Earlier Musings

To Quote Or To Misquote, That Is The Question

Have you ever quoted a famous person, only to find that it was a misquote?? I must plead guilty to that literary crime.? Fortunately, it is normally a spoken rather than a written sin.? Sometimes it is merely a word … Continue reading →...

Christmas Cracker: Why Did I Write It?

The protagonist in Christmas Cracker is Morgana  ‘Morg’  Mahoney, a wise-cracking, female private investigator.  Like there are not enough of them around in books already?  But she is not a clone of all the others, nor is the story the same … Continue reading →...

“A powerful agent is the right word.”

Mark Twain wrote that, “A powerful agent is the right word.”? Since he is oft considered the greatest American writer, who am I to object?? In fact, I agree.? How many times have I sat, thinking, pondering, worrying as I … Continue reading →...
Being Accurate vs. Being Anal

Being Accurate vs. Being Anal

It’s a novel, right?? Novels are fiction, so is being accurate in fiction about details regarding places all that important?? Like if your book has someone in England pay to gas up their car before filling their tank instead of … Continue reading →...
Horse Racing and Haltwhistle

Horse Racing and Haltwhistle

Even though my parents were from Kentucky and married in Louisville, home of the Kentucky Derby, I’ve never been that interested in horse racing.? I knew little about American horse racing and much less about how it was done by … Continue reading →...
Just what is a Christmas Cracker?

Just what is a Christmas Cracker?

Many people may not know what a Christmas cracker is.  If you’ve ever lived in the British Isle you will, of course, be very familiar with these holiday treats.  However, since it is the title of my book, I need … Continue reading →...
Location, Location, Location

Location, Location, Location

As with buying real estate, where the story takes place is important.? If I had set Christmas Cracker in Long Beach, nothing would have worked.? So I set it in Cumbria, Northern England.? Okay, so what did I know about … Continue reading →...