Ally Shields's Blog, page 32

Book Spotlight: Past and Present, Marketville Mystery #2

​Past & Present: A Marketville Mystery #2
By Judy Penz Sheluk
Rating: PG
Genre: Mystery
 
Blurb:
 
Sometimes the past reaches out to the present...
 
It’s been thirteen months since Calamity (Callie) Barnstable inherited a house in Marketville under the condition that she search for the person who murdered her mother thirty years earlier. She solves the mystery, but what next? Unemployment? Another nine-to-five job in Toronto?
 
Callie decides to set down roots in Marketville, take the skills and knowledge she acquired over the past year, and start her own business: Past & Present Investigations.
It’s not long before Callie and her new business partner, best friend Chantelle Marchand, get their first client: a woman who wants to find out everything she can about her grandmother, Anneliese Prei, and how she came to a “bad end” in 1956. It sounds like a perfect first assignment. Except for one thing: Anneliese’s past winds its way into Callie’s present, and not in a manner anyone—least of all Callie—could have predicted.
 
Buy Link:
 
Release Date: September 21, 2018 Print and Kindle
Pre-order Kindle on Amazon for special introductory price of $2.99 (reg. $5.99): http://authl.it/afj
Excerpt (from Chapter 6):
 
I checked our website for Misty’s update on her Message page, pleased to see that it explained the Rider-Waite deck she use for her tarot readings.
 
Originally published in 1910 by William Rider & Son of London, the illustrations for the Rider-Waite cards were drawn in 1909 by Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of Arthur Edward Waite. Smith’s richly detailed and symbolic drawings transformed the standard tarot deck. Today, Rider-Waite is one of the most popular tarot decks in the English-speaking world. See History of Tarot for more information.
 
The History of Tarot was linked to the “coming soon” child page.
 
Today’s Message had captivated Louisa. It featured the Eight of Wands: eight thin logs pointing toward the ground, with leaves falling against a clear blue sky and a rolling, treed landscape.
 
The Eight of Wands (Element: Fire)
This is the only card in the minor arcana that does not include people, animals, or mythological creatures. Notice how the eight wands work in tandem, each pointing in the same downward direction, as if in harmony with each other, the leaves and the earth. The overall impression of the card is one of peacefulness, movement, teamwork, and determination.
 
Misty’s Message: This is the perfect time to take action. Working with a team will help you to produce the results you desire.
 
I had to grin. I knew from past research that reading of the tarot was at the interpretation of the reader, although there was a general consensus on what each card represented. Misty had taken the Eight of Wands and made it all about purpose and teamwork. Not only was it clever, Misty had earned her first finder’s fee, split fifty-fifty with Arabella. Not a bad start.
 
It was time to tackle the train case and sort the contents. I felt the muscles in my neck relax. I could do this. We could do this. I called Chantelle, provided a brief update, and paced the room until she arrived. About the author:
 
An Amazon International Bestselling Author, Judy Penz Sheluk’s debut mystery novel, The Hanged Man’s Noose, the first in the Glass Dolphin Mystery series, was published in July 2015, and is also available in audiobook. The sequel, A Hole In One, was published March 2018, with audiobook to follow Fall 2018.
Skeletons in the Attic, Judy’s second novel, and the first in her Marketville Mystery series, was first published in August 2016 and re-released in December 2017. It is also available in audiobook format. The sequel, Past & Present, will be released September 2018. Judy’s short crime and literary fiction appears in several collections.
Judy is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she serves on the Board of Directors as a representative for Toronto/Southwestern Ontario.
Find out more about Judy at http://www.judypenzsheluk.com.
 
Social Contacts:
 
Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/JudyPenzSheluk/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8602696.Judy_Penz_Sheluk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyPenzSheluk
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/judypenzsheluk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judypenzsheluk/

Author Jodi Rath: Mixing Recipes and Murder

​Happy Wednesday, Booklovers!
 
My guest this week is author Jodi Rath with her featured book, Pineapple Upside Down Murder. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it? :)
Welcome, Jodi. What may I get you to drink?
 
JR:  I really LOVE the smell of coffee (my hubby makes a pot every morning) but I can’t drink it because it gives me a stomach ache for some reason.  So instead, I drink the loose leaf hot tea every morning. My preference is called Adagio Perfect Pumpkin flavored tea with two sweet–n-lows and a few drops of milk.
 
Ally: While my magic pot conjures up a cup of your special tea, please introduce yourself to readers. Author Bio:

I am the owner of MYS ED LLC at www.jodirath.com .  Currently, I'm working on a cozy mystery series called The Cast Iron Skillet Mysteries. Book 1 will be coming out late fall of 2018 and it is titled Pineapple Upside down Murder.  I've also started working on a children's book called The Puppy-Toed Kitty and a YA book called The Cultural Mishaps of Savannah Lighthead. I also have one educational writing project that I’m currently working to complete on the topic of Social and Emotional Learning.
I'm married to the perfect man for me with our family of eight cats. I have a B.A. in English Literature and an M.A. in Teacher Education.  I taught English to high school students for 18 years and loved every minute of it! Currently, my business entails online adjunct work where I have the honor to work with Ohio teachers, and I do educational writing, and of course mystery writing.
 
Author Contacts:
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodirath
Twitter: @JodiRath
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodirath/?hl=en
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-rath-472729157/ INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: What can readers expect from one of your books?
 
JR:  My genre is Cozy Mysteries. I’d have to say my romantic scenes on your heat radar would set the needle at a 3 (sensual). :)  Come on, they are cozies so expect some love triangles and in book 1 expect all those new fresh lovey feelings to surface along with confusion when a new, mysterious man visits the village. :) Fun!
 
Ally:  Where do you get your story ideas?
 
JR:  I got the idea for my Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series from my friends on social media, especially my Facebook friends. My grandma gave me her 70 year old cast iron skillet for Christmas in 2017 and she has ONLY ever made pineapple upside down cake in it since it was my grandpa’s favorite dessert.  I LOVE this cake! She shared the secret family recipe with me and gave me the skillet. My grandma is now 87 years old. I told the story on FB and other social media platforms and took a picture of the skillet and it was so well received. People from all over the country shared recipes and tips with me and were so moved by the story and so gracious to me. I want to share cast iron skillet recipes and tips on caring for them at the end of each book in this series because of how many people were kind enough to share with me!  They inspired me to write this series for them.
 
Ally: Let’s talk about villains. What makes a good one? What characteristics will make us love to hate him/her?
 
JR:  The villain in book 1 of my series, Pineapple Upside Down Murder, appears to be a normal member of the village. This villain has actually been a member of the village their entire life. They lead a normal life and no one would ever expect them to be the killer. Now the reasoning BEHIND the murder is what is somewhat sad and shocking to the village. Also, if you would allow me to pose a question to your readers, I’m curious: I was thinking of writing the fictional cozy and at the end of each book to have a short non-fiction essay discussing some of the big themes of the book and using social media to discuss. I wondered what readers would think about this since it is an unusual method to add NF to a fictional book. My business ties into mysteries and education, and I can’t seem to get away from linking to the two.
 
Ally:  Do the people in your real life show up in your writing? Be honest.
 
JR:  Of course they do. :)  There are many of MY character traits and flaws in my protagonist. My protagonist, Jolie Tucker, has a best friend Ava Martinez, who takes on many personality traits from about five of my closest friends. I will name my friends here to embarrass them now. LOL (everyone reading this is thinking, “I will never be her friend!”). No, I’m kidding, I will respect my friends’ privacy!  Opal is Jolie’s grandma who helps Jolie start her Cast Iron Creation restaurant by passing down her cast iron skillet; (Jodi is now clearing her throat) does that sound familiar? LOL Jolie’s mom and uncle and aunt all have traits similar to my family. The fictional setting is Leavensport, Ohio (which I created a handy-dandy map to share with readers for the series) and it mimics the small village where I live and where I grew up since 5th grade. :)
 
Ally:  What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!).
 
JR:  I absolutely LOVE Summer Prescott Book Publishing. I cannot say enough nice things about Summer and her entire staff! They were instrumental in helping me on my journey to get self-published. I would recommend any of her writers to cozy or thriller lovers!
 
Ally:   What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?  
 
JR:  My next project is already being written as we speak and it is book two of the Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series which is titled Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Murder. This one has a FANTASTIC recipe at the end of it and a rather SPICY plot twist! We may need to rank this book from a three on the heat radar to a four. Oh my!
 
Ally: I’d like to wind up the interview with a few short answer questions:an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch:  Sara Paretsky. I LOVE her work!!! Actually I love her. I am FB friends with her and LOVE all the personal aspects of her life she shares with her fans. She is an absolutely AMAZING woman!color of nail polish you have on:  Hot Spot red and no manis or pedis for me…I have faithfully been doing my nails (hands) weekly and I do my toenails every 3 weeks.favorite accessory:  Next year, I have a second series about Bohemian Jewelry (Gemma’s Bohemian Gems Series) and a third series on Purses (Peggy’s Purse Boutique Series). I LOVE jewelry and purses, I’d have to say I have way too many purses for one girl. I do love expensive purses but I buy cheaper jewelry with a funky, hippy flare to it. I get this honestly from my mom, and I often will use her purses and take her jewelry to wear too.If you couldn't write anymore, what would you want to do?  Well, I taught HS English for 18 years and I am currently an adjunct (online) for a local university and work with Ohio teachersJ I LOVE it, and I have always loved working with teens. But if I were to do something I’ve never done before, it would be one of the things my three protagonist do, either run a cast iron skillet restaurant, or own a purse boutique, or own a jewelry store. And that, my dear friends, is why I LOVE to write…because in my dream world I can do that!!!!favorite place to write:  My family room with my kitties all around me! They are my staff. When I was five years old, I used to “play” magazine. I pretended I ran a magazine company and would take my mom’s old magazines and cut them up and paste new pages together and make my own unique magazine. I used my pets and my stuffed animals and dolls as staff.  Looks like I’m right back to being a five year old. LOL Ally:  It was nice to meet you, Jodi. Good luck with your novels! Now, let’s take a look at your featured book, Pineapple Upside Down Murder. ​

Pineapple Upside Down Murder
The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series Book 1
Genre: cozy mystery
Coming November 23, 2018

Introducing Jolie Tucker, an introverted yet passionate restaurant co-owner of Cast Iron Creations, who, at her best friend Ava’s request, steps out of her comfort zone which leads her into the shade of a killer in the small, cozy village of Leavensport, Ohio.

The victim is the village's beloved Ellie Siler who runs the village sweet spot, Chocolate Capers. Jolie finds her grandma Opal is a prime suspect and goes on a search for answers only to find out that her family's secret recipes may not belong to the Tucker family at all.

Jolie’s job, family, and livelihood are all on the line. The answers are assuredly lethal.
​

​Watch for this release on November 23, 2018! (Subscribe to Jodi's website www.jodirath.com for the latest info.)

Are You a Reader Who Steps Outside Your Comfort Zone?

​Religion Meets Paranormal
by Judy Alter

 Disclaimer:
I do not write paranormal. ​I’m one of those pedestrian writers with my feet firmly planted on the ground and in reality. That’s not to say I don’t believe in some paranormal aspect to our lives. There are times, for instance, I’m quite sure I have second sight.  I just can’t construct a story around an extraterrestrial civilization or a world peopled by ghosts, be they good or bad. My characters live in the real world.

    I did once try a short story with more paranormal features—a ghost story or time travel, if you will, but I never did much with it. You can read it free at http://www.judyalter.com/free/TheVillageGaarden-WithRecipe.docx  And a bonus: there’s a terrific recipe with it.

   I have also dipped my toe in the paranormal waters in a couple of my series. In the Kelly O’Connell Mysteries, Kelly, a realtor in Fort Worth, Texas has an assistant with true second sight. Keisha, a black woman larger-than-life in every way—tall and big-boned, flamboyant in her dress and personality--knows instinctively when things are going to turn out badly, when Kelly is in danger—and she’s saved Kelly more than once. Even Kelly’s husband, Mike, who is a by-the-book police officer, comes to believe in Keisha’s powers and, to a certain extent, to rely on her. At a low point in her own life, Keisha loses those powers but as her wounds heal, they return, to everyone’s relief.

   My Blue Plate Cozy Mysteries features Kate Chambers, who returns to a small East Texas town when her grandmother dies and she inherits the café Gram owned. Kate learned to cook by following her grandmother around the kitchen, and she cheerfully takes over ownership of the café. She is less cheerful about being near her twin sister, Donna, who is, to say the least, difficult. Kate’s discovery that Gram didn’t die of natural causes but was murdered sets her off on a second career as an amateur sleuth. So far, she’s solved four mysteries.
​
   Throughout the four books, Kate hears Gram talking to her, though Gram never lingers for a response. Mostly Gram tries to mediate the relationship between Donna and Kate, but she is never shy about offering a platitude about trusting in God, being kind to others, and the kinds of things grandmothers say (with seven grandchildren, I should know those aphorisms).

   When the fourth book, Murder at the Bus Depot, launched, a potential reader wrote that she needed to know if Gram was really talking or if those conversation were just in Kate’s imagination. She never, she said quite firmly, reads paranormal. I equivocated, told her one never knows what’s in an author’s mind, and she would have to decide for herself. She apparently did, because she wrote back most politely to say that we all know the dead are dead and can’t communicate (she referred me to a passage in Ecclesiastes), so she would pass on that series and read other of my mysteries. I thanked her and said I hoped she enjoyed whatever she read, and she replied, “I hope so too.” It was a totally polite exchange, but it amused me. Make a note never to invite her to a séance.
​
   But it struck me as sad too, that a reader would limit her exploration of books and ideas to what fit into a firmly constructed doctrine. It’s one thing to say we don’t particularly enjoy a certain genre or we find a theme distasteful in fiction, but to take an inflexible position without trying the literature is so limiting. What about you? Are you willing to broaden your horizons, explore new forms and ideas? To put the question on the other foot, if you’re a paranormal reader, would you ever try a cozy mystery?


Murder at the Bus Depot (Blue Plate Cafe Mystery #3)
Genre: cozy mystery

​Is the depot a symbol of the worst episode in a town’s history or does it stand for revitalization, bringing the citizens of Wheeler together with pride in their community?

Kate Chamber’s trouble antenna go up when Dallas developer Silas Fletcher decides to help “grow” Wheeler. She and her brother-in-law, Mayor Tom Bryson, have less spectacular and drastic ideas for revitalizing the town. When Old Man Jackson dies in an automobile accident, the specter of the past comes back to haunt the town. Thirty years ago, Jackson’s daughter, Sallie, was murdered at the bus depot . The murder is still unsolved.

Kate and Silas clash over almost everything, from the future use of the abandoned depot to a fall festival celebrating Wheeler. 
Another murder at the depot blows the town apart, and Kate knows she must do something to solve the murders and save her town, let alone the festival she’s planning.

Buy Link:
www.amazon.com/Murder-Bus-Depot-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B078WFDJPR/
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 Judy at http://www.judyalter.com or her blog, Judy’s Stew, at http://www.judys-stew.blogspot.com.  Thanks for stopping by. Come back soon!

Mystery Author Mary Feliz Reads Outside the Lines

A Para-Paranormal List
​by Mary Feliz​ ​
​No matter how I disguise myself and my work, no one is going to mistake me for a paranormal author. So what am I doing here? What can I offer you?
 
I’m guessing that you, like me, sometimes read outside your genre. Either you want something new and different, or you’ve exhausted the books of your favorite author and are twiddling your thumbs waiting for her to cough up another book.
 
So I thought I’d approach your subject sideways, pointing out books I’ve read and enjoyed that might appeal to paranormal fans. Call it my para-paranormal list:
​Colin Cotterill’s Dr. Siri series:
​ 
I picked up this series about a coroner who sees the ghosts of the dead after hearing Colin speak at a conference. He cracked me up. So do his books. He defies description. His books do too. On the surface, the books are about Dr. Siri Paiboun, an aging, beleaguered medical doctor, forced by the new socialist Laotian regime to become the national coroner. Powers that be hope he’ll do a bad job, but he’s too conscientious. From Amazon: “His lab is underfunded, his boss is incompetent, and his support staff is quirky, to say the least. But Siri’s sense of humor gets him through his often frustrating days.” But just under the surface is a rich celebration of being true to yourself, making the best of an unworkable situation, thinking outside the box, and finding ways for everyone to contribute. 

​Petaybee Trilogy, by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough:
​
Both these authors are best known for their science fiction and fantasy series, but a sentient planet populated with selkies and telepaths probably nudges the line dividing paranormal and science fiction. Inhabitants of the planet share a culture all their own, but it incorporates aspects of Celtic and Inuit customs. Classified as young adult, these books appeal to a wide age range and audience. I’ve read them all several times. 

​Connie Willis’s Doomsday Book (plus Black Out and All Clear):

Time-travelling historians from Cambridge University conduct field work to complete their degrees. Their costumes and accessories are carefully researched as are the time and place of their arrival. But futuristic technology can’t overcome human error. In the Doomsday Book, a student is accidently transported into the middle of a medieval plague outbreak while a similar epidemic erupts in the contemporary world, making it difficult for her academic advisors to bring her back. In Black Out and All Clear, the historians travel to World War II England. My family’s opinions on these books are split between those who consider them favorites worth rereading and those who never warmed up to the them.

​Murder at the ABA by Isaac Asimov:

Yup, the king of science fiction wrote mysteries. Several compilations of his mystery short stories have been published, but Murder at the ABA (American Book Association) is, as far as I know, his only stand-alone mystery. There’s nothing paranormal here, but it’s a such a perfect example of a classic genre-buster that I had to include it. If you’ve ever thought that a conference would be a perfect place to set a murder mystery, or have been tempted to bump off an annoying conventioneer, this one’s for you.  ​
About the Author:

​Mary Feliz writes the Maggie McDonald Mysteries featuring a Silicon Valley professional organizer and her sidekick golden retriever. She's worked for Fortune 500 firms and mom and pop enterprises, competed in whale boat races and done synchronized swimming. She attends organizing conferences in her character's stead, but Maggie's skills leave her in the dust. Address to Die For, the first book in the series, was named a Best Book of 2017 by Kirkus Reviews. All of her books have spent time on the Amazon best seller list. 




​Author Contacts:

maryfeliz.com
https://twitter.com/maryfelizauthor​
https://www.facebook.com/MaryFelizBooks
https://www.facebook.com/mary.feliz.581
​ Mary's latest release:
Disorderly Conduct
Genre: cozy mystery

Professional organizer Maggie McDonald balances a fastidious career with friends, family, and a spunky Golden Retriever. But add a fiery murder mystery to the mix, and Maggie wonders if she’s found a mess even she can’t tidy up . . .
 
With a devastating wildfire spreading to Silicon Valley, Maggie preps her family for evacuation. The heat rises when firefighters discover a dead body belonging to the husband of Maggie’s best friend Tess Olmos. Tess becomes the prime suspect in what's shaping up to become a double murder case. Determined to set the record straight, Maggie sorts in an investigation more dangerous than the flames approaching her home. When her own loved ones are threatened, can she catch the meticulous killer before everything falls apart?

Links:

​BUY ON AMAZON
BUY AT KOBO BOOKS
BUY AT INDIEBOUND.ORG
BUY AT BARNES & NOBLE Happy Reading!

Cozy Up with a Kathy Krevat Mystery

Welcome to this week's Coffee Chat!

If you're ready for your favorite beverage and some book talk, please join me in visiting with mystery author Kathy Krevat.
​Good Morning, Kathy! How do you take your coffee?

Kathy:  I am a total coffee addict! I prefer really good coffee to anything – even more than chocolate. I make a French press using about ¾ of a cup of coffee beans most mornings. If I’m feeling lazy, I use a Nespresso machine.
 
My favorite coffee beans are from Philz. I fell in love with their coffee years ago and I’m delighted that they’ve opened two shops here in San Diego. A third is opening about five minutes from my house and I expect that the third book in my series will be written there!

Ally: Wow! I think you can out shout me as a coffee fan! But my magic pot is up to any challenge. While I prepare our mugs, please introduce yourself to readers. Bio:
 
Kathy Krevat is the author of the GOURMET CAT MYSTERY series featuring cat food chef Colbie Summers and her demanding cat Trouble, the culinary muse behind her recipes. Kathy also writes the bestselling CHOCOLATE COVERED MYSTERY series under the pen name, Kathy Aarons.
 
Kathy lives in San Diego with her husband of twenty-five years in the perfect location – close to Philz Coffee and the beach, and within visiting distance of her two grown daughters. When she’s not writing, she’s an advocate for youth arts education and president of Partners in Crime, the San Diego Chapter of Sisters in Crime.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “My mother was an animal lover and we had tons of animals in our house. In high school, I brought a litter of kittens home from band camp, bringing our total number of animals in the family to 18. That included horses, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, gerbils, and a rabbit.”
 
Author Contacts:
 
You can follow Kathy on Facebook or Twitter or visit her at: www.kathyaarons.com INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: Let’s start by telling readers what type of books you write.
 
Kathy: My books are cozy mysteries, which means very little sex or violence on the page – something you can give your grandma.
 
Ally: How do you go about putting a book together?
 
Kathy: My writing process is ridiculous. After five published books, you’d think I’d have figured it out but I haven’t. I do a pretty good job of outlining – figuring out who the villain is and his or her motive and means. Before I start writing, I also list other suspects and the clues that lead to them, along with at least one clue that clears them.
 
I create a schedule with weekly goals and then completely ignore it until I’m panicked about finishing by the deadline. When I’m writing, I wake up very early – like 4-5 am -- and I write my best first thing in the morning, after a lot of coffee. I don’t write linearly – I work on the scenes that I visualize happening and fit them all together later. Sometimes, I’m forced to delete scenes.
 
I continue to add to my outline so that I can keep track of the plot and details like days of the week. I edit quite a bit as I go along and then do extensive revisions before I send it in.
 
I’m lucky that I’ve had excellent editors through the revision process. Somehow, it all gets done.
 
Ally:  Does your real life show up in your writing? In what ways?
 
Kathy:  Yes. My daughters were involved in musical theater and I use my experience making costumes for Elliott’s musical theater scenes.
 
 Ally: What part do animals play in your books?
 
Kathy:  Coco the cat was a big part of my Chocolate Covered Mystery series, and Trouble the cat is featured in the Gourmet Cat Mystery series. My main character, Colbie Summers, started an organic cat food business after rescuing Trouble and learning that she had digestive issues. She started making cat food for Trouble and then for her friends who owned cats with similar issues. Then she graduated to selling her products at farmers’ markets.
 
Ally:  Which of your books is your personal favorite?
 
Kathy:  My favorite is always the one I’m working on. Right now, that’s The Trouble With Talent.
 
Ally:  Will that be your next release?
 
Kathy:  Second in the series, The Trouble With Truth, comes out next on August 15, and the Trouble with Talent comes out June 2019.
 
Ally: If you met Harry Potter author JK Rowling, what would you talk about?
 
Kathy:  I’d love to ask her how she does it. I think she’s a master at storytelling and would love to learn her process.
 
Ally: Whether you write or read fantasy, almost everyone wants a supernatural power. What one ability would you choose?
 
Kathy:  Great question! I’d love to be able to heal people. Bad health takes such a toll on happiness and productivity. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to snap your fingers and change that?
 
Ally:  Tell us about your home and how you get around in your daily life.
 
Kathy:  I live in a suburb of San Diego, so in a house that looks like every other house on the block. Where I live has no public transportation, so I drive everywhere. At least I drive an electric car!
 
Ally: Try out these quick answer questions: a. favorite book – Belong to Me: A Novel, by Marisa de los Santosb. book you're currently reading – Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemic. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch – J.K. Rowlingd. an item on your bucket list – Spending a month in a cottage in Ireland Ally: It’s been a pleasure, Kathy. Before you leave, please show us your featured book, The Trouble with Murder.
​The Trouble with Murder
(A Gourmet Cat Mystery)
Genre: cozy mystery

Single mom and gourmet cat food entrepreneur Colbie Summers thought she’d escaped her tiny California hometown forever. But when her father needs her, she packs up her adolescent son, their finicky feline, Trouble, and her budding business. She knows change is tough—but she doesn’t expect it to be murder . . .
 
Between dealing with her newly rural life, her grumpy, sports-obsessed father, and preparing to showcase her products in the local Sunnyside Power Mom’s trade show, Colbie has more on her plate than she bargained for. Luckily, she has her official taste-tester, Trouble, by her side to vet her 
Meow-io Batali Gourmet Cat Food line. Things look promising—until one of the Power Moms is found dead—with an engraved Meow-io specialty knife buried in her chest. 
 
As the prime suspect, Colbie needs paws on the ground to smoke out who had means, motive, and opportunity among the networking mothers—including a husband-stealing Sofia Vergara lookalike. And the cat’s still not out of the bag when a second violent death rocks the bucolic community. Trouble may have nine lives, but Colbie’s only got one to clear her name and stop a killer from pulling off the purr-fect crime . . .

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Murder-Gourmet-Cat-Mystery-ebook/dp/B06XR2CHHD
B&N: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-trouble-with-murder-kathy-krevat/1126007331?ean=9781516102983
​Mysterious Galaxy:  ​www.mystgalaxy.com/ebook/9781516102983 Thanks for stopping. Hope to see you all next week!

Meet YA Fantasy Author Susan A. Royal

​Welcome to the Coffee Chat!
 
This week’s guest is young adult author Suan A. Royal, featuring her book, In My Own Shadow, a fantasy romance, rated PG-13.
Nice to meet you, Susan! How do you take your coffee?
 
SAR: I like it strong, with ½ and ½ and a spoon of sugar. There’s nothing better than that first cup in the morning.

​Ally: Coming right up. While I pour, pleasure introduce yourself to readers. Bio:
 
     Born in west Texas and raised in south Texas, Susan makes her home in a little cottage in the country outside a small east Texas town.
 
     She has three children (six counting their spouses) and six grandchildren. Her family is rich with characters, both past and present. Her grandmother shared stories of her life with three sisters and three brothers on a farm in Oklahoma Territory and working as a telephone operator in the early 20th century.  She learned what it was like to grow up in in the depression from her father, and being a teenager during WWII through her mother’s eyes.
   
     When Susan isn’t writing, she does her best to keep up with her grandchildren. Music and painting are two of her passions. She also loves to bargain shop anywhere there’s a sale and began repurposing long before it was popular. She is a firm believer in getting what you want without breaking the bank.  She paints, crafts and sews. Her office/craft/sewing room is littered with all her latest projects.
 
     She loves to take her readers through all kinds of adventures with liberal doses of romance. So far, she’s written two books in her It’s About Time series, Not Long Ago and From Now On. Time travel adventures with romance about two people who fall in love despite the fact they come from very different worlds. In My Own Shadow is a Fantasy Romance. Xander’s Tangled Web is a Fantasy. Look for her books at MuseItUp/Amazon/B&N.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: Susan used to share a 100 year old farmhouse with a ghost who harmonized with her son when he played guitar and pulled the covers up over her feet on cold winter nights.
 
Author Contacts:
 
     Want to know more? Visit her blog: susanaroyal.wordpress.com or website: susanaroyal.com for a peek inside this writer’s mind and see what she’s up to. You never know what world she’s going to visit next.
 
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/susanaroyal
and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanaroyalauthor/ INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:   Describe your editing process, from first draft to submission.
 
SAR:   I get an idea, keep all my thoughts in a folder until I’m ready to start. I have a vague outline that changes, because my stories have the habit of veering into directions I don’t expect. I write about a third of the story, edit, then begin again. Once I’m finished with it, I edit again. Then I’ll send it to my beta readers.
 
Ally:  How do you choose and name your characters?
 
SAR:  Names are very important. Sometimes I’m 3 or 4 chapters in before I decide. Other times the name comes first and I write the story around it. It has to project the right vibe for the character or it doesn’t work for me. I’ve used ancient Scottish, English, Irish names for their meanings or I’ve used the name of a place. Whatever strikes me at the time.
 
Ally:  Tell us about your favorite hobby (non-writing).
 
SAR:  I love to haunt flea markets, garage sales and antiques malls, looking for something unique to repurpose.
 
Ally:  Have you thought about one of your books being made into a movie? Who would play the parts?
 
SAR:  In My Own Shadow…Tom Hardy would play Rhys and Bryce Dallas Howard would play Lara
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
SAR:  Mere (working title) is a young adult fantasy about Mere, an 18 year old girl living in Titusville, a small town in east Texas, located smack dab in the middle of Ferry Woods. It’s filled with pine trees, Spanish moss and creepiness. Strange things happen there. Mere’s practical side says they’re only stories. Yet, she's drawn to the place.
 
Mere has spent her life trying to be ordinary. An impossible task in her family. Women in the Borchers’ family are witches. And Mere has powers. Even though she tries to ignore them. But with everything that’s been happening, she’s no longer sure that’s what she wants.
 
I’m hoping to have it finished by late 2018 or early 2019.
 
Ally:  Let’s try a few quick get-to-know-me questions.a. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: Ray Bradburyb. manicure or pedicure: Pedicure (Don’t like polish or fake nails)c. favorite book boyfriend: James Malcom Alexander McKenzie Frazierd. favorite song: I Wouldn’t Be - Kodaline (a new favorite)e. last book that made you cry: Hawthorne and Heathcliff – R. K. Ryalsf. favorite place to write: Next to the window in my bedroom, looking out at the bird feeders in my crabapple tree. Ally: It's been my pleasure sharing coffee and book talk with you, Susan. Before you go, tell us about your featured book, In My Own Shadow.
​In My Own Shadow
Genre: YA fantasy, adventure, romance
PG-13

Blurb:
 
   Talk about the worst day ever! Lara lets her friend Carrie talk her into a blind date, only it turns out the handsome stranger waiting for Lara after work isn’t Carrie’s cousin after all. And, when they’re chased through a portal to another world, Lara realizes Rhys really is out of this world.
     Lyra, her alternate in another dimension, has left clues to the whereabouts of the Book of Secrets explaining the mystery of time travel in Lara’s subconscious.  Or so Rhys thinks. Power-hungry telepaths who pursue them will stop at nothing to get it, even if it means breaking Lara’s will. To complicate matters, Lara gets tangled up in her feelings for Rhys while exploring her connection with Lyra.
     With Rhys as her guardian, a bear of a man named Azle to guide her, and the spirit of Lyra haunting her dreams, Lara must find the Book of Secrets before it falls into the hands of those who want its power.  Only then can she return to her world safely.
 
Book trailer: https://youtu.be/Wbg8Z-12ojY
 

Buy Links:
 
 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/My-Own-Shadow-Susan-Royal-ebook/dp/B00CPN41YQ
MuseItUp: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/now-available-in-ebook/in-my-own-shadow-detail
 
Also available at B&N and through Goodreads. Other works by this author:
 
Not Long Ago (time travel, adventure, romance) Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/85vgye3
  Not Long Ago Book trailer: http://youtu.be/vOIQVdWUigU/
 
Xander’s Tangled Web (fantasy, mystery) Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yconklde
 
From Now On (time travel adventure romance) Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Now-Its-About-Time-Novel-ebook/dp/B00KIA3UW2
 
All books available Amazon, B&N, Goodreads and
MuseItUp: http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/68-our-authors/authors-r/367-susan-royal

New Release Spotlight: The Corpse at the Crystal Palace

         New Daisy Dalrymple mystery!

The Corpse at the Crystal Palace (Daisy Dalrynple  Book 23)
Author: Carola Dunn
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: July 3, 2018
​
Synopsis:

Daisy decides to take the whole family for an outing to the Crystal Palace, including her 3-year-old twins, their nurse and nurserymaid, and two young visiting cousins. On reaching the immense glass building, filled with exhibits as well as statuary, trees, and fountains, they split up to follow their various interests.

When it's time to rendezvous, Daisy discovers that Nanny has left the twins with the youthful nurserymaid, Bertha, and gone to the ladies room. Bertha says she's been gone for ages. Also, Daisy's stepdaughter Belinda and the two cousins have not turned up. Daisy leaves her friend Sakari in charge and goes in search of Nanny.

In the restroom she finds no trace of Nanny. But in one of the stalls is a different nurse who appears to be very very dead.

In the meantime, Belinda and the boys have spotted the twins' Nanny following yet another nurse. Intrigued, they surreptitiously trail the pair through the building and out into the extensive park. They lose sight of them for a moment, then round a bend to find Nanny sprawled unconscious in a pond.

Daisy's husband, DCI Alec Fletcher, takes over the investigation. Daisy, however, is very worried about Nanny, who has lost all memory of everything that happened after she left the twins. Surely she couldn't possibly have been somehow mixed up in the death of the second nanny, which turns out to be murder--with a very strange twist!

Buy links:
(Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio)

https://www.amazon.com/Corpse-Crystal-Palace-Dalrymple-Mysteries/dp/1250047056/ref
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corpse-Crystal-Palace-Daisy-Dalrymple/dp/1472125444/ref
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-corpse-at-the-crystal-palace/carola-dunn/9781472125446 EXCERPT:

[Daisy] and Tom went through to the inner room. "It's the far end. The last door. I left the door exactly as I found it."

"You didn't touch her?"

"Only to try to find a pulse in her neck. I didn't...disarrange her at all."

Tom nodded approval. He went on and Daisy followed a few feet behind, noting sadly how he had lost the lightfootedness that had always characterised his walk, despite his bulk. Stopping halfway, she watched him enter the last cubicle.
Not more than a minute and a half later, he came out and beckoned to her.

"She's dead. No obvious sign of injury. I hate to ask this, Mrs. Fletcher, but seeing I'm not strictly a copper, I'd like a corroborative witness. Would it upset you to take a quick look? Just so you could say it's the identical body you found and I've left it as you found it."

"No visible injuries? I don't mind, then."

"Just one thing. I've moved the hat and wig—you were right about that—to show the face. I'll put them back when you've looked at the face. Seeing your nurse has gone missing—"

"I'm sure it's not her."

"I'm sure you're right. But maybe it's a friend of hers you've seen before."

"She wouldn't have a friend come to the house, or stop and talk to one if I were with her."

"Still, you never know. Not that it's my business these days, but humour an old man's curiosity, will you?"

"You'll never be old, Tom, but all right."

"Here." He handed her a small electric torch. "Never go anywhere without one."

Daisy took it and went past him into the cubicle. Though willing, she wasn't exactly keen on examining the dead woman. Keeping the torch beam on the floor, she gave her a cursory glance below the neck. Everything looked the same as before. Then she flashed the beam quickly on her face. She frowned, puzzled.

"She does look sort of familiar," she admitted, leaving the cubicle, "but I can't place her. And she seems a bit odd, too, though I'm not sure why."

Tom was wearing his inscrutable expression. "Ah. No doubt you'll mention that to the officer who comes to investigate."
"It's just a feeling. Alec would say—"

"Aunt Daisy!" The anguished cry came from the entrance.

Daisy and Tom swung round. Mrs. Hatch had Charlie by the ear. At least the children had turned up, Daisy thought thankfully as she hurried over.

"Charlie, you shouldn't come in here!"

"Mrs. Aunt Sakari said to. Make the old witch let me go!" He aimed a kick at the attendant's skinny ankle.

Mrs. Hatch dodged with surprising agility, keeping a hold on his ear and screeching an unprintable comment about heathen brats.

"Let go of him," said Daisy in the grande dame voice she'd learned from her mother. "Charlie, apologise for being rude."

"Sorry," he muttered. "But, Aunt Daisy, it's urgent. We found Mrs. Gilpin in the water with the monsters and she's not moving and Ben and Bel went in to try and pull her out and Bel told me to fetch Mr. Uncle Tom Tring. So will you come, please, sir, quick!" About the Author:

Carola Dunn was born and grew up in England and now lives in the US. She is the author of 23 Daisy Dalrymple mysteries, 4 Cornish mysteries, and 32 Regencies. She is a member of Sisters in Crime.

​Contact the Author:

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Carola.Dunn.Author/
https://www.facebook.com/DaisyDalrympleMysteries/
https://www.facebook.com/CornishMysteries/
https://www.facebook.com/RegenciesByCarolaDunn/
 
Website:
https://caroladunn.weebly.com/
 
Amazon Author page:
https://www.amazon.com/author/caroladunn

The Inspiration for the Star Spangled Banner

The Story Behind the Song
 
“On a rainy September 13, 1814, British warships sent a downpour of shells and rockets onto Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, relentlessly pounding the American fort for 25 hours. The bombardment, known as the Battle of Baltimore, came only weeks after the British had attacked Washington, D.C., burning the Capitol, the Treasury and the President’s house. It was another chapter in the ongoing War of 1812.”  Smithson.com

For a week prior to the battle--after 35-year-old American lawyer Francis Scott Key had successfully negotiated the release of his friend held by the British--his ship was detained until the Battle of Baltimore was over.
 
Key watched from the deck of his ship, convinced the British would win with their superior fire power. Once night fell, all he could see were the continuous red flashes over the fort. Early the next morning, as the haze of battle cleared, he was amazed to see the American flag with its 15 stars and stripes flying over Fort McHenry.
 
Key put his memorable experience into words, ironically set them to the notes of a British tune, and two weeks later it appeared in newspapers across America, taking the country by storm.
 
(To read more about the flag that inspired the song, its history and its preservation, click here to go to the Smithsonian site. ) Who sewed the flag now known as the Star-Spangled Banner?
Betsy RossA team of women President Madison hiredMary Pickersgill with her daughter, two nieces, and an indentured servant The correct answer to this Smithsonian quiz is found here: http://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/making-the-flag.aspx
The Star Spangled Banner sang by Jennifer Hudson: https://youtu.be/m0_mFru-9ds

Interview with Mystery Author Cathy Perkins

It's a fantastic Wednesday!

We're half-way through another week, and I, for one, am ready for book talk. This week's guest is mystery author Cathy Perkins, who writes about an amateur sleuth.

Good morning, Cathy! How do you take your coffee?

CPP: Hi Ally, thanks for letting me visit today. Coffee? I keep it simple – black coffee; lots of black coffee.

​Ally: We have that in great supply. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:

An award-winning author of financial mysteries, Cathy Perkins writes twisting dark suspense and light amateur sleuth stories.  When not writing, she battles with the beavers over the pond height or heads out on another travel adventure. She lives in Washington with her husband, children, several dogs and the resident deer herd.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I’m also a glass artist. I love the colors and the way light plays with the pieces.”
 
Links:
 
Facebook Page:           https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCathyPerkins
Twitter:                        @cperkinswrites         https://twitter.com/cperkinswrites
BookBub – follow me!  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cathy-perkins
Amazon Author page:  http://www.amazon.com/Cathy-Perkins/e/B006K0IKUQ
website:                        http://cperkinswrites.com INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Describe your writing process. Schedule, goals, etc.
 
CPP:  On a recent trip, I listened to Stephen King’s On Writing. The book is part memoire and part writing insights. The thing that resonated with me was King’s writing process. He writes every day. He goes to his writing space and doesn’t come out until he has at least 1500 words on the page.
I thought about that advice for the rest of the trip and decided to incorporate it into my own life. I admit, my goal is 1000 words rather than 1500. Some days, I decide 971 is close enough. On others, the words flow and the count approaches 2000. Writing every day has made a huge difference not only in my output but the consistency has also strengthened my “writing muscles.” As soon as I finished IN IT FOR THE MONEY, I jumped right into another project that I’ll share later. Oh, and the next book in the Holly Price series is already plotted, in case readers wonder what Holly and JC will do next.
 
Ally: What’s your favorite activity when you’re not writing?
 
CPP:  I mentioned earlier that I create fused glass pieces. I also love getting outside into the Cascade Mountains here in Washington state. We’re blessed to have so much access to the beauty of our mountains, rivers, and national parks and forests. As a family, we hike, kayak and generally enjoy being here.
 
Ally:  Does your real life ever show up in your writing? In what ways?
 
CPP:  I had to laugh over this question. I’ll never forget a friend’s husband looking me over, then (in a very censorious voice) announcing he didn’t know I was “like that.” I have no idea what he was referring to. I swear I’ve never killed anyone.
A lot of authors (including me) have to reassure readers (and friends) that we’re separate from our characters. That said, like Holly Price, I do have a financial background and am a CPA, so the due diligence part of Holly’s job has been part of my professional life. I add a touch here and there from my day job to keep the story real, but the books are fiction. I’m hoping to take the reader for a ride with a story rather than teach them how to read a financial statement.
 
Ally:  How much research do you do? How? Where?
 
CPP:  I do a lot of research, although not much of it directly hits the page. My goal is always to have the details be a seamless part of the story. IN IT FOR THE MONEY features rockcrawlers. I know, say what? At a party, a friend’s nephew regaled me with (way too many) details of the specialized monster truck he wanted to design and build. While those details went completely over my head, I couldn’t help but relate to his passion for the project. And my writer’s brain went, Hmm… Rockcrawlers…That’s different. What can I do with that?
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
CPP:  I’m working on a new amateur sleuth series, featuring Holly’s half-sister, Keri Isles. Keri lives on a Christmas tree farm in the Cascades (did I mention I live on a Christmas tree farm?). I’m having way too much fun with the quirks of a city woman trying to manage a farm and the ups and down of living in a very small town. The first book is finished and scheduled for release in the fall. The next book will actually feature both Holly and Keri.
 
Let’s finish the interview with the following short answer questions: a. manicure or pedicure – (examines fingernails) I could definitely use a manicureb. color of nail polish you have on – uhm, nonec. high heels or sneakers – so barefoot isn’t a choice? After too many years wearing heels in the office, definitely sneakersd. hiking or sunbathing - hikinge. Your pets - type and names – we have two dogs, The Lab and The Puppy (a German wirehair) along with, at last count, 15 Canadian geese, 6 wood ducks, 9 mallards, and the resident deer herd.Ally: Thanks for spending time with us, Cathy. Before you get back to writing, please show us your featured book, In It for the Money.




​IN IT FOR THE MONEY
Genre: mystery/amateur sleuth

Holly Price traded professional goals for personal plans when she agreed to leave her high-flying position with the Seattle Mergers and Acquisition team and take over the family accounting practice. Reunited with JC Dimitrak, her former fiancé, she’s already questioning whether she’s ready to flip her condo for marriage and a house in the ‘burbs.
 
When her cousin Tate needs investors for his innovative car suspension, Holly works her business matchmaking skills and connects him with a client. The Rockcrawler showcasing the new part crashes at its debut event, however, and the driver dies. Framed for the sabotage, Tate turns to Holly when the local cops—including JC—are ready to haul him to jail. Holly soon finds her cousin and client embroiled in multiple criminal schemes. She’s drawn into the investigation, a position that threatens her life, her family and her already shaky relationship with JC.
 

​

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Money-Holly-Price-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B07D6FDF2X      
Nook:     https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-it-for-the-money-cathy-perkins/1128818688
Kobo:     https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/in-it-for-the-money-1
iBooks:   https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/in-it-for-the-money/id1396554865

8 Tips for More Authentic Cop Characters

​Welcome to our Wednesday book chat!

Two weeks in a row we have guest bloggers! This Wednesday mystery author and former dispatcher Thonie Hevron is discussing how authors can "get it right" while writing about police procedures. And readers can judge whether their favorite author knows the real world of cops. With that brief intro, the blog is yours, Thonie.  ​ 8 Tips for More Authentic Cop Characters
By Thonie Hevron When I exchanged ideas for this post with Ally, she suggested a different format from her usual chat post. How about using my law enforcement experience to explore the things writers get wrong about cops—both on TV and in books?

Being a member of several “law enforcement only” listservs and Facebook pages, I put the question to the troops. Boy, did they have opinions! For this post, I chose one sergeant’s answer. He took time to consider his answers and I’m pleased to present them. My comments are in italics.
Q:  What's your pet peeve about how cops/situations are portrayed? Gawd, where to start? 
​
• First, sit down with and listen to competent, career cops from the geographic area your story takes place in. What happens daily in downtown LA is different from Modesto which is a world of difference from a rural deputy in Colorado, urban Miami, or New England. 

• Stop making lieutenants and captains – in most agencies – the active, best cops and lead investigators. It is officers, deputies, detectives and maybe the odd sergeant who are out there working cases, hooking bad guys. Lieutenants and captains (never mind chiefs and sheriffs) in many places have to check their desk drawers for the handcuffs. 

• Unlike Blue Bloods and other shows, detectives do not lead the SWAT team into locations. Nor does SWAT conduct their own investigations.

• Evidence issues, crime scene lab stuff “… oh please”, he said. I could do a whole book on the mistakes and misrepresentations of evidence procedures. DNA coming back immediately was top of the list for many. DNA results are not instantaneous. See website—Connecticut Office of Legislative Research 2010 study. Granted, this is an older survey, but it gets the point across about all crime labs. State and local laboratory turnaround times for various forensic tests in the 50 states: In some states, agencies must wait for two years for results. NCIS? Two minutes-not even close.
  
• Patrol procedures, use of force, tactics: find the field training officers, instructors, etc. buy them coffee and ask questions. I’ve had an author come take classes to get an actual education on this subject. It showed in her writing. 

He went on to say: “The profession has a significant perception problem partly as a result of many people believing what they see the entertainment media present as gospel when it is not. The public then evaluates what we actually deal with and opine based on their knowledge of the profession from TV and movies. That hurts the profession and it badly hurts individuals (police, victims, involved parties) when done that way.”

                                                                                                                --Eric, Sergeant, Masters in Public Administration  Eric nails it when he suggests contacting a police agency similar to the one you write about. Correct media information is to their benefit. Here are my 8 tips to write a more accurate portrayal of police personnel:

1. Most agencies have a Public Information Officer (PIO) who is accessible to the public. Contact him or her and ask your questions. 

2. Talk to a friend of a friend, your cousin, or whoever—everyone knows somebody who’s a cop. See if they would be willing to talk to you. You’d be surprised how many cops would cooperate with a writer.

3. Don’t be afraid to contact a cop (as long as he’s not on a traffic stop or some other enforcement activity) and ask your question. Coffee breaks are sacred to most patrol personnel. If you can, avoid taking up their R&R time; catch them afterward.

4. Go to the police station. Tell them why you’re there and ask who the best person would be to talk to. Although not overtly trusting at first, most cops know the advantages of having an accurate media portrayal as opposed to the Hondo Harrellson of “SWAT” and Martin Riggs “Lethal Weapon” tropes. 

5. A citizens’ academy is a great place to get a feel for law enforcement and make contacts for consulting. 

6. Often, as Eric says, writers assume they know the procedure for a task but can have it all wrong. I highly recommend having someone with a law enforcement background read your manuscript before you submit it. Have him/her read for technical terms, wording, cultural aspects and so on. 

7. There are many blogs with explorations into the authentic cop world. Besides mine (Just the Facts, Ma’am), my favorite is The Graveyard Shift by Lee Lofland. Lee literally wrote the book on police procedure for writers. Annually, he puts on the Writer’s Police Academy in the Midwest. I’ve heard it’s a fabulous weekend with hands-on experiences: shooting, driving police cars, forensics and much more.
​
8. Join the Public Safety Writers Association. Really. This is a group of retired and active duty first responders. The members cover FBI agents, (including a profiler and a microbiologist involved in the Anthrax Investigation after 9/11), police and fire both (retired and active duty), line employees (patrol) and administrators, emergency medical personnel, dispatchers (me!) from all across this continent. We have several Canadian members who actively participate in the club. Every one of these people are extremely helpful to authors. The rolls include writers with no police experience and all are welcomed equally. It’s a great club and fun group. 

There’s no excuse for shoddy writing. The internet has made the world smaller and as long as you look in the right places, you can find pointers to your answers.  About the Author:

Bio:

Thonie Hevron, a retired 911 dispatcher, resides in Northern California. Her work has appeared in Beyond Borders: 2014 Redwood Writers Anthology and Felons, Flames and Ambulance Rides: Public Safety Writers 2013 Anthology. She is the author of three mystery novels, By Force or Fear, Intent to Hold and With Malice Aforethought, currently available on Amazon but will be re-published by Aakenbaaken & Kent in 2018. Her fourth mystery/thriller, Felon with a Firearm is forthcoming in late 2018.

Author Contacts:

Website: Thonie Hevron 
blog: Just the Facts, Ma'am
twitter: @ThonieHevron FEATURED BOOK:
WITH MALICE AFORETHOUGHT
Genre: mystery/thriller

Blurb:

Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Detectives investigating a murder stumble into an army of white nationalist extremists in the remote Sonoma County hills. Fighting to survive against the militia and the hostile environment, they uncover a plot to release a dangerous pathogen into the local water supply and devastate the local law enforcement agencies.

Buy Link: With Malice Aforethought

Thanks for stopping. Come back soon!