Ally Shields's Blog, page 35

Darcie Wilde's Regency Mysteries

Happy Valentine's Day!

Welcome to this week's Coffee Chat. Our guest is Darcie Wilde, author of the Rosalind Thorne Regency mysteries.
So nice to have you visit, Darcie. How do you take your coffee?

DW:  With a splash of cream.

Ally: Coming right up. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
 
Darcie Wilde she is a bestselling author of Regency era mysteries and romances. 
She’s been writing since middle school, currently she lives in Michigan with her husband, son and a very old, very cranky cat named Buffy.  When not writing she hikes, bakes, embroiders and reads.  A lot.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I am fascinated by birds.  Crows, ravens, parrots and penguins mostly."
 
Author Contacts:
 
Website: www.darciewildeauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darciewilderomance/?fref=ts
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Darcie_Wilde 
INTERVIEW:

Ally: What type of books do you write?
 
DW:  What I'm featuring here are the Rosalind Thorne mysteries (PG-13). My  romances are mainstream romance and are explicit but do not shade over into erotica.
 
Ally: I'm always interested in hearing another author's writing process. Can you tell us about yours?
 
DW:  I more or less keep office hours.  I work at a co-working space and I’m generally there every weekday from 8 to 4.  Other than that, every day is different.  I tend to get a basic idea, do some preliminary research, then to try to get a rough draft down as quickly as I can.  This will be a very sketchy document, a few lines here and there as the scenes come to me.  Then it’s all about going back filling in, more research, reorganizing, tearing apart, rebuilding until it’s done, or the deadline hits.  Usually it’s when the deadline hits, because it never really feels quite done.
 
Ally:  Who is your main character and why are readers going to love her?
 
DW:  Rosalind Thorne lives in the strange world of the professional house guest.  She’s a gently bred woman whose father abandoned her family.  She gets along because family friends, and their friends invite her to visit, and to supper, and to house parties, and she in turn makes herself “useful” to her hostesses by doing things like helping organize their social calendars, handle their visiting cards, and so on.  In Rosalind’s case, of course, she also helps with their harder problems. Like blackmail, theft, and murder.
 
Ally:  What was your journey to publication, including bumps and missteps?
 
DW:  I got bit by the bug early.  I’ve wanted to be a reader since I was thirteen.  I got my first professional rejection while I was still in high school, in the pre-internet days when you had to do everything through the mail and “traditional” publishing was the only game in town.  My road to publication involved writing whatever I could, sending it out, starting on the next project, getting rejected, kind of a lot, and starting over, kind of a lot.  I sold my first short story to a micro-zine in 1986, and my first novel in 1994.
 
Ally:  Describe your editing process, from first draft through appearance online or in bookstores.
 
DW:  I don’t write in distinct drafts.  I am constantly going back and re-writing and layering details in, especially with mysteries and suspense.  When I’ve got a solid draft, because I’m traditionally published, I send it in to the editor who’s been assigned to the book.  They’ll give me feedback, which I’ll incorporate, or sometimes we’ll have a set of phone calls and/or emails with questions and back-and-forth.  This can go on for anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months to, for one project, a couple of years, depending on the depth of the changes. 
 
Ally:  Who or what inspired you to write fiction?
 
DW:  I was always a reader.  But, what turned me into a writer was the book “The Tombs of Autuan,” which is a fantasy novel by Ursula K. Le Guin.  Something about that book flipped a switch in my head, and after that the only thing I seriously wanted to do was write.
 
Ally: Do you have any non-writing hobbies?
 
DW:  Right now I’m taking up embroidery again and really loving it.  It satisfies the same part of my brain that likes to work jigsaw puzzles.  And it’s non-word oriented, so the writing and critical brain gets a rest when I’m stabbing things. I also love to cook and bake. 
 
Ally:  If you met JK Rowling, what would you talk about?
 
DW:  Actually, if I met Ms. Rowling I’d want to know why she didn’t do more with Hermione and the house elves.
 
Ally:  Which of your books is your personal favorite?
 
DW:  Shh!  They’re listening.
 
Ally:  How did you choose the title of the book you're featuring?
 
DW:  It came from one of the most famous of the “silver fork” novels.  These were popular novels written mostly between 1826 and 1846, although the first one come out in 1817.  One of the most famous was a book called “Almack’s” about the famous, and exclusive, assembly rooms and the women who ran them.  In it, one of the characters talks about somebody who is “a useful woman,” who comes to stay and help a lady, and in return is given gifts, and invitations to dinner and the use of a carriage. I’d never heard of this before, and it immediately hit me that this would be a terrific basis for a book. So, I got the title, and the character in one paragraph from the 1820s.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
DW:  I’m currently working on the third Rosalind Thorne novel, AND DANGEROUS TO KNOW, which lands poor Rosalind square in the middle of the Lord Byron-Lady Caroline Lamb scandal.  I’ll be announcing the release date on my website and Facebook page as soon as I’ve got it.
 
Ally:  On a more personal level, what's your quick answers to these questions?a. favorite book:  Watership Down by Richard Adamsb. book you're currently reading:  Ida A Sword Among Lions by Paula J. Giddingsc. favorite accessory:  Definitely the blingd. hiking or sunbathing:  Hikinge. favorite song:  Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day Jethro Tull  either that or Life on Mars by David BowieAlly: Thanks for chatting with us today, Darcie! Before you go, please show us your featured book, A Useful Woman.

Inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, this mystery series set in 19th-century London introduces the charming and resourceful Rosalind Thorne, a woman privy to the secrets of high society—including who among the ton is capable of murder...
 
The daughter of a baronet and minor heiress, Rosalind Thorne was nearly ruined after her father abandoned the family. To survive in the only world she knew, she began to manage the affairs of some of London society’s most influential women, who have come to rely on her wit and discretion.
 
So, when artistocratic wastrel Jasper Aimesworth is found dead in London’s most exclusive ballroom, Almack’s, Rosalind must use her skills and connections to uncover the killer from a list of suspects that includes Almack’s powerful patronesses and her former suitor Devon Winterbourne, now Lord Casselmaine.
 
Torn between her old love and a growing attraction to a compelling Bow Street runner, Rosalind must not only unravel the mysteries surrounding Jasper’s death, but the mysteries of her own heart as well...



Buy Links: http://www.darciewildeauthor.com/novel/a-useful-woman/

Rosalind Thorne Mysteries, Book 2

Her latest endeavor is a tragedy waiting to happen. Desperate Margaretta Seymore is with child—and her husband is receiving poisoned pen letters that imply that her condition is the result of an affair with the notorious actor Fletcher Cavendish.

More Info and Buy Links: www.darciewildeauthor.com/novel/purely-private-matter/
Thanks for stopping! Come back soon.

PRG Reviewers Choice Awards - Vote Now

  Embers of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy 1)

has been nominated for the Paranormal Romance Guild's Reviewers Choice Awards in two categories (under demons, the villains in this series)!

VOTING IS NOW OPEN (until February 18)!

I hope you'll check out all the wonderful nominees. If you'd like to vote for Embers of Fire, scroll down to the category of

Romance/Paranormal/Fantasy/Demons & Devils & Angels
(the vote button is just below the cover of each nominated book)

The second opportunity to vote for Embers is the next section down, same category, except its for the first book in a series.

VOTE HERE:

https://www.paranormalromanceguild.com/cast-votes-2017-prg-reviewers-choice-awards/

Thanks for your support.

Larissa Reinhart: Mysteries with Humor and Romance

It's Wednesday!

This week's guest on the Coffee Chat is mystery writer, Larissa Reinhart, featuring her book, 16 Millimeters.
Welcome, Larissa. How do you take your coffee?

LR:  My first sip of coffee is scalding, cooled with a small dollop of whole milk. Dark, luscious, and invigorating. Then my kids wake up and/or I get to work. I spend the rest of the day drinking coffee lukewarm at best, usually cold, and without really tasting it.

Ally:  Lol. We can certainly do better than lukewarm coffee. Introduce yourself to readers while I brew up something!

Bio:

Larissa writes humorous mysteries and romantic comedies including the critically acclaimed Maizie Albright Star Detective and Cherry Tucker Mystery series. Larissa’s a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, a contributor to the 2017 Silver Falchion Reader’s Choice winner, was the 2015 Georgia Author of the Year-Best Mystery finalist, 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, 2012 The Emily finalist, and a 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. Larissa’s family and dog, Biscuit, had been living in Japan, but once again call Georgia home. See them on HGTV’s House Hunters International “Living for the Weekend in Nagoya” episode. 
Something that isn't in your regular bio: "My husband and I have lived in Japan four times since our mid-twenties. The first in Yokohama (near Tokyo), the second in Kameoka (near Kyoto), and the third and fourth with our children in Nagoya. My children are as at home in Japan as they are in Georgia.  Our dog, Biscuit, too! My dream is to eventually write a YA paranormal mystery series set in Japan with mythological Japanese creatures."
 
Visit her website:LarissaReinhart.com
Official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/RisWrites
Instagram: http://instagram.com/larissareinhart
Goodreads: http://smarturl.it/LarissaGoodreads
Join in Newsletter for a free short story: http://smarturl.it/larissanewsletter
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/larissa-reinhart
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/LarissaReinhart

INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  What can readers expect when they open a Larissa Reinhart book?
 
LR:  I write humorous mysteries and romantic comedies. A Cherry Tucker Mystery series is listed as cozy mystery. The Maizie Albright Star Detective series is considered romantic comedy or chicklit. They’ve been rated on My Book Cave and More Than a Review as PG-13. No stronger language than on prime time TV, some suggestive overtones, but nothing overt, and violence is comedic or off-page.
 
Ally:  Since you're featuring 16 Millimeters today, tell us about your main character and why readers will relate to her.

LR:  Ex-teen and reality star Maizie Albright returns home (by judge's orders) to Black Pine, Georgia. She's determined to start a new career as a private investigator, modeled after her childhood starring role as "Julia Pinkerton, Teen Detective."
For a license in Georgia, she needs training and there's only one gumshoe in town, Wyatt Nash. He's got a hard body, Paul Newman eyes, and no interest in having an ex-actress for an apprentice.
Despite the bad luck (and bad advice, bad decisions, bad relationships) that seems to befall her, Maizie’s an eternal optimist. She relies on the wisdom she’s learned from her roles, her therapist, and sometimes her trainer to figure out how to deal with the situations she seems to land in. She believes the best in people and hopes for the best in herself.
 
Ally:  How do you choose and name your characters?
 
LR:  With my main characters, it’s super random. They tend to just pop into my head. Cherry Tucker. Maizie Albright. Finley Goodhart.
 
With the other characters sometimes I use hidden meanings. Like Max Avtaikin in the Cherry Tucker series. His nickname is the Bear. He’s brutish and kind of hulking. And in Russian, Avtaikin means bear. In the beginning of the series, he’s more like a grizzly, but later becomes more like a teddy bear where Cherry is concerned.
 
Wyatt Nash’s name, on the other hand, is inspired by Wyatt Earp, because Nash is a cowboy-type and although he’s a private detective, there’s the law enforcer in him. Nash just popped in my head. (Little known fact: Wyatt Earp was born in Monmouth, IL, a farm town - and now college town - not far from where I grew up.)
 
For Finley Goodhart, her ex-partner/ex-boyfriend, is brilliant, British con-artist Lex Leopold. Lex is short for Alexander, which mean “defender of people.” But he goes by Lex, like the villain in Superman, Lex Luther. Leopold means “brave people.” Although Lex is not the antagonist, he’s also not your typical good guy. An anti-hero.
 
As for the alternating characters in the books — the victims, the suspects, passers-by, occasional friends — I usually get their names from local obituaries.
 
Lastly, I have a contest with my street team for each book, “Put Your Name in a Book,” where they have a chance to have a character named after them. Some of those characters are Penny Forbes (The Cupid Caper), Celia Fowler (A View to a Chill), Robin Coxon (16 Millimeters), Katty Bomar (The Vigilante Vignette), Pamela Hargraves (Death in Perspective), Deborah Holt (The Body in the Landscape),  and Debbie Krenzer (A Composition in Murder).
 
Ally:  If you could have a supernatural power like many book and screen characters, what would it be and why?
 
LR:  I want a power like Hermione’s Time Turner necklace. So, so bad. And I promise to only use it for good. But it’s either the Time Turner necklace power or I’ve got to cut out more sleep to get enough time to get my stuff done. And I really like sleep.
 
Ally:  How did you choose the title of your feature book?
 
LR:  Sixteen millimeters is the size of film used in certain movies and TV productions. When I wrote 15 Minutes, it referred to 15 minutes of fame. As I thought about the series, I decided to count up from 15 in the title. Makes it so much easier to read in sequence when you’re an OCD reader like me. The challenge with the Maizie Albright series is to then find a movie or TV reference to the number.
 
The third book is NC-17 (the rating meaning No Children Under Seventeen), which I think will be brilliant for a murder mystery and gives me the excuse to have teenagers in it. A great pairing for Maizie who’s got Peter Pan syndrome, having grown up in Hollywood. I haven’t gotten to 18 yet, so that might take some research. :)
Ally: What are you working on now? Is there a release date?

LR:  The Cupid Caper, a Finley Goodhart Crime Caper novella, releases at the end of this February. Finley is a character from my free short story for my newsletter subscribers (when you sign up for my newsletter, you receive the story Pig’N A Poke). Finley’s an ex-con artist, trying to make good. She’s been nagging at me for a longer story. My next project was supposed to be writing NC-17, the third Maizie Albright book, because that releases July 10th. But I thought I could quickly write The Cupid Caper, appease Finley, and give something to my readers between now and July. July is such a long way off!
 
Ally: We've talked a lot about books, but these short answer questions are about you.a) favorite accessory:  Purses. I have a series of purses from Japan by Mimo. They’re all vinyl have a French bulldog motif along with other graphics, and glittery rickrack on the straps. They’re roomy and totally crazy. I also have some cute Kate Spade’s from recycle shops. A teeny metal and silk embroidered snap box from Japan. And a fuzzy green handbag. I love purses.b) favorite quote:  “If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.” ― Dorothy Parkerc) What comes to your first - character or plot?  It’s always character but usually a “what if this happened to this kind of person” follows immediately after. My plots are always driven by the motivations of the main character.d) Your pets: Biscuit, a seven-year-old Cairn Terrier, like Toto, but brindle; a fat pygmy frog who’s about eight-years-old and lives in an aquarium in my daughters’ bathroom; an armadillo named Steve who I’ve never seen, supposedly lives under our garden shed; a hawk named Gerard, who I suspect ate our bunny Camilla; and an owl named Geoffrey. We also have several families of deer, fox, opossum, and a half-ton of squirrels who sometimes live in our attic and drive us nuts. I wish Gerard and Geoffrey would get to work on those squirrels.  Ally:  I know you have a busy schedule (caring for all those animals, if nothing else!). Thanks so much for taking time to visit us. Before you rush off, tell us more about 16 Millimeters.

16 Millimeters (Maizie Albright Star Detective #2)
Genre: Mystery, romantic comedy, chicklit
PG-13

In continuing her career-makeover quest as a for-real detective, ex-teen and reality star Maizie Albright has a big learning curve to overcome. A sleuthing background starring in a TV show— Julia Pinkerton, Teen Detective—does not cut the real life mustard. It doesn’t even buy her lunch, let alone extra condiments. Her chosen mentor, Wyatt Nash of Nash Security Solutions, is not a willing teacher. He’d rather stick Maizie with a safe desk job and handle the security solution-ing himself. But Maizie’s got other plans to help Nash. First, win Nash’s trust. Second, his heart.
 
Wait, not his heart. His respect. His hearty respect.
 
So when a major movie producer needs a babysitter for his hot mess starlet, Maizie eagerly takes the job. But when her starlet appears dead, and then not dead, Maizie’s got more than an actress to watch and a missing corpse to find. Body doubles, dead bodies, and hot bodies abound when the big screen, small screen, and silent screams collide. Maizie’s on the job, on the skids, and on thin ice, hunting a killer who may be a celebrity stalker. And Maizie just might be the next celebrity who gets snuffed.
 
Links:
 
Amazon/Kindle: http://smarturl.it/16MMKindle1
iBooks: http://smarturl.it/16MMibooks
Barnes & Noble/Nook: http://smarturl.it/16MMNook1
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/16MMKobo

Lynn Slaughter: YA Mystery Writer

Welcome to the Coffee Chat!

Every week we gather for book talk and to meet a new author. Today's guest is Lynn Slaughter, a writer of  YA mysteries.
Nice to have you, Lynn. How do you take your coffee?

LS:  I’m a coffee-holic, especially when I’m writing, and I drink it black with nothing added.

Ally:  You're in good company here! Please give readers a look at your background, while I pour.
Bio:

I’ve always loved reading young adult novels, and now I really enjoy writing them. A former professional dancer and dance educator, I earned my MFA in Popular Writing from Seton Hill University and am the author of WHILE I DANCED, a 2015 EPIC finalist in the Young Readers’ category, as well as IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU. Currently, I live in Louisville, Kentucky where I teach part-time at nearby Indiana University Southeast. I readily admit to being addicted to chocolate, romance, and my husband’s cooking!

Something unique/unusual that isn’t in your regular bio: "I’ve sung vocals for a rock band and love writing song lyrics and creating music with my husband, a guitarist. We recently created a CD with two other musicians called “Blues and Other Moods” featuring a lot of our original music."

Author Contact links:
Web Site:  http://www.lynnslaughter.com/
Twitter@lslaughter2
INTERVIEW:

Ally:  Let's start with your featured YA mystery,  It Should Have Been You. Why will readers relate to your main character?

LS:  Seventeen-year-old Clara is feisty, determined, and funny, but she’s always felt like an afterthought in her own family. Her twin Moura was a piano prodigy and the center of attention in their musical family.  Moura herself looked down upon Clara as the family outlier because she preferred writing to music. It’s my feeling that many of us can identify with a character who has felt discounted and eclipsed by the family “star.”

Things go from challenging to horrific for Clara in the wake of her twin’s murder. Not only is she dealing with survivor’s guilt, made even worse because of her troubled relationship with her sister, but with widespread rumors that she may have been her sister’s killer. And then, just when she feels like she’s starting to heal five months after her sister’s death, she begins getting threatening emails sent to the inbox of the school newspaper advice column she ghostwrites. Convinced that her cyber-stalker blames her for her sister’s death and plans to exact revenge, she bravely undertakes her own investigation.
So, I hope readers will care about a young proactive heroine trying to save her own life while dealing with survivor’s guilt and grief.

Clara’s also someone I think readers will care about because she herself is a caring, person. She not only wants justice for her own family, but to help other students with their problems through her advice column. She cares deeply about issues such as teen dating violence and tries hard to help a reader involved in an abusive relationship.
And of course, at a time when she’s not sure she can trust anyone, she falls in love with a new boy at school who has secrets of his own. I hope that readers will identify with the intensity of their sweet though challenging romance.

Ally: How do you choose and name your characters?

LS:  In terms of choosing characters to write about, Clara was actually inspired by an adult student I had many years ago who shared with me that when she was a teenager, her identical twin had been murdered. The crime remained unsolved. In fact, for a long time, the FBI had my student under surveillance because they feared she might be in danger from the killer.

Her tragic experience stuck with me and eventually morphed into Clara’s story about a murdered twin.
I choose names that reflect who characters are and what they care about. For example, Clara’s mother was a musician who wanted her girls to become classical musicians. She named them after two notable women pianists, Clara Schumann and Moura Lympany.

Ally:  Does your real life show up in you writing? In what ways?

LS:  I’ve spent most of my adult life in the arts as a former professional dancer, teacher at a performing arts high school, and counselor at an intensive summer program for high school students gifted in the arts. So, it’s not surprising that my main characters are teenagers who often have a serious interest in the arts..

I think I’m also drawn to teen characters who’ve experienced a lack of support on the home front.  My own mother was institutionalized with mental illness, and I was raised by an emotionally unavailable dad who opposed my interest in dance. In addition, my academically brilliant oldest sister was the undisputed star of the family.
My writing reflects those experiences. While I Danced features a single parent father who opposes his daughter’s determination to become a dancer. And Clara’s experience of being the less favored sibling in It Should Have Been You is certainly something I’m familiar with.

In addition, I’ve always been interested in social issues and wrote a nonfiction book, Teen Rape, for the educational market.  My concern about teen dating violence grew out of my research for that book, as well as from my experiences counseling teens.

Ally:   How did you choose the title of the book you’re featuring?

LS:  The first threatening email that Clara receives includes the statement that became the title for the book: “It Should Have Been You.” Part of why this hits Clara so hard is that she’s sure a lot of people, including her own mother, wish that she’d been the twin who’d been murdered. Clara also suffers from survivor’s guilt. Even she wonders why she’d been the lucky one allowed to live, instead of her gifted sister.

Ally:. What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?

LS:  I don’t yet have an anticipated release date for my next project. But I’m actively working on two young adult mystery novels. Gone centers around Leisha, a musically and academically gifted African-American teen on scholarship at an exclusive New England boarding school. When her music teacher and mentor  goes missing just before a major vocal competition, Leisha suspects foul play and undertakes her own investigation. Meantime, she tries to rebuff the romantic overtures of Cody, a cellist who’s appointed himself as her sidekick. She’s sure that the grandfather who raised her would disown her if she took up with a white boy, and Cody’s wealthy conservative family wouldn’t be thrilled about her either.

Whereas Leisha comes from a poor background, Samantha (Sam), the protagonist of Killing Mr. Holloway, is the daughter of a widowed heiress who impulsively announces she’s marrying Adam Holloway, a much younger man. Sam is sure he’s after her mother’s money, and she both distrusts and detests him. When he gets murdered, the evidence points to Sam as the killer, and she must prove her innocence.

Ally:  We've talked a lot about your writing, but let's try a few short-answer questions about you:
favorite TV show-  Doc Martinfavorite quote- “Life is what happens while you’re making other plans.” – John LennonYour pets- snuggly tuxedo cat, Lucy, adopted from the Humane Societyfavorite after  five drink- Chardonnay
typical breakfast- anything my husband makes Ally: Thanks for having coffee with my readers. Good luck with your books. Let's take a last look at that feature novel.

It Should Have Been You
Genre: YA mystery
Romance rating: PG-13

What would you do if your twin—a piano prodigy—were murdered? Rumors swirl that you are the killer, and then you start receiving threatening emails.

This is exactly what happens to seventeen-year-old Clara Seibert.

Buy Links:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound
Books-A-Million

For eBook:
Kindle

Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon.

Micki Browning's Mysteries: the Ultimate Beach Reads!

Welcome to this week's Coffee Chat!

Guest author is Micki Browning, who lives in and writes mysteries about Southern Florida's fantastic ocean life. Those of us experiencing the northern deep freeze can only dream!
Thanks for coming, Micki. How do you take your coffee?

MB:  I’d love to chat over a cup of bold coffee tempered with a splash of cream. Thank you!

Ally: Then settle in and introduce yourself while I pour. 
Bio:
 
An FBI National Academy graduate, Micki Browning worked in municipal law enforcement for more than two decades, retiring as a division commander. Now a full-time writer, she won the 2015 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence and the Royal Palm Literary Award for her debut mystery, ADRIFT. The second Mer Cavallo Mystery, BEACHED, launched January 10, 2018.

Micki also writes short stories and non-fiction. Her work has appeared in dive magazines, anthologies, mystery magazines and textbooks. She resides in Southern Florida with her partner in crime and a vast array of scuba equipment she uses for "research."
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I was part of a press junket that had the honor of spending three days on the USS Abraham Lincoln while it was practicing maneuvers. Landing on an aircraft carrier is a thrill. Being catapulted off of it is an adrenaline rush!"
 
Learn more at--
Website: www.MickiBrowning.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MickiBrowning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MickiBrowningAuthor/ INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  What type of fiction book did you bring today?
 
MB:  Beached is the second Mer Cavallo Mystery and is a traditional mystery with a lot of adventure and a kiss of romance. I’d rate it PG for the occasional swear word. Mer and Selkie banter, but their intimacy plays out behind closed doors.
 
Ally:  Who is the main character in Beached and why will readers like her?
 
MB:  Mer Cavallo is intelligent, loyal, driven, and has a tendency to speak her mind—which chafes some and amuses others. After losing her Arctic research funding, she relocates to the Florida Keys. Accustomed to a regimented academic life, the transition to the laid-back lifestyle of the islands proves to be more difficult than she anticipates. She questions where she belongs and if she’s made the right life choices—the same questions many women grapple with as they consider career and family choices. Events in Beached amplify some of Mer’s questions and simplify others as she discovers the true treasures in her life.
 
Ally:  Have you thought about one of your books being made into a movie? Who would play the parts?
 
MB:  I’d love to see Mer and her cohorts on the screen. Before I began writing the series, I constructed a storyboard in Scrivener and cast my characters. The title role of Mer went to Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (circa The Abyss). I chose the English actor Brian Blessed as Leroy, a taller Daniel Craig as Selkie, Jesse Williams as Detective Talbot, and a striking model (whose name I sadly don’t know) as Bijoux. And for the record, if Daniel Craig agreed to sign on as Selkie, I’d be happy to shave a couple inches off the character.
 
Ally:  How much research do you do?
 
MB:  I received extensive training throughout my career in law enforcement, so those types of scenes rarely need any additional research. By education, I’m a medievalist and during my undergraduate days, I learned how to mine the library stacks for information. I also discovered research is serendipitous. I may be looking for something specific but stumble across something completely unexpected that serves the story in another capacity. That happened in Beached, but sadly, it would be a spoiler if I revealed which part.
 
I also do “fins-on” research. I’m a professional divemaster and I’ve been on every dive site Mer visits. I work hard to bring the ocean realm to life. It’s really special when readers who don’t scuba dive tell me it felt like they were right there with me during the underwater scenes.
 
Ally:  What role do animals play in your books?
 
MB:  Mer’s love of the ocean led her to become a marine scientist. She studies octopuses, which makes her a teuthologist. An octopus has a cameo role in a pivotal scene in Beached.  While she doesn’t have any four-footed friends, she is surrounded by marine life whenever she takes the plunge.
 
Ally:  What are you currently writing?
 
MB:  I’m returning to my police roots in my current project. Set in a small town in the dead of winter, it’s a gritty police procedural with two strong female protagonists. When I wrap that up, I’ll tackle the third Mer Cavallo Mystery, Chum. I’ll keep you posted on dates as I know more!
 
Ally:  And now, let's get to know you with these quick answer questions.a. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch:  Mark Twain. Although I suspect I’d be laughing too hard to eat much.b. favorite movie:  Casablanca. The dialogue is fantastic.c. Last book that made you laugh:  A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.d. last book that made you cry:  A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.e. favorite place to write:  Outdoors, especially places that require hiking trails to get to.  Ally: Thanks for talking with me today. Good luck with your books Before you go, please show us your featured novel.

Beached (A Mer Cavallo Mystery)
Genre: Mystery
PG-13
 
In this latest thrilling mystery from award-winning author Micki Browning, marine biologist Meredith Cavallo uncovers clues to a mysterious Spanish galleon—and quickly discovers the ship may be legendary, but the danger surrounding it is real.
 
Mer’s life unravels after she finds a plastic-wrapped bundle floating on the waves off Key Largo. Curious, she pulls it aboard her dive boat and lands in the middle of a storm of intrigue involving an obscure legend, an 18th century shipwreck and a modern pirate who’ll resort to murder to claim the booty first.
 
Thrust into the hunt for a ship with no historical record, Mer plunges into the world of nautical archaeology. But for a woman accustomed to dealing with facts, deciphering secrets proves difficult—and everyone she encounters harbors their own skeletons. A sinister betrayal sends her reeling, and even with the help of a crusty former marine salvager, a fiery professor, and her friends on the island, Mer realizes she’s in over her head. Determined to outwit the man who wants her dead, she’s certain of only one thing—treasure is trouble.
 
And here is the multi-region buy link for Amazon: http://authl.it/B0778Z8B96 Thanks for stopping. Hope to see you next week!

Books, Animals, and Dreams Come True!

Welcome, Booklovers!
 
Are you ready for another author chat? This week's guest is romance writer Denise Devine, featuring her sweet contemporary romance, Lisa (Beach Brides Book 1).
I'm delighted you could join us, Denise. How do you take your coffee?
 
DD:  I love black coffee very hot and very fresh. Someone gave me a coffee press for Christmas once and my daughter borrowed it before I had a chance to use it. That was the end of that.

Ally: You're making my barista duties so easy. I'll pour while you introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
 
Denise Devine is a USA TODAY bestselling author who has had a passion for books since the second grade when she discovered Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote her first book, a mystery, at age thirteen and has been writing ever since.
 
She lives on six wooded acres in East Bethel, Minnesota with her husband, Steve and her two problem (feline) children, Lambchop and Tigger. She’s presently a cat person, but she loves all animals and they often find their way into her books.
 
Something that isn't included in your regular bio: "I owned a pair of horses for 25 years. They died of old age within a couple years of each other. Every time I go in the barn, their smell is still there. I think of them and miss them very much."
 
Author Contacts:
 
Website: www.deniseannettedevine.com
Blog: https://deniseannette.blogspot.com
Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/csOJZL
FB: www.facebook.com/deniseannettedevine
Twitter: @denisedevine5
Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/author/denisedevine
BookBub Author Page https://www.bookbub.com/authors/denise-devine
Happily Ever After Stories – Sweet Romance Group: www.facebook.com/groups/HEAStories/ INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:   How do you choose your characters and name them?
 
DD:  In the Beach Brides Series, we were told to pick a heroine’s name that was 4-5 characters because the title of the book would be her name and there was limited space on the cover. I chose Lisa. That is my sister’s name and the model on cover I picked out resembled her when she was younger. I also dedicated the book to her.
 
Many of the main characters in my books are named after my nieces and nephews. I decided long before my first book was published that I wanted to do that.
 
Ally:  Are there animals in your books? What part do they play?
 
DD:  There are ALWAYS animals in my books. I’m an animal person and I can’t imagine my main characters not having a loving pet. The only book that doesn’t have a pet is Lisa, and that is because that story just didn’t have room for one.
 
Most of the pets in my books are real animals and belong to either a friend or someone in my family. The little black doggie in A Christmas to Remember was my own little Sadie. She died about ten years ago, but I’m keeping her memory alive by giving her a part in my book. Sniff.
 
Ally:  Which of your books is your personal favorite?
 
DD:  A Merry Little Christmas.  This book is about Merry Connor, a young mother with two children whose ex-husband is in jail for embezzlement (so she gets no child support) and she is really struggling. The book starts about five weeks before Christmas. She lives in an old, leaky house, her car won’t start and she has no money to buy her kids presents. She doesn’t even have the money to buy a tree. This book is the closest to my heart of all I’ve written so far. In the book, the Jack Russell terrier, “Charlie,” was my dad’s dog.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
DD:  My next project is a new book in the Beach Brides 2 Series. It’s called Ava and will be on preorder starting April 3rd. The book goes on sale May 29th for $2.99 on Kindle and will also be available in Kindle Unlimited.
 
Ally:  What do you like to do when you're not writing?
 
DD:  I’ve known my husband since seventh grade. He was and still is my brother’s best friend. Our favorite pastime together is traveling. He happens to be a travel agent and so we do a lot of globe-trotting on the cheap. This year, for our 40th anniversary, we’re taking a transatlantic cruise to Spain and Portugal. Then we’re going to Paris and London and taking a tour of Britain. I love this stuff.
 
Ally:  Talk about where you live. Country, state, etc.
 
DD: I live in Minne-snow-ta in an outlying suburb of Minneapolis. My neighborhood is surrounded by trees and wildlife areas. We have tons of wildlife out here, like opossums, foxes, eagles, sandhill cranes, wild turkeys and lots of deer. I live in a 3-bedroom walkout rambler that we built ourselves. And an empty pole barn that used to be home to my horses (and lots of friendly critters who used to hang out there).
 
Ally: Sticking with the personal, try a few of these get-to-know-me questions.a. an item on your bucket list: I want to have a gravestone put on my twin sisters’ grave this spring by Memorial weekend. They were stillborn about 3 years before I came along and at the time, my mother was too poor to afford a gravestone for them. As the years went by, she always meant to do it, but time got away from her when she died unexpectedly. One year my sister and I went to the little cemetery where they are buried among other unmarked graves and found their location. I made up my mind that if I ever made any money from writing, I’d use it to get them a gravestone.
b. color of nail polish you have on: Diamond Strength – Love Bug Pinkc. Do you believe in love at first sight?  I believe it can happen. I’ve worked with a few guys who’ve sworn to me that they fell in love with their wives the moment they saw them.d. favorite song: ANYTHING by Journey. I love Steve Perry!!e. favorite quote:  “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” (Gone with the Wind)“Well, here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me into.” (Laurel & Hardy)“I’ve flown with you twice; you’ve crashed 50 percent of the time!” (6 Days, 7 Nights)f. something unique in your closet: A replica of a 1925 Flapper dressg. favorite place to write: In my daughter’s old bedroom. But I have to share it with my two cats, Babygirl and Nick Nolte. Ally: It was a pleasure to chat with you, Denise. Before you go, tell us more about your latest book!

Lisa – Beach Brides Series 1
Genre: Sweet, Contemporary Romance
 
Is it possible to find true love through a message in a bottle?
 
Spending a week on a Caribbean island with the members of the Romantic Hearts Book Club is like a dream come true for Lisa Kaye. On their last night, each woman writes a personal message to her “dream hero,” stuffs it in a bottle and tosses it out to sea. Lisa’s real dreams crash, however, when she returns home and loses not only her job but her boyfriend in the same day. Determined to start over, she returns to Enchanted Island, the idyllic place of her childhood to manage her aunt’s bed and breakfast hotel.
 
Fifteen months pass without a clue to the fate of her bottle. Then it happens. She receives an email from the man who found it and she doesn’t know what to do. Should she ignore it or take a chance at finding true love?
 
Buy Link:
 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F9P1W7

Thanks for stopping. Come back again!

Horses, Kids, and Mystery!

                     Welcome to the Coffee Chat!

If you have young readers in your life or are young at heart, you're going to love today's guest author, Julie Herman.
Nice to meet you, Julie! What may I get you to drink?

JH:  I’ve never quite learned how to like coffee. I am, however, addicted to large mugs of tea served with milk and stevia.

Ally: Not a problem. While I get our drinks ready, please introduce yourself to readers.

Bio:
 
A lapsed Master Gardener, Julie Herman lives on a small organic farm outside Houston where she and her husband ride herd on the ever-shifting population of the farm. At last count they had two retired quarter horses, a cat, a shrinking flock of Cream Legbar Chickens, (darn that fox!) and the creature that lurks in the pond. Julie serves as a Chief Horse Management Judge for the United States Pony Clubs and on the board of Writespace, a Houston area writers’ treasure trove of resources.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I spent the year between my sophomore and junior years in college working as a Nanny in the US Embassy in Moscow. Some day that adventure will work its way into a book."

Contacts:

MysteryGarden.com | FB @JulieWrayH | T: @JulieWrayH  |  JulieHermanWrites@gmail.com  INTERVIEW:

Ally: What type of book did you bring with you today?
 
JH: BURNED is a middle grade mystery, best for ages 8 - 12. (And all horses lovers!)
 
Ally: Tell us about your main character and why readers will care about her.
 
JH:  Sophie is every young girl I met when working with Pony Club members. They are passionate about their horses, their friends, and their families. Sophie isn’t a quitter, whether it’s getting back on the horse after a fall, or taking on the job of helping to clear her mother’s name.
 
Ally:  What was your journey to publication, including bumps and missteps?
 
JH:  I was lucky enough to sell three adult mysteries back around the turn of the century. (Just love to say that!) Then I had a spate of rejections, and I quit writing. Several times. Fortunately, characters wouldn’t leave me alone. I finally began submitting again a couple of years ago. The result is that I transitioned to the middle grade audience — not surprising since that is the age group I work with the most when I teach horsemanship to Pony Club kids.
 
Ally: How much and what kind of research did you do for this book?
 
JH:  I am lucky enough to have been raised in Kentucky, and there was a riding stable within biking distance of my house where I worked during high school. I also volunteer with a non-profit, the United States Pony Clubs, that allows me to play with both the youth members and their ponies. For awhile our family collected horses like other people collect baseball cards. Sadly, most are gone now due to old age. Living, breathing ‘horse’ is second nature for me.
 
Arson? Way out of my experience. But one of my cousins had a friend who is a fire-investigator in Bel Air ,Maryland, close to where the book is set. He was tireless in answering questions! What a wonderful resource he turned out to be.
 
Ally: I assume there are horses in your book. Are there other animals? What part do they all play?
 
JH:  The setting for BURNED is a Pony Club Center. Centers are a barn that has been approved by the United States Pony Clubs. They are known for both solid horse riding instruction and an emphasis for safety. Queenie is the instructor at the Center and she has a barn full of dream lesson horses we would all be proud to own. Children who ride get an unbelievable boost in self-confidence. Horses are powerful animals. Imagine being able to tell a thousand pound creature what to do — and they listen! Sophie also has a wonderful dog that loves pancakes.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
JH:  I am working on STOLEN, the second in the series. Jack Pacetti, a twelve-year-old Army brat, discovers that horses provide a much-needed safe-haven when his mother is deployed to Afghanistan. Jack’s fragile peace shatters when his favorite horse, Flash, is stolen. Jack and new barn friends Sophie and Yasmine scout for clues to the missing horses. Can they bring them home?
 
No idea when the publisher will bring it out, but it’s due to my editor in January.
 
Ally: Let's talk about you. Answer these quick get-to-know-you questions:a. Favorite tv show:  Old: Buffy the Vampire Slayer — watched this with my daughter when she was in high school. Opened a lot of doors for discussion!       New: This Is Us. I’m a sucker for shows that provide both laughter and a good boohoo.b. Favorite accessory:  I have a scarf with appliqués on it that I adore. If only it weren’t so hot in Texas that I never get to wear it!c. What comes to your first - character or plot?   Character.d. Favorite place to write:  Anywhere far away from the laundry room, kitchen, and other sources of domestic goddess distractions.Ally:  Thanks so much for joining us for booktalk this morning. I hope you'll return for another chat, but before you go today, please tell us about Burned.

Burned by Julie Herman
Genre: Middle Grade mystery

Sophie would be the happiest girl in the world if she could spend every day hanging out with her friends Yasmine and Tanner, and riding her beloved horse, Cricket. But she stands to lose all of that and more when her mom is accused of theft and arson. As the evidence piles up and friends turn away, Sophie scrambles to clear her mother's name--and soon finds herself in the middle of a hot mess.
"For mystery lovers, horse-mad readers or those who enjoy a good story about friends and family, this is the book for you." -Sara K Joiner, children's/teen librarian, author of AFTER THE ASHES
"BURNED, Julie Herman’s new middle-grade mystery, is a horse-lover’s dream, with a suspense-filled story that moves faster than a racehorse. Twelve-year-old Sophie is a strong female character who’s determined to uncover an injustice, even though she may lose her favorite horse, Cricket—and possibly her life. Couldn’t put it down!" --Penny Warner, Author of award-winning THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB series.

Amazon Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Burned-Julie-Herman/dp/0997457538

New SciFi Release by Author Kayelle Allen

Welcome, Booklovers, to the first Coffee Chat of 2018!

This week's guest is scifi/romance writer Kayelle Allen, featuring her latest release: Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire.
How do you take your coffee, Kayelle?

KA: I like it with sugar free Italian Sweet Cream. Yum!

Ally:  While I get those coffees ready, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
 
Kayelle Allen writes Sci Fi with misbehaving robots, mythic heroes, role playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She's a US Navy veteran who's been married so long she's tenured.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I started writing when I was a child and used to get high marks from teachers. Because everyone told me I "had a way with words" I decided I would to be a writer."
 
Contact Links:

https://kayelleallen.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/kayelleallen
Facebook https://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/kayelleallen/
Instafreebie https://www.instafreebie.com/discover/author/5186/kayelle_allen Interview:
Ally: What type of book did you bring to feature today?
 
KA:  Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire is science fiction with romantic elements (no explicit content or profanity) but rated PG13 for science fiction violence. Its length is about 74,000 words / 300 pages.

Ally:  How did you select the title for your feature book?
 
KA:  Pietas is known among his people as the Bringer of Chaos so I used that as the series name. The first book was Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas and when I started it, I expected that would be a one book deal. Well... I'm already working on book 3! I was going to call book 2 Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas: Harvest of Blood, but it sounded like a horror novel. I mentioned that to Barbara White Daille, an author friend of mine, and she suggested Forged in Fire. I knew immediately that would work.
 
Ally: Talk about your typical writing day.
 
KA:  I set aside one day a week for training purposes. I read books about writing, study programs, catch up on writer blogs and so on. I go into the rest of the week energized from that. First thing in the morning is my writing time. I'm a very early riser - often up at 4:30 or so. I write until 7 in the morning and then jump on email and social media. Sometimes I write in the evening. I will get up out of bed at 2 am and write if an idea hits me. I've learned to write whenever I have a chance and carry something with me always to make notes.
 
Ally:   Who or what inspired you to write fiction?
 
KA:  My mother was a writer. She only had a poem published, but it was her lifelong dream to write. She was in love with words. I took after her and fell in love with them too. I used to sit next to her and write. I remember distinctly that I learned to write CAT in school and came home eager to show her. I told her now I could write cat stories. How odd is it that I have a race of catlike creatures in my science fiction universe?
 
Ally:  How do you choose and name your characters?
 
KA:  It can be a chore with names but the characters choose them, not me. I can't arbitrarily call Pietas (my main character) something else. Once I know their names, I know them, history and all. It's rather weird sometimes.
 
Ally: Help us get to know your main character by answering these questions: 1) age, gender: Pietas is male; 1,219 years old (yes, that's right)2) color of hair and eyes:  platinum white hair (straight) and electric turquoise blue eyes) -- interesting thing about that. His father designed him to be extremely beautiful. Almost soft, somewhat feminine in appearance. But the man inside is hard as steel. He pays no attention to his looks and cuts his hair with a dagger. His father can have the credit for how Pietas looks. He prefers to be lauded for his honor.3) level of education and/or training:  He has centuries of training and an eidetic memory. He can forget nothing.4) favorite color:   teal or turquoise5) style of clothes:  in this book he's in rags because of his ordeal, but he generally wears his uniform, white with teal trim.6) his pets, if any:  well, he's been "adopted" by a ginormous panther, so I'll say a "kitty"  
Ally: What is it about Pietas that will make readers care about him?
 
KA:  Pietas is an Ultra, a race of genetically enhanced superhumans who are far beyond human in their capabilities. They are essentially immortal. You'd think a character like that would have no vulnerabilities. But Pietas and his twin sister are the only Ultras ever born. All the rest were created by humans, or by a select group of other Ultras. He was his father's experiment, and once born, was reared to be a perfect soldier. Pietas realized at a young age that his father didn't love him. He only wanted a perfect product that he could reproduce. His father wanted to create an army of children who would do his bidding. So Pietas has made it his life's work to undermine everything his father does. When it comes to family, Pietas is fragile. His heart has been shattered repeatedly. He's been betrayed at every turn. His heart is a fortress and few manage to penetrate the walls. In this book, he lets in Joss, a telepath and warrior he has trusted for centuries. He also relies on Six, an altered human who's been resurrected with Ultra blood. And he bonds with a sentient panther whose name means Loyal Warrior. Tiklaus follows him everywhere and protects him. This ginormous beast just wants to be his kitty. Pietas, who hides his heart from everyone, opens it wide to this ferocious beast. It was wonderful to write their scenes. They contain both humor and moments so touching it brings tears to your eyes. The entire book has great scenes with humor, but also moments of violence. When you live for vengeance, the opportunity to strike finds you.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
KA:  I have a novella coming out this spring. No date yet, but sometime in March or April I think. This will be a prequel book for the Antonello Brothers series (At the Mercy of Her Pleasure and For Women Only). And I am writing Bringer of Chaos: Watch Your Six, the next book for Pietas.
 
Ally: Now let's talk about you. What is your favorite non-writing hobby?
 
KA:  I love creating artwork. You should see the banners I do for my books. I have thousands of stock images that I've saved over the years. One of my favorite things to do is scour photo sites for good pictures. I find it as relaxing as a good nap.
 
Ally: Staying with the theme of getting to know you, here are a few quick answer questions...Ally:  Thanks for being our first guest of 2018, Kayelle. Let's leave readers with a taste of your new release, Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire.a. favorite book:   The Persian Boy by Mary Renault and Teot's War by Heather Gladneyb. book you're currently reading:   Creating Character Arcs by KM Weilandc. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch:  JD Robb! I love her In Death seriesd. favorite tv show:   the new Lethal Weapon, and I really love Bulle. favorite movie:  The Hobbit series, but especially the Five Armiesf. favorite book boyfriend:   Roark from the In Death seriesg. Do you believe in love at first sight?  yes. Been married 44 years to prove it happens! Ally:  Thanks for being our first guest of 2018, Kayelle. Let's leave readers with a look at your new release, Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire.

Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire
Genre: scifi
PG-13

What if you were a soldier marooned on an undeveloped planet? What if you had no food and few survival tools? What if you'd been genetically engineered? No matter how agonizing the wound, you'd survive. No matter how you died, you'd come back.

It could be worse. You could be here alone. But that's the problem. You're not.

On one hand, there's a tribe of sentient panthers who protect you. Although you hate humans, the one who was dumped on this planet with you has become a trusted friend. The beautiful telepathic warrior you've loved since forever is at your side.

On the other hand, half a million people who depend on you are trapped inside stasis pods, waiting for you to save them. It wouldn't be so bad if you could wake up a few at a time. But the traitors who abandoned you and your followers set the timers to release all half million.

At the same time.

You're facing an ecological disaster and over five hundred thousand hungry, thirsty, homeless immortals.

Worse still, before you can build shelter, figure out how to grow food, or set up a government, you must take back command from a ruthless enemy you've fought for centuries.

Your brutal, merciless father.

Talk about being forged in fire...

Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever.

Buy Link:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Bringer-Chaos-Forged-Marooned-Barren-ebook/dp/B077BRSRP4

EXCERPT:

In this scene, Pietas has been playing with the panther, a huge animal he calls Tiklaus. The name means "Loyal Warrior."
 
The panther batted at him, knocked Pietas onto his back and then flipped itself down beside him. Tiklaus wrapped its front legs around his arm and gnawed at it in gentle play while the hind feet kicked him without injury. Claws flashed, but did no harm.
Now I know how a chew toy feels. Pietas blew out a breath.
When the panther draped itself over his chest, he struggled to slide out from under but could not get up. The animal weighed less than he did, but with no visible effort, it kept Pietas from rising.
"I concede, my friend. You win."
The panther ignored him.
"Tiklaus, off."
Nothing.
"Off, please."
The panther yawned, opening a huge maw. Fangs flashed.
Pietas tried a signal that worked with sparring partners and asked for release by double-tapping the panther's side.
The cat stood at once and stepped over him. It shook from nose to tail, then sat and groomed itself.
He stood and brushed himself off. Standing beside Tiklaus, who reached him mid-thigh, Pietas took pride in knowing this sweet, playful cat was also the snarling ball of animal rage that had nailed Mahikos to the ground.
Pietas ensured no one was on the path in either direction before he knelt and scratched the cat's ears. "Who's a good kitty?"
The animal sneaked in a lick of his hand and face and flopped down on its back.
"My Tiklaus, that's who. Tiklaus is a good kitty." He rubbed the smooth belly. "Yes, you are! Such a good, big kitty. You're my kitty, aren't you? Good, good kitty."
The panther accepted the attention, one paw twitching. After a moment, it stood and shook itself. A purring sound rumbled from its chest. It sat, licked one paw and added a lick of Pietas's face as well.
He chuckled. "Thank you for the bath." He hugged the panther's neck. "You have as soft a heart as I do but you don't show it either. Pact, my friend. I won't tell if you won't." He kissed Tiklaus on the nose.
The panther bumped its head against Pietas, then bounded to a tree and up it.

You'll Find this Wonder Woman with a Cozy Mystery

Good Morning, Booklovers!

Welcome to the last Coffee Chat of 2017! I hope you're having a fantastic holiday season, and that 2018 will be filled with wonder and a stack of incredible books. Meanwhile, let's settle in for a coffee break and meet another new author. This week's guest is mystery writer Avery Daniels.
Pull up a chair, Avery! What may I get you to drink?

AD:  When I drink coffee, I use vanilla creamer, a pinch of cinnamon and a dash of Cayenne.  Lately I've been drinking more tea.

Ally: Your choice. My magic pot can prepare anything. Tea? Okay, coming right up. While I prepare it, please introduce yourself to readers. 

Bio:

Avery Daniels was born and raised in Colorado, graduated from college with a degree in business administration and has worked in fortune 500 companies and Department of Defense her entire life. Her most eventful job was apartment management for 352 units. She still resides in Colorado with two brother black cats as her spirited companions. She volunteers for a cat shelter, enjoys scrapbooking and card making, photography, and painting in watercolor and acrylic. She inherited a love for reading from her mother and grandmother and grew up talking about books at the dinner table.

Something unique about you that isn't in your regular bio:  "I am short at 5 ft 1 in, and I can't sing in tune for anything."

Author Contacts:

Website:  http://www.Avery-Daniels.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Avery-Daniels
Newsletter for exclusive offers: http://eepurl.com/c2DgfT INTERVIEW:
Ally:  What types of mysteries do you write?

AD:  Iced, a Resort to Murder mystery, is a Cozy Mystery with mild heat, mostly tension.
 
Ally:  Describe your writing process. Schedule, goals, etc.  
 
AD:  I am getting my rhythm down.  I managed to get the first draft of the second in the Resort to Murder series completed in two and a half months.  Now I am in edits and revisions.  I am working to get the process to a few months for each book.  Fingers crossed.
 
Ally:  Who is your main character and why will the reader care about her?  
 
AD:  My main character is Julienne.  She got the opportunity to receive on the job training in Resort management so she skipped college to work her way into managing resorts world wide.  Her mother died when she was pre-teen and her dad tried his best.  She has a gregarious and crazy aunt, uncle, and cousins who - along with dad - want to see her married and providing babies.  When she is the prime suspect for murdering the pastor, she is also under pressure to just forget her dreams and job and settle down.  I think we either know somebody working hard for his or her dream or may be that person and let's face it, family is often challenging. 
 
Ally:  Writers often find inspiration in all kinds of places.  Who or what inspired you to write fiction?  
 
AD:  I am an avid reader and have been from a young age.  I read fiction the entire time from gothic suspense and mysteries to historical fiction, fantasy, and Sci-fi.  I was a teen when I wrote a short story about a young girl nursing an injured deer. Writing has been a desire for a good long while.
 
Ally:  If you could have one supernatural power, what would it be and why?  
 
AD:  Fly!  It would cut down on any commute &/or drive time, and what a sense of freedom.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?  
 
AD:  NAILED is the second in the Resort to Murder mystery series and I hope to release it in February 2018 and I am editing a draft of a political thriller, THE SOCIETY, with release date hopefully in March 2018.
 
Ally:  Now it's time for a few rapid-fire questions.a. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch:   Sir Arthur Conan Doyleb. an item on your bucket list:   Visit Stonehenge for Summer Solstice and Glastonbury, England.c. Last book that made you laugh:   Say No Moor (A Passport to Peril Mystery) by Maddy Hunter.d. Your pets:   Two black cats, short haired.  They are brothers who have never been parted.  I adopted them from a cat shelter and they are my sweet boys.e. favorite after-five drink:  When I imbibe I enjoy Margaritas and Mojitos.  When I am bad, I have a Mud Slide (soooo like dessert).  I do enjoy a good German Riesling wine too.f. If you couldn't write anymore, what would you want to do?  Painting and photography, I love the creative side.  g. a fantasy being/person you'd like to be:  Wonder Woman of course!!!  Ally: It was a pleasure to meet you, Avery. I wish you a wonderful 2018. Before you leave, please show us the book that you'd like readers to add to their reading list for the new year.

ICED (A Resort To Murder Mystery Book One)
Genre: Cozy mystery
 
Julienne has her ideal job as an event planner at a prestigious resort. During a luncheon event she coordinated, a renowned celebrity pastor is killed next to the buffet. All eyes turn to her as the suspect. If she wants to stay out of jail or even keep her job, Julienne needs all the help she can get to solve the crime. 

She has her work cut out for her with a vengeful high school rival now reporter, the public demanding she be fired, plus family who knows what's best for her, and a boyfriend who doesn't understand her. She turns to friends and a new ally to uncover who wanted to put the pastor on ice. 

Julienne goes undercover and investigates a local swingers group as she follows the trail of clues before they go cold. Can she gather enough suspects and motives to convince the police to widen their investigation? Can she do it before the killer sets his murderous sights on her? Will her personal life ever be as simple as unveiling a murderer?
 

Trailer Youtube: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkE1sZ0KeXw
 

Buy Links:
 
Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/ICED-Resort-Mystery-Avery-Daniels-ebook/dp/B071LFD6JV
B&N:  https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/iced-avery-daniels/1126467939
IndyBound:  https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780999031803
Audible:  https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Iced-A-Resort-to-Murder-Mystery-Audiobook/B074FC3T1G HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas Eve in Olde Town

Christmas Eve in Olde Town

Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through Olde Town,
Not a creature was stirring nor making a sound.
The werewolves were running all night through the woods,
The demons were hiding their faces in hoods.

The elves all were dancing; the dwarves were so merry,
The nymphs were excited and so very cheery.
With Andreas at the Club, and Ari on patrol,
The town was all settled, snug in the cold.

When out of the sky with a light pure and bright
Came a dragon so bold glowing gold and pure white.
Ari dashed through the park, stopped on a dime,
If the dragon was hostile, she wouldn't be there in time.

The children were gathered in the town square
Singing and dancing, their thoughts without care.
When what did their wondering eyes behold
But the dragon that stories had once foretold. With scales of pure gold, and eyes oh so green
They knew in a moment it was the Dragon Queen.
She'd come to bring presents, to those old and young,
To recapture the stories that once had been sung.

Of a beautiful princess who had fallen in love
With a handsome dragon from the clouds far above
And every Christmas she brought back her joy
By sharing her gifts with each girl and boy.

When Ari arrived and Andreas stopped by
The queen pulled out a bag and undid the tie.
She dropped all the toys at Ari's feet
So they could surprise every child with a treat.

Then blowing snowflakes out of her nose,
The dragon winked boldly, or so the story goes,
And spreading her wings, she rose to the sky
"Merry Christmas to all, and I bid you Good-Bye!"

                                               Ally Shields (2013) Thanks for reading my yearly Christmas fantasy post with the characters from the Guardian Witch series.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season!