D.V. Stone's Blog, page 5
July 15, 2024
Around the Fire New Release Spotlight With Margaret Izard.
Hello everyone thank you for popping in. It's a hot and humid summer here in NJ however my editor told me it was 113 F where she lives. Oi! I didn't want to say, "well it's a dry heat." Queque the dope slap. I think the hottest I've ever been in, actual not index, was driving home from Arkansas one year and going through Tennesee. My car thermometer said 115 F. I've been spending a lot of time indoors. With that and taking care of hubby and his injured leg, I've now two novellas with seperate editors and I'm halfway through a full contemporary romantic suspense. I've also been devouring books. How's the heat by you? What are you doing to get through it? On to today's spotlight. 
Stone of Fear
by
Margaret Izard
Paranormal Romance
Published by The Wild Rose Press
Released June 12, 2024
About the book.
She’d give everything to keep his love. He’d chase her through time to save her soul.
Marie Murray, a spunky expert on spiritual buildings, jumps at the opportunity to renovate the chapel mosaic floor at Dunstaffnage Castle, where she falls hard for the dashing John MacArthur. From their first kiss, sparks fly.
Believing her religious renovation creates magic, a fanatical priest kidnaps Marie. Obsessed with obtaining a powerful magic Stone of Iona, he drags her to 15th-century Scotland.
With his love kidnapped, John must tackle his hereditary duty and locate a magic Fae stone while chasing his love across time. Her memories of their passion keep her sane. His fuel his will to find her.
Will John get to Marie in time to save her soul?
Next in the series…. Stone of Lust, book 3, Stones of Iona Series, releases October 21st and Stone of Hope, book 4 early 2025. My first Christmas companion book to the series, Thistle in the Mistletoe releases November 4th.
Get a copy today at one of these links.
mizardauthor | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Stone of Fear (Stones of Iona Book 2) - Kindle edition by Izard, Margaret . Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Stone of Fear (Stones of Iona Book 2) by Margaret Izard - BookBub
Stone of Fear by Margaret Izard | Goodreads
The story behind the story.
How did your background in performance arts influence your writing style and storytelling techniques?
I lean into classics due to all the ballets I’ve studied or performed. Yet, I also like modern dance, which places a twist on some of the norms. These experiences pretty much drive the types of stories I want to tell. They are something based on the classics with a twist.
My performance background is my greatest asset to my writing. It’s how I work through each story. From scene to scene, I run the overall story arc in my head like a movie or a play. I’m the director/choreographer, and the characters are my actors/dancers. I run scenes differently to produce the outcome I want/need to push the story forward. The dance training has had a significant impact on writing scenes that involve body movement. Merging physical details with emotion is a particular favorite of mine.
About the author.
Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.
Readers can email me at: info@margaretizardauthor.com
Mizardauthor (@mizardauthor) / X (twitter.com)
Facebook
Margaret Izard Author (@mizardauthor) • Instagram photos and videos
Stone of Fearby
Margaret Izard
Paranormal Romance
Published by The Wild Rose Press
Released June 12, 2024
About the book.
She’d give everything to keep his love. He’d chase her through time to save her soul.
Marie Murray, a spunky expert on spiritual buildings, jumps at the opportunity to renovate the chapel mosaic floor at Dunstaffnage Castle, where she falls hard for the dashing John MacArthur. From their first kiss, sparks fly.
Believing her religious renovation creates magic, a fanatical priest kidnaps Marie. Obsessed with obtaining a powerful magic Stone of Iona, he drags her to 15th-century Scotland.
With his love kidnapped, John must tackle his hereditary duty and locate a magic Fae stone while chasing his love across time. Her memories of their passion keep her sane. His fuel his will to find her.
Will John get to Marie in time to save her soul?
Next in the series…. Stone of Lust, book 3, Stones of Iona Series, releases October 21st and Stone of Hope, book 4 early 2025. My first Christmas companion book to the series, Thistle in the Mistletoe releases November 4th.
Get a copy today at one of these links.
mizardauthor | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Stone of Fear (Stones of Iona Book 2) - Kindle edition by Izard, Margaret . Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Stone of Fear (Stones of Iona Book 2) by Margaret Izard - BookBub
Stone of Fear by Margaret Izard | Goodreads
The story behind the story.
How did your background in performance arts influence your writing style and storytelling techniques?
I lean into classics due to all the ballets I’ve studied or performed. Yet, I also like modern dance, which places a twist on some of the norms. These experiences pretty much drive the types of stories I want to tell. They are something based on the classics with a twist.
My performance background is my greatest asset to my writing. It’s how I work through each story. From scene to scene, I run the overall story arc in my head like a movie or a play. I’m the director/choreographer, and the characters are my actors/dancers. I run scenes differently to produce the outcome I want/need to push the story forward. The dance training has had a significant impact on writing scenes that involve body movement. Merging physical details with emotion is a particular favorite of mine.
About the author.Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.
Readers can email me at: info@margaretizardauthor.com
Mizardauthor (@mizardauthor) / X (twitter.com)
Margaret Izard Author (@mizardauthor) • Instagram photos and videos
July 8, 2024
Around the Fire New Release Book Spotlight. Today Kim McMahill.
If this is your first time here, welcome to my fire. If it's not, then thank you for coming back and spending time with me. We are in the midst of the “Dog Days” of summer. This refers to the hot and humid weather during the summer months starting July 3rd and ending August 11th. And let me tell you it's been both hot and humid already. In New Jersey, we call it the Three H's. Hazy, hot, and humid. But the fire must go on. So please enjoy today's guest and her latest book. 
Above the Abyss
Book Two of the Beartooth Chronicles
by
Kim McMahill
Release June1 8, 2024
Teen/Young Adult Dystopian Sci-Fi Adventure
PG-13
The residents of Beartooth have survived the first round of stratospheric aerosol injections intended to cool the planet, but predators have found their way to the community for the first time, and their closest neighbor is now ruled by an extremist faction.
Outside of Beartooth, Ash and Caleb Solomon encounter a group of geologists seeking refuge from the violence, division, hate, and corruption plaguing the nation. And the Continuity in Crisis Bill suspending elections during times of crisis has passed, effectively ending democracy in America, pushing the country toward civil war.
Despite the many challenges within and outside their isolated, mountain community, abandoning Beartooth is no longer an option. Most of its residents believe their location above the abyss will protect them from predators, dangerous neighbors, and a country in crisis, but Ash and Caleb have seen and heard too much to ever feel safe again.
Grab your Copy today
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Vvf1Ni
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/above-the-abyss-kim-mcmahill/1145691119?ean=2940185971802
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/above-the-abyss
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1573463
Apple Books: https://apple.co/45gresp
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kim_McMahill_Above_the_Abyss?id=G8UMEQAAQBAJ
The Story Behind the Story.
Nearly all of my writing is influenced by my childhood, and the places I’ve lived as an adult. I grew up in a rural community surrounded by millions of acres of public land. My family lived in the country, grew much of our own food, hunted, fished, and had many animals to care for and love. These experiences often find their way into my stories.
College, careers, and travel took my husband and I on an amazing journey around the U.S. and the world, but we’ve finally returned home. Some of the places we enjoyed growing up have become overrun with people, but there is still plenty of remote, rugged, and beautiful places to explore, including the area where I based the fictional community of Beartooth. There are Beartooth Mountains, the Beartooth Highway, and Beartooth Pass, but there is no community except between the pages of my novels in The Beartooth Chronicles.
Currently, the Beartooth Highway is closed from about October to Memorial Day each year due to extreme amounts of snow. But what if all of the glaciers melted? What if the climate changed enough to allow year-round gardening at 9,000 feet in elevation? And what if our society collapsed?
In The Beartooth Chronicles, a group of individuals establish a mountain community away from a country riddled with violence and hate. The home they’ve created has provided a safe and comfortable existence, but as environmental disasters continue to multiply, bringing out the worst of humanity, the residents find themselves faced with a series of challenges that will test their ability to survive. I hope you will join Ashley, Caleb, and the residents of Beartooth in this epic dystopian saga of survival, courage, love, and finding hope in the midst of natural and environmental threats and social collapse. The first novel in the series, Refuge from the World, was released in March and is currently on sale for just $2.99 (ebook). The second, Above the Abyss, was just released, the third in the series is scheduled for fall of 2024.
About the Author
Kim McMahill started out writing nonfiction, but her passion for adventure, stories of survival against the odds, and speculating about the future of humanity and our planet, soon turned her attention towards fiction. Along with her novels, she has published over eighty travel and human-interest articles, and contributed to a travel story anthology. Growing up in a beautiful mountain west community, traveling the world, and enjoying a rewarding career with the National Park Service, has given her the opportunity to live in amazing places, experience incredible adventures, and witness many changes in our world, all of which have helped shape her stories.
To learn more about Kim and her writing, visit https://KimMcMahill.blogspot.com, where there is a sign-up form for her newsletter, or follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KimMcMahillAuthor/, twitter at https://twitter.com/kimmcmahll, or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kimmcmahill/.
Above the AbyssBook Two of the Beartooth Chronicles
by
Kim McMahill
Release June1 8, 2024
Teen/Young Adult Dystopian Sci-Fi Adventure
PG-13
The residents of Beartooth have survived the first round of stratospheric aerosol injections intended to cool the planet, but predators have found their way to the community for the first time, and their closest neighbor is now ruled by an extremist faction.
Outside of Beartooth, Ash and Caleb Solomon encounter a group of geologists seeking refuge from the violence, division, hate, and corruption plaguing the nation. And the Continuity in Crisis Bill suspending elections during times of crisis has passed, effectively ending democracy in America, pushing the country toward civil war.
Despite the many challenges within and outside their isolated, mountain community, abandoning Beartooth is no longer an option. Most of its residents believe their location above the abyss will protect them from predators, dangerous neighbors, and a country in crisis, but Ash and Caleb have seen and heard too much to ever feel safe again.
Grab your Copy today
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Vvf1Ni
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/above-the-abyss-kim-mcmahill/1145691119?ean=2940185971802
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/above-the-abyss
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1573463
Apple Books: https://apple.co/45gresp
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kim_McMahill_Above_the_Abyss?id=G8UMEQAAQBAJ
The Story Behind the Story.
Nearly all of my writing is influenced by my childhood, and the places I’ve lived as an adult. I grew up in a rural community surrounded by millions of acres of public land. My family lived in the country, grew much of our own food, hunted, fished, and had many animals to care for and love. These experiences often find their way into my stories.
College, careers, and travel took my husband and I on an amazing journey around the U.S. and the world, but we’ve finally returned home. Some of the places we enjoyed growing up have become overrun with people, but there is still plenty of remote, rugged, and beautiful places to explore, including the area where I based the fictional community of Beartooth. There are Beartooth Mountains, the Beartooth Highway, and Beartooth Pass, but there is no community except between the pages of my novels in The Beartooth Chronicles.
Currently, the Beartooth Highway is closed from about October to Memorial Day each year due to extreme amounts of snow. But what if all of the glaciers melted? What if the climate changed enough to allow year-round gardening at 9,000 feet in elevation? And what if our society collapsed?
In The Beartooth Chronicles, a group of individuals establish a mountain community away from a country riddled with violence and hate. The home they’ve created has provided a safe and comfortable existence, but as environmental disasters continue to multiply, bringing out the worst of humanity, the residents find themselves faced with a series of challenges that will test their ability to survive. I hope you will join Ashley, Caleb, and the residents of Beartooth in this epic dystopian saga of survival, courage, love, and finding hope in the midst of natural and environmental threats and social collapse. The first novel in the series, Refuge from the World, was released in March and is currently on sale for just $2.99 (ebook). The second, Above the Abyss, was just released, the third in the series is scheduled for fall of 2024.
About the AuthorKim McMahill started out writing nonfiction, but her passion for adventure, stories of survival against the odds, and speculating about the future of humanity and our planet, soon turned her attention towards fiction. Along with her novels, she has published over eighty travel and human-interest articles, and contributed to a travel story anthology. Growing up in a beautiful mountain west community, traveling the world, and enjoying a rewarding career with the National Park Service, has given her the opportunity to live in amazing places, experience incredible adventures, and witness many changes in our world, all of which have helped shape her stories.
To learn more about Kim and her writing, visit https://KimMcMahill.blogspot.com, where there is a sign-up form for her newsletter, or follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KimMcMahillAuthor/, twitter at https://twitter.com/kimmcmahll, or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kimmcmahill/.
June 30, 2024
Around the Fire New Release Spotlight with Bestselling Author Liz Flaherty.
From D.V. I don't know about you, but everytime I see this cover I stop in my tracks. It's simply lovely. And for ONE DAY only. The ebook is on sale for only .99. That day is today! 
Pieces of Blue
by
Liz Flaherty
Life comes in shades of blue...
For all of her adult life, loner Maggie North has worked for bestselling author Trilby Winterroad, first as his typist, then as his assistant, and finally as his ghost writer. Throughout her first marriage, widowhood, remarriage, and divorce from an abusive husband, Trilby was the constant in her life.
When he dies, she inherits not only his dachshund, Chloe, but a house she didn’t know existed on a lake she’d never heard of. On her first visit, she falls in love with both the house and the lake. Within a few weeks, she’s met most of the 85 inhabitants of Harper Loch and surprisingly, become a part of the tiny community. Her life expands as does a new kind of relationship with her friend Sam Eldridge. She finally feels not only at home, but safe.
Until her ex-husband is released from prison. The fragile threads of her new life begin to fray, and that feeling of safety is about to shatter into a thousand pieces.
Buy Links:
Just for today, the ebook edition of Pieces of Blue is on sale for 99 cents!
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/FlahertyBlue
Amazon: https://a.co/d/eyEjPDA
Backstory about the story.
My friend Tami said Town Lake was there and had been for…well, she had no idea how long. But it was less than 10 miles from my house, less than five from where I grew up. How could I not have known it was there? My sister said that of course it was there. Where had I been?
So my husband and I turned where she said to, just south of Akron, Indiana. “It’s a T road. You can’t miss it.” Even with its small green sign identifying Town Lake road, we could and did miss it. But there it was—the lake I’d never heard of and had possibly insisted wasn’t even there. That few-minute trek back a dead-end road introduced me to what a reader named Harper Loch. Not everything in Pieces of Blue happens there—there are only 86 people on the lake, one store, one church, and one beauty salon, after all—but Placer, the town closest to it, strongly resembles Akron.
Akron is where my doctor’s office is, where I go to church, where two of my nieces live, where I used to sit at the drugstore counter and drink a small coke and talk to friends. My first bra and many pairs of stockings came from Eber’s Five & Ten. They have a great 4th of July parade and a pretty little park like the one you’ll read about in Maggie’s story.
Between the lake that wasn’t there and the town I’ve taken for granted for my entire life, one of my favorite settings was born. I hope you enjoy meeting Harper Loch’s residents in Pieces of Blue. It’s out today and its ebook version is just 99 cents today!
About the author.
Liz Flaherty has spent the past several years enjoying not working a day job, making terrible crafts, and writing stories in which the people aren’t young, brilliant, or even beautiful. She’s decided (and has to re-decide most every day) that the definition of success is having a good time. Along with her husband of lo, these many years, kids, grands, friends, and the occasional cat, she’s doing just that. You can reach her at lizkflaherty@gmail.com She’d love to hear from you.
Follow Liz.
Website: http://lizflaherty.net/
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/3en2uufe
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/LizFlaherty
Pieces of Blueby
Liz Flaherty
Life comes in shades of blue...
For all of her adult life, loner Maggie North has worked for bestselling author Trilby Winterroad, first as his typist, then as his assistant, and finally as his ghost writer. Throughout her first marriage, widowhood, remarriage, and divorce from an abusive husband, Trilby was the constant in her life.
When he dies, she inherits not only his dachshund, Chloe, but a house she didn’t know existed on a lake she’d never heard of. On her first visit, she falls in love with both the house and the lake. Within a few weeks, she’s met most of the 85 inhabitants of Harper Loch and surprisingly, become a part of the tiny community. Her life expands as does a new kind of relationship with her friend Sam Eldridge. She finally feels not only at home, but safe.
Until her ex-husband is released from prison. The fragile threads of her new life begin to fray, and that feeling of safety is about to shatter into a thousand pieces.
Buy Links:
Just for today, the ebook edition of Pieces of Blue is on sale for 99 cents!
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/FlahertyBlue
Amazon: https://a.co/d/eyEjPDA
Backstory about the story.
My friend Tami said Town Lake was there and had been for…well, she had no idea how long. But it was less than 10 miles from my house, less than five from where I grew up. How could I not have known it was there? My sister said that of course it was there. Where had I been?
So my husband and I turned where she said to, just south of Akron, Indiana. “It’s a T road. You can’t miss it.” Even with its small green sign identifying Town Lake road, we could and did miss it. But there it was—the lake I’d never heard of and had possibly insisted wasn’t even there. That few-minute trek back a dead-end road introduced me to what a reader named Harper Loch. Not everything in Pieces of Blue happens there—there are only 86 people on the lake, one store, one church, and one beauty salon, after all—but Placer, the town closest to it, strongly resembles Akron.
Akron is where my doctor’s office is, where I go to church, where two of my nieces live, where I used to sit at the drugstore counter and drink a small coke and talk to friends. My first bra and many pairs of stockings came from Eber’s Five & Ten. They have a great 4th of July parade and a pretty little park like the one you’ll read about in Maggie’s story.
Between the lake that wasn’t there and the town I’ve taken for granted for my entire life, one of my favorite settings was born. I hope you enjoy meeting Harper Loch’s residents in Pieces of Blue. It’s out today and its ebook version is just 99 cents today!
About the author.Liz Flaherty has spent the past several years enjoying not working a day job, making terrible crafts, and writing stories in which the people aren’t young, brilliant, or even beautiful. She’s decided (and has to re-decide most every day) that the definition of success is having a good time. Along with her husband of lo, these many years, kids, grands, friends, and the occasional cat, she’s doing just that. You can reach her at lizkflaherty@gmail.com She’d love to hear from you.
Follow Liz.
Website: http://lizflaherty.net/
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/3en2uufe
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/LizFlaherty
June 16, 2024
Around the Fire New Release Spotlight with Marla A. White
Another start to the week. I had a wonderful time at the Passaic County Book Festival in Clifton NJ. There were so many authors, readers, and folks just enjoying the beautiful sunshine. I met authors who have been on my blog and friends for New Jersey Romance Writers. Sitting on a paranormal panel was the highpoint. We had so much fun answering questions. As always the team putting together this huge event did a bang up job. Now onto today's guest and her new cozy mystery. 
Framed for Murder
by
Marla A. White
A cozy animal mystery.
Old enemies become allies to unravel a deadly mystery.
Mel O'Rourke used to be a cop before a life-changing injury forced her to turn in her badge. Now she leads a relatively peaceful life running a B & B in the quirky mountain town of Pine Cove. That is, until her old frenemy, the charismatic cat burglar Poppy Phillips, shows up, claiming she's been framed for murder. While she’s no saint, Mel knows she’d never kill anyone and sets out to prove Poppy's innocence.
The situation gets complicated, however, when the ruggedly handsome Deputy Sheriff Gregg Marks flirts with Mel, bringing him dangerously close to the criminal she’s hiding. And just when her friendship with café owner Jackson Thibodeaux blossoms into something more, he’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime in New Orleans. Should she encourage him to go, or ask him to stay? Who knew romance could be just as hard to solve as murder?
Heat level – PG. There’s only 1 fairly chaste kiss but some salty language sprinkled in.
Get your copy today
Amazon - https://bit.ly/43Uwj96
Barnes and Noble – https://bit.ly/3TKdPDu
Apple Books - https://books.apple.com/us/book/framed-for-murder/id6483932566
GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211106987-framed-for-murder
AllAuthor - https://allauthor.com/book/87348/framed-for-murder-a-pine-cove-mystery/
Books2Read - books2read.com/u/4Djgor
Book Bub-https://www.bookbub.com/books/framed-for-murder-by-marla-a-white
Inspiration for the story
I love murder. Mysteries were always my favorite things to watch and read as a kid. Well, first horse stories. After I went through that section of the library, I moved on to mysteries. The ability to murder people who annoyed me without going to jail? Perfect.
The location for the book was inspired by the very real and quirky town of Idyllwild. Although to be honest, what I thought was a babbling brook running behind my little cabin turned out to be a large koi pond 😀Who knew?
Mel’s story of what to do in her “second act” of life when her dream of being a cop was no longer available began in “The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder”. Her doubts of who she is if she can’t be the one thing she always wanted to be were inspired by my own journey hitting a fork in the road. Like most people, it took getting through it to realize how much better life can be on the other side of that mountain you think is in your way. I just had to hang on and enjoy the ride on my way to achieving a lifelong goal of being a published writer.
Her foil in this book, cat burglar Poppy Phillips, was inspired by a weird event that happened when staying at a moderately tall hotel on the California coast. In the middle of the night, a random person parkoured across our balcony and onto the next one. Or was it a dream? Either way, in my head Poppy said “Yes, please!” and so the opening was inspired.
My main goal in writing the stories I do is to entertain the readers enough that they forget about whatever troubles they might be facing. To laugh a little, to see a little bit of themselves in the characters, and hopefully be inspired even when life throws them curves.
About the Author
Marla White is an award-winning novelist who prefers killing people who annoy her on paper rather than in real life. Her first full-length mystery novel, “Cause for Elimination,” placed in several contests including Killer Nashville, The RONE Awards, The Reader’s Favorite, and finishing second in the Orange County Romance Writers for Romantic Suspense. Originally from Oklahoma, she lived in a lot of other states before settling down in Los Angeles to work in the television industry. She currently teaches at UCLA Extension and gives seminars about the art of script coverage. When she’s not working on the next book, she’s hiking, cheering on the LA Kings, or discovering new craft cocktails (to, you know, drown her sorrows over the Kings).
Fun facts
Something readers might find interesting about this book:
The quirky Babbling Brook Bed-and-Breakfast is loosely inspired by the Silver Pines Lodge in Idyllwild. Highly recommend staying there if you’re even in that neck of the woods.
A fact about me that readers might find interesting:
I share Mel’s nearly debilitating fear of heights. Well, not to the same extent, I can climb a set of stairs, but looking down more than a few flights? No way 😀
There’s a scene where Mel does a singing bowl session. I’ve done that and honestly, it’s pretty cool!
I accomplished the dream of becoming a published writer in my late fifties after helping other writers craft their stories for thirty years.
Follow the author.
https://twitter.com/TheScriptFixer
https://www.instagram.com/marlawriteswords/
https://www.facebook.com/MarlaAWhiteAuthor
https://www.tiktok.com/@marlaw825
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21467766.Marla_A_White
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/marla-a-white
https://amzn.to/3MHIzkB
https://substack.com/@marlawhite?utm_source=edit-profile-page
Framed for Murderby
Marla A. White
A cozy animal mystery.
Old enemies become allies to unravel a deadly mystery.
Mel O'Rourke used to be a cop before a life-changing injury forced her to turn in her badge. Now she leads a relatively peaceful life running a B & B in the quirky mountain town of Pine Cove. That is, until her old frenemy, the charismatic cat burglar Poppy Phillips, shows up, claiming she's been framed for murder. While she’s no saint, Mel knows she’d never kill anyone and sets out to prove Poppy's innocence.
The situation gets complicated, however, when the ruggedly handsome Deputy Sheriff Gregg Marks flirts with Mel, bringing him dangerously close to the criminal she’s hiding. And just when her friendship with café owner Jackson Thibodeaux blossoms into something more, he’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime in New Orleans. Should she encourage him to go, or ask him to stay? Who knew romance could be just as hard to solve as murder?
Heat level – PG. There’s only 1 fairly chaste kiss but some salty language sprinkled in.
Get your copy today
Amazon - https://bit.ly/43Uwj96
Barnes and Noble – https://bit.ly/3TKdPDu
Apple Books - https://books.apple.com/us/book/framed-for-murder/id6483932566
GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211106987-framed-for-murder
AllAuthor - https://allauthor.com/book/87348/framed-for-murder-a-pine-cove-mystery/
Books2Read - books2read.com/u/4Djgor
Book Bub-https://www.bookbub.com/books/framed-for-murder-by-marla-a-white
Inspiration for the story
I love murder. Mysteries were always my favorite things to watch and read as a kid. Well, first horse stories. After I went through that section of the library, I moved on to mysteries. The ability to murder people who annoyed me without going to jail? Perfect.
The location for the book was inspired by the very real and quirky town of Idyllwild. Although to be honest, what I thought was a babbling brook running behind my little cabin turned out to be a large koi pond 😀Who knew?
Mel’s story of what to do in her “second act” of life when her dream of being a cop was no longer available began in “The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder”. Her doubts of who she is if she can’t be the one thing she always wanted to be were inspired by my own journey hitting a fork in the road. Like most people, it took getting through it to realize how much better life can be on the other side of that mountain you think is in your way. I just had to hang on and enjoy the ride on my way to achieving a lifelong goal of being a published writer.
Her foil in this book, cat burglar Poppy Phillips, was inspired by a weird event that happened when staying at a moderately tall hotel on the California coast. In the middle of the night, a random person parkoured across our balcony and onto the next one. Or was it a dream? Either way, in my head Poppy said “Yes, please!” and so the opening was inspired.
My main goal in writing the stories I do is to entertain the readers enough that they forget about whatever troubles they might be facing. To laugh a little, to see a little bit of themselves in the characters, and hopefully be inspired even when life throws them curves.
About the AuthorMarla White is an award-winning novelist who prefers killing people who annoy her on paper rather than in real life. Her first full-length mystery novel, “Cause for Elimination,” placed in several contests including Killer Nashville, The RONE Awards, The Reader’s Favorite, and finishing second in the Orange County Romance Writers for Romantic Suspense. Originally from Oklahoma, she lived in a lot of other states before settling down in Los Angeles to work in the television industry. She currently teaches at UCLA Extension and gives seminars about the art of script coverage. When she’s not working on the next book, she’s hiking, cheering on the LA Kings, or discovering new craft cocktails (to, you know, drown her sorrows over the Kings).
Fun facts
Something readers might find interesting about this book:
The quirky Babbling Brook Bed-and-Breakfast is loosely inspired by the Silver Pines Lodge in Idyllwild. Highly recommend staying there if you’re even in that neck of the woods.
A fact about me that readers might find interesting:
I share Mel’s nearly debilitating fear of heights. Well, not to the same extent, I can climb a set of stairs, but looking down more than a few flights? No way 😀
There’s a scene where Mel does a singing bowl session. I’ve done that and honestly, it’s pretty cool!
I accomplished the dream of becoming a published writer in my late fifties after helping other writers craft their stories for thirty years.
Follow the author.
https://twitter.com/TheScriptFixer
https://www.instagram.com/marlawriteswords/
https://www.facebook.com/MarlaAWhiteAuthor
https://www.tiktok.com/@marlaw825
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21467766.Marla_A_White
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/marla-a-white
https://amzn.to/3MHIzkB
https://substack.com/@marlawhite?utm_source=edit-profile-page
June 13, 2024
Around the Fire with D.V. Stone. Yep, Me!
Hi everyone. Ususally I'm the one asking the questions but today I thought I'd share with you the questions and my answers while sitting on a Paranormal/Fantasy panel at the Passaic Book Festival this past weekend. I'd love to know how you would answer the questions or what you think of my answers in the comments. 
Moderator "Paranormal” is a pretty broad topic and can apply to anything from high fantasy worlds with complex magical rules and ancient histories, to contemporary settings that include ghosts, cryptid monsters, vampires, witches, or even just a touch of the supernatural, like unexplained interventions from unseen powers. Can you tell us a bit about the paranormal elements in your writing and what inspired you to write in this genre?
Books and authors who made a lasting impression on me are CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien. Books that take me away to a magical place or time and real-world worries are my form of therapy. I love the theme of good overcoming evil. I adore epic battles and magic wands. And ghost stories. Who remembers The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by Josephine Leslie, an Irish writer who wrote under the name R. A. Dick.
Moderator I understand that your Lake Unami Stories involve guardian angels and other serendipitous elements. Are there recurring themes or messages you aim to convey through your paranormal fiction? How do you use paranormal elements to explore deeper human emotions and societal issues?
DV I’ve always thought of the rainbow as a promise. I also believe heavenly intervention is active. I’m a Christian, though I don’t write Christian novels. But the themes of love, family, and hope run through all my books. I don’t think love dies after a person leaves this world. I believe it lives on in us, and we pass that on to others. While my books seem light-hearted, they do deal with loss, grieving, divorce, and single parenting. In an upcoming novel, A Christmas Storm, my main character, Lacey, deals with being a military wife with an overseas husband. She struggles with accepting help and believes she has to do everything on her own.
To the second part of your question I’m going to talk about my Shield-Mates series. The shifter characters carry a shield representing who they are. The nature of their inner beast can be volatile, so Shield-Mates exchange shields and open pathways to their mates, who can also help them control the animal nature in them. Felice is an emotionally damaged panther shifter who, due to circumstances, marries a human. Ayer does not have a shield. The balance of power is off. They both have to learn about trust and control without a crutch and despite circumstances. How they both overcome the pain of past losses and realize with the love of family and friends, there is a better way than by going it alone. As far as societal views, both humans and shifters have prejudices, and by learning instead of fighting, they can change the world and work together.
Moderator How do you see the paranormal fiction genre evolving in the next few years?
DV I have no idea. It’s constantly evolving, and I’m excited to see where it goes.
Moderator What trends or changes would you like to see in the genre?
DV There are so many sub-genres. Readers can find books that matter to them, their life, experience, and worldview. So I guess it would be live and let live and not slam others because of their choice of reading. I have a dear friend who writes monster romance. Is it my cup of tea? Nope. But I cheer her on. She has a big following of folks who like that.
Moderator Can you tell us about your creative process? How you come up with ideas, what inspires you, how you like to do the actual writing portion, your schedule as an author, etc.
DV I’m all over the place these days. Ideas come from all over, and I keep notes on whatever interests me. I also do a lot of research. If possible, I travel to locations. Somedays, I write a sentence or two. Other days pages. I used to be very regimented, but these days, I’m more flexible. Retirement will do that to some people.
Moderator "Paranormal” is a pretty broad topic and can apply to anything from high fantasy worlds with complex magical rules and ancient histories, to contemporary settings that include ghosts, cryptid monsters, vampires, witches, or even just a touch of the supernatural, like unexplained interventions from unseen powers. Can you tell us a bit about the paranormal elements in your writing and what inspired you to write in this genre?Books and authors who made a lasting impression on me are CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien. Books that take me away to a magical place or time and real-world worries are my form of therapy. I love the theme of good overcoming evil. I adore epic battles and magic wands. And ghost stories. Who remembers The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by Josephine Leslie, an Irish writer who wrote under the name R. A. Dick.
Moderator I understand that your Lake Unami Stories involve guardian angels and other serendipitous elements. Are there recurring themes or messages you aim to convey through your paranormal fiction? How do you use paranormal elements to explore deeper human emotions and societal issues?
DV I’ve always thought of the rainbow as a promise. I also believe heavenly intervention is active. I’m a Christian, though I don’t write Christian novels. But the themes of love, family, and hope run through all my books. I don’t think love dies after a person leaves this world. I believe it lives on in us, and we pass that on to others. While my books seem light-hearted, they do deal with loss, grieving, divorce, and single parenting. In an upcoming novel, A Christmas Storm, my main character, Lacey, deals with being a military wife with an overseas husband. She struggles with accepting help and believes she has to do everything on her own.
To the second part of your question I’m going to talk about my Shield-Mates series. The shifter characters carry a shield representing who they are. The nature of their inner beast can be volatile, so Shield-Mates exchange shields and open pathways to their mates, who can also help them control the animal nature in them. Felice is an emotionally damaged panther shifter who, due to circumstances, marries a human. Ayer does not have a shield. The balance of power is off. They both have to learn about trust and control without a crutch and despite circumstances. How they both overcome the pain of past losses and realize with the love of family and friends, there is a better way than by going it alone. As far as societal views, both humans and shifters have prejudices, and by learning instead of fighting, they can change the world and work together.
Moderator How do you see the paranormal fiction genre evolving in the next few years?
DV I have no idea. It’s constantly evolving, and I’m excited to see where it goes.
Moderator What trends or changes would you like to see in the genre?
DV There are so many sub-genres. Readers can find books that matter to them, their life, experience, and worldview. So I guess it would be live and let live and not slam others because of their choice of reading. I have a dear friend who writes monster romance. Is it my cup of tea? Nope. But I cheer her on. She has a big following of folks who like that.
Moderator Can you tell us about your creative process? How you come up with ideas, what inspires you, how you like to do the actual writing portion, your schedule as an author, etc.
DV I’m all over the place these days. Ideas come from all over, and I keep notes on whatever interests me. I also do a lot of research. If possible, I travel to locations. Somedays, I write a sentence or two. Other days pages. I used to be very regimented, but these days, I’m more flexible. Retirement will do that to some people.
June 6, 2024
Around theFire New Release Spotlight with M. S. Spencer
In the Crosshairs: The Body on Leffis Keyby
M. S. Spencer
A birder meets a handsome, secretive man and finds herself entangled with global investors, Chinese operatives, radical environmentalists, all searching for a mysterious briefcase.
Released May 27, 2024
#Mystery #Suspense #Cozymystery
About the Story
Someone is killing people with a crossbow, but what connects the murders is a mystery, and only a birder and the aide to a dead Senator can find the answers.
Palmer Lind, recovering from the sudden death of her husband, embarks on a bird-watching trek to the Gulf Coast of Florida. One hot day on Leffis Key she comes upon—not the life bird she was hoping for—but a floating corpse. The handsome beach bum who appears on the scene at the same time seems to have even more secrets than the dead man.
His story begins to unravel as the pair search for answers to a growing pile of dead bodies. Spies, radical environmentalists, and wealthy businessmen circle around each other in a complex dance. Which one is lying? What do a seemingly random group of individuals have in common, other than being targeted by a crossbow?
5 stars from N. N. Light: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/in-the-crosshairs-the-body-on-leffis-key-br
Grab your copy today!
Amazon Barnes&Noble ITunes Kobo Google
Books2Read WildRosePress AmazonCA AmazonUK
The Story Behind The Story
When I started writing In the Crosshairs: the Body on Leffis Key, I had just come across an obscure news item about Chinese buying up US farmland. It intrigued—and concerned—me. I decided to insert it as a plot element in a novel—and what to my wonderment should happen but it’s now a full-blown global issue! So you heard it here first.
About the Author:Librarian, anthropologist, research assistant, Congressional aide, speechwriter, nonprofit director—M. S. Spencer has lived or traveled in five of the seven continents and holds degrees in Anthropology, Middle East Studies, and Library Science. She has published seventeen mystery or romantic suspense novels. She has two children, an exuberant granddaughter, and currently divides her time between the Gulf Coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine.
Follow M.S.
Blog: https://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msspencermysteries
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/msspencerauthor
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/msspencer
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/msspencerauthor/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-s-spencer
Shepherd: https://shepherd.com/search/author/21204
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002ZOEUC8
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June 3, 2024
Around the Fire New Release Spotlight with Cynthia Rice.
Thanks for popping in to Around the Fire. Before we get to today's Spotlight I'd like to invite you to a huge event this Saturday June 8th. If you live in the tri-state area check out
www.facebook.com/events/810571914368507
The Passaic County Book Festival is taking place at Weasel 'Book' Park in Clifton, NJ. Join us for a day filled with literary delights, including book signings, author meet-and-greets, panel discussions, and insightful author interviews. Best part? Admission is absolutely FREE!
Now to today's guest and her new release.
The Last Broken Girl
by
Cynthia RiceJune 3, 2024
Kidnapping Thrillers
www.amazon.com/Last-Broken-Girl-Cynthia-Rice/dp/1509255397
Erin Moore, kidnapped as a teenager and held for months, learns her abductor is up for parole. The police always believed her captor acted alone, and that the female accomplice Erin described years ago was the fabrication of a traumatized mind.
Twenty years later, Erin leads a rigidly structured life with her husband and two young daughters and has a successful psychology practice in the same small midwestern town. When her abductor is paroled early and goes missing, leaving behind a large pool of blood, Erin and her husband become suspects. Erin receives threatening notes she is certain came from the accomplice, but she is unable to convince the police the menace is real.
As Erin watches her life unravel, including her marriage, career and possibly her sanity, she knows the only way out is to bring the accomplice to justice, even if it’s twenty years late.
"Rice has written a masterful debut thriller with a fantastic hero in Erin, who leaps off the page with her bravery and relatability . . . For those who enjoy thrillers about strong women who face impossible odds, this is a terrific read. An exhilarating page-turner showcases this debut author's talent for suspense."
— Kirkus Review
Mystery and suspense author Cynthia Rice is a physician living in the Milwaukee area and a proud member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Her debut novel, The Last Broken Girl, a psychological suspense and winner of the 2023 Claymore Award, is set in rural Wisconsin, where the author has strong ties. When she's not working on her next novel, Cynthia keeps busy reading, traveling, and playing mediocre tennis and golf. She lives with her two cats Clarice and Porkchop.
https://cynthiaarice.com/
www.facebook.com/events/810571914368507
The Passaic County Book Festival is taking place at Weasel 'Book' Park in Clifton, NJ. Join us for a day filled with literary delights, including book signings, author meet-and-greets, panel discussions, and insightful author interviews. Best part? Admission is absolutely FREE!
Now to today's guest and her new release.
The Last Broken Girlby
Cynthia RiceJune 3, 2024
Kidnapping Thrillers
www.amazon.com/Last-Broken-Girl-Cynthia-Rice/dp/1509255397
Erin Moore, kidnapped as a teenager and held for months, learns her abductor is up for parole. The police always believed her captor acted alone, and that the female accomplice Erin described years ago was the fabrication of a traumatized mind.
Twenty years later, Erin leads a rigidly structured life with her husband and two young daughters and has a successful psychology practice in the same small midwestern town. When her abductor is paroled early and goes missing, leaving behind a large pool of blood, Erin and her husband become suspects. Erin receives threatening notes she is certain came from the accomplice, but she is unable to convince the police the menace is real.
As Erin watches her life unravel, including her marriage, career and possibly her sanity, she knows the only way out is to bring the accomplice to justice, even if it’s twenty years late.
"Rice has written a masterful debut thriller with a fantastic hero in Erin, who leaps off the page with her bravery and relatability . . . For those who enjoy thrillers about strong women who face impossible odds, this is a terrific read. An exhilarating page-turner showcases this debut author's talent for suspense."
— Kirkus Review
Mystery and suspense author Cynthia Rice is a physician living in the Milwaukee area and a proud member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Her debut novel, The Last Broken Girl, a psychological suspense and winner of the 2023 Claymore Award, is set in rural Wisconsin, where the author has strong ties. When she's not working on her next novel, Cynthia keeps busy reading, traveling, and playing mediocre tennis and golf. She lives with her two cats Clarice and Porkchop.https://cynthiaarice.com/
May 27, 2024
Around the Fire New Release Book Spotlight and an Explanation of Taglines.
Happy Memorial Day. Memorial Day (originally Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May. We tend to think of it as the beginning of summer; the festivities and barbaques. I like to just say in memory of those fallen just pause a moment and give thanks to those who've given all to allow us those fun times. Now, on to today's new release spotlight. 
The Lyon's Gambit
by
Ruth A. Casie
Victorian Historical Romance
PG-13
In a world bound by rules, love becomes the ultimate gambit.
In the glittering world of London, where society dictates everything, Nathaniel, Marquess of St. John, learned the hard way that playing by those rules doesn't always guarantee a happy ending. Jilted by a woman chosen for him by his father, Nathaniel swore off marriage and embraced the life of a steadfast bachelor.
Louise Hartfield is a talented seamstress with a disdain for the ton's rigid expectations. Trapped by her mother's antiquated insistence that as the elder daughter she must wed before her younger sister, Louise scoffs at the idea of conforming to such a preposterous rule.
When Nathaniel and his friends bet on whether love can transcend class, they turn to Mrs. Dove-Lyon, whose Lyon’s Den hosts their daring experiment. As Nathaniel and Louise navigate society’s expectations, they find themselves drawn together in a quest for true love. Will they defy tradition or succumb to its demands? In this high-stakes gamble for love, who will emerge victorious?
Purchase Link: Amazon Read for free on Kindle Unlimited
From the Author
How the tagline captures the essence of The Lyon’s Gambit
A tagline for a book is a brief but catchy phrase that summarizes the main idea or hook of a story. It is often used to attract the attention and interest of potential readers. A good tagline can convey the genre, tone, premise, or conflict of a story in a memorable way and make people curious to find out more. A tagline can also help distinguish a story from others in the same category by highlighting what makes it unique or appealing. A tagline is more like a slogan or a motto that captures the essence of a story in a few words. For example, the tagline for The Lyon's Gambit, a historical romance novel set in the Regency era, is:
In a world bound by rules, love is the ultimate gambit.
In a world bound by rules,
This phrase immediately sets the stage. It refers to the strict societal norms and expectations that govern London’s upper class during the Regency era.
The characters, Nathaniel and Louise, are constrained by these rules—whether it’s arranged marriages, class divisions, or rigid behavior codes.
Love becomes the ultimate gambit.
Here, “gambit” implies risk, strategy, and daring moves. It’s not just about love—it’s about challenging fate, defying conventions, and taking bold steps.
Nathaniel and Louise’s love story is not straightforward; it’s a calculated risk. Their hearts are at stake, and they’re willing to wager everything for a chance at happiness.
The Essence of the Book
The Lyon’s Gambit explores the tension between societal constraints and matters of the heart. It’s about daring to love beyond one’s station, risking reputation, and challenging the status quo.
The tagline hints at the high stakes—love as a game where the ultimate prize is breaking free from the rules that bind them, and, of course, a happily ever after!
About the Author
Ruth A Casie is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes historical adventures from the shores of medieval Scotland to the cobblestone streets of Regency London. Within the pages, you’ll discover edge-of-your-seat suspense, mind-boggling drama, and heart-melting emotions. Join the strong women and heroes who deserve them as they race across the pages to find their happily ever after. Ruth hopes her stories are your next favorite adventures!
www.RuthACasie.com
The Lyon's Gambitby
Ruth A. Casie
Victorian Historical Romance
PG-13
In a world bound by rules, love becomes the ultimate gambit.
In the glittering world of London, where society dictates everything, Nathaniel, Marquess of St. John, learned the hard way that playing by those rules doesn't always guarantee a happy ending. Jilted by a woman chosen for him by his father, Nathaniel swore off marriage and embraced the life of a steadfast bachelor.
Louise Hartfield is a talented seamstress with a disdain for the ton's rigid expectations. Trapped by her mother's antiquated insistence that as the elder daughter she must wed before her younger sister, Louise scoffs at the idea of conforming to such a preposterous rule.
When Nathaniel and his friends bet on whether love can transcend class, they turn to Mrs. Dove-Lyon, whose Lyon’s Den hosts their daring experiment. As Nathaniel and Louise navigate society’s expectations, they find themselves drawn together in a quest for true love. Will they defy tradition or succumb to its demands? In this high-stakes gamble for love, who will emerge victorious?
Purchase Link: Amazon Read for free on Kindle Unlimited
From the Author
How the tagline captures the essence of The Lyon’s Gambit
A tagline for a book is a brief but catchy phrase that summarizes the main idea or hook of a story. It is often used to attract the attention and interest of potential readers. A good tagline can convey the genre, tone, premise, or conflict of a story in a memorable way and make people curious to find out more. A tagline can also help distinguish a story from others in the same category by highlighting what makes it unique or appealing. A tagline is more like a slogan or a motto that captures the essence of a story in a few words. For example, the tagline for The Lyon's Gambit, a historical romance novel set in the Regency era, is:
In a world bound by rules, love is the ultimate gambit.
In a world bound by rules,
This phrase immediately sets the stage. It refers to the strict societal norms and expectations that govern London’s upper class during the Regency era.
The characters, Nathaniel and Louise, are constrained by these rules—whether it’s arranged marriages, class divisions, or rigid behavior codes.
Love becomes the ultimate gambit.
Here, “gambit” implies risk, strategy, and daring moves. It’s not just about love—it’s about challenging fate, defying conventions, and taking bold steps.
Nathaniel and Louise’s love story is not straightforward; it’s a calculated risk. Their hearts are at stake, and they’re willing to wager everything for a chance at happiness.
The Essence of the Book
The Lyon’s Gambit explores the tension between societal constraints and matters of the heart. It’s about daring to love beyond one’s station, risking reputation, and challenging the status quo.
The tagline hints at the high stakes—love as a game where the ultimate prize is breaking free from the rules that bind them, and, of course, a happily ever after!
About the AuthorRuth A Casie is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes historical adventures from the shores of medieval Scotland to the cobblestone streets of Regency London. Within the pages, you’ll discover edge-of-your-seat suspense, mind-boggling drama, and heart-melting emotions. Join the strong women and heroes who deserve them as they race across the pages to find their happily ever after. Ruth hopes her stories are your next favorite adventures!
www.RuthACasie.com
May 21, 2024
Around the Fire In-Depth Interview with Speculative Fiction Author Joie Lesin.
Here we are near the end of May. I can't believe this weekend is Memorial Day. Way back in the olden days when I was born, May 30th was Memorial Day. That's my birthday. Little D. thought the parades were for her. A lot of parades have passed since then. But everyday is a gift and its own adventure. One of those adventures of mine was living on a dairy farm in Minnesota. Today's guest is from the Land of 10,000 Lakes also known as the North Star State and even the Gopher State. Please help me welcome a new to The Fire author. 
Joie, welcome to the fire. I have the coffee pot on but I'm going to grab us some waters. While I do, will you introduce yourself? Tell us who you are other than your bio?
I am an observer of life.
When a person first meets me, I may be quiet. It’s not that I’m an introvert exactly because to be honest I love meeting new people and I love to talk. The truth is I learned the art of observation as a child. I enjoyed listening to my mother and her sisters talk about their lives growing up in Minneapolis during the decades long before I was born. I learned about the 30s, 40s and 50s and it fed my creativity and influenced my writing.
Even now, during my times of quiet observation, I continue to learn and experience life through other peoples’ perceptions, reactions, and actions.
You sound like me. I'm a fly on the wall until I get the feel of the room. I also have learned to ask questions and then sit back and listen to the answer. What do you do for fun besides writing ? For instance, what do you read or hobbies you have?I am a lifelong reader. I simply love to lose myself in a story and always have. Without my love for reading, I would not be a writer.
I also am a novice ukelele player and by this means, I’ve been learning how to play for the last 4 years. My husband did restring my ukelele for me last year, so I think I should get the hang of it one day soon—maybe. Which leads me to say, aside from books, one of my biggest interests is music. I have an eclectic taste but my favorite to listen to by far is indie rock—80s and current.
Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
When asked this question, The Mirror by Marlys Millhiser instantly springs to my mind. While it’s my favorite, I can also honestly say this story has had the biggest influence on me as a writer.
My older sister introduced me to it when I was sixteen in 1984. From page one, I hooked. I was excited that the story evolved from a writer’s imagination. Marlys Millhiser’s words awed as they transported me to the 1900s Boulder, Colorado and back again to 1978 with the help of a cursed mirror. Through the words, I lived vicariously through the two main characters. I loved it and knew this was the kind of story I needed to write—someday.
I had to look it up and now I've added it to my TBR. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
My intent is to do both. I write each book to stand on its own but there are definite connections. For instance, one scene in my WIP—a 1960s ghost story—takes place in the beach side town where my mermaids live. (See below where I talk about having finished books awaiting their next draft.)
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
Oh wow. When it’s put that way, I have to go count—
Okay. So, I currently have eight books that are in various stages of completion with four finished awaiting their next draft edits.
Research is one of my favorite tasks when writing a book. I can get lost in it. What kind of research do you do?
My research happens in tandem with my writing. Since many of my stories are historical and set between 1900–1970, I spend much of my time listening to the music, watching documentaries or motion pictures along with reading voraciously. I take an immersive approach in order to feel as if I’m there throughout the entire writing process.
What did you edit out of your upcoming release, The Passenger?
Initially, it was the first seven chapters from the earliest draft. While I cut those chapters, I didn’t abandon the parts of the story they told. No, I then challenged myself to take those elements and weave them into the chapters that remained. My goal was to show the friendship between my ghost whisperer, Elizabeth Reilly, and the spirit she sets out to help.
In my later final draft, I decided to cut an opening scene where Elizabeth says goodbye to her late husband, Patrick, a WWII soldier who died in battle. Here again, I just leave Patrick’s goodbye by the wayside. Instead, I weaved this element into the Chapter One. Here’s an excerpt to show how I incorporated this deleted scene:
When her husband was on his way to her to say goodbye, she’d sweated through the cries of soldiers falling into the mud around her and the deafening noise of battle.
Don’t go there, Elizabeth. You couldn’t help him.
She’d known the only help she could provide was to help him pass on in peace.
Elizabeth had expected Patrick’s ghost to visit her. For weeks, she braved the early spring chill to await his arrival. Bundled in layers, she waited on the beach for him. Their special place. When he finally came, he met her there. Patrick sat next to her on the blanket he’d given her as a birthday present when they were younger. The one with the purple daffodils. When she thought of his final goodbye, she thought of the daffodils she’d stared down at while he talked—as if the color of the flowers were the most important detail of the day.
Yet the broken dead man who sat beside her was.
Patrick’s once handsome face wore sadness like a caul. He’d wished she would remember him as the whole and healthy man who she clung to and kissed before he shipped off to war. When she pictured the delicate purple flowers imprinted on the fabric, she overlooked the bloodied gash in his side where he’d taken the bullet.
If I time traveled I think I'd optimistically go into the future. What about you? Where would you go and when? Why?
I would go to the 1940s and travel from Boston to California.
Why? Because I have spent so much time there in my imagination with Elizabeth, Gio, Paolo and Adriana. In my mind’s eye, I’ve spent countless hours picturing the clothing, hearing the music and the way people interact with one another. I would revel at the chance to see how my imagination matched up with the real thing.
Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants?
I would definitely rather have unlimited international tickets. They wouldn’t even have to be first class. They would just need to fly me to all the destinations I dream of going to.
The first place I would jet off to would be Madeira, Portugal!
If someone came up to you and said, “Hey, do that thing you do!” what thing would pop into your head first?
It wouldn’t be a thing that I actually do.
No, for me it would be a moment in time and a movie—That Thing You Do and watching it after a dinner of gluten free pizza and coffee ice cream on Thanksgiving in 2022 before my taste and sense of smell diminished due to Covid-19.
Joie, thank you so much for spending time Around the Fire. You must be so excited for August to get here. Congratulations on your book. Will you leave us some information about it?
The Passenger
by
Joie Lesin
Coming August 21, 2024
Publisher The Wild Rose Press
About the book.
She's a 1940s ghost whisperer. He's the son of a ghost.
Burdened with her empathic gift, Elizabeth Reilly wants to be free of it and fit in with normal people. Nevertheless, when the spirit of an old man asks for her help, she travels across the country to help him return home. Gio Clemente is still angry with his father who abandoned him as a child. To help the father pass on, Elizabeth must persuade Gio to let go of his anger. Though he resents her intrusion, they are both stunned to find themselves fighting a profound attraction. Elizabeth can accept his headstrong brand of love, but can Gio accept her gift—and believe in her?
The Passenger, a 1940s ghost story set in the California wine country, tells a tale of family connections, life-changing choices, and love—lost and found. AUTHOR BIO:
Minnesota-based author, Joie Lesin is a life-long fiction writer and the author of The Passenger. She has long been fascinated by anything otherworldly including ghosts. She loves to write a good ghost story—especially when it includes a touch of romance.
Originally from Massachusetts, at six years old, Joie moved to her mother’s birthplace, Minnesota. By eight, Joie lost her New England accent, however, it's gradually returning as the years go by. She grew up in Minneapolis but now resides in St. Paul with her husband and their blended family—which includes a rambunctious grand-corgi.
Joie misses the ocean, but she often finds herself walking by one of Minnesota’s many lakes and travels to one of the coasts as often as she can. In fact, she considers California her home away from home. When she’s not writing, reading, or walking, you can find her listening to music. She absolutely loves music—especially live—and songs have sparked most of her story ideas.
Follow Joie
Website: https://www.jlesin.com
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/joielesin
Book Page: https://www.jlesin.com/thepassenger
Joie, welcome to the fire. I have the coffee pot on but I'm going to grab us some waters. While I do, will you introduce yourself? Tell us who you are other than your bio?I am an observer of life.
When a person first meets me, I may be quiet. It’s not that I’m an introvert exactly because to be honest I love meeting new people and I love to talk. The truth is I learned the art of observation as a child. I enjoyed listening to my mother and her sisters talk about their lives growing up in Minneapolis during the decades long before I was born. I learned about the 30s, 40s and 50s and it fed my creativity and influenced my writing.
Even now, during my times of quiet observation, I continue to learn and experience life through other peoples’ perceptions, reactions, and actions.
You sound like me. I'm a fly on the wall until I get the feel of the room. I also have learned to ask questions and then sit back and listen to the answer. What do you do for fun besides writing ? For instance, what do you read or hobbies you have?I am a lifelong reader. I simply love to lose myself in a story and always have. Without my love for reading, I would not be a writer.
I also am a novice ukelele player and by this means, I’ve been learning how to play for the last 4 years. My husband did restring my ukelele for me last year, so I think I should get the hang of it one day soon—maybe. Which leads me to say, aside from books, one of my biggest interests is music. I have an eclectic taste but my favorite to listen to by far is indie rock—80s and current.
Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
When asked this question, The Mirror by Marlys Millhiser instantly springs to my mind. While it’s my favorite, I can also honestly say this story has had the biggest influence on me as a writer.
My older sister introduced me to it when I was sixteen in 1984. From page one, I hooked. I was excited that the story evolved from a writer’s imagination. Marlys Millhiser’s words awed as they transported me to the 1900s Boulder, Colorado and back again to 1978 with the help of a cursed mirror. Through the words, I lived vicariously through the two main characters. I loved it and knew this was the kind of story I needed to write—someday.
I had to look it up and now I've added it to my TBR. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
My intent is to do both. I write each book to stand on its own but there are definite connections. For instance, one scene in my WIP—a 1960s ghost story—takes place in the beach side town where my mermaids live. (See below where I talk about having finished books awaiting their next draft.)
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
Oh wow. When it’s put that way, I have to go count—
Okay. So, I currently have eight books that are in various stages of completion with four finished awaiting their next draft edits.
Research is one of my favorite tasks when writing a book. I can get lost in it. What kind of research do you do?
My research happens in tandem with my writing. Since many of my stories are historical and set between 1900–1970, I spend much of my time listening to the music, watching documentaries or motion pictures along with reading voraciously. I take an immersive approach in order to feel as if I’m there throughout the entire writing process.
What did you edit out of your upcoming release, The Passenger?
Initially, it was the first seven chapters from the earliest draft. While I cut those chapters, I didn’t abandon the parts of the story they told. No, I then challenged myself to take those elements and weave them into the chapters that remained. My goal was to show the friendship between my ghost whisperer, Elizabeth Reilly, and the spirit she sets out to help.
In my later final draft, I decided to cut an opening scene where Elizabeth says goodbye to her late husband, Patrick, a WWII soldier who died in battle. Here again, I just leave Patrick’s goodbye by the wayside. Instead, I weaved this element into the Chapter One. Here’s an excerpt to show how I incorporated this deleted scene:
When her husband was on his way to her to say goodbye, she’d sweated through the cries of soldiers falling into the mud around her and the deafening noise of battle.
Don’t go there, Elizabeth. You couldn’t help him.
She’d known the only help she could provide was to help him pass on in peace.
Elizabeth had expected Patrick’s ghost to visit her. For weeks, she braved the early spring chill to await his arrival. Bundled in layers, she waited on the beach for him. Their special place. When he finally came, he met her there. Patrick sat next to her on the blanket he’d given her as a birthday present when they were younger. The one with the purple daffodils. When she thought of his final goodbye, she thought of the daffodils she’d stared down at while he talked—as if the color of the flowers were the most important detail of the day.
Yet the broken dead man who sat beside her was.
Patrick’s once handsome face wore sadness like a caul. He’d wished she would remember him as the whole and healthy man who she clung to and kissed before he shipped off to war. When she pictured the delicate purple flowers imprinted on the fabric, she overlooked the bloodied gash in his side where he’d taken the bullet.
If I time traveled I think I'd optimistically go into the future. What about you? Where would you go and when? Why?
I would go to the 1940s and travel from Boston to California.
Why? Because I have spent so much time there in my imagination with Elizabeth, Gio, Paolo and Adriana. In my mind’s eye, I’ve spent countless hours picturing the clothing, hearing the music and the way people interact with one another. I would revel at the chance to see how my imagination matched up with the real thing.
Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants?
I would definitely rather have unlimited international tickets. They wouldn’t even have to be first class. They would just need to fly me to all the destinations I dream of going to.
The first place I would jet off to would be Madeira, Portugal!
If someone came up to you and said, “Hey, do that thing you do!” what thing would pop into your head first?
It wouldn’t be a thing that I actually do.
No, for me it would be a moment in time and a movie—That Thing You Do and watching it after a dinner of gluten free pizza and coffee ice cream on Thanksgiving in 2022 before my taste and sense of smell diminished due to Covid-19.
Joie, thank you so much for spending time Around the Fire. You must be so excited for August to get here. Congratulations on your book. Will you leave us some information about it?
The Passengerby
Joie Lesin
Coming August 21, 2024
Publisher The Wild Rose Press
About the book.
She's a 1940s ghost whisperer. He's the son of a ghost.
Burdened with her empathic gift, Elizabeth Reilly wants to be free of it and fit in with normal people. Nevertheless, when the spirit of an old man asks for her help, she travels across the country to help him return home. Gio Clemente is still angry with his father who abandoned him as a child. To help the father pass on, Elizabeth must persuade Gio to let go of his anger. Though he resents her intrusion, they are both stunned to find themselves fighting a profound attraction. Elizabeth can accept his headstrong brand of love, but can Gio accept her gift—and believe in her?
The Passenger, a 1940s ghost story set in the California wine country, tells a tale of family connections, life-changing choices, and love—lost and found. AUTHOR BIO:
Minnesota-based author, Joie Lesin is a life-long fiction writer and the author of The Passenger. She has long been fascinated by anything otherworldly including ghosts. She loves to write a good ghost story—especially when it includes a touch of romance.
Originally from Massachusetts, at six years old, Joie moved to her mother’s birthplace, Minnesota. By eight, Joie lost her New England accent, however, it's gradually returning as the years go by. She grew up in Minneapolis but now resides in St. Paul with her husband and their blended family—which includes a rambunctious grand-corgi.
Joie misses the ocean, but she often finds herself walking by one of Minnesota’s many lakes and travels to one of the coasts as often as she can. In fact, she considers California her home away from home. When she’s not writing, reading, or walking, you can find her listening to music. She absolutely loves music—especially live—and songs have sparked most of her story ideas.
Follow Joie
Website: https://www.jlesin.com
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/joielesin
Book Page: https://www.jlesin.com/thepassenger
May 19, 2024
Around the Fire New Release Spotlight with Joyce Sanderly.
Hi, everyone and Happy Monday. Since my last check in, Pete and I spent some time in Corinth NY. We assisted in readying Cedar Brook Christian Girls camp for the upcoming season. I made meals for the crew which varied from 20 to 40 mouths to feed. I love to cook but this ole gal isn't used to 12hr days. Phew. Then DH and I stayed in the area and celebrated our 30th anniversary by touring around. I did pick up some new cheeses to try. Now back in the Garden State, we are waiting for the next trip with our Grands to Knobels, an action/water park in Pennsylvania to celebrate their birthdays. I hope you enjoy today's guest and information about her new cozy mystery. Welcome, Joyce. 
WILD IRISH YENTA
by
Joyce Sanderly
May 1, 2024
Cozy Mystery
PG-13
About the story.
Set against a backdrop of a suburban Maryland synagogue, Wild Irish Yenta dishes on interfaith marriage, misbehaving clergy, Biblical myth, and the beauty of religious traditions. When the body of custodian Roberto Gomez is found in Temple Israel’s parking lot, Patricia Weiss, nee Reilly, exchanges her suburban-mom sneakers for gumshoes to investigate the hit-and-run. An ardent new convert to Judaism, Patricia is grappling with her outsider status at the upscale Reform congregation. For Roberto, the stakes had been much higher. He was struggling to be adopted by a new country and learn a new language. Inspired by her detective dad, Patricia is compelled to find out who-dun-it and why.
This novel takes a wry look at marriage, insular suburban cliques, and the politics of religious institutions. While poking fun at cultural stereotypes, the novel interweaves biblical stories with questions of contemporary concern. Can a nice Catholic girl find happiness with a Jewish cardiologist even if she converts? Can Patricia’s yenta patrol detect a connection between a custodian’s death and other troubling happenings at the Temple?
Get your copy today.
Available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Irish-Yenta-Joyce-Sanderly-ebook/dp/B0CVXW6H8K
Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wild-irish-yenta-joyce-anderly/1144882468
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/book/9781509250936
Joyce's Inspiration for the Story.
My novel began with a focus on the conflicts surrounding an interfaith marriage. My own experience with the difficulty of finding clergy to officiate at my interfaith marriage was the impetus. I am a big fan of mysteries, especially novels by authors like Laura Lippman and Megan Abbott who explore the multi-faceted relationships among family members and delve into the psychological impetus behind their characters’ crimes. My hope was to follow (at least a little bit) in the footsteps of these authors in crafting a story that explored the interlocking dynamics that exist within an interfaith marriage, a family, a friendship, and the politics of religious institutions. As the plot of Wild Irish Yenta began to form, I researched customs, doctrine and biblical interpretations of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, as well as relevant securities laws and criminal procedures.
The reader might ask: What exactly is a yenta? As with most Yiddish words, there is no precise English equivalent. One of the book’s characters (Brenda) defines yenta as a wise and knowledgeable female who distributes essential information to parties who have a need to know, kind of like an analog version of social media. A less complimentary definition of the term yenta might be “busybody.” In any event Brenda and the book’s protagonist Patricia make a great detecting team with good intentions at heart as they try to unravel the novel’s mysteries.
About the author.
Joyce Sanderly is a Pushcart nominated poet and an attorney. She retired as a Senior Counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Her poetry (written under Ellen Sazzman) has been published in numerous journals, and her poetry collection, The Shomer, was selected as a finalist for the 2020 Blue Lynx Prize, a semifinalist for the 2020 Elixir Press Antivenom Award, and a semifinalist for the 2019 Codhill Press Poetry Award. She has lived in Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland for the last forty years where she raised her family and practiced law for the federal government.
To learn more about Joyce Sanderly and her writing go to:
www.joycesanderly.com
https://www.facebook.com/JoyceSanderly.author/
WILD IRISH YENTAby
Joyce Sanderly
May 1, 2024
Cozy Mystery
PG-13
About the story.
Set against a backdrop of a suburban Maryland synagogue, Wild Irish Yenta dishes on interfaith marriage, misbehaving clergy, Biblical myth, and the beauty of religious traditions. When the body of custodian Roberto Gomez is found in Temple Israel’s parking lot, Patricia Weiss, nee Reilly, exchanges her suburban-mom sneakers for gumshoes to investigate the hit-and-run. An ardent new convert to Judaism, Patricia is grappling with her outsider status at the upscale Reform congregation. For Roberto, the stakes had been much higher. He was struggling to be adopted by a new country and learn a new language. Inspired by her detective dad, Patricia is compelled to find out who-dun-it and why.
This novel takes a wry look at marriage, insular suburban cliques, and the politics of religious institutions. While poking fun at cultural stereotypes, the novel interweaves biblical stories with questions of contemporary concern. Can a nice Catholic girl find happiness with a Jewish cardiologist even if she converts? Can Patricia’s yenta patrol detect a connection between a custodian’s death and other troubling happenings at the Temple?
Get your copy today.
Available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Irish-Yenta-Joyce-Sanderly-ebook/dp/B0CVXW6H8K
Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wild-irish-yenta-joyce-anderly/1144882468
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/book/9781509250936
Joyce's Inspiration for the Story.
My novel began with a focus on the conflicts surrounding an interfaith marriage. My own experience with the difficulty of finding clergy to officiate at my interfaith marriage was the impetus. I am a big fan of mysteries, especially novels by authors like Laura Lippman and Megan Abbott who explore the multi-faceted relationships among family members and delve into the psychological impetus behind their characters’ crimes. My hope was to follow (at least a little bit) in the footsteps of these authors in crafting a story that explored the interlocking dynamics that exist within an interfaith marriage, a family, a friendship, and the politics of religious institutions. As the plot of Wild Irish Yenta began to form, I researched customs, doctrine and biblical interpretations of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, as well as relevant securities laws and criminal procedures.
The reader might ask: What exactly is a yenta? As with most Yiddish words, there is no precise English equivalent. One of the book’s characters (Brenda) defines yenta as a wise and knowledgeable female who distributes essential information to parties who have a need to know, kind of like an analog version of social media. A less complimentary definition of the term yenta might be “busybody.” In any event Brenda and the book’s protagonist Patricia make a great detecting team with good intentions at heart as they try to unravel the novel’s mysteries.
About the author.Joyce Sanderly is a Pushcart nominated poet and an attorney. She retired as a Senior Counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Her poetry (written under Ellen Sazzman) has been published in numerous journals, and her poetry collection, The Shomer, was selected as a finalist for the 2020 Blue Lynx Prize, a semifinalist for the 2020 Elixir Press Antivenom Award, and a semifinalist for the 2019 Codhill Press Poetry Award. She has lived in Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland for the last forty years where she raised her family and practiced law for the federal government.
To learn more about Joyce Sanderly and her writing go to:
www.joycesanderly.com
https://www.facebook.com/JoyceSanderly.author/
