THE JUNE ISSUE

Welcome to the fourth issue.  While I continue to write the occasional blog posts, this newsletter provides information about multiple topics. This month I’ll talk about subplots, news about the release of my latest story, along with another author interview and music. Let’s Roll With It!

WRITING

Think about any novel, television series or movie and you’ll probably be able to identify at least two stories lines happening simultaneously. Sometimes they can take up a significant part of the story. There can be a correlation between the main theme, or it could just be something to flesh out more about the character.

For example, in “Fleeing Beauty” the third novel in the Jamie Richmond series, Jamie is learning more about her late father, who passed away when she was only seven years old. Now, more than twenty years later, she has a chance to get a better understanding of him as a person and perhaps, of herself. At the same time, Ian, a teenager who is a friend of hers and Malone’s is still coming to terms with the loss of his own father a year ago.

While the main element of the story centers around the discovery of her father’s artwork and a subsequent robbery, this subplot shines a light on Jamie’s upbringing and helps shape her character.

In “Your Turn to Die” the second Jefferson Chene novel, he tells his girlfriend Simone about his failed attempt to drown a nun during a boat ride as a teenager.  This shows that Chene isn’t perfect and even has a lighter side, which can offset his serious demeanor as a police detective.

If you’re curious, the tale about attempting to drown a nun is true. It’s one I’ve shared with friends over the years.  You’ll have to read the book to see how it all came together.

THE RELEASE

Things are moving quickly now and I’ve learned that “Don’t Mess With the Gods” my collaboration with Elle Nina Castle, will be part of the anthology “Magic and Mischief”.   With luck this collection will be available for pre-order by the end of June. It should be released in August.   Stay tuned for further updates.  In the July issue, you'll get a chance to learn more about the intriguing Ms. Castle.

                                    AUTHOR INTERVIEW

This month's guest is K J Holliday.

Where are you from?  I'm originally from southern Oregon, but I'm currently living north of Seattle. I love the Pacific Northwest.

What’s your ‘someday’ or dream vacation spot and why? I love traveling and try my best to go to at least four new places a year. I've hit a lot of my major dream vacation spots, but I would love to check out Peru or Thailand next.

What’s your favorite thing to do for relaxation? Meditating and listening to classical music.

How long have you been writing? I've been writing for as long as I can remember. I know that's a cliché’, but it's true. When I was little I would write songs, that turned into poetry. At thirteen I started writing short stories, and now am actively publishing novels.

Are you able to write full time or do you also have a job/career? I am still a relatively new author, so unfortunately I'm still working my full time job. My hope is that as I continue to write and publish that will change. I have two books being published with Inkspell publishing next year, a sequel in the works that I hope will be picked up, and one I'm shopping for literary representation.

Is there a particular genre that you write?  Or more than one?  What led you to there? I write all types of genres. Primarily I write stories that have a heavy romantic theme, because it’s what I primarily read when I was younger. But I also am extremely drawn to Women's Fiction, and anything with a supernatural element. I'd live to write a sci-fi novel in the future!

Do you use friends or family as characters in your work? Sometimes I borrow elements from people I know, but I don't have any characters that are dead ringers for someone I know.

Has anyone in your life influenced you or encouraged you to pursue your interests of writing? (teacher, family member, friends). My friends and critique partners (affectionately nicknamed the Mouse House because we're all big Disney fans) have been the reason I've come as far as I have. They've selflessly listened to my ideas, brainstormed, and helped edit my work. I wouldn't be half the writer I am without them.

What is your favorite aspect or writing? Your least favorite?  That's a hard one. I think my favorite part of writing is the brainstorming stage. I love jotting stuff down and letting my ideas come to life. My least favorite part of writing has to be the endless editing.

What aspect of writing would you most like to improve on?  I always am trying to improve my writing, but sometimes it's hard to figure out exactly what I need to work on without constructive feedback. The biggest thing I've been working on lately is consistency.

Is there a common theme or item that appears in each of your work?  Romance.
 

What have you learned the most from being in the writing business? Trials and tribulations, as weird as it sounds. Every new day as an author comes with new information. I always feel like I'm the wrong side of the learning curve. It's an exciting ride, and I can't wait to find out what's next.

Tell us about your latest work: (blurb, excerpt, cover) My latest work is a short story that is being published in the Scarlet Leaf Review. It's a Young Adult short story about a little girl and her imaginary friend that is being released in three parts.

How did you decide on your story plot?  

I was given the idea as a prompt in a writing group, and the idea just became its own animal. It's so unique and encompasses so much of the genres I enjoy. I'm really excited about where the story is going.

Describe how this method works best for you. Outline or ‘seat of the pants’?  A little of both. It depends on my mood to be honest. As I grow as a writer I definitely am more consistently going the outline route.

Do you have a favorite scene you’ve written? What makes it special? 

I think all of Imaginary is very special to me.

You can check it out in the May 2020 issue of www.scarketleafreview.com or on Amazon https://www.amazon.com//dp/B0877BF9TT

The first part of the Paranormal YA short story series.

Jason Turner was brought to Katie O’Connell when they were both five years old. He isn’t told much that day, only that he is meant to be her constant companion, her protector, and her imaginary friend. Without a doubt, he takes his job seriously, and for years they were the best of friends. Time trickles by, and the real world threatens to tear them apart with every day that passes. As she begins to forget him, he begins to fade. Can fate, loneliness, and a mysterious place called the ‘Otherside’ really keep them apart? Or will a bond unlike any other overcome all odds?

You can follow my stories and progress on my website or instagram:

Www.instagram.com/kj.holliday

http://kjholliday.com/

A footnote here: I discovered KJ , who is a little camera shy, is also a “Princess Bride” fanatic and can quote lines from the movie. She even claims to have a Princess Bride tattoo!  Inconceivable! Now that’s what I call dedication!

MUSIC

A little shift this month from the Motown files. As one who can’t work in silence, I’ll often have one of the streaming music channels playing for some variety. Lately I’ve been hearing a lot of Steve Winwood.

So here’s my top 5 favorites

Roll With It:  https://youtu.be/u_vkKozA8OI

Gimme Some Lovin’: https://youtu.be/BuQ3PaFyb9A

Back in the High Life: https://youtu.be/Adw772km7PQ

Higher Love: https://youtu.be/k9olaIio3l8

Can’t Find My Way Home: https://youtu.be/OU6iplEflzs

Now Showing

A week ago I had the opportunity to participate in a Zoom video conference as part of the Virtual Book Festival.  It was a gathering of several authors where I was in the spotlight. This was a great deal of fun and we shared a lot of laughs.

I talked about naming characters and how Jefferson Chene came to be. We discussed outlines and my refusal to use them. I had the chance to share details about all five of my novels, along with the short story (novella) “Stealing Haven” which is part of the “Once Upon A Summer” collection through Inkspell Publishing.

One author asked about doing research and if I had a memorable experience. I explained about an interview with Holly, a young lady I knew who was a fitness instructor. She described many different programs, but her favorite was teaching...pole dancing classes. As a form of exercise. The one instruction she gave her students was related to the fact that everyone will end up on the floor. "The key", Holly said, "was to Get Up Sexy!"   Of course, that ended up in "Vanishing Act". 

Diana, the host of the show, then asked about my latest project. I described “Don’t Mess With the Gods” which is due to be released later this summer (perhaps August) as part of an anthology through Inkspell. What really got the attention of Diana and the others was the one-two punch.  One, this was a paranormal/romance story, which is a genre I’ve never tried before and Two, this was co-written with Elle Nina Castle.  The group was intrigued by the project, especially since Ms. Castle and I collaborated on this entire novella without ever meeting.

You can see the entire interview on Youtube. Just click the link here.

https://youtu.be/d8_mUXI2AFw

In concert with the Book Festival, which will run the month of June, “Devious” the first novel in the Jamie Richmond series, is on sale for just 99 cents. That’s right. You can get an e-book version of this mystery/romance for less than a buck.

Here’s an excerpt from the story.  In this scene, Jamie is riding along with Kleinschmidt (Smitty), a state trooper, to get research on a character for her next book. That’s when things go sideways.

Suddenly, I saw a flash of light and heard a muffled bang. Smitty pitched onto his back, his right hand clawing feebly at his holster as a loud roar reached my ears. The door of the truck was still open, a brown arm extended beyond the edge of the spotlight. A gun was clutched in the gloved hand. I watched in horror as the trigger was pulled back for another shot.

Everything that happened next must have been instinct. Or maybe it was merely a reaction. Or dumb luck. Or the Force. Yeah, maybe it was the Force. I don’t think I’ll ever know for sure.

I reached across and pounded on the horn with one hand, flipping the buttons Smitty had used to activate the siren with the other. The sudden noise startled the driver.  His arm jerked back into the cab and the door slammed. Spraying stones and dust behind, the truck lurched onto the road and raced away.

Fumbling the microphone off the dash, I thumbed the button. "Kleinschmidt has been shot! Send an ambulance!" I dropped the microphone and managed to get my door open. The frame around the window clipped my forehead and knocked me back a step.

I'd forgotten to turn off the siren and its wail was splitting my eardrums. “Idiot,” I muttered, “stay calm.”  This was easier to say than it ever was to do.

Reaching back inside, I switched the siren off then rushed around to the front of the car.  Smitty was lying on his back on the edge of the road. Blood soaked the gravel beneath him. His eyes were closed, but I could see his chest moving.

I dropped to my knees beside him. "You're going to be okay, Smitty. I called for help."

"Shot by a dog," he whispered. Kleinschmidt opened his eyes weakly. "First aid kit in the trunk. Stop the bleeding." His voice was fading so fast I had to press my ear above his mouth. I got a whiff of grilled onions.

What if the truck came back?  What if they were waiting right now, just beyond the reach of the spotlight, waiting for me to get close so they could kill Smitty? And kill the witness too? I cringed. They wouldn’t need to shoot us, just drive right over us with that truck. My imagination was running away with possibilities.

With a shake of my head, I chased such thoughts away. I ran back to the car. I dropped the keys three times after getting them out of the ignition before finally jamming the right one into the trunk lock. There was a white metal box with a red cross on it.  I lugged it back to Smitty and knelt beside him. Where the hell was that ambulance?

There were latex gloves inside the kit on top of all the equipment. I pulled them on and rummaged through the contents. I found some large sterile gauze pads and some medical tape. Somehow I managed to crudely tape the gauze to each side of his shoulder. The bullet had entered through a small hole just beneath the collarbone on his right side. The exit wound looked bigger than a golf ball.

"You're going to be all right, Smitty." I don't know if I said this for his benefit or mine.

He groaned and closed his eyes again.

I didn’t know what else to do. I’d called for help. I’d patched him up. There was no way I could move him. But I didn’t think I was supposed to anyway. I thought he was still breathing, but I wasn’t sure.  Closed eyes meant death. I was sure of it.

I rocked forward and slapped his cheek. Hard. "Don't you die on me!" I screamed.

His eyes fluttered open.

My limited medical knowledge flashed through my mind—coma, shock, heart attack, trauma, tonsillitis. I had no idea what else to do for him. Where were the professionals? They should have been here already!

My eyes kept flicking from Smitty’s face, to his wound, to the direction the truck had taken. Suddenly I heard the sound of a siren. Then another joined in. I swiveled my head, trying to find them. Another groan escaped Smitty’s lips. My eyes searched his body for signs of life. I thought it was too late.

The siren sounded close now. I glanced up as the ambulance and another patrol car arrived.

"What the hell took you guys so long?" I shouted as they rushed to us. The paramedics rudely pushed me aside and bent over Smitty. I was about to kick one guy squarely in the ass when someone grabbed me from behind and lifted me off the ground. I was carried back to Smitty's car, struggling all the way. Finally, they sat me down on the hood.  My eyes focused and I recognized Sergeant Malone.

"Relax, Jamie. Let the paramedics do their job."

I was exasperated. How could he be so calm when one of his own men lay there wounded?  "He could be dead by now, Malone. He's been lying there bleeding for over an hour."    

"It hasn't been an hour. It's only been three minutes." Malone tried to smile but it never reached his eyes.

"Three minutes?"

"Three minutes. Your call came in two minutes after Smitty radioed in his position. His report was logged in at ten-fourteen. Your call was at ten-sixteen. It's now ten-nineteen."

"Three minutes?" I repeated.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Y9XMHC

https://books.apple.com/us/book/devious/id1059428211

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/devious-8

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/devious-mark-love/1114977114?ean=2940157874810

June is also AudioBook Month.  

Both of the Jefferson Chene novels are available on Audible. Here are those links.

“Why 319?”

https://www.audible.com/pd/B077SMHSMJ

“Your Turn to Die”

https://www.audible.com/pd/Your-Turn-to-Die-Audiobook/B07PYYZKDJ

 Music this week comes from John Mellencamp

https://youtu.be/wsEwK69LXjQ

Virtual Book Festival

June. 

At last the sixth month of the year has arrived. It seems like June has gotten lost along the way, meandering this way and that, becoming elusive. For the last few years, June has always signaled a great time for me as a writer, to get out and meet people interested in books.  I’ve attended a number of different events over that time, in different parts of Michigan. Some have been stellar. Others, not quite as good.

It’s been an opportunity to connect with other authors as well. A chance to share stories and strategies, check out new works and have a few laughs.  Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen this year.

Like so many other group events and activities, book festivals have been cancelled. My recent favorite, a two-day blast held in Muskegon, near the shores of Lake Michigan near the Fourth of July holiday weekend, was cancelled two weeks ago.

Yet with that cancellation, a new opportunity was presented. Just like the college classes I teach and many business meetings, it’s time for book festivals to go virtual!   Diana from Pages Promotions (who I met at authors events years ago) jumped on this idea with both feet.  More than 30 authors are participating in the event, which will run through most of June.  Each day there will be a live session with an author on Zoom.  There will be discounted prices of featured works, books given away and more. You can find all the details by following this link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/684033505766114/

Thursday, June 4^th at 7:00 p.m. (EDT) will be my turn for a 30 minute live session. I’m ready to talk about stories, characters, conflicts, settings and more.  Diana will probably have a list of questions to cover and take questions from those who want to dial in. Here’s a link. 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/869144072...

As part of the fun, “Devious” the first novel in the Jamie Richmond mystery/romance series, will be on sale for just 99 cents.  That’s right!  You can get an e-book copy of my favorite redhead’s first adventure for less than a buck. Links to all the popular sites are below.  And this sale extends beyond the USA to include, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia! 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Y9XMHC

https://books.apple.com/us/book/devious/id1059428211

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/devious-8

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/devious-mark-love/1114977114?ean=2940157874810

Here’s an excerpt from “Devious”. 

I can’t believe I’m standing here with a gun in my hand. And it’s pointed at his chest. My heart’s pounding in such a pronounced manner you’d think I had just run five miles. But there’s anger mixed with the adrenaline coursing through my system.

If someone told me four months ago I’d be facing a life or death situation, I would have gotten them a nice cup of tea and tried to find some way to calm them down before the ambulance arrived to carry them away. Danger is not my forte. I don’t live for danger. I live vicariously, documenting the courage and exploits of others. The scariest thing I have ever done is eat yogurt after the expiration date.

But now here I stand, gripping a weapon and praying I won’t have to use it as he narrows the gap between us. Yet, despite my hammering heart, I realize there is no way this ends neatly. There is too much at stake. I’ve already had a visit with Death tonight, and it wasn’t pleasant. Can I take the shot? Or will he rip it away from me and kill me with my own gun?

How could this be happening to me?

 Here's what Jamie might look like.

Music this time comes from Steve Winwood with some classic rock.
https://youtu.be/BuQ3PaFyb9A