Hi All–
You may have noticed a difference in the Wickeds’ blog post today. We’re rolling out a new look and feel, along with some new branding.
At the Wickeds’ retreat this spring, we decided it was time to refresh the blog site. It’s been more than five years since we put the original site together–thirty-five years in Internet years, which everyone knows are equivalent to dog years. We wanted to clean up, paint up, fix up. To update and renew.
At the same time, we wanted to slightly change our branding. In the beginning, we chose Wicked Cozy Authors because we were all writing cozy mysteries set in New England. Since then, here at Wicked Authors Partners, Ltd, LLC, New England, United States, Earth, the Universe, etc., we’ve continued to grow and expand. We’re writing books set in southern Indiana, England between the wars, and (soon to come) the Emerald Coast of Florida. We’ve authored historical mysteries, paranormal historical mysteries, and mysteries that edge toward traditional. Three upcoming series have been announced, (by Edith here, Sherry here, and Julie here) and there are more announcements in the offing.
We believe all our books, published and in the pipeline, are comfortable reads for ninety-nine percent of people who read cozy mysteries. Nonetheless, our branding had begun to chafe a little, like a much-loved and much-worn pair of shoes that begins to pinch.
So now we are “The Wickeds.” We kept that part of the name because that’s what everyone calls us and it’s how we refer to ourselves–and because it’s such a wicked awesome New England term for “really great.” We’ve updated our tagline to “Wicked Good Mysteries,” to describe who we are and what we do.
We kept the purple color that has been a part of our branding from the beginning, but updated it. Did you know Pantone Ultra Violet is the color of the year for 2018? We didn’t either, but let’s face it, we are so trendy. We’ve added a couple of other highlighting colors because in the past we’ve often wished we had more options for designing things. We kept the photo of the six of us, clowning around, because it makes us happy.
You can still see our sidebar by clicking the three dots at the top right. And you can get to our About page through the menu at the top left.
We decided we wanted to roll our updated look out in time to have newly branded swag for Bouchercon, the big mystery convention where Sherry, Julie, and Barb will be hanging out next week.
So that’s what’s up with us. We hope you like the new design and find it easy to navigate.
[Edith chiming in for the rest of us with a huge Thank You to Barb for doing all the makeover work! She spent a lot of time to redesign the blog and then tweak it to make it work. We owe ya, Barb.]
Readers: Let us know what you think! The good thing about digital stuff is we can still tweak even though it’s been rolled out. We’re happy to get feedback from the most important part of the blog–all of you.
Whatever keeps you gals (and guy[s?]) happy is fine with me
Thanks, Barbara!
I love the new look and name! And can’t wait to see you all at Bouchercon!
Thanks, Annette. Alas only half of us will be in St Pete’s and it doesn’t include me.
Love the new brand and love the Wickeds!
Thank you, Brenda!
I love it! Great colour, great name, great blog, and — most importantly — great books!
🙂
Thank you!
Love love love the new look!
Thanks, Susan. We do, too!
Great move! So impressed that you are keeping the Wicked brand fresh. One would almost think someone(s) on the team had some experience with this branding stuff in a previous life. Good job!
Right? Glad you like the makeover, Marian.
Things change – you and we grow.
That’s life! (and mysteries).
You bet, Gram!
Looking good! But I actually had trouble figuring out how to comment. Lots of extra info between end of blog and the comments- maybe could be clarified?
Thanks, Triss. We’ll look into that.
I am so glad you kept the picture of you all! It is by far the best picture on any blog! The purple color is gorgeous! I need to find the paint now 😊
You all do an amazing job with your books. They bring endless hours of enjoyment for me. Thank you so much!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Deb! We truly appreciate them!
Love it! We recently updated the logo and colors at Mysteristas, too – and added a tag line.
One tiny thing – your lovely faces are chopped in half in the header on my browser. I don’t know if it’s me or if everyone sees it that way. And I’m glad you kept the picture.
See those of you who will be there a Bouchercon next week!
Ah, it only happens on the individual post pages. The home page is fine.
Thanks for the feedback, Liz!
Love the new blog design and how it represents the diversity of writing now being done by the Wickeds. This must be the time of updating blogs. From a comment above, I see the Mysteristas have updated like the Wickeds and The Stiletto Gang updated its shoe and logo in the last day or so (lots to be said about that in the next few weeks). Here’s to the future … may it be a wonderful one for the Wickeds. See those of you who will be at Bouchercon. Debra
Thanks so much, Debra! There must be something in the air!
We are trendy! See you at Bouchercon.
Love the new look, however, some of the Wickeds have lost their heads in the cover photo.
We’re working on it! Thanks.
Welcome!
Looks good. Love the purple and glad you kept the happy picture. Looking forward to Bouchercon!
We love the photo too much to change it!
Looks fabulous, Wickeds! And congrats on your new series—wonderful news!
Thanks, Cynthia! We are all pleased as can be about the new look and the all the career growth!
I love the new name–sometimes the short ones are remembered!! The photo is great too! Wonderful job.
Thanks, LuAnn! We thought that too!
I adore the cape cod cover😊 & pruning the dead sounds interesting😊
It is a charmer!
Thanks, Clemmie. I love that cover, too!
Love your new look! You all look great too!☺️ I enjoy so much reading about guys and the great information you share! Have a great day!!!!
Awww, thanks, Sherry!
It looks really nice but, I agree with Liz Milliron. At the very top, your heads are cropped.
Thanks, Linda! It really helps to hear that from different sources!
Love your look! Congrats on all those new series – keep them coming!
Thanks, Shari! We plan to be in business for a long time to come!
I love it! Yes, I was hoping the cropped heads would come into view — and they did — with the great picture of y’all!
Thanks for giving such clear feedback! We really appreciate it!
Looks good. I like The Wickeds and of course you are trend setters with the PMS purple color of the year. Would love to interview some of you for my blog MapYourMystery.com
Thanks, Christine. We’ll get in touch.
Love the new name and the new brand! Well done–and oh, so WICKED!
Thank you, Leslie.
The new look is fab! Wish I was joining those of you going to Bouchercon. Loved it in Toronto last year.
Wish you were, too.
If it’s purple, I love it – and I do like the look and feel of this site. Good job.
Definitely, purple. Thank you!
Love it! And thanks for keeping the photo – it’s my favorite part.
It’s our favorite part, too.
You’d mentioned changes back in the spring, and I’ve been wondering when we’d start seeing them roll out. It will take a bit to get used to them, but I will adjust. I always do.
(But dies this mean I need to refresh my own site? Please say no!)
Wow. We are terrible at keeping secrets.
Does this mean! Stupid auto correct on my phone.
And when someone mentions in a post retreat blog entry that there will be some changes coming, that’s hardly a secret. 🙂
Nice job — the blog looks great! And congrats on the new series!
Thank you, Vicky.
I love the Wickeds and your new look. Love your books too!!!
Thank you!
The updates are great!! I have enjoyed your blog since it began and hope to keep up with everyone this way and more.
You are all Wicked Good authors and I want to wish you all continued success and happiness in your writing and in life in general.
Sincerely.
Cynthia (A lifelong Wicked New Englander)
Thank you so much, Cynthia!
Love the new branding and the tag line. hope to see you guys at NEW England CrimeBake
Yes–I think we will all be at Crime Bake.
I think this change is beautiful and well-thought out. Congratulations! (And I love the new swag)
Thanks, Kris. We’ll make sure you get some swag.
Gorgeous. And you know that I love the new purple!
Thanks, Ellen. We know!
Exciting and wonderful! Congratulations! I had a little trouble with the updated site on my cell phone, but it’s working beautifully on my laptop.
Sorry about that Susan. Glad you found it somewhere!
Any revamps you ladies do is grand, ( as I believe you all have great taste), but I am totally so happy y’all kept the “clowning around” photo of all of y’all!! That is a favorite thing on here of mine!!! <3
Purple is my favorite color, so of course I love the purple! And the new look is easier on the eyes. It was easier for me to access the Response area via the emailed version of your new site than from doing it directly from the Internet.
My cell phone updated itself overnight. Getting used to navigating your updated website has been much easier than trying to figure out what my updated phone is up to!
DebRo
Love the new look!
The site looks great!
I love the new look!
Love that picture.
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