Edith Maxwell's Blog, page 162

Welcome Back Guest Julie Moffett!

[image error]I’m so happy to welcome back Julie Moffett who is here to talk about her YA spy/mystery series White Knight. Her latest book in the series is Knight Moves.

It’s a Mystery—What to Buy My Tween/Teen for the Holidays?

Angel Sinclair, the geeky teen in my brand new young adult spy/mystery novel, KNIGHT MOVES, is a gamer, loner and a geek. When Angel and her geeky friends get tapped to try out for a super-secret spy academy, will they have what it takes to make it? If not, will Angel be able to keep the only two friends she’s ever had? And, if she DOES keep them, what should she get them for Christmas? Yikes! Who knew having friends could be so complicated?

Have no fear! Enter the author of the above novel, me—Julie Moffett! Not only do I write about teens (as well as adults!), but I happen to HAVE a tween. As a result, I’ve done some research on what’s hot for the tweens/teens in your life this holiday season. So, if you have a child, niece, nephew, grandchild, godchild, or neighbor in that age group, sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and let me do the work for you.

So, here’s what hot this year:

Cozmo

[image error]If you’ve got money to burn, Anki’s expanded Cozmo’s Code Lab teaches kids coding and give them a platform to create and customize new experiences and games. Highly recommended for the coder/geek in your household. For ages 9+. Cost: $179.99

Dude—The Game

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During each round of this game, players simultaneously (and continuously) call out “dude,” as it is written on their card (such as “dewd”), trying to match inflection with another player. The player with the most matches wins the game. I DON’T get this game at all, but dude, I’m told it’s totally fun. Ages 13+. Cost: $10.99

KiiPix Smartphone Picture Printers

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I have to admit this is pretty cool! Connect your phone directly to this portable, instant film printer to turn smartphone snaps into vintage-inspired printed photos, with no special app or battery required. Ages 13+. Cost: $39.99

Harry Potter Building Kit

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No holiday is complete without something from Harry Potter!! Kids can re-create Hogwarts with this four-level building kit (not Legos), featuring a movable grand staircase, a potions’ room, a treasure room with the Mirror of Erised, and a lot more. Ages: 9+. Cost: $99.99.

Kwirky

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Quick wit and cheeky confidence are as important as knowledge in this fast-moving game for two to four players in which you decide the answers. Players answer as many questions as they can before the sand timer runs out, and opponents may challenge them if they don’t show confidence in their answers. Ages 10+. Cost: $16.99.

White Knights Series

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Of course, don’t forget to pick up a set of the White Knight books HERE to go along with your choices! The books are appropriate for ages 11+, but are especially enjoyed by those who are Nancy Drew/Trixie Belden fans and young at heart. J

Readers: Feel free to let me know which presents above intrigue you, or suggest any good ones I missed. Happy Holidays!

Sign up for Julie’s newsletters (about 5 a year) for a chance at prizes and free books at her website:  www.juliemoffett.com . You can also follow her on  Facebook , Twitter , or  Instagram .

Check out Julie’s Lexi Carmichael Mystery Series here .

Giveaway : Let me know one of the best gifts you’ve ever received to be entered to win a copy of KNIGHT MOVES. Geek girls Rule! Winner will be randomly chosen 12/6 and announced on this thread! Good luck!

 [image error] Julie’s Bio : Julie Moffett is the bestselling author of the long-running Lexi Carmichael Mystery Series and the young adult White Knights spin-off series featuring really cool geek girls! She’s been publishing books for 25 years, but writing for a lot longer. She writes in the genres of mystery, young adult, historical romance and paranormal romance. She has won numerous awards, including the Mystery & Mayhem Award for Best YA/New Adult Mystery, the HOLT Award for Best Novel with Romantic Elements, a HOLT Merit Award for Best Novel by a Virginia Author (twice!), the Award of Excellence, a PRISM Award for Best Romantic Time-Travel AND Best of the Best Paranormal Books, and an EPIC Award for Best Action/Adventure Novel. She has also garnered additional nominations for the Bookseller’s Best Award, Daphne du Maurier Award and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.

  Julie has a B.A. in Political Science and Russian Language from Colorado College, a M.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and an M.Ed from Liberty University. She has worked as a proposal writer, journalist, teacher, librarian and researcher. Julie speaks Russian and Polish and has two wonderful sons.

Snowdrop, or, How Books Have Changed

I’ve said before that when I’m in Ireland I go to the Skibbereen Farmers Market every Saturday. After doing this for enough years, I now have a number of friends, who know me by name. There’s the suspected murderer, the young woman who makes wonderful shortbread cookies, my favorite used furniture dealer, and a variety of people whose wares I buy each time (bread, cheese, fresh vegetables, soap, etc.).

I always stop and talk to Charles Vivian, who has a booth with antiques of all sorts. He’s lived and worked in England, Australia, and most recently in Ireland. Oddly enough, he knew some of the dealers my grandmother used to work with when she was at Lipton Tea (although Charles is far younger than my grandmother would be now).

As if that’s not enough, he’s also an independent book editor, and an author. A decade ago he published his first novel, a mystery entitled The Ballingaddy Find, which of course I bought and read. In simple terms, it’s about a family finding a hoard of Viking gold items on their property in Ireland and the legal issues to claiming ownership.

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This year he offered me something he thought would interest me—a small book titled Snowdrop or The Adventures of a White Rabbit, published in London, Edinburgh and New York in 1873. The author is given only as “Written by Herself” or on the flyleaf, “Written by Himself.” That is to say, written by the rabbit, whichever gender s/he turns out to be. It’s a small book, beautifully bound with beautifully executed engravings.

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The rabbit Snowdrop resides at a girls’ boarding school, where Snowdrop, who we first meet as a young bunny, is a great favorite amongst the pupils (and also surprisingly articulate in his language), and who apparently knows how to read.

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What is even more endearing is that this book was a gift, to young Mabel Edith Godfrey from her grandmother, on Christmas 1874. Being an insatiable genealogist, of course I had to find out who Mabel was, and I did track down some details: she was born in 1862 (so she was ten or eleven when she received the book); she married in 1890; and she died in 1891, shortly after the birth of her first and only child Mary. Mabel’s father was a Baronet. John Fermor Godfrey, who, as it turns out, lived much of his life in County Cork or County Kerry, yes, in Ireland. Her mother’s name turned out to be Mary Cordelia Scutt, so one might guess that our Mary, the first girl child of the Godfrey family, was named for her mother.

Why am I dithering on about this? I read it because I was curious about why Charles thought it would interest me, and he was right. It is a charming picture of a certain kind of upper-crust British life at a particular time, meticulously executed, with delightful illustrations. This copy is in fine condition (which makes one wonder whether Mabel ever read it, or just put it on a shelf). It is well written (especially since the author was a rabbit!), and intended merely for entertainment. If there are moral messages involved, they are low key.

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It’s hard to say now what young Mabel would have made of this book. It could be that she had just begun attending such a school, or conversely, maybe her family was trying to prepare her to leave for boarding school. Which most likely would have been in England, even though her family seemed rooted in Ireland.

The only oddity is that a number of the illustrations verge on frightening. For example, there’s one image of the rabbit watching a number of large beetles eat a dead mouse. And one where the school’s cook seems to be preparing to cook the rabbit for dinner. And yet another where one of the students appears to be attacked by live eels. Rather mixed messages, wouldn’t you say?

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Can you imagine giving such a book to a child as a Christmas gift?

Thankful for Our Readers: Week Five Winners

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The winner of Edith’s collection of three historical short stories is Judi, and the winner of That Mysterious Woman is Sally Cootie. Dee White won Farmed and Dangerous. Edith has already contacted the winners.

The winner of a JJ’s House of Purrs coffee mug is Lee Sauer! Please email your snail mail address to liz@lizmugavero.com.

The winner of Steamed Open is Elizabeth Anne Petty. Please email your snail mail address to barbaraross at maineclambakemysteries dot com.

The Wickeds Favorite Things giveaway is still open. The winner will be announced next Saturday.

Thanks to everyone for joining us in being thankful this month!

The Wickeds Favorite Things Giveaway

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Hello, dear readers. Today, the Wickeds are capping off our November of gratitude daily giveaways with our biggest giveaway ever. We’ve all contributed books and we’ve asked some special friends to lend a hand by contributing holiday and winter-themed books of their own.

[image error]We’ve also added a few of our Wicked Favorite Things, including

Julie–Lindor Truffles

Edith–cozy socks

Liz–David’s tea

Sherry–LUSH bath items

Jessie–lovely notebook

Barb–Yankee Candle

Edith Maxwell/Maddie Day had also contributed an apron for holiday baking and it all comes in a festive holiday plaid basket.

The books include

* YULE LOG MURDER by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross (signed)

* A CHRISTMAS PERIL by J.A. Hennrikus (signed)

* NIPPED IN THE BUD by Sheila Connolly

* HO-HO-HOMICIDE by Kaitlyn Dunnett

* PURRING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE by Liz Mugavero (signed)

* AS THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CRUMBLES by Leslie Budewitz

* A WEE CHRISTMAS HOMICIDE by Kaitlyn Dunnett

* EGGNOG MURDER by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross (signed)

* PURRDER SHE WROTE by Cate Conte (signed)

* THREAD THE HALLS by Lea Wait

* MURDER IN AN ENGLISH VILLAGE by Jessica Ellicott (signed)

* PRUNING THE DEAD by Julia Henry (signed Advance Reader Copy)

* I KNOW WHAT YOU BID LAST SUMMER by Sherry Harris

* MURDER FLIES THE COOP by Jessica Ellicott (signed)

* STEAMED OPEN by Barbara Ross (signed Advance Reader Copy)

* GRILLED FOR MURDER by Maddie Day (signed)

* TAGGED FOR DEATH by Sherry Harris (signed)

* MURDER SHE MEOWED by Liz Mugavero

We’ve found things quickly gets out of control if we have people enter such a big giveaway via the blog comments section, so to enter, please complete this form. US and Canada only, please. The deadline is midnight EST, December 6. One entry per person. The winner will be announced on December 8.

Good luck! We are already picturing you curled up in front of a fire in your cozy socks, eating chocolates, sipping tea, and reading a great book!

 

Opening Line – Blizzard Edition

Edith here, thankful to not be in a blizzard! Add your opening line for the following picture. As our penultimate thankfulness giveaway for the month, I’ll send one commenter a signed hardcover of Farmed and Dangerous – which features a scary blizzard scene.

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Here’s mine: Rats. I’d hoped the snow would cover the body in the back of the truck. No such luck.

Readers, add your opening line in the comments to win a copy of Farmed and Dangerous.

Wicked Wednesday: Thankful for Strangers

[image error]Hi Wickeds. This month we’ve said thank you to teachers, family members, and mentors in life. But have you ever had an experience where a stranger stepped up with the right piece of advice, or a helping hand at exactly the moment you needed it? Tell us about that here.

Julie: The kindness of strangers. Where would we be without it? I’ve absolutely benefited from being in a conversation and getting great advice from a stranger. When I was in college, I also had a stranger step in when I was being harassed on the street, and I’ll always remember that. (I try to do the same for folks now.)

Edith: In 1975 I had my BA but had dropped out of a graduate seminar my prof wanted me to take because it felt too challenging – I didn’t think I had the chops to do graduate work. I was on a cross-country bus trip from Seattle to NYC and sat by a short woman, also in thrift store clothes, a couple of years older than me. She said she was in a doctoral program studying the effect of women’s counseling centers on lesbians’ mental health. I listened to her and thought, if she can do it, I can. I enrolled in a PhD program in linguistics two years later. She changed my life and I don’t even know her name!

Sherry: That is a wonderful story, Edith! I’ve talked about this before, but Julie was a stranger when she told me to join Sisters in Crime and go to Crime Bake when I moved to Massachusetts in 2005. That chance meeting at Malice Domestic changed my life and I will always be thankful for Julie’s generosity to everyone she meets.

Barb: I’ve told this story before, too. When I worked as a freelance title examiner my old law firm hired me to serve a supoena. Which was ridiculous. I don’t know why they asked me and I don’t know why I said yes. Anyway, the person I was supposed to serve lived in a brand new condominium complex back in the days when the idea of condominiums in the suburbs was very new. So there I was, this anxious young girl wandering around this complex where none of the streets were marked and none of the townhouses had numbers in the middle of the day and there wasn’t a soul in sight. Then, a older mailman appeared out of nowhere and asked me if I was lost. “You lookin’ for one of them pandemoniums?” he asked. “I’ll show ya.” As we walked along he asked me why if I was doing this, I wasn’t studying to be a lawyer. I told him I didn’t want to be a lawyer, I wanted to be a writer, but it was very hard to do and very hard to make a living. “Don’t worry about that,” he said. “The cream will always rise.” Then he deposited me at the front door of the place I needed to be and walked out of my life. “The cream will always rise,” has helped me at many points in my life when I was experiencing a fear of failure.

Readers: How about you? Have you ever benefited from the kindness of a stranger? Tell us your story or just say “hi” to win a copy of my latest Clambake novel, Steamed Open. Giveaway is open to all geographies.

Home for the Holidays

By Liz, about to hit send on Tell Tail Heart! No, really, I mean it this time…

 

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Hey, friends. I hope everyone survived–I mean enjoyed–Thanksgiving. We all know how this time of year can be for some people, right? Not everyone has those perfect, Hallmark-movie families and lives.

We talk a lot on this blog and in our circle about why people write and read cozies. We all agree there are lots of reasons–the tendency for justice to be served, the small towns we fall in love with and love to revisit–but for me, the one that stands out is the people. The families and the relationships. The closeness, the togetherness, whether it’s romantic relationships or family and friend relationships.

When I was in my twenties I went through a Nora Roberts phase. I read everything of hers I could get my hands on, and when I ran out, I re-read some of my favorites. I could usually deduce how the story would go, but it didn’t matter. I knew why I read those books – the family dynamics. Usually one of the main characters had a big Irish family, and the other main character/love interest didn’t have the same, so he or she was immediately welcomed into the new family. And of course the relationship was perfect after that first rocky phase that played into the tension of the storyline.

Because who doesn’t really want a happy ending, right? Even in a murder mystery or crime story?

I wanted to be a part of those families, those partnerships. And for the duration of the book, I could be. There was something so appealing about all of it – the warmth, the close-knit relationships, the honesty and the trust between the characters. It’s what kept me coming back to those books over and over.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but later when I began writing books seriously, I recognized that I wanted to create that same feeling in my own books. I wanted to create it not only for my readers, but for myself while I was writing. I wanted to feel like I was part of those relationships for 350 pages.

And I want people to feel that too – and to keep them coming back for more. So they know that, even if their holiday reality isn’t quite what they want it to be, they always have a place to go in the pages of a good story.

Readers, do you have a favorite author or series you go back to often? Why? Tell us in the comments below. 

Writing Short

By Edith, scribbling north of Boston where a chilly rain is falling and I’m grateful for light, heat, and a solid house.

I’ve been working on a couple of short stories this fall. One was inspired by an article I read in the New Yorker about hyperpolyglots – people who easily learn more than a dozen languages and are always eager to acquire more tongues. My mind naturally turned to crime fiction. What if such a person overheard a conversation in an obscure language she happened to speak and decided to take advantage of it?

[image error]By Paul C. Babin [CC0], via Wikimedia CommonsThe other one is for an anthology of stories inspired by Joni Mitchell songs, edited by Josh Pachter. I’ve been listening to master singer/songwriter Joni since the early seventies and have many of her songs committed to memory. So yeah, I can be inspired by “Blue Motel Room.”

Many have talked about the difference between writing novels and writing short stories. I’m not going to list the differences here except the obvious one: they are so much smaller than novels. 3000 words is an entirely different creature than 70000 words. I like to play around with darker themes in my short fiction. The protagonists in my novels are pretty much decent, honest, caring women. In short stories I often make the narrator the criminal and explore getting inside that mindset.

What I’m finding interesting with both stories this fall is that I’ve started out thinking I know where the stories are going and both have veered in a different direction. The second one is still revealing itself. I realized I hadn’t had a word of dialog in it yet, and also realized narrator Robin needs to meet her victim – who might also be a criminal. I’m not sure where it will end up, but we’ve already seen the main character in her depressing blue motel room with the blue bedspread.

Another thing I’m changing up is aiming high. Even though I’ve had fifteen stories published in juried anthologies, I still haven’t had a tale accepted by either of the two premier short crime fiction venues, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. I want to keep honing my chops until I make it in.

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So stay tuned for news, and wish me luck. I have to get the second story finished so I can get started writing Country Store Mystery #7!

Readers: Do you read short stories? Where is your favorite place to find short crime fiction? I’ll give away a copy of That Mysterious Woman to one of you, an anthology in which I have a story. To another lucky reader I’ll give a copy of my new ebook release of three previously published Rose Carroll short stories, Black Cat Thrillogy #9: Three Historical Mysteries, from Wildside Press.

Thankful for Our Readers: Week Four Winners

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The winner of a book by Sherry Harris is Anxious58. Please email your snail mail address to Sherryharrisauthor@gmail.com

The winners of Murder Flies the Coop by Jessica Ellicott are Kristen Shadler and DianneKC. Please email your snail mail address to jessica@jessicaellicott.com

The winners of Murder She Meowed by Liz Mugavero and a JJ’s House of Purrs tote bag are Kitty Rodgers and Mia. Please email your snail mail address to liz@liz.mugavero.com.

The winner of Into the Woods on Kim Gray’s Detective’s Daughter post is storytellermary. Please email your snail mail address to kkurthgray@gmail.com.

The winner of Game of Scones by Mary Lee Ashford is Sherry Brown. Please email your snail mail address to maryleeashford@gmail.com

Good luck to everyone next week!

Thankful for…Social Media — Welcome Guest Mary Lee Ashford

[image error]Welcome, Mary Lee. I met Mary Lee at a Guppie lunch at Malice Domestic. (Guppies are the internet chapter of Sisters in Crime and it stands for the great unpublished.) Mary Lee is from Iowa and so am I so we immediately had something in common. And then in the way of small world things, I found out she knew the husband of a sorority sister of mine. I love how the world works. Mary Lee joins us to talk about her brand, spanking new series Sugar and Spice Mystery series. And don’t you just love the title — Game of Scones!

Thankful for…social media!

Now, you’re probably wondering if I punctuated that title correctly. Did I maybe mean for that to be a question mark? Am I actually thankful for social media? You bet.

It’s hard to remember a time before it, when we relied on emails, phone calls, or (gasp) letters to connect with each other. Don’t get me wrong, those are still great ways to connect. And I’m not so naïve that I don’t see all the issues with social media. I’ll admit things have gotten a little crazy out there.

But let’s leave the dark side out for a minute and think about the bright side of social media. Without it I believe we wouldn’t have the opportunity to connect with each other in the same way.

On Facebook, I keep in touch with family in Florida, Texas, and Scotland, and some that are just across town. I’ve connected with readers in Ireland and Australia, and many other places across the country, people who I’m certain I never would have had the chance to “meet” otherwise. I look forward to morning post check-ins from several friends and worry if I don’t hear from them. It’s a bit like an old-fashioned conversation over the fence each day.  If we lived in the same area, I’m pretty sure we’d be great friends, but

Pinterest is my go-to for creative ideas and I follow several people with similar interests. I fell in love with scones (and toasted tea cakes) when my son and daughter-in-law lived in England. As I worked on the first book in the Sugar and Spice Mysteries, Game of Scones, I was able to collect some fabulous scone recipes from others who share that love. Then when I moved on to book two, Risky Biscuits, guess what? That’s right, tons of biscuit recipes! In addition to scones and biscuits, my boards include Vintage Cookbooks & Recipes, Do-Overs (Things Re-Imagined, and, of course, Book Love.

Twitter is often my litmus test for what’s happening in the world…or at least in my corner of the world. I mostly follow people who are interested in books, recipes, and creativity. The #amreading hashtag is great for thoughts on what to read next. Also, I’ll confess that I’m fascinated with the “what’s trending” feed.  Sometimes it’s important stuff and sometimes it’s cute cat videos, but I guess it’s that writer’s curiosity in me wondering what has people engaged on any given day.

I’ve just begun dipping my toes into the Instagram world and I’m really enjoying the visual nature of that forum. So many gorgeous settings, amazing book covers, and fun posts. My favorites are travel posts or post from events. I get to vicariously enjoy that trip to Spain or that mystery conference I couldn’t fit into my schedule.

Readers: What about you? Are you thankful for social media? Do you have a favorite social media community? And, if so, what is it that you love about it? Mary Lee is giving away a copy of The Game of Scones and a copy of a Cozy Food cookbook with recipes from various authors to someone who leaves a comment.

Bio

[image error]In addition to writing the Sugar and Spice series for Kensington Books, Mary Lee also writes as half of the writing team of Sparkle Abbey. She is the founding president of Sisters in Crime – Iowa and a current board member of the Mystery Writers of America Midwest chapter, as well as a member of Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death the RWA Mystery Suspense chapter, Sisters in Crime, and the SinC Internet group, Guppies. Her delights are encouraging other writers, reading and enjoying her family, especially her six grandchildren.

More info here: www.MaryLeeAshford.com

Book

Game of Scones is the first book in the Sugar & Spice Mysteries. It comes out December 4th and is currently available to pre-order.

Here’s a little bit about it:

After losing her job as food editor at a glossy magazine, Rosetta Sugarbaker Calloway—aka “Sugar” to her friends—isn’t sweet on accepting defeat and crawling back to her gossipy southern hometown. So when she has an opportunity to launch a community cookbook business with blue-ribbon baker Dixie Spicer in peaceful St. Ignatius, Iowa, she jumps at the chance to start over from scratch . . .

But as Sugar assembles recipes for the local centennial celebration, it’s not long before she’s up to her oven mitts in explosive threats, too-hot-to-handle scandals, and a dead body belonging to the moody matriarch of the town’s first family. With suspicions running wild, Sugar and Spice must solve the murder before someone innocent takes the heat—and the real culprit gathers enough ingredients to strike again.

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo