Mysteries with a Southern Accent
Crazy for Words is mystery author, Heather Weidner's blog on writing, reading, and anything that catches her interest.
Happy Mermaid Day! I’ve added this to the list of my holidays since I write the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries.
Here’s a list of Mermaid Advice that I received from mystery author Jayne Ormerod. Enjoy your celebration!
“Sea” life’s beauty.
Avoid “pier” pressure.
Take time to coast.
Make waves.
Be sure of yourself.
Don’t be “shellfish.”
Seize the day.
I’d like to welcome Stephanie Caffrey to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!
Hardest thing about being a writer: Finding the time to actually sit down and write.
Easiest thing about being a writer: Creating the characters and their backstory.
Things you need for your writing sessions: My laptop, my folder full of research and character outlines, The Emotion Thesaurus, and my ear buds with my specific playlist for that project.
Things that hamper your writing: My children always seem to need me the second I sit down to write.
Words that describe you: Friendly, helpful, open, maternal
Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Pushover.
Something you’re really good at: Things that are creative.
Something you’re really bad at: Spatial awareness and how it relates to filling that space with stuff.
Favorite music or song: I love classic rock, especially The Beatles.
Music that drives you crazy: Anything with heavy bass.
Things you’d walk a mile for: Really good food, specifically Greek food. We walked more than a mile in Dublin for Greek food last summer.
Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Large insects and birds.
Things you always put in your books: Lots of humor.
Things you never put in your books: Open door sex scenes.
Favorite places you’ve been: Ireland and Turkey.
Places you never want to go to again: The Spook Cave.
Favorite books (or genre): Jane Eyre is my all-time favorite book.
Books you wouldn’t buy: Anything by talking heads.
Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I’m really into crochet at the moment, and I made everyone I know stuffed animals.
A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: My attempt at doing a Bob Ross painting.
Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: In Mistaken Identity, Evelyn is traveling through London to get to Greece. We really did that on our honeymoon, and visited the place Evelyn is supposed to go on her dig.
Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: I haven’t had any experience with this yet, but I think once Be My Little Baby comes out people might think I’m sort of master baker, but I’m not. That’s my sister.
About Stephanie:
Stephanie R. Caffrey is a debut romantic suspense author who lives with her family in the Midwest. When she’s not working on her books, she’s a substitute teacher and loves to write fanfiction. She is a proud marginalized voice in the Mexican-American community. Besides writing, she enjoys sewing, knitting, and cross-stitching.
Let’s Be Social:
Website: www.srcaffrey.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephcaffreyauthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/stephcaffreyauthor
X/Twitter: www.twitter.com/beatlechickstep
I’d like to welcome Bob Brill to the blog for #WriterWednesday!
Things you never want to run out of: cold milk
Things you wish you’d never bought: Chevy Malibu
Hardest thing about being a writer: criticism/rejection
Easiest thing about being a writer: freedom
A few of your favorite things: baseball cards, photographs, books, collectibles
Things you need to throw out: 90-percent of my garage.
Words that describe you: stubborn, self-motivated, determined, energizer bunny, creative, diligent, hardworking, multi-tasker,
Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: defensive, stubborn
Something you’re really good at: writing
Something you’re really bad at: art, drawing, painting type of art
Favorite music or song: Come Monday by Jimmy Buffet
Music that drives you crazy: Hotel California
Favorite smell: Vine ripened tomato
Something that makes you hold your nose: canned tuna
Favorite places you’ve been: Italy
Places you never want to go to again: Disneyland
Favorite books (or genre): Books about U.S. Presidents
Books you wouldn’t buy: Graphic horror novels
People you’d like to invite to dinner: Kevin Costner
People you’d cancel dinner on: The Donald
The coolest person you’ve ever met: Nelson Mandella
The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Richard Chamberlain
The nicest thing a reader said to you: I couldn’t put your book down
The craziest thing a reader said to you: I couldn’t put your book down
Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Film making
A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: The first shooting of a Martial Arts comedy short film, which we reshot and it was 100-percent better.
Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: Hitting a home run in Little League
Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: They wonder if I created the Lancer character to be what I wanted to be in the 1880’s.
About Bob:
Bob Brill is a well known and multi-award winning journalist with a long career in radio. A major market talent currently as a news anchor/reporter at KNX News Radio in Los Angeles, he is also an author of 13 books. He has written nearly 20 screenplays and Pilots and produced four short films. His full length Documentary “Shaken; The Great Sylmar Earthquake” airs on Amazon Prime and other platforms.
Journalist: Former National Correspondent and L-A Bureau Chief UPI Radio Network, Reporter and Anchorperson for many radio stations. Was a columnist for The Examiner, UPI wire service, and published the successful The Brill Report. Writes the popular weekly column “Baseball in the 1960s.”
Author: Seven books so far in the “Lancer; Hero of the West” series, plus “The Tattoo Murder,” “Fan Letters to a Stripper; A Patti Waggin Tale,” “Al Kabul, Home Grown Terrorist,” “No Barrier; How the Internet Destroyed the World Economy,” “Tales of My Baseball Youth; A Child of the 60’s,. “Beating the Slump; an athletes guide to a better career.” Ten Lancer books are planned.
Podcasts & Videocasts: “Interesting People with Bob Brill,” “Major League Stripper.”
Screenwriter: Written both features and pilots as well as those targeted for screeners. Wide variety from Biopics, westerns, two pandemic related, comedies, drama, sports related including period.
Producer: Documentary “Shaken; The Great Sylmar Earthquake.” It is a one-hour documentary based on the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. Four short films including the western “Sundown,” (multi awards), “The Girl From Sweden,” which has more than 1,000,000 views on YouTube.
Radio: News anchor/reporter KNX News Radio Los Angeles.
General: An icon in the sports trading card and memorabilia industry for decades.
Let’s Be Social:
Websites:
AMAZON Author page:
Bob Brill YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfToqYTs5f3lMhlCdVmJgRw
Bob Brill Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bobbrillsr
LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-brill-439411288/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interesting-people-with-bob-brill/id1364250714
TikTok: @theebobbrill
Every year, I help my team write their annual goals, and a big component of this is their developmental work. I work in IT, and technology and best practices are constantly changing. As an author, you need to continue your learning experiences to stay current with trends and to hone your skills. Here are some ideas:
Take a class. Many libraries, writing organizations, and other organizations sponsor courses that appeal to writers. There are also thousands of YouTube videos that will show you how to do all kinds of things.
Learn a new technology that will help you with your marketing (editing videos, creating memes, putting together a newsletter…).
Learn how to use a social media platform that you haven’t joined yet.
Attend a workshop or an author panel. There are so many available in-person and online.
Attend a conference.
Find the SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) online. Many have websites, tutorials, podcasts, and newsletters.
Check out your local library’s website and look at all the programming and opportunities they offer.
Many alumni associations, neighborhood associations, and civic groups offer programs for their members.
Visit your local bookstores and check out their program calendars.
What else would you add to my list?
I’d like to welcome Kendra Q. Dodd to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!
Things you never want to run out of: Water (conceptually - LOL its the first thing that came to mind), My hair products (I have curly hair and the struggle is real),
Things you wish you’d never bought: Subscriptions (sometimes I get hopeful and purchase too much, even apps)
Things you need for your writing sessions: Sticky Notes, Stick Flip Chart Paper, Highlighters, Laptop, Dry Erase Board, Multiple Ink Color, Index Cards
Things that hamper your writing: Being Interrupted
Words that describe you: Energetic, Encouraging, Thought-Provoking, Great Speaker/Communicator,
Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Opinionated/Judgemental
The nicest thing a reader said to you: That they purchase extra copies of my book and gift to people that seem to need them
The craziest thing a reader said to you: that wish my book was less of a journal and they I told more stories about me
Things you’d walk a mile for: Gelato in Italy
Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Dead Body (key word is want to, I don't do it but I really don't do well with funerals, wakes, I've gotter better the older I am with love ones but if its a stranger, I really don't want to go in)
Favorite foods: Strawberries, Melons (almost any kind), Stir-Fry, Any style of Rice
Things that make you want to gag: The smell of chicken, the smell of eggs, the smell of bacon - most meats and the smell of it are challenging for me
Something you’re really good at: organizing, looking at things big picture, listening, asking provoking questions
Something you’re really bad at: coloring, repetitive tasks, administrative style work, totally relaxing
Favorite smell: Vanilla
Something that makes you hold your nose: Paper Manufacturing Plants, Skunks (in college, could smell them), any artificial floral scent
The last thing you ordered online: compression socks
The last thing you regret buying: an electric hard egg cooker
Favorite books (or genre): Non-Fiction: History, Biography, Self-Help, Documentary
Books you wouldn’t buy: Romance Novels
Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: scrapbooking (manual and digital), video editing
A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: trying to refinish a table by using a marbleizing technique
I’d like to welcome the fabulous Mally Becker back to the blog for #WriterWednesday!
Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: A laptop, coffee, scratch paper for notes, and fuzzy socks.
Things that distract you from writing: Good weather, good music, or an empty coffee cup.
The coolest thing you’ve bought online:
A rowboat-sized sailboat. It was delivered to our house in a box—unassembled.
The thing you wished you’d never bought:
After my husband finished building that small boat-in-a-box in the cellar, we discovered it was too wide too take outside through the basement door.
Favorite snacks: Anything chocolate.
Things that make you want to gag: Calamari.
Something you’re really good at: Baking.
Something you’re really bad at: Softball.
Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: A dancer with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.
Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: Write mysteries! My Revolutionary War mysteries are available wherever books are sold, and I’m at work on a new story.
Last best thing you ate: Shrimp with green sauce and yellow rice from the Portuguese restaurant where my husband and I had our first date.
Last thing you regret eating: The (entire) giant chocolate cookie a friend brought me.
Things to say to an author: “I couldn’t go to sleep ‘til I finished your book.”
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “I don’t read fiction. I don’t see the point. I mean, it’s not real, right?”
Favorite places you’ve been: Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico, Paris, Lake Placid, N.Y.
Places you never want to go to again: Middle school.
Favorite things to do: Kayak with my husband. Go to Mets games with the whole family. Visit wineries with friends.
Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: There are books in every room in our house, and I’ve promised to get rid of some. Well, a few. Maybe three. Just not today. Not tomorrow, either.
The funniest thing to happen to you: Being chased up the street by a wild turkey. (Don’t judge. They’re tall and mean!) It was so ridiculous that I burst out laughing as I sprinted away.
The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: Being chased by a wild turkey.
Best piece of advice you received from another writer: Most writers don’t make a ton of money. If you don’t find writing fun, don’t torture yourself. Find another line of work.
Something you would tell a younger you about your writing: Making up stories is even more fun than you imagine, and it’ll lead to some of the best adventures of your life. Enjoy the ride!
Recommendations for curing writer’s block: Writer’s block is my subconscious sending up a warning flag, forcing me to stop when I’ve written myself into a corner but don’t yet realize it. I go for a walk or to a movie, then brainstorm alternatives to find an alternative approach to the scene that’s giving me trouble.
Things you do to avoid writing: I’ve gotten more disciplined with time, but housekeeping chores are a great way to avoid writing.
About Mally:
Mally Becker is a two-time Agatha Award-nominated author of the Revolutionary War Mysteries, which include The Turncoat's Widow, The Counterfeit Wife, and The Paris Mistress. My stories feature Becca Parcell and Daniel Alloway—George Washington's two least likely spies—as they search for traitors in revolutionary-era Morristown, New York City, Philadelphia, and Paris. I've woven fictionalized versions of real events and people into each story. I hope you enjoy Becca's and Daniel's adventures as much as I liked writing them.
I was an attorney and volunteer advocate for foster children before becoming a full-time writer. When I'm not writing, you can find me at The Writers Circle Workshops, where I teach mystery writing, on Guns, Knives & Lipstick, the crime fiction Podcast I co-host with three fabulous female mystery writers, or online at the Historical Novel Society, where I interview other authors. I live with my husband in Somerset County, New Jersey, not too far from Morristown, where my first book is set.
Let’s Be Social:
What is your author brand?
Branding helps readers identify you as an author and sets expectations for your readers. It helps you create a visual identity. Your colors, fonts, photos, graphics, and logo need to match your writing style and your genre.
My first traditionally published piece was a short story in an anthology that had a red and black cover, so I matched my graphics to that color palette. I talked to a publicist years later, and she asked why my sites looked dark because my writing style is light and humorous. Now, I use pastels. If you need help, Google color wheel. There are tons of them out there. It helps you choose complimentary colors.
Things you need:
Know who your audience is. It’s not everyone who reads. You need to figure out who reads what you write.
Look at authors who write you like you. Who follows them? Who reviews their books?
Look at your website and social media metrics. These can help you narrow down age groups, countries of origin, and genders of your followers and visitors.
Know who else is writing in your genre. Check out their websites.
A logo - This helps readers identify your social sites, newsletter, blog, and website. It needs to match your style of writing and your colors.
A tagline - This is a short statement that describes your writing.
Mine is Mysteries with a Southern Accent.
A professional photograph - You need a professional photo (no selfies). That was one of my first investments. Your readers need to be able to know that they’ve found the sites of an author.
What else would you add to my list?
I’d like to welcome Joanna Vander Vlugt to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!
Favorite thing to do when you have free time: I like to read fiction. I do so much reading when I’m writing, i.e., how to write a press release; my own stories when re-writing, but I like reading other people’s novels to escape from my own work. Also, I enjoy taking my two mini-schnauzers for walks.
The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: I hate cleaning windows. I’ll wash floors, bathrooms, dust, but getting outside and cleaning windows, groan. The other thing I hate is cleaning blinds.
Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: I need my mocha (I make my own), and my two mini-schnauzers. One schnauzer is considered a “senior” because he’s 12, and the other one will be turning 2 in April. They’re quite the duo.
Things that distract you from writing: If my husband is watching TV in the other room, I find that distracting. He likes watching political podcasts. That’s when I close the door to my writing room/office.
Hardest thing about being a writer: The hardest thing being a writer is the marketing. Finding the right company or business that will help promote you and not scam you.
Easiest thing about being a writer: The writing is the easiest part of being a writer. When you get in that zone, and it’s not even fishing for words, you’re like a conduit and the words flood out.
Favorite snacks: My favorite snacks are my own protein balls that I make with peanut butter. I’m so predictable. That’s my morning breakfast, a protein ball, orange and mocha, and I take that into the writing room and the dogs follow.
Things that make you want to gag: Snails and liver. I like seafood. I like mussels but I will not eat octopus, snails, and liver. My mother use to make us eat liver. It doesn’t matter how much you coat in breadcrumbs or soak in ketchup, liver is awful.
Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: I wanted to be involved in magazines and marketing.
Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: I never thought I’d have my own podcast. As a child I was a terrible reader. Thank goodness I found that one book that turned my world around. I started reading voraciously and then I became a writer. Now, I read short stories out loud on my podcast SAM Magazine.
Things to say to an author: Keep writing, even if it’s only fifteen or thirty minutes, because you never know when the magic might happen. You can’t predict anything when it comes to creativity.
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: If I were fictionally killed off in another author’s book, I’d want to be in a fancy hotel in New York City, wearing great clothes, and not a hair out of place. Don’t put me in a dumpster because I’m scared of bugs and rats.
Favorite places you’ve been: Kihei, Maui because it reminds me of Canada but with heat. It’s so relaxing to stay in Kihei. That town has such a zen attitude.
Places you never want to go to again: Some of your readers may be shocked when they read this, but Las Vegas. I’m not a gambler. I’ve seen it once and that was good enough.
The most exciting thing about your writing life: I would say the most exciting thing is when after one or two years of working on a novel, actually physically holding that book in your hands. That’s pretty exciting.
The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: I wish I had never taken a 20 year break from writing. But given my life circumstances, the break was understandable. I had different goals.
The nicest thing a reader said to you: It was the greatest compliment from a reader. She messaged me on Facebook and said, “Joanna, I can’t put this damn book down.” I will always remember that.
The craziest thing a reader said to you: I thought it was another sweet compliment, but a reader had read The Unravelling, and she told me that in the next book, Jade needed to eat. She’s never eating, throw her a burger. So, in Dealer’s Child, I used the readers line about “throwing Jade a burger,” and it was a lot of fun to work that in.
Best piece of advice you received from another writer: Do not compare your success with another author’s success. Writing is such a volatile, twisting and turning career path with highs and low. Be true to yourself and always ask yourself, why do you write?
Something you would tell a younger you about your writing: Never say never. You’re going to go through some up and downs. You’re going to stop doing what you love, writing, and you’re even going to tell your friends, that you’re not writing anymore. But trust me, life throws curve ball, and you will get back to writing and when you do you, like Alicia Keys sings, “This Girl is On Fire.”
Recommendations for curing writer’s block: Trust the process of writing and don’t beat yourself up. Maybe go for a walk, take a 3-day break, get away from the desk and get outside. The inspiration will come back.
Things you do to avoid writing: Honestly, I don’t have this problem. I really do love writing. If I don’t write for three days, then I get jittery.
About Joanna:
JOANNA VANDER VLUGT is an author and illustrator. As a teenager, she drew charcoal portraits and wrote mysteries. Now, she uses Copic markers to illustrate motorcycles and scooters. Under the pseudonym J.C. Szasz, Joanna’s short mysteries Egyptian Queen, and The Parrot and Wild Mushroom Stuffing were both published in Crime Writers of Canada mystery anthologies. Her essay, “No Beatles Reunion” was published in the Dropped Threads 3: Beyond the Small Circle anthology.
The Unravelling, her debut novel, and Dealer’s Child were Canadian Book Club Awards finalists. Joanna draws upon her 13 years’ experience working in the prosecutor’s office and 10 years working in the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner for inspiration for her novels. Joanna is proud of her podcast SAM Magazine and the many authors she has interviewed. Joanna’s novels, art and podcast can be found at joannavandervlugt.com. As well, her quarterly publication SAM Magazine, can be found at sam-magazine.com.
Let’s Be Social:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/joanna-vander-vlugt
https://www.amazon.ca/Spy-Girls-Jade-Sage-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0CJ3P9Z1B
https://www.instagram.com/joannavandervlugt_author_art/
Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather Weidner has been a mystery fan since Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew. She currently lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.
Heather writes the Delanie Fitzgerald mystery series for readers who like humorous mysteries with a strong, female sleuth.
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