They all said I needed an advertising gimmick of some sort to give out at mystery conventions. Some people give out poker chips, wedding rings, rubber bands, tea bags, peanut butter cups, lollipops – you name it, it's been used.

So – what could I use for Shaded Light ? I thought of a light bulb – nope, too easy to break! I thought of sunglasses – way too expensive. I thought of – a lot of different things. But none of them worked. And then it occurred to me – tiny parasols (or if you prefer, umbrellas)!

My top 10 reasons for using parasols to promote Shaded Light

10. Parasols are used to shade you from the light. Get it? Shaded Light. Duh.

9. The murder takes place in a Japanese garden – and the parasols are clearly oriental-looking.

8. There are umbrellas on the patio tables in the book.

7. A lot of drinks are served in the book. Some of them might have had parasols.

6. Since small children love the parasols, you can take them home for your kids so you have something when they ask, "What did you bring me?"

5. You can make yourself a drink, stick the parasol in it, and immediately feel great.

4. I found a really fabulous parasol/umbrella that made me think of mysteries and Shaded Light in particular, and I needed an excuse to use it.

3. If it's really hot, you might use the parasol as a miniature fan to get some breeze going.

2. You can put your heels together and hold the parasol over your head while pretending to be Mary Poppins.

1. You can hold the parasol with one hand and tap dance while warbling "Singing in the Rain."

From my son #3:

"Mom thought we had nothing better to do than to snip the pointy ends off those little sticks!"