Kelly Young's Blog
August 10, 2023
My museum speech is online!
I DID IT!
My speech from Authors Night with Wine and Cheese at the Bruce County Museum on August 8 is available for you to listen on the front page of my website! I chose to speak on cozy mysteries and "Write What You Know". Check it out!
Museum Speech
My speech from Authors Night with Wine and Cheese at the Bruce County Museum on August 8 is available for you to listen on the front page of my website! I chose to speak on cozy mysteries and "Write What You Know". Check it out!
Museum Speech
June 21, 2023
Grabs you and won't let you go
Little Girl Vanished by Denise Grover SwankMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Little Girl Vanished by Denise Grover Swank is one of those books that grabs you right from the get-go and refuses to let you go! Superbly written and full of action and suspense, this mystery is the page-turner you are looking for this summer!
The main character of disgraced, ex-detective Harper Adams is delightfully flawed and struggling, and yet able to rise above her challenges to investigate the kidnapping of a friend's daughter, even when the police and father insist she has just run away. Harper's back story is both heartbreaking and full of mystery itself, and I hope the story behind her obvious framing at the hands of her former police department is explained in future books. She is not the only character broken by the kidnapping of her own sister years before, and the fallout is skillfully portrayed in the characters of her parents.
I have never read anything by this author before, but apparently the character of James Malcolm is a carry over from another series of hers, and I'm sure that fans will be delighted to encounter him again. For those of us new to the author, his character is tantalizingly multi-faceted and fascinating.
I could not put this book down and highly recommend it to fans of mystery and thrillers.
I was thrilled to receive an ARC of #LittleGirlVanished from #NetGalley .
View all my reviews
April 27, 2023
The Piper Sniper is on sale!
The Piper Sniper, the first book in the Travel Writer Cozy Mystery series, is on sale in the US and the UK as part of a group promotion with a lot of excellent authors! Check out the sale here, https://fairfieldpublishing.com/cozy-... , and take a look at the book trailer while you're at it!
February 8, 2023
Press release
Wines and Whines: Travel Writer Day Trips Cozy Mysteries #1Wines and Whines: Travel Writer Day Trips Cozy Mysteries #1Wines and Whines: Travel Writer Day Trips Cozy Mysteries #1Chatham author releases first book in spin-off series
Kelly Young, the author of the popular Travel Writer Cozy Mystery series, is releasing the first installment of the Travel Writer Day Trips Cozy Mystery series, titled Wines and Whines, on February 28.
The new book contains the same mix of humour and mystery found in the original series, but instead of one longer storyline taking place over a week at a location in Ontario, this book features two shorter stories, each taking place over a day, in two different Ontario locations.
“Writing shorter tales is a different challenge than writing a full-length novel,” Young said recently. “You have to get all of the elements of the mystery, elements you would have more time to flesh out if you were writing a full-length novel, into the shorter format. As a result, every occurrence and every conversation carry more weight than they might otherwise. The challenge is to still have those things come across as natural.”
Young is not a stranger to shorter fiction, however, and has two different collections of short stories published.
Along with the change to day trip length storylines, the settings of the book have moved from the Bruce County area predominant thus far in the first series to locations in southwestern Ontario. As well, Young opted to use chapter titles instead of merely numbers for this series.
The book is titled Wine and Whines and the first of the two novellas in it is called Wine and Crime. It follows the main character, Casey Robertson from the original series, along with her friends Myrna Holmberg and Ilene Anderson, as they go on a wine tour of the Windsor-Essex area. The story features real wineries within the plot, which centres around a missing piece of jewelry belonging to another participant in the tour, along with the usual Traveling Klutz features about the locales visited in the story ahead of each chapter. Most of the chapter titles consist of related wine-based puns.
The second half of the book features the tale Dognapped and Trapped and takes place at Rondeau Provincial Park, where Casey and her husband Jim have gone for a day of cycling. There they unexpectedly encounter retired detective Ed Wolsey, also from the original series. The detective has started his own private investigations business and is at the park looking into a slew of dog thefts. Casey and Jim get involved, and typical shenanigans ensue. Information on the park and area precedes each chapter, which are titled with canine-related puns.
The cover of the book features a photo of one of the wineries in the book on the top and of Rondeau Provincial Park on the bottom. Both photons are taken by Young herself.
Young said she is pleased how this first book in the Day Trips series turned out.
“This book took me a little longer to complete,” she admitted. “I wanted to get it just right, without losing the light-hearted dialogue that the first series became known for.”
As for what’s next up for her, Young said she plans to start work on the second full-length book in the Haunted & Harassed Paranormal Cozy Mystery series, and has been making plans for a cross-over between the two series to be set in the town of Tilbury.
“I feel that we need at least one other book in the paranormal series before the crossover, so that readers can truly get to know and enjoy those characters,” she said. “Then we can have the two groups meet up and see what kind of mayhem that creates.”
Young has completed research trips to other Ontario locations for the main and spin-off Travel Writer series, including to Huntsville, Orillia, and Welland, and has both long and short stories set in each location solidifying within her mind.
“There are always at least five storylines or more fighting for dominance in my head at any time,” she joked.
Young’s Travel Writer books are currently available at Turns & Tales in Chatham, and at the Chatham-Kent and Bruce County libraries. She plans to donate a copy of the new book to the local library when it comes out, and reminds readers that they can request her books at any library in the country if they are interested.
A member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime, Young has also written the mystery/thriller Flurries Ending, the Sci-Fi thriller The Six Thousand, and more. With the addition of this new book, Young will have a total of 16 books published, all of which are available at Amazon, as she self-publishes through Kindle Direct Publishing, and at the Chatham-Kent library. You can find them from her author page at https://www.amazon.ca/Kelly-Young/e/B..., where you can get the books in e-book, paperback, or hardcover formats.
Kelly Young, the author of the popular Travel Writer Cozy Mystery series, is releasing the first installment of the Travel Writer Day Trips Cozy Mystery series, titled Wines and Whines, on February 28.
The new book contains the same mix of humour and mystery found in the original series, but instead of one longer storyline taking place over a week at a location in Ontario, this book features two shorter stories, each taking place over a day, in two different Ontario locations.
“Writing shorter tales is a different challenge than writing a full-length novel,” Young said recently. “You have to get all of the elements of the mystery, elements you would have more time to flesh out if you were writing a full-length novel, into the shorter format. As a result, every occurrence and every conversation carry more weight than they might otherwise. The challenge is to still have those things come across as natural.”
Young is not a stranger to shorter fiction, however, and has two different collections of short stories published.
Along with the change to day trip length storylines, the settings of the book have moved from the Bruce County area predominant thus far in the first series to locations in southwestern Ontario. As well, Young opted to use chapter titles instead of merely numbers for this series.
The book is titled Wine and Whines and the first of the two novellas in it is called Wine and Crime. It follows the main character, Casey Robertson from the original series, along with her friends Myrna Holmberg and Ilene Anderson, as they go on a wine tour of the Windsor-Essex area. The story features real wineries within the plot, which centres around a missing piece of jewelry belonging to another participant in the tour, along with the usual Traveling Klutz features about the locales visited in the story ahead of each chapter. Most of the chapter titles consist of related wine-based puns.
The second half of the book features the tale Dognapped and Trapped and takes place at Rondeau Provincial Park, where Casey and her husband Jim have gone for a day of cycling. There they unexpectedly encounter retired detective Ed Wolsey, also from the original series. The detective has started his own private investigations business and is at the park looking into a slew of dog thefts. Casey and Jim get involved, and typical shenanigans ensue. Information on the park and area precedes each chapter, which are titled with canine-related puns.
The cover of the book features a photo of one of the wineries in the book on the top and of Rondeau Provincial Park on the bottom. Both photons are taken by Young herself.
Young said she is pleased how this first book in the Day Trips series turned out.
“This book took me a little longer to complete,” she admitted. “I wanted to get it just right, without losing the light-hearted dialogue that the first series became known for.”
As for what’s next up for her, Young said she plans to start work on the second full-length book in the Haunted & Harassed Paranormal Cozy Mystery series, and has been making plans for a cross-over between the two series to be set in the town of Tilbury.
“I feel that we need at least one other book in the paranormal series before the crossover, so that readers can truly get to know and enjoy those characters,” she said. “Then we can have the two groups meet up and see what kind of mayhem that creates.”
Young has completed research trips to other Ontario locations for the main and spin-off Travel Writer series, including to Huntsville, Orillia, and Welland, and has both long and short stories set in each location solidifying within her mind.
“There are always at least five storylines or more fighting for dominance in my head at any time,” she joked.
Young’s Travel Writer books are currently available at Turns & Tales in Chatham, and at the Chatham-Kent and Bruce County libraries. She plans to donate a copy of the new book to the local library when it comes out, and reminds readers that they can request her books at any library in the country if they are interested.
A member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime, Young has also written the mystery/thriller Flurries Ending, the Sci-Fi thriller The Six Thousand, and more. With the addition of this new book, Young will have a total of 16 books published, all of which are available at Amazon, as she self-publishes through Kindle Direct Publishing, and at the Chatham-Kent library. You can find them from her author page at https://www.amazon.ca/Kelly-Young/e/B..., where you can get the books in e-book, paperback, or hardcover formats.
February 15, 2022
Meet author Kelly Young at book signing
Say It Isn't So, Joe
Chatham author Kelly Young will be signing copies of her new novel, Say It Isn’t So, Joe, at Turns & Tales Chatham Board Game Café and Bookstore, 213 King St W. Chatham, from 2 – 6 p.m., on February 26.
“I’m so grateful to Turns & Tales for putting my books on their shelves and for hosting this book signing. It’s always great to meet people who enjoy reading,” she said as she prepared for the event.
The first book in the new Haunted & Harassed Paranormal Mystery Series, Say It Isn’t So, Joe is based on the popular short story, A Ghost Named Joe, published as part of Young’s collection, Kisses in the Moonlight and Other Short Tales, Volume 2, which was released in May of 2020.
In the prequel story, a retired married couple, hounded by the ghost of the former owner of their house, help him find an item left behind somewhere in the house. In the first full length book, which was released on Valentine’s Day, the ghost named Joe has returned, and he won't leave Carmen and her husband Sebastian alone, until they agree to help the friend that he’s brought along with him.
The ghost of his friend Donna is convinced that she did not die of natural causes. Joe has told her that he knows just the people to figure out her dilemma, an no amount of protest from the couple will make the spectres realize that finding a missing necklace is nothing like finding a murderer.
It's a steep learning curve for Carmen and Bass. Despite their misgivings, they team up with the owners of the local Montgomery Funeral Home, and are soon up to their necks in suspects and intrigue. Can they solve a murder that no one thinks actually happened, and will Joe finally leave them alone if they figure the puzzle out? Or will they be the next ones lying in state at the funeral home?
Young, who is the author of the four-book Travel Writer Cozy Mystery Series, the thrillers Flurries Ending and The Six Thousand, two short story collections, two speculative fiction books and more, is excited to meet readers at the book signing.
“For me reading is an escape from every day stresses, and I write my mysteries to provide that escape for others. My mystery books have a lot of humour mixed in, and the feedback on the new book so far has been quite positive.”
Say It Isn’t So, Joe is in a new genre for the author, but although it is paranormal in nature, it still falls under the ‘cozy’ umbrella.
“I’m excited to be writing in a new genre,” she said of the paranormal theme of the book, “although it is still a cozy mystery at the core.”
Young intends to return to the Travel Writer series next. “Along with the full-length novels, I’m planning a spin off short-story series I’m calling Travel Writer Day Trips, which will feature two short stories in each book. They will be centred around the series characters that readers have come to enjoy.” She added that she will be sure to bring a few copies of the previous series for those readers interested in fun mysteries set in real locations in Ontario to the book signing.
Copies of the new book are already available on the shelves at Turns & Tales.
Young is a member of Crime Writers of Canada, and Sisters in Crime, as well as the local Facebook groups Chatham Kent Authors and CK Wrimos for local writers participating in National Novel Writing Month every November. She has taken part in two of the Author Festivals held by the Chatham Kent Public Library, and has donated copies of all of her books to the library.
Chatham author Kelly Young will be signing copies of her new novel, Say It Isn’t So, Joe, at Turns & Tales Chatham Board Game Café and Bookstore, 213 King St W. Chatham, from 2 – 6 p.m., on February 26.
“I’m so grateful to Turns & Tales for putting my books on their shelves and for hosting this book signing. It’s always great to meet people who enjoy reading,” she said as she prepared for the event.
The first book in the new Haunted & Harassed Paranormal Mystery Series, Say It Isn’t So, Joe is based on the popular short story, A Ghost Named Joe, published as part of Young’s collection, Kisses in the Moonlight and Other Short Tales, Volume 2, which was released in May of 2020.
In the prequel story, a retired married couple, hounded by the ghost of the former owner of their house, help him find an item left behind somewhere in the house. In the first full length book, which was released on Valentine’s Day, the ghost named Joe has returned, and he won't leave Carmen and her husband Sebastian alone, until they agree to help the friend that he’s brought along with him.
The ghost of his friend Donna is convinced that she did not die of natural causes. Joe has told her that he knows just the people to figure out her dilemma, an no amount of protest from the couple will make the spectres realize that finding a missing necklace is nothing like finding a murderer.
It's a steep learning curve for Carmen and Bass. Despite their misgivings, they team up with the owners of the local Montgomery Funeral Home, and are soon up to their necks in suspects and intrigue. Can they solve a murder that no one thinks actually happened, and will Joe finally leave them alone if they figure the puzzle out? Or will they be the next ones lying in state at the funeral home?
Young, who is the author of the four-book Travel Writer Cozy Mystery Series, the thrillers Flurries Ending and The Six Thousand, two short story collections, two speculative fiction books and more, is excited to meet readers at the book signing.
“For me reading is an escape from every day stresses, and I write my mysteries to provide that escape for others. My mystery books have a lot of humour mixed in, and the feedback on the new book so far has been quite positive.”
Say It Isn’t So, Joe is in a new genre for the author, but although it is paranormal in nature, it still falls under the ‘cozy’ umbrella.
“I’m excited to be writing in a new genre,” she said of the paranormal theme of the book, “although it is still a cozy mystery at the core.”
Young intends to return to the Travel Writer series next. “Along with the full-length novels, I’m planning a spin off short-story series I’m calling Travel Writer Day Trips, which will feature two short stories in each book. They will be centred around the series characters that readers have come to enjoy.” She added that she will be sure to bring a few copies of the previous series for those readers interested in fun mysteries set in real locations in Ontario to the book signing.
Copies of the new book are already available on the shelves at Turns & Tales.
Young is a member of Crime Writers of Canada, and Sisters in Crime, as well as the local Facebook groups Chatham Kent Authors and CK Wrimos for local writers participating in National Novel Writing Month every November. She has taken part in two of the Author Festivals held by the Chatham Kent Public Library, and has donated copies of all of her books to the library.
January 31, 2022
Openings on Kelly's Review Crew!
The new book releases on February 14!
Are you willing to leave reviews on Amazon and/or Goodreads and/or Bookbub (US readers only) in return for a free ARC?
I need a dedicated crew to read this and other new books as they come out, and then review them to help get the word out. I will send you an Advanced Readers Copy in e-book form, and request that you read it before the release date.
If you do join the Crew and do not leave a review on at least one site, I'm afraid you will be removed from the ARC list.
If you are willing, send an e-mail to kyoung.author@gmail.com and let me know!
PROGRESS REPORT
Say It Isn't So, Joe, which I submitted to Berkley Publishing Group during their open submission program, wasn't accepted by the publisher. But that is kind of good, because that means it can be released earlier than it would have been, on Amazon!
The book will be available as an e-book and paperback, on all Amazon country sites, and I'm also releasing it as a hardcover! The hardcover availability is not universal, however. As the program is currently in a Beta test, hardcovers will only be available at the USA, UK, Denmark, France, Spain, and Italy Amazon sites.
If you don't want to join the crew, but are still interested in getting the book, you can pre-order the e-book now, and the other formats will be live on Valentine's Day!
Please consider reviewing it once you've read it - I would really appreciate it!
Thanks for reading this special edition of my newsletter. I hope to hear from you soon.
Kelly Young
Member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, Beta Sigma Phi.
Are you willing to leave reviews on Amazon and/or Goodreads and/or Bookbub (US readers only) in return for a free ARC?
I need a dedicated crew to read this and other new books as they come out, and then review them to help get the word out. I will send you an Advanced Readers Copy in e-book form, and request that you read it before the release date.
If you do join the Crew and do not leave a review on at least one site, I'm afraid you will be removed from the ARC list.
If you are willing, send an e-mail to kyoung.author@gmail.com and let me know!
PROGRESS REPORT
Say It Isn't So, Joe, which I submitted to Berkley Publishing Group during their open submission program, wasn't accepted by the publisher. But that is kind of good, because that means it can be released earlier than it would have been, on Amazon!
The book will be available as an e-book and paperback, on all Amazon country sites, and I'm also releasing it as a hardcover! The hardcover availability is not universal, however. As the program is currently in a Beta test, hardcovers will only be available at the USA, UK, Denmark, France, Spain, and Italy Amazon sites.
If you don't want to join the crew, but are still interested in getting the book, you can pre-order the e-book now, and the other formats will be live on Valentine's Day!
Please consider reviewing it once you've read it - I would really appreciate it!
Thanks for reading this special edition of my newsletter. I hope to hear from you soon.
Kelly Young
Member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, Beta Sigma Phi.
January 28, 2022
Chatham author releases novel in new genre on Feb. 14
Things have been kind of spooky for Chatham author Kelly Young this past year as she worked on her newest novel, titled Say It Isn’t So, Joe. The first book in the new Haunted & Harassed Paranormal Mystery Series, Say It Isn’t So, Joe is based on the popular short story, A Ghost Named Joe, published as part of her collection, Kisses in the Moonlight and Other Short Tales, Volume 2, which was released in May of 2020.
In the prequel story, a retired married couple helped the ghost of the former owner of their house find a missing item left somewhere in the house, so he could rest in peace. In the first full length book, set to be released on Valentine’s Day, the ghost named Joe has returned, and he won't leave Carmen and her husband Sebastian alone, until they agree to help the friend that he’s brought along with him.
The ghost of his friend Donna is convinced that she did not die of natural causes. Joe has told her that he knows just the people to figure out her dilemma, an no amount of protest from the couple will make the spectres realize that finding a missing necklace is nothing like finding a murderer.
It's a steep learning curve for Carmen and Bass. Despite their misgivings, they team up with the owners of the local Montgomery Funeral Home, and are soon up to their necks in suspects and intrigue. Can they solve a murder that no one thinks actually happened, and will Joe finally leave them alone if they figure the puzzle out? Or will they be the next ones lying in state at the funeral home?
Young, who is the author of the four-book Travel Writer Cozy Mystery Series, the thrillers Flurries Ending and The Six Thousand, two short story collections, two speculative fiction books and more, is excited to bring Joe back for a lengthier outing.
“Joe was very well received by readers when what turned out to be the series prequel came out,” she said from her home in Chatham recently. “Quite a few readers told me how funny they found the story and that they’d love to read more about him and his living helpers. I ran with the suggestion, and Haunted & Harassed seemed to be the perfect title for a humorous ghost-based series.”
Young once again took advantage of the National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo, which challenges writers to pen a 50,000-word book in the month of November. She claims that the structure of the international challenge provides the motivation to keep going and “not get sidetracked by everyday things."
“I’m excited to be writing in a new genre,” she said of the paranormal theme of the book, “although it is still a mystery at the core of it.” She added that she intends to return to the Travel Writer series next. “Along with the full-length novels, I’m planning a spin off short-story series I’m calling Travel Writer Day Trips, which will feature two short stories each, one for each month of the year. They will be centred around the series characters that readers have come to enjoy.”
The new book, self-published through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, will be available in e-book format, as well as in paperback and, new this year, hardcover on February 14.
Young is a member of Crime Writers of Canada, and Sisters in Crime, as well as the local Facebook groups CK Wrimos and Chatham Kent Authors. She has taken part in two of the Author Festivals held by the Chatham Kent Public Library, the last one virtual due to the pandemic, and has donated copies of all of her books to the library.
“As soon as I have copies of the new book in hand, one will be heading to the library for sure,” she promised. “Public libraries are so important, and are more than the books that you find on the shelves. They are a vital part of the community. I’m honoured that ours is willing to put my books on their shelves.”
For more information, please feel free to contact Kelly at kyoung.author@gmail.com or through her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kellyyoungau....
Say It Isn't So, Joe
In the prequel story, a retired married couple helped the ghost of the former owner of their house find a missing item left somewhere in the house, so he could rest in peace. In the first full length book, set to be released on Valentine’s Day, the ghost named Joe has returned, and he won't leave Carmen and her husband Sebastian alone, until they agree to help the friend that he’s brought along with him.
The ghost of his friend Donna is convinced that she did not die of natural causes. Joe has told her that he knows just the people to figure out her dilemma, an no amount of protest from the couple will make the spectres realize that finding a missing necklace is nothing like finding a murderer.
It's a steep learning curve for Carmen and Bass. Despite their misgivings, they team up with the owners of the local Montgomery Funeral Home, and are soon up to their necks in suspects and intrigue. Can they solve a murder that no one thinks actually happened, and will Joe finally leave them alone if they figure the puzzle out? Or will they be the next ones lying in state at the funeral home?
Young, who is the author of the four-book Travel Writer Cozy Mystery Series, the thrillers Flurries Ending and The Six Thousand, two short story collections, two speculative fiction books and more, is excited to bring Joe back for a lengthier outing.
“Joe was very well received by readers when what turned out to be the series prequel came out,” she said from her home in Chatham recently. “Quite a few readers told me how funny they found the story and that they’d love to read more about him and his living helpers. I ran with the suggestion, and Haunted & Harassed seemed to be the perfect title for a humorous ghost-based series.”
Young once again took advantage of the National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo, which challenges writers to pen a 50,000-word book in the month of November. She claims that the structure of the international challenge provides the motivation to keep going and “not get sidetracked by everyday things."
“I’m excited to be writing in a new genre,” she said of the paranormal theme of the book, “although it is still a mystery at the core of it.” She added that she intends to return to the Travel Writer series next. “Along with the full-length novels, I’m planning a spin off short-story series I’m calling Travel Writer Day Trips, which will feature two short stories each, one for each month of the year. They will be centred around the series characters that readers have come to enjoy.”
The new book, self-published through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, will be available in e-book format, as well as in paperback and, new this year, hardcover on February 14.
Young is a member of Crime Writers of Canada, and Sisters in Crime, as well as the local Facebook groups CK Wrimos and Chatham Kent Authors. She has taken part in two of the Author Festivals held by the Chatham Kent Public Library, the last one virtual due to the pandemic, and has donated copies of all of her books to the library.
“As soon as I have copies of the new book in hand, one will be heading to the library for sure,” she promised. “Public libraries are so important, and are more than the books that you find on the shelves. They are a vital part of the community. I’m honoured that ours is willing to put my books on their shelves.”
For more information, please feel free to contact Kelly at kyoung.author@gmail.com or through her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kellyyoungau....
Say It Isn't So, Joe
September 29, 2021
Welcome to Fall 2021
WIN A MAGNET JUST FOR SUBSCRIBING!
Congratulations to Angie Church, the winner of the last newsletter's drawing.
I'm doing it again this time too! All subscribers who haven't already won will be entered in the random draw. The winner will be contacted by e-mail for his or her contact information and choice of magnet. Good luck!
PROGRESS REPORT
Say It Isn't So, Joe, the first novel in the Haunted and Harassed Paranormal Mystery series, took a back seat to life in August and September. Between the oppressive heat making me want to do little but read and nap, and nerves over the upcoming wedding of my son and his fiancé, I didn't get much done.
I did work on it a bit, however. I'm hoping that what is turning out to be a detailed outline will be done by the end of October, in time to write the full first draft for NaNoWriMo in November..
Cozy Mystery series news.
I've removed all of my cozies from Kindle Unlimited
The Travel Writer Cozy Mystery series and the prequel to the Haunted and Harassed Paranormal Cozy Mystery series have been removed completely from KU. I am considering making the series available on other platforms, but cannot do that while Amazon has me locked in for 90 day periods. Wish me luck!
All of my other books remain enrolled in the KU program.
In other news, I have been given an exception as a self-published author to join the Crime Writers of Canada! Normally, they don't accept self-published writers, but as my books have some five star reviews on Amazon, they are going to accept me! It will be official in October.
So, as you see, REVIEWS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Need something to do on a rainy fall day?
Why not try your hand at puzzles made of my book covers?
You can find the fun on my page at Jigsaw Planet, by clicking Here.
Interested in a new cozy series?
Check out one of my favourite authors, Jana DeLeon.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jana DeLeon was raised in southwest Louisiana among the bayous and gators. She has two series that are laugh out loud funny, and just plain fun to read - the Miss Fortune series and the Ghost-in-Law series. Both are set in the bayous of Louisiana - along with a few others you might want to check out on her website.
For more information, visit her website here, or on Facebook.
My younger son was finally married on September 5, after a year postponement due to the pandemic, and the wedding was held at Queen's Landing in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. I was thrilled to find this library at the hotel, and just had to have my photo taken in it. I believe it will be my author photo for the foreseeable future.
Please feel free to engage on my Facebook page, or on Twitter, or to share this email to anyone you think may be interested by using the icons below.
If you are getting this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up here .
Kelly's Writing Tips #4
Listen.
While this is good advice for life in general, as a writer you can hear great things all around you that can be used in your stories. And if people are just saying things out where anyone can hear them, that makes their anecdotes fair game.
I hope you enjoy your fall. For my Canadian readers, have a Happy Thanksgiving, and for my North American readers, enjoy a safe and fun Halloween!
Thanks for reading.
Kelly Young
Member of Sisters in Crime, Beta Sigma Phi.
September 21, 2021
Congratulations to Angie Church, the winner of the last newsletter's drawing.
I'm doing it again this time too! All subscribers who haven't already won will be entered in the random draw. The winner will be contacted by e-mail for his or her contact information and choice of magnet. Good luck!
PROGRESS REPORT
Say It Isn't So, Joe, the first novel in the Haunted and Harassed Paranormal Mystery series, took a back seat to life in August and September. Between the oppressive heat making me want to do little but read and nap, and nerves over the upcoming wedding of my son and his fiancé, I didn't get much done.
I did work on it a bit, however. I'm hoping that what is turning out to be a detailed outline will be done by the end of October, in time to write the full first draft for NaNoWriMo in November..
Cozy Mystery series news.
I've removed all of my cozies from Kindle Unlimited
The Travel Writer Cozy Mystery series and the prequel to the Haunted and Harassed Paranormal Cozy Mystery series have been removed completely from KU. I am considering making the series available on other platforms, but cannot do that while Amazon has me locked in for 90 day periods. Wish me luck!
All of my other books remain enrolled in the KU program.
In other news, I have been given an exception as a self-published author to join the Crime Writers of Canada! Normally, they don't accept self-published writers, but as my books have some five star reviews on Amazon, they are going to accept me! It will be official in October.
So, as you see, REVIEWS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Need something to do on a rainy fall day?
Why not try your hand at puzzles made of my book covers?
You can find the fun on my page at Jigsaw Planet, by clicking Here.
Interested in a new cozy series?
Check out one of my favourite authors, Jana DeLeon.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jana DeLeon was raised in southwest Louisiana among the bayous and gators. She has two series that are laugh out loud funny, and just plain fun to read - the Miss Fortune series and the Ghost-in-Law series. Both are set in the bayous of Louisiana - along with a few others you might want to check out on her website.
For more information, visit her website here, or on Facebook.
My younger son was finally married on September 5, after a year postponement due to the pandemic, and the wedding was held at Queen's Landing in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. I was thrilled to find this library at the hotel, and just had to have my photo taken in it. I believe it will be my author photo for the foreseeable future.
Please feel free to engage on my Facebook page, or on Twitter, or to share this email to anyone you think may be interested by using the icons below.
If you are getting this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up here .
Kelly's Writing Tips #4
Listen.
While this is good advice for life in general, as a writer you can hear great things all around you that can be used in your stories. And if people are just saying things out where anyone can hear them, that makes their anecdotes fair game.
I hope you enjoy your fall. For my Canadian readers, have a Happy Thanksgiving, and for my North American readers, enjoy a safe and fun Halloween!
Thanks for reading.
Kelly Young
Member of Sisters in Crime, Beta Sigma Phi.
September 21, 2021
August 3, 2021
Midsummer 2021
Midsummer 2021 Newsletter
WIN A MAGNET JUST FOR SUBSCRIBING!
Congratulations to Candy Kennedy, the winner of the last newsletter's drawing.
I'm doing it again this time too! All subscribers will be entered in the random draw. The winner will be contacted by e-mail for his or her contact information and choice of in-stock magnet. Good luck!
PROGRESS REPORT
Say It Isn't So, Joe
I've come up with a new plan
As those who know me are aware, I read a lot. So much so that sometimes I forget to write! So I've come up with a new plan. From now on, I resolve to write at least one chapter between books that I read. So far it's going well! The first draft of the new book is up to Chapter 12!
I've also decided to switch back to my original, and real, author name for the series.
Throw a vote my way?
The cover of Lethal Shot on Flowerpot is in the running for AllAuthors cover of the month
Over at AllAuthors, my cover - featuring my own photo of the flowerpot for which the island is famous - is up for the coveted cover of the month. You can vote for it, once a week if it gets that far, by visiting Here
First, all the selected entries will contest for the next round. (Duration 1st - 7th)
Second, 100 top-voted covers will compete to enter the third round. (Duration 8th - 14th)
Third, top 50 book covers from the previous round. (Duration 15th - 21st)
Fourth, top 24 book covers will play the last round in the chase. (Duration 22nd - Month end)
Cozy Mystery series news
I've removed all of my cozies from Kindle Unlimited
The Travel Writer Cozy Mystery series and the prequel to the Haunted and Harassed Paranormal Cozy Mystery series have been removed completely from KU. I wanted to join Canadian Crime Writers, but was told I couldn't because I'm self-published. However, they are going to review my case and let me know their decision sometime this month.
If it's still a no, I will try to get a publisher to take on the series. But I cannot do that while Amazon has me locked in for 90 day periods with KU. Wish me luck!
All of my other books remain enrolled in the KU program, for now.
BookBub update
I finally found out why I couldn't get full use of my account
Apparently, only those living in the USA gets all of the benefits of the site, such as recommending books and leaving/getting reviews. So I made the difficult decision, upon a recommendation from site administrators, to change my country of residence to the USA.
Worry not, I'm still in Canada.
If you want to check out my page there, you can visit (and leave reviews I hope) BookBub.
Book recommendation
Check out one of my favourite authors, Ann Charles
Ann is the mystery author of the critically acclaimed Deadwood series, the Jackrabbit Junction series, the Dig Site series, the Deadwood Undertaker series, and the AC Silly Circus series. You can find out about her excellent books by clicking on her name above.
Kelly's Writing Tips #3
Don't go back and edit as you go.
While writing your first draft, just plow your way through. It's, after all, just your first draft. If you're not sure what a character's name is going to be, just leave it blank to be filled in later. I often write *add description here* and move on. The little things can be filled out in the second draft or even later.
A first draft isn't any good unless you finish it.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer!
Thanks for reading.
Kelly Young
Member of Sisters in Crime, Beta Sigma Phi.
August 3, 2021
Copyright © 2021 Young and Keele Press, All rights reserved.
WIN A MAGNET JUST FOR SUBSCRIBING!
Congratulations to Candy Kennedy, the winner of the last newsletter's drawing.
I'm doing it again this time too! All subscribers will be entered in the random draw. The winner will be contacted by e-mail for his or her contact information and choice of in-stock magnet. Good luck!
PROGRESS REPORT
Say It Isn't So, Joe
I've come up with a new plan
As those who know me are aware, I read a lot. So much so that sometimes I forget to write! So I've come up with a new plan. From now on, I resolve to write at least one chapter between books that I read. So far it's going well! The first draft of the new book is up to Chapter 12!
I've also decided to switch back to my original, and real, author name for the series.
Throw a vote my way?
The cover of Lethal Shot on Flowerpot is in the running for AllAuthors cover of the month
Over at AllAuthors, my cover - featuring my own photo of the flowerpot for which the island is famous - is up for the coveted cover of the month. You can vote for it, once a week if it gets that far, by visiting Here
First, all the selected entries will contest for the next round. (Duration 1st - 7th)
Second, 100 top-voted covers will compete to enter the third round. (Duration 8th - 14th)
Third, top 50 book covers from the previous round. (Duration 15th - 21st)
Fourth, top 24 book covers will play the last round in the chase. (Duration 22nd - Month end)
Cozy Mystery series news
I've removed all of my cozies from Kindle Unlimited
The Travel Writer Cozy Mystery series and the prequel to the Haunted and Harassed Paranormal Cozy Mystery series have been removed completely from KU. I wanted to join Canadian Crime Writers, but was told I couldn't because I'm self-published. However, they are going to review my case and let me know their decision sometime this month.
If it's still a no, I will try to get a publisher to take on the series. But I cannot do that while Amazon has me locked in for 90 day periods with KU. Wish me luck!
All of my other books remain enrolled in the KU program, for now.
BookBub update
I finally found out why I couldn't get full use of my account
Apparently, only those living in the USA gets all of the benefits of the site, such as recommending books and leaving/getting reviews. So I made the difficult decision, upon a recommendation from site administrators, to change my country of residence to the USA.
Worry not, I'm still in Canada.
If you want to check out my page there, you can visit (and leave reviews I hope) BookBub.
Book recommendation
Check out one of my favourite authors, Ann Charles
Ann is the mystery author of the critically acclaimed Deadwood series, the Jackrabbit Junction series, the Dig Site series, the Deadwood Undertaker series, and the AC Silly Circus series. You can find out about her excellent books by clicking on her name above.
Kelly's Writing Tips #3
Don't go back and edit as you go.
While writing your first draft, just plow your way through. It's, after all, just your first draft. If you're not sure what a character's name is going to be, just leave it blank to be filled in later. I often write *add description here* and move on. The little things can be filled out in the second draft or even later.
A first draft isn't any good unless you finish it.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer!
Thanks for reading.
Kelly Young
Member of Sisters in Crime, Beta Sigma Phi.
August 3, 2021
Copyright © 2021 Young and Keele Press, All rights reserved.
August 2, 2021
I need your vote!
They say not to judge a book by its cover but I need you to do just that. If you liked the cover of my book, Lethal Shot on Flowerpot: A Travel Writer Cozy Mystery #4, please vote for it for the Cover of the Month contest on AllAuthor.com!
I’m getting closer to clinch the "Cover of the Month" contest on AllAuthor! I’d need as much support from you guys. Please take a short moment to vote for my book cover here:
Click to Vote!
