Deborah Adams's Blog, page 20

Carolyn Hart – Three Questions & a Cover

Three Questions and a Cover — a short interview with one of my favorite authors, along with one of the author’s covers.

Oklahoma native Carolyn Hart is the author of the Death on Demand series, the Henrie O series, the Bailey Ruth Raeburn series, and a multitude of stand-along novels. She is also the winner of three Agatha Awards for Best Novel, two Anthonys, and two Macavitys. See her interview below, and visit her website for more about Carolyn and her books.

Ghost Ups Her Game: a Ba...

The Pryce of Conceit

An Historical Ghost Cozy Mystery by Kari Bovee

Someone’s trying to frame this ambitious theater performer for murder. Can she get back to her adoring public and escape the noose?

1885. Arabella Pryce is struggling with heartbreak. And with her recently deceased husband’s will demanding she leave her celebrity behind and refurbish her namesake hotel in Colorado, the distressed actress is forced to board a westbound train. But she’s barely arrived at the haunted, broken-down lodge wh...

Julie E. Bloemeke ~ 3 Questions & a Poem

3 Questions and a Poem–in which one of my favorite poets is interviewed and shares a poem.

Image by cromaconceptovisual from PixabayQUESTION 1

What do you consider the three most important elements of a poem?

Vibrational buoyancy.

A poem must have a sense of urgency, an irrefutable tension. As both a poet and an editor, I am endlessly curious about how poems invite us into their spaces. However, it is not just about the invitation—once a poem extends a hand it has to be compelli...

b.read.crumbs: Julie Wray Herman is Jumping Off Cliffs

This month’s b.read.crumbs post by Julie Herman, which you may find in the original on her website.

Deb told me yesterday that she has something to tell me, but I have to wait until I see her in person. With Deb this could be anything from, “Glad to see you,” to, “I have a whole new direction to take my writing in.” She is one who is not afraid to jump off the cliff of not knowing–to take risks. It pays off. She is the award-winning author of the Jesus Creek mystery series, a fairly large...

Librarians of Jesus Creek and elsewhere

All The Crazy Winters

During the early stages of research for the second Jesus Creek mystery, All The Crazy Winters, I asked my local librarians what there might be in a library that could serve as a murder weapon. And all of them started shouting out ideas: “A heavy book!” “This chair!” “The spindle!” And so forth.

Mind you, they did not take time to consider it; they answered immediately, almost as if they’d been thinking of how to commit murder all along.

There was a time when I’d ha...

Have a cool, green summer

Dear EarthTalk: With summer bearing down on us, are there any environmentally friendly air conditioners out there? –Fred Johansen, Grand Rapids, MI

Air conditioners are essential for keeping us cool and comfortable during hot summer months, but their environmental impact cannot be ignored. Traditional air conditioning units consume significant amounts of energy and rely heavily on refrigerants that contribute to global warming. However, the good news is that there are several environmenta...

Natural-born writer or a victim of fate?

During my brief summer break, I’m re-posting some of the most popular posts from the past. You can read even more on topics of interest to you by clicking on the Categories box to the right.

Image by nmoodley from Pixabay

Sometimes the same topic crops up– without any obvious connecting thread– over and over within the space of a few days. When that happens, I figure it’s time to examine it more closely.

This week it’s been all about whether there are natural-born writers or just people who...

Slow Design

Dear EarthTalk: I recently heard the term “slow design.” Can you enlighten? – J.M., New York, NY

Slow design is a design philosophy that emphasizes quality, longevity and sustainability. It seeks to counteract the fast-paced, disposable nature of contemporary culture by prioritizing thoughtful, intentional design over mass-produced, trend-driven products. It is about creating objects that are functional and beautiful, and that are crafted with care, using materials that are responsibly so...

Christian Collier ~ 3 Questions & a Poem

3 Questions and a Poem–in which one of my favorite poets is interviewed and shares a poem.

Image by cromaconceptovisual from PixabayQUESTION 1

What do you consider the three most important elements of a poem?

Imagery, sound/music, and syntax are, at this moment in time, my picks for most important elements. If you were to ask me again next week, my answer would probably change depending on what I’m reading or studying, and I think that’s the beauty of poetry. Anytime I read a poem t...

Diana Rosen ~ 3 Questions & a Poem

3 Questions and a Poem–in which one of my favorite poets is interviewed and shares a poem.

Image by cromaconceptovisual from PixabayQUESTION 1

What do you consider the three most important elements of a poem?

ImageryMusicWord choices that enchant.

The poem’s ending should be either unexpected or a delightful detour. Or, as Stanley Kunitz said, “End with an image and don’t explain.”

QUESTION 2

What’s your best advice for writing poetry?

READ POETRY!! Read every type and s...