Tag Archive for: Lynn Cahoon

Holiday Blahs

Several days now have passed since Thanksgiving and I have to say, I’m blue. (Yes, even Santa couldn’t make me smile. And I still make that face.)

I’m not sure if it’s the post turkey coma, the pumpkin marble cheesecake that I’ve decided is a perfect breakfast food, or, the let down after the build up of the holiday.

The house is clean still. But today (I wrote this on Sunday) I’m in the middle of getting ready for a new week of the day job. Laundry, shopping, lunches, dishes, all chores that I thought I could put off.  Until Sunday. Now, the roosters have come home so to speak and it’s time to clean out the leftovers in the fridge and get back to a more normal life.

At least for three weeks. Then Christmas will hit Casa Cahoon in full force.

So many decisions to make during the holidays. Do we put up a tree? (We don’t have kids in the house so don’t go feeling sorry for the tykes.) My in-laws are hosting Christmas dinner. When do I send gifts? Is my traveling child going to be here or should I send the boxes to him now? Do I make a quick trip from Illinois to Idaho to see family now or wait until spring when I can take a few more days? Do I assume the 50-inch television and new living room furniture we just purchased should be our Christmas or do I order the cowboy something from his favorite sports team?

I’m tired just writing that.

I didn’t used to be this person. Years ago, by the time I finished my Black Friday shopping, my gifts were ready to wrap, our plans for the next few weeks in cement, and, all I had to do was start baking.

Now, my mind is filled with stories about murder and romance, trying to finish writing two more books by the end of the year, and being out there in the social media world.

What is your biggest concern for the holiday? Or are you like the pre-author Lynn and are ready working on Christmas 2014?

If you want some holiday romance, check out my story, Top Secret Santa in All I Want for Christmas is a Soul Mate. 

From Idea to Finished Product

One late night at a McDonalds, a group of writer friends sat
chatting after a book signing. As the evening wore on, the subject of how we
start a book came up. (Yes, writers are a wild sort. I even had chicken nuggets
to snack on while we talked.)
For me, it’s setting. My bull rider series is set in a
little fictional town based off a real small mountain town nestled in the Idaho
Mountains and the site of the first local rodeo of the season. I wrote a book
about a woman who didn’t know her witch heritage set in a bar that has an
uncanny resemblance of one where I spent many a night playing darts.  And I have a story floating in my head that
starts with a lonely dock in a secluded cove on a lake near McCall, Idaho. The
place just radiates magic.
It probably won’t surprise you that Guidebook to Murder
started with a picture–one I shared with you in my introductory post. I love the way the fence is part wood and part wire.  The cheerful yellow and white paint contrasting against the dead tree and overgrown yard.  The place spurred a question
or two – Who would live there? Why is such a cute house in such bad shape?

And when writers have questions, we fill in the blanks with story. 

I took this shot one spring break while I was vacationing at
my sister’s house in central coastal California over a decade ago.  This became the touch point for Miss Emily’s
house in Guidebook to Murder.  And now, the
entire town of South Cove has been built around the idea.
That one picture spurred the series.  But now I have a new picture to share for South Cove.  Guidebook to Murder, Book 1 of the Tourist Trap Series is available for pre-order
on fine digital stores everywhere. Can’t wait for April when you all
can visit South Cove too.
Which leads me to my question –do you read books because of the
setting?  
Lynn
Guidebook to Murder –
A Tourist Trap Mystery
Available – April 17th, 2014
In the gentle coastal town of South Cove, California, all
Jill Gardner wants is to keep her store–Coffee, Books, and More–open and
running. So why is she caught up in the business of murder?

When Jill’s elderly friend, Miss Emily, calls in a fit of
pique, she already knows the city council is trying to force Emily to sell her
dilapidated old house. But Emily’s gumption goes for naught when she dies
unexpectedly and leaves the house to Jill–along with all of her problems. .
.and her enemies. Convinced her friend was murdered, Jill is finding the list
of suspects longer than the list of repairs needed on the house. But Jill is
determined to uncover the culprit–especially if it gets her closer to South
Cove’s finest, Detective Greg King. Problem is, the killer knows she’s on the
case–and is determined to close the book on Jill permanently. . .

Welcome to the dark side… We have cookies

Well, kind of.

Hi, I’m Lynn Cahoon. I’m so excited to be part of Stiletto Gang. Who am I? Well, let’s get started.

I’ve published 3 romance novels, 3 novellas, and a multitude of short stories. My first writing credit was a story for True LoveI Fell in Love With a Carney. With a off screen sex scene, it was considered hot for the media.  I went on to hone my craft weaving stories with several confessional ‘true’ stories ranging from dealing with credit card bills to finding a mate through a radio station contest. As I kept writing, I learned of new markets and have sold two shorts to Women’s World.

In between the romance, I kept penning stories that didn’t fit the happily-ever-after mold.  And after taking and carrying around a photo above for too many years, I finally started telling the story of the woman who lived in the run down house in the picture. But I found it wasn’t her story, even though Miss Emily plays a large part of the book. And through the submissions and critiques and rejections, a new town was born, South Cove California. Jill Gardner is my amateur sleuth when she’s not running her combination coffee house and bookstore or remodeling her new-to-her house.

Jill’s story is being released in April 2014 through eKensington and is titled, Guidebook to Murder – A Tourist Trap Mystery. Book 2, Mission to Murder will release Summer 2014 and the third book, unnamed at this time, Winter 2014.

I’ve learned a lot about writing cozy mysteries in the last couple years, but once you’re contracted, your learning curve shoots upward with new work to be done. Like promotion. And edits. And promotion.

I work a very dull day job that pays the bills. I’m married to my own romance hero who at times can turn into a murder mystery victim depending on my mood. I have two Pomeranians, Demon and Homer, who I adore and walk around the neighborhood. And we’ve just became the humans for two cats, Thor and Ella.

Check out my website for more about me at : http://lynncahoon.wordpress.com/

I’m looking forward to chatting twice a month.
Lynn