My Blog

Channeling the Inner Sleuth by DonnaRae Menard

Channeling the Inner Sleuth by DonnaRae Menard

It doesn’t matter where I’m speaking, about what, or to which group, eventually someone wants to know where the stories come from. I really want to say that’s a tough question, but I find inspiration in the darndest places. Mostly because I can’t keep my nose out of...

Why We Love Amateur Sleuths by Anna St. John

Why We Love Amateur Sleuths by Anna St. John

There’s a lot to love about cozy mysteries. Almost always, they begin in a picturesque small town filled with quirky characters we can easily imagine as our neighbors and friends. While a thriller might keep us on the edge of our seats, a cozy mystery pulls us into...

Fooling Grandma Part Deux by Susan Van Kirk

Fooling Grandma Part Deux by Susan Van Kirk

Back in August 2021, I wrote in my blog post: “Once upon a time I had three children who married and had children of their own. Now I have eleven grandchildren. I hadn’t thought I’d have such a bonanza, but four of them came as twins to my older son and his wife. Yes,...

Looking Back…Looking Forward by Susan Van Kirk

Looking Back…Looking Forward by Susan Van Kirk

As I sit in my office in my small Midwest town, the snow continues to fall, and we may get over a foot over the next day or two. It’s beautiful, but I plan to stay inside today catching up on tasks I put off as I finished writing Death in a Ghostly Hue. Cleaning out...