Ally Shields's Blog, page 26

Do You Love to Binge Watch? Me too!

Do you love to binge watch? Me too!
 
Just as I’m an eclectic reader, I’m the same with TV and DVD watching. Since I finally yielded to the allure of Netflix, I’ve immersed myself in several different worlds during weekends and late nights over the last several months, including …
 
***1.  Lucifer on Netflix. Current fave! This irreverent, sometimes ridiculous, show has a ton of really funny moments and a heavy dose of intriguing subtext. I'm sorry to see it go after the coming fifth season, but happy we got just one more! Recommended.
 
2. Outlander on Netflix. Enjoyed season one but lost interest after that. I know…I’m in the minority on this one.
 
3.  West Wing on DVD. Loved this old series and was pleasantly surprised to find it remains relevant. Nothing really changes in Washington. :) Well-worth watching.

4. Supernatural on Netflix/Amazon.  It has been a great ride. If you haven't watched it, you have yourself booked for the next few months. After the final season, there will be 320 episodes!
 
5.  When Calls the Heart on Netflix/Amazon. Okay, I admit I enjoyed this Hallmark feel-good series until they killed off a main character. (I understand why—the actor wanted to move on to other roles—but still…) I’ve kept up with the new episodes, but it’s not the same show for several reasons.
 
6.  Buffy on DVD. I have them all. I guess they’re my guilty pleasure.
 
7. Longmire on Netflix. I finally caught up on this series that I hadn’t seen since it moved from A&E to Netflix. Held my interest, but I didn’t find it as good as the original episodes.
 
8. Miss Fisher Mysteries on Netflix. Love this historical series and the 1920s period fashions. Recommended. 

9. X-Files on Netflix. What's not to like about this older scifi series? It's a classic.

10. Jessica Jones on Netflix. I have mixed feelings about this one, but I'm still watching! :)
 
11. Other TV series I try to watch weekly: NCIS (I’m a die-hard. Is Ziva really returning for the final season???), FBI, and Madam Secretary.
 
So, what’s next on my binge list? Maybe Stranger Things, and/or The Walking Dead. How about you? What are you watching? Any suggestions of shows I shouldn't miss?

Author Alexes Razevich Came Home to Urban Fantasy

​Welcome to our Wednesday Coffee Chat!
 
Our guest author today is Alexes Razevich. So grab your favorite drink, pull up a chair, and settle in for a few minutes of book talk.
​
Ally:  It's so nice to meet you, Alexes. What may I get you to drink?
 
AR:  I drink coffee—and lots of it—with almond milk.
 
Ally: Perfect. While I fill our mugs, please tell readers about your background. Bio:
 
I was born in New York, NY,  but have lived in California since I was two. I have a degree in creative writing from California State University San Francisco. I spent a decade working on the fringes of the electronics industry, including a stint as director of marketing for a major conference and exposition company and as an editor for Electronic Engineering Times until I returned to my first love—fiction.
I live now in Southern California with my husband and our half Pit Bull, half Siberian husky rescue dog, Rebel.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in my regular bio: “I didn’t publish my first book until I was sixty.”
 
Author Contacts:
 
Website: AlexesRazevich.com
Mailing list sign-up: http://eepurl.com/08229
Facebook: Alexes Razevich Author
Twitter: @lxsraz
email: lxsraz@yahoo.com ​INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  What type of books can readers expect from an Alexes Razevich novel regarding genres and content ratings?
 
AR:  Urban Fantasy: My Oona Goodlight series (Ice-Cold Death, Barbed Wire Heart, Vulture Moon, Chalice and Blade) would likely be rated R for light sex within a committed relationship. 
My upcoming Shay Greene UF series, launching in June, is PG-13. No sex, but a lots of kick-assery. My upcoming young adult urban fantasy, launching in July, is PG-13. No sex but a fair amount of teenaged kick-assery.
 
Historical Urban Fantasy: The Girl with Stars in her Hair is PG-13. No sex but some violence.
 
 Ally: Where do you get all those story ideas?
 
AR:  Story ideas can come from anywhere. Sometimes the main character simply shows up and demands to have his or her story told.
 
Sometimes a title will spark a story. That was the case with The Girl with Stars in her Hair. The title hit me while I was in a museum in Amsterdam. On the flight home, I typed the first 8,000 words of the story into my phone. When I got back, I realized the contemporary setting I’d given it was wrong; the story should take place at the close of World War One. Out went those 8,000 words, but the title remained.
 
Ice-Cold Death was more calculated. I wanted to combine three things I loved in one story: urban fantasy, murder mystery, and hockey. I think the three fit together quite well.
  
Ally:  What do you find most rewarding about a writing career?
 
AR:  I love storytelling. When I was young, I made up bedtime stories for my little sister. As an adult, I’d improvise stories for my children when they were little. My daughter was partial to stories with princesses and My Little Pony. Writing allows me to tell the stories rattling around in my brain.
  
Ally:  Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
 
AR:  This is an interesting question. Finding the character’s right name is critical for me. Some characters show up and tell me their names right away. Others are not so forthcoming. Until I have a character’s right name, and I might go through half a dozen names before hitting on the correct one, I absolutely can’t write the character. Once I have their true name, their personality becomes clear and their story unfolds. (Ally note: It’s exactly that way for me, but no one has reported the same experience before! Lol)
  
Ally:  Have you written or considered writing in other genres or other forms, such as short stories or screenplays? 
 
AR:  When I started publishing, I wrote Science Fiction with a strong fantasy flair. The first series I wrote is set on another planet and all the characters are aliens, with all the main characters being female. It was definitely a challenge to write books without humans. That was a case where the main character, Khe, showed up one day demanding that her story be told. I hope I did her justice.

When I discovered urban fantasy, it was like coming home. All my books had a strong fantasy element, but it wasn’t until The Girl with Stars in her Hair that I added magic to the mix.

With the Oona Goodlight stories, I added murder mystery to the magic.

Each element has its own challenges and rewards.
 
Ally:  What is your favorite social media? Why?
 
AR:  Facebook, absolutely. I love the direct interaction and the back and forth with readers.
  
Ally:  Tell us about your next writing project. Anticipated release date?
 
AR:  I’m currently working on two new projects.
 
The Shay Greene stories are adult urban fantasy about a slightly magical woman who gets tangled up with goddesses and demigods when she’s hired to recover a stolen pearl necklace. The Mermaid’s Lament will launch in June.
 
I’m also working on a young adult urban fantasy about a group of magical high school kids living in a world where magic is banned. Heart Mountain Academy: Magic Forbidden will launch in July.
 
Ally: Let’s see which of the Rapid Fire questions you chose to answer:
 
AR: a. an item on your bucket list – The very top item on my bucket list is to see the aurora borealisb. manicure or pedicure – bothc. high heels or sneakers - Definitely sneakers. Barefoot is even better.d. Do you believe in love at first sight? – I absolutely believe in love at first sight. I saw the man who’s been my husband for over forty years across a room and immediately knew we’d be together.e. something unique in your handbag (or closet) – How about my garage? hockey gear, skates, and sticks Ally: Thanks so much for spending time with us, Alexes. Before you leave, please show us about your featured book.  
​​Ice-Cold Death
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: R
 
Murder and dark magic aren’t even the worst of it.

Oona Goodlight just wants to get through hockey practice, but a dead body on the ice means practice is canceled. A secret psychic and empath, she is shocked by the brutal death and shocked again when she witnesses the murder—and the killer—in a vision.

When a wizard investigator asks her to use her psychic abilities to find the murderer, she’s pulled into a battle she never wanted to fight against a grudge-holding foe who’s waited a long time to see her dead.

If Harry Potter and Kinsey Millhone had a love child, she would be Oona Goodlight—wicked smart, a bit of a loner, and relentless on the hunt. If you like the perfect combination of murder mystery and the paranormal blended with a dash of romance, you’ll love this new series.
 
Buy link: getbook.at/ICD
(kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and PB)
​

Spotlight on the YA Apocalyptic Fiction of Jacob Rundle

Augur of Shadows (The Destined Series: Book One)
Genre: Urban fantasy/apocalyptic/LGBT fantasy
Rating: YA/same sex romance
 
Book Blurb:
 
PROPHECY. ADVENTURE. APOCALYPTIC.  

Grief-stricken seventeen-year-old Henri moves to New York City after he loses his father. He starts having vivid dreams that tell of things to come, and his visions lead him to meet a wise young man, Siméon, and to reconnect with an old friend, Etlina. 

Henri and his friends, Siméon and Etlina, venture on adventures required to fulfill their intertwined destinies in order to bring forth a cataclysmic event to aid against the Primordial Evil. 
With guidance from otherworldly beings, Henri and his friends will do what is needed to ensure their success.
 
Trailer Link:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnpNBJijsjU
 


​
Buy Link:
 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KXDLT6H About the Author: Interview and Bio INTERVIEW:
​
Ally:  Why did you write your featured book?
 
JR:  I wanted to write something that I’d want to read. So many apocalyptic books fall down the same path, and I wanted to add my own twist to the idea of “the end”.
 
Ally:  Where do you get your story ideas?
 
JR:  My stories came to me in a variety of ways, especially dreams. Also, as a book reviewer, I’ve read so many books. So, I’m pretty familiar with what’s common. I work hard to bring something new.
 
Ally:  What do you find most rewarding about a writing career? Most negative or frustrating?
 
JR:  Having someone read your story and tell you how much they liked it. The most frustrating part is when someone attacks you for writing your story.
 
Ally:. Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
 
JR:  I go through many rounds of editing, i.e. professional and peer.
 
Ally:  Why did you start writing fiction? Was there something that particularly inspired you?
 
JR:  I love to tell stories.
 
Ally:   What supernatural power or ability would you like to have?
 
JR:  I would love to have telekinesis!!!!!
  
Ally:  What is your next writing project?
 
JR: I’m currently working on Book 2 of the Destined Series. I love this book so much. It’s darker, and there’s more at stake!
 
Ally: Let’s see which Rapid Fire questions you chose...
 
JR: I picked more than five -favorite book - Carrie, Firestarteran author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch - William Shakespearean item on your bucket list - Travel to Russiamanicure or pedicure - manicurefavorite tv show - Charmedfavorite movie - Under the Tuscan Suncolor of nail polish you have on - blueDo you believe in love at first sight?- Yes, I’m a romantic Ally: Thanks for visiting the blog. Before you go, tell us a little more about your background and where fans can reach you. Bio:
 
Jacob Rundle was born on September 27, 1985, in Galesburg, IL. He attended Knox College, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Russian Language and Literature. He served eight years in the United States Navy as a Nuclear Mechanic. 
After finishing his time with the Navy, he moved to New Orleans, and it is where he resides, pursuing his dream of being a writer.
 
“Something unique about me is that I can speak Russian. I love foreign languages. I can speak quite a few languages.”
 
My contact links:

Website: https://www.jacobrundle.com/
Email: jrundy08@gmail.com
Twitter: @jrundy08
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jacob.j.rundle
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jrundy85/

A Witch is Born through Perseverance

​A Witch is Born through Perseverance
by Ally Shields
 
   Now that the tenth and last book in the Guardian Witch universe has been released, I thought I’d tell you how the series and the sequel trilogy evolved.
 
   In 2009 I began writing a mystery/police procedural with a cop named Samantha as the main character. On day three, she “told” me she was a witch—a total surprise—and her name wasn’t Samantha. Now, I had read urban fantasies (Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, Laurell K Hamilton, Jim Butcher, Patricia Brigs, etc.) and watched all the Buffys, but I never even considered writing one. But I accepted who she was, stopped writing, and started world building. It was fun. My imagination ran wild, but it took a lot of research too, and then more brain storming, especially on the supernatural beings that would be a part of this world.
 
   Four months later, my witch had finally introduced herself as Arianna Calin, and I was ready to write again - or thought I was. As the story unfolded, I discovered there were many things I hadn’t thought about. For one thing, I had to put limits on my supernatural beings' abilities and actions or they would immediately overpower the human world. And so I brought them out into public and bound them by treaties with mankind. There were a lot of issues that I had to go back and insert or “fix.” But Good Witch Hunting was eventually written.
 
   Since I wanted to know the rest of Arianna’s story, I immediately began to write book two, and I sent out queries to a few agents. The rejections came in, but undaunted I continued to write, finished book two and onto book three. I also wrote two non-paranormal thrillers during this period.
   By late 2011, I had gathered 167 rejections, but I still believed in this story, so I did a rewrite switching from first to third person, deleting a couple of scenes, adding two others, changing the title to Awakening the Fire, and doing a lot of what my editor calls “tweaking.” In the meantime, I submitted one of the thrillers to three small press publishers. To my delight, all three responded positively. Etopia Press reported they already had another book too similar to my thriller and asked if I had anything else. I sent the newly revamped Awakening the Fire. Three weeks later I was sent a contract, and they asked to see books two and three and bought those too. Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1) was released in 2012, and I just kept writing.


​   At the end of book seven the story arc in the Guardian Witch series was complete, and I moved onto write two unrelated trilogies. But in 2015 Etopia requested I return to the Guardian Witch world, and I began the Guardian Witch Legacy trilogy, the story of Arianna’s daughter Rayne growing up and coming of age, which is now complete with the release of Ring of Fire last Friday.    The real publishing story and truth behind the Guardian Witch books is one of never give up. Perseverance is a trait Arianna, Rayne, and I seem to share.

    Do you have a story or a dream unfulfilled? I'd encourage you to give it another try.
​ All book available at online bookstores, including
Amazon: amzn.to/13LH078
Kobo:  bit.ly/18unCxl

Book Trailer for Ring of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy #3)

Book Trailer for my new Urban Fantasy released this weekend!

Ring of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy #3)

https://youtu.be/QdgJCWZhs7E

NEW RELEASE: Ring of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy #3)

The finale of the ten book Guardian Witch saga

Ring of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy #3)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: YA/PG-13

Blurb:
 
She stands between a daemon's revenge and earth's survival...
 
With her eighteenth birthday approaching, Rayne Calin-De Luca is feeling the pressure. Marked as the Chosen by an ancient prophecy, she and her parents—Guardian Witch Arianna and vampire prince Andreas—have desperately searched the world for the secrets behind the coming battle, when the ancient plague daemon Maelrad will break loose from Hell to wreak worldwide vengeance. So far, the means to defeat him have eluded them, and the inevitable conflict draws nearer with each passing hour...
 
As Maelrad's power grows stronger, the demon’s poison is seeping through the veil and polluting the earth with violence. His minions openly stalk Rayne, her family, and friends. As things turn from bad to worse, Rayne's confidence wavers. How can one novice witch defeat a centuries-old master daemon? She knows the terms of the prophecies forming the Esielen Triad cannot be changed. Armed only with her magic and a dagger, she is destined to face Maelrad alone.
 
For fans of kickass witches and the compelling men who fight alongside them comes the final book in the Guardian Witch universe. Ring of Fire winds up the action-packed sequel trilogy to the original series with an explosive conclusion.
  
Youtube book trailer: Coming soon
 
Buy Links: (more coming)
 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S94TWTZ
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/ring-of-fire-33

EXCERPT:

CHAPTER ONE
 
“Yay. Rah! RW High! Kiss my ass and say goodbye!” Raucous laughter and giggles accompanied the verbal middle-finger outburst and the loud slapping of jeans and shorts.
 
Rayne Calin-De Luca grinned as she and her companions rode on the tide of noisy senior classmates exiting Riverdale West High School. It was her last day. A make-up day forced by too many winter storms. Loud voices, disordered bumping, and good-natured shoving reigned as the halls vibrated with barely contained energy.
 
The compulsory pomp and circumstance of graduation had been held yesterday, so this was really the end. The double-doors clanged behind them. A wild cheer erupted. The surging crowd stopped at the circular drive, then everyone was suddenly saying their goodbyes intermixed with animated chatter about summer plans. The demands to “call me” or “text me” were nearly drowned by the enthusiastic sharing of longer-range dreams: Cal Tech, MSU, the local community college, the Naval Academy, marriage, the hoped-for jobs.
 
Amid the clamor, Rayne exchanged empty promises to stay in touch with classmates she barely knew before linking arms with Stacy and Jerome, her only real human friends. The door was closing on the most conventional chapter in her life, and a fragile sense of belonging was already slipping away. In truth, she’d never been part of it, just a visiting witch-in-disguise, and their talk of future plans slammed her back into reality.
 
Rayne forced a smile. She did share some of the excited buzz. Yeah, really. She was happy for them. But couldn’t quite rally the optimism. Her own future was…chaotic? On a good day.
 
Rayne frowned, her feet glued in place, unaccountably hesitant to cut the cord completely. Attending full-time classes with non-magical kids had been funky at times—and mostly hassle-free. Well, once she’d gotten past a shaky beginning with the school’s mean girls. She’d nearly outed herself as a witch until RJ interrupted by dragging her away before she bespelled them or worse.
 
But she’d quickly learned to hide her abilities…and her attitude. From September to June she’d been just another teen for eight hours a day. The rest of the real Rayne, she’d kept tucked away. While girls’ locker room gossip about guys, rock stars, the latest fashion or nail treatment could be weirdly out of step with the darker talk at home of demon sightings and world-changing prophecies, it was also fun.
 
“Hey, Rayne. See you at the senior party.”
 
“You bet.” She nodded, not even sure who’d said it.
 
RW High hadn’t been a total culture shock. Despite the grinding hours of private training at home on magic spells and potions, martial arts, and weaponry with her three Otherworld mentors, Rayne had attended part-time public school since kindergarten. It wasn’t until last spring that the Riverdale Education Department put its foot down, requiring full-time attendance her senior year…or no diploma. Rayne had shrugged. So what? Who needed it? She had this freaking destiny to fulfill.
 
But Mum had insisted. And what Mum wanted, she got.

                                                                                             ​* * *  
Thanks for stopping to take a peek at my latest book!

Author Katherine Gilbert Puts the Quirk into Paranormal!

Welcome to this week's Coffee Chat!

​Let’s get started by meeting our guest author, Katherine Gilbert, who writes “quirkily-humorous paranormal mysteries.”
I can wait to hear about your book, Katherine, but first, what may I get you to drink?
 
KG: I like coffee, but I'm more into tea, preferably something English Breakfasty with lots of cream and sugar. Give me a nice, full afternoon tea, complete with a tray of sandwiches and little desserts, and I'll be the happiest thing you've ever seen.

Ally: Lol. Well, let's see if I can't make you happy! Meanwhile, please tell readers about yourself. Bio:
 
Having grown up surrounded by a house and town so gothic that she doesn't bother to tell the true stories, because nobody would believe them, Katherine Gilbert enjoys spinning tales of far friendlier paranormal beings. When she's not either writing or teaching at a South Carolina college, she's plotting her next adventure with her sister, so they can get together and cackle over having outrun most of their past.
 
Tell us something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “It's kind of hinted at in it but isn't really explained: I grew up in a very creepy smallish South Carolina town in an antebellum mansion which was so haunted many people took one look and absolutely refused to enter. They were the smart ones.”
 
Contact the Author:
 
Newsletter sign-up form: http://eepurl.com/dCcccL
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Katherine-Gilbert-Author-102573417043950/
FB Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1169120069919462/
Amazon: amazon.com/author/katherinegilbert
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/katherine-gilbert
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18141907.Katherine_Gilbert
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/KGilbertSC INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: What inspired you to write your featured book?
 
KG:  I had a dream about the detective characters several years ago and wrote it down because it was all so clear, even if it was just the first scene in a slightly rundown, early 20th-century railway hotel remade into a home for endangered (or endangering) supernatural creatures. It kept nagging at me till I finally got a chance to sit down and write it.
It was only once I did that I realized there were several other things going on, including many scenes in Highgate Cemetery (I have a grand passion for great Victorian graveyards). As I went on, too, I realized that a scene which had appeared very vividly to me decades ago (before I even started writing fiction) fit in here. It had obviously been forming in my unconscious for quite some time.
 
Ally:  Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
 
KG: Almost always. Only occasionally do I have to try to figure out what they're named. Often, though, it's only as I'm writing them that they let me know the details of their pasts. I've found myself writing a chapter more than once saying, "Really?!"
 
Ally: Talk about your main characters. Are they likable? Do they have off-putting flaws or beliefs? Are they “good” people? Is it important for them to be real or relatable?
 
KG:  I love them, but I would, so it's hard to know whether others will find them as lovable as I do. They certainly do try to be good people, and they're very concerned about the welfare of others.
Henry begins the novel very depressed, as humans are turned into werewolves in my universe against their will and under truly brutal conditions. He's got a lot he's trying to work past. Marilyn tends to be very no-nonsense at the beginning, as well. Are those traits off-putting? Not to me, but I can't speak for everyone.
            Are they real? Well, maybe--as much as it's possible for a half witch/half incubus and a werewolf to be, I suppose.
 
Ally:  Who is your favorite fantasy writer? Favorite supernatural being?
 
KG: Terry Pratchett is definitely at the top of my list, although I love a lot of others, too (Diana Wynne Jones, Gail Carriger, Barbara Hambly . . . I could go on). They all have such a wonderful grasp of humor and character as well as fully built worlds you can live inside.
For a favorite supernatural being, I don't know if I could choose one type. I love all of them. Well, except zombies. Zombies and I don't get along.
If I could choose a favorite supernatural character, though, it would probably be (werewolf) Angua von Uberwald from Pratchett's City Watch novels. She's both competent and slightly tetchy. It's possible there's some subconscious influence of her in Marilyn Jaye.
 
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
KG:  I'm working on editing a Southern gothic/urban fantasy/paranormal romance called, Moonlight, Magnolias, and Magic. It will go into more depth on how magic works in the universe of my novels.
As to the Southern gothic, if you read the above, you'll see I have a lot of experience with creepy old Southern houses, and that definitely will come out here. It's a lot spookier than most of what I've published so far (although there's still some quirky humor too), so I'm hoping to release it in October as a bit of a Halloween treat.
 
Ally: So which of the short answer questions did you pick to answer?
 
KG:a. favorite book: The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett. Vampires, werewolves, some mystery, and romance--what's not to love?b. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch:  Agatha Christie! Not only is she the greatest mystery writer of all time (I don't think there's a mystery twist since her which isn't a derivative of one of her inventions), but she just seemed like a thoroughly fascinating person, as well.c. favorite accessory: I have both a necklace with a black cat charm on it and a pin in the shape of a cat. I love those things--and they assure me of hearing "I love my cat!" stories from pretty much every person I meet.d. favorite song:  Probably the Goo-Goo Dolls' "Iris." It's just beautifully romantic.e. What comes to you first - character or plot? Character, absolutely. I discover the plot when the characters deign to tell it to me.Ally: It was a pleasure meeting you, Katherine. Before you go, tell us more about your featured book...
Unearthly Remains
Genre: Quirkily-humorous paranormal mystery/urban fantasy/paranormal romance
PG-13 
 
            A werewolf, a witch, and a vampire walk into a murder scene . . .
 
            Sgt. Marilyn Jaye of Supernatural Oversight (the investigative unit for all things which bump a bit too much in the night) is having a frustrating day. What should have been a simple case of a murdered ghoul has spun entirely out of control. It's bad enough that she's getting distracted from her investigations by her unreasonable attraction to Henry, a young werewolf with a terrible case of PTSD (Post-Turn Stress Disorder), especially since every Tom, Fang, and Hairy (previously known as her sensible friends) tells her she's destined to be with him. Worse, her distraction allows a second murder victim to turn up, one of the gentlemanly Victorian vampires who lives in Highgate Cemetery. If that isn't enough, the vicious werewolf who attacked and turned Henry is still on the loose. London's creatures of the night seem to be in trouble, and it's her job to protect them.
            Marilyn is determined to find the killer and the rogue wolf, but she'll need a lot of help. That will include her friends, Hanover (Henry's handsome Alpha and Marilyn's ex-lover) and Julius Beer (a vampire who watches over his distressed comrades in Highgate from his ornate mausoleum). Also alternately helping or annoying her are the other members of the S.O., including her powerful sorcerer boss, the eternal spirit of Romantic poet William Blake, her ex-NYPD partner, a pool (yes, an actual pool) of secretarial sirens, and an imp who's in love with a cat. Even Henry has to tag along. And they better solve the case soon, because the killer has made it clear that she's the next target.
 
Buy Links:
 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PJM9B45/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130937720
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/unearthly-remains
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/931259

Ring of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy #3) Coming May 24!

Don't miss the conclusion to the Guardian Witch saga​ 
​(the 7-book original series and the sequel trilogy)

Mystery Author A R Kennedy Finds Any Story is Better with a Dog

Welcome to this week’s Coffee Chat!
 
Please join me in saying “Hello” to mystery author A. R. Kennedy, who is featuring her romantic suspense/legal thriller, Saving Ferris.
It’s so nice to meet you, Alicia. How do you take your coffee?
 
ARK:  Regular  (I’m not sure if everyone would know what that means — milk and sugar.)
 
Ally: That choice makes it easy for me. While I pour, please tell readers a little of your background. Bio:
            A R Kennedy was born and raised on Long Island, NY. She currently lives in Long Beach, NY.  The Nathan Miccoli Mystery series is her debut series. Saving Ferris is her first stand alone novel.

Tell us something about you that isn’t in your regular bio:  “I got a puppy for Christmas! I brought home my River, a chocolate miniature schnauzer, days before Christmas. Best gift ever! Check out River on my Instagram.
            My readers should all realize I love dogs. It is a strong element in all my books. Another fantastic schnauzer, Laude, is a scene stealing character in the Nathan Miccoli Mystery series.   The love people have for their pets is the central element in Saving Ferris.”
 
Author Contacts:
 
arkennedyauthor.com
Twitter - @ARK_author
Facebook - A R Kennedy
Instagram - ARK_author
Amazon Author Page - amazon.com/author/arkennedy INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  What inspired you to write Saving Ferris?
 
ARK:  I love dogs. When I learned that they are considered property, it made me think. Did I agree? Then I considered its implications. If someone threatened my pup’s life, what would I do? What consequences would I face? Ferris, Cecilia, and the rest of the characters were born from these questions.
 
Ally:  Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
 
ARK:   I could not do this without an editor! (If I could, I’d have an editor read my blog post to check it for errors, I would.)
 
Ally:  Why did you start writing? What keeps you writing?
 
ARK:  I write because the stories are in my head. I have to get them out.
 
Ally:  If you met the author, Stephen King, what would you talk about?
 
ARK:  I doubt I’d be able to speak. But I’d listen. I’d want to hear about his writing process (plotter? pantser?). Who are his beta readers? How do they give him feedback? Verbal? Written? How does he deals with criticism? Who is his favorite character? Why does he keep writing? I could go on and on…
 
Ally:  What’s the most meaningful thing a fan could say about your book?
 
ARK:  The most meaningful thing a fan could say is that they became immersed in my novel. There is nothing like becoming so wrapped up in a good book that you don’t look up for chapters. Being told a fan read one of my books in one sitting tells me it’s un-put-downable. I think that is the highest compliment an author can receive.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
ARK:  I’m currently working on the 8th, and final, book in the Nathan Miccoli mystery series. It is expected by the end of the year. (But I don’t think it’ll be what anyone is expecting.)
 
Ally:  Show us which quick answer questions you chose to answer.
 
ARK: favorite book - The Gunslinger, Stephen Kingan author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch - Stephen Kingan item on your bucket list - Travel to Antarticacolor of nail polish you have on - Essie’s Pinkies Out, in preparation for Afternoon Tea at Bergdorf Goodman in NYC with my momfavorite book boyfriend - Sirius Black, from the Harry Potter series 
Ally: Thanks so much for having coffee with us, Alicia. Good luck with your career. Before you go, please tell us more about your featured book, Saving Ferris. Saving Ferris
Genre: romantic suspense/legal thriller
PG-13
 
Is your pet family or property?
 
When Cecilia’s husband dies, she’s forced to become his dog's caregiver, something she does not immediately warm to. But when Ferris’s life is threatened by an intruder, she shoots the intruder to save the golden retriever.
 
Police Chief Holden Owens thinks Cecilia acted lawfully, in self defense, but few agree. In the eyes of the law, one can use lethal force to protect themselves and others, but not property. Pets are considered property.
 
Holden loses his fight with the prosecutor, and is now in a new fight—his undeniable attraction to Cecilia. Prosecutor Daniel Briscoe is seeking justice for the intruder, who is also the mayor’s nephew, while seeing a case to further his career. Celebrity defense attorney Wyatt Sewell identifies a sympathetic defendant, a case he can win, and a way to garner more acclaim. When he learns of Cecilia’s motive, to save Ferris, he sees a blockbuster case that can set legal precedent.
 
Cecilia endures a murder trial where her defense attorney forces everyone to ask themselves, Is your pet property or family?
 
Will saving Ferris's life cost Cecilia her freedom? And a second chance at love?
 
Buy Link:
 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Ferris-R-Kennedy-ebook/dp/B07GFRPK36/ Thanks for stopping. I hope to see you next week!

Maggie Foster Writes Murder with a Scottish Flair

Welcome, Booklovers!
 
Settle in for another Coffee Chat and meet mystery author Maggie Foster.
Good morning, Maggie. Before we get started, may I get you something to drink?
 
MF: I drink Earl Gray tea every morning and coffee everywhere else. My characters drink LOTS of coffee because that’s what night shift hospital workers do.
 
Ally: It’s pretty early here, so I’ll fix you that cuppa tea. While I do, please tell readers something of your background. Bio:
 
MAGGIE FOSTER is a seventh-generation Texan of Scottish descent. In addition to being steeped in Scottish traditions and culture, she has spent a lifetime in healthcare as a nurse, lawyer, and teacher. Her interests include history, genealogy, music, dance, travel, dark chocolate, good whisky, and men in kilts.
 
FUN FACTS: She earned a high school athletic letter in Highland Dancing, in Texas. [True!] She also played bagpipes (less successfully). She is a certificated RSCDS Scottish Country Dance instructor and has demonstrated SCDing both at the State Fair of Texas and on the stage at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, TX.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I didn’t cut my hair until I was in my thirties.”
 
Author Contacts:
 
She can be reached at maggiesmysteries@gmail.com
 
For more information please visit:
Twitter – http://www.Twitter.com/maggiefoster55
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/lochlonach/
Website – http://www.maggiesmysteries.com or http://www.lochlonach.com INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Where do you get your story ideas?
 
MF:  From my hobbies, mostly. I tend to use obscure details that tell an insider (my protagonist) something, but that look meaningless to everyone else.
 
Ally:  Do fans influence your writing? If so, in what way?
 
MF:  Absolutely! Create-a-Corpse is a promotion in which I ask readers and would-be readers to suggest a person from his or her life that would make a good Dead Body. Readers are also allowed to suggest other characters and roles. I have one who wants to be the murderer!
 
Ally:  What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read yours, of course!).
 
MF:  Josephine Tey – Brat Farrar; Dorothy Sayers – The Nine Tailors; Ngaio Marsh – Light Thickens
 
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
MF:  I am working on Books Four (Final Fling) and Five (Incarnadine) of the Loch Lonach series and hope to have Book Four done by October of this year.
 
Ally:  Let’s take a look at which short answer questions you selected...
 
MF:a. an author (living or dead) I'd love to take to lunch:  Ellis Peters, author of the Brother Cadfael seriesb. an item on my bucket list:  I want to visit Skara Brae, a 5000 year old Neolithic site in Orkney, Scotlandc. favorite movie:  Paint Your Wagond. favorite accessory:  I like to wear a Celtic Tree of Life pendant while I write.e. What comes to me first - character or plot?  Plot – I start with a hookAlly:  Thanks so much for sharing your morning with us, Maggie. Before you go, please tell us more about your featured book.


Viking Vengeance (Loch Lonach Mystery Series* Book Three)
Genre: murder mystery
  
We all know some laws are made to be broken. The trick is knowing which – and when.
 
The Up-Helly-Aa was not intended as a real Viking funeral. A least, there wasn’t supposed to be a body tucked inside the ship the Loch Lonach Homesteaders built and burned each January. But the discovery of a charred corpse hidden in the wreckage sends Jim and Ginny racing cross country in a perilous attempt to obtain justice for one of their own, with the law and divine retribution in hot pursuit.
 
Buy Links:
 
Available on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Foster/e/B07FPXJZ6L​
and elsewhere - https://books2read.com/u/3GaWnp



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*Book one in this series,The Arms of Death, took the Blue Ribbon in the 2019 Best of Texas Books, Fiction, Medical Thrillers category. Book info: https://www.maggiesmysteries.com/the-arms-of-death