Ally Shields's Blog, page 8

Want to Host the Release Blog Tour of The Dead Betray None?

If you'd like to host my Regency mystery book release on your blog, here is the signup sheet at Silver Dagger Tours:  www.silverdaggertours.com/tour-sign-ups/the-dead-betray-none-tour-sign-ups
​ Thanks!!

Guest Article: A Trip to Vietnam by Mystery Writer Nancy Nau Sullivan

​Good Morning, Booklovers!

Please welcome author Nancy Nau Sullivan to the blog today with a background article and recipe for her Blanche Murninghan mystery series.

​The blog is yours, Nancy! 

​ A Trip to Vietnam
by
Nancy Nau Sullivan
I write about mystery in different countries, and my character, Blanche Murninghan, leads the way. Part-time journalist, part-time beach bum—and part-time amateur sleuth—she doesn't stay at home on Santa Maria Island. She travels, sometimes on assignment, but more often than not, she's caught up in some adventure that makes her wonder why she ever ended up there.
            The latest installment finds Blanche in Vietnam where she is searching for Jean McMahon's mother, a Vietnamese beauty who married an American soldier. Blanche is also looking for the truth: What happened to her father, an Army scout killed in an ambush in Vietnam in 1970? He is still MIA...
            Read all about it in the new Blanche Murninghan mystery, Mission Improbable: Vietnam, due June 29 from Torchflame/Light Messages Publishing.
            Like Blanche, I went to Vietnam. (Unlike Blanche, I didn't have to fend off thugs who were thwarting my mission.) At first, I wasn't excited about making the trip. I had memories of the sixties—plus it's a long haul with at least sixteen hours in the air. Cousin Chuck talked me into it. Well, thank you, Cousin Chuck.
            It was the most fabulous trip I've ever taken, not only for the sights (mountains, the sea, the colorful cities and rivers and jungles) but also for the FOOD and the PEOPLE.
            A good number of Vietnamese study English and tourism on the university level, and they are eager to show off their beautiful country. I visited in late February, a less rainy, steamy time in the south, and it was delightful—except for the motorbikes. (There were some fifty million for nearly a hundred million people in 2019.) My guide, Thuy, told me, “Pretend you are in the stream and let the fish (that would be the motorbikes) swim around you.” She was intrepid and saved me, or I'd still be standing there, terrified. One evening I ventured from my hotel onto the sidewalk and looked up just in time to see three motorbikes (on the sidewalk) bearing down on me. I got out of that stream, fast.
            Yes, the surprise of a lifetime was meeting the people, and especially the people who cook the food. Did I say FOOD? Vietnam has been occupied by the Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, French, and Americans, at least, and each country has had major influence in the kitchen. The French baguette is a street food; cheeses, honey, jams, spring rolls, vegetable dishes, noodles abound. The “egg coffee” is sort of a caffeine pudding in a cup. The breaded, fried, whole delicious fish arrives standing on its side in a metal rack. There are so many fruits in this tropical country—sopsour, gac, dragonfruit—fruit I'd never heard of much less tasted. It's a feast for the eye and the stomach.
            I loved it all, but the treat, for me, was the serving of rice: all shades and preparation of yellow (earth), green (plant), red (fire), white (metal), and black (water), each color representing an element. At Propaganda bistro in Saigon, a busy bright restaurant buzzing during one lunch hour, I ate crunchy red rice with slivers of vegetables and shrimp. It was divine. The Vietnamese add fish sauce to nearly everything, it seems. It is an acquired, pungent taste—and aroma—of fermented fish or anchovy, and among the chili, garlic, ginger, and other saucey sauces of Vietnam, it's the one.
            I leave you with my version of Com Do. But I'm afraid the only time I'll taste that kind of heaven again is to get in the plane, and go! Vietnamese Red Rice (Com Do)

4 1/2 cups cooked long-grain white rice
3 tablespoons butter
3 large cloves garlic, finely minced
1 to 2 shallots, chopped (about ½ cup)
4 tablespoons tomato paste
1/3 cup of dry white wine or vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon white pepper
2 tablespoons fish sauce (optional)
1 cup chopped shrimp, pork, chicken, or beef (optional)
½ parsley or mint, finely chopped for garnish (optional)

Put the cooked rice in a bowl and leave in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least a day to dry out. The rice must be dry or it may stick together and get mushy. Separate the grains mid-way through the day to dry evenly.
Let rice come to room temperature before frying. Melt butter in a non-stick skillet at medium-high heat until foamy and add garlic, shallots, tomato paste, wine, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir for two minutes.
Add rice to the mixture and toss with two forks lightly to coat. Continue frying over medium-high heat for two to three minutes—or longer, cook and toss until rice is dry and crunchy. Turn off and let rice set. Add more salt and butter, to taste.
​Serves four, in bowls. Sprinkle a bit of chopped parsley or mint on top. And pass the fish sauce—a little goes a long way! MISSION IMPROBABLE: VIETNAM
Genre:  mystery
Release Date: June 29

It’s 2003, 30 years after the Vietnam War…

Blanche “Bang” Murninghan is sitting on the dock of the Peel ‘n Eat Pier on Santa Maria Island, sipping an excellent draft. She doesn’t see the woman eyeing her—not until she appears at Blanche’s side and forever disrupts a peaceful idyll in this quiet Gulf coast town. Blanche's reputation as an amateur sleuth has gotten around...

The woman is Jean McMahon, the daughter of an American soldier and a Vietnamese beauty. Jean needs Blanche's “determination.” Will Blanche go to Vietnam and help Jean look for her mother? The request hits Blanche hard. Her father was killed in Vietnam, and she’s never gotten over it.

When Blanche and Jean meet ex-pat “Stick” Dahlkamp in Ho Chi Minh City, the adventure ramps up—fast. They board Stick's motorcycle and cross rice paddies, his old stomping grounds as a former Ninth Infantry Division Riverine. But Stick is now owner of The Follies, a popular bar in Saigon, and he'd got friends everywhere who might help, and indeed they do. And don’t.

Shady characters keep hampering the search, but Blanche and company race on—to all the places Jean's mother met Hank McMahon, a former infantryman. Blanche's stubbornness beats down every door. She is helping Jean, and she's following her father’s trail. He left without a trace. Or did he?

Pre-Order/Buy Link:

Amazon: www.amazon.com/Mission-Improbable-Vietnam-Blanche-Murninghan-ebook/dp/B09TWP8VXX
B&N:  www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mission-improbable-nancy-nau-sullivan-ms/1139300995
BooksAMillion:  www.booksamillion.com/p/Mission-Improbable/Nancy-Nau-Sullivan/9781611534283 

Nancy Nau Sullivan's Mission Improbable: Vietnam is the third installment in the Blanche Murninghan mystery series—the first, Saving Tuna Street was nominated for best mystery, 2020, at Foreword Reviews. Nancy, a former newspaper journalist, taught English in Mexico, Argentina, and at a boys' prison. She lives in Northwest Indiana and Anna Maria Island, Florida.

Her website: www.nancynausullivan.com.

Join the Coffee Chat with Cozy Mystery Writer Kassandra Lamb

Good Morning, Booklovers!

It is a hot and humid day in the Midwest! As soon as our chat is over, I'll be retreating into the AC. Before it gets to hot on the deck, please join me in welcoming guest author Kassandra Lamb and her featured cozy mystery, TO BARK OR NOT TO BARK.

So glad you could be with us, Kassandra. What may I get you to drink?

KL:  Sadly, I can’t drink coffee. It doesn’t agree with my stomach. I drink tea instead, no milk, half teaspoon of sugar.

Ally: I'll have that tea ready in a jiffy. Meanwhile, please tell readers something about yourself.

BIO:

In her youth, Kassandra Lamb had two great passions—psychology and writing. Advised that writers need day jobs—and being partial to eating—she studied psychology. Her career as a psychotherapist and college professor taught her much about the dark side of human nature, but also much about resilience, perseverance, and the healing power of laughter.
​
Now retired, she spends most of her time in an alternate universe populated by her fictional characters. The portal to this universe (aka her computer) is located in North Central Florida where her husband and dog catch occasional glimpses of her.  ​Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I owned a small horse farm in Maryland, before we retired to Florida. I loved that place—but the promise of palm trees and mild winters lured me away."

Author Links:

WEBSITE: https://kassandralamb.com
FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/kassandralambauthor 
PINTEREST:  https://www.pinterest.com/kassandralamb/ 
INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/kasslamb/ 
TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/KassandraLamb 
BOOKBUB PROFILE:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kassandra-lamb 
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Kassandra-Lamb/e/B006NB5WAI/ ​ INTERVIEW:
 
Ally: Who or what inspired your featured book?
 
KL:  To Bark or Not to Bark is the last full-length novel (Book 12) in my Marcia Banks and Buddy cozy mysteries. Marcia trains service dogs for military veterans with psychological issues, and sometimes the veterans get into some kind of trouble and she gets sucked into trying to help them.
I try to highlight different dog breeds with each story. I’ve always been fond of Border Collies, so I figured it was now or never to feature one in the series.
I also like to show different tasks that these service dogs do for their veteran owners. Just before I started this current book, I was reading an article about dogs that “cleared rooms” for veterans who were phobic about being ambushed (after having been ambushed in combat). The dog would go into a room first and signal if there was anyone in the space. Since dogs have a great sense of smell, even if someone is hiding, they will locate them. This allowed these vets to slowly overcome their phobia.
I decided that task would be the focal point of this story. And just to make my fictional veteran’s life more complicated, I threw in a locked-room mystery and made his house haunted.
Border Collies are considered the smartest dog breed, which was a good thing, because clearing rooms is a hard task for these dogs to learn. I show how the task is broken down into smaller tasks for training purposes in the previous book in the series, One Flew Over the Chow-Chow’s Nest.
 
Ally:   Are you self-published or traditionally published? How did you make the decision?
 
KL:  I am indie published. I co-own a small indie press, misterio press, that operates as an author cooperative. The authors share their talents—editing, proofreading, etc.—and help each other polish their stories to make them the best they can be.
When I was considering which route to take to publication, my age was the biggest factor. I was 59 when I finally finished editing my first book (it took me 15 years to complete the first draft), and I felt it was ready for the world to see. It takes several years to get published if you follow the traditional route: time to find an agent, for them to sell it to a publisher, for the publisher’s editors to look it over, etc. I didn’t want to wait that long. Now I’m 69 and I have 33 stories published.
 
Ally:  Do you write from an outline?
 
KL:  Not exactly. Mostly I write “by the seat of my pants.” I have a story idea, I mull it over for a while, and then I sit down and start writing.
But recently I’ve been brainstorming a list of plot points before I start writing. I try to come up with at least 20 events that will happen in the story. Then as I write, I can refer back to that list if I get stuck.
 
Ally:   Are you a speed reader or do you settle in and savor a book?
 
KL:  I’ve always been a slow reader. In grade school, it confused my teachers because it took me twice as long to finish reading a story, but I have a very high retention rate. They could ask me any question about what happened, and I’d know the answer. I am still very much a savor-the-story person.
 
Ally:   What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
KL:  The story I’m currently drafting is the 2nd book in a new series about a female chief of police in a small city who likes to be hands-on with the bigger cases that come up. It’s called the C.o.P. on the Scene Mysteries. I’m really enjoying the new challenge of writing police procedurals. I hope to have that book, Fatal Escape, out by early fall.
Then I’ll be focusing on the very last book in the Marcia Banks and Buddy series, a novella called Auld Lang Mayfair, which will be a what-are-they-up-to now kind of story (with a mystery in there as well, of course). I hope to have that out by December, but no later than January 1st, since it is set during the week leading up to New Year’s Eve.
 
Ally:  Which of the trivia questions did you choose to answer?
 
KL: memorable book you’ve read: Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine by Bebe Moore Campbellan item on your bucket list: Visit Australia and New ZealandIf you were a color, what would it be and why?  Peach; vibrant, yet soft.If you couldn't write anymore, what would you do? Travel more.How long does it take you to write a book? First book, 15 years. Fifth book, 1 week (on a writers’ retreat). All the rest, 2-4 months. ;-)​ Ally: It has been a pleasure, Kassandra. As we wind up the interview, please show us your featured book. To Bark or Not to Bark (A Marcia Banks and Buddy Mystery #12)
Genre: cozy mystery
​
Just because you’re paranoid...
 
Service dog trainer Marcia Banks-Haines tackles a locked room mystery in a haunted house, while training the recipient of her latest dog.
 
The border collie, Dolly has been trained to clear rooms for an agoraphobic Marine who was ambushed in a bombed-out building in Syria. But the phantom attackers in his psyche turn out to be the least of his troubles when Marcia finds his ex-wife’s corpse in his master bedroom, with the door bolted from the inside.
 
Was it suicide or murder? Marcia can’t see her client as a killer, but the local sheriff can.
 
Then the Marine reports hearing his ex calling for him to join her on the other side of the grave. Is his house really haunted, or is he hallucinating?
 
Marcia has lost a client to suicide before. She’s not going to lose another!


Buy Links:
 
AMAZON:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3WNQY1Z
NOOK:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-bark-or-not-to-bark-a-marcia-banks-and-buddy-mystery-kassandra-lamb/1141653124
APPLE:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6442979080
KOBO:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/to-bark-or-not-to-bark-a-marcia-banks-and-buddy-mystery
Landing page link on misterio press website:  https://misteriopress.com/bookstore/to-bark-or-not-to-bark-a-marcia-banks-and-buddy-mystery/

Author Interview & Debut Book Release by Elizabeth A Gould

Good Morning, Booklovers!

Sorry for the late start this morning. We had to wait for the rain to pass, but I've wiped off the deck chairs now, and we're ready to greet this week's guest, Elizabeth A. Gould, with her featured women's fiction novel, The Well of Truth.

Welcome, Elizabeth. How do you take your coffee?

EG:  I love a good cafe latte- 2 shots of espresso with steamed whole milk. No sugar.

Ally:  An easy order for my magic pot. While I pour our drinks, please tell readers something about yourself. About the Author:

ELIZABETH GOULD has long been  fascinated  with  feminine  archetypes, mythology, and rites of passage. She has taught and mentored girls at puberty and is the former director of a nonprofit dedicated to positive menstrual/menopausal education. She holds a BA in Art History from Stanford University and an MS in Education from State University of New York.

Something unusual/unique not included in your regular bio: "I am an avid moon worshipper."
 
Author Contacts:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewelloftruthstories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewelloftruthstories/?hl=en
My website: https://www.elizabethagouldstories.com/
INTERVIEW :
 
Ally:  Are you self-published or traditionally published?  
 
EG:  My publisher is Spark Press, which is an independent, hybrid, curated publisher. They are a mission-driven, community-oriented and female run company. How cool is that?! I’ve loved working with them.
 
Ally:  Do people you know sneak into your books as characters?

EG:  I cannot tell a lie. I have based certain characters on people that I have known in real life. Of course, I change the names and the setting so that no one knows but me!
​​
Ally:  Do you write from an outline?
 
EG:  “The Well of Truth” is a magical realist tale. Because I wanted the stories to have a fantastical quality to them, I sketched out the basic storyline and then sat back and let my imagination go!  It was such a fun way to write this book - I never knew what would happen next!
 
Ally:  What is your favorite marketing tool? Why?

EG:  The very best marketing tool. I have are my friends, and I’m a big believer in the power of the word-of-mouth approach. I am not a huge social media person, but I love talking with my girlfriends, who are all so creative, generous and supportive of me - I don’t know what I’d do without them.
 
Ally:  Have you co-authored a story or novel? How did it work? Would you do it again?
 
EG:  I’ve never co-authored a story before but I am just about to embark on a book writing project with my 12-year-old niece. We are going to write a YA novel together while she’s on summer vacation.
 
Ally:  Which of the trivia questions did you select to answer?
 
EG:book you're currently reading:  Antigone Rising by Helen Moralesa movie you’ll always remember: “The Piano” directed by Jane Campiontype of music you prefer: There’s something about Celtic music that gets right into my bones. I love traditional Irish music and also Celtic rock/fusion.your pets: My furbaby Fluffy sat on my lap for most of the  writing and editing of the book. She is a Maltese mix and such a sweetheart. beach lover or snow skier? Born and raised in coastal California, I am a beach lover all the way! My astrology chart is full of water signs, so I come by it honestly! Ally:  It has been a pleasure meeting you, Elizabeth. Before we end this session of the Coffee Chat, please show us your featured book.


The Well of Truth: Stories of Spirit by Elizabeth A Gould
Genre: women’s fiction/debut novel
Release date: June 14, 2022, SparkPress
 
 Incorporating elements of fantasy, mysticism, and lore, The Well of Truth follows Grace through poignant moments of her adult life as she embarks on her journey of self-discovery. Through the initiations of marriage, raising children, getting divorced, going through menopause, losing loved ones, and ultimately making an independent life for herself, she gains insight and spiritual wisdom from unexpected places. 
 
 A novel of the feminine experience, The Well of Truth is filled with reflections on feminine resilience, power, and agency.
 
“Entertaining and psychologically perceptive, this collection produces magic, while bringing us a larger vision of daily life.”  Susan Griffin, author of Woman and Nature
 


Pre-order/Buy Links: 

www.amazon.com/Well-Truth-Stories-Spirit-ebook/dp/B09CCSFGQW
​
https://bookshop.org/books/the-well-of-truth-stories-of-spirit/9781684631391

Harini Nagendra's New Historical Mystery is Set in 1920s India

Good Morning, Booklovers!
 
It’s finally June, and the perfect time to move back to the deck for our weekly chats. While we enjoy a nice morning breeze, join me in welcoming author Harini Nagendra with her historical mystery set in 1920s India.

I’m so pleased to meet you, Harini. What can I get you to drink?
 
HN:  My favourite cup of choice is tea made Indian style, with milk and sugar, and often ginger as well. My husband makes it for me every morning - he makes the best tea! I’m usually grumpy in the mornings, but I cheer up once I drink my first cuppa.
 
Ally:  We’ll see if my magic pot can compete with that husband of yours! 😊 In the meantime, please tell readers something about yourself. Bio:
 
Harini Nagendra is a professor of ecology at Azim Premji University, and is internationally recognized for her scholarship and speaking on issues of nature and sustainability. The Bangalore Detectives Club is her first crime fiction novel.
Her nonfiction books include Nature in the City: Bengaluru in the Past, Present and Future, and two books coauthored with Seema Mundoli: So Many Leaves, and Cities and Canopies: Trees in Indian Cities, which received the 2020 Publishing Next Awards for best English nonfiction book in India and was featured on the 2021 Green Literature Festival’s honor list.
Harini lives in Bangalore with her family, in a home filled with maps. She loves trees, mysteries, and traditional recipes.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I wanted to be an archeologist when I was younger! I guess I’ve now found a different way to indulge my fascination with the past, through fiction.”
 
Author Contacts:
 
Personal website: www.harininagendra.com
University website: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/people/harini-nagendra
Twitter: @HariniNagendra
Instagram: @harini.nagendra
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008345929330
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harini-nagendra-22a95686/  
INTERVIEW :
 
Ally: Who or what inspired your featured book?
 
HN:  My main protagonist, Kaveri – a young bride in 1920s colonial Bangalore, navigating the societal strictures imposed on women of those times while striving to pursue her interests in mathematics, swimming and detection – quite literally parachuted into my head one day in 2007 and demanded I write a book about her. Kaveri’s quiet but assured feminist voice is uniquely hers and formed the core voice around which my book was architected.
 
Ally:  What is the easiest—or the hardest—part of writing for you? Explain.
 
HN:  The hardest part is the beginning. I get nervous when I think of how improbable a thing it is that I am attempting – to create an entire narrative out of thin air, so to speak. I’m very comfortable with non-fiction writing, especially since so much of it is based on my own research and covers ground that I know well. But once I hush my inner voice of doubt and start to write, and imagination takes over, when my fingers start to type almost as if of their own volition, and a story begins to emerge - that’s the part I love the best.
 
Ally:  Do you use critique groups or beta readers? Do you find them valuable?
 
HN:  My husband and daughter are my best beta readers. I rely a lot on their feedback – they know my characters and their personalities like no one else does. I also depend on my fabulous agent who is also a close friend from school days – Priya Doraswamy of Lotus Lane Literary. Between inputs from her and my family, I’m well set! I don’t think I could handle reading chapters to a critique group as many writers do – my first writing is very raw and rough. I need to get the whole book done and a few rounds of edits complete before I’m comfortable showing it to anyone else.
 
Ally: Why did you choose writing as a career? Is it your only career, or do you have a “day” job?
 
HN:  I have a very full “day” job as a university professor, research administrator, teacher and academic. My day job also involves a great deal of writing, but on ecology and climate change, which are my core areas of research. I wouldn’t say I chose writing as a career – writing chose me, and I’m very grateful that I can spend time doing something I love so much.
 
Ally:  Do you read reviews of your books? Do you respond to them? Are you affected by them?
 
HN:  Feedback from readers is invaluable! I do read reviews, but I never respond to them. As a career academic, and someone who writes regularly for newspapers and other public outlets, I’m very used to review feedback from peers and readers. While I love positive feedback (who doesn’t!) the tone of negative feedback doesn’t really bother me too much. I do pay close attention to plot points or characters that especially resonated with readers – and I make note of what I could improve on for next time.
 
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
HN:  My next book is the second in the Kaveri and Ramu series: Murder Under the Red Moon, forthcoming in March 2023. Will Kaveri be able to repair her fractured relationship with her opinionated mother-in-law, or will it get worse as she dives deeper into crime detection? Read and find out J
 
Ally:  Which of the trivia questions did you choose to answer?
 
HN:
an author (living or dead) you'd love to chat with: Robin Hobb, my all-time favourite authorfavorite accessory (jewelry, scarves, shoes, etc.): large sparkly earringsfavorite comfort food: my husband’s egg biriyaniIf you were a color, what would it be and why? Sunset orange – it’s such a happy colour!have you written a book during NaNo? I wrote a draft of a cosy mystery set in contemporary Bangalore in 2020 during NaNo. I hope to edit and publish that – some day!Ally: Thanks for being on the blog, Harini. Before we finish the interview, please show us your featured book.
The Bangalore Detectives Club
Genre: historical mystery
PG-13

The first in a charming, joyful crime series set in 1920s Bangalore, featuring sari-wearing detective Kaveri and her husband Ramu. Perfect for fans of Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.
 
When clever, headstrong Kaveri moves to Bangalore to marry handsome young doctor Ramu, she’s resigned herself to a quiet life.
 
But that all changes the night of the party at the Century Club, where she escapes to the garden for some peace and quiet—and instead spots an uninvited guest in the shadows. Half an hour later, the party turns into a murder scene.
 
When a vulnerable woman is connected to the crime, Kaveri becomes determined to save her and launches a private investigation to find the killer, tracing his steps from an illustrious brothel to an Englishman’s mansion. She soon finds that sleuthing in a sari isn’t as hard as it seems when you have a talent for mathematics, a head for logic, and a doctor for a husband . . .
 
And she’s going to need them all as the case leads her deeper into a hotbed of danger, sedition, and intrigue in Bangalore’s darkest alleyways.
 
Buy links:
https://bookshop.org/books/the-bangalore-detectives-club/9781639361595
https://www.amazon.com/Bangalore-Detectives-Club-Novel/dp/1639361596/

The Dead Betray None (A Viscount Ware Mystery) by J L Buck

New Release!

The Dead Betray None (A Viscount Ware Mystery)
Genre: Historical Mystery (Regency)
​Release date: July 12, 2022

England 1811. When an earl’s heir with a secret past and a fashionable lady come face-to-face over a dead body, a stolen cipher and a missing letter set them on the trail of cutthroats and spies.

1811 England seethes with discontent. A self-indulgent prince regent sits on the throne of a country at war with France, on the brink of war with America, and facing growing rebellion at home.
 
Lucien, Viscount Ware, recently home after four years on the Continent as a spy for England, finds life in the haute ton tedious. He secretly agrees to handle a few delicate matters for the Crown's private spy unit at Whitehall. A housebreaking at a country houseparty seems a strange assignment until he discovers that a French cipher, the key to Napoleon's war codes, was among the stolen items. As he follows its trail to London's notorious rookeries and into its glittering ballrooms, he faces a growing threat of treachery from more than one direction.
Lady Anne Ashburn missed her London season while caring for her invalid mother in the north country. A new nurse allows her to visit relatives, where she becomes embroiled in a blackmail plot. To avoid a terrible scandal, she goes to London to face down the scoundrel threatening her family.
 
The night of the elegant Christmastide Ball, Lucien finds Lady Anne standing over a corpse. What happens after that—the risks they take, the intrusion of a notorious crime lord, society gossip, and good intentions gone awry—sends them spiraling into danger and potential disaster for England’s war effort.
 
An ever twisting plot sure to keep you turning the pages.

Purchase links:

​Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Betray-None-J-Buck-ebook/dp/B09VM9RSS9 
B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dead-betray-none-j-l-buck/1141104585 
Kobo:   www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-dead-betray-none
​Google Books:  https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Dead_Betray_None/TKi4zgEACAAJ?hl=en 
Booktopia:  https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-dead-betray-none-j-l-buck/ebook/9781942078913.html 
Target (PB):  https://www.target.com/p/the-dead-betray-none-by-j-l-buck-paperback/-/A-86100637 
Walmart (PB):  https://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Dead-Betray-None-Paperback-9781942078906/710102163?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0 Opening excerpt:  

November 1811
​
The thundering hooves of swiftly moving horses echoed through the dense fog. Lucien Grey, Viscount Ware, feathered his pair of blood bays around the sharp curve, the curricle’s wheels slipping briefly on the wet road. The encroaching trees opened onto a broad misty park, revealing the familiar Doric columns of Baron Sherbourne’s yellow-and-gray sandstone manor. Despite the dismal morning, the estate held good memories for Lucien, and a fleeting smile crossed his lips.

Easing the bays to the left toward the stable yard, he brought the light carriage to a halt, and Finn slipped off the back to run to the horses’ heads. The high bred team danced in place, snorting at the abrupt end to the journey, their hot breath forming tiny clouds in the icy air.

Lucien leapt to the ground, his top boots squishing the sodden maple leaves blown over the cobblestones. He tossed the reins to his groom. “Be good to them, Finn. They earned it.”

“Aye, m’lord.” The small man, somewhere in his thirties, but not much over five feet tall nor eight stone, gave his master a toothy grin and flipped a shock of reddish-brown hair out of his eyes. “Sev’teen mile in a’ hour an’ a bit more. They be getting oats an’ barley for sure.”

Lucien nodded casual approval and yanked off his leather driving gloves, using them to brush at the dried road dust on his multi-caped greatcoat. A burst of rain and sleet from the same storm that must have blown through the baron’s estate had caught him on the Great North Road from London.

With a final slap of the gloves, he abandoned the futile effort to make himself presentable and strode toward the country house, his lean, muscled frame moving with the ease of a man used to action. A twinge of disquiet returned a frown to his face, and his eyes narrowed. Four years of clandestine missions in the glittering courts and ballrooms of the Continent—their elegant setting no less deadly than the wretched battlefields—had taught him to trust his instincts, and something was off the mark about this assignment. A part of him had known it since Lord Rothe’s man came pounding on his door before dawn.

Lucien’s nostrils flared in the cool breeze. Why was he sent to investigate a country housebreaking? Rothe had failed to tell him something about the theft, something vital that had captured Whitehall's rapt attention. Lucien had sensed an undertone of anxiety in the habitually composed Marquess of Rothe, the man in charge of the Crown's secret spies.

 What the devil had Prinny’s War Office gotten him into this time?

Only one way to find out. Join my release blog tour!
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Fantasy Author Kath Marsh's Venture Into Self-Publishing

​Good Morning, Booklovers!
 
I'm not doing a regular interview today. My guest on this rainy day in May is Kath Marsh, my critique partner, who writes YA and middle-grade fantasy. She is here to talk about her recent venture into self-publishing and her new YA release, Ascent from Hell: The Blood Angel. 

Welcome, Kath. The blog is yours.
 
KM:  I know you’re a coffee aficionado. Could you pour some of your good coffee over ice?
 
Ally:  Sure thing. Coming right up. Carry on! I’m so excited to visit the blog today. I just uploaded my very first Young Adult novel! Ascent from Hell: the Blood Angel.

I know the title sounds scary serious. While my protagonist Abdriel is a pretty bent demon, i can’t write without humor. What does a fierce High Demon do when Blood Angel wings appear and they have a mind of their own? You’d think things would go smoothly once you escape Hell. Think again. Nothing is easy on Earth for a High Demon who changes into the mythical Blood Angel, and becomes the target for both the Dread Lord from Hell, and the Hunter Angels.
 
Ascent from Hell is my first fully independently published book. I had thought about going independent for a while. When Covid closed down my former Publisher- CBAY Books, it was time. My publisher returned the rights of my two Middle Grade novels ( The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard, and Dragon Bonded) and the three short ebooks: Bubbles and Smush: Closet Monsters, Trick or Treats, and Dragon Rescue. She encouraged me to create new covers and upload my books back on Amazon. So I started with the two Bumblespells novels.
 
Well, first I took an online class on self-publishing from P. J. Hoover. Since the whole formatting a book thing left me shaking, I took P.J.’s advice and purchased the computer program Vellum. Which does the work to get the files formatted for Amazon and several other publishing programs- like Kobo. Yay!
 
The next big stumbling block for me was the whole book cover thing. I’m no artist. Ally and my author/artist friend Jill Bauer gave me directions to Canva and free stock photos. I found images that Jill put together into covers. It ended up being fun, except when I used a ‘coloring’ page for one image and it took me four tries and a whole day to color the image. I should have hired a first grader.
 
Because I am an enthusiastic photographer, I used one of my sunrise photos with a free image of black wings overlaid for the Blood Angel book. I used the free photograph manipulation program Gimp to put the sunrise and the wings together. Oh, and I had to convert .pngs and .jpegs back and forth. There are lots of free online programs that do that!
 
Since the books CBAY Books had published were already copyrighted, in my name, I only had to register the Blood Angel book. Easy peasy. Copyright.gov. Slowly go step by step. Really. I went too fast on one section and checked off Afghanistan as my country of citizenship instead of USA. Geesh.
 
I know I’m an author, but while my books were not available after CBAY closed, I didn’t feel like one. I do once again! YAY!
 
You can find Ascent from Hell: The Blood Angel here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B27F473Q/
 
Kath/ Kath Marsh
kathbmarsh@gmail.com
kath-LettersfromEarth.blogspot,com
kathboydmarshauthor.com

Author Donna Schlachter Interview and Short Story Anthology

Good Morning, Booklovers!
 
Join me in welcoming back women’s fiction writer Donna Schlachter, bringing us a new anthology release in women's fiction/romance, Sweet Sprinkles, including her short story, "Zero Guilt Calories."
 
Nice to see you, Donna. Remind me how you take your coffee.
 
DS:  I like it strong (not bitter) with half-and-half or whipping cream.
 
Ally:  Of course, now I recall. While I grab our drinks, tell readers a little about yourself. Bio:
 
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 50 times in books; is a member of several writers’ groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; ghostwrites; edits; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio.  “I started writing children’s stories, greeting cards, magazine articles, and poems because I thought shorter would be easier. Wrong.” 😊
 
Author Contacts:
www.DonnaSchlachter.com Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!
www.DonnaSchlachter.com/blog
Check out previous blog posts at www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com and www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter
Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-schlachter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C&query=donna+schlachter
INTERVIEW :
 
Ally: Who or what inspired your short story in the anthology?
 
DS:  I was intrigued by the concept of a clean and sweet romance for moms. I’d never written such a book before, and wanted to know if I could. I could, and I did. I love my characters. Watch for a couple of more stories featuring this same couple coming up soon.
 
Ally:  Are you self-published or traditionally published? How did you make the decision?
 
DS:  I am a hybrid author, in that I am both indie and traditionally published. I fell into that because while waiting for a traditional publisher to come along and fulfill all my publishing dreams (snicker snicker), I had so many stories clamoring to be written. Rather than wait, I wrote and published these stories on my own.
 
Ally:  Do people you know sneak into your books as characters?
 
DS:  Yes, and even people I don’t know sometimes sneak in. One time, I met two couples on a cruise who I knew had to be in a book. We’d traded contact information, so I emailed them and asked if they’d be willing to be suspects in a mystery. They were thrilled! And sometimes I overhear a conversation that I must include, even though I don’t know the person.
 
Ally:  Have you done any ghostwriting? Tell us about your experience.
 
DS:  I have ghostwritten several books, memoirs mostly, including my father’s life story. That was a joy to present to him before he passed. I’ve had mostly good experiences. Funny, though, the one bad experience was writing a novel for an author. He didn’t like the fact that my initial draft had too many commas, so he complained and I gave him a full refund. Another less than stellar experience involved a difference in opinion as to what the story should be about. The author wanted a police-bashing story, and I wanted to show how God had worked in the lives of him and his siblings. I don’t think either author has published their book yet. I’m always willing to look at a ghostwriting project, but I have to be passionate about the message to take it on.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
DS:  My next project is in the “Reclusive Man” series, release date September 2022. I have several more coming out between then and the end of this year and even into early 2023.
 
Ally:  Which of the trivia questions did you answer today?
 
DS: 
book you're currently reading: The Cat Who Talked To Ghosts by Lilian Jackson Braunmost watched tv show: Murdoch Mysteries. Or Midsomer Murders. Or maybe NCISmost beloved comic book character: Charlie Brown. Especially the Christmas show.Ally: Thanks for visiting again, Donna. Since our time is almost up for today, please show us your featured book, Sweet Sprinkles, including your own short story, “Zero Guilt Calories.”



​Sweet Sprinkles (A Limited Collection of Short Stories)
Genre: Anthology: Contemporary romance/women’s fiction/Mom lit
Rating: G
 
This anthology includes short stories from several authors. Donna’s Schlachter’s story is entitled, “Zero Guilt Calories.”
 
How far would you go if you thought you were losing the love of your life?
 
Christina MacAulay is certain her husband is having an affair on her and their three children. How could he? What was wrong with her?
James MacAulay has noticed a change in his wife lately. And she’s been hanging around that chemist from two doors down. Was something going on between them?
 
Buy Link:
 
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Sprinkles-Collection-Jennifer-Miller-ebook/dp/B09KTB32B3

BJ Magnani’s Fourth Career is a Winner for Mystery Readers

​Good Morning, Booklovers!
 
We are hot, hot, hot in the Midwest, going from late winter temps to the 90s overnight. But I’m happy to say, we’re on the deck for the first time this year. Draw up a chair, and meet this week’s guest author, BJ Magnani, with her featured medical thriller/suspense novel, A Message in Poison.
 
Welcome, BJ. How do you take your coffee?
 
BJM:  French vanilla roast, light with no sugar
 
Ally:  While I fix our drinks, please tell readers something about your background. Bio:
 
Dr. BJ Magnani is on her 4th career. After college, she became a high school and college teacher, obtained an M.S. & Ph.D., worked as a scientist, and then returned to medical school to become a pathologist. Now, writing fiction is her primary passion.
 
The former Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA, Dr. Magnani, is currently Professor of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology/Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and uses her knowledge of toxicology to create medical fiction.
 
Something unique/unusual that isn’t in your regular bio:  “I have two Martin guitars. I bought one when I was in college and then bought another five years ago—the one I couldn’t afford as a student. I thought it would be sweeter, but the one I scrimped and saved for when I was young is still my favorite.”
 
Author Contacts:
Website: Home | BJ Magnani 
@bjmagnani / Twitter
info@encirclepub.com
BJ Magnani | Facebook
Barbarajean Magnani PhD, MD | LinkedIn
BJ Magnani Books - BookBub INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Who or what inspired your featured book?
 
BJM:  All my stories are inspired by events I find in the news that could create catastrophic problems for the world if set into motion—mass poisonings, threatening missile launches, and control of geopolitical resources. I find these scenarios much scarier than traditional horror stories. My stories are in the realm of global possibilities.
 
A Message in Poison is the third novel in the Dr. Lily Robinson series about a Boston physician who doubles as an assassin for the U.S. Government and completes Lily’s personal arc, while taking on a new geopolitical mission.
           
The first book in the series, The Queen of All Poisons, provided the background to the characters who were first introduced in the short story collection, Lily Robinson and the Art of Secret Poisoning (initially, I was asked to write flash fiction for a scientific journal to educate readers on poisons, and I created Dr. Lily Robinson who has an encyclopedic knowledge of poisons.)  The second novel, The Power of Poison, continued the story from the first book but with a new mission for Lily.
 
Ally:  Are you self-published or traditionally published? How did you make the decision?
 
BJM: I am published by a small indie press, Encircle Publications, located in Farmington, Maine. I enjoy working directly with the publisher. Working with a company that knows the business helps new authors, and as an author, I get to provide input into my book covers and marketing, making it fun.
 
Ally:  Do you use critique groups or beta readers? Do you find them valuable?
 
BJM:  I’m lucky to have several beta readers. I ask these people for honest feedback—what works, what doesn’t work, what captures their emotions, and what they love about the new book. I take the feedback to heart. I see if it makes sense and then find ways to clarify and make the story richer.
 
Ally:  Why did you choose writing as a career? Is it your only career, or do you have a “day” job?
 
BJM:  I was a full-time academic pathologist when I started writing fiction seriously. I loved my job, but after chairing an outstanding department at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston for many years, I decided to step down and focus on writing fiction full-time. Life is short, and you should do what makes you happy. I’m happy.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
BJM:  I am currently working on several projects: Book 4 in the Dr. Lily Robinson series, a stand-alone medical romance, and I’m enjoying writing The Poison Blog, which is posted on my website, The Poison Blog | BJ Magnani
There’s also a Lily Robinson story in an anthology, Eccentric Circles, that was released in February 2022. Eccentric Circles: Short Stories: Volume 1: Brackett-Vincent, Cynthia: 9781645993469: Amazon.com: Books
 
Ally:  Which of the trivia questions did you choose to answer?
 
BJM: an item on your bucket list: Before the pandemic, I had a ticket to Iceland to see the aurora borealis, the Skogafoss waterfall, and Vatnajokull National Park. I hope to get there soon.favorite accessory (jewelry, scarves, shoes, etc.):  Stiletto heels or any fashionable high heels. I love shoes.favorite comfort food: chocolate (what’s not to love)favorite quote:  “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle).best place you’ve ever visited: the island of Bora Bora Ally:  I see our time is up for today. Thank you very much for visiting the blog, BJ. Before we finish, please show us you featured novel. A Message in Poison (A Dr. Lily Robinson novel)
Genre: mystery/medical thriller/romantic suspense

Sparks fly as Dr. Lily Robinson, the brilliant academic pathologist and covert assassin for the U.S. Government, investigates two seemingly unrelated deaths alongside her lover, Agent Jean Paul Marchand, and D.C. Medical Examiner Dr. Logan Pelletier.
 
A U.S. Senator and the president of a developing nation are found dead in their beds. As governments thousands of miles apart react to the fallout and begin their investigations, no one claims responsibility, and no motives are clear.

Yet, the cause of death implies a link between the two—one that only a mind versed in poisons and politics can decipher. With her personal relationships teetering on the brink and her loved ones facing foreign threats, Lily must unravel the mystery and uncover a plot more calculating than anyone could imagine—but it may be too late.

A Message in Poison, the third part of the Art of Secret Poisoning trilogy (The Queen of All Poisons and The Power of Poison), continues with twists and turns as Dr. Lily Robinson travels the globe, stares down death, and finds herself at “another crossroad, another choice between life real or imagined…”
 
Buy Link:
Amazon.com: A Message in Poison: A Dr. Lily Robinson Novel: 9781645993254: Magnani, Bj: Books

Women's Fiction Author Valerie G Miller Writes Stories of Hope

​
​Good Morning, Booklovers!
 
Gather round with your coffee or tea or other choice of drink and join me in welcoming Valerie G Miller with her featured short story anthology of women’s fiction, Everything in Between.
It’s nice to meet you, Valerie. How do you take your coffee?
 
VGM:  I make my coffee ground from beans and black or a Latte with almond milk.
 
Ally:  Why don’t we get you that latte this morning? While I fix our drinks, please introduce yourself to readers. Bio:
​
Valerie is an Australian author and English Teacher. Originally from Sydney, she now lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and daughter. Valerie completed a Master of Letters in Creative Writing in 2021. She writes women’s fiction, contemporary romance, magical realism stories and short stories. You will always find a novel and notebook filled with ideas and observations, tucked away in her handbag.
 
Something unique that isn’t in your regular bio: “I used to teach aerobics.”
Author Contacts:
 
Website: https://www.valeriegmiller.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeriegmillerwriter  @valeriegmiller-writer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valerieg.writer/ @valerieg.writer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/valeriegmiller @valeriegmiller
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/valeriegisellemiller  @valeriegmiller
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3rlYD2g
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Valerie-Miller/e/B09DQ7MSDJ
https://www.amazon.com/Valerie-Miller INTERVIEW:
 
Ally:  Who or what inspired your featured book?
 
VGM:  The stories are inspired by my Italian heritage and the Australian/Italian culture that formed my life. Most of the stories have a female point of view. I wanted to write stories that deal with the multitude of experiences we all face. I also wanted to show that hope shines bright too. These are stories about the resilience of the female spirit.
 
Ally:  Are you self-published or traditionally published? How did you make the decision?
 
VGM:  At the moment I’m self-published and will self-publish the romance series and novella I’m currently working on. I’m planning a 2023 launch. I also write standalone dual narrative women’s fiction with a love story and historical setting. My goal is to find a traditional publisher for these books. Therefore, I’m hoping to be a hybrid author.
 
VGM:  Do you use critique groups or beta readers? Do you find them valuable?
 
VGM:  I use beta readers. I find these are my ideal readers and give me a reader’s perspective. They have proven to be very valuable in my writing process.
 
Ally:  What's the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given?
VGM:  Read. Read in the genre you want to write in and read widely—all genres that interest you. I believe reading is an author’s professional development and it should have a significant place in an author’s process.
 
Ally:  What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
 
VGM:  I’m working on a romance series set in south-west Tasmania, Australia. The first book is an enemies-to-lovers romance. The plan is to release it in early 2023. I’m also currently working on a women’s fiction standalone novel set in Sydney in 1989 and 1964. It’s a novel that focuses on the need to belong and to find your place in the world. I don’t have a concrete release date yet.
 
Ally:  Which of the trivia questions did you choose to answer?
 
VGM:  See below.a. book you're currently reading: The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armasb. an author (living or dead) you'd love to chat with: Jane Austenc. a movie you’ll always remember: The Lake House with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reevesd. best place you’ve ever visited: Notting Hill in Londone.  beer at the bar or a book on the deck? A book on the deck (with a beer) can I sneak that in?Ally: It has been a pleasure to meet you, Valerie. Good luck with your books! Before we finish for today, please show us your featured anthology.
Everything in Between (A Short Story Anthology)
Genre: General Literature/Women’s Fiction
Rating: PG-13
 
Because life doesn’t always go to plan—
A heartfelt collection of short stories about family, loss and love, and those special moments in between . . .
 
Love
Sometimes the path to love requires learning to trust yourself. Other times, giving your heart to another demands that you risk everything. Then there’s an everlasting love that can only be truly appreciated by the memories left behind.
 
Family
A mother is missing and the secrets she’s been hiding have the power to change her family forever. A woman desperate to carry her own child finds solace in a visit with her grandmother, whose memory is fading.
 
Loss
A sad family occasion presents an opportunity for a reunion. And a woman must make a difficult choice after her father’s death to honour him—and herself.
 
From joy to loss and the discovery of hope that can be found in resilience, this exciting debut from women’s fiction author Valerie G Miller will touch your heart.
 

Book Trailer is on my website: valeriegmiller.com
 
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jwixDg
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/everything-in-between-7
Barnes and Nobel: https://bit.ly/3LZYVDJ