This week I was supposed to be enjoying the comradery and literary banter with mystery #authors and #readers alike at the Bouchercon Mystery Conference in fabulous New Orleans. Alas, Covid-19 Delta had other plans, the conference was canceled out of an abundance of caution...the good times, unfortunately, were not destined to roll...#Sigh I was honored to have been picked to be on a panel at the conference to opine on the topic of Amateur Sleuths: Armchair Quarterbacks. I was

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” ― Pablo Picasso This past week we were thrilled to attend the Pageant of the Masters performance, sponsored by the Laguna Festival of the Arts. This annual show celebrates artists and their artistry in a a one-of-a-kind way, bringing historic paintings and sculptures to life with choreographed, live displays, highlighted by an orchestral accompaniment. This year the theme of the pageant was Made in America: "In the 20

“Everything you can imagine is real.” ― Pablo Picasso For me, it's all about the art the next few weeks! What better way to begin the post today than with the debut of a painting done for me by my fabulous, talented neighbor, Becky Carlson. She has been a huge supporter of my writing journey and has read all the books in My American Almost-Royal Cousin Series. (Loud Writer #SQUEE!) I was absolutely delighted this weekend when she gifted me with a painting she had done depicti

Well hello, August! The last days of #SummerReading are coming to a close, but there's still time to squeeze in a new book or two. Today, I'm so excited to have as my guest, the author of brilliant, grim whodunnits, #writer Ross Young! His clever mysteries offer a new possibility of what awaits in the afterlife and I for one, am so hooked! Quick, before the Reaper arrives, let's catch up with Ross: Q1. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dead Heads, the first book in your Gloomwood

“Summer's lease hath all too short a date.” ― William Shakespeare Hard to believe July will take its final bow for 2021 this week. In the next month, schools will be in session, temperatures (and tantrums) will likely soar (will the heat and constant public discord over everything ever cease?), and for us, a few more trips and events are on the horizon... #FingersCrossed I've mentioned the Bouchercon mystery conference in New Orleans coming up the end of August. It looks like

"Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read..." Francis Bacon #HearHear! This week we've had a fabulous time visiting wineries and vineyards in Paso Robles, a lovely city with a bountiful heritage located in central California, for an extended birthday celebration for Hubby. Visiting with family, friends, and sampling the rich, vino flavors of the area made for a delightful road trip and a ver

#HoHoHo, I'm still full throttle celebrating #ChristmasInJuly. I am super excited today to have a #BookCover reveal for my #NewRelease coming October 1st. This collection of holiday, mystery tales is titled Christmas Bizarre: Rikkhe St. Claire Holiday Mysteries! My interior designer with an eye for clues is making her literary debut just in time for your holiday reading enjoyment! ❄Pssst, #BookCover animation by the fabulous Morgan Wright! ❄ It's the #weekend before Christmas

What better way to celebrate #SummerReading season than an enchanting chat with a talented #writer who just happens to have a new #book releasing today (Blade of Truth)! Canadian author Lali Love's books #inspire and #entertain---without further adieu, let's chat with Lali: Q1. Lali, I have enjoyed reading your gorgeous, poetry/meditation book, The Joy of IT so much! I have it handy on my coffee table to open up and be inspired each day. The collection is awesome and the draw

In just a few days, we'll be celebrating the 4th of July holiday in the U.S. Today, I wanted to take a moment to reflect and be grateful for the independence we are starting to enjoy coming out of the lockdown world of the #pandemic. No doubt, 2020/2021 sent us some experiences I for one never wish to repeat. The good news is that the vaccines seem to be working, travel is in the plans for many, and the sounds of conversation and laughter is heard once more in the public venu

'Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea.' 'Nancy, if I were your husband, I 'd drink it.' Lady Nancy Astor and Sir Winston Churchill How deliciously droll, I adore this quote! As a cozy mystery writer, I'm always on the hunt for unique ways to commit 'mur-dahs most foul'. Poisons are used quite often in cozy tales, hence my interest in what's the best one to use?; how does it work?; what are the symptom's? I guess on the surface it sounds a bit ghoulish but a wr

"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go..." E.L. Doctorow Words so true! I thought for this post I'd try to give a boost to my #writer friends and share a few #writing resources I (and others) have recently found useful to explore and utilize. I've seen quite a bit of frustration and gloom in tweets this past week on Twitter, ranging from the #Goodreads sudden deletion of #bookreviews (luckily it looks like most reviews have been restored) to pe

"One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by..." Jeanette Walls Continuing with my quest for great #SummerReads, this month I'm excited to feature #Writer A.C. 'Drew' Merkel! He is the author of the Lady Dreamscapes, time traveling/sci-fi series. These imaginative tales feature a MC by the name of 'Murder'...and what an exciting, literary journey she will take you on! Without further adieu, let's chat with Drew: Q1. I really enjoyed the first book in

Well hello, June! With sun, sand and splashes in the pool, it's that most wonderful time of the year for book lovers...#SummerReading season! I'm particularly looking forward to jumping into my favorite genre, #cozymysteries with some beloved characters...a fav sleuth with fabulous heels, Agatha Raisin; divine attire with murder on the side, Phryne Fisher; a delightful, holiday, mystery sleuth, Lilly Carlsen; another crown-turning mystery with the debonair, Guy Harford; summe

Part deux of our escape from the family room #roadtrip took us to the shores and hills of Lake Tahoe in northern California. It has been almost thirty years since I last saw this natural wonder. I have to say it is probably the most beautiful lake I have ever seen. Crystal, clear waters, a proliferation of pine trees and majestic mountain views took my breath away. The air smelled of pine, turning crisp and cool in the evening. We stayed at the lovely Ritz Carlton in Tahoe. I

This week I'm very excited to have as my guest, Canadian #author, Joanne Paulson! I've decided to feature fellow writers each month as we move into that all important and exciting, #SummerReading season. Joanne's mystery series rocks and I'm looking forward to hearing the exciting news on her latest, literary venture. Without further adieu, let's chat with Jo! Q1: Joanne, I'm a huge fan of your Adam and Grace mystery series. What was the inspiration for the characters and set

This week our escape from the family room #roadtrip takes us to the Sierra Mountains in northern California. We're headin' to the hills of Mammoth Mountain and the shores and mountain forests of Lake Tahoe. The good news is that there is still snow in 'them thar hills' making this #snowboot gal extremely happy! The feature pic ⏫ is of the Twin Lakes area in the Mammoth Mountain area. Unfortunately most of the lake view road was closed so this was the main water view to be had

Happy May! From wine country to the northern California shore--part deux of our escape from the family room road trip took us to Half Moon Bay. We stayed at the fabulous Ritz Carlton that sits regally on the cliffs of this NorCal paradise. I have to say this was one of the most beautiful places on our journey. We were blessed with sunshine during the day and magnificent sunsets in the evening. The Ritz is surrounded with breathtaking views, including a stunning golf course an

What better way to close out #IndieApril than a chat with one of my favorite #Holiday mystery writers, the fabulous Amy Reade! I've read many of Amy's tales and am a huge fan of her Juniper Junction Holiday Mystery Series. Without further adieu, Ladies & Gents, #Author Amy Reade: Q1: Amy, I thoroughly enjoy reading your Juniper Junction Holiday Mystery Series--what inspired you to write it? Pssst..love the #Holiday theme! Thank you! I have grown to love these characters and t

"Wine and friends are a great blend." Ernest Hemingway Once again we ventured away from the confines of the family room and traveled to central California to the charming town of Paso Robles. Located in central California, Paso has become a hub for wine lovers and has multiple vineyards in the area---a perfect place for a wine tasting afternoon! For this trip, we stayed at the fabulous Allegretto Vineyard Resort just off Hwy 46 (yes, the infamous highway where James Dean met

Hi ho, hi ho, it was off to Las Vegas we go! This past week it was such a treat to escape for a few days to meet up with my baby sissy and her husband. After 15 months of almost daily phone calls during the #lockdown, we seized the chance to meet up in person with Gayle and Keith at a not too distant stop on their cross country tour to celebrate Keith's recently retired status (and baby sis's bday, she turned the big 6-0 on March 28th!). We planned our get-together on the sho