Hold My Mail!

Posted on February 4, 2019 by Richard Cass

I do wish the bhastids wouldn’t start sending them out in January. But I’ll get to that in a minute.

We’ve had a slow month post-holidays chez Cass. I’ve been rehabbing from a hip injury and working my way through yet another draft of the fourth Elder Darrow book (due out sometime in the Fall). And doing my best to keep my head clear of the political fog, though I have three nephews in various branches of government service and I have spent time steaming on their behalf. The only comment I can make on the shutdown situation—beyond the obvious fact of its cruelty on people with no responsibility for it—is how much the political machinations illustrate the abyss between the people who ostensibly represent us and the actual lives we lead. Have I mentioned how my taxable income went down 10% last year and my taxes went up 94%? Many thanks, Donny, Mitch, et al.

On the plus side, I started teaching a writing course for MWPA, which introduced me to half a dozen very good writers eager to do the necessary work to improve and respectful of each other’s efforts, too. Which certainly brightens up my Tuesday nights.

The bhastids—a term I use, of course, lovingly. The seed companies. Why, in the bleak midwinter, do the catalogs all show up at once?

It was a gray, slushy, cold Monday at the end of last month when I got Johnny’s, White Flower Farm, and some off-brand catalog from the Midwest in the mail, full of glorious color pictures of fruit-heavy blueberry bushes, blossomed-out hydrangeas and lilies, pages of tomato varieties, and the various greens of, well, green vegetables. The profusion of color and juice was almost more than I could stand, look-look-look-looking out at the gray and brown of my dead back yard.

And of course, I immediately sat down with the order blank and started filling out my desires for the spring: spinach, lettuce, beans, peas, four kinds of tomatoes, zucchini. Summer squash, cucumbers, peppers (hot and sweet, three kinds). And this year, to fill in some corners of the back forty: a cherry tree, a half dozen marionberry bushes, strawberries (wait—delete that; my town has two commercial strawberry farms), maybe some elderberries or gooseberries for that odd pie in the winter. And on. And on. And on.

If you keep a garden, or have ever grown anything more challenging than a philodendron, you understand this urge. In the dead cold frozen-ground of the garden season, hope and energy springs eternal. I will, by gosh, add those six more raised beds this spring, rotate my crops so I have a continuous supply of greens into the hot weather, tomatoes and peppers after that, and the plans go on and on.

But I’ve done this before, you bhastids. Before I write out the check, before I seal the envelope, I set the whole mess aside for a minimum of forty-eight hours. All important decisions require a cooling-off period and sending in the seed order is not a bit different than picking the right time to call the fuel oil man.

On Wednesday, I sit down and look at the chaos my pen and my optimism hath wrought and find it easy to cull the list, remembering that I took down one of the raised beds last year and of the four left, two are already full, of asparagus and garlic. Slash, erase. Then I remember how poorly my tomato seedlings did last year, when we went to Florida for a week in March and the house sitter neglected to water them. Erase.

Hmm. Didn’t I have better results with the seedlings I purchased from Norm Jordan’s roadside stand in Cape Elizabeth than I did with anything I grew from seed last year? Crumple and toss. And so the final plan gets made—not the plan Johnny’s or White Flower Farm wanted me to make, but for once, I feel the triumph of experience over hope. Snuck one past the bhastids this time . . . Now for another go at those taxes.

Posted in Dick's Posts, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Weekend Update: February 2-3, 2019

Posted on February 2, 2019 by kaitlynkathy

Next week at Maine Crime Writers, there will be posts by Dick Cass (Monday), Kate Flora (Tuesday) John Clark (Wednesday) Lea Wait (Thursday), and Bruce Coffin (Friday).

In the news department, here’s what’s happening with some of us who blog regularly at Maine Crime Writers:

 

 

An invitation to readers of this blog: Do you have news relating to Maine, Crime, or Writing? We’d love to hear from you. Just comment below to share.

And a reminder: If your library, school, or organization is looking for a speaker, we are often available to talk about the writing process, research, where we get our ideas, and other mysteries of the business. Contact Kate Flora

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We Want to Protect You, or Surviving Cabin Fever

Posted on January 31, 2019 by bereksennebec

That’ll teach me to leave the snowshoes home!

Cabin Fevah, Ya say? If you’re a flatlander, ya probably never heard of it. In Maine it’s a fact of life every February, earlier if Old Man Winter gets his longjohns in a twist. Everyone has different ways of determining when it hits. The good folks who post here are sharing theirs below as a public service to help the uninitiated avoid serious mental and physical harm by saying or doing the wrong thing.

John Clark knows the symptoms. He ain’t native, but is wicked close. He’s gonna start by warning you about Town Meeting as influenced by Cabin Fever. #1-Do not sit in Old Man Perkins’ spot. It’s three seats from the aisle in the front row. The last fool who made that mistake still has to look backwards when he’s walking. #2-When sidling up to the refreshments table hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary (damn near every Maine town meeting has at least one food selling auxiliary), remember the following: The coffee and store bought pastries are safe, but partake of Liddy Fitzwalter’s baked goods at your own peril. Anyone who’s ever peeked in her kitchen will tell you they lost their appetite for weeks afterward. #3-Do NOT miss a chance to play Bullshit Bingo. Not only does half the pot go to the town VFD, but the odds are better than 50/50 that the winner will get to yell ‘Bullshit’ during one of Myra Fiddlewick’s endless laments. Trust me on this as it’s happened three years running.

Other symptoms of Cabin Fever: People start laying blue tarps over snowbanks in a futile effort to shrink them enough so they can back out without becoming intimate with the grill on a logging truck. The clerk at the only store in town no longer bothers to respond when you inquire about ice melt. Gray squirrels hold your dog hostage until you put something other than sunflower seeds in the bird feeders.

Kate Flora: Before I learned the good sense of a trip away in February, I used to img_2086regularly go crazy that month. I love being stuck at my desk and winter is great for writing, but when the ice dam is six inches thick, the heat tape isn’t working, and my husband and I have to keep going out to shovel the roof, it can have an effect on the disposition. I suggest that a few good soup recipes can help. Just don’t keep doing this until you run out of pots.
Helgard‘s Curried Pea Soup 
1 pkg. frozen peas
1 med. onion
1 carrot
1 celery stalk with leaves
1 med. potato
2 c. chicken broth.

Toss onions, carrot, potato and celery in pot with curry & broth. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add peas and cook until tender, then run through blender (I use a hand blender) and add 1 c. light cream. Top with cilantro or chives.

In earlier years, I used to do a newsletter for my Thea Kozak series, featuring what I called Thea’s “Quick and Dirty” recipes. This is one of Thea’s soups:

Power Soup
Pour 1 c. warm water over 1/2 c. dried shiitake mushrooms. Set aside

In saucepan, combine:
1/2 pound chopped lean beef or a chopped chicken breast
1-2 T. sesame oil
1-2 T. Balsamic vinegar.

Simmer 30 minutes. Drain mushrooms, reserving liquid, and chop.
Add liquid and mushrooms to soup. Simmer 20 minutes until mushrooms and meat are tender. Chop 1/2 bunch of kale, add, and simmer 15 minutes longer, or until kale is tender. Taste. Add salt, pepper, and additional vinegar and/or sesame oil to taste.

Why is this called Power Soup? Because Thea knows that the cop on the job often doesn’t eat very well, and so, like many women, works at sneaking healthy food into her guy’s life. This simple soup is an excellent way to use up left-over steak or chicken. Kale has been rated #1 among veggies by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Shiitake mushrooms are considered by the Chinese to be a superior medicine.

For a vegetarian version, substitute vegetable stock and tofu.

And here’s a super-fancy one for New Year’s Eve
Salamander Smoked Fish, Sweet Potato and Corn Chowder

2. T. canola oil
1 Spanish onion, diced
1 T. minced fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 t. cracked coriander seed
1/2 c. dry white wine
1 4-0z can coconut milk
1 3/4 c. liquid–fish stock, clam juice, chicken stock or water
1 10 oz. pkg. frozen corn
2 c. diced, peeled sweet potatoes
3/4 pound smoked fish, such as haddock, bluefish or mussels
salt and pepper
chopped cilantro and scallions for garnish

Heat oil in a large pot. Add onion, ginger and garlic and sauté about 4 minutes. Stir in IMG_4953coriander, wine, coconut milk, and liquid. Cover and bring to a simmer. Stir in the corn and sweet potatoes, and cook about 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender.

Add fish and cook until it is just heated through. salt and pepper to taste.

Though if soup doesn’t work, it’s okay to take to drink.

Bruce Robert Coffin: Cabin fever has never been something from which I suffered. Maybe being a dyed in the wool Mainer makes me immune from the seasonal malady. Or perhaps it is because I enjoy spending time outdoors this time of the year.

Mountain hiking in the winter months might sound scary to some, but consider the many benefits. There are literally no tourists crowding the trails. Most every animal capable of killing you will be fast asleep. There are no bugs to contend with. If you dress properly, in layers, you wont be anywhere near as sweaty as during the other seasons. The rocks and roots criss-crossing every trail will be buried far below a soft and smooth cushion of the white stuff. Winter hiking is the best.

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I will concede however that as the cold and snowy months continue I do begin to long for spring and summer. Thoughts of warm and sunny months where the days seem to last forever come creeping into my head. Chores and projects that I’d failed to get to last year haunt me. Even the writing which tends to carry me most of the way becomes secondary to staring out the windows at the snow and ice. I mean my house isn’t going to take care of itself, is it? I do have a responsibility after all. And nothing, not even this hellacious winter weather, will keep me from my duties…

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Lea Wait: I haven’t got a lot to add – I love the quiet of winter and the time to write without the distractions of company and summer entertainment. I also love this time of year because it allowed me time to catch up on my reading, (including books by other Maine Crime Writers,) and to binge watch movies.  (Two very different ones I’ve enjoyed recently are A Very English Scandal. A Quiet Passion, and The Innocents).

Kaitlyn Dunnett/Kathy Lynn Emerson
Cabin fever? What’s that? I even love being snowed in. I’m not crazy about power outages, but we have a wood stove for heat and cooking, a big bucket of water in the bathroom to flush with, and a battery big enough to run a reading lamp and recharge the iPads.

For plain old winter doldrums, the best cure is to keep busy. I accomplish an amazing amount of writing during the winter months, at least in part because I don’t even try to schedule any events that would require me to leave the house. There are a couple of conferences in February and March that might be fun to attend, but when weighed against the possibility of having to cancel due to bad weather or, worse yet, getting stuck in an airport halfway across the country, I find it easy to talk myself out of going.

the view from my window in winter

Some might say I’m just an old stick-in-the-mud, but those inclined to become hermits during the winter have an advantage. They’re perfectly happy to hole up, snug and warm. There’s really plenty to do to keep busy: jigsaw puzzles, binge watching favorite TV series and the occasional new one, reading, and, of course, writing. If it’s a particularly long, cold winter, I might even end up writing an extra novel.

Susan Vaughan:

1. Vacation to somewhere warm. But give yourself plenty of time at airports. The government shutdown has led to some TSA flu, so lines may be long. Last year we went to Marco Island, Florida, for some R&R. Luckily it was the warmest February ever in that state, so even the water was warm. This year? Well, see #4. The closest I’ll get is this photo.

2. Read a good book. I have three going at the moment. I’ve nearly finished Sandra Brown’s paperback Lethal , a riveting thriller. On the treadmill or stationary bike at the Y, I read on my Kindle. Again, see #4. My recent e-book is our own Kate Flora’s Be My Little Sugar: Another Girls’ Night Out Novella. Also unputdownable, this story is suspenseful, witty, and humorous. The third book is nonfiction, unusual for me. I read reviews and saw an interview with Jill Lepore, award-winning historian and knew I needed to read her These Truths: a History of the United States. It’s dense, insightful, and beautifully written as well as thoroughly researched. I’m making my way through it a little each day because I need to digest and ponder as I go. I’m learning facts and background I didn’t pay attention to in school.

3. Walk the dog, feed the birds, go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Since I don’t ski and won’t be snowshoeing this winter, or even walking Sasha for a while, I watch the birds at the feeder and look for a bald eagle fishing at the river below our house.

4. Don’t have foot surgery. Yes, this is why I won’t be snowshoeing or walking the treadmill or taking a trip to somewhere warm. I’ve had a joint replacement on my big right toe. Yes, you read that correctly, on my big toe. Arthritis had eaten away the cartilage in the large joint, so it was bone on bone. Walking had become quite painful. So I’m sitting here on my sofa with my foot propped up on a stack of pillows. The upside? Hubby is waiting on me hand and “foot.”

Look how happy I am out in the snow snow shoeing!

Maureen Milliken: The only times I’ve ever had cabin fever are when I’ve had to share the cabin. Cooped up with other people for extended periods of time gets on my nerves. I’m sure they’d say the same about me.

Otherwise, I love the winter and here’s a pro tip: you don’t have to stay cooped up in the cabin.

Getting outside unless the weather is really, really awful and living by yourself are the best things to counter cabin fever.

I’ve taken several day trips to parts of the state that are beautiful this time of year, gotten out the snow shoes, walk to the store when it’s too ucky out to drive, and more.

One thing about snow shoeing — you can do it anywhere, you don’t special skills, you don’t need money. It’s a great way to get outdoors. You also get to take in some things that you maybe wouldn’t otherwise.

My town, January, 4:30 p.m., 2 degrees and dropping.

The other day as dusk  was arriving — I won’t say as the sun was setting because I don’t think there was any that day — I was driving home and caught a neat view of my town, our still-lit tree and our one year-round restaurant.

When I got into the house, I put the ice cream in the freezer, fed the cat, got the camera, and despite the 2 degrees and dropping temperature, got the photo.

One of the great things about getting outside — besides the fresh air and exercise — is coming back home to a cozy couch, hot chocolate (or ice cream!) and a night of binge-watching “Disappeared” on ID as the wind howls outside.
Maine is beautiful year-round and I love it.
So, the takeaway is, don’t hate winter in Maine, embrace it!

Sandy Neily here:  The woods and fields are full of tracks  and scat messages. (Kids love scat clues.) How do you snowshoe? I tell folks, wear warm boots, walk a bit wider and use poles for balance.  In March, there will be hooting owls!  Track Finder and Scats and Tracks are my favorite guides: small, easy to carry, and easy to understand. Last week, using my Track Finder, I solved a mystery where large fluffy tracks disappeared at the edge of the woods. Lynx! Jumping up into a tree. How cool is that? 

Skidompha Used Books Store

Indoor treat! Down a back street in Damariscotta, you’ll find an amazing second hand book store. (But most of them are good for cabin fever or no fever at all.) This one is worth hours of browsing or setting up one’s computer for some closeted work. Its large windows hang over the tidal comings and goings of the river. It’s light and airy, has a fabulous carpeted kids’ section, a riverside alcove with bird guides and binoculars, and room to spread out and work. Oh, and a cozy fireplace with well placed chairs.

Brenda Buchanan:  As my colleagues say, the secret is getting outdoors. I agree with Maureen and Sandra that snowshoeing is terrific, but as readers of this blog know, I live near some of Maine’s sandy beaches and they are a particular magnet in the winter. There is something elemental and wonderful about the beach in winter, especially when the wind is howling and the incoming tide is rushing up the beach. Whether it’s 20 degrees or 5 below, whether the air wouldn’t lift a kite or 40 mph gusts make it a slow walk in one direction and an exceedingly quick one in the other, I’m at home on the beach in the winter, especially on Sunday afternoons.  As Bruce says about his winter hikes, there are no tourists, no entry fee and it’s easy-peasy to find a parking space.

I often take Kate’s advice and have a nice, hearty soup or stew simmering when we get home. Like Kathy and Susan I always have a book (or several) at hand to transport me to another place when night falls.

And when it gets really bad, I imagine it’s August and we’re in Brooklin, hiking on a sweltering afternoon, slapping away mosquitoes, pouring sweat. At the end of the trail, we reach the cove and dive into the bracing ocean water. The thought of that sublime sensation cures cabin fever every time.

 

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From A Maine Bookseller’s Perspective

Posted on January 30, 2019 by mainecrimewriters

Paula Keeney, co-owner of Mainely Murders Bookstore in Kennebunk, is a strong supporter of Maine Crime Writers. She occasionally weighs in from her vantage point of bookseller.

“This bookstore is my dream job.” We hear it—or some variety of that—almost every day. But, we never grow tired of it.

A bookstore devoted exclusively to whodunits, thrillers, cozies, and the like. Wall-to-wall img_7031mysteries. Most of them used. Some first-time customers—we get lots of those during the summer months—are convinced that we “invented” the mystery bookstore and that we must be the only one. Needless to say, we didn’t and we’re not.

After eight years, we’re used to questions like that. And, “Have you read every book in here?” (No, our total inventory is about 10,000 books, with some 3,500 on the shelves at any one time. But, between the two of us, we’ve probably read most authors because our tastes are very different.) “How long have you been reading mysteries?” (Between us, we total about 125 years of mystery reading. But, no, neither of us is quite that old.)

Some people look into the shop and say, “These can’t all be Maine mysteries?” No, they’re not, but at Mainely Murders, we love books by Maine crime writers. Indeed, that’s why we give them a place just inside our front door—and unusually for us, stock many of them as new books.

It’s why we make every attempt to keep their backlists on the shelves, along with series chronologies. And, it’s why we host them at store events.

But, most important of all, we think, is how much time we spend talking with our customers about Maine writers. We can do that, first, because we personally know many of them. And, we read their books.

In the bookstore vernacular, it’s called “hand selling.” It refers to taking the time (and energy) to personally introduce customers to new (to them) authors and titles. But, we don’t do this alone.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve listened to one customer telling another about why she enjoys Barb Ross’ Maine Clambake series, why she thinks this customer would also enjoy them, and, oh, by the way, she met Barb at a Mainely Murders event and “She’s really great.”

That new customer, from somewhere in West Virginia, leaves the shop with all six Maine Clambake titles, and promises from us that we’ll send her the next one as soon as available.

A little while later, I look over to see one of our local customers explaining to a friend why Lea Wait is one of her favorite Maine authors. “I got hooked on her series about an antique prints dealer. When she started her Mainely Needlepoint mysteries, I was all over it.”

The next day, a customer wants to know if “that Portland cop” has written anything new. When I point to Bruce Coffin’s Among the Shadows and Beneath the Depths and he confirms he’s read those, I let him know that Beyond the Truth, the third in the series, is due out soon. (Note: it’s now out!) Oh, and by the way I tell him, we’ll be hosting Bruce for a reading and signing at the Kennebunk Free Library.

Not one to leave empty handed—we rarely see that—this customer decides, with only a little urging, to check out another Portland police detective, Kate Flora’s Joe Burgess. (Two weeks later, he’s back to get the next book in the series.)

img_7032Speaking of Kate Flora, another Maine author who’s been our guest, her Thea Kozak series, which debuted in 1994 with Chosen for Death, has always been a steady seller for us. That’s why we try to keep her earlier books in stock. (And because we like her and she’s been a generous friend to Mainely Murders.) Now, we can tell her readers that Thea has returned in her 9th title, Schooled in Death.

And, these are just a few examples.

We also encourage readers to check out this very Maine Crime Writers blog. What better way to learn about Maine authors? That and becoming our customers.

Note: Maine Murders Bookstore (www.mainelymurders.com and info@mainelymurders.com) is located at 1 Bourne Street, steps off Main Street in downtown Kennebunk. It’s open Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a break from January until May.

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A Day The Music Died

Posted on January 29, 2019 by bereksennebec

Make no bones about it. This guy was cool!

The Day the Music Died

John Clark celebrating by sharing the life of one amazing guy. I’m not sure about where I first met BeBop. I suspect it was at a meeting on Sunday night in Gardiner, but I really didn’t get to know him well until we moved to Hartland in 2003. After that, he was a frequent reminder that recovery really does translate to “Happy, Joyous and Free.” When Bob shared his experience, strength and hope with others, he had a strong and expressive voice, one that I’m hearing in my head as I write this. His cadence was such that you paid an extra bit of attention, even though you often knew what was coming next. One of his trademarks was building to what the uninitiated thought would be a bit of profanity, then he’d pause and morph it smoothly into something much cleaner, but you got the point.

BeBop wasn’t perfect, but he had thirty years of working on himself to be better and it showed. One of my most recent exchanges took place a couple months ago. I’d spotted a request for proposals in the Bangor Daily News from the Penobscot Job Corps. Included was one asking for DJ services, so I cut out the ad and gave it to him. When I asked him later whether he’d heard anything, he frowned and said no response had been forthcoming. Too bad. Bob had a way of pulling kids (hell, adults as well) out of their shells and gertting them to feel good about themselves. He would have been perfect for this gig.

While he was a stalwart in the recovery community and an excellent chiropractor, it was his love of music and incredible memory for who wrote/performed/covered what, that I found most intriguing. A year ago, I took my neighbor Larry to get an adjustment. While Larry was no slouch when it came to music trivia, I sat in quiet amazement while he and BeBop had a 45 minute conversation about songs and performers after the treatment. Bet your healthcare provider never offered a similar service.

Bob’s love of music and giving to others blended perfectly through his DJ services. Need someone to do music for your wedding? No problem. Likewise for birthday parties, anniversaries, you name it. Whenever there was a recovery themed dance or gathering, you could expect Bob and his equipment to be there and very seldom did he ask for, or expect payment. He was a fixture on Labor Day for the all day recovery picnics at Lake St. George in Skowhegan. When someone requested a song, 99 times out of a hundred, Bob not only could pull it up and play it, he could tell you a bit of its history as well as who else had recorded it. He played for my retirement party at the library as well as at the end of summer reading celebration for the kids.

They make very few people like Bob and now the universe is one great guy short, but somewhere in heaven, BeBop is sipping coffee and talking music with Bo Diddly, Jimi Hendrix and Jerry Lee Lewis…And loving every minute of it.

I’ve copied part of his obituary, followed by three entries from his online guest book so you can know more about this man.

WATERVILLE – On Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, Dr. Robert Adrien Carignan, loving father, grandfather, and community cheer-bringer, passed away at the age of 74. Bob was born Aug. 31, 1944, in Lawrence, Mass., to Adrien and Edith (Berry) Carignan. Known by many names, “Dr. Bob”, “BeeBop Bob”, and “Beepa”, to name a few, he graduated Tenney High School in 1962, and shortly after, joined the United States Navy as a Corpsman. After leaving the Navy he entered Northern Essex Community College. Bob’s love of holistic medicine guided him to Palmer College of Chiropractic where he received a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in 1972.

He received several commendations for his chiropractic service including a Merit Award from Palmer College in 1972, an Ambassador Award from Palmer College in 1977, and he was Maine Chiropractor of the Year in 1984. He was a member of the Maine Chiropractic Association (MCA) and State Representative for both the International Chiropractic Association and the American Chiropractic Association. Bob was a member of the Maine Radiologic Technology Board of Examiners. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Knights of Columbus, and the Health Officer for both Hartland and St. Albans. In 2003, he received a Service Award in recognition for his energetic service to the MCA as “Mr. Entertainment” which merged his two passions of chiropractic and DJing.

Bob joined his love of nature, people, and health when he opened Hartland Family Chiropractic in 1974. If you knew him, you could appreciate his musical passion, which he pursued later in life. He opened BeeBop To Hip Hop DJ services and brought the joy of music to nursing homes, weddings, and family holidays. Many knew about his 30 year survival with alcoholism. In 2018, he received his 30 year chip; he was a true friend of Bill W.

“I walked into your office and you took one look at me and said, well…. your jaw is dislocated. I was in pain for a year and you fixed me. You were the best Dr. C ever! I will always remember you and your cute smile and very happy demeanor. You will be deeply missed by everyone Dr. C.

So saddened by the news of Bob’s passing.”

“Thoughts and prayers to Theresa, family, friends and patients of “Dr. Bob”. I’ve been a patient and friend of his for over 25 years. He always found time to fit me into his busy schedule when I’d call because I was in need of a good “snap, crackle, and pop” of my body. We’d laugh, talk and share our love of music during my visits with him. Between his DJ gigs, and my concerts, we had some wonderful chats about the tastes of music people had. I always felt better and my spirits were lifted after a visit with him. A big supporter of communities near and far. He will be missed by many for sure. Fly high and play music for the angels my friend. Till we meet again!!”

“Doc thank you for being you. I still can not figure how you made me talk when I did not have anything sensible to say (early on). Then later when I was all busted up you laughed at me and fixed me with a snap to get me in place. No more words, fare thee well, my friend.”

So many people have shared their thoughts on Bob’s passing that I’m including his Facebook page link for those who want to know more about this amazing man. https://www.facebook.com/bob.carignan.7

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Seven Months Post-Diagnosis … And I’m Still Here

Posted on January 28, 2019 by Lea Wait

Lea, With Her Own Hair And Happy 2019! Last summer I never thought I’d be saying or writing those words. In case anyone missed the excitement of my health issues, in mid-June of 2018 I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, metastasized. I wrote about it in a blog here . 

I didn’t include that my oncologist had told me I only had four to six weeks to live. But a month later I wrote about what it meant to know you had a short time to live. I’d updated my will and related legal documents after my husband, Bob, had died in April, so all that was in order. I signed a DNR and posted it on my refrigerator – what one does in Maine, and maybe other places.

In late July and early August my daughters all came to see me “to say good-bye.” Most of them choose silver, jewelry, paintings, etc., to “remember me by” and shipped them out. I donated books and reference materials to a museum in Maine, and to several libraries that had supported me over the years. A local used book store bought my collection of mystery books. Bob’s art supplies went to some family members and two Maine community art programs. I tossed out a lot of files, and, most important to me, I self-published two historical novels for young people that my current agent wasn’t interested in selling, and my previous publishers of books for young people didn’t want.

My daughter Liz, who’d been engaged for 16 years, even got married. I remember telling her to move her wedding date a week up, in case I didn’t make it longer. She was married August 9 in the front yard of my home in Maine.

 

My 4 daughters right after Liz’ wedding. From l-r, Caroline, Ali, Liz, and Becky.

It was a lovely and special day, and a tiny wedding. The wedding gown I’d bought for her 15 years ago still fit, and the groom ordered a tux from E-Bay — and it all worked. (I wrote a blog about it, of course!)

My next hope was that I’d see my two books — CONTRARY WINDS and FOR FREEDOM ALONE — in published form. I did. I bought a wig to wear to appearances, and even made a full-day school visit in September.

When I was still alive in October, my oncologist ordered more scans and — amazing! No; I wasn’t cured. But the cancerous lesions were gone from my liver, where they’d threatened an infection that would kill me quickly, and some pancreatic lesions were also gone. Clearly the doc hadn’t expected that to happen.

Liz was still with me. She got a job in a Maine supermarket and drove me to chemo appointments, did our laundry, and drove me crazy asking me how I was feeling and had It taken my pills? (Although that was all appreciated.) I made a few library appearances, and Skype visits. And in November, with transportation provided by fellow Maine Crime Writers Dick Cass and Bruce Coffin, I went to Crime Bake in Massachusetts and moderated a panel. My agent asked me which book I was going to finish next. (I have two under contract.) We decided on the next Mainely Needlepoint book — the ninth in the series.

Two of my other daughters decided to join me for Christmas “the way we celebrated when we were growing up.”  That meant I spent December using the strength I had to bake cookies and pies and muffins, and then had a party Christmas Eve and food Christmas Day. I didn’t get much writing done in December. But we had Christmas in Maine.

By New Year’s all of my daughter had returned to their homes. The editor of the Mainely Needlepoint series called to say the manuscript I was working on (THREAD AND BURIED) was scheduled for publication in October of 2019, the cover was done, and all other books scheduled to be published that day were in production. Could he have the manuscript by February 1? Optimistically, I took a deep breath and told him I’d try.

It took several days to take down Christmas decorations (a neighbor and his daughter took the tree out) and then I got to work. I wrote about 70 pages before I started to have pains — not pains connected to my pancreas or liver, though. I figured “no big deal,” although I was exhausted, couldn’t write more than a page or so, and started taking pain meds. After a few days of serious pain, I called my doctor, went in to see him, and was told I had a kidney infection. Messed up immune systems are part of this whole chemo deal.  So I went on heavy antibiotics, and rested more. (Couldn’t do much else.)  I lost almost 2 weeks of writing.

January 16, almost exactly seven moths after I’d been diagnosed, and having been off chemo for 6 weeks, I went back for more scans — and the results were the same as October. In other words — good. I was still dying, but the process was much slower than originally thought. I started chemo again. I also started acupuncture, to help with the neuropathy that was challenging my walking and typing.

So — I’m still here! My editor will not have my full manuscript February 1; he’s extended my deadline to March 1, or ASAP, and moved my publication date out. Frankly, he doesn’t have much choice. I’ve also started the process to self-publish my one remaining “finished but never published” manuscript: an adult mystery set in 1865 New York State, JUSTICE & MERCY. I hope it’ll be available in March. And my next Needlepoint mystery, THREAD ON ARRVAL, will ship April 30. It’s all set, and may be pre-ordered.

So, now you know all that’s been happening. And, the bottom line is still clear.

I’m still here. And, slowly but surely,  I’m writing on.

 

 

 

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Weekend Update: January 26-27

Posted on January 26, 2019 by kaitlynkathy

Next week at Maine Crime Writers, there will be posts by Lea Wait (Monday), John Clark (Tuesday) special guest Paula Kenney, co-owner of Mainely Murders Bookstore in Kennebunk (Wednesday) a group blog (Thursday), and Kaitlyn Dunnett/Kathy Lynn Emerson (Friday).

In the news department, here’s what’s happening with some of us who blog regularly at Maine Crime Writers:

from Kaitlyn Dunnett: from January 27 until March 3, the ebook of my Kilt at the Highland Games and other cozies by Kensington authors will be on sale for ninety-nine cents as part of Kensington’s “Escape the Cold with a Summer Read” promotion. This is the tenth book in the Liss MacCrimmon series set in Moosetookalook, Maine and is set (big surprise!) at a Scottish festival.

Lea Wait: Just a note to say I’ll be Skyping with a book club in New York States on January 30. This time of year, especially, it’s lovely to be able to visit with readers without worrying about travel, weather .. or even much time away from writing. So just a reminder that a Maine author could visit your book club or library or school via electronic means  — to talk possibilities, contact Kate Flora, as listed below.   

 

An invitation to readers of this blog: Do you have news relating to Maine, Crime, or Writing? We’d love to hear from you. Just comment below to share.

And a reminder: If your library, school, or organization is looking for a speaker, we are often available to talk about the writing process, research, where we get our ideas, and other mysteries of the business. Contact Kate Flora

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Writing, Maine, leaves and things, and the new sheriff in town

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Maureen Milliken

Last time I was here, I mentioned that a reader noted, with some irritation, how much “describing leaves and things” I do in my books.

Will there be more leaves and things at the State House now?

Like many Maine writers, crime or not, I figure if you’re going to write about Maine, you might as well describe it, leaves and all. I like to have rivers, real ones and fake ones, tumbling through my prose on the way to the Kennebec, have mountains looming close by or shining in the distance. I have lots of trees, so yeah, leaves, too, and all that stuff.

And you know what? It may become a thing.

This “leaves and things” business may burst through the flimsy bounds of Maine crime writing and actually become a part of regular everyday Maine conversation now that there’s a new sheriff in town who seems to like the leaves and things too.

I had the great pleasure earlier this month of covering our new governor, Janet Mills’ inauguration as a reporter for my day job. It was a lot of fun, with music and plenty of warm good feeling, despite the cold Maine night outside.

Don’t get nervous. This post isn’t about politics. It’s about leaves and things and Maine crime writing. I promise.

The Carrabassett River flows through some leaves and things in Franklin County.

Mills is from Franklin County, where my Bernie O’Dea mysteries are set, and one of the really fun things in her inauguration speech was the writer-like focus on setting. There was a big leaves and things vibe.

Here is some of what Mills said:

Many days I awake to see the mist rising from the Sandy River as it steers its course to the Kennebec, the winter’s breath unveiling a new day in my hometown, a new day in this state.

Then I hear the familiar sounds of chickadees, church chimes and Jake brakes.

This is home in Maine.

The Sandy River pours out of Rangeley Lake, meanders through town, and gains momentum on its way to the Kennebec.

There it joins other tributaries to become a powerful waterway, a loud home to eagles and salmon, stripers and sturgeon, on its course to Merrymeeting Bay.

The Sandy River connects my town to those up and downstream.

We become one with the rest of Maine, linked by water, woods, and land.

Former Governor Joshua Chamberlain described this link back in 1876:

“This great and wide sea…these beaches and bays and harbors…these things invite the brave, the noble…Thought comes here and dwells…They will love the land, and the land will give back strength.”

The Wabanaki people know this bond. Their wisdom was passed along by people like Joseph Attean, legendary Governor of the Penobscot nation, a brave, open-hearted and forbearing individual, who guided Henry David Thoreau in his first moose hunt, through the vast and primitive wilderness to Chesuncook Lake.

The plaque that overlooks Attean Lake — named for [Joseph] – reads,

“Rise free from care, before the dawn, and seek adventure.”

Today we rise, a new day before us, and seek adventure.

That was near the beginning. Later on, she went back to it as she wrapped things up:

Maine is our home. We are connected by the rivers and the land, the forests and the mountains.

We are strengthened by our connections.

We are one Maine, undivided, one family from Calais to Bethel, from York to Fort Kent.

We meet this evening, free from care, the heirs of Joseph Attean, Joshua Chamberlain, Fly Rod Crosby and Israel Washburn.

Tomorrow we rise before the dawn — like the mist over the Sandy River — and seek adventure, with hope in our hearts and love in our souls for the brand-new day.

Cordelia “Fly Rod” Crosby, by the way, from Phillips, in Franklin County, was the first registered Maine Guide, in 1897, and Mills quoted her as saying, “I would rather fish any day than go to heaven.”

Mills also gave a shout-out to Stephen King, and quoted Kurt Vonnegut.

Janet Mills, attorney general at the time, speaks at the 2017 Crime Wave.

Astute crime writers and fans may remember Mills, attorney general at the time, gave a wildly entertaining speech at the 2017 Crime Wave mystery writing conference.

We knew then — didn’t we? — that she was one of us.

Mills, at both her inauguration and in speeches since, closes with “Welcome home.”

This isn’t about politics, it’s about leaves and things, and living and working as a Maine crime writer in the great state of Maine — right back at ya, Governor Mills.

 

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Are Maine Winters Murder? Try Some Of This Stuff!

Posted on January 23, 2019 by Sandra Neily

Sandy Neily sharing  here. (And there will be more good winter stuff; look for a special Maine Crime Writers “Cabin Fever” post, January 30th.)

My deck, daylight. Before the plow …

It was late.  The snow was still falling furiously and I was still typing furiously, finally getting down a scene where my narrator Patton and her dog Pock face death. (Deadly Turn is due out in 2019). Snowplows rumbled on roads across the cove, swinging their lights back and forth over my desk. I typed on in Patton’s voice:

*******

“ ‘Don’t look,’ I yelled at Pock, dragging him up the rock. ‘Don’t look at the bad thing. Just don’t look!’

I couldn’t resist a peek. Instantly I wished I’d never seen that perfect wave in The Perfect Storm.  The wave swallowing the top of the rapids seem to hang in the air—heavy with pulsing weight. Then without breaking, it rolled downriver like a giant, white fist aimed at us. I dropped to the rock and wrapped one hand around the iron ring and another around Pock’s collar, twisting it tight so it wouldn’t slip off. I took a deep breath and curved my back into what was coming.”

*******

And then I stopped typing. Snow slapped my windows in a white wave so hard panes rattled and pictures fell off the sills. I opened the door to see what the plow had done.

Raven and I considered the chest-high wall of snow left by the plow. (See the picture.)

“You really need to pee before bed?” I asked.

She wagged, cocked her head, and jingled her collar. What do YOU think?

Unable to contemplate shoveling with pajama pants on, I simply yelled and charged the snow wall. On my back in the driveway, I had a clear view of Raven calmly stepping over me, squatting, and then climbing back over me into the house.

The next morning, (January 21, 2019) I realized the storm had been a “where-the-hell-is-the-car” storm. My Subaru was completely buried. After I found it, dug it out, and moved it, a car-sized snow angel outline decorated the stone wall. (See the picture: car outline.)

Yes, winter. It’s often a big deal.

So just to remind myself and our readers that there’s great reasons to savor Maine winters, here’s a list of winter things to do.

Now Get Out There!

Go to Maine Public’s online calendar; it lists indoor and outdoor stuff to do all over the state. (Don’t forget the Boothbay Opera house. It’s often very affordable. Across the street is a small bakery run by a Vietnamese family. The wonton soup and dumplings are to die for and totally unexpected. Boothbay? Winter?

Here’s my favorite indoor day trip strategy. Because (for just a few dollars a month) I am an Evergreen Friend at Maine Public, I have a card good for all kinds of discounts all over the state. My husband and I use the two-for-one restaurant offers all the time. Next up, a trip Rockland to the Farnsworth Museum (two for the price of one) and Café Miranda (same deal). Funky décor; amazing food.

Skidompha Used Books Store

On the way home, we’ll stop at one of my favorite second hand books stores. Down a back street in Damariscotta, it hangs over the tidal comings and goings of the river. It’s light and airy, has a fabulous carpeted kids’ section, a riverside alcove with bird guides and binoculars, and room to explore or spread out and work. Oh, and the fireplace with cozy chairs.

Kate Furbish, “Trillium”

Then next time we’re off to the Bowdoin Art Museum (it’s free) and an Evergreen Friends two-for-one meal at the Frontier. I’ve wanted to see the famous Maine botanist Kate Furbish exhibit there. (Ends in February.)

Now for the outdoors! You might be surprised.

HURRY UP! This ends January 31. If you always wanted to learn to ski or snowboard, or set up a friend or relative to learn the slopes Sunday River is offering the deal of the year. For just $29, you get rentals, a nice, long lesson, and the rest of the day to practice with a lift ticket. (This would normally cost around $275 I think.) Later on, just go to the Ski Maine website and cruise around on member websites (both cross country and downhill) to find affordable mid-week and two-for deals, especially at smaller hills.

Winter Kids! This non-profit exists to get Maine kids and families outside in the winter. The Passport Program offers free and discounted access to outdoor activities in Maine for kids grade five through seven. For most skating rinks and downhill and Nordic areas, the passport nets a free youth ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. “Family Days” offer further discounts. With twenty-five percent of Passport holders new to winter sports, the program is truly bringing new people to the Maine outdoors.

Strap on a pair of snowshoes and walk around the woods and fields finding tracks  and scat. (Kids love scat clues.) How do you snowshoe? I tell folks, wear warm boots, just walk a bit wider and use some poles for balance. It’s sooooooo easy, feels great, and you’ll find wildlife all around you. In March, there will be hooting owls!  Track Finder and Scats and Tracks are my favorite guides: small, easy to carry, and easy to understand.  

Reid State Park: snowshoe or ski in, hike the beach out.

Maine State Parks and Public Lands site has information on groomed ski and snowshoe trails and some wonderful winter beach walking.  (I noticed Lily Bay State Park, Greenville is not listed and it has great groomed and signed trails.)

Both the Appalachian Mt. Club and Maine Huts and Trails have wonderful hut to hut or camp to camp ski packages with amazing meals. (AMC will take your gear from sporting camp to sporting camp.) I also hop on their groomed trails for day excursions.

Raven loves winter. Good idea. Let’s all get out there and rub it in!

Parks and Lands, AMC, and Huts and Trails sites are dog friendly. Clean up! Clean up!

*******

Raven and I waited for snowmobiles to pack down snow on Moosehead Lake before I put on my skis. Large fluffy tracks stalked the lake and then disappeared into the air near shore. A mystery! I thumbed through my Track Finder guide book. Lynx. Lynx jumping up a tree. Lynx in my backyard.

How cool is that?

Sandy’s novel “Deadly Trespass, A Mystery in Maine” won a Mystery Writers of America award and was a finalist in the Women’s Fiction Writers Association “Rising Star” contest. It’s at all Shermans Books and on Amazon. Find more info on the video trailer and Sandy’s website. “Deadly Turn” will be published in 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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POPULAR CRIME PAYS

Posted on January 23, 2019 by susanvaughan

Foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o’erwhelm them, to men’s eyes. (William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I, Scene 2)

Susan Vaughan here. My husband shakes his head at my fascination with the court news and crime articles in the local newspaper and online. Hey, it’s not lurid fascination, well maybe a little. It’s research, honey, I tell him. Murder, fraud, justice system machinations, street violence, missing persons, escaped convicts, celebrity shenanigans—all fodder for fiction. Still, he rolls his eyes.

So I was surprised when he gave me the book Popular Crime by Bill James. Applying liberal doses of meticulous research, humor, and insight, James chronicles the history of tabloid crime in America. The phenomenon of dramatic crime stories is not new, modern, or American. The rule “if it bleeds, it leads” has always been true.

Take the case of Lizzie Borden. On a morning in August, 1892, Lizzie’s father and stepmother were murdered in their home. A violent attack with an ax or hatchet that left blood everywhere. I’ve always assumed Lizzie was guilty, maybe because of the nasty children’s rhyme, but James sets out to prove her innocence. Given the tight time frame, he says she couldn’t have committed the crime, cleaned herself and disposed of bloody clothing, and disposed of the murder weapon. The evidence against her wasn’t enough to convict her, and the crime was never solved. The case is the subject of several movies, including one on the Lifetime channel starring Christine Ricci.

The Borden house is ranked #3 by Trip Advisor of sights to visit in Fall River, Massachusetts. It is now a bed and breakfast with a small museum about the murders and Miss Lisbeth Borden. The house is also on the agenda for ghost tours.

Here’s a murder that was infamous in 1900. Elderly recluse William Marsh Rice made a fortune in Houston and moved back East during the Civil War, to a New York City apartment. For years, his relatives had fought over what he should do with his money. An attorney hired by Rice’s ex-wife conspired with the butler—yes, the butler—to drain away the man’s fortune. Murder wasn’t their initial intent, but when another lawsuit threatened their plans, the butler killed Rice with a chloroform-soaked sponge and sent the body to be cremated. The men hurried to cash large checks forged with Rice’s signature but bank executives called police. Because the crematorium took 24 hours to heat, an autopsy could be performed and proved murder. None of the relatives received William Rice’s money. His will left his fortune to a private institute that today is known as Rice University.

Lizzie Borden’s story isn’t the only one to be turned into film. In 1906, architect Stanford White was murdered on the roof of the old Madison Square Garden, which he had designed. The murderer was a wealthy young man who had married White’s former lover. This was the most famous case of that era and resulted in more than one movie. The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955) starred Joan Collins and Ray Milland. Ragtime (1981), starred James Cagney and Mary Steenburgen, among others, and Norman Mailer played White.

Crime stories about prominent people seem unusual because of the motivations and power of those involved, but actually remain much the same regardless of time and place. Rather than explain much about culture, perhaps they tell us more about human nature. And perhaps that’s one reason writers like those of this group study and write about crime.

And maybe readers like them for the same reasons. Do you?

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