TEN PERKS OF BEING A WRITER By: Kimberly Thorn

The Top Ten Perks of Being a Writer 

10. Research means you have a great reason for spending countless hours wandering around on the internet.

9. You can travel to interesting places for research and count it as a business expense.

8. You get to learn some interesting and maybe strange things doing research for a story idea.

7. You get to be every character you write.

6. You know what is going to happen next.

5. Your characters must do what you say, or write.

4. You can make money for doing something you love.

3. You get amazing support from other writers.

2. You can take your frustrations out on real people in your life by killing their characters in your stories.

1. And they will NEVER know!            

SEXY AND SASSY SIGNING 2024 REVIEW- BY: Kimberly Thorn

 

Sexy and Sassy Signing -July 19, to July 21, 2024

The weekend of July 19, 2024, through Sunday, July 21, 2024, romance authors swept the City of Norfolk off of its feet.

It was the 8^th annual Sexy and Sassy Event where over 80 romance writers celebrated the ever growing billion-dollar industry by mingling with romance fans.  Each year there is a different theme, this year’s theme was Hot Hawaiian Nights.  The writers as well as fans pulled out all the stops this year especially.  They brought out their leis, flower clips for their hair, Hawaiian dresses and flip flops.  This writer learned that if you are single, the flower clip goes on the right side of your hair, but if you are taken, it gets clipped to your left side.  Dully noted!  Events included several socials, workshops, author panels, an Ohana brunch and a huge signing event.  Several vendors were there as well, including the new Chesapeake romance bookstore, Novel Grounds.

I attended with my sister for the first time, and we had a blast.  There were several local romance writers there who included Hunter J. Skye, Nan O’Berry, Jenna Jaxon, T.B. Bond, Dawn Ibanez, Allie Marie, A.R. Moler and the one who started the annual event, Amy Marie. 

My sister and I went for a couple of different reasons.  First, we went because we were curious as we had never been before.  As a matter of fact, I hadn’t heard about this even until early last year when I attended my first ever Chesapeake Romance Writers’ meeting.  The event planner Amy Marie was there speaking to the group about it and I had absolutely no clue about what they were talking about.  Thinking back to then boy was I a newbie or what?  Second, we went to help support not only some of my writer friends, but fellow local authors.  We enjoyed conversing with and getting to meet several new writers who included some of the following:

Kimberley O’Malley, who not only writes romances but also has a wonderful cozy mystery series that is a funny, quick read.

Sue Langford, who had tote bags with the cutest sayings on them.  I purchased four.  Of course, one for me that said book babe and one for each of the ladies at my work for their Christmas that I will fill up with goodies. 

Britt DeLaney, who writes para-normal and sci-fi romances.  She offered the wrapped blind date with a book but mixed it up a bit.  With her blind dates with a book, it wasn’t just one book you purchased, but the whole set.  What a great idea!

Sidonia Rose, who had her hubby working with her which I don’t know about you, but I find it absolutely adorable.  He seemed to be just as invested in not only her writing but her writing career as she is.  She writes sweet and young adult romances.  She also has some cute notebooks with funny sayings on the covers.  (I know, every writer’s dream and downfall.  Just what writers need, more notebooks!)

MaryAnn Jordan, who has several different romance series with some great covers.  Two books in her security agency series are my Christmas gifts from my sister.  If only I can wait until December 25^th to look at them…..I mean read them!

Third, well where else would a bookaholic spend their weekend?  Fourth, my sister went looking for not only her favorite romance author, Nancy Naigle but for Christmas gifts for those on her list that love reading.  I showed her last October at another author signing event about purchasing books directly from authors and having them sign them. She gave a few of those signed books as Christmas gifts last year to some family members and they absolutely LOVED them.  They even requested more.

While there were a few hiccups, overall, it was a fun event where we got to broaden our horizon on romance novels.  There were authors there that wrote everything from sweet romances to hot and steamy ones with all types in between, including fantasy and sci-fi.  The list of attending authors for next year has already started being posted.  If you don’t see your favorite one yet, never fear because the list will increase with interested authors as the time becomes closer.  It was a well-attended event, and it isn’t a stretch to say that I think that it will be even bigger next year.  If you’re interested, here is next year’s line up, so far.   

Save the date!  In the meantime, go get a romance of your choice, gave a refreshing cold drink, and go have your own Hot Hawaiian SASSY time!

YOU MIGHT BE A WRITER, IF . . . By KIMBERLY THORN

If you ever start out on Google or Bing researching a topic for your book but hours later you wound up watching talking dog videos on YouTube, you might be a writer.

 

If you have ever fallen asleep with a wonderful, fully plotted novel, but you wake up with you only remembering your dream of riding on a unicorn while saving the world from miniature robots, you might be a writer.

If you have had writer’s block for a week, but get into the shower and come up with that one scene that you’ve been working on for a week, you might be a writer.

 

If you keep a notebook and pencil by your bed to write great story ideas from dreams that you have had when you wake up at 3am, but can’t read your own writing, you might be a writer.

 

If you are working on a murder mystery and have to clear your search history because your scared you may be on the FBI watch list, you might be a writer.

If out in public you find yourself listening to peoples conversations and think to yourself, oh my goodness, that is so funny, that gives me a fantastic idea, you might be a writer.

 

If you are working on a story, only have three hours left in your deadline, debating with yourself if you should or should not submit it, you might be a writer.

 

 

 

IS THE PEN STILL MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD? AGATHA CHRISTIE PART 3: YOU DON’T KNOW AGATHA! BY KIMBERLY THORN

Happy New Year from all of us here at the Sand in Our Shorts blog!  We thank you for your continued support and wish you many blessings for 2024!

 

Up until now all of the information I have shared with you is from Lucy Worsley’s Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman.  Today I’m going to take you on a bit of an adventure.  Actually this adventure is going to be led by someone who is another huge Christie fan.  Today’s post will come from the BritBox special television series, Alan Carr’s Adventure with Agatha Christie.  In this three part series, Carr takes us on a true adventure learning more about Christie.  It should be on every Christie fan’s list of must watch.  While I will not give all of the surprises away, I will share with you some of the top most fascinating things that I learned in this wonderful series.  Won’t you come along with Alan Carr and me to learn some shocking things about Christie!

 

Itinerary #1.    The British Museum 

Wait, what?  Why are we stoping here for Christie?  I’m ever so glad that you asked.  Christie’s second husband, Max was an archeologist.  Ok, I know what you’re thinking.  Yeah, you knew that, right?  But did you know that while Agatha was with Max at his work, that “Christie is very connected to the early days of British archeology,” said Rakesha Dave, British Museum archeologist.  Yes, it is true, I was surprised to learn that Christie has ‘a gallery of objects that she, herself, conserved and found,’ Dave continued.  

 

Dave explained that ‘Christie was very intrigued by the conservation process.’  In fact Dave points out in the gallery that there are two pieces of ivory, one light and one darker in pigment.  Dave advises that the one that is darker is because Christie used her own face cream to clean it which left it darker in appearance than the one next to it.

 

Itinerary #2.    Barts Pathology Museum

Come on in, don’t be afraid. 

 

This pathology museum holds over 5000 specimens of the human bodies used for medical teaching. Sadly, it includes many specimens from victims of violent crimes.  The reason we are here is because Carr introduces us to Carla Valentine who is an author, and a qualified Anatomical Pathology Technologist.  It also happens that she is another huge fan of Agatha Christie. It is here with her pathology work that Valentine realizes the depth of Christie’s knowledge of pathology by her continued contributions.

 

“She’s contributed to the forensic landscape as we know it today.  She’s the person that coined the phrase the ‘scene of the crime’ before anybody else ever used it. She even invented a crime scene examiners kit and she gave it to Hercule Poirot in The Mysterious Affair at Styles.  It didn’t even get invented in real life until 1924.  So she was way ahead of the curve with that,” Carla Valentine explains.

  

Conclusion

I hope that you have enjoyed this short exploration of some interesting and I think, little known facts about Christie.  I have left it short for two reasons.  One, I don’t want to give you too many spoilers. You need to watch Alan Carr’s Adventures with Agatha Christie.  Please do and tell me what you think.  The second reason is that I’m still not feeling 100% well.  Anyways, take care and best wishes for a wonderful new year! 

 

IS THE PEN STILL MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD? LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! Agatha Christie- Part 1- Intro By: Kimberly Thorn

No not that Queen! But the Queen of Mystery, Agatha Christie! What self-respecting mystery writer (or reader) doesn’t acknowledge the Queen of Mystery? No one! She did many great things during her prolific life. For example, she is the third bestselling author of all time, with the Bible and Shakespeare earning the first two spots! That, in and of itself, is a major accomplishment, especially considering she was a woman. Another Christie accomplishment is that she is the most popular playwright! She has had more of her plays performed than anyone else! Although, you may be surprised to know that she contributed so much more than just her writing to the world! And that her contributions are still being enjoyed by the current generation and will be around for future ones.          

First things, first though. There is an elephant in the room that I’d like to address.

 

I am sure that some have heard the big debate that has happened over the last few months involving Christie and her works. There are some that think that Christie’s work is out of date and that it contains offensive language. That her stories need to be “softened.” They also have called her true character and purpose into question. Others vehemently disagree, saying that her original works should be left alone. That she wrote what she wrote on purpose. That her works showed ALL areas of life honestly: it was the good, the bad, and she even represented the ugly. That it tells of another time, but that it CAN still be relevant today, if we are careful.

No matter which side you are on, this debate has caused Christie fans not only to be in an uproar but it also has caused much damage within the Christie community itself. What was once a very diverse set of people, from literally all over the world, who were only first unified by their love for Christie’s contributions has resulted in a major division. Some fans have left groups because of this division.  As a huge Christie fan, this is my first and foremost reason for delving more into Christie, right now. I had intended to wait and reveal another author, but I feel too strongly about this matter to wait any longer. While I enjoy a healthy debate, I am heartbroken at the anger and discord that this debate has caused within an otherwise once loving and acceptable community of her fans.  Although Christie cannot defend herself nor can she answer our questions, I am learning about her to find out the answers to our questions. Or at the very least, to seek answers to ease the tension and create a healthy debate. Do we fellow Christie fans not owe it to her, as well as ourselves, to find the truth (or at least attempt to find the truth)? Personally, I think Christie would want more from us as fans. Let’s face it, Poirot and Miss Marple would seek to find the truth and not wrongly accuse someone of anything without those facts.  I hope you will join me on this Christie adventure!   

Some of the questions I will seek answers to in the following weeks are as follows:

 

How much do we actually know about her: specifically, her life and her writing?

What motivated her to write? Especially what she wrote?

Did she write what she wrote from experience, prejudices, etc?

How did she influence the mystery genre?

Why is she considered the “Queen of Mystery”?

How did she help change the roles of women in the early 19^th century?

Is it true that poison was her favorite means of murder and if so, why?

What are the “Christie clues”?

Do you think you know the answers to these questions? Or, do you have your own questions that you just absolutely HAVE to have the answer to? Did I miss asking a major question in this debate? Drop me a comment and let me know. If I can answer your question, I certainly will!