All Bases Covered

At yesterday’s cozy critique, all bases were covered as far as the table went. The napkins were from last fall, the paper plates from Christmas, and the cake and jelly beans were from Easter. (I had frozen the cake.) And, as far as Cozy Critters went, all bases were covered there too. We had a rollicking, informative, fun-filled couple of hours or more.

Peg  is looking forward to reading two cozy mysteries, just newly released. She is anticipating thoroughly enjoying them because she is familiar with the authors. Now, Jenn McKinlay and Paige Shelton, that is a good recommendation! Peg is a book connoisseur. Jenn McKinlay’s book that Peg can hardly wait to begin is Wedding Cake Crumble. Paige Shelton’s is Of Books and Bagpipes.  Both of these writers are favorites of Peg’s and have given her many hours of reading pleasure.

Jane brought me a large version of one of the most inspirational pictures on my refrigerator. This is a Fifties Lady, and is, I’m sure a writer of cozy mysteries, although I cut the picture from a magazine that was advertising trash sacks. Yes, this is a mystery writer who is looking forward to her next best-seller. Although you’d never know it, from the innocent and exuberant expression on her middle-aged face, she is, even at the time the picture was snapped, envisioning a story of murder, mystery, and mayhem. You can never tell what is going on inside the head of a writer, at any given moment. But, within the head of a mystery writer, lots of scurrilous things are brewing.

Jane  read her latest poem, a beautiful verse called The Sounds of Life You No Longer Hear. Her inspiration was a picture taken by the famed Arkansas photographer, William Rainey. Mr. Rainey had snapped the picture of a deserted house in Carden Bottoms, Arkansas. This poem of Jane’s explored the idea of life that had once been lived inside the walls of forlorn and empty houses. What triumphs and tragedies, what tears and laughter had those walls known? It is a tribute to old houses and the families who lived in them. I’ve posted four lines but the whole poem was a lot longer and in depth.

This group of Cozy Critters are so valuable to me, both as my friends and as critiquers, that I’d hate to think of doing without them. Yesterday, they read the back story I’d created for Moonstruck and Murderous. Then, I read to them the most recent chapters and shared a snag or two I’d hit. Well, it didn’t take long for them to untangle the snarls, make suggestions for word substitutions, and assure me that the story kept them interested and eager to know what happened next. 

So ended a critique where all bases were covered and worries and concerns shared. Besides all that, although the calendar says “April”, it was chilly enough for the fireplace to be going and that hot Folgers really hit the spot! 

The Sounds of Life You No Longer Hear

by Jane Ellison Barron

Through my imagination I will attempt to write this rhyme

About the people who lived and loved at this place back in time.

I can only imagine and wonder how the house used to look

Without a doubt, these stories could easily fill a book.

An embarrassing but fun fact about the author: Many, many years ago, I was marooned in an outdoor toilet, held hostage by a mean old rooster who threatened to sail onto me if I dared exit the building. Finally, he wandered off and I ran like sixty to the house.