Valerie Webster's Blog, page 6

Review: Three Pines the Series

A favorite of my mine – now an Amazon Original.  How could you not love an inspector whose name is just a consonant away from ganache!  Author, bestseller and multiple award-winner, Louise Penny, brings her village of Three Pines and the insightful Armande Gamache to the streaming screen.  And what a gift!

  Gamache has observed his fellow villagers and probed what doesn’t reveal itself in the everyday business of life.   But give Gamache time and connection to the player. He will, like the soul explorer he is, recognize the odd turn of phrase, the oh-so-slight incongruity.  His openness to every possibility and his vision into the human psyche are his remarkable gifts.

   In Episode One of Amazon’s series, a woman named CC de Poitiers is having an affair with her photographer.  Just published, CC is a bitter woman who never says anything positive to anyone. At a curling match with the entire town watching, she is electrocuted. Inspector Gamache (Alfred Molina) is sent to investigate the case, along with Inspector Beauvoir and Sergeant Lacoste.  It’s clear to Gamache and team the theme of this murder is not just to take someone’s life but to punish them as much as possible and to make a spectacle of it. 

  You won’t be able to turn away.

When Do Episodes Air: Three Pines was available on Friday, December 2, with 2 new episodes airing each week.

How Many Episodes: There will be 8 episodes in Season One of Three Pines.

Where to Watch Three Pines: Three Pines is available to stream on Prime Video (free trial)

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Book Review: The Woman He Used to Know

Denver homicide detective Nick Ryan and homicide suspect Elizabeth Harper have a history.   Theirs was a passionate attraction that bound them, but a break in faith extinguished the flame.   Years later In a chance assignment, Nick encounters his past lover.  Her husband is dead and Elizabeth is the chief suspect.  The Woman He Used To Know is a page turning experience you won’t put down. 

There are 90 reviews on Amazon and more than 70 on Goodreads.  A strong mix of five- and four-star ratings.  Here are the samples that say it best.

This was a non-stop thriller. Loved the characters and the twists which kept you guessing until the end as to who was the murderer! Definitely plan to read more from this author.

Kerry O., goodreads

Helen charms us into thinking we’ll know the plot by giving us frequent glimpses not only into the mind of Nick Ryan, but also into the primary suspect’s mind as well. It is infrequent that I read a mystery book that puts us into the minds of both characters, this was a treat for the book.

Janine Bolon, Amazon

You think you have sussed out who did it but to find that you were wrong as the plot thickens.  A constant page turner that has you hooked right from the start to finish.

Fiona Pope-Bulling, goodreads

A good murder mystery with an added side of romance that had me hooked from the very first chapter. I liked the underlying spark of chemistry between Nick and Elizabeth and found myself rooting for their second-chance HEA. I found this hard to put down because I just couldn’t guess who the murderer was until it was finally revealed in the last chapters. The author does a good job keeping the reader on the edge right to the very end.

Di O’Brien, Amazon

Colorado native and former OR nurse, Helen Starbuck is an award-winning author of The Annie Collins Mystery Series and standalone contemporary romantic suspense. When she’s not writing, you can find her dressing up like a princess and ballroom dancing with her friends or reading books about strong women and interesting men who find themselves in suspense-filled situations. 

You can find more about Helen on these pages: Facebook (facebook.com/helensstarbuck), Instagram (instagram.com/helenstarbuck/), and her web site (helenstarbuck.com).

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Don’t be a Victim of Burglary

Having spent 30 years in Public Safety divisions of major telecom carriers, I’ve had the opportunity to direct and manage development of a number of property crime prevention applications.   Today I’m cutting through speculative ideas about the nature of home break-ins to give you current facts not only about trends, but about how you can make your home resistant to burglary. 

Let’s start with what we know about who is likely to break into your home:

85% of burglaries are committed by amateurs, often done by someone who is desperate.50% of burglars live less than two miles away from the home they want to steal from. Thieves are mostly male and typically under the age of 25. Thieves are not planners.    Only 12% of all burglaries are plotted in advance.

And who are thieves most likely to target:

Social media posters: 41% of victimized homeowners aged 18 to 34 years posted photos and updates on social media while they were on vacation.Students are often targeted for their collections of electronic equipment.Renters are 50% more likely to be burglarized.The elderly are also a frequent target.

What are the properties thieves consider as easy marks:

Suburban homes have a 50% higher chance of being burglarized.If your house has already been hit, 51% of burglarized homes are targeted again within 6 weeks.Rental properties have a more than 50% chance of break in.Homes without security systems have a 300% greater chance of being burgled.

Given the stats, it is clear that investing in home security is a wise decision.  Tim Howell of Secure View, LLC has provided some key points to consider when choosing a security system.

For the Do-It-Yourselfer

Pro:

I can install it myselfIt can be less expensiveA low or no monthly cost

Con:

You are then responsible for installing the equipment.You well be responsible for the maintenanceYou are responsible when upgrades are neededYour personal information may be releasedSystem may not be secure as you thinkNo Warranty

Professionally Installed:

Pro:

Expert in the field of SecurityProfessional security company assists with maintenance and troubleshootingYour personal information is secureSystem is specific to you and secure1-year warranty on most systems

Con:

Can be more expensive because of higher quality and security?Low to medium fee for monitoring?

DYI or Professional installation, know the answer to these:

What happens to my personal information when I register into the app of my new system?How secure or private is the system and my information about the system, i.e., location, type, monitoring info etc.?What is the warranty?What is the monthly charge and what does it cover?Who do I call when I need service on the system?

Whatever your choice of system types, now is the time to think about your home security. 

The FBI gives us four good reasons why:

There are 2.5 million burglaries annually in the United States.A home burglary occurs every 15 seconds in our country.The average burglary loss is valued at $2,661.Police solve only 13% of reported burglary cases.

Thanks to Tim Howell of Secure View, LLC for his contribution to this material.  Tim has been a home security company owner for 30+ years.  If you wish to know more about his company or how he can help protect your home, his contact number is (720) 708-7506.

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Sisters in Crime Welcomes Kate Carlisle

The San Diego chapter of Sisters in Crime welcomes New York Times bestselling author Kate Carlisle on November 12 – Hey! That’s my birthday.  What a great way to celebrate.  You’re in for a treat if you sign up to hear about Kate’s adventures. 

  Kate is a native Californian who worked in television production for quite a few years before turning to writing. She leveraged her lifelong fascination with the art and craft of bookbinding into The Bibliophile Mysteries.  Her protagonist is Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills unearth some very old secrets, treachery and murder. She’s written more than twenty books and still found time to launch the Fixer-Upper mystery series.   A few of her works have been adapted for television. 

Join the SinC chat with Kate about her books.   Besides her writing she’ll have some great anecdotes about how she once traveled the world as a Dating Game chaperone and performed strange acts of silliness on The Gong Show.  

Remember this date: Nov 12, 2022 02:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada).  Register in advance for this meeting: https://bit.ly/3NyJJzi

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A Staggering Feat by a Single Author

The Hardy Boys series on Hulu has been cancelled after three seasons.  Amazing since The Hardy Boys has been one of the longest-running series in any format. This franchise started with the novel “The Tower Treasure” in 1927!

   When the series began, books were attributed to an author named Franklin W. Dixon but were actually written by a group known as The Stratemeyer Syndicate.  The Syndicate was founded by children’s book entrepreneur, Edward Stratemeyer. Statemeyer was colossally prolific, having created more than 1,300 books and selling over 500 million copies. He created  YA characters and book series including: The Rover Boys, The Bobbsey Twins, Tom Swift, The Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew.   

  Adaptations of the series books to film began in 1956 when “The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure” was aired as part of “The Mickey Mouse Club.” Another series ran from 1969-1971, which was an animated version where the boys were members of a rock band.  From 1977-1979 “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries” appeared, teaming The Hardy Boys with Nancy Drew, another Stratemeyer-created character. Previously there was also a 1995 television series that lasted only 13 episodes.

  Launched in 2020, the Hulu adaptation of “The Hardy Boys” was, according to Variety, a production based entirely in Canada with only Canadian actors.  Since then, the series has scored two Canadian Screen Awards, a Directors Guild of Canada Award, and a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Young Adult Series.  The final season will consist of eight episodes, an hour in length each, and will have Bailee Madison of “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” joining the cast. 

   Sadly after three seasons on the streaming service, Hulu has chosen to cancel the show following its third season.  It seems that lack of awareness about the show may have contributed to its early cancellation. 

  Down for now, don’t count The Hardy Boys out.  They’ve been a reappearing act for 95 years!

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About the Author Valerie Webster

Rita Mars Thriller Series | Twisty Crime Thrillers | Timely Stories Based on True Experiences

Valerie Webster of Boulder, Colo. draws readers into the shadowy worlds of crime and crime fighters by using her 30+ year career in cyber and real-life security.

The result is riveting fiction based on real cases and policing applications with the main character Rita Mars—an ex-investigative reporter fighting crime around Washington D.C.’s beltway and beyond.

Webster’s debut novel Driven: A Rita Mars Thriller received critical accolades from readers, with more than 70 Amazon reviews with a 4.3-star average rating, and more than 40 Goodreads reviews with a 4.12-star average.

Driven: A Rita Mars Thriller is the Colorado Independent Publisher’s Association’s (CIPA) 2022 Silver Award winner in LGBTQ fiction, with more than 6,000 copies of the thriller sold since first publishing in May 2021.  

Valerie Webster’s second book in the crime fiction series, Objects of Desire takes Rita Mars to the dark underworld of the Chesapeake Bay’s marshy swamps, with as many plot twists and turns as the wetlands weave. Objects of Desire: A Rita Mars Thriller is anticipated to publish in late 2022.

Webster is a member of Mystery Writers of America and the national and Colorado chapters of Sisters in Crime. Sign up for the blog and learn more about Valerie Webster and the Rita Mars Thriller series at www.valeriewebster.com.

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Meet Crime Fiction Author Valerie Webster

Valerie Webster of Boulder, Colo. draws readers into the shadowy worlds of crime and crime fighters by using her 30+ year career in cyber and real-life security.

The result is riveting fiction based on real cases and policing applications with the main character Rita Mars—an ex-investigative reporter fighting crime around Washington D.C.’s beltway and beyond.

Webster’s debut novel Driven: A Rita Mars Thriller received critical accolades from readers.

Her second book in the crime fiction series, Objects of Desire publishes in late 2022.

Webster is a member of Mystery Writers of America and the national and Colorado chapters of Sisters in Crime.

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Driven is a 2022 EVVY Award Winner!

On Monday, August 29, Driven: A Rita Mars Thriller, took the Silver Award in the Fiction, LGBTQ category. I want to thank all my readers who took the time to review my work, who sent messages of encouragement and who rolled up their sleeves to help get my book produced and promoted. I could not have asked for more caring support. 

About the EVVY’s

The CIPA EVVYs™ is one of the longest-running book award competitions on the Indie publishing scene, running for nearly 28 years. This annual contest is sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers’ Association (CIPA).

The CIPA EVVYs™ was founded by Evelyn Kaye twenty-eight years ago. Ms. Kaye was instrumental in bringing independent aspiring authors recognition for their literary endeavors. It is open to all types of independently published books from small presses that are too often overlooked by the giant publishing houses. The contest has grown to receive entries from as far away as England, Belgium, South Africa and Dubai. This year alone, the competition drew more than 400 entrants.

There are over 50 categories eligible to compete which allows a wide range of genres. The panel of judges is comprised of teachers, business leaders, critics, editors and, of course, readers. In this competition, judges must follow strict CIPA qualification process.

Awards are given to the top three highest scorers in each category. To achieve an award is certainly an honor. 

The CIPA EVVY’s continue to be a leader in providing a pathway for independent authors to gain recognition for their work. 

The post Driven is a 2022 EVVY Award Winner! appeared first on Valerie Webster.

2022 EVVY Silver Award Winner!

On Monday, August 29, Driven: A Rita Mars Thriller, took the Silver Award in the Fiction, LGBTQ category. I want to thank all my readers who took the time to review my work, who sent messages of encouragement and who rolled up their sleeves to help get my book produced and promoted. I could not have asked for more caring support. 

About the EVVY’s

The CIPA EVVYs™ is one of the longest-running book award competitions on the Indie publishing scene, running for nearly 28 years. This annual contest is sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers’ Association (CIPA).

The CIPA EVVYs™ was founded by Evelyn Kaye twenty-eight years ago. Ms. Kaye was instrumental in bringing independent aspiring authors recognition for their literary endeavors. It is open to all types of independently published books from small presses that are too often overlooked by the giant publishing houses. The contest has grown to receive entries from as far away as England, Belgium, South Africa and Dubai. This year alone, the competition drew more than 400 entrants.

There are over 50 categories eligible to compete which allows a wide range of genres. The panel of judges is comprised of teachers, business leaders, critics, editors and, of course, readers. In this competition judges must follow strict CIPA qualification process.

Awards are given to the top three highest scorers in each category. To achieve an award is certainly an honor. 

The CIPA EVVY’s continue to be a leader in providing a pathway for independent authors to gain recognition for their work. 

The post 2022 EVVY Silver Award Winner! appeared first on Valerie Webster.

Next in the Series: Blackwater’s Abyss

Imagine being held against your will in a mammoth swampy area with little access or no way out. A legendary demon mule lurks behind loblolly pine and the remnants of forests long dead.

You were brought in through darkness so rich and deep that it feels more like traveling in a different space as you cannot determine sky or land. Walking the treacherous ground feels like you are entering a dangerous abyss.

You don’t know where you are, and if you try to escape, you face vast, treacherous ground, or the risk of being absorbed into a marsh hole. Even the forests have drowned here, losing their grip on the land through brackish water and changing tides.

The smell of death, and struggle is all around you, with muskrats, mosquitos, snakes and the like. This can be a hostile environment.

This is Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, with its 28,000 acres of brackish wetlands and ghost forests holding a gloomier story of untold mystery and menacing despair.

Blackwater embodies a darkness that earns its namesake. Waters blackened with tannins, dying forests, and black marsh mud that can swallow someone in just a few unfortunate steps make this an unfortunately perfect place to go and never be found.

Blackwater’s mystery is found in a network of hiding places for those escaping the law or toward freedom. Places to hide are abundant for hunters, trappers, and criminals alike, and it’s easy to imagine entering the dark vastness to hold someone hostage, for example, or to disappear from the public eye.

This includes people living in the horrors of slavery and seeking their freedom by using the area as part of the Underground Railroad. Dressed in disguise, people who were enslaved covertly traveled at night through snaking creeks into the deep darkness of the area, careful to avoid slave hunters and their dogs.

It’s not hard to imagine a cold, stark winter here, with the blackness of night covering a ghostly stillness that envelopes the loblolly pine and cordgrass, only to be interrupted by the sound of a bat flying overhead, or the black water’s subtle movement as a muskrat swims to its burrow on the marsh’s banks.

The area’s marshy guts are also home to bald eagle, peregrine falcon, Sika deer, fox, coyote, vole, and rats. Once a great source of timber, Blackwater’s wetlands, fields, and meadows are now interrupted by hammocks of loblolly pine and salt encroached forest, with mosquitoes and fireflies abundant in the heat of summer.

Blackwater makes the perfect backdrop for my second book in the Rita Mars Thriller series, Objects of Desire, being published in late 2022.

You can learn more about release dates and more of the series’ perilous plot twists and turns at www.valeriewebster.com.  

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