It's been about a year since I've written a cozy mystery.  My last was the fourth Essie Cobb senior sleuth adventure GHOSTED.  I typically alternate between my Pamela Barnes acoustic mysteries and Essie, so technically I'm due to produce another Pamela.  However, I now have five Pamelas and four Essies.  Maybe I should try another Essie so I have an even number of those.  I just don't know.  It would certainly be easier if I had a strong plot in my mind just percolating to come out--but I don't.  For a while, I thought I was going to do a terrorist-oriented plot for Pamela with her tracking down a radical cell about to explode a dirty bomb in a large city where her husband Rocky just happened to be attending an amateur cooking contest.  Unfortunately, I've gone over all the connections in my head and they don't work.  I can see how Pamela could easily uncover hidden information on a supposed video announcement from a terrorist organization through her acoustic analysis skills.  However, she'd no doubt use a recording that was broadcast on television which would provide the same information to all other acoustic specialists around the country--and there are some.  I can't believe that she would be the only one to notice any embedded clues.  I haven't totally given up on this plot line, but it's on hold until I'm certain I can bring it to fruition in a believable way.

As for Essie, I have no clue where a fifth story might take her.  One of my Facebook readers suggested I send her to Vegas.  Surely, that would be fun, but as Essie has never left Happy Haven, except for local field trips and doctor appointments, it seems unlikely that she'd start now.  I am completely open to ideas.  Please, however, remember that Essie is spry in mind, but not in body and any adventures need to be somewhat limited physically for her.

If any of my readers have any stories they would like to see Pamela or Essie (and by the way, Pamela and Essie actually live in the same town--Reardon, although they don't know each other), please let me know.