Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 25
February 14, 2022
LOVE, MURDER, AND POLITICAL MAYHEM
Penny Sparks has secrets that can ruin a presidential contender, got her family murdered…and mark her as the next hit.
Inspiration comes in all forms to authors. Considering the political unrest in the U.S. for the last several years, I’d like to claim The Power of Love and Murder was a result of taking the strife and turning it into an entertaining read. But I cannot tell a lie. The story for this book came to me before the antics of the 2016 election.
The Power of Love and Murder is the fourth book in my Love and Murder Series. Penny (whose real name is Jianna Ricci) had a walk-on part in book one, The Art of Love and Murder. She’s a pixie of a woman. In book one, Lacy dubbed her the Black Fairy for her Goth style and the fact she worked in a haunted hotel. Her story begged to be told. The political bad guys have depth, and the hero is a drug-recovering rock star. I had fun writing it.Here's a short, never-before-shared excerpt, a conversation between the two villains. Vince Elams is an FBI agent turned hitman for a presidential hopeful, Senator Westingly, who will do anything to reach his goal.
“Jianna Ricci has surfaced,” Vince informed him.
A smile flitted across the senator’s face. “Aren’t we lucky the FBI never closes a case?”
“That depends on which side of the fence you crouch.”
The politician threw a sneer into the air. “Where is she?”
“Flagstaff.”
“Ha!” This time, the senator smiled broadly. “Fate’s been working in my favor lately, Elams. Thursday, I’m scheduled to appear at party headquarters in lovely downtown Flagstaff. An organized crime hit can happen anywhere, can’t it? An up close and personal reason why the Coconino County voters need me.”
Vince closed his eyes to the sun and the joy on the politician’s face.
“I’m wondering what’s the point of this meeting.” Westingly’s voice went from joyful to low and menacing. “If you were hoping for a different game plan, perhaps something more creative in dealing with this matter, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. Your order stands.”
Creative? Game?
“She hasn’t made a move in thirteen years. It’s highly unlikely—”
“Hardly your decision. I’m not asking for input.” He adjusted his glasses and clasped his hands behind his back. “It would seem the crime syndicate that wiped out her family has finally caught up with her. Let’s see…today is Saturday. I’d say the paper should have the story by midweek.”
THE POWER OF LOVE AND MURDER For thirteen years, Penny Sparks has managed to hide from the political powers who murdered her family. When she unwittingly exposes her true identity, not only is she marked for death, but the people closest to her risk meeting the same fate.
Jake Winters is out of rehab and coming to grips with his demons. When he meets his sister’s roommate, Jake believes Penny might be that someone who can help him find life after rock star status…until her secrets blow up his world.
With a government agent turned hit man closing in on her, Penny and Jake race to expose the presidential contender behind the murders of her family. Even if they win the race with death, the murder that stands between them could end their hope for a new life.
BUY LINKS:
ALSO AVAILABLE IN AUDIO: AUDIBLE
February 10, 2022
Reading and #Reviews (Fagan, Plakcy)
I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day.
I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, mysteries, and mainstream character driven books.
Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.
Fade Out by Laurie Fagan Impetuous and driven.
Young radio reporter Lisa Powers has a lot to learn, but in her zeal to cover the big city crime beat, finds herself facing down criminals in addition to reporting on them.
From the dark streets of the metro Phoenix area to the peaceful red rocks of Sedona, Lisa dodges bullets investigating the cold case of a kidnapped bank executive found murdered, and discovers horrors she never imagined while tracking down a missing father.
She’s first on the scene of a massive fire that destroys the opulent mansion of a reclusive pharmaceutical heir, but her career is jeopardized when the story gets way too hot.
My Review:
Because I was born and raised in Phoenix, I enjoyed the book from that perspective. It’s fun to read books set in familiar locals. The story, the main story that is, was interesting. I didn’t find it a real page turner, but it was entertaining. What I didn’t like about the book was the podcast. Lisa Powers is involved with a podcast, and the script is interjected from time to time. I found the podcast annoying. I kept waiting for it to tie into the storyline, but it didn’t.
Dog Willing by Neil S. Plakcy When his neighbor is accused of murder, reformed computer hacker Steve Levitan and his golden retriever Rochester are asked to sniff out clues to prove her innocence.
Who could have killed bookstore owner Darlene Nowak? One of the food truck venders she angered when they parked in front of her store? Someone from the writer’s critique group she sponsored? Did a self-published author she refused to promote write her into a real murder mystery?
Steve knows that cooks and creative folks are very sensitive about criticism—but could one of them be angry enough to kill?
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Willing-Retriever-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B08B43KJHH
My Review: I’m a dog lover, so throwing a dog into a story is a good technique from my perspective. Steve takes his dog everywhere. But Rochester really doesn’t do anything to solve the crime as I expected. Still, the few sidelines about the dog were fun. The food vendor world was interesting. The murder solving part of the story was pretty tame. But all and all, I found the story an entertaining read.
February 6, 2022
#Inspiration for the Muse by Adriana Kraft #RomanticSuspense #MuseMonday
MUSE MONDAY
I feel like I have two guests today. This husband/wife team puts out some great books. Please enjoy Muse Monday with Adrianna Kraft.
A desperate espresso café owner, a determined coffee franchise rep, a quiet midwestern town, anonymous threats out of the blue—where does the true danger lie?
On first picking up our latest release, people might think Mr. Kraft and I have fallen blindly into the “blonde Russian bombshell” trope. But our heroine, Nadja Petrov, was born out of a fortuitous series of events in our life. Before settling in the Southwest, we lived for a while in an upper Midwest small town. Though only boasting a population of about 30,000, it had a vibrant arts and culture community, and we frequented a favorite sole proprietor espresso café that often hosted live music and readings – yes, including readings we sometimes gave.
At about the same time, I was privileged to spend two weeks in Ukraine for work. The project took me into some of Ukraine’s more remote areas, always accompanied by a translator and a local project director. Weekdays were filled with attending to business, but weekends were open to explore Kyiv and experience cultural highlights.
Nadja’s history and character emerged out of that experience. We set the book in 2005, when Nadja is 29. This enabled us to place her childhood while Ukraine was still part of the USSR, as well as to give her a personal experience of the end of Communist rule in 1991, when she was 15.
Kyiv sports a stunning historic opera house, where I was fortunate to attend both an opera (with English subtitles) and a stunning ballet. We blessed Nadja with early ballet training. Tall, statuesque, she was selected young and being groomed for the Russian Ballet – a future that was ultimately denied to her, though we won’t spoil our story by sharing all the reasons. It turns out her love of dance and her commitment to physical conditioning never faltered, and these qualities play a key role as her story unfolds on our side of the Atlantic.
Perhaps most of all, I was struck by the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people to maintain their orthodox faith during all those decades of communist rule. Religious practices were banned across Ukraine, yet many of the local staff I worked with had been smuggled as infants by their families to orthodox priests, to be baptized in secret. All those decades of suppression could not snuff out the flame.
We play both sides of this phenomenon in our story. Nadja herself is not a believer; too much has happened in her life for her to trust. But her Aunt Ivett, who immigrated to America earlier than Nadja, is still faithful, frequently lighting a candle for herself or her niece.
Excerpt Kevin curled his fingers around the car door latch and turned back to Nadja. “Hmm, kissing me on the cheeks—does that make this a date?”
She broke into a large smile. “I’m not positive. Don’t misread a European custom.” She hesitated, then leaned across the space separating them to brush her lips lightly across his. She settled back in her seat and quietly watched his eyes sparkling.
“That’s an American custom,” he said, “for ending a date.”
“Don’t be so narrow-minded,” she teased. “I believe that custom is fairly common worldwide for ending a first date. Good night,” she added quickly. “I’ll see you on Friday.”
“You bet you will,” Kevin said, opening the door.
She watched him until he entered the motel. She hadn’t planned on their evening turning into a date. But it had. How? When? Why?
It had seemed like such a natural thing to kiss him. It had only been a kiss, and not much of one at that.
So why did her lips still tingle?
Blurb
It’s nothing personal…
It all seems simple enough—Ukrainian immigrant Nadja Petrov is determined to hold on to her thriving new coffee shop, Nadja’s Literary Cappuccino, and Java Beans District Rep Kevin Langley is equally determined to move into her North Iowa town with a franchise and run her out of business.
He scopes her out, she keeps a watchful eye on him, and the sparring begins. But there are other players involved, and the web of intrigue soon threatens Nadja, her shop, and her aunt as well as Kevin, his potential franchise, and his son. Within this cauldron simmers a sexual attraction between Nadja and Kevin that catapults them to overcome their fears of intimacy and commitment. Their lovemaking is tender and raw. Their love is nearly lost in tragedy—can it survive doubts, fire, and even a death?
Buy Links
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L7WQH12/
Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1140503297
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/i-am-not-for-sale
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1115419
ExtasyBooks https://www.extasybooks.com/I-am-Not-for-Sale
GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59582104
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/books/i-am-not-for-sale-by-adriana-kraft
About the Authors
When it’s Time to Heat Things Up
Award winning author Adriana Kraft is a married couple writing Sizzling Romantic Suspense and Erotic Romance for Two, Three, or More. Whether readers open our romantic suspense or our erotic romance, they can expect characters they care about, hot sex scenes, and a compelling story. Our suspense stories deliver one man, one woman, danger and intrigue. Our erotic romance is edgier and nearly always includes ménage or polyamory, sometimes with two women and a man, sometimes with two (or more) couples. We write our Erotic Romance stories to entertain, of course, but most of all we write them because we believe in happy endings for all who fall in love, whatever their gender, sexual orientation, or numerical combination.
LINKS
Website: http://adrianakraft.com
http://www.adrianakraft.com/blog
Newsletter: free download of our erotic romance novella Cherry Tune-Up for signing up.
Twitter http://twitter.com/AdrianaKraft
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adriana.kraft.5
Facebook Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/AdrianaKraftAuthor
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/adrianakraft
Extasy author page https://www.extasybooks.com/adriana-kraft
GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1578571.Adriana_Kraft
#Inspiration for the Muse by Adrianna Kraft #RomanticSuspense #MuseMonday
MUSE MONDAY
I feel like I have two guests today. This husband/wife team puts out some great books. Please enjoy Muse Monday with Adrianna Kraft.
A desperate espresso café owner, a determined coffee franchise rep, a quiet midwestern town, anonymous threats out of the blue—where does the true danger lie?
On first picking up our latest release, people might think Mr. Kraft and I have fallen blindly into the “blonde Russian bombshell” trope. But our heroine, Nadja Petrov, was born out of a fortuitous series of events in our life. Before settling in the Southwest, we lived for a while in an upper Midwest small town. Though only boasting a population of about 30,000, it had a vibrant arts and culture community, and we frequented a favorite sole proprietor espresso café that often hosted live music and readings – yes, including readings we sometimes gave.
At about the same time, I was privileged to spend two weeks in Ukraine for work. The project took me into some of Ukraine’s more remote areas, always accompanied by a translator and a local project director. Weekdays were filled with attending to business, but weekends were open to explore Kyiv and experience cultural highlights.
Nadja’s history and character emerged out of that experience. We set the book in 2005, when Nadja is 29. This enabled us to place her childhood while Ukraine was still part of the USSR, as well as to give her a personal experience of the end of Communist rule in 1991, when she was 15.
Kyiv sports a stunning historic opera house, where I was fortunate to attend both an opera (with English subtitles) and a stunning ballet. We blessed Nadja with early ballet training. Tall, statuesque, she was selected young and being groomed for the Russian Ballet – a future that was ultimately denied to her, though we won’t spoil our story by sharing all the reasons. It turns out her love of dance and her commitment to physical conditioning never faltered, and these qualities play a key role as her story unfolds on our side of the Atlantic.
Perhaps most of all, I was struck by the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people to maintain their orthodox faith during all those decades of communist rule. Religious practices were banned across Ukraine, yet many of the local staff I worked with had been smuggled as infants by their families to orthodox priests, to be baptized in secret. All those decades of suppression could not snuff out the flame.
We play both sides of this phenomenon in our story. Nadja herself is not a believer; too much has happened in her life for her to trust. But her Aunt Ivett, who immigrated to America earlier than Nadja, is still faithful, frequently lighting a candle for herself or her niece.
Excerpt Kevin curled his fingers around the car door latch and turned back to Nadja. “Hmm, kissing me on the cheeks—does that make this a date?”
She broke into a large smile. “I’m not positive. Don’t misread a European custom.” She hesitated, then leaned across the space separating them to brush her lips lightly across his. She settled back in her seat and quietly watched his eyes sparkling.
“That’s an American custom,” he said, “for ending a date.”
“Don’t be so narrow-minded,” she teased. “I believe that custom is fairly common worldwide for ending a first date. Good night,” she added quickly. “I’ll see you on Friday.”
“You bet you will,” Kevin said, opening the door.
She watched him until he entered the motel. She hadn’t planned on their evening turning into a date. But it had. How? When? Why?
It had seemed like such a natural thing to kiss him. It had only been a kiss, and not much of one at that.
So why did her lips still tingle?
Blurb
It’s nothing personal…
It all seems simple enough—Ukrainian immigrant Nadja Petrov is determined to hold on to her thriving new coffee shop, Nadja’s Literary Cappuccino, and Java Beans District Rep Kevin Langley is equally determined to move into her North Iowa town with a franchise and run her out of business.
He scopes her out, she keeps a watchful eye on him, and the sparring begins. But there are other players involved, and the web of intrigue soon threatens Nadja, her shop, and her aunt as well as Kevin, his potential franchise, and his son. Within this cauldron simmers a sexual attraction between Nadja and Kevin that catapults them to overcome their fears of intimacy and commitment. Their lovemaking is tender and raw. Their love is nearly lost in tragedy—can it survive doubts, fire, and even a death?
Buy Links
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L7WQH12/
Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1140503297
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/i-am-not-for-sale
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1115419
ExtasyBooks https://www.extasybooks.com/I-am-Not-for-Sale
GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59582104
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/books/i-am-not-for-sale-by-adriana-kraft
About the Authors
When it’s Time to Heat Things Up
Award winning author Adriana Kraft is a married couple writing Sizzling Romantic Suspense and Erotic Romance for Two, Three, or More. Whether readers open our romantic suspense or our erotic romance, they can expect characters they care about, hot sex scenes, and a compelling story. Our suspense stories deliver one man, one woman, danger and intrigue. Our erotic romance is edgier and nearly always includes ménage or polyamory, sometimes with two women and a man, sometimes with two (or more) couples. We write our Erotic Romance stories to entertain, of course, but most of all we write them because we believe in happy endings for all who fall in love, whatever their gender, sexual orientation, or numerical combination.
LINKS
Website: http://adrianakraft.com
http://www.adrianakraft.com/blog
Newsletter: free download of our erotic romance novella Cherry Tune-Up for signing up.
Twitter http://twitter.com/AdrianaKraft
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adriana.kraft.5
Facebook Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/AdrianaKraftAuthor
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/adrianakraft
Extasy author page https://www.extasybooks.com/adriana-kraft
GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1578571.Adriana_Kraft
February 5, 2022
2021 Reviewers Choice Awards
Imagine my surprise when I went to the Paranormal Romance Guild to vote for a book I like and found one of my books there! Mystery on Spirit Mountain has been nominated for a book award and a series award. It's one of those voting contests, so I'd love to have you drop in and vote for my book. You might encounter other books you've read and want to vote for too.
And no, Mystery on Spirit Mountain is not a traditional paranormal, but the story does have mystical undertones.
The past never sleeps.
The truth never dies.
Only Harlan MacKenzie can sense the troubled history of the Big Purple House. When he’s hired to restore the historical mansion, he doesn’t foresee the secrets—secrets that entangle his family in deceit and murder.
Phaedra is selling the house that has been in her family for decades. As her friends-to-lovers relationship with Harlan escalates, she puts her values on the line and chances losing him.
After a stranger comes to town, weaving her web of deception, hell-bent on correcting an old grievance connected to the house, dark revelations of the past implode the present. Harlan and Phaedra are thrown on a dangerous path, not only risking love but possibly their lives.
Voting ends on 2/12. Thanks so much!
February 2, 2022
Reading and #Reviews (Gaughran, Gallant)
I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. I love to share with you reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day.
I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, mysteries, and mainstream character driven books.
Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.
Amazon Decoded by David Gaughran Blurb: Want to sell more books on the world’s biggest retailer? Fancy Amazon doing the selling for you instead? Amazon Decoded: A Marketing Guide to the Kindle Store will show you how.
•Learn what Visibility Marketing is and how understanding Amazon’s philosophy can boost your sales.
•Discover the algorithms that really go into Sales Rank and dispel some remarkably common myths.
•Decode the ways Amazon recommends millions of books to readers every single day.
•Implement proven marketing plans, optimized for maximum Amazon visibility.
Whether you are exclusive to Amazon and chasing those page reads, or a wide author trying to survive the onslaught of Kindle Unlimited titles, Amazon Decoded will share the secrets of the Kindle Store and how you can sell more books.
My Review: This book was an absolute eye-opener. I’m a complete newbie when it comes to advertising. Amazon is a maze to try to figure out on my own. Mr. Gaughran even made algorithms easy to understand. I loved the history of how it all got started. He made what could be a very dry book to read, interesting.
A Deadly Love by Jannine Gallant Blurb: In the heart of the redwoods, a madman waits . . .
Recovering from a broken engagement, Brooke Wakefield escapes to her grandmother’s home deep in the redwood forest, determined to start over. Not an easy task when her teenage crush lives next door. The last thing she needs is another man to break her heart, but Dillon’s sexy smile still sends her heat level soaring.
Dillon Tremayne isn’t looking for a relationship. With a young son, an eccentric grandfather, and a logging company running him ragged, he can’t afford any romantic entanglements. Too bad Brooke’s humor and strength—not to mention her kisses—are so hard to resist.
When a woman from his past is brutally murdered and another disappears, Dillon is heartsick—and terrified the killer will target Brooke next. Can Brooke and Dillon find love in the heart of the forest? Or will a madman’s twisted fantasy destroy their chance at happiness?
My Review: A Deadly Love was so entertaining. Ms. Gallant’s blurb doesn’t do the book justice if you’re a lover of character driven novels. Let me tell you, the characters in this book take front and center stage. Brooke and Dillon come alive on the pages. But the secondary characters like the grandfather really round out this book. The suspense is intense. The story is well rounded. Another good story from Jannine Gallant.
Reading and #Reviews
I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. I love to share with you reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day.
I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, mysteries, and mainstream character driven books.
Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.
Amazon Decoded by David Gaughran Blurb: Want to sell more books on the world’s biggest retailer? Fancy Amazon doing the selling for you instead? Amazon Decoded: A Marketing Guide to the Kindle Store will show you how.
•Learn what Visibility Marketing is and how understanding Amazon’s philosophy can boost your sales.
•Discover the algorithms that really go into Sales Rank and dispel some remarkably common myths.
•Decode the ways Amazon recommends millions of books to readers every single day.
•Implement proven marketing plans, optimized for maximum Amazon visibility.
Whether you are exclusive to Amazon and chasing those page reads, or a wide author trying to survive the onslaught of Kindle Unlimited titles, Amazon Decoded will share the secrets of the Kindle Store and how you can sell more books.
My Review: This book was an absolute eye-opener. I’m a complete newbie when it comes to advertising. Amazon is a maze to try to figure out on my own. Mr. Gaughran even made algorithms easy to understand. I loved the history of how it all got started. He made what could be a very dry book to read, interesting.
A Deadly Love by Jannine Gallant Blurb: In the heart of the redwoods, a madman waits . . .
Recovering from a broken engagement, Brooke Wakefield escapes to her grandmother’s home deep in the redwood forest, determined to start over. Not an easy task when her teenage crush lives next door. The last thing she needs is another man to break her heart, but Dillon’s sexy smile still sends her heat level soaring.
Dillon Tremayne isn’t looking for a relationship. With a young son, an eccentric grandfather, and a logging company running him ragged, he can’t afford any romantic entanglements. Too bad Brooke’s humor and strength—not to mention her kisses—are so hard to resist.
When a woman from his past is brutally murdered and another disappears, Dillon is heartsick—and terrified the killer will target Brooke next. Can Brooke and Dillon find love in the heart of the forest? Or will a madman’s twisted fantasy destroy their chance at happiness?
My Review: A Deadly Love was so entertaining. Ms. Gallant’s blurb doesn’t do the book justice if you’re a lover of character driven novels. Let me tell you, the characters in this book take front and center stage. Brooke and Dillon come alive on the pages. But the secondary characters like the grandfather really round out this book. The suspense is intense. The story is well rounded. Another good story from Jannine Gallant.
February 1, 2022
All Kinds of Wickedness by Randy Overbeck #coldcase #MurderMystery
WICKED WEDNESDAY
Hey, Readers, I'm honored to have Randy back as our Wicked Wednesday guest blogger. He's a rare kind of author, lending a lesson to his fiction. You'll enjoy today's post.
“Tolerating evil only leads to more evil. When good people stand by and do nothing while wickedness reigns, their communities will be consumed.”—Bob Riley
There are all kinds of wickedness. Without wicked villains, there would be no heroes. Without a worthy antagonist, our story would be without drama and our protagonists would have no one to battle. Like other writers, the tales I create are full of real, wicked villains—corrupt cops, greedy businessmen, even powerful owners who don’t believe the rules apply to them. My narratives—and those of all other writers—would be bland without them. Readers need to hate Count Dracula or Professor Moriarty to cheer for their heroes. They are the ying to the yang.
But when I “put pen to paper,” I’m striving to do more than create credible, compelling characters readers would recognize as well as love and hate. I wanted my writing to expose examples of much broader wickedness infecting the human race. One the one hand, there are villains who steal the life of one loved person; then there are the truly wicked villains who steal the lives, hopes and dreams of scores, hundreds, even thousands of tortured souls. These are those who embody true wickedness. In my novels, I point my pen—well, okay, my computer—at such as these.
In each entry of my Haunted Shores Mysteries series, when my protagonist Darrell Henshaw—teacher, coach and paranormal sensitive—tries to unravel a cold-case whodunit, he finds the murder tied to a far greater crime, one of considerable wickedness. In the first novel, BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE, Darrell investigates the mysterious death of a black teen and discovers his murder, decades earlier, was the instrument of ugly discrimination and racial injustice, which still festers in the small idyllic town, the wickedness simmering just below the surface. In the
second in the series, CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY, Darrell is haunted by the ghost of a bride who died on her wedding night, a few years earlier. When Darrell digs into the story, he find himself face-to-face with perhaps the most wicked crime of all, human trafficking. He is compelled to solve the mystery of the bride’s death and rescue young girls caught in the web of this ugly network. In the third and
recent release, SCARLET AT CRYSTAL RIVER, Darrell and his new bride Erin travel to the Gulf coast of Florida for a relaxing honeymoon. Instead, he encounters the ghost of two young children who keep urging him to help them find justice. When he finally concedes and follows the clues, they lead to an unspeakable murder and an even more wicked crime. The two were children of migrant families working the produce fields in Florida. In pursuing answers to questions about the children, Darrell and Erin learn firsthand about another wickedness, the exploitation and abuse of these immigrants.
The three entries have much in common. One reviewer described them each as “a cold-case murder mystery wrapped in ghost story, served with a side of romance, set a beautiful resort location.” Readers of my novels will definitely get their fill of good guys and bad guys, heroes and villains, more than enough personal wickedness to go around. But, when they close the last page of each installment, I hope readers will be a little more informed, a little more alerted and a little more educated about real human wickedness. And maybe empowered to do something about it.
You can check out all three novels at my website http://www.authorrandyoverbeck.com Or reach me at randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.comor @OverbeckRandy. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
“All that is necessary for wickedness to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing.”—with slight apologies to Edmund Burke
January 23, 2022
The Three Worst Pieces of Writing Advice By Marilyn Baron
MUSE MONDAY
Lots of reasons to enjoy my guest blogger, Marilyn Baron, today. First off...bad advice. Everyone gives out advice, so here is what not to listen to. Secondly, I love exotic locals. Exotic to us armchair travelers, but her books can take you there. Take us away, Marilyn.When I began my writing career, I was given some great advice (Finish the Book!) by a number of authors I met, including Janet Evanovich and Daniel Silva; and some not-so-great advice by agents and editors.
Here are the three worst pieces of writing advice I’ve ever received:
1. Agent:“Nobody is interested in World War II.” Me: Tell that to Kristin Hannah, who wrote one of my favorite books, The Nightingale, and any number of other bestselling authors with WW II-themed books. And tell that to my father, who was a top-turret gunner on a B-17 flying bombing missions from a base in England.
2. Editor:I really like your book, but can you change the word Nazis to the evil ones or something like that? Me: Seriously?
3. Agent:I really like your book, but do you have to set it in Australia? Our audience doesn’t like books set outside of America. Me: I doubt that Outlanderfans would agree.
Naturally, I didn’t follow the bad advice, because many of my books are set in locations I’ve visited, such as Australia, Bermuda, Austria, Scotland, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, Greece and Italy. In fact, my last historical romantic thriller, The Romanov Legacy, was set in Switzerland, Italy and Russia. And my 28th work of fiction (Yes, I can Finish a Book!), The Case of the Missing Botticelli, which releases today, is set in Florence and Venice, Italy. And yes, my books (Stumble Stones) do feature Nazis, the ultimate villains.
The Case of the Missing Botticelli, A Massimo Domingo Mystery, is the beginning of a new cozy mystery series I’m writing. In fact, Book 2 (The Case of the Vanishing Vermeer), set in Florence and Lake Como, Italy, is included in the first book. So, you get two Massimo Domingo Mysteries in one book.
Blurb:
In this cozy mystery, American art history major Hadley Evans joins an art detective agency in Florence, Italy, working for Massimo Domingo, once a major player, now the ‘Inspector Clouseau’ of the art world. Determined to save the flailing agency and prove her worth, Hadley and her sexy Carabinieri boyfriend, Luca Ferrari, take on a mysterious client behind her boss’s back. Hot on the trail of a missing masterpiece, they discover a hidden cache of stolen Nazi art in a Venetian villa and encounter an enemy with a link to an evil past.
Spoiler Alert: Yes, this book does have Nazis.
So, be selective about what writing advice you follow and follow your heart. I write about what I know and what I like. My books include themes like art theft, WW II, and are often set in Italy, where I studied art history in Florence during my senior year in college.
Although I’m not Italian, I love all things Italy, including my favorite Italian dish, spaghetti alla carbonara. My grandmother name is Nonna, Italian for grandmother.
When you read The Case of the Missing Botticelli, you’ll see some of my life living in Florence reflected in the book. Like the heroine, I was run over by a motorcycle and the rider sued me for the damage to his bike because I was walking in the street, like everyone else, including the Carabinieri who arrested me. And the painting featured in my novel is Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, my favorite painting, which I first saw in the Uffizi Galleries in Florence.
In these times when travel is difficult, this book will transport you to some fabulous settings. My last trip before COVID, was to Italy, to revisit some of the places I loved in Florence. If you’d like to read The Case of the Missing Botticelli, here are the BUY Links:
Excerpt:
Hadley wrote down the phone number and her jaw went slack when she heard and inscribed the rest of the message. “Tell him it’s about a missing Botticelli. It’s urgent.”
A shot of adrenelin coursed through Hadley’s veins. Sandro Botticelli. Her favorite artist in the
whole world. Creator of the Italian masterpiece, Nascita di Venere, The Birth of Venus, the ancient Goddess of Love, dated circa 1484. She wasn’t aware a Botticelli painting was missing.
“Is there any additional information you can give me? The name of the painting? The provenance? Capito. I understand the need for utmost secrecy. We can set up a meeting and I’ll make sure Signore Domingo will be there.”
She jotted down some more notes. “Piazzale Michelangelo? At sunset?”
Hadley tilted her head and chewed on her bottom lip. That was a strange destination for a business meeting. Although it offered the most scenic view of the city, perched atop a hillside overlooking Florence, meeting at a park after dark was reminiscent of a murder scene in a film noir. Where the heroine, Hadley, would later be found, dead, her virtue compromised and her throat slit.
Was the female caller from a museum? A high-end gallery? An auction house? Was she an art or antiquities dealer or a wealthy private individual or was she representing a government agency? And, if so, which government? Enemy or ally? She would soon find out.
Marilyn Baronwrites in a variety of genres from women’s fiction to historical romantic thrillers and romantic suspense to paranormal/fantasy. She’s received writing awards in Single Title, Suspense Romance, Novel with Strong Romantic Elements and Paranormal/Fantasy Romance. She was also The Finalist in the 2017 Georgia Author of the Year Awards (GAYA) in the Romance Category for her novel, Stumble Stones, and The Finalist for the 2018 GAYA Awards in the Romance category for her novel, The Alibi. Her latest novel, The Case of the Missing Botticelli: A Massimo Domingo Mystery, released January 24, 2022, is her 28th work of fiction. A public relations consultant in Atlanta, Marilyn is past chair of Roswell Reads and serves on the Atlanta Authors Series Committee. To find out more about what Marilyn writes, visit her website at: www.marilynbaron.com/ Marilyn Baron Social Media Links:
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January 20, 2022
A Memory by Anne Fowler #memoir #FearlessFriday
FEARLESS FRIDAY
Please welcome my guest, Anne Fowler, with a fun story from her past. Remember those days of being fearless in the face of authority? And getting away with it?
Prior to 1988 when Ontario joined in with the rest of Canada’s provinces in eliminating grade thirteen, The Ministry of Education distributed a standardized test on each subject to all schools across the province and everyone wrote the same paper. Algebra? Definitely not my best subject. In fact, I suspect the phrase “it’s Greek to me” would be an apt statement when applied to my mathematical abilities. Students from our Grade 13 A – 13D classes were herded into the gym to take the Christmas exams under strict teacher supervision. They monitored our every move, well perhaps not every move! At the command to start, MAL (Anne) turned over her exam paper and quickly realized there was no way on God’s green earth that she could achieve even close to a passing grade. She may have been a dunce in algebra but there was no lack of Machiavellian ideas swirling in her brain. A plan providing escape from the certain humiliation that would come her way as a result of failing, went like this:
* write the exam, appear very studious
* discreetly stuff said exam down front of tunic uniform
* join the group of exiting classmates and appear to be handing in the completed exam
* do not pass go, head directly home for lunch (one block from school
* Mother was conveniently out
* burn the offending document in the fireplace, smother the flames and embers
* eat some lunch and return to school
Everything went off without a hitch. She returned to school in the afternoon appearing unphased and wrote an English exam, her best subject. Looked like “the plan” had worked!
The next day algebra teacher Mr. Walton approached MAL and said “Didn’t I see you in the gym yesterday writing your exam?”
“Yes of course,” said the very picture of innocence.
“Well, the strangest thing” he said, “we don’t have your paper.”
Now the tears came on demand. “But I studied so hard. How could you lose it?! Boo Hoo.”
“Not to worry, I’m sure it will turn up and has just been misfiled.”
Misfiled in my fireplace she thought.
Ultimately MAL had to rewrite the exam but since she had a really good memory in those days, plus the tutoring of a math genius friend, she managed to squeak out a passing grade.
Was the incident ever mentioned again? Yes and no. No during my high school days but some thirty-five years later at a reunion honoring LHS’s fiftieth year…...yes!
As I approached an elderly Mr. Walton, he held out a shaky hand, grabbed mine and said “Anne Hamilton, please tell me how you managed to make the exam disappear?”
Obviously, at the time of the crime, the teachers had discussed different possibilities and had figured out that they’d been scammed by Miss Hamilton, that year’s prom queen.
I wonder if they had considered confiscating her crown as retribution for what they clearly knew she had done but just didn’t know how?
And yes, to answer your question, I did tell him how I did it. Laughing he said, “We all had our theories but certainly never thought of that one!”
Ordering information:
For Canadian readers: Paperback - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1778350321
eBook - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/BO9HDN55FV
For US readers: Paperback - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1778350321
eBook - https://www.amazon.com/dp/BO9HDN55FV
Anne Fowler, only child of Audrey and Stewart Hamilton, was raised in Toronto where she attended Leaside High School and Toronto Western Hospital School of Nursing. In 1962 American Airlines beckoned her to Dallas, Texas and life in the sky as a flight attendant. Twice divorced, Anne first married a young minister from Louisiana and then long-time best friend Dr. Bob Fowler of Toronto. They raised a daughter and son who later produced one grandchild each… a grandson and granddaughter. In 2001, Anne retired, closed her company Hamilton Enterprises and left behind a thirty- year career in Human Resources. She relocated to El Progreso, Honduras to volunteer at a clinic where ophthalmic and dental care are provided for patients who lack the funds to be treated elsewhere. During this time, Anne developed the Visiting Doctor program for international ophthalmologists, started the Healthy Living Education project in local elementary schools, and helped with a variety of clinic and community activities. In 2005, after purchasing property in the small north coast village of El Porvenir, she built Hamilton Benest House, a home that provides accommodation for visiting dentists, doctors, teachers and other volunteers. Her major program in 2021 is Phase Two of the Healthy Living Program. This annual dental program, conducted by two Canadian dental teams, provides dental care for over 1,000 elementary school students. Anne's programs continue to thrive and she is still developing community initiatives designed to improve the lives of Hondurans. Anne divides her year between El Porvenir and her Haliburton cottage north of Toronto
