Happy Halloween

I’ve been invited to a Halloween party on Friday afternoon. I don’t think I’ve ever been invited to a Halloween party. Luckily, a few years ago when the grandboys were younger, I participated in their Halloween gatherings, so I have a suitable costume to wear. Who did I choose to be? Minerva McGonagall, of course. That formidable teacher of magic and transfiguration at the Hogwarts School where Harry Potter and his friends attended. As Minerva, I am not as talented as Maggie Smith, who portrayed Minerva in the films. But then Maggie Smith is a hard act to follow. What intrigued me and prompted me to read the Harry Potter books was the story behind the books. How J.K. Rowling, a working mother, came up with the characters and setting, and wrote bits of it on her commute to work. And kept her storyline and the new world she had created in her head, as she utilized these snippets of writing time. Revisiting my Minerva outfit for this year’s Halloween party, I realized how spoiled I am to want whole blocks of time to write. I need to figure out how to utilize those little blocks of time throughout the day to write a scene or two, like waiting for soccer practice to be over, or at sitting on a bench at the park after a good brisk walk. Our Riverfront Park along the Connecticut River is a lovely, peaceful place. A wonderful walk through woods, pollinator gardens, benches, a story board, and a labyrinth. An ideal spot to rid yourself of the distractions of the day. Soon there will be a Wind Phone installed for those who want to talk with their loved ones who have passed. Now, there’s an idea for a storyline! Happy Halloween, everyone!

Gift From The Sea

In the early 1980s, a work colleague gave me Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s “A Gift from the Sea.” But I worked full time, had a husband, two children, a big house, and was taking an evening college course. I was too busy for quiet contemplation that this book encouraged. Recently, a friend mentioned how much the book resonated with her now that she was older. I pulled out my slightly yellowed “Gift From The Sea.” The introduction reads: “I began these pages for myself, in order to think out my own particular pattern of living, my own individual balance of life, work and human relationships.” Ms. Lindbergh started writing her personal thoughts because she needed to make sense of where she was in life and where she wanted to go. She knew writing helps you make sense of things. That first sentence hit home.

I started my first book, “An Unexpected Death,” because in 2008, I had to make sense of things. The country’s financial collapse put working people out of their jobs, and many lost their homes. Those responsible were not being held responsible. I felt frustrated. A way to deal with my frustration and anger was to write. Little did I know my first book was born out of my strong sense of justice. And that sense of justice I gave to my protagonist, Caitlyn Jamison. And that first book would lead to four more Caitlyn Jamison mysteries. Writing mysteries was not in my life’s plan, but when readers continually ask when the next book is coming out, I had no choice. The characters continued to reside on my shoulder and whisper in my ear. And I had to keep my readers happy! Some books are meant to be read slowly. I will continue to read “A Gift From The Sea” a chapter at a time. Then stop to think about what Ms. Lindbergh’s contemplations mean for me and my writing.

Library book sales

It’s no surprise that I love libraries. I love book sales. And I love being a part of a library’s Friends group. Last weekend was the Friends of the Portland (CT) Library’s annual book sale. It was exciting to see so many book lovers pouring over the selections. For writers, book sales are like kids in a candy shop. This summer, while working the Newtown, CT Friends of the C. H. Booth Library’s 50th annual book sale, I found two gems: “Writer’s Guide to Character Traits” by Linda N. Edelstein, and a revised edition of Rodale’s “The Synonym Finder.” Can you tell I’m trying to escape AI? Another fun find in the past was “Forensics for Dummies,” by D.P. Lyle, MD. Although these books are dated, some information doesn’t change. Besides, they are fun to read and provide ideas for developing characters, their careers, and of course, crimes! While working the Newtown sale, I captured this photo of a young girl writing her Great American Novel. Which proves creating is ageless. Let’s not lose this.

The Big Question

On Saturday, October 3, 2026, I hosted my first Zoom meeting. As secretary of the Manatee Genealogical Society, I volunteered to start a Beginning Genealogy SIG (Special Interest Group) to help those interested in learning more about their family history. I drafted a step-by-step presentation to help new family historians get started without overwhelming them. Since this is a three-month trial to evaluate interest, I had also prepared November’s presentation. So, what does this have to do with writing? The Big Question family historians have to ask each time they start a search is: What do I want to know? We have to be specific, i.e., where was my grandfather born? Writers also have to ask the Big Question: What is this story about? This question catches me every time. When I start a book, I develop the characters and figure out plot lines. I’m excited to be with my characters. I’m off and running. Each day I’m anxious to get through the to-do list so I can be with my “people.” But then, as the story develops, I start to get lost as to where the story should go. It is then that the light bulb goes off. I have not asked the Big Question. What is THIS story about? The Beginners SIG was a needed reminder for me to ask my current project, Uncharted Drift – What is this story about? I am at the deciding phase now, so stay tuned.

AI and Creativity

A lot of conversation is happening now around the use and dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Although it has been around and in our lives for a long time, I feel the presence of AI has accelerated at a high rate over the last two years. The subtle changes we’d experienced before are now becoming bothersome and worrisome. As an author, I’ve had concerns about AI for a while. I’m concerned about those using AI writing software and allowing it to rewrite sentences. I’m concerned about those using ChatGPT and other AI websites to develop storylines, and even write scenes. We can’t allow AI to take away our creativity and our voice. That is what makes each book different and special. I do a fair amount of research for my books, as well as looking up information on other topics. What used to be an easy task now takes time and a little digging to get to a reliable source. The artificial assistant keeps crowding in to provide information that may or may not be correct. It hallucinates and will provide information whether it is correct or not. AI wants to please you. AI has many positive uses, and I am thankful for those. So, this post is specifically sharing my concerns and frustrations for those in the creative arts. Keep writing!

What is the best way to connect with readers?

Authors in Connecticut are blessed with a volunteer group called the Nutmeg Lit Fest. Their mission is to locate venues where local authors can meet readers and sell their books. Venues include town festivals, wineries, breweries, restaurants, and even Barnes and Noble. The group has also started a book club and a mobile bookmobile stocked with books by local Connecticut authors. I was fortunate to be invited again this year to participate in the Manchester (CT) Book Festival. I love going to the Manchester event because the town is so welcoming. Volunteers greet us as we line four or five blocks of Main Street. At midday, the volunteers pull a wagon carrying bottled water to keep us hydrated, and then at the end of the event, they come by to thank us and say next year will even be better. I enjoy talking with readers, and with my neighboring authors, but at the end of it all, I wonder: do I want to be a road warrior? This is my conundrum. If I want readers to enjoy my books, I have to connect with them. Being “on the road” is one way to do that. I suspect this is a question many authors think about. What is the best way to connect with readers?

Grammie Sally and Browns Head Lighthouse

I love to support local authors, and am especially excited to share information on my good friend's newest children's book, "Grammie Sally and Browns Head Lighthouse." I've worked closely with Sarah Elliott-Caratasios on Portland's America 250 Committee for the last year and a half. Sarah is director of Portland's (CT) senior center was well as raising four great kids. I don't know how she does it all plus writing books. Last year she published "When Love Becomes Care," a guide for the sandwich generation. This year Sarah published a children's book which is two books in one. It's the story of Lily who spends the summer with her grandmother in Rockport, Maine. During her visit Lily learns the importance of kindness, and how the smallest kind act can mean so much. The second half of the book is filled with suggestions on how to share kindness, as well as a wonderful history of the lighthouse. The watercolor illustrations by Bivenne Staiger are beautiful.

I’m working on my next book in the Caitlyn Jamison Mystery Series. For this series, I use current social, economic, or environmental issues as one of the plotlines. When I decided on one that I am especially passionate about, I realized that three of the five books have an environmental issue as part of the storyline. I wonder: do we ever learn anything about protecting our environment? Contemplating how to proceed, a book published in 1970 came to mind. I’ve posted this on Facebook and LinkedIn, hoping that people will think about what we are doing to our planet. As I read about the environmental protection laws that are being overturned, [“EPA eliminates rule limiting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.” NPR, September 15, 2026], and this is only one of many laws that have been overturned, I thought about a book I read to my children in the early 1980s, The Wump World by Bill Peet. The book made a big impression on me then, and today it is even more relevant. So relevant that I had to reserve it from a local library and read it again. The book starts with: “The Wump World was mostly grassy meadows and clumps of leafy green trees with a few winding rivers and lakes.” Then the Pollutians from the plant Pollutus arrived in large, loud, metal airplanes. They brought giant machines that started “gobbling up trees and grinding them to bits.” Soon, the land was covered with concrete, and large buildings and factories were built. The air became so polluted that even the Pollutians couldn’t breathe. The Pollutians went to their chief, ironically dressed in an orange robe with a tall orange and yellow hat, to complain about the polluted air. Having destroyed The Wump World, the Pollutians left The Wump World to live and destroy another planet. The population on Earth does not have the option of another planet. It is up to all of us to take care of our own. Climate change is not a hoax. The environmental protections have to be reinstated, and the United States needs to partner with other countries so Earth doesn’t become another planet of Pollutians.

I hope Bill Peet’s children don’t mind if I illustrate this plea for environmental sanity with two photos from his book.

Horse Latitudes

Can you tell how excited I am to announce that my good friend and writing colleague, Andrea Zimmermann, has published her book, Horse Latitudes, a Martin Sharp Mystery? This has been a long time coming. She worked at navigating the agent/publisher maze, but found that path was way too crowded. Knowing it would take years for this intriguing story to be enjoyed by readers, she decided to self-publish. Andrea is also a talented artist, and she drew the boat that is pictured on the cover. A meet-the-author and book-signing event is planned for June 27, 2026, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the C.H. Booth Library, Newtown, CT. I'm looking forward to the event.

851 Kitchen and Cocktail Bar Event

On Saturday, June 13, 2026, I’ll be at the 1851 Kitchen and Cocktail Bar in Cromwell, CT from 12:00 t0 4:00 p.m. I hope to meet new friends and author colleagues. The menus look delicious. Come and try out this new place. This event is sponsored by Nutmeg Litfest. A note after the event - I heard from author colleagues who were there that the food was delicious. But that was pretty much the saving grace for them. The venue was in a separate room from the main restaurant, perfect for a private party. But not the best setup for authors. The 25+ authors were crammed into the space, with me and others having to share a round table. My table mate and I were placed at the very back of the room. If that wasn't bad enough, there were less than a handful of customers. No signage at the end of the sidewalk to tell people about the local authors. The other downside was a most beautiful very warm day when Route 9 was bumper to bumper for miles heading south to the beaches. It's the details that make or break an event, and some, like weather we have no control over.

Sometimes I Wish I Had Staff

Sometimes I think - if only I had staff like the big guys – Grisham, Baldacci, Penny, King—you get the idea—I could put out books a lot faster. But that’s just not going to happen. So, I was pleased, a few weeks ago, when I was at my son’s house, someone showed interest in my work. We are still negotiating a contract, haggling over how many Greenies a day I need to provide. In the meantime, I continue chipping away on the fifth Caitlyn Jamison mystery, Uncharted Drift. Chapters five and six will be critiqued on Monday evening during our Fiction Critique meeting, which is through the CRRL in Fredericksburg. An earlier post showed how I used the erasable whiteboard to work out the plot and how the characters were connected. That graphic was transferred to paper so I can use the whiteboard to try out various plot scenarios. Ideas often come when I am not at my computer, so this way, I have the whiteboard on my lap and can brainstorm away. When chapters are polished and ready for critique, I fill out Post-it® notes, color-coded for each character. It’s a way to manage the plot lines and track when the characters appear. Before I can start Chapter 7, I need to spend time on the whiteboard, figuring out what’s next. And so goes the life of a writer.

Nutmeg Lit Fest

I am fortunate to live in Connecticut,for a number of reasons, but also where a group of four dedicated authors started a Facebook group called Nutmeg LitFest. These four individuals travel around the state and find venues to host local author events. On September 12, I was invited to be at the Crystal Ridge Winery in South Glastonbury, Connecticut. It was fun to meet other local authors and readers. The view of the Hartford skyline and the setting sun over the hills to the west was amazing.

The fun began when our town's First Selectman, Michael Pelton, decided he wanted to pretend he was the author!

The next morning, I was back on the road to Manchester, Connecticut, where local authors lined two blocks of Main Street to discuss their books and meet readers. My next stop is October 12, when I will be at Priam Vineyards in Colchester, Connecticut. If you are local, I would love to see you there.

Planning the next book - "Uncharted Drift"

– A book needs characters the readers care about. A book needs a plot line (s) that keeps readers turning pages. Easy, right? No. I’m writing my sixth book and working on developing interesting characters and plot lines. Since this book is a spin-off of my fourth book, Deadly Secrets, the characters are coming easily, with maybe too many interesting characters. I have several plot lines in mind, and now I need to determine if they all work and how they come together at the end. I am trying a new way of plotting this time. Because ideas come to me at the times when I’m not at my laptop, nor do I want to get it fired up, I purchased a small wipeable board that I can easily access anytime to develop characters and outline plot ideas. The board is easily erased as changes are made. In the meantime, I have to write bios for all the main characters. It’s a time to dig deep into each character to capture what they look like, their mannerisms, how they think, and what baggage they carry. Where they find joy and what causes them anxiety. Because a writer likes to get right into the story, it’s easy to put the bio descriptions off, but I’ve learned it is better to take the time to do this, because I’ll be sorry mid-story if I don’t.

An Unexpected Death

This summer, I decided my first Caitlyn Jamison mystery book, An Unexpected Death, needed a new look. My graphic designer at Six Penny Graphics in Fredericksburg, Virginia, did a great job in capturing Caitlyn as she sets out on her first investigation. When Caitlyn arrived in Upstate New York for her cousin’s funeral, the last thing on her mind was investigating his death. But Caitlyn has a strong sense of justice, and she was determined to find out who caused the death of her cousin. Against the wishes of the local sheriff, Ethan Ewing, she persisted in being involved. At first, she was a thorn in Ethan’s side, so to keep her from going off on her own, he reluctantly accepted her help. He asked her to listen and read the body language of those he interviewed. The result—with her creative mind, Caitlyn became a valuable resource for Ethan. An Unexpected Death is where the adventure begins!

The Magic of Books

One of my readers in New York’s Adirondacks, sent me this photo. She’s found her perfect spot on the shore of Lake Champlain to enjoy The Art of Murder.

That’s what’s magical about books. There are various ways to take your favorite author with you wherever you go. I just finished reading Richard Osman’s We Solve Murders. It’s different from his Thursday Murder Club books, as We Solve Murders is more in the thriller category. His character Amy is an enigma. She is likable and mysterious in that she is a contracted bodyguard with no qualm about killing if needed. Osman’s supporting characters are fully developed and I love their quirky personalities. I think we will be seeing more of this crew. Now I’m on to one of my favorite authors, Paula Munier. I love her character, Mercy Carr, and her dog, Elvis. The title is The Night Woods, and in this book, Mercy is ready to deliver her first child. But that doesn’t stop her from investigating the attack on her friend and a murder. I look forward to the journey Mercy and Elvis will take me on.

The Art of Murder

I can’t believe it has been a year since I've posted. Time to catch up! I’m excited to announce that my fifth book, The Art of Murder, was published in May. This book, originally titled Glenside, presented a number of challenges. As stated in the last post, the characters, Autumn Whitcomb and Yuri Rachinskij, were developed by patrons from two rural Upstate New York libraries. The patrons did a great job, and I am forever grateful to them for bringing me two interesting characters. Because of the differences in the characters, I had to work on some complicated plot lines. Officer Autumn Whitcomb was fairly easy to develop. She dealt with sexism and fraud in her North Carolina position while dealing with a failed relationship. Her character overcomes and grows when she is made a detective with a New York police department and is immediately faced with a murder to solve. Quickly. Ukrainian Yuri Rachinskij was the biggest challenge. I wanted him to be real, but without getting into the war. What would prompt him to leave his beloved National Archives and end up in the same New York town as Autumn? I worked through that challenge and came out with a winner. Whenever I finish a book, I wonder if anyone will like it. That’s the life of an author. This book resonated with readers right away. One reader wrote, “You've hit another one out of the park. Somehow, you manage to take current concerns and weave your characters through them into a tapestry that keeps us on the edge of our seats in suspense. Hope you have as much fun writing as we do reading.” The answer to that is, yes, it is great fun to be with my characters. You can find the book on Amazon:

Glenside, A Novel of Suspense

The book I started in October 2022 is in it's third draft editing process. With each read through I get deeper into the characters and the plot. I love these characters and I hope readers will too. Below is synopsis of the book. Detective Autumn Whitcomb is a mid-career cop caught between worlds—trying to fit into a new team in a new town. Before she can acclimate to her detective position with the Glenside, New York, police department, Autumn is assigned to investigate the mysterious death of the university’s archivist. During her investigation, she learns valuable artwork is missing from the archives. She feels the archivist’s death and the missing artwork are connected. But how? She is pressured to solve the case quickly as the university prepares for its centennial celebration—murder and missing art would discourage donors. But Autumn has to navigate the passions, intrigue, and power struggles inherent in academia while she figures out who murdered the archivist and if the art thefts are connected. Dr. Yuri Rachinskij, Director of the Ukrainian National Archives, faced serious problems. His country was at war and he was responsible for making sure the artifacts housed in the National Archives were safe. With missile strikes coming closer, threatening his family, staff, and the archives, the unimaginable happened. The Ukraine government sent Yuri to Glenside, New York, on a special mission. But his assignment is interrupted when he is considered the prime suspect in a murder investigation.

Meeting Colleagues

Last Thurday I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow Sister-in-Crime CT author Sharon Dukett. I learned that Sharon lives in Portland, CT, not too far from me. Sharon hosted a signing of her new book, The Shutdown List at a small local brewery, Hops on the Hill in South Glastonbury, CT. That brewery is very supportive of local authors and is a lovely location for a book signing. Sharon's first book, No Rules is a memoir of her hippy days in California. I am looking forward to reading that as well.

Feisty - a memoir in little pieces

My friend, Jean Peelen, has just published her memoir, Feisty, a memoir in little pieces. The title exactly describes this small powerfully written memior. The book measures 5 x 7" and each piece is no longer than two pages. But Jean successfully captured the most important periods of her life in these short succinct chapters. The back cover reads: "Feisty is the story of a woman with attitude - told in short reflections that capture a life of awakening activism. From her exploits as a five year old New Jersey cowboy, to hosting Gloira Steinem in Alabama, to an awkward drink with a young Clarence Thomas, Jean Peelen shares her civil rights journey and the most vulnerable moments in her life. This book is funny and sad, deep and wide. Feisty shines a light on what is possible when a woman rejects roles she is expected to fulfil and finds her own path." As a memoir writer I was interested to see her unique style of telling her story. The book pulled me in and kept me reading until the end. Right now Jean is doing a number of author visits in Washington, DC, where she worked for the federal government enforcing civil rights laws. And, she does not make it a secret that she did all this at the age of 82.

Autumn and Yuri - a new book in progress

I'm pleased to announce the good progress on a book I started exactly a year ago. This book was born from hybrid Zoom meetings at two rural Upstate New York libraries in mid-October 2022. At the end of each author presentation, I asked those in attendance, both at the library and on Zoom to develop a character. One library's patrons developed a man, Yuri, the other library's patrons developed a female that they named Autumn. They dictated a full bio of each character and when they were done, I thought - I can make a book incorporating these two characters. I ran with their characters, and it has been great fun. Autumn's bio stated she started as a police officer in North Carolina, but got fed up with the politics and moved to New York State. Yuri is Ukrainian (the woman who named him said his last name began with an "R"). He was head of their national archives, and the patrons gave me many of his qualities, like he has a good sense of humor. It's been interesting and sometimes challenging to further develop the storyline around these two characters, but it is coming together as they both meet in a university town in the Finger Lakes Region. With a university setting their is much to work with: politics, passions, creative minds, turf wars. Of course there's a crime involed, actually more than one, and Yuri ends up being the prime suspect. I'll do my best to get him out of this bind. As of now, he has had to give up his passport until the investigations are finished. I'm thankful for the Sisters-in-Crime, Connecticut Chapter for having their twice weekly write-ins. That gives me dedicated writing time with other SinC members.