Super Duper Bowl Ads

The Super Bowl is the only television show in which I mute the action and listen to the ads. I need a Tivo that works in reverse, I guess. I admire the ingenuity of those thirty second spots that can tell a whole story in a few blinks of an eye and make me laugh, too. But then, I love humor. The first section of the newspaper that I read on Sunday morning is the comic section. Life can be boring, sad, frightening, grim even. So why not start the day with a few chuckles?

When my kids were in grade school, my daughter would come home eager to share every grievance she’d encountered that day. My son would just shrug when asked how the day went. So I started asking them what one funny thing happened that day. It changed the way they thought about their experiences. They started seeing annoyances as anecdotes to share at supper. Even now, our phone conversations are full of funny stories.

That’s my philosophy when I write, too. If I can make myself laugh, then hopefully a reader will find it amusing. I even look forward to the TV show about the best commercials of the year. (The foreign ones are often funniest.) But I’m a little disappointed in the commercials I’ve seen on the Super Bowl so far. They’re, well, I guess I’d call them interesting. A few are just odd. But none have made me laugh out loud, although the E Trade one with the babies on the plane and the Audi commercial about the green police earned chuckles. However, as I write and post this, it’s not quite half-time, so maybe funnier ones are coming up.

Do you watch the Super Bowl? If so, do you watch for the game or the commercials, or both? Did you have a favorite Super Bowl commercial this year or did you find them lame?

Bad Job, Good Job

by Leann

You probably like to do a good job, whether it's your occupation, your hobby or with your relationships. Human beings, like lots of other living things, work. It is part of our nature. If only everyone understood how gratifying it can be to do a good job.

I have chemical sensitivities and over the years, I have become intolerant to many environmental things--even the chemicals that clothing is made from. So in this world where everything has some percentage of Lycra in it, well, I have a problem. But thank goodness for the Internet. I can hunt up organic cotton clothing and in this case, underclothing, and order it. Or so I thought. On January 4th, I ordered an organic cotton bra. When it hadn't arrived by January 25th and it had already been paid for through Paypal, I contacted the company by email. I have very rarely had a problem with Internet companies not delivering, but this time, not so lucky.

When they didn't contact me after three days, I opened a dispute with Paypal about said company and sent another email telling them that this is what I had done. Boy did they get back to me in a hurry! I actually believed they were as sorry as they said and that the issue would be revolved, that I would get what I paid for. But when the person emailing me said, "We've shipped the item. Will you close the dispute now?" I didn't feel quite so confident anymore.

I wanted to write back, "Um, look through your computer and see if you can find a big "S" for "stupid" branded on my forehead. My civil reply, however, was , "I will close the dispute when I get the item." Nine days later, still no organic bra. I elevated the dispute to a claim and emailed said company to tell them as much. Again I was assured the item had been shipped when I opened the dispute in January. I was sent the invoice that said it was sent via airmail and to "allow 5-15 days" for delivery.

Huh? Airmail takes 5-15 days? This time I couldn't resist the smart retort. My return email said, "I don't live in Russia." I do not expect to see my "item," and I sure hope Paypal comes through.

On the other hand, I decided to make some promotional buttons to advertise my series at the upcoming Malice Domestic Convention and at future events. I was told about a company by some writer friends, Busy Beaver, that makes these buttons. They have a design service or you can send in your own design. I started working with them at the end of last week and Friday the 5th, my completed order was delivered. Busy Beaver does exactly what they say they will do. And not only that, they are nice, professional and prompt. I sure wish the whole world worked like that. And didn't they do a fantastic job?How about you? Any similar experiences with Internet purchases?

My Crazy Keyboard

By Lorna

I've had a lot of computers over the years, which also means I've had a lot of keyboards.  I think I've ranted before about the horrible flat keyboard that came with my iMac.  I cannot (and WILL NOT) get used to it.  Ever.  It was made for man.  A man who bites his nails.  I don't have long nails, but I they do go over the tops of my fingers on occasions, and when they do:  TYPO CITY!

That's why I'm glad I do the majority of my typing either on my PC or my laptop.  Oh, yeah--I don't use my laptop's keyboard, either--not if I can help it, at least.  It, too, was designed for a tech guy who bites his nails.  And that mouse--forget it!

The keyboard that came with my Emachine is WONDERFUL.  I love it so much, I bought a second one that I use with my laptop.  Even when I travel, I take that keyboard with me.  It's just so ... wonderful.

The problem, though, is that quite a few of the white letters have worn off the old black keyboard, and are beginning to wear off from the one I use with the laptop.  Two years ago, I bought some rub-on letters and applied them to the old keyboard.  They worked, sort of.  I painted them with clear nail polish, but eventually they wore off.  They weren't very pretty, either.  *Sigh*

I was in the craft store the other day, looking for cute kitty stickers and instead found stickers of old typewriter keys.  Aha!  That will be just great for my keyboard.  So, I bought them, brought them home, and applied the stickers to the keys that had worn off, and again painted them with nail polish.  Hubby had a look and shook his head.  "That looks dumb.  You should just put all the letters on."

So I did.

What do you think?

What kinds of creative things have you done to keep something useful from ending up in the trash?

It’s All About the Food

This Sunday is the Superbowl, which we all know is really about two things (especially when the Patriots aren’t a contender): the commercials and the food.

Around here, every year we have a Superbowl smorgasbord. Everyone in the family picks their favorite appetizer, entrée, dessert—it doesn’t matter. It’s the one night a year we can have whatever we want. No rules. No counting calories, checking sodium, looking at fat and sugar grams.It’s junk food heaven.

On the menu this year are boneless buffalo wings, potato skins, chips, dip, watermelon, pineapple, and ham roll ups. Doesn’t it just sound appalling? And wonderful? For dessert, we usually make a football (what? There’s football going on?) shaped cake, but I think this year we’ll veto the cake and go for an ice cream sundae bar. I’m already dreaming of a caramel sundae, with extra cherries.

So my question to you is, if you could have *any* junk food you want on Sunday night, what would you choose?

Ham Roll Ups:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
16 oz. ham, sliced
Can of asparagus spears
Worcestershire sauce

Mix softened cream cheese with Worcestershire sauce (I don’t measure this—but if I had to guess, I’d say a couple of tablespoons). Pat ham slices dry, spread cream cheese mix on ham slice, top with an asparagus spear, roll jelly-roll style, and chill for at least an hour. Cut into bite-size pieces.

~Heather

Your Oldest Friend

This week I have a special guest in my house. My college roommate, with whom I roomed during both my freshmen and junior years, flew over from Germany to visit with her American friends and I’m one of them.

In order to see me, she had to rent a car in D.C., battle the traffic on Interstate 95, and then deal with the snow-covered roads in Virginia. Now that’s a friend.

Her visit will be short and we only get to see one another once a year, but we have many stories to rehash and we love to analyze what we’ve been doing during the twelve months we’ve been apart. It’s amazing how so much happens and yet, we stay basically the same.

Tonight we’ll go out to dinner. Tomorrow I’ll try to talk her into getting a pedicure because our time together is special and we should use it pampering ourselves, right?

When she drives away tomorrow afternoon, I’ll feel that little pang of loss. I’ll wish we lived closer to one another and vow to do a better job communicating with her over the next twelve months.

She and I have been friends for twenty-one years now. Isn’t that wonderful?

How about you? Who’s your oldest friend and how do you two keep in touch?

Guest Misa Ramirez

We are excited to welcome Misa Ramirez, author of this week's release Hasta la Vista, Lola!
Here's Misa:

Writers are willing to do a lot in the name of research.I’m no exception.My name is Misa, and I’m a mystery writer. Mysteries with a touch of romance, that is.

I wrote Living the Vida Lola, the first book in my mystery series, without having to do anything outrageous. I visited the marina, took notes and pictures of the boats docked there, the rickety steps leading to the water, the color of the metal rooftop. Tattoos figure prominently in the book, but I didn’t actually go out and get a tattoo. A belly button piercing has a starring role, but no, I didn’t go out and get my belly pierced, either.

In book two, Hasta la Vista, Lola!, there’s identity theft. I didn’t go out and steal anyone’s identity (though I did become WAY more cautious about my own papers and private information as a result of my research) and no one stole mine. So far, so good.

Then came the planning of book three, Bare Naked Lola. Much of it takes place in a Nudist Resort, although I won’t reveal just what Lola’s willing to do, or how much clothing she’s willing to take off to solve a case. What I couldn’t quite research from the comfort of my own home was just what it was like to be in a nudist resort.

What’s a good girl to do?

Visit a real, live nudist resort, of course. And that’s just what I did. The place I visited was truly unique–and has the additional infamy of being the hiding place of Cary Stayner, the Yosemite Killer from 1999. Not a pleasant claim to fame, but it certainly makes for colorful history.

So, back to my story. I visited this nudist resort. They were quite accommodating, actually, bless their naked hearts. I saw a day in the life of nudists. Some do it part time, some 24/7. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much skin in one place!

The thing about being a writer is that you never know what exciting adventure your story will take you on, and ultimately take your readers on. Ever hear of a little concert called Woodstock? My nudist resort has Nudestock. Seriously! I don’t think I could have made that up. I learned so much about how nudists live–and Lola gets to tell the story in the book I’m currently writing. So, tattoo or belly piercing? Nope, not necessary to experience. But seeing how the nude live? Yes, that’s something you have to see in order to get it right.

So here’s my question. What crazy thing have you good girls done that you never thought you would?

Misa Ramirez is the author of the Lola Cruz mystery series: Living the Vida Lola (January ‘09) and Hasta la Vista, Lola! (2010) from St. Martin’s Minotaur / Thomas Dunne Books. A former middle and high school teacher, current instructor at Southern Methodist University’s Continuing Education program, and active CEO and CFO for La Familia Ramirez, this blonde-haired, green-eyed, proud to be Latina-by-Marriage girl loves following Lola on her many adventures. You can find her at http://www.misaramirez.com or http://chasingheroes.com and on http://thestilettogang.blogspot.com

Announcing the Blue Ribbon Award!

The Cozy Chicks would like to reward our faithful readers by offering a $10 B&N gift card to a winner chosen randomly at the end of every month. The more you post, the better your chance of winning. And if you win February's gift card, you can use it to purchase the new Cozy Chicks releases including Heather Webber's TRULY, MADLY and Kate Collins's SLEEPING WITH ANEMONE! Their new mysteries are on sale TODAY!

Just a Few Rules:

• You can only win once over a 12 month period
• Repeat comments don't count
• Winner will be chosen randomly from comments throughout the month
• Cozy Chicks and their family members or pets aren't eligible
• You must be willing to provide us with an email address because the gift card is virtual and will be sent to your email address

Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder. . .

Yes, it's that time again. Travel time. This Friday, I'm heading to a regional mystery conference & gathering in Alabama. This is a two-day event in two separate cities: Saturday is Murder in the Magic City in Birmingham, and Sunday is Murder on the Menu at Wetumpka Public Library, near Montgomery. I'm looking forward to enjoying some warm Alabama winter weather, providing those storm systems that have been pounding the South give up and move out to sea. That would be nice.

Both gatherings have panels with the 20+ mystery authors as well as booksignings and other get-to-know-you events. Of course, you folks already know how much I enjoy going to conferences and meeting new people. Telling me I have to go into a room filled with strangers and walk around, talk to them and enjoy myself is like telling a duck he has to leave the pond and go swim in the lake. "Quack, quack."

Of course, traveling to different states usually involves air travel unless someone is uncomfortable flying. Not me. I never worry about safety or crashing or stuff like that. Statistics show we're more at risk driving our cars on our nearby highways than flying in planes. However, I'm not crazy about the many inconveniences that are now standard procedure for all us frequent flyers. Delayed flights, delayed arrivals, the delay in getting everybody boarded onto the plane so we can all take off. And my all time favorite: the delay in getting down the aisle and to your seat because one person after another up ahead stops everyone in their tracks while they try to stuff an oversized carry-on into the overhead compartments. Sigh. . .I tell you, folks, the airlines are finally going to clamp down and ruin it for everyone by forbidding all except small briefcase/purse/diaper bag size. And we'll wind up checking even more into the belly of the plane and hoping it makes it to the same city we do.

As for the trip---I actually enjoy the quiet time it affords me. If I'm not reading, then I'm actually writing while I fly. Yep, I can actually keep on writing the rough draft of a novel while I'm sitting in those cramped airline seats, next to people who're talking all around me. I simply zone them out. I do the same thing in coffee shops (another fave place to write) and under the trees in pretty locations or parks, wherever. Since I'm writing the rough draft for each mystery first, I do minimal revisions and just keep "telling the story." Getting it down on paper. Then---I start a long and laborious process of revision. But, the rough draft method actually allows me to write in strange and different locations. I don't need a certain chair or number #2 pencils (remembering a scene from an old Dick van Dyke show, years ago). I just need that laptop and the characters inside my head. And, to be honest, disappearing with my characters lets me ignore the other boring or annoying parts of travel.

Do you have any favorite airplane or airport travel stories? Funny stories? Horror stories?

FLIP FLOP ON THE FLIP FLOPS

It’s been eleven weeks since my foot surgery. Where has the time gone? I’ll tell you where – a whole month of trying to hobble around on crutches and a scooter-walker, having to wear a big, clumsy shower boot, use a shower stool, be helped OUT of the shower boot and OFF the stool, slipping and sliding in the snow, crashing into door jambs, climbing stairs on my derriere (oh, the indignities!) THAT’S where it went.

And now that I’m back on my feet and out of the surgical shoe, a Frankenstein looking device that straps onto the Frankenstein looking foot, I can wear real shoes! Yay! Or so I thought.

I was able to get the Oogly Foot, as I affectionately call it, into my New Balance athletic shoe by loosening the laces and spreading the shoe as far as it would go, but not into my winter boot. For our trip to Key West, I was sure I could wear sandals. Not so! Sandals have straps, straps don’t stretch, and the Oogly Foot complained loud and long about being crammed into anything tight. I was stymied! Then I looked around and saw – FLIP FLOPS!

If you were with us last year, you might remember that I wrote a blog about how I’d worn flip flops as a youth but just couldn’t get into them in m adulthood. All that has changed. I am now a convert. I can wear them on the Oogly Foot! I even found a cushy pair in black patent for dress-up that has a side strap that velcros, so I can adjust it! Does it get any better than that?

So all of you who wrote back then to say you loved flip flops, I apologize. I should know that whenever I say I will never do something – I end up doing it. Do you know what I mean? Has that happened to you?

And there’s another plus to the Oogly Foot experience. I’m giving it to my sleuth, Abby Knight. It’s her turn to suffer now. Tee hee. Let her deal with a killer on the loose while trying to keep her balance on those Evil Crutches! Good luck, honey. Misery loves company.

And speaking of company, SLEEPING WITH ANEMONE, the ninth book in the Flower Shop Mystery series, joins its sisters on bookstore shelves tomorrow! February 2nd! Oh, the surprises in store for Abby – and for you. Not so much for Oogly Foot. Not for awhile.


What's your "I said I'd never do this"?

The Opposite Bucket List

by Leann
We all have things we want to do before we go to that great beyond. But I have learned there are benefits to aging that I never thought about until recently: those things that I will never have to do again.

Wear pantyhose. You heard me.

Never, ever, ever. Oh, and you can add high heels to this. They go together.

Eat things I dislike intensely--like Brussels sprouts or cod liver oil. Did your mother make you eat those abominable things?

Sit on Santa's lap. I always found that creepy as a kid. So why did I march my kids up to the fake old guy at the mall? You got me.

Read any serial killer book. I'm done with those and in fact, the last one I read not too long ago led me to ponder this "Opposite Bucket List."

Finish a book I don't like. There was a time I thought I had to finish. Not anymore.  Time is too precious to waste it on a book that just doesn't satisfy me.

Send out query letters--also known as "invite rejection." If I am ever dropped by my agent and/ or publisher, I will not go down that road again. I love writing, but I have plenty of things to do other than to make myself miserable.

Breast feed. I know. Some of you loved it. Not me, but I did it anyway.

Wear mascara. I'm allergic. It makes my eyes sting and my head hurt and yet for years I wore it anyway. Why? Who was I wearing it for? Silly me.

Watch Jay Leno. You know why. (But if you still like him, I understand. I forgive you.)

Buy staples. I've been to Sam's Club and bought a four pack. That's 20,000 staples, people. Do you think I'll run out any time soon?

What about you? What's on your "Opposite Bucket List?"

Just Call Me Cousin!

I think one of the best things I can say about Facebook, is that it has brought me closer with a number of members of my family.  A big chunk of my family lives overseas--in England, Scotland, and now in Spain.  It's hard to have much of a relationship with someone when
they're three-to-five thousand miles away.  But these days, it's a lot easier.

Oh, we had email, but we didn't use it much--until Facebook.  It's neat to tune in to see what my cousins in England are up to -- and my Aunt in Spain -- on any given day.  (Debs has started a new job.  Michele is learning Spanish.  Robert's a wiz at underwater photography.)

But another perk is that I've gotten to know my husband's cousins better, too. 

Soon after we started "courting," hubby told me tales of his cousins Shelley, Sharon, and Barbara.  Shelley and Barbara are now my friends on Facebook, too.  They are the cousins--or even the sisters--I wish I'd had, and I envy the wonderful close, sisterly relationship they have.  I've never met two women who are so into life and having fun,
and they have the biggest hearts in the world.  Barbara even set up a signing for me in Medina, NY in December.  And then not only did she come to the signing, she brought her hubby, and Shelley and her hubby showed up, too.

What's really neat, is they introduce me as their cousin.  I've been accepted into the family, no ifs, ands or buts.

There's a wedding coming up in June on that side of the family.  I don't know how much fun the bride and groom are going to have, but with Shelley and Barbara around, there's sure to be one heck of a rollocking time. 

Have social networks brought you closer to your family?

Lost and Found

Have you ever been out and about in public and lost something important or valuable? If so, was it returned?

I was sixteen and a newly licensed driver when I left my purse in the crack of a movie theater chair. I went back as soon as I realized what had happened, but it wasn’t to be seen again. Gone was some hard-earned cash, my brand new license, my social security card, sentimental pictures… It was heart breaking.

My husband has been wearing a chain since he was nine or ten, a gift from his parents when he became an altar boy. A few years ago, after taking the kids to Chuck E. Cheese (don’t get me started on this special form of parental torture), he realized it wasn’t hanging around his neck. Panic. We called and thankfully someone had found it and turned it in. A miracle (and no, it wasn’t a medal of St. Anthony—how appropriate would that have been?).

Well, last week son # 2 came home and searched the house frantically before announcing that he’d lost his scientific calculator. All of you with teenagers know that buying a scientific calculator often entails second mortgages and selling of internal organs. Okay, not really. But it’s close. Son # 2 had inherited that particular calculator from son # 1, so it had been around the block a time or two, but still, it had been in perfect working order and in line to be passed down to younger sister. But alas, it disappeared and as son # 2 needed it for his math class and for the SATs, which were at that point three days away, we trekked to Office Depot, sold off a kidney, and brought home a new TI84.

(Let me just digress for a moment here and say that I have my suspicions that the missing calculator didn’t disappear on its own, if you get my drift. There are some kids at son # 2’s school with sticky fingers, as evidenced by his stolen cell phone and Ipod last year… I almost want to send him to school dragging a safe…)

Fast forward to SAT day when son # 2 and I are on our way home from a neighboring high school, the SAT test site. He was relating spending five hours of testing with a heavy breather sitting next to him, poor kid (the breather who was obviously ill), and the other kids, too, who had to concentrate with that going on, when I asked, innocently, how his new calculator had worked.

You know where this is going, right?

Yep. He left the brand new, hadn’t even been paid for yet (thank you, credit cards), calculator at the SAT test site, under his desk chair. We immediately turned around, drove back to the school (which was 20 minutes away) but it was already locked up tight—trust me, we tried every door.

So while he fretted over the fact that he might actually have to sell a kidney, I was wondering if kids at this particular school had a tendency for sticky fingers as well…and feared we would never see that calculator again and why, oh why, hadn’t I bought the outrageously priced protection plan because even though it was outrageous, it was still cheaper than a replacement?

By the time I got home, I had a plan. I was going straight to the top. I emailed the SAT school’s principal (gotta love the internet) and begged for help. Sunday night I received an email that she’d check first thing in the morning, and also see if one of the SAT coordinators might have found the wayward calculator already. Monday morning, the phone rang. They had the calculator. Safe and sound. Nary a sticky finger to be seen.

It was such a whew moment. And also one that restored my faith in mankind’s goodness. And after the cell phone/Ipod incident, it was also good for son #2 to see that yes, sometimes people do the right thing. But, ahem, he did get a wee little lecture on keeping better track of his possessions, because now that he’s a newly licensed driver, I really don’t want him leaving his wallet in the crack of a chair at the local movie theater…

Any lost and found stories out there? I’d love to hear more stories about the goodness of mankind. Or, okay, I’ll take Chuck E. Cheese commiserations as well…

~Heather

Fantastic February!

Not quite yet, but a new month is coming and I wanted to tell you about the cozy mysteries you may want to rush out and buy as soon as the calendar page turns. I need to begin by bragging about three Cozy Chicks.


First, I had to post this photo of Lorna’s Barrett’s Murder Is Binding. Why? Because when I was staying at this little Art Deco hotel in Miami Beach last week, her book was sitting on their lending library shelf! There were thirty books total at this place and there was Lorraine’s. I was so proud I nearly burst! I showed the book to the hotel staff and explained whom the author was until they all vowed to find time to read it.

And I get to boast about other Chicks too. Heather’s eagerly awaited Lucy Valentine debut, Truly, Madly hits the shelves February 2! Here’s what Publisher’s Weekly said:

“This clever paranormal mystery series launch is sure to delight fans of Webber's gardening detective, Nina Quinn (Weeding Out Trouble, etc.). The Boston Valentines have been professional matchmakers for generations, but Lucy Valentine's psychic talent tends to show her people's lost car keys rather than their ideal mates, so she's shocked when her parents stick her with running the company. A vision leaves her wondering whether a client murdered his girlfriend, so she hires sexy PI Sean Donahue to find the missing woman, but while she's imagining them naked in bed, he's suspecting her of murder. Lucy has to contend with her meddling grandmother's efforts to find her a new boyfriend as she dodges the cops, hunts a killer, and struggles to explain the truth to Sean. Fun characters, sparkling prose, and a twisty plot add up to a great beginning for Valentine Inc.”

Kate Collins has a new release too! Abby Knight is back in Sleeping Wth Anemone: A Flower Shop Mystery.

Blurb: Maybe Abby Knight shouldn't have chosen a home and garden show sponsored by Uniworld Food as the venue for her protest against the corporation's harmful farming practices. But being bodily removed from the event won't stop her campaign. Nor will a burning brick thrown through her flower shop's window.

After she narrowly escapes being kidnapped three times, Abby calls in the big guns-her ex-Ranger boyfriend Marco and her friends and family. And then the stakes are raised by murder...

Other cool February releases:

The Diva Paints the Town – Krista Davis

Drive Time – Hank Phillipi Ryan

Town in a Blueberry Jam – B.B. Haywood

The Proof is in the Pudding – Melinda Wells

<>If Books Could Kill – Kate Carlisle
<>How To Host A Killer Party – Penny Warner

A Stitch in Crime – Betty Hechtman

Did your TBR pile just grow?

Dogs and Mysteries go together like Bees and Honey

I couldn't help noticing, as an afterthought, that all seven of my published mysteries and the three coming up have dogs in them. I take that back, Murder Passes the Buck didn't, but by book two a German Shepherd appeared on the scene and settled in for Gertie's wild ride. Just like that. In the doll collecting mysteries, Gretchen has a teacup poodle named Nimrod and other miniature critters make cameo appearances.

I don't seem to have any control over that aspect of my writing. So I wasn't surprised when a K-9 police dog showed up in the beekeeping mysteries (first coming in September) as Story Fischer's boyfriend's partner. Ben isn't a Bloodhound. He's a Belgian Malinois and he's utterly awesome as a search and rescue dog, searching for bad guys and rescuing good ones. I was going to write the search scene in book two using a pair of panties but changed that to pj bottoms instead. Don't ask me why. (The decision was made before I stumbled across the above photo!)

Writing dogs into our tales can be tricky. We can't just go off and forget about them. When Fred (in Murder Grins and Bears It) rode around with Gertie all day, my editor complained.
"Gertie never even gave him a drink of water," she said.
"Hunh?" I said.
"Your readers are paying attention. You HAVE to take good care of Fred."
So I went back and worked in drinks for Fred. Now Gertie drives around with a canning jar filled with water and I show her giving him water and feeding him.

Yesterday, while working on my next book, a scruffy, ugly Chihuahua mix arrived on the page without any warning. Dinky (that's her name) belongs to one of the suspects and Story gets roped into taking care of her for a few days. I didn't see that coming. And have to wonder what the heck I'm going to do with this new addition. And don't tell me to go back and edit her out. She showed up. She stays.

Do you like animals in mysteries? Or doesn't it matter? And if I forget to feed Dinky, will you notice?

At the Movies

Holidays & traveling slowed down my movie-going from mid-December through early January, but I'm starting to catch up. And since there are so many interesting and or fascinating movies now coming into the theatres, I figured this week would be a good time to post about some of the flics I saw in the past few months that stood out for me. And I'm wondering what your opinions are? I'll limit it to three.

First---the new Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey, Jr. playing Holmes as no one has ever played him and partnered by Jude Law's marvelous new look as Dr. Watson. Personally, I loved the new take on Holmes & Watson, and I hope there's a sequel. Downey captured Holmes brilliance, his flair for the dramatic---taken to new heights in this version---and even shows a vulnerability, especially in those scenes with the alluring Irene Adler, who's bested Holmes twice in the past. Downey is an excellent actor as he's shown many times in the past, and he conveys Holmes' fascination, sexual attraction, and reticence all at once whenever he's around Irene.

I also loved the iconoclastic bare-chested & bare-knuckled boxing scenes, which showed a physical side to Holmes never ever imagined, combined with a scientific knowledge of a human body's weak points made for a truly innovative scene. Of course, as I've mentioned here many times, I'm not a hide-bound traditionalist who hates to see any changes to old favorites. I'm not opposed to change, but I am very, very picky. Not all changes to traditional stories come off well.

Second---The Blind Side, with Sandra Bullock is one of the most entertaining movies I've seen all year. I love Sandra Bullock's work and thought she did a marvelous job in The Proposal, playing an unlovable character. But, Bullock outdid herself in The Blind Side. This movie is based on a real story about a family rescuing an African-American teenage boy who had fallen through the cracks and was completely abandoned by "the system." He turned out to be a fantastic athlete. This story could have been played for pathos and melodrama, violins rising in the distance, but it wasn't. It is a rollicking comedy with funny and witty family scenes, which also tug at the heart. Bullock is hilarious as the take-charge mom.

Third---is Avatar. If you haven't seen it yet---run, don't walk to the theatre and see it as soon as you can. It is fantastic. I know that word is overused, but this movie deserves the adjective. The storyline is a good solid action-adventure with environmental and spiritual themes woven in, all played out in this lush, tropical futuristic world with a sympathetic hero (Sam Worthington) who infiltrates the natives' tribal world and gets transformed by the experience. Supporting actors are excellent, and James Cameron of Titantic & Terminator fame really knows how to create a moving action flic. But the sheer seductive beauty of this world he's created is incredible. You have to see it to believe it. And I didn't see it in 3D. I saw it in regular 2D, and it still grabs you.

How about you? Did you see any of these? Loved them, hated them, indifferent? Share your thoughts with us.

And the Little Old Man Just Kept On Going

Husbands. Who can figure them out?

I witnessed a minor event a few weeks ago that really started me pondering the matter. Here’s what happened.

As my husband and I were strolling up the sidewalk on Caroline Street in Key West, we noticed an elderly man riding a rental bicycle along the side of the street. In a wire basket attached to the handlebars was a little white mop dog. I don’t know the breed, I’m sorry to say, but you know what kind I’m talking about.

The man was dressed in typical tourist garb – short sleeve button down shirt, plaid shorts, black socks above his calves, and dress shoes. The dog was wearing a pink bow and a collar that sparkled in the sun. The man was talking to the dog, oblivious to what was happening around him . . . or behind him. Which was a major mistake.

Because behind him was his wife, also on a rental bike. She was a small, frail woman with white permed hair, a neatly pressed flowered azure blouse, matching azure capri pants, and sturdy brown sandals. As she drew even with us, she began to wobble, and suddenly she was headed straight for the curb, saying in a faint voice, "Oh, my."

We gasped as she hit the curb and did a slow motion tumble to the ground. We rushed over to make sure she was okay (she was), then we helped her up. It was obvious she hadn’t ridden in years, maybe decades, but because her husband wasn’t even aware that she’d gone down, and was now at the far end of the block, she had no choice but to get back on the bike and follow him.

Which she attempted valiantly, until her bike began to wobble again, and like a rerun, she hit the curb and fell a second time. Meanwhile, her husband was still talking to the dog, still oblivious to his wife’s situation, and as we watched, he turned the corner and kept on going. Not once had he glanced back to see if his wife was following.

“What the heck is the matter with him?” my husband asked, as we continued to watch the little woman wobble and fall until she, too, turned the corner.

Right. Like he didn’t know. Like he didn’t remember the time in New York when he went through the revolving doors into our hotel and headed up to the reservation desk, leaving me to struggle with a rolling suitcase, which somehow got me wedged inside the doors. The doorman had to stop it to get me out.

Or the time my husband led the way through a crowd outside a movie theater in Chicago, never once checking to see if I was behind him, while two guys in black trench coats surrounded me and tried to take my purse off my shoulder. My husband never saw the wily move I made to elude them. His loss.

I call it The Oblivious Husband Syndrome. OHS, if you will. (Although once you give it letters, a big pharm company somewhere will start to work on a pill for it.) I don’t know if all husbands come down with OHS, but I’ll bet it's common enough that some of you have stories. Want to share them?

Am I Allowed to Talk About This?

by Leann

It's awards season. Yipee! The time of year when I know one thing for sure: my name will not be appearing anywhere on any list for anything. There was a time when I was naive enough to think I might have a chance at a nomination for SOMETHING. Dogcatcher, maybe? But no more. I don't even make excuses. I accept this as predictable. Sales are good, readers send me e-mails saying they love my books, and I have lots of writer friends. That's enough for me.

Okay. I'm lying. Who doesn't want to be recognized for their hard work? But what's nice about this business is that when my friends get nominated, I'm happy for them. Genuinely happy. I don't feel envious, perhaps because this isn't really a competition. This is a job. And having made lots of friends with writers over the years, I wish them all the very best. A prize would be nice, but not necessarily required.

Funny, but what bothers me more than my lack of being noticed is a nasty review on Amazon. And I don't get angry, I feel hurt. It's quite personal when someone on a public forum says "this is a silly book" after you've spent a year of your life working on it. It's kind of like someone looking into your stroller and saying "Your baby is really, really ugly." Ouch. And yet, this is a part of the business, too. If folks dole out good money for a book and find it silly, I guess they can shout that from the rooftops. And I need to accept that and move on. Most times I do after enjoying at least a small pity party with good friends who understand. (But there are a couple of rejections that will sting forever.)

What do these things have in common? I cannot control them. We all struggle with that issue in one way or another. If only the entire world did exactly as I wished, then all problems would be solved. Pretty narcissistic, huh? Yup. So I'm back to that awards thing. I need to let go of my longing to be recognized for a job well done. It doesn't affect the way I write. My stories are uniquely mine. I couldn't write a book believing I'd win an award if I did this or I did that even if I tried. Creativity doesn't work that way. And you know what? I think that's a good thing.

What about you? Is there something you long for that you know you'll never get? And how do you handle it? I'd love to know!

PS: I long for my daughter and son-in-law to have a baby, but that probably won't happen either. Out of my control--as it should be.

Fudging A Recipe

By Lorna


Last week hubby took me out to lunch.  He felt sorry for me because I'd zapped my laptop.  I thought I'd fried it, but luckily my friend Cleo Coyle came to the rescue and told me to take the battery out and wait 30 seconds and everything would be fine.  Yea!  It was.

But that didn't get hubby out of taking me to lunch.

We went to one of our favorites, Keenan's and both decided to have the pasta special.  It said:  Penne pasta with sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic and olive oil.

Yum-yum! 

I said to Frank, "You know, I think I could make this."

And so, the other night, I did.

I will admit, that in years past I have not been known as a good cook.  But I've been playing at it more and more since I started the Booktown Mystery series.  And anyway, Frank was onboard to help.  Boy did he.  I'd been trying to get hold of a friend all evening and when I finally did--it was time to make dinner.  So Frank did all the chopping and boiling of pasta, so that by the time I got off the phone, all I had to do was the assembly.

Here's the sort-of recipe as I made it.

Pasta (maybe 6-8 ounces?  The box was already open, so I'm not sure).
2 hot Italian sausage links (partially cooked, and then cut into coins)
1 can artichoke hearts
1 small jar sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil (can't tell you how big it was--the jar went in the recycle bin on garbage day)
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
2 chopped scallions
6 cloves garlic, chopped (we like a LOT of garlic)
Olive oil

I tossed in the olive oil from the sun-dried tomatoes, figuring it would add nice flavor, and sauteed the garlic, mushrooms and sausage.  When the mushrooms were done, I tossed in the sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts to warm through.  About five minutes later, I tossed in the hot pasta and the scallions, adding a little extra olive oil to coat, mixed everything, and served with crusty Italian bread.

Definitely NOT a diet meal.

Definitely delicious.

Have you had luck fudging tasty food without benefit of recipes?

Broadway Baby

How do you feel about musicals? I can’t say exactly when I fell in love with them. I was young, though, and entranced with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, the movie version starring Howard Keel and Jane Powell. I still adore that movie. It’s a love I’ve passed on to my daughter, who is truly the musical fan in the family.

Thanks to her joy for the genre, I’ve now seen lots of musicals. Most are movie versions like South Pacific (poor Joe!), Oklahoma, Chicago, West Side Story, Hairspray (okay I confess I think John Travolta in drag is hysterical), Funny Girl, Grease!, Mamma Mia (it’s bad but we love it) and many more, but we’ve also been lucky to see a few Broadway tour shows.

Our first live musical together was My Fair Lady (which we also own as a movie), then Lion King, Legally Blonde the Musical, and Grease!. We just got tickets to Wicked! in March and we’ll be seeing Phantom of the Opera (I think my daughter might have worn out her DVD already) in the summer.

We’re pretty much geeking out. And don’t get us started on the soundtracks and show tunes. We can sing (she’s good, unlike, ahem, me) them for hours, and she doesn’t even mind when I sing off-key. Or flat. Or sharp. I’m tone deaf, so to my ears I sound fabulous.

And even though I sound fabulous to me, I’d never, ever sing in public, unlike her, who’ll be on stage this spring for her school’s musical production. I want to say I don’t know where she gets it from, but I do know because she fell in love with it at a young age too and…

When you're in love
When you're in love
There is no way on earth to hide it
When you're in love, really in love
You simply let your heart decide it

And her heart’s chosen musicals. Okay, so now that I’ll have that song in my head all day, tell me, do you have a favorite musical or show tune?

~heather

What Makes Your “Geiger Counter” Go Off?

Please help us welcome our guest blogger, Cleo Coyle.

"It's a reactive thing, like a Geiger counter; you click whenever you come close to whatever you were built to do." ~ Stephen King

Nice analogy by King, don’t you think? Me? I “click” whenever I cook…or bake…or read about cooking and baking. This is actually a second love for me. Writing is (and always was) my first love.

I started making up stories at my grade school lunch table. I still remember the one about the giant mouse that lived on the moon and ate astronauts. With tales like that, I actually got the attention of the cutest boy in the 3^rd grade—at least for an hour at lunch. After that, he was off kanoodling with the cute blonde in the expensive jeans. (I was the chubby kid in geeky clothes, but I told a mean tale.) Thus the dye was cast for this chunky Italian girl:

Good storytelling = attention from the opposite sex.

And the corollary: Storytelling is always more fun when it involves food.

Some years later I became a journalist. I’d also slimmed down and figured out how to dress. By that time, I was determined to get paid for my stories—in something other than Twinkies and Tater Tots.

The catch was…the stories had to be true. No more giant mice. The male attention was even more interesting now, especially the tough guys who’d covered war zones and police beats. (Be still my heart.) But this time it involved drink. (Hard journalists are hard drinkers. I wasn’t a hard journalist. I drank spritzers then asked for coffee.)

These days I’m a professional, full-time fiction writer. I get paid for telling stories again, albeit tales a tad more believable than astronaut-eating rodents. I even figured out how to get paid for writing about food. Clever me. Here’s how I did it…

Clare Cosi is the gusty amateur sleuth in my culinary urban cozy mystery (how’s that for a sub-genre?). She’s a single mom who used to write a food column for a local Jersey paper, and now—with her young adult daughter attending a famous New York culinary school—she’s moved to Manhattan to be closer to her girl.

Clare, who is now in her forties, ended up returning to the job she’d had in her twenties—managing a landmark coffeehouse in New York’s Greenwich Village. Being a former food writer, Clare still thinks about food 24/7 and creates delicious recipes for herself, her man (an NYPD detective) and her coffeehouse customers.

Below, with my happy compliments, is one of Clare’s recipes. It’s also in the recipe section of my latest Coffeehouse Mystery: Holiday Grind, along with a few dozen others. The book features my most ambitious recipe section yet (about 80 pages).

Oh, and as for that male attention? Well, I still have it. My hunky husband, also a full-time professional author, is my mystery-writing partner.

WHITE CHOCOLATE SNOWFLAKE LATTE

This thing is absolute heaven. It tastes like a rich, warm coffee-infused milkshake. Drink with joy! ~ Cleo (See a photo of this recipe today at www.CoffeehouseMystery.com )

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup white chocolate, chopped, or white chocolate chips

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-2 shots hot espresso or strong coffee (see note)*

Whipped cream (optional)

Step 1. Combine milk and white chocolate in a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan about one-third full of boiling water. (You are creating a double boiler, so the water level should be under the bowl but not touching it.) Stir constantly until chocolate is melted.

Step 2. Using a whisk or handheld electric beater, whip in the vanilla. Continue to whip about a minute until the warm mixture is loosely frothy.

Step 3. Pour the espresso (or strong coffee) into a large mug. Add the steamed and frothed white chocolate milk and stir to blend the flavors. You can top with whipped cream, but I serve it without.

*Cleo's Note: For strong coffee simply make a double-strength version of your regular cup. For instance, in a drip coffee maker, instead of using 1½-2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water, use 3-4 tablespoons.

If you would like more of my recipes and/or to find out more about Clare Cosi & her crime-solving baristas, just stop on by my *virtual* coffeehouse Web site: www.CoffeehouseMystery.com “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”

And now…I’d love to know what makes YOUR Stephen King “Geiger counter” go off? If you’re a writer, you have to share something other than writing because of course we know that’s your passion. (It’s too crazy a journey for it not to be, right?!)

Comments welcome.