Kassandra Lamb's Blog, page 44
August 17, 2015
Why Murder and Mayhem?
by Kassandra Lamb
I’ve touched on this subject before, but I find myself once again questioning why I write murder mysteries.
I’m a pacifist at heart, who believes violence is only justifiable in self-defense. And I’m an optimist. For me the glass is always half full and I’m savoring the half I’ve just consumed.
My favorite kind of half-full glass 
August 10, 2015
Can We Go Home Again?
by Kassandra Lamb
“You can’t go home again.” That phrase has become iconic. (It’s actually the title of a 1940’s novel by Thomas Wolfe, published posthumously by his editor — I looked it up.)
The question of whether or not we can “go home again” has been on my mind lately, ever since we returned from our annual summer sojourn to my native Maryland.
The harbor in Rock Hall, Maryland
It was a good vacation. Unlike some previous visits, nothing drastic went wrong (if you don’t count the broken c...
August 3, 2015
“Survivor”–Sisters in Crime version
Vinnie Hansen is starting off our August blog schedule with a bang today, with her own version of a reality show. And she’s got some really BIG news to share!
Shh, not until the end of the post though. But it’s definitely something she can BRAG about.
“Survivor”
by Vinnie Hansen 
What would happen if a villain dropped one of our protagonists into the wilderness? How would our heroine survive?
That question and a love for camaraderie propelled 13 brave members of my Sisters in Crime chapter to...
July 6, 2015
Summertime!!
We’re taking a little break. While our blog is on summer hiatus, we thought we’d share with you a musical stroll down memory lane, summertime version! We’ll be back with fresh posts in August.
The Drifters ~ Under the Boardwalk
Loving Spoonful ~ Summer in the City
And if you think their sideburns are crazy, dig these!
Mungo Jerry ~ In the Summertime
Actually if I remember correctly, men of his age ALWAYS have women on their minds!
This next one would be deemed a bit sexist by today’s stand...
June 29, 2015
What’s Your Favorite Holiday?
by Kassandra Lamb
Independence Day has always been my second favorite holiday, Christmas being the first. But now I think July 4th is edging toward first place.
When I was a kid, we went to a big cookout at the house of my parents’ friends, the Chucklers (not their real name; honestly anyone named that should pay to have it legally changed). I’m calling them that because they were cheerful people and we always had a lot of fun there. My brother and I would romp around with their kids in the w...
June 22, 2015
Setting Dilemma (plus a New Release)
by Vinnie Hansen
Sue Grafton and Marcia Muller were my gateway drugs into mystery addiction. I had a slight preference for Grafton’s series except for one aspect. Sue Grafton set her stories in Santa Teresa, a thinly disguised Santa Barbara, while Marcia Muller, at least initially, set her tales of murder and mayhem in a real San Francisco.
When I started the two series, I lived in San Francisco, and Muller’s PI, Sharon McCone, resided on the street parallel to the house I rented with friends...
June 16, 2015
9 Common Errors Authors Make about Psychological Disorders
photo by cellar door films, from WANA Commons
by Kassandra Lamb
Do you get as frustrated as I do when you read something in a novel or short story that you know is just plain wrong?
Today I’m over at Jami Gold’s cyber-home, talking about some common mistakes authors make about psychology. Come on over and check it out!
9 Common Errors Authors Make about Psychological Disorders
As a retired psychotherapist, I cringe sometimes when I read inaccurate references to psychological phenomena in fic...
June 8, 2015
Columbo, a master of mystery
by K.B. Owen
We Misterio Press authors like to gather our inspiration from all sorts of places, one of them being the wonderful detective characters that have come before. Here’s one of my favorite:
Columbo
Publicity photo 1973, Margie Korshak Associates. Wikimedia Commons.
Some interesting facts about Peter Falk and the Columbo series:
1. Bing Crosby was first offered the role of Columbo, but he didn’t want to commit to a series. He joked that it would interfere with his golfing. Peter Falk...
June 2, 2015
Are You a Compulsive Finisher or a Chronic NonFinisher?
by Kassandra Lamb
Are you an 80 percenter, otherwise known as a chronic nonfinisher? Do you have trouble finishing what you start? Do you get about 80% of the way to your goals and then stall out?
Or are you like me, someone who has a strong compulsion to finish things–to the point of being borderline neurotic? It drives me crazy to have something started but not finished (although I’m better than I used to be).
I’ve had this topic on my mind lately, ever since my brother and I finally finish...
May 24, 2015
Happy Memorial Day! (with recipes)
by Kassandra Lamb (on behalf of the whole gang)
Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)
Memorial Day in the U.S. is all about honoring the men and women in our armed forces, past and present. And most especially we honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for this country.
There are no words sufficient to express our gratitude!
Memorial Day is also the unofficial kickoff of the summer season. Children’s laughter rings out; splashing noises can be...
