Ally Shields's Blog, page 31

Searching for Riverdale

If you're a regular visitor to this blog, you already know my Guardian Witch series takes place  along the Mississippi River basin. Since everyone hasn't been fortunate enough to grow up in the area, I wanted to show you around.

Today we're visiting Olde Town, the main setting for the series and the tourist district of Riverdale, a small Midwestern city of 287,000 inhabitants, sitting on the cliffs of the upper Mississippi River. The original city core has been restored to its glory days when it was a bustling river port.
Shortly after 7:00 a.m. I backed my Rav 4 out the drive and turned east. After steady driving and only one stop for coffee, I arrived at what should have been the edge of Riverdale well before noon. Only it wasn't there. I found places that looked vaguely familiar but no road signs directing me to Riverdale or Olde Town.

I stopped at a gas station, bought a map, and searched for the town listing. Who changed the map? Where was my picturesque city with the 1800s touristy market area? The horse carriages, the vampire bars? They had vanished overnight. Or had they?

I stood on one of the river cliffs and shut my eyes tight. When I opened them again, this time I looked with my imagination. And there it was. The small city that I had come to know so well and grown to love. I'd like to share it with you.


Let's hop on a horse-drawn carriage and take a drive through Goshen Park. Its woods and isolated paths are so much more inviting during the day. (If you doubt that, check out the photo section of my website and see the park in the fog. Spooky.)

The dramatic swan fountain on the west end of Gosh Park is one of the most popular spots in Olde Town. In good weather the benches surrounding the fountain are filled with tourists or townspeople. Just remember to leave before sundown. At night the park is restricted to the Otherworlders.


What gives the area most of its uniqueness is the Mississippi River and its high cliffs riddled with caves. Here is the river at its tamest at a narrow bend . . .


And the river cliffs viewed from another angle.

No tour of Olde Town would be complete without a peek inside the forbidden Vampire Caverns. Visitors are definitely not welcome beyond the entrances, but there is a hiking trail you can follow around the cliff edge. If you look closely, you may see one of the dark openings into the caves. Do not get off the path. Some of those who have wandered into the caverns have never found their way out.



You will find much more in Olde Town than I can possibly show you in this brief visit: the antique shops, craft and herb shops, high-end boutiques. If you're adventurous, you may want to sample the nightlife along the Vampire Strip or relax in the elegant atmosphere of a supper club. I'm told a really sexy vampire owns one of them.

It takes time to get to know this region and its residents. They're unique and elusive. And the only current road into town is through my Guardian Witch series!

AShields
​(previously published 2015)

New Release Spotlight: Contract for Chaos

Contract for Chaos
(Kelly O'Connell Mystery #8)
Genre: mystery

When four young men sign the rental contract on a Fairmount House, realtor Kelly O’Connell has no idea she has just signed a contract for chaos. But the racial tensions sweeping the country erupt in Fort Worth, and her tenants fan the flames. A young black policeman shoots an unarmed white teenage thief who charged him, the chief of police is shot by a sniper, and Kelly’s husband, Mike, is appointed interim chief of police. 

Life changes dramatically for Kelly and her family. Protests, threats, beatings, and graffiti mark daily life in Kelly’s beloved city. She must protect her infant, reassure her older daughters, and support Mike as he deals with the racism and dissension creeping through the police force and the city. 

How can she keep her family safe and stop the hate? Will the mayor’s city-wide Celebration of Neighbors calm a city on the edge?

Buy LInk:

https://www.amazon.com/Contract-Chaos-OConnell-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07H4S6BKV Excerpt (Opening scene):

“We got to get outta property management, Kelly, or else I’m gonna blow my stack at someone.” Keisha sipped at her wine, put the glass on the coffee table, and sank back into the couch.
 
Keisha is my office manager, confidante, trouble-shooter, and general all-around angel. She came to my office through a work-study program at an alternative high school, and I’ve blessed the day ever since. Big and black, Keisha is a style show unto herself, specializing in colorful, loose, flowing outfits, spike heels, and equally spiky hair, often tinted to match the outfit of the day. She and her new husband, José, are in their late twenties, whereas Mike and I are pushing uncomfortably close to forty. The age gap makes not one whit of difference in the closeness of our families.
 
I had taken a day out of the office, even though nowadays I was mostly back there, taking twelve-month-old Gracie with me. She had her own Pack ’n Play and almost a complete nursery in one corner of the office. After the kidnapping scare when she as an infant, I still couldn’t bring myself to trust anyone else with her care, except occasionally Keisha and her husband, José. I’ve never left my baby with my mom, who lives just blocks away. That, as you can imagine, is the source of some bitter comments.
 
Today, I just wanted to stay home with my baby. I knew the baby days would pass too quickly. Keisha was reporting on a young man who wanted to rent a house. It was property we managed for a client, not something I would have ever added to our company holdings.
 
“He came in, took one look at me, and asked, ‘Where’s the boss?’ Polite as I could, I said you were out for the day, but I could help him. He looked real displeased, but he told me he and three other ‘men’ wanted to rent that house on Alston. Saw our sign.”
 
I knew the house only too well. It was a square box, two-story, four bedrooms upstairs, living, dining, and kitchen down. The owner was a good client, who had bought and sold much more costly residences through our office, and I didn’t want to alienate her. My suggestion that she sell this property fell on deaf ears, but she did paint and update the kitchen and bathrooms. Still it wasn’t charming or old or Craftsman, not one of the houses that distinguished our historic neighborhood.
 
“I whipped out the form, asked him to fill it out, told him we’d check his references and get back to him, and that we also needed references for his roommates. All this time he stood in front of me like a statue, no smile, no introduction. I indicated the chair by my desk, but he stayed standing. When I said we’d need to meet the other tenants, he looked disdainful.
 
“‘I’m sure that won’t be necessary,’ he said. ‘I’ll discuss it with the realtor when he returns to the office.’
 
I told him the owner was Ms. Kelly O’Connell, and he got that sour look on his face again.”
 
“I wonder what his problem is,” I said idly. Honest, I was more interested in watching Gracie’s efforts, so far unsuccessful, to pull herself up. It wouldn’t be long, and she’d be standing . . . and then walking. I sort of hated to see my baby grow up.
​
Keisha’s next words pushed Gracie and kidnapping right out of my mind.
 
“Kelly, you know what his problem was. It was me. I’m black...”

About the Author:

Judy Alter is the award-winning author of three mysteries series: Kelly O’Connell Mysteries: Skeleton in a Dead Space, No Neighborhood for Old Women, Trouble in a Big Box, Danger Comes Home, Deception in Strange Places, Desperate for Death, and The Color of Fear, and the forthcoming Contract for Chaos; four in the Blue Plate Café Series: Murder at the Blue Plate Café, Murder at the Tremont House, Murder at Peacock Mansion, and Murder at the Blue Plate Cafe; and two Oak Grove Mysteries: The Perfect Coed and Pigface and the Perfect Dog. She is also the author of historical fiction based on lives of women in the nineteenth-century American West, including Libbie, Jessie, Cherokee Rose, Sundance, Butch, and Me, and The Gilded Cage, She has also published several young-adult novels, now available on Amazon.

Find her at http://www.judyalter.com or her blog, Judy’s Stew, at http://www.judys-stew.blogspot.com. 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyAlter​

Author M.A. Lee: Historical Mystery with a Touch of Romance

Welcome to this week’s Coffee Chat!
 
On this first week of Fall in the Midwest, I’m chatting with historical suspense author MA Lee.
Good Morning, MA. How do you take your coffee?
 
MA:  Every morning, I grind my organic French Roast beans then brew several cups in an old-fashioned percolator.  When I’m feeling indulgent, I add a splash of cream and a dash of cocoa.
 
Ally: I think my magic pot can manage an indulgent version of your favorite. Meanwhile, please introduce yourself to readers. BIO: 
 
I’ve written stories since middle school.  I can still remember when I realized that books were written by people who did that for a living.  That was the life I wanted—and it’s the life I’m finally living, writing stories every day.  For many years, a drudgery job paid the bills.  I began publishing in 2015.
 
Something Unusual:  “I’m afraid of heights, but I haven’t let it stop me.  I’ve gone on zip lines and climbed mountains and stood on the edge of a rocky precipice.”
 
Contact information for M.A. Lee:
 
Email:  winkbooks@aol.com
Website:  http://writersinkbooks.com/m-a-lee/
My page on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/M.A.-Lee/e/B019PD3Z7W/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 NTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Tell us what type of books you write?
 
MA: Historical mysteries with a dash of romance.  That “dash of romance” means that some kissing occurs, and the off-stage heat is between wife and husband. My featured book today is set in the Regency period. It contains some dark descriptions of the murders that some readers may want to skip over.
 
Ally:  What was your journey to publication?
 
MA:  For years I tried the traditional publishing route.  After I purchased my first Kindle reader in 2013, a year passed before I comprehended that many enjoyable books in the Kindle store were by indie writers.  I slowly realized (I’m not the brightest bulb in the light socket) that I could publish my own stories.  I investigated the indie publishing world.  I thought formatting would be my cross-eyed bear, but it wasn’t—finding a cover designer with my aesthetic was.  I published four books in 2015, and I’ve never looked back.  I’m so happy.
 
Ally:  This is probably the most-asked question of authors: where do you get your ideas?
 
MA:  Getting story ideas?  I wake up with them.  Just a phrase or two, more like seeds than full-blown ideas.  I dash down the idea then head for the shower.  That’s where the real problem starts.  The water’s streaming into my eyes, and ideas are pouring out with it.  I usually remember most of the ideas long enough to record them on my phone, but a few ideas have swirled down the drain with the water.
 
Ally:  Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
 
MA:  The story seeds come with a character flash.  And it is a flash.  I usually get a name and a situation or a dilemma.  For example, one story came to with “a knight in tarnished armor” and “not a damsel in distress”.  The Dangers of Secrets came as “Gordon needs a spark” and “Maddy is his fire” followed by “serial killer in the snowy countryside”.  Nurturing those little seeds into a novel requires determination and persistence.  I really love that novel.
 
As soon as I can, I write a quick sketch, about three to five pages.  The quick sketch usually brings a setting and a conflict out of my subconscious.  I mull over the quick sketch for a little bit then sit down for a longer sketch.  If I generate 30 or more pages, then I know the idea is viable.
Both of these sketches are hand-written.  I find a computer restrictive to my creative flow:  waiting for the laptop to boot up, my security app to inform me it’s working, the program to load—none of it is instant, but ink and paper are.
 
Ally:  Tell us about your reading habits. Any favorites?
 
MA:  Have you heard “you are what you eat?”  Well, I write what I read.  If I’m reading fantasy by Tolkien or Robin McKinley or Lindsey Buroker, then my ideas flow along with elves & trolls or fairy tales or dragons & magic.  If I’m reading Mary Stewart or M.M. Kaye, then my protagonist is in suspenseful situations.  When I read my Bible, I think of devotional studies to write.  Luckily, when I’m writing a novel, the ideas are always flowing around the story, whether it’s a mystery or suspense or fantasy. Ally:  What are you working on right now? 

MA:   My current project is the seventh book in my Hearts in Hazard series of Regency mysteries.  This one is The Key for Spies.  Although it has a mystery, it’s plotting more like a suspense—with a dash of romance, of course.  I hope to publish K4S by the end of October.  It may get delayed.  Painting my new living space then moving in filled up my writing time in September and may fill up October.
Ally:  How would you respond to these five short answer questions? a)  Favorite book:  My Brother Michael by Mary Stewart.  A close second is The Moonspinners, also by M.Stewart.  I love the way Mary Stewart writes, and her characters are real, honorable, and just.  That combination is hard to find.b)  Current read: Mignon Eberhart’s Hasty Wedding.  Eberhart used to be called America’s Agatha Christie.  I like to see how Eberhart crafts her stories, building setting and character relationships and motivations.  She structures her mysteries with twists and clues and red herrings.c)  Favorite accessory: Earrings.  And I don’t have pierced ears.  I wanted pierced ears in middle school, but my daddy said “no.”  By the time I had the gumption to go against his edict, I had realized that I didn’t really like needles.  I wear clip-on or screwback earrings.  My favorite clip-ons are from Greece and have volcanic rocks in them.  I usually wear a blingy set of screwbacks with marquise-cut rubies and diamonds in tiny horseshoes around the rubies.  Costume jewelry, of course.d) Love at first sight?  I must believe in love at first sight.  Most of my heroines meet guys and are instantly attracted, just like me.  To me, love is based on both attraction and compatibility.  Devotion makes two people into a couple.e)  Favorite after-five drink: a cocktail called the Negroni: gin, Campari, sweet vermouth in equal parts, then a twist of orange peel, and finish the glass with ice and club soda.  Coffee in the a.m. and a Negroni in the p.m., and I’ve indulged myself a little too much that day. Ally:  Thanks so much for visiting with us. Before you go, let's take a look at your featured novel, The Dangers of Secrets. ​ The Dangers of Secrets (Hearts in Hazard #4)
Genre:  a Regency romantic suspense
Length: about 56,000 words
Rating: Romance: PG /violence: R
 
Secrets of family.  Secrets of hearts.  Secrets of blood and pain.
Secrets can kill.
 
Maddy Whittaker, on the shelf for years, never expects the man of her dreams will be the one she once called a stick in the mud.
Banished from a country party so she won’t ruin her sisters’ chances in snaring husbands, Maddy is sent to visit a cousin named Simon Jespers, who is hosting his own Valentine’s party.  She expects three weeks of boredom.
 
Gordon, Lord Musgrove, expects he will propose to a biddable lady and live unhappily ever after.
He escapes his mother’s country party (where the dowager Musgrove expects her only son to snare a wife) for one last bid at freedom.  He decides to retreat to his friend Simon Jespers.  Gordon never expects his friend will be hosting a Valentine’s party.  He does expect days and days of boredom.
 
On arrival at Jespers’ country manor, Maddy and Gordon meet for the first time.  A quick flirtation finds them well matched in mind and soul, and the flirtation changes into romance.
Yet a secret from Maddy’s past threatens their future.
And a serial murderer threatens Maddy’s life.
 
Can Gordon overcome past secrets and present dangers to marry his perfect match?

Buy Link:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06X9137D9
 
The character of Gordon, Lord Musgrove, was first introduced in A Game of Spies, published in the fall of 2015.
​
Warning: While the romance is sweet, the murders have been described as sordid.  Unwanted memories of abuse may be triggered.  Please be cautious.
Thanks for stopping by the blog. Come back soon!

Laughs, Cats, & Murder: Meet Mystery Author Sally Carpenter

Welcome to this week’s Coffee Chat!
 
My guest today is Sally Carpenter, an author of humorous cozy mysteries.
Thank you for visiting, Sally. What may I get you to drink?
 
SC:  I’m a hot tea drinker, no sugar or cream but lemon’s OK. Love most herbal and green teas. Can’t stand Lipton brand.
 
Ally: Lol. I think my magic pot blends her own coffees and teas, so you should be safe from Lipton. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers. Bio: 
 
I’m a native Hoosier living in Moorpark, Calif.
I have a master’s degree in theater, a Master of Divinity and a black belt in tae kwon do.
I’ve written four books in the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol series.
Flower Power Fatality is my first book in the Psychedelic Spy series.
I have short stories in three anthologies and penned a chapter in a group mystery novel.
I’m a member of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles.
I also write a faith column for a community newspaper.
 
Something unique: All the cats that I’ve had over the years have been black, black tuxedo or gray. No other colors.
 
Author Contacts:
 
My website is http://sandyfairfaxauthor.com and my email is scwriter@earthlink.net.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sally.carpenter.54
 INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Where do you get your story ideas?
 
SC:  My first cozy series, Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol (for adults), was inspired by my love for The Monkees and an interest in the lives and careers of teen idols. The new series, Psychedelic Spy, came about when I attended a concert of old ‘60s rockers and thought that era would make interesting stories. Writing a spy thriller was sparked by the Doris Day movie “The Glass Bottomed Boat” in which she’s caught up in spy business.
 
Ally:  How did you get that first book or story published?
 
SC:  I sent off a bunch of queries and received a bunch of rejections. Two editors told me what they didn’t like about the book, so I revised the story accordingly and the second editor published it. However, that book soon went out of print. I researched other publishers on the Internet and found Cozy Cat Press. I loved the name and the CCP editor has published all my books since.
 
Ally:  Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
 
SC:  I don’t use a paid editor. I revised my books like crazy. Just when I think I’m finished, I read it one more time and still find changes to make. In my day job I proofread a newspaper, so my self-editing skills are pretty strong.
 
Ally:  Do fans influence your writing? If so, in what way?
 
SC:  I was getting discouraged about continuing the Sandy Fairfax series until some people said they wanted to read more. Some expressed interest in my out-of-print book, so I’m working to get that back in print. If I have an audience, I’ll keep writing. But so far nobody has told me what to write, not even my publisher. I put down the words and hope for the best.
 
Ally:  Have you written or considered writing in other genres or other forms, such as short stories or screenplays? Why or why not.
 
SC:  I started out writing plays, but unless one is connected with a theater company or college drama department, it’s impossible to get a play produced. Theaters lose money on new plays.
Short stories have a short shelf life. It’s hard for an author to build a career or reputation off short stories unless one writes hundreds of them. One is paid a one-time flat rate for short stories and that’s it. With books, royalties can be earned continually. Publishing short stories is easy—just post it online—but few paying markets exist.
 
Ally:  Do you enjoy research? Does your genre require it?
 
SC:  Yes. Sometimes I go overboard and keep researching because it’s interesting and I like learning new things. My new series needs research because it’s set in 1967 and all the products, songs, movies, clothing and hairstyles, etc. must be accurate for the time period. For my Sandy Fairfax series, I used what I learned working at a movie studio to create a fictional work place for my hero.
 
Ally:  What’s the most meaningful thing a fan could say about your book?
 
SC:  The story cheered them up after having a bad day.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project?
 
SC:  I’m putting my first book, The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper, back in print. I’m writing a brand new short story to go with it, and I want to re-edit the book itself. My goal is to have it ready before the end of the year. Next is the second Psychedelic Spy novel, followed by a new Sandy Fairfax book. I’d like to alternative the two series.
 
Ally: Try a few short answer questions.  a. Book you're currently reading: The Columbo Collection by William Linkb. An author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: Rod Serling (but he can’t smoke at the table)c. Favorite TV show: The Monkeesd. Last book that made you laugh: Schlock Homes: The Complete Bagel Street Sagae. Your pets: Boots. Previous cats were PK, Snuggles, Gabby, Felix and Outdoor Kitty. Ally: It’s been fun meeting you, Sally. Before you go, please show us your featured book, Flower Power Fatality.
Flower Power Fatality (A Psychedelic Spy Mystery)
Genre: humorous cozy mystery
Rating: PG/no romance
 
The Cold War gets cozy in this retro-cozy spy caper set in 1967, a year of music, miniskirts—and murder! Actress Noelle McNabb works at the Country Christmas Family Fun Park in Yuletide, Indiana, but she longs for the bright lights of Hollywood. Real-life drama comes her way when a stranger with a fatal gunshot wound stumbles across her doorstep.
 
When she attempts to finds the man’s murderer, Noelle encounters a super-secret spy agency, SIAMESE (Special Intelligence Apparatus for Midwest Enemy Surveillance and Espionage). SIAMESE recruits Noelle on a quest to find missing microdots under the guidance of a street-wise agent, Destiny King. As Noelle goes undercover in a cheesy nightclub and faces the enemy in late-night chases, she uncovers family secrets and finds her moral values put to the test. Along with her pet cat, Ceebee, and the kooky residents of Yuletide, Noelle discovers it takes a village to catch a killer.
 


Buy Links:
 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DLJS6FF/
https://www.amazon.com/Flower-Power-Fatality-Psychedelic-Mystery/dp/1946063541​ Thank you for joining us today!

Mystery Thrillers, Beagles, and Bad Guys: Interview with Author Patricia Hale

​Good Morning, Booklovers!
​
​Welcome to this week's Coffee Chat. My guest is mystery/thriller author Patricia Hale. It's nice to meet you, Pat. How do you take your coffee?

PH: Thanks so much for the opportunity to be with you on the Coffee Chat. I take my coffee with cream and sugar, please.
 
Ally: Easily done. While I pour, you have time to tell readers about your background.

BIO:
 
Patricia Hale lives in Standish, ME with her husband. She is a graduate of the MFA program at Goddard College, a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance and the NH Writers Project. When the computer is off, you can find Patricia on the sideline of her grandsons’ sporting events or hiking the trails near her home with her German shepherd and a very bossy Beagle.
 
Something Unique about you: “I am a member of the Beagle Freedom Project. An organization that contracts with labs still using animals for testing, primarily Beagles due to their size and disposition. These animals are bred and born in laboratories and live their entire lives inside never knowing grass or sunlight. When the labs finish with them, they are euthanized. Now, thanks to Beagle Freedom when the lab is finished testing products on the dogs, volunteers pick them up and they are sent to foster homes to become acclimated to normal “dog-life” then they are placed in “forever homes” with loving families. If interested in making a difference, go to Beagle Freedom’s website and see the manufacturers that still do animal testing. By not using their products you can take a stand against animal testing.”
 
Contact Links:
 
Website: http://www.patriciahale.org
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7113831                  
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/patricia.hale.102
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/patricia-hale INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: Every good mystery thriller has an interesting bad guy behind it. What makes a good villain?
 
PH:  Every villain has to have at least one redeeming quality. He/she is good to their dog or kind to an elderly parent or neighbor. A reader needs something to identify with in order to care about any character, even a bad guy. It’s easy to hate someone horrible. If you can make the reader care about the villain or help them understand what makes him/her behave the way they do, then you’ve created internal conflict for the reader. And those conflicted feelings hold a reader’s interest and keeps them turning the pages.
 
Ally:  What’s the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given?
 
PH:  To write every day. Like anything else, practice makes perfect. (Well, not perfect, but… better.) And don’t be disheartened by rejections. They are learning tools. Use them as incentive to push yourself harder. Marketing is tough for most writers. As an introvert, the last thing I want to do is shine the light on myself or be the center of attention. But a friend pointed out that I am the most knowledgeable when it comes to my work. And so, when speaking about my story or characters I remind myself that I am the expert on this topic and I do my best to feel confident. (Sometimes it works.)
 
Ally:  Do people in your real life show up in your work?
 
PH:  I tend to steal quirks, obsessions and crazy behaviors from my friends and co-workers. Most of the time they’re happy to recognize bits of themselves in my characters. My own opinions show up as well. I share many of Britt Callahan’s likes and dislikes, especially in wine and men. Her partner, Griff Cole, isn’t based on anyone in particular, but is a compilation of my favorite qualities. Attentive, but independent, strong, vulnerable, sense of humor, ethical and kind. Congrats to anyone who has found a living/breathing Griff.
 
Ally:  Which of your books is your personal favorite and why?
​
PH:  Scar Tissue is my favorite. It is character driven while the other books in the series are more plot driven. The characters in Scar Tissue have more depth and because of that, the story has more layers to offer the reader. Britt’s character demonstrates a lot of growth stemming from her ordeal in the previous book, Durable Goods. She comes into her own in Scar Tissue and makes some decisions that will, I believe, surprise the reader. I hope to continue with more character driven work. No matter how good a plot is, a reader has to like the characters and care what happens to them to stay interested. As a writer, so do I.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project?
 
PH:  My current project is a work of contemporary fiction. It’s the story of two families who are long-time friends, but when a tragedy takes place involving both of their sons, family outweighs friendship. The novel is a testament to lies, loyalty and how far a parent will go to protect those they love.
 
Ally: I’d like to finish the interview with a few get-to-know-you, quick-answer questions.a. Favorite tv show: Homelandb. Something different in your handbag: A very small book titled, 642 Tiny Things to Write About, a journal of writing prompts. It keeps me busy when I’m stuck in traffic.c. Your pets: Enya, a German Shepherd, and Muddy, a Beagle.d. Hobbies: yoga, hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.e. Favorite after five drink: Pinot Gris Ally: It was a pleasure having you on the blog, Pat. Before you go, please show us your featured book, Scar Tissue. 
Scar Tissue
Genre: thriller
Rating:  PG-13
 
Blurb:
 
Track star, Ashley Lambert, has just been accepted into the prestigious Johns Hopkins University, so when she jumps eighteen stories to her death her parents hire the PI team of Griff Cole and Britt Callahan to find out why. The investigation exposes a deeply disturbed family hiding behind a façade of perfection and follows Ashley’s descent into performance enhancing drugs and blackmail. Ashley’s coaches, peers and even her parents come into question.  The disturbing truth behind Ashley’s death begs the question, what constitutes love?
 
Meanwhile, things don’t add up next door. Britt’s working overtime researching their new neighbors whose one-year-old son disappeared four years ago. Rhea McKenzie, has a secret and bruises aren’t the only thing she’s trying to hide. When an off-hand comment discloses a connection to Ashley Lambert the two cases become entwined, setting off an unstoppable chain of events. Britt is sucked into an alliance with Rhea and driven to make decisions that challenge her ethics, threaten her relationship and in the end, push her over a line she never thought she’d cross.

 
Buy link:  Amazon: http://authl.it/ae1 Thanks for stopping. See you next week!

Mystery Thrillers, Beagles, and Bad Buys: Interview with Author Patricia Hale

​Good Morning, Booklovers!
​
​Welcome to this week's Coffee Chat. My guest is mystery/thriller author Patricia Hale. It's nice to meet you, Pat. How do you take your coffee?

PH: Thanks so much for the opportunity to be with you on the Coffee Chat. I take my coffee with cream and sugar, please.
 
Ally: Easily done. While I pour, you have time to tell readers about your background.

BIO:
 
Patricia Hale lives in Standish, ME with her husband. She is a graduate of the MFA program at Goddard College, a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance and the NH Writers Project. When the computer is off, you can find Patricia on the sideline of her grandsons’ sporting events or hiking the trails near her home with her German shepherd and a very bossy Beagle.
 
Something Unique about you: “I am a member of the Beagle Freedom Project. An organization that contracts with labs still using animals for testing, primarily Beagles due to their size and disposition. These animals are bred and born in laboratories and live their entire lives inside never knowing grass or sunlight. When the labs finish with them, they are euthanized. Now, thanks to Beagle Freedom when the lab is finished testing products on the dogs, volunteers pick them up and they are sent to foster homes to become acclimated to normal “dog-life” then they are placed in “forever homes” with loving families. If interested in making a difference, go to Beagle Freedom’s website and see the manufacturers that still do animal testing. By not using their products you can take a stand against animal testing.”
 
Contact Links:
 
Website: http://www.patriciahale.org
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7113831                  
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/patricia.hale.102
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/patricia-hale INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: Every good mystery thriller has an interesting bad guy behind it. What makes a good villain?
 
PH:  Every villain has to have at least one redeeming quality. He/she is good to their dog or kind to an elderly parent or neighbor. A reader needs something to identify with in order to care about any character, even a bad guy. It’s easy to hate someone horrible. If you can make the reader care about the villain or help them understand what makes him/her behave the way they do, then you’ve created internal conflict for the reader. And those conflicted feelings hold a reader’s interest and keeps them turning the pages.
 
Ally:  What’s the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given?
 
PH:  To write every day. Like anything else, practice makes perfect. (Well, not perfect, but… better.) And don’t be disheartened by rejections. They are learning tools. Use them as incentive to push yourself harder. Marketing is tough for most writers. As an introvert, the last thing I want to do is shine the light on myself or be the center of attention. But a friend pointed out that I am the most knowledgeable when it comes to my work. And so, when speaking about my story or characters I remind myself that I am the expert on this topic and I do my best to feel confident. (Sometimes it works.)
 
Ally:  Do people in your real life show up in your work?
 
PH:  I tend to steal quirks, obsessions and crazy behaviors from my friends and co-workers. Most of the time they’re happy to recognize bits of themselves in my characters. My own opinions show up as well. I share many of Britt Callahan’s likes and dislikes, especially in wine and men. Her partner, Griff Cole, isn’t based on anyone in particular, but is a compilation of my favorite qualities. Attentive, but independent, strong, vulnerable, sense of humor, ethical and kind. Congrats to anyone who has found a living/breathing Griff.
 
Ally:  Which of your books is your personal favorite and why?
PH:  Scar Tissue is my favorite. It is character driven while the other books in the series are more plot driven. The characters in Scar Tissue have more depth and because of that, the story has more layers to offer the reader. Britt’s character demonstrates a lot of growth stemming from her ordeal in the previous book, Durable Goods. She comes into her own in Scar Tissue and makes some decisions that will, I believe, surprise the reader. I hope to continue with more character driven work. No matter how good a plot is, a reader has to like the characters and care what happens to them to stay interested. As a writer, so do I.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project?
 
PH:  My current project is a work of contemporary fiction. It’s the story of two families who are long-time friends, but when a tragedy takes place involving both of their sons, family outweighs friendship. The novel is a testament to lies, loyalty and how far a parent will go to protect those they love.
 
Ally: I’d like to finish the interview with a few get-to-know-you, quick-answer questions.a. Favorite tv show: Homelandb. Something different in your handbag: A very small book titled, 642 Tiny Things to Write About, a journal of writing prompts. It keeps me busy when I’m stuck in traffic.c. Your pets: Enya, a German Shepherd, and Muddy, a Beagle.d. Hobbies: yoga, hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.e. Favorite after five drink: Pinot Gris Ally: It was a pleasure having you on the blog, Pat. Before you go, please show us your featured book, Scar Tissue. 

Scar Tissue
Genre: thriller
Rating:  PG-13
 
Blurb:
 
Track star, Ashley Lambert, has just been accepted into the prestigious Johns Hopkins University, so when she jumps eighteen stories to her death her parents hire the PI team of Griff Cole and Britt Callahan to find out why. The investigation exposes a deeply disturbed family hiding behind a façade of perfection and follows Ashley’s descent into performance enhancing drugs and blackmail. Ashley’s coaches, peers and even her parents come into question.  The disturbing truth behind Ashley’s death begs the question, what constitutes love?
 
Meanwhile, things don’t add up next door. Britt’s working overtime researching their new neighbors whose one-year-old son disappeared four years ago. Rhea McKenzie, has a secret and bruises aren’t the only thing she’s trying to hide. When an off-hand comment discloses a connection to Ashley Lambert the two cases become entwined, setting off an unstoppable chain of events. Britt is sucked into an alliance with Rhea and driven to make decisions that challenge her ethics, threaten her relationship and in the end, push her over a line she never thought she’d cross.

 
Buy link:  Amazon: http://authl.it/ae1 Thanks for stopping. See you next week!

Great Choices From My Summer Reading List

Good Morning, Booklovers!

​With many "deck days" this summer, I tackled my skyscraper TBR pile.
In no particular order, I wanted to share several books--urban fantasies plus two mysteries--that not only entertained me but stirred my imagination!
Hope you enjoy them too, Ally



​
​Brief Cases (Dresden Files) by Jim Butcher. This June 2018 collection contains twelve stories of wizard Harry Dresden and his odd assortment of friends. A Do-Not-Miss for series fans! https://www.amazon.com/Brief-Cases-Dresden-Files-Butcher-ebook/dp/B077WYGXPP




​Natural Witch (Magical Mayhem Book 1) by K.F. Breene. This witch/mage series is centered around an ongoing supernatural conflict and how Penny’s naïveté about the magic world and her own powers gets her into all sorts of trouble. Some very humorous moments. A spinoff from Breene's Fire and Ice Trilogy, (also recommended) https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Witch-Magical-Mayhem-Book-ebook/dp/B078TZCYF5
​





​Kindling the Moon (Arcadia Bell Book 1) by Jenn Bennett, an urban fantasy with some unique twists. “Meet Arcadia Bell: bartender, renegade magician, fugitive from the law...and the spawn of two infamous occultists.”  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004G8QSEE ​





​Burn Bright (Alpha and Omega Book 5) Shifters, shifters, and more shifters!
With their alpha out of the country, mated werewolves Charles and Anna respond to an SOS only to find themselves facing real Trouble! https://www.amazon.com/Bright-Alpha-Omega-Patricia-Briggs-ebook/dp/B075C9TMR1







​Legacy series by McKenzie Hunter. Levy Michaels is a type of supernatural creature new to me, a legacy, a powerful magic user whose species has been hunted almost to extinction for a terrible act committed by an earlier generation. Book 1 is Double-Sided Magic  https://www.amazon.com/Double-Sided-Magic-Legacy-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01MQF5KPT





​DI Green contemporary British mystery series by Faith Martin. This series protagonist 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 https://www.amazon.com/MURDER-OXFORD-gripping-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B0763RXLRV




Murder at Kensington Gardens by Lee Strauss, Ginger Gold Mystery Book 6. On the lighter side, this cozy historical series is set in 1920s London. Society war widow and fashion store owner Lady Gold finds a body in the park. If you like the Phryne Fisher books or tv series, you should enjoy Ginger Gold. https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Kensington-Gardens-historical-mystery-ebook/dp/B0796XGL35 Whatever is on your reading list, keep turning the pages!
Hope to see you same time, same place, next week.

Author Rosemary Nichols: Historical Fiction with a Mystery Twist

GOOD MORNING, BOOKLOVERS!
 
I'm delighted to have author Rosemary Nichols with us this morning to talk about historical fiction and a little bit of this and that.
Welcome, Rosemary. What may I get you to drink?
 
RN:  I spent decades happily drinking coffee but in the past year it has started to bother my stomach. Now I drink tea. English Breakfast in the morning (with milk, as it is supposed to be drunk), iced tea during the day, and either Sleepy Time or a non-caffinated tea at night. I feel like such a woose.
 
Ally: Never that! We’ve had many tea drinkers on the Coffee Chat. And some are pretty hardcore. :) While I brew a cup, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
 
I am a 71 year old retired attorney who has written eight books and published five of them. I write historical fiction with a mystery twist. I focus primarily on Nineteenth Century America.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn’t in my regular bio: “I lived in a house without interior plumbing until I went to college. That wasn’t as awful as it sounds because I lived in central Arizona, which wasn’t very cold in the winter.”
 
Contact the Author:
 
My web page is rosemarygailnichols.com
Email address:  rosemarygailnichols@gmail.com. INTERVIEW:      
 
Ally: What can readers expect from a Rosemary Nichols novel?
 
RN:  I write historical fiction. My novels are basically PG. The only sex takes place behind closed doors, with the details left to the reader’s imagination.
 
Ally:   Where do you get your story ideas?
 
RN:  I love to do research and I have been studying history since high school. I have two degrees in history. I have a life time folder full of story ideas. There are so many fabulous historical incidents that people just don’t know. That’s why the two books my stepdaughter Michaela MacColl and I wrote together are called “Hidden History”. Who knew that the famous Dred Scott case exists because of Dred’s wife Harriet? Dred probably didn’t like being enslaved (who would?) but he had been part of the Scott family all his life, and it wasn’t so bad. His wife Harriet, who was also a slave from birth, was absolutely determined that the Scott family would be freed. The litigation starts in St. Louis in 1847. You have this fabulous conflict between two women, one the daughter of the richest man in Missouri and the other an illiterate enslaved woman. The goal of the “owner” was to sell the two Scott girls south into Mississippi or Arkansas so she had lots of money for each of the girls for their prime child-bearing years.
  
Ally:   How did you get that first book or story published?
 
RN:  I was very fortunate. My stepdaughter Michaela MacColl, an established writer of historical fiction for young adults, was asked by a friend of hers who had just become a principal editor at Boyds Mills if she would consider a series for younger readers. Michaela had a commitment to Chronicle for a book a year and didn’t think she could undertake the research and writing on a new series. She decided I needed a new project. I had been wanting to start writing fiction for years. So one weekend we did a series of book ideas. We came up with 11 we liked in the series we called “Hidden History”, and sent them to the publisher. They came back with the principal one (Rory’s Promise) as the first selection and then offered us a contract with two more. We co-wrote a second book, Freedom’s Price. Then I decided I really didn’t want to write anymore for that age group, so Michaela took over the last book in the contract. I then started researching and writing my nineteenth century adult book.
 
Ally:  Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
 
RN:  The first two books I co-wrote were edited by a very experienced editor for Boyds Mills. I made the time to learn from her editing work to refine my own skills.
 
I have been writing (nonfiction and legal materials) since graduate school in 1969. Most of the work I published was for non-professionals so I had to write clearly and without jargon. Over all those years I learned to edit. I find after all those years I have the ability to set my work aside for a few days or weeks, step back from my text, and review it at arms length.
  
Ally:  Tell us about your reading habits. Favorite genres, etc.
 
RN:  I read lots of mysteries and lots of history, both fictional and nonfictional. Lately I have gotten into reading about the Second World War, which was a topic I never thought would interest me. But there are so many fabulous stories about so many brave men and women. They are very inspiring.
 
I usually like to read all of a writer’s work so if I discover one book that I like, I will read whatever that author has published. Three of my longtime favorite mystery authors are Anne Perry, Charles Todd (a mother/son writing team) and Louise Penny. On the fantasy side I very much enjoy George R. R. Martin, Robin Hobb, and (of course) J. K. Rowling. But there are lots of other writers I enjoy and other genres I read.
 
I usually read three or four books a week most weeks and I tend to read one book of fiction at a time. I will sometimes drop in and out of a nonfiction work if I find the going heavy.
 
I’m old fashioned. I like the feeling of paper but, especially when I travel, I load up my Ipad and read ebooks.
 
Ally:  Have you written or considered writing in other genres or other forms, such as short stories or screenplays?
 
RN:  In order to stretch myself, I am taking an online course in short story writing. For a number of years I took a memoir writing class. But I really like the novel form. Until I have a good reason to expand my repertoire, I will stick to novels.
  
Ally:  Do you enjoy research?
 
RN:  I absolutely love research. Historical fiction requires it. As someone who has viewed myself as a professional historian for decades the idea of not writing “the truth” sends shivers down my spine. But I don’t let the history get in the way of the story. So I usually have long author’s notes in which I “fess up” where I didn’t follow the history. Some readers tell me they enjoy my author’s notes as almost an extra story.
  
Ally:   What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
RN:  I am writing the series on the building of the Erie Canal with the goal of finishing each book within the 200th anniversary of the events I am presenting. So my 2018 book, Missing from Utica, is going to be released in time for Christmas this year.

I just finished a book I have been working on for a number of years. It is a Civil War era story about an upstate New York family whose members go to New Orleans in October of 1860 (just as the Southern states are leaving the Union) to rescue two family members who have been kidnapped into slavery. It is topical and reflects fifty years of study and research. I don’t think I’ve let the history get in the way of the story but my beta readers will tell me. They are fortunately very honest.
 
Ally: Let’s finish up with a few short answer questions.a. favorite book. I don’t have one, I have dozens or hundreds. I am a promiscuous book lover.b. books you're currently reading: Ray Raphael, Founders: The people who brought you a nation; Bob Drury and Tom Claven, Lucky 666: the improbable mission (about a WWII bomber crew); and Betty Webb, Desert Wind.c. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: Louise Penny.d. favorite accessory (jewelry, scarves, shoes, etc.) I have made jewelry for more than ten years so I wear what I like, which is usually something I made.e. favorite quote: It ain’t over ‘til it’s overf. Your pets: Terriers (Soft coated Wheatens or cairns), Fender and Alice.Ally: Thanks for visiting with us, Rosemary. Before you go, let’s take a peek at three of your books.
Buy Links:
 
Rory’s Promise (PB/ebook):
https://www.amazon.com/Promise-Hidden-Histories-Michaela-MacColl-ebook/dp/B00ODEOL1S
 
Freedom’s Price (PB/ebook):
https://www.amazon.com/Freedoms-Hidden-Histories-Michaela-MacColl-ebook/dp/B015JWL47G
 
Building the Erie Canal (PB):
https://www.amazon.com/Building-Erie-Canal-Rosemary-Nichols/dp/1614684022 Thanks for stopping. Come back soon!

Author DiAnn Mills Thrives on Action-Packed Suspense

​Welcome, Booklovers!
​
It’s Wednesday again. Grab your coffee cup, pull up a chair and settle in for book talk with author DiAnn Mills.

Nice to meet you DiAnn. How do you take your coffee?
DM:  I drink it black and strong. No additives whatsoever.

Ally: Ah, a coffee purist like myself. While I pour, please introduce yourself.

BIO:

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian Fiction books of 2014.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Mountainside Marketing Conference with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

Something unique/unusual that isn't in her regular bio. “Here are two: a) I can’t wear a watch. The electricity in me speeds it up or slows it down, depends on how long I’ve worn it; and b) I’m a super picky eater. Basically vegetarian and even then, I can be a pain to take to dinner. At least, that’s what my husband says.
 
Contacts:
​
DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, or any of the social media platforms listed at diannmills.com INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: Every suspense/mystery story needs a villain. What makes a good one? What characteristics will make us love to hate him/her?
 
DM:  A true villain is charming, often good looking, powerful, magnetic or manipulative. Or all those traits. The key to his/her antagonistic ways is in backstory, unfortunate life experiences that defined and motived the villain into a life of crime. The why is shaped by the how.
 
Ally:  Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
 
DM:  I don’t use a professional editor prior to submission. Once the book is written and I’ve edited it several times (never mind how many times some passages are edited) and my husband reads and edits, the book is sent to my publisher where a team of editors dissect the story.
 
Ally: Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
 
DM:  Never! I spend a considerable amount of time getting to know my character, their personality, wants, needs, backstory, and a host of other traits.
 
Ally:  Do you enjoy research? Does your genre require it?
 
DM:  I enjoy research, and yes, my genre requires it. I also value what solid research does for the credibility of a book. My last several books have focused on a FBI hero or heroine. I was able to forge a relationship with Houston’s FBI and now with an agent at the Office of Public Affairs | FBI Headquarters. While I’m committed to writing correct protocol, the FBI wants readers be properly informed.
 
Ally:  Which of your books is your personal favorite? Why?
 
DM:  That’s like asking which one of my children is my favorite.
One who behaved in the market? One who didn’t do as well as I’d hoped? One who won awards? One who sold the most?
My favorite is the one that was just released. When the next one releases, it will be my fav. :)
 
Ally:  What are you working on now? Anticipated release date?
 
DM:  My next project is the second book in the FBI Rapid Response Series. It releases September 2019.
 
Ally: Try your hand at these five quick answer questions: ​a. an item on your bucket list:   Zip lineb. color of nail polish you have on:   Rose gold sparklese. high heels or sneakers:  Heelsd. hiking or sunbathing:  Hiking!e. What comes to your first - character or plot?  Plot – but I believe the story is all about character.  Ally: Thanks for visiting with us today, DiAnn. Before we let you go, please show us your featured book. ​
BURDEN OF PROOF (FBI: Rapid Response #1)
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: 1 (I write inspirational novels)
 
Reeling from a negotiation gone wrong, FBI Special Agent April Ramos is caught off guard when a frazzled young woman shoves a crying baby into her arms, then disappears. Worry for the child’s safety quickly turns to fear when a man claiming to be the girl’s father abducts them at gunpoint. April puts her hostage negotiation skills to use to learn more about who she’s dealing with: Jason Snyder, a fugitive accused of murder.

As Jason spins a tall tale about being framed for the killing of his business partner, April must sort through his claims to find the truth. A truth that becomes all the more evident after April overhears a conversation between Jason and the local sheriff and realizes something more sinister may be happening in their small town of Sweet Briar, Texas. But aligning herself with a known fugitive to uncover the burden of proof could cost April her job . . . or worse, her life and the lives of other innocent people.




Buy Links:

https://diannmills.com/books/burden-of-proof/

Hope to see everyone next week!

Interview with Mystery Author Debbie De Louise

Welcome, Booklovers!
 
This week’s guest on the Coffee Chat is author Debbie De Louise with her featured book, Reason to Die.
Good morning, Debbie! How do you take your coffee?
 
DDL:  I have one cup a day in the morning and add a small amount of fat free milk to it, no sugar.
 
Ally: Easy fix. While I pour our drinks, please tell readers a little about your background.
Bio:
 
Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters-in-Crime, the Long Island Authors Group, and the Cat Writer’s Association. She has a BA in English and an MLS in Library Science from Long Island University. Ms De Louise lives on Long Island with her husband, Anthony, daughter, Holly, and cat, Stripey.

Her four novels include the three books of the Cobble Cove cozy mystery series published by Solstice Publishing: A Stone’s Throw, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Written in Stone, and her latest mystery thriller, Reason to Die. Debbie has also published a romantic comedy novella featuring a jewel heist caper, When Jack Trumps Ace, and has written articles and short stories for several anthologies of various genres.

Something unique/unusual that isn’t in your regular bio: “I created and maintain a pet memorial center in the virtual world of Second Life where I also promote my books and associate with librarians from all over the world.”
  
Social Media Links:
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deblibrarian
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_Louise
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2bIHdaQ
Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.com INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  What can readers expect when they open a De Louise book?
 
DDL:  My main genres are cozy mystery and mystery. I also write romance, and a paranormal romance is coming soon. All my books are PG or PG-13.
 
Ally:  Do fans influence your writing? If so, in what way?
 
DDL:  Fans have a big impact on my writing. When readers write nice reviews of my books or compliment me about them in person, it motivates me to continue writing.
 
Ally:  Tell us about your reading habits. Favorite genres. Books read per month, year? Print or ebooks? Any current favorites?
 
DDL:  I read a variety of genres, but mysteries and thrillers are my favorites. I like mysteries that feature romance in them. I also enjoy time travel tales, stories with twilight-zone themes, and books with twists. I read one or two books a month, but I used to read 3 to 4 a week. I prefer print books, but I have a Kindle Fire and read eBooks occasionally. I recently finished Ruth Ware’s The Death of Mrs. Westaway that I highly recommend. It reminded me of the old-fashioned gothic romances I used to enjoy that were written by Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt.
 
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?
 
DDL:  I’ve written in different genres and other forms. I’ve several short stories in anthologies that are also available as short eBooks. I don’t find writing in other genres or forms difficult. I think novel writing is the hardest, at least it takes the most time. However, it also allows one more freedom to elaborate on the plot.
 
Ally:  What is your favorite social media?
 
DDL: I like Facebook. I’m not really a twitter person, although I use it. I know twitter offers writers more opportunities, but Facebook is easier to use. They both have a wide audience. I don’t think it matters what social media you use as long as you connect with readers online.
​Ally:  What is your next writing project?
 
DDL:  I just finished final edits for a reprint of my first published novel, a paranormal romance with themes of reincarnation and a virtual world. Cloudy Rainbow will be released by Solstice Publishing at the end of August or early September.  It will appear first time as an eBook as well as print copy.
 
Ally: Let’s finish up with a few short answer questions:An item on your bucket list: Traveling to ItalyWhat comes to you first - character or plot? PlotSomething unique in your handbag: ToothbrushLast book that made you cry:  Me Before You by Jo Jo MoyesYour pets: My male Tabby Cat, Stripey Ally: Thanks for sharing coffee and book talk with us, Debbie. Before you go, please show us your featured book.
Reason to Die
Genre: mystery thriller
PG-13
 
Someone is strangling disabled people in the small town of Baxter, Connecticut.
 
Detective Courtney Lang and her ex-partner and ex-lover, wheelchair-bound Bill Thompson, are paired up again and put in charge of the investigation. During the course of their search, Courtney uncovers information that points toward a connection between the murders and an unsolved series of muggings by a masked man, the same man who shot and disabled Bill a year ago on the night he proposed marriage to her.

Complicating matters for Courtney is her guilt about Thompson’s shooting, her affair with her new partner, Mark Farrell, and her unresolved feelings over the deaths of her mother and sister who perished in a fire while she was away from home.

As the deaths accrue and the “Handicapped Strangler” as the killer is coined by the press continues to rampage the town adding victims of different ages, sex, and disabilities to the murder count, Courtney discovers a clue that could crack open the case but may put her and Bill’s life in jeopardy.
 
Reason to Die trailer link:  https://youtu.be/6Q5DcxDKBAs
 
Purchase links:
 
Amazon.com eBook: https://www.amazon.com/Reason-Die-Debbie-Louise-ebook/dp/B07BNJNY5T/
Amazon.com print copy: https://www.amazon.com/Reason-Die-Debbie-Louise/dp/1625267614/
Universal Links: myBook.to/RTD (eBook)
myBook.to/RTDpap (paperback)

​Other Works by Debbie De Louise:
 
All my books can be purchased on Amazon.com. The eBooks are free on Kindle Unlimited. Print copies are also sold by other booksellers including Barnes and Noble. The link to my Amazon author page is: http://amzn.to/2bIHdaQ
 
For non-U.S. buyers, my Universal Amazon link is: Author.to/DebbieDeLouise