Author Archives: Sandra Neily

About Sandra Neily

Sandy’s novel “Deadly Trespass” received a Mystery Writers of America award, was named a national finalist in the Women’s Fiction Writers Association “Rising Star” contest, a finalist in the Mslexia international novel competition, a runner- up in Maine’s Joy of the Pen competition, and recently, an international SPR fiction finalist. Sandy lives in the woods of Maine and says she’d rather be “fly fishing cold streams, skiing remote trails, paddling near loons, or just generally out there—unless I’m sharing vanishing worlds with my readers. "

Success: Ruin Meals. Write 5th Grade Prose.

Sandra Neily here: This post is about simple food and simple writing. Both, easily digestible. Author Louise Penny has ruined me for any restaurant or pub memories I used to cherish. What’s more, she may have ruined every attempt to … Continue reading

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Pithy. Pithy. Pithy! (am so eager for more of it …)

  Sandra Neily here: Are you, like me, pining for the world to get a bit more … Pithy? A pithy phrase or statement is brief but full of substance and meaning. It often feels like a shot of truth. (I don’t … Continue reading

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On Ignoring Private Property Signs … and More

Sandra Neily here: With a bit of everything: recent lines from book #3, some great Maine winter events to join that fit into the spirit emerging in my novel, and a repeat, by request. ********* (In novel #3, “Deadly Assault,” … Continue reading

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Never, Ever … Buy or Eat the Big, Tasteless Ones

Sandra Neily here. My family and friends have given me a reputation for quick or novel fixes to create strategies that add “yum!” to food. My sisters still call me in the middle of gravy-making as that’s always a daunting … Continue reading

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“A Mother Moose Won’t Stop Until She Gets You”

Sandy Interviews Wildlife Biologist Ron Joseph on his upcoming book. I got to know Ron Joseph when he was the wildlife biologist stationed in Greenville where I have a home on Moosehead Lake. I asked Ron to review my first … Continue reading

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Tree Stands. Rotting Donuts. Lynx Poop. Environmental Grief.  

After two major surgeries in less than a year (a new heart valve and knee replacement) I was surprised to realize how much I missed the characters and dog I’d created. Next to my daughter and her grandgirls of course. … Continue reading

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Moosehead. The Kennebec. And An Endless Steps Workout

OH MY! Wildlife delivers $1.4 billion to Maine’s economy; $1.9 billion w multipliers. Begs the question, is the Moosehead Region ready to secure this and other nature-based economic assets against inappropriate development or over-use? Do all of Maine’s ‘gateway’ communities … Continue reading

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Rejection. Rejections. And Blizzard Therapy

I want to talk about rejections. On Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter and these public places, we don’t usually hear about gut-wrenching stuff. These sites are perhaps how we market ourselves to the world. How we manage the front window … Continue reading

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Fiction Does Truth … Better

“Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.” Ralph Waldo Emerson “There is no doubt fiction makes a better job of the truth.” Doris Lessing “Fiction is the lie that tells the truth.” (From the article, “Truth in Fiction: 3 Lessons from … Continue reading

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The Dogs of War. Are Family.

  THE DOGS OF WAR …are family. This post is really a photo essay with links you can use to support animal rescue operations and refugee pet owners.            Sandra Neily here: Every time, I see … Continue reading

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