Maggie Pill Mysteries

We didn't really have pets when I was a kid. We had animals that lived with us and did work in return for bed and board. That doesn't mean we didn't love them, but they earned their kibble. Me, my sister, Laddie, & Ching-a-Ling The cats were there to keep the mice away (probably rats too, but that never occurred to me. Ick!) Each of our two farmhouses had a "house cat" that lived inside and was quite pampered compared to the "barn cats" who lived in the barn and multiplied freely. Each new batch of kittens was a treat for us girls, and we hunted them down in whatever spot their mothers chose to hide them by listening for their mews.What fun to move a bale of hay and find four or five little balls of fur to play with. We didn't even mind that their tiny claws were sharp enough to leave bloody trails down our forearms. The family dog was responsible for helping to herd the cows from and back to the barn. Looking back, I realize that our be...

I had a visit from a cousin last weekend who is very close to me in age. We grew up far apart, so our encounters were few as kids. Our mothers were only siblings to each other, their brother having died young in an auto accident. They were close but un-alike. We lived in northern Michigan on a farm; my aunt's family lived in Chicago. My cousin confessed her horror when they came to visit us in the mid-1950s and she learned we didn't have indoor plumbing. I was equally horrified when we visited them and found they lived in a concrete box: no woods, no animals, not even any grass to roll around in! In many ways our lives are vastly different. She has three brothers; I have two sisters and one brother, which changes the family dynamic, even as adults. She saw the world as a young woman; I married early and pretty much stayed in Michigan. So what do we share? Well, we're both a lot like Grandma, (She's the adult below) who was tolerant of society's craziness but smar...

This is the final cover for the 4th Sleuth Sisters mystery. It's still a way off, probably May, but it's nice to have something to show to readers. When an author is traditionally published, she gets some say in a cover but not much. A lot depends on the publishing house. I was always asked what my initial concept was, and after that they'd say, "Here's what we did." I've had author friends who hated their covers but couldn't do anything about it. I had one I didn't much care for, but I trusted the publisher to do what worked for the masses, not just for me. As an independent, an author is responsible for everything, including the cover. Knowing I have the artistic talent of a Brahma bull, I hire people to do my covers. I've been lucky to find cover artists who can take my germ of an idea and make it beautiful. When the first Sleuth Sisters came along, I had no idea it would be a series (or so popular: Thank you all!) I wanted three pairs ...

Christmas is a time for stories, and the TV people are certainly aware of that. They show old favorites, knowing people will tune in no matter how many times they've seen the show, special, or movie. We don't seem to care if the animation is jerky or if Santa's belt and boots look like cardboard. We watch. If we do mind the zillions of commercials inserted, we watch anyway, because--Christmas! We watch with family when possible. I just read of a woman whose family is spread all over the country, so they plan a time and each family gets the show in whatever format they need to watch it at that time. That's dedication. What's your favorite Christmas show tradition? If you can't stick with one, we'll take your top 3.