Tag Archive for: cozy mysteries

Are Book Signings Old Hat?

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By Sparkle Abbey

In a couple of weeks we will have our last book signing for
2014. We always enjoy participating in signings. It’s a great way to
connect with our readers, network with other writers, and to support local
booksellers.  

Over the past three years, we’ve participated in local
events, regional mystery reader festivals, and larger book signing at national conferences.
Sometimes the events are planned for us, and some we’ve planned ourselves.
There are a couple of things that all the books signings have had in common: we
never know what’s going to happen or how many people, if any, will show up. That
seems to depend on the venue, the advance publicity, and often what else is
going on in the community and in people’s lives.


Our very first signing was for the launch of Desperate
Housedogs, which our local Des Moines library organized for us. We sold more
than 100 books! It felt like every person we knew had taken time to celebrate
our success. It was a night we’ll never forget. 


Since that first book launch, we’ve had numerous signings.
Every one of them we’ve enjoyed immensely. Sometimes we sell out of books, and
other times we’ll only sell a handful of books. Regardless of the number of books we sell, we always enjoy talking to the folks who have taken the time to come and see us. At one recent event, there were
five people at the signing, including the bookseller. Oh, and we can’t forget
the three cats—especially the one who decided to lay on top of our books. There was a lot of laughter that night.  



Recently we’ve talked to many of our fellow
writers who’ve decided not to participate in local or regional signings due to low turnout. A book signing can be lonely for an author. Sometimes the only conversation we’ll have with someone is to
answer the popular question, “Do you know where the bathroom is?”


As we sent our “Save the Date” email, it got us thinking. Since
readers can easily engage with their favorite authors via social media, and
with more ebooks being sold now more than ever before, are book signings a thing of the
past?

We hope not. We enjoy getting out and talking to fellow book
lovers about great authors, and discovering what everyone is reading. We’ve found
many of our favorite writers that way. It also kicks us out of our writing caves and makes us interact with the real world.

What about you? Do you attend book signings? If so, who did
you go see?

Oh, and in case you were wondering about that last book signing, here’s the info:
  

Book signing
in Des Moines for our newest release! 
Friday, December
19th, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Beaverdale
Books – 2629 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, IA

Maybe we’ll see you there!

What are you reading and welcome to December By Lynn Cahoon

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The end of the year is always a time of reflection and planning for me. I go over out budget, try to see where we can make adjustments, look around the house for remodel ideas, and examine my writing career. I also take stock of my health. Just call me a Covey convert. I love his books about goal setting and looking on ways to improve your life.

This year, I’m kind of being forced to do something I never plan time for. I’m resting. I had a hip replacement two days after I released my last book -IF THE SHOE KILLS. Yep, I’m a planner. I also had a crown done last month since apparently I can’t have dental work done for six months now.

So I’m tucked in my recliner with a comforter over my legs as I write this post.

What have I learned the last three weeks? I hate asking for help. I push myself too fast, too far. And you can watch cooking shows 24/7 on cable.  And I can write on my laptop.

The weather here in St. Louis isn’t helping. We had highs in the 70’s yesterday and today we have freezing rain.

I’m planning a soup day with a good book as soon as I get my words in today. And although my house doesn’t have a fireplace, I’ll be imagining one like this to warm my toes….

Help me out here… What are you reading? I need to stock up my Kindle.

Lynn

Bad to the Bone!

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Is it November already?


This last
week has been jammed packed with activity in Sparkle Abbey’s world. Besides the
typical day job and normal family craziness, book six, The Girl with the Dachshund Tattoo hit the virtual bookshelves. We
knew it was coming, but we didn’t realize it was coming so soon. Not that we’re
complaining!
We’re
really excited about our latest cozy mystery. In The Girl with the Dachshund Tattoo, Mel is tracking a killer in the cutthroat world of dachshund racing. Cheating. Doping. Gambling. Who
knew doxie dashes were surrounded by so much controversy? Certainly not us.

We had a ball researching this book. 








We even attended a
couple of wiener races just to make sure we captured the enthusiasm and
competitive nature of the racers. We can attest that these pooches may
have short stubby legs, and long wiggly bodies, but they are all heart. 







If you’ve
never seen a Dachshund Dash, check out this YouTube video. We dare you not to smile.
Running of the Wieners at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati




Next week
we’ll be on a jet plane to Long Beach, California to attend the Bouchercon Mystery Conference! If you’re there and see us, make sure you say hi. 

If you’re not familiar with Bouchercon, let us explain. Bouchercon is the Annual World Mystery Convention for anyone who loves mysteries. Readers, writers, authors, librarians, and booksellers all gather for a weekend of fun and conversation. And we like to hangout in the bar. Attendees can pick from a plethora of panels and attend author signings, along with other programs. There’s even an awards ceremony. If you’d like to learn more about this wonderful mystery conference, here’s a link. Bouchercon 2014, Murder at the Beach.

Our question to you is this: If you could hang out in the bar with any mystery author, who would you choose?

Cozy Police Procedurals?

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Is there such a thing?

That seems to be the category given to both my series by reviewers. And in some ways I suppose they are right. The following is what fits and what doesn’t:

Both series are set in small towns. Deputy Tempe Crabtree solves crimes in the mountain community of Bear Creek, and on the Indian reservation as well.

Tempe is a female sleuth–though she is in law enforcement. She is also Native American.

Her sidekick is her preacher husband.

She doesn’t have any animals.

In the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, there are many characters–and the spotlight shifts from one to another. Two of the main characters are Detective Doug Milligan and his wife, Officer Stacey Milligan. One of the readers’ favorites is Officer Gordon Butler who has bumbled his way through several books and his love life has been dismal up until the latest books

Rocky Bluff is a small Southern California community. The police department doesn’t have much in the way of modern equipment. Most crimes are solved the old fashioned way, asking lots of questions and putting the clues together.

Pets do not play an important part in the series.

Neither series has any “bad language” and though there is romance, I always close the bedroom door.

Next Wednesday evening, September 10th at 7 p.m., I’m appearing on a panel with some cozy writers at the Buena Vista Branch of the library in Burbank, CA. I certainly hope I’m not a disappointment to any readers who come who are fans of the cozy genre.

The latest Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery is Spirit Shapes. Coming in October is River Spirits.




The latest Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery is Murder in the Worst Degree.

Marilyn aka F. M. Meredith

Release week – Mission to Murder!

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Hi guys!

It’s been a little crazy over at Casa Cahoon.  I had a jam packed RWA conference running from 7 in the morning to after 10 at night. (Don’t worry, I did get down to the Riverwalk and enjoyed some Tex Mex at a couple of spots.

I remembered why I loved fish tacos.

And of course a good Texas beer.

Then I came home to release week for MISSION TO MURDER. This is the second in the series and Jill is in deep hot water this time.

In the California coastal town of South Cove,
history is one of its many tourist attractions—until it becomes deadly…

Jill Gardner, proprietor of Coffee, Books, and More,
has discovered that the old stone wall on her property might be a centuries-old
mission worthy of being declared a landmark. But Craig Morgan, the obnoxious
owner of South Cove’s most popular tourist spot, The Castle, makes it his
business to contest her claim. When Morgan is found murdered at The Castle
shortly after a heated argument with Jill, even her detective boyfriend has to
ask her for an alibi. Jill decides she must find the real murderer to clear her
name. But when the killer comes for her, she’ll need to jump from historic
preservation to self-preservation …

If you haven’t started the series yet, GUIDEBOOK TO MURDER is still on sale for $2.  Less than what I paid for coffee at the restaurant. 

Lynn

Saying Goodbye to a Series – A continuing discussion.

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Some of you might have seen my post over at Sara WalterEllwood’s blog during THE BULL RIDER’S KEEPER blog tour on my bitter sweet
feeling on letting go of The Bull Rider series. Today, I wanted to talk about the journey. Or as Ron White would say when asked how far the plane would go, “all the way to the crash site.”
THE BULL RIDER’S BROTHER marked my entrance into the
publishing world.  On June 4th,
2012, I became a published author.  The
sweet story about four friends (Lizzie, James, Barb and Jesse) who return to
Shawnee for the town’s annual rodeo weekend, each with their own agenda, taught
me a lot about how to tell a story and how to be an author. Most civilians
(those outside the publishing world) think all the work is in the writing.
Everyone who’s ever published through digital first, traditional or even
self-published will tell a different story. 
Between edits and reviews and promotion, a book takes many hours of time
to show up with the buy me button on Amazon.
As soon as I signed my contract for BRB giving James and
Lizzie their happy ever after, I started writing on THE BULL RIDER’S MANAGER.
This was Barb’s story. I knew she worked too much and didn’t have a strong
family support system going in. Barb’s house was the fun one growing up, the
one without rules. So I knew this had to be about her learning to accept and
finding her own family. How it turned into a wild night in Vegas, I’m not sure,
but I’m glad the story took me there. By November 2012, the book had that
coveted buy button.
Then life happened. Around Easter 2013, I signed a three
book contract for THE TOURIST TRAP MYSTERIES. One book written, the second
started, and a vague idea for book three. 
By the end of the year, I had all three done and ready for their release
dates spanning 2014 (GUIDEBOOK TO MURDER-April 17th, MISSION TO
MURDER –July 31st, and IF THE SHOE KILLS- October 28th).
I’d also started a new, cowboy romance that I thought could
be an amazing series. This got put on the back burner when I signed the
contract.
So as soon as IF THE SHOE KILLS went off to my editor, I
returned to the last book in the Bull Rider series, Jesse’s story.  I’m glad I waited, mostly because Jesse
needed the time to grow and change. And I’m very proud of his character arc
over the three books. Little brother all grown up. THE BULL RIDER’S KEEPER
released April 28th and I closed the door on Shawnee and the four
friends.

But what about the stories I didn’t get to tell. Kadi’s
riding instructor deserves a happy ever after. 
Cash Dillon, the dumped, in THE BULL RIDER’S BROTHER, got his story told
in a novella, SHAWNEE HOLIDAY, exclusively available at Amazon. And then
there’s Angie, the Sullivan brothers crazy mom.
It’s hard to walk away. But I don’t have the time now to
write these stories.
Maybe someday.
Do you have series that you or the author hasn’t finished
that you’re waiting for another book? 

Real world or imaginary places?

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One of my author loops started talking about setting the
other day. Did people use real places in their stories, or made up ones? The
answered varied from one extreme to another.
Some people were like me. They used real, made up places.
Confused? Let me give you an example.
In the Bull Rider series, the first book is set in fictional
Shawnee. A town with as many churches as bars. Nestled in between two
mountains, the town follows the river as it meanders through town. The rodeo
grounds are set outside town, next to a grassy hill where observers can bring
their own picnic dinner and blankets and watch the festivities in style. The
descriptions mirror a real little town known for it’s easy access to salmon
fishing and a rodeo weekend, Riggins, Idaho.

So the book is set with a mix of the real and the made up.
Later books in that series are set in my old stomping
grounds, the Boise, Idaho area. Real town with a little fiction magic, and a
book is born.
My novella, Temporary Roommates, is based on a neighborhood
in St. Louis close to Forest Park. Real place, made up apartment building.

Finally, South Cove, my setting for The Tourist Trap
Mysteries, is set on the central California coast. Readers may think they can
guess the town South Cove is representing, but that series was all based on one
old house. 

What about you? Do you like real settings? Or are you happy
with a fictional world?
Guidebook to Murder releases April 17th! 
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. . .

Lynn Cahoon’s a multi-published author. An Idaho native, her
stories focus around the depth and experience of small town life and love.
Lynn’s published in Chicken Soup anthologies, explored controversial stories
for the confessional magazines, short stories in Women’s World, and
contemporary romantic fiction. Currently, she’s living in a small historic town
on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander.
She lives with her husband and four fur babies.

New Years Resolutions – Or Not -Part II

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Hi Gang,

It’s been twenty days since the New Year started.  Have you kept to your goals? Are they flexible enough to adjust when things go south? Or when your load gets heavier?

Last post, I talked about my health goals. I lose weight VERY slowly. So who knows where I am today. But even if I’ve fallen, I will get back up because I know I can lose weight with this same program. Eat more fruits and veggies, cut back on calories, and work out more.

Another set of goals I made was around taking more time for myself. I’m the queen of busy. If I can fit in one more blog, or one more chore, that’s one less that I have to do tomorrow. One more lap. Just a little faster. The problem is I can burn out easily if I forget to fill the well.

Around the holiday’s, I took some time off and spent it reading, watching movies, and spending time with my family.  During that respite, I decided one day a week I’d take time off for me. No word count, no editing pages, just re-creation time.

We’ll see how that works.

I’m hoping to carve out more time for baking, quilting, crochet, and, yes, of course, reading. During my vacation I read Doctor Sleep by Stephen King. Loved this character study in the life of an alcoholic. Well, an alcoholic with an ability to talk to spirits, and other cool psychic tools. Great book.

What would you do with a free day once a week? What’s stopping you?

Lynn

New Years Resolutions or Not?

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Hey gang….
It’s been six days since the New Year started. How are your goals going?
Do you set goals or resolutions?
For me, I’m a goal setter. Resolutions seem too dreamy. A goal is
specific and time centered.


So here’s one of my goals – Make healthy choices and increase fruits/veggies in my
diet. My hope is to lose 20 pounds by year-end. Now, it’s not going to get done
just by adding a few apples and celery sticks. I’m also going to have to work
out regularly and keep a log of both food and exercise. One day at a time. Kind of like writing a book. Or eating an elephant. (Although that might be a wrong metaphor to use.)
One way I can do this is using Myfitnesspal.com I love this website. Free
and filled with excellent tracking programs. And, you can buddy up with friends
and have an online push when you’re not reaching your goals.
Today I found Panera Breads is sponsoring a fitness challenge. Lose five
pounds in six weeks. They have a mobile app called Lose It. It’s a lot like
MyFitnessPal but it’s on my phone. Although, I think you can do that with
MyFitnessPal too. Check out https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/home.html
for more information.
Watching hulu plus while I rode my stationary bike I found another program
I might like—Daily Burn. Apparently, it brings a variety of exercise programs
to you every day – kind of like P90X which is one of my favorite workouts but my doctor banned me from using due to health issues. Right now, I’m
playing Biggest Loser on Xbox with Konect. Love the workouts. And the weather warms up and I can get back to walking places like Chain of Rocks bridge, it’s indoor work for me.
Technology rules.
One last hint for today – find a farmers market that delivers. Our local
farmer’s market in the St. Louis are does a Fruit your Cube program, bringing
fruits and veggies to your office for a reasonable cost. I never have to say, I
should have gone to the store because the store comes to me. The only guilt is
when I don’t use up the veggies before they go bad.
Are you on the health wagon for 2014? Do you like the on line programs,
or good, old-fashioned meetings?
Lynn

From Idea to Finished Product

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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. . .