Advance notice: Saturday, March 24, from one to five: Bloomington Book Fair, at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN. I’ll be sitting at a table with Carl Brookins, senior member of my writer’s group, and we’ll both have books for sale.
And Then You Dye came in at about 63,000 words. Most novels are that long or longer. But there is a story that has as much mystery, pathos, anger, humor and disappointed love told as a piece of graffiti just eight words long: "Come back, Ralph, it was just a rash."
It’s snowing lightly outside right now, the precursor of something much worse – or more exciting – to come. We in the Twin Cities have had an exceptionally mild and dry winter. This will be our first significant snow storm of the winter, an amazing statement, considering the norm for us. One reward for living this far north has always been the respect, even awe, of people living farther south, for managing to survive our harsh winters. Not this year; when Chicago got eight inches of snow recently, we got a “trace.” Truck owners with big blades attached to the front of their vehicles have had to take a serious cut in extra earnings this winter. We’ve actually been in a drought, but today and tomorrow will mark a change in our weather. They're predicting something in the neighborhood of a foot of snow. We're practicing looking up and saying loftily, "We've had worse." And indeed we have, only just not this winter.
I would like to be inside, warm and cozy, with occasional glances out the window to see how deep it’s gotten, how nearly horizontal the snowflakes are flying in the fierce wind. Unfortunately, I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon, so I’ll get to break out my somewhat rusty winter driving skills for a refresher lesson. Wish me luck!
Showing posts with label And Then You Dye. Show all posts
Showing posts with label And Then You Dye. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Valentine's Day
Advance notice: Saturday, Feb. 25, 2 pm, I will be at the Rum River Public Library in Anoka, MN, to give a talk and sell books.
I was planning on boasting in this entry about the marvelous, perhaps exotic, chocolates I had purchased at Truffle Hill in Excelsior to give away at the Valentine’s Day Party at Joanna Campbell Slan’s site this evening from 9 p.m. EST to Midnight EST. But, wanting the freshest candy, I was going to go out on Monday – and discovered the shop is closed on Mondays. So as soon as it opens at ten this morning I will be at their door. On their web site they offered as their Truffle of the Month one flavored with hot chili peppers. I may buy one of those for the little collection. What do you think?
My husband and I went out to dinner last Friday in an early Valentine’s Day celebration. The older I get, the less I feel I must celebrate a particular holiday exactly on the day. Still, I have a bar of Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almonds, my favorite, on hand to mark the Fourteenth.
I’m beginning to think of And Then You Dye as the novel that will not die. There’s a letter that a character needs to write to Betsy I have discovered, and I will create it today. My editor hasn’t read the manuscript yet, and so says I should go ahead and do it.
Meanwhile, I am already thinking about the next book. I wanted to take some time off – my sister in Florida has invited me down for a visit – but Watered Silk is nudging at me, and I’m getting intrigued at its possibilities. Maybe it’s the vitamin B-12 I’ve been taking.
On the other hand: Florida. Sunshine. Fresh local fruit and vegetables. Gathering seashells on the Gulf. Heaven! What’s your idea of an ideal winter getaway?
I was planning on boasting in this entry about the marvelous, perhaps exotic, chocolates I had purchased at Truffle Hill in Excelsior to give away at the Valentine’s Day Party at Joanna Campbell Slan’s site this evening from 9 p.m. EST to Midnight EST. But, wanting the freshest candy, I was going to go out on Monday – and discovered the shop is closed on Mondays. So as soon as it opens at ten this morning I will be at their door. On their web site they offered as their Truffle of the Month one flavored with hot chili peppers. I may buy one of those for the little collection. What do you think?
My husband and I went out to dinner last Friday in an early Valentine’s Day celebration. The older I get, the less I feel I must celebrate a particular holiday exactly on the day. Still, I have a bar of Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almonds, my favorite, on hand to mark the Fourteenth.
I’m beginning to think of And Then You Dye as the novel that will not die. There’s a letter that a character needs to write to Betsy I have discovered, and I will create it today. My editor hasn’t read the manuscript yet, and so says I should go ahead and do it.
Meanwhile, I am already thinking about the next book. I wanted to take some time off – my sister in Florida has invited me down for a visit – but Watered Silk is nudging at me, and I’m getting intrigued at its possibilities. Maybe it’s the vitamin B-12 I’ve been taking.
On the other hand: Florida. Sunshine. Fresh local fruit and vegetables. Gathering seashells on the Gulf. Heaven! What’s your idea of an ideal winter getaway?
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
IF
I FINISHED IT!! And Then You Dye is in the hands of Jackie, my very capable editor at Berkley, and my wonderful agent, Nancy. I know they’ll have ideas for improving it, and I’m looking forward to hearing from them about it.
Joanna Campbell Slan is going to hold an Internet Valentine’s Day party on February 14. Instead of us Killer Hobbies bloggers offering a book to someone who tunes in, we’re each going to offer a box of chocolates. I was going to buy a Whitman Sampler, and actually had the box in my hand yesterday, when I got a better idea. In Excelsior, where my books are set, there is a chocolate shop called Truffle Hill. They make their own chocolate candy up there, and it is wonderful. So I am going to offer a small box (their stuff is costly) of assorted chocolates to a person to be named during the party. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
A good friend of mine and I – and our households – have established a custom of going to one another’s home on alternate years to watch the Super Bowl. Neither of us is particularly a big football fan, but it’s a good excuse to get together, talk, play Scrabble pre-game, eat, and comment on the commercials. Actually, it was a good game this year, too, not decided until the last few seconds.
My mother was a sports fan, a bigger one than my father. Living in Wisconsin, she was a Packer booster, big time. The sound of a football game playing on television was so much a part of my growing up that to this day I’ll turn one on when preparing Thanksgiving dinner just to “complete” the ambiance.
I remember one half time entertainment in particular, from back in the late fifties. It featured a man’s smooth, professional voice reciting Rudyard Kipling’s “If,” accompanied by swift takes of various football games to illustrate it. The poem begins, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs . . .” and there was a series of swift cuts of tackles so hard that helmets went flying. For the line, “If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you . . .” there was a referee standing firm, arms folded, while players and coaches screamed at him from all sides. “If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run” showed two teams engaged in a fierce battle to cross or defend the goal line while the clock was running down. And the final line, “And, which is more, you’ll be a man, my son!” Showed a triumphant player on the frozen sidelines at night, backlit by lights, while someone throws one of those heavy, warming cloaks around his shoulders.
I have never forgotten that film. It set off a lifelong admiration of Kipling’s mighty meter. I wish I could find a copy of that film somewhere. When I was in Green Bay a few years ago, I spoke to the keeper of the archives at Lambeau Field about it, and he was sure it wasn’t a Packer presentation. Does anyone else out there remember it? Who put it together? Does a copy of it exist somewhere?
Joanna Campbell Slan is going to hold an Internet Valentine’s Day party on February 14. Instead of us Killer Hobbies bloggers offering a book to someone who tunes in, we’re each going to offer a box of chocolates. I was going to buy a Whitman Sampler, and actually had the box in my hand yesterday, when I got a better idea. In Excelsior, where my books are set, there is a chocolate shop called Truffle Hill. They make their own chocolate candy up there, and it is wonderful. So I am going to offer a small box (their stuff is costly) of assorted chocolates to a person to be named during the party. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
A good friend of mine and I – and our households – have established a custom of going to one another’s home on alternate years to watch the Super Bowl. Neither of us is particularly a big football fan, but it’s a good excuse to get together, talk, play Scrabble pre-game, eat, and comment on the commercials. Actually, it was a good game this year, too, not decided until the last few seconds.
My mother was a sports fan, a bigger one than my father. Living in Wisconsin, she was a Packer booster, big time. The sound of a football game playing on television was so much a part of my growing up that to this day I’ll turn one on when preparing Thanksgiving dinner just to “complete” the ambiance.
I remember one half time entertainment in particular, from back in the late fifties. It featured a man’s smooth, professional voice reciting Rudyard Kipling’s “If,” accompanied by swift takes of various football games to illustrate it. The poem begins, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs . . .” and there was a series of swift cuts of tackles so hard that helmets went flying. For the line, “If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you . . .” there was a referee standing firm, arms folded, while players and coaches screamed at him from all sides. “If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run” showed two teams engaged in a fierce battle to cross or defend the goal line while the clock was running down. And the final line, “And, which is more, you’ll be a man, my son!” Showed a triumphant player on the frozen sidelines at night, backlit by lights, while someone throws one of those heavy, warming cloaks around his shoulders.
I have never forgotten that film. It set off a lifelong admiration of Kipling’s mighty meter. I wish I could find a copy of that film somewhere. When I was in Green Bay a few years ago, I spoke to the keeper of the archives at Lambeau Field about it, and he was sure it wasn’t a Packer presentation. Does anyone else out there remember it? Who put it together? Does a copy of it exist somewhere?
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
A New Contest
Someone wrote to ask me a very interesting question: What books is Godwin reading? That question – which I could not answer, at least not right away – got me thinking. Character building is one of the really interesting parts of writing fiction. It’s the telling little details that make a character real, and inventing them is great fun. I dare say most authors know far more about their characters than they tell. (For example, the hero in my first series, Detective Sergeant Peter Brichter, had a bronze star hidden in the back of his sock drawer, a souvenir of an incident that happened during his Navy service aboard an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War. I never had a chance to work the story of his heroism into a book. He didn’t like to talk about it.)
I have in mind a contest: What does one of the characters in the Betsy Devonshire mysteries want for Christmas? Enter as many times as you like for as many characters as you like. I’m hoping to be surprised and amused and edified. The deadline is Monday, December 26, 2011. I will be sole judge. The prize is an autographed hardcover copy of Threadbare. Good luck!
This past Saturday I did a signing at Excelsior Bay Books. There was a steady stream of book-buyers – and a reporter from The Patch, an on-line news organization. She interviewed me between customers and asked some intelligent, thought-provoking questions. She had one of those tiny, flat cameras and took a picture of me in my Christmas hat, a gold net concoction with sparkles caught up in the wires. If it comes out, I’ll see if I can get a copy of it to post on Killer Hobbies.
Sunday I baked six loaves of Vanocka, an Austrian Christmas yeast bread which is made with grated orange peel, almond slivers, and two kinds of raisins. The apartment smelled fantastic while they were baking, and we ate the smallest loaf with butter as soon as it was cool enough to handle.
Today, from twelve to one, I am to address a gathering at the Minneapolis Textile Center. They borrowed twenty of my hats to make a display, but I’m supposed to talk about my books, with an emphasis on the one I’m currently writing, And Then You Dye.
Merry Christmas – or Happy Chanukah, or Joyous Solstice, or Cheerful Holidays or whatever makes you smile during this time of year!
I have in mind a contest: What does one of the characters in the Betsy Devonshire mysteries want for Christmas? Enter as many times as you like for as many characters as you like. I’m hoping to be surprised and amused and edified. The deadline is Monday, December 26, 2011. I will be sole judge. The prize is an autographed hardcover copy of Threadbare. Good luck!
This past Saturday I did a signing at Excelsior Bay Books. There was a steady stream of book-buyers – and a reporter from The Patch, an on-line news organization. She interviewed me between customers and asked some intelligent, thought-provoking questions. She had one of those tiny, flat cameras and took a picture of me in my Christmas hat, a gold net concoction with sparkles caught up in the wires. If it comes out, I’ll see if I can get a copy of it to post on Killer Hobbies.
Sunday I baked six loaves of Vanocka, an Austrian Christmas yeast bread which is made with grated orange peel, almond slivers, and two kinds of raisins. The apartment smelled fantastic while they were baking, and we ate the smallest loaf with butter as soon as it was cool enough to handle.
Today, from twelve to one, I am to address a gathering at the Minneapolis Textile Center. They borrowed twenty of my hats to make a display, but I’m supposed to talk about my books, with an emphasis on the one I’m currently writing, And Then You Dye.
Merry Christmas – or Happy Chanukah, or Joyous Solstice, or Cheerful Holidays or whatever makes you smile during this time of year!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Writers Retreat, More
This past weekend was our twice-yearly Writers Retreat, held by Creme de la Crime, my writers group. Sometimes we go away but this year we held it in two of our homes. Eight of us attended. Saturday we met at Carl’s house, and he made coffee and his famous cinnamon buns for breakfast – I brought bagels, grapes, bananas and hard-boiled eggs. We had sandwiches, soft drinks, wine and four (!) kinds of chips for lunch with cookies and brownies for dessert. We were going to order pizza for supper, but we’d continued to snack all afternoon and no one was hungry by supper, so we all just went home. Sunday was my turn, we used the really nice party room in my apartment building. We had pretty much the same menu, except Susan brought the ingredients so each of us could build a terrific salad, too.
We each get a chance to read large chunks of what we’re working on at these retreats, with solid critiques after each reading. The readings were particularly fine this year, which gave the commentators a little less to do than usual. Between sessions we talked writing, publishing, books and movies. It was wonderful, total immersion. Tomorrow, Wednesday, we go right back to our weekly meetings, where just one or two people read.
I’ve been asked by Father Paul of St. George’s to give a talk between services on January 15. We met at a local coffee shop to discuss the topic and decided on: “What’s A Story For?” We are agreed that there is a difference between a story that’s true and a story that’s factual, and while all the stories in the Bible are true, not all of them are historical fact. They are lessons in how to – and how not to – act in relation to God. Father Paul also wants me to talk about how and why I write mystery fiction. My stories are less true, though I sometimes get something off my chest in a story. I do try hard not to let the ax I am grinding get in the way of a good story.
And Then You Dye is moving along pretty well now. It’s interesting watching some of the returning characters complicate their lives – sometimes when writing a story a character will step up all by herself or himself and surprise an author with an idea. Betsy is finding this a tough puzzle, but she’ll figure it out. I did have to drop a significant coincidence into the mix to aim her at a clue, but I allow one of those per novel, and I don’t think my readers will mind.
Threadbare will be in bookstores December 10, just four more days from now. I’m excited about it, and looking forward to hearing what you think of it.
We each get a chance to read large chunks of what we’re working on at these retreats, with solid critiques after each reading. The readings were particularly fine this year, which gave the commentators a little less to do than usual. Between sessions we talked writing, publishing, books and movies. It was wonderful, total immersion. Tomorrow, Wednesday, we go right back to our weekly meetings, where just one or two people read.
I’ve been asked by Father Paul of St. George’s to give a talk between services on January 15. We met at a local coffee shop to discuss the topic and decided on: “What’s A Story For?” We are agreed that there is a difference between a story that’s true and a story that’s factual, and while all the stories in the Bible are true, not all of them are historical fact. They are lessons in how to – and how not to – act in relation to God. Father Paul also wants me to talk about how and why I write mystery fiction. My stories are less true, though I sometimes get something off my chest in a story. I do try hard not to let the ax I am grinding get in the way of a good story.
And Then You Dye is moving along pretty well now. It’s interesting watching some of the returning characters complicate their lives – sometimes when writing a story a character will step up all by herself or himself and surprise an author with an idea. Betsy is finding this a tough puzzle, but she’ll figure it out. I did have to drop a significant coincidence into the mix to aim her at a clue, but I allow one of those per novel, and I don’t think my readers will mind.
Threadbare will be in bookstores December 10, just four more days from now. I’m excited about it, and looking forward to hearing what you think of it.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Our State Fair
Our State Fair starts this week. I get to go twice, once this Sunday and again on Friday, September 2nd. This Sunday I’m going to help man a booth in the Arts and Crafts Building promoting needlework. I’m to represent Embroiderers Guild of America, so I’m supposed to bring a piece of needlework to work on. I don’t think I’ll get much done because I’m a very slow needleworker, prone to mistakes even when I’m focused in on the work. How I’ll do with people stopping by to ask questions, I don’t know. Maybe I should bring my knitting instead. I’ll bring some counted cross stitch that’s finished to show off, and of course a copy of my latest book.
On the second, I’m going with two friends to properly see the Fair. I want to see them judging the paint horses (you know, pintos), wander through the poultry barn, go see the biggest pig, then look at the exhibits in the Arts and Crafts Building, see the vendors and hawkers (“it slices, it dices, it crawls on its belly like a reptile. . .”), wander up the Midway, see what’s new this year in the Bazaar, and eat some amazing and mostly unhealthy food. You can do bad things to your cholesterol just walking by some of the vendors. Deep fried Snickers, anyone?
Do you go to your State Fair? What’s your favorite thing to see or do?
I finished the “first pass” typeset copy of Threadbare. I found a disappointing number of errors to be fixed. In one place I had Betsy ordering sandwiches to feed the people who would be helping with inventory, and then later, during inventory, she sends them out on a lunch break. I’m glad I caught that one, it’s embarrassing when I get caught with that kind of error in the final version. Maybe I should have let Dee take a quick look at the manuscript, she might have found things I missed. But I have found that no matter how many pairs of eyes look at a manuscript, something is missed, some error (or two!) goes uncorrected.
Anyway, I’ve done my best, now back to work on And Then You Dye. I admire you authors who work on several books at once, it’s all I can do to get my one book a year finished. So many things are happening to my running characters in Dye: Godwin is tempted to leave Crewel World for a partnership in a new business, Jill is thinking of going for a PI license, something will complicate the romance between Connor and Betsy, even Sophie the cat will get a surprise. It's hard to keep track. All that and a mystery, too!
On the second, I’m going with two friends to properly see the Fair. I want to see them judging the paint horses (you know, pintos), wander through the poultry barn, go see the biggest pig, then look at the exhibits in the Arts and Crafts Building, see the vendors and hawkers (“it slices, it dices, it crawls on its belly like a reptile. . .”), wander up the Midway, see what’s new this year in the Bazaar, and eat some amazing and mostly unhealthy food. You can do bad things to your cholesterol just walking by some of the vendors. Deep fried Snickers, anyone?
Do you go to your State Fair? What’s your favorite thing to see or do?
I finished the “first pass” typeset copy of Threadbare. I found a disappointing number of errors to be fixed. In one place I had Betsy ordering sandwiches to feed the people who would be helping with inventory, and then later, during inventory, she sends them out on a lunch break. I’m glad I caught that one, it’s embarrassing when I get caught with that kind of error in the final version. Maybe I should have let Dee take a quick look at the manuscript, she might have found things I missed. But I have found that no matter how many pairs of eyes look at a manuscript, something is missed, some error (or two!) goes uncorrected.
Anyway, I’ve done my best, now back to work on And Then You Dye. I admire you authors who work on several books at once, it’s all I can do to get my one book a year finished. So many things are happening to my running characters in Dye: Godwin is tempted to leave Crewel World for a partnership in a new business, Jill is thinking of going for a PI license, something will complicate the romance between Connor and Betsy, even Sophie the cat will get a surprise. It's hard to keep track. All that and a mystery, too!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Web Site Up!
Ladieeeeees and Gentlemen! Announcing the resurrection of my web site! Go to Monica-Ferris.com for a look. Let me know what you think. I think it’s wonderful, attractive and easy to navigate around on. (I know, never use a preposition to end a sentence with. Which reminds me: Have you noticed how people don’t seem able to get their prepositions right anymore. Different than, instead of different from, for example. And everyone’s doing it, even speechmakers and broadcast performers. Another gripe: People don’t say fewer, they say less. “Less children were in school this morning,” instead of “Fewer children were in school this morning.” Don’t they know that if you can count them it’s “fewer,” and if you measure it, use “less”? So it’s less sand but fewer automobiles. What’s your favorite gripe about the state of our language?)
I was hoping to offer an elaborate and perhaps touching description of the Memorial Day ceremony at a local cemetery. I went to pick up a friend to go see it, and instead drove her back to our place in a driving rain with thunder and lightning, punctuated by hail. Not appropriate weather to sit outdoors and listen to Robert Robinson sing “Amazing Grace” in his deep, rich, warm baritone. A couple of years ago they had a troop of Civil War re-enactors fire a volley using period-style rifles. It was interesting, they didn’t sound like today’s weapons, more like “Shap!” than the modern “Crack!” And they vanished in a cloud of black powder smoke. I’d often heard of modern gunpowder being called “smokeless powder,” but that was a vivid demonstration of the original kind. I was hoping they’d come back and do it again this year. Oh, well. I did get some writing done.
After the storm blew through, the sun came out and it turned into a hot, muggy, very windy day, with temps in the upper eighties. Hard to believe just a couple of weeks ago we had frost warnings. It’s been a wild and crazy year for weather.
A Canadian friend is designing the pattern for And Then You Dye. It’s a set of nine vertical rectangles in a step shape. The middle one is lowest, and then four step up on either side. She has all kinds of ideas for how to fill the shapes, which we’re calling Template. What we’ll do is pick one pattern to use in the book, then show the others on my web site. In the book, we’re saying my sleuth, Betsy Devonshire, is holding a contest in which customers buy the template pattern and use their imaginations to fill it in. I’ve seen some of Alix’s ideas and they’re wonderful! I’m actually hoping my readers will come up with their own ideas to fill the rectangles and will send me pictures of their efforts. Of course, I’m also dreaming up ways the contest will complicate Betsy’s life.
I hope your Memorial Day was pleasantly memorable.
I was hoping to offer an elaborate and perhaps touching description of the Memorial Day ceremony at a local cemetery. I went to pick up a friend to go see it, and instead drove her back to our place in a driving rain with thunder and lightning, punctuated by hail. Not appropriate weather to sit outdoors and listen to Robert Robinson sing “Amazing Grace” in his deep, rich, warm baritone. A couple of years ago they had a troop of Civil War re-enactors fire a volley using period-style rifles. It was interesting, they didn’t sound like today’s weapons, more like “Shap!” than the modern “Crack!” And they vanished in a cloud of black powder smoke. I’d often heard of modern gunpowder being called “smokeless powder,” but that was a vivid demonstration of the original kind. I was hoping they’d come back and do it again this year. Oh, well. I did get some writing done.
After the storm blew through, the sun came out and it turned into a hot, muggy, very windy day, with temps in the upper eighties. Hard to believe just a couple of weeks ago we had frost warnings. It’s been a wild and crazy year for weather.
A Canadian friend is designing the pattern for And Then You Dye. It’s a set of nine vertical rectangles in a step shape. The middle one is lowest, and then four step up on either side. She has all kinds of ideas for how to fill the shapes, which we’re calling Template. What we’ll do is pick one pattern to use in the book, then show the others on my web site. In the book, we’re saying my sleuth, Betsy Devonshire, is holding a contest in which customers buy the template pattern and use their imaginations to fill it in. I’ve seen some of Alix’s ideas and they’re wonderful! I’m actually hoping my readers will come up with their own ideas to fill the rectangles and will send me pictures of their efforts. Of course, I’m also dreaming up ways the contest will complicate Betsy’s life.
I hope your Memorial Day was pleasantly memorable.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Novel Reflections
She likes it! My editor at Berkley thinks Threadbare is "terrific!" What a relief! Now I am impatient to get her notated manuscript to see what her suggestions are to make it even shinier. (I already have some ideas of my own for changes I want to make.)
Meanwhile, I have finished going over the four Peter Brichter mysteries that followed Murder at the War, and to my surprise I am thinking that perhaps Murder at the War is not my favorite of that series after all. Original Sin is giving it a run for its money, and if it’s not the new favorite, it’s running a very close second. It’s about an old house out in the country isolated by a blizzard, with the owners, their infant son, the son’s nanny, the horse trainer, an old woman who used to live in the house, a college professor, and a freshly re-married retired cop and his new-old bride gathered there to celebrate Christmas. A murder occurs – in the library, of course – and it appears no one could have gone into the library and out again without being seen. It’s my favorite kind of mystery, very cozy and traditional, with a twisty solution. It will be brought out later this year as an e-book. Along with the other three.
I had a lot of fun writing those mysteries and was pleased as could be when they were published.
Now I am turning my focus onto the next Betsy Devonshire mystery, And Then You Dye. I was intrigued to learn that the mordants – fixatives used to treat fibers before dipping them into a pot of dye – are poisonous. But there are two problems with using a mordant as a murder weapon. The first is that mordants are generally powdered metals, such as copper, tin, iron, or chrome, which are poisonous all right, but metal poisons kill slowly and painfully, which gives my victim time to tell the investigators who hated her and who had access to her dyeing setup. And secondly, how do I get her to ingest the stuff in the first place? Experienced dyers are very careful around mordants, that’s how they live long enough to become experienced. So I’m thinking, the heck with it, I’ll just shoot her.
A reminder: I am offering a free copy of a novel to the person who can give me a title for it. The title should be fewer than five words, and contain a stitching term that contains an element of threat. Visit my web site for titles I’ve already used and for contact information: Monica-Ferris.com.
Meanwhile, I have finished going over the four Peter Brichter mysteries that followed Murder at the War, and to my surprise I am thinking that perhaps Murder at the War is not my favorite of that series after all. Original Sin is giving it a run for its money, and if it’s not the new favorite, it’s running a very close second. It’s about an old house out in the country isolated by a blizzard, with the owners, their infant son, the son’s nanny, the horse trainer, an old woman who used to live in the house, a college professor, and a freshly re-married retired cop and his new-old bride gathered there to celebrate Christmas. A murder occurs – in the library, of course – and it appears no one could have gone into the library and out again without being seen. It’s my favorite kind of mystery, very cozy and traditional, with a twisty solution. It will be brought out later this year as an e-book. Along with the other three.
I had a lot of fun writing those mysteries and was pleased as could be when they were published.
Now I am turning my focus onto the next Betsy Devonshire mystery, And Then You Dye. I was intrigued to learn that the mordants – fixatives used to treat fibers before dipping them into a pot of dye – are poisonous. But there are two problems with using a mordant as a murder weapon. The first is that mordants are generally powdered metals, such as copper, tin, iron, or chrome, which are poisonous all right, but metal poisons kill slowly and painfully, which gives my victim time to tell the investigators who hated her and who had access to her dyeing setup. And secondly, how do I get her to ingest the stuff in the first place? Experienced dyers are very careful around mordants, that’s how they live long enough to become experienced. So I’m thinking, the heck with it, I’ll just shoot her.
A reminder: I am offering a free copy of a novel to the person who can give me a title for it. The title should be fewer than five words, and contain a stitching term that contains an element of threat. Visit my web site for titles I’ve already used and for contact information: Monica-Ferris.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
