Foodie Friday: Bò né

I'm a breakfast gal. Sometimes I'll even swap another meal with breakfast. I mean, there's brunch...and then there's brinner, right? I like a good fan tuan rice roll for breakfast, but recently I also tried Vietnamese Bò né. I didn't know what the dish was, but it sounded cool. Apparently, it's steak and eggs done Vietnamese-style. Bò né means "dodging beef" because the steak comes out on a piping hot skillet--and you'd need to dodge the butter or oil. Of course, it's been tastily … [Read more...]

Agatha Award Nomination

I grew up on Agatha Christie--I mean, after I read stuff like Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew. There was something transportive about puzzling out a mystery. The Queen of Crime was great at stumping me. Later on, as a writer, I appreciated her skill at varying scenarios and clues (unreliable narrator, anyone?). My mom also loved Christie and was the one who first introduced me to her. That day, I wasn't sure what to borrow at the library, and the beginning of the adult section was right behind … [Read more...]

Lefty Award Nomination!

Have you heard of Left Coast Crime? If you’re a crime fiction fan and live West-ish (western US, Canada…), you might know of it. This exciting conference for fans brings together readers and authors for a wonderful time of connection. Every year, it changes locations. In 2023, it’ll be held in Tucson in March. I’m really excited about LCC since my book, Death By Bubble Tea, has been nominated for a Lefty Award in the Best Humorous Mystery category. Find me listed next to Ellen Byron, my … [Read more...]

Book Review: Before and After the Book Deal

5 stars Genre: Non-fiction Before and After the Book Deal Amazing stuff. I loved this book and wished it had been published when I was just starting out. It answers all the questions you want answered and veers into those unvoiced or even unknown musings. I particularly appreciated the dive into scenarios and experiences that might relate to your identity. It was also wonderful to get different perspectives and quotes from agents, editors, and writers. A marvelous book bursting … [Read more...]

Time to Restart

I've given up on resolutions for years now. I like to do a one-word focus for every new year instead. This time around the sun, I'm aiming to RESTART. To me, this means having a fresh perspective on things and concentrating a lot on forgiveness. For others. But maybe even more so, for myself. One tiny example of this: On New Year's Eve, I didn't have the planned fun festive celebration I had anticipated. Our family get-together got derailed by sickness (colds--though I, thankfully, … [Read more...]

December Already?!

How can it be December? The calendar must have sped up. I’ve conceded to this time warp, though, by beginning to listen to Pentatonix music. For some reason, as a kid I used to really like “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Maybe it was the fun repetition or countdown of numbers. (Modern update: My nieces and nephews now do coordinated hand motions to the song.) I also like reflecting over the year as it closes out, so here’s my writerly spin on the List of Twelve: 12 Drafts DraftingMaybe … [Read more...]

Hello Again, Newsletter!

Will newsletters trend again? Last week, I posted about checking out Hive Social. Little did I know they'd soon shut down their servers to deal with fortifying their security. (No data was leaked. It's a preventative effort, but it does put a damper on my usage.) Don't get me wrong. Hive is still a pretty place to play around in, and I like connecting with authorly types there. But there is a learning curve, and the "Discover" page for me doesn't populate with posts that I'm truly interested in. … [Read more...]

What’s the Buzz?

Hey, all! Author friends of mine are starting to explore the Hive Social app, so I figured I'd try it out. Hive Social app icon It's been easy to navigate so far, with a few loading hiccups and screen flickers. Unfortunately, it's solely a phone app. Well, you can use a phone emulator for your computer if you'd like--go research that if you're really inclined. Otherwise, it's available for Android and iPhone users. I've been on the fence about Twitter for a while. I'm still unsure what … [Read more...]

Small Business Saturday

November is a month that never fails to remind me to be grateful. Thanksgiving is probably one of my favorite holidays because of the appreciative spirit at the heart of it. (But I don’t mind eating tasty stuffing and delicious pumpkin pie either!) Another important date in November happens on Small Business Saturday. Have you heard of this special day? This movement started in 2010, and it happens every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It’s a great opportunity for people to support … [Read more...]

Book Review: Till Death Do Us Port

5 stars Genre: Cozy Mystery Till Death Do Us Port (March 7, 2023) A delightful book. I love the strong cast of recurring characters that Lansing uses. It’s especially fun to have mother and daughter helping each other on this one. I also appreciated the maturity and growth that happens in Parker. What’s great about this book/series is that Parker gets to be philosophical, to sort things out, and to confront her fears. The premise behind this novel—a botched wedding—was done with … [Read more...]