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Holly Gault
California
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Ooo, that sounds, good! I haven't been reading many mysteries lately, but I think that I would like this.
Corpse Flower
A Cornwall and Redfern Mystery, by Gloria Ferris, Dundurn Press, January 2014 (US) *An ARC was provided by Dundurn Press and Edelweiss for an honest review. CORPSE FLOWER is a refreshing entry into a stale, craft-saturated, cozy mystery field. It's protagonist, Bliss Moonbeam Cornwall, is a 32...
"*enragingly smug simper*"
Oh, honey, your meant 'engagingly,' didn't you?
Lemon, Out
JOSHILYN JACKSON My turn to blog happened just a few days before TLC decided to unbecome, and I quickly realized we would close before my next turn. I pushed and snotted to get a day, and so now, here I am with my pushed over, snotted on day, and I am feeling rawwwwther uncertain about what to...
To all of you who are more recent TLC readers, you can go up to that gray rectangle below 'Recent Posts' and above the Indie books logo. The last entry is Archives on that rectangle with many years of posts to keep you busy.
Those of us who have been here from early years envy you your discoveries.
Books. Writing. Reading.
By Barbara O’Neal I remember the exact minute I decided to be a writer. I was in the fifth grade. I was reading, because—let’s be honest here--I never did m uch of anything else. My bedroomwas at the back of the house and had two windows, giving it great light for lounging on the bed with a pac...
I can't remember. First as a reader, obviously.
Chronicle Singalong
Well, gosh gee whilikers. If nobody else is going to immortalize our Founding Mothers in song, I guess I'll have to, but DO NOT LOOK FOR PRECISE HISTORICAL ACCURACY HERE. If you want precise historical accuracy, talk to a politician. Or, wait. Don't. Unless it's Sarah's husband. Anyway. . ....
Harley, we had a headless bird left on our porch this morning. I do know who was responsible: the adored black cat who lives here, but I don't adore him killing birds. Can't he just stick to the rodents?
Unsolved Mysteries
By Harley Holiday mysteries abound: how’d that holy oil last for 8 nights? What star was it calling to the Wise Men like a celestial GPS? Whence comes the sinister fruitcake? This year, I have mysteries of my own. First Holiday Mystery: Lately, when I use my cell phone to call certain fri...
Life-changing? Check.
As necessary as morning coffee? Check.
New friends that I haven't yet seen? Check.
TLC has been a revelation and a revolution.
The Party's Over
All Good Things Must Come to an End by Nancy Martin Get out your hankies, folks. We started The Lipstick Chronicles in May of 2005 when Harley Jane Kozak, Sarah Strohmeyer, Susan McBride and I met at the Romantic Times Convention in St. Louis and decided we’d band together to ...
Way late to the gift party, but…
One year I made emergency kits for everyone in the office. I bought Altoid-like tins online, and filled them with bandaids, sewing kits, tylenol, a dollar, Hershey fun size, and I can't remember what else. I got crafty with the lids, but some red duct tape cut to be a red cross would work just as well.
I love all these ideas. Archie McPhee's (mcphee.com) sounds like it's much like Stupid.com.
Crazy Aaron's Putty World (puttyworld.com) is good for workmates, too.
Cheap Christmas
Cheap--But Meaningful--Christmas by Nancy Martin As the Christmas season approached, it became clear that our garage was falling down. It's 90 years old, built of brick and had a slate roof. (I live in Pittsburgh. During the steel era, nobody built anything that might catch on fire....
Class Factotum, my girlfriend is being held hostage by her husband in Alaska (Wasilla, in fact). He knows that the moment his body is cold (have to wait until summer to dig) she is back down in Portland OR or there abouts.
I had two winters (and actually quite mild ones) in Vermont. This West coast gal was not born for that stuff.
Real Christmas Weather
By Elaine Viets Christmas lights reflected in the pool. Twinkle lights on the palm trees. Shoppers in T-shirts battling for bargains at the mall. It’s Christmas in Florida. Do I miss the cold weather Christmas in my hometown in St. Louis? Heck, no. Snow is pretty in photographs, not in my boot...
Congratulations Ramona!!!!!
Since we moved to a larger house the day before Thanksgiving, I've had many, many dreams fulfilled.
But… a washer and dryer is next. Thank gohd I live in an area where good appliances are put on the Craig's List: Free section.
I always indulge in fabric, yarn, art supplies, and books when I insist that I need a shopping experience.
I would like to visit that bra shop.
Things I Want to Do in New York...
By Cornelia Read So, I'm totally broke. And as usual when I'm totally broke, I daydream about things I want to do the next time I have money. Okay, not exactly like go buy myself an emerald Hindou necklace at Van Cleef & Arpels... or buy myself a Welsh pony and take up riding again, for the fi...
In my sophomore year of high school, I wore my new beige wool straight skirt (the first my mother let me have)(over girdle and stockings) and matching cardigan with pumps. It did make me feel 'grown-up' until I realized that it was only on the outside and I didn't feel any more adult inside.
I didn't really feel adult until my late 50's when I was discussing bills with Steve and, for the first time, wasn't hiding some of my spending. Old, bad habits. I feel so free of that now.
I flew alone when I was 12, but the flight attendant was in charge of me. Piercing my ears came at 18. Those closed up a few years ago, but I had new ones done at Clair's two years ago. It was painless and I haven't changed my earrings once since then. The only jewelry that I wear.
The Ears Have It
By JOSHILYN JACKSON SO My nine year old daughter, Maisy Jane, has been agitating for pierced ears since she was seven. I objected. Strenuously. Not because I grew up in a VERY conservative church (although I did) where it was held as gospel that only slatterns, loose women, and future fishwive...
Hank is trying to comment, but her iPhone and Typepad seem to dislike one another. She wants you all to know that she jumping up and down in frustration because she can't comment.
Holding On
Hank Phillippi Ryan: Margaret blogged about 'meeting cute' this week....and it reminded me so sweetly about how many new friends I've made in book world. What I remember about meeting Sharon Potts was not where it was--do you remember, Sharon? I think it was a convention--but her wonderful sm...
When I didn't work from home, I set my alarm every day of the week, because on weekends, it was my satisfied joy in life to turn it off and go back to sleep.
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
Hank Phillippi Ryan Ah, we made it. I think we made it. Usually, at the end of daylight savings time (or is it the beginning?) there's chaos at our house. Because I fall-back the clocks, and then Jonathan does, too. Which makes us twice as early. Or twice as late. Don't even ask me about i...
We try to buy our coffee (we go through two pounds of Guatamalan Dark per week) on Tuesday, Senior Discount Day at our local grocery. Steve is legal, I'm a year short, but they don't ask for ID.
Getting Carded
Getting Carded By Kathy Reschini Sweeney First off - sorry this blog is late. Last night was Halloween and so forth. So since I am already apologizing for the time, I will also apologize for typos since I am writing this live and on the fly. So - when was the last time you got carded? If you ...
I love all vegetables although, I am more reserved about kohlrabi. Slice eggplant 1" thick, brush with olive oil, broil until brown, turn, repeat. Now you can saute or layer in cheese and marinara.
Or baba ganoush - bake whole until it is soft and collapses, scrape out and puree with garlic, olive oil, lots of lemon, parsley, and a little tahini.
Adventures in Farm Shares
By Barbara O'Neal I have been on a vegetable adventure this summer. I signed up for a weekly share in an organic farm co-op, and the variety is enormous. Now, I consider myself a big vegetable eater. I love vegetables. I eat lots of them. I thought I understood them. Turns out I wasn’t eating ne...
I'm lucky enough to have gotten a 'do-over' in my choices as I've now been five years with the guy I sent the "Dear John" letter to 45 years ago.
Isn't changing our minds a prerogative?
The Road Taken Meets the Road Not Taken
By Nancy Pickard Have you ever met yourself coming and going? Have you ever come face to face with the person you might have been? I saw one of my other selves this week. She attended a luncheon with former employees of the Western Auto Company that used to be headquartered in Kansas City, Mo. ...
I'm preparing for a big move: next door. Yes, we are giving up the 320 sq ft chicken coop for 800 sq! ft! There are no appliances in it yet, so I have been busy on Freecycle and Craig's List getting cheap -- or better yet -- free appliances and furniture and hardware. When we get in, I'll be sewing insulated shades and making rugs and pillows -- I'll have ROOM FOR SEWING! I'm so excited.
Pinching Pennies
Margaret Maron “Use it up, wear it out, Make it do, or do without.” — New England Maxim Growing up, we never had much money, so hand-me-downs were a way of life. In good years, we got two pairs of shoes: school shoes in the fall, Sunday shoes at Easter. And like our clothes, the...
I applaud all of you who have opened up to state your fears, vulnerabilities, and inner journeys here on the comments -- Wow! Amy, I hate to go anywhere. I'm happy staying at home. But I'm in the Bay Area, if you are coming to this part of California, and I will be happy to do anything to make your life easier while here.
Big Girl Panties
by Amy Hatvany Most people I know love to travel on their own. I watch my friends' Facebook postings and Tweets about their worldwide adventures...the places they have gone and can't wait to visit. They don't bat an eye at filling their suitcase and racing to the airport to catch a last minute...
I also like the photos of Michelle and Barak looking at one another -- they look like they actually enjoy each other. I don't remember either pair of Bushes and certainly not the Clintons enjoying their spouses.
Sneaking Out
Sneaking Out by Nancy Martin Two weeks ago, alert citizens caught Michelle Obama shopping incognito at Target. Girlfriend, can I just say that I'm so in your corner? OKay, I'm a writer who doesn't get out much. Success in my career depends upon how efficiently I can keep my butt in this cha...
Harley, you forgot to include your cell phone number so we can keep you apprised of BREAKING NEWS among the celebrities ;-)
My Tabloid Binge
by Harley Last week I was reading my friend Gavin’s online column in New York Magazine, entitled “Why Stars Act Crazy (and Why People Like Me Share the Blame)” –a fascinating essay, illustrated with photos of Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen and . . . Gerard Depardieu. Lindsay and Charlie need n...
From Hank:
Hey, Joelle! Thanks so.much for being here! I'm in the New Orleans airport on an iPad..which won't let me comment without assistance from the helpful Holly! But about your choir book-so timely with Glee and The Sing-off--is it challenging to write about singing?
Tinkering with meals, music and murder, guest blog by Joelle Charbonneau
HANK: So you know book conventions, right. Panels of authors talking about new ideas and new books and writing and reading and..stuff like: voice. But at Bouchercon in St. Louis a week or so ago, something very strange happened on one of the panels. "Voice" took on a whole new context. The pa...
Nancy, the amount of salt in that casserole dries out my mouth and makes me reach for a gallon of water.
I liked salt and pepper Kettle potato chips until I found out that the pepper oil with the salt was cutting open the inside of my mouth -- I'm very sensitive, she said coyly.
Since then it's just been plain potato chip and tortilla chips. Not frequently, either. Damn.
A Crunchy Orange Goodbye
By Nancy Pickard Ready? Set! Throw your Doritos, fellow Arch West admirers! You've already heard the news of his death, right? So you know what an important person he was to all of us! It was he who created the Dorito, and it is upon his funeral urn that his family plans to toss their chips d...
I would be grateful for a One & Two type flushes. I have a lottery going with my toilet and, as usual, the house always wins and I have to use the plunger.
The Ladies' and Gentlemen's
MargaretMaron Today’s text is from humorist H. Allen Smith’s Life in a Putty Knife Factory, ©1943. In describing where he liked to take out-of-town friends, he didn't talk about the Empire State Building or the Metropolitan Museum or the Statue of Liberty. “I want them to see the gents’ room...
Not quite the same thing at all, and yet… When I was barbering, my hands often knew more than my eyes and brain did about what that head of hair needed. I would be questioning myself on what I should do next to resolve the style, and I'd realize I had already solved it.
Today's Quote
"Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain." - Carl Gustav Jung
Let me guess: EOB means 'Explanation of BENEFITS,' no?
The Encounter
Elaine Viets I won’t deny it. I can’t. There’s a record. Dozens of people knew about it. I saw him June 13. Soon he learned the inner workings of my heart. He quickly plumbed the depths of my wallet. But I never expected this: I got a bill from this cardiologist and it says: "Encounter 589569...
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blgabe.htm
Just saying. Notice that the inventor is A WOMAN.
Stove Atrocities
by Barbara O'Neal I have an old stove—a dull cream model with ancient electric rings and a black front. It’s serviceable, but little more than that. I hate it when the sun comes streaming through my kitchen window and illuminates the splatters of grease across the control panel and the aged ...
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