Kate Collins's Blog, page 18

I'm in the Spotlight!

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



I feel a little like Marty McFly from Back to the Future. And why is that?  Because I'm in the middle of writing (with my co-author Gayle Leeson) Victoria Square #7 (A Murderous Misconception), and writing a prequel to the series at the same time.

It turns out that reviewing that first book for the prequel has helped me reevaluate some of the characters who regularly appear later in the books.

Everyone who's read the series knows what happened before Katie Bonner drove past Artisans Alley that brisk September morning and saw a host of Sheriff's Office cruisers with their lights flashing.

Or do they?

And why am I writing a prequel to an established series?

Because I currently don't own the rights to the first six books. When will I get them back? That's anybody's guess. But it doesn't hurt to have a prequel that can be used as a loss leader. Why would I need a loss leader? To attract new readers.

Every author struggles with finding new readers. We have giveaways, we post on social media, we send out regular newsletters, and on and on and on .... The competition is fierce and it takes a lot to stand out in the crowd. And if you're me, it's even harder because I'm writing under THREE names. It's very frustrating when your pseudonym is doing a LOT better than your real self. (My pseudonym is Lorna Barrett of the Booktown Mystery series.)

So, how can you support me?



First, read my series (I have four: The Victoria Square Mysteries, The Lotus Bay Mysteries, Tales from Blythe Cove Manor, and Tales of Telenia (action-adventure). If you like the books, please consider reviewing them on your favorite online review sites (think Amazon, B&N, Bookbub, Books A Million, Indiebound, etc.)

Subscribe to my newsletter. (Leave our address and I'll send you some bookmarks as a thank you for joining!)

Follow me on Bookbub and/or Amazon. They'll let you know if any of my books go on sale, or remind you when I have a new release.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram. (I'm also there under my other two names.)

Join my Facebook group page (Lorraine's & Lorna's Perpetual Tea Party). There you'll meet fans of my books. It's a place where we chat about life and every subject under the sun. It's fun!

Visit my website and/or follow my blog. View my videos on Youtube! (Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe!)

I've found that whether I'm writing as Lorraine or Lorna, I have the best, most considerate readers in the world. I'm so grateful that you have read (or listened) to my books and stories. Thank you.  You rock!

The lost art of conversation

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

Mr. L and I go out on a date for lunch at least once a week and the one thing we notice EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. is that most who go out to eat are seated and immediately whip out their phones. Sometimes they only put the phone down before bites. Just yesterday, we went out to eat and the man and woman (who were older than me) sat down and the man whipped out his phone. I could see them through the entire meal. He was on his phone for nearly the whole time they were there. The only conversation during that 45 minute span was ordering with the waitress. Otherwise, the woman sat there looking around and not speaking...BECAUSE HER HUSBAND WAS ON THE PHONE.

I expect that kind of behavior from younger people, so it was surprising to see it from an older gentleman.

More than 20 years ago, one of my friends confided to us that she told her husband, "I'm not going out if there will be no conversation between us." He didn't have a phone to whip out, but he was reluctant to speak to her.  So, they stayed home.

I don't get it.  Mr. L and I have been together for (mumble, mumble) years. In all those years, we have NEVER run out of conversation. We both work from home. We talk all day long (albeit sometimes shouting between our offices--which are connected), but we have never run out of things to say to each other. 

I feel sorry for these people. If you have nothing to say to each other--why are you still together?  Go find someone (friend, family member--whatever) to talk to.

What's your opinion on this?

Cats Gifts For Christmas

by Karen Rose Smith



I was excited by all the new electronic devices my husband and I received for Christmas to help make our daily routines (like preparing a shopping list) a little easier.  However, my favorite gifts are those which are cat-related. Since I love cats and always try to feature them in my cozy mysteries, when I receive a "cat" gift, I feel that the gift was chosen personally for me and that the giver took the time to consider what I enjoy receiving.

Since I write the Daisy's Tea Garden cozy mysteries (and of course love cats!) the Merry Catmas teapot pictured above was the perfect gift from my pet sitter.  It perfectly combined both of my "loves."  And it perfectly complements my Lenox cat cookie jar, a gift from Christmases past.

My son always tries to find a personalized cat gift featuring one of my felines, but this year he gave me a black mug!  Oh, did I forget to mention that the mug turned into a cat mug when it is filled with hot liquid? The image on the mug resembles the original paintings in my vet's office...which I always take a photo of and post on social media when one of my cats has an appointment.



Utilitarian gifts can also be made more personal by adding cats!  I have a collection of decorative canes which I always take with me when I go out.  But until this Christmas, I did not have one that featured cats.  At a distance, it just looks like a multi-colored cane, but up close, various breeds of cats with their expressive eyes bring a smile to my face. 
I saw the new drip-proof umbrellas advertised on TV before the holidays, but I was not aware they came with cats decorating the whole underside of the umbrella.  Now all I have to do is look up on a rainy day and the sweet cat faces staring down at me will chase away the rainy day blues.


I also enjoy giving cat-related gifts.  My husband has quite a collection of "cat" T-shirts.  I added this one to his collection this year.  The cat looks very much like Halo, the pregnant stray we took in who had her kittens in my office.  She and hubby have a special bond.
   

Gift giving from the heart is always immediately recognizable when the gift is opened.  The smile on the recipient's face shows appreciation for someone taking extra care to choose the perfect gift.

Now it's time to start shopping for next Christmas so I can give everyone on my gift list the perfect gift that will brighten their day.

****************** 
NOW AVAILABLE

Keith Rebert is homeless with a sad story that includes the death of his wife and medical bills that decimated his finances. Daisy and her friend Jonas Groft meet him through one of Daisy’s employees and offer help. But soon Keith is caught up in a murder investigation. He was supplying the shop Pirated Treasures with antiques, including Gettysburg Battlefield memorabilia. The nephew of the shop’s owner, Barry Storm, was lowballing merchandise that Keith brought in. One day Keith and Barry vehemently argued. Soon after, Barry was found dead, killed with a marble rolling pin that held Keith’s fingerprints. Daisy’s special for the month, cherry tarts, was found spilled on the floor next to him. Keith is the number one suspect.

Keith finds a job on a farm where he can live in a cabin with his daughter Mandy. A friend of Barry’s lived and worked there before the murder, then suddenly moved out. As Daisy finds clues that give insight into Barry’s life and prepares for her daughter’s wedding, she faces danger, verbally battles with the detective on the case, and tries to figure out what part Jonas Groft plays in her life. When she finds the ultimate clue that tells her exactly what Barry Storm was involved in, she almost loses her life. 
MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS on Amazon
MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS on Barnes and Noble

You have a tattoo where??

Duffy Brown here.
I can still remember that phone call from daughter. Guess where I am!
There should be a law against any child anywhere ever starting a conversation with those four words. My son used them when he was in Vegas. Do you know how much trouble there is for a young guy to get into in Vegas! He did it again in New Orleans. Even more trouble there! Any wonder I am totally gray!

 

But I digress, we’re talking about my daughter and where the heck she was that she shouldn’t have been. This time it was the tattoo parlor...or whatever it’s called!
Sweet Mother! She was getting a rose tattoo on her back. The back I washed and dried and powdered and put sun block on was now decorated with a tattoo. Would you like to know how nice that didn’t look with a beautiful wedding dress...but I digress again. Kids!
A lot of celebs have tatts. Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Keith Urban and a ton of others. Some are so hot and others what the hell were they thinking! 
Tattoos sometimes mark you as part of a club...or a gang. In Iced Chiffon the scum-sucking, no-good, low-rent but to die for handsome Walker Boone has a tatt, a 17. In his pubescent years  Walker Boone was part of the Seventeenth Street gang. Now he’s older, wiser and... well you can take the boy out of the hood but the other way around not so much. 
What about the hero in your books? Should he or she have a tattoo? Do you find it sexy? And what about the heroine? Personally I love the hidden tatt where when making love there it is. A little extra zip to an already zippy situation.
Do you have a tattoo  I like the book ones here. If I wasn’t so afraid of needled I might get that little book one done on my wrist. But what about you? Where? Why? 

Welcome to Winter

by Maggie Sefton


Here in Northern Colorado we all welcomed Winter at the beginning of December, which was a surprise for most of us because we're used to being spoiled with milder winters.  It looks like this Winter won't be one of them.

My sweet 17-year old part Black Border Collie mix/Black Lab spent the early Christmas holidays at  her Home=Away-From-Home with Tammie at her home on the eastern edge of Fort Collins.  Tammie spoils Katy just as I do.  When I travel, Katy will spend the cold winter days lying on a comfy doggie bed next to her very own space heater keeping toasty warm.  Tammie once joked that Katy's spot was warmer than Tammie's whole house.  :)  

Hey. . .we all love our pets and take very good care of them.   And those of us who travel a lot to see Family and Friends as well as doing booksignings for our books also have to plan ahead for our doggies and kitties.   We want to make sure they are cared for well and safe.  I also realize that I'm fortunate to have safe and dependable situations to depend on.

I certainly hope that all of you Cozy Chicks Blog readers and friends have good situations to depend on.  I'm curious as to how some of you handle this Pets and Travel situation.  Email me at the below email so I can see your responses:   maggie@maggiesefton.com.  

MAILBAG: YOU NEED A PLAN, EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU DON'T

By Mary Kennedy                                               

Time for today's mail. We have an interesting question from "Perpetually Procrastinating in Peoria."
Dear Mary, I never seem to be able to buckle down and work. My goal this year includes writing two mystery novels, researching an historical fiction book and editing a collection of my unpublished short stories. It's almost past the first week in January and I'm paralyzed with self-doubt. The research is really interesting and I'm wondering if I should just concentrate on that.  Or maybe tackle one of the mystery novels and let the research go until I have more time?  And let the second mystery novel go until another year?  I just can't decide. Sometimes I think I should just flip a coin. What do you think? Thanks for your help. PPP                                                                         
Dear Procrastinating, first of all, nice alliteration! Here's what I think. You have GOT to pick and choose and commit to something. I agree that research can be fun/entertaining/addictive but it is really time consuming. I'm sure you enjoy it but the fact is, only a small portion of your research will end up in the finished book. A miniscule portion! 
You may be investing a great deal of time and effort into something that will never see the light of day. Sometimes spending a lot of your writing time on "research" is just deluding yourself. You can pretend you're actually writing something and moving forward when you're not.  I'm not saying this is what you're doing, but I would think about it.

I am assuming you do not have an advance for these books and you are simply writing them, hoping to attract an editor or agent. As we've discussed in earlier blogs this is not easy! In fact, it's darn near impossible in today's publishing environment.
Okay, some concrete advice. I would do one of the mysteries. Pick the one that has the most detailed, fleshed out plot and that way you can get past the paralysis of the blank page. You will have a road map.  Write a list of the suspects and make a Means, Motive, Opportunity list for every one of them. Write all the reasons they "could have" committed the murder, and now write all the reasons they didn't. Their alibis. Write a character sketch of the victim. Who is he/she and why would anyone want to kill him? One suspect, of course, turns out to be the killer. So obviously their alibi doesn't hold up.
Now write a "for my eyes only" synopsis. Just write the story including every scene necessary to introduce the characters,  do the sleuthing, solve the mystery, unmask the killer and be sure you tie up the loose ends. Because if you don't, a sharp-eyed reader will be sure to notice.
Hope this helps and let me know what you decide and how you're doing, Mary

What's a little ink between friends?

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





YAY -- it's here!  MURDER INK, Victoria Square Mystery #7 by me and Gayle Leeson. We had such a good time writing this book ... (and P.S. we're already hard at work on the next one). We hope you'll give it a try.

A tattoo parlor on Victoria Square? Some of the merchants get steamed at the prospect, but could they be driven to kill to stop it? That's what the sheriff's office and Katie Bonner want to know when the building's owner is electrocuted with his own saw.

Meanwhile, tensions rise when a hot chef takes over the square's tea shop. Will Katie have three men vying for her affections, or will her rival take the tea cake?


Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books A Million | Indiebound Chapters/Indigo | Book Depository (Free Shipping Worldwide)

Kindle US | Kindle Worldwide | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play(Check out my website for ebook editions in the UK, AU, IE and NZ)

Watch the booktrailer!

Cheap or not to Cheap

Duffy Brown here...
     When I started writing mysteries I followed the old adage of write what you. I adore Savannah and I work in a consignment shop! When I took the leap into the mystery world I did it withThe Consignment Shop mysteries. Not that there are murders in the shop so much as Reagan owns the shop and gets sucked into solving murders when her ex, her BFF and even her mother get accused of murder. 
     Consignment shopping is the fun of wearing designer clothes on the cheap. I could never afford a Coach handbag or an Armani jacket but I do love the expensive look and the feel of quality. Most of all I love bragging to my friends how much I paid for them. The conversation goes something like, “Oh, I just love your Kate Spade purse.” And my reply is, “I got it at the Snoot for forty bucks!” instead of the usual three-hundred and fifty!
     For years I shopped consignment stores than decided I needed to work at the Snooty Fox since I was there all the time looking for deals. My kids were some of the best-dressed on campus and I did it for K-Mart prices. I swear my husband got his last raise because he always looked nice. 
     Don’t you love the name Snooty Fox! The Snoot is an upscale consignment shop meaning we are not Goodwill or St. Vincent DePaul. Not that there is one thing wrong with shopping these places but the Snoot only takes clothes within a two year style period and they must be cleaned and pressed.
     How many times have you bought something, wore it once, decided it wasn’t your color or didn’t fit the way you liked and you were stuck with it? Well, that’s where the Snoot comes in. You can sell your green plaid jacket that you just had to have but then decided you hated at the Snoot because there is a customer out there who will love that jacket. You won’t get what you paid for the jacket but it beats hanging in the back of your closet taking up space.      The best part of the Snoot—even more than the great selection of clothes—is the people I work with. Being a writer I spend a lot of time behind a computer and working at the Snoot gets me into the real world. The customers and gals I work with are the best. Let me tell you, you can’t get a knockoff bag past them and they know a real fur from faux in a blink of an eye. 
     Consignment shopping is a lot like solving a mystery. It’s all about the hunt for the perfect scarf, skirt or shoes. I think that’s why mystery and the Consignment: Murder series seemed like a perfect fit. Putting two of the things I like most together in a mystery series is a blast. I get to write about murder and mayhem for fun and profit and I get to find great deals on clothes and look good for next to nothing. Come visit me at the Snooty Fox and I’ll show you around. I know there’s a cute little Louis Vuitton bag out there with your name on it!
     So my question to you is, are you a bargain hunter? Do you shop consignment shops, thrift shops, garage sales, Craig’s list and the like for bargains?      

"Dotting" The House With Technology

by Karen Rose Smith


Christmas brought new technology to the Smith house!  After seeing the online promotions and discussing with friends how the Amazon Echo and Dot have conveniently worked in their homes, I decided to take the plunge and gift these items to my husband.  I suppose the younger generation view these items as the newest technology and add them to their homes to keep up with the latest additions to phones and tablets.  But, as a member of an older generation, rather than fighting the technology, I look at these new gadgets as a way to help me do things with less stress on me and my body.  As a person with arthritis and tendonitis, it is much more convenient to give a voice command to turn on a light, make a phone call or listen to an audiobook than getting out of my chair or maneuvering my phone or tablet.

We have added smart speakers in my office, den and master bedroom.  Now, at night, if I go upstairs to settle for the evening and my husband is still downstairs, I can talk to him with a simple voice command, rather than getting up and yelling down the stairs.  If either of us were to fall or need medical assistance, we can call each other...or emergency services...hands free.  I can also call anyone on my phone's contact list.

Do you remember the "Clapper?"  We were still using them to turn on lights in the bedroom, but recently I was having a flareup of wrist problems and was unable to "clap" the light on.  So we added a smart plug, synced it with Alexa and now I can just ask her to turn on or off the light!








I'm sure, as we become more familiar with the technology, we will embrace it even more as we discover new ways it can make our "golden" years easier.  And it is also reassuring that if we need assistance, it can be there with one simple voice command. 


Needless to say, my heroine in my Daisy's Tea Garden cozy mystery series will most probably be adding these devices to her home.  Hmmm...


 ****************
NOW AVAILABLE


Keith Rebert is homeless with a sad story that includes the death of his wife and medical bills that decimated his finances. Daisy and her friend Jonas Groft meet him through one of Daisy’s employees and offer help. But soon Keith is caught up in a murder investigation. He was supplying the shop Pirated Treasures with antiques, including Gettysburg Battlefield memorabilia. The nephew of the shop’s owner, Barry Storm, was lowballing merchandise that Keith brought in. One day Keith and Barry vehemently argued. Soon after, Barry was found dead, killed with a marble rolling pin that held Keith’s fingerprints. Daisy’s special for the month, cherry tarts, was found spilled on the floor next to him. Keith is the number one suspect.
Keith finds a job on a farm where he can live in a cabin with his daughter Mandy. A friend of Barry’s lived and worked there before the murder, then suddenly moved out. As Daisy finds clues that give insight into Barry’s life and prepares for her daughter’s wedding, she faces danger, verbally battles with the detective on the case, and tries to figure out what part Jonas Groft plays in her life. When she finds the ultimate clue that tells her exactly what Barry Storm was involved in, she almost loses her life. 
MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS on Amazon
MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS on Barnes and Noble

New Year's Eve

by  Maggie Sefton



Happy New Year's Eve, Cozy Chicks Readers and Friends!