Dear reading friends,

Thanks to everyone who wrote to me after the last newsletter. I was happy to hear from each of you and treasure your honest feedback. We may not all agree on what’s right for our country and our people, but I do believe we all wish us well!

Do events in the world or the time of year change the kinds of books you’re reading? It turns out that this is really a trend, and it’s called healing fiction. The first time I noticed healing fiction was in a bookstore in Copenhagen last June. I bought one of these books for my sister for Christmas (thinking I’d read it first, of course). Then when this title was released: We’ll Prescribe You a Cat, how could I resist? But I’m also reading more lighthearted mysteries—Rhys Bowen’s We Three Queens is perfect—and light women’s fiction/rom-com like Laura Hankin’s One-Star Romance and Kristan Higgins' Look on the Bright Side. (Of course, the Key West mysteries fit into this category too…)

I’m excited to be working on the next Key West mystery—in fact I really like the opening scenes. Now it’s a matter of figuring out and writing the rest of it. You can read about that opening here.

Speaking of Key West books, three of the ebooks are on sale for $1.99 through December:

And the 15th book in the series, now called The Mango Murders, is up for preorder!

If you love reading Christmas-themed cozy mysteries, the women at Mystery Lovers Kitchen have written lots of them!

If you’ve stashed some turkey in the freezer after Thanksgiving, turkey and butternut squash pot pie is a great way to use it. It presents itself as a little bit fancy, but it doesn’t put on airs.

And finally, we’re just back from visiting our kids and grandkids—a grand time was had by all, plus we got to see the pandas!

I wish all of you a joyous holiday season, however you celebrate. I’m so grateful for you!

Lucy

PS If you happen to be in Key West this week, please come to our “Mysteries Under Moonlight” event in the garden at the Key West Library at 6 pm. I’ll be chatting with my wonderful writing pals Barbara Ross and Elise Hart Kipness.

Do you have a reading friend who might enjoy Lucy’s books? You can forward the newsletter below.