There Will Be Tears – Saying Goodbye to the Wicked Blog

Sherry who learned after eleven years of blogging that one should not try to do a post when one is tired!

Some of you will have already read this as I inadvertently sent it out Sunday night. This version has pictures and one update near the end of the post.

As you now know, last spring at the Wicked’s retreat, Barb and I made the difficult decision to leave the blog. Trust me, this did not come easy—no one wants to break up the band and we arrived at the decision independently. I was shocked when Barb said she’d decided to leave and relieved that I wasn’t the only one who knew it was time for a change. As Barb said to me, this blog has been an important part of our lives.

Our readers and guests mean so much to me. We wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for you. When we first started the blog, we were relative unknowns – only Barb, Edith, and Jessie had published a book and those were with small presses. As we strategized, we really wanted to get a big name to join us. When Sheila Connolly said she’d do a monthly column, we were thrilled and have missed her wit and wisdom. Kimberly Kurth Gray wrote her terrific Detective’s Daughter posts and Susannah Hardy/Sadie Hartwell joined us to share her thoughts on writing. Our first blog had zero comments. In our first five posts we had a total of six comments. Only one wasn’t from one of us.

A rare picture of all of us together!

Two big highlights for me were our fun photo shoot with Meg Manion Silliker and being featured in the Boston Globe. When Meg started the photo shoot you’ve never seen a stiffer bunch of women. Then she suggested walking down the street. Meg snapped the moment of us laughing that we use for our header and so captures who we are. 

In the end though, so much of the blog has been about the six of us. We went from unknowns, and some of us unpublished, to all of us having multiple books published, and all of us being nominated for awards. We’ve shared joys, disappointments, laughter, tears, and frustrations. There have been grandchild born and we’ve mourned the loss of loved ones. We’ve stayed up late into the night talking at our retreats. I love each of the Wickeds for their uniqueness.

Barb—She’s one of the smartest women I know–both left and right brained. She’s also funny and loyal. While I’d seen Barb (along with Edith and Liz) at some New England Sisters in Crime events, I didn’t get to know her until we both rode home with Edith from Seascape in 2009. Barb is the one who told me that her agent knew an editor at Kensington who was looking for someone to write a garage sale-themed mystery. And, as they say, the rest is history.

When we first met in 2009 at Seascape with our friend Christine Hillman Keyes from Australia.

Edith—when we first started the blog, I’d never written a post before. I was terrified. Fortunately, Edith was there for me, and I sent her my first few posts. She’d do some editing or make suggestions until I was confident enough to handle it on my own. I’m not sure Edith knows how much that kindness meant and still means to me. Edith is a font of energy, fearless, and if someone needs to be asked something, Edith will do it.

Hallie Ephron moderated a panel with all of us at her local library.

Jessie—I didn’t know Jessie when we started the blog. I’d moved back to Virginia before the other Wickeds met her. Jessie has unfailing generosity, an optimistic attitude, is a wicked talented plotter, and always makes time for me even when she’s busy. She also introduced me to cider donuts. I haven’t decided if that’s a good thing or not!

Julie—Many of you have heard this story before. In 2005 Julie and I happened to sit at the same banquet table at Malice Domestic. I’d recently found out that the Air Force was sending us to Hanscom AFB and I did not want to move to Massachusetts. But that night there was Julie being Julie by making connections and welcoming strangers. She told me to join Sisters in Crime and to go to Crime Bake. Both of those things were life changing not only because it led to being published, but mostly because it led to our friendship and to meeting the rest of the Wickeds. Julie and I have had so many adventures together from standing in line waiting anxiously to pitch our books at conferences, to plotting one of my books on a two-hour drive, to sneaking out of a conference and touring Vancouver.

At a Malice Domestic conference

Liz—We also met at Seascape. Edith, Liz, and I were in the same small group at the conference. When my roommate, Christine and I realized Liz had a long commute, we asked her to spend the night with us. I will never forget the three of us sneaking around the building at midnight looking for a rollaway bed and giggling. We eventually found one, dragged the mattress to our room, and stayed up all night talking. Liz laughs easily, her passion for animals is unsurpassed, and she’s always trying to improve herself, which makes me want to do the same.

A reader asked on the Monday blog post why we were leaving. It was a good question and thought I’d tell you my reasoning. My husband retired two years ago and I love spending time with him. We’ve been traveling more and so it’s nice to do it without worrying about the blog. I’ve also written over 140 individual posts and fear becoming repetitive or boring. I wouldn’t ever want to let the Wickeds or our readers down.

All these women have my back, call me out when I need it, and love me through all my flaws and insecurities. I can’t imagine having been part of a better group. While I may not be blogging with them anymore, I know we will always be part of each other’s lives. Thank you Wickeds for everything you’ve done for me. I love each of you deeply and fiercely.

At our retreat last May

So dear readers, you’ll be happy to know that I didn’t short out my keyboard writing this, but I came close. There were tears. Thank you so much for being on this journey with us. May you all have wonderful people in your life.