A Pseudo Spring

A woodpecker moves up and down the maple tree, pecking at a breakfast of–what? Tiny insects? My neighbor’s tulip tree is about to flower. Jonquils and hyacinths are blooming. It looks like spring is here early this year. But, wait! What’s this I hear about Tuesday night and Wednesday? Just so we don’t get too […]

Danger from Behind Us

The Cemetery Club was my first book in the Darcy and Flora, mother and daughter series. One of their most frightening episodes was when they took the fast way down Deertrack Hill.  Darcy and Flora were driving east toward Fayetteville during a rainstorm. The highway was deserted, or so they thought. As we crossed the […]

Once a Year?

  As I get older, it’s the small things that matter to me the most. As the song goes, Little Things Mean a Lot.  For a writer, it’s a treat to get a special Valentine from a happy reader. I remember the email I received from a fan of The Cemetery Club.  She enjoyed it […]

What’s Behind the Facade?

Many of you will remember seeing old western movies with store buildings that had false fronts, making them appear much larger than they were. Let me tell you that people have false fronts too, sometimes without even being aware that they have them. For example, how many of you may be a secret cozy mystery […]

The Cozy Shivers

When my grandchildren were small, we sometimes entertained each other by making up stories. Such was the case one cold, winter day several years back. “Let’s tell scary stories,” I said. “OK,” they agreed. I went first. I thought I was doing pretty well, building up to an exciting and shivery climax. “Mem, that’s not […]

The Warm Feeling of Home

I think within us there’s a love for the sincerity of a smile, the familiarity of people and a certain place, the knowledge that we are welcome. Do you ever return to a well-loved book because it offers that comfort? I do and I find that feeling in mysteries by Mary Roberts Rinehart. How many […]