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Hi - nice to have you stop by! K.B. Owen, Historical Mystery Author …Chasing the Cozy Thrill If you're here, I'm assuming you want to know a little more about me. I have a Ph.D. in 19th century British literature and used to teach college lit and writing courses. These days, I'm a historical mystery writer, and just finished the first two books in a series that I'm really excited about. The series is set in a nineteenth-century women’s college in Hartford, Connecticut - world filled with quirky and beguiling characters and mischief mixed with murder. Why Hartford? I fell in love with Hartford and its history while I was at Uconn (one of the top 7 party schools at the time – I got some work done, really!) Why a women's college in the 19th century? Well, you know what they say: go with what you know (and like!). My years teaching college literature and writing provided some interesting classroom experiences. Who can resist such good material? Thankfully, unlike my main character, Professor Concordia Wells, I didn’t have to lecture in a bustle and full skirts. Besides writing and blogging, I read as much as I have the time for (especially mysteries, my first love), and share a house with a husband, three sons, and an assortment of small, furry pets. Chat with me on Twitter! @kbowenwriter

   
Sometimes, things take a turn you don’t expect.  When you’re a writer, that truism often involves going off on a writing tangent – I remember once having a cat totally take over one of my mystery scenes – or writing way beyond the intended length.  The creative process can lead to some interesting results, to…

   
I voted. It’s still a thrill, 32 years after I first registered to vote in the presidential election between encumbent Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.  (Yeah, I know, I’m old). I’ve voted in nearly every election since then – not just the presidential ones – in the three different states in which I’ve lived.  Whether…

   
Three reasons I’d like to get away for a little while: 1. Endless months of political campaigning, complete with robo-calls, debates, and mind-numbing, antagonistic commercials. 2. Super-storm Sandy, and the heartbreak of those in her path.  For those of us who were luckier, it’s still gut-wrenching to see the survivors standing amidst the wreckage of…

   
Happy Friday, everyone!  Can you believe that it’s less than a week before Halloween?  Here’s something to get you in the mood: a house in Leesburg, Virginia, has been all rigged up with a Halloween light show, synchronized to the popular song “Gangnam Style.”  According to the YouTube post, it took 8,500 lights and 250…

   
Here’s a humorous look at Tuesday’s Presidential debate, as seen through a flock of tweets.  In the spirit of equal-opportunity mocking, no serious issues or responses have been included, and no one candidate looks sillier than the other. Hey, we deserve it, after all the robo-calls, advertisements, and spin-doctors we’ve had to endure, right? Enjoy!…

   
Hi, all! While I’m in the final edits of my sequel, here’s a re-post you may enjoy – back when I was doing mystery quizzes along with my detective profiles! Welcome to Masters of Mystery, where we feature a fictional detective and examine his or her unique contribution to the mystery genre.  You are invited…

   
Most of my post topics relate to mystery fiction, historical pop culture, or general “coziness.”  From time to time, though, I’ll post something more public safety-oriented, such as the one this past June about recognizing the real signs of drowning. In that spirit, here’s an informational video from the City of Houston Office of Public Safety and Homeland…