Lois Winston

Oct 2021 6

Here an Idea, There an Idea, Everywhere an Idea…

2021 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Lois Winston

One of the most common questions authors are asked is, “Where do you get your ideas?” Because I started out my writing career penning romance and romantic suspense, I’d often find myself confronted with a variation of that question—most often at my husband’s annual company Christmas party after some bozo had hit the eggnog one time too many. To the chagrin of the long-suffering wife standing beside him, he’d ask me where I got the ideas for my sex scenes.

Apr 2021 17

New Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast Featuring Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun by Lois Winston

2021 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Podcasts, Theatre

by Lorie Lewis Ham

Here is your weekly reminder that there are also new articles up on our other website KRL News & Reviews! Every week there will be book reviews and giveaways, plus sometimes pet articles, theatre articles, and more! And listen to our new podcast!

Oct 2020 21

Writing in the Time of Covid

2020 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Lois Winston

Shortly after the pandemic hit this past spring, writers began asking each other how they were going to handle Covid-19 in their books. Should we incorporate self-quarantining, social distancing, and mask wearing into our stories, especially for those of us who write ongoing series?

Apr 2020 1

Sock Doll Craft in the Time of Social Distancing

2020 Articles, Community, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Lois Winston

Social distancing. It’s a term most of us had never heard of prior to a few weeks ago. I’m betting the Oxford English Dictionary will name it the Word of the Year for 2020, even if, technically, it’s two words.

Nov 2019 16

Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide By Lois Winston: Review/Giveaway/Guest Post

2019 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa
& Lois Winston

It may be the Christmas season, for sure, but when your house is the victim of an overzealous “Secret Elf” named Ira, it seems enough should be enough! But, when taking the decorations back to the “Elf,” they discover another over-the-top Christmas display with a blinding lights and loud music, gawkers choking the streets, and Anastasia’s late husband’s half-brother, Ira Pollack, in the middle of some angry neighbors!

Nov 2018 17

Drop Dead Ornaments By Lois Winston: Review/Giveaway/Guest Post/Craft

2018 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa
& Lois Winston

Anastasia Pollack was first introduced in 2011 by author Lois Winston with Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun. Anastasia is a recently windowed mother of two teenage sons hounded by a loan shark wanting repayment of her husband's debts. She also pretty much inherits her mother-in-law with whom she has a bittersweet relationship.

Apr 2016 16

Sleuthing Women: 10 First-in-Series Mysteries

2016 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Lois Winston

Back when I penned my first novel at the end of the last century, I thought that being an author meant sitting at my desk writing books. I also thought it was the publisher’s job to promote those books so that we both made money. Silly me! Once upon a time that was true, but by the time I sold my first book, publishers had abdicated this responsibility for all but a handful of their authors. Promotional efforts had become the responsibility of authors.