Mary Ellis's Blog, page 4

Read my interview on Friday for a chance to win $25.00 Amazon certificate

We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways!

THIS WEEK:

This week we’ll introduce you to a brand new Suspense Sister! We’re thrilled that Linda J. White has joined us. If you’ve never read one of her books, you’re missing out! Friday, you can learn more about Linda. Stop by and say, “Hello!” Someone will win a copy of her newest book, SNIPER! One word of warning: You’ll stay up later than you want to because it’s hard to put down!

On Tuesday Dana Mentink will share What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery.



On Wednesday Suspense Sister Mary Ellis talks about writer’s block. You’ll enjoy her article “When the Words Won’t Come….aka Writer’sBlock.” Mary’s giving away a $25.00 Amazon gift card to someone who leaves a comment on the Suspense Sister’s blog. (Don’t forget to leave your contact information or you cannot win).

Friday, you’ll get to know our new sister, Linda J. White. Someone will win a copy of her great suspense novel, SNIPER!

Shocked by the murder of a friend, FBI Special Agent Kit McGovern vows to bring the killer to justice. Then the shooter kills again, and again … and again.


Saddled with an unpredictable partner, forced to put her personal life on hold, Kit doggedly pursues the sniper. Quantico sends a geographic profiler to help identify him, but the killing of a young woman outside the probability zone casts doubt on that technique. As panic grips the Hampton Roads area, pressure mounts, and Kit soon finds herself in the crosshairs of failure—and defeat.



Mary Ellis from the The Suspense Sisters! We love books!

Susan Page Davis has a new book out….

Today Home Thoughts welcomes Susan Page Davis, whom I had the pleasure of interviewing.

MZ: If you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?
SPD: I’m an ordinary person who tells stories.

What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies?
SPD: I enjoy reading, solving logic problems and codes, genealogy and embroidery. One of my favorite activities is doing things with my family—it doesn’t matter what we do, as long as we’re together.

What was your favorite book as a teen or child?
SPD: So many to choose from! As a child, I loved the Miss Pickerel books by Ellen MacGregor. As a teenager, one favorite was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith.

Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.
SPD: I’m a horrible cook. I know how to shoe horses, but I haven’t done it for forty years. I am a book magnet, and books come to me, but I have an awful time trying to get rid of any.

What genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Why or why not?
SPD: The first books I wrote were romantic suspense, but my first published books were historical romance. I still write both, and cozy mysteries. I love variety. I don’t get bored that way.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
SPD: The worst criticism is when a reader doesn’t feel I’ve done the job well—haven’t finished the story, or haven’t made them believe it could happen that way. The greatest compliment is when the reader says she feels as though my characters are her family.

Any other genres you’d like to try? If yes, what and why?
SPD: Well, I’ve done a lot of genres—from fantasy (Feather) to military suspense (Frasier Island), with lots of romance, historicals, mysteries, and romantic suspense. I have a horse story (Sarah’s Long Ride) for middle-grade kids. I’m the sort of writer that, if it occurs to me, I write it. So, no, I don’t think there’s any other type of book I’m longing to write.

If you could go back in time and do something differently at the start of your career, what would it be?
SPD: I would start writing fiction seriously much sooner, and I would connect with other authors sooner.

What is the most important piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?
SPD: Get a good edit before you submit your work, whether to a traditional publisher or to be self-published.


Here is a summary of The House Next Door:
      The men of the Priority Unit might be wasting their time, trying to prove one dead man killed another. Or is the murderer still alive, and ready to strike again?

Susan Page Davis is the author of more than 70 novels and novels. A Maine native, she now lives in western Kentucky. She’s a two-time winner of the Will Rogers Medallion and the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest and a Carol Award winner.
Find Susan at: Website: www.susanpagedavis.com

Twitter: @SusanPageDavis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanpagedavisauthor
Sign up for Susan’s occasional newsletter at https://madmimi.com/signups/118177/join
Find The House Next door at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074P3BBHJ/ref=series_rw_dp_sw

Have a great week of reading, readers ~  Mary Ellis 

The research trip that was anything but….

Good morning, readers,

[image error]I recently returned home from a two-week trip where a condo had been booked in beautiful, historic Charleston. Only that nasty Hurricane Irma had other plans for us. My heart breaks for all the people living in the state of Florida, coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina and the several Carribean islands severely impacted. For a week we stayed in the mountains of NC, waiting to see which way Irma would head. Then we headed to Memphis and a friend’s house in Kentucky. Yes, we were out money and a chance to put final touches on my next book, Night Falls on Charleston. But so many people lost their homes, possessions, and some even their lives.  They are the ones heavy on my mind and they will remain in my prayers for a long time.

[image error]The first thing I did when I returned home was to send a check to the American Red Cross. This country has experienced one disaster after another. Please remember the Red Cross and Salvation Army with whatever you can afford to give. Thanks!

On Friday, please drop by the Suspense Sisters blog where I will be interviewing Susan Page Davis. She’ll be giving away a copy of her book, THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR, or any of the earlier books in the current series. Kindle or paperback, but a signed paperback is for U.S. only.  Please leave your comment after the interview to be entered in a drawing.       http://suspensesisters.blogspot.com/

THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR
The charming stone house next door is for sale! How could there be a downside to that?

As his wife Jennifer’s due date approaches, Captain Harvey Larson decides to invest in real estate, unaware of the terror this will cause  his family. The neighboring house seems ideal for Jennifer’s brother Jeff and his wife. A hidden cupboard isn’t so bad—in fact, it’s almost fun to try to solve the little mystery inside it. But will any of their loved ones want to live next door after they learn what’s in the basement?  The men of the Priority Unit might be wasting their time, trying to prove one dead man killed another. Or is the murderer still alive, and ready to strike again? Join them on their latest case as they deliver Maine Justice.

Thanks, readers!   Mary 

This is what’s happening on Suspense Sisters this week

 

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SUSPENSE SISTERS










We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways! On Tuesday Dana Mentink will share What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery.

Single mother Penny Potter has spent months in hiding to keep her toddler from his father, a rogue FBI agent turned fugitive. But he’s determined to flee the country with the child, and she can’t dodge him forever. When he corners Penny in the Montana wilderness and gets away with their son, she’s forced to trust his brother, handsome FBI K-9 agent Zeke Morrow. And Zeke must decide where his loyalty lies: with his sibling or the woman he wasn’t supposed to fall for. As the bullets fly and family ties are tested, Penny and Zeke will fight to save the boy who brought them together.






On Wednesday Suspense Sister Elizabeth Goddard reviews Rachel Dylan’s new book, DEADLY PROOF.

In the biggest case of her career, attorney Kate Sullivan is tapped as lead counsel to take on Mason Pharmaceutical because of a corporate cover-up related to its newest drug. After a whistleblower dies, Kate knows the stakes are much higher than her other lawsuits.

Former Army Ranger turned private investigator Landon James is still haunted by mistakes made while serving overseas. Trying to  forget the past, he is hired by Kate to look into the whistleblower’s allegations and soon suspects that the company may be engaging in a dangerous game for profit. He also soon finds himself falling for this passionate and earnest young lawyer. 

Determined not to make the same mistakes, he’s intent on keeping Kate safe, but as the case deepens, it appears someone is willing to risk everything–even murder–to keep the case from going to trial.

Friday, we hear from Elizabeth again! You could win a copy of her book, DOUBLE EXPOSURE! 

Epidemiologist Tara Blackburn is investigating an illness in an African village when she hears rapid gunfire and barely escapes with her life. What she witnesses terrify her and she flees home to the States to take refuge at a wolf sanctuary where no one will find her until she knows whom she can trust.

When Grant McCall arrives at the sanctuary to photograph the wolves, he knows Tara is wary. But he can’t reveal that he’s working undercover to learn who’s behind the carnage in Africa. An image surfaced that exposed the truth—The epidemiologist believed dead had survived, like a ghost image in a double exposure on film exposed to light.

The killers will stop at nothing to find the woman who witnessed their crimes. But even more deadly is the illness to which she was exposed.

The Suspense Sisters! We love books!

This week on Suspense Sisters…..

We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways!  THIS WEEK:

On Tuesday Dana Mentink will share What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery.  

On Wednesday Suspense Sister E.E. Kennedy writes about “Agatha  and Me!” Don’t miss this great post! She’s also giving away a copy of one of her great cozy mysteries. Your choice! 

Friday, the Suspense Sisters interview the incredible Patricia Bradley! She’s giving away a copy of her brand new book, JUSTICE BURIED!  

In an effort to get her security consulting business off the ground, Kelsey Allen has been spending a lot of time up in the air, rappelling down buildings and climbing through windows to show business owners their vulnerabilities to thieves. When she is hired to pose as a conservator at the Pink Palace Museum in order to test their security weaknesses after some artifacts go missing, she’s ecstatic. But when her investigative focus turns from theft to murder, Kelsey knows she’s out of her league–and possibly in the cross hairs. When blast-from-the-past Detective Brad Hollister is called in to investigate, Kelsey may find that he’s the biggest security threat yet . . . to her heart.

Have a great week, readers! Mary Ellis, proud to be one of the Suspense Sisters! We love books!

Welcome to Home Thoughts, Vannetta Chapman.

[image error]Today, I have the singular pleasure of interviewing a great writer and personal friend, Vannetta Chapman. 

Vannetta has a new Amish mystery series. Book one ~ What the Bishop Needs is already out. Book 2 ~  The Bishop Needs an Alibi releases at the end of this month. 

ME: If you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?

VC: I’d say I’m an energetic country girl with a fierce love for good storytelling, friends and family, and the Lord.

What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies? They’re interesting to me! Let’s see—quilting, piano, hiking, gym rat, pets, music, gardening.

What was your favorite book as a teen or child?

No one seems to remember these. I loved reading all the Cherry Aimes books. She was a nurse—an amazing nurse. She did everything from surgical, to baby wards, to triage. I loved those books and devoured them all!

Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.

I don’t eat white foods, I have a phobia about driving over extremely tall bridges, and I teach English composition at my local community college.

What genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Why or why not?

I started writing romantic suspense when I first acquired my agent. We switched to Amish romance. From there I went to Amish mystery, then dystopian, and a few inspirational suspense. I still write all of them! Basically, I enjoy telling stories, and I’ll write whatever my editor asks me to write.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

I was recently told not to write “episodic writing.” After publishing 20 books, I had no idea what my editor meant, so I emailed her back and asked her to explain. She kindly sent me a few articles, and now I understand it means you need constant tension/conflict in your story. Got it! Watch out for lots of tension and conflict in my future releases.

This week on SUSPENSE SISTERS

We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways!

THIS WEEK:

On our review page, senior reviewer Iola Goulton reviews BENEATH COPPER FALLS by Colleen Coble. Iola says:  

“Recommended for thriller fans. Best read the day before your manicure appointment, not the day after.”   

You can find her complete review HERE.

On Tuesday Dana Mentink will share What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery.

On Wednesday Suspense Sister Roxanne Rustand will share something special with us.

Friday, we’ll visit with Roxanne again as we interview her about her new book, FALLING FOR THE RANCHER. You could win a copy of this great book! 

Darcy Leighton hopes to someday inherit the veterinarian practice she works for. Before she gets the chance, Logan Maxwell buys it and now she may even lose her job. She’ll do anything to convince Logan to let her stay on.  

The Suspense Sisters! We love books!

I’m trying to hit a major milestone on Amazon.com and I need your help.

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Will you please join me?

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I’m trying to reach 50 reviews each for my last three books, ie. Sunset in Old Savannah, Magnolia Moonlight, and What Happened on Beale Street on Amazon.com. Fifty isn’t just a random number I’ve chosen, it’s the number of reviews required for Amazon to help people who’ve never heard of Secrets of the South Mysteries to find out about them! With fifty reviews, Amazon’s algorithms tell them to start promoting my books.

Here’s how you can help:
1. If you’ve read either Sunset in Old Savannah, Magnolia Moonlight or What Happened on Beale Street (or all three!) and haven’t yet posted a review, please take five minutes or less to do so. This isn’t your fifth-grade book report. No need for a five paragraph essay, unless you’d just like to. All that is required is to identify a number of stars from 0-5 and then a few sentences about what you enjoyed most.

2. When you see posts from me about my books, Like, Comment or Share them on Facebook. This will help spread the word to others!

 

I can’t thank you enough for helping me in this fashion. All I can say is is my next book in the series, set in Charleston, will be well worth the wait.

Thanks, readers! You are the best!  Mary 

Nominated For Cover of the Month

If you liked the cover of my book, Sunset in Old Savannah (Secrets of the South Mysteries Book 4), please vote for it for the Cover of the Month contest on AllAuthor.com.  https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-mo...

Thanks so much!  Hope you’re having a lovely summer!  Mary Ellis 

This week on Suspense Sisters…..

We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways!

THIS WEEK:

On our review page, senior reviewer Iola Goulton reviews BEYOND JUSTICE by Cara Putnam. Iola says: “Beyond Justice is the perfect legal thriller—great characters, lots of action, plenty of twists and turns, and enough legalese to set the scene without it starting to sound like reading a court transcript.”  You can find her complete review HERE.

On Tuesday, Suspense Sister Dana Mentink will share What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery.

On Wednesday we’ll hear from Dana again as she talks about “Springing into a New Season” with a crazy spring contest! For details read her post. You could be a winner!

Friday we’re interviewing Suspense Sister Elizabeth Goddard. She’s giving away a copy of her exciting new book, FALSE SECURITY.

 

Arriving at her secluded cabin to find her brother missing, Olivia Kendricks follows his trail into the woods—until two shooters take aim at her. She only escapes when ex-detective Zachary Long, her brother’s friend—and Olivia’s first love—comes to her rescue. Now as they run for their lives in the snowbound wilderness, they must search for her brother while figuring out why someone wants them dead. And though Zach’s police force training may be what will save them, it’s also what once drove them apart when he gave Olivia up to chase his dream. In a freezing landscape as deadly as it is beautiful, they’ll have to let go of the past…and face down powerful men willing to kill to keep secrets buried.

That’s what’s happening this week on the Suspense Sisters. Don’t miss a single day. Sign up through email so you’ll get updates in the exciting world of inspirational suspense and mystery!