Diane Bator's Blog, page 49
February 20, 2021
Brenda Felber and her alter ego tell us about Captured on Camera and Mystery Island
Welcome to middle-grade mystery and cozy mystery author, Brenda Felber and her alter ego, Suzanne Bolden!
Brenda Felber recently returned to her roots in central Wisconsin, after living away for over forty years. Brenda loves travel, especially road trips. In her Pameroy Mystery Series for middle graders, she takes young readers along with imagineer Lillia Pameroy to all fifty states! In each story threads of local history and twists of paranormal weave a mystery that encourages curiosity in young readers. Under the pen name, Suzanne Bolden, Brenda writes cozy mystery series for adults. Suzanne Bolden’s protagonists in the first two series share Brenda’s life-long interests of photography and sewing along with a curious mind.
https://facebook.com/brendafelberauthor
https://facebook.com/suzanneboldenauthor
What genre do you write?
Under my real name Brenda Felber, I write a middle-grade mystery series. Pameroy Mysteries take young readers on a journey to every state in the US…or will eventually! They experience history through Lillia’s paranormal abilities. Book #11 will be published later this year and features the Hoover Dam area in Nevada.
As Suzanne Bolden, I write cozy mysteries. The Parker Photography Series book #4 will be published February 25th. A new series, Sew-Sew Murder Mystery will be publishing next year.
Do your reading choices reflect your writing choices?
I’ve never been asked this before, and in thinking about my answer, I was surprised how much they do! My reading habits have changed over the years, but Dean Koontz was a favorite, and thus the paranormal element in my middle-grade series. I’ve always loved the big sweeping epic historical fiction like those of Edward Rutherford and James Michener. Again, I see how that reflects in my Pameroy series. I want young readers to have an appreciation for whatever area of the world they live in, including its history, both big and small.
Lastly…mysteries! A constant reading choice of mine. From Sue Grafton’s alphabet series to Mary Higgins Clark, the suspense and thrill of a good mystery makes for a book I can’t put down. In writing my cozy mysteries I wanted to create books that readers would reach for and settle in to enjoy. I loved the Murder She Wrote television series and besides reading current mystery authors, I’m binge watching the TV series!
Which type of characters are your favorite to write?
I love writing the characters that pop off the page. The ones with some snark and personality to them. The ones that would exhaust the reader if they were the main protagonist, but are fun to write, putting words in their mouths and giving them a unique physicality.
Do pictures, real life or plain imagination create the character you want readers to love?
For myself, I’d have to say it’s my imagination that most characters come out of. But that imagination incorporates photographs for inspiration and also characteristics of people I’ve known or encountered in real life. A character rarely shows up full blown, it’s a layering of voice, look, dress, background, etc.
For years I’ve kept what I call a capture journal. It’s filled with brief notes of things that pass by or through my life. Perhaps a turn of phrase, a unique reaction, or a hairstyle or dress detail that will make a future character loveable and memorable.
Do your characters come before or after you plot?
In my cozy series most are established characters in the village’s setting. They fit a need in the plot as the series is written in first person. I need gossips, police, and nosy neighbors waiting to contribute to the story as the plot develops. New characters will show up to fit the plot i.e. murder victim, suspects. However, in the Pameroy Mystery series there very few continuing characters so new characters are being continually developed, but even here I believe the plot comes first. Except for any real-life historical characters I choose to use, such as Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain.
How do you choose a villain and how do you make them human?
The middle-grade series so-called villains are quite different than the murderer in a cozy mystery. Lillia Pameroy has encountered bad guys from one hundred years ago, like a Deadwood miner from the past who redeems and humanizes himself by leading Lillia to where her friend is lost in a mine shaft. In one of the stories the villain is a pirate queen and is humanized in a surprising way that I can’t give away, but it takes Lillia to make that happen. In the cozy mystery series, the villain appears unexpectedly as the story comes to a conclusion. Often the murderers are humanized to the reader because they are part of the story world the reader is in. Readers are surprised by the unexpected passion of a woman scorned, or the average Joe hiding a secret to kill for.
CAPTURED ON CAMERA
Everything is not harmonious in the Village of Harmony!
The small midwestern community of Harmony is excited about the upcoming nuptials of its matriarch Eleanor Harmony, who is marrying for the fourth time. Jackie Parker, a not-ready-to-retire baby boomer, has arrived to help her great-aunt Ruth photograph the wedding.
But the event is called off when the body of the groom is discovered! Jackie and her friend Wanda stumble upon the scene of his tragic car accident. Jackie instinctively photographs the crash scene, not realizing the pictures will be instrumental in proving what really happened to Eleanor’s fiancé in the dark of night on that lonely road.
With the wedding called off, Jackie prepares to return to Chicago, but instead finds herself staying in Harmony as she begins to suspect the cause of Paul’s death isn’t what it first appeared to be. Her natural curiosity pairs with the police investigation as she follows clues to reveal the truth!
Hugging the banks of the Wisconsin River and rising up into wooded hills and bluffs, the community of Harmony welcomes you! Be whisked away on a fun cozy mystery escape in every book in the series.
https://www.amazon.com/Captured-Camera-Parker-Photography-Mystery-ebook/dp/B08HW86W8Q/
MYSTERY ISLAND
Twelve-year-old Lillia Pameroy senses the mysterious pull of Mackinac Island as she sails toward it on a ferry. An elderly driver waits at the pier with a horse-drawn carriage to transport Lillia, her little brother Charlie, and Grauntie Nora to their summer cottage. Only this cottage is a huge three-story mansion!
Sounds coming from the third-floor lead to the discovery of a child’s playroom. Will clues from disappearing sunglasses and life-size portraits, to a message in a bottle, help Lillia discover what the spirit of the girl in the attic wants?
With the arrival of a violent storm, the island is shut down and shipwrecks at the bottom of the lake soon become part of the story of this magically mysterious place.
https://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Island-Pameroy-Michigan-Book-ebook/dp/B07ZWDDSS5/
February 19, 2021
Round Robin Blog Fest February 2021
Can you believe we're already nearly two months into 2021? Wow! This year has been a blur for me. I've pre-released my newest book ALL THAT SHINES and wrote a play that I'm waiting on critiques for. Not a bad start to the year. Now for a little fun time!
This month's Round Robin Blog question should be fun. Our question is: Where do you get your ideas for stories?
My short answere is: Anywhere and everywhere.
I’ve had ideas come from:
dreamsfrom conversations I've had or overheardfrom seeing photographs in person or in magazinesmemeslines from movies or playswhile falling asleep at nightwhile soaking in the tubwhile out for a walk or doing yogawhile shoppingreading biographiesstreet signs - seriously!inspiration from books or poemsanimalskidsmisheard song lyricsMy latest play idea hit me while I walked from my office ten feet down the hall to my livingroom. I was thrilled that I'd just finished my very first play and sent it off to the artistic director for feedback. By the time I reached the couch, I had to sit down and write the scene that popped into my head then the outline, then the ending. I had the whole thing outlined in fifteen minutes. Now I just have to write it.To be honest, my stories usually don't happen that fast, but when inspiration hits it can be like a runaway train! Most of the time, I just get scenes here and there then piece them all together. Except for writing books during Nanowrimo, that is!
My newest novel, All That Shines book two in my Glitter Bay Mysteries, evolved after I met a lovely woman who is transgender. She walked into the theatre where I worked to buy a ticket one day and I was fascinated with her story. She inspired me to create Quinn, a character I adore who will be back in full force in the next Glitter Bay Mystery novel. While All That Shines doesn't dig deep into Quinn's story, she sure has one to tell!
To check out ALL THAT SHINES click out my announcement: http://dbator.blogspot.com/2021/02/ne...
Now that I've done the self-promotion and told you where my bright ideas come from, I hope you'll check out the great group of writers I get to do this with! I can't wait to see where they get their ideas.
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2eA
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/
Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com
February 16, 2021
Gary McGugan, Canadian Suspense Thriller Writer
Gary D. McGugan
I'm in love with the same special lady for more than five decades. Together, we celebrate a daughter, a son, a daughter-in-law, and three outstanding grandkids. Our family is close and tightly knit. We live nearby. We travel together. And we love to share life.
Writing started after a 40-year career in the world of business. I’ve worked in a supermarket, sold appliances, distributed motorcycles, launched an automobile dealer network, and provided financing to help businesses grow. Every industry was very different from the other. Each company had a distinctive culture and character, but all were units of large corporations with operations around the globe.
Travel has always been a large component of my business roles. I visited almost every city, town, and hamlet in Canada while leading sales and marketing activities for the motorcycle, then the automobile, division of Suzuki Motor Company’s Canadian subsidiary.
Another sales leadership role took me to most states of the USA with ITT Corporation.
I visited all EU countries while living and working in Europe for several years – spearheading the creation of a new business unit for Deutsche Bank.
And responsibilities with a unit of GE Capital allowed me to explore and create new businesses with several countries in Asia and Latin America.
Experts say we should write about things we know best. In my case, those subjects are business, travel, and people. As an author, my goal is to entertain people around the world – one reader at a time.
Website and other links.
https://www.garydmcguganbooks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/gary.d.mcgugan.books
https://twitter.com/GaryDMcGugan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-d-mcgugan
https://www.instagram.com/authorgarydmcgugan/
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
I like to write quick-paced stories, with short chapters, and lots of twists and turns. I know many readers are pressed for time and squeeze their reading into brief segments. With short chapters, readers feel comfortable devoting whatever time they have available and know they can pick up from where they left off without missing a beat!
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
When I’m working on a new book, I devote every morning to writing. I also exercise every afternoon and walk 1-2 hours at a good pace, with no headset, earphones, or other distractions. I write the next chapter as I walk. The following morning, I put to paper the chapter I created in my mind.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
I’ve written one novel per year since I penned Three Weeks Less a Day in 2016. During the next five years, I expect to continue creating entertaining novels but sprinkle a work of non-fiction or two into the mix.
If you could offer one piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
Without any doubt, the most useful advice I can give is to find and join a writers’ group. A good community of writers offers wonderful opportunities to network with other writers, connect with many useful resources and learn the craft of writing from experienced experts. I’m a member of the Writers’ Community of York Region in Canada. Our group of almost 100 writers does all those things, and also welcomes members from outside our geographic area. With the pandemic, all workshops are via Zoom so members can attend wherever they live. I also heard our guest speaker on Sunday, February 21 will be Diane Bator! WCYR members and non-members can register to participate here: https://wcyork.ca/events/
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?
“I had trouble putting it down!” Whenever I hear that from a reader, I know I’ve done my job well and told a story that was entertaining regardless of the plot or subtext.
What are you working on now?
I’m working with graphic artists to finalize my newest story, A Web of Deceit. Paperback and eBook versions are scheduled for release on March 1, 2021. I think A Web of Deceit is my most creative story yet. I use characters from all my earlier novels and give them interesting twists in an international suspense thriller that takes place in the early days of an unfolding global pandemic. It’s a self-contained story but readers will enjoy it even more if they’ve read some of my earlier works!
A WEB OF DECEIT
Fate, misfortune and opportunity entangle three rivals in a quick-paced suspense thriller.
· CEO Suzanne Simpson fends off accusations of corporate money laundering on two continents as a global pandemic wreaks havoc on Multima Supermarkets.
· Fugitive Howard Knight flees from the Caribbean to Asia, trying desperately to elude both an Interpol Red Notice and a dangerous criminal outfit called The Organization.
· Fidelia Morales stakes her role as head of a powerful criminal element on an outrageous cyber scheme to steal millions from corporations around the globe.
ALSO BY GARY MCGUGAN:
February 13, 2021
NEW BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT!
INTRODUCING BOOK 2 IN MY
GLITTER BAY MYSTERY SERIES
Vintage Sage was a peaceful, one woman operation until Sage Miller’s sister Laken moved to Glitter Bay. Now they feature gently loved items with a side of mystery.
ALL THAT SHINES!
Book 2: All That Shines (April 2021)
Sage Miller is knee deep in fashion designers—whether she wants them in her new vintage boutique or not.
One winds up dead.
Another isn’t what he seems.
A third is treasure hunting.
Sage is stuck in the middle trying to solve a murder before the grand opening of Vintage Sage, which involves a fashion show she’d rather not be part of.
To Buy:
Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08W2J3LBQ?...
BWL Publishing Ltd. https://www.bookswelove.com/bator-diane/
Reviews:
Diane Bator has once again successfully completed another beautifully written mystery: “All That Shines” Book 2 in the Glitter Bay Mysteries series. A comfortable, easy read, and a page turner which keeps you guessing right to the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed Bator’s willingness to step into the deep waters of some human issues which rage today’s society. An honest and bold move on her part, Bator writes with absolute grace and dignity. Well done! 5 Stars ~ Maggie Kirton, Award-winning, bestselling author.
All That Shines is another great “who done it” with Sage and Laken and once again I was wrong. Can’t wait for the next book in the Glitter Bay Series to see what the sisters are up to! ~ L. MacGregor
Want to join me for a chat about writing February 21?
One thing new writers are often told is to “write what you know.” How are you supposed to grow as a writer if you only write the things you know about? The best way is to take what you already know and give it a twist—turn it into a story your readers will find engaging.
All writers put a little of themselves in their work whether they realize it or not. Sometimes using subjects you are familiar with can be a great start for any genre of novel.
Workshop will be via Zoom, Sunday, February 21, 2021 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. Pre-registration ends February 19, 2021. Please register below. Instructions for logging into Zoom will be sent the week before the meeting. Be sure to click on + to add a ticket before clicking on “Get Ticket” below.
Diane Bator is the traditionally published author of ten mystery novels. She is a member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime Toronto, and the Writers Union of Canada. When she’s not writing, she works full-time in theatre which may be subjected to immortality in a whole new series. No surprise she’s trying her hand at writing a play as well as a couple of fantasy novels.
Click on the link for more information:
https://wcyork.ca/event/write-what-yo...
February 9, 2021
Lorna Poplak's New Book The Don: The Story of Toronto's Infamous Jail
Welcome to Canadian non-fiction author, Lorna Poplak! I had the pleasure of meeting Lorna through Crime Writers of Canada and hearing all about her great books. If you're a history buff or just have a love for the macabre, be sure to check them out!
Lorna Poplak is a Toronto-based writer, editor, and researcher drawn to the people and stories behind historical facts. Lorna’s background is in law, literature, information technology, and technical communications. Her written work includes medical and scientific articles, travel pieces, children’s literature, blog posts, and a radio play. Lorna is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime. She has had two non-fiction books published by Dundurn Press: Drop Dead: A Horrible History of Hanging in Canada in July 2017, and The Don: The Story of Toronto’s Infamous Jail in January 2021.
Links:
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
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.ca/Books-Lorna-Poplak/s?rh=n%3A916520%2Cp_27%3ALorna+Poplak
What sort of research do you do for your work?
Research is the lifeblood of any nonfiction writer. As I work, I comb through the more traditional sources, which in my case include government documents, books, articles, and audio and visual materials. With my first book, Drop Dead, which was purely historical, I found another very rich vein of material: archival newspapers. Before the advent of newer media such as radio and television, people relied on print media for reports of local and global events. Good news for the modern researcher is that many of these papers are now available online, and I have on so many occasions burned the midnight oil looking for that last critical piece of the jigsaw puzzle! With The Don, I came across another equally fascinating source of info and local colour: interviews with architects, former jail officials and city authorities, and even inmates who did their time in Toronto’s notorious jail.
Which books and authors do you read for pleasure? Is there an author that inspires you?
I read nonfiction for research purposes — and for pleasure! At the moment, I’m dipping into two recent Canadian books. The first is Nate Hendley’s The Boy on the Bicycle, which unearths the largely forgotten case in the 1950s of Ron Moffatt, a Toronto boy wrongfully convicted of murder. The second is Bush Runner, which follows the rollicking adventures of Pierre-Esprit Radisson. Author Mark Bourrie describes the 17th century pioneer as “an eager hustler with no known scruples.” I also consume loads of fiction. One of my particular favourites is News of the World by Paulette Jiles. Set in Texas in the 1870s, it describes the tortuous journey of a grizzled war veteran turned ambulant news reader to reunite a young hostage with her family. The book is a wonderful combination of meticulous research, engaging characters, and a gripping plot — all woven together with brilliant and evocative prose.
I have always read broadly — classic and modern fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and even children’s literature. I am constantly coming across inspired and inspiring authors. I would be hard pressed to limit the list to a single name.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
My reply to this question is entirely predictable! I remember with great fondness a language teacher in my last year of high school. She told me I had potential and encouraged me to write with honesty and passion.
Conceived as a “palace for prisoners,” the Don Jail never lived up to its promise. Although based on progressive nineteenth-century penal reform and architectural principles, the institution quickly deteriorated into a place of infamy where both inmates and staff were in constant danger of violence and death. Its mid-twentieth-century replacement, the New Don, soon became equally tainted.
Along with investigating the origins and evolution of Toronto’s infamous jail, The Don presents a kaleidoscope of memorable characters — inmates, guards, governors, murderous gangs, meddlesome politicians, harried architects, and even a pair of ill-fated lovers whose doomed romance unfolded in the shadow of the gallows.
This is the story of the Don’s tumultuous descent from palace to hellhole, its shuttering and lapse into decay, and its astonishing modern-day metamorphosis.
DROP DEAD: A HORRIBLE HISTORY OF HANGING IN CANADA
Take a journey through notable cases in Canada’s criminal justice history, featuring well-known and some lesser-known figures from the past. You'll meet Arthur Ellis, Canada’s most famous hangman, whose work outfit was a frock coat and striped trousers, often with a flower pinned to his lapel. Other memorable characters include the man who was hanged twice and the gun-toting bootlegger who was the only woman every executed in Alberta.
Drop Dead illustrates how trial, sentencing, and punishment operated in Canada’s first century, and examines the relevance of capital punishment today. Along the way, the book presents the mathematics and physics behind hangings, as well as disturbing stories of bungled executions and wrongful convictions.
February 6, 2021
Andris Bear talks about Enter the Witch and Witchful Thinking
Welcome to Bestselling Paranormal Romance and Cozy Paranormal Mystery author, Andris Bear!
Bestselling Paranormal Romance and Cozy Paranormal Mystery author, Andris Bear, weaves snark and dark wit into her sexy tales of demons, angels, witches, and hot cops. Though she's always loved to slip into a great story, the writing bug didn't bite until Andris had three small children—just in time to have not a moment to herself.
She loves sexy, bullheaded heroes, dark chocolate, and a strong cup of coffee. Get in the way of any one of those and there will be violence.
Though she currently resides near Raleigh, NC with her own dashing hero and their mini villains, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Bookbub
Website and other links to your social media pages.
Website: https://www.andrisbear.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrisbear
Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrisbear
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrisbearauthor/
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
Humor. There is nothing better than making others laugh. I tried writing a dark and serious book once, but just didn't work. At all.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
When I'm in book mode, I have to write every day. If I take even one day off, it'll turn into two. Then three. I'm really good at finding other things to do.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
Probably in the same place, doing the same thing, with just a bigger backlist. Or signing a movie deal that will make me a millionaire. Hey, I can dream, can't I?
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
I think it's the same advice any writer would give. In the first draft, nothing matters. Sit down. Write. Ignore the mistakes and enjoy the process.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?
I read it without break, then got the next one.
What are you working on now?
I'm working on the final book in my Witches of Whisper Grove series, which will tie up all loose ends and launch a new series! I'm very excited about what's coming next!
ENTER THE WITCH
A laugh-out-loud Cozy Paranormal Mystery!
Some witches are born to their craft. Some of us fall face-first into it.
Evangeline Winther has just landed her dream job as a librarian in Whisper Grove, NC. The fact that she also discovered she’s the lost heir to a centuries-old coven of witches is not so dreamy.
She can’t control her powers.
She can’t cast a spell.
And—let down of a lifetime—no one rides a broom.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2GdCWeF
iBooks: https://goo.gl/4oUhMT
Google Play: https://goo.gl/ZyqH5u
Kobo: https://goo.gl/bqkXX4
WITCHFUL THINKING
Evangeline Winther accepts that she is a witch... but is she a capable one? Eh, not so much.
She can’t control her powers.
She can’t cast a spell.
And—let down of a lifetime—no one rides a broom.
But she does have the love of her hot mechanic and her ever faithful—if somewhat annoying—cat. Things are looking up.
Until someone runs her off the road.
Now she must figure out who—or what—is trying to kill her.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2DfU6UX
iBooks: https://goo.gl/i2eJbd
Google Play: https://goo.gl/U6f4gL
Kobo: https://goo.gl/EWDKXc
February 2, 2021
Penelope Cress tells us about Holy Homicide and Divine Death
Welcome to Penelope Cress, author of the Reverend Jessamy Ward Mystery Series!
Penelope Cress lives on an island off the coast of Kent, England, with her four children and an elderly Jack Russell Terrier. A lover of murder mystery and cups of tea (served with a stack of digestive biscuits), she writes quaint cosy mysteries and other feel-good stories from a corner table in the vintage tea shop on the high street. Penelope loves nostalgia and all things retro. Her taste in music is also very last century.
Website – www.penelopecress.com
Twitter - @PenelopeCress
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PenelopeCressWriter
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/penelopecresswriter
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.co.uk/penelope5046
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
When I was younger, I trained to be an actress. I learnt about various methods for getting into a role and I think that helps with my writing. Readers say that they love my characters, even the setting is a character. I see them in my mind like a movie. I spend most of my prep time on the characters - their quirks, their motivations. And then let them loose. They live their story. I just take notes.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
I try to write every day. I find that when I leave it for a few days, those days become weeks and often months and then it becomes a terrifying prospect to return to. Once I start again, I wonder what the issue was as I love writing! I am part of a writers’ group than runs online sprints three times a day across all time zones and I aim to join at least one of them each day. Most days I manage two online sprints and edit etc. outside of those times. I am always trying to be more disciplined because when I am I get better results.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
In five years, I want to be able to give up the day job and be more mobile, earning enough from my books to travel and write as I go.
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
Get out of your own way! I spent years writing my first book. The whole Wesberrey series was heavily inspired by my mother. I wanted to publish it so, hopefully, I could start to earn enough money to reduce my day job hours and spend more time with her as she was not well. I wasted so much time. Even when I had the first book finished, I didn’t show her. I wanted it to be perfect. Sadly, she took very ill suddenly and died ten days later. I eventually published on what would have been her 80thbirthday six months later. I didn’t earn enough money to give up the day job, but the worse bit is that my mother never got to see my work in print. As they say, time waits for no man. It will never be perfect – just do it!
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?
I didn’t want it to end.
What are you working on now?
I am increasing my workload as I am writing two books. The fifth book in the Wesberrey series, Consecrated Crime is underway, and I have outlined a second series and have begun to plot the first book. I am also working on a short story for an upcoming anthology.
HOLY HOMICIDE
Despite her cat allergy and her mother’s warnings of doom and disaster, Reverend Jessamy Ward is excited to return to the Isle of Wesberrey to take up her promotion as parish priest of St. Bridget’s Abbey.
Tourists know Wesberrey is famous for three things: there are no cars, there are lots of cats, and there is a legendary fertility well. Shortly after Jess’s arrival, it will be famous for something else - murder!
Can Jess root out the killer or will the unearthing of her own family’s mystical pagan history threaten to destroy her new life?
Holy Homicide is the first book in the exciting new Reverend Jessamy Ward Mystery Series by Penelope Cress.
Escape to a new mystery. Buy Holy Homicide to explore the often quirky and sometimes seedy secrets on the Isle of Wesberrey today!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085298YK2
DIVINE DEATH
Things appear to be settling down in the island parish of St. Bridget's, and Rev Jess Ward is enjoying the relative peace in the lead up to Pentecost. So, maybe it's unwise to invite in the local archaeological society to dig up the old well?
What will the dig beneath the floor of the baptismal font uncover?
Spring is a time of fresh starts and new beginnings. Is that romance we smell in the air?
Life is skipping along until a sudden death takes the spring out of Jess’s step.
Old rivalries, deception and ambition are all viable motives for violence, but could it be a crime of passion, or even self-defence?
In a mystery that appears to involve some of her closest family and friends, Jess turns to her ancient past to help solve this latest tragedy.
Divine Death is the fourth book in the Isle of Wesberrey Series.
Find out more about the island's history as the latest mystery unfolds. Buy Divine Death now!
January 30, 2021
June Storer tells us about Hotter Than Coffee and You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It
Welcome to author June Storer!
June Storer is an Author of Romance and Fantasy books and I was born in Birmingham in the United Kingdom and still live locally. Like most people, my life has had its ups and downs and I have learnt many valuable lessons on my journey. I previously worked for the National Health Service for 26 years, in varying roles ranging from Nursing to Administration. It was from here that I started to notice the rich diversity of society, there were so many interesting characters and so many unbelievable situations which I had found myself in and I soon realised that truth was definitely stranger than fiction. It was then that I started to write and I have not stopped since. I am also a qualified Reiki Practitioner. My interests include reading of course, movies, rock music, yoga, spiritualism and I also film and take part in paranormal investigations. My little rescue dog also keeps me fit and active on our daily walks out into the breathtaking scenery in the UK.
Social Media Platforms and Website:
Author J Storer (31) J Storer Author - Posts
J Storer (@jstorerauthor) • Instagram photos and videos
J Storer Author (@j_storer) / Twitter
J. Storer (Author of You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It) | Goodreads
What is your latest release?
My latest release is "Hotter Than Coffee" which is a contemporary romance story. Pippa the Protagonist, has a disability which she acquired as a child but hasn't let it stop her from living a normal life. Unfortunately, she has been on the receiving end of disparaging comments and behaviour from other people, and as much as she has tried to ignore what has happened previously, it has left a residue upon her. I decided to write about a character who had a disability because a family member of mine became disabled from an accident and I saw first hand how it affected them and us as a family. I remember an incident when they were discriminated against and I stepped in to educate the person who did it. In this story I tried to emphasise about the difficulties which we all face in life and tried to express how sometimes these problems can add extra stress to someone who might be struggling, but also trying to emphasise how with determination and tenacity most things in life are possible.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on my new book which features some romance but has more of a fantasy storyline, involving witchcraft, magic and otherworldly themes. It has been really satisfying to allow my vivid imagination to take flight and start writing down all the crazy ideas which I usually have on a daily basis.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
After spending most of my life with my head stuck in a book and always working out the endings to films etc, my family repeatedly encouraged me to put pen to paper and start writing my own stories. I also took inspiration from Angela Marsons who is a local Author, based near to where I live in the United Kingdom. She was unfortunately made redundant from her job and had been trying to get her work published for a while without any success. Eventually her perseverance paid off and she is now an international bestselling Author. Her amazing story also encouraged me to write and I am so glad that I did.
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
Having led a colourful life, my main strengths as a writer come from my life experiences and I know that the younger me would not have been able to write from the heart like I do now. Like most of us, I have lived through ups and downs in life and have come out the otherside as a wiser and more empathetic person. I also have an active imagination, which enables me to think up ideas and subject matter to write about.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
I try to write everyday, sometimes it may only be a few lines or it could be a few paragraphs. Scattered all around my home, are blank notepads and pens, so that I can jot down any ideas or sentences which suddenly ping up in my mind. I tend to wake up in the morning with my head brimming over with ideas and if I don't scribble them down straight away, by lunchtime they are nothing more than a distant memory, of which I can't recall. When I was previously working full time during the day, I used to only be able to write during the evening and this has now become a normal routine for me, but if I am going out in the evening, I ensure that I do write during the daytime instead.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
In five years time, I would like to be an established writer and have written and published many more books. I am also experimenting with poetry and writing stories in other genres at the moment, so maybe some of my future books might be completely different from what I write now, but that is what I love about being a writer, the possibilities are endless.
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT
Penelope Carter is the Midlands favourite radio Agony Aunt, who seemingly lives a perfect life. Married to a handsome Doctor, her obverse way of thinking encourages her callers to do the wrong thing, to take the immoral path, without thinking about the consequences. Penelope's world begins to unravel with the emergence of her lost love, world renown Celebrity Chef, Marcus Day. Will she decide to follow her own advice and see what fate karma brings or can Penelope Carter really have her cake and eat it?
You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It eBook: Storer, J: Amazon.co.uk: Books
HOTTER THAN COFFEE
Pippa had known what discrimination was from a young age and had learnt from her own experiences what a cold place the world could be. Unexpectedly falling in love, the safe environment which she had built all around her, suddenly started to disintegrate. Discovering that she had been humiliatingly betrayed by the one person whom she thought that she could trust and with yet another further traumatic event, Pippa was pushed to the very edge of sanity. Would she have the emotional strength to survive and rise again or had she finally reached her breaking point?
January 26, 2021
Colleen Baxter tells us about Where The Red Moon Rises and her Crossover Series
Colleen Baxter is a simple college professor and former paleomammalogist. I like to incorporate extinct animals and biological tidbits in my writing. I have five children, spanning the ages from 10 - 37 (the younger three are adopted). When I am not grading lab reports or cooking for my family, I am dreaming of worlds far away and writing about them.
Website: https://www.colleennbaxter.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colleen.n.baxter
Newsletter: https://storyoriginapp.com/giveaways/88345bcc-2c11-11eb-96c4-3f4147257a22
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleennbaxter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20094826.Colleen_Baxter
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
I think my strengths are my scientific knowledge and dialogue. I try to make sure each character has a distinct voice that comes through in their speech and interactions.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
I write every day, although I will sometimes take off a week or so to decompress between projects. I try to get my teaching work (grading, etc.) done in the morning which frees up the afternoon for writing. On the weekends I tend to work on my writing all day.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
Ha! Still writing, though hopefully able to put teaching aside and work full-time as a writer.
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
Just write. You should always have a project in your mind that is struggling to get out. No matter how hard it is to get the words on paper, just write.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?
Hmmm. I think when I hear someone say they were totally lost in the world, that is the best thing. To think that I managed to put this thing together that can actually transport someone away from their life for a little while is pretty special.
What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on a science fantasy that is a bit of a departure for me. My science fiction trilogy is about to be released, so lots going on!
WHERE THE RED MOON RISES
The last thing Tara Allen remembers is a wall of water slamming into her research vessel, then icy darkness. She awakens on an unfamiliar shore in a world far away—in time and place—from her Long Beach, California home. But Tara is not alone in this strange new world, a primitive place where ancient cultures thrive and long extinct animals roam the land. And the golden-eyed man who rescues her has secrets of his own.
Aleyx Petrov lives in exile from his own people. He can help the beautiful stranger heal, teach her to survive in his world, but he doesn’t dare grow too close to her. Any link to him might taint her in the eyes of his people. Yet when Tara, too, is cast out, it is Aleyx who shelters her once again.
But Tara’s arrival hasn’t gone unnoticed. Others have crossed into Ixtlán before her. Others who are on the brink of war, willing to do whatever it takes to gain the knowledge that Tara doesn’t know she possesses. How can Aleyx protect Tara from this rival faction, when his own people reject him? Can the fragile new love Tara has found replace all that she’s lost, or is it doomed to come to a tragic end in this unearthly world where the red moon rises?
To buy WHERE THE RED MOON RISES:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0852RQF2Q/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0
CROSSOVER SERIES Box Set
Beyond the boundaries of space and time lies Ixtlán. Sometimes Earth bumps into this strange world, allowing things to crossover into a dangerous and primitive place where ancient cultures thrive and long extinct animals roam the land. People are caught in the crossover as well. The descendants of Tsumat Indians, Spanish conquistadors, English travelers, and Russian fur traders live and love and battle on Ixtlán . Prehistoric beasts such as chalicotheres, oreodonts, and hyaenodons live beside pterodactyls. Modern Earth dwellers are dragged through the treacherous portal into Ixtlán as well. And all of them are threatened by arrivals from another mysterious world.
And yet, in this perilous world, there is love to be found, though never without a fight. A woman from California must battle for survival beside a man outcast from his tribe. Can a spoiled son of Éspan earn the trust and love of a Tsumat woman who needs no one? A young man obsessed with adventure is called upon to assist a Sky Lord. Will his quest bring death, or his heart’s desire? A cataclysmic volcano blast brings together others, while a despairing EMT newly crossed over from Earth must discover if love is the best medicine to mend a tattered heart.
As old conflicts and rivalries rear their ugly heads, only the courageous can survive. It doesn’t matter when or how they crossed over into Ixtlán. In a place where death is always just a breath away, the bonds of friendship and family and love will be their only hope.
To buy the CROSSOVER SERIES BOXSET:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HHSMY79/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i2
January 23, 2021
L. E. Glazebrook talks about the Jezebels of Bedlam and The Daughters Return
Welcome to author L. E. Glazebrook! I love her colorful book covers!
L.E. Glazebrook is an independent Australian author who has published two books to date: The Jezebels of Bedlam, and The Daughters Return. Both books are available via Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, as part of an ongoing series which will tell the stories of Tweldor.
Tweldor is a contraction of “the twelve doors,” a citadel built with angelic help to offer sanctuary for those survivors of Atlantis who chose to walk in the light. In the Tweldorian world, Atlantis was a nephilim colony, built by the descendants of Cain. Its citizens, it transpires, were not completely human. Rather, they were the result of intermarriage between nephilim offspring and humans as well as demonic mutations and horrific experiments. The evil inhabitants of Atlantis were plotting to create a genetically perfect superbeing who will dominate and destroy humanity – i.e. the antichrist.
Fast forward to modern times and Tweldor has become more than simply a sanctuary for the more ethical survivors. It has evolved into a place dedicated to teaching demonic hybrids how to live among humans and to fight all that is evil.
Glazebrook's work so far tells the hybrids' stories - their struggles with their demonic ancestry and genetic makeup and their continuing battle to renounce the darkness and act with love. These hybrids are every type of magical or mystical being you can imagine. In Tweldor you are just as likely to meet a werewolf as you are an incubus. You may take high tea with the Fairy Queen, only to enjoy a brandy by the firepit with an off-duty gargoyle guard later.
Website and buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/author/leglazebrook
When she is not here, you can find L.E. Glazebrook on:
Instagram - @leglazebrook
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/storiesbyleg...
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/leglazebrook
Wattpad - https://www.wattpad.com/user/LEGlazeb...
Episode - L.E.Glazebrook
Tell us about your life outside of writing.
“I’m Australian. I grew up in Sydney but I met my husband and soulmate in Brisbane, so this is where my heart and my home is. I’m a wife, not so evil stepmother, and step-grandmother. I feel truly blessed to have such a beautiful family, but I’m also very protective of them, so I don’t share much about them on social media.
Prior to publishing my first book, I worked as a Medical Herbalist and helped write the database for a vitamin company. Unfortunately, my job was eventually made redundant by the same database and now, well… I live my writing. On occasion, you may even have to yell at me to break my Bran-Stark-like trance and pull me out of whatever daydream I happen to be in.
Do you have a work in progress?
Yes, I am currently writing my third book, Beasts of Brisvegas. It picks up the continuing story of Tweldor about a week after the events of book 2. Here’s the blurb that I’ve put on Wattpad, where you can read the first draft:
Our favourite werewolf has found his mate at last, but can he keep her safe?
The Alliance of Shadow Hunters (ASH) plan to eliminate uncooperative shifters as part of their Enlightened Earth campaign.
Will all the beasts of Brisvegas survive? Perhaps the better question is, should they?
Tweldor says yes. ASH says no. Who is right?
This is book 3 in The Chronicles of Tweldor Urban Fantasy Series. While it can be read as a stand-alone book, it will contain plot spoilers, if you've not read the first two books in the series.
What was the most difficult section/piece you ever wrote? What made it difficult?
Writing about Limbo in book 2 was more challenging than I’d anticipated. I’d began the book before my job was made redundant, but then ironically, I was in Limbo myself, without a regular income and a skill set that no one seemed to be interested in. How was I going to write my characters out of Limbo, (a physical place in the Tweldorian world), when metaphorically, I was stuck there myself? It was both stifling and inspiring. On the one hand I could understand how the characters were feeling, but it was so difficult to get it on paper. The emotion was too raw. When I finally did get the words down however, it was truly cathartic. It was as though I was taking the same spiritual journey as my characters. I found the process a little scary, to be honest but there was also a kind of weird recognition and a certain pride that came with it. I think I was beginning to understand what it truly meant to live your art. I think it was at that moment that I “got it,” and I was able to say that I was a writer.
What sort of research do you do for your work?
The main antagonists in my books are demons and their mythology forms the bulk of my research. Sometimes, my internet search history reads like a horror movie… You can imagine some of the more unpleasant things that I’ve stumbled upon. To be honest, I find it extremely disturbing that something like a picture of the baby Jesus can be considered offensive on social media, yet forums freely discussing black magic and how to effectively call a demon or curse someone, is dismissed as freedom of speech. Whether or not magic or curses work, is not the point. The issue for me is that our society thinks that it is acceptable to want to cause someone harm, and there are websites and forums discussing ways to do it. I find that quite terrifying, and it made me determined that my writing would never sugar-coat evil.
Which books and authors do you read for pleasure? Is there an author who inspires you?
I’ll read almost anything as long as it doesn’t contain too much graphic violence but I do tend to gravitate towards fantasy. Growing up, I devoured anything by Enid Blyton, Joan Aiken, and Ursula Le Guinn but it was C.S Lewis who I found particularly inspirational. I’m not embarrassed to admit that even now, I’d love to find a portal to Narnia.
I also love Jane Austen’s style. The way she uses dialogue to really show the characters’ personalities is often hilarious and always brilliant.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
When I was a child, I always had very vivid dreams, and sometimes I’d share the more epic ones with my brother. They would really make us laugh and he’d comment about what an active imagination I had. (He probably meant weird). At some point he suggested that I write some of them down and I did, with a bit of embellishment. I guess that’s how it started.
The Jezebels of Bedlam, by L.E. Glazbrook.
An urban fantasy paranormal mystery thriller with romance, suspense, shape shifters, gargoyles, and a baffled detective...
Can YOU see the TUNNEL? It's cloaked in dark magic, conjured to connect the popular nightclub, BEDLAM to the bordello, JEZEBELS...
Perhaps it is best if you do not find it... People have gone missing... never to be seen, again.
An innocent girl, Rosemonde finds herself naked and shackled... without hope - and yet...
Warriors - among them fae, elves, werewolves, and gargoyles, are aware of the evil that she has suffered and are ready to fight with her, against it.
They traverse portals through the mists of time to the realm of Tweldor - rumoured to have been created by the noble survivors of Atlantis...
These Warriors' heroic deeds are legendary. Soon humans too, will hear their stories.
So begin the Chronicles of Tweldor...
The Jezebels of Bedlam is Book 1 in The Chronicles of Tweldor Urban Fantasy Series. Available know on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/author/leglazebrook
The Daughters Return, by L.E. Glazebrook
Like a lot of people, Theodora thought she had finally found love... But that was before the creatures in her mind found her. They whisper that love is not real and she is listening.
The evil voices have driven her to a place of darkness from which she may never return. The thing is… this isn't just her problem anymore.
Theodora discovers that her fiancé Myrddin has been trapped in the very place that she is struggling to avoid. To free him from a coma caused by dark magic, Theodora must journey to Limbo, where Abraxas, the demon they call the "reaper of minds" performs macabre experiments...
If she fails, Abraxas will trap her in Limbo with Myrddin - both of them insane - probably forever.
Could you do it? Would you go out of your mind for love? “Love conquers all,” right? But... if love is enough to make everything right, then why is a Dragonlord's daughter choosing to remain in Limbo?
Time may heal a broken heart but how do you persuade a broken mind to return to the world that broke it?
The Daughters Returnis Book 2
https://www.amazon.com/author/leglazebrook
