Poisoned Pen Letters

Researching a New Cozy Mystery Series: You Can't Judge a Book's Reader by Its Cover

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 17:47:00 +0000

Over the last few months, I've been happily at work creating a new cozy mystery series called the Dewberry Farm Mysteries (release dates coming soon), set in Buttercup, Texas. It's been an absolute delight to spend my mornings in this new fictional locale. I've really enjoyed building a small town with the flavor of Texas, complete with quirky characters, traditional foods, and history -- not to mention learning about the Czech and German heritage common to so many small towns in Texas.

Blossom on a bad morning.

As it happens, my main character has acquired a rather mischievous Jersey heifer named Blossom, so in addition to looking up recipes and superstitions (did you know that the Moravians believed that hearing three knocks meant someone was going to die?), I decided I needed to research dairy farming, about which I knew approximately nothing. Since reading up on interesting topics is half the fun of writing, I promptly ordered a book called Any Fool Can Be a Dairy Farmer. When it arrived, I took it with me to a coffee shop, ordered myself a (topically appropriate) latte, and parked myself in a leather chair.

Although the book was funny and informative -- dairy farming is evidently rife with the opportunity for humorous calamities -- I had even more fun watching the reactions of my fellow coffee drinkers as they paraded by my chair. I quickly surmised that I don't fit most people's mental image of an aspiring dairy farmer. By the end of the afternoon, I'd lost count of the number of people who snuck surreptitious looks at my book's cover, then my face, and then the cover. It was like they'd gone into their local coffee shop and discovered a duck wearing pajamas.

Still, that was nothing compared to the looks I got while reading a book for the first Margie Peterson mystery, Mother's Day Out.

It was called Miss Vera's Cross-Dress for Success.

I guess you can't judge the reader of a book by its cover. ;)

Website Design for the ADHD... er, Multigenre Author

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 22:55:00 +0000

I may or may not have mentioned this (and you may or may not have gathered it by now), but I am an eclectic writer. Which makes sense, because I like reading all kinds of stories. So why wouldn't I want to write all kinds of stories?

But readers who fall in love with a book generally want to read more of that type of story from that author. (And I am right there with you, incidentally.) The problem is, when putting together a website for readers, how does an author handle her readers' -- and her own -- divergent interests? As I approach the redesign of my website, this question has come up a lot.

Obviously, limiting myself to one type of story isn't going to work. I've written cozies, soft-boiled mysteries, paranormal romance, and even an epic fantasy (more on that soon). I considered taking a pen name for the fantasy, but when I realized that J.A. Konrath has several of his books under both his original name AND his pen name so that readers know he's the same person, it made me wonder if I might be making things too hard on my readers (and myself). On the other hand, not all readers of the Gray Whale Inn mysteries are going to gravitate toward Tales of an Urban Werewolf, and vice versa. (Although if you look at the covers, it's fairly obvious that they're very different books -- there should be no surprises there.)

I cruised around and took a look at some sites to get ideas. Fellow writer Julie Ortolon writes "heartwarming romance," and you can tell that from her site immediately. Friend Ellery Adams writes cozy mysteries; again, the look and feel of the site reflects that. But how should an ADHD... er, multifaceted writer like me design a site that covers multiple genres? It's hard asking a designer to integrate werewolves and coffee cakes.

I'm exploring options right now, but I'm beginning to think that a relatively neutral but attractive base with lots of information and series-specific links for fans of each series may be the way to go. I've committed to blogging again, and like my books, I'm sure my posts will be eclectic. (I'm open to questions!) I'm meeting with a friend who's a marketing guru to ask about all of this tomorrow morning, and I'll be curious to see what he says.

But what's more important is my readers. What do you as a reader want out of a website from a multi-genre author? Do you like a clean, simple design, or lots of links to lots of info? Does a neutral but attractive template with links to pages dedicated to each series work for you? Or do you prefer an entire site to reflect the look and feel of your favorite book?

Inquiring authors -- okay, an inquiring author, if we're being honest here -- wants to know.

Clotted Cream -- Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 22:59:00 +0000

I first had clotted cream in Newfoundland, when I was about 12 years old. It was freshly made and served with wild raspberries, and I've never forgotten it. It's creamy, buttery, and delicious either with scones and jam or with a spoon at midnight while standing in front of the fridge.

I picked up a pint of cream at the farmers' market yesterday and decided to try it myself with this recipe from Sustainable Table; there's a pan of cream in my oven right now. If this works out, I may have to include this in my next cozy mystery -- the first of the Dewberry Farm mysteries, set in Buttercup, Texas. (It involves a wayward Jersey named Blossom, so there will be plenty of cream with which to make butter. And cheese. And clotted cream. I'm about a quarter of the way done with the first book... more soon!)

Off to check on my cream now. Will post a photo if it comes out. :)

If I were in Maine right now...

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 21:26:00 +0000

I would:

1) Have reservations at Jordan Pond House for tomorrow afternoon
2) Be wearing jeans
3) Pick those little wild strawberries (blueberries in August)
4) Stop at a lobster stand
5) Read a good book on a screened porch while listening to the wind in the maple leaves
6) Take a dip in a cold pond
7) Listen to the loons call
8) Check out the tide pools and look for starfish
9) Search for sea glass and perfect egg-shaped rocks
10) Pity all the poor people roasting in Texas

Writing with kids: A Brief Primer

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:26:00 +0000

Now that summer 'vacation' is here, I've received a lot of e-mails recently asking how I manage to juggle writing and kids. It's a good question, and the answer has evolved over the years.

When I wrote Murder on the Rocks, I had two children under the age of 5, both at home. There was no way I was going to get anything done with both of them and me in the house, so I hired someone to come three afternoons a week to give me a couple of hours off. (A luxury, I know. Enforced nap time might be another option.) The first thing I did when I went off the parenting clock was to go to Starbucks and fill twenty pages of my notebook with words. I didn't stop for lunch. Didn't call a friend. I went to my chair and wrote. When I was done, my reward was to go to the bookstore and browse (and fantasize about my books someday being on the shelf alongside Susan Wittig Albert's). I then input the handwritten work at home, when interruptions weren't such a big deal.

I wrote Murder on the Rocks in 5 months using this system, and although I now count words on the computer instead of pages in a composition book, I still think it's an excellent approach. I have psyched myself out numerous times over the years -- just ask my husband, my agent, or anyone who's happened to ask me "How are you?" on a bad day. Each time, the way back to sanity -- and a regular writing schedule -- has been to go back to the mantra. One thousand words a day, five days a week. If they're awful, you can trash them tomorrow. If you need a day to figure things out (or sometimes a few more -- it happens), fine. But get back up in that saddle fast, or you'll start to lose confidence.

I also used to think that to be a good mother, I had to drop everything for my children all the time. It took me a few years to figure it out, but I've come to the conclusion that that is a perfect recipe for entitled children who are unable to handle entertaining themselves and/or getting a glass of water. On a more philosophical note, I've also realized that I don't want my children to think being a parent means sacrificing all of their own dreams. The best way to teach them this, I think, is to model it myself.

I'm happier when I'm working. Yes, I get distracted. Yes, I sometimes wander off to the computer at odd times. And yes, sometimes I'm not available to make Easy Mac "right this minute." But my writing work is important. It's a priority -- in fact, it's the first thing on my to-do list every day, and I start it first thing in the morning and don't feel content until it's done. (And I do feel content. I feel that I've done my job.)

And when momma's happy, everyone's happy. Or at least has a better chance of it.

MOTHER'S DAY OUT has hit the virtual shelves!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 13:06:00 +0000

Just wanted to stop by and say that MOTHER'S DAY OUT has hit the virtual shelves! It is available on Amazon here; it will also be available for Nook within the next day or so. I hope you enjoy meeting Margie... she is fun to spend time with, and I'm looking forward to more books with her. Here's a bit more about Margie and MOTHER'S DAY OUT:

Life is pretty typical for stay-at-home mom Margie Peterson. She’s got two young kids, an attorney husband who never quite makes partner, and a fixer-upper house she doesn’t have the money to fix. Things are rolling along fine until the first preschool tuition bill hits the mailbox, and Margie realizes it’s time to take out a second mortgage…or get a job.

Margie’s mother-in-law wants her to join the Junior League, her mother thinks her aura needs adjusting, and her husband wants her to sell Tupperware. But Margie decides on something more exciting than washing dishes at charity teas or matching plastic lids with bowls.

When a seedy PI agency hires her as a part-time private investigator, Margie finds herself tracking an obese plumbing salesman with a penchant for Saran Wrap and bargain-basement hookers. But Margie’s no Sam Spade. By the end of her first day, she’s totaled her minivan, submitted a picture of a naked man in Saran Wrap to the school newsletter, and accidentally participated in a drag queen contest. When she finds a dead transvestite in the “Princesses’” room of a gay bar, she decides it may be time to hang up her hat and start planning Tupperware parties. Then she picks up the drag queen’s phone … and discovers the last call the dead man made was to Margie’s own house.

I hope you have as much fun with Margie as I did. Web updates should hit any day now, and the site should a whole new look in the next few months as I have it redesigned so that I can update it myself. In the meantime, I'll be in my office, working on the next book and trying not to let the sleeping pets lull me into a nap. Or wrangling cucumbers in my overgrown garden (the vines are threatening to swallow cars parked on the street). Or checking up on my Facebook friends. Or all of the above, most likely.

Cheers!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:49:00 +0000

Blueberry Blues, the next Gray Whale Inn short story, has hit the virtual bookshelf today! I wrote this story as a serial for Bed and Breakfast America a few years ago, and am pleased to see it in print again! (It's got a terrific recipe for Double-Berry Lemon Muffins at the end. Yum.)

I'm currently finishing up the fifth Gray Whale Inn mystery, and will be sending it on to my editor at Midnight Ink today. I have several title ideas, but no finalists yet... it is a winter mystery, and it's been fun to write!

Cheers, and more soon...

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:34:00 +0000

Ah, blogging...

I've missed it (sort of) and feel guilty (mildly) that I haven't been very active in the blogosphere. I'm going to try to amend that... but I AM very (okay, too) active on Facebook; you can also find me on Twitter at @KarenMacInerney.

There are lots of books on the horizon, and the web site will reflect that soon; my new mystery, Mother's Day Out, will be out this summer (I'll post a teaser soon), and a Gray Whale Inn short story called Blueberry Blues will be available on Amazon today. There will be two more Gray Whale Inn mysteries forthcoming (turning in #5 tomorrow), as well as a few other books that are in various stages of development.

Ta for now, and please come find me on Facebook and Twitter; I spend way too much time on both!

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:53:00 +0000

I have cut back on the blogging to concentrate more on my fiction, but I wanted to drop in and let you know there are new books in the works: LEADER OF THE PACK will be out in July of this year, and I recently agreed to write the fourth Gray Whale Inn mystery, which will be out in 2010 (I don't know when). I'm also working on a number of other projects, which have been taking much of my time. I'll post updates on the web site when I have them.

Although I am not currently blogging, I am, however, on both MySpace and Facebook, so please visit me there!

Cheers,
Karen

Release dates

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:55:00 +0000

Hi, everyone!

I've been writing and traveling, but just got a spate of e-mails asking for release dates, so I thought I might stop by and give an official update. (My web designer will be updating the web site soon.)

MURDER MOST MAINE and ON THE PROWL are both scheduled for release this November, and both are available for pre-order on Barnes and Noble's online site and on Amazon. I just finished the third in the Urban Werewolf trilogy just last week; it will probably be out next summer, and the working title is now LEADER OF THE PACK. I am now taking a few weeks to relax and think about my next projects, but will be at RWA in San Francisco at the end of the month -- hope to see some of you there!

As far as the KUT interview is concerned, it was a news spot about the Agents and Editors conference in Austin, and I talked a bit about the whole agent-finding process; to hear it, you can go here.

Hope everyone had a happy 4th -- I am visiting my sister in Washington, D.C. and plan to visit my old townhouse in Old Town Alexandria tonight, which should be fun -- and that you're having a relaxing summer!

KUT Interview tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:27:00 +0000

I just found out I'll be interviewed for KUT 90.5 tomorrow, in association with the upcoming Agents and Editors conference... it'll be a taped interview, and I don't know when they'll be running it, but as soon as I find out, I'll let you know. What a lovely surprise.

Oh -- and I'll be presenting Sunday morning at the conference, on one of my favorite topics: "Where do I go from here?" Query letters, new projects, and submissions... oh, my!

Hope all is well with you. I'm doing minor revisions on MURDER MOST MAINE, which is on schedule for November publication, reviewing page proofs for ON THE PROWL, which is also on schedule for November publication, and finishing revisions on the third TALES book.

And thinking of new projects. I'm letting my mind range, and finding I'm interested in all kinds of topics -- and reading fairy tales, of all things. We'll see what happens next!

Cheers, and I'll be back soon...

It occurred to me...

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:45:00 +0000

as I was buying yet another book labeled "Coming Soon as a Major Motion Picture!"

Have you ever heard of a minor motion picture?

The between-book blues

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:48:00 +0000

After a month (actually, five months) of intense work, I turned in the third GWI mystery, Murder Most Maine, on deadline (Monday). I then spent the rest of the day relaxing. (Of course, the page proofs for On the Prowl arrived Tuesday, so that ended quickly.) And although I still have to clean up the third book of the Tales trilogy by the end of this month, I'm taking a two-week break from all my projects... and am already feeling that angsty in-between-book feeling.

It's not like I don't have anything to write. I have plenty of options -- both in existing series and elsewhere -- but after spending a few years in the company of Natalie the innkeeper and Sophie the werewolf, I'm in the mood to step out and try something a little different. I even have a character in mind, and a chunk of story that's appealing to me. But it means creating a whole different world, and pushing myself by using a slightly different voice.

Just for fun, and to break from my habitual writing style, I pulled out an old composition notebook and the only pen I could find (which happened to be a rollerball with silvery-turquoise ink -- it must belong to my daughter) and started writing. And the jolt worked, even if it's virtually impossible to see the ink once it dries. You have to hold it at a certain angle, you see, or it vanishes.

But the change of venue -- writing on lined paper, not the computer, and with weird ink -- seems to be helping. Robin Hobb, when she changed writing styles, took a pen name -- and says it gave her greater freedom on the page. Isn't it interesting how these little mental tricks can help change course?

Of course, it's early days, and we'll see what happens; it may be a false start, but it's too soon to tell.

It's funny, though. I was going to give myself a two-week total hiatus, and seem to be incapable of doing it. I cannot not write. Which I suppose is better than the alternative.

Now all I need is a name for my character...

RIP iBook... and On the Prowl

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:36:00 +0000

I knew it would happen eventually, and I suspected it might happen at a crucial time... but I didn't guess exactly how crucial. Late last week, ten days before a big deadline, my trusty little computer finally went belly-up.

I was hoping it would hold out a while longer -- at least until I got my deadlines taken care of. Alas, I must have somehow displeased the computer gods.

After a big day of writing, I 'slept' it on Thursday afternoon. Imagine my dismay when it wouldn't come back on after forty minutes of hammering at the restart button! Then, when it finally did, it wouldn't stay on long enough for me to e-mail my working files!

Can you say sweaty palms? :)

After twenty minutes of muttering oaths and prayers, I managed to bring it back to life long enough to e-mail my crucial files before it gave its final death rattle. I didn't lose anything, but since I didn't have time to ship the thing to California to fix it, I ended up spending more money than I care to think about on a new computer. On the plus side, this one has all twenty-six letters on the keyboard and backs itself up automatically. Which means I can stop e-mailing huge documents to my nearest and dearest every other day. :)

Anyway, now that my computer travails are over, I'm back on the home stretch of Murder Most Maine. I'm just taking a break from revisions to pop in -- and to post the cover that Sarab so kindly mentioned was already on Amazon.

Hope you're having a great Memorial Day weekend, and I'll be back soon!

Murder Most Maine!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:44:00 +0000

Greetings from your favorite vanishing blogger! (In case you're wondering where I've been, scroll down to my last post.)

I'm happy to report that after several weeks of more or less constant work, I'm on the home stretch of Murder Most Maine, the third book in the Gray Whale Inn series, and Running with the Pack, the third book in the Tales of an Urban Werewolf series, is finished. Save for revisions, that is.

I was going to post both covers today (I got both of them last week), but the colors keep coming up reversed for On the Prowl, so it'll have to wait until tomorrow (hubby says he can fix it tonight). Here, however, is the cover of Murder Most Maine -- complete with a lighthouse, which I got to incorporate into the plot this time. There's a story behind this cover that I will share at some point, incidentally, but not just yet. Maybe once the book is out, and I'm celebrating with too much champagne...

On a completely different note, I was noticing yesterday that many of the letters on my keyboard seem to be vanishing. (Perhaps this is connected to my work schedule of the past six weeks.) So far I've lost A, S, D, C, L, and half of M. The benefit of this is that my children are less inclined to 'borrow' my computer, as it's hard to type when you can't find almost 25% of the alphabet. But I do worry that perhaps I've worn out something on the inside, as well. The question is, should I replace the laptop before it crashes? Or keep backing it up and pray that it won't die at a crucial point?

Like, say, the next two weeks?

Okay, back to the salt mines. I hope all is well with you and your writing, and as soon as I get the color issue resolved, I'll post the cover of Running with the Pack here! (And get the contest winner up on the web site, which I've been meaning to do, but haven't had time. Everything's kind of gone on hold while I get my work done.)

I don't know about you, but I'm really looking forward to summer vacation!

Ack!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:00:00 +0000

Nothing like discovering you have two books (only one of which is finished) scheduled for release in seven months to get those creative juices running!

Gulp.

I just found Murder Most Maine on Amazon yesterday. I thought it would be out in 2009, but evidently I was incorrect in that assumption.

Off to the word processing program now...

Writing and risk-taking

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:56:00 +0000

So I’m teaching my bi-annual writing class on Monday nights this month, and as I see the apprehensive/excited faces behind the desks each evening, I realize again what an act of courage it is (and it is) every time a writer sits down to commit an act of prose. (Or poetry, or whatever it is you’re perpetrating.)

I used to think it got easier as it went along. And on some levels, it does; I’ve written over 2,000 pages of fiction at this point, so I’m pretty comfortable that when I tell my subconscious to come up with something I can transfer to paper, it will. But it still isn’t exactly a walk in the park.

When you are working on an established series, you have the benefit of a pre-created world and characters who have been developed in earlier books, which definitely helps. But there’s still a lot of work to be done; each plot needs to be fresh, and as Susan Wittig Albert discussed last week, characters can’t stay static — they grow and change with time.

On the other hand, when you break from an established series, especially one that’s well-liked, it’s exciting, but also a bit stress-inducing. Particularly if your new work is in a different style, and deals with a completely different subject. (Say, sassy and filled with werewolves instead of cozy and chock-full of coffee cakes.)

Since I committed myself to writing a trilogy that would be more than 2/3 complete before the first book hit the stands, I am particularly aware of the risks of jumping off in a new direction. (And the direction changed more than once after I jumped off, to be honest — for one thing, HOWLING was originally sold as a light werewolf mystery, but the editor decided to publish it as romance once the trilogy was well underway.) And it has been tough going this last several months, as I learned my way around a new genre and went through multiple editor changes — and waited for the first reviews to hit. (Thank goodness they were good.)

But even if things had gone the other way, and my work hadn’t been well received, I’m still glad I took the risk.

Because I think the most important thing as a writer — no matter where you are in the process — is to have faith in yourself, and to allow your creativity to go in whatever strange direction it chooses. Even if it does end up in places you never thought you’d go. Because you know what? There’s something magical that happens when the brain switches off and your fingers fly across the keyboard of their own accord. Characters come to life, plots veer off in unexpected — and sometimes rather unwelcome — directions, and sparks of new ideas flare up when you’re least looking for them.

And even if you screw up, you still learn something.

Writing is a risk. There is always the possibility that you’re the only one who will see the magic in what you’ve written. (Or, the day after, the absolute lack thereof — then again, we as writers are notoriously bad at judging our own work, so you never know.)

The key, however, is keeping that creative flame alive. Because that’s why we keep coming back to it, day after day after day.

So, for those of you out there who have been putting off writing a book for years out of fear it will never get published, or have a book you’ve never gotten around to finishing because it’s too hard, or have a steamy romance in mind that your afraid your grandmother will excommunicate you for (been there, done that, by the way), my advice is: Do it anyway. Take the risk.

Because that’s what this crazy business is all about.

Happy Thursday!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:44:00 +0000

Hi, everyone!

I'm taking a quick break from writing to let you know that Susan Wittig Albert's guest post is up on the Cozy Chicks today... so drop by and check it out. And if you'll be in Round Rock this Saturday, I'll be at Barnes and Noble at La Frontera from 2 to 4... feel free to stop by and say hi.

It's springtime here, and I'm experiencing a real burst of creativity, so I've spent the last several days riding the wave and working on the two books I have due this summer. I'm hoping to get finished before school lets out for the summer; I've already booked my trip to Maine, and am looking forward to some R&R. But the weather here is lovely now, so despite my rather aggressive writing goals, I did escape for a walk this morning -- the peach trees are in full bloom on the trail, the redbuds are already dropping their fuchsia blossoms, and it's time to get my tomatoes in. Summer will be here before I know it!

Okay, back to the werewolves... I'm on a roll today, and I don't want to lose momentum!

Karen

A few things I wanted to mention

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:13:00 +0000

Hi, everyone!

For the first time in two weeks, I am not sick. Hallelujah. And even better... the kids are back in school!

Since I've been off for a while, I'm going to make this brief so I can focus on my current novel. But I wanted to stop by and mention a couple of important items.

First, I'll be signing at the Westlake Barnes and Noble in Austin this Saturday from 2 to 4, so please feel free to stop by and see me! And Kimberly Swan of Darque Reviews just posted a review of Howling... and an interview with yours truly. Blogger Amberkatze also posted a review... she blogs from Vienna (lucky dog) and reviews lots of great books, so if you love paranormals, you should definitely check it out.

I also wanted to let everyone know that Susan Wittig Albert will be guest-blogging on Cozy Chicks Thursday, March 27 -- she'll be talking about how she created the inimitable China Bayles. I'll be posting more about that this Thursday on Cozy Chicks.

On a final note, if you're interested in taking a writing class from me, I'll be teaching one at U.T. Informal Classes at the end of this month. I hope to see you there!

Oh -- and perhaps most importantly -- I have not killed any family pets this week. So things are definitely looking up.

Cheers, and hope you're having a great week!

Strep throat, politics... and Firetruck

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:18:00 +0000

So I got my annual March bug last week -- usually it holds out for Spring Break, but I guess since we have no big plans this year, it decided to arrive early -- in the form of Strep Throat. I was only out for two or three days, but the timing could have been better.

I got sick Saturday night, you see, and Tuesday was the day of the primaries here in Texas. Which is not ideal if you're trying desperately to sleep so you can stop feeling like you're the bottom of someone's shoe. The bottom of a marathoner's shoe, actually. A marathoner's shoe on a track frequented by cattle suffering from gastrointestinal distress.

But I digress.

Anyway, that stupid thing rang SIXTEEN times on Monday. By four o'clock, I was huddled in bed with the covers around my ears raving to whoever would listen (not the recorded voices on the phone, alas) that if they called again, I'd start actively campaigning AGAINST all three candidates.

It didn't help.

Speaking of campaigns, I was thinking the other day how proud I am to be an American. Why? Because regardless of how you feel about them politically or personally, two of the three people currently running for the top political office would at some point in our country's history -- including, in one case, the first two decades of the twentieth century -- not have been ALLOWED to vote.

Wow.

Isn't it encouraging how far we've come?

Well, that's my pithy thought for the day. On yet another note -- I'm rather ADD today, aren't I? -- I've loved reading your comments on Firetruck's mishap last week. I plan to respond to them tonight -- but feel obligated to share the sad news that he did not last the week. I feel awful about it, to be honest, but Ian took the news well. (Probably in part because I didn't mention the whole egg noodle/disposal episode.)

RIP, Firetruck... may you have a cleaner tank and a better keeper in the fishy hereafter!

A Fishy Situation

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:25:00 +0000

It's been a busy week for me; Howling at the Moon is finally out (yea!), my children have come home with science projects that require parental assistance (enough said), and I'm working hard at getting another book written. So in the spirit of multitasking and time management, I decided to make a phone call while changing out some of the water for my son's Betta.

Of course, because I was on the phone, I didn't scoop the water out with a glass. I just poured a little of it out of the top of the tank.

Which would have been a triumph of efficiency, except for one minor detail that I'm guessing you've already deduced. That's right. The stupid fish went too. And let me tell you, there's no worse feeling than watching your son's favorite blue betta literally circling the drain -- particularly when you're the one who put him there.

I hung up (a tad late, alas) and spent the next ten minutes with my hand down the disposal, wondering (a) if it would be more humane to run the disposal or just keep the water going to send the fish downstream; (b) how quickly I'd have to drive to replace the betta before Ian got home from school (answer: not a legal or even physically possible speed); and (c) which slimy thing was old egg noodle or something even more disgusting and which was fish. Something did flip around from time to time, so I knew not all hope was lost, but all I kept coming up with was egg noodles. At least I think that's what they were. Although we haven't had egg noodles in weeks, come to think of it. Best not to think of it, actually...

Anyway, after the twelfth egg noodle, it finally occurred to me to use a flashlight. To my (massive) relief, there the poor thing was, blue and forlorn, marooned between two egg-noodle-like objects and the jaws of the disposal. After another few minutes of him squirting through my fingers to even more difficult corners of the disposal, I managed to extricate him.

Firetruck, I am happy to say, is back in his tank now, and despite the missing scales on his nose and a couple of places on his back, he's remarkably undamaged. And nobody has noticed. Thank God.

I'd stay and write more, but I have to go slice potato and apple chunks for a science experiment and then find a bug to feed the gecko now. Cheers, and hope you're having a great week!

Happy Valentine's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:39:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

I was just thinking last night as I perused the card section of the grocery store and selected eight (yes, eight) valentine's cards, four colorful potted plants, and two 24-count plastic bags of candy valentines (which I later filled out and hotglued together for my children's classmates) that the romantic aspect of this particular holiday is somewhat diminished for me these past few years. And I'm thinking the problem is that I'm a mom.

Most -- not all -- men feel they have managed a coup when they (a) remember that February 14 is a holiday that theoretically requires some action on their part and (b) show up with anything -- including the rubber chicken they substituted when they discovered the store had sold out of actual flowers -- in hand. And if they purchase a card that does not involve raunchy comments about female anatomy, they're in great shape till the next Valentine's Day -- or at least till the next anniversary. I saw several of these valentine-savvy men tonight as I waited in line to buy a drink at the local supermarket. (You can recognize them by the furtive glances at their watches and the plastic-wrapped, luridly colored roses.)

A mother's responsibility? Purchase, label, and distribute trinkets and/or live greenery to all the people capable of creating future psychoanalysis bills for one's children. And relatives, of course. Who I guess fall into that category, come to think of it.

Now, I can't complain -- my own sweet spouse arrived last night with a lovely, anatomy-free card and a beautiful bouquet of the same flowers that were in my wedding bouquet. Had he not had a meeting in Temple until ten last night, I'm sure he would have joined me in the hot-glue-a-thon. And it's not like I'm totally on top of things (exhibit a: my blog record for the past, oh, three months or so).

But you know what the worst of it is? Valentine's may have come and gone, but the Easter stuff is already in the stores.

Calgon, take me away...

A quick update...

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:56:00 +0000

Hi, everyone.

Just checking in -- I've been working on books rather than blogs lately, so if you're missing me, that's why -- to say hi and let you know what's going on!

On the writing front, I'm currently working on the third book in the Gray Whale Inn series and the third in the Tales of an Urban Werewolf trilogy (hence my rather ghostly presence here); I'm also thinking of ideas for future projects (which is always fun).

I've also been working with my web designer to retool the web site, and hope to have the new version up next week. Fingers crossed!

On the publishing front, I just got some exciting news this week. HOWLING AT THE MOON, the first in the Tales trilogy, is already in its second printing... and the book isn't out until February 26th! It's also getting some great advance reviews, which is wonderful -- and a huge relief. MaryJanice Davidson, who writes the fabulous UNDEAD series and who's sold more books than God -- okay, well maybe not that many, but a whole lot -- wrote: "Sophie was a delight, and HOWLING AT THE MOON was like a big bag of potato chips...I kept reaching for the next page, and the next, and the next..."

And here's another one, from Reader to Reader Reviews: "...you’ll have the reading time of your life with talented author Karen MacInerney’s tale about a female werewolf who’s caught between the world of werewolves and humans. She has a foot in each and her balancing act will keep you howling too. With laughter, that is."

After being closeted with Sophie Garou for two years, it's wonderful to hear that other people enjoy her as much as I do. Whew!

At any rate, I just wanted to stop in and let everyone know that despite rumors to the contrary, I have not been crushed by a fallen piano or suffocated by the twenty cases of Girl Scout Cookies I've been hauling around town for the past month. Isn't that a relief? And come to think of it, does anyone want a few dozen boxes of shortbread cookies? I think I know where you can get them...

I hope all is well with everyone out there -- and if you have any favorite light recipes, please feel free to send them on; I'm working up the light fare for the third Gray Whale Inn mystery, MURDER MOST MAINE, so any and all ideas are much appreciated.

Stay warm, read lots, and I'll be back soon!

The perils of volunteering... and Merry Xmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:22:00 +0000

In a fit of good will some weeks back, I volunteered to help out with my son's Winter Party, which is scheduled for tomorrow. Which means I've got to figure out a way to transport and serve enough hot chocolate to satisfy 70 kindergarteners. Yes, that's right. 70!

I'm not completely insane, of course. In fact, the reason I volunteered is that I was hoping the coffee place where I've hung out for four years would be able to provide me those clever cardboard containers filled with chocolate bliss -- and at a discount. Unfortunately, only after I volunteered did I discover that they don't do that for hot chocolate: only coffee.

So tonight found me standing in front of the stove, singing along to Santa Baby and stirring a cauldron containing two and a half gallons of milk, an entire can of Hershey's cocoa, and about two pounds of sugar. And vanilla.

The only issue is, I haven't quite figured out how I'm going to get it there.

I've borrowed thermoses from everyone I know, but I still don't think it's enough. Come to think of it, I haven't bought cups yet, either. I do, however, have two cans of Reddi Whip and a giant bag of mini marshmallows. Because the pot is so darned large, though, I'm going to have to get up at five to get it heated up in time.

What was I thinking?

How are your holidays going? Mine are about par for the course.

Ho, ho, ho. I'm off for another glass of mulled wine now, and to set my alarm clock for five. Cheers!

Christmas? Already?

noreply@blogger.com (Karen MacInerney) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:06:00 +0000

How the heck did it get to be the Christmas season?

Every year I sail through November, thinking that I'll have plenty of time to get things ready before the madness begins. And every year, Thanksgiving comes and goes in a wash of stuffing and cranberry sauce, and after a few hours of lying on the couch groaning, I look at the calendar and realize that Christmas is mere weeks away. At which point the panic sets in.

My problem, I think, is that I refuse to think about Xmas -- on principle -- until after the last bit of cranberry sauce is gone and the kids have cracked the wishbone. But if you wait that long, you're almost too late.

I will tell you, though, that my favorite part of Christmas is that first time you go to Central Market and see all the European chocolates wrapped up in gold paper like little presents, and the smell of fresh baked bread, and the carols piping through the speakers... Christmas is an abstraction at that point, a pleasant diversion, not a deadline.

I love that abstraction, by the way, and adore the scents of gingerbread and Christmas trees and bayberry candles, and paper snowflakes and frosted windows. Oh, and homemade fudge -- if you haven't tried Maggie Sefton's mint fudge, you're missing out.

Hopefully I'll get most of the shopping done this week, and can spend the rest of the season downing eggnog and feeling smug. (Hope springs eternal, I guess.) In any case, hope your holiday seasons are off to a good start, and I'll be thinking of you as I take down the rest of the Halloween decorations! (Or glue Christmas stockings to the pumpkins.)

K