The Many Faces of Gilda
When I first created the Gilda Wright Mystery series, I was actually the receptionist in a small martial arts school in Ontario. I was thrilled when my late agent, Dawn Dowdle, helped secure me a contract with Gemma Halliday Publishing. At that time, the series had a whole different name and we started out with this great cover - one I still love - and a title which suited the book!
Unfortunately, the series didn't attract the attention GHP was hoping so when the second book came out, they gave the whole series a makeover. Enter Gilda's Brunette phase. Definitely looks like a cozy mystery series. I probably would've liked them better if they weren't bright pink. Just me.
In March 2018, GHP decided the books weren't selling to their satisfaction and released them back to me. Since I already had my Wild Blue Mystery series with BWL Publishing, I offered the series to them. If they declined, the series would become my first foray into self-publishing. Lucky for me, BWL took them on and Gilda and the gang received new titles and new covers.
Gilda Wrightthinks she’s landed a dream job as the receptionist at a karate school exceptshe’s surrounded by handsome instructors, a local bookie, and more mysteriesthan she’d counted on.
As I mentioned earlier, I used to be the receptionist at a local martial artsschool, so stepping in to write a martial arts mystery series just camenaturally. Egos get bruised just as easily as shins and thighs. I transformedthe dojo into a school where many people might be afraid to set foot in and letGilda Wright take over to solve crimes in Sandstone Cove.
Gilda tookthe job at Yoshida Martial Arts to mend a broken heart and find her own innerstrength after a bad breakup. It was less painful for her than Detective JasonThayer who ended up head first in a fifty-pound bag of coffee beans. That wasthree years ago. Now that Gilda’s a blue belt heading for a brown belt grading(Sh! If you’ve already read Dead Without Pride, don’t give away how thatturns out!), Thayer’s afraid to set foot in the school – or her house.
Lucky forGilda, she has Sensei Mick on her side. As well as Marion Yearly, her bestfriend, and Kane Garrick…Gilda’s not sure what he is yet.
Here's the blurb for each book and their current covers!
Book 1 - DeadWithout Honor
The scrollof the Four Possessions of the Samurai holds the key to a deadly mystery…
Gilda Wrightthinks she’s landed a dream job as the receptionist at a karate school. Herboss, Sensei Mick Williams, is almost as demanding as he is sexy, but Gilda isinspired by the strength and courage of the people around her. When Gilda findsthe body of one of the instructors in the dojo with a sword through his chest,she must find her own inner strength and fast! The police regard everyone inthe school as suspects, including her boss, and it’s up to Gilda to find outwhat really happened. She follows the clues of the missing scroll of the FourPossessions of the Samurai down a deadly path filled with lies, deceit, andpoisoned ninja stars. If she doesn’t watch her back, she just may become thekiller’s next target.
Book 2 – Dead Without Glory
One body onthe beach.
One crazyman with a sword accused.
One feistyreceptionist on the case.
GildaWright’s life seems to finally be on track. Her love life is looking up andshe’s planning and promoting a grand opening extravaganza for Sensei Mick Williams’new martial arts school. But things go awry when their special guest refereefor the opening exhibition match is found dead on the beach. To make mattersworse, the school’s new weapon’s instructor Kane Garrick, who is enough to makeany woman lose her head and her heart, stands accused of his murder. In spiteof her promise to Mick and nearly everyone else in Sandstone Cove not to getinvolved, Gilda wades into danger one more time. The only question is, canGilda catch the killer before the killer catches up to her?
Book 3 – Dead Without Pride
Gilda Wright has always had an openmind about the spiritual world. Dating the hot sensei at her martial arts school,Mick Williams, has taught her that mind, body, and spirit have a strongconnection. But when her good friend and sometimes flirtation, Kane Garrickhires a pretty psychic at his New Age store, Gilda finds herself torn between beingglad he's distracted and feeling just the teeny-tiniest bit jealous. A feelingthat quickly turns to suspicion when the psychic's predictions begin to cometrue—including one about the murder of a well-known person in their small town!Suddenly Gilda wonders if the psychic's involvement in both her predictions andKane's life are mere coincidence or a clever set up. It's up to Gilda to findthe truth and track down a killer...before her own death becomes next on the psychic'sprediction list!
Book 4 – Dead Without Shame
Once more, Gilda considers leaving thekarate school to work for her friend Happy (no one has ever called him Harvey).When three men rob Happy Harvey’s Hangover Hut killing the woman at the frontcounter, Gilda is stunned to think that could have been her. Was this a mererobbery, or does someone have a vendetta against Happy, including his goodfriend Gary del Garda? The evidence keeps piling up while both her mother andanother karate instructor come to town bearing secrets that may cost Gilda thelife she loves in Sandstone Cove.
Book 5 – DeadWithout Remorse
The fifth Gilda Wright Mystery arrived in August 2021 even though Book 5 was technically Book 2.5 - a bridge between Books 2 & 3 – and finally answered the mystery of how Mick lost his hearing.
Someone hasdestroyed the building that housed the former Yoshida Martial Arts Schoolleaving numerous people injured and one dead. Considering Sensei Mick Williamsowns the building, Gilda Wright needs to clear his name, plus track a killerbefore her suspects scatter like debris.
Book 6 – Dead WithoutMalice (June 2024 No Cover Art Yet!)
A family wedding is the last thing onGilda Wright’s mind as she prepares to grade for her Black Belt. That is until oneof the men in her life turns up dead after a post-karate training dinner andGilda has a breakdown. Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, hergood friend Kane Garrick disappears. Can she straighten everything out before thewedding and her grading, or will she pack up and leave Sandstone Cove behindfor once and for all?
