Starting Holiday Preparations

Karen McCullough Posted on by

For me, November is all about preparation for Thanksgiving and the Christmas season. Mostly it’s about food.

Pumpkin on Halloween Day

The baking orgy usually starts the day after Halloween, but this year it was delayed for a day when I didn’t feel well on Tuesday.

However, yesterday I was better, so I got to work. I cut up the Halloween pumpkin and cooked it in the microwave to soften in, then used an immersion blender to reduce it to pumpkin pulp. I roasted the seeds for a healthy snack, too.

I’ll use the puree to make pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins. Most of those get frozen for serving later at Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts.

Pumpkin cut into chunks

The cookies follow that. I bake lots of cookies. I’m a grandmother, so it’s kind of required, but I also like cookies. A lot. Too much, in truth, but I also put those right in the freezer to preserve them for gifting and serving at Christmas. Cinnamon crisps, molasses cookies, shaped and decorated sugar cookies, chocolate chips, and orange pressed cookies are the family favorites.

Pumpkin puree

Each year I like to try something new. It’s rare that the new effort gets added to the regular rotation, but it can happen. Last year I tried a rolled cookie with dried fruit that proved to be way too much work for the results. They were good, but not good enough to justify the effort that went into them.

The other thing I do in November is work on the gift list. I have a big family that includes eight grandchildren, so I need time to gather suggestions and ideas. I hate leaving things to the last minute. So much so that I sometimes go overboard when it comes to getting ready in advance.

But with rare opportunities to spend time with family around the holidays, I don’t want to waste a minute of it running down gifts or wrapping them.

Witch’s Journey on Sale

Karen McCullough Posted on by

ImaJinn Books, an imprint of Belle Bridge Books has put the ebook of Witch’s Journey on sale for just $.99 for a limited time!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Journey-Karen-McCullough-ebook/dp/B004UMF356

As a convicted witch, she’s at his mercy.

When Jinissa uses magic to save a child from a bad fall, she reveals herself as both a Calavrian witch and a spy. Jinny is convicted of witchcraft and condemned to torture and death. Before the sentence can be carried out; however, Lord Stephan arrives, announcing that the king wants to question the witch himself.

A long trip over the mountains gives Jinny and Stephan time to get to know each other, and despite Stephan’s well-founded hatred for her people, they begin to fall in love. But Stephan is loyal to his king, and Jinny is determined to escape. She’s sworn to keep her people’s secrets, even though she will never be welcomed back in her own country. And how can they afford to fall in love when it’s certain that if Jinny doesn’t escape, Stephan’s king will be forced to kill her when she won’t give him the information he seeks?

Contains Adult Content!

A Visit to Anastasia Pollack’s Blog to Talk About Trade Shows

Karen McCullough Posted on by

Late in posting this, but yesterday I visited Anastasia Pollack’s Killer Crafts & Crafty Killer blog to discuss what is a trade show and why it makes a great setting for Market Center Mysteries series, including the most recent release, Playing at Murder. https://anastasiapollack.blogspot.com/

Order the entire series here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077L55P5M?ref_=dbs_p_mng_rwt_ser_shvlr&storeType=ebooks

Guest Post: Pamela Thibodeaux

Karen McCullough Posted on by

Today I welcome author friend Pamela Thibodeaux, who is visiting my blog with a sneak-peek look at her latest release, Kyleigh’s Cowboy.

Blurb:  She’s attempting to start a new life. He’s roamed for more than a decade. Can they let go of the past and grab hold of the future?

Seven years after the death of her husband, Kyleigh Winters turned their old vacation home into a brand new guest ranch. Not willing to join the ranks of lonely women trolling the bars or online in search of a man, Kyleigh is sure if God wishes her to have another husband, He’ll send the perfect someone in His own time. But will she be open to the possibility of new love when He does?

Searching for a place that calls to his soul, Lance Stevens has been a roaming cowboy for ten years since retiring from the Marines. He finds that sanctuary the moment he drives through the Silver Star’s gate and meeting the lovely owner speaks to more than his soul. Will he open to the healing power of love?

Get Pamela Thibodeaux’s second chance romance novella today and see how love and faith conquers all.

Excerpt:

Today though, Lance was ready for a nice, long ride. Alone. Away from people. Having only a couple of guests at the time allowed him the freedom to take a day off and do so.

He stepped out of the bunkhouse and glanced toward Kyleigh’s cabin where she sat on the porch. An easel blocked his view of her pretty face. Maybe I won’t ride alone after all. He headed in her direction.

“Morning.” He hesitated on entering her creative sphere without permission, horror stories of interrupting an artist at work running through his mind. She glanced up, smiled, and his pulse scrambled.

“Morning. How are you today?”

“Great. Just getting ready to head out for a ride. Want to tag along?”

Kyleigh grinned and shrugged with a slight shake of her head. “I’m not much of a rider.”

“What? You own a guest ranch, and you don’t ride? We’re going to have to fix that,” he declared with a chuckle.

“Maybe, but not today.”

“What’cha working on? Or am I allowed to ask?”

She laughed. “I’m not one of those crazy, eccentric artists who doesn’t want her work looked at until it’s perfected. C’mon up and tell me what you think.”

Lance ascended the steps then stopped, awestruck by the images on her canvas. Wildlife grazed on lush green tufts of grass peeking through rocks and dirt. Brightly colored birds flitted from tree to tree. Bees and butterflies feasted on the nectar of Prickly Pear Cactus and Purple Passion flowers. A waterfall fed the rapids rushing over slabs of stone then settled in a soft pool of aqua as smooth as glass. “It’s Pedernales Falls.”

The surprised pleasure on her face sent a horde of butterflies bouncing off his ribcage. “You’ve been there?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I try to visit area state parks as often as I can. Camped there a time or two in between jobs.”

“You’ve lived in the Hill Country for a while now, haven’t you?”

“A few years.”

“And you love it?”

Lance nodded again. “I’ve seen majestic mountains, rolling hills and desert sands but there’s just something intimate and cozy about the Hill Country.”

“You sound like Dennis,” Kyleigh remarked with a sigh. “He loved this area. Looked for years to buy a place and when this one came open, snatched it up.”

“Sounds like your husband was a great guy. Wish I could’ve met him.”

Pleasure lit her ebony eyes so the lighter colors within the irises shone through. “You would have loved him—everyone did, and I’m sure you two would have made great friends.”

Their gazes locked. The air pulsated between them. Desire, sharp and painful stabbed in his blood. Easy boy, he chided himself then tipped his hat. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Guess I’d better head out if I’m going to take that ride. Sure you don’t want to come along?”

“Not this time, but thanks.”

“We’ll take a rain check then.” He turned his horse and left before he did something stupid. Like drag her into his arms and kiss her senseless.

Two days later, glad to see no easel or painting in sight, he rode up with another horse saddled and in tow as Kyleigh settled into the rocking chair on her porch. “I’m calling in your rain check.”

“I told you I’m not much of a rider. I’m not comfortable enough on a horse to tackle these hills.”

Lance dismounted and looped Champ’s reins over the porch rail and held a hand out to her. “We’ll stay on flat land then.”

She blew out a breath. “You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?”

He grinned. “No, ma’am.”

Kyleigh pushed herself out of the chair with a sigh. “Let me get my boots on and grab a hat.”

Five minutes later he helped her mount and adjusted her stirrups, lingering just a bit when his hand grasped her calf to check the length. “Good?”

She nodded and he handed her the reins. Awareness sizzled from the simple brush of hands in the exchange. Sensing her hesitation and fear, he swung into his saddle, turned Champ alongside her horse and put his hand over hers. “Trust me.”

A smile broke through her tense lips, her shoulders relaxed. “I do.”

 

Ramona and Robert stared out the lodge window in total shock. “He’s got her on a horse,” Mona whispered.

Robert laughed. “Yeah. That’s a good sign. Right?”

She beamed at him. “The best.”

 

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/KyleighsCowboy

Author Bio: Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” Sign up to receive Pam’s newsletter and get a FREE short story! http://bit.ly/psthibnewsletter

Social Media Links:

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pamelasthibodeauxauthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/psthib @psthib
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/pamelasthibodea/
Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Pamela-S-Thibodeaux/e/B002BM045Q/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pamela-s-thibodeaux
Instagram: https://instagram.com/pamelasthibodeauxauthor
Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1268453.Pamela_S_Thibodeaux
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelasthibodeaux/

Why the Hero Can Solve the Mystery When the Police Can’t

Karen McCullough Posted on by

Today is the release day for Playing at Murder!  I had some thoughts to go along with the release.

Writers of Amateur Sleuth mysteries face the question and problem all the time: why can the hero solve the mystery when the police with all their superior manpower and resources can’t.

Being the creative sorts we are, though, mystery authors have come up with a variety of answers to that issue.

Perhaps the police don’t believe a crime was committed. The death might have been made to look like an accident or suicide and only our hero truly believes it wasn’t. Or perhaps the victim has simply disappeared and no one else but the amateur sleuth suspects the person didn’t just take off on their own.

Or maybe the murder victim wasn’t all that well liked, or even was an out-and-out doofus. Even if the authorities believe he was murdered, they might not be willing to devote any extraordinary resources to get it.

Another option is to give the detective an unusual skill set or background that would make them uniquely capable of figuring things out. If the victim was in a highly specialized field like investment banking, art conservation, or jewel trading, a sleuth with similar skills might have a better chance at solving a murder resulting from a work-related issue.

In writing my Market Center Mysteries series, I went with a variation on that approach. My heroine is officially the assistant to the director, but a lot of her job duties involve trouble-shooting, settling disputes, and soothing ruffled feathers at the trades shows and business exhibitions taking place at the D.C. Commerce and Market Center.

Part of what makes her good at the job is that she’s an excellent listener. People talk to her, so she hears a lot of things the police never would. Most of it is irrelevant to solving the crime at hand, but sometimes there are nuggets of information that, put together, can yield an unexpected solution to the crime. Heather is also a very calm and logical thinker, which helps her sort out the important bits and see how they create a new picture.

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFJS9FK9

Amazon print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFTWFCXG

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/playing-at-murder-karen-mccullough/1142486029

Other formats: https://books2read.com/u/bpq6Ng

The entire Market Center Mysteries Series:

Order the series Here.

Restless Brain Syndrome

Karen McCullough Posted on by

Late posting this, but a couple of days ago, I visited the Short Mystery Fiction Society blog to talk about one of my biggest writing problems: Restless Brain Syndrome (yes, I made up the term) and how it impacted my writing the book that releases tomorrow, Playing at Murder. Read the post here: https://shortmystery.blogspot.com/2022/10/guest-post-restless-brain-syndrome-or.html

A Week at the Beach

Karen McCullough Posted on by

The beach at Edisto Island. There were very few people there the first week in October.

In the fall of most years, my husband and I, with one sister-in-law, spend a week at the beach, specifically a house right on the ocean front at Edisto Island.  It’s a wonderfully calm beach in many ways. The small town is fairly isolated, and the main attraction is the beach itself. There are no amusement parks, big shopping districts, casinos, or theaters.

It’s a good time for reading, relaxation, and writing, and I try to do a lot of all of them.  This year I had several good writing sessions, resulting in about 8,000 words on a new novel.

For a while, though, we weren’t sure we’d get to go because of Hurricane Ian, which threatened the area right before we were due to arrive. Fortunately, the storm actually made its second land fall (after screaming across Florida) farther north on the South Carolina coast, which meant the impact to the island was minimal. It hit on Friday and we were told on Saturday that the island was okay enough for us to come the next day.

The front half of the dune has been washed away.

The effects of the storm were very noticeable, however. The first indication of problems was walking out the front door of the house and over the dune to the beach. Only…the dune now ended in a five-foot-high sand cliff, where the storm surge had wiped out the entire front half of it. Getting down to the beach level now involved a risky slide down the cliff or walking a few houses down behind the dune to the spot where a groin had minimized the wash-out.

Walking up and down the beach made it clear that the storm had washed out a great bit of the beach. Several years ago the town had undertaken a major replenishment project that transferred enormous amounts of sand from an offshore sandbar back to the beach. A lot of that was now washed away again.

At least in this part of the beach, the tide levels are noticeably different from the last time we were there in May. Aside from the washed out dunes, we noted that high tides came up higher, nearly to the base of what remained of the dunes and low tides were lower, with that water barely covering the far ends of the groins at the lowest point.

Beach erosion at Edisto, plus piles of sand on top of a staked-out turtle nest.

Perhaps the saddest sight were several areas marked with stakes and tape showing turtles’ nests. Many of those were now buried in feet of new sand. It’s hard to imagine the fragile eggs survived the weight. Fortunately it’s late in what was—by reports I’ve seen—a good season for baby turtles.

But the houses seem to have survived mostly intact and the surge didn’t get to most of them.

So we got to take long walks on a lightly populated beach, enjoy the sun, surf, and sound of the waves. Have a break from the routine. Refill the bucket and also get some writing done.

I was able to get some pretty nice pictures as well:

An unusual effect I managed to capture. On a very cloudy day, a line of light at the horizon shows at the far edges of the clouds.

A shrimp boat trolling close to the shore.

 Seagulls gathered on the shore watching the shrimp boat

This is looking out over the ocean at sunset. Beautiful light effects even though the beach faces southeast.

 

Guilty as Framed: A True Crime/Cozy Mystery Mashup

Karen McCullough Posted on by

Today my friend, Lois Winston, joins me here to talk a bit about her latest mystery release, Guilty as Framed, and how it came about:

By Lois Winston 

I write a cozy mystery series featuring a reluctant amateur sleuth who works as a crafts editor at a women’s magazine. I’m also what you might call a newsaholic. As such, many of my plots are inspired by news and human-interest stories I read about in the newspaper and see on the evening news. A story that piques my interest will often become the inspiration for a plot or subplot for one of my books.

However, for Guilty as Framed, the latest book in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series, I’ve veered from being inspired by an actual crime to creating a plot that revolves around an actual crime. For decades, I’ve been fascinated by the burglary that occurred at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. I followed the investigation as it unfolded and have read countless articles on this still unsolved crime. I’ve also watched several documentaries about the burglary and the efforts to find both the perpetrators and the missing artworks. Thirty-two years later, it’s still considered the largest art heist in history. To this day, not only haven’t the perpetrators been caught, but none of the artworks have ever been recovered. Hampering the ongoing investigation is the fact that many of the witnesses and persons of interest have since died, some of natural causes, and at least one of not-so-natural causes.

When I was mulling ideas for the eleventh book in my series, I wanted to incorporate the museum heist into the plot. I set myself quite a challenge. How could I tie a factual Boston cold case into the plot of a contemporary cozy mystery series that takes place in New Jersey?

That’s the beauty of writing fiction rather than true crime. I invented some new characters, changed the names of others (to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent), and wove various events from the actual crime into the plot that became Guilty as Framed.

Too bad along the way I couldn’t solve the mystery of the missing paintings. There’s still a huge outstanding reward for information leading to their recovery.

Guilty as Framed

An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 11

When an elderly man shows up at the home of reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack, she’s drawn into the unsolved mystery of the greatest art heist in history.

Boston mob boss Cormac Murphy has recently been released from prison. He doesn’t believe Anastasia’s assertion that the man he’s looking for doesn’t live at her address and attempts to muscle his way into her home. His efforts are thwarted by Anastasia’s fiancé Zack Barnes.

A week later, a stolen SUV containing a dead body appears in Anastasia’s driveway. Anastasia believes Murphy is sending her a message. It’s only the first in a series of alarming incidents, including a mugging, a break-in, another murder, and the discovery of a cache of jewelry and an etching from the largest museum burglary in history.

But will Anastasia solve the mystery behind these shocking events before she falls victim to a couple of desperate thugs who will stop at nothing to get what they want?

Buy Links

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3QLEYU5
Hardcover: https://amzn.to/3Ans5s6
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3tLnT3d
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/guilty-as-framed
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/guilty-as-framed/id6442846272
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guilty-as-framed-lois-winston/1141500980?ean=2940185728703

Bio:

USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. Learn more about Lois and her books at her website www.loiswinston.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter and follow her on various social media sites.