Solving crime - in miniature

This may be old hat to some, but it's still interesting and worth another look.

Check out the video showing the miniature greenhouse crime scene used in a past CBS CSI episode featuring the "miniature" killer.

Welcome to Marva Dasef, author of SCOTCH BROOM

Today I welcome Marva Dasef, who is introducing the interestingly named SCOTCH BROOM, the third book in her Witches of Galdorheim series.

** Check out the rest of the SUMMER TEEN READING PARTY for great prizes!! ** - I'm also at Marva's blog talking about, what else, but dogs and animals and...

BUY:


* MuseitUp Bookstore

About the Book:

Kat expects to have a great time on her graduation trip to Stonehenge. However, from the moment she leaves the witches’ arctic island, Galdorheim, she gets in nothing but trouble. Her younger half-brother tries to horn in on her trip, she gets lost in the magical Otherworld realm, is led astray by a supposed friend, then she has to confront a Scottish goddess who’s fallen on hard times. (Keep reading for the contest!)

While dodging the goddess’ minions and trying to find her way out of the Otherworld, Kat soon learns she shouldn’t underestimate the old has-been for one second; the crone still has a few tricks that can drain a witch’s magic in a flash. To make matters worse, Kat's brother secretly followed her into the Otherworld. Now he’s in danger too. Kat has to go one on one with the goddess to save herself and her brother.

** Download a PDF Sampler of all three books in the series and the bonus short story, Spellslinger, here.

** Watch the SCOTCH BROOM trailer

Leave a comment to win a free ebook of any of the Witches of Galdorheim. To win a GRAND PRIZE, read the posts carefully, then answer the easy quiz on Marva's blog between May 27th and 31st. All the information and links you need will be posted.

HART AND HOUND

Researching Celtic mythology, I knew I wanted to use some of the lesser know magical creatures. I also decided that they needed to be “like” animals, but not quite. The reason for this is obvious to readers who’ve been following Kat’s story from the beginning. Kat’s magical ability is to talk with animals. She has greater or lesser success depending on the innate brain-power of a natural animal. For example, she chats along nicely with Salmon the Orca since a killer whale is the largest of the dolphins and are at the top of the IQ charts. I believe the ability to communicate to others shows greater intelligence. Sorry. Don’t want to offend any fish out there, but you guys just aren’t that bright.

I found two mythic creatures who met my criteria. Sianach, a huge stag (possibly a Red Deer) and Cusith, a giant-sized green dog with a braided tail.

From my favorite source, Encyclopedia Mythica.

Cusith

An enormous hound of the Scottish Highlands. It is said to be a dark green in color, with a long braided tail and the size of a bullock. Whenever his baying was heard on the moors, farmers would quickly lock up their women because the hound's mission was to round up women and drive them to a fairy mound so they might supply milk for fairy children.

I’m a bit leery of that rounding up women part, but decided that was just an ancient attempt to keep women close to home. Clearly, not much has changed except for the mythological excuses.

Sianach

"Monster." In Scottish Gaelic oral tradition, a large, malevolent, predatory deer.

That’s to the point. Other research indicated that the basis for Sianach might be the Irish Elk, which is now extinct.

Now that I’d identified a couple of mythical critters, then all I had to do is get them together with Kat. Since she was tricked into entering the Otherworld (land of fey), she has been searching for the hall of the Trow King. She meets Sianach first and he agrees to guide her to King Connor’s hall. What Kat find strange is that she can’t look into Sianach’s mind; he can close off his thoughts from her. This makes Kat a bit nervous since Sianach, while seeming to be amenable to helping Kat, is also very vague as to his reasons for doing so.

The two begin their search for the Trow Hall, although Sianach claims, reasonably, that in the Otherworld, there is no such thing as a map to anyplace. They’ll have to seek the Hall in other ways. Apparently, Sianach’s method is to simply wander around through the swamps.

They camp for the night, and the next morning, Kat meets another denizen of the Otherworld, the giant green hound, Cusith.

Excerpt:

Sianach grazed near the edge of the small clearing. When the lean-to disappeared, he raised his head. “Good morning. I thought you were going to sleep all day.”

“You sound just like my mom.” Kat let out an exasperated snort. “Besides, it can’t be past eight o’clock.”

“I do not carry a timepiece.”

“Of course, you don’t.” Kat opened her pack and rummaged through it. “Cool. I’ve still got the granola bar.” Her head snapped up when she heard something large crashing through the underbrush. Sianach stood stock still, staring toward the ruckus.

“HHHHRRRRROOOOOWWW!”

“Omigosh, what’s that?” Kat’s voice trembled as she looked to Sianach for an answer. The hairs on her neck and arms stood at attention.

Sianach turned toward a nearby tree and struck his antlers against it. The clash of antler against bark rang like a warning bell. Kat didn’t expect the loud clang coming from horn against wood.

“HHHHRRRRROOOOOWWW!”

“Hide,” Sianach said in a breathy whisper. His head raised now and pointed toward the howl that sounded closer than before.

Peregrine Falcon Nest Webcam

Peregrine falcons are expected to hatch any day now in a nest on the WE Energies plant in Wisc. (*Sat mid-morning: she's still sitting and waiting....)

Check out the webcam. There are also still photos of various nest sites.

New Story: Dogs READ with Kids

My latest story and photos on Dogs "Reading" with Kids in the May/June PRIME Magazine.

(C. Verstraete photo)

New AIM Artisans In Miniature Spring Issue 41 Available!

New Artisans in Miniature AIM issue #41 is out! Includes a short article I did on spring plus some great how-to's - a retro apron, spring manniquin blouse and more! Download all issues here.

Camille Minichino talks Dollhouse Miniatures and about the new book, Mix-Up in Miniature

Today I welcome back miniaturist and writer Camille Minichino, author (as Margaret Grace) of the fun Miniature Mystery Series.

Ideas, Small and Large

MIX-UP IN MINIATURE: A Miniature Mystery, my 16th and latest release, was conceived in Carmel, Indiana. A most unlikely spot for this city-loving, Bronx-educated author!

Here's how it came about.

One of the biggest mystery conferences, Bouchercon, is held in a different city every year. I must admit that which city it's in often influences whether I attend. Three years ago, when I learned that Indianapolis was hosting the conference, I jumped at the chance to visit. Not because of the special "500" tour, or the world-class art museum, but because it offered a chance for a reunion with an old friend who lived nearby. To double the pleasure, my friend would take me to the wonderful Museum of Miniature Houses in Carmel, Indiana.

The museum's managers were wonderful and welcoming as we spent hours examining every corner of every tiny house and room box. One house in particular caught my eye, and my imagination. A dollhouse with a secret room! I didn't know how immediately, but I knew this would be the center of my next Miniature Mystery.

- The Secret Room!

Three years later, here it is: Mix-up in Miniature. Gerry Porter, miniaturist, and her 11-year-old granddaughter, Maddie, are on the case to solve the murder of a bestselling romance author who is also a collector of dollhouses. Enough said, that one of them has a secret room that holds the key to the crime!

It's always interesting to me to trace the path from a tiny idea to a full-blown novel. I never know what tidbit of gossip or information, what bumper sticker will spark a story, long or short.

It's not that different with miniature scenes. Looking through a box of castoffs from an estate sale, I found an off-scale, old-fashioned bathroom set. My first thought: the scene in The Godfather where Michael Corleone comes out shooting, his initiation into "The Life." Note the gun "hidden" at the top of the tank! Has some off-beat slogan or tiny object inspired you recently?

Thanks, Christine, for being so generous and sharing your readers! (And thank you for stopping by again with your great details and books!)

Camille Minichino is a retired physicist turned writer.
As Camille Minichino, she's the author of the Periodic Table Mysteries. As Margaret Grace, she writes the Miniature Mysteries, based on her lifelong hobby. As Ada Madison, she writes the academic mysteries featuring Professor Sophie Knowles, college math teacher. The 6th Miniature Mystery,Mix-up in Miniature was released April 2. Soon, every aspect of her life will be a mystery series.

A to Z Challenge: M for Miniature Dress 2

Since today is the letter M for the A to Z Challenge, I thought I'd revisit the miniature dresses I made earlier - with a new creation.

I loved how this one came out as I loved the fabric. The pleater did make the skirt look better. Dare I try another? (The dress is for display in 1" scale - a female figure would be 5 1/2" tall.)

* See First mini dresses

* See Kitty's miniature dress

* My other dollhouse miniatures

A to Z Challenge: Love Zombies? New story - Looking for votes!

Today is for L in the A to Z Challenge...

Perfect for Friday the 13th.... For fun, I wrote a new story, "Ghouls Like Us?" which is in the Zombie Rules Contest...

I need your votes! (You may have to sign in - and can do that with Facebook too.) Please read and vote for the story HERE if you like it.... (Contest ends 4/30.)

In the story, cousins Carm and Becca learn they're going to a different school.... "The first day of school and we learn we're the different ones..."

The characters are from my Zombie Girl book.

(Cover art from geekphilosopher.com)

A to Z Challenge: Kicking Back with Barbara Lampert, author of the dog book, Charlie, A Love Story

Today for the A to Z Challenge, I welcome Barbara Lampert, author of the dog book, CHARLIE, A LOVE STORY

Today, Barbara tells how the book, CHARLIE, A LOVE STORY, came about and what led her to write about her canine best friend.

The Inspiration for Charlie: A Love Story


Charlie’s the kind of dog I dreamed about when I was a kid. The dog who would always be happy to see me, my best friend in the world, the dog I could tell all my secrets to, my very loyal confidante, who would love me more than anyone, no matter what.

Charlie came into my life when he was 13 weeks old and I was grown up. But he was that dog of my dreams. From the moment I got him, I adored him. For his whole life, Charlie and I were attached at the hip.



Here’s how Charlie’s story came about:

For several years, I’d been keeping a gardening journal while landscaping our property in Malibu on almost an acre of land, and occasionally I would write about Charlie in my journal. But when he turned eleven years old and started having some health problems, within a short period of time my journal entries became more and more about him and less and less about gardening.

I was amazed at how Charlie dealt with his health problems. He seemed to have a very deep understanding of what was going on, and just about nothing got him down. He was both determined and joyful. Indomitable, and so wise. He was inspiring.

Even though I wanted to write about him mostly in the present, I couldn’t help thinking about him as a puppy. So I found myself writing about him when he was younger, too. I just wanted to be with him, think about him, and write about him. I knew that our time was limited.

Then in 2003, my husband David and I decided to take Charlie and Barney (our other Golden Retriever at the time) to San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito for five days, to celebrate our twentieth wedding anniversary. One evening while we were sitting on the deck of our cottage, I read David some of my journal entries having to do with Charlie. David said it sounded as if I had the makings of a book. The more I thought about that, the more I agreed. So I pulled out all the entries that had to do with Charlie to look at them more closely.

At first I was hesitant to turn my journal into a book, because the writing was so personal and intimate, and because, being such a private person as well as a psychotherapist, I didn’t know if I’d be comfortable doing that. But my overriding thought then was that it would be Charlie’s story, that not only did I want to pay tribute to this magnificent dog, but also I felt that the way he handled life could be an inspiration to others, just as it was to me.

I knew that Charlie was not only a once-in-a-lifetime dog but also a once-in-a-lifetime being. And that ours was a once-in-a-lifetime relationship. I needed to write about him, and his story needed to be told.

A to Z Challenge - Just Because I love Dogs - Book Review: Charlie, A Love Story by Barbara Lampert

Today marks the letter J of the A to Z Challenge so I thought I'd share a book review today. (See contest at end.)

I grew up with dogs and can't seem to not have one, even when the loss is so hard to take. I get so attached, but it's also hard to bear that quietness when your dog is no longer with you.

About the Book:

Charlie - A Love Story tells of the love between Charlie, a Golden Retriever, and author Barbara Lampert.

When Charlie turns 11 and starts having health problems, a journal Barbara was keeping about her garden quickly became a journal about Charlie. The book is an intimate look at an incredible connection between a canine and a human. And as a psychotherapist who specializes in relationships, Barbara also brings that sensibility and understanding to Charlie’s story.




That love and connection with a pet is what makes the book CHARLIE, A LOVE STORY by Barbara Lampert a good read. There have been a wealth of dog books out lately riding on the wave launched with one of the better known books and movies about Marley. (I'll admit I didn't read or see the movie - too sad.)



Most dog books end the same, with the human mourning the loss or sharing those sad last moments with the reader. I knew going in that this book was about the author losing her best friend, but what kept me reading was learning about Charlie himself.

While the struggles of dealing with a beloved pet's illness or the everyday events surrounding it can be a little less interesting to read given their universality, celebrating that dog's life and remembering their quirks and the fun moments, are what make us drawn to books with dogs as the subject. Seeing Charlie's personality come to life is what I enjoyed most in this book.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for more about the book and some tidbits from the author.

*** Comment here on blog to win a copy. Leave an email or way to contact you. US shipping only. ***