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Growing up, Kathryn Crabtree to write and to be Nancy Drew. Her parents suggested a more conventional career, so she became a nurse. Inspired by Nancy Drew, she infuses her writing with a strong sense of justice while celebrating women of a certain age. To learn more about Kathryn and her books, visit her at her website.
Lessons at Sea
Seven days afloat crossing the North Seas, forty hours of writing craft classes, thirty newly acquainted writers and partners, four instructors, twenty-five anxiously anticipated classes, and seven group dinners add up to an unforgettable experience at the QM2 writers’ retreat.
When not in class, we explored the multiple decks and various venues for entertainment. A casino, art gallery, gift shops, library, theatre, lecture hall, and multiple comfortable sitting areas were available for conversations with other guests while sharing cocktails, coffee, or snacks.
Classes began at 9 am with Dinty Moore, then Allison K. Williams, followed by break-out sessions and lunch. One-on-one meetings were booked throughout the instructors’ free time. Jane Friedman and Amy Goldmacher’s classes ended in time to attend daily high tea.
An essayist and university faculty member, Moore writes fiction and nonfiction books and has authored writing craft and textbooks. He edits the online literary magazine, Brevity, which features creative nonfiction essays. His focus is on identifying what it is that makes a story work on the page. He said he finds inspiration and joy in interacting with writers and working on stories that are very important to them. His hope students would recognize that although writing is hard work, it doesn’t have to be painful. “Work smart, study the craft, and good things will happen. Literacy writing is an act of discovery.” He also said, “Keeping surprise alive in the writing process, keeps writing fresh.”
Friedman, the author of The Business of Being a Writer has spent twenty-five years in the publishing industry. She is active on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund and is a contributor to articles in Writer’s Digest. Her theme for the ship class was, “Marketing Before and After the Book Launch”, where she demonstrated that the business of writing involves the creative process and should be a positive experience. Improving newsletters and author websites was the focus of her course and stated, “Improved results are an easy measure of progress.”
Jane’s newsletters address issues relative to her readers’ interests and provide the basis for new classes. She is a supporter of real-time publishing online to increase reader engagement but enjoys both online and in-person teaching. Outlining the class goals she added, “By the end of my presentations, I hope the writers see the importance of their marketing and promotion progress, in an organic and no-stress manner before their book is finished.”
An editor and expert in all things writing, Williams is the author of Seven Drafts: Self-edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book. The theme of the QM2 writers’ retreat, “Rebirth Your Book Voyage” focused on the value of spending time with other writers. One of William’s super-powers is critiquing student’s samples during her classes. “I share pages on the screen and read aloud, editing as I go. It’s a huge, immediate education for both the writer and the other writers watching.”
William’s lectures were a rapid succession of writing suggestions and vocal bullet points. Her slides were colorful, bright, and engaging. When critiquing students' work, she read aloud and stopped, mimicking an editor, when she lost interest in the manuscript. An explanation of the stoppage and hints on how to re-engage the reader were then provided. She stated, “It is also a continuing learning experience for me too.” Adding, “As an editor, my clients have taught me so much.”
Amy Goldmacher is an anthropologist, writer, and certified nonfiction book coach. She has had editing, marketing, and sales experience giving her a varied perspective on the publishing process. She states, “As a coach, my job is to help the aspiring author accomplish their goals by reflecting what I hear them say or see them write, asking clarifying questions, and raising issues for them to consider.” She feels it is important for writers to be confident when they talk about their books to other professionals and not be intimidated. As a coach, she helps build that confidence.
As a novice cozy mystery writer, I had spent several years in multiple craft webinars with Friedman and Williams. Having spent so much time with Allison‘s online presence, when we met in person I was shocked at first that she didn’t recognize me. Realizing she hadn’t been staring at my face throughout classes, I resisted the urge to hug her as if she were a dear friend.
The instructors’ accessibility was one of many highlights. The ship had an aura of old-world elegance, and the formal high tea and ballroom dancers added a touch of romance. But it was the writers whose earnest presence defined the magic of the voyage. Sharing emails, recommendations, and support for the work presented was an added benefit. Striving together to improve our craft was reaffirming.
A Nancy Drouillard Mystery
Nancy Douillard, a widowed, retired judge returns to her 55+ community after a frustrating meeting at a local law firm. Nancy is angry at being patronized as if her "use-by date" had expired when offering her services. She hoped being of service again would give more of a purpose to her life.
Joining the Happy Hour crowd on the deck of the Cup and Vine to meet with her childhood friend, Bess, she finds an ambulance removing the body of her friend, Hilda. The death at-home case detective, Nancy's ex-son-in-law, Harry, concludes Hilda died of smoke inhalation when her mattress caught fire while smoking in bed.
Nancy is skeptical of Harry's assumption. She suspects foul play; she knows Hilda never smoked in her apartment. Could someone want Hilda dead? Would Hilda's daughter know something about her death? Was the missing money from Hilda's account a motive? Could the attractive flirtatious man who warned Nancy she could be the next victim be responsible for Hilda's death? Would finding the answers to these questions and justice for Hilda restore Nancy's sense of purpose?
Nancy decides to do a little investigating herself. She wondered, "What would a 65-year-old Nancy Drew do?" After all, she was named after the girl detective. Armed with a lifetime of reading Nancy Drew mysteries and her own ingenuity and deductive reasoning, intrepid Nancy Drouillard became determined to solve this mystery. Will she successfully find the guilty party, or could she be the next victim?
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