Dear Readers!
FREEBIE BELOW & LOTS OF NEWS
But first . . .
It's been a tough month for people living in Southern California. The fires have been so destructive and cruel. I am fine, but it was touch and go for a bit. My area was in the "set" zone, meaning get ready to vacate. After four warning phone calls, rather than hear the "go" order at 3 a.m., Sparky and I decided to leave, and we stayed with my stepson and his wonderful family for a few nights. Sparky was a tad upset by the move. See his story below.
We're back in our house, but my heart breaks for all the people who have suffered, many friends included. Donations are rolling in to help, but so many people are displaced. The mood is grim. The Santa Ana winds were the fiercest I've ever witnessed, and I've seen a lot! And California is as dry as it's ever been in my lifetime, despite the blessing of rain we got on Sunday.
Needless to say, I'm not as cheery as normal. I'm finding it harder to concentrate. I've written pages. I've turned in books. But I doubt any of them are my best work to date. Do not worry about me. This is not a pity party. I will rally. But when you ache for others, it's simply heart wrenching.
I find what becomes "important" during trauma fascinating. Memories. Images. Family. Friends. SPARKY. The rest, the material things, simply don't matter . . . as much. Maybe this will give me a well-needed reboot.
On a CHEERIER NOTE (see how I'm trying to rally?) my short story MURDER UNJUSTIFIED has been published in the Sisters in Crime Anthology, ANGEL CITY BEAT. I've been reading others in the anthology and am happy to say they are very good. You can pick up a copy HERE.
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You can purchase a kindle version for $5.99 here. https://amzn.to/3ZUjv0P In paper: https://amzn.to/3PirrEh
What’s it about? The City of Angels has a dark side. Hidden beneath its shiny surface are misdeeds, miscreants, and murderers. From Santa Monica's sandy beaches to Hollywood’s glitzy streets, from Boyle Heights to Holmby Hills to the dirt trails of the San Gabriel Mountains, there are so many tales to tell. So many people on the beat. The police detectives seeking justice. The reporters seeking truth. Writers who build beats into their movies and TV shows. And people who choose violence to beat others and come out on top. Angel City Beat is an anthology of stories that show life behind the plastic smiles of the rich and famous, the desperate pleas of the overlooked, and the promises of dreams forgotten. Angel City Beat is the beat of a city told by those who love her.
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A small reminder, the first in the Literary Dining Mysteries, MURDER ON THE PAGE, is out and earning lovely reviews. I hope you'll pick up a copy and tell a friend or librarian. A tuxedo cat named Darcy has a major role in the protagonist Allie's life.
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What's it about?
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a genuinely top-notch party must be in want of a theme. Allie Catt, caterer and personal chef in the beautiful mountain community of Asheville, North Carolina, has devised a winning formula by using her clients’ favorite books as inspiration. Her first themed event is based on Pride and Prejudice (Allie’s cat, Darcy, approves), and it’s so popular that soon she has grand ideas for future parties based on Rebecca, The Great Gatsby, Babette’s Feast and more.
Business is booming, and a rival catering company is fuming. But there’s a sting in the tale when the aunt of one of Allie’s clients and best friends, Tegan, is murdered. Tegan is the victim’s sole heir, and quickly becomes the main suspect. Allie has no doubts about her friend’s innocence, but how to prove it?
Once again, Allie’s love of literature comes to the rescue, and with some guidance from her favorite fictional detectives, including Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, Allie sifts through the clues. With a little luck—and the kind of pluck that would make Elizabeth Bennett proud—she may be able to stop a killer from serving up a second course of murder . . .
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Making me quite cheery is the knowledge that my new SERIES is coming in March, the Aroma Wellness Mysteries, set in Carmel-by-the-Sea. For those of you who loved the Fairy Garden Mysteries, this is a companion series. There will be a few familiar faces among the cast members.
Also in March, I will be doing a blog tour to drum up interest. I'll provide links when it's scheduled. I'll share recipes and inside the scenes sneak previews, plus there will be a few giveaways.
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What's it about?
Emma Brennan may have her head in a cloud of eucalyptus, but her feet are firmly planted on the ground in breathtaking Carmel, California, as she prepares to open her new spa business, Aroma Wellness. But all the reiki, shiatsu, and massage in the world can’t help her relax when she’s accused of murder . . .
Everything is going smoothly as Emma prepares for the grand opening of the spa. The therapy rooms are painted. The sales shop and café are stocked with meditative and delicious goodies, from essential oils to avocado masks and pricky pear massages. The fountain in the Courtyard of Peace is burbling with good vibrations. In fact, there isn’t a whiff of trouble until that morning when Emma is shocked to learn that a rival spa owner has been bludgeoned . . . with an item from the goodwill basket Emma gave her. Worse, a witness is pointing the finger at Emma . . .
With the police treating Emma like she’s the only suspect, and the town’s anti New Age anything posse
badmouthing her every step of the way, she’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Incensed by the accusation, but empowered by her cousin, her nana, and her trusted Birman cat, Vivi, Emma reviews the potpourri of possible suspects, determined to uncover the essence of foul play—before she’s cold-pressed for murder . . .
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FREEBIE FOR ALL E-READERS |
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I have a new freebie on my website. It's a novella. You can LISTEN to me read the first few pages on YouTube HERE. I'm not sure why the camera image below won't "populate" with the image on YouTube. Oh, yay, something NEW to learn. :)
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And download the novella if you're interested, HERE.
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I just finished Jenny Milchman's latest, The Usual Silence. Caution, this book is much darker than Jenny's typical suspense, involving a therapist, neurodivergent behavior, and more. But despite the darkness, it is thrilling.
Next up, I'll be listening to Krista Davis's latest Paws and Claws Mystery, The Wagtail Murder Club. I love this cast of characters. So much fun. Sparky and I want to visit Wagtail.
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In last month's email, I asked if you could solve a mystery in any setting, where would it be? It was a TIE between creepy old mansion and remote cabin. Many chose the city, but the other two were the big winners.
Therefore, I'm putting on my thinking cap because I might try writing a short story set in a creepy remote mansion in the woods. Best of both worlds, right?
This month's question:
👉 What's your favorite mystery plot twist that you didn't see coming?
Write me an email with your answer(s) to newsletter@darylwoodgerber.com
Subject line: Plot Twist
And I'll collect the data to share in next month's newsletter.
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I celebrated National Pie Day in January and played hooky from writing to bake a pie. Here's the recipe for a delicious blueberry pie. Light but satisfying. Easy to make.
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(Yield: 8 portions)
- 1 pre-made single pie crust (*may be gluten-free)
- Baking weights or raw rice
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 5 cups fresh blueberries, divided (frozen whole berries may be used)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Preheat oven to 425°. Line the flat part of the pie crust with a circle of foil and add either baking weights or about a half cup of raw rice. Bake pie crust in the middle of the oven until golden brown, 18–20 minutes. Remove the weights or rice and foil, and bake longer, about 3–6 minutes, until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt and cold water until smooth. Add 3 cups blueberries. Bring the berries to a boil. Cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly.
Remove the berries from the heat. Add the butter, lemon juice, and remaining 2 cups berries. Stir until the butter is melted. Pushing it toward the bottom of the mixture melts it faster.
Cool the mixture. Pour into the crust. Refrigerate until serving. May be served with whipped cream.
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From Sparky's personal journal: So the fires happened. Not to us. But we had to move and it sort of bummed me out. I mean, I had my bed, and Mom remembered to bring Bunny, but the whole vibe was different. We went to her stepson's and stayed in the guest house. The pullout bed didn't feel the same as at home. The food was the same, and Mom took me on a lot of walks, but I was sort of pookie, if I'm honest. I think she was, too, but she'll never admit that to me.
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That's it. That's all that is fit to print. May your joy come from reading. May your lives be filled with love. Until next time . . . all my best,
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