Babs Book Bistro
Issue 1
Sleuth Cafe
The Bistro Established 2017
Features
Authors
Reviews
Recipes
Contents
On the Cover
Interviews
Emily Brightwell
Sally Carpenter D.M. O’Byrne Lea Wait Kathi Daley Sandra Murphy Sawn McGuire Clea Simon Valerie Burns Vicki Delany Rachel Brimble
Features Keta Diablo Mary Ellen Hughes Nancy Haddock Faye Hall Nicole Leiren Duffy Brown
Audio Books Audiobookworm
Guest Authors Barb Schlichting Kyle Prue Jennifer Mueller Joyce Tremel Charlene Paddon Donna Fasano Dorothy James
Giveaways Aria Fiction Duffy Brown Kathi Daley
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Lemon Chicken with Pesto Pasta Peppered Beef Charity Stroganoff Penn’s Microwave Bonbon Fire Kindling
AMBER YA Fantasy Urban Fantasy Contemporary Romance Cozy Mystery
Publisher News Aria Fiction Berkley Prime Crime
BABS Cozy Mystery Contemporary Romance ( 3 ) Western Romance
Staff Owner Babs Hightower Co-Owner Amber Marr
On the Cover Emily Brightwell
Come meet Emily Brightwell Scotland Yard Inspector Witherspoon helped by household staff led by housekeeper Mrs Jeffries in Victorian England mysteries. Currently there are 36 books in the series. The latest release is MRS. JEFFRIES AND THE THREE WISE WOMEN Christopher Gilhaney isn't a popular man, and he proves why when he insults every guest at Abigail Chase's dinner party. When Gilhaney is shot dead under the cover of the night's fireworks, his murder is deemed a robbery gone wrong. Six weeks later, the case is unsolved, and Inspector Witherspoon is called to find the killer – quickly! With Christmas almost here, Inspector Witherspoon and everyone in his household is upset at the possibility of having to cancel their holiday plans to solve a case that seems impossible. Only Luty Belle, Ruth, and Mrs. Goodge refuse to give up. They must use all of their persuasive powers to get the others on board, because these three wise women know justice doesn't take time off for Christmas.
Excerpt It was now December eighteenth and Nivens knew he had to come up with a way to deflect the blame off himself or, failing that, make sure that Witherspoon took over the case. That was the only way he could rebound from this failure. This crime wasn’t going to be solved by anyone, but if he tried to make that argument right now, Barrows wouldn’t believe it. Their glorious inspector, the one who’d solved more crimes than anyone in the history of the Metro-politan Police Force, needed to fail as well.
Now he just had to make certain that Barrows handed the case to the right person. Getting rid of this case was the wisest course; if anyone was to have a black mark against his record, let it be Gerald Witherspoon.
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Interview
Can you tell us a little about yourself? I was born in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia but left there as a young child and my family ended up in Pasadena, California. That was a great place to grow up, and though I’ve moved on, I remember Pasadena with great fondness. I began my writing career in the late 1980s and was first published by a German magazine that bought a romance I’d written. They paid the princely sum of $300 – but I was thrilled that anyone would actually pay me to write – even if it was only a pittance. My hobbies are simple: bird-watching (supporter of the Audubon Society), working jigsaw puzzles, cooking, crocheting (though even after many years, I’m not that skilled), watching English Premier League football (Everton fan) and watching Korean and Chinese Historical dramas online (with subtitles). Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write? I was always a secret scribbler; the kid sitting in the back of the class hoping the teacher wouldn’t call on her – valuable time to daydream stories. But I didn’t develop the discipline necessary to make writing a profession until I was in my mid thirties. But when the writing bug hit me, it hit me hard and I knew that I wanted to spend my life doing exactly this.
What are you currently working on? The next “Mrs. Jeffries” book, number 37 in the series. The working title is “Mrs. Jeffries Delivers the Goods”. Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why? Goodness, this is a tough one but I’d have to say my favorite one was a Young Adult book I wrote back in the early nineties. The title is: “Remember Me”. A dear friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer while I was writing this, which, oddly enough deals with the death of young man. I had a few pages left to write when I heard she’d passed and I was devastated. Nancy was a middle school teacher and a wonderful, no nonsense lady I’d met when we’d joined the local church. After my character died in the book, I just couldn’t write the last ten pages. I sat at my desk and stared blankly at the screen unable to coax out even one word. Suddenly I felt her hand on my shoulder and in that ‘teacher’s voice’ she said, “Now, come on. You’ve got a few more pages to finish this project - just start writing and get it done. I know you can do this.” An hour later, the book was completed and those last ten pages didn’t require one word to be re-written. She’d been my friend for twelve years and I dedicated the book to her. Hearing Nancy’s voice that morning is the only time in my life I’ve had what could be called a ‘psychic’ experience but I know it was absolutely real. What books have most influenced you as a writer? There are so many that it’s hard to single just one – I’ve been influenced by dozens of masters of the craft. Raymond Chandler, P D James, Stephen King, Nora Roberts, Patricia Highsmith, Barbara Michaels…or goodness, the list is endless but if I had to choose one major influence, it would have to be Erle Stanley Gardner. My father had all his Perry Mason books in paperback and I started reading them as a young teenager. I loved all his characters including the ones on the TV series and to this day will still watch old reruns. Perry Mason stood up for the little guy, the one being railroaded by the system. His “fighting for the underdog” very much influences my work.
What do you find the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding? The most challenging part is – just sitting down every single day and writing. There are so many distractions! As a genre author, you can’t wait for inspiration, you have to make the words come every day…and that’s not easy. Some days you feel like you’re pulling them out of a vat of sticky taffy and other days the words come tumbling out so fast you can barely keep up. The strangest part is that when I do my rewrites (and I rewrite several times for each draft), it’s impossible for me to tell which bits were yanked from the taffy vat and which bits flowed. The most rewarding part of writing is easy; the satisfaction that comes from knowing that you created something that others can enjoy. I love hearing from my readers and with the social media technology available these days, I get a real sense that books are doing exactly what I hope they’d do; entertain people. What book is on your nightstand? There are eight of them stacked next to my bed but currently I’m reading “The Wrong Side of Goodbye” by Michael Connelly and “The Brutal Telling” by Louise Penny. I also read a lot of non-fiction, biographies, history and of course, research for my “Mrs. Jeffries” books. What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future? More Mrs. Jeffries, of course and I’ve got another mystery series in mind – it’s not really a series, more like a three book mini-series set in World War I with a villainess who wants to take over the world. Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers? Mainly, I’d just like to thank all of them for reading my books. A writer is nothing unless someone wants to read what they’ve created…so to all my readers, a huge, heartfelt… “THANK YOU.”
Emily Brightwell is the New York Times bestselling author of the Victorian Mysteries featuring Inspector Witherspoon and Mrs. Jeffries, including Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong and Mrs. Jeffries Wins the Prize.
Features
Keta Diablo Hello friends and fans of Bab's Book Bistro. Welcome to her new online magazine! When Babs asked me if I'd like to write an article for the November issue of the magazine, I jumped at the chance. And, I thought something about ghosts would be appropriate (and interesting) this time of year. I don't know about you but Halloween always reminds me of ghosts, spirits and apparitions of every kind. So what is a ghost? Most resources describe one as a person's spirit existing separately from his/her body that continues to exist after the person dies. Many parapsychologists and paranormal researchers also claim there are specific types of ghosts. Below are a few that continually to show up on Haunted Spirits and Haunted Places web sites: * Apparition: Defined as something that unexpectedly appears or becomes visible. The term is synonymous with phantasm (fantasm) and phantom (fantom) and specter (spectre). * Doppelgänger: in legend, this often sinister ghostly double of a person that haunts its living counterpart.
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* Poltergeist: An invisible and mischievous ghost that makes its presence known with noises, wrappings, and quick manifestations of psychic energy such as movements of objects. * Spook: From the Dutch, synonymous with the word “ghost”. * Wraith: From uncertain origin. This is another word for ghost that bears many contradictory definitions from “guardian” to “omen of death". Regardless of what we call them, ghosts have been studied, written about and recorded for decades (even centuries). One of the first "haunted house" stories ever recorded came from Pliny the Younger. He described a house in which the apparition of an old man, emaciated, bearded, and burdened with heavy chains plagues the inhabitants therein. Those who bought or rented the house became so frightened, they evacuated the property. Finally, a philosopher, who was identified as Athendorus, took up residence there. Familiar with tales of the ghost, Athendorus decided to immerse himself in his writing, in the hopes of distracting himself when the ghost appeared. However, the sound of the rattling chains and moaning becomes so dreadfully loud and terrifying that Athendorus could no longer take it. He followed the ghost to a spot outside the house, whereupon the figure disappeared. Athendorus marked the spot with grass and leaves and in the morning ordered the spot to be dug up. The excavation produced the corpse of a man wrapped in heavy chains. Athendorus promptly ordered a proper burial for the man, and his ghost was never seen in the house again.
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England reportedly has more ghosts (and sightings) than any other country. The most frequently reported ghost sightings the UK dates back to the 16th century. Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I, was executed at the Tower of London in May 1536 after being accused of witchcraft, treason, incest and adultery. Sightings of Boleyn’s ghost have been reported at the tower as well as in various other locations, including her childhood home, Hever Castle, in Kent. But have no fear, America is not without its share of famous ghosts: Beginning in the late 19th century, Benjamin Franklin’s ghost was seen near the library of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. Abraham Lincoln, formerly a lawyer and congressman from Illinois is said to have been seen wandering near the old Springfield capitol building, as well as his nearby law offices. The spirit of Peter Stuyvesant, New York City's last Dutch colonial governor, has been seen stomping around the East Village on his wooden leg since shortly after his death in 1672. The author Mark Twain is believed to haunt the stairwell of his onetime Village apartment building.
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The poet Dylan Thomas is said to sometimes occupy his usual corner table at the West Village’s White Horse Tavern, where he drank a fatal 18 shots of scotch in 1953. And, finally, Aaron Burr, who served as vice president under Thomas Jefferson but is best known for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804. Burr’s ghost is said to roam the streets of his old neighborhood (also the West Village). Burr’s spectral activity is focused particularly on one restaurant, One if By Land, Two if By Sea, which is located in a Barrow Street building that was once Burr’s carriage house. With all this talk of ghosts, I can't resist telling you about my latest contemporary romance release…A GHOST TO DIE FOR
Features
About the story: Do you believe in ghosts? Rooney Fontaine doesn't—or didn't until one named Stuart Granger shows up in her hotel room. Now the humorous, yet desperate, apparition is begging her to find the men who murdered him before his brother becomes their next victim. After serving three tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, Stephan Granger is no stranger to risk and peril. When a woman shows up at his house rambling about ghosts, murder and assassins, his first inclination is to deem her wrong in the head and send her packing. But how does she know things that happened to him and his dear departed brother in their childhoods, secrets they never shared with anyone? Soon after he invites her in to hear more about what really happened to Stuart, gunfire splits the air and shatters all the windows in the house. Someone is trying to kill them. Now they're on the run from assassins while trying to find out who killed his brother and why they want him dead too. Even amid murder and mayhem, sometimes you find love.
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Raves for A Ghost To Die For: "Do you believe in ghosts? If so, A GHOST TO DIE FOR by Keta Diablo will have you captivated while the hero and heroine deal with the fracking company who killed the hero's brother. Great story." "This is one paranormal with a terrific ghost." "A really great story! I enjoyed the writing and the plot in A Ghost to Die For." *** Read the Sample on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075K6D7YX/ And don't forget to sign up for my occasional newsletter on my blog: Keta's Keep, http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com Keta on Twitter: @ketadiablo Happy Reading all, and I hope all your ghostly encounters are memorable! Keta Ps: Major congratulations to Babs on her new, exciting online magazine!
Features
Mary Ellen Hughes Back Cover Callie Reed pays a long overdue visit to her aunt, Melodie, at her fairy-tale cottage in quaint Keepsake Cove, which is home to a bevy of collectible shops on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Just as they’re beginning to reconnect, Callie discovers her aunt’s body on the floor of the music box shop she owns. Grief-stricken, Callie finds she can’t accept Melodie’s death being ruled accidental. How could her strong Releasing and healthy aunt take such a fatal fall? And why was November 8th Preshe in the shop in the middle of the night? order now -click on cover. Blurb As Callie searches for the truth, signs seem to come from her late aunt through a favorite music box, urging Callie on. Or are they warnings? If Callie isn’t careful, she could meet a similar deadly fate amid Melodie’s collection.
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Mary Ellen Hughes is the bestselling author of the Pickled and Preserved Mysteries, the Craft Corner Mysteries, and the Maggie Olenski Mysteries, along with several short stories. A Fatal Collection is the first in her new Keepsake Cove mystery series. A Wisconsin native, she has lived most of her adult life in Maryland, where she’s set many of her stories, raised two children, and a few cats and vegetables. She credits her husband with being her greatest inspiration as well as top supporter. You can visit her at http://www.maryellenhughes.com
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Nancy Haddock The Silver Six are known for their arts and crafts—but they’re about to be tested in the art of catching a crafty killer. It's early October, time for the Fall Folk Art Festival and Bake Sale in Lilyvale, Arkansas. Leslee Stanton Nix, known as "Nixy," is in charge of making the event run smoothly. The festival will benefit the Handcraft Emporium, the store Nixy manages with her aunt and her five sassy housemates, collectively known as the Silver Six. Delicious baked goods, beautiful crafts, and time with friends—Nixy is confident that the festival will be a success. But things become knotty when local troublemaker Cornell Lewis is found dead with a plate of Snickerdoodles from the bake sale.
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Two members of the Silver Six are accused of cooking up a murder plot, but Nixy knows that the cookies weren’t literally to die for. With time running out, Nixy and company must catch the actual killer... before the Silver Six find their number permanently reduced to four.
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Nancy Haddock is the award-winning and national bestselling author of the Silver Six Crafting Mysteries. Basket Case and Paint the Town Dead are her current books in the series, and A Crime of Poison, will be released in December, 2017. Nancy draws on historic wealth, southern culture, and the plain old quirkiness of places and people for her books. She lives with her husband and rescue dog Baron. www.nancyhaddock.com Facebook Twitter Goodreads
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Faye Hall
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Faye Hall's passion driven, mystery filled books are set in small townships of North Queensland, Australia during the late 1800's. Each of her novels bring something symbolically Australian to her readers, from Aboriginal herbal remedies, to certain gemstones naturally only found in this part of the world. Each of her books tell of a passionate connection between the hero and heroine, surrounded and threatened by deceit, scandal, theft and sometimes even murder. These romances swerve from the traditional romances as Faye aims to give her readers so much more intrigue, whilst also revealing the hidden histories of rural townships of North Queensland. Faye finds her inspiration from the histories of not only the township she grew up in, but the many surrounding it. She also bases most of her characters on people she has met in her life. Faye was able to live her own passion driven romance, marrying the love of her life after a whirlwind romance in 2013. Together they are raising their 9 children in a remote country town in northern Queensland, Australia.
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Nicole Leiren Lilly Waters is loving life as the new assistant manager at the Smugglers’ Tavern in the small town of Danger Cove. So the last thing she wants or expects is an impromptu family reunion when her wannabe rock star father and his number-one-fan (her mother) show up in town after their latest concert. Not only does Lilly have her hands full dealing with Mom and Dad who act more like rock stars than parents, but she also finds herself in hot water when the son of a Chicago mob boss is murdered on tavern property. Now Lilly's mom is the number one suspect, and Lilly isn't sure where her loyalties lie.
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The search for answers leads Lilly down a dangerous path where she uncovers more suspects than she can say Thanksgiving grace over including a tattooed trouble maker, a gambler who turned against the mob, and even her own father! All their motivations prove dirtier than her signature martinis. If Lilly doesn't get to the truth soon, not only will dinner be ruined, but the killer may serve her up on a silver platter.
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Described by those who know her best as perky, quirky and effervescent, USA Today Best-Selling author Nicole Leiren likes to have fun -- in life, with her characters and, of course, her readers. She admits to being sassy (just ask her mother!) and inspiration for her characters are drawn from the real-world heroes and heroines she meets while traversing the country.
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Nicole enjoys sharing the love, laughter, mystery, and occasionally a touch of the mayhem she forces her characters to endure—all for the reader’s pleasure! Her real-world heroes and heroines will keep you turning the pages until you reach the whodunit or happily ever after (usually both!) Born in the crossroads of America (that’s Indiana in case you weren’t sure LOL), Nicole now lives in the Land of Lincoln with her hubby and a cranky, old cat named Bonsie.
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Duffy Brown Consignment Shop Mysteries
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Be sure to check out the giveaway section as Duffy has a surprise.
Duffy Brown loves anything with a mystery. While others girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, Duffy longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. She is a National Bestselling author and now conjures up who-done-it stories of her very own. She has two series the Consignment Shop Mysteries set in Savannah along with rescue pup Bruce Willis and the Cycle Path Mysteries set on Mackinac Island with judgmental cats Cleveland and Bambino. Website
Giveaways
Aria Fiction
Win an eBook of MURDER AT ST PHILOMENA'S, the publisher is giving away 3 books. And to win all you have to do is follow and tweet @Aria_Fiction saying hi and your favourite thing about historical fiction!
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Duffy Brown
Give away is 5 totes all you have to do is go to the rafflecopter below.
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Kathi Daley
Win a copy of the book – Kindle or paperback – NON US Kindle only Click the Rafflecopter link below Rafflecopter
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Guest Authors
Barb Schliching BODY ON THE TRACKS. It’s 1943 onboard a zephyr express train between Chicago and Denver. Zephyrette Brita discovers a body in the Chicago railyard. a nuclear physicist. Later, Brita uncovers a plot to poison the national food supply as she chases an escaped Nazi hitman before another murder happens. Coming soon! The First Lady mystery series is set in downtown Minneapolis. The protagonist, Liv and her husband, Aaron, own the Dollhouse Store. Liv is a distant descendant of First Lady Dolley Madison. Using historical clues, visiting historical sites, talking to her miniature dolls and rearranging the White Houses, and customer inquiries, the reader learns a little bit of history. Historical characters make Modern history. Barbie Marie Writing under a pseudonym, Barbara is developing a First Ladies picture book series. The first in the series begins when Martha Washington arrives in New York City as our first First Lady. Barbara has published a picture book titled, RED SHOES. It’s about a threelegged kitty who lost her shoes using the pseudonym. http://www.barbaraschlichting.com https://twitter.com/BSchlichting
Guest Authors
Barbara Schlichting has always been dreamer, so she writes books. She likes to wander through bookstores and fall in love with fictional characters. She also loves to travel and has had an English penpal for about fifty-five years. Barbara is the author of the First Ladies Dollhouse mystery series, as well as several published short stories. Originally from Minneapolis, she and her family moved further north to Bemidji, MN.
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Kyle Prue
Click image to get free book Kyle Prue is the 19-year-old Award Winning Author of The Sparks: Book One of the Feud Trilogy. Kyle is also an Actor and Stand Up Comedian. At just 16, Kyle conceived the idea for The Sparks late at night during a bout of insomnia. Kyle then spend the next summer working on his first book; a tradition he has followed every summer since. Despite his crowded schedule, Kyle is currently working on the next two books in the series, The Flames and The Ashes.
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Charlene Raddon A Home By Any Other Name by Charlene Raddon Can you imagine living, cooking and raising children in a hole in the ground? Bugs, spiders, dirt falling into your food? Your bed? No windows to let in the light of day or allow for a glimpse of blue sky? According to Wikipedia, “…a dugout, or dug-out, also known as a pithouse, earth lodge, mud hut, is a shelter for humans or domesticated animals and livestock based on a hole or depression dug into the ground. Dugouts can be fully recessed into the earth, with a flat roof covered by dirt or sod, or dug into a hillside. They can also be semi-recessed, with a constructed wood or sod roof.” My mother called them dirt-pits, or sometimes hell-holes. Her father was a farmer, the best around when he worked for someone else, but Grandfather wanted to farm his own land. Unfortunately, without someone to tell him what to do and when to do it, he tended to accomplish nothing. As a result, the family larder stood mostly empty. As the oldest of twelve children, my mother left home quite early to work as a live-in maid in other people’s homes. Before that, she never once lived in a home the family owned.
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They lived with relatives, rented, or, most often, lived in abandoned homes. Often these were dugouts. The children’s beds were thin, strawstuffed mattresses on the floor which they shared, four to a bed. The parents slept in a real bed. These dugouts had generally been dug out of the side of a hill and had only one room, with a board or pole roof covered with dirt and sod. Perhaps a gutta-percha (rubber) tarp if you were lucky. The family cow got on the roof now and then, weakening the construction, which ended up causing a cave-in later. A well-built roof could keep out the weather, but not always, and there were other problems regular houses didn’t have. That naughty cow might kick in the stovepipe, filling the house with smoke. One reason many wives preferred to cook outside over an open fire if weather allowed. Floors were covered with boards if the family could afford it. Dirt floors were sprinkled with water every day and swept with crude grass brooms until the surface became as hard and smooth as finished concrete. Properly located, the house occupied the south side of a low hill, with adequate drainage to provide run-off for rain and melting snow. It was cool in summer and easily heated in winter.
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Many pioneers started out with dugouts or sod houses, moving out as soon as a real house could be built, after which the dugout was abandoned or used for cold storage. My grandmother lined the walls and ceiling with newspaper to limit the amount of dirt filtering down onto every surface. And bugs. But no amount of newspaper could keep out all the critters all the time. The ones my grandfather hated most were the centipedes. They measured 4-7� long and had a poisonous bite. Frequently, too much so for Grandfather’s comfort, these insects found their way out of the ground and onto the paper lining the ceiling. The scratching noises made by hundreds of tiny feet kept the family awake at night and nearly drove my grandfather crazy. I used this fun little feature in my book, To Have And To Hold, a western historical romance about a widow, Tempest Whitney, who had two small children and whose house had been washed away by a flashflood. Her nottoo-reliable husband, Skeet, went to town to buy materials to build them a new shelter, lost the money in a faro game, and tried to solve the dilemma by stealing an army payroll. Killed by a posse, he left my heroine to figure out alone how to house and feed her babies.
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Without money for lumber, her only option was to deepen a hollow in the side of a hill with her only tool, a shovel with a broken handle. By the time the hero came along, her new home had been made semi-comfortable, but her troubles had been compounded by a neighboring rancher who wanted her land. He bought up her IOUs and gave her a choice—marry him or get out. She was more shocked than anyone when the wedding was interrupted by a dark-haired stranger who claimed to be her supposedly dead husband. Buck Maddux was a drifter, newly released from a Utah prison after spending two years hard labor for being wrongly convicted of helping Tempest’s husband steal that payroll. Actually, Buck happened upon Skeet after the thief had been shot and stayed so the man wouldn’t have to die alone. No sooner had the thief closed his eyes for the final time when the army caught up and assumed Buck was Skeet’s partner in crime. Naturally, Buck wasn’t too fond of Skeet’s memory, but before the man died, Buck had promised to make sure Skeet’s family was okay. To Buck’s mind, Tempest marrying a lowdown, a black-mailing rancher who treated women worse than he treated his horse was not “okay.” What else could he do but claim to be Skeet Whitney himself? The centipedes were only one of the stories my mother told me about life in a dugout that I used in To Have And To Hold. Such details added a richness to the tale it wouldn’t have had otherwise and made writing the book more fun. I’ve seen a few dugouts, been inside one I will never forget, and I can tell you I would NOT like living in one. Almost makes a person
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Oh, I forgot the snakes. Rattlers loved to crawl behind the wood stove and into the wood box. Of course, they also liked warm beds. Most of my mother’s adventures with dugouts took place in the dust bowl capital—the Oklahoma panhandle. I don’t even want to think about dwelling in a dirt house during a dust storm. Keeping such a home clean proved tiresome enough without storms. Afterward, escaping the dirt became impossible. The family slept in it, breathed it, ate it in their food, wore it in their cleanest clothes. Dugout dwellings can still be seen here and there in barren countrysides. There might be cows living inside now, and the roof might be gone. But once, that little hole in the ground had witnessed love, joy, grief, and death. It had heard the laughter of children, the wail of a new baby, the whisper of lovers at night. Once, it had been a home.
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Charlene Raddon has been writing western historical romance novels for well over thirty years. Her first book, Tender Touch, was a golden Heart Finalist under the title Brianna. Originally published by Zebra Books, she is now an Indie author with nine books to her credit, all available through Amazon. Charlene loves hearing from readers and can be reached through her website, www.charleneraddon.com.
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Joyce Tremel
THE TOP FIVE THINGS I’VE LEARNED WRITING A COZY SERIES By Joyce Tremel 5. It’s not as easy as it looks. Believe it or not, there are readers out there who think that cozy mysteries are inferior to other mysteries. Obviously, they’ve never tried to write one. I’ve found it takes quite a bit of skill to kill someone and not gross out the reader. The cozy writer has to get the horror of the murder across without showing much in the way of blood, guts, and the like. You have to describe what happened without actually describing what happened. This also applies to any sexy scenes. I’m perfectly content with not having to write those kinds of scenes. Banter, innuendo, and an occasional kiss that leaves the character’s knees weak is enough for me. I like to leave the rest up to imagination.
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4. It’s sometimes hard to find adequate substitutes for swear words. I worked as a police secretary for ten years. Believe me, cops swear. Most of their words start with F and end with K. I learned a whole new vocabulary when I worked for the police department. When you have officers talking in a cozy, you can’t very well have them use what must be their favorite word in the whole world because they say it three times in every sentence. And you can’t have them say gosh, darn, or golly either. Only Andy Griffith could get away with that. My protagonist’s dad is a homicide detective and in one scene I have Max say something like, “My dad rarely swore but I could tell he held back a string of words that would have turned the air blue.” I do throw in an occasional damn or hell, and have used the letters S.O.B. Sometimes I’ll interrupt the dialogue just before the swear word would be uttered. So far, it works. At least I hope it does. 3. There’s a fine line between educating the reader on the character’s craft or occupation and boring them to death. No one wants to read page after page of how your character does something. My protagonist Max is a craft brewer and there’s a lot of chemistry involved in brewing beer. If I started rambling on about how to calculate the specific gravity of a certain brew in order to calculate the alcohol by volume, I don’ t think readers would be too happy. In the best case scenario, they’d skip those pages; in the worst case, they’d throw the book against the wall. It’s a mystery novel, not a textbook. Information like that must be sprinkled in lightly.
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2. Recipes are hard to come up with. I’m usually thinking more about the plot and what the characters are doing than about what they’re eating or cooking. I’ve had to train myself to actually stop and describe certain foods and then search for a recipe to include. That’s probably why the first book, To Brew or Not to Brew only had two recipes. I did a little better with books two and three. Tangled Up in Brew had four and this year’s A Room With a Brew has five, including the ever popular Pittsburgh Pretzel Salad. 1. Write everything down. When I was about halfway through writing the first book, I realized I was NOT going to remember which character had blue eyes, who had brown eyes, how tall a certain someone was, etc. I started what we call a Character Bible. I jotted down each character, what they looked like, and anything else I thought might be important. I did the same with each shop and location in the series. I even drew a little map so I’d remember which store/shop/restaurant was where. And thank goodness I did. I refer to it constantly. Between that and the style sheet (which has even more detailed info on it) from my copy editor, I’ve saved hours that would have been spent searching through previous manuscripts for one tiny tidbit of information. All because I couldn’t remember something I thought I would.
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A ROOM WITH A BREW—Book 3 in the Brewing Trouble Series (October 3, 2017) It's Oktoberfest in Pittsburgh, and brew pub owner Maxine "Max" O'Hara is prepping for a busy month at the Allegheny Brew House. To create the perfect atmosphere for the boozy celebration, Max hires an oompah band. But when one of the members from the band turns up dead, it's up to Max to solve the murder before the festivities are ruined. Adding to the brewing trouble, Candy, Max’s friend, is acting suspicious… Secrets from her past are fermenting under the surface, and Max must uncover the truth to prove her friend’s innocence. Making matters worse Jake’s snooty ex-fiancée shows up in town for an art gallery opening, and she’ll be nothing but a barrel of trouble for Max.
Joyce Tremel is a former police secretary and the author of the award winning BREWING TROUBLE mystery series featuring brewmaster and pub owner Maxine “Max” O’Hara. A ROOM WITH A BREW, the third book in the series was released on October 3, 2017.
Guest Authors
Jennifer Mueller Mystery on Wolf Mountain For 160 years the Stanton's have always been on Wolf Mountain, even before Montana was a state. Now times have changed, they're still there but selling horses isn't so easy anymore and with 700,000 acres of land and 20,000 horses to worry about every penny counts. Sitting in their mountain valley they've overlooked the town of Gold Springs before it was even named for the gold it pulled out of the ground and now the rock they've always counted on is in trouble too. Gold Springs, Montana was recently rocked by the murder of Cole Dennison, owner of Western Mining, the main town employer. Mr. Dennison was found in his house with his throat cut. The first suspect should have been his recently estranged fiancée, however her incarceration in jail for breaking his jaw rather clears her name. Sasha Stanton, owner of the Wolf Mountain Horse Company, was released for lack of case with the victim of her anger dead. More shocking to find though is that the mine Mr. Dennison owned is out of gold. Miss Stanton who until her father died had been away from town is the sole beneficiary of the will, a complete fluke since Cole had no chance to change it before his death. Gold Springs being a company town is now owned by Miss Stanton. In that one fact the town might have a chance at not imploding. Local Lawyer Ethane Brandt has been helping with Miss Stanton’s investigation into the mine’s irregularities since the police have been arresting her employees and friends for the crime. Sheriff Harland Lang would be wise to not antagonize her. It could only end badly if the State Police are called in. Corruption rumors have been circulating for some time. That’s only the beginning of the story! Coming this winter the finale of the Mystery on Wolf Mountain
Guest Authors
As a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya a few years back I traveled quite a bit and now I just wish I was. A lot of the places I've written about I've been to, a lot of them I haven't. Rafting on the Nile in Uganda, living in a Montana ghost town, Puerto Rican beaches, African safaris, Mayan ruins, European youth hostels, forts on the Ghana coast all fill my scrapbooks. I still travel in my head every time I write even if I don't get out as much as I wish. I currently live in the Pacific Northwest and look forward to filling many more pages. http://www.jennifermuellerbooks.com
Guest Authors
Donna Fasano When Lauren divorces her husband, she has one thought on her mind... stepping off the merry-goround. However, her life quickly turns into a threering circus: her hypochondriac father moves in, her ex is using her shower when she’s not home, and her perky assistant is pushing her out into the fearsome dating world.
The Merry-GoRound is a bright and comical tale of divorce, determination, second thoughts… and second chances.
She also must decide if the dilapidated barn and vintage merry-go-round she is awarded in the divorce settlement is a blessing or a bane. As if Lauren’s personal life isn’t chaotic enough, this slightly jaded attorney is overrun with a cast of quirky characters who can’t stay on the right side of the law. What’s a woman to do? She can allow life to spin her in circles forever. Or she can reach out and grab the brass ring.
Guest Authors
Donna has a lemon cake recipe on her website Click here to be taken to the nice desssert.
Donna Fasano sold her first novel to Editor Tara Gavin at Harlequin in 1989 after her manuscript won a finalist spot in the Golden Heart Contest sponsored by Romance Writers of America. Since then, Donna has written over 40 romance and women’s fiction novels. Her books have been translated into nearly two dozen languages. She is the recipient of three HOLT Medallions, several Readers’ Choice Awards, a Golden Quill Finalist Award, as well as other writing awards. Her books have made the USA Today Bestsellers List and she is also an Amazon Kindle Bestseller. Donna lives with her husband of thirty-eight years, has two grown children, and resides on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Guest Authors
Dorothy St. James The last place Charity Penn wants to end up is in the dilapidated beach town of Camellia Beach, South Carolina. But after the murder of a close friend, Penn feels she has no choice but to go to there and find out what’s going on and why it involves her. She expects to find a town filled with greedy (and perhaps murderous) charlatans. Much to her dismay, the group of eccentric islanders including an elderly owner of a chocolate shop embraces her as their own. But just as she starts to let her down her guard, she steps into the middle of deadly plot to destroy the quaint seaside town. Only some quick thinking and a mysterious cask of rare chocolate can save the town she’s slowly learning to love.
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Excerpt: On the screen was a newspaper headline: Man Murdered in Vat of Chocolate.
“What in the world is this?” I asked. A consummate researcher, Granny Mae searching out articles about chocolate and chocolate shops didn’t surprise me. Digging through information had been her way of helping out after I’d received that phony prize to an obscure chocolate shop on the beach. I scrunched my brows and read the headline again. Murder by chocolate? The articles that usually caught her fancy were scientific discoveries, political opinion pieces, and human rights violations. Not sensational murders. “What is this? I don’t have time to read an article about some bizarre murder,” I said and then checked my phone for the call that still hadn’t come. Granny Mae had three PhDs—one in biochemistry, one in astrophysics, and the third in journalism. Strange or sensational news simply wasn’t her thing. “It’s Skinny,” she whispered.
Guest Authors
“What?” I dropped like a heavy weight into the nearest kitchen chair. A frigid cold that had nothing to do with the outside air settled deep into my bones. I read the entire article. Skinny? “No. It can’t be. It can’t be him,” I said. Granny Mae bent down and enveloped me in her warm embrace. Together we cried loud, sloppy, hiccupy sobs, the kind I loathed. But with her holding onto me, making me feel safe and loved, I couldn’t seem to hold back my messy emotions. After I’d wrung myself dry, she handed me a tissue for my nose and then blew hers as well. “After we met with your friend, I subscribed to the digital edition of Camellia Beach’s local newspaper, The Camellia Current. I was hoping the newspaper might help us learn more about the town and the chocolate shop that sent the prize letter,” she explained. “It’s a small-town paper. Most issues are filled with things like arguments about new land developments at the monthly town council meeting, surf contest results, and this scone recipe. But this morning’s headline…” She tapped the iPad with the heavy scone she still had in her hand. “I can’t believe it,” I whispered. It couldn’t be true. But each time I read the article, the facts refused to change. Last night Skinny McGee, my Skinny McGee, who’d promised to call this morning to tell me his exciting news, had been dipped headfirst into a huge vat of semisweet chocolate in the back room of Camellia Beach’s local chocolate shop, the Chocolate Box. The Chocolate Box: the same chocolate shop where I’d won cooking lessons—cooking lessons Skinny had suggested I take. I need to think. I need to think. But my mind, along with the rest of my body, had frozen up. “Could you let Stella in? She must be a pupsicle by now,” I murmured. Granny Mae sniffed back tears. She grumbled about the little dog as she padded toward the back door and swung it open, letting in a blast of frigid air. I looked at the article again. “Start packing your bags,” Skinny had told me. “You really need to come down here and see this for yourself.” Why? I silently asked him. What did you find?
Guest Authors
Dorothy St. James, known for the White House Gardener Mystery series, is going back to her roots and setting a mystery series in a Southern beach town like the one she’s called home for the past 20 years. The Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries combine her love of fine chocolates, quirky Southern charm, with a dash of danger.
Publisher News Aria Fiction Aria is a digital first, commercial fiction imprint from the dynamic and award-winning independent publisher, Head of Zeus. We are dedicated to finding new voices, quality writing and improving reader experiences. The Aria team have a wealth of experience and an eye for a good story. We discover the most exciting new authors and use cutting edge sales and marketing strategies to propel titles into the charts. We publish the best addictive fiction from both debut and established authors including: Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Crime, Thrillers and Sagas. Our books are about entertainment and escapism. They will surprise you and scare you, make you laugh, cry, and fall in love.
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Publisher News
Berkley Prime Crime, November 2017 Titles
EAVES OF DESTRUCTION by Kate Carlisle (Berkley Prime Crime Mass Market; 9780399586460; November 7, 2017; $7.99) POTIONS AND PASTRIES by Bailey Cates (Berkley Prime Crime Mass Market; 9780399586996; November 7, 2017; $7.99) A LATE FROST by Sheila Connolly (Berkley Prime Crime Mass Market; 9780425275832; November 7, 2017; $7.99) NOT A CREATURE WAS PURRING by Krista Davis (Berkley Prime Crime Mass Market; 9781101988589; November 7, 2017; $7.99) ASSAULT AND BUTTERY by Kristi Abbott (Berkley Prime Crime Mass Market; 9780425280935; November 7, 2017; $7.99) CITY OF LIES by Victoria Thompson (Berkley Prime Crime Hardcover; 9780399586576; November 7, 2017; $26.00) DEATH IN THE STACKS by Jenn McKinlay (Berkley Prime Crime Hardcover; 9780399583759; November 14, 2017; $25.00)
Publisher News DEATH BELOW STAIRS by Jennifer Ashley (Berkley Prime Crime Trade Paperback; 9780399585517; January 2, 2018; $15.00) Highly sought-after young cook Kat Holloway takes a position in a Mayfair mansion and soon finds herself immersed in the odd household of Lord Rankin. Kat is fine with the family's eccentricities as long as they stay away from her kitchen, but trouble finds its way below stairs when her assistant is murdered. Afraid for her life, Kat turns to the mysterious Daniel McAdam for help. Daniel takes a position in the house as a footman and stand-in valet so he can investigate covertly, but Kat cooks up a suspect list of her own. Together, they uncover crime in places high and low – and Kat begins to uncover the secrets of the man she’s learning to love.
Recipes
From Jennifer Mueller's books check out the below recipes. Â Return of the Wolf / Lemon Chicken with Pesto Pasta Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts 1/2 cup flour 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 lemons, zested 3 cups chicken broth Fillet the chicken breasts and set aside. Mix together the flour, garlic powder and salt. Dredge chicken in flour mixture. SautĂŠ the chicken in olive oil. Once chicken is cooked through, remove from pan and set aside. Add lemon zest to the pan. Add in chicken broth and boil for 5-7 minutes until slightly reduced. Add in lemon juice and chicken, boil until heated through.
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Pesto Pasta Ingredients 1 bunch basil 3 garlic cloves 1/4 cup pine nuts 2 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup olive oil 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano cheese 1 pound tagliatelle, cooked In a blender mix together first six ingredients and blend until chopped and mixed thoroughly. Pour onto hot pasta and toss until coated. Serve chicken atop pesto pasta.
Recipes
A Wolf to the End / Peppered Beef Stroganoff 1 tablespoon coarsely ground peppercorn melange* or black pepper 3 8-ounce beef tenderloin steaks 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 8 ounces crimini (baby bella) mushrooms, halved or quartered if large 1 1/4 cups beef broth 1 tablespoon Cognac or brandy 1/2 cup whipping cream 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 8.8-ounce package wide egg noodles 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley * A mixture of black, pink, green, and white peppercorns; available at many supermarkets. Sprinkle pepper melange and salt over both sides of steaks; press to adhere. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add steaks; cook to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer beef to plate; tent with foil. Add 1 tablespoon oil and mushrooms to same skillet; sautĂŠ until browned, about 4 minutes. Add broth and Cognac; boil 2 minutes. Add cream; boil until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Whisk in mustard.
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Meanwhile, cook noodles in pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Return to pot; toss with parsley and 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper. Divide among plates. Slice steaks; place atop noodles. Spoon sauce over.
Recipes
Dorothy St. James Charity Penn’s Microwave Bonbon Fire Kindling Penn told this editor that if our readership wants to taste the original bonbon fire, they’ll have to buy them from her at the Chocolate Box. If you like spicy, it’s well worth the trip to Camellia Beach to get one. While you’re visiting the shop, you can also find out what fresh trouble Penn has found. Although I can’t bring you the bonbon fire, after much cajoling, Penn did agree to share this quick and easy recipe for spicy Bonbon Fire Kindling, which is like a fiery chocolate bark.
Ingredients 6 oz 70% or higher fair trade dark chocolate, chopped 1 tsp cinnamon ½ - 1 tsp (depending on the amount of heat you want) red pepper flakes 1 tsp paprika ½ - 1 tsp (depending on the amount of heat you want) ground cayenne pepper 1 tsp salt
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In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chopped chocolate (or chocolate chips) with all the other ingredients. Melt on 50% power for 2 minutes. Stir. If not melted, continue to heat in microwave at 50% power at 30 second intervals. Stir vigorously until smooth. Spread on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Cool in refrigerator until set (about an hour). Cut into “kindling� strips. Store in refrigerator in airtight container. *Note: For a visual splash, melt a little white chocolate. Mix in paprika and cayenne pepper to give it a red hue. Swirl the white chocolate with the dark chocolate. Your friends and family will be delighted.
Interviews
Sally Carpenter TB: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I grew up in Southern Indiana and now live in Southern California. I have graduate degrees in theater and theology—quite a combination—as well as a black belt in tae kwon do. I have cats, all black. I write cozy mysteries. My Sandy Fairfax, Teen Idol series has four books: The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper, The Sinister Sitcom Caper, The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper and The Quirky Quiz Show Caper (yes, I thought up the book titles myself). Sandy is a 38-year-old former teen idol who finds that making a comeback can be murder! He’s also typecast as the character he played as a teenager in the 1970s hit TV show, “Buddy Brave, Boy Sleuth.” Now he finds himself solving real-life murders in his various performances. He’s also reuniting with his estranged family, dealing with his ex, visiting his kids and wooing a new girlfriend. I also have short stories in two anthologies: “Faster Than a Speeding Bullet” in Plan B: Omnibus” and “Dark Nights at the Deluxe Drive-In” in Last Exit to Murder. For my day job I work at a community newspaper, and to atone for my sins of killing people on paper I write the Roots of Faith column for the paper.
Interviews
TB: Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write? I’ve always loved writing and storytelling. When I was growing up, we didn’t have computers or video games. At my house we only watched TV for a couple of hours in the evening, so my main entertainment was reading. When mom and I washed and dried the dishes, I made up stories to pass the time. I’d cut out pictures from magazines and make up stories with them. TB: What are you currently working on? I’m starting a new cozy mystery series set in rural Indiana (of all places), 1967. It has a female protagonist, a pet cat, groovy clothes, hippies, a body and spies. Something for everyone. TB: Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why? I’ve only written four, so that isn’t much of a selection. All the books all have features I like. My first one is nice because the mystery and clues are based on The Beatles. Number two has a great dwarf character and the story follows the rehearsal and production of a TV show. Number three has Celeste, a fantastic character that I’d like to use again. It takes place on a cruise ship, so I feel like I’m on a vacation. What I like best about number four is the relationship between the two brothers and how they become reconciled.
Interviews
TB: What books have most influenced you as a writer? I’ve read so many books over the years, it’s hard to say. One of the first mysteries I read when I started writing in earnest was Steve Hockensmith’s “Holmes on the Range” series. The characters are so unique—not your standard PI or cop—and the writing full of humor. “Don’t Sabotage Your Submission” by Chris Roerden is a great how-to manual of mistakes to avoid, using examples from mysteries. I’ve actually been influenced more by watching TV and plays than books, so my stories have action and strong visuals. TB: What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding? Finding the time to write. I work a full-time day job to pay the bills, so my writing time is limited to evenings and weekends. Sometimes it’s a challenge to get up the energy to stare at another computer monitor after work. But once I get into the writing, it’s fun. As I edit and polish, I like seeing the final product come to life. Of course I love hearing from readers who enjoy the story as much as I do.
Interviews
TB: What book is on your nightstand? This may sound silly, but I recently got the urge to re-read the Trixie Belden mysteries I had as a kid. My parents gave me the first two books for a birthday when I was 8, and I was hooked. The books are falling apart, so I’m replacing them with better copies, which are easy to find online. The mysteries are not complicated and easy to figure out, but the books are fun for the relationship between Trix and her brothers and friendst. Many of the books I only read once years ago and I’ve forgotten what happened, so it’s like finding a brand new story. TB: What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future? In December my publisher, Cozy Cat Press, is releasing an anthology of short stories written by some of her authors. The tentative title is “Cozy Cat Shorts.” The book includes a story I wrote, “The Puzzling Puppet Show Caper,” with my series character. Sandy Fairfax is the guest star on a TV kids’ show, and the puppeteers have murder up their sleeves. In 2018 I hope to publish the retro-cozy I described above and get going on the second book of that series. I may write another book or two with Sandy; he’s a fun character.
Interviews
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TB: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers? I’d like to thank them for their support and would love to hear from them! Writers are solitary people and we don’t know if anyone’s out there reading our books. TB: What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future? In December my publisher, Cozy Cat Press, is releasing an anthology of short stories written by some of her authors. The tentative title is “Cozy Cat Shorts.” The book includes a story I wrote, “The Puzzling Puppet Show Caper,” with my series character. Sandy Fairfax is the guest star on a TV kids’ show, and the puppeteers have murder up their sleeves. In 2018 I hope to publish the retro-cozy I described above and get going on the second book of that series. I may write another book or two with Sandy; he’s a fun character. TB: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers? I’d like to thank them for their support and would love to hear from them! Writers are solitary people and we don’t know if anyone’s out there reading our books.
Interviews
D.M. O’Byrne TB: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? My first job was as a waitress. Now I’m a writer of mystery novels. In between, jobs included English teacher, racehorse exerciser, jockey, accountant, golf resort assistant manager, writer, and editor. My places of residence ranged from the Jersey shore to a lengthy sojourn in California and finally to the Colorado Rockies. Each profession, each location was rife with life lessons, fascinating characters, potential plot lines, and wide-ranging experiences. Sooner or later, they will all end up on the written page. TB: Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write? Not really. Writing has always been part of my life. In every job I’ve ever had (except exercising racehorses, of course), there was always a writing component to it. Whether it was writing newsletters and manuals in business, lessons plans in teaching, working in publishing as an editor, I found myself writing all the time. It’s only been in the past five years that I’ve turned to fiction.
Interviews
TB: What are you currently working on? I’ve just finished another cozy mystery, Death in Trout Fork, and have signed on with Blue Ridge Literary Agency to represent me. Hopefully, this book and its sequels will find a home with a major publisher. TB: Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why? Three to One Odds, the sequel to Dangerous Turf, which will be released December 2nd. Three to One Odds is due out in May, 2018. It’s the psychological aspect of the motivation behind the crime in that book that fascinated me as I was writing it. TB: What books have most influenced you as a writer? In fiction, it would have to be Dickens, the Brontes, and Dorothy Sayers. In nonfiction, anything by James N. Frey, especially How to Write a Damn Good Mystery, and Don’t Murder Your Mystery by Chris Roerden. When I was starting on the path I’m on now, mystery writing, these two were immensely helpful.
Interviews
TB: What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? Marketing! I hate it with a passion. But it’s part of the business today. Publishers, even the big ones, aren’t going to do all the marketing for a writer, so we have to accept that we’re responsible for the success of our books. And the most rewarding? Creating a world and the people in it. It’s a wonderful escape for the increasingly difficult world we live in. TB: What book is on your nightstand? Hard Times by Charles Dickens. My recreational reading is almost exclusively in the classics. I find that the more I read great prose, the better my own writing gets. I’m working through the classics list from the local library.
Interviews
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TB: What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future? I’ve just signed with Blue Ridge Literacy and my agent, Dawn Dowdle, will be querying publishers on behalf of my third cozy mystery, Death in Trout Fork. It is the first of a planned series called the Ryn Lowell Colorado Mysteries in which the heroine is a travel writer. She visits different places in Colorado to write about in her column, Out of My Way. Of course, she discovers and solves crimes everywhere she goes! TB: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers? I would hope my books attract readers who like to solve the crime along with my heroines and who want books that avoid blood and gore and the ubiquitous f-bombs that are sprinkled liberally through so many books today.
Interviews
Shawn McGuire
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Welcome to Whispering Pines, Wisconsin. A place for those who don’t belong. A trip to the cozy and quirky Northwoods village of Whispering Pines lands former detective Jayne O’Shea in the middle of a murder. She’s there to prepare her grandparents’ lake house for sale, but when it becomes obvious the sheriff isn't going to investigate the death, Jayne jumps in. Her list of suspects grows faster than the plants in the village commons’ pentacle-shaped garden. Could it be the local Wiccan green witch with her stash of deadly plants? The shopkeeper who slips into trances and foretells death? The tourist determined to learn dark magic? When a local fortune teller provides a crucial clue, Jayne knows it’s up to her to solve this murder.
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“I’m losing it, Meeka.” My West Highland White Terrier sneezed in response. Most likely she was agreeing with me, but she was also mad, so I couldn’t be sure. She loved car rides, which to her meant around town, getting out often to meet people. Five hours crated in the cargo area of my ten-year-old Jeep Cherokee made for one angry pup.
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Had we gone fifteen miles yet? I forgot to check my odometer against that last sign. It had probably only been five. All I knew for sure was that I’d been driving on the two-lane country road through Wisconsin’s Northwoods for so long, a funhouse effect had settled in. The never-ending tunnel of pines, oaks, maples, birches, and other species I couldn’t identify was not my normal. I was used to row after row of houses crammed close together. Row after row of trees, not so much. After another couple of minutes, we passed a sign so small I almost missed it: Whispering Pines 5 miles. “We’re almost there, girl. Less than ten minutes and you’ll be running your little legs off.” My phone rang, and my mom’s face gazed at me from the phone in the holder clamped to the air vent. I reached a finger toward the answer button but froze before touching it. I told her I’d call when I got to Gran’s. Guess she thought I should be there by now. I was twenty-six years old. When was she going to stop micromanaging my life? The phone rang for a fourth time then went quiet. I clenched my hand into a fist and waited for her inevitable re-call. After a minute and no ringing, I relaxed and silently vowed to call her once I got to the house. Up ahead on the right, the sign indicating the beginning of the village limits appeared. I slowed, checked that there was no one behind me, then pulled to a stop. The impressive wooden marker had to be at least ten feet wide and eight feet tall, the logs on either side were a good foot-and-a-half or two in diameter. It appeared to have been hand-carved by an artisan rather than machine-lathed.
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Welcome to Whispering Pines Est. 1966 A symbol was etched into the wood below the date—a circle with a pentacle in the center and a crescent moon flanking either side. When I was little, I thought the symbol represented the sun, moon, and stars. Now I knew that it was the Triple Moon Goddess symbol and represented the Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Whispering Pines, Wisconsin had been founded by followers of the Wiccan religion and to my knowledge, Wiccans still made up half the population. A narrow four-foot by two-foot plaque hung from the bottom of the sign and read, Blessed Be – Enjoy Your Visit. The welcome sign brought forth an unexpected flood of memories. I was ten years old the last time I’d been here, but I remembered that sign like I’d just seen it yesterday. Not only had it been a signal to me and my little sister Rosalyn that we were mere minutes from Gran’s and Gramps’ house, it made me feel good. I’d liked the idea of being blessed. I continued down the road, remembering happier times with my grandparents, and almost missed my turn. “It’s the first right past the welcome sign,” my mother had reminded me numerous times, despite my assurance that my map app would get me there. “Be sure to stay on the left fork after you turn, Jayne, or you’ll end up at that campground.” She’d said ‘that campground’ as though it was inhabited by a colony of lepers. A quick glance as I passed showed that approximately half of the campsites were full. Whispering Pines’ tourist season started in six days with Memorial Day weekend. Every spot would be full then. Every hotel room and rental cottage booked. My plan was to do what I could with the house and head back to Madison early Friday morning before the highways clogged with holiday traffic. As the landscape changed from dense forest to a clearing, the edge of the lake house came into view. I stomped on the brakes and jerked to a stop, not quite ready to see it yet. I debated for a minute about whether I’d be able to do this then let the car creep forward. Most things from a person’s childhood look smaller when seen as an adult, but in the sixteen years since I’d last been here, the house seemed to have grown. The seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom home had an enormous footprint, taking up almost half an acre. The steel-gray cedar siding and white trim were severely weather beaten. Winters in the Northwoods could be brutal, and the house looked like it had struggled to survive the last few.
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“She hasn’t done a thing to that house in years,” Dad had warned in his email from . . . whichever Middle Eastern country he was currently searching for buried civilizations in. “We’re not going to get anything for it. Empty it and do the bare minimum to get it on the market. The sooner we get rid of it, the better.” But as I stared at the house I hadn’t seen in sixteen years, a sense of nostalgia flooded me. This was my grandparents’ home. Despite my parents’ refusal to remember, I had warm-n-fuzzy memories of being here. “Don’t worry, old girl,” I told the house, dismissing my father’s orders. “Nothing a few screws and a fresh coat of paint won’t fix. I’ll take care of you.” A sudden wind blew in off the lake, making the trees sway as though waving or bowing. Or nodding with approval? Meeka barked from her backseat prison, snapping me fully into the present. “Okay, okay.” I pulled forward and parked in front of the garage. As soon as the door on Meeka’s crate was unlatched, she burst free from the SUV like a flare from a gun. She ran once around the car then raced in big circles around the perimeter of the near quarter acre of lawn, barking at invisible pursuers and burning off the energy built up from the five-hour drive. As I watched her, laughing at her antics, another gentle breeze blew through. The air smelled earthy, like pine trees with a hint of fish, and the sun sparkled off the rippling water. I closed my eyes and faced the sun where it hung in the western sky, letting the rays soak in and warm me. An unexpected sense of serenity filled me and for the first time in months, I felt my shoulders relax and drop from their permanently hunched position. I hadn’t wanted to be the one to pack up the house, certain it would be too hard to be around Gran’s things. Rosalyn had finals this week at UW Madison, and her summer job started next week. Mom was always too busy with the spa to take any time off. Dad was, well, he was out of the country like always. Since I’d been unemployed for the last six months, Mom and Rosalyn decided this task was mine. Now that I was here, with the fresh air and sun on my face, there was literally no place else in the world I’d rather be. Next to the boathouse on my left, was the pier. Didn’t it used to be much longer? Rosalyn and I used to run the length of it and, shrieking, jump into the lake. I had a sudden need to dangle my feet in the water. I’d taken three steps down the pathway of fieldstone pavers set into the grass when Meeka began to bark. Not her playful hey, a squirrel bark, but her red-alert hey, something’s wrong get over here quick bark.
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What is it?” I snapped, as though expecting the little terrier to answer, and then sighed. I hadn’t gotten a good night’s sleep in weeks and exhaustion had finally caught up to me, making me cranky. Now that I had started to relax, that’s all I wanted to do. Still, I turned toward the far right edge of the property. No, that wasn’t accurate. The property spread out over ten acres. About two of those acres were taken up with house and lawn. The remaining eight or so were wooded with huge pines and a sprinkling of deciduous trees, currently covered with the bright green leaves that signaled the return of spring. Rebirth and renewal. That’s where Meeka was having her fit, over by where the lawn met the tree line. Concerned now, I jogged across the grass . . . which was in desperate need of fertilizing and weed control. I mentally added gardening to the list of chores that I suspected would be as long as my arm in a day or two. As I got close to Meeka, she sat but still barked. “This better be important.” Then I saw what she’d found. Definitely important. Five feet away from my dog lay a body.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? I’ve always written and always loved to write, but I never thought of it as a career possibility until after my youngest was born. I even majored in English in college and a writing career never occurred to me. I’m not sure how I thought all those books got on the shelves in the stores and libraries. Duh, someone wrote them and got paid for them! What are you currently working on? The third book in my Whispering Pines series, ORIGINAL SECRETS. It will release in early-March. I’ve got many other plans for the Whispering Pines cast, and I have an idea for a humorous cozy mystery series that I hope to start playing around with soon.
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What motivated the plot for either WIP or current published book? FAMILY SECRETS, the first in the Whispering Pines series, started out as a young adult novel and many years later became an adult mystery. The bits that carried through are Jayne the main character, Meeka her West Highland White Terrier, and the fact that she goes to her grandmother’s house in northern Wisconsin. The rest of the story developed because a) I wanted to write a mystery, b) I had heard about a place called Lily Dale, New York which is a community of psychics, c) I wanted to learn more about the Wiccan religion. If you were to choose another genre to write in, what would it be? Why? Possibly women’s fiction. All of my books, even if I don’t initially intend them to, end up having a relationship theme of some kind or other – romantic, friendship, family, etc. Relationships are key in women’s fiction so that intrigues me. What novel would you read multiple times? I was just talking about this with some friends. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I don’t often read a book more than once, there are just too many on my stack! This one I would and think I will again soon.
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Colorado-based mystery and fantasy author Shawn McGuire started writing after seeing the first Star Wars movie as a kid. Unable to wait for the next episode, she wrote her own. Sadly, those notebooks are long lost, but her desire to tell a tale is as strong now as it was then. Follow Sawn at the following: Website Shawn's Books Facebook Newsletter Pinterest Twitter Instagram BookBub I’m very fortunate to say full-time. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom since my youngest was born . . . so maybe that means writing is part-time because being a mom is definitely a full-time gig! My youngest is 16, however, and doesn’t need me as much anymore. I’m happy for more time to pursue my dreams, but I’m not ready for him to leave the house yet!
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Lea Wait Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? When I was single I worked as a corporate manager, was an adoption advocate, and adopted four daughters. Now I write mysteries and historical novels about people searching for love, acceptance, and a place to call home. I love history and antiques, and often incorporate them into my contemporary mysteries. Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write? Click on cover to buy
As soon as I learned to read! I’ve written all my life. Poetry and plays in high school and college, and then corporate nonfiction and nonfiction about adoption. When I was in my mid-forties I realized it was “now or never” and I turned to fiction. I’ve never turned back.
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What are you currently working on? The 8th in the Mainely Needlepoint series, Thread on Arrival, about what happens when a down and out resident of Haven Harbor, Maine, is found dead, and a homeless teenager is accused of his murder. Which of your books is your favorite, and why? That’s not a fair question! They’re all my favorites for different reasons. My newest mystery, Thread the Halls, was a lot of fun because it’s about what happens when someone idealizes a New England Christmas. I was able to include a lot of my favorite Christmas traditions in it. Pizza To Die For, which was published in August, was also fun to write – because it’s set in the suburbs of New Jersey, a place I’ve lived but written very little about – and because it’s my first funny mystery.
What books have most influenced you as a writer? I read books in so many genres! Authors who are special to me and are still writing include Sharon McCrumb, Louise Penny, Sally Gunning … and fellow Maine authors like Barbara Ross, Kate Flora and Kathy Lynn Emerson.
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What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding? Challenging? Plotting. Keeping the action moving and not getting bogged down in characters and place, which I love to write. I also love to do research, and to edit. The hardest part is getting that first draft finished! Most rewarding? Being told something I wrote made a difference to a reader. What book is on your nightstand? Right now I’m re-reading Emily Dickinson’s poems. I’ve always loved them.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future? The first in the Maine Murder Mystery series, Death and a Pot of Chowder, about two sisters who meet as adults and (after they solve a murder or two) decide to open a café on a Maine island. It will debut next June 12 under a new name – Cornelia Kidd.
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Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers? I’d invite them to check out my website, www.leawait.com, for links to free prequels of my recent books. Friend Lea Wait/Cornelia Kidd on Facebook, and on Goodreads. And enjoy reading – whatever you read. Reading about different people and places brings us together.
Click to buy USA Today best-selling author Lea Wait lives on the coast of Maine with her artist husband, Bob Thomas, and her black cat, Shadow. She writes the Shadows Antique Print Mystery series, the Mainely Needlepoint series, the Maine Murder Mystery series (coming soon), and historical novels for young people.
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Kathi Daley TB: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I am a USA Today bestselling author who lives in Lake Tahoe with my husband, dogs, children, and grandchildren. I published my first cozy mystery in September 2013 and since then have written more than 70 books in 8 series. I am both traditionally published and self published. When I am not writing I love to hike, cross country ski, travel, and garden. TB: Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write? Not really. I wrote my first cozy four years ago after having an idea to share a Facebook page with my dog. I jotted down a paragraph that began with: My name is Zoe Donovan. According to my Facebook bio which I share with my dog Charlie‌. I just kept writing and about 10 days later I had a book. I decided to publish it on Amazon and the rest is history. TB: What are you currently working on? The Cat of New Orleans, which will be book 15 in my Whales and Tails series, and publishes in February.
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TB: Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why? I think I would have to say Halloween Hijinks because it was my first. It was totally spontaneous and it started me on a career I love. TB: What books have most influenced you as a writer? Wow, I wish I had a good answer but I really don’t. I hadn’t even read any cozy mysteries until I wrote one and people told me that was what I had written. I’ve read many wonderful cozy mystery authors since then and find that I have gained inspiration from all of them. TB: What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding? Most challenging – deciding what to write when I have a lot more ideas than time – Most rewarding – the relationships I have made with readers and other authors along the way. TB: What book is on your nightstand? To be brutally honest I haven’t read a book since I was in Hawaii last spring. I publish two books a month – I only have time to read when I am on vacation
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TB: What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future? I launched three new series in 2017 which I am very excited about developing and I have plans for two more new series in 2018. One of the series I plan to launch in 2018 will be a paranormal mystery series and the other will be a romantic suspense series. TB: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers? Just that I treasure the relationships I make along the way and welcome the chance to get to know each and every one of you. I have a lot of informal chats on my group page so if you like to help me brainstorm here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/569578823146850/ Rescue Alaska is a warm yet fast moving mystery series with a light paranormal twist. Harmony Carson has a unique gift which she often considers a curse. She is able to 'see' the individuals she is meant to help, and more often than not, she can feel their fear and their pain as well. In this first book in the series, a longtime local sends his old friend a letter with a photo stating that if he should turn up dead at some point in the near future, the man in the photo is the one who killed him. When he is found dead only two weeks later, Harmony sets out on a journey to find the truth.
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Newsletter, The Daley KathiWeekly Daley Blog Webpage Facebook Kathi Daley Teen Kathi Daley Books Group Goodreads Page Twitter Amazon BookBub Pinterest
USA Today bestselling author, Kathi Daley, lives in beautiful Lake Tahoe with her husband Ken. When she isn’t writing, she likes spend time hiking the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home. She has authored more than seventy five books in eight series including: Zoe Donovan Cozy Mysteries, Whales and Tails Island Mysteries, Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mysteries, Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Series, Writer’s Retreat Southern Seashore Mysteries, Rescue Alaska Paranormal Mysteries, Tess and Tilly Cozy Mysteries, and Seacliff High Teen Mysteries. Find out more about her books at www.kathidaley.com
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Sandra Murphy I grew up in Festus, Missouri, a town of 7,500 people at the time. After college, I moved north about 35 miles, to St. Louis where I became a serial student, employee, and entrepreneur. Classes included Chinese language, cooking, and computers. I signed up for a class on how to avoid procrastination but I was late for it. I didn’t miss anything since it was cancelled because no one had signed up (go figure!) I worked in retail management until that wasn’t fun anymore. In a complete switch, I supervised Teamster dock workers and over the road truck drivers. My favorite part of the job was finding creative ways to move the most freight, the longest distance. Some drivers appreciated the creativity. Others, didn’t enjoy it as much as I did. When I left trucking, I started my own online business, selling pet related items like bandanas and vests, which soon moved to eBay. Find me as izziem there. Writing I’ve always been a night owl, even as a kid. Lying in bed, long after I should have been asleep, I’d look out the screened window at the moon and make up stories. Who knew it could be a job? All the jobs I had were long hours so no time to write. Self-employment lets me do that. It came about after my dog Izzie became ill. She was a stray when I found her, became a therapy dog and had an internet following. We went to the University of Missouri’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital for treatment. When they said there was no more that could be done, Izzie decided to keep teaching her students and donated her body to science. There’s a scholarship in her name, she’s part of a PowerPoint presentation her oncologist, Dr. Jeff Bryan shows at conferences for both human and animal doctors, where he tells her story. After she “went to teach at Mizzou,” I met a writer who said I should tell her story. I wrote Twelve Tips for Living with Canine Cancer, all the things I wish I’d known when Izzie got sick. It was the start of yet another career, the best one yet.
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Current Works in Progress One of the problems with a creative mind is finishing a project before a new one elbows its way into existence. From Hay to Eternity is a collection of short stories, each a little weird and filled with quirky characters, my imaginary friends. It was published in June 2017. In progress is a book about a black Labrador named Luther who changes Jules’ life from a wallflower to one filled with explosions, death threats and intrigue. There’s another, called Prom Night, the story of four high school girls who go missing on prom night. At the time, their parents thought they’d left on a planned trip early but they never returned. Forty years later, their mummified bodies are found, still in their prom dresses. Vivian started out as a short story about a private investigator who lives in Texas. The problem was, everyone sounds like they live on the Jersey shore. They refused to move to Texas and insist on telling their story full length. Bernadette, GPI, is about a gorilla who knows sign language. She lives at an animal sanctuary and is witness to a murder. Can she help find the killer? You’ll have to read to find out—as soon as I can get it finished! Favorite Book My favorite is whichever book I’m working on at the time. Luther is almost done but needs edits and rewrites. I work on Bernadette and Vivian at the same time and so far, have kept the characters on their right pages. Prom Night will probably be the last to be finished. I love Luther because he is such a cool dog, former military, a bomb dog who loves cats. Vivian is a bit of a skank, hasn’t got the best social skills but has a good heart and a great sense of humor. Bernadette lets me talk about eco-friendly topics and have a lot of fun while causing mayhem. Prom Night shows how a cold case can be solved, even years later.
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Early Influences I’ve always been an avid reader. Mom would send me and my sister outside to play and would find us in the shade under a tree, reading. I loved the Nancy Drew books, Agatha Christie as I got older. I read mysteries and thrillers most, am influenced by good television and movies, always looking for the most subtle of clues. The Red Fox by Anthony Hyde does that to perfection. The Eight by Katherine Neville does too, alternating chapters from the French Revolution to the present.
Challenges and Rewards As much as I love to write, I procrastinate starting. Once I get going, it’s hard to stop which means I’m still a night owl, staying up far past most people’s bedtimes. During the day, I write magazine articles. Nighttime is for fiction. I belong to a writers group, Writers Under the Arch aka WUTA. We meet weekly and read a small portion of our work to be critiqued. It always surprises me that they bring up points I didn’t even notice and pass over things I thought they’d jump on. Hearing what works helps me keep going. The very best part is when WUTAites say “She wouldn’t say that!” or “She would do it this way.” It means they’ve become invested in the character enough to know how she thinks and acts. Now she’s their imaginary friend too. They say writing is a solitary job but it’s not. There are editors, publishers, agents if you’re lucky, beta readers to check for overall storylines and hopefully, fans of the work. On the other hand, when you’re at the computer in the middle of the night and a character is not behaving, there’s no one to bounce ideas around with you to solve the problem. That’s what I miss most, the what-ifs another person can give me. Of course, to sell what I write, I have to promote it while pitching ideas for magazine articles, caring for my Westie-ish dog Ozzie, and avoiding housework.
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Book I’m reading? I review books for Kings River Life online magazine so the books on my nightstand change frequently. Most are cozy mysteries, part of a series. Longtime authors are coauthoring with their adult children or turning to darker topics and more of a thriller style book which is a nice change of pace. The Future? I hope to have Bernadette’s story complete by the beginning of the year which means I need to type faster. If that works and the publisher, Untreed Reads, decides I’ve told her story well, it could be a spring release. After that, I really have to finish the other three. I’m sure more stories will be crowding my brain by that time. Characters hate empty space so when one book leaves, another takes its place. What else? Writers need sales. We have to eat, pay bills and worry about getting sick just like everybody else. If we write part time, that takes away from friends and family time (or sleep). Full time writers don’t have a salary to fall back on. If you want to keep reading our stories, and we hope you do, tell others about them, request your library carry the books, post on Facebook, review on Goodreads and Amazon. The more people know about what we write, the more tales we’re able to tell. Writing is what I love best. A review lets me know someone else loves it too.
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To the moon and back, here are ten tales with a twist. The unlikely characters have one thing in common—they're ready and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. As the old saying goes, you have to watch out for the quiet ones. From a quirky inventor, humored by his neighbors, to two old men out to dinner, to a more-than-meets the eye beverage maker, the stories will take you into the minds of the overlooked and unseen. Ignore them at your own risk. Amazon Short Stories Sandra Murphy lives in St. Louis, land of the blues, booze and shoes. In the shadow of the Arch lurk the tales of murder and mayhem. On a hot summer day, the smell of the brewery’s hops follow the Mighty Mississippi south, igniting imagination and bringing characters to life.
Magazine Info
The Bistro comes out every other month. The 2018 schedule January March May July September November We would love to have you in the magazine. We offer interviews, features, guest post, giveaways, short stories, recipes, small ads if you want to just show off your book. We also offer reviews on your books. We still have some covers open to check avalability or if you want to be in the magazine another way please email us at Babsbookbistro @ gmail.com We would love to have you join us
Jess at Audibookeworm is wonderful. She can help you promote your audio book. She has over 300 tour hosts and authors and hosts love working with her. I am one of her hosts and enjoy her friendship and professionalism. Click on the graphics to take you where you want to go.
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Clea Simon TB: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Happily! I’m a former journalist, but one of my earliest memories is of making up stories to tell – and learning to write them down. I’m now the author of 23 mysteries, and I couldn’t be prouder. Outside of that, I’m married and live outside of Boston. I love to cook (and eat!) and listen to live music. TB: Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write? Always! My earliest memories are of making up stories. I just never knew I could DO that as a living! TB: What are you currently working on? I’m working on the seventh Pru Marlowe pet noir, which features a bad-girl animal psychic and her even tougher tabby. It’s tentatively titled “Fear on Four Paws.” TB: Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why? The most recent one is always my favorite! I don’t know why. Maybe because it feels the freshest?
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TB: What books have most influenced you as a writer? I loved “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “The Lord of the Rings,” and “A Wrinkle in Time” growing up and I think those have stayed with me – they were magical in every sense. I totally believed in the worlds they created and I adored them I still re-read them occasionally. TB: What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding? Revising. There’s always SO MUCH TO DO! It feels impossible. Whereas I love writing a first draft, when it all just flows and I don’t yet know about all the holes in the plot. TB: What book is on your nightstand? There are so many! On top, though, is the new John Le Carre’s “Legacy of Spies.” TB: What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future? I’ve just signed to do a new cozy cat series with Polis Books - the Witch Cats of Cambridge. So I’ll be working on that next! TB: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers? I hope they’ll come and check out all my books - on my website at http://www.cleasimon.com - You can also email me through the site, and I hope you do. Thanks so much for this opportunity!
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"Clea Simon writes with authority and affection about a lost world. Highly recommended" Catriona McPherson
This intriguing, hardhitting, intricately-plotted mystery set in Boston’s clubland marks an exciting new departure for cozy author Clea Simon. The Boston club scene may be home to a cast of outsiders and misfits, but it’s where Tara Winton belongs; the world she’s been part of for the past twenty years. Now, one of the old gang is dead, having fallen down the basement stairs at his home. With her journalist’s instincts, Tara senses there’s something not quite right about Frank’s supposedly accidental death. When she asks questions, she begins to uncover some disturbing truths about the club scene in its heyday. Beneath the heady, sexually charged atmosphere lurked something darker. Twenty years ago, there was another death. Could there be a connection? Is there a killer still at large … and could Tara herself be at risk?
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A former journalist, Clea Simon wrote three nonfiction books, including the Boston Globe bestseller The Feline Mystique (St. Martin’s), before turning to a life of crime (fiction). Her more than 20 mysteries usually involve cats or rock and roll, or some combination thereof. She can be reached at www.cleasimon.com
To see all of Clea Simons books you can go here.
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Valerie Burns TB: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I was born in the Midwest and lived there most of my life, but am happy to live in Eastern Tennessee where the weather is warm. I love poodles and I love reading and writing cozy mysteries. TB: Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write? I have been an avid reader since I was a child. I used to make up stories or alternative endings to books or movies. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I actually decided to try my hand at writing fiction. TB: What are you currently working on? THE PLOT IS MURDER is the first book in the Mystery bookshop series and will release on November 28. 2017. I am currently writing book #5 in that series. I am also working on two other mystery series. IN THE DOG HOUSE is the first book in my Dog Club Mystery Series and will be released through Kensington’s eBook press, Lyrical Underground in August 2018. The first book in my RJ Franklin Series, TRAVELLIN’ SHOES will be released in July 2018 through Camel Press.
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TB: Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why? I think picking a favorite book is like picking your favorite child. I like all of my books for different reasons, but I can say that THE PLOT IS MURDER is near and dear to my heart and the protagonist, Samantha Washington, shares more of my characteristics and dreams than any of my other characters. Similar to Samantha, my dream is to one day open a mystery bookstore and write cozy mysteries. TB: What books have most influenced you as a writer? Agatha Christie’s THE MURDER OF ROGER AKROYD, and AND THEN THERE WERE NONE were the books that started my love of cozy mysteries. I think those are the books that have influenced me the most. I learned to appreciate the story, the way she masterfully hid clues in plain sight and misdirected the reader’s attention through her emphasis of red herrings. TB: What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding? The most challenging part of writing for me is finding the balance between providing enough clues to the reader and still making the books interesting. The most rewarding part of writing is when everything comes together. Taking an idea from beginning to end and seeing how my characters develop along with the twists and turns that happen along the way, is extremely rewarding.
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TB: What book is on your nightstand? I have two books that are on my nightstand and I’m eager to read, The Paris Spy by Susan Elia Macneal and The Silver Gun by L.A. Chandlar. I only let myself read for pleasure when I hit my writing deadlines, so it’s taken quite awhile. TB: What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future? I have contracts for five books in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series. I hope readers enjoy the series and that I have the opportunity to write more. I’m also writing three books in the Dog Club Mystery series and six books in the RJ Franklin Mystery series. TB: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers? Please check my website at vmburns.com to find out about future releases. I look forward to hearing from readers.
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Click to buy Samantha Washington is fulfilling a dream and opening a mystery bookstore, as she’s realizing another dream—penning a British historic cozy. Lady Penelope Marsh refuses to lose the besotted Victor Carlston to her sibling, the beautiful Daphne's charms. When Daphne's suitor is murdered in a maze, Penelope steps in to solve the labyrinthine puzzle and win Victor. When a shady realtor turns up dead in Samantha’s backyard, the police suspect her—after all, the owner of a mystery bookstore might know a thing or two about murder. Aided by her feisty grandmother and an enthusiastic ensemble of retirees, Samantha is determined to close the case. But will she live to conclude her own story when the killer has a revised ending in mind for her?
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“Victor Carlston, don’t you think it’s wicked to sit here enjoying yourself while your dearest relative lies at death’s door?” “That’s a good start,” I said out loud, even though there was no one to hear.” Although, I don’t know about Carlston. It doesn’t sound British enough. Maybe Worthington? Weatherby? Or Parkington? I think I like Worthington.” I rolled the name around in my head and scrolled back up to make the change, reading aloud as I made the edits. “Victor Worthington, don’t you think it’s wicked to sit here enjoying yourself while your dearest relative lies at death’s door?” “Hmmm…I wonder if Worthington is too British. Maybe I should go with something simple, like Brown.” I was about to try out yet another surname on my hero when the doorbell rang. My toy poodles, both moments earlier curled up sound asleep on an ottoman, barked and raced downstairs to greet our visitor. I peaked over the stairs and saw my sister Jenna’s reflection in the glass. I considered ignoring it and sneaking back into my office until my cell phone started vibrating in my pocket. My family and the Borg from Star Trek had a lot in common. Both demanded complete assimilation and resistance was definitely futile. “Darn it.” My sister wouldn’t leave me a moment of peace. It was just a matter of time before she tracked me down like a bloodhound.
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I girded my loins, tramped down the stairs and opened the door. Like a blustery autumn wind, Jenna Rutherford blew through the doorway and marched up the stairs, talking a mile a minute. “Have you talked to your mother?” She stopped at the top of the stairs turning, and looked at me. “What’s taking you so long? Do you have any tea?” Resistance truly was futile. I closed and locked the door and went upstairs. She already sat at the breakfast bar, waiting for her tea. I stepped behind the bar, grabbed the kettle and filled it with water from the sink. “Hello, Jenna.” “Your mother. When is the last time you called her?” It was always “your mother” when Mom was annoying. “I talked to her this morning,” I said slowly and deliberately. I knew where this conversation was going. “Oh. Well, your mother called me all upset.” “Hmm.” Little input was needed on my side of the conversation. She was on a roll. I placed the kettle on the stove and took tea bags from the cabinet. “Sam, it’s been six months. You’ve got to snap out of this,” she droned on. This was an old song I’d heard before, but that day something snapped. “Six months. Is that the deadline?” Anger rose. “Leon and I were married for thirteen years. He was my best friend.”
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Perhaps Jenna sensed we were on dangerous ground when my voice got softer and each word became more pronounced. Unlike most people who got louder as they got angrier, I tended to get softer and I enunciated each and every syllable. “Is six months really the cutoff for mourning?” I took several deep breaths to regain my composure. “Jenna, I know you mean well. Everyone means well.” What neither my well-meaning sister, nor the rest of my family, understood was that mourning was actually comforting. “The first month after Leon died, I don’t think I felt anything. The shock was so painful, I was in a daze. Afterward there were so many things to do. Decisions had to be made. I didn’t have time to think. I barely had time to breathe. I definitely didn’t have time to grieve.” I paced behind the counter while I talked. Thankfully, Jenna sat and listened, something she rarely did where I was concerned. “After the shock wore off, the pain started. It felt like a part of my body had been cut off. It’s only now, six months later, that I feel like I can mourn. I have finally allowed myself to feel again and the heaviness, the grief is actually comforting.” The look on her face said she didn’t understand. “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s like when your foot falls asleep. At first you can’t feel anything, so, you keep shaking it to wake it up. Eventually, you get the prickly tingles right before your foot wakes up completely.” She stared, but at least she wasn’t talking. I shouldn’t be angry with her.
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“Jenna, I’m fine,” I said calmly. Her skeptical expression was enough for me to backtrack. “Okay. I’m not fine.” I sighed. “But I will be.” She looked into my eyes as if the truth was there behind my irises. Who knew, maybe it was. “Okay. But we care about you and we’re all worried, especially your mother.” “I know, and I’m sorry. I don’t want you or Mom to worry.” The kettle whistled and I poured the boiling water into the mugs and handed my sister the box of raw sugar she liked, and I kept in the cabinet especially for her. “Anyway, what were you doing?” Jenna asked. I perched on the stool next to her and sipped my tea. “Writing,” I said shyly. The fact that I was actually attempting to write a book was a deeply held secret I shared with very few people. Until recently, my sister and my husband were the only people I’d entrusted with my precious dream. Talking about it was still scary. Leon and I were both huge mystery fans. We met in the mystery section at a chain bookstore. Leon liked hard-boiled, private detective stories and I was more of a British cozy person. Regardless of the types of mysteries, we both loved the genre. Even our dreams revolved around mysteries. I fantasized about becoming a successful mystery writer, while Leon dreamed about owning a bookstore that specialized in mysteries. We spent countless hours talking about our dreams—dreams that seemed light years away. Leon worked as a cook at a diner and I was an English teacher at the local high school. We worked hard but lived hand to mouth and paycheck to paycheck. We knew our dreams were just that—dreams.
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By the time the doctors found the cancer that caused the pain Leon complained about for more months than I could count, it was too late. With only a few weeks before he died, he made me promise I would buy the brick brownstone we walked past weekly and talked about “one day” or “‘when we hit the lottery” how we would fix it up and have our bookstore. He made me promise I’d take the insurance money and buy the building and write my book. I sold the three bedroom home we’d purchased and renovated over a decade ago. It held too many memories. Every room was a story about our life together. My family and friends tried to talk me out of making major changes. Maybe I’d regret selling the house one day, but Leon suggested it. He knew me so well. He knew I’d never be able to move forward as long as I continued living in the past. “Earth to Sam.” I pulled myself off memory lane. “I’m sorry. What did you say?” “I asked how the writing was going.” Jenna took a scone from the tiered plate on the counter and inspected it. I knew what she was looking for. “Don’t worry. There aren’t any raisins in that batch.”
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She spread clotted cream and strawberry preserves on her scone, took a bite and moaned in delight. “The book is coming along pretty well, but I’m just getting started. I have a long way to go. I have my main characters, Penelope and Daphne Marsh and Victor Carlston—or Worthington. I’m not sure which name I like best.” “I like Carlston,” Jenna said with a mouth full of scone. “I like it too. Maybe I’ll keep it.” I reached for my fourth scone of the day. “And when is the grand opening?” “Supposedly in two weeks.” “Why ‘supposedly’?” “I’m still waiting for the last set of bookshelves. I’ve got boxes and boxes of books that have to be inventoried and shelved and my new point-of-sale system isn’t working yet. I also haven’t gotten the final okay from the health department to open the tea shop.” “Well, the tea shop can wait. You don’t have to do everything at once. You could get the bookstore opened first. Then once it’s open and running, you can open the tea shop later.” My sister always adopted a condescending tone when she talked to me. It annoyed me. The fact that she was right made it even more annoying. A couple of scones and two more cups of tea later, she left. I loved my sister, but spending time with her left me emotionally drained. I wasn’t exactly in the mood for more writing.
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Add a little bit of body textV.M. Burns was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. She currently resides in Tennessee with her two poodles, Coco and Cash. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime. Readers can visit her website at vmburns.com.
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Vicki Delany TB: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Thanks for asking! I’m Vicki Delany and I call myself “The One Woman Crime Wave” because I am one of Canada’s most varied and prolific mystery writers. I’ve written 27 published books (to date). In the past I wrote psychological suspense and police procedurals, but now I’m best known as a cozy author. I am currently writing three cozy series: The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series for Crooked Lane, the Year Round Christmas mysteries for Penguin Random House, and under the pen name Eva Gates the Lighthouse Library series which is moving from Penguin to Crooked Lane. I live in Prince Edward County, Ontario. I’m a full time author and the immediate past president of the Crime Writers of Canada. TB: Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write? I’d never had any particular urge to write, but thought I’d give it a try and took a creative writing course at my local community college. I enjoyed the course very much, and kept on writing from there.
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TB: What are you currently working on? Today I’m doing the edits for The Cat of the Baskervilles, the third Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery (coming Feb 2018) and after that I’ll continue with the fourth Year Round Christmas mystery. I have three books due in the next few months. That’ll keep me on the hop. TB: Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why? It’s very hard to say what’s my favourite. I think the one I like best in terms of final product is a standalone psychological suspense, More than Sorrow, but the ones I enjoy writing the most, that I get the most fun out of, are the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series. It’s just fun trying to recreate Sherlock Holmes in a modern young woman. Plus dropping names of books she stocks in the store! TB: What books have most influenced you as a writer? I love mystery novels, particularly the traditional British style police procedural. Susan Hill’s Simon Serrailler series probably had a big influence on my Constable Molly Smith series. Now that I’m writing cozies, I’m loving reading authors like Kate Carlisle and Jenn McKinlay.
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TB: What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding? The most challenging has to be just doing it. There’s always something else that I can be doing. I find I have to be very disciplined in my writing time, or it won’t get done. The most rewarding: definitely when I get letters from readers telling me they enjoyed my books. TB: What book is on your nightstand? Right now I’m reading Whipped by the wonderful Canadian writer William Deverell. Wickedly funny. TB: What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future? Hark the Herald Angels Slay, the third Year Round Christmas book, comes out on November 28. Then in February, it will be The Cat of the Baskervilles, from the Sherlock Holmes bookshop series, and in June Spook in the Stacks, a Lighthouse Library mystery by Eva Gates.
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TB: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers? Thanks for reading! You can find me at www.vickidelany.com. Send me an email from the web page to sign up for my quarterly newsletter. I’m on twitter @vickidelany. I regularly run contests and giveaways on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor.
Santa's summer vacation plans turn deadly in this festive mystery from the author of Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen and We Wish You a Murderous Christmas. In Rudolph, Christmas in July heralds Santa's arrival by boat to begin his summer vacation at the lake, and Merry Wilkinson is looking forward to a busy weekend. But she's caught off guard when her exfiance, Max Folger, arrives with a team from a lifestyle magazine. Amazon B&N Indiebound
Max's visit has less to do with business and more to do with winning back Merry's heart. When Max is found strangled to death in Mrs. Claus's Treasures, she must find out who wanted him dead--and stop a killer from ruining the summer holiday cheer.
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In Rudolph, New York, we love Christmas so much, we celebrate it twice a year. Christmas in July. A time to be silly, enjoy our brief hot summer, have some fun. And attract tourists to our town, of course. I was in the back room of my shop, Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, surrounded by boxes, studying my costume. My Mrs. Claus getup consisted of an anklelength wool skirt, long-sleeved checked blouse worn under a knitted sweater-vest bearing a decorated Christmas tree design, plain glass spectacles, and a cap with gray curls attached. The forecast for the weekend was for temperatures reaching into the high eighties, and it would be even hotter, taking humidity into account. Dressed in that outfit, standing in the sun, I might well melt. I briefly considered going for a seductive Mrs. Claus look, but decided against that for two reasons. I don’t do seductive, and Santa is played by none other than my own father. “Merry!” Jackie, the shop assistant, called. “Someone here to see you.” “Back to work we go,” I said to Matterhorn, my ten-month-old Saint Bernard. I put the costume back on its hanger, left the storage room, and shooed Mattie into my office. He gave me a mournful, pleading look, as if to say, No! Not the office! Anything but the office, before doing as he was told. “You are such a ham,” I said, heading to the front of the shop. I’d have to decide soon what I was going to wear. Today was Thursday and the big weekend was coming up fast.
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I expected the caller would be a salesperson waiting to introduce me to their line of goods that I couldn’t possibly live without. But it wasn’t. I stopped dead in the curtained doorway separating the private areas at the rear of the building from the salesrooms. A man stood at the counter with his back to me. Jackie was behind the cash register, smiling broadly at him, head cocked to one side, her light laugh filling the air. He didn’t have to turn around. I knew that stance, the broad shoulders, the slim hips, the long legs, the short dark hair. I started to back away, to run through the storage room, out the back door into the alley, and keep on running, but before I could move Jackie said, “There she is,” and he turned. I also knew the high cheekbones, the straight white teeth, the eyes so dark they were almost black, the long lashes, the trace of black stubble on the strong jaw. Jackie widened her eyes, fanned her face, and her mouth formed the word “Wow!” “Hello, Merry,” he said. “Mmmm.” I cleared my throat, feeling a wave of heat as color rushed into my face. “Max.” Even Jackie could sense the tension in the air, and she dropped her comic expression to stare at us. Unfortunately, at this moment the shop was empty of customers. There was nothing to distract Jackie’s attention or provide me with something I could pretend was in desperate need of my services. He kept his eyes, those gorgeous black eyes under lashes so long and thick they could be used to string tennis rackets, fixed on my face. “Your shop’s very nice, Merry. You have lots of great things. You must be doing well.”
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“Well enough.” I struggled to find my voice. “Can I help you find something, Max?” “Actually, Merry, you can. I’ve lost something very precious, and I’ve come here to get it back.” “I’d be happy to do what I can. What are you looking for?” “The love of my life,” he said. Jackie gasped. I threw her a look over Max’s shoulder. Her eyes threatened to pop right out of her head. She pointed to Max, did the fanning-the-face thing again, and then she pointed at me and mouthed “Wow!” again. I tried to ignore her. “Max, why are you here?” “I wanted to see you again, Merry. To talk. But”—he turned toward Jackie —“as charming as your helper here is, I’d like to go someplace private.” I had a death grip on the curtain. “My office is . . .” “Not in your office. How about we have dinner tonight? The place across the street looks okay. I’ll make a reservation for seven. Shall I pick you up or meet you there?” “I’ll meet you. I mean . . . I don’t want to have dinner with you, Max.” “Sure you do,” he said. “Seven o’clock it is.” The chimes over the door sounded as the door opened and a woman came in. “There you are. Why aren’t you answering your phone?”
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Max gave me another long look before turning to face the newcomer. “I’m on a break.” “No time for breaks. Isn’t that what you always say, Max? Breaks are for losers.” She looked past him for the first time. Her eyes were about to flick over me, but then she did a double take. “Merry, is that you?” “Willow?” I said. “Good heavens, Willow, what are you doing here?” She crossed the room, arms outstretched. Max stepped aside, and Willow Rasmon enveloped me in a light hug accompanied by a kiss on the cheek that was more of a peck at the air. At five foot eleven and wearing her customary four-inch stilettos, Willow had to just about fold herself in half to reach me. “Max Folger, you are a naughty boy.” She waived a bloodred nail at the end of a long finger. “Getting us to come here under a false pretext so you could see Merry.” “Nothing false about it,” he said. “It’s still a great story.” “Will one of you tell me what’s going on?” I said. “It was all Max’s idea,” Willow said, “and for once I have to admit it’s a good one. We’re going to do a feature on Christmas in July for the new travel section of the magazine. And what better place to celebrate Christmas than America’s top year-round Christmas destination.” Jackie squealed. “You’re from Jennifer’s Lifestyle! Oh my gosh. I love that magazine. My mom has a subscription, and she gives me her copy every month when she’s finished with it.” “How nice,” Willow drawled.
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Max gave me another long look before turning to face the newcomer. “I’m on a break.” “No time for breaks. Isn’t that what you always say, Max? Breaks are for losers.” She looked past him for the first time. Her eyes were about to flick over me, but then she did a double take. “Merry, is that you?” “Willow?” I said. “Good heavens, Willow, what are you doing here?” She crossed the room, arms outstretched. Max stepped aside, and Willow Rasmon enveloped me in a light hug accompanied by a kiss on the cheek that was more of a peck at the air. At five foot eleven and wearing her customary four-inch stilettos, Willow had to just about fold herself in half to reach me. “Max Folger, you are a naughty boy.” She waived a bloodred nail at the end of a long finger. “Getting us to come here under a false pretext so you could see Merry.” “Nothing false about it,” he said. “It’s still a great story.” “Will one of you tell me what’s going on?” I said. “It was all Max’s idea,” Willow said, “and for once I have to admit it’s a good one. We’re going to do a feature on Christmas in July for the new travel section of the magazine. And what better place to celebrate Christmas than America’s top year-round Christmas destination.” Jackie squealed. “You’re from Jennifer’s Lifestyle! Oh my gosh. I love that magazine. My mom has a subscription, and she gives me her copy every month when she’s finished with it.” “How nice,” Willow drawled.
Interviews
Jackie ran around the counter and almost jumped up and down in front of Willow. “I can help you. I’ve lived here all my life. I know everyone!” Willow peered down her long nose. “Goodness, I wouldn’t have recognized you for a small-town girl.” Jackie beamed. I threw Willow a glare. Now I remembered: beneath the air-kissy façade Willow was nothing but a ruthlessly ambitious, stuck-up Manhattan snob. Max laughed, and I glared at him, too. Willow’s oversized Michael Kors bag trilled, and she dug into a side pocket for her phone. At least she’d given up wearing one of those ridiculous headsets that made people look as though they were about to be assimilated into the Borg Collective. “We’re at Mrs. Claus’s Treasures. Across the street from the library.” She hung up and put the phone away. “Who was that?” I asked. “Our photographer,” Willow said. “He’s been scouting out vantage points around town.” Jackie squealed. I felt the air move as she ran past us heading for the back rooms. “Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?” I said, “Or do I have to guess.” “Guess away, Merry,” Max said. “It shouldn’t be too hard.”
Interviews
The door opened once again and a man came in. He wore a beige, multipocketed vest of the sort last seen in the pages of National Geographic, carried a large bag, and had a long-lensed black Nikon slung over his shoulder. “This is going to be rich,” he said. “I don’t know what to shoot first.” “Jason Kerr, meet Merry Wilkinson,” Willow said. “I don’t think Jason did any work for us in your day, Merry.” He grinned at me. “I’ve heard a lot about you, when we were getting ready for this trip. You left big shoes to fill when you quit.” I couldn’t help sneaking a peek at Max. Jason, I’m sure, meant when I left my job. Max would have been thinking of something else. “Welcome to Mrs. Claus’s Treasures.” The curtain was swept aside, and Jackie stood there, framed in the entrance. She’d been gone for only about one minute, but she’d undone the top two buttons on her blouse, twisted the shirttails into a knot so it rode up to give us a peek at her taut belly, tightened the belt on her short denim skirt, applied a heavy layer of rose blush, and pulled her hair out of its clip so it fell in waves around her shoulders. She struck a pose, hip cocked, one shoulder forward, head tilted. Jason said, “Do you work here?” “Here? Yes, I’m Jackie O’Reilly. Head of customer service.” That title was new to me. Jackie was my only full-time employee.
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Vicki Delany (AKA Eva Gates) is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than twentyfive books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. Vicki lives and writes in bucolic Prince Edward County, Ontario.
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Rachel Brimble TB: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Sure! I live with my husband and two teenage daughters near the beautiful city of Bath, England. I currently write mainstream romance and romantic suspense for Harlequin (The Templeton Cove Stories) and Victorian romance for eKensington/Lyrical press. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me reading, knitting or walking my gorgeous chocolate Labrador, Tyler. TB: Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write? Yes, I was around seven or eight and reading Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven series – I was obsessed and knew I wanted to be a storyteller. I began writing short stories of my own and reading them to my friends. Unfortunately, my life took turns I wasn’t expecting and it wasn’t until 2005 that I had a ‘now or never’ moment. My first novel, Searching For Sophie, was published in 2007. TB: What are you currently working on? I am just polishing a new romantic suspense that I hope will find a home very soon as well as plotting the second book in an Edwardian romance series (the first is sitting on an editor’s desk under consideration).
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Click to buy TB: Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why? Ooh, that is a difficult question to answer! My favorite book is the one I’m currently working on, lol! The Templeton Cove series will always have a special place in my heart and I am looking forward to the release of A Stranger In The Cove (Jan 2018) because that book revolves my favorite Cove resident, Marian Cohen. She is the town matriarch and has featured in seven of the eight books. TB: What books have most influenced you as a writer? It’s not so much books, but rather authors who have influenced me – I am a huge admirer of Nora Roberts, Jill Shalvis and Jodi Picoult. I love their work and their work ethic and do my utmost to work as hard as they do. TB: What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding? The most challenging is often turning a nugget of an idea into an 80,000 word novel – I am a plotter and map out characters, synopsis and chapters before I start writing. All in the hope that I don’t come to a grinding halt halfway through. Sometimes it works…other times it doesn’t, AT ALL! The most rewarding is receiving emails from readers saying how much they enjoy your work or receiving lovely 5 star reviews. Oh, and it never gets old receiving your brand new shiny box of books in the mail.
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TB: What book is on your nightstand? I am currently reading His Ballerina Bride by Teri Wilson & Hard Girls by Martina Cole – my reading is eclectic to say the least! TB: What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future? I have a brand new romantic suspense releases Nov 8th called If I Want You and is available for preorder now and A Stranger In The Cove (Templeton Cove book 8 – all books can be read stand-alone) coming Jan 1st 2018. TB: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers? I love hearing from readers and answer all messages and comments on my social media – also I am holding a Facebook release party for IF I WANT YOU on Nov 8th and would love for readers to join me and a truly fabulous line-up of guest authors. There will be plenty of fun, chat and prizes up for grabs - https://www.facebook.com/events/707034479485448/
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Website Blog Twitter Facebook Facebook Street Team Amazon Goodreads
Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. Since 2013, she has had seven books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and an eighth coming in Jan 2018. She also has four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical Press. Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England. She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!
The Bistro Reviews
The Bistro eMagazine Is in need of reviewers!! Our genres for the eMagazine include:
s u d n e s s r o Auth o o t s k o o b r you l i a m e e m a s
Romance Paranormal Historical Young Adult Mystery We also have sub genres for the above categories as well. Please email Babs or Amber @ sleuthcafe@gmail.com if you would like to join our review team!
Amber's Reviews
Genre: Cozy Rating 5 Click on cover for more info It's Pumpkin Days Festival time in Lavender, Texas. Local businesses are setting up tents to display their wares and tourists are piling in to partake in the town's festivities. As Sabrina strolls through the festival with her cat, Hitchcock, she walks right up to someone who looks just like her. A woman named Tia is one of the outside vendors renting a tent during the festival. She also has her son and his pet cat with her. When it's discovered that Tia doesn't see eye-to-eye with another vendor named Calvin and he is found dead, Tia is the prime suspect. Sabrina makes it her mission to discover what happened and to prove that Tia wasn't involved. The Black Cat Sees His Shadow is a wonderful third cozy mystery in Kay Finch's Bad Luck Cat Mystery series. The plot is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. The entire book will engage the reader from beginning to end. The descriptive content makes visualizing the scenes an easy task. The novel is fast paced and enjoyable. The motive for the murder of Calvin, as well as who did it, was cleverly disguised. All of the characters are written with realism. The character development continues with the main characters and the addition of new characters. We aren't bogged down with unnecessary details or boring character biographies. We receive the right amount of detail and description for each character. The conversations flow smoothly and are realistic. They flow so well that you think you're standing nearby involved in the topic of discussion. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of The Black Cat Sees His Shadow provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley.
Amber's Reviews
Genre: YA Rating 4 Click on cover for more info
Have you ever wondered what it's like to a devout religious member suddenly aware you are psychic - in the middle of a church service? Welcome to the world of Jackie Turov....
In order to hide her psychic abilities, Jackie lies about what happened that day in church and continues to denounce her abilities. In order to keep people to leaver her alone, Jackie turns goth and standoffish, making her unapproachable. When things take an evil turn, all of a sudden her past is revealed, and her lie no longer a secret. In order to repair the damage from the demon conjured by an inexperienced girl, Jackie must embrace her gift.
During the novel, Jackie is also approached by a newcomer in her family's church. Handsome and polite, he seems to think that even thought Jackie isn't allowed in the church she may be able to help with a problem. Only after she learns how to use her abilities will the truth behind the demon and the problem at the church be known.
Goth Girl Virgin Queen is a unique take on a teenage psychic. Jackie's religious upbringing doesn't allow for the belief in psychic abilities. Unable to come to terms with her abilities, she shuns people and crowds the best she can. Jackie lets the guilt of her lies consume her instead of embracing who she really is. Her walls come crashing down after a person she thought was her friend summons a demon out of jealousy. Everything snowballs from there, leading her to admit her lies and deal with the consequences while trying to save her friend Jason and his family.
Amber's Reviews
Continued This story was remarkable. Written well in a conversational way, JoAnne Keltner brings the story of Jackie and her friends and family to life. The dialogue was smooth and understandable and the story was fast paced through most of the book. There were a couple of spots where things slowed way down and drug a bit but for the most part the pacing was well done. The only real issue I have is the speed of Jackie's new love interest near the end. It seemed a bit rushed and didn't meet the pacing of the rest of the book. Other than that, the book was enjoyable, engaging and interesting. I was captivated from the start. If you like YA paranormal books that involve the occult and border on horror, I highly recommend Goth Girl Virgin Queen. Review copy courtesy of the author, at no cost in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Amber's Reviews
Genre Contemporary Romance Rating 5 Click on cover for more info Vivienne Moore is tired of cleaning up her sister's messes. Callie's irresponsible lifestyle forces Viv into locations that no self-respecting person; male or female, would ever dare to go. When Callie's latest drunken binge lands Viv in a club, she had no idea she'd walk out forever changed. While trying to extract her sister from the ladies' room, her tone of voice rouses the managers of the club. While trying to explain what's going on, Viv can't help but lock eyes with hot guy sitting at a table. Jace Kennedy might run questionable clubs but he, and his brothers, don't answer to the social norms. They have their own code they live by and do what's right them and their families. He certainly wasn't expecting someone like Viv to be in the club nor was he expecting any type of connection with her. Now, he just has to convince her to open up, be the woman he knows is buried inside her demure and safe life, and let him be her fierce protector. Viv soon learns that there is a lot more to Jace -dangerous man. He is also Jace-charitable donation man; -loyal family man; and -always-gets-what-hewants man. There is much more to Jace than meets the eye. He assimilates within high society, as well as the seedy underworld, at will. There is also so much more to Viv than the straight-laced, stiff, professional she shows off. She has a past to keep hidden, a sister to protect, and her business to nurture. Can two seemingly very different people find love?
Amber's Reviews
Continued For the record, I would give this book 100 stars if I could. I loved everything about Rough & Tumble. Viv and Jace are exciting, likable, and easy to fall in love with. The chemistry between the pair is electric and realistically written. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning and everything about it kept me engaged. The love scenes were steamy and sensual not animalistic and raunchy. The author did a wonderful job slowly removing the layers of both Viv and Jace and their dynamic love scenes were perfect. The plot was smooth and the entire story was perfectly paced. I was never bored or overwhelmed with details. The dialogue between everyone was realistic and conversational - it was like I was there with them. The events and storylines were well thought out and eventually they all came together in an explosive crescendo. Be prepared to get lost in Rough & Tumble and not find your way back out into the real world until you get to the very last word in the story! The story also includes 5 of Jace's "brothers" - men in his life that aren't related by blood but just as close if not closer. I'm only going to tell you that Axel is a character and I can't wait to read all about him. The rest of his brothers are great, too, but Axel is a charmer and his story is going to be phenomenal - I just know it! I read this book in one sitting because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!
Amber's Reviews
Genre Urban Fantasy Rating 5 Click cover for more info Unravled is another fantastic installment of the Elemental Assassin series. The entire series has pulled me in and kept me engaged from the very beginning. These are the types of books that have me longing for the next one. They are written with vivid descriptions and genuine feelings, allowing the reader to become totally immersed in this world. This adventure finds Gin, Finn, Owen, and Bria headed out of town to Bullet Pointe, a Wild West theme park. After the fallout of book 14, Bitter Bite, Finn learns he inherited the theme park from his mother. The last time Gin took a vacation was several books ago and she's highly due for another one. However, Gin really should know better - nothing good ever comes out of going on vacation. When Circle assassins appear throughout the park Gin knows that Bullet Pointe isn't all fun and games. Even after 15 novels in this series, Jennifer Estep knows how to keep the stories engaging and interesting. I've been a fan of the entire series. I've rated all of the books 4 or 5 stars. These are the types of books that have me longing for the next one. They are written with vivid descriptions and genuine feelings, allowing the reader to become totally immersed in this world. The world building continues and we learn a bit more about Gin's mother. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Unraveled provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley.
Amber's Reviews
Genre Fantasy Rating 5 Click cover for more info Tarnished Beginnings takes us on an adventure in 1700s Egypt. Tairin is the product of a Romani gypsy and a shifter – a union that, if known, results in the death of those who dare mate outside the gypsy clan. Additionally, the shifter clan will not acknowledge her either due to the dual heritage. She learns rather quickly that the world is neither kind nor safe outside the confines of the gypsy caravan; however, there is no turning back. Get ready for the intro to what is sure to be a wonderful shifter fantasy series. I enjoyed the set up for the series in Tarnished Beginnings. Tairin’s character is young yet forced to grow up quickly in order to survive in a land where women were possessions with no rights or protections. The world building is done well and the reader will find themselves magically transported to Egypt in their mind’s eye. The dialogue was smooth and believable and I was engaged in the entire story. Ann Gimpel is one of my favorite authors. Her stories are fresh and unique and her characters are strong and captivating. Her characters are real. They have real emotions, are likable, and are written in such a way that no matter their genre (paranormal, steampunk, historical), the reader will connect with them. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this novella.
Babs Reviews
Genre- Western Romance Rating 5 Click cover for more info I love Leah Laurens Mail Order Montana series. They are all great and the writing is wonderful. In this book we meet Fred Connor who is on the run. He is with the wrong people and rob a stagecoach. No other than Sarah’s sister Carrie is on the stage. Fred is an outlaw but he has not done everything they are accusing him of. His mom is very ill and Sarah and John are taking care of her little to Carrie’s knowledge. Carrie is taken care of by Fred he does not believe in hurting women. Carrie is a mail order bride to a man and out to see her sister Sarah and her family. We see Carrie grow with all the ups and downs in this story. We have a few things going on in this story from an Indian Trail to Fred’s bad business partners to helping Fred’s mother to love. The story is great and the characters are well done. It was nice to revise Sarah from the other book. I read this Arc voluntarily.
Babs Reviews
Genre- Contemporary Romance/ MC Rating 5 Click cover for more info Lauren has made a new life for herself in the small town of Slightuckett. With Emma her lovely pet by her side. She use to be a trauma surgeon and now she is a doctor at the local clinic. Marc seems to have an accident with his Harley and she comes out of her house to try and help him. The bike is totaled and he has a few broken ribs and a bad knee. With no where to stay she offers him her couch. When a few days turns into weeks they decide to have a friends with benefits until the Ex shows up and things get complicated. Can Lauren save her self and her heart? I loved this story. This is the second book I have read by Jolie and it won’t be the last. She has a way of keeping the reader turning the pages. It is not just the sexy scenes but the characters themselves. Lauren draws you in and Marc with some twits has you on the edge of your seat to see what happens. You will feel you are on the beach with Emma and Lauren. This is not your typical MC romance it is secondary. The book was so great I read in one sitting. I voluntairly reviewed an Arc of this book.
Babs Reviews
Genre- Contemporary Romance Rating 5 Click cover for more info
Daniel had a tough childhood after his parents demise. He shuffled from aunt to aunt and they all acted as though he was a nobody to them and unwanted. He moves on and makes a name for himself and a nice living with his mine in California. He is lonely though and places an advertisement for a mail order bride. A young woman who works in NY in a jewelry store, Hannah, answers the ad. They write for several months and Daniel sends her a ticket to come out. Will she want Daniel just for the gold he is finding or does she really want to be a good wife to him?
A very quick read and enjoyable. I liked Daniel and Hannah characters and how Daniel is there for Hannah at every turn and vice versa. The author does a grea job with them and the setting. You can picture yourself in the home and in the mines. __
Franklin is a widower and a sheriff. His 16 year old son is acting deputy sheriff. His mail order bride Charity was ready to leave home. She looked so much like his dead wife it was almost comforting.
Babs Reviews
Continued Charity’s challenge was the jail attached to their house but once she got use to it it was noting to help. She enjoyed helping Franklin. It was another great read. __ Benjamin had a somewhat rough life. He wanted a bride like the sheriff did. He wasn’t going to tell the new bride in a letter what all he has done. He wanted to do that in person. When he got out of jail Franklin said he would help him if he ever needed it. Will he help? Maybelle was a great lady but is she as understanding as Benjamin thinks? Or will she go back to Maryland? _____ Thomas is the head of the mill and after seeing his friends Franklin, Daniel and Benjamin getting married. He finally wanted to get a good wife for himself. After waiting a cook by the name of Violet answers his letters. They get a long great and things seem to going well until a fire break out at their home and Thomas realizes it is his home that is one fire. Can he save Violet?
Babs Reviews
Genre- Contemporary Romance Rating 5 Click cover for more info I am enjoying the Cupid Series and this 4th book does not disappoint. We pick up with Jim and his brother’s loosing the bet to Cody. It is their turn to run around the Cupid statue naked at midnight. Jim, the straight forward man finds this stupid but wanted to get the bet over with. He doesn’t believe he will find his true love. On the way home from the statue he sees a woman on the side of the road with her car on fire. Shadow thinks he is some serial killer as he gets out with overalls and no shirt. Shadow is a writer and her job is to write about the Cupid Dance Legend or as Jim calls it, the Cupid Stupid Dance. She wasn’t expecting to find Jim. The characters are funny as always and we do get to read more about the characters from before. Shadow doesn’t believe in the legend no more than Jim but you can’t miss the chemistry between the two. The stories just keep getting better and better. Looking forward to Cupid Cures. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Babs Reviews
Genre- Cozy Mystery Rating 4 Click cover for more info Kelsey a destination wedding planner is in San Francisco at a Wine Country Wedding assisting her freind Brody, a wedding photographer. He has a booth and needs help. Later Brody introduces Kelsey to Haley and Christopher. They are in a need of a wedding planner and who else would be great but Kelsey! We have Stefan who is the assistant to Babs of Weddings By Babs and who is a pain for Kelsey. She escapes his wrath to find out Kaley and Christopher were to use Babs until Haley's father fired her. Since the bride has no clue what Babs had planned she agrees to meet with Kelsey the next morning, but what does Kelsey find? A dead Babs behind the couch. At the funeral Stefan announces to all who can hear that Kelsey killed Babs. This makes Kelsey find the real killer. Kelsey with the help of Brody go off to find the real killer. Characters are great and glad to see them again in book 2. Looking forward to book 3 and see what happens. Received book for the blog tour and these are my own opinions and read voluntarily.
Special guest & sale
A.J. Â Lape Darcy Walker Mystery Series November 15- 19th Foolproof will be FREE
Books one, two, and three will be 99 cents.
Special guest & sale
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A. J. Lape is the author of the Darcy Walker Series which has stayed on Amazon's teen's mysteries and thrillers bestseller's lists since its debut in 2012. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband, two daughters, an ADD dog, a spoiled hamster, and an unapologetic and unrepentant addiction to Coca-Cola--plus a lifelong love affair with bacon she has no plans to sever. A graduate of Morehead State University with a Master's degree in Communications, she's a PI wannabe and daily stops crime through the fictional ADHD character of Darcy Walker. If the FBI ever checks her computer, she'll be wearing prison-orange due to the graphic and disgusting "wiki" articles she looks up...all in the name of career research, of course.
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