AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR SUSAN SANTANGELO'S BABY BOOMER SLEUTH CAROL ANDREWS

Today we sit down for a chat with Carol Andrews from author Susan Santangelo’s Baby Boomer Mystery series.

What was your life like before your author started pulling your strings?

Peaceful and quiet!

What’s the one trait you like most about yourself?

Multi-tasking under the impossible circumstances Susan thinks up for me to deal with.

What do you like least about yourself?

I cry much too easily.

What is the strangest thing your author has had you do or had happen to you? They’re all weird. And some of them are very scary. Especially when my life is threatened, like the time in Second Honeymoons Can Be Murder (Book 6) when she had me facing a deranged killer with no warning whatsoever. 

Do you argue with your author? If so, what do you argue about?

Susan always has an idea in her head about which way she wants her plots to go. Her plots! Can you imagine? She’d be nothing without me. When she really won’t listen to my suggestions, I just go on strike. Some authors have writer’s block. She has Carol block. But she has yet to figure that out.

What is your greatest fear?

That she may decide to end the series by killing me off.

What makes you happy?

When she finally writes “The End” and sends off the completed book to her publisher. Then I can finally take a nap.

If you could rewrite a part of your story, what would it be? Why?

I’d want to be thinner, so I could eat anything I wanted and not gain weight.

Of the other characters in your book, which one bugs you the most? Why?

My husband, Jim, drives me completely bonkers a lot of the time. Since he retired, he’s become obsessed with saving money and has me on a very tight budget. And he always wants to know where I’m going, when I’ll be home, and what I’m making for dinner. Oh, and he re-does a lot of the household tasks, like re-loading the dishwasher before I start it. I mean, really! 

Of the other characters in your book, which one would you love to trade places with? Why?

I’d like to trade places with Lucy and Ethel, our two English cocker spaniels. They have the best life of all!

Tell us a little something about your author. Where can readers find her website/blog?

Susan’s the author of eight Baby Boomer mysteries, and is currently working (but not too hard) on Book 9, tentatively titled, Politics Can Be Murder. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers and the Cape Cod Writers Center. She hangs out with her long-suffering husband Joe on Cape Cod in the summer, and goes to Clearwater, Florida, for the winter. (Fortunately, I get to travel with her.) She and Joe also have two English cocker spaniels, Boomer and Lilly. You can find more about her and her books at her website. She doesn’t have her own blog, but she likes to do guest appearances on others.   

What's next for you?

I’m lying in wait in Susan’s mind right now while she figures out which way she wants the plot for “Politics” to go. And then I’ll step in, have my way, and we’ll go on from there.

In-Laws Can Be Murder

A Baby Boomer Mystery, Book 8

Carol Andrews doesn't share well. Especially when it comes to her precious, long-awaited first grandchild, CJ. So when her son-in-law's pushy mother, Margo, arrives in town and horns in on Carol's happiness, it's hate at first sight. But when Margo thinks she's committed a murder and reaches out to Carol for help, then vanishes without a trace, it's up to Carol to put aside her petty jealousy and crack the case before the police get involved.

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PAYING OUR RESPECTS

Twin Towers Memorial Lights

Here at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers we always pause each year on this day to remember and pay our respects to those brave men and women and innocent souls who lost their lives during the horrific terrorist attacks of that day.

#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!

#TRAVEL TO LONG BEACH, NY, THE SETTING FOR AUTHOR A.R. KENNEDY'S NATHAN MICCOLI MYSTERY SERIES

Sunset Over Long Beach, NY

A.R. Kennedy lives and works on Long Island, New York (and no, she does not have that Long Island accent). Her debut series, The Nathan Miccoli mystery series, is set in New York. Learn more about A.R. and her books at her website.

My Nathan Miccoli Mystery series starts in Long Beach, NY. One of the main characters, Lily Brannon, lives there. Why Long Beach? Because I live in Long Beach. And they say write what you know.

Long Beach, New York, ‘The city by the sea’, is located on a barrier island off the south shore of Long Island, NY. It’s about a 50-minute train ride from Penn Station in New York City.

Long Beach in the summer is a bustling place (and I’m not just talking about the parking situation. Remember how excited George Costanza from Seinfeld got when he found a prime parking space? The same goes here in the summer!)

Each summer, the City of Long Beach entertains residents and visitors with concerts and movies on the beach—my favorite is Jaws, oh the irony!—arts and crafts festivals on the boardwalk and fireworks. The first Friday after the 4th of July hosts a ‘Fireworks Extravaganza’. I can watch the fireworks, shot off from a barge in the ocean, from my balcony!

There’s something for everyone during Long Beach summers.

Foodies will enjoy the Shoregasboard, an array of food trucks from local eateries, parked beachside. (Plus there are other concessions on the boardwalk).

Film buffs will enjoy Long Beach International Film Festival, now in iths 7^th year.

Long Beach also organizes adult summer volleyball leagues on the beach. (Lily has demonstrated her lack of athletic ability on the sandy court. Fortunately, I have not. I’m strictly a cheerleader.)

Plus, of course, the water activities! The 9th annual NY Surf week was held in July.

If you’re more like me and just want to sit on the beach and read a book, Long Beach is a great spot. According to an article on timeout.com in May 2018, ‘the National Resources Defense Council ranked Long Beach among the cleanest beaches in the U.S. (and the spiffiest in New York)’.

But, please don’t think Long Beach is only to be enjoyed in the summer! It is great all year round. The Polar Bear Splash, benefiting Make-A-Wish, is held annually on Super Bowl Sunday. It is fun for all—the ones who plunge into the cold waters and those watching, while huddled in their parkas. The Irish Festival and Fall festival are held in October. The Turkey Trot is run on the boardwalk in November.

Surf’s up all year. I see surfers riding the waves during all the seasons (while wondering how they endure the cold water and even colder temperatures). The 2.2-mile boardwalk has been replaced (after being destroyed in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy) and is used by bicyclists, walkers and runners throughout the year.

As the Nathan Miccoli mystery series has progressed, the main characters, Lily and Nathan, a NYPD detective, have moved to Queens, New York. But at least one scene in each of the six books occurs in Long Beach. Volleyball on the beach. Walking on the boardwalk. Dining at one of the many restaurants. Gone But Not Calm, book six in the series, finds Lily stranded in Long Beach as Hurricane Sandy hits. (Superstorm Sandy for those who want to be technical. However, I’ve never heard a Long Islander ask how I managed through the ‘Superstorm’. It’s always ‘Sandy’ or ‘the Hurricane.’)

Want to visit? longbeachny.org is a great resource.

If you like novels involving pets, check out my newest book, Saving Ferris, on pre-order now. https://amzn.to/2PhcEJL In Saving Ferris a woman shoots an intruder to save her dead husband’s golden retriever Ferris. In the eyes of the law, one can use lethal force to protect themselves and others, but not property. Pets are considered property. Will saving Ferris's life cost Cecilia her freedom? And a second chance at love?

Gone But Not Missed

Lillian Brannon wakes up on Valentine's Day in an exact replica of her bedroom but the only item that she believes is authentic is her dog, Laude. She is held captive in her kidnapper's basement apartment, summoned upstairs once a week for a chaste dinner. But will his kindness last, and more importantly, why isn’t anyone looking for her? Lillian’s story is interwoven with that of Nathan, a NYPD officer, who is intrigued by Lillian’s disappearance- how can a young woman be gone for two weeks before a Missing Person Report is filed? Local police believe Lillian has voluntarily abandoned a life she didn’t like. Lillian’s best friend convinces Nathan the authorities are wrong. With no jurisdiction, no resources, and no witnesses, he is compelled by the pictures of Lillian with her sweet smile and sparkling green eyes to obsessively take up the case. Armed with Lillian’s keys and personal information, he spends hours, then days in her home trying to find clues that will lead him to her.

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ANOTHER SUMMER READ--LOW DOWN DIRTY: A CRIME FICTION ANTHOLOGY

Mystery author Camille Minichino has been a guest here many times. She recently sent me a copy of an anthology she contributed to, and it became one of my summer reads. Low Down Dirty: A Crime Fiction Anthology takes on an issue that affects not only all Americans but citizens worldwide.

The stories featured in this anthology were all written around the theme of fighting voter suppression. Our right to vote is one of our most precious rights as a citizen. No matter whether you lean left or right or are firmly entrenched in the middle, no one has the right to suppress or tamper with your right to cast your ballot on Election Day. (Don’t forget to vote on November 6th!)

But aside from their theme, these eleven short stories are also really good reads for anyone who enjoys crime fiction.

Along with Camille Minichino, the other authors who contributed stories to the anthology are Catriona McPherson, Kris Calvin, Ray Daniel, David Hagerty, Ann Parker, Travis Richardson, James Ziskin, Alison Catharine, and Mariah Klein.

Low Down Dirty: A Crime Fiction Anthology

Eleven writers from across the country and across the Atlantic contributed short crime fiction to this anthology, which includes both award winners and brand new voices. Each writer addressed the theme "fighting voter suppression." Proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to the ACLU Foundation to help protect the voting rights of all Americans.

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#COOKING WITH CLORIS--BLUEBERRY ZUCCHINI BREAD AND MUFFINS

Last fall I needed to remove a diseased ornamental plum tree from my front yard. While at the garden center to purchase a replacement tree, the horticulturist asked me about my zucchini crop. “What crop?” I asked with a frown.

Zucchini used to be the one produce I could grow, no matter what. I’d harvest so much from one plant, I’d wind up with a freezer full to use in soups and spaghetti sauce all winter. And that was after all the baking of zucchini bread and muffins, the stuffed zucchini, zucchini fritters, zucchini slaw, zucchini you-name-it.

But the last few years, even though I’d rotated where I placed my plants, my harvest had been zilch. Nada. Nothing. A big fat zero. Lovely looking plants that bore no fruit.

“Cheer up,” said the horticulturist. “You’ll have zucchini next summer. The bees are coming back.”

It turns out the bees had departed from my neck of the New Jersey suburbs the last few years. My zucchini plants weren’t getting pollinated. Thus, no zucchini.

So this year I planted my zucchini and held my breath. Sure enough, the horticulturist was right. The bees came back, and this year I’m harvesting zucchini once again.

I don’t know where the bees went or why they decided to leave. I’m just glad they decided to return. The other day I discovered a ginormous zucchini hiding under some leaves. Somehow I’d missed it when it was at optimum picking stage. And what better way to use a ginormous zucchini than make zucchini bread and muffins? And I still wound up with enough zucchini to make zucchini carrot slaw for dinner that night and freeze six cups for future use! That was one ginormous zucchini!

Blueberry Zucchini Bread and Muffins

Yield: one loaf and 6 muffins

Ingredients:

3 eggs

1 cup canola oil

3 tsp. vanilla

2-1/4 cups granulated sugar

2 cups coarsely shredded zucchini

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 T. ground cinnamon

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

1 pt. fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Set aside 1/4 cup flour.

Lightly grease one loaf pan and one 6-cup muffin pan.

In a large bowl beat together eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar approximately one minute. Fold in zucchini.

Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add to wet ingredients, stirring until incorporated. Fold in pecans.

Toss blueberries in reserved flour. Fold into batter.

Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Pour remaining batter into loaf pan. Bake muffins 20-25 minutes, loaf pan 50-55 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 20 minutes on wire rack. Remove from pans and continue cooling.

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Happy Labor Day! Anastasia and the gang are enjoying an end-of-summer BBQ. They'll return tomorrow.