Swift Six for Saturday

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Since this week has been (mostly) about spring, let's do a swift six (because that alliterates with Saturday, of course) on April!

 

 

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils? Hyacinths. There's something about those little pastel florets I can't resist. I always have a pot indoors this time of year. 

2. Asparagus or spring peas? Asparagus - but it has to be steamed until it's perfectly crisp.

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?  Opening Day, of course. Every April, Ross would say, "I think this could could be the Red Sox's year." (spoiler: it usually wasn't.)

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA? CPA, ever since I bungled DIY taxes so badly we had to get lawyers involved...

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella? My friend Roxanne gave me a perfect LL Bean classic raincoat, so I'm all about the yellow slicker now.

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?  Cherry blossoms. I'm going to visit my sister in DC next week, and I'm hoping some will still be hanging on!

 

 DEBORAH CROMBIE:

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

I'm with you on the hyacinths, Julia. That scent is divine. For when they're not in season, my farmers market friend makes hyacinth candles which are not a bad substitute.

 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

Asparagus, but must not be over-cooked. Although I do also love spring peas.

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

Major League Opening Day!!

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

CPA absolutely!

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

Love my Eddie Bauer rain jacket, but will add an umbrella in a real downpour.

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

Garden centers. Too many to count already this spring. It's an addiction.

  

 HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils? 

Tulips! My very favorite. Although I love the fragrance of hyacinths.

 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

 Difficult! I adore grilled asparagus, though, if it's just right. And it wins for weirdest way of growing.

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?  

 Oh, opening day, that's so irresistible. But I have covered the Marathon for years, and its so strange not to be there now that I am not on the beat.

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA? 

CPA, yikes. Definitely.

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella?  

That's so funny. Umbrellas work, but they are SO awkward. Your umbrella gets soaked as you use it to get to the car. You get into the car, and then what? Ahh.

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers? 

Garden centers, most definitely. I love the fragrance, and anything seems possible. (And I truly did not realize why they were called nurseries until like, yesterday. I gasped.)

 

RHYS BOWEN:

Bear in mind that I am in Arizona. Spring is long gone. Temps are over 90. Any spring flower that thought of growing has been long fried and died.  But I do go back to CA in a week's time and it should be spring there with poppies, lupins etc.

 

 1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

I love tulips in theory but they never last long enough in the house. Daffodils are usually the first to be found in Trader Joes and come home with me to cheer up dark days.

 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

We seem to live on asparagus. Having lived in Germany and Austria where there is an aparagus season of about 6 weeks, and white asparagus too, I think I'd really prefer that. The restaurants cook everything asparagus and then it goes.

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

I'll watch the Masters as my family are golf fanatics, but I'm a tennis fan and am watching Monte Carlo this week.

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

I have used HR Block's program for several years, after consulting both CPAs and Tax attorneys. Since the major work is assembling all the items not entering them it seems to work well for me. (and I got a refund for the first time in ages)

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

Usually raincoat. Who has an extra hand for an umbrella and it's impossible to navigate crowds.

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

None of the above this year, although I may try to get out to the Marin Headlands to the wildflowers when we return to CA.

  

 JENN McKINLAY: 

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

 Daffodils are spring to me, but I love hyacinths and tulips, too.

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

 Asparagus. My parents used to grow it in our garden, so also a core memory.

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

 Major League Opening Day!!! Go D-Backs!

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

 I have a CPA but I'm so late this year I think it's going to be DIY - please, save me.

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

 A brolly, always! It doubles as a weapon if needed :)

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

 Cherry blossoms!!!

 

 HALLIE EPHRON:

 1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

Definitely tulips. I love the way they go every which way and then toss their petals at the end.

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

Spring peas. If I can find them. So special.

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

 Dare I say? None of the above. 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

 CPA, please. Being self-employed is complicated.

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

 Raincoat... if only I had one. So most of the times it's just a hat and a fast run.

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

GARDEN CENTERS! Gotta have a big pot of pansies and another one of basil. To me that says SPRING. Trying to outsmart thee rabbits is a losing gambit. 

 

 LUCY BURDETTE:

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

 Daffodils--so cheerful and early, I find them irresistible! 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

 Asparagus, but it must be from our garden or a farm nearby. Otherwise it has a bitter taste and I don't even want to mention the aftereffects!

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

 The Masters! Even though most of the current golfers could be my grandchildren. I still love golf and look back fondly at the Golf Lovers Mystery Series!

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

 CPA. Not even a question!

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

 Raincoat.

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

 Can we do all three please??

 

JULIA: Now it's your turn, dear readers! Cut and paste the questions and give us your answers in the comments!

 

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

Murder, Local Style, a guest blog by Leslie Karst

 JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Every time I read one of Leslie Karst's Orchard Isle books, I wonder, Why didn't I set my mysteries in Hawai'i? We both like writing about the joys and travails of small town living, we both have a great couple at the center of our stories, I even have moments of humor - although considering how many times Leslie's been nominated for a Lefty Award, she's got me beat on that front.

I can only conclude it's because I settled on the frozen tundra in Maine, and she was smart enough to live on the Big Island. And we both firmly believe writing what you know creates the best experience for the reader. As you'll see when she talks about Murder, Local Style...

 

 

 

Traditional and cozy mysteries are often set in a small town or village, and for good reason. People in a small town tend to know one another, so when something goes awry—such as a murder—they make for good suspects and witnesses. And when the amateur sleuth lives in the same community, she too will have a special connection to and insider information regarding the crime.

 

The street I live on in Hilo, Hawai‘i is in one of the town’s older neighborhoods (dating from 1930s), and many of its residents are the children or grandchildren of families who bought the properties when they were new. Although originally a Japanese-Hawaiian neighborhood, it’s now a blend of the original families along with “locals” (generally a mix of native Hawaiian, Filipino, Portuguese, and Chinese) and haoles (those of European descent).

Our neighborhood on Boy's Day

 

My wife Robin and I, of course, fall into the latter category, but we were welcomed warmly into the neighborhood when we bought our house eighteen years ago. And we love our street. Folks not only know one another, but often host social events for others on the street: Halloween parties and boxcar derbys! And it’s marvelous watching the  kids play together in the street and on our front lawns—riding their bikes and playing hide-and-go-seek, just like I did when I was a kid back in the 1960s. 

The view from my office window

 

Of course no neighborhood is perfect, and ours definitely has its drawbacks. Lawnmowers, blowers, and weed whackers are a frequent background noise. People use loud pneumatic tools to work on their cars. Dogs on chains whine and bark. And neighbor disputes arise over trees blocking ocean views and the feeding of feral cats. 

Some island dogs - not belonging to my neighbors!

 Not so fun, these things.

 

But, I thought one day as I slammed shut my bedroom window in a vain attempt to block out the grinding of a neighbor’s power saw, what a marvelous premise for a murder mystery!

 

What would happen if the resident of a tight-knit street in little Hilo town ended up dead in a highly suspicious manner? And what if he’d been having disputes—from the serious to the petty—with many of his neighbors in the months leading up to his death? And to add an additional local element to the story, what if I set it within a neighborhood orchid society? Because we all know how competitive hobbies like orchid growing can be.

 

Thus was born Murder, Local Style, book three in my Orchid Isle mystery series (yes, another reason for the orchids) set on the magnificent Big Island of Hawai‘i.

 

Mind you, this is not a critique of Hilo. Quite the opposite. In setting this series on Hawai‘i Island, my biggest desire (in addition to crafting a compelling mystery story) was to bring to readers a picture of what the place is truly like—not for tourists, but for those who actually live here. 

My beautiful neighborhood

 

“Local style” is a phrase commonly heard in Hawai‘i, and means something that is typical of the way people do things in the islands. Kicking off your rubber slippahs and leaving them scattered about the front porch, eating Spam musubi for lunch, and throwing the “shaka” to say “thank you” or “hey!” are all examples of local style. The phrase signifies casual comfort, sharing food, and respecting local culture. And since this new book is set in Valerie and Kristen’s small neighborhood in Hilo and concerns the relationships between (and disputes among) the people who live there, Murder, Local Style seemed the perfect title for the story.

 

So, if anything, this is a love letter to my adopted town. For in the end (no spoiler here; this is after all a cozy mystery), we see how a small community in distress can come together to bring a killer to justice and restore order to their beloved neighborhood.

 

And yes, there’s plenty of beautiful Hawaiian culture, delicious food, and aloha spirit along the way! 

Hilo Farmers' Market

Readers: For a chance to win a signed copy of Murder, Local Style, answer this question: Do you live in a close-knit neighborhood, and if so, are there disputes between the residents? (Sorry, US only.) 

 

About Murder, Local Style:

It’s been an eventful transition, but retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen are finally settling into life on the Big Island of Hawai’i. Val’s even joined the neighborhood orchid society to make some new friends. So when she’s asked to step in to cater their latest social event, as the newbie of the group she can’t exactly say no.

But what should have been a straightforward gig is soon a dining disaster when the food from the event poisons and kills the society president. As Val herself becomes a suspect in the murder investigation, she’s determined to uncover the truth. Who would want to kill the mild-mannered president of the orchid society? Turns out the list is longer than a celebrity chef's tasting menu. Apparently some of the residents did not “love thy neighbor.” Can she reveal the killer’s identity before they strike again?

 

Bio: Leslie Karst is the Agatha, Lefty, and Macavity Award-nominated author of the Orchid Isle Mysteries, the Sally Solari culinary mysteries, and the memoir, “Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops, the Law,and Cooking for RBG.” When not writing, you’ll find her cooking, cycling, gardening, and observing cocktail hour promptly at five o’clock. Leslie and her wife and their Jack Russell mix split their time between Hilo, Hawai‘i and Santa Cruz, California.

Maxxing Out

 JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Okay, let's leave the weather behind for a bit, shall we? Instead, let's goggle at the trends the youths are pursuing these days, specifically "maxxing."

 

If you're as terminally online as I am (I've GOT to use Freedom to block Reddit!) you've probably seen one of the most popular forms - looksmaxxing. This is popular among a subgroup of young men who don't believe what girls really want is someone thoughtful, reliable, and maybe has a sense of humor. Instead, these youts (shout out to My Cousin Vinny) do weird things to their faces and bodies with the goal of maximizing their attractiveness. One is famous for hitting himself in the jaw with a hammer, which, if I had know was effective, I could have used for Youngest's irregularly shaped lower mandible, and saved $8k on a surgical bill.

 

A newly popular concept is frictionmaxxing; adding in, you guessed it, friction to ordinary computer or machine assisted tasks so we don't all collectively lose our ability to think and move. If I had known about the term back in the old days, I would have used it to describe the sensation of wearing pantyhose in the summer.

 

But wait, there's more! Nonnamaxxing: acting like an Italian granny and making real food and taking time to enjoy it. I swear I'm not making this up, dear readers. Also, nothingmaxxing, which means Gen Z has discovered "daydreaming" and "staring into space vacantly."

 

On the flip side, you can also lifemaxx, making every aspect of your daily life all about productivity, improvement, and gainz. 

 

I've decided I should add some maxxing to my life. This are the fab new trends I propose, all of which I expect to see appear in trendy online magazines shortly.

 

Dopaminemaxxing - eating a whole bag of Reeses Easter peanut butter eggs (that you got for 50% off)

 

Sleepmaxxing - What's better than 8 hours? How about 10, with an extra half hour to snuggle under the duvet and nothingmaxx?

 

Fuelmaxxing - yeah, I'm driving 35 mph because that's the speed limit, buddy, and I don't care how close to my rear bumper you get with your Dodge Ram pickup. Don't you think about hitting me, because I'm also insurancemaxxing.

 

Gummaxxing - going to see if I an market this to my dentist as an alternative to the word 'flossing.'  I swear, this rebrand will probably turn a whole generation into after-every-meal flossers.

 

Babymaxxing - this is what I do when I drive up (at the speed limit, to save gas) and see my grandson Paulie. First I kiss his rosy cheeks (mwah!) then I play tummy tuba with his fat belly, and finally I eat his toes all up nom nom nom. Honestly, this is much more fun than any other maxxing. 

 

Shihtzumaxxiing - pretty much the same as babymaxxing, but with belly rubs instead of tummy tuba. 

 

Maxmaxxing - spending more time with my nephew Max.

 

Now it's your turn, dear readers. What do you think needs to be maxxed out in your life?