And because I NEED to consume more calories . . .

I love chocolate covered pretzels.  The only problem is ... if you buy them, you HAVE TO EAT THE WHOLE BAG.  Now, I'm trying to lose weight -- not so easy to do during the holidays.  So ... I decided to make just a few.

I already had a jar of mini pretzel rods.  I found a little liqueur glass in the cupboard (now, where did it and its brothers come from?) which was just the right size for dipping.


 Next, I filled it with chocolate chips and melted them in the microwave.  (About 45 seconds.)



Next, I dipped the pretzels in the glass and rolled them in non-pareils.



A bit messy. I ended up getting out my frosting knife and smearing the pretzels with chocolate and then sprinkling them with the non-pareeils.  But in the end, they looked just fine.



They were YUMMY -- and not too many to ruin the old diet (especially since I shared them).

An easy-to-make holiday treat.

Have you ever made them?  (Would you?)

And a Joyous Leon to you, too!

Not too many years ago, it was (country) chick (oops chic) to spell things out with children's building blocks.  And what better season thant at Christmastime.  Always a slave to trends, I was suckered in.



But for some reason, the blocks have always ended up like this.



Even our (late) cat Bon-Bon would get into the act playing with blocks.  (We miss her so.)
 

Hey, look what my dear friend Leann Sweeney sent me for Christmas.  Aren't they beautiful?  (Fred already tried to eat them.)



We're having impossible sausage-onions-green-pepper-mushrooms pie for supper tonight.  (After we hoist a glass and eat our roasted (in the oven not over an open fire) chestnuts.)

What are you doing for Christmas Eve?
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I can no longer multitask -- how about you?

Okay, what I want to know is this:  How did I ever accomplish ANYTHING when I had a 40 hour a week job?

When I was working full time, I also had a booth in an antiques arcade.  I also wrote.  At Christmastime I shopped for elevendy-million people for Christmas, sent out over 100 Christmas cards, and baked up a storm, and managed to keep up with everything else in the house (like cleaning and laundry)
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Now?  Not so much.

I mean, here we are less than a week from Christmas and I'm desperately trying to fit in time to actually do my job, which is write.  Okay, the ENTIRE weekend was taken up (and so was a big chunk of last week) getting ready to promote The Walled Flower (which comes out on Feb. 7th for those of you who are counting the days).  I've got the library and bookseller postcards and bookmark packages FINISHED.  I've rebuilt half my mailing list (that Word ate THREE TIMES in September), ran Christmas errands, shopped for stuff like groceries, and did two loads of laundry.

Today is shot.  There are errands that MUST be run, people coming to clean and fix stuff around here, and more laundry has to happen.  The rest of the week will be eaten up by getting ready for Sunday.  (Baking, cleaning, wrapping, shopping, etc.)

All I can say is, I'd better catch up on the writing in the next couple of weeks.  The good thing: I really like what I've written so far, which is always a plus.

Are you struggling to get ready for the holidays?

The wrapping paper is almost as important

Yesterday I received a lovely gift from a friend. Oooh!  I love receiving lovely gifts from friends. It came in a plain brown box, but inside was a lovely white box tied with a red ribbon.  You can't tell by the picture, but the paper was textured and there was a card taped under the ribbon.

I had lots of fun opening my gift and admiring it. But what I didn't at first notice was how much fun the wrapping paper was for three very nosy cats.

First Chester had to investigate, trying to dig a hole through the paper.  (He likes to do that on boxes, and in bed at night, too.)  Then Fred had to investigate what "the black cat did."  (Fred is the quintessential "copy cat."  Whatever Chester does, Fred has to do, too.  The box the gift came in was fully investigated, too.)

But it was our little princess Betsy who had the most fun.

Betsy sat on the paper -- in at least a dozen poses. She sniffed it.  She peeked over the top.  She batted her paw at it.  She sat on it. She enjoyed it.

Therefore, this present was more than just a gift to me, it was the gift of fun for my cats.

You can't ask for better than that!

Do your pets get in the act when it comes to (wrapping and) unwrapping gifts?
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In which I plug my Christmas stories . . .

Did I mention that my editor asked me why I don't write a "winter" Booktown Mystery?  Because I don't live in New Hampshire.  I can't knowledgeably write about winter in a state where I've I've never been during that season.  I mean, I could fake it, but from what I hear, southern NH doesn't get half the snow we get here in Western New York.  (And Tricia doesn't live near the mountains, so she isn't going skiing any time soon.)

Okay, so I'm writing about ALMOST winter in New Hampshire by setting the 7th book in November.  Of course, they probably will schedule it for summer.  My friend Ellery Adams is lamenting the fact that her latest book, THE LAST WORD (which is wonderful, by the way), set at the beach (hence, a beach read), has just come out in December.  Go figure!  What were the schedulers thinking?

But I HAVE written two SHORT STORIES (and let me be clear that they are SHORT STORIES, NOT NOVELS -- because some readers have given me terrible Amazon reviews because they DIDN'T READ THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION and were disappointed that they got a SHORT STORY instead of a novel.  Again I repeat, Go Figure!) that are set at Christmastime.

We're So Sorry Uncle Albert is about a family that finds their stingy Uncle Albert, who's been mooching off of the family for years, is actually quite wealthy.  Naturally the family isn't all that happy and decide that Uncle Albert has overstayed his worldly welcome.  And they plot to get rid of him.  It's a jolly holiday all right!  It's only available as an e book.  You can find it at these links.

Bah! Humbug is a different kettle of fish.  It's a Jeff Resnick short that immediately follows the novel CHEATED BY DEATH (as in the very next day).  Jeff and Maggie have Christmas dinner with her family, but Jeff isn't all that welcome at the dinner table, and even Maggie is puzzled as to why.  If readers go on to the 4th book in the series (and I sure as heck hope they do), this story sets up one of the subplots.  You can find it at these links.

Okay, and now for a question.  Do you think readers would rather buy ALL my short stories in one ebook collection, even the romancy ones, for a discounted price, or wait until I have more mystery-oriented short stories and then do an anthology?  (And that could take a while because I don't crank out short stories very quickly.  When The Spirit Moves You, my latest (Jeff Resnick) short story,  took me over a year to write.)  I'd be very interested to know what you think.

And if you do buy/read the above-listed stories, and like them, I hope you'll think about writing a review.  I'd sure like to see the stories judged for what they ARE and NOT what they AREN'T.

Thanks!
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Hontest, I DON'T have a split personality

My next Victoria Square Mystery, THE WALLED FLOWER, will be out in less than two months.  It's time for me to get on the promotion bandwagon and start shouting out the news.  And yet, as I do this, I wonder if it's worth the effort.

I will send out bookmarks to independent bookstores.  I will send postcards to readers.  I'm thinking about sending postcards to libraries.

I love this book.  I think it's a really good book.  I think it's got a nice cover.

And I believe that at least 50% of Lorna Barrett's readers have no clue that Lorraine Bartlett and Lorna Barrett are the same author.

Why do I think this?

Because I don't get a lot of hits on my Lorna Website. The readers who do go there don't dig deep to find my Alter Ego page.  (Which I just destroyed and am in the process of rebuilding ... sigh ....)

My publisher isn't going to spend any money, time or effort to get the word out.  I've tried unsuccessfully for the past three years to get the word out with limited success.

It's been said the best form of advertising is word of mouth.  So I'm asking my reader to PLEASE help me get the word out.  How can you do that?  If you've enjoyed my books, tell other people about them.  It's as simple as that.

Will you help me?

(Thank you!)
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If you haven't yet read this series ... what are you waiting for???

I've been looking forward to today for a long time ... since March, actually.  What makes today so special?

THE LAST WORD, by Ellery Adams, is officially out (and it's already waiting for me on my Kindle).  It's the third book in her Books By The Bay Mysteries.

Yeah, yeah, she's my friend and works on my book trailers --- yada yada yada --- but she also happens to be a gifted author (I am awed by her power of description), and I love this series.  Maybe because it's about a group of people from different walks of life critiquing their writing.  Maybe because the woman who started the group has a a beautiful standard poodle she loves with all her heart.  Maybe because this same woman has a dark past and is afraid to trust, but has a heart as big as the ocean she lives on.

Book #1, A Killer Plot: In the small coastal town of Oyster Bay, North Carolina, you'll find plenty of characters, ne'er-do-wells, and even a few celebs trying to duck the paparazzi. But when murder joins this curious community, the Bayside Book Writers are there to get the story... Olivia Limoges is the subject of constant gossip. Ever since she came back to town-a return as mysterious as her departure-Olivia has kept to herself, her dog, and her unfinished novel. With a little cajoling from the eminently charming writer Camden Ford, she agrees to join the Bayside Book Writers, break her writer's block, and even make a few friends...  But when townspeople start turning up dead with haiku poems left by the bodies, anyone with a flair for language is suddenly suspect. And it's up to Olivia to catch the killer before she meets her own surprise ending.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Book #2: A Deadly Cliche:  While walking her poodle, Olivia Limoges discovers a dead body buried in the sand. Could it be connected to the bizarre burglaries plaguing Oyster Bay, North Carolina? At every crime scene, the thieves set up odd tableaus: a stick of butter with a knife through it, dolls with silver spoons in their mouths, a deck of cards with a missing queen. Olivia realizes each setup represents a cliché. And who better to decode the cliché clues than her Bayside Book Writers group?

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble



Book #3:  The Last Word:  Olivia Limoges and the Bayside Book Writers are excited about Oyster Bay's newest resident: bestselling novelist Nick Plumley, who's come to work on his next book. But when Olivia stops by Plumley's rental she finds that he's been strangled to death. Her instincts tell her that something from the past came back to haunt him, but she never expects that the investigation could spell doom for one of her dearest friends...

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble



This is a crucial time for the series.  While Ellery has already written a 4th book, it's up in the air if the publisher will go for a 5th.  It all depends on sales.  Do me a favor; if you love cozy mysteries and you haven't read/bought this series yet ...DO IT.  You will not be disappointed.

Selfishly, I hope Ellery will be writing about Olivia and Captain Haviland for many years to come.

I hope you feel the same way, too.

If Suspense Magazine says so ... it's gotta be true, right?

I got my issue of Suspense Magazine the other day ... and guess what?  I'm featured in it!

A CRAFTY KILLING was deemed one of the best novels of 2011. 


To say I'm thrilled is putting it mildly.  I'm ecstatic!  This novel has a special place in my heart.  It was a Malice Domestic finalist that sat on the shelf for way too long a time. It was only because the Booktown Mysteries did so well that it sold, for it had been rejected by everybody -- not because of the writing, but because it was set in an antiques arcade.  All I had to do was change the venue and BINGO!  It sold.

I've watched the sales and am sad to say they don't come anywhere near the Booktown sales.  That's because nobody knows who Lorraine Bartlett is. I'm hoping the mention in Suspense Magazine will help that. Because now I'm thinking about the sequel, THE WALLED FLOWER, which will be out in two months.  (And right now two months seems like a l-o-n-g time from now, but I know before I know it, it'll be summer again, and then fall and winter and ... holy smoke!  Where does the time go?)

Anyway, it feels really good for my work to be acknowledged by one of the mystery magazines.  (If you get the magazine, it's in the December issue, Page 32.)

Pet Peeve Thursday: We don't carry that

A lot of stores lament the fact that people come in, check out their merchandise, and then go online to buy (and usually cheaper).  A lot of stores are going out of business because of this.

I'll tell you why.

I need tall jeans.  I can't buy them in the stores.  At least not tall jeans that aren't low-riding.  I can only buy them online.

I recently tried to buy a pair of sneakers at a local store.
"Sorry, we don't carry your size."  Why?  Because it was wide?

At another store, I tried to buy a pair of winter boots.  "Sorry, we don't carry that size."  (Again with the wide.  Must be all those years of going barefoot and wearing flip flops.

I had to go online to buy all three items.  (Of course, in the last two instances, I just went to their own websites.)

I know it's expensive to carry one (or more) of everything, but if a store won't carry what I (or anyone else needs) is it any wonder they're going out of business like crazy?
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And the fabulous prizes go to ....

The Jeff Resnick "win a shot glass" contest is now over.  And the winners are:

Kris Bullock
Julie Daubert
Peggy Lee
Nancy Roessner

Two other readers left reviews on Amazon, but did not contact me with their mailing information.

Thanks for the wonderful reviews.  Your prizes will be in the mail today!

I'm not just goofing off . . .

Where the heck have I been lately?  I used to be a very good girl and post every weekday.  Lately ... I've missed a few days here and there, and that makes me feel like I did in school when I didn't do my homework.

The truth is, times are tough.  I mean ... emotionally speaking.  I keep forgetting that not everyone who reads this blog also reads my weekly (Saturday) post on the Cozy Chicks. I sometimes save my big news for that post because, quite frankly, more people read that blog than this one.

I had a roller coaster couple of weeks when one of our cats got sick and ... died.  I've been in a terrible place because of losing our dear sweet Bonnie.  (And you can read about her on Saturday's Cozy Chick post.)

The holiday (stressful) season has started.  At least this year I have no house guests.  (One brick off my shoulder.)  It's also Craft Show season.  As usual, I'm doing three this year ... and every year it gets harder.  I need to make a decision.  Do I keep doing these shows (which are a bear to prepare for and a bear to do--involving 6+ hours of standing on one's feet) or is it time to stop?

I have writing deadlines.  This is a constant.  I also have writing projects I'd love to be working on but can't because my time is limited.

And last of all ... it seems I've developed a couple of health (and yet more teeth) issues that need to be addressed.  My hope is that they can be controlled with meds ... but I'm just in the discovery phase (which is also the TERRIFYING phase).  The thing is ... how can you have health issues if you're not feeling lousy?  Go figure.  Still, it's stressful.

So please forgive me if I miss a few days on the blog here and there.
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LAST DAY TO ENTER THE JEFF RESNICK SHOT GLASS GIVE-AWAY.  Winners will be announced tomorrow.

A holiday special!

It's black Friday -- a day when commerce expects you to rush out and spend money.

I don't know about you, but I gave up the Black Friday rush years ago.  In fact, I only did it one time and ended up spending more time waiting in check-out lines than actually shopping.  : (

Then I worked in retail for 12 years.  I found that more exciting than shopping.  Of course, I was working for myself then.  As a vendor at a crafts and antiques arcade (not unlike that found in my Victoria Square Mysteries), it was a thrill to see items from my own booth come through the checkout lines.  The holiday season was the only time of year it was worth being in business, making the other 48 weeks of the the year a time to sweat to see if I'd made my rent.

Although I'm no longer involved in retail, I do have products to sell.  My books.  And since it's the holiday season, I'm going to offer my readers a chance to try a couple of my books for only 99¢.  You can find them at Smashwords in any e reader format (and they're DRM free).  Just click the links below:

Recipes to Die For: A Victoria Square Cookbook
(a $2 savings)

Murder On The Mind (Jeff Resnick Mystery #1)
(a $3 savings)

Are you lamenting the fact you don't have an e reader?  No worries, you can download the books to your computer and read them there or move them to your smart phone, iPad, or other electronic device.

If you like them, I hope you'll consider reviewing them on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, Chapters ... etc.

Happy shopping!

Time to bruise the old credit card

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?  I have.  I actually have two presents sitting on my shelf, and I ordered another online yesterday.  And I bought a couple of the cutest little gift card boxes for a buck at Michael's the other day.

In the olden days, I had a LOT of people on my shopping list.  I used to love to go ply the malls and look at everything, and drive around and enjoyed the bustle of people, lights, music, and everything else that goes with the holidays.  These days ... not so much.  And I find myself shopping earlier and earlier each year just so I DON'T have to go to the mall and search for something I'm not going to find anyway.

The truth is, I'll probably order a few more things online and that'll be it.  Heck, three people on my list only want gift cards, and I can buy them at the grocery store.  (It seems rather silly, really, exchanging gift cards, doesn't it?  I prefer presents, and it's usually only Mr. L who actually buys me anything.)

Have you started your shopping?

The shots are on Jeff

Do you collect shot glasses?  Do you use shot glasses?  Well, it just so happens I've got a bunch of Jeff Resnick Mysteries shot glasses.  (After all, he is a bartender.)

How can you get one?  All you have to do is post a review of my latest Jeff Resnick short story WHEN THE SPIRIT MOVES YOU on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, or Goodreads.



But wait, there's more!

For everyone who writes a review, I'll also toss in a goody bag filled with bookmarks, postcards, and/or buttons of some of your favorite cozy mystery authors.  (More than 25 pieces in each goody bag!)


How can you miss?

Where can you find the story?

Kindle ~ Nook ~ Smashwords

Uh-oh ... you don't have an e reader?  No problem.  You can download a PDF version of the story from Smashwords and read it on your computer, your iPad, and just about any other such electronic device.  It's easy!

And did I mention this novelette (over 12,000 words) is only 99¢?

If you'd like a shot at the shot glass ... just email me and tell me where to find your review.  (Remember to close up the spaces.)  LLB @ LLBartlett.com

Hurry -- this offer is only good until November 29.

Recipes To Die For -- A Video!

Years ago I had stars in my eyes and went to Hollywood.  Okay, Santa Monica ... close enough.  I worked for a movie studio (20th Century Fox) in their Script Department. I wanted to learn to churn out scripts and make it big.

The only problem was, I soon learned that once you write and sell a script, it's no longer yours.  They can do anything they damn well please with your work and it won't resemble your original idea in the least.
Besides that, LA is a HUGE, impersonal, lonely place.  I didn't last long there and except for the first couple of weeks after leaving, I haven't regretted my decision to return to Western NY.  (And I've never been back . . . although I have been to northern California. Very nice!)

Things have changed.  Now you can make your own movies on your computer.  Well, I can't.  (I probably could if I had the patience to learn how.)  But my friend Ellery Adams can!  Over the weekend, we finished our third collaboration. A book trailer for Recipes to Die For: A Victoria Square Cookbook.

I came up with the pictures and the script.  Ellery tweaked the script (she's marvelous that way), put the pictures together, with the text, and picked out two different soundtracks.  I chose the jazz piano one because I really like piano music.  (Wish I could've learned to sight read . . . )

Anyway, here's the finished product.



So, do you like it?

BTW, RECIPES TO DIE FOR is available in print and for all ebook formats.

Ghosties anyone?

And so there's a new Jeff Resnick story (novelette ... the thing kept getting longer and longer) available today.  It's called WHEN THE SPIRIT MOVES YOU.  It takes place a couple of months after Dead In Red ... and a couple of months before Cheated By Death.

Here's the blurb:

Jeff Resnick's curiosity is piqued when he sees a sign advertising psychic readings. At first he's sure the medium is a fake, but then his funny feelings lead him to suspect that a murder has taken place in the dilapidated house where Madam Zahara holds her readings. Just who died and how? And why is Jeff compelled to look for bodies buried in the medium’s yard?
It's available from:

Kindle

Nook

Smashwords (all e book formats)

I hope you'll like this latest story in the series . . . and if you do, I hope you'll take a few moments to tag and review it on the various review sites.  (Of course if you don't like it ... NEVER MIND!)
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Another Word For Slob

We joke around that our cats are so messy that they're not cats, they're pigs.  (Oddly enough, the cats don't laugh at this.)

But the other day I saw a real life pig, and it didn't have four legs.

I was sitting at a stoplight and a bus pulled up at a stop.  Three teenagers got off.  They were in the 13-15 year old range, two boys, one girl.  The girl reached into her pockets, pulled out a bunch of candy wrappers, and threw them on the ground.  Then she and her friends crossed (I should say ambled across) the street AGAINST THE LIGHT, causing those of us who had already waited an entire cycle to wait for them.

Were these kids brought up in a barn?  Didn't anyone ever teach them that littering IS A CRIME.  That crossing against the light CAN GET YOU KILLED?

But it was the littering that really made me angry.

There's one stretch of highway (Route 104) that looks like part of a third world coutnry because so many people toss their trash out their car windows.

Sometimes I'm really ashamed of my home town and especially some of the people who live here.

This is what I call pre-planning!

The other day Mr. L invited me to go to the local nursery.

"What for?" I asked.

"To get spring bulbs."

Hot dog!

This is what I hope to see in late March or early April.

Okay, we've had a lovely (unseasonably warm) fall, but I know winter is right around the corner.  I don't think it's too soon to starting thinking about spring.  Do you?
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Tricia Decks Those Halls . . .

I'm now hard at work on the next Booktown Mystery (and making good progress, I might add).  If you read my Cozy Chicks blog post on Saturday, you know I've been creeping into Christmas by playing holiday music. What's this got to do with Booktown #7?  (Gonna have to run a contest pretty soon to get a real title.  But more on that later.)

Back in May, I had lunch with my editor who asked me why I didn't write about winter in Stoneham.  The answer is simple, because I don't live in Southern New Hampshire and I don't KNOW what winter in New Hampshire is like.  He thought I could probably fake it.

Well, I'm not writing about winter, but I am currently writing about November in New Hampshire.  And what do retailers do in November?  They ramp up for Christmas holiday shopping.  Even in little stores like Haven't Got a Clue.

So what is Tricia doing in this story?  Decorating with the help of her staff . . . and hopefully it'll be funny.

What's fun for me about this is she's decorating her store with some of my own decorations.  Think of her front window with a few of these little cuties.


Vintage ornaments in a store that sells vintage mysteries. But that's not the only kind of vintage decorations going up at Haven't Got a Clue.  And she's being aided by a woman who would willingly wear this kind of Christmas apparel.


Oh yes, I'm having fun with this one.

What's the first thing you put up in the way of holiday decorations?
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When Did Common Courtesy Become Uncommon?

Last week I got an email from someone who wanted to sell jewelry at my holiday bazaar.

Um...I don't HAVE a holiday bazaar.  I am, however, participating in three of them (and if you're in the Rochester area you can check them out.  I've got them listed on my website(s) under Events).

Nowhere in the note was there a nicety like, "could you give me some information (PLEASE)," or "thank you for your trouble."  Nope, just "call me at this number."

I emailed her the information I had.  I got a note back saying, "the telephone number for this person doesn't work."  Not, "could you recheck the number or give me another one?" or "Thank you for your trouble."

Nope.  Nothing.  I thought twice about answering, but did anyway.  (My parents brought ME up right.)  And did I hear back from her saying "thank you for your help?"

Nope.

As it happens, it's probably too late for her to rent booth space (I rented mine back in the summer and I've been on their lists for years).  She's not selling hand-crafted jewelry, either, so it's not likely they're going to let her in the shows anyway.

But you know -- a please and a thank would would have been nice.  After all, these shows are holiday bazaars and aren't we supposed to be nicer to each other during the holidays?


Common courtesy seems to be foreign to most people these days.

More's the pity.

You won't go broke at the Farmers market

Yesterday I had to go to the dentist.  The news was NOT good.  I've been stalling on yet TWO MORE CROWNS (one is to replace an old leaky one) for three years now and can't put it off any longer.  (Wahhhhh!)

So what do I do to celebrate the loss of a ton of money?  I go to the local Farmers Market.
Let me tell you, it was COLD.  I was only there for about 15 minutes and I froze. I can't imagine what those poor farmers feel like at the end of a long day of selling veggies.  And quite a few of them have given up for the season, for there weren't half as many vendors.  Still, the brave few that were there sold enough to empty my wallet.

I bought leeks and potatoes.  Guess what I'm having for lunch today?  Leek and potato soup. (And you can find the recipe for it here on my website.)

I bought two acorn squashes and one butternut squash (they were on special: 3 for $2).

I bought Brussels sprouts on the stalk.  Can you say roasted in olive oil with a little fresh ground pepper?

I bought a lovely (and huge--the size of a bowling ball) cabbage for $1.  We're going to make our own version of cabbage rolls (with the same thing we stuff green peppers.  Yum-EEEEE).

Last night we had the most delicious cauliflower.  I made enough for my mom, and there's still enough for a bunch more meals.

We are going to be eating our veggies for the next week.
The grocery store charges by the pound.  The Farmers Market charges by the item (and usually less than what the grocery store is selling it per pound.)  The market will be open this year until November 19th.  Can you say "Thank Goodness For My Chest Freezer?"

What did you get at the market?
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Witnessing a new low when grocery shopping

Yesterday I went grocery shopping . . . and saw a man in his PJs and robe.

YES--his PJs AND ROBE.  He was returning his empty pop and beer cans ... probably so he could buy more pop and beer.

This was at about 11 a.m., too.

And this guy wasn't a teen or college student. He was in his late 40s or early 50s.

What is wrong with people?

Heck, I don't even go shopping in shorts.

Have you ever seen those Walmart shopper pictures?  (He didn't look anywhere near as good looking as the guy above, either. He looked ... scruffy.  Hadn't shaved, etc.)

This guy was a candidate to join those shoppers.

What weirdness have you seen at the grocery store?
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A shopping I must go

Do you put things off?  I really need to do some serious shopping.  First of all, I need cat food.  We buy from the pet store because it's (a teensy bit) cheaper than the grocery store.  So we usually buy it by the case.  We're talking 15-20 cases at a time.  (And I'm the lucky one who gets to schlep it to the basement because I have two real--not replaced--knees.)

I need a new door handle for the pantry door.  That's a trip to Home Depot.

I need some new socks.  Haven't figured out where I'll go for them.

I need a new flash drive.  Lost the other one.  That's a trip to Staples.  (Which is right next to Home Depot.  Hmm...)

I need a bunch of other stuff, too.  But I just can't seem to get myself OUT of the house and shopping.  What a pain.  Get in car.  Drive.  Park.  Get out of car.  Go in store.  Don't find what I'm looking for.  Get back in car.  Drive somewhere else.  Get out of car.  Go in store.  Don't find what I'm looking for.  Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Maybe that's why I do so much shopping online these days.

A few years ago, our grocery store chain did have online shopping.  I think they were ahead of the curve.  Nobody used it so they discontinued it.

Today is grocery shopping/errand day.  By the time I get back (lunchtime), I won't want to go out for another week -- and then it will be grocery shopping/errand day again.

Do you like to shop?
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P.S.  I'm guesting today on two different blogs:  Lori's Reading Corner and Crazy For Books.  (They're giving away copies of Recipes to Die For and Murder On The Mind!)
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Like Jerry Seinfeld says, "it's got a taint!"

More than a month ago, I ordered a book from Hoffman Media called Scones & Tea.  Yes, it's by the people who put out Teatime and Victoria Magazines.  Now, I've ordered stuff from them before and never had to wait more than a couple of weeks to get it.  This one ... took 6 weeks.

When I opened the package, I noticed there was a bill inside and a note that said I had ordered via check and underpaid.  No, no, no.  I ordered right from their email and paid via my credit card.  Now, truth be told, I don't remember if the shipping was free or not, but since I've ordered from them before (and since) and there was never a shipping fee before, I assumed the shipping was included in the $19.99 price.

Nope.  Now they want $4.

I sent them a note telling them that I did NOT order by check and that I believed the shipping was free.  Guess what--it wasn't Hoffman media that answered my email.  It was some fulfillment house.  (Probably they're the ones who sat on my order for 6 weeks.)  Make no mistake, they want that four bucks, and there was no "Dear Customer," no apology for whatever misunderstanding that may have happened, no explanation, no nothing--just a statement that says I owe and I need to pay it ASAP.

This is NOT good customer service, and not what I expected from a company that prides itself on Southern hospitality.  First of all, they should have acknowledged that I didn't pay by check.  They should also have given me some explanation as to why when ordering by credit card the shipping was NOT included. They did neither. "PAY UP SISTER" was their message.

It's too bad I really enjoy these magazines, or I could just ignore them and never order another thing from them again.  But I still want to read those magazines.

I tried to call and was on hold so long that I was in danger of using up my cell phone minutes for the month.  (Which is why I ended up emailing.)  But I'm not happy about this situation.  Would I have paid an extra $4 for this book had I known the cost was $4 more? Maybe -- maybe not.  But having to pay extra after you've already received the book?  Not amusing.

And I haven't even opened the book.  Now, to quote Seinfield, "it's got a taint."

Have you ever had an experience like this before?  If so, what did you do?

I'm a one-woman cleaning machine

We're having company!  Company coming means one thing to me:  CLEANING.

Did I ever mention how much I loathe house cleaning?

Yesterday I did the BIG loads of laundry.  Our greasy hairy cats love to sleep on the guest bed.  That means stripping the very cute (white vintage) chenille spread and the pillow shams.  I decided to go even deeper and washed the mattress cover, too.  This time I was smart, once everything was nice and clean, I covered the whole bed with an old sheet.  This way when our guest arrives today it'll be nice and fresh -- and no (black) cat hair.

I washed all the towels.  I washed all the dining room place mats (I have a lot, so I can save them up for weeks and do one big load).  I even washed all the throw rugs.

I tidied the kitchen.  I tidied my office (it needed it). I tidied the living room. I'll tidy the living room today (why do our cats scatter all their toys but refuse to play with them?) and vacuum. (Our baby suck (small shop vac) bit the dust yesterday.  I tried to fix it, but it's lost the will to live.)

Our guest will only be here two days, but our house should be clean and shining and inviting.  And then later this week we can go back to real life.

How do you prepare for a guest?
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Why can't I find any pants in my size?

I've got an "occasion" coming up and I decided to go online to try to buy some new pants.  Guess what.  There are no pants in my size with a high waist.  They cannot be bought for ANY PRICE.

I have been buying my jeans from JCPenny for at least the last 15 years.  Why?  Because they sell to tall women.  Okay, I'm not all that tall (5' 7"), but I do happen to have long legs.  I need pants that are at LEAST 31 inches.  Guess what?  The average length is 29 1/2 inches.  So what's an inch and a half, right?  Well, it might as well be 6 inches in the winter when your pants are far above your ankle.

But now that Penny's has gone out of the catalog business--there went my source for pants that actually fit.  (I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS, JCP!!!)



But even if I can find pants that are long enough, I can't find them with a high waist.  Someone my size does NOT look good in hip-hugger jeans.  Every week I go shopping and see heavyset women in low-riding pants with rolls of excess flesh hanging over the top.  That's not a look I want.

Before I could find tall jeans, my Mom used to add a length of denim to the bottoms of my pants.  This was not an elegant solution, and you can't do that with dress pants.

I have searched the web and can't find any pants I can wear.

Don't tell me to wear a dress -- I gave that up years ago because I couldn't find anything flattering.  (It doesn't help that I don't know how to pick clothes.)

I may have to go to this party in my yoga pants.

Are you hard to fit?  If so, where do you buy your clothes?

Bargain priced--Jeff Resnick Mysteries Volume 2

At least one person expressed interest in the ebook second volume of the Jeff Resnick Mysteries.

Yes!  It's now available--two books for the incredible price of $5.98.

You can find it for/at:


Kindle

Nook

Smashwords (for all e formats)

(Coming soon to Sony E Reader, Kobo, Diesel, and iTunes.)

Yup, that's the entire crop

For the past few weeks we've been drowning in tomatoes and green beans.  Not a bad was to go, eh?
Friday I realized I had forgotten about my potato crop.

The potatoes had a rough summer.  Mr. Groundhog kept eating them down to about the 2-inch level.  Then one day, he said, "I've had enough potato leaves" and went out to the farm to destroy a large part of their eggplant crop.

So, the potatoes soldiered on.  They never had flowers and I figured we'd never get any potatoes, so I more or less forgot about them.  Until Friday.

By Friday, most of the leaves had shriveled up.  I looked around the weed-strewn patch and thought, "I'll never find them."  But, I dug where I thought they might be and sure enough I found them.  Aren't they cute?  We had some (with parsley from the yard) the other night.  Yum yum!

What a fabulous cover!

Marketing is everything.  It is.  Which is why I sent my character Katie Bonner (from the Victoria Square Mysteries) to grad school to get a degree in it.  She was determined to do a fabulous job of marketing her B&B, The English Ivy Inn ... of course, she never got to own the old Victorian House where she'd hoped to open her business ... and that's the first book.  (A Crafty Killing.)

But I'm talking about ME marketing my work.  And one of the things I decided to do was offer the first two Jeff Resnick Books as a 2 fer.  Buy both books in one package and you save $2.

Look at the detail on this fantastic cover.  Isn't it wonderful?  (Done by the fabulous Pat Ryan Graphics.)

It's currently available from Kindle and Smashwords. (Nook always takes their time about these things.  But Smashwords sells all e formats, so everyone is still covered.)  And the cost for these two books?  $5.98 -- that's less than one paperback!  Such a deal!

As soon as I get my butt in gear, I'll be offering the other two books in the series as a 2 fer, as well.  (I already have the cover for that box set, too, and it's just as fabulous.)

COMING SOON:  A Jeff Resnick contest. 
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Where are all the pretty leaves?

On of the most depressing things about the changing seasons is the light -- or lack thereof -- in the mornings.

In the spring, the sun comes up waaaaaay too early.  Do I really need birds chirping outside my window and the sky getting lighter before 5 am?

But now, it's just the opposite.  Do I really want it to be pitch black out at 6:30 am (and even later come December)?

This is usually the pretty time of year.  When the leaves turn yellow, gold, red, and orange.  Only too many of our maples have blight this year (too much rain and then not enough) and so the leaves are turning brown on the trees and just falling off.  (Even our pin oak is dropping leaves like crazy and usually it doesn't do that until November.)

Is fall happening differnt in your area, too?
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BTW, did you miss my last newsletter? If so, you can find it here:  http://p0.vresp.com/hqTemM
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My weapon of choice . . .

No sooner have I turned in one book (yesterday), when it's time to start the next.

Right now, I only know what several of the subplots will be. (That's because I'm writing an arc for the characters that won't be finalized until at least book #9.)

Still, I need to turn in a synopsis this week.  YIKES!

As of now I don't know who is killed, with what, or why.  Some day that will all be clear, but in the meantime . . .

Over the summer I purchased an old telephone similar to the one I describe in the Booktown Mysteries.  You may remember that I blogged about it back in August. (And you can read about it here.)
 
A couple of weeks ago, I went to a big community sale and found the following solid brass letter openers.  I knew I had to have them, and I knew one of them would eventually find its way into one of my books (and one of my characters).



Now the problem is ... which one do I use for this next book?

Anybody got any strong feelings one way or another?
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Green Beans For Me!

Oh, how I lamented the loss of half of my bean crop.  Mr. Bunny (Groundhog ... whatever) ate HALF of my beans.  Nipped them right at ground level, ate a couple of leaves, and left the rest of the plant to die on the poles.  Mr. Bunny got dispatched to the Police Academy (thanks to Animal Control) and the rest of my bean crop was safe.

And boy, as a memorial to their eaten brothers, have these guys gone into overproduction.  We're up to our eyebrows in beans.  But then, I always overplant because I expect Mr. Bunny's relatives to eat at least some of them.

It's been very difficult to pick the bean crop.  Hurricane Irene didn't bring any rain our way, but we sure got a LOT of wind and it blew over not only the bean poles, but the tomato cages, too.  Everything's a mish-mash and it's hard to get in and find the beans.  But Friday we picked half a grocery bag of them because there's no way we could eat them all now.  And thus began the job of freezing them.

Since it's been so hard to pick the beans (there's a fence to contend with, plus we're trying to grow new grass on the other side of it), a lot of them are far too big and tough to eat.  No problem!  We've had problems getting seeds for the variety of beans we prefer. And, in fact, most of this year's crop was from seeds I collected two and three years ago.  They came up just like clockwork.  The pile of beans on the right are just some of the ones I'm drying for next year's seed crop.


After blanching, they went into the ice bath (which in this case happens to be the top of my Tupperware cake tote).

By the time we'd sorted through the beans, we got six bags to freeze.  I estimate we'll have at least that much to do today, too.


Yeah, we could buy a bag of frozen beans for $1.99 that would probably last us for 2-3 meals, but this is so much more satisfying.  I guess only another gardener would understand.

What have you frozen or canned from your veggie garden this year?
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By the way, today I'm guest blogging on my friend Dru-Ann Love's blog, Dru's Book Musings about my new cookbook, RECIPES TO DIE FOR. I hope you'll come by to see what Katie Bonner has to say about the book.
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Recipes To Die For a reality at last!

The other day, I got my proof copy of RECIPES TO DIE FOR: A Victoria Square Cookbook.  My first reaction was:  Gosh, it's cute!  First of all, the cover pops right out at you.  I love the logo my cover designer made--which sort of reminds me of the covers on the Booktown Mysteries.  But I also love the noose hanging from my name, too.

Although it's a paperback, it's not a mass-market paperback (the size of the novels--this one is bigger...trade size).  One of the complaints I get about the paperbacks is that the type size is too small.  Fear not, this is readable.

But what makes this cookbook special?  (And believe me it is NOT a mystery.  It's a companion piece to the Victoria Square Mystery series.)  The book starts out by introducing quite a few of the characters from the series and giving the reader information that isn't included in the books.  Katie's introduction tells how she came to live with her beloved great aunt Lizzie, and her love of baking.  But you'll find out (hopefully) interesting facts about people like Luther Collier, who owns the local funeral parlor, and vendors Liz and Gwen, who have a much greater presence in the third book than the first two.  But Ida Mitchell, the tag room manager, contributes a couple of her favorite recipes, too.

And the print book differs from the e book because it has graphics.  (I wonder if you can guess what recipe this graphic represents?)

I had a lot of decisions to make about the pricing of the book.  One thing I wanted to do was keep the cost down.  Hey, these are tough times, but the distribution options weren't as attractive as I would have hoped.  In order to make the book available to many retail organizations, the MINIMUM I had to charge was $6.99.  (I may yet have to charge that, but for the now the book costs $5.99.)  Even then, I would make only 17 cents per copy sold.

Therefore, I've chosen to only make it available from My e Store (via the publisher) and on Amazon.  I know--a lot of people don't like Amazon, but selling it on the Barnes & Noble site means I'd only make that same 17 cents a copy, and let's face it ... the author should make more than 17 cents a copy on a book sold.

The book went live just last night My E Store, where it can now be ordered (and where I'll get the highest royalty).  By next week it should show up on Amazon.  I'll let you know when that happens.  But for now, if you'd like to order a print copy of the book, you can find it here.

It's also available as an e book from:  Kindle ~ Nook ~ Smashwords (which has can be downloaded for all e formats).

I hope you'll give Recipes To Die For a chance!
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Kate & Will's Kiss . . .

A few weeks ago, when I visited Niagara On The Lake, I visited my favorite shop--The Scottish Loft.  There they stock all things Scottish (and a bunch of them say "If it isn't Scottish, it's CRAP!").  I stocked up on English candy (love those travel sweets) and one more thing.



I have quite a collection of Royal Family memorabilia.  This was just my latest addition.  I had been hoping to find one in bone china but this was it.  (I did see a William and Kate cake plate, but it was something like a hundred bucks, and it only had writing, no picture, so I passed it by.)


Here's my entire Will and Kate collection to date:



What have you added lately to one of your collections?
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I know it's autumn because . . .

Okay, to be technical--fall doesn't arrive until Friday, but it officially arrives for me today.  Why?
The pool gets closed.

Why does that make me sad when I haven't gone swimming in the thing for at least five years?  Because the pool uncovered is a beautiful thing.  Especially this year because we paid to have it cleaned every other week.  It sparkles.  But when it's closed, it's ugly.  It's a blunt reminder that SUMMER IS OVER and we're going TO FREEZE FOR MONTHS ON END.

I hate pool closing.

But . . . the seasons must change.  It's time to think about other things.  We'll soon be going down to our basement pub in the evenings.  It's got the world's most comfortable couch, a bar, tons of books and magazines to read, music, TV--it's like a 2nd living room.  (Okay, we already have three other living rooms, but it's my favorite one.)

What event marks the end of summer for you?
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BTW, RECIPES TO DIE FOR: A Victoria Square Cookbook is now available for Nook.  Will have an update on the print version in the next couple of days.
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Recipes To Die For is now available ... sort of

Okay, when I said I was shooting for October 1st, I had no idea things would come together so fast for my Victoria Square cookbook, Recipes to Die For.

Well, not exactly.  Amazon uploaded the book in less than six hours, which has to be a record.  Smashwords is always fast, but then you wait for a long time to see if you make it to the Premium Catalog (which means they distribute it to places like Sony, Kobo, Diesel and Apple.  Still waiting on that.)  As I write this, I'm still waiting for Barnes & Noble to upload it for Nook.  The last time I uploaded to them, it took three weeks.  I nagged and nagged, but they weren't going to put that story up until they were good and ready, I guess.

The print version could be ready as soon as next week.

I decided to do a print version because so many of my readers have said they don't have e readers and don't plan on getting them, either.  The only problem is, the price tag is higher than I would have liked.  And I decided NOT to make the book available to libraries and other bookstores simply because I would lose 23 cents for every book sold.  I just can't afford to do that.  So, the price tag is $5.99, which still seems high to me, but it was the cheapest I could make it and not lose money.

So, if you'd like to purchase the book right now, it's available on Kindle and (for all e formats) Smashwords.  I'll let you know when the print version is available.

I hope you'll like getting to know not only Katie Bonner better, but her vendors and friends on Victoria Square.  And ... maybe try a recipe or two while you're at it.

Thank you!
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And I Didn't Pay For Shipping!

Way back in 2008, I blogged about how I wanted a GT Express 101 counter top cooker thingy.  (And if you missed that post, you can read it here.)  It was being sold on an infomercial for $40 (for two) with an astronomical shipping price.  Suffice to say, I didn't buy it.  I figured I probably couldn't use two of them and didn't have anyone to give the second one to.

I must've watched that infomercial at least 100 times. I could practically recite along with the hostess Cathy Mitchell and her pal Joe, who cooked all kinds of omelets, cakes (with bite-size Snicker bars in the middle), enchiladas, cornbread, and all kinds of neat stuff -- in ten minutes or less!

Boy, I really wanted one . . . but I got over it and moved on.

Earlier this summer, I saw a used one at a yard sale, but it didn't have the recipe book.  I came back a second time and looked at it longingly . . . but decided that at $3 and no recipe book, it wasn't going to come home with me.

And then ... last weekend I saw another one, BRAND NEW IN THE BOX for $5.  You never saw anyone peel off five bucks as fast in your whole life.  It had everything, the little flipper-overer, a bottle to measure pancake batter, and best of all, the recipe book full of 101 recipes.  Woo-hoo!

It was with great anticipation that I fired that baby up. Since the infomercial touted it as great for using up small quantities of leftovers, that's where I started.  I beat a couple of eggs, tossed in some leftover parsley potatoes and a half a slice of Swiss cheese to make my very first omelet.

The booklet said it would take 7 minutes to cook.  I peeked halfway and shook my head.  It was going to take a LOT longer.  But then the 7 minutes was up (I used my handy dandy kitchen timer) and gosh darnit if that little omelet wasn't done to a turn.  Of course, then it was time to get that baby out of the GT express 101. The flipper overer looks like it should be easy to use, but it felt awkward in my hand.  I had to use my left hand to get the omelet out of the left hand side of the cooker.

Was this omelet any better than I could have made in my omelet pan?  Probably not.  Was it easier to use?  Yes, because I didn't have to stand there and baby it. Did it taste better?  I would've tasted a lot better if I'd cooked it in a big gob of butter, but they tell you NOT to add more than cooking spray, and therefore you get healthier food.

Was it everything they advertised?  I'd say yes.  Of course, I've only used it once, but I have a feeling I'll use it again.  Maybe not tomorrow, but soon.  Will I ever use it for anything other than an omelet?  That's debatable.  But it is easier to clean than my omelet pan, so ... what the heck.

Have you ever used an AS SEEN ON TV product that worked?