International Travel and Work Inspire Mystery Author DK Coutant

By Lynn Slaughter / July 17, 2025 /

I love DK Coutant’s description of her second Cleo Cooper mystery as an “edgy-cozy” and am delighted to get to interview her again as she releases ELEGANCE AND EVIL: First off, congratulations on the release of the second Cleo Cooper Mystery, ELEGANCE AND EVIL. Can you share with our readers a bit about the novel?…

Retirement Parallel: A Guest Essay by DonnaRae Menard

By Lynn Slaughter / July 9, 2025 /

  I went to high school with a wonderful writer, Elizabeth Cooney, who went on to write scores of best-selling young adult novels, including THE GIRL ON THE MILK CARTON. When I recently corresponded with her, I was shocked when she told me she’d “retired” from writing and was now happily living in a retirement…

A Treat for Dog and Mystery Lovers: S.A. Kazlo Releases A PAWSOME SUMMER FOR MURDER

By Lynn Slaughter / July 3, 2025 /

I’m delighted to welcome S.A. Kazlo back to my blog as she releases A PAWSOME SUMMER FOR MURDER, her latest Samantha Davies mystery which features a lovable and lively dachshund, Porkchop. When I first interviewed you, you’d just released the first book, KIBBLES AND DEATH, in your Samantha Davies mystery series. Now, here you are…

From Midwifery to Murder: Christine Knapp Releases MURDER ON THE GREEN

By Lynn Slaughter / June 26, 2025 /

One of the joys of featuring authors on my blog is the opportunity to be introduced to authors with fascinating backgrounds, and Christine Knapp, a midwife for many years, is no exception! I’m delighted to celebrate her latest release in her Modern Midwife Mysteries’ series. First off, congratulations on the release of Book #5, MURDER…

Writing When I’m Not Writing

By Lynn Slaughter / June 21, 2025 /

I holed up in my home office yesterday to work on a short story to submit to Malice Domestic’s upcoming anthology. Those of you who know me are aware that I write novels and only rarely dip my toes into short stories. Truthfully, I’m in awe of short fiction writers who can pack so much…

Father’s Day Reflections: Sadness But Gratitude as Well

By Lynn Slaughter / June 15, 2025 /

My father was a “big deal” in the publishing world. Prior to the illness that eventually took his life, he was the number two guy at McGraw-Hill. His boss delivered his eulogy. Harold McGraw genuinely loved my dad, not only for his business contributions but for his character and friendship. Leafing through the sympathy letters…

Award-Winning Author Pamela Meyer Reflects on “Islands and Silver Linings”

By Lynn Slaughter / June 5, 2025 /

I’m so delighted to welcome Pam Meyer to my blog today! Pam is not only a gifted writer but is extraordinarily supportive of other authors in our online Guppies chapter of Sisters in Crime. If there’s a place in heaven for talented authors who are also really generous people, Pam will definitely be there! Below…

Accidentally Blocked!

By Lynn Slaughter / May 31, 2025 /

Recently, a dear author friend and I had a total miscommunication breakdown. Here’s what happened. In late March, unbeknownst to me, my friend stopped receiving any emails from me: no submissions of my work for our critique group (she solicited my chapters from other group members), no thank you notes for her feedback on my…

Priming the Pump: The Value of Writing Prompts

By Lynn Slaughter / May 25, 2025 /

My fourteen-year-old creative writing student and I had our last session of the semester before summer break. She is a gifted writer already working on a novel. When I asked her what she enjoyed the most about our sessions, she said, “The writing prompts. I feel like it gets our creative juices going.” I had…

Celebrating the Gift of Life As We Age

By Lynn Slaughter / May 17, 2025 /

This afternoon, Joyous Singers, my chorus of music-loving seniors will sing at the memorial service of a longtime beloved choral member. On a recent Thursday at one of our final rehearsals before the start of our spring concert series, a group of us chatted amiably before the start of practice. Our soon-to-be deceased friend seemed…

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