Lynn Mcpherson's Blog, page 4

Summertime Hues

Colour and mood often seem to go hand-in-hand. Dental offices are always painted in that creepy sea-foam green, seeing red is apparently never a good thing, and having the blues leads one to turn on the saxophone-lead tunes and ponder their existence. But what happens when all of these colours are mixed together? I am inspired every year by the vibrant and wide-ranging colours that Mother Nature provides. From the first sign of daffodils and tulips right through until the stark heat of July, I am always distracted and excited by gardens around my neighbourhood, as well as in my very own garden.

Just over a month ago, I had the pleasure of taking a road trip down to Greenwich, Connecticut, with a friend. We were both amazed at the size of some of the Cherry Blossoms we encountered. They were huge and beautiful. Now, I’m almost giddy with delight as I watch the side-by-side irises and peonies starting to come out in my backyard, surrounded by the rich green leaves of nearby hostas.

The quiet beauty we are surrounded by on a daily basis sometimes goes unnoticed and unappreciated. I am here to remind readers today to take a moment and smell the flowers. A gentle lift of spirits from the natural world is sometimes all it takes to make the day a better one.

Onward,

Lynn

Murder in the Afternoon…

Dear Readers,

I am lucky to a part of an upcoming event with Crime Writers of Canada where the participating authors will be celebrating the 35th anniversary of the CWC by discussing the crime novel and talking about our latest works. Please join us if you are free. It promises to be an entertaining afternoon…

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Inspiration!

Dear Readers,

What inspires you? I often marvel at the productivity of some writers and wonder what motivates them to accomplish great work in relatively short amounts of time. I’ve heard various answers from different sources and decided to share with you what I have found so far that has worked for me as I strive to complete my third book in the Izzy Walsh series.

The first thing is setting. I need sunshine. I learned this several years ago when I moved into a lovely century home with cozy corners and mood lighting–and very few windows. As lovely as it was in the evenings, it almost drove me off the edge during the day. I felt like a cave dweller, deficient of vitamin D and completely unaware of the world around me. A few years of that I knew I had to move or I’d be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) daily–regardless of the time of year. Now I sit by the window everyday to write and appreciate the sun on my face and the feeling of being close to nature. It gives me a sense of calm and comfort I would recommend to anyone who works alone (not including canine support) and at home.

Secondly, it’s routine. Now, this is more of a personal thing. Some people thrive when they don’t have a regular pattern. But for me, I have certain times everyday, that I sit down and check in with my writing. The kids go to school, the dog lies at my feet, and the coffee fills my nostrils. It is mid-morning bliss and the best time of the day for me to focus. It doesn’t mean I will necessarily accomplish much writing–sometimes I work on my blog (hello), other times I might go over work from the previous day, but I always sit down with the goal to accomplish something. It’s my way of staying on point and keeping the wheels turning despite all the hectic movement that is modern life. I’ve also never had the experience of finding absolutely nothing to do. It might take a few minutes, but something always comes up.

The last of my ideas is engagement. I need to get out of the house and find inspiration in the real world. I belong to Sisters In Crime–the Toronto Chapter. Once a month, I go and listen to the guest speaker talk about whatever it is they have accomplished to be the focus of that particular month’s meeting. Sometimes it’s a successful writer, sometimes it’s a field expert ie. lawyer, police officer, reporter. But getting myself out, listening, observing, and being a part of something is an important part of life, and therefore, an important part of writing. I had the great fortune of going to a special evening arranged by the local library that had five accomplished writers discuss their careers, their methods, and their books. I left the night grinning ear-to-ear. The first thing I did when I got home was pull out my laptop to think about my own work.

So there you have it, dear readers. Any suggestions or comments are always welcome, as usual.

Enjoy the day and keep reading!

Onwards,

Lynn

Happy New Year!!

Dear Readers,

What a start to 2018! I’m sure many of you can relate to the deep freeze we are currently experiencing here in the Toronto suburbs. It is -20 Celsius today (-4 Fahrenheit—not nearly as dramatic sounding, I must say). With the cold brings an urge to turn on the fireplace and curl up with a good book… Then my dog barks, my kids yell, and I look longingly over to the cozy section of my living room where I hope to end up tonight. It is a dream I intend to fulfill.

As cold as it’s been, I’ve found myself inspired by the dramatic temperatures. I grew up in the Canadian prairies, so I find sweet memories in the bitter cold. I have begun to think beyond my current book and feel certain that my next will require a winter setting, perhaps even one closer to my own roots—in the prairies, near the mountains, and in the eighties. Until now, I haven’t considered writing anything without my four favourite women, especially Izzy Walsh. But lately, I’ve been thinking it might be fun to take a spin with a new crew. It could be all the Stranger Things binge-watching I’ve been doing, too—I love that show. But I’m halfway through my third Izzy instalment, I’m enjoying more than ever, yet I can feel the start of a new story beginning to take root. I guess when the spring hits, when I’m completed the current book, I’ll see if these recent thoughts are still hanging around. It was so cold out today my mountain rescue pup even had cold paws. I had to call my husband and request a pickup halfway through our walk. Could it be that my brain is not yet thawed? I guess time will tell…

Any thoughts on my musings are always welcome, of course. Unfortunately, I must keep this posting extra short or my out-of-sight juniors may get into things that require a lot of work to fix (unlike my beautiful new red lipstick I got for Christmas which will remain on my 3-year olds shirt and bedding forever and ever, if perhaps in a lighter, pinker version of its original hue).

Stay warm and keep reading…

Onwards,

Lynn

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Dear Readers,

 

Somehow I must’ve hit the snooze button on my blog posts and slept right through the autumn months. Or it could’ve been the new school year and adopting a rescue puppy—it turns out, getting a young puppy is not unlike having another toddler at home…eeek!

 

So here we are, holiday season is upon us and Christmas is less than two weeks away. Last year I wrote a blog about the blessing of shopping early. I wish I had read that one. I spent the weekend ordering almost all my shopping online, racing into the city to pick up a few unique gifts from independent stores, and completely missing the fun of the traditional mall madness. It was getting too close to mess around. Wine in hand, I had to use all available options to just get it done. Thank you, Amazon.

 

Amazon, you say? I have news. My second book in the Izzy Walsh Mystery Series comes out September, 2018. It’s a stretch but at least I have a date. It has motivated me to get cracking on the third book and so far, fingers crossed, it’s been great. I’m more than a third of the way through and I’m hoping it will be done by the spring so there will be less of a gap between the second and third books.

 

In the meantime, I will be a guest blogger on Wicked Cozy Authors, a website that focuses on “Mysteries with a New England Accent.” It was a thrill to be invited by Sherry Harris, one of the sites organizers, to be included on their site. Please take a moment to check it out. The site is chalk full of information and conversations about all sorts of great topics that revolve around New England mysteries—from recipes to book releases, to contests, to writing tips–this site has it all. I will be featured on December 15th. I just can’t wait!

 

My early New Years resolution is to get back to a weekly blog—or rather start one, might be a more accurate statement. Before biting yours nails with anticipation to see if I follow through, please check out my new media section where a few TV clips have been added. One of them features a makeover I was lucky enough to get on the oh-so-fun Marilyn Denis show. The second is an interview on The Morning Show (Global TV) with the fabulous Carolyn Mackenzie.

 

Until next time, enjoy the winter weather and don’t drink too much eggnog!

 

Onwards,

Lynn

Fashion envy from the 1950’s

Fashion from the 1950’s is glamorous and gorgeous. Every time I see a film made during the fifties, I am in full fashion envy. It’s such an inspiring time for clothing, there’s no mystery as to why it remains a huge influence on today’s styles. I love looking on Pinterest boards to see feature pages from Vogue spreads with the decades most inspiring looks.

 

Following a summer break from writing, I’m just starting the third instalment of the Izzy Walsh Mystery Series. It’s set in a high-end women’s clothing store in the late fifties. Murder and fashion—can there be a better pairing in a mystery? I don’t see any future complaints coming from me about the research for this book!

 

I’m also excited to share that the second book from The Izzy Walsh Mystery Series should be out next summer. It’s set around a fabulous dinner club on the New England coast. My favourite foursome are at it again when they end up smack dab in the middle of a murder and it’s up to the quick-witted Izzy Walsh and her three best gal pals to figure it out.

 

Any thoughts or insider scoops about the fashion world mid-century are very welcome. In the meantime, thanks for visiting.

 

Onwards,

Lynn

Egad!

Dear readers,

Have you ever done something that you knew you were going to regret? I am sitting in a coffee shop, it’s 6am and I regret nothing… Wait, I regret trying Sortilege Maple Whiskey last night. It’s quite a delicious sipping drink and I enjoyed it at the time, but I knew I had to get up at 3:30(!) and whiskey is not conducive to such uncivilized actions. So, here I sit waiting for my first book festival and I cannot help thinking back to what could’ve made this an easier morning. The obvious answer begs the question: why whiskey? On a separate note, why am I here so damn early?

The Bookshelf is the name of the festival I’m participating in today. It is about 70 miles from my home in a town called Newmarket. I am excited to have the privilege of sitting at a table with the Sisters In Crime Toronto Chapter. The festival was designed to introduce the residents of Newmarket to local authors. It is being held at the town’s community centre and starts at 9am. I am here (way, way, way) too early because I got a ride here from an great friend who works in the area and has the perplexing start time of 5:30. It was either go with him or spend hours on various trains and buses, only to arrive late.

I thought up until now that the answer was obvious. I’m not saying I made the wrong choice: it was fun driving here together. However, it would have been a little less painless if I couldn’t still taste Sortilege Maple Whiskey on my tongue. If I had the foresight to recognize the error of my dismissive ways, I would be much less likely to fall asleep in my seat and burn my nose in the hot coffee sitting in front of me (which, on a separate note, is not doing much to combat my fatigue) as it droops down in microsecond moments of sleep.

So, back to the question: why drink the Sortilege? Because it is delicious, of course. Next time, I may try to choose another night and another time, but for now I can, at least, take solace in the knowledge that I have a new sipping drink for the occasional indulgence when spending time with friends.

One more hour to go until I trek over to the community centre and meet fellow authors, readers, and new friends. I will continue this incredible journey I have the privilege to be on as a new author. I will conquer my weary whines with fresh air and sheer will. And I will not do anything I know to be ill advised any more—today anyways.

Thank you for spending this time with me. As always, it has been a pleasure.

Onwards,

Lynn

Time to Work it!

Dear Readers,

My book is out. It is out in the world like a new baby… But I already have two babies—okay, one is almost six and the other is more of a toddler but nonetheless they are and will always be my babies. I wasn’t expecting to have a third. Somehow, this book is trying to wrestle away attention and focus from the rest of my life. I thought once it was out, published and completed, things would slow down. I’ve come to realize over the last week, this is not how it works.

What drew me to writing was the joy of creating a story and working through the process of bringing characters to life. It gives me so much joy to see how Izzy and the others women in the series have developed—it feels like they have begun to direct me as to what they will say and do, given the general circumstances of a scene. I just write what they put in my head. It feels quite seamless and organic.

Everyone has had a moment when they feel the satisfaction or excitement of seeing something they worked hard on succeed. To be able to literally hold that in my hand was thrilling.

Then the panic set it. I have so much to do. I’ve had a small business before and I know that in order to succeed, people need to know you exist. This is no small task. I’m trying not to go crazy and obsess but it can be easier said than done for this eager writer.

I am starting to settle down now as it’s been six days and I’ve checked my ranking on Amazon about 3,000,000 times. It doesn’t help that I looked up how the ranking system works and could make no sense of it. I still go look incessantly, just to see… well, I don’t really know. I don’t get it.

What I came to realize is the real reason I’m trying to hustle through the marketing and self-promotion (even the wording makes me gag a little): I just want to get back to the writing. I’m so close to being done my first draft of the second instalment to the Izzy Walsh Mystery series that now I’m trying desperately to finish everything else off so I can get back to the joy of writing (although after my second round of edits I had to pause and pick up a copy of English grammar 101).

So, my conclusion is that I will stop obsessing online and temper the marketing attempts with allowing for time to get back to the writing. What a relief!

Just a few thoughts I wanted to share.

Onwards,

Lynn

April 8th the book is out!

Dear Readers,

I am excited to tell you my book is coming out on April 8th 2017. This is a special day for me because it is my birthday. The Girls’ Weekend Murder will be available at www.amazon.ca; www.amazon.com; www.chaptersindigo.ca; www.barnesandnoble.com

Here is the cover! Designed by Kerrin Hands.

I will be talking more about it soon…

I can’t wait!!!!

Onwards,

Lynn

It’s Almost Time!

Dear Readers,

I’m getting really excited about the launch of my first book titled The Girls’ Weekend Murder. I can ‘t believe there’s only two months to go! Here are just a few tidbits about it I wanted to share. First of all, it’s a cozy series. Each book is a complete story so they don’t need to be read in order, but I’m already working on the second. I love the characters so much that I just had to have more than one story featuring them.

Getting back to the book itself, The Girls’ Weekend Murder opens with the main character, Isabelle Walsh, preparing for a weekend away with her closest friends. It’s 1953 and Izzy (as she’s known to her friends) is getting all dolled up in anticipation of this once-a-year event. She is a happily married mother of two, and while she is in her late twenties, her natural curiosity (and knack for getting herself and her friends into trouble) often reveals an energy and spirit more akin to a much younger woman. As you might guess from the title, trouble lies ahead, and true to her character, Izzy finds herself right in the middle of it.

The story takes place in an idyllic, small town called Twin Oaks, on the coast of New England. Seeing as I am from Canada, you may be wondering why I chose this location. First of all, I love New England. I drove through it years ago on a road trip. Initially, I was going to drive straight through New England on the way to New York City. But I was so taken with its beauty and charm, I decided to take more time to explore and enjoy some of its great locales.

Vermont was the first place in New England I visited. It is so peaceful. I was there after a big snowfall and I don’t think it could’ve been more picturesque. From there I went to Stockbridge, Massachusetts and spent a few days enjoying a few winter activities such as sledding in the beautiful snow and warming up with rich hot chocolate. There is a place there called The Red Lion Inn and if you are ever in the area, it’s worth checking out. Everything about it was stellar: from the food to the rooms to the atmosphere. I believe it was here I was first introduced to S’mores. Um, do I need to continue?

From there I went to Lakeville then onto Kent (both in Connecticut and both absolutely charming), before eventually arriving in NYC. By the time I got to the city, I felt like I had already enjoyed a wonderful vacation. It was a double holiday!

A few other reasons for a New England setting reveal a little more about myself: Gilmore Girls and Murder, She Wrote. Two of my all-time favourite shows that, while different in their themes and content, I could watch over and over. Part of the appeal of each is their location: you guessed it—New England. For me, there is nothing that suits a cozy mystery better than a cozy town.

So there you have it, dear readers. I hope knowing more about The Girls’ Weekend Murder makes you looks forward to its release. I know I’m counting down the days!

Onward,

Lynn