Tag: historical mysteries
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A Writer’s Year
Among my collection of holiday socks, I have a pair that’s quite jolly, or maybe not so upbeat, depending on who’s looking at them. When I wear these socks, these socks say, “Ho Ho Ho Ho” to whoever looks at them. But when I look down at these socks on my feet, they lament, “Oh…
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Encouraging Review of January Jinx
Hey, gang! I just had to share the encouraging review that Judge 16 wrote for January Jinx that I submitted to the Writer’s Digest contest for self-published books this year. Structure, Organization, and Pacing: 4 Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar: 2 Production Quality and Cover Design: 2 Plot and Story Appeal: 3 Character Appeal and Development:…
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Still Busy
WiP Report # 16 Properly I can’t call this a WiP Report since I’m between writing projects. But I’m still busy as you’ll see. First, I’m very pleased to announce that on September 29, I completed Fatal February, the second Calendar Mystery. I revised a draft 96,292 words long in 12 days. Now that’s what…
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Better Busy Than Bored
WiP Report # 15 Hi, All! “Better busy than bored” has become my motto in life, maybe even more after retirement than before. Here’s what has kept me busy (and certainly not bored) lately. FATAL FEBRUARY The fourth draft of Fatal February, the second Calendar Mystery is done. (Way late. I’d planned–foolish me–on having it…
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Just a Few Little Things Left to Tweak
WiP Report # 14 Hi, All! On July the Fourth I entered the following in my daily journal/log. [I’ve added a few things here and there.] I’ve been checking some stats for Fatal February, which I completed yesterday morning [the third draft, that is, on July 3]. At least I finished the current draft and…
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Myself as a Work in Progress
WiP Report # 13 Boy, howdy, how time flies. When I recently checked my files, I discovered that it’s been a year and nine months since WiP Report # 12 in which I reflected on my decision to quit trying to go the traditional route of getting published with the help of an agent and…
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What’s going on with Juliet?
Hi, All! Check out my Author Spotlight at http://eepurl.com/beLexH featuring my most recent book, January Jinx, a cozy historical mystery. Enjoy mystery and romance in Kansas City in 1899 in the first of the Calendar Mysteries that tell the story of Minty Wilcox and Daniel Price from newly met to newlywed and beyond. January Jinx is available from Amazon.com in…
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COVER STORY (Part 2)
DIY Covers for Self-Publishers 1. For the cover of January Jinx, the first in a series of historical mysteries set in Kansas City around 1900, I needed an image to work from. And I’d already decided I wanted something distinctive. This meant clip art was out. And if I was to have half a chance…
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Cover Story (Part 1)
Lessons Learned By the time I needed a cover for January Jinx, a light-hearted historical mystery set in Kansas City around 1900, I’d already done cover illustrations and design for several stories and two books, plus the theme for my website. Here are some of the lessons I’d learned. 1. If I had any chance…
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Beating Myself Up for No Good Reason
AKA Some New Year’s Resolutions When I retired in May 2004, I immediately got cracking on my long-time dream of becoming a full-time writer. I started with an ambitious project: a dozen historical mystery novels set in Kansas City beginning in 1899 with January Jinx and ending with Deadly December in 1910, the year my…