TIMING IS EVERYTHING by Deborah Elliott-Upton This past week mystery writers have suffered through a bad time. We’ve lost two of our best: Elaine Flinn and Tony Hillerman. Elaine was the creator of the Molly Doyle series and Tony of the Navaho tribal police team of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Although I never knew […]

PACKAGING MURDER by Deborah Elliott-Upton A few of my friends know I’m the one they can count on to help them hide the body. Maybe not literally – or wait! Maybe literately is the only way I could. Still, anyone who thinks about the subject would realize murders are usually messy. Ask any writer and […]

IT’S RAINING WORDS by Deborah Elliott-Upton It isn’t misting or drizzling, but a sincere and earnest downpour of rain is attacking my office windowpanes this morning. Some say it’s a great day to take a nap, catch up on TV programs we’ve recorded or even read a book. For me, it’s one of my best […]

BLAME IT ON BOB VILA by Deborah Elliott-Upton Fairy tales can come true … I feel like I’m living a fairy tale life, but it’s not what you think. I’ve been working harder than ever and now I don’t even get to go to the ball, although unlike Cinderella, I had an invitation. Most of […]

GOING TO THE DARK SIDE by Deborah Elliott-Upton My friend recently said, “You only see the good in people.” I almost smiled, but caught myself in time. Our relationship is new and neither of us have spent enough time together to really know each other’s true personality. To me, she’s the one who consistently believes […]

SENSE AND SENSIBILITIES by Deborah Elliott-Upton George Bailey: You know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are? Uncle Billy: Uh huh. Breakfast is served, lunch is served, dinner … George Bailey: No, no, no, no! – Anchor chains, plane motors and train whistles. – from “It’s a Wonderful Life” If you had […]

SENSES AND SETTINGS AND REALITY, OH MY! by Deborah Elliott-Upton Right now my mind is busily steeped in details. My daughter is being married in May and while we’ve already been planning for months, there is still much to do before the Big Day. In researching what is traditional, expected and new, my daughter reads […]