I refuse to apologize for taking off a couple of weeks again. I’m going to forgive myself and quit making this such a struggle. Part of the reason I’m late is that two of the shows were pre-recorded on April 1st and then played on April 24th (Denise Swanson) and May 8th (Jeanne Dams). You’d think that would give me MORE time for writing this blog. I finally had a chance to sit back, put up my feet, sip tea, and enjoy listening to my show. And what fun to relive the connection I felt with each of those amazing women. Denise writes about a school psychologist in her Scumble River series, and Jeanne has delved into the history of South Bend Indiana around the turn of the last century for her Hilda Johansson series.
In between those two shows I spoke with Jana Oliver on May 1st about her Time Rover series and Victorian London during the time of Jack the Ripper. I kept referring to him as “Jack the Ripper,” but after all her research, Jana is more on a first-name basis with “Jack.”
I took a weekend off in there and visited a friend of mine in the mountains of North Georgia. Polly Hunt Neal is an artist who loved my books and asked me once to be her guest at a meeting of the National League of American Pen Women. She ended up sponsoring me, and I love the organization. Anyway, I spent two delightful days with Polly, sat for hours writing in her gazebo, and made friends with an ancient tree beside the little creek on her land. It was the surge of rejuvenation I needed, and I came back to my cats more than ready to resume the work of preparing the radio show each week.
Speaking of which, I’m still on the look-out for a sponsor for my radio show. The cost is prohibitive on my budget. "Quick, Frannie, sell more books!" So, send a friend my way if they want to advertise their business to thousands of listeners. And believe me, I truly appreciate every one of those thousands.
Showing posts with label mystery writers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mystery writers. Show all posts
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
What a Week - Panic and WHEW
What ever led me to schedule three shows in one week? There's the live show every Friday morning, of course. But then I went and booked two pre-records, both of them on Wednesday. Ahhh! It was April Fool's day. That must have been it.
When I started the radio show, I committed to read at least two (usually three) of each writer's books. That meant nine books in one week. Luckily I thoroughly enjoyed all of the books, and hated to have to read so fast. I love to soak up books, absorb them, relish them, wallow in them.
Denise Swanson (her show will air on April 24th) writes cozies about a school psychologist named Skye Denison. Jeanne Dams (May 8th) has two cozy series, one modern, one set in South Bend in the very early 1900s.
After the reading, I had to get three lists of questions together. There are always the usual questions, but then I have great fun digging deeper to find out who this writer really is - and why I should ask my listeners to spend their time (and their money) buying the books. I do hope you'll buy books. Preferably from an independent bookstore. We need to be sure those stores stay afloat!
The live show was Cassandra King - all right, she's not exactly a mystery writer, but I love the mystery (true sense of the word) that weaves through her book The Same Sweet Girls. Friday April 3rd wasn't April Fool's Day anymore, but the joke was on me - I'd just started on the morning meditation I do every weekday morning by phone with my friend Kathi Moon, and I glanced over at the file folder where I keep the Friday morning "script" (I use that word very loosely indeed) for the show. Nothing there! I'd forgotten to compile the questions. PANIC ! ! ! !
Needless to say, there wasn't much meditation going on for the next hour and a half. Luckily I got it done with a few minutes to spare. Called Kathi to tell her the world had not come to an end. Listened to her tell me to take a few deep breaths. Took them. Called in for the show. And had a great time talking with Cassandra. WHEW!
Speaking of WHEW - If you're in the vicinity of Lawrenceville Georgia this coming Thursday evening (the 9th) I'll be teaching a one-hour class on Overcoming Negativity for the "W.H.E.W. 50 Thursdays" program at The Singin' Bean http://www.thesinginbean.com/ W.H.E.W stands for Women Helping Educate Women, and it was the brainchild of Cindy Pitts Gilbert, the Bean's owner. Every week, a bunch of women get together at the Bean from 6:30 to 7:30, and learn about something interesting. The last class I taught there was on composting, something that Biscuit McKee, the librarian in my cat mysteries, does a lot of. Hope to see you there . . .
When I started the radio show, I committed to read at least two (usually three) of each writer's books. That meant nine books in one week. Luckily I thoroughly enjoyed all of the books, and hated to have to read so fast. I love to soak up books, absorb them, relish them, wallow in them.
Denise Swanson (her show will air on April 24th) writes cozies about a school psychologist named Skye Denison. Jeanne Dams (May 8th) has two cozy series, one modern, one set in South Bend in the very early 1900s.
After the reading, I had to get three lists of questions together. There are always the usual questions, but then I have great fun digging deeper to find out who this writer really is - and why I should ask my listeners to spend their time (and their money) buying the books. I do hope you'll buy books. Preferably from an independent bookstore. We need to be sure those stores stay afloat!
The live show was Cassandra King - all right, she's not exactly a mystery writer, but I love the mystery (true sense of the word) that weaves through her book The Same Sweet Girls. Friday April 3rd wasn't April Fool's Day anymore, but the joke was on me - I'd just started on the morning meditation I do every weekday morning by phone with my friend Kathi Moon, and I glanced over at the file folder where I keep the Friday morning "script" (I use that word very loosely indeed) for the show. Nothing there! I'd forgotten to compile the questions. PANIC ! ! ! !
Needless to say, there wasn't much meditation going on for the next hour and a half. Luckily I got it done with a few minutes to spare. Called Kathi to tell her the world had not come to an end. Listened to her tell me to take a few deep breaths. Took them. Called in for the show. And had a great time talking with Cassandra. WHEW!
Speaking of WHEW - If you're in the vicinity of Lawrenceville Georgia this coming Thursday evening (the 9th) I'll be teaching a one-hour class on Overcoming Negativity for the "W.H.E.W. 50 Thursdays" program at The Singin' Bean http://www.thesinginbean.com/ W.H.E.W stands for Women Helping Educate Women, and it was the brainchild of Cindy Pitts Gilbert, the Bean's owner. Every week, a bunch of women get together at the Bean from 6:30 to 7:30, and learn about something interesting. The last class I taught there was on composting, something that Biscuit McKee, the librarian in my cat mysteries, does a lot of. Hope to see you there . . .
Friday, March 13, 2009
Friday the 13th and Biscuit McKee mysteries
I'm not a superstitious person. In fact, Friday the 13th has never posed a problem for me. Until this morning. My mystery author guest each week is supposed to call the station at five minutes before show time. Well - that didn't happen this morning, and I was left having to "wing it."
It's live radio, and I suppose I've known that something like this might happen at some point. I just wasn't expecting it quite this soon. This was only the 11th show, after all. In the two minutes I had to think about it - and then the half-minute of commercial intro, I decided to read from my own books and call the show "The Evolution of a Mystery Series." I figured I could answer a lot of the questions I get asked when I speak at book clubs and writers groups. How did you get the idea for Biscuit the librarian? and Where did Marmalade the orange library cat come from?
Luckily two listeners emailed questions -- they're both going on my gratitude list tonight! I made it through the show. Listen to it on the archive for February 13th http://www.tinyurl.com/a2f3s6 and let me know how nervous you think I sounded on a scale of one to ten.
It's live radio, and I suppose I've known that something like this might happen at some point. I just wasn't expecting it quite this soon. This was only the 11th show, after all. In the two minutes I had to think about it - and then the half-minute of commercial intro, I decided to read from my own books and call the show "The Evolution of a Mystery Series." I figured I could answer a lot of the questions I get asked when I speak at book clubs and writers groups. How did you get the idea for Biscuit the librarian? and Where did Marmalade the orange library cat come from?
Luckily two listeners emailed questions -- they're both going on my gratitude list tonight! I made it through the show. Listen to it on the archive for February 13th http://www.tinyurl.com/a2f3s6 and let me know how nervous you think I sounded on a scale of one to ten.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Julia Spencer-Fleming - Feb. 6, 2009
I really need to work on being more positive. I was so delighted to have Julia Spencer-Fleming as a guest on Mystery Matters, because I have loved her Claire Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series for years. Before her live interview, though, I wasted an unwarrantable amount of time worrying about how the weather in Maine would cooperate with the phone hook-up.
These interviews are conducted by phone. I call VoiceAmerica, the internet radio station in Arizona. My guest calls the same toll-free number, and the station engineer, a most helpful young man named Ruben, works his magic and connects us. We chat for a few minutes, until Ruben warns us that we'll be starting in 30 seconds.
My worry must have brought about the major windstorm that ravaged Maine that Friday. About a minute before our second scheduled break, the phone line went dead in the middle of one of Julia's answers. AARGH ! ! ! I said a tentative "hello?" and nobody answered. In a few seconds Ruben came on and told me he'd switched us to the commercial a bit early. The next minute felt a lot longer than 60 seconds. Julia called back on a cell phone and said that a big branch had fallen over the phone line.
All turned out well, and I decided that, since I happen to believe that thought is creative and that we become magnets for whatever we think about, from now on I absolutely refuse to worry about the show, the guests, the phone lines, or anything else.
These interviews are conducted by phone. I call VoiceAmerica, the internet radio station in Arizona. My guest calls the same toll-free number, and the station engineer, a most helpful young man named Ruben, works his magic and connects us. We chat for a few minutes, until Ruben warns us that we'll be starting in 30 seconds.
My worry must have brought about the major windstorm that ravaged Maine that Friday. About a minute before our second scheduled break, the phone line went dead in the middle of one of Julia's answers. AARGH ! ! ! I said a tentative "hello?" and nobody answered. In a few seconds Ruben came on and told me he'd switched us to the commercial a bit early. The next minute felt a lot longer than 60 seconds. Julia called back on a cell phone and said that a big branch had fallen over the phone line.
All turned out well, and I decided that, since I happen to believe that thought is creative and that we become magnets for whatever we think about, from now on I absolutely refuse to worry about the show, the guests, the phone lines, or anything else.
Jackie Lee Miles - Jan. 23, 2009
Although our conversation ranged over many topics during the one-hour interview, I've recevied the most comments about Cold Rock River, Jackie's novel that weaves together threads of domestic abuse, child abuse, an injured VietNam vet, and the way in which the hundred-year-old diary of a slave woman whose children were sold away from her. helps a young woman heal and take charge of her own life.
Last year at the Decatur Book Festival, Jackie and I ended up on the same stage, reading from our books. I was particularly impressed at the way she had the beginnings of all her books memorized and could flow seamlessly from one reading to the next. This is a skill I need to work on.
Several weeks before the show I asked Jackie why she hadn't joined Sisters in Crime, and she said, "But I don't write mysteries." Well, they may not technically be called mysteries, but her Roseflower Creek and Cold Rock River are chock full of mystery in the very best sense.
Last year at the Decatur Book Festival, Jackie and I ended up on the same stage, reading from our books. I was particularly impressed at the way she had the beginnings of all her books memorized and could flow seamlessly from one reading to the next. This is a skill I need to work on.
Several weeks before the show I asked Jackie why she hadn't joined Sisters in Crime, and she said, "But I don't write mysteries." Well, they may not technically be called mysteries, but her Roseflower Creek and Cold Rock River are chock full of mystery in the very best sense.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Getting started - January 2, 2009
I love to know the story-behind-the-story, and I thought you might like to, also. Each week, therefore, I'm going to post some notes about what went on behind the scenes in my radio show, Mystery Matters: Where Murder is an Open Book.
I've waited a while to get up my nerve to start this blog. There's been so much reading to do, and so much preparation for the show each week, that blogging seemed like one too many chores. On the other hand, I've collected some fun stories I'd love to share. So I'll go back to the beginning of the show, January 2, 2009, when I interviewed Patricia Terrell, who writes as p.m. terrell. I'd met Trish several years ago, when we both spoke at a writers' conference. When she invited me to speak at the Robeson County Library in Lumberton NC last year, I jumped at the chance. She was kind enough to put me up at her house, and we stayed up talking after the Thursday night program until three in the morning. What a joy to get to know a kindred spirit.
It made sense, then, for me to ask her to be my first guest on Mystery Matters. After the show my sister called me from Colorado and said, "I'm not sure anybody else would have noticed, but you sure did sound nervous." I hope nobody (except my sister) could tell that my hands were shaking. I was most scared about making the transitions between air time and commercial time smooth. Hmmm. It took a few shows. Luckily, Trish and I were able to laugh about her dog-story, and since I'd already met her dogs, I think our conversation came across quite well. Thank goodness nobody heard the paper rattling as I tried to hold the script, juggle email questions coming in from listeners, and pay attention to the clock.
For the next few days I'll post about each show until we've caught up to the current week. Then I'll post each Friday (or Saturday) after Mystery Matters.
I've waited a while to get up my nerve to start this blog. There's been so much reading to do, and so much preparation for the show each week, that blogging seemed like one too many chores. On the other hand, I've collected some fun stories I'd love to share. So I'll go back to the beginning of the show, January 2, 2009, when I interviewed Patricia Terrell, who writes as p.m. terrell. I'd met Trish several years ago, when we both spoke at a writers' conference. When she invited me to speak at the Robeson County Library in Lumberton NC last year, I jumped at the chance. She was kind enough to put me up at her house, and we stayed up talking after the Thursday night program until three in the morning. What a joy to get to know a kindred spirit.
It made sense, then, for me to ask her to be my first guest on Mystery Matters. After the show my sister called me from Colorado and said, "I'm not sure anybody else would have noticed, but you sure did sound nervous." I hope nobody (except my sister) could tell that my hands were shaking. I was most scared about making the transitions between air time and commercial time smooth. Hmmm. It took a few shows. Luckily, Trish and I were able to laugh about her dog-story, and since I'd already met her dogs, I think our conversation came across quite well. Thank goodness nobody heard the paper rattling as I tried to hold the script, juggle email questions coming in from listeners, and pay attention to the clock.
For the next few days I'll post about each show until we've caught up to the current week. Then I'll post each Friday (or Saturday) after Mystery Matters.
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