Diane Rapp's Blog: She's a Mystery and Science Fiction Writer!, page 9

Featured Author: Lia London

Diane Rapp:  I first met Lia London when I joined a group of authors on the Clean Indie Reads website (and FB group).  This generous woman works hard to promote books that don't make readers blush or turn away from excessive violence.  We appreciate her tireless efforts.  I soon learned that Lia writes clever books as well--she has fourteen titles.  We decided to focus on Lia's Sci-Fantasy novels in this feature, but first I asked Lia to tell us about herself and how she started writing.

Lia London: I first discovered a love of writing as a primary student (grade school) in Scotland. My friends and I would write sketches, some funny and some scary (at least we thought so) to perform for our friends. My teacher saw potential and let us perform them for the whole class. Eventually, I was writing sketches for school assemblies. 

By my freshman year in college, I'd written a musical comedy for the Children's Educational Theatre in Salem. Scripts, narrations, and song lyrics continued to be the main focus until 2010. At that point, I had a dream that led to the first draft of a novel. It went through dozens more drafts before it finally became my debut novel, The Circle of Law. Suddenly the ideas wouldn't stop coming, and I began writing more novels, novellas and short stories. Dialogue has, of course, always played an important role in my stories since I still think in scripts half the time. MAGIAN HIGH

Kincaid Riley is an average Mage with an unusual dream--to see Nomers (non-magic people) and his kind get along in an integrated society. He lobbies to that end, and by senior year MAGIAN HIGH will open its doors to kids of all kinds--and dangers of all kinds, too! Sure, one kid can change the world, but can he do it without getting himself killed?

myBook.to/MagianHigh  (Amazon universal link)

Diane Rapp's 5* review:  
Lia London takes us into a world filled with magic and teenage hormones gone wild. Punkers attack without warning, greedy adults sabotage a noble idea, and a bunch of kids must overcome fear and prejudice to save the day. 

This author weaves an intricate story to demonstrate that sharing love and working together makes people grow stronger. These kids stand on the brink of building a better world for everyone.  Clever and well-written, this book is a plus on anyone's reading list. Harry Potter is so yesterday now that we can all enroll in Magian High. THE GYPSY PEARL 
(Full Trilogy Edition)

Caz is tired of living in space. She wants a chance to explore the Surface of one of the three planets in the Granbo System. While snooping around the cargo bay of her Interplanetary City Station, she encounters an alien being hidden in a gypsy space buggy. In a fateful moment, it gives her a gypsy pearl, thereby changing her destiny. She must now visit all three worlds, receive three mystic gifts, and develop three superhuman powers ... unless the powers that be can stop her.

myBook.to/GPTrilogy3in1  (Amazon universal link)

Diane's 5* review of the trilogy: This engaging trilogy grabs the reader from page one and doesn’t let go until the exciting conclusion in book three.  I began by reading book one and quickly searched to find more episodes when I finished.  Luckily, the author published the complete trilogy in one volume for readers like me.  I love reading sci-fantasy!  In this trilogy Lia London gives her readers three planets to explore (Caren, Craggy, and Tye) with a group of engaging characters.  Caz starts her journey on a space station, feeling trapped, and longing to visit real planets.  As punishment, Caz is sent to a reform school on the planet Caren and the adventure begins.  There are challenges to overcome, and Caz faces real danger while gathering loyal friends who protect her.  She learns to use her gifts and bravely faces the journey she must complete. 

Each individual book is a complete story, but if you’re like me, you’ll become eager to read the whole adventure, start to finish.  (I’m grateful the trilogy was complete, or I’d be biting my fingernails waiting to know what happened to Caz and the Gypsy Pearl.)

Links for Lia London:
Website: http://lialondonbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lialondonbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LiaLondon1

Interview with mystery author: Arleen Alleman

I originally met Arleen Alleman after I launched my first cruise ship mystery. Arleen also wrote mysteries set at sea, so I felt curious and decided to read Currents Deep and Deadly.  I enjoyed the novel and got hooked on the characters. Over the years I've read all her books, and we became good friends.  Arleen agreed to participate in this interview, and I hope my readers will take a serious look at her series.

Diane: What was your professional background?

Arleen:  I began writing fiction later in life drawing on a diverse background. As an analyst with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), I investigated and wrote about many topics including military satellite systems, healthcare reform, elder care, endangered species, postal service operations and crop biotechnology. My degree is in biology and I also worked as an insurance adjuster, fashion model, teacher, jewelry maker, and owner of a home décor boutique.

Diane: How did you start writing fiction?

Arleen:   From my teens on I thought about being a novelist, but did not act on that desire until about seven years ago. Then I took the plunge into fiction writing and self-publishing using my life experiences, love of science, analytical and investigative background, interest in origins of life and religion, and love of travel. The books contain many descriptions of locations in South and Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Australia, and U.S. cities I have visited, supplemented by research.

Diane:  Why did you start with a cruise ship setting for the first books?

Arleen:   When I decided to try writing a novel my husband and I were taking cruise vacations, particularly around South America. I used that backdrop for the first and second books. My writing and the locations evolve along with the characters’ lives and adventures. My main purpose in writing is to entertain, but I love to read books—especially mysteries—with a basis in reality where I feel I am learning something new. It is a wonderful escape to read a book whose mystery and suspense grabs and holds the reader, and that is what I try to accomplish.

Diane: I've noticed you incorporate many current topics into your narratives.  Tell us more.

Arleen:   We are bombarded with so much bad news in the real world that it is interesting that so many people want to read more of it in fiction. I think that as communication, technology, and access to information become more complex, writers are challenged to write fiction at that same level, and maybe this in turn challenges readers to raise their level of understanding. I think my plots reveal my interest in topics like why people do good and bad deeds, the overall diversity among people, and the roles of genetics and environment. At a higher level, I’m interested in where our current personal, cultural, and political landscapes will lead us.

Diane: I'm interested in the "Currents" theme in the books.  How did that come about?

Arleen:   The word currents appears in all my titles. This reflects my series protagonist Darcy Farthing’s envisioned picture of how time and her life stream along on currents that interact with other people’s causing coincidence, cohesion, and sometimes chaos. The Latin root currere means to run, as currents run in a stream. In addition, we use the word to denote time fixed in the present—current events—distinguished from the past and future. The books employ both meanings. Through the stories, the nature & interaction of chance with a life plan, and the nature of coincidence are undercurrents, if you will, that Darcy comments on from time to time. 

Diane:  Describe your main character, Darcy Farthing.  She reveals many secrets about her previous life that affect her relationships in the novels.

Arleen:   Darcy is a positive but flawed character, who starts out with a dark secret that has interfered with her ability to form lasting relationships.  She is a 40ish tall blond beauty with striking blue eyes and her physical fitness and appearance are extremely important to her.  She is also very smart with a master’s degree in biochemistry and an acute interest in understanding the natural world. She thinks of herself as a humanist. In short, that is a person who rejects belief in the supernatural, cares foremost about all humanity and tries to live a fulfilling ethical and moral life, while caring for the planet and helping others whenever possible. She cares deeply about injustice, hates bigotry, and she and those closest to her struggle with her impulse to jump into the middle of dangerous situations. 

Diane:  Now that we understand the motivations behind the series, let's take a closer look at each book:
Book one-Currents Deep and Deadly:

"You can truly believe you have a handle on how your little slice of life fits into the whole pie. But just when you think pepperoni is all you'll ever need, someone dumps a bunch of mushrooms and peppers on top, and suddenly a mind-blowing revelation smacks you in the mouth. My name is Darcy Farthing, and this is my slice-of-life-with-everything-on-it story."  

The first novel narrated in part by the protagonist introduces the characters who meet on an ill-fated life altering cruise around Cape Horn, South America. Darcy Farthing interjects tidbits of history and geography along the way. At the time she boards the ship, her troubled past and poor early life decisions are undermining her relationships and happiness. The circumstances of the cruise quickly turn frightening when she is unwittingly drawn into a murder-for-hire plot. She not only contends with more mystery and violence than she could ever have imagined, but through a baffling set of shipboard crimes and seeming coincidences, she reunites with an estranged friend named Sidney Denezza, finds romance with Mick Clayton who is a GAO manager, and finds a missing piece of herself in Buenos Aires ( no spoilers here). She and her cohorts fall victim to a shipboard conspiracy and a killer who is quite mad. Darcy is forever changed by these events, putting into motion a series of personal and professional upheavals.  Book two-Currents of Vengeance:

"To keep your sanity when it seems everything in your life has gone over-the-top crazy, you can step back from the action and try to gain an astronaut’s perspective of the world.  But when you find yourself getting lost in the tranquility of that detached view, it’s time to dive into a current and get back in the flow."

Several manifestations of revenge infect a second cruise around South America and lead to more surprises, trauma, and murder with Las Vegas connections. Through multiple plots, the story further evolves the relationships that formed on the first cruise. It describes and magnifies the real-life issue of crime aboard cruise ships as the FBI and GAO investigate the frightening murder plot which they are sure involved both passengers and crew members. Darcy and Mick go back on the ship with Tom, the cruise ship’s chief of security who was fired by the cruise line. A saboteur and a rapist wreak havoc, Mick struggles with debilitating emotional symptoms, and once again Darcy and others narrowly escape the cruise with their lives. Ultimately, the investigation leads to the prosecution of a vicious killer who is a Las Vegas hotel owner, and an “art imitating life” GAO report to Congress with recommendations to enhance cruise passenger safety. 
Book three-Current Assets

"Life throws a lot of curves, near misses, and too often direct hits. I believe I've had more than my share of the latter. Usually it takes only a minute for me to reject such a self-pitying notion. Still, it would be hard to imagine how more change—accompanied by trauma—could come about in such a relatively short time. Mystery and violence have been part of my reality for the past two and a half years. It used to seem like a fluke, but now I'm beginning to wonder if it's become a way of life."

Darcy has morphed herself into a writer and has published a brutally straightforward non-fiction account of the first cruise and is about to publish one about the second cruise, to the dismay of her friends and family who are tired of the publicity. Double trouble arrives when two unrelated incidents collide to complicate Darcy and Mick’s lives. They are staying in Mick’s home on Marco Island in Southwest Florida while the U.S. Marshals and GAO are investigating stolen government property originally seized from criminals. A local county corruption ring and middle-east terrorist wannabes are mysteriously intertwined as deputy sheriffs are killed and their friend, Tom, is arrested for attempted murder. They are all exposed to extreme danger from mysterious sources, while also contending with a personal family drama involving a surprise pregnancy with a troubling twist. 
Book four-Alternate Currents:  

“Like a body of water when it smashes violently into a barrier, elements of our lives spill outside the boundaries and must naturally find alternate paths, thus forming new currents. Since it is impossible to recapture every bit of the original flow, some loss is inevitable. In life, the first casualties of such deviations from one's intended course are often those most elusive and fragile emotions—happiness and a feeling of well-being.”

This story tackles the topical subject of domestic partnerships and birth surrogacy. In Seattle, Darcy meets with violence, gains a deeper understanding of herself and human nature, and finds a new friend. It is the story of a child with too many parents, misguided decisions, and wild characters threatening to tear apart a loving family. Friends Don and Charlie who were heroes in the first book are in serious trouble. First Charlie then their seven year old daughter, Penelope, are abducted. When Darcy should be planning her wedding, she is instead thrown into the foreign world and legal issues surrounding surrogate births, and assisted reproductive technology. She again confronts bigotry and insanity in multiple forms. Her relationship with Mick is threatened when he realizes she cannot stay out of dangerous situations. Ultimately, she is almost killed when she conducts interviews with potential suspects of a double kidnapping and vicious murder.
Book five--A Current Deception

“I visualize my life current and other people’s currents flowing along on parallel courses mostly unfelt, running deep below the surface, then suddenly colliding and causing all manner of change and adjustment. When my current collided with Mick’s, as often happens, I took on some of his overspill and he mine. We grew together in the sense of both maturation and closeness.”

This time Darcy and Mick along with family and friends meet on a cruise ship sailing around Australia. She has refashioned herself as a freelance investigative reporter. Amid her descriptions of sea ports and tidbits of history, an old threat they thought was neutralized is resurrected, and a biological twist adds some dark comic relief. An infestation of yellow crazy ants menaces passengers, and a food-borne pathogen seems to target a woman traveling with a small town Kansas class reunion group. Soon a murder on an Adelaide street and attempted murders on the ship turn very personal for Darcy, her family, and friends. As usual, several possible suspects emerge. Ultimately, they identify a master of disguise and world class computer hacker who has come on board to seek revenge related to a twenty-year-old crime. 
Book six—in progress with working title Street Currents

“Over the past several years I’ve learned something about myself. It would be impossible to suffer through all that trauma and not figure out a few things. To my mind, the drastic jarring changes in direction our currents have taken could only be viewed as opportunities to embrace change—otherwise that sort of thing would destroy you.”

This will most likely be the final book of this series. The aftermath of the Australian cruise is destroying the contentment Darcy and Mick were enjoying. Family circumstances have left Mick in a strange depression. Darcy is still working as an investigative reporter and once again teams up with Tom to solve a mystery. They travel to Las Vegas to help Don and Charlie find Pammie, a teenager who is their daughter’s biological sister. The runaway is caught up in human trafficking and Asian gangs on the streets of downtown Las Vegas. Darcy worries about Mick’s state of mind as she tries to find Pammie while evading dangerous pimps and gang members. She stumbles onto a plot much closer to home that threatens her best friend, Sidney, and makes the shocking discovery that an old nemesis is still pulling dangerous strings in their lives.

Diane:  Thank you for taking the time to participate on my blog, Arleen. Readers can find all the books in this fascinating series at the following links: Website:  http://www.arleenalleman.com
Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Arleen-Alleman/e/B0041H8CQM/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1440261569&sr=1-2-ent
 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Arleen+Alleman&search%5Bsource%5D=goodreads&search_&tab=books
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/arleen+alleman?fs=11312&_requestid=208994
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Currents-Deep-and-Deadly/149011021789810
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aallemanwrites

NEW FANTASY by Tamie Dearen!

Alora: The Portal by Tamie Dearen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Keeps-you-up-late type of reading

Sometimes a good story gets more thrilling, the keeps-you-up-late type of reading. The second book in the ALORA series is that kind of book and I don’t hesitate to recommend this exciting sequel to anyone who enjoys Fantasy. Alora and Kaevin became soulmates, a bond that links them across two worlds, but their lives are threatened by an evil tyrant. He is Alora’s birth father, but her mother chose to die rather than live under his influence.

Vindrake’s castle sits over the entrance to a portal that would allow his army to enter the modern world, capture weapons, and enslave people in both realms. He’s the ultimate evil man, killing and torturing anyone to achieve power. Alora and Kaevin cannot allow him to enter Montana, and they stand willing to forfeit their lives if necessary to stop him.

The author created a fascinating tale of two worlds and a life-bond of true love, transporting her readers into a world where magic works and oaths are real. If you had to choose between living enslaved to evil or enduring incredible pain, could you remain steadfast? I'm not sure I could be that brave. Recommended reading!




View all my reviews

Romance and Fantasy Series by Tamie Dearen

I first discovered an endearing series of clean romance novels by fellow Texan, Tamie Dearen, and felt at home with her characters. The BEST GIRLS books are quirky and fun to read.  Tamie has made it easy for readers to get started on the series with a FREE novella. 

Each book can be read as a stand-alone novel, but if you prefer to read them in order, here are the descriptions: The Best is Yet to Come:
Life has lost a sense of challenge for billionaire Steven Gherring, but he’s about to meet his match in a surprising package.

This free novella is a prequel and adjunct for Her Best Match, fun to read before or after the novel. It is a short look inside the head of Steven Gherring, who likes to control everything in his life. But just when he thinks nothing could ever surprise him, he meets Anne Best. His response to her surprises even himself! This is a quick read with sassy characters, providing an introduction to some of the main characters in Her Best Match. The book includes the first chapter of Her Best Match, as a preview.
viewBook.at/BestToCome
Her Best Match:
Feisty, forty-five, and bored with life in Texas, Anne Best is about to get more than she bargained for.

The lovely widow with two grown daughters heads off to the Big Apple for a job interview, expecting no more than a few days adventure in New York City, only to find herself with a new job working for the most infuriating man she's ever met. 

Billionaire Steven Gherring is one of New York's Most Eligible Bachelors, and he has every intention of staying that way. But Gram has other ideas. She's on a not-so-secret campaign to find a wife for her grandson. 

Passions rise along with hemlines as Gram joins forces with Anne, a veteran matchmaker, to find the perfect match for Steven. Will they find a match for Gherring? And will Anne get a second chance at love?  Filled with lovable characters, plenty of romance and frequent plots twists, Her Best Match will have you tingling with anticipation and laughing out loud.  viewBook.at/HerBestMatch
Best Dating Rules:
Emily Best is about to discover just how hard it is to stick to her own rules.

The Best family has a whole set of rules about dating. But when Spencer comes into Emily’s life, the rules start to unravel.  Spencer has a reputation as a player, but he has a secret. (He's never kissed a girl!) He's been waiting for the right one, and he’s certain that girl is Emily. But he won’t admit the truth about his lack of experience. 

Will he forget his pride and tell Emily the truth? 
Will her handsome rescuer sweep her off her feet and out of Spencer's arms? A relationship fraught with misunderstandings, miscommunications, and mistakes makes Spencer fear he's missed his chance to make Miss Best his Mrs. 

Best Dating Rules will keep you chuckling as you follow the convoluted path of romance, woven with lots of fun characters to love and one good villain to hate.
viewBook.at/BestDatingRules
Best Laid Plans:
After two futile years of waiting for Charlie Best to profess feelings for him, Josh is admitting defeat.

Josh is giving up on love. And he’s giving up on Charlie Best. He needs a wife right away and can’t afford to wait a minute longer. Wait until you find out why he's in such a rush. 

By the time Charlie realizes she’s in love with Josh, it’s too late for them to be together. So she sets out to help him find happiness in someone else’s arms. 
Soon almost everyone is plotting and planning at cross-purposes, trying to convince Josh whom he should marry. Meanwhile, a buxom nurse schemes to snag the handsome doctor for herself. 

Will Josh and Charlie overcome all the odds and find happiness together?  You’ll laugh and cry and laugh some more as you follow your friends on this madcap trip to the inevitable happy ending.  viewBook.at/BestLaidPlans 
Best Foot Forward:
Grace is about to make the biggest mistake of her life.

Everyone knows Grace is spicy, fun, prone to mishaps, and little bit crazy. But though she encourages others to find love, she's terrified to make the same kind of commitment herself. 

Brad's kisses make her knees go weak along with her self-control. So she determines to end their relationship before she becomes too emotionally attached. Too late, she realizes her actions were a mistake. 

Now she wants him back, but klutziness and awful luck conspire to keep them apart. Add a mischievous brother and a terrible shrew to the mix, and you've got a recipe for disaster. 

Can her three sisters brighten her spirits along with her hair? Will Brad find it in his heart to forgive Grace? Will he be there to catch her when she falls? 

Laugh out loud on your way to happy-ever-after with Brad and Grace as she tries to put her Best Foot Forward!   viewBook.at/BestFootForward 
FANTASY NOVELS:
After reading several of the romance novels, I disovered Tamie's fantasy, ALORA: THE WANDER-JEWEL.  I quickly got snared by the action, adventure, and magic that takes place in two different realms. EXCITING!  Now she's ready to release a sequel, ALORA: THE PORTAL and sent me an advance copy.  You'll find my review below. Alora: The Wander-Jewel:
Fifteen-year-old Alora has visions.

Only while in the shower. And only of one stranger: a handsome boy with long brown hair, intense green eyes, and the oddest clothes. A boy who vanishes whenever she opens her eyes. 

And then one day, he doesn't… 

Alora's safe world is soon turned upside-down as she's thrust into another realm where her soulmate waits, magic abounds, and unfathomable evil seeks to claim her.   viewBook.at/Alora1
Alora: The Portal:
If one of them dies, they both die.

Bound together as soulmates, something compels Alora and Kaevin to abandon the safety of their refuge for the dangers of Kaevin’s realm. 

The soulmates arrive in the midst of a raging battle as Stone Clan warriors defend their capital, an attack made more deadly by the pervasive evil of her father. Alora and Kaevin face mortal danger as they fight against man and magick to preserve Kaevin's home and heritage. 

For Alora's father will have her allegiance. Or her death.  viewBook.at/Alora2 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tamie-Dearen/1384772145109650
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TamieDearen
Website:  http://tamiedearen.weebly.com/

Diane's comment:
Sometimes a good story gets more thrilling, the keeps-you-up-late type of reading.  The second book in the ALORA series is that kind of book and I don’t hesitate to recommend this exciting sequel to everyone who enjoys Fantasy.  (I'll post my full review on the Amazon page.)

Interview with Mystery Writer: Rosemary McCracken

Rosemary McCracken is a Canadian fiction writer and journalist. Safe Harbor, the first novel in her Pat Tierney mystery series, was shortlisted for Britain's Debut Dagger Award in 2010.  Safe Harbor was published by Imajin Books in 2012, followed by its sequel Black Water in 2013. 

“The Sweetheart Scamster,” a Pat Tierney short story in the crime fiction anthology, Thirteen, was a finalist for a 2014 Derringer Award.

Jack Batten, The Toronto Star’s crime fiction reviewer, calls Pat “a hugely attractive sleuth figure.” 

Diane:  What gave you the idea to write this series?

Rosemary:   When I was looking for a leading character for a mystery series, my first consideration was to center the books around a woman journalist. I quickly rejected that idea: been there, done all that myself as a journalist. I gave it some more thought. 

For the past several years, I’d been writing about personal finance and the financial services industry. I interviewed financial advisers and investment managers. I attended their conferences. I knew the issues they faced and their concerns. Suddenly, the Pat Tierney character appeared full-blown in my mind. She has the traits of people I admire most in the industry: she cares about her clients; she’s a champion of small investors; she has sleepless nights when investment markets are down.

Diane:  What kind of research did you conduct to make your books more authentic?

Rosemary:  Many of the crimes in the Pat Tierney books involve money—fraud, theft, embezzlement, etc. And greed for money can be a powerful motive for murder. I write about some of these scams as a journalist, but I often need to call on financial experts to see if I’ve got the details right.

I frequently need more background about police procedures, and I’m fortunate to live in a city that has a co-operative police department. I’ll place a request with Toronto Police Service’s communications department, and one of its staffers will arrange a face-to-face interview with an officer from the appropriate department.

And I may need to talk to experts in other fields. When I was writing Black Water, I met with a midwife to find out whether home births took place in rural Ontario 40 years ago, and how infant immunization records were kept at that time. It’s so important to get the details right. If a reader spots a mistake you’ve made, he or she may not want to continue reading your book.

Diane:  How did your occupation as a journalist give you help in writing this series?

Rosemary:  As a newspaper reporter, I was trained to write clean, factual copy, and I aim to write clean, crisp fiction. I hope that I succeed. And years of interviewing people for newspaper articles certainly helped with writing dialogue. It fine-tuned my ear to the nuances of how different people speak.

Diane:  What makes writing fiction different than journalism?

Rosemary:  Description is where newspaper articles and fiction differ dramatically. Description is kept to a minimum in newspaper articles; photos show readers what a person or a place looks like. A fiction writer, on the other hand, must describe her characters and her settings. But I try to keep my descriptions brief—with a few brushstrokes rather than detailed portraits. I give every character in my novels and short stories a short physical description. Pat Tierney, for example, is in her mid-forties, and has short blonde hair and green eyes. But what characters say and do reveals much more about them.

Settings, so important in crime fiction, also need to be described in novels. Black Water is set in cottage country north of Toronto. When Pat first arrives in the small town of Braeloch at the beginning of the novel, she notes that it was “postcard pretty that morning with a fresh dusting of snow sparkling in the sunlight.” The entire township is breathtakingly beautiful with its lakes and rugged, rocky landscapes, which has drawn affluent cottagers to the area. They’ve built million-dollar vacation homes, while many local residents have difficulty making ends meet.

Diane:  How are these two books connected?

Rosemary:  Black Water is a continuation of Safe Harbor’s story. There’s unfinished business at the end of Safe Harbor: Pat’s daughter Tracy makes a surprising announcement, and Tracy isn’t happy with her mother’s reaction to it. When Black Water opens, about six weeks later, Tracy has moved out of the Tierney family home. She returns one evening to ask Pat to help find her sweetheart, Jamie Collins. Feeling she has let Tracy down, Pat heads off to Ontario cottage country where Jamie grew up, and where an elderly man was recently murdered. Jamie is the prime suspect in his death.

When I started Black Water, I knew many of the main characters well—Pat, her daughters, her adopted son Tommy, her friend Celia de Franco. They were old friends of mine, and it was fun to create new characters in a new locale for them to meet. It was great fun to move the story out of Toronto and into a rural community based an area that I know and love. As I say on my Acknowledgements page, “Black Water is set in an imaginary part of Ontario cottage country that bears a strong resemblance to the real Haliburton Highlands. None of the Haliburton Highlands residents appear in this book.”

Diane:  What challenges did you face in writing a series? 

Rosemary:  A big challenge of writing a series with the same central character is staying faithful to that character’s personality. Pat’s fierce sense of loyalty to her family, her friends and her clients drives all her decisions. At the end of Black Water, for example, Pat has to decide whether to stay in cottage country or return to Toronto. I had to let Pat’s character make that decision, which wasn’t necessarily the one that I might have chosen to write about.

Another challenge of a series is ensuring that each book stands on its own. Some readers will not have read the earlier books, and those who have will not want detailed introduction to the main characters. You can satisfy both groups by dropping in on the central character’s day-to-day life in the opening pages—and weaving in details later. 

“I was chilled to the bone when I got home that evening,” is how I introduce Pat in Chapter One of Black Water. She tells us how she feels on a winter Friday evening after a long week of work. At this point, we don’t need to know what line of work she’s in, only that she’s cold and tired and discouraged. We’ve all felt that way. And because I write the Pat Tierney books in the first person, from Pat’s point of view, I’m able to set up an immediate intimacy between the reader and my character. Pat is sharing another episode in her life with the reader. 

Diane:  Are you working on another book in the series?

Rosemary:  Yes, I’m currently writing my third Pat Tierney mystery, which I hope will be released next spring. It opens about three months after the end of Black Water. It is early summer in Ontario cottage country, and Pat is looking forward to a relaxing two months at the lake. Then all hell breaks loose: another family problem, a murder in the community and a fraudster who lures would-be vacationers into forwarding money to “rent” holiday homes that aren’t for rent. The third novel’s working title is Red Kayak, in keeping with my other “watery” titles, Safe Harbor and Black Water. But the title may well change by the time I’ve completed the manuscript.

Diane:  Please tell us more about your short stories.

Rosemary: My short story, “Plastic Paddies” recently appeared in Destination: Mystery!, Darkhouse Books’ collection of 16 crime stories set in popular vacation spots. And I’ve just completed another Pat Tierney story for the Mesdames of Mayhem’s second crime fiction anthology, Thirteen O’Clock, which will be released this fall. “The Sweetheart Scamster,” a Pat Tierney story in their earlier collection, Thirteen, was a finalist for a 2014 Derringer Award.

Diane:  Here's more information about Rosemary's books:
SAFE HARBOR:

Financial advisor Pat Tierney’s world is shattered when a visitor to her office tells her that Pat’s late husband is the father of her seven-year-old son. Pat is even more shocked when the woman bolts from the office, leaving young Tommy behind. When Tommy’s mother is found murdered the next day, police say that the boy may be the killer’s next target. In a race to protect Tommy, Pat uncovers a deadly scheme involving illegal immigrants and money laundering.

Safe Harbor Amazon link: http://amzn.to/wAQpJN

From Diane's 5* Review:
The stories of all the characters are expertly intertwined by a talented author, who makes the reader care what happens to Pat Tierney and her small family. I held my breath when danger loomed and sighed with relief when...you'll need to find out for yourself. If you enjoy mystery, suspense, and a bit of romance this is a book that gives you everything in one place.
BLACK WATER:

When Pat Tierney’s daughter, Tracy, asks her to help find her sweetheart, Jamie, their mother-daughter relationship is stretched to the limits. Pat heads out to cottage country where Jamie grew up and where an elderly man recently perished in a suspicious fire. And she learns that Jamie is the prime suspect in the man’s death.

Black Water Amazon link: http://amzn.to/16KEGUk

From Diane's 5* Review:
The second book in the Pat Tierney Mystery series is a real nail biter. When Pat's daughter Tracy first introduced her new "partner," Pat freaked out. Now she faces a new problem. Her daughter's lover, Jaimie Collins, is missing and the police think she murdered a man. Tracy begs her to find Jamie, but Pat must unravel the murder to accomplish the task. Can she restore her relationship with Tracy?...I recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys mysteries and adventure.
Diane:  Thanks for sharing  your experiences with my readers, Rosemary. 

Rosemary: Thank you, Diane, for inviting me here today. 
Please keep in touch by vising my website at http://www.rosemarymccracken.com/, my blog at http://rosemarymccracken.wordpress.com/, my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/rosemarymccracken?ref=tn_tnmn, and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RCMcCracken. 

Scientist or Superhero? The Adam's Chronicles, an Epic Adventure

On today's blog, I am hosting Larry Lapin, author of Adam's Chronicles.   When I first read this series, I discovered a new world of science fact mixed with speculative fiction.  Recently, Lawrence Lapin introduced his sixth work of fiction and describes Adam as a superhero, but is he really? First let's take a look at the mild-mannered author of the series:

A best-selling author of statistics textbooks, Larry Lapin finds novel writing much more fun. Larry’s stories reflect his own life. Like character Adam Boatwright, he raised pigeons, delivered newspapers, and was an early lover of movies. He too is a university professor, but the similarity ends there.

The Adam's Chronicles  is a series of four action-adventure thrillers that share a story line born during a long walk. Larry had been worrying about the planet’s future and contemplating his own mortality, when he fantasized about a Noah’s Ark saving the world after a future disaster. Adam Boatwright would be the latter-day Noah and his ark would be a limestone cavern. Instead of a flood, there would be a meteor. The end result should become a utopia, free from many problems facing our world. The hero needed to be long-lived to pull it all off. He would be a geneticist and physician—simple.

As readers discover, Professor Lapin’s novels are part medical thriller, part science fiction action thriller, all with bits of romantic fantasy included. Due to his scientific expertise, the futuristic stories feel more real than what we expect from typical science fiction.  The suspense is compelling, while spiritual, ethical, and social issues are also tackled. Readers will discover that Larry likes to explain things, like any professor.  So prepare to learn.  The   Adam’s Chronicles  have a logical progression and hang together as an epic adventure. They move fast. Larry says: “It’s the story that matters.”  

Adam's Chronicles, the Series:

Adam Boatwright is a superhero, though not in a physical sense. The medical doctor and geneticist is on a long mission to resurrect the planet’s ecosystem, a gargantuan task best led by a person who does not age. Being virtually immortal, Adam fills the bill, though he is still subject to most human frailties and can die from injuries, poison, drowning, and so forth. He is immune to viral-borne diseases because his body cells replicate perfectly, keeping him perpetually young.

And like popular superheroes, Adam Boatwright has enemies. He must keep his true age a secret, lest they learn how to stop aging. Over and over again, Adam masquerades as a normal aging person and then fakes his death, repeatedly. The hero must constantly detract would-be traffickers in immortality, a universal attractor that in wrong hands could bring destruction of life as we know it.
Adam’s Caverns: “An Ultimate Survival Story”

The epic survival tale begins, as Book I of Adam’s Chronicles tells of the world facing pending impact by a gigantic meteor. Adam Boatwright faces his greatest challenge: preparing for the collision and dealing with the aftermath of the massive calamity.

When all hope of saving the planet is lost, the rescuers hole up in a deep cavern to wait out the catastrophe. Their story deals with worthiness of the human race, family planning, reproductive politics, planned mutations, cloning, animal rights, immortality, sexual preferences, and what life to restore. They encounter betrayal, career crises, shattered dreams, sacrifice, and renewal.

The common thread of this book is science, discussed in ordinary language. Subjects include controlled evolution, intelligence enhancements, non-cryogenic embryo storage, expanded animal-human communications, and prolonged cessation of the aging process.

Click on the following to find out more. http://amzn.to/16IL6PU
Adam’s New World: “Restoring Life’s Evolutionary Path”

Adam emerges as a full-fledged superhero. Book II of Adam’s Chronicles begins where Adam’s Caverns left off, with a handful of adults and their closely related children. All over the battered planet they are restoring life almost totally wiped out by the massive meteor. People are caught in a tight genetic funnel. To thrive, the two groups of surviving humans must pool their genetic material and carefully plan the next generations.

Adam Boatwright leads the genetic engineering necessary to give survival diversity to both animals and humans. The highly intelligent apes are in the process of being integrated into society and are treated as hairy people. Some request that Adam modify their genetic lines to permit speech and make it easier to walk on two legs. Others want to live in the wild, without humans and mind enhancing chemicals. Conflicts must be resolved.

The new society begins its long growth spurt, but transportation by boat is too time consuming and too dangerous. Infrastructure building starts with salvaging planes and ships. Stored fuels are running too low for that to work, and scarce gasoline must be replaced.

All the while, life must be restored and Adam must keep secret his long life, thereby protecting the future from traffickers in immortality. Can he orchestrate it all while directing a handful of middle-aged survivors with very young children, all spread widely over the planet?

Click on the following to find out more. http://goo.gl/cXPcKs
Adam’s Tiger: “Restoring Life Made Extinct by Man”

Book III of Adam’s Chronicles moves 500 years into the future. Planet Earth is still recovering from a disastrous meteor impact. The centuries-long effort to bring back animals and plants—and mankind itself—is nearing its conclusion.

Humans make a small footprint in this renewed world, though ecological disaster is expected from explosive population growth. Changes are in the works, troubles are brewing, and Adam Boatwright worries about the future.

The long-lived geneticist vows to discourage mankind from again ruining the planet. He also takes on a new goal: to make life more robust while improving the platform for future evolution. In doing so, he would bring back animals driven to extinction by early humans, starting with woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats.

Click on the following to find out more. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LDD8UEQ
Adam’s Pouched Lion: “Human Directed Evolution” (NEW 7/7/2015)

In Book IV of Adam’s Chronicles Planet Earth is still recovering from a disastrous meteor impact. The centuries-long effort to restore animals and plants—and mankind itself—has been expanded to include bringing back certain mammals that went extinct much earlier.

Adam Boatwright worries about the future. The long-lived geneticist wants a world with a small human footprint. But he also wants to compensate for the earlier ruin people brought. His ambitious goal is improving the planet’s platform for future evolution. In doing so he has reversed extinctions, starting with woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats. In the works are bringing back long-dead keystone Australian predators: Tasmanian tiger-wolves and marsupial lions.

Diane's review:  5* Super-Scientist restores extinct species--This series is incredible. Each book teaches the reader about genetics while we sit on the edge of our seat wondering what will happen.  There are many dangers--terrorists chimpanzees and potential super-plagues--facing this super-scientist.  Adam faces opposition about restoring dangerous species and gives us an understanding of his reasoning. How long will Adam (and Breeze) live?  Let's hope it's a long time with many more episodes.

Click on the following to find out more. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01183SHPM
Adam... Forever: “Immortality: A Cure Worse Than the Disease”

Prequel to the Adam’s Chronicles series. The story tells how geneticist and surgeon, Adam Boatwright, uses his skills to prevent his wife’s impending cancer. Adam engineers a super virus that continually generates chemicals that fight off viruses and cancer.

As a test, Adam infects himself with that mutant virus. But the side effect is prevention of aging, and he becomes virtually immortal. Convinced that long lives would destroy the human race, Adam becomes caught in a web of intrigue and conspiracy as he tries to stop profiteers from exploiting his super virus.

Click on the following to find out more. http://amzn.to/19ftCO0

My Final comments:
Since Adam could potentially live forever, this series may grow and keep readers enchanted for years.  How will a world designed by a scientist eventually turn out? Adam doesn't wear a special suit or turn into a muscular flying man, so is Adam a superhero or just a scientist?  How about both?  I believe he's  a super-scientist!  Diane Rapp

Bentley is back! His interview with author Ann Swann

Hi Humans! It’s QuickSilver’s Lord Bentley here again, but you can call me Bentley.  We had so many people tell Mom they loved my last interview, so she agreed to let me try again.  I must be on my best behavior, can’t jump on this author or lick her face.  Her name is Ann Swann, and Mom says she wrote a series that might be a little bit scary.  That’s okay.  I’m a brave poodle, so I can handle it.  Okay, so I’m not really brave, but I can bark loud.

I hear the crunch footsteps on the gravel walk outside and the doorbell just rang. “Bark! Bark!”  If I stand up on my hind legs, I can see her face looking at me through the glass in the door.  “Bark.” No!  I must sit, remain calm, and send her telepathic messages:

Please open the door!  I don’t have hands so I can’t do it for you.
OH! GOOD! She understood me and is opening the door.  She pets my topknot, so I race once around the living room and jump onto the couch by the window.  I try to sit calmly so she feels safe.  Drat my tail, it keeps wagging all by itself, but she doesn’t seem to mind. 

She sits in Mom’s chair and her lips curl into a smile with her square teeth showing.  Humans like to show their teeth, but it doesn’t scare me.  This time I must be a better host and offer refreshments right away. 

“Bark!”  She looks startled.  Oops, I must remember to send her telepathic thoughts:

Mom left a plate of human cookies on the coffee table and a glass of sweet tea.  I promise I didn’t taste any of them, so be sure to help yourself.  

I try not to drool or stare as she nibbles a chocolate chip macadamia nut cookie.  Drat, where is my chew bone when I really need something to sink my teeth into?  Maybe I’d better start asking questions about her books.  

Mom really enjoyed your books and read me her review about STUTTER CREEK.  I got bored and chewed up the paper but remember part of it.  She said, “This is a thriller combined with a poignant story of lost love.  It will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last pages.”  Can you tell Mom’s readers more about your series?  
Ann grinned and said, “Sure! This series started with a real news article about a little boy whose father was so mentally ill that he threw the little guy out beside the highway. That story bothered me so much that I had to write about it. I turned it into Stutter Creek—which is, by the way—the name of the town where the terrible things take place. But don’t worry I made sure everything came out right in the end. That’s the good part about being an author.”


Mom also told me there’s a ghost in that first book.  Did you ever see a real ghost?  

“Yes, and no. There is a spirit in Stutter Creek. But it’s more like a guardian angel. I have never SEEN a ghost, but I have been contacted by spirits on two different occasions. One was my grandmother, through a song, and one was my late mother, through my cell phone.”

Wow! I’ve never met a human who was contacted by ghosts and your books sound exciting, I’ll ask Mom to read one to me before I fall asleep.  It’s just hard to stay awake long enough to enjoy the scary parts.  Mom says you also recorded the books on audiotape?  

“Yes, all of my books are on audio except for Lilac Lane, but I hope to have time to get it recorded soon.”  

So how did you get the idea to write these books?  Is there a real place named Stutter Creek?  

She shook her head.  “No, I made up the name Stutter Creek after we happened upon a little creek stuttering along through the mountains while on vacation one year. The town is sort of a mixture of two or three little historical places we’ve visited over the years.”
I just love to go running in the woods.  I’ll bet I could jump so high I’d sail right across that creek.  Well, maybe I’d get a little bit wet but that’s fun, too.  Mom said there’s a really bad guy in the second book, LILAC LANE.  I remember she said, “ Ella begins to gather the courage she will need to defend her own life against a crazed killer.”   GRRRR! I hate bad guys! I would bite a crazed killer with my sharp white teeth and send him packing.  

Maybe I’d better stick with safer books about kids.  Mom loved Stevie Girl and the books about her and Jase.  She said, “These stories take me back to another era, a time that seemed simpler and safer than today.”  Those books sound like good reading before bed, can you tell us more?



“The Phantom Series consists of three books about Stevie-girl and her friend, Jase. Book One is Stevie-girl and the Phantom Pilot. It is a novella based on an award winning short story, “The Shepherd.” You would like that one, Bentley. One of the main characters is Lady, a German shepherd who belonged to the phantom pilot—but you have to decide if she is a ghost dog or not! 

"Book Two is Stevie-girl and the Phantom Student. In this one, the new main character is a boy with Tourette syndrome. Of course there is a ghost in this book, too. But no canines this time, sorry. Book Three is Stevie-girl and the Phantom of Crybaby Bridge. This time Stevie and Jase are confronted with two ghosts! In each book they have to figure out how to help the grieving spirits cross over—or in some cases, back over—to the other side.”

Wow!  You really like to write about ghosts.   My body quivers when I think about something I can’t sink my teeth into, but Mom will protect me.   You’d better tell Mom’s readers where they can buy all your books.  

 She says, “I sure will Bentley, and thank you so much for letting me share your mom and the delicious cookies!  Here is the list to give to your Mom.”
I gaze longingly toward the plate that still holds two cookies and my tail starts wagging again.

Thanks so much for letting me mind-speak with you today, Ann.  Mom will be so proud of me.  Be sure to tell her I didn’t jump on you or lick your face!  Do you want to take the rest of the cookies to your car?  No?  Okay, I’ll just clean up the plate so it’s ready to go in that noisy dish machine.  

I follow Ann to the door, wagging my tail like a good host and watch as her car pulls out of the driveway.  She was such a nice person, like a real member of our pack.  Now to clean up that dish and find any stray crumbs before my nap.
Note from Diane:

My thanks to Ann Swann for allowing Bentley to conduct this interview.  He was so anxious to do another interview that he’d sit by my computer and stare at the screen every day.  He’s tall enough to rest his chin on the arm of my chair, so his hot breath would trickle down my arm.  Now he might be content enough to sleep on his doggie bed again.  

Ann Swann has more books to view that Bentley didn't talk about.  To find a complete list of her books go to the following links:

Amazon author page http://www.tinyurl.com/bmrsong
5 Prince author page http://www.5princebooks.com/annswann.html
Audio book lovers should go to http://tinyurl.com/p7fdpjm
Ann has two new books coming out soon.  

Takers: Apocalypse in Eden will be released in late August of this year. And Copper Lake (book 3 in Stutter Creek series) will be released in January of 2016. 

To get notified when the books are available, use the following link and then click the FOLLOW button, I did! 
http://www.tinyurl.com/bmrsong

Character Interviews: Connie Barrera and Paul Russo

Author, Charles "Bud" Dougherty is a recovering attorney who became a full-time sailor to fight his addiction.  Now he writes thrillers set in the Caribbean to keep himself busy, and he has been really busy.  I've read most of them and can tell you the books are exciting and will keep readers wanting more.

Bud and his wife, Leslie have sailed the Caribbean for years on their yacht.  Between writing fiction, Bud also writes fascinating real life accounts about his sailing adventures on the Play Actor .   

Bud Dougherty’s Connie Barrera Thriller series is a spinoff from the Bluewater Thrillers that features Dani Berger and  Liz Chirac, two kick-ass heroines who regularly defeat the villains who target their yacht, Vengeance .  The new series features a love story that has its challenges, mostly other villains that must be 'dealt with' by a savvy scam-artist heroine and her ex-cop partner, Paul Russo.  

Bud likes to let his characters speak for themselves; they often write guest posts on his blog.  When I invited him to do a guest post on my blog with some facts about the characters in the Connie Barrera Thriller series, he delegated the job to Connie and Paul.  With Connie's famous temper, Bud took a risk, but he's a brave man.  Here’s the result:


Connie Barrera:

When Diane invited Bud to do a guest post about the Connie Barrera Thrillers , I was excited. The third book in the series was released a couple of weeks ago; the timing was perfect. Then Bud told me he couldn't do it because he was busy with Dani Berger and Liz Chirac on their ninth Bluewater Thriller !

My legendary temper almost got the better of me; it's a good thing he was out of my reach. I mean, come on. Nine books! Don't get me wrong. I owe Bud my very existence, and Dani and Liz are my best friends, but still, he's written 9 books for them, and only 3 for me. Then he suggested that I could write the post myself, so here I am.

If you haven't guessed by now, I'm Connie Barrera, the co-owner and skipper of the charter yacht Diamantista II, and until recently, I was the quintessential loner. My background has a lot to do with my penchant for keeping to myself. I didn't have an easy life in my early years.

I'm not complaining, but you should know that until recently, I held the view that people could be divided into two classes: scammers and their marks. I didn't consider the boundary between the classes to be rigid, either. One person's mark was often another's scammer. That was what made life fun; that, and scheming to come out on top every time.

I believe in fair play; I always have. I never fleeced anyone who wouldn't have done the same to me, but that left a lot of room for maneuvering. I have a better life now, thanks to hard work, an open mind, and a little luck. It's a mistake to discount the importance of luck in determining life's outcomes, but I always work hard to minimize its effect.

Luck caused my life to change for the better when I met Dani and Liz a couple of years ago. I was in a hurry to depart from Nassau without leaving a trail, and I chartered Vengeance , their yacht, to make my escape. That story is told in Bluewater Ice.

Unqualified friendship was a new experience for me. Dani and Liz were watching my back for no reason other than their sense that it was the right thing to do. What an awakening that was! The idea that they were in my corner with no quid pro quo stunned me. As I said, it changed my life. I liked it so much that I stuck around with them for their adventures in Bluewater Betrayal.

They introduced me to sailing, which is pure magic. Harnessing the wind to make a 50-ton boat go where you want is an experience like no other. You can't overpower the wind and the sea, but you can adjust the way you deal with them so that they assist you in achieving your goals. If you can get what you want from Mother Nature, getting people to go your way is no challenge.

Besides teaching me to sail, Dani and Liz introduced me to Paul Russo, the love of my life. Paul's a life-long sailor, and he happened along when I had decided to buy a yacht and go into the charter business. He had just retired from the Miami Police Department, and he was looking for something to do. Next to sailing, his other favorite thing is cooking.

Paul agreed to help me get started. That was in Love for Sail, the first Connie Barrera Thriller . In Sailor’s Delight, the second book in the series, we got the business going and worked out some personal problems. Now we've bought a nicer boat and we're going to marry.

I'm still astonished by that. I've had men in my life before Paul, but always on my terms and only to further my goals. I wasn't looking for love back then; I was recruiting talent for my schemes.

There was an element of that in my relationship with Paul, but it didn't last long. Until I met him, the men I knew had been trying to use me. Not that I wasn't doing the same, but this time, I’m in love.

We've had some rough spots in our relationship, and Bud keeps throwing external conflicts in our way to keep things exciting. Most recently, in A Blast to Sail, he involved us in a terrorist plot to nuke Manhattan. In spite of the hurdles Bud puts in our way, we're going to make it, Paul and I are. We're committed, aren't we, Paul?


Paul Russo: 

We sure are, captain. I'm Paul Russo, Connie's fiancé. I'm also her first mate and chef aboard Diamantista II . When Connie decided to buy her own boat and go into the charter business, the boat was easy enough, but she needed a competent chef. She’s a woman with a lot of talents, but none of them involve food preparation.

We met aboard Vengeance , when Connie was sailing with my friends, Dani and Liz. Connie isn’t a direct person; she’s manipulative. When she saw me sharing the chef's duties with Liz, she began her scheme to Shanghai me. Until now, she had no idea that I knew she was conning me. Not that I was resisting, you understand. My two favorite activities are sailing and cooking.

Besides, I was enjoying Connie’s company; she’s charming. Neither of us was looking for romance; we’d both been burned a few too many times. People who venture out into tropical thunderstorms are never looking to get struck by lightning, either, but ...

Before Connie even got the first Diamantista to the islands, we figured out there was more to our relationship than sailing and cooking. Our early days were complicated by drug smugglers in Love for Sail, but we got through that and decided to get married.

Our romance hasn’t been all smooth sailing and Caribbean sunsets. There was something eating away at Connie during our second charter, the one that’s described in Sailor’s Delight. I never figured it out, but I think it had something to do with an orange thong she found in my drawer. Whatever it was, we’re solid now, but we still have our differences.

Connie’s got a temper, and I’m often too quick to speak my mind. Nevertheless, we went in together to buy Diamantista II , so we're partners in the business as well as in life. We're still feeling our way in both areas; we had a misunderstanding at the beginning of our last adventure. I managed to get my face slapped pretty hard in the first few pages of A Blast to Sail, but I think we’re getting used to one another’s quirks, right, Connie?


Connie:

Thanks, Paul, but next time, stick to the script approved by management. I'm getting used to  your  quirks; I don't have any.  But I'm committed to you, even if you sometimes forget who's the captain. And we're both committed to entertaining the people who like to read about our adventures. We wouldn't be here without you all. Thanks to all who read and enjoy our stories, and thank you, Diane, for this opportunity.

It was my pleasure to host your posts about the very interesting series.  I'm glad you two got everything ironed out as I enjoy reading about a spicy romance.  Readers can find these books at the following links:

Love for Sail  http://amzn.to/1DHyM2U 
Sailor's Delight http://amzn.to/1Imhl96 
A Blast to Sail http://amzn.to/1KsguHG

Read more about Bud's other books on his blogs:
www.clrdougherty.com
Voyage of the Play Actor

Society for Paranormals Series

Ghosts of Tsavo: Armed with Victorian etiquette and a dead husband, Beatrice Knight arrives in colonial Kenya desperate for a pot of tea. She’ll need more than that if she’s to unravel the mystery of the Ghosts of Tsavo without being eaten in the process.  Links to Ghost of Tsavo: 
Amazon (and other Amazon sites)  http://bit.ly/1Jhjfgs  
Kobo:http://bit.ly/1HLRPNh Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1HLRXML  
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1Jhjfgs

Diane's Comments:
When I discover a book that makes me eager to read more in the series, I must share the treasure with other readers.  Vered Ehsani created an extraordinary paranormal series set in Africa during the Victorian era and caught me by surprise.  As I trolled through Victorian novels, I hoped to immerse myself in the language while writing a period piece of my own, but I had no idea what a quirky character I'd meet.  Mrs. Knight is incredibly brave but not in an action-hero sense, she's exceptionally clever but not in a Sherlockian manner, and she's a Victorian lady but not when it gets in her way.

A penniless widow, Beatrice finds herself living with annoying relatives in Africa, surrounded by strange paranormal beings who regularly disturb her peace. She's haunted by her ghostly husband, disturbed by a giant bat that interrupted a perfectly good party, and must rely upon a possessed horse with glowing eyes for transportation.  She's quite capable of dealing with miscreants, using her lethal cane and a bag of cinnamon, but things get a trifle out of hand during the process. Beatrice has paranormal talents of her own.  She squints (or uses special glasses) to see paranormal energy in creatures but hates to intrude on other humans.  

The Victorian dialog is charming.  Anyone who reads one book will certainly wish to devour them all.  There is enough information to read any volume on its own, and the author offers bonus material to readers who post reviews. I enjoyed learning more information from several short stories.
The Author’s Description of series:
The “Society for Paranormals” is a series concerning dead husbands, African legends and the search for a perfect spot of tea. I wrote it for those readers who are enamoured with “Pride & Prejudice”, adore Amelia Peabody, and / or would appreciate a supernatural safari through colonial Kenya. Through the series, I explore Kenyan history and African mythology, with a bit of Victorian manners thrown in. I love dark, dry humour, so you can expect a few chuckles as well!

How I got the idea: 
I've lived in Kenya for the past 15 years. Up until a couple years ago, I felt a bit nervous about writing about this country, as it's a complex place. Eventually though, my love for historical fiction and the paranormal encouraged me to delve into the local history. A Kenyan friend of mine shared a few spooky stories from his village, and that further inspired me to study about African supernatural beings. 

No one has really written about them, so I decided to research and to experiment with a few ideas. I fell in love with what I learned, and with the characters of Mrs. Knight and her motley crew of friends. I've tried to maintain as much historical accuracy as I can, while integrating the delightful paranormal wildlife as well. 

As a result of my research, I developed a document with descriptions about some of the paranormal characters that appear in the books. It's available as a free eBook from my website:  http://veredehsani.co.za  . I also wrote a series of short stories about some of the characters, in order to understand them better. These shorts are available to anyone who posts a review of the books, regardless of the rating.

There are currently four books to the series, with several more planned. The first book is permanently free. Book 4 is available as a pre-order; the pre-ordered versions of the book include a free novella (available until 6 August, after which the novella will be removed).

Here are short descriptions of the other books in the series and their links.




The Automaton’s Wife: Beatrice Knight’s dead husband has absconded with an automaton, but she has other problems: a killer has moved into town. As luck should dictate, who should be the next target but Mrs. Knight, herself?http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VBSP5FU 
(and other Amazon sites)


Revenge of the Mantis: Beatrice Knight’s arch nemesis is about to pay an unsolicited visit. Mrs. Knight must now answer one critical question: what, or whom, is she prepared to sacrifice in order to defeat the Mantis? 
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XRKPNH0
(and other Amazon sites)


The Fourth Mandate: Just when she thinks she’s free of the Society, Beatrice Knight must face her past, not to mention a demented dwarf. Fortunately, anything is manageable with a pot of tea and a fully loaded walking stick. 
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0127Q194K 
(and other Amazon sites)

Democracy or Constitutional Republic?

On Saturday my husband and I attended a meeting at a local venue and listened to the featured speaker, Lt. Col. Allen West, former Congressman from the state of Florida.  He opened the meeting by asking if we live in a democracy, and then quoted Benjamin Franklin.  When asked what kind of country we have Ben Franklin said, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”

I usually avoid political topics, but today I  wondered, "What is the key difference between the two forms of government?" We all took government classes in high school but that was a long time ago.  I couldn't remember if they really explained the difference so we understood. 

Searching for definitions, I read that a pure democracy rules by the will of the majority and does not protect individual rights while a republic rules by elected representatives and protects the rights of individuals.  Both are democratic forms of government but I'm grateful we established a Republic.

How about Parliament?  When the English Parliament was first established, the monarchy ruled by absolute authority over the country and its government.  After the Magna Carta, parliament evolved and the monarch was forced to govern THROUGH the parliament not OVER it.  The House of Lords is filled with hereditary land owners (Lords) but the House of Commons is filled with representatives elected by their constituents, which also makes that government a representative form of government.

Now the big question.  What happens when a country’s leader or legislature oversteps authority and does things that are unconstitutional?  The courts can halt those acts through court cases initiated by people affected (they have standing).  The legislature can also pass laws to override those actions.  This is the reason that our three branches of government need to function separately to provide a balance.

So, we have a Republic and regularly change leadership without violence.  We maintain our individual rights through laws and a balanced government.  Our people have a voice in their government, exercising that voice by replacing leaders through the ballot box, so it’s really important that individuals educate themselves about issues and VOTE. 

We have a Republic if we can keep it!