MISS DEMEANORS

The sibling relationship (or lack thereof) is one of the most significant in our lives. I was curious to see if any of the Miss Demeanors would be willing to share some of their “origin” stories, and OH BOY. Strap in. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

I never set out to write a dog into my books, but I can’t help it. I can’t imagine life without my own Jack Russell terriers and can’t imagine my characters without their dogs.

Launching a book feels a little like sending a child off to school for the first time.

A few years ago, I went to the Boucheron World Mystery Convention, when it was in Toronto. One thing led to another and I wound up at a John Fluevog shoe store with fellow Miss Demeanor, Alexia Gordon. (We were on our way to a haunted walking tour, but that’s another story.) Never had I seen such amazing shoes, in so many colors, with such fabulous heels. I am strictly an Easy Spirit person, but I couldn’t resist. I splurged on this pair of shoes, and even though I don’t wear them a lot, or not at all in the last year or so, I get pleasure out of looking at them. They are works of art. Plus they have this cute engraving on the bottom. Nothing like looking at the bottom of your shoes and feeling inspired. Iwas thinking about shoes because tomorrow, author Christina Chiu, is coming to my book club to discuss her novel, Beauty. In real life, Christina is a shoe designer, and when she writes about shoes, you see them in a whole new way. “Black boots. There in the window. Could they really be lace? Wow. Floral and paisley-drops. Open-toed, trimmed with leather, knee […]

Last Monday, after a three-month-long writing marathon, I completed the draft of my fourth Kate Hamilton mystery and sent it off to my editor. The book actually took eleven months to write, but the final three months were intense. Yes, there will be editing ahead, but suddenly I have free time again. Time to dream. Time to make decisions. What shall I work on next? The fifth in the series or something entirely new? Or both? Beginning a new book feels something like moving to a new house in a new town. When my husband and I were first married and in the Air Force, we did that frequently. Within the space of four years, three months, and nine days, we lived in ten different apartments. In one of those moves, to Bangor, Maine, our furniture was delayed, and because my husband had to report for duty, I spent two days in an empty townhouse with a bottle of Windex, a roll of paper towels, and my old coffee percolator. That old percolator was always the touchstone for me. In a new place, when I first heard the burbling of the pot and smelled the coffee, I felt like I […]

I love audiobooks. Do you? Audios are great because they don’t tie me down to a book.  I can listen to them while I’m cleaning house, driving the car, gardening, riding my bike, and steaming in the bath. A good narrator can bring life to a story, even more so than if I read it. Here are some of my favorites: The Thursday Murder Club Author: Richard Osman, Narrator: Lesley Manville. Lesley Manville is brilliant at bringing to life several characters “of a certain age,” which I am so I am particular about how we’re presented. She is witty and brings intelligence, compassion, and wisdom to her narration. The story: The club consists of four retired individuals living in a Kent, England, retirement community. They meet weekly to discuss cold cases purloined from the files of a past member, a detective. Meanwhile the developer of the retirement community wants to add additional housing by removing a convent’s burial ground and building on that space he now owns. Everyone else is opposed to it. As the conflict develops, his contractor is murdered. So the Thursday Murder Club are now investigating an open case. Highfire Author: Eoin Colfer, Narrator: Johnny Heller The […]

We here at MissDemeanors are a tough bunch. We write crime, which means we look into the dark side of human nature as a matter of business. But even for us there are topics not to be touched.

According to recent surveys about 18% of Americans do. Of course, another survey says that nearly 30% of Americans believe in haunted houses. Do you?

To Listen or Not to Listen, That is the Question A discussion is happening on Facebook about the role of audiobooks in bringing obscure writers to a broader audience. The original poster asked if people would want an audiobook version of a book that was hard to find in print if it gave them the chance to discover a new-to-them author. Like most topics on social media, the responses were polarized. Several commenters were anti-audiobook, some thought they were only valuable for people whose vision prevented them from reading words on a page. Listening Has Its Benefits Still others thought audiobooks presented a wonderful way to hear stories, harkening back to the days when most stories were transmitted orally. Plus, audiobooks were much safer while driving. And much easier to manage while cooking dinner or doing the laundry. Listening to a story while you work makes the work fly by. A Book by Any Other Name I fell into the “a book is a book, regardless of format” camp. Anything that offers an opportunity to find a new favorite is a good thing. So, whether you read with your eyes, your ears, or both, read on! Your Turn Which side […]

I most look forward to eating in restaurants.
I will not miss having to change out of my jammies to go to said restaurant.