Veronica Cline Barton's Blog: Mistletoe and Mayhem: Yuletide at Castlewood Manor listed as, "One of the best suspense books of all time." - BookAuthority, page 21

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Celebrating All Things #DowntonAbbey!

What a #week this is—all things #DowntonAbbey for me! T-minus two days and I will be finally getting to watch the highly anticipated #DowntonAbbey feature film. For those of you who have been following me, #DowntonAbbey is very close to my #writers heart. It was the end of season 6, and I still remember sitting on my couch thinking ‘What am I going to do on Sunday nights now that my beloved show has come to an end?’ I was a super fan, enchanted by the characters and storylines (and the fabulous Dowager Countess quips), and could never get enough of the rooms of the fictional manor house aka Highclere Castle, or the collectibles on Amazon. I started thinking the time had come to start #writing—but what?

 

I focused on the things I truly loved–castles, crowns, drama, fashion, and mur-dah. I kept thinking about the first question that popped into my head from my research:  “Would you have a period drama filmed at your estate?” Not that I have a British manor house (except in my dreams, LOL). But then, the ‘little gray cells’ began to flutter—suppose there was a contest for a British TV period drama series to be filmed at your estate…add in a beautiful American heiress (Gemma definitely approves

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Taking #Chances…

Well our final 20th anniversary celebration was a delight. We drove over to the Ritz Carlton at Laguna for a lovely dinner overlooking the Pacific, watching the surfers ride the waves (that’s them, the little specs in the feature picture). We love going there early for a cocktail on their patio overlooking the cliffside. The view is magnificent and we were there just in time for some stunning September sunset moments. I love these ‘big’ anniversaries–hard to imagine two decades together (where DID the time go?), but what a ride it’s been! We’re looking forward to the next decade in our ‘golden year’ adventures, and all that it may bring. There’s never a dull moment, that’s for sure…

I’ve had some time to sit back and reflect on the past year so far–can you believe we’re 2/3 of the way through? I’ve got the orange autumn lights up around the house and the fall leaf garland, although when it’s 98 degrees outside it’s a bit tough maintaining that fall-like je nais se quoi (helpful hint: turn the AC down a notch and pretend

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Well Hello #September!

What a long #weekend–Labor Day, the churning of monster storm Dorian, and changing of the guard as we leave August and the fineries of summer, and welcome September with the colors of autumn. I’m ready for that #autumn frame of mind, and I can’t wait to have my first pumpkin spice latte of the season (they are here)! It’s always interesting transitioning to a new season. Temperature wise here in southern California we won’t have any dramatic changes for another month or two, but I’m already pulling down the summer décor and getting out the golds and oranges. I’ve been drooling while reading my Mackenzie Childs catalogs–I love their Courtly Check pattern, be it on pumpkins, napkin rings or readers (my signature specs). I think it’s the mix of colors and patterns that enchant me, and I can’t wait to bring in some new fall pieces for the house. Speaking of whimsy…

While we were in Las Vegas we went to the Bellagio hotel on the strip to see their fabulous conservatory exhibits. Each season they bring in a new theme whose pieces are totally comprised of flower petals, moss, and other plant components to create their majestic vignettes. This summer season the theme was La Dolce Vita, and we were treated to several theme creations that made you smile in awe. I was amazed at the details and scale of these creations (the conservatory encompasses over 14,000 square feet)–the pictures don’t do them justice. The swan was about 6 feet tall and 8 feet in length, the decorative majolica style plate was over 7 feet in diameter. The colors and patterns were simply divine. If you are in the Las Vegas area, this is a great place to visit and there’s no charge–unless, ahem, you happen to go into the charming garden store behind the exhibits, #UhOh… It’s Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:

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#AmQuerying #WriterTip #AmMarketing

#AmQuerying: I’m sending out more queries to agents this week–I have had one rejection (very nice though, and she invited me to #query again to her). For those of you who are interested, Hallmark Publishing is having their open submissions now through midnight September 30th, 2019. You don’t have to have an agent, you send your synopsis and manuscript directly to them. I’m sending Mistletoe & Mayhem, Yuletide at Castlewood Manor in for consideration–it’s not a 100% fit for all their guidelines, but could be tweaked if accepted. Best Wishes to all who participate! Their content guidelines, genres and submission process can be read here:

https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/hallmark-publishing/write-for-us

#WriterTip: For all you #writers who are not represented by an agent, and have an unpublished, completed manuscript ready to go, #PitMad is on tomorrow, September 5th, from 8am-8pm EDT. It’s a great process and you’ll have the opportunity to RT those works you think rock! Remember, ‘LIKES’ are for the agents/publishers, so please just Re-tweet to show your support. Get those 280 character pitches ready! All the rules and guidelines can be found here, Good Luck!:

#PitMad

#AmMarketing: Here’s the last of my #bookcovers that have been transformed through the creative animations by Morgan Wright(@byMorganWright). I’m very much sold on doing this–it makes such a difference in your tweets and posts. You can learn more about her services here:

https://www.morganwrightbooks.com/morgan-wright-book-cover-animations

Making its blog debut:

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#AmReading #AmReviewing

Family drama, heartbreak, and hope from the #writers of twitter this week…

Author Brenda Guiton, At The End of the Sentence,  5 STARS

Kirsty Wilde is about to embark on a journey that will change her life. A deathbed confession by her mother leaves her numb and filled with questions. She finds out that Rick, a cruel, violent criminal who made life with him unbearable, is not her father. She longs to get away from her old life before he gets out of jail and start fresh. With her new found knowledge of her true parentage, she decides to reach out to a man she’s never met. David Atherton gets the shock of his life when a package is delivered to his office. As he reads the note enclosed, he finds that he has a daughter he has never known of, by a woman he once loved in his past. Kirsty Wilde waits in heartbreaking turmoil for a response–she longs to meet David and learn of a relationship she never knew of–but will he want to meet her? She’s ashamed of her past and hides it, and is even more afraid of the violent Rick.

Author Brenda Guiton takes us on a family’s journey as they meet the young woman who has so dramatically entered there lives. David’s wife Diane is torn between resenting Kirsty’s intrusion into her family, yet empathizes with the daughter who has faced so much drama and hardship. Hannah is torn by the knowledge she has a sister–she’s been a very privileged only child, will she resent Kirsty, or embrace her? David is kind and tries to form a relationship with Kirsty, but is it too late to forge a bond with a daughter he never knew?

Family drama, tragedy, romance and a strange twist of events culminates in a violent showdown. Will the secrets of the past and a man bent on cruelty bring everything crashing down? This is a bittersweet tale of a family in flux, and the spirit of hope that may unite them. A great read, highly recommended!

Pssst! Making Its Debut Tomorrow: Author Emmy Bennet’s Different Shade of Wynter!

Next in the #reading queue:

 

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Parlez-vous Francais?

Just as I love everything British, I am also a Francophile, loving all things French, and especially the city of Paris. I traveled to The City of Lights the first time when I was 49 years old, and the city absolutely stole my heart. I’ve been back many times since that first trip, and I’m always enchanted. I joined the Alliance Francaise organization here in Orange County to learn more about the French language and culture, and I’ve met some wonderful people who share my love of the country, food, and wines. There’s several programs and events scheduled throughout the year and it gives you a chance to experience the French things you love without a 10 hour plane ride. There are AF chapters in cities around the world–check out the ones near you:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_Française

For my next #cozymystery series, my main character shares both a French and Danish heritage. I’m going back to the classroom this week to resume my #French lessons, and to up my je ne sais quoi a bit for this character. A #writer’s research is never done!

Speaking of French…(and cocktails

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, #Anniversary #Roadtrip, Las Vegas Style!

Another week, another great #roadtrip to Las Vegas! Time to get #inspired by everything over-the-top, including the gorgeous desert sunsets that shimmer & shine from the mirrored buildings. In the next few days we’ll be heading to the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip to begin the celebrations for our 20th anniversary! It’s a few weeks early, but hey, after twenty years, why not take as much time as we want to reflect on, and celebrate the journey we’ve been on together the past two decades? I’m ready for some great R&R, retail and restaurants, to brighten our stay–and Las Vegas has plenty to offer. I can’t wait to go to Giada’s (Giada DeLaurentis) for character Jillian’s (Mama) favorite appetizer, bacon and sausage wrapped dates, #Yummo.

We’ll be guests at the Venetian hotel again this year. We love staying in their Venezia Tower, tucked away from the crowds in the main hotel and casino. There’s lots of nooks and crannies to explore and cuddle up in for #writing and #reading. The pool area  is gorgeous, perfect for some fun in the sun. On the #hygge front, I can’t wait to see the gorgeous décor–it’s over the top, but #hygge is all about finding the style that makes you happy, and for me, it fits the bill. I’ll be soakin’ up the ideas this trip for my next book–I have a hunch there will be a few things (food, cocktails, décor) from this #anniversary #roadtrip that make their way into the next story! It’s Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:

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#AmQuerying #AmMarketing

#AmQuerying: I just wanted to give you an update on my querying process. I have to say, it is taking more time than I had originally planned. By the time you select the agencies and agents you want to target, you’ll soon find that doing the research on your agent, understanding the submission guidelines, and then putting together your submission material is quite the time sink. None of my submissions to date have been the same–each agency/agent seems to want different things be it the #query letter, the #synopsis, or the #manuscript (or parts there-of: ie first 10 pages, first 3 chapters, first 50 pages…you get the idea). All I can say is when you’re scheduling your tasks, make sure you allocate the time for each submission, they’re all different. Feedback projections range from three-twelve weeks, and you may not hear anything at all (assume a pass). Don’t forget that tracking spreadsheet–a must (at least for me) to remember what items you sent to each agent.

#AmMarketing: Like many of you, I follow Morgan Wright (@byMorganWright) on Twitter, and love her #writerslife inspiration and insights. She’s always upbeat and her tweets make me smile. I signed up for her newsletter, and was pleased to learn she’s now offering #bookcover animation services to give your covers a bit more pizzazz for your marketing and tweeting/posting efforts. Check out her services here (Pssst, there’s a #promo offering going on until September 1st!):

https://www.morganwrightbooks.com/post/morgan-wright-launches-her-book-cover-animation-service

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Romance under the stars from the #writers of Twitter this week…

Author Shanna Swenson, Escape from Abundance: the Abundance Series, Book 3, 5 STARS

Cole Callahan is on the run–his past makes him the prime suspect in the murder of his best friend. He is out to make a new life, and to try and escape the haunting memories of finding his murdered friend. He ends up at the Kinsen ranch to work and save up for his next run, and is soon in awe of a family system filled with love and support. Little does he know his heart will be captured by the owner’s daughter, Dallie–but as their romance and passion heat up, will she ever be able to understand and accept his troubled past? And most importantly, will he?

Dallie Kinsen is about to enter a new life path as she spends her last summer before college on the ranch. Her dream is to become a veterinarian, but will her dreams be dashed for her new love? Author Shanna Swenson takes us on another drama filled journey in this latest tale of romance, mystery and intrigue with the folks in Abundance, Texas. Dallie’s parents, Nat and Jack, support and give others the benefit of the doubt, but when it comes to their daughter, no one is above their family law.

As the detectives close in, Cole knows his time is limited. Has he been set up, or is he guilty? Will his desperation lead to tragedy? Or will love heal the ravages of violence and a tragic past? A great read that keeps you glued to the page ’til the very end with many twists and turns. Author Swenson delivers again, and I can’t wait for the next journey to Abundance!

 

Next up in the #reading queue;

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The Countdown Begins! (movie poster courtesy of the DailyMail)

Less than T-minus 30 days ’til the movie of my dreams makes its debut in the U.S. Yes, I am talking about the Downtown Abbey feature film! I’m polishing my tiara and bringing out the faux furs for this premiere–there’s so many great storylines in the movie’s trailer, I can’t wait to see what happens. I watched the PBS special Downton Abbey Live this past Sunday and enjoyed getting the cast’s reaction to different events and characters in the movie (Everyone adores Dame Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess, me too!

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Enjoying The Last Days of #Summer…

Hard to believe we’re almost halfway through the month of August–school has started, the beach crowds are thinning out, and of course, it’s beginning to look a lot like Halloween in the stores (and even Christmas in a few). We’re still BBQing and enjoying the pool time, but I’m getting the first twinges of an autumn frame of mind. It’s my 2nd favorite season (winter #1, #boot time), even though the official fall temps won’t arrive here in southern California for quite a while (bring on the pumpkin spice)! We have one more #summer trip to Las Vegas coming up at the end of the month–a different kind of cool (air conditioned casinos) but one I look forward to each year. It’s always fun to see the new buildings and interiors as we make our way down the famous Las Vegas strip, and it’s a great place to people watch—you never know what you’ll see!

On the #Hygge home front, we’re almost done sorting through the last few items from our beach condo. We’re running out of wall space here at the house (inside and out) after hanging the pieces we didn’t want to let go of, LOL (I admit, I may have broken a few #Hygge decorating guidelines, but I’m still in training

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, What Would My Main Character Do? #WWMMCD

No, going to a pub is not exactly what I had in mind. (although, if I were in London, I might just be tempted, LOL) I had a series of life twists and turns this past week–some personal, and some #writing related. I didn’t react well, quite frankly (especially with respect to the personal item, which drove me into a bit of a mental tsunami). Even more disturbing though, I didn’t like how I was reacting—I needed to do better and not go down the rabbit hole of self-doubt and anger. Picking myself up by the boot straps (and putting on a crown, of course), I tried to think of how Gemma Lancaster Phillips, PhD, the main character in my books, would handle these unexpected life blips. So, in the spirit of #WWMMCD, I summoned her over for a visit.

The good news is we first started with cocktails (a big staple at Cherrywood Hall, thank goodness we’re both fond of gin and St. Germain martinis

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, #InspirationResearch (IR), Catalina Island Style!

26 Miles (Santa Catalina)

Twenty-six miles across the sea

Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me,

Santa Catalina, the island of romance,

romance, romance, romance.

Water all around it ev’rywhere,

tropical trees and the salty air,

but for me the thing that’s a-waitin’ there’s romance.

It seems so distant, twenty-six miles away, restin’ in the water serene.

I’d work for anyone, even the Navy, who would float me to my island dream.

Twenty-six miles, so near, yet far.

I’d swim with just some water wings and my guitar.

I can leave the wings but I’ll need the guitar

for romance, romance, romance, romance.

The Four Preps

So excited to be on our island adventure on beautiful Catalina Island! We’re staying once again in a condo in Hamilton Cove, just a mile or so outside the town of Avalon. I love the view from our balcony, and those cool ocean breezes are just the thing to kick back and stay cool. This visit we’re going up to what was once the Wrigley Mansion, and is now the Inn on Mt. Ada Bed & Breakfast, for a luscious lunch overlooking the beautiful port of Avalon. I’ve passed by this lovely estate many times and can’t wait to tour the grounds and see some of the rooms. There’s plenty to do here on this island getaway: submarine rides, zip-line adventures, parasailing, and some very #yummy restaurants. Best of all, plenty of time to #read and get inspired!

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We’ve been busy sorting through the items brought back from our former beach home the past few weeks, purging everything that no longer fits our #Hygge style. I have to laugh–I think during our 13 year stay there I must have accumulated every single item know to woman that has a beach theme, LOL. Seriously, lighthouse salt and pepper shakers, a crab bell (don’t ask), mermaid everything. and sea shell glasses, signs, placemats…definitely a #WhatWasIThinking moment.

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Let the #AmQuerying Campaign Begin!

Hard to believe it’s been almost three months since I stood on the Westminster Bridge in London, snapping pics of the London Eye and Marriot hotel on the River Thames. I had just turned over my manuscript for its first round of professional editing (thank you again, Theresa Snyder!), thinking about the new #writers journey I was about to embark upon. Okay, maybe it’s not as epic as walking on the #moon fifty years ago, but for this #writer, I am over the moon! Months and months (and did I say MONTHS???

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, #Roadtrip & Birthday #Funtime!

Highway 154 off the 101 north in Santa Barbara takes you through some beautiful hillside settings with many vistas to pull over and enjoy the scenery. This is one of my favorite drives on the way to Solvang, winding down the 2 lane road and seeing the back country leading to the Santa Ynez valley. The feature picture today is from one of my fave vista views, panning the beautiful Santa Barbara coastline (and you can even see Santa Barbara Island out in the distance (part of the Channel Island chain)). The view here is absolutely breathtaking and a real treat to visit if you get the chance.

Today is Hubby’s birthday (29 and holding as he now says

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, July #SummerNights and #Earthquakes!

We’ve had a few exciting moments over the 4th of July holiday weekend of the shake, rattle, and roll variety! For the first time in many, many years we had two large #earthquakes rumble through: mid-morning on the 4th (a 6.4) and the evening of the 5th (a 7.1). Luckily where we live in Orange County we just experienced several seconds of rolling movements–enough to set the chandeliers swaying and causing waves in the pool to splash over the tile surround. It’s a bit unnerving when you first feel your house move—the cats zooming up the stairs gave me a first clue that something was amiss, but then I felt the movement myself (kind of like sitting on a plate of Jello) and saw the chandeliers start to sway. Here’s a clip of the waves lapping over the side of the pool:

So far we’ve felt a few aftershocks, let’s hope the worst is over! This week is a fun one with family visits and early birthday celebrations for Hubby. We love the outdoor entertaining time, sitting under the stars and enjoying the #summernights. The sunsets in July have been spectacular so far, and we’re looking forward to some more stunning scenes when we take another #roadtrip next week to central California. It’s Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:

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#Amediting #AmRevising #AmQuerying

#Amediting/#Amrevising: Mark Schultz is using his hyper-speller powers with Book 4 this week! The final manuscript will be ready to send out very soon. It’s comforting to know that I will have a professionally scrubbed document to present for querying. Editing/Proofing does make a difference! If you have any doubts, check out Mark’s services here:

https://www.wordrefiner.com/learn-more.html

#AmQuerying; I’m getting my packets together to submit and I’m so excited! Query letter content, check! Synopsis, check! List of Agencies and Agents focusing on #cozymysteries, check! Manuscript, almost check! And finally, a spreadsheet to keep track of where I have submitted, what was submitted and when, and response, check! Fingers crossed–I’m ready!

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#Amreading #AmReviewing

Suspense, mystery and intrigue that takes you around the world from the writers of Twitter this week…

Author John Dolan, Restless Earth, (Karma’s Children Trilogy, Book 1), 5 STARS

Private investigator David Braddock is back in the U.K. to attend his father’s funeral, dealing with words left unsaid and family sorrows of the past. He’s pondering an uncertain future–which may or may not include a new love interest, and could involve a move from Thailand back to his British roots. Private First Class Sam Trask is haunted by the hideous memories of an appalling action committed by deranged colleagues during his wartime duty in Iraq—memories that are slowly eroding his mental state. A secret request from a retired, ailing lawmaker to trace an unscrupulous, globetrotting cad and an ironic twist of fate unites the investigative paths of these two men. As the events play out, will either live to tell the tale?

Author Dolan takes us around the world in this intriguing, suspense filled mystery to catch a conniving, psychopathic man who takes great pleasure in inflicting emotional and physical pain and anguish to the women in his life, leaving a few who pay the ultimate price. We’re on the streets of Bangkok as James Fosse continues his self-absorbed mission of hunting down unsuspecting victims to feed his cruel, manipulative urges. As the clock ticks, he’s ready to pull off his ultimate, devious scheme, but at what price? Will anyone be able to stop him?

This is a masterfully told tale that captures your interest from the beginning, filled with life story dramas, details of events and surroundings that pull you right in, and many twists and turns, page after page. The surprise ending will keep you coming back for more in this series! A captivating summer read (great any time of year), highly recommended!

Next up in the #reading queue:

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https://www.amazon.com/Only-Beginning-Shell-Zanne/dp/107463697X

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https://www.amazon.com/Loftus-Irish-Phantom-Bibiana-Krall/dp/1075597536

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#Roadtrip ahead, #Hygge style….Solvang!

For over twenty years, Hubby and I have made an annual pilgrimage to the cute little Danish heritage town of Solvang, California. Solvang is approximately 40 miles north of Santa Barbara off the 101 Fwy—a gorgeous drive along the coast and through the surrounding hills.  What better way to get in that #Hygge frame of mind–you’re in the start of central California’s wine country (remember the movie Sideways?), with wine tasting opportunities galore, a stylish Chumash Indian casino/resort, and charming eateries serving fresh local delicacies. And did I mention the bakeries that are on every corner, tempting you with sweet treats fresh from the oven? I love walking the streets of this quaint little town–lots of cute shops to keep those credit cards smokin’ (and burn off those calories)!

The main attraction for us is the outdoor amphitheater in Solvang where each year the PCPA Pacific Conservatory Group puts on spectacular plays and musicals throughout the summer. There is no better evening than sitting under the stars and watching a live performance, IMO–the actors have been fantastic. This year’s treat is the musical Million Dollar Quartet, when a twist of fate brings a young Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins together at a Sun Records recording studio. I cannot wait to put on my blue suede shoes and do a little dancing under the stars!

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On the #Hygge food front, no mystery here!

What better way to celebrate solving a dastardly deed than scarfing down a delectable dish? In my #cozymystery world my characters love to eat, especially when it’s Chef Karl’s creations at Cherrywood Hall (Gemma most definitely approves)! The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook is a delightful compilation of appetizers, breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert recipes from mystery writers (and some characters) from sea to shining sea. Who wouldn’t love Ellie Hatcher’s Rum Soaked Nutella French Toast? Or Lea Wait’s Murderously Good Maine Chowdah? This cookbook is a fun read in itself, and will soon have your mouth watering! It can be found at #Amazon and other fine sellers.

Welcome to my world! Have a fabulous rest of your #week and #weekend everyone!

Crowns and Kisses,

Veronica

P.S. If you’re ever visiting Solvang in the summer, make a date with a play–you won’t be disappointed! https://www.solvangusa.com/things-to-do/live-theater-nightlife/  Gemma would approve