Posts by Lynn Slaughter
Thinking about Eugenie Baird and My Mom on Mother’s Day
Coming from a family peppered with jazz musicians, I grew up listening to gifted big band vocalists like Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, and Ella Fitzgerald who went on to successfully build solo careers in the 1950s and beyond. I thought I was familiar with all the great jazz vocalists of that period, but I was…
Read MoreSometimes You Just Have to Stumble Through
Last weekend, I attended Malice Domestic, a popular conference for mystery authors and fans held annually in Bethesda, Maryland. I missed going last year and was determined to make it this time, despite another spinal flareup that’s made it difficult for me to walk or stand for any length of time without a lot…
Read MoreMurder and Mourning Mixed with Humor: Julie Eble Releases DAD DIDN’T PREP ME FOR MURDER
Few things can match the excitement of the publication of an author’s first novel, and it was wonderful to interview Julie Eble as she celebrates her debut amateur sleuth mystery, memorably titled DAD DIDN’T PREP ME FOR MURDER. I was especially interested in what Julie had to say about her background as a playwright and…
Read MoreWhy Are Mystery Writers Such Nice People? Award-Winning Author Kaye George Has a Theory
What a pleasure to host Kaye George on my blog as she releases SOMEONE IS OUT THERE, her first suspense novel. Kaye is living proof that perseverance, along with a terrific sense of humor, pay off, as she ushers her 17th book into the world. First off, congratulations on the release of SOMEONE IS OUT…
Read MoreHumor Matters When You Collaborate: Tilia Klebenov Jacobs Talks about Co-Authoring STEALING TIME with Norman Birnbach
I’ve always wondered how writers manage to successfully co-author novels. Tilia Klebenov Jacobs’ account of her collaboration with Norman Birnbach in writing STEALING TIME is fascinating, as is the rich diversity of her life experience as a “Third Culture Kid,” prison educator, and outdoor adventurer. It was such a treat to interview her! First off,…
Read MoreA Fresh Take on Silence: A Guest Blog Essay by DonnaRae Menard
DonnaRae Menard is one busy author! She has not one but four novels coming out this year. Out this week is THE AFFILIATE. It’s always a pleasure to welcome DonnaRae back to my blog. Below she offers her reflections on silence, followed by her bio, buy/contact links, and descriptions of her 2025 books: …
Read MoreReflections On a Career Day Visit
On Friday, I was a presenter at an area high school as part of their career day. They asked me to do two presentations, one on my experiences as a professional dancer and dance educator, and one on my current career as a novelist. Preparing for both was an experience. For one thing, a tsunami…
Read MoreMISSED CUE Is Now PISTA PERDIDA!
Entire industries have grown up around providing services for authors—publicists, book coaches, freelance editors, writing teachers and workshop leaders, promotion services, advertisers, audiobook readers, the list goes on! Sadly, some “services” turn out to be scams—like the ones promising to turn your book into a film if you’ll just pay oh…a few thousand dollars for…
Read MoreThe Magic Works When I Least Expect It: Writing When I Don’t Feel Like It
I had one of those crazy weeks where fitting in writing time was a definite challenge. First there were the days working on taxes which unfortunately reminded me that yes, writing really is a business. Then there was the meeting with our tax guy, the health scare for my husband which had a happy ending…
Read MoreIt’s In Her DNA: Mystery Author Darlene Dziomba Can’t Help Being Funny
Can anyone resist a mystery author whose description on her website is: “Writing Mysteries. A dog is my muse. Humor is my guide.”? As a lover of dogs, humor, and mysteries, I know I can’t. And whether you meet Darlene Dziomba in person or read one of her mysteries, I promise you that you will…
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