Eat, Drink, and Procrastinate, by Lori Roberts Herbst

Writing is coming hard to me these days — I find myself so distracted with exploring our new Colorado home or fretting over national events that I’ve simply been unable to focus. So, instead of making progress on my new series, I decided to spend my time planning a dinner party—for fictional characters.

 

First off, who to invite? I began with THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS’ Hannibal Lecter but ultimately concluded his presence probably wasn’t such a good idea. He’d likely end up eating me…with fava beans and a nice chianti.

Annie Wilkes from MISERY could be an interesting guest…but I’m rather attached to my ankles.

 

Good gracious, I am in a darker place than I realized.

 

Perhaps I should limit myself to fictional detectives. People programmed to help rather than harm. Unless you’re the villain, of course.

 

After much vacillation, here’s the final guest list I compiled. See what you think.

 

Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache. His love for humanity and positive perspective would do me good right about now. 

 

MC Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth. He’d be speculating on which woman at the party he might marry, of course, but he would balance that with his keen insights and bumbling ways.

 

John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport. I’ve always been a little in love with the man, and I am fascinated with watching him overcome (for the most part) his darker instincts.

 

Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch. Because everybody counts, or nobody counts.

 

Agatha Christie’s Miss Jane Marple. Oh, the stories she would tell—all while knitting a sweater as she peered at us over the top of her glasses.

 

Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone. Her wry cynicism mixed with her hopeful outlook would be welcome at my table.

 

Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Though his arrogance might grate, the intelligence would be titillating. (I know this might be controversial, but I’d choose the version portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch.)

 

With the guest list settled, maybe I can get down to the business of writing my own books…except, hmm...I probably need to create a make-believe menu first…

 

Who would attend your fictional character dinner party?

 

The Callie Cassidy Mystery series is available on Amazon Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and paperback.

 

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Lori Roberts Herbst writes the Callie Cassidy Mysteries, a cozy mystery series set in Rock Creek Village, Colorado, and the (hopefully) soon-to-be-released Seahorse Bay Mysteries, set in a Texas cruise port town. To find out more and to sign up for her newsletter, go to www.lorirobertsherbst.com