May is for Mothers! And their daughters! How many books have explored this intimate relationship- from the positives and joys of the mother/daughter relationship to the problems and even horrors of this close connection?
What if the mother and daughter are a writing team? How do they get along? In the case of Maureen K. Howard- splendidly! This mother-daughter writing team is crafting a hilarious, effervescent mystery series. Hold on to your jet skis- their stories of sun and fun on Lake Erie will soon be your favorite reads!
Maureen K. Howard is the pen name of mother/daughter writing partners, Maureen Kovach and Brigette Howard. Together they have created the Lake Erie Mysteries series set in and around the beautiful islands of their favorite summertime locale. They both live in Findlay, Ohio.
Maureen is retired from a long career as a high school English teacher and now focuses her time on spoiling her four granddaughters, spending summer weekends at the lake with her husband and their golden doodle, and making friends with fellow mystery writers and readers across the globe via social media. In addition to writing, Maureen enjoys sketching and coloring in her adult coloring books.
Brigette works full time managing multiple national restaurant franchises. She enjoys taking her charcoal lab on running adventures and spends her free time reading, gardening with her husband, cooking, and planning the perfect murder. Brigette also loves planning and hosting perfect parties for family and friends.
The first two books of the Lake Erie Mysteries series, Sunny Side Up and Deviled! are available for purchase on Amazon. Look for book three, Scrambled, coming soon. Learn more!
My review of the first book in the Lake Erie Mystery Series, Sunny Side Up described my enthusiasm for this fresh and zesty book and the main characters, Francie and June. (Plus, June is married to Hammond Egge, get it ?!) You will have a blast as the delightful duo romps on in book 2, Deviled, and book 3 will be released soon. As they say on the Lake Erie Islands,
“Drink in one hand, credit card in the other, and everything else will sort itself out.”
Here’s how the Magic happens according to daughter Brigette.
I am lucky enough to have this dream come true when working with my writing partner, who is also my wonderful mother.
People are always very curious about how two people can write a book together. I don’t know how others do it, but in our team, we have come up with a great system that works for us. It also helps that I often feel like we share a brain.
My mom and I live only about a mile from each other in Findlay, Ohio, but our writing is almost always done in separate locations using Google Docs, text messages, and phone calls (or book talk) as we like to call it. Our basic practice is to start with an outline that may or may not have a fully-planned ending. Character names and personalities always seem to be the first thing we try to define. We chat on the phone or over a glass of wine until our cast of characters really take on their own lives. And then the fun begins.
Follow this lively and talented mother daughter writing team on Twitter and Facebook.
Maureen says, “I typically spend Mother’s Day at the lake (Lake Erie). The kids know it’s my “happy place.” They will all call me in the morning and sometimes I’ll get a little surprise from one, two, or all three of my great children. Happy Mom’s Day to you!
Mother’s Day at your “happy place”. Sounds perfect to me!
I am a writer, blogger, book reviewer, and bon vivant and encourager. I have lived my entire life in Tropical Ohio. My goal is to make friends with everyone in the world. I wrote a fiction series, The Golden Age of Charli, that presents the problems and praises, and the love and laughter of family life and retirement. My passions are blogging, reading and reviewing, and writing. My life is a WIP.
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