Author: Margaret Lucke

Don’t Look Back – Look Forward

~ Margaret Lucke ~ 5 Comments

By Margaret Lucke

Happy New Year! I hope 2025 is getting off to a great start for you—that you haven’t yet broken your resolutions and that you’re making progress on your newly set goals.

In the spirit of season, I’d like to pass along some words of wisdom that were presented to me quite some time ago. In the years since, I have found it helpful to reflect upon them from time to time.

Since context can be helpful, I’ll tell you the story of how I came to receive this sound advice.

One day when I was sixteen and the proud possessor of a freshly minted driver’s license, I was cruising along the main street of my hometown. I happened to glance at the rearview mirror and there, directly behind me, was a police car.

Instant panic. Omigosh, omigosh, am I going to get a ticket?

Never mind that there were no flashing lights or wailing sirens, no bullhorn demanding that I pull over. I was new at driving – I must have done something wrong without realizing it. I didn’t think I’d been speeding, but could I have crept over the limit unawares? Had I neglected to use a turn signal when I should have? Was a brake light out?

I was so intently focused on watching the cop in the mirror, trying to figure out what he was going to do, that I was three-quarters of the way through an intersection before I noticed that the traffic light was red.

Whatever the cop’s intentions had been before, now he had good reason to stop me. The lights blinked on, red and blue. The siren blared. My hands shaking on the wheel, I moved to the curb. He stopped behind me and got out. Standing by my driver’s door, he demanded to see my license.

I’m sure the fact that I was a teenage girl, prettier and blonder than I am now, made no difference. He probably wasn’t swayed by the way my lips quivered and my eyes filled with tears as I explained why I had happened to run the light. But whatever the reason, luckily for me my town’s finest decided not to give me a ticket.

“I understand how you might have been distracted,” he said. “But, you know, when you’re driving it’s always a good idea to pay more attention to what’s in front of you than to what you see in the rearview mirror.”

I promised him I would take his words to heart. Since then, I’ve realized he gave me good advice — not just for driving but for life. Be aware of where you’re going, keep your eye on the road ahead — and now and then, glance at the rearview mirror, just in case something important is back there.

So that’s what I plan to do in 2025. If the suggestion suits you, it’s yours to use as you will.

Have a great year!

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Curious about indie publishing? Next Saturday, January 18 at 2 pm Pacific time, I will be moderating a panel on that very subject for the Northern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America – “Indie Authors: Things I Did Right and Things I Did Wrong.” The panelists are Rachele Baker, M.K. Dean, Ellen Kirschman, Lexa Mack, and Ladies of Mystery’s own Janet Dawson. It’s on Zoom so you can attend from anywhere. Details are here: https://mwanorcal.org/events/. Hope to see you there!

Next Week I’ve Got to Get Organized

~ Margaret Lucke ~ 11 Comments

by Margaret Lucke

In 1955 cartoonist Herb Gardner (who later wrote the play A Thousand Clowns) published a cartoon that became a classic. You’ve probably seen it. The drawing shows two of his famous Nebbish characters slouching in chairs, their stretched-out legs resting on a table. The caption reads: “Next week we’ve got to get organized.”

I subscribed to that philosophy for a long time, but recently I decided that for me, next week needs to be now. A brand-new year is arriving in a couple of weeks, and I’d like to greet 2025 in an office that is clean and free of the clutter created by old projects, bad habits, and all that stuff I’m definitely gonna get around to reading and doing someday. In other words, I want it to look less like the one in the picture. So I’ve embarked on a project to make my workspace SOFT for the coming year. That’s my acronym for Sort, Organize, File and Toss.

Unfortunately, I’ve discovered that Get Organized is not a task one can zip through in an hour and cross off the to-do list. Oh no, it’s much more complicated than that. In case your next week has become now, here’s a quick guide to the nine stages of getting O.R.G.A.N.I.Z.E.D.

Obliviousness – “What do you mean, get organized? My work, my finances, my home, my office, and my life are chugging along fine just the way they are. Well, sort of. Well, sometimes. Besides, all of this clutter and mess is an expression of my creative, carefree spirit.”

Realization – “Oops. Missed another appointment. And another deadline. And I forgot to pay that bill, though it doesn’t matter cuz my bank account is overdrawn anyway. But what’s driving me crazy is that I can’t find my silk shirt or that vitally important piece of paper.”

Goal-setting – “By gosh, I’m gonna do it. I’m getting my desk, my closet, my calendar, my files, my finances, and my life in order – by next Thursday.”

Acquisition – “Let’s see, I’ll need some how-to books with tips on getting organized, time management, and personal finance. And some file folders and office supplies. Oh, and a few of those cute baskets and boxes for stashing stuff. Uh-oh, where did I put my credit card.”

Naps – “I’m feeling overwhelmed just thinking about this project. And exhausted from all of that shopping. Right now I really need get some rest. After that I’ll be raring to go, I promise.”

Industry – “Okay, okay, I’m buckling down and getting started. This worn-out mateless sock? Trash. This three-year-old magazine? Recycle. This book I’ve finished reading. Donate.”

Zeal – “Look at me! Isn’t this exciting? I’m getting so much accomplished. Here are some tips I’m finding helpful. Tip 1: Break this huge project into small steps. Tip 2: Get rid of stuff you don’t find useful, beautiful, or valuable. When in doubt, throw it out. Tip 3: Have a place for everything and put everything in its place. Tip 4: Write things down; don’t rely on your memory. Tip 5: Reward yourself when you accomplish something. (Mmm, ice cream!)”

Evangelizing – “You know, my friend, your life would go so much better if only you’d get organized.”

Dreaming – “Yay! I’ve finished my organizing project. I have my life under control, and I’ll never have to spend time on organizing again.”

I hope this insight into the process will help you get organized – if not now, then maybe next week.

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Don’t forget the Ladies of Mystery Cavalcade of Books! Each of us has books on special offer until the end of this month. The list includes my novels, Snow Angel and House of Desire, with Kindle editions available for just 99 cents! Buy a few as gifts for your mystery-loving friends—and for yourself! You can find the Cavalcade by clicking here.

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Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays and a wonderful, well-organized 2025!

T Is for Thanksgiving – and Tea

~ Margaret Lucke

By Margaret Lucke

’Tis the season for gratitude, and I hope that as you sit down later this month at your Thanksgiving table, you’ll have plenty of things to be grateful for. For me, one of the main entries on this year’s things-I’m-glad-to-have-in-my-life list is tea.

In fact that’s on my list every year, in fact every day. Each morning as I sit down at my desk to write, I give thanks to Shen Nung, who gave humanity one of its greatest gifts.

Shen Nung was an emperor of ancient China, revered for teaching his people the art of cultivating grain and for researching the medicinal value of herbs. He believed drinking water should be boiled to make it clean and healthy.

Legend says that one day in 2737 BC, while traveling through a remote region, he rested in the shade of a wild bush while his servants boiled a pot of water for him. A gust of breeze blew some leaves and twigs into the water, but the thirsty emperor drank it anyway. To his delight, the brew had a wonderful aroma and flavor.

The bush was Camellia sinensis, and the drink he discovered was tea. Shen Nung proclaimed it to be a beverage of many virtues. He claimed the person who consumed it would gain “vigor of body, contentment of mind, and determination of purpose.”

Who can argue with an emperor?

I would add one more benefit to the list—tea stimulates creativity. My creativity, anyway.

A mug of tea is my constant companion through the workday. In the morning I like to be fueled by one of the breakfast teas, like English Breakfast or Irish Breakfast, or by Newman’s Own Organic Black, which I favor because it tastes good and the company gives its profits to charity. I’ll take mine black, thank you—no milk, sugar, or lemon.

Later on I often invite the distinguished Earl Grey to join me at my desk. His namesake tea is the perfect pick-me-up in the late afternoon. For my birthday one year a friend gave me a fun present, an Earl Grey tasting: six packages of Earl Grey tea, each a different brand. I was surprised to discover how dissimilar they were—six very different flavors, even though they were all made to the same basic formula: black tea permeated with oil of bergamot.

Sometimes I vary my routine by indulging in something more exotic. Oolong, Darjeeling, Kilgiri, Keemun, Assam, Russian Caravan—the names alone are enough to spark the imagination.

I stop drinking tea around 6 p.m., in deference to my desire for a good night’s sleep. Tea does contain caffeine. Pound for pound it has more caffeine than coffee. However, tea gives you many more cups from a pound than coffee does, so cup for cup there’s less caffeine in tea. I’ve never noticed that drinking black tea in the evening really inhibits my sleep. But I prefer to err on the safe side, so my bedtime libation isn’t real tea but something herbal, like ginger or mint.

My kitchen cupboard holds several delicate porcelain teacups with matching saucers, and the cupboard is where they stay. You have to fill one of them three times to get enough tea to taste. I prefer a mug that has a generous capacity and a wide curve to the handle so it’s easy to hold.

I consider tea to be one of the most important tools of the writer’s trade, right up there with my writing software program and my solitaire game. A tool is something that helps you accomplish a task. Without tea, I’d never get any writing done. Uh-oh, my mug is empty. Excuse me while I go and refill it. Thanks again, Shen Nung!

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Here’s something else to be thankful for this season—the Ladies of Mystery Cavalcade of Books! This catalog goes live from November 15 through December 31, 2024 and features books by all of the Ladies, some at special prices just for you! A great opportunity to get wonderful gifts for your favorite readers or yourself (you deserve some gifts too). You can find our Cavalcade of Books by clicking here.

Muse vs. Editor: Writing a First Draft

~ Margaret Lucke ~ 2 Comments

By Margaret Lucke

“Whee! Look at these! So pretty. So wise.”

My Muse is flinging words and ideas at what a moment ago was a blank page, while I scramble to get them down. She’s as happy as a toddler in a mud puddle, and about as disciplined. I can’t wait to see what she’s going to come up with. I’m starting a new story, and I know my best course of action is to let myself simply follow her lead.

“Hey, you two. What’s going on here?” Uh-oh. My Editor has arrived and is peering over my shoulder at the screen. “You want to say that? Really? Are you sure?”

I reread the freshly written paragraph. A moment ago it seemed just right, but suddenly I’m having second thoughts. “I don’t know. It sounds pretty good to me.”

The Editor harrumphs and shakes her head, as if pitying me for having such faulty discernment.

“Go away,” the Muse demands. “You don’t belong here. I’m in charge of the first draft.” She splashes the Editor with muddy water. Drops land on the pristine page, making it look smeared and dirty. I frown. Maybe what I put down isn’t so wonderful after all.

The Editor leans in closer, jabbing her finger at the screen as she tries to confirm my misgivings. “Look. That word’s misspelled. And you left out a comma.”

“Little stuff,” the Muse sniffs. “Mere tweaks. Come back when we’re finished being brilliant and creative.”

“Just trying to help,” the Editor retorts. “While I’m at it, let me point out that there’s no way Lucy would sneak out of the house on the night of the murder. Totally out of character.”

The Muse claps her hands over my ears. “Don’t listen! Make her go away.”

I pull myself free. “Listen, you two. Play nice. The Muse is right, it’s her turn. The first draft is all about letting her run wild while we get to know the characters and figure out what the story is.”

“Ha! Told you.” The Muse gives the editor a raspberry.

“Not fair.” The Editor slinks into the corner to sulk. “No one gets how important I am. See if I ever come back.”

I sigh. This is like refereeing a fight between kindergartners.

“Of course you’ll come back,” I say in my most placating voice. It’s true that the Editor needs to leave now, but I don’t want to alienate her forever. “When it’s time for the second draft, you and the Muse will collaborate. I’ll need both her art and your craft.”

“Probably won’t be worth my effort,” she grumbles. “What you’ve got so far is garbage.”

The Muse rolls her eyes. “Of course it is. The first draft is supposed to be garbage.”

“You can fix it,” I promise the Editor. “In the second draft, maybe the third one, too. And the final one—that’s all yours. You can change words and fix punctuation to your heart’s content.”

I wonder what the Muse will say to that, but her attention has wandered. She’s capricious and whimsical, and it’s not easy to keep her focused. Right now she’s amusing herself by slapping bits of mud together into a castle.

There’s a long moment of silence as the Editor watches the construction project. Finally she says, “That’s the poorest excuse for a horse I’ve ever seen. I can tell that making sense out of this story is going to be a huge job. You have my number. Call me when you’re ready.”

She leaves my office, but I know she won’t wait for the call. She’ll be back tomorrow. She can’t resist trying to interfere in the first draft.

I turn back to my keyboard. “Okay, Muse, let’s get back to work. Where were we?”

My Muse stands up and wipes her muddy hands on my sleeve. “Oh, I’m done for today. Do we have any ice cream?”

Murder Mystery Bundt Cake

~ Margaret Lucke ~ 9 Comments

by Margaret Lucke

Recipes. Craft instructions. Math puzzles. Party planning tips. Some mysteries these days offer more than an entertaining read. They provide a gateway to a new, more creative lifestyle. Which is wonderful — so long as that recipe it’s inviting you to try doesn’t include arsenic as a main ingredient.

While my characters relish eating good food (as do I), none of my novels contain recipes, though occasionally I stir one into my author newsletter. You won’t find hobby hints or craft tips in my books either. I like to cook and enjoy dabbling at art, but first and foremost I’m a writer. That’s the main way that I express my creativity.

So what I really want is a recipe that I can put to practical use. Something that’s helpful as well as tasty. Like this:

MURDER MYSTERY BUNDT CAKE

Ingredients:

*  1 villain (or more) with the means, motive and opportunity for murder

*  1 victim (or more) who has the misfortune to be in the villain’s way or to have something the villain wants

*  1 clever and likable detective with a good reason to want to solve the crime

*  A handful of the usual suspects, and maybe one or two unusual ones if you like that flavor

*  Several tablespoons of clues and red herrings

*  2 or 3 cups of conflicts and obstacles

*  A large measure of suspense

Instructions

1.  Place the villain and victim in a large bowl and mix until the victim meets an untimely demise.

2.  Add the detective to the mixture and blend until you have a thick, plot-like batter.

3.  Whisk in clues and red herrings and beat until they are well hidden.

4.  Stir in conflicts and obstacles. Note:  There will be lumps.

5.  Pour the suspense over the batter until it is completely saturated.

6.  Transfer the mixture in a bundt pan and bake in the oven of your imagination until done. Baking time may vary from three or four months to several years.

7.  Let cool but not too much.

8.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle on a chocolate glaze.

9.  Cut, serve, and enjoy.

Try baking one of your own. I promise you it’ll be delicious.