Month: March 2012
Friday Cocktail
End the week in style with this Friday’s Cocktail, the Golden Cadillac. Poor Red’s Bar-B-Q in El Dorado, California, (see here) lays claim to the creation of this cocktail and being “the largest consumer of Galliano (a spiced anise liqueur) in the world.” In addition to Galliano, their recipe calls for white crème de cacao, half and half, and… Read More ›
Origin
“Victims exist in another dimension, as far as I’m concerned–they’re theoretical. The police meet the victims; we work in an office. I wouldn’t have become a print examiner if I wanted to meet victims.” Lena Dawson, a fingerprint examiner at a crime lab in Syracuse, New York, arrives at work and encoutners Erin Cogan. Erin’s… Read More ›
Steve Jackson’s Sorcery!
“You may leave the village along one of two paths. One leads up into the hills…The other takes a downhill route…turn to page # to follow your path.” In the 1980s, Choose Your Own Adventures with their second-person point of view engaged thousands of young kids—and me—with a wide variety of mystery, fantasy, and scifi adventures. … Read More ›
Two Books & The Beginning
First lines are vital for attracting readers. Drawing in your audience and involving them in the story you’re spinning is of the utmost importance and even more so in the first five pages. There’s even a book for that! Noah Lukeman’s The First Five Pages: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile. … Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini – V
It’s time for Part V of The Poisoned Martini, an original eStory written by yours truly. Have you been following this serialized eStory? Recent college grad Rick Gray met an intriguing and pretty co-ed who invited him to a party at her sorority. Jump forward to early the next morning, Rick wakes up and finds… Read More ›
Friday Cocktail
It may not be green, but with St. Patrick’s Day approaching, give this Friday Cocktail a try, the Clover Club Cocktail. Created at the Bellevue-Stratford bar in Philadelphia—as early as 1911—this drink certainly pre-dates Prohibition. It’s named for a mens club that once met at the aforementioned bar. Alas, because of one of the ingredients—raw egg… Read More ›
Three Bags Full
“He was healthy yesterday,” said Maude. Her ears twitched nervously. “That doesn’t mean anything,” pointed out Sir Ritchfield, the oldest ram in the flock. “He didn’t die of illness. Spades are not an illness.” Indeed! This clever start to Leonie Swann’s Three Bags Full immediately draws readers into the story, and it is an unusual… Read More ›
Mysteries in Paradise
I discovered the latest addition to my blogroll while searching for information about my March book discussion selection, Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. Begun in January 2008, this blog from Down Under features reviews of all sorts of mysteries. Kerrie Smith, a self-admitted crime fiction addict, resides in Adelaide, South Australia, and she’s done… Read More ›
Friday Cocktail Original
This week’s Friday Cocktail features an original creation honoring my hometown, a Syracuse Cocktail. Invented in 2012, this sweet cocktail is perfect for toasting the Salt City or celebrating our college team’s successes. What you’ll need: Vodka, Dry Vermouth, Cointreau (or Triple Sec), Orange Juice, Grenadine, and Sugar. Lightly coat your cocktail glass with lemon… Read More ›
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
Master Jia is giving a tour of a great wonder under construction when, upon entering the sunlight, he begins to spontaneously combust. Is this some divine retribution? Are supernatural forces at work? No, it is a case of murder in China, circa 690 A.D. When judges from China’s supreme court begin their investigation, it is… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 