Posts by LesleyADiehl
Cozy mystery author Fran Stewart
Today author Fran Stewart is visiting us to talk about her new book, A WEE MURDER IN THE HOTEL and her use of minor characters in her work. “Minor Keys, Minor Characters” by Fran Stewart My son, now in his forties, has recently taken up the piano. And the accordion, too, but…
Read MoreThe winner is, and another contest
Contest for A New Muse Here’s a list of the suggestions readers made for my new muse: Coyote Raven Brahma Bull Fairie, Swamp Fairie Ghost of Chuck Wagon cook Frog Spoonbill Rhesus Macaques Florida Panther Flamingo Iguana Domestic Cat Kinkajou River Otter Skunk Ape Burmese Python Pixabay.com-choose Bald Eagles Anhinga Thanks to all…
Read MoreFiring My Muse
Once upon a time, I thought an alligator was my muse, at least when I wrote any of my books about rural Florida. One of the first mysteries I wrote set in rural Florida was a short story that won me the Sleuthfest 2009 short story contest sponsored by MWA FL Chapter. In it,…
Read MoreIn the beginning…
On Friday one of my favorite cozy writers, Nancy J. Cohen and I presented a program to a group of visual artists in Boca Raton, Women in the Visual Arts http://www.floridabooknews.com/2017/01/women-in-visual-arts.html. In discussing our work as cozy mystery writers, we showed some of our book covers. Although Nancy and I had both experienced publishers who gave us…
Read MoreAnxiety Dreams
What an odd topic for a blog that’s supposed to be about my plans for 2017, but my plans are all wrapped up in listening to what my dreams are telling me. I’ll bet your dreams do the same for you although you may or may not realize it. I am finishing the final manuscript…
Read MoreA Pat on the Back
I haven’t posted for several weeks and, no, it wasn’t because I was working on my New Year’s resolutions. I don’t remember ever doing resolutions. I guess I know myself well enough to know I wouldn’t keep them anyway. Today I read a column in the Sunday paper about resolutions. It suggested the reason we…
Read MoreA Library Book: Stories from Childhood
This past summer I wrote a series of blogs about growing up on a farm. The series was entitled “Tales from the Hayloft.” Many of you commented on the ways in which your childhood influenced your writing or your reading choices as an adult. One of my internet writing buddies did more than that. She…
Read MoreLooking Back and Moving Ahead
I’ve never been one to spend much time thinking about the past, but sometimes I think it’s a good idea to take a look at what was. It’s humbling. On March 15, Camel Press will release the fifth book in the Eve Appel mysteries. I’ve taken Eve on quite a journey. She’s changed—grown into a…
Read MoreToo cold for a ghost
We have only been here in our winter home for a few weeks, but managed to avoid an early winter snow in Upstate New York. My neighbors sent me a picture of our cottage covered in the white stuff, and that got me thinking about our resident ghost in the cottage, Fred. I thought I…
Read MoreWord Clutter
How serendipitous that Paty Jager should be visiting today with a blog about unnecessary words at the same time I’m struggling with final edits on a manuscript. My editor writes so cleanly and elegantly. I don’t. Paty reminds us that word clutter weakens our writing. It’s a reminder I need every now and then. Maybe…
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