So--What Do You Do for Fun?

As writers we get so wrapped up in the writing, editing and promoting that sometimes we forget to take a breath and live.

My latest, Dangerous Impulses, available from Amazon in paper or e-book.

 One thing I've found, many of the things that I consider fun are writing related. For instance, I consider going to a conference fun. But the reason it is fun is because I know I'll be seeing writing friends and making new ones.

I went to a Central Coast Sisters in Crime meeting in San Luis Obispo--which meant a nearly three hour drive and two nights in a hotel. I have lots of friend in that chapter I haven't seen for awhile. Besides the meeting which featured a crime scene investigator, we all had lunch together--and that evening dinner with two other couples. (Both the females are mystery writers and good friends.)

CC SinC after lunch. The red head is me. Love these guys.

But what else is there that I do for fun? Hubby and I love movies and we try to go at least two times a month. We're picky though and try to only pay for movies that will be more fun to see on the big screen. We usually combine our movie going with a restaurant meal and have our favorite places. Because we live in a rural area we don't have a lot of choices and tend to favor the Thai and Japanese restaurants.

We also subscribe to Netflix and watch a lot of the series that way--a year later than everyone else, but doesn't make any difference to us.

We have two big weddings coming up--both are for grandsons and their chosen ones. The first will be the end of May. It's our youngest son's eldest boy, Nathan. The wedding is being held up in the mountains at a lodge right in the middle of an old growth forest--giant Sequoias. Most of the wedding party and guests will be staying at the lodge or in cabins. (I feel a setting for a mystery coming on. I'll be taking notes and photos.)

The following weekend is our youngest daughter's middle son's wedding. Gregg is an Aspen police officer. Since both he and his wife came from California and have many friends here, the wedding is in Montecito in Gregg's uncle's backyard.

Besides loving weddings, both will be like family reunions with plenty of relatives to enjoy. And yes, I know that will be fun.

Of course I read for fun too, though not nearly as much as I used to, all this writing and promoting take up a lot of time. I tend to stick to books written by my friends or ones someone has asked me to review.

What do you do for fun?

Marilyn

Do You Call Yourself a Writer?

You Don’t Need Anyone’s Permission 

By Kathleen Kaska (Your Fifth Saturday Blogger)

            When people ask you what you do for a living and you answer, “I’m a writer,” how do those words make you feel: proud, shy, boastful, tentative?

            I feel all of the above in a split second after I give my answer. Even twenty years after publishing my first article and three years after retiring from teaching to write full time, I still experience a moment’s hesitation and my answer sounds something like, “Er . . .  I’m a . . . writer.” I can’t help anticipate that look on the curious person’s face, that look that says, “Yeah, right. You’re a writer; I’m a writer; everyone and his dog is a writer. So?” The anticipation of that look, that answer, often has me stammering.

            Then a few days ago, I read Roy Peter Clark’s article in the Seattle Times, “Change Your Idea of Who’s a Writer.” Clark is a writing teacher at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has written several books about writing including Help! For Writers. I have so many How-To writing books on my shelf, one really has to grab me before I purchase it. After Clark summarized his book, I added it to my must-read list. Here’s Clark’s take on being a writer. I hope he forgives me adding my own twist in a three-part nutshell.

1.  It’s Not All About Me

            Clark reminded me of an important lesson I learned all those years ago when I decided to become a writer. Writing is not always a solitary endeavor and in order to grow and learn, it is important to utilize the “spirit of a writing community.” I had to learn to think and act like a writer so I joined the local writer’s league, signed up for classes, and joined critique groups. Writers have to be willing to accept help when they need it, but assist others who ask. And when we respect others written expression, that respect comes back to us.

2.  It’s All About Me:

            Clark writes that writers do not need permission or approval to be writers. The act of writing makes us a writer. Writing does not necessarily mean pounding out words on our laptops. Pondering and contemplating the ideas and emotions we eventually weave into our stories makes us writers. I get my best ideas when I’m jogging or hiking the forest trails near my house. It’s easier for my characters to get my attention when I’m letting my mind wonder. This solitary time also allows me to work through plotting issues, create new characters, and polish dialogue. So, when I’m by myself on the trail in the woods and having a conversation with the invisible, I’m writing.

3.  It’s All About a Better Me

            And here’s a point I never really considered. Clark writes that the act of writing makes us better individuals; it makes us more attuned to the world around us and empathetic to others.

            So, if we write, contemplate writing, ask for help when we need it and give help in return, and cultivate our craft, we are writers.

            I was always taught not to toot my own horn. I now realize if my tooting results in a pleasant melody and not a loud bugle call, it's perfectly fine. I don't usually make New Year's resolutions. I tend to obsess with daily goal-making, so I pass on that annual proclamation to improve myself. But this year, I think I'll make an exception. When asked what I do for a living, I'll look that person in the eye and say, "I'm a writer," and feel proud of my answer.

I write the Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series and the Classic Mystery Triviography Mystery Series.

http://www.kathleenkaska.com/

http://www.kathleenkaskawrites.blogspot.com/

Writer in search of a mystery...

Mystery conference, that is. I think there is a great deal to be said for getting together with other mystery writers and readers. It’s like we’re in our own world – a favorite place filled with questions, clues, villains and heroes! And what better place to find our way than at a conference for mystery writers and readers. Now, given the economy, you have to pick and choose carefully to get the most bang for your buck. Who are the presenters? What workshops are available? What is new and challenging for you? Where is the conference held?

So, with those criteria in mind – I’m open to suggestions for some of your favorite mystery conferences. Here are a few I’ve found online, but I’d love to get real-life feedback from some of you who have been to a conference you found outstanding. That pumped you up, taught you things, was worth the travel, time and money spent.

Here are some I’ve found:

• Sleuthfest (over for this year) every March in Fort Lauderdale http://www.mwaflorida.org/sleuthfest.htm

• Thrillerfest VI in NYC http://www.thrillerfest.com/

• Boucheron in St. Louis http://www.bouchercon2011.com


Libby McKinmer
Romance with an edge
www.libbymckinmer.com
libby@libbymckinmer.com
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Inside the Legal System by Christine Duncan

This week, I had something no red-blooded mystery author would want to miss, a chance to look inside the legal system in the form of a jury duty summons. Except as the judge of the case that I was (almost) selected for remarked, there is a reason why there has never been a T.V. show made about jury selection.1

I'm not sure I agree with his implication that it was boring. Maybe, if you're going through it every day. But I spent the morning engrossed and I'm pretty sure that having recently gone through the process, that I could write a scene or two on the process should I need to, for my work in progress. I do believe on hands-on research!

The logic at the civil trial I was looking at was all too apparent. I knew that the prospective juror who declared he was having his own problems with one of the litigants (a company) would never make it to the jury. It was obvious that the company's lawyer wished that particular guy never made it out of bed that morning, although to be fair, it wasn't the guy's fault the lawyer wasn't paying close attention when the matter first came up. "So you've had this problem for five years now, but it's been resolved?" asked the lawyer.

"No," barked the juror, having just explained that very thing.

"But you're satisfied with the company's actions in its attempts to resolve the matter?" asked the lawyer.

"Not at all." he said, bending his head toward the mic.

"But you could be impartial toward the company?"

"Of course."

Yeah, right.

It was just as clear that the woman who declared straight out that she was biased toward the company was never going to make it past the other attorney, although he managed not to ask any self-incriminating questions.

I didn't know court could be so funny. The benches they make the prospective jurors sit on, on the other hand, are not at all humorous--but I'm sure my heroine's complaints about them would be in the cozy I'm writing. She tends to be out front about creature comforts.

I was impressed with the other prospective jurors as a whole, not including the snarky woman who had been chosen for jury duty five, count 'em, five times before and made it clear that though she believed in civic duty, it must be someone else's turn by now.

And I was impressed with the judge, a man who declared openly that he'd been married forty years and still found his wife the best thing since sliced bread.

Next week, I go to have my fingerprints taken by the FBI, no less, in connection with a government job I'm trying for (no, the job is not with the FBI, I'm just a lowly bean counter type. But apparently the government wants to know exactly who is counting its beans which seems like a good idea, I guess.) Now if jury duty was this interesting, that experience should be down right fascinating. Who knows where my book will end up going with after that?

1 But then I wondered, is that true? Surely, I remember something about the people who help select jurors? There was something a while back, giving us all a glimpse into what lawyers are thinking about and the logic behind jury selection. I remember it only because I had not realized before seeing it that there was an actual profession helping lawyers size up juror candidates.

Christine Duncan is the author of the Kaye Berreano mystery series. Book two, Safe House will be released later this summter.

How Many Ways Have You Murdered Someone?

How's that for a title?

I've been thinking about the next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery I'm going to write. Not the next one that's going to be published, that one's due out in September. And I've got another ready to send off. The victim in that one dies by gunshot wound. I've killed other victims with guns, no stabbing yet, but lots of poisonings--there are so many different ways to poison someone including beautiful flowers.

It takes me awhile to come up with exactly what I'm going to do in the Tempe mysteries--the murder victim(s)need to be someone who lives in the small town of Bear Creek or somewhere around, or on the reservation, and I like to weave some Indian mythology or legends in somehow. Who will be the murderer always takes some decision making--sometimes that's the first person who comes to mind, but sometimes I'm not sure who the suspect will be until I'm into the book a ways.

Sometimes I have to shoot an e-mail off to Dr. Lyle to see if my idea for murdering someone will work and what the corpse will look like after a certain time period. He is always very obliging. Have you ever checked out Dr. Lyle's website? http://www.drlyle.com Most educational.

The Rocky Bluff P.D. series is easier for me to come up with a new plot. For one thing, I always need to decide which of my cop characters and/or their families are going to have major billing. I collect news clippings of unusual crimes that I think I might use one day in a story. I also follow some of the online police reports for ideas. I especially like small town crimes because both of my series are set in small towns.

I've gotten other ideas by attending my local Sisters in Crime meetings and listening to detectives, coroners, and police officers. I always take careful notes because I never know when something I've heard will fit perfectly into a story I'm writing.

In the next Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel, as yet untitled, the murder victim is beheaded. Certainly gruesome, but the county coroner who told the story to us took great glee in giving all the details to a room full of women right before lunch.

When you think about it, we mystery writers do think and write about terrible things. I've had people ask me why I do it. My answer always is I have absolutely no control over what goes on in the real world, but in the worlds that I create I do have some control and I know the bad guy will always get caught in the end.

So, how many ways have you murdered someone?

Marilyn a.k.a. F. M. Meredith

http://fictionforyou.com

A Reading Celebration

By the time you read this, I should be en route to Irvine, KY or on the scene of an intriguing book signing experience. It’s a mystery how I came to be invited, located as I am some 250 miles away in Nashville, TN. I suspect someone involved must have stopped by my table at the Kentucky Book Fair last November.

The woman who sent my invitation, wife of the school superintendent, wrote “mysteries are my favorite.” She said we’d love the location. It’s on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains, next to the Daniel Boone National Forest, where “the mountains kiss the bluegrass.”

The Friday night event is billed as the Estill County Reading Celebration. It takes place at the Estill Springs Elementary School and features an ambitious program, including a tent behind the school where an Appalachian storyteller will hold forth and a past Kentucky Poet Laureate will perform poetry skits with students.

Various rooms in the school will be decorated with ideas from children’s books. Students will choose which rooms to visit during 20-minute periods.

Several authors have been invited to sign their books in “Author’s Row” from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. Among them are children’s authors, a weaver, a few poets, a novelist who writes about Kentucky’s Shaker communities of the past, and one mystery writer, me.

Irvine is a small town in a small county, but the organizers assure me the event has been extensively publicized and should draw a good crowd. The local newspapers have highlighted each author with a bio and book description. Large posters of our book covers have been made to display at the tables. The opening ceremony will feature Mrs. Jane Beshear, the First Lady of Kentucky.

Since the town has only one small motel, my wife and I have been invited to stay at the home of Tom and Francine Bonny. He’s the retired superintendent of schools.

I have no idea how this will turn out, but being the good Scout I am, I’ll be prepared. My trunk is loaded with all five of my mystery books. Regardless of the outcome, I’m sure we’ll meet lots of nice people with interesting stories to tell. I may even have a few to pass along myself.

Chester Campbell
www.chesterdcampbell.com
Mystery Mania blog

What Being a Published Author Has Done For Me

Though I've written all my life, starting with short stories when I was a little girl, plays for the neighborhood kids to perform, a magazine for teens, and after I had a family, PTA newsletters and plays for my Camp Fire Girls, I got a late start actually writing novels. Oh, I'd made a couple of attempts earlier in my married life, sent them off, they manuscripts were rejected--once each--and I threw them away. (Dumb, don't ever throw anything away. I could have fixed them later on when I actually knew more about writing.)

Just an aside, my first book that did get published when I was in my late forties was rejected nearly thirty times. I'd learned a lot more about writing and submitting by then and I didn't give up.

Now, twenty-five published books later--mostly mysteries--I can look back and see what being published has done for me. And no, it has certainly not made me rich. At least not rich in a monetary sense. However it has enriched me greatly as far as life experiences.

Traveling to interesting place that I would have never even considered visiting has come about because of attending mystery conventions and writers' conferences: Omaha, Milwaukee, Madison, El Paso, Seattle, Portland, Oklahoma City, Tampa, Orlando,Reno, Las Vegas, Monterey, Idaho, San Antonio, and Alaska twice.

My first time in Alaska I had an exciting adventure traveling to a tiny village in a big Suburban on the frozen river. I also met two young Native women and became friends with them. One of the gals and I exchanged emails and when I went back the second time, I stayed at her house and gave a talk to middle school kids in Wasilla.

Which brings me to the most important thing that being a published author has done for me, making lots of new and wonderful friends. Some have been other writers and some have been readers who have turned into fans of my mysteries. I've also met a lot of people on the Internet because I'm a writer.

Wherever I go now, I know I'll run into someone I've met before or who has read one of my mysteries, or I will meet someone new who will become a friend.

Though the writing is something I feel compelled to do, being published has enriched my life through the wonderful people I've met and spent time with in person and on line.

Marilyn a.k.a. F. M. Meredith

Guest Mystery Writer, Patricia A. Rasey

Please join me in welcoming guest Patricia A. Rasey. Ms. Rasey has nine novels published, along with novellas and an award-winning short story.

What is the first mystery you remember reading? Wow, I don’t even remember. It could be a Mary Higgins Clark book, though I can’t recall which one. I’ve been reading books for years…all the way back to childhood. One of the first adult books I can remember reading is The Betsy by Harold Robbins. I was hooked from that point on. I couldn’t find enough time in the day to read all the books I wanted to read. I still feel that way. I have more books than I’ll ever find the time to read.

What is the most recent mystery you’ve read? I just finished the four book Twilight series…what a task. Before that, I think I read a lot of romance. But I think the last one I read was Ancient Laws by Jim Michael Hansen. I don’t think it’s out yet, I gave an author quote…but great book! I’ve read and enjoyed several of his books. He might be considered more thriller, though.

When you’re writing, do you keep a list of “clues” and “red herrings” at hand? I try to. I’m not the best of organizers. I keep a list in a WORD document of things I may need to address later in the book. It’s a way for me to go back and take a quick look when I’m further down the road to see what I may have done and things I need to tie up. Sort of a reminder if you will.

Are you a plotter or a seat-of-the-pants writer? I am definitely a seat-of-the-pants writer. I can’t say I don’t plot at all…I do, it’s just that I have a tendency to dive in and then once I get so far in, I start plotting things out more. I don’t think I could tie up all loose ends if I didn’t plot at all. But I am not a heavy plotter.

If you could spend an afternoon over a pot of coffee with any writer (living or dead), who would it be? John Douglas, although technically he doesn’t really write his materials, he co-writes. But I think it would be awesome to pick his brain. Or maybe Edgar Allen Poe…love him!

What would be the first thing you’d want to ask? What it was like to interview all the serial killers he did. I would have loved to have been there when he did. Their dark minds and what drives them is fascinating to me.

Do headlines trigger story ideas for you? Definitely. I think all things in life can be triggers. You never know when something might happen and make you think that would be a great addition to my story. Or to even revolve your whole novel around a concept. I read headlines on “toothing” once and added that to my last novel. Although, the phenomenon ended very quickly. And recently, a friend was telling us about the violent dreams he had when he was on the patch to quit smoking. He made a statement and I just sat there and went wow…that’s the opening line to my next book. And it is…to my work in progress, Charred Remains.

How do you stay organized when in the midst of writing, editing, reading galleys, etc? I can’t say I am organized at all right now. I work fulltime outside the home—so juggling my writing, work, and home life can be a challenge. When writing my novel—I can never turn off the self-editor in my head, so most times, by time I type “The End,” the book is nearly finished. A final read-through, a few changes, and it’s done.

What program(s) do you use to organize, write, promote? I use WORD for everything. I’m not great with creating graphics and the whatnot, so most everything I do is in WORD. I do my outlines there, my synopsis, my rough draft, etcetera. Then when I keep track of what marketing I do—I also put it in a WORD document to save. Not real imaginative, but it works for me. Recently, I got a new computer with a new version of WORD. I’m struggling…I don’t like change. Maybe not so much change, but the time it takes to learn something new. As I said—my time is so limited these days.

When is your next release and please give us title and a little tease. I don’t have a release date for my next book…I sort have been sitting on it. It’s been finished and fine-tuned, but a good friend of mine is taking a look at it before I start the submission process and hopefully get a publisher for it. It’s called Love You To Pieces and I’m hoping it’s my best work to date. I certainly put a lot of time in it. The two characters, Detective Jaycen McCain and Sara St. James have a lot of hurdles to cross before they can ever think about getting together…if that ever happens. Jaycen is chasing his late wife’s murderer while her cousin, Sara, is trying to heal those old wounds for him. There’s a bit of darkness in this one. It’s more of a thriller, than a mystery as I tell you who the killer is by chapter seven and hope I still pull off the intrigue. It was my goal to be able to do that and still keep the reader wanting to change the page. The next book, Charred Remains, that I am now writing collides Love You To Pieces sequel with the sequel to Façade. I think it will be great to revisit the characters from that book…and start a whole new tale for those two.

Thanks for asking me to guest on your blog…I enjoyed the visit.
You can visit Patricia anytime at her website www.patriciarasey.com

Owen Fiddler is a Mystery to Most

Hey everyone. This guy is swamped right now, in the midst of a whirlwind virtual tour with my irascible, incorrigible and enigmatic character Owen Fiddler. So Morgan gave me a by this Tuesday on coming up with an original post. Thank you, sweetie - I needed that!

But how about this? Join me on the tour today - or as often as you like, for that matter. The entire fabulous line-up is posted HERE. Lots of prizes and giveaways also.

And for all the fun happening today, go to our very own Dana Fredsti's blog, Zhadi's Den. Dana posted a review of Owen Fiddler, and a humorous piece written by yours truly and also - now get this - a preface written by Owen Fiddler! Yep. You'll need stitches. Mebbe even some bandages and/or a cast afterward. So proceed with caution, but the risk is worth the fun.

Okay, that's it for the old silly today. Gotta jet. But I'll be back in two weeks with something to share from my perspective on topic with our Make Mine Mystery blog!

The Mystery Connection

Writing in any genre can be a solitary occupation – sure, we have critique partners, readers and often listen to music as we work, but we have to develop our stories, characters, plot, pacing, plant our clues and create our whodunit while often in a room with just our self and our computer.

But never fear, dear author, there are lots of ways to connect with other mystery writers. We get that burst of energy or inspiration from like-minded individuals, and challeng ourselves with new ideas and thoughts with interaction from other mystery writers, who may write in a different sub-genre, but who know the unique skill set needed to plant clues that don’t leap out and give away the ending, create a believable story and let the heroine/hero solve it in a satisfying way, whether that person writes sci/fi mysteries, urban mysteries, cozies, thrillers, etc.

You can take classes with some of the masters of the genre and sub-genres, meet editors and publishers, schmooze with other authors and even learn some of the business of writing!

Check out some of the conferences and festivals around North America.

http://www.sceneofthecrime.ca

http://siwc.ca

http://www.bookpassage.com/content.php?id=44

http://wordharvest.com/

http://www.killernashville.com/

http://www.sistersincrime.org/events/

http://www.mysterywriters.org/?q=mwaevents

In addition to these get-togethers, there are plenty of online courses offered where you can learn, discuss the topics with like-minded writers, and get inspired. I try to take online courses on a regular basis. Because of my location, it’s tough to get to a weekly class in person, but with the internet I can learn from the best right in my office! So, I always watch for courses that interest me – could be on plotting, or developing the business side of writing, or setting goals.

You can join various on-line writing groups and/or writing clubs that meet in person and chat regularly with other authors about the process, get answers to questions, whether on research (ie, what kind of handgun has the most kickback), plotting, or sometimes you can just chat about the latest episode of CSI!

So, while it’s a solitary profession, mystery writing is never lonely. What are some of your favorite ways of connecting with other mystery writers, and why?

Libby McKinmer
Romance with an edge

www.libbymckinmer.com

http://www.twitter.com/LibbyMcKinmer

libby@libbymckinmer.com

A Mysterious Setting

There is a real talent to getting the setting right in a mystery. And really, there’s no single “right” way. But a setting can help define your characters and how they relate to what’s going on around them. It helps your reader “see” where the story is taking place.

I love Stephanie Plum, out and about in Trenton, NJ, having messy adventures, solving the whodunit as she goes along, and losing a car most times around. I’ve been known to laugh out loud, even as my brain cells are trying to process the clues so well laid down by Ms. Evanovich.

But I’m just as intrigued by the stripped-down lifestyle of Jack Reacher in a Lee Child’s novel. A stark farmhouse set in the midst of fields, a NYC apartment – it’s gritty, it’s tough, and the laughs are few and far between. But it suits Reacher to a tee – Mr. Child knows his hero understands the underbelly of man’s (and woman’s) motivations, and his settings reflect that.

However, I also love to wander the early twenty-century English villages and countryside of Agatha Christie mysteries – as great on a re-read as they were the first time around years ago. The details of life, the struggles, the joys and the search for the truth – for me, all surround the central mystery and add to the enjoyment of trying to figure it out. And it doesn’t matter if it’s Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple or Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, the mysteries are fun to try to unravel.

Like horses? Carolyn Banks’ novels with Robin and Jeet Vaughan are surrounded by equines as Robin solves the mysteries of who did the killing…and there’s always a smile or two as you canter along on the wonderful rhythm of Ms. Banks’ writing.

Want more horses? Tami Hoag gives readers some ugly crimes in the “beautiful people” and moneyed set of the Wellington winter horse circuit. From lonely canals with predatory alligators to private clubs with predatory men.

So…what’s your favorite mystery setting – the big city, a lonely farm setting, a Victorian mansion, a dressage barn or a childhood neighborhood? Whatever it is, enjoy the mysterious mood set by your favorite mystery author.


Libby McKinmer
Romance with an edge
www.libbymckinmer.com
libby@libbymckinmer.com