Diane Bator's Blog, page 51
December 22, 2020
Carmen Radtke discusses Murder Makes Waves and The Case of the Missing Bride
Welcome to author Carmen Radtke! I just adore her 1930s inspired covers and her story of how she became an author!
Carmen Radtke has spent most of her life with ink on her fingers and a dangerously high pile of books by her side. She has worked as a newspaper reporter on two continents and always dreamt of becoming a novelist.
When Carmen found herself crouched under her dining table, typing away on what was to become “Walking in the Shadow” between two earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, she realised she was hooked for life.
She’s the author of the cozy historical mysteries “The Case of the Missing Bride”, “Glittering Death”, both featuring Alyssa Chalmers, the Jack Sullivan quick read “False Play at the Christmas Party” and the Jack and Frances historical cozies, “A Matter of Love and Death”, “Murder at the Races”, and “Murder Makes Waves”. She’s busy writing the next Jack and Frances adventure.
When Carmen is not writing, reading or dreaming of travel, she is busy acting as resident cat servant or tap-dancing (badly).
Follow Carmen on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carmen-radtke
Or on Twitter: http://twitter.com/carmenradtke1
Her website (very much a work in progress) is www.carmenradtke.com
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
Apart from my imagination and love of stories? I used to be a journalist, so I tend to be a stickler for research, especially when it comes to my historical cozies. Although it can be tough to say good-bye to some clue or riveting detail because it just doesn’t work with the timeline. Even if it’s something trivial like Cole Porter coming up with the musical “Anything Goes” a couple of years too late. Maybe I should continue the series until Jack and Francs catch up with him … There’s an idea!
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
I write most days, but not to a strict routine. Paid work (I write content articles) burns under my nails until I get them out of the way. If possible. I work on my novels during school hours.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
Hopefully making a decent living from my writing and still enjoying it!
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
First get it written, then get it right. When I was working on my first novel, I spent days agonizing over a wonky paragraph. It’s freeing to allow yourself just to write that first draft without worrying about perfection, put it aside, and then rewrite. Remember, you can take as many drafts as you need.
Also, not everyone will love your work and that’s okay. What matters is that you love it and you’ve done your best. If you intend to publish it, make sure you get feedback from other writers or a professional editor. Take their nots into account but don’t blindly agree “because they know best”. Not every point of critique is valid, but they are all worth mulling over and then deciding if you want to act on them or not.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?
The best compliment was a reader saying about Walking in the Shadow that it had restored her faith in humanity. Another reader emailed me to say that my books had given her a few precious hours of respite during the early weeks of the lockdown. Is there anything better than touching someone’s heart in a positive way?
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the next Jack and Frances mystery, which will take them to France, and on the idea for a new contemporary series. At least being a writer is never boring.
Masquerades, Mimosas ... and murder
It’s a dream come true for Frances Palmer: A voyage from Australia to England on the “Empress of the Sea”, together with her fiancé Jack Sullivan and her Uncle Sal, aka “Salvatore the Magnificent”. They’ve been hired to entertain the passengers with magic tricks and daring stunts.
But all is not well below deck, with jealousy and larceny ruffling the cheerful atmosphere.
Frances and Jack soon find themselves in stormy seas, together with newfound allies. When a passenger is found dead after a costume ball and one of Frances’s new friends is accused of murder, they decide to secretly dive into the case.
Nothing is plain sailing, though, against a cunning murderer. Will Jack and Frances and their friends get to the bottom of the truth, or will they sink in the sea of deception?
Murder Makes Waves is the third mystery in this cozy series set in the early 1930s.
THE CASE OF THE MISSING BRIDE
Setting sail for matrimony – or something sinister?
Meet Alyssa Chalmers. Victorian emigrant. Reluctant bride. Intrepid sleuth.
1862. When a group of young Australian women set sail for matrimony in Canada, they believe it’s the start of a happy new life.
But when one of the intended brides goes missing, only Alyssa Chalmers, the one educated, wealthy woman in the group, is convinced the disappearance is no accident. She sets out to find out what happened.
Has there been a murder?
Alyssa is willing to move heaven and earth to find out the truth. She is about to discover that there is more to her voyage into the unknown than she bargained for, and it may well cost her life.
December 19, 2020
Nancy Lynn Jarvis tells us about The Funeral Murder and a Cozy cookbook!
Welcome mystery writer Nancy Lynn Jarvis!
Nancy Lynn Jarvis left the real estate profession after she started having so much fun writing the Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries series that she let her license lapse. She’s enjoyed writing about Regan and her husband, Tom, but decided it was time to do a new series.
PIP Inc. introduces protagonist downsized law librarian and not-quite-licensed Private Investigator Pat Pirard. “The Funeral Murder” is the second book in the series.
After earning a BA in behavioral science from San Jose State University, Nancy worked in the advertising department of the San Jose Mercury News. A move to Santa Cruz meant a new job as a librarian and later a stint as the business manager for Shakespeare/Santa Cruz at UCSC.
Currently she’s enjoying being a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Santa Cruz Women of Mystery.
Website: www.nancylynnjarvis.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancylynnjarvis
https://www.facebook.com/ReganMcHenryRealEstateMysteries
https://www.facebook.com/ReganMcHenryRealEstateMysteries
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash
Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=nancy+lynn+jarvis&i=stripbooks&sprefix=Nancy+Lynn+Jarvis%2Caps%2C450&ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_17
Tell us about your life outside of writing.
Right now my life is dominated by trying to get home. My house survived the CZU Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains that began on August 17th, but it’s still not habitable. I’m mourning the loss of my gardens and gorgeous forest and it will be well into spring before my home is put back together, but redwood treed are survivors and I’m seeing life and green again. I wasn’t going to rebuild the acre garden, but my life rose―started from a bouquet of pink roses my dad took to my mom in the hospital after I was born―which burned to the ground is growing and even blooming, a sign that my rose and I are not finished yet.
Do you have a work in progress?
I always have a work in progress even if it’s only roaming around in my head. I have the start of the first Geezers with Tools series I’d like to do, but will probably put it aside when I settle down in earnest to write the next book in the PIP Inc. Mysteries series.
I did just add a short story to “Bodies in Bonny Doon,” an e-book on Amazon that I add to as the mood moves me. The Pool Guy is a post fire story, mostly fiction, (I’ll let readers decide where the line is drawn) and if you would like a free copy of the book, send your e-reader address to nancylynnjarvis@gmail.com and I’ll gift you a copy.
What was the most difficult section/piece you ever wrote? What made it difficult?
The hardest bit of writing I’ve ever done is the ending of “The Two-Faced Triplex,” the last book I wrote in the Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries series. When I began that series, my protagonist, Regan, and her husband, Tom, were me and my husband, Craig. The characters immediately took on new names and personalities until the only Nancy and Craig that remained were my Irish heritage and Craig’s intensely blue eyes.
After Craig died, I saw his eyes every time I wrote Tom’s dialogue and it became difficult for me to do. I knew the book would be the last in that series and I debated whether or not Tom would survive the book’s ending. The last few pages were torture to write as I made that decision as I wrote.
What sort of research do you do for your work?
I do extensive research for my books. For example, I know about redwood trees range and how they water themselves, about a small heel bone modern humans no longer have because of the invention of chairs, the history of cat litter, and how batrachotoxin and tetrodotoxin kill, to name just a few of the things I’ve researched. You should see the bizarre ads I get on Facebook because of the research I do.
Which books and authors do you read for pleasure? Is there an author who inspires you?
My favorites are Amy Tan, Margaret Atwood, and two friends, Nancy Wood and Vinnie Hanson. I’ve read everything Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Umberto Eco, Agatha Christie and Tony Hillerman wrote, too. But I usually read non-fiction. I love Doris Kerns Goodwin and David McCullough.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
Inadvertently, yes. I started writing because I was a Realtor who decided to take a time-out when the housing market crashed in 2008 and quickly got bored. I had an idea for a book beginning and end and no idea how I would connect them, but I started writing as a game to entertain myself. A friend who got up before work every day to write was visiting and caught me at my laptop. She was furious about what I was doing and said one couldn’t simply decide to write a book without taking classes, have a mentor and a critic circle, and suffering for their art.
Although she was disciplined and, I thought, a terrific writer based on what I read of what she wrote, she never finished anything because of all the advice about how her book(s) should progress she received from all those influences.
I took her ire as a challenge and finished “The Death Contingency” to show her I could, but never intended to do anything with it. That changed when she called a few months later and said she was dying. She said she regretted never finishing a book and seeing her name in print. I dusted off my manuscript and self-published it in a hurry with a dedication to Charlotte Bridges so she could see her name in print before she died.
The curious thing about writing mysteries is that you tend to get hooked on writing them, so I couldn’t stop after just that one.
THE FUNERAL MURDER
In The Glass House, the first book in the PIP Inc. Mysteries series Pat Pirard, recently downsized Santa Cruz Law Librarian, needed to find a new job in a hurry. She printed business cards announcing she was Private Investigator Pat and crossed her fingers, hoping she could earn enough money working for attorneys as a PI to survive. Pat’s first investigation went well, so she’s excited when she gets a call from an estate attorney who offers her a second job. The attorney tells Pat his client died at a funeral and he needs help sorting out who is entitled to inherit her estate. Pat quickly discovers the dead woman’s past is as complicated as her estate. And when an autopsy indicates she had two deadly toxins in her body when she died, Pat’s new case becomes not only complicated, but dangerous.
COZY FOOD Normally I wouldn’t include a book I edited, but it’s the holiday gift giving season and this cookbook is a fabulous gift for foodies and cozy mystery fans!
What happens when 128 cozy mystery writers get together to do a cookbook? You get more than 220 recipes that are as varied and interesting as an amateur sleuth’s day job. Regional recipes come from every part of the United States and England — a couple find their way from Australia and Italy, too — and from diverse times. There are recipes from people looking to keep gluten out of their lives, eat vegetarian, or make a treat or two for their furry four-legged friends. And yes, there are recipes that appeal to the sweet tooth, lots of them, in fact. There’s no mystery about what happens when cozy writers get together. They bring the wit, inventiveness, and adventure found in their books right along with their recipes. The recipes are introduced by their authors and linked to the writer bios in the back of the book. You can look up your favorite cozy writer and see which recipes are their favorites; they'll tell you what the recipe means to them. Or you can enjoy a dish and then link to the recipe's author's biography and books. Either way you enjoy the cookbook, you're sure to find great new recipes to make and terrific new cozy authors to read.
December 18, 2020
Round Robin Blog Fest - Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! It's been a year. Enough said about that, let's have a little fun today!
Our last Round Robin Blog Fest for 2020 is always a good one. Write a short story, flash fiction, or use an excerpt from one of your books. One of the things I realized this year is that I only have ONE book set at Christmastime. In light of that, I pulled out a story I'd started last summer and just hadn't gone back to yet, but it's a story that wants to be told.
In a light-hearted Hallmark style, it's about a single mom with two kids. Her daughter has Down's Syndrome and her son is exceptionally talented in his own way. Kennedy Fowler has inherited a family home lovingly called The Doctor's Inn and has opened it as a bed and breakfast to be able to stay home with her kids. That is how they meet Mr. Bah-Humbug, actor Shawn Kyle who is in town to perform in a show at the local theatre for the holidays.
Here for your reading pleasure, is a rough version of a work-in-progress called The Doctor's Inn...
“But everyone needs to have a Christmas tree.” Teagan stood and held out her hands as if completely exasperated by the situation. Her slanted eyes were wide behind the thick lenses of her glasses.
Her mom shook her head. “Teag, not everyone celebrates Christmas the way we do. Some people have different traditions or different cultures even.”
The girl’s eyes grew impossibly wider. “No way.”
“Maybe Mr. Kyle is Jewish.” Kennedy leaned against the door jamb.
“What’s Jewish?” Teagan asked then turned to Shawn. “Are you Jewish?”
“No, but I have friends who are.” He grinned. “They celebrate Hanukkah and have their own traditions like lighting a menorah and having twelve days of gifts.”
“Twelve days?” Her mouth dropped open. “Mom, can we be Jewish this year?”
Kennedy sighed. “That’s not quite how it works, honey. How about if we bake some cookies this afternoon? That will keep you from hounding our guests.”
Teagan hopped up and down a few times and clapped her hands. “Cookies. Mr. Kyle, do you like cookies? Maybe my mom and I can make you a Christmas cookie tree instead.”
“I’d like that.” Shawn met Kennedy’s gaze. His smile softened.
The girl ran toward her mother then paused before she turned to face him. “Do you want me to decorate it too?”
He glanced at his watch. “Since I have to leave for the theatre soon, that might be the best idea. I’ll bet you’ll do a fabulous job.”
“Of course I will.” She ran out of the room without another glance back.
“Sorry about that.” Kennedy winced. “Usually she asks a few questions then keeps her herself. For some reason, she’s taken a shine to. She seems determined not to give you any peace. It’s okay if you tell her you need some quiet time. She might be differently abled, but she can understand when someone needs privacy.”
Shawn stood and stretched. He’d never heard someone call a person with Down’s Syndrome “differently abled.” It suited Teagan perfectly. “It’s fine. She’s sweet. She’s also a lot smarter and more confident than I was at her age.”
“Funny,” she said. “I would have thought that as an actor you would have been the class clown and full of more confidence than anyone could handle.”
“No.” His face warmed. “I was the guy in the middle of the classroom with his head down and a comic book to cover the outside of a classic novel. Sometimes I’d listen to the teacher, but not always.”
Kennedy juggled the laundry basket to get a better grip. “I’d better get this started or it’ll be midnight before anyone has clean bedding today.”
The loud clatter of utensils hitting a hard surface came from the kitchen followed by the scrape of a chair across the floor and cupboards banging.
“It sounds like Teagan’s setting up to make cookies.” He smiled.
“Oh no. She meant right now, didn’t she?” Kennedy’s face paled as she dropped the laundry basket on the floor. Sheets and pillowcases fell out while she raced toward the kitchen.
Shawn followed and stopped short when he spied the eight-year-old at the kitchen island with boxes and bags from the cupboard sitting everywhere. She glanced up and grinned, her teeth coated in brown from eating chocolate chips. In front of her sat a bowl filled with various ingredients. He covered his mouth as he tried to stifle a laugh.
Kennedy’s expression wavered between amusement and resignation. “Could you do me a favor, Teag? Please don’t add anything else to that bowl until I get the laundry going, okay? When I get back, we’ll start over to make sure they don’t taste like smelly shoes or anything.”
“Okay, Mama. I’ll wait.” Teagan bowed her head and stirred the current contents of her bowl. At least she hadn’t added any liquids yet.
Once Kennedy left to throw the bedding in the washing machine, Shawn strolled over to check out the bowl. “What kind of cookies are you making?”
“Christmas tree cookies.” Teagan held up a wooden spoon. “Want to taste?”
“I’ll wait until they’re baked.” He leaned back slightly as he caught an overpowering whiff of pine or cedar. He was never sure which tree was which. “What’s that smell? Did you shove a whole Christmas tree in there?”
Teagan giggled. She handed him a little brown bottle with a simple white label. “It is one of mom’s special magic potions she makes. They make the house smell good, but I bet they would make my cookies taste great.”
Shawn read the bottle then frowned. “Cedar essential oil. I’m not so sure those are supposed to be used in cookies. I think you should ask your mom so we don’t poison anyone.”
“Did I do a bad thing?” Tears shone in her wide eyes.
He placed the bottle on the counter. “You were trying to do something nice for a friend. I don’t think that’s part is so bad, is it?”
“Not unless I poison him and make him sick.” Teagan wiped the back of her hand across her face and left a trail of white flour from the far corner of her eye straight across her button nose and rosy cheek.
Shawn chuckled. “You have flour on your face.”
“Really?” This time she wiped her entire arm across her face which smeared flour on her sweater as well. Then she reached into the bowl and wiped her powder-coated finger on his cheek. “So do you, Mr. Kyle.”
“Some friend you are.” He huffed before he reached into the bowl to dabbed more flour on her nose.
She copied him again, this time using so much flour it cascaded down the front of his shirt. Their laughter seemed to bounce off the kitchen walls as they threw flour at each other by the handful. With each throw, the kitchen began to look like a snowstorm blew through.
“What are you two doing?” Kennedy’s sharp voice came like a bucket of ice water.
Teagan and Shawn both froze in mid-toss. They stared at each other with their mouths hanging open and hands full of flour. Slowly, they faced Kennedy and winced.
She snapped a picture of them both. “You two are so busted. That one’s going on the inn’s website. I can’t think of a better way to show people how much fun we have around here at Christmas, can you?”
Shawn swiped one more smear of flour across Teagan’s forehead. “I know I can’t.”
The girl flashed an impish grin. “At least we both smell like Christmas trees.”
“Yeah, and we look like powdered jelly donuts.” He chuckled.
“Jelly donuts? I love jelly donuts.” Teagan raised her eyebrows then began to giggle.
She went to slap her hand down on the counter as she chuckled and hit the rim of the bowl. Flour, chocolate chips, cedar oil, and chunks of walnuts flew all over the countertop, the floor, Teagan, and Shawn.
As Kennedy howled with laughter, her son Reese came running into the room from his bedroom. He took a couple steps back as he gasped. Once his own giggles kicked in, he had to lean against the wall in order to stand up.
Tears ran down Shawn’s face as he held onto the counter for support. He had no idea when the last time was he’d laughed so hard that his face and stomach hurt. His life just hadn’t been that funny until now.
Kennedy took a few more pictures then reached out to shake some of the flour out of Teagan’s hair. She kissed her daughter’s powdered forehead leaving the imprint of her lips behind. “Why don’t you go take a shower while I clean up, young lady? Reese, could you help your sister turn on the shower. The tap’s been a bit sticky again.”
“Yup. Come on, Cookie.” Reese tried to keep his distance, but Teagan chased him down the hallway determined to hug him.
Shawn started to wipe the mess off the counter and back into the bowl before he glanced at the clock. “I’d better do the same if I plan to make it to rehearsal on time. I’m sorry about leaving you with the mess. I could call the director and—”
“I’m used to it.” She flashed a smile. “I’m glad you’re not upset about being covered in flour and whatever else she put in there.”
He took a whiff of his shirt. “At least I smell good. All I need is some tinsel.”
“Like a cedar forest or a Christmas tree.” She paused. “How did she manage that?”
Shawn handed her the bottle of cedar oil. “Do cedars make good Christmas trees?”
“Spruce trees work better. Pines are nice too.” She studied the little brown bottle. “I guess I’d better move my oils before she starts making mad scientist potions with them when I’m not around.”
He swiped his finger along the countertop. As he walked past Kennedy, he wiped it off on her cheek. “Have a fun day.”
HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON!
Diane
Please drop by to wish these amazing writers Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, etc!!
Skye Taylor Anne Stenhouse Victoria Chatham Helena Fairfax Dr. Bob Rich Connie Vines Fiona McGier Margaret Fieland Beverley Bateman Rhobin L Courtright
December 17, 2020
Amy Grundy has a new release, Murder to Go!
Welcome back Amy Grundy! Congratulations on the new release!
Amy Grundy
I was born and mostly raised in North Carolina, until I moved with my family to Texas. My met my husband here in Texas and we have been happily married for over 43 years. We live in the Houston area with our dog Oy, and 4 cats, Niko, Cholula, Rorschach and Echo. I am fortunate to have both my children Heather and Jason and my grandchildren, Giselle, Angel and Isabella all living nearby. After working over 26 years in the nursing field, I retired in 2019. Now I am enjoying writing full time. I didn’t start writing cozy mysteries until the spring of 2019 and my first book Murder Down the Hill was released mid – May 2020. Since then, I have released books 2 through 8 in the Copper Ridge Mystery series. Actually, writing was something I never thought I could do. My husband was the person who first encouraged me to try my hand at writing cozy mysteries. I have since discovered, that I really enjoy writing and the process of creating characters and their stories.
Website: www.amygrundy.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmyGrundyAuthor/
Instagram: www.instagram.com>amygrundyauthor
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/review/list/110874076-amy-grundy
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Amy-Grundy/e/B088X27KLH
Amazon Series page: https://www.amazon.com/Copper-Ridge-Mystery-Book/dp/B08NY9LB3J/
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
Routine and the desire to create engaging characters. My routine is discussed more in question #2. The next might be my drive to create engaging characters. To me this is almost as important as the mystery aspect of a cozy mystery. My goal is to create characters, that are fun, likeable and that my readers enjoy reading about.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
Honestly, I usually spend time writing seven days a week. Routine works very well for me. My previous job was a work at home position. Even though I worked at home, I was required to work a standard 8 to 4:30 day. This routine has been beneficial to me in my writing. Although I might get a start later than 8 am, I consider writing my job. I try to finish up my morning activities, then sit down at my computer for a day of writing. On the days when something comes up and I don’t write, I almost feel guilty, like I’m not doing enough.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
Beside my current series, I have covers for three additional cozy mystery series. I would love to have all four series completed within the next five years.
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to follow your dream, even if it takes you a while. Most writers continue to work a full-time job while writing their first book. Even if you only have small blocks of time to write during your day, use it. Write for 10 or 20 or 30 minutes, it will add up. Time will pass whether you write or not, so you might as well make the most of your time and write. Before you know it, you’ll have finished.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?
So far, my best compliments involve people who tell me they are ready for the next book in the series. As a fairly new author, it is incredible to think someone actually wants to read what I write and even looks forward to my next book. I think the best compliment I could get from a reader might be, that my stories draw them in and provide them with books entertain and even a little happiness.
What are you working on now?
A Twin Sisters Mystery series – It will be a 4-book series, with the first book due to be released the spring of 2021. They live in a coastal town
MURDER TO GO – Book 8 of the Copper Ridge Mystery series
A pizza is ordered... But a murder is delivered.
It has been quite an eventful week in Copper Ridge, but not in a good way. First, there was a marriage proposal that went horribly wrong. Next, she was witness to a bitter argument between two neighbors. Then there was that gorgeous arrangement of roses that Maggie had put together, heaved down the driveway...the glass vase shattering into a million pieces.
If things weren’t bad enough, now someone is dead and as usual, Emily feels the need to jump into the middle of the investigation. She has finally figured it out when her call to Alex is interrupted. She hears a cold harsh voice behind her... and something cold and metallic is pressed up against the back of her head. Her heart is pounding, and she can feel the sweat trickling down her back...she is definitely in over her head. How is Alex even going to begin to find her? Or will she be able to talk herself out of this?
Read: Murder to Go - Book #8 of the Copper Ridge Mystery series.
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Go-Copper-Ridge-Mystery-ebook/dp/B08NY4S498/
MURDER ON THE RIVER – Book #9 of the Copper Ridge Mystery Series – coming later this month
Emily has finally received the email she’s been waiting for. She has finally heard from her long-lost aunt and she can’t wait to meet her.
In addition, Emily’s best friend Maggie will soon be getting married.
When Emily and her friends decide to enjoy a day of rafting, they envision a perfect day together. But when Emily falls overboard, their perfect day abruptly ends. She swims to shore, only to find that she isn’t the only person on the shore.
Alex starts to investigate and Emily isn’t too far behind with her own.
Will meeting her aunt or helping Maggie plan her wedding keep Emily occupied? Or is she going to jump right into the middle of the investigation?
Read: Murder on the River - Book #9 of the copper Ridge Mystery series.
December 15, 2020
Diana Rubino talks about From Here to 14th Street and For the Love of Hawthorne
Welcome to author Diana Rubino!
Join us for a glimpse of some great historical romances!
Diana Rubino writes about folks through history who shook things up. Her passion for history and travel has taken her to every locale of her books, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, and New York. Her urban fantasy romance, FAKIN’ IT, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Richard III Society, and the Aaron Burr Association. When not writing, she owns CostPro, Inc., an engineering business, with her husband Chris. In her spare time, Diana bicycles, golfs, does yoga, plays her piano, devours books, and lives the dream on her beloved Cape Cod.
Connect with Diana:
My Website : www.dianarubino.com
My Blog : www.dianarubinoauthor.blogspot.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/DianaRubinoAuthor/?ref=hl
Twitter : https://twitter.com/DianaLRubino
Goodreads : http://bit.ly/1V3GCgt
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
I’ve been told by readers and editors that my historical details are marvelous—that’s a great compliment, because I spend a lot of time on research, fueling my passion for history. I try to get all my facts correct, and enjoy doing as much digging as I need to. It wasn’t as instant before we had the internet, so I had to rely on the history books, and was fortunate to find experts and scholars to help me along.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
When I’m in the throes of a work in progress, I work weekdays, from late morning until I’ve written 2,500 words, my daily goal. Some days it takes longer than others to reach that goal, but I don’t stop till I get there. Before writing every day, I re-read and edit what I’ve written the day before.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
I want to continue writing biographical novels about strong women. I have a dear friend Angela Rosati who is 91, and still writing historical romances. If she can do it, I can do it (but I’m more than a few decades away from her age!)
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
To all you aspiring novelists slaving away: keep writing. Keep practicing. Most of all, don’t ever give up on your dream. Just having a dream makes you very special. If you get impatient because it’s taking so long, just ask yourself this: Why does 16-year Scotch take 16 years? Some things are worth waiting for.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?
That it made them laugh, or it made them cry. Then I know I did my job, because storytelling is about evoking emotion.
What are you working on now?
I’m finishing up a novel about Edith (Mrs. Theodore) Roosevelt, set in the 1890’s. She was very devoted to her husband and children, but I gave her another dimension in my book—she becomes a valuable asset to the New York Police Department, of which Theodore was Police Commissioner during this time, and assists them in finding a serial killer—actually, she finds him all by herself.
FROM HERE TO 14th STREET
It's 1894 on New York's Lower East Side. Irish cop Tom McGlory and Italian immigrant Vita Caputo fall in love despite their different upbringings. Vita goes from sweatshop laborer to respected bank clerk to reformer, helping elect a mayor to beat the Tammany machine. While Tom works undercover to help Ted Roosevelt purge police corruption, Vita's father arranges a marriage between her and a man she despises. As Vita and Tom work together against time and prejudice to clear her brother and father of a murder they didn't commit, they know their love can survive poverty, hatred, and corruption. Vita is based on my great grandmother, who left third grade to become a self-made businesswoman and politician, wife and mother.
Universal Amazon purchase link: getBook.at/NewYorkSagaBookOne
FOR THE LOVE OF HAWTHORNE
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s courtship of Sophia Peabody lasted over three years because he insisted on keeping it secret. He had his reasons, none of which Sophia agreed with. But she knew they were destined for each other and he was worth the wait. When they married in 1842 “we became Adam and Eve alone in our Garden of Even” she wrote in her journal. But not all was paradise in their Eden—Nathaniel bore a burden that plagued his family since 1692. His ancestor Judge Hathorne condemned 19 innocent victims to death during the Salem witch trials. His heinous deeds brought shame and guilt upon the family through the centuries. In her last moments on earth, Sarah Good cursed the judge and his descendents from the hanging tree. Nathaniel’s belief in this curse haunted and tormented him until Sophia made it her quest to save him. This love story portrays the lives of two kindred souls whose legacy endures through the ages.
Universal Amazon purchase link: getbook.at/LoveOfHawthorne
December 12, 2020
Escape With a Writer. Tis the Season...
Yesterday we had rain. It was a great day to curl up inside with a good book - or even write one. Instead, I went out to pick up a few items at the nearby store then baked and prepped some dough for cookies. I'm looking forward to having one of my kids come home for a few days.And preparing treats for his friends.And getting Christmas cards ready to mail.
To be honest, I haven't sent out Christmas cards in so many years. Between my marriage ending, juggling jobs, kids, and life...the motivations just wasn't there.
Hello, 2020.This was it. The year the world has gone a little crazy and most of us just need a lot more kindness and to know that other people are thinking about us when we feel locked away in our own little worlds.I've been grateful this year to virtually meet some amazing people who I get to chat with a great deal even though we live across the planet from each other.I'm able to be a part of meetings that I could never attend in person due to distance and time.I have taken classes in things that interest me and able to learn at my own pace while I work from home.My cats have become extremely attached to the point that if I go out for an hour, I get interrogated when I get home. They've become a bit more demanding know that I'm around 24/7!And now comes Christmas....
Like everyone else, I've struggled with holiday cheer. Finding it. Keeping it. Sharing it.Then I bought a couple packs of Christmas cards. At first, I only sent out cards to co-workers and a few writing friends. Until I got a virtual card from my publisher. Suddenly, it was simple to send cards to everyone I have hosted this year on Escape With a Writer. Friends and family who live across the country, and Facebook friends as well.
As a fun activity this season, one of my cousins posted that she wanted to exchange Christmas cards with recipes inside. One more rush to the store. But a surge of Christmas spirit and warmth. I can't wait to sit and decide which recipes to send people while I bask in the glow of my little tree.
Nope, that isn't it. That is the tree that stands outside the building I normally work in. Mine is about 4 feet tall. LOL! It makes me smile because the ornaments on it are special to me.
Of course, I have to get in the "Buy my Book" part of the blog! One of the best ways to pass a winter day, is by reading. That's going to be part of my plan for the holidays. To read a few of those books that are on my TBR pile (To be read!) For now though, I hope you'll check out my books if you haven't already.
The best place to start is with my Author page on my Publisher's website: http://bookswelove.net/bator-diane/As well, I've created a fun little video to tell you about each of my books. I hope you enjoy it!
Happy Holidays! (I'll save the Merry Christmas for The Big Day!)Diane
December 10, 2020
Karin Thompson discusses My Journey to Enjoying My Life and Encouragement for the Weary Soul
Welcome to author Karin Thompon!
Karin Thompson
As an author, I have a passion to write books that will keep people turning the pages and to give them something a little deeper to think about long after the last page has been read. My passion is to encourage the Body of Christ in their faith and to not only help them grow closer to God but to also help them fulfil their God-given assignments for life. To help people reach their full potential in Christ.
Thank you for taking the time to read a little about me. If you’re keen to connect with me further, you can visit my webpage at https://www.karinthompson.com/or follow me on https://www.facebook.com/karinthompson.authoror https://www.instagram.com/karint.thompson_author
And if you’d like to sign up to my newsletter to receive regular news from me, you can do so here https://www.karinthompson.com. I promise I won’t flood your inbox, and you’re free to unsubscribe at any time!’
Tell us about your life outside of writing?
I love to spend time with my three grandchildren. They light up my life so much. I enjoy reading fiction and non-fiction. I always want to learn more and find a better way to do things. I enjoy going for a walk in nature, I find it helps to clear my mind. On Fridays, I have a date night with my hubby. We have our chocolates and watch a good movie together. We have been this for the last 43 years!
Do you have a work in progress?
Yes, I have some thoughts on another book. Presently I am adding content to my website and blog post. I am focusing on marketing and getting my work out there. Building up my followers. I also am contributing articles for magazines.
What was the most difficult section/piece you ever wrote?
In my book – My Journey to Enjoying My Life, it was difficult to go back into my past and remember stuff that had happened to me. Especially the piece on forgiveness. It brought back such memories of the ordeal and process to forgive my dad and let it go. It was not an easy book to write especially as it was so personal, but I felt I had to do it. I wanted to help others get free from hurts from their past. Our past can keep us trapped and in a holding pattern until we let it go and walk away free from it.
What made it difficult?
Bringing up the emotions. I had to pause quite a bit between chapters. I didn’t want to write the book from my emotions but from my heart that was healed. I wanted my book to be a journey to wholeness.
What sort of research do you do for your work?
I use the Bible a lot. I also use google to look up subjects. I read extensively so I look up other authors in my field to see what thoughts they have on the subject. I often hear something that just speaks to me and I will use this a build upon it in my writing.
Which books & authors do you read for pleasure?
I enjoy Liana Moriarty. She writes well. I have also just discovered Hannah Richell.
Is there an author who inspires you?
Yes, Joyce Meyer, I love how she helps people she has many books available on every subject under the sun! I always buy her books, they are so encouraging.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
I felt it was something God wanted me to do. But my husband has been so supportive and always encourages me with my writing. He is the first person that reads my work once it is finished. He gives me an honest review. My last book he said, “Are you sure you wrote this, it’s so good!” It was a wonderful compliment to get.
My Journey To Enjoying My Life
My Journey To Enjoying My Life is a heartfelt, dynamic true-life story of Karin. This must-read book details the events of her early childhood abuse, her struggles with the feeling of being unloved by her parents and the fears that developed from her fight to just be normal. Karin takes you on a dynamic journey of how she struggled with the same patterns of control that were instilled in her as a child when she herself became an adult and had her own family. She goes into deep detail on how she found God and how He lovingly and faithfully started to heal her from within and expose to her all the insecurities that she had built because of her abusive childhood. A dynamic and passionate book which will speak to the very heart of any person who has ever experienced any form of abuse in their life, it will enable you to search for God amidst all the heartache and rejection and show you how, no matter what form of abuse you have experienced, God still loves you and wants the very best for your life. It is a practical, easy-to-read, step by step book which will enhance every reader's walk with God and aid with the internal healing so desperately needed for abused people.
To buy:
Encouragement for The Weary Soul
Are you discouraged? Could you do with a Pep talk?
Then this book is for you. Do you want to give up? If you are experiencing weariness and ‘spiritual burnout.’ Help is on the way.
Find healing, hope, and inspiration in this collection of encouraging words for Weary Souls. Prayers and Scriptures that offer help and support as you overcome the situations you face.
You do not have to live your life worn out and confused. There is comfort for tomorrow. You will want to read this book over and over to find peace amidst your negative circumstances.
Throughout these pages, discover encouragement and strength to carry on.
This is the perfect book for Christians looking for straight forward answers. An uplifting read you can turn to again and again during tough times.
To buy:
December 8, 2020
Kelly Brakenhoff reveals her new novel Dead of Winter Break
Welcome to author Kelly Brakenhoff!
Her novels sound like such a fun ride I can't wait to dig into one!
KELLY BRAKENHOFF writes the Cassandra Sato Mystery series including DEATH BY DISSERTATION, a 2020 RONE Award Mystery Finalist, DEAD WEEK, “a diverting whodunit,” (Publishers Weekly), and DEAD OF WINTER BREAK, a holiday whodunit new for 2020. Kelly is an American Sign Language Interpreter whose motivation for learning ASL began in high school when she wanted to converse with her deaf friends. NEVER MIND and FARTS MAKE NOISE, are her children’s picture books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog. The mother of four young adults and a German Wirehair Pointer, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.
Social Media links
Website: http://kellybrakenhoff.com/
Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kellybrakenhoffauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inBrakenVille
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellybrak/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kellybrak/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18964313.Kelly_Brakenhoff
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kelly-brakenhoff
Tell us about your life outside of writing.
In my day job, I’m an American Sign Language Interpreter and most of the time I work in college classrooms with Deaf students or faculty. I’ve interpreted for classes in over fifteen different majors over the years. I’d be great at trivia games if only I could remember more of those lectures. Unfortunately, I can’t even shop for groceries without a list.
My husband and I live in Nebraska and we have four grown children, two grandkids, and one more coming in January. (So exciting!) We have a German Wirehair Pointer named Duke who loves hunting birds and is an expert napper. My hobbies are running, reading, and hanging out with family.
Do you have a work in progress?
My newest book, Dead of Winter Break, released in November. In the first two books of the series, Cassandra’s predicament as a fish out of water helped readers relate to her difficulties moving from Hawai’i to her new home in Nebraska. Now that she’s settled in a bit, for Dead of Winter Break, I threw in a few obstacles to disrupt her plan for a quiet, restful winter break between semesters at Morton College.
Winter in the Midwest isn’t for wimps and Cassandra quickly learns what it feels like to shovel snow off her driveway. She has a new dog, Murphy—her first pet ever—and she’s learning some ASL so she can chat with her Deaf students and colleague, Dr. Bryant. All of these changes push Cassandra to her limits.
By the end of the holidays, Cassandra has to decide the depths of her commitment to her long-term career goals and balancing those with a healthier home life. Can an orphaned dog worm his way into her heart?
What was the most difficult section/piece you ever wrote? What made it difficult?
In Dead Week, there’s a whole subplot about a group of Deaf students and activists who protest in the Morton College student center. Among their demands is more access to emergency alerts in a timely manner. Even though I wrote the book in 2019, this has been a timely topic in 2020. You might have noticed more ASL interpreters at press conferences and pandemic updates around the country.
Some of the students and faculty in my book were quite outspoken about their rights. Although I wanted the characters and dialogue to educate readers about this topic, I didn’t want them to come off as jerks or alienate anyone.
I asked several Deaf friends to read a few chapters of the book ahead of time to make sure they felt I represented their viewpoints accurately. I was surprised by their vehement support of including their stories in the book. Some even gave permission for me to use their own experiences. Those scenes turned out to be the readers’ favorite parts of the book.
What sort of research do you do for your work?
Since I’m an extrovert, I like to interview local experts about background information I might need. For Dead of Winter Break, I talked to my brother-in-law who works for a farmers’ cooperative, a global studies college professor who knows about food shortages around the world, and another friend who is Deaf and a pilot because I had some questions about aviation practices in small airports. Talking to someone face to face (or on zoom) is better than simple internet searches because those people give me real stories or a flavor for how it feels to do their job. I think those authentic experiences make their way into the book and make the overall story better.
Which books and authors do you read for pleasure? Is there an author who inspires you?
There are so many I can’t name them all! My all-time favorite mystery series are Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, and Sue Grafton’s alphabet series. I also love John Grisham, David Baldacci, John Gilstrap, and Hank Phillippi Ryan. Through Sisters in Crime, I’ve met lots of mystery authors who inspire me with their generosity and work ethic.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
From the time in elementary school when my younger sister and I wrote and illustrated homemade comic books about a dog and a cat, I’ve always wanted to be an author. I wrote the words, and she did the illustrations. Think Garfield meets Snoopy. They were pretty bad. Our parents told us someday I’d be a writer and she’d be an artist.
Well, my sister is an artist, graphic designer, and interior designer. I got a later start on my dreams. In 2019, I also published the first in a children’s picture book series whose adorable main character is Duke the Deaf Dog. Duke’s stories share important messages about Deaf Culture and American Sign Language that are dear to my heart. Ironically, the illustrator is my sister, Theresa Murray, proving that life does come full circle if you wait long enough.
It's beginning to look a lot like murder . . .
And Cassandra is knee deep in . . .
Suspects.
Her boss is dead, and the police are calling it burglary gone wrong. But when the killer comes after her, it's going to take more than a pair of furry boots to keep the smart, witty Morton College administrator, Cassandra Sato, out of the deep. . .
Snow.
Her first Christmas in Nebraska could be her last unless her friends help unravel the mystery and housebreak her dog.
Buy now for a fast-paced, holiday themed whodunit.
Dead of Winter Break is the third book in Kelly Brakenhoff's popular Cassandra Sato Mystery Series.
Buy link for ebooks: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087JNPV9H
Paperbacks: Dead of Winter Break https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/173374245X
Special December $10 paperbacks for Death by Dissertation and Dead Week: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1733742409
https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Week-Cassandra-Sato-Mystery/dp/1733742425
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Brakenhoff/e/B07PN7K7T7
DEATH BY DISSERTATION: A Cassandra Sato Mystery Book 1
A 2020 RONE AWARD FINALIST!!!
Goodbye Hawai'i, hello dream job . . . in Nebraska??
Ambitious Cassandra Sato traded her life in Hawai'i for a dream position at Morton College in rural Nebraska. She expected the Midwestern church casseroles, land-locked cornfields, and face-freezing winters would be her biggest challenges, but it's her job that's rapidly becoming a nightmare.
A deaf student is dead and the investigation reveals a complicated trail of connections between campus food service, a local farmer's beef, and the science lab's cancer research. Dealing with homesickness, vandalism, and a stalker, Cassandra is trapped in a public relations disaster that could cost her job, or more. No one said college was easy.
DEAD WEEK: A Cassandra Sato Mystery Book 2
Will Dead Week kill Cassandra’s career?
VP of Student Affairs Cassandra Sato has a desk full of problems and it’s not even Thanksgiving break.
A student’s injury and a deaf advocacy project brings national media attention to underfunded Morton College. Cassandra's new boss talks to her dead husband. Cassandra’s mentor thinks he’s a superhero in a senior citizen’s body. And Cassandra, recently moved from Hawai'i, can't crack the code of what to wear during November in Nebraska.
If you like academic cozy mysteries with funny BFFs, hilarious student shenanigans, and small-town drama, you'll like this series. Get Dead Week now!
Publishers Weekly called Dead Week, "a diverting whodunit."
December 6, 2020
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!
Happy Holidays!
I've been taking time to play with some fun new ways of sharing my books! Granted, this video is a bit longer than I would like, but it does share ALL of my current novels! Next year, I'll go with the new ones since 2021 will be very busy with new releases!
A couple dates have changed but watch for new novels in April, a novella in August, and another great mystery in November 2021.
As well, I'm working on a whole new series AND possibly a Fantasy novel or two.
Never rest for the writer!
Nanowrimo went very well, which is why there is a fantasy novel on the way. A great little YA book called The Spirited Witch. I even have a fun cover drafted! Now this is where the patience kicks in. Edits then possibly submission to a few publishers after a few friends and their kids read it. Let's see where this thing goes!
What else is happening?
A TON of great authors on the Escape With a Writer blog posts and some of my own promotions all over the place. As well as some courses I've been taking behind the scenes and many Zoom calls and author chats. Also getting to participate in meetings I would never be able to attend in person even without all the restrictions right now.
Wow! Where some things in 2020 have brought me down, there have been a great deal of positives as well. I'll take them!
For now, I'm off to do more fun things and keep out of trouble (?) if that's possible.
Happy Holidays whichever wonderful one you celebrate! For me, that's Merry Christmas!
Wishing you love,
Diane
December 5, 2020
Sherrill Joseph tells us about the Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries
Welcome to author and former teacher Sherrill Joseph!
She has peopled and themed the Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries with children and adult characters of various abilities, races, cultures, and interests. Sherrill strongly believes that children need to find not only themselves in books but others from different races and social situations if all are to become accepting, anti-racist world citizens. She also feels that kids are amazing human beings who don’t tend to get enough credit from some adults for their blossoming insights and intelligence.
The author created her detectives—patterned after her own fifth-grade students and twelve-year-old twin cousins—to be mature, smart, polite role models that will appeal to parents, teachers, but especially to kids who seek the courage and self-respect needed to realize their greatest potential.
Joseph and her book Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets are the recent recipients of the Gold Award from Mom’s Choice Awards for Juvenile Fiction, and the Gold Award from Moonbeams Children’s Book Awards for Pre-Teen Fiction in Mystery. She is a member of SCBWI and the Authors Guild and promises many more adventures with the squad to come.
Website and Social Media Links:
Website: http://sherrilljoseph.com
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MysteryAuthor7
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BHDMysteries...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherrilljos...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mysteryshewrote7
Tell us about your life outside of writing.
Pre-pandemic, I enjoyed playing tennis, working out and taking yoga, going to movies, and walking on the beach and lunching with friends. Now, I mostly stay home and read, watch old movies, putz around the house and garden, and snuggle or walk my adorable poodle-bichon rescue Jimmy Lambchop. I try to work out with weights in a nearby park with some neighbors while socially distancing. I actually like the alone time. What writer doesn't?
Do you have a work in progress?
Book 4, Saffron Street: Island Danger, in the Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries. (Book 3, Walnut Street: Phantom Rider, is completed and up next for publishing.)
What was the most difficult section/piece you ever wrote?
What made it difficult? In Book 4, when a character who is usually the comedian of the squad shares his heartbreak over his mother's death in a car accident. I am working on it currently. I have to break down his happy-go-lucky facade to allow him to let his feelings out.
What type of research do you do for your books?
Research tends to involve reading books or articles I find and taking notes. Sometimes, I interview experts such as a snake venom evolutionist at an Australian university for Book 1. For Book 2, I had to read up on gemstones of antiquity. In Book 3, I did much research on the first Black American sheriff Bass Reeves, and information about gold mining. For Book 4, I am continuing to research about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, pearls, and Japanese culture, language, and folklore.
Which books and authors do you read for pleasure?
Is there an author that inspires you? I read a wide variety of genres and authors--but mostly the classics like the Bronte sisters, Conan Doyle, duMaurier, and Wilkie Collins (hey, I was an English major!), mysteries, memoir, biographies, and historical fiction. I am currently enjoying Erica Ruth Neubauer, Victoria Price, George Takei, and Hazel Gaynor. I am very awed by Gaynor's use of figurative language and description and want to imitate that in my work.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
I had a series of wonderful English teachers throughout school and into college. Two who stand out were my English professors at San Diego State University: the late Harold Kahler, Ph.D, who was an Edgar Allan Poe fan, and the late Elizabeth Chater, who was also a SCI-FI, romance published author.
NUTMEG STREET: EGYPTIAN SECRETS
Kids, get ready to meet your four new heroes and role models.
Come help them solve their first case!
World-famous Egyptologist Dr. Winston Thornsley died suddenly two months ago in disgrace. His widow, Ida Thornsley, remains convinced her husband was falsely accused of stealing an ancient burial urn he discovered in Egypt last summer, but local and federal law enforcement officers are stumped.
Mrs. Thornsley, desperate for answers, calls in her thirteen-year-old neighbors, the Botanic Hill Detectives—twins Lanny and Lexi Wyatt, Moki Kalani, and Rani Kumar. Their exciting mission? To find the urn and its real thief, bring the criminal to justice, and exonerate Dr. Thornsley so his spotless reputation can be restored.
A roomful of venomous snakes, the poisoned Egyptian pond, and Dragon Pit Man are just a few of the tests awaiting the four tech-savvy teenagers. As the detectives begin to unravel the sinister plot, the mystery takes a dangerous turn. Answers are at their fingertips—if they can only convince their parents to let them solve the case.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3ad9T6T
EUCALYPTUS STREET: GREEN CURSE
In 1945, Isabela de Cordoba’s great-grandfather, the famous silent movie actor Lorenzo de Cordoba, mysteriously hid a legendary, multimillion-dollar emerald somewhere on the family’s sprawling Eucalyptus Street estate. Seventy years later, the gem remains concealed. Nicknamed the “Green Curse,” the emerald is blamed for the Southern California familia’s numerous, untimely deaths.
On her twenty-first birthday, Isabela receives a secret letter with a cryptic poem. These documents from the long-deceased Lorenzo invite her to hunt for the gemstone. But first, she must decipher the poem’s six stanzas for clues.
To assist, Isabela hires her thirteen-year-old neighbors, the four Botanic Hill Detectives—twins Lanny and Lexi Wyatt, and their best friends, Moki Kalani and Rani Kumar. Eerie footsteps inside the mansion, unexplained occurrences in the adjacent cemetery, and the mysterious tenant in the backyard casita challenge them. But they ingeniously make progress on the poem’s meaning with startling discoveries. Sliding wall panels, a secret room, and hidden passages reveal much. The detectives aren’t the only ones looking for the emerald. The perilous race for the de Cordoba treasure is on!
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3d0iyLv
