James M. Jackson's Blog, page 17

Susan Van Kirk - Guest Author

Today’s guest author is Susan Van Kirk. The five words she uses to describe her writing are personal, funny, suspenseful, cozy/traditional, and engaging. She describes herself as practical, persistent, reader, overachiever, and history-lover. (Ed. note: I had to hyphenate history lover meet the five-word criteria and somehow come to the conclusion that cozy/traditional is one word. I’m thinking that although Susan was a schoolteacher for many years, perhaps it wasn’t math? J) Let’s...

Ant Farm Virtual Release Party

I have four talented mystery authors who will also be giving away prizes, Kaye George (appearing in her Janet Cantrell disguise), Maggie Toussaint, Tina Whittle and Edith Maxwell.
So join us for good conversation, games, prizes and the grand prize, a chance to name a character in my next boo...

Linda Sands - Guest Author

Linda Sands describes her writing as compelling, audacious, entertaining, sarcastic, and smart. For herself she chooses: indomitable, purposeful, amiable, enthusiastic, and quick-witted (to which I might add pretty darned entertaining – read on, read on!)
You have a table for four at your favorite restaurant and can invite any three people, living, dead or fictional. Who are your guests (and why) and where are you eating (and why)?
We're having dinner at my home where the menu is familiar, no w...

Maggie Toussaint - Guest Author

I’ve known Maggie Toussaint as a fellow member of the Guppy chapter of Sisters in Crime. She invited me to participate in forming the Lowcountry chapter of Sisters in Crime and we are both officers. She describes her writing as southern, entertaining, award-winning, engaging, and intriguing. For herself she chooses curious, resourceful, focused, optimistic, and insightful. I learned more about her from her answers; I'm sure you will as well.
You have a table for four at your favorite restauran...

There's No Place Like Home

Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz closes her eyes, clicks the heels of her red shoes, says, “There’s no place like home,” and magic transports her back to Kansas. Dorothy’s trip to Oz was unplanned; Jan and I took our recent road trip because we wanted to. However, after 8,411.7 miles and forty-seven days, we agree there is no place like home.
The trip was great. We saw places new to us; we visited family and friends; we had lots of outdoor time; we identified at least 115 s...

Janet Cantrell - Guest Author

Janet Cantrell (who also writes as Kaye George and has a real name to boot) describes herself as persistent, hardworking, friendly, helpful, unorganized. Now I would not have guessed the unorganized because she writes national-bestselling award-winning, readable, light, fun mysteries. And she knows that hypens lets her expand five adjectives into seven. I know Janet and so cut her some slack. Here are her answers:

You have a table for four at your favorite restaurant and can invite any th...

Janet Lynn & Will Zeilinger - Guest Authors

Today we welcome an author duo, Janet Lynn and Will Zeilinger. Janet describes herself as keen, active, considerate, witty, and funny. Will chooses simple, analytical, creative, curious, and empathetic.

His writing is believable, witty, current, snappy, and emotive, while hers is quirky, edgy, clever, insightful, calculating. Sounds like an interesting combination, doesn't it? Let's find out which questions they chose and how they answered...
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Edith Maxwell - Guest Author

Edith Maxwell calls herself short, energetic, friendly, disciplined, and optimistic. Her writing is clear, effective, comforting, informative, and fun. I know Edith and her writing and I agree. Here is what else she says about herself, much of which was new to me. What fun!
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You have a table for four at your favorite restaurant and can invite any three people, living, dead or fictional. Who are your guests (and why)...

Vinnie Hansen - Guest Author

Settle back in your chairs for an exciting ride with today’s guest author, Vinnie Hansen, who describes herself as a Dakota-blizzard, California-beach cocktail and her writing as spare, humorous, character-driven surprises See what I mean? Settle in for the rest of her answers.
Describe your most productive writing venue. What makes it best for you? What is your most productive time of the day (and do you need caffeine)?
Fortified with organic dark chocolate and Vanilla Hazelnut Yogi tea, I ens...

Wanderlust

Sharp-tailed Grouse strutting for the ladiesWanderlust is yin to my staying-at-home-hibernating’s yang. I am content to remain in one place until I am not, and then I hit the road, which is where I am now as I write this blog. This 47-day road trip will take us (my much better half, Jan Rubens, is with me) from our winter abode in Savannah, Georgia out to Hood River, Oregon, back east to Greece, New York and finally to our summer home in the wilds of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula woods.
Air trave...