Month: May 2011
The Women
“Jungle Red!” Who could forget the battle cry of Mary Haines (as played by Norma Shearer)? Or this pivotal plot point? I’d first heard of the film, The Women (1939), in relation to Gone with the Wind. The Women was a sort of consolation prize to those actress who did not win the coveted role… Read More ›
Jungle Red
I’ll finally be updating my blogroll with links to sites about mysteries and creative writing. Over the next month, check out these sites I’ve found interesting and see what you think. First up is Jungle Red Writers. This blog is promoted as a salon of eight women mystery authors who share this blog about writing,… Read More ›
Murder Abroad
Aboard a night train to Trondheim, Norway, international travelers discover a murder in their midst. These strangers on a train have no connection to the victim or each other, or do they? This is the theme of my next murder mystery event, Murder Abroad, which I’m hosting at the library where I work. It ties… Read More ›
Odysseus on the Rhine
Book by Edward S. Louis Though not my favorite hero of legend, I was intrigued by the title of this book by Edward S. Louis. Odysseus on the Rhine imagines the further adventures of Odysseus and other veterans of the Trojan War in this solid, entertaining “sequel.” Even those not familiar with their mythology will find… Read More ›
Friday Cocktail
Celebrate a classic–in more ways than one–and try a Rob Roy! You’d think the Rob Roy was invented in Scotland. It is named for the legendary Robert Roy MacGregor. However, it was created at the Waldorf in New York City, circa 1894. The drink is quite similar to a Manhattan (see this post) but uses… Read More ›
Desperate Housewives
Since its start seven years ago with the suicide of Mary Alice, I’ve been a fan of Desperate Housewives. Though at times the writing has not been stellar, the show has alway managed to entertain (and been fodder for water cooler chatter at work.) Tonight’s season finale was the show at its best, smoothy integrating… Read More ›
The Organization of Writing
Looking over old pieces of mine this weekend, I’m struck again by a curious thing. Grabbing readers from the very beginning of what you write can be of the utmost importance when crafting a story. Yet is the beginning of what story you’ve written necessarily told in the best possible way? Take the following as… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 