#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--MYSTERY AUTHOR CAMILLE MINICHINO'S MINIATURE HOUSE FLIP

Today we welcome back mystery author Camille Minichino. Learn more about her and her books at her website. 

I’m delighted to sneak into the 12 days of Christmas. Although the 10^th day, with lords a-leaping is not my favorite, I’ll take advantage of the remaining holiday season to discuss an ongoing issue in the philosophy of crafting: how real should we make the models?

 

The best way to elaborate on this question is by describing my most recent dollhouse project. Every year I donate a furnished dollhouse to a local school for their holiday fair. Due to unforeseen time constraints this year, I flipped an old house that I had on the shelf.

 

As I’ve described on previous visits to Anastasia Pollack’s blog, I’ve built settings to go with all my cozy miniature series: a mortuary, a puzzle room, a post office, and so on. It was the post office that I decided had to be sacrificed to Christmas.

Two photos show the former PO, with my finger for scale.

Two other photos show the PO flipped as a house, with a kitchen, bed, and holiday decorations.

 

 

You’ll see I did keep some PO packages as presents under the tree.

Here’s where the question of “reality” came in.

My friend, KS, volunteered to help with the remodel and I accepted gladly. We were about done when I noticed, “There’s no bathroom. We have to have a bathroom.”

 

KS shook her head. “We don’t need a bathroom. This is a cabin.”

 

I’ll spare you the long discussions about how this was a “real house” and certainly needed a bathroom, but here’s some of the back-and-forth.

 

KS: We can put a sign with an arrow on the outside wall, “To the Outhouse.”

 

Me: This is for a kid. No outhouse.

 

KS: Kids go camping.

 

Me: I don’t. I need a real bathroom.

 

KS (exasperated): There’s no plumbing. Do you want to install plumbing?” (She also pointed out that the phone in the original PO had no cord.)

 

Finally, since it was my house, I prevailed, and we installed a loft with appropriate bathroom fixtures. (We fixed up that makeshift cardboard loft “floor” before shipping it off.)

 

We’ve all seen dollhouses with 2 stories and no stairway. A loft with toys, but only one bedroom. Where does the child sleep? No entry way or coat closet. Come to think of it, no bedroom closet.  

 

Where to draw the line? 

 

These are the days of dolls that breathe (button on the left chest) and babble (batteries not included). The latest dolls boast hand-rooted hair, visible veins, and a talcum powder smell! A “stuffed animal” kitten is posable and weighted to feel “real,” and also a scent. Similar features are found on handmade Corgis, Yorkies, and other breeds 

 

Oh, no. With my instance on plumbing in the “cabin” have I fallen into the trap of “realistic” toys? What do you think?

 

The last photo shows one more use of the flipped house – our Christmas card this year. My talented husband photoshopped us into the house, with me in a “portrait” on the left and him standing behind the bed. We have lots extra, so if you’d like a card, send your address (one time use only) through the email address on my website, www.minichino.com.

 

Thanks, Lois/Anastasia for giving me space here! I wish you and all your readers a very happy new year.

 

Matrimony in Minature

A Miniature Mystery, Book 9

 

When murder happens in the small town of Lincoln Point, CA, there aren’t many degrees of separation between the victim and retired teacher Gerry Porter. How can she stay away from the investigation when the crime scene is the venue for her marriage to Henry Barker?

 

But this time, nephew Detective Skip Gowen tries to discourage Gerry’s and granddaughter Maddie’s efforts to solve The Case. He couldn’t live with himself if the murderer learns of their efforts and comes after them…

 

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#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--AUTHOR CAMILLE MINICHINO CRAFTS MYSTERIES AND MINIATURES

Camille Minichino is turning every aspect of her life into a mystery series and a miniatures project. Her protagonists in five series are a retired physicist, a miniaturist, a math professor, a postal worker, and the owner of a diner in Alaska. She’s published 28 novels and many short stories. Learn more about Camille at her website and blog.

Modeling Life

As far back as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by miniatures. Not teddy bears or baby dolls or little amorphous creatures with enormous ears (or no ears at all),  but very small replicas of real life things. Dollhouses, roomboxes, standalone scenes.

 

To be more exact: a world where one foot gets mapped into one inch, the standard dollhouse scale.

 

I’ve also been fascinated by novels, another sort of modeling, where as readers and writers we map the real world into a different universe with fictional people and the furniture of our choice.

 

Combining these two passions, I’ve created dollhouses or separate scenes to match all my cozy mystery series. (You can go to my website and find a “Slideshow” under Mystery Novels.)

 

Probably not every miniaturist has a replica of a mortuary like the one that’s featured in the Periodic Table Mysteries, or a post office to complement my Postmistress Mysteries, but to me it seems the obvious thing to do.

 

Now it’s time for me to build a scene from my newest series, the Alaska Diner Mysteries, written as Elizabeth Logan. It will be a while before an entire miniature diner is ready, but here’s a sneak peak for Lois Winston/Anastasia Pollack’s crafty blog. The photos are a glimpse into a typical scene in both of the first two books of the series—my protagonist Charlotte “Charlie” Cooke loves sitting in her rocking chair with Benny, her orange tabby, on her lap, sometimes sharing the ups and downs of her day, sometimes reading aloud. 

I’ve included photos with two versions of the scene. The photo above is a draft, much like the draft of a novel. I toss mini things around the way I toss ideas around, trying various combinations of words and scene elements. In the draft photo, I haven’t decided whether to use the brown or the white rocker, which plant to add, what “toys” to scatter on the floor, where to place Benny. Is the pizza stool good enough for a table or shall I use nicer furniture? Should there be a carpet in this family room? And so on.

 

The photo at the top of this post shows what I decided on as the final version, or close to it, one I was ready to glue down. You’ll see that I ditched the hat, for a possible Hawaii scene some other time! I added a tiny mouse, the way I might write a little humor, even into the plot of a murder investigation. I thought this second pose for Benny was more active, and the spoon was too over the top. I came up with a feather toy and more of the “yarn” that Benny likes.

 

In other words, I edited.

 

Which brings me to one more similarity between writing and miniaturing:

 

The mouse is no more a threat than a rodent that might appear in a chapter of my novel. They're both works of fiction. 

 

When I put a roof on a dollhouse I don't have to worry about the materials really being weatherproof. Like readers, dollhouse admirers assume all will be well if it rains. 

 

In the world of dollhouses, as in the world of novels, there's no laundry to do, and a houseful of carpeting can be changed in a matter of minutes. Complete remodeling may take a week! 

 

In my dollhouses, all the plumbing works, as do all the appliances. In my mystery novels, the good guys always win and justice is always served.

 

No wonder both are so satisfying.

 

Fishing for Trouble

An Alaska Diner Mystery, Book 2

 

Summer has come to Elkview, Alaska, bringing twenty hours of sunlight every day, not to mention a surge of tourists and seasonal workers. Chef Charlie Cooke is eager for a busy yet relaxing season, but when a young man working a summer job at the local fish processing plant dies moments after walking into the Bear Claw Diner, she’s quickly swept into the investigation.

 

Soon, through her best friend Annie Jensen, Charlie learns that another student worker at J and M Processing has disappeared, leaving more questions and fewer answers. The near-endless sunlight gives plenty of time to search for clues, but Charlie will have to work with Annie and local reporter Chris Doucette to net the killer before anyone else gets hurt.

 

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ANOTHER CRAFTING SLEUTH--THIS ONE BY AUTHOR JOANNA CAMPBELL SLAN

(We don't generally post new blogs on weekends, but we just couldn't turn down a request for a spot by the author of a fellow crafting sleuth, and the weekend was all we had available.)

National bestselling author Joanna Campbell Slan has had five stories in the New York Times’ Bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She’s also won the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence for Literary Fiction. The author of nearly 40 books, Joanna lives on Jupiter Island in Florida. Learn more about her and her books at her website.

A Season of Creativity

(and a Beach Escape for Only 99 Cents)

The four female characters in my Second Chance Series hope for a second chance at love and life. MJ Austin, Skye Blue, and Honora McAfee all work for Cara Mia Delgatto in a store called The Treasure Chest, a décor shop that features upcycled, recycled, and repurposed goods. Because Cara Mia has a very tight budget, she and her employees are always looking for ways to turn simple items into desirable, one-of-a- kind pieces of merchandise. For me as an author that adds a fun challenge to each of my books, since I have to come up with cool trash-to-treasure ideas as well.

For example, later this week I’ll be decorating a Christmas tree made from pieces of driftwood I found on the beach. A friend drilled a hole through the pieces and threaded them onto a dowel, putting the large pieces of wood at the bottom and the smaller ones at the top. I plan to hang empty quail’s eggshells from the limbs, along with garlands of paper beads and ornaments of seashells. These are all items that Cara Mia might sell in her store.

My biggest creative project this year has been a dollhouse for the annual Creatin’ Contest run by Miniatures.com. I’ve been working on my entry for nearly a year. Not surprisingly, Honora is also a miniaturist. Like me, she creates one-of-a-kind dollhouses. Both of us make all the pieces for our house s by hand, including any dolls we use.

Here’s a picture of Amelia T. Byrd, the owner of the dollhouse I’ve made. She’s only five inches tall. I sculpted her from clay. Her hair came from a lock of my dog’s tail. (No animals were hurt while making this project. I promise!) Can you see the tiny bird perched on her finger?

If you like reading about women’s friendships, if you like a sweet romance along with your mysteries, and if you like crafts, I think you’ll enjoy my Second Chance Series. Right now I’ve put Book #1—Second Chance at Love—on sale for only 99 cents. Since the series is set in Florida, it might just be the perfect mental escape you’ll need this holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

Second Chance at Love

(Previously published as Tear Down and Die, Book #1 in the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series)

At sixteen while on vacation in Florida, Cara Mia Delgatto lost her heart to Cooper Rivers. But her interfering parents didn’t approve. They moved Cara away from the Sunshine State and cut off all communication between the two young lovers. 

In an act of rebellion, Cara makes a nearly fatal mistake—and almost destroys both her family and their business. To make up for her rash behavior, Cara spends the next twenty years of her life being “a good girl,” working in her family restaurant. 

When her parents die within six months of each other, Cara decides to take a road trip and visit her son at University of Miami. On a whim, she buys a vacant building in Florida and opens a trash-to-treasure décor store. She believes with all her heart in second chances…but then Cooper Rivers walks back into her life. Can Cara and Cooper rekindle the love they felt that magic summer so long ago?

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#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--GUEST CRAFTER AND MYSTERY AUTHOR CAMILLE MINICHINO/MARGARET GRACE

We're always happy to have author Camille Minichino stop by for a visit. A retired physicist turned writer, Camille is the author of twenty-five mystery novels in four series. She currently serves on the board of NorCal Mystery Writers of America, is on the faculty of Golden Gate U. in SF, and teaches writing in the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more about her at her website and blog.

Who hasn't thought of time travel? Reliving glory days, redoing a life-changing decision, or simply hanging around with your favorite historical figure. I might make a date with Abraham Lincoln, find out if he really did wear size 14 shoes.

Recently, I was offered the chance to go back in time – to 2008. Not as dramatic a trip as one requiring a whole new wardrobe, maybe even a bustle and a parasol. Its claim to fame: My first Miniature Mystery, cover shown here, was released in 2008. Murder in Miniature introduced miniaturist Gerry Porter and her precocious 10-year-old granddaughter Maddie. The book also includes a section of Tips for Miniatures, with ideas such as using rounded buttons as the feet on an upholstered chair; or the fluted metal top of a soda bottle as a mini pie plate.

I'm now cleared (long story) to reissue that book and 4 others in the series. The new cover will include a photo of my latest dollhouse project, shown above as a work in progress, with interior and exterior views. Once completely cleaned up and furnished, the house will be donated to a local school for its holiday raffle. Giving crafts projects away serves a dual purpose: raising money for a worthy cause, and making room for another project. Not to mention an excuse to shop for more supplies.

A little more about furnishing the house shown, which arrived as a fixer-upper from a writer friend. I rummage through my many drawers, shelves, and messy boxes of stuff, as usual, before I buy or make anything new. I found one of those pieces of fabric that come with an easy chair, the intended use being to protect the arm or the headrest of the chair from wear. Since I'm not that fussy about my life-size furniture, but I do always keep scraps, this meant-to-be carpet was a perfect fit for the living room (lower right). The paintbrushes are there for scale, lest you think this is where I live.

I've also scattered other items: a folding chair and a coaster-cum-scatter rug in the bedroom (middle right); cans of food, barely distinguishable on the kitchen floor (lower left); and a mini slinky and kid's chair in the attic.

This method of positioning pieces—here a stool, there a stool—is similar to the way I write a novel. Test out a word, a phrase, a plot twist and live with it for a while before committing. 

Which is to say, I like crafts with moveable pieces and room for correctible errors!

#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--GUEST AUTHOR R.V. REYES

Raquel (R.V.) Reyes is a writer living in Miami. She interviews other Florida Authors on her blog, Cozy in Miami. Learn more about Raquel at her website. 

Rebellious Dollhouses

When I was young, my mother and grandmother were VERY into dollhouses. Of course, they each said their dollhouse was for me. And yes, I had the freedom to re-arrange the furniture and bendable porcelain dolls, but these dollhouses were like antique stores with petit-point oriental rugs and sterling silver tableware. By the time, I was a teenager I wanted nothing to do with miniatures. There would be no more glued together fingers for me. I was done assembling things. Think Ikea but with worse directions and microscopic screws.

Then I had my own child. She got a dollhouse all her own but the sturdier, play-scale kind. Plus, she got to play with “my” old dollhouse when visiting my mother. The tradition continued until my mother died of ovarian cancer. When I dissolved her estate, there was no place in my life for a six foot long dollhouse. We donated it to the local history museum but still my daughter was heart-broken.

After several years of mourning, I came out of my fog and suddenly my heart ached for a dollhouse. The Internet is a marvelous thing. I searched and found plenty of miniature shops online. The possibilities were limitless. I could build or buy it built. But, there was no room for a fifteen-room colonial in my little townhouse. The only display space I could clear up was on top of a waist-high bookshelf. And then an email arrived--- 2 for 1 townhouse kit special. Perfect! I bought them, one for me and one for my, now, teenaged daughter. We both instantly knew what we would do with our two-room townhouse kit. Neither of us wanted anything traditional. We wanted something fun and rebellious to match our personalities. She chose to make hers a Victorian curiosity parlor with jellyfish in jars, books about poisons, and animal skulls. I made mine a feminist cafe and bookstore.

You can see the process if you start at the beginning of my tumblr blog. Since then I’ve made a Kit Tea Café. 

Jeweler’s Mark

Gigi Santos, wedding ring designer and diamond appraiser, is looking forward to her ten-year high school reunion. She is trying to be a better, less gossipy person, but Lourdes, her BFF since forever, has not matured past teenage pettiness. Cover boy–handsome Detective Carlos Garcia comes into the picture to investigate a year-old burglary at Gigi’s jewelry business. They flirt, and sparks fly. Gigi is sure she will have him on her arm as her reunion date. That is, until her BFF becomes the prime suspect in the murder of the reunion's organizer. Gigi knows Lourdes is innocent and she is determined to prove it. When Gigi’s sleuthing puts her and the people she loves in danger, Detective Garcia tries to keep her out of harm’s way. But she wants a date, not a hero. Will Gigi and Carlos dance under the Miami moonlight? Or will fake diamond rings send them all to jail? Find out in the first of the Love and Diamonds mysteries.

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