The LadyKillers

NEWS and Graphic Violence

NEWS

Ann Parker tossed her draft for Book 6 in her series over the electronic transom, and it was tossed back four days later with a shorter title (A DYING NOTE) and a request for smallish changes. She's going to fix what needs fixing as quickly as possible and lob it back.

Ellen Kirschman rates Mystery Week  a big success with a good turnout for Motives for Murder at the Santa Clara library and a packed house (see the photo) at the Latin American Club for Noir at the Bar.  The Santa Clara panel, Left to Right, is Susan Bickford, Susan Wolfe, Ellen, Robin Stuart and John Bilheimer who was thinking hard. Noir at the Bar authors included Laurie R. King, Cara Black, Tony Broadbent, Jacqueline Winspear, Jerry Kenneally, Kelli Stanley and Ellen. Rather than read from one of her books, Ellen interviewed her protagonist, Dr. Dot Meyerhoff. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMc95N-6aDo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HALLOWEEN HI-JINKS

Priscilla Royal: For Hallowe'en, I have a skeleton sitting on my tax papers. As for candy, my favorite is anything chocolate that my internist won't let me eat....

Margaret Lucke: Favorite Halloween candy? Chocolate, of course. Dark chocolate preferred, but if trick-or-treating brings me a treat involving milk chocolate and peanuts -- Reese's PB cups, Mr. Goodbars, peanut M&Ms -- you'll hear no complaints.

Camille Minichino: Here’s a photo of me as a camper one Halloween. A friend dressed me. Those who know me even a little, know how incongruous this is!

Ann Parker: The decorations are going up, slowly but surely. By October 31, I'm calling it done, no matter what.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRAPHIC VIOLENCE

So, how much violence can you take in the stories you read? And, if you are a writer, how much do you dish out? We'll be talking about graphic violence and its place in fiction plus more, this upcoming week.

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News and Next Week: Why Do I Write?

News

• Friday, October 13, 12 to 3 PM, Camille Minichino will be teaching a brief class on Science, Technology, and Cultural Change. JFK in Pleasant Hill. 925-969-4600 to register.
• Sunday, October 15, 2 PM, Camille will moderate a mystery panel at the Castro Valley Library, with Ann Parker and others.

 

 

• Margaret Lucke will give a presentation on "7 Secret of Writing Great Fiction," followed by a brief talk about her new novel,  SNOW ANGEL, at Barnes & Noble, 1600 Gateway Blvd, Fairfield, CA, on Saturday, October 14, at 3 pm. Her appearance is part of the store's four-day Writer's Boot Camp program, being held October 12-15.

• Carole Price is still smiling over her soon-to-be-released Vineyard Prey. She thought it would never happen after her first publisher dropped their mystery line.
• Ann Parker is crawling to the edit finish line for her ms,  Fall on a Dying Note (or maybe it'll have a different title. Who knows?). By this time next week, the draft will be to the editor for scrutiny and she'll be "done" by definition (if not by inclination). Then, the waiting begins to hear what changes will be requested from on high.
• Ellen Kirschman has given three news interviews following the mass shooting in Las Vegas. If it had been a scene in her next mystery, no one would have believed it possible. She's participating in two upcoming events:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Week

Writing is hard. And it doesn't usually pay well. Your family and your day job resent the time spent away from them in a little office nook, or neighborhood coffee shop, or library. So why bother, especially now that the big publishers are consolidating and Amazon owns everything?

Well...maybe there's nothing quite like writing a perfect sentence. Or scaring the bejesus out of a reader with a plot twist she never saw coming. Join us next week as the LadyKillers wax poetical and practical about why they write.

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News and Next Week: Multitasking

News

• Camille Minichino’s story “The Magnesium Murder” (#12 in the periodic table) is included in the anthology Sleuthing Women II, released September 5. She’s now working on The Aluminum Murder, of course.
• Jean Rabe's novel, The Dead of Night, releases September 15th. It is the second in my Piper Blackwell series. ONE WEEK TO GO, then my second Piper book comes out.
• Ann Parker's next in the Silver Rush series, tentatively titled FALL ON A DYING NOTE, is making a ghostly appearance here and there on the web, such as here and and here, which she finds simultaneously thrilling and terrifying.
• Ellen Kirschman talks with San Mateo County Sheriff Carlos Bolanos about her latest mystery novel, The Fifth Reflection:  Wednesday, 9/13, 6:30 PM at the Downtown Redwood City Library. Put it on your calendar. It will be hot and she's not talking about the weather.
• Margaret Lucke will appear with authors J.J. Lamb and Bette Golden Lamb to celebrate the launch of Margaret's new mystery, Snow Angel, and the Lambs' new medical thriller, Bone Slice. When: Sunday, September 17 at 4 pm. Where: Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera, CA. All are invited.
• Michael A. Black is at the C3 (Crimes, Creatures, and Creativity) Conference in Columbus, Maryland this weekend.
• Priscilla Royal's brain is off in frolick mode. It has disappeared, and she can't be held responsible for anything until it returns. 
• Camille Minichino is plugging away at three classes with a total of 67 students. Anyone have an extra red pencil?

Next Week

Multitasking. First they said it was the only way to survive the information revolution, then they said it eats our brains and leads to poor work product. Which is it, People Who Know Things?  Join us next week as we discuss multitasking while drinking coffee and writing our todo lists. Kind of. Not really. What was I talking about?

Seriously, join us. Every writer knows the pain of multiple deadlines, or the penalty you pay when you sign up for a conference but forget to book the flight, or family and pets who can't QUITE remember what you look like. Join the conversation next week!

Do It Myself? Gee, I hope not.

This weeks topic is DIY crafts and hobbies. I do neither. I explained this very clearly in my  post to the Lady Killers in September, 2016 on a similar topic: "I come from a family of NDIYs. Meaning whenever possible, never do anything yourself if you can pay someone else to do it for you." Nothing's changed.

As I anticipate the launch of my third Dot Meyerhoff mystery, The Fifth Reflection, on July 11th, I am more convinced than ever that the most foolish thing an author can do is go it alone. The success of any book requires a team.  I have a web designer, a publicist, and a very helpful husband whose photographs adorn all my books and my website. Now I'm assembling my street team, a term used in marketing to describe a group of people or fans who will 'hit the streets' spreading the word about a book. Ready to sign up? Here are ten things you can do for me and any other writer whose work you admire. I can't pay you, that would be unethical. But send a picture when you are in street team mode and I'll post it on my FB page.

1. Buy the book

2. Write a review on Amazon, GoodReads,

3. Promote it on social media: Twitter, Facebook, etc.

4. Tell your friends about the book.

5. Host a book party. 

6. Attend my author's events (see my website for the schedule). Bring your friends.

7. Invite me to speak to your book club, civic or professional association.

8. Invite me to post on your blog, join you on your podcast or interview me for your newsletter.

9. Sign up for my newsletter and/or my blog. (ellenkirschman.com.)

10. Like me on Facebook (facebook.com/ellenkirschmanbooks.)

You don't have to do all ten, of course. I would be grateful if you did any one (or two). Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

NEWS and DIY Crafts

NEWS

Mar Preston is speaking in the Golden Pen Writers Club at the Newhall Library on Sliding Backstory into your fiction.  Her EBook on the same subject will be available at Amazon June 30^th. 

Ann Parker's WHAT GOLD BUYS is nominated for a Macavity Award, for the Sue Feder Award for Best Historical Novel! Winners are announced at the Bouchercon opening ceremonies in Toronto in October.

Ann is also up in Leadville, Colorado, today, doing a reading at the Matchless Mine with author Donna Baier Stein for "A Day with the Tabors" celebration. Burro and mule demonstrations included. And a beer tent. And music. Should be fun!

Camille Minichino reached the halfway mark on a novella, “The Magnesium Murder," the 12th installment in the Periodic Table mysteries. It will appear in the second volume of the 10-writer anthology, Sleuthing Women, due out in November. 

Priscilla Royal is back from Portland OR and the Historical Novel Society Conference. She has also sent off Wild Justice, the 14th book in series, to the Editor at Poisoned Pen Press for yea or nay. She would be grateful for any libations to the book gods! They like all formats...

Ellen Kirschman went to hear the amazing feminist writer Roxane Gay speak at Kepler's and came home with Gay's latest book "Hunger." Gay is an engaging speaker-direct, funny, genuine and very present. Her kindness towards others was incredible, considering the years of judgment and abuse she has endured.

Get Your Glue Guns Ready...

Next week is do-it-yourself and crafts week! Have a craft to share? A special do-it-yourself project/hobby? Be sure to check out our posts this week and chime in!

NEWS and Gadgets and Gizmos

NEWS

Priscilla Royal is in Portland OR for the Historical Novel Society Conference. When she gets back, next book goes to editor. A libation of choice to the editing gods gratefully accepted!

 

Margaret Lucke is putting the finishing touches on her mystery novel Snow Angel, with an eye to an August publication date. She is glad that the coming week is supposed to cooler than the past one.

 

Ellen Kirschman is putting the finishing touches on edits for the second edition of I Love a Cop. Good news is that her editors loved the changes, almost 100 pages of new material. When she’s not writing, she's reading and loving Laurie R. King’s new standalone, Lockdown.

 

Ann Parker is still plugging along on Book #6 of her Silver Rush series, which has a strong musical motif (cue dramatic background melody...).

 

GADGETS AND GIZMOS

This coming week, the LadyKillers will be dabbling in gadgets and gizmos. Gadget, as in "A small mechanical or electronic device or tool, especially an ingenious or novel one." Novel, you say? We're on it!

NEWS and Tools of the Trade

NEWS

Priscilla Royal will be at the Historical Novel Society Conference in Portland, Oregon, next week. She is also trying to get her next mystery, Wild Justice, ready to send to editor verrry soon...

Michael A. Black is busy working on the Public Safety Writers Conference, which takes place in Las Vegas July 13-16. He will be teaching the pre-conference workshop along with LadyKiller Mar Preston and Marilyn Meredith. Michael has also been invited to be on a panel at the San Diego Comic Con (July 20-23) by virtue of being one of the finalists for the Best Original Novel Scribe Award given by the IAMTIW.

Ann Parker submitted the first 100 pages of Silver Rush Book #6 (aka the Book-With-No-Name) for an eyeball by the editor. Nervous chewing of fingernails begins.

Ellen Kirschman is deep diving into the run up to the launch of The Fifth Reflection. Lots of blogging, newsletter creation, and email. Stay tuned to LadyKillers for more launch news.

Tuesday, June 20, is National Ice Cream Soda day and Camille Minichino will be observing that. Come to Loard’s ice cream shop in Castro Valley, California, to help celebrate!

Tools of the Trade

Look around a writer's office. What do you see?

Reference works? Books for new writers? Desktop/laptop/pencil+paper?

Every profession has its tools. Few writers pick up quill and ink bottle any more, so drop on by this coming week when the LadyKillers reveal their favorite (and maybe most hated) tools and rumble through their own private toolboxes for inspiration!

 

 

 

NEWS and Bloopers

NEWS

Ellen Kirschman, Ann Parker, and Mysti Berry are excited to be part of the Bay Area Book Festival, in Berkeley, California, June 3 & 4. Check the website for an outstanding list of panels, celebrity writers and activities for adults and kids.

 

Whoops! It's Blooper Time!

This week and next, the LadyKillers will discuss bloopers in fiction. We all wince when something makes it through the many sets of eyes between final draft and finished book, but hey, that's life!

Drop on by and feel free to contribute some of the bloopers you've bumped up against in your own reading/writing....

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NEWS and Scenic Views

NEWS

Michael A. Black's Executioner novel, Missile Intercept, is among the finalists for a Scribe Award in the Best General Original Novel category, given by the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers. Scribe Award winners will be announced at ComicCon San Diego in July. The exact day, time and location of the Scribes Panel including the award ceremony will be announced once it’s known.

CONGRATULATIONS, MICHAEL!!

 

On Saturday May 13, 1-3 p.m., there will be a special program of LadyKillers Camille Minichino, Ellen Kirschman, and Ann Parker, and ex-LadyKiller Simon Wood as part of a Coffee, Cookies and Crime Panel at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California. The event is free. For more information click here.

Ellen Kirschman finished the second edition of her very first book. Pressure’s off, until the edits come back.

Taking in the Scenery

This week's topic is "Scenic Views." Whether your idea of the picture-perfect view in life or in fiction is a busy city street or a back-to-nature panorama, or both, we'll have something for you! Be sure to grab your cuppa and drop in daily to take in the views...

 

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NEWS and Volunteering

NEWS

Malice Domestic... here we come!

A couple LK representatives will be at the annual Malice Domestic convention next weekend, so be sure to look us up and say hello!

Ann Parker be dashing table-to-table for the Malice Go Round on Friday, April 28, starting 10:00 a.m. in Regency I & II, and will be on the Saturday, April 29, panel "Murder Way Back When: US Historicals" at 3 p.m.

Camille Minichino will be at the Sunday 10 a.m. panel "Entrepreneurial Sleuths." She is also working up a (really) little cozy sofa for an auction basket.

A mini-sofa perfect for reading your favorite mini-books!

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Ellen Kirschman will be particiating in the Bay Area Book Fest on June 3-4 in Berkeley on the Mastery of Mystery panel Sunday at 11:45. More info on her website www.ellenkirschman.com.

Ann Parker will be at the Fest as well, participating at the SinC and MWA booths, and testing out the draft opening for her Silver Rush #6 book at Noir At the Bar at Cornerstone Cafe. NATB starts 5:15 p.m. on June 3rd.

Looking for Volunteers?

The LadyKillers are raising their hands and stepping forward next week to chat about volunteering. Join us and let us know in what ways you "give back."

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