Edith Maxwell's Blog, page 19

Genre Hopping with the Literary Aviatrix

Edith/Maddie here with a special guest for you all!

When I was finishing up A Case for the Ladies, I happened across a reference to the Literary Aviatrix. The name caught my attention and I went on a hunt. To my delight I found Liz Booker, a writer who also supports women who write about women in aviation. A person with a history in aviation herself, Liz has an active Facebook group and a fabulous YouTube channel, among other presences. I was honored to be interviewed for her YouTube series – watch it here.

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I’ll let her tell you all about her project. Take it away, Liz!

Hello, Wicked Writers and fans. I feel privileged to be in your virtual midst. I suppose mine will be a very different post than most. I’m Liz Booker, a retired US Coast Guard helicopter pilot and foreign diplomat with an MFA in writing for children and young adults.

I retired in the fall of 2019 with a plan to write full time and to reenergize my relationship with aviation by flying recreationally. The writing went sideways with a house full of people and I lost steam feeling isolated from the aviation community during Covid. What better way to connect than through a book club?

I started the Aviatrix Book Club in 2020, hoping to make my way through what I imagined was a small number of books featuring women in aviation with a dozen or so friends. I reached out in the women pilot groups on Facebook and was overwhelmed to have 600 members in the first week, 1,200 in the first month! Likewise, I was astounded by the number of books I found on the market that featured women in aviation, and frustrated by how difficult they were to find on Amazon thanks to their confounding algorithms. 

We’re in our fourth year now and I can proudly say I’ve built a thriving community of readers and writers around these stories. I learned how to YouTube and podcast. I built a website to serve as a central source to find the over 600 books on the market that feature women in aviation in all genres, for all ages. I navigated the murky waters of social media and figured a couple of things out. It turns out I really love promoting books and their authors, and I thrive in an environment where I can connect people in meaningful ways.

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When I started my own writing journey, I was terrified. I tell people writing is way more frightening than hovering a helicopter at 30 feet over the water at night (so, respect to all of you!) One thing I knew, though, was that I didn’t want to be a pilot writing a book.

I wanted to be a writer, who happened to be a subject matter expert, writing a book. Likewise, my goal is to help other women in aviation elevate their writing and publishing so our books are more accessible to a broader audience. To that end, I usually spend a portion of my author interviews talking about writing and publishing for the Aviatrix Writers’ Room. The Aviatrix Writers Group on Facebook has 175 members all of whom encourage and support one another the way it appears you Wicked Writers do for each other.

And what about my own work? Well, I’ve all but completely rewritten what I hope will be my debut young adult novel in the past two years. I just have some bits in the murky middle to sort out. (Conflict! I need more conflict!) It’s realistic contemporary adventure fiction about—you guessed it—a girl who is introduced to aviation and learns to fly. As I muddle my way through revision after revision I continue to be inspired by the friendships and conversations I have with readers and writers in my community.

You can check out all of my author interviews, including one with your very own Edith Maxwell (aka Maddie Day) about her recent release, A Case for the Ladies, on the Literary Aviatrix website, YouTube channel, and podcast. Just as I requested of all my MFA cohorts, I will encourage all of you to include bold and adventurous female aviation characters in your books. And when you do, I look forward to interviewing you, too!

You can find all of my links at here: https://linktr.ee/literaryaviatrix

Edith: Thanks, Liz. Awesome work!

Readers: What books have you read about aviators? Have you written any? Questions for Liz?

Wicked Wednesday: May I?

Edith/Maddie here, delighted spring is really here north of Boston.

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For this week’s discussion on permission, let’s talk about what is permitted in different crime fiction genres.

But first: Don’t forget! If you’re in New England, please join three of the Wickeds at the Kensington Cozy Con this Saturday, May 18, at the Langley-Adams public library in Groveland, Massachusetts. Register here, and we hope we see you there.

Authors in our field are writing books labeled cozy noir, humorous thriller, or paranormal romantic suspense, and I’m sure there’s more. We’ve talked here before about the cozy mystery “rules,” which a few of us have gently tried to expand over the years. How far do you stretch the envelope for cozy/thriller/suspense/historical/police procedural mysteries? Have you gotten reader (or editor) pushback for going outside the boundaries of a genre?

Jessie: I am not sure if I stretch the boundaries or not, but I do know that I don’t worry about rules as I write. I am more focused on how the story is best served, rather than something pressing from the outside. I have been lucky with my readers and editors. They have been nothing but supportive of my work thus far.

Barb: A lot of the “rules” I hear bandied about re: cozies are not rules I have ever had required or enforced by any editor or publisher. One I hear is that the victim must be a bad person–so in some sense it’s “okay with the reader” that they die or they “deserve” to die. I have never subscribed to this. I’m not a fan of extra-judicial killing for one thing. No one deserves to be executed without a trial. And it can make the mystery feel obvious, very A to B to C. My victims have ranged from very good to very bad as people and I’ve always tried to make them multi-dimensional. No one has ever complained about it.

Sherry: I’ve always appreciated you saying that, Barb and have always kept it in mind while writing. My agent told me that gun shots weren’t cozy when I was writing Tagged for Death and made me change my proposal. After I signed the contract, I changed it back and have used guns in other books. No one has ever mentioned it. I’ve had people tell me that my books are cozy thrillers and I’ve always liked that.

Julie: My Theater Cop series are more traditional than cozy, though they aren’t terribly dark. There’s just a line, and I knew that Sully Sullivan and her crew were on the traditional side. One rule that I hold firm is that the clues all have to be there for the reader. Fair-play is important to me, though not always in play for others. One thing to think about is that whatever the rules are, we need to set our own and stick to them or have a very good reason not to.

Edith/Maddie: Good points, Julie. I also always try to play fair with clues. The main pushback I’ve gotten in my cozies was about the tiniest bit of bad language. That’s always easy to fix, although it’s hard to keep writing things like “Dang” when a person comes across a dead body or a menacing killer, and is one reason readers might come across stronger language in my short stories. One other pushback I got from my editor I was able to slyly work around, as Sherry did. Come back Monday to read all about it!

Readers: Do you read genre-bending stories or prefer sticking to books that follow a stricter definition of the genre?

A Wicked Welcome to Kimberly G. Giarratano! *giveaway*

by Julie, fighting pollen in Somerville

As an executive director I’ve worked with many, many non-profits over the years. I’ve never worked with a better group of volunteers than the folks who serve on the Sisters in Crime board. Kimberly G. Giarratano is one of those volunteers. She is the chapter liaison, and works closely with the fifty plus chapters of the organization–not a small job. She’s also an amazing writer. I loved her first Billie Levine mystery, and can’t wait to dive into Devil in Profile, which was released today. Help me welcome Kim back to the Wickeds.

Hello, wicked readers! Glorious Tuesday, isn’t it?

Today is the publication day for Devil in Profile, the second book in my Billie Levine series. For the uninitiated, Billie Levine is a 24-year-old private eye from New Jersey. Like the state that raised her (and me), she is tenacious, snarky, and well-meaning, if not a little brash. She has a heart of gold with a Sopranos accent.

In this sequel, Billie is working as a process server for an investigative firm. While delivering documents, she stumbles upon the elderly corpse of an art collector with ties to Nazi Germany. What follows next for Billie is a run-in with international art thieves hell-bent on revenge.

The story was inspired by an article in The Atlantic (March 2018) called “The Persistent Crime of Nazi-looted Art” by Sophie Gilbert. In this particular piece, Sophie chronicles the 2010 investigation into Cornelius Gurlitt, an elderly man living in Munich. Cornelius was the son of Hildebrand Gurlitt, one of Adolph Hitler’s art collectors (collector being a generous term; Hitler plundered art and his minions seized priceless works from Jewish collections and museums). After Cornelius was caught on a Swiss train with a suspicious amount of cash, German officials began digging into his finances. Turned out, the man had over 1,500 pieces of lost art from greats such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Marc Chagall. Names as iconic and recognizable today as they were in the 1930s. Cornelius had inherited his father’s “collection” and would periodically sell off pieces to sustain his living.

I found Cornelius Gurlitt’s story ripe for picking. I then imagined him as an old man living in North Jersey, a hoarder, clinging to art while retreating from the world. Hence, the character of Karl Sauer was born.

Oftentimes we think of World War Two as being so long ago, and yet the consequences of its day reverberate into 2024. The United States is currently contending with book bans and censorship. Hitler condemned modern art, calling it degenerate, and claimed the art wasn’t suitable for children. He would put it on display so German citizens could condemn the works for themselves. If this doesn’t sound familiar, we’re not listening.

The Gurlitt story reminded me of the William Faulkner quote: “The past is never dead, it’s not even past.” History shapes the present.

When writing a series, I sometimes worry I’ll run out of ideas. After all, how many off-track shenanigans can Billie get herself in and out of? (Turns out, a lot) But there’s so much inspiration to be mined in real-life events. I should have enough supply for twenty books (readers willing).

Is there a real-life story that you think would make for excellent crime fiction fodder? Please let me know in the comments.

ALSO, I’d love to send a copy of Devil in Profile to a lucky winner. And if you haven’t read (Book 1) Death of a Dancing Queen, don’t sweat it. I can send you a Kindle copy of that as well.

Devil in Profile: A Billie Levine Mystery (Book 2)

Unlicensed P.I. Billie Levine is trying to bank some extra cash, so she picks up hours working as a process server for another investigative firm. Mindless and mostly 9 to 5, Billie is content to simply hand over court documents until during a routine stakeout, she stumbles upon the corpse of an elderly man, an art collector with ties to Nazi Germany.

Compared to Billie, the dead man has it easy. Billie is feeling on edge lately. Maybe it’s because her father is insisting his estranged kids come to his wedding in Sedona, or that David is making plans to move out, or that a smug teaching assistant is getting underfoot on her latest case.

Although, it’s possible she could use the help when the cops zero in on Billie’s boyfriend, Aaron, and his connections to an international art ring. Turns out, Aaron’s stint in Israel has left him with more than just a thick scar across his neck. The woman he screwed over wants revenge, and she’s determined to leverage Billie’s murder case to get it.

With the detectives focused on Aaron, Billie sets her sights on stopping a killer who is tying up loose ends — Billie being one of them.

About the Author:

Kimberly Giarratano is an author of mysteries for teens and adults. Her debut novel, Grunge Gods and Graveyards, won the 2015 Silver Falchion Award for Best YA at Killer Nashville. A former librarian, she is currently an instructor at a SUNY Orange County and the chapter liaison for Sisters in Crime. Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Kim and her husband moved to the Poconos to raise their three kids amid black bears and wild turkeys. While she doesn’t miss the Jersey traffic, she does miss a good bagel and lox.

You can find her at www.kimberlyggiarratano.com

Artist Date

Jessie: In New Hampshire, grateful for the screen house to keep out the black flies on beautiful days!

Every now and again I take the advice of the writer, Julia Cameron, and take myself out on an artist’s date. It is so uplifting to go somewhere new that allows me to see beautiful things and to engage my senses in out-of-the-ordinary ways. Fortunately, there is never a shortage of places to visit!

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend an event that was just perfect for refilling my creative well. For years, I have meant to attend the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival, but somehow I have never made it. It always seems to fall on Mother’s Day weekend and I usually have other plans. This year, a friend was available to join me, the weather was beautiful, and I had nothing on the schedule.

For fiber lovers, there is nothing better than the chance to see so much of it on display. With four buildings filled with vendor booths I cannot even guess at how many yards of yarn were there for the viewing and patting! Angora, mohair, silk, cashmere, and a huge variety of wool breeds in multiple weights and colors were available to purchase. And although it is my favorite thing, there was so much more than yarn to see.

Women of all ages sat in one of the exhibit halls with their spinning wheels expertly whirling, skeins of handspun yarn magically growing before the eyes of the passersby. My friend was inspired to pick up a drop spindle and some colorful roving of her own.

Besides the spinning and the finished yarn there were also the animals who contribute all the fiber in the first place. In one of the fields, we watched a sheepdog demonstrating how to herd a flock of sheep. We had the chance to watch another sheep being sheared. Several children walked sheep, goats, and tiny lambs on leashes here, there, and everywhere. Alpacas, with their curiously long necks, could be seen peering about as if wondering what all the fuss was about. There was even an enormous angora rabbit in a basket available for petting.

And, of course, there was fair food. It was difficult to choose, but I have never regretted settling on a gyro! Somehow everything tastes best in the open air, especially when there is so much people watching to be done. Knitters love to wear their handmade creations to fiber events, and seeing what they have created is inspiring! It also makes it easy to chat with strangers when you wish to pay them a compliment on their handiwork!

By the end of the day, my wallet was a bit lighter, but my heart and imagination were full. I can hardly wait for my next artist’s date!

Readers, do you like festivals, fairs, and shows? Writers, do you take yourself on artist’s dates?

Guest- Kim Hayes

Jessie: In NH where the black flies have returned with a vengence!

I am delighted to welcome Kim to the Wickeds today! She was introduced to me by Julia Spencer-Fleming, so you know she is a delight! Take it away, Kim!

The Swiss and their “Globules”

Thanks for hosting me, Jessica, and thank you, Wickedwriters and readers, for letting me tell you something about myself and my third police procedural, A FONDNESS FOR TRUTH.

I grew up with a mother who was a librarian; in those days,long before Google, she loved reference books. From the story of Henry VIII’s six wives to the Celtic roots of Halloween, she made random facts enjoyable. If my sister or I had a challenging question, she’d show us how to find the answer in an encyclopedia or dictionary.

So, it’s not surprising that one of the reasons I write books is to research answers to intriguing questions. I’ve turned to mystery writing for many reasons, including a love of good stories, a fascination with moral dilemmas, and a yearning to introduce my American countryfolk to my adopted city of Bern, the Swiss capital. But another of my aims has been to reveal odd facts about Switzerland: for example, its use of children as forced labor on farms until 1970 or the unexpected importance of the military in a country that has been neutral since 1515. 

The first book in my Polizei Bern series featuring police detectives Linder and Donatelli is PESTICIDE (2022), which gave me a rationale for learning how organic farms are certified. In the course of examining whether a young man drowned his bullying father, the second book in the series, SONS AND BROTHERS (2023), takes a look at how Bern’s crucial medieval guild system evolved into a set of elite clubs for the city’s great patrician families. In A FONDNESS FOR TRUTH, which just came out, my detectives investigate the hit-and-run death of a lesbian activist whose partner is convinced she was murdered. That’s plenty of material to work with, but I couldn’t resist adding the controversial subject of alternative medicine.

My husband, our son, and I have Swiss health insurance, which is required, private, and expensive. I was amazed to discover that even the cheapest, most basic health policy covers several alternative therapies, including Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophic theories, traditional Chinese medicine, phytotherapy—which uses only plants as medicine—and homeopathy. All these, and many more non-science-based medical treatments, are popular in Switzerland.

I find the claims of some alternative medicine practicesdubious, but the wackiest by far is homeopathy. Its ideas date back to the theories of a German “doctor” born in 1755 who believed, among other things, that eating walnuts would heal your brain because a walnut resembles a brain and eating kidney-shaped beans would cure your kidneys. He was also convinced that a substance that causes a disease in a healthy person should cure the same disease in a sick person. 

Finally, he was persuaded that whatever spiritual healing power a substance has will be enormously increased if that substance is diluted countless times in water using a ritualized form of shaking. His theories led him to create a series of tiny pills or “globules” made from infinitesimally diluted poisonous substances. Patients could take them to heal almost any ailment. The same stuff is still in use today. In fact, by 2028, the global market for homeopathic products is expected to be worth $15.52 billion.

So what, you may say. If these sugar-based globules laced with diluted drops of poison make some people feel better and do no actual harm, why shouldn’t they be sold?

Well, I don’t think much of duping the sick into spending their money on something as ludicrous as these little pills, nor do I approve of treatments based on sympathetic magic forcing up the cost of already expensive health insurance. But I know people who disagree. What do you think about sales of homeopathic remedies, and how do you feel about alternative therapies in general?

Oh, yes. I forgot to say I hope you’ll read A FONDNESS FOR TRUTH! To my delight, William Kent Krueger called it “an absolutely riveting mystery.”

Readers, do you have faith in alternative medicine?

Kim Hays, a citizen of Switzerland and the United States, has made her home in Bern for thirty-six years since marrying her Swiss husband. She’s the author of three books in the Polizei Bern series featuring Giuliana Linder and Renzo Donatelli:PESTICIDE, SONS AND BROTHERS, and the newest, A FONDNESS FOR TRUTH. Learn more about Kim and her books at www.kimhaysbern.com.

Story Power

by Julie, suffering through spring allergies

We all tell each other, and ourselves, stories. Some of these stories impact the way we live our lives, and the choices we make. Most of us question those stories at some point, and may even change them. The “I’m the youngest so…” story can be dismantled when you’re fifty with a conversation that helps you see how that story has impacted parts of your life.

For many folks, these stories aren’t identified as stories. They are their personal truths.

Then there are writers.

Writers harness story power. We collect stories about ourselves and others, and use them. At some point all writers understand that not everyone daydreams incessantly, makes up narratives about strangers, takes notes on conversations they’ve overheard, or falls down rabbit holes of research. Not everyone imagines ten different outcomes for real life scenarios. Not everyone uses planning a crime a stress relief and an imaginative spark.

A writer persuades people to take a leap of faith. That leap requires people to trust that we can put it all together. That the story will be worth their investment of time and treasure. Writers don’t take that lightly. We twist, turn, and massage our stories until we’re satisfied. Then we take the brave step of publishing them.

Stories have power. That power fuels writers. Yesterday we talked about our Wicked retreat. One of the wonderful things about spending a weekend with writers is that we all know we could use the same prompt, and we’d all write completely different stories. You would like some, not all. But that’s the power of story. It affects people.

Writer friends, tell me about the role of story power in your life. Readers, do you marvel at how writers use story power to suck you in?

Wicked Wednesday: May I?

Edith/Maddie here, still savoring a fabulous weekend.

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For this week’s discussion on permission, we’re celebrating eleven years of giving ourselves permission to start this blog! All six Wicked Authors got together at Jessie’s fabulous beach home last weekend to share our memories, plan our future, generally solve all the problems of the publishing world, and have fun in the bargain.

When prosecco is poured and laughter is heard, you can bet it’s a Wicked awesome retreat.

Yes, there really was Prosecco!

Wickeds, name a highlight of the weekend and of our years blogging together!

Edith: The highlight for me, as always, was gathering with these special women. We each bring a different personality and skill set to the group, but our bond lies in caring about each other. We were all newbies to the author biz when we started out, and we worked hard to lift up each other – and other authors – along the way. This weekend was no different as we talked through issues both personal and professional. I wasn’t kidding about the laughter part. I am incapable of staying up late, but it was a comfort to fall asleep upstairs at 11:30 PM hearing the laughter float up from the rest of them downstairs.

A couple of long seaside walks were a lovely addition, as was Jessie’s sweet pooch, Sam. I’m already looking forward to next year’s retreat!

Jessie: For me, the highlight is always being together in person. This is the first time in a couple of years that all six of us have been together. In a world that is increasingly lived online, it is so enriching to be present physically.

Liz: I can’t say enough about this annual event. Yes it’s the closeness of navigating a crazy business together and having that special pod of people to always turn to. But more than that, it’s that we are family. I don’t say that lightly – my life is all about the found families that have made the difference for me. The Wickeds are family and having that core foundation to know I can always turn to is so meaningful to me. So it’s very special to have this time together in person.

Barb: You guys are making me cry! Yes, it was an amazing weekend and Jessie is an amazing host. Somehow we’ve gone from wondering if we could write a book that would be accepted by our publisher to this–a world-conquering machine. I always come away from our retreats elated and a little sad because it’s over.

Sherry: Barb, did you have to say “cry” because now I’m crying. Jessie is so gracious to let us turn her lovely home upside down with our suitcases, shoes, and electronics scattered everywhere. This retreat was bittersweet because usually when we part ways we know when we’ll see each other again at some event, but this time we don’t have a set plan. When we first started our retreats we had designated writing sessions, a set time for our business meeting, and an agenda. This time we just went with the flow and it was wonderful. I miss you all so much. I’m so grateful for how you’ve enriched my life both personally (especially personally) and professionally. I couldn’t love you more.

Julie: My best advice for writers is to find your group. The Wickeds have blessed me with friendship, laughs, accountability, tough love when necessary, and goals. What an amazing group of women–one of the great blessings of my very blessed life.

A few photos from the weekend:

Sam, Jessie’s poodle — the only male allowed to attend! What a sweet boy!

Pizza with plenty of leftovers for the rest of the weekend. One was a mashed potato pizza with bacon and scallions!

Jessie makes this amazing the dessert that we call crack. I’m not sure if it has an official name.

Recipe from Jessie!

Oreo Crispies

1/4 cup butter

1 bag marshmallows 

I package Oreo cookies

Crush Oreos in a food processor until uniform crumbs the texture of coarse sand are created. Grease an 8×8 baking dish. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add marshmallows and stir until melted. Add Oreo crumbs and stir until evenly combined. Spread mixture in prepared pan and chill in the refrigerator until firm. Slice into small squares.

A walk that turned into shopping and meeting two cute miniature poodles! The owner took the picture for us.

Being together is the best!

Readers: How long have you been part of our commenting community? Do you have a special support group of your own?

A Wicked Welcome (back) to Annette Dashofy! *giveaway*

by Julie, enjoying spring in Somerville

I am delighted to welcome friend of the Wickeds Annette Dashofy back to the blog today. Let’s all help her celebrate her new release!

Revisiting Old Friends

by Annette Dashofy

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My thirteenth novel in the Zoe Chambers series comes out today. Lucky thirteen. I frequently get asked how I keep track of all my characters through thirteen books. The answer? Sometimes I don’t! 

This time, though, I decided to revisit a couple of locations from earlier books, and along with the locations came a few of the characters. 

Back in Fair Game (#8), I’d offered up naming rights as a giveaway. One of my regular readers, Sandy Giden, became the owner of the Vance Motel, a throwback to the days when motorists traveled two-lane rather than four-lane highways. Instead of devolving into a dive, my fictional motel owner prided herself on a family-friendly, affordable place for travelers to rest their weary heads. Alas, since she and her establishment reside in my murder mysteries, a dead body is traced back to one of her guests. She’s mortified, as any of us would be. 

Things get worse for Sandy and the Vance Motel in What Comes Around. This time, the quaint and retro venue is the scene of the murder. Sandy is contemplating selling. I hope she doesn’t.

I had no trouble recalling what this location looked like because it’s inspired by a real motel that’s seen its better days thanks to a four-lane highway taking traffic away from its two-lane address. I say “inspired by” because the real motel is a tad…well…seedier. No way would I spend a night there even for research.

I also revisit a location that first appeared in Under the Radar (#9). This location is even easier to recall because it’s real, and I frequently spend time there. In Under the Radar, Zoe’s husband (then fiancé) Police Chief Pete Adams travels to the Laurel Highlands in pursuit of a couple fleeing the law. He enlists the help of a Pennsylvania State Trooper since Pete is well out of his jurisdiction. Since I knew I needed a State Trooper, rather than creating one, I borrowed one. My critique buddy and good friend, Liz Milliron, writes the Laurel Highlands Mysteries which features PSP Trooper Jim Duncan. I asked her permission to “borrow” him for a scene, and she agreed. After all, as my critique partner, she could make sure I got her creation right.

Pete and Zoe return to the Laurel Highlands in What Comes Around while Zoe is digging into a cold case at the request of her currently incapacitated forensic pathologist, and Pete is digging into the past of the victim from the Vance Motel. Once again, Pete enlists the help of Jim Duncan with whom he’s become pals. Like last time, I thought I’d only need him for one scene, but Jim wanted a bigger part in this book and keeps showing up. Liz once again made sure I kept him true to her vision. 

As a side note, Liz is returning the favor by borrowing Pete for one of her upcoming novels!

I’m giving away three Kindle-format copies of What Comes Around. To enter, leave a comment, letting us know if, as a writer, you’ve ever borrowed a character from another writer…or…as a reader, if you’ve ever read a book with crossover characters. Did you enjoy it? You can also enter by leaving a comment and just say “hi.”

About What Comes Around:

Just as Monongahela County Coroner Zoe Chambers-Adams decides to fire her abrasive chief deputy, Dr. Charles Davis, and put an end to his constant undermining of her position, a suspicious car crash severely injures the county’s only other forensic pathologist. To keep the office operational, Zoe has little choice but to keep Davis on staff.

When Zoe and her husband—Vance Township Police Chief Pete Adams—respond to a brutal homicide, they quickly learn the victim had come to town for the sole purpose of sharing vital information with Zoe. And the decedent’s ex-husband is none other than Zoe’s deputy coroner.

As Zoe and Pete dig deeper into the victim’s past, more questions arise along with a tangle of connections between multiple cases, including a very cold one that leads Zoe and those she cares about directly into the crosshairs of a crazed killer. 

About the Author:

Annette Dashofy is the USA Today bestselling author of the Zoe Chambers mystery series and the Detective Honeywell series. She won the 2021 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award for excellence in Thoroughbred racing literature for her standalone, Death By Equine, and has garnered multiple Agatha Award nominations. Her short fiction has also earned a Derringer nomination. Annette and her husband live on ten acres of what was her grandfather’s dairy farm in southwestern Pennsylvania with their very spoiled cat, Kensi.

Spoiler, spoiler, spoiler! (Not so much)

by Barb, typing this on our Wickeds retreat at Jessie’s fabulous house in Old Orchard Beach, Maine

So the time has come to talk about the end of the Maine Clambake Mystery series. Back when I tried to envision what it would like to go down this road, I thought this blog post would contain a spoiler. But since almost every single NetGalley, Amazon, and Goodreads review has mentioned that the twelfth book, Torn Asunder, is the last, I don’t think this is really a spoiler.

I didn’t pre-announce Torn Asunder as the last, though the Wickeds, my family, and close personal friends knew. I didn’t think I should say it was the end. I wondered if that would convince people not to buy the book or even not to start the series with another book.

I can see why people included the information it was the last in their reviews. It isn’t in any serious sense a spoiler. It doesn’t give away the solution to the mystery. But back in November, when reviews first started appearing on NetGalley and Goodreads, I wasn’t prepared to deal with the issue. When people asked outright on social media if Torn Asunder was the last, I bobbed and weaved, or didn’t answer at all.

I did address the end of the series in the Acknowledgements of the book but I’m going to answer some of the questions I have been asked since here.

Why did you decide to end the series? Did you run out of stories to tell about Busman’s Harbor? Or, were you bored with Busman’s Harbor?

I think, honestly, I could have made up stories about Julia Snowden and friends for years to come. The reasons I ended the series were personal, business, and creative.

The personal reason is the deadlines were getting to me, affecting my life and my health, not in a good way, and causing me to miss out on things I no longer wanted to miss. I know there are authors (more than one on this very blog) who can write many more books in a year than the one-book-and-one novella that were killing me. I used to think I could be better and faster if I just pulled myself together and applied more discipline. But then I turned seventy and adopted an approach to life I call “radical self-acceptance,” or the Popeye Philosophy, “I yam what I yam.” I decided to abandon my sixty-plus year project of trying to be a better or different person.

I write slowly. I read slowly. I need that frisson of fear of an approaching deadline to get the job done. In other words, my work ethic is that of a college sophomore. I was always going to write to deadline and the deadlines were always going to be tough.

I’m also pretty single-threaded. As a busy mother and boss, I multitasked, but it’s not my default approach. I prefer to be focused and immersed. There are projects beyond fiction-writing I want to tackle. Lots of people could do both, and more, but now I accept that I won’t.

This is who I am. The question was, what was I going to do about it?

The business reason was that the Maine Clambake Mysteries are what they are–mass market paperback and thoroughly mid-list. They were never going to be anything else. While entertaining a smallish number of people has been, in fact, very satisfying, there was no point in pretending I was doing anything different or that it was going to change.

Finally, there is the creative dimension. I am a completer. I have many flaws (see above) but I finish stuff. There is no string of abandoned projects in my life (even ones I probably should have). I like endings, full arcs, drawing a line under things. For me, fiction writing has always been about control. I worked on teams all by life and loved it. There is nothing more exhilarating than working with a group of people toward a common purpose. But I wanted writing to be something I did on my own. Writers often say, “My characters take over and do what they want.” To which I always say, “I have enough people in my life who don’t do what I think they should. That is not what I need from people in a world I am creating.” I wanted to end the series on my own terms. I wanted to finish Julia’s personal arc and leave her the place both she and I wanted her to be. Taking control of the ending was the only way I could do that.

What are you working on now? What will you write next? Will you publish again?

I’ve retired twice before and it’s my belief everyone who has ever retired, been laid-off, or quit a job has a list of things they have long wanted to do when they weren’t working. When my company, WebCT, was sold there was a constant joke among the former employees about how clean our closets, attics, basements, and garages were. In my experience, it takes six months to a year to recover and be ready for the new to flow in, depending on how intense the work was and how exhausted you were when it ended.

In examining my life, I find it breaks nicely into 10 to 12 year chunks. I worked for twelve years at Information Mapping, a company that offers a methodology for analyzing, organizing, and presenting complex written information. I was hired as a freelance writer and ended up at one time or another running every division and department in the organization except finance. But then it was time for me to go. The discipline for thinking that Information Mapping instilled in me is an immutable part of my character and I still have tremendous affection for almost everyone I worked with. After I left, I wrote the early drafts of my first book, The Death of an Ambitious Woman. Similarly, for ten years, I was at WebCT, a company that with several others pioneered putting both distance and traditional classes on the internet. Again, it was a fantastic experience which I still cherish along with the people I worked with. Afterward I dug out the Death of an Ambitious Woman manuscript, rewrote it and had it accepted for publication. I became one of the co-editors of the Best New England Crime Story series. Each ending, each hiatus has resulted in something better coming after.

I wrote the Maine Clambake Mysteries, twelve books and six novellas, for twelve years. I don’t know what comes next. I know that it may not be better than what came before. I do have a few ideas, but they are complex, requiring a lot of research and time, and I’m not sure if I’ll actually write any of them. Plus, having been a mid-list writer, there is no guarantee I’ll get published again. It may even make it harder. So we’ll see is the answer.

Lightening Round

(Spoilers ahead) Do you regret breaking up Julia and Chris?

No. Chris was never going to be right for Julia, which I feel badly about because I made him that way. However, if I’d known I would end at twelve books, I would have broken them up sooner to give Julia and Tom’s relationship more time to develop.

Is there anything you would have changed in the first book if you had known the series would go to twelve?

I don’t think so, though I certainly would have written that first book better if I had the experience I have after writing twelve.

Who is your favorite character to write?

Gus and Mrs. Gus, Fee and Vee Snugg. It’s so freeing to write secondary characters.

Is there a character whose arc became a pain?

Not really. I really enjoyed writing Quentin Tupper, but unlike all the other regulars he is a summer resident. Sliding Quentin in and out of the series was a bit of challenge.

The other was Le Roi the Maine Coon cat. I hadn’t intended to have a cat, but when I saw what life was like for a cat on the real Cabbage Island, I had to include one. However, Le Roi was always in town when my characters were on the island or on the island when my characters were in town. Keeping track of his whereabouts and making sure there was someone available to feed him was a real pain.

Who’s a character you should have killed off?

No one. Julia’s brother-in-law, Sonny, was designed in the series proposal to be the antagonist. Some people who didn’t make it to the turn about three-quarters of the way through the first book, Clammed Up, gave up on the book due to too much family conflict. But I wouldn’t kill Sonny. His wife and kids would suffer too much and he and Julia both grow and change each other, however minimally, which was satisfying to write.

Who’s a character who should have been spun off?

Kensington approached my agent, casually, about a spinoff featuring Fee and Vee Snugg. I didn’t want to write another series in the Busman’s Harbor world, so I never followed up.

Thank you

Finally, at the end of the world’s longest blog post, for the superfans of the Wickeds and the Maine Clambake Mysteries still with me, I want to thank the readers. As I say in the Torn Asunder Acknowledgements, you have been a joy of my life. You have given me this opportunity and the community that has gone with it.

The many, many emails and social media comments I have received since Torn Asunder was published have been lovely and 100% supportive. Many have expressed satisfaction that the series actually resolved and they knew what happened to the characters. I can’t express how much I have appreciated these notes.

With tremendous gratitude. Barb

Readers: How do you feel about series ending? Do they run their course or should they go on as long as the author lives?

Welcome Back, Author Marjorie McCown and a #Giveaway

I was thrilled to blurb the first book in Marjorie McCown’s Hollywood Mystery series, Final Cut. I loved it. Lots of amateur sleuths have lots of jobs but Marjorie really knows the world of movie costuming she writes about since she worked in it for 25-plus years. And she’s not afraid to dish–but in a way that is respectful to all the professionals involved in big Hollywood picture. Add in a twisty mystery and compelling characters and that’s want I call a book.

Marjorie is here to celebrate the May 7th release of Star Struck, book 2 in the series featuring costumer Joey Jessop. To celebrate, she’s giving away 2 signed copies of Star Struck to two lucky commenters from anywhere in North America.

I’m very pleased to host Marjorie here today, not least because my only grandcat is named Monkey.

Chunky Monkey

My thanks to Barbara Ross and The Wickeds for hosting me today on their wonderful blog.

I’m often asked if the characters in my books are based on people I know. My answer is “Almost all of them!” But not just the two-legged characters . . .   

My polydactyl cat, Monkey, came to our household off the streets of Los Angeles. She just sauntered into my kitchen one spring day when I’d left the door open to the patio — this adorable little gray and white cat with oversized Minnie Mouse paws that have two extra toes apiece. And she was chubby as a cherub, so at first, I didn’t know she was a stray. (I was too dim to realize she was pregnant.)

She flirted with my tiger cat, Max, and they touched noses, instant friends — which melted my heart, especially because we’d recently lost Petey, our sweetie of a cat and Max’s good pal, to cancer.

“You’re a cute chunky monkey,” I said fondly and stooped to pet her.  That’s when she bolted back out the door.

I had no idea I’d just met the prototype for one of the recurring characters in my Hollywood Mystery series of books.

I didn’t see the little cat again for several days, but I thought about Chunky Monkey (yes, I’d already named her) and wondered if she belonged to a neighbor. We lived in the hills east of downtown Los Angeles and it wasn’t unusual to see coyotes boldly ambling up the street, so I worried about her, too.

About a week later, I was doing household chores (again with the kitchen door to the patio standing open) when Max raced up to me, meowing at the top of his voice. Worried he was hurt, I bent to pick him up, but he scampered away, then looked at me and meowed even louder. I got the message and followed him as he made a beeline for the guest bedroom, yowling for me to hurry.

The door of the bedroom closet was half open and there in a basket of towels, Chunky Monkey was giving birth. Max goggled at me as if to say, “What do we do now?” On impulse, I scooped up the basket of cats and carried them downstairs to the master suite I used as an office.

Then I called my vet for advice about how to care for the new momma and her babies. The doctor assured me that for the first two months, until the kittens were weaned, I simply needed to take care of Monkey (as she was rechristened after giving birth) and she would take care of her babies, from feeding to cleaning and everything in between.

So Monkey and her five kittens lived in the downstairs master for the next two months, and I have some cute photos from that time to share with you.

I discovered Monkey was not only a stray but mostly feral, and she didn’t want me cuddling her kittens when it came time to start socializing them for adoption. They were darling, but seven cats was about five too many for my house.

Still, our story has a happy ending. We offered the kittens for adoption through a local animal advocacy group. And we soon had a long list of people who were willing to go through the interview process for approval to adopt. All five kittens went to loving homes.

Monkey stayed with Max and me. She’s now such an irreplaceable — and irrepressible — member of the family that when I wrote Final Cut, my first Hollywood Mystery, Monkey became the inspiration for sweet yet irascible Bigfoot, the stray polydactyl cat who comes to live with my main character, movie costumer Joey Jessop. And true to her real-life counterpart, Bigfoot soon worms her way deep into Joey’s heart.  

Readers: Do you have any meet-cute stories with animals you’ve known and loved? Comment below or just say “hi” to be entered to win one of two signed copies of Star Struck.

About Marjorie McCown

Marjorie McCown spent 27 years working on movies such as Forrest Gump and Apollo 13. Her cozy mystery Final Cut, set behind the scenes of a Hollywood movie, was an Amazon Editors’ Pick in the best Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense category. Star Struck, Book #2 in her Hollywood Mystery series publishes May 7.

About Star Struck

Movie costumer Joey Jessop is working on a film featuring 2 of the biggest box office stars in the world, although the leading lady, Gillian Best, is known more for her lifestyle brand than her acting. After a fatal traffic accident near the movie set, Joey realizes the car involved belongs to Gillian, and she starts to wonder if the actress has more to conceal than her Botox appointments. But Hollywood stars know how to keep their secrets close and a woman like Gillian doesn’t take kindly to someone sniffing around her affairs. Still, Joey’s sure that Gillian has something to hide, and she’s determined to find out what.

BUY LINKS and more info at Star Struck | Author Marjorie McCown