Mollie Cox Bryan's Blog, page 22

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. Blue sky. Blooming yellow and pink forsythia. Grape hyacinth popping purple.

2. Cool breeze. Warm sun.

3. One foot, then the next.

4. Stop thinking about your to-do list.

5. Be here. Be now. What a run.

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. Brooklyn.

2. What a gorgeous morning for a run. Just perfect.

3. Blackberry cobbler.

4. The class on mystery writing I'm teaching this weekend.

5. So hard to run against the wind. Remember that song, Against the Wind, by Bob Seger?

Love Note to Readers

I've been thinking about readers. The way we congregate. The way we are pulled to one another by sharing our love of books and writers. I've seen some of my writer-heros at book signings, or listened to them read or speak at a book store, and consider those times to be highlights in my reading life.

So when it's my opportunity to step out from behind the computer screen and meet people who are reading my books, it's a time of magic and wonder. I can hardly believe that people will come out from their cozy home just to chat with me, get a book signed, or hear me speaking about my writing life. Yet, they do. Not in droves, but they come. They shake my hand, politely; they smile, and sometimes ask me questions about my books or my life.

And I just feel so honored.

In a world where we are so constantly distracted by a multitude of media, let alone other activities (especially if you have kids and family obligations, along with career), and other brilliant, more experienced writers' books, that a reader would pick up mine and read it—well, I can't imagine a better thing. In truth, it feels a bit intimate, like a piece of me is in their homes, minds, and hearts. I guess that's true, at least while they are reading my books. In fact, some readers have contacted me in the middle of reading SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS and told me they are dreaming about it. Wow.

One of the best things about computers is social media. It gives us semi-reclusive writers a chance to reach out and be available to readers. And we like hearing from you, as well. With the price of gas and a variety of other economic factors these days, most writers are no longer "touring" with their books to visit stores and books group. But now, we have Twitter, Facebook, and Skype. I'm available all those places for conversation, questions, and book groups.

In the mean time, keep reading my friends. Keep reading.

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. Late start. But beautiful morning. Cool. Clear. Blue skies.

2. I would never walk away from you, Justin. (hehe)

3. Man, that mailbox is down. I wonder if it was that wind…

4. One foot, then the next. Sometimes it's harder than others.

5. Appearance tomorrow in Richmond. Hello, Richmond.

Five Simple Ways You Can Help Authors

I have the best job in the world. I get to make stories up, play with words, and make books. A dream come true. But it's rough out there for everybody these days—even writers. Maybe especially writers. I know a lot of people think we get loads of money and it's simply not true. (subject for another post, perhaps.) Some writers do—most writers don't. If you want to keep them writing and not bussing tables, for example, here's a few things you can do that won't cost you a penny.

1. As your library if they have copy. If you show an interest, they will order it. Even though it's only one sale, it helps to build an author's reputation. That's pure gold.

2. By the same token, ask you local bookstore if they have the book. Showing an interest counts towards getting those books on the shelves. I believe readers see my book, for example, they will pick it up and be drawn into the story and make a purchase.

3. Write reviews (assuming you've read the book). Amazon. Goodreads. Barnes and Noble. It all counts and helps. The reviews don't have to be lengthy. You can write something as simple as "I love this book." I don't think non-writing folks realize how important these reviews are.

4. When you see your writer friend making posts about their book on Twitter or Facebook, please retweet, like, and even share their news. Once again, it costs you nothing.

5. Remember to talk up the book to you other friend. Word of mouth might be the best publicity at all.

I wonder if there are other ways. What do you think?

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. What a gorgeous morning for a run.

2. I sometimes sort of run and dance at the same time. I always get caught by a neighbor. I should know better by now.

3. We had a beautiful bit of winter–gone as quickly as it came. Suits me just fine.

4. Downton Abbey. Wow. How I love it.

5. So many exciting events coming up. Next week, Richmond, then Chesterfield. Woot!

Baths, Anyone? By Chrystle Fiedler

A big thank you to Mollie Cox Bryan for allowing me to visit her blog today to talk about my new book Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery! Death Drops features Willow McQuade, ND, a naturopathic doctor who specializes in natural cures. When her aunt Claire is murdered, Willow takes over her health food store Nature's Way Market & Cafe and sets out to solve the crime with a hunky ex-cop. Death Drops also features over two dozen natural remedies you can try at home.

Baths are a great natural remedy. I also find I get my best writing ideas in the tub! Baths can also be a way to rest, renew and heal your body. Here are several baths you can try that will make you feel good!

Baking Soda Bath: This alkalinizing and detoxifying bath can help calm allergic reactions, chicken pox, eczema, hives, itchy skin, insect bites, poison ivy, sunburn, and fungal infections. Baking soda baths also aid weight loss. Use one pound per bath.

Cold and Flu Bath: Try these bath additions when you want to soothe deep muscle aches that often accompany viral infections. Epsom salts, ginger root, marjoram, mustard seed powder, pine needles, and thyme leaves.

Detox Bath: Consider these cleansing herbs in the bath, when you know its time to change your lifestyle to help the body get rid of environmental pollutants, internal toxins and cleanse the lymphatics. Apple cider vinegar, cypress essential oil, Epsom salts, ginger root, grapefruit, juniper, lavender flowers, lemon peel, rosemary leaves, sage leaves, seaweed (Can be bought dried in natural food stores unless you live close to the ocean), and tea tree essential oil.

Dry Skin Bath: Herbs can have a soothing lubricating effect from the outside. Moisturize with calendula flowers, chamomile flowers, comfrey leaves, elder flowers, fennel seed, jasmine flowers, lavender flowers, oatmeal, rose buds, and violet leaves.

Epsom Salts Bath: This method is lymphatic cleansing, relaxing for sore muscles, softening to the skin, and detoxifying after bodywork. Epsom salts help to get drugs, chemicals and pollutants out of body. Those with diabetes, hypertension or heart disease should rinse off after the bath.

Flower Power Bath: Float fresh flowers, orange or lemon peels into the bath water. Flower suggestions include lilac, dandelion, daisies, honeysuckle, jasmine, camellia, or lavender. Trim your aromatic leaves (mint, lemon balm, etc.) and put the excess in to the bath.

If you have any medical conditions and are not sure if you should try any of these baths, please see your health practitioner. This is in no way meant to be medical advice.

About Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery:

Dr. Willow McQuade, N.D., a twenty-eight-year-old naturopathic doctor specializing in natural remedies, has decided to take sabbatical and visit her Aunt Claire, the owner of Nature's Way Market and Cafe in idyllic Greenport, Long Island. But the idea of rest and relaxation is quickly forgotten when Willow arrives from a morning meditative walk to discover her Aunt Claire dead in the store, a strange almond-like smell emanating from her mouth and a bottle of flower essences by her side.

Despite her Zen nature and penchant for yoga, Aunt Claire had a knack for getting into confrontations with folks. An activist, she held weekly meetings for different causes every week in the store. The police want to believe the death is accidental—but Willow thinks she may have been poisoned.

Things get worse when Aunt Claire's valuable recipe for a new natural age-defying formula, Fresh Face, is stolen during a store break-in, and an attempt is made on Willow's life. Desperate for a way out of the mess, she turns to a handsome young cop Jackson Spade. Together the two set about solving the case the natural way—through a combination of hard work, common sense, and a dose of luck.

Praise for Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery

"With a terrific premise and an interesting topic, Fiedler's debut shows promise." – Library Journal

Death Drops is a gem! Entertaining, informative, and with a mystery that had me completely baffled! – Gayle Trent, author of Killer Sweet Tooth

"Fiedler's absorbing mystery is an entertaining debut, featuring a likeable menagerie of characters, filled with natural remedies, with all of it unfolding on Long Island's idyllic East End." Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, author of the national bestseller Liberating Paris.

"An engaging investigative thriller…an enjoyable whodunit." The Mystery Gazette

Chrystle Fiedler is also the author of the non-fiction title THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO NATURAL REMEDIES (Alpha, 2009), co-author of BEAT SUGAR ADDICTION NOW! (Fairwinds Press, 2010), currently in its fourth printing, the BEAT SUGAR ADDICTION NOW! COOKBOOK (Fairwinds Press, 2012) and THE COUNTRY ALMANAC OF HOME REMEDIES (Fairwinds, 2011). Chrystle's magazine articles featuring natural remedies have appeared in such national publications as Better Homes and Gardens, Natural Health, Vegetarian Times and Remedy. She is a native of the North Fork on Long Island. Visit www.chrystlefiedler.com.

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. Okay. I'd hadn't planned to run today. But when I took the dog for her walk this morning, I was blown away. The morning is so gorgeous. Perfect for a run.

2. So I'm squeezing it in before I get ready for my signing today. ( B &N Harrisonburg.)

3. I'm trying not to obsess too much about SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS, but I can't help checking the rankings and such a few times a day.

4. Oh. Isn't obsess a great word?

5. I'm guest posting today on Karen Elliott's blog here. Check it out.

Country Girls Want Red Shoes, too

As you all know, my know my first book is out. (Yay!) SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS has gotten some great reviews—one from the Library Journal. It also was chosen by Jules, the B & N Mystery expert as one of his favorite mysteries for the Nook. Very cool.

As for me, I'm gearing up to visit the Harrisonburg B & N to sign books on Saturday at 2:00. Last weekend, we held a book launch party at a local independent book store, Stone Soup Books, Waynesboro, Va.

At one point, I decided I wanted to wear red shoes with my new dress for the launch party. I thought the shoes would add just the right pizzazz, with a little intrigue. Good for a mystery author, right?

Thus began my search. The online store where I found my favorites didn't have my size, so I thought I'd look around here. No luck in my town of Waynesboro—the only red shoes I could find were very high. (I wanted to look good, not kill myself in them!) I sent my husband to a neighboring town's shoe store. He works in Staunton and could pop over there at lunch time—just to see if they had red heels that he thought I'd like. He called me back later that afternoon. "They don't have red shoes. The sales clerk said they never have red shoes because Staunton is labeled an agricultural district by the headquarters."

Um, WHAT?

Who are these people that think because women live in a rural area they wouldn't wear red shoes? I despise them in the same way I despise people who think all New Yorkers are rude, all Southerners are sweet, or people that think all women should be tall and thin to be considered beautiful, or that smart people aren't sexy, or well, you get the point.

But really—red shoes? Why red and not pink, or yellow, or purple? What is it about red that has some buyer in New York say "No, I don't think farm girls will buy red shoes." What is this 1959? Are we really in the United States of America? Shouldn't I at least have a choice about this at my local shoe store?

Well, in actuality I do. We all do. The choice is take our business elsewhere. I found my shoes at another on-line store. This is one of the best things about the Internet—it's evened the score a bit for those of us that don't live in the big cities and are at the mercy of some man behind the desk in New York City that doesn't know the first thing about us. We don't fit into your little mind's preconceived notions for us. We are smart, we are strong, short, tall, round and thin and yes, country girls and women want red shoes, too.

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. I'm not sure I can make it for the complete 30 minutes. I feel terrible.

2. But sometimes if I push myself, I can sweat it out.

3. You've just got to hand to these older folks trudging along on the track. I hope I'm still moving when I'm their age.

4. Need to finish my restaurant review.

5. The thing about freelancing is you've got to stick to your deadlines and can't take a sick day. Even. When. You. Need. One.