When getting old is not a bad thing…

Date: August 15, 2019

Author: Bobbi Holmes

Getting older is preferable to the alternative. At least, that’s what people often say. Of course this could lead into a discussion about dying with dignity and debilitating illness or the ravages of aging.

But that is not what this post is about. It’s about those times when getting older is desired—like when we looked forward to our sixteenth birthday, so we could get a driver’s license. Or when we celebrated our twenty-first, because we could legally drink.

In my case at this point and time—it is reaching the age of Medicare. Yep, this year I go on Medicare. I turn 65 this November. I’m currently paying over a thousand a month for just my medical insurance, and I am curious to discover what my new insurance bill (and coverage) will be when I go on Medicare. I have an appointment with my insurance guru in a couple hours to find out.

My next milestone? Collecting Social Security in 2020. I hope it will still be a thing.

Photo: Hubby and me at our family reunion this summer.

Fans fuel a series…

Date: August 14, 2019

Author: Bobbi Holmes

Categories: Bobbi Ann Johnson Holmes

Comments: 26 Replies

Five years ago this month I released my first Haunting Danielle book. Back then it wasn’t called The Ghost of Marlow House. At the time I had named it Haunting Danielle, Book 1. While I had intended to write more books in the series, I hadn’t intended to give them each regular titles.

After releasing the first few books in the series I realized what a foolish idea that had been. I went back and gave each book its own title. It was one reason the series name, Haunting Danielle had been so prominent on the covers early on. Although one reviewer once accused me of doing that so it would make it harder for reviewers to find my books to be reviewed. (I have to admit, that theory cracked me up—it also made absolutely no sense.)

Haunting Danielle was a serious genre hop for me. Back then I was writing romance under my Anna J. McIntyre pen name. As a younger reader, romance had been my favorite genre. But romances had change, and as a writer, I had also changed.

I was having moderate success at my romances, and when I tossed out the idea of genre hopping to paranormal cozy mystery a number of writer friends whom I respect advised me not to do it. In many cases that is not bad advice. Genre hopping can be a killer for a new writer’s career.

But I really—really wanted to write Haunting Danielle. I confess, I had no clear picture where I planned to take the series, I just knew I wanted to write that first book.

Now to the title of this blog post—Fans fuel a series. I sincerely believe that without the feedback from my readers—through reviews, emails, blog comments, and Facebook posts, I would not be preparing to release Book 22.

My Haunting Danielle fans have inspired me as much as that muse sitting on my shoulder whispering story ideas into my ear. And to them, I am eternally grateful. I am so enjoying this adventure, and I hope to continue bringing my readers stories they will enjoy.

When is it too many characters?

Date: August 13, 2019

Author: Bobbi Holmes

Categories: Bobbi Ann Johnson Holmes

Comments: 2 Replies

I worry sometimes that I have too many characters in my Haunting Danielle series. Am I making it too confusing for the readers?

Well, I used to wonder about that, but now, not so much. I’ll explain why…

Since my surgery my exciting life has been comprised of working at my computer from early morning to late afternoon, time on the exercise bike, an afternoon nap, and then early to bed where I watch mysteries on AcornTV via my Roku. I avoid stepping outside—hotter than hades out there, and since I can’t go swimming yet, what is the point?

Reading a book in the evening is not really an option. After spending all morning on the computer I need to give my eyes a rest. Early on in my recovery I was listening to audiobooks, and then I discovered Acorn.

I initially signed up for AcornTV after seeing an ad for a spinoff of the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. This new show takes place in the sixties and is about Fanny’s niece. However, I’ve only watched a couple of the episodes—the great Agatha Christie stole my attention.

First it was Miss Marple —and now I am watching Poirot.

Over on Netflix I had fallen inlove with shows like Father Brown and Midsomer Murders. I think part of the allure for me with British mysteries are the fabulous old estates and castles. I have absolutely no desire to live in one of those dusty old places, but what a marvelous setting for a mystery!

Back to Agatha Christie. I have been enjoying her series but yikes, the abundance of characters! One needs a scorecard. I am not suggesting it is a reason to stuff even more characters into my books, but it does alter my perception on how many is too many. My verdict, you need enough to tell the story. And with mysteries, that often involves a few more characters than other genres. It’s those red herrings, doncha know.