Writers, Readers, Books Galore

When you get several Cozy Critters together, believe me, things get lively. They are an upbeat and interesting bunch. Peg has been reading voraciously, and has read more than twenty books this month. She particularly likes cozy mysteries and there are many from which to choose! Peg likes to read a series (am I not lucky or what?) and really enjoys the Donna Andrews books. The titles of Donna’s books contain something about birds: Murder With Peacocks and The Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos are among the works by this prolific author. Lord of the Wings and Die Like An Eagle will be released soon.

Peg also enjoys Laura Bradford’s books. Eclair and Present Danger is one of her latest ones.

Then, there’s Laura DeSilverio. One of her books,  particularly intriguing to me, is Readaholics and the Poirot Puzzle. I’m going to give that one a whirl.

Pouncing on Murder, by Laurie Cass is another book that kept Peg turning pages.

Jane is a seasoned traveler. She recently returned from a trip to California with her son Mark and granddaughter Allison. She saw many marvelous things. One such sight was The Lone Cypress, a cypress tree which grew from a seed in a crevice of a rock. It is said to be 250 years old. The tenacity and endurance of that tree should be an inspiration to all of us.

Jane walked in John Muir’s footsteps in Yosemite. “God,” Jane said, “is the ultimate Artist.”

Jane, Mark, and Allison sat on the same rock in Glacier Park that Teddy Roosevelt had sat on. And, of course, they saw the wonderful work of man’s ingenuity known as The Golden Gate Bridge.

At Half Moon Bay, a bagpiper played “Amazing Grace” just as the sun set. The beauty of the music and scenery was indescribable.

Always the poet, Jane couldn’t let such a trip go past without immortalizing it in a poem. You knew that, didn’t you? This poem was simply called, “Our California Reflections.” She lightened the mood by reading “Hattie Mae’s Easter Hat”, a poem about two sisters, Hattie Mae and Cora. She also did a really neat painting to illustrate the poem.

And me? Well, I shared with them some of the marketing strategies I’m trying. Peg and Jane complimented me on the guest post on Maria Norcia Santillanes’ site. http://beachwalkermari.blogspot.com/2016/07/guest-blogger-cozy-mystery-writer.html.

These two Critters gave me some thought-provoking sub-plots that I can’t resist working into Fright of the Silvery Moon.

Photo by Sara Manos

Their ideas involved funeral directors, a county judge, a campaign manager and a blackmailer. Now, after those suggestions, I should never be at a loss to figure out “what comes next.” Don’t you agree these Critters are a wonderful bunch?

Coffee and peanut butter cookie helped the critique along. Maybe I’ll include a recipe for those cookies in the first newsletter to be sent out next month. If you’d like to receive a Darcy, Flora, and Ned newsletter, send me an email at manosmeadows@sbcglobal.net.