Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Lois Winston


As promised yesterday, fellow Midnight Ink mystery author Lois Winston is visiting my blog today. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post.

Above is the cover photo for her most recent book, Death By Killer Mop Doll, the second book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series. In the book, overdue bills and constant mother vs. mother-in-law battles at home are bad enough. But crafts editor Anastasia Pollack's stress level is maxed out when she and her fellow American Woman editors get roped into unpaid gigs for a revamped morning TV show. Before the glue is dry on Anastasia's mop dolls, morning TV turns crime drama when the studio is trashed and the producer is murdered. Former co-hosts Vince and Monica—sleazy D-list celebrities—stand out among a lengthy lineup of suspects, all furious over the show's new format. And Anastasia has no clue her snooping has landed her directly in the killer's unforgiving spotlight.

Below is Lois's guest post about giving thanks. Please leave a comment for Lois to let her know what you think, and feel free to ask her any questions you want about the post, her books, or her life as a writer.


First, I’d like to thank my fellow Midnight Inker, Beth Groundwater, for inviting me back to her blog as part of my month-long tour in celebration of the release of Death By Killer Mop Doll, the second book in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries.

Life for me has been rather chaotic the last couple of months, as I’m sure it’s been for most of you. Chaos goes hand-in-hand with the holidays, especially if it involves traveling lately. In addition to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, I was gearing up for the release of Death By Killer Mop Doll and my January blog tour. Oh, and then there was not only a book deadline but a major design deadline.

Sometimes when we have so much to juggle, we get lost in the details and forget the things that really matter most. So today I’d like to take the time to say thank-you.

Thank-you to all the readers out there who fall in love with our characters and continue to buy our books. Where would we be without you?

Thank you to my fellow Midnight Inkers. You are truly a fine bunch of writers, and I feel honored to know all of you virtually and some of you personally. I hope I’ll have the good fortune to meet more of you in person in the future.

Thank you to all the people -- the editors, designers, artists, sales force, and publicists -- who take our manuscripts, transform them into books, and make sure they land on bookstore shelves.

Thank you to the booksellers and librarians who tell readers about our books.

Thank you to my agents for being my champions.

Thank you to all my friends and family (you know who you are) who have encouraged me throughout my writing career.

In the song For Good from the musical Wicked, Elphaba, the Wicked Witch, and Glinda, the Good Witch, are saying good-bye to each other for the last time. Glinda tells Elphaba that she’s heard people come into each others’ lives for a reason and that knowing Elphaba has shaped her into the person she’s become. Elphaba tells Glinda that she’ll always be a part of her, like a handprint on her heart. Thank you to all the people who have left a handprint on this writer’s heart.

Are there people who have left handprints on your heart? Post a comment, and you could win one of 5 signed copies of Death By Killer Mop Doll that I’m giving away as part of my blog tour this month. The full tour schedule can be found at my website, and the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog. In addition, I’m giving away 3 copies of Death By Killer Mop Doll on Goodreads.

Also, for anyone attending The American Library Association’s Mid-Winter conference January 20-24 in Dallas, Midnight Ink will be raffling off the hand-crafted mop doll shown in my photo below during the opening reception Friday evening. Register for the drawing at the Midnight Ink booth #1459.


Thanks, Lois! Now, who has a comment or question for her (and an entry in her contest)?

14 comments:

jenny milchman said...

Always great to give thanks, and Lois, you and Beth strike me as great writers in that department--you're always expressing appreciation for even the small triumphs along the way. Congrats on this latest release.

E. B. Davis said...

Lois, congratulations on the new book. Glad you survived the holiday season and can appreciate those who have helped you along the way. Good luck with your series.

Lois Winston said...

Thank you, Jenny and E.B!

Jane R said...

I think many of us forget to thank those that have a special place in our lives. I just received a card from a friend I went to school with and once again I was reminded of how lucky I am to have her in my life... even if it's just once a year. That will be one of my new year's resolutions - to tell people a little more often what they mean to me. Thanks for the great post!

Patricia Smith Wood said...

Lois, your post is an excellent thankfulness reminder. I'm personally thankful for all the wonderful writers I've met during the past year and come to know personally. I've discovered that my fellow writers are among the most generous, kindest human beings on the planet. My thanks go out to all of them for all the kind words they've bestowed on me and all the wonderful advice I've received from them. I'm looking forward to meeting more of you in this new year. Thank you for your acceptance!

Lois Winston said...

Thanks, Jane and Patricia. We often take these people in our lives for granted and need to remember to tell them how much they mean to us.

Anonymous said...

Lois, Congrats on the new book. Looks GREAT!

I am very Thankful for having had such loving Grandmother's and a loving Mother. They showed me so many things.

I am now thankful to be able to connect with authors that I love. And with other readers that love the same type of book as myself.

Lois Winston said...

Thanks, Nancy!

Beth Groundwater said...

I'm so glad folks are stopping by and leaving comments for Lois! Thank you all for doing so and good luck in the contest.

Lois Winston said...

And thank you for hosting me here today, Beth!

Anonymous said...

Assult with a Deadly Glue Gun was the first book I read on my new iPad. It's going to be hard to top that but with your weird characters, am sure the next book will be just as great.

Shirley

Lois Winston said...

Shirley, I hope you enjoy Death By Killer Mop Doll just as much.

Jeanne S. said...

Congratulations on the new book. I enjoyed Assult with a Deadly Glue Gun and look forward to reading Death By Killer Mop Doll

Lois Winston said...

Thanks, Jeanne! I hope you enjoy Death By Killer Mop Doll.