Cheating and Scamming

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Cheating and Scamming

Image from Pixabay

Cheating and Scamming

People have been scamming the system since forever. Going all the way back to my days in junior high school, there were those students who didn’t bother to read the assigned book. Instead, these lazy cheats bought the CliffsNotes edition of the book and wrote their book report from that, often lifting the synopsis verbatim.

Back in the day, sometimes the thief was caught but depending how savvy or diligent the teacher, not always. I suppose if the teacher had a copy of the CliffNotes edition or more than one student had pulled the same stunt, he or she would’ve quickly caught on and handed the culprit an F. Otherwise, probably not.

Over the last ten years or so, publishers have been taking the easy way out to cut costs. They’ve either stopped hiring cover artists or dramatically cut back in their use of them. Instead, they generate their covers in-house, using stock photography. Think about how many mysteries, thrillers, and romantic suspense covers you’ve seen that feature a woman wearing a red coat or dress and running off into the distance, her back turned to you. Often, it’s the very same photograph slapped onto a new background.

When a book breaks out, publishers also glom onto that book’s success with their own versions of the title. Think about all the books with “girl” in the title that came out after the success of Gone Girl.

Not only are publishers doing this, but many authors are now trying to capitalize on the success of other authors by copying the series ideas, style, and even cover art of successful authors and/or books. Dragons are everywhere ever since Game of Thrones, including and especially in multiple middle-grade and YA series.

Once upon a time, writers were told not to follow trends. By the time your book was written and submitted, the trend would be on the downside. All you have to do is look at the proliferation of books in multiple genres that all take place in libraries to know that no longer seems to be true.

Cheating & Scamming

Fast-forward to the present, and we’re all contending with people who use AI to generate novels that are flooding the system. Does Amazon really think that by asking on their upload dashboard if AI was used to create any part of the book or cover that those who have used it will be honest enough to say so? If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

Cheating & Scamming

Cheating and Scamming

image from Pixabay

Too many people aren’t interested in putting in the work to create original works of art. Big tech is stealing from authors, artists, actors, and musicians to train their AI using our copyrighted works without permission or compensation. They’ve now used AI to generate a “live” actress that an agency is shopping around for roles in TV and movies. And an AI generated country singer and song recently hit #1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart.

For those of us who expend the time and brain cells to write unique books rather than copying the works of others or resorting to AI to do the work for us, it’s depressing and demoralizing. But we continue writing because for most of us, we can’t not write. (Excuse the double-negative!)

New technologies play a role in the plot of Embroidered Lies and Alibis, the fifteenth book in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series, (currently available for preorder and releasing Feb. 10th).

Many ethical questions are being raised about the use of AI and the people who are profiting from it. What are your thoughts? Post a comment for a chance to win a promo code for a free audiobook download of any of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries or the Empty Nest Mysteries.

Embroidered Lies and Alibis

A Stitch in Time Could Save a Life…

When Anastasia’s mother Flora is offered a free spa vacation from Jeremy Dugan, a man connected to her distant past, Anastasia and husband Zack suspect ulterior motives. After all, too-good-to-be-true often spells trouble. Their suspicions are confirmed when the FBI swoops in to apprehend Dugan. However, Dugan isn’t who he claimed to be, and his arrest raises more questions than answers.

The Feds link Dugan to a string of cons targeting elderly single women across the country, but his seemingly airtight alibi leaves investigators stumped. Then, shortly after his release on bail, he’s kidnapped. A certain segment of New Jersey’s population is known for delivering deadly messages, and the FBI believes Dugan received one of them.

Meanwhile, bodies begin showing up in the newly created public garden across the street from Anastasia and Zack’s home. With two baffling crimes, no clear suspects, scant evidence, and every possible motive unraveling, both the FBI and local law enforcement are once again picking Anastasia’s brain. This time, though, her involvement is far from reluctant. Will she stitch together enough clues before she or someone she loves becomes the killer’s next victim?

Craft project included.

Buy Links:  Amazon  Nook  Kobo  Apple Books

~*~

USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. Learn more about Lois and her books at her website www.loiswinston.com. Sign up for her newsletter to receive an Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mini-Mystery.

Full Circle Moments

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By Saralyn Richard

Once in a while in the writers’ journey, serendipitous moments occur, and they seem magical. I’ve had three such moments recently and will share them with you.

First of all, I’m writing an historical mystery that takes place in my hometown, Galveston, Texas, after the 1900 Storm, which is still the deadliest natural disaster in the history of America. In the information-gathering stage, I invited newsletter subscribers to send me names and/or stories of relatives from that place and time.

While I waited for responses, I worked on making burial arrangements for my cousin, Jill Jacobson, a Hollywood actress who grew up in nearby Beaumont, Texas. The plan was to bring Jill’s remains to Beaumont for burial in the family plot.

One of my newsletter subscribers sent me an email saying that I would be hearing from her friend, Betty, who had some 1900 Storm stories. Betty and I ended up chatting on the phone for more than an hour about her family’s experiences in the storm. During the conversation, Betty mentioned growing up in Beaumont, so I asked her if she knew my cousin Jill, and I told her what I was setting up with the cemetery.

To my surprise, and Betty’s, we realized that Jill is Betty’s cousin, too, on the opposite side of the family. So Betty is going to come to the memorial service, which she wouldn’t have known about if not for my work-in-progress.

The second full circle moment occurred last week at Then and Now Bookshop during ArtWalk. I was selling books at a table in the bookstore, when a mother and her nineteen-year-old daughter came over to look at my books.

The cover of Naughty Nana, the children’s book narrated by the real Old English sheepdog puppy, Nana, caught their eyes. “Oh, we remember Nana! We’re big Nana fans!” the mother said. “We were at the library when you brought Nana there to do a reading a long time ago, and we’ve followed Nana ever since.”

They were sad, but not surprised, that Nana crossed the Rainbow Bridge two years ago, but we reminisced about Nana’s many appearances in parades, on tv, at schools, etc. They purchased some of my other books, signed up for my newsletter, and left. The next day, I sent the mother an email with pictures from that long-ago library event they attended. Something made me include a drawing that one of the children did for Nana that day.

The next day I received a return email. The daughter was indeed one of the children in the picture, and she was the one who drew that treasured note to Nana. Thirteen years later, I still have the original!

The third full circle moment happened that same day at the same bookshop. One of the customers came up to my table asking if I was a local author, and if I was “BOI” (born on island). Being a BOI locks you into an immediate fraternity of special people. In fact, there are pregnant women who insist on delivering their babies in Galveston, so the babies can attain that status.

Turned out that customer was also a BOI, and she mentioned her connection to Dominican High School, a Catholic girls’ school here. I said, “I’m sure you knew my dear friend, Father Frank Fabj.”

That opened up a squealing that galvanized the entire bookshop. Yes, she knew Father Frank well. He was important to her and her family through several life cycle events. She was astounded to see that I dedicated A Palette for Love and Murder to him. She clutched the book to her chest, the same way I do sometimes when I think of and miss Frank’s presence.

The two of us, complete strangers moments before, bonded over the dedication in a book, and we ended up shedding tears and hugging together.

Recently, an interviewer asked me what surprised me most about becoming a writer, and I answered something about the network of readers and fellow authors I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made. The books that I’ve published are only the vehicles. The transmission of thoughts and feelings and ideas that comes from being a writer and a reader is what really counts—that is the basis for these magical, delightful, and, yes, thrilling connections with others.

I’d love to hear about one of your full circle moments.

 

Saralyn Richard writes award-winning mysteries, including the Detective Parrott mystery series, Bad Blood Sisters, Mrs. Oliver’s Twist, A Murder of Principal, and Naughty Nana, a children’s book. An active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn has taught creative writing and literature. Her favorite thing about being an author is interacting with readers like you. For more information, check https://saralynrichard.com.

Bethany Maines drinks from an arsenic mug

Derringer Danger!

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Short Fiction Mystery Society logo showing a Derringer surrounded by the SFMS titleI’m Being Judged… by the Derringer Awards

Every year, the Short Mystery Fiction Society holds the Derringer Awards. Judged by volunteers from the society’s membership, these competitive awards recognize short mystery stories published that year.  The judging process and program management are a lot of work and I’m always impressed at the volunteers who bring the awards program to life.

Derringer Categories

  • Best Flash Story (Up to 1,000 words)
  • Best Short Story (1,001 to 4,000 words)
  • Best Long Story (4,001 to 8,000 words)
  • Best Novelette (8,001 to 20,000 words)

Derringer Judging

Each category requires three primary and one alternate SMFS members to whittle their assigned category down to five finalists.  Each judge is provided with a criteria sheet and a batch of short stories, and then the scores are totaled by the Derringer coordinator. And having judged before, I know that the quality of the stories is fantastic and that anyone who submits is up against some top-notch writers. I loved getting to read such a wide spread of stories with different mystery sub-genres and sensibilities.  Believe me, getting down to top five is hard!

Stiletto Gang Stories

Several of the Stiletto Gang are also SMFS members and have submitted their stories.  With the array of submissions below, I’m hoping that at least one of the Stiletto Gang can take home a Derringer Award medal.

donalee Moulton

donalee has three stories in consideration.  With a 2024 finalist spot, donalee is shooting for a repeat with one of her three stories. “Bon Ami” from the Signed, Sealed…Deceased Cozy Mystery Anthology. “Maladaptives Anonymous” from the Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers Anthology.  And “Zebra Finch” from The Most Dangerous Games.

Judy Penz Sheluk

Judy submitted  “Baby, It’s You” from Lunatic Fringe and “A Foolproof Plan” from the Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers Anthology. This fantastic mystery/crime anthology features 22 tales of mystery and suspense. Last year, the previous anthology, Larceny & Last Chances picked up a Finalist spot in the Derringer’s Anthology category, so we’re all hopeful for a repeat with Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers!

CrimeucopiaDebra Goldstein

Debra has “Candy Cane on the Case,” from Crimeucopia: The Not So Frail Detective Agency and “Opera Dinner Club, ” which was both a podcast and print story in Anything But Murder: Larceny and Lies. Like Bethany, her stories are falling in two different categories.  If you visit her website you can see her extensive list of short stories! Visit: https://www.debrahgoldstein.com/short-stories/

Bethany Maines

In 2025, I wrote two mystery stories that qualify to be submitted for the Derringers – “Front Desk Staff” (published in Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers) and “Love, Lefse, & Murder” (published in Cooking Up Death).  “Front Desk Staff” went into the highly competitive Short Story Category and “Love, Lefse, & Murder,” which clocked in at 9k words, will be in the Best Novelette category.

Wish all of the Stiletto Gang members luck as our precious stories make their way across the judges desks!

Buy Now

Want to check out these award-worthy stories?

 

**

Bethany Maines drinks from an arsenic mugBethany Maines is the award-winning author of action-adventure and fantasy tales that focus on women who know when to apply lipstick and when to apply a foot to someone’s hind end. She participates in many activities, including swearing, karate, art, and yelling at the news. She can usually be found chasing after her daughter or glued to the computer working on her next novel (or screenplay). You can also catch up with her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and BookBub.  She has also writes under the pen name Sirena Corbeau for spicier paranormal romance novels. Learn more at: bethanymaines.com or sirenacorbeau.com 

See more books from the Stiletto Gang: BOOKS

 

Donnell Ann Bell

Reading: The Panacea for What Ails Me

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By Donnell Ann Bell

When my children were small, I’d plop one kid on my left side, the other on my right, and open a book. I’d read one page, hand it off to the one on the left and say, “Your turn.”

My daughter would read one page and hand it back to me. I’d read the following page, then hand it off to my son, and the ritual continued.

Over the 2025 Christmas holiday, I was reminded of this special time when I learned the tradition continued. My son and daughter-in-law take turns reading to their children every night before bed.

Reading is the gateway that makes all other learning possible.

Already at age nine, my granddaughter has read nine of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. “Grammy,” she asked, “Do you want to hear me read?”

Nothing would please me more, so I answered, “Of course.”

Not to be outdone, her brother, age seven, cut in, “Grammy, do you want to hear me read?”

“Love to,” I responded immediately.

My grandchildren’s elementary school hosts reading challenges, and clearly the competition is working. When I learned my granddaughter was reading C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I reread it so I could discuss it with her.

On this trip, I listened to her read chapters from The Curious Tale of the In Between by Lauren DeStefano, which I found to be an amazing middle grade book. While she stumbled over some of the bigger words, when that happened, we paused and discussed their meanings.

It was such an important, joyous time for me. I can’t think of a better bonding scenario.

For the past few months, I’ve been busy updating my books to become a hybrid author. What I thought would be tedious has turned into a fun opportunity for me to correct, tighten, and the best part is, I get to reconnect with my characters.

Periodically, Stiletto Gang member and critique partner Lois Winston asks if I have time to read a few chapters or even the rest of an edited book before she publishes. In no way is reading her work a sacrifice. I love to spend time with her reluctant amateur sleuth and the rest of her zany New Jersey crew. 😊

I certainly can’t read while I’m driving, so I turn to audio books. During a recent trip to Colorado, I listened to John Grisham’s The Widow.  Audio books make long car trips fly by!

Back to the recent 2025 holiday, not everything was perfect. Christmas afternoon, I came down with the flu, which sadly cut my family visit short. The bug lasted well into New Year’s, forcing me to reschedule my planned company for New Year’s.

Don’t feel too sorry for me, though. In between sleeping I spent the time reading. Whether I’m healthy, sick or simply in need of escape, I turn to reading. It’s the panacea for what ails me.

Glad to be back, Stiletto Gang. Wishing everyone a happy and productive 2026!! By the way, what are you reading?

Donnell Ann Bell is an award-winning author who began her nonfiction career in newspapers. After she turned to fiction, her romantic suspense novels became Amazon bestsellers, including The Past Came Hunting, Deadly Recall, Betrayed, and Buried Agendas. In 2019, Donnell released her first mainstream suspense, Black Pearl, A Cold Case Suspense, which was a 2020 Colorado Book Award finalist. In 2022, book two of the series was released. Until Dead, A Cold Case Suspense won Best Thriller in 2023 at the Imaginarium Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Currently, she’s working on book three of the series. Readers can follow Donnell on her blog or sign up for her newsletter at www.donnellannbell.net.

 

The Short and Sweet Elevator Pitch

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From 2015 to 2020, I worked as the marketing director at Cave Art Press. One of my weekly tasks was writing a blog called Five-Minute Writing Tips, which eventually became the book Do You Have a CATHARSIS Handy? The book was orphaned when the company closed. Lately, I’ve been thinking about resurrecting both the blog and the book. That’s when I rediscovered an older post titled, “How to Write a Grabbing Elevator Pitch.”

Did you know that the term “elevator pitch” is often attributed to Elisha Otis, the founder of the Otis Elevator Company? He invented the first safety elevator in 1853 and installed it in a New York City department four years later. At the New York World’s Fair, he demonstrated his safety device to the public. Instead of explaining how it worked, he showed the crowd by raising a platform to a third-floor level, then slicing the cable with an ax. The platform dropped a few inches, but the safety brake engaged, preventing the elevator from crashing to the bottom. He then said, “All safe.” This event became known as the first elevator pitch because he said very little but conveyed a lot. Later, elevator pitches gained popularity in Hollywood, where writers had mere seconds to sell a movie script to a studio executive.

Author Daniel Pink dedicates an entire chapter to elevator pitches in his book To Sell Is Human. Pink identifies six types: the one-word pitch, the question pitch, the rhyming pitch, the subject-line pitch, the Twitter/X pitch, and the Pixar pitch. Years ago, I created pitches for some of our books, using Pink’s techniques.

  • One-word pitch for Cape Horn: One Man’s Dream, One Woman’s Nightmare: “Pitchpole.”
  • Question pitch for Do You Have a Catharsis Handy?: “Tired of reading boring grammar books?”
  • Rhyming pitch for Cave Art Press: “Egress with Cave Art Press.”
  • Subject line use for the blog: “Mike the Dog Talks Books.”
  • X pitch for Youth and War: “Endurance and survival, compassion and brutality; ordinary people caught in the maelstrom of global conflict.”
  • Six-sentence pitch for A Long Way from Brooklyn: Once upon a time, there was a young homeless boy named John who lived on the streets of Brooklyn. Every day, John searched for food, shelter, and work, but each day, the challenges grew tougher. One day, in a desperate moment, John lied about his age to get a job with a new government program, the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was eventually sent across the country to a place where he knew no one and knew nothing about. John was assigned to help build the Deception Pass Bridge. His determination, hard work, and eagerness to learn earned him the respect of his employers, and he ultimately became a successful engineer whose wealth helped establish several community programs in Anacortes, Washington.

Inspired by revisiting these forms, I created pitches for Murder at the Pontchartrain, one of my Sydney Lockhart mysteries:

  • One-word pitch:
  • Question pitch: “Ready for buried war secrets, mystic murders, swampy shenanigans, and a little New Orleans voodoo spice?
  • Rhyming pitch: “Sydney Lockhart slams head-on into a New Orleans rampart.”
  • Subject line: “Sydney Lockhart Turns New Orleans on Its Ear.”
  • X pitch: “In New Orleans for her wedding, Sydney Lockhart ends up chasing murder suspects in search of the truth surrounding the crime, while her fiancé may be hiding the biggest lie.”
  • Pixar pitch: Private detective Sydney Lockhart travels to New Orleans for her wedding, but the Big Easy has other plans. Her friend Rip Thigbee vanishes after exploring a disturbed crypt. A local voodoo queen warns of dark forces, and a woman is found murdered in Sydney’s hotel room. When a second body is discovered, Dixon gets arrested. On the hunt to find the real killer, Sydney races through the French Quarter alone, dodging bad guys, the Ku Klux Klan, and her meddling cousin Ruth. To free Dixon and survive the city’s shadows, Sydney must untangle a web of lies—starting with the one told by the man she’s about to marry.

Elevator pitches are fast, fun, and flexible—and with a little creativity, they can become compelling book blurbs. Try your hand at writing one: What’s your best elevator pitch?

 

Sirena Corbeau, featured image

Road Blocks & an Announcement

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An Announcement

Last month, I blogged about having to scramble to pick a new pen name after the reader-tested and selected name was snagged out from under me.  Cue the gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair.  I was upset because I had every intention of using the pen name for a series of new novels that I had pitched to a publisher.  And when that publisher came back with an offer, I was elated… until I tried to acquire the domain name. And then I discovered that my carefully vetted pen name had been taken while I dithered around. However, we managed to select a new pen name—Sirena Corbeau—and now I get to make the announcement that 2026 will be magical year!

Bethany Maines makes the announcement that she has signed with Varus PublishingNew Publisher

Varus Publishing and I, writing as Sirena Corbeau, will be releasing four new paranormal romances in 2026.  Varus Publishing is an imprint focusing on uplifting and championing romance authors and I’m excited to be able to bring a new world, series, and characters to life with them. This is the first time I’ve written in the romance genre with a strictly romance publisher and I am excited to learn from their experience.

About the Series

In this sizzling paranormal romance series, each book delivers a stand-alone, binge-worthy romance sparked by the meddling of Dante Montanari, a 400-year-old dragon shifter. Dante Montanari has a knack for bringing things together—supernatural deals, magical items, and even fated mates. The wealthy dragon barely cares for human laws, but he’s as protective of his employees as he is of his hoard. With pulse-pounding danger, passionate fated love, and a touch of dragon-forged magic, each book is perfect for readers who crave strong heroines, magnetic heroes, and happily-ever-afters that burn brighter than fire. Expect Book 1, Heart’s Curse, in March of 2026!

HEART’S CURSE – Lucas Kane is a talented telekinetic and ruthless casino boss looking to move up in the Montanari organization. Charlotte “Charlie” Auvray is a witch with no magic who believes she has nothing to offer. But when a curse drives the newest Montanari property, The Lucky Heart Hotel & Casino, into bloody chaos, Lucas realizes Charlie may be the only one who can stop the madness. What happens in Vegas might break the curse—and his heart.

Heart’s Curse will be followed by Forged in Flame, Curselocked, and Swamp of Shadows. Each book will expand this fantastic new world where humans and magical creatures mix, and bump into the problems of our modern world.

Interested in Paranormal Romance?

But if you want some paranormal romance now, now, now, please check out my existing Supernaturals series!  https://bethanymaines.com/supernaturals/

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Bethany Maines is the award-winning author of action-adventure and fantasy tales that focus on women who know when to apply lipstick and when to apply a foot to someone’s hind end. She participates in many activities, including swearing, karate, art, and yelling at the news. She can usually be found chasing after her daughter or glued to the computer working on her next novel (or screenplay). You can also catch up with her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and BookBub.

And don’t forget to check out more books by the Stiletto Gang: BOOKS

A Cozy Holiday Whodunnit Sale

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By Lois Winston

What’s better than a cozy holiday whodunnit? A cozy holiday whodunit sale!

Are you someone who curates your reading for each holiday? Holiday whodunnits are always a treat to pick up, especially this time of year. Not only do readers love holiday-themed cozies, but many of us also love writing them. Some authors even have holiday themed series. Although I haven’t yet penned a holiday-themed series (but who knows where my writing will take me in the future?) I love incorporating holidays into my books. The spooky atmosphere of Halloween seeps through A Stitch to Die For as well as the book I’m currently finishing.

However, Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. For that reason, there are two Christmas-themed books in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, and I’ll probably write another at some point. In Anastasia’s world, when the snowflakes start falling, it’s beginning to look a lot like murder, and she never knows when she’ll find a corpse in a sleigh. (Hint: she does!)

That’s what happens in Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide, the eighth book in the series, which is currently on sale through November 14th for only .99 cents.

Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide

An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 8

Two and a half weeks ago magazine crafts editor Anastasia Pollack arrived home to find Ira Pollack, her half-brother-in-law, had blinged out her home with enough Christmas lights to rival Rockefeller Center. Now he’s crammed her small yard with enormous cavorting inflatable characters. She and photojournalist boyfriend (and possible spy) Zack Barnes pack up the unwanted lawn decorations to return to Ira. They arrive to find his yard the scene of an over-the-top Christmas extravaganza. His neighbors are not happy with the animatronics, laser light show, and blaring music creating traffic jams on their normally quiet street. One of them expresses his displeasure with his fists before running off.

In the excitement, the deflated lawn ornaments are never returned to Ira. The next morning Anastasia once again heads to his house before work to drop them off. When she arrives, she discovers Ira’s attacker dead in Santa’s sleigh. Ira becomes the prime suspect in the man’s murder and begs Anastasia to help clear his name. But Anastasia has promised her sons she’ll keep her nose out of police business. What’s a reluctant amateur sleuth to do?

Christmas craft projects included.

A cozy holiday whodunnit sale!

Kindle    Kobo    Nook    Apple Books

Grab a copy of Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide for yourself, then cozy up under your favorite quilt with a cup of hot cocoa, peppermint tea, some mulled cider, or even a hot toddy. But don’t forget about all your cozy-loving friends and family. Gift them a copy. They’ll certainly appreciate it more than that annual leaden fruit cake!

Are you someone who loves reading holiday-themed cozies? Or an author who loves writing them? Post a comment for a chance to win a promo code for a free audiobook download of any of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries.

~*~

USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. Learn more about Lois and her books at her website www.loiswinston.com. Sign up for her newsletter to receive an Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mini-Mystery.

donalee Moulton

A life well lived – highlights and hiccups

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by donalee Moulton

I was recently asked about life’s pleasures as a writer, and otherwise. I thought I’d share some of my likes and dislikes with you. I would love to hear what you’d say to these.

Things you never want to run out of: Chocolate, sweat pants, downward dogs

Things you wish you’d never bought: White chocolate, stilettos, a gym membership

Hardest thing about being a writer: Writing

Easiest thing about being a writer: Talking about writing with other writers

Favorite foods: Miso chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, baked gnocchi

Things that make you want to gag: Snails (even if you call it “escargot”), lima beans, coconut

Favorite music or song: I like music I can move to or with lyrics that move me

Music that drives you crazy: Opera (sadly)

Last best thing you ate: Cider doughnuts

Last thing you regret eating: Some waxy wrap thing with shredded carrots

The last thing you ordered online: A catio for Wiley Bob so he can safely go out in the sunshine

The last thing you regret buying: A wool winter coat that’s itchy to look at and itchy to wear

Things you always put in your books: Humor

Things you never put in your books: Blood, guts, gore (at least so far)

Favorite places you’ve been: Sable Island, Thailand, Sweden

Places you never want to go to again: Yoga retreats with yurts

Favorite books (or genre): Charlotte’s Web, Where the Crawdad’s Sing, The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five

Books you wouldn’t buy: Horror

Best thing you’ve ever done: Written books and stories and poems and articles

Biggest mistake: Going to the opera ties with joining a gym

The nicest thing a reader said to you: One reader posted a picture of themselves lounging in the sun reading Hung Out to Die. They captioned it “Perfect afternoon.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: Some readers see sexual tension between two characters in Hung Out to Die. I just don’t see it.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: I can get up off the floor without using my hands. So can one of my characters.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Love of coffee. I don’t drink caffeine. 

Let’s Talk About Writing: Ngrams

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Ngrams home page

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 historical fiction. One of the tips was, you guessed it: ngrams.

Here’s how it works (Tip: click on an image to view a larger version):

Replace the pre-filled text (Albert Einstein,Sherlock Holmes,Frankenstein) with the expression of your choice. For this blog, I’ve entered tag you’re it (no comma as it would recognize “tag” and “you’re it” as separate searches. Note: the search criteria for Ngrams is currently 1800 to 2022.

According to Ngrams:

“Tag you’re it” first appears in 1897, with varying degrees of popularity over the years, with a peak in 2012. Which means if you’re writing a novel set during the Civil War, “tag you’re it” isn’t going to be authentic to the period (even if you decide to break up the war action with some kids playing).

Ngrams results for Tag You’re It 1800-2022

If you want to drill down further, you can click on a time period to find examples of where the referenced text was found. Which means you may find yourself going deep into the weeds and down the rabbit hole. But hey, that’s what writers do.

Drill down to find references.

Especially when we’re looking for new ways to procrastinate.

The Past Chair of Crime Writers of Canada and a former journalist and magazine editor, Judy Penz Sheluk is the multiple award-winning author of seven bestselling mystery novels, two books on publishing, and several short stories. She is also the editor/publisher of five Superior Shores Anthologies, including the 2025 Derringer- and Silver Falchion- nominated Larceny & Last Chances. Find her at www.judypenzsheluk.com

Readers: Check it out and leave a comment with your Ngrams experience.

 

Eight Things I Didn’t Realize About Starting a Second Series

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Welcome guest blogger James M. Jackson! Jim is a terrific author, editor, publisher, teacher, and friend. Congratulations on your new series. May it rival Seamus McCree’s success! Best wishes, Paula Gail Benson 

By James M. Jackson

James M. Jackson

Tomorrow marks a milestone I’ve been working toward for months: the official publication of Niki Undercover, the first book in my new “Niki Undercover Thrillers” series.

After publishing eight novels and two novellas in my Seamus McCree series, I thought launching a second series would be straightforward. Back in May, the timeline seemed generous—Book 2 (Niki Unleashed) releases November 11, 2025, and Book 3 (Niki Unbound) follows in 2026. How hard could it be, given Book 1 just needed a final polish and Book 2 one more draft?

Turns out I should have consulted my fellow Stiletto Gang authors first. The non-writing work required to launch a new series caught me off guard. Here are eight lessons I learned the hard way.

  1. Your Brand Must Evolve (Whether You’re Ready or Not)

My tagline “Thrillers with a twist of financial crime” perfectly captured what made the Seamus McCree series unique. But Niki’s world doesn’t revolve around financial crime, which meant my carefully crafted brand had to go.

The visual brand needed an overhaul too. Seamus’s lighter colors and outdoor scenes reflected his good-guy nature and rural settings. Niki demanded something darker—she’s more domestic thriller territory.

After brainstorming with my newsletter readers, I landed on “Justice-driven thrillers with brains & bite.” The process was more emotionally challenging than I had expected. Letting go of a brand you’ve built over years feels like losing part of your author identity.

  1. Title Strategy Becomes a Chess Game

I’ve always called myself “the poor man’s Sue Grafton.” While she used the alphabet overtly (A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar), I took a subtler approach with Seamus: Ant Farm, Bad Policy, Cabin Fever. Readers loved the pattern.

For Niki, I wrestled with Niki Un________ as the framework. Should I continue with the alphabetical approach? It looks nice on a bookshelf by maintaining series order, but ultimately, I decided that constraint would box me in. Sometimes the best title strategy is the one that serves the story, not the shelf.

  1. Spinoff Series Are Continuity Nightmares

Here’s where things got complicated. My self-imposed rules created complications:

  • Stories occur in real-time and real places.
  • Characters age naturally.
  • Niki appears in several Seamus novels.
  • Shared characters cross between series.
  • The first two Niki novels happen before the most recent Seamus books.

This meant maintaining both internal consistency within the Niki series and external consistency with existing Seamus books. My ad hoc approach to creating a series bible meant I spent countless hours recreating character timelines and fact-checking details across both series.

The backstory challenge was equally tricky. Longtime readers know Niki well, but newcomers meet her fresh. I had to satisfy both audiences without confusing the new readers or boring the faithful fans.

  1. Established Characters Don’t Step Aside Gracefully

For over a decade, Seamus McCree has commanded center stage. Even in multi-POV novels, he dominated at least 75% of the narrative. But in Niki’s series, he’s supporting cast.

In early drafts, Seamus tried to steal every scene he entered. The man has presence; I’ll give him that. During rewrites, I had to establish new rules: no Seamus POV scenes, and he only appears when he can teach Niki something unique or raise stakes in ways only he can.

Learning to sideline your protagonist is harder than creating new characters from scratch.

  1. Beta Readers Need Fresh Eyes

For Seamus books, I recruited beta readers from my newsletter subscribers, mixing series veterans with newcomers. But since attracting new readers is a primary goal for Niki’s series, I needed predominantly fresh perspectives.

I partnered with Pigeonhole, paying them to provide an early draft of Niki Undercover to fifty readers who’d never encountered my work. Pigeonhole serialized the novel into ten daily segments, allowing real-time feedback and reader discussions.

I found the process very useful. Early feedback revealed that my opening scenes presented Niki as too harsh. While she can be tough, that’s only one facet of her personality. I rewrote those crucial first chapters to show her full complexity.

Unfortunately, Pigeonhole closed before Niki Unleashed. Fortunately, I could use newsletter subscribers who hadn’t read the first book to test whether the sequel stood alone.

  1. Your Website Architecture Crumbles

Adding another series to a Seamus-centric website wasn’t just about updating a book list. The entire user experience needed redesigning.

Potential readers interested in Niki needed different entry points, navigation paths, and information than Seamus fans. Reading order becomes crucial. Character introductions require separate approaches.

Since I hadn’t thoroughly updated the site in years, I simultaneously tackled modern web protocols. After countless hours, I’m finally approaching the finish line on the complete redesign.

  1. Cross-Promotion Is a Full-Time Job

Most readers never visit author websites. They discover new books through “Also By” pages in the books they’re already reading. For each new Seamus book, updating these pages was simple—add the new title to the end of the list.

Adding a second series required reformatting these pages. With eight novels, two novellas, four boxed sets, and multiple retailers, I’d forgotten how time-consuming it is to update and upload each version to the correct platform.

Each format (paperback, eBook, audiobook) needs updating across multiple retailers. Multiply that by ten books, and you’re looking at more than 100 uploads.

  1. Your Author Bio Lives Everywhere (And I Mean Everywhere)

I made the rookie mistake of not maintaining a master list of where my bio appears. Forgetting to update a few bios for a new Seamus book was annoying but survivable—at least people knew about the series.

But failing to mention the Niki series anywhere would be catastrophic.

Every book’s back matter needed updating. Each retail site has different word count requirements, necessitating multiple versions. My website, social media profiles, guest blog bios, and writing organization profiles all needed refreshing.

The scope was massive. Author bios lurk in more places than you realize until you’re frantically trying to update them all.

The Reality of Modern Publishing

In a mythical world, exceptional writing would be enough to attract readers. Quality would speak for itself, and much of these eight tasks would be unnecessary busywork.

In the real world, marketing isn’t optional. Every step I’ve outlined—and many more—is crucial for a series launch to succeed.

As Niki Undercover officially releases tomorrow, I’m both exhausted from the preparation and excited for readers to meet this complex, driven character I’ve grown to love.

Wish Niki and me luck.

Short Biography:

After earning earning a B.S. in Mathematics with minors in Education and Psychology, Jim worked for thirty years as a consulting actuary and earned an MBA from Boston University. He retired early to pursue fulltime writing. Among his work is a nonfiction book on bridge for intermediate players, One Trick at a Time: How to start winning at bridge; the Seamus McCree series that to date consists of eight novels (Ant Farm, Bad Policy, Cabin Fever, Doubtful Relations, Empty Promises, False Bottom, Granite Oath, and Hijacked Legacy), two novellas—Furthermore and Low Tide at Tybee—and several short stories; and the Niki Undercover Thrillers, an offspring from the Seamus McCree novels. Characters in both series age in real time and the two series share some characters. The first two novels of the Niki Undercover Thrillers—Niki Undercover and Niki Unleashed—take place before Granite Oath, and the last, Niki Unbound, occurs after Hijacked Legacy. Jim blogs with WRITERS WHO KILL and his website is Home Page of Author James M Jackson.