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 Vicki Delany for being our Book Club Friday guest and offering a copy of Among the Departed to one of our readers who posted a comment this week. The winner this week is Jeffrey Barbieri. Jeffrey, please email your mailing addresses to me at anastasiapollack@gmail.com, I’ll forward the information to Vicki, and she’ll mail the book to you.

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY -- GUEST AUTHOR VICKI DELANY

Today we welcome Vicki Delany, one of Canada’s most prolific crime writers. Vicki writes everything from standalone novels of psychological suspense such as Scare the Light Away and Burden of Memory, to the Constable Molly Smith books, a traditional village/police procedural series set in the British Columbia Interior, including In the Shadow of the Glacier and Negative Image, to a light-hearted historical series, Gold Digger and Gold Fever, set in the raucous heyday of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Having taken early retirement from her job as a systems analyst in the high-pressure financial world, Vicki is settling down to the rural life in bucolic, Prince Edward County, Ontario where she rarely wears a watch.

Among the Departed, the fifth book in the Constable Molly Smith series has just been released.  Library Journal gave the book a starred review saying, “Her exceptional ability to create characters, both realistic and sometimes creepy, makes this another terrific addition to her outstanding body of work.”

Visit Vicki at her blog and Facebook and follow her on twitter @vickidelany.

Vicki will be giving away a copy of Among the Departed to one lucky reader who posts a comment to the blog this week. -- AP

Four cops, Two paramedics, One Mystery Writer

That's how many people it took to wake one man up to go to work.

After I’d published two novels of standalone suspense with Poisoned Pen Press, my editor, Barbara Peters, and I decided it was time to try a series.  I knew right away that I wanted to write the type of series I like most to read: the traditional British-type police procedurals.

But first, I had one problem: I have no experience in law enforcement whatsoever.  I used to be a systems analyst at a bank. Not a lot of gun battles or drunk-and-disorderlies in that job. We didn’t even have a jail in the office basement.

I knew that if I was to create a reasonably realistic police series, I would need some help.

I’ve been very lucky, and there are now five novels in the Constable Molly Smith series set in the fictional town of Trafalgar, British Columbia, Canada.

Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve found police officers to be more than helpful in talking to me about the ins and outs of their job.  I have a detective constable who enjoys answering all my questions and will look things up, or ask the department lawyer, if he doesn’t know the answer to any one of them.  I’ve toured police stations, met many officers, been out on ride-alongs and walk-alongs, talked to the dog handler and met his dog, been to watch in-service training, been to the firearms training course (where they didn’t let me touch a weapon, you’ll be pleased to hear).

I’ve had some really boring nights, too.  As I try to explain when the nice officer assigned to take me out apologizes because nothing at all happened, if I want to see a gun battle or a bank robbery in progress, I’ll watch TV.  It’s the everyday details of the ordinary cop’s job that I’m interested in seeing first hand, that I want to give veracity to the books. The protagonist of the Constable Molly Smith series is young, green, a bit naïve.  When the series begins, in In the Shadow of the Glacier, she is still on probation.  She walks the beat on a Saturday afternoon, attends fender-benders, throws drunks into the drunk tank, tells people to empty out their cans of beer, helps confused old ladies cross the street, answers domestic disturbances, and stands outside crime scenes not letting anyone in.   

This is the detail of day-to-day policing I’m trying to get right for my books. That as well as the way the officers relate to each other, the jokes they tell, how they balance families and young children, how they train (or not.) My books are about murder and kidnapping and tragedy, yes, but they are also about people and relationships. 

One thing I'm learning from the ride-alongs I've been on over the past three years, is that there can be a lot of humor in a cop’s job. It's a tough, often unpleasant, job and they put their lives on the line every day. But boy, do they get a good laugh some times.

Recently, the car I was in was called to a home where a man wasn't answering the door to his friend who had come to take him to work. It was the usual time and the usual routine, and the friend was worried because the man had a medical condition. He had hammered on the door, tried to peer in windows, even climbed a tree to get a peek inside. But no answer and no movement.

One of the handsome officers I've had the pleasure of
of meeting while doing my research.

When we got there, the officer banged on the door, and bellowed, and peered in windows, and banged and bellowed again. He called for an ambulance. Reinforcements arrived, including the sergeant. Someone crouched down and yelled into the cat door. (And took a sniff - ug). Eventually there were four cops, two paramedics, and one mystery writer gathered at the top of a rickety set of stairs leading to the upstairs apartment. Permission to knock down the door was given, the door was kicked in, and everyone rushed in. Everyone, that is, save said mystery writer, who hung behind not wanting to see anything yucky. Then I heard a shout, "XX, what are you doing still in bed? Aren't you going to work?"

So I also wandered into the apartment to have a look.

Yup, the guy was tucked up in bed. Didn't feel like going to work, didn't bother phoning in, and didn't particularly want to get up and open the door.  Out we all trooped, one mystery writer, two paramedics, four cops, leaving XX in bed and a broken door swinging on its hinges.

I’ve also learned things I’ve decided not to incorporate into my books.  For example, it is the norm in most U.S. police K9 units for the dog to live in the house with the officer; in Canada they follow the RCMP model in which the dog lives in a kennel outside the house. I decided in this situation I’d go for atmosphere and color rather than veracity and so I let Norman, my RCMP dog, stretch out on the rug beside the fireplace.  Sometimes the story has to come first.

It is, in fact, precisely while Norman is snoozing on the carpet at the beginning of Among the Departed, the fifth book in the series, that he gets a call to search for a little boy lost in the mountain wilderness.

Thanks for joining us today, Vicki! Readers, don't forget to post a comment to be entered in the drawing for a copy of Among the Departed. Check back Sunday to see if you're the lucky winner. -- AP

MALICE DOMESTIC & FESTIVAL OF MYSTERY

Author Lois Winston, who writes about my life in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, recently attended the Malice Domestic mystery convention in Bethesda, MD and the Festival of Mystery in Oakmont, PA where she met many of my fans. (I suppose some of them are her fans, too.) So today Lois and I decided we’d muscle aside the usual Thursday line-up and present some of the photos Lois took at these events.

Author Lois Winston and Midnight Ink Acquisitions Editor Terri Bischoff

Not only did Lois meet many wonderful mystery fans during both events, she also got to meet our Midnight Ink editor, Terri Bischoff, and many of her fellow Midnight Ink (M’Inkers) authors.

Malice Panel Members: Cathy Pickens, Lois Winston, Judi McCoy, Jess Lourey and Donna Andrews

Lois took part in a panel, Funny Gals, Dark Books: An Intellectual Look at Humor in Mysteries. The panel was moderated by Cathy Pickens and besides Lois, included authors Judi McCoy, fellow M’Inker Jess Lourey, and Donna Andrews.

author Lois Winston answering host Cindy Silverblatt's questions at New Authors Breakfast

At Malice Domestic Lois also took part in a New (to Malice) Authors Breakfast where fans ate while the authors talked about their books. Of course, Lois told everyone about me.

author Lois Winston signing a book for fan Jaime at Malice Domestic

M'Inkers at Malice Banquet: Vicki Doudera, Lois Winston, Terri Bischoff, Deborah Sharp, Jessie Chandler, Kathleen Ernst, Alice Loweecey, Alan Orloff, Beth Groundwater and Jess Lourey

Saturday evening the M’Inkers took over two tables at the annual Agatha Awards Banquet where M’Inker Alan Orloff was up for an Agatha for Best First Novel. Sadly, Alan didn’t win, but as he said, it was an honor just to be nominated.

author Lois Winston at Festival of Mystery

Sunday morning many of us drove to Oakmont, PA where the Mystery Lovers Bookshop hosts their annual Festival of Mystery. The festival attracts over 350 readers and librarians each year, is co-sponsored by NPR affiliate WDUQ-FM, and benefits the Carnegie Library Bookmobile. Over 50 authors attended the event this year. Richard Goldman and Mary Alice Gorman, along with many volunteers, put on this fabulous event where people line up for hours ahead of time to be the first ones in the door. 

Festival of Mystery in Oakmont, PA

M'Inker suite-mates at Festival of Mystery: Vicki Doudera, Jess Lourey, Alice Loweecey, Lois Winston

Mystery Lovers Bookshop apres Festival of Mystery pizza party

After the festival, Richard and Mary Alice hosted a pizza party for all the authors back at the store. The Mystery Lovers Bookshop is just outside Pittsburgh. If you’re ever in the area, it’s a great place to visit, have a cup of coffee, and buy mysteries.

M'Inkers at Mystery Lovers Bookshop: Beth Groundwater, Jess Lourey, Alice Loweecey, Alan Orloff, Lois Winston and Vicki Doudera

 Lois arrived back home late yesterday and is already back working on chronicling the third book in the series all about me.
Anastasia Pollack

HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE--NATURAL INDIGESTION REMEDY

Health editor Janice Kerr is here today with a tip for those of you who suffer from indigestion. -- AP

Do you ever come away from a big meal feeling uncomfortable? Did you eat too much? Instead of reaching for the Tums or Rolaids the next time you have indigestion, reach for a few fennel seeds or anise seeds. Chewing fennel or anise after a large meal will aid in digestion.

Great tip, Janice! And I’ll bet those seeds are a lot cheaper than over-the-counter indigestion remedies. What do you think, readers? Want to give fennel or anise a try? -- AP

COOKING WITH CLORIS -- EASY NO-BAKE ÉCLAIRS

Easy No-bake Éclairs! How marvelous! Cloris is taking a much needed break today, thanks to reader Carolyn J. Coles who sent us this recipe. -- AP

Want delicious éclairs without spending lots of time cooking? Well, have I got a recipe for you. Yumm. Got to tell you, I was skeptical when I was first told what I needed from the store. I thought yeah sure these will taste like éclairs – not.  Boy was I wrong.

We were having an office party so I made my easy no bake éclairs the night before and brought them into work. My family begged me to make two batches, one for them. I didn’t. I told them they could have the leftovers. I’d watch over the éclairs and when my office workers were finished with lunch I’d refrigerate the rest and bring them home. Guess I should’ve made two, cause there were no leftovers.

      Ingredients:

      1 box of graham crackers or cinnamon graham crackers
1 large package of French vanilla instant pudding
1 small tub of Cool Whip or an equivalent amount of whipped cream
1 can of ready-made icing Dark Chocolate Fudge
 cold milk

Directions:

            Mix the instant pudding up as directed on the box, eliminating 1 cup of the cold milk. Fold in an equal amount of cool whip or whipped cream. (I just eyeball it.) 

Lightly grease the bottom of a rectangular cake pan. Add a layer of graham crackers. Only break the graham crackers if a smaller size is needed. A little overlapping is okay. 

Spread half the pudding/cool whip mixture over the graham crackers. Add another layer of graham crackers. Pour the rest of the pudding/cool whip mixture over the second layer.  Add a third layer of graham crackers.

Microwave the icing until it’s liquidly and can easily pour. Pour on top of the graham cracker layer until completely covered.

Cover the pan with non-stick foil and refrigerate overnight to soften the graham crackers into a pastry like taste. If you just can’t wait that long, refrigerate anywhere from 2 to 4 hours but the longer the better.

So who among our readers is game to try this? Let’s hear from you. Is Carolyn right? Do these faux éclairs really taste like the real thing? Post a comment to enter the drawing for a book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- HANDKERCHIEF ANGEL DOLL

As we head into our second year at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers, I want to thank all of our readers who follow us and those who drop by from time to time. For those of you just discovering us, I hope you’ll enjoy what you read and stop back often.

We’re going to be adding some new features to the blog in the coming months. Starting today, I’m kicking off Christmas All Year Round. Every few weeks I’ll feature Christmas projects on Crafts Monday, no matter the month, because I know that many of you craft year round in preparation for the holidays. Today’s craft is a no-sew handkerchief angel doll that can be used as an ornament. -- AP

HANDKERCHIEF ANGEL DOLL ORNAMENT

Materials:

One men's white cottonhankie; 1/2-yd. 1-1/4" wide flat silver lace trim; white string; small amount of fiberfill; 2-yds. jute cord; 4-yds. 1/8" wide white satin ribbon; three 1/4" silver ribbon roses; 3/8-yd. 2" wide silver wire-edged ribbon; 1/2 yd. silver star garland; fabric glue; glue gun; ornament hanger

Directions:
(Note: Use glue gun for all gluing except where noted.)

1. Using fabric glue, glue lace to one edge of hankie to form bottom edge of angel's dress. 

2. Wad fiber-fill into a 1-1/2" diameter ball. Using string, tie top center of hankie (opposite edge from lace) around fiber-fill ball to form angel head.

3. Tie corners of hankie at either side of head into knots close to head to form arms. Bring arms around to front of doll and knot together.

4. Form wire-edged ribbon into a circle, overlapping cut ends. Pinch together at center and tie in place with string to form angel wings. Glue center of wings to back of doll under head.

5. Cut jute into eight 8" lengths. Tie lengths together at center with string. Unravel ends of jute to form hair strands. Glue knotted center of hair to top center of doll head.

6. Cut three 1-yd. lengths of satin ribbon. Knot ends. Knot all three lengths together in middle. Glue knotted center under arms so lengths form streamers down front of angel's dress. Cut remaining yard of ribbon in half. Working both pieces together as one, tie into a bow. Glue bow to front of knotted arms. Glue ribbon roses above bow.

7. Leaving a 1-1/2” tail, wrap star garland into a 1-1/2” diameter overlapping circles to form halo. Bend tail up 1/2” to form loop. Glue loop to back of head. Bend halo 90 degrees to float above head.

8. Hook ornament hanger through string at center of angel wings.

Can you think of other uses for the handkerchief angel doll? Let’s hear from you. -- 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 Marianna Heusler for being our Book Club Friday guest and offering a copy of The Day the Fortune Teller Died to one of our readers who posted a comment this week. The winner this week is Liz V. Please email your mailing addresses to me at anastasiapollack@gmail.com, I’ll forward the information to Marianna, and she’ll mail the book to you.