Kate Collins's Blog, page 13

Settings in Real Places

Hi, Duffy Brown here. I’m one of those authors who sets their books in real places. I do this because I love reading books set in places I’ve been or hope to visit. Just show me a book or movie set in New Orleans and I’m there. Same with Rome, Tuscanny or Paris or NYC. I love visiting those places and just reading or seeing a book or movie there is a real plus.That said, oOne of the reasons I wanted to write my Consignment Shop mysteries was to set a book in Savannah. I love Savannah. My daughter went to school there and I fell in love with the city and the people. [image error] Savannah is the old South as opposed to Atlanta the new South. One of the big reasons is because Sherman didn’t burn it to the ground sparing all the old wonderful mansions like the Sorrel Wee House restored to perfection…and haunted like no other. Savannah is one of the most haunted cities in the US and Last time Ghost Hunters was there they captured screams of  Get out! Get out! Get out! on tape followed my Help me!  My favorite thing about Savannah…besides the incredible food…is that 23 squares dot the city. These squares were laid out by George Oglethorpe when he and his merry band of followers founded the city. The squares are a block in size, shaded by huge Live Oak trees draped in Spanish moss. One look at Savannah square and you know you’re not in Kansas or NYC or LA. This is GWTW territory for real.If you ever read/seen Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, you know Savannah.  The home of pralines, sweet tea, voodoo--that is not a tourist trap scheme like in New Orleans but here spoken of in hushed voices--and springtime! No place does spring better than Savannah. It’s a two-month long event with azaleas in the squares and in the parks big as a bus, magnolias big as a dinner plate, the whole city one big impressionist painting and smelling line heaven on earth Some of my favorite places to eat in Savannah are Zunzis for their Conquistador sandwich and special sauce that drips off your fingers when eating it, the Old Pink House for shrimp and grits and the Pirate House where Robert Louis Stevenson wrote Treasure Island and has delish she-crab soup, pecan chicken and the great ghost stores the staff will tell you if you ask.  The best thing to do when you get to Savannah is park your car and eat your way across the city. No chain restaurants here but real Southern cooking at it’s finest. Be sure to visit Tubby’s on River Street for fried oysters and a Moon River beer. 
The only thing Savannah has more of than bars are churches. The plan is sin on Saturday and be able to repent on Sunday. Be sure to grab a beer and handful of Tabasco popcorn at Pinky Masters and go to Jen’s and Friends for the martini of your choice. Ever had a Snickers martini?   [image error] This is just a touch of Savannah. If my kids didn’t live in Cincinnati  I’d live in Savannah. I’m a closet belle…have the baton, pearls and manners to prove it. If you ever want to take a roadtrip to Savannah, let me know at we’ll meet up at Leopold’s for a double-dip of Old Black Magic ice cream . Nothing beats Leopold’s and no city is more Southern than Savannah.Hugs, Duffy [image error]

DYEING UP LOOSE ENDS

by Maggie Sefton


 Don't forget #16 in the Kelly Flynn Mysteries----DYEING UP LOOSE ENDS.  All sorts of "loose ends" and dangling questions are answered in this book  :)   


Kelly and Steve’s son, Jack, is now a lively four-year old preschooler. Jack keeps his mom on her toes and drinking all the coffee she can handle at Pete’s Porch Café.  Kelly’s friendly waitress Julie is hoping to become an accountant.  She makes sure she keeps Kelly caffeinated and up-to-date on her career progress. Kelly splits her time between Pete’s and Lambspun, where her fellow knitters love hearing all about Jack’s latest exploits.  They’ve also been taking a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about crimes that Kelly had a hand in solving over the years.  But the Lambspun crew is horrified when a very present-day  murder occurs in their midst---and Julie is the victim.  With her sleuthing instincts on full alert, Kelly starts asking questions.  The well-liked waitress may have had enemies no one knew about, or she could have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kelly and her friends at Lambspun soon learn that the answers are knottier and more shocking than they ever dreamed.   

A BOXED SET OF HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS IS ALMOST HERE!

by Mary Kennedy                                             

A boxed set of Hollywood Nights will be here soon! What's the Hollywood Nights? A three book teen series. All of the books revolve around the excitement and heartbreak of the film industry.
MOVIE STAR Jessie Phillips and her friend, Tracy, go Hollywood when a film company chooses Fairmont Academy as the setting for a sizzling thriller. Sparks fly off and on the set as the teens become embroiled in a mystery fit for the big screen, and things heat up for Jessie when the film’s star Shane Rockett takes a shine to her. Will Jessie score more than her fifteen-minutes of fame? NOTE: MOVIE STAR won an award for "artistic excellence in literary fiction" from the National Endowment for the Arts.                                                                            

CONFESSIONS  The sequel to MOVIE STAR. Landing the star role in Reckless Summer—filmed at her high school the previous year—definitely had its perks for Jessie Philips. She shared romantic scenes with the superstar, Shane Rockett, and he set her heart aflame. Then he doused it when she caught him kissing a co-star. Jessie thought a summer like that could never be topped-but she was so wrong.
Now she's landed her own teen celeb column in a gossip magazine. Jessie gets to live in Hollywood and rub elbows with all the celebs she drools over. She's seeing a lot more of Shane and he's sending out signals too...but sightings of him with a teen actress are giving her major doubts. With Shane's needed A-list contacts and his gorgeous smile, is it worth risking her heart again? It looks like this summer's hottest gossip may be about Jessie.                                                                                                                                                                
 
GOLDEN GIRL Young, rich, and drop-dead gorgeous, Amber Fielding is the darling of South Beach. Her family owns the legendary Fieldings Hotel and she's the spokesmodel for a line of designer clothes and cosmetics. She mingles with celebrities and her world is filled with private jets and fabulous yachts. Yet Amber feels lonely and yearns for something more.
When she meets enigmatic Nick Crawford, she falls hard. Nick comes from a different world. Smart, tough and ambitious, he plans to make it big as a documentary filmmaker. Nick confides that he's shooting a film about "the beautiful people" in historic South Beach. Is he telling the truth--or does he have a hidden agenda? Nick could be just what Amber is looking for--or he could blow her world apart.                                                                                                                                                          
Be sure stay tuned for the Hollywood Nights boxed set. Happy March everyone!
Mary Kennedy

Tomboys and teacups

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett

I have a bad habit of goofing off. (Oops. Mind you, I'm still getting a lot of work done, but I'm still goofing off.) I spend the most time goofing off looking at pretty pictures on Pinterest and other online places. OMG -- I lose hours just looking at teacup and other afternoon tea-type pictures.

Sometimes all you need to cheer you up is a pretty picture. The picture to the right looks awfully pretty to me.

I grew up a tomboy wedged between brothers, never thinking I'd be enamored by stuff like teacups, doilies, and flowers. I spent a lot of time growing up reading. My parents bought us some kind of "adventure" encyclopedia (2 volumes) and it told about wonderful places and people doing all kinds of wonderful things.

I never really cared for dresses and haven't worn one since my cousin got married over two decades ago. (Admittedly, it was a very pretty dress. In fact, so pretty, it was exactly the same dress as the mother of the groom wore. I got my dress at Kauffman's (tells you how long ago that was) and she got hers at Lord & Taylor. She wasn't at all pleased.)

Did I turn into my mother? Not exactly. She wasn't into teacups (although she was given a tea set by my maternal grandmother). Mum was a crafter who made beautiful quilts, could knit up a storm, and was a good cook (but not a great baker. Nope. She was missing that gene and usually used mixes for cakes, etc.) She was also the nicest, most thoughtful person anyone ever knew.

I missed the crafty gene and ended up being a writer, and wanted to be one from the time I was seventeen. I get to write about adventures and teacups.

Are you a transformed tomboy?

Motion Picture Magazine

Last week, I told you about Tiger Beat, the magazine read by Amanda's mom when she was young (and me!). But what, you might ask, did Maxine Englebright--the ghostly fashionista from the upcoming Perils and Lace--read?

She read Motion Picture Magazine. Motion Picture Magazine was a monthly movie fandom magazine which was in circulation from 1911 to 1977. Since I found archives, and since the pages speak for themselves, I'll post a few below. If you'd like to check out the archives for yourself, you may do so at https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=mpmag.

Spring...almost

Hi, Duffy Brown here

It’s March and for me that’s the end of winter. Okay, I know snow is still a possibility and maybe even ice and short are a long way off but heck March is close to April and that’s really spring and I’m going with it.

Winter is okay but I really love spring. The first feel of warm sun, the earth starts to warm up and I start putting away my really dark winter clothes...not that I have many...but now I can wear bright colors and not feel so out of place. I look horrid in winter colors. Browns, blacks, tans...UGH. I can do a little of navy but only if it has a lot of white. 

Pre-spring as I think of March is a great time to watch the sales. A fab time to pick up a new sweater or coat or boots for next year at a fraction of the cost. It’s also March Madness but my contribution to that is mostly smiling and nodding the saying Yeah, that’s a great team...though I no idea.

But the best part of spring for me is the flower catalogues. I’m starting to plan my garden. See what new flowers are on the market, what colors to plant where and maybe switch things up a little. And maybe all in a veggie or two...I’m sure the deer would appreciate the variety!

So what about you? Does March make your little ol’ heart go putty-pat in anticipation of warmer weather on the way? Do you have a fav spring thing? 

Cookies!

by Maggie Sefton
I thought it was a good time for one of my favorite recipes----Gingersnap Cookies.  Give it a try.  You'll enjoy them.  :) 
NANA’S  GINGERSNAPS
2 ½  cups all-purpose flour1 Tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons ground ginger2 teaspoons ground cinnamon2 teaspoons baking soda½ teaspoon salt1 ½ sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar1 large egg, room temperature¼ cup unsulphured molasses2 Tablespoons freshly grated lemon peel¼ to ½ cup granulated white sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets.  Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a small mixing bowl.  Cream butter and brown sugar together in a medium bowl, mixing well for at least two minutes until well-blended, pale and fluffy, scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Beat in egg, then molasses and lemon peel until blended.  Slowly add half the flour mixture, mixing with wooden spoon just until blended, then add remaining flour, mixing in well.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 15 minutes.  Then take out and roll rounded tablespoons of dough into 1 ¼ inch balls (approx.). Roll balls in granulated sugar and place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets(s).  Bake just until puffed and cookies look dry---anywhere from 9 minutes to 14 minutes, depending on your oven.  (Do not overbake or cookies will become hard).   Carefully remove with metal spatula to wire rack to cool.  Makes approximately 32 cookies.
I usually double this recipe when I make it, because those amounts are easier to work with.  But--be prepared to make a lot of cookies.  J  

WHY WE LOVE SOUTHERN MYSTERIES

By Mary Kennedy                                           
 
As a writer, I'm always dreaming of new settings, new locations, new plot possibilities. Many cozy mysteries are set in small towns, and the south is a popular venue. There's something wonderful and compelling about southern mysteries.

The Talk Radio Mysteries take place in a small Florida town called Cypress Grove. DEAD AIR is the first in this 4 book series. With more to come! I liked the idea of a small town because Dr. Maggie, the heroine and amateur sleuth, moved from Manhattan and I thought the "fish out of water" scenario might lead to some comic possibilities.
                                                                         

Dr. Maggie hosts her own radio talk show on WYME and gradually becomes acclimated to life in Cypress Grove. By book 4, A DEADLY FUNDRAISER, she's made some solid friendships, solved a few murders and acquired a terrific boyfriend. Things are looking good for Dr. Maggie and her crew. Here's a fun video on A DEADLY FUNDRAISER. Just click on the name.                                                                               

And Georgia is right up there as a favorite destination. I set my Dream Club Mysteries in Savannah, a gorgeous city, rich in history. Book 3, A PREMONITION OF MURDER opens with lunch at a southern mansion, a wealthy socialite who still refers to the Civil War as the War of Northern Aggression, magnolias and live oaks. And what happens after lunch? Well, the title is a giveaway. You saw it coming, didn't you? A murder! And the Dream Club springs into action to solve the crime.

                                                                   

You can check out all the books in the series on my website, along with my teen books and my books for "young teens." Happy reading!  

Easy-Peasy Slow Cooker Supper

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett

Mr. L and I save the newspaper to read in the evenings. After a day at the computer, we just want to chill out with an adult beverage and the paper. We don't read our local paper (OMG--what a disaster), so every day Mr. L goes to the grocery store and picks up the Buffalo News.

The last thing I want to do after relaxing for an hour or so is get up and cook dinner. That's why I love my slow cooker. Toss everything in and six to eight hours later you've got your evening meal read to serve. And one-pot (or crock) meals are a breeze to clean up, too. (Okay, usually the crock soaks overnight and then it gets washed and put away in the morning.)

One of the easiest recipes I make is Slow Cooker Kielbasa and Beans . It literally couldn't be easier.

Ingredients
1 pound smoked turkey kielbasa, cut into coins
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
2 cans (16 ounces each) beans, rinsed and drained
½ cup chicken broth
Pepper to taste

Add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and switch it to the "high" setting.  Give it a stir and cover. If using raw onions and peppers, let it cook for 5-6 hours. If using frozen onions and peppers, give them a quick thaw in the microwave. Heat on high for 2 to 3 hours. (Everything is pretty much already cooked, so you're really only heating it up.)

Yield:  6 servings

It doesn't matter what kind of beans you use. I've used just kidney beans, and I've switched it around using cannellini, garbanzo, black-eyed peas, great northern beans--anything I had in the cupboard--and it still turns out great.

Another great thing about this recipe: if you use turkey kielbasa, there's very little fat, it tastes great, and has very few calories.  Win-win!

Have you got any easy-peasy slow cooker recipes you'd like to share?

Do You Remember Tiger Beat?

Is Tiger Beat still a thing? When I was growing up, it was a big deal. Really big. Tiger Beat kept up with all my favorite celebrities and told me important things like their favorite flavor of ice cream and the kind of people they enjoyed dating (spoiler alert: nice).

In my upcoming Ghostly Fashionista Mystery, Perils and Lace, a local high school is putting on a production of Beauty and the Beast. Since Max - the ghostly fashionista - is unfamiliar with the story, Amanda shows her the animated Disney movie. Amanda mentions to Max that the Beast is voiced by Robby Benson and that her mother had a major crush on him. " She said she even kept a Tiger Beat magazine with Robby on the cover."

After mentioning Tiger Beat, I decided to do my due diligence to determine whether or not Robby Benson had, in fact, been on a cover of Tiger Beat. I soon learned that Robby Benson 's sweet face graced a number of Tiger Beat covers, and many of them were available on e-bay or Etsy. Granted, they were much more expensive than their original cover  price; but why wouldn't they be? These are historic documents! Thinking they would make excellent giveaways to promote Perils and Lace, I ordered two.

The day arrived when the two vintage Tiger Beat magazine issues - dated Jan. 1977 and Feb. 1977 - showed up in my mailbox. As I'm sure you also do, I get a lot of mail, so I opened the envelope disinterestedly. And then there they were--testaments to my childhood. I dove into those time machines and didn't emerge for hours, passing time with gasps, giggles, and groans. Oh, my goodness, these are cheesy. But they're really wonderful too! I soon realized I could part with only one of my treasures. The other one I'm keeping.

Oh, Tiger Beat, you were so sweet, with such thought-provoking articles as: Donny & Marie: Parents Like Them--Should You?, Is John a Good Pilot?; Leigh McCloskley: Why He's Wonderful! 16 Ways to Be Like Lindsay!, and The Saturday Morning Scoop!

I'll leave you with this one way to be like Lindsay (Wagner). Are you ready?

"Be kind to everyone. People will respect you for it."