Edith Maxwell's Blog, page 289

Spring Clean- Sanity Saver

Even if there is still a wicked lot of snow on the ground all through the month of March we’ve decided spring is in the air. On Fridays this month the Wickeds are celebrating spring by talking spring cleaning, for the home for the body and for the mind.

Jessie: I’ve returned to wearing a watch. I had started using my cellphone to check the time but then I inevitably ended up with the urge to check my email. Often that quick peek would derail me for longer than I had intended. Using my watch helps me to manage my time in more ways than one.

Liz: A watch? Ha! I have a few of those, but the batteries are all dead. I’m hopeless. I use my phone, which does lead me down the email path. So maybe I should invest in watch batteries. My sanity saver is Workflowy – the simple, online list tool. It’s nothing fancy, just allows you categorize and subcategorize all your to-dos, as well as prioritize them and check them off. It’s awesome for list lovers, which I am, and saves you the hassle of having to rewrite lists every five minutes when things change.

Edith: I try to stay sane by taking breaks and turning off the internet. All morning I do hour writing sprints with the internet off. I always go for an hour of exercise by late morning, and then eat lunch reading the local paper. At the end of the afternoon I start dinner, read the Boston Globe, and eat by candlelight with Hugh. Even if the rest of my hours are filled with internet, these respites restore my sanity.

Sherry: I’m not sure there is much hope for my sanity. I worked for a financial planning company once upon a time. My boss always said to handle each piece of paper once. While I’m not perfect at it, I do keep a wastebasket, bag for shredding and bag for recycling all within easy reach of my desk. As I open mail I can dispense with a lot of paper. I also have essential files in the drawer of my desk so I file most things as I open them. But somehow I usually end up with a stack on the left side of my desk.

Julie: First of all, wearing one fewer layer would do my spring sanity a world of good. Long johns the last week of March? Really? Yeesh. Some of my spring sanity methods need a little more warmth. They include wearing sneakers as much as possible. If I have two T stops or fewer, walking instead of jumping on a T or bus. Washing my long down coat and putting it away. Same for the big hats and thick gloves. Opening windows during the day. Wearing colors (rather than gray or black). Again, we need to hit 50 for a couple of days to make it so. A girl can dream, and purposely not recall the 1997 April 1 blizzard.

Barb: Sanity? You mean I was supposed to save it? Oh my gosh! I have to go do something….

Readers, do you have any tricks for making life more enjoyable to share?

Filed under: Group posts Tagged: sanity saver, spring cleaning

Procrastinating and other tales from the crypt….er, basement office.

By Liz, from the bowels of the basement office in Connecticut. Is it spring yet?

I’m a procrastinator by nature. I used to get in trouble with my parents for it all the time when I was kid. I would leave homework, papers, in one case a whole semester of geometry until the last possible minute. But I always prevailed with a good grade. Except maybe in the case of geometry, but I’ve never actually needed that in my adult life anyway.

So, back to procrastination. It never seemed to be a huge problem before. There was sometimes that moment of panic when I realized the task ahead of me was bigger than I originally thought, but once I focused, I got though it.

The reason I’m telling you this is because I hit that moment of panic recently relating to book #3. (Which, on a side note, I’m thrilled to announce has an official name finally – The Icing on the Corpse!) That panic came when I counted down the days until my deadline – May 1 – and the amount of work I had left to do. Including, yeah, the entire climax scene. Which I hadn’t even written the rough draft of yet.

Why, you ask? It’s simple – I procrastinated. I’ve been working on the book since last fall, and while my word count was nearly there, a good portion of the book was not. And I needed to get my butt in the chair, stat.

So I scheduled three nearly uninterrupted vacation days from work tacked up against a weekend and locked myself away. I had tea, I had essential oils, I had Shaggy and Finny (my muses), I had a lot of notepads and I had the Freedom app.

And then I had no choice.

I wrote out a whole new timeline (twice), I deleted a whole bunch of words, I added scenes and edited early chapters and started to see connections and possibilities and the places where I was just rambling to make myself feel like I was in a good place word count wise.

Using my beloved Scrivener, I moved scenes around and dragged all the ones I had no idea if I would use in the final draft into one place where I didn’t have to look at them.

By the end of day three, I felt like I had finally gotten some control back over my world.

Barb Ross recently wrote a great post about the amount of work it takes to get a book written: the plot aspect, the character aspect, the secondary plots, all those relationships, the secrets. After reading about Barb’s process, I made some new lists this time. One was a list of what was revealed when, which was really helpful to see on paper.

I also realized something about my process. It’s definitely not like anyone else’s – and that’s okay. My first drafts rarely have the endings written when I go back to the beginning and start editing. I just need that big picture to make the final scenes work. So I never truly have a complete “first draft” until the third or fourth revision.

Which means I’m just about ready to write the end. I better get back to work. Maybe next time I won’t procrastinate so long – but probably not. Hey, at least it isn’t warm outside yet!

Readers and writers, does anyone else have a procrastination problem to share?

Filed under: Liz's posts, Pets, Writing Tips Tagged: A Biscuit A Casket, Kneading To Die, Liz Mugavero, mystery writing process, Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, procrastinating, writing tips

Wicked Wednesday: Signs of Spring

This winter has been a rough one weather-wise for just about everyone.  As an antidote, today, we’re talking about signs of spring. Maybe some of you have spring actually popping up in your neighborhood that you’d like to share. Others, like me, might have to mention what they are still longing to see. Readers, how do you know spring is in the air near you?

Liz: I saw the slightest hint of the tulips peeking out this weekend! I am LONGING for a more blatant hint of spring to hit me over the head – perhaps weather above 10 degrees for more than a day would do it. I feel like I’m starring in the movie “Frozen.”

Edith: For me it’s the longer days. I (and Sherry!) just returned from California with its mild temperatures and lovely fragrant air. But here in the northeast we finished dinner last night at seven PM and it was still light out. The light returns and ultimately the regrowth of spring. The snow banks haven’t melted enough yet to find the budding bulbs, but they will. If we don’t get another foot of snow today…

Sherry: Liz you made me laugh — Frozen indeed! I want to sing “Let it Go” to winter. I saw crocus last week before I left for Monterey. They are now covered in snow. After yesterday’s snow and today’s cool forties we are supposed to be in the mid to upper 60s at last. I have to post a picture of my beloved Monterey. The ice plant is beginning to bloom, a sign of spring there. I want to move back.

Jessie: I’ve seen a few neighbors walking to the post office or the library. This may not seem like much but considering the complete emptiness of the sidewalks for months now it feels that way to me. Before long I expect children on bicycles and parents with strollers to roll past my window.

Julie: Signs of spring? Opening day is April 4. I have tickets for April 8. Of course, I will be wearing layers, and layers of clothes. And hope the snow doesn’t cover the pitching mound. Yeesh.

Filed under: Uncategorized, Wicked Wednesday Tagged: antidote, California, daylight saving time, Frozen, Ice plant, Monterey CA, Monterey California, New England, signs of spring, spring

Opening Lines

Write an opening line for the picture below.

Edith: The new three-foot by six-foot patch of grass was greening up nicely under the tree, but I still couldn’t bring myself to leave the house. Once you’ve killed and buried someone, there’s just no going back.

Barb: “I get that the windows are gone,” Carmine said. “What I don’t get is how they blew out.”

Liz: The serene lake view was marred only by the slightly battered red truck. It’s front tires obscured by the lake water and the slight stench of decaying flesh wafted through the spring air.

Jessie: It had been so easy to push James off the ladder and headfirst out the window. Sinking him in the bay during broad daylight had been a little trickier.

Readers: What’s your opening?

Filed under: Uncategorized

Report from the Left Coast

Edith, recalling Monterey, California

As you read this I’ll be winging home from my whirlwind tour of northern California, culminating in three and a half days at Calamari Crime: Left Coast Crime in gorgeous Monterey. Since I landed on March 13, it’s been sunny and mild, with fragrant flowers blooming and my native California seeming even more friendly than usual.

I had three great author events in Oakland, San Francisco, and Berkeley, and also caught up with relatives and friends from nearly every era of my life, from childhood and high school right through tech writing in Boston.

Left Coast Crime is a big, well-run conference (except for the conference bookstore somehow not stocking my book!). Wicked Sherry Harris was on a fun panel of “Deadly New Voices” with other debut authors. I heard some of my favorite giants – Deborah Crombie and Louise Penny, moderated by Jacqueline Winspear – talk about “The Heart and Soul of Murder: Mysteries with a Meaning.” I laughed for forty-five minutes listening to Jess Lourey moderate a panel on writing sex scenes with Catriona McPherson, Deborah Coonts, Linda Joffe Hull, and Johnny Shaw.

Dinner the first night was with a bunch of Guppies, and I finally met a number of online friends in person. The second night Sisters in Crime Northern California sponsored a group dinner out, also a delight. In addition to meeting fellow writers, I chatted with readers wherever I went, since LCC is a fan conference. I had donated a basket to the charity auction and was pleased to see that it had a bunch of bids signed up.

My own panel, “A Taste for Murder” was a lot of fun, too, with four other foodie cozy authors. Kensington had sent a box of my books for the attendee bags, so recipients brought those books for me to sign afterwards.

And I hosted a full table at the banquet, giving away ARCs of ‘Til Dirt Do Us Part to nine people who signed up because they wanted to eat with me! Catriona McPherson won the Best Historical award, well deserved.

As usual when I attend a conference, whether aimed at readers or at writers, I came away with new ideas for my own writing. I resolved to go deeper into my characters. I feel energized going forward in my books.

Filed under: Edith's posts Tagged: 'Til Dirt Do Us Part, Calamari Crime, Catriona McPherson, Kensington Publishing, Left Coast Crime, Monterey CA

Spring Clean-Clutter Busting

Even if there is still a wicked lot of snow on the ground all through the month of March we’ve decided spring is in the air. On Fridays this month the Wickeds are celebrating spring by talking spring cleaning, for the home for the body and for the mind.

Jessie: I keep a bag in my laundry room for clothing to donate. Every few weeks when things come out of the wash I give them a once-over and decide if they are outgrown, unloved etc… When the bag is full we take it to a donation site.

Sherry: That is a great idea, Jessie. I recently bought an O magazine with a banner De-Clutter Your Life 2014 across it. It’s been cluttering up an end table for about four weeks now. I might not be the best one to talk about how to de-clutter.

Julie: I so wish I had better systems in place. Working on it. I am really, really trying to keep table tops clean, but it is a never ending battle. This week I have been going through a cabinet a day, tossing, sorting, and purging. And my best clutter busting tip was to get electronic versions of the Boston Globe and New York Times, and some of my magazines.

Edith: Countertops are tough. When the junk mail comes, mostly charity appeals, I tear the envelope in half through the name and address and pitch it and the catalogs directly into the recycling bin. I know I should sign up for no catalogs but that’s just one more thing to do. We have a fun little vertical file thing for the bills (which I still pay with a paper check and a postage stamp!). The two daily newspapers (also paper) go into the recyling every night. But I am terrible at cleaning out things like desk drawers. Never get to it.

Liz: I usually try to deal with mail right away, but sometimes that just means moving it to a different place and piling it up. As for clothes to donate, I usually have a bag going of things to ditch and add to it as often as I can. Every now and then I get the overwhelming urge to clean out a drawer, especially when I’m looking for something and it’s too cluttered to find it. But really, I let things pile up way too long and then go on a major clean out/clean up expedition.

Barb: I’ve gotten better and better about clutter as I’ve gotten older. My mother was the opposite of a hoarder (I was constantly walking into her house going, “Where is…?) and having emptied two houses of hers, even her leanish life was so full of stuff. My mother-in-law, on the other hand, has heavy hoarding tendencies. Not like the TV show, but just a step down. Bill and I have fought I constant rear guard action against her piles and piles of stuff and it has not only cured me, it has pretty much assured I will never get any pleasure out of…stuff.

Sherry, when my daughter worked for O Magazine, I got to attend O University and saw Peter Walsh, Oprah’s organizational guy speak. I thought it would be an interesting talk about closets, but it was really about life. His point: Whether you are holding onto stuff because you might need it in the future, or because it reminds you of something in the past, you’re not living in the now. I have tried to take that to heart.

Readers, do you have any clutter busting tips to share?

Filed under: Group posts Tagged: clutter busting, spring cleaning

Wicked Sisters (in Crime)

By Julie, desperately seeking signs of spring in Somerville

Were it not for Sisters in Crime, this blog would not exist.

Sisters in Crime is a national organization with a mission to “promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers.” The values of the organization include:

Promote respect and embrace diversity
Continue our non-hierarchical tradition
Support members along the publishing continuum
Advocate for women crime writers
Cultivate a positive presence within the crime writing community
Educate and inspire
Foster integrity and ethics
Celebrate writing excellence

There are over 3600 members world wide, with 48 chapters. We have a strong chapter here in New England, and all of us are national and regional members of the organization. Sherry is also a member of the Chesapeake chapter.

The import of this organization on our careers is fodder for several blog posts. Today I want to talk about one aspect of the organization–promoting gender parity in the field. This is, after all, why Sisters in Crime was founded in the first place. The Monitoring Project, overseen by Barbara Fister, has years of data on the coverage of women mystery writers in the press, and now in digital channels. Barbara wrote an article for Bitch Magazine entitled “Women Make Up More than Half of Mystery Writers—But Get Criminally Few Reviews” which is well worth the read.

These conversations matter for so many reasons. Talking about gender parity in any field is important, but in my worlds of mystery literature and theater (my “day” job) the issues around gender parity are significant, and shouldn’t be this many years later. One of the benefits of social media is that is allows individuals to have a voice in conversations, removing some of the gatekeepers. Still, traditional media channels still matter, and there remain issues around true gender parity. Think about it–what is considered “important” literature? Who are the bestsellers? What subgenres are dimissed, yet in actuality represent a huge swath of book sales every year? How does gender play a role in all of that? And is that fair? Complicated conversations, but important to think about.

As cozy writers, and readers, we are used to a very woman-centric world view. I am glad to be part of this world, but also recognize that I am a member of a larger field. And while my gratitude to Sisters in Crime includes mentoring, friendships, support systems, and access to opportunities, of late I am also very grateful for the bigger picture work that the organization does, and the efforts that they/we are making in creating gender parity in the field.

Diversity is another issue to tackle, and another blog post. For today, I celebrate my wicked sisters in crime, Sisters in Crime, and the goal of gender parity.

Filed under: Julie's posts

What’s your writing uniform?

Hi. Barb here wondering–Wickeds, what do you wear when you write?

I know some full-time writers arrive at their desks everyday in full makeup and dressed like they’re going to the office. They think it helps reinforce the idea that writing is professsion. Others believe the luxury of working at home means you can write in sweatpants or even pajamas.

Some of the Wicked have day jobs they have to dress for, while others work from home. But my questions remains–what do you wear when you write? Do clothes affect your productivity in anyway?

Sherry: I just throw something on like in the picture and swish down the hall to my computer. I need to look nice when I write. Did anyone believe that? I’m usually in jeans and a t-shirt. My hair is usually done and my makeup on. Occasionally I’ll write for a bit in my robe but not very often. I want to be ready if opportunity knocks — or a salesperson.

Jessie: I have to admit to being the type of person who wears heels and red lipstick even to the grocer. Leaving the house under-dressed is just not my way of being in the world. So, that tendency has helped me to select a very effective work uniform: ugly velour sweats. I have several sets in a variety of colors, complete with hoods, which I refer to as my thinking caps. After donning these uniquely unflattering outfits I know there is no way I will be leaving the house or even answering the door. I don’t let myself change out of them until I reach my word count goal for the day.

Barb: I admit to starting the workday in my nightclothes. Who knew my role model for adulthood would be Eva Gabor in Green Acres? Usually, after I answer e-mails and check Facebook and do what I call “the business of writing,” I head upstairs and dress in jeans or cords and appropriate layers. However once in a great while, I get so caught up in what I’m doing, I never make it upstairs to change. And that is ALWAYS, ALWAYS the day my usually silent doorbell rings….

Julie: This is such an interesting question. I had first thought “well, I work weekdays, and still write, so I am in my work clothes” but that is a big fat lie. I write in my pajamas most days. If I write at night (which I often do), I come home from work and put on my pj’s before I start. And on the weekend, I may put yoga clothes on and pretend I am dressed, but let’s face it, they are just pj’s I can wear outside and not be embarrassed.

Edith: What a fun question, and interesting what it reveals about us! Now that I’m home full time, I wear jeans and one of my many collarless knit shirts, plus a fleece vest or sweatshirt. Summer variation is shorts and a t-shirt. I don’t wear makeup, but my hair and teeth are brushed before I sit down to work. But I have also written in work clothes, yoga pants, author-event clothes, funeral outfit — and I don’t think it makes any difference to what comes out onto the page.

Liz: As one of the Wickeds with a day job, I have to admit that I’m barely through the front door after work before I have either pjs or workout clothes on. After an entire day of being buttoned up and expected to have “executive presence,” I’m good. If I’m wearing workout clothes, I’m in pjs as soon as I shower and change, and then I’ll write. If I write in the mornings, I stay in pjs as long as humanely possible – weekends too. I’m happiest when I’m comfy!

Readers: What do you wear when you’re being creative? Does it make a difference?

Filed under: Wicked Wednesday Tagged: author clothes

The Detective’s Daughter — Acquainted with the Night

By Kim Gray

In Baltimore City

“I have looked down the saddest city lane.

I have passed by the watchman on his beat

And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.”

- Robert Frost

Policemen walk a beat and work shift work, I have known this since birth. After dinner was cleared away, Dad would put on his uniform, strap his gun in its holster, and leave for the station. He worked over in West Baltimore, which has never been the best neighborhood in the city. None of us ever told him to be careful, we only said see you tomorrow. These nights were exciting times for me. I was allowed to stay up all night. How great was that?

I was about four years old. As all my little friends were being bathed and put to bed, I was getting my hair done and watching Fred MacMurray shoot Barbara Stanwyck on television.  Mom and I would drink Cokes, play checkers and watch the late show, the late, late show and finally, the late, late, late show. After The Star Spangled Banner played and the screen hummed with static, Mom would play her Connie Francis records.

Mom would sew and iron while I colored in books or played dolls. The goal each night was to be awake when Dad came home so that I would sleep the same times Dad slept. I never missed one morning, even on the days Mom fell asleep in her chair. I could stay awake longer than anyone. I liked the night, the quietness, the stars, the empty street where the only sound was the whistle of an oncoming train.

This plan worked for us for a few years but, like most things, it came to an end before we were prepared. It was the day before Thanksgiving. I was playing outside with a girl named Diane. We decided it would be fun to have a race. She was on skates and I was pushing a big baby buggy with a few dolls tucked inside. Her brother called out to get ready and get set. By the time he yelled “go” we were gone. Unfortunately for me, one of our neighbors chose that moment to walk outside. I swerved to avoid her, sending my buggy in the gutter and me, head over heels, across the top of it. It resulted in a victory for Diane and a cast for me. Dad had just left for work. He missed my crash.

The weeks of staying awake all night did not serve me well when I had to stay in Children’s Hospital. I stayed there after having a few surgeries on my arm. Dad was still on night shift, and so was I. One by one each nurse came to my bed to coax me to sleep. They brought me warm milk, read me stories, and even threatened to tell the doctor on me. Nothing could convince me to go to sleep. They gave up and wheeled me into the nurse’s station where I watched Robert Mitchum movies until the next shift of nurses arrived. Dad came to the hospital in the morning , and only then was I able to go to sleep. Once I was home, our shift work changed. Dad was promoted to Detective and worked more regular hours. The following fall I went to kindergarten and my sister was born. No more movies or Cokes at three am.

Many years later Dad lived with me. He had been diagnosed with dementia and never really slept through the night anymore. I would go and sit in his room and we would drink Cokes or coffee and watch John Wayne movies. Some nights I  would do my ironing. There were times when Dad would fall asleep in his chair, but I always could stay awake longer. When the sun would begin its climb, Dad would open his eyes and tell me to go to sleep. Our shift was over.

Filed under: The Detective's Daughter Tagged: Baltimore City, Baltimore City Police, Barbara Stanwyck, Children's Hospital, Connie Francis, Connie Francis records, dementia, Fred MacMurry, John Wayne, records, Robert Frost, Robert Mitchum, shift work, The Detective's Daughter, West Baltimore

A Lesson in Bartering on Portobello Road

By Sherry Harris

From Northern Virginia where the weather has more twists and turns than Lombard Street in San Francisco

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I’m not a big fan of bucket lists but as a garage sale enthusiast there are events I want to attend. The World’s Longest Yard Sale is held every year in August. It follows Route 127 for 690 miles, beginning 5 miles north of Addison, Michigan and ending in Gadsen, Alabama. Portobello Road market is in London and Marche aux Puces de St-Ouen is outside of Paris.

Last spring I finally made it to Portobello Road with my family and my daughter’s roommate in tow. It was packed with people, vendors and food stands — everything I dreamed it would be. As we squeezed through the crowds of people, we heard many different languages. Lots of people shared my enthusiasm for Portobello Road.

My daughter loves elephants and as we visited the various booths we kept an eye out for them. Finally about halfway down the street she spotted a painting of three elephants. We asked the owner how much he wanted and he said 30 pounds which translated to roughly 45 dollars. My daughter studied the painting, hem and hawed, and eventually set it down deciding she didn’t want to pay that much.

After we walked a few steps away, I pulled her aside and told her we could offer him less. She asked how much. I told her we’d try this: We’ll offer him 15 pounds. He’ll say no. I’ll ask what’s your best price and he’ll say 20 pounds. “Do you want it for 20 pounds?” I asked her. “That’s about 30 dollars.” My daughter agreed but asked me to do the negotiating.

We returned to the booth. “Will you take 15 pounds?” I asked. He clasped his arms to his chest and said, “that hurt my heart a little.” I said, “Mine too.” He laughed and studied me. “How about 20 pounds?” he asked. “Sold,” I said. I was shocked it played out exactly as I said it would. But I let my family think I was a bartering goddess.

My daughter and her roommate caught bartering fever. As we continued shopping they begin to ask for a better price. Sometime the answer was yes, sometimes no, some things were left behind. It was fun passing on the thrill of buying something and bartering for a better price.

Do you like to barter for things?

Filed under: Sherry's posts Tagged: Addison Michigan, Bartering, Elephant paintings, Gadsen Alabama, London, Marche aux Puces de St-Ouen, Paris, Portobello Road, Route 127, World's Longest Yard Sale