Dazed and Confused

Monday, July 14, 2014

My friend C.J. Lyons decided it would be great if readers could find new-to-them authors. To do that, she set up a website called Digital Book Day. On it, she would list all the free books she could come up with on a multitude of genres that are absolutely FREE ... and guess what? She's included mine -- MURDER ON THE MIND. The link is for Amazon worldwide, but the book is FREE for all e formats.

Hope you find lots of great books. Here's the link again: http://www.digitalbookday.com/

Remember -- don't just download the books -- PLEASE READ THEM, and then leave these authors a review, too.

Thank you!

Friday, July 11, 2014

Lap Sitter

In early May, I broke my office heater. I had taken it to our family's cottage for the weekend (it gets REALLY cold there) and brought it home. My office is the farthest from the furnace and it's COLD there from October through May.

The heater's wheels idn't turn as well as they should and as I was pushing it toward the door to the house -- oops! It tipped over. The next thing you know there's oil allllllll over the driveway. Luckily, There was cat litter in the garage. I tossed it on the oil and the next day you wouldn't know it had ever spilled. Of course, the heater was a goner. It went out with the trash on Tuesday, but it was rescued by someone looking for metal to recycle so I guess alls well with that. Except for one thing.

My cat Betsy was very fond of that heater. In fact, she practically lived next to it all winter. She's got a cushion she sleeps on on one side, and a towel on the other. Sometimes there's a bit of snarling if Chester decides HE, too, wants to sleep there during office hours.

Since there was no more heater, Betsy decided she was going to sit on the only other warm object in the office. ME.

Betsy takes a break on Mr. L's foot for a change.

This is all well and good for five or ten minutes. But even a 7 pound cat gets heavy after a while. And it's extremely difficult to type when said cat decides to CONTINUALLY rub her head on your hands WHILE you're trying to type. And when typing is a VITAL part of your job ... well, let's just say productivity goes down pretty quickly.

Betsy likes to sit on my lap first thing in the morning. All morning. Right after lunch, most of the afternoon, and then in the evening when I'm trying to read the newspaper. I figure she puts in 4-5 hours a day on my lap.

I often sit in the living room to edit what I've written. My butt isn't in the chair 30 seconds before there she is ready to spend the next hour on my lap.

I'm not really complaining. Betsy is almost 18. I don't know how much longer we'll be blessed with her company, and I want to make her happy. So ... I guess she'll continue to sit on my lap for as long as it pleases her ... and me.

Have you got a lap sitter?

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Just 7 more days!!!

Have you seen the video booktrailer?

Friday, June 20, 2014

Pets who read mysteries

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett

Last week I ran a contest on my blog and Facebook: Send me a picture of your pet reading my book to enter for a chance to get an advance review copy of my latest Booktown Mystery, BOOK CLUBBED (which will be available on July 1st). I had a great response.

Several cats decided to start at the very beginning of the the Booktown series with Murder Is Binding. That's Debbie L's cat Smithie. She says she can't get enough of the Booktown Mysteries!

To the right is Laura I's girl Kit-Kat. She told her mom, "Stop bugging me with this picture taking...can't you see I'm about to sink my teeth into Lorna Barrett's Murder Is Binding?!"

The book was also very popular with dogs, such as Leah A's girl Olive (at left)

and Sally S's pup Pep (at the right.)

It turns out that not just cats and dogs like to catch up on the Booktown Mysteries. Bunnies like Linda D's Hannah like the series, too! (That's Bookmarked for Death, the 2nd book in the series.)

A few of the pets decided to try my other series, like Linda's K's dog Gizmo decided to read One Hot Murder (the third book in my Victoria Square mystery series).

Meanwhile, Margie B's dog Max likes reading my edgier Jeff Resnick series while enjoying a cup of tea. Doesn't he look scholarly? Kind of like Mr. Peabody! (BTW, that's the first in the series, Murder on The Mind. If you've got an ereader, it's free for all e formats.)

Some people don't have pets, so they got creative. Like Jennifer S. Her stuffed Shrek liked Not The Killing Type (which comes out in paperback on July 1st). He read it on her e reader. (Smart little guy, huh?)

I got many more entries, and I'll be posting all of them on Facebook during the next week or so. I hope you'll visit my profile page to see them and comment on them!

See you there!

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

VIDEO: BOOK CLUBBED

Ellery Adams and I have been at it again, producing a book trailer for my upcoming release (July 1st) BOOK CLUBBED.

What do you think?

Monday, June 9, 2014

CONTEST: Win an ARC of BOOK CLUBBED

Do your pets like to read as much as you do?

How would you like to win an advance review copy of BOOK CLUBBED, the 8th Booktown Mystery? Send me picture of your pet reading any of my books along with your snail mail address to Lorna@ LornaBarrett.com (don't forget to close up the space).

Below is my cat Fred reading Not The Killing Type. Okay, he sort of fell asleep, but it was because he was TIRED, not because he was bored.

The winner will be announced next Monday (June 16th).
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UPDATE: It was too hard to choose, so everyone who entered the contest will receive a copy of one of my books. Stay tuned. Pictures of pets reading coming soon!

Friday, May 30, 2014

Foodie Friday: Ruminations on Rhubarb

I had a load of fun putting together y little cookbook RECIPES TO DIE FOR: A Victoria Square Cookbook together. The odd thing is, most of the recipes are ones I really do use over and over again. (It's kind of nice to have them all in one place.)

It's springtime and for me that means fresh rhubarb. What an odd vegetable. I never thought about it as a vegetable, since the only thing I use it for is desserts and chutney, but it really is a veggie, and the leaves are very, very poisonous. (If you value your liver, never, EVER eat them.) But the stalks are just fine to eat--and EXTEMELY tart! We've got rhubarb up the wazoo and I've been even tossing it in my green smoothies. (Yes, VERY TART indeed.)

Mr. L is partial to rhubarb crisp. Here's my favorite recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup quick cooking rolled oats
½ cup melted butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 cups sliced rhubarb
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°. In mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, oats, butter, and cinnamon; mix together until crumbly. Press half of the brown sugar and oats mixture into a buttered 8-inch square baking dish. Top with the sliced rhubarb. In a saucepan combine 1 cup granulated sugar, cornstarch, and the 1 cup of water and vanilla. Cook together until the liquid is clear, then pour over the rhubarb. Top the rhubarb with remaining crumb mixture and bake for 45 to 55 minutes. Serve warm, and if desired, with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Yield: 4-6 servings.

Mmm-mmm good!

And in case you are interested in RECIPES TO DIE FOR, here are a few links.

Watch the video! (Made by Ellery Adams and me!)

Trade Paperback Kindle US
Kindle Worldwide
Nook
iBooks
Kobo
Smashwords

P.S. New recipe up on my Lorna Barrett Website from Bookmarked for Death. Find it here!

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Teacup Tuesday: Readers share their beautiful teacups and dishes

Well, I missed a week. Then I thought I had written the blog post and would just post it this week. Hello, I got the pictures ready, but forgot to write the post. Oy. (My excuse: I've been writing up a storm!)

Last time out, I invited readers to submit pictures of their own china cabinets. Two readers took me up on the challenge. First up, is Diane L. from Manchester, CT submitted two pictures. Here's her curio cabinet.

and here's a view of her dining room. Just lovely, Diane!

Suzann F. from Bethlehem, PA is a collector after my own heart. She has a lot of really neat collectibles she keeps in a number of cabinets and shelves.

Look at the detail on that drawer! Beautiful.

Don't you just love those turkey plates? I have a turkey platter with a similar design.

Pretty, pretty, pretty!

Thanks Diane and Suzann for sharing your lovely cups and plates with us.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Teacup Tuesday: I love you lovely china cabinet

China cabinets are a lot of fun. You don't think so? I think of them as an adventure, and I love to snoop in other people's china cabinets.

My china cabinet (well, all of them, really) is pretty much bursting at the seams. In fact, I've now got four or five of my bone china tea cups living on top. (Although not in this picture which I dug up to show you.)

Those are Russian tea glasses on top of the cabinet, along with a few soapstone vases. (The red one was a wedding gift to my inlaws when they got married in 1939.)

Would you like to share a picture of your china cabinet for others to see? If so, send them to me at LLB(at)LLBartlett.com -- I know I'd love to see them.
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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

It's for a great cause!

Want to help a great cause AND get some cool stuff, too? Check out my donation to the Brenda Novak Online Auction for Diabetes.

DEAD IN RED (Hardcover) by LL Bartlett
RECIPES TO DIE FOR (Trade Paper) by Lorraine Bartlett
BOOKPLATE SPECIAL (Paperback) by Lorna Barrett
A Jeff Resnick Shot Glass
Bone China Teacup
Sample of Tea
and 3 Badges

All valued at around $60.

You can bid on my donation by clicking this link!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Teacup Tuesday: Do I love this little teacup?

Usually in my part of the woods, we see yard sales happening in early April, but this year after THE LONG WINTER, there were very few yard sales in April. In fact, I didn't see ANY. But last weekend it was almost warm (in the mid-50s) and not raining. (YAY!)

So, I was terribly pleased that at the first yard sale I stopped at I found a wonderful bone china teacup with ROSES. Yellow and pink. My FAVORITES.

The question for me is ... will I keep this little beauty, or will it end up as a giveaway sometime in the future here on this blog? I don't know. I really don't have room for many (any?) more cups. I have to decide if I really love it or now. That will take a few weeks of living with it to know for sure.

In the meantime, do YOU love this little cup?

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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Teacup Tuesday: Every Cup Tells A Story

Oops! Missed a week. There's lots going on while I gear up for a BIG new project, finish up Booktown #9, and start a brand new series, while working on other shorter projects. Whew! I'm pooped! But never too pooped for teatime!

On of my favorite albums is called EVERY SONG TELLS A STORY by Randy Bachman (he of Guess Who and Bachman, Turner, Overdrive fame). He performs all his hits, but tells a story about how the song came to be written. I love it. I never tire of hearing the stories. Likewise, all my teacups have a story.

Isn't this ivy cup a beauty? I'm very fond of ivy ... but not growing in my yard. The former owners decided to use ivy as a ground cover around the inground pool. It not only spread around the pool, but took hold in the front yard--taking up a gigantic area near the garage. But it also turns out that ivy is a great place for mice to live. Eradicating the ivy has been a challenge, especially since it has taken over a portion of our neighbor's yard. They seem content to leave it there, while we constantly rip it out--and it just keeps creeping back. So, now instead of the mice living in our yard, they live next door and visit. We've been able to keep them out of the house, but they're still out there (quite a few of them drown in the pool every summer. And you know it isn't going to be me emptying those skimmers).

This lovey cup is the big brother to one my mother gave me (same pattern, just half size). If I'm not mistaken (and believe me, she will correct me if I'm wrong), my mother received her cup from a woman who taught her to hook rugs. "Marge" has been gone many years now, but when I pass her house, I always think of that little teacup. When I saw this one at a yard sale, I knew it needed to keep the other cup company.

Another of my yard-sale finds. I almost didn't buy it because there's a hairline crack in the cup, but during the past few years I feel kinship to the cup. Nobody's perfect, why should a teacup be perfect too? Its perfection lies in the pattern and the graceful handle. I think it's perfectly fine.

Have you got a story to share about a teacup?

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Pet Peeve Thursday: That Devil Facebook

I'd long ago run out of things to rant about, but the more I deal with Facebook, the more I dislike that evil empire.

Facebook started out as a great place for people to hang out and to connect. And it was free.

Then it went public. Already the beginning of the end was in sight, but the end has been creeping closer and closer ever since.
Several years ago, Facebook (and my publisher) began pushing people with profile pages to change up to a LIKE page. (Once called FAN pages.) You could merge all your friends from your profile page into a like page and were promised FAR BETTER coverage. More people would see it. (That was the fantasy at least. Many authors often LOST all their profile friends, and the process isn't much better several years down the line.)

A lot of authors fell for that and soon found that there were a lot of tradeoffs in having a like page. Your fans/friends could post, but those posts would be relegated to a sidebar where people HAVE to go to look at them. No more face-to-face communication.

And then Facebook came to promo Like pages. That is, pay for a $5 ad and MORE people will see your page. Only now it's turned out PAY US TO PROMOTE OR WE'LL RESTRICT those who liked your page from seeing you.

Since January, I've started two new pages and have been intensely posting to see how I could get around that "pay-for-promo" (only the suggested payment per post is now THIRTY DOLLARS!!!). The thing is, who can afford that? Even big companies like General Motors have pulled back and stopped advertising on Facebook because they saw NO VALUE.

If I post a link on a page where I have more than 3000 Likes, I might get 500 views. On a page where I have 1200 likes, if I don't post a link, I might get 50+ views. Post a link and I'll get 20 or less views. They actually PUNISH you by posting a link to a blog, website, or anything that takes a Facebook member OFF the site. (Even when you post a link to another FB site, they still limit the views from people who already made the effort to like your page.)

So what am I going to do?

I'm not totoally giving up on FB. I do like to know what my friends are up to, but to see their posts, I have to go to their actual pages. How many of my readers will think to go to an author's page on a regular basis? I'm thinking not many. What can you do to keep seeing my posts (and those of the other LIKE pages you've favored)?

Rant over. You may now return to your daily grind. But if you want to know what your favorite authors, TV personalties, and musicians are up to, I hope you'll think about visiting their Like pages.
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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Teacup Tuesday: What we'd wear to tea!

Lately we've talked about tea--what kinds you like to drink. Where you like to drink it and with whom. What you'd like to wear when having tea. Here are some of those comments.
From Beth H. in Dallas, Tx: "I'd definitely wear my tea dress with the pansies on it. It's not exactly vintage like Pixie's but it looks like it. I made it years ago by a 'vintage' pattern.

Debbie S. from La Vergne, TN said, "Since I've never been to a tea I would want to do it right. I think that I would go shop and find a dress similar to the one that was pictured (since what I have in my closet right now would not work). Gloves might be fun, I would love a hat but they don't always love me, LOL."

Margaret M from Melbourne, FL said: "I'd wear something gauzy, filmy probably in every and off the shoulder, topped off with a pert little straw hat."

Lisa M. from Centerville, GA said: "If I were ever invited to an afternoon tea, I believe I would wear something that Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn would wear...classic dress with a nice hat. I know this would be a special day that I would always remember."

Mary P. from Toowoomba, Australia said: "When I was a child & visiting my Grandfather & Aunt we would be there for afternoon tea. My Aunt would wear long flowing tea dresses, long strands of beads & have bare feet. She was certainly a free spirit. I can totally picture myself wearing the same."

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NEXT TIME: Let's talk about opening a virtual tea shop. What should it be named? How do you think it should be decorated? Hardwood floors or rugs? Retro, vintage, or elegant? What about the china? (Feel free to suggest a pattern!). (Next time, we'll talk about what to serve!) Leave your answers in the comments section.