Edith Maxwell's Blog, page 262

Happy Book Birthday Jessie Crockett!

Today we celebrate the third book in Jessie’s Sugar Grove Mysteries, A Sticky Situation. Take a look at what’s in store for Dani:

Aunt Hazel isn’t exactly sweet, but she’s not the only one putting syrup maker Dani in a sour mood. Her family is trying to help renovate the town’s Opera House, but their contractor Russ Collins seems to specialize in finely crafted excuses. And his latest one is killer.

In the Opera House basement, Russ uncovers the remains of Spooner Duffy, a charming drifter thought to have skipped town decades ago with a hefty sum of the town’s money. Tapping into some unpleasant memories, Spooner’s bones also threaten to reveal a murderer’s secret, and now it’s up to Dani to catch a killer before the town is stuck with a deadly reputation. Recipes included!

Liz: Yay Jessie! So excited to read this. I love these books and I’m looking forward to Dani’s next adventure. Great cover, too!

Sherry: Woo-hoo! Another fun read and great mystery to look forward to reading! I don’t know how you do it but Dani always makes me laugh. I can’t wait to see how she gets out of this mess.

Barb: So happy to be back in Sugar Grove! Cannot wait to read this.

Julie: LOVE that is has to do with a theater restoration! Can’t wait to read this! Congratulations my friend!

Edith: Ooh, sounds like another wonderful story, Jessie. So happy for this release! My town had an opera house, too, but it burned down a few decades after it was built, alas.

Jessie: Thanks so much everyone! I can’t believe the third book in this series is already out in the world. It seems like just yesterday that Sugar Grove was still just an idea.

Filed under: Book Release Tagged: A Sticky Situation, book launch, book release, Dani Greene, Jessie Crockett, Opera House, Sugar Grove Mysteries

Finding Cervantes

by Sheila Connolly

Not long ago I was trolling through various odd sites that I bookmark and I stumbled a surprising headline in the Irish news:  “Spain Finds Remains of ‘Don Quixote’ Writer Cervantes.”

We know that the Irish greatly admire writers—to the extent that they give anyone pursuing a career in the literary arts (and others) a tax exemption. (I applaud them!) But I did not realize they were so interested in the relics.

The story goes on to report that the apparent remains of “literary giant” Miguel de Cervantes were found in a convent in Madrid. The author died in 1616, nearly 400 years ago. The team of forensic anthropologists had been searching for a year when they came upon “some fragments” in an alcove in the crypt of the convent. Actually there was a jumble of bones in there—obviously not their original resting place.

It is weird to read about this as they put the search and the analysis of the results in forensic terms, familiar to us mystery writers. A team of anthropologists and archeologists first carried out documentary research to identify the site. There is a record that Cervantes was buried in an alcove in the convent’s chapel in the center of Madrid on the day after his death, but apparently no one recorded exactly which alcove.

The researchers used infrared cameras, 3D scanners, and ground-penetrating radar, and they found 33 alcoves. One of those appears to be the right one.

Physical evidence? Pending. They may be doing genetic analysis (I have no idea to whose DNA this may be compared). There is evidence that Cervantes was shot twice in the cheek and once in his left hand during the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, and his bones (if they have the right ones) would show signs of these injuries.

It would appear that the bones of the “greatest writer of the Spanish Golden Age” and “father of the modern novel” may have been mixed with those of others (one source reports the remains of 17 different people in one mass grave; BBC News reports that his wife may be among them).

Westminster Abbey

The media jumped all over this news. The New York Times headline read “Cervantes and the Purpose of Literary Idolatry,” and the author of the editorial, Serge Schmemann, posed the question, “What is it about the graves of great writers and poets that makes them so popular?” Other examples include the Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abby in London, where Chaucer was first in, followed by many others, and Shakespeare’s grave in Stratford-on-Avon (yes, I’ve been to both); or Oscar Wilde’s grave at the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris (not me, but my daughter visited, although mainly for Edith Piaf); and Jonathan Swift’s burial place in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin (yup, been there too). In this country, Authors’ Ridge in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts, is a popular attraction (one-stop shopping: Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson, all within feet of each other). At Sleepy Hollow, visitors leave small offerings on the tombstones of their literary idols.

Henry David Thoreau

Jonathan Swift, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin

Louisa May Alcott

Isn’t it interesting that for centuries writers have been interred next to royalty? We should take heart that people believe that writers matter, and continue to honor them.

Have you ever paid tribute to one of your literary idols?

Filed under: Sheila's Posts Tagged: sheila connolly

Opening Lines

A ghost hunter visits Frog Ledge, Connecticut in The Icing on the Corpse by Liz Mugavero. What would he think of this house? Add your opening line. Photo by Dixie Westphal Kurtz

Edith: The telltale stripes on the siding were a dead giveaway, so to speak, that the cottage was occupied by a force not of this world. And with the tornado blowin’ in, I might or might not survive to record it.

Liz:  My friend and I had accepted a dare to spend a night in an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere. We were looking forward to it, even though it looks a little creepy. It’s not like this is a horror movie or something.

Julie: They drove up, and parked outside the house.

“What?” he asked.

“I never should have put you in charge of the vacation rental,” she hissed.

“It’s going to be fine,” he said.

Boy, was he ever wrong.

Jessie: When she bought a fixer-upper, sight-unseen, she was prepared to hire a roofer, a plumber and a mason. What hadn’t been part of her plan was the need for an exorcist.

Sherry: I stood looking at the house that had haunted my dreams for the past ten years. I’d thought coming back would end them but I was wrong. Dead wrong.

Barb: She pulled the front door closed and locked it. The Dodge was already packed. “Good-bye, house.” She kissed her fingertips and rubbed them lightly on the door frame. “I’ll be back soon.”

Readers: Add yours!

Filed under: Opening Lines Tagged: Dixie Westphal Kurtz, exorcist, haunted houses, The Icing on the Corpse, vacation rentals

Being Present

By Liz, grateful to see (most of) her deck in Connecticut

It’s release week for The Icing on the Corpse, as many of you know (so much fun, and so grateful to all of you for helping me celebrate!). My life has been a little insane lately, but I made sure this week to take a few minutes in all the insanity to enjoy the moment.

Despite the two deadlines looming over my head, the ever-present and equally insane day job, and a ongoing family situation, I chose to stop and think about what I’ve accomplished – not only with this release, but overall.

We talk a lot here about living our dream and enjoying these moments despite the craziness of everything else. Sometimes I’m better at that than others. But lately I’ve been making even more of an effort to stop, be present and, most importantly, be grateful.

I’ve had amazing support launching this book from so many places – my fellow Wickeds, here at home, and from many of the writerly friends I’ve made along the way. It’s been great fun reading the initial reviews, interacting with people who enjoyed an early copy of the book and continuing to build on the momentum Stan and friends have gained.

But most importantly, just being part of this community – from my Wicked circle to all the writers I meet at yearly conferences to the readers who make this all possible – is the best part yet.

I’m grateful to all of you. Thanks for reading.

Readers, what are you taking a moment to be grateful for today?

Filed under: Liz's posts Tagged: gratitude, Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, present, The Icing on the Corpse

Wicked Wednesday- Ghost Stories

Jessie: In New Hampshire, wondering whether boxing up the mittens could be construed by the weather gods as a dare?

We are spending time this week on the Wickeds celebrating Liz’s latest The Icing on the Corpse. This book includes a ghost-hunting thread which caused me to wonder about other ghost stories in  New England. So Wickeds, is there a well-known spooky story based in your neck of the woods? Do you use paranormal elements in stories of your own?

Sherry: When we lived on Hanscom Air Force base our house was just minutes away from the Minute Man National Park. The park includes a pathway where the Colonial militiamen battled the British regulars on the first day of the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. Hundreds of men died that day as the militiamen chased the regulars back to Boston. There are always reports of strange lights and noises in the surrounding woods. This was taken from our front porch. The trees you see in the back right of this photo border the pathway.

Johnathan Pulcifer house, 1718, Ipswich, MA

Edith: This isn’t a well-known story, but I have lived in antique houses since I moved to New England in 1982 (except for five years in a vintage 1960’s ranch, which doesn’t quite qualify). I have often heard unexplained noises at night, although my experiences fell short of actually seeing a lady in white or having lamps fly through the air. Still, it wouldn’t surprise me to know that the spirits of former residents occupied those homes, including my current one (a newbie at 1888). Because I have the kind of imagination capable of seriously scaring myself, I just can’t think about it.

I also don’t tend to read anything with “paranormal” in the description, but I loved Gigi Pandian‘s recent The Accidental Alchemist, about her new gargoyle friend, and also the Low Country Mysteries from Susan M. Boyer, where the protagonist’s dead childhood friend keeps popping up randomly to give her advice.

Liz: I’ve always wanted to meet a ghost. Only a nice one, mind you. But ghosts have always fascinated me. One of my favorite books is Second Glance by Jodi Picoult, which had a ghost hunting theme. I saw her speak and she talked about going on a ghost hunt in an abandoned mental asylum in Rhode Island to do her research. She said she went in a skeptic and came out with a totally different outlook. I’ve never been on a ghost hunt, but I talked to a couple of ghost hunters while I was writing this book and some of the stories are just crazy. Especially the ones about the evil spirits….

Barb: As many of you know, during the summers, we live in an old sea captain’s house in Maine. My husband’s aunt was convinced one of the bedrooms was haunted. I never believed, until one weekend when Bill and I had to sleep in that bedroom with our cocker spaniel. The poor dog just could not settle. He kept us up all night with his pacing and barking and panting. When we let him out of the room into the hallway, he curled up and went right to sleep. I still think there were squirrels in the walls, or something. But it seemed like an eery coincidence, if that’s what it was.

Jessie: Every now and again I’ll be walking through my house and am sure I see someone going up or down the stairs or along the hall. But just like looking at a distant star, the image disappears when I look at it straight on. I never feel the least frightened of them. I always feel like they are just as at home here as I am. Usually, I wish I could get a better look at but sometimes I think it is more fun for it to remain a little more mysterious.

Julie: I lived in an apartment in Brookline years ago, and we had a poltergeist. My roommate and I both noticed odd things, but brushed them off. Then one day we standing in the living room, discussing dirty dishes loudly, and a can of raid that was on the refrigerator flew in between us. Once we agreed we both saw it, we started to compare notes. Needless to say, it was an interesting year.

Readers, have you experienced any spooky situations in your own life? Or do you prefer your forays into the paranormal to be confined to the pages of a book?

Filed under: Wicked Wednesday Tagged: ghosts, Gigi Pandian, haunted, Ipswich, Liz Mugavero, paranormal, spooky, supernatural, Susan M Boyer, The Icing on the Corpse

Happy Book Birthday, Liz!

Jessie: In New Hampshire where the daffodils are poking their way up through the earth

Once again we are delighted to wish a Wicked a very happy launch day! Today we welcome Liz Mugavero’s latest, The Icing on the Corpse! Take it away, Wickeds!

Here’s a bit about the book: Kristan “Stan” Connor is thrilled to be invited to the Groundhog Day festivities in quirky Frog Ledge, Connecticut. Her organic, home-baked pet treats are a big hit at the annual celebration, though an important guest is curiously absent . . .

When Helga Oliver, the town’s elderly historian, is found crumpled in the basement of the Historical Museum, the close-knit town is devastated. But after some tenacious digging, Stan discovers Helga was pushed down the stairs–and that this picture-perfect New England town may hide some dark secrets . . .

Stan’s dogged determination reveals Helga’s ties to an unsolved death in 1948 . . . but how does that connect to Adrian Fox, who’s just arrived in town to shoot an episode of Celebrity Ghost Hunters? Stan is going to have to be very careful in chasing down the killer–if she wants to live to see another winter . . . Includes Gourmet Pet Food Recipes!

Edith: So excited about the release, Liz! Many congratulations, friend. Let us know the best and worst parts of writing this one, will you?

Jessie: Congrats, Liz on your latest.Between the title and the cover I think readers are going to be especially interested in this one!

Sherry: I was lucky enough to read an early version of Icing and I can’t wait to read the final version. The series just keeps getting better!

Barb: Can’t wait to be back in Frog Ledge, Liz. So excited to read the latest.

Julie: Cannot wait to read this! Congratulations Liz!

Liz: Thank you so much guys!! I’m so excited about this book coming out. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into it so I hope people enjoy it! And Edith, I think it will take a whole blog post to tell you about the writing of this one…Thanks for all the support, Wickeds!

Readers, we’re certain Liz would love to hear from you too!

Filed under: Book Release Tagged: Book birthday, book launch, Happy Book Birthday, Liz Mugavero, The Icing on the Corpse

Back Up the Idea Truck — Guest Alan Orloff

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit Alan! Alan has two great giveaways today of his latest book. Running from the Past is a Kindle Scout winner.

Here’s a bit about Running from the Past: After selling his company for millions, Colby Walker takes his family–and his son’s friend Jess–on vacation, wanting nothing more than to unwind in the sun and surf. But he spots the alarming signs in short order: Jess’s downcast eyes, a familiar passivity, and angry red welts marching across the boy’s bare back. Walker understands what they mean because he’d been that boy, many years ago.

He’d suffered in silence, too. Can Walker stand by and let the torment continue? Does he trust the authorities–the same ones who had failed him in his youth–to take care of Jess? Hell no. With Jess in tow, Walker packs up the minivan and takes his family on the lam, keeping one step ahead of Jess’s cruel father and unhinged ex-con aunt. When the stakes escalate and his headstrong actions put people’s lives in jeopardy, Walker must finally conquer his past before he can save those he loves. He can run no longer.

Take it away, Alan.

Writers are often asked where we get our ideas. Over the years, I’ve gotten mine from different places.

For a while, I subscribed to a service, much like the old Netflix model, where they’d send me one idea at a time (or three ideas, if I signed up for the premium option), and I’d evaluate it and either keep it or send it back. Of course, once the idea streaming services took over, my lame mail-in service was never the same. Bankrupt in two years. I still have a leftover idea I never returned to them (anybody want it?).

Then, I found this neat little storefront, down near the docks, where I’d often spend an afternoon browsing for ideas. The place was cluttered and disorganized, and the owner sure liked to bend your ear, but if you exercised patience and didn’t mind getting your hands dirty, you could find some real gems. Some were a little banged up and others were coated with a layer of dust you needed a chisel to dislodge, but it was a real treasure trove. Unfortunately, one night, the place burned to the ground under suspicious circumstances.

After that, I signed up for an adult ed class, Adventures in Plotting. When I got there and the instructor started talking about clay and kilns, I realized there had been a typo in the course listing (an extra “l”). So, no help there. (Although, I did end up making a nice two-tone glazed vase.)

It was at that point when I decided I needed a change, so I resigned myself to generating my own ideas. Surprisingly, I found that I have plenty of ideas running through my head; the challenge is coming up with enough time to explore them all.

In most cases, I can’t identify that instant when I thought of an idea for a particular book. The ideas were just … there. But there have been a couple notable exceptions, a couple of times where I know exactly when I got a superlative idea.

Several years ago, I was at the wonderful Sleuthfest conference, in Florida. I woke up at 4:00 am on Sunday morning, with an idea, almost FULLY FORMED, in my head. It stood the “middle-of-the-night garbage test” when I was able to remember it in the morning (and didn’t think it was complete trash). With a few tweaks to the basic (cool, high-concept) premise, I turned it into a thriller (which I’m still shopping).

And that brings me to my current release, RUNNING FROM THE PAST, just out from Kindle Press (as a winner of Amazon’ new Kindle Scout program). I also remember where/when I got the idea for this one.

I was on vacation with my family in Sandbridge, VA (near Virginia Beach). My son had brought along one of his friends, and I got to thinking. What would happen if we didn’t bring that friend home? If we just decided to take off with him, headed for parts unknown? I needed some rationale, of course, to explain why a seemingly normal family would abscond with a seemingly normal kid, so my imagination kicked in. And that’s how I came up with the idea for RUNNING FROM THE PAST, which, by pure coincidence, starts off with a family on vacation in Sandbridge, with the son’s friend along for the ride.

GIVEAWAY: I’m giving away a Kindle copy of RUNNING FROM THE PAST to one commenter at random (I’ll need your email address so I can *gift* it to you).

GIVEAWAY #2: I’m also giving away two signed copies (trade paperback) on Goodreads. Click through to enter!

Readers: How about you? Do you remember where you get your ideas from? Any good stories?

Alan Orloff’s debut mystery, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD, was an Agatha Award finalist for Best First Novel. He’s also written two books in the Last Laff mystery series, KILLER ROUTINE and DEADLY CAMPAIGN (from Midnight Ink). Writing as his darker half Zak Allen, he’s published THE TASTE, FIRST TIME KILLER, and RIDE-ALONG. His latest suspense novel, RUNNING FROM THE PAST (Kindle Press), was a Kindle Scout “winner.” Alan lives in Northern Virginia and teaches workshops at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD. For more info, visit: www.alanorloff.com

Filed under: Guest posts Tagged: Alan Orloff, Diamonds for the Dead, Kindle Scout, Running from the Past, The Writer's Center

Wicked New England- Favorite Buildings

Jessie: In New Hampshire, where the birds have started chirping in the mornings!

New England is blessed with beauty. We have coastline and mountains, lakes and acres of forested land. But we are also fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful architecture. From quaint villages to bustling, vibrant ports New England has so many man-made beauties as well. So Wickeds, do you have a favorite building here in New England?

Liz: I work in Hartford, which does have some beautiful buildings, but I’m enamored with the state capitol building. It’s close to my office, right across the street from a park I like to walk in during lunch when weather is nice. It’s something I always take notice of, especially when the sun reflects off the gold dome. Gorgeous.

Photo of Whittier’s Seat by Kathleen Wooten.

Edith: How could I not cast my vote for the Amesbury Friends Meetinghouse? Built in

1851, with John Greenleaf Whittier on the building committee, it is a treasure that reflects simplicity, one of the basic Quaker values. It’s been in continual use for Friends worship since it was new, and has been lovingly restored and maintained by the current

Photo by Ed Mair

congregation (of which I am one). The tall antique windows cast wavy light shows on the floor and walls, the wood of the floor and walls seems imbued with spirit, and the outside is modest and welcoming.

Jessie: I love the Portsmouth Music Hall, in Portsmouth, NH. They’ve done a beautiful restoration on an already lovely building. Part of the pleasure of attending events there is the beauty of the environment. If you’re ever in Portsmouth I highly recommend taking in a show just to see inside.

Barb: I had a really hard time with this. Beautiful public buildings are so much a feature of our lives in New England, we use them without thinking about them. What to choose? The Boston Public Library? Symphony Hall? Julie could probably give us a tour of Boston’s wonderful theaters. At the end of the day, I’m going for the Museum of Fine Arts. Bill and I make a pilgrimage there a couple of times a year at least. It’s such a wonderful place to spend a quiet afternoon. (Time your visit for after the school trips have left and before the evening hours have kicked in.) The experience renews you creatively. And the new American Wing is a knockout and blends beautifully with the old architecture.

Sherry: We are going to have to do this again — I have too many favorite buildings. Faneuil Hall, the Orchard House, the Unitarian church in Bedford, Massachusetts. And I’m sorry but I had to go with two. The first is what my family calls the Dr. Seuss building on MIT’s campus. MIT calls it the Stata Center but whatever you call it, it’s unique! I also love the Old North Church in Boston. Yes, the building where the two lanterns were hung so Paul Revere knew that Regulars were heading to Concord by sea. It’s Boston’s oldest surviving church. It’s also called Christ Church and is an active Episcopalian church. If you’re ever in Boston don’t miss the free fifteen minute talk. It’s fascinating.

Julie: New England does, indeed have beautiful buildings. And Barb’s right, I could give you a tour of some stunning theaters in Boston–we are blessed that so many gems (the City Wang, the Opera House, the Shubert, the Paramount, the Modern, and the Colonial) that have been restored over the past twenty-five years. But my favorite was my workplace for 13 years, Memorial Hall at Harvard University. It was built between 1870-1877 as a memorial to the Harvard alumni who fought and died fighting for the Union in the Civil War. Inside is Sanders Theatre and Annenberg (formerly Alumni) Hall. Acoustically, Sanders Theatre is one of the most stunning concert halls in New England. But it was also a lecture hall, where some amazing historical figures have given speeches. The picture is of the transept, which is where the names of all of the deceased Harvard alums are listed on tablets. See the three figures in the picture, for scale? I’m the one of the left, hard to see because I wasn’t wearing a white shirt.

Readers, how about you? Is there a famous or hidden gem of a place in your neck of the woods?

Filed under: Group posts, Wicked New England Tagged: Amesbury Friends Meetinghouse, architecture, Christ Church, Connecticut Statehouse, Faneuil Hall, Kathleen Wooten, Memorial Hall, MIT, New England buildings, Old North Church, Orchard House, Portsmouth Music Hall, Portsmouth NH, Quakers, Sanders Theatre, Stata Center

How I Learned to Relax About Being a “Cozy” Author and Just Write the Damn Books–Part II

by Barb, who is back in New England where just recently there are signs of the slimmest possibility of spring

So, when last we left our intrepid heroine, she had learned she was about to be a “cozy” mystery author, and she was freaked out about it. You can read about the events that lead up to that here: How I Learned to Relax About Being a “Cozy” Author and Just Write the Damn Books–Part I.

At the end of that post I say:

If the author is the brand, and the brand is the author, I was in deep trouble. People might describe me in a number of ways, but nobody, including my kids, would ever describe me as cozy. I’m a city girl at heart. I have no pets, I don’t do crafts. I swear like a sailor. I don’t even cook if I can avoid it. Ulp.
The image of cozy mysteries worried me. So often they’re defined as what they are not. You know, it’s a traditional mystery, with an amateur sleuth, but with no sex, gore or swearing. That drove me crazy. Here I am writing 70,000+ words, and the genre is defined by what’s not in there, instead of what is. It bugged the heck out of me. (Or the hell out of me, as I really would say in my real life.)

Today, in Part II, I’m tackling #1 above.

When I look back at it now, it all seems so silly. But at the time, I really was mega-stressed about not being able to embody the brand of what I thought it meant to be cozy. Why was this?

Well, one reason is writers on the verge of publication, and particularly a first publication or a new project, get freaked out exceptionally easily. Yes, you’re all giddy and happy with the accomplishment, but you are also putting yourself out there to be judged in a way that most people never do. It’s scary. You don’t want to disappoint readers, embarrass your family and let down your friends.

So a lot of my anxiety about not being a cozy person was free-floating anxiety that happened to coalesce around that particular point.

Plus, my husband thinks I am peculiarly susceptible to what he calls “Fraud Syndrome.” It’s true that I was a business person for twenty-five years and never thought of myself that way. It’s also true I usually feel I have to have absolute mastery of a subject or skill to hold myself out as an expert. But I think the writer’s life reinforces my already existing tendency. Most writers feel like frauds most of the time. There’s the many years you tell people you’re writing and they, polite and interested, ask, “What have you published?” and you say, “Hammida, hammida, hammida…” Then there are the later years when you say, “I am a writer,” and people ask, polite and interested, “Anything I would have heard of?” and you say…etc. This pretty much never ends. I once heard Lee Child say the reason he gave his blessing to Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher was because whenever he got on an airplane and told his seatmate what he did, the question was, “Anything that’s been made into a movie?”

Fraud Syndrome, indeed.

How I finally got over it was, I participated in the Launch Lab at Grub Street. It’s a class for people with books to be published within the year. They give you tons of valuable information, and more than anything, they teach you to CALM THE HECK DOWN.

The course took place over three weekends, and at some point, during a consultation, I moaned to Lynne Griffin, one of the instructors, about how freaked out I was about the whole cozy thing.

Then she slapped me and told me to get over myself.

She didn’t actually slap me, or even use those words. Lynne Griffin is one of the most professional people I know. But she might as well have, because whatever she said was just as effective. (I later discovered pretty much everyone in the Lab had had this experience. Not necessarily over sub-genre classification, though I wasn’t the only one. Lynne Griffin telling you to get over yourself is one of the best features of the Launch Lab.)

Once I stopped freaking out, I saw how ridiculous I had been.

For one thing, as I spent time in the cozy world, I discovered it was filled with all kinds of people who read all kinds of stuff. And have all kinds of jobs, hobbies and interests. Not everyone had gray hair in a bun with knitting needles through it and a dozen cats. (NOT that there’s anything wrong than that.) I mean, seriously, I’m a little embarrassed now about how much I bought into the stereotypes.

Plus, I realized the whole the brand is the author and the author is the brand thing was way over-blown in my mind. I mean, yes it’s great that Craig Johnson really lives on a ranch in a town with a population of 25 in Wyoming. But Stephanie Meyer is neither a vampire, nor a werewolf, nor a teenager. And though J.K. Rowling has that whole, cool Edinburgh thing going on, she didn’t go to Hogwarts and she wasn’t raised by Muggles. (Well, actually, I suppose she was, but that’s a different point.)

Hermoine represents Rowling’s emotional truth, not her actual truth.

So that’s how it all worked out. I realized if my books represented my emotional truth, everything else would be fine.

And I calmed the heck down.

And it was all okay. I was over my feeling of being fraudulently cozy. Now I just had to get past the “stigma” of the cozy novel itself. And that’s coming in Part III.

Filed under: Barb's posts Tagged: cozy mysteries, Grub Street Launch Lab, Lynne Griffin

Wicked Wednesday- Shows I Haven’t Seen

Jessie: In NH, wondering if putting away my heaviest coat will tempt a blizzard to pay a visit?

In keeping with our “Things I Haven’t” theme on Wicked Wednesday this month we’re talking about shows we haven’t ever seen. You know, the ones everyone is talking about around the water cooler but you just have no interest in? Take it away, Wickeds!

Edith: I’ll jump right in here. ALL OF THEM. Okay, I’ve seen the first season of House of

Cards until it got too merciless. And I’ve watched and loved all of Downton, Grantchester, and Call the Midwife so far. But Orange is the New Black? Zip, even though I’d like to see it. Big Bang Theory? Modern Family? The Sopranos? Secrets and Lies? Even the modern Sherlock – no, despite how many friends I have who like these shows. Ditto for any other new and most older TV shows. What can I say? I don’t have time for shows. A friend long ago called me a “cultural desert” and he wasn’t far off. I did see all of West Wing live and mourned deeply when it went off the air. Same for ER. But these days (okay, blame Facebook if you must) I don’t even get enough reading done. And books take precedence way above television.

Sherry: I’ve never watched an episode of The Simpsons. They come up regularly as crossword clues — I never get them. No Sopranos here either — maybe I’ll get to it some day.

Jessie: The Walking Dead has not made my list. I love paranormal, supernatural and anything otherworldly, except zombies. I have zero interest in zombies. They’re ugly , reek of desperation and don’t let me get started on the scope of their dialogue!

Barb: I confess I’ve never seen Breaking Bad or The Wire.  I know, I know. Everyone says the writing is amazing on both of these, and I fully intend to stream them. Someday. Also, I’ve never watched an episode of CSI. Although I have to admit, the new CSI: Cybercrimes is tempting me, mostly because of the cast. Law and Order, only the original and long, long ago.

Liz: I’ve never watched Downton and I feel like I’m the only person on earth who hasn’t. Barb, I’ve never watched The Wire either, although it’s been on my list for years now. I still fully intend to watch it someday, along with Orange is the New Black, Castle, and the rest of The Americans (I’ve seen the first two episodes and loved it, just never got back to it). Someday…

Julie: OK, unlike Edith, I think television is where a lot of really creative work is happening. The short seasons NetFlix and Amazon Prime are creating? Some of the best writing around. Given that I am a wicked wimp, gruesome doesn’t work for me. I also, for whatever reason, am not watching comedies at all, though I know I am missing something. Two shows that I haven’t seen, and need to (in my television loving, story craving, world)? Mad Men and The Wire. Like Barb, CSI Cybercrimes interests me. May add it to my DVR.

Readers, how about you? Which shows have you somehow missed?

Filed under: Wicked Wednesday Tagged: CSI, Law and Order, The Americans, The Simpsons, The Sopranos, The Walking Dead, zombies