Memories of Thanksgiving

By Kait Carson

This will be my last post until the New Year, and I want to say thank you. To all of my readers, and to my blogmates. To my friends and family. To people I know and to those that I don’t. You all have taught me so much and enriched my life in so many ways. I am so very grateful. They say everyone needs a crew. I’m lucky to have found mine. Thank you.

2025 has been a helluva ride. On November 27^th, I’ll be sitting at my Thanksgiving table with my husband (closely attended by three cats and a dog because, well, food) and reflecting on all the wonderful, crazy, breathtaking experiences of 2025. Our traditional Thanksgiving dinner is simple. Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. If we’re lucky, a light snow will be falling. We may dream of a white Christmas, but I’m here to tell you that a white Thanksgiving has a charm all its own.

We’ll talk about Thanksgivings past. The days when I worked with law enforcement as a civilian volunteer and issued an open invitation for anyone working the holiday to stop by for a bite. A police car occupied every bit of lawn and parking space at my house. My newly moved in next-door neighbors, understandably concerned that something awful had happened, called in a panic. When I explained what was going on, they came over to join in the fun. Turned out they both worked for the District Attorney’s Office and knew a lot of my guests.

Then there is the indelible childhood memory of watching the turkey go up in flames. I grew up in apartments, and they had tiny galley kitchens with even smaller appliances. My mother had a big family. Dad would cook the bird outside on the grill when he could, but some years, that didn’t work out. As a religious devotee of Gourmet Magazine, my mother spatchcocked the bird, baked it, and intended to finish it under the broiler. It went well until a wee bit of the skin got too close to the flame and ignited. Still would have been fine, except Dad reached for the first glass that came to hand. Scotch. Yep. Turkey Flambé. I liked it, but I think I was alone in my preference. Sometimes it pays to be seven.

While we eat, we’ll talk about our plans for Christmas and the year ahead. After dinner, we’ll light the Christmas houses display my husband inherited from his mother. Then we’ll watch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles for the twenty-something time and debate whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. I’m a no. Hubs is a yes.

What does this have to do with writing? Nothing and everything. It’s moments like these that fill the well and sometimes provide scene fodder.

What are your holiday traditions? Have any of your holidays been blessed with outlandish events? Will you dish?

 Hope that all have a very wonderful holiday season, and that the balance of 2025 brings all you desire. See you in 2026!

Kait Carson writes the Hayden Kent Mysteries, set in the Fabulous Florida Keys, and is at work on a new mystery series set in her adopted state of Maine. Her short fiction has been nationally published in the True Confessions magazines and in Woman’s World. Kait’s short story, “Gutted, Filleted, and Fried”, appeared in the Silver Falchion Award nominated Guppy Anthology Hook, Line, and Sinker. Her nonfiction essay was included in the Agatha Award-winning book Writing the Cozy Mystery. She is a former President of the Guppy Chapter of Sisters in Crime, a member of Sisters in Crime, and Guppies.

 

Teddy Roosevelt, Elvis Presley, the Smithsonian, and a Cozy Mystery

By Heather Weidner

Today is National American Teddy Bear Day. I have collected teddy bears in all shapes and sizes since my uncle sent me my first one from Vietnam when he was stationed there in the late 1960s.

The beloved toy was created to honor President Theodore Roosevelt, who while on a hunting trip, refused to shoot a bear cub that was tied to a tree. Clifford Berryman captured the event in a political cartoon that caught the attention of Morris Michtom and his wife Rose. They created a stuffed bear, and after getting Roosevelt’s permission, they marketed the Teddy Bear, and the rest is history. It was such a success that Michtom eventually founded the Ideal Toy Company. The teddy bear has been a part of everyday life since.

In 1921, A. A. Milne, who also wrote The Red House Mystery, introduced the world to Winnie-the-Pooh, a collection of stories that he wrote for his young son, and later the famous bear became a beloved Disney character with the animations of Milne’s stories.

The teddy bear became a part of a popular culture craze again in the 1950s when a rumor spread that Elvis Presley liked the toy. Thousands of his fans mailed him stuffed bears to declare their adoration. Several song writers who also heard the rumor, wrote the song “(Let Me Be) Your Teddy Bear” that Elvis eventually sang in the movie, Loving You. In 1957, Elvis donated the thousands of teddy bears to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.

To commemorate the anniversary of the creation of the teddy bear, the Michtom family donated one of their original creations to Teddy Roosevelt’s grandson, Kermit, and the family eventually donated it to the Smithsonian where it is still on display.

The loveable stuffed toys have been a part of our iconography for over the past hundred years, and they take center stage in my upcoming Jules Keene Glamping mystery, Teddy Bears and Ghostly Lairs. In this cozy, the town of Fern Valley, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has overdosed on cuteness for its first teddy bear and toy festival. Adorable bears have taken over every inch of the town, and Jules Keene can barely keep up with all the guest check-ins at her glamping resort. To add to the fun, a team of paranormal investigators set their sights on her vintage trailers and the new treehouse as they investigate the local haunts. It quickly becomes evident that things aren’t all sweet and cuddly when someone absconds with collectible toys. Then to make matters worse, Jules and her friends trip over something not so other-worldly at an abandoned motel during a paranormal investigation. Jules has to calm frayed nerves and solve the mystery before there are any other thefts or grisly murders.

Do you have a favorite bear? Mine are Winnie-the-Pooh, Paddington Bear, and Gentle Ben.

Resources:

·        The Story of the Teddy Bear - Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)

·         History of Teddy Bears

·         The History of the Teddy Bear

·         https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/08/24/elvis-not-fond-of-teddy-bears

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. She blogs regularly with the Writers Who Kill.

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 Mini Aussie Shepherd. 

Danielle Arceneaux's Glory Daze

 

By Margaret S. Hamilton

 

Danielle Arceneaux knocks her second book, Glory Daze, out of the ballpark. Glory Beverly Broussard is a sixty-something divorcee enjoying her second career as a bookie. Her life is finally settling down after she identifies her best friend Amity Gay’s killer in the first book of the series, Glory B. She meets her gambling clients on Sunday mornings at the CC Coffee House in Lafayette, Louisiana.

And then along comes trouble—Valerie Le Blanc, the despised second wife of Glory’s ex, Sterling, who is missing. Valerie pleads for help finding him and, mindful of protecting her daughter Delphine, Glory goes on the hunt. She finds Sterling dead.

 

Delphine, a big city lawyer, arrives for her daddy’s funeral and sticks around with her friend, talented chef, Justice, to assist Glory in identifying Sterling’s killer. For better or worse, Valerie joins the group of women. Going undercover, Glory investigates the casino where Sterling worked, and a racehorse stable affiliated with the casino.

 

Arceneaux’s pacing is excellent, with the settings of the casino, stable, and Glory’s home precisely detailed. Delphine is a well-drawn secondary character with a complex set of issues to resolve. Delphine’s relationship with her mother improves as they learn to respect and depend on each other.

 

Justice is a wonderful character, a talented up and coming chef who saves Glory’s reputation by creating her own variation of the traditional Mardi Gras king cake.

 

My favorite scenes describe Glory’s talents as a bookie and gambler. When she’s at the blackjack table in the casino, she’s a natural card counter:

 

Glory played double Dutch when she was a girl, and blackjack had a lot in common with it. First you got a sense of the speed of the ropes. Once you had a sense of the speed, you jumped right in and kept time. Just as she did last time, she wagered low amounts at first, until she got into the rhythm of the cards. Within five or so hands she was in the groove, just like when she was a girl, dancing and jumping between the ropes. (p.131)

 

Glory is a successful small-time bookie, who devises her own lines and percentages by watching on-line videos from Las Vegas experts. Glory, however, adds an additional factor—the wind. “Statistically, quarterbacks who know how to throw in the wind will always have the advantage, even with a weaker defensive line.” (p.44) Glory isn’t glued to ESPN, but rather, The Weather Channel.

 

Glory Daze is a terrific addition to Arceneaux’s series, set in a small southern town with big city problems.

 

Readers and writers, do you enjoy reading and writing about small towns?

 

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

 

Home - The Official Website of Margaret S. Hamilton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Interview with James M. Jackson By E. B. Davis

 

When your name is a lie, every truth can kill.

Three months after cutting a secret deal with the FBI's Deputy Director, ex-Special Agent Ashley Prescott gets her first off-the-books assignment: go back undercover as Niki and infiltrate Greenwar, a radical eco-cell executing executives of America's biggest polluters. Her way in? A dangerous cover as special assistant to the head of a powerhouse D.C. energy lobby. Access that could expose buried studies and dirty money—and paint a target on her back.

The assignment is already a death trap. But her real nightmare? The FBI surveillance team tracking her every move. Her former boss wants her silenced, buried, gone—and he's sent agents to make it happen. Now Niki is racing against two countdowns: Greenwar's next kill and the federal raid that will blow her cover wide open. One mistake, one moment of exposure, and she loses everything—her freedom, her mission, and the only life she wants.

The terrorists want justice. The agents who destroyed her career want her gone for good. And Niki? She just wants to survive long enough to take them all down.

Amazon.com

 

Niki Unleashed is the second novel in James M. Jackson’s Niki Undercover Thriller series featuring Ashley Pendergast Prescott, a federal agent, who undercover goes by the name Niki. She goes undercover for a special assignment for the FBI’s Deputy Director Ambrose, an assignment he created because he’s trying to protect a friend of his.

 

The assignment is to find the killer of the CEOs targeted by the environmental extremist organization Greenwar, and to do so she must infiltrate the splinter group. While trying to balance her personal problems with her family and its corporation and working undercover, Niki also finds that her old boss, Gex, is gunning for her.

 

As usual, Jim’s knowledge of technology keeps readers fascinated!                                                                                        E. B. Davis

 

When, after months of not hearing from Ambrose about an assignment, she meets him at a Nationals’ game where he creates a breach of security from the onset. Niki tells him about his breach and coaches him on undercover protocols. Why does Niki have to do so? Isn’t he well versed in FBI undercover procedures?

 

Thanks so much for another wonderful interview, E.B.

 

Ambrose is the #2 person at the FBI and is not versed in day-to-day operational details regarding undercover operations. Because Niki’s assignments are sub rosa, he can’t use Bureau resources who understand the complexity of successful undercover work.

 

Did you interview FBI and U.S. Marshals Service personnel to research this book?

 

In addition to reading books, articles, and training manuals, one of my past neighbors was a retired FBI Special Agent who worked many undercover assignments (mostly financial crimes). Besides taking me to a range to teach me how to shoot a pistol, we talked about his work. Everything I know about the US Marshals Service came from books or my imagination.

 

After spending years undercover infiltrating militia groups, Niki tells Ambrose her cover can’t be blown or her previous work will be for naught when she accepts the assignment of protecting the CEO, Jim Ford—an old friend of Ambrose’s, of American Hydrocarbons Institute from being targeted for assassination by the environmental extremists of Greenwar. How really can Ambrose ensure that Niki’s cover won’t be blown?

 

Blown-cover risk is something undercover agents fear because it endangers their lives. No one can guarantee a cover won’t be unmasked, but through meticulous backstory preparation, agents minimize the risk. Despite whatever Ambrose may claim, he can guarantee nothing.

 

To infiltrate Greenwar, Niki must ask Jim Ford to give her proof of environmental violations so she has the fodder Greenwar is looking to expose. This puts Jim Ford in the awkward position of trying to protect his life but by doing so compromising the integrity of the very organization he heads. Is it any wonder Ford only helps but so much?

 

How much is pride worth to you? Is it worth dying for? Not to me, but the rich, like Ford, have a different calculus and think they can escape paying a price for their misdeeds.

 

The Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau (ATF) has an undercover agent already in place at Greenwar. If they are after the same thing, why duplicate efforts?

 

As Ambrose explains it, they aren’t after the same thing. The ATF tasked Mike, their undercover agent, to discover who in Greenwar is using explosives and where they are getting them from. Ambrose and the FBI are trying to find whoever is killing the executives and stop that person before they strike again.

 

If Niki is now with the U.S. Marshals Service, doesn’t she have a boss she needs to report to?

 

She would, except the Marshals Service is unaware she’s a badge-carrying member of their organization. They don’t find that out until Hijacked Legacy (Seamus McCree #8). [Although published earlier, that novel occurs chronologically two years later.]

 

Since Greenwar is a midwestern group, Ashley decides to stay at her father’s house, which now belongs to her sister Tabitha, who allows their brother’s destitute family to live at the house. Ashley meets her nieces and a nephew, Jacob, who loves baseball. Since Ashley was a college softball star at UCLA, she takes a shine to Jacob, who is going through hard times since his father’s suicide and bankruptcy. Why is Ashley so drawn to Jacob?

 

In the beginning, guilt played a role: Ashley blames herself for Jacob’s father’s death, which brought on the financial hardship. It starts as an athlete-to-athlete connection, but grows deeper. Jacob needs a protector and a mentor, and Ashley steps into those roles—only later realizing the relationship has given her an impetus for personal growth.

 

Ashley and Seamus McCree have become lovers and partners especially when dealing with her family’s corporation, but he also helps with the logistics of her undercover assignments. Why wouldn’t Ashley read Seamus’s emails?

 

The emails relate to the Pendergast family business, of which Ashley wishes she had no part—but that’s not her fate. Given the choice of doing Pendergast business or almost anything else, she avoids the business. It’s not one of her strong points. Seamus’s emails are about business, so when she’s the least bit busy, she ignores them until they become critical—which, given we’re talking about a thriller, they do.

 

What are beta blockers that Ashley takes when she gets stress headaches? Is that like Prozac? Why does it help headaches?

 

Beta blockers are drugs that slow heart rate by blocking the effects of stress hormones, like adrenaline. Doctors sometimes prescribe them to reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing heart, shaking hands, and excessive sweating. Performers with anxiety often use beta blockers, as do people, like Niki, who have a fear of flying. In Ashley’s case, the beta blockers allow her shoulder and neck muscles to remain loose, and she doesn’t get tension headaches.

 

Does a water belt have a long straw so she can sip water when she runs?

 

Niki’s water belt carries two water bottles.

 

When Niki realizes that her old boss Gex is out to get her, she contacts Patrick McCree, Seamus’s son and technology expert, to make sure she has a way for Seamus, Rick, and her to communicate securely. Patrick recommends an online secure site where they can text only since there is technology that can conjure voices from vibrations on windows and ripples in water glasses. Is that a real thing? What’s it called?

 

It's a real thing that spy agencies have been using for years. They use laser microphones to detect the vibrations and sophisticated software to convert the vibrations into sound.

 

What was the Silk Road takedown? What is Tor?

 

Tor (The Onion Router) is software that provides online anonymity through encryption and hiding where the data is coming from. Ross Ulbricht founded Silk Road in 2011 as a darknet market that used Tor and bitcoin to hide transactions (the vast majority illegal—narcotics and other illegal products and services). The FBI cracked the network in 2013. Two years later, Ulbrick was convicted on multiple charges and given two life sentences without the possibility of parole. President Trump pardoned Ulbricht in January 2025.

 

Along with FBI Deputy Director Ambrose, Niki’s other boss is the Assistant Director of National Intelligence Park. Is that part of the NSA? Does he have access to FBI intel?

 

The Director of National Intelligence oversees many U.S. intelligence programs, including the National Security Agency (NSA). That includes FBI intelligence. Park, as an assistant director, would also have that access.

 

Is OnX some sort of GPS program?

 

OnX is a GPS-mapping app that combines GPS location and tracking with accurate land ownership maps. It’s used by hunters, hikers, off-road enthusiasts, and me.

 

What’s the difference between Cell Site Location Information (CSLI) and GPS?

 

GPS uses satellites to pinpoint a location. Every time a cell phone connects to a cell tower, it generates data (CSLI), which includes which cell tower, and the time and duration of the connection. CSLI is not as precise as GPS, but is still very useful in law-enforcement suspect analysis.

 

What is water poisoning that occurs during rehydration?

 

When a dehydrated person drinks too much water without added electrolytes, it screws up the mineral balance of their blood, particularly regarding sodium. In severe cases, it can cause confusion, seizures, coma, and death.

 

Ashley worries that her ideals are greater than her loyalty to the people who sacrifice for her, like McCree. Why does she think that about herself?

 

Ashley is an extremely competent woman who has focused almost exclusively on doing her job as best she can. Like many people focused on work, she has compromised other aspects of her life. In her undercover assignments, she’s dealt with many individuals who, while motivated to correct what they perceive as wrongs against society, have changed from principled do-gooders to become judge, jury, and executioner. She hasn’t gone that far, but she’s crossed some lines, and it makes her wonder if she’s abusing her relationships to bring “justice” to those who need it.

 

What’s next and when?

 

Niki Undercover and Niki Unleashed took place in 2000. Two books in the Seamus McCree series, Granite Oath and Hijacked Legacy, occur in 2002. The third book in the Niki Undercover Thriller series takes place in 2025-6. She’s still working undercover, but a lot has changed since Niki Unleashed: in her life, in Seamus’s life (as Seamus McCree series readers know), and—as readers will learn—to Ambrose and Park. But bad actors are still threatening the government, and Niki faces her largest challenge ever to save the country, or (as they say) die trying.

Where Do You Get Your Ideas? by KM Rockwood

An aspiring fiction writer asked me, “Where do you get your ideas?”

We have all been asked that question at some point or another. Probably numerous times.

I firmly believe that everyone has a story to tell, and I like to be as encouraging and helpful as I can be when someone approaches me with such inquiries.

Over the years, I have answered that question with a number of possibilities. Sometimes a quick few sentences is all that’s needed; sometimes a person is asking seriously and is willing to take a little more time to hear possibilities.

A standard answer is observing something, asking questions and following where that leads. A well-dressed young man with a fine leather suitcase is sitting in a dingy downtown bus depot looking at a cheap flip phone. What is he doing here? Well-dressed young men don’t often take intercity buses, at least not from dingy downtown bus depots. Is he an accountant carrying a suitcase full of cash he has embezzled from his employer and is ultimately headed for the Caymen Islands, but he doesn’t want to leave a trail of airline tickets in his name? Maybe he’s a spy whose cover has been blown, carrying the plans for a secret weapon, and is desperately trying to reach a safe house. Has he left his wife and family, not taking his car since his location could then be tracked? Might he even have killed the wife and family and is now trying to put distance between himself and the scene of the crime?

Current events can provide a rich launching point for novels. Even if our own lives aren’t filled with crime and drama, we’re constantly bombarded with news stories about what’s happening around us, and much of what is reported is fodder for fiction. One caveat here, though. Just because something really happened doesn’t mean it’s believable enough for fiction. Our stories can’t leave readers saying, “That’s way out there. I don’t see how that could ever happen,” when true events frequently fall into that category.

History, both factual and legend, is full of possibilities. It can form the basis for historical fiction, or past incidents can be rewritten into modern events. Cultures and habits and beliefs can change over the years, but we humans seem to be very consistent in our tendency to indulge in nefarious activities. And our attempts to avoid the consequences.

Motivation is at the very core of crime fiction. Sorting through the psychological thought patterns that result in crime. Have we a character who is impulsive and thrill-seeking? Do jealousy or rage play a part? How about lack of empathy and an attempt to justify the unjustifiable? Greed? Desperation? Does “belonging,” a basic human need, mean joining a gang and trying to impress the leadership and other members? While these influences are important, ultimately fictional stories arise from the depths of our own imaginations, and everyone’s imagination is different.

After the conversation about where ideas come from with the aspiring writer, I found myself wondering, “Where do I get my ideas?”

And listened to the numerous characters clamoring in my head, all insisting that their particular story needed to be the next one I worked on.

WWMD? What Would Mary Do?

 by Shari Randall

We writers are always looking for inspiration, aren't we? At least I am. And I don't mean pie-in-the-sky-visit-from-a-Muse inspiration. I mean inspiration to get butt in the chair and fingers on the keyboard. 

Some people have the hard-won inspiration of a disciplined routine. I have an erratic schedule, so that doesn't work for me. No, what works for me is plain old guilt.

When my self-discipline flags and I need to sit down and write I think, "What would Mary do?" Mary Higgins Clark was the author of over 50 books, including the mega-bestseller Where Are The Children? Dubbed "The Queen of Suspense," Clark crafted resilient characters who faced challenging, often deadly, situations with grit and determination.

That determination was part of her own DNA. Widowed with four children, Clark would rise to write at 5 AM until 7 AM when she'd ready her children for school and herself for work.

So, no excuses. If Mary could make time for writing, so can I.

What author inspires you?

Shari Randall is the author of the Lobster Shack Mystery series, and, as Meri Allen, the author of the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries.

COZY MYSTERIES: TIPS FOR CHOOSING A THEME

by Korina Moss 

A theme, as it refers to cozy mysteries, is the topic or hook that sets your book apart from others. Cozy mysteries all have an amateur sleuth, a close-knit town or neighborhood, likable sidekick characters, and a murder to solve. The focus is on solving the “puzzle” of the mystery and allowing your readers to try to solve it along with your sleuth. The biggest distinguishing factor for a reader on first glance is a cozy’s theme. It might be their profession: librarian, postmistress, or in my case in the Cheese Shop Mystery series, a cheesemonger. It might be a hobby: knitting, doing crossword puzzles, or antiquing. It might be a specialty of your protagonist: fixing old clocks, knowledge of botany, or being a history buff. Your choices are varied, but they are not limitless. There are important factors to consider when deciding on your theme. 

1. Does it interest me?

2. Can I make it central to each book?

3. Can readers relate to it and/or learn something new about it?

4. Do I know enough about it, or can I learn about it?

5. Are there cozy elements to it? 

6. Is it a theme that’s already been done to death? (pun intended)

7. How can I market it?

1. Does it interest me?

Although I was your average cheese eater before beginning the Cheese Shop Mystery series, I loved cheese. And the more research I did on it and the more cheese shops I visited, the more I loved it. Sharing your authentic interest with your readers will shine through.

2. Can I make the theme central to each book?

The theme is not meant just to be a backdrop. It should almost be its own character. It should be important to your protagonist, perhaps even their passion. The theme should be incorporated into the plot of every book. When readers ask me what idea I come up with first when writing my Cheese Shop Mysteries, I tell them I think of how some aspect of cheese will be the focus of the plot. In the first book, it was the opening of the Curds and Whey shop itself. In another book, it was a very valuable stolen bleu cheese. Another took place at a dairy festival. It was very important to my publishing editor that I went all in on the theme of cheese. 

My books go all in with the
cheese theme.

3. Can readers relate to it and/or learn something new about it? 

Everybody knows cheese and most people have a strong opinion about it. With so many kinds of cheeses, its long history, and its international renown, there’s also so much the average cheese eater doesn’t know about cheese. It’s relatable but there are so many more interesting fun facts to know about it. Incorporating something others love to do or eat is a great way to connect with readers. Giving them some interesting insider information about it through your protagonist is also something readers look for in a cozy. 

4. Do I know enough about it/are there ways to further learn about it?

You don't have to be an expert on your topic. However, you should consider the research aspect of it. How much time are you willing to put into the research? Are there ways to research your topic beyond online? (For example, I spent time with cheesemongers, cheesemakers, and cheese shop owners, as well as researching online.) You want your protagonist to feel authentic, so make sure you know as much as she or he is supposed to know.  

5. Are there cozy elements to it? 

Maybe the question to ask first is, what makes something cozy? Think about how your theme will fit into your book. Will it be a gathering place for members of your fictional community? Will the setting itself or the atmosphere give readers a sense of comfort or happiness? Will it offer your protagonist respite, joy, or time to reflect? It doesn’t have to be all of these things but if you can say yes to one or two, then it’s cozy. 

6. Is it a theme that’s already been done to death? 

If there are too many books already out there with your theme, you have to work harder to make it stand out. You may be thinking, it’s a different book with different characters; of course it stands out! But marketability relies on more immediate factors. You need to hook readers as quickly as possible, which means a striking theme or setting, an intriguing pitch, or an evocative cover. Preferably, all three if you can manage it. And if you can find a cozy theme that you haven't seen done before, all the better. 

Andover's theme is unique, made doubly
cozy by the literary-themed cocktails
served at the lounge. And this cover brings
the coziness home. 

7. How can I market it? 

You may want to consider if the theme offers interesting marketing ideas or specific places that would carry your book. Lucy Burdette takes advantage of her Key West Food Critic theme by holding many popular events in Key West, where she lives half the year. When I was in the gift shop of one of the Newport, RI Mansions, I saw a display of Alyssa Maxwell’s The Gilded Newport Mysteries. I’ve done Cheese and Murder Mystery Pairing events in conjunction with a local cheese shop, where I talk about my Cheese Shop Mysteries and a cheesemonger gives a guided tasting of some of the cheeses mentioned in my books. 

The cheesemongers at Spread Cheese 
prepare plates for one of our
Cheese & Murder Mystery Pairing events.

Choosing a cozy mystery theme isn’t like throwing a dart in the dark. It’s the foundation of your entire series. Your characters, setting, and plot are all determined by your theme. Before you start writing, ask yourself these seven questions. Choose wisely and have fun with it! 

Readers: Which cozy mystery themes automatically draw you in? 

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery, which includes the winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, as well as 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 mysteries. To learn more or subscribe to her free monthly newsletter, visit her website korinamossauthor.com.

Giving Back as a Mentor: An Opportunity to Receive, As Well.

 By Lisa Malice, Ph.D.

One morning, not long ago, Mystery Writers of America (MWA) announced a new program in need of volunteers, a mentorship program for emerging writers. At first, I intended to disregard the email. After all, I’m a debut author of one psychological thriller, Lest She Forget, not a seasoned one with a shelf full of successful books to my credit. Moreover, I’m struggling to finish my second thriller. How could I possibly be of value to a writer whose journey is not too far behind my own?

To be sure, I’m always quick with one answer when asked for advice from those toiling along on their pathway to write, publish, and sell their first mystery, thriller, or suspense novel--"the best way to reach one’s publishing goals is to be active in the crime writing community via organizations and conferences.” This message, in fact, was the focus of two keynote conferences speeches I delivered this year, the first at the Venice (Florida) Book Fair and Writers Festival (below, right, the other at Killer Nashville (below, left). 

Still. serving as a mentor focused on the specific needs of a writer still working on that first book sounded beyond my proficiencies. But as I considered my publishing path, I realized my experiences, both the wonderfully productive and the awfully frustrating, could help someone.  So, I submitted my name and desire to work with a writer ready to find that agent or publisher.

As it turned out, my mentee was already querying agents and not getting any traction, just as I’d experienced early on in my publishing journey. I read her manuscript and immediately knew why. Like me early on, her thriller had a slow opening, a heroine who needed more depth to her background and internal dialogue consistent with the story’s stalker theme, and too many POVs characters tamping down the mystery and suspense of the plotline. She was excited to get my feedback and willing to set aside her search for an agent to rework her story.

I paid a well-credentialed developmental editor a big chunk of change for this same feedback, and it was great advice that fostered a rewrite of my story that finally landed me an agent and a publisher.

As we discussed opportunities for reworking her story (while emphasizing to the need to keep it her story), I realized my suggestions applied to me and my foundering work-in-progress—I, too, needed to eliminate one POV character and build more intensity around another. It was also gratifying to know that my own experience could help an aspiring novelist work through the issues keeping her story from being the best it could be, one that would intrigue not just agents, editors, and readers (like me).  

Lesson learned for me—those who giveth of themselves, also receive in so many ways. I encourage all to consider volunteering to mentor. In addition to MWA, Sisters in Crime also has a mentoring program. The Guppy Chapter also has a program called Fantasy Agent. You receive 30 pages of a manuscript and give advice to the unpublished author. 

Learn more about the value of mentorship for both parties at www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/why-is-a-mentor-important

How has being a mentor or mentee benefited to your life and goals?

 

Finding a Family, by Lori Roberts Herbst

 After spending most of our lives in the Dallas area, my husband and I moved to Colorado Springs last year and bought a house in a wonderful 55+ community. In the past, I’ve lived in some pleasant neighborhoods with friendly people, but I’ve never been in a place where the people welcomed me so completely. I feel so at home here, so accepted for who I am, so included and involved.

Witches Night Out at the community clubhouse.

It's a feeling I didn’t know I was missing until I got it.

The same is true in my life as an author. When I embarked on this journey seven years ago, I was a complete novice. Oh, I’d read lots (and lots and lots) of books. But in the same way that taking showers all my life didn’t make me a plumber, it turns out devouring fiction doesn’t automatically create a novelist.

A year later, after much trial and so much error, I was making a few small strides. Slowly. Painfully.

Then I stumbled across Sisters in Crime. With 4,500+ members, and with chapters around the globe, Sisters in Crime offers an abundance of sub-groups that offer writers at every stage a place to fit in. I started by joining the Guppies, which stands for “The Great Unpublished.” These days, the Guppies comprise of a mixture of published and yet-to-be published authors, with the former group providing advice and support to the latter. I can’t tell you what the Guppies’ encouragement meant to me. They showed me a path I hadn’t known existed.

My strides accelerated.

Then I branched out, exploring the resources available from SinC—so many that after six years of membership, I’ve only just skimmed the surface. Next, I connected with a local chapter in Dallas and found an in-person community to match the online one. Now that I’ve moved, I’ve joined the Sisters in Crime Colorado chapter, a robust group that has brought even more friendship, laughter, and opportunity to my life. 

SinC Colorado tea and book exchange.

And speaking of opportunity, several of my fellow bloggers here at Writers Who Kill are members of SinC. It was through their referrals that I got this blogging gig.

In fact, I gained so much as a member of Sisters in Crime that I felt called to give back. For the past few years, I have served as national board secretary, and it’s been such a positive experience. Sisters in Crime is only as successful as the volunteers who help keep it running, and I’m honored, in my small way, to help that happen.

Writers mostly work alone, and for the most part, we like it that way. Alone is where the stories bloom and the words flow—for me, at least. But my neighborhood and SinC friends taught me that stories, like joy, can also grow in community. This November, as we turn toward thoughts of gratitude, I’m so thankful to include these wonderful people in my life.

Where do you find your community?

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

***

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 

SURVIVING THE DEBUT AUTHOR EXPERIENCE by Jennifer Sadera

(I met Jennifer Sadera at Bouchercon and fell into her net as described below. Inviting her to post on the Writers Who Kill blog was a given. She has great advice for debut authors.)  --- Susan Van Kirk

 

On November 11^th, I will officially cease to be a debut novelist. My psychological suspense novel, I KNOW SHE WAS THERE (CamCat Books, November 2024) turns one year old as the paperback version hits store shelves. Like so many others, I’m a touch emotional about it. Last year, just before my book released, suspense novelist extraordinaire Carter Wilson told me something like this: Releasing your debut novel is both the most exciting and most disappointing experience you can imagine.

 He’s right! After 12 long years in the querying trenches I couldn’t fully believe I sold my novel. In the blink of an eye, my advance reader copies arrived. Staring at my name on a beautiful book cover was surreal. And then—Pub Day—my book was out in the world.

Thrilling, right? But panic gripped me as I agonized over one looming question: Would anyone read it?

 How, exactly, do you get your debut novel into the hands of readers? You’ve covered the basics, appearing on podcasts and other authors’ blogs, securing book events at local bookstores and libraries and hitting up every book club you know. Your publisher has even reached out to various virtual and physical outlets, providing you with opportunities to share your story. You start to pick up traction, and then, nothing. The days fly by quickly, reminding you that you are not out pushing your book. A sense of doom begins to invade.

Most authors know this feeling. At best, it’s a very uncomfortable space to exist in. At worst, it’s a cliff edge. But it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how I survived and—dare I say—even thrived while launching my debut suspense thriller.

The best way to spread the word? Talk about the book! It seems obvious, but if you’re like me, you’re hesitant to draw attention to yourself. Writers tend to cringe at the idea of tooting the proverbial horn. Many of us are reticent by nature and bragging—even doing so humbly—is about as much fun as enduring a thousand cuts with a butter knife.

How did I solve this issue? I got someone else to do the bragging! When I was out and about with my husband, he would chat up anyone on my behalf. He would start conversations with this question: Did you know my wife here is a famous author? I did not ask him to say this. The first ten times he made the outrageous proclamation I blushed profusely, declared I was far from famous, and tried to escape each encounter with my dignity intact. But soon, I was playing along. I learned how to deflect his grandiose claim and twist it into the truth: I was not famous, but I did get my suspense novel published, and it was getting pretty good reviews.

Next, turn to the virtual community for help. Social media influencers (I worked with Instagrammers) are key to spreading the word in the beginning. These kind-hearted cheerleaders have the interest and clout to place your book on the virtual map. Since working with them, I have made so many new friends and really ingrained myself in the community. They are a godsend. Some authors work exclusively with influencers to promote their books. It’s a huge time-saver, allowing writers to do what they do best—write.

 

This approach works especially well if you are an established author with a large fan base, but debut authors have the challenge of introducing their writing and themselves to readers. Let’s face it, you are more likely to buy a book that a friend writes than an unknown author’s work, right? So how do you get yourself out in front of readers and turn them into friends?

If you have unlimited funds, writing conferences are a fantastic option. At these incredible annual events you will meet other writers and often readers looking for the next masterpieces to rock their worlds. Makes sense, right? If everyone is gathering at the watering hole you will go there, too, to get a drink. There are potential problems with this approach. While you will meet other authors and make influential friends, it’s difficult to just jump into conversations with strangers. Remember, most writers prefer to hole up in their offices with the characters they are creating.

There are a couple ways around this. You can reach out to conference organizers and try to get on a panel discussing topics that relate to your book. It’s a great way to establish yourself and get practice in public speaking. Also good: take a writing class at a conference. It’s the best way to bond with other writers at the same point in their careers as you—but expect to pay for it. Conferences tend to be pricey, and writers aren’t always as flush with cash as they are with words.

 

You can actually build a fan base by sticking close to home. People like to support their friends and neighbors, allowing authors a plethora of local opportunities. First, consider the obvious: Barnes & Noble outlets, independent bookstores, and libraries within a 20-mile radius. But don’t stop there! You may have even better luck in businesses not exactly known for working with readers. Some examples of fabulous book events I’ve had include the following: 

A bakery. I happened to be raving over the offerings of Baked by Susan, an establishment about a half-hour from my home. I made it my business to meet the owner and tell her that I hadn’t eaten a croissant as divine as hers since I’d visited Paris. She thanked me and offered me her card. I gave her mine. She was delighted to discover I was an author and offered to host a book event for me. She also shared her contacts at the local Chamber of Commerce and a newspaper she advertises in. Both pushed the event. I even got a write-up in the paper and had eager readers waiting for me when I arrived at the bakery for the book signing.

 A tie-in with a national event. A friend who works at the women’s clothing retailer J. Jill, asked if I would set up a book table at her store to talk about my book and celebrate women’s accomplishments during National Women’s History Month this past March.

Turns out, many who love beautiful clothes also enjoy reading!

 

A book club specific to genre readers through national retailers. I have done a number of book-signings at Barnes & Noble retailers in the New York/Connecticut/ New Jersey regions near my home. They are interesting and fun events, but by discovering genre-specific books club within B&N, I was able to attract more readers. B&N offers nationwide book club participation each month, but individual booksellers in satellite stores have their own favorites. By visiting individual Barnes & Noble outlets and speaking with the folks who run local book events through their store, I was able to tap into local book clubs that enjoy suspense novels. Every reader in the club buys the book though B&N which bulks up sales for the store—and for me.

And don’t discount the reliability of friends and family. Most of my sales have come from the word-of-mouth endorsements of those who know me. These folks are also willing to provide book reviews on sites like Goodreads and Amazon—as we know, a solid way to spread the word.

The most important thing to remember when promoting your debut novel is to have fun with it. I tell everyone how excited I am to share my book with readers. When they ask whether I tire of all the travel (I had six conferences in six different cities during the past six months) I smile—the genuine kind that comes from inside me—and explain that I will never complain about getting to do the thing I love most.

And it’s paying off. I just signed a contract for my next psychological suspense novel, MAYBE YOU LIED, due out in September 2026—and I can’t wait to share it with the world!

Annette Dashofy Interview By E. B. Davis

 

“I got tired of waiting on karma.” Loc 6248

“Criminals fall into one of two categories. Brilliant or stupid.” Loc 410

Annette Dashofy,

 

“Two bodies. One male, approximately fifty years old. One female, mid-twenties. Both shot execution-style, with one bullet to the back of the head.”

 

When a murderous ghost from Erie City Police Detective Matthias Honeywell’s past appears unexpectedly, his investigation into a double homicide in a quiet residential neighborhood gets increasingly complicated, and puts everything and everyone he cares about at risk – including photographer Emma Anderson.

 

Emma’s first day as the crime beat photographer for ErieLIVE wasn’t meant to see her photographing the scene of her predecessor’s murder, and with ties to the victim as well as a deadly fire that follows in the wake of the crime, she fears she may also be in the killer’s sightlines.           

                                                                        Annette Dashofy

The Devil Comes Calling is Annette Dashofy’s third book in the Detective Honeywell Mystery series. For me, this was a “wow” book. It led me gently, then smacked me. Emotionally charged, it portrayed two parent/child relationships—from one extreme to the other—love and hate. One mother belatedly redeems her daughter. The tale also shows why Detective Honeywell is who he is. Parents are transformational, which isn’t always a good thing, but strengthens character for those equipped to deal with adversity. Honeywell passed the test. But it impacts Emma and his relationship.

 

This book will be released on November 7th, just in time for the holidays. It’s a bargain priced at $2.99!

                                                                                                                 E. B. Davis

 

There are a lot of connections among the characters in this novel. Is Erie, PA a small town?

 

The definition of “small town” varies depending on who you’re talking to. Erie has a population of just under 93,000 and is the fifth most populous city in Pennsylvania, but compared to New York City or Los Angeles, yeah, it’s a small town.

 

Matthias and Emma both seem preoccupied and obsessed; Matthias with his father, Isaiah, and Emma with Russ Carlisle, a killer who messed with her sister. Part of each of them are living in the past or with the past. Are they out of touch even though they seem comfortable together?

 

Matthias and Emma are both haunted and wounded by their pasts. Since I first conceived this series, I’ve felt that both suffer survivor’s guilt. It’s been an underlying theme for the stories. In the first two books, the focus was on Emma’s past. This one shines a light on Matthias’s tortured history, but Emma has yet to resolve her inner demons. I don’t see these battles with the past as putting them out of touch. In fact, in both cases, their histories connect them and give them a greater understanding and appreciation of one another.

When another photographer leaves ErieLIVE, Emma fills her spot. Emma’s used to working on her own, but now she’s partnered with a journalist. On an assignment, Emma finds Matthias, who is a detective on the case. She realizes that having information could help Matthias, and yet, when he confides information in her, it puts her in a sticky situation with her new professional partner. How does she handle the problem?

 

It really is a sticky situation. Emma wants to believe that merely being a news photographer, not a reporter, means she shouldn’t have a conflict of interest with dating a cop. But Matthias shares information “off the record” and she also learns things about Preston that may impact the investigation, so she’s constantly put in a position that tests her loyalties … which are, of course, with Matthias. But she soon learns that telling him unsubstantiated rumors and her own suspicions might mean throwing her colleague under the bus when he may not deserve it.

 

I’ve heard of BOLO and Amber alerts, but what is an ATL, and are there other alerts we don’t know about?

 

ATL means Attempt to Locate. It’s a type of bulletin the police can issue to other law enforcement officers. In this case, they don’t have enough evidence for an arrest warrant, but they need to keep track of where this person is, so they specify they only want information on his address or the make and model of his car. They do not want him to be pulled over or detained. They only want the information to be relayed to them. Honestly, I hadn’t heard of it either until a police detective friend of mine suggested it for this situation.

 

“His biggest talent in life is figuring out a person’s weakness.

Their greatest fear. And playing on it.” Matthias assessing his father, Isaiah. Loc. 5709

 

After spending twenty-five years in prison for killing his wife, Matthias’s mother, Isaiah comes to Erie and insinuates himself into Matthias’s life. Isaiah says he wants to reconnect with Matthias, but he lies about him, transferring his own characteristics and actions onto Matthias. Isn’t that the definition of narcissism, and since he’s a killer, a narcissistic   psychopath?

 

Pretty much, yep. Isaiah is one nasty dude.

 

Does Detective Sergeant Cassie Malone ever use her superior rank on Matthias to her advantage?

 

Cassie has a lot of respect for Matthias, but she’s willing to remind him who’s in charge when need be. And since he’s hardly objective where his father’s concerned, she definitely needs to keep Matthias in line. Or try to.

 

Why doesn’t a revolver leave casings?

 

With a revolver, the bullet casing remains in the cylinder when the gun is fired. After all the rounds have been discharged, the shooter needs to empty the cylinder and reload. A semi-automatic pistol, on the other hand, ejects the casings.

 

In Colorado, was Havana Carlisle’s death ruled a homicide?

 

The powers that be in Colorado ruled her death as accidental. A skiing accident. Conveniently, the only “witness” to the accident was her husband, Russ. Matthias has been trying to get evidence that Russ was actually responsible for the death for quite a while to no avail.

 

Cassie likes to play with suspects. Is this a ploy or does she get her kicks messing with them?

 

She doesn’t get her kicks from it—unless she can get them to slip up and admit to lying. That definitely brings a smile to her face.

 

Why did Darcy’s parents dislike Preston?

 

They were fiercely protective of Darcy and believed Preston was dangerous and would harm their daughter. Also, I don’t think there was anyone they felt was good enough for her.

 

Although the first two murders looked like professional hits, there was inconsistent evidence confusing them. What didn’t seem professional to Matthias and Cassie?

 

Tossing the murder weapon where it was too easily found, for starters. The murder just feels too sloppy to be professional. While there are a number of suspects, none seem cold and calculating enough to be (or hire) a hit man.

 

Emma becomes suspicious of Boze, another journalist, because she’s learning from her past mistakes of trusting the wrong people. But when Isaiah lies to her about Matthias, she doubts Matthias, at least temporarily. Why?

 

It’s a kneejerk reaction for her. She trusts Matthias, but she had trusted another man in her past only to find out the hard way that her trust was misplaced. She questions if she’s doing it again. Thankfully, she does come to her senses relatively quickly when she thinks back on all Matthias has done to prove himself to her.

 

Cassie researches the money. Matthias researches relationships. Is this typical in their partnership?

Not necessarily, but Cassie knows Matthias isn’t fond of being stuck with financial reports. If she was annoyed with him, she’d definitely assign him that task and take the rest of the investigation for herself.

 

When you plot, do you have a general outline and then get more specific as you write? Do you make a series arc?

 

I’m a bit of a hybrid plotter/pantser. I know who the killer is and his/her motive, so I basically know the ending. I know a few of the plot twists I want to include along the way. But beyond that, I outline a few scenes or chapters ahead and then just write. As for a series arc, I do have a pretty good idea of how the characters will grow and how the end of one book will be the beginning of the next. But that’s for however many books are under contract rather than for an entire series, because, well, I don’t know how many books that will end up being!

What’s next for Emma, Matthias, and Cassie? 

 

The fourth, No Stone Left Unturned, (December 19^th released date) Detective Honeywell Mystery focuses on Cassie Malone’s family when Matthias must race to find out who shot Cassie’s much-loved husband.