Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 11

Never Look Back by J. L. Regen

Please welcome back J. L. Regen to Discover... Muse Monday. 

I would love to start a blog for those wishing to takea second chance on love—be it widowed, divorced, separated, or first timearound but with disappointments that I hope have faded. 

NEVER look back on what was unless it is of lovingmemories. 

Move forward with confidence. 

Send me your stories of hope the second time around.Your posts will inspire others. 

Book Blurb

 

Nothing in Margo Simmons’s life comes easy. She can’tclaim the inheritance on a condo apartment her uncle has left to her until sheis gainfully employed in a job for a year. She meets the man of her dreams butanguishes over a loving relationship because he is still emotionally tied tohis deceased wife. With great difficulty, she becomes the guardian to arecently orphaned child she had been tutoring.  Margo evolves from an insecure, newbie elementary teacher into a womandetermined to fulfill the secret desires locked in her heart. My story speaksto anyone who has suffered a loss and had to start over. 

Excerpt:

MARGO SIMMONS GRIPPED THE EDGES of the leather

chair, waiting for details from the family lawyerabout her

Uncle Harry’s death. She hoped it would be shorter andless painful than the reading of her father’s will.

An older gentleman extended his hand. “I’m sorry yourmother

couldn’t be here.”

Margo looked up from her reflections to acknowledgehim.

“Thanks, Mr. Steinberg.”

“You’ve grown into a lovely young woman.”

Margo blinked back tears at memories of good timesshared

with Uncle Harry. “Not so young. I’m twenty-three.”

The portly man squeezed himself into a swivel chairand peered

at her over wire-rimmed bifocals. “I’m ancientcompared to that

number.”

Margo gripped her knees to steady her nerves. “Mymother

wanted to come with me, but they’re downsizing at herdress

shop. She was afraid to leave early. My stepfather isfurious because

Uncle Harry didn’t leave him any money.”

Mr. Steinberg saddened at the sorrowful expression onthe

young woman’s face. “It pains me to hear Jerry hasn’tchanged

his ways. However, since you’re the only one presentto hear your

uncle’s will, I’ll get to the point. Harry has leftyou his Riverside

Drive condominium apartment and the sum of two hundredand

fifty thousand dollars.”

Margo jumped up from the chair and hugged the man.“This is

a miracle. I can’t wait to tell my Mom. She’s wantedme to get out

on my own. Now I can. Though I wish it hadn’t comewith the

loss of my uncle. I adored him.” 

Buy links

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Desires-J-L-Regen/dp/099840991X/ 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secret-desires-j-l-regen/1125516296?ean=2940165390814 

Bio

J.L. Regen’s book was inspired by a real-life story of lovers who join hearts against many odds. She lives in the New York metropolitan area, is a published photojournalist, has short suspense stories online, and has taught English as a Second Language to students around the globe. This is her first contemporary romance. She has also published four other books and is crafting a historical suspense series set in World War II. 

Contact: joan@joansbookshelf.com

 

 

Fearlessly Facing Paradise by DK Coutant

FEARLESS FRIDAY

Please welcome DK Coutant to Discover... Her Fearless Friday post starts more like a dream, but moving across a body of water so far from home can be a frightful adventure. 

Moving to Hawaii… 

Sounds like a dream, right? And it is. But a lot of peopledon’t live there more than a year before packing up and returning from whencethey came. The reality didn’t live up to their dream. And this has someconsequences as mentioned in this article… 

https://www.hawaii-guide.com/moving-to-hawaii

“Malihini (newcomers) to the islands are generally nottaken very seriously in their first year because many return to the mainlandnot long after arrival. In classic Catch-22 fashion, this may affect getting ajob, getting a reasonable price on an apartment, and many other things. Thisisn't meant to discourage you but to keep things realistic when moving to thestate.” 

When my husband got a job offer at the University of Hawaiiat Hilo, and I found at least a temporary position on the faculty, we decidedto made the jump. We did our research, and tried to keep our expectationsrealistic.  We had spectacular encountersbut also some obstacles to overcome. 

It was hard being away from family. And a feast or faminesituation developed. Most of them lived on the East Coast of the US. That meantflights of 14-16 hours one way. (It would have taken less time if we had livedin Europe) We would have long periods of time when we didn’t see our loved ones,but when they came, they stayed for weeks. And beyond family, everyone we hadever known, decided to visit us those first couple of years. I don’t think wewent more than 3 days without visitors for almost a year. We loved our companybut it was a struggle to keep up with our new jobs and trying to make newfriends. 

Luckily with luscious beaches, tropical jungles, waterfallsand Volcano national park, it was easy to keep guests happy and busy. And who wouldn’twant an excuse to hang out at the beach or hike to a favorite waterfall? 

People sometimes underestimate how homesick people can getfor familiar food. As a vegetarian, it was tough to find veggie dishes when wefirst moved there.  Loco moco, laulau,and Kalua pig were the local favorites, and those dishes were heavy on pork. Myhusband and most of our guests loved the food, but I learned to eat more fish,poke and green papaya salad, yum. And the longer I lived there, the more veggieoptions began to appear on menus. 

When collecting information before the move, we found two ofthe biggest reasons, newcomers didn’t last long were 1) the cost of living, and2) difficulty making new friends. We prepared for both those challenges. Forthe first, we had two salaries when we landed, so that helped with the cost ofliving, but we also made lifestyle changes. Locals didn’t dress up, so we livedin a few sets of casual clothes, flip-flops aka ‘slippers’ were acceptedeverywhere, and very inexpensive. Locals didn’t compete to see who had thelatest technology or fancy car, and we embraced that philosophy. While pricesat the grocery could be shockingly high, and shipping costs from onlinepurchases often cost more than the item you considered buying… we made it workand easily lived within our budget. 

The second reason people turn tail and head home: 2)Difficulty making new friends, as described in the moving to Hawaii guide(above). That also required a strategy. 

We benefited from our jobs at the University. We found othernewcomers among the faculty, staff and students, and long-timers who had oncebeen newcomers like us. That helped. But, I wanted to break out of theUniversity bubble, so I joined an out-rigger canoe
club or Halau. I startedwith the University club, but when it closed for the summer, I joined a local Halau.It gave me a chance to absorb the local culture and touch the ocean every day.Fortunately my novice crew was pretty good. To this day, I keep the medals wewon in a special carved box. When we qualified for state championships on Kauaiit was a huge thrill. For state events they bring out the old Koa canoes whichare named and tracked historically.  Itwas an honor to paddle in one of those boats and I’ll never forget that day.  

I paddled canoe for many years and branched out into openwater swim races. I wrote about both of those experiences in Evil Alice andthe Borzoi. I loved reliving the paddling scene with with Cleo, but theopen-water race section was fictionalized - thank goodness! The years I spent participatingin ocean sports in Hawaii was a beautiful time in my life and I’m overjoyed wemade the leap. 

After 16 years though, my parents were getting older and ourkids were settling down to start families. It was time to move back to themainland. Saying goodbye to the island I had come to love, was heart wrenching.But new adventures awaited me. And I hope that will always be the case. 

You can read more about life on the Big Island of Hawaii inmy first Cleo Cooper Mystery, Evil Alice and the Borzoi. Availablewherever books are sold online.

Paradise is shaken when the body of a young woman is dragged onto a university research vessel during a class outing in Hilo Bay. Cleo Cooper is shaken when she finds her favorite student is on the hook for the murder. Danger lurks on land and sea as Cleo and her friends are enticed to search for the true killer. In between paddling, swimming, and arguing with her boyfriend, Cleo discovers all is not what it seems on the Big Island of Hawaii. But will she figure out the truth before she becomes the next victim?

BUY LINK: Evil Alice and the Borzoi 

DK Coutant was a Social/Cross-Cultural Psychology professor in a previous life. Now, she write mysteries, and forecasts geopolitical events. Her mysteries are much more cheerful than her forecasts. She loves to travel with her husband and a dog. One Old English Sheepdog in particular. WEBSITE
Instagram: @DKCandDog for pictures of my travels and my Old English Sheepdog puppy.

DK Coutant twitter: @dkCoutant

The Mysterious Waukau #recipe

Back by popular demand! My cozy mystery writing partner for The Chocolate Martini Sisters Mysteries has a terrific recipe that appeared during our blog tour for the first book, Candy, Cigarettes, and Murder. I've been asked to share it again, so here it is. Thanks, Joyce!

Years ago, a sibling was kindenough to share with me his recipe for a raspberry pancake called a Waukau. Iwas intrigued with the unfamiliar name. Waukau? Was the word European or NativeAmerican? Curious, I prepared the batter following the simple directions. Oncein the oven, a golden pancake arose, its edges crusty and slightly browned andfilled the kitchen with a delicious aroma. Spread across the top like scarletjewels, the berries glistened in their syrupy juices. What an impressive sight.My husband and I sat at the kitchen table, eager to have a bite. How yummy. Weloved it. The sweet yet slightly tart berries against the spongy texture of egggave a bright taste to breakfast. The best part, according to my husband, isthe buttery edge. Soon the Waukau pancake became our Sunday morning go-to item.

So where did the name come from?I did a Wikipedia search. Outside the town of Rushford, WI is an unincorporatedarea called Waukau. According to the census taken in 2000, 178 people livethere. Perhaps this is where the pancake evolved.  

At any rate, I’m certain TheChocolate Martini Sisters would have delighted in the unusual dish. Emma, oneof the sisters and known for her sweet tooth, would savor the mix of sugary andtart berries. Too bad it wasn’t on the menu at the Dulce Inn where they stayedin Candy, Cigarettes and Murder.

The following recipe is one thatI’ve adapted over time in response to my particular taste. It takes onlyminutes to prepare. Eaten alone or paired with bacon or sausage, it feeds aboutthree or four adults. Give it a chance. You won’t be disappointed.

 Waukau (Berry Pancake)                                   

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk

2 eggs

½ tsp vanilla

3 T butter

Pint ofraspberries

1/3 cup sugar

Oven heat:375 degrees. Heat pan with butter in oven. (I use a heavy 10” stainless steelfry pan suitable for the oven)

Whisk flourand salt in medium bowl. Whisk milk, eggs and vanilla in small bowl.

Make a wellin center of the flour mixture and add the milk mixture to the well. Whiskuntil combined. (A fork works well)

When pan isat oven temperature, pour batter into the oan. Scatter the berries over thebatter, leaving one inch border around the edges. Sprinkle sugar over theberries, again avoiding the outer 1-inch border. Bake until the edges arepuffed and deep golden brown, 40 – 45 minutes. 

Be carefulnot to burn your fingers when you take it from the oven.

Enjoy!

Joyce 

When Sisters Emma and Nic check in at the storied Dulce Innfor a relaxing, birthday weekend, they don’t expect a madhouse of temperamentalartists or getting entangled in two murders. Using their love of all-thingsmystery, and despite a surly detective who stands in their way, can theChocolate Martini Sisters tackle the caper, unsnarl the web of secrets, lies,and vengeance to catch the killer?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BQ9T7ZBX

 

The Proverbial “Novel in the Drawer” by Topper Jones

MUSE MONDAY

Talk about putting your muse on hold. Topper did just that, but wow did he pen a novel once he started down the path. Welcome my guest Topper Jones with tale of idea to book.

When I tell people I’m a novelist, one of thequestions I’m often asked is:

“How long did it take you to writeyour first book? A couple of months? Six maybe?”

“Longer,” I say. And then Itell them All that Glisters was 45 years in the making.

I got the initial idea for ATGin 1977 after reading Robin Cook’s medical thriller Coma. I thought: Ifa physician can write a bestseller, why can’t a certified public accountant? Wewere both professionals. All I needed was a preposterous premise.

Rather than have myprotagonist discover [Spoiler Alert] human organs being illegally harvested forthe black market as in Coma, I decided to have my main charactersdiscover “something” equally chilling regarding the financial markets—adisturbing “something” that would upend everything. Total economic meltdown andthe consequences! Banks failing, riots in the streets, and breadlinesstretching from coast to coast.

A few years later, whileworking as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company, I penned the firstdraft of ATG on my morning commute into downtown Boston. Fortunately, thatdraft never found a home. The writing was amateurish and unschooled. So, I tookclasses in creative writing and kept plugging away at craft.

When I retired from my day jobsome forty years later, I pulled out my abandoned proverbial “novel in thedrawer” and with the help of a developmental editor specializing in mysteries,I rewrote the thing from scratch. All except the preposterous premise.

What’s the premise, you say?

You’ll have to read the bookto find out. 😉

FurtherExploration

Foranother writer’s perspective on what to do with that novel you may have tuckedaway in a drawer somewhere, see The Novel in the Drawer by Gayle Abrams (Jul20, 2018). Click the highlighted link or point your browser to: 

https://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/the-novel-in-the-drawer

Book Blurb:

 

All That Glisters is anedgy contemporary whodunit involving financial skullduggery, high-levelpolitical intrigue, and a behind-the-scenes view of cyber sleuthing. Here’s thepitch:

When the facts don’t add up inhis surf buddy’s bizarre death, forensic consultant (and daddy-to-be) ThaddeusHanlon investigates, volunteering to go undercover to pick up where best friendRafi Silva left off in a secret probe of the U.S. gold stockpile—every lastbullion bar.

Rafi’s spunky fiancée, Bri dela Guerra, has suspicions of her own and soon joins Thad on the hunt foranswers. Together, the two amateur sleuths delve deep, stumbling onto afinancial a-stock-alypse in the making, triggering a brutal manhunt along theEastern seaboard meant to silence anyone looking to set the ledger straight.

Book Excerpt:

 

Rafi, Bri, and I hadbeen good friends throughout college. Marissa entered the picture a few yearslater but was no less committed to our bond as besties. There was nothing fakeabout our relationship. It was solid. Genuine. 

“Okay, Bri,” I said.“You made your point. You feel Rafi had too much to live for, that suicide isimplausible.” 

“Impossible. And I canprove it, Thad.” Bri sounded certain like she possessed facts in evidence, thatwe didn’t have. 

Marissa picked up onBri’s assuredness, following up with questions of her own. “So, Rafi wasmurdered? You can prove that?” 

“Not directly.” Brileaned forward and got as close as she could to Marissa and me. “What I saidwas that I can prove Rafi did not kill himself.” 

“We’re listening.”Marissa pointed to herself and then at me. 

I made the left-handturn from the Pacific Coast Highway onto the California Incline, a slanted roadthat connects PCH with Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. 

Bri started fidgetingwith her engagement ring again. “Remember the Dodge Whitney staffer whoconference-called us Thursday night with the news?” 

I nodded. Marissanodded. In my mind, I replayed Jenny Yu’s livestream of the crime scene. Herfailed CPR attempt. And then my crazy request for her to rummage through Rafi’spockets to look for a suicide note or some kind of clue. 

“That night Jenny saidsomething that didn’t quite make sense,” Bri said.

 

Book Link: https://topperjones.com/product/all-that-glisters

 

Find Topper here:

Website: https://topperjones.com/

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TopperJonesAuthor

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topperjones_author/

 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-g-jones-a566253/

Why Write a Kid's Book by Brenda Whiteside

Today is the worldwide release of my first children's book. A children's book? Yep. A genre I'd never considered. But then my granddaughter got a rescue puppy who was some sort of bully breed. At eight years old, she's a pretty smart little gal, and she'd heard about the reputation of these dogs. Of course, if her parents didn't buy into it, she didn't either. So she knew all about her puppy. And she knows I write books...

The birth of a children's chapter book...

One morning,on the way into town to get donuts, Sadi expounded to me about how special hernew puppy was, a blue nose Pit Bull, although he might be a blue Staffy. Shealso related her knowledge of the bad rap these dogs receive and why. An ideapopped, and she was soon bouncing on her seat while chewing her chocolate iceddonut. We could write a book about Max and all his wonderful characteristics. 

As themonths marched on, the idea took shape, expanding and twisting with imaginativetales. This is the first of those stories. I have no idea how many there willbe—that depends on Sadi. She’s growing up, evolving, and although herpassionate love for dogs will never change, the amount of time she’ll spendwith Nana weaving stories might. We’ll see. 

I learned a great deal about pit bulls, which by the way isn't an actual breed of dog but more a description of how certain dogs look. Their history is fascinating. Sadi would like me to tell everyone to do your research. These are two sites you might want to check:

World Animal Foundation:

Nanny Dogs: Debunking Myths In The Debate About Pit Bulls https://worldanimalfoundation.org/dogs/nanny-dog/

American KennelClub:

https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-staffordshire-terrier/

BLURB:

Eight-year-old Sadi wants to find a puppy under the Christmastree this year. She loves her two old dogs, but they don’t run and playanymore. How can she convince her parents she’s old enough to care for her owndoggy? When they surprise her with a trip to the rescue home of Talia Wagger, it’spuppy love at first sight. She gets the best present in the entire world—Max. 

Max wants to be one of the lucky puppies who gets adopted.He cuddles up to his sister in the playpen to stay warm in the cold garagewaiting for the humans to visit and hopefully choose him. When he sees thelittle human, he knows his wish has come true for the best home in the entireworld—with Sadi. 

A car ride, missing his sister, meeting Sadi’s friends,learning what no means, and finding a way to get along with the two old dogsare only some of the adventures this puppy has once he’s in his new home. Butwhen he listens to Mom, who laughs all the time, and Dad, who likes to tease,and his little human Sadi, who gives him hugs and kisses, he understands—he’sthe luckiest puppy in the entire world.

sadi and max Have theBest Christmas in the Entire World

BUY LINK Black and White Illustrated Edition

BUY LINK Full Color Illustrated Edition

Honor and Recognition by Randy Overbeck

MUSE MONDAY

Please welcome back Randy Overbeck to Muse Monday on Discover... He has some fascination information on his latest novel. Enjoy!

Cruel Lesson is an atmospheric, amateur sleuth mystery, the first in anew series set in schools called “Lessons in Peril.” The story involves a rogue,hallucinogenic drug being pushed in a middle school and, after it results inthe death of four students, the rush to stop the drug pusher before morechildren die. The narrative takes place in a small Midwest town during October,1994. All of these literary choices—the year at the height of the “Just Say No”Anti-Drug campaign and right in the middle of time for the D.A.R.E. program,the anonymous Midwest setting and the school as the battle ground—aredeliberate and carefully chosen.

 This novel is a work ofhonor and recognition as well as a work of art. As a long-time educator, I sawthe ravages of student drug abuse and addiction up close. Over more than threedecades as a teacher and school leader, I witnessed kids’ lives shattered andended from their abuse of drugs, both legal and illegal. I crafted thisstory—while completely fictional and about an imaginary drug—as an homage tothose educators who battle this very real problem everyday in our schools.Though set in the recent past, the scourge of student drug abuse today isfrighteningly similar to my tale, only with a new generation and new drugs. Inaddition to being a pulse-pounding thriller, I wanted the narrative to honorthe children we’ve lost to drugs in the almost thirty years as well as thoseeducators committed to doing everything they can to rescue kids at risk. 

I don’t want to give the wrong impression. This novel is hardlydidactic. According to early reviews, Cruel Lessons is “Brilliant from start tofinish…Impressive storytelling left me with a racing heart and shivers. One ofthe best thrillers I’ve ever read.” ★★★★★+++—N.N. Light’s Bookheaven. ReaderViews called thenovel “a thrilling murder mystery…with an immersive plot, steady pace andstellar character development…one of the best mysteries of 2023.” ★★★★★Literary Titan wrote “CruelLessons is “masterfully written…Each newrevelation adds to the suspense and keeps the reader on edge, eagerlyanticipating what further secrets the story holds…a gripping crimethriller and amateur sleuth mystery.” 

Wow!I am thrilled and humbled by these incredible reviews. Still,I hope the message about saving children will come through loud and clear. Checkout Cruel Lessons yourself and let me know what you think.

EXCERPT: 

Fromthe bend, the road descended quickly and Amanda felt the car picking up speedas gravity and its powerful engine propelled it downhill. As she approached thenext turn, she realized she was coming in a little too fast. She slid her footto the brake. Her concentration on steering the twisting road ahead, at firstit didn’t register. She dared to take her gaze off the road and look down ather feet before she understood. When her right foot depressed the brake, thepedal glided all the way to the floor. No friction. She pulled her foot backand slammed on the brake again. The pedal slid all the way down. Unbelieving,she pumped it, again and again. 

Therewas nothing there.

Shejerked her eyes back. The hairpin turn hurtled at her. On instinct, she keptjamming on the pedal. It was supposed to work. She turned the wheelwildly. The big car shuddered as it tried to negotiate the turn. The two rearwheels slipped off the pavement, spinning in space. With the front wheel drive,the front two tires managed enough traction to catch. The car veered around thecurve and headed down the next straight incline. The heavy vehicle rolledfaster again as gravity pulled it down the hill.

Amanda’smind reeled. What was she supposed to do?

Struggling desperately to force her mind tothink, Amanda tried to consider her options. It was all happening too quickly.The next treacherous turn came at her fast. She had no way to slow down. Whiteknuckles gripped the steering wheel.

The bend ahead showed a hard curve to theright, not quite as tight as the last one, but steeper. And she felt the caraccelerating, though she hadn’t touched the gas pedal. Right before the car hitthe curve, Amanda spun the steering wheel. The car lurched around the bend. Thedriver side of the car lifted up. Halfway through the long bend, Amanda watchedthe hood tilt in the turn until it was almost vertical. No seat belt on, shewas catapulted down the leather seat, crashing into the passenger door. 

“Hell!” she cried, reaching to grab herbruised shoulder.

She froze as the two wheels still on theground shuddered in the gravel, sliding off the small road. Slammed against theside door, she heard the tall weeds and low branches whip against the body. Butthe car didn’t slow. Blood streamed from a gash on her forehead. For an instantshe lay there stretched across the passenger door, holding her breath.

Thenshe sensed the car teetering. The front tire bumped something hard. Amandastared, unbelieving, as the car began to flip. As the Regal made the firstrevolution, she screamed.

Dr. Randy Overbeck is a best-selling author of theaward-winning series, The Haunted Shores Mysteries, the three entries earningsuch national awards as the Gold Award from Literary Titan, Mystery of the Yearfrom ReaderViews, and Best Book from Chanticleer. He hosts a new podcast,“Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual backstoriesof famous authors, directors and poets. He is also a speaker in much demand,sharing his multi-media presentations, “Things Still Go Bump in the Night”  and “A Few Favorite Haunts” with audiencesall over the country. Dr. Overbeck is also an active member of the literarycommunity, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor toemerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest,Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.

More info about his novels, programs and podcast can befound at his website www.authorrandyoverbeck.com.

randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorrandyoverbeck

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OverbeckRandy/media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorrandyoverbeck/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/randy-overbeck 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Randy-Overbeck/e/B07QQHW7DM?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1658371317&sr=8-1 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4825632.Randy_Overbeck 

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1924616/10983135 

Buy Links:

https://books2read.com/u/4Ne56z

Keep Writing by Mary Cunningham

MUSE MONDAY

Please welcome Mary Cunningham to Discover... Muse Monday. Aren't we glad she never gave up?

AndiAnna Jones, mediocre travel agent, with an inferiority complex about her job,her looks, and her single status, discovers her “inner sleuth” in   Andi AnnaJones Mysteries.

Ibegan writing at the age of seven. I assumed my poetry was excellent since myparents kept every misspelled stanza for me to discover (many) decades later.First lines like, Christmas, Christmas,lovely Christmas and When it snows,the cold wind blows, or my personal favorite, When I was a little girl like you, I went up in Sputnik number two. Abudding Edna St. Vincent Millay, don’t you think? <snort>

AmazingI ever continued writing.

Mythird grade teacher must’ve seen something in my ability to put words togetherbecause the last day of school she said, “Mary, whatever you do, keep writing.”My high school freshman English teacher said, pretty much the same thing. And,I took their advice! Around age 50 I wrote my first book. Okay, so I’m a procrastinator.However, I’m still writing books, twenty-five years later.

Keepingwith another piece of advice, to “write what you know’, the main character,Andi Anna Jones, is loosely based on a horrifying stint I had in North MiamiBeach as a travel agent. I was truly awful and would duck behind my computerwhenever a customer came through the door. (Yes, I really did that!)

Fortunately,I had a fantastic co-worker who pitched in when I got in a jam. Ellenrecognized my fear from the first day, and graciously helped when I got stuck. So,if you haven’t guessed already, the protagonist in my series is based on my unpleasantexperiences. Her sidekick, Ellie, is, of course, Ellen in the series, one ofthe best travel agents this side of the Mississippi.

Strugglesaside, I made it through one whole year before we made the decision to movefrom the east coast of Florida to the west. I’m not sure who celebrated morewhen I walked out that agency door for the last time; me or that saintof a travel agency owner, Patty.

Writingthe series about Andi, her competent assistant, Ellie, and the rest of thequirky cast, helped exorcise the experience from my memoryby giving Andi a positive outlet for her curiosity and love of a good mystery.I’ve also shared many laughs along the way as Andi stumbles and crashes her waythrough danger, intrigue, romance, frustration, and closure.

So,dear reader, please be kind when you judge Andi’s incompetence and lack ofconfidence. She’s doing her best, as am I.

In an ironic turn of events, I taught travel and tourismin Fort Myers, Florida. Loved the job and was good at it! Go figure. 

Blurb: Sazerac,Sleuth & Slay, An Andi Anna Jones Mystery, Book 2

 

It’s gonna be a great day! Or, so shethought.

Andi Anna Jones, so-so travel agent, amateursleuth, doesn’t suspect her least favorite client, Stewart (The Pain) Payne,will set off circumstances that lead to disappearance and death.

After his wife is a no-show for a convention inNew Orleans, his threat to sue Graves Travel for “ten times more than it’sworth”, and Andi’s wish to honor one of her late dad's requests, leads her toThe Big Easy in search of Grace Payne.

Five unsolved murders, a body caught in a crawfishcage, and a mysterious candle, magic, and incense shop, takes Andi deep intothe bayou on a hunt for clues.

Will another victim be added to a serialkiller’s list, or is the main suspect closer to Andi than she thinks?

 

Excerpt :

Somewhere in the Bayou Luther woke up raring to go for achange. Wasn’t sure why, ’cause he hated, hated the job! It was nasty. He stunkto high heaven by mid-morning. Hells Bells! Sweat had already collected onstrands of hair stuck to his grimy forehead. He adjusted the straps of hisfaded bibs so they fit snug to his shoulders. Couldn’t have a strap fall downand pin his arm at the wrong time. More than once, he’d lost his catch cause ofa careless slip.

He reckoned the only thing that got him up and moving, soall-fired early, was because today was Friday, and he figured on adding enoughmoney to finally take Marlene out for a real dinner and some Zydeco music anddancing afterwards. And, no, those nasty mini lobsters he depended on for hislivelihood wouldn’t be on their plates—leastways, not his!

His toes squirmed in those hot rubber boots, but thealternative meant sloshing around barefoot through the rice fields borderingthe briny water. He’d sooner have hot feet than grimy ones. “Lawdy, Luther,you’re all fish-smellin’,” his going-on-four-years gal complained on more thanone occasion. “Don’t you even think ’bout walkin’ ’cross my clean floor ’tilyou wash those feet!” The boots he could just kick off outside and hose down,so he put up with the discomfort. He carried an extra trap on this trip in casethe one he’d left the night before was full. Wishful thinkin’ probly.

The fresh dry dog food he used for bait, he’d had to sneakout of Molly’s bag when she wasn’t looking, or she’d snap at him for stealingher dinner. Smart dog, that one. Ornery as an old mule, though. The darkeningsky spit rain by the time he got to the lake, but the clouds didn’t look angry;just mischievous enough to make the morning miserable and the swamp bank,slippery. He’d have to be careful he didn’t end up in the water with thecritters.

Locating the trap line, he carefully tied it to a cypresstree, and pulled…and pulled. Something flashed in the sunlight, just below thesurface of the water. “Son of a biscuit eater! Must be snagged on a branch.” Ormaybe he’d caught the mother of all crawfish! Sure, Luther. Dream on. He movedsideways toward a large log, anchored his foot for leverage, and pulled again.The trap loosened and moved through the water, but something still dragged itdown. “Dadgummit!”

He secured the rope and pulled off his boots. No choice butto wade in to see what was holding his “bounty” hostage. His toes squished insoggy mud about four feet offshore. Hoped he didn’t step on a sharp rock, orworse. Three months back, Luther’d almost lost a toe to an irritable snappingturtle. One vicious pull and the trap sprang free. A mass of Spanish moss camewith it. “Now what? This ain’t my day.” Luther would never be mistaken for aNASA engineer, but his ability to process the scene was slow, even for him.“Dammitall, dat ain’t moss. Wuz a wig doin’ in da lake?” People had no sense ofdecency when it came to littering. What next? A voodoo mask and top hat?Grabbing the cage with his fingers, he gave one last tug and yelped with thesame intensity as Molly that time she ran under a storage shed and met thebusiness end of a skunk. The sight before him, bobbing with the current, senthim reeling backwards into the murky water.

Mary Cunningham – Author Bio 

Author, Mary Cunningham, grew up on the northern side of theOhio River in Corydon, Indiana. Her first memories are of her dad's originalbedtime stories that no doubt inspired her imagination and love of a well-spun"yarn."

Through the author's horrifying stint as a travel agent, AndiAnna Jones sprang to life. The adult/mystery series gives extra meaning to thephrase, "Write what you know." Cunningham has several bookspublished, including Cynthia's Attic series, a five-book middle-grade fantasy,and women’s lifestyle/humor book, WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty.

She is a member of National Sisters In Crime, Sisters In Crime,Atlanta Chapter, International Thriller Writers, Inc., and the CarrolltonWriters Guild.

When she gives her fingers a break from the keyboard, she enjoysgolf, swimming, and exploring the mountains of West Georgia where she makes herhome with her husband and adopted, four-legged, furry son, Murphy.

http://www.marycunninghambooks.com 

Find Mary Cunningham on Social Media: 

Website:https://www.marycunninghambooks.com

Facebook:http://www.Facebook.com/Cynthiasattic

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/marycunninghambooks/

AmazonAuthor Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BLNEK4

X: http://twitter.com/MaryCunningham

Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/367223.Mary_Cunningham

Instagram:Author Mary Cunningham(@marycunningham2604) • Instagram photos and videos 

Universal Buy Link:Sazerac,Sleuth & Slay: https://books2read.com/u/mezYvg

 

Be Fearless, Be Free by AK Nevermore

FEARLESS FRIDAY

Please welcome AK to Fearless Friday on Discover... What a great post with a lesson for us all. Be sure to read to the end for a free novella! And now I'm humming Janis all day. 

Mysenior year of high school we were all required to choose a quote to go besideour picture in the yearbook. It seemed a momentous decision. At that stage inmy life, I was dancing at the edge of my small town’s accepted society andstaring into the mists of the future with no clue what would happen next. Heck,I wasn’t even sure I was going to graduate. 

And itwas more than lacking a plan for after I left those hated halls. In a fit ofteenaged angst, I’d moved from home at sixteen and fallen into an alternatelifestyle. To look back on it now with a writer’s eye, I cringe at how well itfit the “good girl falls for the bad boy and has a self-awakening” trope.Spoiler, that chapter of my life didn’t have a happy ending and went on for waytoo long. 

But bethat as it may, an inkling of my awareness-to-come echoed in the Janis Joplinquote I ultimately chose: 

“Freedom’sjust another word for nothing left to lose.” 

To thisday, I still get an unsettled feeling when Bobby McGee pops up onSpotify. A resonance in my soul. Ethereal fingers strumming the golden tethersof what matters in my life. My family, husband, and children. A roof over myhead. Not having to rob Peter to pay Paul every time a bill comes due. 

I have thingsto lose. 

Yet,those same things I eschewed until my twenty-somethings now define andstrengthen me. 

Theyalso terrify me. 

Thefear of “what now” has been replaced with anxiety over “what if.” And you know,I have to laugh sometimes. My kids think I’m the most boring person ever. ThatI never take a risk, always am thinking about the consequences, avoidingdanger. “Who cares if you don’t know what the parking situation is?” and “Doyou really have to wait for me outside the bathroom?” 

I care,and yes, I do. 

Whenyou love something, I think it’s ingrained in our DNA to hold on, to protect.You want to keep it safe, to succumb to this primal urge to lock out all thepotential ugly. The issue then becomes your daughter leaving the house in a fita teenaged angst when she’s sixteen. 

Andyes, I’ve apologized for that. My parents handled the situation with more gracethan I would have been able to. Them letting go when I didn’t want to be heldallowed me the freedom to discover what truly matters when you have nothingleft to lose. 

Lettinggo. There’s freedom in that, too, but it’s terrifying to give into the winds offate, allowing them to buffet you. Especially when it’s something you caredeeply about…but that axiom about it coming back if it’s meant to be? 

I’m abeliever. 

For aslong as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be an author. So, several years ago, Imade an intentional choice to pursue my dream seriously. I took the classes,followed the rules. Checked all the boxes— And got nowhere. 

Myfrustration was palatable. I didn’t want to mess it up by not following theformula…but when had my life not been messy? It might sound odd, but therealization that I’d found myself in a cage of my own making, once again, withnothing left to lose, was liberating. 

Andpulling myself up by my bootstraps is kind of my thing. 

Thistime, instead of packing my bags, I opened a blank document. The words that hadbeen self-censored after months of academia flowed. I laughed, teared up, andwas satisfied when I typed “The End.” 

I didn’tthink that manuscript would amount to anything aside from cathartic release,but I let it go, out into the world where all the ugly was waiting for it.Hoping for the best, expecting the worst. 

Andultimately, it returned to me with a publishing contract. 

To sayI was taken aback would be an understatement. That those fearless words I’d puton the page, the ones that sounded just like me, were wanted. Again, I’mlaughing. Flame & Shadow, my urban fantasy born of my angst, of mytruth, allowed me to achieve my dream. 

Nothingleft to lose had once again given me my freedom, and opened the door to all the“what ifs.” And as I begin the next chapter in my life, I put pen to page witha new certainty. Freedom is more than nothing less to lose. Freedom is to befearless in your uncertainty. To believe, and to own your truth. 

                                                                                 ***

Flame & Shadow features Envy Starr, an emotionallystunted halfling with a drinking problem and a bad attitude, destined to die onMidsummer’s Eve. The daughter of a Daemon and a washed-up Vegas showgirl, she’sbig on lamenting her fate, in particular the portion that has her dying avirgin during some crappy cult’s live-stream. With a scant month left to live,she escapes, and is thrust into her absentee father’s world of beautifullycultured cruelty.

Hit with a steep learning curve, Envy discovers everyonehas an ulterior motive, including the prehistoric Fae that’s been secreted awayin her chest as part of an elaborate game. Her only guide is Brennan, theDae-licious tutor her father, Silas, has hired to make her into a Fae lady, butBrennan’s contract isn’t just with him, and he’d do anything to break it.

When he’s suspected of reneging, Envy is forced to eatsome serious crow to save his life, but she’s not particularly wired forself-sacrifice, and there’s no way she’s doing it quietly, Bambi-onesie bedamned—

Yeah, that happened. Stupid Fae games…

Whatever. Midsummer’s Eve is rapidly approaching, andthat prehistoric pace-maker holds the cards to stopping a plot to screw overnormals and Fae alike. She’ll talk, as soon as Envy agrees to let the Fae wearher like a suit.

That’s not happening, but when the moon begins to rise,Envy finds herself a game piece again, and out of options. Pushed to her limitby a squid, schnitzel, and a golden ball, she’s determined to figure out how towin on her terms, no matter how the deck is stacked against her.

Flame & Shadow releases November 13th, 2023 BUT YOU CAN PREORDER NOW.

AMAZON BUY LINK

APPLE BOOKS BUY LINK

BARNES & NOBLE BUY LINK

You can read the prequel, One Night in Bliss, free: One Night in Bliss 

*** 

AK Nevermore writes science fictionand urban fantasy with spice. She enjoys operating heavy machinery, freebasescoffee, and gives up sarcasm for Lent every year. Unable to ignore the voicesin her head, and unwilling to become medicated, she writes about dark worlds,perversely irreverent and profound, and always entertaining. Her debut novel, Flame & Shadowcomes out November 13th, 2023. 

You can find her on her websiteor follow her on her sadly neglected Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds.

New Release and Win a Book

It’sexciting! The official worldwide release of “Reading, Writing, and Murder,a Chocolate Martini Sisters’ mystery, book 2” is today.

Weare giving away two copies of “Candy, Cigarettes, and Murder,” book 1, one each week of the tour. So besure to pop in on each stop of the tour and comment and enter.

At the writers’ conference, murder tops the program. 

Aspiring mystery author EmmaBanefield and travel writer Nicole Earp are excited to attend a writers’conference during their latest sisters’ getaway. Nic’s birthday should be allabout relaxation, writing, and a chocolate martini to toast another trip aroundthe sun, but the climate at the gathering rumbles like a sudden desertthunderstorm. 

When sparks fly between the keynote speaker and her timidassistant over a handsome mystery author, the subtitle on this anticipatedtranquil weekend spells drama. If a heated love triangle, bruised egos, andbetrayal aren’t enough to upset the atmosphere, the conference banquet eruptsinto a drunken brawl and sends the place spinning. After a body is discovered,Nic and Em do what they do best—snoop—and become embroiled in a mystery thatjumps off the pages of a true-crime bestseller. 

With more than enough suspects and little time, the amateursleuths have their hands full finding the killer. But can the competitiveChocolate Martini Sisters solve the crime before the prickly chief detectivedoes, or will a murderer outwit them all?

September19 – Baroness Book Trove 

September19 – MyReading Journeys 

September20 – ElizabethMcKenna - Author 

September20 – Maureen'sMusings 

September21 – Mystery,Thrillers and Suspense 

September21 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee 

September22 – Novels Alive 

September22 – FUONLYKNEW 

September23 – StoreyBook Reviews 

September23 – Cassidy'sBookshelves 

September24 – Celticlady'sReviews 

September24 – ChristaReads and Writes 

September25 – Literary Gold 

September25 – fundinmental 

September26 – Ascroft, eh? 

September26 – Bea'sBook Nook 

September27 – Christy's Cozy Corners 

September27 – Lady Hawkeye 

September28 – SocratesBook Reviews 

September28 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews 

September29 – View from the Birdhouse 

September30 – GuatemalaPaula Loves to Read 

September30 – ReadingIs My SuperPower 

September30 – EscapeWith Dollycas Into A Good Book 

October1 – TheMystery Section 

October1 – RebeccaM. Douglass, Author 

October2 – eBook Addicts 

You can get your copies of both books here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BQ9T7ZBX

Romance Can be Wickedly Funny by L.B. Joyce

WICKED WEDNESDAY

Help me welcome L.B. Joyce to Wicked Wednesday with a wickedly funny scene from her book, "September’s Moonlight Serenade" Book 7 in the series.

By allappearances, Darcey Hollister is living the perfect life. VP ofMarketing for Hollister Industries. A California condo overlooking the ocean. Apromising future with David Hanson, a successful lawyer. But when she discoversDavid and her best friend in a passionate embrace, she realizes she’s beenliving a lie.

She receives a package,postmarked from Cleveland. Inside is a promise ring. Given to her by Jasonthree years ago, but lost the same day, she thought she’d never see it again.With the loss of the ring, she believed she’d also lost the promise it symbolized.But with it now back in her possession, she sees this as a second chance tomake things right.

As one of Cleveland’s mosttalented and beloved musicians, Jason Bennett could have any woman hechose. But it was only after Darcey left that January morning, he realized thepromise he made with the ring would hold forever. When she suddenly drops backinto his life, he finds his mind in a battle with his heart. Yes, he knows he’sbeen handed a second chance, but he also wants a guarantee he won’t be hurtagain.

The promise Darcey and Jasonmade to each other – will it still hold true? Or has too much time gone by?

 

Wickedly ‘FunnyExcerpt - This is the first real meeting between Darcey and Jason sinceshe left three years ago.

 

Hershoulders thrown back and a determined look on her face, Darcey went marching aroundthe corner to the room designated for the band as their office and to storetheir equipment. 

She slippedpast the partially opened door. From what she could see, there was no one wasin the room. It appeared the band members had already left for the GrandBallroom to set up for the wedding reception. 

Well, youtried.

She turnedto leave when she heard music.

Guitarmusic…

Now, thelogical thing to do would be to call out, announce her presence. But for someinsane reason, she felt a sudden need to hide. So, she cautiously squeezedin between a rack loaded with the band’s costume changes and a large up-rightkeyboard. From there, she could see someone was in the back of the room.

It wasJason.  

 

Jason wasrestless. 

He had beenfeeling this way all day.

Right now,he should be in the ballroom with the rest of the guys, helping set up. ButPaul had been insistent they didn’t need his help. 

Hadn’t Jasontold him it was time he took on more responsibility? Well, in that case, thisis what he was doing. Starting out by offering Jason this opportunity torelax. 

A bonus ofsorts. This way, he would be refreshed and ready for the night ahead. 

After all,he was the star.

You’rethe star? What the…?

He set hisguitar on the couch. Coming to his feet, he massaged the back of his neck, awry smile on his face.

There was nodoubt about it… Paul was up to something. 

 

Jason’ssudden move had Darcey swiftly ducking behind the clothes rack. 

Her plan, toleave the same way she came in, never had a chance. She bumped into thekeyboard. On wheels, this set it in motion, rolling across the floor. She triedto make a grab for it, but lost her balance and wound up shoving it instead.

And this,she would have to say, was when everything began to go so terribly wrong. 

The keyboardpicked up speed as it began rolling across the room. Horrified, she could onlywatch as it crashed into the wall and toppled over, hitting the floor with aloud bang.

Now in apanic, she backed right into the clothes rack. Only to find it was also onwheels.  

The nextthing she knew, she was on the floor, watching the clothes rack weavingerratically across the room. The hangers wildly swinging from side to side,sending clothes flying everywhere. 

“Oh, no,no, no…”

Now she waseven more determined to get out of the room. In her attempt to scramble to herfeet, she found she was at eye level with a pair of jeans-clad legs. Along withwhat appeared to be a very expensive and custom-made pair of leatherboots.  

Jason’sjeans… Jason’s boots...

It brieflyflashed through her mind, this was one of the many little things she rememberedabout him. He was always so well-dressed. 

But rightnow? This was the last thing she should even be thinking about.

She groaned,closing her eyes.

Oh myGod… can you please just die? Or at least, disappear? 

Slowlysitting back on her heels, she waited.

 

The series, Twelve Months, Twelve Love Stories – 

Book 1 - A Million Decembers

Book 2 - For the Love of July

Book 3 - February’s Angel

Book 4 - Promise Me November

Book 5 - An Unexpected June

Book 6 - A January to Remember

Book 7 - September’s Moonlight Serenade

Book 8 - Goodbye Heartbreak, Hello May.

Book 9 - In the works, coming soon! 

Along with the new series, Holidays in White Oaks Valley – A Grand Slam Kind of Christmas, Book1.

 

Aboutthe Author -

L. B. Joyce lives in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. A freelance artist byday, with designing Christmas ornaments her specialty, she’s also a writer bynight. She loves getting lost in a good book, has redecorated almost every roomin her house more times than she’d like to admit, loves baking up a storm inher kitchen, hates housework with a passion and will drive just about anywherebecause of her fear of flying. 

Social Media Tags -

Website: lbjoyceauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLBJoyce

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lbjoyceauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lbjoyceauthor/

Pinterest: https://www.instagram.com/lbjoyceauthor/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N6SLTBS 

Purchase Links –

https://books2read.com/lbjoyce

https://bookshop.org/p/books/september-s-moonlight-serenade-l-b-joyce/15228653

https://www.amazon.com/Septembers-Moo...