Edith Maxwell's Blog, page 144

Guest Liz Milliron

Edith here, delighted to welcome Liz Milliron back to the blog. Liz and I “sprint” online together every day, and I love her writing. Her second Laurel Highlands Mystery, Heaven Has No Rage, comes out from Level Best Books next week!

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State Trooper Jim Duncan’s quiet overnight shift turns deadly when fire destroys a ski lodge. The body inside is not the man who rented the cabin. Assistant Public Defender Sally Castle, still reeling after the events of several months ago, receives missives, each one darker than the last, at her office as well as her home. As the questions multiply, Jim and Sally are thrown into a race to find a murderer as well as a stalker…before Sally ends up facing more than an unwanted pen pal.

Writer, Read Thy Bible

First, thanks to the Wickeds for hosting me today. It’s
always fun to chat with you all!

From the title of this post, you might think I’m going to
get all religious on you. But that’s not it at all. The bible I’m referring to
has nothing to do with holy scripture.

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It’s a story bible.

You might ask, “What’s a story bible?” Well, if you write a
series (or multiple series, like some of the Wickeds), the story bible is where
you keep track of all the details. You might know your protagonist’s features
cold, but what is her step-sister’s first name? That woman she didn’t like at
her last job? Does her ex have brown eyes or green eyes? What kind of car did
she drive in 1997? What was her first job out of college? Was the first house
she lived in blue with white shutters or white with blue shutters?

You get the drift.

All of this might be in past books. But when you’re drafting
book seven, say (or even book two), you can’t go back and read six other books
to find the answer. And what if you’ve written short stories with your
character? You see the problem.

Enter the story bible. It can be paper or digital, but it’s
where you keep all these details so when the moment comes, you can put your
hands on the answer. Since I write in Scrivener, I keep a detailed Character
Sheet for each character and put them in a special binder. When I start a new
book, I pull the relevant character sheets over – folks like Jim, Sally, Tom
Burns, and Aislyn McAllister. The original gang, as it were.

Sometimes I find out that I need a minor character from a
previous book. If so, I can do that, too.

As I write the current book, new information is put in the
bible. If Sally sells her tan Camry for a red Porsche, that would go into the
bible. I can’t see her doing something like that, but you never know.

I thought I had been smart. Jim and Sally had a year of
history thanks to the short stories that were published before Root of All Evil (the stories in Murder Most Scenic). But apparently I
hadn’t been as thorough as I thought. While drafting that book, I had an
argument with Jim about whether he had hazel eyes or green eyes (yes, I argued
with a fictional character). I whipped out my series bible to prove he had
green eyes…and that detail wasn’t there.

Oops.

As I prepped for the blog tour for Heaven Has No Rage, the question was raised, how old was Jim?
Well…he was in his mid-thirties. But he was in his mid-thirties in the first
short story. I’d never included his age in the bible.

Oops.

Then I realized I needed to be able to age these characters
appropriately as the series progressed. When were their birthdates? Add that to
the bible.

Yeah, not as thorough as I thought.

But it was worse. After I gave a minor character in Heaven Has No Rage not two, but three different cars, I realized my
series bible had to expand. I hadn’t given my minor characters – the ones who
only appear in one book – the same level of attention as the recurring
characters. My bad.

All of this necessitated a day of going back through
everything that existed and figuring out things like birthdays, ages, and
family relationships. Just how old are Jim’s niece and nephew, anyway? Turns
out that’s going to be important in the next book.

I won’t pretend I’ve got it all written down at this point.
I know better. But hopefully the next time someone asks, “Just when is Sally
Castle’s birthday, anyway?” I’ll be able to look up the answer.

Readers, does it bother you when small details are inconsistent? Writers, how do you keep track of the minutiae?

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Liz Milliron is the author of The Laurel Highlands Mysteries series about a Pennsylvania State Trooper and a Fayette County assistant public defender in the scenic Laurel Highlands. The first in the series, Root of All Evil, was released in August, 2018. Liz’s short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies, including Murder Most Historical and the Anthony-award-winning Blood on the Bayou. She is a past president of the Pittsburgh chapter of Sisters in Crime, as well as a member of Pennwriters and International Thriller Writers. She lives outside Pittsburgh with her husband, two teens, and a retired-racer greyhound.

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Writers Police Academy

By Sherry — is your summer flying by?

I was at Writers’ Police Academy last weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is such a great conference. Last year when I wrote about the event I said that I was so enthusiastic that my husband might attend. He did and our daughter came with us too. They loved it!

[image error]My husband and daughter are drying their fingerprint cards.

Thursday night there was a panel of medical examiners who spoke. They were fascinating and informative. I always wonder how people can do that job and they said it was because they speak for the dead. It’s their job to tell their story about what happened to them. Also, one of the women speaking said she hate’s it when someone writes in a novel that medical examiners are failed neurosurgeons. She choose to be a medical examiner not because she couldn’t do anything else.

[image error]This slide is about ninhydrin a chemical used to bring out prints on porous surfaces.

Friday my first class was on retrieving prints from paper. It’s amazing how fingerprints can linger and be brought back. Then we got to go on a tour of Sirchie. It’s the first time they’ve ever allowed civilians (they teach lots of classes to law enforcement groups) to be on their campus and tour their factory. They make many different types of products for law enforcement – from brushes for finding latent prints to helmets to evidence markers.

One of the most fascinating classes was on interrogations. Throw out everything you think you know about them. Most police departments don’t have rooms with two way mirrors. The instructor doesn’t like to sit on opposite sides of the table because he likes to watch body language and the lower body shows stress easily. The best way to gather information is often by asking for a meeting at a coffee shop or stopping at someone’s place of work or home. And while yes, the police can lie to you, they can’t intimidate you. Our instructor said a good interrogator knows that he/she has to become what the person they are interviewing needs them to be so they will talk.

What’s the difference between an interview and an interrogation? In an interview people want to give you information, but in an interrogation they don’t.

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I was worried an hour and a half class on footwear evidence would be boring, but boy was I wrong! I was sad when it was over. The instructor’s combination of information and humor made the entire class want more.

I attended fabulous classes about being an undercover cop, a latent prints class (different from prints on paper), murder and mayhem, and firearms. Because a bus was late we got an impromptu class from a former FBI agent who was in on the arrest and search of the Unibomber’s home.  They found a live bomb under Ted Kaczynski’s bed while they were searching. And none of us in that class will ever look at carrots the same way again.

[image error]Learning new things, being around law enforcement officers, and other writers is always exhilarating.

Readers: What is exhilarating for you?

 

 

Wicked Wednesday- Filling the Well

Jessie: On the coast of Maine, soaking up the salty sea air!

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In the heat of the dog days of August I find my thoughts turning towards things aquatic. Which made me consider wells, both literal and metaphoric. Without a fresh influx from outside both sorts tend to run dry. So, Wickeds, how do you fill your own wells, either physical or creative?

Julie: This is such a great question, and one I’m addressing in a number of ways. Lately, for me, lots of rest has been necessary and I’m giving into that. I also find going and seeing water (the ocean, or a lake, or a river) is vital. For my artist self, I find that visiting a museum or going to a concert refills my well. I’ve also been meditating regularly, and that is definitely refilling my inner self.

Edith: Water does it for me, too, Julie. I can get to a big flat beach (Hampton on the NH seacoast) in an easy 25-minute drive, and it’s summer! I like to get there by seven or eight in the morning, set up my chair, and go for a walk. Just smelling the salt air renews me. Puttering in my small vegetable garden makes me happy and takes me out of my brain, too. Pull a weed here, admire a ripening tomato there.

Sherry: Like Edith and Julie I love being near water. But I also love being around other writers and readers. I just returned from Writers Police Academy. It’s so fun not only to learn new things from all of the instructors, but to talk to the other writers who are attending and find out what they are writing and reading. This weekend I’ll get in Suffolk, Virginia at the Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival where I’ll get to spend more time with readers and authors!

Barb: For me, lately, the best way to refill the well has been travel. After several years not traveling due to weddings, funerals, and moving, Bill and I finally got back on the road this year. In addition to our amazing adventure looking for Bill’s second cousin in Calabria, we also took a cruise from Athens to Rome. This weekend we were at a wonderful family wedding in Roanoke, Virginia and as I write this we’re at Massanutten Water Park with our granddaughter. Next week, the Jersey shore!

Liz: I’m definitely part of the water crew! I need to be near the ocean and am planning a few days getaway at my favorite beach at the end of the month. Otherwise, I’m blessed to live in a harbor community where I can smell the salty Long Island Sound air and hear seagulls chatting on a daily basis. It really makes me happy.

Jessie: It sounds like we all love the water whether a trip to the beach, aboard ship or even by visiting a water park! I love spending the summers at the seaside as a way to fill my well. I also find I am always renewed by taking on new information. Learning new things always makes me feel inspired and rejuvenated! I think that is part of the reason I love researching the background and historical events that go into my books!

Readers, what fills your well? Tell us in the comments below!

Guest-Meg Mims

Jessie: Spending the lazy summer days thinking up my next novel and catching up on my to-be-read pile!

I am delighted to welcome Meg Mims to the Wickeds today! I’ve gotten to know her over the last couple of years as we both participate in the Sleuths in Time Facebook group. She is one of those people who seems to possess boundless energy writing both contemporary and historical mysteries and is a great deal of fun besides! Take it away, Meg!

A Teddy Bear Love Story

Given how I’m writing the fourth book in my Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear cozy mystery series with Kensington, one might assume that I once dragged around a teddy bear – a la Christopher Robin. Not so! Instead I had Jerry the Mouse. From the Tom and Jerry cartoons, which I loved. (I still love cartoons.) Teddy bears were not part of my childhood. But when I traveled to England as an adult, and spied a stuffed Paddington Bear at Harrods in London, I stopped cold.

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Who wouldn’t fall in love? That soft, woolly, stuffed bear in his blue raincoat and red hat, had such an adorable and curious expression! The tag proclaimed, “Please look after this Bear Thank You” – which spoke to me. I plucked him up, bought him, and squeezed the toy into the last tiny bit of suitcase space left over before heading to Heathrow airport and home. Then I had to find and read the Michael Bond book to discover his adventures after leaving darkest Peru. And his love of marmalade sandwiches. How sweet! I was also pumped when they recently brought Paddington Bear to life in films. I loved both, and highly recommend them to children and adults.

I’m afraid buying the Paddington book started a dangerous trend – I had to add Corduroyto my bookshelf, along with Winnie the Pooh, several Maurice Sendak illustrated Little Bearbooks, plus others. I often took We’re Going on a Bear Huntwith me during my years of substitute teaching to read – and the lower elementary kids loved all the fun sound effects included in the story. Wish I’d written that book!

Once I started writing my adult cozy series, I decided to get serious about collecting teddy bears. I am the proud owner of “My Bear Lady” dressed in the black/white gown for Royal Ascot, “Beary” Poppins,  and multiple Santa Bears, winter bears, an aviator bear, small vampire beanie babies, the purple Princess Diana beanie baby, plus other miniature bears. I’ve given several teddies away to charities and children in my family or to friends’ children. Having recently moved, I also plan to set up a new display – with the best of the best.

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Long ago my mother also fell in love with teddy bears after seeing my Paddington Bear and started giving me little trinkets. A Christmas tree book ornament with several “Teddy Bears on a Lark” short stories; a small bear who looks half asleep (her favorite); ceramic bears; wooden teddy bears mounted on a wall hanging with hooks for coats; mugs with teddy bears, etc. I inherited several of Mom’s teddy bears when she died of cancer – a ballerina bear and two bears in lace dresses. I treasure all of these items and dedicate each of my cozy teddy bear books to her memory.

My daughter was given a Red Riding Hood teddy bear as a child, which is adorable, plus a Hudson’s Santa Bear, and she found a Teddy Roosevelt bear in South Dakota to add to my collection. I’m hoping she’ll treasure the bears in the years to come and keep the legacy alive.

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Teddy bears still catch my eye wherever I go. I can’t help myself, and I love to see little kids hugging their bears. And for every baby shower I attend, I tuck a small soft teddy into the gift bag. To me, teddy bears represent love and comfort. And security, in a world that seems to get crazier every year. Cozy mysteries can also give readers comfort, since justice is always served in the end, and the fictional world is restored to normal. If only reality could be the same.

Don’t have a teddy bear? It’s not too late. It’s a proven fact that sleeping with a stuffed teddy reduces anxiety and gives a sense of security. Not convinced? Just put it on a nightstand near you. That might be close enough, after all.

My Paddington Bear approves, from his display shelf.

Readers, do you have a teddy bear story of your own? Leave a comment for a chance to win an ARC from Meg!

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BIO: Award winning author Meg Macy writes the “Shamelessly Adorable” Teddy Bear cozy mystery series for Kensington, and is also one-half of the writing team for the Agatha Award-nominated historical mysteries featuring Eliza Doolittle and Professor Henry Higgins. As Meg Mims, she’s written award-winning western historical mysteries and sweet Christmas-themed romance novellas with rescue dogs and cats. Meg tackles her to-be-read pile between deadlines, and enjoys tearooms, flowers, and gardening. Visit her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or her website at www.megmacy.com

Firsts

It’s first Monday again, and while I’m sure we’ve covered a lot of different ones here, somehow I got to thinking about what the first books we read by ourselves, rather than having it them read to us by our parents (at least I hope they read to us, way back when).

Part of this thread was inspired by my interminable sorting through four generations of saved things in my house, and those included books, of course. My grandmother and mother were devoted readers on their own (my great- and great-great-grandmothers, not so much), and I don’t remember what any of the men read (assuming they did). But what started me thinking was a box of books that were given to my husband when he was a child (yes, he knew how to read), which dated mostly from the 1950s, when he was younger than ten–and I had never heard of any of them. I grew up on the East Coast, and he grew up in Indiana. Was there a significant difference in children’s literary customs between the two areas?

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Two things stood out among his books, and one of them had me in stitches. It was a 1958 book called The Runaway Flea Circus by Patricia Lauber (published by Random House), and the star of the story was named (wait for it) Bimbo. The human protagonists were named Susie and Tom. They were friends of the same age (and you may not be surprised to learn that my husband had a sister two years younger than he was, so it didn’t seem odd that a boy and a girl would end up playing together, at least in the 1950s). Yes, there was a flea circus (anybody ever seen one of those?) And Tom and Susie decided to hold a flea circus (fleas provided by Bimbo) to raise funds to help out Susie’s parents, who were down on their luck. Much merriment ensues, when the fleas escape. And everything ends well.

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I had never heard of the book or the author, so of course I had to look her up. To my surprise, I found she had written over eighty books for children, both fiction and non-fiction. She received American Book Award nominations; one of her books was named one of Newbery Honors books, and she won a Lifetime Achievement Commendation from the National Forum on Children’s Science Books.

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And I had never heard of her.

What’s more, she attended Wellesley College, as I did, and graduated with an English degree (see? they were worth something!) And she was given an Alumnae Achievement Award by the college in 1998.

I can name a wealth of stand-along books and series that I read as a child, and most of my friends (girls, since I went to girls’ schools until high school), and can name quite a few of them (heck, I still have quite a few of them!)

So all of this made me wonder: was the Midwest a different country? Were there regional variations of what books were distributed where? This was not the only example that crept out of that box of stored books, and most were unfamiliar to me.

With one exception: The Island Stallion, by Walter Farley. To the best of my recollection, every eight-year-old girl loved all the Walter Farley books, including me (girls of a certain age have a thing for horses). But what I wanted to add was the author’s dedication:

DEDICATED TO

ALL THE BOYS AND GIRLS WHO LOVE

HORSES BUT NEVER HAVE HAD

ONE OF THEIR OWN.

I think a lot of us felt that way back then.

What about you? What book did you pick to start your long road to reading? Did you enjoy series? Which book(s) made the most important impression on you? (Do I really need to mention Nancy Drew?)

Guest- Alexia Gordon

Jessie: Wondering how to make summer last more than a few more weeks!

One of the best things about attending conferences is getting to meet other authors, especially those about whom you have heard lovely things. I had just such an experience in New York last month when I became acquainted with Alexia Gordon. I am delighted to welcome her to the Wickeds today!

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One of my blog-mates over on Missdemeanors posed a question to our group—what do you wish you had known earlier in your writing career? Several of us responded we wished we’d known how much marketing and promotion was involved in being a published author. Book tours, conference panels, newsletters, blogs, social media posts—keeping yourself and your books in the public eye is a full-time job. So much so that some authors hire a publicist to help them.

Luckily, the crime fiction community—that includes authors, agents, bloggers, publishers, editors, and readers—is generous with its time and effort to promote members of the community. Bloggers review books and invite authors to guest post on their blogs. Authors Tweet other authors’ books, share their book news on Facebook and Instagram, and cross promote each other in newsletters. Lone Star Literary, an online literary magazine, hosts book blog tours and features books with a connection to Texas. Many of those books are crime fiction titles. Agents, editors, and publishers help generate buzz. And readers—prime members of the community—read the books, review them, and recommend them to friends. Organizations and groups like Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America, and Pitch Wars offer advocacy, advice, and support to aspiring, new, and established authors. Lots of cheerleading goes on in the crime fiction community. Funny, considering crime writers spend an inordinate amount of time thinking of interesting ways to kill people. You’d think we’d be a scary bunch, instead of a warm and welcoming community, always ready with a kind word, a shoulder to cry on, or a drink at the bar.

A newer method of book promotion, one that’s growing in popularity, is podcasting. According to a Musicoomph[dot]com infographic, there are nearly one million active podcasts in 2019. Of course, not all of them are devoted to crime fiction. Many don’t focus on books at all. Several podcasts are all about crime fiction, though. Shedunnit features authors and stories from the Golden Age of detective fiction. Unlikeable Female Characters, hosted by “feminist thriller writers,” hosts authors who write female characters to whom the words “nice” and “ladylike” are insults. Game of Books pairs crime novels with wine recommendations. Authors on the Air is a broadcast radio show rather than a podcast, but many crime fiction authors sit down for an interview with host, Pam Stack. Writers on the Beat, Public Display of Imagination, Criminal Mischief, and Authors of Mass Destruction are a few of several other crime fiction-themed podcasts.

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And there’s a new kid on the podcasting block—The Cozy Corner with Alexia Gordon. That’s me! A member of the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network, The Cozy Corner airs every other Wednesday on podcast listening platforms like Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, AnchorFM, and PocketCasts. I interview a different author each episode, concentrating on those who write mysteries that avoid explicit sex and graphic violence. I cover the crime fiction spectrum from cozy to traditional to the edge of cozy. Past guests include Gigi Pandian, V.M. Burns, Olivia Matthews, and Paula Munier. Abby Vandiver, D.A. Bartley, L.A. Chandler, and Susanna Calkins are a few of my future guests. I’m excited to be able to offer another outlet to promote members of this supportive, giving, creative community I belong to.

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Alexia’s books can be found at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Indiebound and Henery Press. She loves to connect with readers on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Pinterest and on Instagram. You can also get in touch with her at her website and can read her posts on Miss Demeanors and Femmes Fatales.

Readers, do you listen to podcasts? Read newsletters and book blogs? Do you follow authors on social media? How do you support crime fiction authors? What guests would you like to hear on a podcast?

Guest- Book Reviewer Lisa J. Jackson

Jessie: Soaking up the sun on the coast of Maine

Lisa Hasleton is one of those people who seems to turn her hand to any number of tasks others find overwhelming. I am always amazed by her ability to get to the bottom of problems, both grammatical and technical. I am delighted she is able to join us here on the Wickeds today to share some wisdom about working with reviewers!

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Authors: Advice for How to Request Book Reviews or InterviewsI get a lot of satisfaction in interviewing authors about their work and reading their books and writing reviews. I’ve been interviewing authors for years through my Reviews and Interviews blog [http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com] and was a live-chat author moderator at The Writer’s Chatroom http://www.writerschatroom.com for over a decade. 

It’s a lot of fun being able to peek behind the curtain a bit and learn about an author and their work. I’ve been introduced to numerous authors in just about every genre, and I love it.

I receive numerous email requests for reviews and/or interviews and it’s about 30/70 now whether I reply to requests any more. That sounds harsh, only replying to 30% of requests, but it’s always due to lack of respect and/or information in the request.

Simple common courtesy and etiquette will get you far with anyone (not just a reviewer or interviewer). 

Most book reviewers/author interviewers are not charging for their time, except by way of a copy of your book (if doing a review). I prefer paper copies of books since I’m online all day editing and writing and reading paper is relaxing. So a copy of the book (even e-books) is an author expense, for sure.

First and foremost: You want to research bloggers to make sure they are open to your genre, that they are accepting new books, etc.

Tips when asking for a review or interview:

Be polite and courteous – I don’t know you, so you need to give me a reason to spend time on your emailUse my name in the opening (i.e., Hi Lisa)Briefly introduce yourself (your name, how you found me) – Book Bloggers List, from seeing an interview of an author you like on my blog, from hearing about me through FB, SinC, whereverLet me know what you are seeking from me – interview or book reviewTell me, briefly, a little bit about your novel(s) – do notpaste in paragraphs of past reviews, writeups, blurbs, or sections of your bookMake sure to tell me the name of the book and the genreThank me for my time and considerationPut your name at the end of the emailInclude your website and/or FB page in your signature

Here are examples of types of emails most of us (anyone anywhere) delete:

Those that obviously have BCC addressees, or worse, have a plethora of email addresses visible Those that start with “Hi LisaHaseltonsReviewsAndInterviews” (the blog name stripped out of the URL)Those that are literally a book blurb and link to a website where the recipient can learn more.Those with no introduction, no thank you, no genre, etc., such as, “I’ve published my first/second/third book. You can read about it here [ ]. You can learn about me here [ ].”Or worse: “I am self-publishing my first book next month and need promotion. Reply for more information.”Those all about you, such as: “I’m trying to generate a little exposure for my book, NOVEL TITLE. I’m setting up a blog tour and was hoping to add you to my list. I have a couple interviews set up but am willing to do a few a more. I’ll, of course, send a free e-book to the bloggers that will be reviewing my book. Here is a link to my book to give you an idea on what it’s about.  www.LINKTOBOOK.com . Contact me today to join the tour.”  Those that don’t include your name anywhere, not even in the email address.

You get the gist. 

As authors we want to spend time writing our books and talking with our characters. Promotion is not enjoyable a lot of the time – and it can certainly be a time suck. But honey instead of vinegar, and all that. You’re asking a favor of someone you (probably) don’t know. Give them a reason to like you and want to do that favor. You want to build a relationship with the book reviewer or author interviewer, so give it an honest start.

I’ve worked with various virtual book tour companies over the years, and if that’s of interest to you when you launch (or re-launch) a book, I highly recommend Goddess Fish Promotions. Judy and Marianne are fabulous to work with. [http://www.goddessfish.com/] Or perhaps you do book reviews – they would love more bloggers to help as tour hosts – it’s a great way to meet new-to-you authors, and sometimes win some swag, as well as get your blog noticed. Mention my name!

I’m excited to be working on a way to combine my experience as an author chat moderator and author interviewer/reviewer through video interviews with authors – to launch in 2020. Watch my blog and Facebook page for details! 

I’m currently backlogged with promised book reviews, so am not accepting more at the moment. However, if you’d like an interview as a way to help promote your book, the best email is ReviewsAndInterviews@gmail.com.

Bio: Lisa Haselton is the pseudonym for Lisa as a fiction writer, author interviewer, book reviewer, and member and Programs director for Sisters in Crime – New England. You can learn more through her blog [http://www. lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lisahaselton], and Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/LisaHaselton1].

In her everyday world, Lisa J. Jackson is a professional editor and writer for businesses and authors. You can connect with her on:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisajjackson

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WriteYourWay

Alignable https://www.alignable.com/hudson-nh/write-your-way

Instagram http://www.instagram.com/Lisa_J_Jackson

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/lisajjackson

Let’s Fake A Deal: Integrity

We are still celebrating Sherry Harris’s Let’s Fake A Deal launch!

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Here’s the book blurb:

As a former military spouse, Sarah Winston’s learned a little about organizing, packing, and moving. Her latest project sounds promising: a couple of tech-industry hipsters, newly arrived in her Massachusetts town, who need to downsize. Unfortunately, when Sarah tries to sell their stuff, she discovers it’s all stolen—and she’s the unwitting fence. BUT SARAH’S PROBLEMS ARE JUST BEGINNING. Michelle, an old friend of Sarah’s from the Air Force base, is in line for a promotion—but not everyone is happy about it, and she’s been hit with an anonymous discrimination complaint. When one of the men she suspects is behind the accusations turns up dead in Michelle’s car, Sarah needs to clear Michelle’s name—as well as her own for selling hot merchandise. And she’ll have to do it while also organizing a cat lady’s gigantic collection of feline memorabilia, or they’ll be making room for Sarah in a jail cell . . .

Integrity is an important theme of this book. On this Wicked Wednesday, let’s talk about that theme. Is integrity a prime motivation for any of your characters? How does that play out?

Barb: I think integrity, being true to oneself and true to a moral code, is the most important characteristic of any protagonist in crime fiction. It can be a flawed code born of a flawed system, but there is always a drive for justice, however the main character defines it–the identification of perpetrators and, more than that, the protection of innocents. Sarah Winston has always been true to her sense of integrity, the requirements of her code, even as she has been challenged again and again. More than anything she is a deeply loyal friend, open-minded and forgiving. I can’t wait for this next book!

Jessie: I completely agree with everything you said, Barb! I would add that Sarah Winston has a lot in common with her creator. Sherry is a treasure of a friend and a triumph of a human being. Fortunately, she hasn’t faced as many dead bodies as Sarah!

Edith: LOL, Jessie – and so true about Sarah and Sherry! Of my protagonists, Rose Carroll thinks about integrity the most, as it’s one of the core principles of her faith. She’s definitely challenged by it at times, when she misleads a murder suspect, for example, or tells a white lie in the pursuit of justice.

Liz: I can’t echo enough what Barb and Jessie said about Sherry – and Sarah, of course. One of the best things about this series is Sarah’s drive to do the right thing and help the people she loves, and it makes everything she does so believable. The apple definitely didn’t fall far from the tree!

Julie: I agree, Barb! Integrity is an important characteristic in crime fiction. But for some, it is less a part of the character, and more a search that drives the action. I know that in my series some characters have more integrity than others. I’m going to add another shout out to Sherry, one of the best people I know. I’m so happy for you, and for all of us who get to read another Sarah adventure this year!

Sherry: You guys are going to make me cry. I’m so lucky to blog with such a wonderful group of wicked strong women. (See that? I threw down some New England lingo.) Julie, I love that you saw that theme in the book. And I agree with Barb that it should be a guiding principle in any book not matter if it’s horror, romance, or mystery.

There’s so much for us to celebrate with Let’s Fake A Deal , so feel free to chime in on the comments. Readers, do you find integrity to be a prime motivator in crime fiction? What other motivating factors intrigue you when you’re reading a mystery?

A Tale of Two Friends

[image error]I’m so excited that Let’s Fake a Deal is out today! (Look for a giveaway at the end of the post.) While I’m the one that does the writing so many other people contribute to the book. The whole fantastic team at Kensington including my editor Gary Goldstein, Larissa Ackerman in publicity, Lou Malcangi the  Art Director, the sales team, copy editors, and production team among many others. There wouldn’t be a book without them.

Then there’s Barb Goffman who is my independent editor and chief hand holder. And my beta readers including Mary Titone. (And if that name sounds familiar it should – Mike “the Big Cheese” Titone is one of the characters in the series.) They have saved me from myself multiple times.

Today I want to focus on two other people who helped shape this book—Vida Antolin-Jenkins and Bruce Coffin.

I’ve known Vida for several years. Barbara Ross introduced us and I’m so glad she did. Not only is Vida a lot of fun, she’s a big reader, and supports my series. We’ve had many happy discussions about Sarah and her turbulent personal life. Vida served in the Navy for 23 years and retired in 2013 at the rank of captain (in the other military branches that’s the equivalent of being a colonel). She knows part of each of my books includes some aspect of military life. Vida suggested that I feature a woman who is an officer in the military. This of course required meeting for lunch.

At lunch I took notes and asked lots of questions. Vida gave me big picture ideas along with a lot of personal stories. Much of what she shared that day ended up in Let’s Fake a Deal and we came up with a plot. A female officer is promoted to colonel, only someone files an IG (inspector general) complaint against her. IG complaints are anonymous and, as in real life, the promotion is held up until the complaint has been investigated and the person cleared. In Let’s Fake a Deal, Michelle has a good idea who filed the complaint. The man harasses her when Sarah and Michelle are at a bar together. Things go from bad to worse from there.

It was really interesting to use this plot line in the book and I interviewed several other women who’d served in the military to get their takes on what it was like. Their stories were vast and varied but had a common theme. It isn’t easy working in such a male-centric environment, but they loved the challenges. Each of them handled those challenges in different and fascinating ways.

Bruce Coffin is one of the nicest people on the planet. He is a retired detective sergeant with a wealth of knowledge and experience. (Be sure and read his fabulous Detective Byron mystery series.) Two years ago at Crime Bake I picked his brain. I told him about the main plot of Let’s Fake a Deal – that Sarah throws open a garage sale and right as she does the police show up. She soon discovers that everything she’s selling is stolen.

I’d vacillated back and forth trying to decide if Sarah should be arrested or not. I explained my uncertainties to Bruce and he said, “Go for it.” Then he helped me with the details. I imagine I didn’t get them all right, but they are closer to the truth than they would have been without his advice. It was interesting to try something new for this book.

Beyond that, thank you internet! I found that defense attorney’s pages provide a wealth of knowledge about the whole arrest process in any give state. It really was thought provoking  reading about what happens in Massachusetts.

I hope you check Let’s Fake a Deal out. I’m giving away a copy of it to someone who leaves a comment.

Readers: Do you like to try new things? Or just say hi!

Here’s the cover copy: SHE’S GOT THE GOODS . . .

As a former military spouse, Sarah Winston’s learned a little about organizing, packing, and moving. Her latest project sounds promising: a couple of tech-industry hipsters, newly arrived in her Massachusetts town, who need to downsize. Unfortunately, when Sarah tries to sell their stuff, she discovers it’s all stolen—and she’s the unwitting fence.

BUT SARAH’S PROBLEMS ARE JUST BEGINNING

Michelle, an old friend of Sarah’s from the Air Force base, is in line for a promotion—but not everyone is happy about it, and she’s been hit with an anonymous discrimination complaint. When one of the men she suspects is behind the accusations turns up dead in Michelle’s car, Sarah needs to clear Michelle’s name—as well as her own for selling hot merchandise. And she’ll have to do it while also organizing a cat lady’s gigantic collection of feline memorabilia, or they’ll be making room for Sarah in a jail cell . . .

 

A Wicked Welcome to Cynthia Kuhn!

I’m delighted to welcome Cynthia Kuhn back to the blog today! The 4th book in her Lila Maclean Academic Mystery series, The Subject of Malice, was just released, and we’re thrilled to help her celebrate!

The Subject is Love

The amount of romance readers want to encounter in their cozy mysteries seems to vary widely. Yet one particularly hot issue involves a crazy little thing called love…triangle.

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Those in favor of the love triangle have pointed out that it can intensify conflict, increase the emotional stakes, and incorporate humor. Such readers may also enjoy cheering for their favorite suitors. They’re engaged by the tension. 

Those who despise the love triangle have suggested that it typically doesn’t add anything to the mystery and can drag on for far too long. Such readers may want two people in a relationship, tops. (Or none.) Some vow not to read books with love triangles in them, ever.  

When I first became aware of the opposing views, I thought, Whew, it’s a good thing I don’t have one of those in the Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries. 

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Imagine my surprise when I happened upon reviews that mentioned a love triangle in the series. Then an interviewer asked me which person Lila would end up with, and people emailed wanting to know the same thing. 

Wait, what now? 

Let’s see…Nate and Lila have chemistry. You could even say they’re flirty. He kisses her near the end of book one (The Semester of Our Discontent) because he’s so relieved she’s alive and overcome by emotion. And she realizes, after learning about his girlfriend, that she Has Some Feelings about it. But while there may be an unspoken potential between them, they don’t dwell on it. (Her cousin Calista does say Nate and Lila are soulmates, but, well, she says a lot of things.) 

That leaves only Lila’s relationship with Lex, which honestly wasn’t part of the initial plan, but as I wrote their early dialogues, it became clear that there was an undeniable spark between them. By book four (The Subject of Malice), they’ve been together for awhile. 

Overall, I’m not sure it’s a love triangle. 

Then again…I’m not sure it isn’t. 

It’s been my experience that the longer you work on a particular storyline, the more likely it is that a certain invisible book logic and momentum can take over. I know it seems like the author should be in charge, but sometimes I intend to write one thing and end up writing the opposite. So who knows what will happen next? 

Developing a love triangle (if I haven’t already) could be risky, given that many people loathe them. Then again, should cozy writers feel compelled to abandon the dynamics altogether? Memorable triangles appear in a variety of genres: Bridget Jones’s Diary (Bridget, Mark, Daniel), Twilight (Bella, Edward, Jacob), The Hunger Games (Katniss, Gale, Peeta), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Buffy, Angel, Spike), Veronica Mars (Veronica, Logan, Piz), The Great Gatsby (Nick, Daisy, Tom), Pride and Prejudice (Elizabeth, Wickham, Darcy), and even Star Wars (Luke, Leia, and Han)—just to name a few. Yes, we’ve seen triangles before. They’re nothing new. Yet the very fact that there are so many says something, too, doesn’t it? They may move us tremendously if they’re depicted well. We can become highly invested in the outcome. 

Full disclosure: I am indeed the sort to cry when the music swells and the two characters who are supposed to be together fall into each other’s arms at last. There’s no getting around that. Is it possible that my subconscious has been busily orchestrating everything in my books without my knowledge, just to get to that moment all along? (Or not.)

Ultimately, of course, the cozy doesn’t need any romance whatsoever to be successful. The genre itself doesn’t demand it (unlike, say, romantic suspense). But the cozies out there definitely present a spectrum: some main characters are contentedly single, some are looking for love, some are in committed relationships, and some are tangled in triangles. And for me as a reader, all of those situations can be very compelling. 

What are your thoughts on romance in a cozy mystery? 

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Cynthia Kuhn writes the Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries featuring an English professor with a knack for sleuthing. The Semester of Our Discontent received an Agatha Award for best first novel; The Art of Vanishing and The Spirit in Question were Lefty Award nominees for best humorous mystery. She blogs with Chicks on the Case and is past president of the Colorado chapter of Sisters in Crime. For more information, please visit cynthiakuhn.net.