Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 46

In the Book, a #series is Born

This is where the series began...Lacy's search to know her birth parents, Flagstaff, Arizona, and a quest that uncovers secrets, threats, and murder.

Way back when, I wanted to write a story of love and murder. Murder in the name of love. Unrealistic love that drives a person to murder. Obsessive desires that mascaraed as love. My series took shape.

The setting for the first book, The Art of Love and Murder, needed a location as beautiful as Lacy and as rugged as Sheriff Meadowlark. Flagstaff, Arizona is nestled between the infamous Route 66 and the 12, 633 feet San Francisco Peaks.


When Lacy Dahl’s research uncovers secrets about the mother she never knew; secrets that dispute the identity of her father, she finds herself on the edge of disaster.   Sheriff Chance Meadowlark is still haunted by the murder of his wife and the revenge he unleashed in the name of justice.  When he meets Lacy he is determined not to become involved, but their pasts may make that impossible.  As they move closer to the truth, saving Lacy may be his only salvation.
Lacy begins to think the present is more important than her past...until Chance's connection to her mother and a murder spin her deeper into danger and further from love.  Will the truth destroy Lacy and Chance or will it be the answer that frees them?

For two weeks, you can get the first book in the series for $.99 at the following eBook stores:

AMAZON
BARNES AND NOBLE
APPLE iBOOKS

Baby Making by Liz Flaherty #romance #babymaking

MUSE MONDAY
Ah, romance. Especially when baby making is involved. Liz has a great post and excerpt for you today.
I was so lucky. I got pregnant, I swear, just by giving it serious thought. My husband probably thinks there was more to it, but, really, it was just so easy. I carried all three of my kids with a minimum of drama, much morning sickness, and weight gain I’m still fighting (and blaming the kids for) 40-some years later.
But I know that’s not everyone’s story.
When I was writing The Healing Summer, Carol’s best friend couldn’t have a baby. The pendulums of biological clocks were swinging wildly and even though adoption was very much under consideration, so was everything else. Carol was single, she’d lost one child and miscarried another. She had no intention of ever being pregnant again.
Imagine her surprise when the words “gestational carrier” came out of her mouth. Imagine her further surprise when she offered to be one.
There is more than one plot in this book, more than one story—if a writer can be both linear and all over the place, I’m it—but the story of Carol and her best friend’s baby just might be my favorite.
BLURB:It’s a summer romance--what happens come September?When Steven Elliott accidentally rides his bike into Carol Whitney’s car at the cemetery, the summer takes on new and exciting possibilities. Long friendship wends its way into something deeper when their hearts get involved. Feelings neither of them had expected to experience again enrich their days and nights.  But what happens when the long summer ends? When Carol wants a family and commitment and a future, Steven isn't so sure. He’s had his heart broken before—can he risk it again?

Excerpt:
“Were you hunting me?” She should have waited to get her breath back—she sounded like a vamp from one of 1940s movies that were on really late at night when you couldn’t sleep. “When we met on the road, I mean.”
“Huh?” He sounded nonplused, and she felt like cheering. She wasn’t the only one who’d been kissed stupid—he wasn’t doing so well, either. “Oh, yeah.”
“Yeah?” She turned away, starting to put away the abandoned groceries. If she couldn’t see him, she would neither hyperventilate nor jump his bones. Maybe.
“Want to?”
Want to what? That? Did she want to? Hell, yes, she wanted to. But they were just barely aware of each other, and he was going back to his big city life and big city friends in a matter of weeks. Although he’d probably spend some weekends at Miss Abigail’s and possibly even open an office in Peacock the way he’d mentioned, he wasn’t good relationship material.
Even more, in Carol’s mind and she thought probably in his, he was still Promise’s. The thought sobered her and stilled her hands. Oh, Promise.
“What did you…why did you want me?” she asked, trying to insert some sense into the conversation, some mental cold water on her still-shrieking girl parts.
“Dinner.” He pulled his hair back into a band he took from his pocket—he never seemed to run out of ponytail holders. “Would you like to go to dinner? And shop for cars? I know you’re not going to the beach this summer, but I’ll buy you a girly drink with an umbrella in it and you can pretend.” He ran a finger lightly down the strap of her dress. “You can wear one of these dresses, although probably not this one, since I seem to have decorated it with sawdust and sweat. Oh, wait.” He held up both hands to stave off an answer. “Grace told me it was rude to suggest someone wear something in particular, so I take that back. Wear whatever you like.”
“When and why did Grace tell you that?” She refilled their tea glasses and handed him his. She took a long drink, hoping the cold brew would serve to cool down her insides.
Well, that wasn’t working—she was pretty sure she felt them sizzle.
“Thursday. She was going to afternoon tea over at the Old Farts Home, something they’ve apparently decided to have every Thursday. You stay for it, too, don’t you, after you get their hair and nails all prettied up? Anyway, she had on her overalls, complete with grass-stained knees, and I said, very politely, ‘Holy shit, Grace, are you wearing those?’ She didn’t respond well.”
“I’m amazed.” She shook her head.
“I was, too,” he said righteously. “I was only trying to help.”
Even if she could have resisted the hormonal storm that had overtaken her kitchen, Carol had no defense against his laughing dark eyes. “Okay, thanks. I’d like to go to dinner. And you’re sure it’s all right if I wear whatever I please?”
His gusting sigh should have made the kitchen curtains stir. “Yes. Fine. Can I use your phone to call Dillon and ask him to bring my truck up the hill?”
“Sure, or we can walk down if you’d rather.” Carol was surprised at how much she was enjoying the walking these days, especially when it was downhill.
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“No.” She grinned at him. “But you have to take a shower. I do have some standards on dates.” She gasped as soon as the words left her mouth. “I’m sorry. I know this isn’t a date. We’re friends who kissed…accidentally. This is dinner, not a date. Right?”
He smiled, a slow and lazy expression that turned her stomach over. And over again. “Wrong.” He came over and kissed her once more. Thoroughly. “It’s a date.”
Bio:Retired from the post office and married to Duane for…a really long time, USA Todaybestselling author Liz Flaherty has had a heart-shaped adult life, populated with kids and grands and wonderful friends. She admits she can be boring, but hopes her curiosity about everyone and everything around her keeps her from it. She likes traveling and quilting and reading. And she loves writing. Buy links: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X8DGPM6/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i6B & N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-healing-summer-liz-flaherty/1133411458Google Books: https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Healing_Summer.html?id=kj64DwAAQBAJKobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-healing-summer

Writing Inspiration by Donna Schlachter #inspiration #mystery

Please welcome Donna as my guest blogger today. It's always interesting to hear how an author got started and where inspiration comes from.
When I was a kid, I loved to read. And once I’d worked my way through the children’s section of our local library, I begged the librarian to let me read from the adult section. I read Jack London and others who wrote about animals, moving on to Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour because I loved horses. The librarian made sure she approved every book I checked out.
And then I discovered Agatha Christie, which ignited my passion for mysteries. Everywhere I went, I looked for the baker’s son who pulled wings off flies, or the mailman who kicked dogs, or the housewife who wore her negligee to hang clothes—all of those peculiar mannerisms Miss Marple mentioned in solving the crime. And I worked on triggering “those little grey cells” like Hercules Poirot said.
In writing class, I was the kid who got A+ because of word count. I loved to write. I’d make up stories about anything. The last leaf on the tree in the fall—what was it thinking? Why didn’t it want to join its friends? How about the one bird sitting by itself on the telephone wire. What had it done to be excluded from the flock? Or did it think it was an eagle and not a pigeon?
Stories from my childhood like The Ugly Duckling and The Prince and the Pauper ignited “What if. . . ?” questions. What if I’d been born in a different family? What if I wasn’t the oldest? What if I had a twin?
Perhaps because I was the oldest and I got blamed not only for what I did but for what my siblings did as well, I have a strong sense of justice. Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and there isn’t much grey area between the two. So writing mysteries seemed like the way to ensure that my world was always in alignment.
Starting around 2002, after writing short stories and other short pieces for a while, I wondered if I had a full-length book in me. I heard about National Novel Writing Month, and decided to find out if I could write 50,000 words about one thing: solving a mystery. I started late, had only the barest bones of a story, and ended up writing myself into a corner because I didn’t know who the criminal was.
But I persevered, decided who would be the killer, and wrote 7,500 words on November 30th, bringing my word count to just over 50,000 words.
Did I mention I’m also very badge-driven?
So on December 1st of that same year, I went back in and put in red herrings and clues as to the killer’s motivation, because I hate it when a television show or author springs the solution without offering any clues along the way.
After about ten more revisions through the years, I independently published that book, now renamed No Accounting for Murder, the first in a series. Number 11 came out the end of December under my pen name of Leeann Betts. Along with three volumes of three novels each, appropriately named By the Numbers Omnibus 1, 2, and 3.
So what inspires me? Well-written stories ignited the passion to prove myself worthy of reading and dreaming and imagining along with the author. The characters and stories tumbling around in my head cry out to be written down. Seeing my father hold the story of his life in his hands as a book published for the family confirms my calling. And finishing the story of his life as he wanted, even after his passing, reminds me that time is short and we aren’t always guaranteed tomorrow. Hearing readers say they enjoyed a particular book confirms that I have a gift that shouldn’t be wasted. Teaching at conferences and online courses, and hearing students say, “I finally get it” keeps me working at my craft. And sharing my story with you reminds me that this isn’t all about me—it’s about what God is doing in me and through me.
The way I figure it, others have their way of touching people’s lives, through their speaking, their service, their preaching. I touch lives through my writing. But that writing is still only a tool. The message I bring is that God offers second, third, fourth and more chances. I’m living proof of that. I’ve messed up more times than I have fingers and toes. Yet here I am, being used by Him to share His love.
What more inspiration do I need? 
About Double Jeopardy:Set in 1880, Becky Campbell leaves her wealthy New York lifestyle in search of her father, only to learn he was murdered in the small town of Silver Valley, Colorado. Unable to return to her mother in humiliation and defeat, she determines to fulfill her father’s dream—to make the Double Jeopardy profitable.
Zeke Graumann, a local rancher, is faced with a hard decision regarding his land and his dream. After several years of poor weather and low cattle prices, he will either have to take on a job to help pay his overhead expenses, or sell his land. He hires on with this Easterner for two reasons: he can’t turn his back on a damsel in distress. And he needs the money.
Becky isn’t certain Zeke is all he claims to be, and after a series of accidents at her mine, wonders if he isn’t behind it, trying to get her to sell out so he can take over.
Zeke finds many of Becky’s qualities admirable and fears he’s losing his heart to her charms, but also recognizes she was never cut out to be a rancher’s wife.
Can Becky overcome her mistrust of Zeke, find her father’s killer, and turn her mine into a profitable venture—before her mother arrives in town, thinking she’s coming for her daughter’s wedding? And will Zeke be forced to give up his dream and lose his land in order to win Becky’s heart?
Join us on January 7th, 2020 as we celebrate the release of Double Jeopardy
Excerpt:Chapter 11880 Silver Valley, Colorado
Dead. Dead as her dreams and her hopes.Dead as a doornail, as her mother would say.Just thinking about the woman drove a steel rod through Becky Campbell’s slumping back. Perched on a chair in the sheriff’s office, she drew a deep breath, lifted her shoulders, and raised her chin a notch. She would not be like the woman who birthed her. Pretty and pampered. A silly socialite finding nothing better to do with her days than tea with the mayor’s spinster daughter or bridge with the banker’s wife.No, she’d much rather be like her father. Adventuresome. Charismatic. Always on the lookout for the next big thing.Now her breath came in a shudder, and down went her shoulders again. She tied her fingers into knots before looking up at the grizzled lawman across the desk from her. “There’s no chance there’s been a mistake in identification, is there?”He slid open the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a pocket watch, a lapel pin, and a fountain pen, which he pushed across the desk to her. “He was pretty well-known around here. I’m really sorry, miss.”Becky picked up the timepiece and flicked open the cover. Inside was a photograph of her family, taken about ten years earlier when she was a mere child of eight and Father stayed around long enough to sit still for the portrait. Her mother, petite and somber, and she, all ringlets and ribbons. She rubbed a finger across the engraving. To R. Love M. Always.Yes, this was his.And the lapel pin, a tiny silver basket designed to hold a sprig of baby’s breath or a miniature rosebud—a wedding gift from her mother twenty years before.She looked up at the sheriff, tears blurring her vision. “And his ring?”The lawman shook his head. “No ring. Not on his body or in his shack.”“But he always wore it. Never took it off.”He shrugged. “Maybe he lost it. Or sold it.”“I doubt he’d do either. My mother gave it to him when I was born.” She peered at him. Had he stolen her father’s ring? Or maybe Sheriff Freemont was correct. Maybe something as important as her birth hadn’t meant much to her father. Maybe she didn’t either. Was that why he left?
Available at https://shoplpc.com/double-jeopardy/Amazon.com, and fine booksellers in your area.
About Donna:Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick. As a hybrid author, she writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts, and has been published more than 30 times in novellas and full-length novels. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Writers on the Rock, Sisters In Crime, and Christian Authors Network; facilitates a critique group; and teaches writing classes online and in person. Donna also ghostwrites, edits, and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management. 
www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.comwww.HiStoryThruTheAges.com Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthorTwitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachterBooks: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm What Can Be Online University: online courses on the craft of writingEtsy online shop of original artwork, book folding art, and gift items

Writing Inspiration by Donna Schlachter #inspiration #myster

Please welcome Donna as my guest blogger today. It's always interesting to hear how an author got started and where inspiration comes from.
When I was a kid, I loved to read. And once I’d worked my way through the children’s section of our local library, I begged the librarian to let me read from the adult section. I read Jack London and others who wrote about animals, moving on to Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour because I loved horses. The librarian made sure she approved every book I checked out.
And then I discovered Agatha Christie, which ignited my passion for mysteries. Everywhere I went, I looked for the baker’s son who pulled wings off flies, or the mailman who kicked dogs, or the housewife who wore her negligee to hang clothes—all of those peculiar mannerisms Miss Marple mentioned in solving the crime. And I worked on triggering “those little grey cells” like Hercules Poirot said.
In writing class, I was the kid who got A+ because of word count. I loved to write. I’d make up stories about anything. The last leaf on the tree in the fall—what was it thinking? Why didn’t it want to join its friends? How about the one bird sitting by itself on the telephone wire. What had it done to be excluded from the flock? Or did it think it was an eagle and not a pigeon?
Stories from my childhood like The Ugly Duckling and The Prince and the Pauper ignited “What if. . . ?” questions. What if I’d been born in a different family? What if I wasn’t the oldest? What if I had a twin?
Perhaps because I was the oldest and I got blamed not only for what I did but for what my siblings did as well, I have a strong sense of justice. Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and there isn’t much grey area between the two. So writing mysteries seemed like the way to ensure that my world was always in alignment.
Starting around 2002, after writing short stories and other short pieces for a while, I wondered if I had a full-length book in me. I heard about National Novel Writing Month, and decided to find out if I could write 50,000 words about one thing: solving a mystery. I started late, had only the barest bones of a story, and ended up writing myself into a corner because I didn’t know who the criminal was.
But I persevered, decided who would be the killer, and wrote 7,500 words on November 30th, bringing my word count to just over 50,000 words.
Did I mention I’m also very badge-driven?
So on December 1st of that same year, I went back in and put in red herrings and clues as to the killer’s motivation, because I hate it when a television show or author springs the solution without offering any clues along the way.
After about ten more revisions through the years, I independently published that book, now renamed No Accounting for Murder, the first in a series. Number 11 came out the end of December under my pen name of Leeann Betts. Along with three volumes of three novels each, appropriately named By the Numbers Omnibus 1, 2, and 3.
So what inspires me? Well-written stories ignited the passion to prove myself worthy of reading and dreaming and imagining along with the author. The characters and stories tumbling around in my head cry out to be written down. Seeing my father hold the story of his life in his hands as a book published for the family confirms my calling. And finishing the story of his life as he wanted, even after his passing, reminds me that time is short and we aren’t always guaranteed tomorrow. Hearing readers say they enjoyed a particular book confirms that I have a gift that shouldn’t be wasted. Teaching at conferences and online courses, and hearing students say, “I finally get it” keeps me working at my craft. And sharing my story with you reminds me that this isn’t all about me—it’s about what God is doing in me and through me.
The way I figure it, others have their way of touching people’s lives, through their speaking, their service, their preaching. I touch lives through my writing. But that writing is still only a tool. The message I bring is that God offers second, third, fourth and more chances. I’m living proof of that. I’ve messed up more times than I have fingers and toes. Yet here I am, being used by Him to share His love.
What more inspiration do I need? 
About Double Jeopardy:Set in 1880, Becky Campbell leaves her wealthy New York lifestyle in search of her father, only to learn he was murdered in the small town of Silver Valley, Colorado. Unable to return to her mother in humiliation and defeat, she determines to fulfill her father’s dream—to make the Double Jeopardy profitable.
Zeke Graumann, a local rancher, is faced with a hard decision regarding his land and his dream. After several years of poor weather and low cattle prices, he will either have to take on a job to help pay his overhead expenses, or sell his land. He hires on with this Easterner for two reasons: he can’t turn his back on a damsel in distress. And he needs the money.
Becky isn’t certain Zeke is all he claims to be, and after a series of accidents at her mine, wonders if he isn’t behind it, trying to get her to sell out so he can take over.
Zeke finds many of Becky’s qualities admirable and fears he’s losing his heart to her charms, but also recognizes she was never cut out to be a rancher’s wife.
Can Becky overcome her mistrust of Zeke, find her father’s killer, and turn her mine into a profitable venture—before her mother arrives in town, thinking she’s coming for her daughter’s wedding? And will Zeke be forced to give up his dream and lose his land in order to win Becky’s heart?
Join us on January 7th, 2020 as we celebrate the release of Double Jeopardy
Excerpt:Chapter 11880 Silver Valley, Colorado
Dead. Dead as her dreams and her hopes.Dead as a doornail, as her mother would say.Just thinking about the woman drove a steel rod through Becky Campbell’s slumping back. Perched on a chair in the sheriff’s office, she drew a deep breath, lifted her shoulders, and raised her chin a notch. She would not be like the woman who birthed her. Pretty and pampered. A silly socialite finding nothing better to do with her days than tea with the mayor’s spinster daughter or bridge with the banker’s wife.No, she’d much rather be like her father. Adventuresome. Charismatic. Always on the lookout for the next big thing.Now her breath came in a shudder, and down went her shoulders again. She tied her fingers into knots before looking up at the grizzled lawman across the desk from her. “There’s no chance there’s been a mistake in identification, is there?”He slid open the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a pocket watch, a lapel pin, and a fountain pen, which he pushed across the desk to her. “He was pretty well-known around here. I’m really sorry, miss.”Becky picked up the timepiece and flicked open the cover. Inside was a photograph of her family, taken about ten years earlier when she was a mere child of eight and Father stayed around long enough to sit still for the portrait. Her mother, petite and somber, and she, all ringlets and ribbons. She rubbed a finger across the engraving. To R. Love M. Always.Yes, this was his.And the lapel pin, a tiny silver basket designed to hold a sprig of baby’s breath or a miniature rosebud—a wedding gift from her mother twenty years before.She looked up at the sheriff, tears blurring her vision. “And his ring?”The lawman shook his head. “No ring. Not on his body or in his shack.”“But he always wore it. Never took it off.”He shrugged. “Maybe he lost it. Or sold it.”“I doubt he’d do either. My mother gave it to him when I was born.” She peered at him. Had he stolen her father’s ring? Or maybe Sheriff Freemont was correct. Maybe something as important as her birth hadn’t meant much to her father. Maybe she didn’t either. Was that why he left?
Available at https://shoplpc.com/double-jeopardy/Amazon.com, and fine booksellers in your area.
About Donna:Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick. As a hybrid author, she writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts, and has been published more than 30 times in novellas and full-length novels. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Writers on the Rock, Sisters In Crime, and Christian Authors Network; facilitates a critique group; and teaches writing classes online and in person. Donna also ghostwrites, edits, and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management. 
www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.comwww.HiStoryThruTheAges.com Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthorTwitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachterBooks: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm What Can Be Online University: online courses on the craft of writingEtsy online shop of original artwork, book folding art, and gift items

Reading and #Reviews (Dean, Guidoccio, Anderson)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or an eReader at night for the last hour of my day.

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. My current read is Juror #3 by James Patterson, a crime and law novel.  I also read romantic suspense, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream character driven novels.

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!
End of Lonely Street by Alicia Dean
Romance
This is a short novella for those readers who love being transported back to the nostalgic 1950s. Toby quits school to return home and take care of her alcoholic mother. An old love, Noah, is there, too, which causes Toby another kind of problem. She finds solace in the music of her idol, Elvis, and the reader gets carried along. You’ll enjoy this short, sweet love story.
AMAZON BUY LINK



A Season for Killing Blondes by Joanne Guidoccio
Cozy Mystery
Gilda has started her own business after winning the lottery. But before her Grand opening is kicked off, a dead blonde is found on the premises. This is only one of several. Besides being a suspect, her old love from thirty years ago is the detective in charge.
This story is character driven with a splash of Italian that will capture you and keep you reading. It’s a cozy that got me from page one.
AMAZON BUY LINK


When Mountains Fall by Rolynn Anderson
Romantic Suspense
Camryn’s husband is dead. She and her son have been living with his wealthy parents. But her son wants to return to their home in isolated Waka Bay, British Columbia. For his mental health, she takes him home and together they fight to run the failing business while she tries to clear her husband’s name of murder. When she meets Finn, who anchors his boat in the bay every weekend, her life becomes more interesting and more tense as he has secrets of his own.
Ms. Anderson paints a vivid picture of this beautiful area while weaving a story of intrigue and romance.


                                       AMAZON BUY LINK

Killer Villains: Name Your Favorite By Jodi Rath

WICKED WEDNESDAY
Jodi Rath is treating us to Wicked Wednesday with her take on villains. Clowns? Gulp! It doesn's stop there.
Big red-nose, three times too big painted on a red smile that turns sinister like dark clouds invading a sunny day. The evil clown is my least favorite villain. Why? Clowns freak me out. They seem caustic by nature. My favorite villain is the everyday, normal citizen that no one would ever guess. The one that looks too good to be evil. They wear the same mask as the clown does paint, but they hide it so well that we readers struggle to figure out who the killer is.
Other heinous archetypes are the femme fatale, the dark god, the power-mad scientist, and the slighted sibling.  Written well, these characters can difficult for us readers to decipher too. One way to write them well is to write to them like that every day, wholesome individual. When we see the man twirling the long, wiry mustache that becomes a dead give-away who the culprit is. Yet, write that same guy with as autistic gentleman who twirls his mustache as a tic, and we second guess that he’s an evil villain.
These examples and more are things writers have to consider when developing their best villain for their novel. How can I trick you, the reader, into never guessing this sweet, innocent old spinster holds grudges against women in their young twenty’s due to the time she was mugged by a group of sorority sister’s that needed to do this as part of their pledge?
So, what are your favorite and least favorite villains in the stories you read, and why?


CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF JODI'S BOOKS

Watch for the next two books of Jodi's popular series in 2020:


Blueberry Cobbler Blackmail, book 3Releasing 2/28/2020 Welcome to Leaven—oh wait—Santo Domingo, where DEATH takes a DELICIOUSturn! Family bombshells, sibling rivalries, blackmail, and a trip that could be deadly...and the new year has only just begun! After a disastrous Thanksgiving, Jolie Tucker is beside herself and feeling the walls closing in around her. She feels like she needs to escape Leavensport before she loses her mind. She unexpectedly gets her wish when her best friend and co-owner of Cast Iron Creations, Ava Martinez, gets a terrifying email revealing that her papa, Thiago, is in danger in Santo Domingo. The girls are off on a dangerous adventure in new territory. Will they be able to save the day before danger finds them?
Cast Iron Stake Through the Heart, book 4Releasing 5/29/2020On again, off again, ON AGAIN–Jolie Tucker and Mick Meiser are giving their relationship another try. Things seem to be working out for them so far, and love is on the menu all over Leavensport! An unexpected pregnancy with a surprising partner, a therapist pairs off with the chief of police, and the mayor of Leavensport falls for Jolie’s Aunt Fern! Although Leavensport is serving up affairs of the heart, there are a lot of mysterious activities lurking in the air. The townspeople awake to find freshly dug empty holes throughout the fields that were recently up for sale under suspicious circumstances. Jolie and Ava believe they are taking a break from solving murders when they start teaching an online cooking course–until they witness one of their students take a stake through the heart!
ABOUT JODI RATHMoving into her second decade working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in her The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers, educational writing, marketing consultant work with authors, and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her eight cats. 

#Hanukkah and Deep Fried Oreos by Jennifer Wilck #recipe

MUSE MONDAYI just love hearing about all kinds of holiday celebrations. We celebrate Solstice and Christmas in our house. My guest today, Jennifer Wilck, celebrates Hanukkah. Jennifer is a returning guest blogger and always has an interesting post. This one is sure to meet your holiday expectations. Read to the end...I coerced Jennifer into sharing her recipe.
In our house, we celebrate Hanukkah. Through the years, many things about our celebration have changed. When the kids were young, we of course made a big deal about the holiday. We’d play music, serve latkes (potato pancakes), play dreidel and on a few of the eight nights, give presents. As the kids have gotten older, our traditions have changed.
The entire family gets together one night to exchange gifts with the grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. We all bring our menorahs—candelabras with room for nine candles—and we take big group photos of everyone lighting the candles.
We get together with friends one night and our photos over the years show how much the kids have grown (and how willing or unwilling they are now to smile).
One of the eight nights is dedicated to giving back. Instead of presents for ourselves, we donate to a charity. Some years we’ve made blankets and quilts for our local animal shelter. Other years we’ve sent money to a charity we all agree on—a small miracle in and of itself, since we rarely all can agree on anything. Once when the kids were little, we went to the toy store, bought toys and games for kids who didn’t have any, and brought them to a local preschool.
My specialty for Hanukkah is making fried Oreos. The holiday celebrates the miracle of the oil
lasting for eight nights, so our traditional foods are those made with lots of oil, like donuts. Several years ago, my husband and I went to a county fair in the summer and had fried Oreos. We loved them, and since they are deep fried, they fit the holiday perfectly. I found a recipe online to make them and ever since then, family and friends have demanded them every year.
Now that my daughters are away at college, I mail their gifts early, trying to figure out the exact right time so that everything arrives on time and we can celebrate with them over FaceTime. Technology is terrific for that, but I confess to missing having them home and celebrating in person.
So whatever you celebrate, and however you do so, I wish you and your family happy and healthy times together!
Blurb
Benjamin Cohen, widowed father of six-year-old Jessie, is doing his best to hold it together through order and routine. The last thing he needs is his matchmaker mother to set him up with her next door neighbor, no matter how attractive she is.
Rachel Schaecter's dream of becoming a foster mother is right within her grasp, until her meddlesome neighbor tries to set her up with her handsome son. What's worse? He's the father of her favorite kindergarten student! She can't afford to let anything come between her and her dream, no matter how gorgeous he may be.
Can these two determined people trust in the miracle of Hanukkah to let love and light into their lives?
ExcerptSix-year-old bodies were good at many things— bouncing, hugging, and racing. Rachel was thankful they were also good at hiding her surprise. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine her favorite student, and her student’s father, would be at her neighbor’s house the same night she was invited to celebrate Hanukkah.She met the hard gaze of Jessie’s father across the room. Eyes narrowed as if he suspected her reasons for being here. His broad shoulders were stiff. His jean-clad muscular legs were spread apart in a solid stance. Square hands fisted at his sides, and one of them held a menorah. Did he plan to throw it or club someone with it?Giving Jessie a last pat, she rose. With an arm around Jessie, she extended her other hand to her father. “Happy Hanukkah.”“Ms. Schaecter.”“Mr. Cohen.”“Oh, please,” Harriet said, “Such formality between you two. Rachel, this is my son Benny. I mean Benjamin.”Benny. Rachel filed the information away for later, along with his flushed skin at the nickname. Interesting.“And Benjamin, this is my neighbor, Rachel. We’re not at a school event. You can call each other by your first names.” Harriet pointed at Jessie, who gripped Rachel’s hand so hard, Rachel’s fingers lost their circulation. “Except for you,” Harriet added. “You have to call her Ms. Schaecter.”Jessie giggled. “Yes, Grandma.”
Buy Links:
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZMQ2BWZBarnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/waiting-for-a-miracle-jennifer-wilck/1134117349?ean=2940161018385iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/waiting-for-a-miracle/id1484912207

Fried Oreos  Ingredients1 package Oreo cookies2 cups Bisquick pancake mix2 eggs1.5 cups milk3 teaspoons oilvegetable oil for deep frying
DirectionsBlend Bisquick, eggs, milk and 3 tsp oil until smooth.Preheat deep fryer to 375 (use a candy thermometer if frying in a pan).Dip the cookies in the batter mixture until totally covered. Place in the hot oil (cookies will float).Keep checking and turn over the cookie when bottom side turns brown.Keep a close watch because it only takes a few seconds to burn.Remove cookies and place on paper towel. Serve warm, with powdered sugar, chocolate syrup or ice cream.
Now, about that novella. Jessie, the six-year-old daughter of my hero, Benjamin, would LOVE this recipe. She likes everything about Hanukkah, especially when she gets to celebrate it with her grandmother, who also happens to be the neighbor of her kindergarten teacher, Rachel. Harriet, the grandmother, wants her son to be happy, and thinks Rachel is the perfect one to make that happen. Benjamin isn’t so sure he’s ready to start dating again, after the death of his wife. Rachel isn’t sure about it either. Not only is Jessie her student, but she’s hoping to foster a child in the new year, and doesn’t want anything to interfere with her plans.
I won’t tell you anymore, but if you’re looking for a short, funny and sweet read, this story is for you.
Let me know how you like it, and also, let me know if you try my recipe!

Happy Hanukkah!

#FearlessFriday and Facing your Fear of #Fridaythe13th by Addison Brae

Welcome back Addison Brae to Discover... I love her post for Fearless Friday today. That crazy number 13 can throw people (it's my lucky number) and Friday the thirteenth is particularly scary for some. She's got some great tips on conquering fear and becoming a little more fearless.
Friday the thirteenth invokes uncontrollable panic in many people. Some experience the terror because of real events. For example, in 2010, lightning struck a 13-year-old boy in England on Friday the thirteenth at 13:13. The practical side of me says these details are fudged a bit, but I wasn’t there to prove or disprove what happened. It certainly makes you think.
There’s even a name for the fear of Friday the thirteenth:  Paraskevidekatriaphobia(Kudos for anyone who can pronounce it!). The name comes from Greek words “Paraskevi” for Friday and “dekatreis” for 13. I understand that the superstition is so widespread in the U.S. that airlines offer cheaper rates to travel on the day.
This Fearless Friday is a great day to stare down a fear. Maybe it’s tackling trepidation when Friday the thirteenth comes around. Maybe something else causes you distress. Since my income depends on working with clients, I terribly dread saying “no” to them. I did recently when a project went south. It was difficult. Afterwards, I realized the project had been so stressful I could actually laugh again.
A good friend dreams of traveling to Europe and randomly selecting a rail pass to wherever sounds interesting. No plans. Just explore. Her baby step is looking for new places to visit close to home. Another friend had a terrifying fear of heights. She took a ride in a WWI era open-air biplane. The second time was much easier. Last spring, a dog bit me while I was jogging in my neighborhood park. This Fearless Friday, I’ll be braver facing these dogs’ owners and not fear another bite.
In my romantic suspense called Becker Circle, Gillian experiences Friday the thirteenth almost every day. Her luck is rotten. It doesn’t turn in the sequel either where dark energy seems to find her. No matter her intentions or if she does anything at all, this overpowering bad karma follows her. She uses her determination to fight back and turn her luck.
There are two Friday the thirteenths in 2020, in March and November. We get a break the following two years with only one per year in 2021 and 2022.
The next full moon occurs on December 12 at 12:12 a.m. EST – a full 24 hours before we all face Friday the thirteenth. This full moon is called the Cold Moon or Long Nights Moon based on the moon’s high path across the sky that causes it to sit above the horizon longer. This special moon provides an opportunity for us to gather strength to face anxiety on Fearless Friday.
On Fearless Friday the thirteenth, what fear will you stare down? You don’t have to be fearless, but I challenge you to at least take a baby step.
About Becker CircleMy boyfriend believed I was too gutless to leave. He was dead wrong. I graduated Harvard early and left his hot temper and everyone else behind for Dallas. Determined to make it on my own, I land a second job bartending at the neighborhood pub, smack in the middle of drama central, where almost every jerk in the neighborhood hits on me.

A week into the job, the neighborhood’s very popular drug dealer falls to his death a few feet from the table I’m serving. The cops say suicide, but the hot guitar player in the house band and I suspect foul play, and we intend to prove it. Digging deeper, we’re drawn closer to each other. Then we make a shocking discovery. We know the murderer.Watch the trailer, and look for Gillian’s next experiences in the sequel, Dark Energy, in 2020.
Find Becker Circle on Amazon US ($0.99 through December 15), Amazon UK (99p through December 15), Smashwords, Apple Books, Kobo, and B&N Nook. Proceeds go to Hope’s Door New Beginning Center to help fight domestic abuse.

About Addison BraeAddison Brae lives on the edge of downtown Dallas, Texas. She’s been writing since childhood and continues as an independent marketing consultant. She’s addicted to reading and enjoys jogging, sipping red wine, traveling the world, collecting interesting cocktail recipes, binge-watching TV series, vintage clothing, and hanging out with her artistic other half and their neurotic cat Lucy.
Connect with Addison on her website, Tirgearr Publishing, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

Tips and Myths #Thursday Thoughts #Myth Busters

Money saving tips are always a good thing. Here are ten tips I've seen touted here and there. I haven't necessarily taken advantage of any of them, so I am not endorsing. But maybe they'll work for you.

Don’t order movie tickets on line. You’ll pay a fee.
Save money and make your own window cleaner with equal parts vinegar and water with a couple of dabs of dish washing liquid.
At SwagBucks.com you take surveys and earn shopping points for cash or gift cards at major retailers.
If you’re family vacation is less than 500 miles away, it is probably cheaper to drive than fly.
Adopt a pet from a shelter and save those fees the same dog might cost through a breeder.

Get an on line account for the grocery store you shop and get updates on sales. You can load your grocery store loyalty card with coupons that will be taken off your bill at the register.
Check out your state’s possibilities for saving on property tax. Some offer a discount for over 65 or for widows.
Get a programmable thermostat so you don’t forget to change the temp for sleeping or when you’re gone.
Get retroactive refunds. Most stores will refund you the difference when something you’ve bought goes on sale soon after.
Inspect your windows and doors for leaks using a lighted incense stick. The smoke will find the leak and drift out. Seal them up and save on your heating and cooling bills.

Good luck!

Inspiration: the Hero in All of Us by D. K. Deters #inspiration #Christmas

MUSE MONDAY Recently, in my Arizona community, a tragedy has been unfolding. Within that tragedy is a cast of everyday people performing heroic efforts. My guest today, D. K. Deters, has a magical tale inspired by just such people. Read about her inspiration.
Brenda, thanks for hosting me on Muse Monday.
A magical painting and time travel are the perfect elements for a holiday romance. But you might be surprised to know that Christmas Once Again was inspired by a news broadcast about ordinary people pitching together to save a stranger’s life after a snowstorm. We’ve all heard about them, nameless folks who carry out acts of kindness and ask for nothing in return.
After the broadcast, I thought about themes for Christmas Once Again, and I knew I had to include heroism. Without giving away too much, you’ll see there’s a little bit of a hero in all the characters. Their small and almost forgettable actions will have you wondering how they all connect.
Christmas Once Again is a quick read, but you won’t find its twists and turns predictable. Unraveling the past delivers an ending sure to brighten your holidays.

For that little matchmaker in all of us, the characters in Christmas Once Again will touch your heart and brighten your holidays.
Blurb:She's dead broke. And eviction looms. On Christmas Eve antique consultant Madison Knight takes a phone call from local rancher Zach Murdock. Through a mix-up at an estate sale, Madison's company purchased his grandmother's beloved painting. He offers double the money for its return.Madison risks her job to track down the artwork, but success falls short when she's stuck in a blizzard. Stranded, she seeks help from a frontier family. Are they living off the grid, or did she somehow travel through time?
Zach's the only person who knows her plan. He also knows a secret about his gran's painting. It's up to him to rescue Madison, but maybe he's not cut out to be a hero.
Excerpt: “My grandmother had an estate sale last week, and she didn’t want it sold, unfortu—”“Oh?” She should’ve kept quiet. Run-ins with greedy family members happened in the antique business, and a judging attitude didn’t increase revenues.“It wasn’t on purpose,” he said. “The day was chaotic, and someone had shuffled around the artwork. We didn’t realize it was missing until a couple of days ago, and it took this long to sort out the mix-up and discover your shop bought it.”She felt guilty for jumping to the wrong conclusion. “I see how that could happen. It’s obvious the piece is treasured by your grandmother. If it becomes necessary, we have the resources to find a similar style. Is there a specific artist or significance?”Held hostage by the slow computer response and trying not to rush him, she picked up one of the hand weights, intending to fit in a few curls.“Keep in mind Gran’s ninety-two, and she thinks…”“Uh-huh.” With her free hand, she grabbed the latte and took a sip.“Gran thinks it holds a special power.”Madison chose that moment to swallow, and the creamy espresso went down the wrong pipe. A dry, hacking cough followed, and she dropped her hand weight, which thudded on the carpet. For heaven’s sake, he didn’t hear her, did he?
Buy Links for Christmas Once Again:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HDG1GRCNook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-once-again-d-k-deters/1129689523?ean=2940161597972Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/D_K_Deters_Christmas_Once_Again?id=72F2DwAAQBAJkobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-once-againiTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/christmas-once-again/id1436343471
Author Bio for D. K. Deters:D. K. Deters is a fantasy and historical romance author. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Business, D. K. followed a profession in the telecommunications industry before turning to a writing career. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her adult children and their families. She's also an antique enthusiast. Her hobbies include restoring old dollhouses and second-hand furniture. ​​Christmas is her favorite time of the year.
Social Media Links:Website: www.dkdeters.comTwitter:  https://twitter.com/dk_detersPinterest: www.pinterest.com/dkdeterscomBookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/d-k-detersGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18486948.D_K_DetersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkdeters_author/Email: dkdetersauthor@hotmail.com