Blood Ties and Deadly Lies by Ang Pompano

 LUCY BURDETTE: It's always a pleasure to host my good friend Ang Pompano to the blog. Welcome Ang!

ANG POMPANO: Hello, Reds! It’s great to be back. I always feel at home here because Lucy, Hallie, and Hank were among the very first “real authors” I ever met. And they were so kind to me. Over the years, through conferences and book events, I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting Jen, Deborah, Julia, and of course Rhys. Each of you has been so encouraging that you truly feel like family.

And speaking of family…

Have you ever taken a DNA test? If so, did you discover anything that surprised you? Did you trust the results?

Those were the questions on my mind as I started writing Blood Ties and Deadly Lies, the second book in my Blue Palmetto Detective Agency series.

In the first book, When It’s Time for Leaving, retired cop Al DeLucia heads to Savannah to take over the detective agency given to him by the father who abandoned him. Al’s not exactly the sentimental type. If he has a soft side, it’s buried under layers of sarcasm, skepticism, and New Haven street smarts.



Al's Sachem Creek


Now, in Blood Ties and Deadly Lies, Al’s past crashes into his present when his high school nemesis, Abe Cromwell, a guy Al once dreamed of throwing into Long Island Sound, shows up with a wild story. Abe’s been arrested for assault and claims Al is his brother. Not a long-lost half-brother. A full-blooded, DNA-certified sibling.

Al doesn’t buy it. But something about Abe’s claim gets under his skin. When an old friend dares him to return to their hometown of Sachem Creek, Connecticut, to finally win the cross-Sound kayak race he was once cheated out of, Al agrees. Not to help Abe, but because he’s got a score to settle.

What Al doesn’t expect is to be handed hard DNA evidence that suggests Abe might be telling the truth. Before long, he and his partner Maxine are pulled into a case involving murder, family secrets, and a trail of lies that leads all the way back to colonial New England.

I won’t spoil how it’s possible for Al and Abe to be full brothers because trust me, it’s a twist. But I will say this: DNA doesn’t just tell you who you are. Sometimes, it tells you who you aren’t.

Writing this book got me thinking about how many people have taken DNA tests only to discover unexpected siblings, family secrets, or completely new cultural roots. It raises uncomfortable and fascinating questions. What really makes someone family? Is it blood? Loyalty? Shared history? And when a stranger shows up with scientific “proof” and says, We’re related, how do you even begin to trust that?

So I’ll ask you:

Have you ever taken a DNA test? Did you find anything that surprised you? Did you trust the results? And would you go to bat for someone just because the science says you share the same genes?

Ang Pompano is a mystery author, editor, publisher, and food blogger.  He writes the Blue Palmetto Detective Agency, and the Reluctant Food Columnist series, both published by Level Best Books. In addition to his writing, Ang is a co-founder of Crime Spell Books and serves as co-editor of the Best New England Crime Stories anthology. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Annette, an artist, and their two rescue dogs. His latest novel, Blood Ties and Deadly Lies, drops on July 1. Learn more at www.angpompano.com

Buy Link: https://amzn.to/43NNlaM 

Everything Old is New Again by Ang Pompano

 LUCY BURDETTE: today we welcome back good friend Ang Pompano, who has a re-release of an excellent book, and as always, some comments on changes in the world…

ANG POMPANO: Thanks so much for inviting me back, Lucy. I always enjoy visiting with my Jungle Red friends.

Some of you may know the Peter Allen song “Everything Old Is New Again.” It’s not a new idea, Jonathan Swift was saying the same thing centuries ago. But it’s been on my mind lately, especially when I think about education.

I taught for thirty-five years. That’s long enough to watch trends sweep in with the next great idea, disappear when another idea comes around, and then, inevitably, return. Early in my schooling, I remember my second-grade teacher teaching us phonics from a book she kept hidden in an open drawer, ready to slide shut if the principal walked in. Phonics was out; whole language was in.

Fast-forward to my own classroom years later, and we were proudly teaching cursive writing with impunity. I don’t even remember whether I was taught the Palmer Method or not, but I do remember loving the feel of the pen in my hand and the way ink flowed as letters connected with loops and swirls. There was something satisfying about it. And I saw that same pride on my students’ faces when their handwriting finally “clicked.”

Then, toward the end of my career, the powers that be decided cursive was no longer necessary. Keyboards would take its place. Once again, veteran teachers found themselves doing what my second-grade teacher had done years earlier, quietly teaching cursive while keeping one eye on the door.

And now? Everything old is new again. Some states have begun reinstating cursive instruction, recognizing that penmanship teaches more than how to write pretty letters. It builds fine motor skills, strengthens hand–eye coordination, reinforces spelling and reading, improves memory and focus, and encourages patience and persistence. Skills that matter well beyond the page.

Speaking of things coming around again, I’m happy to share that my book Diet of Death has been rereleased, ahead of its follow-up, Simmering Secrets, which will be out next year. Proof that even in mystery writing, everything old is new again. Readers, what do you think? Should penmanship be taught again?

Ang Pompano is a mystery author, editor, and unapologetic food enthusiast. He is the creator of the Blue Palmetto Detective Agency and the Reluctant Food Columnist series, where he blends twisty crime with sharp wit and a well-stocked pantry. His latest novel, Diet of Death, was released in January 2026. Ang is a co-founder of Crime Spell Books and co-editor of the Best New England Crime Stories anthology. He shares his twin passions for prose and provisions at Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen. He and his wife Annette, who is an artist, live in Connecticut with their two rescue dogs.

Gillian B as the winner of the ARC from Maddie Day/Edith Maxwell. Contact her at edith@edithmaxwell dot com!

When It's Time for Leaving by Ang Pompano

LUCY BURDETTE: I'm wriggling with delight as I introduce you to today's debut novelist guest. My pal Ang and I have been in the same writing group for close to twenty years. It's simply thrilling to see him publish his first book when he's worked toward that goal for so long! Welcome Ang!

Early Reds: Jan, Rosemary, Hank, Lucy, Hallie

ANG POMPANO: Lucy, I can’t believe I’m here on Jungle Red with all of you amazing writers! I’ve known most of you for a long time but I never thought I’d be above the comment line. Do you remember when Hallie asked me to take this picture of you at Crime Bake in 2010?

The group has changed and grown a bit but you all look just the same. As for me, it just goes to show that if you live long enough good things are bound to happen to you. 

LUCY: It's not only living long enough, you've worked hard for this moment! Tell us something about how you chose to set WHEN IT’S TIME FOR LEAVING in Savannah.

ANG: When I wrote the book, it was set on an island off Florida. I knew I wanted to tell a cross genre story that blended traditional mystery and action. I had a scene on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge where Al’s PTSD from a bridge shoot-out kicks in. I also had a scene in the Everglades with alligators. 

So, I emailed my agent: “I’ve got this story that’s a mystery inside a mystery, but it’s also got family drama, and action. It has bridges, it has alligators! What do you think?

She wrote back: “I love it. But I can’t sell it. The publishers say they have too many stories set in Florida. Change the setting.”

I said, "but it has bridges! And alligators! Carl Hiaasen writes about Florida.” 

She wrote back, “You’re not Carl Hiaasen. In fact, you’re not even Tim Dorsey. Change the setting.”

I said, “Fine I know L.A. It has the Vincent Thomas Bridge. I’ll change the Everglades to the desert. The alligators can become rattlesnakes.”

Her answer, “Too many set in L.A. And before you argue, I remind you, you’re not Michael Connelly."

Then it dawned on me. Savannah, one of my favorite cities, has a huge bridge. And it isn’t far from the Okefenokee Swamp which has alligators. Lots and lots of alligators. It was the best move Al and I ever made.

LUCY: It’s cheating a little to ask this because I know you pretty well. But are there aspects of the story based on your life, or did you make it all up? we’d love to hear about the father-son relationship…

ANG: Sometimes Annette, my wife, will give me a suggestion for a book or story. But usually they come about from an experience that I expand upon. For example, in When It’s Time for Leaving, the protagonist, Al, has a father who has Alzheimer’s. My father also suffered from the disease. But my father was a typical all-American Dad. To write a story about the two of us would probably win me a Nobel Prize for curing insomnia. So, I gave Al and his father, Big Al, a bad relationship, which changes over the course of the book.  

LUCY: Your first short story was published in 1990, but this is your first published novel—another overnight sensation! What has surprised you most about the process of getting published?

ANG: An agent once told me getting published was a long, rocky road. She didn’t tell me that after building the road (writing the book) you had to pave it smooth. You can’t have the attitude that once the book is written your job is over. There is plenty of help in our generous writing community, but even then, you have to take the initiative to get your manuscript noticed by agents and publishers.

LUCY: What made you decide you wanted to write mysteries?

ANG: I loved mysteries even as a kid. It all started when Chip and Dale stole Donald Duck’s Toy Train.   

I would write my own little books on folded paper. As I learned to read better I moved on to the Toms; Tom Sawyer and Tom Swift, Jr. In high school I wrote for newspaper and literary magazine. I liked to write humor that I patterned after my idol, Mark Twain. My early stories as an adult ran the gamut from humor to literary fiction. Then as a Yale-New Haven Teacher Fellow I had the chance to study Gender, Race, and Milieu in Detective Fiction with Paul Fry, the William Lampson Professor of English at Yale. I was so intrigued that my focus has been on mystery ever since.

LUCY: What do you find most challenging about writing?

ANG: Everything. The biggest challenge is to get myself into the chair and put my fingers on the keyboard. Once I get over that hurtle I spend a lot of time laboring over which words to use, sentence structure, and all of the “rules” of writing mystery. Am I telling too much? Am I playing fair with the reader by giving enough clues? Then when I think it’s halfway decent I send it to my wonderful writing group. 

Lucy, Ang, and Chris at Ang's book launch

That would be you, and Chris Falcone. We’ve worked together for 20 years and I can’t begin to tell you how important you guys were to getting this book into the world. Annette, who is a painter, has a saying, “A painting is never finished. It’s abandoned.” I think that applies to writing as well. My problem is that I never know when to “abandon” a manuscript. I know there are authors who write good books in a month. If I finish a manuscript in a year that’s quick. 

LUCY: What makes your books different from others in this genre?

ANG: WHEN IT’S TIME FOR LEAVING is a traditional mystery with a male protagonist. Most of the bigger publishers have this notion that women readers (most of the people who read traditional mystery are female) will not read a male protagonist. The publishers (all except mine, the amazing duo of Cynthia Brackett-Vincent and Ed Vincent of Encircle Publications) do not give female readers enough credit for being open minded enough to read a male protagonist. 

LUCY: What’s coming next for you?

ANG: I’m still writing short stories. I had one called “Diet of Death” in this year’s Malice Domestic Anthology. I also have a story called “Stringer” in the upcoming Level Best anthology SEASCAPE.  Most people don’t know that I sometimes work as a freelance videographer, i.e., a stringer. I thought it would make a good story. 

I’m working on a sequel to WHEN IT’S TIME FOR LEAVING called I HOPE YOU’LL UNDERSTAND. Plus, I have two other finished manuscripts with my agent. One is called KILLER VIEW and the other is called THE WESTPORT DIET MURDERS which is a novel that Malice story was based on. I hope to have news about them soon. 

Red readers, how do you feel about traditional mysteries that feature male protagonists?

About Ang: WHEN IT’S TIME FOR LEAVING, is Ang Pompano’s debut novel. He has stories in the 2019 Malice Domestic Anthology, and BEST NEW ENGLAND CRIME STORIES 2019. His academic pieces include one on teaching detective fiction. A recipient of the Helen McCloy/MWA Scholarship for a novel in progress, he is on the Crime Bake Planning Committee and is a board member of Sisters in Crime New England. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Annette, and their two rescue dogs. 

More about Ang:

Amazon  

Website http://angpompano.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/A.J.Pompano/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AngPompano
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/angpompano/

***Congratulations to the winners of an e-copy of Eileen Rendahl’s COVER ME IN DARKNESS. 

Dena, Grandma Kootie, and Judi 

Please email Stephanie Thurwachter  at stephanie.thurwachter@aurorapublicity.com and she’ll see that you get your ebook.

Behind the Scenes of Best New England Crime Stories: Devil’s Snare By Ang Pompano

LUCY BURDETTE: It's my pleasure to welcome Ang Pompano to the blog. He's a longtime friend and part of my writer's group plus an author and part of the Best New England Crime Stories coop.

ANG POMPANO: Thanks so much, Roberta! I’m thrilled to be back on Jungle Red Writers, this time with a behind-the-scenes peek into the making of Devil’s Snare. As you may know, short stories—especially short crime fiction—have enjoyed an exciting resurgence in recent years.

If you love mysteries and short stories, Best New England Crime Stories is an anthology you won’t want to miss. As one of the three editors, alongside Susan Oleksiw and Leslie Wheeler, I’m excited to share how Devil’s Snare came together. Published annually by Crime Spell Books, this anthology highlights some of the best mystery fiction with New England ties. This year, we have even more reason to celebrate: Crime Spell Books was added to the Mystery Writers of America’s Approved Publisher list, a milestone we’re incredibly proud of.

Bringing Devil’s Snare to life was both a long and rewarding process. Each of us read through more than 125 submissions, with every story offering a unique take on crime fiction. Some were chilling thrillers, others quirky cozies. Narrowing the field to just 24 stories was tough. Some pieces surprised us, others gave us goosebumps, and many lingered long after reading. The stories that made the cut stood out for their strong storytelling, authentic sense of New England, and memorable emotional impact.

Working together as editors, Susan, Leslie, and I each brought different perspectives to the table. While we didn’t always agree, those discussions made the project even better by challenging us to carefully consider each story’s layers and meet readers' high expectations.

One of the things we value most is giving both new and seasoned writers a platform. In this edition, we’re excited to feature fresh voices alongside familiar favorites like Kate Flora, Bruce Robert Coffin, Stephen D. Rogers, and Clea Simon. Striking that balance keeps the anthology dynamic and ensures readers discover something unexpected.

One of the anthology’s highlights is the inclusion of the Al Blanchard Award winner, given annually to an outstanding short story with a New England connection. Featuring the award winner strengthens our bond with the New England Crime Bake conference, a vibrant annual gathering of mystery writers, readers, and fans. Many of our contributors and readers attend Crime Bake, making it a natural extension of the anthology and reinforcing the sense of community we cherish.

Building buzz for Devil’s Snare was another exciting part of the journey. In past years, we kept the cover a secret until Crime Bake, but this time we had an early reveal on Dru Ann Love’s blog, Dru’s Book Musings, a favorite among mystery lovers. It was the perfect way to introduce the book and a major moment for everyone involved.

We couldn’t be prouder of what Devil’s Snare represents. This anthology reflects the depth and variety of New England’s mystery-writing community, capturing the landscapes, quirks, and characters that make this region unique. From a suspenseful murder on a rocky shore to a cleverly plotted heist in a small-town café, there’s something for everyone.

We hope the 24 stories in Devil’s Snare will entertain, surprise, and inspire you, just as they did for us when we first read them. It’s been an honor to be part of this project, and with Crime Spell Books preparing to celebrate its fifth year of publication in 2025, we’re excited for what the future holds. We believe the best of New England crime fiction is still to come.

We hope you enjoy reading Devil’s Snare as much as we enjoyed creating it. Reds, do you enjoy reading and/or writing short mystery fiction? Let me know in the comments below and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a free copy of Devil’s Snare.

Ang Pompano is a mystery author, editor, and publisher. He created the Blue Palmetto Detective Agency and Reluctant Food Columnist series, both published by Level Best Books. His Agatha-finalist novel, When It’s Time for Leaving, will be re-released in January 2025, followed by a new book, Blood Ties and Deadly Lies, in February 2025.

In addition to his writing, he is a co-founder of Crime Spell Books, alongside Susan Oleksiw and Leslie Wheeler. Together they publish the Best New England Crime Stories anthology. The latest installment, Devil’s Snare, featuring stories from both established and emerging New England writers has just been released and is available at this purchase link.

Diet of Death @AngPompano

 LUCY BURDETTE: I’m so happy to have Ang Pompano back today to introduce his second published book, Diet of Death. Congratulations Ang! You know how much I love your character Quincy. So let’s start with this question: How much of you is in him? 

ANG POMPANO: It’s great to be back at Jungle Red, Lucy. Everyone here is so generous and encouraging to other authors. I feel the Reds are the backbone of the New England Crime Writing Family. 

But let me get back to your question. It’s true there is a lot of me that’s in Quincy. But I also gave him a few problems that I’ve been lucky enough to avoid. He’s had a failed marriage whereas Annette and I celebrated our 48^th anniversary on June 30. He’s haunted by the thought that he can’t live up to the standards of the brother he never met. His brother died in southeast Asia before he was born. I never had a brother, though I do have a couple of friends who are like brothers. And I know of someone who was a “replacement child” and went through all that goes along with that.

Quincy, like me, jokes around a lot and sometimes it works to his disadvantage. 

The biggest difference between us is that while I’d rather watch Hank on TV, Quincy wants to be an investigative reporter. His former college roommate is a magazine editor and promises him an investigative reporting job, but first he has to fill in for Betty Ann Green, until she is available to start her “Cooking with Betty” column. The column written by Quincy becomes wildly popular before he learns that Betty doesn’t exist. 

Lucy: I think you've told me before that the idea for the book is based on several real doctors. Tell us about them and how you changed things up in your story. 

ANG; I’m a follower of holistic medicine. Many of the things that were preached by Carlton Fredericks forty years ago and considered quackery are mainstream now. The diet guru in the book, Dr. Tolzer, also preaches some offbeat ideas. Then there was Herman Tarnower, a cardiologist who invented the Scarsdale Diet. Doctor Tarnower was killed by a woman he was having an affair with. I’ll say that Dr. Tolzer also invented a fad diet, The Westport Diet, and was killed in the book, but I’ll leave it up to Quincy to tell you who did it. 

Lucy: About the cooking: Quincy masquerades as a food columnist in this book. And I hope it won't hurt his feelings if i say his dishes sound a bit well, disgusting. How do your cooking skills compare to Quincy's?

ANG: Seriously? You think tiramisu made with Twinkies is disgusting? I’m quite proud of inventing that recipe. I had to make it to write about it and I’d say it’s right up there with Beer Butt Chicken, another Quincy favorite. 

Lucy: Quincy is a cozy-ish character, and we've all heard that cozy readers prefer female lead characters. How did you decide to go ahead with this?

Lottie, Lucy, Ang, and Chris celebrate DIET OF DEATH

ANG: You, Chris Falcone, and I have been in a writing group for over 20 years, so you know how many times I’ve heard that from agents and acquisition editors. I’ve asked that question on blogs and social media, and of my friends in Sisters in Crime. The answer was always, “Of course I’d read about a male protagonist, if he wasn’t a jerk.” That’s the key, the main character can’t be a jerk. Quincy might make some social mistakes, as anyone might, but at the heart of it, he’s a good guy. He’s respectful of women, and appreciates the many strong women in his life including his neighbor Mary Ticarelli (I love writing older characters), Sergeant Nina, and Megan, who runs Dr. Tolzer’s Westport Diet Institute. He’s not afraid to admit that he’s not always right. Which leads me right into your next question.

Lucy: This time around, you made the choice to self-publish. Can you tell us about that decision, and maybe things that surprised you along the way?

ANG: I’m not always right. For years, my wife Annette, urged me to indie-publish. See that? I couldn’t bring myself to use the words self-publish. My reluctance was an ego thing. Many people, including myself, felt self-publishing didn’t equal published. The perception was that if it didn’t go through the professional publishing process the quality wouldn’t be there. So I stuck with my dream and with a lot of support from family and friends, the week before my 72^nd birthday, WHEN IT’S TIME FOR LEAVING was traditionally published. And although it went on to get an Agatha First Novel Nomination, I wondered, is that all there is? Then I started noticing excellent indie books by friends such as Susan Hubbard (Life at Last), Sharon Daynard (Murder Points North), and P. Jo Ann Burgh (State v. Claus). I picked their brains and learned the secret is professional editing and a professional cover. The marketing and publicity from most smaller publishers falls on the author anyway. At the rate I was going, it was either become a hybrid author or wait until I was 102 before the next book. So I went for it and voila! Quincy and DIET OF DEATH became a reality. 

The short answer to your question is, though I drove myself a little crazy, I’m happy with the results. What about you Reds? Have you ever done something you loved even though it drove you crazy? 

 

About DIET OF DEATH: Betty Ann Green is the Oprah of the cooking world. No wonder cookbook authors, celebrity chefs, and weight-loss experts alike would kill for a mention in the “Cooking with Betty” column in On Topic Magazine. Diet Guru, Dr. Alan Tolzer, is no exception. He craves the chance for instant success for his latest Westport Diet Book with an interview by the columnist. It’s enough to make him swallow his pride and try to patch up his long-standing feud with the reclusive Betty. No surprise there. Everyone sells their soul in one way or another in the cooking industry. But murder is on the menu when Betty’s assistant, Quincy Lazzaro, arrives for the interview. Quincy becomes entangled and his complicated relationships with both Betty and investigating police sergeant Nina Estevez is nothing less than a recipe for disaster. Bringing the murderer to justice without exposing the secret to Betty’s success proves to be more difficult than a fad diet.

About the author: Ang Pompano’s short stories have appeared in many anthologies, including Malice Domestic’s MYSTERY MOST EDIBLE. His first novel WHEN IT’S TIME FOR LEAVING, was nominated for an Agatha Best First Novel Award. A member of Mystery Writers of America, he was a awarded a Helen McCloy/MWA scholarship for a novel in progress. He served for many years as a board member of Sisters in Crime New England and has been on the New England Crime Bake Committee for fifteen years. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Annette, and their two rescue dogs.

Taking another plunge: Leslie Wheeler on BLOODROOT short story anthology

HALLIE EPHRON: It's a labor of love, and the final product is always astonishingly excellent. I'm talking about the short story anthology that is put together every year and makes its debut at the annual New England Crime Bake. This year's anthology, BLOODROOT: BEST NEW ENGLAND CRIME STORIES, is being published by Crime Spell Books.

Today we're thrilled to host Leslie Wheeler, one of the anthology editors, to talk about this terrific annual anthology in its new publishing home, and the power of the short story.

LESLIE WHEELER: “It’s Not Too Late to Back Out.” Those words and the smiley face below have graced my kitchen door for ten years now.

The message came with a hefty stack of mystery short story submissions, delivered to me by Mark Ammons, a member of my writers’ critique group, and a newly minted editor/publisher, along with Barbara Ross and Kat Fast, at Level Best Books, which had been handed off to them by the previous editors. They’d already signed on, but hesitated to ask me because as chair of the Crime Bake-sponsored Al Blanchard Short Crime Fiction Contest, I was already awash in short stories.

Yet, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse. My first published short story had appeared in a Level Best anthology, and during time I’d managed the Al Award, I’d grown to appreciate the power of short stories. My favorites were—and still are—the ones that either make me smile at their wickedly clever humor, or send chills down my spine. The contest also has a longstanding connection with Level Best, in that the award-winning story is published in the anthology for that year. I rejiggered the contest, and happily joined the Level Best team.

For the next six years we had a good run. It was hard work, but also a lot of fun. I enjoyed our often spirited in-person meetings to discuss, select, and edit the stories we’d publish, decide on the cover design, and arrange for publicity and sales at the Crime Bake, where the Best New England Crime Stories anthologies are always introduced. A few nights before Crime Bake, we’d have a book packing party at Mark’s. He’d serve his famous Cincinnati chili, and we’d devour it with side dishes and dessert, before getting down to work.

But most of all, I loved reading the stories and writing my own. For me, short stories offer an opportunity to approach perfection. Every word must matter for the story to become a little gem, in contrast to a novel, which resembles a necklace with strings of scenes, some stronger than others. I also like the way a writer can take something very small—an intriguing remark overheard in a crowd, or the sight of a woman in line who doesn’t look like she belongs there—and build a story around it.

Writing shorts gives me a holiday from the long haul of novel writing. Finally, as a reader of short stories, I’ve delighted in discovering new authors and watching their careers take off.

Still, despite all these positives, I hesitated to take the plunge a second time when the third team of Level Best editors decided to focus on publishing novels instead of anthologies. Was I too old to be doing this again? Could I work successfully with a new team, even though both Susan Oleksiw, a founder of Level Best, and Ang Pompano, an author whose stories we’d published, were well-known to me? And there was that sign on my door, tempting me with the possibility of withdrawal.

In the end, my determination to continue the Best New England Crime Stories tradition overcame my doubts. Things are different now. With the pandemic and the fact that the three of us don’t live nearby, our discussions have mostly taken place via Zoom or e-mail. Even so, the process has had its exciting moments, as when Susan gave us the name of Crime Spell Books for our new imprint. Ang created website before our eyes on Zoom. I came up with the title, Bloodroot, and an image of the plant with its delicate white flower and thick roots packed with orange poison flashed on the screen.

And the finished product is a joy to behold with its striking cover, and mix of stories from light to dark, written by both well-established authors and emerging writers. So, yes, I’m very glad I didn’t back out.

Readers: have you had times when you’ve been torn between moving forward with a project or abandoning it? If so, please share. One of the commenters will receive a paperback of BLOODROOT.

About Leslie Wheeler
Award-winning writer, Leslie Wheeler, is the author of two mystery series, the Berkshire Hilltown Mysteries, (Rattlesnake Hill and Shuntoll Road, with a third book, Wolf Bog, due out in July of 2022); and the Miranda Lewis Living History Mysteries (Murder at Plimoth Plantation, Murder at Gettysburg, and Murder at Spouters Point). Her mystery short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies including The Best New England Crime Stories anthologies, published by Level Best Books, where she was a co-editor for six years. She is delighted to return as a co-editor at Crime Spell Books, which now publishes these anthologies (www.crimespellbooks.com).

About BLOODROOT

Whether it’s an elderly woman facing a scam, a shipwrecked researcher trying to survive, a retired robber invited to join in one last fling, a farmer facing an escaped convict, or a group of kids in over their heads, with Bloodroot, Crime Spell Books continues the tradition of the annual anthology of Best New England Crime Stories by New England Writers.
Buy Link

A Round-up of French Food

****The winner of Ang Pompano's anthology DEVIL'S SNARE is Traveler, and the winner of Daryl Wood Gerber's MURDER ON THE PAGE is DebRo. Please contact me raisleib at gmail dot com with your snail mail addresses! Congratulations!

 LUCY BURDETTE: We have a vaguely French theme going on this week, starting with Monday and ending with a bang--I insist you come back to meet Jane Bertch tomorrow! Plus, I wanted to stay as far away from the toxic election as possible. So here are three of the best French recipes I've shared over the years, beginning with Pat Kennedy's sausage and potato casserole...Do leave comments about your favorite French foods, or tell us if you don't like it!

PAT KENNEDY: This recipe is from the The French Chef Cookbook by Julia Child -- a compendium of the recipes she demonstrated on her first PBS television show. I always say that I learned to cook watching her because I made at least one thing from the show every week. This is not a low-calorie dinner, more of a comfort food dish. But as Julia said, “If you’re afraid of butter, use cream.”

I've loved all the Julia Child TV shows and recently read MY LIFE IN FRANCE by Julia, written with her great nephew Alex Prud’homme. It’s an amazing story about a woman who started her life's journey not knowing how to cook anything, and became the expert on French food in the US and abroad, with multiple complex cookbooks to her name. So I had French food on my mind when I saw fresh endive for sale at the farmers market. I asked the question “what would Julia cook?“ Maybe it would have been something like this…Belgian endive with asparagus in a creamy sauce... 

This gougeres recipe comes from another American food icon, Dorie Greenspan, although I think the same directions can be found in many cookbooks, from Mastering the Art of French Cooking all the way to The Joy of Cooking. I remember my mother making these puffs for parties. She was a plain co

ok, but this was one of her fancy company dishes. She would stuff them with tuna fish or maybe shrimp salad and serve them as hors d’oeuvres. Hayley Snow's mother Janet also served puffs like this at a funeral reception in A DISH TO DIE FOR.

Mom with party food


How about you Red Readers, are you fans of French food and French chefs?

Hair Anxiety

DEBORAH CROMBIE: After all the stress on the national front last week, let's talk about something just a little less anxiety-inducing–our hair, and who we trust with it.

Back from almost a month in London, I'd made an appointment several days in advance with my usual stylist for a haircut. Then the next day the salon called me back to say that they would be permanently closed as of that Friday! What a panic! I played out all the scenarios. Would my stylist move somewhere else? And if not, how–and where–would I find someone new? 

I'd been through this fairly recently, post-pandemic. Pre-pandemic, I'd been going to the same stylist every six weeks or so for more than ten years. Then, lockdown. After about eight months, I cut my own hair (after a fashion,) and learned to cut Rick's (much more successfully.) I grew my hair longer (collarbone length!) than it had been since I was in my twenties, and let my color grow out, too, so when it finally felt safe to try a salon, I needed a brand new start. 

Fortunately, it only took me one not-too-damaging failure to find someone I really liked, but I wasn't eager to go through the process again. It is a scary prospect, putting something that's so important to our self-perception in (quite literally) a complete stranger's hands.

My story has a happy ending--although the salon chain (UK based, natch!) closed three Dallas area locations, my stylist is moving to a spot only a little less convenient for me. Crisis averted! Here's my post-pandemic do, taken in London by my photographer friend Steve Ullathorne. (First proper photoshoot since 2016, and so much fun!)

Reds, do you have a trusted hair person? And did you make big changes during or after the pandemic? 

HALLIE EPHRON: I go to a terrific stylist, Steve who owns FLIP HAIR SALON (Waving at you, Steve!) ten minutes from my house. He’ll cut it short, long, or in between, whatever I want. And he has great travel recommendations. Fully vaxed of course. And somehow they survived the pandemic.

Changing hair stylists is right up there with having to change doctors. Or dentists. Or editors (aaaggggggh!) And as you get older, it’s more and more likely to happen. The brothers who own my local gas station (shout out to EGAN’S SUNOCO) where I go for everything from gas to tires to tuneups, just retired and I am in mourning.

LUCY BURDETTE: I have one stylist in Connecticut and another in Key West. I am clinging to both with all I have! I hate to even think about the trauma wrought on us by the pandemic and hair. I grew out my brown hair to many shades of gray, which luckily John loves, thugh I am still getting used to it. I also learned to cut John’s hair, though he’s happily returned to the professionals. (Apparently they don’t gasp when they’ve cut something crooked or gone too crazy with those clippers.)

I think the trick is to find younger people to do everything, so they will hopefully outlast us!  (Here's Roberta with Christine Falcone and Ang Pompano!)

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I have been going to the same hair person, the GENIUS Charlie, for…almost 30 years. In the beginning of the pandemic, his salon closed,  and I know I was doomed. My hair got SO long  and SO brown, but eventually I was surprisingly unfreakedout about it. I thought–whatever.

 And then, at some point it was ridiculous. Happily,  by that time, masks were de rigueur, and the amazing Charlie–wait for it–now comes to our house. He cuts Jonathan, too. When this all started we did it in the back yard. And on the front porch. Now, both masked, we cut outside and dry inside. IT IS WONDERFUL. If he ever retires, I‘m just going to give up. (My colorist, too, is a genius. Her salon is set up like a living room, one person at a time, so eventually I went there, door left wide open, and Marie wearing a mask and a plastic hood mask.  I mean–ROOTS!

RHYS BOWEN:  My hair has been cut by the same lovely Thai lady for many years now. She always gets it right. We came back from England, called for a hair appointment and she has gone back to Thailand for a while! Disaster. 

Also I haven’t found a stylist I like in Arizona after many attempts ( the last of which was the worst. Too short and uneven). And I found her on a search for best short hair stylist too!

During Covid I also cut my hair and John’s ( not too successfully) but I’m not about to try that now so I’ll have to brave a strange salon which I hate!  

JENN McKINLAY: Ben the hair wizard and his wife Barb have been cutting my hair since I married Hub. Ben has been cutting Hub’s hair since he was a teenager. Even the Hooligans go to Ben and Barb. Can’t imagine going to anyone else. I even wrote them into WAIT FOR IT because it’s set in Phoenix and they’ve been cutting hair here for 40 years. One of their clients read the book and reconnected with them after moving back to the Valley :) 

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I had a wonderful stylist literally three minutes away from my place who did a great job with my hair. But during the pandemic, she and her bf moved away, which, I gather was great for them - he got a much better job - but not so great for me. The last time I got my hair cut professionally was back in 2021 after the first round of vaccination, and then she was gone. 

No, I still haven’t found a replacement, because, as Hallie says, it’s a difficult and traumatic as finding a new PCP. Which I also had to do, because in 2021 mine became a “concierge doctor” fifty minutes away. My most recent haircut?  At the hands of Youngest, who learned to cut her bf’s hair and bravely agreed to take a turn with mine. 

DEBS: I'm not sure who wins the "longest stylist relationship" award, Hank or Jenn!! Readers, do you have a tried-and-true person, or have you had to brave finding a new stylist or barber?

P.S. One of the many interesting things I noticed in London was the proliferation of barber shops. They are proper barber shops, too, with shaving and beard care along with haircuts. Hot towels, too! I'd love to know if this is a thing now in the US, too.