Mike Martin's Blog, page 13
December 12, 2017
Update # 2 Windflower Holiday Book Sale
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The Windflower Holiday Book Sale is going great!! After two weeks we have recorded 46 book sales and that means our running total is $230.00 for the Minwaashin Lodge-Indigenous Women’s Support Centre in Ottawa. Please join us in supporting a very worthwhile cause.
For those of you who are just finding out about this fundraiser, I am donating $5.00 from the sale of every Windflower book in December to the Minwaashin Lodge-Indigenous Women’s Support Centre in Ottawa. This facility is a healing centre in Ottawa that provides a range of programs and services to First Nations, Inuit and Metis women and children who are survivors of domestic and other forms of violence, and who may also be suffering the effects of the residential school system.
The mission of Minwaashin Lodge-Indigenous Women’s Support Centre is to provide wholistic programs and services for grandmothers, women, children and youth impacted by family violence and residential schooling. All programs and services are provided in the context of cultural beliefs and values as part of the healing journey.
The money donated will go to support First Nations, Inuit and Metis women and children to have a good meal and presents from Santa under the tree on Christmas morning.
For more information about Minwaashin Lodge-Indigenous Women’s Support Centre and to make your own donation please visit:
Thank you for supporting Minwaashin Lodge– Indigenous Women’s Healing Centre
Where to Buy A Tangled Web
A Tangled Web is now available at many fine retail locations across Canada. It will soon be available in many more Chapters/Coles/Indigo stores. We’ll try to keep you updated. In the meantime, here are some of our favourite retail locations and below is the list of online retailers where you can order A Tangled Web at any time.
(If your local store doesn’t have A Tangled Web in stock, ask them to order some copies)
Toronto, Ontario
Sleuth of Baker Street
Indigo Yonge/Eglinton
Ottawa, Ontario
Books on Beechwood
Perfect Books
Chapters South Keys
Chapters Rideau
Coles Carlingwood
Kingston, Ontario
Novel Idea Bookstore
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
Coles Corner Brook Mall
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Downhome Shoppe and Gallery, Water St.
Elaine’s Books, Duckworth St.
Chapters Kenmount Road
Coles Avalon Mall
Coles Village Mall
Don’t forget to follow Sgt. Windflower on Facebook and keep liking and sharing the good news. Thank You!!
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
Where to Buy A Tangled Web online:
Chapters/Indigo
United States
A Tangled Web is available for order from Booklocker.com and from Amazon.com in both print and e-book versions
Booklocker
http://assets.booklocker.com/pdfs/9456s.pdf
Amazon.com
United Kingdom
A Tangled Web is available for order from Amazon UK in both print and e-book versions
December 1, 2017
Update # 1 Windflower Holiday Book Sale
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The Windflower Holiday Book Sale is off to a great start. So far, we have recorded 26 book sales and that means our running total is $130.00 for the Minwaashin Lodge-Indigenous Women’s Support Centre in Ottawa.
For those of you who are just finding out about this fundraiser, I am donating $5.00 from the sale of every Windflower book to the Minwaashin Lodge-Indigenous Women’s Support Centre in Ottawa. This facility is a healing centre in Ottawa that provides a range of programs and services to First Nations, Inuit and Metis women and children who are survivors of domestic and other forms of violence, and who may also be suffering the effects of the residential school system.
The mission of Minwaashin Lodge-Indigenous Women’s Support Centre is to provide wholistic programs and services for grandmothers, women, children and youth impacted by family violence and residential schooling. All programs and services are provided in the context of cultural beliefs and values as part of the healing journey.
The money donated will go to support First Nations, Inuit and Metis women and children to have a good meal and presents from Santa under the tree on Christmas morning.
[image error]
For more information about Minwaashin Lodge-Indigenous Women’s Support Centre and to make your own donation please visit:
Thank you for supporting Minwaashin Lodge – Indigenous Women’s Healing Centre
Where to Buy A Tangled Web
A Tangled Web is now available at many fine retail locations across Canada. It will soon be available in many more Chapters/Coles/Indigo stores. We’ll try to keep you updated. In the meantime, here are some of our favourite retail locations and below is the list of online retailers where you can order A Tangled Web at any time.
(If your local store doesn’t have A Tangled Web in stock, ask them to order some copies)
Toronto, Ontario
Sleuth of Baker Street
Indigo Yonge/Eglinton
Ottawa, Ontario
Books on Beechwood
Perfect Books
Chapters South Keys
Chapters Rideau
Coles Carlingwood
Kingston, Ontario
Novel Idea Bookstore
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
Coles Corner Brook Mall
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Downhome Shoppe and Gallery, Water St.
Elaine’s Books, Duckworth St.
Chapters Kenmount Road
Coles Avalon Mall
Coles Village Mall
Don’t forget to follow Sgt. Windflower on Facebook and keep liking and sharing the good news. Thank You!!
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
Where to Buy A Tangled Web online:
Chapters/Indigo
United States
A Tangled Web is available for order from Booklocker.com and from Amazon.com in both print and e-book versions
Booklocker
http://assets.booklocker.com/pdfs/9456s.pdf
Amazon.com
United Kingdom
A Tangled Web is available for order from Amazon UK in both print and e-book versions
November 23, 2017
Annual Windflower Holiday Book Sale
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It’s time for the 6th Annual Windflower Holiday Book Sale. For the last five years I have been my share of the profits from the December sales of all Sgt. Windflower books to a great community cause. It’s a great way for me to give back a little to people and organizations who need so much, especially this time of year. In the last five years we have been able to donate nearly $3,000.00 to community groups who really need our support.
This year I will be donating $5.00 from the sale of every Windflower book to the Minwaashin Lodge-Indigenous Women’s Support Centre in Ottawa. This facility is a healing centre in Ottawa that provides a range of programs and services to First Nations, Inuit and Metis women and children who are survivors of domestic and other forms of violence, and who may also be suffering the effects of the residential school system.
The mission of Minwaashin Lodge-Indigenous Women’s Support Centre is to provide wholistic programs and services for grandmothers, women, children and youth impacted by family violence and residential schooling. All programs and services are provided in the context of cultural beliefs and values as part of the healing journey.
The money donated will go to support First Nations, Inuit and Metis women and children to have a good meal and presents from Santa under the tree on Christmas morning.
For more information about Minwaashin Lodge-Indigenous Women’s Support Centre and to make your own donation please visit:
[image error]
Thank you for supporting Minwaashin Lodge– Indigenous Women’s Healing Centre
Special Offer
If you make an individual donation to this cause, I will donate an additional $5.00. Just let me know that you’ve made a contribution. In addition, I will send a signed copy of a Sgt. Windflower Mystery, to you, or a friend or relative of choice, anywhere in the world.
E-mail me at mike54martin@yahoo.ca and I’ll send the other book along. And of course, add my additional donation to the cause.
The Sgt. Windflower books are available in Chapters/Indigo stores across Canada and at Chapters.ca. The latest book in the series is A Tangled Web.
Here’s where you can get A Tangled Web
Canada
A Tangled Web is available in many bookstores across the country and for order from Chapters/Indigo
United States
A Tangled Web is available for order from Booklocker.com and from Amazon.com in both print and e-book versions
Booklocker
http://assets.booklocker.com/pdfs/9456s.pdf
Amazon.com
United Kingdom
A Tangled Web is available for order from Amazon UK in both print and e-book versions
Follow Sgt. Windflower’s adventures on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
November 8, 2017
Why I’m Giving Books Away: The Sgt. Windflower Reading Equality Program
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I have now published six books in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series and each time I have chosen to give away a number of copies, absolutely free. Not only that, but I actively seek out strangers or near strangers on social media to give them away to. Now, I am not giving away all copies of my books. I am neither rich nor daft and I am not particularly altruistic, but I do believe in helping people to read my book.
And quite honestly not everyone can afford to buy a book, especially new books. Tons of people are living on a tight budget, on social assistance or on a fixed income because of disability or not being able to work anymore. It’s hard to comprehend in this world of plenty, but twenty bucks is a lot of money if you haven’t got it and one of the ‘luxuries’ that many people give up is purchasing new books. They wait until they are available from the library or get them lent from friends or from the second-hand bookstore. I support libraries, but why do some people have to wait?
I realize that I can’t give anybody a raise in their monthly stipend to help them with their book budget, but I can help at least a few of them enjoy my new books, fresh out of the printer’s box. I believe in an idea called Reading Equality, a radically new concept that everyone should have access to quality, new release books. That’s why I am making 25 copies of A Tangled Web available to people on a low or fixed income. I am advertising this offer on Facebook and Twitter and as the time of writing there are still a few copies left.
If you want one or know of someone who could use one but can’t afford it, just message me with the mailing address and I will send a copy in the mail. And yes, I will even sign them. No questions asked. You can send me a message thru Sgt. Windflower Mysteries or Facebook. The links are at the bottom of this post.
Of course, if you have the money, I hope you will consider buying a copy for yourself. Maybe even one for somebody you know doesn’t have the cash. Pay it forward. It works for me.
Here’s where you can get A Tangled Web
Canada
A Tangled Web is available in many bookstores across the country and for order from Chapters/Indigo
United States
A Tangled Web is available for order from Booklocker.com and from Amazon.com in both print and e-book versions
Booklocker
http://assets.booklocker.com/pdfs/9456s.pdf
Amazon.com
United Kingdom
A Tangled Web is available for order from Amazon UK in both print and e-book versions
Follow Sgt. Windflower’s adventures on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
October 27, 2017
The Early Reviews: A Tangled Web is another great Sgt. Windflower adventure
The Early Reviews are in. A Tangled Web is another great Sgt. Windflower
adventure.
A Tangled Web is starting to get some reviews from people in Canada and around the
world. So far, the news is good. Very good. Canada, France and the United States are
on the map.
Cecile Sune, Book Blogger and Reviewer
Ottawa, Ontario
“Winston Windflower is true to form, level-headed and efficient, and Newfoundland is a
beautiful background to the story. A very enjoyable read indeed.”
Cheryl Pasquier Madhouse Family Reviews
St Pol sur Mer France
“Settling down with a Sgt. Windflower mystery is like pulling on your favourite cozy
pyjamas and fluffy slippers.”
Joyce Fox Book Reviewer
United States
“I enjoyed the presence of a First Nations police officer and thought he was very well
represented. I appreciated the little aphorisms that were dropped in throughout the
book. The small town in Newfoundland seems like such a nice place. This is my first
Mike Martin novel and I immediately went to Amazon to look at his other Windflower
books.”
Where to Buy A Tangled Web
A Tangled Web in Canada is now available at many fine retail locations across
Canada. It will soon be available in many more Chapters/Coles/Indigo stores. We’ll try
to keep you updated. In the meantime, here are some of our favourite retail locations
and below is the list of online retailers where you can order A Tangled Web at any time.
Online
United States
Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1634926501/...–
1&keywords=a tangled web%2C mike martin
United Kingdom
Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...–
keywords=a tangled web%2C mike martin
Canada
Chapters/Indigo
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...
%2C%20mike%20martin&internal=1
Amazon Canada
https://www.amazon.ca/Tangled-Web–Mik...
Don’t forget to follow Sgt. Windflower on Facebook and keep liking and sharing the
good news. Thank You!!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnT...
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
October 10, 2017
Now Available in Kindle and Kobo: A Tangled Web, the New Sgt. Windflower Mystery
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A Tangled Web in Canada is now available as an e-book in both Kindle and Kobo versions.
On addition to Canadian and print versions, A Tangled Web, the latest Sgt. Windflower Mystery is now available as an e-book. It will be sold by the usual online retailers including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and iTunes. This book follows the highly successful last book in the series, A Long Ways from Home, which was shortlisted for the Bony Blithe Award as one of the best light mysteries of the year. It is also available for order from Amazon.com and on Amazon sites all over the world and retailers in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Here are some of the ebook links
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0768R7VTR
Barnes and Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-tangled-web-mike-martin/1127180050?ean=2940158709128
Apple Store
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1294056823
Kobo Store
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-tangled-web-54
And A Tangled Web is available from other retailers and booksellers including:
United States
Amazon.com
United Kingdom
Amazon UK
Canada
A Tangled Web is already available for order from Indigo Chapters and from a few select bookstores like Books on Beechwood in Ottawa and Elaine’s Books in St. John’s, Newfoundland. And it will soon be available in book stores all across the country!!
Here is the link to order from Indigo Chapters
See you at Bouchercon in Toronto October 12-16, 2017
Bouchercon Panel October 12, 2017
Bouchercon is the world’s largest mystery conference. Thousands of people will be flooding into the Sheraton Centre in Toronto Oct 12-16, 2017 to attend this premiere event. I will be participating on a panel on Thursday, October 12. The name of the panel is Coastal Crimes and it is described as: “How does living on the water’s edge drive crime?” The panel runs from 4:00 to 5:00 in the Sheraton A room and I will be signing books afterwards in book/dealer room (Osgoode).
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
October 6, 2017
Where to Buy A Tangled Web in Canada
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A Tangled Web in Canada is now available at many fine retail locations across Canada. It will soon be available in many more Chapters/Coles/Indigo stores. We’ll try to keep you updated. In the meantime, here are some of our favourite retail locations and below is the list of online retailers where you can order A Tangled Web at any time.
(If your local store doesn’t have A Tangled Web in stock, ask them to order some copies)
Ottawa, Ontario
Books on Beechwood
Kingston, Ontario
Novel Idea Bookstore
St. John’s, Newfoundland
Elaine’s Books, Duckworth Street
Where to Buy A Tangled Web online:
Chapters/Indigo
Amazon Canada
https://www.amazon.ca/Tangled-Web-Mike-Martin/dp/1634926501
Don’t forget to follow Sgt. Windflower on Facebook and keep liking and sharing the good news. Thank You!!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
October 4, 2017
Now Available All Over the World: A Tangled Web, new Sgt. Windflower Mystery
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Mike Martin and Booklocker are pleased to announce the American and International release of A Tangled Web, the latest Sgt. Windflower Mystery. This book follows the highly successful last book in the series, A Long Ways from Home, which was shortlisted for the Bony Blithe Award as one of the best light mysteries of the year. It is now available for order from Amazon.com and on Amazon sites all over the world. Soon it will be available from a variety of other retailers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
United States
Amazon.com
United Kingdom
Amazon UK
A Tangled Web will also be available very soon in all e-book formats and we will post those links as they become available.
“Life is good for Sgt. Windflower in Grand Bank, Newfoundland. But something’s missing from the Mountie’s life. Actually, a lot of things go missing, including a little girl and supplies from the new factory. It’s Windflower’s job to unravel the tangled web of murder, deceit and an accidental kidnapping that threatens to engulf this sleepy little town and destroy those closest to him. But there’s always good food, good friends and the love of a great woman to make everything better in the end.”
Canada
A Tangled Web is already available for order from Indigo Chapters and from a few select bookstores like Books on Beechwood in Ottawa and Elaine’s Books in St. John’s, Newfoundland. And it will soon be available in book stores all across the country!!
Here is the link to order from Indigo Chapters
See you at Bouchercon in Toronto October 12-16, 2017
Bouchercon Panel October 12, 2017
Bouchercon is the world’s largest mystery conference. Thousands of people will be flooding into the Sheraton Centre in Toronto Oct 12-16, 2017 to attend this premiere event. I will be participating on a panel on Thursday, October 12. The name of the panel is Coastal Crimes and it is described as: “How does living on the water’s edge drive crime?” The panel runs from 4:00 to 5:00 in the Sheraton A room and I will be signing books afterwards in book/dealer room (Osgoode).
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
September 27, 2017
It’s Here!!! Canadian Book Release: A Tangled Web
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Mike Martin and Baico Publishing are pleased to announce the Canadian release of
A Tangled Web, the latest Sgt. Windflower Mystery. This book follows the highly successful last book in the series, A Long Ways from Home, which was shortlisted for the Bony Blithe Award as one of the best light mysteries of the year. It is available for order from Indigo Chapters and from a few select bookstores like Books on Beechwood in Ottawa. And it will soon be available in book stores all across the country!!
Here is the link to order from Indigo Chapters
There will be a separate American and international publication of A Tangled Web. It will also be available very soon in all e-book formats and through Amazon all over the world as well as through other online and retail book sellers
“Life is good for Sgt. Windflower in Grand Bank, Newfoundland. But something’s missing from the Mountie’s life. Actually, a lot of things go missing in Grand Bank: a little girl, supplies from the new factory, even some of his people. It’s Windflower’s job to unravel the tangled web that threatens to engulf this sleepy little town. But there’s always good food and good friends and the love of a great woman to make everything better at the end. Come back to Grand Bank and enjoy some of that for yourself.”
Book Launch October 4, 2017
A Tangled Web will be officially launched at our favourite independent bookstore, Books on Beechwood in Ottawa. There will be food and fun including cake!!
Come Celebrate the Launch of the latest Sgt. Windflower Mystery
A Tangled Web
6:30-8:00 pm Wednesday October 4, 2017
Books on Beechwood
35 Beechwood Ave
There will be Cake!!
Bouchercon Panel October 12, 2017
Bouchercon is the world’s largest mystery conference. Thousands of people will be flooding into the Sheraton Centre in Toronto Oct 12-16, 2017 to attend this premiere event. I will be participating on a panel on Thursday, October 12. The name of the panel is Coastal Crimes and it is described as: “How does living on the water’s edge drive crime?” The panel runs from 4:00 to 5:00 in the Sheraton A room and I will be signing books afterwards in book/dealer room (Osgoode).
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
September 6, 2017
Coming Soon: A Tangled Web Sneak Preview
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A Tangled Web, the latest Sgt. Windflower Mystery is coming soon. Publication date for Canada with Baico Publishing is Sept 22. In the United States it will be published by Booklocker on September 25.
Sneak Preview
Here’s an excerpt from A Tangled Web
“Life doesn’t get much better than this,” said Winston Windflower. The Mountie looked over at his collie, Lady, who wagged her tail at the sound of his voice. If dogs could smile, she smiled back. His world was almost perfect. He had the love of a great woman and a good job as a Sergeant in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police patrolling one of the lowest crime regions in the country. Plus, the weather had been mild so far, at least for Newfoundland in early December, and that meant no snowstorms with forced overnighters at the detachment. Life was very good indeed.
He had good friends, including Lady, who was amongst the best of them. And he had a child on the way. His wife, Sheila Hillier, was pregnant and at the clinic for her three-month checkup. He was waiting to hear how both Sheila and the baby were doing. His Auntie Marie had told him the baby was a girl, and if anyone knew about these things, it was his Auntie. She was a dream weaver, an interpreter of not just dreams but of messages from the spirit world. Windflower had recently spent a week with her and his Uncle Frank, another dream weaver, to learn more about the dream world.
Interpreting dreams was part of his family’s tradition. But it was an imperfect tool that gave information, not always answers. Perhaps the most important thing he learned was that dreams do not predict the future. Instead, as his Auntie told him, “Dreams tell us about our past, what has already happened. They also point to actions we should take if we want to get the right result in the future and to the signs all around us that we need to follow.”
Windflower was contemplating that piece of wisdom when he noticed a very distraught woman get out of her car outside the RCMP detachment in Grand Bank. She ran towards the front door. He walked out to meet her, but the administrative assistant, Betsy Molloy, beat him to it.
“There, there now, Molly. What’s goin’ on?” asked Betsy as she put her arms around the other woman and guided her to a seat in the reception area.
“It’s Sarah, she’s gone,” said the other woman between sobs. “I told her to stay close by the house where I could see her. I went out back to put the wash on the line. When I came in, she was gone.”
“Okay, Mrs. Quinlan,” said Windflower as he knelt down beside the two women. “How old is Sarah?” He didn’t really need to know how old the girl was. He wanted to help the mother calm down so she could give them as much information as possible.
“She’s going to be six next month,” said Molly Quinlan. “She’s growing up so fast. But she’s still such a little girl. And now I’ve lost her. Brent is going to kill me.” She started sobbing again.
“What was she wearing so that we can help find her?” asked Windflower, trying to get information but also trying to help Molly Quinlan feel useful.
The woman stopped crying and said her daughter was wearing jeans and a favourite t-shirt. “It was pink and had sparkles. She said it made her feel like she was a princess. And she had her light blue jacket on with a hood.”
Windflower smiled. “I’m sure she’ll show up soon. But let’s go over to where you last saw her, and we’ll start looking. She can’t have gone far. Leave your car here, and come with me. I’ll drive you over.” The woman smiled weakly at Windflower through her tears and allowed him to take her arm and guide her to his Jeep outside the door.
He returned inside to give directions to Betsy. “Get Constable Smithson in here. I’ll call Frost and get him to come in from his rounds.”
Betsy nodded her agreement, and Windflower went outside to drive Molly Quinlan home.
Meanwhile, it turns out, Sarah Quinlan was fine, perfectly fine. She had wandered a little way from home in the centre of town. She was going to go down to the nearby brook to feed the ducks. She knew better than to go into the water, but she couldn’t see any reason why she couldn’t just look. She’d done it before, and nobody seemed to mind. As long as she didn’t stay away too long, everything was okay.
Sarah had that great fearless attitude of a child who grew up in a small and very safe community. She knew most of her neighbours, and they all watched out for her. She also had the natural curiosity of little children, especially when she saw something new. The truck parked on the roadway above the brook was new, so Sarah went to take a closer look. Even better, the back door of the truck was open, and there was a ramp leading inside. This was certainly worth a closer inspection.
Sarah Quinlan was having fun exploring the back of the large truck when she heard a loud, rumbling noise. She didn’t know it, but the driver had started the engine. It was so loud, and Sarah was so frightened by it, she froze. The next thing she remembered was everything going almost completely black and the back door of the truck slamming shut. She cried out, but by then it was too late. Seconds later she, the truck and the unsuspecting driver were barrelling out of town and onto the highway.
Windflower drove Molly Quinlan to her house and got her to show him where Sarah had been playing. Together they walked through the house to see if the little girl had come home and hidden there. But no such luck. While they were searching the house, they were joined by two of Quinlan’s neighbours who took over Molly’s care and made her a cup of tea. Soon afterwards Constable Harry Frost arrived from his highway patrol.
Windflower gave him a quick update and directed him to go to one end of town to start the search. He would begin the house-to-house search through the neighbourhood when Smithson showed up.
He first checked out back and looked in the storage shed, a favourite hiding place of every little kid and probably where Windflower himself would have taken refuge. But Sarah was not there. As he went to the front of the house, Constable Rick Smithson showed up.
“Afternoon, Boss,” said Smithson. “Any sign of her yet?”
Windflower shook his head. “Frost is doing the big circle search. You and I will start the door-to-door. Ask them if they saw the girl this afternoon. I’ll start from here. You go down to the brook, and work your way up.”
Smithson returned to his cruiser and sped off. Windflower wasn’t worried. Yet. But he knew that the first few hours were crucial in finding a missing child. If they didn’t, then it was almost always something more serious. Not time to panic, but no time to waste. He walked up to the first door and knocked.
Book Launch October 4, 2017
A Tangled Web will be officially launched at our favourite independent bookstore, Books on Beechwood. There will be food and fun and a surprise. The surprise is so secret that we don’t even know what it is ourselves yet. Stay tuned for more news about the book launch as we get nearer to the date.
Bouchercon Panel October 12, 2017
Bouchercon is the world’s largest mystery conference. Thousands of people will be flooding into the Sheraton Centre in Toronto Oct 12-16, 2017 to attend this premiere event. I will be participating on a panel on Thursday, October 12. The name of the panel is Coastal Crimes and it is described as: “How does living on the water’s edge drive crime?” The panel runs from 4:00 to 5:00 in the Sheraton A room and I will be signing books afterwards in book/dealer room (Osgoode).
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
Coming Soon: A Tangled Web Sneak Preview
New Sgt. Windflower Mystery
A Tangled Web, the latest Sgt. Windflower Mystery is coming soon. Publication date for Canada with Baico Publishing is Sept 22. In the United States it will be published by Booklocker on September 25.
Sneak Preview
Here’s an excerpt from A Tangled Web
“Life doesn’t get much better than this,” said Winston Windflower. The Mountie looked over at his collie, Lady, who wagged her tail at the sound of his voice. If dogs could smile, she smiled back. His world was almost perfect. He had the love of a great woman and a good job as a Sergeant in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police patrolling one of the lowest crime regions in the country. Plus, the weather had been mild so far, at least for Newfoundland in early December, and that meant no snowstorms with forced overnighters at the detachment. Life was very good indeed.
He had good friends, including Lady, who was amongst the best of them. And he had a child on the way. His wife, Sheila Hillier, was pregnant and at the clinic for her three-month checkup. He was waiting to hear how both Sheila and the baby were doing. His Auntie Marie had told him the baby was a girl, and if anyone knew about these things, it was his Auntie. She was a dream weaver, an interpreter of not just dreams but of messages from the spirit world. Windflower had recently spent a week with her and his Uncle Frank, another dream weaver, to learn more about the dream world.
Interpreting dreams was part of his family’s tradition. But it was an imperfect tool that gave information, not always answers. Perhaps the most important thing he learned was that dreams do not predict the future. Instead, as his Auntie told him, “Dreams tell us about our past, what has already happened. They also point to actions we should take if we want to get the right result in the future and to the signs all around us that we need to follow.”
Windflower was contemplating that piece of wisdom when he noticed a very distraught woman get out of her car outside the RCMP detachment in Grand Bank. She ran towards the front door. He walked out to meet her, but the administrative assistant, Betsy Molloy, beat him to it.
“There, there now, Molly. What’s goin’ on?” asked Betsy as she put her arms around the other woman and guided her to a seat in the reception area.
“It’s Sarah, she’s gone,” said the other woman between sobs. “I told her to stay close by the house where I could see her. I went out back to put the wash on the line. When I came in, she was gone.”
“Okay, Mrs. Quinlan,” said Windflower as he knelt down beside the two women. “How old is Sarah?” He didn’t really need to know how old the girl was. He wanted to help the mother calm down so she could give them as much information as possible.
“She’s going to be six next month,” said Molly Quinlan. “She’s growing up so fast. But she’s still such a little girl. And now I’ve lost her. Brent is going to kill me.” She started sobbing again.
“What was she wearing so that we can help find her?” asked Windflower, trying to get information but also trying to help Molly Quinlan feel useful.
The woman stopped crying and said her daughter was wearing jeans and a favourite t-shirt. “It was pink and had sparkles. She said it made her feel like she was a princess. And she had her light blue jacket on with a hood.”
Windflower smiled. “I’m sure she’ll show up soon. But let’s go over to where you last saw her, and we’ll start looking. She can’t have gone far. Leave your car here, and come with me. I’ll drive you over.” The woman smiled weakly at Windflower through her tears and allowed him to take her arm and guide her to his Jeep outside the door.
He returned inside to give directions to Betsy. “Get Constable Smithson in here. I’ll call Frost and get him to come in from his rounds.”
Betsy nodded her agreement, and Windflower went outside to drive Molly Quinlan home.
Meanwhile, it turns out, Sarah Quinlan was fine, perfectly fine. She had wandered a little way from home in the centre of town. She was going to go down to the nearby brook to feed the ducks. She knew better than to go into the water, but she couldn’t see any reason why she couldn’t just look. She’d done it before, and nobody seemed to mind. As long as she didn’t stay away too long, everything was okay.
Sarah had that great fearless attitude of a child who grew up in a small and very safe community. She knew most of her neighbours, and they all watched out for her. She also had the natural curiosity of little children, especially when she saw something new. The truck parked on the roadway above the brook was new, so Sarah went to take a closer look. Even better, the back door of the truck was open, and there was a ramp leading inside. This was certainly worth a closer inspection.
Sarah Quinlan was having fun exploring the back of the large truck when she heard a loud, rumbling noise. She didn’t know it, but the driver had started the engine. It was so loud, and Sarah was so frightened by it, she froze. The next thing she remembered was everything going almost completely black and the back door of the truck slamming shut. She cried out, but by then it was too late. Seconds later she, the truck and the unsuspecting driver were barrelling out of town and onto the highway.
Windflower drove Molly Quinlan to her house and got her to show him where Sarah had been playing. Together they walked through the house to see if the little girl had come home and hidden there. But no such luck. While they were searching the house, they were joined by two of Quinlan’s neighbours who took over Molly’s care and made her a cup of tea. Soon afterwards Constable Harry Frost arrived from his highway patrol.
Windflower gave him a quick update and directed him to go to one end of town to start the search. He would begin the house-to-house search through the neighbourhood when Smithson showed up.
He first checked out back and looked in the storage shed, a favourite hiding place of every little kid and probably where Windflower himself would have taken refuge. But Sarah was not there. As he went to the front of the house, Constable Rick Smithson showed up.
“Afternoon, Boss,” said Smithson. “Any sign of her yet?”
Windflower shook his head. “Frost is doing the big circle search. You and I will start the door-to-door. Ask them if they saw the girl this afternoon. I’ll start from here. You go down to the brook, and work your way up.”
Smithson returned to his cruiser and sped off. Windflower wasn’t worried. Yet. But he knew that the first few hours were crucial in finding a missing child. If they didn’t, then it was almost always something more serious. Not time to panic, but no time to waste. He walked up to the first door and knocked.
Book Launch October 4, 2017
A Tangled Web will be officially launched at our favourite independent bookstore, Books on Beechwood. There will be food and fun and a surprise. The surprise is so secret that we don’t even know what it is ourselves yet. Stay tuned for more news about the book launch as we get nearer to the date.
Bouchercon Panel October 12, 2017
Bouchercon is the world’s largest mystery conference. Thousands of people will be flooding into the Sheraton Centre in Toronto Oct 12-16, 2017 to attend this premiere event. I will be participating on a panel on Thursday, October 12. The name of the panel is Coastal Crimes and it is described as: “How does living on the water’s edge drive crime?” The panel runs from 4:00 to 5:00 in the Sheraton A room and I will be signing books afterwards in book/dealer room (Osgoode).
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
Coming Soon: A Tangled Web Sneak Preview
New Sgt. Windflower Mystery
A Tangled Web, the latest Sgt. Windflower Mystery is coming soon. Publication date for Canada with Baico Publishing is Sept 22. In the United States it will be published by Booklocker on September 25.
Sneak Preview
Here’s an excerpt from A Tangled Web
“Life doesn’t get much better than this,” said Winston Windflower. The Mountie looked over at his collie, Lady, who wagged her tail at the sound of his voice. If dogs could smile, she smiled back. His world was almost perfect. He had the love of a great woman and a good job as a Sergeant in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police patrolling one of the lowest crime regions in the country. Plus, the weather had been mild so far, at least for Newfoundland in early December, and that meant no snowstorms with forced overnighters at the detachment. Life was very good indeed.
He had good friends, including Lady, who was amongst the best of them. And he had a child on the way. His wife, Sheila Hillier, was pregnant and at the clinic for her three-month checkup. He was waiting to hear how both Sheila and the baby were doing. His Auntie Marie had told him the baby was a girl, and if anyone knew about these things, it was his Auntie. She was a dream weaver, an interpreter of not just dreams but of messages from the spirit world. Windflower had recently spent a week with her and his Uncle Frank, another dream weaver, to learn more about the dream world.
Interpreting dreams was part of his family’s tradition. But it was an imperfect tool that gave information, not always answers. Perhaps the most important thing he learned was that dreams do not predict the future. Instead, as his Auntie told him, “Dreams tell us about our past, what has already happened. They also point to actions we should take if we want to get the right result in the future and to the signs all around us that we need to follow.”
Windflower was contemplating that piece of wisdom when he noticed a very distraught woman get out of her car outside the RCMP detachment in Grand Bank. She ran towards the front door. He walked out to meet her, but the administrative assistant, Betsy Molloy, beat him to it.
“There, there now, Molly. What’s goin’ on?” asked Betsy as she put her arms around the other woman and guided her to a seat in the reception area.
“It’s Sarah, she’s gone,” said the other woman between sobs. “I told her to stay close by the house where I could see her. I went out back to put the wash on the line. When I came in, she was gone.”
“Okay, Mrs. Quinlan,” said Windflower as he knelt down beside the two women. “How old is Sarah?” He didn’t really need to know how old the girl was. He wanted to help the mother calm down so she could give them as much information as possible.
“She’s going to be six next month,” said Molly Quinlan. “She’s growing up so fast. But she’s still such a little girl. And now I’ve lost her. Brent is going to kill me.” She started sobbing again.
“What was she wearing so that we can help find her?” asked Windflower, trying to get information but also trying to help Molly Quinlan feel useful.
The woman stopped crying and said her daughter was wearing jeans and a favourite t-shirt. “It was pink and had sparkles. She said it made her feel like she was a princess. And she had her light blue jacket on with a hood.”
Windflower smiled. “I’m sure she’ll show up soon. But let’s go over to where you last saw her, and we’ll start looking. She can’t have gone far. Leave your car here, and come with me. I’ll drive you over.” The woman smiled weakly at Windflower through her tears and allowed him to take her arm and guide her to his Jeep outside the door.
He returned inside to give directions to Betsy. “Get Constable Smithson in here. I’ll call Frost and get him to come in from his rounds.”
Betsy nodded her agreement, and Windflower went outside to drive Molly Quinlan home.
Meanwhile, it turns out, Sarah Quinlan was fine, perfectly fine. She had wandered a little way from home in the centre of town. She was going to go down to the nearby brook to feed the ducks. She knew better than to go into the water, but she couldn’t see any reason why she couldn’t just look. She’d done it before, and nobody seemed to mind. As long as she didn’t stay away too long, everything was okay.
Sarah had that great fearless attitude of a child who grew up in a small and very safe community. She knew most of her neighbours, and they all watched out for her. She also had the natural curiosity of little children, especially when she saw something new. The truck parked on the roadway above the brook was new, so Sarah went to take a closer look. Even better, the back door of the truck was open, and there was a ramp leading inside. This was certainly worth a closer inspection.
Sarah Quinlan was having fun exploring the back of the large truck when she heard a loud, rumbling noise. She didn’t know it, but the driver had started the engine. It was so loud, and Sarah was so frightened by it, she froze. The next thing she remembered was everything going almost completely black and the back door of the truck slamming shut. She cried out, but by then it was too late. Seconds later she, the truck and the unsuspecting driver were barrelling out of town and onto the highway.
Windflower drove Molly Quinlan to her house and got her to show him where Sarah had been playing. Together they walked through the house to see if the little girl had come home and hidden there. But no such luck. While they were searching the house, they were joined by two of Quinlan’s neighbours who took over Molly’s care and made her a cup of tea. Soon afterwards Constable Harry Frost arrived from his highway patrol.
Windflower gave him a quick update and directed him to go to one end of town to start the search. He would begin the house-to-house search through the neighbourhood when Smithson showed up.
He first checked out back and looked in the storage shed, a favourite hiding place of every little kid and probably where Windflower himself would have taken refuge. But Sarah was not there. As he went to the front of the house, Constable Rick Smithson showed up.
“Afternoon, Boss,” said Smithson. “Any sign of her yet?”
Windflower shook his head. “Frost is doing the big circle search. You and I will start the door-to-door. Ask them if they saw the girl this afternoon. I’ll start from here. You go down to the brook, and work your way up.”
Smithson returned to his cruiser and sped off. Windflower wasn’t worried. Yet. But he knew that the first few hours were crucial in finding a missing child. If they didn’t, then it was almost always something more serious. Not time to panic, but no time to waste. He walked up to the first door and knocked.
Book Launch October 4, 2017
A Tangled Web will be officially launched at our favourite independent bookstore, Books on Beechwood. There will be food and fun and a surprise. The surprise is so secret that we don’t even know what it is ourselves yet. Stay tuned for more news about the book launch as we get nearer to the date.
Bouchercon Panel October 12, 2017
Bouchercon is the world’s largest mystery conference. Thousands of people will be flooding into the Sheraton Centre in Toronto Oct 12-16, 2017 to attend this premiere event. I will be participating on a panel on Thursday, October 12. The name of the panel is Coastal Crimes and it is described as: “How does living on the water’s edge drive crime?” The panel runs from 4:00 to 5:00 in the Sheraton A room and I will be signing books afterwards in book/dealer room (Osgoode).
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
Coming Soon: A Tangled Web Sneak Preview
New Sgt. Windflower Mystery
A Tangled Web, the latest Sgt. Windflower Mystery is coming soon. Publication date for Canada with Baico Publishing is Sept 22. In the United States it will be published by Booklocker on September 25.
Sneak Preview
Here’s an excerpt from A Tangled Web
“Life doesn’t get much better than this,” said Winston Windflower. The Mountie looked over at his collie, Lady, who wagged her tail at the sound of his voice. If dogs could smile, she smiled back. His world was almost perfect. He had the love of a great woman and a good job as a Sergeant in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police patrolling one of the lowest crime regions in the country. Plus, the weather had been mild so far, at least for Newfoundland in early December, and that meant no snowstorms with forced overnighters at the detachment. Life was very good indeed.
He had good friends, including Lady, who was amongst the best of them. And he had a child on the way. His wife, Sheila Hillier, was pregnant and at the clinic for her three-month checkup. He was waiting to hear how both Sheila and the baby were doing. His Auntie Marie had told him the baby was a girl, and if anyone knew about these things, it was his Auntie. She was a dream weaver, an interpreter of not just dreams but of messages from the spirit world. Windflower had recently spent a week with her and his Uncle Frank, another dream weaver, to learn more about the dream world.
Interpreting dreams was part of his family’s tradition. But it was an imperfect tool that gave information, not always answers. Perhaps the most important thing he learned was that dreams do not predict the future. Instead, as his Auntie told him, “Dreams tell us about our past, what has already happened. They also point to actions we should take if we want to get the right result in the future and to the signs all around us that we need to follow.”
Windflower was contemplating that piece of wisdom when he noticed a very distraught woman get out of her car outside the RCMP detachment in Grand Bank. She ran towards the front door. He walked out to meet her, but the administrative assistant, Betsy Molloy, beat him to it.
“There, there now, Molly. What’s goin’ on?” asked Betsy as she put her arms around the other woman and guided her to a seat in the reception area.
“It’s Sarah, she’s gone,” said the other woman between sobs. “I told her to stay close by the house where I could see her. I went out back to put the wash on the line. When I came in, she was gone.”
“Okay, Mrs. Quinlan,” said Windflower as he knelt down beside the two women. “How old is Sarah?” He didn’t really need to know how old the girl was. He wanted to help the mother calm down so she could give them as much information as possible.
“She’s going to be six next month,” said Molly Quinlan. “She’s growing up so fast. But she’s still such a little girl. And now I’ve lost her. Brent is going to kill me.” She started sobbing again.
“What was she wearing so that we can help find her?” asked Windflower, trying to get information but also trying to help Molly Quinlan feel useful.
The woman stopped crying and said her daughter was wearing jeans and a favourite t-shirt. “It was pink and had sparkles. She said it made her feel like she was a princess. And she had her light blue jacket on with a hood.”
Windflower smiled. “I’m sure she’ll show up soon. But let’s go over to where you last saw her, and we’ll start looking. She can’t have gone far. Leave your car here, and come with me. I’ll drive you over.” The woman smiled weakly at Windflower through her tears and allowed him to take her arm and guide her to his Jeep outside the door.
He returned inside to give directions to Betsy. “Get Constable Smithson in here. I’ll call Frost and get him to come in from his rounds.”
Betsy nodded her agreement, and Windflower went outside to drive Molly Quinlan home.
Meanwhile, it turns out, Sarah Quinlan was fine, perfectly fine. She had wandered a little way from home in the centre of town. She was going to go down to the nearby brook to feed the ducks. She knew better than to go into the water, but she couldn’t see any reason why she couldn’t just look. She’d done it before, and nobody seemed to mind. As long as she didn’t stay away too long, everything was okay.
Sarah had that great fearless attitude of a child who grew up in a small and very safe community. She knew most of her neighbours, and they all watched out for her. She also had the natural curiosity of little children, especially when she saw something new. The truck parked on the roadway above the brook was new, so Sarah went to take a closer look. Even better, the back door of the truck was open, and there was a ramp leading inside. This was certainly worth a closer inspection.
Sarah Quinlan was having fun exploring the back of the large truck when she heard a loud, rumbling noise. She didn’t know it, but the driver had started the engine. It was so loud, and Sarah was so frightened by it, she froze. The next thing she remembered was everything going almost completely black and the back door of the truck slamming shut. She cried out, but by then it was too late. Seconds later she, the truck and the unsuspecting driver were barrelling out of town and onto the highway.
Windflower drove Molly Quinlan to her house and got her to show him where Sarah had been playing. Together they walked through the house to see if the little girl had come home and hidden there. But no such luck. While they were searching the house, they were joined by two of Quinlan’s neighbours who took over Molly’s care and made her a cup of tea. Soon afterwards Constable Harry Frost arrived from his highway patrol.
Windflower gave him a quick update and directed him to go to one end of town to start the search. He would begin the house-to-house search through the neighbourhood when Smithson showed up.
He first checked out back and looked in the storage shed, a favourite hiding place of every little kid and probably where Windflower himself would have taken refuge. But Sarah was not there. As he went to the front of the house, Constable Rick Smithson showed up.
“Afternoon, Boss,” said Smithson. “Any sign of her yet?”
Windflower shook his head. “Frost is doing the big circle search. You and I will start the door-to-door. Ask them if they saw the girl this afternoon. I’ll start from here. You go down to the brook, and work your way up.”
Smithson returned to his cruiser and sped off. Windflower wasn’t worried. Yet. But he knew that the first few hours were crucial in finding a missing child. If they didn’t, then it was almost always something more serious. Not time to panic, but no time to waste. He walked up to the first door and knocked.
Book Launch October 4, 2017
A Tangled Web will be officially launched at our favourite independent bookstore, Books on Beechwood. There will be food and fun and a surprise. The surprise is so secret that we don’t even know what it is ourselves yet. Stay tuned for more news about the book launch as we get nearer to the date.
Bouchercon Panel October 12, 2017
Bouchercon is the world’s largest mystery conference. Thousands of people will be flooding into the Sheraton Centre in Toronto Oct 12-16, 2017 to attend this premiere event. I will be participating on a panel on Thursday, October 12. The name of the panel is Coastal Crimes and it is described as: “How does living on the water’s edge drive crime?” The panel runs from 4:00 to 5:00 in the Sheraton A room and I will be signing books afterwards in book/dealer room (Osgoode).
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
www.sgtwindflowermsyteries.com
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