Diane Bator's Blog, page 55

Round Robin Blog Fest September 2020

Happy Fall to you all,Summer in Southern Ontario was hot and sunny with breaks of cold and rainy. For now though, we've settled into cooler fall weather and waiting for the leaves to change color and collapse in exhaustion from this crazy year we've had so far!September's question for all the Round Robin Blog Fest authors is:  Most novels have an easily understood point to make to the reader, do your stories ever have more subtle or intuitive themes?My first thought went straight to this oldie but goodie meme that we've all heard before:

Sometimes a blue curtain is just a blue curtain.A brown dog is just a brown dog.Most of the time, I write my novels without a planned message or underlying theme.BUT most of the time there actually is an underlying message in novels whether they are planned or sometimes subconscious to the writer then they create the first draft. These remind people to hold their families close, that friends are important, or to take care of themselves.  Even a lot of sci-fi and fantasy novels carry messages about the establishment and justice or the hazards with having fire-breathing dragons.
Women who are down but not out and find their way out of bad situations. That seems to be my ongoing theme for most of my series. Like Gilda in my Gilda Wright Mysteries, they may face dark days but they will always come out fighting, or at least crime solving. While I don't focus on things like blue curtains, I show the ways the women rebuild and empower themselves whether it be through martial arts, running a business, or in Lucy Stephen's case in The Mystery Lady, becoming a mystery writer.
Gilda Wright started off as a "weak" person who becomes stronger with each mystery and each karate class she kicks her way through. Even when she has her down moments, she fights back and never gives up. Her whole reason for getting involved with karate was to empower herself when her boyfriend (Jason Thayer) cheated on her. Now that she's more confident and a stronger person, he's been trying to win her back while she is also getting to know Kane Garrick and dealing with secrets her boyfriend Mick Williams is hiding.
Laken Miller, in All that Sparkles, book one of my Glitter Bay series, is a former model who became ill and had to start her life over. Like Gilda, she seeks to rebuild her life from the ground up after a nasty divorce and a bout with cancer. She is lucky to have fame and money to use to her advantage, but many things she's had to deal with don't require money. Like dealing with her free-spirited sister.
Audra Clemmings in Drop Dead Cowboy has already raised her kids, built her business, but things keep popping up to knock her back down.
So where did this drive to write about resilient women come from? I was raised by them!My mom rebuilt her life after separation from my dad.My amazing grandma who passed Sept 1, 2020, lost her husband over 30 years ago and took driver's training with me in her late 50s! With such great role models, what else would I write about?
My Grandma's first car!
Off we go to find out what themes other authors use in their novels....
Skye Taylor Connie Vines 
Judith Copek 
Diane Bator 
Fiona McGier 
Dr. Bob Rich 
Anne Stenhouse  
Victoria Chatham 
Helena Fairfax 
Rhobin L Courtright 

Debra Goldstein reveals her Sarah Blair Mystery series

 

Mysteries with recipes and cuddly animals? Welcome to Debra Goldstein!!


Judge Debra H. Goldstein authors Kensington’s Sarah Blair mystery series including recently published Three Treats Too Many, 2020 Silver Falchion finalist Two Bites Too Many, and January 2019 Woman’s World Book of the Week One Taste Too Many. Debra also wrote Should Have Played Poker and 2012 IPPY Award winning Maze in Blue. Her short stories have been chosen as Agatha, Anthony, and Derringer finalists. Find out more about Debra at:
Website – www.DebraHGoldstein.comFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/DebraHGoldsteinAuthor/      Twitter - @DebraHGoldsteinInstagram – debra.h.goldsteinBookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/debra...
What would you say are your strengths as an author?  My biggest strength as an author is and has been my passion to succeed as a writer. That motivation is what has enabled me to willingly learn from other authors, readers, books, and classes how to better my writing. It also forced me to translate my ideas into written words that eventually were enough for a short story or a novel.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?  I wish I could say that I write daily or have an established routine, but I don’t. When I was still on the bench, I was more disciplined – writing between midnight and four a.m., as well as on weekends, but now, days blend into each other and I only write when the muse hits me or I have a deadline.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?  Five years from now, I hope I am a better and more disciplined writer who gives back in the same manner people have extended themselves to help me. In terms of my writing, I would love it if my Sarah Blair series is still going, my short stories are continuing to be accepted, and I have written a standalone that is well-received.
 If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?Assuming the novice writer is writing rather than talking about it, my advice is “Be a sponge.” Take classes, attend lectures, read books on writing, network, learn from writers who are higher in the food chain, and read and dissect well-written and poorly written books in the genre you are writing in.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?The best compliment is that my book was fun and made the reader, for a little while, forget about the real world. 
What are you working on now? BecauseThree Treats Too Many, the third book in Kensington’s Sarah Blair series, was released on August 25, I’m busy juggling promoting it with writing the fifth Sarah Blair mystery. I recently turned in the fourth book. It will be published in June 2021.

THREE TREATS TOO MANY - published August 25, 2020
When a romantic rival opens a competing restaurant in small-town Wheaton, Alabama, Sarah Blair discovers murder is the specialty of the house . . . 
 
For someone whose greatest culinary skill is ordering takeout, Sarah never expected to be co-owner of a restaurant. Even her Siamese cat, RahRah, seems to be looking at her differently. But while Sarah and her twin sister, Chef Emily, are tangled up in red tape waiting for the building inspector to get around to them, an attention-stealing new establishment—run by none other than Sarah's late ex-husband's mistress, Jane—is having its grand opening across the street. 
 
Jane's new sous chef, Riley Miller, is the talk of Wheaton with her delicious vegan specialties. When Riley is found dead outside the restaurant with Sarah's friend, Jacob, kneeling over her, the former line cook—whose infatuation with Riley was no secret—becomes the prime suspect. Now Sarah must turn up the heat on the real culprit, who has no reservations about committing cold-blooded murder . . . Includes quick and easy recipes!

TWO BITES TOO MANY - 2020 Silver Falchion Finalist - published October 2019
Things are finally looking up for Sarah Blair following her unsavory divorce. Settled into a cozy carriage house with her sassy Siamese cat, RahRah, she has somehow managed to hang on to her law firm receptionist job and – if befriending flea-bitten strays at the local animal shelter counts – lead a thriving social life. For once, Sarah almost has it together more than her enterprising twin, Emily, a professional chef whose efforts to open a gourmet restaurant have hit a real dead end…
When the president of the town bank and city council is murdered after icing Emily’s business plans, all eyes are on the one person who left the scene with blood on her hands – the twins’ sharp-tongued mother, Maybelle. Determined to get her mom off the hook ASAP, Sarah must collect the ingredients of a deadly crime to bring the true culprit to justice. But as neighbors turn against her family, can she pare down the suspects before another victim lands on the chopping block.

ONE TASTE TOO MANY - published January 2019
For culinary challenged Sarah Blair, there’s only one thing scarier than cooking from scratch—murder!

Married at eighteen, divorced at twenty‑eight, Sarah Blair knew starting over would be messy, but things fall apart completely when her ex drops dead, seemingly poisoned by her twin sister’s award-winning rhubarb crisp. Now, with RahRah, her Siamese cat, wanted by the woman who broke up her marriage and her sister wanted by the police for murder, Sarah needs to figure out the right recipe to crack the case before time runs out. Unfortunately, for a gal whose idea of good china is floral paper plates, catching the real killer and living to tell about it could mean facing a fate worse than death—being in the kitchen!     [Recipes in One Taste Too Many include Jell-O in a Can.]




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Ann Simas tell us about The Wrong Wicca and many more...

Welcome to novelist Ann Simas, author of many mysteries!


Ann Simas lives in Oregon, but she is a Colorado girl at heart, having grown up in the Rocky Mountains. She has been an avid reader since childhood and penned her first fiction “book” in high school. She particularly likes to write mystery-thriller-suspense with a love story and paranormal or supernatural elements.
An award-winning watercolorist and a budding photographer, Ann enjoys needlework and gardening in her spare time. She is her family's "genealogist" and has been blessed with the opportunity to conduct first-hand research in Italy for both her writing and her family tree. The genealogy research from decade's old documents in Italian, she says, has been a supreme but gratifying challenge.
Ann is a member of International Thriller Writers, Northwest Independent Writers Association, Sisters in Crime, and Italian American Writers Association.
- - - - - - - -Social Media Links
Author Website  https://annsimas.comFacebook:           https://www.facebook.com/Ann-Simas-Author-410011319127684/BookBub:            https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ann-simasGoodReads:        https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7039844.Ann_SimasAmazon:             https://amazon.com/author/annsimas

     What would you say are your strengths as an author?     I’m fortunate that I have determination, perseverance, and an innate ability to write. I also have an inquisitive mind, a good imagination, and I enjoy doing research. My books have lots of twists and turns, so for me, these attributes are a winning combination.
     How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?     I write every day, seven days a week. I used to write 10-plus hours a day, but in December 2018, my husband and I were in a car crash that resulted in a torn tendon at my right rotator cuff. The injury has curtailed my 10-hour writing days, so now, I usually only write four-to-five hours a day.
     I wouldn’t say my routine is strict. Some days, I get no writing done at all. Life and family intervene, and for me, family comes first. I’m good with that, as long as I meet my self-imposed release deadlines, which are generally May, July, October, and November, and my promos get done.
     Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?     Five years from now, at my current rate of writing, I will have reached my goal of writing 50 books. It’s entirely possible I will retire from writing at that point. However, since I can’t see into the future, I may feel differently by then. I may want to forge on to 75 books. (I’m smiling.)
     If you could offer one piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?     When I decided to write my first book, I bought a writing-romance how-to, because that’s what I was reading at the time. I devoured that book from beginning to end, then started writing in my spare time. Over the years, I attended conferences and writing workshops, hoping to learn something new. It was beat into my head that it was imperative to write an outline, character sketches, and a synopsis. That stalled me, and it stressed me out like crazy, but I felt compelled to do what I’d been taught.
     I sold a novella to Harlequin, and I wrote four books, three of which were RWA Golden Heart Finalists, but still, they languished under the weight of rejection letters that basically said “too much mystery, not enough romance.” Eventually, it hit me that I should write a mystery, so I did. I finished Dressed to Die, but it wasn’t polished. One day in 2012, I came to the realization that the outline-sketches-synopsis method didn’t work for me. Keeping that in mind, I looked at Dressed with new eyes and it came together perfectly. Thirty-one books later, I’m happy with the path I chose, which included switching to the route of indie author, rather than traditional publishing again. 
My advice to novice authors is this: Not everyone is cut out to follow the established writing path of plotting the whole book ahead of time. Some people are born to be pantsters, or writers who plot as they go. If you’re not sure which you are, try it both ways and see what works for you. Another thing, don’t be afraid to approach experts when you research. No matter how famous they may be, you have a 50/50 chance they’ll speak to you. (Be sure to thank them in your Author Note.) Also, give serious consideration to whether or not you want to publish with a traditional publisher or go the indie route. Either way, you have your work cut out for you, which brings me to my last word of advice. Don’t go into writing thinking you’re going to hit the best-seller lists and make a fortune. That happens infrequently. However, if it does happen to you, congratulations!
     What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?     Let me cite a couple of examples of what readers have said that warmed my heart and made me chuckle. One comes from a review written about Here and Gone (Fossil, Colorado Books #1). She said, “Loved Here and Gone, couldn’t hardly put it down, but my animals and husband needed to eat.” Another came to me via email about Taken to Die (Grace Gabbiano Mysteries, book 5): “I swear, you had me believing inextraterrestrials in Taken to Die.”
     When someone says they couldn’t put down one of my books, or that I drew them thoroughly into the story, I take it as high praise, indeed.
     What are you working on now?     My current work-in-progress is The Wrong Wicca (Andi Comstock Supernatural Mysteries, Book 5). This series was inspired by a real-life event I had on my last job. I smelled smoke in the building, but no one else did. A year or so after I left that job, it came to me how I could use that experience in a book and the Andi series was born. Suffice it to say, that building was on the opposite corner from a crematorium.
     Wiccadeviates from Andi talking to the cremated dead (Smokies) when a murdered woman asks for help to find her body. Andi’s cohorts in crime-fighting are her new husband, Jack Harmon, a homicide detective, and Father Riley O’Shaughnessy, the priest at the Catholic Church down the street from where Andi works. In Wicca, there’s also a magic trunk that contains a huge clue to Cassie’s killer, if only Andi can figure it out.

GRACE GABBIANO MYSTERIES
PRAYING TO DIE (Grace Gabbiano Mystery, Book 6)(New Release)Father Sidney has gone off to find himself, even though he knows someone is stealing valuable items from St. Anthony Church. Chief Aidan Cruz decides it’s time for Grace to go undercover as a nun to find the thief. It doesn’t take “Sister Agatha” long to discover that Father Sidney’s search didn’t go well.
mybook.to/Praying-to-Die
Other Book in the Series Dressed to Die , Book 1
Sliced to Die , Book 2
Buried to Die , Book 3
Quilted to Die , Book 4
Taken to Die , Book 5



FOSSIL. COLORADO BOOKS
HERE AND GONE (Book 1) A thriller…and a love story—both will leave you breathless!Hannah Clarke, a wife and mom one day, is a widow without a child the next. Two years later, living as H.L. Mason in Fossil, Colorado, her safe new world explodes with a revelation so shocking and horrifying she can hardly grasp it. By chance, she meets Sheriff Noah Ward, and though she’s leery of cops after being accused of killing her family, she needs help. Noah, a former Navy SEAL, agrees to do what he can, but they both soon discover that the case is far more insidious than parental abduction.  mybook.to/HERE-GONE







DISAPPEARING ACT (Book 2)(New Release) Even when you run, love can find you.
Georgina Flannery has a new name, a new occupation, and trust issues. She’s lived in six states in eight years, and she has no friends. Fossil, Colorado is her next destination, but she takes a wrong turn and ends up in a creek, only to be rescued by Brant Ward. Georgie prefers to keep men at a distance, but circumstances have taken that away from her and she’s forced to reveal her past to Brant. The more untangled her family dynamics become, the more twisted they get. When the ultimate secret is revealed, it’s incomprehensible. It also raises the question, will Georgie and Brant survive the evil pursuing them? mybook.to/DisappearingAct
Other Book in the Series Run or Don’t (Book 3, coming May 2021)




ANDI COMSTOCK SUPERNATURAL MYSTERIES
THE WRONG WICCA (Book 5)(Release date, October 31, 2020; pre-order on Amazon)Andi Comstock has grown used to talking to the cremated dead (Smokies), so it comes as a surprise when a non-Smokie speaks to her about finding her murdered body. Andi has no idea what awaits her once Cassie’s body is found. First, there’s the magic trunk. Then, there’s Cassie’s golden retriever, Trigger. The dog she can deal with, but what’s inside the magic trunk is another story. Are its magical contents really significant to Cassie’s death? Will they lead to Cassie’s killer…or will the killer find Andi before she finds him? mybook.to/TheWrongWicca
Other Book in the SeriesHoly Smoke (Book 1) Penitence (Book 2)Angel Babies (Book 3) Hellfire (Book 4)  

James Mathis talks about The Framed Father and The Penitent Priest

Today we welcome James Mathis who writes the exciting Father Tom Mysteries!

James Mathis was born in Orlando, Florida in the halcyon days when the land was covered with orange groves and swamps, with nary a mouse in sight. He discovered his love for writing in high school, though history remained his first passion. After getting a PhD in the subject from the University of Florida, he began an enjoyable career as an archivist with the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Following a bout with cancer, James rediscovered his love for writing, beginning a series of mysteries based on the germ of an idea that he had been toying with for some time. Father Tom Greer is now among his best friends and most trusted confidant and the two are looking forward to many adventures in the near future.
What would you say are your strengths as an author?I believe my strengths are writing compelling and believable characters, and crafting plots that compel the reader to keep turning the page. I've had several comments from readers who said they could not put the book down once they started reading.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?I try to write every day, though usually that winds up being six days a week. I still have a full-time job, so I wake up early to get a couple of hours of writing in before I have to start work. My word goal is at least 2,000 words a day. I find the pomodoro method of writing sprints (write for 25 minutes, break for 5) to be very effective. I also track each day's work, including the days I do not write.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?I would like to be making enough as a writer so that, with my retirement income and living a minimalist lifestyle, can write full time.
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?         Study the craft of writing, the discipline of writng, and the business of writing. Develop a consistent writing habit so you're writing a certain number of words each week (if you cannot write every day). Decide what you want to write and read books from your genre to become familiar with the common tropes that readers expect, then try to think how you can turn those tropes on their head in order to create something fresh.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?“I couldn't put it down.”
What are you working on now?I've finished The Framed Father, and it will be coming out on September 1. I am beginning to outline the next book in the series, The Reluctant Return, which I hope to release in mid-February. I'm also considering writing a Father Tom Mystery Christmas novella for subscribers to my newsletter and those who follow me on Facebook.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/J.R.MathisAuthor/Website: https://www.jrmathismysteries.com/Mailing List sign-up (they can also sign up on my website or Facebook page): https://mailchi.mp/6fca0c513493/newsletter-sign-up

THE PENITENT PRIEST

A wife murdered.A killer at large.A man of God with a painful secret.
When Tom Greer's wife Joan was murdered and her killer never caught, he left Myerton determined to leave the painful memories behind. Ten years later, now-Father Tom Greer returns as the temporary pastor of Saint Clare's Parish in Myerton—where he married and mourned his wife. Assigned there for four months, Father Tom’s only desire is to serve God's people quietly then leave again. He has no desire to revisit the past.But the past won't leave Father Tom alone…Secrets uncovered and a mysterious encounter in the confessional forces Father Tom to confront painful truths about Joan and her murder. When a police detective—a woman from Father Tom’s own past—refuses to reopen the case, he decides to take matters into his own hands.It turns out to be a fateful decision, for Father Tom has secrets of his own…Don’t miss this first book in a new clean mystery thriller series featuring Father Tom Greer.
THE FRAMED FATHER
Forbidden love, murder, and explosive secrets engulf Father Tom Greer in this second entry in the Father Tom Mysteries.
When the Archbishop receives an anonymous letter alleging that Saint Clare’s pastor Father Leonard McCoy of inappropriate behavior with the young parish secretary, he sends Father Tom back to Myerton from the quiet of the monastery to look into the charges. When the secretary is found dead and Father McCoy is charged with her murder, he must work against his ex-fiancée Detective Helen Parr and the State Attorney--who is also her boyfriend--to prevent a miscarriage of justice.
But everything is not as it seems...



James Mathis’ books are available from multiple retailers:The Penitent Priest: https://books2read.com/u/4AK59NThe Framed Father: https://books2read.com/u/bwdAzG

Jim McDonald talks about his debut book Smash Palace and upcoming Counterculture Revolution

  Welcome to author Jim McDonald!  
I was fortunate to meet Jim at a Crime Writers of Canada event and mesmerized by his stories! 
I hope you will be too!

 Jim McDonald is an author, teacher, musician, actor, and officiant.
 Since 1990, he has operated A-Plus Tutoring, teaching mathematics to high school students; he specializes in statistics and calculus.Jim launched Happy Together Wedding Ceremonies in 2017. As Humanist Officiant, he is authorized by the Ontario Government to solemnize marriages. While playing drums with rock band Starchild, he also wrote entertainment columns for Vancouver’s Georgia Straitand Victoria’s Monday Magazine, reviewing concerts by Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa, Heart, and the BeeGees.In 2016 Jim and his son Dylan produced a movie, the comedy Fun With Math.Married with four adult children, he enjoys playing baseball and running, and is pretty good at his local bar’s Golden-Tee Golf game. His novel Altered Boy is a psychological thriller set in 1960 about a teen gang of hustlers – Mickey, Joey, and Shorty – who mistakenly think new priest Father Damon is an easy mark.Currently he is searching for a publisher for Counterculture Revolution. Set in 1970 this historical thriller follows the guerilla actions of Weather Underground, the terror group that bombed draft boards, courts of law, and even the Pentagon. Jim's book of thirty-two short stories Smash Palace, published in 2019 by Amalit Books, is available on Amazon.ca or by emailing amalitbooks@outlook.com. His debut work of short fiction will intrigue you with adventure, wit, and unforgettable characters in stories involving crime, science fiction, dystopia, and surrealisms.
Please get in touch with Jim via his website www.jimmcdonald.ca.
What would you say are your strengths as an author?Like the long distance runner, I keep plugging away until I get to the finish line. Grit and determination are a couple of my strengths.I think my research skills are a strength. I read every day, taking copious notes about my subject. To help me visualize the person, location, or décor I am writing about, I often find photographs of the subject, and then write to that image. For example, I used Google maps to browse the seedy mean streets of Detroit until I found a house sinister enough for my drug dealers.I have worked hard to make each sentence the best it can be. Sometimes I’ll spend a long time searching for le mot juste, but end up with the first word or phrase chosen.At live gatherings, I enjoy telling stories. I get a kick out of entertaining people. No wonder I became a novelist. I have a vivid imagination. Usually, I envision a scene as part of a movie.Dialogue and accents. I appreciate the unusual words and phraseology spoken by the person on the street, and I incorporate them into the story to bring characters alive for the reader. I have a list of sayings and words used by people in 1970, and I sprinkle these words into dialogue to reflect the era.A pet peeve: I get upset with anachronisms. If a character from a story set in 1945 says, “I’m good,” or “I’m all about revenge,” I flip. The writer should fit the language to the times. This is lazy writing.I tend to delve into the dark side of life. My readers will meet characters they never would in real life – thieves, killers, revolutionaries, fascists, grifters, pedophiles, and druggies. What makes them tick? Why do they do the weird things they do? How does the protagonist wend his way through this dangerous maze?
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?I have other work that I need to do to make a living, and sometimes that work overwhelms the time available to write. Since I am a nighthawk, much of my writing is done after midnight when others are asleep. Sometimes I am able to write most days of the week. But even if I am not in front of the keyboard – say, I’m driving – I think of the scene I am working on, to figure out what happens next, or who says what to whom.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?My present novel Counterculture Revolution will be for sale around the world. I’ll have one more completed book, and I’ll be working on another. My first published book Smash Palace contains thirty-two short stories. I may write a number of crime short stories, but with the same main character, the private detective Jack Barrhead. Perhaps the end product will be like the Sherlock Holmes stories – a crime, criminal pursuit, and resolution. And then on to the next case.
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?Start with short stories. Maybe a page or two at first. Get a finished product you are proud of. It may take only a few weeks. Get that feeling of accomplishment. Show your stories to others. Get their honest feedback. Make your next story better than the last one.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?“I really enjoyed that book. I was lost in the story. It was exciting. And what strange characters.”
What are you working on now?Now that Counterculture Revolution is complete, I am revising it one more time to check on spelling, typos, grammar, logic, and continuity.I have gone over my research notes about a real life murder in Toronto that touched my life. I was a witness in the trial of two street hustlers who killed a man, and then dropped into the bar I was working at as DJ. I have the trial transcripts and articles about the murder. This could be a real life crime story, or I could expand on it using fictional characters.

SMASH PALACE
* Follow Mickey Kelly's life of adventure from rebellious child to the aftermath of World War III.
* Get a FREE First Edition celebratory bookmark with each copy of Smash Palace.* The first 50 books sold will be signed by the author.“Bed Time Story” - A hitman discovers three bullets to the heart did not kill his victim.“The Trekotron” - A dissolute scientist travels back in time to change the fate of a friend who deserves a better life. This story explores the butterfly effect.“Need Anything?” - An enterprising college kid plans to make a killing by scoring a quantity of hash in Detroit.“Joy Ride” - Car thieves take a wild ride to calamity city.“Who Is Your Wife?” - The West has lost WWIII, and survivors are on the run. The only TV show left on the planet is the sexy game show Who Is Your Wife?“Fight Night” - A punchdrunk boxer recalls his bad old days as a mob enforcer.“Seven Lives”- The cat that wouldn't die.“Wild Justice” - Revenge is a dish best served cold.“Please, Nurse” - A Kafkaesque trip through hallucinatory hallways.

Round Robin Blog Fest August 2020

I hope summer and this odd year we’ve been having has been good to you all!In real life, I’m still working from home, but the weather has cooled enough I can get out in the garden more. Less humid right now. I’ve also started to write again, which is amazing! I’ve missed that flow of creating new stories and new lives. Currently, I’m working on book two in my Glitter Bay Mystery series called All That Shines.
Onto today’s topic for all the inquiring minds out there:  What elements do you include in your stories to make a story seem and feel more realistic to the reader?
To make my stories feel more realistic to the reader, I go through while I’m doing edits to make sure I’ve used all the five senses:  sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. We take these things for granted in our every day lives, but as writers we need to focus on the things some people might not even notice. For this blog post, I’m using examples from Dead Without Glory, book two in my Gilda Wright Mystery series.
SightThe main character always needs to be aware of his surroundings, especially in a mystery novel. Are there other people around them? Animals on their laps. Cars whizzing by. Snow falling softly around them. Rain? A hurricane. What obstacles or opportunities are in front of them?Often, sight is what sets the initial scene before we flesh it out using the other senses.
Gilda spun around so fast she tripped over both feet then lay sprawled in the sand with her eyes wide. A brilliant flash of light briefly blinded her. As the spots faded from her eyes, she made out the figure of a half-naked man, with loose, long blond hair, swinging a sword on the beach ahead. Her arms twitched, and she fought the urge to make sure her head was still attached to her shoulders. The bare-chested man wielded his weapon well over a hundred feet away.
SoundA silent room tends to evoke a sense of drama and can put both characters and readers on edge. We expect something awful to happen soon. Does the character play music on the radio or on a guitar? Perhaps the television is on in the background for company and they catch a snatch of the news or a weather report. Are there things in the character’s immediate area that are so loud the character can’t think straight or becomes disoriented by noise?She changed the channel on the television and had just settled down to watch a comedy when something thumped on the back deck. Curious, she tiptoed toward the back door and peered out the window. Once her eyes adjusted to the dark, she made out the shape of a shovel lying on the deck boards.With no hesitation, she called the police.
TouchRight now I’m sitting at my desk with a cool breeze blowing over my bare arms. I reach out to the warmth of my coffee cup with the raised likeness of Eeyore that ripples beneath my fingertips… Setting the scene includes textures, things like rain on a character’s face, a chill that makes goosebumps ripple over the skin, the soft fabric of a dress or a sweater. Of course, for mystery writers, that also includes the sticky wetness of blood, the thin sharp blade of a knife, or different levels of pain depending on the circumstance.
Gilda slipped off her shoes and shuffled through the cool sand, while the grains fell around her toes. She let out a long, slow breath to ease the tension from her shoulders then glanced toward Lake Erie.
TastePlease don’t eat the book!We all have taste memories that evoke certain emotions. The wafting scent of coffee or tea in the morning. Soft, warm bread fresh from the oven slathered with butter. Sweet cakes or cupcakes with gooey icing. For me, cabbage rolls baking in the oven of a wood stove is one that makes me nauseous. Childhood flashback. Making the sense of taste bring those memories out in readers or making them hungry for the things we write about creates one more layer that draws the reader into a story.
The smell of sugar and cinnamon drew her back to reality as someone held a large cup of coffee in front of her.“Vanilla latte with nonfat milk and chocolate curls on top,” Razi said. “Just the way Sensei Mick said you like it.”
SmellWho can’t relate to the scent of freshly mown grass or walking into a bakery only to be enticed by the scents of breads and sweets? If a scene is set in a coffee shop, which appears in most of my novels, have the character notice the scents of freshly ground and brewed coffees, the delicate bergamot-infused aroma of Earl Gray tea, the musky cologne emanating off the man in line behind them… You get the picture.Scenes where a character walks into a room where dishes haven’t been washed for days and no one has changed the kitty litter in a week while rotting food sits on the counter evoke a different response. Particularly when the character stumbles across a dead body amid the debris.
Before long, the air in the martial arts school hung thick and humid with sweat. Thirty people warmed up in the school for their big fight debuts, a challenge for any air freshener on the market. To get rid of the stench, the entire staff would have to mop and disinfect every surface later.
Let's find out what the other authors have to say about the elements they include in their stories!
Connie Vines 
Skye Taylor 
Victoria Chatham 
Judith Copek 
Diane Bator 
Dr. Bob Rich 
Beverley Bateman 
Fiona McGier 
Rhobin L Courtright 

E. R. Yatscoff talks about The Rumrunner's Boy and Fire Dream

Welcome to E. R. Yatscoff, a fellow BWL Publishing author!
I had the pleasure of reviewing Edward's novel The Rumrunner's Boy, which was a finalist for Crime Writer's of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award...
The Rumrunner's Boy:A great coming of age story set during the U.S. prohibition in the 1920s. The reader learns a lot of history while main character Jarrod has to deal with filling the shoes of his sick father while he grows up fast running rum on the waters of Lake Erie around Windsor and the Erie Islands. While there were spots that could have used a minor edit, I found the book to be a realistic view of what life was like for a young man in the 1920s. Lots of twists, turns, and action. I’d highly recommend for pre-teen/early teen readers.
What would you say are your strengths as an author?My writers group says it’s my dialogue and action scenes.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?I roll a chapter around in my head for some time before I commit it to the page. I usually try to write, or market, or edit a previous chapter
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?Instead of a Finalist in the annual Crime Writers of Canada competition I’d like to get in the win column. My next crime novel SERVICES RENDERED is looking good so far.  It has action, some pathos, suspense, and plenty of crime.
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?Join or start a writers group for feedback and NEVER submit a 1st draft anywhere.  That’s two I know, but I couldn’t decide.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?Telling me how much they enjoyed a character   FIRE DREAM
Book links: https://books2read.com/Fire-DreamFire Captain Gerry Ormond is launched to national prominence and receives a Medal of Valor. A visit to his hometown after a twenty-year absence unleashes a killer—a vengeful arsonist with ties to an old murder by three fraternity teenagers looking for a treasure. Gerry was one of them. Nick Modano, ex-frat president, now a drug dealer, is the only other participant alive involved in the old crime. Nick never forgets or forgives Gerry for running out on him that fateful night. Karen, his high school sweetheart, ignites a dangerous obsession. Her husband looks good for a recent unsolved arson/murder. Samantha ‘Sam’ Markham, a crack fire investigator, hounds Gerry at every turn. The almost forgotten past has risen from the ooze and taken on a life of its own. It’s a tightrope he walks in a town where old friends are now enemies.


THE RUMRUNNER'S BOY
https://books2read.com/The-Rumrunners-Boy Jarrod Hooker, 17, steps in for his injured father on a rum running crew in Lake Erie during U.S. Prohibition. It’s a lucrative job they cannot afford to lose. Jarrod is resented by the rumrunners and they set out to undermine him. Carving out respect for himself among rough men might take more than he has. Ill winds begin to blow across the big water when money from a liquor shipment goes missing and the U.S. Coast Guard steps up smuggling patrols. Worse yet, an American gangster, a rogue from the notorious Detroit Purple Gang, tries to seize control of the operation, putting the Canadians in grave danger.
Whatever happens on the next run will change everything for everyone. Amid sabotage and bullets flying, Jarrod must put his trust in the most dangerous man he’s ever met. Although the watery border of Canada and Pelee Island lay only a few miles distant it may as well be a world away.

Eileen Charbonneau tells us about Seven Aprils and Mercies of the Fallen

 

Welcome to author Eileen Charbonneau! Enjoy!

Eileen Charbonneau’s unique viewpoint reflects heritage that includes immigrant Irish, French Canadian, Eastern European ancestors and Huron and Shoshone relatives. She enjoys exploring the perspectives of people often left out of history: its women, its immigrants, its marginalized poor. Eileen has published historical fiction for adults as well for young readers.
Eileen lives in the brave little state of Vermont and runs a small historic house B and B with her husband Ed. She adores him, her kids, and sweet grandchild Desmond. Eileen is addicted to American roots music and dance, and maple creemies.
What would you say are your strengths as an author?I have a passion to tell the stories of the American experience from the point of view of the people I did not read about in my schools’ history books…the women, the poor, the immigrants, the Native Americans, the people of color, the ones who did not follow the prevailing winds, the ones who had the courage to effect change. I also know that I’m got going to get it right the first draft. I know how to accept help and do some mighty re-writes! It is a great compliment to hear from readers that my stories flow well…I work very hard for that.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?That’s a difficult question for a writer to answer, because we’re always writing…everything we experience is grist for the mill. This can be unsettling for our near and dear and strangers alike! I am a four-square kind of writer, meaning that what works for me is to write every day. I started an early morning routine so I could get a couple of quiet hours before my little children woke up. I discovered through this necessity that I’m a lark writer: that’s the best time for me. In the afternoon, I do my research because historical writing needs a lot of it!
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?I hope I still have enough reader interest and publishing support to still be offering books then. But hey, I’m a cancer survivor…truth to tell, I’ll be happy to be alive and still making trouble in five years!
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?Enjoy the process. Work from your passion. It’s too hard a job not to feel both passion and joy. Embrace your supporters…readers, editors, publishers.  You’re creating a beautiful artifact together.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?I’m deeply grateful for any joy my stories bring to readers.  Each reader brings her own life to a book and so it becomes different story for each. I feel honored to hear from readers and find out about them through their reactions to the work of my heart. That’s why I love to hear from readers. There are no bad compliments!
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?There were many, but one was life-changing.  When I was 23, Diana C. Gleason taught a writing for publication adult-education class that I was dragged to by a friend. Diana was a wonderful teacher, full of nuts-and-bolts advice and encouragement. After the course she invited me to join her own weekly writers’ workshop. My life changed. I wanted to keep finding tools, teachers, sisters and brothers in story, and readers for my stories.
Eileen's young adult novels The Woods Family Trilogy is composed of  The Ghosts of Stony Clove ,  In the Time of the Wolves , and  Honor To the Hills.   The novels are set in the Catskill Mountains from 1809 through 1852.  Books in the series were chosen as a Best Book by the Children's Book Council for Social Studies curriculum and have won the Golden Medallion for excellence in young adult fiction.
The American Century Novel Series begins in Federal era Virginia in  The Randolph Legacy , moving to the Trail of Tears and mid-century 19th century history of the Great Hunger in Ireland and Manifest Destiny in the United States in  Rachel LeMoyne.  California’s early 20th century conservation movement is the subject of  Waltzing in Ragtime .  Books in this series have been nominated for Hearts of the West and Rita awards from Romance Writers of America.
Eileen’s Code Talker Chronicles suspense series follows the World War II exploits of Luke Kayenta, a Navajo Code Talker officer in the Office of Strategic Services and his fellow officer Kitty Charante, war widow and spy. The first two books are  I’ll Be Seeing You  and  Watch Over Me , which has won a Chanticleer Award for Women’s fiction and been named a finalist in the Daphne duMaurier Award and Golden Leaf Award for Romantic Suspense.
American Civil War Brides series follows the lives of couples brought together by the most soul-searing conflict the United States has endured. The first of the series is  Seven Aprils , the second  Mercies of the Fallen .
SEVEN APRILS
In April 1860, Dr. Ryder Cole returns home from his studies, sure of his abilities and on fire to serve his country and preserve the Union. A panther attack threatens to cut his life short until a young woman with a rife and a sure-shot eye appears out of the mist. Then she disappears, re-turning as Tom Boyde, his comrade throughout America’s Civil War, and as Diana, met in a Washington D.C. whore house. The seven Aprils from 1860 to 1866 tell their tale of love and war, sex and friendship. And the price of crossing gender lines.

“Eileen Charbonneau pens an emotion-filled tale. Through her story of love, comradeship and struggle through the Civil War, Seven Aprils illuminates women's hidden role in history by a mas-ter at bringing the past to life. Not to be missed!”
Joanne Pence, USA Today bestselling author 
MERCIES OF THE FALLEN
Maryland plantation heiress Ursula Martin is content with her secluded life in a con-vent. Until the bloodiest day of the Civil War brings a downed soldier into her care.

Blinded Rowan Buckley only knows he’s in deep love with the woman who pulled him off the battlefield. His superiors claim she’s a spy. He knows she’s full of secrets, but he’s out to prove that treason is not one of them.

The two negotiate the crucial times of the Battle of Antietam, Gettysburg, and the New York City Draft Riots. Treachery meets them at every crossroad. Will their love survive?

“In the tradition of Willa Cather…Her women, especially, carry with them a dignity of purpose as inevitable as the story of abolition, civil war, enmity and love that flows through their lives.” Robert Crooke, author of American Family and The Chastened Heart

“At a time when our country was most divided, two lovers earn their happiness through a larger-than-life journey of sacrifice and pure grit. Rich in historical detail…”Jenna Kernan, Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author of Winter Woman
websites:  https://bookswelove.net/charbonneau-eileen/                  eileencharbonneau.com
twitter: @EileenC1988Facebook: @EileenCharbonneauAuthorInstagram: eileencharbonneauemail: eileencharbonneau@gmail.com
Blogs: http://manituwak.blogspot.com           https://bwlauthors.blogspot.com

Diane Scott Lewis presents Escape the Revolution and Hostage to the Revolution

Welcome back author Diane Scott Lewis!!

What would you say are your strengths as an author?Accurate research and attention to detail. And I’m always willing to learn.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?I write every morning, all morning. I pick this time because my mind is at its sharpest. Though with our new puppy, things get hectic.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?Several best sellers and a home in Tahiti. Actually, to be respected for my craft and a steady string of well-sold novels.
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?Perfect your craft. Take workshops, attend conferences, read books on writing and grammar (so many writers don’t even know the basic format for dialogue punctuation). And never give up.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?That they loved my characters and, since I write historicals, my story put them right in the era with no historical bloopers.
Which books and authors do you read for pleasure? Is there an author that inspires you? I read Katheryn Pym, Anita Davison, Colleen Donnelly and Julie Howard. Pym's historic research inspires me. She puts you right into the era of her characters.
ESCAPE THE REVOLUTION
Forced from France by her devious guardian on the eve of the French Revolution, Countess Bettina Jonquiere must deliver an important package to further the royalist cause. In England, she discovers the package is full of blank papers, the address false and she’s penniless. Stranded in a Cornish village, Bettina toils in a bawdy tavern and falls in love with a man who may have murdered his unfaithful wife. Tracked by ruthless revolutionaries, she must uncover the truth about her father’s murder—and her lover’s guilt—while her life is threatened.(Historical Novels Reviews: Simply Brilliant) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XZWXVJ2







HOSTAGE TO THE REVOLUTION
Sequel to Escape the Revolution. In 1796, ruined countess Bettina Jonquiere leaves England after the reported drowning of her lover, Everett.  In New Orleans she struggles to establish a new life for her children. Soon a ruthless Frenchman demands the money stolen by her father at the start of the French Revolution. Bettina is forced on a dangerous mission to France to recover the funds. She unravels dark family secrets, but will she find the man she lost as well?https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071VVKDBW










Social Media:Website: http://www.dianescottlewis.orgFB Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/Diane-Scott-Lewis-277223019312535/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3999998.Diane_Scott_LewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhparkin/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DSLewisHFBookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/diane-scott-lewis-999d8de3-fdae-46d4-8758-665f9362c2ae

Chariss K Walker tells us about Purple Kitty and A Medium's Birthday Surprise

Welcome to author and teacher Chariss K Walker!

Multi-award-winning author, Chariss K. Walker, M.Msc., Reiki Master/Teacher, writes both fiction and nonfiction books with a metaphysical and spiritual component. Those who search for meaning and the supernatural in themselves will enjoy her books whether readers of fiction or nonfiction.
Her fiction expresses a visionary/metaphysical message that illustrates growth in a character's consciousness while utilizing a paranormal aspect. Her nonfiction books share insight, hope, and inspiration.
Although Chariss writes some dark-fiction books about insanely dark topics that are not suitable for faint-hearted readers, there is always an essential question of the abstract nature that gives a reader increased awareness and perception. She also writes cozy mysteries and inspirational women's studies fiction.
All of her books are sold worldwide in eBook, paperback, and due to her own eyesight problems, many are in large print.
 What would you say are your strengths as an author?My greatest strength as an author is that I use my own voice by writing about things that I know. I use a lot of personal experiences but I also research technical information. That blending feels right for me.

How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?I definitely use a strict routine. I treat my writing like a job and put in the hours. I set aside a time to write and I set aside a separate time to promote the books I have written. That part never ends. I have recently been through an extensive promotional period and now I am headed into the writing phase of the year. I admit that I prefer to write, but one must also get the word out about their books and that involves extensive promotional efforts.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?In five years I hope to be an Internationally-Best-Selling-Author with a few more awards under my belt.
 If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?For new writers, especially Indie Writers, I would advise that they take their time and not rush the process. Never get in a hurry. Make sure the book is the best it can be with professional editing and proofreading and that it has a marvelous book cover before they publish… even if funds are tight and they must take classes to learn how to design a cover on their own as I did. Because once the book is out there for sale and listed on various websites, it makes its first impression and we want that to be a great one. You can never recreate a first impression so put everything you have into that initial debut.  
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?I fell in love with the characters and I did not want their story to end.
What are you working on now?I have two books that are my current Works-in-Progress. The first is A Medium's Wedding (Becky Tibbs: A North Carolina Medium's Mystery Series, Book 6) which is a cozy ghost mystery. The second is Sondra (2121, Book 2) which is a post-apocalyptic dystopian fantasy series.
Website and other links to your social media pages.Website: https://chariss.comAmazon Author Page: http://viewauthor.at/CharissKWalkerFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CharissKWalk... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1984212.Chariss_K_WalkerBookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/chariss-k-walkerTwitter: https://twitter.com/chariss_walker
Purple Kitty (A Serena McKay Crime Novel, Book 1)
Not so cute and cuddly! Not a cozy mystery! Not like any crime story you have read.Serena McKay, P.I., lives in a post-apocalyptic dystopian time where the rich get richer and the poor are homeless. Existence in August City is nightmarish at best and disastrously chilling at worst. Serena has suffered from devastating emotional and physical abuse but she continues to do her job in spite of it.As a strong, albeit dysfunctionally-flawed private investigator, Serena uses every weapon in her arsenal to solve bloodcurdling crimes in this hard-boiled, dark-fiction, dystopian thriller series while a notorious serial killer is after her green eyes...Can Serena catch The Cellophane Killer who slaughters women with green eyes and then wraps them up in cellophane like a sandwich for her to find?Will she catch him, or will he catch her?

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EHUL2MI

A Medium's Birthday Surprise (Becky Tibbs: A North Carolina Medium's Mystery Series, Book 1) She sees ghosts!Join Becky as she solves many mysteries in this light, clean, airy, and informative five-book series.Becky Tibbs didn’t ask for the job or the gift of being a medium, but after her parents died, the unusual ability became a bequest – a gift handed down from her mother’s side of the family.An optimistic and positive young woman, Becky determines to make the best of a difficult situation in the small town of Asheville, North Carolina where the smallest detail is noticed and everyone knows everything about everyone else.Becky deals with a lot of departed spirits in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Such a job can get rather hectic at times. Misunderstood ghosts can create a lot of sticky problems for the living and a community such as hers.Used to dealing with ghosts on a daily basis, Becky is not easily surprised. However, on her 26th birthday, Becky gets the biggest shock she’s had in the past ten years and it’s a doozy.
Buy Link - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DMCGMSH
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