Nancy J. Cohen's Blog: Nancy's Notes from Florida, page 75

Shrimp Brown Rice Recipe

Here���s an easy one-dish meal that you can serve alone or with a salad.

Shrimp Brown Rice

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium red pepper, chopped

16 oz. sliced mushrooms

2 cups uncooked brown rice

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. saffron powder

48 oz. low-sodium chicken broth

1-2 lbs. cooked, deveined shrimp

12 oz. frozen broccoli florets

8 oz. frozen peas

In a Dutch oven, saut�� onion, red pepper, and mushrooms in oil until tender. Stir in the rice, garlic and saffron. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, then add broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until liquid is absorbed, about 45 minutes. Add broccoli, peas, and shrimp, and cook until heated through. Serves 6-8.

Find more of my favorite recipes at http://nancyjcohen.com/fun-stuff/recipes/

 

Valentine’s Day

My husband and I celebrated Valentine���s Day in downtown Fort Lauderdale. We strolled by a display of art for sale near the Riverside Hotel. It was an event called ���Hearts on Parade��� as a benefit for Children���s Home Society of Florida. These hearts are available to buy at http://www.ebay.com/usr/heartsonparade

We ate dinner at the French restaurant, Le Caf�� de Paris on Las Olas Blvd. Our celebration dinner started off with a bottle of wine and a Caesar salad. Next I had Beef Wellington and my husband had Veal Oscar.

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Dessert was the best part. The waiter flamb��ed a large portion of Baked Alaska in front of us. It would have served four people but we each devoured our share. The rum was generous. This dinner package for $96 was a great deal and one we���d do again, although you can order a la carte.

What���s your best Valentine���s Day memory?

 

Mushroom Potato Recipe

Happy Friday the 13th and Valentine���s Day! Two whammies in two days. Here���s a hearty mushroom potato casserole to keep you warm this weekend. I served it at critique group this past week and my writing partners loved it.

MUSHROOM POTATO SAVORY

6 oz. box potato pancake mix

16 oz. sliced Portobello mushrooms

8 oz. container diced red onions

1 cup milk

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

5 large eggs

Make potato pancake mix according to directions (will require additional eggs). Let sit to thicken. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray. Spread the potatoes along the bottom of the greased dish. Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

In a large bowl, combine all the other ingredients. Pour on top of the potatoes. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until bubbly. Serve for brunch, or add garlic bread and a salad for a meat-free dinner. Serves 6-8.

For dessert, try this wine cake:

This Recipe, along with others, can be found on my Website.

Scroll down to the bottom, and you can download the pdf file.

GIVEAWAYS

Winter Contest, Jan. 27-Feb. 14. Last Day!

Enter to win a signed hardcover copy of Shear Murder & a $10 Starbucks gift card. Two prizes to be awarded. http://nancyjcohen.com/fun-stuff/contest/

Booklover���s Bench, Feb. 4-18

Win an iPad Mini or free books from Booklover���s Bench authors, including a signed paperback copy of Shear Murder, in our February Anniversary Contest http://bookloversbench.com/contest/

 

How to Write Short Fiction

How to Write Short Fiction���and Why Your Readers Think You Should!

Joanna Campbell Slan

More and more authors are discovering the power of short fiction to market and promote their work. I’m certainly one of them. Several years ago, I promised my readers that I would write a short story a month in the run-up of the release of my next Kiki Lowenstein mystery book. Folks loved the pieces, my sales benefited, and I learned a lot in the process.

Guidelines for Writing Short Fiction

1. Concentrate on “one.” In my short stories, I typically write about one main character, one big problem, one setting, and one span of time.

2. Set it up fast. When they’re reading a short story, readers want to settle in quickly. Therefore, I try to work the “who, what, when, where and why” into my first paragraph. That gets my readers engaged as we explore the remaining question, “Whodunit?”

3. Craft your opening images so that they both paint a picture and set a mood for the reader. Promise your reader action and conflict from the get-go. Here’s an example: “The snow was busy blanketing our spirea bushes with a gentle white coverlet, while my mother slammed around a pot on the stove. At thirteen, I’m too old for hot chocolate, but my younger sisters, Eve and Edith, love it. Mom’s usually even-tempered when she cooks, but on this particular day, Mitt Romney had decided he wouldn’t make his third run for President. That made Mom mad. Hopping mad.”

4. Grab the reader fast. Your opening sentence should be a real show-stopper. Think of it as a baited hook that you’ll toss out into the ocean. Here’s an example, “If Mitt Romney had done his patriotic duty to our country, my mother wouldn’t be in jail today.”

5. Tell your reader the story, AFTER you tell it to yourself. It’s easy to get locked into a chronological narrative when we’re telling ourselves a story as we write it. As a result, we don’t always tell the most entertaining tale we could. Before you start writing, make a list of the things that must happen in the story and put them in chronological order. Order your information so that it makes the most impact.

6. Use this formula to help you get started: “First (inciting incident) happened to (character) and then that’s how (action started), and so (fill in the blank/more action) until (a conclusion is reached).” Example: “First Mom heard on the news that Romney wasn’t running, and that’s how she discovered that Dad wasn’t really volunteering down at Romney headquarters like he said he was, and so she followed him, and discovered he was having an affair with���a registered Democrat!” Once you encapsulate your entire short story in a sentence, you can charge ahead with confidence.

7. End with a bang! Whenever possible, I like to end my short fiction with a pithy observation or an ironic comment. The reader should feel a sense of (twisted) satisfaction. For example, “If she hadn’t dropped her ‘Mitt Romney for President’ button at the scene of the crime, Mom would have gotten away with murder. As they slapped the handcuffs on her and walked her toward the waiting police car, she yelled back at us, “See? None of this would have happened if we’d elected a good Republican into the White House!”

Do I break these rules? All the time. But I’ve developed my list as a useful template for pointing me in the right direction, even if I do wander off the suggested path.

Is it worth the time and effort? My short stories have proven to be extremely useful for keeping readers engaged between my books. I like to use the short format to expand on my characters, or to write about a situation that doesn’t warrant being explored in a full length book. You can see how this works in my Kiki Lowenstein Short Story Anthology #2. It’s only 99 cents. In particular, you might want look at the reader reviews about that particular anthology. Their comments have encouraged me to keep offering fiction in this short format.

Now it’s your turn. I’d love to hear what you’ve learned about writing short fiction or any questions you might have.

Joanna

P.S. In case the link doesn’t work, here’s the link to the anthology: http://www.amazon.com/Lowenstein-Anthology-Volume-Scrap-N-Craft-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00BQ2ITVI/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1MT1PG8YM2VPBP7MHCEA

About the Author

Joanna Campbell Slan is a national-bestselling and award-winning author of twenty-eight books, including three mystery series. Her newest book���Shotgun, Wedding, Bells���is now available for pre-order on Amazon. When you buy Shotgun, Wedding, Bells (Release date Feb. 14, 2015), you automatically get Tear Down and Die (Book #1 in the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series/86 five-star reviews) absolutely FREE. Here’s that link: http://www.amazon.com/Shotgun-Wedding-Lowenstein-Scrap-N-Craft-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00SURBH7A/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1423518318&sr=1-1&keywords=Kiki+Lowenstein

Book Blurb for Shotgun, Wedding, Bells����

A very pregnant Kiki Lowenstein and her fianc�� Detective Chad Detweiler are trying to race the stork to the altar. But their vows are interrupted by a shoot-out. With the help of her nanny, Bronwyn Macavity, Kiki vows to track down the man who ruined her wedding and put her family at risk. Even a big belly bump won���t stop this intrepid amateur sleuth! http://www.amazon.com/Shotgun-Wedding-Lowenstein-Scrap-N-Craft-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00SURBH7A/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1423518318&sr=1-1&keywords=Kiki+Lowenstein

Where to find Joanna

Joanna shares excerpts, tips and craft tutorials on her Blog: http://www.joannaslan.blogspot.com

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/joannaslan

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/JoannaSlan

Website: http://www.joannaslan.com

Get a FREE e-book from Joanna

For a free sample of Joanna’s work, send an email to her assistant, Sally Lippert at SALFL27@att.net and request your copy of Ink, Red, Dead (Book #3 in the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series).

 

Pre-Need Funeral Plans

One of the topics I���d researched for Hair Raiser was pre-need funeral plans. I firmly believe people should address this issue before their demise. It saves your loved ones from having to make these choices during a difficult time. You get to choose what you want, and when the time comes, all your heirs have to do is make a phone call. You can pay off the cost in installments, instead of your surviving family members having to come up with a lump sum later on. So don���t avoid the issue and put off for tomorrow what you can do today.

Marla interviews a suspect in Hair Raiser who happens to be a funeral director. Her excuse for seeing him is ostensibly to get information on a pre-need plan for herself. I hope you find this interview to be useful for your own planning needs.

Excerpt from Hair Raiser by Nancy J. Cohen

���Let���s talk about funeral plans,��� Marla said.

From the way Stefano glowered at her, she figured he was wishing she could make use of one right now.

���Is this going to be a package for two people?��� he snarled, pen poised in his fingers. His glance dropped to her ringless left hand.

���No, this is just for me.���

���You should think ahead. At some point in your future, there may be a significant other. I assume we���re talking about a traditional ground burial rather than a mausoleum?���

���I guess so.��� She had no wish to be preserved for eternity in a tomb like Romeo and Juliet. Besides, she believed her religion required a ground burial.

���Purchasing two plots now will save you money because land prices keep rising. In the event you don���t need the second plot, we���ll buy it back from you. Consider it a hedge against inflation.��� Pushing a chart in front of her, he pointed to various sites marked out in squares. ���Which cemetery section appeals to you?���

Marla moistened her lips. ���It doesn���t matter, whichever costs less.���

���That would be the newest section.��� He circled two spaces. ���Do you prefer a chapel or graveside service?���

She gave it serious consideration, mortality being on her mind after viewing Riley���s body and being shot at herself. ���A graveside service would be easier on my family, so let���s go with that one. Is there a price difference?��� Squinting, she tried to read what was on the upside-down form.

���It���s $420 for use of the chapel as opposed to $275 for a graveside service.��� At her nod, he continued. ���Next there���s a basic charge for the professional services of the funeral director and staff. That���s $1870. This includes arranging conferences between family and clergy, filing necessary permits, planning the funeral, placement of obituary notices, and coordination with other responsible parties. It also includes administrative expenses for the use of our facilities.���

���I see.���

���You have a choice about embalming. May I ask your religious preference?���

���I���m Jewish.���

He nodded sagely. ���Jewish people usually don���t embalm unless you���re going into a mausoleum. It���s my understanding, and correct me if I���m wrong, that the religious directive is to return to the earth as quickly as possible.���

���Okay, no embalming.��� She felt uncomfortable discussing these choices, but it made sense to do so before you needed them. What a relief for your relatives to make one phone call in the event your prearrangements became necessary. Ma had paid for a plan, and Marla was grateful. She dreaded the day when she���d have to use it, but that was better than having to make hasty decisions later while coping with grief.

���You���re going to have other expenses.��� Stefano reversed the general price list so she could see for herself. ���Transfer of remains to the funeral home is $290. Use of a hearse will be $275. Dressing and casketing is $145. Since you���re not embalming, refrigeration is required, which costs $395.���

I���d always wanted to die broke, she told herself sardonically. ���What���s this opening and closing that you���ve circled?���

���That���s for opening the gravesite and closing it after the service. Also, I recommend a concrete vault. It gives more protection than a concrete liner, which is more porous. Now let���s discuss choice of caskets.��� He stood, gesturing for her to follow. ���We have a casket room so you can see the selections.���

Oh, joy. She couldn���t wait.

Trailing behind, she entered a room where up to twenty coffins were on display. Detaching herself emotionally wasn���t hard. She didn���t want to think about herself lying in one of those boxes.

���The Jewish religion calls for your casket to be made of all wood, meaning pegged and glued with no metal parts so the body can get back to the earth quickly.��� He showed her a few samples. ���See, no nails or metal hinges. Or, if you go into a mausoleum, embalming is required along with a sealed metal casket. Choices include steel, copper, and bronze, like this one here.���

Her eyes bulged. The price tag of $37,995 made her throat constrict. Hopefully the ones made from wood were more reasonably priced. She surveyed the different styles ranging from solid mahogany with a polished finish and a champagne velvet interior at a cost of $19,995 to a plain pine box for $795.

���How about this one?��� she asked, pointing to a solid poplar design with a polished maple finish and beige crepe interior. It ran mid-price range at $2,695.

Stefano ran his fingers lovingly over the smooth service, his dark eyes gleaming in appreciation. ���Beautiful, isn���t it? Of course, if you prefer a velvet interior, we have a similar one for an extra $800.���

���No, I like this. What���s next?��� Uncomfortable in the confined space with Stefano looming beside her, she headed through the door and back toward his office.

���Clergy fees, death certificates, prayer books, yarmulkes, acknowledgment cards, a guest sign-in book. Then there���s an archiving fee and sales tax on the merchandise.���

He���d been writing everything down on a proposal form, and now he pulled out a calculator to get the total. ���Here���s the best package I can give you,��� he said circling a number that made Marla cringe. ���We have a payment plan available if you���d like to stretch this out over four years with no interest. It includes our personal protection program. If, God forbid, something happens to you after a year, the rest of the premiums are waived.���

���Terrific. Can I take this home to study?��� She���d contact another funeral home to compare prices. Babs had told her Stefano charged exorbitant fees. Upon his approval, she folded the papers and stuffed them into her purse.

���Who handled the arrangements for Ben���s funeral?��� she asked, knowing the answer but wondering how he���d react.

He grimaced. ���One of the Levinson places took care of him.���

���They weren���t the ones involved in that voodoo case, were they?��� She���d read a news article about a mortician convicted of performing voodoo rituals by stuffing dolls stuck with pins into a dead man���s chest cavity and chopping off his hand.

���No, that was somewhere in north Florida.��� Thrusting stiff fingers through his gray hair, Stefano regarded her from beneath heavy brows. ���Levinson���s is a nation-wide chain. Conglomerates now own more than fifty percent of the mortuaries in this county. Most people don���t realize it when they choose a place. Ownership may have changed hands, but the old names remain on the signs.���

���Doesn���t that hurt your business? Yours is one of the few family-owned firms left.���

���We still provide more personal services than the chains, and their prices tend to be higher. Did you know they charge up to sixty-two percent more than independents for the same items?���

Yeah, right, pal. Like your prices are cheap? ���You���ve managed to stay viable.���

���So far.���

���I heard a rumor that Ben was suing you on behalf of some former customers,��� she said, switching topics glibly to provoke a response. ���Did that have anything to do with Pre-Need plans? What guarantee is there that I���ll get what I pay for?���

He shifted uneasily. ���You have to trust me, Marla.���

No problem. I���d trust you like I would a snake.

NOTE: Hair Raiser (Bad Hair Day Mystery #2) was originally published by Kensington Publishing Corp. This Author���s Edition has been revised and reformatted with added bonus material.

Buy Links

Kindle: http://amzn.to/14M9l5B

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/book/hair-raiser/id957020158?mt=11&uo=4&at=113vsrx

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/hair-raiser-2

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/nancy-j.-cohen

International: http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00S4VCUM8

Print Edition: https://www.createspace.com/5253406

Add to Goodreads List: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24478683-hair-raiser

Contest Alert

Enter to win a signed hardcover copy of Shear Murder & a $10 Starbucks gift card. Two prizes to be awarded. http://nancyjcohen.com/fun-stuff/contest/

 

Moussaka Recipe

Moussaka

After buying a plump eggplant at the Swap Shop in Fort Lauderdale, I had a choice of three dishes to make with it: My chopped eggplant appetizer, eggplant parmigian, or moussaka. I chose the last one and made a substantial dish that will last us several nights. Full recipe below.

First I peeled and sliced the eggplant, then salted the slices. This bleeds out the bitterness.

Next I made the beef mixture then set it aside while I did the sauce.

Make sure you stir constantly during the sauce stage.

Once the ingredients are prepared, you can assemble the dish. Cover and Refrigerate to bake later if desired.

And here is the finished meal. Doesn���t it look good enough to eat? Add a salad and a glass of red wine, and you are all set.

MOUSSAKA

1 large eggplant, peeled and sliced into thin rounds

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1-1/2 to 2 pounds ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

15���oz. can tomato sauce

3/4 cup dry red wine

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups low-fat milk

3 eggs

1 cup grated Parmesan, divided

Salt eggplant slices on both sides and let sweat on a plate for a half hour, then rinse and pat dry.

Heat olive oil in skillet over medium high heat. Add ground beef and onions and cook until beef is brown, about 15 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, wine, parsley, oregano and cinnamon. Simmer until mixture thickens, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium high heat. Add flour and stir 1 minute. Gradually add milk, whisking until smooth. Boil until thickened, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes.

Beat eggs in small bowl to blend. Whisk small amount of hot milk mixture into eggs. Return egg mixture to saucepan. Whisk constantly until mixture reaches a boil, then remove from heat. Stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan.

Grease 13x9x2 inch glass baking dish. Arrange half of eggplant slices in bottom of dish. Spread meat mixture over. Top with remaining eggplant. Pour hot custard cheese sauce over eggplant. Sprinkle with remaining �� cup Parmesan. Cover loosely with foil and bake 1 hour. Uncover and continue baking until golden brown. Serves 6-8.

For more Recipes, visit http://nancyjcohen.com/fun-stuff/recipes/

Booklover���s Bench Giveaway, Feb. 4-18

Win an iPad Mini or free books from Booklover���s Bench authors, including a signed paperback copy of Shear Murder, in our February Anniversary Contest http://bookloversbench.com/contest/

Winter Contest, Jan. 27-Feb. 14

Enter to win a signed hardcover copy of Shear Murder & a $10 Starbucks gift card. Two prizes to be awarded. http://nancyjcohen.com/fun-stuff/contest/

Playing Tourist in Fort Lauderdale

Last weekend, we attended a family wedding. It was a lovely affair at a country club.

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Look at this cake. Isn���t it worthy of the one in Shear Murder? And note the floral centerpieces have orchids that play a central role in my story.

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I got to see my cousins, and my brother visited from out-of-town. This gave me the chance to show him around. He loves flea markets so we went to the infamous Swap Shop on East Sunrise. I remember the days when there used to be a circus with live animals.

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We headed over to Bass Pro Shops and lunch at Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant next. I had coconut shrimp, while my brother had a conch salad and the husband had fish and chips.

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Look at this iguana sunning itself on the rocks. There���s a whole bunch of them. A family, perhaps?

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Anyway, it was a neat day, and we were sorry to see my brother leave. I���d bought vegetables at the Farmer���s Market, and what I made with the eggplant will be posted on my next blog.

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Winter Contest, Jan. 27-Feb. 14

Enter to win a signed hardcover copy of Shear Murder & a $10 Starbucks gift card. Two prizes to be awarded. http://nancyjcohen.com/fun-stuff/contest/

 

Author Interview for Hair Raiser

Back in 2000, when I wrote Hair Raiser, I was interviewed about the story. I���m repeating it here so you can see some of the thoughts I had at the time.

First tell us anything you want us to know about Hair Raiser.

Here���s the story blurb: When hairstylist Marla Shore volunteers for a fund-raiser benefitting a coastal preservation society, she gets more than she’s bargained for when someone attempts to sabotage the gala event. Participating chefs are dropping off the roster like hot rollers, and Marla is the only one who can tease the truth from them. Too late to stop a murder, she must salvage the grand affair before she’s moussed into oblivion.

Research involved mangrove habitats, biomedical waste disposal, and funeral Pre-Need Plans. In particular, I enjoyed dining out at restaurants in Fort Lauderdale and in Nassau so I could describe the menus in detail. Touring Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale provided the inspiration for Cousin Cynthia’s estate in the story. An interview with a funeral director, an exhibition of Samoan fire knives, and a visit to a biomedical waste disposal facility rounded out my inquiries. I always like to learn something new when writing a book, and I hope my readers find these topics as interesting as I did.

How did you decide to choose a beautician as the protagonist?

I wish I had Marla’s skills to style my own hair! Seriously, I find the backdrop of a beauty salon is perfect for a mystery series. Being a skilled stylist is a profession I admire. You have to be a good listener since people talk to their hairdressers. Clients gossip while getting their hair done; suspects and informants exchange information while Marla cuts and colors their hair; and she encounters customers all around town. Her caring nature fosters confidences that aid her in numerous investigations. And think of those sharp instruments in a salon���scissors, metal hair picks, and razors.

What drew you to locating the story in South Florida?

I live in South Florida, and I want to share the appreciation I have for our tropical environment. I love the seagrapes, palms trees, and mangroves; the sunny beaches and diverse cultural mix. Instead of the usual gritty Florida stories, I want to showcase our attractions in a positive manner. Locals as well as visitors enjoy reading about sites familiar to them.

Tell us about protagonist Marla’s sense of curiosity. What was the inspiration for this?

Anyone investigating murders needs a nosy disposition. Marla is naturally curious, but her sense of responsibility for sniffing out murderers comes from her background. When she was nineteen, a toddler in her care drowned in a swimming pool. As a result, Marla feels responsible for her clients and strives to prove her self-worth. When Cousin Cynthia asks her to investigate a lawyer���s death in Hair Raiser, Marla feels obliged to accept. Earning Cynthia’s respect is important to her, and so is digging out the truth. Marla’s experience comes from my own background as a nurse. In a continuing education class on near-drowning, I saw a film where a child’s body was pulled from a backyard pool. Drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 4 and under in South Florida, so it’s an important issue here. Marla has learned to overcome her past mistakes and turn them into a force for good.

Does your living in Florida have anything to do with protagonist Marla’s desire to preserve natural resources?

Yes, I love living in the semi-tropics and believe we should do everything we can to preserve our planet’s natural resources.

Where do you see the series going?

Murder by Manicure is the next book in the series. Marla’s relationship with Dalton Vail will continue to evolve. Hint: I like happy endings.

What are you working on next?

I’ve started Body Wave, #4 in the Bad Hair Day series.

How would you describe your writing style?

Quick reading with lots of dialogue and fast-paced action.

NOTE: Hair Raiser (Bad Hair Day Mystery #2) was originally published by Kensington Publishing Corp. This Author���s Edition has been revised and reformatted with added bonus material.

Buy Links

Kindle: http://amzn.to/14M9l5B

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/book/hair-raiser/id957020158?mt=11&uo=4&at=113vsrx

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/hair-raiser-2

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/nancy-j.-cohen

International: http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00S4VCUM8

Print Edition: https://www.createspace.com/5253406

Add to Goodreads List: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24478683-hair-raiser

Contest Alert

Enter to win a signed hardcover copy of Shear Murder and a $10 Starbucks gift card. Two prizes to be awarded. http://nancyjcohen.com/fun-stuff/contest/

Hair Raiser Release Day

HAIR RAISER

A Bad Hair Day Mystery by Nancy J. Cohen

Hairstylist Marla Shore volunteers for Taste of the World, a fund-raiser sponsored by Ocean Guard. It���s a decision she soon regrets. First Chef Pierre’s rum-soaked Bananas Foster goes up in flames, making her wonder if sabotage caused the incident. Her suspicions deepen as more chefs drop off the roster and Ocean Guard’s attorney is murdered. Does the lawyer���s death relate to an estate being managed by the group? If their gala fails, this property will fall into the hands of a mysterious heir.

Marla’s friend, dashingly handsome Detective Dalton Vail, believes the culprit might be one of Ocean Guard’s esteemed board members. She determines to help him untangle the clues. With a killer on the loose, Marla has a lot more to worry about than which canap��s her chefs should serve. She���d better comb through the knot of suspects and catch the saboteur before he strikes again.

With her witty style and flair for local color, Nancy J. Cohen has created another page���turner that will leave readers eager for their next appointment with sassy salon owner Marla Shore.

NOTE: Hair Raiser (Bad Hair Day Mystery #2) was originally published by Kensington Publishing Corp. This Author���s Edition has been revised and reformatted with added bonus material. Coming next in a revised edition will be Murder by Manicure.



Kindle: http://amzn.to/14M9l5B

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/book/hair-raiser/id957020158?mt=11&uo=4&at=113vsrx

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/hair-raiser-2

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hair-raiser-nancy-cohen/1017599109?ean=2940149980222

International: http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00S4VCUM8

Print Edition: https://www.createspace.com/5253406

Add to Goodreads List: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24478683-hair-raiser

Reviews

Hair Raiser was nominated for a Reviewer���s Choice Award by RT Book Reviews

���A saucy murder mystery by Nancy J. Cohen.��� Publisher���s Weekly

���An easy-to-take series title with the ready appeal of an independent female sleuth and colorful Florida settings.��� Library Journal

���Hair Raiser is a light, funny, cozy read…I had the serious urge to call my hairdresser and schedule an immediate appointment.��� Cozies, Capers, & Crimes

���Hair Raiser is curled around a likable amateur sleuth who can handle a curling iron and murder clues with aplomb.��� Sun-Sentinel

���Hair Raiser is a fast���paced, one sitting read that may keep all but the sharpest���eyed readers confused until the very end.��� The Mystery Reader

���Cohen has richly filled this novel with quirky characters, twists and turns that make for a completely satisfying reading experience. The plot will keep you guessing, and Ms. Cohen���s writing style will keep you coming back for more.��� MyShelf.com

���Curl up with Nancy Cohen���s stylishly witty and chillingly suspenseful tale of murder on the Florida coast���Hair Raiser is a cut above.��� Joanne Pence, author of the Angie Amalfi mystery series

NOTE: New Reviews for this revised edition would be greatly appreciated!

Contest

Enter Jan. 27 ��� Feb. 14 to win a signed hardcover copy of Shear Murder & a $10 Starbucks gift card. Two prizes to be awarded. http://nancyjcohen.com/fun-stuff/contest/

Book Launch Party

Join me tonight (Jan. 27) from 6:00 ��� 8:00pm EST for fun and giveaways: https://www.facebook.com/NewReleaseParty��

 

Book Cover Design Process

When designing a book cover, a number of items need to be considered. What is the genre? The mood of the story? The background setting? What type of ���look��� do you want to get across? Is this best done with photography or illustration? Do you like people on the cover? Can you describe a particular scene you envision, or images that might work?

When I contacted Patty G. Henderson from��http://boulevardphotografica.yolasite.com about doing my cover for a revised edition of Hair Raiser (Bad Hair Day Mystery #2), I gave her a basic summary of the plot. Hairstylist Marla Shore volunteers for Taste of the World, a fund-raiser to benefit a coastal preservation society. Someone is sabotaging the chefs involved in this gala event set in South Florida. I wanted to blend elements of the tropical setting with the food theme and also give a hint about the murder mystery.

I mentioned Bonnet House to Patty. This Fort Lauderdale historic attraction served as the model for cousin Cynthia���s estate in the story. Photos on their website could provide inspiration. After a while, Patty sent me these two mock-up covers for my initial inspection. What did I like or dislike about them? What should we change?

I was awestruck at how Patty instinctively understood my brand as an author and the genre in which I write. Since I write humorous cozies, I���ve noticed these covers are mostly illustrations rather than photographic portrayals. Readers like me want to be able to tell the genre at a glance. I had sent her a list of covers on Amazon that appealed to me as a reader. This mockup got the concept just right.

Patty covered the murder mystery aspect perfectly with the bloody scissors. She got the chef part of the plot correct with the serving dish. And she got the seaside location fine. However, Florida doesn���t have mountains. So that hill behind the building had to go. I���m also not fond of pastels. I like sharp, bright colors representative of the tropics. But I did like the green, coral, beige, and turquoise tones. However, they needed to be sharpened and made darker.

On proof number one, the cover on the above left, the title font is cute and appropriate to a humorous mystery. But it���s too light. So is my name. And from far away, you can���t see the series title at all.

On proof number two, I don���t care for the series logo either. We need a different symbol than the shears because Five Star uses them on my new titles. And this wave design would have to be carried through on subsequent books in the series. I liked the one on the left but that wording doesn���t show up. So let���s get rid of the wave altogether and work on a series title that���s more visible.

These are better with brighter colors and sharper wording. Looking at proof number 3 on the left, I note the mountain is gone. I like my name at the top in dark green. The top of Hair Raiser, though, is hard to see because of the busy background elements. And I���m not crazy about the three combs. They���re cute but show no element of mystery.

Number 4 on the right is better. But oops, the mountain is back. I like the title font, color and placement. I like my name where it is but more to the right, so it���s all in the turquoise section. And I like the crossed teasing combs for the series logo but not dividing up the wording. What if we move the series logo above my name? That might work.

���Is this the winner?��� Patty asked. ���Oh, yes,��� I replied. ���It���s perfect.��� Finally, we had our cover! I do love it, the images, the fonts, the colors���everything.

But were we done? Not yet! Next came the paperback edition. What did I want on the back side? A solid color or some of the front image? Did I want the book title at the top of the back or the series title? What do we want on the spine? And so here is the final result of this process:

 

It requires a lot of patience between both parties to get things done just right. But the results are definitely worth the thrill you get when everything falls into place.

To contact Patty G. Henderson, go to http://boulevardphotografica.yolasite.com/

Join my book launch party on Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 6:00 ��� 8:00pm EST at https://www.facebook.com/NewReleaseParty for Fun and Giveaways!

HAIR RAISER Buy Links:

Kindle: http://amzn.to/14M9l5B

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/book/hair-raiser/id957020158?mt=11&uo=4&at=113vsrx

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/hair-raiser-2

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/nancy-j.-cohen

International: http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00S4VCUM8

Print Edition: https://www.createspace.com/5253406

Add to Goodreads List: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24478683-hair-raiser