Kate Collins's Blog, page 221

Six swans (minus one) not swimming

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

So there we were driving down one of the back roads and came upon this jolly little family.



I was a bit concerned, because I'd heard that swans will charge if they feel their babies are in danger, but this Mom (or Dad) didn't seem to mind us taking a few pictures.



Have I ever written about swans?  Well, not really.  But I did mention swans (or fake ones) in Bookmarked for Death (Booktown Mystery #2).  Will there be swans in an upcoming book?  You better believe it!

Have you had an adventure that featured swans?
.

Losing my Sea Legs

by Julie

All of us on the Party Bus on our way to the pier.I suppose the title of this post is inaccurate, because I'm about to talk about being on the lake, not at sea, but I think the concept is still apt.

About two weeks ago Lorraine talked about the boat she'd fallen in love with while doing research for her new Jeff Resnick book, Dark Waters.

The day after that post ran, my husband and I (along with a bunch of friends) went out on Lake Michigan on a boat very similar to Lorraine's favorite. Ours was a little smaller, 42 feet rather than 46, but it had a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and two nooks for dining.

Chicago was hopping that night. The Tall Ships were in town, Taylor Swift was performing at Soldier Field, fireworks were scheduled at Navy Pier, and we were cruising the lakefront, taking it all in.

Perfect weather. Gorgeous, clear night. Spectacular sunset. Best of all, we were in the company of good friends.



At about nine o'clock, however, our captain decided to hold up and wait for the fireworks. The water was getting really choppy and he was afraid of passengers getting seasick if we cruised too far south. So we held up near Navy Pier. All good. It seemed as though all the other boats in the area had the same idea. We even saw the Wirtz family boat as it zoomed by.


I was sitting up top most of the evening. Hadn't even had a single glass of wine, believe it or not. I had eaten real food, but the choppy water started to get to me. After about 45 minutes of bouncing waves knocking us up and down, I had to go below where it was a bit more steady. My friends down there (smart women: they'd all taken Dramamine ahead of time), looked on with sympathy. It was getting dark out, so I suppose they didn't see me turning green.

Except for a cruise during a hurricane once, which tossed our ship every which way, I've never been seasick. I had a small bout of motion sickness when we were on a bus tour once, but that only affected me when I sat in the way back. I thought I'd be fine.

Not so much. And because I was faced the other way, hanging my head over the side, I missed some of the fireworks.

I had fun for most of the night, though. And with the benefit of hindsight, I'm glad. If someone had to get sick on this trip, I'm happy it was me and not one of our guests. And that my husband wasn't affected, because he'd arranged everything and this was his baby.

So it seems my sea (or lake) legs are gone.
How about you? How do you fare out among the waves?

Unplugging

by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed

I didn't think I could do it - go three days without internet access. No facebook, email, twitter, pinterest, Cozy Chicks, none of 'youse' guys to hang with. The very thought made my forehead sweat with anxiety. How could I go to the campground bathrooms without the security of my phone, let alone wander off into the woods where reception would be virtually non-existent? I resolved to at least try.

So there I was in a Wisconsin state park with a tent, a cot, and a family who knew what they were doing. And did I work! Initially, hauling everything out to my car and driving there. Then setting up, with meals to cook and dishes to wash, and everything took way longer than loading a dishwasher. When I wasn't working my buns off, or hiking in a really awesome prairie, I faced long stretches with nothing to do. On an average day, I'd be hovering over my laptop, checking out my online friends' activities. But this wasn't average, because I had left my 'stuff' at home. Good thing I brought books along (and no, not on a device. Real ones).

At the end of the weekend, I had to pack it all up, drive home, and haul it all back into my house.

But ya know what? I returned feeling incredibly healthy - both mentally and physically - and excited about getting back to work. No aches and pains bothered me as they usual do. No chatter had been going on in my head about nothing even remotely important (I have a lot of that). I hadn't worried at all about my future or regretted events from my past.

Then I realized that for those three beautiful days, I had been living totally in the here and now, focusing on what was going on around me rather than what was happening inside. I was looking out, and it felt great. I can't wait to do it again. Unplug, tune out, leave 'stuff' behind. Um...well...at least leave certain 'stuff' behind. Because now I have a whole lot of new 'stuff' to deal with. But that's okay. Those are essentials.

Try it on for size. Unplug for an hour or a day or a few days, and see where the experience takes you. You won't regret it.

Heading Back East---Birthdays and Books and Football

by Maggie Sefton



This Thursday I'm heading back to Northern VA to celebrate two granddaughters' birthdays as well as my own birthday.  Parties are scheduled for all three birthdays.  :)   Plus a birthday shopping excursion with my teenage granddaughter Natale.   It will be a LOT of fun.  I've also got three book signings/book events scheduled after Labor Day in the early part of September.  Of course, I'll also be making the rounds of bookstores in Northern Va/DC/Suburban Maryland taking postcards for the 2nd book in the Molly Malone political suspense trilogy, POISONED POLITICS.

And if that's not enough going on, there are dinners with old friends, Diane & Les and Nancy & Tom, friends that I've known since the earliest days of childhood in Arlington, VA.  Nancy &   Diane are sisters and grew up across the street from me in Arlington.  Old friends are golden, and I always stay with Diane and Les at their beautiful home in Vienna, VA, west of Arlington.  Gourmet cook Nancy and husband Tom  are also hosting my daughters and me one evening before my birthday at their gorgeous Vienna home.  I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing everyone again.  :)

And believe it or not---there's even more scheduled.  :)  I got a text from daughter Serena last week that informed me they were scheduling a Family Football Outing in New York City for Labor Day weekend.  Serena had already found and paid for a 2-BR apt in Melissa's neighborhood of the Upper West Side.  Daughters Serena, Maria and I will be there, plus space for one more.  Daughter Melissa may join us because her apartment will be filled with daughter Christine and family.  :)  People sleeping everywhere.

Christine is getting tickets for us because grandson Matthew, who attends Penn State University and plays football---wide receiver---will be playing August 31st, Saturday at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ.  Last year, our entire family did our Family Football Outing by driving to Charlottesville, VA to watch Penn State play University of Virginia.  Great fun, and even the rain waited until the game was over.  This year, Penn State will play Syracuse.

So---there will be a lot going on.  Our family is fun-loving, rowdy, and we love to laugh.  So, it'll be quite a weekend.  Mid-September, I hope to get down into the Northern Neck of Virginia (near the mouth of the Potomac River) for a while. I'll post about that later on.  My book signings will be Wednesday, Sept 3rd, at One More Page Books in Arlington, VA;  I'll also be signing Saturday, Sept 7th,  at Barnes & Noble--Seven Corners, VA.  Please check my website for details if you're interested.

What do you have planned for Labor Day Weekend?  Backyard barbecue?  Weekend trip?

School Yard Bullies at Any Age

by Kate Collins

A strange situation has developed in my new condominium community that makes me feel like I'm back in 7th grade. I'm one of five people on the advisory board, which was just formed two months ago. A person who is not on the board, but whose spouse heads up the board, showed up at our last meeting and announced that s/he was going to assume the secretary's duties, relieving the official secretary of her job.

We committee members were stunned. There had been no discussion beforehand, there wasn't even a hint that this was even a consideration. We were all so stunned that we said nothing.

It wasn't until after the meeting that we had a chance to discuss this among ourselves, and then we weren't pleased that this person had in fact, bullied his/her way into the meeting. And when the minutes arrived in our inboxes the next day, they were poorly written, rambling, and full of inaccuracies. And they were to be posted in the community clubhouse that way! That was when we knew we had to speak up.

So we got together to compose a tactful and polite email about limiting the meeting to board members only, asking that the secretary resume her duties, and that the minutes be amended, and then we sent it to the head of the committee. That, apparently, made both husband and wife angry, and now we have a "situation" in the neighborhood where they are basically asking people to choose sides. How juvenile.

The whole situation reminds me of problems in the schoolyard. Someone doesn't get their way, so they throw a tantrum. As adults, shouldn't we be above these tactics? Shouldn't board members work together to make the community a better place to live, not work against each other in order to accomplish their own agendas?

Have you ever had a situation like this? How did you handle it?

Love THIS Nurse

by Leann

It's time for the kids to head back to school, a time that I remember well both as an excited child and then as a school nurse for twenty years. Unfortunately, there is a sad and scary trend happening across this nation. We are cutting vital personnel from school staffs to save money. Having a professional nurse in every school, five days a week, is the ideal. It could save lives. Instead, we are sacrificing children's health and safety for a few bucks.

I once had a gentleman ask me, while I was still employed in the school district, this question: "What the heck do YOU do all day?" The tone was sarcastic and condescending. It upset me. Thing is, he wasn't even interested in the answer--only his own opinion.

What does a school nurse do? Just about everything. And if that nurse works in a Title 1 school where the amount of children on free or reduced lunch is staggering s/he is challenged every day to help children, some of whom have never seen a health professional in their life. I worked in one of those schools. I did normal nurse things like administered medications, monitored children with chronic diseases like diabetes and asthma, catheterized or tube fed handicapped children with congenital problems, responded to medical emergencies like fractured bones, serious accidents to eyes, ears, puncture wounds, concussions ... well you get the idea. I saw a lot of blood, bone, vomit and pee over those twenty years. Add a
flu epidemic on top of all that and it makes for a very busy day for one person. I screened every child for dental, vision and hearing problems and as they got older looked for possible impending scoliosis. Scoliosis can be treated with back braces or surgery if caught in time. But ONLY if caught in time.

I also kept orange juice, snacks, clean underwear and socks, dry clothes, and all manner of first aid supplies in my clinic. The food and clothes? I had to ask for help to supply those and at times I just bought new underwear and socks on my own. I also checked every child's shot record to makes sure they were up to date so that OTHER children would be safe. And I referred more kids than I could ever count to specialists for what often turned out to be dangerous health problems. I went to the funerals of children who died of cancer, I made sure we got lice treatment for families who could not afford it and every now and then I actually got 30 minutes for lunch. Best part of the job? I gave and received lots and lots of hugs.

If you honestly believe all of those things (and more that I could name) can be delegated to a non-professional, I would heartily disagree. Yet that is what is happening across America. If you have any say in what goes on in your school district, whether you have children going to school or not, use your voice. Protest any change that might result in even one child dying because someone did not have the education and training to prevent that death. And education and training does NOT mean a 6 week course in administering medication. I had to take college classed in pharmacology as well as follow-up classes in side effects, administration and MORE pharmacology. That course work took a lot longer than 6 weeks.

Please help save a child's life if you can. And thanks for reading about an issue that is very close to my heart.

Clearly I Need An Intervention

By Heather
Just take a look at this picture. I never thought I had hoarding tendencies, but the proof is in the photo. I found all these while packing up the house. And truth be told, there were more of them that I was too embarrassed to add to the pic. My kids are 22, 20, and 18—why do I have all these?????



I think I need therapy.
What silly thing do you hoard?

That Pretty Little Pre-Order Button!

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



I'm absolutely thrilled to annouce that the Kindle edition of DARK WATERS, the next book in the Jeff Resnick Mystery series, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.  (The book will be released on October 1st. And fear not--the Trade Paperback edition will be available for pre-order in the next few days.)

I feel extremely lucky that Amazon offered me this exciting opportunity.  Pre-orders are what make or break a book in terms of bestsellers list.  Will I hit one of lists because of it?  Probably not, but this will certainly help give the book a welcome boost.

And I'm going to tease you, too.  To see the blurb and the fantastic cover done by Pat Ryan Graphics (and let me tell you, it may be the very best cover I've ever had), you'll have to go visit Amazon.

Then...come back here and tell me what you think.  (It's okay, the Amazon link above will open a new window so you don't even have to lose this one.)

All I can tell you is, I'm one very happy author.  And what would make me even happier is for you to pre-order and then read DARK WATERS.

P.S.  Several weeks from now you'll be able to pre-order for Smashwords, iTunes and Sony, too.

The August 2013 Report

* * * * * * * * * *
Welcome to Dru's Cozy Report: August 2013. This month we have four new series.

Murder On The Rocks by Allyson K. Abbott is the first book in the new "Mack's Bar" mystery series. Publisher: Kensington, August 2013

Mack's Bar is one of those nice, friendly places where everybody knows your name. That's great when someone's buying you a round, but not so hot when you find yourself at the top of a list of murder suspects - with your fingerprints on the bloody knife! Mackenzie 'Mack' Dalton is a Milwaukee bar owner with a nose for trouble - literally.

A neurological glitch has left her with extra perceptive senses. So when she stumbles upon a dead body in the alley behind the bar - the same spot where her own father was shot eight months earlier - she can tell right away there's something fishy in the air. The lead detective thinks there's a link between the two deaths, and he'll need Mack's help to sniff out the murderer amid the crowd of eccentric regulars. But when all the evidence points to her as the most likely culprit, it could be an early last call for Mack-and celebratory cocktails for a killer.

I like it. When evidence points to Mack as a prime suspect in the murder of her father’s girlfriend, Mack teams up with a local detective to uncork a killer, before she loses more than just her business.

This is a good book that was hard to put down. The plot was quite interesting especially Mack’s unique talent which added intrigue to this finely turned drama. I enjoyed how the story played out as this quickly became a page turner as I had to know what happens next. The mystery had plenty of suspects and it was fun narrowing down the list as the author did a good job in changing directions, even when I thought I had it all figured out. Mack is a great character and a welcome addition to the mystery genre. She is also surrounded by a good set of friends who are like family to her and I can’t wait to explore them all. This is a terrific read and I look forward to the next book in this exciting debut series. Bonus drinks recipes included.

Allyson K. Abbott is the pseudonym of Beth Amos who also writes as Annelise Ryan, author of the “Mattie Winston” mystery series.

Visit Beth at www.bethamos.com

FTC Full Disclosure - I bought this book.
Death Al Dente by Leslie Budewitz is the first book in the new "Food Lovers’ Village" mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, August 2013

The town of Jewel Bay, Montana—known as a Food Lovers' Village—is obsessed with homegrown and homemade Montana fare. So when Erin Murphy takes over her family’s century-old general store, she turns it into a boutique market filled with local delicacies. But Erin’s freshly booming business might go rotten when a former employee turns up dead.

Murphy’s Mercantile, known as the Merc, has been a staple in Jewel Bay for over a hundred years. To celebrate their recent makeover as a gourmet food market, Erin has organized a town festival, Festa di Pasta, featuring the culinary goods of Jewel Bay’s finest—including her mother Fresca’s delicious Italian specialties.

But Erin’s sweet success is soured when the shop’s former manager, Claudette, is found dead behind the Merc on the Festa’s opening night. With rival chef James Angelo stirring up rumors that Fresca’s sauce recipes were stolen from Claudette, Erin’s mother is under close scrutiny. Now Erin will have to hunt down some new suspects, or both her family and her store might wind up in hot water.

When her mother becomes the prime suspect in her ex-employee’s death, Erin with her spreadsheet will do everything possible to clear her mother’s name and reputation.

This enjoyable read was hard to put down. I love the tone of the story and how it flowed giving us a glimpse into the characters’ lives. With each character introduction, I was left with "are they the killer" or "just an innocent bystander". It was fun getting to know the ins-and-outs of Jewel Bay and how they all intermingled with one another. With a good solid plot and subplot, the mysteries enticed me to read more as I narrowed down the list of suspects. I love the small town feel and the dialogue was entertaining. This delightfully charming debut series is a fresh, homegrown whodunit that satisfied my thirst for adventure and I can’t wait to see what happens next in Jewel Bay. Bonus recipes are included.

Visit Leslie at www.lesliebudewitz.com

FTC Full Disclosure - I bought this book.
Pall in the Family by Dawn Eastman is the first book in the new "Family Fortune" mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, August 2013

The aptly named Crystal Haven is the destination for tourists seeking psychics, séances, and the promise of contacting the spirit world. In this small western Michigan town, everyone knows the Fortune family. Rose is gifted with tarot card readings. Her sister, Vi, is a self-proclaimed pet psychic. And Rose’s daughter Clyde is. . .

A cop. A cop on leave from Ann Arbor, more specifically, who’s come home to kooky Crystal Haven to reevaluate her life. Mom and Aunt Vi can’t wait for Clyde to finally embrace her own psychic gifts and join the family business. Clyde would prefer the low-stress lifestyle of a dog walker and the low-key company of her nephew, Seth.

But when a local psychic is killed, leaving behind a traumatized Shih Tzu, it seems to be in the cards for Clyde to get involved. With her old flame Mac leading the investigation, that may prove awkward. Whether she uses her skills as a cop or her long-denied psychic abilities, it’s up to Clyde to divine a killer’s identity before someone else suffers more misfortune.

This is a great read that I devoured from the moment I turned the first page. I love the writing style the author takes to tell us about the happenings in Crystal Haven that includes the return of Clyde and a gift with indecisions and her lovable but quirky family from her parents, especially her mother Rose, to her aunt Vi and to her nephew Seth. Also leading out the cast is her two best friends and the police detective who doesn’t want her involved in his investigation, but when it hits thisclose to home, her mission becomes bringing a killer to justice.

Boasting a good plot with a mystery that quickly became a page-turner and entertaining dialogue that had me giggling at times this was an excellent read and I can’t wait to see what happens next in this exciting debut series. I love discovering new-to-me authors and new series and this one has the makings of being around for a long, long time.

Visit Dawn at www.dawneastman.com

FTC Full Disclosure - I bought this book.
Cloche and Dagger by Jenn McKinlay is the first book in the new “Hat Shop” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, August 2013

Not only is Scarlett Parker’s love life in the loo—as her British cousin Vivian Tremont would say—it’s also gone viral with an embarrassing video. So when Viv suggests Scarlett leave Florida to lay low in London, she hops on the next plane across the pond. Viv is the proprietor of Mims’s Whims, a ladies’ hat shop on Portobello Road bequeathed to both cousins by their beloved grandmother, and she wants Scarlett to finally join her in the millinery business.

But a few surprises await Scarlett in London. First, she is met at the airport not by Viv, but by her handsome business manager, Harrison Wentworth. Second, Viv—who has some whims of her own—seems to be missing. No one is too concerned about the unpredictable Viv until one of her posh clients is found dead wearing the cloche hat Viv made for her—and nothing else. Is Scarlett’s cousin in trouble? Or is she in hiding?

I don’t know how she does it, but Jenn McKinlay creates stories that will have you enamored with the plot and the characters. We are introduced to Scarlett whose arrival in London is met with the disappearance of her cousin Viv. When a customer is later found dead wearing nothing but her cousin’s creation, Scarlett looks into her murder, if only to clear her cousin’s name and what follows is a fun ride that I could not put down.

I had a great time reading this light-hearted tale where the mystery kept me glued to the pages and the dialogue and comedic antics kept me entertained from beginning to end. Boasting a lovable cast of quirkily unconventional characters, this was an enjoyable read and a welcome addition to the cozy genre and I look forward to the next book in this exciting new series.

Visit Jenn at www.jennmckinlay.com

FTC Full Disclosure - I bought this book.
And check out these other August releases

Back to the Basics

by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed

I don't watch much television, so decided to go with basic cable when I moved in March. And haven't
missed much from what I used to have, which was everything! But when NBC and Time Warner got into their conflict and the viewers were caught in the crosshairs, and then CBS jumped into the war, I decided to retreat.

Others did too. Especially since the Packers have started back up with exhibition games and they just happen to be on NBC and after all, this is Wisconsin! Some (the pack rats) dug out their old rabbit ears, some of us bought those new gadgets that you stick on your window or wall for reception. Me? I connected to the roof antenna, which was trickier than it sounds cuz the cable guy changed out the face plate, eliminating that as a just-screw-it-in option. But it's up and running now.

And guess what? I have almost as many free channels as I did with basic cable. And the picture is clearer. It really is. Not sure why, but no complaints. So I'm cancelling my cable.

Now it I could only figure out how to get free wi-fi....

Ya know what? I may have won the war:)