I'm Baaa-aack!

After a long time away, I've decided to give RCTN another try. I write the Betsy Devonshire needlework mysteries - sixteen titles published! I'm feeling a little dry about the series, and am hoping to get refreshed hanging out here.

*waving hello from Virginia*

It's a lot quieter around here these days. But I'm sure your return will generate some conversation.

Planning a new book?

Donna in Virginia

Welcome back, Monica! I too had been away for several years, and just
recently found my way back. I remember you (& Betsy!) quite well.

Jacqueline,
An American in Oz

On Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:40:03 -0700 (PDT), Monica Ferris
wrote:

After a long time away, I've decided to give RCTN another try. I write the Betsy Devonshire needlework mysteries - sixteen titles published! I'm feeling a little dry about the series, and am hoping to get refreshed hanging out here.

Monica Ferris wrote:
After a long time away, I've decided to give RCTN another try. I write the Betsy Devonshire needlework mysteries - sixteen titles published! I'm feeling a little dry about the series, and am hoping to get refreshed hanging out here.


Welcome home!


--

Karen C - California
Editor/Proofreader/Translator www.IntlProofingConsortium.com

Finished 2/26/13 – needlepoint angel ornament

WIP: Stitchers Days of Christmas
http://www.crossstitchjoy.com/catalo...oducts_id=3865
Nativity from "Countdown to Christmas" book, Oriental Kimono (Janlynn),
MLI The Teacher (gift to the library), Bethany Angel (Marbek)
Retrieved from UFO pile: Marbek's Snow Angel, MLI Farmers Market

www.CFSfacts.org -- where we give you the facts and dispel the myths
Myths, with research cites: http://www.aacfs.org/images/pdfs/myths.pdf

COPYRIGHT 2013 -- PERMISSION GIVEN TO POST ON
USENET AND GOOGLE GROUPS NEWSREADER ONLY,
BUT IF FOUND ON TWITTER OR SEW GIRLS, IT HAS
BEEN REPUBLISHED WITHOUT MY PERMISSION WHICH
CONSTITUTES ILLEGAL COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

Monica Ferris wrote:

After a long time away, I've decided to give RCTN another
try. I write the Betsy Devonshire needlework mysteries -
sixteen titles published! I'm feeling a little dry about
the series, and am hoping to get refreshed hanging out
here.

Welcome back, Mary Monica!

Maybe we can help you generate some new ideas for Betsy. Some
nice new way to commit a murder or some new (to her) needlework
technique to build a story around.

If not, at least you're with friends here.

Nyssa
At River's End
http://nyssa.cnc.net

On 3/14/2013 2:40 PM, Monica Ferris wrote:
After a long time away, I've decided to give RCTN another try. I write the Betsy Devonshire needlework mysteries - sixteen titles published! I'm feeling a little dry about the series, and am hoping to get refreshed hanging out here.


Great to see you back; it seems that quite a few "old" faces are
returning to the fold. I need to get your newest book...haven't been
reading or stitching much recently.

Gillian
Florida

On Thursday, March 14, 2013 1:40:03 PM UTC-5, Monica Ferris wrote:
After a long time away, I've decided to give RCTN another try. I write the Betsy Devonshire needlework mysteries - sixteen titles published! I'm feeling a little dry about the series, and am hoping to get refreshed hanging out here.

I have read all your books and eagerly looking forward to the next one.

How about someone getting offed for picking up your best scissors and using them to cut open a hard plastic package

On Thursday, March 14, 2013 8:40:03 PM UTC+2, Monica Ferris wrote:
I was glad to see you back ,
Am sorry to say read only 6 of your books, they are not available here at all.
Have you ever thought of moving your hero into a cloth or pocket , or watching a fiber art work and embroider/knit your story out of the fiberart piece.

In fact i am reconstructed biography chapters from photos that were bundled in a headscarf, Found family monograms sewn into a fold of a table cloth etc,,,, and a tablecloth unto which my Oma added hand signatures over an older layer .
mirjam

On Thursday, March 14, 2013 11:40:03 AM UTC-7, Monica Ferris wrote:
After a long time away, I've decided to give RCTN another try. I write the Betsy Devonshire needlework mysteries - sixteen titles published! I'm feeling a little dry about the series, and am hoping to get refreshed hanging out here.

Delurking to answer this. I've missed the last few books so my suggestions may be off.

Have you ever expanded Jill's story? Why she became a police officer? Why her family was unhappy about it? Her sudden bouts of sadness? That was a theme that ran through the first few books but never went anywhere. Now that Jill is a ex-cop SAHM, maybe whatever that issue is could resurface. Maybe a sibling that disappeared when she was young, or a crime that affected child-Jill that is now resurfacing. You could even include Margo in flashbacks as this happened long before Betsy came in. Perhaps that was how Margo became such a good friend to such a reserved young woman. Is that what got the Monday group so close? This might be a good story line to wind up the series.

How about a stitching cruise mystery? Several days on the open ocean between Los Angeles and Hawaii, a crime committed and no police help at hand. Maybe someone disappeared and the ship's crew isn't investigating. Or a stitching cruise on one of the great rivers like the Mississippi? You'd have to take some cruises for research!

Or that unpleasant character that was the fabulous stitcher (Irene?)that began to make art work...what if she's become successful but is cheated? No one seems to like her but would she really have committed a revenge crime?

Did Jill and Betsy ever take that dude ranch trip? Is there a mystery somewhere there? At a local art gallery? Or something historical in the area? Or an issue with local development? Or how about an issue with some type of ranch-land conservancy? Would this be another research trip you'd have to make? ;-)

A designer that makes those all-over patterns, like Heaven and Earth Designs or Mystic Stitch, sells a pattern from a photo of an urban street scene that turns out to be a photo of a crime in progress or that destroys someone's alibi.

Both the ANG and the EGA are promoting fair appraisals of needlework. Betsy's shop hosts a professional appraiser or maybe Antique's Roadshow visits the area. An appraiser discovers the very high value of a cusomer's antique sampler. Unfortunately, that customer inherited the piece from her husband but the piece actually came from his divorced and now deceased first wife as a family heirloom. He didn't give it to his children from wife #1 as promised. His children from decesed wife #2 grew up with it and feel it belongs to them but again the father gave nothing to his kids. The law says his entire estate now belongs to wife #3. But strong family feelings and lots of money at stake lead to ugly behavior.

Does this help?

I really liked the series, especially the first few.

Ruth P.