Kate Collins's Blog, page 310

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Guest Author Ellen Byerrum on Tales of Fashion

Ellen Byerrum is the author of the Crime of Fashion mysteries, which feature Lacey Smithsonian, a style reporter in Washington DC: The City Fashion Forgot. Her latest book, Shot Through Velvet, the seventh book in the series, takes Lacey on assignment to a velvet factory in southern Virginia on its last day of operation. The action begins when a giant spool of velvet is pulled out of a dye vat—with a body dyed blue, in mood indigo.

Clothes have always fascinated me. Whether it's because in my childhood I attended Catholic school and wore a uniform, or it's simply in my blood, I don't know. But even as a child, beautiful clothing attracted me. What else explains why, when I saw my first dead body at age ten in my grandparent's county club, I still remember what the corpse was wearing? For the record, she wore a pink hat and a pink suit, and she was sitting deathly still on a round pink sofa. Was I drawn to her because of the clothes, or because they were pink? Or because she was dead? Who knows? At any rate,when I started writing my Crime of Fashion mysteries, it was only natural to have my heroine Lacey Smithsonian solve crimes with fashion clues.

I love clothes because they tell stories about us before we even open our mouths. They can communicate such things as attitude, socioeconomic background, or profession, such as a cop, a waiter, or construction worker. Sometimes we choose our uniforms. Sometimes we plan. And sometimes we improvise.

In my books, Lacey works as a reporter in Washington, D.C., where the overwhelming style vibe is what I call Prematurely Serious, and it is pretty homogeneous. Sure, there are little pockets of rebelliousness outside of Capitol Hill, but the overall impression is mostly one of business suits and briefcases.

Therefore, it's a bit of a happy shock when I leave my writing and get out into a new location where clothing tells a different story. I just returned from the Virginia Festival of the Book, held in Charlottesville, Va. (here I am with Ellery) where the couture was a bracing change of pace. I'm not talking about the writers, who were all pretty clean and well turned out in business casual, some of them having climbed out of their jammies for the event. But out on the downtown mall, there were other clothing notes, where the inhabitants turned their togs to a new tune.

A dozen or so young women wore cowboy boots with their dresses and skirts. Has it always been like this, or is there a new cowgirl vibe in the air? It was even more interesting to me because my next book incorporates cowboy boots and Western wear into the mystery.

Then I met Rose and Tasha, two college-age women strolling over the bricked walkways wearing wire and fabric wings. Were they escapees from a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, perhaps the fairies Peaseblossom and Cobweb? Nope, they were just taking a stroll. It's spring and they were feeling wings, so wings it was.

Tasha wore her orange wings, an orange-and-black lace corset, and a fluffy tutu over jeans. "Because I really think tutus look cute with jeans," she told me. (Yes, I interviewed them. Once a reporter, always a reporter. And they were charming.) Tasha also wore athletic shoes. Rose was somewhat more restrained in a pair of smaller pink wings, a newsboy cap, a short dress, tights, and cowboy boots. They told me they just wanted to express what they were feeling on the inside and wear it on the outside. Who doesn't want to reach for the bohemian and release their inner sprite once in a while? And get a lot of attention (all of it positive, so far as I could tell) while they're at it.

It made me realize something. Not only are there style choices I haven't considered—I've got to get out of my writing room more often. But not wearing wings.

How the Garden Grows

 by Deb

It's that time of year again, and I'm so excited. I love planning my garden, starting the slow-to-ripen ones indoors, watching them sprout and begin to grow. And every year I learn valuable lessons. For example, part of my garden gets a lot of shade. That means lots of leafy veggies will grow longer and better. So here's what I'm trying this year besides the old standbys like spinach and lettuce:
corn salad, aka machesummer savorygarden sorrelarugulaLast year, I grew mustard greens for the first time and loved them, so I'll do more of those, too.

What I learned about leaf veggies (although too late for last year): If I cut them off a few inches from the ground, most of them will grow back! And that includes beet greens. Cool.

Inside, I'm starting tomatoes (an Amish paste I discovered last year for sure), Barker's X-Hot chile seeds from my Left Coast Crime goodie bag, pumpkins, and basil.

What I learned about germination: Many of last years leftover seeds are viable for years, so I don't have to buy new ones - beets, radishes, cukes, tomatos, lettuce are a few.

There's something magical and soul strengthening about growing what I eat. Especially in these disturbing days of economic turmoil. Not to mention unknown chemical agents and who-knows-what.

You can join in, too. If space is limited, plant in pots. I've heard you can even grow a garden in a hay bale! That eliminates all the digging. And of course, you can always support your local growers by shopping at the farmers markets.

Heck, I might even try canning this year.

So tell me what your plans are. What's growing in your garden? Are you trying anything new?

Favorite Places & Favorite People

I just spent several days in one of my favorite places---the beautiful Spanish colonial town of Santa Fe, New Mexico---eating delicious food, exploring again the lovely sights of Santa Fe, and getting together with some of my favorite people----readers and fellow authors. Left Coast Crime is a great mystery conference that is always held in the western United States. Last year it was in Los Angeles. Left Coast Crime has appeared in Seattle, Alaska, Denver, El Paso---to name a few spots. However, attendees congregate from all over the U.S. I've always liked LCC because there's a more relaxed "feel" to the conference.

This year, the conference was located at the beautiful and historic La Fonda Inn. If you are ever visiting Santa Fe, you owe it to yourself to stop in at this picuresque and gracious hotel and browse around, enjoy the architecture and artwork that decorates the walls. And if you really want to treat yourself, stop in La Plazuela restaurant in the heart of the hotel. Fountain in the middle, sunny glass rooftop, and colorfully decorated windows. Plus, the food is outstanding. You won't regret it.
While there, I was able spend time with fellow Cozy Chick Deb Baker, which was great fun. Deb also writes as Hannah Reed and has the delightful "Queen Bee Mystery Series." Th e first in the series was BUZZ OFF, and the next will be MIND YOUR OWN BEESWAX. Deb brought along her "boy toy," (aka her husband, Jim). :) They are such a fun couple and great friends. These conferences are also a great opportunity to meet new authors and readers and make new friends.

My return flight landed in Denver Sunday night and a shuttle returned me to Fort Collins around 10:00pm. Yesterday, Monday, instead of diving into the current Kelly-Flynn-in-progress, I drove back to Denver to be the keynote speaker at the Colorado Association of Librarians Spring Workshop. Librarians are some of MY VERY FAVORITE people. And I always jump at the chance to speak to them. Librarians are a direct conduit between those of us who write fiction and our audience---the readers. Besides---they're always a lively and fun group. I also take a first edition hardcover copy of my latest release to give to them for upcoming fundraisers.

As a novelist who began her fiction career writing historical novels, librarians are VERY important to me. They are "resource" people. They know where to search out obscure topics, find out of print books, and help search for dusty long forgotten periodicals from yesteryear. Librarians are a researcher's lifeline.

Book people and favorite people. Who are some of your "favorite people?" [image error]

The Cat Ate What?

by Kate Collins

My daughter came to stay with me this weekend, bringing her black cat Simon with her. Both are a treat to have in the house. I miss the sound of laughter and of little galloping feet in the hallway. That would be Simon's, not my daughter's.

As a newborn, Simon developed a bacterial infection in his intestines that nearly killed him. He was in constant pain for months, and two rounds of antibiotics wouldn't eradicate the bug. All it did was give him diarrhea. Eventually, the vet didn't know what else to do for him.

Then I found a holistic veterinarian who saved the day with probiotics made especially for pets. After only four days, the bad bacteria had been killed off by all the good bacteria, and Simon was eating again.

But the experience has left him with a delicate stomach and particular tastes in food. He will only eat organic tuna from Trader Joe's, for instance, and if he eats cheese or leftover meats from the table, he pays for it. Oddly, he has a passion for fruit, and especially strawberries and raspberries. I don't know where that came from; I've never had a cat that loved fruit. I did have one that liked popcorn, however, and my friend's dog adores peanut butter and bananas . . . separately.

It started me wondering what strange food preference other pets have. Do you have a funny story to share?[image error]

My Books Arrived!

by Leann

After a bad news winter, spring has finally arrived. Okay, we went straight into summer this past week and will be officially doing spring next week. That's how the temperature goes in Texas this time of year. With spring, however, came the first copies of my new release. An April book that's set during the summer. I've given up ever trying to have fictional seasons match the real season. If I do, I'm betting the publisher would change the release date. (Just kidding!)

For me, this has been an especially long wait. Though I loved my last book (The Cat, The Professor and The Poison) I did not love the cover. As soon as I got my hands on a picture of The Cat, The Lady and The Liar's cover, I switched my facebook profile to that one. I was so glad they listened to me about what might make an interesting cover--and I must say, they stayed pretty true to my suggestions. But that red shoe? Not my idea--but genius.

When that box of books arrives, I do get excited. But this time, with my shoulder finally improving and the beautiful azaleas and red bud trees blooming, I feel something special. Maybe this has more to do with the book itself--my editor's favorite of all time and maybe mine, too. Or maybe it's just that I can put that other cover I didn't "love" behind me once and for all.

How about you? How important is the cover art? The title? The colors? I'm liking my little green spring book!

P.S. If you would like to help our friend ConneryBeagle, all proceeds from the sale of The Heart of Dog, an ebook short story collection, will go for his medical care. Download the book, available in all formats, here:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/45794?ref=doranna[image error]

Will you help a poor sick pup?

By Lorna Barrett / Lorraine Bartlett

I recently downloaded my first book via Smashwords.  It was a lot easier than I thought it would be.  Download, drop, drag.  Into my Kindle it went.  And it happened to be The Heart of Dog, an anthology of dog stories put together by my friend and fellow author Doranna Durgin.

She's got a sick pup whose medical expenses far exceed her writerly income.  (It's tough enough for authors to scrape up the cash for their own health insurance, let alone pets.  You can read about Connery here.) 

So Doranna asked a few of her friends to donate short stories about dogs, and all the money earned from the anthology will go to ConneryBeagle's medical care -- and (if more money comes in than needed for him) for the care of other sick dogs.

So if you love dogs (or cats or fish or even porcupines) and you've got an e reader, I hope you'll consider buying The Heart of Dog. You can get it here on Smashwords (for all formats)  It's also available on Nook and on Kindle.



ConneryBeagle has a lot of personality and is quite a vocal (BAWHSOME) boy.  Not only does he have his on blog (right here), but he also has a Facebook page which you can LIKE (right here).

Why don't you become acquainted with this brave little beagle.  I don't think you'll be sorry.

Splurge

By Heather Webber/Heather Blake
I'm not one of those spontaneous kinds of people when it comes to big purchases. I can't walk into a store and plunk down anything over five dollars without a palpitation or two. Anything over a hundred dollars considers days of contemplation.
But last month I found myself making a huge on-the-spot purchase. Hundreds (and hundreds) of dollars. Gulp.
What made me dole out this kind of cash? (And no, it wasn't bail.)
It was Broadway.
On tour.
Here in Cincinnati, at the Aronoff Center.
I'd been reading the Cincinnati Enquirer online one quiet Sunday morning and saw an article about next year's shows. I clicked on it and saw that Wicked was coming back (swoon!). I *knew* my daughter and I had to see it again. Then I looked at the other shows coming. Beauty and the Beast. West Side Story. Les Mis (*swoon* <--that swoon is from my daughter—Les Mis is her favorite). We had to see them all. So only one thing made sense. We needed season tickets.  So, I bought them.
We'll also be seeing Billy Elliot and The Addams Family. I can't even tell you how excited we are. The first show isn't until October, though, so we have to be patient, but I have to tell you—I didn't have a single palpitation.
Have you ever made a huge on-the-spot splurge?
~Heather

Ellery's Mystery Cozy Contest - Answer

Congrats to Susan DeGraff for guessing that Ellery's Mystery Cozy was Leann Sweeney's The Cat, The Professor, and the Poison.
I picked that title this month as a way of reminding everyone that the third book in the series, The Cat, the Lady, and the Liar is due out April 5th.
I've read it and it's wonderful! I know Susan DeGraff will love it because she has four cats!

To see Leann's book trailer (which is sure to whet your reading appetite) click here.
Happy pre-ordering!

Who Names Those Shelter Animals?

What's in a name?
T.S. Elliot would tell you the naming of cats is a difficult matter. And when you work at an animal shelter like my friend Lynda Turpin does in sunny California, it can become tough to come up with wonderful new names on a weekly basis.
When she mentioned this challenge to me a few weeks ago on Facebook, I proposed asking you all for a list of some of your favorite pet names.


What's in it for you? How about a gorgeous cat key chain from the ASPCA for three lucky winners? I love to support this organization and it will help Lynda out too. And keep Lynda in your prayers, she lost her kitty Fifi on Wednesday and despite her sorrow, will march into the shelter today to love and care for more precious animals.
All the photos are from Lynda's Facebook page. Thank you, Lynda for all that you do!