D.V. Stone's Blog, page 11

Around the Fire New Release Spotlight The Fog Lades: Date with Death.

The Fog Lades: Date with Death
by
Susan McCormick
Cozy Mystery
Amateur Sleuths
Release October 2, 2023
  
About
The Fog Ladies are at it again, spunky senior sleuths and an overstressed young medical resident solving murders from their elegant apartment building in San Francisco. They join a senior dating group, and romantic intrigue soon turns to murder. Graham Parselle, lady killer extraordinaire, plunges off a cliff on a Senior Singles outing. Did one of his dates pitch him over? Or is Olivia Honeycut’s new beau to blame? 

Grab your copy today of Book 4 in this award-winning series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone. 
https://www.amazon.com/Fog-Ladies-Francisco-Murder-Mystery/dp/1509249818
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1143832976

​Inspiration for the story.
When I was little, I wanted to be a doctor by day, a ballerina by night, and a writer all the time. My ballet days ended at age four when my first curtsy took out the backdrop and crashed it to the floor. Being a doctor took many years and a stint in the Army to pay for medical school, but being a writer took longer. Now I’m on Book 4 of The Fog Ladies series, with other books thrown in as well. With the older characters, my books have themes different from most cozy mysteries, such as what to do with your remaining years, parenting as a grandparent, love in your seventies, a beau who calls you by his dead wife’s name, a dog who is too big to handle, poor vision, poor hearing, and no filter. The Fog Ladies see each other through, and now, rather than becoming a ballerina, all I want is to be a Fog Lady. 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great quality of cozy mystery
More about Susan.
Susan McCormick is an award-winning writer and doctor who lives in Seattle. She graduated from Smith College and George Washington University School of Medicine, with additional medical training in Washington, DC and San Francisco, where she lived in an elegant apartment building much like the one in the Fog Ladies books, minus the murders. Susan served as a doctor in the US Army for nine years before moving to the Pacific Northwest and civilian practice. In addition to the Fog Ladies series, she also wrote Granny Can’t Remember Me, a lighthearted picture book about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and The Antidote, a middle grade to adult medical fantasy. She lives with her husband and two sons and loves giant dogs, the bigger and slobberier the better. 
Follow the Author
https://susanmccormickbooks.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18846966.Susan_McCormick
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/susan-mccormick
https://www.instagram.com/susanmccormickbooks/
https://www.facebook.com/susanmccormickauthor/

Around the Fire is chatting with international author, artist, and musician, J. Arlene Culiner.

​I love chatting around a campfire. This past weekend was spent in lovely Lancaster County Pennsylvania. Ronks to be more specific. Longtime friends joined us, and we talked about the familiar as well as found out things we never knew about them. Also, when that fire is lit you never know who will show up. We met folks from Maine to North Carolina and a few local campers too. Campers love to sit around and shoot the breeze. Today’s Around the Fire is welcoming back an old friend, J. Arlene Culinar all the way from across the Atlantic in France. Bon retour, mon ami.
Thank you so much, Donna, for having me back as a guest on Around the Campfire.
 
What can I pour as we spend some time conversing about life, love, books, and writing?
In the early evenings, I walk through a delicious green valley surrounded by prehistoric caves and end up in rather luxurious local hotel four kilometers away. There, I can drink the most delicious mojitos. This is my go-to end-of-the-day reward.
 
Well, my camper, 2Hoots is a little magic and I’m sure we can find the ingredients to do a comparison. While I rummage through will you share who are you other than your bio?
I tend to be a loner. I’m rarely chatty in a crowd. I prefer observing and listening for a while, then I always go home early. I love walking on my own, crossing countries on my own, doing intensive archival research, and traveling on my own. However, I do enjoy having a partner, and cooking for friends.
 
I respect that. I tend to be quiet in crowds. What interests besides writing do you enjoy? For instance, what do you read or hobbies you have?
As well as being a writer, I’m a contemporary artist. I create tiny sculptures and critical/satirical scenes of daily life, as well as cartoons. Although I’m no great shakes as a musician, I honk away with great determination, and play with different bands and orchestras. My instruments? The oboe, the English horn, the baroque oboe family (the taille, baritone, oboe d’amore), the tuba, the flute, and recorders.
 
How intriguing about the art! And wow about the range of instruments you play. Who is your network or support system? Who contributes to your writing career.
It’s a complicate situation. I write in English in a French-speaking country and this certainly has disadvantages. Bernard, my partner doesn’t speak or read English therefore, although I use him as a sounding board for much that I write, I have to translate. However, I do take his advice seriously when I’m tackling a manuscript and need news ideas, a different way of seeing situations, historical change, and complicated characters. For the rest, I depend upon my publishers and editors.
 
It's wonderful to have such a person in your life. Bonjour Bernard! Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
I am particularly passionate about non-fiction writers: Robert A. Rosenstone, Kapka Kassabova, Jonathan Raban, Neal Acherson, Bill Bryson.

Now that we’re sipping Mojitos, tell us more about your neighborhood? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special?
I live in a tiny village, and here are pictures of the countryside that I walk through every evening. In one photo, you can see a green lane. The European countryside is crisscrossed with these deep lanes that once ran from one farm to the next, and still lead between villages. This valley was inhabited by cave-dwelling people 25,000 years ago. Much later, local peoples used these green lanes to hide in before attacking Roman soldiers. You can imagine how historically thrilling it is to be walking here every day. One day I hope to visit Europe. My husband and I often visit historical sites, but the history runs so deep over there. Let’s chat a bit about writing. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I do intensive research in libraries and archives for all of my books. This is necessary when writing non-fiction, but it is also true for my romances. My book, A Room in Blake’s Folly demanded quite a bit of research for it to be historically correct, since it begins in 1889, and progresses to the present day.
 
How do you select the names of your characters?
They generally select their own names.
 
I’ve had a few do that. What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Sitting myself down and actually getting work done! I’m very easily distracted (by playing music, reading, walking, talking to the dog, eating, reading, sitting around and thinking, reading, lurking, dreaming).
 
How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?
For non-fiction, it can take me anywhere from six to twelve years or more. For fiction, at least a year until I’m satisfied.
 
J. Arlene let’s do a quick Q&A to see your more personal side. If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be?
A Caesar salad. I could eat a good Caesar salad for breakfast, in the middle of the night or any time at all. I could eat two or three Caesar salads in one go. Of course, they’d have to be authentic, not made with bottled salad dressing, packaged parmesan cheese or other dreadful things.
 
Worst household chore?
I hate any household chore. Bernard and I have a cleaning blitz about once a month. The rest of the time, chaos runs my life.
 
Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants? 
Food, please. I’m a slow traveler: I take trains, I go on foot. But I do love to eat.
 
What was your first job?
I was a camp counselor and I hated it. I hated taking care of kids, amusing them, watching them. I hated sports, I hated games, I hated communal singing, and I hated any enforced activities. In the end, my non-compliance was accepted, and I was allowed to go do things on my own. So I went to visit bears, found snakes to watch, and enjoyed myself. I’m really not cut out for the working world.
 
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Buying an external hard drive and keeping it plugged in. My computers have conked out so many times, but I’ve never lost a manuscript.

I love our fireside chats. You mentioned A Room in Blake’s Folly . Can you tell us a bit more about it? A Room in Blake’s Folly
by
J. Arlene Culiner
​Historical, Western and Frontier Romance

If only the walls could speak…
In one hundred and fifty years, Blake's Folly, a silver boomtown notorious for its brothels, scarlet ladies, silver barons, speakeasies, and divorce ranches, has become a semi-ghost town.
Although the old Mizpah Saloon is still in business, its upper floor is sheathed in dust. But in a room at a long corridor's end, an adventurer, a beautiful dance girl, and a rejected wife were once caught in a love triangle, and their secret has touched three generations.
Grab your copy today
Purchase Links: https://books2read.com/BlakesFollyRomance
Trailer for A Room in Blake’s Folly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt3VkYUTVNk
 
What others are saying.
Rich detail and scintillating dialogue transport the reader through the decades between 1889 and 2022 of this surprising saga. With flowing descriptive phrases ("... the walls had a yellowish hue that only time could bring") Culiner effectively intertwines the characters and descendants of Blake's Folly. And although overhunting and pollution mean environmental change, the charm of this old world community remains intact. Cheers for this book!
Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite
The author drops us off at various points over the past hundred-and-thirty years and allows us to meet some of the inhabitants—some are self-serving and devious—but all have the gritty determination that enables them to survive. The messages running through this saga are hope and resilience. And I'm left with a memory of the cigar smoke lingering in that top floor room of the Mizpah Saloon.
Whispering Stories
J. Arlene Culiner’s original historical novel A Room in Blake’s Folly is a delight. Through research or intuition (probably a combination of both), she manages to bring each era in Blake’s Folly to life, both via language and through period detail. Her characters are distinctive individuals, many of whom are somewhat at odds with society – outcasts, outsiders, and survivors. A Room in Blake’s Folly is a skillfully crafted tale about love and chance, history and family. I recommend it highly.
Lisabet Sarai, author

More about the Author
​Born in New York, raised in Toronto, Jill Culiner set out to have a life of adventure and discovery, not one of security and comfort. She has since crossed much of Europe on foot, travelled, by bus, train, car or truck throughout North and Central America, Europe, and the Sahara, has lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave-dwelling, on a Dutch canal, a lonely, and a very haunted stone house on the English moors. Such a lifestyle has meant staying flexible and taking up any sort of work that presents itself: belly dancer, fortune teller, b-girl, translator, fashion model, storyteller, radio broadcaster, actress, social critical artist, photographer, and writer. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest and protects all creatures, especially spiders and snakes. She particularly loves incorporating into short stories, mysteries, narrative non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities with their strange characters, and very odd conversations.
Follow the author
www.j-arleneculiner.com
www.jill-culiner.com
Storytelling Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/j-arlene-culiner
Author Links: https://linktr.ee/j.arleneculiner

Around the Fire New Release Spotlight with Linda Griffin.

The Axe
by
Linda Griffin
From the author. Rated R for language and descriptions of violence. 
Released September 27, 2023
Mystery, Thriller, Short Read
​
About
Sweethearts Eric Leidheldt and Desiree Chauveau are spending a weekend at his uncle's cabin when they encounter two strangers cutting wood. Eric is knocked unconscious, and Desi is viciously attacked. The following day two police officers come to their apartment to arrest Desi. Her assailants are dead, murdered with an axe, and her fingerprints are on it. She confesses—but is she really guilty? Eric is determined to stand by her, but the physical and emotional effects of the attack severely challenge their relationship.
The Inspiration for the story.
Grab your copy today from your favorite retailer.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC6VYT7B
https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-axe/id6451422365
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1143801552

What inspired the author.
The initial trigger was a single line, quoting one of the assailants. I wrote the beginning, and the characters took it from there. Although the plot involves violent crimes, I always wanted the focus to be on Eric and Desi’s relationship. The violence doesn’t appear on the page and is further distanced from the reader by having the story told from Eric’s viewpoint. Although Desi’s descriptions are not explicit, they might still be triggering for some readers. The Wild Rose Press published my other books, but even though they have a suspense division, they are primarily a feel-good romance publisher. I never imagined they would want to publish a story like this. I submitted the first 500 words to the Hooked on a Book Competition, where it placed second. One of the judges—Morena Stamm of the Wild Rose Press—asked to see the full manuscript, and next thing I knew it was under contract!
Review
5.0 out of 5 stars THRILLING SHORT MYSTERY
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2023 About the author. 
Linda Griffin knew she wanted to be a “book maker” as soon as she learned to read, and she wrote her first story at the age of six. She retired as fiction librarian for the San Diego Public Library to spend more time on her writing, and her stories have been published in numerous journals. The Axe is her seventh book from the Wild Rose Press. In addition to the three R’s—reading, writing, and research—she enjoys playing Scrabble, visiting art galleries and museums, and traveling.

Find out more by following the author.

https://www.lindagriffinauthor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lindagriffin.author
https://twitter.com/LindaGriffinA
https://www.instagram.com/lindagriffinauthor/
 

Around the Fire in-depth interview with Caryl Janis.

Thank you all for taking the time to spend Around the Fire. It’s one of my favorite things to do. I’m heading for Lancaster, PA, with friends tomorrow. We plan to spend a lot of time sitting around a crackling fire and discussing everything. We’ll spend time at Farmer’s Markets and may even take a train ride through the countryside. But today, we’re relaxing around the virtual fire with my guest, Caryl Janis. Caryl, why don’t you introduce yourself while I pour us some coffee? Who are you other than your bio?
A wife who gets to spend more time with my wonderful, now-retired English teacher husband. (And, yes, he reads my drafts and makes good suggestions!) We have a terrific grown daughter who lives cross-country-- we try to see her often. The piano is also a big part of my life. I enjoy all music and especially like playing old pop standards and ragtime pieces. I’m also a part-time church organist.
 
I’ve always dreamed of playing the piano. After several attempts, I now just listen. What interests besides writing do you enjoy? For instance, what do you read or hobbies do you have?
I love reading mysteries. But I also like biographies, particularly those of people who are not quite as well remembered these days. Their lives are so interesting and inspiring. I also collect old sheet music – the kind with the beautiful covers and songs that can be anywhere from 25 to a hundred years old. And then there’s baseball – I’m a NY Mets fan!
 
You and my hubby should talk. He’s a stalwart Mets fan. I’ve collected old hymnals for years. My oldest is from the 1800s. You mentioned your husband as an early reader of your books; who else are your supporters?
My husband and daughter have always been my cheerleaders as are good friends, a critique group, and writing organizations (Liberty States Fiction Writers and SinC/NYTriState). And everyone at The Wild Rose Press (Rhonda, RJ, my wonderful editor Dianne Rich, fellow authors) has been beyond supportive and helpful. I’m grateful to be one of the Roses.
 
As a Wild Rose author, I agree. Authors need to be readers, too. Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
There are so many – fiction authors like Ann Patchett and Barbara Kingsolver, mystery/suspense writers from Hank Phillippi Ryan to David Baldacci, and nonfiction authors including Susan Orlean and Pamela Paul. Each one is so different and has a unique approach. Their writings are inspiring to analyze and also offer a reminder of how important it is to be true to your own individual voice and style. I also love stories about authors who keep trying and never give up.
 
Do you have any fun or outrageous talent?
Oh, gosh. I guess it’s outrageous when I mess up cooking or when I try to sing, but you couldn’t really count that as a talent. But I try to find the humor in everyday things, so that’s sort of fun.
 
Janis, what is your neighborhood like? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special?
It’s pretty busy here – a mix of the urban and suburban with lots of traffic. But the best place to get away from it all is our local park. It’s huge and beautiful with lots of walking paths and playing fields and trees. I like to walk there with friends or just sit on a bench and enjoy the fresh air. It’s a great place to watch the change of seasons, especially in the fall. I also like some of our little restaurants. There’s an old-fashioned ice cream parlor that’s the best. Their homemade candy and ice cream are worth every calorie.
 
It sounds lovely. We often visit our local park to walk the paths, especially this time of year. If you could time travel, where would you go and when? Why?
I’d go back to 1880s/1890s New York. It seemed like such an innovative and exciting time. And I would love to see neighborhoods I know now and find out what they were like when some of my ancestors lived there. Sort of like Jack Finney’s Time and Again.
 
What was your first job?
I was a secretary in a small legal office. During the first week, I put a hole in a letter I was typing when trying to erase and correct my mistakes and, also, managed to burn the bottom of the coffee pot. My boss reacted with extremely good humor. When I left a few months later, he wished me well – and hopefully hired someone more efficient.
 
Let’s talk about writing some more. Does it energize or exhaust you?
Usually writing energizes me. I love the challenge of working on a few pages and then going back and reworking them and seeing how I can do it better. It’s sort of like figuring out a puzzle. You know, maybe this paragraph should be first instead of that one – or some dialogue would be better than a description somewhere else. It’s all a process of discovery for me, and I love it.
 
What would you do if you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult?
Oh, wow. Good question. I would have ignored my insecurities and feelings about not being good enough, and I would have written more and tried out for the school newspaper or entered a local essay contest. I think I would have learned more about the writing process and would have gained a little more confidence earlier in life.
 
How do you select the names of your characters?
It’s pretty random. I listen to my car radio and an announcer will mention a name -- or I’ll read a magazine article or something on the internet, and a name or two will grab me. (Or I’ll overhear a name at the next table in a restaurant!) Then I mix and match these names and often come up with variations. And I have to feel as if the name fits the character and that’s just instinct, I guess.
 
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Going to conferences is one – there are lots of panels, speakers, new perspectives to discover, people to talk with – it’s all a learning experience and most conferences have been well worth it. The other thing is taking writing workshops in a supportive environment. These types of opportunities have made me think about and analyze my writing in different ways, and then I can better figure out what I’m trying to do with any given project.
 
What does literary success look like to you?
If just a few people read my books and tell me they enjoyed them, or a scene or a character diverted, touched, or inspired them somehow, then I consider that success. Connecting with people through my writing is, to me, the most important thing. And the journey of getting to a finished manuscript is a joy and success in itself.

Caryl, thank you so much for joining me Around the Fire. You have some exciting news I hear. A new book coming out October 20th. Can you tell us a little and how to get a copy? 
To Sketch a Killer
by 
Caryl Janis
An urban cozy mystery 
October 20,2023

​Sarah Quinlee needed a change. She sublet a tiny Manhattan apartment, took a new job, and rekindled her passion for sketching. But after accidentally stumbling on a murder victim outside the church next to her workplace, change proved far riskier than she'd anticipated, even for the crime-ridden 1970s. Sarah is quickly pulled into a tangle of neighborhood secrets involving an enigmatic homeless woman, a menacing street punk, a quirky assortment of locals, and coworkers with a past. Her perceptive sketches of them raise some serious questions—and some serious danger. Unable to resist playing sleuth, despite the profound concern of a very attractive police detective, Sarah is soon up against a killer desperate to hide the crime at all costs.
 
Amazon: To Sketch a Killer: Janis, Caryl: 9781509251926: Amazon.com: Books
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/to%20sketch%20a%20killer

  More about the author.
Caryl Janis has been a fan of mysteries since childhood and now writes her own.
To Sketch a Killer is her first. Research Can Be Murder will be available soon. She
is also a freelance musician and nonfiction author who enjoys theater, museums, and spending time with family and friends. You can find her online at: www.caryljanis.com
or at 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarylJanis

Around the Fire New Release Spotlight with ML Barrs

Parallel Secrets 
by
ML Barrs

Release Date ‎ September 25, 2023
Women Sleuths
About the Story
After a young girl goes missing, former TV crime reporter Vicky Robeson joins the search with the help of her attractive new love interest. They take his RV to a tiny town in rural Missouri that's filled with odd characters and darker secrets.
But Vicky has secrets of her own. She believes this kidnapped girl may be linked to a case she reported on nine years ago, when a mystery child was found walking on levee, bloody and unable to speak. Back then, Vicky failed to follow up clues only she knew. Now, she has a chance to redeem herself.
As she uncovers secrets, it becomes clear someone will kill to keep them hidden.
Women Sleuths
​
Grab your copy today
tinyurl.com/BNParallelSecrets
www.amazon.com/Parallel-Secrets-ML-Barrs-ebook/dp/B0CC6NZCGK/

Review
"Great mystery, suspense story filled with tension, action, emotion, and twists and turns."
​—Still Moments Magazine About the Author
​A high school dropout at 15, ML Barrs started in TV as a 'one-man-band' reporter. She worked her way up to News Director at KDFW which, under her leadership, became the most successful news station in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX. She wrapped up her local TV career as General Manager at KXTV-TV in Sacramento, CA, and launched into writing mysteries.
Her debut novel, Parallel Secrets, is the first in a series featuring Vicky Robeson, a TV news journalist, travel writer, and fierce seeker of truth—who has trouble facing her own.
The oldest girl of 13 children born to the son of a coal miner and an immigrant from The Philippines, ML traveled the country with her family in a converted school bus. She called 19 places home by age 20. Her somewhat chaotic upbringing helped prepare her for the challenging world of TV news.
​After 30-plus years covering stories—big or small, devastating or joyous, complicated or simple—she believes that everything comes down to understanding people. What drove her as a journalist is what drives her heroine, Vicky Robeson—a deep longing to find truth, and to understand why people make the choices they do.
Find out more by following the author.
http://www.mlbarrs.com
mlbarrs@outlook.com
LinkedIn.com
Facebook.com
Instagram.com
Threads.net

Around the Fire review of The Witch's Lens by Luanne G. Smith

I don't get to read as often as I would like. You know how it is. Life and busyness get in the way. I love when we go on long trips and can enjoy audio books. Sometime I also have difficulty finding books that catch and hold my attention. A couple of pages in and often I end up DNFing a book. DNF? Did not finish. But scrolling through the other day I found The Witch’s Lens by Luanne G. Smith.
I liked it very much and finished it in two sittings.
Quite a unique story. Paranormal? Yes. Historical? Yes. But not what I expected. The world-building took me to a place where I wasn’t familiar. The location and time period from references would have been WWI Eastern Europe. I haven’t read many books from this era.
The main character is Petra, a woman and witch whose human husband has gone to war. She is left in dire straights of poverty and fear. Though many witches have been conscripted into the fighting, she hides her magic from those who would use it for personal gain.
A camera, a gift from her husband before he left, exposes her not only as a lone woman in the city. One unique paranormal talent she has enables her to see ghosts when she develops the film. Dressed as a man, she prowls the streets at night, taking pictures.
Josef is searching for those witches who have gone into hiding to build a special team to turn the tide of the battle where revenants are being used against them. Though he appears human, something is off about him.
Petra must decide. Does she continue in her miserable state and try to elude authorities and those who would use her other powerful magics or join the group of men and try to turn the tides of war both of mortals and paranormals.
The harsh reality of WWI and the difficulties of women left behind when men go off to war is revealed through the pages of this story. It is also how people can make a difference when they choose to use their strengths for the greater good. 
I do recommend this story. 

Around the Fire New Release Spotlight with today's guest Alana Lorens.

​Remnants of Fire
by
Alana Lorens
A vampire thriller 
​
August 10,2023

Looking for a fresh start, Sara Woods takes a job as a news reporter in a small town. Her first assignment for the Ralston Courier is to investigate a string of deaths, all young women, all her age. To deal with chronic back pain, she goes to the Goldstone Clinic, a local healing center with a strange reputation. As local doctor Rick Paulsen teaches Sara how to access hidden energy skills and reveal secrets from her past, police officer Brendon watches Sara’s every move. The deeper she digs into the Goldstone, the harder it is to deny links to the paranormal. Can she figure out what is going on and who to trust before it’s too late?

REMNANTS OF FIRE is a supernatural mystery thriller get a copy today.
www.amazon.com/Remnants-Fire-Alana-Lorens/dp/194918756X
​ About the Author
Alana Lorens (aka Barbara Mountjoy) has been a published writer for over 45 years, including seven years as a reporter and editor at the South Dade News Leader in Homestead, Florida. Her list of publications includes the non-fiction book 101 Little Instructions for Surviving Your Divorce, published by Impact Publishers in 1999, stories in A Cup of Comfort for Divorced Women, in December 2008, and A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Parents, in June 2009. 
Her Clan Elves of the Bitterroot series (as Lyndi Alexander) is available from Dragonfly Publishing; THE ELF QUEEN in 2010 and THE ELF CHILD in March 2011, THE ELF MAGE in 2012, and THE ELF GUARDIAN in 2013.
Her release (as Alana Lorens) is ENCOUNTER, from Dragonfly Publishing, as well. A freak snowstorm strands a group of high-priced lawyers, a truckload of illegal Mexicans and a killer in a New Mexico retreat. Who will survive?
http://alana-lorens.com

Around the Campfire with D. V. Stone gives a peek behind the curtain of her publishing life.

Hard to believe it’s September. My summer flew past, and not totally in a great way. Of course, there were ups and downs. We don’t camp as much in summer as in spring and fall. I love the crisp nights sitting around a fire. We usually do that when we’re home around the firepit. Since returning home from our winter digs in Northern Florida, we’ve only gone out a few times. Once on grandkid babysitting in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, it rained the entire week. We did go on an overnight trip to Connecticut for a writers’ event. It was so blasted hot that we bailed right after the conference finished. And last but not least, a two-day trip to Newburgh, NY. Um, it rained again the entire time. But as I tell the campers at my part-time job, I’d rather camp in the rain than not camp in the rain at home. Oh, did you notice what I said? My part-time job.
Retirement didn’t pan out the way I’d hoped. Initially, I dreamed of making enough money to supplement my social security. Hah! One of the first things people ask when they find out I’m an author is, “Do you sell a lot of books?” I do sell books. Not tons. But some. What they and I didn’t understand back when I’d made my plan is that a writer makes pennies on the dollar. That is unless you are one of the fortunate ones. I don’t begrudge them a bit. I want to be one of them. Writing is hard. Think of all the hours spent filling the pages—then editing, etc.
 Take Rock House Grill, for example. It lists at seventeen dollars at online retailers, but after everyone gets their share, the publisher, the printer, etc., then little ole me at the end receives about one dollar and thirty-eight cents. eBooks are where most sales are, so let’s take a peek at that. We’ll stick with Rock House for a minute. The eBook retails at $4.99. In the end, my royalty is $1.05, a little better than the hard copy because of printing costs. Unless a library orders a copy. Guess how much I’ll receive then? About 6 cents. Don’t get me wrong, I love having my books in libraries. It’s an honor, really. I mean that. I’ve donated books to libraries.
Let’s talk about indies. Independents or self-published do get a higher royalty, but most books are eBooks or, in certain cases, with independents on Kindle Unlimited. I’ll explain about KU in a second.
Royalties are definitely higher with eBooks, that’s good. But, and it’s a big old junk in the trunk, but the costs to publish fall on me and me alone. What does this mean? My publisher pays the editor, cover artist, printer, etc. For self-publishing, all that falls on the writer. The most significant chunk is probably for an editor. A good editor can cost ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on how long the book is, what type of editing is required, how many rounds of editing it takes, the size of the manuscript, etc.
Advise from me. Don’t scrimp or overlook editing. It’s so important to have a good editor. When I do interviews or panels, I’m often asked where a writer should invest with a limited budget. My answer is to obtain the services of the best editor you can afford. It’s that important. Then you need to have a great cover. Again, this can run into hundreds of dollars. And let’s not forget a marketing budget. According to Reedsy, the costs associated with publishing a manuscript are between $500 and $4,800.
I mentioned Kindle Unlimited. All my independent books are KU. That means a reader joins for a yearly fee. The annual fee lets them choose any book listed as KU. There are boatloads. Then, the author gets paid for the pages read. The KDP per page payout as of July 2023 is  $0.003989. Let’s say you have a three-hundred-page book. If the reader reads the whole book, the writer will receive about $1.20
Do the math. Years ago, I owned a coffee shop. Pricing is tricky. Too high, no one buys. Too low, and you make no money. How many $1 cups of coffee does it take to cover the rent?
So, what is the moral of this story? Yeah, it’s a bit of a gripe. I hated going back into the workforce. But I love writing. Like children, sometimes your books are a pain. They can cost a lot. Often, you feel like walking into a closet and screaming with a pillow over your mouth. In the end? It’s worth it. Realistically, I’ve been in the author world since 2016. I have nine published books, inclusion in one anthology, and a bi-monthly column in Still Moments Magazine. Six books are in various stages of development.
To anyone reading this, be assured I don’t want to discourage new writers. Your path may be totally different than mine. Others, if you’ve been in this game for a while and are struggling, don’t feel like you are alone. Readers? I just wanted to give you a peek behind the curtain. And especially to myself, D. V. Stone, like one of your favorite characters, Dory, just keep swimming. 
mailchi.mp/18125bb60cc5/dv-stones-news-bulletin
I'm part of this! From N. N. Light's Book Heaven
www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/fall-into-these-great-reads-bookathon
September is the kickoff back-to-school and autumn weather. In our view, it is also the launch of curling up with a cup of hot cider and reading. So, we cleverly titled our September month-long event to coincide with the season of fall and have gathered almost forty books you will want to add to your reading list. These books are penned by award-winning, bestselling, and top-rated authors plus there's a huge giveaway where one reader will win a $75 Amazon gift card. Below you will find the links to each book spotlight all September plus the Rafflecopter giveaway. This page will update every day by 5 pm EST. Check back every day to see what books are featured. Good luck and happy reading! 

Around the Fire New Release Spotlight with Pamela Kyel.

Charm City Crab Puff
by 
​Pamela Kyel
A Cozy Mystery Coming in 2024 
From
The Wild Rose Press

The smell of humidity, trash, and car exhaust greeted me the second I stepped outside. The Baltimore Harbor was a quick drive away, and with it, the Chesapeake Bay, which meant humidity was abundant here. July and August found us perspiring faster than a Pimlico racehorse the second we went outside, so I didn’t go outside. 
Hopping into my car, I congratulated myself again for stopping by the local convenience store and grabbing their second-largest cup. I snagged my drug of choice from the cup holder and slurped down a hefty dose of sweet tea. The sugar rushed in and eased the tight chest and stomach I got from seeing Zach on the table. I would need a pitcher to deal with seeing Desio. Nothing prepared me for seeing Zach this morning. I knew coming in, there was a good chance it was him, but still—dude, I was not ready. When Colonel Waters couldn’t reach Zach once the Air Force notified us, I knew something was up. We even tried Zach’s current duty station, but no one there had seen him—at least, that’s what they said. 
I wrestled into my place in line on I-95 and thought about what brought me back to Baltimore. This was my first assignment to bring me home—which I fought for six months. There was nothing but painful memories here, but after I spoke to Colonel Waters, I knew this was what I needed to bring closure. I just wasn’t expecting to be confronted with it so soon. 

From the Author
Three years ago, in the middle of Covid, I decided it would be fun to write a novel while trying to manage my sanity and teach my then-six-year-old her remote school lessons. I was reading a cozy series then and thought, I can do this. 
I finished my first novel in a matter of months, and through research, I learned the next step on the journey would be querying. I was sooo not ready for the reality check that came next. I joined Mystery Writers of America and signed up for their beta reader option. The feedback was startling. Didn’t my friend and beta reader tell me how great my book was? Who was this person, and who did she think she was to tell me how much I needed to fix? Oh, how much I had to learn. 
I queried around eighty agents, and every single one laughed in my face. Well, not really, but they may as well have. My naiveté was as evident as my ignorance. I had no clue what I was doing. It was an incredibly humbling experience. However, it didn’t diminish my desire for writing. Instead, I chalked it up as a learning adventure and moved on to another project. I was a woman on a mission now—a mission to get my book published. 
Fast forward two years and countless queries later, I realized it’s okay if my end goal changes. I went from dreaming of an agent to simply wishing to hold my book in my hand. I knew in my heart, though, that if I didn’t try the agent route, I would always wonder. 
My book, Charm City Crab Puff, drops in 2024. I will post more information on my webpage and Facebook page, so be sure to join me there.
Heat level:
PG/PG13 for occasional language. About the Author
I am Baltimore (pronounced “Bawlmer”), Maryland, born and raised. Life has taken me from Maryland to Montana to Italy and points in between, courtesy of the US Air Force. Being a military spouse, I have had a front-row seat to the workings of the military, and I use that in my Charm City series.
Follow Pamela at
www.PamelaKyel.com
www.Facebook.com/PamelaKyel

Around the Fire with today's guest, author Kate Hill.

Thank you for joining me today, Around the Fire, Kate. Can I offer you a beverage?
I’m a water drinker. I keep my water bottle full throughout the day.
Great, while I grab us a glass, why don’t you introduce yourself? Please tell us who you are other than your bio.
What’s in my bio really is me, pretty much. I’ve been a vegetarian for over thirty years. I love all kinds of horror movies and sometimes recommend ones I’ve enjoyed on my Compelling Beasts Blog. You wouldn’t know it by looking at me, but I enjoy working out, especially calisthenics, weights, hula hoop, and martial arts workouts. I’m basically a loner, and I don’t think I’ve ever been bored in my life. There’s too much to read, see, and do.
That sounds busy. Still, I’ll ask, what interests besides writing do you enjoy?
Other than the hobbies mentioned above, I also enjoy crafts, especially making bookmarks, bracelets, and journals. I love to read poetry, romance, horror, and some fantasy and science fiction.  
You mentioned being a loner, but do you have a network or support system?
I’ve been lucky to have family members who are very supportive of my writing, and I’ve met some wonderful authors online who are a source of inspiration and knowledge.
 Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
The books that have inspired me most are The Phantom of the Opera and The Three Musketeers.        
I’m sort of a goofball and like to make people laugh. Do you have any fun or outrageous talent?
I have a lot of hobbies, but whether that constitutes talent for those hobbies is another story!           
In my opinion, yes. Hobbies are talents. Even though I’m only an hour from NYC, my neighborhood is quiet and wooded. Neighbors surround me, but we have our space. What is your neighborhood like? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special?
I live in the country, and I enjoy spending my free time at home with my family and pets. My favorite place to go is the bookstore. There’s one about half an hour from my house.
Nice. Broad Street Books is only 10 minutes from my house. They are a used bookstore and so much more. They also have an extensive online business. If anyone is interested, https://broadstreetbooks.com/ tell them I sent you.  Does writing energize or exhaust you?
It makes me feel happy and alive.           
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Find a day job you actually feel good about.
 
So, true. I've had jobs that made me miserable. They paid the bills but oh, my, I hated going. How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
It made me really focus on learning how to do it better. I don’t like repeating mistakes, but I learned that bad habits are hard to break.

What did you edit out of this book?
For this particular book, I didn’t edit out so much as added more. 
 
What is your favorite T-shirt with graphics?
I have a large collection of horror T-shirts. My favorite is the one with the character Leslie Vernon.
 
If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be?
Dark chocolate. I wish I had some at the moment.
 
I can accommodate that. Here you go. One Dove dark chocolate. Do you play board games?
My favorite board game is and always has been Clue.
 
My first job was working on our farm. But my first paying job was cleaning the high school where I lived in Minnesota. What was your first job?
I worked for my father during the summers, starting at age twelve. He was a contractor. I sanded walls, swept up, carried equipment, and painted. It wasn’t easy work, but I learned a lot and loved spending time with my Dad.
 
Kate, thank you so much for joining me today. Before you head out to one of your activities, will you leave us with information about one of your books? There may be another chocolate for you. ​​Caleb
by
Kate Hill
Series: Romantic Moments
Heat Level: Mild
Werewolf, Hurt and Comfort, Urban Fantasy
Length: Short Story
Released September 1, 2023
www.amazon.com/Caleb-Romantic-Moments-Book-2-ebook/dp/B0CD9G6XL5

I'm a powerful and respected Alpha, but the wolf Mette covets my leadership. I'm injured when my conniving enemy challenges me. 
After losing my pack and nearly my life, I go to lick my wounds in the human world, but my beloved mate Tia knows that a wolf's broken spirit can heal, and there is only one true leader of our pack.
 
From the Author
​Caleb is a very short werewolf action romance story with a mild heat level, moderate violence, and a HEA. This Romantic Moments story is the perfect length for a lunch break, before bed, or any time you want a quick, romantic read.

Links:
Website: https://kate-hill.com/
Blog: https://kate-hill.com/blog/
Newsletter: https://kate-hill.com/index.php/newsletter/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kate-Hill/e/B002BLS7OW
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-hill
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16157.Kate_Hill
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/katehillromancewritingandmore/_saved/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/katehillromancewritingandmore
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KateHillRomance