Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 90

Books Not Bombs, by Josh Stallings

 Q: Banning books - currently in the news again - is the most extreme way to influence others’ reading habits. On a more positive note: what books do you put in your guest bedroom? Buy as presents? Press into strangers’ hands in bookshops? Leave in little free libraries?

A: First off, in a time when political decisions are made based on ten second news blips and bumpersticker slogans to fear books and burn, um, ban them, is insanity. Books are dangerous because they make the reader think. They te...

If this doesn't put you to sleep . . . by Catriona

Reading: Banning books - currently in the news again - is the most extreme way to influence others’ reading habits. On a more positive note: what books do you put in your guest bedroom? Buy as presents? Press into strangers’ hands in bookshops? Leave in little free libraries?

I made a significant deposit in the wee free library in my town a couple of weeks ago, but it wasn't books. I was clearing out DVDs I knew I'd never watch again, either because I had them off by heart or they were on Netflix...

Do Not Disturb... by Cathy Ace

Reading: Banning books - currently in the news again - is the most extreme way to influence others’ reading habits. On a more positive note: what books do you put in your guest bedroom? Buy as presents? Press into strangers’ hands in bookshops? Leave in little free libraries?

Due to the fact I've just finished redecorating one of our guest bedrooms, I'll focus on that. Why? Well, to be honest, I have absolutely no idea when a real-life "guest" will get to use it - things being what they are, thes...

Pssst...Got a Book?

 Q: Banning books - currently in the news again - is the most extreme way to influence others’ reading habits. On a more positive note: what books do you put in your guest bedroom? Buy as presents? Press into strangers’ hands in bookshops? Leave in little free libraries? 

-from Susan

It must be pointed out that the futility of banning books is a given. There is nothing more likely to increase interest, sales, and sharing among readers books like LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER, ULYSSES, or I NEED A NEW BU...

'Venison, Hare, Oysters and Turtles' an everyday meal for Guest Author - Anna Mazzola

Some – not all – mystery novels have recipes in them. But surely every  life has at least one recipe in it. What’s your go-to / stand-by recipe? Is it passed down in your family or did you invent it? 

T his Friday, we welcome guest blogger and MWA Edgar Winner, Anna Mazzola. Anna's new novel, The Clockwork Girl set in eighteenth century France, has taken the UK by storm, with critics describing it as a gothic masterpiece.

Amongst literary circles, Anna is well known for her thirty course banquets an...

Perfect Risotto alla milanese in Twenty Easy Steps from James W. Ziskin

Some – not all – mystery novels have recipes in them. But surely every  life has at least one recipe in it. What’s your go-to / stand-by recipe? Is it passed down in your family or did you invent it? 

My stand-by recipe is risotto. I do variations on a theme, but they’re all risotto with Arborio or Carnaroli rice. Either way, the result is delicious. For this post, I’ll go with my risotto alla milanese.

What you’ll need:

1 large yellow onion

Extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt

Ground pepper

Pat of butter

Lar...

A guest post by John Lansing

This week, I’ve invited my good friend John Lansing to do a guest post. Before writing his best-selling Jack Bertolino series, he started out as an actor in New York City, performing the lead in the Broadway production of Grease at the Royale Theatre before putting together a rock ‘n’ roll band and playing the iconic club CBGB.

After heading to the West Coast, he landed a co-starring role in George Lucas’ More American Graffiti, and guest-starred on numerous television shows.

During his lengthy wr...

Recipes for Food and Life

 

Terry here with our question of the week: Some – not all – mystery novels have recipes in them. But surely every life has at least one recipe in it. What’s your go-to / stand-by recipe? Is it passed down in your family or did you invent it? 
 I don’t know whether to take the question literally or figuratively. That is, are we discussing a recipe for food or a recipe for life? 
 As an enthusiastic cook, I have lots of food recipes that I fall back on when I’m busy or feeling uninspired. And they c...

The Old Go-To Recipe

Some – not all – mystery novels have recipes in them. But surely every  life has at least one recipe in it. What’s your go-to / stand-by recipe? Is it passed down in your family or did you invent it? 

Brenda Chapman here.
This is odd timing because I will be guest blogging in a few weeks on on Mystery Lovers Kitchen and have to include a recipe along with picture. I feel the pressure. 
I have some go-to recipes that aren't all that exciting, but I'll share my salmon recipe, passed along to me from m...

Pace, Voice, and other Mysteries, by Josh Stallings

 Q: Craft: Apart from studying books/courses about how to write, many writers hone their craft by reading the work of others. Can you share any insights you’ve gleaned this way? What about tricks or tips you’ve picked up from other forms of storytelling, like TV or movies? Any examples of how such insights have influenced your work?

A: I don’t analyze while reading fiction. After I’m done I may look back and think about things the writer did that impressed me. But I need to turn off the inner cri...