 Death by Jelly Beans by Suzie Black Release 9/4/14 Cozy Mystery “Brings a whole new meaning to the rabbit died.” About the story. Mermaid Swimwear President Holly Schlivnik discovers the Bainbridge Department Store Easter Bunny slumped over dead and obnoxious swimwear buyer Sue Ellen Magee is arrested for the crime. Despite her differences with the nasty buyer, Holly is convinced the Queen of Mean didn’t do it. The wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to nail the real killer. But the trail has more twists than a pretzel and more turns than a rollercoaster. And nothing turns out the way Holly thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent on revenge. Grab a copy today. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-by-jelly-beans-susie-black/1145804565 www.goodreads.com/book/show/212700868-death-by-jelly-bean https://www.bookbub.com/books/death-by-jelly-beans-holly-swimsuit-mystery-book-5-by-susie-black https://www.amazon.com/Death-Jelly-Beans-Swimsuit-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0D12LQBXL  About the author. Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but 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? Contact Susie at: Website: www.authorsusieblack.com E-mail: [email protected] Book Bub: www.bookbub.com/authors/susie-black Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheHollySwimsuitMysterySeries Good Reads: Search results for "Susie Black" (showing 1-9 of 82 books) | Goodreads Instagram: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) • Instagram photos and videos Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsusieblack-61941011 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hollysusie1_saved/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/@hollyswimsuit 
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 Nine days from today, my third installment of the Agent Sam Carter Mysteries releases. I had no idea that what began as a request from my then nine-year-old nephew would turn into a three-book series. How it all began. My family and I were attending a Christmas concert at church in December of 2016. During the mid-concert break, my nephew Carter crawled over several laps to get next to me. He plopped down and, with his face in his hands, said, "I hear you write books." Being quite precocious, this statement could go anywhere. I paused a moment and then responded, "Yes, I do. How may I help you?" He sat up straight. "I want you to write a book about me. I want to ride a motorcycle and have a long mustache." The music came back, and our conversation ended. That young man planted a seed, though. At the time, I was working on other books and getting ready to publish my first, Felice, Shield-Mates of Dar. As the year progressed, I didn't forget what he'd asked. What began as a lark, never thinking I would publish it, just make a booklet for Carter, became an actual book. I took liberties with family members and situations (the names were changed to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent). Though the book takes place in the Pacific Northwest, most of the scenes are based on the town of Branchville, NJ. The pictures I used for chapter headings were mostly ones I took or created and then edited and digitized. By December, the first Agent Sam Carter book, The Mystery at Branch Lake, was released, and now the third. I'm not sure where or when the next mystery will happen. Oh, look, it's a mystery. Below are some of the pictures from The Mystery at Branch Lake. The second book, The Mystery at High Pointe Tower, actually takes place in New Jersey. I've used local areas that many from Sussex County will be familiar with. Things like Volcano Road, High Point Monument, and the Lusscroft Trail. Join me next week, and I'll fill you in on The Mystery at Starling Mine  This is me in 20 degree weather with a wind chill of 5 below at the highest point in NJ, The High Point Monument. Yes, I was only wearing a sweatshirt. What an author will do for a photo op, sigh. If you're interested in any of my Agent Sam Carter Mysteries head on over to www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4CBD46Q The first two are available and Starling Mine releases next week digitally. But here's a big secret you can order the paperback today! www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0785LCHWH About D. V. Stone
D. V. Stone is known for her engaging and captivating storytelling, often weaving elements of romance, fantasy, and adventure into her novels. Her official website, dvstoneauthor.com, serves as a central hub for fans and new readers alike to explore her literary works, learn about upcoming book releases, and gain insights into her creative process. The site typically features detailed book descriptions, author blogs, and exclusive content such as interviews and behind-the-scenes looks at her writing journey. Additionally, visitors can find information on where to purchase her books, sign up for newsletters, and connect with DV Stone on social media. Whether you’re a long-time follower or new to her stories, dvstoneauthor.com offers a comprehensive and inviting space to immerse yourself in the world of DV Stone’s imagination. Summer is winding down. Some kids have already returned to school and soon others will follow. Many of you know the story behind my Agent Sam Carter series. Well, guess what? The real Agent Carter left for college yesterday. It's hard to believe he's so grown from the time he crawled across laps at a Christmas concert and said, "I want you to write a book about me. I want to ride a motorcycle and have a long mustache." The 3rd installment of Agent Sam Carter releases on September 4, 2024. Here's the pre-order link www.amazon.com/dp/B0D38B4G6G And I' d appreciate it if you'd mark it on Goodreads as "want to read' www.goodreads.com/book/show/212693850-the-mystery-at-starling-mine Now on to today's guest and her newest mystery.  Cruel Intentions by Alana Lorens Mystery Released July 10, 2024 Miami attorney Bet Lenard has had a rough year. She's battling an unknown illness that drives her to drink to cope with her pain. Her lawyer husband has divorced her and taken the best part of their business, their home and their children. On the night of May 16, 1996, Bet finds herself in the Everglades in the middle of the night, drugged, lost and next to a burned car with a dead body in it. Hoping she's hit bottom, Bet must drag herself out of her living hell and discover who tried to kill her. Was it her ex-husband, not satisfied with stealing everything that mattered? An angry client, unhappy with the outcome of their case? Her best friend's husband, livid that Bet's restraining order kicked him out of her life forever? Police officers fuming that Bet helped a client convict a dirty cop who was their friend? She has no idea. As she tries to sort out the motives behind her would-be killer, even more suspects come to light. The only thing keeping Bet sane is her relationship with her therapist, who encourages her to struggle and survive, despite everything that's gone wrong. How will Bet discover the truth and bring her enemy to justice before they strike again and, this time, succeed? Amazon Walmart Target BooksAMillion IndieBound Barnes & Noble Kobo Google Books ITunes The Story behind the Story. As a former attorney practicing in Miami and south Dade County, I lived in these neighborhoods and dealt with dangerous situations, both natural and manmade. Many scenes in this book are based on situations I experienced personally–unfortunately not where I made millions of dollars as a criminal defense attorney !The going into labor scene–100% true. 🙂 I still feel badly for that judge. This book is dedicated to women with chronic illness, who often go years without proper diagnosis, seeing doctors who don’t believe them, and their ongoing fight to educate themselves and those around them. May they have their best lives in the end.  About the author.
Alana Lorens (aka Barbara Mountjoy) has been a published writer for over 45 years, including seven years as a reporter and editor at the South Dade News Leader in Homestead, Florida. Her list of publications includes the non-fiction book 101 Little Instructions for Surviving Your Divorce, published by Impact Publishers in 1999, stories in A Cup of Comfort for Divorced Women, in December 2008, and A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Parents, in June 2009. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4829967.Alana_Lorens https://www.amazon.com/Alana-Lorens/e/B005GE0WBC/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alana-lorens @AlexanderLyndi https://www.instagram.com/alexander_lyndi/  Hi Birdie! Thank you for joining me today. It's been hot hot hot here in New Jersey so I'm going to pour us a nice cold glass of water to keep hydrated. While I do, please introduce yourself to my other guests by telling us something about you. Who are you other than your bio? I’m the proverbial duck whose feet are frantic underwater, but you only see smooth sailing on the surface. Someone once called me organised, but they’ve never seen my living room. I’ll swim if the water’s warm, eat ice-cream in winter, and cuddle my cat at every opportunity. I've had others think the same of me. At some things I'm very organized but as you know I can drop the ball occasionally by paddling too fast. FYI to the others, Birdie was supposed to be here last month. So my friend, what interests besides writing do you enjoy? I love my garden. It’s only a small garden bed, but just the right size. I don’t actually spend a lot of time working on it, but prefer to live amongst it, nudging things every so often and seeing how it grows. I’d love to write a romance set in a garden one day, but for now, I’m working on final touches for The Guy from the Wedding. Who is your network or support system? There’s a special quality of connection you can only get from sitting in a room with someone, hearing their unfiltered voice, and observing the quirks of your shared space. Last time I visited you, almost all my support network was online and scattered across timezones. I appreciate them dearly, but still felt lonely and easily distracted from my work. These days, I’m part of a book club, a writing group, and a tiny pod of friends who publish their own books – all local, and all stoking my fire for reading and writing. You are so correct. I tend to hideaway but when I get to be around authors and readers it sparks so much. Who or what books or authors are your inspiration? There’s way too many to name, DV! But I can list a few lovely books that I’ve thought about often since first reading them: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, a cosy fantasy with a dusting of romance. Remember Me by Vida Li Sik, a sweet second chance romance set in Johannesburg, South Africa. And the Sloan Krause cosy mystery series by Ellie Alexander. How did publishing your first book change your writing process? Honestly? All it did was signal that I might start thinking about taking this job seriously one day. It wasn’t until The Guy from the Library came out (my third book, currently available for free with my newsletter) that I realised I needed to overhaul my writing process if I wanted to keep doing this. I used to have very unhealthy habits around writing that flip-flopped between anxiously avoidant and workaholic. It meant I’d spend a lot of energy getting in my own head about it, then burning out quickly. “Library” made me realise that yes, I am capable of writing consistently and sticking to my vision of an enjoyable romance story. From there, I began the gradual process of trial and error, finding the right balance of structure and freedom. The Guy from the Wedding, through its various incarnations during the writing process, gave me many opportunities to put my new habits into practice. I'm trying to get back into that consistancy mode. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? I expect to do a lot of research once a draft is underway. There are just too many things you can’t foresee until you’re immersed in the story and characters, you know? The most recent research I did was going to play mini-golf (I think you guys call it putt-putt?) for a scene in The Guy from the Wedding. I just couldn’t picture my characters being there until I’d dined at the café and played through 18 holes with a brightly coloured miniature golf club. We call it both. And I love cheating when playing against my husband. What was your hardest scene to write? I hope it’s not crass to say the entirety of The Guy from the Wedding was hard to write. This book started very differently to how it ended up, despite it being plotted from the start. It’s an enemies to lovers romance, where much of the conflict stems from the characters’ insecurities. This forced me to confront many of my own insecurities in order to write true. I love the idea that every project should push a writer to up-skill their craft and connect more deeply with their inner selves but, mate, tell ya what … It’s been a wild ride, and I’ll be absolutely elated when the book comes out later this year! Thank you for sharing that vulnerable side of being an author. What subjects should be taught in school but aren’t? This could be controversial, but I think financial literacy (aka. how to understand and manage your money) should be a mandatory subject in school. It was an optional class in my high school, despite the subject matter affecting everyone. This issue actually makes a cameo in The Guy from the Wedding: one of the characters doesn’t realise something going awry in their business, and is left with a monstrous debt, which then dovetails into the story. You can be a very capable and smart person, and still not know what you’re looking at in terms of managing your money, because financial products can be so complex (The Big Short is an excellent film that covers this). So many of us have hidden emotional wounds around money too, and I wonder if better financial literacy can help us work through that kind of trauma, because we’d find ourselves with effective tools for dealing with the triggers. I think often we are afraid of finances so we tend to ignore them like an ostrich burying its head and then bam, It's too late and we're over our head. What was the best money you ever spent as a writer? My writing group splits the cost of hiring a co-working space once a week. This is a new thing for me. I used to be afraid of spending money on my pursuits until I realised it was because key people in my past convinced me not to, that stuff that was important to me wasn’t worth investing in. That was one of my hidden emotional wounds around money: the feeling that no matter how hard I worked for something, I still didn’t deserve to be valued. That was a lightbulb moment for sure. So much has come from spending time with creative and encouraging people. They’ve helped me approach my writing more professionally and objectively, stopped me from falling into anxiety and depression when drafts weren’t working, and shown me so many different perspectives from which to view the world. What I’m paying isn’t expensive, but it’s not a negligible amount either, but it really has been worth it. The Guy from the Wedding by Birdie Song is coming out in Q4. Sign up for Birdie Song’s Newsletter for updates, and for a gift copy of The Guy from the Library, a short and sweet “sudden puppy” romance. 
Andrea trusts books more than boys. After all, they don’t embarrass you or make mean jokes, and they’re certainly clear about their intentions. But Jackson from the library seems genuinely friendly amidst this sudden puppy situation. Is it possible he could be her next chapter? Sample the world of Somerville Downs with this sweet 'sudden puppy' short story. Available for free with Birdie Song's Newsletter. Get it today.
About Birdie Song
Birdie Song is an Asian-Australian writer from Perth, Western Australia on Whadjuk-Noongar country. She pens sweet stories featuring hopeful characters and optimistic endings (spoiler alert!). She believes love is more important than labels, integrity is a person's most attractive quality, and that no one should be judged for putting pineapple on a pizza. When not writing, she tends to a veggie garden and reads a variety of books, hoping to one day understand the meaning of life. Website: birdiesongauthor.com Newsletter: birdiesongauthor.com/newsletter Blog: birdiesongauthor.com/blog BookBub: bookbub.com/profile/birdie-song A bit of a twist to today's blog. Have you ever wondered how, what, and where an author gets the words on a page? What are the inspirations? Yes? Well here you go. The story behind the story. Enjoy!  The Turkish Affair by J. Arlene Culiner Mystery/Suspense/Romance Love and Danger at the ancient Hittite site of Karakuyu Priceless artifacts are disappearing from the ancient Hittite site of Karakuyu in Turkey, and the site director has vanished. Called in to solve the mystery, archaeologist Renaud Townsend is hindered by both his inability to speak the language and the knowledge that the local police are corrupt. His attraction to translator Anne Pierson is immediate, although he is troubled by her refusal to talk about the past and her fear of public scandal. But when murder enters the picture, both Anne and Renaud realize that the risk of falling in love is not the only danger. The story behind the story. As a writer of romance, I like to portray real-life situations with real people. My heroes and heroines need to have activities they can share, ideas that coincide, and realistic goals. They must be interested in getting to know each other, and we have to believe that their love will last — not because they have wild and woolly sex in very strange combinations — but because they are appealing, intelligent, and kindly people, and they know how to give. Yes, some romances don’t begin smoothly, but if there’s a good reason for that, so much the better. In romances, we can learn new ways of working out problems, or we take pleasure in seeing a loving relationship grow slowly but steadily. In my romance, The Turkish Affair, my heroine, Anne, has run away from her former life, and come to live in a small village in Turkey. When she meets the very charming Renaud Townsend, an archaeologist at the nearby Hittite site, she is forced to acknowledge how attracted she is. However, since she has run from her problems instead of solving them, she finds herself caught in an almost untenable — and very dangerous — situation: the day’s heat was almost unbearable, and the gaudy morning sun reverberating against uneven pavements seemed to mock her fears. Maybe it had been her imagination at work, after all. What about the intensity between herself and Renaud? Had she imagined that? No, she hadn’t. Which is why she’d avoid any further contact with the man. Get your copy today. https://books2read.com/TheTurkishAffair  About the Author
Writer, social critical artist, and impenitent teller of tall tales, J. Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a mud house on the Great Hungarian Plain, in a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave dwelling, a haunted house on the English moors, and on a Dutch canal. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest where, much to local dismay, she protects spiders, snakes, and weeds. Observing people in cafes, in their homes, on trains, or in the streets, she eavesdrops on all private conversations, and delights in hearing any nasty, funny, ridiculous, sad, romantic, or boastful story. And when she can't uncover really salacious gossip, she makes it up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zkQ20uC4eg http://www.j-arleneculiner.com http://j-arleneculiner.over-blog.com https://linktr.ee/j.arleneculiner Storytelling Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/j-arlene-culiner Camping? What's that? I'm itching badly to get back out there. Pete's leg is improving so it won't be long. The first trip, TBD on in late August, but we are booked for Lancaster. For a huge event I'm part of. Check it out booksbooksbooksevent.com/ a "The Barn" at Wyndham Lancaster Resort, Lancaster, PA Saturday September 21st from 12:00 — 5:00 PM. I'm excited. I'll also be heading to Blairstown for their local Farmer's Market/Makers Market the last weekend in September. A Christmas Storm is in galley at this time. Yeah! Stay tuned for a release day announcement and Agent Carter is releasing September 4th phew! Enough about me please welcome back Kim Janine Ligon and her upcoming book.  Those Ties That Bind by Kim Janine Ligon A small town mystery romance. Release day July 31, 2024 Why are teenage mothers dying in the Garland Regional E.R. instead of delivering healthy babies for adoption at The Obstetrical Center? Something is seriously wrong. On her physician’s advice, Garland’s CEO Evelyn Langford reluctantly takes a long scheduled vacation for her fiftieth birthday leaving her team to conduct an investigation into Obstetrical Center. Evelyn’s efforts to investigate the problem are hampered by her complicated relationships with her secretive brother, Frank, her subordinates, and, surprisingly, FBI Special Agent Rance Thompson, a new acquaintance, who comes to the small town to investigate possible links between the childbirth deaths and a string of teenage girl disappearances. Will Frank’s increasingly erratic behavior and the growing attraction between Evelyn and the younger agent further complicate discovering the truth about the dying girls? Preorder your copy today! Https://mybook.to//ThoseTiesThatBind A peek inside. Miss Langford buzzed Margie. “Please get the medical director at The Obstetrical Center on the line for me.” “Hello.” “Miss Langford, what do you want?” the physician snarled. “Rose Rich’s paperwork doesn’t have any valid contact information. Her real name is probably not Rose Rich. We are coordinating with Chief Davis to check the National Runaway database to see if she is listed there.” “Why are you going to all this trouble for someone you don’t even know? All you’re required to do is to send the body to the morgue and you’re done.” Did he snort? “I can’t just dispose of her like garbage. If she was my child or my sister, I’d want to know what happened to her. I’d want an autopsy done to see why she died.” “We already know why she died. Complications in childbirth. Why do you have to act as if this was a major crime or malfeasance? Women do still die in childbirth, despite all the advances in medical science. This isn’t an issue for the police. Garland Regional isn’t going to be blamed for her death.” He got louder with each word. “You needn’t yell. I can hear you. The patient mumbled something to Dr. Merrick right before she died. She said ‘Doc, not me again, don’t. Please, I can’t. Please don’t.’ Does that make any sense to you?” The physician hesitated a moment. “Why ask me? How would I know why a dying girl, who lied about who she was, said anything? She was probably delirious. Why do you think it has something to do with me?” “She said not me again. I thought since she was your patient you might have some insight into her situation. Had she given birth at your center before?” The physician hesitated a moment. “Why ask me? How would I know why a dying girl, who lied about who she was, said anything? She was probably delirious. Why do you think it has something to do with me?” “She said not me again. I thought since she was your patient you might have some insight into her situation. Had she given birth at your center before?” “How would I know off the top of my head? Hundreds of mothers have been through here. I haven’t memorized all their names, faces, and personal situations.” “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure Chief Davis will get to the bottom of this.” “There is nothing to get to the bottom of. I’ve reinstituted stricter protocols to trigger hospital transfers sooner for distressed patients. No need to pull in the local police or national resources. Let it go, okay?” “It’s good to know that in the future mothers in danger will be transported to us sooner, but it’s too late to put the brakes on checking with the police. The wheels are already in motion. We’ve started the investigation,” the CEO said. “I am putting this on the record. I won’t tolerate harassment of any kind. If you force my hand, you’ll regret it. I promise,” the physician said authoritatively. “We both have to do what our professional ethics require. This is not personal. It has nothing to do with our relationship. I’ll let you know if anything else comes up. I expect you to do the same. Goodbye.” Miss Langford hung up.  About the authorI grew up in rural Wisconsin where my father was a veterinarian. We always had lots of pets around. And there was always a herd of children around too. Ten of us in all and I am the oldest.
I had a forty plus year career in healthcare information technology. When I retired, I finally had time to learn to spin fibers into unique, beautiful yarn that I make into gifts for friends and family. While I am spinning and weaving, I am writing in my head until the writing has to spill out onto the screen. I have been married almost forever to my own real life romance hero! Follow me at www.spinningromance.com or email me at [email protected] Enjoy!!!!!! SPINNING ROMANCE & SUSPENSE INTO HAPPY EVER AFTERS Hello everyone thank you for popping in. It's a hot and humid summer here in NJ however my editor told me it was 113 F where she lives. Oi! I didn't want to say, "well it's a dry heat." Queque the dope slap. I think the hottest I've ever been in, actual not index, was driving home from Arkansas one year and going through Tennesee. My car thermometer said 115 F. I've been spending a lot of time indoors. With that and taking care of hubby and his injured leg, I've now two novellas with seperate editors and I'm halfway through a full contemporary romantic suspense. I've also been devouring books. How's the heat by you? What are you doing to get through it? On to today's spotlight.  Stone of Fear by Margaret Izard Paranormal Romance Published by The Wild Rose Press Released June 12, 2024 About the book. She’d give everything to keep his love. He’d chase her through time to save her soul. Marie Murray, a spunky expert on spiritual buildings, jumps at the opportunity to renovate the chapel mosaic floor at Dunstaffnage Castle, where she falls hard for the dashing John MacArthur. From their first kiss, sparks fly. Believing her religious renovation creates magic, a fanatical priest kidnaps Marie. Obsessed with obtaining a powerful magic Stone of Iona, he drags her to 15th-century Scotland. With his love kidnapped, John must tackle his hereditary duty and locate a magic Fae stone while chasing his love across time. Her memories of their passion keep her sane. His fuel his will to find her. Will John get to Marie in time to save her soul? Next in the series…. Stone of Lust, book 3, Stones of Iona Series, releases October 21st and Stone of Hope, book 4 early 2025. My first Christmas companion book to the series, Thistle in the Mistletoe releases November 4th. Get a copy today at one of these links. mizardauthor | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree Stone of Fear (Stones of Iona Book 2) - Kindle edition by Izard, Margaret . Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. Stone of Fear (Stones of Iona Book 2) by Margaret Izard - BookBub Stone of Fear by Margaret Izard | Goodreads The story behind the story. How did your background in performance arts influence your writing style and storytelling techniques? I lean into classics due to all the ballets I’ve studied or performed. Yet, I also like modern dance, which places a twist on some of the norms. These experiences pretty much drive the types of stories I want to tell. They are something based on the classics with a twist. My performance background is my greatest asset to my writing. It’s how I work through each story. From scene to scene, I run the overall story arc in my head like a movie or a play. I’m the director/choreographer, and the characters are my actors/dancers. I run scenes differently to produce the outcome I want/need to push the story forward. The dance training has had a significant impact on writing scenes that involve body movement. Merging physical details with emotion is a particular favorite of mine.  About the author.
Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers. Readers can email me at: [email protected] Mizardauthor (@mizardauthor) / X (twitter.com) Margaret Izard Author (@mizardauthor) • Instagram photos and videos If this is your first time here, welcome to my fire. If it's not, then thank you for coming back and spending time with me. We are in the midst of the “Dog Days” of summer. This refers to the hot and humid weather during the summer months starting July 3rd and ending August 11th. And let me tell you it's been both hot and humid already. In New Jersey, we call it the Three H's. Hazy, hot, and humid. But the fire must go on. So please enjoy today's guest and her latest book.  Above the Abyss Book Two of the Beartooth Chronicles by Kim McMahill Release June1 8, 2024 Teen/Young Adult Dystopian Sci-Fi Adventure PG-13 The residents of Beartooth have survived the first round of stratospheric aerosol injections intended to cool the planet, but predators have found their way to the community for the first time, and their closest neighbor is now ruled by an extremist faction. Outside of Beartooth, Ash and Caleb Solomon encounter a group of geologists seeking refuge from the violence, division, hate, and corruption plaguing the nation. And the Continuity in Crisis Bill suspending elections during times of crisis has passed, effectively ending democracy in America, pushing the country toward civil war. Despite the many challenges within and outside their isolated, mountain community, abandoning Beartooth is no longer an option. Most of its residents believe their location above the abyss will protect them from predators, dangerous neighbors, and a country in crisis, but Ash and Caleb have seen and heard too much to ever feel safe again. Grab your Copy today Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Vvf1Ni Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/above-the-abyss-kim-mcmahill/1145691119?ean=2940185971802 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/above-the-abyss Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1573463 Apple Books: https://apple.co/45gresp Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kim_McMahill_Above_the_Abyss?id=G8UMEQAAQBAJ The Story Behind the Story. Nearly all of my writing is influenced by my childhood, and the places I’ve lived as an adult. I grew up in a rural community surrounded by millions of acres of public land. My family lived in the country, grew much of our own food, hunted, fished, and had many animals to care for and love. These experiences often find their way into my stories. College, careers, and travel took my husband and I on an amazing journey around the U.S. and the world, but we’ve finally returned home. Some of the places we enjoyed growing up have become overrun with people, but there is still plenty of remote, rugged, and beautiful places to explore, including the area where I based the fictional community of Beartooth. There are Beartooth Mountains, the Beartooth Highway, and Beartooth Pass, but there is no community except between the pages of my novels in The Beartooth Chronicles. Currently, the Beartooth Highway is closed from about October to Memorial Day each year due to extreme amounts of snow. But what if all of the glaciers melted? What if the climate changed enough to allow year-round gardening at 9,000 feet in elevation? And what if our society collapsed? In The Beartooth Chronicles, a group of individuals establish a mountain community away from a country riddled with violence and hate. The home they’ve created has provided a safe and comfortable existence, but as environmental disasters continue to multiply, bringing out the worst of humanity, the residents find themselves faced with a series of challenges that will test their ability to survive. I hope you will join Ashley, Caleb, and the residents of Beartooth in this epic dystopian saga of survival, courage, love, and finding hope in the midst of natural and environmental threats and social collapse. The first novel in the series, Refuge from the World, was released in March and is currently on sale for just $2.99 (ebook). The second, Above the Abyss, was just released, the third in the series is scheduled for fall of 2024.  About the Author
Kim McMahill started out writing nonfiction, but her passion for adventure, stories of survival against the odds, and speculating about the future of humanity and our planet, soon turned her attention towards fiction. Along with her novels, she has published over eighty travel and human-interest articles, and contributed to a travel story anthology. Growing up in a beautiful mountain west community, traveling the world, and enjoying a rewarding career with the National Park Service, has given her the opportunity to live in amazing places, experience incredible adventures, and witness many changes in our world, all of which have helped shape her stories. To learn more about Kim and her writing, visit https://KimMcMahill.blogspot.com, where there is a sign-up form for her newsletter, or follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KimMcMahillAuthor/, twitter at https://twitter.com/kimmcmahll, or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kimmcmahill/. From D.V. I don't know about you, but everytime I see this cover I stop in my tracks. It's simply lovely. And for ONE DAY only. The ebook is on sale for only .99. That day is today!  Pieces of Blue by Liz Flaherty Life comes in shades of blue... For all of her adult life, loner Maggie North has worked for bestselling author Trilby Winterroad, first as his typist, then as his assistant, and finally as his ghost writer. Throughout her first marriage, widowhood, remarriage, and divorce from an abusive husband, Trilby was the constant in her life. When he dies, she inherits not only his dachshund, Chloe, but a house she didn’t know existed on a lake she’d never heard of. On her first visit, she falls in love with both the house and the lake. Within a few weeks, she’s met most of the 85 inhabitants of Harper Loch and surprisingly, become a part of the tiny community. Her life expands as does a new kind of relationship with her friend Sam Eldridge. She finally feels not only at home, but safe. Until her ex-husband is released from prison. The fragile threads of her new life begin to fray, and that feeling of safety is about to shatter into a thousand pieces. Buy Links: Just for today, the ebook edition of Pieces of Blue is on sale for 99 cents! Books2Read: https://books2read.com/FlahertyBlue Amazon: https://a.co/d/eyEjPDA Backstory about the story. My friend Tami said Town Lake was there and had been for…well, she had no idea how long. But it was less than 10 miles from my house, less than five from where I grew up. How could I not have known it was there? My sister said that of course it was there. Where had I been? So my husband and I turned where she said to, just south of Akron, Indiana. “It’s a T road. You can’t miss it.” Even with its small green sign identifying Town Lake road, we could and did miss it. But there it was—the lake I’d never heard of and had possibly insisted wasn’t even there. That few-minute trek back a dead-end road introduced me to what a reader named Harper Loch. Not everything in Pieces of Blue happens there—there are only 86 people on the lake, one store, one church, and one beauty salon, after all—but Placer, the town closest to it, strongly resembles Akron. Akron is where my doctor’s office is, where I go to church, where two of my nieces live, where I used to sit at the drugstore counter and drink a small coke and talk to friends. My first bra and many pairs of stockings came from Eber’s Five & Ten. They have a great 4th of July parade and a pretty little park like the one you’ll read about in Maggie’s story. Between the lake that wasn’t there and the town I’ve taken for granted for my entire life, one of my favorite settings was born. I hope you enjoy meeting Harper Loch’s residents in Pieces of Blue. It’s out today and its ebook version is just 99 cents today!  About the author.
Liz Flaherty has spent the past several years enjoying not working a day job, making terrible crafts, and writing stories in which the people aren’t young, brilliant, or even beautiful. She’s decided (and has to re-decide most every day) that the definition of success is having a good time. Along with her husband of lo, these many years, kids, grands, friends, and the occasional cat, she’s doing just that. You can reach her at [email protected] She’d love to hear from you. Follow Liz. Website: http://lizflaherty.net/ Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/3en2uufe Linktree: https://linktr.ee/LizFlaherty Another start to the week. I had a wonderful time at the Passaic County Book Festival in Clifton NJ. There were so many authors, readers, and folks just enjoying the beautiful sunshine. I met authors who have been on my blog and friends for New Jersey Romance Writers. Sitting on a paranormal panel was the highpoint. We had so much fun answering questions. As always the team putting together this huge event did a bang up job. Now onto today's guest and her new cozy mystery.  Framed for Murder by Marla A. White A cozy animal mystery. Old enemies become allies to unravel a deadly mystery. Mel O'Rourke used to be a cop before a life-changing injury forced her to turn in her badge. Now she leads a relatively peaceful life running a B & B in the quirky mountain town of Pine Cove. That is, until her old frenemy, the charismatic cat burglar Poppy Phillips, shows up, claiming she's been framed for murder. While she’s no saint, Mel knows she’d never kill anyone and sets out to prove Poppy's innocence. The situation gets complicated, however, when the ruggedly handsome Deputy Sheriff Gregg Marks flirts with Mel, bringing him dangerously close to the criminal she’s hiding. And just when her friendship with café owner Jackson Thibodeaux blossoms into something more, he’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime in New Orleans. Should she encourage him to go, or ask him to stay? Who knew romance could be just as hard to solve as murder? Heat level – PG. There’s only 1 fairly chaste kiss but some salty language sprinkled in. Get your copy today Amazon - https://bit.ly/43Uwj96 Barnes and Noble – https://bit.ly/3TKdPDu Apple Books - https://books.apple.com/us/book/framed-for-murder/id6483932566 GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211106987-framed-for-murder AllAuthor - https://allauthor.com/book/87348/framed-for-murder-a-pine-cove-mystery/ Books2Read - books2read.com/u/4Djgor Book Bub-https://www.bookbub.com/books/framed-for-murder-by-marla-a-white Inspiration for the story I love murder. Mysteries were always my favorite things to watch and read as a kid. Well, first horse stories. After I went through that section of the library, I moved on to mysteries. The ability to murder people who annoyed me without going to jail? Perfect. The location for the book was inspired by the very real and quirky town of Idyllwild. Although to be honest, what I thought was a babbling brook running behind my little cabin turned out to be a large koi pond 😀Who knew? Mel’s story of what to do in her “second act” of life when her dream of being a cop was no longer available began in “The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder”. Her doubts of who she is if she can’t be the one thing she always wanted to be were inspired by my own journey hitting a fork in the road. Like most people, it took getting through it to realize how much better life can be on the other side of that mountain you think is in your way. I just had to hang on and enjoy the ride on my way to achieving a lifelong goal of being a published writer. Her foil in this book, cat burglar Poppy Phillips, was inspired by a weird event that happened when staying at a moderately tall hotel on the California coast. In the middle of the night, a random person parkoured across our balcony and onto the next one. Or was it a dream? Either way, in my head Poppy said “Yes, please!” and so the opening was inspired. My main goal in writing the stories I do is to entertain the readers enough that they forget about whatever troubles they might be facing. To laugh a little, to see a little bit of themselves in the characters, and hopefully be inspired even when life throws them curves.  About the Author
Marla White is an award-winning novelist who prefers killing people who annoy her on paper rather than in real life. Her first full-length mystery novel, “Cause for Elimination,” placed in several contests including Killer Nashville, The RONE Awards, The Reader’s Favorite, and finishing second in the Orange County Romance Writers for Romantic Suspense. Originally from Oklahoma, she lived in a lot of other states before settling down in Los Angeles to work in the television industry. She currently teaches at UCLA Extension and gives seminars about the art of script coverage. When she’s not working on the next book, she’s hiking, cheering on the LA Kings, or discovering new craft cocktails (to, you know, drown her sorrows over the Kings). Fun facts Something readers might find interesting about this book: The quirky Babbling Brook Bed-and-Breakfast is loosely inspired by the Silver Pines Lodge in Idyllwild. Highly recommend staying there if you’re even in that neck of the woods. A fact about me that readers might find interesting: I share Mel’s nearly debilitating fear of heights. Well, not to the same extent, I can climb a set of stairs, but looking down more than a few flights? No way 😀 There’s a scene where Mel does a singing bowl session. I’ve done that and honestly, it’s pretty cool! I accomplished the dream of becoming a published writer in my late fifties after helping other writers craft their stories for thirty years. Follow the author. https://twitter.com/TheScriptFixer https://www.instagram.com/marlawriteswords/ https://www.facebook.com/MarlaAWhiteAuthor https://www.tiktok.com/@marlaw825 https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21467766.Marla_A_White https://www.bookbub.com/profile/marla-a-white https://amzn.to/3MHIzkB https://substack.com/@marlawhite?utm_source=edit-profile-page |
Your Host D.V. StoneAward winning multi-genre author and blogger. Fantasy, romance, mid-grade. Nothing better than a campfire, book, and glass of wine. Okay maybe there is.📚 Follow Me!
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