Ally Shields's Blog, page 23

Happy Thanksgiving!

Writing Mysteries is Big Magic Says Author Nancy Good

​Welcome, Booklovers!
 
Are those of you in the US ready for Turkey Day (and all the trimmings)? I am. While we wait, I want you to meet cozy mystery author Nancy Good!
 
Nice to have you visit us, Nancy. What may I get you to drink?
 
NG:  I don't drink coffee, although I loved chocolate tasting coffee years ago. Now I drink herbal teas, or even plain hot water with steamed soy milk or almond milk. Starbucks will actually prepare that.
 
Ally: We always have great tea on hand. While I prepare my coffee and your tea, please tell our readers something about yourself. About the Author:
 
I'm a lifelong Manhattan resident and think biking along the Hudson River is the best place to be.  I had a bestselling non-fiction book years ago when publishers sent you to expensive hotels like the Four Seasons on book tours. I appeared on Oprah and CNN among other shows to promote How to Love a Difficult Man. It sold widely and was translated into 12 languages.
I'm in two NYC choruses and get to sing in places like Carnegie Hall. Backstage at Carnegie is a maze of rooms on many floors. As I'm finding my way to a free bathroom on a quiet floor down a long hallway, I've thought that this would be a good place for a murder.
I  am on the search for a long haired mix or maincoon cat, as my wonderful cat passed away recently. Cats are my muse, they keep late night hours like I do. And they don't talk, usually.
Killer Calories is my first mystery and the first in the Melanie Deming Manhattan Mystery series.
 
Contact the Author:
 
Website:  https://www.nancygood.com or just   nancygood.com
FB:  facebook.com/nancygoodauthor
Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nancy-good INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  What do you find most rewarding about a writing career? Most negative or frustrating?
 
NG:  There are so many rewards and equally so many frustrations. Creating fiction, and for me, humor, gives me a sense of well being and excitement like nothing else can. As Susan Gilbert said, it’s big magic. With mysteries, I can solve a problem that I can’t solve in real life. And of course have a happy ending.
The negatives are definitely the promotion which is so internet and technology dependent. There’s a lot of frustration with that as well. Writing can be frustrating and hard but there’s a great payoff in the end. That’s not necessarily true with book promotion. I do enjoy doing book readings and hope to do more of those. Readings are enjoyable when others enjoy the humor and suspense.
 
Ally:  Do you know the book’s ending before you start writing?
 
NG:  I don’t know the ending of a book before I start. I have an idea and the first chapter almost writes itself. The ending comes somewhere in the middle of the book, as if I’m investigating all the suspects and seeing who is most likely to have done it.
 
Ally:  Do you read reviews of your books?
 
NG: Definitely. I learn a lot about how another person sees the book. What they found important is always enlightening.
 
Ally:  What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!).
 
DB:  Rhys Bowen is a funny, wonderful mystery writer. Any of her series are good. I also like her novels about WWII, like The Tuscan Child. But her Royal Spyness Mysteries are so much fun. I’ve learned a lot from her.
Susan Isaacs and her bestseller Compromising Positions provided inspiration for Killer Calories.
Not to leave out US writers, John Grisham is great and does incredible research. I loved Camino Island, about the theft of priceless Fitzgerald manuscripts. There are so many fun and creative mystery writers. Hard to pick out three.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
NG:  Book Number 2 in the Melanie Deming Manhattan Mystery Series is almost half done. Killer Condo, a murder during an Open House for a four million dollar condo. Real estate is priceless and deadly on Park Avenue.
 
Ally: Which of the short answer questions did you choose?
 
DB:  a. Favorite book: The Goldfinch is one of my favorite books, Donna Tarttb. Manicure or pedicure?  Manicure for sure.c. Favorite movie:  Romancing the Stone. About a writer who writes bestellers about  dreamy adventure romances set in exotic locations and then finds Michael Douglas when she has to set out to save her sister in Colombia.d. Bucket list item: Hiking in Nepal.e. High heels or sneakers?  Sneakers for sure. I exercise daily and run for subways and buses! 
Ally: Thanks for visiting with us during this busy holiday. Before you rush off to celebrate with family/friends, please show us your featured book.
Killer Calories
(Melanie Deming Manhattan Mystery #1)
Genre/key words: Cozy mystery/female amateur sleuth/humor/mild romantic suspense/chick-lit
 
From bestselling author of the Difficult Man books comes a new Manhattan mystery series. This is book one in the series
 
Spend time in the Big Apple with wise-cracking amateur sleuth Melanie Deming, as she follows clues from glamorous Park Avenue mansions to gritty soup kitchens. Melanie's a snarky writer and health fanatic who shockingly discovers the body of her good-looking co-worker. She's no Lois Lane and is scared of every germ, yet Melanie must have justice for her friend.
 
Devon, a blue-eyed hard-to-resist journalist, wants Melanie for a screenplay about the murder, and more. Melanie can have the success she's dreamed of and a man of her dreams, but she could lose her marriage and her life searching for a killer who now threatens her. Why couldn't she be satisfied with a normal job and the boring life her husband wants?
 
Underneath all the zany fun are some astute observations on marriage, the super rich, and class differences.
 
Read first chapter
 
Buy at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo, Google Play
 
Kirkus Review: “The inaugural adventure of a perky, plucky...screenwriter and secret sleuth. Good has a knack for spinning humor ...and clever banter..It also touches on...the unmet desires of urban housewives. A thoroughly entertaining character-driven mystery...”
 
Read the full review HERE

Ask Me Some Questions, I’ll Tell You No Lies…Maybe

Happy Wednesday, Booklovers!

I'm turning over the blog today to cozy mystery writer Lois Winston and the main character of her crafting mystery series, Anatasia Pollack.

Welcome, Lois! Take it away.... Ask Me Some Questions, I’ll Tell You No Lies…Maybe
By Lois Winston
​
I’m currently on a blog tour to promote the release of Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide, the eighth book in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series. As such, I’ve been doing quite a few interviews. Author interviews are usually pretty standard. Most focus on questions about why the author decided to become an author, where she gets her ideas, why she chose a certain genre, and whether she’s a “pantser” or a “plotter.” Every now and then, though, an interviewer asks some unique questions.
 
My most unique interview was back in 2013 for a UK blog by RLL. Who is RLL? Beats me. The person seems to want to remain anonymous and only goes by those three initials. He or she was promoting something called Read Tuesday, and I was invited to take part. I have no recollection of how we connected. However, while cleaning out some old computer files, I recently came across my answers to the twenty questions the interviewer asked and thought I’d share five of them with you.
 
RLL: Fire rages in your house. Everyone is safe, but you. You decide to smash through the window, shielding your face with a book. What is the book? 
 
Lois: Fahrenheit 451 (sorry, couldn’t resist!)
 
RLL: Who’d win in a fight between Count Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster? If, you know, you were writing that scene.
 
Lois: Personally, I don’t care who would win. I have no “stake” in this fight.
 
RLL: You must introduce a plot-twist. Evil twin or luggage mix-up?
 
Lois: Evil twin who mixes up the luggage. 
 
RLL: You are at sea in a lifeboat, with the barest chance of surviving the raging storm. There’s one opportunity to save a character, drifting by this scene. Do you save the idealistic hero or the tragic villain?
 
Lois: Neither. I’d save the plucky heroine. 
 
RLL: You build a secret passage into your story. Where?
 
Lois: Behind the refrigerator. No one ever looks there. 
 
After reading through these questions and my answers to them, I began to wonder how Anastasia might think I’d answer them. So I asked her. Here are her answers:
 
Lois: Fire rages through my house. Everyone is safe, but me. I smash through the window, shielding my face with a book. What book did I grab? 
 
Anastasia: Book? Forget it. You’d grab your laptop. The two of you are joined at the hip.
 
Lois: Who’d win in a fight between Count Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster? If, you know, I was writing that scene.
 
Anastasia: I think you should ask me who wins in a fight between my mother and mother-in-law. You always have them exchanging barbs. Why not put them in an MMA arena?
 
Lois: Really? You’d have me subject your mother to that?
 
Anastasia: I’m kidding! But if you ever do write Mama and Lucille into a knock-down/drag-out battle, you’d better make sure Mama wins.
 
Lois: Duly noted. Perhaps we should move on to the next question.
 
Anastasia: Go for it.
 
Lois: I have to introduce a plot-twist. Let’s forget the evil twin and luggage mix-up. Any ideas?
 
Anastasia: You could have me win the lottery.
 
Lois: You do realize that would mean the end of the series, don’t you?
 
Anastasia: Hey, a girl can dream, can’t she?
 
Lois: I’m going to skip the raging storm at sea question. I know which character you’d gladly sacrifice.
 
Anastasia: You know I’d never act on one of my mother-in-law fantasies. You’ve written me to be too nice—or too much the martyr—I’m still trying to figure out your motivation for permanently sticking me with Lucille.
 
Lois: It’s called character conflict.
 
Anastasia: I could do with a little less conflict in my life, no thanks to you.
 
Lois: I’m changing up the secret passage question as well. Instead of where I’d place it, where do you think it should lead?
 
Anastasia: Anywhere that wouldn’t include dead bodies and killers.
 
Lois: I suppose it’s a good thing I don’t write paranormal or time-travel mysteries, then. You’d walk through that passage and never come back.
 
Anastasia: Of course I would! You didn’t write a clueless dummy of a sleuth, just a reluctant one.
Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide
An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 8
 
Two and a half weeks ago magazine crafts editor Anastasia Pollack arrived home to find Ira Pollack, her half-brother-in-law, had blinged out her home with enough Christmas lights to rival Rockefeller Center. Now he’s crammed her small yard with enormous cavorting inflatable characters. She and photojournalist boyfriend and possible spy Zack Barnes pack up the unwanted lawn decorations to return to Ira. They arrive to find his yard the scene of an over-the-top Christmas extravaganza. His neighbors are not happy with the animatronics, laser light show, and blaring music creating traffic jams on their normally quiet street. One of them expresses his displeasure with his fists before running off.
 
In the excitement, the deflated lawn ornaments are never returned to Ira. The next morning Anastasia once again heads to his house before work to drop them off. When she arrives, she discovers Ira’s attacker dead in Santa’s sleigh. Ira becomes the prime suspect in the man’s murder and begs Anastasia to help clear his name. But Anastasia has promised her sons she’ll keep her nose out of police business. What’s a reluctant amateur sleuth to do?
 
Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VG2QZXV/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=Handmade+Ho-Ho+Homicide&qid=1563673299&s=gateway&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=loiswins-20&linkId=cbd92af3c45b1134cb5408cc8450e3b4&language=en_US
 
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/handmade-ho-ho-homicide
 
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/handmade-ho-ho-homicide-lois-winston/1132607263?ean=2940163093748
 
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/handmade-ho-ho-homicide/id1473711082
About the Author:

​USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.



Author Contacts:
 
Website: www.loiswinston.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z1z1u5
Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/anasleuth
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/722763.Lois_Winston
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lois-winston

Book Spotlight: Turkey Basted to Death by Jodi Rath

​New Release!

Turkey Basted to Death (Book 2.5)
Series Title: The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: Nov. 15, 2019

Blurb:

Welcome to Leavensport, Ohio where DEATH takes a delicious turn!
​
Thanksgiving is here, and Jolie Tucker has had quite the year! She is ready to sit back and relax with family and friends. But this is Leavensport, OH—so get ready for intense therapy sessions, dysfunctional family holiday gatherings, uninvited guests, and an inner-city teen advocate found DEAD—stabbed in the ear with the turkey baster! 

Links to purchase book:

Amazon: http://authl.it/b8o
All other e-platforms:  https://books2read.com/u/ba2YM8

EXCERPT:

Chapter One

Monday, 11/25/19

Therapy journal prompt #1: Why am I going to therapy, and what do I hope to accomplish?

Honestly, I’m not enjoying therapy at all. I don’t know why I thought it was supposed to be enjoyable. Tabitha is nice enough, but it’s so weird discussing the darkest corners of my life with a complete stranger. Not to mention, I try to NOT think about those things—but Tabitha wants me to dredge it all up. I might tell her I’m quitting. I kind of don’t think it’s helpful to rehash the past. I can’t understand how unburying past trauma can help me have a happier future. It’s definitely not helping me have a happier now.

Ugh, and Thanksgiving is this Thursday. For reals? I’m so not in the holiday mood. Since Keith finished the police academy and works for Teddy, it seems like his life is one big ball of happiness. I can feel him trying to nudge us back into dating like we did in high school—it’s so rough because I consider him an amazing friend. We grew up together, dated, then worked through the hurt I put him through to become friends again. He was the one who was honest with me about Meiser—or whatever his real name is–last summer. I need his friendship, but I don’t know how to make that clear to him without hurting him again.

Speaking of Meiser, I HATE that when I see him, I still have tingles rush up and down my body. My stupid hoo-hah needs to get itself under control—as well as my heart. Logically, I know I can’t be with a man who built the foundation of our relationship on lies. This is exactly what my bio father did with me from the time I was a toddler into my early teen years. Tabitha says those are the years when humans develop social and familial norms from observing the behaviors and environments around them. No wonder half the time I can’t stand men, and can’t make a relationship work for the life of me! Sometimes I think Ava has it all figured out. Maybe if I was into women, I could make a relationship work? Maybe not? Trust. I have so few people I trust. I don’t know how to change that.

Well, I guess, for now, I’ll continue avoiding Mick. Maybe quitting the therapy thing isn’t such a great idea. At least this is one therapeutic homework assignment that’s done. Time for cuddles in bed with the kitties, then sleep! Testing out more turkey Dutch cast-iron recipes in the morning.

* * *

The times are for sure a-changing. This time last year, I actually thought I was ready to maybe try dating again. I jumped on that topsy-turvy carnival ride called love—and I feel like I was at the top of the ride and fell off flat on my face. That’s where I am now. Eating pavement.

“Aren’t you supposed to be picking up your family at the airport now?” I asked Ava.

“They aren’t getting in until later tonight. Papa wanted to finish up some last-minute work so he could enjoy the holiday,” Ava said while testing out the fifth turkey recipe we had tried that week.

It’s Thanksgiving this Thursday, and with Ava’s family coming back to Leavensport, we decided to rent out the Community Center, and the majority of the village is having Thanksgiving dinner together. All of the restaurants in town are contributing to the dinner, and many of the villagers are making lots of food–like a potluck. I’d been testing out multiple turkey recipes for the big day. We were doing taste tests at the restaurant so the villagers could choose their favorites and sharing the remainder of the turkeys with the homeless shelter in Tri-City. So far, the Cajun turkey was a big hit as well the smokehouse turkey and the honey turkey with lemon and sage.

“Is your therapist going to be at the Thanksgiving gathering?” Ava asked.

“I don’t know. Why?” I asked sharply, tapping my foot in annoyance.

“Isn’t that a conflict of interest? The two of you can’t have dinner together, can you?” Ava scowled at my tone and took two steps back.

If only I could have seen my face at that moment. “She is my counselor, not my parole officer.”

“Yeah, I know that. I’m just asking if it’s a conflict of interest. Geesh!” Ava’s voice shot up three octaves.

“You and my family know I’m seeing her. It’s not a secret, but I’m not posting it on social media or anything. Everything I say is confidential. It’s not like she will sit at the table and blab everything I’ve told her.”

Ava’s glare made me realize that my hands were on my hips, and I must have been giving her a look, not to mention I had used the “duh” tone with her. She was not happy with me at the moment.

“You know what, forget it! I hope she does you some good. Your moods have been all over the place lately,” Ava harrumphed.

Flinching, I reached out and lightly touched her arm. “I’m sorry. I know I have been kind of . . . emotionally erratic. Honestly, I don’t know if she will be there or not. If she is, I doubt I will talk to her much. She’s nice enough, but we’re not friends. Also, it is awkward living in a small village and seeing her all over the place. Truthfully, we tend to avoid each other when out in public. Which makes it weird sometimes.”

“I can understand that.”

“Are you excited to see your family finally?” I changed the topic.

“I’m nervous. We’ve never been away from each other for this long. What if they’ve changed a lot or if I’ve changed a lot? My mom is still doing that manipulative dance, being passive-aggressive about me deciding not to move with them,” Ava said.

“Don’t worry. They’ll be thrilled to see you!” I hoped I was right. The Martinez family put high expectations on their children. I remember when Ava told her mom she wanted to start the restaurant with me. Sophia wanted a spreadsheet of all expenses and profits and how much salary we planned to take in on the first year. We were five.

“Uh, Miss Jolie, you will want to come to front?” Our cook Carlos popped his head into the kitchen. Ava followed me out.

“Hello, Mayor Nalini, how can we help you?” I greeted him.

“Hi, ladies. Any thoughts about the Thanksgiving gathering?” He rubbed the back of his neck and seemed to be having difficulty meeting my gaze.

Ava and I raised our eyebrows at each other. “Nope, just been testing out different recipes for turkeys. We’ve been working on the menu and did taste tests all last week.”

“Okay, that’s great. And Ava, excited to see your family?” the mayor asked.

“Sure, it will be good to see them again.” She fumbled with her hands.

“Is there a problem?” I asked.

“What? Problem? No—of course not.” The mayor shifted. “Actually, Ava, wouldn’t you rather have a nice private dinner seeing that you and your family haven’t had time together for a while?”

“Nooo.” Ava drug out the word. “They can’t stay long, and this will make things easier on them to be able to see everyone in town all at once. We will have time to visit with just our family for a little while before they leave.”

“What is going on, Mayor?” I asked. Mayor Nalini was the one who was dead set on this big community holiday gathering after all. He came and pleaded with us in October to take on the majority of the catering for the event. Now he was acting odd.

“I just got off the phone with Mayor Cardinal in Tri-City,” he began.
​
Oh no, I felt my heart sink into my chest. Whatever he was about to say could not be good news. About the Author:

Moving into her second decade working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in her The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers, educational writing, marketing consultant work with authors, and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her eight cats. 

Author Contacts:

Website: www.jodirath.com 
FB Author page: @authorjodirath or https://www.facebook.com/authorjodirath/
Twitter: @jodirath
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jodi-rath
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard
Newsletter link to A Mystery A Month—sign up for my monthly newsletter to receive a free Mystery a Month and a chance to win prizes for those who guess the right answers! http://eepurl.com/dIfXdb

Mystery Author Donnell Ann Bell Chats with Readers About Books and Writing

​Good Morning, Booklovers!
 
Let me tell you, I need that coffee this morning just to keep warm. It’s below zero! Brr. But it hasn’t kept our guest author away, and I’d like to welcome mystery author Donnell Ann Bell to the Coffee Chat. Thanks for braving the cold, Donnell. How do you take your coffee?
 
DAB: Hi, Ally, thank you for having me!  I drink Starbucks Café Verona dark roast, with cream and a teaspoon of Splenda.
 
Ally: Ah, another Starbucks addict. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers. 
Bio:
 
Donnell Ann Bell began her writing career at the Colorado Springs Business Journal and Pikes Peak Parent Newsmagazine before turning to fiction. An award-winning author, including the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, Detroit Bookseller’s Best, and a two-time Golden Heart finalist, her books have been Amazon digital bestsellers. Black Pearl is her latest release, and she’s back to work on book two of the series.
 
Ally: Tell me something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I write in Gregg shorthand, then I transcribe before going to the keyboard.”
 
Author links:
 
You can find all her social media links at www.donnellannbell.com
INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: What kind of story can readers expect when they open one of your novels?
 
DAB:  I write Romantic Suspense, Suspense and Mystery. Any sex scenes focus on the emotional side rather than graphic, and in two of my books I simply didn’t have time to include one, or it would have slowed the pacing.  The same for violence. I’m not into gratuitous anything. If a scene belongs in a book, it’s in there. My first editor said she bought my manuscript because I was a tight writer. I considered that a high compliment.
 
Ally:  Why did you write your featured book?
 
DAB:  I had to. This book had so many inceptions/so many starts. Normally, I’m stubborn about my openings. However, I couldn’t get this one right. My scrap file is a book unto its own. I love to write police procedurals, but in Black Pearl, I was breaking out of my comfort zone. I’d never written a female police officer. Should have been simple, right? I’m a woman. Wrong. I was writing a female patrol officer Field Training Officer (FTO), meaning this woman knew her stuff. I’ve been a victim’s advocate and during training, I’ve had deputies shout at me, “You’re such a girl!” So, writing Officer Allison Shannon was probably the biggest challenge of my career.  To write her, I rode with an FTO on a 12-hour shift and consulted two female veteran police officers.
 
Ally:  How did you choose its title?
 
DAB: My publisher chose it. I was a little concerned at first – there’s not a pirate in the entire book! But I must admit Black Pearl, A Cold Case Suspense, is growing on me.
 
Ally:  Readers and friends often have plots they are eager for you to write. Have you ever used one?
 
DAB:  No. If a reader or friend has a story idea, he or she should write it. Authors spend a lot of time with a plot and their characters. They should be passionate about the storyline.
 
Ally:  Describe what makes a good villain. What characteristics will make us love to hate him/her?
 
DAB: A villain should be equal to the protagonist in smarts, strength and character. He/She should have his own backstory, and not be 100 percent bad or 100 percent good. He should be the hero of HIS journey and the reader should, at times, be able to sympathize. For my debut book, my editor had me read The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout to flesh out an antagonist. Fascinating book. I did a lot of research for Black Pearl, but think I’ll keep those research books quiet for now so I won’t give my plot away. :)
 
Ally:  Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
 
DAB: Yes, I’ve had two fantastic editors Pat Van Wie and Debra Dixon. I have learned so much from both. I feel fortunate. Pat is a multi-published Bantam Dell author among others and studied under some of the top editors in New York. Debra Dixon, my publisher, is the author of Goal, Motivation and Conflict, a staple resource book in the writing industry.
 
Ally: Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
 
DAB: No. I would love it if they did. I’ve tried doing character interviews, but my characters look at me like I’m nuts. Why would I tell YOU that? You created ME. You figure it out. Very very uncooperative.
 
Ally:   What's the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given?
 
DAB: The best writing advice I’ve ever received is, “Find Your Own Voice.”
 
Ally:   What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!).
 
DAB: What a hard question. There are so many good books that I just love!
 
Melinda Leigh, Say You’re Sorry
Annette Dashofy, No Way Home
Kylie Brant, Cold Dark Places
And . . . And . . . And . . .
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project?
 
DAB: Book two which follows Black Pearl, another cold case suspense.
 
Ally: Which of the short answer questions did you select?
 
DAB: a. favorite book:  Glory and the Lightning by Taylor Caldwell.b. book you're currently reading:   9 Chronicles of Crime by R.T. Lawtonc. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: This honor has already happened. I had dinner with Tess Gerritsen, our keynote speaker at the Pikes Peak Writers Conference two years ago.d. favorite tv show:  FBIe. favorite movie:  Dave with Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaverf. favorite song: Come Monday by Jimmy Buffett g. supernatural ability you’d like to have:  the ability to turn invisibleAlly: It has been a pleasure chatting with you, Donnell. Before you get back to writing the next adventure, please show us your featured book, Black Pearl.


Black Pearl, A Cold Case Suspense
Genre: Mystery/Suspense

A cold case heats up when a 9-1-1 call puts police at a Denver murder scene, pointing investigators to the abduction of a Colorado teenager fourteen years before. The connection? A calling card—a single black pearl—is found on the newest victim. Is the murder a copycat? Or has a twisted serial killer, thought dead or in prison, returned to kill again?
The hunt for a multi-state killer is on and brings together an unexpected team:  a Denver Major Crimes police lieutenant;  an FBI special agent who investigated the previous murders; a rookie FBI agent with a specialty in psychology; and the only living victim of the Black Pearl Killer is now a cop.
For Special Agent Brian DiPietro, the case is an opportunity to find answers. For Officer Allison Shannon, the case will force her to face down the town that blamed her for surviving when another did not. And for both DiPietro and Shannon, it’s a chance to find closure to questions that have tormented them both for years.




Buy Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/30ZTjBt
Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/y28sbb72
Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/yyvrmyns
Google: https://tinyurl.com/yyjgxsw5
Apple: https://tinyurl.com/yxtowejf Thanks for stopping by! Hope to see you next week!

We Remember Those Who Serve

Some Gave All: ​https://youtu.be/ydWhRObVxrM

Charlotte Stuart Writes Mysteries that Bump Your Funny Bone

​Good Morning, Booklovers!
 
Now that Halloween is over, the blog returns to author interviews with a super guest. Charlotte Stuart joins us with her mystery/PI novel, Survival Can Be Deadly.
 
Welcome, Charlotte! How do you take your coffee?
 
CS: Although I always hate ordering a “tall drip,” that’s what I drink – black, brewed coffee.
 
Ally: My preference too. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers. Bio:
​
In a world filled with uncertainty and too little chocolate, Charlotte Stuart, PhD, has taught college courses in communication, gone commercial fishing in Alaska, and survived being the VP of HR and Training for a large credit union. Her current passion is for writing lighthearted mysteries with a pinch of adventure and a dollop of humor. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys watching herons, eagles, seals and other sea life from her Vashon Island home office.
 
Ally: Tell me something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “My husband and I spent a year going “around the world in the San Juans” on a 39 foot sailboat. We anchored in small harbors and tied to docks when the weather got bad. We spent our days exploring and writing. It was an idyllic year.”
 
Contact links:
Email: cs.charlottestuart@gmail.com
Website: www.charlottestuart.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/quirkymysteries
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlotte.stuart.mysterywriter INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:   What do you find most rewarding about a writing career? Most negative or frustrating?
 
CS:  I really enjoy the writing process. My husband also writes, so we talk plots and characters on our daily walks. Also, I have a fun presentation titled “Getting Serious About Humor: Murder Mysteries that Bump Your Funny Bone” that I’ve only done once, but I have four more scheduled and am looking for other opportunities.
 
What I find frustrating is most of what you have to do to market your book these days. Asking people for blurbs has been particularly painful for me, but it’s also expanded my network of local authors. I’m thankful for that.
  
Ally:   If you met Lawrence Block, what would you talk about?
 
CS:  Once I got over babbling about how much I’ve enjoyed his books, including Writing the Novel from Plot to Print to Pixel, I would like ask him about how he sees the future of mystery writing given all of the changes he has seen over his writing career.
 
Ally:   Which of your books is your personal favorite? Why?
 
CS:  I have a favorite unpublished book. The main character is an edgy, athletic, single woman who does woods parkour. Kinda my alter ego. And, she’s of course tall. I’ve always wanted to be tall, so my female characters are never shorter than 5’10”. Another reason I like this book is that the setting is Vashon Island. I love the island and enjoyed describing landmarks and sharing stories. Now if I can just get a publisher interested….
 
Ally:  Other than your own, what three books in your genre would you recommend to fans?
 
CS:  If they like zany, I recommend Lisa Lutz’s Spellman Files. If they like well researched mysteries in interesting settings, they might want to read Jeanne Matthew’s Bonereapers. I’ve also read all of the Elly Griffiths’ books. They are consistently entertaining.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
CS:  I just sold a book titled “Why Me? Chimeras, Conundrums and Dead Gold Fish.” It features an amateur sleuth who lives on a boat with her cat, Macavity. She discovers a body when hiking alone in Scotland. He turns out to be a research scientist from her hometown. The plot starts spiraling out from there. No release date yet.
 
Ally: Which of the quick answer questions did you choose? a. favorite book: The Man from Moscow by Amor Towles. Great storyteller.b. book you're currently reading: The Women of the Sea by Lisa See. It’s a setting and time period I haven’t thought about much before.c. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: Donald Barthelme. I heard him speak shortly before his death and thoroughly enjoyed his thought processes and use of language. At lunch with him I would eat and let him do the talking.d. favorite accessory (jewelry, scarves, shoes, etc.) I love jewelry – necklaces, rings, pins. I particularly like craft jewelry as opposed to traditional. The more asymmetrical and creative the better.e. a supernatural ability you’d like to have: I’d like able to become invisible on command. Not just on bad hair days. But to be able to go places and observe what’s happening without being seen. It’s the “fly on the wall” urge. Ally: It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Charlotte. Good luck with your writing career. Before you leave today, please show us your featured book.
Survival Can Be Deadly
Genre: Mystery/PI
​In this lighthearted mystery set in Seattle, single mom and recent widow Cameron Chandler grabs a chance to reinvent herself by taking a much-needed job at Penny-wise Investigations. Penny-wise is a discount detective agency conveniently located in a suburban shopping mall – “Vigilance You Can Afford.” Her first case is to locate a runaway girl, something her predecessor had been pursuing before he disappeared. Following in his footsteps, the trail leads to a survivalist camp on a remote island in northern Puget Sound. Armed with only a Swiss Army Knife and her quirky on-the-job training as a suburban sleuth, Cameron uncovers more than she bargained for. She soon finds herself in a fight for her own survival.​ Buy Links:

​Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Can-Deadly-Charlotte-Stuart/dp/1940442265/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=survival+can+be+deadly&qid=1568653160&s=books&sr=1-1
 
Barnes and Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/survival-can-be-deadly-charlotte-stuart/1133060099?ean=9781940442266
 
IndieBound
https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781940442266?aff=amphoraepubgroup
 
Kobo
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=Survival+can+be+deadly

What is this NaNoWriMo all about?

Every fall, social media chatter picks up on the word NaNo. But what is it? Has everyone suddenly gotten exited about the metric system? Not quite...  In fact, the complete logo referred to is NaNoWriMo.

The National Novel Writing Month is a challenge to complete a novel of fifty thousand words (approximately 1,667 per day) during the month of November. It's grown from a handful of participants in 1999 to more than 450,000 worldwide participants in 2015. It's an opportunity for writers, published or aspiring, to push themselves, make new writing "buddies," discuss the ups and down of novel writing in the website forums, congregate with other writers in local area "write-ins," and even join lively discussions on online media, such as Twitter.

It's a seat-of-the-pants style of writing, ignoring your inner editor, and simply concentrating on getting down those daily words. Editing as you go is discouraged, placing the emphasis on words rather than style or even plot. In some ways, it's more like free association than the serious business of writing. But it's a fantastic tool to get you started.

It's also messy. The first book I completed during NaNo was almost unreadable. Holes, holes, and more holes. Not to mention the terrible dialogue, typos, and inconsistencies.  I rewrote it a dozen times or more over three years before I had most of the imperfections fixed. It became my first published book, Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1) in 2012. 

The next year (although still unpublished), I was an experienced noveler. And I came prepared. I've never been able to force myself into a real outline, but I did have a decent story summary. It kept those plot holes to a minimum, requiring less rewrites. I like to think I've gotten better at it every year, and all but two of my NaNo novels are now on online bookshelves, published by Etopia Press.

So of course I'm participating again this year! I hope to have another novel close to a first draft when the month is over. Although the challenge started today (Nov. 1), it's not too late for you to get in the game. Why not click here and get started today? Not only will you feel a great sense of accomplishment on November 30, but you'll also have a lot of fun!

And by the way, if you decide to join the NaNo challenge, give a shout out to Iowagal...that's me!
(Reprinted from 1916, but just as valid today. I hope to see you online! Ally Shields) Writers, grab your pens! Ready, set, go...

The Halloween Ride of Maggie O'Lear by Ally Shields

The Halloween Ride of Maggie O'Lear

​
​Listen, my readers, and you shall hear
Of the Halloween ride of Maggie O’Lear,
On the 31st of October in twenty nineteen;
Hardly a sign can still be seen
Of that autumn trip of the wicked seer.
 
On a dark night, to Olde Town she came
To foretell such deeds that filled all with fright
Death and destruction and more of the same.
She foretold disaster before dawn brought light.
 
One death or two, a dozen times four,
She screeched and she hollered and threatened some more, ​Then Ari, Andreas, Rayne and Nicholas too
Called magic to bathe her in sticky blue goo,
She’s gone now, so sorry, with a final boo hoo.
 
 
 
  
   Ally Shields 2019 (With my sincere apologies to William Wadsworth Longfellow for this spoof on the opening lines of Paul Revere's Ride) 
Happy Halloween!

Celebrating Halloween in Riverdale

Celebrating Halloween in Riverdale:
A Visit with the Guardian Witch Characters
​by Ally Shields
I visited Riverdale last week. With Halloween coming, I wondered what my friends in the Olde Town district were doing for the big day. I hadn’t been back since May when their final adventure, Ring of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy 3), was released, but the town was much the same—except it was decked out in autumn red and gold. And it felt like coming home.
 
I found Arianna, Andreas, Gabriel, and Det. Ryan Foster in the Olde Town Cemetery, where an infestation of imps had knocked over gravestones and spray-painted several vaults in a pre-Samhain night of mischief. My friends had tracked the miscreants and were now over-seeing the clean-up of the mess.
 
I think everyone was happy to see me, but at first, Ari was suspicious I was there about another book. After I reassured her I wasn’t, they willingly agreed to share their plans for Halloween/Samhain with my blog readers. Ari: “I’m hosting a party! And a witches’ circle, of course. My coven sisters from Perry are coming for a night of feasting and ceremony in Goshen Park. Andreas will join us when he can, for as you know, he isn’t only the vampire prince but also a powerful warlock. Oh, and before all the witchy stuff starts, we’ve got a volley ball game with Steffan and his werewolf pack.” Andreas: “Halloween is a good night for real vampires to stay off the streets. We are holding our own festivities deep in the Vampire Caverns, celebrating with a variety of specialty blood cocktails. As Arianna already mentioned, we have a volley ball game early in the day, then I’ll be present for part of the witches’ circle, and I hope she can get away for a short visit to the caverns.” Gabriel: “I’m stuck managing the Dintero Casino for the early part of the night, but hey, I’m looking forward to getting to the caverns for those cocktails. Believe me, vampires know how to party, and I’ve got a new girlfriend named Sassy. Yeah, imagine that. It should be quite a night!” Det. Ryan Foster:  “Being the only human in this group, I’m looking forward to a traditional Trick or Treat night with my wife Claris (Ari’s best friend) and our kids. I’m hoping they score lots of chocolate so we all can share!” I watched Gabriel retrieve two escaping imps by the back of their necks, as if they were misbehaving pups, and I stayed a while longer, chatting about nothing in particular. I guess I was reluctant to move on. I do miss them in my daily life.
 
But I still had other friends to find, so I headed for the downtown market area and the offices of Dintero Security Services. I was in luck, and caught Ari and Andreas’s 18-year-old daughter Rayne and her boyfriend, Nicholas (a Nephilim/shadowhunter) as they were walking out the door. They were on their way to the airport to join the rest of their team, including Rayne’s constant companions and bodyguards, the werelion twins, Lex and RJ. Dintero Security was headed for Brazil to settle a dispute between two feral groups of werejaguars terrorizing a small town. Since they were using the DeLucas’ private family jet, Rayne and Nicholas took time to talk with me. They seemed happy with their new careers…and with each other!
 
About Halloween? They plan to spend it together—and with the lion twins—but weren’t sure where their business commitments might take them.Rayne: “I would like to join any cultural celebration native to the area we’re in at the time,” Rayne said. “Of course, if we find ourselves in Riverdale, we’ll be with the rest of the family. I’d love to be part of the witches’ circle.”  Nicholas’s eyes twinkled. “I’m really hoping we’re in Riverdale. I haven’t seen how wild the witch and vampire parties become on All Saints Eve, and I can hardly wait!” Me too, Nicholas. As I drove out of Riverdale and turned for home, I decided I might have to come back and spend my Halloween in Olde Town!





How will you be spending your spooky eve? Amazon (all books):  https://www.amazon.com/Ally-Shields/e/B009AKNDZU
​Also available at other online bookstores