Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

It’s hard to believe that 2025 is upon us

Exciting things are coming up in the new year.

But before we leave 2024 behind … want to catch up on author interviews, book reviews, and other writing posts? Click the link here.2025!

First up for me in 2025, A Cold, Cold World is coming out in paperback! Look for it in the UK in February and April in the US.

A female sheriff tries to fill her late father’s boots and be the sheriff her small Washington State mountain town needs as a deadly snow storm engulfs the town, in this dark, twisty mystery.

“Riveting” Library Journal Starred Review

The world felt pure. Nature made the location pristine again, hiding the scene from prying eyes. As if no one had died there at all.

In the months since Bet Rivers solved her first murder investigation and secured the sheriff’s seat in Collier, she’s remained determined to keep her town safe. With a massive snowstorm looming, it’s more important than ever that she stays vigilant. When Bet gets a call that a family of tourists has stumbled across a teen injured in a snowmobile accident on a mountain ridge, she braves the storm to investigate. However, once she arrives at the scene of the accident it’s clear to Bet that the teen is not injured; he’s dead. And has been for some time . . .

Investigating a possible homicide is hard enough, but with the worst snowstorm the valley has seen in years threatening the safety of her town, not to mention the integrity of her crime scenes – as they seem to be mounting up as well – Bet has to move fast to uncover the complicated truth and prove that she’s worthy of keeping her father’s badge.

And I will have more writing news soon! Join my newsletter to be the first to hear.

You can add your email on this website, either of my author websites—here and here—or send me an email at elenahartwell@gmail.com and I’m happy to add you.

Happy New Year to Boone the Giant Mule

I’ll also be sharing my adventures with Boone the Giant Mule! Boone joined Jasper and Radar in November, and we are all thrilled with the newest member of the herd. He’s sweet and funny and super, super tall.

To see all of my horse & mule photos and videos, follow me on Instagram, Facebook-Author Page and Facebook-Personal Page.

 

Boone, Radar, and Jasper!Want to hang out with me and Allegory Editing? Lots of good things happening there too.

In January, I’ll be teaching Components of a Strong Opening

Saturday January 18 — 9:30am to 11:00am Pacific Time

Stories in any category or genre require a strong opening to engage a reader enough to keep reading. From the first line to the first couple chapters, a manuscript has a lot of heavy lifting to do. Whether you’re writing a short story, novella, or a full-length book, the more engaging the opening, the more likely it is to sell and be successful.

A strong beginning requires certain components, including character introductions—but not too many too fast—to genre set-up and a clear point of view. The opening requires these and other building blocks to hold up the rest of the story. Join Senior Editor Elena Hartwell Taylor for this fun and informative workshop to start your new year, and your latest work in progress, off with a bang.

Click the link here to register. If you have never attended one of our paid workshops, use the code NEWCOMER to join us for free.Our first Ask an Editor of 2025 will be on January 12 at 10am Pacific Time — as always, this event is free!

Join Allegory Editing for a free event to discuss writing, the business of writing, and editing. We will answer questions and offer insights into the craft of writing and the struggles we all face in these uncertain times. Have a manuscript ready to query? Bring your questions about the business side of writing.

Enjoy the camaraderie of other writers and hear what others face. Their questions may be your questions.

Don’t have a current project? Not to worry, maybe something will spark an idea for your next project.

Have a starter question? Feel free to email elena@allegoryediting.com and she will use your question to open the event.

Click the link here to register.

And don’t forget to check in here regularly  to read author interviews, guest posts, and discover new authors and titles.

I have a great lineup already in place for the year, and add more every day.

Wishing you a happy, healthy 2025

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