Here are some photos from our trip to Washington D.C. I haven't learned how to display them side by side so please bear with me and scroll down.

Terri Parsons from the Mayhem and Magic blog and Nancy Cohen

Nancy Cohen and Mystery Author Ellen Byerrum

Ellen is one of my pals at The Book Belles. We're running a contest until July 15th if you want to enter.

Capitol Building;  We were lucky to have perfect weather the entire week.

Washington Monument

Dept of Justice building

Street Kiosk

White House

Scene from Smithsonian Museum of American History

Cockpit view in Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

Wright Brothers airplane in Air & Space Museum

Martin's Tavern in Georgetown where Ellen and I met for lunch.

I hope you enjoyed this visual journal of my trip!

On Thursday, we met my husband’s relatives at Montgomery Mall and strolled around for a bit. It was a quieter day, which was fine with us. Dinner at Lee’s Chinese restaurant capped the evening. Friday saw us driving to Georgetown, where we parked near the indoor mall. We ate lunch at Martin’s Tavern, a landmark restaurant in business over 75 years. I heartily recommend the shepherd’s pie. As a special treat, I was delighted to have my mystery pal, Ellen Byerrum, and her husband Bob join us. Ellen gave us the scoop on her made-for-TV movies. Two of her books have been turned into films by Lifetime Movie Network. Watch for Killer Hair and Hostile Makeover. I watched the former film last night. It was a fun whodunit with snappy dialogue intermingled with fashion tips, like Legally Blond meets Nancy Drew. The actors did a good job, and I’m looking forward to catching the second movie and maybe more to come. Ellen did a walk by in Killer Hair. You can’t miss her flaming red hair as she strolls by the White House in one shot. I admire her gutsy attitude and fashion sense, but then again, she’d been a reporter on the Washington scene where you have to dress for success.

For more information on Ellen’s Crime of Fashion series, go to http://www.ellenbyerrum.com. You may remember us as the Mystery Chicks: Me, Ellen, Susan McBride, Laura Durham, and Alesia Holliday.. Now it’s just myself, Susan, Ellen, and Laura at http://www.thebookbelles.com.

After saying goodbye to Ellen and Bob, we moseyed to the waterfront and then along up one of the hills to wind in and out of the quaint shopping streets. It was very hot and sunny, like around 90̊. Eager for air-conditioning, we piled back into our car and headed toward Rockville. That evening, we had a pleasant dinner at The Olney Grille.

Unfortunately, our trip ended the next day. We made good time on I-95 south, so we drove into Savannah to eat dinner at the River House overlooking the harbor. My pecan encrusted tilapia with delicious. It made me buy some crushed pecans the next day along with a basket of fresh Georgia peaches. Wishing we had more time to explore this historic city with its charming streets, old buildings, ghosts, and eateries, we left for home.

We’re finally back in Fort Lauderdale where the weather is hot and rainy. Our dog survived her vacation in the kennel and actually seems livelier. Maybe barking at all those other pooches perked her up. I’m back to paying bills, catching up on mail, running errands, doing laundry. Oh, joy. The vacation is over. I’ll give myself a week to get things in order, and then I’ll start the final read-through of my mystery manuscript.

I hope you enjoyed these posts on my journey. I used to take notes during my travels, keeping extensive diaries from the faraway places I’d visited. Now this blog serves the same purpose, only you get to share in my experiences. You’ll also be able to share my photos, as soon as I upload and resize them. Have a bouffant day!

I met up for lunch on Monday with Terri Parsons from the Mayhem & Magic blog. Our meal at the 21^st Amendment restaurant was quite pleasant. I had hummus with pita triangles and a cucumber salad and shared a veggie panini with my daughter. The place got very crowded and is a block or two behind the Air & Space museum. It was really nice of Terri to get off work to meet me. We had a delightful chat, talking about our favorite books and movies and the mystery genre.

Tuesday found us visiting Hillwood Museum & Gardens, the grand estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post of cereal fame. We strolled the extensive gardens, gaped at the treasures inside her mansion, and dined outside at the café. This was another great meal in a garden setting. I had shrimp salad flavored with a touch of curry. While the Faberge eggs and multitudes of china place settings and regal portraits inside the mansion drew our attention, I was most fascinated by the fitted master closets, the dressing rooms, the pantry and kitchen. It must have been nice to be cosseted by servants while prepping for the numerous parties the lady attended.

We ate dinner that night at a Thai restaurant, Ben Jarong, in Rockville. I had a tasty dish of chicken sauteed with ginger, Chinese mushrooms, and onions. Then we visited with our relatives before retiring.

Wednesday, we headed back downtown via the Metro, not letting the accident faze us. We arrived at Metro Central without incident and proceeded down G Street toward 15^th. There we turned toward the Mall, past the impressively massive building housing the Dept of the Treasury.

Just past Pennsylvania Avenue, we turned onto a path via which you’re allowed to view the White House. We took photos and stared at the home of our Commander-in-Chief. What a different life the First Family must have, surrounded by layers of security. Substantially awed, we marched along to the Smithsonian Museum of American History and spent a couple of hours viewing the history of transportation with models of trains, old cars, buggies, and such. I liked Julia Child’s kitchen that was on display. We breezed through sections on electricity and machinery, musical instruments and entertainment icons like Dorothy’s red shoes from The Wizard of Oz.

A break for lunch brought us to the Old Ebbitt Grill, now owned by Clyde’s. Fascinating place to people-watch. Lots of somber men in suits and women in business attire. Located nearly across from the Dept of the Treasury and near the White House, it probably has seated hundreds of government officials over the ages. There’s even a private room downstairs labeled the Cabinet Room. The setting is most elegant with white clothed tables, fresh flowers, a polished wood bar at one end, flickering lamps on tall posts, deer heads (with antlers?) mounted on the walls, and ornate beer mugs displayed on a high shelf over the bar. My husband had crab cakes, while I sampled New England clam chowder and a strawberry salad with spinach, goat cheese, and walnuts. No doubt I am gaining weight but we are compensating with lots of walking exercise. I’ll miss that when we go home.

Dinner was average fare at the Hollywood Diner in Rockville. Coming up: A shopping expedition to Tyson’s Corner and a trip to Georgetown where I’m going to meet a surprise guest. Will tell you more next time.

We spent a long two days on the road driving north on I-95 to Rockville, MD. The heat was oppressive, sometimes reaching 100 degrees, until we hit Virginia. Then it dropped at least ten degrees into the pleasant eighties. We overnighted in Lumberton, NC at exit 20, eating dinner in the Village Station restaurant. Prices were reasonable and the food was good. Traffic increased the next day as we neared the D.C. area. We skirted the city on 495, veered onto 270, then exited in Rockville. We spent Father’s Day with my husband’s family. It was great to see everyone again.

Monday began our sightseeing. We took the Metro from Shady Grove in Maryland to Metro Central in downtown D.C. Strolling toward the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, we saw many famous monuments, museums, and buildings, including the massive structure that houses the IRS. The Washington Monument stands tall at one end of the Mall; the Capitol building gleams white at the other end. A slew of white tents are set up on the grass in preparation for an international folklife festival scheduled to start on Wednesday.

We spent hours in the Air & Space Museum looking at exhibitions of flight from the Wright Brothers days on through jet propulsion, and of the space era with moon flight capsules, a history of exploration and study of the solar system, etc. A Planetarium show soothed us with images of the stars and a commentary on Black Holes.

After a sojourn into H&M for our daughter to shop for clothes, we headed back on the Metro. An announcement stated that there were delays due to trains sharing a track. Trains were already full by the time they arrived at Metro Central, but we squeezed onto one. The train didn’t move. We waited about ten minutes, then an announcement ordered everyone to vacate the train. The mob surged onto the platform. In a crush of people, we waited. It took three trains before we found space enough to cram on the four of us. More announcements about delays due to an emergency situation. The train jerked to a start, sped down a tunnel, halted. This went on for nearly two hours before we reached our destination. I’m thinking that I could never live here and do this commute every day. Nor would I like to live in a concrete jungle. I prefer the greenery of the suburbs. Give me the trees and the flowers. Cities are exciting, but I’d rather visit them than live in them, even if you can walk to your neighborhood grocery and favorite deli.

My daughter called her cousin and learned about the accident wherein two trains had collided further down the line. At least six people were killed, maybe more. It dominated the news last night, but we made it safely back to our car. We feel bad for the folks who never made it home. What a terrible tragedy.

Dinner with the relatives, then to bed. Gotta rest up for the busy schedule ahead.

I’m on a forced break from writing, trying to gain some distance on my story so I can do a complete read-through from start to finish to check for consistency and smoothness. We’re going away for a couple of weeks anyway, so it’s not a good time to start a new project. Normally, this break would give my fingers and shoulders a chance to recover from the strain of typing, but with Facebook and blogs and such, there is no real break. Being away from home is the only solution.

You’d think I’d be glad for the chance to lie around and read magazines, catch up on favorite tv shows, and meet friends for lunch. And yet, a restlessness is building inside me. Vague ideas for my next mystery swirl in my head. The urge to write is simmering, collecting momentum, tingling my fingertips. A change of scenery is the only cure for this affliction. Busy playing tourist, I can file away my experiences in a mental cabinet. Nonetheless, I’ll utilize the writer’s eye to observe setting details that may add to my next story. I’ll catch plot threads out of the air as we’re driving on the highway. Or I’ll note character quirks that I might use later. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t turn off that writer gene.

Writing a blog helps to relieve some of the creative pressure. I imagine this happens to all writers. We can’t wait to finish the story we are slaving over. Once done, we sigh with relief. And then the tension starts again, building to a crescendo, until we have to sit down and let our fingers fly on the keyboard while words pour forth from the recesses of our brain. That’s why we can’t quit. We HAVE to write. It’s in our nature.

Bright and early on Sunday morning, my husband and I drove to Fort Lauderdale Beach for a brisk walk followed by breakfast at an outdoor café. Sunlight sparkled off the ocean at this early hour. Seagulls glided on the breeze. Salt air pervaded our nostrils. A freighter hugged the horizon while a lone sailboat plowed the azure blue waters far from shore. A cruise liner chugged out to sea, likely the day trip to the Bahamas. Joggers pounded the brick sidewalk bordering the beach. A street performer played the guitar. Ah, what bliss. After a speed walk stretching from Las Olas to Beach Place and back, we settled on a café. The waiter seated us at a table facing the ocean. There’s nothing like a view of the sea through the filter of palm tree fronds. I ordered Belgian waffles with whipped cream, fresh strawberries, and sliced bananas. The waiter served a strong brew of coffee. We drank the hot beverage. I grew hotter. We faced east, and although our spot was shady, we felt the rising temperature as the sun ascended. Sweat poured down my back and down my face. I glanced toward the restaurant interior. Its air-conditioned comfort beckoned. But no, we’d come here for the view. Until the No See Ums bit my pinky finger and my upper arm. Scratch, scratch. My skin itched. Damn bugs. God, it’s so hot. I stuffed down my food, impatient to reach my air-conditioned car and get home to my antihistamine cream. You won’t get me back until November. 

Today we have a Q & A with Wendy Burt-Thomas. She is a full-time freelance writer, editor and copywriter with more than 1,000 published pieces. Her third book, "The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters" hit stores in January 2009. Wendy features writing contests and a different author on her blog every day! http://AskWendy.wordpress.com.

1. Q: Can you tell us about your book?

The book was a great fit for me because I'd been teaching "Breaking Into Freelance Writing" for about eight years. In the workshop, I covered a lot of what is in this book: writing query letters to get articles in magazines, to land an agent, or to get a book deal with a publisher. Since I'm a full-time freelance magazine writer and editor with two previous books, this was incredibly fun to write because it didn't require tons of research. I was lucky enough to receive lots of great sample query letters from writers and authors that I use as "good" examples in the book. I wrote all the "bad" examples myself because I didn't dare ask for contributions that I knew I'd be ripping apart!

In addition to the ins and outs of what makes a good query, the book covers things like why (or why not) to get an agent, where to find one and how to choose one; writing a synopsis or proposal; selling different rights to your work; other forms of correspondence; and what editors and agents look for in new writers. It was really important to me that the book not be a dry, boring reference book, but rather an entertaining read (while still being chock full of information). I was thrilled that Writer's Digest let me keep all the humor.

2. Q: Why are query letters so important?

Breaking into the publishing world is hard enough right now. Unless you have a serious "in" of some kind, you really need a great query letter to impress an agent or acquisitions editor. Essentially, your query letter is your first impression. If they like your idea (and voice and writing style and background), they'll either request a proposal, sample chapters, or the entire manuscript. If they don't like your query letter, you've got to pitch it to another agency/publisher.

Unlike a manuscript, which can be edited or reworked if an editor thinks it has promise, you only get one shot with your query. Make it count!

I see a lot of authors who spend months (or years) finishing their book, only to rush through the process of crafting a good, solid query letter. What a waste! If agents/editors turn you down based on a bad query letter, you've blown your chance of getting them to read your manuscript. It could be the next bestseller, but they'll never see it. My advice is to put as much effort into your query as you did your book. If it's not fabulous, don't send it until it is.

3. Q: You're also a magazine editor. What is your biggest gripe regarding queries?

Queries that show that the writer obviously hasn't read our publication. I'll admit that I did this when I was a new writer too – submitted blindly to any publication whose name sounded even remotely related to my topic. One of the examples I use was when I submitted a parenting article to a magazine for senior citizens. Oops! A well-written query pitching an article that's not a match for the magazine isn't going to get you any further than a poorly written query.

4. Q: There's an entire chapter in the book about agents. Do you think all new writers should get agents?

Probably 99% of new writers should get an agent. There are lots of reasons, but my top three are: 1) Many of the larger publishing houses won't even look at unagented submissions now; 2) Agents can negotiate better rights and more money on your behalf; 3) Agents know the industry trends, changes and staff better than you ever could.

5. Q: You've been a mentor, coach or editor for many writers. What do you think is the most common reason that good writers don't get published?

Poor marketing skills. I see so many writers that are either too afraid, too uninformed, or frankly, too lazy, to market their work. They think their job is done when the write "the end" but writing is only half of the process. I've always told people who took my class that there are tons of great writers in the world who will never get published. I'd rather be a good writer who eats lobster than a great writer who eats hot dogs. I make a living as a writer because I spend as much time marketing as I do writing.

6. Q: What are some of the biggest misconceptions that writers have about getting a book deal?

That they'll be rich overnight, that they don't need to promote their book once it's published, that publishing houses will send them on world book tours, that people will recognize them at the airport. Still, you can make great money as an author if you're prepared to put in the effort. If it wasn't possible, there wouldn't be so many full-time writers.

7. Q: What must-read books do you recommend to new writers?

Christina Katz (author of "Writer Mama") has a new book out called "Get Known Before the Book Deal" - which is fabulous. Also, Stephen King's "On Writing" and David Morrell's "Lessons from a Lifetime of Writing." Anything by Anne Lamott or my Dad, Steve Burt.

8. Q: What's the biggest lesson you've learned as a full-time writer?

Seize every opportunity - especially when you first start writing. I remember telling someone about a really high-paying writing gig I got and he said, "Wow. You have the best luck!" I thought, "Luck has nothing to do with it! I've worked hard to get where I am." Later that week I read this great quote: "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity." It's absolutely true. And writing queries is only about luck in this sense. If you're prepared with a good query and/or manuscript, when the opportunity comes along you'll be successful.

9. What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Writing the "bad" query letters. I've read – and written! – so many horrible ones over the years that it was a little too easy to craft them. But misery loves company and we ALL love to read really bad query letters, right?

10. Q: What do you want readers to learn from your book?

I want them to understand that while writing a good query letter is important, it doesn't have to be overwhelming. You can break it down into parts, learn from any first-round rejections, and read other good queries to help understand what works. I also want them to remember that writing is fun. Sometimes new writers get so caught up in the procedures that they lose their original voice in a query. Don't bury your style under formalities and to-the-letter formatting.

"Ask Wendy–The Query Queen."   http://askWendy.wordpress.com

I had a murder mystery dream last night. This is unusual. When I wake up from a vivid dream, it’s more often a science fiction scenario. I’ve scribbled down several pages of notes on those dreams in the past, in case I want to use them to kick off a story some day. A dream is what inspired Circle of Light, the first book I sold and the title that won the Holt Medallion Award in the paranormal romance category.

So what was last night’s dream about? My dog got loose. I ran out the door after her, holding her leash that was more like a rope. Along the way, I realized I’d left my cell phone home. Thinking I’d be back soon anyway, I raced after the pooch. Instead of my cream colored poodle, she was a hairless scrawny pink thing. She charged through the streets with me following in her wake. We ran and ran until I got completely lost. Sometimes I grabbed hold of her, but the way back was treacherous, and I needed to use the leash as a safety rope. Tucking her under my arm, I grasped the rope as a lifeline in several instances as we forded streams and crevices and fallen logs in forests.

We ended up in a strange town. Pooch jumped from my arms and ran off again. I trailed her into a building that was under renovation. She scooted up the stairs. Up and up she climbed, from bottom level all the way to the attic. I’d hoped there would be someone who could snag her for me, but the place was deserted. I reached the top and caught sight of her. Whipping my leash/rope into a lasso, I flung it toward her. Instead, it landed in a crack and got stuck. When I yanked with all my strength to free the end, a wood panel snapped opened. My rope went slack, but so did the body that fell out from the trapdoor.

A body! It was a woman, tied up with a cord around her neck. She wasn’t dead, but nearly so, struggling for a breath. My blood turned to ice, but I still had the presence of mind to loosen the cord so she could breathe. Before I could untie her, however, I heard footsteps downstairs. Heavy footsteps. Omigod. Whoever had done this to her might be returning.

I hid as a man trudged up the stairs. While he was hovering over the woman, I dashed for freedom. My last regretful glance lingered on my dog, poised on the plank floor with her big eyes watching me. I couldn’t worry about her now. Hopefully, she’d find her way home.

I dashed from the building without knowing if that poor woman would survive or not. I had to get help. Outside on the village main street, I pleaded with passersby to use a cell phone. "Please call 911!" I yelled. "There’s a murderer after me." I got a lot of strange looks but no offers of help. They must have thought I was a kook. The killer was a tall hulk with dark hair, so tall that he stood above everyone else. He’d be easy to spot. Not so much his husky friend who he picked up along the way to join the chase.

Somewhere on the outskirts of town, I came upon a field where I spotted a military troop practicing for a parade. They were just now breaking up and heading toward a building on top of a hill. They could get help for me! My heart thumping, I pounded after them, disappointed to learn they were only just a legion of locals in uniform. Nonetheless, their organization might have a phone available in their building. I went inside the lobby, but someone was already using the public telephone. I pleaded for help, my face blanching when I glanced out the window and saw the heads of my opponents clearing the rise. Besides meeting rooms, the building had a polished wood bar with gleaming glassware. The bartender lady smiled at me and told me not to worry, that they would hide me while summoning help. The patrons, men standing in clusters with drinks in hand, nodded in agreement. Reassured that I’d finally reached a place of safety, I woke up.

Why am I telling you this dream? Because like my other vivid ones, this could be the springboard for a story. I’ve been thinking of setting my next mystery in a spooky old theater. Perhaps it has recently opened after renovations that aren’t quite finished.

What if my sleuth stumbles upon a body like the woman in the attic? Someone not quite dead but nearly strangled. What if my heroine runs outside to summon the police, but when they arrive, the body is gone? Was the woman dead or alive? Did she escape on her own, or was the killer there all along? Did he spot my sleuth? Who was the woman?

For the suspects, I’ll throw in a troupe of community actors. Perhaps there is a visiting diva who is starring in the latest production. Toss in the people in her entourage, the theater crew, and the construction workers. Voilà. A new mystery is born.

I hope you had a chance to check out my interview at Ask Wendy--The Query Queen. If not, please visit and leave a comment.  And come back here tomorrow when Wendy is my guest.

Please visit my blog on Thursday, June 11 when I’ll be hosting a guest: Wendy, the Query Queen. Wendy Burt-Thomas is a full-time freelance writer, editor and copywriter with more than 1,000 published pieces. Her third book, "The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters" hit stores in January 2009. Come see what she has to say on Thursday.

I have some online appearances coming up, too. Please join me at the following sites:

June 9, Tuesday, I am interviewed by Wendy of "Ask Wendy–The Query Queen"fame, at her blog site: http://askWendy.wordpress.com.  Check it out tomorrow!

June 10, Wednesday: Guest Blogger on http://mayhemandmagic2.blogspot.com. My topic will be: "Writing in Multiple Worlds: Plotting a Mystery versus a Paranormal Romance."  Read the secrets of my plotting techniques.

June 16, Tuesday, 7:00 - 8:00 pm, Online Chat with me and my critique group. Go to http://www.thisbookofmine.com and click on Visit the Forum. Register to enter.

And don’t forget to visit http://www.thebookbelles.com for a chance to win a basket full of signed books by four fabulous authors.

Other than the old classics like Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie, these are some of my favorite films in the mystery genre.

AMERICAN DREAMER with JoBeth Williams and Tom Conti.

One of my all-time favorites. A romance novelist wins a contest and a trip to Paris. En route to the awards luncheon, she’s in an accident and suffers a head injury. She wakes up believing herself to be the heroine in her favorite books. A spy caper follows that’s all too real, as she teams up with the author’s handsome son who thinks she’s a nutcase. That is, until someone tries to kill them.

DROWNING MONA with Danny DeVito and Bette Midler

A funny whodunit in a small town with a wacky cast of characters.

GOSFORD PARK with Helen Mirren and Jeremy Northam

An English drawing room mystery in the grand fashion that takes place at a country estate. Aristocrats and servants alike have secrets that slowly unravel during a hunting party weekend. Albeit a bit slow-paced, this film requires repeat viewings to catch the nuances.

HER ALIBI with Tom Selleck and Paulina Portzkova

A hilarious escapade wherein mystery novelist Phillip Blackwood falls for a suspected murderess while searching for inspiration to unlock his writer’s block. Did the mysterious and beautiful foreigner have a hand in the victim’s death? If so, is he foolish to vouch for her alibi and bring her home? And are the accidents that ensue truly accidents, or is he next in line for her lethal high jinks?

MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY with Woody Allen and Diane Keaton

A Manhattan housewife thinks her next door neighbor is a murderer. She enlists her friends to search for clues. Probably my favorite Woody Allen film out of all of them.

MURDER 101 with Pierce Brosnan

English professor Charles Lattimore assigns his class to plan the perfect murder as a literary exercise, but when he’s framed for a woman’s death, he has to find the killer before the detective on the case finds him. Will his students help him solve a real murder, or is one of them guilty?

MURDER BY THE BOOK with Robert Hays

A mystery novelist thinks he’s hallucinating when his hero appears in front of him and talks back. He’s been thinking of changing to a new series and scrapping the sleuth, but now he needs the fellow’s help solve a real murder.