Mindy Carlson

Last time we spoke, I was in a bit of a spiral. Part of that was because it was February. Part of it was the specific ways the world is fracturing under our feet.

The world hasn’t gotten better. It’s still fracturing and things are still awful. (Who shares classified military information in an unsecured group chat, FFS??)

But in other way the world has improved. The days are longer and the garden is waking up, which is great for my SAD. I ordered–I kid you not–45 bags of mulch. And it’s not enough mulch.

Granted, I haven’t spread it all yet. There are bags dotted across the garden like the Spring Mulch Bunny has dropped them as they hopped by, but I can already tell I need more.

I’m trying to do a little bit every day or so. Taking the turtle slow-and-steady route on my gardening this year. When there’s so much that needs to get done, we can get easily overwhelmed. Picking one small thing each day, or even every other day, will help you get the entire project done. Small bites. Little steps.

One little step I’m taking to help the larger, more chaotic world is through the Crime Writers for Trans Rights Auction. While I’m not Trans I am an empathic human who won’t allow people to be persecuted for who they are. So, I’ve donated an hour of my time (via Zoom) to help anyone who wants to write a book brainstorm through ideas and get started plotting out their story.

I love plotting and I love brainstorming. The world is wide open and free for you to shape how you want it to be. But, like looking at my garden full of dead weeds and mulch bags, you need to take it one small step at time. And sometimes you need to call in reinforcements — that’s where I come in! You can bid on me, and over 200 other items here.

We’re talking naming a character in a Sara Paretsky’s next book, give a meal description in one of Ann Cleeves’s Matthew Venn or Vera books, signed first editions of some David Baldacci books, and Book Club appearances and manuscript critiques by so many authors it would take me hours to write all their names.

I’m also hosting a giveaway for my friend KT Nguyen on my Instagram page.

By going to my page, following both me and KT Nguyen, liking the post you see above, and tagging 3 friends you will enter the giveaway contest for a signed copy of KT’s Lefty and Agatha nominated thriller You Know What You Did. The contest ends this Monday, March 31, 2025.

Please bid and/or come by Instagram and enter my giveaway contest. Happy reading!