Edith Maxwell's Blog, page 95

WW: Do You Ever Dread Finishing a Project?

Wickeds, we’re talking about finishing things this month. Have you ever so enjoyed a project that you dreaded finishing it? Have you ever written a book you didn’t want to finish?

Jessie: What an intriguing question, Julie! I cannot ever remember dreading the end of a book I had written. I can think of times that I didn’t want to let it go off to be critiqued by my editors but I am so goal-oriented that I love being able to look at a project I have finsihed.

Edith/Maddie: Like Jessie, I can’t recall dreading the end of a writing project. Since I signed my first Kensington contract back in 2012, I’ve never been without a deadline looming. I enjoy the challenge of writing the best book I can, sending it in on time and diving into the next book on the schedule. I’ve certainly dreaded the end of a book I’m reading – especially when it’s the last in a series.

Barb: I have a friend who has a theory that with regards to spending, everyone is born with a percentage. If you are a 90 percenter, you will spend 90% of your income, no matter what it is or how much it changes over your lifetime. If you are a 110% you will spend 110% of your income. Of course there are the 10 percenters and the 200 percenters, both problematic. I bring this up because I have extended this theory to include project completion. Everyone is born with a percentage. There are the 2% completers, the “idea men,” (they’re always men) who think having the idea is all of the work and leave someone else to chase around and figure out how to implement it, and then claim all the credit. (I’ve worked for a few of these in career.) And there are the 120% completers, who will plow the same tired ground long after it has gone fallow. I am a proud 100 percenter. I love finishing stuff. Not always on time, a la Edith, but I finish darn near everything I start. Which is not always a good thing. There are projects I should have long since walked away from that I will hammer at until they are done. Like a race horse, when I can see the finish line, I will single mindedly go for it. Which is why my Kindle never shows a book as 90% complete, because if I’ve gotten that far, I am going to finish it, no matter the time or what I have to do the next day.

Julie: Barb, I love the percentage theory. I am like you, a 100%er, though lately I will confess to skipping to the end of a book or a movie. When I thought of this question, I was considering writing what may be the last of a series, and not wanting it to end. Or finishing a book that flowed like no other. My many years in theater also brought me close to a few magical productions that you didn’t want to end, because it was lightening in a bottle that won’t be replicated. They are all good reasons to enjoy the moment, and not live in the future, I suppose.

Sherry: Hmmmmm, I’m not sure about this. I think my reluctance to type “the end” must play into not wanting to let a book go. I like sending a book in, but I love getting it back during the copy edits phase. I also tend to be an idea person, but I believe I always give credit where credit is due.

Liz: I love the percentage theory too! I really love finishing things – and usually, by the time I get to the end of a big project/book/whatever it is, I am really happy to let it go and not see it again (until the finished product, of course!).

Readers, how do you feel about finishing a project? Have you ever been doing work that you dread ending?

A Wicked Welcome to Cathy Pickens **and giveaway**

As I mentioned last week, I’m interviewing people for the Sisters in Crime podcast. When Cathy Pickens and I “met” on Zoom for our interview, I knew who she was. I’d seen her on panels, and met her briefly when our paths crossed at a SinC board meeting years ago. She was a past president of SinC, and is occasionally called on for advice and context. I also knew her Southern Fried Mystery series. But we’d never had a chance to talk. Well, let me tell you, I’m so glad we did. She’s been writing a series of Caroline true crime books, and the research sounds fascinating. I was so glad to learn about her creativity workshops, and the work she does with people to help them tap into their muse. I am enjoying her book, and am thrilled to welcome her to the blog today.

WHAT SCARES YOU?

When I’m not writing about crime—fact and fiction—I lead in-person and virtual creativity workshops for all kinds of groups.

A while back, in a room with a hundred young business and non-profit professionals, I was encouraging them to keep a creative notebook and to take rambles to sharpen their abilities and fill their well of ideas.

One young woman shyly raised her hand and asked a very businesslike question: “How do you know if you’re doing it right?”

Interesting question, especially when applied to developing your creative process. I could’ve given a flip answer: “It’s creativity. There’s no right or wrong.”

But the real answer hit me out of the blue: “When you’re a little bit afraid,” I said.

In stretching your creative muscles, you’re doing it right when you’re a little bit afraid. After I said it, I knew that was the answer to growing your creative self. Are you trying new things? Stretching yourself?

I’ve mulled on that answer for some time now, and I still think it’s the right one. If I try a new recipe that’s a bit ambitious … Or write (or read) a book unlike anything I’ve tried before … Or if I experiment with a new workshop exercise when it might flop … Or if I call a stranger to learn the details of a murder in that happened in my hometown the year I was born …

Those don’t sound like wildly creative acts. But they do require a little risk-taking. Isn’t that the start of all creativity—taking small risks and getting better, more confident as you go? A creative act isn’t one big leap, but all the small steps that make it happen.

Readers, the last year has given us opportunities to stretch ourselves, in ways little and large. Did you take steps in some creative risk-taking? Try something new? Were you a little bit afraid? How’d it work out?

Share something new you’ve tried in the last few months or something you plan for this summer. Post it and you’ll be eligible for a drawing to receive a free copy of CREATE!

BOOK BLURB: CREATE! is a six-step guide to developing your individual creativity, a roadmap tested and enthusiastically endorsed by hundreds of workshop participants, from those who already defined themselves as creative to those who didn’t (yet).

BIO

Cathy Pickens, author of the Southern Fried mysteries (St. Martins/Minotaur), served as SinC president and on MWA and Forensic Medicine Program boards. She taught law in business school, entrepreneurship in jail, and offers virtual and in-person workshops on developing creativity.

Latest books: a series of Carolina true crime books (History Press) and CREATE! Developing Your Creative Process (ICSC Press).

BOOK LINKSWEBSITE LINKS

www.cathypickens.com

www.create-update.com

Puzzled

Jessie: On the coast of Maine, still recovering from a June 1 deadliine.

I hate to admit it but I am a bit tapped out, at least as far as producing the written word is concerned. I’ve been busy with draft upon draft of novels in progress since October which has been fun and fulfilling but I think I have hit a wall.

So, I hit upon the notion to share a digital puzzle with all of you. I have created them for my last few newsletters and they have proved popular with readers. So here is one I’ve made for you.

Readers, do you like puzzles, either digital or physical?

A Wicked Welcome to Terrie Farley Moran **giveaway**

By Julie, sweating in Somerville (from 55-95 in a week, yikes!)

I am so thrilled to welcome Terrie Farley Moran to the blog today! Terrie is embarking on a new writing adventure–she’s writing the Jessica Fletcher series. How cool is that? She’s also doing a giveaway of her new book to a commenter.

Cover for Murder, She Wrote Killing in a Koi Pond by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran

On September 30, 1984 I was sitting in my green arm chair with my feet propped up on the matching ottoman. I had a mug of tea at hand and was about to watch one of the new shows of the television season. Little did I know I was about to meet someone who would occupy an hour of my life every week for more than a decade and also become a book character who hung out with me on long plane rides and rainy Saturday afternoons. Her name is Jessica Fletcher and she is a mystery writer. She is also strong willed and resolute which comes in handy because dead bodies seem to show up regularly in her cozy home town of Cabot Cove, Maine and in any of the towns and cities she visits. And, of course, she brings the killer to justice. As an avid, lifelong mystery fan, I adore her.

Twelve years ago I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: during your routine physical your doctor should always palpate your thyroid while you sip water—fast and easy—just do it.

When I scheduled the surgery followed by treatments that would require me to be in strict isolation for weeks at a time, I decided to (finally!) order cable for my television. And there was Jessica Fletcher waiting for me!

There is nothing like reconnecting with an old friend. Jessica and I hung out every day during my treatments and recovery, laughing at the comedic mysteries like “If It’s Thursday, It’s Beverly” and “Mr. Penroy’s Vacation”, and rolling our eyes through all the mishaps at Grady and Donna’s wedding.

It was around that time that I was fortunate enough to have my mystery short fiction start to be published in various venues, and the short stories were soon followed by my cozy mystery novels. When Jessica was on screen saying she had to meet a deadline or finish edits, I definitely understood the pressure. And so it went, two mystery writers who became great friends.

And then….

On Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2020, I was baking Irish soda bread farls and dancing around the kitchen to Irish music. With the world on lockdown, I had no parade to attend. *sigh* The telephone rang and I assumed it was still one more of my grandchildren calling since we weren’t able to spend the day together, as we usually did. As I reached for the phone, I was deciding whether I would sing “Raglan Road” or Steve Earle’s “Galway Girl” to them.  I am super glad I answered the phone with “Happy Saint Patrick’s Day” rather than bursting into song because the caller was my agent asking if I was interested in writing with Jessica Fletcher. I did not hesitate. 

Jessica’s fifty-third and my first contribution to the Murder, She Wrote series is Murder, She Wrote Killing in a Koi Pond.  For a chance to win a signed, hard cover copy, please comment below. Giveaway ends at midnight your time Monday, June 14, 2021. (Happy Flag Day, America)

READERS QUESTION:

Are you glad that we live in an era of Streaming, Cable, inexpensive DVDs and huge DVR capability because it allows you to watch your favorite television show over and over again at your own convenience? And what show would that be for you?

BIO: Terrie Farley Moran

Terrie Farley Moran is co-author, along with Jessica Fletcher, of the Murder, She Wrote series. Murder, She Wrote Killing in a Koi Pond (June 2021) will be followed by Murder, She Wrote Debonair in Death (November 2021). She is the author of the beachside Read ‘Em and Eat cozy novels, and is co-author of Laura Childs’ scrapbooking mysteries. Her short mystery fiction has been published innumerous venues. Terrie is a recipient of both the Agatha and the Derringer awards. Find her online at www.terriefarleymoran.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/terriefarleymoran/

A Good Conversation and **giveaway**

by Julie, drinking iced water in Somerville

I used to be an early adapter/fan of tech and social media. I’ve been on Twitter and Facebook since they were launched. And I became a fan of podcasts when they were just starting to take hold.

It started with a podcast called Downstage Center. Howard Sherman, who was then the executive director of The American Theatre Wing, interviewed theater people about their journey. I used to assign the interviews with producers and artistic directors to my theater management students. Howard and I connected on Twitter, and we became friendly. He even visited my class once.

Since then there have been hundreds of podcasts produced, and I listen to quite a few. This spring I became the executive director of Sisters in Crime, a wonderful organization that I’ve been a member of for over 20 years. “Sisters in Crime was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers” according the the website. This is true, but the umbrella of who the organization supports and the range of that support has grown enormously. I’m thrilled at this next adventure in my professional life.

I’m also thrilled by one of the projects I’ve taken on–I’m hosting The Sisters in Crime Writers’ Podcast. I get to have wonderful conversations with writers about their writing journey, their process, and their publishing path. I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed each and every conversation. As I write this post, I’m getting ready to interview Tracy Clark and Delia Pitts. The Catriona McPherson, Faye Snowden, Sandra SG Wong, and Kate Flora episodes have all been released. And this week’s special guest was our own Barbara Ross, who also serves on the national board of SinC.

I don’t know about you, but I love learning. I also love listening to people who are passionate about their work. If you’re a writer, or you are a fan of different authors, take a listen and let me know what you think. The podcast is available on the site, or through your favorite podcast app. You can also click on this image to download it.

Dear readers, what’s your favorite podcast? Let me know in the comments, and I’m going to pick one name and send them an advanced reader copy of Wreathing Havoc, which is coming out on September 28 and is available for pre-order now.

WW: How Do You Celebrate Typing “The End”?

This month we’re going to talk about rituals around “finishing”. Wickeds, how do you celebrate typing “the end” on a novel?

Sherry: I’ve never typed, “The End.” I wrote a whole blog about it which you can read here. I do however celebrate sending a manuscript to my editor, usually by a meal out or during the pandemic by getting takeout from a favorite restaurant. Oh, and some sparkling wine — nothing says celebration (or it’s a day of the week that ends with day) like some bubbles around here.

Edith/Maddie: Contrary to Sherry, I love typing The End. I just did it on Memorial Day, in fact, after a weekend of marathon writing. I know I still have lots of work ahead to fix that rough first draft. Still, it’s cause for celebration if I get the gist of the story down on paper. But like Sherry, I agree that nothing says celebration like some bubbly!

Jessie: I also recently finished a manuscript and felt it called for a celebration. And like both Sherry and Edith, I popped open a bottle of champagne. I adore bubbles in any form and can think of no better way to mark an occasion than toasting with something effervescent with loved ones! I also celebrate by tidying my office and puttering round my house and gardens with all the things that I have put off whilst steaming to the end of a novel!

Barb: Like Sherry, I never type “The End.” This process is, well, such a process, I’m not sure when The End would be. My writer’s group used to be great about celebrating all the little victories, since they are so few and far between in a writers’ life–the end of a first draft, a completed manuscript, a submission, an acceptance. Now that I’ve moved away I’m not as good about it, but my husband and I did celebrate my last submission with a wonderful lunch.

Julie: I mentally type “the end” right before I hit submit, though I know there are more steps ahead. I need to get better about celebrating each of these steps–I don’t and should. I certainly tell people I coach that they should. I do dance a little in my chair when my editor accepts the book, and I dance a lot on release days.

Readers, how do you celebrate completing a large project?

Guest Laura Walker #giveaway

Edith here, stunned at this heat at the start of June. But I don’t want to seem ungrateful. I have my health, a loving family, a career I love, and some special friends. Including Laura Jensen Walker, who has a new book out and is here to talk about gratitude! She’s even giving away a copy of Deadly Delights to a commenter. First, let’s hear about the book:

August in Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin, always means one thing: the annual baking contest. Picture The Great British Baking Show, writ Midwestern. Naturally, bon vivant baker-turned-mystery writer Teddie St. John has a pie in the ring. The white baking tent boasts an array of folding tables housing each entrant’s daily baked good. And at one of those tables sits the corpse of the lecherous head judge, his face half-buried in a delectable coconut cream pie with Teddie’s distinctive embossed rolling pin by his side…covered with blood. With the help of her friends, Teddie must concoct a recipe to clear her name–if the real killer doesn’t ice her first.

Gratitude

Thank you, Edith, and the rest of the Wickeds for having me back again as I celebrate my book birthday for Deadly Delights. My second Bookish Baker Mystery (the sequel to the Agatha-nominated Murder Most Sweet) is my third cozy and 20th book. Yes, twenty books—can you believe it? I can’t. Who’d have thought? My first book (a non-fiction humor book ala Erma Bombeck) released twenty-four years ago. After writing seventeen books in twelve years, however, I was burned out and didn’t think I’d ever write another book again.

Happily, after an 11-year writing sabbatical and working in state government cubicle world, I’m back—now writing mysteries and having a blast doing so. Who’d have thought?

Certainly not me.

Although I’ve been a mystery fan since my Bobbsey Twins and Trixie Belden childhood, I never dreamed I’d be writing in my favorite genre. Not this pantser. In fact, I’ll be honest—I was TERRIFIED to write my first cozy. What made me think I could write a mystery? Mysteries are all about plot and this seat-of-the-pants writer doesn’t plot. But… all those years of reading Phyllis Whitney, Daphne du Maurier, Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark, and Diane Mott Davidson had an effect. The whodunits apparently seeped into my subconscious so that when I sat down to write, the plot unfolded with each word I wrote, and the story flowed naturally and organically. Evidently it wasn’t a fluke either. These recent reviews for Deadly Delights made this non-plotter’s day. (Actually, I shrieked with joy and ran down the hall to read them aloud to Michael):

“Lively characters complement the twisty plot.”
—Publishers Weekly
 
“Deadly Delights moves along at warp speed…[Walker’s] writing and story development is top notch.”
—New York Journal of Books

This pantser wrote a twisty plot! Best. Review. Ever. I’m astonished and grateful. Ever so grateful. In fact, I’m grateful for many things these days. At the top of my gratitude list is being fully vaccinated. Such a relief.

Other items on my grateful list include:

Having friends and family over againA husband who cooks (and bakes)ArtOur sweet dog Mellie. Most adorable dog ever.Being 29 years cancer-free this summerSee’s CandyOur newly painted living room and dining room. (I love the pale sage green, but am never painting a ceiling again.)Pink peoniesBeing nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First NovelCrisp cool cotton sheetsThe lovely and welcoming mystery communityOur little house and garden—a sanctuary this past yearWriting

Readers: What about you? What are you grateful for? For a chance to win a copy of Deadly Delights, please leave a comment on the top three (or four) things for which you’re grateful.

Finally, I’d like to invite you all to my virtual launch of Deadly Delights TONIGHT (Tues., June 8 at 6 p.m. PT). Hope you can stop by as I talk to my friend and fellow Agatha nominee (for Best Historical) Catriona McPherson. (There will also be a giveaway of Deadly Delights.)

Here’s the link to register:

https://capitalbooksonk.com/events

Thanks! I hope to see you there.

Laura Jensen Walker has loved mysteries since she read Trixie Belden in the fourth grade. A former journalist and the author of several books, including three cozy mysteries: the Agatha-nominated Murder Most Sweet; Hope, Faith, & a Corpse, and Deadly Delights, Laura lives in Northern California. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America.

Laura loves hearing from readers. You can connect with her through www.laurajensenwalker.com, on Twitter @LauraJensenWal1 or Facebook.

Spoiler, spoiler, spoiler!

by Barb, on a beautiful, warm Maine day

Spoiler alert! I’ve never done this before, but today I am hijacking the blog for a discussion of the end of my latest Maine Clambake Mystery, Shucked Apart.

If you haven’t read Shucked Apart, and think that you might, do not read further.

If you haven’t read Shucked Apart, and are sure you never will, you can read further, but I don’t know why you would.

Okay, now that’s out of the way and it’s just us chickens….

At the end of Shucked Apart, as those who have read this far know, the Maine Clambake protagonist, Julia Snowden, breaks up with her boyfriend Chris Durand. Chris was introduced in the first book in the series, Clammed Up, and their relationship is in place by the third book, Musseled Out. In some of the books and novellas their domestic life has been pretty settled and happy. In others it’s been quite unsettled, often due to secrets spilling out from Chris’s past.

I love hearing from readers and I’m very grateful to those who leave reviews on sites like Goodreads and Amazon. Other books in the series have many more reviews than Shucked Apart does, but none that are so passionate as for this book.

What’s been fascinating to me is that readers have divided neatly into pro-and anti-break up camps. Sentiment has basically run 50-50 from the very first emails and reviews to the present.

A Sampling of Comments from the Pro-Chris, Anti-Break-up Group

“A really great story but sad ending.  I know Julia and Chris have had their problems in the past.  Hope this is just a hiccup in their relationship, and the next book will have a truly happy ending.”

“I really LOVE Chris and Julia. I am really hoping there is more to come and that Chris and Julia will get back together!!!”

“… the ending made me very sad-I kept hoping for a happier ending for Julia and Chris.” 

“Loved Shucked Apart just like I have loved all of the Clambake books.  But I didn’t like the ending.  Please get them back together in the next book!”

“This is one of my favorite series. Thanks for writing it and hope you will do more in the series. I broke my heart to see Julia leave Chris.”

“How much of a bribe will you accept to bring them back together?”

“And that they broke up? I don’t know why you wrote it like this, but you ruined the series for me and I imagine many other people. For the first time in many years, I’m not looking forward to the next book.”

“…the ending of this book left such a bad taste in my mouth and during a hard year of a pandemic, I don’t need that. Sorry Barbara, I have spent my last dollar on your books.”

“I liked the book until the end; that I didn’t like at all. It’s going to be very hard for me to read the next book and if the situation doesn’t resolve itself, I may be done with this series.”

A Sampling of Comments from the Anti-Chris, Pro-Break-up Group

“The conflict with Chris throughout and especially at the end was believable (if somewhat sad).  I like that Julia was so clear-eyed about her need for honesty and trustworthiness.”  

“What a great book! So many emotions. I love Chris but Julia deserves so much more!”

“Julia is so vulnerable despite her accomplishments I never thought she’d make that decision – and then it makes sense.”

“To be honest, I thought the sleuth should have left her boyfriend the last book I read. She should find a super cop boyfriend who can’t find an apple in a bunch of oranges like most of the other cozy protagonists.”

“I am not at all a fan of Chris – have never liked him from the beginning – so was actually cheering on the last page….”

“Julia makes an important life-changing decision that shows her strength and independence. She finally chooses to stand up for herself and understands the importance of meeting her own needs. The ending was quite a shocker – but not a surprise, it makes perfect sense.”

“And I was thrilled that she finally broke it off with Chris. I just hope his fans don’t cause the author to have Julia take him back.”

“I think Flynn is in.”

“There was a surprise towards the end, but I’m not going to give any spoilers away. Let’s just say that I hope things go the way I’m suspecting they’ll go within the next few books!”

What Does the Author Think?

This letter from a fan expresses my feelings almost exactly.

“I was surprised but not really shocked at the Julia-Chris break up. I almost feel sorry for him, because he can’t help being the way he is, but Julia deserves to be with someone she can trust. See how I almost think of them as real people. You’ve done such an amazing job with character development that I’m totally invested in what happens in their lives.”

I, too, feel badly for Chris. And worse I feel guilty–because I made him that way. At least with your human kids you can blame their genes and the larger environment, but with Chris it is all my fault.

What Is Going to Happen?

I’ll never tell. Well, that’s a lie. I will eventually tell. In the meantime, everyone is going to have to wait. I’ll only say that Busman’s Harbor is a small town, so Julia hasn’t seen the last of Chris.

Readers: If you’ve made it this far, it’s because you’re invested. If you’ve been burning to discuss the ending of Shucked Apart, here’s your chance.

Stories Told Different Ways

By Julie, enjoying spring in Somerville

Cover of FOR THE GIRLS. Available here: https://gumroad.com/l/forthegirls

I met Adina Kruskal last year, right before the pandemic hit. At that point she was a playwright and composer figuring out her next theatrical steps. Since then, she’s been learning about screenwriting, and I’ve enjoying hearing about writing a series for Netflix and comparing it to writing a mystery series.

Adina recently branched out in another direction. She wrote the script for a comic book, which Diana Kresge illustrated. I’m fascinated by comic books. The words have to be so spare, but the story still has to be strong. The illustrations and words together create the story. She told me about the process, and I asked her a couple of questions, which she answered for the blog.

For the Girls is available in digital form. I enjoyed reading Adina and Diana’s take on the quarterback falls for the art student story, and appreciate Adina helping me understand the process of writing a comic book a bit better.

Julie: Did the story change when you decided to write a comic?

Adina: Definitely. But this particular story was already sort of a “transformer” because I tried it out in many different formats over the years. I came up with the idea in 2018, and first was developing it as maybe a short web series. Or a musical. Or a musical web series. At that time, I pretty much only wrote musicals, so that was my natural inclination, and I did write a few songs for it, but couldn’t shake the idea that it would work better in an episodic format. I looked at it occasionally in 2019, but mostly shelved it because I didn’t know what medium would suit the story.

In 2020, I dusted off my notes and found that I really liked this world I had built. I made a few offhand tweets sharing the characters, lamenting that I didn’t know what to do with them. That’s when Diana reached out and said she really liked the concept and asked if I might want to collaborate on a comic. As a huge fan of her work, I said YES, of course! But the funny part is, at the same time, the renewed enthusiasm for these characters made me want to revisit the world in a longer format, and since I began shifting into TV writing in 2020, I decided to turn FOR THE GIRLS into a TV pilot as well, which developed symbiotically with the comic. I wrote the first draft of the pilot in October, at the same time I developed the initial outline for the comic. Then, when I came back to rewrite the pilot in early 2021, I found myself directly pilfering a couple bits from the comic that weren’t originally in the pilot! I learned different things about the scenario from writing it for two different mediums. It was nice to be able to steal from myself.

Julie: I love the idea of stealing from yourself! How did you and Diana collaborate?

Adina: Diana reached out to me in September 2020. I sent over the materials I had already written for the world, which was some background on the characters and a rough outline of a “season” for a short format web series with a brief arc. We then had a few Zoom meetings to discuss what transitioning this world to a comic might look like. Obviously, it had to be simplified to fit in 15-20 pages. We decided to condense the romantic arc to its core beats – meeting, complication, resolution. We also picked out the core cast, isolating only 4 necessary characters out of several more I had come up with. I wrote up an outline, Diana gave thoughts, we swapped around some scenes and made some expansions to better serve the comic as a stand-alone piece rather than the beginning of a series. Diana was really helpful in that regard, since I was still viewing it as just a piece of the large world in my head, but she had really great thoughts that kept me grounded in the reality that readers would ONLY see these 20 pages, so it had to stand on its own. We agreed on a version of the story we both liked, then Diana got to work drawing it! It was such a thrill to observe her process, from the initial character designs, to rough page layouts, to finalizing dialogue after the art was finished. And it came out looking fantastic! I can’t express how thrilled I am to have collaborated with her.

Julie: Did you think about the story the same way you look at a screenplay? 

Adina: Not the same, but similar. Like TV and film, comics are visual, but there are other constraints. You can show a scene, but a simple motion is a lot trickier. Dialogue is also limited by how many speech bubbles can fit in a panel, which required me to curtail my natural wordiness! However, poses and facial expressions can do a lot of work, especially in an expressive style like Diana’s.  If I was concerned a certain line wouldn’t read on its own, I would leave notes in the script for Diana about the character’s feelings in that moment and I knew it’d come through in the art. At the same time, I tried to write scenes that would serve the visual format and be interesting to draw!

Julie: The end result is terrific. Congratulation to you both!

Bio: Adina Kruskal is a writer, composer, and music director from Newton, MA. She studied at Skidmore College and the National Music Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Her first full-length musical, Unison, for which she wrote the book, music, and lyrics, was featured in the 2019 Chicago Musical Theater Festival where it won the award for Best Ensemble. Her work has also been performed as part of the New York Musical Festival Student Leadership Concert. She also works as a resident music director with ArtBarn Community Theater, where she composed the scores for brand-new children’s’ musicals. More at www.adinakruskal.com.

Bruised Gin and Other Things I’ve Learned

I’m so excited that A Time to Swill comes out next month! When my editor at Kensington and I decided to do a series based in a bar, I didn’t realize how much fun the research would be. I’m not just talking about visiting beach bars to get a feel for what the Sea Glass Saloon would be like – that was fun and I think ongoing research is necessary.

I bought a bunch of books about drinks and started researching drinks online. It’s been fascinating so I’m sharing a few tidbits today.

How did the word cocktail come about? One story goes (it’s the first one I read) that a woman in a bar used actual feathers from a rooster as stirrers if she ran out. But many disagree with that story. Here’s an article if you’re interested in the origin of the word.

To shake or not to shake? I was reading about gin and found out if it’s shaken gin bruises. Bruises? I’m shocked because we’ve all heard the famous James Bond line when he orders a martini saying he wants it shaken not stirred. Well, he was wrong! Or was he? Some people think shaking gin breaks down the juniper and other herbs added to it dulling the taste. Others argue that it releases the flavors. Who knew people were so invested and argumentative about gin?

Daiquiris – if you are like me when you think of a daiquiri you think of something very sweet with fruit flavor. In A Time to Swill, Chloe notices that Joaquín always frowns when someone orders a strawberry or any other flavored daiquiri. Joaquín educates Chloe about the classic daiquiri which is something entirely different – just three simple ingredients – rum, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup.

The classic daiquiri is attributed to Jennings Cox an American engineer working in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. The story goes that he was throwing a party and ran out of gin (hopefully it wasn’t bruised), substituted rum, and named the drink after the nearby town of Daiquiri. Others say the drink was based on British grog which in addition to the other three ingredients had water and saved the British Navy from scurvy for hundreds of years.

Whatever the origins, I decided to whip one up to see for myself. It’s a delightful combination of tart and sweet—so refreshing on a hot day. Here’s my recipe for a classic daiquiri:

1 and a half ounces of white rum

1 ounce plus one teaspoon fresh lime juice (it HAS to be fresh)

½ ounce simple sugar (you can buy simple syrup at the grocery store if you don’t want to make your own)

Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and then strain into a glass.

If you don’t like to drink alcohol this mocktail is great too!

1 and a half ounces of sparkling lime-flavored water

1 ounce plus one teaspoon fresh lime juice

½ ounce simple sugar

Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and then strain into a glass. Shake gently so you don’t make the sparkling water flat. It’s more of a swirl than a shake.

While researching daiquiris I found all kinds of different opinions about the best rum to use and what kind of sugar to use for the simple syrup or if you even should use simple syrup or simply mix sugar with the lime juice.

One more interesting story about daiquiris. The fruit ones that we are so familiar with today also had an interesting origin. Supposedly a man in Texas walked into a 7-Eleven spotted the Slurpee machine, thought “I should add alcohol to that,” and a whole new industry was born.

Readers: What do find refreshing on a hot summer day?