Joyce T. Strand's Blog, page 12

CHECK IT OUT: Now Available. Andrea Buginsky's STRIKERS APPRENTICE

Now Available! As a young hunter seeks a trainer, The Chosen prepare for an unforgettable adventure. With Nature and Phantasma back in order, Halli and Silvor have settled into their new life in Drumple. During a visit from Striker, Kaidyla and Lumina, a request from an old friend of Halli’s family sparks a new challenge when she asks Striker if he’ll train their young son, Dylan. Working with Dylan gives Striker a chance to be a mentor once again, as he had been in his past. This brings The Chosen to an area of Phantasma Halli has never seen before. What new dangers might be lurking in the forest? Will Halli have a reason to use her powers? But Halli and Silvor are facing a new journey of their own, one that will change their lives forever. What is in store for The Chosen’s future? Will this latest escapade prepare them for what is yet to come?


Excerpt
With another week of teaching behind them, Halli and Silvor enjoyed a quiet, leisurely breakfast at the tavern, catching up with their neighbors.
As he was telling her about a new student, Silvor saw a look of surprise and joy come across Halli’s face. Turning  to see what she was looking at, he saw a pretty dwarf about his mother-in-law’s age walking towards Halli, smiling at her.
“Do you know her?” As he asked, the woman walked over to their table.
“Halli!  Your mother told me I might find you here.”
“Cynthia! It’s so good to see you again.”
Hugging Cynthia, she turned to Silvor, making the introductions. “Silvor, this is Cynthia, Mom’s best friend.  She moved away from Drumple years ago with her husband.”
She turned back to Cynthia. “I’m surprised Mom didn’t tell me you were back in Drumple.”
Knowing his wife would be involved in a lengthy conversation, Silvor made his way to the bar and began talking to the tavern keeper.
“We only returned about a week ago, and we’ve been busy settling in,” Cynthia responded to Halli’s comment. “It’s wonderful to see you, Halli.  My, how you’ve grown! We’re so proud of everything you’ve done for Phantasma.  I can’t believe you’re the same shy girl who used to sit quietly with your mother and me and read all day.  Now look at you: married, and a Holy Paladin!  Where have the years gone?”
“Mom wonders the same thing sometimes. And you?  I hear you have a son.  You’ve been gone from Drumple for so long, I don’t think I’ve even met him.”
“Oh, I’m sure you haven’t.  He wasn’t born until after his father and I moved away from Drumple.  But that was 15 years ago already!”
“What does he do?  Is he a student at the school now?  I don’t remember meeting anyone new lately…”
“No, he finished his studies a year ago, when he decided to take up hunting.  Now he’s looking for a trainer.  Which is what brings me to you.  I was hoping  you could talk to one of the hunters in your group about taking him on as an apprentice.  Do you think they would be willing to do that?”
“Oh, I’m sure Striker and Kaidyla would love that!  They’ll be here for a visit this weekend.  Perhaps I can introduce you all then.  Is your son here now?  I’d love to meet him.”
“He’s right over there.” Turning to the young dwarf playing at the game table, Cynthia called, “Dylan!  Come here.  There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”




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Andrea Buginsky is a freelance writer with a BA in Mass Communication-Journalism from the University of South Florida. She has always wanted to be a published writer, and decided to try to write fantasy books for teens. The Chosen is her first book, and was released on December 14, 2010, to her delight.Andrea has written five more books since:                 

My Open Heart, an autobiography of growing up with heart disease.                 

Nature's Unbalance: The Chosen, Book 2                 

Striker's Apprentice: The Chosen, Book 3                 

Destiny: New Avalon, book 1, a YA fantasy                 

Fate: New Avalon, book 2, a YA fantasyShe is currently writing the fourth book in The Chosen series.Andrea lives in Kansas with her family, which includes her two precious puppies.
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CHECK IT OUT: Character Interview from New Mystery, Author Joyce T. Strand

Joyce T. Strand, Author
THE JUDGE'S STORYI am so excited to introduce you to my first historical mystery, THE JUDGE’S STORY. I enjoyed creating my judge based on a real California Superior Court Judge who was the grandfather of a friend—and a law partner of the creator of Perry Mason, Erle Stanley Gardner. My friend introduced me to his grandfather’s memoir. When I read it, I immediately knew I had to create a mystery around him and developed my fictional Judge from the ethics, mores, and beliefs of Judge Louis Drapeau Sr., the grandfather of my friend, Lou Drapeau. 
I set the book in 1939, intending to write an entertaining mystery, drawing on events caused by the Great Depression, the looming WWII, and the social issues of a small California town. The case on which I built the mystery is entirely fictional, although I assured it was consistent with similar crimes of the era.  But, perhaps you can get a better idea of the story from the following interview by one of the supporting characters, Clara Bow Wilson, of the protagonist of THE JUDGE’S STORY, Judge Grover Roswell Akers.
Don't miss the short excerpt and the opportunity to enter a giveaway at the end of the interview.
Clara Bow Wilson:Hello, Judge. I’m so pleased that I’ve been asked to interview you. You are one of my most favorite people. I’m so excited to be part of this mystery. Tell us about it right away.
The Judge: Thank you, Clara, I’m pleased to be here to answer your questions. And you’re one of my favorite people, also. And I’m so glad you joined us to help solve the mystery. We couldn’t have done it without you.
This mystery starts in my courtroom in 1939 when you, a 16-year-old, testify against a young 14-year-old about his participation in a robbery-murder. He does not deny being part of the crime, but I know he didn’t actually pull the trigger that killed the store-owner and am concerned that the juvenile shows signs of being a decent young boy who's never had a chance.
Clara Bow Wilson: But that doesn’t matter, does it? I mean, he’s guilty of the crime based on what the prosecutor says is the California felony-murder law, right? 
The Judge: True, but as a judge I have some discretion as to his sentence based on his age and his co-operation to identify the real killer. The full punishment for murder could be 25 years or more in a prison. However, I could take into account his co-operation coupled to his young age, which would result in a much lesser sentence—closer to ten years or even less.
However, when he refuses to tell us who the murderer is, I stall for time by postponing my verdict until we can convince him to help. Then you join us to try to get him to talk and my investigator interviews the boy’s acquaintances to see if he can figure it out. But we only have a month to uncover the culprit before I have to sentence him.
Clara Bow Wilson:So that makes me really curious, what do you actually do as a judge?
The Judge: It’s my job to assure a fair trial and in the absence of a jury, I determine the verdict and then the sentence. In our case, there was no jury, and verdict and sentencing were all up to me.
Today, Ventura City Hall, in 1939 this building was the
Ventura County Courthouse, where the Judge heard his cases.Some of the cases I hear are more demanding than others. They range from murder to reckless driving. I’m particularly interested in juvenile crime. I believe boys who come from a broken home are more likely to turn to crime than those who live with both their parents. I also believe that a boy’s upbringing influences his actions. And certainly the extreme poverty caused by the Great Depression has led to much crime. That’s why I help our Chief of Police with his Boys Club. We work to reinforce what’s right.
The pier in Ventura, California where the Judge likes to walk.Clara Bow Wilson: I think I've always seen you around town, walking everywhere. How did you become a Superior Court Judge in Ventura, California?
The Judge: Well, that’s easy. I was appointed. I lived here in Ventura most of my life, and I was a lawyer. I practiced law for many years. I met lots of people, and I like living in a small town and getting to know everyone. Walking around town is one way to meet people and find out what they're up to.
Clara Bow Wilson:Really? I like cities, myself. There’s lots more happening there, I think. But let’s get back to the mystery. It seems like all we have to do is get our defendant to talk. That should be easy.
The Judge: It should be. But unfortunately the more we try to convince him and the more we investigate, well, we certainly uncover more than I ever anticipated.
Clara Bow Wilson:You bet. Me, too.

About THE JUDGE’S STORY
A Superior Court Judge with a passion for social justice as well as the law strives to discover the truth behind the mystery of a robbery-murder in a small California town in 1939.
When the Judge hears testimony against a 14-year-old teenager, he realizes that the boy participated in a robbery-murder. However, the accused did not actually pull the trigger. But unless the boy identifies his partner, the Judge must sentence him as a murderer, which would result in prolonged jail time. The Judge’s investigator, along with the precocious 16-year-old girl who identified the boy as one of the thieves, explore different approaches to uncover the murderer. In the backdrop of escalating war in Europe, the financial scarcities of the Great Depression, and the Judge’s caseload, their attempts to find justice for the accused boy and unmask the killer lure the Judge and his friends into sordid criminal activities.
Excerpt
Chapter 01

Judge Akers watched the teenage girl enter his courtroom. She had agreed to testify against a fourteen-year-old schoolmate for theft and murder.

He suspected she was nervous. The room loomed in front of her, with high ceilings, chandelier lights, and seats for at least one hundred people, that day less than one-third occupied.


Skylight at Ventura County Courthouse
viewed by Clara on her walk down the
aisle to testifyThe Judge sat elevated at the end of her walk. He noticed that she stared at the portrait to his left, perhaps to avoid meeting the eyes of the defendant, a typical ploy of witnesses. She walked slowly, almost as if her legs were too heavy to lift. He saw her look up at the skylight in the ceiling.

The Judge was disappointed that the District Attorney required a sixteen-year-old to convict the defendant. He believed that in the modern California justice system of 1939, children should not have to deliver such testimony. Of course, the defendant himself was just a boy, so perhaps that justified a teenager testifying against a teenager. 
About Joyce T. Strand
Mystery author Joyce T. Strand, much like her fictional character, Jillian Hillcrest, served as head of corporate communications at several biotech and high-tech companies in Silicon Valley for more than 25 years. She is the author of the Jillian Hillcrest mysteries ON MESSAGE, OPEN MEETINGS, and FAIR DISCLOSURE and the Brynn Bancroft mystery HILLTOP SUNSET, and her new historical mystery, THE JUDGE’S STORY. Strand received her Ph.D. from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. and her B.A. from Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA. She currently lives in Southern California with her two cats, a collection of cow statuary and art, and her muse, the roadrunner. She loves attending Broadway musicals, eating at gourmet restaurants, and drinking red wine!
Links
Purchase Links
THE JUDGE’S STORYPaperbackAmazon Unicorn Books and Gifts (autographed); 738 Main St.; Ramona, CA 92065 (760) 788-3700 EbookAmazon Kindle Barnes and Noble for Nook
HILLTOP SUNSET: A Brynn Bancroft Mystery -1PaperbackAmazon Unicorn Books and Gifts (autographed); 738 Main St.; Ramona, CA 92065 (760) 788-3700  EbookAmazon Kindle Barnes and Noble Nook
The Jillian Hillcrest Mysteries 3-book-bundle (ON MESSAGE, OPEN MEETINGS, FAIR DISCLOSURE)Amazon Kindle Barnes and Noble Nook
FAIR DISCLOSURE: A Jillian Hillcrest Mystery -3 Paperback Amazon  Unicorn Books and Gifts (autographed); 738 Main St.; Ramona, CA 92065 (760) 788-3700 Ebook Amazon Kindle Barnes and Noble Nook
OPEN MEETINGS: A Jillian Hillcrest Mystery -2 Paperback Amazon   Unicorn Books and Gifts ; 738 Main St.; Ramona, CA 92065 (760) 788-3700 Ebook Amazon Kindle Barnes and Noble Nook  
ON MESSAGE: A Jillian Hillcrest Mystery -1 Paperback Amazon  Unicorn Books and Gifts (autographed); 738 Main St.; Ramona, CA 92065 (760) 788-3700 EbookAmazon Kindle   Barnes and Noble Nook
Author Links
Amazon Website Blog  Facebook  Goodreads 
Book trailers: ON MESSAGE OPEN MEETINGS 
Twitter: @JoyceTStrand


TO ENTER GIVEAWAY, CLICK HERE.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Cate Beauman, Romance-Suspense Author

Cate Beauman, Author
ANSWERS FOR JULIE, Book Nine
Bodyguards of L.A. County SeriesCate Beauman returns to feature her latest romantic suspense novel, ANSWERS FOR JULIE, Book Nine in the Bodyguards of L.A. County Series. Inspired by FBI statistics on the likelihood of the return of an abducted child, this just-released novel features a massage therapist/yoga instructor as a heroine and a bodyguard returning to a small town where his grandmother just died.  
Although romance and suspense are key attributes of her books, Beauman also likes to create characters with flaws because “readers can relate to flaws.” She develops romantic relationships and elements of the story specific to each mystery and character.
Beauman is now working on the tenth Bodyguard book, and lives inNorth Carolina with her husband, their two boys, and St. Bernards, Bear and Jack.
Don't miss the excerpt from ANSWERS FOR JULIE following the interview.
Q: I know you like your heroines to have interesting careers. For ANSWERS FOR JULIE, Book Nine in the Bodyguards of L.A. County Series, what inspired Julie’s career of massage therapist/yoga instructor? They seem fairly benign careers and do not necessarily suggest romantic suspense.
Cate Beauman: I love for my heroines to have interesting careers. There are so many options to choose from. Luckily, women can be whatever they want to be. When I think up careers for my characters, the goal isn’t to have their professions fit the romantic suspense genre; they have to fit the person I’m creating. Julie’s very sweet, funny, and pretty laid back. Being a massage therapist and yoga instructor meld well with who she is as a person. The dangerous circumstances she finds herself in as the story unfolds won’t have much to do with how she makes her living.
Q:  Tell me about Bakersfield, Washington. Does the setting help to tell your story?
Cate Beauman: Honestly, in this instance, Bakersfield, Washington is a figment of my imagination. It’s rare that I get to create my own settings. Many of the bodyguard stories take place in cities that actually exist. When I have the opportunity to make up my own place it’s so much fun. The town gets to be what I need it to be to help tell my story instead of me having to make my story work around an area that truly exists.
Q: In past interviews, you’ve talked about mixing romance and suspense—which is paramount in your books—in addition to the need to assure authenticity, use humor to create characters, and make characters as “human” as possible. What else do you use to help readers embrace your characters so that we want them to succeed?
Cate Beauman: I think what makes my readers embrace my characters is the fact that they’re flawed. Everyone can relate to flaws and imperfections because there is no such thing as perfection. Julie and Chase have made mistakes in their pasts. They continue to make mistakes throughout the novel. That’s real. Struggling and growing through tough situations is part of the human condition. Conflict is key in every story. I like each work of fiction to mirror reality as closely as possible.
Q: How do you build the romantic relationships? Do your characters love each other at first sight? Do opposites attract? Does the suspense increase the romantic interest?
Cate Beauman: It really depends on each story. Every couple is different—much like they are in real life. Sometimes people see each other and know they’ve found “the one.” Other times friendships build into something more. On occasion, some people think they loathe each other only to realize there was an attraction there all along. I think suspense has the opportunity to bring a couple closer together. But the stress can also strain a relationship and pull people apart. I like to use the circumstances in the story to help me decide which way things will go for the current couple I’m writing.
Q: What do you believe are key elements of an alluring mystery—in addition to suspense and romance? Do you like to include villains? Red herrings?
Cate Beauman: I try really hard to make each of the stories in the Bodyguards of L.A. County series different. I’m a big fan of villains, and a red herring certainly can add a lovely twist in any plot. The couple and the circumstances really help me decide what elements will add to the mystery in their adventure.
Q: What inspired ANSWERS FOR JULIE?
Cate Beauman: I often get my story ideas from watching crime documentaries, but the plot for ANSWERS FOR JULIE came together after I read some sobering FBI statistics in a magazine about the odds of a missing child coming home. Unfortunately, many children are lost forever. The wheels began spinning quickly after that, and a few weeks later, the story was well on its way.
About Cate Beauman
Cate currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, their two boys, and St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. She is the author of the international bestselling and award winning romantic suspense series, Bodyguards of L.A. County.  Before her career as an author, Cate worked in special education for 12 years.
“I’m a pretty lucky girl; one day I woke up and my entire life changed. I saw the light, so to speak, and decided I was going to be a writer. Now, five years later, I’m working on my tenth novel! I remain so very grateful for the support and success that I have had.”
About ANSWERS FOR JULIE
Julie Keller relishes the simple things: hot chocolate on winter nights, good friends she calls her family, and her laid-back career as a massage therapist and yoga instructor. Julie is content with her life until Chase Rider returns to Bakersfield.
Bodyguard Chase Rider isn’t thrilled to be back in the town where he spent his childhood summers. His beloved grandmother passed away, leaving him a house in need of major repairs. With a three-week timetable and a lot to do, he doesn’t have time for distractions. Then he bumps into Julie, the one woman he hoped never to see again. Chase tries to pretend Julie doesn’t exist, but ten years hasn’t diminished his attraction to the hazel-eyed stunner.
When a stranger grabs Julie’s arm at the grocery store—a woman who insists Julie’s life isn’t what it seems, Chase can’t help but get involved. Julie and Chase dig into a twenty-five-year-old mystery, unearthing more questions than answers. But the past is closer than they realize, and the consequences of the truth have the potential to be deadly.
Excerpt
“Good night.” She turned on her side as Becky left and snuggled into her covers, listening to the music from downstairs while she stared at the white lights twinkling on the baby Christmas tree she and mommy had decorated for her room. Noah’s excited voice carried from his room, and her eyes drooped in the warmth and comfort of her bed. Her mind drifted to the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who, and her eyes flew open when her bedroom door creaked shut. She didn’t like her door closed.
Sitting up, Alyson relaxed when she realized she wasn’t alone and looked at the woman dressed in a black coat and hat, Becky’s friend who liked to come and play with her and push her on the swings at the park.
“Hi, Ally,” she whispered, stepping farther in the room, looking over her shoulder.
“Hi.” She yawned. “Did you come to play with me?”
“Whisper,” the woman said, glancing over her shoulder again.
She smiled. “Okay.”
“Do you want to come with me? We could go to the park.”
Alyson glanced out the window at fat snowflakes falling in the dark, pushed off her covers, and stood. “I have to ask my mommy.”
“She said it’s okay, but we have to hurry and be very, very quiet.” The woman moved to the bed, grabbed two teddy bears and laid them down, pulling the blankets up and over the stuffed animals. “It’s a secret game.”
Becky and Noah’s voices were muffled through the wall, and Alyson pressed her hand to her mouth, suppressing a giggle. “I like secret games.”
“Me too. Come on.” The woman took something from her pocket with gloved hands and unfolded it, laying a piece of paper flat at the foot of the bed.
“What’s that?”
“A note so your mommy will remember I took you to the park.”
“I only want to play for a little while. I’m going to see Santa with mommy and Noah.”
“Just for a little bit,” the woman assured with a smile. “Let’s hurry.” She lifted Alyson and bundled her under the pink and purple blanket Grandma Porter made for her when she had been a teeny, tiny baby.
“I need my boots and coat.”
“I have some for you at my house.”
“Okay.”
The woman walked to the bedroom door and stopped, holding a finger to her lips. “Shh.”
Alyson grinned and said “Shh” back.
The woman stepped into the hallway and out the French doors that opened to the large balcony Alyson and Noah weren’t allowed to play on and hurried down the long sweep of stairs.
Alyson clung tight to the woman taking her to the park. She stared back at her huge brick and pillar house lit with hundreds of Christmas lights as Becky’s friend ran with her into the shadows of the street.
Links

ANSWERS FOR JULIE
Amazon
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iBooks
Amazon Author Pagehttp://www.amazon.com/Cate-Beauman/e/B00A05KHVM/
Social links:Twitter: @CateBeaumanwww.catebeauman.comwww.facebook.com/CateBeaumanwww.goodreads.com/catebeauman

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Tom Reitze, Author - 2

Tom Reitze continues his interview with the release of his second story, BERNICE’S BONES, in his “Stories of a Different Nature.” In a previous interview, he told us that he didn't write his first story, DATE WITH A CHAIR, "to produce joy and happiness.” BERNICE’S BONES, on the other hand, he says is “light and humorous,” and if it doesn’t make us laugh “that’ll make me cry.”
Reitze is releasing his short stories one at a time to tantalize us, and he’s stingy with his clues about what’s coming next. For more on his first story and his comments on genre, paranormal fiction, and themes of his stories, check out his first interview on this blog at http://bit.ly/1RGM8Fy

Q: What can you tell us about your second story, BERNICE’S BONES? In what genre would you place it? How does it differ from your first one, DATE WITH A CHAIR? Will it make us laugh, cry, or be terrified?
Tom Reitze: This story is part of my Waldorf salad genre. I think this one is the walnuts. Here I go off in an entirely new direction. Many writers keep to a theme. I don’t. If all the stories under the umbrella ‘Stories of a Different Nature’ were collected as a book, it might appear to be a short story collection of many different writers. I enjoy the challenge of writing in different styles.
This piece takes place in the early forties in the Dakota farmlands. Jasper, of some indeterminate but surely prehistoric age, killed his wife some time ago, but got away with it. He buried her then, but now faces an unusual dilemma: Once wasn’t enough.
This story is light, humorous, and as such is in complete contrast with DATE WITH A CHAIR. It has a supernatural element in it, but it’s presented in a totally different manner than my first story.  I hope it makes you laugh. If it doesn’t, that’ll make me cry. I had a lot of fun writing it, and I really enjoy the ‘country bumpkin’ type of characters in it. They make great implements for delivering a story. I use them quite often.
Q: How helpful is the concept of heroes vs villains to telling your stories? Do you need to have villains to tell a good story? Do your characters fall into the category of hero or villain?
Tom Reitze: I had to stop and take a second to think about that one. In some of my stories there are definitely strong and despicable villains contrasted to heroes of various heroity. (I declare heroity to be a word.) Sometimes the heroes are reluctant ones, just people trying to survive and get through some tribulation, or through life itself. They make the best heroes I think, rather than a superhero with a cape that can do anything. You know he or she will always be the victor. I like the sympathetic heroes the best; they are more substantive characters. Those kinds of people walk amongst us every day, and we don’t even know who they are. They are the survivors, and in a way, they are us.
Not all stories need heroes and villains, though. In BERNICE’S BONES I can’t say there are any individuals that fall into those categories. The characters in ‘Bones’ are sort of a general ‘out of touch with reality’ type. None of them are threatening, but you wouldn’t want to rely on any of them saving the day, either. The nature of the story determines the requirement of how solid the personality of the characters needs to be. Sometimes I believe a story can be very effective with everyday people as the cast. Those are the individuals we can relate to most of all. But I also understand people read to come in contact with special people and places they would likely never come across in real life.
I don’t think you will come across Jasper and his friends too often. But I have on occasion and usually walk away scratching my head.
Q: How important is believability or credibility to telling your stories? Do your readers need to believe in your setting, characters, and backstory to become engaged? If not, how do you pull them into the story?
Tom Reitze: In terms of the setting, it is important for what I do for my work to be reasonably believable.  In a science fiction story, I haven’t dealt with the extremes of that style yet, maybe it’s not so important. If you have your characters living on the planet Kronkgorb II in the year 2500, I don’t think there is any form of realism you can come up with. Who has any idea of what that would be like?
I don’t go to extremes to research the details of my settings. After all, it’s just a story, not a geography or history book. And lord knows I can’t afford a research staff. So I use reasonable, believable descriptions for most of the settings of the stories. I may use actual places, or if needed they are made up but kept realistic enough to feel like places you might be able to go to. Then I bend the surroundings as needed by adding the required ingredients to make the whole thing work. You know, you add more sugar to the pie if the cherries you picked are too sour. With enough imagination you can usually make it tasty.
In some of my writings, many of the stories do take place in real places, and I do some research getting those right. But still I add nonexistent features to them so the story will work out the way I need it to. If you need a lake and the location doesn’t have one, that’s no problem. Poof! There’s a lake! The realists will tell me, “That place doesn’t have a lake!” My reply is, when I was there in my mind, it did.
I think most of the time, if the setting feels real to the reader, that’s the most important factor.
The characters are all made up, I can’t think of an actual person I’ve used as an active member of the cast in anything I’ve done so far. They range from being very realistic, to exaggerations of real people. You’ll see what I mean in ‘Bernice.’ Think along the lines of Festus in the old Gunsmoke TV show. A real enough individual, but not someone you would see walking around too often. You might find numerous Festuses in the next story.
I think for what I do, since every story is different, is not rely on characters or settings to hold people’s attention.  Those things change story to story. As in any story of the supernatural some of the ‘characters’ are not even real, such as the Devil in ‘Chair’ and unknown spirits in future stories.
The catch therefore has to be some string that runs through the narrative that drags a reader with it. It could be mystery, humor, suspense, or a need to understand the plight of some character the reader connects with. Maybe it’s simply the structure of the thing more than anything else. If it’s fun or interesting, they will follow. I hope.
Q: What’s next? Aw, c’mon, just a little hint!
Tom Reitze: The genre salad delivers a spicy pepperoncini this time. It’s back to the supernatural and an evil, mean, malevolent, and powerful persona. You can’t escape from him, nor can you kill him. What to do if it inhabits your home? This thing is a killer and perpetual menace.  Find out more by reading ‘Pejito.’
(The sad thing is that Pejito actually lives with me. So far he’s been benign. But he’s looking down at me as I type and I’m not sure I like it.)
About Tom Reitze by Tom Reitze
“I am a very opinionated individual and was sure I knew what was wrong with society and how to fix it. I planned to write a series of editorials and bind them into a book. Before I started, I realized no one in the world would give a damn about what this unknown writer had to say. I decided to expose my feelings in the form of fictional stories, something people would be more likely to read.
"My 22 lb. cat, Horus agrees. He is very opinionated as well. 
"I am contradictory. I will present one idea at one time, and then write another story that presents the opposite concepts. I like to believe I am a person willing to listen to and consider both sides of an issue. Some of my writing is serious, some of it is supernatural in nature, and some of it is humorous (I hope).”
About STORIES OF A DIFFERENT NATURE by Tom Reitze
“STORIES OF A DIFFERENT NATURE is my first foray into eBooks. One at a time they will sneak out and onto Amazon over the next several months. There is a novella ready to make a surprise appearance “between the stories” as well. Watch for them. Give them a try. Let me know what you think at dragonflybooksandart.com and review them on Amazon.
"Horus and I are ready for you to read the stories. I hope you like them.”
Links
Purchase linksBERNICE’S BONES DATE WITH A CHAIR 
Author linksWeb page 
Twitter - https://twitter.com/tomwritez

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Deborah Garner, Mystery Author

Deborah Garner, Author
THREE SILVER DOVES
THE MOONGLOW CAFE
ABOVE THE BRIDGE
Paige MacKenzie MysteriesI am excited to welcome back a favorite mystery author, Deborah Garner, who has just released her third Paige MacKenzie mystery, THREE SILVER DOVES. For this story, she takes us to New Mexico, where the New York reporter is visiting in order to produce an article on the healing springs, but becomes involved in a local jewelry artist’s one-of-a-kind designs.
Setting is particularly important in Garner’s books, possibly because she was a travel-writer by vocation and enjoys visiting and learning about out-of-the-way interesting places throughout the U.S. In addition to featuring Paige in three books, Garner has also written CRANBERRY BLUFF, a mystery about a bed and breakfast in a small town in California, which she discussed in an interview on this blog in November 2014. She claims her protagonists, especially Paige, “make her write it,” and she is busy with additional Paige MacKenzie books.  When she’s not writing, she commutes between Wyoming and California with her two dogs.
Q: Welcome back. And congratulations on your newest Paige MacKenzie mystery. I know setting plays an important role in your books. Where do you take us in THREE SILVER DOVES?
Deborah Garner: Thank you, Joyce. It’s always a pleasure to be on your wonderful blog! Yes, setting is very important to me. I always know the settings for my books long before knowing the story or characters. In THREE SILVER DOVES, we head to New Mexico. Though the town in the book, Tres Palomas, is fictional, it’s set in the spectacular area surrounding Taos and Santa Fe. Between history, legends, art and mouth-watering, southwestern cuisine, Paige has a whole new world to discover this time.
Q: How did you select the locations for THREE SILVER DOVES and for your other mysteries? Do you have a favorite setting? Do you travel to the locations that you write about?
Deborah Garner: I always choose locations for stories based upon areas I’ve visited. Many years of full-time travel writing – all domestic U.S. – allowed me to discover small towns and back roads. I always tried to linger a few days in each area – to talk to locals, listen to legends and enjoy regional cuisine. The United States is so vast and diverse that traveling within it is much like visiting different countries.  Though my schedule doesn’t allow me to return to each area when I write each of Paige’s books, I get to revisit these places through her adventures.
Q: Can you tell us the significance of the title THREE SILVER DOVES without spoiling the story? We mystery readers do not like the mystery spoiled, so don’t tell us the significance if it would do so.
Deborah Garner: The title can definitely be explained without giving away the mystery. Like many towns in the American Southwest, the name of the town Paige visits is in Spanish. “Tres Palomas” translates as “Three Doves” in English. Exquisite Native American art is one of the outstanding features of New Mexico. In THREE SILVER DOVES, one of the characters Paige meets is an artist who specializes in silver jewelry, including a signature design that represents the town. That’s where we have to stop to avoid spoilers, though. All I can say is that Paige senses something’s not right with a particular piece of jewelry she sees during her visit.  And we know Paige can’t resist following her nose when something seems amiss.
Q: A reviewer of THE MOONGLOW CAFÉ, the second Paige MacKenzie novel, appreciates the uniqueness of your plot and states it’s “not the same old formula mystery.” How do you keep the series “original and clever” in THREE SILVER DOVES? How helpful is humor?
Deborah Garner: I remember that reviewer’s comment and it’s one that made me smile. I know there are recommended formulas and plot arcs for most genres, but I can’t bring myself to follow them.  I tried – with this book, in fact – to make myself follow an outline. But that approach simply doesn’t work for me. I rarely know the full story before I start writing. And when I try to follow what I think will be an outline, it’s almost as if the characters jump off the pages and laugh at me. They then take the story any old direction they so choose. They’re stubborn that way. Paige, of course, is the most stubborn of all. I never know what she’s going to get herself into - or how she’ll get herself out, for that matter!
As for humor, I think it’s crucial. Not only is it a great way to lighten or balance tension in a story, it also allows for an enjoyable escape, which is why we read genre fiction. This is especially important in cozy mysteries, which are light reads, by nature.
Q: What makes Paige and Jake’s relationship unique? What makes us care about these two?
Deborah Garner: These are excellent questions and I’m not positive I have complete answers. Paige and Jake are both down-to-earth people. They’re independent, intelligent. They know “who they are.” They don’t play games or have heavy baggage from the past. I think it’s normal for us, as human beings, to want good people to find each other. That’s the ideal, romantic fairy tale. However, Paige and Jake come from different backgrounds and live in very different areas, so they have some logistics and lifestyle issues to face. Can they make this work as a relationship, given those challenges? Without giving too much away, it’s about time they took a look at all this.
Q: How do you create “credibility” for your readers to engage in your characters and their actions?
Deborah Garner: And here I thought those last questions were tricky! I really love my characters and even mourn them when I finish a book. They feel very real to me and perhaps that makes them, and their actions, credible to readers. I do tend to “see” them in my head while writing. Not their faces, but body movements, hand expressions, speech patterns, that sort of thing. I almost feel like I can step inside them and feel how they would be reacting to something.  Which makes me sound a little wacko, I’m sure, but that’s not a news flash to anyone who knows me.
Q: What inspires the mysteries in your books? Are they based on “true” stories? Or do you pull them from legends or do you imagine them?
Deborah Garner: Everything comes out of my imagination and I have no idea how it gets there. I rarely pull anything from true stories, at least not on purpose. There are a couple tales told within Paige’s new book that come from Native American legends, but they’re simply part of a scene involving the town storyteller. The mysteries in the books just evolve on their own from unanswered questions or inconsistencies that Paige sees while on her assignments.
Q: Your book-covers and posts on social media feature distinct and unique art. What can you tell us about the artist(s)? How do you select your cover art so that it supports your books? What do you intend for them to say about the genre, that is, cozy vs thriller?
Deborah Garner: In anticipation of this particular book release, I chose to post quite a few examples of New Mexico art on social media in order to give readers a feeling for the area.  As it happens, I came across some amazing pieces and made sure to credit the artist on each post. An online search of any of those names will bring up links with more information.
As for my cover art, I always have an idea about what I want on the cover. I often (though not always) use a photo that I’ve taken myself while traveling. But the true credit goes entirely to my cover artist, Keri Knutson of Alchemy Book Covers.  She does the real magic by taking the photo and turning it into the final product, which is a type of sketch effect within a branded look for the series.
Q: What’s next? Will we be reading about Paige and Jake again? Will there be another Molly Elliott book?
Deborah Garner: Ah, yes.  There’s definitely more in the works. Paige’s next book is moving along fairly quickly, as the events in THREE SILVER DOVES spurred the next Paige MacKenzie book (actually, the next two!) onward. I’m not giving anything away, other than to say she’ll be going to a state she hasn’t visited before and dealing with a different set of plot factors.
As for Molly Elliott, the protagonist from the one non-Paige book, CRANBERRY BLUFF, that is a “yes and no” answer. Though Molly was indeed the main character in CRANBERRY BLUFF, she was upstaged by a much stronger character, Sadie Kramer. (As I’ve said, these characters develop themselves and do whatever they want!) Sadie is very strong-willed and is insisting on having her own series.  Provided I can keep Paige and Sadie from fighting to steal each other’s time, there will be a new series starting up for Sadie late this year.
Q: Tell us something about Deborah Garner. Have you recently traveled or will you be traveling to any place new and interesting?
Deborah Garner: I wish I could say yes to traveling somewhere new and interesting, but I really can’t. I commute twice yearly between California and Wyoming and fit a few book festivals in when possible.  But I miss the travel writing days, when I could jump in the car and meander across the country. I hope to have that opportunity again sometime in the future.  For now, I’m at the mercy of Paige and Sadie. They have stories to tell!
About Deborah Garner
Deborah Garner is an accomplished travel writer with a passion for back roads and secret hideaways. Born and raised in California, she studied in France before returning to the U.S. to attend UCLA. After stints in graduate school and teaching, she attempted to clone herself for decades by founding and running a dance and performing arts center, designing and manufacturing clothing and accessories, and tackling both spreadsheets and display racks for corporate retail management. Her passions include photography, hiking and animal rescue. She speaks five languages, some substantially better than others. She now divides her time between California and Wyoming, dragging one human and two canines along whenever possible.
About THREE SILVER DOVES
When New York reporter Paige MacKenzie heads to Tres Palomas, New Mexico, the resort of Agua Encantada seems a perfect destination to combine work with pleasure. A quick article on the healing mineral springs and a few leisurely soaking sessions in the resort's soothing waters promise well-deserved rest and relaxation. 

Paige is immediately intrigued with a local artist's one-of-a-kind jewelry designs, as well as weekly gatherings to hear legends from an elderly storyteller. But when identical jewelry shows up on another guest and the storyteller goes missing, Paige's R&R is soon redefined as restlessness and risk. Curious and persistent by nature, Paige is convinced there's a connection. Enlisting the help of a flirtatious resort worker seems like a good idea until it begins to test her loyalty to her favorite cowboy, Jake Norris. Will an unexpected overnight trip to Tierra Roja Casino lead her to the answers she seeks, or are darker secrets lurking along the way?
Excerpt
The sound of the window slamming again made Paige refocus. When she was a teen, chain-link fences were easy to scale. She grasped a section with both hands and inserted her foot into an opening, pulling herself up higher. A couple more upward grasps and toe insertions, and she was over the fence and on the other side, the howling wind drowning out the sound of her landing. Only a slight shortness of breath told her climbing fences had been easier fifteen years earlier.Again she heard the slamming. Inside the fenced area now, Paige quickly found the window in question and reached up to press it closed, hoping a latch would catch. But, as she grasped the edge of the window, she suddenly heard rough, scraping sounds. A chair being moved? Drawers opening and closing? Though almost impossible to identify with the rush of wind around her ears, she was certain of one thing: someone was inside.Instead of closing the window, Paige held it open and attempted to look inside, but even standing on tiptoe, she was not eye-level with the windowsill. She tried a quiet jump, light enough for the wind to cover the sound of her landing. It was no use, even when she repeated the process. She paused, hearing the same noises from within, then gave it one more try, pushing higher off the ground. Clumsily, she touched down on a rock just uneven enough to cause her to lose her balance. As she fell, her head tapped a vertical rain gutter with a dull, metal thud. She held her breath as the sounds inside ceased.Frozen, Paige listened as footsteps filled the silence followed by the sound of a door opening and closing. She drew herself up off the ground and moved along the wall, crouching behind shrubbery as the footsteps resumed, this time outdoors, coming closer. They stopped near the fence she had scaled. A flashlight switched on and roamed the grounds, passing dangerously close to her hiding spot. A security guard? A burglar? She remained still, her heart pounding. You haven’t even been here twenty-four hours and you’re already in trouble.Several minutes passed before the flashlight turned off and the steps faded, long enough for Paige to wrack her brain for excuses, should she be discovered. I was just trying to close the window. I didn’t want to disturb the office. Any way she looked at it, she was still guilty of entering a fenced-off area.She waited long enough to be certain she was alone again and then quickly scaled the fence and returned to her casita. Once inside, she fell back against the door and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. In spite of feeling relieved, she couldn’t fend off a nagging thought, even as she finally undressed and slipped into bed. Who had been inside the spa building? And why?
About THE MOONGLOW CAFÉ
New York reporter Paige MacKenzie has a hidden motive when she heads to the small town of Timberton, Montana. Assigned to research the area's unique Yogo sapphires for the Manhattan Post, she hopes to reconnect romantically with handsome cowboy Jake Norris. The local gem gallery offers the material needed for the article, but the discovery of an old diary, hidden inside the wall of a historic hotel, soon sends her on a detour into the underworld of art and deception. 
Each of the town's residents holds a key to untangling more than one long-buried secret, from the hippie chick owner of a new age café to the mute homeless man in the town park. As the worlds of western art and sapphire mining collide, Paige finds herself juggling research, romance and danger. With stolen sapphires and shady characters thrown into the mix, will Paige escape the consequences of her own curiosity?
About ABOVE THE BRIDGE
When Paige MacKenzie arrives in Jackson Hole, her only goal is to complete a simple newspaper assignment about the Old West. However, it's not long before her instincts tell her there's more than a basic story to be found in the popular, northwestern Wyoming mountain area. A chance encounter with attractive cowboy Jake Norris soon has Paige chasing a legend of buried treasure, passed down through generations. 
From the torn edge of a water-damaged map to the mysterious glow of an antler arch, Paige will follow clues high into the mountainous terrain and deep into Jackson's history. Side-stepping a few shady characters who are also searching for the same hidden reward, she will have to decide who is trustworthy and who is not.
About CRANBERRY BLUFF
Molly Elliott's quiet life in Tallahassee, Florida, is disrupted when routine errands land her in the wrong place at the wrong time: the middle of a bank robbery. Accused and cleared of the crime, she flees both media attention and mysterious, threatening notes, to move across the country to Cranberry Cove, where she has inherited her Aunt Maggie's bed and breakfast on the Northern California coast. Her new beginning is peaceful - that is, until five guests show up at the inn for a weekend, each with a hidden agenda.
Mix together one blushing honeymoon couple, one flamboyant boutique owner, a deadpan traveling salesman, and a charmingly handsome novelist, and there’s more than scones cooking at Cranberry Cottage Bed and Breakfast. As true motives become apparent, will Molly's past come back to haunt her or will she finally be able to leave it behind?
Purchase Links
THREE SILVER DOVESAmazonLink for Kindle Edition  
CRANBERRY BLUFFAmazonLink for Kindle Edition
THE MOONGLOW CAFÉAmazonLink for Kindle Edition
ABOVE THE BRIDGEAmazonLink for Kindle Edition
Author Links
Facebook Website Amazon Goodreads  Twitter: @paigeandjake

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Francis H. Powell, Author, Artist, Musician

Francis H. Powell, Musician, Artist,
Author, FLIGHT OF DESTINYFrancis H. Powell offers us 22 short stories in FLIGHT OF DESTINY about “misfortune” with “unexpected final twists.” He does not supply heroes –rather “particularly odious characters or the downtrodden, the freaks, outsiders of this world” –but with a sense of humor. He likes to “poke fun at the establishment.”
Originally from the U.K., Powell attended Art Schools and received a degree in painting and MA in printmaking. A published author, he currently lives in Paris – having spent time also working and living in Austria. He teaches a variety of topics, and is also a composer of music. He is looking forward to publishing a second book of short stories.  





Q: FLIGHT OF DESTINY includes 22 short stories that you describe as stories about misfortune with “unexpected final twists.” What drove you to write what appears to be dark fiction? And what genre would you place them in?
Francis H. Powell: I became a dedicated “short story writer”, after I saw an advertisement in a magazine, which was looking for short stories.  It took a while but I finally connected with the originator of this magazine, Alan Clark, who like me is from the UK.  The name of the magazine was “Rat Mort” (dead rat).  I was encouraged to write more stories similar to the one I submitted and over the passing of time I began to develop a style.  The fact that I aimed to produce “stories with an unexpected twist” is a result of reading a book of short stories by Roald Dahl” called “Kiss Kiss” which I read as a child, but obviously a book that resonated long after in my mind.
Q: Is it difficult when writing short stories to develop characters? How do you entice readers to engage with your characters?
Francis H. Powell: I write about particularly odious characters or the downtrodden, the freaks, outsiders of this world.  I establish what a character is about very early in the story.  Sometimes the names of the characters say a lot about them, for example “Bugeyes” is a character cruelly mocked, rejected at birth, denied his inheritance, due to large eyes, a genetic disorder passed on by his inbred aristocratic family.
Q: What roles, if any, do villains and heroes play in your stories?
Francis H. Powell: I am not sure that I could say there is a hero in any of my stories…most of my characters are flawed in some way or other.  There are certainly a number of villainous characters, for example a character called “Maggot” who tries to sell his daughter, because he needs money for his ailing circus.  I like to turn things on their head, so characters normally deemed virtuous, such as preachers and religious types, come across  in a bad light, inhumane, and a Gangster, (who features in my story “Opium”) comes across as being wise and more humane.
Q: How helpful is humor to telling your stories in FLIGHT OF DESTINY?
Francis H. Powell: It is vital. Hopefully this comes across. I am mocking the establishment. Humor adds another tone to my work. I like my characters to say witty and wise remarks.  There is quite a lot of verbal jousting.  My favorite line comes from the gangster called “Gecko” who says to his adversary Preacher Moon, “ belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man”.
Q: Do you intend to deliver any messages in your stories? Or are you writing to entertain your readers?
Francis H. Powell: I suppose a bit of both.  I guess one of my messages is, we live in such a cruel and unjust world.
Q: You also write poetry. Do you choose the same topics for poetry as for short stories? When do you prefer poetry over prose?
Francis H. Powell: I have written poems that perhaps are in the same vain as my short stories.  Some of these poems would work alongside some of my short stories. I am not sure I have preference.

Q: You are also a musician who composes music. Do you connect with the same kind of emotional or creative characteristics to write as you do to compose? Does your music have “unexpected final twists?” (unlike Beethoven whose endings tend to go on a bit.)
Francis H. Powell: I am not sure I could say my music has unexpected twists…it is not part of my thought process when I write music. However I am sure there are lots of links with the creative things I do. I went to art school, and this has influenced me in a big way.
Q:  You were born in England, lived in Austria, and now in France. Do you believe that your living in several countries influenced your writing? For example, I associate dark stories and movies and Debussy with the French; Shakespearean drama/comedy, Monty Python, and Elgar with the British; and, great sachertorte and the waltz with the Austrians.
Francis H. Powell: There is definitely a big chunk of “Britishness” in my stories. I am poking fun at the establishment. Living abroad makes you an “outsider”. Maybe also you think back to your home country and think of it in a different light.  I think I am still very much traumatized by my British upbringing and time spent in an austere boarding school, which happened to be located in a rather picturesque part of the English countryside. 
My time in Austria was a real eye opener to me.  I was living in a remote village, but worked and often travelled to Vienna.  It wasn’t the most friendly of environments and I was involved in a very complicated and traumatic relationship at the time, with a beautiful but also emotionally unbalanced Austrian woman.   We moved to the UK, and I found it very hard to reintegrate.  Our relationship got more and more strained.  She then fell in love with a student at the school she was working in.  “Betrayal” is a theme that runs through some of my stories.  I have included a reference to Paris in one of my stories. There is a womanizing French waiter and a character gets pushed onto the metro line, in the same story. I have accumulated a lot of unusual experiences while living abroad.
Q:  What’s next?
Francis H. Powell: I would love to have a second book of short stories published.
Q: Tell us about Francis H. Powell. What do you like to do when you’re not writing or composing music?
Francis H. Powell: I am a teacher, I teach in a number of places. My most pleasant teaching jobs, involve teaching young architects. I am far from being an expert on architecture, however thankfully Fine Art is also a big part of their course so I can talk about art and artists.
I also teach in some public universities and teach both British and American culture. I am as I mentioned an “artist” so when I have the time I paint and make sculptures from “objet trouvé” …you would be surprised what people throw out…
About Francis H. Powell
Born in 1961, in Reading, England Francis H. Powell attended Art Schools, receiving a degree in painting and an MA in printmaking. In 1995, Powell moved to Austria, teaching English as a foreign language while pursuing his varied artistic interests adding music and writing. He currently lives in Paris, songwriting, doing concerts, writing both prose and poetry. Powell has published short stories in the magazine, “Rat Mort” and other works on the internet site "Multi-dimensions.”
About FLIGHT OF DESTINY
FLIGHT OF DESTINY is a collection of short stories about misfortune. They are characterized by unexpected final twists that come at the end of each tale. They are dark and surreal tales, set around the world, at different time periods. They show a world in which anything can happen. It is hard to determine reality and what is going on in a disturbed mind. People’s conceptions about morality are turned upside down. A good person can be transformed by an unexpected event into a bad person and then back again to their former state The high and mighty often deliver flawed arguments, those considred wicked make good representations of themselves. Revenge is often a subject explored.
Excerpt
ARRIVAL
The task of placing a name, can be niggling, but what if this task becomes an obsession and the person behind the name a dark specter?
“Mr. Weisler is coming! Mr. Weisler is coming! Mr. Weisler is coming!” The words swirled around in his head like a rampant tornado, scooping up all his thoughts, amplifying them until the mixture seemed ready to devour him. Yet, what was vexing him was that he could neither connect to nor put a fact to the name.
Links
AmazonWebsiteFacebook GoogleBooktrailer https://twitter.com/DreamheadzPress releasePinterest 

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Heather Kirchhoff, Author

Heather Kirchhoff, Author
FADINGHeather Kirchoff’s reviewers praise her short story, FADING, for taking on the tough subject of cancer and delivering “a very emotional topic beautifully and realistically.” They applaud her “relatable” characters; and believe her story will “touch even the darkest of hearts.”
Kirchoff lives with her three parents in a small town in Missouri along with her siblings, a dog, and three cats. She definitely plans to continue writing and is working on a YA "standalone." When she's not writing, she likes to go for walks or rides, take photos, and spend time with her best friend and family.





Q: What inspired you to write FADING? Is it based on your own experience?
Heather Kirchhoff: It started out as a homework assignment for my Creative Writing class my junior year of high school. We had to watch some dance videos and had to choose one to write a story over that best described the dance they were doing.
Q: Why did you choose to write FADING in second person narrative? Did you find it helpful to tell your story?
Heather Kirchhoff:  I did because I never wrote in second person and I wanted to try something different.
Q: Reviewers tout FADING as “heart rending” and “a story that will touch even the darkest of hearts.” Do you attribute this to the topic itself? Or to your characters?
Heather Kirchhoff: I’d say so because of what it’s about. Teens and young children go through this as well, not just adults, and I wanted to show that. I wanted to bring to light what can happen to someone who they know or have a loved one dying of cancer.
Q: How do you develop characters in a short story to engage your readers to care about them? Did you find it more difficult than in your longer works?
Heather Kirchhoff: I just sit down and write. I also try to add a description of my characters so my readers will know what they look like. It’s about the same as anything else I’ve written.
Q: Does the concept of heroes and villains apply to FADING? What creates a hero?
Heather Kirchhoff: I think so because the cancer is the bad guy, but I’m not too sure who could be the hero. Maybe it’s Jennifer or Michael.
Q: Did you write FADING to entertain readers, or deliver a message, or educate?
Heather Kirchhoff: I wrote it to bring awareness to cancer. It’s not talked about a lot in books and I wanted to talk about it because it does happen.
Q: Your story deals with a very difficult subject to discuss – cancer. Did you find humor a useful way to present it?
Heather Kirchhoff: Nope.
Q: You have published several stories and a novel. What’s your favorite – short stories or novels? What else have you written? Do you intend to make a career of writing?
Heather Kirchhoff: I’ve also written The Last Night and my Magic series (Dusk, Daybreak and Lightning Strike as of right now). I love both, honestly, because I just love to sit down and put words on paper. I very much do intend to make a career of writing.
Q: What’s next?
Heather Kirchhoff:  I’m working on a YA standalone that I haven’t given any information on yet, but I will soon. After that I will be working on Magic #4, Dawn of the Shooting Star.
Q: Tell us about Heather Kirchhoff. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Heather Kirchhoff: I love to go for walks, edit, promote, beta read, reading, take pictures, go for rides, and spend time with my best friend and animals/family.
About Heather Kirchoff
Heather Kirchhoff lives in a small town in Missouri with her three parents, siblings, a dog, and three cats. She became a bookworm back in sixth grade when her teacher suggested the Phantom Stallion series by Terri Farley and instantly fell in love. She loves reading paranormal stories, plus some love ones here and there. Honestly, she'll read anything as long as it's good. Writing is her passion. Heather loves animals; she's heartbroken that not all of them have loving homes. Heather was inspired to write by Richelle Mead, Alyson Noel, and Stephenie Meyer.
About FADING
What if you're told you won't live another year? What if you feel yourself slowly dying inside? What if you try to do everything you can to not hurt those you love, to live the rest of your days to the fullest? For sixteen-year-old Jennifer that's exactly what happens. She now struggles, knowing exactly what'll happen if she dies. She does her best to live a carefree life, to not question anything, but it's harder than she thought it would be. After all, how can you say goodbye to those you love while you still have time? How can you show your fears without breaking them?
Links
Amazon FADING Amazon AuthorFacebookTwitter https://twitter.com/HeatherKircTSU BooktropolousSocialPinterest Goodreads 

CHECK IT OUT: Cover Reveal, Andrea Buginsky, Author

  As a young hunter seeks a trainer, The Chosen prepare for an unforgettable adventure.With Nature and Phantasma back in order, Halli and Silvor have settled into their new life in Drumple. During a visit from Striker, Kaidyla and Lumina, a request from an old friend of Halli’s family sparks a new challenge when she asks Striker if he’ll train their young son, Dylan. Working with Dylan gives Striker a chance to be a mentor once again, as he had been in his past.This brings The Chosen to an area of Phantasma Halli has never seen before. What new dangers might be lurking in the forest? Will Halli have a reason to use her powers?But Halli and Silvor are facing a new journey of their own, one that will change their lives forever. What is in store for The Chosen’s future? Will this latest escapade prepare them for what is yet to come?

Coming soon to an eBook store near you

Andrea Buginsky is a freelance writer with a BA in Mass Communication-Journalism from the University of South Florida. She has always wanted to be a published writer, and decided to try to write children's fantasy books. The Chosen is her first book, and was released on December 14, 2010, to her delight.
Andrea has written five more books since:
    
My Open Heart, an autobiography of growing up with heart disease.
Nature's Unbalance: The Chosen, Book 2          
Striker's Apprentice: The Chosen, Book 3 (coming soon)      
Destiny: New Avalon, book 1, a YA fantasy       
Fate: New Avalon, book 2, a YA fantasyShe is currently writing the fourth book in The Chosen series.Andrea lives in Kansas with her family, which includes her two precious puppies.
You can visit Andrea on her websiteor Google+

CHECK IT OUT: Cover of New Historical Mystery, Author Joyce T. Strand

Joyce T. Strand, Author
THE JUDGE'S STORY
Scheduled for release June 23, 2015Today I come to you as Joyce T. Strand, Author, rather than as Joyce T. Strand, Editor, Strand’s Simply Tips. I bring you the cover of my new book – THE JUDGE’S STORY, an historical mystery scheduled for release June 23, 2015. It’s different from my contemporary mysteries and features a Judge as the lead character.
But my previous protagonists are eager to tell you more about it. 











Here Comes THE JUDGE'S STORY Cover!
“You mean there’s a new book by our author, Joyce T Strand, and we’re not in it?” asked Jillian Hillcrest, protagonist of Strand’s first three mysteries.
Her boss, Brynn Bancroft, protagonist of the most recent Strand mystery, responds, “That’s right. Not only are we not in it, but it’s not even about public relations, biotech companies, or wine making—like all of her other books.”
Jillian exclaims, “What? But then what is it about?”
“It turns out she has a love of history so she’s written a new mystery about a Superior Court Judge in a small California town, in 1939.”
Jillian sighed. “Well, at least it’s a mystery. But did she base the story on a real case like with our books?”
Brynn smiled. “Sort of. She was inspired to write it by the 1941 unpublished memoir of a real Superior Court Judge in Ventura, Calif. He was the grandfather of a friend of hers and prior to being a judge was a law partner of Erle Stanley Gardner. Of course, that appealed to Strand who has read almost all of the Perry Mason books. But the main case or mystery is fiction—although she weaves in actual cases and incidents from the judge’s life.”
“I wonder why she chose 1939?” Jillian asked.
“It was a turbulent time with the financial scarcities of the Great Depression, growing war in Europe, and the transitioning of the justice system toward rehabilitation. It made for an interesting time against which her characters could interact to reveal their traits."
“Do you think she’s finished with us?”
Brynn laughed. “Oh, no. She’s planning to release her next book with me as the protagonist in November. I understand you might be getting re-married finally; and I get to build up my new winery.”
“But it is a mystery, right?”
Brynn smiled, “Of course. And I get to learn how to make and market wine—a killer cabernet sauvignon!”


A Superior Court Judge with a passion for social justice as well as the law strives to discover the truth behind the mystery of a robbery-murder in a small California town in 1939.
When the Judge hears testimony against a 14-year-old teenager, he realizes that the boy participated in a robbery-murder. However, the accused did not actually pull the trigger. But unless the boy identifies his partner, the Judge must sentence him as a murderer, which would result in prolonged jail time. The Judge’s investigator, along with the precocious 16-year-old girl who identified the boy as one of the thieves, explore different approaches to uncover the murderer. In the backdrop of escalating war in Europe, the financial scarcities of the Great Depression, and the Judge’s caseload, their attempts to find justice for the accused boy and unmask the killer lure the Judge and his friends into sordid criminal activities.
About Joyce T. Strand
Mystery author Joyce T. Strand, much like her fictional character, Jillian Hillcrest, served as head of corporate communications at several biotech and high-tech companies in Silicon Valley for more than 25 years. Unlike Jillian, however, she did not encounter murder. Rather, she focused on publicizing her companies and their products. She is the author of the Jillian Hillcrest mysteries ON MESSAGE, OPEN MEETINGS, and FAIR DISCLOSURE and the Brynn Bancroft mystery HILLTOP SUNSET. Strand received her Ph.D. from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. and her B.A. from Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA. She currently lives in Southern California with her two cats, a collection of cow statuary and art, and her muse, the roadrunner.
Links
Pre-order purchase links on Amazon.com for THE JUDGE'S STORY THE JUDGE'S STORY PaperbackTHE JUDGE'S STORY E-book
HILLTOP SUNSET: A BRYNN BANCROFT MYSTERYAmazonBarnes and Noble
ON MESSAGE: A JILLIAN HILLCREST MYSTERY (1) Amazon Kindle and PaperbackBarnes and Noble Nook
OPEN MEETINGS: A JILLIAN HILLCREST MYSTERY (2)Amazon Kindle and PaperbackBarnes and Noble Nook
FAIR DISCLOSURE: A JILLIAN HILLCREST MYSTERY (3) Amazon Kindle and PaperbackBarnes and Noble Nook
3-book-bundle The Jillian Hillcrest Mysteries (e-book)Amazon KindleBarnes and Noble Nook
Author Links
Webpage FacebookGoodreadsTwitter - @joycetstrand

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Rita Lee Chapman, Author

Rita Lee Chapman, Author
DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS
MISSING IN EGYPT
WINSTON - A HORSE'S TALEAustralian author Rita Lee Chapman brings us her latest novel, DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS, described as a crime mystery thriller about “a woman whose first husband's exploits are wreaking havoc with her new life.” The author of a romantic travel mystery and a book for horse lovers, Chapman wanted to appeal to both male and female readers so turned to crime fiction.
Chapman is spending her retirement writing novels. Besides writing and reading, she enjoys playing tennis, socializing with friends, and walking around Australia’s beaches, rivers, and lakes.
Don't miss the short excerpt from DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS following the interview.

Q: You’ve written a romantic travel mystery and a book for horse lovers. What drew you to write your latest book, a crime mystery, DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS?
Rita Lee Chapman: I wanted to write something that could appeal to both male and female readers.  WINSTON – A HORSE’S TALE was very definitely targeted at horse lovers and I felt that MISSING IN EGYPT probably appealed to women more than men.  Actually it’s very hard to write for men as most seem to prefer very straight-forward, down-to-earth writing, without the frills and romance!  I thought J.K.Rowling achieved it well with her book, The Silkworm, written under the pen-name of Robert Galbraith, as I really did think it was written by a man.
I enjoy reading crime mysteries and watch quite a few crime shows on TV, so I thought it would make an interesting change.  Also, you get to kill some of your characters off!
Q: How do you create compelling characters that engage readers? When writing in different genres such as you’ve done, do you find that you create characters in a similar manner? Or, do you reveal unique characteristics differently depending on the genre?
Rita Lee Chapman: Creating characters is similar in any genre.  Possibly my female lead characters may display similar characteristics as, so far, they have always been nice people!  In DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS Cathy’s husband, Geoffrey, was born in the East End of London and his speech and expressions were fun to write.  I could hear Dennis Waterman’s voice (from The Minder and New Tricks) speaking to me as I wrote.  I also enjoyed writing the Sargeant’s character.
Q: Reviewers tout DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS as “chilling.” How do you create a “chilling” story? How relevant is suspense toward a compelling read?
Rita Lee Chapman: I think readers expect suspense in a mystery or crime novel.  You have to be a bit ruthless and try to add some shock value.  I must say I was surprised by the use of the word “chilling” in a review of DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS, but then I knew what was going to happen!  I do think what one reader would find chilling, another might not. 
Q: Why did you choose to write DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS in first person? Did you find it helpful or restrictive?
Rita Lee Chapman: I like writing in the first person; I think it is easier to portray what your characters are thinking and feeling.  I overcame any restrictiveness by switching characters.
Q: Do you find the concept of heroes vs villains useful in developing a compelling plot?
Rita Lee Chapman: Definitely.  I think every crime mystery has to have at least one hero and a villain.           
Q: Do you write your books strictly to entertain readers or do you try to deliver a message or educate as well?
Rita Lee Chapman: DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS was just for entertainment, but I did try to deliver a message in WINSTON – A HORSE’S TALE.  So much cruelty to animals is caused by well-meaning people not knowing any better.  When I wrote MISSING IN EGYPT, I had recently visited Egypt and been amazed – it is so different to anywhere else in the world.  So many of their temples are in such great condition that it is not hard to imagine how they must have been in their heyday.  I wanted to try and capture the essence of Egypt for those who had been unable to visit and those who wanted to relive the experience.
Q: You selected Egypt as the setting for your romantic travel mystery, MISSING IN EGYPT, because it is “a mysterious and intriguing country,” ideal for a mystery. What about the setting for DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS? Did it help define the backstory for your crime mystery?
Rita Lee Chapman: My books, so far, have all been based partly in Australia, because that’s where I live it’s the most familiar to me.  It’s also beautiful, by the way.  I have also been lucky enough to have travelled to several different countries and I like to include those experiences in my stories.
Q: Do you like to mix romance and mystery? What about humor? Does it help to flesh out your characters and engage readers?
Rita Lee Chapman: Yes, I love to mix romance and mystery.   Romance makes the world go around!  Most people have a love interest in their lives so I think it makes the characters more engaging.  As for humour – I’d love to write comedy but the best I can manage is a few one liners.
Q: What’s next?
Rita Lee Chapman:  At the moment I’m busy promoting DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS but I am thinking about writing another book in the MISSING IN….  series.  I’d like to follow up on Anna’s later life and see what else she gets up to.  I think we’ve both learned a lot since MISSING IN EGYPT!
Q: Tell us about Rita Lee Chapman. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Rita Lee Chapman: Like most writers, I’m a prolific reader.  Some of my favourite authors are Kate Morton, Bryce Courtenay, Barbara Bradford Taylor, Colleen McCullough, Dick Francis, Mary Higgins Clark, Jeffrey Archer, Fiona Walker and Rebecca Bryn.
I also like playing tennis (enthusiastically, but not very well), walking around our lovely rivers, lakes and beaches and socialising.   We have made some lovely friends since we retired to Queensland and share some great lunches and dinners.
Thank you for having me on your blog, Joyce, it’s been fun.About Rita Lee Chapman
Rita Lee Chapman was born in London and moved to Australia in her early twenties.  It was only when she retired that she wrote her first novel, MISSING IN EGYPT, a romantic travel mystery. 
WINSTON – A HORSE’S TALE followed, written for horse lovers like herself.  “It was the book I had to write.” 
Her latest book, DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS, is her first foray into crime mystery.
About DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS
An ex-husband, a new love, a stalker.  Cathy Thompson’s link to her ex-husband fills her life with threats and intimidation.  She must either trap her stalker or find Geoffrey to put an end to her life of fear. 
Excerpt from DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS
Chapter 3 Love Calls Again
I remember turning the radio dial to my favourite station as I went up the hill towards work.  As I coasted down the other side I touched the brakes lightly to steady the car as I approached the sharp left-hand turn.  It was a bad corner, where trucks often misjudged the angle and spilt their load across the road.  I remembered the feeling of fear as I pushed the brake pedal harder, still without any response.  I pumped the brake a couple of times but my foot was flat to the floor and the car was out of control and heading towards the safety barrier.  I knew there was at least a fifteen foot drop on the other side.  I was told afterwards by the police that the driver of the car behind me said the car flew over the guardrail, landed half way down the hill, rolled and landed on its side at the bottom.  I remember the sound of metal against metal as the car hit the guardrail, but I was going too fast for it to stop us.  I could recall the feeling of flying through the air and the thud as the car landed but  I was unconscious when they pulled me out. 

About MISSING IN EGYPT
MISSING IN EGYPT will intrigue you with its twists and turns, romance and adventure as well as its insights into Australian and Egyptian cultures.  Australian Anna Davies travels to Egypt with her lover to help him search for his brother, who disappeared whilst on holiday.  The Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel and the Temple of Karnak are amongst the settings for their search.  Will they be able to track him down and find him alive - or is Ramy already dead?  What tragedies await Anna and Kareem as they come closer to retracing his footsteps?  This fast-paced action plot will keep you guessing until the end.


About WINSTON –A HORSE’S TALE
One for horse lovers!  Winston is a good-looking palomino horse whose life involves several different owners and many adventures.  As you read his story, told by Winston himself, you will appreciate horse ownership from the horse’s point of view.  Born on a country property in Australia, Winston tells of his breaking-in and education and the different people he encounters – good, bad and ignorant.  As well as his own story, Winston includes the experiences of other horses he meets along life’s way. 

Whether it’s jumping, eventing, hunting or just hacking, Winston tries hard to please his rider. Follow his successes and his failures from his breaking-in to his show jumping win. It is an eventful life – the story of one Australian horse out of thousands, but one that you will remember.

Links
DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS purchase linksAmazon Smashwords  LargePrint Edition
MISSING IN EGYPT  purchase linksAmazonSmashwordsLARGEPRINT EDITION
WINSTON – A HORSE’S TALE purchase linksAmazon Smashwords 
Author LinksWebsite Goodreads’author pageFacebook