Several years ago, when my critique group, the Cozy Critters, was meeting at my house, those gentle pointers helped me a great deal in writing the Darcy and Flora and Ned mysteries. They were a fun group and I’ll never fail to be amazed at how we all found each other and the great rapport […]
Mar 18, 2024
Those Classics
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Some things grow more valuable with age; cars, for instance. Those old models, fifty or more years old, if they’ve been well-cared for or restored, still purr down the highway, classic lines gleaming in the sunshine. And gems!Antique jewelry that has been well-loved through the years is just as valuable, if not more so, than […]
Mar 15, 2024
What is the Ides of March?
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To the ancient Romans, the Ides of March was a time for settling debts. For Julius Caesar, it was a time of betrayal and death; but, for us, it simply marks the middle of March and a week before the official start of spring. This ides dawns with gloomy skies and damp ground. A storm […]
Mar 11, 2024
Discarding and Keeping
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Some people who are very dear to me are cleaning out their garage, deciding what to keep and what to throw away. It’s a big job but when they are finished, they’ll have room for more important things. Until then, though, those old, useless things are just taking up space. Their cluttered garage is like […]
Mar 9, 2024
Character Conversation
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I talk to the characters in my books. They have personalities and minds of their own. Sometimes, it’s a struggle to decide which would fit best in the story I’m writing–my thoughts or my character’s. Usually, my character is right. Me: Ned, I don’t believe you would go off hunting for an Indian message tree […]
Mar 3, 2024
Pete and Pat
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Are you feeling a-wash this morning? All at sea? Here’s a repeat of someone you might sympathize with. Pete the peg-legged pirate lived on the sea. He had a wooden leg beginning just below his knee. A bright and mouthy parrot sat upon his shoulder Who was at least as old as Pete or maybe […]
