Kassandra Lamb's Blog, page 5

A Health Scare Gives New Meaning to “I Resolve…”

by Kassandra Lamb ~ Every year, I resolve to strive for better work/life balance (an ongoing theme for lots of writers). Some years I’ve done better than others with this goal. But this year coming up… Well, let’s just say there are likely to be a few more adjustments.

Because there’s nothing like a health scare to shock one into getting one’s priorities straight.

And to give a whole new meaning to those two words, “I resolve…”

For some time now, I’ve been resigned to the reality that a...

Songs of The Season!

Our blog is on hiatus for the Holidays, but here are a few of my favorite holiday songs for your listening pleasure, or if you’d like to sing along while doing holiday prep chores.

Starting with the irrepressible Muppets!

And for those of us of a Christian persuasion, my two favorite holiday hymns…

This one gives me chills, in a good way.

Mary, Did You Know has supplanted O Holy Night as my all time favorite holiday hymn, but I still love the latter, an...

Book Reviews of Some Fun Christmas Reads

by Kassandra Lamb ~ This is such a busy time of year, so I always love to see novellas and short novels with a holiday theme. Fun Christmas reads that are easy to tuck in between chores or when winding down from a long day of prep, and they get one in the mood!

Here are two fun, and short, Christmas stories I’ve read and enjoyed lately… both from series for which I have already reviewed Book 1.

Christmas in Branden Bay: A Festive Ghost Cozy Mystery Novella (#6 in the series), by Kelly Maso...

What Is a Pre-Crastinator? And Are You One? (an updated encore)

by Kassandra Lamb ~ We just had Thanksgiving a little over a week ago here in the U.S., so Americans are now all focused on CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!! Only, since I am a pre-crastinator, I am done already. What is a Pre-Crastinator, you might ask…

(A mall in Toronto actually; photo by Benson Kua, CC-SA-BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons)

There really wasn’t a word for what I am, so I made one up. I’m the opposite of a procrastinator; therefore, I am a pre-crastinator.

Some people might say that I’m or...

All Our Gratitude to Every Veteran (and Especially my 92-Year-Old Stepfather)

by Kassandra Lamb ~ Today is Veteran’s Day, and we at misterio press feel such gratitude to every veteran. But I am especially grateful to one particular veteran.

Today is also the 92nd birthday of the man my mother married when I was 28, a year after my son was born.

He gave her 22 years of happiness, until she passed in 2003. And he’s always added something special to our family.

But it wasn’t until this year that I learned he had served in the military, seven decades ago (around...

More on Our Characters’ Furry Sidekicks (Plus a New Release)

by Kassandra Lamb (on behalf of the whole group) ~ I recently did an interview about one of my protagonists’ furry sidekicks, Buddy, the Black Labrador. It was so much fun, I thought a group post about all of our furry sidekicks was called for.

First up is Vinnie Hansen, with the story behind Lola…

In the Carol Sabala series, I gifted my cat, Lola, to my sleuth. Lola was a tortie—enough said about personality. Smart (she learned to open the cupboard with her food in it), independent, an...

Why Is Being Scared Fun (an encore) ~ Plus a New Release!

photo by 愚木混株 cdd20 on Unsplash

by Kassandra Lamb ~ Happy Halloween, You All!! ~ I wrote this post ten years ago, but I believe the science is still sound. Why is being scared fun for us human beings?

It all has to do with our nervous systems.

As a psychologist, I had my theories about this, but since it’s not my specific area of expertise, I did some research as well.

As I suspected, it revolves around the part of our nervous system called the autonomic nervous system. This system ...

Welcome Seeker, to the UnTarot

by Kirsten Weiss ~ This spring, I published a work of experimental fiction, The Mysteries of Tarot. Ostensibly a book on how to read Tarot cards, it contained a murder mystery in its “editor’s” comments. When I started work on my new mystery series involving an online mystery school, I must have had that in mind, because I decided to create “Tarot” cards for the school (later dubbed “UnTarot” cards) and include their images in the book.

Things got a little out of control.

I started off ...

My Flip Side: An Interview with my Alter Ego, Jessica Dale

by Kassandra Lamb ~ Last week, my alter ego, Jessica Dale, had a fun interview with historical mystery and fantasy writer, Janet L Buck.

(Note: Payback , Book 1, is always 99 cents!)

Jessica is not just my alternate pen name for writing romantic suspense. She’s also my more carefree and impish persona. Come find out more about her, and the ups and downs of writing her trilogy.

There’s also a book spotlight for the trilogy on her Ally Shields’s website (her alter ego).

Here are teasers...

Reviews of Two Mysteries for Animal Lovers (and a 99-cent Sale)

by Kassandra Lamb ~ I thought I’d share with you all my reviews of two mysteries for animal lovers. One is by a misterio press author—the woman who co-founded our little group with me, to be exact. I love her Pet Psychic series.

And I also have a 99¢ sale going this week for Book 2 in the Unintended Consequences romantic suspense trilogy, Backlash. (See below–and Book 1 is also 99¢.)

Karma’s a Bitch*, Book 1 in the Pet Psychic Series, by Shannon Esposito ~ 99¢

If you like a side-dis...