Vicki Batman's Blog, page 9

Handbag and Book with author Vicki Batman - Revisiting a Handbag and #newbook Temporarily out of Luck #cozymystery #mystery #romanticcomedy

 

I am revisiting my own handbag. I wanted to buy a new one to celebrate my new book, Christmas, and Valentine's Day. I ordered one, but no. Not the navy leather I'd picked and the size was a bit larger. Back it went.

This Mary Frances bag is a favorite of mine. Her handbag is decorated with beads, ribbons, velvet flowers, and leaves. The size of this one is larger than other Mary Frances' bags. I have three others and they lean to special event bag. 

The bag looks special, not something you would see or carry every day. 

How about a few teasers from my newest romantic comedy mystery, Temporarily Out of Luck?

Excerpt:

Stuart bounded to my side. “Hattie. Allan. You’re naturals.”

I rolled my eyes. Great. I passed the tango test.

Allan chuckled.

I stayed in position for what seemed like hours but most likely were five loonnng minutes. My lower back spasmed, which caused me to grimace. Allan pulled ever-so-gently and restored me to my feet. I removed my hands from his. Moisture coated my palms and sweat dripped down my back along my spine. I was a wreck.

“Thank you so much, couple.” A beaming Ms. Yolanda rotated. “I’m impressed by your length and beauty.”

Length and beauty—my ass.

 

Excerpt:

“Failure’s not a choice. Try again, and if that  doesn’t work, again. Are you a quitter?”

“No.” Until I resembled an idiot. I snagged the towel to wrap my torso, feeling indignation root in my

tummy. Standing, I adjusted the ends under my armpits and maneuvered the curtain to one side to step over the rim. I opened the hall door. “If only his cell phone wouldn’t interrupt us.” I smiled. “He would probably like the binding part.”

With a grin, Jenny bounced her brows. “I hear police handcuffs are the way to go.”

I laughed. “Funny. What else did he want other than the ride offer?”

“Here.” She plucked my phone from the counter next to the toothpaste tube and a glass jar filled with cotton swabs. “Push one.”

I stared at my phone, utterly amazed. “You assigned a number…on speed dial…on my phone? Without telling me? When did you do this?”

Jenny shrugged. “Long time ago. Seemed prudent.”

 

Excerpt:

In my Book of Debts, I didn’t owe him one iota. However, I could hear my mother in my ear, trotting out a page from the “Right Thing to Do” lecture. What Stuart’s mom did broke all wedding protocol, and Allan doing his saintly thing told her he would help, which translated meant he desperately needed somebody else’s help.

 

Excerpt:

“Jonson doesn’t comprehend the concept. Not with a small part”—with a mischievous grin, I crooked my little finger—“like his.”

Behind her hand, Tracey snickered for a moment, then grew somber. “And how would you know his man part size, sister dear?”

“Why, sister dear, you told me.”

“So I did.”

For more fun: Amazon

Handbag and Book with guest author Lynn Slaughter - When Does a Bag Become Sentimental?

 

Confession! I’m not a handbag person. But I carry this simple black bag that says “It’s a Good Day to Write”   because of its sentimental value. It was a gift from a close friend who drove from Cincinnati to Louisville for my first book signing at Barnes and Noble. We’ve been friends since we were young professional dancers, and her love and support has meant so much to me.  

Leisha never intended to fall in love with classical singing or get involved with Cody Harrington—let alone risk her life trying to find her missing teacher.

Leisha knows something’s wrong. Her beloved vocal coach at boarding school would never have resigned and disappeared like this in the midst of preparing her prize students for a major vocal competition. Leisha’s determined to find her, make sure she’s okay. Cody, a sensitive cellist, insists on helping her. Sparks fly, clues multiply, and romance blossoms, despite the disapproval of their families.

Leisha’s desire to be with Cody and pursue music rather than medicine puts her on a direct collision course with her African American grandfather, the only parent she’s ever known. But an even more immediate threat looms—because as Leisha draws closer to the truth about her teacher’s disappearance, she puts her own life in grave danger.

More about Lynn Slaughter: After a long career as a professional dancer and dance

educator, Lynn Slaughter earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Section Hill University. She writes coming of age romantic mysteries and is the author of the newly released Leisha’s Song; While I Danced, an EPIC finalist; It Should Have Been You, a Silver Falchion finalist; and Deadly Setup (forthcoming from Fire and Ice, 2022). She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where she’s at work on her next novel and serves as the President of Derby Rotten Scoundrels, the Ohio River Valley chapter of Sisters in Crime.

Answer these questions:

Red, White or Blue? Blue

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Fall

Cake or Pie? Cake with lots of frosting

Coffee, Tea, or Champagne? Coffee and white wine

Country music or Michael Buble? Michael Buble. Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan

Pencil or Pen? Pen

 

Find Leisha’s Song on:  Amazon

 

Find Lynn Slaughter at: Website

Handbag and Book: guest author Janina Gray - Do You Cling to Your Handbag for Dear Life?

 

Although I adapt well to change normally, when it comes to my handbags (I call them pocketbooks, coming from Long Island) I view them with the same devotion as a lifelong bestie. So, I cling to them for dear life until they are old and frayed and ready to give up the ghost.

My current pocketbook was a gift from my son, Anthony, about five-six years ago.  It’s a black leather bag that’s big and roomy enough to slip my MacBook Air in, along with my wallet, notebook, half a dozen pencils and pens, make-up bag, glasses, hand lotion, face wipes, change purse, charging cord, earbuds, and, well, you get the idea. It’s heavy. People are brave enough to attempt to lift it often groan loudly before collapsing to the floor.

This black “The Sak” bag has two shoulder straps, a cute little outer pocket on one side where I can slip in my phone or sunglasses (or pen and pad) for quick retrieval, and a zippered pocket on the other side to keep more pens and pencils, pads, and anything else I need to access quickly. The inside is lined in an orange, brown, and lime green print resembling some sort of weave or maybe grasses, I’m not sure. It’s not a print I would have considered, but I’ve grown to love it, probably because it was from Anthony, my eldest who turns 30 in 2022.

Prior to this purse, I had a black weave hand-me-down from my mom who passed away in 2012. Prior to that, I carried around a brown leather pocketbook with leather fringe on it, which looked like it came straight out of Woodstock. It had been a hand me down from my older sis, Janie, who passed away in 2007.

So, my purses are more than just an accessory, they are a connection to people I love dearly. And I don’t care if I’m not touting the latest fashion, or if my pocketbook is ancient, or well-worn. When I’ve got that bag slung over my shoulder and cradled under my arm, I’ve got everything I need and more. I’ve got love.

Speaking of love . . . The doorknob I chose to hang it from in the photo has a pair of very old keys that came with the house I’ve lived in since 2002. It’s a 114-year old farmhouse, that in addition to the keys, came with resident ghosts. We normally keep that door closed as that is one of the rooms they prefer to live in (aka, it’s very haunted). But we love the spirits as much as I love the house and my purse. So, yeah. It’s all about love.

Not everything is black and white when it comes to love.

Step into the mystical and magical forests of Upstate New York, where Earth and Sky camp photographer Brooke Meadows has taken refuge from the demons of her past as she uses her ability to communicate with the dead to heal loved ones left behind.

Unable to cope with the loss of his wife and daughters three years prior, Josh Quinn, CEO of the number one dating site Quirkyflirt.com, is ordered by his board president to take a break from his Big Apple Headquarters. He finds himself at Earth and Sky Retreats, where confronting his grief has led him to experience a life-altering transformation and re-evaluation of reality.

Will Josh leave behind his fast-paced, high society life in the concrete mountains of New York City, for the magical, bewitching world Brooke reveals to him in the foothills of the Adirondacks?

Will Brooke acknowledge and accept her own journey of transformation and healing as she and Josh explore the winding paths and summits that lead them to find love in the forest?

More about Janina Grey: Janina Grey has been writing since she could hold a crayon, and 

there has been no stopping her since. Journaling, short stories, poetry, newsletters, news, feature, columns, Op/Eds, and press releases have kept her busy her whole life. But it was the sweet romances she read in her downtime that stayed forever in her heart and gave her the inspiration to write her own. Growing up on Long Island and living periodically in Tennessee as a youth has given her the opportunity to meet many different types of people and experience many different lifestyles. After moving from Long Island to settle in upstate New York with her family, she found the support needed to pursue her writing endeavors. When Janina is not writing, she may be marching for women’s rights, kayaking, camping, drumming, or dancing around the fire. With her two children grown, she and her husband, David, share their 110-year-old Mohawk Valley farm house homestead with a few resident spirits and a very squawky murder of crows.

Answer these questions:

Red, White or Blue?  White? Eh. I’m not really a fan of red, but I do like blue, so I’d mix them together make purple, because I love purple.

 

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? I love all seasons, and the changes they bring to life. But if I had to pick an order of favorites (at this moment) it would be: Autumn, Winter, Summer, and then Spring.

Cake or Pie? Yummm. I love Pie, as in Pizza. Chicken Wing Pizza Pie to be exact, from Vinny’s Pizza in Herkimer, NY. But, pleeeeze, hold the blue cheese.

Coffee, Tea, or Champagne? I start each day with French-pressed black coffee with cinnamon. I switch to Lady Grey tea when I’m writing. And if I’m going to indulge in champagne, it’s definitely going to be with Mimosas.

Country music or Michael Buble? I used to love country music. But my all-time faves are Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, and (lately) lots of Coldplay.

Pencil or Pen? There’s nothing like a good old fashioned wooden pencil (the kind you have to sharpen) and gel pens—purple or black, if you haven’t guessed by now!

Find Love in the Forest at: Soulmate

Find Janina at: Website

Handbag and Book: guest author Leslie Wheeler - Do You Pick a Bag for Utility or Beauty?

 I picked this handbag for its utility rather than its beauty. My travelling companion to Italy spotted it at a AAA office, where we went to plan our trip a couple of years ago. Having been to Italy before and knowing that pickpockets were a real threat, I wanted a handbag that would keep my belongings safe. 

This bag, made by a company called Pacsafe, is designed to do just that. It is made of cut proof materials—lightweight steel mesh, no less. There are two lockable zipper compartments, a padded and suspended interior sleeve, two zipper interior pockets and two outside pockets for small water bottles or an umbrella. The bag can be worn crossbody, which was how I wore it, or as a backpack, by adjusting the strap. The size is 13.8"H x 10.2"W x 4.3"D, and the weight: only 1.18 lbs. Of course, it weighed more with all my stuff in it. My hairbrush and cosmetics went in the front zipper compartment, while my phone, which I used as a camera, went in the back zipper compartment, to keep it safe but also for ease of access. My wallet and other valuables went in the interior sleeve and pockets. The color of mine is black, but other colors are available. Two years later and long since returned to the U.S., I’m still using this handbag, because I found the arrangement of compartments so helpful. 

A woman goes to the Berkshires to rekindle her romance with a local man, but finds herself battling a real estate developer with a shady past. 

 

Boston library curator, Kathryn Stinson returns to the Berkshires, hoping to rebuild her romance with Earl Barker, but ends up battling a real estate developer, bent on turning the property she’s been renting and that she grown to love into an upscale development. The fight pits her against Earl, offered the job of clearing the land. When a fire breaks out in the woods, the burned body of another opponent is discovered. Did he die attempting to escape a fire he set, or was the fire set to cover up his murder? Kathryn’s search for answers leads her to other questions about the developer’s connection to a friend of hers who fled New York years ago for mysterious reasons. The information she uncovers puts her in grave danger.

More about Leslie Wheeler: 

Award-winning writer Leslie Wheeler is the author of the Berkshire 

Hilltown 

Mysteries, Rattlesnake Hill and Shuntoll Road, and the Miranda Lewis Mysteries, Murder at Plimoth Plantation, Murder at Gettysburg and Murder at Spouters Point. Her mystery shorts have appeared in such anthologies as Mystery Most Geographical, Noir at the Salad Bar, Day of the Dark, and the Best New England Crime Stories anthologies, published by Level Best Books, where she was a co-editor for six years. Leslie is now a co-editor at Crime Spell Books, the new publisher of the Best New England Crime Stories anthologies. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, and a founding member of the New England Crime Bake Committee. Leslie divides her time between Cambridge, Massachusetts and a home in the Berkshires, where she does her best writing in a house overlooking a pond. 

 

Answer these questions: 

Red, White or Blue? blue

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? fall

Cake or Pie? pie

Coffee, Tea, or Champagne? tea

Country music or Michael Buble? country music

Pencil or Pen? pen

 

Find Shuntoll Road at: Amazon

 

Find Leslie Wheeler at: Website

Handbag and Book: guest author Lynn Steven Johanson - My Eyesore #handbag #accessories #mensaccessories #amwriting

While I don’t carry a handbag, I do carry an old brown wallet. A well-worn leather trifold, it holds all my credit cards, insurance cards, driver’s license, photos of my wife and kids, and miscellaneous stuff that could probably be thrown away. And it rarely contains more than twenty dollars in cash. I have repaired this eyesore several times over the years. 

Most men would have replaced it by now, but not me. Similar to that comfy pair of old shoes you love to wear around the house, I wouldn’t think of tossing it out. Not yet, anyway. As Shakespeare wrote, “…an ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own…”

Detective Joe Erickson discovers that a clever and vile serial killer is preying on women in Chicago. Only a few cat hairs provide clues to the perpetrator of six mutilation murders. Joe’s razor-sharp intuition and unorthodox methods ultimately put him on a trail fraught with twists, turns, and close calls. But pushing himself day and night begins taking its toll, and his obsession with apprehending the killer will be his undoing.

More about Lynn-Steven Johanson: Lynn-Steven Johanson is an award-winning 

playwright whose plays have been produced on four continents. Born and raised in Northwest Iowa, Lynn holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He lives in Illinois with his wife, and they have three adult children. He is currently working on the third installment of his Joe Erickson Mystery Series for Level Best Books.

Answer these questions:

Red, White or Blue? Red. Definitely, red. I even drive a red vehicle.

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Fall. I enjoy the changing colors and the milder temperatures that September brings.

Cake or Pie? Pie. Key Lime is my favorite. I’d kill for a slice of Key Lime pie, figuratively speaking, of course.

Coffee, Tea, or Champagne? Coffee. I come from a Swedish background, so I was brought up in a family of egg-coffee drinkers. But I prefer a very dark roast, something that looks burned. Italian Roast is my go-to coffee.

Country music or Michael Buble? I’m pretty eclectic, but I’d have to choose contemporary country because I like to sing George Strait and Kenny Chesney songs at karaoke. But I’m also a huge fan of the Beatles and Brian Wilson.

Pencil or Pen? Usually a gel pen, but it depends what I am doing. If I’m devising something I’m planning to build, then I’m wielding a pencil (must have an eraser!).

Find Havana Brown at:  Amazon

Find Lynn-Steven Johanson at: Website

Handbag and Book welcomes author C J Petterson: A Protagonist Who Carries a PINK Ruger in her Handbag?

[image error] cj Sez: The manuscript I’m working on has a protagonist who carries a pink Ruger, and when I found out my youngest granddaughter had one (!) and a concealed carry purse, I knew I had found my new favorite purse. 

I used to be a Coach person, but the big, black, boxy purse I have gets amazingly heavy when I’ve crammed all my “essentials” into it. It’s now stashed on the top shelf in my closet, and I carry anything black, lightweight nylon (or leather), and cheap. I think a duplicate of Maggie Rose’s concealed-carry purse will be my next purchase. And maybe a pink Ruger as well.  

 

Most of my stories have some kind of weapon or unique car in them. I’ve worked in the retail, medical, legal, and manufacturing fields and retired from an automotive manufacturer after 25 years. I was also once married to a man who was first a cop then a firefighter. Ergo, I’m familiar with the vocabulary of several career paths and have spent a bit of time with cars and with hand guns and long guns. I’m not so familiar with them that I don’t have to do a lot of research to get the descriptions right, but that’s where the fun comes in for me.  

 

cj Sez: After my first novel, Deadly Star, languished in Simon & Schuster’s marketing purgatory, I requested my rights back and went about the task of refreshing, re-editing, and inserting updated information into the story, taking it from romantic suspense to thriller/suspense. The result became my first self-published book: The Dawgstar, a novel based on some real-life and some imagined technology and events. 

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Mirabel Campbell is a geneticist and amateur astronomer who’s been wishing for more adventure in her life. Someone should have reminded her to be careful what you wish for. Spotting a mysterious twinkle in the night sky puts her in the crosshairs of an assassin and in the middle of an action-packed suspense/thriller filled with international political gangsterism, nanosatellites (real things), and fears of frankenfood. Mirabel and her CIA ex-husband reconnect while trying to stop a sociopath from triggering a bioweapon.  

 

More about c j petterson: cj petterson is the pen name of Marilyn Johnston. Born in Texas and raised in Michigan, Marilyn now lives on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. She takes her pen name from her paternal Swedish grandmother—a decision brought about because she had a sister-in-law with her same name. 

Her first published stories were romantic suspense novels that were more “Jane Bond” than straight-forward, romantic, happily-ever-after stories. Now she concentrates on writing contemporary suspense/thrillers and mysteries with a touch of romance. Her strong female protagonists and supporting characters take readers on exciting journeys filled with suspense, action, and sassy dialogue. She does enjoy challenging her writing skills in different genres, and her non-fiction and fiction short stories, including a paranormal or two, appear in several anthologies.  

 

Marilyn/cj is a member of the international Sisters in Crime writers' group and their online Guppy chapter, the Alabama Writers Conclave, the Alabama Writers Forum, and a charter member of the Mobile Writers Guild. 

Answer these questions: 

Red, White or Blue? Blue, especially periwinkle 

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Fall because the flowers and vegetables give their all for a final burst of glory. Colors, aromas, flavors—an all-senses feast. 

Cake or Pie?  I make a “less lethal” Cheesecake Pie (low-fat cream cheese/Splenda Blend sugar/low-fat sour cream, and 1 egg plus 2 egg whites, all resting deliciously in a graham cracker pie crust.)  

Coffee, Tea, or Champagne?  Coffee, black, half-caf, non-flavored 

Country music or Michael Buble?  Country, especially Alan Jackson 

Pencil or Pen?  A dark #2 pencil with a large, separate eraser 

 

The Dawgstar eBook is available at: books2read

 

Follow cj at: lyrical pens

 

 

Handbag and Book guest author Penny Pence Smith - The Mighty Orange Purse

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Friends call it “Penny’s mighty orange handbag” because it’s big, bright, elegant and noticed by everyone. And it was a breakthrough in bags for me—for decades a traveling road warrior journalist then communication/ marketing consultant then university professor…now mystery novelist. I always carried light weight soft-sided bags for convenience. Until the laptop a became mandatory travel companion. I live in Hawaii and every trip is a journey, not a quick jaunt. So, I searched for a sturdy bag that could hold a lot including my laptop, fit comfortably over my shoulder and “said” organization and elegance. Tory Burch offered just what I needed. The orange hue spoke to me—well, yelled at me.

It was also perfect when we brought our cat, Blue, from California to our then part-time home in Hawaii. The 20-pound silver-grey feline in a carrier over one shoulder and the orange bag over the other – filled with student papers, Blue’s travel documents and food cans, laptop, spare underwear and other vitals— we set out across the Pacific. At Los Angeles International Airport, as the TSA agent directed me to lift Blue from the carrier for scanning, she surprisingly commented, “I LOVE your orange handbag!” Her words attracted the attention of several passengers in line who also commented. And they attracted the attention of a small boy who ran over, looked at the purse, the cat, and then yelled, “Can I pet your jaguar?”

Four years later, the “mighty orange” Tory Burch purse still rocks—and travels. The cat, not so much.

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Meredith Ogden is at the top of her game in Hollywood as Legwoman (assistant in modern terms) to Bettina Grant, the country’s most widely read celebrity gossip columnist. But life changes for the 36-year-old journalist when she arrives for work at Grant’s Bel Air home-office on a December morning in 1983 to find her famous boss dead, murdered. A book manuscript lies on the floor next to the death bed. Partnering with High-Profile crimes detective T.K. Raymond to find out who killed Grant and why, Meredith faces more than questions or answers. A volatile TV night-show host lobs threats because of a damaging news investigation about his background and Grant’s children have demands on the office and valuable celebrity files. Meredith’s home is broken into and searched, and she is assaulted. With T.K. Raymond’s help, and that of an unlikely team of colleagues, Meredith deals with the threats to herself, her future and even ghosts from her own past.

More about Penny Pence Smith: 

As a teenager, Penny Pence Smith wrote for the Indio Daily News, subsequently received a

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University of Washington B.A. and UNC-Chapel Hill Ph.D. She was “legwoman” for an internally renowned Hollywood columnist, then a New York Times Special Features correspondent/LA Bureau Manager, Warner Communication editor, Hollywood Reporter Correspondent, marketing strategist/consultant and university professor. She lives mostly in Honolulu, HI, with her husband of nearly 40 years, and their cat, Bob. Penny writes magazine articles, mystery novels, paints, sculpts, dances and sings. “When I retired from academia,” she says, “I stepped from left brain into right brain—and never looked back.”

Answer these questions:

Red, White or Blue? All color is vital in my world. It's why I paint as a hobby. But I seek blue for my personal, contemplative surroundings, red for standing out on screen. White has been the color of my hair for nearly 40 years, thanks originally to a highly creative stylist and recently to Mother Nature.

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Hawaii, the land of perpetual summer, is home, by choice, but Utah childhood memories still savor winter’s icy sparkle. My favorite season, however, is North Carolina’s early springtime when the red bud trees and the blooming dogwoods fill the woods and air.

Cake or Pie? Southern Chess Pie and macadamia nut cream pie seduce me every time. But my favorite desert is a giant dark chocolate-covered pretzel from Whole Foods.

Coffee, Tea, or Champagne? I love the joyful celebration of a tall flute of sparkling champagne, but there’s nothing like a rich iced decaf Americano on a busy, hot day.

Country music or Michael Buble? Buble’s crooning vocals are always a pleasure and some Country Western selections are toe-tappers. As a life-long dancer, all music resonates. I’ve danced — and taught —everything from tap and ballet to Zumba to hip hop. Hawaiian music and hula have a special place in my heart and toes.

Pencil or Pen? Yes—and crayons, charcoal, paint and…

Find The Last Legwoman: A Novel of Hollywood, Murder and Gossip! at: Amazon

Find Penny Pence Smith at: Amazon

Handbag and Book with author J. Arlene Culiner: The Back Streets of Paris and a Beautifully Awful Handbag

It was one of those dreary cold days—you know the sort I mean. The sky is so grey it’s about to open up and weep. The frozen air manages to feel damp, and the icy wind’s tentacles sneak past your coat collar and slide into your boots.

I was living in Paris, and walking through a rather unsavory part of the city where people try to sell you knockoffs, smuggled cigarettes, or specialize in picking your pocket. Desperate for a respite from the chill, I slipped into one of those crowded, cheap boutiques—the sort that sells dreadful glowing twinkling things created in the world’s forgotten nooks and crannies. 

And that’s when I saw it: The Handbag. And I knew I had to have it in my life.

Yes, it’s kitsch (although that word doesn’t go far enough); no, it’s too narrow to hold anything bigger than a bus ticket and a change purse; yes, it catches on everything; no, it doesn’t go with any respectable outfit. But, believe me, when I wear my sparkly black and silver skirt, or my vulgar gold heels, or one of my shiny tops and my dangling flashy earrings; when I want to stand out and make people take notice, this beautifully awful handbag never lets me down. 

The air sizzles when a country music star and renowned playwright meet, but can opposites fall in love?

Smart-talking Sherry Valentine has fought her way up from poverty to stardom as a country music singer. Surrounded by clamoring fans and paparazzi, her spangled cowboy boots carry her from one brightly lit stage to the next. But Sherry's been on the star circuit for far too long and she wants out: is it too late to begin an acting career? 

Renowned but reclusive playwright Carston Hewlett cherishes his freedom, the silence of the deep woods surrounding his home, and his solitary country walks. So why is he so fascinated by a flashy country music singer? Perhaps a short passionate fling will resolve the problem.

When their names are linked in the scandal press and Sherry's plans to become an actress are revealed, Carston feels betrayed. Is their budding relationship doomed?

More About J. Arlene Culiner: Writer, photographer, social critical artist, musician, and occasional actress, J. Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave-dwelling, on a Dutch canal, and in a haunted house on the English moors. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest and, much to local dismay, protects all creatures, especially spiders and snakes. She particularly enjoys incorporating into short stories, mysteries, narrative non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities, and her conversations with strange characters.

Red, White or Blue? Always red, of course.

 

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? They all work for me. I love the change in seasons.

 

Cake or Pie? Neither one. I have absolutely no sweet tooth. But give me a good dill pickle, or some roasted sunflower seeds, or a few slices of hot buttered toast, and I’m yours.

Coffee, Tea, or Champagne? Is this a serious question? Champagne, please. Then more champagne.

Country music or Michael Buble? Good old-fashioned authentic country, the sort you hear here: YouTube

 

Pencil or Pen? Both. It all depends on what I’m doing. Drawing? Writing? Signing?

Find a Swan's Sweet Song at: Amazon

Find J. Arlene Culiner at: Website      or at: Storytelling Podcast: Storytelling Podcast

Handbag and Book welcomes author Patricia Kiyono: Who's Organized? and a new book

 I’m not the most organized person around, and sometimes - more often than I’d like to admit - I spend time looking for things when I go somewhere. One strategy that usually works for me is to designate a specific tote bag for each place that I go - one for each of the music groups I play in, one for my quilting group, one for my scrapbooking nights, and yet another for my card-making nights. I have a special cubby shelf unit for each of those bags, and each night I make sure the right items are in the correct bags for the following day.

One of the bags I’m using more and more is my “chauffeur bag.” I’m often called on to drive my mother or my husband to a doctor appointment. I’ll often take a book to read - either a print book or my tablet. I’ll stuff my book or tablet into one of my many book bags that I’ve made from scraps of fabric in my sewing room. I bring these bags to author events and give them to people who purchase one or more of my books. My current Chauffeur Bag is pictured. I make sure they’re big enough for books like the Lost and Found anthology, published last month by my local writing group.

To raise money for our writing workshops, the Grand Rapids Region Writers Group (GRRWG) decided to publish an anthology, and Diana Lloyd volunteered to spearhead the effort. She came up with the theme “Lost and Found” and invited members to submit a romance story fitting that theme. Author Diana Stout submitted a story, and then she helped to edit the other submissions and teamed up with Diana Lloyd to prepare the book for publication. The anthology was released in late March. In much the same way that my book bag is made of several scraps of fabric, this book is made up of several stories.

Thimbleful by Diana Lloyd (regency romance): Alice Ashdown’s day progressed swimmingly until she lost her voucher to Almack’s ballroom. Frank’s day was an exercise in frustration from the crack of dawn until that evening when he catches a desperate woman rummaging through his carriage. Two people who have no need of each other discover a shared passion for life.

The Promise of Spring by Diana Stout (contemporary):  Patty escapes her best friend's party, seeking solitude when she's put into the company of John, whom she learns lives in her building and has been dealing with grief, too. Back home, a place that has given her joy recently is now gone. So, she seeks out the park bench she shared with her beloved husband and finds a lesson in nature.

Let the Music Guide You by Jae Vel (contemporary): Love helps Ava Fuentes find her way back to her passion after tragic loss and heartbreak crushed her dreams

An Affair of the Mind by K D Norris (historical): This story follows the relationship between Emperor Ichijō, who reigned over Japan from 986 to 1011, and a court poetess, the married Lady Murasaki, whose stories subtly reflect the Emperor’s privileged, decadent but often dangerous world. Her works, however, shroud the identity of the Emperor while at the same time hinting of deeper passions.

Long Lost Friend by Lisa Campeau (contemporary): Schoolteacher Bridget is unexpectedly reunited with Ryan, her best friend from elementary school, the boy who broke her heart by moving away at the end of fourth grade. The scrawny, often annoying kid she remembers has grown into a devoted attractive father.

The Duck Docket by Martin L Shoemaker (contemporary): Divorce attorney Kate Voss, on her way to work and stalled in traffic, finds herself participating in a rescue search for lost ducklings because Tim, the attractive bus driver ahead of her, hit and may have injured their mother. All the ducks found, wishing she had more time to get to know him, she heads to the courtroom. When Tim enters with the ducks, accidentally releasing them, chaos rules. Can order be restored in the courtroom, let alone to her heart?

The Gift of Fire by Natalia Baird (futuristic fantasy): Nic reincarnates into life after life with one goal: have children each time, and raise them to their mid-teens. Only this action will make amends for the tragedy to which she had contributed. Determined to continue earning redemption, Nic sets out in this latest life to find a parenting partner she can enjoy until she must leave for her next life. Then, Nic meets Damyl, and their instant connection challenges her resolve.

Whittled Promises by Patricia Kiyono (historical romance): Ellie and Vinnie meet as children in a New York orphanage but were separated when the Orphan Trains sent them to different cities in the west. Before they part, Vinnie carves a talisman for Ellie—a replica of the one he wears—and promises that its special power will help her whenever she needs it.

Trouble Rides a Fast Horse by Rosanne Bittner (inspirational romance): When Mattie learns her granddaughter’s moodiness is about disappointment over a crush, she starts telling her own story of disappointment over a new boyfriend. Between the modern day and historical reveals, "Trouble Rides a Fast Horse" shows how a prayer isn't always answered in the way we desire.

Lost and Found is available at: Amazon

Handbag and Book guest author: M. E. Hilliard - Who was once in retail and is now an author?

This is a Frances Valentine Nylon Kate Shopper Tote in Red (obviously) with black and white striped interior, and two interior slip and one zip pocket, all of which are currently crammed full of my stuff. Zip top and two slip pockets on either end, which are perfect for business cards, my work badge, spare mask, packet of tissues, or whatever. I got it on sale (50% off!) on the Frances Valentine website. 

This is the brand the late Kate Spade launched a few years after she sold her original brand, Kate Spade New York. In my pre-librarian, pre-writer life, I was a handbag buyer. I started as an assistant buyer in Better Handbags at Lord & Taylor. For years, I was a traditional Coach girl. Then I met Kate Spade when she launched her first line out a tiny showroom. She was adorable and charming, and I’ve been a fan of her bags ever since. This reminded me of her original boxy nylon styles—well-constructed, not too heavy, simple and tasteful. I wish I had it in every color! I’ve had it for years and use it often. It’s my go-to bag.

Greer Hogan is a 40-year-old widowed librarian who makes a mean martini and who never lied about anything she considered important until the night her husband was murdered—because she was with her first love at the time of his death. Three years and one career change later, Greer is enjoying her new life in the Village of Raven Hill when she finds the body of her friend in the old Manor house that serves as the Village library. Driven by curiosity, guilt, and lingering questions about her husband’s death, Greer begins to untangle a knot of secrets linking respected Village residents to each other and to two deaths reported as accidents as she works to unmask a very clever killer—before she becomes the next victim.

More about M.E. Hilliard:

M.E. is a librarian who started out in retail merchandising at Lord & Taylor, where her glamour job involved office space in the basement of the Fifth Avenue store. She got tired of

mergers and moves, so she got a Master of Library Science degree. She has been in the information business ever since, working for public libraries small and large. Originally from the Connecticut shoreline, she has never lost her love of quaint small towns, big cities, and fashion, so she indulges that in her writing. A life-long lover of mystery fiction, she currently lives and works in Florida.

Answer these questions:

Red, White or Blue? Blue

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Fall

Cake or Pie? Cake

Coffee, Tea, or Champagne? Coffee

Country music or Michael Buble? Bruce!

Pencil or Pen? Pencil, mechanical and refillable

Find The Unkindness of Ravens at: Amazon.com 

Find M.E. Hilliard at: ME Hilliard