• Drink,  Speakeasy

    Cheers!

    One of the things that happens in my Modern Speakeasy Mysteries is that Zach, one of the main characters, creates cocktails for the bar, Elixir, as well as for the hidden Speakeasy. I have to admit, the research for this part of my writing is darned fun. For years the go-to cocktail at our place was gin and tonic; ice cold with a lot of lime. I still love the refreshing bite of that drink, but recently we’ve been experimenting with Manhattans, Negronis, and Bees Knees. Cocktails are integral to any book that has a bar as a prominent backdrop, but I still don’t want the books to be too…

  • Guest Post

    Forth Week Friend: Mary Feliz!

    But, first, a word from Laurie: I’ve earned a few nicknames over the years. Some of them cannot be shared in mixed company, but the following two will make sense here: Last Minute Laurie and Laurie the Late! Here’s the blog post that I planned to have up the last week of June. I’m sending out a huge THANK YOU to the Marvelous Mary Feliz for being my first guest blogger! I’m also looking forward to her 5th Maggie McDonald book, Cliff Hanger, which releases July 16th (next week!!). Congratulations, Mary! And, now, without further ado, I give you Mary Feliz: Do you BookBub? If you love books (and who…

  • General Musings

    The Scariest Moment

    “The scariest moment is always just before you start.” ― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft Stephen King was correct. I thought that once I started this blog, started telling people it was out there, that I would have the motivation to post regularly. Well motivation doesn’t always align with time, and time doesn’t always align with the proper mindset… I’ve started several posts only to abandon them. Why? Because I’m I big chicken, that’s why. I fear putting my writing out in the world for people to read – even something as simple as a blog post. Sigh… However, just because I don’t share my writing…

  • Guest Post

    Fourth Week Friend

    I’ve been giving some thought to what might lure you readers back to my website. I decided that you’re probably going to want to hear more than just what’s going on with my little life. I’ve decided that one posting a month should highlight another mystery writer whose books I enjoy. Over the years I’ve met some super cool and witty folks that write some great books. I’ll ask them to write a guest post about a recent release, what they’re working on now, or (seriously) whatever blows their skirt. And, if you think this sound an awful lot like me trying to find content to post without doing all…

  • General Musings

    Wear a flapper dress and meet us in the cemetery…

    The year was 2007. With a degree in anthropology one might assume I would have found myself deep in the basements of the Smithsonian, but no. I spent my days moving through the gracious space that is the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. I did have friends at the Smithsonian, though, and one of them told me to join their Resident Associate Program (RAP). I’ll admit, it was–and I’m sure still is– very cool. The RAP arranges evening educational classes, normally 6 weeks long, every Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm. I took classes on French gardens, Venetian art, and Forensics. During one of the breaks of that…