Elena Hartwell's Blog, page 41

The Algorithm Will See You Now

The Algorithm Will See You Now, debut medical thriller by JL Lycette

Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any debut author interviews! Click the link here.The Algorithm Will See You Now

“I’ve been waiting for a book like this: a full-frontal assault on the dangers of artificial intelligence and the failures of our mangled health care system, all wrapped up in a clever, ripping thriller. Jennifer Lycette is an author to watch.” –Rob Hart, author of The Paradox Hotel

The most dangerous lies are the ones that use the truth to sell themselves.

Medical treatment determined by artificial intelligence could do more than make Hope Kestrel’s career. It could revolutionize healthcare.

What the Seattle surgeon doesn’t know is the AI has a hidden fatal flaw, and the people covering it up will stop at nothing to dominate the world’s healthcare-and its profits. Soon, Hope is made the scapegoat for a patient’s death, and only Jacie Stone, a gifted intern with a knack for computer science, is willing to help search for the truth.

But her patient’s death is only the tip of the conspiracy’s iceberg. The Director, Marah Maddox, is plotting a use for the AI far outside the ethical bounds of her physician’s oath. A staggering plan capable of reducing human lives to their DNA code, redefining the concepts of sickness and health, and delivering the power of life and death decisions into the hands of those behind the AI.

Even if the algorithm accidentally discards some who are treatable in order to make that happen…

JL Lycette’s powerful, near-future thriller, The Algorithm Will See You Now, is perfect for fans of Blake Crouch and Rob Hart.

To purchase The Algorithm Will See you Now, click any of the following links: Amazon, Black Rose Writing & Barnes and NobleView the Book Trailer! Click the link here.The Algorithm Will See You Now — Author Interview The Algorithm Will See You Now is a medical thriller based on artificial intelligence. What drew you to that topic for your debut?

In my day job, I’m a hematologist/oncologist (a specialist in blood and cancer medicine). During the 2010s, there was a lot of talk about IBM’s Watson (a machine-learning AI) having a role in helping oncologists sort data and test results for our patients and helping us define treatment. But in the mid-2010s, that all fizzled out without much fanfare.

Meanwhile, the amount of data we’re obtaining on our patients is ever-increasing, along with options for cancer therapies. Many days on the job, I would welcome a smart tool like AI to help me out. The things that keep oncologists up at night include the constant rethinking and wondering, “Could I have done something differently?” If AI could help with that, sure, who wouldn’t want that?

It was about six years ago that I first had the idea for the novel when I was reading about some of the mistakes AI tools were making (like the misclassification of photos on Google), revealing the datasets used to train the AI had led to racist and sexist outputs. I thought, uh oh, what if we did one day achieve the goal of a very advanced medical AI, but it turned out to be ultimately flawed at a very deep level. Mix this with the increasing corporatization of healthcare in the U.S. and my premise was born. I suppose very much a classic trope of the science fiction thriller, which is the question of ultimately what fault lies in the technology versus what responsibility lies with humanity.

How did your background as a community medical oncologist and hematologist inform The Algorithm Will See You Now?

The past decade in cancer care has seen tremendous advances in “precision medicine,” which allows us to target our therapies down to the level of a DNA mutation in the cancer cell. It’s been an inspiring and rewarding time in the field of oncology. At the same time, unfortunately, it’s currently only a minority of our total patients who we discover can benefit from these precision therapies.

Many future-thinking leaders in the field envision a time when we will have a precision medicine report on every patient and an AI tool to match the information to the treatment. (Currently, we do have what’s called “NGS” (next generation sequencing), but it requires manual (human) review by the oncologist to interpret and apply to each patient’s situation).

For the past decade, I’ve practiced as a rural community oncologist. I see daily the challenges in an under-resourced system and the disparities in care that occur in our own country between urban and rural regions. Combine this with the concerns over unintended inherent systemic bias in AI systems and insurance companies increasingly putting profits over patients, and these are the conflicts I set out to explore in the novel.

Tell us about your publishing journey for The Algorithm Will See You Now :

I started drafting the story in late 2016. Although I’d been writing and publishing personal essays, I had never written a book before and, in the beginning, had no idea what I was doing. But over the next several years, I drafted and revised, drafted and revised, and devoured every book I could get my hands on about craft and story structure. I also tried to take advantage of every webinar and online writing resource I could find.

In 2018, I started sending out queries, but looking back, I can see I was querying way too early, and the book was far from ready. (Also, those early queries were terrible! Lol). Then, through the online writing community, I learned about Pitch Wars, an online mentoring program for unpublished novel writers. In the fall of 2019, I applied on a whim, never dreaming my book would have a chance. But to my happy surprise, I was selected for the Pitch Wars class of 2019 (the working title of my manuscript at the time was “The Frailty of Matter”).

After selection, mentees worked with their mentors over three months to revise their manuscripts and prepare them for the online “showcase.” If a literary agent expressed interest, we could send our submission materials (or a full manuscript if they requested). We were also free to then query other agents. Our class’s showcase was in Feb 2020.

Long story short, I didn’t end up being a “Pitch Wars success story.” I received a few full requests and also queried widely, but ultimately, I didn’t land literary agent representation. Over the next few months of 2020, we were, of course, in the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. I realized that agents and publishers had little interest in medical thrillers (and who could blame them? We were all living in a real-life one).

So as painful as it was on a personal level, I shelved the book. But I had gained something far more valuable from Pitch Wars, which was a cadre of writing friends who have become ongoing beta readers and critique partners. I did what everyone says is the best thing to do and wrote the next book. But every so often, I would pull out Algorithm and do a little more revision.

In 2021, I needed to let the draft of “book two” rest and could no longer resist the tug of my first manuscript calling me back to it. With the help of my new critique partners, I did a major revision of the book and dove back into the query trenches, feeling optimistic about the story’s strength. But it seemed there was even less interest than a few years prior.

After six months and countless rejections, I was demoralized but not ready to give up. I believed my book had something important to say to the world, even if I hadn’t been successful in convincing any literary agents of that. So I decided to explore a different avenue—publishing with a small press. I researched Publisher’s Marketplace and sent out a small batch of submissions.

In May 2022, when Musk put in his bid for Twitter, I realized it provided a way to help publishers understand how my story about algorithms in healthcare was relevant and timely. I pitched it with this teaser: “Billionaires and their biased algorithms taking over social media are only the start.”

That garnered immediate requests to read the manuscript and, ultimately, an offer of publication from Black Rose Writing Press. (I wrote a little more about that on my blog here.)

We both live in the Pacific Northwest. You don’t live in Seattle but set your novel there. What do you love about the PNW, and why did you choose that iconic city for The Algorithm Will See You Now ?

I don’t live in Seattle now, but I did in my twenties. I attended medical school at the University of Washington School of Medicine and have many positive—and intense—memories of my time and training there. I chose Seattle as the setting for The Algorithm Will See You Now because, in the near-future world of my book, it seemed the perfect setting and culture for a start-up conglomerate that rapidly takes over the healthcare landscape.

I love everything about the PNW. I was born and raised in Anchorage, AK, and the PNW affords a lot of the same closeness to nature without the isolation of living in Alaska (at least for me, growing up there before the age of the Internet, what was very isolating).

What can we find you doing when you aren’t writing?

I continue to practice medicine as a community hematologist-oncologist, but when I’m not working or writing, I’m mainly reading, crocheting, and trying to keep up with my three kids (tween, teen, and college).

What are you working on now?

I’m wrapping up final revisions on book 2, which is a prequel to The Algorithm Will See You Now and will be published in November of 2023.

Although each book can be read as a standalone, this next book features two of my characters from Algorithm in their younger years. It essentially tells the “villain origin story” of the antagonist in Algorithm, Dr. Marah Maddox, wrapped up in a historical thriller about the inhumanity of physician training in the 1990s interweaved with the true-life history of the medical rationing of the first kidney dialysis in 1960s Seattle. It will also be published by Black Rose Writing Press (title announcement soon!).

Final words of wisdom for aspiring writers:

I know it’s probably cliché, but just keep writing. Don’t give up. There are many paths, and none of them (or very few) are straight.

Find yourself a community of other writers. Rejections are a part of the journey, and you can’t take them personally. You have to be able to laugh (or at least shrug) them off. Having other writer friends helps with that. It’s also okay to wallow a little after a rejection, but then pick yourself up and keep going. Having writer friends to commiserate with helps you realize that it’s not just you – everyone is getting rejections as a part of this journey.

Also, what you write won’t be for everyone, and that’s okay. If you believe in your book, keep going. At the same time, if it’s no longer giving you joy, take a break. Writing every day works for some people but not for everyone. You don’t have to write every day to be a writer.

Great advice! Congratulations on your debut!Author Pet Corner!Sunny!Mack!Taffy!

Sunny is our 11-year-old golden doodle with chronic anxiety, afraid of her own shadow, but with a true heart of gold.

Mack is our 5-year-old Boston Terrier. He’s an alpha male in his mind, but sadly trapped in a small squishy body (that leaks too many fluids).

Taffy is our 2-year-old gray tabby cat we recently adopted from the shelter. She’s the sweetheart we didn’t know we needed and has stolen all our hearts.

JL Lycette — Author of The Algorithm Will See You Now

JL / Jennifer Lycette is a novelist, award-winning essayist, rural physician, wife, and mother. Mid-career, she discovered narrative medicine on her path back from physician burnout and has been writing ever since.

Her essays can be found in Intima, NEJM, JAMA, and other journals; and online at Doximity and Medscape.

She is an alumna of the 2019 Pitch Wars Mentoring program and a member of ITW (International Thriller Writers) and PNWA (Pacific Northwest Writers Association).

Her other published speculative fiction can be found in the anthology And If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing: Parenting Stories Gone Speculative (Alternating Current Press). The Algorithm Will See You Now is her first novel. Her second novel (title and cover reveals coming soon!) will be out in November 2023.

To learn more about Jennifer, click on her name, photo, or any of the following links: Twitter, Mastodon, Facebook, LinkedIn & SpoutibleElena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery

 

 

The Foundation of Plot, a Wait, Wait, Don’t Query (Yet!) guidebook. Amazon #1 bestseller

Header image by madartzgraphics on Pixabay

The post The Algorithm Will See You Now appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Cold Light of Day: Guest Post

Cold Light of Day, new romantic suspense by Elizabeth Goddard

Guest Post + Book & Author Info + Giveaway!Don’t miss any blog tour posts! Click the link here to read more.Cold Light of Day

Police Chief Autumn Long is fighting to keep her job in the quiet Alaska town of Shadow Gap when an unexpected string of criminal activity leaves her with a wounded officer, unexplained murders, and even an attack on her own father. Despite her mistrust of outsiders, she turns to Grier Brenner, a newcomer who seems to have the skills and training Autumn needs to face this threat to her community.

Grier is in Alaska for the same reason so many others are–to disappear–when Chief Long enlists his help. He emerges from the shadows and proves his mettle, but his presence in her life could be a deadly trap for them both. If his secret is exposed, all will be lost. And he’s not sure even Autumn could save him.

As the stakes rise and the dangers increase, Autumn and Grier must rely on each other to extinguish the deadly threats.

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Published by: Revell
Publication Date: February 2023
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780800742041 (ISBN10: 0800742044)
Series: Missing in Alaska, 1

To purchase Cold Light of Day, click on any of the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Baker Book HouseCold Light of Day — Guest PostWriting can be Messy by Elizabeth Goddard

I love the title of this blog—The Mystery of Writing. I love it because it reminds me that the act of writing is truly a mystery all its own and includes many subplots.

I’ve built my brand writing romantic suspense so you might think it’s strange to learn that when I first started trying to break into the publishing world, I pitched historical novels at writing conferences. Learning who I was as a writer took a lot of years. I’d written many novels (published), before I found my niche, my true writing self, and during that process I finally found my voice. That discovery process is as complicated as writing an actual novel. At least that’s been my experience.

The writing journey has been long and arduous but I’m so glad I stuck with it. Now I can’t even imagine writing a historical novel! All that research just to make sure my characters are wearing the right clothes and using the correct utensils? No, thanks. That said, romantic suspense requires copious amounts of research as well—all of this I’ve learned along the way and through the struggles.

The mystery of writing is not only about discovering who you are as a writer, but also about the process of unearthing each story. Even though I now know who I am as a writer and have found my voice, I tackle each new novel as if it’s a big blob of clay and I’m the sculptor. Really, I picture the blob of clay and wonder—what am I gonna do with this? Ha! A real sculptor would draw out the design before even starting, create a supporting structure and more. For me, I just start writing the story (tackling the clay) so I can get to know the characters and figure out the plot. I shape the story as I write.

To use the sculpting analogy again, I might have to press a big chunk of the clay back into place and start over until I have the general shape. Then I start fine-tuning the details as I go back through the manuscript multiple time. My process is rather dirty. Ugly even. That must be why I picture clay—it gets messy and all over your hands, clothes (if you don’t wear an apron) table and floor. But the good news about my process is that I’ve learned if I want a unique story that’s fresh and different, that I need to discover the story as I go, and the twists and turns are as unexpected for me, the author, as they are for readers.

I guess you could say that my writing journey to find my niche and voice was just as messy as my current writing process to find each story.

Elizabeth Goddard — Author of Cold Light of Day

Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 50 novels, including Cold Light of Day and the Rocky Mountain Courage and Uncommon Justice series.

Her books have sold nearly 1.5 million copies. She is a Carol Award and Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award finalist.

When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry. For more information about her books, visit her website at www.ElizabethGoddard.com.

To learn more about Elizabeth, click any of the following links: ElizabethGoddard.com, Goodreads, BookBub – @ElizabethGoddard, Instagram – @elizabethgoddardauthor, Twitter – @bethgoddard & Facebook – @ElizabethGoddardAuthor

Visit all the Stops on the Tour!

02/20 Review @ Novels Alive
02/20 Review @ Savings in Seconds
02/21 Showcase @ Cassidys Bookshelves
02/22 Review @ Inkwell Inspirations
02/22 Showcase @ Books, Ramblings, and Tea
02/23 Guest post @ The Book Divas Reads
02/23 Showcase @ BOOK REVIEWS by LINDA MOORE
02/24 Showcase @ Silvers Reviews
02/25 Review @ Reading Is My SuperPower
02/26 Review @ The Adventures of a Traveler’s Wife
02/27 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
02/27 Review @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews
02/28 Review @ Reads & Screens
02/28 Review @ Rozierreadsandwine
03/01 Showcase @ 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS
03/02 Guest post @ The Mystery of Writing
03/02 Review @ Urban Book Reviews
03/03 Review @ Lynchburg Reads
03/03 Review @ Paws. Read. Repeat
03/04 Review @ mokwip8991
03/06 Review @ Splashes of Joy
03/06 Showcase @ Im Into Books
03/08 Review @ Wall-to-wall Books
03/09 Review @ Avonna Loves Genres
03/10 Review @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
03/11 Review @ leannebookstagram
03/12 Review @ melissas_bookshelf
03/15 Review @ elaine_sapp65
03/15 Review @ Read Review Rejoice
03/15 Showcase @ The Authors Harbor
03/16 Interview @ Book World Reviews
03/16 Review @ Celticladys Reviews
03/17 Interview @ Read Review Rejoice
03/17 Review @ Melissa As Blog
03/18 Guest post @ Mythical Books
03/20/Review @ Bring on lemons

Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery

 

 

The Foundation of Plot, a Wait, Wait, Don’t Query (Yet!) guidebook. Amazon #1 bestseller

Header image from Goumbik on Pixabay

The post Cold Light of Day: Guest Post appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Red as Blood: YA Thriller

Red as Blood, the debut YA thriller by Dominique Richardson and Sorboni Banerjee

Author Interview with Dominique Richardson + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any debut author interviews! Click the link here.Red as Blood

Riverdale meets fairytale in this edgy, seductive twist on the age-old stories you think you know.

When Penny Zale vanishes from the psychiatric hospital where she’s being held against her will, only her chopped-off braid and cryptic letters remain. If her friends Raven, Aarya, Dawn, and Elle have any chance of finding Penny, they must enter a world where money and power mean everything, and life is expendable.

The lies that built their town of Everbeach run deep, and someone is willing to do anything to keep them hidden. The girls believe Penny’s letters point to her ex, big sugar heir Logan Steele. When Raven tries to get close to Logan to gather information, she finds herself fighting a dangerous attraction to the magnetic billionaire.

Everything begins to unravel when Aarya discovers Raven has been keeping secrets. Raven’s painful past of anxiety and addiction causes her to spiral, and everyone, including Raven herself, starts to question her version of reality. As threats and attacks ramp up against the friends, they must decipher what happened to Penny before they’re the next to disappear.

Scandalous secrets, deadly twists, and forbidden love make this series perfect for fans of Inheritance Games, Thousandth Floor, and Pretty Little Liars.

To purchase Red as Blood, click on either of the following links: Amazon & Signed copy from Oxford ExchangeRed as Blood — Author Interview with Dominique Richardson Red as Blood is a young adult, romantic suspense novel. What does that genre mean to you? What are some of the conventions that readers can expect?

I absolutely love reading and writing anything that has characters falling in love when they’re fighting against evil and escaping dangerous situations. So you probably won’t ever catch me writing a rom com, but stranger things have happened.

Some of the tropes I love—and that you will find in Red as Blood—are enemies to lovers, forbidden love, found family.

For this series, which I wrote with my coauthor Sorboni Banerjee, we combined our brands to create the story idea. Coming from a background in news, she writes stories ripped from the headlines, and my first love will always be fantasy. Red as Blood was pitched as Riverdale meets fairy tale, and we took her thriller background and combined with my fantasy side by merging the fairy tales into our world, and The Everbeach series was born.

What should readers know about Everbeach?

If you were to take Palm Beach from the east coast of Florida and combine with Siesta Key on the west coast, you would get the town of Everbeach, where this series takes place.

The first book opens after Penny Zale vanishes from the psychiatric hospital where she was being held against her will, with only her chopped-off braid and cryptic letters left behind. If her friends Raven, Aarya, Dawn, and Elle have any chance of finding Penny, they must enter a world where money and power mean everything, and life is expendable.

The girls believe Penny’s letters point to her ex, big sugar heir Logan Steele. When Raven tries to get close to Logan to gather information, she finds herself fighting a dangerous attraction to the magnetic billionaire. As threats and attacks ramp up against the friends, they have to decipher what Penny’s messages mean before they’re the next to disappear. The first book in the series, Red as Blood, comes out February 28, 2023.

One of the exciting things about this series is how all four books will be published this year. Our publisher, Wise Wolf Books, practices a rapid release model so we don’t have to keep fans waiting for the next books.

Book 2, A Stolen Voice, comes out March 28, 2023.

Book 3, A Deadly Sleep, comes out May 2, 2023.

Book 4, The Clock Strikes, comes out June 6, 2023.

The other fun thing is each book follows a fairy tale, even though these are contemporary stories set entirely in the real world, just like they took Archie comic characters and put them in the real world for the tv series Riverdale, we took fairy tale characters and put them in the real world. Book 1 follows Snow White, book 2, The Little Mermaid, book 3, Sleeping Beauty, and book 4, Cinderella, with the overarching plot for the entire series being Rapunzel.

Sorboni and I both come from multicultural backgrounds, so we also infuse this into the story, making these “princesses” fierce and diverse.

As you mentioned, The Everbeach series is co-written with Sorboni Banerjee. What was your process like working together?

First off, we have an absolute blast writing together. It all started because of a brainstorming adventure on an airplane during a flight coming back from a writing conference. From there, the story grew wings and took off.

Every story we write, we strategically plan and outline together. We spend time working out the details, planning the mystery, and of course the love stories, and then once we have a detailed working outline, then we take our main characters and go write our chapters independently.

All of the books in this series have two point of view characters. I write one, and Sorboni writes the other one.

We use a shared document that we house in the cloud, and we both edit each other’s chapters as we go along. It’s the editing process that we do for one another that I think really helps elevate our writing. There’s no such thing as hiding your first draft. Your words get exposed to critique quickly, and that’s a really good thing because I believe no great writing exists without great editing. So we have that extra layer of editing before our first draft ever makes it to our editor at our publisher.

Describe your publishing journey for Red as Blood ?

We first came up with the idea in the summer of 2018. The book was finished and submitted to our agent at the end of 2020. I signed with our agent, Tamar Rydzinski, in March 2020, and the book wasn’t ready for submission to publishers until October 2021. And we signed our four-book deal in August of 2022. So, if you’re doing the math, from idea to signed book deal, was almost four years.

FOUR YEARS. I think that’s something that’s really important for people to understand, that publishing takes a long time to break in, and you have to work really hard in obscurity, perfecting your craft and building your community to break into this industry.

We went on two rounds of submission before we got our book deal. After our first round of submissions, we realized we were getting some consistent feedback, so we edited our book again, and took it back out to market. The draft of our novel that finally sold was the fifth draft—we went through four rounds of draft editing with our agent before we took the book on submission to publishers, and then after submission, we did one round of editing before submitting again and selling the series.

Tell us about YA by the Bay:

We started YA by the Bay because of our shared belief in the power of story to impact and transform lives. We both believe whole-heartedly in the restorative, inspirational power of books. For me, reading was literally a lifeline when the magic of compelling stories helped me overcome my battle with anxiety and depression. And Sorboni, with over two decades of reporting stories that impact the community, she’s witness first-hand the power of storytelling as a connecting force.

At a book festival for teens, we noticed a missing piece. Sure, it was exciting to have authors meet their fans, but what if we could teach kids how to use the message from these talented writers as motivation for what is possible? Could we take a young adult book festival to the next level by using it to teach leadership?

Seated separately on the plane on the way back from this festival, we texted each other the same exact thing before our phones went off for the flight: “We should host a festival in Tampa!” (side note: yes, apparently our best ideas do seem to happen on planes…next time I’m stuck on an idea, maybe I should buy a plane ticket).

YA by the Bay was born from a shared desire to ensure authors’ words reach the kids who need them. To make sure students realize knowing how to craft a story, helps you craft the story of your life. To make sure everyone feels welcome, included, and heard. To make sure everyone knows—your voice matters.

We are partnered with our local public schools, local library, and local independent bookseller Oxford Exchange. The inaugural festival will be hosted this year in Tampa Bay on October 13-14, 2023.

What are you working on now?

Books 3 and 4 in the Everbeach series! Book 2 is completely done and already up for pre-sale. We’re editing Book 3 and writing Book 4 as we speak…oh, and launching Book 1 today. So the Everbeach series is keeping me quite busy to say the least.

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

This business is not for the faint of heart. I am convinced the single most important factor for an author’s success isn’t sure talent or natural story telling ability. I believe the writers who make it are the ones who persevere. It takes time and a lot of hard work to get to the place of publishing a novel. And this is the case whether you go traditional or the self-published route.

I don’t believe in the myth of the overnight success. You never see the years of hard work put in late nights, early mornings, and all the hours someone had to steal to be able to do their creative work until it was good enough to see the light of day. And so, if you want to succeed, you have to go into this career with the mindset that you are not going to give up. You will seek feedback, and improve, and always work to get better, and better, and better until you finally break in. In my case, from the day I knew without question I wanted to be an author to the day I signed my first book deal, it was fourteen years. I know I said four above, that was only for the book idea that finally sold. There were eleven years before that where I was educating myself on the craft, writing novels that may never come out from the dusty notebooks they live in, and reading voraciously.

All writers must be readers. It’s not an option. If you’re not reading, then you really need to ask yourself how serious you are about writing. Some of the greatest teachers you’ll ever find on the craft of writing are your favorite books. Study those books. Understand what it is your beloved authors do that whisk you away into a magical world where the pages disappear and it’s just you living in the story.

And make sure you network. Find online communities of writers. There are so many out there on every social media platform. Go to writer’s conferences. Meet other writers. Find a critique group in your area. Join a book club. Find your tribe of people who will be there to cheer you on and support you every step of the way. It’s a long journey, you’re going to want friends by your side as you make the trek to your publishing dreams.

Author Pet Corner!

I have a writing buddy!

Her name is Roxie, and she is a nine-year-old rescue, dachshund chihuahua mix.

She is always down for my late nights of writing when I’m on deadline.

Here is a picture of her hanging with me in my office.

Can I just say, I kind of want her life?

In this picture, she’s cheering me on after a long night of writing and finishing the second book in this series (either that, or she was yawning).

Dominique Richardson — Author of Red as Blood

Dominique Richardson is the coauthor of The Everbeach Series—a young adult, romantic suspense series full of forbidden romance, deadly twists, and scandalous secrets that will keep you turning pages into the night.

The first book in the series, Red as Blood, comes out February 28, 2023. Passionate about all things books and giving back to the community, she is also the Executive Director and cofounder of YA by the Bay, a nonprofit young adult reading and leadership festival, dedicated to inspiring teens to “be the author of your own life.”

Raised between Jamaica and the United States, her biracial heritage finds a home in her books.

She spends her free time passing on her love of unicorns to her twin boys, running in the Florida heat, and drinking all the coffee. She now lives in Tampa, Florida with her family.

To learn more about Dominique, click on any of the following links: Website: authordominiquerichardson.com, Instagram: www.instagram.com/domwritesbooks, Twitter: www.twitter.com/domwritesbooks & TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@domwritesbooks

Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery

 

 

The Foundation of Plot, a Wait, Wait, Don’t Query (Yet!) guidebook. Amazon #1 bestseller

Header image by The Digital Artist on Pixabay

The post Red as Blood: YA Thriller appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

River of Wrath: Thriller, Suspense & Horror

River of Wrath, cross genre thrills and chills by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor

Spotlight + Excerpt + Book & Author Info + Giveaway!Don’t miss any blog tour posts! Click the link here.River of WrathMore secrets are about to be uncovered, beginning with the arrival of a handsome stranger, and the discovery of bones long buried beneath the river …

Leslie Moore is struggling to get through her last semester at St. Benedict High. Even her relationship with her boyfriend Derek is falling apart. But after receding floodwaters from the Bogue Falaya River expose the bones of a woman, Leslie becomes obsessed with tracking down the killer.

Sightings of an apparition haunting The Abbey send Leslie and her friends back to the scene of the horrors from last Halloween, but no one is prepared for what they find.

After a stranger—the handsome Luke Cross—arrives in town, another girl goes missing, and the sheriff suspects the newcomer is hiding something. Leslie believes the Devereaux family is connected to everything going wrong in St. Benedict. And she means to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

Not all secrets can be kept silent. Some eventually find their way home.

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror
Published by: Vesuvian Books
Publication Date: January 2023
Number of Pages: 270
ISBN: 9781645480174
Series: St. Benedict series, Book 2

To purchase River of Wrath, click on any of the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Vesuvian Media GroupRiver Of Wrath by Weis & Astor — Excerpt

“Come not within the measure of my wrath.”

~William Shakespeare

CHAPTER ONE

Sweat gathered under the brim of Kent Davis’s Stetson as he walked the sandy beach along the Bogue Falaya River. He didn’t feel the brisk January breeze or pay attention to the mutterings of the forensic team. The unease burning in his gut shut out all distractions. He rested his hand on his belt, brushing against his Louisiana sheriff’s badge. The rub of metal reminded him of the oath he’d sworn to protect and serve, but on days like this, he hated his job.

Dispatch had initially deemed the early morning call from a frantic jogger a hoax. After an officer confirmed there was a body, Kent arrived at the scene to confront his worst nightmare—another murder. He already had three unsolved deaths weighing heavily on his department. Two high school students and a woman from out of town had died there in a matter of months. City leaders had been breathing down his neck for answers.

Kent studied the black body bag the technicians carried. This was only going to make his job harder.

His crew combed the beach, where receding floodwaters had exposed a young woman’s grave. From the looks of her bleached bones, partially covered in the remnants of a red dress, she’d been there for quite some time. He doubted they’d find anything admissible. There would be trace evidence, but no footprints, no debris, no blood, and no signs of struggle.

He climbed the steep hill from the beach to the parking area, scanning for any clues. Everywhere was a potential crime scene. After years of being in law enforcement, he doubted he could see the world in any other way.

“I don’t like this one bit, Bill,” Kent said, approaching the heavyset coroner waiting by the open doors of his van.

“What’s there to like. We got a dead girl who’s been buried here a long time.” Dr. Bill Broussard removed a pair of black-framed glasses from his egg-shaped head. “You might find a lead in old missing persons reports.”

“I’ll access the St. Tammany Parish database when I get to the station. Until then, she’s a Jane Doe.” Kent eyed the coroner’s van. “How long will it take to know something?”

Bill cleaned his glasses and moved out of the way while a technician slammed the doors closed. He waited until the man climbed into the driver’s side before responding. “You realize workin’ with old bones makes it harder to identify the cause of death. Let me get her to the lab, then we’ll see.”

“I got enough going on with Beau Devereaux, Dawn Moore, and Andrea Harrison.” Kent tipped back his hat. “This makes four bodies and no leads.”

“As soon as people catch wind of this, the gossip mill will run wild.” Bill motioned to the van. “We already got enough rumors flying around about serial killers and rapists on the loose.”

“But at least we know this isn’t a serial killer.”

“Do we?” Bill flipped through a few pictures on his phone and showed Kent the screen.

Kent looked at the bloody mess that had comprised the remains of Beau Devereaux. The golden boy of St. Benedict had been a football star and heir to the Devereaux fortune. The day Kent found his mutilated body along the river had been one of the worst of his career. Beau’s death, on the heels of the rape and grisly murder of Dawn Moore, had shattered his faith in their small town.

He squinted at the picture. “What am I missing?”

Bill pointed at Beau’s bruised and bloody neck. “Trachea isn’t midline. It’s in two pieces. In the autopsy, I discovered his neck had been broken.”

Kent thought of the murder cases that cluttered his desk. “Same as the Harrison girl. Her neck was broken. Any chance wild dogs could have done this?”

Bill’s meaty lips thinned into a line. “Harrison had no bite marks. Only Beau suffered extensive puncture wounds. For a dog to snap someone’s neck, it would have to be big and have impressive jaw strength. Until your men find me an animal like that, I’m leaving Beau’s death a homicide.” He wiped his damp brow. “What worries me is this woman’s bones show there might be a break in her neck, too. If that’s the case, someone around here could have a long history of murder.”

Kent grew irate. He’d left the turmoil of working for the New Orleans Police Department to get away from the steady dose of homicides. Ten years ago, St. Benedict had been the answer to a prayer for him, his wife, and their two boys. He didn’t want to think such horror could have remained hidden for so long in the idyllic town.

“Send me the preliminary results of the autopsy as soon as you get them.” Kent pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting off a headache. “I want it in my hand when I tell Gage Devereaux what we found. He might recall someone who went missing. He’s lived here all his life and is bound to have heard something.”

Bill swatted at a passing fly. “He won’t be happy to hear about another body. You know how protective he is of St. Benedict.”

“Yep. I expect this will piss him off.”

The patriarch and owner of the biggest employer, Benedict Brewery, Gage oversaw everything in the town. Some called him a control freak—a trait many had seen in his son, Beau—but to Kent, Gage was thorough, detail-oriented, and would have made a great detective if he hadn’t taken over the family business.

“He’s gonna ask you if this has anything to do with the investigation into Beau’s death.” Bill frowned. “What’re you gonna tell him?”

Kent clenched his jaw. “We don’t know if any of these deaths are related.”

“Yet,” Bill added. “Seems like an awfully big coincidence to me.”

Kent pulled keys from the front pocket of his jeans. “There’re too many coincidences going on around here, and they all seem to center on this damned river. When can you get me a DNA report?”

“Might take a while.” Bill scratched his head. “Budget constraints and the backlog of cases clogging the system have slowed everything down.”

“How long are we talking? A week?”

Bill snorted. “More like weeks. A long-dead Jane Doe isn’t exactly a priority. Otherwise, we could get a rush on it.”

“Then we’ll just have to wait and see what we get back,” Kent grumbled.

Bill went to the driver’s side of the van and spoke to the technician. He then waved at Kent before walking away.

The sheriff waited as the van slowly eased onto the main road, with Bill’s black SUV following close behind.

Alone, Kent removed his hat and gazed up at the tall pines rimming the parking lot. Cresting above the tallest of the trees was The Abbey’s single charred limestone spire—its twin lost in the fire.

The serene place had witnessed so many atrocities—suicide, fire, and Dawn Moore’s murder. Kent would never understand what the Benedictine monks who founded the seminary ever saw in that cursed land. Legends about the abandoned abbey and its wild dogs had floated around the community for as long as anyone could remember.

When the dogs appear, death is near.

He’d never believed any of the stories until now. Kent feared there might be some truth to the legend, after all.

And the worst was yet to come.

River of Wrath AuthorsAlexandrea WeisAlexandrea WeisLucas Astor

Author Alexandrea Weis, RN-CS, PhD, is an award-winning author, advanced practice registered nurse, and wildlife rehabber who was born and raised in the French Quarter. She has taught at major universities and worked with victims of sexual assault, abuse, and mental illness in a clinical setting at many New Orleans area hospitals. She is a member of the International Thriller Writers Organization and Horror Writers Association.

To learn more about Alexandrea, click on any of the following links: stbenedictseries.com, Goodreads, BookBub – @AlexandreaWeis, Instagram – @st.benedictseries, Twitter – @alexandreaweis, Facebook – @StBenedictSeriesLucas Astor

Co-author Lucas Astor is an award-winning author and poet with a penchant for telling stories that delve into the dark side of the human psyche. He likes to explore the evil that exists, not just in the world, but next door behind a smiling face. Astor currently lives outside of Nashville, TN.

To learn more about Lucas, click the link: Instagram – @lucasastorauthor

Visit all the Stops on the Tour!

02/01 Review @ Novels Alive
02/02 Review @ Lynchburg Reads
02/03 Review @ Mythical Books
02/05 Review @ tea. and. titles bookstagram
02/06 Review @ Bless their hearts mom
02/06 Showcase @ Fredas Voice
02/07 Showcase @ Books, Ramblings, and Tea
02/08 Showcase @ The Bookworm
02/09 Review @ read_betweenthecovers
02/12 Review @ Urban Book Reviews
02/12 Showcase @ Im Into Books
02/13 Review @ enjoyingbooksagain
02/13 Showcase @ The Book Divas Reads
02/15 Review @ fundinmental
02/16 Review @ Eat. pray. decorate
02/17 Review @ Shangread-La
02/20 Review @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
02/21 Review @ mokwip8991
02/22 Showcase @ The Mystery of Writing
02/23 Review @ Amys Booket List
02/23 Review @ Paws. Read. Repeat
02/24 Review @ Celticladys Reviews

Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery

 

 

The Foundation of Plot, a Wait, Wait, Don’t Query (Yet!) guidebook. Amazon #1 bestseller

 

The post River of Wrath: Thriller, Suspense & Horror appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Cowboys and Chaos: Book Blast

Cowboys and Chaos, Magical Mystery Book Club #3

Book Blast + Author and Book Info + Excerpt + GiveawayDon’t miss any blog tour posts! Click the link here.Cowboys and Chaos

This is no ordinary book club! When the group chooses a book, they are whisked away from reality to find themselves totally immersed in the story. The characters, the setting, and the murder all come to life. In order to exit the book, they’ll need to solve the mystery and reach The End.

This time, the club chooses a mystery that takes place in a quaint western town – in the old Wild West. That sounds like great fun, until they arrive in the dusty old town in the Arizona desert, among cowboys and saloons. They discover that the outhouse isn’t the worse thing about this trip.

The good news is that Paige, Glo, Zell, Frank, and the other members of the club discover plenty of surprises here, and they have a great time visiting a piece of history. They’ll get to live through many exciting moments as they unravel this cozy mystery story.

Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Published by: Better Beginnings, Inc.
Publication Date: November 2022
Number of Pages: 250
ASIN: B0BB1HS7XL
Series: Magical Mystery Book Club #3

To purchase Cowboys and Chaos, click either of the following links: Amazon | GoodreadsCowboys and Chaos — ExcerptChapter 2

“Hey,” said Forrest. “Who’s that guy in the backyard?”

Everyone shuffled over to the window. A man was roaming around the property with what appeared to be a metal detector in his hands.

He removed his brown fedora, and his wild brown hair joined his golden scarf to blow wildly in the wind. He methodically ran the device back and forth over the lawn. Every few minutes he would stop and kneel on the grass, leaving wet spots on the knees of his khaki cargo pants. He’d put his ear to the ground, then pop up with a gleeful look on his face and continue scanning the lawn. He reached into one of the pockets of his brown safari jacket and pulled out a pair of binoculars. He aimed them around the yard and then up into the sky.

I opened the back door and stepped outside.

“Hello? Excuse me?” I called. “Can I help you?”

The man walked briskly over to us. He thrust out his hand toward me. “Dr. Atticus Papadopoulos. A pleasure.”

“Paige Erickson. Nice to meet you.” Even in shock, my manners prevailed.

The group had followed me outside and were standing in a circle gawking at him. The man put down his device and efficiently went from person to person. He reached out and shook each person’s hand. He looked each one in the eye and listened intently to their name as if he were memorizing it. He even reached down and shook Frank’s paw.

Frank looked him up and down and examined his archaeological professor-like outfit. “Hello Dr. Jones. Welcome to the Snapdragon Inn.”

“Ah! Wonderful, wonderful. The cat speaks! Marvelous!” He clapped his hands. “Actually, it’s Dr. Papadopoulos, but you can call me Atticus,” he said, totally missing Frank’s reference to Dr. Indiana Jones from Raiders of the Lost Ark. “Your ability to communicate is one more sign that the crossover exists at this point! Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!”

When he completed the circle, he verified my suspicion that he’d been memorizing our names by pointing at each person in turn. “Paige. Glo. Zell, Sebastian, Vee, Moonbeam, Forrest. And of course, the fascinating, remarkable Frank.”

The cat stood taller, and I could just about see his head growing in size. Exactly what we needed, a person to boost Frank’s already bursting ego.

“Sooo, Atticus. What are you doing here?” Glo asked as she came to stand beside me, hands on her hips, looking the stranger in the eye.

“Yeah,” said Zell, charging to the front of the group and standing nearly toe to toe with him. She looked up into his face, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. With her diminutive size and cotton ball-like hair she looked anything but intimidating. “And what’s with the metal detector? Looking for buried treasure?”

“Ah, good question, Zell. This is not a meager metal detector. It alerts me to points of extraterrestrial energy.”

“Are you a kook, then?”

Atticus threw back his head and laughed, his wild hair flopping back and forth with the movement. “No, madam, not a kook. I am a doctor of astrobiology; my major area of interest is extraterrestrial technology and travel.”

“What the heck is astrobiology?” Zell squinted her eyes at him.

“A woman with a curious mind. I like it.” He nodded in approval.

I glanced at Glo and rolled my eyes. Great. Now another ego being stroked. Zell and Frank were already impossible to live with, this would boost their annoy-ability level.

“Astrobiology is the academic field that studies the origins of life on our Earth and the existence of life elsewhere in our universe. The study of extraterrestrial visits is my main area of interest. Your inn happens to be at a key crossover point for a confluence of energy.” He put his hands in his pockets and leaned back on his heels looking pleased with his discovery.

Zell had an abnormally studious look on her face. “What do you mean by a confluence of energy, Doctor?”

Glo and I chuckled, since Zell’s normal response to him would have been, “Huh? Whatcha talking about?”

“Excellent question, again.” He pointed at Zell with a snappy movement. “Energy encircles our planet both horizontally and vertically.” His arms flailed about as he demonstrated the circles, then he crossed his arms, one atop the other. “At certain points the lines join and there is a high level of intra-space energy. These locations are an ideal landing spot for extraterrestrials, or for the creation of a time/space portal. This inn sits directly atop a high energy confluence crossover point.”

“Well, that’s not a surprise,” said Zell. “We do have an enchanted library with magical books that take us inside them for adventures.”

“Zell!” We all yelled as one.

“Yes! I knew it!” Atticus pumped his arm. “I want in. Can you take me on one of your adventures?”

Elizabeth Pantley — Author of Cowboys and Chaos

Elizabeth Pantley says that writing her Mystery and Magic book series is the most fun she’s ever had at work. Fans of the series say her joy is evident through the engaging stories she tells.

Elizabeth is also the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents.

Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, a beautiful inspiration for her enchanted worlds.

To learn more about Elizabeth, click on any of the following links:
www.NoCrySolution.com/books/
Goodreads
BookBub – @DestinyFalls
Instagram – @destinyfallsmystery
Facebook – @DestinyFallsMysteryandMagicVisit all the Stops on the Blast!

Im Into Books
The Bookwyrm
Celticladys Reviews
The Authors Harbor
Splashes of Joy
sunny island breezes
Paws. Read. Repeat
The Book Divas Reads
The Bookworm
Fredas Voice
Books, Ramblings, and Tea
The Mystery of Writing
Avonna Loves Genres
Review Thick & Thin
Book Corner News & Reviews
The Mystery Section
Mythical Books

Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery

 

 

The Foundation of Plot, a Wait, Wait, Don’t Query (Yet!) guidebook. Amazon #1 bestseller

The post Cowboys and Chaos: Book Blast appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Rio Flash ’62: Historical Thriller

Rio Flash ’62, historical thriller by debut author Andrew Deutsch

Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Fictional Pet Corner!Don’t miss any author interviews! Click the link here.Rio Flash ’62

Brazil. Rio De Janeiro. 1962. A time of dramatic political, social, and cultural clashes. Here, at the nexus of high society and low, style and street, pop music and passionate crime, a young tabloid photographer will do anything to get ahead – even protect a killer.

Beto Santera, raised on the struggling side of Rio, has just wrangled his first press photographer’s card. He has big dreams, small chances, and a chip on his shoulder. Beto is desperate to get ahead as a photographer but is scrambling to make ends meet.

His luck changes when he photos Sergio Fontes von Imperial, an outcast of a powerful Rio family, leaving the crime scene of a murdered popular Brazilian star.

Beto makes a dark deal with Sergio, loses the negatives, and he gets access to the exclusive world of fashion, art, music, and nightlife. All the excitement Rio has to offer.

Then more killings occur. Beto is forced to make a choice, keep his career, or help catch the criminal.

To purchase Rio Flash ’62, click on any of the following links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble & Google PlayRio Flash ’62 — Author Interview with Andre Deutsch  Rio Flash ’62 is set in Rio De Janeiro in 1962. What drew you to that time and place for your debut novel?

Some years ago, I was developing a mystery project for a film studio on the life of Weegee, a crime photographer working in the 1940’s and 50’s.

Unfortunately, another studio got their somewhat similar project going first, so mine was cancelled. But years later I was spending time in Rio de Janeiro writing another film project. In my limited down time, I started exploring Rio locations and learning their histories. I became seduced by the music, nightlife, and political conflicts of the early 60’s. I could envision an intriguing mix of film noir and La Dolce Vita.

That inspired me to take some of those story elements from that past canceled film and move them to this unique transitional environment and period in Rio’s history in the early 1960’s. From there, the basic story and characters just flowed out.

What should readers know about Beto Santera?

Beto was raised in the favelas (slums) of Rio, where normally where you are born is where you will stay. There, ambition is more a curse than a blessing. But he has dreams of becoming a photojournalist when newspapers ruled and a front-page crime photo could make a photographer’s year.

Looking through the viewfinder of his inherited Rolleiflex camera, everything seems possible. The highs and lows of Rio are his to frame. Yet the obstacles are formidable. He is not well educated. He’s also of mixed race. He has to learn to take advantage of any opportunity that comes his way. That at first gets him ahead – but then land him in big trouble.

Tell us about your road to publication with Rio Flash ’62 :

Initially, I thought I was supposed to get a literary agent. So I sent out queries and got back polite ‘no’s’ or nothing. Soon other writer friends of mine told me at my age that was a fool’s errand. So, I persisted for a bit, then thought perhaps I should listen to experience. It was then I decided to submit to small presses. I made an initial list of six through research in Duotrope.

Of those six, World Castle was the first to want to publish. There was another publisher who also wanted the book, but I had already committed.

What kept you going through numerous drafts of the novel?

That it was mostly, although of course not all the time, fun.

Whether it was Beto, the protagonist, first photographing Sergio, the antagonist. The detective, Tadeo, at the crime scenes. Sergio when his mother dies. Beto in jail. The final Beto-Sergio confrontation. I could go on.

For all the these and others I simply had a lot of fun writing them; whether because they seemed to create their own momentum, or reveal something I hadn’t realized before, or point to a subplot or character beat that made them do things in surprising ways. So even in rewrites, I found ways that to me made the story more compelling, and hopefully eliminated the extraneous.

What can we find you doing when you aren’t writing crime fiction?

Writing for digital media, mostly law and medical research non-profits. Photography, which has been my lifelong avocation. Pairing good cooking with nice wines.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a novel called THE STEPPED RECKONER. It’s a contemporary caper story about the theft, an inside job, of one of the first mechanical computers. It was actually made in the 17th century and in the story, it’s located in a very eccentric museum filled with unusual scientific and anthropological items.

I also have the sequel to Rio Flash ‘62 roughly outlined.

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

In general: First, I’d say read. Then read more. In what ever way works, absorb those things you find stimulating in what you read. And of course, write.

For fiction, whether novel, short story, or screenplays (which was where I earned my living) consider that character drives the story. The story is dilemma(s) the characters contend with. The words (or film scenes) serve that by creating a storytelling style, the mood(s), and pace/rhythm. When one is fortunate to have it all working, it is a seamless world that hopefully engages the reader.

Historical research: Photos used for inspiration Author Fictional Pet Corner!

Well, there’s the possibility of a dog.

S/he’s name is Bouncer and lives in my wife’s and my imagination for now. A

s her/his name indicates, the dog jumps quite high.

Elena is pulling for you to get a real dog. Love the description!OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAndrew Deutsch — Author of Rio Flash ’62

Andrew Deutsch has been writing for motion pictures, television, and digital media for over 30 years. Most of that time based in Los Angeles, more recently in Brazil, and now in Northern California.

To learn more about Andrew, click on any of the following links:FacebookLinkedIn InstagramTwitter Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery

 

 

The Foundation of Plot, a Wait, Wait, Don’t Query (Yet!) guidebook. Amazon #1 bestseller

Header image by Heibe on Pixabay

The post Rio Flash ’62: Historical Thriller appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Homicide Herault: New Mystery

Homicide Herault, the latest mystery by Bluette Matthey

Author Guest Post + Book & Author Info + Giveaway!Don’t miss any blog tour posts! Click the link here to read more.Homicide Herault

Veteran trekker Hardy Durkin takes his first bike tour group to Béziers, in the South of France, for what is expected to be relaxing, uneventful bicycling in the Hérault region. This notion is kicked to the curb when a double cold-case with present-day repercussions is discovered on one of the group’s outings. Hardy becomes embroiled in another homicide when he is present at a murder that takes place during an innocent flamenco performance that is anything but.

The bottom line: murder and intrigue follow Hardy Durkin like a shadow, even in the sunny, laid-back South of France, but this time his wheel of fortune veers uncomfortably off the rails in Homicide Hérault.

Genre: Mystery
Published by: Blue Shutter Publishing
Publication Date: December 2022
Number of Pages: 199
ISBN13: 978-1-941611-20-3
Series: Hardy Durkin Travel Mystery Series Book 6 | Each is a Stand Alone Mystery

To purchase Homicide Herault, ciick on any of the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | SmashwordsGuest Post — Homicide Herault by Bluette Matthey

Every town has a story to tell.

When I decide the setting for my next Hardy Durkin Travel mystery I research the locale’s history, lore, and legends.  Was someone martyred there?  Is the area known for a murder or scandal of some sort?  Any unsolved disappearances?  Is there a local tradition that makes it unique or quirky?

My latest Hardin Durkin mystery, Homicide Herault, is set in the Herault area in the South of France.  The small city of Béziers is the primary town here and the oldest city in France.  (Second oldest, if you ask someone from Marseille.)  It is simply loaded with history from as far back as the 6th century BC, and is a land full of legends, atrocities, and culture.

During the Algerian War of Independence from France in the early 1960’s many of the French citizens who had been living and working in Algeria moved back to the Motherland.  Those Algerians fighting for independence violently targeted their countrymen who had worked for the French, massacring whole Algerian families in horrific ways as payback for the support they had shown the French military.  Thousands of these hunted Algerians, known as Harkis, fled to mainland France to escape the terrible purge, settling in the southern regions of France.

My favorite Béziers legend is that of Saint Aphrodise who rode into town on his camel from Egypt around 65 AD.  Just around the corner from the ancient Roman amphitheater, which was mostly torn down in the 3rd century so the citizens could use the stones to build up the city’s defense …. that’s another story… is a small plaza, Place Saint-Cyr, at the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue Canterelles.  You might notice the small brass caps on the pavement that say ‘Chemin Romeux’.  This was part of the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, but I digress.

Look Up!  See that headless stone figure on the corner of the building?  That is Saint Aphrodise.  Why is he there, you ask?  Because … he was beheaded in the square where you are standing, and his head tossed in a well nearby.  Not one to give up easily, the good saint fetched his head from the well and proceeded to carry it back to his cave on the outskirts of town.  He is known as a cephalophore, a subset of saints who carry their heads after martyrdom.

Passing down what is now the Rue des Têtes, the Street of Heads, he was mocked by a group of stone masons who were turned to stone when Aphrodise stared them down (you can’t make this up!) with the head cradled in his arms.

It all ended well, with Saint Aphrodise being venerated in his tomb which is now a basilica where his relics repose, and his camel became a celebrity with the rich folks in town vying to take care of him.  A dubious replica of said camel appears each April on the saint’s day to be paraded through town as part of the celebration.

Béziers hosts the largest festival in the South of France each August, the Feria, replete with flamenco, bullfights, street foods, and non-stop, out-door concerts.  Almost a million people pour into the city over the span of a week to party and celebrate good times in a safe, family-friendly atmosphere with a laid-back Mediterranean vibe.

Into all this I insert my hunky protagonist, Hardy Durkin, who is leading a bike tour in the Herault with his irregular cast of characters and let the magic of imagination stir the pot.  Expect a murder … or two.  Enjoy the show!

Bluette Matthey — Author of Homicide Herault

Bluette Matthey is a 3rd generation Swiss American and an avid lover of European cultures. She has decades of travel and writing experience.

She is a keen reader of mysteries, especially those that immerse the reader in the history, inhabitants, culture, and cuisine of new places. Her passion for travel, except airports (where she keeps a mystery to pass the time), is shared by her husband, who owned a tour outfitter business in Europe. Bluette particularly loves to explore regions that are not on the “15 days in Europe” itineraries. She also enjoys little-known discoveries, such as the London Walks, in well-known areas.

She firmly believes that walking and hiking bring her closer to the real life of any locale. Bluette maintains a list of hikes and pilgrimages throughout Europe for future exploration.

Bluette is the author of the Hardy Durkin Travel Mystery series, author and developer of the South-of-France travel app, Potty Poche, and her latest mystery, Two Murders Too Many. She lives in Béziers in the South of France, with her husband and trio of loving cats.

To learn more about Bluette, click on any of the following links: www.BluetteMatthey.com, Goodreads, BookBub – @notyourusualtrek, Instagram – @notyourusualtrek, Twitter – @HardyDurkin & Facebook

Visit all the Stops on the Tour!

02/07 Interview @ Hott Books
02/08 Showcase @ Books, Ramblings, and Tea
02/09 Showcase @ fuonlyknew
02/13 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
02/14 Review @ Review Thick & Thin
02/15 Podcast interview @ Blog Talk Radio
02/15 Review @ Just Reviews
02/16 Guest post @ The Mystery of Writing
02/17 Showcase @ Im Into Books
02/21 Review @ sunny island breezes
02/21 Showcase @ 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS
02/22 Guest post @ The Book Divas Reads
02/22 Showcase @ The Authors Harbor
02/23 Showcase @ Celticladys Reviews
03/03 Review @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read

Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery

 

 

The Foundation of Plot, a Wait, Wait, Don’t Query (Yet!) guidebook. Amazon #1 bestseller

The post Homicide Herault: New Mystery appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Book Review: The Bone Records

Book Review: The Bone Records by Rich Zahradnik

Book Review + Book & Author Info + Giveaway!Don’t miss any book reviews. Click the link here to read more.The Bone Records

NY Police Academy washout Grigg Orlov discovers an eerie piece of evidence at the scene of his father’s brutal murder: a disc-shaped X-ray of a skull. It’s a bone record—what Soviet citizens called banned American songs recorded on used X-rays. But the black-market singles haven’t been produced since the sixties. What’s one doing in Coney Island in 2016?

Grigg uncovers a connection between his father and three others who collected bone records when they were teenage friends growing up in Leningrad. Are past and present linked? Or is the murder tied to the local mob? Grigg’s got too many suspects and too little time. He must get to the truth before a remorseless killer takes everything he has.

Praise for The Bone Records:

“The Bone Records grabs you by the throat on the very first page, then never slows down as it takes you on a wild ride through New York City streets filled with Russian intrigue, underworld crime, police corruption and a man’s desperate quest to avenge his father’s murder. Shamus Award-winner Rich Zahradnik has written a taut, terrifically exciting and thought-provoking thriller.”—R.G. Belsky, award-winning author of the Clare Carlson mystery series

“The plot is not only timely, but utterly unique—a tale of cultures colliding, often with sudden and unexpected consequences, as lonely city claims-adjuster Grigg Orlov spends his long nights chasing down leads on the mysterious disappearance of his father… This is a compelling read, highly recommended.”—LA Times bestselling author Baron R. Birtcher

“A fast-paced thriller set around Coney Island during the tumultuous lead-up to the 2016 presidential election… The Bone Records is a well-crafted mountain of intrigue and non-stop action.”—Bruce Robert Coffin, award-winning author of the Detective Byron Mysteries

Genre: Mystery
Published by: 1000 Words A Day Press
Publication Date: November 2022
Number of Pages: 338
ISBN: 9798985905649

To purchase The Bone Records, click any of the following lins:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | GoodreadsBook Review: The Bone Records

“Grigg’s reunion with his father was brief—eight minutes to be exact—and ended when a man with a nickel-plated revolver shot Dad twice.” Award-winning author Rich Zahradnik’s first line of The Bone Records starts readers off on a literary rollercoaster.

Grigg Orlov doesn’t fit in anywhere. Mixed race—a Russian father and a Jamaican mother who died years before—he relies on his dad for community and connection. Failing out of the police academy after a ruthless beating leaves him permanently handicapped, Grigg struggles to survive, but at least he has his dad.

Then his father goes missing, and Grigg’s world loses its center. When his father ends up dead, Grigg goes on the run as he sets out to bring his father’s killer to justice, not to mention keep from meeting the same violent end.

The non-stop action of The Bone Records combines with engaging characters in a high stakes battle, where everyone has something they believe in. Add in the corrupt underworld of the Russian mob and the backdrop of a complicated political landscape, and readers are in for one hell of a ride.

Set in 2016, Zahradnik incorporates the political climate through radio announcements, social media, and other news outlets, landing readers squarely in the middle of a divisive time in American politics. Alongside the fascinating era, Zahradnik places readers in a dynamic location: Coney Island. “Outside the station, Deno’s Wonder Wheel turned slowly, towering over the amusement park that took its name from the ancient fifteen-story ride. The wheel’s spokes glowed a hot neon white. Hazy coronas surrounded all the lights.”

The iconic location is more than just an interesting neighborhood, it’s also the place Grigg calls home. “Coney Island’s beaches and rides and freak shows anchored him; they were his midtown, his Times Square.”

It’s also the place that fostered all the good memories in his life. After the death of his father, his failure as a police cadet, and the dissolution of his love life, Grigg has nothing left to lose … or does he? Zahradnik gives Grigg something else to live for, pushing the stakes to the end.

As fast-paced and engaging as the “mystery” is in The Bone Records, half the fun is the journey of the characters. Grigg is a sympathetic protagonist who is aided by equally engaging secondary characters. From ex-girlfriend Katia Sokolav to Joe the Borscht, everyone has an agenda, and no one can be trusted.

Crime fiction readers will be swept up by The Bone Records, proof that Zahradnik remains at the top of his game.

Rich ZahradnikMystery writer Rich Zahradnik

Rich Zahradnik is the author of the thriller The Bone Records and four critically acclaimed mysteries, including Lights Out Summer, winner of the Shamus Award.

He was a journalist for twenty-seven years and now lives in Pelham, New York, where he is the mentor to the staff of the Pelham Examiner, an award-winning community newspaper run, edited, reported, and written by people under the age of eighteen.

To learn more about Rich, click on any of the following links:
www.RichZahradnik.com
Goodreads
Instagram – @rzahradnik
Twitter – @rzahradnik
Facebook – @RichZahradnik

Visit all the Stops on the Tour!

01/30 Review @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
01/31 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
02/02 Review @ Avonna Loves Genres
02/02 Review @ elaine_sapp65
02/06 Review @ Lynchburg Reads
02/07 Review @ Paws. Read. Repeat
02/08 Review @ Novels Alive
02/09 Podcast interview @ Blog Talk Radio
02/09 Review @ A Room Without Books is Empty
02/09 Review @ Just Reviews
02/10 Review @ The Mystery of Writing

Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery

 

 

The Foundation of Plot, a Wait, Wait, Don’t Query (Yet!) guidebook. Amazon #1 bestseller

The post Book Review: The Bone Records appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Wined and Died in New Orleans

Wined and Died in New Orleans, the latest release by Ellen Byron

Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Rafflecopter Giveaway + Author Pet CornerDon’t miss any blog tour posts! Click the link here.Wined and Died in New Orleans

The second in a fantastic new cozy mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron.

It’s hurricane season in New Orleans and vintage cookbook fan Ricki James-Diaz is trying to shelve her weather-related fears and focus on her business, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop, housed in the magnificent Bon Vee Culinary House Museum.

Repairs on the property unearth crates of very old, very valuable French wine, buried by the home’s builder, Jean-Louis Charbonnet. Ricki, who’s been struggling to attract more customers to Miss Vee’s, is thrilled when her post about the discovery of this long-buried treasure goes viral. She’s less thrilled when the post brings distant Charbonnet family members out of the woodwork, all clamoring for a cut of the wine’s sale.

When a dead body turns up in Bon Vee’s cheery fall decorations, the NOPD zeroes in on Eugenia Charbonnet Felice as the prime suspect, figuring that as head of the Charbonnet family, she has the most to gain. Ricki is determined to uncover the real culprit, but she can’t help noticing that Eugenia is acting strangely. Ricki wonders what kind of secret her mentor has bottled up, and fears what might happen if she uncorks it.

In the second Vintage Cookbook Mystery, Ricki has to help solve a murder, untangle family secrets, and grow her business, all while living under the threat of a hurricane that could wipe out everything from her home to Bon Vee.

Wined and Died in New Orleans (A Vintage Cookbook) [image error]
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Louisiana
Berkley (February 7, 2023)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593437632
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593437636
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09TZPW81C

To purchase Wined and Died in New Orleans, click any of the following links: Amazon – B&N – KoboWined and Died in New Orleans — The InterviewWhat should readers know about Ricki James-Diaz, the main character in Wined and Died in New Orleans :

She’s enthusiastic, smart, and self-effacing. But she also has emotional scars from the guilt she feels over the disastrous marriage that left her widowed and the trauma of only discovering her billionaire boss was a fraud when the police arrested him for building his fortune via a Madoff-like scam.

Wined and Died in New Orleans is the second in your Vintage Cookbook series. Can it be read as a standalone? Or should readers start with book one, Bayou Book Thief ?

Both books stand alone, although once you read Bayou Book Thief, you’ll probably want to read Wined and Died in New Orleans because I accidentally ended the first book on a cliffhanger.

When I say “accidentally,” it’s because I didn’t set out to write a book with a cliffhanger ending. It just seemed the best way to end book one.

If we were to visit Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop, what would we find there?

Oh, wonderful things! Cookbooks dating back to the 19th century, but mostly from the 1920s through the 1970s.

You’ll also find an array of vintage cookware from extinct china patterns to extinct kitchen accessories – one of which is a murder weapon in Bayou Book Thief! There’s also a special childrens’ section featuring kids’ cookbooks new and old, and appropriate cookware for children that will encourage their interest in baking or cooking meals.

Ricki also stocks souvenirs utilizing designs created by her friend Zellah, an artist who runs the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum as her day job.

What do you love most about New Orleans, even in hurricane season?

Two things I can never get enough of in the Big Easy are historic architecture and rain. I’ve learned there’s a word for what I am: a pluviophile… someone who adores rain.

Weather figures prominently in the plot of Wined and Died, in contrast to whichever author said to never write about weather. Sorry, but if it’s New Orleans, you have to.

But I think the thing I love the most about New Orleans are its citizens. I don’t think you’ll find a more resilient, good-natured groups of residents anywhere else. Battling against the odds of a city often teetering on the edge of destruction has bred a people who know how to “pass a good time,” in local Louisiana parlance.

As the author of multiple mystery series, how do you choose a new book to read? Do you love series authors, standalones, or a mix? If you start a series, do you go for the first book? Or the most recent?

If I fall in love with a series, I will read it to the bitter end. I like to start at the beginning. Personally, I find it confusing to pick up in the middle and then work backwards.

I read everything from series to stand-alones, with historical mysteries and non-fiction being particular favorites.

What motivates me to pick up a book? A recommendation from a friend; a review; a cover. Sometimes a title alone lures me to a book.

What are you working on now?

I’m in draft mode on the first book in a new series, the Golden Motel Mysteries. The premise is that a burned-out sitcom writer – who isn’t me at all, lol! – impulsively buys a rustic mid-century hotel at the foot of Gold Rush Country and a national park – that isn’t Yosemite at all, lol! – to run with her best friend, who also happens to have been her first husband, due to a very short-lived marriage.

My agent and I describe it as Hacks meets Schitt’s Creek.

Words of wisdom for aspiring writers:

Never stop learning. I still take writing classes as well as marketing classes. There’s always something new to learn that will help you grow as a writer.

Author Pet CornerRest in Peace, sweet Pogo

I’m so sad to share that on January 10th, we had to cross our beloved furbaby Pogo over the rainbow bridge.

He was over sixteen years old and at a tipping point in his health. We had a vet come to our house. As I wept to her wondering if we were doing the right thing, she said, “Better a week too early than a day too late.”

Having probably waited too long with our two other dogs, this really hit home for me. After he passed, she told us she picked up some other conditions in her check of him that we didn’t even know about, so we clearly did the right thing.

But it’s lonely and heartbreaking. It’s the first time in twenty-four years there’s no doggy in our home.

There will be, but probably not until summer due to my travel schedule over the next five or six months.

It’s going to be a very empty house until then.

I am so sorry for your loss. He was a wonderful dog, and I’m glad that you two had each other for so many years.Ellen Byron — Author of Wined and Died in New Orleans

Ellen’s Cajun Country Mysteries have won the Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel and multiple Lefty Awards for Best Humorous Mystery. Bayou Book Thief will be the first book in her new Vintage Cookbook Mysteries. She also writes the Catering Hall Mystery series under the name Maria DiRico.

Ellen is an award-winning playwright, and non-award-winning TV writer of comedies like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly Odd Parents. She has written over two hundred articles for national magazines but considers her most impressive credit working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart. An alum of New Orleans’ Tulane University, she blogs with Chicks on the Case, is a lifetime member of the Writers Guild of America and will be the 2023 Left Coast Crime Toastmaster.

To learn more about Ellen, click on any of the following links: Website, Newsletter, Facebook/Ellen, Facebook/Catering Hall Mysteries, Instagram, BookBub/Ellen, BookBub/Maria DiRico, Goodreads/Ellen & Goodreads/Mariaa Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit all the Stops on the Tour!

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 8 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW (RECIPE)

February 8 – Angel’s Guilty Pleasures – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

February 9 – The Mystery of Writing – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 10 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

February 10 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

February 11 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

February 11 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

February 12 – I’m Into Books – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 12 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW

February 13 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

February 13 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 14 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT

February 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

February 15 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

February 15 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

February 16 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 16 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 17 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 17 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

February 18 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

February 18 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

February 19 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW*

February 19 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 20 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 20 – The Plain-Spoken Pen – REVIEW

February 21 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 21 – My Journey Back – CHARACTER GUEST POST  

Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery

 

 

The Foundation of Plot, a Wait, Wait, Don’t Query (Yet!) guidebook. Amazon #1 bestseller

The post Wined and Died in New Orleans appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Extreme Vetting: A New Legal Thriller

Extreme Vetting by debut author Roxama Arma

Author Interview + Book & Author InfoDon’t miss any debut author interviews! Click the link here.Extreme Vetting

An immigration lawyer fights to keep her client from being deported and losing his family. But those who want him gone will stop at nothing—including murder.

Seattle, Washington, 2019. Attorney and single mom Laura Holban is an immigrant herself, guiding clients through a Kafkaesque system of ever-changing rules, where overworked judges make life-shattering decisions in minutes. Laura’s newest client is Emilio Ramirez, who was arrested in front of his sons at their high school and thrown in detention.

When Laura files for Emilio’s asylum, the world turns upside down. False criminal charges prevent his release, someone is following his family, and an ICE prosecutor threatens to revoke Laura’s US citizenship. None of it makes sense—until she uncovers a deadly conspiracy involving ICE, stolen data, and human trafficking.

Now the man at the center of it all is coming after Laura and Emilio, who must find a way to survive—and keep their families safe.

To purchase Extreme Vetting, click on any of the following links:Order signed copies from Madison Books, 2022 finalist for Publishers Weekly’s Bookstore of the Year Award.Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble & IndieBoundThe Interview — Extreme Vetting Extreme Vetting focuses on an immigration attorney, who is an immigrant herself. You are from Romania, and now live in Seattle, Washington. How did your own experiences impact your novel?

I moved to Seattle more than twenty years ago with a job in software development. As a young college graduate, I thought living in a different country wouldn’t be so hard. I’d watched lots of American movies, and I’d thought I’d fit right in. What I learned, and my protagonist Laura learned too, is that immigrants are always marked as outsiders by their accent, their looks, and their native culture.

And so I began a yearslong journey of not quite fitting in, no matter how hard I tried. Laura deals with this too in the novel, including her relationship with her American-born daughter Alice. Sometimes they don’t have a common language—literally: Alice gets annoyed with Laura’s accent now and then. As an immigrant, I learned to accept that my otherness will always be the first thing people notice about me.

In my thriller, Laura is always worried about how she sounds in court, because her choice of words affects the fate of her clients.

What would you like readers to know about Laura Holban, protagonist of Extreme Vetting ?

She’s an immigration attorney, a single mom, and a Romanian American citizen. She’s hardworking and resilient. When I created her character, I put as much on her plate as possible, while still allowing her to function. She’s a single parent to a teenager. She works in an immigration system where rules sometimes change weekly, and she must stay on top of them. She has many cases in different stages of development.

Her mom in Romania complains of loneliness, even though Laura does everything she can to connect and communicate. When one of her clients is deported and soon ends up dead in his hometown, and then another client who should have won her application is denied asylum, she starts losing her confidence that she’s doing right by her clients. Enter David Ramirez, asking her to take his detained father’s case.

Laura hesitates but decides to help David, and the story begins.

Tell us about your writing process for Extreme Vetting :

Writing the manuscript took fourteen months. As soon as I came up with the idea for a legal thriller about immigrants, I started sketching my protagonist.

I interviewed an immigration lawyer extensively to understand what that career entails. I studied court documents from two criminal cases in Washington State where ICE officials had been sentenced to prison for defrauding undocumented immigrants. I read craft books about thriller writing and read all types of thrillers, from espionage to domestic suspense.

My first outline for Extreme Vetting was 29,000 words, including descriptions and bits of dialogue. Then I started developing each scene to its final version while staying in touch with the immigration lawyer, who answered all my legal questions.

Once I had a first draft, I sent it to my professional editor for a developmental pass, and I worked on their feedback. I then sent the revised manuscript out for multiple rounds of sensitivity reading.

You have a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. How did that experience change you as a writer?

It’s been a while since I got my degree, fourteen years. My first attempt at a novel for my MFA thesis failed because I didn’t completely grasp the structural requirements of long narrative. I had a great idea for a novel, but I didn’t know how to execute it.

During my MFA studies I understood how much more learning and writing there was ahead of me in order to create something that people might one day want to read.

Tell us about your publishing journey.

It’s been hard, and I couldn’t have stayed the course without the support of my husband, who’s also a software developer and who understands my fundamental obsession with storytelling.

The publishing industry has changed dramatically in the last fifteen years, around the time when I started, so the path I thought I was on morphed into something that kept me and my fellow writers constantly learning and adapting. ‘

More than once I thought I had secured the future of a novel I wrote, only to see it obliterated by forces I had no control over. It’s a strange industry, where luck and support matter as much if not more than talent and hard work. I had a lot of support, but not all talented and hardworking writers are as fortunate.

What are you working on now?

A sci-fi thriller about the advent of artificial general intelligence in an alternate history where the Roman Empire survived for another millennium.

It draws from my studies of artificial intelligence in college and from the renaissance of this field in the last decade. When the androids cannot secure the same basic human rights as their creators, they need to figure out where home is for them. It’s another immigration story, but this time with androids and spaceships.

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

Understand the publishing industry of today and don’t play by the old rules. Try to stay on top of a fast-moving landscape, with its perils and opportunities. Find your community of writers, which can help you deal with the worst of this journey and give you long-term perspective.

And if possible, try to follow your heart and write what you want.

Great advice! Congratulations on your debut and thank you for joining us today!Roxana Arama — Author of Extreme Vetting

Roxana Arama is a Romanian American author with a master of fine arts in creative writing from Goddard College. She studied computer science in Bucharest, Romania, and moved to the United States to work in software development. Her short stories and essays have been published in many literary magazines.

Extreme Vetting: A Thriller is her first novel. She lives in Seattle, Washington, with her family.

To learn more about Roxana, click on her photo, name, or the following link: Twitter

 

 

Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery

 

 

The Foundation of Plot, a Wait, Wait, Don’t Query (Yet!) guidebook. Amazon #1 bestseller

Header image from Pixabay.

The post Extreme Vetting: A New Legal Thriller appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.