Edith writing from north of Boston, where December is cold and windy, just like it’s supposed to be at this time of year in New England.

Back in September, I’d meant to write a post about friends, but veered into a cover reveal for Scone Cold Dead, instead. With the end of the year in sight, and the end of Wicked Authors Rev 1 also nearing the end (sniff), now seems like the perfect time.

This is one of my favorites from the Wicked Authors photo shoot we did back in 2014. These women hold a special place in my heart for true friendship as well as support in all things authorial. Together we have laughed and cried and griped and celebrated. We’ve held each other up, tried to figure out the craziest corners of the publishing industry, and boosted lots of other writers in the process. I couldn’t have gotten where I am in this last best career of mine without my Wickeds.

I have other close friends in the writing community too many to mention, except I’ll take a stab (in semi-random order): Ellen, Leslie, Leslie, Alexia, Annette, Catriona, Kellye, Alyssa, Nancy, Debra, Connie, Laurie, Valerie. Lucy, Hallie, Hank, Debs, Rhys, Jenn, Julia. Dru, Grace, Josh, Art, Tara, Kristopher, Jay, Amy, Terri. Kate, Susan, Brenda, Ang, Leslie, Stephen, Carolyn, Nicole, Dale, Joanna, Edwin, Kim, Liz, Bruce, Dick. Holly, Nancy, Beth, Susan. The late but never forgotten Sheila and Vicki and Ramona. And more. These are the friends I see in person sometimes only annually when we squeal and rush to hug each other, the writers and reviewers I can ping privately about questions, successes, and woes.

My Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen gang are all special friends (and some have already been mentioned).

I love when we chat around the kitchen table on the first Sunday of the month and when we communicate behind the scenes, much like the Wickeds do.

I also have long-time non-writer friends from high school and college. When I see my high school bestie, Cindy, it’s like no time has passed, even though it’s been fifty-four years since graduation. Here we are on a visit back to Temple City High school (in the San Gabriel Valley south of Pasadena) in 2019.

Last fall, when I was in California launching Murder Uncorked, I met up with several close friends from college days at UC Irvine. The next picture is after my lunch with Mike, a longtime San Francisco resident, and the following one is of Linda and Jon, who live in the Alexander Valley!

My friend Jennifer and I became fast friends during our first week of graduate school in Indiana nearly fifty years ago, and we’re still close. Our kids and now their kids are like family, and we all spend every Easter and Thanksgiving together.

About thirty years ago a group of moms in my town decided to form a movie group. We dubbed ourselves the Flick Chicks. We (a core of the originals and a few new ones to fill in the gaps) still meet every month or so for appetizers and drinks (or gummies), but we often forgo the movie and just catch up with each other or play games. This is most of the group last fall.

I also have friends among my fellow Amesbury Friends (Quakers) whom I can always count on. To wit, I am blessed by being rich in friendships. (And in family, but that’s a different blog.) This richness is reflected in the fictional friendships I write.

For my author life, my friendships with Barb, Julie, Liz, Sherry, and Jessie have been the richest and most important. Mwah to all five! I am more than delighted that Barb (#notdying) and Sherry have promised to crash our future in-person retreats.

Readers: Share a long-time friend or two. Do you also have work friends who mean a lot?