What We’re Writing: Mid-Summer Edition

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by Barb, still loving it here in Maine

Hi Wickeds. We haven’t done this since February. What are you writing this July?

Edith/Maddie: I’m putting final polish on Murder in a Cape Cottage, Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery #4, which is due August 1. I have a few fixes to my not-under-contract suspense novel (thanks to keen-eyed reader Jay) before it goes out to an independent editor, then I have to start my Christmas Scarf Murder novella, title TBD (A Scarfed-Down Murder? A Scarfed-Down Christmas? ) which is in the Country Store series. I have NO idea what will happen or how Robbie will solve it. Any ideas, readers?

Julie: Edith, A Scarfed-Down Christmas made me giggle–not sure why. Then I thought of poisoned holiday treats. Ah, the mind of a mystery writer. July is Camp NaNoWriMo, so I’m using the time to finish the edit on my thriller, tentatively titled Z Quest. It’s moved from hot mess to okay over the past few months, so I want to send it to my first reader Jason. He’ll let me know if it’s a book or not.

Jessie: Good luck, Edith and Julie with your projects! They both sound like fun! I have recently been in the gathering, rather than writing stage, and am having a lovely time reading and researching all sorts of things from different times and places as I noodle on the next idea! That said, today I am doing no work at all as it is my wedding anniversary and I am in celebration mode!

Edith: Congratulations, Jessie and Elias!

Liz: Yes, congrats, Jessie! I am madly trying to finish the first draft of Cat Cafe #6 (title still TBD). Then I need to move on to Full Moon Mystery #3. Lots to do before the end of the year!

Barb: I don’t envy you, Liz! I just this moment pressed send on the edits for Maine Clambake #10. I’m taking a 6 Weeks, 6 Stories virtual course at Grubstreet, following the prompts to create some totally new work and setting some personal goals as well.

Sherry: Happy anniversary, Jessie and Elias! I love hearing about what you all are writing. I’m trying to work on three different project. The fourth Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mystery which is due in December, a meet/cute book with a Westie puppy (how did I ever come up with that idea?) and an action thriller that has been whirling in my mind since last December when there was that terrible bombing in Nashville on Christmas Day. I’m too afraid to look back at our February post to see if I said the same thing!

Readers: Do any of these projects catch your eye? Are there any you’re excited to see? Something you didn’t see you wish one of us was working on? Let us know in the comments.

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

25 Thoughts

  1. These all sound amazing! And as always, you ladies make me feel like a slug!

  2. They all sound good but your Clambake series is one of my favorites. I love Maine and miss visiting there. I started reading Death of an Italian Chef by Lee Hollis last night another of my favorite series based in Bar Harbor, Maine.

  3. Well, I’m always excited for whatever Edith has coming down the pike. And since she mentioned it, I’m really interested in that not under contract suspense novel that I got to peek at. 😀

    As for what everyone else is working on, they all sound great.

    For me, I’m working on the same stuff I’m always working on, CD reviews for KNAC.COM (Helloween, Steve Whiteman, Dee Snider), The Cassette Chronicles for Limelight Magazine (Damn Yankees is the current piece I’m doing) and book reviews for Mystery Scene magazine (submitted one for Daniel Silva’s THE CELLIST and I’m working on reading DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN by Ronald H. Balson which was a late arriving ARC).

  4. I’m in track stance mode waiting for all of these books. While I’m looking forward to new books in existing series, I’m on eager to sample Edith’s suspense, Jessie’s Z Quest, and Sherry’s action thriller – I love it when writers stretch.

    Jessie and Elias – happy anniversary!

  5. Oooh, these ALL sound great!! Especially another Clambake mystery! And Congratulations on your anniversary, Jessie!

  6. It’s always exciting to hear about books in the works making the anticipation to their release grow. They all sound wonderful, but with this great bunch of authors, I’d expect nothing less. All I can say is keep doing what you do so well!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

  7. I always enjoy all of the cozy mysteries written by you Wickeds! And, I like a well written suspense fiction book as well. Horror is not my thing at all. Wishing you each one happy writing and finished books that sell very well.

  8. Summer is a wonderful time for a “TBR” stack — otherwise known as beach reading. But it’s clearly also a time for you all to be beach writing, so to speak. Hope you get to balance the work with some fun in the sun!

    1. I often take a pen and notebook to the beach on an early summer morning, Beth. I write and walk and write and leave before the sun gets too hot at eleven.

  9. Happy anniversary, Jessie and Elias!

    Sounds like I’ve got some great reading ahead of me.

  11. Can’t wait to read the new installments, especially for the Maine Clambake and Chloe Jackson series!

  12. Happy anniversary, Jessie and Elias. How many years? My husband and I will celebrate 46years later this week.

    If a Wicked wrote, I know I’ll love it. Always look forward to any of your releases.

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