Wicked Wednesday: May I?

by Posted on

Edith/Maddie here, still savoring a fabulous weekend.

xr:d:DAGCYerFvuU:2,j:3674236224512581953,t:24041409

For this week’s discussion on permission, we’re celebrating eleven years of giving ourselves permission to start this blog! All six Wicked Authors got together at Jessie’s fabulous beach home last weekend to share our memories, plan our future, generally solve all the problems of the publishing world, and have fun in the bargain.

When prosecco is poured and laughter is heard, you can bet it’s a Wicked awesome retreat.

Yes, there really was Prosecco!

Wickeds, name a highlight of the weekend and of our years blogging together!

Edith: The highlight for me, as always, was gathering with these special women. We each bring a different personality and skill set to the group, but our bond lies in caring about each other. We were all newbies to the author biz when we started out, and we worked hard to lift up each other – and other authors – along the way. This weekend was no different as we talked through issues both personal and professional. I wasn’t kidding about the laughter part. I am incapable of staying up late, but it was a comfort to fall asleep upstairs at 11:30 PM hearing the laughter float up from the rest of them downstairs.

A couple of long seaside walks were a lovely addition, as was Jessie’s sweet pooch, Sam. I’m already looking forward to next year’s retreat!

Jessie: For me, the highlight is always being together in person. This is the first time in a couple of years that all six of us have been together. In a world that is increasingly lived online, it is so enriching to be present physically.

Liz: I can’t say enough about this annual event. Yes it’s the closeness of navigating a crazy business together and having that special pod of people to always turn to. But more than that, it’s that we are family. I don’t say that lightly – my life is all about the found families that have made the difference for me. The Wickeds are family and having that core foundation to know I can always turn to is so meaningful to me. So it’s very special to have this time together in person.

Barb: You guys are making me cry! Yes, it was an amazing weekend and Jessie is an amazing host. Somehow we’ve gone from wondering if we could write a book that would be accepted by our publisher to this–a world-conquering machine. I always come away from our retreats elated and a little sad because it’s over.

Sherry: Barb, did you have to say “cry” because now I’m crying. Jessie is so gracious to let us turn her lovely home upside down with our suitcases, shoes, and electronics scattered everywhere. This retreat was bittersweet because usually when we part ways we know when we’ll see each other again at some event, but this time we don’t have a set plan. When we first started our retreats we had designated writing sessions, a set time for our business meeting, and an agenda. This time we just went with the flow and it was wonderful. I miss you all so much. I’m so grateful for how you’ve enriched my life both personally (especially personally) and professionally. I couldn’t love you more.

Julie: My best advice for writers is to find your group. The Wickeds have blessed me with friendship, laughs, accountability, tough love when necessary, and goals. What an amazing group of women–one of the great blessings of my very blessed life.

A few photos from the weekend:

Sam, Jessie’s poodle — the only male allowed to attend! What a sweet boy!

Pizza with plenty of leftovers for the rest of the weekend. One was a mashed potato pizza with bacon and scallions!

Jessie makes this amazing the dessert that we call crack. I’m not sure if it has an official name.

Recipe from Jessie!

Oreo Crispies

1/4 cup butter

1 bag marshmallows 

I package Oreo cookies

Crush Oreos in a food processor until uniform crumbs the texture of coarse sand are created. Grease an 8×8 baking dish. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add marshmallows and stir until melted. Add Oreo crumbs and stir until evenly combined. Spread mixture in prepared pan and chill in the refrigerator until firm. Slice into small squares.

A walk that turned into shopping and meeting two cute miniature poodles! The owner took the picture for us.

Being together is the best!

Readers: How long have you been part of our commenting community? Do you have a special support group of your own?

Unknown's avatar

Published by Edith Maxwell

Agatha Award -winning author Edith Maxwell writes the historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Beyond the Page) and short crime fiction. As Maddie Day she writes the Dot and Amelia Mysteries, the Country Store Mysteries series, the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, and the Cece Barton Mysteries (all from Kensington Publishing). She lives north of Boston in an antique house with her beau and cat Martin, where she writes, gardens, cooks, and wastes time on Facebook.

19 Thoughts

  1. I love retreats (as Edith well knows). My Sisters in Crime chapter holds one every year in a gorgeous rental house that’s in the middle of nowhere, far from distractions. But my true support group consists of my three critique partners.

    Like

  2. Looks to have been a lovely weekend!! I’m not sure how long I’ve been a part of your commenting community – maybe just a couple years? I enjoy reading about all your travels, families, and writing news!

    Like

  3. Congrats on all your time together and for the fun you have at your gatherings.

    I’m a little bit concerned about Sherry’s statement that you don’t have a plan for your next gathering. Is that a sign you are contemplating an end to the blog or something? Or am I just reading too much into that?

    I’ve been part of the commenting crew for around 6 years or so. Sometime after I went to an event on the Cape that had Edith, Barb and Sheila Connolly.

    I don’t have a group that I go away with or anything. Hell I don’t even know if I would say there is any group I have for “support”. But I do have a group that I do trivia night with and my Saturdays at the local comic shop features the same cast of characters: Ace, Everlast, Duff and Palmer. But it is just a hangout and BS kind of thing.

    Like

    2. Usually at the end of our time together we are all going to Bouchercon or Crime Bake or some other conference. This time our plans are up in the air.

      Like

  4. Sounds like y’all had a fabulous time. We all need that time to recharge and to connect with loved ones – which often are family by choice.

    Think I’ve been around as long as The Wickeds, or closely to it. It’s been a great joy to be here learning about both books and authors and feeling like a distant relative that stays in touch but never seems to be around physically. Whatever your doing, keep it up because you have “it” down pat. May both all of you and your faithful readers be blessed with many more years together!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    Like

  5. Eleven years, wow! If I haven’t been here from the very beginning it was darn close.

    I’m in the same SinC Chapter as Annette and I’m looking forward to our fall retreat, but we are also in the same critique group so those folks are definitely a special group!

    Like

  6. Congratulations on 11 years, ladies! That’s an amazing achievement. I’m pleased to say that I’ve been following you all since 2017. Here’s to many more years!

    Like

  8. Looks like a fun weekend. I think I found you a year after you started, so I guess that means I’ve been here for 10 years. Love stopping in every day.

    Like

  9. Thank you for sharing about your retreat! I would have loved being a fly on the wall! I have been reading your blog and commenting for about two years. I have set a recent goal to read all of The Wicked’s books. I have read all of Barb’s and Sherry’s. I have read some of Edith’s but now reading her organic farmer series. I also am listening to Liz’s Kneading To Die. Looking forward to reading all of them. Thank you to all of you!

    Like

Comments are closed.