Birthday continued

​So today we found out that on Terri's Birthday it is not only the day Terri turns 50, but on this day Lizzie Borden, was acquitted of murdering her parents. 

If you don't read many nonfiction books. Try reading one of the many re-accounts of Lizzie Borden. Now do you know of anything or anyone that happened on the day you were born?

Hugs,

Pamela

Happy Birthday Terri

​HAPPY BIRTHDAY TERRI PARSONS,

I hope your day is as fantastic as you are. Have fun and here's hoping you never ever run out of interesting books to read.

Okay everyone let's think of a mystery title that includes something about Terri:

Mine is: Terri's traveling Halloween Topics that will thrill you!

Pam

An Interview with Dana Cameron

An Interview with Dana Cameron 

by Pamela James

MM2: Dana, What genres and how many books have you written?

          Thanks for having me, Pamela and Terri!  I've written nine novels, including six in the Emma Fielding archaeology series, which is traditional mystery with an amateur sleuth.  Most recently, I've been writing urban fantasy, featuring archaeologist (and werewolf) Zoe Miller.  There are three books in the Fangborn series: Seven Kinds of Hell, Pack of Strays, and Hellbender.

          If you're counting short stories, by the time this year's done, I'll have written twenty-one short stories.  They're all over the map, genre-wise, including traditional mystery, thriller, historical, noir, urban fantasy, Sherlockian pastiche, erotica, and horror.

MM2: What is your latest book and give us some insight into your series characters?

The latest book is Hellbender.  Zoe Miller is an archaeologist who discovers she's a werewolf and Fangborn, a family of werewolves, vampires, and oracles dedicated to protecting humanity.  She wasn't born and raised within the family, however, so she's trying to get a handle on who they are and why her powers are different.

MM2: What comes first the setting, character, plot or that niggling voice of a conversation or thread?

Most often, it's the setting.  That sets the mood for me, and tells me who will be there, what's at stake, and why. 

MM2: What would you like your readers to know about you and your characters?

Well, my characters and I seem to share an interest in archaeology (my first profession) and history, the idea of women and power, and getting to know a cultural context through traveling (and eating!).  Unlike some of my characters, I am not a werewolf with superpowers or a “recovering” covert operative with a flexible sense of right and wrong.

MM2: Do you belong to any writer' groups? What are your favorite conventions?

I've worked with writers groups and they did great things for my writing—I heartily recommend them!  Right now, I act as a beta reader with two other authors, who return the favor for me.

MM2: Have you discovered any new books that you want to read?

Recently, I finished Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts and really liked it.  I also loved The Martian, by Andy Weir, and The Girl with All the Gifts, by Mike Carey.  I'm looking forward to reading Rob Hart's New Yorked, Eloisa James's The Duke Is Mine, Jaye Wells' Cursed Moon, and Laura Ann Gilman's Silver on the Road.  I read a lot of comics and can hardly wait for each new episode of Bitch Planet and Captain Marvel (both by Kelly Sue DeConnick) and Ms. Marvel (by G. Willow Wilson).

MM2: Summer is almost here. My question is when you are not penning books or doing promo for books, where and what can we find you doing?

Actually, I'll be spending most of my time writing!  I'll be going to NECON for the first time.  Any spare time I have, I'll probably go to a museum or out to eat; I like spending time hanging with friends on our back deck.

MM2: Is there someone you would like to thank for mentoring, writing advice or editing your books?

Oh, sure!  My husband is my alpha reader, and Charlaine Harris, Toni Kelner (AKA Leigh Perry), and my agent, Josh Getzler are my most important beta readers.  I got a huge amount of perspective and advice from my group leader, David Bradley, when I attended the Bread Loaf Writers Conference.

MM2: Where do you like to vacation? Your favorite meal, movie, childhood memory?

          I travel a lot for work and then go farther afield for fun!  Most recently, Japan, France, and Germany, and soon, Portugal and Spain.  My favorite meal...that's hard to pin down.  Anything that's done well, but I'm a sucker for a good pizza.  I love small food—Turkish meze, Spanish tapas, Chinese dim sum, Japanese casual kaiseki or bento boxes.  And cheese, I adore cheese. How much space do I have?  LOL

          Favorite movie?  Another tough one.  Off the top of my head, let's go with “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Desperado,” and something by John Woo.

          Favorite childhood memory?  The first time I went to London.

         

MM2: Are there any books about series writing or in general writing books that you have found helpful?

I always recommend Stephen King's On Writing and Anne LaMotte's Bird by Bird.  Those are the books that have most informed my writing process.

MM2: Lastly direct us to your website and leave us with some writing words of wisdom.

          My website is www.danacameron.com.  As practical advice (don't know about the wisdom part), I'd say, if you're going to write, commit to it every day, even if it's just a few minutes.  Challenge yourself.  Finish the book or story—that's huge!  Then get increasingly tough and useful criticism from people you trust.  Go where the other writers and agents go, and learn about the industry. 

          Thanks for having me!

An Interview with Edith Maxwell

An Interview With Edith Maxwell

by Pamela James

MM2: Edith, give us a little backstory on how your writing career began?

E: First, thanks so much for having me to visit, and I loved these interview questions.

I've been writing all my life, but I began writing crime fiction twenty years ago and had several short stories published in juried anthologies. After I was laid off a job at the end of 2008, I began writing mystery novels in earnest.

MM2: Tell us about your writing schedule?

E: Since I've been a full-time fiction writer for two years now, I'm at my desk usually by six every morning, and working by seven. I'm part of Ramona Defelice Long's virtual sprint club. A bunch of us check in with her just before seven on Facebook, and then we all work furiously with no interruptions for an hour. I continue that for myself the rest of the morning until I meet my daily word count (1500 words) or run out of creativity.

MM2: What is the best part of writing a series?

E: I don't have to make up a new world with every book, and I get to visit with some of the continuing characters who, despite the fact that I made them up, I like!

MM2: Let's talk about your latest books and soon to be released books?

E: Farmed and Dangerous just came out, the third Local Foods mystery. In this one, there's a murder at the assisted living residence where farmer Cam's dear great uncle Albert lives - and the death came after the victim ate Cam's produce. 

My next book out, written as Maddie Day, is Flipped for Murder, which is set in scenic southern Indiana in Robbie Jordan's new breakfast-and-lunch country store, Pans 'N Pancakes, which also stocks vintage cookware. Look for that in late October. Both those books are from Kensington Publishing. 

And next April Delivering the Truth, my first Quaker Midwife mystery, releases from Midnight Ink. It's an 1888 series with Rose Carroll solving crimes in my town in northeastern Massachusetts. So yeah, I'm busy!

MM2: What writing advice do you have for mystery writers that want to embark on series writing?

E: Butt in the chair, fingers on the keyboard, and then create a world and characters you'll want to spend time with for the next five years. Or, with luck, even longer.

MM2: Do you ever re-read a series?

E: Not really.

MM2: Do you belong to a writer's group?

E: I'm in an excellent in-person critique group on Monday nights. I'm also one of the six Wicked Cozy Authors. We not only blog every weekday, we are also each other's lifeboats and a mutual support team. Come join us in our conversations on the blog. 

MM2: What come first the setting, character or plot?

E: For the series, the setting and character are linked. For each book, since I already have my setting and protagonist, it's the plot. But that can change as I'm writing it, so I guess it's character. I follow them around and write down what they do, and I'm often surprised.

MM2: When not writing how do you decompress?

E: Half the year I have an organic vegetable garden out back plus blueberries, asparagus, and flowers that I tend. I like to sit on the deck (or on the couch in the winter) with a glass of wine and good cozy mystery. I don't watch any television except for the rare BBC show like Downton Abbey or Call the Midwife.

MM2: Leave us with some words of wisdom from one of your characters?

E: Cam Flaherty might say that even hardened introverts can learn to schmooze. She discovered the hard way that farming is as much chatting up the loyal customers as it is growing produce.

MM2: Lastly please leave us with your website address. If you have a blog we would love to have that address.

E: Please stop by www.edithmaxwell.com, where you can find information about all my series and award-winning short stories (one was nominated for an Agatha Award this year). And the Wicked Cozy Authors blog, too, as well as Killer Characters on the third of each month (starting in July).

 Maeve Kincaid is a Millenial living with her parents, when she receives an unexpected inheritance from her Aunt - A Food Truck.  So, she decides to give it a go.  What she didn't expect was a resentful employee who had expected to inherit the truck himself and a criminal past associated with the truck.  When the owner of a rival food truck is found brutally murdered, she finds out that her aunt may have also been murdered.  She doesn't understand the events around her and as she investigates to learn more, she places her own life in danger.
 
   I really enjoyed the book though I think it could have used a bit more rounding out of supporting characters (it was only 149 pages) but will definitely be reading more in this series

Terri

An Interview with Carolyn Haines

Interview With Carolyn Haines:

By Pamela James

MM2: Carolyn, how many books have you written? How many genres do you write ?

I've published 70 books. I read all kinds of books so I write in a lot of genres. Mystery/suspense/horror as well as general fiction, nonfiction, short fiction, romantic mysteries, crime fiction and humor.

MM2: Are you a member of any writer's groups?

I belong to HWA, MWA, and a small critique group.

MM2: Tell us about your latest mysteries? Are you currently writing a book?

Bone to Be Wild, the 15th Sarah Booth Delaney Mississippi Delta mystery, just came out with St. Martin's Press. I'm working on the next Sarah Booth book, and also a historical/paranormal/mystery. I have so many ideas and not enough time to get to all of them.

MM2: What is your typical writing schedule?

Depends on the season. I like to write in the middle of the day in the summer because it's so hot and humid outside. In the winter I like to write very early in the morning so I can get out and take care of the animals when the sun is out and nice. I split my writing day when I'm working on two different kinds of books at the same time, which I don't mind doing.

MM2: Do you re-read some of your favorite books?

I find I re-read a lot of the children's classics I loved so much. And there are some writers who compel me to visit the world they create again and again. It's like a visit to a place I love with an old friend. So yes, I do re-read.

MM2: I know you love animals so tell us about your pets?

I run Good Fortune Farm Refuge (I founded the 501(c)3 rescue). I have 5 horses, 8 dogs, 9 cats living here, and we also administer a Banfield Charities basic vet care grant that helps low income families get shots, exams, etc., for their pets. This is our third year to work with Banfield and it is a terrific program to help people who love their pets but are having a hard time in this slow economy. We also had a spay/neuter grant funded by the sale of cookbooks, which my friends helped me create. Bone-A-Fied Delicious, Recipes from Zinnia's Finest Chefs. We have currently sold out.

MM2: After a long writing day how do you decompress?

I catch up on emails and sometimes watch a show I've recorded earlier. Or read. Or have a gab session with some friends.

MM2: Now for reader fun....what is your favorite movie, meal and drink?

I love "The Wizard of Oz." Probably because of the wonderful childhood memories linked with it. "Silence of the Lambs" is so well constructed, I watch it to learn. My tastes change, though. I would never have thought I'd say I really liked "Fifty First Dates" but there is a sweetness to the movie that always makes me smile.

MM2: Is there anything special you would like to say to someone?

Thank you to all the readers who support writers like me. Without readers, would writers write? I love the process of writing, but I write for an audience. I want to share my stories. If readers didn't buy the books, the publishers would stop publishing them. I think readers should know they are such an important part of the publishing dynamic.

MM2: Lastly, what would Jitty, like us to know about you? How about Sarah Booth Delaney?

Jitty thinks I work too much. She tells me all the time that I should get out and kick up my heels. And I agree. As to Sarah Booth, Jitty knows her far too well. She knows Sarah Booth will never be able to resist taking up for the underdog or defending the innocent. She will eventually learn to balance her "missions" and her home life, but there are a lot of adventures between here and there.

Carolyn Haines is the award-winning author of the Sarah Booth Delaney Mississippi Delta mystery series. The latest title is BONE TO BE WILD, the 15th book in the series. She is currently at work on the next Sarah Booth story. She also writes ghost stories as R.B. Chesterton. Learn more about her at Carolyn Haines - Home  and sign up for her newsletter.

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Review: The Wolfe Widow by Victoria Abbott

Title: THE WOLFE WIDOW

Author: VICTORIA ABBOTT

(A Book Collector Mystery Series)

Hardcover Library Book)

A rare moment occurred someone dared knock on Vera Van Alst's front door. She doesn't receive visitors, Muriel Delgado wasn't to be turned away which is what Jordan Bingham would loved to have done. Instead Vera's receives her and when the meeting is over Muriel is in and Jordan is fired. Tossed out and never to return.

This doesn't set well with Jordan and she wants to know why she was fired but more importantly why Muriel is there all moved and what she has on Vera but when Jordan is hit by a car while trying to investigate then she must rely on her uncles to help with the investigations.

Ten when Jordan finds out that Muriel is trying to sell off the Nero Wolfe Collection book by Jordan knows that Muriel is pure evil.

Vera would never allow this to happen as Vera's fondness for the books is sentimental. It's one of the rare things Vera and her father shared an she wouldn't part with one book of that collection.

Tim is running out and Jordan knows it's only a matter of time before Vera is met with an untimely death.

THE WOLFE WIDOW is priceless one of the best books in this series. Victoria Abbott really claims hr fame in this one!

************ I give it 12 stars out of 10, yes that's right the book and series is that good.

Pamela James