1 July @ Grousable Books: Victorians, Murder by Death, visitors and visits

Grousable Books Newsletter

In this issue: A special promo for fans of the 19th century, Murder by Death, garden visitors, the Bowl, and the Fair.

It’s true . . . → Read More: 1 July @ Grousable Books: Victorians, Murder by Death, visitors and visits

June 15 @ Grousable Books: a nutty musical number, Andrea Kress, The Lady Vanishes, and more

Grousable Books Newsletter

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In this issue: A nutty musical number, Andrea Kress, The Lady Vanishes, from pantser to plotter, and Thomas Jefferson cukes.

. . . → Read More: June 15 @ Grousable Books: a nutty musical number, Andrea Kress, The Lady Vanishes, and more

June 1st @ Grousable Books: 20% off, Ellery Queen, SS Great Eastern

Grousable Books Newsletter

In this issue: 20% off all my books, Ellery Queen, A Warm Mug of Cozy, June author event cancelled, and the SS . . . → Read More: June 1st @ Grousable Books: 20% off, Ellery Queen, SS Great Eastern

Historical fiction research report 2

As research continues into New Orleans 1910, I begin to look for who the movers and shakers were, and what was happening in the Big Easy.

Through surfing websites on Domino’s sugar (I wanted to know whether it was cane or beet, and it’s cane still, most of it from Louisiana) I found the website . . . → Read More: Historical fiction research report 2

May 15th @ Grousable Books: Research and art

Grousable Books Newsletter

In this issue: follow my research, quick possum pic, author spotlight on Jolie Tunnell, Beach Town Books, and a bit of art.

A unique chance . . . → Read More: May 15th @ Grousable Books: Research and art

Historical fiction research report 1

I recently received an email from Bouchercon 2025, the big mystery convention being held in November 2025 in New Orleans. They are putting together an anthology. I entered last year’s anthology for San Diego, and wrote a special story for it: Murder Steampunk Style. It didn’t get accepted.

So I’m trying again, but I live . . . → Read More: Historical fiction research report 1

May 1 @ Grousable Books: Possums, books, and Sisi

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In this issue: Freebies, li’l possums, Bummer release news, Sisi, a big change book cover, and a cozy anthology contest.

First, welcome to all new subscribers to the newsletter! It’s a little different from other author newsletters, so I hope you enjoy it.

Freebies . . . → Read More: May 1 @ Grousable Books: Possums, books, and Sisi

Amazon barcodes

I want my book to look just right, so I’m working with my covers and placing that barcode in just the right place. Barcodes are already an intrusive thing, their white background shocking when nothing else has white. The books came out fine at Ingram.

But now I want to publish the paperbacks at Amazon . . . → Read More: Amazon barcodes

The curly quotes trick

When I worked in Scrivener and in Word, I had trouble with curly quotes. They look like this:

“curly quotation marks”

The default for most systems is the more modern straight quotes:

“straight quotation marks”

Most of my work is historical, and I use fonts that look a little more like . . . → Read More: The curly quotes trick

April 15 @ Grousable Books: Snafus and Saints

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In this issue: Newsletter snafus, The Saint, Astrid, the garden in spring, and author M. Culler.

Newsletter news and snafus

A big thanks to the readers who contact me when the newsletter touches them. I got lots of mail about my poor bees from good-hearted . . . → Read More: April 15 @ Grousable Books: Snafus and Saints