28 Comments
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Saralyn Richard's avatar

Gathering Mist sounds so appealing, and I love the way you and your husband do research!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you! :) We had some fun reenacting that scene!

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Laurie Buchanan's avatar

Margaret — As a devoted Deputy Mattie Wray and Robo fan, I’ve absolutely loved the series. The settings are so vividly described that they become characters in their own right, making the reading experience even more enjoyable!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Laurie I appreciate both you and your comment so much! Thank you for reading and reviewing the books. You are terrific!

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Sherrill Joseph's avatar

Margaret, your settings are so well composed, the cold goes right to my bones! I also enjoy settings, especially huge, old houses with secret passages and a ghost or two. If a forest or enormous garden surrounds the house, that heightens the mystery for me. Best wishes with Gathering Mist. It’s in my TBR pile right now.

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you, Sherrill! I share your love of old houses with secret passages. It's so funny, but occasionally I dream I'm exploring one and it's so fun. I wake up with very pleasant memories of all my discoveries. Should have those dreams analyzed!

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Sherrill Joseph's avatar

You might consider applying to become one of the Botanic Hill detectives! Or at least a deputy.

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Joy Ribar's avatar

Thanks for your enjoyable post on one of my favorite components of writing! I love it when readers feel like they can be in the setting with all of their senses. I love Colorado, but it's always nice to visit other settings too. My favorite thing about setting my books in Wisconsin is that I can offer four distinct settings for my readers. The weather and colors constantly change in the Dairy State.

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you for your comment, Joy. I like places that have four seasons too.

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Tracey S. Phillips's avatar

I absolutely love your Timber Creek Mystery series. Your settings are palpable. And the latest one is wonderfully different than the books set in Colorado. ANd you do such a great job incorporating the dogs senses in the new place.

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thanks so much, Tracey!

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Sheila Lowe's avatar

I love this series.

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you, Sheila!

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Laurie Stevens's avatar

"Gathering Mist" is a great title BTW. A sense of beauty and foreboding all in one - just as you describe. Thanks for posting!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you, Laurie!

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Sharon Michalove's avatar

I love the way you develop your settings. They mesh perfectly with your plots and characters and offer great possibilities for descriptive writing.

As for my books, I’m really an indoor, urban type. I have set some scenes in parks and around Lake Michigan but my characters like to hang out in restaurants and hockey arena. Kind of like me.

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Yes! Thank you, Sharon!

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T.K. Sheffield's avatar

Love it. The description makes me what to visit such an intriguing place. My stories are set in Wisconsin. I love the four seasons and the different landscapes including the Driftless Area and the Northwoods. There's a town called Mineral Point, the state's oldest settlement, that's charming, much like the Cotswolds. The state inspires me every day! Can't wait to read your next book!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you, T.K! Very charming setting!

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Kathleen Donnelly's avatar

I LOVE the picture of Charlie! He always cracks me up! And I LOVED GATHERING MIST! What a fun change of setting for this book, but I am also glad to hear they will be coming back to Colorado. Although, I wonder, where else might Mattie, Robo and Cole find themselves down the road? ;)

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John A. Hoda's avatar

Making the setting a living and breathing character is difficult. We joke about "it was a dark and stormy night" but it's true that the setting can set tone and mood with an economy of words. I have personally visited where all my books were set except Liberty City Nights where I was fortunate a guy had drove around the Liberty City section of Miama with a dashcam on!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

That's great! I once wrote a short story using Google Earth for the setting. I worked out pretty well! Thanks for your comment, John!

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Nancy Perlman's avatar

Loved Gathering Mist - but would read your Mattie and Robo books no matter where they take place!!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you, Nancy! I appreciate your support and I'm so glad you enjoy the books 😁📚❣️

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Thomas A. Thrun's avatar

I always love a new location, especially outdoors ...as long as it is well researched, like yours, and can teach me extra things!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you, Tom! Thanks for following the newsletter and for reading the books! I'm so glad you enjoy them!

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Thomas A. Thrun's avatar

I’ll keep telling my friends about your books, too! Keep writing! And congratulations on all the well/deserved attention your books are bringing.

Tom T in Wisconsin

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you for both!

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