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Hello, All,
This isn’t going to be one of my usual posts. You see, in the U.S. we’re celebrating Thanksgiving, so I’m very busy preparing for the Thanksgiving meal. And trust me, it’s always dangerous when a mystery novelist tries to mix crime fiction and cooking. You never know what might happen! 
For me at least, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what is good in life and focus on the things that get one through life’s difficulties. I am very fortunate – I truly am – to have a lot of good in my life. So today, I’d like to share some of that good, and thank those responsible.
Do you see that list of terrific blogs on my sidebar? That’s just a sampling of the wonderful people in my life to whom I’m grateful. Let me explain why some of those blogs are on my blogroll (I’m kind of particular about the blogs I put there, actually), and then you’ll understand why I feel so fortunate. No awards, no “pass it on” requirements. Just my own sincere admiration and thanks.
My Writer Friends
Writing is not easy. Trust me. Writing well is even harder. My writing is made so much easier and lots more fun by those who truly understand what it is to write, and go through the same things that I do. How good it is to know that I’m not alone in the ups and downs of creating stories that people actually want to read and that I actually want to tell.
Elspeth Antonelli – Elspeth, thank you for sharing the funny, painful, frustrating, delightful and unique journey that is writing. Your posts always give me wonderful ideas, a welcome sense of relief that I’m not the only one, and a lovely dose of creativity. Oh, and I love the sheep.
Clarissa Draper – Clarissa, thank you for the wealth of helpful knowledge you share on your blog! I learn something new about writing every time I visit, and your ideas are so practical and useful. They make my writing better, and for that, I am grateful.
Martin Edwards - Martin, you’re a treasure trove of knowledge about crime fiction. I learn every single time I visit your blog. I learn even more as I read your excellent novels and stories. Little wonder at all that you’ve had the success you have. Um, could you please tell Hannah and Daniel that we’re waiting…. ? Thank you.
Michele Emrath – Michele, thanks for helping me stretch myself as a writer. You challenge writers to think about how they write and what they write about and that is so helpful. Your knowledge of writing and your background in literature are humbling.
Rayna Iyer – Rayna, you make me think, and that is very high praise from me. You tell more in 100 words than many people tell in a 1000-page novel. From you, I learn so much about different ways of looking at the world, and your look at life in India humbles me. So do your remarkable ‘photos.
Rob Kitchin - Rob, thanks for so often sharing your stories with all of us (I’m eager to hear more from Harry and Pete!). Your novels are examples of fine writing from which I’ve learned, and your reviews are focused on the things that all authors ought to be thinking about. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Donna Moore - Donna, you’ve got a rare gift for turning the negative into the positive and for seeing the ridiculous side of life. What a refreshing thing that is for me! And you keep me in touch with what’s going on in the world of Scottish crime fiction in a way I wouldn’t find anywhere else.
Jan Morrison – Jan, I so admire the way you openly and honestly share the writing journey with us. It’s funny, comforting and so helpful to be a part of your community, because you remind us all that life is to be lived, not just “gotten through.”
Dorte Hummelshøj Jakobsen - Dorte, your creativity is so inspiring! So is your ability to blog in two languages, write excellent reviews, and still be an author of terrific fiction. Oh, and you have such a wonderful sense of humour, too! I want to be like you if I ever grow up .
Alan Orloff - Alan, your sense of humour, even when things go wrong, is such a help to me. So is your pragmatic approach to getting stories planned, written, revised, edited and published. I like the way you make the writing process seem a lot less daunting.
Kathleen Ryan – Kathleen, thanks for the real-life lessons you always teach me about crime detection. You keep my feet on the ground. I also admire your short fiction so much!! You’ve taught me much about keeping characters real.
Elizabeth Spann Craig - Elizabeth, you’re a role model of a professional, focused writer. From planning, to writing, to editing, revising and marketing, your experiences and advice are such useful and helpful guides. I take notes – I do! – whenever I visit. You’re so generous with your advice, and I am grateful for that.
Patricia Stoltey - Patricia, I’m so grateful for the way you share what you’ve learned, and the way you share the resources you’ve found (and created!). Whenever I visit your blog, I’m reminded that there’s so much helpful guidance out there, and for that, I am thankful.
Vanda Symon - Vanda, thank you for sharing the real life of a talented – very talented – mystery novelist. A visit to your blog is such a nice reminder that all authors face similar challenges as they write, and your books point the way to doing it well.
To all of you (including those of you that I haven’t had space to mention), thank you for taking this writing trip with me.
My Book-Blogging Friends
Writers need readers. Thoughtful readers who truly love books push writers to write well. It’s also very fulfilling to writers when readers get as excited about what we write as we do about writing it. Trust me. I’d like to take some time and thank some of the many book-blogging friends I’m fortunate enough to have. You help me to be a better writer, and you’ve broadened my horizons. It’s an honour to talk about books with you and I am grateful for the perspective you give me on what makes for a good book.
Margaret at BooksPlease – Margaret, your love of books comes through every time I visit your blog, and that refreshes me. Your reviews help me focus on the important aspects of a good novel, and I admire the fact that you read and review such a variety of books.
Norman at Crime Scraps - Norman, I truly appreciate your real-life, humourous perspective on what you read. Your knowledge of crime fiction stretches my own and for that, I am grateful. I’m also thankful for the snapshots you give of life where you live. Someday, I want to visit Dartmoor and see Greenway, but until I can do that, I so appreciate what you share.
Craig at Crime Watch - Craig, what an advocate you are for crime fiction! Your focus may be Kiwi crime fiction, but your enthusiasm for the genre and all you do to advocate for it and share news about it is a real inspiration. Thanks for your support of those of us who write crime fiction.
Karen at Euro Crime - Karen, you are always so generous in providing all sorts of information, updates, links and other bits of interest to crime fiction fans. Euro Crime’s reviews are one of my must-stops for information on new books to read, and I appreciate the way you always share crime fiction news.
Karen at How Mysterious - Karen, I really appreciate the variety of books and films you review. You give readers a very broad perspective on what’s out there, and that does much for the genre.
Rhian at It’s a Crime! (Or a Mystery…) - Rhian, your reviews remind me of what really matters in a top-quality crime novel. You share important news, you support the genre and I admire and appreciate your high standards. They give those of us who write a goal.
Cathy at Kittling: Books - Cathy, your passionate devotion to books and reading is a real inspiration. Your reviews are honest and thoughtful and your support of talented authors, whether or not they’re famous, exposes everyone to fine writing.
Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise - Kerrie, I owe a special debt to you for introducing me to the wonderful online crime fiction community to which I’m proud to belong. Your well-written, thoughtful and honest reviews focus on the real essentials that crime fiction writers should not forget, and you are so talented at keeping us updated on crime fiction and at keeping the reading community a real community. You do much for readers everywhere.
Patti at Pattinase – Patti, your thoughtful and challenging questions always make me stretch my imagination. Your discussions of all sorts of topics are fascinating and few people make the kinds of contributions you have made to the crime fiction world: You discuss it, you write it, you support it and, oh, yeah, you raised a very, very talented crime fiction writer.
Maxine at Petrona - Maxine, your top-quality reviews are one of my favourite sources of ideas for new books to read (um, we must talk about my TBR list, though…… ). You kindly take so much time to gather, sort through and share important news on reading, crime fiction, new books and so much more. You also do a superb job of moderating the crime fiction “room.” The world of crime fiction is so much better because of your support of it. And so am I.
Bernadette at Reactions to Reading- Bernadette, your superb book reviews remind me that crime fiction fans deserve the author’s best effort, and that helps me immensely. Honestly, as I write, I ask myself, “Would Bernadette ever put up with that?” If you wouldn’t, I delete and improve. I relish the laughs I sometimes get from your posts, and I appreciate your rants, too: they’re usually spot-on. Oh, and the charts. Mostly I appreciate your love of good books.
José Ignacio at The Game’s Afoot – José Ignacio, your book reviews are so very helpful as I decide what to read. Lots of people can’t blog well in even one language, but you can blog in two. You share such interesting crime fiction news, too, and you share Spain with us. I so enjoy learning from you.
Mason at Thoughts in Progress – Mason, I am so grateful for your staunch support of writers and writing. Authors always find a “Welcome Mat” on your blog, and your many and varied book reviews help us all find new books to love. You truly are an “author’s best friend,” and every time I visit your blog, I feel as though I’m being welcomed into your home for a sweet tea and some good conversation about reading. Wonderful!!!!
To all of you who are nice enough to read and comment on what I write, my thanks, too, for your friendship and your support of what I try to do. Both mean the world to me.
To all of my American friends, have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving holiday!
Now, let me get back to stuffing my turkey. Hmmm…that’s funny! I just know that weed killer was here a moment ago. Uh-oh…..
*NOTE: The title of this post is a line from the Rembrandts’ I’ll Be There For You.
