Nashville in a Nutshell

LUCY BURDETTE: this falls under the category of better late than never... You’ve read a lot of posts on Facebook about Bouchercon and Nashville, but I’ll add a few memories of my own. This time my hub John came with me, and I’d promised him that we would see some of the sights in Nashville. We started out at the Bluebird Café Thursday night. We were both huge fans of the TV show Nashville with Connie Britton. All the up-and-coming wannabe musicians on that show ended up performing at the Bluebird Café. Here's one of the scenes that sticks in my head, and below that, a few photos of the venue. (I was pleased with myself for scoring those tickets as you have to study the times they go up for sale, be ready to click, and not freeze over what seats to choose!)

Of course it was amazing to see friends and soon to be friends from the writing community, including Jungle Red Writers. Here are a few bonus photos including Dru Ann, the gang from Mystery Lovers Kitchen, Hank and Lucy with Liz, my pal Elise Hart Kipness on her first panel with Harlan Coben , and the panel I moderated on amateur sleuths with Ellery Adams, Libby Klein, AVA January, Molly Cox Bryan and cozy guest of honor and lovely person, Valerie Burns. Lots of other red readers came up to say hello, including Pat S, Grace, Lisa from Long Beach, and Maddee. I know I’ve missed some names--so sorry about that. Several people mentioned that they lurk as they are too shy to comment. Please know that we so look forward to hearing from each one of you on the blog! 

Saturday night, we saw a show at the Grand Old Opry, 

and on Sunday we popped into Nashville proper. The highlight of that day was a stop at Ann Patchett’s Parnassus books. She’s a real hero to me, not only for her books but for her stand on banning books, and supporting indy bookstores.

Huge conferences like this are always a mixed bag because I’m reminded that 50% of me is solid introvert. I tell myself that I don’t have to see everything and talk to everyone—It’s okay to take breaks and also to enjoy the surrounding city. How about you Reds, what are your tips for thriving at a big event? Does a crowd intimidate or invigorate you?

Nashville Cats?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:

I am in Nashville! If all went as planned. And at first I thought: I can’t remember if I’ve ever been here before. Which is super scary, because, of course I have, I was guest of honor at Killer Nashville, a couple of years ago, but I could have been anywhere, you know? Since I don’t think I ever left the hotel.

(Although I could NOT have been “anywhere.” Because I was guest of honor, I was given an actual real guitar as a gift.)

Charlie Donlea was my co-guest of honor, and here we are, baffled.

I do not know how to play the guitar, but someday, maybe, if I ever decide to learn, then I will have one. All good.

Oh, and looking at my photos, sigh, I realize I was there in 2014, too. Teaching at a Sisters in Crime event, which was fantastic. This photo makes me a little teary. I do miss Laura DiSIlverio. And we HOWLED over this photo. Have you ever seen any clashier group of prints?

And so coincidental that Catriona was here on JRW yesterday!

So, Nashville. And it’s Bouchercon, the world mystery convention. (With maybe 1500 people, for better or worse.)   I will see Lucy! And lots of other friends, and… I hope to see you. Will you be there? What’s YOUR schedule?

Here’s mIne, NOT including things like the Anthoys, or opening ceremonies, or a whole list of parties! And big big meetings. BIG.

Thursday

4-4:50 PM: Panel “Behind Closed Doors”

Hank moderates, with Carter Wilson, Joshua Moehling, J.T. Ellison, Laura Benedict and David Bell

9-10:00 PM: Special Minotaur Event!

Saturday

10:30 AM Forge Booksigning and Giveaway!

1-1:50 PM: Panelist “Kickass Women”

Hank with Kate White, Charlaine Harris, Tracy Clark, Kelli Stanley and Laura Benedict

9-9:30 PM: Bouchercon Auction

Hank is auctioneer!

And SO much more–but I cannot list it all.  (I probably won't get another guitar….)

But let’s just say …IF I ventured out of the hotel. Let’s just say. Where should I go, what should I do? 

Who has some Nashville recommendations?

(And you remember that sone Nashville Cats, right?)

Diane Kelly on Building and Rebuilding America #bookgiveaway

 HALLIE EPHRON: Today we're so happy to have Diane Kelly on the blog. She is the author of three dozen (!!!) funny mysteries featuring feisty female lead characters and their furry, four-footed sidekicks. Like many of us, she has a speckled past – her job working as a tax advisor with what turned out to be white-collar criminals drove her into self-employment, and lucky us that it did.

She’s here today to talk about the special affinity she has for old neighborhoods that wear their history well, and her latest novel, Book #6 in her House Flipper cozy mystery series, Four Alarm Homicide.

She’s giving away a copy of the book (winner’s choice of paperback, Nook, or Kindle – limited to US and Canada), choosing a lucky commenter at random, and we’ll announce the winner in tomorrow’s blog.

DIANE KELLY: I’ve always had a thing for old buildings, especially Victorian houses, brownstones, townhouses, and tenements. My ancestors ventured from Ireland to the United States during the potato famine and, though I know little about the details of their lives after they arrived in America, I have enjoyed learning about the lives of other immigrants on visits to the Tenement Museum in New York City.

If you find yourself in New York City and haven’t yet visited the Tenement Museum, I’d highly recommend it. Nothing will make you appreciate your home, no matter how humble, like seeing the tiny, dark, bare-bones rooms in which large immigrant families lived, often with only a single window to provide natural light and one communal bathroom shared with dozens of other tenants. You can find out more about the Tenement Museum at: https://www.tenement.org/

While I figured I’d learn a few things about old structures while performing research for my House Flipper series, I hadn’t anticipated learning so many fascinating details about the history of the areas and the former inhabitants. For instance, when researching Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood, which is featured in Four-Alarm Homicide, I learned that the popular neighborhood was established in 1850 and initially populated primarily by European immigrants. Most of the residents came from Germany—hence the name—though Irish, Italian, and Swiss immigrants joined in the mix.

Germantown was considered Nashville’s first suburb. Many of the residents worked as butchers, often conducting their business in their own yards and selling the meat door to door. Not all of Germantown’s residents were poor, however. Famous distiller George Dickel is one notable resident. The well-heeled built their brick townhomes right next to the modest workers’ cottages.

Although Germantown thrived for decades, when streetcars lines were established in the early 1900’s and allowed people to live conveniently farther from downtown, it became unfashionable to live in older neighborhoods so close to the city center. Large meat-packing plants replaced small butcher businesses.

When World War I broke out, news of the Germans’ atrocities in Europe led to animosity towards German immigrants. Many feared for their safety. The neighborhood fell into further decline until the 1970’s, when a group of people interested in historical preservation set their sights on the area and turned things around, rehabbing buildings that were close to being slated for demolition, including many of the beautiful townhouses.

Now, Germantown is once again a thriving community, home to all sorts of people who enjoy its walkable lifestyle and easy access to downtown Nashville.

Are there older neighborhoods where you live that were established by immigrants long ago? If so, what countries were the immigrants primarily from? Has the neighborhood maintained its culture, and have the buildings and the area’s history been preserved?

HALLIE: I love old neighborhoods that still show their history and quirky old houses (like the one I live in). Sadly, when I go back to the California town where I grew up, absolutely NOTHING is recognizable. It’s happening to downtown Boston. So Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are characters I root for.

Four-Alarm Homicide: Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are hot for a historical property that just came on the market – a fire station in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood that was built a century ago. What’s more, once the station is rehabbed, it would be the perfect place for Whitney and her fiancé, homicide detective Collin Flynn, to exchange vows and host their wedding reception.

The cousins have just begun demolition work when Joanna Hartzell comes by with a plea for help. Joanna owns the right half of a townhouse, which she maintains in perfect condition. The couple who lived in the left half passed away, leaving their property to their seven adult children, none of whom will lift a finger to maintain the place. Joanna asks Whitney and Buck to step in and work their remodeling magic—assuming they can convince the heirs to sell. When Joanna later shows up at the fire station confused and rambling, then collapses, Whitney summons medical help.

Nothing can be done for the poor woman, who dies in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Alarm bells go off for Whitney. She suspects something sinister is afoot. Can she and Collin put the clues together and catch a killer when all of the suspects seem to be blowing smoke?

Diane Kelly writes cozy mystery series, including the Death & Taxes white-collar crime series, the Paw Enforcement K-9 series, the House Flipper cozy mystery series, the Busted female motorcycle cop series, the Southern Homebrew moonshine series, and the Mountain Lodge Mysteries series. When not writing, Diane enjoys playing with her pets and hiking in the woods in her home state of North Carolina. Find Diane online at www.DianeKelly.com, at her Author Diane Kelly page on Facebook, or at @DianeKellyBooks on Instagram, Twitter/X, Pinterest, and TikTok.

Reds look forward to fall TV

HALLIE EPHRON: It's always a little sad when the temperature starts to drop, as it has this past week in New England, and we know that after fall (my second favorite season) will come winter (ick). On the up side, no more "Member Favorites!" on Public TV (exactly whose favorites are they, anyway? And am I the only one that thinks some of these are 'pay to play'?)

The new shows are here!

The other night I watched "Churchill's Secret" on PBS. With the glorious Michael Gambon as Churchill recovering from a stroke that nearly killed him and was kept secret. I'll watch anything with Michael Gambon in it. Michael Gambon aka Albus Dumbledore. The Singing Detective. Michael Gambon whom I had the great pleasure of seeing in London perform in "The Unexpected Man," a two-character play with Eileen Atkins... sitting six rows back center with my young children who were as transported as I was by the performances of two true greats.

And I'm dying to know what our resident expert on Churchill thinks. Susan did you see? And of course it made me think too about what a great TV vehicle Susan's Maggie Hope series will hopefully be.

I'm also watching "Stranger Things" on PBS. Rejoice, X-Files junkies! I am one. Savoring this slowly, so NO SPOILERS! And isn't it nice to see Winona Ryder chewing the scenery. Terrific performances all around. Those kids? Amazing! 
   
And, don't tell anyone but I'm re-watching Star Trek Voyager.

As the new TV season takes off, what are you looking forward to watching?

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: I haven't seen Churchill's Secret yet, Hallie, but can't wait. It was odd to write about his illness in MRS. ROOSEVELT'S CONFIDANTE because I don't believe Maggie Hope would have known, yet had to allude to his pallor, unexplained absences, etc.

Fall TV? Noel and I are looking forward to Once Upon a Time, which we watch with Kiddo and I will admit to still watching Grey's Anatomy after all these years. Right now watching Broadchurch on Netflix — halfway through season 2. And when is The Fall (with Gillian Andersen and Jamie Dornan) coming back?

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Oh, gosh, I remember The Fall Season when I was a kid and there were only three channels and PBS (and we drove to our one-room schoolhouse in a buggy...) I would pour over the extra-extra large edition of TV Guide (Didn't everyone have a subscription to TV Guide?) with the pictures and synopses and behind-the-scenes glimpses. Nowadays, I'll notice something about a show online only to discover it was a limited run summer series and I've already missed it!

Can I include shows that won't air in the US until this winter? I'm looking forward to MORE POLDARK. I understand there will be sweaty bare chested mining to replace the sweaty bare chested scything. I'm very much looking forward to Kiefer Sutherland in Designated Survivor. I never saw much 24, so I still think of him as a terrific indy film actor, and the premise sounds fascinating. Also, Shonda Rhimes has a new series out that looks like what you'd get if you mixed Shakespeare, Once Upon a Time and a romance novel together. It's called Still Star-Crossed, and it has an amazing trailer.

Hallie, you're the second person I know to rave about Stranger Things. I'm going to have to try it! Thank God for Hulu Plus, or I'd never be able to catch up on continuing story television.

RHYS BOWEN: I watched Mr. Churchill's Secret on Sunday. It was brilliant. Such a good script and good acting, and it's always interesting to learn something one never knew about a public person. I felt the same about the series telling the life of Prince John, the youngest son of King George V who had epilepsy and died young. I'm also looking forward to more Poldark and, strangely enough, I plan to catch one or two episodes with all the old guys in Asia (you know William Shattner, Henry Winkler etc. I love travel-related shows.)

LUCY BURDETTE: Oh I am not the person to ask about great TV in our house (that would be John!) I watch the PBS news and then head off to read. But I still want to catch up on the latest ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK season and we are several years behind in THE GOOD WIFE. But best of all, I just read that my favorite current show, NASHVILLE, will premiere its season 5 on January 5. I only have to figure out how to either get CMT or stream through Hulu…

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Churchill's Secret, yes, indeed! And the Kiefer Sutherland Designated Survivor, which sounds like a rip-o--er, borrowing from THE MAN by Irving Wallace, right?  And yes, the return of Project Runway. And won't there be a new season of THE AMERICANS? And you know how I love POWER! (The show, you know what I mean.)  

I'm also interested in PITCH, about a woman who's the first to pitch for major league baseball. Hmmm..I wish TIMELESS, the time travel series, was good. But it's not getting good reviews. Bring back QUANTUM LEAP! 

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Aw, I was looking forward to TIMELESS. I'll give it a try in spite of the reviews. I love time travel shows, and yes, bring back QUANTUM LEAP.

Also looking forward to DESIGNATED SURVIVOR. I got burned out on the last couple of seasons of 24, but I do love Kiefer, and it's an interesting premise. And POLDARK! (I was a huge fan of Aidan Turner from a show called BEING HUMAN, long before he was cast in POLDARK.)

I loved CHURCHILL'S SECRET, too. That's the ONLY thing I'm current on. I seem to get farther and farther behind on TV. We're just starting Season 1 of TREME!

Oh, and am going to look up STRANGER THINGS right now! Thanks for the tip, Hallie.

HALLIE: So how about the rest of you? What are you looking forward to seeing or catching up on as the temperatures drop?

Stay Tuned For...

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I don't know about you, ladies, but my life has been hectic and then some lately. When I spend all day driving daughters and husband around, walking dogs, dashing into the grocery store/hardware store/gas station/Michaels for bags of tiny mirrors that have to be delivered to the high school (CURSE YOU SCIENCE TEACHERS AND YOUR "HANDS-ON PROJECTS"!!!) and, of course, squeezing in some time to actually, you know, make my living by writing a book-- whew! After a day like that, the only thing I want to do is fall back onto the sofa and veg out in front of the tube.

So what am I watching? Youngest and I are both into SLEEPY HOLLOW with super-dreamy Tom Mison playing an Ichabod Crane that old Washington Irving would never recognize. SLEEPY HOLLOW and our other fave, ONCE UPON A TIME, have several things in common: 1) smoldering bearded men in leather pants 2) strong female characters 3) plots that are so utterly absurd you just have to surrender your right brain and go with the flow.


Youngest tried to get me to watch REIGN, which is ostensible about Mary, Queen of Scots during the years she lived in France, but after seeing one episode, I declared a boycott. I could maybe excuse the modern prom-dress stying, or the fact the ladies of the court wear their hair like they're headed for a hippie music festival. But when the writers changed Mary's attendants names from Mary, Mary, Mary and Mary, to  Kenna, Greer, Lola  and Aylee (Aylee?!?!) that was a bridge too far.

Ross and I like to watch AGENTS OF SHIELD, which has plots, superheros, backstabbing, Clark Gregg (love him!) and conveniently wraps up by our bedtime on Sunday (9pm.) My very favorite show, ELEMENTARY, has just started up its third season! I remain impressed with the writers of ELEMENTARY, because setting up and solving a decent mystery in 45 minutes of screen time is close to impossible - and they consistently do it. I only figure out the murderer in about half the episodes, unlike my old fave CASTLE, where I could usually spot the killer by the second commercial break.


As you can tell, I look for sheer escapism when I watch TV. No doctor dramas, no heartfelt families struggling with blah, blah, blah. And, hopefully, nothing that gets cancelled in half a season.

How about you, Reds? What are you watching?

LUCY BURDETTE: I have a one-track mind right now, and it's on NASHVILLE. I know it's a soap opera (geez will every single character have slept with every other character by the time the run is over?), but I love it anyway. Yes, I'd like to shake them all and tell them to talk to each other, but I wouldn't miss an episode. Love the music too!

This is off the TV topic, but when we're in Key West, we can walk to the Tropic Cinema. So we've seen two movies recently--GONE GIRL and THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU. Both recommended, especially the latter if you want something funny and poignant, with an upbeat ending. The ending to Gone Girl was true to the book--brutal...

 
RHYS BOWEN: Of course for the last few weeks I've watched Giants, Giants and more Giants. In fact I've developed arthritis in the hips for not moving for three hours at a time. But my current favorites are the new Sherlock Holmes, Call the Midwife and The Amazing Race. But I have to confess that the nerdy side of me comes out watching TV and I'm often to be found staring at Nova and the origins of the universe.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I was mesmerized by OUTLANDER, even on the episode when I said to Jonathan--this is kind of repetitious, isn't it? But I didn't care. It was gorgeous. And I want all those knit scarves. MADAM SECRETARY and THE GOOD WIFE, both wonderful. Cannot wait for more GAME OF THRONES.  





Sherlock, of course, and Amazing Race.  You know my guilty pleasure is Project Runway, still.  Being on the road so much is making me miss everything, but Jonathan is dvr'ing like mad. He happily watched baseball, knowing we'll see our favorite shows together when I get home. HOMELAND is waiting!  (I have never seen Nashville, Lucy! Dare I begin...?)


HALLIE EPHRON: I confess, I do veg out in front of the TV at night. Two shows I try not to miss: THE GOOD WIFE and SCANDAL. The former is seriously good, amazing writing and acting; the second is outrageous and just ridiculously addictive. I'm addicted to ANTIQUES ROADSHOW and SHERLOCK (will there be more episodes?) Am I the only one who watched the PBS show about penguins? Mesmerizing.



JULIA: How about you, dear readers? What's the must-see TV at your house?

Five SMALL Thanksgivings

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Jungle Red to all of you! We hope you are all eating a bit too much, and that someone other than you gets to do the washing up!

But if you have a minute to celebrate with us, we have a Thanksgiving Challenge for you.

Once again, there are exclusions: We are all (we hope) thankful for our families and our friends, our pets, food on the table, our health, our homes, and BOOKS. So tell us FIVE other little things that make this day, or any other day, a little brighter.

I'll go first:

DEBS: 1) I'm thankful that my daughter convinced me to try Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. It sounded really weird, but it turned out to be delicious.

2)I just discovered that I like persimmons.  That proves that there are always interesting new things to look forward to.

3)And speaking of interesting new things, I came home from a week's writing retreat to find that my husband had grown a beard. This is the first time in the forty years I've known him that I've ever seen him with a beard. I think I like it.

4)I just have to get in the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special.

With this week's frigid North Texas temps, I am more thankful than ever that we installed a gas jet in our fireplace when we had to rebuild the chimney a few years ago. No more Girl Scout fire-building skills needed.  Just put in some logs and turn on the gas.  Bliss.  Just add hot chocolate and a boo--opps, sorry. I almost threw in the B word.

Now, your turn, REDS. No cheating.

RHYS BOWEN:I have an awful lot to be thankful for this week with my whole family assembled around me as we celebrate a milestone birthday for my husband. But I'll try to come up with little things1. I'm thankful that I've never grown up, that I can still enjoy silly play and being a kid with my grandkids. I was told I was the only grandmother someone had ever seen chasing her granddaughters over the play structure and up the rock wall.2.I'm thankful I love to sing. When I'm with a choir singing great music I get chills
3.I'm thankful we import tea from England for our daily cuppe and that we still have that civilized four o'clock ritual.
4. I'm thankful for PBS. Otherwise the TV would never get turned on.
5. I'm thankful we have a Fresh and Easy store near us in Phoenix that stocks Crunchie bars. Absolutely my favorite candy.

HALLIE EPHRON: First off, I'm grateful to Debs that I don't have to come up with a seee-rious list of things I"m grateful for. I'm thankful for:
1.Hot smoked paprika, a spice which I only recently discovered and which I now use in my rub for chicken before roasting (or barbecuing). So delicious!
2. My immersion blender, which makes all kinds of wintery soups easy and no blender to clean up after.
3. My UGGS. I bought a pair 4 years ago and live in them through the winter. I cannot function if my feet are cold.
4. My daily newspaper. Hard copy. So grateful it's still being printed so I can have comics and the bridge column with my morning coffee.
5. And echoing Rhys on this, public television. Scott & Bailey. George Gently. Doc Martin. Downton. Antiques Roadshow. And so much more.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh, little things. Let's see...

1. Wine. What can I say. My mom died a few years ago, and one of her legacies to me was part of her wine cellar. We have been having DELICIOUS wine, and we toast to her every time. (I'm embarrassed to put this first, but I did think of it first..)
2. Yeah, the things my mother left me. Including gorgeous scarves, which I wear all the time. You'd think it might make me sad, but it doesn't.
3. My iphone. I LOVE it. When I can't find it, I begin to freak out, which is scary. But it's a fabulous invention. And ON Demand TV. (This is the technology choice. So I can choose both things.)
4. Yes, Daily newspaper, at the breakfast table, with coffee. Starbucks Christmas blend! 
5.  Our ducks that come every spring. And our garden.

LUCY BURDETTE: Okay I'm thinking...
1. thankful for my morning walk with John and Tonka, which ends up with a cafe con leche at The Cuban Coffee Queen
2. thankful for the TV show Nashville on NBC. I'm crazy for this show--the music, the stars, the soap opera plot!
3. thankful for cheese, especially sharp cheddar--for toasted cheese

sandwiches, mac and cheese, and cheese on anything
4. Eyesight. What in the world would I do if I couldn't read??
5. fur and the animals who wear it. Nothing more soothing than ruffling the fur of one of my guys. While watching Nashville. and eating cheese (just kidding there:)

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: One of my favorite quotes is: Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.? ? A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

OK, now for five things:

1) I'm grateful that even though we live in the city, our windows face into the middle of a block, so we have a beautiful view of trees and can hear the birds sing.
2) I'm grateful for Frank's Hot Sauce, a Buffalo staple and what's used on real wings. I put it on almost everything. My husband jokes I'd put it on ice cream?
3) I'm thankful for our "nurse cat" Xander ? he's a bit of a grumpy old man-cat, but if anyone's sick or sad, he's right there, snuggling and purring.
4) I'm almost embarrassed to admit this, but thankful for the new CW show, Reign. Even though it's historically inaccurate, it's jolly good fun ? and has distracted me through a lot of dark moments this fall.
5) Sick today and thankful to work from home, in my PJs, with tea and cats.

DEBS: Rhys, congrats to John!  Your celebration sounds fabulous.  And you are indeed the "games mistress" :-) If I ever want to organize a big bash, I'm calling you.

Susan, writing in PJs with tea and cats is always the best, but here's hoping you're feeling more festive on the day.

Hank, if I'd inherited anyone's wine, it would be first on my list!

Hallie, how does anyone live without an immersion blender?

And Lucy, I haven't seen Nashville. Nor Reign, Susan.  But I do have On-Demand TV...

What about you, readers?  What five SMALL things are you thankful for today?

(And we here at Jungle Red are very thankful for YOU, which is no small thing at all!)