Let’s play a short word association game. When I say “New Orleans” I’m guessing that you’ll say “Mardi Gras parades! Streetcars! Beignets! Hurricanes! The French Quarter! Jazz!” When I say “Gilded Age New Orleans” I’m guessing that you’ll say “Wait. What?” Or “What’s the Gilded Age?” Fair questions, both of them. The short answer is:… Read More
by Ana Brazil Although I’m still crafting the follow-up story to FANNY NEWCOMB AND THE IRISH CHANNEL RIPPER, this year I took a break from novel writing to write two short stories. One of them, “Kate Chopin Tussles with a Novel Ending”, is slated for publication in 2019 in the upcoming Fault Lines anthology from… Read More
Of course you do! Whenever I meet people and tell them that I write historical mysteries, they often say “I’ve always wanted to write a mystery!” or “I have a great idea for a mystery; if only I knew how to write it all down!” Here’s the good news about all that…if you want to… Read More
Spring seems to be the season for historical fiction and mystery writing awards: the Lefty (awarded at Left Coast Crime), the Agatha (Malice Domestic), the Edgar (Mystery Writers of America), and my new favorite, the Benjamin Franklin (Independent Book Publishers Association, aka IBPA). I’m excited to share the news that FANNY NEWCOMB AND THE IRISH… Read More
I’m back from a very-fun-and-very-exhausting Left Coast Crime mystery con in Sparks, Nevada. Although I’ve attended lots of mystery cons as a reader and fan, this was my first time as a published author. So now I get to introduce myself as “Mystery Author, Reader, and Fan.” WHOO-HOO! Left Coast Crime had something for everyone…a… Read More
I’m head over heels in research for my second Fanny Newcomb historical mystery (working title…FANNY NEWCOMB AND THE FRENCH QUARTER LAUDANUM LOVER). And I’m loving it! I’m investigating historic poisons, studying Italian immigration to New Orleans, and inspecting French Quarter Sanborn Fire maps online (courtesy of the fabulous Library of Congress). And here are some… Read More
I’ve spent way too many hours reading books about Jack the Ripper. And watching movies, documentaries, and docudramas about Jack the Ripper. And searching contemporary newspapers from around-the-world for Jack the Ripper insights. And months after the publication of my novel Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper (which builds on the Ripper mythology and… Read More
Greetings! During the frosty, dark nights of December, I always crave killer sweets. Sweets like chocolate marshmallow fudge. And glazed gingerbread. And cinnamon-sugared crullers. And as I write the sequel to Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper—which takes place in 1889 New Orleans—I’ve been lusting after that city’s most popular killer sweet: creamy pecan… Read More
Greetings! My debut historical mystery Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper launched earlier this month! Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of guest blog posts and author-reader chats. Thanks to everyone who’s visited my website and liked my author page on Facebook! Since it’s Thanksgiving week, right now I’m thinking about FOOD—smoked turkey, oyster… Read More
