As you consider those you love, a cozy mystery might be the sweetest gift you could give. Books by Radine Trees Nehring bring the Ozarks alive with spine-tingling adventure. If you’ve visited the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, AR, A Wedding to Die For will carry you right back there.
You can get a signed copy from the author and shipped free from www.radinesbooks.com
It’s a five-star winner on Amazon
Fellow author Crow Johnson Evans and I met with a writers’ group in Bella Vista, Arkansas yesterday, speaking to them about how we established our writing careers, and answering questions. Following this we had the great opportunity to hear each member of the group read examples of their own writing.
WOW, we heard some wonderful things. Most striking, I thought, was a lively article about wedding practices in Syria–the author had lived in Damascus for twenty years. This was certainly a timely topic. Other pieces (mostly non-fiction, spiced by one romance author’s chapter) were also very good.
But there was a big, publication-stopping problem, or rather, several problems. Too many words, for the main one, sentences too long, spiced with adjectives and adverbs. Telling more than was needed to make the article or story sing. There were other problems no editor would tolerate–improper formatting, bad punctuation, and more. I don’t know how long each of the members has been writing, but huge talent was obvious. It was, therefore, heart breaking to see most of it buried in wordiness and writing mistakes. I wondered how each author had arrived at this point without actual knowledge of the business of writing.
What to do? I wrote to the group’s organizer/director today, and sent along a list of general interest writers’ conferences in this area, some of them free. At the meeting, Crow had already suggested various classes on line. Writing like we heard yesterday is too terrific to be hidden under problems that would deny it publication, but no one in the group commented about the problems I mention, and, as guests, Crow and I were reluctant to say much.
Sad fact–I have run into terrific talent before, but too often the writer(s) lacked the ooomph to do work needed to make it ready to submit to an agent, magazine or book editor. I have worked with (for example) a very good author who rarely read publisher’s guidelines before he submitted. In one instance he sent a (very good) story manuscript that was almost double the word count the publisher’s guidelines asked for, thinking, I suspect, his work was good enough to overcome that little problem, if he even had read the guidelines. After only a few rejections, this author gave up, stopped submitting, dropped out of our critique group, and may have stopped writing completely.
Too bad. It takes more than talent. May I suggest ooomph–or maybe “fire in the belly”, and a willingness to do the down and dirty detail work? I guess I have this. At times I feel wildly frustrated and wish I could just WRITE. But I sit in my desk chair and turn on the computer, not to write, but to do research and so much more.
Tell me–is my frustration noted here unrealistic? How do you feel?
I haven’t been on a vacation since my first mystery novel (A VALLEY TO DIE FOR) was published in 2002.
Until that year, husband John and I went on yearly vacations in August. The gift/decorating/antique shop where I worked closed for three weeks in August to have cleaning and painting done, and so I could take a vacation. Since it was August and we were camping–sleeping in the back of our van–we went north for comfort. We love the ocean, so most frequently headed for a northern coast in the United States or Canada, though we saw quite a bit of the Great Lakes and central Canada as well. I have wonderful memories of all those vacations.
However, by the time my second novel, MUSIC TO DIE FOR (Ozark Folk Center State Park), had appeared, vacations turned into book research/and/or book promotion trips. In some ways, these were mini-vacations as well. Conferences and conventions? We have seen Austin, TX at a Bouchercon Writers’ Conference, and El Paso at Left Coast Crime. We fell in love with Omaha over and over during repeated visits to Mayhem in the Midlands, and enjoyed visiting the Washington DC area after a long trip by car to attend Malice Domestic. We have seen some of Indiana and Tennessee, several additional locations in Texas, plus Missouri and Kansas and, of course, Little Rock and Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Which brings me to another type of “vacation.” Book research trips. Since I site my novels at tourist destinations in the Arkansas Ozarks, most of my research is done on day trips. One of the more distant exceptions is A TREASURE TO DIE FOR, set in Hot Springs National Park. That required one two-week vacation stay, and two additional overnight trips. This was all the fault of my major characters, Carrie McCrite and Henry King. Carrie wanted to attend what was then called an Elderhostel, sited in Hot Springs. (As did her creator, Radine. What a happy coincidence.)
John and I enrolled in the chosen Elderhostel. Carrie, wanting to lure Henry into attending with her, followed friend Elinor Stack’s advice, and made a meatloaf, since (Elinor assured her) feeding a man meatloaf and oven potatoes was guaranteed to make him say yes to most anything. However, Carrie is no cook, and her road to meatloaf is covered, I hope humorously, in that novel. The eventual result did the trick, and Henry agreed to go along. ( He may have had regrets later because he ended up in more pain and more danger than even Carrie, though she had trouble enough on her own.) At the end of the novel, moved by many exterior and interior hazards lived through, he finally asks Carrie to marry him.
Which takes us to A WEDDING TO DIE FOR (The 1886 Crescent Hotel and Eureka Springs, AR), A RIVER TO DIE FOR (Buffalo National River), JOURNEY TO DIE FOR (A&M RR Passenger Excursion Train ride to historic Van Buren, AR), and A FAIR TO DIE FOR (War Eagle Craft fairs and Hobbs State Park).
Coming next year, A GARDEN TO DIE FOR. Now that doesn’t require a long trip at all.
Radine, at http://www.RadinesBooks.com
WHAT? I’m not a loner? But . . . .
Many here know the story of a grade school Radine who hid in her closet to read while her mother entertained friends at her 8th Birthday party. (Mom, when she found me, insisted I join the party.)
My disinclination to enjoy large group events has persisted through the years–even in high sch0ol and college where a date to a party or dance with one nifty guy (and of course there were several of those over a number of years) did not constitute interacting on a loud level with a raucous group outside my personal sphere.
It isn’t that I don’t like people. I am just content, most of the time, to enjoy very small groups, the companionship of my husband, or my own company. Anti-social? I don’t know, it’s okay if you call it that.
However, I do know this, that the Internet has changed interpersonal connections just as it has changed so much else in the writing world.
I wrote for magazines and the news for a number of years before I settled down to write and sell my first book. After that, even before the Internet, publicity needs did dictate I do public signings and programs. Okay, I was focused on my special interest, talking about that, and relatively comfortable in my slot.
By the time my mystery series featuring amateur detectives Carrie McCrite and Henry King was making its way, one book at a time, into the public, the Internet was beginning to be a factor in publicity. But, still interested mostly in personal appearances and hampered by slow rural Internet connection, I was similarly slow to adopt extensive Internet publicity. For an additional time I remained largely safe in my private world.
And now? As much as anyone, I depend on Internet connection to the “outside” world of writers and readers. This is only partly for publicity purposes.
There are a number of lists and groups connecting mystery fans on the Internet, plus many other groups with members involved in writing everything from enlightened poetry to–porn. We are a truly varied profession. Along the way I have discovered it is very difficult to even think of pursuing my career without these multiple connections to people I will probably never meet face-to-face. (Hm, maybe this is rather like hiding in my closet?)
Via these connections and through reading online lists of comments, I learn what is going on in the writing profession: Who read and commented on this book or the other; what list or group or firm made decisions possibly detrimental or beneficial to publishers, bookstores, writers and/or readers; how other authors are promoting; what conventions and conferences are coming up–and on and on. All the information I read keeps me connected to my profession and its news.
We need the information pouring into our computers to help us make informed decisions about our work as authors and the next steps in our careers. Therefore, like it or not, we must pay attention to our larger group and our world. We are, and must be, joiners and participants and learners. We need connections.
Are you a loner? What do you think?
Responses to my ongoing series about what I see as benefits for the fiction author from writing poetry have taught me a surprising thing. In comments and responses scattered over the Internet and sent to me personally, all but one who responded said they had or were writing poetry. Kaye George’s response about continuing to write haiku intrigued me, though she said she thinks her role as a musician is more relevant to her prose than the poetry.
Haiku was not a type of poetry discussed when I was in school, and, in fact, I didn’t know much about it until a nephew by marriage gifted me with a couple of his framed haiku poems written in honor of Spring Hollow after a family visit here.
Haiku is a Japanese poetry form–and you sure might call it minimalist! Writing this way takes a degree of quiet concentration for most of us, not to mention an urge to complete something beautiful in our few words.
The form traditionally is only three lines long, the first and last lines have five syllables, the middle one seven. That’s it. The haiku most frequently says something about the natural world . . . like this:
Satin glass snake twists/ringing the branch in green art/beauty cancels fear.
(I guess your reaction to this depends on how you feel about snakes?)
Okay, that’s my first ever haiku so don’t judge too harshly. Would you like to try one? I am now eager do go further in this intense and stunning art form.
By the way — do you think stopping to concentrate on writing a haiku could help those stuck in writers’ block?
The Internet has made so many changes in our lives. One thing that’s kind of unique, as far as I’m concerned, is the fact I can say something like: “My friend, John Bohnert, said ………….” when, in fact, I have never met John Bohnert, who lives in Grass Valley, California, and I live in the Arkansas Ozarks. True, I saw his posts on the Internet list for mystery fans called DorothyL for several years, learned he is a retired Navy man, and, (very important) that he loves to cook and probably has notebooks full of unique and tasty recipes. He often mentions these by name on DorothyL, along with his book reviews and related comments, and, when someone asks, is willing to share a recipe via email.
In 2011 I decided John Bohnert would make a terrific character in my upcoming novel. Why? My main female character, Carrie McCrite, is a reluctant cook. (Her husband, Henry King, is more comfortable in a kitchen than she is.) AND, in this novel-in-progress, Carrie was going to have to create a quick luncheon for a surprise guest, then Henry would have to cook for a guarding sheriff’s deputy and Carrie’s mysterious cousin during a later emergency in the story. Enter, Chef John Bohnert, “much acclaimed chef and owner of The Grass Valley Bistro, author of the companion GRASS VALLEY BISTRO COOKBOOK.” Henry meets Chef John on line during a discussion of the heirloom tomatoes Henry grows.
Since all my novels include a few recipes used during the progress of the plot, several Chef John recipes appeared naturally in A FAIR TO DIE FOR. (They are printed at the end of the book.)
John Bohnert has continued to mention recipes on DorothyL, and I recently asked for his recipe for BEEF BURRITOS. It has been tested in the Nehring kitchen, as well as, of course, by John Bohnert, and is a winner. I thought you might like to try it too!
BEEF BURRITOS
2 lbs lean ground beef
1 jar chunky salsa, MED. (24 oz jar)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed (15 oz. can)
3 cans diced green chiles, (4 oz cans) HOT. (I cheated since the Nehrings aren’t up to HOT. How about MILD for us?)
1 cup chopped onions and 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 cans diced tomatoes (15 oz cans)
2 cups shredded Cheddar
2 pkg. 8 count flour tortillas, burrito size
1 pkg. shredded lettuce
2 tsp cumin, 2 tsp Mexican Blend, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp. black pepper.
(Note: I couldn’t find Mexican Blend here in Arkansas and learned from John it contains cumin, garlic powder, paprika, white pepper, thyme, and onion powder, so I improvised with those ingredients.)
Saute onions and bell pepper in very large skillet. Heat until tender. Remove to 6 quart saucepot.
Brown ground beef in the large skillet. Drain off any fat. Add to saucepot. Add remaining ingredients except for cheese and lettuce. Stir and heat on MEDIUM LOW.
Remove saucepot from heat, spoon some of mixture into tortillas. Top with Cheddar cheese and shredded lettuce. Fold up ends and roll tortilla.
ENJOY!!!!!
More recipes at http://www.RadinesBooks.com
Last week’s blog explained my own cooking abilities, or lack thereof, and how my husband, after retiring more than twice from the business world, finally learned to warm leftovers and prepare simple meals. Why? Because I, buried in ideas and unaware of time and hunger pangs, was typing away in my office.
Not that I divorced myself from cooking entirely, not in real life, and certainly not in fiction. My lead female character, Carrie McCrite, says, during her first adventure in A VALLEY TO DIE FOR, that her cooking depends more on the Pillsbury Doughboy than Julia Child. True, oh so true. That’s why I had such fun “cooking up” unusual and unusually simple recipes for Carrie to prepare as part of the plots in each of my seven (so far) novels that she and her husband, Henry King, star in.
After readers of A VALLEY TO DIE FOR suggested that plot recipes be printed in the back of each book, my publishers began doing that. Readers’ favorites thus far are “No Thaw Meatloaf” from A TREASURE TO DIE FOR, and “Baggie Omelets” from A RIVER TO DIE FOR.
I take part in an Internet list for mystery fans called DorothyL, and a popular poster there, John Bohnert, often mentions recipes he prepares. When I was writing A FAIR TO DIE FOR, I decided it would be great fun to include John and his recipes as an off-stage character in that novel, and, with his permission, he took part as the famous California Chef, John Bohnert, owner of the Grass Valley Bistro, and author of its much-acclaimed cookbook THE GRASS VALLEY BISTRO COOKBOOK. In the story, Henry King meets Chef John on the Internet during a discussion of the heirloom tomatoes Henry is experimenting with.
When a mysterious relative is on the way to visit Carrie and Henry, Carrie realizes they are going to have to feed this person lunch, and Henry saves the day by appealing to Chef John for a simple sandwich recipe. Later in the plot, Henry presents Carrie with a copy of THE GRASS VALLEY BISTRO COOKBOOK, and each of them uses it to prepare a meal.
These recipes do appear in the back of A FAIR TO DIE FOR.
Though The Grass Valley Bistro and its cookbook are fiction, John’s recipes are not. Next week I’ll share one of his new recipes for BEEF BURRITOS. Until then, happy cooking and reading,
Radine
Beginning with stumbling through recipes and several disastrous experiences (including cracking the coating on my new mother-in-law’s enamel roaster), I have cooked all my married life. When I got married, that’s what women did. No male admitted to actually cooking unless he was a chef. (And, back then, “convenience” foods were limited to the new miracle of angel food cake mixes and truly awful TV dinners.)
So I cooked. Not gourmet. Not even fancy. Just meals based on uncomplicated recipes and a strong reliance on ground beef and chicken.
I worked away from home in “9-5” jobs for the first forty-two years of my married life. That added to my lively interest in simple and quick.
But, dreaming of future kitchens, future leisure time, I began a recipe collection. Some fit the easy and simple (but good) category, and were soon easily identified by their worn look and food spots, not to mention added notes like “Cut this in half,” or, simply, “Good!” Others in my rapidly growing collection spoke of imagined exotic meals and praise by awed guests. I began filling ten inch file boxes with categorized recipes on 3 x 5 cards or clipped from newspapers and magazines, plus recipes hand-written on scraps of paper by my mother and by fellow employees and friends. The collection grew until I had eight file boxes labeled from “Appetizers” to “Vegetables,” and on to “Misc” and “Meal Planning.” They were part of my wealth. I’d never be at a loss for something to cook.
But as years passed, plain and simple cooking, aided by an increasing number of excellent convenience foods, was what came to the table in my kitchen. Still, my files of recipes grew.
Over the past five or so years my work load as a multi-published writer using the Internet increased, and my long-suffering (and hungry) husband frequently came to my office door around 5:00 to interrupt my concentration on the latest adventures of Carrie McCrite and Henry King. Hesitating in the doorway, he invariably asked, “What are we having for supper?”
I was always startled when this happened. Time and hunger had vanished behind whatever I was putting on my computer screen. Guilt was my most frequent reaction to John’s question because I still had a long-ingrained opinion of what my housewifely duties were. Since I rarely stop for a noon meal, John’s question also reminded me that I, too, was hungry. It was time to–rather frantically–think about what I could prepare for our supper.
Then, slowly, this began to change. John had retired by this time and, when we had viable left-overs, he realized it was easy to begin heating dishes for supper. Then, little-by-little, we became kitchen companions.
I am doing a much better job of quitting work in my office by 5:00, and now the two of us frequently work as a team on meal prep, with John sometimes doing some of the work before I leave my office. He is much better than I at what we call “prior planning in advance” so we usually have decided on supper’s make-up by breakfast that day, and have the needed ingredients (and the recipe) all ready to go when we meet in the kitchen around 5:00.
Isn’t marriage–and cooking–fun?
More about those saved exotic recipes, and the recipes that season my novels, next week!
Radine at http://www.RadinesBooks.com
Are romance writers the only ones who write about love and sexperience?
Gosh, no. At the moment I am thinking back to the mystery novels by Dorothy L. Sayers. If several of those aren’t part romance (as it was seen back in the 1920’s) I’ll eat one of my one hundred hats. (Yuck — wool, straw, hemp, cotton, and a lot of goodness-knows-what. ) But then, I’m not worried in the least.
People will be people in mysteries as well as most other places. Detective novels, and many popular mysteries in all the categories of that genre–even a few written earlier than those by the “Dead British Ladies,”– as well as up until present day, include a large dose of romance and even sexy romance.
In my own mystery novels featuring two mature adults and their friends, I manage to stuff in (between crimes and sometimes because of crimes), the meeting and growing romantic interest between widow Carrie McCrite and retired police officer Henry King. When Carrie convinces Henry, her Ozarks neighbor, to take part in an Elderhostel (as they were then called) in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, she explains that if two women can share a room to save money, why can’t they? After all, there is a private bathroom and two beds! This works out just fine until extreme danger divides the pair, and one of the things they realize is that they are in love–and it’s about time they did something about it before–horrors–one of them gets killed.
The next series novel, A WEDDING TO DIE FOR, is by far my sexiest book. Not only are Carrie and Henry concerned about what an appropriate wedding for them would be like, both are dealing with wild concerns about what will happen on their wedding night. Carrie’s first marriage was, after all, more a business arrangement with her criminal lawyer husband than a love affair, and Henry’s very wealthy first wife cut sex out of their relationship after their European honeymoon. Though both WERE married, neither is exactly sexperienced.
And then, when they are exploring wedding venues, (and being shot at) there is a scene in the Crescent Hotel elevator when both forget themselves, and, well, later Henry apologizes, saying ” I felt like I was a teenager again” and Carrie, flying wildly out of her normally ladyfied self, promises great things on their wedding night. Ooooooo. (No, this is NOT an X-rated book and is suitable for teens. After all, it can awaken them to fresh thoughts about their grandparents.)
So, tell me about where you have discovered that true romance can, indeed, be part of all types of crime novels, not just those detective stories with the macho men and beautiful broads flaunting — whatever. Prepare to have fun!
Radine's Weblog 