QUICK TIPS FROM A COZY MYSTERY EDITOR: THE VICTIM

by Korina Moss

There are many early choices to make while plotting your cozy mystery. An important one is choosing the murder victim. The victim doesn’t spend too much time on the page. After all, you should have him killed off by chapter three (chapter five at the latest). So, he should be someone who can make a big impression in a short amount of time. If he has an interaction with several characters before he’s murdered, you’ll have the beginnings of your suspect list ready as soon as the body is discovered, keeping the pace brisk. If there’s some kind of relationship between the victim and your protagonist, even better—it may give your main character a reason to investigate or a reason to be suspected! 

However, you want to stay away from making the murder victim and your protagonist’s relationship too close. If the victim is a beloved family member or best friend, it will be difficult for the lighter tone of your cozy mystery to recover, as it needs to do fairly quickly after the murder. It’s good to include some humor to lift the darkness of what’s just been discovered, but it won’t land well if the victim is Uncle Dewey or your protagonist’s best friend. That’s not to say your protagonist shouldn’t be affected; they absolutely should. Write a scene where she’s shocked, upset, or reflective about the victim or death itself. Although cozies have a lighter tone, they still need to feel grounded and real. After that brief but somber time is taken, your protagonist goes into investigative mode as soon as the death has been identified as a murder (if it’s not obvious). The pacing of a cozy mystery should be quick and compact, so you don’t want to spend precious early pages grieving and not getting back to the fun part—trying to solve this mystery!  

Keep in mind that you’re likely going to be revealing a lot about the victim as your protagonist begins to piece together the murder. So, make sure the victim isn’t just a one-note bad guy. Think of a full backstory for him (for you, not necessarily for the page), so that he’ll come across as a fully formed three-dimensional character. If you think about it, the victim is kind of the star of the book. Make sure he deserves that title. 

When you’re deciding who should be your murder victim, consider the following: 

• How will your victim make the greatest impact in a short amount of time? 

• What is your victim’s relationship with your protagonist? 

• Will your protagonist be able to bounce back from their death to keep the tone cozy? 

• Will your victim be able to interact with some of the characters so those characters can become the initial suspects? 

• Is your victim a fully formed character? 

Readers: Do you have any tips or preferences for a cozy mystery author choosing a murder victim?

 

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series set in the Sonoma Valley, which includes the winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, Cheddar Off Dead, and two novels short-listed for Best Contemporary Novel. Listed as one of USA Today’s “Best Cozy Mystery Series,” her books have also been featured in PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, and Writer’s Digest. 

Korina is also a freelance developmental editor specializing in cozy and traditional mysteries. To learn more or subscribe to her free monthly newsletter, visit her website korinamossauthor.com.

WHAT IF? Can Crime Writers Really Leave Their Dark Side Behind?

By Lisa Malice, Ph.D.

Last month, my husband and I spent eight days aboard a small cruise ship, the Safari Endeavor, exploring the inlets and islands of Alaska’s southeastern waterways from Juneau to Sitka as part of a three-week bucket list vacation. Our days were filled with off-ship activities — hiking, kayaking, meandering the shores, and photo-sightseeing skiff tours — all opportunities to admire the majesty of Alaska’s clear blue waters, stunning landscapes, and enchanting wildlife (see some favorite animal photos below).

Whale sightings, like the fluke of this Gray Whale, took my breath away. Humpback Whales are plentiful in these waterways.

Sea Otters are so adorable. We often found them floating on their backs, feet up the air, and nibbling on some shellfish.

Seals are curious creatures who will cluster pop their heads up to give you a good long look.

Black-tailed deer are not frequently sighted, so I was lucky to observe 

this beautiful creature for almost ten minutes from the aft deck of the ship.

I wanted to immerse myself in this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, fully embrace the beauty of Alaska’s terrain and life in the sea and on land, so I left my computer at home and set aside my life as mystery/thriller author for the duration of the trip.

Being fully in the moment was easy as I marveled at mountains and glaciers. Murder never entered my mind as my senses took in sea lions barking, whales breaching, otters floating, seals surfing, and bears bumbling about. I was 100% focused on Alaska’s natural wonders.

Nevertheless, the crime writer in me wouldn’t stay silent. Couldn’t, not when a curious circumstance presented itself, causing me to ponder the all-too-familiar question those in the mystery/thriller profession live by—"what if?” Here’s how it went down.

One afternoon, Lou and I opted to take different excursions – he on a skiff sightseeing tour, me on shore walk. As I made my way down the aft stairs to join my tour group, I passed by a large magnetic bulletin board with a diagram of the ship, its cabins and decks. As per the Endeavor’s safety protocol for leaving the ship, I pulled off my “Lisa” token from inside cabin 221 and pressed it into place just outside the room to indicate I was leaving the ship.  Lou had similarly moved his token before he disembarked earlier with his tour group.  

[Taken together, this board shows where all 69 passengers are—either onboard or off-ship. Such information is critical to leaving nobody behind before setting sail for the next mooring.]

When I returned from my outing, I was surprised to find my magnet already moved into cabin 221 to show I had reboarded the ship.  I assumed Lou had returned before me and had absent-mindedly moved both our magnets to show that we were present and accounted for after our afternoon excursions. A bit miffed, I made it a point to remind Lou to move only his magnet if we weren’t together, then took the stairs to the upper aft deck. A half minute later, I turned around to see Lou appear at the top of the stairs. Clearly, Lou had just arrived after me, so he didn’t move my token or his. So, who did and why? 

The normal person in me would have just seen it as a mistake made by someone else and left the thought there. But the mystery and thriller writer in me couldn’t let it lie. What if? invaded my thoughts searching for a mystery story.

What if such a move wasn’t a mistake? What if someone intentionally changed a person’s onboard status to ensure he or she was left behind? What if it was done to hide evidence of a murder off-ship? What if the person left behind had survived an attack or attempted murder but awoke after the boat had sailed? How would he or she stay alive with no food, no protection against Alaska’s weather, elements and wildlife, and no way to communicate with the ship or otherwise call for rescue? More to the point, who would arrange such an attempted murder or desertion and why? 

What if . . . this proves I will never ever be able to leave my dark side behind?

How about you? Have you ever set off on a vacation determined to put all work aside only to have it come back to haunt you with what if? If you are a reader only, do you ever find yourself wondering What if? 

 

What I Learned about Writing from The Wizard of Oz

by Heather Weidner

The 1939 MGM version of The Wizard of Oz is my all-time favorite movie. It used to be a once-a-year treat when it aired on TV, but when technology changed, I bought the VHS tape and DVD for on demand viewing. I even took a two-week fun course on it as an undergrad. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen it, but I still find surprises each time I watch it. 

Here’s what I learned as an author from it. 

You Had the Power All Along - You do. You have the grit and determination to fulfill your writing dreams. It’s there. You just need to harness it and figure out your plan. Make a plan and follow it. Don’t give up! Keep writing.  

Use Your Assets - You have the tools to be a writer. Like Dorothy and the gang, you’ve had them all along. You will need to put in the time and energy to hone them, but you have the brain, the heart, and the courage to do it. 

Everyone Needs Friends - The writing life is often a long and solitary journey, and you need friends, mentors, coaches, and cheerleaders. Find your crew and support each other.

People (or Scarecrows, Tinmen, and Cowardly Lions) Are Willing to Help - The Writing Community is full of authors at different stages who are gracious with their time and advice. Find your writing allies and cherish them. Find a writers’ group. Joining Sisters in Crime was the best thing I did for my writing career. 

Be Part of The Group - Make sure that you’re an active participant with the writing community. You don’t have to do everything, but you need to do something. Share ideas, experiences, and contacts. Provide feedback and guidance. Support other writers and look for opportunities to partner with others. 

Sometimes It’s Scary - The witch’s flying monkeys scared me so badly as a kid. (And when I was little, I found it hard to fathom that the lady in the Maxwell House coffee commercials was really the Wicked Witch. But that’s another story.) There are some rough patches and scary stuff along the writing journey. Rejections, bad critiques, and nasty reviews are the worst. Learn what you can from them and keep going. You are not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. 

Be Flexible - You are going to run into all kinds of roadblocks and dead ends. Figure out ways to move forward and to advance your goals. Use your gifts. Be creative and find your way out of the dark places and the haunted forest.

And remember, one encounter and one pair of shoes can change your life.

Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Pearly Girls Mysteries, the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, The Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, and The Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries. 

Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, Murder by the Glass, First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder, and Crime in the Old Dominion, and she has non-fiction pieces in Promophobia and The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers’ Cookbook.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a crazy Jack Russell Terrier.

CURRENT TV CRIME SHOWS

 

By Margaret S. Hamilton

 

While retreating inside during the recent heat dome, we watched more television than usual. I’ve listed some favorites and would enjoy learning which shows you have enjoyed.

 

JAWS (Peacock). The original 1975 classic has been re-mastered for its fiftieth celebration. I enjoyed the John Williams film score, took careful note of how suspense builds (“You’re going to need a bigger boat”), and having seen “Bruce the shark” at Universal Studios in LA, relished how silly the mechanical shark really is.

 

HARRY WILD (Acorn). Jane Seymour plays a retired Dublin literature professor who teams up with Fergus, a local student, to “assist” her police detective son and solve local mysteries. Very cozy.

 

RED JOAN (Prime). Judi Dench plays a British citizen who supplies intelligence to the Soviets for forty years. Dench does an outstanding job in her role as a civil servant who supports the Communist cause.

 

I, JACK WRIGHT (Britbox). The family patriarch is murdered and his relatives, including several ex-wives, fight over his estate. But who killed him?

 

THE BETTER SISTER (Prime). Alafair Burke writes excellent domestic suspense books about family dynamics, pitting relatives, particularly sisters, against each other. This movie is good, though the trauma flashbacks bog down the action.

 

DEPARTMENT Q (Netflix). A former police detective is filled with guilt about the outcome of his last investigation. He is assigned a cold case which consumes his life and prompts him to solve an earlier case. Deliciously creepy plot.

 

THE ART DETECTIVES (Acorn). An art-loving Detective Inspector Mick Palmer and his constable investigate art crimes and murders for the Metropolitan Police, everything from Viking hoards to vintage wine. Comparable to “Chelsea Detective,” but I prefer this detective duo.

 

CHELSEA DETECTIVE (Acorn). DI Max Arnold lives on a houseboat on the Thames, commutes by bicycle, and investigates crimes in the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Max has his personal issues but always identifies the culprit.

 

PATIENCE (PBS). An autistic archivist lends her crime-solving skills to the Yorkshire police. Ella Maisy Purvis, herself autistic, delivers a sound performance when she teams with DI Bea Metcalf.

 

Readers and writers, what television crime shows have you enjoyed recently?

 

Margaret S. Hamilton’s debut amateur sleuth mystery, What the Artist Left Behind, is on submission.

 

Home - The Official Website of Margaret S. Hamilton

 

 

An Interview With Barb Goffman

by Grace Topping

People often complain they don’t have time to read. Finding myself in that predicament recently, I turned to Crime Travel, an anthology of short stories that had been on my shelf for a while. Each story took me minutes to read, which was about all the time I had to devote to reading in a day. The stories in Crime Travel were fascinating because they all involved a mystery and time travel. I found them so intriguing that I contacted Barb Goffman, who edited the anthology, to learn more about the theme and how the anthology came about. Crime Travel is definitely an anthology to add to your to be read collection for those times you have only minutes to read.

 

Crime Travel 

This short story collection features 15 stories from various authors that combine time travel and crime fiction. The stories are very creative, involving a variety of methods of time travel from people who build machines to those who stumble upon strange ways to get back in time. The periods range from people traveling to the present, to those traveling to Shakespeare’s England, a New Jersey beach town in the 1970’s, and a couple trips to the 1960’s to name a few. Meanwhile, we get a couple capers, a locked room mystery, and a hard-boiled PI among other great stories.

 

Mark Baker – Carstairs Considers

www.amazon.com

 

 

Welcome to Writers Who Kill, Barb.

 

Crime Travel is unique in that each story features a mystery involving time travel. What inspired the time travel theme?

 

Time travel is fun. The idea has intrigued me since I was a kid, and I have long loved watching TV shows and movies about it and reading about it. So a time travel/crime anthology was right up my alley. The beauty of an anthology like this one is that you can have so many really different settings—we had one story travel to Elizabethan England and another to 1970s New York City, just for instance—and have stories involving real historical events, if you want, which makes it all even more interesting. As an author and editor, I couldn’t resist. 

 

For those unfamiliar with anthologies, please tell us how this collection of stories came about?

 

The answer to this question also addresses, in part, the inspiration for the theme of this book. Six years before Crime Travel came out, I wrote a story involving time travel, but I hadn’t been able to find the right home for it. A friend suggested I put together a time travel anthology and include my story. It seemed a bit self-serving to do that, but since I love the topic, I pitched the idea of publishing a charity anthology of stories mixing crime and time travel to Wildside Press, and they signed on, agreeing to publish a book with fifteen stories. It helped that they knew me. At the time I approached them, Wildside had been the publisher of the Chesapeake Crimes series for about a decade—that was a series I edited with Donna Andrews and Marcia Talley. It also helped that Wildside is a publisher that focuses on mystery/crime and on science fiction and fantasy. Crime Travel was a great fit for them.

 

Is there a difference between an anthology and a collection of short stories?

 

An anthology is a book of short stories written by multiple authors. A collection is a book of short stories all written by the same author. People often use the terms interchangeably, but technically, that is the difference. 

 

What was your role as the editor? 

 

I created the call for stories and decided how to solicit them. I then read all the submissions, chose the stories, edited them, worked with the authors on revisions, chose the story order, worked with the publisher to have advance review copies sent to reviewers, worked with the authors and publisher on proofreading, arranged to have a cover reveal on Kristopher Zgorskiʼs BOLO Books blog, chose the publication date of December 8, which is Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day, and danced a jig when contributor Eleanor Cawood Jones arranged for us to have a book launch at the Barnes and Noble store she worked at. When the book was released, the authors and I promoted the book, and I ensured the stories were submitted for award consideration, where applicable. I also chose the charity the book supports: 826DC, a Washington, DC, nonprofit designed to help children and teens improve their creative and expository writing skills, as well as help teachers inspire children to write. All royalties are donated to this organization.

 

What came first, the lineup of authors or the publisher? 

 

The publisher. I wanted to ensure I had everything arranged before I put in the time of doing all the things mentioned above. I also didn’t want to ask people to write stories without knowing for sure that the anthology would come out, as well as without knowing who the publisher would be and how much they would be paid. 

 

You have an outstanding list of authors who contributed to Crime Travel, many of them award-winning short story writers. Did you have an open submission or did you invite the authors whose stories were included?

 

Thanks for saying so, Grace. I employed a combination of those two methods. I set aside three slots for authors I invited. I hoped mentioning these authors’ names in the call for stories would encourage others to submit, and I hoped their names would help with sales upon publication. I also set aside one slot for my own story. Then, to fill the remaining eleven slots, I put out a call for stories to four different groups I am a member of: the Short Mystery Fiction Society, the Chesapeake Chapter of Sisters in Crime, the Guppies Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and the SleuthSayers blog. I limited submissions in this manner because I feared I otherwise would be overwhelmed with submissions. But I do like to work with newer authors, so I was glad to have eleven of the slots filled through quasi-open submission. Some of the stories I accepted through this process were from established writers, but others were from authors much earlier in their careers.

 

If open submission, did you receive many submissions, and did you select the stories that appear in the collection?

 

On top of the three solicited stories, I received 53 submissions. And yes, I chose the stories. It wasn’t easy.  

 

What guidelines did you give them?

 

In the call for stories, I said that I was looking for short stories involving crime/mystery and time travel. All crime sub-genres were welcome, but I mentioned that I’m partial to soft-boiled, traditional, and cozy stories. And I set a word-count limit. 

 

Your story in Crime Travel, "Alex's Choice," was very touching. What inspired this story. 

 

Thank you. I’m so glad you liked it. It was inspired by two things. First, I had read a newspaper article about an entire family that had died in a riptide, as they all tried to save the family dog, who had been swept out into the ocean. Sadly, the only one who crawled out of the surf that day was the dog. I cried when I read that article, and I wished I could go back and change things for that family. My second inspiration was my first dog, Scout. I was heartbroken when he died, and a month later, I found myself thinking about him and thinking about that poor family, so I wrote a time travel story involving a dog that winds up in the ocean and the family that tries to save him. A member of my writing group told me after reading the story that I didn’t need a bereavement group; I had worked it all out on the page. That story went on to be named a finalist for the Agatha and Macavity awards, for which I am grateful. 

 

Your short stories appear in multiple publications and have won prestigious awards. Is there one that thrills you the most?

 

That is like asking a mom to choose her favorite child. They all are special to me for different reasons. I will say that I was extremely honored last year to receive the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Since I have devoted my writing career to mystery/crime short stories, it was wonderful to be recognized by the organization made up of authors and readers of mystery/crime short stories.

 

A number of anthologies have come out in recent years featuring stories inspired by the music of certain artists. What music or song would inspire you to write a story?

 

My most recent story was inspired by a song, actually. “Keep It Dark” was published in March in the anthology In Too Deep: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Genesis. I loved listening to Genesis in high school and college, so I was delighted when Adam Meyer invited me to contribute a story to this anthology. He sent me a list of songs to choose from. I had never heard “Keep It Dark” before. So I listened to it, and I was inspired. It’s about a man who has a secret, something he has to keep hidden because people aren’t ready for his truth. I can’t really say more without giving things away, but I think readers of this interview will enjoy the story.

 

Have you written longer? If so, which do you find harder to write?

 

My short stories have gone as long as nearly 15,000 words, which technically is a novelette. And I have one finished novel that has been in a drawer for fourteen years, so yes, I have written longer. I can’t say I find it harder to write novels versus novelettes versus short stories of other lengths. They require different skill sets, different approaches. In the end, I have decided to focus my career on short stories because I enjoy writing them more. They give me flexibility, and I can write a lot of them in the time it would take to complete a novel. 

 

What advice would you give to someone who would like to write short stories? 

 

Read them. Read a lot of them. In 2012, I participated in a project in which I tried to read a short story every day. I didn’t meet that goal, but I came close. Reading so many stories in a concentrated period helped me improve my craft because I could see what worked and what didn’t.

 

How does a writer find an anthology to submit to?

 

Join the Short Mystery Fiction Society. It is an online group and is free to join. There is a lot of discussion about craft, and you will see calls for stories listed there too. Go to https://groups.io.  Then search for the society.

 

What is the most valuable thing you have learned since you started writing?

 

You can’t guarantee anything you write will be published (unless you self-publish), and if something you wrote is published, you can’t guarantee anyone will read it or that you will get any feedback on it. And you certainly can’t count on making a living from writing. So make sure you enjoy the journey. Do it for the love of writing. Then everything else that comes, if and when it comes, is a wonderful bonus.

 

What are you working on at the moment? Do you plan to do another anthology? 

 

I am not in the middle of writing anything right now. But about three weeks ago an editor requested a flash story (1,000 words or fewer) that I wrote a couple of weeks ago. It’s called “Half-Topless” and has already been accepted, and it is scheduled to come out in December. I will share more about that publicly when I can.  

Anthology-wise, I am working on edits to stories that will appear next spring in Hooked on Urban Legends—and Murder, which I am editing with Donna Andrews and Marcia Talley. Donna, Marcia, and I will be doing at least one more anthology after this one, and we plan to put out our call for stories either later this summer or in the fall, with submissions limited (as usual for the ones we do together) to members of the Sisters in Crime Chesapeake Chapter. While these books are not chapter-run anthologies, we limit our submissions in this manner because we like to give back to the chapter that has helped us so much. We also donate all royalties to the chapter. 

Grace, thank you so much for inviting me to do this interview. I am thrilled to know that people are still reading Crime Travel five years after it was published, and I hope people continue to pick it up. I received an Anthony Award nomination for this book, and stories in the anthology were nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Derringer, Macavity, and Shamus awards, so I feel confident telling mystery/crime readers that if you like time travel, this anthology will be well worth your time.  

Thank you, Barb. 

 

Bio: Barb Goffman (www.barbgoffman.com) has been a finalist for major crime-fiction short story awards forty-eight times, and sheʼs won the Agatha four times, the Macavity twice, and the Anthony, Derringer, and Ellery Queen Readers Award once each. She is a current Macavity Award finalist for her story “The Postman Always Flirts Twice,” which won the Agatha Award in April. And she is a current Anthony Award finalist for her story “A Matter of Trust,” as well as an Anthony Award finalist for the anthology Murder, Neat (along with co-editor Michael Bracken). That anthology won the Derringer Award in May. Barb was the 2024 recipient of the Short Mystery Fiction Society’s lifetime achievement award. Sheʼs a freelance editor, often working on traditional and cozy mysteries, and sheʼs an editor of Black Cat Weekly magazine. Her newest story, "Keep It Dark," is published in In Too Deep: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Genesis.

Recipes for a Mystery by KM Rockwood

Enjoyed for their twisting plots, red herrings, suspense, and revelation of secrets, mystery novels occupy a beloved place in modern fiction. Many are cozy mysteries that include recipes.

Too Many Cooks, in the Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout, published in 1938, is the first mystery novel I could find that contains actual recipes.

Dorothy Sayers’ 1930 novel A Strong Poison does have a judge reciting the recipe for an omelet, but it’s not presented as a recipe.

Today many cozy mysteries have a strong food connection. Much of the story may center around food. The protagonist can be a caterer, a baker, or otherwise be employed in food service. The demise of the victim might be traced to poisoning, choking, or allergies.

 Readers love hearing about the brave, smart, and relatable, and usually female protagonists who solve these mysteries. They also look forward to the recipes which will be included.

 Food and recipes have obvious potential roles in story development. In addition to being obviously useful conveyors of murder, they function as narrative tools—offering clues, enriching character, and setting mood.

Whether they are central to the plot or subtly layered into the background, recipes provide warmth, humanity, and comfortable familiarity to soften and contrast with the death and deception that is intrinsic to the genre.

Cozy mysteries invite readers to participate in the “who done it” aspect of the novel. When they contain recipes, they add an interactive element that invites the readers to immerse themselves in an additional component of the story. Who hasn’t read a particularly tempting recipe and then paused to think “Maybe I should try that?”

Recipes in mystery novels are far more than decorative flourishes.

 In modern cozy mysteries—a subgenre that favors amateur sleuths, small towns, and a light tone—recipes often play a direct role in solving crimes.

The way in which recipes and food are used provide a powerful tool in defining the amateur sleuth. Ethnic background, socio-economic levels, work ethic, problem-solving abilities, and interaction with others are exhibited in a fashion that intrigues the reader and avoids the dreaded “information dump.”

Cozy mysteries are set in comfortable settings which are disrupted by shocking events. Food service routines, like a family dinner or an afternoon tea, anchor the peaceful background even as the characters’ lives are roiled and descend into chaos. Festivals and other community events emphasize the usual tenor of the setting which has been disturbed by crime.

Recipes can broadcast comfort with foods such as soups and stews, or hint at the more exotic and daring.

The culinary mystery boom is one of the most popular subgenres in today’s mystery world, and shows little sign of losing its popularity any time soon.

To see some of the best contemporary “Recipes for a Mystery,” visit mysteryloverskitchen.com. 

Summer's Calling: 5 Easy Outdoor Activities by Teresa Inge

I enjoy summer for its outdoor adventures and fresh air. Here are some simple activities to try this season.

Visit a Farmer's Market / Farmers Market Finder 
During the summer, I visit farmer's markets for a classic summertime experience to buy fresh produce and vegetables during their peak season.  

Farmer’s markets offer more than just produce; they function as community centers to support local farmers and small businesses. Additionally, I never pass up the chance to buy home-grown tomatoes to make my favorite tomato sandwiches with mayonnaise.

Go on a Bike Ride / Ride Better Tips
Biking offers both exercise and a chance to explore—whether heading to the store, enjoying scenic views, or cycling around the neighborhood like me.

It’s also a great summer activity for all ages. But if it's been a while, remember it's just like riding a bike—you'll pick it up quickly.

Take a Hike / All Trails Finder
Hiking is one of the most rewarding summer activities from leisure nature walks to wilderness adventures.

During the summer, I hike in parks and around lakes filled with flowers, trees, and scenic trails. But before you go, remember to bring water, bug spray, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes.

Go on a Camping Trip / Campground Search
Camping is a popular activity that has grilling, swimming, and sleeping under the stars in a tent or RV. Most campgrounds include hiking trails, open-air movies, supply stores, and allow pets.

Each year, my husband and I spend two weeks camping in our RV, enjoying nature, and meeting other campers.

See an outdoor concert / Outdoor Concert Search
Most towns offer summer concerts in their central areas. I attend concerts at my town center which are always fun. All you need is a festival chair and good spirits to join in. Schedules and details are usually posted online, and drinks are often available.

In summary, getting outside can do wonders for your physical well-being and general wellness. It can also reduce stress through simple, enjoyable activities.

Additional Summer Activities
Backyard Scavenger Hunt, Cornhole, Pool Party, BBQ Cookout, and Beach Days.

Diet Killers: Recipes for Readers – Chocolate Chip Scones from Molly MacRae

 

Welcome back to Diet Killers: Recipes for Readers. Today’s recipe is paired with Connie Berry’s Kate Hamilton Mysteries, a traditional mystery series that takes place in the UK. Kate Hamilton, a young widow, is an American antiques dealer with a curious mind and a gift for solving crimes. She’s an intelligent, resourceful character. She’s relatable, too. When romance blossomed between Kate and Detective Inspector Tom Mallory I couldn’t help but cheer them on.

Berry is adept at weaving contemporary and old mysteries into her intricate plots. Kate Hamilton is adept at teasing the twining strands apart, giving readers satisfying resolutions. Berry is also a master at setting a scene, whether she’s capturing the moody atmosphere of a Scottish island or the charms of an English village, I’m right there with Kate.

To date, there are five books in the Kate Hamilton Mystery series, starting with A Dream of Death. Book six, A Grave Deception, comes out December 9, 2025.

Scones, the traditional British tea treat, pair nicely with Berry’s traditional mysteries. Berry stirs the ingredients of her mysteries with a smooth hand, creating delectable books that leave me wishing for more. Scones require a gentle hand to produce tender results. I hope this recipe leaves you wanting more, too.

Chocolate Chip Scones

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed, very cold

1/2 cup heavy cream, plus extra for brushing on top

1 large egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup chocolate chips

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut the butter into the flour mixture with a pastry blender until the butter bits are the size of peas. Add the chocolate chips and stir briefly to distribute them evenly.

In a small bowl, whisk together cream, egg, and vanilla.

Working quickly and lightly (to keep the butter as cold as possible), use a fork to stir the cream mixture and flour mixture together, mixing until the dough holds together (like playdough) and is neither crumbly nor wet and sticky. If it is crumbly or wet and sticky, Add a tablespoon more cream or flour to reach the right consistency.  

Use a rubber spatula or bowl scraper to form the dough into a ball. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and flatten into an 8-inch disk.

Cut the disk into 8 wedges. Place the wedges on the prepared pan about 2 inches apart. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool the scones on the pan for 2 minutes, then move them to a cooling rack and cool for at least 10 minutes (otherwise the chocolate will be too hot and might burn your unsuspecting victims guests).

 

 

I'll Keep This Short by Mary Dutta

One of the pleasures of the writing life is attending writing conferences, which vary in size, length, focus, and location. Some cater to writers, others to fans, and some to both. In my time as a short story author I have enjoyed attending Bouchercon, Malice Domestic, Killer Nashville, and New England Crime Bake.

Short stories, however, often get short shrift at conferences. At best, there may be a panel or two, often focused on the stories nominated for awards. So, I was delighted to travel to Alexandria, Virginia last month to participate in ShortCon, which bills itself as the premier conference for writers of short crime fiction. In only its second year, and limited to just fifty participants, the one-day conference was a chance to dive deep into the craft and business of short fiction and to mix with fellow authors who love the form as much as I do.

The morning session featured S.J. Rozan, an Edgar winner for both Best Short Story and Best Novel. She focused on the craft of writing short and, to that end, had attendees try different writing exercises. For instance, she chose ten random words suggested by participants and gave us seven minutes to write a story including them all. No time to summon the muse. No time to edit. Just a pure shot of creativity.

The second presenter was Jeffrey Marks, an accomplished writer and the publisher for Crippen and Landru, who spoke about short story collections. A collection, as opposed to an anthology, features work by a single author. He explained what his publishing house looks for when buying a collection, a process I knew nothing about. After he discussed the various ways stories in a collection can be organized (by publication date, theme, time period when the story is set, etc.) we tried our hands at arranging a list of stories to what we felt was their best advantage. Not surprisingly in a room full of creative types, no two groups came up with the same table of contents.

The subject shifted to anthologies with the last presenter, Michael Bracken. Michael is a leading light of the short crime fiction community, the author of almost 1300 short stories, and the editor of more than thirty anthologies. His invaluable practical advice on submissions, editing, and writerly resilience resonated even with those who have already published in multi-author works.

To close out the day, award-winning author and editor Stacy Woodson facilitated a Q&A with all three presenters. The questions, like the earlier shared exercises, reflected the diversity of short crime fiction and its creators.

I left ShortCon feeling inspired by both the content and my fellow writers.  I also came away with some story ideas I’m now turning into finished works. I strongly encourage anyone who writes, or would like to write, short crime fiction to attend next year. I’ll definitely see you there—I’ve already signed up.

What writing events have inspired you, as a writer and/or a fan?

Page and Screen, by Lori Roberts Herbst

For those who haven’t turned on a TV in the past few weeks, you may have missed the news that this summer marks the 50^th anniversary of the movie Jaws. Like many of you, I rewatched the movie, seeing it for the third time after a twenty-five-year hiatus. It’s still a good one overall, though the fake shark did cause me to realize how spoiled computer-generated imaging has made me. 

 

As so often happens when I watch a film adaptation, I immediately thought of the book. Then I remembered that Jaws was one of the few movies I saw before I read it. That’s not the natural order of events, at least not for me. As an avid reader, I’m kind of a snob when it comes to such things. I always like to experience the story on the page before having someone else interpret their vision of it on the screen.

 

This led me to think of a movie I saw last week, The Life of Chuck. Based on a same-titled Stephen King novella in the collection If It Bleeds, the film stars Tom Hiddleston. I enjoyed the movie so much—I laughed and cried and experienced the entire spectrum of emotions. Not so much for the people with whom I saw it. The movie made no sense to them. They didn’t get it. And so, they were bored. Because I’d read the story first, I knew what was happening in a way that perhaps novice eyes wouldn’t understand.

I know how risky it is to read a book before you see the movie. What is pictured on the screen will rarely rise to the level that a reader’s imagination can conjure. When I watch an adaptation, I often find myself saying, “No, that’s not right.” It’s the reason I’m of two minds about watching The Thursday Murder Club this August. On the one hand, I’m tremendously excited to see this amazing cast (Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Jonathan Pryce, Celia Imrie, David Tennant) bring to life characters I’ve truly come to love. On the other hand, what if the movie doesn’t live up to the story I’ve pictured in my head? 

 

But I’m trying to be optimistic, so taking that into account, I’ve compiled a list of movies that, in my mind, (almost) meet the quality of the books. See what you think.

 

Shawshank Redemption, from the Stephen King novella “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption,” in the collection Different Seasons. Starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. Adaptation score: 5+ stars. This is one movie that may actually eclipse the story.

 

The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. Starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort. Adaptation score: 5 tissues (I cried so hard reading the book I couldn’t see the page. The movie, too, is a sobfest).

 

The Bosch TV series on Amazon, based on the Harry Bosch book series by Michael Connelly. Starring Titus Welliver, this is another 5-star adaptation, largely because Welliver absolutely nails the characterization. I’ll never read another Bosch book without visualizing Welliver.

 

Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn. Starring Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck. Adaptation score: 4 stars. This might have ranked higher if I didn’t already know the twists that were coming. Also, if the male lead was someone other than Ben Affleck.

 

Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, and Josh Hutcherson. Adaptation score: 5 stars. The characters are well drawn, and the visuals are compelling.

 

Silence of the Lambs, by Thomas Harris. Starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. Here’s another movie I saw prior to reading the book, and the film version worked exceptionally well. Adaptation score: 5 stars.

 

Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton. Starring Laura Dern, Sam Neill, and Jeff Goldblum. Adaptation score: 4 stars, but it might have scored lower without Goldblum. Visually, the movie was fabulous, but storywise, it simply couldn’t condense the complexity of the book.

 

Interview with the Vampire, by Anne Rice. Starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Kristen Dunst. Adaptation score: 3.5 stars. The richness of the book’s prose gets lost beneath a star-studded cast prancing about in pale makeup.

 

Shutter Island, by Dennis Lehane. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, and Ben Kingsley. Adaptation score: 5 stars. The cinematography successfully captures the book’s tone, and the acting is superb.

 

Misery, by Stephen King. Starring James Caan and Kathy Bates. Adaptation score: 5 shivers. I couldn’t sleep after I read the book, and then I couldn’t sleep after I saw the movie.

 

Which books worked as movies for you? And which ones didn’t?

 

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 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