Kate Collins's Blog, page 70
February 9, 2018
Nobody wants a free copy of my book?
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
Okay, the title of this post is a little misleading, so let me clarify: No LIBRARY wants a free copy of my book?
Earlier this week, I sent out a newsletter to a portion of my readers. (The Booktown list.) In it, I offered a Free copy of the LARGE PRINT edition of my latest book, A Just Clause. (This edition came out in December.) My publisher was very generous and sent me more books than I need. I would like to see them go to a library. But only one library asked for it.
I do have some caveats when it comes to giving away these books.
They must be requested by a librarian, or a library volunteer, and they must be mailed to the library itself.
Why? Too often readers have requested a book, given it to their library, and it never reaches the shelves. Instead, it goes in the Friends of the Library sale and sells for a quarter. Hey, this is a brand new, $32 book!
I admit it, I'm selfish. I want this hardcover book to be read by scores of people, not just one. Maybe it will find me a whole slew of new readers who will go on to read the other books in the series. (You never know!)
So, any libraries out there who want a copy of A Just Clause in large print?
======================================================
UPDATE: All the books have been spoken for. Thanks!
Okay, the title of this post is a little misleading, so let me clarify: No LIBRARY wants a free copy of my book?
Earlier this week, I sent out a newsletter to a portion of my readers. (The Booktown list.) In it, I offered a Free copy of the LARGE PRINT edition of my latest book, A Just Clause. (This edition came out in December.) My publisher was very generous and sent me more books than I need. I would like to see them go to a library. But only one library asked for it.I do have some caveats when it comes to giving away these books.
They must be requested by a librarian, or a library volunteer, and they must be mailed to the library itself.
Why? Too often readers have requested a book, given it to their library, and it never reaches the shelves. Instead, it goes in the Friends of the Library sale and sells for a quarter. Hey, this is a brand new, $32 book!
I admit it, I'm selfish. I want this hardcover book to be read by scores of people, not just one. Maybe it will find me a whole slew of new readers who will go on to read the other books in the series. (You never know!)
So, any libraries out there who want a copy of A Just Clause in large print?
======================================================
UPDATE: All the books have been spoken for. Thanks!
February 8, 2018
What Kind Of Mixer Is Your Favorite?
by Karen Rose Smith
I'll admit it. I don't like change. But when my thirty year old Sunbeam mixer stopped working, I had to replace it. My mom had a Kitchen Aid mixer specifically for bread making. But it was so heavy that my dad had to be around to lift the head, etc. Did I really want to look at Kitchen Aids after using a Sunbeam for so many years?
My chief complaint with the Sunbeam had always been its hard work for cookie making. Once I added all the flour, it struggled to finish. But I really appreciated the Sunbeam bowl. It was wide enough that adding ingredients during mixing a recipe was easy. The Kitchen Aid bowls looked difficult. (I watch several cooking shows and they all use them.)
With arthritis and fibromyalgia, I was worried about lifting the head on the Kitchen Aid. But I decided to try one with a four quart bowl. And let's face it, since my favorite color is turquoise, that color sold it!
It took me a few months to get used to the differences. The deep bowl was the major one. It had a collar to prevent flour puffing up but I definitely couldn't make that work. So I learned how to add flour. Slowly. What I liked immediately was the lowest speed that let me mix dry ingredients. The head of the mixer is heavier than I was used to, but it has a smooth glide up. No matter what batter I'm mixing, the paddle sweeps it all from the depths of the bowl. For ease in moving the mixer, I set it on a silicone cutting pad that I can easily slide in whatever position I need it.
What I appreciate most about the Kitchen Aid is that I can now mix recipes that I used to have to knead or mix by hand. The many attachments make even creaming butter a snap. In the past, I've mixed scone batter by hand. But I decided to try a new recipe for my second Daisy's Tea Garden mystery in the mixer. It worked beautifully.
It took me a little while to perfect my technique (translated--not puffing flour everywhere) but now I wouldn't trade my Kitchen Aid for any other mixer.
Look for Karen's next Daisy Tea Garden mystery (book 2) in June 2018!
I'll admit it. I don't like change. But when my thirty year old Sunbeam mixer stopped working, I had to replace it. My mom had a Kitchen Aid mixer specifically for bread making. But it was so heavy that my dad had to be around to lift the head, etc. Did I really want to look at Kitchen Aids after using a Sunbeam for so many years?
My chief complaint with the Sunbeam had always been its hard work for cookie making. Once I added all the flour, it struggled to finish. But I really appreciated the Sunbeam bowl. It was wide enough that adding ingredients during mixing a recipe was easy. The Kitchen Aid bowls looked difficult. (I watch several cooking shows and they all use them.)
With arthritis and fibromyalgia, I was worried about lifting the head on the Kitchen Aid. But I decided to try one with a four quart bowl. And let's face it, since my favorite color is turquoise, that color sold it!
It took me a few months to get used to the differences. The deep bowl was the major one. It had a collar to prevent flour puffing up but I definitely couldn't make that work. So I learned how to add flour. Slowly. What I liked immediately was the lowest speed that let me mix dry ingredients. The head of the mixer is heavier than I was used to, but it has a smooth glide up. No matter what batter I'm mixing, the paddle sweeps it all from the depths of the bowl. For ease in moving the mixer, I set it on a silicone cutting pad that I can easily slide in whatever position I need it.
What I appreciate most about the Kitchen Aid is that I can now mix recipes that I used to have to knead or mix by hand. The many attachments make even creaming butter a snap. In the past, I've mixed scone batter by hand. But I decided to try a new recipe for my second Daisy's Tea Garden mystery in the mixer. It worked beautifully.
It took me a little while to perfect my technique (translated--not puffing flour everywhere) but now I wouldn't trade my Kitchen Aid for any other mixer.
Look for Karen's next Daisy Tea Garden mystery (book 2) in June 2018!
February 7, 2018
Energy...what energy?
Sometimes you really just need to buckle down and get stuff done. But there’s a hitch in the plan: You’re beat. You worked your tail off yesterday, you tossed and turned until 3:00am. Here are a few tricks besides downing a can of RedBull or 5-Hour energy for an instant adrenaline substitute 1Don’t think. Blink. Eyes glued to a computer screen, focused on your work—or, some silly video about baby animals. But don’t just stare, blink. Every blink is like a “mini nap” that allows for a recharge and subsequent energy boost.2Stop skipping breakfast.It jumpstarts your body’s functions and give you the energy reserves you need to make it to lunch.3Blast some beats.There’s a reason why upbeat music is played at gyms—Just listening to “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift or “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen gets you up and going.4Get your feet moving.along to upbeat music will provide an instant cure for any tiredness. And sing with the radio. Esp when tired in the car. This helps tons to stay away…and a coke and chocolate help too.
5Take the stairs. Walking up and down stairs for about 10 minutes—that’s about 30 stories—offers the same level of energy as roughly 4 ounces of coffee or 1 ounce of espresso. It doesn’t taste as good but you can’t drink coffee all the time…right? 6Tap your “thymus.”This is a new one on me. Yes, the “thymus” is a real thing, and it’s located at the top of your chest, a few inches below your collarbone. Chinese medicine says you can boost your energy levels. To properly tap the thymus, slowly and deeply breath in and out while gently tapping that area for 20 seconds. Do this up to five times per day for instant energy boosts.7Snooze for a few.Power naps do work but convincing your boss might be another trick.
8
Don’t let yourself get dehydrated.Be sure you’re drinking enough water so that you never crave hydration. For women, that amounts to about eight eight-ounce cups per day; for men, it’s ten.9Take an ice-cold shower.I could never do this but… a mere three minutes spent in cold water can halt sudden tiredness in its tracks. And better yet, if you do it every day, you’ll do wonders against chronic fatigue.10A quick jog.A walk probably does the same thing. A half an hour per weekday to exercising provides immediate—and long-lasting, if you adopt the practice as a habit—energy boosts. That’s as simple as leaving your desk, running/walking a mile, and stretching up—and you could fit it all in a typical lunch break.t
February 5, 2018
"Who Are You People?"
by Maggie SeftonEvery week I know there are readers who discover our blog for the first time and are unfamiliar with the Cozy Chicks and our books and would like to know more. For that reason I'm suggesting that an excellent introduction to the Kelly Flynn Mysteries would be a short non-fiction "introduction" to the Cast of Characters entitled "Who Are You People?" You can find it on Amazon under Maggie Sefton Books for ninety-nine cents. It's an easy way to see if the Kelly Flynn Mystery characters are people you'd enjoy visiting. :)
February 4, 2018
HELP!! MY CAT IS A HOARDER.
By Mary Kennedy
Who would think that sweet little Henry was a hoarder? He looks thoughtful in this photo, probably pondering his behavior and wishing he could get help for it. (Yeah, right. Just kidding! He doesn't believe he has a problem. He thinks I have a problem because I keep stealing his hoard and putting the items back where they belong!) Just like a cat, isn't it?
I tried to explain to him that he has a serious disorder.
- Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs.
And my discussion with Henry? It didn't go well. If you've ever tried to have a serious conversation with a cat, you know the feeling. He listened politely (well, he yawned a few times). And then he walked away, bored with me.
Most people think that hoarding looks like this.
Obviously, little 12 pound Henry can't hoard to this degree. But he does what he can.What does he collect? You might be surprised.
He loves socks. Especially little socks, the kind you wear under sneakers. He doesn't bother matching them. He just collects one of a kind. (who can understand the mind of a cat)
At first, I thought he choose objects by size. For example, he loves little packages of Kleenex, the kind you carry in your purse.
But then he surprised me and I realized he also likes bright, shiny objects. A wristwatch, for example.
He's also fond of rubber bands, which worries me, because he carries all these items in his teeth and makes a neat pile in the corner of the bedroom. He looks a little sad and puzzled when I dismantle his "stash" and put the items away. I feel like a meanie! Those are his treasures.
What else does he collect? Hair scrunchies, another favorite!
Not sure what all these items have in common. But for some reason, Henry is drawn to them. Have you ever come across a cat with a hoarding problem? (Of course, it's not a problem for him, it's a problem for me.)
If you have any suggestions for Henry (or me!) be sure to chime in.
Mary Kennedy
Who would think that sweet little Henry was a hoarder? He looks thoughtful in this photo, probably pondering his behavior and wishing he could get help for it. (Yeah, right. Just kidding! He doesn't believe he has a problem. He thinks I have a problem because I keep stealing his hoard and putting the items back where they belong!) Just like a cat, isn't it?
I tried to explain to him that he has a serious disorder.
- Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs.
And my discussion with Henry? It didn't go well. If you've ever tried to have a serious conversation with a cat, you know the feeling. He listened politely (well, he yawned a few times). And then he walked away, bored with me.
Most people think that hoarding looks like this.
Obviously, little 12 pound Henry can't hoard to this degree. But he does what he can.What does he collect? You might be surprised.
He loves socks. Especially little socks, the kind you wear under sneakers. He doesn't bother matching them. He just collects one of a kind. (who can understand the mind of a cat)
At first, I thought he choose objects by size. For example, he loves little packages of Kleenex, the kind you carry in your purse.
But then he surprised me and I realized he also likes bright, shiny objects. A wristwatch, for example.
He's also fond of rubber bands, which worries me, because he carries all these items in his teeth and makes a neat pile in the corner of the bedroom. He looks a little sad and puzzled when I dismantle his "stash" and put the items away. I feel like a meanie! Those are his treasures.
What else does he collect? Hair scrunchies, another favorite!
Not sure what all these items have in common. But for some reason, Henry is drawn to them. Have you ever come across a cat with a hoarding problem? (Of course, it's not a problem for him, it's a problem for me.)
If you have any suggestions for Henry (or me!) be sure to chime in.
Mary Kennedy
February 2, 2018
Buried ... and digging myself out
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
When I'm doing non-thinking work on my computer (uh, goofing off. But still work--like graphics, or spreadsheets), I often have Youtube on in the background. I went through all seasons of The Unsellables on New Year's Day. Lots of times the show you're watching segues into something entirely different. I watched (or rather listened) a bunch of RV remodels, farm house renovations, and a bunch of decluttering videos. Decluttering and organizational videos are VERY BIG on Youtube. All of a sudden, I was subscribing to all kinds of stuff. But it was the organizational and decluttering that kept me riveted.
Nobody wants to be seen as a hoarder, but my office was beginning to look like its owner had become one. The worst offender? Boxes of stuff (like bookmarks, postcards, etc.) and piles and piles of paper.
Well, last week I'd had enough. I knew there was some valuable stuff in those piles of paper, and I decided to go through a four-inch stack. It took me about an hour, and the discard pile had only three pieces in it. That meant something was going to have to change. Little did I know I'd be in for three intense days of decluttering.
It started with my file cabinet. I had stuff in there that was fifteen years out of date. And the stuff piled on top of it was inches thick, too. I ended up shredding years and years worth of bank statements and checks, and tossing two and a half recycling bins full of paper (just to I could file the stuff I wanted to keep--and I found more papers in my closet that were must saves).
It was The Messy Minimalist that said something that really got through to me in her Death Cleaning video. Death Cleaning is a Swedish tradition where an older person goes through their things so their survivors won't have to do it. Rachel was in a similar situation to me. Her mother had died without going through her things, and she had no idea what it was her mother valued most. I still have a room full of my mother's stuff and haven't been able to part with it. Watching that video, and several others where she talked about her mother's stuff, gave me permission to part with things I know couldn't have had any real value for my mother. Who do you think taught me to love yard sales? I don't get as attached as she did to that stuff (I have the catch-and-release program, after all), but I was able to come up with three boxes of stuff to take to Goodwill. And I cleared out a huge bag's worth of clothes from my bedroom closet, too.
I had planned on having a garage sale this summer, but Rachel also addressed why she doesn't do that. Time. She just doesn't have time ... and as Mr. L has been trying to tell me for the past year, neither do I.
It's hard to break old habits, but I'm trying not to let papers sit. I've got a little sign by my computer that says, "Don't put it down--put it away" and I've been trying to do that. (I'm also amazed how much tidier my kitchen is this last week.)
Do you have any decluttering or organizations tips to share?
When I'm doing non-thinking work on my computer (uh, goofing off. But still work--like graphics, or spreadsheets), I often have Youtube on in the background. I went through all seasons of The Unsellables on New Year's Day. Lots of times the show you're watching segues into something entirely different. I watched (or rather listened) a bunch of RV remodels, farm house renovations, and a bunch of decluttering videos. Decluttering and organizational videos are VERY BIG on Youtube. All of a sudden, I was subscribing to all kinds of stuff. But it was the organizational and decluttering that kept me riveted.
Nobody wants to be seen as a hoarder, but my office was beginning to look like its owner had become one. The worst offender? Boxes of stuff (like bookmarks, postcards, etc.) and piles and piles of paper.Well, last week I'd had enough. I knew there was some valuable stuff in those piles of paper, and I decided to go through a four-inch stack. It took me about an hour, and the discard pile had only three pieces in it. That meant something was going to have to change. Little did I know I'd be in for three intense days of decluttering.
It started with my file cabinet. I had stuff in there that was fifteen years out of date. And the stuff piled on top of it was inches thick, too. I ended up shredding years and years worth of bank statements and checks, and tossing two and a half recycling bins full of paper (just to I could file the stuff I wanted to keep--and I found more papers in my closet that were must saves).
It was The Messy Minimalist that said something that really got through to me in her Death Cleaning video. Death Cleaning is a Swedish tradition where an older person goes through their things so their survivors won't have to do it. Rachel was in a similar situation to me. Her mother had died without going through her things, and she had no idea what it was her mother valued most. I still have a room full of my mother's stuff and haven't been able to part with it. Watching that video, and several others where she talked about her mother's stuff, gave me permission to part with things I know couldn't have had any real value for my mother. Who do you think taught me to love yard sales? I don't get as attached as she did to that stuff (I have the catch-and-release program, after all), but I was able to come up with three boxes of stuff to take to Goodwill. And I cleared out a huge bag's worth of clothes from my bedroom closet, too.I had planned on having a garage sale this summer, but Rachel also addressed why she doesn't do that. Time. She just doesn't have time ... and as Mr. L has been trying to tell me for the past year, neither do I.
It's hard to break old habits, but I'm trying not to let papers sit. I've got a little sign by my computer that says, "Don't put it down--put it away" and I've been trying to do that. (I'm also amazed how much tidier my kitchen is this last week.)
Do you have any decluttering or organizations tips to share?
February 1, 2018
Beating The Winter Grumps
by Karen Rose Smith
I live in an area of Pennsylvania that receives snow every year. Sometimes it's a light covering. Two years ago we received 30 inches of snow in blizzard proportions. You'd think we could just hunker down under a quilt, read and enjoy the down time. But... We take care of stray and feral cats and worried about them. The service that was supposed to plow our walk and long driveway arrived late. With dealing with the weather changes in winter, especially ice that can cause power outages, worked backed up. The stress of winter can cause "the grumps."
Here are ten of my strategies to cope:
Chocolate--any kind. Hot, cold or in between.
Baking and cooking from remembered childhood dishes. There's a measure of comfort in that and I feel as if I'm fighting the elements. My mom always made bread on snow days.
Audiobooks--I find if I'm listening to an audiobook, I'm less distracted by what is going on around me. I can close my eyes and be swept away as if I'm listening to a play.
Adult coloring books are great for my creative spirit and focus. I also do watercolor paintings.
Especially when caring for feral cats, I spend time outside just breathing in the bracing cold air. I try to remember there can be beauty in chaos. The moon on the snow is gorgeous. It feels as if our whole backyard is lit up in moonlight. I don't even need a flashlight on those nights.
We connect with neighbors who have the same plight. Conversation helps and it can even generate more coping ideas. Banding together helps isolation. We're lucky that our nextdoor neighbor's son often helps my husband with shoveling snow.
It's important to call elderly acquaintances to see how they are coping. They feel even more alone and helpless in situations like this.
I cuddle up with a throw and a fur baby or two.
Sometimes I watch an old movie (like Roman Holiday) or a series on DVD like Heartland that I've saved just for this occasion.
Cleaning closets makes me feel as if I have some measure of control.
What are YOUR coping strategies to dispel the winter grumps?
I live in an area of Pennsylvania that receives snow every year. Sometimes it's a light covering. Two years ago we received 30 inches of snow in blizzard proportions. You'd think we could just hunker down under a quilt, read and enjoy the down time. But... We take care of stray and feral cats and worried about them. The service that was supposed to plow our walk and long driveway arrived late. With dealing with the weather changes in winter, especially ice that can cause power outages, worked backed up. The stress of winter can cause "the grumps."
Here are ten of my strategies to cope:
Chocolate--any kind. Hot, cold or in between.
Baking and cooking from remembered childhood dishes. There's a measure of comfort in that and I feel as if I'm fighting the elements. My mom always made bread on snow days.
Audiobooks--I find if I'm listening to an audiobook, I'm less distracted by what is going on around me. I can close my eyes and be swept away as if I'm listening to a play.Adult coloring books are great for my creative spirit and focus. I also do watercolor paintings.
Especially when caring for feral cats, I spend time outside just breathing in the bracing cold air. I try to remember there can be beauty in chaos. The moon on the snow is gorgeous. It feels as if our whole backyard is lit up in moonlight. I don't even need a flashlight on those nights.
We connect with neighbors who have the same plight. Conversation helps and it can even generate more coping ideas. Banding together helps isolation. We're lucky that our nextdoor neighbor's son often helps my husband with shoveling snow.It's important to call elderly acquaintances to see how they are coping. They feel even more alone and helpless in situations like this.
I cuddle up with a throw and a fur baby or two.
Sometimes I watch an old movie (like Roman Holiday) or a series on DVD like Heartland that I've saved just for this occasion.
Cleaning closets makes me feel as if I have some measure of control.
What are YOUR coping strategies to dispel the winter grumps?
January 31, 2018
Bury the Black and Paste on the Pink
I look best in pink!
Do you have a fave color you like to wear? I do and it’s khaki but the thing is I look terrible in khaki. Black is another. You know that little black dress idea? Well on me it looks like toss her in the coffin and dig the hole. She’s ready to ship out.
Any shade of brown makes me look like dirt and being older than dirt that is not a good thing. Red is like come and get it sailor but at my age that’s never going to happen.
Maroon is blah along with teal meaning all winter and fall colors are out. Shopping in those seasons is such a pain. The magazines and adorable models and dummies in the store look so cute in fall and winter colors and I look like death warmed over.
What colors do the trick for me? Pinks, corals, even yellow but I think I like to believe that yellow idea as I just love it esp with navy tossed in.
I love navy as a base color. Fact is I’m tossing out my black slacks and black everything and replacing with navy. Navy goes so well with pink and that yellow I love.
So what about you? Do you have a color that perks up you skin tone and your spirits? What is your base color you can mix with brighter colors? Tan, brown, black, navy. Got a fave go-to color that always looks good on you?
Do you have a fave color you like to wear? I do and it’s khaki but the thing is I look terrible in khaki. Black is another. You know that little black dress idea? Well on me it looks like toss her in the coffin and dig the hole. She’s ready to ship out.Any shade of brown makes me look like dirt and being older than dirt that is not a good thing. Red is like come and get it sailor but at my age that’s never going to happen.
Maroon is blah along with teal meaning all winter and fall colors are out. Shopping in those seasons is such a pain. The magazines and adorable models and dummies in the store look so cute in fall and winter colors and I look like death warmed over.What colors do the trick for me? Pinks, corals, even yellow but I think I like to believe that yellow idea as I just love it esp with navy tossed in.
I love navy as a base color. Fact is I’m tossing out my black slacks and black everything and replacing with navy. Navy goes so well with pink and that yellow I love.
So what about you? Do you have a color that perks up you skin tone and your spirits? What is your base color you can mix with brighter colors? Tan, brown, black, navy. Got a fave go-to color that always looks good on you?
January 29, 2018
South Beach Memories
by Maggie SeftonI was going to post more family photos from Maria/John wedding reception, but Mary's post today brought back a host of memories from the past and I simply could not resist slipping into that long-ago past. And it was a while ago for sure. I'm talking about the late 1960s. Yes, yes, go ahead and do the math. :)
The mere mention of South Beach (Miami Beach), Florida brought back a ton of memories. My husband Jorge and I loved vacationing at beaches. And one summer we drove our VW Beetle from Northern Virginia all the way down to South Beach, Florida and stayed at the lovely and gracious old Betsy Ross Hotel, pictured above. The hotel was located right on Collins Avenue which was the main street that ran between all those beautiful Art Deco hotels and the sea wall which looked right out on the ocean. Boy, was that a fantastic view. Unfortunately years later, the entire beach area had to be "reclaimed" due to erosion and loss of sand from many Atlantic storms. Large tall dunes were built with sea grasses growing which blocked the view of the ocean from the sea wall.
Our rambunctious two-year old daughter Christine stayed in Northern Virginia with my mother and grandmother who absolutely adored her. We took six-month old Melissa with us, along with the large
English pram-type baby carriage. (Try stuffing that in the back seat of a VW Beetle). We quickly learned that we probably had the only small baby in South Beach for that week. Every time we left our hotel room with baby and pram, a never-ending stream of "grandparents" suddenly appeared. Ooooing and cooing at cute little Melissa. They were clearly missing their own grandchildren. (Melissa is a little over a year old in this photo & Christine is two and a half going on three).
And Jorge and I often visited Calle Ocho (that's Spanish for "Street Eight" or Eighth Street as it was called. Way back then, the only Cuban businesses were cafes and coffee shops. Since I absolutely loved "Cuban Coffee" I made it a point to stop at every coffee shop we found for a cup of that delicious hot STRONG espresso coffee. Extra strong. Believe me, after the first three blocks (coffee shops were at the end of each block) I was walking about two feet above the ground.
Not a cup of espresso, but it was the only one in my photo file.
Thank goodness I already had developed a high tolerance for caffeine having used it to stay awake and study in college. Yes, bad habits, but it worked. And, of course, we indulged ourselves with delicious Cuban food while there. More about that on another Blog post in the future. Along with more memories.
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW? SOMETIMES.
by Mary Kennedy
There's an old adage "Write what you know." Here's a cat, presumably writing a book about cats, (Of course, I could be wrong. She could be writing a book about art or history or politics but I don't think so.)
How important is it that a novelist has lived and experienced what she's writing about? When I think of medical thrillers (Tess Gerritsen, Robin Cook) I know that the writers were practicing physicians before taking up their writing career. Would they be able to set the scene so vividly and write with such passion if they hadn't? Probably not.
The same with legal thrillers. Scott Turow and John Grisham have logged some serious hours in the courtroom. Their books are filled with details that only a lawyer--or someone with heavy-duty legal experience--could know. There are some things you just can't fake.
I did a piece for NPR on "novels set in South Beach," and I chose all South Beach writers. You can read it and listen to it by clicking on the NPR link above. The writers--Caridad Pineiro, Brian Antoni and Barbara Parker--bring something special to the table because they've lived in South Beach. What do they bring? Not just street names and landmarks but the sounds of the city, the clinking of glasses at the outdoor cafes, the softly swaying palm trees, the excitement of a street fair at Calle Ocho, the glitzy clubs at night.
In my own Talk Radio Mysteries, I draw on my love for Florida. Dr. Maggie's from New York but she loves Florida and escaped to Cypress Grove, a small south Florida town, to host a radio talk show. At first, she has trouble dealing with small town life (think Mayberry) but she quickly realizes she is exactly where she is supposed to be. DEAD AIR is the first book in the series.
My first job out of college was working as a radio copywriter in Nashville, Tenn, so I use some of those experiences, too.
The fun and excitement and mishaps of live radio make it into the Talk Radio series as Dr. Maggie deals with a feisty producer and some wacky guests.
In the latest Talk Radio release, A Deadly Fundraiser, I came up with the idea of a scavenger hunt in a lovely mansion. Why? Because I'd just visited an historic mansion here in Delaware and created a scavenger hunt as part of a fundraiser for an animal shelter. Art imitates life once more!
How about you? Do you enjoy reading about places you've been to? Reliving fun vacations or interesting trips? Writing about Florida gives me a wonderful excuse to go back there! Next week, I'll talk about dreams and how I came up with the idea for the Dream Club Mysteries. Until then, stay tuned.
Mary Kennedy
There's an old adage "Write what you know." Here's a cat, presumably writing a book about cats, (Of course, I could be wrong. She could be writing a book about art or history or politics but I don't think so.)
How important is it that a novelist has lived and experienced what she's writing about? When I think of medical thrillers (Tess Gerritsen, Robin Cook) I know that the writers were practicing physicians before taking up their writing career. Would they be able to set the scene so vividly and write with such passion if they hadn't? Probably not.
The same with legal thrillers. Scott Turow and John Grisham have logged some serious hours in the courtroom. Their books are filled with details that only a lawyer--or someone with heavy-duty legal experience--could know. There are some things you just can't fake.
I did a piece for NPR on "novels set in South Beach," and I chose all South Beach writers. You can read it and listen to it by clicking on the NPR link above. The writers--Caridad Pineiro, Brian Antoni and Barbara Parker--bring something special to the table because they've lived in South Beach. What do they bring? Not just street names and landmarks but the sounds of the city, the clinking of glasses at the outdoor cafes, the softly swaying palm trees, the excitement of a street fair at Calle Ocho, the glitzy clubs at night.
In my own Talk Radio Mysteries, I draw on my love for Florida. Dr. Maggie's from New York but she loves Florida and escaped to Cypress Grove, a small south Florida town, to host a radio talk show. At first, she has trouble dealing with small town life (think Mayberry) but she quickly realizes she is exactly where she is supposed to be. DEAD AIR is the first book in the series.
My first job out of college was working as a radio copywriter in Nashville, Tenn, so I use some of those experiences, too.
The fun and excitement and mishaps of live radio make it into the Talk Radio series as Dr. Maggie deals with a feisty producer and some wacky guests.
In the latest Talk Radio release, A Deadly Fundraiser, I came up with the idea of a scavenger hunt in a lovely mansion. Why? Because I'd just visited an historic mansion here in Delaware and created a scavenger hunt as part of a fundraiser for an animal shelter. Art imitates life once more!
How about you? Do you enjoy reading about places you've been to? Reliving fun vacations or interesting trips? Writing about Florida gives me a wonderful excuse to go back there! Next week, I'll talk about dreams and how I came up with the idea for the Dream Club Mysteries. Until then, stay tuned.
Mary Kennedy
