Edith Maxwell's Blog, page 110

Cover Reveal & Giveaway

I’m so excited that A Time to Swill is up for pre-order! It’s the second book in the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mystery series. Here’s the cover:

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Here’s the back cover copy:

Saloon owner Chloe Jackson is after a murderer with skeletons in the closet–and one on a boat.

BAD TO THE BONE

Chloe loves her new life pouring beers and mixing cocktails at the Sea Glass Saloon in the Florida Panhandle town of Emerald Cove. But on the job, the only exercise she gets is walking from one end of the bar to the other, so in the mornings she loves to run on the beach. On this morning’s foggy run, she spots a sailboat washed up on a sandbar. Hearing a cry, she climbs aboard the beached vessel to investigate and finds not only a mewling kitten–but a human skeleton in the cabin.

The skeleton is tied back to Chloe’s friend Ralph, whose wife disappeared on a sailboat with three other people twelve years ago. Believing his wife was lost at sea, Ralph remarried. Now he finds himself a murder suspect. Chloe is determined to find out who’s been up to some skulduggery, but her sleuthing will lead her into some rough waters and some bone-chilling revelations…

You can pre-order A Time to Swill or Absence of Alice from One More Page books in Arlington, Virginia. They also have signed copies of my books available!
Giveaway: I will give away a copy of From Beer to Eternity and an ARC of Absence of Alice to a reader who leaves a comment. What are you up to this weekend? I will announce the winner on this post on Monday.

Guest- Debra Sennefelder and a Giveaway!

Jessie: In New Hamshire wondering if it is gluttonous to have purchased a 24 pound turkey for only for 5 people…

One of the nicest things about having participated in the Wickeds blog over the years are all the interesting people with whom I have had the chance to correspond over the years that likely I would not have without it. Debra is one of those people and I am delighted to welcome her here today! Take it away, Debra!

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Thank you, Wickeds, for inviting me to guest host today. I’m thrilled to be back and share a little bit about my upcoming release, HOW TO FRAME A FASHIONISTA. It’s the third book in the Resale Boutique Mystery series.

I’m going to begin with a confession. Kelly Quinn, the fashionable sleuth featured in the series, is a bad influence on me. When I’m writing one of her books, I tend to do a little more shopping than usual. But I did get a great dupe pair of Golden Goose sneakers while writing the book. So, thank, Kelly. 

HOW TO FRAME A FASHIONISTA was a fun book to write, and I love it. There are four reasons why I love the book, and today, I’m going to share them. Ready? Good. 

 #1 – One of my favorite movies is The Devil Wears Prada, and one of my favorite characters is Miranda Priestley. So, when I decided to have Serena Dawson, the Dragonista of Seventh Avenue and Kelly’s ex-boss, show up in Lucky Cove, I knew it would be fun times. Not only is Kelly roped into helping when Serena is framed for murder, but she’s forced to face an embarrassing incident that happened at Bishop’s Department Store (where she worked as an assistant buyer) and finally get some perspective on it.

#2 – I’d been intrigued by the phenomenon of fitness gurus on YouTube. And particularly by one who had been involved in a scandal regarding her fitness program. In the book, I got to explore that scenario and ended up creating a sketchy infomercial producer.

#3 – While writing the book, I realized that I needed a deeper reason for Kelly’s uncle, Ralph Blake, to want her to sell the shop and leave town. It took a couple of days, but I came up with the reason, and it’s a doozy. He reveals a secret that threatens Kelly’s relationship with someone close to her. I love this twist, and so did my editor. 

#4 – Kelly doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to dating. Still, she has a boyfriend in HOW TO FRAME A FASHIONISTA. He’s the brother of the police detective Kelly often butts heads with. It’s a fun dynamic to write. However, in this book, Kelly starts to see some traits in her boyfriend she’s not pleased with, and she must decide about the relationship.

Readers: There you have it, four reasons why I love this book and why I think you’ll enjoy reading it. Since I’ve shared something, I’d like for you to share something about your holiday plans. The holidays will look a little different this year, so maybe you’re going to try something new, like baking (since most of us mastered banana bread in the spring) or homemade decorations. One lucky commenter will win an e-book edition of HOW TO FRAME A FASHIONISTA.

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Bio: Debra Sennefelder loves to read – mystery books being her biggest passion. When she is not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and is a former food blogger. Born and raised in New York City, she now resides in Connecticut with her family and their slightly spoiled but adorable Shih Tzu, Connie. She is the author of the Food Blogger and Resale Boutique Mystery Series. 

Link to website: http://bit.ly/2lQwSNi

Buy Link: https://bit.ly/37jPc86

Blurb: 

Applying her Manhattan fashion sense to the sensibilities of a Long Island clientele, Kelly Quinn is setting new trends with second-hand name brand apparel—and finding killers with a deadly sense of style . . .

The fortunes of Kelly’s Lucky Cove Resale Boutique are sinking fast—literally, as the weathered roof of her grandmother’s old consignment shop springs a new leak with every rain. She hopes her latest client, overnight fitness and social media sensation Tawny Nicole, has enough valued and wanted items she can sell fast enough to keep her roof from crumbling down. 

When Kelly arrives at Tawny’s home to appraise her attire, she’s stunned to find Serena Dawson, “the Dragonista of Seventh Avenue,” there. The last time she saw her ex-boss was when Serena humiliatingly and publicly fired her from her New York City job. Now Tawny is married to Serena’s ex-husband and is caught in the crossfire of some unfinished divorce settlements. 

But when Kelly returns to Tawny’s the following day, she discovers her dead body—and Serena standing over it. Her former employer may be nasty and unrepentant, but she’s no killer—prompting Kelly to pick up the threads to try and find the real culprit . . .

Thankful Thursday

Hi Wickeds. It’s the biggest Thankful Thursday of all–the one before Thanksgiving. Tell us what you’re thankful for and then reach down deep and offer our readers something extra special for the giveaway this month.

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Julie: I’m grateful for NaNoWriMo this month. The goal is to write 50K words in the month of November, and I’m making strides. Being part of NaNo has given me a community of writers who are doing the same thing, a writing practice that will stick past this month, and the opportunity to visit Goosebush again. This month I’ll send someone my Theater Cop mysteries, both of them.

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Edith/Maddie: I’m thankful to have found a new independent editor who focuses on historical novels. She gave me some great insights on my new project – and a boost about what I already had on the page. And I’m grateful my hand is healing enough to bake pies next week, even if it’s only for the two of us (sniff). I’ll send the winner one of my special Author aprons and a signed copy of Murder at the Taffy Shop.

Jessie: I am so thankful for my marriage. My husband was on the road almost all of the time from May of 2018- March of 2020 and I really missed him. When he started working from home this past spring I wondered if it would be difficult to readjust to having so much time together instead. It turns out that even after all these years we still have fun together, love to accomplish big goals together and even to spoil our dog together. I really could not ask for more! I am giving away my latest Beryl and Edwina mystery, Murder Comes to Call to the winner!

Liz: I am grateful for the family I get to spend Thanksgiving with this year – my boyfriend and his kids. We have a lot of fun together and it’s nice to feel like a real part of the family. I’m also grateful that my 2020 writing deadlines will be (mostly) complete by early December! So thankful for where my life is right now. I will be giving away a hot-off-the-press copy of my new Cat Cafe Mystery, Whisker of a Doubt.

Sherry: Reading what all of you are thankful for made me happy. NaNoWriMo, great editors, husbands, family — I’m thankful for all of those things too. I’m also thankful for Zoom which allowed me to spend a wonderful few hours with two friends I adore. It also made it possible to attend a couple of author events for my friend Ed Aymar whose new book, They’re Gone (written as E. A. Barres) came out this week. I’ll give away an ARC of Absence of Alice and a copy of From Beer to Eternity. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

[image error]Barb: I’m grateful to be home and settled after being away for a month. (Though I also enjoyed being away.) I’m trying to shop early and therefore I’m getting excited about the holidays. I love Thanksgiving, even an untraditional one. I’m giving away a “holiday package” of the three novella collections I’ve contributed to along with authors Leslie Meier and Lee Hollis, Eggnog Murder, Yule Log Murder, and Haunted House Murder, along with a Snowden Family Clambake tote bag.

Readers: What about you? Leave a comment about what you’re thankful for this month or just say “hi” to be entered for all this great stuff.

Keeping It Light…

by Barb, at home

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The Wickeds started out as the Wicked Cozy Authors, all of us writing cozy mysteries, all of us writing books set in New England. Since then, we’ve branched out. A core of us still write cozies, but we also write historical mysteries, paranormal mysteries, and traditional mysteries. Many of us still write about New England, but our settings also embrace southern Indiana, the panhandle of Florida, and a small English village.

Even as we’ve branched out, we all still write on the lighter side. By lighter, I don’t necessarily mean funny, though some of us do write funny books. And I definitely don’t mean slight or inconsequential or silly. What I do mean is that as opposed to say, noir, we write with an optimistic view of humanity. And we write deliberately to entertain.

Obviously, it’s a choice. And while it’s not a choice each one of us will always make, it’s one we’ve made so far. So Wickeds, tell us, why do you choose to write on the lighter side?

Julie: I love this question, Barb. I don’t just write these books, I read them. Right now I’m enjoying rereading Elizabeth Peters (Crocodile on the Sandbank is, in my opinion, one of the great first books in a great series) and listening to Cleo Coyle’s Haunted Bookshop series. I love the reader/author promise that these books hold. There will be a puzzle, and it will be solved. Order will be restored, and you’ll get to visit with favorite characters while that happens. I feel so blessed to help folks escape for a few hours.

Sherry: I need to read some Elizabeth Peters! It’s interesting because my crime fiction reading tends to be darker — mostly thrillers. But I balance reading something darker with something light and I’ve found I don’t like books quite as graphic as I did when I was younger. For my own writing, my characters just tend to lead me to the lighter side, because of their life view as optimists. I work hard to balance the light with realistic, three dimensional characters.

Edith/Maddie: As Julie implied, I write what I want to read. While I sometimes go darker in a short story, I don’t have to live in that world for very long. With one of my books, I’m intimately involved with the characters and the story every day for four months. And good heavens, the real world is dark and scary enough. Let me please not live in it in my books, too.

Jessie: Like Sherry, I often read books that are quite dark. I love Scandinavian crime novels and historical fiction that takes a looks at some heavy themes. Some of my writing is lighthearted and inclined to seek the humorous side of life. Other books, however look at the things one would rather avoid. I think the common theme in all of it is a hopefulness at the end. Whether the stories I create skirt the unseemlier side of life or look at it head on I always want to feel that there is the possibility for growth and happiness by the end.

Liz: I’m in the Sherry and Jessie camp and tend to read dark – I am well known for my obsessions with Tana French and Dennis Lehane. But in the midst of all the craziness of the world these days, I’ve also found my mood changes a lot more about what I want to read. I’ve had trouble concentrating on reading overall this year, but when I do it does tend to be lighter. I guess I do really like happy endings after all!

Barb: Because I write murder mysteries, let’s face it, there’s going to be some bad stuff. For one character to take the life of another, I want strong motivation, not some silly dispute. That means I need to look at the darker side of human behavior. But as Jessie put it so well, it’s all about the possibility for growth and happiness at the end. That’s what I want to put out into the world. If you’re writing a book where growth and happiness are a possibility, you are going to be categorized as writing on the lighter side.

Readers: What about you? If you’re here you undoubtedly do some reading on the lighter side. Why? Is that most of what you read, or do you also read darker books? Tell us about that.

A Wicked Welcome to Connie di Marco

by Julie, getting a late start on my teaching day

I’m so happy to welcome Connie di Marco back to the blog. I love learning about astrology, and this series is a great way to do just that.

The REAL AskZodia



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Julia Bonatti, my crime-solving astrological sleuth in the Zodiac Mysteries, writes an advice column, AskZodia, for her home town newspaper, the San Francisco Chronicle.  Now, Julia’s column stretches reality quite a bit because what big city newspaper would have this kind of space?  But here’s a typical question Zodia might receive:

Dear Zodia ~

My birthday is September 13, 1974 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  I’ve been married for 26 years.  I’m very unhappy and confused.  I care about my husband, he’s a good person, but to be honest, I’m bored.  Bored with him and with married life.  I’ve been thinking about telling him I want a divorce, but I’m really afraid what this will do to him.  Please tell me what to do.

            ~ Growing Older

Dear Growing Older ~

Your sign off name says a lot.  You’re afraid life is passing you by and soon it will be too late for adventure.  What you’re not telling me, and I know because Neptune is opposing your Sun sign, and over the last year or so, opposed your Venus, is that you are attracted to someone else.  Here’s the thing about Neptune transits: they can lend a great aura of mystery or fantasy.  Much if not most of this is not real.  Think very carefully about your choices because in time, you may regret leaving your marriage.  If you would like to send a private message to AskZodia with this third person’s birth information, I would be happy to have a look at the new interest in your life.

Wishing you well ~

            ~ Zodia

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Now there’s a . . . duh! . . . part of this story – I was so busy inventing my fictional astrologer, it never occurred to me to wonder if there might be a real AskZodia!  Then, at a street fair one day on Polk Street, out of curiosity, I stopped at the Chronicle booth and spotted the newspaper’s daily astrological column!  The same column Julia writes!  (sort of)  And I realized there is a REAL Zodia! 

I decided to investigate further.  Zodia’s name is actually Christopher Renstrom and he’s been kind enough to respond to my query.  He thought it was a hoot that a fictional astrologer was also writing for the Chronicle!  In fact, that fabulous Sagittarius art work is from Christopher’s site.  (In case you didn’t already know, Julia Bonatti is a Sagittarian). 

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Christopher is a very well-known and well-respected astrologer with a website offering all sorts of astrological services and a terrific new book that’s just been released – The Cosmic Calendar: Using Astrology to Get in Sync with Your Best Life.  I’m reading and enjoying it right now! 

So if you’d like to enjoy a good astrological murder mystery, don’t miss The Madness of Mercury.  And if you’d like some real life astrology, find Christopher at his website [http://rulingplanets.com] at websitewebsite; [http://rulingplanets.com">http://rulingplanets.com%5D; at Facebook [Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/christopher.renstrom] and Twitter @rulingplanets.  You won’t regret it! 

I have to confess something here — I have a fabulous computer program for astrology.  Don’t forget I have to work out all my charts for victims and murderers.  But while I’m in line at the supermarket, I can’t resist reaching for the nearest magazine to read my horoscope! 

How about you?  Tell the truth!  When you’re in line at the store, do you grab a Cosmo or Vogue and flip directly to the horoscope page? 

BIO



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Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries from Suspense Publishing featuring Julia Bonatti, a San Francisco astrologer who never thought murder would be part of her practice.  The Madness of Mercury was re-released on October 9th, and the next two books in the series so far will be coming soon:  All Signs Point to Murder (December 1) andTail of the Dragon.

Website:  http://conniedimarco.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/zodiacmysteries
Twitter:  @askzodia

Writing as Connie Archer, she’s the national bestselling author of the Soup Lover’s Mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime.  You can find her excerpts and recipes in both The Cozy Cookbook and The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook.  She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. 

Website:  httip://conniearchermysteries.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ConnieArcherMysteries
Twitter:  @SnowflakeVT

About The Madness of Mercury



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San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti’s life is turned upside down when she becomes a target of the Reverend Roy of the Prophet’s Tabernacle.  The Reverend, a recently-arrived cult preacher, is determined to drive sin from the city, but his gospel of love and compassion doesn’t extend to those he considers an “abomination unto the Lord.”  Julia’s outspoken advice in her newspaper column, AskZodia, has put her at the top of the Reverend’s list.  While the powerful Mercury-ruled preacher woos local dignitaries, his Army of the Prophet will stop at nothing to silence not just Julia, but anyone who stands in his way. 

Buy links for The Madness of Mercury:
Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2TU13Ea
Barnes & Noble:  https://bit.ly/3evKszT
IndieBound:  https://bit.ly/3oZtsXJ

Unending

Jessie: In New Hampshire where the leaves are gone and the birds are visiting the feeders.

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Like pretty much everyone else I find myself spending more time at home more than ever. And like so many others, all the little things that are easy to put off or overlook when one spends time rocketing about in other locales become glaring upon daily inspection. This has led to a not unique flurry of home improvement and decorating projects.

In the spring my husband built a new overhang for our back door and ordered a new screen house canopy so we could enjoy the outdoors more easily. I reorganized the pantry. In September we booked the installantion of some long overdue fresh caprpeting and purchased living room furniture as a way to mark our youngest heading off to college. In October we tackled the last room in our home to be redecorated, my office. We peeled down wallpaper dating from the previous owner, painted the walls, changed the overhead lighting and jacked up the house so that the doors close. I pulled down the curtains and hung prisms in the windows and added a bunch of new houseplants.

We moved bookcases to the upstairs hallway, bottomed out the second floor linen closet and built an outdoor fireplace for the patio. I swamped out the sewing room/ studio. I purged my wardrobe. The spice drawers got a hard look and a bit of a buff up. I purged old paper files.

But all this brings me to the bits where there is less certainty. Or perhaps simply less enthusiasm. Every layer of that comes off, or each project that is completed seems to reveal another one beneath it like a never ending set of Russian dolls. The catch-all drawer in the kitchen now seems intolerable compaered to the realative calm exhibited by the spice drawer. My closet no longer contains things I don’t wear but the items reamining seem to be calling out for better organization. What does one do with scarves and purses?

The linen closet in my own bedroom could use an hour’s attention. What about the family photos I keep meaning to frame? The cabinet that holds leftovers storage containers and the one devoted to baking pans both whisper at me but I feel daunted and tell them to wait a bit longer. The dog toys need a bit of a going over and tough decisions need to be made. The bins of hats and mittens in the mudroom are surely not the best solution to that particular problem but I have not yet made myself seek out a better one.

I suppose the only thing for it is to look forward to the long winter months ahead and the days spent at home with no excuse not to pick away at the to do list. Maybe by the time we are all free to roam about the planet once more I will have reached that last little Russian doll in the center of the stack!

Readers, have you been finding yourself tackling jobs around the house over the pst few months? Any suggestions for what to do with scarves, handbags and food storage containers?

Sister Envy with Jennifer J. Chow + a giveaway

[image error]I’m so excited to welcome Jennifer back to the blog. I read her first book Mimi Gets a Clue right as the pandemic broke down and I was stuck at home. It was the perfect book for me. And I was lucky enough to get to read an advance copy of Mimi Reads Between the Lines. Here’s my thought on Mimi Reads Between the Lines: If you love an intriguing mystery with an appealing protagonist, a wisecracking cat, and lively family dynamics you must read the Sassy Cat mysteries by Jennifer J. Chow. I’m so glad I found her fresh new voice in the cozy mystery world. 

Jennifer: When I was young, I wished I had a sister. I wanted somebody to whisper secrets with; I believed that having a sister meant a lifelong friend who would understand me. Of course, I really had no say in the matter. I was also into the Sweet Valley High series at the time. Reading about Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield made me yearn for a sister (and a twin, which for sure was not going to happen).

[image error]I did get a taste of sisterhood when my cousins moved to the States. Their family had a trio of girls. The youngest happened to be my age, so we went off to kindergarten together. We even wore matching shirts on the first day of school. Peers would often confuse us and figured that we were twins. For the entire school year, I felt like a fake. My cousin actually had two real sisters at home, ones with whom she shared a room and cozied up to in bed while swapping stories. They eventually also traded clothes, too, and continued to look out for one another as they grew older. At my youngest cousin’s wedding, the joke to the groom was that he hadn’t just married the one woman but had gotten the whole sisterhood.

I now have two daughters, and I enjoy observing the intricacies of their relationship. Oftentimes, it can be a love-hate rollercoaster ride—all within the span of a day. They can gripe at each other one moment and then turn around and snuggle together the next. They play imaginative games, and only sometimes will make mischief together instead. More often than not, I find them chatting, while doing something as simple and caring as braiding each other’s hair.

[image error]Their close relationship influenced how I wrote the sister bond between Mimi and Alice in A Sassy Cat Mystery series. The sister connection shines particularly bright in Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines, when Alice gets accused of murder. Mimi must work hard to change the opinions of the police and find the real culprit.

[image error]Although I never got the sister I wanted growing up, I’m glad that I can pour my creative energy into writing sisters in my novels.

Readers: Do you have any siblings or did you experience siblings envy growing up?

Giveaway: A physical or email copy (reader’s choice) of A Sassy Cat Mystery book (MIMI LEE GETS A CLUE or MIMI LEE READS BETWEEN THE LINES) through random selection from a comment on the blog. US only for physical copy. Ends one week after the post (November 20th).  

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Jennifer J. Chow is the author of the hiss-terical A Sassy Cat Mystery series and the Winston Wong cozies. She lives in Los Angeles, where she hunts for all things matcha. Connect with her online and sign up for her newsletter at www.jenniferjchow.com. You can also find her on social media under @jenjchow.

Blurb and buy link:

When a local teacher is found dead, LA’s newest pet groomer Mimi Lee finds herself in a pawful predicament—with her younger sister’s livelihood on the line.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/605897/mimi-lee-reads-between-the-lines-by-jennifer-j-chow/9781984805010/

Gratitude Giveaway

by Julie, enjoying a warm snap and change of scenery

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I got a new daily planner. A Plum Paper 6 month daily for any other planner addicts out there. I was able to personalize the areas of the planner, but there was one I kept, and am committed to using. A “Daily Gratitude” section.

I’ve tried gratitude journals in the past, as a separate daily practice. But this time, by having it in my planner, I’ve been far more likely to use it.

Now, 2020 has been, and continues to be, quite a year. But I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude, and I’ve given myself this challenge. What five unique things can I be grateful for every day. I have a wonderful base of family and friends. Work I love. Books. Cats. All of those are a given, though I still am grateful. For the past few weeks I have been trying to find five new things every day. My Shepherd’s Pie recipe. Getting my NaNoWriMo words done. The feel of my fountain pen on my journal pages. Brokenwood Mysteries for diversion. The joy of driving my 16 year old Scion xB. Those were on today’s list.

On the Wickeds, we discuss themes as we plot the year. This month we’re talking about light and darkness, a more appropriate theme then we could have imagined when we planned a year ago. Even on the darker days, finding five joys, five things to be grateful for–that exercise is a gift of hope. We all need that gift.

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Speaking of gratitude–I was thrilled when Kate Carlisle asked me to be part of a Thanksgiving cookbook and a giveaway. The giveaway includes 14 books, and everyone who enters will get a copy of the cookbook. Enter at https://bit.ly/thankful4books! The winner will be announced on November 17.

Friends, what are you grateful for today?

The Forces of Light and Darkness

by Barb, at home in Portland, Maine

Our theme this month is light and dark. Also, today is Veteran’s Day. Wickeds, are there any veterans in your family? Tell us who and show us photos if you have them.

Edith: My father and grandfather, Allan B. Maxwell Jr. and Sr., both served in the US Army, in WW II and I, respectively.

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Daddy was drafted out of college in Indiana and sent to UC Berkeley to study Italian, where he met my mother at a dance her sorority threw for the soldiers. But he ended up in a remote mountain outpost in India transmitting radio messages, after producing the ship newspaper on the way over. He also wrote letters to my mother every day (yes, I get my writing chops honestly). She much later told that when he asked her if she would write, she didn’t think he meant every single day. My grandfather, Allan Maxwell, Senior, was on the boat over to Europe when the Armistice was declared. I don’t think my mother’s father, Richard Flaherty, served, but she talked at length about their victory garden and putting the car up on blocks to save rubber.

Liz: Thanks to both of them for their service. My grandfather was on track to join the army but a chronic knee issue kept him out of active duty. He and my grandmother both pledged to help in any way they could, though–and both were volunteers during WWII.

Julie: My grandfather Hennrikus served in WWI, and was in Europe after WWII as part of the Marshall Plan. My grandfather Stockbridge was in the Merchant Marines as a young man, and served in the Coast Guard, in the Pacific, in WWII. I also have uncles and cousins who’ve served. Grateful to them all.

Barb: My dad, Richard Morrow Ross, Jr., in Korea in 1953. In spite of four years of ROTC, 3 years on active duty, and then ten years in the reserves, this is the only photo I have of him in any military setting. After he got home he never spoke about Korea again. He obviously sent this photo to my mother. The note on the back says, “Your own at home. Really living it up in the Far East.” The pictures on the shelf above his head are my mom and me.

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My grandfather, Richard Morrow Ross, in service during World War I. After he returned, his maternal aunt and her husband, a tailor, who had no children of their own, paid for him to get his undergraduate degree from Columbia University. That generous act had a significant impact on the future of our family.

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My grandfather’s grandfather, Adoniram Judson Dickison during the Civil War. Opposite to my father, Judd, as he was called, became something of a professional veteran after his service. He was active in the G.A.R. and marched in veteran’s parades until his death in 1928. I remember my grandfather (above) telling me, “When I was a kid, all the old man wanted to talk about was the Civil War. I wasn’t the least bit interested. Now I wish I had listened.”

[image error]Adoniram Judson Dickison. (My brother has the sword.)

Can you tell I spent a significant amount of my quarancleaning going through old family photos?

Jessie: My maternal grandfather enlisted in the Marines just as soon as he turned eigtheen. He served in the Pacific theater during WWII. Two of his brothers served as well, as did his mother who ended up outranking all her sons by the end of the war. My father served in the air force just after WWII ended as an air craft mechanic. Both of my maternal uncles served during Vietnam, one as a Marine and the other in the Coast Guard. My brother-in-law served in the air force.

Sherry: I’m the proud wife of an Air Force veteran who served for twenty-one years. Bob retired in 2008 at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts. If not for being stationed there, I might never have become so close to the Wickeds. I’ve loved my experiences as an Air Force wife in my Sarah Winston Garage Sale mysteries. My father served in World War II, my father-in-law in World War II, and my grandfather in World War I. I’m amazed by the selfless service of some many wonderful men and women. The photos are of Bob on the day he retired and my father when he enlisted.

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Readers: How about you? Are there any special friends or family members you’re remembering this Veteran’s Day?

A Wicked Welcome to Isabella Maldonado **plus a giveaway**

I’m delighted to welcome Isabella Maldonado to the blog today, to help her celebrate the debut of a new Nina Guerrera series! The Cipher , a police procedural/thriller, came out last week. Welcome to the blog Isabella. You’re talking about something we can all relate to!

Creative Chaos



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By nature, I’m a neat and organized person, but I’ve noticed an interesting trend. Over the course of writing a novel, increasing levels of entropy creep into my workspace toward the end of each draft.

In a bizarre parallel with the frenetic pace of my characters hurtling toward the climax of the story, my life becomes increasingly chaotic when the end of a manuscript is in sight. I step back from social media, socializing in general, and sometimes household chores like tidying my desk.

Because I’m the designated vice-president-in-charge-of-household-papers, the pile of documents to sort, coupons to cut, receipts to file, and general detritus spreads until I consider putting on an outbreak suit to wade through it.

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This stage of the process drives me a bit batty because, as I mentioned, I’m kind of a neat freak. But I’m in the flow, so there’s no stopping or slowing down to take care of routine paperwork. I vow to get to it later. The compilation of settings, plot pieces, and characters in my mind competes with the growing collection of incoming information screaming for my attention. All but the most urgent papers are pushed to the back burner as I sprint headlong toward the finish line.

At the end of the day, my husband ventures into my office with a fresh stack of mail. Scanning the desk, he raises a brow. I narrow my eyes. He wisely says nothing and puts the newest pile on a chair in the corner before slowly backing out.

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True to my word, when each draft is finished, I clean and purge my workspace. The office is returned to its usual state of orderliness. Peace is restored. Like a bear in the springtime, I crawl out from the cave ready to engage the world again. Thankfully, this only seems to happen in the last month of the process.

Attached are a couple of pictures of my office as it is now. I’m embarking on a new novel, so I’ll document the before status of my surroundings. Later, I might get pics of the after status! Or not…

Do you function better in a neat and tidy, or a messy and free flowing workspace?

Isabella will send one commenter a copy of The Cipher.

BIO



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Retired police captain ISABELLA MALDONADO wore a gun and badge in real life before turning to crime writing. A former Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics, she was selected to attend the FBI National Academy in Quantico. She uses her law enforcement background to bring realism to her writing.  www.isabellamaldonado.com

About the Book:

To a cunning serial killer, she was the one that got away. Until now…

FBI Special Agent Nina Guerrera escaped a serial killer’s trap at sixteen. Years later, when she’s jumped in a Virginia park, a video of the attack goes viral. Legions of new fans are not the only ones impressed with her fighting skills. The man who abducted her eleven years ago is watching. Determined to reclaim his lost prize, he commits a grisly murder designed to pull her into the investigation…but his games are just beginning. And he’s using the internet to invite the public to play along.

His coded riddles may have made him a depraved social media superstar—an enigmatic cyber-ghost dubbed “the Cipher”—but to Nina he’s a monster who preys on the vulnerable. Partnered with the FBI’s preeminent mind hunter, Dr. Jeffrey Wade, who is haunted by his own past, Nina tracks the predator across the country. Clue by clue, victim by victim, Nina races to stop a deadly killer while the world watches.
Links to website and to purchase: 

Amazon

Isabella’s website includes links to purchase in several formats and venues.