An Unexpected Accessory: And a Giveaway

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by Barb, just back from a beautiful week at the Jersey shore and headed back to Maine

I love it when serendipity happens. Don’t you?

Back in July, Liz Mugavero started a Wicked Wednesday thread here on the blog titled, “What’s in your Character’s Purse?”

totebagI really liked the question, because it was one of those things I had thought about without thinking about it, you know? The question of what my main character Julia Snowden would use as a purse had come up in Clammed Up, the first book in the series. I decided Julia would throw the things she had to carry around with her in an old Snowden Family Clambake tote bag. Julia’s mother Jacqueline had run the gift shop at the clambake for many years, and it seemed natural the shop would offer such a thing.

I thought it would be fun if there was a picture of the tote bag for the blog. So I went on a site that offered custom printed bags and I designed one. Just for the photo, for the blog, mind you. I wasn’t going to order any. I didn’t even price them.

goodiebagsWhy did I know where to find such a thing, you ask? Because for my daughter’s wedding the welcome bags were little, tiny L.L. Bean-style tote bags, which felt appropriate to Maine.

But Liz hadn’t just asked what the character’s purse was, she’d asked what was IN the purse. That gave me pause. I have always been a purse minimalist. When my kids were young, I used to joke, “I am the mother who never carries tissues.” Or Bandaids. Or chapstick. Or photos of her kids.

I think this is because I am an accessories minimalist generally. I have enough trouble keeping track of the essentials, believe me. When I was in seventh grade, the first year I carried a purse to school, everyday the period after my study hall there was an announcement on the PA. “Barbara Ross, please come to the office.” And then I would realize I’d left my handbag hanging off the back of a chair in the auditorium. Every. Single. Day. My husband would tell you this behavior now extends to my reading glasses, my car keys and my phone. He would be exaggerating when he said this. But not very much.

Over the course of the series, Julia has carried some mundane things in the tote bag, like Snowden Family Clambake brochures (Clammed Up) or her mother’s mail, fetched from the post office (Iced Under). She’s also carried some mystery clues, like a copy of an old photo and an insurance report (Fogged Inn) or a priceless diamond necklace (Iced Under).

But what does Julia carry everyday? I decided she was a little less minimalist than me, and gave her “a nylon wallet, sunblock or chapstick depending on the season, a bundle of covered rubber bands to pull back her hair if she’s on a boat or around food prep, and her smartphone, which works pretty well in Maine, except where it doesn’t.” Not a lot of stuff really. I can also imagine a paperback book and a toothbrush and toothpaste in a plastic holder, a hairbrush, business cards, pens and a small notebook.

toteandeggnogAfter I designed that tote bag for the blog, I couldn’t get it out of my head. So I decided to order some for real to use for contests and such.

So that’s what I’m offering, dear readers. If you comment on this blog post before noon on September 1, you’ll be entered in a contest to win your very own Snowden Family Clambake tote, along with an Advanced Reader Copy of Eggnog Murder, the collection of three holiday novellas by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and me to be published October 25th.

Good luck!

 

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Published by Barbara Ross

Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com

214 Thoughts

  2. Love the Maine Clambake series. Can’t wait for the next one! I also love the tote bag! I always buy large purses because not only do I carry my wallet, checkbook, keys, etc., but my husband picks up all kinds of brochures and maps and hands them to me to “hold onto to”. My purse always weighs a ton! Maybe I should carry a tote bag instead of a purse!

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      1. Wow I love this idea of what’s in your characters purse tag I hope more authors participate in this tag it would be neat to see what other characters would carry in her purse. As for me if nothing else I always carry a PB Book😀 Thanks for a chance to win this giveaway.

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  4. I love tote bags. Sometimes I think I’d rather have those than a purse. Of course one can never have too many books.

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  5. Fun post and great giveaway! Someone is going to be very happy. And awesome idea for your daughters wedding! I guarantee no one was unhappy with their mini tote bags! I’m in desperate need of a new bag to carry to work. My current bag is getting holes and I would hate to have a cozy slip through and get lost! So my fingers are crossed! Thanks Barb!

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  7. What a wonderful give away. The lucky winner will get lots of comments about their new tote bag and where they got it. A good opportunity to talk about mysteries and favorite authors.

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  9. I automatically pre order every book in this series as soon as they come out . It’s my go to series and I tell everyone I know they need to read them ! Love the tote , and I have pre ordered the book on B&N , so if I win I will gift the book to my daughter 😊 kathambre@yahoo.com

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  10. I usually carry a small bag but my daughter keeps giving me giant ones. I’ve taken to naming them because they need their own chair at a table, etc. Everyone is in for a treat with the novella and the upcoming Iced Under!

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    2. That is so funny and true! You don’t want your bag on the floor and it might as well be another person at the table when it’s so large it can be seen over the table! Can we please get a post in the near future meeting your various named bags?!?

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      1. What a great idea, Bec! I could do a progression of sizes, too! I keep waiting for an airline to tell me it needs it’s own ticket or that I’m going to have to check it at the gate!

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  11. First, I love your daughter’s welcome bags for her wedding. Adorable! Second, I’m a big bag kinda gal. I carry a wallet, planner, book, iPad, lint sheets, cosmetics, etc. But honestly, I love all bags. Never enough.

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  13. I have all the Snowden classics and am looking forward to Eggnog Murder. Looking forward to a very long running series!

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  14. I love the tote bag. I carry a backpack with both my kid’s junk, and mine. I have always needed a big purse or bag.

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  15. Oooh this looks great! Hmm not sure if I would be able to win as I am in the UK, but just in case count me in! (Tote bags are great for carrying craft stuff and books!) Hmm I guess you need my email address dragonsteeluk @ gmail . com (no spaces)

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  16. Carrying a tote bag is a wonderful way to have things you need in one central item. I always carry a small bottle of lotion since my son’s hands get irritated and itch, so a little lotion eases it. A book or my kindle is always a necessity since I don’t like to be idle. Tote bags are also a great source to store my beading books and magazines too. robeader53@yahoo.com

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  19. It is true you never have enough tote bags. I use them for the library, shopping, groceries, etc. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  20. Love your Clambake series, I even have you as a pre-order at my local bookstore. I also love Leslie Meier’ series, I am a scrapbooker and cardmaker along with reading a book a day, so I always have something to carry and a Snowden’s bag would be a great conversation piece for all my friends who love Maine also. Thank you for the opportunity to win this great prize

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  23. My son-in-law is from Maine, and he gave us L.L.Bean tote bags our first Christmas together. It is my library bag and holds lots of books for my frequent library trips.

    Barb, your post gave me food for thought. My main character carries a tote bag, which I refer to occasionally. It suddenly occurred to me to give it some character–kind of like “What’s on your tote bag.” Thanks for the tip.

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  24. That is such a cute tote! My purse has so many essentials it’s ridiculous. Obviously my phone is essential, along with my wallet, but also hand sanitizer, lotion (to keep the sanitizer from drying out my skin), cuticle oil for the same reason, a manicure kit, sea-bands (for motion sickness and migraine nausea), small container of OTC meds, a small first aid kit with all the bandaging switched to latex free, pens/pencils, hair ties, lip balm, and my prescription sunglasses.

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  25. I am a large purse person as well as someone who ALSO carries a tote as well. My purse has all the usual stuff including some medical things that may be needed while out and those take up a lot of space. The tote by is for a book, a bottle of water and many times paperwork for an appointment. Being a grand mother means I also keep candy and gum and other wrapped treats with me all the time. AND a bottle of hand sanitizer and my personal fan on a cord for hot and stuffy waiting rooms or restaurants. So my need for totes is quite clear and it would be great to have one of yours Barbara. Being a New Englander I have loved your series so much and will be looking forward to reading the next release by all three of you talented writers. Thank you for so much reading pleasure over the years.
    Cynthia B in Massachusets

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    1. Thanks, Cynthia. A bottle of water. Also important. Maybe now that I am a grandmother I will start carrying more–nah, not going to happen, I don’t think.

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  26. I love all the great uniqueness all the comfy mystery writers has. Makes for non stop great reading!

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  28. I love the tote bag. I’m always taking a tote bag with my book and other things with me wherever I go. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  32. I love tote bags. I usually carry a tote bag and a purse with me. I love the tote and I am so looking forward to the release of Eggnog Murder. That tote would be perfect for me to take back and forth to work at the library. 🙂

    brookeb811 at gmail.com

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  33. I am definitely a big purse carrier. I have my wallet, keys, bookmarks, a book, a ruler, a notebook, a few dog bisquits in a bag, hair bands, needle and thread, safety pins, and whatever my husband hands me to throw in there. Oh and enough change to probably knock someone out with! Then of course the bottom is usually the land of receipts that I forget to throw away!

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  35. I love that something as simple as a tote bag has come to be so significant. What a cute one, Too! Congrats on another great book!

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  36. That is an interesting idea, to try and picture what kind of purse a character you created would carry around and what would they have inside. All those little details really bring a character and their world to life. Thank you for this wonderful blog.

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  37. In keeping with the theme that one can’t have too many totes, I currently circulate three on a very regular basis. One for work (lunch, daily newspaper, odds and ends depending on the season) and one each for the two choirs I sing with (music, pencils, tissues). Then there are the specialty totes – used to have one for crew watching weekends, when my oldest daughter rowed, the portable cross stitch projects tote, knitting project tote, library book tote.

    More importantly, I love the series and would love to get my hands on the ARC! In any case, I look forward to reading the latest, and hope to continue the Julia Snowden adventure for a long number of years!

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  39. I love that bag! I am a huge fan of anything sea-themed. I also can’t wait to read the book. Thanks for the contest!

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  40. Barb, I’m looking forward to Eggnog Murder — I love Christmas reads! I’ve left my purse so many places I rarely carry one anymore. Often when we go out I hand my driver’s license and lipstick to hubs to put in his pocket. I keep a couple of essentials in the glove box. And I use his smart phone to check e-mail and FB!

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  42. The bigger the purse the more stuff I think I need in it. Small purse requires a tote bag accessory.

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  43. I love the tote bag. I start out with a small purse because I think I don’t really need a lot of stuff. After a few months, I go to a bigger purse because I don’t have room for everything I “need”…then the vicious cycle of small to large to small begins! 😄 I love Julia and her family and can’t wait for the new book.

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  45. Love your books & totes come in handy to carry books & all sorts of other things in it. Thanks for this generous chance.

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  46. How awesome! Love totes and what might come inside them! Thanks for the chance to win the awesome Clambake Tote.

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  47. I hear my mother’s voice asking a 40 year old if I’d learned to carry a purse yet? 🙂 I find myself carrying an emery board and sometimes, nail clippers these days. All the best with a continuing writing career!

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  48. I make sure that there is room for a paperback when I get a new purse. You never know when you will have to stand in a line somewhere.

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  49. Love this!!! Everybody needs a lobster tote to carry an exciting Maine novel and a cozy sweater to curl up with 🙂

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  50. It’s crazy how much stuff we carry with us. I don’t think I could live without tote bags. You can never have too many totes. Living in New England, we love clambakes and I love the clambake tote. Love the Clambake series and can’t wait for Eggnog Murder!

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