Elle Alexander on Video

How long does it take to shoot the weekly video?
Most of my weekly videos run about ten to fifteen minutes in length but it takes at least an hour to

actually film each video. Sometimes even longer if I mess up a bunch or if we need a lot of b-roll to add into the final cut. The videos need lighting and sound as well as trying to figure out the best place to shoot based on the time of day and topic, so set-up is probably another thirty minutes to an hour.

Click here for the latest Five Things Friday - Five Favorite Cookbooks video

Do you work from a script or just wing it?

I always start with a script and rough idea of what I want to talk about each week, and then from there I usually end up winging it once we start filming. I have basic talking points sketched out, but one of the things that I enjoy most about filming the videos is feeling like I get to have a conversation with readers. Sure, technically it’s a one-sided conversation when I’m filming but I want readers to feel like we’re chatting on my living room couch with a latte and pastry. I want to give readers a sense of who I really am.

Who films and edits the footage?

My husband does all of the set-up, filming, editing, sound, etc. He’s a dream! I would never be able to tackle something like this without his help. I’m technically challenged. Fortunately his background is in advertising and he recently launched his freelancing career. I’m his first official “client”.

Why did you decide to use this Five Things format?

Good question. I don’t know if it was a conscious choice initially. We were brainstorming ideas about what would be fun to share with readers to give them a glimpse into what goes into writing. I get a ton of email from readers (which I love BTW) with questions not only about specific books and characters but also about sort of the “mystique” of writing for a living. I wanted to share interesting content and I said to my husband, “It’s hardly like my life is glamorous”. We laughed and then we were both like, “Oh, hey what if we share that?” The idea evolved from there.

Have things changed from when you first started doing the videos?
For sure! I feel like I’ve gotten more comfortable in front of the camera. At first I felt stiff and weird, but then I had an ah-ha moment, where I imagined that the camera was a reader. I told myself to talk to the camera like I would to a reader at a book event and that really helped. Now when I sit down to shoot a video, I’m excited to get to have a conversation and share so much more than I could in any other medium online.

What have you learned from shooting videos?

I’ve learned so much and have so much more to learn. It’s a lot like writing in that way. In addition to the 5 Things Friday videos I did a pie project last December where I baked a pie every day for a month, filmed it, and shared the videos and recipes. It was a huge challenge. I had no idea how different it is to film a baking video. We had to rig up special cameras to shoot from above so that readers would be able to see what I was adding to a mixing bowl. I’ve learned to slow way down when I’m baking for the camera, versus how I would bake in normal everyday life. Otherwise viewers would be dizzy watching my mixer whirling and my hands rolling dough at lightening speed. I enjoy the challenge of learning from some of my early filming mistakes, and hopefully improving over time.

What has your response been to the videos?

The response has been wonderful. I love interacting with readers who have viewed the videos. I’ve received so many suggestions and ideas for other topics and content, too. It’s great to be able to incorporate reader ideas and questions into the videos. I’m getting ready to roll out two new series. The Torte Test Kitchen will be a series where I bake and share recipes from already published books and upcoming books. I’m also going to start a series specifically for writers about the world of publishing and writing tips and techniques.

Movie Mogul Mama

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Some people are unable to resist the lure of movie making and being associated with it. In the latest installment of The Heist Ladies - Movie Mogul Mama by Connie Shelton, the ladies are out to catch a con man. The chase leads them to Newport, Rhode Island; California; back to Phoenix and lastly to Mexico.

Gracie Nelson discovers her mother has invested in a movie making scheme and now without seeing any of the profits from her investment, she is about to lose her home. Not wanting her mother, sister and two nieces to move into their already tight home, Gracie calls on her friends to help her mother get the money back. Naturally her mother cannot find a contract or anything that talks about her investment, making the job more difficult.

Using their special skills, Amber, Sandy, Mary and Penelope dig into the scheme and find Rob Williams has been promising huge returns on investments for his latest Hollywood action movie. Penelope and Amber decide to participate in an investor event in Rhode Island the following weekend.

To dazzle investors even more, the event is held in The Breakers, the famous mansion, in Newport.

The audience is filled with excited investors and even some who have invested in the past. Penelope zeroes in on one in particular. Maisie Brown talks about being invited to a premier and rubbing elbows with the stars, but Pen is suspicious of her enthusiasm. The presentation by Rob Williams is filled with excitement and energy and afterwards, people are escorted into a small room to hand over their checks. Pen and Amber follow along.

Pen pretends to be interested in investing. but tells Rob she needs to have her bank send him a check the next day. As they continue to investigate they build a case for fraud, present it to the police in California and wait for Rob's court date. Unfortunately the case doesn't turn out the way they want and Rob is set free.

That sets the Heist Ladies into motion for their own scam. It's incredible to me how gullible a conman becomes as they ensnare him their own con. Another enterprising adventure for the Heist Ladies. 

Designs on Murder

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Amanda Tucker finds the perfect spot for a design studio - the Shops on Main in Abingdon, Virginia. The only problem is the shop comes with ghost. In Designs on Murder by Gayle Leeson, budding fashionista Amanda is super excited to begin work. Unfortunately the day she decides to sign the lease, one of the other tenants is found murdered in his shop upstairs.

That doesn't stop her and she enlists her grandfather to help with shelves and other improvements. When she discovers the ghost of Maxine Englebright inhabiting her space, she's happy for the company. Max tells her she died from a fall down the stairs in the Shops of Main, which at that time was a private house. She has been in the house since she fell to her death in 1930.

As for the murder, there's concern at the Shops on Main about why web designer Mark Tinsley was murdered. It was rumored he was having money problems and it's thought that something in his past might have lead to his death.

Trying not to worry about the investigation and concentrate on
building her business, Amanda begins designing one-of-a-kind dresses and some ready-to-wear samples for her shop. With the help of handsome photographer Jason Logan and her neighbor Connie, Amanda begins seeing customers and starts working on prom dresses for two teenage girls and a bridal party.

But Max decides they need to investigate Mark's murder and despite her better judgment, Amanda agrees. Using her detecting skills gained from reading Nancy Drew books, Amanda begins her investigation with some scary results.

Designs on Murder is a quirky, witty mystery with a fashionable ghost and a creative designer. Looking forward to others in the Ghostly Fashionista Mysteries.

Murder and Mayhem in Chicago

Sisters in Crime Chicagoland hosted Murder and Mayhem in Chicago yesterday. With several panels and dozens of authors, it was a terrific day. Keynote speaker was Sophia Hannah, author of the new Hercule Poirot books. She delighted us with her account of how that came about.

Sophie Hannah interviewed
by Susanna Calkins

Panelists Sherry Harris, Cheryl Read, Edith Maxwell,
Carlene O'Connor and Susanna Calkins

Sisters in Chicago Chicagoland president
 Patricia Skalka and Sophie Hannah

MapYourMystery Christine Gentes with
Edith Maxwell and Michelle Cox

MapYourMystery Christine Gentes
and Sophie Hannah

The Hidden Corpse

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After her appearance on a reality baking show ruined her marriage, Hope Early returns to her hometown of Jefferson, Connecticut. Concentrating on her blog, Hope at Home, she decides to take a photography workshop taught by famous photographer Cal Barnhart.

In The Hidden Corpse by Debra Sennefelder, Hope worries about Cal's missing wife Lily and wonders how it will impact the workshop. With three other food bloggers at the workshop, Hope knows she has to stay on her toes. Blogging is a cutthroat business.

As if this isn't enough to clog her mind with worry, as she returns home, she sees smoke coming from her elderly neighbor's home. She rushes in to find a pot of burning vegetables on the stove and her neighbor unaware of what is happening around her. Thinking she needs to tell Mrs. Olson's daughter about the incident, Hope gets sidetracked and forgets about telling her.

The next day, Hope returns home to find the neighbor's house

totally engulfed in flames. As she is held back by the fire department, Hope is remorseful and wishes she had let the daughter know something was wrong. But before long the fire department discovers a second body in the charred remains and they discover it is the missing Lily Barnhart, and that the fire was deliberately set.

While investigating Lily's background, Hope discovers she was on the Planning and Zoning Commission and had been opposed to unrestricted growth. With another big vote coming up shortly, did Lily get on the wrong side of someone or was her husband involved in her death?

The Hidden Corpse is the second book in The Food Blogger Mystery series and I look forward to many more, especially if they include some other delicious recipes from Hope's blog.

The Drowning

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Eight-year-old Joey Proctor is heading to summer camp, but not happily. He doesn't want to be away from his parents, but off he goes. To make matters worse, his swim instructor wants him to jump in the deep water and learn to swim.

In The Drowning by J.P. Smith, Joey knows he is terrified of the deep water and refuses to jump in. Alex, the instructor, wants everyone to jump in from the dock and swim to the raft. When Joey doesn't move, Alex picks up him up and throws him into the water. Thrashing around and frightened he might drown, Joey is paralyzed with fear. Alex realizes what is happening jumps in and grabs Joey. But instead of bringing him to shore, he swims with him to the raft, hoists him onto it and
swims away, telling Joey if he wants to go back to his cabin, he needs to swim ashore.

Hours later Alex checks the raft and doesn't see Joey so he believes he swam back to shore. The next morning the entire camp is in an uproar because Joey is missing, never to be seen again. An old scary legend about John Otis stealing boys from the camp rears its head. Everyone is afraid.

Fast forward 20 years and Alex Mason is a wealthy, respected real estate businessman in New York. Everything he touches turns to gold. He seems to be living a charmed life until strange occurrences begin. First someone dyes his swimming pool water red and carves the words "Remember me" on the floor of the pool. When the police ask about enemies, Alex is perplexed. He doesn't think he has enemies who would do something like this.

When the events escalate and begin to point to Joey Proctor, Alex remembers the experience from camp and believes maybe Joey is alive and seeking revenge. With his life spiraling out of control and his family threatened, Alex decides to find Joey Proctor and stop the harassment.

The Drowning is not just another camper goes missing book. It is a diabolically written mystery.

Interview with Ellen Crosby

What is the title of your newest book? How many books have you published?

Ellen Crosby photo by
Jackie Briggs

My most recent book, which was released in November 2018, is called Harvest of Secrets—the 9th book in the Virginia wine country mystery series. The tenth book, The Angels’ Share, will be out this November. In all, I have published 13 books—two series and a standalone.


How did you develop your character and choose your location?
Lucie Montgomery, who is the main character in the Virginia wine country mystery series, was only supposed to be around for one book: The Merlot Murders. I wanted a character with a strong personality; someone young and spunky. Now nearly twenty years and ten books later, I rely on the advice of my daughters-in-law, who are (much) nearer Lucie’s age than I am!

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As for choosing the location—Virginia wine country—that story starts in London where we lived for five years in the mid-1990s. One summer when we returned to the US for a visit, a colleague of my husband’s decided we needed to see the Virginia vineyards after years of living in Europe and traveling through the wine regions of France, Switzerland, and Italy.

We spent a glorious summer day visiting several vineyards, which was when I fell in love with the scenery and beauty of Virginia. Back in London, I mentioned the trip to my British literary agent who thought it was a fabulous setting for a book, specifically a book that I needed to write. I finally let her talk me into writing it—I knew nothing about growing grapes or making wine—though I told her, “Okay, but I’m only writing one book.”

For a review of Harvest of Secrets, click here.

What is a day in the life of an author like? Do you write a certain number of words, do you write in the morning or evening?
As any serious author will tell you, if you’re a writer you write. It’s not about waiting for the muse to strike or the fairy dust to settle on your shoulders and inspire you. The longer I am in this business, the more I try to guard my writing time like it is a precious jewel so I make sure I get my books written and turned in on time to my editor. It’s too easy to get lost in social networking, marketing, or even to accept every invitation you receive to give a book talk—all of which are also necessary components of a writing career.

These days—and now that my husband has retired—I spend my mornings taking care of personal and family matters, writing business obligations, a trip to the gym, and anything else that is on my calendar. I write in the afternoons—closer to the book deadline I’ll write 7 days a week—and don’t quit until I’ve written at least 1,000 words.

Do you model your character after yourself or any one you know?
Since I thought Lucie was only going to be around for one book, I didn’t really create her based on anyone I knew. I knew I wanted The Merlot Murders to begin in France and have an international “hook” so I made Lucie half-French and introduced her when she was living in the south of France and recovering from an automobile accident that left her with a limp and requiring a cane to get around.

If your books were made into a movie, who would you want to play the lead character?
Someone young and spunky like Emma Watson or Lily James.

Who is your favorite author?
Not a fair question! Too many to name.

If you could invite five people – living or dead – to a dinner party, who would they be?
Actually, I’d want to invite 6 people: my husband, three sons, and two daughters-in-law. (Soon there will be a seventh, a new grandchild!) With one son and daughter-in-law living in Germany and another living in Utah (thank goodness our youngest son lives nearby), getting together—all of us—is so rare. We stay in touch regularly and are a close-knit family but nothing beats having everyone at home together, especially around the dinner table. Besides, we are also a family of cooks, so the meal would be special, too.

If you could not be an author, what would like to do as a career?
Being an author came late in life for me, after my older sons left for college. Previously I worked as a journalist in the US and the former Soviet Union, which I loved, and before that I was the economic advisor to a United States Senator for five years until my husband’s job took us to Switzerland in the 1980s. I loved both my pre-author careers—they were fascinating and fast-paced.

Have you had your own DNA tested?
As a former journalist, I always do my homework! So, since DNA testing was part of the story in Harvest of Secrets, of course I had my DNA tested. Unlike Lucie, though, there were no surprises

Murder Lo Mein

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Lana Lee is finally the full-time manager of the Ho-Lee Noodle House and she's happy to be in charge. In Murder Lo Mein by Vivien Chien, Lana enters the restaurant in the second annual Best Noodle Contest, knowing last year's winner wasn't really as good as Ho-Lee. (Murder Lo Mein will be released on March 26 by St. Martin's Paperbacks.)

Last year's winner, Ray Jin, is now a judge for this year's competition along with noted food critic and professional crouch Norman Pan and Stella Chung, hometown girl who made it big in Chicago. The competition is really between the Ho-Lee Noodle house and the House of Shen, but a few others restaurants have been allowed to compete.

Peter, Lana's chef is anxious because he knows how much is at stake for Asia Village, especially after the events of the last few months. Lana knows Peter's noddles are truly the best and she is confident they will win. The contest consists of three rounds before the winner is declared.

The first round finds Peter as the winner and Norman Pan receiving a threatening fortune cookie. It said If you do not seek out allies and helpers, then you will be isolated and weak. Ian discovers it is from Sun Tzu's The Art of War. Why would Norman receive it and what could it mean?

Later at the celebration party at Penny's Bamboo Lounge, everyone is relieved the first round is over. Suddenly there is a scream from inside the party room. and one of the judges is found dead. As much as she promises her detective boyfriend Adam Trudeau she will stay out of the investigation, Lana and her pal Megan cannot help themselves.

When another judge dies, it appears someone doesn't like the judges and is trying to ruin the contest. Lana wants nothing to stop her restaurant from winning this year, so she plunges headlong into the investigation.

Lana is a terrific character, but with her mother occupied by her visiting grandmother, we don't have as much of Mrs. Lee in this book. Too bad because she is every woman's mother and is so funny. Ho-Lee Noodle House sounds like a terrific restaurant and add the new doughnut shop next door and you have a great place for lunch. Stop by some time, if you dare.

Staging is Murder

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When Laura Bishop's fledgling decorating company beats out well known rival Monica Heller for the Denton mansion project, Laura is thrilled to have to work. That is until she spends some time with Victoria Denton. In Staging is Murder by Grace Topping, Laura has her work cut out for her with the Denton House in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania. Not only is the house huge it is severely outdated, cluttered with figurines and lorded over by angry, rude Victoria Denton. (Staging is Murder will be released by Henery Press on April 30.)

Working with her assistant Tyrone, Laura butts heads with Victoria on a regular basis. Not that she is singled out; Victoria argues with everyone - her former catering business partner Cora Ridley, her ex-husband Skip Denton and even Laura's mild mannered assistant Tyrone Webster.

After working on the house and making some headway, Laura is relieved to have fewer encounters with Victoria. Early one evening while Laura is locking up to go home, she hears a door slam and goes to investigate.  Laura finds Victoria dead at her feet after tumbling down the laundry chute. Was it an accident or something more?

The police arrest Tyrone because he was the last person heard arguing with her and he was seen around the house in the early evening. While Tyrone heads to jail, Laura must keep working on the house to have it ready for the upcoming sale, but Tyrone's grandmother needs her help. Mrs. Webster urges Laura to clear her grandson. Laura pleads she is a designer, not a detective, but Mrs. Webster refuses to take not for an answer.

Using knowledge gleaned from Nancy Drew books, Laura begins her investigation, but it's not as easy as it seems in books.

Laura is an endearing character and I look forward to more of her adventures. 

A Dream of Death

After her husband tragic drowning, Kate Hamilton thought she would never have to return to the remote Scottish Island of Glenroth again. In A Dream of Death by Connie Berry, Kate returns to Glenroth, her late husband's home, at the urgent request of his sister. She is frightened by events happening around her and asks Kate to come and help her through this difficult time.

Unsure how she can leave her antiques business in Ohio, she feels obligated to assist her sister-in-law Elenor, although they have never been close. Elenor has turned the family home into a deluxe country house hotel and locals are gathering for the end of season Tartan Ball at the house. Elenor announces that she has sold the hotel to a Swiss company to the amazement of the partisan Scottish crowd. Then she announces her engagement to local author Hugh Guthrie, the author of The Dairy of Flora Arnott. 

Both announcements leave the audience in stunned silent. The local economy is based on the Scottish atmosphere of the hotel and a Swiss owner might make dramatic changes. As for a marriage to Hugh, his mother Margaret might have something different to say about that. 

The 200-year-old legend around Glenroth is that Flora Arnott, a young bride and soon to be a mother

was murdered by her husband Captain Arnott. She was shot through the neck with an arrow and her maid was also murdered. When someone is murdered after the Tartan Ball by an arrow in an eerily similar manner as Flora Arnott, Kate thinks some of the incidents that have been happening around the hotel might be connected.

The quirky twin sisters Penny and Cilla Arnott take their heritage seriously and any threat to the Arnott name, especially the Captain, is an affront to them. Not only does suspicion fall on them, but on Bo Duff, a likable but challenged handyman. 

Kate soon learns the truth and puts herself in jeopardy, but manages to solve the mystery. An excellent story and I look forward to more Kate Hamilton mysteries.