What I’ve Been Doing, And Changes To Come
I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything. I thought I’d give you an update on what’s going on and tell you about the change I’m going to make on the blog.
So what have I been up to? Hoo boy, let’s see.
In September I went to Bouchercon in New Orleans. It was a blast! I’d tell you more but what happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans. đ But I can say it was cool meeting so many nice and talented people.
Laura Oles and I starting the road trip to Bouchercon!
Austin Mystery Writers is working on a new anthology. I’ve written a short story about a Texas Ranger who is asked to save a girl who has been kidnapped by a villain. (historical crime fiction.) I think the anthology will be out sometime this year.
A short story of mine, Kay Chart, was published by Mystery People. Here’s the link to it. (This one I’d categorize as historical suspense.) It’s really short, only a couple of pages long. I hope you like it. I had fun writing it. It’s creepy! Â https://mysterypeople.wordpress.com/2016/11/11/crime-fiction-friday-kay-chart-by-valerie-p-chandler
In early November attended the 2nd Writer Unboxed UnCon in Salem! It was a blast to see my many friends again. It was filled with so much information and wisdom, that I couldn’t give it justice if I tried to explain it. So instead, I’ll provide a link that explains the events we had and lessons learned from the writers who attended. The conference focuses on the craft of writing. Writer Unboxed- Author in Progress.
My beloved Writer Unboxed Mod Squad fellows. <3
During the conference was the launch of the Writer Unboxed book, Author In Progress. I’m honored they asked me to participate in the project. It’s full of essays on the process of writing. Lots of big names in there like Donald Maass and Lisa Cron. It’s available in all major books stores and online. Here’s a brief article about it.Â
Author In Progress! I’m honored they asked me to provide some comments on essays.
Gale Albright
The week after the UnConference, Austin Mystery Writers did a presentation at the Wimberley, Texas Library. It was a small gathering but we had an interesting back and forth about the process of writing, and we talked about Murder on Wheels. After the event, members of AMW gathered at a local restaurant and had lunch. I’m glad we did that because we hadn’t gathered for a few months. Little did we know that a two days later we’d lose fellow member Gale Albright. She was participating in NaNoWriMo and suddenly had a heart attack. Gale was such a strong force in AMW (Yes, like a Gale force wind.) that suddenly losing her took the wind out of my sails. I had trouble writing anything for a couple of months. That’s another reason why I haven’t written a blog post in a long while. It’s still unreal to me. I hear her voice and her laugh. I can hear her telling me to get with it and get work done. I push things away so now, four months later, it’s starting to sink in.
In other news, I’ve made a few videos, and more are to come. I know they aren’t great, but I have fun thinking about them and making them.
- Here’s one called Reflection (from Mulan), about my main character, Kay Stuart. Reflection
- Here’s another. I was just having fun in my car. I like the vintage look I gave it. (It’s a horrible angle! But c’est la vie.) It’s one of my favorite songs, singing with Queen Latifah’s version of Baby Get Lost.Â
I’ve got a couple of more videos coming soon.
So now I’ll talk about some changes I plan to make here on my blog. I plan to post about once a month, but instead of trying to come up with a topic, I’ll write a book review. This is something I’ve been wanting to do for some time. There are so many good books our there, I’d like to share them with you! Not all of the books I’ll be talking about will be mysteries. I’m more than just a mystery writer! I like all kinds of sub-genres of fiction. I also think this may provide some interesting discussions. Or maybe it will at least provide you with a new book for you to enjoy. Not all of the books will be new. In fact, I may just choose one at random from my Goodreads list.
I’ll also keep you up to date on the music I’m writing and the jewelry I’m making. That’s right. Because I don’t have enough to do, I want to try my hand at jewelry.
Oh yeah, and I’m still progressing on my book, Gilt Ridden. If you’d like to keep up to date with my progress, sign up for email notifications.
Ciao!
by VPwith 1 comment.
Cover Reveal!
Iâm proud to have had a small part in this book about writing. It is a collaboration between Writer’s Digest and writers in the Writer Unboxed community. Here is a portion from the introduction written by the indomitable Therese Walsh.
âThe team at Writer Unboxed has provided a guiding light on that well-traveled road for more than a decade now, publishing more than 3,500 essays and interviews about the craft of writing and the writing life. Itâs our pleasure to shine that same light for you here, and itâs our hope that youâll join us on our website and our Facebook group whenever you need to be reminded that you do not walk the road alone. So often Writer Unboxed community members say they read exactly what they needed to read, exactly when they needed to read it, on our site. We hope you get that sense time and again as you read these pages.â
Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indiebound. It has a soft-release date of November 1st, though many will receive pre-ordered books in mid-October. Consider, too,adding it to your âwant to readâ shelf on Goodreads.
by VPwith 2 comments.
Books
“The Last Straw is more than a page turner, itâs suspense mixed with mystery that finds us readers playing detective and wondering whatâs going to happen…” Goodreads reviewer
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The Last Straw-Bullet Book #11.
Co-written with Manning Wolfe
(Starpath Books 2019)
WHOâS KILLING OUR CHILDRENâŚÂ
Biology teacher Barbara Gibson believes in using science to make the world a better place. The fact that she achieves this through poisoning people doesnât bother her in the least. Thrown into the recipe is a copycat poisoner, threatening anonymous letters, and an underestimated former student who is the detective assigned to the serial murders. The end result is a deadly mixture of hate, fear, and revenge. Will Barbara and the copycat get away with murder?Â
Or⌠will Detective Monica Ruiz stop the killing and save the children?
âThe quick high paced book was perfect for the short time I had to read. There was never a dull moment. I LOVE the title…totally fits!â Amazon reviewer.
More about the Bullet Books Here
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With Austin Mystery Writers
Lone Star Lawless- One More Time
(Wildside Press 2017)
 “Award-winning Austin Mystery Writers have penned tales of crime in the Lone Star State, ranging from frightful to funny.” Amazon reviewer
“There are but a few stories that qualify as truly Western. Among them are ‘One More Time’ (V.P. Chandler)…An entertaining read, featuring several award-winning authors.” Kicking Fuhrman for Western Writer’s of America magazine
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the crimes!
One More Time, features an old Texas Ranger who is asked to rescue a kidnapped girl. The pursuit stirs up memories of a similar event in his youth and he’s forced to face the decisions that have haunted him through the decades.
I’m thrilled to have been a part of another AMW anthology. We were able to assemble an amazing collection of award-winning authors. This anthology was the vision of Gale Albright, whom we all miss dearly. Her vision, drive, and enthusiasm compelled those of us at AMW to reach beyond what we thought we could do. I’m happy to say that two of her stories appear in it.
Lone Star Lawless includes stories by the Austin Mystery Writers: Gale Albright, V.P. Chandler, Kaye George, Laura Oles, and Kathy Waller. The friends who contributed are: Alexandra Burt, Janice Hamrick, Scott Montgomery, Mark Pryor, Terry Shames, Larry D. Sweazy, George Wier, and Manning Wolfe.
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Murder on Wheels- Rota Fortunae
(Wildside Press 2015)
Winner of the 2016 Silver Falchion award for best short fiction anthologyÂ
“Being a Texan, I feel itâs only right for me to recommend Murder on Wheels, presented by the Austin Mystery Writers.” Bill Crider, author of the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series and much more.
“Fourteen year old stowaway Tim Brooks thought he would hide on the merchant ship until it arrived in port in Charleston. He picked the vessel Rota Fortunae to hide aboard and that was a serious mistake in this tale of the same name by V. P. Chandler. There is a secret in her hold and one that canât be explained easily. Out of all the tales in the book this one of adventure, and the mystical was my personal favorite.” Flash Bang Mysteries
“My three favorites were by V.P. Chandler, Scott Montgomery, and Reavis Wortham, all of them terrific, and different from each other as night and day. Reading enjoyment doesn’t get better than that in a single book! Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.” Billy Kring, author of the Hunter Kincaid series
Released April 2015.  My story in this collection is Rota Fortunae. A boy from London, Tim, stows away on a merchant ship headed to Charleston. An exotic tattooed man is held prisoner in the hold. Everyone on the ship is terrified of the man and Tim wants to know why. He couldn’t possibly be more dangerous than the blood-thirsty captain or the first mate, could he?
The eleven stories in Murder on Wheels put the pedal to the floor and never let up! Whether by bus, car, tractor, or bike, you’ll be carried along at a breakneck pace by the talented Austin Mystery Writers. These eight authors transport you from an eighteenth-century sailing ship to the open roads of modern Texas, from Alice’s Wonderland to a schoolbus yard in the suburbs of Dallas. Grab your book, hold on to your hat, and come along for the ride! (A portion of the proceeds will go to Meals On Wheels ) Add it to your Goodreads shelf!Â
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Other Projects
Author In Progress: A No-Holds-Barred Guide To What It Really Takes To Get Published
(Writer’s Digest Books 2016)
“Nourishment for the writer’s soul and motivation for the writer’s heart.” James Scott Bell, best-selling author and writing instructor
I’m proud to have had a small part in this book about writing. It was a collaboration between Writer Digest and writers in the Writer Unboxed community. Here is a portion from the introduction written by the indomitable Therese Walsh.
“The team at Writer Unboxed has provided a guiding light on that well-traveled road for more than a decade now, publishing more than 3,500 essays and interviews about the craft of writing and the writing life. Itâs our pleasure to shine that same light for you here, and itâs our hope that youâll join us on our website and our Facebook group whenever you need to be reminded that you do not walk the road alone. So often Writer Unboxed community members say they read exactly what they needed to read, exactly when they needed to read it, on our site. We hope you get that sense time and again as you read these pages.”
Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indiebound. It has a soft-release date of November 1st, though many will receive pre-ordered books in mid-October. Consider, too, adding it to your âwant to readâ shelf on Goodreads.
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Review of Murder On Wheels in Mystery Scene Magazine
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Âby VP