Tag Archive for: Desolation Row mystery

I’d Rather Be Writing

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By Kay Kendall

When USA Today bestselling author  Lois Winston
invited me to participate in her new cookbook adventure, I jumped at the chance.
After all, the title captured my feelings exactly—WE’D RATHER BE WRITING, subtitled 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips.
You can pre-order the eBook for 99 cents
and receive it on October 30. A portion of proceeds will be donated to No Kid Hungry. Most of us authors juggle day jobs and
family responsibilities along with our writing. Because we need to find time to
write, we search for ways to save time. And cooking takes up such a huge chunk.

However, you don’t need to be a multi-tasking
author to need time-saving recipes and tips, so in our new cookbook you’ll find
easy, nutritious recipes for meat, poultry, pasta, soup, stew, chili, and
vegetarian meals. The recipes require a minimum of preparation, freeing time to
do other things—to read, exercise, garden, craft, write, spend more time with
family, or whatever.

The 88 participating
authors make up a varied group, writing a wide range of fiction—everything from
mystery to romance to speculative fiction to books for children, young adults,
and new adults—and some who write nonfiction. Some write sweet; others write
steamy. Some write cozy; others write tense thrillers. Some are debut authors
with only one published book; others are multi-published and have had long
publishing careers. And, while some are even New York
Times and USA Today bestselling
authors, even they still need to perform feats of juggling
daily.

We like to think
of ourselves as a rather creative and resourceful bunch when it comes to
carving out time from our busy lives. So in addition to timesaving recipes, we
have added timesaving organizational tips too.

Check this list of
contributing authors to see whose names your recognize: Lisa Alber, Reggi
Allder, Judy Alter, Krista Ames, Rose Anderson, Cori Lynn Arnold, Judy Baker,
Beverley Bateman, Donnell Ann Bell, Paula Gail Benson, Kris Bock, Maureen
Bonatch, Ava Bradley, Susan Breen, Lida Bushloper, Michelle Markey Butler,
Ashlyn Chase, Judy Copek, Maya Corrigan, Mariposa Cruz, Melinda Curtis, Lesley
A. Diehl, Conda V. Douglas, Nancy Eady, Helena Fairfax, Jennifer Faye, Flo
Fitzpatrick, Kit Frazier, Shelley Freydont, Mariana Gabrielle, Rosie Genova,
Marni Graff, Joanne Guidoccio, Margaret S. Hamilton, L.C. Hayden, Linda Gordon
Hengerer, Heather Hiestand, R.Franklin James, Kathryn Jane, M.M. Jaye,
Elizabeth John, Stacy Juba, Gemma Juliana, Carol Goodman Kaufman, Melissa Keir,
Kay Kendall, A.R. Kennedy, Lynn Kinnaman, Marie Laval, B.V. Lawson, Claudia
Lefeve, Alice Loweecey, Cynthia Luhrs, Sandra Masters, Lisa Q. Mathews, J.M.
Maurer, Sandra McGregor, Kathy McIntosh, Claire A. Murray, Ann Myers, Tara
Neale, Stacey Joy Netzel, Jayne Ormerod, Alice Orr, Laurel Peterson, Irene
Peterson, Pepper Phillips, Caridad Pineiro, Kathryn Quick, Renée Reynolds,
Josie Riviera, Elizabeth Rose, C.A. Rowland, Cindy Sample, Sharleen Scott,
Terry Shames, Susan C. Shea, Judy Penz Sheluk, Joanna Campbell Slan, Karen Rose
Smith, Lynette Sofras, Kaye Spencer, Skye Taylor, Lourdes Venard, Lea Wait,
Regan Walker, Lois Winston, and Aubrey Wynne.

We’d Rather Be
Writing is available on
Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Wed-Rather-Be-Writing-Timesaving-ebook/dp/B01638N5PO

Part of proceeds will
be donated to No Kid Hungry < http://www.nokidhungry.org/>
 ~~~~~~~

Kay Kendall is a long-time fan of
historical novels and writes atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit
and turbulence of the sixties. She is a reformed PR executive who lives in
Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills.
Terribly
allergic to her bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a
Bob Dylan buff too. RAINY DAY WOMEN published on July 7. It is
the second in her Austin Starr Mystery series.

Mystery Writers Who Inspired Me—Part 2

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By Kay Kendall


Donna Leon is the
author of 24 books in her mysteries series set in Venice, Italy. They feature
an Italian policeman, Commissario Guido Brunetti , as he maneuvers among
governmental corruption on all sides and tries to bring justice to a land where
few people expect it. Although Leon is American by birth, she has lived in
Venice for decades and knows the city well. Her books are especially popular in
Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Although translated into 20 languages, her
work is not available in Italian
because, she says, she dislikes being recognized when she is in public and
considers it an intrusion.


 
The Grand Canal in Venice

Much of the charm of reading Leon’s police procedurals comes from immersion
in another world so different in small ways from American or British policing. Brunetti
is of a philosophical bent, returning home to read the classical greats of
Roman literature to soothe his soul after viewing the worst that human
nature can do. At his apartment on Calle Tiepolo in the San Polo
district of Venice, he holds long discussions about life, literature, and various absurdities
of the modern world with his wife Paolo, a professor of literature at the local
university, and their two teenaged children, Raffi and Chiara. None of these
reoccurring characters age in these books. The first was published in 1992, Death at La Fenice, and the most recent
was published this year, Falling in Love.

Fans of slam bang thrillers may find these mysteries a bit languid.
For me, however, they offer a visit to a charming city that reeks of art and
antiquity. Brunetti understands human nature and is often sorrowful when he
uncovers the motives of killers. He dislikes the moneyed elite that has run
Venice for centuries, even though his wife Paolo is a daughter of Count Falier,
who lives in an elegant historic palazzo on the Grand Canal. Paolo would like nothing better than to sit all day reading and rereading the tomes of Henry James. Occasionally she too goes on a rampage for justice. She is no spoiled rich daughter, despite her being from ancient aristocracy.
Mystery author Donna Leon

I was once blessed to meet with Donna Leon when she visited
Houston for a book talk. Sitting by her side at lunch, I was delighted to soak
up her upbeat spirit she maintains despite the gloomy view of human nature evident
in her books. When asked about how she displays justice in her mysteries,
she stated that she believes Italians have no illusions, that they expect all politicians
to be corrupt. That given of Italian life she believes is “refreshing.”

The interplay among the big personalities in Guido Brunetti’s office is
fascinating. His boss Vice-Questore Patta dresses in Armani, hails from the
crooked and Mafia-ridden south, and lunches daily with Venetian bigwigs.  He may be shallow, vain, and a climber, yet he
is not all bad, nor is he evil. Patta’s secretary Signorina Elettra left a
lucrative financial job to employ her computer wizardry for serving justice,
and Brunetti never hesitates to ask her to hack into someone’s bank records.
The morals in these books are a little slippery, yet there is a consistent
decency to the actions of Brunetti, his family, secretary Signorina Elettra,
and Brunetti’s friend on the police force, Vianello. An air of sad resignation and
melancholy resides in the pages of these unique mysteries.
If you have not yet discovered the books of Donna Leon, I
recommend them to you. You will learn much about the fascinating and labyrinthine
world of Venice, both the high life and the low, and of human nature and all its dark foibles. Her books have inspired my writing because they delve into
philosophical and moral questions as well as present a richly detailed account
of a famous city. When I finally visited Venice three years ago, I felt I
understood it better because of Donna Leon’s writing. I have read all 24 books to date and look forward to the next in 2016. The only thing that makes me turn green with envy is when Donna Leon says she never does rewrites.
~~~~~~~

Kay Kendall is a long-time fan of
historical novels and writes atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit
and turbulence of the sixties. She is a reformed PR executive who lives in
Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly
allergic to her bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a
Bob Dylan buff too. RAINY DAY WOMEN published on July 7. It is the
second in her Austin Starr Mystery series. The audio-book will debut
soon. 
http://www.amazon.com/Rainy-Day-Women-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00W2X5SCS

 
 

Mystery Writers Who Inspired Me—Part 1

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By Kay Kendall

Jacqueline Winspear is a marvelous author whose books have been
inspiring me for more than a decade. Most of the stories in her Maisie Dobbs
mystery series are set in England, and the series begins after the War to End
All Wars, which is alas now called World War One. The eleventh book in the
series came out this year.

Maisie Dobbs was a young nurse at the front, and her fiancé was
wounded in the fighting. In the first book, he is a hopeless invalid, unable to
speak and suffering from the gas attacks that occurred during the infamous
trench warfare. The initial offering—simply titled Maisie Dobbs—won many prizes for first novel and wide spread praise
from both reviewers and readers alike.

Author Jacqueline Winspear
What drew me into this mystery series was the depiction of
the ravages of war on those who did not fight. Winspear describes long-lasting
horrors that saddled a whole society after the war was won by the British and
their allies, the Americans, French and Russians. Calamitous events arose from
that disastrous war—the Russian Revolution, the Great Depression, and Hitler’s
rise.

Maisie becomes a private investigator and is taught how to
approach her cases from a psychological perspective by a wise, older male
mentor. The first books are set in the late 1920s and then carry into  the 1930s. We readers know that Europe is crawling
steadily toward another world war, and we see how Maisie adapts to changing
conditions and threats. Although several young men wish to wed her, she shies
away from commitment and maintains her independence steadfastly.  She helps others find happiness but doesn’t
seem able to do that for herself, at least in the area of romance.

I began reading these fine, unique mysteries by Jacqueline
Winspear before I began writing my own mysteries, and the more I read, the more
they inspired me. I wanted to develop my own tales to show another young woman
challenged by her own era’s battles—of war, politics, and changing values. It
is no exaggeration to say that without reading about Maisie Dobbs, I might
never have written about my own female amateur sleuth, Austin Starr.

Over the years I’ve been fortunate to hear Jacqueline
Winspear speak several times about the genesis of her series, how her own
grandfather survived his participation in World War One and how his military
service deeply affected her family. Plus, one of her grandmothers worked in a munitions
arsenal during the war and was partially blinded in an explosion. To commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the beginning of
the war, Winspear published a standalone novel last year set during the cataclysm.
Her historical research is personal and impeccable.

Recently, a funny thing happened. I believed that I had read
all the volumes in order and that I was totally up to date with Maisie’s doings—with
the exception of the eleventh escapade. I bought it and added it to my
to-be-read pile—the enormous stack at my bedside. Yet, one thing had always
puzzled me. There was a jump in Winspear’s storytelling. A squabble between
Maisie and her mentor was referenced, and I didn’t know what to make of it or
where it came from. There was also the introduction in the middle books of a
character treated as continuing but one I had not been introduced to before. I double-checked
to ensure I had read all the books in order and kept on reading them.

And then last week, a sale grabbed me. The audiobook version
of the third mystery, Pardonable Lies,
was offered at a deep discount. Since it had been about a decade since I first
read that book—or so I believed—I bought the CD and popped it into my car’s
audio disc player. Imagine my surprise—no, my shock!—when the plot was new. I
had never read Pardonable Lies. In it
Maisie and her mentor quarrel over national security matters and she reconnects
with an old friend from college. No wonder I didn’t know about those threads in
Maisie’s story. I had missed them entirely.

This is delightful serendipity, stumbling upon a lost
treasure that I didn’t even know I had misplaced. Now when I get into the car
and face Houston’s clogged traffic, I enjoy the ride. Perhaps I will reread all
the books, or listen to them in traffic.   

I heartily recommend this series to you. Find Maisie’s
stories listed in order here: http://www.jacquelinewinspear.com/novels.php
~~~~~~~
Kay Kendall is a long-time fan of
historical novels and writes atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit
and turbulence of the sixties. She is a reformed PR executive who lives in
Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic
to her bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan
buff too. RAINY DAY WOMEN published in July. It is the second
in her Austin Starr Mystery series. The audiobook debuts soon. 
http://www.amazon.com/Rainy-Day-Women-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00W2X5SCS

Why Reading Is Good for Us

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By Kay Kendall

This is the
second of two installments about reading. Previously I described how much I
enjoy reading and tried to figure out how that came to pass. I am guessing most
of you also feel reading is enjoyable. For many people, however, reading is not
a pleasurable pastime.

Reading is
similar to chocolate. It tastes luscious to most people, but not to all. These
days, however, we know through research that chocolate is a healthy thing to
eat.

Scientific
researchers have likewise come up with reasons why we should read. Here is a curated list of reasons scientists say
reading should be done—not only for our enjoyment and increased knowledge, but
for our mental and physical well-being.

 1.
Reading is an effective way to overcome stress.
Researchers at the University of Sussex found that reading relaxed the heart
rate and muscle tension faster than other activities often said to be
de-stressors—for example taking a walk, listening to music, and drinking tea.
Note that the research was done in England, a bastion of tea drinkers, so this
is really saying something shocking.

 2. Reading exercises our
brains. As our bodies need movement to be strong, our brains need a
work out too. Reading is a more complex activity than watching television and
actually helps establish new neural pathways.

 3.
Reading helps maintain our brains’ sharpness. Neurologists
who studied brains of those who died around age 89 saw signs of a third less
decline among those who stayed mentally active with reading, writing, and other
modes of mental stimulation like puzzles, as compared to those who did little
or none of those activities.

 4. Reading may even ward off Alzheimer’s disease. Adults who pursue activities like reading or puzzles that involve the brain
are less likely to have Alzheimer’s disease. Intellectual activity not only
grows our brain power but also strengthens brain against disease.

5. Reading may help us sleep better. Reading before bed is a good
de-stressing habit, unlike watching flashing electronic devices or television
that cue the brain to wake up.

6. Reading self-help books can ease
depression. Reading
books that encourage people to take charge of their own lives can promote the
idea that positive change is possible. A control group that had “bibliotherapy”
combined with talk therapy was less depressed than another group that did not
read self-help literature.

7. Reading helps people become more empathetic.
Spending time exploring an author’s imagination helps people understand other
people’s points of view and problems. Researchers in the Netherlands performed
experiments showing that people who were “emotionally transported” by
a work of fiction experienced boosts in empathy.

8.
Reading can develop and improve a good self-image. Poor readers or non-readers often have
low opinions of themselves and their abilities. Reading helps people understand
their own strength and abilities, hence growing better self-images.

So next time you feel remorse when
you’ve spent all day reading a new book, just remember these eight
reasons–and then your guilt should vanish. Getting swept away by a compelling
story line or character in a wonderful book is not only entertaining but also
is actually good for you.

Which of these reasons resonates
most with you? From the list above, I picked two favorites. I’ll tell
you mine if you’ll tell me yours! How about it?

*******


Kay Kendall is a long-time fan of historical novels and writes atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit and turbulence of the sixties. She is a reformed PR executive who lives in Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to her bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too. RAINY DAY WOMEN published on July 7–the second in her Austin Starr Mystery series. The audio-book will debut soon. 

http://www.amazon.com/Rainy-Day-Women-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00W2X5SCS

Conferences for Writers—Part II, ThrillerFest

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By Kay Kendall

Many
differences make ThrillerFest stand out from other conferences that are offered
to crime authors. This annual conference of International Thriller Writers is
held at the same time every year and in the same hotel. It begins right after
Independence Day at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City and includes a full
six days of activities, each one priced separately. If you attend everything
that is offered, then your conference fee will be much higher than any other in
your whole year.
Rambo’s creator, David Morrell

While
ThrillerFest stands out because of its cost, it is also worth every one of your
hard-earned dollars. You will see more star power on one stage or at just one
of the many cocktail parties than you will ever hope to see in your whole life.
The literary energy and brilliance just zing. What’s more, all those big-name
authors are helpful and supportive to hopeful writers.
If you
are a debut author and get published by a press on the approved list, then you
can join the ITW Debut Author program in that year and receive even more
support and applause. I was urged to participate in 2013 when my first book Desolation Row launched. I figured I’d
go once and be done with such a pricey gathering. I was wrong. I returned in
2014 and again this year. Here are just a few of the reasons why—bestselling
authors who participated in this year’s programs.

Spy novelist Gayle Lynds

  • 2015 ThrillerMaster Nelson DeMille plus
    2015 Silver Bullet Recipient     Kathy Reichs
  • 2015 Spotlight Guests Mark Billingham, Charlaine Harris, and Greg Iles
  • 2014 ThrillerMaster Scott Turow and
    2014 Silver Bullet Award recipient     Brenda Novak
  •  Lee Child interviewed Billingham–they both grew up in Birmingham, England.
  • Rambo’s creator David Morrell interviewed DeMille—they
    both have long and stellar careers.
  • Gayle Lynds introduced her newest thriller THE ASSASSINS
  • Anne Perry flew over from the UK to talk about her historical mysteries.
  • Steve Berry moderated several panels.

Other favorites were Catherine Coulter, Clive Cussler, Jeffery Deaver, Joseph Finder, Heather
Graham, Laurie R. King,  CJ Lyons, Daniel Palmer, Chris Pavone, Hank
Phillippi Ryan, MJ Rose, Karin Slaughter, and RL Stine. Each has at least one huge bestseller, and most have many more.
This conference is only ten years old. The genesis came from successful authors
who wanted to help budding writers learn the ropes and get ahead. Co-founders David
Morrell and Gayle Lynds both attended this year as usual and remain always
supportive to other writers. The learning opportunities at ThrillerFest are
endless. If you are an aspiring or newly published crime writer and have not
yet attended this magnificent event, I encourage you to save up so that you too
can attend in 2016. I hope to see you there!

*******

Kay Kendall is a long-time fan of historical novels and writes atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit and turbulence of the sixties. She is a reformed PR executive who lives in Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to her bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too. RAINY DAY WOMEN published on July 7–the second in her Austin Starr Mystery series. The audio-book will be out soon. 

http://www.amazon.com/Rainy-Day-Women-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00W2X5SCS
*******

Multi-tasking at Its Finest

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By Kay Kendall 

By the time you
are reading this posting, I will be busily multi-tasking in Vienna, Austria. This
two-week trip with my husband combines a boatload of pleasures and missions. First, it
marks our fortieth wedding anniversary and also the completion of Bruce’s
arduous treatments for neck cancer only four months ago. So what if our pace
will be slower than on previous journeys? We will be there and thankful. Many
years ago we spent three days in Vienna and always vowed to return. This is our
time.

We will return
to places we enjoyed before and see others we missed—like the museum located in
Sigmund Freud’s old apartment and office, where psychoanalysis was born. There
is a famous coffeehouse I want to return to, Café Sperl, and of course we will
return—perhaps even daily—to the Sacher

SACHER TORTE!

Hotel to partake of its stupendous
culinary creation, the Sacher torte. Then there will be the museums and palaces
of the old Hapsburg Empire and the Mozart concerts in old churches.

So much for
frivolity! In addition, I will be researching some of these locations and many
more for inspiration for my third mystery in the Austin Starr series. I know, I
know. The second one, RAINY DAY WOMEN, isn’t even published officially until
July 7, but I am keen to begin my next writing project.
In this new book
my amateur sleuth Austin Starr will get ensnared in an East-West spy plot when
she accompanies her husband David to an academic conference in Vienna. As I’ve often
stated, I’m a student of the Cold War years—a fan, sort of—and Vienna was the
epicenter for spying during many of those years.

If you’ve seen
the beloved classic film THE THIN MAN, then you have some idea of what I’m
talking about. After World War II, the victorious Allied powers divided control
of Austria and its capital city, Vienna. This stage lasted from 1945 to 1955 as
the Western powers (the U.S., Great Britain, and France) confronted their
previous ally, the Soviet Union. As a consequence, both sides—West as well as
East—had their spies entrenched and embattled in Vienna for a decade. 

The
problems caused by divided control of Berlin culminated in the building of the
Berlin Wall in 1961 and then ultimately its tearing down in 1989. The historic
period of a divided Vienna is less well known, and Austria’s geographic
location—providing a nexus between East and West—ensured that tensions would
remain high even after Austria gained self-government in 1955. Fourteen years
after that, I will plunk my poor unsuspecting amateur sleuth into a hornet’s
nest of spies.
 All that political
turmoil lends itself to drama, intrigue, and murder. So you bet I can hardly
wait to dig into Vienna. While Austin Starr will come along for the ride—at least
in my brain—my three house rabbits have to stay home with the dog. But don’t
worry about them too much. The live-in pet sitter we hire spoils them rotten
while we are away.
~~~~~~~



Kay Kendall is a long-time fan of
historical mysteries and now writes atmospheric mysteries that  capture the
spirit and turbulence of the sixties. She is also an award-winning
international PR executive who lives in Texas with her husband, three house
rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to the bunnies, she loves them
anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too. RAINY DAY
WOMEN publishes on July 7 and is the second in her Austin Starr mystery series.
The E-book version is available for pre-order now and the trade paperback will
be soon. 

Treat Yourself for Mother’s Day!

/in /by

By Kay Kendall

In celebration of my second mystery coming out in July, my publisher is offering through Mother’s Day my first mystery at 99 cents on Amazon. Imagine–the Kindle version of Desolation Row, for less than a dollar. 

I have officially hit the fun stage for the new book, It is edited
within an inch of its “life,” and proof read backwards and forwards. Eight authors read the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) and wrote fantastic blurbs for Rainy
Day Women. I’m excited and eager for its birth.

All of a sudden, I’m in a very different life. I had become
accustomed to sitting holed up in my (messy) writer’s lair, composing in
solitude. Those early drafts are sheer terror. That blank computer screen, waits impatiently to be filled with thousands of words. Sometimes when I’ve written a
few paragraphs that are really tough to pull out of my teeming brain, I
stagger to the door out of my cell—er, I mean, writer’s lair—and clutch the
frame, stopping to catch my breath. This doesn’t happen often, but it does
occur. I am astonished at how difficult the early drafts are, and I don’t enjoy them. This alone stage lasts a very long time, like forever!

Obviously, this is a stage I must burst through in order
to get to the good stuff. I love editing and can do it for hours on end. I love
playing with words, choosing just the right ones. I adore working with my
editor, and we have conversations back and forth about points I might never
have pondered without her questions. This is stage two—with a partner for
company, my editor. It lasts only a few months.
Then there is the stage I’ve just entered now—the third
and highly public part. I get to introduce my new baby to the world. Talking
about what I put into my mystery is a treat. After all, I wouldn’t have written what I did if I weren’t eager to share my thoughts with the world. When someone
wants to talk about my writing, my goodness, there is nothing better. Ever
since I took three years of debate in high school, I have loved public
speaking.

Since I already have one book published, I know better
what lies ahead for this second one. I am surprised that I am as excited with the
new book, however, as I was with the first. With luck, this excitement will
never go away for any future books. I never want to grow jaded with the
process.

Stage three lasts six to nine months, while the book is
new. I go to mystery conferences and meet readers, hold events at bookstores,
and generally have a whale of a great time. I came late in the day to my career
as a writer, but thank heavens I got here. Better late than never!
Speaking of better late than never, if you’ve never read Desolation Row, and take advantage of the Amazon Kindle special pricing, then you will be ready when the
sequel, Rainy Day Women, launches on July 7.
In the second book, intrepid amateur sleuth Austin Starr
searches for a killer of female activists in 1969, a year after Desolation Row took place. A murderer
stalks the members of women’s consciousness raising groups at the University of
Washington and the University of British Columbia.
During the week of the Manson murders and
Woodstock, new mother Austin bundles up her infant son Wyatt—just three months
old—and flies with him across the continent to help her dear friend Larissa during
her personal crisis. The Mounties have fingered her as their chief suspect in
at least one of the murders. More trouble
ensues. 
=======================
                                                                                                                                  

 Kay Kendall is a long-time fan of historical mysteries and now writes atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit and turbulence of the
sixties. She is also an award-winning international PR executive who lives in
Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly
allergic to the bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a
Bob Dylan buff too. 

The Sixties as Background for Murder

/in /by
By Kay Kendall
T. Jefferson Parker, the bestselling author of 20 crime
novels, once confided to me that his two mysteries that touched on the Vietnam
War had “my readers staying away in droves.” He explained, “Needless to say, I
never mentioned the war again.” Our paths intersected two years ago at a
thriller writers’ conference, shortly after the publication of my debut
mystery,Desolation Row. He believed
that his readers avoided the subject of a war that Americans know we didn’t
win. Were the sacrifices worth it? Let’s just not think about it.

T. Jefferson Parker and me

I knew the subject matter wasn’t popular, but it was a
book I had to write. I had to get that one out of my system so I could work on
the next subject I felt “called” to discuss, the women’s liberation movement of
the late sixties and early seventies. So, the bottom line for me is that even
if T. Jefferson Parker had warned me ahead of time to stay clear of the war
that many have compared to a quagmire, I would not have paid his advice any
heed. The story of Desolation Row had to come to light. I had to write that book
so that the others that were waiting in line behind it, more or less patiently,
could have their turn too.
The British statesman and philosopher Edmond Burke wrote,
“Those who do not know history are destined to repeat it.” As well, how can you
hope to understand how we got where we are now when you don’t understand where
we came from? Events that happened in the sixties and early seventies still
echo down the decades today. Just as some describe America’s battles in the
Middle East as “the Vietnam War in the sand,” the upheavals of women’s
liberation have not ended. If anything, the subject of women’s place in society
is even timelier than ever.

Rainy Day Women launches on July 7, and I can hardly wait. In book two of her saga, this time intrepid
amateur sleuth Austin Starr searches for a killer of female activists in 1969,
a year after the first mystery took place. A murderer stalks the members of women’s
consciousness raising groups at the University of Washington and the University
of British Columbia. During the week of the Manson murders and
Woodstock, new mother Austin bundles up her infant son Wyatt—just three months
old—and flies with him across the continent to help her dear friend Larissa
during her personal crisis. The Mounties have fingered her as their chief suspect
in at least one of the murders. More trouble ensues.  
I have waited decades to write this book. The women’s
movement played an enormous role in my life, and it’s not an exaggeration to
say that it underlines everything I do to this very day. Getting the fervor and
excitement of the time period right is important. Showing the raw sexism that
was exhibited by many men without any hesitation is also vital. Clearly I believe
in serving up a little history with my murder and mayhem. Just think–no VCRs, let alone DVRs, no cell phones or personal computers, no Kardashians! A long ago time indeed. 
I wonder if any of the other writers in the Stiletto Gang
(those of the right age, that is) participated in women’s liberation groups. Did
any of you readers? If so, I hope you will leave comments here about your experiences.
 I’d love to know how they compare with
mine.
 *******   
Kay Kendall set her debut novel, DESOLATION ROW–AN AUSTIN STARR MYSTERY in 1968. The sequel RAINY DAY WOMEN (June 2015) shows her amateur sleuth Austin Starr proving her best friend didn’t murder women’s liberation activists in Seattle and Vancouver. A fan of historical mysteries, Kay does for the 1960s what novelist Jacqueline Winspear accomplishes for England in the 1930s–present atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit of the age. Kay is also an award-winning international PR executive who lives in Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to the bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too.

Maybe It’s Normal, but I Don’t Have to Like It

/in /by
By Kay Kendall

This month I’m putting
final touches on my second mystery, rushing to meet a self-imposed deadline and
trying to make up for time lost with my spouse’s recent illness. The waiting
period before my editor’s comments arrived was agonizing. That was when I drummed my fingers on the table instead
of pounding keys on my PC.

What will my editor say?
Is my second book junk compared to my first one? Is it a hopeless mess? Have I
lost my touch—that is, any talent that I had to begin with? The days passed. The clock
ticked. I chewed my cuticles. I waited. 


All authors who address
the agonies of the writing and publishing process

mention that there are always
down periods when they doubt themselves. Even those who routinely issue
bestselling novels confess to having these feelings.


Okay, so misery loves
company. I admit that their angst makes mine lighter by seeming normal. Usually
that kind of reasoning works for me.

However! This week while
I waited for my editor’s next round of revisions, I decided this was no fun at
all. I didn’t care if it was normal. I didn’t care if others felt the same way.
I didn’t feel good about anything, and my nerves were shredded.

Yesterday when the long-awaited
documents hit my inbox, I opened them immediately, read through the general
comments, and scanned the three-hundred-page manuscript that will become RAINY
DAY WOMEN, the further exploits of my intrepid amateur sleuth Austin Starr.

After thirty minutes of
reading, I realized I had slid into a comfortable groove. I’d been here before
with mystery number one, DESOLATION ROW. I recalled enjoying this part of the
process—the to and fro with my editor. She’s a good fit with me. We happily spend time choosing the right synonym or arguing about the proper way to spell
whiskey. Or whisky, depending what country it comes from. Yes, I had worked through this once with the first book. You bet I could do it again. 

Since I have persevered,
not given up, not thrown in the towel, I have moved on to this delicious stage
of preparing my manuscript for publication. If it weren’t for the too-tight
deadline, I would be having a blast. I cannot burn the midnight oil as I once
did—never mind at 30. How about back when I could really tear up the track—when
I was 50? <Note to Editor Beth: Yes, I’ve indulged my flaw–a fondness for cliches–but I usually mean them tongue-in-cheek. I’ll enjoy them here all the better to rip them from the ms.>

And so it goes, as my
manuscript, my editor, my publisher Stairway Press, and I tramp ever onward to that hallowed
publication date. Please mark your calendars, my friends. RAINY  DAY WOMEN sees the light of day—despite its
title—on Tuesday, July 7.
                                                        *******

Kay Kendall set her
debut novel, DESOLATION ROW–AN AUSTIN STARR MYSTERY in 1968. The sequel RAINY
DAY WOMEN shows her amateur sleuth Austin Starr
proving her best friend didn’t murder women’s
liberation activists in Seattle and Vancouver. A fan of historical
mysteries, Kay does for the 1960s what novelist Jacqueline Winspear
accomplishes for England in the 1930s–present atmospheric mysteries that
capture the spirit of the age. She is also an award-winning international PR
executive who lives in Texas with her husband, three house rabbits, and spaniel
Wills. Terribly allergic to the bunnies, she loves them anyway! Her book titles
show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too. 



CHANGES—BIG AND SMALL

/in /by

By Kay Kendall

A few times during my
many years, I’ve reached a level of calm stability. My home life and work are
nicely balanced. My near and dear ones are healthy and reasonably happy. All
seems well.
When I realize I’m in
this condition, then I think, ah, this is
great. Once this stability becomes stasis, however, I get a little bored. And
then things* change, and the hits
just keep on a’comin and they don’t let up. At this point, I long to
be bored again.
Last August I‘d reached the
point of stasis. However, by then I’d learned enough to fear what lay ahead. And,
boy, was I right.
>My elderly mother-in-law declined,
and my husband spent a month in her faraway city tending to her. She passed on. 
>He immediately was diagnosed with a bad illness and went into gruesome
treatment.
>My daughter-in-law had a
strange illness that no doctor could fathom.
>A dear friend was
diagnosed with terminal cancer. She proceeded to have two strokes. I visited
her today in the nursing home.
>My writing had to give way for three months.
>My hairdresser of 22 years retired. 
In short, the roof fell in.                                              
And then the house next
door was torn down. See photo.
Now, here’s a funny
thing. That house was the worst on our block and had been deteriorating visibly
for twenty years. We waited and waited for someone to buy it, to tear it down
(this being Houston, after all, and everything gets torn down), and to rebuild.
I dreamed of when we’d live beside a McMansion, and our
home’s value would soar.
When all that finally,
finally began to happen, did I rejoice? No, I did not. Instead, I worried. The
jackhammers tearing up the cement would hurt our foundation. Our house would
develop cracks. The new neighbors would be dreadful. Things, in short, would
all go to hell. Or so I worried.
I have discerned a
pattern in myself regarding change. After I look forward to—even long for—change,
then when it finally arrives, I am displeased. Well, perhaps I do exaggerate.
I’m upset a little, and then I do adjust. But not until I have gone through a
period of great gnashing of teeth and ranting and raving.
Thank heavens that upset stage
has shortened over the years. These days I tend to get on with doing what I
must until, one day, I look up and see that everything is all right with my world
again. I used to fear I’d get stuck on a cycle I abhorred. Now I know that’s
not true. Things do change, whether you really want them to or not. They
change.
My husband’s illness has
taught me to stay in the half-full position. I eschew the half-empty one. That
way happiness does not lie. His condition is dangerous…it could be so much
worse. The doctors are fabulous in my large city. He will get well. So the
treatment is tough. He will get well. He is lucky. I am lucky.
I now apply this
half-full approach to everything I can think of that torments me. I haven’t become a Pollyanna. I don’t think everything
works out for the best. Instead, I’ve learned good things can grow out of
bad. If you only let them.
While all this may not make
sense to you, it does to me, and it took me a while to arrive at this
philosophical state. I celebrated a major birthday this week, by the
way. As my friend (since kindergarten) likes to say, we are still on the right side of the grass.

Once I thought her saying
was gruesome. I don’t anymore. It’s accurate. I know I’m lucky to be achieving
this large number of years. Some people never do. I’m one of the lucky ones.
Tell yourself that, too, no matter what. It can always get worse. Enjoy what
you have….By the way, I gave myself a new nickname. You may call me Zen. Or at least…Zen-esque! 
____________________
* For brevity’s sake, I
use the inexact term things to cover
a multitude of events, conditions, situations, settings, etc. etc 
*******   
Kay Kendall set her
debut novel, DESOLATION ROW–AN AUSTIN STARR MYSTERY in 1968. The sequel RAINY
DAY WOMEN (June 2015) shows her amateur sleuth Austin Starr proving
her best friend didn’t murder women’s liberation activists in
Seattle and Vancouver. A fan of historical mysteries, Kay does for the 1960s what
novelist Jacqueline Winspear accomplishes for England in the 1930s–present
atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit of the age. She is also an
award-winning international PR executive who lives in Texas with her husband,
three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to the bunnies, she
loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too.