Party Time or is There a Better Way to Reach Readers?

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Party
Time or is There a Better Way to Reach Readers? by Debra H. Goldstein

We’re
having a Facebook party on Tuesday night (August 18 from 8 to 9 p.m. EST/ 7 to
8 CST) and you’re invited! It’s a Facebook party being hosted by yours truly
(Debra H. Goldstein), Julia Henry and V.M. Burns to celebrate our August
releases.

 

In the
past, we’ve each had big launches in our cities, attended conferences, made
presentations wherever we were invited, participated in Facebook parties, and
done blog tours, but the world and our normal way of doing things has changed.
As we shelter at home, avoid group gatherings, visit with friends and fans
virtually, we, and other authors, are trying to find the new norm.

We’re
writing blogs because we enjoy interacting through the written word– but
lately, there have been a rash of articles saying that is passé. These same
articles argue that newsletters are the way to go, but not every author enjoys
writing and formatting a newsletter and statistically there are only so many
newsletters opened per mailing round.

Live
conferences which offered numerous panels have been canceled for the
foreseeable future and their virtual replacements can only feature a limited
number of speakers. Similarly, traditional in store launches are being done as
virtual launches or takeovers via store or social media sites. Podcasts have
increased in popularity, but again, there aren’t enough guest slots for every author.

Because
we are interested in what you think is the best way for us to reach readers, we
each are giving away a print or e-book copy of our new book — just think,
leave one comment and you have three chances to win a prize because we will
each randomly select a winner for our respective book.

And to
remind you about our books:

PAW AND ORDER by V. M.
Burns is the fourth book in the Dog Club Mystery Series. 

DIGGINGUP THE REMAINS by Julia Henry is the third book in the Garden
Squad mystery series.

THREE TREATS TOO MANY by Debra H. Goldstein is the third book
in the Sarah Blair mystery series.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts
and hope to see you at the party (lots of fun and giveaways).

 

 

 

 

 

Television Mysteries

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We’re running out of mysteries to watch. Can you believe it?

 

We’re particularly fond of British and Australian mysteries. We’ve seen them all. Name one. We’ve seen it. The old ones, the new ones, the Canadian ones (Murdoch Mysteries is a favorite), and we still seek out more. 

 

Hallmark Channel has a wide selection of Canadian and American mysteries. Ovation shows good ones on weekday mornings. Subscriptions to Britbox and Acorn can increase the number of available shows but at a cost. We have Netflix, Amazon, Disney +, Direct TV, and YouTube. 

 

I’ve been watching PBS Masterpiece with its adaptions of classic and contemporary books since it first aired in 1971. My dad and I would hunker down, him in his recliner, me usually on the floor. He’d make the greasiest, butter popcorn with a healthy dose of salt and quite a few burnt kernels. We’d settle back to watch Upstairs Downstairs, Les Miserables, and more. I have fond memories of these shared moments. 

 

When Masterpiece Mystery began in 1980, I became an even bigger fan. Mysteries are my forte. I left home for college in the fall of 1981 and made my college roomies and friends watch my Sunday evening shows. My spouse never watched these shows until I introduced him and he’s hooked now too.

 

My husband knows not to skip over the opening credits because the Edward Gorey sequence is part of the charm of the show. We usually record these episodes and watch them at our leisure later. Endeavor has certainly started off their season with a bang! 

 

We love Death in Paradise. But lately, I am thinking it has the theme of white savior and that bothers me. In this series, a white British detective is assigned to a Caribbean island where he is the lead for a group of people of color who are natives and they solve crimes and murders. The main detective has changed over the years but stays Caucasian. Ah, but Dwayne Myers

played by Danny John-Jules is a cutie and I miss him since he left the series. It’s not the same. But maybe I had a wee bit of crush on him. We watch it as our last fun show if we’ve been viewing a heavy drama or mystery beforehand, it helps lighten the mood before turning in.

 

As I said, we’ve seen them all. We also use closed captioning in our viewing. Partly because the accent, especially the Scottish one, can be a bit difficult to interpret and partly because I like multi-tasking. If you watch Shetland, you must use the captioning as the female detective has a heavy brogue.  We watch the cheesy ones (High Seas), the dubbed ones (Bordertown), the “what is she thinking?” ones (Marcella), the classics (Poirot, Miss Marple), and the cute ones (Father Brown).

 

And in all these shows, as I sit and take in the detective work, the character arcs, the communication and dialogue, I think that I too, could write one of these but set in the southern United States. We aren’t that different from the Brits around here. We have different dialects, we keep secrets, families have been in the same town for generations, and we have vast forests in which to hide dead bodies. One day, I keep telling myself, one day I’ll actually allow a character I love to be killed or be the killer. We shall see. 

Stay tuned until next time … same Bat time, same Bat channel.

Robin Hillyer-Miles works for the YWCA Greater Charleston with the mission to eliminate racism and empower women. She writes magic realism, contemporary romance, and is striving to write a really good mystery. She lives near Charleston, is a South Carolina native, and enjoys spending time with her husband, an almost 18-year-old senior in high school son, and their three dogs.

She’s published with a short story in an anthology with her Lowcountry Romance Writers of America chapter. It’s soon to be taken down so she MUST self-pub her short story as it really is a fun, sweet read (per her friends and family).

Find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RobinHillyerMilesAuthorTourGuideYoga

Thorny Problems

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by Bethany Maines

This week has been a bit of roller coaster ride for my
writing.  I received some very excellent
news which them prompted me to move up several items on my to-do list, which
further caused me to do the thing that I had been dreading… Call Apple Support
to fix a problem with my Apple ID.  I
have had three different people on my “case” and have now been bumped up to a “Senior
Advisor.”  In short, my problem has been
deemed an actual problem (hmm… like I said at the beginning?) and I have been
moved away from the people that tell me to do things like “spell out North,
instead of putting N.” and “try clicking ‘add’ 4 times really fast.”  Which is probably good because I was starting
to make notes for killing off a customer support specialist in my next novel.

But all of this has left me feeling more than a little bit
blocked.  I want to do one simple thing,
but suddenly the simple thing spawned multiple problems and multiple
frustrations.  Usually when I’m feeling
frustrated I can dive into one of my writing projects to escape, but
unfortunately I’m feeling blocked on many of those as well!  Book #4 of the San Juan Island series is
holding until I can figure out who finds the body.  I’ve got it narrowed down, but I’m not sure
who would be the best person.  My sci-fi
version of Beauty & the Beast for the Galactic Dreams Anthology series is
with my co-writers and I don’t want to write the next section without their
input. So what’s the solution to this thorny issue?  Here’s what I came up with…

Step 1: Go blackberry picking

Step 2: Make pie.

Step 3: Eat pie.

It may be the long way around for pie, but it is a solution to a very thorny problem.

**

Bethany Maines is the award-winning author of the Carrie Mae Mysteries, San Juan Islands Mysteries, Shark Santoyo Crime Series, and numerous
short stories. When she’s not traveling to exotic lands, or kicking some
serious butt with her black belt in karate, she can be found chasing her
daughter or glued to the computer working on her next novel. You can also catch up with her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and BookBub.

Gone Politicking

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by A.B. Plum

For the past several months, my neighbor has displayed a variety of yard signs. Two have moved me to action:

In Fauci We Trust

VOTE … as if your life depends on it.

I’d decided some time ago to get more involved in the November election. I hadn’t decided how to carve out the time to do so. Now I have.

No more posts on goat yoga. Or my Luddite leanings. Or phantom bicycles. Or mental meanderings. Instead, I am going to spend more time working for three candidates specifically:

Katie Porter for reelection to Congress from California.

Election of Jamie Harrison running for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Lindsey Graham.

Election of Joe Biden, [presumptive nominee as of this date] Democratic candidate for President.

I believe these candidates will make a difference in the tenor and depth of the discourse to move our country to a better place. I look forward to being part of the movement toward a less toxic (physically and politically) environment.

All good wishes to everyone at the Stiletto Gang. To coin a couple of phrases, “That’s all folks. Thanks for the memories.”

*****   

No Little Lies: A Ryn Davis Mystery (Ryn Davis Mystery Series Book 3)

When AB Plum and her alter ego, Barbara aren’t “politicking,” they live off the fast lane in Silicon Valley. AB’s latest mystery, No Little Lies is now available on Amazon. Disrupted, fifth book in the Ryn Davis Mystery Series, will release in December. COVID plays a pivotal role in the plot.

BSP and Passing It Forward by Debra H. Goldstein

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For
the next few months, while Linda takes a short break, watch for guest posts
featuring new books and authors.

BSP
and Passing it Forward by Debra H. Goldstein

It took
me months to learn that BSP stands for “Blatant Self Promotion.” Like many
authors, I’m basically an introvert who struggles to self-promote. Although I
could use this column to tell you that Three Treats Too Many, the new
Sarah Blair mystery, releases on August 25, but is available for pre-order and
that the e-book version of Two Bites Too Many, which was just named a
2020 Silver Falchion finalist, will be reduced to $.99 from August 21-24, and
featured in a Bookbub ad on August 22, but I won’t. Instead, I want to pass it
forward and tell you about some new releases I think might interest you.

On Tuesday, August 11, pick up a copy of PAW AND ORDER by V. M.
Burns.

It is the fourth book in the Dog Club Mystery Series. Available at https://bit.ly/DCMPawAndOrder :

Lilly’s
best pal Scarlett “Dixie” Jefferson has done it again! She’s convinced
eccentric poodle-loving billionaire Archibald Lowry to sponsor a grand
fundraiser for the Eastern Tennessee Poodle Rescue. Tragically, it’s too late
to rescue Lowry, who is murdered at the event. His pet poodle is now orphaned,
so Dixie begs Lilly to foster the adorable pup. Of course, she already has a
poodle—her beloved Aggie, named after Agatha Christie. Fortunately, Aggie seems
to like the new addition to the family, whom Lilly renames Rex, after her
second favorite mystery author, Rex Stout.
 
But she’s barely welcomed Rex into her home when
there’s an attempted poodle-nabbing, foiled with Aggie’s help. As desperate
characters try to get their hands on the canine cutie, Lilly turns to Dixie’s
dog training class to help her sort through a litter of suspects. Ultimately,
she may have to unleash Rex as bait to collar the killer . . .

Another
book to check out this month is Digging Up the Remains by Julia Henry.
It is the third book in the Garden Squad mystery series. This time,

Between hosting a haunted house on her
lawn, serving on the town’s 400th Anniversary Planning Committee, and prepping
for the Fall Festival’s 10k fundraiser, Lilly’s hands are full. She doesn’t
have time for prickly newspaper reporter Tyler Crane, who’s been creeping
around town, looking for dirt on Goosebush’s most notable families . . . until
he’s found dead on the race route moments before the start.
 
An unfortunate accident? Or did Tyler unearth a
secret that someone in Goosebush is willing to kill to keep? By planting nasty
rumors and cultivating fear, Tyler sowed a fair share of ill will during his
brief time in town. Weeding through the suspects will be thorny, but Lilly and
her Garden Squad are determined to root out the autumnal assassin before the
Fall Festival flops . .

A few more recently or about to be
released books include Cheryl Hollon’s Still Knife Painting, Leslie Budewitz’s The
Solace of Bay Leaves, Sherry Harris’ From Beer to Eternity, Bethany Maines’
Love and Treasure, Anna Gerald’s Peachy Scream, and Maggie Toussaint’s All
Done With It.


 

 

 

 

Rejection – Pain or Gain?

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Rejection
– Pain or Gain?

Writers
tend to be over-the-moon when they receive acceptances, but how do they feel
when the response is a rejection? Here’s what members of the Stiletto Gang say:

Debra
H. Goldstein – In the beginning of my writing career, I’d go into a blue
funk for hours or days and wasn’t the nicest person to be around. Now, I go
into a milder state of depression but immediately start thinking of how I can
improve the piece and what other market it might be right for. In both
instances where my books, which were intended to be the first in a series were
orphaned, I decided they were standalones and started writing something else.

Juliana Aragon Fatula – Being orphaned, literally took me a few years
to adjust to being the grown up and not the kid. I struggled with rejection in
the same way I dealt with auditions when I was acting. I looked at it as an
experience, a learning guide to grow from and never expected to get cast,
published, etc. so I would be thrilled if I was accepted and not destroyed if
rejected. I coped.

Dru Ann Love – I
just move on when an author does not respond to a musing I personally sent
them. Let’s me know not to do a musing for them again.

Debra
Sennefelder – Rejection is so
hard. I’ve learned that it’s okay to feel all the feelings that rejection
brings, so I give myself a short period of time to deal with the rejection.
Then I analyze what happened and see what I can learn from it.

Sparkle Abbey:

Mary Lee Ashford – I think for me all the years of rejections
before selling helped me toughen up. It’s hard, no doubt. But it happens and
you have to take a deep breath, figure out what’s next and keep moving
forward.   

Anita Carter – I won’t lie or play it down, rejection always hurts. That said,
I try to just take a day or less to work through whatever feelings I’m
experiencing and then push forward.

Paula Gail Benson – Much better in hindsight than when they occur. Rejection always
stings, but usually my stories that have been rejected end up in a better place
than the one where I originally submitted them.

 

Lynn
McPherson – Rejections are tough but if I like what I’ve written it usually
doesn’t faze me too long.


Shari
Randall – My reaction to rejection is to keep pitching. I channel the
mantra from Galaxy Quest, Never give up, never surrender! Then
I cry into a gallon of chocolate chocolate chip ice cream and a big ol
glass of red wine.

Kathryn Lane – Not good
with rejections, but I’m learning to take them more philosophically.

T.K. Thorne – I have a
stuffed legal folder of rejections. My way of handling the negative emotions
that go along with them are to immediately get to work on something. But now
that I am published with several books out, my skin is much thicker, and I quit
feeling that a rejection is a commentary on my talent or ability.  Most of the time….

Robin Hillyer-Miles – As a graphic designer for years, I’ve learned that sometimes
rejections mean you need to take a fresh look at your work. Maybe even put it
away for a bit so you aren’t so attached.

Julie Mulhern – Rejection is
part of the job. And it’s not personal. I don’t like sushi. You could take me
to the best sushi restaurant on the planet, and I wouldn’t like the food. That
preference has nothing to do with the quality of the raw fish (yuck). Not
everyone will like what I write. It has nothing to do with the quality of my
books. If someone likes angst-ridden, steamy romance, they won’t like Ellison
or Poppy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson from Bon Jovi: “Do What You Can”

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By Kathryn Lane

When I give presentations on
writing, I’m often asked if I’ve experienced writer’s block – a slowdown of
creativity or the inability to create a new work.

When my creativity slows, I
turn to researching topics I’m writing about and that attracts my creative angels
again. But I’ve heard stories of how dreadful writer’s block can be. Truman
Capote spent the last ten years of his life speaking about the masterpiece he
was writing, a work that never materialized and possibly caused the stress that
triggered his nervous breakdown. How sad is that? 

On the other hand, Gabriel Garcia
Marquez, often spoke of his inability to progress on “One Hundred Years of
Solitude.” He gave up and drove his family from Mexico City, where they were
living, to the seaside resort of Acapulco for vacation. They were just arriving
at the bay of Acapulco when he stopped the car and turned around, explaining to
his wife that he now clearly saw the premise for “One Hundred Years of
Solitude.” Skipping vacation, he drove back to Mexico City, sat at his
typewriter, and banged out his masterpiece, the novel which undoubtedly won the
Nobel Prize in literature for him.

So
what happens when a writer hits a wall?

 

Recent
news about a song in the upcoming album 

When Bon Jovi’s tour was
cancelled due to COVID-19, he didn’t just stay home and fret. No, he stepped in
as dishwasher at his JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, New Jersey – a restaurant he
established years ago which often provides food to those in need.

 

An Instagram posting showing
him washing dishes, stated “When you can’t do what you do, then do what you
can.” That inspired him to create the song “Do What You Can.”

 

The
lesson in Bon Jovi’s action is to turn disappointment around when facing
adversity. If it’s writer’s block or any type of setback, flip it over by doing
what you can, rather than forcing yourself to do what you normally do. Until
inspiration hits again!

  

If
I experience writer’s block and turn to dish washing, I think my creativity
would return very quickly!

 

Ever
had writer’s block? How did you overcome it?




Kathryn’s books –
The Nikki Garcia Thriller series and her short story collection – Backyard
Volcano. All available on Amazon.



Kathryn Lane started out as a starving artist. To earn a living, she became
a certified public accountant and embarked on a career in international finance
with a major multinational corporation. After two decades, she left the
corporate world to plunge into writing mystery and suspense thrillers. In her
stories, Kathryn draws deeply from

https://www.kathryn-lane.com

https://www.facebook.com/kathrynlanewriter/

“If I Had Something to Say” by re_birf is
licensed under CC BY 2.0

Other photos from public domain.

My Favorite Corn Muffin Recipe

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By Debra Sennefelder
As I’m writing this post, I am in the second draft of the fifth Food Blogger mystery manuscript. It’s during this phase of the writing process that I make the final decision on which recipes will be included with the book. This means, my mind is thinking about food. A lot. Which means, I’m struggling not to be distracted because I want to get into the kitchen and whip up something. But I have to be a good writer and stay BICHOK (butt in chair, hands on keyboard).

Well, I managed to sneak out of the study. 🙂

I had a craving for a muffin and since it’s summer, I baked a batch of corn muffins. I know, corn muffins are seasonless but there’s something about these muffins that makes me think of summer. A Longenberger basket, overflowing with muffins, set out on the patio table with sweet butter or strawberry preserves is how I love to start a morning. Especially a Sunday morning. Now writing this, it seems like my corn muffins have a lot of rules around them. Oh, well.

I thought today I’d share my recipe with you. It’s easy and they are tasty. So I hope you enjoy if you decide to bake your own batch. 

Since I’ve shared what is one of my favorite muffins, I’m curious to know what yours is.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

3/4 cornmeal

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup low-fat milk

1/2 cup salted butter, melted

Nonstick cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.

Combine the eggs and milk and mix lightly.

Pour the melted butter and milk mixture into the dry ingredients at the same time and mix until just blended.

Spray a 12-cup pan with cooking spray and evenly distribute the batter among the cups.

Bake until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean, 20-25 minutes.

Let cool, then serve.

Enjoy!




Debra Sennefelder is the
author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series.
She lives and writes in Connecticut. When she’s not writing, she enjoys baking,
exercising and taking long walks with her Shih-Tzu, Connie. You can keep in touch
with Debra through her website, on Facebook and Instagram.