so much change in the publishing industry, what do you think new writers need to know about that?

MARY: Oh boy. That's hard. It's impossible to keep up. It's especially difficult for people who self-publish who are on the front lines of a changing world. In addition to writing a great book, they also need to either hire out the help of others, or be adept and up-to-date in a myriad of professions: editing, marketing, layout, photography, design, etc.

I rely heavily on my publisher, Kensington, and all the many different departments within the company to stay up to date so that I don't have to.  There's no way I'd have time to write books if I had to do all those other things too. Most authors need to do the lion's share of their own promotion, and share ideas all the time with other authors, so we don't all have to be experts in everything. Conventions, conferences, and professional groups like Sisters in Crime make that possible. 

HANK: You’ve been so successful, why do you think that is? What secret of yours can we bottle up and rely on?

MARY: I heard a talk by Anne Lamott once in which she was poking fun at herself because she'd raced to get a handful of copies of the New York Times Book Review because she had a glowing review, or she was on the best-seller list, or both. That's certainly understandable, and something any one of us would do were we to reach such lofty heights. But Anne was suddenly miffed because someone else was on the cover. And she thought that was an insane way to respond to enormous success.

And I think all writers are like that to one extent or another.  You say I'm successful, and my immediate response is "Successful? Me? But look at all the accolades I haven't achieved." I should just say "Thank you so much. I'm thrilled to bits."  

HANK: So brilliant. And so true.  So what book are you are reading right now?

MARY: I'm rereading Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series. Elly is brilliant. Her descriptions stay with me for years on end, and her style is so unique that when I read her latest book, Edgar Nominated Stranger Diaries, her voice sounded familiar. I'd completely forgotten that I read her first Ruth Galloway book when it came out in 2009. 

HANK: You’ve helped me so much throughout this interview—and I am incredibly grateful. Can you give us one more piece of writing advice? 

MARY: Stick with it. The people who don't get published are the people who quit because it's too hard and it takes too long. Those that keep going get published. 

HANK:  Thank you so much, Mary! And sisters, isn’t she great?  So let me ask you all—have you ever used a timer? What tricks do you use to get your writing underway?

Mary Feliz writes the Maggie McDonald Mysteries featuring a professional organizer and her sidekick golden retriever. If you happen to discover a body cluttering up your space, Maggie’ll track down the murderer and wrap the case up neatly. (Can you imagine Marie Kondo providing that service?)

Mary is a certified California Naturalist and delights in introducing readers to her state’s natural beauty. Her fifth book,  Cliff Hanger , is set on the shores of Monterey Bay, and was named a Best Book of 2019 by Suspense Magazine. Her sixth book,  Snowed Under , releases June 9.

USA Today bestselling author HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV. She’s won 36 EMMYs for her groundbreaking journalism.  As author of 12 suspense novels, Hank has won five Agathas, three Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. National reviews call her a “master at crafting suspenseful mysteries” and “a superb and gifted storyteller.” Her novels were named Best of the Year by Library Journal, New York Post, BOOK BUB, PopSugar, Real Simple Magazine and others.

Her second standalone is the psychological legal thriller THE MURDER LIST.  The Library Journal starred review calls it “a riveting must read!” It’s a nominee for the prestigious Anthony, Agatha and Mary Higgins Clark Award.  Her newest book is the psychological thriller THE FIRST TO LIE. The Publishers Weekly starred review calls it “Stellar.”

Sister to Sister: Mary Feliz by Hank Phillippi Ryan

This interview originally appeared June 23, 2020 on the blog of Sisters in Crime New England

True story. Totally true. Like many of you, I’m working on my next book. Like many of you, I know it’s a process, and a journey, and a progression, and any other word you’d like to use. But bottom line, I have a deadline, and I’m behind, and I’m ridiculously distracted by the real world.

Adding to my dilemma, I’m in the middle of the book. The worst possible place. Sisters, it crossed my mind: this is the time it’s not going to work. No, honestly, I’ve written 13 books, and there’s not a time that I have not had that thought.

But then I thought: Well, yeah, but maybe this is the time it’s not going to work. 

And then… Hallelujah. I chatted with the fabulous Mary Feliz.

She is a dear friend, and a stalwart Guppy, and incredibly generous, and Mary, I am so grateful. This interview is life-changing! And, sisters, I hope it will be for you as well. 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  Do you remember the very first time you thought: I’m going to write a book, and I can do it. What was that moment?

MARY FELIZ:  When I was nine or ten, I wanted to write a book like The Bobbsey Twins. I knew I would have to have dialogue, but after a page and a half of "...," he said. and "...," she said. I got so bored that I left the project in a desk drawer. It took learning to type and the invention of personal computers and word processing before I'd tackle a project again? 

HANK: Did that first book sell? 

MARY: Um. No. I don't think I ever even showed it to anyone. More recently, I drafted a historical fiction for young adults, got an agent, and submitted it everywhere. Lots of people asked for full manuscripts, but no one wanted to publish it. Looking back, I don't blame them. It was a good novice effort, but the narrative structure was ghastly. It was also a book that was hard to peg. Where would it go on the shelf? When I came back to writing several years later, I knew I wanted to write a mystery that everyone would know how to market and sell. 

HANK: How many of your books have been published since then? What do you think about that? 

MARY: My sixth book released June 9 from Kensington's Lyrical Press. And I'm still sure it's a dream I'll eventually wake up from, feeling a bit sheepish. Me? A writer? My family would say, "Of course, you've worked so hard for so long." But they don't have the insider's perspective on how many deserving books never see the light of day. 

HANK: Gotta know, got to ask. Do you outline? Has your method changed over the years? 

MARY: Kinda sorta. I outline the characters, key plot points, and scenes for the whole book and write a synopsis. But every ten thousand pages or so, I have to either redo it because it veered off course while I was writing. After I finish the first draft, I redo the outline again. And then, of course, the real work begins. Big picture structural elements get tweaked to make the story more readable. Characters get fleshed out and I make sure they react emotionally to important moments and other pesky stuff like "What is dead guy's real name? And what happened to the wedding cake? Did the Chihuahua turn into a Pomeranian in mid-story?" 

HANK: What is the hardest part of the book for you? 

MARY: Halfway through, I panic. I'm not sure where I'm going or how I'm going to get there. None of the characters are behaving or helping in any way.  It's a little like putting together a jigsaw puzzle and becoming convinced that all the remaining puzzle pieces are hidden in some other box.

HANK: I SO agree! SO awful and very upsetting. So then what do you do? I guess—back to basics.

MARY: Yes. At least now I know that means I have to go back to the basics of storytelling and narrative structure. I haul out my index cards and map out the story on the floor. I figure out why each character might have wanted to kill the dead guy (that's seriously fun). Once I make sure every scene is in the right place and I have all the pieces I need up to the midpoint, the rest tends to flow from there. At least until I hit another structural defect and need to shore up some spots so the structure doesn't collapse. It's never so terrible that I need to completely revamp the beginning, but I do need to consult my story map and make sure I know where I'm going and which path I'm going to take. 

I guess it's like those folks who walk the Pacific Crest or Appalachian Trails. It's a long haul. They do research, plan their route, train, pack carefully, and repack. Finally, they're confident. They have everything they need and they know exactly where they are going. They look at their map and set off. But that doesn't mean they never look at the map again. If a trail is washed out or snowed in, they'll replan their route. If it's much hotter, colder, or wetter than they expected, they stop, rest, learn more, and regroup. Writing is very similar.  It just doesn't burn as many calories. 

HANK:  Oh, this is such a relief to hear. I’m so—grateful that it’s not only me. SO then—you get a first draft. Whew. Is your first draft always terrible? Has it always been? 

MARY: Yes! I think it always will be. One big thing that has changed is the way I write the book. When I was first learning to create a novel, I'd write a scene, then write another scene much later in the book before coming back to rewrite the first chapter. That poor first chapter was rewritten so many times even I don't remember all the iterations. Now, I usually come up with a first line in the middle of the night, and start writing forward from there. If I get stuck, I regroup and adjust the plan, but keep moving forward, making notes as I go along about things I need to fix or check when I write subsequent drafts.  

HANK: It sounds like you have a good system.  But was there ever a time when you thought you would give up writing? 

MARY: Usually after I hand in the book, I wonder if I can ever write another. But something pulls me back every time. Sometimes it's a contract deadline and sometimes it's a need to explore a new idea. There's a quote from Agatha Christie that I love.  It's "I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write even when you don't want to." I'm not as disciplined as Dame Agatha. I sometimes play hooky, but I always come back. 

HANK: I am making a t-shirt that says that! Perfect. Still, how often in your process do you have doubts about what you’re doing?  

MARY: All the time.  And especially right before the book comes out. Will it be printed right? Did we catch all of the typos? (No, we never do, no matter how many people have edited and proofread it.) How embarrassed will I be to have my name on the cover. Ack!  

HANK: What do you tell yourself during those moments of writing fear?

MARY: I reassure myself with a lesson I learned from quilting. That is that each project represents the best you can do AT THAT POINT. It will have mistakes. It will have things you want to change. But it still represents the very best you could achieve. You should be proud of that, no matter how much more accomplished you become. I think it bothered me more in the beginning, and that fear could derail me for days.

Now, I just take a shower, go for a walk, make dinner, and start again the next day. Some days, I set a timer and tell myself that no matter what, I have to sit at my keyboard for two hours, no matter what, even if I don't write a word. The words come. 

HANK: I do the timer, too! I am so pleased to be in this with you.  Do you have a writing quirk you have to watch out for? 

MARY: My characters are forever nodding and smiling. Nodding and smiling. And touching each other. In March, Snowed Under was in production. Overnight, my cozy mystery with the cute little pups on the cover turned into an edgy horror novel in which everyone engages in risky anti-social behavior like shaking hands, eating together in public, and touching things.   Like everything else, it no longer feels quite as cozy as it once did. 

HANK: SO funny. What’s one writing thing you always do—write every day? Never stop at the end of a chapter? Write first thing in the morning?  

MARY: I never end the day's writing without setting down a few notes about where the story will go next. Those notes help me get back into the story quickly the next day. 

HANK: How do you know when your book is finished? 

MARY: Honestly? When the book is due. Hopefully, at that point, it's as good as I can make it on my own and it's ready for input from others with a fresh perspective. I love getting editorial suggestions back and making the story even better than I imagined it could be. 

HANK: Speaking of suggestions. What’s the biggest mistake you see in people’s manuscripts?

MARY: I don't know if it's the biggest, but the one that drives me nuts is when writers put in dialogue what should be put in narration. So they have Bob telling Sam things like "Remember how your mom was murdered last year and you swore you'd find her killer?" Somehow, I don't think Sam needs Bob to remind him of that life-changing oath. Information like that has to be something Sam says himself, and if necessary, the reader is reminded of in narration. 

HANK: Do you think anyone can be taught to be a better writer?  

MARY: Absolutely. And I think that most people, if they work long enough and hard enough, will produce a novel worth publishing. It's just such a long haul from "I think I'll write a book" to a publishable novel that few people have the time, patience, tenacity, financial support, or sustained interest to get that far. Most published writers have a serious stubborn streak and a pinch or more of a mental health issue. Otherwise, they'd find something else to do that's more fun, more lucrative, and has a more immediate payoff. 

HANK: How do you feel about…stuff? Writing swag handouts giveaways that kind of thing. Do you think it matters? Do you have it?

MARY: I do have swag. And I do love it, for several reasons. First, I don't much like talking about myself or my books, but most people think my swag is adorable and that starts a fun conversation that's not about me. Lots of children and grandchildren of my fans have dolls or teddy bears who appear to be reading my books. 

Also, I think that people are reluctant to throw away something that's useful -- like sticky notes. So they have my book covers and list of titles in front of them all the time. And, the books match my personality and that of my main character, Maggie McDonald, who is a professional organizer (like Marie Kondo with heart). They're tidy and useful, but they are also different, quirky, and fun. 

HANK: You’ve seen so much change in the publishing industry, what do you think new writers need to know about that?

MARY: Oh boy. That's hard. It's impossible to keep up. It's especially difficult for people who self-publish who are on the front lines of a changing world. In addition to writing a great book, they also need to either hire out the help of others, or be adept and up-to-date in a myriad of professions: editing, marketing, layout, photography, design, etc.

I rely heavily on my publisher, Kensington, and all the many different departments within the company to stay up to date so that I don't have to.  There's no way I'd have time to write books if I had to do all those other things too. Most authors need to do the lion's share of their own promotion, and share ideas all the time with other authors, so we don't all have to be experts in everything. Conventions, conferences, and professional groups like Sisters in Crime make that possible. 

HANK: You’ve been so successful, why do you think that is? What secret of yours can we bottle up and rely on?

MARY: I heard a talk by Anne Lamott once in which she was poking fun at herself because she'd raced to get a handful of copies of the New York Times Book Review because she had a glowing review, or she was on the best-seller list, or both. That's certainly understandable, and something any one of us would do were we to reach such lofty heights. But Anne was suddenly miffed because someone else was on the cover. And she thought that was an insane way to respond to enormous success.

And I think all writers are like that to one extent or another.  You say I'm successful, and my immediate response is "Successful? Me? But look at all the accolades I haven't achieved." I should just say "Thank you so much. I'm thrilled to bits."  

HANK: So brilliant. And so true.  So what book are you are reading right now?

MARY: I'm rereading Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series. Elly is brilliant. Her descriptions stay with me for years on end, and her style is so unique that when I read her latest book, Edgar Nominated Stranger Diaries, her voice sounded familiar. I'd completely forgotten that I read her first Ruth Galloway book when it came out in 2009. 

HANK: You’ve helped me so much throughout this interview—and I am incredibly grateful. Can you give us one more piece of writing advice? 

MARY: Stick with it. The people who don't get published are the people who quit because it's too hard and it takes too long. Those that keep going get published. 

HANK:  Thank you so much, Mary! And sisters, isn’t she great?  So let me ask you all—have you ever used a timer? What tricks do you use to get your writing underway?

Mary Feliz writes the Maggie McDonald Mysteries featuring a professional organizer and her sidekick golden retriever. If you happen to discover a body cluttering up your space, Maggie’ll track down the murderer and wrap the case up neatly. (Can you imagine Marie Kondo providing that service?)

Mary is a certified California Naturalist and delights in introducing readers to her state’s natural beauty. Her fifth book,  Cliff Hanger , is set on the shores of Monterey Bay, and was named a Best Book of 2019 by Suspense Magazine. Her sixth book,  Snowed Under , releases June 9.

USA Today bestselling author HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV. She’s won 36 EMMYs for her groundbreaking journalism.  As author of 12 suspense novels, Hank has won five Agathas, three Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. National reviews call her a “master at crafting suspenseful mysteries” and “a superb and gifted storyteller.” Her novels were named Best of the Year by Library Journal, New York Post, BOOK BUB, PopSugar, Real Simple Magazine and others.

Her second standalone is the psychological legal thriller THE MURDER LIST.  The Library Journal starred review calls it “a riveting must read!” It’s a nominee for the prestigious Anthony, Agatha and Mary Higgins Clark Award.  Her newest book is the psychological thriller THE FIRST TO LIE. The Publishers Weekly starred review calls it “Stellar.”

Book Titles: Naming the Cozy Mystery

Writing a winning cozy mystery title is no easy trick. But even an old dog can learn how.

Pow! A well-crafted title grabs readers, compelling them to buy and read the book.

That’s the plan, anyway. And every genre and sub-genre has its own naming conventions.

Cozy mystery titles typically try to check several boxes, all while telling readers what the book is about:

They’re puns.

They mention death or murder

They’re consistent with the detective’s profession.

If they lean toward the more slap-stick end of the genre, they’re funny.

Louise Penny’s first title Still Life, nails it. It’s a pun: Still Life = Death and Still Life = Painting. It hints at death. And two of the central characters are artists. It’s not hilarious, but that’s appropriate to the book’s tone. It has light-hearted moments and quirky characters, but it also has dark and serious themes.

Maddy Day’s Nacho Average Murder covers the more humorous end of the spectrum with a groaner of a pun signaling that a laugh-out-loud romp awaits the reader. It also tells fans, it’s a foodie mystery with recipes focusing on California fresh Tex-Mex foods.

My books are somewhere in the middle and generally hit at least two of the three targets of titles in the cozy mystery subgenre.

Address to Die For – Pun. Death.

Scheduled to Death – Pun. Death. Hints of organization and efficiency, which are right in main character Maggie McDonald’s professional organizer wheelhouse.

Dead Storage – Pun. Death. Storage.

Disorderly Conduct — Pun. Organization. But a crime, not death.

Cliff Hanger — Pun. Touches on organization with “hanger.” Signals suspense and tension.

Snowed Under – Pun. Organization. But no murder.

My publisher loved most of these titles as submitted, which is what I was going for. My first “sale” is always getting the publishing and marketing teams at Kensington on my side. If I don’t succeed, readers never see the books.

 The only title that changed from the original was Dead Storage. I’d submitted the manuscript as Cold Storage because the murdered man is found in a restaurant freezer room. The publisher’s version better signals the murder mystery aspect of the book. I wasn’t initially happy with it, but couldn’t think of anything better as we inched toward publication, so I let it stand. It works.

 So, what about the latest title, Snowed Under? Snowed under usually means being overworked and overwhelmed, buried in paperwork. But it also appropriately references snow, since a massive blizzard threatens the story characters and their investigation. Most people I knew growing up in the Northeast and near Chicago, used “snowed in” to refer to a storm so bad that businesses and schools are close. But snowed under is an often-used substitute, so the title works as a pun.

Luckily for me, when my titles missed ticking all of the boxes, powerful cover artwork picked up the slack. Because they are cozies, there’s no blood or gruesomely detailed crime scene on the covers or between them, but the artwork signals that something is not as it should be. Something that Maggie McDonald and her team will need to set right while identifying the bad guys and bringing them to heel.

This blog post originally appeared June 12, 2020 on the Jane Reads blogspot.