Welcome to our new Chick Chat series: WIPs & RIPs, a bookish report of what we’re writing (a.k.a. Works In Progress), what we’re reading (i.e. Reads in Progress), and which projects we’re bidding a fond Rest in Peace. Read on, then chime in to tell us what’s occupying your WIP & RIP lists. Lisa Q. Mathews Yikes, our second installment of WIPs & RIPs sure ..read more

We adore Nancy Cole Silverman and we double-adore having her on Chicks on the Blog. Today, the award-winning, multi-series writing author talks about old passions and new beginnings. Take it away, Nancy! I used to have a great aunt who, at 66, decided to go back to nursing school because she wanted to be a travel nurse and, at 70, build a harp because she ..read more

It’s release day for A Very Woodsy Murder, the first book in Ellen Byron’s new Golden Motel Mystery series. What happens when Dee Stern, a burned-out sitcom writer, impulsively buys a retro rustic motel in California’s Gold Rush Country with her best friend-turned business partner who also happens to be her short-lived first husband? And their very first guest checks in but doesn’t check out ..read more

With the Olympic Games starting soon, the excitement is palpable. Athletes coming together from around the globe is an amazing thing–conceptually, emotionally, and logistically. And even though the main goal is competition, so many other aspects can be marvelous to witness. The races, matches, and events themselves can be thrilling to watch, of course. The demonstration of talent and determination can be impressive and inspirational ..read more

I have a daily “Unexplained Mysteries” calendar from the History Channel. Most of the mysteries aren’t very mysterious. Some of them are just ancient ideas that have been debunked by science. But some of them are truly perplexing and fascinating. Like these. Sometimes I mull these over while I’m swimming in the morning. Inevitably, though, my mind wanders back to all the unexplained mysteries in ..read more

We Chicks want to give a warm welcome to Sydney! She’s here to talk about different ways to discover a new book–including being drawn to beautiful covers! Judge a Book by its Cover? You Bet I Do! By Sydney Leigh With so many books coming out every month, even the most voracious of readers has to whittle down their list of TBR’s (To Be Read’s ..read more

I don’t think of myself as a huge sports fanatic, but of late I’ve been doing an awful lot of sports watching: the Tour de France, the Euro Cup, baseball, Wimbledon. Part of it is the timing, since this is the period when those sporting events occur. But it’s also definitely an escape from, well…the world. Because truly, who enjoys reading the newspaper headlines these ..read more

Writers know how to get things done. Writers know how to meet deadlines. Writers know how to research. Writers know how to…procrastinate. Today the Chicks share our favorite tactics for putting off finishing— or starting — that next book. Deep cleaning: Guests will be dropping by. Eventually. Deep research: You might need a shovel for this. Reading a book comp: your agent might ask. Right ..read more

Strawberry season was a bust here in NH last month, thanks to extreme early heat and nonstop rain. Rinse and repeat. But I have high hopes for blueberry season later this month ..read more

How was your 4th of July? I’m not much of a fan, to tell you the truth. As a kid, I was riddled with anxiety watching my dad light fireworks in the backyard. One time, as part of the arsenal, he bought some of those pinwheels that shoot out sparks as they twirl around. Yep. Nailed ‘em to the wooden fence. Yep. Caught on fire ..read more