Poor Susie Black. You have no idea what I put her through to get this blog out. For some reason my email won't work for some. It must be a stupid filter. Doesn't put people like Susie or my editor ELF into spam, not that would be to easy. They just go to limbo and float in the ether. So, this may be a day late but, I hope you enjoy my guest today.
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 free 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 on the victrola 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 had no formal creative writing training when I decided to write my first manuscript. I had a story to tell,
but no clue how to tell it. I heard Nana’s voice in my head talking to me . My long-gone, full-service Nana
had given me all the tools I needed. I started writing, and thanks to Nana, I never stopped. I kept Nana’s
story-telling skills in mind while writing the books in my Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series. Somewhere in
the great beyond, Nana is smiling her approval.

Death by Pins and Needles (Holly Swimsuit Mystery Book 2) 
by Susie Black 
Book 2 of 3: Holly Swimsuit Mystery
Amateur Sleuths
Cozy Mystery

The last thing Mermaid Swimwear sales exec Holly Schlivnik expected to find when she opened the closet door was nasty competitor Lissa Charney’s battered corpse nailed to the wall. When Holly’s colleague is wrongly arrested for Lissa’s murder, the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth sticks her nose everywhere it doesn’t belong to sniff out the real killer. Nothing turns out the way she thinks it will as Holly matches wits with a heartless killer hellbent for revenge.



Pre-order
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Surfboard-Holly-Swimsuit-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BXMCS2NN​
​ From a reviewer
​I binged on this book all afternoon. Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2023

About Susie Black 
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: mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com
http://twitter.com/@hollyswimsuit
https://www.instagram.com/hollyswimsuit/
https://facebook.com/TheHollySwimsuitMysterySeries​

One year ago, seven authors came together and decided to do a series about a magical mortar and pestle. Today the final book in the series releases, and wow! I read and am in awe of how Ginny wrapped this up. I’m so happy she’s here today for you to get to know. I thought she was perfect until she told me she was a Diet Pepsi person. Ugh. When we go out, I specifically ask. Is it Coke or Pepsi? If it’s Pepsi, I’ll get the unsweetened iced tea. That said, Around the Fire is the blog that delivers, so while I grab a - Pepsi- Ginny will tell you all about herself. And GO...
I fully admit it. I’m a Diet Pepsi addict.  I never start before noon. Well, not usually… I’m an avid reader finishing usually over 150 books a year. I love a romance and a cozy mystery. I do a book blog of my reads. I also cross-stitch. Again, I’m obsessive about it. I usually create bookmarks that I sell at author events. I’ve got about 300 or more now.

Wow again. That’s a lot of books and bookmarks. I’m particularly fond of your Tech Blog. You’re very good and simplifying the explanations. Who is your network or support system?
I have two great support groups. The Mortar and Pestle authors have been a great source of information and support. I’ve learned so much from them. I also have a local NaNoWriMo group that is fantastic. I can talk to them about just about every aspect of publishing. It’s wonderful, and we write together too!

Aww, you’re such a sweetheart. Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
I read Stephen King at 11. His career and drive to succeed are always in the back of my head. Janet Evanovich also inspires me with the types of books she writes. She started in romance and branched out. I want to do that also. Finally, Marion Chesney/MC Beaton is my hero. I’m working my way through her 70+ books—both romance and mystery. She writes short great stories.

Do you have any fun or outrageous talent?
No. I was in marching band in the color guard for two years in high school and four in college. I wasn’t very good, but I had fun.

Have you been a part of a cooperative author series before? What drew you to this one?
Yes, this is my second Multi-Author Project (Map). Previously, I worked with the Sandy Bay series. I like the idea of authors working together to write a series. I’m not a great team player, but these types of projects are great writing and learning experiences. I’m so glad I did both!

We’re glad you did too! Let’s get back to those blogs. Both a beneficial tech one and a book review one. Can you tell us a little more about them?
My Apps for Writer blog comes from my teaching background. I worked as a computer teacher in the late nineties, teaching both kids and teachers to use technology. I loved showing them how to use the computer as a tool rather than a gloried worksheet machine. Now I hope to help other authors use all the wonderous apps out there for their benefit. I’m a big proponent of only using software that works for you. I want authors to find that perfect tool to help them with their writing. My reading blog has changed this year. Usually, I would blog a book for review every week. Now I do a monthly summary of the titles I’ve read. I am completing the 52 Book Club challenge this year.

Yours is the final book in the Mortar & Pestle series. Did that make it easier or harder?
Easier, I think. I’m a stubborn fool. I had a silly idea to finish the series and bullied all the other authors into letting me do it. They were kind enough to let me experiment and I think it turned out wonderful. I hope everyone loves our series ending.

I didn’t feel bullied at all! And I love how you tied everything together. I think those who read the series will agree. Now let’s learn more about Artist. 

Artist
By
Ginny Frost
Stuck at a retreat with her ex, Lexi is torn between reviving her art and rekindling an old romance.
Lexi Pintari is stuck in a dead-end cubicle job that is slowly killing her. She tucked away her passion for art when the love of her life ghosted her after college. Witnessing her lack of motivation, Lexi’s best friend drags her to an art retreat for much-needed reflection and inspiration. Though knowing her ex-boyfriend is an artist-in-residence there, Lexi agrees to go. Unfortunately, her metal-goth style and enthusiasm for graphic comics clash with the pastel-scarf-wearing, tea-sipping participants, making her ex the least of her problems. 
Cole MacDougall is blocked. His rise to the top of the modern art scene is crushed by a missing muse. He is desperate to paint again, but the canvas remains blank. Due to the shortage of patronage revenue, he is forced to put up with the groupie-students. Until he sees a woman standing out like a sore thumb in ripped jeans and a leather jacket. Lexi. Hope blooms that he can renew his passion through her. 
For two weeks, Lexi and Cole work together, discovering what they’ve lost professionally and personally. Will a magical Mortar & Pestle show them how to connect the broken lines and seal their destiny?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRYFR32D
​Link to Series https://www.amazon.com/Mortar-Pestle-6-book-series/dp/B0BS42PKHZ 

More about the Author
Ginny Frost
Writes contemporary romance with a sexy, funny kick. In her down time, she plays clerk at the local library—the perfect job to feed her reading addiction.
She lives in upstate NY with her very own kindhearted ogre, their two smart and sassy daughters and an evil cat named Flash.
www.ginnyfrost.com

*Note from D.
I want to give a shout out to Sydney Winward the creator of the entire series cover art. She did such a fabulous job and one of the most stated comments are "I love the covers."

​Trickster
by
Darlene Fredette

Can she heal the trickster before he breaks her heart?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS1PD9W2/

About the Book
Working for a top modeling agency is Jade Parsons’s dream job until her boss suffers a heart attack, and his son temporarily fills his position. Eric’s push-pull approach fuels her frustration. While anticipating the troublemaker’s imminent departure, Jade’s destiny is revealed through a magical mortar and pestle, leaving her heart tormented by whispers of a different fate.
World-renowned photographer Eric Martini returns home to restore his relationship with his estranged father, but wounds from the past haunt him. Enchanted by his father’s feisty assistant, he masks his heart and refuses to give in to desire. Convinced his destined future is already written in the stars—and doesn’t include Jade, Eric’s only choice is to walk away. 
Will Jade and Eric find the courage to trust the mythical and smokey signs before their paths are severed forever?

More about Darlene.
I write stories about falling in love and happy-ever-after. I grew up with my nose in a book and daydreaming. Writing stories is an escape and I can’t imagine a better way to spend my day.
The Artist In Me... The title of ‘artist’ is huge, and I’m not sure my work is deserving of the title, but my family definitely says it is. While I do many styles of art, my favourites are pencil drawings and paintings. Every week, I pencil sketch a new drawing for my daughter.
I have always loved painting, from ceramics to canvas painting, but I recently discovered fluid art painting and I love it!
http://darlenefredette.blogspot.com/

3 Times to Make Sure
by
Virginia'dele Smith

She’s always feared abandonment. Is she about to face it again or find happily ever after?

M’Kenzee Davenport knows love doesn’t last. So despite marrying her high school crush on a whim in Vegas, the gritty photojournalist never believed the union was real. But when her husband-in-name-only goes missing on a mission for the FBI, she’s stunned to receive his effects as next-of-kin.
Poring through his childhood journals, M’Kenzee discovers to her amazement that the handsome G-man has loved her forever. And with no news about his fate, the tormented loner worries he’s lost for good just as she discovers she doesn’t want to live without him.
Will M’Kenzee be reunited with the man of her dreams?
Three Times to Make Sure is the emotional third book in the Green Hills romance series. If you like endearing characters, family drama, and wholesome matches, then you’ll adore Virginia’dele Smith’s captivating story.
Buy Three Times to Make Sure to learn the heart’s buried truths today!
https://ashlimontgomery.com/products/three-times-to-make-sure
Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL257TFJ
Amazon affiliate link:  https://amzn.to/3Fybs16
Reedsy https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/three-times-to-make-sure-virginia-dele-smith#review

​What inspired this story?
What a treat to cozy up around the campfire with new friends! I love to chat, I love to share, and I love love stories.
My books take place in Green Hills, a fictitious small town that could exist just off the Indian Nation Turnpike in southeast Oklahoma. Hidden among lush green trees, Green Hills has mystical qualities of unity and encouragement. The community is designed and depicted how I wish the world would be: uplifting, supportive, helpful, and kind. There are all types of people in Green Hills, with all types of backgrounds and careers, and I look forward to sharing each of their stories for as long as the words keep flowing.
We are often advised to “write what you know,” so while I have a healthy, overactive, and dramatic imagination, I expect the fine folks of Green Hills will love many of the jobs and hobbies that I love: quilting, sewing, reading, writing, cooking, baking, book stores, libraries, tea rooms, hair salons, dress shops, boutiques, antique malls, crafts, fabric shops, home decor, architecture, real estate, teaching, and singing. There will be a lot of football, and other sports like baseball, dance, and yoga. There will be doctors and nurses, firefighters and EMTs. There will be police and mayors and civil servants.
There will be tragedy and loss. There will be challenges and struggles. There will be a theme of facing Alzheimer's disease and the fight to end it.
There will be love — heartfelt and wholesome love, sweet love, deep and emotional love. Lots and lots of love!
While these common threads will be woven within the stories, each one is unique and engaging on its own. Each one is an opportunity to escape to Green Hills for a few hours, visit friends, discover love, and enjoy a happy ending.
Welcome to Green Hills ~ I’m thrilled you’ve come to visit!

From the Author:
Heat level: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested. Some Material May Not Be Suitable for Children Think of movies like Narnia, LOTR, and National Treasure.) 

·    

About the Author
Ashli Montgomery is a wife, a momma, and an author whose passion is sharing love stories, books, quilts, yoga, recipes, and her favorite things in life. She is quilting to mend the mind by spearheading and educating a community of quilters through Quilt 2 End ALZ, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit she launched to use her quilting hobby as a platform to advocate for an end to Alzheimer's disease.
Ashli writes wholesome and heartfelt, small-town romance under the pen name Virginia’dele Smith to honor Syble Virginia Tidwell, Adele Gertrude Baylin, and Etta Jean Smith. These three cherished grandmothers were beautiful role models, teaching Ashli to love without judgment and to always put family first. Through Grandma Syble’s journals and appetite for books, through Momadele’s priceless cards and handwritten letters, and through many, many hours of visiting over fabric at Mema’s kitchen island, Ashli also learned to treasure words.
You are invited to join Ashli in Green Hills and learn more about Virginia’dele Smith and the many hats she enjoys wearing by subscribing to Ashli’s newsletter, The Gazette, at AshliMontgomery.com.

Find out more here
Author Website: https://ashlimontgomery.com
The Gazette Newsletter: eepurl.com/gJIDcv
Amazon Green Hills Series Page:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KQV6TFS
·      Welcome to Green Hills FB Group:www.facebook.com/groups/welcometogreenhills
·      Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/virginiadelesmith
·      Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/21962644.Virginia_dele_Smith
·      Amazon Series Page:  www.amazon.com/dp/B09KQV6TFS
·      BookBub   www.bookbub.com/profile/virginia-dele-smith
·       FB Page: www.facebook.com/AshliMontgomery.VirginiadeleSmith/
·      Instagram: www.instagram.com/ashlim.virginiadelesmith/
·      Twitter:  twitter.com/MeAndCoach
·      Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/ashlimontgomery/
·      Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/user/dy4m35uz51h4vasexqwy30e8g?si=0d9ba9c8948d49a4

Shirley! Welcome to the fire. It's been chilly in Florida so snuggle up. While I grab a few cups of warm and cozy why don't you introduce yourself.
Hi, I’m Shirley and I write datey books about middle-aged characters starting over. Once upon a time, I dated. A lot. When I got the idea to write about my dates, I’d excuse myself to go to the restroom, pull out my tiny notebook, and take notes. Middle Ageish, my first book, came out of my frustration with reading about online dating, rarely portrayed accurately in novels.

If you haven't read Shirley's other books and you need a laugh go grab one. Tell us a fun fact.
A silly factoid about me is I hitchhiked through England and Ireland with my best friend when I was nineteen. We got picked up by a woman and her dog in a Jaguar who put us up overnight in her barn. She offered us the guest room, but we wanted to sleep in the barn. 

Wow, you all fit in a Jag! Cuddling up with cattle or snuggling with sheep. I can picture this. I know you've been a globe trotter. Tell us about it.
I’d love to be able to tell readers about my secret life and where I gather material for stories. Alas, I’ve lived in Paris, Casablanca, and Crete, the largest Greek island, but no longer travel much. I’m a homebody. I love walking in the morning and bumping into bird neighbors. You never know who will turn up on the path, a pair of sandhill cranes  or a flock of egrets searching for wormy goodies in the grass. 

Birds are amazing! I love visiting aviaries. What else do you like to do?
One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is to find a great band and go dancing with my honey. I also volunteer at a local school in a reading program and participate twice a month with a long term writing group that gathers on Zoom. Once a month, we take turns hosting a pot luck dinner.
 
Let's chat a bit about writing. Is this your first time with a multi author group?
I’ve never written a series with other authors before the Mortar & Pestle. It has been a pleasure discovering the talents of the six other authors in our group. We started out as a social circle, trading marketing tips and publishing stories, and got the idea to write a series. What fun I had cooking up trouble for Dante, my energy vampire, and Sophie, his sweetie. And figuring out how the Mortar & Pestle would appear in the book and bring the two main characters together. 

What was the best thing about it?
The best thing about working with my author friends is the inspiration and help we shared, sometimes daily.

You know I'm going to ask about the worst thing?
Keeping up with technology and learning the apps, although it’s fun to create graphics. 

What about Revamped? It's a bit of a departure for you isn't it?
Revamped, my vampire comedy, turned out to be my way of climbing out of my writing comfort zone and trying a new genre. My fellow authors in the Mortar & Pestle group were talking smoke and magic, pirates and tricksters, selkies and artists reviving an old love affair, hot deep sea divers and a steamy Scotsman. I wanted to create an unfamiliar world, challenge myself. A bonus? My reading habits expanded to include genres I never before tried, from paranormal, to fantasy, to monster romance.

Tell us about the book. 
An energy vampire hungry for love meets the wisecracking woman of his parents’ nightmares. 

Vampire Dante Allegretti hates his sucky life. Born into a family of energy siphoners, he’s desperate to reinvent himself as a fun-loving normal guy rather than a crowdsourcing parasite. To stop the draining urges, Dante resorts to grinding alternative meds in an ancient Mortar & Pestle, not knowing it contains magical properties. 
Enter wisecracking thirty-year-old Sophie Arley, who lives with her clingy parents. Working three jobs and craving independence, she’s come back strong after a breakdown crashed her cozy world. So when the weird, hot guy she just met-cute asks Sophie to the movies, she agrees.
Sophie won’t spoil their magical connection by mentioning her heartbreak. And Dante dreads telling Sophie about his dark side. Will the power from the Mortar & Pestle guide them to their happily ever after despite the secrets and lies?

This is a not your normal vamp trope and I love that! What else can you share?
Since these are all romances, you can guess.

Spill, what comes afterward? 
Revamped with energy, the Mortar & Pestle materialize in Redford Falls. As smoke circles within the stone, orange flecks of glitter turn to green, strengthening its chosen path and setting its magic in the hands of a woman with eyes the colour of jadestones. She is the only one who has the gift to heal the man known as the trickster. Trickster, by Darlene Fredette, is the next book in the series. 
Grab our FREE Prequel with yummy samples from all 7 books and read for yourself: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3vhm7opc1r

Thanks, my friend for popping in and chatting. Keep reading for more about Shirley and the M&P series.​

​Shirley Goldberg
Is a writer, novelist, and former ESL and French teacher who’s lived in Paris, Crete, and Casablanca. She writes about men and women of a certain age starting over. Her website http://midagedating.com offers a humorous look at dating in mid-life, and her friends like to guess which stories are true. A Little Bit of Lust is her third book in the series Starting Over, although all her books are standalone. Shirley’s characters all believe you should never leave home without your sense of humor and she agrees. 
Shirley Goldberg.com

​Here's more from the M&P series
A wisp of smoke, a swirl of promise, a breath of destiny…a message within the Mortar & Pestle for those who want to believe.
Throughout time people have sought their heart’s desire. But true love is often elusive.
Carved with ancient Norse runes, the Mortar & Pestle shows paths to happily-ever-afters.
Once you capture the Mortar & Pestle’s scent of magic, you’ll want to read all seven individual romances
Selkie
By
Sydney Winward
No one has ever managed to capture a selkie. Until now…
Seeker
By
Jean M. Grant
Nock, draw, release. Her bow is always ready, and if her arrow hits its mark, she will secure her destined soulmate.
Quartermaster
By
Marilyn Barr
Can the love of a pirate heal the wounds inflicted by a gentleman?
Sea Hunter
By
D.V. Stone
On the turbulent high seas, an archeologist must protect a historic shipwreck from treasure hunters—not fall for one.
Trickster
By
Darlene Fredette
Can she heal the trickster before he breaks her heart?
Artist
By
Ginny Frost
Stuck at a retreat with her ex, Lexi is torn between reviving her art and rekindling an old romance.
​
Link to series https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS42PKHZ
Link to free sample of series https://dl.bookfunnel.com/b1ytv2r7nq

It's been a long time coming it seems. I hope you're as excited as I am. It's been about six years since I began my writing career and I've learned a lot. What are some of the things? 
Perseverance and patience are needed. Writing is a long process. People ask all the time. When is your book coming out? When it’s done to the best it can be has to be the answer. Sea Hunter began last year and it's taken a little over that year to get it into your hands.
Disappointment and rejection happen. We learn what we can from criticism and let the rest go. Each comment teaches me something about writing and myself. Could you imagine if everyone only heard how great they or something they do is? We'd never strive to be better. One of my bosses asked me once, "Can't you be satisfied?" I told her no, rather emphatically. I explained to her for me to be satisfied could lead to complacency and that's not a path I ever want to be on.
Editing is often frustrating and tedious. There is so much to learn/know. Sometimes painful decisions need to be made with parts of the story or character you love but need to change vastly or eliminate altogether. In a rush of emotion, words pour over the page, often in an unruly fashion. Cohesion and logic take a back seat to growth. Editors, critique partners and beta readers are your nurses who hand you the editing scalpel. I'm working on a book right now and boy oh boy this puppy is getting a face lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction.
Writer’s Block can happen, and here are a couple of tricks I’ve used.
Go to the end of your book. Do you know where you want the characters to end up? For instance, in a romance, it’s usually with a happily ever after. Then work backward. What steps do your characters need to take to get there? For instance Zahra needs to get past her fear of returning to the water. How can I get her there? 
Take care of yourself. I’m guilty of staying at my desk for long periods. Several times I got pins and needles in my fingers. Not good. Focus is essential, but so is life. Ge up and take a short walk. Make time. A brisk ten-minute walk around the block can clear cobwebs. Go out with your significant other or friends. If you’re not living life, how can you write about it? 
Thank you all for sticking with me. I appreciate you taking the time to visit my blog, read my books, and for all the little notes I get. 

Sea Hunter
By
D.V. Stone
On the turbulent high seas, an archeologist must protect a historic shipwreck from treasure hunters—not fall for one.
Zahra Corbyn
As the professor of antiquities, nothing snaps my cap more than treasure hunters and looters. They smash and grab and then are gone with the wind. And there are two after Sea Wraith. But fate is a funny thing. Thanks to an ancient Mortar & Pestle, not only am I in cahoots with one of them but he’s also fired up my heart, turning me into a khaki-wacky.
Captain Jack Alexander
I’ve been told women on a ship are unlucky, but this dame has the two pieces of the map I need to finally claim Sea Wraith. Now, I find myself in a lousy deal that makes me one-third partner with her and a known scalawag. It’s either that or bupkis. After all these years of chasing down my dream of finding the shipwreck, my obsession is cooling off and heating up toward a bird who’s way above my pay grade.
Can the two unlikely allies work together while safeguarding their hearts against the power of the Mortar & Pestle?
If you like Lara Croft and Indiana Jones, you’ll love Zahra Corbyn and Jack Alexander.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRYJLLW1

​Sea Hunter: A Paranormal, Action Adventure, Romance on the High Seas
Release Date 3/16/23
Independent publication
Part of the Mortar and Pestle series
​Cover Design Sydney Winward
ASIN B0BRYJLLW1
Pages 159
Purchase link Sea Hunter        https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRYJLLW1
Link to series                             https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS42PKHZ
Link to Free Sample of series  https://dl.bookfunnel.com/b1ytv2r7nq
Link to series trailer                            https://youtu.be/juQwaRm4aEw
 
A wisp of smoke, a swirl of promise, a breath of destiny…a message within the Mortar & Pestle for those who want to believe. Throughout time people have sought their heart’s desire. But true love is often elusive. Carved with ancient Norse runes, the Mortar & Pestle shows paths to happily-ever-afters. Once you capture the Mortar & Pestle’s scent of magic, you’ll want to read all seven individual romances.

Welcome to Around the Fire. I hope you've been enjoying the variety of guests and their books. Before we get to today's lovely author I'd like to take a moment to tell you about Sea Hunter. My historical, action, adventure, paranormal, romantic, novella, (can I get anymore tropes into one book?) releases tomorrow. In the way of birthdays I'd like to give a free e-copy of Sea Hunter to a random name drawn from commenters to this post. Sorry USA only unfortunately. And come back tomorrow because I have a short blog post too. So without further ado please help me welcome today author Mary Cunningham who also has a new release.

Hi Mary, Welcome to the fire. I hear you are a coffee person, so while I grab a cuppa for us, please introduce yourself.
 Coffee! I must have three cups and a latte in the morning to function like a semi-normal human being the rest of the day. I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, grandmother, and a dog lover. Our sweet rescue dog, Lucy, crossed the Rainbow Bridge last summer, and I’m lost without her.
I’m fiercely loyal and don’t tolerate injustice or lying. I’m also pretty easy-going unless you rile me. Then, “Katie, bar the door!”
 
Oh, I’m so sorry. Losing a beloved pet is so hard. You have quite a few published works that must take up a lot of time, but what interests do you enjoy? 
I enjoy golf in the spring through the fall, but not enough to play when the temperature dips below 60◦. I enjoy water aerobics in the summer and walking on beautiful West Georgia mountain trails. I also love watching college sports; especially my Indiana Hoosiers basketball teams (men and women). The first week of March Madness is one of my favorite times of the year.
 
My DH has been promising me for years to teach me golf. Maybe now that he’s semi-retired, we’ll find the time. Speaking of Peter, he’s my biggest supporter. Tell us, who is your network or support system?
I belong to a great writers’ group, The Carrollton (GA) Writers Guild, where you can’t be thin-skinned when asking for critiques. My husband is my biggest fan and toughest critic. When writer’s block hits, he usually comes up with an idea or storyline that moves me forward. 
 
It’s such a blessing to have a partner who understands and is supportive. Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
Wish you hadn’t asked that! I have too many to fit in one answer. Hank Philippi Ryan has been an inspiration for over a decade. I can’t remember a time when she hasn’t been there to answer a question or give advice. The same for author Jaden Terrell, an excellent writer, and editor. I’m in awe of multiple-series authors Lucy Burdette (Roberta Isleib), Nancy Cohen, Karen MacInerney, Carolyn Haines, and Regan Black. I hate to stop there because there are so many more amazing, prolific writers in my genre and others. 
 
I know Jaden Terrell! She is amazing. Do you have any fun or outrageous talent?
My brain stashes sports trivia, especially basketball. If my husband and his friends are stuck on a name, team, or year of a specific sporting event, he’ll say, “Let me call Mary. She’ll probably know.” And I usually do.
 
Right now I live in a campground. We'll be back home in NJ next month. What is your neighborhood like? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them unique?
 We live on a cul-de-sac, so it’s generally quiet on our street. We also have the most wonderful neighbors we could ask for. Generous and kind. Always willing to help when needed.
As to places we frequent? Sprinkles Doughnuts is much too close for our waistlines.
 
 What is your favorite T-shirt with a graphic or Meme?
Oh, this is an easy one. I saw a shirt in Sanibel, Florida, with this: “I live in my own little world, but that’s okay, they know me here.” It’s been my motto ever since.
 
I love it! How about your favorite childhood book? Or writing that inspired you to become an author.
Besides sports biographies, I enjoyed Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.
The person who inspired me to write, however, was my dad. He was a journalist for the Louisville Courier Journal for 40 + years. In his later days, he wrote a human interest column, and I’d sometimes go with him when he interviewed a subject for a story. To watch him go from a tape recording (back in the 70s) to pecking out the story on his old Royal typewriter, to being published in the paper, was motivating.
 
If you could time travel, where would you go and when? Why?
One of my favorite books was The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells. I’ve always been fascinated with time travel and wished many times I could go to the past during some history-making event. I’d love to travel to the time of the Incas in South America or the Aztecs in Mexico. Or maybe watch Stonehenge being constructed, although that could take decades or centuries!
 
What ridiculous thing has someone tricked you into doing or believing?
When I was around eight years old, I stayed all night with my best friend. We switched rooms with her brother and slept in his bunk beds. I was in the top bunk with an electric blanket draped over me. Since I’d never seen one before, I believed him when he warned, “Don’t dare move during the night or you’ll catch on fire.”
 
Boys are so mean. LOL. Now, about writing, how do you select the names of your characters?
I use some names from my family tree. Especially if that particular ancestor had an unusual story passed down through the generations. I sometimes let the characters name themselves. Many times their personalities and dialogue will dictate their names. Ruby, Andi Anna’s annoying ex-stepmother, was obvious. How could she be anything but “Ruby”?
 
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
The first book I wrote, twenty years ago, was a children’s chapter book called Cynthia’s Attic: The Missing Locket. I sent it to several publishers and kept getting rejections.
Finally, one editor had the courtesy to write a few notes on the manuscript. “The story is very good, but you have too much telling, not enough showing.”
Puzzled by that comment, I did research and realized the problem. I spent the next six months revising and was accepted by the next publisher I queried. I still credit that editor with Pelican Press with giving me the tools to be able to write and get published.
 
As writers, we are so appreciative when someone gives constructive advice. I’m so glad she/he did. Mary, thanks for hanging around the fire with me today. Before you head off to the donut shop, please tell us about your newest book and where we can find out about it and you.

Sazerac, Sleuth & Slay
by 
Mary Cunningham
A cozy mystery​
 
It’s gonna be a great day! Or, so she thought.

Andi Anna Jones, so-so travel agent, amateur sleuth, doesn’t suspect her least favorite client, Stewart (The Pain) Payne, will set off circumstances that lead to disappearance and death.
After his wife is a no-show for a convention in New Orleans, his threat to sue Graves Travel for “ten times more than it’s worth”, and Andi’s wish to honor one of her late dad's requests, leads her to The Big Easy in search of Grace Payne.
Five unsolved murders, a body caught in a crawfish cage, and a mysterious candle, magic, and incense shop, takes Andi deep into the bayou on a hunt for clues.
Will another victim be added to a serial killer’s list, or is the main suspect closer to Andi than she thinks?
Grab a copy today
Amazon: Sazerac, Sleuth & Slay (An Andi Anna Jones Mystery Book 2) - Kindle edition by Cunningham, Mary. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Barnes & Noble: Sazerac, Sleuth & Slay by Mary Cunningham | eBook | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

What others are saying
"Loved this book! The characters are funny and very likeable. The story is very good. Definitely want to read more from this author!" 

"The story has twists, turns, wonderful local New Orleans local color, and some surprises for everyone. I would recommend this book to anyone who wished to get lost in a fun cozy murder mystery. I look forward to reading more books by Mary Cunningham with this lead character."

More about the Author
I grew up on the northern side of the Ohio River in Corydon, Indiana. My first memories are my dad’s original bedtime stories that no doubt inspired my active imagination and love of a well-spun “yarn”.
Childhood experiences, and a recurring dream about a mysterious attic, inspired characters, Cynthia and Augusta Lee, for award-winning middle-grade series, Cynthia’s Attic.
Through a horrifying stint as a travel agent and more rewarding experience teaching travel and tourism, Andi Anna Jones, travel agent/amateur sleuth, sprang to life. Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder will be published by The Wild Rose Press in 2021. Book 2, Sazerac, Sleuth & Slay is in process. 
I’m also writing another middle-grade series, The Adventures of Max and Maddie, an adult mystery, For the Life of Claire, and the biography of an army brat who evolved into a star college and professional basketball player. 

Follow Mary here
Website: http://www.marycunninghambooks.com
Facebook (17) Mary Cunningham | Facebook
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MaryCunningham
Amazon Author Page: Amazon.com: Mary Cunningham: books, biography, latest update
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/author/show/367223.Mary_Cunningham
Instagram: Author Mary Cunningham (@marycunningham2604) • Instagram photos and videos

Welcome to the fire Marilyn. While I grab some pirates grog for us, why don't you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you. How long have you been writing? 
I started writing in 2018. I used to write books to be printed at our local office supply store, so my friends could read them after their homeschooled kids went to bed. We would meet for drinks and an informal book club to giggle over the dirty bits once a month. When the pandemic canceled my husband’s business travels, he found out about my “playing author.” Within his first 24 hours at home, I had a website, business cards, manuscript queries sent, and a membership to the Kentuckian romance writers. 

Wow not just supportive but a git'er dun kinda guy. I know you write in a number of genres and I'm a fan of your Wylder series. 
I may bounce from pirates to cowboys to scientists to monsters, but all my books are paranormal.
They say you must write what you know, and my life is too strange to write anything else.

Lol! I've read you Vampire/Pirate stories. So tell us about your book that releases today. 
Quartermaster is a paranormal pirate romance and a spin-off from the Walk the Walk series. Branko
and his vampiress may be living their HEA as landlubbers but Patricia’s Wish sails on with Captain Teeth
at the helm and Chub returning as Quartermaster. It’s 1725 and most of the pirates have taken pardons
from the Spanish or English government. Teeth and Chub are on the hunt for treasure—not gold, but
love. The sidekicks are ready to become heroes.

What is it that you drove you to writing about pirates?
I’m a homeschooling mom. I needed to teach the foundations of democracy to my then-10-year-old.
From Hammurabi’s code in ancient Mesopotamia to the pirate parlay code, I found democracy was found
in more places than in ancient Greece and the colonial USA. In fact, women and people of color had
equal rights on the sea, but not on land in colonial America. I fell in love with the governing systems of
what I always thought were “lawless scoundrels.” Every job aboard was a voted position from Captain to
poop deck scrubber, and each person holding those positions had an equal vote. Pirate Captains were
slave liberators and portrayed by villains because the ones losing money are the same men writing the
history. The truth is buried in the shipping logs from the port masters and merchant boat Captains. I was
fascinated!

Like I said, I read your  vamp/pirate books. I've learned a lot about pirates and their life from your work. How much research was involved? Did you stay on point or were you tantalized and went off on rabbit trails?
Quartermaster comes from a love of psychological warfare in the records of 1700s piracy. In the
movies, pirates are portrayed as brainless sword-slashers when historically, they hardly ever boarded
another vessel. They depended on their reputations to scare their opponents—easy when the general
population was superstitious. I fell in love with the tales of Sam Bellamy taking the Whydah by making a
pretend ghost ship, Blackbeard braiding firecrackers into his beard to appear possessed, and the rest of
the shenanigans of the 4 years called the Golden Age of Pirates. While I wrote about this time period in
the Walk the Walk series, Quartermaster takes place in 1725. Most of the pirates had taken pardons and
retired from the sweet trade to a landlubbing life of agriculture or crime. I wondered what would happen if
a boat refused to retire. They would be hated by the Spanish, English, and colonial Americans…
 
Quarter-Master is a long novella, how long did you take to write the book?
I wrote Quartermaster in a month. I was already half in love with Chub from his role in my other book
series. I knew I wanted him to represent tough men who weren’t tall, dark, and classically handsome
gentlemen. Chub is a 5 foot 5 inches tall, freckled, red-headed pirate with more brains than manners.
What he brings to the table is a patient disposition, a talent for teaching, and a huge heart. He teaches
the young crew how to sail, the Captain to read, and his lady love to trust again. I wanted his HEA so
badly, the story wrote itself.

Marilyn Barr
I have a diverse background containing experiences as a child prodigy turned medical school reject, published microbiologist, special education/inclusion science teacher, homeschool mother of a savant and advocate for the autistic community. This puts me in the position to bring tales containing heroes who are regular people with different ability levels and body types, in a light where they are powerful, lovable, and appreciated.
I currently reside in the wilds of Kentucky with my husband and son. When I’m engaging with the real world, I’m collecting characters, empty coffee cups, and unused homeschool curricula. I love to read paranormal romance as much as I love to write it. Connect with me on Goodreads to find out what I am reading.
https://www.marilynbarr.com/
​https://www.tiktok.com/@marilyn_barr_author
https://www.instagram.com/marilyn_barr_author/
http://fb.me/MarilynBarrAuthor
https://twitter.com/author_barr

​The Return of the Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea Series
The Lady and the Barrister – Book 1
By
Ruth A. Casie
​
She swore she’d help him find his soul mate. Will she realize he already has?

Lady Anna Ravencroft shines brightly as a much-admired organizer and hostess. In her mind it is the one thing at which she succeeds. Inwardly she is shy, retiring… a wallflower. With two seasons that ended in disaster she has accepted marriage might not be in her future.

Lord Fraser Castleton, a London barrister is shocked when he inherits a title and estate from his mother’s
great aunt and becomes the 8 th Duke of Willbury. He returns to Sommer-by-the-Sea to take up permanent
residence. He crosses paths with his longtime friend, Lady Anna. He confides that he is the target of every mother with an unmarried daughter. She commiserates with him. Every eligible gentleman sees the Ravencroft purse rather than her. Together they decide to find a mate for each other. Anna presents him with a list of several eligible women. Castleton is receptive, but not enthusiastic. He gives her the same reaction with the  subsequent two lists. Will she realize he has already found his match?

Reginald Younge who doesn’t always play by the rules wants to be the next Member of Parliament for his borough. His political backer will support him if Younge can finance the campaign himself. He suggests Younge find a wealthy wife to support his political plans. Marrying a Ravencroft would all but guarantee not only his backer’s continued support but provide the steady stream of money needed to claim his place amongst the gentry. He calls on Lady Anna for assistance for a campaign event and has an ulterior motive. With two men vying for her hand, who will she choose? The smooth politician or the down to earth barrister turned duke?
Heat Rating PG
Release Date – April 11, 2023
Pre Order
www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSG2GMH9

About the author

Storyteller  -  Blogger  -  Dreamer  - Creative Thinker - Good Sport  -  Teammate
You might be wondering what I’m about. Sit back and let me tell you.
I’m happiest when I’m telling stories either chatting with a group of friends or writing them down. I love to put my hero and heroine in tough situations and dare them to work it out—together, always together. They haven’t disappointed me.  Oh, they complain but in the end their love and relationships are stronger than ever.
I’ve been filling up my days and staying busy. While I keep tormenting my druid knight, I’m outlining a new series. The working title is the River of Time. It’s about an elite technology security officer, whose job is to eliminate time travelers, but he falls in love with a time traveling art appraiser and has to choose between his duty and his one chance for a timeless love. I love this story line because it lets me stretch my contemporary voice while working in historic time periods. I think this is the best of both worlds.
Social Media Links
Newsletter Sign Up: bit.ly/RuthsNewsletterSignUp
Website: ruthacasie.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RuthACasie/
Twitter: twitter.com/RuthACasie
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Ruth-A-Casie
Pinterest: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthacasie/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ruthacasie

Hi, Jean. Welcome to Around the Fire. Congratulations on your book birthday! While I muster up some coffee for us, why don’t you introduce yourself? Who is Jean M. Grant? 
I’m Jean – travel and nature lover, avid gardener, baker, former scientist, champion for my kids, oh, and an author. I write romance and women’s fiction, as well as freelance work on experiencing the outdoors with kids. If I was stranded on a deserted island, I would need (beside the usual must-haves) chapstick, coffee, and Dwayne the Rock Johnson. Hey, you asked.

So you’re not busy at all, then, lol. And The Rock, huh? I can see the appeal. So tell us a bit more about your gardening. I used to be a big gardener. Nothing like digging into rich soil and getting your hands dirty. I usually did it to classical music. 
I am obsessed with flower and veggie gardens. I already bought my veggie and flower seeds for this spring. It’s a great physical activity (all those garden beds and flower beds!), gets me outside, is beautiful (ahh, lilies and phlox!), and rewarding to nurture something from seed or bulb to a plant. Oh, and you get to eat all those veggies. I have gigantic raspberry bushes and a few apple trees, too. I also love to bake sweets. And walking is my jam – I get out a few times a week (and hike, too) – while listening to audiobooks. 

Who is your network or support system? This would be any groups/authors/friends/family who contributes to your writing career. 
I have a few writer’s groups on Zoom that started via Twitter (#5amwritersclub is one) through WFWA, locally, and publisher.

Ugh! Five A.M. not my favorite hour of the day. Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
I’ve always loved and admired Diana Gabaldon. Some of my newer favorites include: Amy Harmon, Kristin Higgins, Susan Wiggs, Christina Lauren, and a few others.

What is your neighborhood like? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special? 
I live in an area with farms and the suburbs of central Ma. I love to visit my small-town coffee shop, walk through the historical cemetery, and walk on the rail trail. The icicles are especially cool in winter! We have a ski mountain nearby and my kids frequent it regularly! (I write in the lodge…my writing is always with me)
 
Your latest release is Seeker. It’s part of the Mortar & Pestle Series. Have you written in cooperation with other authors before?
This was my first time! And it was a great experience. Nothing like the horrible group assignments my son is dealing with in high school…

What drew you to this project? 
I loved the idea of a central theme (the mortar and pestle), a bit of magic, the novella-length (they are always fun to write!), and that we have a great group of talented authors.

What’s the best thing about writing with other authors?
Support and communication.

Yep, I'm going there. What’s the worst thing about it?
Imposter syndrome and perhaps agreeing on a few decisions, but really, it was not a bad experience at all. Unlike group projects in high school (shiver…!)

Was there a particular inspiration for your book in this series?
The series idea came about from chatting with some fellow authors. We came up with this idea of a magical mortar and pestle that transcends time, and it works as a matchmaker of sorts. I happened to have a mortar and pestle in one of my historical books. And as it usually goes as an author, we fall in love with our secondary characters. So…Seeker came about from two minor characters in another one of my books in my historical trilogy (A Hundred Lies). I wondered: Wouldn’t Aileana (the spunky sister of the hero; she is adventurous and a very non-typical noblewoman of a magical family) and Brodie (a reserved, beta-hero who has a medical condition that prevents him from being war chieftain) make a great story of their own? I loved weaving the two stories together so if readers have read the trilogy (each are standalone), they will be pleased to see the overlap in Seeker! Seeker, of course, can also be read as a standalone. A lovely bonus is that the book before mine in the series, Selkie, is about the Norse and my Scottish clan has Norse roots (see the first book in my trilogy – A Hundred Breaths), so that connection is also awesome!

So, Selkie was the first book in the series. Seeker is second. Can you tell us a bit about the next book in the series?
The Scottish Highlands are quiet with the union of the Montgomeries and MacDougalls…for now… So the Mortar & Pestle sails the high seas in search of a couple in need of their heart’s desire until it lands on the island of Trinidad in 1725. Catalina Pintarro is a little lady with a big secret and even bigger enemies. It will take a pirate to heal the wounds inflicted by a gentleman…and the Mortar & Pestle knows just the Quartermaster…

Seeker: A Scottish Medieval Enemies to Lovers Romance ​
​by
Jean M. Grant

Nock, draw, release. Her bow is always ready, and if her arrow hits its mark, she will secure her destined soulmate. 
 
Aileana Montgomerie’s bloodline holds valuable gifts of foresight and healing, but with each honor comes a curse. Even though she is descended from the mystical isles’ folk, she lacks the ability of the Scottish Ancients and wonders if she belongs in a magical family. Aileana just wants a purpose. What good is her bow and arrow if she is denied the right to fight for her clan?
Brodie MacDougall is ordained to be the next war chieftain of his clan. The title is a privilege as long as his brother, the future laird, doesn’t expect him to lift a sword and charge into battle. Chronic pain and nervous vapors force him to spend his days alone. Can his strategic skills keep him one step ahead of his conspiring brother?
Through a magical Mortar & Pestle, Brodie finds his heart’s desire. But there’s a catch. The seat on his brother’s council is no longer dependent upon his health…but on Aileana’s strength. With rumblings of unrest among their clans, will their love foster an alliance or be a step toward war?
www.amazon.com/Seeker-Scottish-Medieval-Enemies-Romance-ebook/dp/B0BRYS2JXY
Link to series                             https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS42PKHZ
Link to Free Sample of series  https://dl.bookfunnel.com/b1ytv2r7nq
Link to Trailer                            https://youtu.be/juQwaRm4aEw 

About the Author
Jean has a penchant for misunderstood creatures, be it sharks, microbes, or wounded characters. A scientist by training, she now spends her days as an author and champion for her children. She writes historical and contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Two of her books won InD’tale RONE awards.
A nature enthusiast, Jean also writes for family-oriented travel magazines and websites. When not writing, she enjoys gardening, tackling the biggest mountains in New England, and going on adventures near and far with her family. If she were stuck on a desert island, her three essentials (besides family, food, water, and shelter) would be coffee, lip balm, and the Rock Dwayne Johnson.
Grab your copy today

https://www.jeanmgrant.com/
​: Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~