HANK
PHILLIPPI RYAN: Wine? Well, sure. (Somehow I can only drink wine when it’s dark,
weird, huh? But I can read about wine any time.)
In vino mysterium is the theme for a wonderful new anthology of short stories,
each blending a baffling mystery and a glass (or more) of cabernet. When eighteen mystery writers combine their talents, the result is
the perfect “flight” of stories that range from light-bodied puzzles to
sparkling cozies to darker, heavier tales of deceit and murder. While cabernet
is the featured wine, this anthology will appeal to connoisseurs of all
varietals—in both wine preference and mystery style.
I mean, yeah. I can be a joy to sip a nice drink
when reading about murder and other crimes? Last week Koehler Books published
that book, 50 Shades of Cabernet. And
today half of the 50 Shades authors
are visiting the Reds—and we asked:
Tell us about your story. What makes it
different?
“Who’s
Wine Is It Anyway?” by Barb Goffman
There’s a funny T-shirt slogan that says, “Be
careful or I’ll put you in my novel.” Well, I write short stories, but the same
sentiment applies.
In the mid-2000s I was preparing to leave the
large Washington, DC, law firm I’d worked at for five years. I often planned
events for our department, such as our annual holiday party. Doing so was a
nice break from due diligence and reading regulations and other fun stuff like
that. Yet I was a bit surprised when the partner with whom I worked most mentioned
that he was (and wasn’t) looking forward to my goodbye party that Friday. Had a
planned something great?
Now I enjoyed organizing department events, but
this still left my jaw hanging open.
“I have to plan my own goodbye party?” I asked
wide-eyed.
An uh oh
expression came over him as he realized that of course I shouldn’t have to do
that. He said he’d make sure someone else took care of it. And he did.
That conversation has stuck in my brain, and in
“Whose Wine Is It Anyway?” I finally put it to good use, writing a story of
Myra, a law firm secretary. In her final week at her firm, Myra learns that her
boss, Douglas, expects her to plan her own retirement party. Myra is already
upset with Douglas because he’s hired a bimbo to replace her, so Myra decides
to use this party to teach some lessons.
It took me more than a decade, but I finally put
my jaw-dropping moment to good use. So let this be a lesson to you: Don’t anger
mystery writers or you too may end up in a story, and it may not work out well,
either.
“Blown
Away” by Nancy Naigle
“Blown Away” is set at Pirates Cove Marina in
Manteo where I own a condo. My balcony overlooks the beautiful fishing boats.
It’s an inspiring place to write, and imagined a hundred stories there. When I
was asked to write a story for 50 Shades
of Cabernet I couldn’t wait to use this wonderful setting. I hope you’ll
enjoy this story about a heist gone wrong, and revenge taking place years
later. Shhhhh, don’t tell anyone that the bad guy is staying right in my condo
, and the take-down in the parking garage below.
“Wine,
Women, and Wrong” by Maggie King
Wine and sex. That’s how “Wine, Women, and
Wrong,” my contribution to 50 Shades of
Cabernet, a wine-themed mystery anthology, differs from the ones my
talented fellow authors penned.
I emphasize the sensuous aspects of red wine—the
taste, how it feels on the tongue. And I suggest a relationship between wine
and sex.
Consider my story opening:
“Ah!
Sweet, bursting with berry flavor.” Lanie Jacobs mimicked the sales pitch of
the wine merchant who’d poured the Ruby Port.
“Yet
firm.” Rhonda Reay sipped and actually moaned in ecstasy. “Powerful.”
Lanie
rolled her eyes. Was the woman having a sexual experience in the middle of a
wine tasting party? Rhonda was her best friend but she could be embarrassing.
Is red wine an aphrodisiac? Studies suggest that
it is. But I won’t get into the dull stuff, like brain activity and amines
(organic compounds present in wine). And, when you pair the wine with a tasty
appetizer, almost anything could happen!
“These
meatballs are amazing. They’re simply amazing.” Rhonda Reay popped one in her
mouth. Tommy interpreted the coy look on her face as inviting. “What’s in this
sauce?” she asked.
Tommy
tried to remember what Camille had told him. “I believe it’s a pomegranate
currant sauce.”
“It’s
amazing,” she repeated. “And it pairs beautifully with this cab.” Rhonda drew
her shoulders back and lifted her glass, as in a toast. “A graceful cabernet
with generous flavors of cranberries, blackberries, and light baking spices.
Full in body with a velvety smooth finish that coats the palate in soft tannins
and lovely fruit.”
Is it the Cabernet, the gourmet meatballs, or
the sexy Tommy that piques Rhonda Reay’s interest? Tommy is investigating the
attempted murder of a local wine merchant and is trying to find out what Rhonda
knows about it. Will he succumb to her charms and join her in a glass of
Cabernet? Or two?
Read “Wine, Women, and Wrong” and find out.
“Friday’s
Jewelry” by Ken Wingate
What makes “Friday's Jewelry” unique or different from all the
rest of the stories in 50 Shades of Cabernet?
It could be that the Louis M. Martini LOT No. 1 Cabernet Sauvignon
featured in the story is the most expensive of all the rest of the wines in the
other stories. It is considered one of the finest Cabernets
in the world.
It could be the beloved gift given by a grandmother to her
granddaughter, holding a most powerful secret.
It could be the life-long friendship of the two primary
characters.
It could be the surprising discovery in which the cork becomes the
center of the investigation and the undoing of the thief.
I challenge you to read “Friday's Jewelry” and come to your own
conclusion.
“Love the Wine You’re With” by Teresa Inge
“Love
the Wine You’re With” takes place at a Virginia Beach wine tasting and includes
a romance between Lewis McGehee, a real life, popular Virginia musician and my
protagonist, Jules Riley.
It was
fun incorporating Lewis and his music into the story and transporting readers
across Virginia’s unique but deadly landscape.
“Par for
the Course” by Heather Weidner
“Par for the Course” focuses on the dynamics
among the different generations within a wealthy family, and wine plays a key
role as one of the central businesses in their vast portfolio. I write what and
where I know, and the Commonwealth of Virginia has over 230 wineries. So, the
Blue Ridge Mountains became the perfect location for my fictional vineyard and
winery.
In
the story, Mona McKinley Scarborough, the family matriarch, doesn’t take no for
an answer. When she’s not successful at convincing her granddaughter, Amanda,
to make the right choice—to join the family’s winery—she plans a day of golf as
a chance to draw them closer together. Their chat reveals some deadly secrets,
and they learn that the grape may not fall far from the vine.
The
Scarborough family, who can trace their roots back to Jamestown and the
colonists, has been a fixture in Richmond’s capital society for more years than
anyone can count. Their roots and dirty little secrets run deep. I like
mysteries with lots of twists, and “Par for the Course” takes on several
meanings throughout this tale, where we learn that some family secrets are as
dark as the cabernet.
“And Wine
to Make Glad the Heart” by James M. Jackson and Tina Whittle
“And Wine to Make Glad the Heart” is the only
cowritten story in the anthology. It features Tina Whittle’s continuing
characters Tai Randolph and Trey Seaver and James M. Jackson’s Seamus McCree
and his darts-throwing mother. The four combine to solve a mystery involving
Civil War antiquities using logic, guile, tarot cards, and the finest boxed
cabernet (and other oxymorons).
“Name Your
Poison” by Maria Hudgins
Recently an author friend of mine posted a dire
notice on Facebook. She was expecting GUESTS. They were coming to stay at her
house for several DAYS and she was expected to prepare FOOD. To many people
this sounds like a good thing—unless these are guests you don’t like. But if you
do like them, this is a good thing. Right?
Not if you’re a writer.
If you are the sort of writer I am, a perfect
day is one in which the phone doesn’t ring, the doorbell doesn’t buzz, you have
edible food in the fridge, and you have a comfy place to write.
I laughed to read the comments my friend got
from other authors. “I feel your pain,” “Oh, I’m so sorry,” and “You can stay
in my garage.”
It’s a writer thing.
Of course every writer is different and I do
know some who are super-gregarious, but most of us are closet hermits. There’s
something wrong with that phrase, closet
hermits—a double negative? Anyway, here are the most common traits of
dedicated writers:
1.
We
observe life like a fly on the wall. It’s interesting but we avoid getting
involved.
2.
Everything
we say is reworded and reworded again in our heads. This limits how much we can
say on any given occasion.
3.
We
constantly write stories in our heads.
4.
We
are obsessed with our current Work-in-Progress.
5.
We
may be inherently messy or neat, but neither tendency concerns us much.
6.
We
aren’t procrastinators. At least those who are published aren’t
procrastinators.
7.
We
are not perfectionists. As Bunter said to Lord Peter: “Perfect, my Lord. That
is to say, slightly flawed.”
8.
Sometimes
we worry that we aren’t quite normal.
9.
We
are introverts. Our idea of hell is a cocktail party where we don’t know a
soul.
In the new anthology 50 Shades of Cabernet, my story, “Name Your Poison,” starts with a
cocktail party at a mystery conference—the sort of event where I usually drink
too much too fast in the hopes that it will loosen my tongue and make me
sparkle. Those of you who have attended a mystery conference will recognize the
scene, if not the hapless victim of the story.
By the way, every story in 50 Shades uses the word “cabernet” at least once. I challenge you
to find them all.
HANK: Do we get wine while we’re looking? That
is a treasure hunt I can completely get behind. Reds, are you wine aficionados?
What’s your favorite?
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A toast to the authors of this wonderful new
anthology!
And you can buy it here! Cheers!
If you want to help out an indie bookstore, here are two possibles:
