The Thirty-Sixth Issue

 

Three years!  Seriously?  It seems like only a short while ago that I decided to switch from occasional posts to my blog and put together something more consistent.  I wanted to include my take on the various components of writing, along with updates on my current projects, an interview with another author or the occasional character, and of course, music. There must be music! 

And to make my newsletter a little different from so many others, I opted to release it on the 19^th of each month.  Starting with March made perfect sense, since that combination of numbers 3 19 will always be special to me. 

So here we are, three years later, with issue 36.   With a tip of the hat to the legendary comic, Jackie Gleason, let’s get the party started. 

                                   “Away We Go!”

Writing

 Writing is a solitary business unless you’re collaborating with another author. So whenever I get the chance to trade samples with others, I’m eager to take it. Recently I had the opportunity to participate in not one but two writing workshops. Being surrounded with others who are seriously working on their own stories is an absolute blast. About ten people were able to read excerpts from their projects and get feedback and reactions from the group. That’s priceless. In the interest of time, we kept it to a maximum of seven minutes, so that others would have a chance to read as well.

        During the second workshop, I was able to chat with a couple of people who were at the first session.  They both enjoyed hearing other writers share their scenes, but the more impactful part was the reactions they got.  Seeing the expressions on people’s faces and hearing the comments they shared is vital to any writer.  Getting that feedback can help take their efforts to the next level.

One lady said that she found those interactions inspiring and she’ll channel that into her own efforts.  I encouraged her to share her work with others next time.  The group is not a competition, it’s about supporting each other on the writing journey.

 

Work in Progress 

          The crime story featuring Leo Agonasti and his good friend Maximo Aurelio continues to develop.  Other responsibilities have kept me away from the keyboard more than I like, but different scenes, interactions amongst the players and more twists keep coming to mind.

For some reason three o’clock in the morning is often when inspiration strikes. Most days that’s enough to get my brain firing with different ways an idea could work into the manuscript. As soon as possible, I enter these ideas into the file and review them later in the day when I’m more alert.  As a nun in elementary school once said ‘crude, but effective’.  Call it what you like, but it works well for me.

 

The Virtual Event

          Last month’s virtual book festival was a tremendous hit. Many people participated, watching the antics from this crazy band of creative writers as we tried to identify the culprits.

          Multiple attempts by Diana, the facilitator and moderator of the group, to rein us in and keep the investigation flowing led to more hilarity and oddball questions.

          Diana, in her wisdom put replays of all the episodes on YouTube and created a yearbook of all the authors who shared their work and were part of this zaniness.  Links are provided here.  You might just discover a new favorite.  There are works in every genre.

https://www.pagespromotions.com/2023-virtual-festival-yearbook.html#/

https://www.pagespromotions.com/2023-event-replays.html#/

          

Author Interview

          I’ve been fortunate to connect with many great authors from different parts of the globe. There is so much talent out there, beyond our borders.  It’s my pleasure this month to introduce you to Lynn Griffin who hails from the United Kingdom.   Welcome, Lynn!

Tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

I’ve done a wide variety of jobs, from child-care to lecturer and along the way have met really fascinating people. Some of their stories have been funny, but some have been so shocking it would make your toes curl. I wanted to hug them. My education was nothing to shout about but I could read, and I could write, and I wanted to help those who couldn’t.  After all, at the very least it puts us all on a level playing field. Anyway, as said, I love writing and have been writing around the paid job for years. However, I’ve never had the confidence to submit my work until very recently. If it wasn’t for someone giving me a huge nudge with a “get it out there before you pop your clogs mate,” I don’t think it would have ever happened. When I was offered a contract by The Wild Rose Press, I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was a scam. Seriously! I double checked. Of course, it wasn’t. So, to anyone else out there thinking about submitting their work. If I can do it, then so can you.  

Do you ever imagine of your novels being made into a movie or television series? 

Absolutely. In fact, most of my readers have told me that it would make either a great movie or TV series, and the latest review on Goodreads suggests exactly that. Such a compliment!

When I write, I see everything in film as if it is happening right before my eyes. The trouble is when I bump someone off it can get a bit scary.

Any favorite actors you’d cast in the lead roles?

Hmm. Oh, my goodness. Richard E Grant, or Hugh Grant, maybe for the part of Uncle Jack, British, kind eyes, and great all-rounders. (Seems like there might be a bit of a name theme going on). But I’d also like to give a chance to an upcoming young actor for the female roles. I never forget where I started, and we all have to start somewhere.

What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you write the chapters in sequence?
          I have an idea in my head and start writing. Then I stop and use a timeline on a flipchart to make sure everything works, then once the bones are there, I start fleshing it out. The trouble is my imaginary friends are really bossy, they shout at me in the middle of the night, when I’m shopping, anywhere in fact, and it can get a tad embarrassing. I find myself telling them to be quiet, whilst they are shouting at me to hurry up and get on with it. I get strange looks. But then I am weird. Stay weird I say.

Tell us a little bit about the characters in your latest book.

The Twenty-One-Year Contract is set 1950s London. But the story begins much earlier.  In 1939, Devilishly handsome Jack is a pilot, and an engineer and his skills much sought after across the world troubleshooting mining disasters. When Jack learns WWII is about to break out, his immediate instinct is to return to his native home in the UK to offer his skills as a Spitfire pilot.

In Brighton, Jack meets Cassandra. From the moment he sets eyes on her he knows she is the one. Deeply, madly, in love, he intends to ask her to marry him. Luck is not on his side. Cassandra returns to London, before he can discover her true identity. While fighting for his country he never gives up hope of finding her. But when he arrives in London, the street she has mentioned have been bombed, and though his search for her becomes a fruitless task, he never gives up hope.

Kathleen is a little wild, popular, fun, and talented. At fourteen her adoptive parents are involved in a tragic accident. Stricken with grief and guilt she takes a chance; she becomes Kate and runs away to the bright lights of London. She starts working for atelier where her talents are instantly recognized, but very soon she becomes drawn into the seedy underworld and is determined to put wrongs right.

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?

There’s a mixed answer to this. My central characters are there, in my face. I know them instantly, but they have this habit of introducing me to their friends and acquaintances. I have to listen, don’t I?
What is your latest book about?

Fourteen-year-old Kathleen Gray— talented, a little wild, at times rebellious, but always popular—has a fun, easy life in rural Somerset, with a doting family. Suddenly, they are gone, she has only Uncle Jack. Try as he might, he cannot be father and mother to her. Kathleen takes a chance and becomes Kate Westfield, fending for herself in London, with a new life built on her hopes and dreams and new friends. She could hardly have imagined that one of those friends has a shoebox full of answers.

The Twenty-One-Year Contract – sequel (also standalone) to Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox.

Can you share an excerpt?

        ‘After a glass of water, Jack made himself a cup of tea and returned to the job in hand. This was going to be much harder than he could ever have imagined. Working deep through the night, Jack methodically sifted through volumes of paperwork until light inched its way through the curtain. Though he felt thoroughly ready for bed, he continued searching, his aim to find at least a smidgen of information about his niece. Randomly tidying up as he went, Jack noticed an encyclopedia oddly extended over one of the top shelves. He tried pushing it back into place. It was jammed. It looked awkward. Pulling it out to check the depth of the book, he found a box file hidden behind. Upon the side panel was one word, capitalized in thick bold lettering: KATHLEEN. As the hazy sunlight grew, Jack pulled the curtains to lend natural light, took the file off the shelf, sat back in Henry’s chair, and looked inside. He ran his hand through his hair, exhausted, this was going to be far harder than he could have ever expected…’

What’s the next project you’ll be working on?

I have two works in progress. The one I’m focused on at the moment is a contemporary romance. I needed to write something fun and sassy and it certainly is. I am really looking forward to seeing it finished, though I know it will be a loss as I know I will miss Georgia, I love her and writing about her escapades.

Here are the buy links:

mybook.to/twentyone

https://books2read.com/u/3JER1P

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twenty-One-Year-Contract

https://www.amzn.com/1509239723

https://www.amzn.com/B09THQKFJS

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn1509239723

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Shame-Shoebox

https://wildrosepress.com

 

Music

 

          Since my guest Lynn hails from the United Kingdom, it was the opportune moment to feature one of my favorite bands from there.

         

The Rolling Stones have been entertaining the world for more than six decades now. Recognized by many as one of the most popular bands of the rock era, the Stones have sold more than 240 million records worldwide.  There are rumors about that the band may actually tour this year, but nothing definite has been announced. Yet.’

Here are my top five favorites.

Jumpin’ Jack Flash: https://youtu.be/qGd7SkdETro

Satisfaction: https://youtu.be/poXvMBhjSWk

Sympathy for the Devil: https://youtu.be/GgnClrx8N2k

You Can’t Always Get: https://youtu.be/Ef9QnZVpVd8

Can’t You Hear Me Knocking: https://youtu.be/3fa4HUiFJ6c

 

 

 

New Release: Grave Dangers

 

                                        Grave Dangers

Every once in a while, a new release will catch my eye and I can’t wait to share it with the world.

That’s the case today. 

I’ve been waiting months for this collection of stories to be available.  The title alone was enough to capture my attention.  With this list of contributing authors, I knew these stories were exactly what I was searching for.

Here’s the rundown.

Grave Dangers: A Thriller, Suspense, And Horror Collection

 

Whether it be in a small town, an abandoned asylum, or a bustling city, no one is safe from the ugliest parts of human nature. A social media influencer, a college student, a detective – titles make no difference when death plays Russian Roulette.

Question is, who will be next?

Fifteen amazing stories sure to keep you up at night…

 

Black Hollow by S. K. Gregory--Lore returns home after learning her twin sister has been murdered. As she tries to uncover the truth, she discovers a world she never knew existed.

Protecting His Wolfe by Melissa Keir--Crime is rampant. The police’s hands are tied. But mine aren’t. Some would call me a vigilante, but I prefer savior. This town is mine, and the crime’s got to go.

Red Ribbon Murders by Elena Blake and Killian Wrathmore--

The Chrysanthemum Curse by Doyle Fawcett & Spiro Griffith-- Never Take What's Not Yours

Waiting in Darkness by Maegan Beaumont--She's forgotten who she is. Who she belongs to. That's he's waiting for her... in darkness.

Altered Memories by Jennifer Wedmore--

Voices by Kayla Krantz--Lynn’s always heard voices, but what if she’s not the crazy one?

Predatory Evil by Sheri Chapman-- Demonic creatures invade the Earth and threaten humanity 

And many more!

 

Only 99 pennies!

AVAILABLE on March 7^th!

Link:  https://books2read.com/u/md6KJw

 

Including PROTECTING HIS WOLFE

(The Pigg Detective Agency: Book 1)

By Melissa Keir

Crime is rampant. The police’s hands are tied. But mine aren’t. Some would call me a vigilante, but I prefer savior. This town is mine, and the crime’s got to go. 

Innocent Betsie Wolfe stumbles upon a murder. The small-town girl had left her cozy little life for a job in the big city, never expecting to become a witness to a murder or face vicious threats. I’d hoped she would run back to her preacher father, but she’s made of sterner stuff, and I can respect that.

Handsome Detective Jonah Pigg is attracted to the ingénue and settles her into his home under the protection of the three brothers who own the Pigg Detective Agency. It will take all his detective work to keep her safe, and I won’t make it easy.

Passion has a way of igniting when people are under stress, and lust leads Betsie and Jonah into each other’s arms. But will the good detective be able to save her, or will she become another victim?

One way or another, this town will be cleaned up.

 

EXCERPT:

Jonah slapped his hand against the table then jumped to his feet. “Argh! Why can’t we get a break in this case?” He brushed his hand through his hair and strode around the conference table. “Ninety days and, while we have more dead criminals, we haven’t a clue about who’s doing the killing.” 

He perched on the edge of the table and studied the crime board. Sometimes talking through things aloud helped, but he’d done that time and time again, to no avail. He’d been back to the morgue to push Frank to find something, anything, but the killer hadn’t given them a clue. Whoever was killing the criminals—suspected criminals in the eye of the law—was cleaning up the town, but citizens shouldn’t be taking the law into their own hands. The perpetrator had become the police, judge, jury, and executioner. Numerous faces stared back at him from the board. All mug shots. Seventeen people. Sure, they’d all been convicted at some point of something. Yet, they could have gone straight. 

Jonah bit back a laugh. “Yeah, right. These guys haven’t turned a new leaf.” Some, like Todd Gregory, had been in and out of jail since their teens. “The only thing missing from the board are women.” He scanned the images again. Surely, Arlington had women criminals. A lady of the evening, a drug dealer, or even a murderer. He slowly stood and leaned toward the images. “The boys in blue have picked up both men and women over the last four months. Put them through the system. But no ladies have shown up here…tied to the serial killer. Hmmm.” 

He laced his hands behind his back and ambled around the room.

 

 

 

 

 

The Thirty-Fifth Issue!

 

February!  How did that happen?  Seems like just a blink ago, we were settling down for the Christmas holidays.  Now we’re racing through the second month without a look in the rearview mirror. Progress is actually happening.  As Dr. Amy Cuddy says ‘small steps can lead to big changes.’ I’ll run with that.

Meanwhile, it’s time for my thoughts on writing, an update on my latest efforts and news about an absolutely crazy virtual event.  There’s also an interview with author Chloe Holiday, and music. There’s gotta be music.

Here we go!

                                     Writing

Earlier this month, I participated in a book event at the local library. They pulled out all the stops to make this special. More than 20 authors were in the house, staged in different rooms. There was a small jazz band performing, food and even prizes. Yes, food and music in a public library! Who would have believed it?  Nearly 200 people visited that night, which was remarkable for a three hour session.

One lady stopped by my table and after looking at all seven books, raised a quizzical eyebrow at me. “You just make this stuff up.”

I gestured around the room at the other nine authors. “Everyone in here writes fiction. So in a sense, yes, we make it up. The stories come from our imagination.”

She glared at me. “Just what I thought!”

“But you should know, there’s a fair amount of research that goes into my work. I can’t speak for everyone here, but I’m always researching things to include in my books.”

Now I had her. She picked up The Wayward Path.  “What did you research in this one?”

“I interviewed a woman who trains human remains dogs and used that information to open the book. I also talked with an old friend who is an expert on the Civil War. He also participates in reenactments.”

She put the book down and asked about others.  I explained that over the course of the books, I’ve interviewed people who work in technology, law enforcement, the medical profession, a yoga instructor and a firearms expert. There were others but she didn't want to hear it.

“But you still make things up!”

I agreed. She bought a copy of Devious and moved on.

Research is important to my work. It’s part of weaving an intriguing, believable story.  I want details that will be accurate for everything I’m writing. Sometimes I can get that information on the internet. Or I may know someone who knows someone and that leads to expert information.  Many people like to share the details from their careers or hobbies. 

But in the end, we do make things up.  How the characters interact, how the conflicts are resolved, what happens next to the main characters and the secondary ones, are all a result of the authors imagination.

That’s why they call it fiction.

                             Work In Progress

 

In addition to work on the next book, I contributed to a new promo system called Shepherd.  This one’s a little different.  Authors are encouraged to list five books that they enjoyed that could have influenced their work.

Since I write the two different series, I put together favorites for cozy mysteries (that would be similar to the Jamie Richmond books) and one for contemporary mysteries.

Here are the links so you can check them out.

https://shepherd.com/best-books/contemporary-cozy-mysteries

https://shepherd.com/best-books/contemporary-mysteries

 

**

My efforts on the crime novel slowed, but the story continues to evolve. I’ve added some new scenes, fleshed out a couple more characters and added a twist here, a twist there.  Progress.  Slow steps but now that football season is officially over, I may be able to spend more time with Leo and the other players. Fortunately, Leo is much more patient than Jamie.

Nothing specific on a title yet, but that doesn’t worry me. Inspiration is liable to hit me like a lightning bolt from Zeus.  When it does, I’ll be ready.

 

 

Virtual Book Festival

          This event has got to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever been a part of.  On any given night 20 or more authors appear on the Zoom screen.  Usually two of them will read short scenes from one of their books. Later in the show, autographed copies of those books will be awarded to prize winners. After the readings, we all dive in to the ‘investigation’. It’s shifted now to a murder mystery.

The interactions with the suspects and the sleuths is hilarious. There has been so much laughter in these interrogations that it’s impossible to keep a straight face.  Diana, the ringleader/moderator has almost fallen from her chair at the shenanigans. You can also watch the recordings from previous sessions on YouTube by clicking on the links for each day’s featured authors.

The craziness will continue until February 27^th.  The last day of the month will be a wrap up, revealing the final part of the whodunit and awarding the grand prizes and other goodies. So even if you can only pop in occasionally, it’s definitely a fun time.

Click on the link to register and learn more about the ‘case’.

https://www.pagespromotions.com/2023-mystery-game.html#/

                                         Author Interview

           A few months back, I connected with Chloe Holiday. We both have novels published with Wild Rose Press. Chloe has also been featured on the Indie Reads Aloud program and she’s currently one of the ‘suspects’ in the virtual book festival mentioned above.

          It was a golden opportunity to get to know more about her.

Tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

I spent years in a crazy busy profession, and suddenly retired because of a family member’s illness. This entailed a move to another state, and with the real estate market at the time, I was apart from my spouse while he readied the house for sale. I developed a terrible case of insomnia from worry and separation at the same time I’d suddenly gone from no time at all to lots of unscheduled hours.

I read ravenously, indulging in a beloved pastime that had been “back-burner” for way too long, and to distract myself from family concerns. Some of the stories were wonderful, but some…weren’t. The more I read, I thought, “Maybe I could do this.” That’s how my first novel came about, fueled by a sleep-deprived mind. 

Do you ever imagine of your novels being made into a movie or television series? 

I suspect most people do, in their manic moments. I’m no different, but mine would take a high budget, with the flying and underwater scenes, and foreign locations.

Any favorite actors you’d cast in the lead roles?

No, though of course, there are many I love. It’s because by the time anything is ever made into a movie, the “it” actors are decades older.

What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you write the chapters in sequence?
         My first novel came from a desire to write a STEM heroine in an action story, and because of a misdelivered postcard for a scientific conference in Boston. That one just sort of bubbled out—but it was two novels shoved together, not one. The experience taught me that some sort of a plan is best, so now I do a rough, skeletal outline before I jump to the fun part—writing. As I go along, more ideas come to me, so I go back and add in details and hints to previous chapters. I generally go in order, but there are times I’m on fire to write a certain pivotal scene, and for those I jump ahead to “get it out of my system" and revisit them later.

Tell us a little bit about the characters in your latest book.

Desire in Deutschland is about a young military policeman, newly stationed in Germany, and a Kaiserslautern girl who runs across him after a soccer game. It’s a spicy insta-lust, crossed-wires, culture shock story, and was lots of fun for me to write, since we were stationed in Germany for three years. I never did THAT in a castle ruin, though!

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
          The heroes and heroines are usually first, as a “what if” idea—what if the hearing loss a woman struggles with every day is an asset during an underwater excavation? What if a commander’s apparent dislike for the hero hid something much more nefarious? Many of the side characters develop more as I write—my goal is to make them fun and memorable, too. I incorporate past experiences for that touch of authenticity, so many of my characters are military, medical, pilots, etc.

Sometimes, it’s all at once. For my first published novel, Helios, I was stuck on what to write, so I drew tropes and character types out of a bowl, which got me Rich Foreign Alpha Male, Repressed Young Woman, Workplace/Travel Romance. For the All-American Boy series, each story had to have “Boy” in the title—but at first, it seemed like all the good ones were taken! I wracked my brain, and came up with A Boy & his Dog (about an ex-military bomb tech trying to reunite with his former K-9 partner) and Fly Boy (about a crop duster and a woman reluctantly teaming up to saver her family orchard).
What is your latest book about?

One smoldering look from the sexy American draws Birgitte across the cultural divide into passion she never dreamed of...

Never again. University student Birgitte Schumacher swore off men, after an American GI seduced her, then left Germany for good. But when she runs into a sexy military policeman on the streets of Kaiserslautern, he just might be her ruin.

Just one beer was Lee Klein's plan. Yet when he sees the woman outside the pub, she’s all he wants. Birgitte’s irresistible pull leads him into a steamy rendezvous. He hopes for more until a conflict of interest ignites a culture clash of simmering attraction versus duty.

Can you share an excerpt too?
Sure! Here, Birgitte is taking Lee on a tour of the local castle ruins:

What Lee needed was more time around this woman, with her sexy accent and cheerfulness. “I’m glad you were available. I was tempted to just stay in today.”

Birgitte laughed, a warm chuckle. “Sometimes you have to ignore your innerer schweinehund and make yourself do something.”

 Lee frowned, picking apart the words. “My inner… pig dog?”

“Yes, your inner pig dog. You don’t say this? It’s the thing that makes you want what you want, even if it’s a bad idea.”

Lee laughed. “I’ll remember that one. German is more fun than I thought, with all those words strung together.” He watched the road curves ahead, instead of staring at her legs the way his pig dog wanted.

 Down, boy.

 Lee smiled. My innerer schweinehund is strong. Very strong.

What’s the next project you’ll be working on?

I generally juggle two or three at once—one first draft, one in revision, and sometimes a final polish on yet another. Right now I’m working on revisions for No Easy Match, a story about a transplant surgeon recruited to start a program in the Caribbean, and a first draft for a story about a pool shark and a college woman.

Include buy links, cover art and a picture of you.  Please attach the photos in jpeg to the email.

You can find more about Chloe and hers books on the following links.

https://www.chloeholiday.com/ 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BKYF66TS

Universal book link (it’s wide!): UBL: https://storyoriginapp.com/universalbooklinks/747fa55e-5ed8-11ed-80c2-3f4c5b771926

Check it out on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63163565-desire-in-deutschland

It’s available in audio, too!

AUDIO:   Universal link: https://storyoriginapp.com/universalaudiobooklinks/417a5f70-7cc7-11ed-a724-ef92dfdad290

Direct from the author via Gumroad & BookFunnel: https://chloeholidaywriter.gumroad.com/l/ojzqg

Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Desire-Deutschland-Passport-Pleasure/dp/B0BQCRL4WM/

Google: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Chloe_Holiday_Desire_in_Deutschland?id=AQAAAEDCqEfolM

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/desire-in-deutschland

Chirp: https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/desire-in-deutschland-by-chloe-holiday

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/desire-in-deutschland-chloe-holiday/1142600179

BingeBooks: https://bingebooks.com/book/desire-in-deutschland

Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/612918643/Desire-in-Deutschland

Libro FM https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781952775178

Audiobooks.com https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/desire-in-deutschland/650585

Storytel: https://www.storytel.com/se/sv/books/3663973

 

Music

          Variety is the spice of life. That’s especially true when it comes to music. I’m constantly rediscovering talented artists from the past who pop up on Spotify, Pandora or YouTube.

          Anita Baker is the latest example. This songstress has ties to Detroit, where she was known for her soulful ballads.  During the height of her career, she captured 8 Grammy Awards and had 4 platinum albums. With a three octave vocal range, Baker has always wowed her audiences.  After taking a break to raise her family and enjoying a brief retirement, Baker has undergone a comeback.  She is also touring across the country this year.

Here’s my top five favorites. 

Caught Up in the Rapture: https://youtu.be/Oz-b86LZ21c

Sweet Love:  https://youtu.be/2w6udgiojlE

Same Ole Love: https://youtu.be/e1aSkJ7HNxA

Giving You the Best: https://youtu.be/8lbJgOJIS_8

Body and Soul:  https://youtu.be/7IwIUYSE5Tg