Diane Bator's Blog, page 33
February 5, 2022
The power of storytelling with Toastmaster and YA novelist, Mohammed Maxwel Hasan.
Welcome to Mohammed Maxwel Hasan! I had the priviledge of hearing Mohammed do a webinar for the Orangeville Public Library and thought it would be fun to learn more about him and his books!
If more people told exciting stories, the easier it would be to learn life's greatest lessons. After Mohammed Maxwel Hasan achieved the competent communicator status at Toastmasters and completed a creative writing course at the University of Toronto, he discovered the treasure trove of a well-crafted story. From organizing TEDx events to running youth programs, Mohammed found that the power of storytelling remains imperative for success.
Youtube: @Mohammed Maxwel Hasan
Twitter: @MohammedMaxwel
Instagram: @mohammedmaxwel
LinkedIn: Mohammed Maxwel Hasan
Facebook: @M. Maxwel Hasan
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
Understanding that the story is not for me, it's for the readers. As a writer, it's very easy to get cocooned and to get easily discouraged when others don't share that burning passion about your writer. You aren't the sun in the solar system, so don't make everything revolve around you.
Proper pacing served as a strength in both novellas. When transitions between chapters move seamlessly, readers don't get jolted or ask questions. Great design is invisible.
Believable dialogue was another high point. One of the quickest ways to break immersion is to have incongruent dialogue (would you call someone "bae" in a 1500 medieval roundtable?)
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
I aimed for a daily word count. There were days where that elusive number wasn't reached, I still wrote something (even if it was a line). If I couldn't run, I walked. If I couldn't walk, I crawled.
The only strict part of my routine was to have something done each day. If the process was too harsh, it would have drained the whimsicality of storytelling. Fall in love with the process, not the product.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
If this pandemic taught us anything, it's to take things one day at a time. I see myself continuously growing and who knows, maybe a filmmaker could approach me seeing how to adapt one of my stories to the screen.
If you could offer one piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
"Done is better than perfect, because perfect never gets done." The majestic feeling you get when you hold your book or see it on the shelves cannot be replicated. Don't let your stories wither away because of perfection.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?
Your writing inspired me to write my own novella.
What are you working on now?
The idea of a mystery novella percolated for some time. If there's interest from readers, I'd be happy to hear it.
STREET STAR
Amber is a homeless girl who wants to be an astronaut. Cruel life on the streets weighs on her relentless desire to break through the diamond sky. Desperate to avoid crossing moral lines to survive, Amber strives to find her place in space.
Buy Link: https://amzn.to/2NSFanS
CAN’T ESCAPE
Meet Oliver Masque, a lonely student caged by his constant search for belonging. His peers don't like him and his hope for acceptance dwindles day after day. When the largest annual public speaking competition begins, Oliver must decide to break free from his misery or continue walking in the shadows.
Buy link: https://amzn.to/2M16f6C
·
February 3, 2022
Exciting News! A new Wild Blue Mystery coming in March 2022!
It's been a while since I featured my books on here, so here we are. A new trend for a New Year. I'm planning to publish two books in 2022, the first of which comes out in March:
THE CONNED LADY
Book 5 in the Wild Blue Mystery Series
Eccentric romance novelist Mimsy Lexington has a secret. When she approaches Katie Mullins to help find details around her late husband’s death, Katie and her boyfriend Danny Walker are drawn into a web of lies and deceit. The deeper they dig, the more they realize the biggest dangers may lurk close to home and need to suspect everyone—including Mimsy.
Other books in the Wild Blue Mystery series:
Book 1: The Bookstore Lady
Danny Walker is tracking Paulina Chourney who is lucky to get out a bad situation before her boyfriend kills her. She arrives in a small town, changes her name, buys a bookstore and joins a local writing group to fade into anonymity. Until Danny Walker shows up and figures out who she is. When Danny disappears, she has to choose between spending her life on the run or standing up to face her past. Hopefully before the quirky townsfolk turn her death into a spectacle.
"I could visualize that bookstore, smell the coffee and pastries, and see the colorful characters. This book has lots of twists and turns, and I never knew who to trust, all the way to the end. I'll look for future books by this author." - Paul Carr
Book 2: The Mystery Lady
Wanna-be writer Lucy Stephen never wrote about murder until her husband moves out and she thinks some man in a blue car is stalking her, namely Danny Walker. When her husband and his girlfriend take her kids on vacation, Lucy discovers a hidden package of jewelry he desperately wants. The more she learns about the assorted pieces, the more Lucy realizes she may never see her kids again and needs to fight back with the help of the man who stalks her.
"Found the characters interesting and the story enjoyable. A nice cozy mystery." - Janet Walters
Book 3: The Bakery Lady
From the moment Leo Blue meets the tattoo artist 's sister Christina, he's drawn into a web of bread dough and lies. Christina Davidson has returned to Packham with a duffle bag full of secrets. Leo soon discovers her biggest secret is Christina's alter ego and her husband who stands accused of murdering an up-and-coming artist. He promises to help set things straight and plans to bring husband and wife together for Christmas—even if it costs him his sanity and the love of his life.
"Action, romance, suspense, and a killer. What more could you ask for. Really enjoyed the intrigue and the dialogue. Would love to meet Leo!" - Mary Ann O'Brien
Book 4: The Painted Lady
Leo Blue can't escape Packham nor the life of a private detective no matter how hard he tries. Six months after the murder of artist DJ Gage, the prices of Gage's paintings soar. When a woman winds up dead and a forgery is discovered in the local art gallery, Leo has to find a murderer and a forger. When people from Christina Davidson’s past turn up, her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble and the only one who can help her now is Leo.
"I really enjoyed this story. Christina and Leo are great characters and I was eager to see where there relationship would go from the last book, The Bakery Lady. Definitely worth getting." - Sonja11
To Buy My Books go HERE.
February 1, 2022
Andrea Johnson tells readers How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery
Welcome to cozy mystery author, Andrea J. Johnson!
Andrea J. Johnson is the author of the Victoria Justice Mysteries, a series of cozy courtroom whodunits (think Murder, She Wrote meets The Pelican Brief). She is also a freelance entertainment writer for the women’s lifestyle websites Popsugar and The List Daily. Moreover, she’s written several articles on the craft of writing for websites such as LitReactor, CrimeReads, Funds for Writers, and DIY MFA. Her education includes a copyediting certification from UC San Diego and an M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her latest book is the author instruction manual How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery. Visit Andrea at ajthenovelist.com or @ajthenovelist on Instagram and Twitter to learn more about her work.
Author Links:
Website: https://ajthenovelist.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ajthenovelist
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/andrea-j-johnson
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19764533.Andrea_J_Johnson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajthenovelist/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ajthenovelist/
Mailing List: https://ajthenovelist.com/sign-up/
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
Many people may be surprised to learn that long before I decided to become a writer and editor, I trained in machine stenography (also known as court reporting). The job involves capturing the verbatim transcript of a trial’s testimony using machine shorthand. To succeed in such a profession, one must master the rules of English — grammar, syntax, punctuation, capitalization, diction, et cetera. When I later received my copyediting certification and MFA, those skills were further enhanced in terms of the content, style, voice, and developmental issues writers face in the areas of revision. So, that’s my long-winded way of saying my strengths as an author are in the latter stages of the writing process, revision and editing.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
When I first started writing, I didn’t have a specific routine. I was one of those misguided people who believed they must be struck by the muse in order to get things done. While I was indeed able to get a book deal with this approach, what it actually led to was a lot of wasted down time and missed opportunities. So eventually, I took a writer productivity course with Becca Syme. She teaches that the strategies we develop to accomplish our writing goals should be based on our personal strengths. That is to say, if you’re a competitive extrovert with a Type-A personality, a daily writing habit may be just what the doctor ordered. But if you’re an introverted Type-B personality, setting a weekly word count goal you can do in one or two sittings, might be an easier way to maintain momentum than the daily habit. Either way, the key is to have a definitive system rather than winging it. Obviously, I am simplifying her philosophy; however, my point is that after taking the course, I discovered it was more efficient and effective to adopt a routine tailored to my personality. So for now, I rise at 5AM to do a couple hours of writing while my mind is at its peak because that’s what works best for me. I’m not as creative or focused after 4PM, so a daily writing habit that starts early yields optimal results.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
Currently, I write for the women’s lifestyle website Popsugar and run a private editing service for fiction writers, but I eventually plan to move away from those endeavors to write full-time as a hybrid author. I have been inspired by such artists as Elizabeth Spann Craig and James Scott Bell with hopes to shape an author platform similar to theirs. To that end, I have recently self-published the first book in my Writer Productivity series, How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery with other titles such as Mastering the Art of Suspense and How to Craft Killer Dialogue already on pre-order. I also seek to expand my traditionally published fiction series, the Victoria Justice Mysteries, and launch two new series in the romance genre.
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
Rather than give the standard advice people always give — read and write as much as you can — I will take a different tact. Because even though the aforementioned advice is key, there is an element to that statement that folks rarely articulate. And that’s the idea that if you’re going to be a writer, you need to set aside a special space for such creative endeavors. A space that is all your own — one that is not shared by other members of the family — even if it means going to a café or the public library. Now, I know most writers start at the kitchen table or the couch, but I found that using a communal family space leads to disaster (e.g. all your neatly organized scene cards get tossed to set up dinner) or distraction (e.g. your kid turns on the TV while you’re typing on the couch). The best thing I did for myself was build an office where I could post my vision board and create a fortress of solitude. Knowing I have a special place where creativity can run free without judgement makes sitting down to write a lot easier. Productivity is up, and the muse always arrives on time. Of course, I also understand that commandeering a whole room may be tough for some people, but I urge novice writers to find a work around in this regard (like no kids in the TV room MWF 9-10) if they’re serious about turning their writing into a career.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?
I am always pleasantly surprised and oddly proud when someone says they find my writing humorous. Writing humor requires a level of nuance (regarding the commonality of the human condition) that takes an extremely long time to develop. In many ways, I am still in the nascent stages of my writing career, so to hear that someone sees that kind of expertise in my work is humbling.
What are you working on now?
Fans of the Victoria Justice Mysteries can look forward to a new installment — Deceptive Justice hits bookstores April 5, 2022. And as I mentioned earlier, I have two self-published instructional manuals on the way, Mastering the Art of Suspense and How to Craft Killer Dialogue. I am also working on two contemporary romance series that will be traditionally published. One is in the new adult category and focuses on the behind-the-scenes world of Broadway theater. The other actually leans more toward women’s fiction in that the characters are grappling with the choices that come with middle age, and it is set in Las Vegas. Each installment poses the question, “What do you do when you’re faced with the choice of following your dream or following your heart?” If you’d like to hear more about these works (or what inspired them), please follow me on Twitter @ajthenovelist where I share updates on all my projects.
HOW TO CRAFT A KILLER COZY MYSTERY
Crafting a killer cozy can be perilous. Fans of the genre expect authors to forego explicit gore and violence while at the same time creating a mind-boggling murder mystery with pulse-pounding tension and a twisty plot. But how is a writer supposed to satisfy such disparate demands?How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery tackles this exact problem by providing an actionable roadmap for starting (and completing!) a manuscript that will leave readers dying for more. Packed with charts and questionnaires designed to streamline the writing process, this comprehensive step-by-step guide will help you create compelling characters, vivid settings, and clever storylines.
Whether you’re a new writer or just new to the genre, you will walk away from How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery with a checklist for everything you’ll need to complete the novel of your dreams, and you will also learn…
The history behind the modern cozy and why they’re so popular with today’s audiencesThe 13 key reader expectations for the genreThe 10 essential rules every cozy must follow to create a fair play puzzleThe difference between cozies, thrillers, capers, detective stories, and police proceduralsThe difference between a premise and a hook—and how to kick-butt writing bothThe essential beats for the four-act plot structureHow to effectively hide clues and create plot twistsSPECIAL BONUS: How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery contains an extensive ★GLOSSARY OF LITERARY TERMS★ and modern as well as classic examples of commonly used mystery solutions and misdirects.Buy Links:
How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery: mybook.to/CraftKillerCozy
DECEPTIVE JUSTICE
When Victoria Justice finds herself on the phone with a mad bomber, she doesn’t think twice about springing into action to diffuse the situation. After all, the Bickerton Superior Courthouse is no stranger to all manner of crimes. However, a mysterious package found in the lobby a few minutes later leads to a building evacuation that has everyone pointing fingers, that is, until a car explodes in the parking lot killing a government official. Authorities search the area for clues anddetermine a recently vindicated arsonist is to blame, but the arrest sparks an alternate theory for Victoria who believes the real culprit is still at large and that she may have been the true target.
With no leads but a manuscript of the initial bomb threat and a faint audio recording of the caller’s scrambled voice, Victoria recruits former State Trooper Ashton North and local newsman Mike Slocum to help her weather the firestorm of community outrage. But can the two men refrain from killing each other long enough to keep Victoria alive and capture the murderer?
Fans of Knives Out, Law & Order, and Murder, She Wrote will love this killer courtroom cozy with its unexpected twists and turns.
Deceptive Justice: mybook.to/DeceptiveJustice
It's Insecure Writers Support Group Day!
February 2 2022
I'll bet you thought I was kidding! It's really a thing!
This is my first time joining this blog and I'm glad I am. The question for the day brought tears to my eyes when I read it. Today's question is:
Is there someone who supported or influenced you that perhaps isn't around anymore? Anyone you miss?
When I first joined our local writing group, we were also joined by a lovely man named Len Rich who was a fisherman, freelance writer, and mentor to many. His death in 2009 was a huge shock because he was one of those larger than life people with boundless energy. I loved our chats about writing and he was one of the most encouraging people I was grateful to meet! The paragraph below from Outdoor Canada says it best:
For those who didn’t know Len, he was one of the deans of Canada’s outdoor writing community, a Hemingway-esque figure, what with his shock of white hair, white beard and near omni-present fishing garb. I’d only known Len a few years, but came to respect him immensely for his many years of mentoring up-and-coming writers through the Outdoor Writers of Canada. Indeed, Len’s contributions were recognized in 2007 when he was presented with the OWC’s Jack Davis Mentorship Award. (https://www.outdoorcanada.ca/an-outdoor-life-lived-len-rich-1938-2009/)
Another amazing person I had the priviledge of working with became a good friend. Laura was another writer in the group who is a wiz with editing! She even made a mockup of a front cover for my first book, The Bookstore Lady, long before it was ever in print. We killed off many pots of coffee while talking writing and editing. Even though kids and jobs soon consumed our time, we still keep in touch and I love "talking shop" with her.
Since I've had such great mentors who encouraged me along the way, I became a mentor and a book coach to help others. It's great to not only hear the kinds of stories other people have in mind but to help them muddle their way through until it's something they are even more proud of!
It has also encouraged me to host a blog called Escape with a Writer where I share books by other authors. I've lost count of how many people I've hosted over the past two years but it's well over 200!
To find out more or to join me on the blog, go to my website: https://dianebator.ca/
Find out more about the Insecure Writers Support Group at: https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/
January 29, 2022
Lorna Poplak compares publishing before and during the pandemic.
Welcome back to author and member of both Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters In Crime,
Lorna Poplak!
Lorna Poplak is a Toronto-based writer, editor, and researcher drawn to the dark side of Canadian history. With a background in law, literature, information technology, and technical communications, Lorna has written medical and scientific articles, travel and historical pieces, children’s literature, blog posts, and a radio play. She is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime. Her two nonfiction books, both published by Dundurn Press, are Drop Dead: A Horrible History of Hanging in Canada (July 2017), and The Don: The Story of Toronto’s Infamous Jail (January 2021). The Don was shortlisted for the Ontario Legislature’s 2021 Speaker’s Book Award.
Website/Blog: http://www.lornapoplak.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LornaPoplakAuthor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lornapoplak/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornapoplak/
Dundurn: https://www.dundurn.com/authors/Lorna-Poplak
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15421614.Lorna_Poplak
You’ve had two nonfiction books published: one before and the other one during the pandemic. Can you compare and contrast the two experiences?
My first book was Drop Dead: A Horrible History of Hanging in Canada, published by Dundurn Press in July 2017. The second one, The Don: The Story of Toronto’s Infamous Jail, also a Dundurn book, came out on January 26, 2021. Exactly one year and four days ago!
Let’s start with the similarities.
Fortunately, when it came to the twin processes of research and writing, nothing much changed. Research-wise, I did most of the “heavy lifting” for The Don in 2019. So, the sources I needed to consult, such as books, journal articles, government documents, and archival newspapers were all readily available. Libraries and archives were open, and I even went to Ottawa on several occasions to consult the case files at Library and Archives Canada, as I had done three years earlier with Drop Dead. Interviews were a bit trickier. I managed to conduct quite a few in-person interviews pre-pandemic. But I was still finishing off the book during the first wave in 2020, and I then had to move to telephonic or email interviews. The actual writing process was virtually the same with both books. I’m not one of those writers who likes working in a coffee shop or some other public place, which would have been out of bounds during the extended lockdowns. I sit at my computer with all my files easily accessible and the internet just a click away whenever I need to verify my facts.
CLICK TO BUYIn what way did the two experiences differ?
Promoting and marketing the two books was quite different. Take my book launches, for example. The launch for Drop Dead took place at Ben McNally’s erstwhile book store, a magical space on Bay Street in Toronto. Around 90 people, including a scattering of out-of-towners, braved a huge summer storm to attend. Drinks and snacks were on offer; I spoke briefly; mingled with the attendees; and signed copies of my book. In short, a great vibe, but a very traditional format. With The Don, I had fantasized about having the launch at Toronto’s historic Don Jail, which forms the focus of my book. Well, in early 2021 that was, sadly, no longer an option. It was Zoom or nothing. Fortunately, I have two associates, Cathy Landolt and Tuhin Giri, who helped me choreograph the event. Working within a one-hour time frame, we started with a short virtual tour of the Don Jail from its inception to its present-day repurposing as the administration building of Bridgepoint Active Health. We had two speakers, Dundurn’s Kathryn Lane and Bridgepoint’s former president and CEO, Marian Walsh. Actor and spoken-word poet Kelsi James recited a very moving land acknowledgement. The evening ended with a Q&A between me and my son Richard, who emceed the event from his home base in South Africa. There were well over 120 guests, some of them joining us from afar. The event was recorded, and the spin-off was that each of the individual segments could then be reused for promotional purposes on my website and social media.
CLICK TO BUYOther marketing initiatives also differed radically from the first to the second book. Remember those heady days when we could gather in a public space to present our books (or thoughts) to a live audience? Well, the last in-person event I attended was an amazing 11-author panel at the New Tecumseth Public Library in Tottenham in March 2020 — you were on that panel, too! Since then, most of my marketing has been through my website or social media – my sites of choice are Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. In lieu of public appearances, I’ve done numerous Zoom presentations, generally using PowerPoint featuring a relevant selection of images. In all cases, I’ve used the opportunity to promote local book stores, which is one of my passions.
What has been your take-away from the past couple of years?
What I’ve learned from having to plot my writer’s course through the choppy waters of a global pandemic is that you need to be as creative and flexible as possible, and keep in touch with your community. But being a writer is a very solitary occupation, and I do yearn for the opportunity, once again, to interact with people face-to-face — and, once again, to freely visit libraries and archives for my research. May all of this come about sooner rather than later!
To Buy Lorna's Books:Amazon:
https://www.amazon.ca/Books-Lorna-Poplak/s?rh=n%3A916520%2Cp_27%3ALorna+Poplak
January 27, 2022
True Crime author Nate Hendley talks about The Boy on the Bicycle and The Beatle Bandit
Welcome to Nate Hendley, author of several true crime novels!
Nate Hendley was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1966 and raised in Waterloo, Ontario. At present, he is a Toronto-based journalist and author of several non-fiction books, primarily in the true-crime genre.
Nate’s titles include The Boy on the Bicycle (about a 1956 wrongful murder conviction in Toronto), The Big Con (about scams and hoaxes in America, past and present) and American Gangsters: Then and Now (a look at U.S. mobsters from the Civil War to the present day).
Nate’s latest book, The Beatle Bandit, examines a murderous 1964 bank heist near Toronto that fueled a nationwide debate about gun control, insanity pleas, and the death penalty. The Beatle Bandit was published in November 2021 by Dundurn Press.
Nate’s website (www.natehendley.com) offers more details about his books and background.
He also hosts a blog at www.crimestory.wordpress.com featuring posts about crime-related topics.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/natehendley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nate.hendley/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-hendley-a18bb4/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate.hendley/
How many hours a day do you write?
It varies. I work from Monday to Friday as a freelance journalist, so some days I write for up to eight hours, while other days, I concentrate on research and/or interviews and write very little.
I typically work on my books on weekends and evenings. I try to avoid doing “all-nighters” when possible, because my focus disappears as exhaustion sets in and my output diminishes. I find it better to rest, eat, and return to writing later, rather than trying to press ahead and work around-the-clock.
How do you choose which stories you will write?
When I first starting writing non-fiction books, I choose broad topics that had been well-covered already such as organized crime.
In recent years, I’ve become more selective about the stories I write.
My genre is non-fiction/true crime. Given this, I like stories that are: a) not well-known; b) have a strong “human-interest” angle; c) have lots of different elements; and d) lend themselves to a narrative format (a terrible crime occurs – police investigate – speculation about the perpetrator runs wild – the wrong person is unjustly convicted – people work to free the unjustly convicted person – the unjustly convicted person is released from jail or not – in the end, justice or evil prevails).
There are also practical considerations. As I write non-fiction, I need to determine if there is sufficient research material on a topic before I begin any writing.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Research. Rewriting, editing, and fact-checking is the second most difficult part. The actual writing process is relatively easy.
Obtaining information from official sources is more challenging than you might think. I ran into several brick-walls while researching The Boy on the Bicycle, my account of a largely forgotten wrongful murder conviction in Toronto in 1956.
I made freedom of information requests with the Toronto Police and various courts to obtain documents and received nothing.
In the end, I was given a motherlode of documents for The Boy on the Bicycle from a fellow true-crime writer. The documents included police memos, interrogation transcripts, judicial commentary, reports about the investigation, telegrams, letters, etc. This information didn’t come from archives, but from the files of various detectives who kept bits of paper from the case.
I like to do interviews, when possible, when means speaking with either the victims or perpetrators of a crime or their family members. This can be tough but is a necessarily step.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
I currently split my time between journalism and non-fiction books. Much as I enjoy journalism, I would love to be able to concentrate fully on book-writing. Hopefully, this will happen within the next five years.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
One awful novel I wrote after university that will never see the light of day. Various half-baked, half-finished writing projects from university too.
I have scraps of other writing lying around that may or may not be turned into something publishable.
I’m always juggling ideas for book projects in my head.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
My parents always encouraged my creative endeavours, be it writing, drawing, or making Super-8 movies with my brother and friends.
In eighth grade I handwrote a series of long, violent epics, usually involving mercenaries or terrorists on some dangerous mission. My grade eight teacher, Ken Quantz took the time to read my stories and critique them, as if I were a professional author. I owe him and my parents a world of gratitude. It must be awful to grow up in a household where your talents are underappreciated or crushed.
THE BOY ON THE BICYCLE
The Boy on the Bicycleis about Ron Moffatt, who was 14 years-old in 1956 when he was falsely accused of murder in Toronto. This is the first full account of Ron’s ordeal.
Originally published in 2018, The Boy on the Bicycle was updated and re-published in e-book format by Dundurn Press in 2021. It can be instantly downloaded at:
Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/wy8twrfb
Chapters-Indigo: https://tinyurl.com/2vsr6kbf
Dundurn Press website: https://tinyurl.com/29yst52m
This title is also available in audiobook format at:
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/mr3mh865
Audible: https://tinyurl.com/363m77ve
Laura Nirider, Clinical Associate Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago.
THE BEATLE BANDIT
The Beatle Banditis about Matthew Kerry Smith, an intelligent but troubled young veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy who robbed Toronto-area banks in the early 1960s to fund a one-man revolution. On July 24, 1964, Smith put on a Halloween mask and a “Beatles” wig and held up a bank near Toronto. A bank patron intervened. Murder and mayhem ensued. Smith’s murderous heist fueled a nationwide debate about guns, insanity pleas, and the death penalty.
Published in November 2021 by Dundurn Press, The Beatle Bandit is available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook format at:
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/r6uhzwy6
Apple Books: https://tinyurl.com/3xkb7w5t
Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/6h2p7epz
Chapters-Indigo: https://tinyurl.com/9c654t4x
Dundurn Press website: https://tinyurl.com/yse8fydk
“Hendley does a fine job putting [Matthew Kerry] Smith’s crimes in the context of Canadian culture decades ago. Students of true crime won’t want to miss this thoughtful book.” ―Publisher’s Weekly
“Hendley tells the story as though he were writing a crime novel; an apt read-alike might be Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, with which The Beatle Bandit shares a journalistic style and a perceptive analysis of people and events. First-rate true crime.” ―Booklist
“With this absorbing, deeply researched tale of a troubled, gun-obsessed bank robber-turned-killer in 1960s Toronto, veteran true-crime writer Nate Hendley has scored another triumph.” ―Dean Jobb, author of The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream and Empire of Deception
“A fascinating, bizarre, important story told by one of the country’s top true-crime writers. What’s not to enjoy? The Beatle Bandit is a hit.” ―Peter Edwards, Toronto Star crime reporter and co-author of The Wolfpack: the Millennial Mobsters who brought Chaos and the Cartels to the Canadian Underworld
(For more information about Nate’s books and background, please visit his website at www.natehendley.com)
True Crime novelist Nate Hendley talks about The Boy on the Bicycle and The Beatle Bandit
Welcome to author Nate Hendley, author of several true crime novels!
Nate Hendley was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1966 and raised in Waterloo, Ontario. At present, he is a Toronto-based journalist and author of several non-fiction books, primarily in the true-crime genre.
Nate’s titles include The Boy on the Bicycle (about a 1956 wrongful murder conviction in Toronto), The Big Con (about scams and hoaxes in America, past and present) and American Gangsters: Then and Now (a look at U.S. mobsters from the Civil War to the present day).
Nate’s latest book, The Beatle Bandit, examines a murderous 1964 bank heist near Toronto that fueled a nationwide debate about gun control, insanity pleas, and the death penalty. The Beatle Bandit was published in November 2021 by Dundurn Press.
Nate’s website (www.natehendley.com) offers more details about his books and background.
He also hosts a blog at www.crimestory.wordpress.com featuring posts about crime-related topics.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/natehendley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nate.hendley/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-hendley-a18bb4/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate.hendley/
How many hours a day do you write?
It varies. I work from Monday to Friday as a freelance journalist, so some days I write for up to eight hours, while other days, I concentrate on research and/or interviews and write very little.
I typically work on my books on weekends and evenings. I try to avoid doing “all-nighters” when possible, because my focus disappears as exhaustion sets in and my output diminishes. I find it better to rest, eat, and return to writing later, rather than trying to press ahead and work around-the-clock.
How do you choose which stories you will write?
When I first starting writing non-fiction books, I choose broad topics that had been well-covered already such as organized crime.
In recent years, I’ve become more selective about the stories I write.
My genre is non-fiction/true crime. Given this, I like stories that are: a) not well-known; b) have a strong “human-interest” angle; c) have lots of different elements; and d) lend themselves to a narrative format (a terrible crime occurs – police investigate – speculation about the perpetrator runs wild – the wrong person is unjustly convicted – people work to free the unjustly convicted person – the unjustly convicted person is released from jail or not – in the end, justice or evil prevails).
There are also practical considerations. As I write non-fiction, I need to determine if there is sufficient research material on a topic before I begin any writing.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Research. Rewriting, editing, and fact-checking is the second most difficult part. The actual writing process is relatively easy.
Obtaining information from official sources is more challenging than you might think. I ran into several brick-walls while researching The Boy on the Bicycle, my account of a largely forgotten wrongful murder conviction in Toronto in 1956.
I made freedom of information requests with the Toronto Police and various courts to obtain documents and received nothing.
In the end, I was given a motherlode of documents for The Boy on the Bicycle from a fellow true-crime writer. The documents included police memos, interrogation transcripts, judicial commentary, reports about the investigation, telegrams, letters, etc. This information didn’t come from archives, but from the files of various detectives who kept bits of paper from the case.
I like to do interviews, when possible, when means speaking with either the victims or perpetrators of a crime or their family members. This can be tough but is a necessarily step.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
I currently split my time between journalism and non-fiction books. Much as I enjoy journalism, I would love to be able to concentrate fully on book-writing. Hopefully, this will happen within the next five years.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
One awful novel I wrote after university that will never see the light of day. Various half-baked, half-finished writing projects from university too.
I have scraps of other writing lying around that may or may not be turned into something publishable.
I’m always juggling ideas for book projects in my head.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
My parents always encouraged my creative endeavours, be it writing, drawing, or making Super-8 movies with my brother and friends.
In eighth grade I handwrote a series of long, violent epics, usually involving mercenaries or terrorists on some dangerous mission. My grade eight teacher, Ken Quantz took the time to read my stories and critique them, as if I were a professional author. I owe him and my parents a world of gratitude. It must be awful to grow up in a household where your talents are underappreciated or crushed.
THE BOY ON THE BICYCLE
The Boy on the Bicycleis about Ron Moffatt, who was 14 years-old in 1956 when he was falsely accused of murder in Toronto. This is the first full account of Ron’s ordeal.
Originally published in 2018, The Boy on the Bicycle was updated and re-published in e-book format by Dundurn Press in 2021. It can be instantly downloaded at:
Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/wy8twrfb
Chapters-Indigo: https://tinyurl.com/2vsr6kbf
Dundurn Press website: https://tinyurl.com/29yst52m
This title is also available in audiobook format at:
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/mr3mh865
Audible: https://tinyurl.com/363m77ve
Laura Nirider, Clinical Associate Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago.
THE BEATLE BANDIT
The Beatle Banditis about Matthew Kerry Smith, an intelligent but troubled young veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy who robbed Toronto-area banks in the early 1960s to fund a one-man revolution. On July 24, 1964, Smith put on a Halloween mask and a “Beatles” wig and held up a bank near Toronto. A bank patron intervened. Murder and mayhem ensued. Smith’s murderous heist fueled a nationwide debate about guns, insanity pleas, and the death penalty.
Published in November 2021 by Dundurn Press, The Beatle Bandit is available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook format at:
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/r6uhzwy6
Apple Books: https://tinyurl.com/3xkb7w5t
Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/6h2p7epz
Chapters-Indigo: https://tinyurl.com/9c654t4x
Dundurn Press website: https://tinyurl.com/yse8fydk
“Hendley does a fine job putting [Matthew Kerry] Smith’s crimes in the context of Canadian culture decades ago. Students of true crime won’t want to miss this thoughtful book.” ―Publisher’s Weekly
“Hendley tells the story as though he were writing a crime novel; an apt read-alike might be Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, with which The Beatle Bandit shares a journalistic style and a perceptive analysis of people and events. First-rate true crime.” ―Booklist
“With this absorbing, deeply researched tale of a troubled, gun-obsessed bank robber-turned-killer in 1960s Toronto, veteran true-crime writer Nate Hendley has scored another triumph.” ―Dean Jobb, author of The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream and Empire of Deception
“A fascinating, bizarre, important story told by one of the country’s top true-crime writers. What’s not to enjoy? The Beatle Bandit is a hit.” ―Peter Edwards, Toronto Star crime reporter and co-author of The Wolfpack: the Millennial Mobsters who brought Chaos and the Cartels to the Canadian Underworld
(For more information about Nate’s books and background, please visit his website at www.natehendley.com)
January 25, 2022
A Demon's Trade, a brand-new urban fantasy series by International Bestselling Author Kathrin Hutson
A Demon’s Trade
The first in a brand-new Urban Fantasy series by International Bestselling Author Kathrin Hutson
Demons might not be real. But she is.
As a tracker of curse magic, dark artifacts, and forbidden netherwork, Kali Sullivan is one of a kind, and not just as a bounty hunter. They think she’s a demon. What they don’t know can definitely kill them—and worse.
It only takes one slip to throw a curse into utter chaos. So when an overconfident target gets himself killed before Kali can take him in, she’s left to pick up the pieces. And to figure out which magical nutjob had the bright idea to start tattooing casting circles on their victims.
When staking out another dark-magic suspect reveals far more than who’s behind the attacks on humans, the ghosts of Kali’s past come calling in an unexpected way. Their messages give a whole new meaning to who and what she truly is, and it’s darker than she thought. Especially when the one job Kali refused is the one she really should have taken.
Fans of Patricia Briggs and Kim Harrison will love this action-packed Urban Fantasy Adventure from International Bestselling Author Kathrin Hutson.
*The Damned If She Does series is set in the same universe as Kathrin Hutson’s Accessory to Magic series.*
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JGSNF6D
Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09JGSNF6D
The Accessory to Magic Series:
"From handsome fae Leandras to grief-stricken dwarf Kerri...the worldbuilding is vibrant...”
—Publishers Weekly
"The Witching Vault has created an intricate fantasy world that has set the stage for readers to uncover a much wider world throughout this series. Kathrin Hutson thrusts readers into a magical world filled with dark secrets that Jessica Northwood tackles in entertaining fashion."
—Literary Titan, Five Stars
"...this highly engaging, modern, and slick work of fantasy...along with its snarky dialogue, cinematic action descriptions, and clever twists...becomes a high octane caper that will keep you turning pages, whilst also walking the tightrope of reality to give us emotional realism and heart."
—K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite, Five Stars
About Kathrin:
International Bestselling Author Kathrin Hutson has been writing Dark Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and LGBTQ Speculative Fiction since 2000. With her wildly messed-up heroes, excruciating circumstances, impossible decisions, and Happily Never Afters, she’s a firm believer in piling on the intense action, showing a little character skin, and never skimping on violent means to bloody ends.
As a world traveler with her husband and daughter, Kathrin finds a home anywhere she can write, which she does full-time. She’s also an active member of both the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and the Horror Writers Association.
For updates on new releases, exclusive deals, and dark surprises you won’t find anywhere else, sign up to Kathrin’s newsletter at kathrinhutsonfiction.com/newsletter.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Kathrin Hutson, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: | 403.464.6925.
We look forward to the coverage!
January 22, 2022
The critically acclaimed Heart of the Inferno series by Nicole Fanning continues with Ignite!
Ignite
Heart of the Inferno Book 2
The critically acclaimed Mafia Romance Series by
Nicole Fanning Continues!!
She never expected to fall in love with a mafia don.He never expected to fall in love at all.But will their love be enough? Four weeks ago, Jaxon Pace, the billionaire "Don Supreme" of Chicago's underground mafia syndicates, took a bullet.This bullet was meant for the only girl who stole his heart, the beautiful Natalie Tyler, a simple nurse from Miami.Overwhelmed by the horrors she witnessed in Chicago, Natalie chose to return home, leaving the broken and broken-hearted Jaxon Pace to recover on his own. A month after her visit, Natalie's heart still belongs to Jaxon...And you better believe The Don Supreme is coming to collect HIS woman.But when he arrives, he learns that Natalie has a little surprise for him: She is pregnant. However, his enemies will give the happy couple no reprieve.
Especially, Jaxon's presumed-dead ex-girlfriend, Rachel, and her psychotic brother, Michael.They are the leaders of Chicago's newest twisted mafia clan, the Two-Headed Dragon. The Two-Headed Dragon has one goal: the complete destruction of the Pace Family Mafia.If successful, they will destroy the entire mafia hierarchy that has guided Chicago's underworld for a century, sending the city into complete chaos.Will Natalie & Jaxon's love be enough to defeat the dangers of the present...and the demons of the past?
Filled with exhilarating highs, steamy romance, and heart-pounding suspense, "Ignite" picks up where "Catalyst" left off, and joins our favorite mafia couple as they fight for each other in a world filled with deceit, depravity, and unspeakable darkness.
Amazon.com: Ignite: Heart of the Inferno Book II eBook : Fanning, Nicole: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
However, fate has other plans. A split-second decision, unknowingly puts her in the path of one of the city's wealthiest bachelors. And one of the deadliest. She finds herself thrust into a world she does not understand. The world of Jaxon Pace. Billionaire. Hotelier. Mafia Boss. In an expansive underworld of crime, violence and deceit, Jaxon is KING. He is heartless, ruthless, and runs the city with an iron fist. The devilishly handsome Jaxon is used to getting what he wants, no matter the cost.
However, Natalie did not come to Chicago for love, and certainly not for an ungrateful, spoiled playboy with a god complex. But soon she begins to wonder if there is more to this mysterious man than meets the eye? Entangled in their fiery romance, and a fleeting hope of happiness, Jaxon sets his sights on the beautiful and charismatic Natalie Tyler. But his enemies have noticed Natalie too. Can Jaxon win Natalie's heart, before everything goes up in flames?
Their passionate romance will take you on a heart pounding wild ride of suspense, mystery, and chemistry so explosive, it could set the whole city on fire! Catalyst is the first of THREE incendiary installments in the Heart of the Inferno Series. It will have you cheering for true love and gripping your seat, unable to put it down!
About Nicole:
Nicole is a smitten wife and super proud dog mom to three rambunctious rescue dogs.
She is an old school romantic, with a proclivity for a little mischief, and an obsession with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Ignite is the second novel of the Heart of the Inferno Series, which follows the story of a dangerous mafia don and the girl who became his only exception.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Nicole Fanning, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: | 403.464.6925.
We look forward to the coverage!
January 21, 2022
Kickstarter by American Sign Language Interpreter Kelly Brakenhoff for My Dawg Koa
MY DOG KOA
A new Kickstarter by critically acclaimed children’s author and American Sign Language Interpreter, Kelly Brakenhoff!
If you want your young child to learn American Sign Language while reading a fun storybook, . . .
If you're an educator or special education professional looking for diversity resources for your classroom, . . .
If you know a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, . . .
. . . you'll love the Duke the Deaf Dog ASL Series!
A hardcover picture book featuring Duke the Deaf Dog and his friend Koa. Readers will learn 11 American Sign Language signs!
My Dawg Koa is a story about best friends.
Deaf friends Duke and Koa are the same, but they are also different.
Duke the Deaf Dog learns about similarities and differences between friends and families.
Their houses may look different, and their parents may have different rules and expectations, but Duke finds one thing families share no matter what: LOVE.
A fun, engaging way to teach children that friends share common interests.
PROJECT DETAILS
· 44-page premium 8x8 hardcover picture book illustrated by my talented sister, Theresa Murray.
· Age Range: 3-9 years old and Pre-Kindergarten to Second Grade level
· Bilingual features, including photos of 11 American Sign Language signs and links to videos of Amy Willman, a Deaf ASL instructor, demonstrating the signs and complete story in both ASL and English.
· A durable hardcover that will stand up to countless bedtime or classroom readings.
· Downloadable and printable lesson plans with activity sheets to enhance learning from the book (In high demand from parents, caregivers, and teachers!
· Mid-tier rewards include Kickstarter exclusive art, early access to the eBook, and more!
· Higher tier rewards include exclusive art, virtual classroom visits with the author and an ASL Instructor, Classroom Bundles, and more!
This project will fund special edition HARDCOVER copies of MY DAWG KOA. Deaf and hard of hearing children--and really any child with a disability--want to see characters like themselves in books. Learning ASL is fun for any age child and starts them down the path of bilingualism.
KELLY’S INSPIRATION
I have used ASL every day in my interpreter career for more than 30 years! Deaf Culture has become a cherished part of my heart. At the same time, I always dreamed of becoming an author.
More than 90% of children who are born deaf or hard of hearing have parents who can hear. I’ve done the research and there are very few books for young children with deaf or hard of hearing characters. Parents and educators need high quality books for their children!
KELLY BRAKENHOFF is an American Sign Language Interpreter whose motivation for learning ASL began in high school when she wanted to converse with her deaf friends. Her first novel, DEATH BY DISSERTATION, kicked off the Cassandra Sato Mystery Series, followed by DEAD WEEK. She also wrote NEVER MIND, first in a children’s picture book series featuring Duke the Deaf Dog. She serves on the Board of Editors for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf publication, VIEWs. The mother of four young adults and two dogs, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Kelly Brakenhoff, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925. We look forward to the coverage!
