Saying Good-bye to a Cozy Critter

Saying Good-bye to a Cozy Critter

(Cover picture is by Jane Barron.) We filled the round booth in the back corner of the cafe. A bouquet of flowers sat on the table. Gathered around were five Cozy Critters, Carolyn, Peg, Nancy, Jane, and me. We laughed, took pictures, and ate. But, at the center of it all was a bit of […]

A Memory of Yesterday

A Memory of Yesterday

As I was shuffling through old posts this morning, I came across this one, written in January five years ago. It brought back so many warm memories, I decided to post it again. The day was cold, the Cozy Critters were reading and writing and offering encouragement. As Jane said, “Embrace hope and look to […]

Together Again and Going Strong

Together Again and Going Strong

For the first time since last fall, the Cozy Critters met at my house yesterday. We had had a couple of luncheon meetings at a restaurant, but it was great to be together again, the coffee hot and bracing, the cookies close at hand. As it turns out, it was a better day weather-wise than […]

Lunch with Cozy Critters

Lunch with Cozy Critters

Nancy, Jane, Peg, and I held our critique over plates of food and coffee yesterday. Will this get to be a trend? Will we continue to meet at our friendly restaurant to discuss books, writing, speaking, and all things in between? Only time will tell.  Jane had just returned from a fascinating trip. She and […]

The Cozy Mystery That Almost Wasn’t

The Cozy Mystery That Almost Wasn’t

  As I completed the third Ned McNeil moonlight cozy mystery, Moonstruck and Murderous, I looked back at the last one, By The Fright of the Silvery Moon. I remembered the terrifically hard time I had writing just the right opening scene. On this one, Moonstruck, I think I wrote no less than six beginnings […]

Art, Books, Cookies and Coffee

Art, Books, Cookies and Coffee

When four friends meet on a fall day, bringing with them their outlooks on life, the books they’ve read, and the paintings they’ve painted, plus a few original writings, well, what could be better? The coffee and sugar cookies helped, of course, but conversation carried the day. Jane, Carolyn, and Peg came through the door, […]