The Sunshine Award

We’ve been tagged with The Sunshine Award!  First, we’ll link back to Sharon Jones. Next, Roz will answer some questions, and then we’ll tag 10 other bloggers.

Thank you, Sharon Jones, for thinking of us!

1. What is your favorite Christmas/festive movie?

The Bishop’s Wife, starring Loretta Young and Cary Grant. It was made in 1947, and it’s timeless. Cary is so handsome, and Loretta is gorgeous. It’s romantic, funny, and magical. Love it.

 2. What is your favorite flower?

Tulips. No contest. They are the Coco Chanel of flowers. The simple LBD of blooms. Never any need to dress them up with ferns or baby’s breath. Elegant and classy all on their own. Also, you’ll never prick your finger on a tulip.

 3. What is your favorite non-alcoholic beverage?

I was a Diet Coke fiend for several decades. Then someone offered me a Diet Dr Pepper, and I was like, where have you been all my life, Doc? 

4. What is your passion?

I’m generally too lazy or tired for passion these days, except for writing.  Especially when it’s going well; and the words fall into place; and I share it with my partner. When we find something that didn’t come out quite right, and we laugh our heads off, I remember how lucky I am to be doing this. That’s passion.

5. What is your favorite time of year?

My favorite time begins with Halloween. Picking something silly and fun to wear and preparing to be amazed at the creativity of others. 

Roz, dressed as a desperate housewife for Halloween

Then there’s the certainty that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, a uniquely American holiday. I give thanks for loved ones and for living where I do. And the best part is, we are not done yet. Along comes Christmas. Glorious Christmas. Just being in a mall at Christmastime or listening to Frank Sinatra sing a Christmas song makes me happy. And finally, just when you think it can’t get any better than this, the January sales begin.

 6. What is your favorite time of day?

When I get home from a busy day and can slide into my big fluffy slippers, pour a Diet Dr Pepper, and read my e-mail.

 7. What is your favorite physical activity?

Wearing my fluffy slippers, sipping my Dr. Pepper, and reading my e-mail.

8. What is your favorite vacation?

Anywhere with people I love. Could be on a cruise to the Bahamas, a road trip across America, or sharing one end of a couch with someone I love and watching an old movie.

Now we want to tag some of our favorite bloggers:

Chloe Carstairs

Jeff Joseph

Susan Buchanan

Onisha Ellis

Rachel Thompson

Alan McDermott

J. Thorn

Greg Mischio

J M Leitch

Ella Quinn

Keep it going if you have time; no worries if you don’t!

Why Our English Language Must, Like, Change—Roz’s Take

Many years ago, when I was a schoolgirl in England, my beloved English teacher pulled me to the front of the class to chastise me for using the word okay. I was mortified as she explained to me and the rest of the class that okay was American slang, definitely not proper English, and certainly not okay.

I, on the other hand, thought it was the epitome of cool. I had picked it up from one of the many American TV shows and movies we were, and still are, bombarded with. Now, many, many years later, after living in the U.S. for more than half my life, I am amused at how specific words, once used only in England, have almost vanished and been replaced by Americanisms. I return to my native England at least once a year, and I never fail to notice how English English is evolving. It’s, like, so totally cool.

The list is endless. A flat is now an apartment. A lift is an elevator. Women carry purses, not handbags. A television advert has been replaced by a commercial. And the word guys is commonly used to refer to a group of people, regardless of gender (I think we can blame the highly popular TV show Friends for that one). English people, like their American cousins, are, like, constantly using the word like inappropriately, to the extent that it will eventually be, like, proper.

And it’s not just across the Atlantic Ocean that language is evolving. I moved to Texas from Minnesota thirty years ago. When I first arrived in The Lone Star State, I was charmed by the Texas accent and unique language. Texans were often fixin’ to do something, and y’all was the preferred second-person pronoun. Sadly, with so many Yankees moving to our state, the Texas idioms and unique way of speaking are growing rare. The exception is y’all (that’s staying right here, thank you, ma’am).

When Patty and I first started writing together, she would sometimes graciously point out a specific word I had used, questioning if it was British. And she was always right. But I think she would agree that those British words creep into my narrative less and less. It’s not so much that I have become Americanized; it’s that the English language (as spoken in England) has done so.

Of course, we all know that English has to evolve (as Patty, my wordsmith, pointed out). If not, we would all be speaking like characters in a Jane Austen novel, or even worse, a Shakespearean play. And that’s just, like, totally okay! NOT!

Coming Out of the Closet

by Roz

I’m referring to the closet where books are written. Admitting to friends and loved ones that I am a co-novelist, now published, has taken many years. My writing partner, who is much braver than I am, has always been out and loving it. So, a big thank you to Patty.

Of course, having two novels available on Kindle, with a third (Death in Door County) on the way, has made it easier. These days, when the subject of my writing does come up and I am asked the inevitable question by non-writing people (and I am always asked), I have a darn good response.

Before Kindle, it went something like this:

Non-Writing Person: “Oh, you are a writer?”

Me: “Yes.”

NWP: “Have you ever been published?”

Me: “The food here is very good . . . ” or “I think it might rain later . . . ” or “Do you think Daniel Craig is tall enough to play James Bond?”

Basically, I’d grab any response that would change the subject before the glazed-over look appeared in NWP’s eyes. And it always did. It used to be that the worst thing you could say to any writer was are you published? These days, almost anyone can be published. But it’s not easy. It takes hard work, editing and formatting knowledge, and definitely some technical skill. And I’m not even talking about the actual writing part. That’s why I leave all the publishing stuff to Patty. In fact, without her, I would still be so far back in the closet, I’d be eating dust bunnies for breakfast.

The reason for my continuing hesitation was all the attention and fuss I was sure would be heaped upon me. I’m just not comfortable with that. Nevertheless, when our second book was published, I decided I would tell people, but only if the subject came up.

So, the very next day at work, my boss just happened to mention how much her mother loved her Kindle and was always looking for new writers. I could feel Patty kick my Texas shins all the way from Wisconsin, urging me to take advantage of this opportunity. So, I did it. I announced to the office of six people that I would be going to lunch at noon, and oh, by the way, I have co-authored not one but two murder mysteries and they are available on Kindle.

I had been expecting champagne corks to start popping and the paparazzi to camp outside my office. But it wasn’t quite that way. In fact, apart from a few raised eyebrows and several looks of suspicion, the only comment was from the twenty-two-year-old girl who asked if she could pose for the next cover. Seriously, where was all the attention and fuss that I had been dreading?  And shouldn’t I now be happy that no one was fussing?

Mike, my one true love (for the past thirteen years), has always been so encouraging and was excited when the first book went live on Kindle. So excited, in fact, that he’s read almost half of it. I should mention that although Mike is a voracious reader, the current book on his nightstand is a tome on the the Punic Wars. So, he’s not exactly our target audience.

But here’s the reward for coming out. Even though my writing wasn’t mentioned again at my place of work for several days, my boss came in one morning and announced that her sister had bought our second book, The Murder of Susan Reed, and she actually enjoyed it. Phew!!!!

Okay, so it’s not really the attention I fear, it’s the bad attention. The good stuff is worth leaving the closet for.

The Next Big Thing

There’s a fun meme being spread around the blogosphere, a meme where writers can pretend they’ve made it big. Our new pal and Tweep Chloe Carstairs (@ChloeGetsAClue) tagged us in this meme, aptly called The Next Big Thing (don’t we wish!). We will take our turn by answering the questions as if the world awaits our answers (you know, like they do with J. K. Rowling or John Grisham).

What is the working title of your book?
Death in Door County

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The Door County part came from . . . well, Door County. It’s a heavenly place in Wisconsin. The Death part comes from our penchant for writing murder mysteries. (This is the third in The Val & Kit Mystery Series, but the first set outside of Chicagoland.)

What genre does your book fall under?

It’s a hodgepodge of murder, mystery, humor, and a little romance. But mainly mystery. Or maybe murder.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Christine Baranski has the elegance to play Kit. Val would be harder to cast. If Meryl Streep were available, and in her early fifties, she’d be good. (Who are we kidding? She’d be fantastic at any age.)

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Best friends, with no business solving a murder, solve a murder (or two).

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

We are still working on it, but it is close to being finished. We started about six months ago.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

To Kill a Mockingbird, The Maltese Falcon, Witness for the Prosecution . . . No, we’re kidding. We don’t like to compare our books to anyone else’s, but other people have compared them to Janet Evanovich’s.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?
It’s a total partnership, so we inspire each other. Besides, it’s some of the best fun we have together. Even though we live in different parts of the country, we don’t need our writing to keep us connected. It’s just a big bonus.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

The two main characters are “real” people. They live in the real world. Hopefully, they are likable, caring, and a little funny, like any best friends. We all know someone just like them. Oh, and as for the plot, well, it’s carefully layered for the mystery lover. We’re hoping the reader won’t know whodunit until we tell them.

We’d love if these folks would play along, too. Simply answer the questions in your own blogs, tag us, and tag some others.

Jeff Whelan

Gillian Mawson

Wendy Cartmell

Raeann Blake

And here is this meme’s origin: http://www.andreajarrell.com/blog/2012/10/5/the-next-big-thing-my-creative-side-project.html

The Liebster Award

We thank the talented writer Raeann Blake for nominating us for the Liebster Award. Unlike so many other awards, there are no losers—only winners! The two of us took a vote and selected Roz to accept our nomination J

The Rules
·  When you receive the award, you post 11 random facts about yourself and answer the 11 questions asked by the person who nominated you. 
·  Pass the award on to 11 other blogs (while making sure you notify the bloggers that you nominated them!). 
·  You write up 11 NEW questions directed towards YOUR nominees. 
·  You are not allowed to nominate the blogger who nominated your blog!
·  You paste the award picture into your blog. (You can google the image; there are plenty of them!)

11 Random Facts about Roz

1. When a child calls me Auntie Roz, it stops my heart for a second. I'm putty in their hands after that and will give them anything.
2. I find the overture from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart absolutely thrilling, no matter how many times I hear it.
3. My favorite Christmas movie is The Bishop's Wife, starring Cary Grant and Loretta Young.
4. I wish I had learned to play the violin when I was young. It's the perfect instrument. Classical or bluegrass.
5. When I was a teenager in London in the ’60s, it was important to swear allegiance to either The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. I chose the Stones, and I think Mick Jagger's still got it.
6. I'm the elder of two sisters, but my baby sister has always been more mature than I am.
7. I have Post-it notes all over my desk and fridge, but sometimes I can't read my own writing.
8. I love lists and make them all the time, although I often forget to take my list with me when I go shopping.
9. I love being around people who make me laugh. It's essential in a friendship.
10. I like wearing hats.
11. I hate my curly hair (hence my love of hats).

Questions from Raeann

1. If money was not an issue and you could have any job in the world, what would it be? There isn't a job in the world that I'm excited about. I'd be done with working. (I don’t consider writing a job or work.) I'd like to stay home every day and just play with my friends (which includes writing with Patty).
2. Dogs or cats? Dogs, definitely. Cats don't really need an owner, but dogs are grateful for everything you do for them.
3. Log cabin in the mountains or expansive luxury house on an ocean shore? Luxury house on an ocean shore.
4. Have you ever traveled to any destination that required the use of a passport? Yes, too many to count. Most of Europe and the Caribbean, but not Asia or Africa. Any traveling I have left would be to see the rest of our amazing United States.
5. What is your dream vacation destination? Visiting my home country of England, surrounded by my family. Doing nothing special, just hanging around watching nieces and nephews grow.
6. What is your favorite type of music? I love all kinds of music: country, rock, pop, jazz and a little light opera.
7. What is your favorite spot and/or activity for relaxing? In my own bed, reading a good book or watching a good murder mystery on TV.
8. In school, were you a teacher’s pet, the class clown, or __________? A little bit of the class clown. But definitely the English teacher's pet (not so much the math or gym teacher’s). My English teacher taught me the love of words when put together in the right order. She once told me you should never start a sentence with the word And, but in my case she would make an exception.
9. Do you prefer clear blue skies or rolling thunderstorms? I live in a sunny, hot climate, so I really enjoy grey, gloomy days. Thunderstorms are okay, too, as long as they don't herald the arrival of a hurricane.
10. What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory? When I was very young, my baby sister was diagnosed with polio. As such, my family was quarantined for a week during Christmas and we missed the party our neighborhood had organized. One dear neighbor (I don't remember his name) dressed as Santa Claus and came to our house to bring us presents. I can still remember the thrill of opening the door on Christmas Eve and seeing the man himself who had taken time from his busy schedule to stop by and visit my sister and me. Don't tell me there is no Santa Claus!
11. What is the next book you plan to read? I have so many books waiting to be read, but it will probably be a mystery by John Sanford or the final in the trilogy by Stieg Larsson, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. It's old, I know, but I loved the first two and my boyfriend insists this is the best one.

Questions for Our Nominees

1. How old were you when you first fell in love?
2. Who is the most influential person in your life today?
3. What do you regret the most in your life?
4. What's the best thing about living where you live?
5. What are you most proud of in your life?
6. What is the best gift you ever received?
7. When you spend money on yourself, what do you indulge in the most?
8. Would you rather read a classic novel or see the movie?
9. Has a major occurrence recently changed your life?
10. If yes, was it good or bad? If no, what major occurrence would you like to experience?
11. Do you donate to any charity, and if so, which one(s)?

Our Nominees

Remember, this is not a punishment; it’s an AWARD J So NO PRESSURE to participate for those already trying to squeeze twenty-six hours of work into twenty-four! We’d love to learn more about the nominees we’ve chosen. But whether the following bloggers accept it or not, they are very deserving of the Liebster Award and also very deserving of readers, so check out their blogs, y’all!

1. Tracy James Jones
2. CP Bialois
3. Mae Clair
4. Tracey Baptiste
5. Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers
6. Anne Kramer and Mike Hendricks
7. Ann Mullen
8. Melissa Foster
9. Anne Chaconas
10. Em LaBonte
11. Jen Blood

 

Skype Rocks, Even for the Low-Tech (and Dogs)

Writing novels with a partner has one tiny potential problem when one lives in Wisconsin and the other in Texas. These locations could seem as far away as the North Pole to the South. But our polar opposites vanished when we enjoyed our first writing session via Skype a couple of weeks after our biannual in-person visit in Wisconsin (where, as you may have read in our last blog post, we played more than we wrote). Now Roz is here to tell you: Skype rocks.

Okay, this is not news.  We could (make that SHOULD) have been doing this for years already, when gasoline was still under three bucks a gallon. But I have to be honest and admit that Patty, the brilliant techie of our duo, had to drag me kicking and denying into the Skype world. After the great success, I was embarrassed it had taken me so long to agree to it.

Nevertheless, I was now ready. My webcam securely hooked to the edge of my monitor, staring down at me like a third eye, I downloaded the Skype software and was ready to begin. The download was a breeze. First of all, it’s free, and so what if you have to go through a lot of gyrations to reject offers from several companies that promise to sweep your computer of bugs every one and a half seconds, plus clean up after itself? It’s free! Too bad it couldn’t promise to do the same for my kitchen.

After a couple of landline phone calls to each other to assure we were ready to go, Patty’s face miraculously filled my screen, almost life-size. It took several minutes of congratulating each other that everything appeared to be working correctly, and then we began to work in earnest.

We tightened our plot; we read aloud to each other, correcting the inevitable problems with dialogue and descriptions; and we did a lot of laughing, as we always do when we are “working.”

During the call, I happened to be dog-sitting my friend’s 15-year-old cocker spaniel, Bailey. Patty, who was at her daughter’s home in Green Bay at the time, was babysitting real children and also had custody of Hank, their gorgeous yellow Labrador.  Inevitably, Bailey and Hank wandered into view of the webcams. Hank barked loudly, but Bailey ignored him. To be fair, I should add that Bailey is almost totally deaf, and Hank’s vision wouldn’t qualify him as a seeing-eye dog,so I doubt they were able to appreciate the wonder of Skype as much as Patty and I did.

All in all, I was thrilled with the whole process. Definitely something we will do on a regular basis. Only problem is how to end the session. I just didn’t want to say goodbye.

We Confess

So, we weren’t lying when we tweeted that our recent in-person writing session left us exhausted but exhilarated. We do have a bit of a confession to make about that, however: the exhaustion and exhilaration came more from PURE PLAY than from productivity. Yeah, we often derive as much fun from our writing as our guys do from their fishing or shooting. But on this visit together, we did something we haven’t done for years, because our time together is so limited and precious and, we thought, has to be reserved for WRITING.

Maybe it was subconscious manipulation on our part, a yearning to entertain ourselves and each other as we did in the years before we started writing together. Whatever, we found our work-in-progress set in Door County, Wisconsin, where Patty lives and where Roz just came for our writing session/visit. So in the name of research, we did what people DO when they come to Door County! Things like: climbing to the top of the Cana Island Lighthouse; dining at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant, where goats graze atop the roof; tasting wine at the Door Peninsula Winery; and attending the play Lombardi at the Peninsula Players Theatre, which sits among the trees on the shoreline of the Bay.

And hey! We found out some valuable info for our new book. We learned, for example, that the traditional dresses worn by the waitresses at Al Johnson’s do not come clear to the floor. Important stuff J But stuff, nevertheless, that kept us from the plotting that we’d planned to do. In other words, we aren’t much further along in our work-in-progress now that Roz has returned to Texas than we were when she arrived in Wisconsin.

Enter Skype, which might just be the best thing for our writing since we replaced our typewriters with computers and traded snail-mail for e-mail. I mean, what’s the difference whether we’re sitting at opposite ends of a couch, manuscripts and pens in hand as we take turns reading aloud and discuss changes needed and just where we should go from here, or whether we’re sitting on our respective desk chairs in front of our respective Skype cameras in Texas and Wisconsin?

We’re about to find out! Update to follow.

But first, some pictures from the week that was:

Roz (center) and Patty (right) take a break from plotting their latest, um, cliff-hanger to tour The Door with their editor Sarah.

Patty’s husband, John, and Roz’s partner, Mike, join “the girls” at Al Johnson’s.