Ally Shields's Blog, page 30

Lisa Preston: A Mystery Author with a Lot of Horse Savvy

​It’s Coffee Chat Time!
 
Pull up your chair, grab your mugs, and settle in for book talk. Today’s guest is cozy mystery author Lisa Preston with her featured book, The Clincher.
Welcome, Lisa! How do you take your coffee?
 
Lisa:  Black, huge, and cooled off enough to be gulp-able!
 
Ally: Excellent taste. While I pour, tell readers a little about your background. Bio:
 
Lisa Preston turned to writing after careers as a fire department paramedic and a city police officer. Experience in her earlier professions enhance the medical and legal passages of her fiction and non-fiction. She is now a full-time writer.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “Last year, I fulfilled my childhood dream of visiting east Africa. The trip involved a week without a shower in which I walked fifty miles up to the 19,341’ summit of Kilimanjaro.”
 
Contact Links:
 
Website: http://www.lisapreston.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Preston/e/B0059AK9A2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.preston.3152
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6079326.Lisa_Preston INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: Talk about your main characters, Lisa. 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?
 
LP:  The Clincher’s main character, Rainy Dale, is 23 years old, a high school drop-out, somewhat estranged from both of her parents, and deeply bothered by something in her past. She’s funny and likable but needs to finish growing up. Early on, she is refusing to reveal herself fully to a good man who cares for her, and this insecurity can lead her to behave like a bit of a jerk on occasion. Because this is a series, it was important to create plenty of room for Rainy to grow, but readers can have faith—like most of us, Rainy will get there!
 
Ally: What makes a good villain? What characteristics will make us love to hate him/her?
 
LP:  A good villain is the hero of his own story, who behaves like a real person not a caricature of a bad guy. He holds beliefs or reasons for his actions and choices that seem perfectly valid to him, and he has some truly likeable traits. This conflict can make readers think and struggle with putting the villain in a box.
 
Ally:  If you met authorR.L. Stine, what would you talk about?
 
LP:  My book-clubby standalone novels--Orchids and Stone (2016) and The Measure of the Moon (2017)—sent me on the circuit of Left Coast Crime, Thrillerfest, and Bouchercon, so I’ve hung out with a lot of big deal writers. (Who are all always very genial.) The first time I met Bob, I shared with him my thanks that his novels had helped my niece get through her parents’ divorce. He just about swooned with the compliment.
 
Ally:  Have you written or considered writing in other genres or other forms, such as short stories or screenplays? Why or why not. Would they be easier, harder, or just different?
 
LP:  I’ve done short stories, which I find a wonderful format for making you write tight. My next published story will be in the 2019 anthology, Murder Most Edible, released during Malice Domestic next May. I’ve also been published in nonfiction, mostly books and articles on the care and training of horses and dogs.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
LP:  Gutbombs ‘n’ Guinness, my story in the aforementioned Murder Most Edible anthology will be my next published work; it reveals the characters from The Clincher in their very early days together. Dead Blow, the second novel in this new mystery series, will be out in about a year; the first chapter is already included in the back of The Clincher.
 
Ally:  It’s time for some quick answer questions:a. an item on your bucket list. Go to Antarctica—it’s the only continent I’ve never visited.b. favorite accessory (jewelry, scarves, shoes, etc.)  I always wear earrings and a choker, though the earrings are only lever backs, because I’ve lost too many with less secure closures, and the choker is just to give me a place from which I can hang my sunglasses as needed.c. high heels or sneakers: Sneakers, even with a gorgeous Victoria’s Secret silk skirt suit. My police chief used to look at me sideways as I only complied with the detectives’ dress code of “business casual” down to my ankles. On my feet were Brooks Addiction running shoes, but really, how much more needs to be said about that? From the ankles up is a lot of me to be in compliance, and I was certainly not going to wear heels in that job.d. something unique in your closet:  A sled dog harness. I lived in Alaska for 20 years and ski-joured with my shepherd. We still have his old harness on the top shelf in our bedroom closet, though there’s rarely enough snow to ski-jour now that we live in western Washington.e. favorite after five drink: Cabernet Sauvignon, dry, inexpensive. I’m partial to those from Chile and Argentina. Ally: Thanks so much for visiting, Lisa. I really enjoyed our chat. Before you go, I’d love to hear more about your featured book, The Clincher.
The Clincher: A Horseshoer Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
 
Clinching is the technique used to bend a driven horseshoe nail to hold the shoe to a hoof.
 
Rainy Dale is The Clincher, a twenty-something high school-dropout turned farrier (horseshoer) who is haunted by a secret she carries. Estranged from her California d-list actress momma and her ranch hand Texas daddy, she tracked down her childhood horse in small-town Oregon—a land full of cowboys and their horses—then stayed to build a life with her tools, steel, and forge.
 
She’s sleeping in a garage and trying not to fall for her landlord, the hapless and hopeful chef, Guy, who is determined to create the perfect soufflé while Rainy would prefer to just stuff her mouth with fuel for her physically demanding job.
 
As the new kid in town, Rainy has an uphill battle to prove herself, especially to her male clients, but when one of her clients turns up dead, Rainy is in over her head as both a suspect and a seeker of the truth.

The Clincher is the first in a series of horseshoer mysteries featuring the irrepressible, irreverent, and irresistible Rainy Dale and her loveable and unlikely side-kick (her culinarily inclined boyfriend, Guy).
Jacket blurbs:
 
“…this exuberantly quirky series opener…will leave readers breathless and eagerly awaiting Rainy’s next adventure.”—PW starred review
 
“Preston’s background as a police officer, horse owner, and author of several nonfiction works about horses helps make the actions of her characters authentic and very believable. VERDICT: Fans of light mystery with tough female protagonists and a little romance thrown in will want this book. For those who enjoy both mysteries and horses, it’s a must.” —Library Journal
 
“A rousing novel. The mystery leaves plenty of open questions for the tough but needy heroine while immersing the reader in all things equine.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
"Rainy Dale—an engaging character with a unique voice who can shoe horses like nobody’s business!” —J.A. Jance
 
“Fast-paced, absorbing and fun to boot, The Clincher grabs your attention from the first paragraph and never loosens its grip. Rainy Dale—horseshoer with sass—is one of the freshest and most original sleuths to come along in mystery fiction. May she live on and on!” —Margaret Coel

Buy Links:
 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Clincher-Horseshoer-Mystery-ebook/dp/B075X332BD
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-clincher-lisa-preston/1126835283?ean=9781510732728#/
 
Check her website (http://www.lisapreston.com) for other sellers. The Clincher, A Horseshoer Mystery Book Trailer: #wsite-video-container-493040304789153402{ background: url(//www.weebly.com/uploads/b/35076683-992... } #video-iframe-493040304789153402{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... } #wsite-video-container-493040304789153402, #video-iframe-493040304789153402{ background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; } @media only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-resolution: 192dpi), only screen and ( min-resolution: 2dppx) { #video-iframe-493040304789153402{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size: 70px 70px; } }

Interview with Cozy Mystery Author Debra H Goldstein

​Welcome to this week’s Coffee Chat!
 
Take a break from the holiday rush and join us for book talk with author Debra H. Goldstein and take a look at her featured cozy mystery, One Taste Too Many.
 
Good Morning, Debra. May I get you something to drink?
 
DHG:  For years, I started the day with a Coca-Cola, but I’m trying to cut back on my soda consumption. Most of the day I drink my coffee black, but first thing in the morning I like it flavored. My two favorites are Kahlua flavored coffee or Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha.
 
Ally: My coffee pot will pick one of your favorites. While I get our drinks, please introduce yourself to readers. Bio:
 
I’m Judge Debra H. Goldstein, the author of One Taste Too Many, the first of Kensington’s new Sarah Blair cozy mystery series. I also wrote Should Have Played Poker: a Carrie Martin and the Mah Jongg Players Mystery and 2012 IPPY Award winning Maze in Blue. My short stories, including Anthony and Agatha nominated “The Night They Burned Ms. Dixie’s Place,” have appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies including Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, and Mystery Weekly.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I was a Jeopardy contestant…. and yes, I lost on final Jeopardy, but I had a lot of fun up to that point.”
 
There are lots of places you can contact me:
 
Website: https://debrahgoldstein.com
Blog: https://debrahgoldstein.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebraHGoldsteinAuthor
Twitter: @DebraHGoldstein
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39663950-one-taste-too-many
​
​One Taste Too Many (Sarah Blair series)
Genre:  Cozy Mystery       
Heat Rating: Only in the kitchen … not sexual
​Release Date: December 18, 2018
 
For culinary challenged Sarah Blair, there’s only one thing scarier than cooking from scratch—murder!
 
Married at eighteen, divorced at twenty‑eight, Sarah Blair reluctantly swaps her luxury lifestyle for a cramped studio apartment and a law firm receptionist job in the tired town she never left. With nothing much to show for the last decade but her feisty Siamese cat, RahRah, and some clumsy domestic skills, she’s the polar opposite of her bubbly twin, Emily—an ambitious chef determined to take her culinary ambitions to the top at a local gourmet restaurant.
 
Sarah knew starting over would be messy. But things fall apart completely when her ex drops dead, seemingly poisoned by Emily’s award-winning rhubarb crisp. Now, with RahRah wanted by the woman who broke up her marriage and Emily wanted by the police for murder, Sarah needs to figure out the right recipe to crack the case before time runs out. Unfortunately, for a gal whose idea of good china is floral paper plates, catching the real killer and living to tell about it could mean facing a fate worse than death—being in the kitchen!
 
Buy Links:
 
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-taste-too-many-debra-h-goldstein/1128297322
Books-a-Million:  https://www.booksamillion.com/p/One-T...
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781496719478
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/one-...
Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/One-Taste-Too-Many/309566204
Hudson Booksellers: https://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/book/9781496719478 Thanks so much for stopping by the blog. Come back soon!

Author Barbara Brett's Life Journey with Words

Welcome to another Coffee Chat!

Our guest author this week is Barbara Brett, who writes in more than one genre but is featuring her romance novel, Between Two Eternities: Some Loves are Meant to Last Forever.

It’s nice to meet you, Barbara. May I get you a drink?

BB: Good morning, Ally. Thanks for having me over for a coffee break. It's great to have some time to chat with you, but I must confess that I'm drinking tea, not coffee. Though coffee is probably the most popular drink in our part of the world, it isn't popular with me. That's because it gives me a terrible headache. I don't miss it, though, because I love tea.

Right now, I'm drinking a steaming cup of Darjeeling tea in a blue mug that was given to me by a friend. It's inscribed with a beautiful Apache blessing: "May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon softly restore you by night. May the rain wash away your worries. May the breeze blow new strength into your being. May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life." As my friend wished it to me, I wish it to you, too, and to all your readers.
​
Ally: Thank you, Barbara, on behalf of all of us. While I fill my coffee mug, please tell readers a little of your extensive background. Bio:

I've spent my life working with words. I started out as a proofreader, then became a magazine editor, then a short story writer, then a book editor, and then a book publisher. In between, I began writing novels. Now I have given up the editing part of my life and I'm concentrating on my own writing. I write mainstream novels, both mysteries and romances.
​
Something unusual, not in my bio: “Though most people see me as a serious, pragmatic, down-to-earth person, I have my whimsical side. Since childhood, I have been fascinated by fairies and pixies, and I have a collection of them that delights me. When I get the gloomies, looking at them can always make me smile.”

Author Contacts:

Readers can find out more about me on my website: www.brettbooks.com And they can  keep up with my news and views on writing, reading, and life by following me on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraBrettAuthor I can also be found on Goodreads at:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1767558.Barbara_Brett  
INTERVIEW:

Ally: Why don’t we start the interview with what type of romance you brought today?

BB:  BETWEEN TWO ETERNITIES: Some Loves Are Meant to Last Forever is a mainstream love story, and its romantic scenes are PG-13. (You’ll find the cover and blurb down below.)

Ally:  Where do you get your story ideas?

BB:  Ideas for stories and novels are all around us. Sometimes a newspaper article will set my imagination on fire. Sometimes the kernel of a plot will come out of a conversation with a friend, or from a conversation overheard on the street or in a restaurant. My mind will start spinning, and I'll think, "Yes, but if this had happened instead of that…" and I'll be off to my computer, and the plot will begin to grow.

Ally:  Why did you start writing? Why fiction? What keeps you writing?

BB:  I think I have been writing since I learned to hold a pencil. From childhood, I have loved making up stories. It just seems to be a part of me. Though I enjoy reading and learning from nonfiction, when it comes to writing, it is fiction that I prefer. I think that is because, with fiction, I am in control of the world and the characters that I am creating. I can decide each character's destiny, see to it that the villains are punished and that the good guys triumph. It doesn't always happen that way in the real world, and it is very satisfying to make it happen in the worlds that I create. That, I think, is what keeps me writing.

Ally:  Do the people in your real life show up in your writing?

BB:  I've never based an entire character on anyone I know, but I will admit that I occasionally give a character a mannerism or a quirk I've spotted in people along the way. And, just between us (don't give me away!), most of my heroes have quite a bit of my husband in them.

Ally:  Do you enjoy research? Does your genre require it?

BB:  I think that research is required for every genre a writer works in. I do it for all my books because I want readers to find the stories totally believable. I enjoy doing it. Often I will learn something I never knew before, and that's always fun. Of course, occasionally, I'll discover something that means a plot turn I was planning on really wouldn't work, and that's a downer. But I take it as a challenge, and solving the problem always leads to a better, stronger plot.

Ally: I’d like you to try to few quick answer questions. Ready to go?a. A book you are currently reading:  THE PENELOPIAD by Margaret Atwoodb. High heels or sneakers?  Sneakers!c. Do you believe in love at first sight? Absolutely!d. Favorite quote:  "I need to put up with two or three caterpillars if I want to get to know the butterflies." Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Princee. If you couldn't write anymore, what would you want to do?  Read, read, read! Ally:  It’s been fantastic chatting with you. Before you go, I think we were promised a look at your latest book!
​BETWEEN TWO ETERNITIES
Some Loves Are Meant to Last Forever
Genre: Mainstream romance
Rating: PG-13
 
After ten years of marriage, two wonderful children, and the financial struggles of building successful, but separate, careers—he as an English professor, she as an illustrator of children's books—Robert and Marcie are still very much in love. But Robert's heart is breaking: he knows Marcie is about to die...
 
Intensely romantic and unforgettable, Between Two Eternities is the story of a man, a woman, and the breathless romance that comes to mean more than life itself-and suddenly demands the ultimate sacrifice.
 
Buy Links:
 
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/265464
 
iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/between-two-eternities/id588951513?mt=11&ls=1
 
Barnes& Noble (new)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Between+Two+Eternities?_requestid=428576
 
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Between-Two-Eternities-ebook/dp/B00ASSEA5U/

Jacqueline Diamond: An Author Driven to Let Her Characters Live

Welcome to the Wednesday Coffee Chat!
 
I hope all US citizens voted yesterday. Whether you’re celebrating this morning or wishing for a do-over, grab your drink and settle in for an escape into fiction. This week’s guest is Jacqueline Diamond, a writer of romance and mystery.
Good morning, Jacqueline! How do you take your coffee?
 
JD:  I love coffee—three cups a day! Home-brewed with low-fat milk and two packets of artificial (pink) sweetener.
 
Ally: While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
 
USA Today bestselling author Jacqueline Diamond is known for her mysteries, medical romances, romantic comedies, and Regency romances—more than a hundred titles. A former Associated Press reporter and TV columnist, Jacqueline has sold novels to a range of publishers.
She currently writes the Safe Harbor Medical mystery series, including The Case of the Questionable Quadruplet, The Case of the Surly Surrogate and The Case of the Desperate Doctor.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I’m fascinated by medical research, news and history. When I’m not reading mysteries and the occasional romance, I’m delving into medical nonfiction (a favorite is The Emperor of All Maladies). My daily and weekly subscriptions include medical updates, some of which I curate and post on Twitter.”
 
Website: www.jacquelinediamond.net
Twitter: @jacquediamond
https://twitter.com/JacqueDiamond
Facebook: jacquelinediamondauthor
https://www.facebook.com/JacquelineDiamondAuthor INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Although this is a frequently asked question, the variety of answers always intrigues me. Where do you get your story ideas?
 
JD:  Some simply occur to me; others result from reading or hearing about a subject. The trick isn’t getting ideas, it’s putting my own spin on them and finding connections that weave them into a coherent story with surprising yet believable twists, rising tension and a satisfying conclusion. 
 
Ally:  Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
 
JD:  Developing characters is a partly mystical, partly logical process for me. Sometimes a bit of personal history, a quirk of personality and/or a name just feel right. But I always having to dig deeper, asking myself why a person would be like that, what they want, what they fear, and so on. Plus there’s research so that their background feeds into their present occupation and direction in life. One of the best parts of writing a series is being able to watch my main characters and their relationships grow.
 
Ally:  Why did you start writing? Why fiction?
 
JD:  From early childhood, I believed I was meant to write stories like the ones my mother read to me. When I was four and my older brother started school, I made him teach me what he learned each day so I could start reading and writing.
My career has included news reporting and editing (for The Associated Press and two newspapers) and some other nonfiction writing. However, my main drive is to develop the stories in my head, to entertain readers the way other authors entertain me, and to enable my characters to live.
 
Ally:  Do you enjoy research? Does your genre require it?
 
JD:  Writing mysteries and medical romances requires considerable research. Sadly, too many writers rely on clichés and on inaccurate portrayals they see on television.
While research isn’t my favorite part of writing—that’s being immersed in scenes as they spring to life—it fascinates me once I get started. I research in books, on the internet and through expert sources who answer my questions. These include a retired sheriff’s investigator, a prosecutor, two nurses and a forensics expert. It takes time to develop sources, but I’ve found people are surprisingly willing to help as long as you focus your questions and don’t expect them to give you information that you can easily find for yourself.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
JD:  I’m in the early stages of developing the fourth Safe Harbor Medical Mystery. Not even sure of the title yet, since I have ideas for three more interrelated books. Each one will stand alone, as do the first three books (The Case of the Questionable Quadruplet, The Case of the Surly Surrogate and The Case of the Desperate Doctor), but there are plot threads and character issues that continue and enrich each novel.
 
Ally: Let’s finish with these short answer questions: a. favorite book:  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.b. book you're currently reading:  Dead Man’s Ransom, Number Nine of The Brother Cadfael Mysteries by Ellis Peters.f. favorite tv show:  Currently: El Ministerio del Tiempo (The Ministry of Time). Ongoing: Grey’s Anatomy. g. favorite movie: Trilogy: The Lord of the Rings. Individual: Shakespeare in Love.o. favorite quote:  “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”—the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.Ally: It was a real pleasure to meet you, Jackie. Before you go, I’ve love to see your featured book.
​The Case of the Questionable Quadruplet
Safe Harbor Medical Mysteries Book One
Genre: Cozy mystery
 
A patient shares a puzzling secret with Dr. Eric Darcy, and then someone kills her. The mother of grown triplets says a fourth baby was stolen from her at birth, years ago. When his patient is murdered, Eric believes the police in his small town are dismissing a vital clue. As the bodies pile up, the young, widowed doctor turns amateur sleuth, aided by his PI sister-in-law.

​“A very clever mystery where emotions and feelings ran deep.” —NightOwlReviews.
 
Purchase Links:
 
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CRASWUK

B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-case-of-the-questionable-quadruplet-jacqueline-diamond/1123713375?ean=2940158438240

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/648743

Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-case-of-the-questionable-quadruplet-safe-harbor-medical-mysteries-book-1

ITunes:
​https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/case-questionable-quadruplet-safe-harbor-medical-mysteries/id1132318870

GooglePlay:
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jacqueline_Diamond_The_Case_of_the_Questionable_Qu?id=9QA7DwAAQBAJ&hl=en Thanks for stopping! 
As the holidays approach, please come back for gift book ideas!

My Fall 2018 Reading List

My reading list is a little shorter this time...thanks to Michael Anderle. Read on to find out why. :)
Hope you've found some great reads lately. Please  share if you have something to recommend. 
This list is in no particular order.
(I own a kindle, so I listed the Amazon buy links, but many titles are available at other bookstores.)​


The Kurtherian Gambit (21 books), and The Second Dark Ages series (4 books), and The Kurtherian Endgame (2 books so far) by Michael Anderle kept me busy most of October. This wild mix of urban fantasy and scifi is outlandish, farfetched, peppered with violence and four letter words, and incredibly addictive. Like potato chips, you can’t just have one. If you’re into take-no-prisoners female MC’s, give them a try. And let me know what you think! :) Find them at Amazon  

​​​
​Mark of the Demon (Kara Gillian Book 1) by Diana Rowland. While doing a simple demon summoning, police officer Kara pulls in a gorgeous being who is way above her magical pay grade. Now he’s haunting her dreams. Does she dare ask his help in catching a serial killer? Four book series with a far-ranging story arc. Enjoyable. Find them at Amazon. 




NYC Mecca series (4 books) by Leia Stone and Jaymin Eve. Shifters and fae battle for dominance of earth in this urban fantasy series with a unique twist on shifters. Queen Heir is book #1. Amazon





Wickedly Dangerous (Baba Yaga #1) by Deborah Blake. This was an okay take on an old fairy tale character. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t inspire me to read the next book. Maybe I missed something. Amazon




​The President is Missing by James Patterson. This political thriller/mystery was better than I expected. The story line kept me interested, but I wished I’d waited for a price drop. :) Amazon
 




​DI Green contemporary British mystery series by Faith Martin. I mentioned these novels last time, but the author has released two more books (Murder at Midnight and Murder in Mind). The series finale is coming soon. The MC is a tough female cop who lives on a canal boat and relies more on her detecting skills than car chases or shootouts. Best read in order. Book 1 is Murder on the Oxford Canal  Amazon
Have you read these books? What did you think of them?

Spooky Halloween Humor: 15 Paranormal Trick-or-Treat Jokes

In my region of the US, a highlight of Halloween is Beggars' Night, two hours of young Trick-or-Treaters in costumes... and of course the jokes they tell!
I've gathered some of the paranormal humor recited at my front door.
1. How do vampire girls flirt? They bat their eyes.

2. What dessert do ghosts love? I scream.

3. What fruit do vampires prefer? Neck-tarines

4. What makes graveyards so noisy? All the coffin.

5. Why are ghosts so bad at lying? You can see right through them.

6. What is a witch's favorite subject at school? Spelling.

7. Why did police give the ghost a ticket? No haunting license.

8. What do you call a grumpy ghoul janitor? The grim sweeper.

9. What kind of a street do vampires live on? A dead end.

10. What is a werewolf's favorite Cub Scout event? The pack meetings.

11. How can you learn more about Dracula? Join his fang club.

12. Who is the vampire that lives in the kitchen? Count Spatula.

13. Why do witches wear name tags? So they know which witch is which.

14. What do witches use on their hair? Scare spray.

15. Where do vampires keep their money? In a blood bank.


Have a terrific Halloween!

BOO!

There Be Dragons! An Interview with Author Kath Boyd Marsh

Welcome, Booklovers!
It's time for another Coffee Chat!
 
This week’s guest is children’s author Kath Boyd Marsh (aka my fabulous critique partner!), featuring her upcoming release, Dragon Bonded.
 
Before we get started, what would you like to drink, Kath?
 
KBM: Coffee black is just fine. Or could we go to McDonald’s for a plain Iced Coffee? I’m a sucker for those. Wait, they have that frozen coffee, that’s practically ice cream! Ooh. Ooh. Can we go get one of those?
 
Ally: We don’t have to go anywhere! My magic pot can conjure anything. One frozen coffee McDonald’s-style coming right up. While I get those drinks, please tell readers something about yourself.  Bio:
 
I’m a Marine Brat who has lived in 8 states, Panama, and one haunted house. I fell in love with writing as soon as I learned to read and write. My first book was stapled together by my grandfather, but is currently out of publication. I majored in English Education at Florida State University, where I took every literature course I could get into. But avoided writing courses.
 
After taking my daughter to look at potential colleges, I wrote about ten pages on how she had driven me completely crazy. I pared it down to 400 words and found the humor. I sold it to Child Times, a local Family newspaper- my first publication.
 
My husband’s career finally took us to live in the Bluegrass of Kentucky. A bit spooky that. My parents were big on genealogy and uncovered that an ancestor of mine had a land grant in Kentucky from General George Washington after the Revolutionary War. But my ancestors had itchy feet and went West. I’m a fourth generation native born Californian because of that. But I came back. (Now, in a very recent development, I’ll soon be off to Pennsylvania!)
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio. As a Marine Brat, I attended   a new school my senior year of high school. I applied for the Literary club and was turned down. (Not that I have thought about writing the High School literary club and going - NAH NAH NAH!)
 
Contact the Author
Website: kathboydmarshauthor.com
Email: kathbmarsh@gmail.com
Blog: kath-lettersfromearth.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmarshfen INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: I know you write short stories and novels for children, but what kind of book is Dragon Bonded?
 
KBM:  It’s a fantasy written for 9-12 year olds. Maybe a little older if you like adventure and humor. (No love scenes of any level of anything. Characters are too busy saving Cl’rnce.) This is a sequel story to The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard.
 
Ally:  Where do you get your story ideas?
 
KBM:  Scary question. Sometimes a word or a phrase will catch my attention and spark a whole ‘What if?’ Sometimes the Voices tell me. :)
 
Ally:  What characteristic or flaw makes a “good” villain?
 
KBM:  I think the perfect villain is so self-absorbed that they really cannot see anyone else’s point of view or care about anyone else.
 
Ally: Even other authors love to hear how a writer got their first book published. What brought you success?
 
KBM:  Interesting. I was about to give up on ever getting published. I threw caution to the wind and submitted a different ms. to each category of a small publisher’s contest. I was gobsmacked to make semi-finals in each category, then finals for the Middle Grade category. I did not win the publishing contract, BUT I did win the attention of the publisher. We started working on revising my contest ms. It was going well, and one day I felt so good about how much I was learning that I sent her a new ms--my first and most beloved character and ms. She loved the main character. We switched revisions to the new ms, and it was published two years later! My debut novel! The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard.
 
Ally:  Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
 
KBM:  My editor at CBAY Books is more than professional. She’s amazing! She’s written a book to help other writers. It comes with workbook pages that help me organize. Story Slices by Madeline Smoot.
 
Ally:   Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
 
KBM:  No. They come with names that may change, and sparse details on their backgrounds. Since I write ‘by the seat of my pants’ with the story revealing itself as I write, I learn about their backgrounds as the words spill out. Sometimes I’m pretty surprised, but it all comes together and makes sense.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
KBM: A novel I’m working is based on the characters in my short story Pendragon Crystal that appeared in the anthology  Dragons and Witches: Fairy Tale Villains Reimagined. I have my fingers crossed that when I submit it to my publisher she’ll be interested! Right now, I’m toying with the title Broken Crystal.
 
Ally:  And now for a few quick answer questions:a. favorite book: Several: Podkayne of Mars by Robert Heinlein , Seventeen by Booth Tarkington, Clowns of God  by Morris West.b. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: Ally Shields. But if she’s booked, Samuel Clemens. (Ally note: You're on, girlfriend!)c. favorite accessory (jewelry, scarves, shoes, etc.)  Hats, but I look awful in them, so mainly I just stare at them or tote them along without putting them on. Currently I am particularly taken with a ball cap that has a grape holding a glass of wine and the message “Just hand over the wine and nobody gets hurt.”d. Your pets - type and names: Are we talking about the domestic ones not the deer, turkey, possums, squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks and other random critters that wait for breakfast each morning? The domestic pets: Rufus,-Fox Hound who rescued us 5 years ago. Hank- mixed breed 70# lap dog who rescued us last summer. Nikki-black cat who rescued us 12 years ago. Ratchett and Tucker-black cats who rescued us with their mother Zoe two years ago.e.  If you couldn't write anymore, what would you want to do? Take photographs. I’m not good, but I am enthusiastic.Ally: Always a pleasure chatting with you, Kath. Before you get away, let’s take a look at your new MG fantasy releasing on November 1st: Dragon Bonded.
Dragon Bonded
Genre: MG fantasy (pages 9-12)
 
Blurb: 
 
In this quirky adventure through various fantasy realms, dragon Hazel and her (former) best friend Gaelyn struggle to foil a villainous unicorn.

Ever since her brother Cl'rnce and his wizard partner were crowned the Dr'gon Primus, Hazel has had her paws full dealing with all the work. Cl'rnce might wear the crown, but Hazel is the one cleaning up the messes her prankster brother leaves behind. To manage everything, Hazel relies on her own Wizard Partner, the unflappable Gaelyn.

When Cl’rnce is poisoned, it’s Gaelyn that Hazel turns to for help. However, Gaelyn has been keeping secrets of her own—secrets she never intended to share, not even with a friend like Hazel. Gaelyn struggles to hide her true self, but is unable to lie when her secret is revealed.

Now caught between their former friendship and their new distrust for one another, the two must work together if they are going to save Cl’rnce’s life from a foe neither of them had expected.
 
Buy Links (already active):
    
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MMNhhF
Barens and Noble: http://bit.ly/2lorh03​

Forensics, or "Whodunnit?" by Mystery Author Brad Harper

​Forensics, or "Whodunnit?"
A Historical Perspective

​by Brad Harper


​Aristotle said there are only three arguments:
 
Blame, Values, and Choice. Think of Professor Henry Hill in the musical, The Music Man, in his famous song, "We got trouble right here, right here in River City!" (The current situation is not acceptable to our values.)

​"That starts with T and that rhymes with P and that stands for Pool!" (The new pool hall is to blame for the current situation.)
 
He goes on to suggest a community band would lead the youth back onto the path of righteousness, which is an argument of choice. Arguments which center on assigning blame are called Forensics.
​ The oldest use of Forensic science I've found was three thousand years ago, and the detective in our story was a magistrate in a small village in China who happened upon the body of a woman hacked to death, near a field where some men were working. When he questioned them, they all denied any knowledge regarding her death, so he had them line up and lay their sickles on a table in front of them, instructing each man to stand beside his tool.
 
Imagine the scene now. It must have been a warm day for them to be out harvesting, and the sweat on their brow could have been from exertion... or the fear of being found out. After a few minutes a familiar buzzing was heard, and slowly more and more flies appeared and settled on one blade, and one blade only. The dried blood, invisible to the naked eye, drew the flies nonetheless, who served as witnesses for the prosecution.
 
Despite this promising start, forensic science had no significant new developments until around the middle of the nineteenth century when Rudolf Virchow, a German pathologist in Würzburg, developed the discipline of pathology, and his students coined the term "autopsy," which means "to see for yourself," and the use of medical science to assist law enforcement began.
 
Still, when Arthur Conan Doyle penned his first Holmes Story, A Study in Scarlet in 1887, police investigations relied primarily on eye witness accounts and interrogations. The techniques Doyle uses in his stories were for all practicality science fiction when they were written, and it took a French admirer of Doyle's detective to make Holmes' methods a practical reality.
 
Edmond Locard was both a physician and a lawyer, and in 1910 he persuaded the chief of police in Lyon, France, to give him two small attic rooms and two assistants to create the world's first crime lab. He was given two years to prove the concept, and as these two years drew near to ending without a significant breakthrough he became concerned his lab would be closed.
 
Then a young woman was found strangled in her apartment, and her lover was suspected as the killer, but four men swore he was playing cards with them in his apartment at the time the woman was probably murdered. Locard suspected the man right away, and scrapped the man's fingernails and retained the scrapings.
 
Cosmetics were common, but there were no large companies at the time, so women purchased them from the local pharmacy, each one having its own formula. Locard went to the pharmacy the murder victim used, and when this pharmacy's cosmetics was compared under a microscope with the scrapings from the suspect's fingernails, they matched perfectly. Confronted with this evidence, the man confessed he was the murderer, and had moved the clock back one hour in the room he'd played cards with his friends.
 
The conviction of the killer saved Locard's lab, and soon crime labs sprang up in police departments around the world, turning Doyle's science fiction, into fact.
 
Returning to the three types of arguments: Values are always argued in the present tense, things are or are not acceptable. Forensic arguments of course are waged in the past tense, someone did, or did not. Choice pertains to the future, we should or should not take a particular course of action. So, if you hear a couple arguing, and notice they are not both using the same verb tense, one of their problems is they're not having the same argument! 
About the Author:

During my 37 years of active duty as an Army pathologist, I performed over 200 autopsies, and my clinical years are interwoven with four stints as the commanding officer of various medical units. I was an Infantry officer before medical school, and worked in the Pentagon. Yet, I also happily play Santa each Christmas (with my loving wife as Mrs. Claus). It is this juxtaposition of exploring the body, mind, and humanity that allows me to examine the mysteries of the past. Won't you come with me to the Victorian era, and the dark alleyways of London's Whitechapel in the east end?

Contact Links:

Website: https://bharperauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bharperauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bharperauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bharperauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17721603.Bradley_Harper A Knife in the Fog
Genre: historical mystery
 
Physician Arthur Conan Doyle takes a break from his practice to assist London police in tracking down Jack the Ripper in this debut novel and series starter.

September 1888. A twenty-nine-year-old Arthur Conan Doyle practices medicine by day and writes at night. His first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, although gaining critical and popular success, has only netted him twenty-five pounds. Embittered by the experience, he vows never to write another "crime story." Then a messenger arrives with a mysterious summons from former Prime Minister William Gladstone, asking him to come to London immediately.

Once there, he is offered one month's employment to assist the Metropolitan Police as a "consultant" in their hunt for the serial killer soon to be known as Jack the Ripper. Doyle agrees on the stipulation his old professor of surgery, Professor Joseph Bell--Doyle's inspiration for Sherlock Holmes--agrees to work with him. Bell agrees, and soon the two are joined by Miss Margaret Harkness, an author residing in the East End who knows how to use a Derringer and serves as their guide and companion.

Pursuing leads through the dank alleys and courtyards of Whitechapel, they come upon the body of a savagely murdered fifth victim. Soon it becomes clear that the hunters have become the hunted when a knife-wielding figure approaches.
 
Buy Links:  Fountain Bookstore (signed copies available) Libro.fm (Audiobook) Indiebound Amazon AUTHOR, AUTHOR! Barnes & Noble Books-A-Million Kobo McNally Robinson (Canada) Indigo (Canada) Kirkus Review of A KNIFE IN THE FOG by Bradley Harper | Kirkus Reviews Thanks for stopping by the blog today! See you next week...
​

Daisy's Back! An Interview with Author Carola Dunn

Welcome, Booklovers!
 
It’s been a rainy fall in the Midwest, a great time for reading and book talk! This week’s guest on the Coffee Chat is Carola Dunn, an author of dozens of books, including the long-running Daisy Dalrymple cozy mystery series and numerous regency romances.
I’m delighted you stopped to chat, Carola. What may I offer you to drink?
 
Carola:  I'm a dedicated tea drinker.  I start the day with a mug of plain black, usually Typhoo, but I love Darjeeling, Assam, and Ceylon. In the afternoon I move on to herbal and fruit teas. Bedtime is always lemon ginger.
 
Ally: Then tea it is. While I prepare our drinks, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
 
I was born and grew up in England, and most of my 63 books are set in England, though I've lived in the US for most of my life. Presently I live in Oregon with my dog, Trillian, and visit my grandchildren in Southern California as often as possible.
 
Something that isn’t in your regular bio: “I enjoy growing fruit—apples, cherries, plums, raspberries, rhubarb, currants, blackberries, grapes, and strawberries (though I've never had much success with those)--and veggies (tomatoes, green/runner beans, peas, lettuce, cucumbers, French sorrel, parsley, mint).”
 
Contact the Author:
 
Www.CarolaDunn.weebly.com
https://www.facebook.com/CarolaDunnMysteryAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/Carola.Dunn.Author/
https://www.facebook.com/DaisyDalrympleMysteries/
https://www.facebook.com/CornishMysteries/
https://www.facebook.com/RegenciesByCarolaDunn/
INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: For readers who haven't yet found your books, what can they expect when they open a Carola Dunn novel?
 
Carola:  I've written 27 mysteries (23 in the Daisy Dalrymple series, 4 Cornish mysteries) and 32 Regencies plus 4 collections of novellas. My mysteries have minimal explicit violence and the romances have no explicit sex.
 
Ally:  What's the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given?
 
Carola:  The great English author Somerset Maugham's words of wisdom: “There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately no one knows what they are.” In other words, take any and all rules with a pinch of salt.
 
Ally:  Do the people in your real life show up in your writing?
 
Carola:  Absolutely not, but of course the characteristics of people you know illuminate your understanding of people in general, so help you to create characters. The nearest I've come to using a real person was in my “dead dentist” book, Die Laughing. I'd had a lot of unpleasant dental work done, and I quite simply wanted to kill a dentist. The character had nothing in common with any dentist I've ever had treat me, however.
  
Ally:  Do you enjoy research? Does your genre require it?
 
Carola:  My books are all historical, from the Regency (early 19th century) to the 1920s and the 1960s. They require lots of research into the various periods, besides specific subjects related to the stories.  For example, when I wrote The Bloody Tower, I read a lot about the history of the Tower of London and how the garrison was organized, what the Governor's responsibilities are and the building he lives in, etc. I contacted the librarian of the Royal Armories Library which was then in the Tower, and she provided all the information I could possibly want, a large scale plan, and even the Governor's Day Book for the week Daisy (my protagonist) was there. In general, for the mysteries I researched the state of forensics at the time.
 
I love research, so it's all too easy to spend far too much time on it. Much, probably most, will not appear overtly in the books, but the knowledge is in the background. When a writer has done only superficial research and relies on a scattering of details, it's usually pretty obvious.
 
Ally:  What’s the most meaningful thing a fan could say about your book?
 
Carola:  I love it when fans tell me my books distract them from their troubles when they're going through an illness or a difficult time.
 
Ally: Let’s finish the interview with a few short answer questions. a. book you're currently reading:  News from Tartary by Peter Flemingb. high heels or sneakers:  sneakersc. something unique in your handbag:  Scottish horn-handled fruit knife that my mother gave me 55 years ago.d. Last book that made you laugh:  'The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khane. Your pets:  Dog—mutt--Trillian (named for a character in the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy)Ally: You’ve been a charming guest. Before you go, let’s take a look at your featured book, The Corpse at the Crystal Palace. The Corpse at the Crystal Palace
Daisy Dalrymple series
Genre: cozy mystery
Released: July 2018
 
Publisher's blurb:
 
A casual outing to London's Crystal Palace takes a mysterious and murderous turn . . .
 
April 1928: Daisy Dalrymple Fletcher is being visited in London by her young cousins who are desperate to see the Crystal Palace. On discovering that her children's nanny, Gilpin, has also never seen the palace, Daisy decides to make a day of it with the family. But this ordinary outing starts going wrong when Nanny Gilpin fails to return from the ladies' room. When Daisy goes looking for her, she doesn't find her nanny but instead the dead body of another woman dressed in a nanny's uniform.
 
Meanwhile, the rest of Daisy's party spot Gilpin chasing after yet another nanny. Intrigued, they trail the two into the park and stumble across Gilpin lying unconscious. When she comes to, she has no recollection of what happened.
 
Daisy's husband, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard, soon finds himself embroiled in the murder investigation. Worried about her children's own injured nanny, Daisy is determined to help. But first she has to discover the identity of the third nanny, the presumed murderer, and to do so, Daisy must uncover why Gilpin followed them in the first place . . .
 
Buy Links:
 
https://www.amazon.com/Corpse-Crystal-Palace-Dalrymple-Mysteries/dp/1250047056/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corpse-Crystal-Palace-Daisy-Dalrymple/dp/1472125444/
Praise for the Daisy Dalrymple mysteries
​
'Cunning . . . appropriate historical detail and witty dialogue are the finishing touches on this engaging 1920s period piece' Publishers Weekly
 
'For fans of Dorothy L. Sayers' novels' Library Journal
 
'As always, Dunn evokes the life and times of 1920s England while providing a plot that is a cut above the average British cosy' Booklist

When Mystery Meets Paranormal: Guest Blog by Author Paty Jager

​
​         A surprising element in a mystery... paranormal

                                By Paty Jager
​

One might think a mystery would have enough red herrings and twists and turns for a reader to try to figure out who is the real criminal.

I like to add a little more of a twist to my Shandra Higheagle stories. Not only do I set up a suspect chart and give them motives and opportunities to have done the deed whether it is stealing, killing, stalking, whatever the crime, I also have to come up with dreams for my main character, Native American potter, Shandra Higheagle.

And these dreams can’t just show her who did the crime. No, her deceased grandmother comes to her at first in night time dreams, showing her scenes or scenarios that might be what has transpired or what is going to happen. But there is never a clear picture of who or what is going on. The dreams are puzzles within themselves that if the reader figures them out, can also figure out who they are looking for. Even if at the end I see where I can do a twist and make the reader go, “No! I didn’t see that coming!” The dreams will have shown that twist.

The fun part about the dreams and adding this little paranormal nod to my books, is the fact it allows me to show not only my character’s growing relationship with her Native American roots, but it also shows that dreams can be part of your subconscious and can help you find the truth behind things.

When I came up with the idea of Shandra Higheagle being a potter, it was so I could incorporate something my artist brother had told me about bronze statues. But as I started fleshing her out and discovering more about her background, I wanted her to take a different route to learning about her heritage. And I love dream catchers!