Fast Five for Friday... on Saturday

Kathy Reel is the winner of a copy of BOXING THE OCTOPUS by Tim Maleeny! Kathy, please give Tim your mailing address; you can reach him at Tim at Tim Maleeny dot com.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: It's another crazy weekend for the Reds, dear readers. Half of us are at Crime Bake, New England's premiere mystery writing conference, where Hallie is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award! Rhys is on deadline and Jenn is promoting both her holiday rom-com A CHRISTMAS KEEPER and her upcoming stand-alone, PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA. (Did you catch the cover reveal? You can see it and find out more on Jenn's Facebook!) In short, things are a bit frantic around here. Which means it's time for a Fast Five.

Today's FF theme is  WINTER IS COMING because holy forking shirtballs, we're supposed to get the first real snow of the season this Monday and Tuesday. I may pack myself in Lucy's suitcase before she leaves Crime Bake and smuggle myself to Key West.

1. What's something you need to do to finish getting ready for the change of season? (Warm weather friends, you can substitute getting ready for the holidays instead, but do be aware we hate you.)

2. What's your favorite thing to wear this time of year?

3. Hot cocoa, hot tea, rum toddies or Seasonal Affective Disorder?

4. One consolation for colder weather? The food! What's a dish you make when it's frosty outside? (Warm weather folks, you can substitute 62F for "frosty." Please see note, v.s., re: we hate you.)

5. It's important to get outside and appreciate nature in the 9 hours, 55 minutes 9 hours, 52 minutes 9 hours and 50 minutes of daylight we still have. What do you do to be outdoor and active this time of year?



JENN McKINLAY:

1. Something you need to do to finish getting ready for the change of season: Must finish revising one book and writing another! Cue maniacal laughter. Also, I need to replace the security door on the front of our house because now that it isn't 1,000 degrees outside, it's nice to have the door open (sorry, not sorry).


2. Your favorite thing to wear this time of year: JEANS! Finally, I can' put the shorts away and wear pants!!! Oh, joy.


3. Hot cocoa, hot tea, rum toddies or Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Cocoa, always cocoa, by the fire pit while we make s'mores cause it's in the fifties at night (shiver).


4. A seasonal dish you like to make: A butt ton of Xmas cookies, but also Posole because...Yuuuum.


5.  Your late fall outdoor activity: Swimming in the pool. (Again, sorry, not sorry).

RHYS BOWEN:

Something you need to do to finish getting ready for the change of season: 

Sorry, Julia  I hate even to mention this but I'm in Arizona where it’s still mid eighties. But when I return to California I will need to get the house ready for the family invasion this Christmas. All coming for once

2. Your favorite thing to wear this time of year:  my bathing suit  the pool is heavenly ( again sorry)

3. Hot cocoa, hot tea, rum toddies or Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Rhys: I’m really affected by the seasonal thing I’d which is why we went to Arizona in the first place  I can’t write if there is darkness and gloom

4. A seasonal dish you like to make:

 A big chicken stew  and any veggie soups  I had pre- made a freezer full of them until we lost power and my son had to throw them all away

5.  Your late fall outdoor activity: driving out into the desert. Taking photos

DEBORAH CROMBIE: 1. Something you need to do to finish getting ready for the change of season: I left for London with half of my winter clothes still in plastic tubs in the bedroom and summer clothes still in the closet. That will be waiting for me to sort when I get home.

2. Your favorite thing to wear this time of year: Sweaters and boots!   So glad to get out of shorts!

3. Hot cocoa, hot tea, rum toddies or Seasonal Affective Disorder? Tea and the occasional hot cocoa. I don't think I've ever had a toddy. What am I missing?

JULIA: Rum. Hot, sweet rum.

4. A seasonal dish you like to make: Any kind of soup. It was too hot all summer to enjoy soups.

5.  Your late fall outdoor activity:  Walking. And especially now in London. Even though it is cold and rainy, it's still wonderful to walk.

 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: 1. Something you need to do to finish getting ready for the change of season: Well, I'm twenty pages from the end of the new book, and it has be completely finished, pencils down, by Thanksgiving. I'm just back from being Guest of Honor at Bouchercon, and shockingly, no one wrote those pages while I was gone. Can you believe it? So, gang, I am writing. Monday.


2. Your favorite thing to wear this time of year: Fleece. Big fleece tops with hoods. I love hoods. And warm boots. Sweaters. With hoods. And big shawls. Hoods and shawls. And a blanket. 


3. Hot cocoa, hot tea, rum toddies or Seasonal Affective Disorder? Huh. Not big on any of those. Red wine?


4. A seasonal dish you like to make: Stuffing for turkey! Turkey. Chili.


5.  Your late fall outdoor activity: Going inside for a nap.  Under a blanket. 

JULIA: Those people in Arizona, we hates them, my precious. Yes, we hates them. Except for poor Rhys losing all those  stews and soups. That's the worst.

Okay, dear readers, you know the drill. It's your turn for Fast Five - copy and paste the questions into your comments and let 'er rip!


1. Something you need to do to finish getting ready for the change of season:


2. Your favorite thing to wear this time of year:


3. Hot cocoa, hot tea, rum toddies or Seasonal Affective Disorder?


4. A seasonal dish you like to make:


5.  Your late fall outdoor activity:

Fast Five for Mid-Summer

The winner of VICTORIA FALLS is Rick Robiinson! Rick, you can contact James Hornor on Gmail; he's jbhornor.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: This week is the midpoint of summer, half-way between Memorial day and Labor Day. Everyone is busy traveling, writing, visiting friends, and hopefully enjoying everything the season has to offer, so it's the  perfect moment for another Fast Five!

Favorite ice cream flavor?  Mint chocolate chip, especially Hood's Red Sox Green Monster Mint, where instead of chips you get tiny chocolate socks.

Roller coaster or Ferris wheel? Ferris wheel. Ross and I went on a roller coaster ONCE when our usual roller-coaster loving friend wasn't available and Youngest desperately wanted to ride. Greater love hath no parent than to induce nausea for his child.

Hat, sunglasses, or both? Both, and sunscreen. Mr. Sol is not your friend, people!

Beach house, lakeside cottage, or mountain retreat? I should say mountain retreat because it's more on-brand for my fiction, but I'm going to go with lake house. Preferable one that's also near a ski resort.

Best part of summer so far?  Working on time organization with Celia, July 4th on the eastern Prom in Portland, with fireworks and the PSO, Thrillerfest weekend in NYC!

LUCY BURDETTE:
Favorite ice cream flavor? Can I say root beer float? That's sweet cream ice cream and old fashioned root beer, yum...

Roller coaster or Ferris wheel? Ferris wheel--turns out a distant relative used to manufacture them, so how could I not?

Hat, sunglasses, or both? Ball cap and sunglasses

Beach house, lakeside cottage, or mountain retreat? We're doing double family reunions this summer. My side's took place beside lake Superior, which is incredibly beautiful. Next week beach side with 50 of John's family on Cape Cod. By then we'll need another vacation!

Best part of summer so far? Magical trip to Scotland with a dash of Ireland.

HALLIE EPHRON
Favorite ice cream flavor? The rose and lychee flavored gelato I had in Tuscany.

Roller coaster or Ferris wheel? Pass. Because ten years ago it would have been roller coaster. LOVE roller coasters. But I've read too much about how your brain sloshes around in your skull when you ride one.

Hat, sunglasses, or both? Definitely both. I have a straw hat that started out red and blue and green and it's now bleached pastel.

Beach house, lakeside cottage, or mountain retreat? Beach house. I like to take flat walks.

Best part of summer so far? Of course, teaching in Tuscany for Minerva Education. I worked with the most fantastic writers, ate the best food, and got to bring my husband along. Alora... when are we going back?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: 
Favorite ice cream flavor? Jamoca Almond Fudge. This is coffee ice cream with chocolate covered almonds. I ASK you--how great  is that?  Summer flavor, though--pineapple sorbet.

Roller coaster or Ferris wheel?  Roller coaster, theoretically, if don't actually have to ride it.  I think amusement park rides may be a thing of my past. Ferris wheels are, forgive me, boring.

Hat, sunglasses, or both? Both. Most def. Although my one regret in life (!) is that I look terrible in baseball caps. Sigh. But sunglasses are a gift from the heavens.

Beach house, lakeside cottage, or mountain retreat? Beach. No question. Because bugs.

Best part of summer so far?  I bought watermelon strawberry seltzer thinking it was pink grapefruit.  But! Mixed with vodka and ice and fresh lime? Winner. And..I dunno, happiness.

DEBORAH CROMBIE:
Favorite ice cream flavor? Haagen Daz Rum Raisin. And vanilla in a root beer float.

Roller coaster or Ferris wheel? Ferris wheel, if I must. Roller coasters are high on my "You couldn't pay me to..." list.

Hat, sunglasses, or both? Both. Love my big straw gardening hat.

Beach house, lakeside cottage, or mountain retreat? Hmm. Beach. I've never stayed in a beach house. Putting on my bucket list.

Best part of summer so far? My trip to visit my friend in Kansas City at the beginning of June. Lovely garden, lovely weather, lovely food, fun outings, and a homemade Cosmo or two.

RHYS BOWEN:
Favorite ice cream flavor: Three Twins salted caramel

Roller coaster or Ferris wheel?  I hate anything that goes fast but  can tolerate a Ferris Wheel. Especially a giant one with a view over the city.

Hat. Sunglasses or both?  Both when I am out walking or sightseeing. Never leave home without my sunglasses all year after cataract surgery.

Beach house, lakeside cottage or mountain retreat?  Beach house. Definitely. Love beaches especially white sandy ones bordered by palm trees.

Best part of summer so far? That one's easy. Spending two weeks with my daughter's family in a house on the River Seine in France. Such a wonderful time, sitting late on the deck by the river, enjoying a meal and laughing a lot.

Now it's your turn, dear readers! Cut and paste the questions and give us a glimpse of your summer in the comments.

 
Favorite ice cream flavor?

Roller coaster or Ferris wheel?

Hat, sunglasses, or both?

Beach house, lakeside cottage, or mountain retreat?

Best part of summer so far?