Merry Little Wishing Spritz Series by Cherie Colyer

Welcome to the blog, Cherie. Do tell us about your cookie story Merry Little Wishing Spritz!

Can a cleverly cast charm save Cassie Moore’s home and job?

Modern-day witch Cassie Moore’s cozy life turns upside down when her friend foresees the wrecking ball that threatens to destroy Cassie’s home and workplace. But Cassie isn’t giving up without a fight. She casts a well-intended spell meant to save her apartment and her job. But magic is unpredictable, especially when her friend casts a little charm of her own that has Cassie lusting after the man she desperately wants to despise.

Jack Quinn has had his eyes on Lakeside Books for years, and he couldn’t be happier the owner is finally ready to sell. He has big plans for the cozy waterfront property, but he didn’t expect to care about the store or its employees. And he never imagined he’d be drawn to a certain brown-eyed saleswoman.

Almost as if by magic.

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Now more about you, Cherie. Let’s play a round of SPEED DATING!

Oxford comma, yes or no? yes

Ice cream (favorite flavor)?  Cappuccino Chocolate Chip

Coffee or tea or wine?  Coffee

What is your writing vice or must-haves? Notepads and coffee.

In an alternate reality, what would be your dream job (besides author)? A writer for a hit TV show.

Flower love. :)

What do you like to do when not writing? I love being outdoors. The arboretum is one of my favorite places to go and I enjoy gardening. I was really proud of some of my flowers this year.

Beach, lake, or mountains? Beach, I’m a sucker for the ocean.

You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why? Ocean blue. It’s peaceful and I love how the sun reflects of the water.

A local arboretum Cherie likes to visit.

Morning rooster, night owl, or midday lark? Morning rooster. I’m an early bird.

What comes first, character or plot (or other)? This depends on the book. For Merry Little Wishing Spritz it was character.

You find a $100 bill in your purse/bag, what would you spend it on? Something fun!

Time for an excerpt!

“He’s convincing,” one of the women who worked there whispered. “And sexy. Where’d you find him?”

It was the darn suit. The sleeves strained against muscle when he lifted gifts and the pants practically drew the eye to his thighs when he squatted to talk to the smaller children. It fit too perfectly. Maybe Peyton had spelled it to adjust to the wearer?

“He found us.”

“Well, you’re a lucky woman—”

“Oh, he and I aren’t together.”

“Really? The two of you keep sneaking glances at each other.”

If we did, it was only because we were working together. “I assure you, we’re not a couple.”

“Hum, well then.” She eyed Jack. “If I wasn’t married…” She cackled. Actually cackled! “Don’t just stand there, girl.” She nudged me. “Bring him a bottle of water.”

It was the least I could do. I grabbed a bottle and rejoined Jack.

“I thought Santa might be thirsty.”

“Ho ho ho! Thank you.” Jack grabbed my hand along with the water and twirled me around once. Heart racing and a bit off-balanced I bumped into him. His free hand settled on my waist. “You’re lucky you’re not dressed as Mrs. Clause,” he whispered.

His eyes twinkled. My breath caught. “Why’s that?”

He glanced up. I followed his gaze to the mistletoe hanging from the ceiling.

About Cherie:

Professional network technician by day, novelist by night, Cherie lives a quiet life in the Chicago suburbs with her charming husband. She has four amazing sons who she loves dearly. Cherie magically weaves together stories with a paranormal twist. She’s the author of the Embrace series (Embrace, Hold Tight, and Entwined), Challenging Destiny, Damned When I Didn’t, and Friends to the End. She waltzes into the adult novel world with this enchanting holiday romance, Merry Little Wishing Spritz.

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The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder by Marla A. White

Welcome, Marla!

Tell us about this very cool-titled story in The Wild Rose Press Christmas Cookies seres.

The inspiration for this story came at two different times from two very different places!  A couple of years ago – in the “Beforetimes” when people got together in person - I was a mentor at a screenwriter event up in Idyllwild, California.  The organization had me stay at a quirky/charming/rustic little inn that was primarily a collection of various cabins of all shapes and sizes.  Between the smell of pine, the gurgling of the water, and the beauty of the place, I fell in love.  I didn’t know what I was going to do with it exactly, but I stored it away in my head as a setting for a book.

A snowy mountain lodge, a cookie contest, a touch of romance and…murder. The perfect recipe for a fun cozy mystery!

After injuring herself on the job as a Los Angeles cop, Mel O’Rourke leaves the force battered both physically and mentally.  Looking for a fresh start, she moves to a quiet mountain town and opens the Babbling Brook Inn.  Excited for her new life, Mel decides to participate in the town’s holiday cookie contest, but her newfound joy goes up in smoke when one of her guests turns up dead in her lobby.

Mel is tempted to attribute the death to natural causes but when another guest dies, her cop instincts kick in.  The local Sheriff tells her to stand down, but Mel can’t let it go.  With everything on the line, she has to push through her fears to catch the killer before more bodies drop, perhaps even her own.

Then last year, like everyone else, I went crazy baking.  I pulled out a recipe book my mom had hand-typed for each of us kids and tried to make one of my favorites – Starlight Mint Surprises.  The original recipe is so old they don’t even sell the chocolate mints anymore. I had to track them down on the internet!  Like Mel, the character in my book, I struggled through batch after batch that just never came out right no matter what I tried. Unlike Mel, I never have figured out what went wrong!

When I saw The Wild Rose Press was looking for books featuring a holiday cookie, I was inspired to marry the two ideas into one cozy mystery.

I’m currently working on a full length novel with the same characters and setting as “The Starlight Mint Surprise” but with a couple of fun special guests. I also have a fantasy series that I’m self-publishing with the second book coming out before the end of the year. In addition, I just finished a murder/mystery set in the world of equestrian eventing.

Here are two photos from the real Inn that was the jumping off point for the fictional Babbling Brook Bed and Breakfast where my novella takes place. I fell in love with the setting and was inspired to set my cozy mystery there.

An excerpt….

“Keep him in our freezer?”

It took Mel over twenty minutes to get through to the sheriff’s department. After telling the dispatcher what happened, that was the best advice he had to offer. No one was available to come out for a non-emergency until late tomorrow morning at the earliest. She thanked the dispatcher and returned to the Great Room to mentally measure the body. It surprised her when Jackson, apparently over his squeamishness, tagged along behind her.

The Babbling Brook only served breakfast, and when they replaced all the old appliances with gleaming new ones, thanks to her brother Liam being a contractor, Vinnie had insisted they’d be serving fresh food and wouldn’t need the big chest freezer that used to be in the laundry room. Instead, they bought a smaller upright one for the kitchen. Unless someone held the door to this smaller unit closed until Mr. Hubbard froze into an upright human popsicle, it wouldn’t do.

She scrubbed her hand across her eyes and heaved a sigh. “I don’t suppose we could just put him outside? Surely it’s cold enough?”

As she feared, Jackson shook his head. “Unless you’ve got a way to keep him in a high place, bears, coyotes or even dogs might get to him. What about a garage or tool shed?”

She gnawed at her thumbnail. “Nope, not yet anyway. Liam was going to get around to it this summer.”

“Liam?” Jackson’s attempt to act casual sounded strained. “Is he your husband?”

“Ewww, no. He’s my pain in the ass younger brother.”

For the moment, Mel pushed aside how oddly relieved Jackson appeared with her answer. There’s a dead guy under a sheet in her Great Room, and her marital status was what he’s worried about?

“I’ve got room in the freezer at my café, Ms. O’Rourke,” Jackson offered.

“You’d do that?”

He smiled, his dimples working their charm. “It’s a small town. Neighbors help each other out.”

“Yeah but keep a DB in with your food?” She shuddered. “That can’t be good for your ‘A’ rating.”

Mel was only partly joking. A thing like that would cause a stir for the health department in LA.

“Hey, if it’s good enough for a luxury cruise ship, it’s good enough for The Hungry Puppy.” He hurried to explain. “This one time on the Queen Mary they had to…never mind. I’m kidding, I have a spare chest freezer on my service porch. My dad likes to go hunting, and on the off chance that he actually shoots anything, we keep an extra one for storage. I have to turn it on, but in this weather I’m sure your Mr. Hubbard will be fine until it gets running.”

She put her hand out, surprised at how rough his hands were when he took it in reply. “Please, if you’re going to store dead bodies for me, call me Mel.”

“Jackson Thibodeaux. When I’m not blocking your drive, I run The Hungry Puppy Café.”

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Winter Storm by Ellie Gray

Welcome to my neck of the woods, Ellie.

Tell us about your new release, Winter Storm.

She trusts everyone, he trusts no-one. As danger closes in, can they trust each other?

Willow Daniels has a heart of gold and is willing to help anyone who needs it, but when she helps Ethan McCormick one snowy night, she may just have made the biggest mistake of her life. Trapped by a winter storm in a tiny, North Yorkshire village, Willow is forced to re-evaluate everything she believes in, and wonders if anyone is truly who they seem. 

Fate may have brought her to Ethan, but as danger closes in around them, Willow must draw on a strength she never knew she possessed in order to protect the man she has grown to love, not only against his worst enemy, but also against himself.

More about Ellie in the SPEED ROUND!

Oxford comma?  Yes

Ice cream (favorite flavor)?  Chocolate

Coffee or tea or wine?  Coffee - black

What does your desk look like?  Messy!

What is your writing vice or must-haves? Coffee, scented candle burning, classical/meditation music playing

In an alternate reality, what would be your dream job (besides author)? Silversmith jeweler – am just starting out on this journey.

Where is your favorite place you've visited (or wish to visit)? Edinburgh, Scotland – my favorite city.

Morning rooster, night owl, or midday lark? Midday lark.

Favorite childhood book? Anything by Enid Blyton.

“When the traffic light turned red, Willow Daniels pulled the car to a halt on the lonely side street and gripped the steering wheel hard. Briefly closing her eyes in frustration, she silently cursed herself at being utterly lost. A simple wrong turn after leaving the train station led to mounting confusion as she endeavored to navigate her way through the streets of York city center in the dark. Getting into the wrong lane, then reading street signs too late led to further, and now obvious, wrong turns. She found herself well outside the center, and in the middle of what appeared to be an industrial estate. Deserted at this late hour of the evening, the streets were empty, with no one around to ask for directions. And now the occasional, drifting wisps of snow had evolved into a steady fall of large flakes, swirling, and glistening in the soft glow of the streetlights.

Willow blew out a long breath; everything was fine, she just needed to pull over somewhere, get out her phone and use the satnav function to find her way home. As the light turned green, she eased the car forward, aware of the thickening layer of snow covering the tarmac, and not wanting the car to skid on the slippery surface.

“Could have turned in there…and there,” she muttered, as she saw the potential pull in opportunities too late. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Willow, just turn in somewhere!”

Shaking her head at her indecision, she saw what looked like a carpark at the front of a large warehouse, and flicked the indicator switch on before pulling in through the gap in the low wall surrounding the building. She left the engine idling and sat back in her seat, flexing her shoulders to ease her tension as she stared through the windscreen. The festive tunes on the radio, and the snowflakes drifting down unhurriedly from the sky soothed her frustration.

It was an industrial scene, with low, squat functional buildings lining the road, and taller but equally non-descript warehouses stretching out behind them. But the harsh, straight lines of the buildings were softened by the dim light, and Willow imagined an artist might capture this scene with a moody, slightly out of focus composition of grays and yellows, brush strokes recreating the shadows on the walls and lending an element of interest to the otherwise dull concrete.

A frown creased her forehead. If this snow continued or got any heavier, there was a risk she might not make it back. Reaching into the back seat, Willow took the phone from her bag and tapped in her password.

The next moment, the car rocked as something slammed into the passenger side of the car with a loud thud. She jumped, dropping the phone in surprise when the door was flung open and someone threw himself onto the passenger seat.

Momentarily startled, she stared at the man before finally finding her voice. “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”

The stranger ignored her and turned to look over his shoulder. He pulled the car door shut as he shoved a duffel bag into the back seat. “Drive.”

“What? No, get out of my car.” The cheek of the man; this clearly wasn’t simply someone who had got into the car thinking she was someone else.

He turned on her with an explicit curse. “I said drive!”

Surprise and disbelief turned to fear, and Willow fumbled to unclip her seatbelt. Strong fingers curled around her upper arm, preventing from moving as she reached for the door lever. In the dim light, she saw the gun pointing at her stomach and drew in a strangled breath, barely able to believe what she was seeing.

The wing mirror on the passenger door suddenly shattered in an explosion of glass shards. The stranger ducked, releasing his grip on her arm. He swore, shifting once again to look over his shoulder, his eyes gleaming in the lamplight as he turned his head. “For God’s sake, drive!”
”

— Winter Storm

Find Ellie online

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Tempting Fate by Gwen Kleist

Welcome, Gwen!

What do you write?

I am the author of contemporary romance novels. I am a strong believer that you should write what you love to read, and I am most definitely a romance novel junkie! I love to travel; I run a family travel blog called CaliforniaFamilyTravel.com.

When did your writing journey begin? What drew you to writing?

I have been writing ever since I was a little kid. In college, I studied literature and got an MA in English, and every job I’ve ever had – whether in PR or freelancing – had a focus on writing. I launched a travel blog in 2018 and published my first novel in 2021. I have literally been writing my whole life!

What was your inspiration for Tempting Fate?

My new contemporary romance, Tempting Fate, is set on the Vegas Strip and was inspired by the glitz and glamour of Vegas.

Do you find inspiration in your own life for your writing?

I am an avid traveler, and love weaving amazing destinations into my stories. My new contemporary romance, Tempting Fate, takes place on the Vegas Strip and was inspired by the glitz and glamour of Vegas. I am currently working on my next novel, Seduction at Sea, a sexy contemporary romance that takes place on a cruise ship and the islands of Hawaii.

Tell us about Tempting Fate.

Collison on the Vegas Strip

Carrie Thomas arrives in Las Vegas with one goal in mind: land The Grand Portofino Casino account. So getting stuck, twice in one day, with the hottest man alive puts more than a little crimp in her plans. Especially when she learns the man she's craved since their tryst in the elevator is her new client.

Jack Dillon is at the top of his game. Burned by women in the past and consumed with building his empire, falling in love is the last thing on his agenda. But when Carrie walks into his life, all bets are off. Too bad she's determined to keep their relationship strictly business.

But Jack is used to getting what he wants. And he wants Carrie. Two weeks of giving in to their desires and fun in Sin City. It's an offer she can't refuse. Can they mix business and pleasure, or are they just tempting fate?

Any new projects on the horizon?

I am currently working on next novel, Seduction at Sea, a sexy contemporary romance that takes place on a cruise ship and the islands of Hawaii.

Words of advice for fellow writers in the trenches:

I know it sounds cliché, but don’t give up! Keep honing your skills and making that manuscript the best it can be. Also, read. A lot!

 

Let’s speed date, shall we?

 More about Gwen….

Oxford comma, yes or no? Yes

Ice cream (favorite flavor)? Chocolate

Coffee or tea or wine? Diet Coke

What does your desk look like? There is usually a cat sitting on it while I work

Where is your favorite place you've visited (or wish to visit)? Greece

What do you like to do when not writing? Read, travel, hang out with my family

Beach, lake, or mountains? Beach

What are you known for? Night owl

What comes first, character or plot (or other)? Plot

Favorite book of all time? To Kill a Mockingbird (I even once had a cat named Scout)

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Fixing Christmas by Peggy Jaeger

One of my beloved favorite authors, Peggy Jaeger, has a new book out TODAY! It’s a holiday romance novel called Fixing Christmas!

From Peggy…

Welcome back to the tiny New England town of Dickens! FIXING CHRISTMAS is the full length companion novel to my novella SANTA BABY ( DORRIT’S DINER) and tells the story of a grown-up Abracadabra Charles and her life since she was left on Amy Dorrit’s doorstep 38 Christmas Eve’s ago.

Writing about adoption was a true labor of love for me. For several years my husband and I have attended a local auction for the Foster Parents Association in our community to raise excess funds for the worthwhile group. When I learned the statistics about how many children are placed in foster care each year – the number exploding due to the Opioid abuse crisis in this country – I was dumbfounded. The number of children in my community who are adopted by the foster parents is very high, something that warms my heart as a human being and as a writer. Being able to add to their ever dwindling government funding through the auction is something that fills me with a sense of pride.

In my own extended family adoption has played a major role. My sister-in-law and her husband adopted 2 babies(newborns!) within 2 months of one another and created an instant, loving family. FIXING CHRISTMAS is dedicated to them because they were my role models for Andy and Amy Charles, Abra’s adoptive parents.

Christmas has never filled writer Abra Charles with undiluted pleasure. If you’d been left on a doorstep on Christmas Eve morning, you might have a few issues with the holiday as well. 

Abra’s avoided her hometown of Dickens for the past twenty Christmas seasons, but now she’s returned in an attempt to get her writing mojo back. Twice-divorced and with her third engagement ending in heartbreak, anger, and blackmail, Abra is now six months behind on submitting her current book. She hopes renting Copperfield House and immersing herself in solitude will cure her writer’s block and get her life back on track. The house she rents isn’t helping her achieve her goal, though, as one thing after another breaks, collapses, or floods.

Colton Bree, Dickens’ very own Mr. FixIt can’t help but wonder if the new resident of Copperfield House is cursed. After being called to repair a broken window, he’s then needed to fix an exploding coffeepot, an overrunning toilet, and a washing machine that has a mind of its own. Bree doesn’t mind all the unexpected repair jobs, though, because the sexy renter is something to look at and dream about, despite being a little neurotic and whole lot of snarky.

Can Abra get her book done with all the distractions and craziness of her life, the biggest distraction being the flannelled hunk with the bedroom eyes and scowling yet oh-so-kissable mouth? Or will Dickens’ Mr FixIt have to step in and save the day and in so doing, fix Christmas for Abra forever?

Excerpt…

Here she was, alone at God only knew what hour, out in the most secluded part of town. The notion she should have paid more attention to those self-defense classes she’d sat in on as research for her last book blew through her head.

Think, Abra, think.

A butcher block of knives rested on the kitchen counter. 

Armed is always better than unarmed. 

She pulled one out, held it against her thigh.

Opening the basement door as if she was trying to disarm a live bomb, she slid through it and took a step downward. When the stair didn’t give her away by groaning, she stepped down another, then another until she could crouch down a bit and see into the basement proper.

A man, large and tall—exceptionally so—swept glass from a windowpane with the head of a hammer. The window looked too small for him to have crawled through, so how had he gotten into the house?

Abra took another step down and, in the next second, lost her balance as her foot miscalculated the depth of the step. She flailed out but wasn’t quick enough to grab onto the handrail before she tumbled straight down to the concrete basement floor, her butt bumping on each riser until she landed, once again, flat on her ass at the bottom. Still sore from last night’s tumble on the ice, she couldn’t prevent the ear-piercing scream of pain she let out.

“What the hell?” The man turned, surprise covering his face. He moved toward her.

“Don’t come any closer,” Abra shouted.  She shot her free hand up in a halt stance. “I’m armed.” She pointed the knife at him, which by some miracle hadn’t dropped from her hand when she’d fallen.

The man stopped in his tracks, glanced down at it, then fisted his hands on his hips, his brows tugging together across his forehead. “What are you gonna do? Butter me to death?”

Abra took a good look at the knife for the first time. It wasn’t the steel edged stiletto she thought she’d chosen, but had a flat, wide head, perfect for spreading jam and not skewering an intruder. She had to give him praise-points because most men in her experience didn’t know the differences among everyday cutlery. Ask them about a hunting or pocketknife, and you’d get a different response entirely.

The man shook his head. “Who are you?”

“Since this is my house shouldn’t I be asking you that? How did you get in here, because I know for a fact I locked the door last night.” A slight fib, but he didn’t need to know it. 

She tried to pull herself to a standing position using only her free hand so she could keep the knife brandished in the other. It was awkward at best since she had no core strength to speak of.

Warm, strong arms slid around her waist and hauled her up as if she weighed no more than a passing thought.

He stared down at her, his head tilted to one side, his hands once again fisted on his hips as soon as she stood, surefooted. 

“Since I know for a fact this isn’t your house,” he said, “you must be the renter Jimmy Marley mentioned. The one who’s supposed to arrive tomorrow.”

Despite the fact Abra loved a good sarcastic throwaway line, she didn’t appreciate being the subject of said mockery. While she swiped at the dust now covering her from chest to knees she said, “I had a change of plans and that still doesn’t explain who you are or why you’re in my house, breaking a window.”

“Window was already broken. Marley hired me to fix it, gave me a key to get in to do so.” His gaze dragged down her torso. “Before you arrived.”

Suddenly, Abra was hyper-aware of her bra-less state. Half naked and alone in a big, old, creepy house, with a guy who knew the difference between everyday cutlery, wasn’t the way she saw her morning starting.  With her brain still on Vegas-time, her nerves frayed, and her body screaming for coffee, this was a worse case scenario if ever she saw one. 

Tall, gray, and built-like-a-tank continued to stare at her as if she had two heads, possibly, three.

“You stay here,” she ordered, flourishing the butter knife at him again. “I’m going upstairs to make a call to confirm you are who you say you are.” She squinted up at him. “Who are you?”

He shook his head, and if she wasn’t mistaken, rolled his eyes. “Colton Bree.” He didn’t offer his hand.

She bobbed her head once. Not exactly a serial killer moniker, but Theodore Bundy was an innocuous sounding, milquetoast name, so you never knew.

“You stay here,” she said again, then, because it was never a good idea to turn your back on a potential murderer, she made her way up the stairs, backwards, the knife still wielded in front of her.

Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes Romantic Comedies about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them. If she can make you cry on one page and bring you out of tears rolling with laughter the next, she’s done her job as a writer!

Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, she brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she’s created the families she wanted as that lonely child.

When she’s not writing Peggy is usually painting, crafting, scrapbooking or decoupaging old steamer trunks she finds at rummage stores and garage sales.

As a lifelong diarist, she caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit her at peggyjaeger.com where she blogs daily about life, writing, and stuff that makes her go "What??!"

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The Three Widows of Wylder by Julie Howard

Welcome back, Julie!

Tell us about what you write.

I’ve written all of the above. I started with non-fiction, both as a journalist and also as a ghost writer on a book memoir for a Hewlett-Packard executive. That book is currently archived in several libraries. I’ve had seven novels and one novella published by The Wild Rose Press. Most are mysteries; The Three Widows of Wylder is my first historical fiction.

When did your writing journey begin?

I’ve always loved to read and that made me want to write my own stories. I was a journalist for years so had the technical background. About ten years ago, I started writing fiction and now work on my novels almost daily.

What was your inspiration for The Three Widows of Wylder?

I had an idea already in mind about three widows who band together for survival, and have secrets to hide. I thought it would be a contemporary story, but when my publisher came up with the Wylder West series, I instantly knew I would set my story in the 19th century. It was perfect for their personalities and heightened the mystery and danger surrounding their stories.

 Do you find inspiration in your own life for your writing?

Absolutely. There isn’t a place I visit or experience I have that I don’t think: Can I use this in a scene?

Three women. Three terrible secrets.

Three women on the run.

After the death of her husband, Clara flees a hanging judge and seeks refuge with her brother in Wylder, Wyoming.

With secrets of her own and good reasons to flee, spoiled and vain Mary Rose joins Clara on the trek to Wyoming. Surely a suitable man exists somewhere.

Emma is a mystery. A crack shot and expert horsewoman, her harrowing past seeps out in a steady drip. She’s on the run from something, but what?

After the three women descend on Wylder, a budding romance leads to

Tell us about your experience with the publishing process.

I was very fortunate and my first book, Crime and Paradise, was picked up almost immediately by The Wild Rose Press. I had submitted to agents for a few months, and while I had some interest, nothing solid materialized. A friend suggested I send the manuscript directly to a small publisher and that’s how I landed my first contract. I’ve had a wonderful experience with this publisher and The Three Widows of Wylder is my eighth book with them.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a contemporary mystery, the first of a new series. I hope to finish it sometime next year.

 Words of advice for fellow writers in the trenches:

Never give up. Don’t listen to naysayers. Just listen to your heart and keep writing.

 What was the hardest part of the story to write/research?

I always feel a bit protective about my characters after I’ve spent some time with them. It’s difficult to decide to have bad things happen to them.

Of course, in historical fiction, the research is very important. I love to read historical fiction and if an author gets details wrong, it ruins the story for me. I try very hard to get the history right and to build a world that no longer exists in time.

SPEED ROUND!

Oxford comma, yes or no? Yes

Find Julie online on her Website.

Ice cream (favorite flavor)? Vanilla with hot fudge

What is your writing vice or must-haves? Coffee

Describe a perfect writing day. Up early, write for four hours. Take a three-hour break, and then another two hours of writing-related work.

What are some of your go-to methods for writing? I’m a big outliner and plotter, so I always know what’s next.

In an alternate reality, what would be your dream job (besides author)? I can’t imagine not writing. Perhaps a college professor?

Where is your favorite place you've visited (or wish to visit)? Istanbul

You have a time travel machine: past or future? Where/when? I’d love to visit the future to a space colony. See the new technology and another world.

What do you like to do when not writing? Travel, go cycling, walk, garden, spend time with family. And of course read!

Beach, lake, or mountains? I crave the mountains right now.

Find Julie online:

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Lori's Redemption by Pamela S. Thibodeaux

Welcome, Pamela.

Tell us about what you write. Novels, novella, short stories?

I dabble in every one of these areas. My fiction usually runs from 25K to 70K, I have a host of NF articles and essays under my belt and my devotional Love is a Rose parallels the love of God & the Christian journey to the words to The Rose sung by Bette Midler & Conway Twitty.

When did your writing journey begin?

My journey to writing began nearly 40 years ago. I was pregnant with my 2nd child and tired/bored of reading too many books that disappointed me. Thinking I could do better (a mite arrogant LOL!) I picked up pen and paper and started writing. Thus, began years of 5-subject notebooks filled with stories and ideas. After about eleven years of that, I graduated to a word processor then computer.

 What was your inspiration for Lori’s Redemption?

Can a notorious bad girl find redemption & win the cowboy preacher’s heart?

Lori Strickland (introduced in Tempered Fire) has always been known as her father's "wild child" with no desire to change until she meets ex-bull-rider-turned-preacher Rafe Judson. Her attempts to change her wanton ways come to naught until she realizes redemption only comes with true repentance.

Available in eBook, Print and now Audio!

Lori’s Redemption is a spin-off of book 3 in my Tempered series. My initial idea for a book set in Recluse, WY fell through when the line I was gearing the story for folded and publishing company shut down. So, I had this idea of a broken bull rider turned preacher and no clue what to do with it. Lori came to mind and the Lord prompted me to write her and Rafe’s story. You can find the inspiration/setting/backstory and my favorite chapter of Lori’s Redemption as well as the other Tempered books in A Tempered Mess (a FREE ebook!)

Tell us about your experience with the publishing process.

The first 2 Tempered books were initially published by Writer’s Exchange, an Ebook publisher out of Australia and I did the print copies through a local printing press. I then contracted with an “upcoming” publisher that never got off the ground (and this decision cost me 3 years of my career!) The series was then picked up by another small (and I mean SMALL) press–again one that never really got off the ground. Once I got the rights back, I self-published them. I still have 2 books with a traditional small press (Pelican Book Group) but everything else is Indy-Pubbed under my imprint Temperance Publishing.

Words of advice for fellow writers in the trenches:

Don’t give up. Take a break if you have to but never quit. Writing is a talent and gift from God. Don’t bury your talent or hide your gift. Stay flexible and teachable and willing to learn from your mistakes. NEVER give up!

Speed Round!

Ice cream (favorite flavor)? Chocolate

Coffee or tea or wine? Yep – depending on what time of the day LOL!

What does your desk look like? A mess 😊

Beach, lake, or mountains? Been to all and love each but my favorite place is in the Texas Hill Country.

You find a $100 bill in your purse/bag, what would you spend it on? Treating a friend to lunch.

Favorite childhood book? The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley

Favorite book of all time? The Born In trilogy by Nora Roberts and Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

You’re on a desert island, besides essentials, what do you bring? Books. What else is there? 😊

Find Pamela online: LinkTree ~ Good Reads

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” Sign up to receive Pam’s newsletter and get a FREE short story!

 

The Reiver's Cub by Laura Strickland

I am happy to have award-winning author Laura Strickland back with me today. Just two weeks ago, The Reiver’s Cub one best in its category (Historical Scottish) at the InD’Tale RONE awards! WOO-WHO!

Welcome, Laura.

What was your inspiration for The Reiver’s Cub?

Interestingly, I became fascinated with a British television series called Long Lost Family. It was fascinating to follow the stories of parents and children separated at birth, who nevertheless longed for one another. Most of the stories, though, were about mothers separated from their children. What about the fathers? I began to wonder, and my imagination took me back to historical Scotland, and the feuds that took place on the borders between Scotland and England. What if a father and the son he’d never met wound up on opposite sides? This story is the answer to that question.

 What was the hardest part of the story to write/research?

The thing I found most challenging, and most confusing, were the family names. The Scottish Borders, back in the late 1500s, were a seething mass of raids, battles and blood ties. Keeping the parties straight and determining who was fighting whom at any given moment was a task. Many of the names, such as Thomson, survive in both Scottish and English families to this very day.

Who dares stand between a Scotsman and his son?

Ten years ago, Bess Mowatt promised to guard her newborn cousin from his father, Aleck Maxwell. Called the Reiver Wolf, Maxwell is the scourge of the Scottish marches, and no fit guardian for a child. But when the keep where Bess and the boy live suddenly comes under Maxwell's protection, she has nowhere to hide.

Aleck doesn't quite believe the tale he was told, that his son died at birth. His head tells him one thing, and his heart another. While protecting the keep from marauders, he makes a connection with Bess's young charge. But Bess stands in the way, a woman who is also a warrior, a protector who needs his protection. Can he persuade this fiery woman to accept his help? Will a lie told long ago stand in the way of their love?

Find The Reiver’s Cub online: Amazon US ~ Amazon Canada ~ Amazon UK ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ iTunes

Excerpt…

Maxwell gave Callum no chance to reply. With a rattle, he set his helm on the wooden settle that flanked the fireplace and quite deliberately laid his sword beside it.

“Surely, mistress, we can discuss this in a civilized fashion. Are we no’ civilized folk, after all?”

She shifted her stance, the better to face him. Many the stories she’d heard of this man over the years. On that day, the day she’d fled through those dark passageways with Dexter, she’d not seen his face. But she had an eyeful now, right enough.

Merciless, folk called him. Any account of his past deeds would also brand him so. But he did not look it.

He had a strong face with high, slanted cheekbones and a jaw clean of beard. He held his lips now in a half smile and kept his expression pleasant. But the dark brows hovered in an incipient scowl. A face like a rainy day, she decided—sunshine one moment and storm the next. His dark hair, very nearly black, surprisingly held a few threads of silver. And his eyes—

Ah, but he could not disguise the expression that lay there, and she beheld the truth of his reputation and, quite possibly, the origin of the name he’d been given. The eyes of a wolf they were, tawny gold and brimming with unfettered threat.

“Civilized?” she echoed incredulously, and her hand moved unpreventably to her dirk. “Both you and I, Master Maxwell, know that is no’ true.”

How about a quick game of

SPEED DATING?

Oxford comma, yes or no?  Yes, always!

What does your desk look like? I do not have a desk.

What is your writing vice or must-haves? A spiral notebook, a blue ink pen, and Pandora.

Beach, lake, or mountains? A rocky shore in Scotland.

What comes first, character or plot (or other)? Most often, the question, “What if?”

Find Laura online:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Bookbub

Amazon Author Page

Cherry Red by Darlene Fredette

Welcome, Darlene! Tell us about what you write.

I write contemporary sweet romances. A few of my books are novels, but most are novellas.

What was your inspiration for (name of work/book)?

Cherry Red was inspired by a Rolling Stones song, You Can’t Always Get What You Want. Cherry Red is Mick Jagger’s favourite soda flavour.

Do you find inspiration in your own life for your writing?

Definitely not. My life isn’t boring, but definitely not as interesting as my characters, lol.

Tell us about Cherry Red.

Find it online: HERE.

This summer, ice cream entrepreneur Carly Redd's only focus is expanding her business—until she's coerced into attending her ex's engagement party. Showing up without a date is unthinkable. She reluctantly agrees to be escorted by her brother’s co-worker, although doing so breaks her rule of not dating firefighters.

The daughter of the town’s fire chief should wear a Do Not Touch sign, but firefighter Noah Harding's interest blazed the moment he saw Carly. Agreeing to be her fake boyfriend is a no-brainer, but convincing Carly to trust him with her heart is harder than extinguishing a fire.

Overstepping the platonic-only rule is as dangerous as fire and ice swirling into a tempting combustion.

What’s on the horizon for you?

 I am currently writing a new series of books within my Redford Falls series, focusing on the five Marley brothers.

What was the hardest/most unusual/interesting part of the story to write/research?

Researching ice cream and recipes was especially fun!

FIND DARLENE ONLINE: Author Web Site ~ Blog ~ Amazon Author Page

Let’s wrap up with an excerpt from Cherry Red:

“This might seem like a strange question, especially since we’ve just met, but would you be interested in going out for a coffee? Or an ice cream?” Noah rested an arm on the bar.

Carly glanced down at her jeans and black T-shirt embroidered with the company name and logo…a cluster of red cherries. In a room full of women all dolled up in fancy—and some a bit scanty—dresses, why would this incredibly handsome man ask her on a date? “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not interested…”

Noah raised a brow. “I know you like ice cream, so is it the coffee, or me?”

“What? No. I mean, yes.” She took a second to collect her scrambled thoughts. “I like coffee. I just don’t hang out with firefighters.” Not that he was a real firefighter. Did impersonators count in her rules of men to avoid? She never dated a stripper, but she wasn’t sure she could have a relationship with a guy who was paid to take off his clothes and have other women fawn over him. Not that the guy asked her on a date…just a simple coffee. His frown made her feel badly. “I’m sorry. It’s nothing personal.”

“Burnt in the past? No pun intended.” He smiled.

She couldn’t help but smile back. “Something like that.”

Mine to Tell by Colleen L Donnelly

Welcome, Colleen!

An inspiring tree that has grown through adversity.

What was your inspiration for Mine to Tell?

This may be hard to believe, but I had the name for this book before I had the story. Lying in bed one night, I heard, “Mine to Tell” and knew it was to be the name of the next book I wrote. The story came later.

Do your stories have any revolving themes?

They say authors are to write what they know. “Mine to Tell” and several other books I wrote all center around unfaithfulness because I had been on the receiving end of an adulterous spouse. Strangely enough, as painful as that experience is, I didn’t poison, knife to death, or shoot the betraying partner in these stories. Instead, each book is an exploration of the consequences along with the what-ifs for the victim and the other party(s) involved.

Whispers behind doors…

Annabelle Crouse is determined to reopen her great-grandmother’s boarded up house—and her shunned life. Many years earlier, after an unexplained absence, Julianne was relegated to a separate home by a rigidly unforgiving husband, and the Crouse women have suffered the disgrace of her assumed guilt ever since.

Despite her family’s strong disapproval, Annabelle is driven to pursue her mission through cobwebs and dust, finding the clues and the coded story left behind by her great-grandmother—Why did she go? And why did she return? Annabelle has to know.

Only one person, a man she grew up with but never noticed, stands with Annabelle as she discovers the parallels between her story and her great-grandmother’s—two women, generations apart, experiencing what love truly is.

Buy the Amazon #1 Bestseller “Mine to Tell.”

Excerpt:

“Mine to tell,” Kyle said suddenly. It was a jolt. I was yanked from my mental tumble into a pit of unredemption. Alex looked up too, a quizzical expression on his face. “Julianne left a story behind,” Kyle continued. “Some of it speculation and rumors by people who don’t know, and the rest of it by her own hand. It was a love story. One that was countered with suffering.”

We were all quiet. I looked at him, my heart melting as I heard his masculine voice speak of love and suffering. I wanted to lean across the table and hug him, but I was too afraid.

Alex leaned back in his chair. “What my father went through didn’t feel like love when we were little.”

“But maybe it was,” Kyle persisted, his tone smooth and even. “Does love always turn out the way we want it to?” Then he looked at me. “Julianne Crouse was a fine woman. We haven’t finished her story, but she suffered, and she was fine indeed.”

Tears came to my eyes. “Thank you,” I squeaked. Kyle stood and walked around the table to me. He helped me stand as he thanked them for their time. He retrieved Julianne’s picture, took my hand, and together we went to the door, Alex and his wife following us.

“I hope you’re right,” Alex said, running his hand through his thin, brittle hair as we stepped outside. “My father had some things to come to terms with, but he was a good man. A better man later in life, when he told us he was sorry. I never knew for what.”

Any new projects on the horizon?

The story I’ve been dabbling with…far too long…is a prequel/sequel to an earlier work, “Letters and Lies,” from which I take a man who failed to be a hero and show that the act of letting the heroine down then might have actually been the most heroic thing he could do.

What was the hardest part of the story to write/research?

In “Mine to Tell” I forced myself to stand in both party’s shoes—the betrayer and the betrayed. One scene in particular hurt to write, and I felt old anger knot up as those two characters fought their way toward forgiving each other or forever calling it quits. 

A bit about me - fall near my home and my not so helpful pug!

Find Colleen online:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon



Princess Lillian and Grandpa's Goodbye by Jenny Fulton

Welcome, Jenny! Tell us about what you write.

I write in a variety of genres. I’ve published a YA fantasy, one children’s picture book (with another in the publishing process), have a Bible Study that’s contracted with a traditional publisher, and am in the process of revising my memoir.

What drew you to writing?

I’ve always loved to write but didn’t think publishing was possible until some friends at the school I taught at in China encouraged me to pursue it. At that point, I began doing what I could to learn more about the craft, improve in my abilities, and post short stories online. Several years later, after I was married and my first daughter was a year old, I stopped teaching so I could be home with her. I wanted something else to keep my mind occupied, so I began looking for paid writing jobs. One of the jobs I received was to help someone write a YA fantasy story.

Writing is part of who I am. It’s a way for me to explore worlds and ideas and share them with others.

 

What was your inspiration for Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye?

Grandpa Marvin.

I wrote Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye in December 2020 after my grandpa had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital.  My mom kept us updated. “He’s ready to go home,” she told us. A video she later sent us confirmed it. I’ve never seen someone so patiently and eagerly awaiting his call into heaven. Shortly after watching the video, I sat down to process the bittersweet feelings of seeing someone I loved preparing to leave this world. As is often the case, I processed by writing. In this case, I took a fictional character I’d written short stories about and tried to look at the scenario through her eyes.  I also pulled from an earlier experience in my life. When I was somewhere between the ages of 5-7, my aunt died. They took us to see her in the hospital right before she went. It was scary. I didn’t like the noise or the smells, didn’t fully understand what was happening. For a long time after that moment, I didn’t like hospitals. Writing this book allowed me to pull from the past and the present to create a story that could explain death and heaven in a way that, while still sad, wasn’t bad or scary.

Do you find inspiration in your own life for your writing?

Yes, a lot of my inspiration comes either from personal experiences, concepts I want to explore, questions I have, or truths I really want to share with others.

How do you explain death and heaven to a child? 

Princess Lillian is taken to the hospital to visit her dying grandpa. She’s scared of the noises and machines in the room and uncertain of the man in the strange bed. God knows how she’s feeling and sends an angel who stays close by to give comfort and communicate God’s peace and wisdom to Lillian and her family. 

Grandpa says his best friend, the Great King Above the Nations, is coming to take him to his forever home. But what does that mean?

Using the language of her pretend princess world, Lillian’s parents help her understand that Grandpa is getting ready to go to heaven and be with God.

This story looks at grief and the passing of a loved one through the eyes and ears of a half native American Indian child named Lillian. It can be used to instill a sense of comfort, victory, or encouragement to individuals who are facing the death of a loved one or want to explain the concept to the children in their lives

Tell us about your experience with the publishing process.

With the YA fantasy (Invisible Battles: The Quest for Hope), the guy I wrote for went through a self-publishing company where he paid for a variety of services. There were pros and cons with this, but it ultimately convinced me that this method probably wasn’t one I wanted to try.

With Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye, I joined forces with a hybrid publisher. While I still paid their stated prices for every aspect of the publishing process, they helped me get set up with some of the things I’d need as an Indy author and helped some with marketing. With hybrid publishing, you really need to make sure your vision for your work and partnership aligns with theirs, because it’s really difficult to maintain this relationship if it doesn’t.

I’m planning on fully self-publishing my ABC fantasy book and am I’m excited to see how that goes.

I have a Bible Study with a traditional publisher, so I’m learning that process as well.

Any new projects on the horizon?

Right now, I’m planning on self-publishing a fantasy-themed Alphabet book. It will be my first time to navigate the self-publishing fully on my own and I’m excited to see how that goes. My Bible Study on 1 Corinthians is being edited by my publisher, and I’m working with a couple of people on my healing/cross-culturally themed memoir. So, a lot of books in the works.

 Words of advice for fellow writers in the trenches:

Well, considering we’re all in the trenches... We got this! Keep going!

Find Jenny online: website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

EXCERPT…

Lillian placed both hands on the railing and stood on her princess toes to see.

Covered in snow-white blankets lay an old man who looked much like Grandpa.

Connected to some tubes and wires, this man looked as fragile as the pottery that mommy kept safe in a cabinet at home.

But Grandpa was strong and active. He played pretend with her and always listened to her stories.

This man breathed like his throat was being tickled by Lillian’s princess sparkles.

“Grandpa?” Lillian asked.

Grandpa’s eyes shone like blue diamonds at the sound of his granddaughter’s voice.

“Yes, Lillian. It’s Grandpa.” Daddy’s voice shivered like a princess shivers in winter. From his eyes flowed a river of royal water.

“Hello, little princess,” said Grandpa.

“What’s wrong, Grandpa? Why is Daddy crying?”

“ ‘Cause, I’m going home.”

“But that’s a happy thing,” said Lillian. “And Daddy doesn’t look very happy.”

“Not my people home,” Grandpa whispered. “No, I’m going to my forever-kingdom home.”

Twisted Lies by C.B. Clark

Thank you for hosting me on your Blog today, Jean. I’m thrilled to be here. 

First thing every morning, when I’m feeling the most creative, I sit in front of my computer, a steaming cup of tea on the desk, my dog sleeping at my side, and I write. I wrote and published six books following this routine. 

C.B. Clark’s hiking companion

The world-wide pandemic changed all that. The uncertainty in the world stifled my creativity, and it was a struggle to write…anything. I stared at the blinking cursor on the blank computer screen. This went on for months. But humans are adaptable, and eventually, I stopped listening to the news and focused on getting outside and appreciating the beauty around me. Walking on the trails through the forest behind my house helped ease my anxiety about the world situation. I focused on the music of birds, and the sweet scents of wildflowers blooming in the sunshine, and I reveled in the joy on my dog’s face as she chased grouse and squirrels. 

Soon, I was back at my desk, and the ideas, if not flowing, started to percolate. I got lost in my characters’ lives and their struggles, and the next thing I knew, I’d completed the manuscript for Twisted Lies. Writing is challenging and comes with many highs and lows, but if you sit your butt in front of your computer and work at the craft every day, the rewards are well worth the effort. 

Excerpt:

Athena Cooper’s tragic past drives her to seek solace in a bottle. The addiction threatens her legal career, and she risks spiraling out of control. When her dog engineers a meeting with an all-too-handsome hunk, it’s lust at first sight…until she discovers his identity. 

Businessman Russell Crawford is desperate to find the woman who cheated him out of his inheritance. His shock when she turns out to be the gorgeous red head he had a brief encounter with is only surpassed when she claims his father was a murderer. 

Athena and Russ declare a truce and join forces to investigate the mystery of her parents’ disappearance from an isolated island off the rugged Northwest Coast of British Columbia. Russ promises to be her safe harbor as they uncover long-buried secrets that rock her very foundation. Can she overcome a lifelong distrust and open her heart to love? 

How was it possible? After all these years? The past she’d been running from had found her. The nightmare was back. The envelope fell from her shaking hands. Her legs wobbled as she rose and stumbled out of the living room and down the short hall to the kitchen.

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the window above the sink. The cozy kitchen, with its walls painted a cheerful butter yellow, and the well-scrubbed laminate countertops, gleamed. The steady hum of the refrigerator and ticking of the antique clock on the wall were the only sounds in the silent house. The pungent smell of fried onions and roasted garlic from last night’s homemade spaghetti sauce hung in the air.

The efficient kitchen, with its breakfast nook and view of the tidy, fenced backyard and the rolling, grassy foothills and snow-crested Rocky Mountains beyond, was the reason she’d bought the small rancher. This was her favorite room—the place she sought refuge when life overwhelmed her. How many times had she sat there in the evenings after work, sipping a glass of chilled white wine, watching the birds at the feeder on the back porch, breathing in the sweet smells of flowering Saskatoon bushes, regrouping until she was ready to face the world?

These days, her drink of choice was a cup of herbal tea or unsweetened apple juice. Alcohol was off the table…had been for twenty-one unendurable days.

But today, all bets were off.

Twisted Lies is award-winning author, C.B. Clark’s seventh novel published by The Wild Rose Press. When she’s not busy traveling around the globe or hiking and camping in the wilderness near her home in northern British Columbia, she can be found in front of her laptop plotting the next story. 

Find C.B. Clark online: ~ Twitter ~ Blog ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram ~ Amazon ~ BookBub ~ Facebook

What's in a Name?

Welcome back, Susan. What are we talking about today?

Names!

What’s in a name?  Evidently, to many, a lot. I have listened to other authors lament over selecting a name for the heroine in their story – or the hero – although the male seems easier to choose.  Hunter, Wyatt, Cole…seems easy enough.  But there are certain names we all have come to dislike in our lives.  Not the same name, but there is the bully you hated in elementary school or that jerk who dumped you (or a close friend) in high-school. The girl who stole your boyfriend or started those nasty rumors about you.  I often give the sinister, evil manipulative character the same name in all my books.  Not because the name is all that bad, but because a guy with that name once got on my bad side.  I’m a seventy-three-year old Scorpio so this isn’t going to change anytime soon.

Some authors actually research what a named means to get it ‘right’ although one needs to remember what the parents of an individual were thinking when they placed that name in the front of the Bible or birth certificate. Family history, ethnicity, age of parents, region of birth – so many things go into actually naming a child and as authors we go through it dozens of times.

There are certain names an author may use due to the time period. Names we no longer use especially for a particular sex.  My great-aunt, born in 1870s, was named Laura and I thought it an old-fashioned name. But when she was born, it wasn’t a female’s name for the most part. (Think Little Woman) Like Marion, Ashley, Kimberly, Shannon, and Sandra, (and many others) were male names. I’m sure we all have examples in our own families of names that are now gender neutral such as Brook, Dalton, Dallas, there are hundreds of them.

The other problem is certain names now mean other things.  Fanny is one of those although I would use the name since I write historical.  When in doubt, I fall back on the Bible.  The name can usually be shortened i.e. Zachariah, Ebenezer, and Josiah.  Biblical female names seem to always be popular as in Hannah, Rebecca, and Mary.

To some readers, the character’s names are clearly important. I once had a critiquer say my character’s names sounded too much alike.  I think I had a Michael and a Miranda and a Marian. She kept becoming confused. Easy enough, I found my home button and replaced a couple of them out for others.  Problem solved.  Some people don’t appreciate alliteration, I guess.

My character’s make it easy for me since they come to me with a name usually as well as a history of who they are and where they came from. They are individuals to me even if they share a name with another character in another book. The characters remain their own ‘person’. Many authors never re-use a name. Once a character/name has been used it is relegated to the ‘never again’ pile. I can see that, but I have re-used names without a problem.  Especially if they are common ones such as Ann, also, Anne, Michael, (generations the most popular male name) James…you get the drift.

As a historical writer, I can fall back on things like John Coachman for any carriage driver in UK and George for any porter on a railroad in the US. (yes, they did do that). It has brought about a little thought on my end whether to use the terms or not.  It depends on my character’s character.

So, what’s in a name?  Sometimes a lot. Like naming our own children, authors take time and consideration in selecting the right name for each character. After all, we need to impress not only or readers, but our characters.

 

Find it now on Amazon.

 And now for Susan’s latest book: In From the Cold

In From the Cold, a historical Alaskan Adventure by Susan Payne

Matthew left his family ranch in Nebraska to make it on his own. Alaska seemed far enough away from his brother’s wife to heal his broken heart.

Find Susan online:

Christmas and Cakes by Jill Piscitello

Welcome, Jill!

What do you write?

I’m an author of sweet romance and cozy mysteries. 

Let’s here about a few of your books…

A journey from nothing to everything…

A recent error in judgement has deposited Cricket Williams, her daughter, and a son spiking a high fever into a homeless shelter. A touch of Christmas magic is sprinkled upon her family when an eccentric volunteer invites them into her New England farmhouse. Blindsided with the proposition of a contractual living arrangement, Cricket is seized with renewed hope for her future.

Boris Glynn is in town visiting his grandmother but harbors a secret that will impact her life and the lives of his dearest friends. Complications arise when he is unable to restrain himself from pursuing his grandmother’s beautiful new neighbor.

As Cricket begins to succumb to Boris’s attention, her new world is shaken by a series of events that have the potential to destroy her plans for a fresh start.

Amazon Kindle ~ Amazon Print ~ Nook~  Smashwords~ Kobo~ Apple IBooks

Tell us about your experience with the publishing process.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with two excellent small presses.  In both instances, the opportunity to collaborate with talented editors has provided an unparalleled learning experience.

Any new projects on the horizon?

My upcoming novella, Tinsel and Tea Cakes, has been contracted by The Wild Rose Press as part of the Christmas Cookies series. 

Tinsel and Tea Cakes

Hair stylist Scarlett Kerrigan lost her job and her apartment. To alleviate a touch of self-pity, she succumbs to her stepmom’s pressure to attend a wedding in the New Hampshire White Mountains. Unfortunately, she runs into the vacation fling who promised the moon but disappeared without an explanation. Months have passed, but she is not ready to forgive and forget.

After a chaotic year, executive Wes Harley settles into his family's event venue, The Timeless Manor. His carefully structured world is shaken to its core when Scarlett arrives for the Victorian Christmas wedding weekend. The feelings he never quite erased flood to the surface.

When secrets are revealed, will a magical chateau and a sprinkle of tinsel be enough to charm Scarlett?

During the height of the covid pandemic, I found a new hobby restoring an old dollhouse.  Though still a major work in progress, this gem has provided a fun outlet for my creativity.

A bit more about Jill in Author Speed Dating:

 Find Jill online:

Website ~ Twitter  ~ Facebook ~  Instagram

Ice cream ?  Orange Sherbet

What is your writing vice or must-haves (e.g. for me it's post-its, red pen, and coffee)?  A notebook and a cup of tea

What are some of your go-to methods for writing?  A nature walk is often a solid cure for writer’s block.

Beach, lake, or mountains?  Beach

You’re on a desert island, besides essentials, what do you bring?  A blanket for cool nights and a pen light for reading at night

An Undefeated Book Series—in more way than one by Karina Bartow

An Undefeated Book Series—In More Ways than One

In June 2015, all of my professional dreams seemed to be coming true and in rapid succession. Not only had I just signed my first publishing contract, but the publisher expressed interest in a sequel. After learning I’d already written one and planned two more, he asked if I had a title for my series.

My series? A few days earlier, I didn’t know if the first book would ever see the light of day!

Needless to say, I felt like I’d been shot into space with hardly a chance to buckle my seatbelt. I started to brainstorm what I could call my series right away, as my publisher flooded my inbox with suggestions. None of them grabbed me, though, and my euphoria soon turned to frustration, with the perfect name eluding me.

The Undeafeated Detective…

When Minka Avery left the police department and her life as a deaf detective, she thought chasing after her toddler daughter and keeping tabs on her mischievous husband would be the extent of her excitement. Before long, however, her brother lands on the list of suspects in a high-profile crime and throws her world into chaos.

Torn between her conflicted feelings for him and her desire to see justice carried out, she decides to unofficially explore the matter on her own. She begins to see that the case is bigger than it seemed at first glance, but before she can unravel it further, she discovers Robin using her garage as a hideout from the authorities!

Now forced together, can Minka overcome the many distractions to figure out the massive scheme that's really playing out? And can the bizarre circumstances somehow improve her and Robin's chilly relationship?      

Under pressure, I half-heartedly agreed with his idea of “The Deaf Detective Series” but it didn’t satisfy me. Sure, the books do follow a deaf detective, but being disabled myself, I’ve never liked to be known for my handicap. I’d resent if anyone titled a book about me, “The Story of the Author with Cerebral Palsy”.

I retreated into my room to listen to some music, which has always played a significant part in my creative process. One of my favorite bands had just released a new album, and it featured a song about being undefeated. When it came on, the lyrics and melody resonated with me, and I thought of how it suited my novel. Despite the challenges the protagonist, Minka, faced in the plot, she comes out victorious every time, undefeated.

Then, it struck me: The UnDEAFeted Detective Series.

My publisher was reluctant to put an intentional typo on a book, but I persuaded him by showing him a concept for a logo, which would separate the a. An artist polished it up for us, making it an integral part of the book. To me, it represented Minka’s resilience in joining the police force despite her handicap, as well as what she faces in the series—including her husband’s having to enter witness protection in the first installment, Husband in Hiding.

At the time, I couldn’t foresee how the theme of “undefeated” would relate to the production of the rest of the series. Two years later, the publishing company restructured, and I ended up being released from my contract. Obviously, they wouldn’t proceed with the sequels to follow, so I suddenly had three manuscripts on my hands with no prospects to get them published.

I had doubts about a different company picking up a series that’d already been started, but like Minka, I persisted. As rejections rolled in, I feared it would be “defeated”, until The Wild Rose Press accepted its long-awaited second installment, Brother of Interest, with a release date coming soon.

To my fellow authors, may this show you the power of perseverance…and the power of a title!

Find Karina online:

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads

Mystery on Spirit Mountain by Brenda Whiteside

Guest Post by Brenda Whiteside

When I took my interest in writing from a hobby to a career, I chose traditional publishing. That was twelve years ago. In the last two years, I decided to dip my toes in the self-publishing industry. My impetus was control. Yeah, I’m kind of a control freak. I’m also not very tech savvy so publishing The MacKenzie Chronicles has been an experience. I’m happy to announce, the learning process didn’t come easy, but it hasn’t overwhelmed me either.

On September 15, the second book in the series, Mystery on Spirit Mountain, will officially release. Good news for those of you who would like to pre-order…you can take advantage of a reduced, special-pre-order sale. Order before September 14th to take advantage.

The Wickedest Town in the West turned ghost town turned hippie haven turned tourist mecca…that’s the inspiration for my latest series, The MacKenzie Chronicles. Although I’ve renamed my city Joshua, Arizona, anyone familiar with Jerome, Arizona will recognize the setting within my stories.

Mystery on Spirit Mountain (The MacKenzie Chronicles Book 2)

The past never sleeps. The truth never dies.

Preorder now!

Only Harlan MacKenzie can sense the troubled history of the Big Purple House. When he’s hired to restore the historical mansion, he doesn’t foresee the secrets—secrets that entangle his family in deceit and murder.

Phaedra is selling the house that has been in her family for decades. As her friends-to-lovers relationship with Harlan escalates, she puts her values on the line and chances losing him.

After a stranger comes to town, weaving her web of deception, hell-bent on correcting an old grievance connected to the house, dark revelations of the past implode the present. Harlan and Phaedra are thrown on a dangerous path, not only risking love but possibly their lives.

Excerpt:

Inspiration for the series setting (Jerome, Arizona)

He pivoted, glanced at the chandelier, and experienced the same sense of need as yesterday. A hollow spot in his chest. Loneliness. He had the urge to talk to the crystals, tell the ceiling light he planned on shining it up. “You’re getting batty, MacKenzie.”

Areas of the house left him cold, while others imparted physical manifestations he’d not experienced before—why? No wonder he was off his game.

“I need to know more.” With the tape measure and notepad in hand, he stepped outside, locked the door, and strode back to his truck. He’d take his lunchbreak at the Joshua Historical Society. He’d never be able to concentrate if he didn’t discover the mystery behind the Big Purple House.

Luckily, as he approached the JHS on Main Street, a parking spot opened directly in front. He didn’t notice the closed sign in the window until his hand pulled down on the locked door lever. “Damn.” He looked at the hours. Nine to one, Monday through Friday. He just missed them. Peering through the door glass, he saw Wanda Byerson.

Wanda waved, came from behind the counter, and unlocked the door. “Why, hi, Harlan.

“I didn’t know the office closed at one.”

She peeked around him in both directions. “I’ll let you in.” Locking the door behind him, she nudged him forward. “Come away from the window before we attract anymore late-comers. Not that we’re ever flooded with customers.” She tightened her gray ponytail as she led him deeper into the office. “What can I do for you?”

“I need to do some research and don’t know where to begin. But I can come back. I don’t want to trouble you.”

“Nonsense.” Bright gray eyes sparkled in her round face. “I’ll at least see if we can be of any help, so you know if you need to come back. What are you researching?”

“The Big Purple House.”

“I heard Lolly’s sister is buying it from Phaedra. Isn’t that super?” She clapped once, and a toothy smile lit her face. “I’ve always thought that house should come to life again.” Her remark reminded him of what he liked about living in Joshua: close knit community, concern for the history and the city.

“I’m wondering about the original owners, the Herseys.”

“Ah, yes. The disappearing millionaire. Probably a billionaire by today’s standards.” As she talked, she climbed onto a stepping stool and stretched to take a book from a shelf behind her. “Probably something in here for starters.” She plopped it onto the counter.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a registry of sorts. Dates back to the late 1800s as to who owned what residential properties.” She opened the book and flipped a few pages then peered over black framed reading glasses. “What’s the address? And do you know the exact year the house was built?”

“1923.” He gave her the address and moved behind her to look over her shoulder.

She ran her finger down the print then flipped another page. “Here it is. Lilac End. Completed in June of 1923. Built and owned by John Carl Hersey.”

“Is there any more—”

“Oh, wait. Looks like ownership changed later in the year.”

He waited, anxious for her to find the section in the back of the book cross-referencing the change.

“Well, that’s unusual.”

“What?”

“Apparently, he added his wife to the deed as full owner in October of 1923.”

“Unusual?” He stepped aside as she turned toward him.

“Yep. For the times. Men were men and women were, well, not quite equal partners. I’m not saying it wasn’t done, but especially in the testosterone history of Joshua, these mining moguls gave new meaning to macho. Did you know it wasn’t until 1988 that women didn’t have to have a male relative co-sign on property? Took a federal law to change it.”

Wanda was always a wealth of little-known facts. “No, I didn’t.” No doubt she had more women’s rights details to impart, but he needed to keep her on track. “And so he added Lilac Hersey?”

She found the entry on the page again. “Yep. Lilac Louise Lambert Hersey.”

Lambert? “L-a-m-b-e-r-t?”

“Yes. That’s how it’s spelled. Does the name mean something to you?”

A curious twitch touched in his chest. “My mother’s middle name was Lambert.”

If you’d like to connect with Brenda, you can find her here:

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A Gazebo in a Town that Time Forgot by Wendy Rich Stetson

Wendy Rich Stetson – Guest Post

Looking for a magical spot to get engaged?  Might I suggest a gazebo.

More specifically, a whimsical, Victorian gazebo ringed by wild tiger lilies in a tiny mountain town that time forgot. 

photo by Terry Wild

Nestled in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania, Eagles Mere is a gem of a village.  If you didn’t grow up in PA, you’ve likely never heard of it.  Even if you did, the odds are slim.  At the turn of the 20th century, Eagles Mere was a booming resort town, hugely popular among the residents of Philadelphia’s Main Line.  The magnificent, Queen Anne style “cottages” lining the leafy streets are a testament to the wealth that once congregated in this summer community.  And crystalline Eagles Mere Lake, dotted on sunny summer afternoons by striped sails and colorful kayaks, is a haven.

The Eagles Mere Playhouse was legendary in its day, attracting well-known actors such as Charlton Heston and Patricia Neal to tread the boards.  I grew up in farm country not far away as the crow files, though the wide-open fields and rolling ridges of my hometown are nothing like the forests surrounding Eagles Mere Lake.  In my early twenties, I found my way to the storied Players Cottage on Pennsylvania Avenue as a teacher and performer at the Ensemble Theatre Community School. That summer, I fell in love with the quaint historic town and its Sweet Shop ice cream parlor and quaint sandy beach, and of course, with its gazebo. 

On a summer night in 1993, my then boyfriend and I lingered on the steps of that Victorian folly, gazing into the heavens and whispering plans for the future.  Overhead, the sky was impossibly starry, and a lifetime unspooled before us like the sparkling, silver path of the Milky Way.  Sitting at his side in the dark, I had a sudden inkling he might, out of the blue, ask me to marry him. With a heart-fluttering thrill, I realized if he did, I would say yes.  But he is a New Hampshire boy and impulsive as a hunk of granite.  A spur of the moment marriage proposal was not the way this particular future doctor chose to make major life decisions.  But he considered it, that night under the stars.  And somehow, I knew he considered it.  A year later, in that very same gazebo, he got down on one knee, and with a ring that I helped pick out, he proposed.

What surprises me, as I write this post twenty-seven summers later, is that until now, I never drew the connection between that mountaintop gazebo and the gazebo that brings together the hero and heroine in my debut romance, “Hometown.”  In a little town (not unlike my hometown), a tall red-haired young woman (not unlike me) finds the courage to ask a strong and silent Amish carpenter (not unlike my husband) to build a very special gazebo in her yard.  He agrees, and in many ways, that gazebo brings them together. Though the gazebo in my story bears little resemblance to the one in Eagles Mere, the two structures are of one family.  Call them summer houses, follies, or belvederes, gazebos exist for no other reason than to bring joy.  Their mission is to beautify, delight, and inspire.

I can’t imagine a better place to begin a life together.  

When all roads lead home, choosing one is far from simple…

When Tessa's big-city plans take the A Train to disaster, she lands in her sleepy hometown, smack in the middle of the most unlikely love triangle ever to hit Pennsylvania's Amish Country.

Hot-shot Dr. Richard Bruce is bound to Green Ridge by loyalty that runs deep. Deeper still is Jonas Rishel's tie to the land and his family's Amish community. Behind the wheel of a 1979 camper van, Tessa idles at a fork in the road. Will she cruise the superhighway to the future? Or take a slow trot to the past and a mysterious society she never dreamed she'd glimpse from the inside?

Buy links:

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Apple ~ Target.com ~ Kobo ~ Google Play

EXCERPT:

The girl entwined her fingers in her skirt and tugged the fabric tight. “Your hair is the same color as my cat, and she’s the best cat in the world.” In a heartbeat, she fled and buried her face in the man’s lap.

“My goodness.  What a compliment.  Thank you.” She fumbled with the clasp of her wallet, discovering only then she smooshed her thumb deep into the whoopie pie.

The elfin child giggled and bounced on bare toes.

Standing, the man swept her into his arms and smiled down at Tessa. “Rebecca has not seen many women with ginger hair.”

Ginger hair. For years, she was tormented by boneheaded boys shouting, “Carrot Top” and “Flame.” No one ever called her mane ginger. Beneath his candid gaze, her curls heated like embers, warming her from top to toe. Who was this man?

The girl wriggled, knocking askew his straw hat.

Originally from Central PA, Wendy Rich Stetson is a Broadway & TV actress, audiobook narrator, and now the author of “Hometown,” a sweet and funny, small town Amish romance.

Website ~ Twitter  ~ Facebook ~  Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Instagram

He tossed her under one arm like a sack of flour and righted it, loosening a tawny curl that escaped the wide brim and fell over one brow. His gaze passed over Tessa’s face.  

Her unruly hair and short shorts tweaked at her consciousness. What did the Amish call outsiders? English? She was definitely dressed like an English woman. And not one from a Jane Austen novel.

He deposited the giggling girl right-side up on the floor and approached the table. “I’ve rarely seen hair that color myself. Like a copper penny.”

She stared at the mangled whoopie pie and blushed even deeper. For a brief moment, she felt his gaze trail down her body like a caress. Or did she?

Is There a Sequel Hiding in your Story? by Susan Payne

Welcome back, Susan. What are we talking about today?

Find it on Amazon.

I love to share anything to do with writing.  An Unexpected Wife being released this month is a type of marriage of convenience story.  It was originally called Seven Brothers and concerned the marriage of the oldest brother, Luke, to a young woman who had found herself without funds or a home. Luke Foster brought Lorelei home to a passel of brothers who had lived without a parent for almost ten years. She filled in the missing piece each of them needed.

Not a duplicate by any means of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers as many of these siblings were too young for marriage, the story stayed with me. No breaking into song or dancing on the tables, though. But any large family has its ebb and flow and the Foster boys were no different.  What is unusual with this story is that it led directly into a story for the next youngest brother, Matthew, to find his one and only love. In From the Cold, an Alaskan adventure, will be released on September 13, 2021.

That is what I’d like to write about today:

When is there a sequel hiding in your story?

I mean it would be easy for a writer to introduce a spare single person in a story with no one the wiser that it was a set-up for the next book.  I am used to spotting those set-ups, but never felt the need to have one of my own.  This time was different since Matthew was such a good man and should have a life-partner to make him a better man.

Pre-order now on Amazon.

I didn’t want to leave Matthew and knew he was as ready for a wife just as Luke had been. It was an easy progression.  Besides, I wanted to know where Matthew had gone once he left the ranch and if he’d ever come home again.  In From the Cold answered both those questions for me.

Some writers like to lead into another story using a place or person to do so. Some use a main character, such as an old aunt who ‘visits’ relatives and each time facilitates a romance. Like Murder, She Wrote. Someone was going to die when the author, Jessica Fletcher, showed up. Others use a handy friend who would be “left” once the heroine/hero made their connection. Still others simply grab a character near the end of the story and leave a trail of crumbs indicating a possible romance between them and some other interesting character.

Whatever the means of doing so, I always like knowing how the original characters are doing.  Content in their choices and happy in their lives. You never need an epilogue if you’re writing a complete sequel novel that will tell you so much more.

The choice is always the authors – some of you will never write sequels while others will have story after story built from one original couple’s lives. I find I go where my characters take me.  I have given up trying to guide them…I merely sit back and enjoy the ride.

Find Susan online:

Pseudocide by AK Smith

For fans of One of is US Lying, Panic, or 13 Reasons Why who want to discover something new ...

Have you ever wanted to fake your death, start all over? Read AK Smith’s book first.

Welcome, AK Smith!

What do you write?

I write twisty beach reads. I love to read books with a beach, an island or an ocean as their setting and a twist I can’t quite figure out. I write what I love to read.

 Which came first, the title or the novel?

The title. I was fascinated with the word Pseudocide. I want readers to have to think about the word and what it means. Most people do not know what the definition is. I thought about calling the book, Playing Dead or You’re not really dead, are you? But I pictured the cover and just couldn’t change it.

Do you find inspiration in your own life for your writing?

Yes, I love to introduce off-the beaten road settings. I am a freelance travel writer another name, and every journey helps me think of a new novel.

This tense tale will keep readers on edge until its surprising finale. - Kirkus Reviews
"A gripping suspense novel with unexpected twists."
"Teen fans of Gone Girl will enjoy this smart dark and unpredictable novel."
"Natasha Preston and Karen M. McManus readers will enjoy." ♥

SHE THOUGHT FAKING HER DEATH WAS THE ANSWER TO A NEW DESTINY
SHE WAS WRONG
PLAYING DEAD ISN'T EASY

Sunday Foster had THE PLAN. Make it through the rest of high school, graduate and THE PLAN will begin. Only, fate chose a different path; one decision, one second changed everything,
THE PLAN is ruined. And then a new idea emerges.
What if you could escape your life? Change your name, where you live, and escape all the bad stuff that keeps happening.

Sunday decides in order to change her destiny she must fake her death and start a new life. Pseudocide not suicide. Sunday has secrets, but she's not the only one. That's when Sunday must decide how far she will go to hide the truth. Plans never work out quite the way you expect. Sometimes you have to DIE to survive.

Tell us about your experience with the publishing process.

I’m a hybrid author my first book, A Deep Thing was published by The Wild Rose Press. Pseudocide is self-published by my publishing company Books with Soul® press.

 Any new projects on the horizon?

I’m working on a twisty suspense novel, set on a true to life island in the middle of the sea, with a medical school. Of course, (I convince my husband), that I must visit the island for background and research.

Words of advice for fellow writers in the trenches:

Don’t give up and don’t let others who think that writing isn’t a real job get you down. Make a schedule for writing, and stick with it.

Website ~ Twitter  ~ Facebook ~  Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~Instagram ~ AmazonAuthorPage ~ Youtubetrailer ~ Onelink

Full of wanderlust and a professional sunset watcher, A.K. Smith writes twisty suspense books that will keep you up late. Her debut novel, A Deep Thing was awarded the Readers Favorite Gold Medal. A freelance travel writer (under another name), she loves to experience the world, and discover new settings to feature in her latest novels and articles. If she’s not on the water or in the water, she is looking at the water. She spends her days working remotely online in either Mexico on the Sea of Cortez, or in the desert or forests of Arizona. Beautiful settings provide thousands of story ideas that she can’t wait to get down on paper. She is convinced, her best life is with a beach, a book, and a blanket.  Her big loves are her husband, family, friends, and kindness. Her goal is to step foot on every continent on Planet Earth (maybe even the moon) --she's slowly getting there.

Death by Sample Size by Susie Black

Welcome, Susie! What types of stories do you write?

I write novels in the humorous cozy mystery genre.

When did your writing journey begin?

My writing journey began early as I’ve been telling stories from the day I learned how to talk. Like the protagonist in my Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, I am a ladies’ swimwear sales exec in the greater Los Angeles area. From the beginning of my career, I have kept a daily journal chronicling the interesting, quirky, and sometimes quite challenging people I have encountered as well as the crazy situations I’ve gotten myself into and out of. My daily journal entries are the foundation of everything I write.

Nana the Storyteller

If there is an inheritable gene for story-telling,  mine  came from my mother’s mother. My nana should have been a writer. No one could tell a story like her. She was the eldest of six children of a modest immigrant family from Eastern Europe that settled in Boston at the turn of the century.

 My great-grandfather was a tailor who managed to clothe, feed, and shelter his children,  but there was precious little left over for extravagances like a day at the cinema for one child, let alone for six. Nana had a cousin Jenny who played piano at the local silent-movie house and she was able to get a pass for relatives. Nana and her next oldest sibling traded off weeks going to the serialized show every Saturday afternoon and then came home to tell the story to all the other kids.

The other kids hated it when it was my great-aunt’s turn, because she gave a short synopsis and called it a day. They were thrilled when it was Nana’s turn. She set up two rows of chairs in the parlor like in the movie house, served popcorn, dimmed the lights and played background music as she recounted the episode of the serial. Nana would take her time, slowly build up to the cliffhanger and stop talking right before the finale. Nana would wait until my  great uncle Murray would yell, “Go on Rae, go on!” before she’d finish telling the story. Talk about pacing and how to build tension to the finale? Nana had it down pat. I kept Nana’s story-telling skills in mind while writing Death by Sample Size, my debut humorous cozy mystery was released June 9th. Somewhere in the great beyond, Nana is smiling her approval.

What drew you to writing?

I love listening to stories and I am a people watcher. Everyday people all have stories to tell. It was inevitable for me to go from listening to telling stories. I came to write in the cozy mystery genre because I love solving puzzles. My parents would certainly confirm I have always asked a lot of questions, and I am naturally curious (some narrow-minded people say I am nosy…go figure…LOL). So, writing mysteries was the natural next step for me to take. It is also the genre I read, am comfortable in, and enjoy the most. The bonus is that it was an excellent way to knock off some people on paper who I would have loved to eliminate in real life and still not end up in prison. Extremely therapeutic. I highly recommend it.

As a female who has succeeded in a historically male-dominated industry, it was important to me to write about the apparel business from a woman’s point of view. All of my characters are based on real people, and the central characters are all strong, successful women who have beaten the odds. Holly Schlivnik, the main character in the Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, is based on me with some poetic license taken, of course. The plots and premises of my stories all take place in the fast-paced ladies' apparel industry. I truly believe it was fate that got me into the rag biz because I was destined to write about it.

 What was your inspiration for Death by Sample Size?

The inspiration for Death by Sample Size was an experience I had with a powerful, but unethical ladies’ apparel retail buyer. Do you find inspiration in your own life for your writing? I absolutely do. All my stories take place in the fast-paced ladies’ apparel industry that I work in. All my characters are based on real-life people.

The premise behind the story in Death by Sample Size is what if a buying office big shot in the apparel industry was so universally disliked, that when she was murdered, there were so many potential suspects that it wasn’t a question of who wanted her dead, it was a question of who didn’t.

The question wasn’t who wanted Bunny Frank dead. The question was who didn’t?

The last thing swimwear sales exec Holly Schlivnik expected was to discover ruthless buying office big wig Bunny Frank’s corpse trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey with a bikini stuffed down her throat. When Holly’s colleague is arrested for Bunny’s murder, the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to find the real killer. Nothing turns out the way Holly thinks it will as she matches wits with a wily killer hellbent on revenge.

Buy links:

Book Bub ~ Amazon ~ itunes ~ barnesandnoble ~ goodreads

~ Target ~ KOBO

Tell us about your experience with the publishing process.

I went with an independent small press. The publishing experience was nothing like I expected. It is a longer, more arduous process. It took ten months from the date my contract was signed until the release date. I also had no idea that authors are expected to do virtually all the marketing for their books with little help or direction from the publisher.

Any new projects on the horizon?

Yes. Book number two in the Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series has just completed its first hard editing and revisions. The manuscript is now with my beta readers. Fingers crossed, it will be published fourth quarter of next year.

Words of advice for fellow writers in the trenches:

Only write what you know. If you don’t know it, either do the research and learn it or don’t you dare write it. If you don’t have the creds for what you write, you are toast because readers can spot a phony by the second paragraph and never finish reading your book. This concept is one I never lose sight of and is the reason I write about the subjects I do. My other advice is trust your gut, believe in yourself,  keep writing no matter what, never allow anyone to crush your dreams, and never stop asking WHAT IF?

What was the hardest/ part of the story to write/research?

The most difficult part of the story for me to write was the middle. I had the beginning and ending mapped out, but not the middle. I made a decision to allow the characters to drive the plot from the middle and get the story to the ending I had planned. This worked quite well and it is a formula I use in my plots.

 Speed Round with Susie!

Ice cream (favorite flavor)? Rocky Road

Coffee or tea or wine? Coffee

What does your desk look like? Organized chaos

What is your writing vice or must-have? pencils, legal pads, scratch paper, coffee

Describe a perfect writing day. I am on my houseboat, sitting on the forward deck, typing on my laptop while listening to jazz or oldies

What are some of your go-to methods for writing? People watching and a pad and pencil handy

In an alternate reality, what would be your dream job (besides author)? Stand-up comic

Where is your favorite place you've visited? Cancun, Mexico

What do you like to do when not writing? I am a dedicated walker, an avid stamp collector, a voracious reader, and adventurous traveler

Beach, lake, or mountains? Beach

What are you known for? My sense of humor, integrity, and my directness

Morning rooster, night owl, or midday lark? Night owl

What comes first, character or plot (or other)? Character

You find a $100 bill in your purse/bag, what would you spend it on? Feed hungry children

Favorite childhood book? Madeleine

Find Susie online: Pinterest ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Linkedin ~ Twitter

Favorite book of all time? A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Born in the Big Apple, Susie Black now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

Looking for more? Reach her at mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com

Just behind my college graduation, wedding day, and the birth of my son, June 9th was truly one of the most amazing days of my entire life. My debut cozy mystery Death by Sample Size was released for publication. I am humbled, honored, and proud to be able to say that now I am officially a published author! A life-long dream has come true, a hard-fought-for goal has been accomplished.