The Terrific Trio

Please allow me to introduce to you the Terrific Trio from my Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Series. On the left we have Trixie Montgomery. What's that you ask? How much of me has gone into Trixe? Well, it seems Trixie is a divorced, middle-aged woman who has started a new career as a writer for a historic magazine. It just so happens that I've written for the historic magazine "Georgia Backroads" for ten years. So yes, there is some of me in Trixie, but she also has her own personality. She's been through a rough divorce when her husband tells her he has discovered his soul mate on the internet. When he goes to meet her karma bites him in the bum and he finds out that his blonde bombshell is a 300 woman who takes men for all she can get. However, he still wants out of their long time marriage so she moves back to the small town of Vans Valley to live in her mother's garage apartment. This is when she starts working for "Georgia by the Way" and gets her assignments that lead her to dead bodies and crimes to be solved.

In the middle is none else than Trixie's best friend, Dee Dee Lamont. Dee Dee is a bonafide cat lover and runs an antique shop in Vans Valley called Antique's Galore. She usually accompanies Trixie on her research trips and goes antiquing while Trixie works. In the first book of the series "Death in Dahlonega" Dee Dee is a magnet for trouble. She stumbles upon a dead body while snooping around after a bathroom trip for her overly frequent visits to the potty. Dee Dee is loosely based on the combination of two of my friends. I will say a couple of the incidents in "Death in Dahlonega" really happened. They are just too funny to make up. Dee Dee has gone through the sudden death of her husband so she is able to help Trixie heal from her divorce. This friendship has become a win-win situation.

On the right is Belle, aka Nana, Trixie's great-aunt. When Betty Jo's, Trixie's mother, parents died at a young age she went to live with Nana who raised her like a mother. She is more like Trixie's grandmother. Now Nana is an enigma and for those of you who aren't quite sure what that means this is the definition I came up with:  One that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable. Yep, that's Nana. She is what some would call a "character." At times she seems to be addle-minded and doing such things as wearing Victoria Secret gowns, flirting with younger men, and forgetting where she was going or what she was going to do. Then at other times she is as sharp as a tack. Trixie thinks some of her behavior is a ruse to get away with her quirky behavior. Betty Jo has the patience of Job when it comes to Nana, but Trixie tries to help out when she can. And it seems Nana is determined to help Trixie, and that is how she comes to be a player in crime-solving trio with Trixie and Dee Dee.

You can read more about these fun-loving, quirky characters in the Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Series. The first book, "Death in Dahlonega" has been out since Oct. 2011 and I hope the next installment "Murder in Marietta" will be out by the first of the year. You can contact me for a signed copy, or it is available at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I hope you've had fun learning a little more about my characters. Next time I might just show you how to breathe life into a character!

                                              

Deborah has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, since 2001, for the historical magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published during this time. Her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails” edited by Olin Jackson. She has also had a showing of her photographs at Floyd Medical Center Art Gallery as well as winning several awards. Her debut cozy mystery "Death in Dahlonega", a winner in the ACFW Category Five Writer's Contest, is now available.
She is a current member of the Georgia Writers Association, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Deborah has been nomiated for Georgia Author of the Year 2012. She has an established blog, Butterfly Journey, where she reviews Christian Fiction. You can also catch her at
Sleuths and Suspects, where she reviews mysteries. She also contributes to the Cozy Mystery Magazine every other Tuesday.

Why Write? -- by Linda P. Kozar

Linda Kozar & Patches do their writing here.

Writers are often asked, "Why do you write?" I've heard a plethora of answers to the question from other writers over the years. Here are some:

• 'Cause I write better than I speak
• It's in my blood
• Gotta get these stories out of my head
• Because I can't not write
• It's my calling
• Just comes to me naturally
• I don't know any other way to express myself
• I love it
• 'Cause words last forever when you write them down
• To be a NY Times bestselling author
• To get rich and famous
• I get to make stuff up and get paid for it
• To write the stories I want to read
• To find out what happens next
• I love making people laugh
• I love making people cry
• To create my own world
• Writing is cathartic
• Writing is fun.
• I have to write; I don't have a choice.

We may have different reasons to write, some realistic, some not so realistic. But the question to ask next is: are you writing? Talk to any group of people and I'll bet 80% of them have a book they'd like to write. With indie publishing on the rise, the percentage of people who only dreamed of writing their story are now seeing those dreams come true.

But at what cost?

There is purpose in the process. Taking the time and effort to learn the craft of writing, to try and fail, and try and fail, and fail and try again--to paper a wall with rejection letters--is important.  Not a step to be skipped over. These are the rites of passage, the milestones of success for serious writers. 

For writers, it  is natural to think that everything we write is brilliant. A lady came to a writer's group I was in years ago and announced to all of us that we were "in for a real treat" because we would be introduced to her incredible story. We would actually get to read it. Wow. None of us quite knew what to say. Did this woman have delusions of grandeur? 

When we began to read, we did not share her opinion about her work. The tenses and point of view were all wrong. The story was filled with cliche's and adverbs and telling instead of showing. There was more wrong than right about her writing. Our group pointed out what we liked about her work, but also showed her what was wrong--a response that did not go over well. 

The intent of a critique group or partner should always be to help improve another person's work, not tear them down. And we've all experienced those pathetic people who live to tear down another writer's work in the worst way. But our writing group worked from the creed, "to tell the truth in love." The woman wasn't interested in hearing the truth however. She wanted us to do what I'm guessing all her family and friends had already done--gush over her brilliance. When we didn't, she was offended. She never returned to the group.

My mom used to have a similar typewriter--an old Smith-Corona

Now for another truth. There are many indie writers in the same position as this woman, who think their writing is the next best thing. And instead of seeking honest feedback, they look for affirmations. Then they rush to publish their book. Big mistake. Anyone can publish a book, but if you want to publish a book that is memorable in a good way, you can't skip the process.

What I mean by that is, before you self-publish, learn everything you can about writing. Work on those talents and skills. Hang out with other writers and learn from them. Hone your craft. Thicken your hide and join a critique group. By that I mean, don't take offense when someone offers a comment or suggestion to improve your work. Some people are real tenderfoots when it comes to critique. And if you can't accept that your work is not perfect, it never will be. Besides, if your goal is traditional publishing and you can't take critique, what are you going to do when your editor rips up your chapters with changes? Get a thick hide and get it now.

The flip side of delusional writers are those who come to the conclusion that everything they write is trash. Every writer goes through this stage. This usually occurs after you finish reading a really really really good book. Then you compare your work to the other writers work and convince yourself that yours is only fit to marinate in dumpster juice. 

This place is the beginning of wisdom. This revelation is a landmark. Embrace it. Start here.

Balance is key. As a writer, you're not the best, but you're not bad either. From this place, if you truly have what it takes to be a writer, things can only get better. 

Why do I write? Because there's nothing else I'd rather do.

#

Linda is the co-author of Babes With A Beatitude—Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of Faith (Hardcover/Ebook, Howard/Simon & Schuster 2009) and author of Misfortune Cookies (Print, Barbour Publishing 2008), Misfortune Cookies, A Tisket, A Casket, and Dead As A Doornail, (“When The Fat Ladies Sing Series,” Ebooks, Spyglass Lane Mysteries, 2012). She received the ACFW Mentor of the Year Award in 2007, founded and served as president of Writers On The Storm, a local ACFW chapter for three years. In 2003, she co-founded, co-directed and later served as Southwest Texas Director of Words For The Journey Christian Writers Guild. She and her husband Michael, married 23 years, have two lovely daughters, Katie and Lauren and a Rat Terrier princess named Patches.

Represented by: Wendy Lawton, Books & Such Literary Agency

Member of: CAN (Christian Authors Network), RWA (Romance Writers of American), WHRWA (West Houston Romance Writers of America), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), Writers On The Storm, The Woodlands, Texas Chapter of ACFW, Toastmasters (Area 56) The Woodlands, Texas. WoodsEdge Community Church, The Woodlands, TX.

Linda P. Kozar

Sweet Tea Fiction

www.lindakozar.com

http://bookishdesires.blogspot.com

Find me at about.me/LindaKozar

You Are Not Alone! by Nancy Jill Thames

Flying home from Scottsdale last night I was reading an article in some publication (either The Wall Street Journal or the Southwest magazine in the pouch in front of me) that stated 28% of all adults (in America?) live alone these days. That's something like 3.3 million people it said! I wrote a post on my author blog recently about solitude doing a body good and this article backed up that message. To a point.

NANCY JILL THAMES

     Now if you're a workaholic like me, you may think your work keeps you company, right? Truth is we were created to interact with others. The article said even though solitude is something we all need at times, loneliness is a precursor to suicide. That's a bummer. Doesn't have to be that way. People still need friends and that's why we're here - to bring you stories of mystery, adventure, a little humor here and there and most of all characters who are yes, figments of our imagination, but those figures often embody ourselves. So what you get is community with people just like you. And we're real friends! Debbie Malone, Sandra Moore, Cindy Ragsdale, Traci Hilton, Linda Kozar and myself.
      If you're reading this post, you're probably a reader already. But as some of you have commented, you're new to the cozy genre. Well, this is where cozies are different. Our stories are usually based on everyday people solving mysteries - people who could be your next door neighbor - people who want to be in your lives. My old friends are Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot and Jessica Fletcher, but I'm making new friends reading new authors all the time.
     So if you live alone (or know someone who does), remember our books are here to give you friendship and fellowship. Who are some of your favorite characters? What kinds of settings do they live in? Do you think of them as friends or acquaintances?

And don't forget the Giveaway Extravaganza going on right now!  

 

A Fast & Fabulous Salmon Recipe Featured Today 
in the Cozy Kitchen

Nancy Jill Thames is the author of "Jillian Bradley Mysteries," a series often set in exclusive hotels and resorts, based on real life travel adventures with her husband of 44 years. Her mysteries incorporate her love of afternoon tea, which has earned her the title of “Queen of Afternoon Tea.” She holds a music degree from UT Austin and lives in Leander, Texas where she is a member of the Leander Writers Guild. Nancy Jill is busy working on book 6 Waiting for Santa, a murder mystery taking place on Christmas Eve near Jillian Bradley’s home in Clover Hills. She has won awards for her blogs, a pie contest for her Chip Chocolate Cream Pie, and has been on the Author Watch Bestseller List numerous times.

To check out her books, Murder in Half Moon Bay, The Ghost Orchid Murder, From the Clutches of Evil, The Mark of Eden, and Pacific Beach, please visit: 
http://www.nancy-jill.blogspot.com

And Now A Cozy Mystery Review

The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne

Okay, I am going to review a book, but being me I decided to review an older cozy mystery you might not have heard of, or maybe you have. I just know I had never heard of it before I accidentally ran across The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne. Yes, it is that A.A. Milne, the author of Winnie the Pooh. This was the only mystery he ever wrote, which is a shame, and although it is a fun read it is definitely not a children’s book. However, there is one point when the main character is introduced where I could almost hear Sebastian Cabot's voice...sorry had a Disney flashback, back to the book.
Because this is The Cozy Mystery Magazine I did make sure that this qualified as a cozy mystery. I went through the list so expertly laid out in Deborah Malone’s June 8th post, “What Is A Cozy Mystery??” The detective is male, but an amateur. Check. He’s in between occupations, but he’s a member of the English upper crust, and has an independent source of income so he’s not desperate for work. Check. He has a contact who is a guest at the scene of the dastardly crime, and the police don’t take him seriously so he’s free to gather clues at will. Check and check.
Let’s start with bit of literary explanation before I start my review. The Red House Mystery is what is referred to as a “locked room mystery”, where the murder takes place in a room where all the doors and windows are locked. This would make the crime seem to be impossible to commit, yet we have a dead body to contend with. So the question is not only who done it, but how was it done? This is fortunate in the case of this story, I’ll explain in a minute.
The story takes place in an English country manor called Red House. The owner, Mark Ablett is hosting a house party whose guests include such standard mystery characters as a British major, a likeable lug of an athlete, an actress with an unappreciated sense of humor…is it my imagination or is this beginning to sound like a game of Clue? Anyway, while his guests are out for a day of entertainment, the host receives an unexpected and unwelcome visit from his wastrel (i.e. deadbeat) brother Robert who was shipped off to Australia years ago. Apparently that's what was done with deadbeat brothers in 1922 when this book was written. Suddenly, there is a shot in a locked room, and someone ends up dead. Fortunately Anthony Gillingham, our hero, has made an impromptu visit to Red House to meet up with his friend William Beverly, one of the guests, and manages to conveniently arrive just after the murder has been committed. So what’s he to do? Solve the mystery of course. It is only proper.
Milne creates a delightfully different type of detective in Gillingham who is eager to take on the "job" of sleuth. As I said, he’s in between occupations at this time. However, as he has never actually done it before he's on a learning curve. Fortunately, he has a natural talent for sleuthing and doesn’t mind admitting when he has gone wrong, which isn’t often. Also, Gillingham takes his new vocation very seriously as he recognizes murder to be a terrible thing. His friend, the equally likeable albeit not so cerebral William Beverly, is more than willing to play the sidekick even when the reality of solving a murder doesn’t live up to his expectations in the excitement factor. For one thing, he is quite disappointed in the evidence which appears to him to be so ordinary, and is quite surprised when his colleague refutes this notion as he considers it to be all too ridiculous. Which it is, but there’s a point to it, and that is what ultimately leads the murderer to trip up. Don’t they always?
I should warn you that although this is not an inverted mystery, the who of the "who done it" is rather obvious, even so you shouldn’t jump to any conclusions. Because there are a number of tricks the author plays along the way to throw you off as to the how and the why. That’s what you really have to solve, which is fun of this book. Because in end The Red House Mystery is sort of like a game of Clue, so have a good time playing.
Don't forget about the giveaway!
By the way my personal blog is now Short Mysteries And Tall Tales.

 

 

Mystery writer C.L. Ragsdale is the author of The Reboot Files a Christian Mystery Series. A California native, she loves to "surf" the web to research plot details for her fun, quirky stories with just a bit of whopper in them. She has a degree in Theatre Arts which greatly influenced her writing style. Working in various fields as a secretary has allowed her to both master her writing skills and acquire valuable technical knowledge which she uses liberally in her plots. She loves to embroider and knit and is a big fan of the old Scooby Doo cartoons.

Current E-Books
THE REBOOT FILES:  The Mystery of Hurtleberry House, The Island of Living Trees, The Harbinger of Retribution, and The Wrong Ghost.

www.shortmysteriesandtalltales.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CL-Ragsdale219184744858421

Birds of a Feather

Just last night my husband said to me, "Remember that Agatha Christie story where the woman beat her husband to death with a frozen turkey and then cooked it and served it to the detective? The murder weapon was never found?"

I was forced to admit I didn't remember that one. (Hey, she has 66 full length novels, 15 collections of short stories, and several plays to her name!) But it did remind me of the Sherlock Holmes story where the criminal force-fed the goose his stolen jewel, the goose was then sold to the wrong person, and mystery ensued. (The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle. I have read all of Doyle's mysteries.)

So I was on that track--the great birds of mystery track. I have never seen Hitchcock's The Birds...mostly because I get nightmares easily and there is at least one murder of crows in my back yard. The next scariest bird in literature or film has to be the Raven who was quoted as saying nevermore. He's all the scarier for being a metaphor for endless grief. I was moved to tears as I drove to the grocery store listening to Garrison Kiellor recite it.

Then there is the owl who poses the great mystery of the 1970s: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? We may never know.

My list comes to an end there, but I know it can't be exhaustive and now I am on the hunt. I want to know the most mysterious birds of film or literature! Can you help?  If you can think of other birds who have scared, hinted, implied, terrorized, bludgeoned, pecked, skirted, wheeled, nested, cawed, sung, or taunted their way through literature, let me know!

And don't forget the Giveaway Extravaganza going on right now!

Traci Tyne Hilton is a mom, Sunday School teacher, novelist, and award winning playwright from Portland, Oregon. She is madly working on her next mystery series which has finaled in the Books of Hope Contest at Write Integrity Press and has an impending deadline.

Traci earned a degree in History from Portland State University and lives in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest with her husband the mandolin playing funeral director from Kansas, their two daughters, and their dog, Dr. Watson.

Find Traci Tyne Hilton's newest mystery The Queen's Snare at amazon.com!

Until the Fat Ladies Sing Series

COZY BOOK STORE
AND ALSO AT BARNES & NOBLE

Linda Kozar's "Until the Fat Ladies Sing Series" is doing fabulous on the best sellers charts these days. The cover is really eye catching, don't you think? She couldn't post today due to unforeseen circumstances but hey, we cozy friends step in to help whenever we're needed. If you haven't read Linda's books, you really should give them a try - at only $.99 they're a steal! Who knows? You just may break open a fortune cookie that says, "You're about to discover a great cozy series."

Here's the skinny...

Best friends Sue Jan and Lovita run a beauty shop/boutique in the little West Texas town of Wachita. They share a passion of food and fun. But one day, over lunch in a Chinese restaurant, Lovita opens a fortune cookie with a sinister message: “Your father was murdered. . .” a clue that leads them to God, an international spy ring and several devastatingly handsome strangers. A most unlikely pair of detectives, these girlfriends “Comb” the countryside with style, sarcasm, and lots of Szechwan. This tale is like good take-out food–definitely worth bringing home.

Please comment and help make Linda feel better today. It will count as your good deed for the day! 

Blessings! ~Nancy Jill Thames

Linda is the co-author of Babes With A Beatitude—Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of Faith (Hardcover/Ebook, Howard/Simon & Schuster 2009) and author of Misfortune Cookies (Print, Barbour Publishing 2008), Misfortune Cookies, A Tisket, A Casket, and Dead As A Doornail, (“When The Fat Ladies Sing Series,” Ebooks, Spyglass Lane Mysteries, 2012). She received the ACFW Mentor of the Year Award in 2007, founded and served as president of Writers On The Storm, a local ACFW chapter for three years. In 2003, she co-founded, co-directed and later served as Southwest Texas Director of Words For The Journey Christian Writers Guild. She and her husband Michael, married 23 years, have two lovely daughters, Katie and Lauren and a Rat Terrier princess named Patches.

Represented by: Wendy Lawton, Books & Such Literary Agency

Member of: CAN (Christian Authors Network), RWA (Romance Writers of American), WHRWA (West Houston Romance Writers of America), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), Writers On The Storm, The Woodlands, Texas Chapter of ACFW, Toastmasters (Area 56) The Woodlands, Texas. WoodsEdge Community Church, The Woodlands, TX.

Linda P. Kozar

Sweet Tea Fiction

www.lindakozar.com

http://bookishdesires.blogspot.com

Find me at about.me/LindaKozar

A FREE GIFT FOR YOU!

A free gift for you this weekend ($3.99 value)! Murders, mysteries and new character on the scene - meet Daisy Larsen - a bustling plant lady who gets embroiled with Jillian, Teddy and the rest of the gang in 

 "THE MARK OF EDEN."

Nancy Jill Thames is the author of "Jillian Bradley Mysteries," a series often set in exclusive hotels and resorts, based on real life travel adventures with her husband of 44 years. Her mysteries incorporate her love of afternoon tea, which has earned her the title of “Queen of Afternoon Tea.”

She holds a music degree from UT Austin and lives in Leander, Texas where she is a member of the Leander Writers Guild.

Nancy Jill is busy working on book 6 Waiting for Santa, a murder mystery taking place on Christmas Eve near Jillian Bradley’s home in Clover Hills.

She has won awards for her blogs, a pie contest for her Chip Chocolate Cream Pie, and has been on the Author Watch Bestseller List numerous times.

To check out her books, Murder in Half Moon Bay, The Ghost Orchid Murder, From the Clutches of Evil, The Mark of Eden, and Pacific Beach, please visit our COZY BOOK STORE or at the following links: 

http://www.nancy-jill.blogspot.com ,

http://www.nancyjillthames.wordpress.com

http://www.authornancyjillthames.webs.com

A COZY WORLD

So what do you think living in a 'cozy world' means? Is there such a place? My youngest daughter, who is just graduating from college, told me I live in a protected world. She thinks I'm lucky. Yes, there are different worlds out there, but the one I choose to live in reads like the books I write and enjoy reading the most - cozies!
     To keep tea warm, a cozy is placed over the pot. Much in the same way, a cozy story covers the reader in warm prose. Agatha Christie (my favorite author) often used getaway weekends to country estates as settings for her murder mysteries. She vicariously put me on a terrace having tea, or going for a walk in the garden or traveling along the coast, staying in hotels by the sea. As an only child, left to herself much of the time, Agatha Christie created her stories to alleviate boredom. What an amazing contribution to mystery lovers she made to the world. Her cozies were never gory or profane. She set the standard for cozy authors to follow.

     Like Agatha Christie, I began writing out of boredom while traveling to a conference with my husband. Fashioning the heroine after myself, I then created characters from a myriad of people I met - from a valet at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel I named Walter Montoya, Jr. in "Murder in Half Moon Bay" to a fellow passenger on a plane trip I named Helen Morningstar in "The Ghost Orchid Murder." Their permission was always obtained before using their persona of course.
     My family rolled their eyes at my becoming an author. But there were others who encouraged me enough to believe I could write. Did I know what I was doing? No. Was I determined to finish the course? Yes! My cozy world is one I've created, and after two years and five books later I can honestly say there has never been anything as fulfilling as writing the Jillian Bradley Mystery Series. Except for reading other author's works, which is also part of my cozy world...
     The cozy world is where even though there is conflict, evil characters and murder in the books, the stories themselves revolve around protagonists who are able to win. My protagonist's world isn't perfect, but Jillian Bradley lives in a lovely home, collects beautiful works of art, has a personal shopper for her clothes and has men perusing her. She is a childless widow, but don't be fooled - Jillian has a knack for solving murders along with her dear little companion, Teddy, a Yorkie with a nose for sniffing out clues.

     I hope you'll step into Jillian's cozy world and read about her adventures. As a gift this weekend, book 4 in the series, "The Mark of Eden" is available for you to download on your Kindle, iPad or iPhone. Enjoy this $3.99 book absolutely free. And when you leave a comment you'll be entered to win a bonanza of our books! So why do you enjoy reading cozies? Do you read them exclusively or like a mix of genres? 

Nancy Jill Thames is the author of "Jillian Bradley Mysteries," a series often set in exclusive hotels and resorts, based on real life travel adventures with her husband of 44 years. Her mysteries incorporate her love of afternoon tea, which has earned her the title of “Queen of Afternoon Tea.” She holds a music degree from UT Austin and lives in Leander, Texas where she is a member of the Leander Writers Guild. She has won awards for her blogs,  a pie contest for her Chip Chocolate Cream Pie, and has been on the Author Watch Bestseller List numerous times.

     Nancy Jill is busy working on book 6 Waiting for Santa, a murder mystery taking place on Christmas Eve near Jillian Bradley’s home in Clover Hills.

To check out her books, Murder in Half Moon Bay, The Ghost Orchid Murder, From the Clutches of Evil, The Mark of Eden, and Pacific Beach, please visit our Cozy Book Store or http://www.authornancyjillthames.webs.com

FRESH SPINACH WITH LEMON

VISIT OUR COZY KITCHEN FOR THIS DELICIOUS RECIPE!

Where Did You Come Up With That Idea Anyway?

In honor of our Giveaway Extravaganza I decided to answer a question I get every so often. How did I get the idea for my series? I thought you might all be interested as well. Or maybe not, but I needed a posting idea so indulge me.

So where did I come up with the idea for The Reboot Files? The answer is, it wasn’t the idea I started out with.

I know big surprise.

You see before the Reboot files I had been trying to write fiction for years. Trying being the operative word, and none of it was very good. I tried different genres, and we all know my troubles with genres. Even worse I was trying to be dark and disturbing (I can hear you laughing Nancy Jill!), and I was trying to write novels which I hadn’t yet discovered I wasn’t good at, I just thought I was supposed to write novels.

Now I’m old enough to remember that the internet did not exist for some of this time, so traditional publishing, with all their rules and regulations, was the only option available. Hard to believe I know, and yes, dinosaurs roamed the earth. Moving on…

To be honest most of these efforts were so bad and uninteresting I never even finished them. It was all rather mystifying because I knew the Lord had called me to be a writer, and He wouldn’t let me give up on it. Believe me, I tried. You know how persistent God can be when He wants you to do something? What I couldn’t figure was if He wanted me to be a writer, why was I so bad at it?

In case you think I’m putting myself down, I’m not, this was just what was going on at the time. Looking back on it now it wasn’t my writing that was so bad. It helped that I worked in the clerical field which gave me experience in technical writing as well as helping my composing skills.I know now that God hadn’t given me the right story, but finally He did. 
Here’s what happened, and it’s the truth. Believe me I’m not talented enough to make something like this up.

I was working on yet another doomed plot. It was all about a supposedly cursed treasure, everyone getting lost in the deep, dark woods trying to find it, and a rouge grizzly bear thrown into the mix. It was as bad as it sounds. I couldn’t figure out where to go in the plot, and I didn’t like any of the characters, never a good thing. I was about to give up in frustration and delete it all, but then I made what seemed at the time to be a minor change. I added a character named Irene.

Then the Gates of Heaven opened and the whole idea for a series about a wrongly disgraced Christian reporter stuck on a cheesy paranormal investigation TV show involving dubious ghost, monsters and such invaded my brain and took over my imagination.

I can feel your disbelief, but really, that’s all it took. That one character named Irene Waters who came out of nowhere, well God really, and the whole thing fell into place. Since every Sherlock needs a Watson Troy Stenson came along next. Then came their boss Bernie, an unexpected man of mystery.

So why did I add The Records Department headed by the mysterious Secretary? Well I had finished the first book and discovered I needed to explain why Irene Waters had up ended in the pickle she was in. Since I started my professional career as a legal secretary, I liked the idea of powerful woman in a profession not always given the respect it deserves in the shadows pulling everyone’s strings. Except for Irene but it’s not want of trying. As to what her end game is, she won't say. Funny, my other characters won't shut up, but she's not into conversation.
Don't worry, I'm not crazy, not yet anyway. It's just the way my imagination works. My characters talk to me, except The Secretary but I think it's to keep me interested.

Anyway, that’s how my story came to be, I hope my fellow authors will also share the origins of their plots as well. I suspect that in itself would be an interesting tale.

Remember to scroll down to sign up for the giveaway to win free stuff! Free Stuff is GOOD!

 

Mystery writer C.L. Ragsdale is the author of The Reboot Files a Christian Mystery Series. A California native, she loves to "surf" the web to research plot details for her fun, quirky stories. Working in various fields as a secretary has allowed her to both master her writing skills and acquire valuable technical knowledge which she uses liberally in her plots. She loves to embroider and knit and is a big fan of the old Scooby Doo cartoons.

Current E-Books
THE REBOOT FILES:  The Mystery of Hurtleberry House, The Island of Living Trees, The Harbinger of Retribution, and The Wrong Ghost.

www.coloringwithoutcrayons.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CL-Ragsdale219184744858421

Giveaway Extravaganza!

COME CELEBRATE WITH US!

Come one come all to the Ugly Bug Ball, to the ball, to the ball. Oh, no that's not right - that was Burl Ives song in "Summer Magic." How many of you remember this movie. I'm waving my hand.

But this post isn't about Burl Ives and "Summer Magic." This is about the big and I do mean big giveaway we are having here at Cozy Mystery Magazine. To celebrate the beginning of this new site where cozy authors and cozy mystery readers can come together, we'd like to take this opportunity to offer a giveaway that will make you want to go and tell your friends.

There are just a few things we are going to require and then I'll tell you all the books that will be in the giveaway.

1) Please sign up as a follower

2) Sign up as an email follower

3) Leave a comment - tell us a little about yourself. Do you read cozies or are you just interested in learning more about them?

4) Be sure and leave an email address so we can contact you.

Here is a list of all the books to be divided by two winners:

"Death in Dahlonega" by Deborah Malone (paperback)

"Forclosed" by Traci Hilton (ebook) 

"Murder on the Ol' Bunions" by S. D. Moore (ebook)

"Misfortune Cookies" by Linda Kozar (ebook)

"A Tisket, A Casket" by Linda Kozar (ebook)

"Dead as a Doornail" by Linda Kozar (ebook)

"Murder in Half Moon Bay" by Nancy Jill Thames (ebook)

"The Ghost Orchid Murder" by Nancy Jill Thames (ebook)

"From the Clutches of Evil" by Nancy Jill Thames (ebook)

"The Mark of Eden" by Nancy Jill Thames (ebook)

"Pacific Beach" by Nancy Jill Thames (ebook)

"The Mystery of Hurtleberry House" by C. L. Ragsdale (ebook)

"The Island of Living Trees" by C. L. Ragsdale (ebook)

"The Harbinger of Retribution" by C.L. Ragsdale (ebook)

SEE YOU AT THE CELEBRATION

     Deborah has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, since 2001, for the historical magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published during this time. Her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails” edited by Olin Jackson. She has also had a showing of her photographs at Floyd Medical Center Art Gallery as well as winning several awards. Her debut cozy mystery "Death in Dahlonega", a winner in the ACFW Category Five Writer's Contest, is now available.
She is a current member of the Georgia Writers Association, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Deborah has been nomiated for Georgia Author of the Year 2012. She has an established blog, Butterfly Journey, where she reviews Christian Fiction. You can also catch her at
Sleuths and Suspects, where she review mysteries.                                             

Speaking--Me? by Linda Kozar

Remember those daydreams you used to have about getting your first novel published? The publishing house sends a limo to pick you up. (Hey, I've seen that in made-for-TV movies, okay?). The limo ushers you off to a glamorous New York bookstore where there are looooooong lines of adoring readers who don't mind waiting for hours for the privilege of having you sign your book. The publishing house is happy. Your editor is happy. You're happy. And rich. Did I mention rich?

But if and when your book gets published, the reality is you will be traveling around doing book signings, staying in chintzy motels, eating greasy fast food and counting the days till you get home. And when you're not doing that, you are promoting your book all over the internet, begging folks to do blog tours, doing radio interviews by phone, and inviting people to virtual parties on Facebook and Twitter.

Besides all that, authors are often called upon to speak to women's retreats, writer's groups, book clubs, retirement communities, etc. Most writers I know are comfortable behind a laptop, but not so comfortable in front of a crowd of people. Are you?

If not, you've got to take steps to change that. I did.

The first step I took was to put together some speaking topics. I co-founded a writer's group back in 2005, with a friend of mine. There were ample opportunities over the years to teach workshops and get comfortable in front of large groups. Experience is what makes you comfortable. And how do you get experience? One meeting at a time.

Over the years, that list expanded. Here is a list of my speaking topics:

·  Speaking Topics:

1. Actively Pursuing God

2. The 411 on Journalism

3. Bio-Hazards

4. Fifty Ways to Say Yellow--Writers tend to use the same old, same old

instead of finding more creative ways of describing worlds real or imagined. Fifty

Ways To Say Yellow utilizes The Synonym Finder in a lesson and practical creative writing exercise designed to expand a writer's word universe.

5. Another Opening, Another No

6. Cliché Clutter

7. Playground for Poets--Playground for Poets covers the bare basics for anyone

interested in writing poetry. Examples from an eclectic assortment of poetry (even

Slam) and simple explications help any amateur poet develop a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that move verse and hearts.

8. Figurative Language

9. Wrap Yourself in His Presence

10.  Writing For The Righteous--Writing For The Righteous: A Reality Check List For the Inspirational Market, is a guide for those who want to write for the inspirational market. It covers motivation, terminology, Christianese buzz words, Bible versions, what Christian Publishers want, Guidelines, Bible Research sources, Christian writer's conferences, resources, a checklist and more.

11.  The Club of the Pubb’d

12.  Happy Endings

13.  Chocolate Covered Blurbs: The “I Want to Buy That Book” Eye Candy

14.  Keeping Your Balance On Your Platform

The second thing I did was join Toastmasters. It was a real commitment for me to be a part of this group as they met at 7:00 am. Now, going to a meeting at that hour is one thing, but actually speaking that early in the AM is quite another. I stepped out of my comfort zone with a wide yawn.

My goal was to achieve my Competent Communicator, by completing a series of ten speeches. I made it through eight before I stopped going. Will I go back? Yes. What I learned helped me immensely, but I have a lot to learn when it comes to public speaking, so I do plan on going back at some point.

For now however, I feel confidant in the type of speaking I do. Teaching a workshop doesn't have as many constrictions. The speaking style can be informal. No one is timing you and nobody's counting how many times you say 'ah' or 'uh':)

If you are an author and haven't considered speaking, consider it. Speaking is a great way to share your writing knowledge and expertise with new writers, as well as meet and greet readers and fans.

Linda Kozar, author of Babes With A Beatitude—Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of Faith (2009 Howard/Simon & Schuster, print/digital), Misfortune Cookies (2008 Barbour Publishing print). Misfortune Cookies, A Tisket, A Casket, and Dead As A Doornail “When The Fat Ladies Sing,” series (2012 Spyglass Lane Mysteries digital). She received the ACFW Mentor of the Year Award in 2007, founded and served as president of Writers On The Storm, a local ACFW chapter for three years. In 2003, she co-founded, co-directed, and later served as Southwest Texas Director of Words For the Journey Christian Writers Guild. She led a weekly women's bible study in her home for 14 years previous to one she co-leads now, (5 years) called "Babes With A Beatitude". She and her husband Michael, married for 23 years, have two lovely daughters in college and a rat terrier princess named Patches.

Member of: CAN (Christian Authors Network), RWA (Romance Writers of American), WHRWA (West Houston Romance Writers of America), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), Writers On The Storm, The Woodlands, Texas Chapter of ACFW, Toastmasters (Area 56) The Woodlands, Texas. WoodsEdge Community Church, The Woodlands, Texas.

VISIT MY WEBPAGE: www.lindakozar.com
BLOGS: http://bookishdesires.blogspot.com
                http://babeswithabeatitude.blogspot.com
                http://gatebeautifulradioshow.blogspot.com

ISN'T BRANDING FOR LIVESTOCK? and recipe for SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE

 by NANCY JILL THAMES

Doesn't matter what you're trying to sell - could be shoes, a service or a book, but you need branding if you're ever going to make it in today's world. Of course there's recognizable brands out there like Coke, AT&T, and GM but there's also you, whoever you are.   

     Took me a while to figure out my brand. Sure I'm a musician, artist and a pretty good cook (check out the recipe at the end), but I finally figured out the best brand for me was to be honest and just be who I am. So, after wrestling with trying to be witty and clever I decided my brand would be "Queen of Afternoon Tea" author of Jillian Bradley Mysteries. My protagonist is my alter ego living a life of gentility and mystery solving. She is branded as a widow and childless, Yorkie and art lover, garden columnist and garden club member. And I mustn't forget that Jillian is a lady who always serves afternoon tea or partakes of it where ever she visits. Even in "Pacific Beach" Jillian has tea and crumpets at The Mad Dogs Cafe with one of the characters in the book.

PACIFIC BEACH

      Take a look at people in your field and see how they brand themselves. Keep threshing your ideas out until you are comfortable with one that fits. Then, just become your brand.
     Now, before you decide what your brand will be it's a good idea to Google your ideas and see if the idea's been used before. Here's a good post on the subject you may want to read called The ABC's of Personal Branding. Above all understand that by branding yourself you will at last understand who you are and what you're trying to accomplish. As a Christian, I realize that's my brand too - one that I'm very grateful for and the reason for my writing. Being cooped up in a house all day doesn't afford many opportunities to share God's love. But people who read my books will get a glimpse of what being a Christian might be like...and who knows? Perhaps they'll even open their hearts to our loving Savior. Have you come up with a brand of your own? 

Thought I'd share a delicious summer recipe from Relish Magazine in the Cozy Kitchen.
Come on in and take a peek!

Grilled Shrimp with Tomato Salad

Sweet shrimp cooked on the grill perfectly complement a tomato salad with citrus vinaigrette.

 

Nancy Jill is busy working on book 6 Waiting for Santa, a murder mystery taking place on Christmas Eve near Jillian Bradley’s home in Clover Hills.

She has won awards for her blogs,  a pie contest for her Chip Chocolate Cream Pie, and has been on the Author Watch Bestseller List numerous times.


To check out her books, Murder in Half Moon Bay, The Ghost Orchid Murder, From the Clutches of Evil, The Mark of Eden, and Pacific Beach, please visit: 
her Web Site.