Babs Hightower's Blog, page 36
May 30, 2018
Cover reveal day The Ghost In The Gardens by HL Carpenter
Mirror World Publishing presents the cover reveal for The Ghost in the Gardens (A Flower Girl Mystery) by HL Carpenter.
About The Ghost in the Gardens:
Until the first spooky visit, ten year old Chrysantha Howe doesn’t think about ghosts. She thinks about plants.
All.
The.
Time.
She has her future planned out, and that future includes plants. Chrys is going to be a plant scientist like her uncle and her favorite teacher, and she’s determined to find the very rare Coralroot orchid.
The ghost is not in the plan.
But when her teacher disappears and the police suspect her uncle was involved, Chrys has to figure out what the ghost is trying to tell her—before it’s too late.
Book Details:
Genre: Middle Grade Paranormal Mystery
Page Count: 152 pages
Publisher: Mirror World Publishing (http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/)
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40072894-the-ghost-in-the-gardens
Pre-Order Links:
Mirror World Publishing
Ebook: https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/juvenile/products/the-ghost-in-the-gardens-e-book
Paperback: https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/juvenile/products/the-ghost-in-the-gardens-paperback
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2GAWW6Z
Meet the Author:
Florida-based mother/daughter author duo HL Carpenter writes family-friendly fiction. The Carpenters write from their studios in Carpenter Country, a magical place that, like their stories, is unreal but not untrue. When they’re not writing, the Carpenters enjoy exploring the Land of What-If and practicing the fine art of Curiosity. Visit HLCarpenter.com to enjoy gift reads and excerpts and to find out what’s happening in Carpenter Country.
Connect with HL Carpenter:
Website: https://hlcarpenter.com/
Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820921.H_L_Carpenter
The post Cover reveal day The Ghost In The Gardens by HL Carpenter appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
May 28, 2018
Pick and Chews (A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery) by Linda O. Johnston, spotlight
Pick and Chews (A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery)
by Linda O. Johnston
About the Book
Pick and Chews (A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Midnight Ink (May 8, 2018)
Paperback: 288 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0738752457
Digital ASIN: B075W2BCW6
Carrie Kennersly tries to help her veterinarian boyfriend when he’s under suspicion of murder…Is he a keeper, or should she let him go off-leash for good?
As a technician for a local vet and the owner of the Barkery & Biscuits dog bakery, Carrie Kennersly is excited to host a rescue animal adoption event. She’s also excited to be in a relationship with veterinarian Dr. Reed Storme, despite his pleas for her to butt out of the murder cases she keeps finding herself involved with. Yet when Reed is accused of killing his former veterinary colleague, he seems a lot more agreeable to having amateur detective Carrie butt back in. Can Carrie clear Reed, or does she care too much for a killer?
Includes recipes for dog treats and people treats!
About the Author
Linda O. Johnston, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, currently writes the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery Series for Midnight Ink. She has also written the Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink, and the Pet Rescue Mystery Series and Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Linda also writes the K-9 Ranch Rescue miniseries for Harlequin Romantic Suspense as well as a paranormal romance miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne. And all her current stories involve dogs.
Author Links:
Website: www.LindaOJohnston.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaOJohnston
Purchase Links:
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
May 29 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
May 29 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
May 30 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST
May 30 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
May 31 – Books Direct – GUEST POST
May 31 – T’s Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 1 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW
June 1 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
June 2 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 2 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
June 3 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST
June 4 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
June 4 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
June 5 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
June 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 6 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 6 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 7 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
June 8 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW
June 9 – The Montana Bookaholic – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
June 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
June 11 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 11 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
The post Pick and Chews (A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery) by Linda O. Johnston, spotlight appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
May 24, 2018
Honor Kills (Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries) by Nanci Rathbun, blog tour, guest post, giveaway & review
Honor Kills (Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries)by Nanci Rathbun
About the Book
Honor Kills (Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries)
Hard Boiled Mystery
3rd in Series
Dark Chocolate Press LLC (March 14, 2018)
Paperback: 284 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0998755748
Digital ASIN: B07BH61872
Did honor force him to abandon his wife and kids? Or is he just a weasel?
Six years ago, Marcy Wagner hired PI Angelina Bonaparte to find her missing husband Hank, who cleaned out their bank accounts and disappeared. Then Angie finds his obituary in an upstate newspaper. Marcy wants to know what why he abandoned her and the kids. Angie does, too!
She embarks on a mission that will blow the lid off Hank’s hidden life and reveal the reasons he ran. Was he a lowdown skunk? Or did he do the honorable thing when he left? Angie follows a twisted path to the truth and discovers that it lies perilously close to her own family life.
Review
Angelina is a female PI working in Milwaukee. She stumbles across a clue that leads her back to a cold case from six years ago and Marcy Wagner’s husband. He left his family and cleaned out the bank accounts and the more she digs the more questions than answers happen.
I like Angie as she is tough as nails. She really cares about her clients sometimes too much but that is what makes-her great. Well written and the characters are great as well.
I have not read the other books but it seems that each book can stand alone.
Guest Post
Where’d That Come From?
I’m embarrassed to admit that I don’t know the genesis of my PI protagonist, Angelina Bonaparte–pronounced Boe-nah-par-tay, not Bo-nah-part. Napoleon was a Corsican-cum-French wannabe, so he left the last syllable off. I’ m half Norwegian and a quarter Irish, with some German thrown in for good measure. But somehow this feisty Sicilian-American popped into my head and insisted that she was the focus for my series. What could I do? I gave her the lead and she hasn’t failed me.
Her homicide detective boyfriend, Ted Wukowski, with his Polish-American heritage, feels pretty familiar to me. After my dad retired from the Army, we settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which is the setting for the series. Milwaukee has a large Polish population and I went to high school with lots of kids whose last names ended in –ski. In fact, my bestie back then, Janet Lemke, came from a typical Polish family. Since I hung out at her house a lot, I picked up on the speech patterns, including the ubiquitous “aina,” a catchall phrase for “right?” or “okay,” as in, “Make out the lights, aina?” Mrs. Lembke, who makes an appearance in Truth Kills, is largely modeled on Janet’s mom.
In the second novel, Cash Kills, I reused material that came from a failed short story that I didn’t intend to use in a mystery. A young woman is upset to learn of a large inheritance after her parents die, because they lived on the edge of poverty and always told her there wasn’t enough for the things she wanted–a prom dress, a cell phone, college tuition. By making the parents refugees from the Bosnian War and twisting their deaths into murders, I put Angie into an investigation of where the funds originated. The novel opened up into a Bosnian War intrigue. Yes, my mind works that way!
Way back in Truth Kills, Angie had a client whose husband ran out on her and her kids. Angie searched for the weasel ever since, with no results. Hank Wagner was the only “locate” she failed to find, and it irked her mightily. I thought that both his wife Marcy and Angie needed some closure, so Honor Killsgave me the change to resurrect Hank as an obituary in mid-state Wisconsin. What’s he been doing for the almost-six years since he left Milwaukee and his family responsibilities? Is he really dead, or is this another ruse he’s running? Who’s he hiding from? Marcy wants to know, and so does Angie! It was fun to make up fake identities and figure out how to unravel them in this novel. Plus, I got to move Angie out of Milwaukee and into Stevens Point, Wisconsin for part of the story.
I believe that ideas pop into my head and percolate in my subconscious for a while before they surface. I really have no other explanation. And I don’t think I need a psych eval–I’m just a writer!
Giveaway
About the Author
Nanci Rathbun is a lifelong reader of mysteries – historical, contemporary, futuristic, paranormal, hard-boiled, cozy … you can find them all on her bookshelves. She brings logic and planning to her writing from a background as an IT project manager, and attention to characters and dialog from her second career as a Congregationalist minister.
Nanci grew up an Army brat, living in Germany, France, and Korea, as well as several states in the U.S. After her dad retired from the service, the family settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There, Nanci raised her daughter and son, while working at AT&T. She never expected to move, but when her second grandchild was on the way, she wanted to be closer. One of her greatest joys is hearing her three granddaughters shout ‘Nana’ when she comes in their front door in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Nanci’s Maltipoo, Teeny, and she now live in Wellington, Colorado. No matter where she makes her home, she will always be a Packers fan.
Author Links
Website: https://nancirathbun.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Nanci-Rathbun-162077650631803/
Twitter: @nancirathbun
Purchase Link: Amazon
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
May 17 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST, EXCERPT
May 17 – Varietats – REVIEW
May 18 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW
May 18 – Island Confidential – AUTHOR INTERVIEW, EXCERPT
May 19 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW
May 19 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT
May 20 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 20 – Book a Plenty Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 21 – The Editing Pen – CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 22 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
May 23 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW, EXCERPT
May 24 – The Pulp & Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 25 – Babs Book Bistro – REVIEW, GUEST POST
May 25 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 26 – The Book Diva’s Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 27 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
May 27 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
The post Honor Kills (Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries) by Nanci Rathbun, blog tour, guest post, giveaway & review appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
May 23, 2018
Hight Tail It To Kinsey Falls, book blast & spotlight
Hightail It to Kinsey Falls (Kinsey Falls Series)
by Gayle Leeson
About the Book
Hightail It to Kinsey Falls (Kinsey Falls Series)
Women’s Fiction
1st in Series
Grace Abraham Publishing (May 22, 2018)
Print Length: 139 pages
Kindle ASIN: B07C46H3WH
All work and no play make Jade a dull girl.
Jade Burt can do without her grandmother’s meddling in her love life. But when Millie finds an abandoned baby possum, it leads her to Caleb Young. Caleb would be perfect for Jade! When Jade meets Caleb, it’s hard to argue with her grandmother’s choice. Still, Jade is determined to push Caleb away, but his friendship with Millie concerns her. What if he’s a slick con man trying to take advantage of a sweet old lady? Jade needs to figure Caleb out before he breaks her grandmother’s heart…and Jade’s too!
About the Author
Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. I also write as Amanda Lee. As Gayle Trent, I write the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery
series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery
series. As Amanda Lee, I write the Embroidery Mystery
series.
I live in Virginia with my family, which includes my own “Angus” who is not an Irish wolfhound but a Great Pyrenees who provides plenty of inspiration for the character of Mr. O’Ruff. I’m having a blast writing this new series! But, never fear, I’m also working on a new cozy mystery series as well.
Website: http://www.gayleleeson.com http://www.gayletrent.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GayleTrentandAmandaLee/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GayleTrent
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gayletrent/pins/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gayletrentleeson/
Purchase Links:
BOOK BLAST PARTICIPANTS
May 22
Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
May 23
StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews
May 24
Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
May 25
The post Hight Tail It To Kinsey Falls, book blast & spotlight appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
Don’t Believe It by Charlie Donlea, blog tour, giveaway & spotlight
Don’t Believe It
by Charlie Donlea
About the Book
Don’t Believe It
Mystery/Crime/Suspense
Kensington (May 29, 2018)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1496713803
Digital ASIN: B075CBLSDX
Audio ASIN: B079VRWSRY
From acclaimed author Charlie Donlea comes a twisting, impossible-to-put-down novel of suspense in which a filmmaker helps clear a woman convicted of murder—only to find she may be a puppet in a sinister game.
The Girl of Sugar Beach is the most watched documentary in television history—a riveting, true-life mystery that unfolds over twelve weeks and centers on a fascinating question: Did Grace Sebold murder her boyfriend, Julian, while on a Spring Break vacation, or is she a victim of circumstance and poor police work? Grace has spent the last ten years in a St. Lucian prison, and reaches out to filmmaker Sidney Ryan in a last, desperate attempt to prove her innocence.
As Sidney begins researching, she uncovers startling evidence, additional suspects, and timeline issues that were all overlooked during the original investigation. Before the series even finishes filming, public outcry leads officials to reopen the case. But as the show surges towards its final episodes, Sidney receives a letter saying that she got it badly, terribly wrong.
Sidney has just convinced the world that Grace is innocent. Now she wonders if she has helped to free a ruthless killer. Delving into Grace’s past, she peels away layer after layer of deception. But as Sidney edges closer to the real heart of the story, she must decide if finding the truth is worth risking her newfound fame, her career . . . even her life.
Giveaway
About the Author
Credit – Carrianne Photography
USA Today bestselling author Charlie Donlea was born and raised in Chicago. He now lives in the suburbs with his wife and two young children. Readers can find him online at http://charliedonlea.com
Author Links
Website http://charliedonlea.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/charliedonlea/?ref=hl
Twitter https://twitter.com/CharlieDonlea
GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13922088.Charlie_Donlea
Purchase Links
Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play BookBub
Tour Participants
May 21 – Bea’s Book Nook – REVIEW
May 21 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 22 – DeeScoveries – SPOTLIGHT
May 22 – Sinfully Wicked Book Reviews – REVIEW
May 23 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 23 – Book Babble – REVIEW
May 24 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
May 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
May 25 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
May 25 – Books Direct – REVIEW
May 26 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 27 – T’s Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 28 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW, GUEST POST
May 28 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
May 29 – Carole’s Book Corner – REVIEW
May 29 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 30 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
May 31 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW, GUEST POST
June 1 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
June 2 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW
The post Don’t Believe It by Charlie Donlea, blog tour, giveaway & spotlight appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
May 22, 2018
Bear Witness to Murder (A Teddy Bear Mystery) by Meg Macy, blog tour and spotlight
Bear Witness to Murder (A Teddy Bear Mystery)
by Meg Macy
About the Book
Bear Witness to Murder (A Teddy Bear Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Kensington (May 29, 2018)
Paperback: 288 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1496709653
Digital ASIN: B075C38DMD
As autumn air settles into the quaint small town of Silver Hollow, there’s nothing more popular than Sasha’s teddy bears—and murder in cold blood . . .
Silver Bear Shop and Factory manager Sasha Silverman is cozying up to the fall season by hosting Silver Hollow’s Cranbeary Tea Party, the opening event of the village’s Oktobear Fest—a too-cute celebration themed around teddy bears. She barely has a moment to agonize over the return of her former high school rival, Holly Parker, whose new toy and bookstore in town could spell big trouble for the Silver Bear Shop and her cousin’s small bookstore . . .
But when Sasha discovers Holly’s shop assistant dead with a knife plunged in her body, the unpleasant woman suddenly looks like a real backstabber. So does Sasha’s ex-husband, rumored to have rekindled the fiery extramarital affair he once had with the victim. Now, before a gruesome homicide case takes the fun out of both the Fest and her personal life, Sasha must identify the true culprit from a daunting suspect list—or risk becoming as lifeless as one of her stuffed bears . . .
About the Author
Award-winning mystery author Meg Macy lives in Southeast Michigan, close to Ann Arbor, Chelsea, and Dexter — the area she chose for the setting of her new “Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear” cozy mystery series for Kensington. She is also one-half of the writing team of D.E. Ireland for the Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins Mystery series; two books have been named Agatha Award finalists. Meg’s first published book, Double Crossing, won the 2012 Best First Novel Spur Award from Western Writers of America. She’s a graduate of Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction program. Meg loves reading mysteries, historical, and other genre fiction, and also enjoys gardening, crafts, and watercolor painting.
Author Links: www.megmacy.com Meg Macy – Teddy Bear Cozy Mysteries Meg Macy on Twitter
Purchase Links: Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play BookBub
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
May 23 – Lisa Ks Book Review – REVIEW
May 23 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
May 24 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
May 24 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 25 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW
May 25 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 26 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
May 26 – Blogger Nicole Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 27 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
May 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 28 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 28 – Varietats – REVIEW
May 29 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
May 29 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 30 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW
May 30 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
May 31 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 31 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 1 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW
June 1 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
June 2 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
June 2 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
June 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
June 3 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW
June 4 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
June 4 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
The post Bear Witness to Murder (A Teddy Bear Mystery) by Meg Macy, blog tour and spotlight appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
May 21, 2018
Barnabas Tew and The Case Of The Missing Scarab by Columbkill Noonan, blog tour, giveaway spotlight
Barnabas Tew and The Case Of The Missing Scarab
by Columbkill Noonan
About the Book
Barnabas Tew and The Case Of The Missing Scarab
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Self-Published
Release Date – June 3, 2017
Paperback: 274 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1546786078
Digital ASIN: B072JMJV1F
Barnabas Tew is a private detective struggling to survive in his trade in Victorian London. Fearing that he is not as clever as he had hoped to be, he is plagued by a lack of confidence brought on in no small part by his failure to prevent the untimely deaths of several of his clients.
Matters only get worse when Anubis, the Egyptian God of the Dead, is referred to Barnabas by a former client (who perished in a terribly unfortunate incident which was almost certainly not Barnabas’ fault). Anubis sends for Barnabas (in a most uncivilized manner) and tells him that the scarab beetle in charge of rolling the sun across the sky every day has been kidnapped, and perhaps dismembered entirely.
The Land of the Dead is in chaos, which will soon spill over into the Land of the Living if Barnabas – together with his trusty assistant, Wilfred – cannot set matters to right. Pulled from his predictable (if unremarkable) life in Marylebone, Barnabas must match his wits against the capricious and dangerous Egyptian gods in order to unravel the mystery of the missing beetle and thereby save the world.
Giveaway
About the Author
Columbkill Noonan has an M.S. in Biology (she has, in turn, been a field biologist, an environmental compliance inspector, and a lecturer of Anatomy and Physiology).
When she’s not teaching or writing, she can usually be found riding her rescue horse, Mittens, practicing yoga (on the ground, in an aerial silk, on a SUP board, and sometimes even on Mittens), or spending far too much time at the local organic, vegan market.
Author Links
Blog – https://columbkill.weebly.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ColumbkillNoonan/
Purchase Link
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
May 21 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
May 22 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
May 23 – Carole’s Book Corner – REVIEW
May 24 – The Book Diva’s Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 25 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 26 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT
May 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 28 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
May 29 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST
May 30 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW
May 31 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 1 – T’s Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 2 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 3 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
The post Barnabas Tew and The Case Of The Missing Scarab by Columbkill Noonan, blog tour, giveaway spotlight appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
May 19, 2018
39 WINKS (A Maggie O’Malley Mystery) by Kathleen Valenti, guest post & giveaway
39 Winks (A Maggie O’Malley Mystery)by Kathleen Valenti
About the Book
39 Winks (A Maggie O’Malley Mystery)
Medical Mystery/Thriller
2nd in Series
Henery Press (May 22, 2018)
Print Length 298 Pages
Digital ASIN: B07B9M3VZ7
Former pharmaceutical researcher Maggie O’Malley is losing sleep. Her boyfriend Constantine’s aunt is a multitasking sleepwalker who, in addition to wandering her stately home, prepares meals, folds laundry and, one winter night, stumbles across her husband with his throat slit.
It’s a rude and gruesome awakening that’s upsetting to Aunt Polly. And interesting to the police.
Maggie and Constantine work to uncover who killed the cosmetic surgery mogul and why. As they dig into the lives of those who knew him best, they discover that the truth is only skin deep and doctoring perception is a treatment with deadly side effects.
A gripping page-turner with more twists than a surgeon’s suture, 39 Winks is a tale of lies, betrayals and greed that will keep you up at night. And looking over your shoulder.
Guest Post
Where do ideas come from?
Or more specifically, where do good ideas come from?
It’s a question I’ve been asked not only as an author, but in my other life as an advertising copywriter. It makes sense. Ideas are the engines that drive our stories forward, whether those stories are mystery novels or 30-second television commercials. But how do you find those ideas? And more importantly, how do those ideas become something more?
When I set out to write 39 Winks, I knew I wanted to create a story about sleepwalking, secrets and social justice. A tall order? Maybe. But I couldn’t let go of the seedlings of these seemingly disparate ideas. So I nurtured my concepts through research, reflection, and by delving into my characters and their motivations.
I spent a great deal of time researching not only sleepwalking and its attendant dangers, but also the causes of parasomnias and how they could relate to the world of the Maggie O’Malley Mysteries. These meanderings led to possibilities, which in turn led to a storyline about reality versus perception, the truths we hide, and the guilt that we carry.
It was through these exercises that “idea” went to “good idea” and finally “viably good book idea.”
It’s this latter that was the biggest “a ha” moment for me as I made the transition from copywriter to novelist. I was used to writing for effect, using words to elicit emotion. I came to understand that I must also tell the story—share the idea, as it were—in a way that hit all of the touchpoints of character, theme, pace and plot.
The journey from idea to publication is much like the writer’s journey. It begins with hope, grows through hard work and exploration, and ends through a great deal of perseverance. I’m so happy to share the fruit of these ideas in the book that became 39 Winks. Thank you for coming along and seeing how ideas grow. And where they can take us.
Giveaway
About the Author
When Kathleen Valenti isn’t writing page-turning mysteries that combine humor and suspense, she works as a nationally award-winning advertising copywriter. 39 Winks
is the second of the Maggie O’Malley mystery series and follows her debut mystery, Protocol. Kathleen lives in Oregon with her family where she pretends to enjoy running.
Learn more at www.kathleenvalenti.com.
Author Links
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kathleenvalentiauthor/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/KathyValenti1
GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16773270.Kathleen_Valenti
Purchase Links
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
May 14 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 14 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
May 15 – The Editing Pen – CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 16 – The Montana Bookaholic – CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 17 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
May 17 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST
May 18 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
May 19 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 20 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST
May 21 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 22 – T’s Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 23 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
May 24 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST
May 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
May 26 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 27 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
The post 39 WINKS (A Maggie O’Malley Mystery) by Kathleen Valenti, guest post & giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
39 WINKS (A Maggie O’Malley Mystery) by Kathleen Valentim, guest post & giveaway
39 Winks (A Maggie O’Malley Mystery)by Kathleen Valenti
About the Book
39 Winks (A Maggie O’Malley Mystery)
Medical Mystery/Thriller
2nd in Series
Henery Press (May 22, 2018)
Print Length 298 Pages
Digital ASIN: B07B9M3VZ7
Former pharmaceutical researcher Maggie O’Malley is losing sleep. Her boyfriend Constantine’s aunt is a multitasking sleepwalker who, in addition to wandering her stately home, prepares meals, folds laundry and, one winter night, stumbles across her husband with his throat slit.
It’s a rude and gruesome awakening that’s upsetting to Aunt Polly. And interesting to the police.
Maggie and Constantine work to uncover who killed the cosmetic surgery mogul and why. As they dig into the lives of those who knew him best, they discover that the truth is only skin deep and doctoring perception is a treatment with deadly side effects.
A gripping page-turner with more twists than a surgeon’s suture, 39 Winks is a tale of lies, betrayals and greed that will keep you up at night. And looking over your shoulder.
Guest Post
Where do ideas come from?
Or more specifically, where do good ideas come from?
It’s a question I’ve been asked not only as an author, but in my other life as an advertising copywriter. It makes sense. Ideas are the engines that drive our stories forward, whether those stories are mystery novels or 30-second television commercials. But how do you find those ideas? And more importantly, how do those ideas become something more?
When I set out to write 39 Winks, I knew I wanted to create a story about sleepwalking, secrets and social justice. A tall order? Maybe. But I couldn’t let go of the seedlings of these seemingly disparate ideas. So I nurtured my concepts through research, reflection, and by delving into my characters and their motivations.
I spent a great deal of time researching not only sleepwalking and its attendant dangers, but also the causes of parasomnias and how they could relate to the world of the Maggie O’Malley Mysteries. These meanderings led to possibilities, which in turn led to a storyline about reality versus perception, the truths we hide, and the guilt that we carry.
It was through these exercises that “idea” went to “good idea” and finally “viably good book idea.”
It’s this latter that was the biggest “a ha” moment for me as I made the transition from copywriter to novelist. I was used to writing for effect, using words to elicit emotion. I came to understand that I must also tell the story—share the idea, as it were—in a way that hit all of the touchpoints of character, theme, pace and plot.
The journey from idea to publication is much like the writer’s journey. It begins with hope, grows through hard work and exploration, and ends through a great deal of perseverance. I’m so happy to share the fruit of these ideas in the book that became 39 Winks. Thank you for coming along and seeing how ideas grow. And where they can take us.
Giveaway
About the Author
When Kathleen Valenti isn’t writing page-turning mysteries that combine humor and suspense, she works as a nationally award-winning advertising copywriter. 39 Winks is the second of the Maggie O’Malley mystery series and follows her debut mystery, Protocol. Kathleen lives in Oregon with her family where she pretends to enjoy running.
Learn more at www.kathleenvalenti.com.
Author Links
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kathleenvalentiauthor/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/KathyValenti1
GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16773270.Kathleen_Valenti
Purchase Links
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
May 14 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 14 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
May 15 – The Editing Pen – CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 16 – The Montana Bookaholic – CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 17 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
May 17 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST
May 18 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
May 19 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 20 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST
May 21 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 22 – T’s Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 23 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
May 24 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST
May 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
May 26 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 27 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
The post 39 WINKS (A Maggie O’Malley Mystery) by Kathleen Valentim, guest post & giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
May 17, 2018
Full Moons, Dunes & Macaroons: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Spells & Caramels) by Erin Johnson, spotlight & giveaway
Full Moons, Dunes & Macaroons: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Spells & Caramels)
by Erin Johnson
About the Book
Full Moons, Dunes & Macaroons: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Spells & Caramels)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Self Published
Print Length – 248 Pages
ASIN: B07BPGFNRR
The big day has finally arrived, and Imogen, Iggy and the bakers head to the Fire Kingdom for Hank and Shaday’s wedding. Imogen is totally fine with it—or so she keeps telling herself.
Even the murder of a famous wedding guest can’t stop the impending nuptials. So when Imogen’s repressed feelings magically ruin her baking and she’s banned from the kitchen, she sets herself to finding the killer.
Her search leads her through the desert kingdom’s bustling marketplaces and the maze-like raid, to discover underground movements, shady characters, and more secrets about the people around her than she thought possible. Could the killer be the clever journalist or the rebellious palace maid? Perhaps it’s a member of the royal family.
With the Fire Kingdom’s people churning for change, a mysterious artifact missing from the museum, and a dastardly plot brewing, Imogen begins to feel the heat. When Horace contacts her and makes her a tempting offer, she struggles to choose between him and her new friends.
Imogen’s choice will have enormous consequences over a deadly plot that threatens the people she loves. Will she stop a killer and find a happy ending in the process? Or will an ancient legend come to life and destroy them all?
Giveaway
About the Author
Erin Johnson is a native of Tempe, Arizona, Erin spends her time crafting mysterious, magical, romance-filled stories that’ll hopefully make you laugh. In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (to allow her to eat more).
Website: www.erinjohnsonwrites.com. Facebook: www.facebook.com/EJohnsonWrites. Twitter:@EJohnsonWrites
Purchase Link – Amazon
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
May 14 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
May 15 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW
May 15 – Varietats – REVIEW
May 16 – Book Babble – SPOTLIGHT
May 17 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
May 18 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
May 18 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW
May 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
May 20 – The Cozy Pages – SPOTLIGHT
May 21 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
May 21 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 22 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
May 23 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 24 – Book Babble – REVIEW
May 24 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW, SPOTLIGHT
May 25 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW
May 25 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW, SPOTLIGHT
May 26 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW
May 26 – T’s Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 27 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
May 28 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT
May 29 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW
The post Full Moons, Dunes & Macaroons: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Spells & Caramels) by Erin Johnson, spotlight & giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
