Kate Collins's Blog, page 189
July 8, 2014
Summer Fun
howdy from Duffy Brown
Time to shop…at least window shop. It's summer and the living is easy with the wind in your hair, sun on your shoulders and radio blaring.
We all have our private open-air memories of THE convertible either the fun we had in one or the convertible we always dreamed of. Convertibles-r-us they are totally American — the unexcelled visibility, the sense of motion, and a warm sun after a long, cold winter are good for the soul.
So the question today is… Pick One! The one that you always wanted, the one that has the best memories, the one you can see yourself in right now this summer.
What about a trip to Italy? What about an Alfa Spider that
simply oozes Italian style…and if you’re lucky a hunky Italian driver. It doesn’t have the haughty social snub of a Ferrari but the fun of relaxing friends inviting you in for a romp in the country.
What about a blast from the past with Buick's post-World War II land yacht. The Roadmaster set the tone for an entire era in 1949 with its VentiPorts on the fenders and "observation car" curved windshield. Here’s a car as large and luxurious as a victorious America itself. Power windows and seats were standard.
My personal fav…’57 Chevy! Walker Boone has his ’57 red Chevy convertible in my Consignment shop mysteries. Wait till you see the cover for Demise in Denim. It has this car and Bruce Willis sitting shotgun. Love the tailfins that were the ID badge for the late ‘50s.
Camaro and Mustang owners fight like cats and dogs over who has the better car. I had a ’68 yellow Camaro with a black vinyl top. Holy cow! What a car!!! Not that was a fun drive proven by the fact that I got more than my share of speeding tickets.
The current Camaro has no direct link to my Camero but this new baby looks so darn hot!
Are you a "Route 66" fan? What about this fantastic vintage ‘Vet! where American wanderlust was V8-powered.
Are you Jaguar F-TYPE? What a fun ride!
If you’re into the backwoods,
you can’t beat a Jeep. Stripped to its skivvies, a topless, doorless, windshield-folded-down Wrangler is an amusement park ride, but even more fun.
Poster child of the modern affordable sports car is the ever-fun and darling Mazda Miata A small car, the Miata offers a cozy drive with just enough luggage space for weekending and it always gets the you go girl looks.
And then there’s the Volkswagen bus with Safari windows. This is about as cool as cool gets, and you have to admit a windshield that opens like a concession stand is really sweet
.
Or maybe you always wanted a VW Beetle! Who doesn’t look great in this little number!
Okay, it’s summer and you sooooo need a convertible. Pick one and I’ll give away two of my “old” romances that I wrote before I switched to writing cozy mysteries. They’re a little steamy…to go along with these hot rides.
Have a fun summer!
Hugs, Duffy Brown…who thinks she really needs a new white Mustang Convertible and the Beach Boys on the radio
Time to shop…at least window shop. It's summer and the living is easy with the wind in your hair, sun on your shoulders and radio blaring.
We all have our private open-air memories of THE convertible either the fun we had in one or the convertible we always dreamed of. Convertibles-r-us they are totally American — the unexcelled visibility, the sense of motion, and a warm sun after a long, cold winter are good for the soul.So the question today is… Pick One! The one that you always wanted, the one that has the best memories, the one you can see yourself in right now this summer.
What about a trip to Italy? What about an Alfa Spider that
simply oozes Italian style…and if you’re lucky a hunky Italian driver. It doesn’t have the haughty social snub of a Ferrari but the fun of relaxing friends inviting you in for a romp in the country.
What about a blast from the past with Buick's post-World War II land yacht. The Roadmaster set the tone for an entire era in 1949 with its VentiPorts on the fenders and "observation car" curved windshield. Here’s a car as large and luxurious as a victorious America itself. Power windows and seats were standard. 
My personal fav…’57 Chevy! Walker Boone has his ’57 red Chevy convertible in my Consignment shop mysteries. Wait till you see the cover for Demise in Denim. It has this car and Bruce Willis sitting shotgun. Love the tailfins that were the ID badge for the late ‘50s.
Camaro and Mustang owners fight like cats and dogs over who has the better car. I had a ’68 yellow Camaro with a black vinyl top. Holy cow! What a car!!! Not that was a fun drive proven by the fact that I got more than my share of speeding tickets. 
The current Camaro has no direct link to my Camero but this new baby looks so darn hot! 
Are you a "Route 66" fan? What about this fantastic vintage ‘Vet! where American wanderlust was V8-powered.
Are you Jaguar F-TYPE? What a fun ride! If you’re into the backwoods,
you can’t beat a Jeep. Stripped to its skivvies, a topless, doorless, windshield-folded-down Wrangler is an amusement park ride, but even more fun.Poster child of the modern affordable sports car is the ever-fun and darling Mazda Miata A small car, the Miata offers a cozy drive with just enough luggage space for weekending and it always gets the you go girl looks.
And then there’s the Volkswagen bus with Safari windows. This is about as cool as cool gets, and you have to admit a windshield that opens like a concession stand is really sweet
.Or maybe you always wanted a VW Beetle! Who doesn’t look great in this little number!
Okay, it’s summer and you sooooo need a convertible. Pick one and I’ll give away two of my “old” romances that I wrote before I switched to writing cozy mysteries. They’re a little steamy…to go along with these hot rides.
Have a fun summer!
Hugs, Duffy Brown…who thinks she really needs a new white Mustang Convertible and the Beach Boys on the radio
July 7, 2014
Summer Celebrations
by Maggie SeftonI hope all of you had a fun and festive July 4th or a peaceful relaxing one----whatever you wanted. Picnics and parties or lounging in a chaise lounge in your shady backyard, book face down on your chest. :)
I celebrated this July 4th here in the Northern Neck of Virginia, just an hour and a half from the jam-packed Washington DC Beltway and a block from that wide, wide Potomac River. The weather Friday through Sunday was fantastic. My daughter Maria drove down from Arlington in Northern Virginia last Friday to celebrate the holiday with me.
Watching fireworks from the banks of the Potomac allowed us to see all the smaller celebrations going on across that wide river on the Maryland side-----as colorful explosions burst all along the Maryland shoreline as well as the Virginia side. My dear friends from Vienna in Northern VA joined us that evening. Friends make everything more fun.
Saturday, July 5th, turned out to be busier than the holiday as Maria and I were invited to two separate picnic parties, complete with waaaaaaay too much delicious food. Naturally, we managed to attend both and had a great time. Maria even got to take a kayak out onto the calm Potomac with two neighbors. Oh, yes-----this entire neighborhood along the river is populated by what I call "Ex-Pats" or escapees from the DC Metro Area Madness. And boy oh boy-----these folks love to party. :)
How did you celebrate Independence Day? Peaceful and quiet or Parties?
July 6, 2014
MY NEW MYSTERY TITLE AND AMAZING SYNCHRONICITY
by Kate Collins
Yes, life can be like a box of chocolates.
If someone had ever told me that one day I’d be reading books on quantum physics, I would have slapped that person upside the head. Honestly, I squeaked through my college physics class (which I recently learned is Newtonian physics). But who knew that? Not me.
Fortunately, I was introduced to quantum theory in a roundabout fashion: I bought a little book on the Law of Attraction, and that started a cascade of reading about synchronicity, the Law of Abundance, Law of Manifestation, and the rest of the laws. Bet you thought I was going to say I learned about it from The Big Bang Theory. (Also true.) And p.s. did you know Albert Einstein was a quantum physicist? E=MC2? Yep, quantum physics.
Back to the theme: I am intrigued by synchronicity. It explains why when I am talking to one of my kids on the phone, the other calls at the exact same time. Or when I am thinking about someone, I’ll either run into her at the store or get an email or phone call from her. Do I want to know more about a subject? If I think about it, stories will suddenly pop up on the Internet.
I’m sure you’ve had examples in your life, but here’s my latest and I think my best ever.
For several months now I’ve been working on #17 in the Flower Shop Mystery series. I usually call my current work in progress by its number until I think of a suitable title, a process that can take months. For this book however, I had a working title immediately that helped me keep in my focus what my main character’s frame of mind is. There’s a reason for her mindset, but that’s a secret to be revealed when the book promo comes out.
Last week, my editor asked to see my synopsis, so when I emailed it to her, I explained that the title was just my working title. She emailed back immediately that she loved it and if I was serious about it, she’d see how the other editors felt. Within the hour, she had emailed again to say that not only the other editors but also the publisher loved it, too, and now it was official.
My title is: FLORIST GRUMP.
See why that helped me keep Abby’s mindset in focus? Anyway, here’s the synchronistic part. Two days after the title became official, the news came out that this is the movie FORREST GUMP’s 20th anniversary. (There were the famous bench and box of chocolate photos all over the Internet, too, which gave me an idea for the cover.)
I am so excited about the timing! And now I have a very good feeling about this book.
I also have a special treat coming up for you in August. But I’ll save that for another blog.
Have a happy non-grumpy day.
Yes, life can be like a box of chocolates.
If someone had ever told me that one day I’d be reading books on quantum physics, I would have slapped that person upside the head. Honestly, I squeaked through my college physics class (which I recently learned is Newtonian physics). But who knew that? Not me.
Fortunately, I was introduced to quantum theory in a roundabout fashion: I bought a little book on the Law of Attraction, and that started a cascade of reading about synchronicity, the Law of Abundance, Law of Manifestation, and the rest of the laws. Bet you thought I was going to say I learned about it from The Big Bang Theory. (Also true.) And p.s. did you know Albert Einstein was a quantum physicist? E=MC2? Yep, quantum physics.
Back to the theme: I am intrigued by synchronicity. It explains why when I am talking to one of my kids on the phone, the other calls at the exact same time. Or when I am thinking about someone, I’ll either run into her at the store or get an email or phone call from her. Do I want to know more about a subject? If I think about it, stories will suddenly pop up on the Internet.
I’m sure you’ve had examples in your life, but here’s my latest and I think my best ever.
For several months now I’ve been working on #17 in the Flower Shop Mystery series. I usually call my current work in progress by its number until I think of a suitable title, a process that can take months. For this book however, I had a working title immediately that helped me keep in my focus what my main character’s frame of mind is. There’s a reason for her mindset, but that’s a secret to be revealed when the book promo comes out.
Last week, my editor asked to see my synopsis, so when I emailed it to her, I explained that the title was just my working title. She emailed back immediately that she loved it and if I was serious about it, she’d see how the other editors felt. Within the hour, she had emailed again to say that not only the other editors but also the publisher loved it, too, and now it was official.
My title is: FLORIST GRUMP.
See why that helped me keep Abby’s mindset in focus? Anyway, here’s the synchronistic part. Two days after the title became official, the news came out that this is the movie FORREST GUMP’s 20th anniversary. (There were the famous bench and box of chocolate photos all over the Internet, too, which gave me an idea for the cover.)
I am so excited about the timing! And now I have a very good feeling about this book.
I also have a special treat coming up for you in August. But I’ll save that for another blog.
Have a happy non-grumpy day.
July 5, 2014
Just Peachy!
by Leann
When we lived in Texas, there were certain fruits I discovered that were the best ever. Sort of like when we visit the kids in the Pacific Northwest and enjoy their raspberries and blueberries. Yum! In Texas it was the
avocados, cantaloupe and grapefruit from the Rio Grande Valley. I have never tasted cantaloupe like what I had there--and though I cannot eat grapefruit, my husband was in love with those. You cannot get a better avocado than in Texas and the season is long.
The window for the other fruits was fairly narrow, however. Only a few weeks and they were gone. But here in South Carolina, the delicious peaches have begun to come in and the season lasts until early
September. I've made my first cobbler and once we are in the new house, I will make peach pie. If the raspberries are decent, peach melba pie will be on the menu.
There was a time I baked and cooked all
the time. My grandfather was a chef and my grandmother was a "baker," as it says on the census form from her decade. I have loved cooking since I was a kid and have plenty of family recipes. I grew up in New York, however, and though peaches did come in, they never tasted like they do here. So now, I have to find recipes for peaches--although the Bisquick cobbler I made yesterday is mostly gone. De-lish!
So, if you have some wonderful peach recipes, I'd love if you could share them! I need to take advantage of this long long summer fruit season!
When we lived in Texas, there were certain fruits I discovered that were the best ever. Sort of like when we visit the kids in the Pacific Northwest and enjoy their raspberries and blueberries. Yum! In Texas it was the
avocados, cantaloupe and grapefruit from the Rio Grande Valley. I have never tasted cantaloupe like what I had there--and though I cannot eat grapefruit, my husband was in love with those. You cannot get a better avocado than in Texas and the season is long.The window for the other fruits was fairly narrow, however. Only a few weeks and they were gone. But here in South Carolina, the delicious peaches have begun to come in and the season lasts until early
September. I've made my first cobbler and once we are in the new house, I will make peach pie. If the raspberries are decent, peach melba pie will be on the menu.There was a time I baked and cooked all
the time. My grandfather was a chef and my grandmother was a "baker," as it says on the census form from her decade. I have loved cooking since I was a kid and have plenty of family recipes. I grew up in New York, however, and though peaches did come in, they never tasted like they do here. So now, I have to find recipes for peaches--although the Bisquick cobbler I made yesterday is mostly gone. De-lish!So, if you have some wonderful peach recipes, I'd love if you could share them! I need to take advantage of this long long summer fruit season!
July 4, 2014
THE TOP TEN THINGS PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO ME AT BOOK SIGNINGS
by Mary Kennedy
Like most authors, I do the occasional book signings, sometimes at book stores and sometimes at conferences. At the moment, I'm looking forward to signing copies of my first book in the Dream Club Mysteries, NIGHTMARES CAN BE MURDER. (Warning, shameless plug below.)
Here's my list of the top ten things people have said to me. 1. Where's the ladies' room? (this is by far the number one comment.) Answer: "I think it's in the back, towards the left."
2. "Did you write this?" Answer: "Yes, see there's my name, right on the cover." 3. "Are these free?" Answer: "I'm afraid they're for sale, just like every other book in the store."
4. Are you Nora Roberts? "No, I'm Mary Kennedy.". "Then why are you sitting next to a big display of Nora Roberts' books?" Answer. (it was actually a good question. There was a ginormous end cap filled with Nora's books, right next to me.). "I don't know." 5. "Did Nora send you in her place?" Answer: "No, she didn't." "You look better on your cover photo." (customer looks at author photo in back of my book.)
Answer: "I was having a good hair day, that day." (and also good lighting and good make-up but there's no sense in giving away all my secrets) 6. "Could you recommend me to your agent?" Answer: "No, I'm afraid she isn't taking on any new clients." 7. "Well, then, could you recommend me to your editor?" Answer: "No, I'm afraid she's quite busy and has her own authors to worry about." "What good are you then?" Answer: "I have no idea, I've often wondered the same thing." 8. "Is there a staff restroom I could use?" Answer: "The public restroom is in the back of the store." "Yes, but it's out of toilet paper." 9. "Does your husband know you're doing this?" Answer: "Doing? what?" Customer points to large banner above me. It says, "Hot sizzling romance is just an arm's length away." He reaches his arm out playfully, as if to grab me and I shrink back in my chair. 10. End of signing. Bookstore owner looking at towering pile of unsold books. "Is this all you've sold?" Answer, (brave smile,). "I'm afraid so, but I had ever such a nice time!Thank you so much for inviting me." "Well, maybe we can do it again," he says doubtfully. Not all signings are like this, of course, usually I meet fantastic people and form wonderful new friendships but these are a few that just stick in my mind. Mary Kennedy
Like most authors, I do the occasional book signings, sometimes at book stores and sometimes at conferences. At the moment, I'm looking forward to signing copies of my first book in the Dream Club Mysteries, NIGHTMARES CAN BE MURDER. (Warning, shameless plug below.)
Here's my list of the top ten things people have said to me. 1. Where's the ladies' room? (this is by far the number one comment.) Answer: "I think it's in the back, towards the left."
2. "Did you write this?" Answer: "Yes, see there's my name, right on the cover." 3. "Are these free?" Answer: "I'm afraid they're for sale, just like every other book in the store."
4. Are you Nora Roberts? "No, I'm Mary Kennedy.". "Then why are you sitting next to a big display of Nora Roberts' books?" Answer. (it was actually a good question. There was a ginormous end cap filled with Nora's books, right next to me.). "I don't know." 5. "Did Nora send you in her place?" Answer: "No, she didn't." "You look better on your cover photo." (customer looks at author photo in back of my book.)
Answer: "I was having a good hair day, that day." (and also good lighting and good make-up but there's no sense in giving away all my secrets) 6. "Could you recommend me to your agent?" Answer: "No, I'm afraid she isn't taking on any new clients." 7. "Well, then, could you recommend me to your editor?" Answer: "No, I'm afraid she's quite busy and has her own authors to worry about." "What good are you then?" Answer: "I have no idea, I've often wondered the same thing." 8. "Is there a staff restroom I could use?" Answer: "The public restroom is in the back of the store." "Yes, but it's out of toilet paper." 9. "Does your husband know you're doing this?" Answer: "Doing? what?" Customer points to large banner above me. It says, "Hot sizzling romance is just an arm's length away." He reaches his arm out playfully, as if to grab me and I shrink back in my chair. 10. End of signing. Bookstore owner looking at towering pile of unsold books. "Is this all you've sold?" Answer, (brave smile,). "I'm afraid so, but I had ever such a nice time!Thank you so much for inviting me." "Well, maybe we can do it again," he says doubtfully. Not all signings are like this, of course, usually I meet fantastic people and form wonderful new friendships but these are a few that just stick in my mind. Mary Kennedy
July 2, 2014
How do you celebrate?
Let’s Party!
By Mary Jane Maffini aka Victoria Abbott
Tuesday was Canada Day, a national holiday and a really good excuse to paint your face red and white if that’s your kind of thing. There were the spectacular fireworks and a big turnout of people on Parliament Hill in our capital city. With over a hundred thousand people up on 'the hill' for music and fireworks, we'll confess we're happier at home.
Victoria took this shot in the nearby village of Osgoode!
The flags are still out in our neighborhood and people celebrate with barbecues, family gatherings and flags flapping from car windows. Everything is closed in our community except for one drugstore.
We're not crazy about the hats but we sure love the PARTY!We like to celebrate with a family mid-day barbecue We are heavy on little kids and small dogs and lots of desserts. Sometimes I think these things define us, along with some flag waving. July 1 has always been a special day in our family: it was my parents’ anniversary and there is emotional significance for my husband and me as well. We’re sentimental types.
I treasure national holidays. They remind me to step away from the computer, relax and laugh and enjoy family and the outdoors. Yesterday was a perfect day for us with family from my ninety-one year old mother in law to one month-old Ella, and the latest grand-dog, a tiny Yorkie called Money.
I wish you all a wonderful day of celebrations tomorrow wherever you are. I hope there are kids and dogs and food in your celebration, but most of all I hope you celebrate July 4th your way whether it’s with a party or with a good book. Of course, we celebrated with a good book after our guests left!
Happy happy! I’d love to know what you have planned, my friends.
July 1, 2014
A mini vacation to Savannah...
Wright Square. A lot of weddings here. People go to Savannah for the food, the flowers, the big old Southern houses, the parks and Spanish moss, love of things haunted, and did I mention the food. Once you park your car you walk/eat your way across the city. It’s truly a walking city.
Savanna in the springMy must-eat restaurants are the Pink House. Through the
The Old Pink House…Yummmmmyears, the building has survived fires, wars and plagues. The two things remaining are the pink exterior and James Habersham Jr who hanged himself in the basement in the 1700s and never quite left the place. What to order...shrimp and grits!If you want the best fried oysters go to Tubby’s on River Street and eat outside overlooking the Savannah River. The best sandwiches…Zunzies for a Conquistador with special sauce that drips down your chin.
The Pirate House…go to the tunnels below. Yikes!Order pecan chicken at the Pirate House shown here, oldest house in Savannah and where Robert Louis Stevenson wrote Treasure Island and where you can go through the tunnels underneath that lead to the Savannah River and where pirates kidnapped drunken sailors and dragged them to waiting ships. Ask the waiters at the Pirate House about ghosts...everyone has a ghost story.
For down home food wait in line at Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House and eat greens and grits and the best fried chicken and biscuits on Earth. You have to wait in line for an hour just to get in but it’s so worth it
Where to stay...an old Southern home of course. Many are now B&Bs and haunted like mad. The Marshall House, The Kehoe House & The 17 Hundred 90 Inn & Restaurant are all three fine places to stay and are known to be the most haunted inns in Savannah. I’ve stayed at the Marshall House
it was a hospital for Union soldiers during that unfortunate Northern Aggression. My cell phone would go off in the middle of the night, the alarm went off, our door key refused to work the radio came on by itself in the middle of the night. The maid said that ghosts love electronics. Keep that in mind when you stay in Savannah.
The city squares are terrific. There are 23 of them and they are small parks in the city and have huge live oak trees with Spanish moss. General Oglethorpe designed the layout of Savannah in 1733, streets interrupted by public squares. Every city should have this kind of green space. This is Orleans Square.
Forsyth Park is so lovely at night you need to stroll it to appreciate it. For more of the real South take a walk through Bonaventure Cemetery. Just an FYI…Voodoo is not a tourist 
gimmick in Savannah, it’s the real deal and you’ll see fresh fruits and vegetables on certain tombstones as “offerings.” Above is the statue of Little Gracie. You can see her wondering Bonaventure at night.
Juliette Gordon LoweMany of the old homes are named after the person who designed it or lived in it or died in it. Most famous is the Juliette Gordon Lowe house, founder of the Girl Scouts and of course Juliette is still around to keep those Girl Scouts in line and when you pass by the Davenport House, look in the window for the ghost cat. The Sorrell Reed
Sorrell Reed house…yours for a song and a few ghostshouse is the most haunted house in Savannah. People buy it, they sell it, it’s always on the market. No one lives there now…they haven’t for years and it’s prime real estate in Savannah. One scary place. Gives you the shivers just to walk by it.
Okay, I gave you a tiny glimpse of my fav city, so what’s yours? Las Vegas? New York, Miami, Disney World?
June 30, 2014
Christmas in July! A Special Ellery's Mystery Cozy Contest!
Hosted By Ellery AdamsIt's the first of the month! Usually, I give away an e-gift card for $10 to the bookstore of your choice, but this month I'm featuring a special Christmas in July prize. This wonderful tea lovers' gift basket could be yours if you name the correct cozy!
This is how it works: I post a few lines from a cozy mystery. You post the title and author in the comment section. Then, I'll draw a random name from the winning guesses and post that person's name on this page and on Facebook by 10 p.m. on July 2nd.
Okay, here we go! Here are the lines from this month's mystery cozy:
"She yanked the door open and, to her horror, found Stan Berry sitting on the toilet. It looked like he'd found Eleanor's letter opener. It was sticking out of his chest."
Ellery's helpful hint - This author has TWO releases this month and her name appears somewhere in the prize photo! Good luck!
June 29, 2014
DARE TO GO HAIR(Y)
By Kate Collins
Hair was the theme of the July issue of MORE magazine, and in a bold experiment, the editors asked several writers to let their natural body hair grow out over several weeks' time. In other words, no shaving, no plucking! The results were interesting. They had to deal with their own egos, their fear of judgment of others, trying to ignore stares, and their surprising sense of freedom.
I attempted to imagine myself going for a month without denuding. After serious contemplation – lasting all of ten seconds – I gave a hard shudder and said, “No way,” to my reflection in the mirror. And then I plucked those little spears that grow underneath my chin with a vengeance. I refused to even contemplate wearing a bathing suit in public without a thorough shave. Ew.
Once while on a vacation, I was without a magnifying mirror and so did not see a couple of those chinny-chin-chinners. When I got home, I was horrified to think of how people must have focused on two of those ½ long black mutants waving like a flag in the breeze instead of on whatever I was saying. And why is it those stubborn hairs grow faster than the speed of sound? Would a bad cut grow that fast? No-o-o-o!
Many years ago I stayed with friends in Germany for a month in the summer. They took me to a public pool where I was horrified by the bushes under the womens’ arms and the long curly hair on their legs. (They were equally horrified by my taking up valuable time to shave in their only bathroom.)
And my dear stepmom, who is 87, either doesn’t see or doesn’t care that she has a small garden on her upper lip and chin, some an inch long. And when we meet for lunch, I find myself wanting to grab a pair of tweezers and finish them off. Now what was she saying? Sorry. Couldn’t focus. Shallow of me, I know.
Where do you stand on the shaving issue? Does your (or anyone else’s) body hair annoy you? Have you gone to great lengths or no lengths at all to rid yourself of them? If you have a hubby or kids and decide not to shave, what would his/their reactions be?
