Kate Collins's Blog, page 235

Stamp out some fun ...

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

Once upon a time ... I used to have a vast collection of rubber stamps.  Okay, I lied.  I still have them.  But they just don't have the same meaning or use for me that they once had. 

I used to write l-o-n-g letters to all my friends.  Funny, since I'm probably the most boring person on the planet and always have been. I liked to decorate the envelope with cute sayings and images.  Of course these days, I yak with friends via email or on Facebook.

But I do still have a use for rubber stamps.  And I still use them to decorate envelopes.  I have a quaint gaslight stamp for the Victoria Square and Booktown Mysteries, and I have a martini glass for the Jeff Resnick Mysteries (I color the little olive green).  For the Cozy Chicks, I use a shoe and use a pink stamp pad (gotta love those gel pads) and when I'm hungry, a big cupcake.

These days when I wander around craft stores, I find myself drawn to the rubber stamp aisle. 

What draws you in?

Florence!

by Julie

After Venice, we traveled by Eurostar to Florence where we met up with our youngest daughter. Biz had been studying there for seven weeks and we missed her so much!

She met us at the train station and over the next several days, showed us around the city. It was amazing and so cool to hear her conversing (roughly) in Italian and to see how well she knew her way around.

Because Biz still had classes to attend and finals to study for, we visited the Basilica of Santa Croce on our own. We'd been there once before, but very briefly. This time we had the opportunity to wander and take in all the amazing artwork (even though many of the frescos were in the process of being restored) and see the final resting places of people like Galileo and Michelangelo.



Biz's art class had a showing on the Wednesday night that we were there. It was wonderful to see how far so many of the students had come over the seven weeks. So much talent! The studio where the gathering was held was also where class had been held. From what we understand, the building dates back to the 1800s and is still occupied by artist-descendants from the original owner's family.






That night, after the showing, we went to dinner with Biz, her two roommates, one roommate's parents and the "house mom and dad" from where Biz had been living for the past seven weeks. Although they spoke very little English, we were  able to communicate and we had a wonderful time with lots of laughs.









During the fabulous dinner (many, many platters of amazing food that just kept coming), the chef (pictured, with our waitress) came out to announce the new Pope. We had a bit of a language barrier - "Jesuit" didn't translate precisely, but eventually the house mom, Gabriella, understood. "Ah... Jez-weet-eh (phonetic)!" she exclaimed. The pronunciations were so close, yet so far, apparently.

There are some evenings that are absolutely perfect. This is one I'll always cherish.


Next week... Biz's spring break, and we're off to Paris!

Why Do Short Crabby People Live So Long

by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed

Grandma Johnson, one of the characters in my Gertie Johnson series, is ninety-two and going strong. She might even outlive her daughter at this pace. BTW, Grandma is short and crabby.

Which got me thinking about longevity. Seems to me those short, mean ones live forever.

Is it the venom in their veins that keeps them going? Or the sheer will to hang around and make us suffer until death (our death) parts us?

Is it that they go to doctors more than the rest of us? Are they more likely to be hypochondriacs? They certainly are pessimists, those short, crabby ones. Are optimists oblivious to their own health issues, tending to let things go until its too late?

Although tall, crabby people don't live so long. Do they? And then another question - have I ever known a tall, crabby person? I can't think of a single one.

Do you have any thoughts on this subject?

TV Time

by Maggie Sefton


It's the beginning of April and smack dab in the middle of TV's "Second Season." Both Network and Cable TV try to entice us with new shows, hoping we'll become regular viewers.  That way  they can show their advertisers how many viewers they have for certain shows and get more money.  More eyeballs, more money.

I check as many new shows as I can, but I depend on others to tell me of new shows I've missed that I may like.  I have a preference for suspense/mystery, espionage, sci fi/fantasy, meaty dramas with layers of plots and scheming.  I love scheming.  :).  So, I thought I'd tell you folks of a couple of new shows I've enjoyed and see what your opinions are.  I'm continuing to enjoy some shows I discovered earlier:   Person of Interest, Nikita, Revenge, Elementary.

Red Widow is my favorite of this Second Season shows, so far.  Good plotting, good acting.  Some really charismatic actors that are perfect for their roles.  Haven't caught Defiance yet.  Arrow was intriguing but my time is limited.  But there is one show which I haven't been able to catch until last week because it's on Showtime.  I don't have HBO or Show because I can barely keep up with the regular shows I like.  But once I heard about "Homeland" I knew I had to see it.  It's right up my spy-espionage-suspense alley.  :). Plus, I really admired the previous work of actors Claire Danes "Temple Grandin" and Damian Lewis "Band of Brothers" and several PBS-BBC period series.

Last week, Comcast had Watchathon Week when we could watch for free, and I caught up with all of Season One and Season Two.  And all I can say is WOW!!!   That series is fabulous!  Engrossing, compelling, and totally addictive.  :).  And now I can't wait to see what happens next!

What about you folks?  Have you caught any of these yet?  Others I missed?

Comfort Crisp

by Lucy Arlington


Sometimes the most simple dishes are the most delicious. Oh, I love a gourmet meal, in which a chef has carefully considered all the flavour palettes and different textures. But there’s something irresistible about home cooked comfort food, don't you think?
In our family, one of those comfort desserts is a fruit crisp. Tart and juicy fruits, enhanced with a hint of cinnamon, and topped with a buttery oatmeal crumble hot out of the oven—my mouth waters just thinking about it. It’s almost like having a warm oatmeal cookie with cooked fruit. It's always been a hit in our house.
Not too long ago, my adult daughter phoned me for the recipe. She was having people over for dinner and wanted to make an apple crisp. She remembered the method, she said, but she wasn’t sure about the proportions. Her question had me thinking hard, because I don’t actually measure when I make a fruit crisp. I just combine until it looks right.
So the next time I made a fruit crisp, using trial and error I measured and recorded, just in case someone else asks for the recipe. And now I can share it with you! In this particular apple crisp, I used tart Granny Smith apples and dried cherries, which plumped up during baking to become soft and juicy (although fresh cherries would be delicious too). You can make a fruit crisp with any fruit. I’ve made them with pears, peaches, all kinds of berries, and different fruits combined. Just remember, if the fruit is very juicy, toss it in some flour before putting it in the dish so the crisp doesn’t get too runny.
I still make a big crisp, even though now there is only my husband and me at home, because we love leftovers. We’ve even had it for breakfast! What other dessert could you eat first thing in the morning?
Apple Cherry Crisp
6 Granny Smith apples¾ cup dried cherries½ teaspoon cinnamon¾ cup butter¾  cup brown sugar1 cup flour1 cup large flake oats½ cup sliced almonds 1. Preheat oven to 350.2. Peel, core, and slice the apples. Toss them in the cinnamon and place in an 8-cup casserole dish.3. Add the cherries, distributing them throughout the apple slices.4. In a medium size bowl, heat the butter in the microwave until just melted, not bubbling. Add the brown sugar and mix well.5. Add the flour and oats, and stir until well mixed. You may want to break apart large clumps with your hands so that you can get a crumbly mixture.6. Distribute the crumb mixture evenly over the fruit. Sprinkle the sliced almonds overtop, pressing them down a bit. 7. Bake 30-45 minutes, until the fruit bubbles around the edges and the almonds are toasted.
This is delicious served hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting over it.

Easter Memories--Especially Those Hats!

by Leann

Way back in the dark ages when I was a kid, most holidays were marred by my mother's alcoholic binges, leaving me, even decades later, with a bad vibe come holiday time. But as I think back, Easter was one of those days when she was always sober. I loved Easter. It was a peaceful, happy holiday. As it should be.

I was a "fashionista" kid. Loved clothes. But it was rare for me to get new
things. Lots of hand-me-downs from friends and relatives. We did, however, always got a new outfit for Easter--from shoes and socks to coats. Even my older brother, a rough and tumble guy, was all decked out in a brand new sports jacket and snappy little hat.

That brings me to the hats. I loved, loved, loved a new hat. My "Easter bonnet" was always part of the ensemble. When we packed up last summer to move, I saw many pictures of my family in our hats. We spent a couple years in England when I was a toddler and my mother came from an era where everyone wore a hat for special occasions, so of course we had to have those hats.

My favorites were ones that had no elastic to bother my neck, but I only got one without a constricting band under my chin when I was older--like
nine or ten old! So old. :-) My aunt--my mother's half-sister--had the best hats ever. When my sister and brother were busy scarfing down the contents of their Easter baskets, I was anxiously awaiting my aunt's arrival to see what she was wearing. Every year she never disappointed. Wide brimmed were her favorites and I couldn't wait until I could dress just like her.

But then hats went out of fashion. I haven't worn a hat in more years than I care to recall. The Brits have it right. No dress-up day is complete without an amazing hat! What about you? Have any memories of your Easter outfits to share? I'd love to hear them!

Split Personality

By Heather

It's been a little over a year since my Wishcraft mysteries debuted--along with my new pen name, Heather Blake. I was worried at first about having two names and the confusion it might cause readers, but so far so good!

I'm so very lucky that readers seem to love paranormal mysteries --because I love to write them! There's something fun and whimsical about writing a lighthearted magical world and my creativity just thrives.

I've also been extremely lucky that the Wishcraft books are doing well and that the publisher has already signed me to do books four and five in the series. I'm working on the fourth book now, and I feel like I'm among friends with Darcy, Harper, Pepe, and Archie...and I hope that when you read these books you feel the same way too.

This Tuesday, the third book in the series, The Good, the Bad, and the Witchy is released. It's a book that's a personal favorite of mine, and I hope that you'll give it a try. If you do, let me know how you like it.

-Heather

Here's the blurb:


Darcy Merriweather is Enchanted Village’s newest resident Wishcrafter—a witch who can grant wishes for others.  But as Darcy prepares a celebration for a magical florist, she discovers that every rose has its thorns…

When magical florist Harriette Harkette decides to throw a lavish eightieth birthday party for herself, she hires Darcy’s Aunt Ve’s personal concierge service, As You Wish, to plan the soiree. But turning eighty isn’t all Harriette is celebrating—the Floracrafter has recently created the first all-natural black Witching Hour rose.

Darcy works hard on planning an extravagant celebration that will make Harriette feel like the belle of the ball. But when cake delivery boy Michael Healey—a former employee at Harriette’s greenhouse—is found dead, the celebration is abruptly cut short. Now Michael’s ghost has imprinted on Darcy, meaning that they’re bonded until she can untangle the thicket surrounding his murder—and what exactly it has to do with the Witching Hour rose…

A Blue Christmas Charlie Horse that's Dead In Red...

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

Today I was going to regale you with the tale of my visiting my local Chamber of Commerce's latest networking opportunity.  Lunch with the head of our local tourist bureau.  Lunch was terrific (chicken French with artichokes).  I met some really interesting women (one who runs a custodial cleaning company that also sells janitorial supplies and made a million dollars in sales last year), and couldn't take notes fast enough while listening to the guest speaker talk about all the opportunity there is to build tourism in my area (things that I can apply to both the Booktown and Victoria Square mysteries). But I've recently noticed that people around me aren't as interested as I am in how small businesses operate, so I thought ... what else is happening?

Not much.  Life is pretty dull around Casa Bartlett. I might do a kitchen refresh later this year ... if Mr. L and I can agree on ANYTHING.  I think winter's back has finally been broken.  And holy cow -- why do I get a Charlie Horse almost every night?  It's always the same leg, and it's never fun.  Last night was the worst.  I had to jump out of bed and walk to the kitchen and back before it would go away.

Why does a painful leg cramp have such a funny name?  According to Widipedia: "The term may date back to American slang of the 1880s, possibly from the pitcher Charlie "Old Hoss" Radbourn who is said to have suffered from cramps.[9]


In Norway, it is referred to as a lårhøne (thigh hen), in Sweden lårkaka (thigh cookie), and in France as a crampe (cramp) or claquage (if the muscle is torn). In Portugal, it is known as a paralítica, roughly translated to "paralyzer". In Brazil it has become known as "tostão" or "paulistinha". In Japan it is known as komuragaeri (こむら返り?), which is literally "cramp in the calf". In northeastern Italy, it is commonly called a lopez, while in the northwest it is called vecchia (old woman) or dura ("hard one" or "tough one"); in the south of the country, instead, it is called morso del ciuccio (donkey's bite). In some areas of central Italy, it is called water buffalo. In Israel it is called Regel Etz which means wooden leg. It is called chaca (rat) in the Chamorro language of Guam and the Mariana Islands."

Donkey's bite?  I'll go with that one.  Ouch!  But thigh cookie?  Honestly?  What a hoot.

Okay, I have been working on a couple of other projects.  The first, is the audio edition of my second Jeff Resnick Mystery, DEAD IN RED.  It's now available from Audible.com for as little as $7.49 (if you sign up with them). It took about three months to get this edition out -- including auditions from 14 different narrators (wow--that was hard).  But it's out there and I can't wait to download it and listen to it as I drive around town.  (I love audio books, don't you?)

And then, just in time for Easter, I've just released a sweet little Christmas romance short called BLUE CHRISTMAS.  (They say timing is everything, right?) It's available for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Smashwords.  (It'll soon be available for Sony, Diesel, and via iTunes, too.)

You know, maybe it's so boring around my house because all I do is work on stuff to entertain my readers.  And if the truth is told, it entertains me, too.

Is that a win-win situation or what?

Spring Break

by Julie Hyzy


We took a break from cleaning the basement to visit our daughter who's studying in Europe this semester, which is part of the reason I've been super quiet online as of late. I had a big deadline to meet, too, and that's kept me off the Internet.

But now we're back and I thought I'd share a few pictures from our trip. We were to meet her in Florence, which we eventually did, but our first stop was Venice. We'd been there once before and loved the city so much that we decided that "since we were so close," we'd go back.

Despite the fact that it was chilly this time, and a little rainy, it was a great decision. We hadn't been able to get into St. Mark's last time, nor the Doges Palace. This time, we did.

Here's the view from our hotel room. Well, one of our hotel rooms  ----->

You can't go on a trip without an adventure, right?

We arrived at the pier at St. Mark's via water taxi and had to walk to our hotel. Problem was, one of the wheels on one of our brand new suitcases had broken in transit and my husband had to drag the thing the entire way. Not fun. But we dealt with it.

Our hotel location was fabulous. Just steps away from St. Mark's. We loved that part. What we didn't love was the fact that at 1:00 in the morning on our first night, water started dripping onto my husband. Two things: We weren't on the top floor; and it wasn't raining. Let's all say "eeewww" together, shall we?

The staff at the front desk got us a new room on the first floor and we tried to sleep. Gotta tell you that getting dressed in the middle of the night and repacking kinda blew that idea. But we managed.

At the Doges Palace we were able to cross the
Bridge of Sighs. Way cool!The next morning, they offered us a mini-suite. We loaded our stuff and moved it ourselves (dragging the blasted broken suitcase) to the new room on the fifth floor. It was spacious, for sure. And the bathroom was huge. But... no shower. There was only a bathtub. Um.... no thanks.

We told the front desk that we'd rather remain in the tiny but with-a-shower first floor room. They asked, "You don't mind the smell?" and we misunderstood, thinking they were talking about the water dripping in the third floor room. We hadn't noticed a smell in the interim room.

But later we did. Oh boy, did we. I think we may have been directly over a sewer. Or where they store their garbage. Not exactly ideal.

The hotel was full and we didn't feel like moving yet again, so we decided to roll with it. Sleeping with the windows open (even though it was darned chilly outside) helped a lot, so that's what we did. Plus, we were only there for two more nights.

On our last night, at about 2:00 in the morning, I remembered something. In my next White House Chef mystery (recently turned in), Ollie happens upon people who have been killed by poison gas. A gas that smells a lot like what we were smelling. A gas that is naturally occurring and highly toxic. Sometimes having a vivid imagination is a curse. I opened the windows wider and stayed awake, keeping an eye on my sleeping husband all night to ensure he kept breathing.

I'm sure whatever we were smelling was safe, but... yikes!

Any trip adventures (or misadventures) you care to share?

Guest Chrystle Fiedler

We are delighted to have guest Chrystle Fiedler, the talented author of Scent to Kill : A Natural Remedies Mystery.

 Why I Write Cozy Mysteries Reality is over rated. At least I think so. Instead, I find comfort escaping into the world of a cozy mystery. Before I wrote cozy mysteries, I read them, Agatha Christie’s tales of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes and Dashiell Hammett and watched them; Midsomer Murders, Inspector Morse, and Murder, She Wrote which I’ve recently rediscovered on Hallmark TV.

Whether it’s in these pages or by watching these shows, I escape, like you do, to the coziness of quaint country villages, dappled country lanes, inviting stores on the high street, and of course, lovely rose covered cottages; inside, a cup of tea waiting.

Of course, the world of the cozy is in stark contrast to the murderous crimes committed there that shatter the peace and serenity. But we also know the detective will figure out the puzzle, catch the killer and put things back in their proper place. That’s incredibly satisfying to me as a writer as well, to have the power to put things back into balance.

My natural remedies mysteries are also set in a classic cozy setting, in this case, a real, idyllic fishing village on the East End of Long Island in NY called Greenport. When I was growing up the area was somewhat depressed but within the past two decades, Greenport has come into its own as a tourist destination with upscale eateries and boutiques, sandwiched between Mom and Pop hardware stores, diners and retro stores. Forbes magazine has even named Greenport one of the prettiest villages in the U.S.

I’ve always had an interest in natural medicine so I made my cozy protagonist, Willow McQuade, a naturopathic doctor who takes over a health food store – Nature’s Way Market & Café - after her Aunt Claire meets an untimely end. The store is located in a lovely 3 story yellow Victorian house across with a water view. Inside, it’s cozy too, with a homey feel, yummy cooking smells and the scent of essential oils, herbs and flower essences.

To complete my cozy universe, I gave Willow a hunky ex-cop love interest named Jackson Spade, an adorable rescued dog and two rescued cats, loyal friends and workers and the spirit of her Aunt Claire to guide her.

Writing the natural remedies mysteries also gives me a wonderful chance to share what I’ve learned about natural cures with readers. It’s amazing what you can find in your kitchen and garden that can soothe and heal you. That’s a cozy feeling too.

In Scent to Kill , my latest natural remedies mystery cozy, I focus on the practice of aromatherapy, the use of essential oils to improve health and well-being. As I’m writing I can smell the lavender, jasmine and roses.

Whether I am writing my cozies, reading or watching them, I experience the same comfortable, homey, and safe feeling, knowing that no matter what happens, that all will be well in the end. Where else can you get that guarantee? Cozy mysteries are one of the best antidotes to reality I’ve found. How about you?

Here’s the scoop on Scent to Kill: A Natural Remedies Mystery

“Scent to Kill is a well-crafted mystery…Devotees of natural medicine and aromatherapy will enjoy the tips that appear at the beginning of each chapter and scattered throughout the text.” Publisher’s Weekly 

Willow McQuade, naturopathic doctor, along with her hunky ex-cop boyfriend Jackson Spade, attend a party for a psychic TV show that is filming on Long Island’s idyllic East End. However, Willow is much more interested in visiting the estate’s lavender farm, seeking inspiration for the new aromatherapy workshops she'll be holding at her store, Nature’s Way Market & Café.

Before the party is over, Roger Bixby one of the producers is dead and the police suspect murder. Roger was working on the show, MJ’s Mind, with Carly Bixby, his ex-wife and the new girlfriend of Willow's ex from L.A., TV writer/producer Simon Lewis.

After Willow leaves the party, she gets a frantic text from Simon asking for her help. Since Simon had a fight with Roger earlier in the evening, and because of his death is now the primary shareholder in Galaxy films, Willow's ex becomes the prime suspect. Simon begs her to crack the case and clear him of the murder. MJ McClellan, the psychic and star of the show also asks Willow for help. She hires Willow to provide natural remedies, including aromatherapy, massage, acupuncture and yoga to soothe the agitated crew of her show.

To find the killer, Willow has to deal with ghosts in a haunted mansion, a truly dysfunctional family, death threats and “accidents,” while trying to untangle a homicide identical to one committed during prohibition. Thankfully, Jackson has been hired to provide security and is there to watch her back and help Willow solve this spooky mystery.

As a bonus, you’ll find dozens of natural aromatherapy cures throughout the book that can improve your health. I think you’ll be surprised as how much they can help you feel better in mind, body and spirit!

For a chance to win a copy of Scent to Kill: A Natural Remedies Mystery just leave a comment here!

 Chrystle Fiedler is the author of SCENT TO KILL, (Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster) the second in the NATURAL REMEDIES MYSTERY series, DEATH DROPS: A Natural Remedies Mystery, the non-fiction title THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO NATURAL REMEDIES (Alpha, 2009), co-author of BEAT SUGAR ADDICTION NOW! (Fairwinds Press, 2010), currently in its fourth printing, the BEAT SUGAR ADDICTION NOW!COOKBOOK (Fairwinds Press, 2012) and THE COUNTRY ALMANAC OF HOME REMEDIES (Fairwinds, 2011).

Chrystle’s magazine articles featuring natural remedies have appeared in many national publications including Natural Health, Vegetarian Times, Better Homes & Gardens and Remedy. Visit www.chrystlefiedler.com