I first read about Helen Grier in September 2022, when my local online paper, the SooToday.com, ran a two-part article about her unsolved murder. As the author of two mystery series and seven novels, my first thought was “Here’s a possible idea for my next Marketville mystery.” (My Marketville mysteries are what I like to […]
I don’t have a huge bucket list of places I want to go or concerts I want to see. Part of the reason is that I tend to do things I want to do, if I can afford to do them. The other reason is I have few wants, and those that I do have […]
Every now and again I have what I call one of my “Agatha Christie Days”—and by that I don’t mean channeling my inner Hercule Poirot, but rather attempting to follow Dame Agatha’s sage advice, which is “to write even when you don’t want to, don’t much like what you’re writing, and aren’t writing particularly well.” […]
If I was the betting sort of writer, I’d place odds that most of our Stiletto Gang readers (and dare I say it, even the authors), don’t know what an Ngram is. If that’s the case with you, don’t feel bad. I’d never heard of them either until I listened to a webinar on writing […]
Last month, I wrote about Arabella Carpenter, owner of the Glass Dolphin antiques shop, and a main character in my Glass Dolphin mystery series. Arabella also makes brief, but important, appearance in each book of my Marketville Mystery series. Arabella has what could best be described as a complicated relationship with her charismatic ex-husband, Levon […]
I belong to four 9-hole golf leagues. You might think that makes me a good golfer, but the reality is, I’ll never be really good. Which isn’t altogether horrible. I’m good enough to play with fabulous golfers and not tick them off and bad enough not to intimidate new (or just plain not-so-great) golfers. Anyway, […]
Of all my characters (and there are quite a few), Glass Dolphin antiques shop owner Arabella Carpenter is probably my favorite. Feisty and flawed, she’s a loyal friend who still loves her ex-husband, Levon Larroquette (even if she refuses to admit it). But what I really like about her is her motto: Authenticity Matters. Because, […]
At long last, Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers, the fifth Superior Shores Anthology releases this month. The first anthology, The Best Laid Plans, was launched on June 18, 2019, and being the superstitious sort, every one since has been released on June 18th. Advance reviews have been great: “What you see in the title is […]
Back in March, I shared my good news about Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense getting the 2025 Derringer nomination for Best Anthology. Then, in April, I learned that two stories in the collection had also been nominated for Best Short Story. Since the initial short story submissions are blind-judged, it […]
I absolutely love jigsaw puzzles, though 1,000 pieces is my limit. My favorite puzzles are made by Cobble Hill, which is a Canadian-based puzzle maker (they also sell to U.S. and internationally). Great quality and the one time I was missing a piece (that happens on occasion), I filled out an online form and they […]