CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--KILLER MOP DOLL DOES MALICE (AND FoM)

A few weeks ago I told you that Lois Winston, the author who writes those books about moi, was taking a road trip to the Malice Domestic mystery convention in Bethesda, MD and the Festival of Mystery in Oakmont, PA. Accompanying Lois on her 700 mile roundtrip was a killer mop doll.

I’m happy to report that the killer mop doll spilled no blood during these two events, and no mystery writers or readers were harmed in the course of this road trip (at least not by the killer mop doll.) Although I have it on good authority that there was some need for the hair of the dog the morning after the night before on more than one occasion. Not saying for whom, though. You know who you are.

Presented here for your enjoyment and proof that everyone had a great time and didn’t fall prey to the killer mop doll (really, does she look like a killer?), are pictures from the two events. -- AP

"Elvis and the Commies" panel at Malice Domestic --
moderator Catriona McPherson, the KMD, and author Lois Winston

The entire "Elvis and the Commies" panel -- Catriona McPherson (moderator),
KMD, Lois Winston, Lane Stone, Deborah Sharp, and Joelle Charbonneau

Author Lois Winston signing at Malice Domestic
(KMD isn't happy with the photographer of this photo.)

Terri Bischoff, Midnight Ink editor responsible for deadly glue guns and killer mop dolls.
(If you can't make out the T-shirt, it says, "Editors: Reading Crappy Manuscripts
So You Don't Have To")

The entire Midnight Ink contingent at Malice (minus KMD)

M'Inkers Vicki Doudera, Jess Lourey, Linda Hull, and Lois Winston at the Malice banquet.
(KMD wasn't invited)

KMD and author Lois Winston at the Festival of Mystery

Midnight Ink authors with Mystery Lovers Bookshop co-owner Richard Goldman
at party after Festival of Mystery

The Killer Mop Doll and author Alice Loweecey's nun doll
(They co-habitated during the Festival of Mystery.)

Special thanks to Alice Loweecey, Catriona McPherson, Terri Bischoff, Beth Groundwater, Kathleen Ernst, and Jessie Chandler for use of their photos.

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--KILLER MOP DOLL ROAD TRIP

Author Lois Winston (who writes those books about moi) is about to embark on a road trip with a killer mop doll. If you’re planning to attend Malice Domestic in Bethesda, MD at the end of the week, this is your opportunity to get up close and personal with an actual killer mop doll.

On Friday, April 27th, Lois and the Killer M.D. will be taking part in Malice-Go-Round at 10:00am. Forty-two mystery authors and one killer mop doll will be table-hopping around a ballroom at the Hyatt Regency. Will the mop doll behave herself? You’ll want to be there to find out.

Then on Saturday, April 28th, Lois and the Killer M.D. will be on a panel at 2:30pm. “Elivs and the Commies: Sidekicks Who Provide Comic Relief” will be moderated by Catriona McPherson. Other panelists include Joelle Charbonneau, Deborah Sharp, and Lane Stone. I’m not sure which author will be discussing Elvis, but I certainly know which one will be talking about a certain commie mother-in-law.

At 4:20pm that afternoon, Lois will be signing books at the group signing event. Check out the Malice Domestic schedule for exact locations of all these events.

Not going to Malice? On Monday, April 30th, Lois and the Killer M.D. will be taking part in the 17th annual Festival of Mystery in Oakmont, PA. The event will be held at the Greek Orthodox Church, 12 Washington, St., Oakmont, PA. Doors open at 4:00pm with close to 50 mystery authors taking part. The event is sponsored by 90.5 Essential Public Radio. Proceeds support literacy efforts in the Pittsburgh area.

Lois would love to see you at either or both events. The killer mop doll is keeping mum about her intentions.

ForeWords Book of the Year Awards

The ForeWords Book of the Year finalists were announced this week, and Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun (that book about me) by author Lois Winston is a finalist in the Mystery category.

ForeWords is a trade journal that reviews books published by independent publishing houses. Finalists are chosen by a jury of ForeWords editors and reviewers, booksellers, librarians, and other industry professions. The winners will be announced at the ALA (American Library Association) conference in Anaheim on June 23rd. 

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- A KILLER MOP DOLL AT LEFT COAST CRIME

Are you attending Left Coast Crime in Sacramento? Author Lois Winston, unfortunately, will not be there. However, one of her mop dolls, along with signed copies of Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun and Death By Killer Mop Doll, will be attending in her stead. If you’ll be at Left Coast Crime, you may be lucky enough to win the mop doll shown above and the books at the LCC annual charity auction.

Left Coast Crime will be held March 29th - April 1st. The auction benefits the Sacramento Library Adult Literacy Program, which serves the entire Sacramento City/County region with 29 libraries, representing a population of more than 1.4 million people.

To learn more about Left Coast Crime, visit their website. 

SEEN ON THE NYC SUBWAY

How cool is this? We don't normally do a blog post on Saturdays, but thanks to Google Alerts, author Lois Winston recently discovered this photo posted at Underground New York Public Library, and we decided we had to share it with our readers. Sure hope the woman didn't miss her train as she stood so engrossed in that book about me! -- AP

DEATH BY KILLER MOP DOLL BOOK GIVEAWAY

Author Lois Winston and a mop doll at the Midnight Ink booth at Bouchercon

Last weekend Lois Winston, the author who writes the books about me, attended Bouchercon, the huge mystery book convention. At the Midnight Ink booth, she signed and gave away  advance reading copies of Death By Killer Mop Doll, the second book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries series which will be released in Jan. Lois came home with a few extra copies, and she's giving two of them away. If you'd like to enter the drawing for an ARC of Death By Killer Mop Doll, all you have to do is sign up for her author newsletter by sending an email to: LoisWinstonAuthorNewsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or add yourself as a follower to this blog by clicking on the Join This Site button (under Followers) on the sidebar to the right. Then send Lois an email at lois@loiswinston.com to let her know that you've signed up for one or the other. -- Anastasia

FROM HEROINES TO RELUCTANT SLEUTHS

Author Lois Winston, who tells my story in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, is the guest blogger at Fresh Fiction today. She talks about switching from writing romance to writing mysteries in an article called From Heroines To Reluctant Sleuths. Personally, I'm thrilled that her keyboard is firmly planted in the mystery world now, because I have many more adventures for her to share with you. And I'm also loving the spotlight. -- Anastasia

THIS WEEK'S BOOK WINNER

Thanks to all who stopped by this week at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers. We hope you'll come back often and also tell your friends about us. We have lots of exciting posts and guests planned for the months ahead. I’d also like to thank Marni Graff for being our Book Club Friday guest and offering a copy of THE BLUE VIRGIN to one of our readers who posted a comment this week. The winner this week is Nancy Q. Nancy Q, please email your mailing address to me at anastasiapollack@gmail.com. I’ll forward the information to Marni, and she’ll mail your book to you. 

And don't forget to check out Lois Winston's blog tour. Tomorrow is the last day of the month-long tour and your last chance to enter the drawing for one of five copies of Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun. You can find the blog tour schedule right here on the sidebar and at Lois's website.

COOKING WITH CLORIS -- MANGO MACADAMIA MUFFINS

For those of you who have started reading ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN, you know that Cloris is always tempting me with her to-die-for baked goods. Since ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN is a crafting mystery, not a food mystery, it contains crafts projects, not recipes. Yet, it’s kind of hard to read about Cloris’s drool-worthy baked goods and not be able to sample them. So I’ve convinced Cloris to post the recipes mentioned in the book on our blog. Today she brings you her Mango Macadamia Muffins. Enjoy! -- AP

CLORIS’S MANGO MACADAMIA MUFFINS
Yield: 15 muffins

Ingredients:
1 egg
1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
1/2 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons melted butter, cooled
1 cup diced mangoes (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup chopped, dried mangoes
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon chopped macadamia nuts (unsalted)
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, loosely packed
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease muffin tins. Place liquid ingredients and egg in blender and mix together at low speed. Fold in mangoes, dried mangoes, and 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts.

In a separate bowl mix together remaining ingredients except for the tablespoon of chopped macadamia nuts.

Fold the mango mixture into the dry ingredients until evenly blended.

Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Sprinkle remaining macadamia nuts over top.

Bake 20 minutes. Cool 5-10 minutes before removing muffins from pans.

Bet you can’t each just one! Post a comment to enter the drawing for a free book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP

THIS WEEK'S BOOK WINNER

Thanks to all who stopped by this week at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers. We hope you'll come back often and also tell your friends about us. We have lots of exciting posts and guests planned for the months ahead. I’d also like to thank Bob Doerr for being our Book Club Friday guest and offering a copy of Cold Winter's Kill to one of our readers who posted a comment this week. The winner this week is traveler. traveler, please email your mailing address to me at anastasiapollack@gmail.com. I’ll forward the information to Bob, and he’ll mail your book to you. 


And don't forget to check out Lois Winston's blog tour throughout the month. Post a comment to any of the blogs on the tour, and you'll be entered in the drawing to win one of five copies of Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun, the book about yours truly. In addition, Lois will be offering crafts books giveaways at select blogs. You can find the blog tour schedule right here on the sidebar and at Lois's website.

THIS WEEK'S BOOK WINNER

Thanks to all who stopped by this week at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers. We hope you'll come back often and also tell your friends about us. We have lots of exciting posts and guests planned for the months ahead. I’d also like to thank Peter Guttridge for being our Book Club Friday guest and offering a copy of City of Dreadful Night to one of our readers who posted a comment this week. The winner this week is Joann. Joann, please email your mailing address to me at anastasiapollack@gmail.com. I’ll forward the information to Peter, and he’ll mail your books to you. 


And don't forget to check out Lois Winston's blog tour throughout the month. Post a comment to any of the blogs on the tour, and you'll be entered in the drawing to win one of five copies of Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun, the book about yours truly. In addition, Lois will be offering crafts books giveaways at select blogs. You can find the blog tour schedule right here on the sidebar and at Lois's website.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN

Hi Everyone! Sorry to brake into Kelle's wonderful guest blog today, but I need your help. Thanks to a reader down in Virginia, author Lois Winston learned yesterday that a printing error occurred in some copies of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN, the book about yours truly. The last 48 pages are missing! Unbelievable, right? 

At this point we have no way of knowing how many books are missing pages. The reader purchased her book at a Borders. The other copies at that store were also missing 48 pages. Lois has checked at her local Borders in New Jersey, and those books were also missing 48 pages. Her author copies, the books she's bought from Amazon, and the books at her local Barnes & Noble are all fine.

So I'm asking a huge favor.  If you happen to be in a bookstore, would you please check the store copies of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN? The correct version should have 302 pages with the last page being Lois's author bio. The books with missing pages end at page 254, mid-sentence. If you come across books with missing pages, please let the bookseller know. There is a procedure in place for booksellers to deal with printing errors.

Also, if it's not too much trouble, please shoot Lois a private email to let her know if you did find any defective books. 

Thanks so much!

Anastasia

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY -- GUEST AUTHOR LOIS WINSTON, PART 2

Today we’re back with author Lois Winston in our continuing celebration of the January 1^st release of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN, the book about me.  -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia. Being New Year’s Eve, I doubt we have many people dropping by Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers today.

You’d be surprised how many people would rather spend a few minutes with me rather than get all dressed up and party the night away. Besides, be honest. When was the last time you really enjoyed yourself going out on New Year’s Eve? All that noise. The crowds. And the food is usually sub-standard, even at the best restaurants. 

You have a point.

Of course, I do. It’s much more relaxing to curl up with a  good book -- or in this case, a good blog. Light a fire in the fireplace; make some hot chocolate. What could be better? It’s not like either of us would traipse into the city to freeze our buns off for hours with a million tourists as they wait for that crystal ball to drop. You get a better view on TV. Plus, we’ve got bathroom facilities. They don’t.

True. I always wondered how they all held it in so long. Especially in the cold.

Depends.

On what?

Proper noun: Depends.

Ahh…

So how about we give our readers another look into my crazy family? I think it’s time to introduce my multi-married Mama.

Great idea! From last week’s excerpt, I’m sure it became apparent that Mama and Lucille, my mother-in-law, don’t exactly see eye-to-eye. Lucille is the president of the Greater New York area chapter of The Daughters of the October Revolution. Mama, a life-long member and past social secretary of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is convinced my mother-in-law is plotting to overthrow the government. Considering the total membership of The Daughters of the October Revolution consisted of thirteen semi-crippled female octogenarians, I find the threat negligible.  Mama believes otherwise.

The other thing about Mama is that she hasn’t had the best of luck when it comes to husbands…

Excerpt from ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN:

Flora Sudberry Periwinkle Ramirez Scoffield Goldberg O’Keefe had a knack for losing husbands.  With Seamus gone, she was fast approaching Liz Taylor territory.  In truth, Mama didn’t lose them so much as they wound up dying on her in a succession of odd circumstances.  My own father had drowned while scuba diving in the Yucatan on their twenty-fifth anniversary.  

A year and a half later, Mama remarried.  Husband Number Two, an adventure-seeking daredevil, lasted four months before the bulls gored him to death as he raced through the streets of Pamplona.  

Number Three made it to their first anniversary.  Barely.  Highly allergic to shellfish and having forgotten to bring along his epinephrine, he asphyxiated after inhaling the aroma from a sizzling platter of shrimp that a waiter carried past their table. 

           
Number Four lost his footing at the Grand Canyon and plunged to his death during their honeymoon.  

So now Mama was once again widowed.  A temporary situation. Mama was the kind of woman who needed a man.  And whenever Mama was between husbands, she came to stay with us. 

(end of excerpt)

If you want to read more about Mama, Lucille, and the rest of the motley crew that live within the pages of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN, the wait is over. Booksellers across the country should be placing them on store shelves as you read this, if they haven’t already. Amazon and other cyber-bookstores have had the book available for several weeks.

And if you’re feeling lucky, in celebration of the release of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN, I’m doing a blog tour throughout January and will be giving away 5 copies. All you have to do to enter is post a comment on any of the guest blog posts. You can find the schedule on my website, http://www.loiswinston.com, and here on the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers sidebar. (If your email isn’t included in your comment, email me privately at lois@loiswinston.com to let me know you’ve entered.)

In addition, I’m also giving away a collection of crafts books at several of the blogs, including this one. Post a comment here today to be entered in the drawing. The winner will be posted Sunday, so be sure to check back to see if you’ve won.

Thanks for having me here today, Anastasia. And Happy New Year, everyone!

THIS WEEK'S BOOK WINNER

Thanks to all who stopped by this week at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers. We hope you'll come back often and also tell your friends about us. We have lots of exciting posts and guests planned for the months ahead. I’d also like to thank Lois Winston for being our Book Club Friday guest and offering a selection of crafts books to one of our readers who posted a comment this week. The winner this week is Kari Wainwright. Kari, please email your mailing address to me at anastasiapollack@gmail.com. I’ll forward the information to Lois, and she’ll mail your books to you. Happy reading! -- Anastasia


P.S.: For those of you who didn't win this week, be sure to stop back next week and post a comment. Lois will be back with on New Year's Eve for Part 2 of our conversation.

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY -- GUEST AUTHOR LOIS WINSTON, PART 1

In celebration of the release of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN (which is officially January 8th, but the book is already available at Amazon and elsewhere), the book about me, I’ve invited Lois Winston, the author who has undertaken the task of telling my story, to join us today and next Friday.  -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia. Personally, I have a feeling I was invited to fill these two slots because today is Christmas Eve, and next week is New Year’s Eve. How many people are out there reading blogs today? Or will be next week?


Busted!


No matter. I’m happy to tell you all about ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN, the first book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries. Here’s where I get to spill some of Anastasia’s secrets.


Don’t say anything we might regret!


Not to worry. We both want everyone to buy the book, so I won’t be spilling the beans, merely dropping a few appetizers to whet everyone’s appetite.


What’s with all the food metaphors? I think you’ve been spending too much time with Cloris.


It’s the muffins. Meanwhile, back to the book. For those of you who don’t know what ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN is about:


When Anastasia Pollack's husband permanently cashes in his chips at a roulette table in Las Vegas, her comfortable middle-class life craps out. Suddenly, she’s juggling two teenage sons, a mountain of debt, a communist mother-in-law, AND her dead husband’s loan shark. And that’s before she becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a coworker she discovers hot glued to her office chair.


Thanks for reminding me. I’ve been trying to get that image out of my head ever since you wrote it.


Sorry about that. How about if we introduce your readers to your mother-in-law?


Good idea! You sure did create a lot of family conflict with that one. Besides, I need all the sympathy I can get.



Excerpt from Chapter One of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN:
I hate whiners. Always have. So I was doing my damnedest not to become one in spite of the lollapalooza of a quadruple whammy that had broadsided me last week. Not an easy task, given that one of those lollapalooza whammies had barged into my bedroom and was presently hammering her cane against my bathroom door.

“Damn it, Anastasia! Hot water doesn’t grow on trees, you know!”

Some people can’t start the day without a cigarette. Lucille Pollack, Monster-in-Law from the Stygian Swamp, can’t start hers without a sludge load of complaints. As much as I detest cigarettes, I’d much prefer a nicotine-puffing mother- in-law, as long as she came with an occasional kind word and a semi-pleasant disposition. Unfortunately, marriage is a package deal. Husbands come with family. And mine came with a doozie to end all doozies.

My mother-in-law is a card-carrying, circa nineteen-thirties communist. When she met me, it was hate at first sight. I bear the name of a dead Russian princess, thanks to my mother’s unsubstantiated Romanov link -- a great- grandmother with the maiden name of Romanoff. With Mama, the connection is more like sixty, not six, degrees of separation, and the links are coated with a thick layer of rust. But that’s never stopped Mama from bragging about our royal ancestry, and it set the tone for my relationship -- or lack of it -- with my mother-in-law from Day One.

I suppose I didn’t help the situation by naming one of my sons Nicholas and the other Alexander, even if they were named after my grandfathers -- Alexander Periwinkle and Nicholas Sudberry. 

(end of excerpt -- Read more at my website.)

Why don’t you tell everyone about the blog tour you’ve set up to promote me and the book about me?

Great idea!

I do have them occasionally.

In celebration of the release of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN, I’ll be doing a blog tour beginning next week and running throughout January. You can find the schedule on my website, http://www.loiswinston.com, and here on the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers sidebar. Everyone who posts a comment to any of the blogs over the course of the month will be entered into a drawing to receive one of 5 copies of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN. (If your email isn’t included in your comment, email me privately at lois@loiswinston.com to let me know you’ve entered.)

In addition, I’m also giving away a collection of crafts books at several of the blogs. So look for those as well. 


And to any of the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers readers I'm also giving away an assortment of crafts books to one person who posts a comment this week. So let's hear from you, and be sure to check back on Sunday to see if you're the winner.

Thanks for having me here today, Anastasia. And Merry Christmas, everyone!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! -- NATIONAL DAY OF LISTENING

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Unless you’re not American, and in that case, Happy Thursday! Normally, we’d feature a fashion, beauty, or travel article today, but because it’s Thanksgiving here in the states, the rest of the editors have the day off. Me? I wish! I haven’t had a day off since the not-so-dearly departed hubster cashed in his chips -- permanently -- at a Roulette wheel in Las Vegas. FYI, he was supposed to be at a sales meeting in Harrisburg, Pa. If you want to learn more about that, you’ll have to order a copy of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN by Lois Winston (the chronicler of my story) and wait until it’s release Jan. 1^st. Click on the book cover on the sidebar to take advantage of a 32% pre-release discount.

OK, end of sales pitch. What I really want to talk to you about today is tomorrow. Most people know of the day after Thanksgiving as Black Friday. That’s the start of the big Christmas shopping season and was so named because traditionally it’s the day that retailers get out of the red and begin to show a profit for the year. Holiday sales can make or break a business.

However, tomorrow is also National Day of Listening. This event was started by National Public Radio’s StoryCorps. It’s meant to encourage people to listen to one another. StoryCorps founder, Dave Isay, calls it, “the least expensive and most meaningful gift we can give.”

How many times have you wished you knew more about an elderly relative who is no longer around? Thanksgiving is a time when families get together. Take the opportunity to sit down with your relatives, young and old, to record interviews or stories they might like to share. You’ll be glad you did.

To learn more go to http://www.nationaldayoflistening.org/ where you’ll find a do-it-yourself guide. You’ll also be able to listen to interviews from the StoryCorps collection and share your own on the Wall of Listening.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Don’t stuff yourself too much. Leave some leftovers for tomorrow. Turkey always tastes better the day after. And don’t forget to post a comment today to be entered in tomorrow’s drawing for a book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP

ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING WEEKLY BOOK WINNERS

Hi Everyone!
According to my blog stats, many of you don't get around to reading the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog until Saturday. That means you get shut out of entering the drawings when our Book Club Friday guest authors give away books, since the winners are announced on Saturday mornings. So starting next week, I'll be announcing the winners on Sunday to give you Saturday readers a chance to enter those weekly drawings.


Have a great weekend, everyone!
Anastasia

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY -- GUEST AUTHOR SUE ANN JAFFARIAN

Today’s guest author at Book Club Friday is Sue Ann Jaffarian. is the bestselling author of the award-winning Odelia Grey mystery series.  The first book in this series, Too Big To Miss, has been optioned for TV, while the fifth, Corpse on the Cob, was recently released.  Sue Ann also writes the Ghost of Granny Apples mystery series. The second book in this fun paranormal series, Ghost in the Polka Dot Bikini, will be released February 2011.  Coming in September 2010 is Murder In Vein, the first book in Sue Ann’s new vampire mystery series. In addition to writing, Sue Ann is a full-time paralegal for a Los Angeles law firm, and is sought after as a motivational speaker. Visit Sue Ann at her website and her blog.

Sue Ann will be giving away a copy of Murder in Vein to one lucky blog reader who posts a comment this week. -- AP 

IN DEFENSE OF PLAN B

I recently saw this quote on a poster:

“The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B.” – James A. Yorke, Mathematician

My first reaction was to chuckle, then I gave Mr. Yorke’s words the consideration they deserved. 

It’s true, those who are good at Plan B (or Plan C, or Plan D, or even Plan E) do eventually succeed.  Why? Because success is not about having multiple plans, it’s about having persistence and flexibility when your original plan doesn’t go as you had envisioned, or even explodes in your face.

Then I got to thinking about my plans for my writing career.  Originally, I thought I’d simply write my Odelia Grey series and the occasional stand alone novel and my career would soar like an eagle. That was Plan A.  Not that my Odelia Grey series hasn’t done well. It has. But when given the opportunity to write a second series two years ago, I quickly saw the numerous benefits of having two very different mystery series running simultaneously. Enter Plan B – write Odelia Grey and the Ghost of Granny Apples and the occasional stand alone novel.

Okay, now where in my Plan B do you see anything having to do with vampires?  You don’t?  Well, don’t feel bad, because neither do I.  Yet here I am, writing a vampire mystery series, along with the Odelia Grey and Ghost of Granny Apples books.

You see, somewhere along the line, Plan B became Plan C when I realized that now was the right time to write the vampire series kicking around inside my head, even if it meant juggling my already packed schedule.  Yet it wasn’t the right time to shove aside one of my already thriving series. If I wanted to take advantage of my particular twist on the vampire genre and reach my goal of becoming a very successful mystery author, I would have to adapt and roll with the special opportunities that came my way.

Changing plans doesn’t always mean your prior plan burst into flames. Sometimes we have to change plans simply because new choices present themselves. In those circumstances, it would be easy to say, “No thanks, I’m fine with Plan A.” Had I said that, I wouldn’t have known the joy of writing about ghosts or the fun of writing about vampires.  And my writing career would not be as steadily growing upward as it is now.

Although we’re trained to think of Plan A as the top of the heap – the ideal golden first choice – when it comes to career tactics, Plan B isn’t always a step down. Neither is Plan C.  Subsequent  altered plans can turn out to be the best and most successful of the bunch. At least I feel that way about my decision to chuck my original design for my career and revise my plans.

When Murder In Vein, the first book in my new Fang-in-Cheek mystery series, comes out in September 2010, remember, it was never in my master plan. It was an add-on. A glorious Plan C.  Makes me drool to think what opportunities Plan D may offer, if and when it presents itself.

So when faced with your own Plan B, be open and ready to embrace it. It doesn’t necessarily mean that Plan A failed, just that Plan A wasn’t the road you were meant to travel.

Thanks for stopping by, Sue Ann! So what do you think, readers? Any of you moved on to Plan B? I certainly have, but you’ll have to wait to Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun comes out to learn why. And believe me, it’s not pretty! Let’s hear from you. Remember, post a comment to be entered to win a copy of Sue Ann’s Murder in Vein. -- AP

FASHION WITH ERICA -- TOP 10 WARDROBE BASICS

Assistant fashion editor Erica Milano is back with us today to weigh in on those items that are a must-have for any woman. Somehow I don’t think my craft smock is going to make her Top Ten List. -- AP

No, Anastasia, I’m afraid not. Most women have no need for kangaroo pockets. Although, I know we’re both grateful for that smock. If anyone wants to know why, they’ll have to wait until Assault With A Deadly Glue Gun is released in January.

But back to wardrobe basics…many fashion gurus have devised Top Ten Lists. No two are alike. Today I’d like to give you my Top Ten List of Wardrobe Basics, culled from listening to the experts over the years and deciding when they made sense for the average woman and when they didn’t.

1. Basic Black Dress -- This is timeless. You can dress it up or dress it down, depending on the event. No woman should ever be without a little black dress.

2. Black Dress Pants -- Good for work, good for after work cocktails or dinner. Why black? It’s slimming and versatile. Like the basic black dress, you can make it work for any event by switching out tops and accessories.

3. A dress skirt -- Whether it’s a pencil skirt or another style, every woman should have one skirt that will work for multiple occasions. Black is a good color but gray will do, and choose the style that best flatters your figure.

4. White tailored shirt -- Again, a timeless staple of any woman’s wardrobe. Pair it with dress pants, skirts, or jeans, over a T-shirt or under a blazer.

5. A pair of well-fitting jeans -- And I don’t mean the ones you use for raking leaves and doing housework. Don’t wear them to the office or the theater, but paired with the right top, shoes, and accessories, a good pair of jeans will work for many other events.

6. A blazer -- Buy one in a neutral color. Blazers can be worn over dresses, with skirts, dress pants, or jeans.

7. A pair of khaki pants -- Like the dress pants and jeans, khakis are versatile enough that they can be dressed up or down with the right tops and accessories.

8. A suit -- Every woman needs at least one suit in her closet. Black, navy, or gray works best. A good suit will see you through most of life’s events from job interviews to business meetings, conferences, formal luncheons, and of course, the occasional funeral. You can also break the suit up to wear the jacket with jeans or slacks and the skirt with a sweater set.

9. A gray cashmere sweater -- Another classic and it will go well with any of the other items in your basic wardrobe.

10. Accessories -- This is how you take your basic wardrobe items and make them work for you, no matter the occasion. The right scarf, belt, hat, or piece of costume jewelry will make a statement, whether you want that statement to say classic, conservative, fun, hip, or funky.

Thanks, Erica! Great advice, as usual.
So…has Erica left anything out that you feel essential to your wardrobe? Let’s hear from you. Post a comment to be entered in our free book giveaway from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP  

FASHION WITH ERICA -- ROMPERS

Marlys Vandenburg, American Woman’s fashion editor, was supposed to blog about fashion trends from time to time, but as you’ll quickly learn once you read Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun, Marlys isn’t about to do anything she doesn’t want to do. And Marlys doesn’t want to blog. She’s made that perfectly clear. So I’ve asked her assistant Erica Milano to step in. Erica was happy to oblige. -- AP

Hi, blog readers! This is assistant fashion editor Erica Milano. Marlys says that rompers are going to be big this summer. Frankly, I have my doubts. Every couple of years the fashion industry carts out romper designs, only to have them languish in closets after one wearing.

Why? I asked some of the other editors who have been around to see more fashion trends come and go than I have. Whether like finance editor Sheila Conway, the rompers remind you of the 1-pc. gym uniforms of your youth, or like food editor Cloris McWerther, who remembers (with little fondness) the jumpsuit craze of the disco era, everyone hates the idea of rompers for the same reason: Every single time you have to go to the little girls’ room, you have to get COMPLETELY UNDRESSED!

So no matter what Marlys declares as de rigueur this season, unless you have incredible bladder control and can hold it in for at least 7 or 8 hours, ignore her. No one wants to spend the day in a fashion statement that requires undressing and redressing a dozen times throughout the course of the day. Save your money, and slip into a comfy pair of shorts and T-shirt instead.

LOL! I guess Erica doesn’t have to worry that Marlys will see her post. After all, Marlys has better things to do than read this blog. So…what fashion faux pas do you have hanging up in your closet? Let’s hear from you. Remember, anyone who posts a comment this week is entered in the drawing for a free book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP