An Attitude of Gratitude

Heading into the New Year, we reflect. But shouldn’t we be doing that all year? What’s with this penchant for saving up reflections for the end?

2014 was not always the best of times, what with major eye surgery for DH and my mother dying and … well, other stuff that was so painful.

2012 was another challenging year for me. Is there a pattern forming for even numbered years? That year I had a stroke, broke my arm, and my father died.

That is life. It hands you events, experiences, sorrows, and joys. You greet them with expectation and positivity--as best as you are able. You try to grasp the features that shed hope. In the challenging years, I try to find those positive things that happened alongside the tough ones.

In 2014, oldest son graduated from law school after being first in his class each semester. Youngest son decided on a career path and applied to graduate schools. Oldest son and wife announced another pregnancy after suffering a miscarriage. I got another book contract. A good friend finished a year and a half of chemo treatments and is cancer free.

So on balance, it is balanced. I am trying to be more aware of both large and small blessings, to develop an attitude of gratitude and mindfulness about the good things that happen to me each day. To search out the positive elements even in negative events. They exist. And the search is worth it.

So, bring it on, 2015. I greet you with high expectations for another fabulous year. And if--no, when--you throw me curve balls, I am prepared to make the best of it. I will practice positivity. I will cope with what I am given; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Because I know, in the grand scheme of things, I am surrounded by the love and caring of family and friends. I am living my dream to publish fiction. Life is so good. Ring out the old and ring in the new. I am ready for come what may. (Please don’t take that as a challenge, Fate Gods!)

How to Write Urban Fantasy Mysteries in 11+9 Steps

Okay, so this got a week delayed due to the post on holiday parties. Sorry!

Urban Fantasy mysteries are categorized as speculative fiction. Speculative fiction, a term created by Robert Heinlein in 1947, is fiction with supernatural, futuristic, and/or fantastical elements. You might wonder why we need a term called “speculative fiction” since we have genres for paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Speculative fiction is not clearly one or another of these, rather it is a blended sub-genre.

Urban fantasy mysteries have fewer readers than most of the other sub-genres, but they are passionate ones! To me, an admittedly naïve reader of urban fantasy mysteries, I see similarities with graphic novels. Maybe it is the fantastical. Maybe it is the subject matter which has an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. feel but without a supernatural hero (usually).

Like the other sub-genres, urban fantasy novels owe a debt to the basic elements of the traditional mystery. Nevertheless, each has its unique elements as well. So this week, we deconstruct urban fantasy mysteries.

1) The mysteries are a puzzle to solve.

2) All clues are revealed to the reader but obscured with red herrings and false leads.

3) These mysteries feature a murder (most often) or a crime of great substance.

4) The sleuth may or may not be a professional.

5) The power of reasoning is trusted to restore order and solve the puzzle.

6) Violence often takes place “on stage” with varying degrees of explicit violence or gore described.

7) The murdered person may or may not have been a character in the mystery before death.

8) The mystery uses plot devices to further the confusion of clues, suspects, and timelines.

9) The language of sleuth and suspects is closer to colloquial use and reflects social status.

10) The villain is the intellectual equal of the sleuth.

11) The murder/significant crime occurs near the beginning, often in the opening pages. Usually there are multiple crimes.

In addition to the 11 steps from traditional mystery, to be an urban fantasy mystery:

1)   Most are set in contemporary times but they can be futuristic or historical.

2)   Urban fantasy mysteries contain supernatural elements and must be set in a city.

3)   Urban fantasy mysteries is set in a real world modified by fantasy (magic, demons, vampires, shape shifters, mythological beings, etc.)

4)   Urban fantasy mysteries are often written in first person for immediacy.

5)   Urban fantasies are often a series.

6)   There are often female protagonists.

7)   There is an element of vigilante law enforcement.

8)   Often the urban fantasy mystery is written in a dry, even acerbic sparse tone.

9)   Some urban fantasy mysteries might be considered contemporary works in a Gothic style.

Urban Fantasy Mysteries to read:

Steven Loton--Riker-Night of the Vampire (Vampire Trilogy Book 1)

S.M. Reine--Witch Hunt: An Urban Fantasy Mystery (Preternatural Affairs Book 1)

Joseph Nassise--The Heretic: An Urban Fantasy Mystery (Templar Chronicles Book 1)

Holiday Parties: 'Tis the Season for Family, Friends, Food, and Fun

I interrupt my mystery writing series to bring you a timely post!

This post can do double-duty. You can plan a holiday party and plop that into your next book. How much fun is that??? I can see Alli and Gina catering at some holiday party right before somebody bites the dust. Could your protagonist get caught up in a murder or robbery?

That glittery New Year’s Eve party was perfect until the popular hostess dropped dead in front of distinguished 50 guests.

The 8^th night of Channukah seemed to be going so well for the gathered family and friends until Cousin Sue found Uncle Ben dead in the upstairs hall bathroom.

Christmas Eve cookies and cocoa might never be served again after Aunt Mildred poisoned the next door neighbors.

On the other hand, maybe you just want to have a rip-roarin’ good time yourself. For whatever reason, planning a holiday party doesn’t have to be stressful. The point is to have fun with family, friend, and food!

First things first:

How many and who can you invite? In the Phoenix, AZ area, it is still warm enough for the party to spill over to outdoors. But inventory your space. This is finger-food eating, not sit-down-dinner, so perhaps you can invite more. Or not, if you want a more intimate party. If you decide to make it a family party you will have to plan activities for the kids and adults.

So, make your list and check it at least twice. How many is the right number for the party you see in your head?

What foods will you have? The Internet is loaded with holiday recipes right now. It’s super easy to plan a party with gorgeous and delicious comestibles.

Make this a heavy appetizers party. Ask each family to bring two appetizers. Now here’s my bias: Tell everyone that you are doing the sweets, so they should bring the savory. Obviously you can do a true potluck appetizers party, but I think that’s more work for you.

By focusing your attention on one category only, sweets, you will pull off a great party. One- or two-bite sweets are especially appreciated so people can sample from your array. Make tiny cookies, shot glass puddings and parfaits, mini-fruit tarts, cupcakes, and the like. Having a lot of different desserts will make it look more sumptuous than a couple of cakes sitting beside a plate of cookies.

Will you have a punchbowl with alcoholic and non-alcoholic options or stick to fruit juices and wine? Unless you have a dedicated bartender, I’d suggest not serving mixed drinks or having too many options. You want this to be as easy as possible. Letting people serve themselves frees you up for other things, like having fun at your own party.

What about entertainment? Will you have a TV in another room playing classic Christmas movies all night? Will you put on dance music like “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”?  Or will you let sparkling conversation drive the evening?

A very fun thing to do is decorate gingerbread people. Make (or buy) a batch and put out the icings. People really enjoy this. If children are present, the rules are pretty obvious, right, about how to depict them? No kids? Go for it!

I also like to buy clear glass ornaments in bulk and let people fill them with beads, tinsel, or other small items OR paint the inside or outside. It’s amazing how creative people can get with just a few suggestions.

Playing board games or old favorites like charades with holiday-themed book, quotes, movies is easy entertaining.

If you have the fixings for simple holiday candies or no-bake cookies, everyone can make a box to take home if they like cooking activities.

With kids, one thing I have done is provide a room with gift wrap and adult supervision. Kids bring the gifts for their families and wrap them at your house. Parents will appreciate your effort, and it keeps kids busy for a long while. Have a holiday movie playing in the room, too.

What about decorations? You have this one nailed. You’re already decorated for the holidays. Plan the party between the time of put up and take down. With low lights, no one will notice the dust!

Getting it all done:

I’m huge on list making. Write down every single item in a column, arranged in categories (like these headings) and figure out each tiny step. Planning now saves headaches later.

After you have your menu planned, you choose the hardest, most elaborate, or expensive items for yourself. Make sure you prepare enough food so if people “forget” their assigned dish, you don’t run out. Divvy up the other menu items and get the directions/recipes for each.

Send an invitation to each family you’re inviting and ask them to bring two savory appetizers, telling them the desserts are all by you. If they can’t come, have them let you know well in advance so you can adjust the amount of dessert.

Your invitation should specify who’s invited, when and where the party is, and the dress code.

There! Here you have everything you need to pull off the holiday neighborhood party of the year. It truly is merely a matter of organization supplemented by Internet ideas!

Here’s some help to get you started:

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/best-holiday-and-christmas-dessert-recipes.html?oc=CNNPaid&hpt=hp_bn16

https://gma.yahoo.com/bite-sized-party-finger-foods-guests-love-171446805.html

https://www.yahoo.com/food/how-to-make-cheez-its-at-home-103053326238.html

http://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/packages/holidays/holiday-central-hanukkah.html

http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Holidays-and-Events/Hanukkah/

http://www.myrecipes.com/menus/easy-finger-food-recipes?xid=cnn-dec14&hpt=hp_bn19

https://www.yahoo.com/food/how-to-make-bacon-wrapped-dates-maybe-the-best-104425636781.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/09/englsih-christmas-food_n_6295332.html

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/cooking-channel-holiday-cookies.html?oc=CNNPaid&hpt=hp_bn16

http://wallstcheatsheet.com/life/16-holiday-themed-sweets-that-will-dazzle-the-dessert-table.html/

Still looking for a present for a foodie friend? Maybe you could give Mission Impastable, a tasty treat of a mystery with recipes. Sort of a two-fer! http://amzn.to/1eYJ4AY It would certainly make MY holiday brighter!

How to Write Steampunk Mysteries in 11 + 9 Steps

As I worked on this post, I knew that there would be some dissenters with my perspective and interpretation of the sub-genre. Steampunk has some fierce advocates, purists even, who are appalled when someone dares to modify the sub-genre they identify so strongly with. 

Just like purists in the cozy mystery are upset with the increased violence and sexuality in cozies, so, too, are some of the steampunk people upset with the natural evolution and extension of their sub-genre. Really, all I can say is, get over yourselves. Writers are going to mess with sub-genres and cross-blend genres and change the definition. It happens. And that’s exactly how steampunk was created by blending Gothic elements with the supernatural and other features to create something new.

Steampunk mysteries are categorized as speculative fiction. Speculative fiction, a term created by

Robert Heinlein in 1947, is fiction with supernatural, futuristic, and/or fantastical elements. You might wonder why we need a term called “speculative fiction” since we have genres for paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Speculative fiction is not clearly one or another of these, rather it blends sub-genres.

This sub-genres of steampunk mystery shares, with next week’s urban fantasy mystery, the distinction of being outliers in the mystery world, both because of subject matter and because they have relatively fewer readers than the other subgenres.

Like the other sub-genres, steampunk and urban fantasy novels owe a debt to the basic elements of the traditional mystery. Nevertheless, each has its unique elements as well. So this week, we deconstruct steampunk mysteries. Come back next week for urban fantasy mystery elements.

1) The mysteries are a puzzle to solve.

2) All clues are revealed to the reader but obscured with red herrings and false leads.

3) These mysteries feature a murder (most often) or a crime of great substance.

4) The sleuth may or may not be a professional.

5) The power of reasoning is trusted to restore order and solve the puzzle.

6) Violence often takes place “on stage” with varying degrees of explicit violence or gore described.

7) The murdered person may or may not have been a character in the mystery before death.

8) The mystery uses plot devices to further the confusion of clues, suspects, and timelines.

9) The language of sleuth and suspects is closer to colloquial use and reflects social status.

10) The villain is the intellectual equal of the sleuth.

11) The murder/significant crime occurs near the beginning, often in the opening pages. Usually there are multiple crimes.

Additionally, to be a steampunk mystery:

1)   Most are set in a futuristic or historical time period and are often a hybrid genre.

2)   Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction featuring steam-powered machines as technology.

3)   Often steampunk mysteries are alternate histories of what might have been or are post-apocalyptic tales when people had to go back to steam.

4)   Fictional machines are created and used. “Contraptions” are common.

5)   Steampunk mysteries are often a series.

6)   Steampunk is a re-imagining of a world where there was never electricity.

7)   In steampunk place is less important than time.

8)   Nostalgia is an important element. Men and women’s roles are clearly defined, manners matter.

9)   In the steampunk world, wood, copper and other natural elements are used. There are no plastic or fossil-based products.

Steampunk Mysteries to read:

BecMcMaster--The Curious Case of the Clockwork Menace (London Steampunk) Michael Corlim--Bartleby and James: Edwardian Steampunk Chronicle (Galvanic Century Book 1)

Abigail Blanchet--Lady Sophia-Part 1-Death in Winter: A serial steampunk murder