Kate Collins's Blog, page 265

Nothing to Fear

By Heather
FDR once said that the “Only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Personally, I disagree.
At least once a month, Mr. W says to me, “You worry too much.”
As we’ve been married 20 + years, it’s a familiar conversation, and I’m always struck by his incredulity that I can’t seem to turn the worry off.
I’m a worrier.
It’s in my DNA. Hazel eyes. Brown hair. Freckles. Worry.
I’d like to point out that FDR might be a smidge bit wrong with that quote above.
I can stress out over anything, big or little. The chicken didn’t defrost in time for dinner? Stress. Son #2 driving an hour to school in a torrential downpour? Automatic gray hair. An EMT siren going off while Mr. W is out running? Palpitations.
Huge fears, tiny fears...doesn’t matter. Hello, anxiety.
As hard as I’ve tried to change, to de-stress, to be more Zen...I can’t seem to do it.
I’m blaming my genes.
Are you a worrier, too? And if not, how do you stay stree-free? 
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I'm a Daydream Believer

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

[image error] When I was a kid, I used to get in trouble at school for daydreaming. (I suppose now it's just called HDHD.) The honest fact is, I used to spend a lot of my waking hours thinking about the TV shows I'd watched the night before and who I would have made each story better.  I guess all that daydreaming served me well as training for my current career as an author.

[image error] I still spend a lot of time daydreaming.  It's how I get my ideas for the books I write.

At this time, I'm thinking about my next Victoria Square mystery.  Not the one I handed in almost a year ago (One Hot Murder, most of which was written during the scorching summer of 2011 and wont be published until February 5th, 2013), but the next one (to be published in 2014).

[image error] When I can't sleep at night, I find myself thinking about the teas my Victoria Square heroine Katie Bonner planned to serve her guests at the English Ivy Inn (from cucumber and cress sandwiches, to scones, cookies, and cakes), to the flowers in her cottage garden (cosmos, foxgloves, and plenty of old roses).  I've furnished the place hundreds of times--every bedroom, the parlors, kitchen, and dining room.  Even the gazebo in the backyard (which she had planned for weddings). 

[image error] I do the same thing for my Booktown mysteries, although not quite as much.  When I think of that series, I'm more apt to think about the characters opposed to the details of their surroundings or their hopes and dreams.  Tricia and Angelica have much different agendas than Katie.  Still, I'm getting geared up for the next book in that series (Murder On The Half Shelf, out July 3rd) and thinking about where the next book in the series will start and what will happen to the unfortunate victim.

So, what is it that you daydream about?[image error]

Celebrating!

by Julie Hyzy
I am celebrating this week!! 
In case you haven't already been bombarded with the news, and even if you have, let me take just a minute here to share my pure delight about joining THE COZY CHICKS. These wonderful women -- my good friends -- have welcomed me into their blog and I couldn't be happier to be here now as a regular - a genuine Chick! Even though I've guest posted here on occasion over the past couple of months, I'm looking forward to being here every Thursday and getting to know all of you even better!
This is a double-whammy week for me because my latest Manor House Mystery, Grace Among Thieves, just came out Tuesday. Yep, it's brand-spanking new. This is the third book in the series, but I'm as excited about it as I was when the first one came out. More, if that's possible. Grace really gets into deep trouble this time and the more danger my characters face, the more fun I have writing. I hope you'll visit Marshfield Manor to find out who's stealing its treasures. Come for the tour... stay for the murder!
But wait, there's more!

Because I'm absolutely bubbling with enthusiasm here, and because I'm hoping Grace entertains readers as much as she and her gang entertain me, I've got a Cozy giveaway going on, but it ends Sunday at noon, so please take a look at this link (personal blog) today to find out how to win a Grace-themed "I love Cozy Mysteries" mug. 
Isn't it cute? You can't tell from this shot, but the mug also features the cover of the second book in the series, Grace Interrupted. I picked that cover because it goes so well with that vibrant blue and because I just really, really like it.
I hope you'll join me in celebrating my new "home" here at Cozy Chicks and my release week for Grace. Thanks so much for all your comments and questions during my earlier visits. Keep 'em coming! I'm grinning here as I'm writing this! Can you tell? I hope you are, too!
And I'm sure I'm not the only one in an ebullient mood. Is there anything you've recently celebrated? Or that you're especially looking forward to? Share it with us!

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Summer in the City

by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed



I'm a backwoods girl these days, but I spent many glorious years in Milwaukee, and summer there is G8! So much to do. All the action, food, drink, music, sun, Lake Michigan sparkling in the background, and it's not a long journey from my house to the city center.

This summer's kick off was the Scottish Highland Games last weekend. Sheep trials, ballads, bagpipe competitions, beer, and funky food and drink, like Haggis and Irn Bru, which is the country's favorite non-alcoholic beverage. Very bubbly, orange/bubble gum flavor, super sweet. This is a picture of mine. Along with a photo of the haggis taco contest, and one fine lad I captured unaware.

Next up - Polish Fest (where my husband and I met many years ago) and Summerfest.

What festivals do you look forward to?? [image error]

CAST ON, KILL OFF---Released Today!

by Maggie Sefton




Kelly Flynn Mystery #10 is available in bookstores and online today!  Also, the paperback edition of last year's  UNRAVELED is now available.  CAST ON, KILL OFF continues the adventures of Kelly and all her friends.  If you're a regular reader, you've probably been waiting to see what that rowdy cast of characters has been up to.  If you're a new visitor and curious, here's the inside jacket book blurb from CAST ON, KILL OFF for you to sample.   Enjoy, Everyone!  :) 





Wedding bells are ringing in Fort Connor, Colorado, and the House of Lambspun knitters are abuzz with excitement. But when a murder interrupts the wedding planning, Kelly Flynn will have to solve this crime fast to ensure the killer doesn’t wind up on the guest list…
Kelly Flynn’s knitting pal, Megan, is about to get hitched, and all the planning is falling into place. Megan has found the perfect seamstress, Zoe Yeager, to create the dresses for Kelly and the other bridesmaids. And each bridesmaid is knitting her own loose-knit shawl to drape over the lovely dresses. But Zoe has more than bolts of fabric and seam-cutters stashed away in her shop—she’s harboring a secret. Bruises on her face show a troubling side of her marriage, and just after she finds the courage to leave her husband, Zoe’s found dead from a single bullet shot.
Though her husband is a key suspect, it turns out there are others who might have had designs on Zoe’s death. One is fellow seamstress Leann O’Hara, who recently discovered Zoe won a bridal gown design contest with one of Leann’s own designs. Now it’s up to Kelly and her knitting pals to use their sleuthing savvy to solve the case, while helping Megan stay cool and collected as the big day approaches. They’ll have to stitch up all the loose ends before they can don their dresses and shawls and escort Megan into the land of happily ever after…

Do You Volunteer? Kate Needs Advice

by Kate Collins

 
I’ve been looking into donating some of the free time I find myself with now, but the choices seem overwhelming, and most seem to involve calling on the phone to elicit funds, which is not my cup of tea.
I already teach a creative writing class at my local woman’s shelter one morning, and work at my church’s resale shop one afternoon a week, but I’d like something that involves more activity and more people. Because I work during the day alone at my writing and am alone all evening, too, I want to do something with people.
Anyone have any suggestions? What kinds of volunteerism do you do? Do you find it rewarding? Is there anything you'd change about it?

There's A New Chick In Town!

The Cozy Chicks are thrilled to welcome a new Chick into our midst. The best part is, you already know and love her -- it's Julie Hyzy.

Earlier this year, Julie substituted for our own Kate Collins while she was under the deadline gun. Julie will be posting every Thursday.

But wait, there're more changes around the blog. Lorna/Lorraine/LL (whoever she is at any given moment), is moving to the Friday post spot. Meanwhile, Heather and Ellery will be sharing Saturdays.

 Same great blog, one great new addition. Outcome? Fun for all.

A Special 2,000th Facebook Friend

by Leann

[image error] This past week I mentioned I wanted my 2,000th Facebook friend as a birthday gift. Little did I know he would be ten-years-old--and one of the most charming ten-year-olds I have ever met.

My daughter is in town because her best friend from high school was having her engagement party. Since her best friend spent half her time at our house when the girls were growing up, I went to the engagement party, too. And met her nephew. It is a rare thing when an adult is sitting alone eating at a barbeque and the person who joins them is a young boy. Yet that is exactly what happened.

I could tell this was a special kid after just a few sentences and it wasn't long before I said, "I'll bet you like to read." His eyes lit up, his smile got big and he agreed enthusiastically with my assessment. Not long after I told him that I wrote books. What a great moment to see how excited he was. Fortunately, I always have books in my car. I learned immediately he was indeed an avid reader when we were walking out to my car and I suggested he'd probably like the second book in the series (that has a little more science in it) than the first one and he replied, "I'd prefer to start with the first in the series. That's how I read things." Snap!

[image error] He so grabbed my heart that he got the first two books in the series, signed of course. He wanted to talk to me all afternoon and was asking me things like, "How do you get your ideas to write a mystery?" Meeting him was an unexpectedly wonderful birthday gift. But I have to say, when he found out I had met Rick Riordan in person, that Rick was my friend and blurbed my first book, his excitement rose to new levels.

Never in my dreams did I believe I would meet my 2,000th Facebook friend IN PERSON and he would so very special! (Yes, his request was waiting for me when I got home from the party.)

[image error] Anything unexpectedly wonderful happen to you lately?

I'm invited to a BLOCK PARTY!

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

[image error] Last weekend our next-door neighbor knocked on the door with a printed invitation in her hand.  "We're having a block party in June and we hope you'll come!"

[image error] The last time I was invited to a block party, I was 11 years old.  The neighbors behind the party had a couple of sons, one of whom played the guitar and the other the drums, so there was live rock music and tons of food and everybody had a wonderful time dancing in the street on that hot summer night.  I remember gorging myself on the best popcorn I had ever eaten in my life.  (I don't remember why it was so wonderful, just that it was.)

The invitation for the upcoming block party said to bring a dish to pass and some lawn chairs. 

[image error] Hmmm...what should I bring?  I make a mean Waldorf salad, but what if it's hot?  All that mayo and summer heat . . . I could make deviled eggs, or macaroni or potato salad, but then you have the mayo problem again.  Baked beans?  Maybe I should bring a dessert?  Cut-out cookies?

I'm having a real hard coming up with something, and should probably just consult my own cookbook or that of the Cozy Chicks.  But what I think I might do is just wait another week or so and email our hostess and ask what I should bring.  (Whew--no more decision making.)

What would you bring to a block party?

The Cozy Chicks Kitchen

by Lucy Arlington

Before I get into this month's recipe, I wanted to share with you the cover of the next book in the Novel Idea Mystery Series, hot off the presses this week. Every Trick in the Book is scheduled for release February 2013. Isn't the cover gorgeous?


At Malice Domestic this year, the Cozy Chicks were selling print copies their new cookbook, The Cozy Chicks Kitchen. Of course I got mine, signed by the seven lovely Cozy Chicks. While perusing the delectable recipes within its pages, I came up with the idea of featuring a selection of them in my Lucy’s Cozy Kitchen blog. So for the next while, you will be treated to a scrumptious recipe by one of your favorite authors every first of the month. When I was trying to decide which one to include in today’s blog, it so happened that my son was visiting us for a week. I needed something hearty (because my grown up son seems to have a hollow leg!) but still in keeping with my “healthy lifestyle plan.” I also had to live up to my reputation as the vegetable queen (my son’s nickname for me because I always made sure I cooked multiple vegetables with practically every meal), so I was thrilled to find this one by Lorraine Bartlett. Not only does it contain a variety of vegetables, it also has a wonderful marinade/sauce that keeps the flavors light and fresh, and invokes tastes of Asia. Enjoy!STIR-FRIED VEGGIES AND PASTABy Lorraine Bartlett/LL Bartlett2 cups uncooked bow-tie pasta2 medium carrots, julienned1 medium onion, chopped2 small zucchini, julienned1 each medium sweet red, yellow, and green pepper, cut into thin strips1 cup fresh green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 tablespoon olive oil1 tablespoon sesame oil2 tablespoons your favorite vinegar 2 tablespoons honey¼ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon chili powder¼ teaspoon ground ginger 1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. 2. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet or wok, stir-fry the carrots, onions, zucchini, peppers, and beans in hot olive oil for 3-4 minutes or until crisp-tender. [Lucy’s note: I like my onions thoroughly cooked, so I fried them first until they were soft and translucent, then added in the other vegetables.]3. Drain the pasta; add to the vegetable mixture. Drizzle with sesame oil. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.4. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, honey, salt, chili powder, and ginger. Pour over the pasta mixture and toss to coat. Serve immediately.Yield: 4-6 servingsLucy’s note: We ate the leftovers cold the next day for a salad. Delish! The next time I make this, I plan to double the marinade and use half of it to marinade chicken chopped into small pieces and stir-fry it with the vegetables. As a vegetarian option, I would add a can of chick peas just before serving.