Monthly Archives: June 2021

June 28, 2021 · 8:14 am

Author Interview with Ana Diamond & New Release ~ Body Conscious #WRPbk #AHAgrp #Blog

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Ana Diamond….

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets? I grew up in the suburbs of New York just outside of New York City. I also lived in New York City for 15 years. Now I’m back in the suburbs rasing two kids. I have 2 rescue cats who are also sisters.

Why did you choose this genre? I’ve always been drawn to mystery. I like intrigue and romance always keeps me reading.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it? I work in the medical field in a large hospital in NYC. It is the complete opposite of  writing and creating but I find that it keeps me grounded and pays the bills. 

Do you collect anything? I collect candles, dolls, Disney animated production cells and makeup.

What was your first job? Medical Assistant. 

Have you written any other books that are not published? Yes, many. I have dabbled in different genres to figure out where I might fit in the best. 

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination? Entirely from my imagination. 

How did you come up with the title?

It’s a play on words. It has a much more literal meaning since the story is set in a funeral home where there are lots of bodies and the story centers around a body that is found but doesn’t belong.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?  My day job.

Your favorite…

Place you’ve visited:  Bora Bora

Place you’d like to visit  Egypt

TV show from childhood Sesame Street

Food  A fresh salad 

 

In a small town, gossip can get you killed

Blurb:

Mortician, Lily Reynolds is used to seeing bodies, but not the type murdered in her own funeral home. As Detective James Rivers zeroes in on her as the town’s number one suspect she must rise above the accusations and rumors to solve the case herself while keeping her attraction to the troubled detective at bay.

James has a past. The last time he let someone into his life she wound up dead. Vowing never to let that happen again he has sworn off dating for good. Until he meets Lily. In his gut he knows she’s not the murderer but pressure to solve the case puts him on the wrong trail while he struggles to keep Lily off the case.

Can she solve the case on her own or will their scandalous romance get in the way of proving her innocence?

Excerpt:

“That’s Detective James Rivers,” Abrams said. “He came all the way up from New York City to our little town in the scenic Hudson Valley. He’ll be the lead investigator on this case since I know you ladies will be frequent callers.”

“Let’s be clear, I’ve never called you,” Lily said. “It’s always been Shanna.”

Abrams gave her a coy smile. He seemed flattered by the idea.

“Nice to meet you, Detective Rivers,” Lily said, finally turning toward the man who approached them.

Her breath caught in her throat. She didn’t know what she had been expecting, but not this—the angelic face with large sky-blue eyes, pronounced cheekbones and silken black hair. The only part of him that matched her ideas of what detectives looked like were his tattooed arms. She should know; her dad had been a cop.

May he rest in peace.

But James’s tattoos weren’t subtle. Snakes slid up his arms, past his rolled-up shirtsleeves, coiling around his thick forearms and biceps. One corner of his mouth lifted as he caught her staring.

Buy Here:  https://books2read.com/anadiamondauthor

Bio:

When Ana Diamond isn’t writing about tough gals finding love in unexpected places, she’s at work by day in the medical field. She writes romantic cozy mystery novels with feisty strong women and alluring men who can’t resist them. Her books are fast paced, entertaining and heartfelt all at once.

Ana is a 2020 Tara Contest Finalist for Body Conscious and 2015 Melody of Love contest finalist. She lives in New York with her husband, two children and two needy but wildly entertaining kitty cats.

https://twitter.com/AuthorDiamond

https://www.facebook.com/anadiamondauthor/

https://www.instagram.com/anadiamondauthor/

https://www.tiktok.com/@anadiamondauthor?

Email: Ana@anadiamondauthor.com

 

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June 23, 2021 · 9:11 am

Author Interview with Katherine Grey and New Release: Honor Bound ~ #AHAgrp #Blog #Bookworm

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Katherine Grey…

 

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?  I was born and raised in upstate NY and still live there. I still live on the same street and only a few houses away from the house I grew up in.  I have two cats – a male who likes to snuggle against my legs and feet no matter what I’m doing and a female we adopted from a shelter when she was a kitten. I think she was with a foster family that had dogs because she wags her tail all the time especially if she’s excited to see you or if you ask her if she wants a treat. I tell her she’s really a dog in disguise.

Where did you get the idea for Honor Bound? I hate to say it, but the idea for the book popped in my head one day. The only thing that I knew for certain was that the book would be part of a series revolving around a military unit consisting of a group of men with unusual abilities. It took a bit of brainstorming to get the plot ironed out.  What is the most difficult thing about writing a book? For me, the most difficult thing about writing a book is making the time to sit at the laptop and actually write. I have a day job and a family. I try to squeeze at least an hour of writing time in between when I get home from work and dinner time. It doesn’t always happen if I have errands or there’s a doctor appointment or something else comes up that has to be taken care after I get out of work.

Are there any tricks, habits or superstitions you have when creating a story?  I turn the laptop on and while it’s booting up, I get a big glass of water. After I’ve opened the word document of the story I’m writing, but before I start typing anything, I light a candle. I think of it as a signal to my brain that it time to get to work weaving the words together to make up the story.

Do you collect anything? Dust bunnies. Just kidding! Some people would say I collect books since I have so many. I collect Precious Moments figurines, but just the ones that come out around Christmas and are stamped with that year’s date.

What was your first job? I worked at a craft store while I was in college. It was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, it closed during my senior year.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?  My day job. I like my job but I would have a lot more writing time without it.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why? I spent a lot of time thinking about how I would answer this question and finally came the conclusion that I can’t. I have so many books that I love for so many different reasons that I don’t think I could choose just one. What’s your favorite childhood book?  The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. I still have a copy on my bookshelf right now.

If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be? Number one would be lip balm. My family says I’m addicted to it. Lol. The other two items would be paper and pen (provided I was stranded with the necessary provisions to survive like a knife/machete and a lighter) so I could write to my family even if they would never read the letters. If I was stranded with no provisions, then it’d have to be the knife/machete and lighter.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?  While no writer wants a bad review, I think a bad one would be better than no review at all. I know of some people who buy books based on the bad reviews alone just to see if the book is really as terrible as the reviewer states. If you have no reviews, it’s possible readers will just pass your book on by because there are no reviews so maybe they think it’s not worth reading.

Have you written any other books that are not published?  I wrote a mystery a few years ago. I’m not sure I’ll ever publish it. I had a couple of people read it and they both told me they knew who the killer was by the third chapter so it obviously needs a lot of work.

How did you come up with the title?  Honor means a great deal to Lieutenant James Hawkins, the main male character in Honor Bound, so I wanted the title to reflect that.

How did your interest in writing originate?  I’ve always loved to read. As a child I always had a book with me, always begged my mom to go to the library so part of my interest originated in my love of books and the stories they held. I didn’t start writing until I was in college when I read a book that was assigned in a literature class. I hated the ending, everyone died or ended up miserable. I rewrote the end, saving the characters I liked and gave them a happy or happier ending. I showed it to a couple of friends who liked it and told me I should try writing my own book. I played around at it for a while, but didn’t start learning the actual craft of writing until 2009 or so. I had two books and a novella published by a small press within four years, but then life happened. I started writing again in 2019 when I realized how much I missed it.

 

 

When honor meets temptation…

Blurb:

California “Callie” St. John learned the hard way just how much one night of rebellion can cost. Determined not to repeat past mistakes, she tries to be the perfect daughter by volunteering with various charities and keeping everyone at arm’s length. After narrowly escaping a car bombing, she is forced to accept help from the one man who can get past her defenses, making her long for the impossible — letting him into her life…and her heart.

Lieutenant James “Hawk” Hawkins, a member of a Special Ops unit of soldiers with unusual abilities, is known for keeping his cool in any situation. Acting as a bodyguard to the daughter of one of DC’s mover and shakers is just one more mission like any other. When an enemy from his past targets the spoiled socialite, Hawk realizes she is more than she seems.

With his reputation on the line, he’s willing to risk everything to keep her safe. But succumbing to temptation isn’t an option…no matter how much he wants to give in.

Excerpt:

William St. John turned to his daughter. “After tonight’s events perhaps now you’ll take the threats against you seriously.”

“Those things could have happened to anyone. Before tonight any of them could have been a coincidence,” California argued.

Jimmy stared at her. Nobody could be that naïve. “There’s no such thing as coincidence.”

She glared at him, her eyes sparking with anger, showing exactly what she thought about the situation. “As I seem to have no option but to have you follow me around like a lost dog, let me be clear. I will not be changing my daily routine. You will be unobtrusive and remain in the background when I’m in public.” She ticked off her rules on her fingers.

Jimmy crossed his arms over his chest and waited for her to finish. Her slight British accent made her sound as though she was royalty giving orders to the peasants.

“Your presence won’t be needed when I’m at home or with friends. Understood?”

He took a step forward. “You listen to me, Duchess–”

“I’m not a duchess. If I were, you would address me as ‘Your Grace.’” She sounded even haughtier if that was possible.

“I’m charged with your safety. I will be the one laying the ground rules,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “So until any threat to you is removed, I’ll be sticking closer to you than your panties on a hot July night. Got it?”

Buy link(s):  Amazon – Honor Bound

Bio: Katherine Grey writes sexy sweet paranormal contemporary romances and historical romances set in the Regency period. When she’s not writing, she can be found up to her elbows in flour trying out new bread and cookie recipes. She’s also a champion procraftinator, spending more time than she should making cards and crocheting.

Find Katherine on Facebook at @AuthorKatherineGrey

Email her at Katherineg425@yahoo.com

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June 17, 2021 · 7:28 am

June Featured Books – Find New & Amazing Authors!!! #AHAgrp #BookWorm #AmReading #Ebooks

Looking for something new and fabulous to read? Try these…

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Clairvoyant artist, Alistar Spears, the current Earl of Griston is in dire straits. At the stroke of midnight on his thirty-third birthday, a curse decreed six generations before will send him to the madhouse. He doesn’t even know how or why the curse was instituted. All he knows is that he will go insane.

Peyton McKenzie, art critic extraordinaire, is in England for an inheritance from a grandfather she’d never met. In a stroke of rotten luck, she runs into her least favorite artist in the world, Jess Aldis. On the upside, she adores the Tudor style house she now owns, complete with diary showcasing a window to the past, and an exciting neighbor—a real live, very attractive earl.

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Risk-averse ER nurse, Alyssa Beckman, is about to lose her job because of yet another bad decision. In order to put her life back on track, she books a week at a rustic mountain resort to ponder her next steps and rejuvenate. But when she arrives, she learns she’s enrolled in boot camp, an adventure program far out of her comfort zone.

While there, she meets Gabriel Sutton, a world-travelling high-fashion photographer who is in danger of losing his clients as well as his status if he doesn’t start following the rules. While hiking, kayak racing, and participating in team challenges, sparks fly between Alyssa and Gabe as they encourage each other to take different life paths. But will those paths lead them farther apart or bring them closer together?

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Sometimes even the most carefully conceived burglary can take an unexpected turn. Florence Palmer has her eye on concert violinist Aaron Levy’s priceless violin. Unfortunately, she finds it’s already been stolen. Her surprise doubles when the virtuoso she’d planned to burgle offers to hire her to help him steal it back. But they’re not the only ones looking for the missing violin. When Flo inadvertently becomes the prime suspect in a case of murder, she and Aaron need to clear her name. Will they find the real killer and get the violin back to its rightful owner without anyone else, especially themselves, being killed?

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Valentine’s Day could be the most dangerous time of the year if an angry Cupid is the hit man hunting you down.
Bram Farrell, paranormal PI, has been yanked from the pages of the novel. His author and creator brought him into real-world Detroit to do a job for her, but the job went south, and the real-world Detroit is as loaded with monsters and magical beings as the pages of her books were. And they are all out to get Bram and exact some otherworldly revenge on him.

Most guys wouldn’t mind that it’s raining females, some expected, some surprises, one he could do without. And then there is his new secretary, Naomi, who he’s falling in love with. Keeping her alive—and himself—is going to be tricky.

Outrunning an alchemist, a vampire, and a witch is going to take more than cutting wit.
Luckily, this paranormal Sam Spade has some resources besides his dry sense of humor. His dachshund Hellhound is with him and his magic is coming back. Which should be helpful considering someone has put a hit out on him.

There’s a lot on Bram’s plate this February. The question is, will he live through it this time?

Entertaining, funny and suspenseful, Marked Raven is the perfect place to pick up the Raven Tales urban fantasy series.

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Valeni Pascual wants to be free to make a living hauling cargo with her spaceship and to understand the shapeshifting alien who presents sometimes as the steamy male Nik and other times as the blonde bombshell Nikki. As a rebel insurgence builds against the oppressive government known as the Agency, Valeni and Nik/Nikki encounter a sexy Terran cowboy named Garrett Rawls. Since being pulled into this region of space by another mysterious wormhole, Garrett has looked for a way to return to Earth. After meeting Valeni and Nikki, he might have found something worth staying for. However, dark forces may have a much bigger picture in mind for all of them. Valeni, Nik/Nikki, and Garrett are pulled into a life and death fight that lays bare all of their secrets and their desires. Will they lose everything as the battle against the Agency rages around them or can love pull them through? [A Horizon Crossover series novel]

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Can he trust his instincts, or is she playing him for a fool. . . . .

Driscoll Rose and his two brothers own and run The Rose Room, a well-known and profitable gaming club in London. Unknown to those who visit and spend their money there, the brothers also work for the Crown in positions only known to a mysterious man at the Home Office.

Miss Amelia Pence is on the run from her step-brother who has nefarious plans for her. Late one rainy night she crawls into Driscoll’s office window and falls at his feet. Intrigued by the woman, he offers her a job as the only female dealer in the Rose Room.

Much to Driscoll’s frustration, Amelia is secretive about who she is, and where she lives since she can trust no one. The growing attraction between them and his desire for her is causing him to dismiss the fact that crowds of gamblers swarm her table each evening, but the profits she turns in are not what they should be.

Can Driscoll convince Amelia to trust him with her secrets or will he discover a deception that contradicts everything he believes about her in his heart? Just when he decides to confront her, she disappears. . .

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You’d think stopping Armageddon would buy a girl a bit of R&R with her freshly resurrected boyfriend. But things go south again when celebrity soul wrangler, Melisande Blythe, is abducted and dragged to Europe.
There’s more to the darkness hiding in the reclusive, mountaintop country of Andorra than just garden variety evil. There’s something dangerously wrong with her beautiful immortal hosts too.
Gifted with flesh again by the Grace of God, three-hundred-year-old former ghost, Colonel William Grayford, will move heaven and earth to find his beloved. But Europe’s most wicked monsters stand in his way. Something more painful than death awaits Mel, if Grayford can’t find her in time.
The world’s been living on fifteen thousand years of borrowed time and it’s just run out.

 

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June 16, 2021 · 8:16 am

Ticket to True Love Multi-Author Series ~ #AHAgrp #Blog #ContemporaryRomance

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Jennifer Wilck and the other authors of her Ticket to True Love multi-author series. Such a clever idea. And the covers are fabulous! Sounds like a fantastic series. Congrats, ladies!

 

Thanks so much, Alicia, for hosting me on your blog today! Better Together in Boston is a contemporary romance that released on June 11. It’s part of the Ticket to True Love multi-author series. I’m excited to tell you a little about the book, as well as to share some of the other books in the series.

Anna Levinson has long since come to terms with the understanding that “having it all” is impossible if she wants a successful career. Despite being left at the altar twice, Ben Diamond still believes his soul mate is out there. A long-distance relationship isn’t what either of them has in mind, and Anna isn’t about to ruin another person’s dreams; however, giving each other up is harder than it looks.

Here are a few of my favorite lines from the story:

This was it. The moment she’d waited for and dreaded at the same time.

The seventh inning stretch.

Anna was not like the other women she’d grown up with and knew. She’d never dreamed of a happily ever after for herself. Her mom was strong and independent, and she was, too. Regardless of how much guilt Anna carried, she never felt the need to depend on a man, so marriage had never been one of her goals. And once she started achieving professional success, a relationship would just be one more thing pulling at her time.

But every time she came to a baseball game with her mom, there was always someone nearby who would lean over and kiss his or her partner while everyone else rose during the seventh inning stretch. As a child, she’d been fascinated. As a teen and a young adult, she’d been at first horrified and then a little envious. But as she matured, she decided it was stupid, especially if the couple was unlucky enough to be shown on the Jumbotron.

Seriously, who wanted their kiss broadcast to the world? It gave an intimate moment too much weight.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Better-Together-Boston-Springs-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B09432941B

Jennifer’s links:

Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/

Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/

Fun Fact: Boston is known for the “Freedom Trail,” but it also has an entire literary district, including the homes of famous authors and even a statue based on the story, Make Room for Duckling!

The most difficult thing about writing with other authors is making sure the things that carry through all our stories, such as the small town of True Springs, are consistently portrayed.

The best thing about writing with other authors is that I get the benefit of their knowledge and I have a built-in support system, whether it’s for blurb help or advertising.

And now, let me introduce you to the others!

Georgia Grace by Savannah Kade

Blurb: Equal parts determined and petrified, Grace is leaving her abusive boyfriend for good. Hopping on the the back of a stranger’s bike isn’t the worst decision she’s ever made. How can two broken and scarred hearts give in to love when they’ve each vowed never to lose themselves again?

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CFSVYZ1/

Favorite Lines:  He’d woken up and everything he’d ever wanted, everything he was supposed to get, was gone. And he could never get it back.

Fun Fact:  I’ve been to every place they visit! Even the fictional towns. Ha!

Most Difficult Thing: Just making sure we had everything lined up!

Best Thing: Great ideas I got from reading the other stories.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ReadSavannahKade

website: https://www.savannahkade.com/

Yearning in Yellowstone by Holland Rae

Blurb: It was supposed to be a summer road trip in an RV with old friends. She never expected the adventure to be love. Big skies may call to both of them, but work is waiting for Rhiannon and Nick has never claimed one place as home. They only have a few days to decide what’s worth risking and what they’re willing to live without…or they might just find that what matters most is already gone.

Quotes:

“It was the first national park,” he said. He hadn’t let go of her hand and she hadn’t pulled away. “Seems an auspicious place to run into each other, no?”

They were the same passes their group had used to get into Indiana Dunes, into Theodore Roosevelt National Park, into Cuyahoga. But this time, knowing that Nick would be joining them all for dinner, that she was seeing him again in just a few short minutes, they felt like tickets to a far greater adventure
This time, he was here with Rhiannon.

And that made all the difference.

“It’s yours. The whole sky, it’s yours.” 

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08WKNRGD1/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0 

Fun Fact: This story was very much written as my love letter to young women who are still trying to navigate the world and their place in it. The inspiration of a group of summer camp friends who have stayed in touch and grown up together came from my very own group of summer camp friends. We have traveled together, grown together, and continue to be part of each other’s lives, no matter how far away we move. 

Not only was Rhiannon’s relationship with her friends based on the real life friendship—and many of the real life conversations and experiences—of my own camp friends, but many of the stories in Yearning in Yellowstone are from camp, as well, if altered slightly. While nearly a decade has passed since I worked at a sleepaway camp, it was one of the most unique and challenging and exciting experiences of my life—and it definitely comes with stories. Camp taught me how to think on my feet and how to find joy in the in-between moments, and for that, I’ll be forever grateful. I’m also eternally grateful that I never have to deal with several dozen vomiting children again… 

Working With Other Authors:

The Ticket to True Love writing process has been nothing but wonderful. I love the excitement of seeing where each of the stories are going to be set and how each other blends the series rules with their own style and story. The series guides, with the water and the tickets, really gave me a chance to push the story and try new things and I enjoyed taking Yellowstone to a whole new level. Ironically enough, the summer camp where I actually worked isn’t very far from where True Springs can be found, which helped inspire the very start.  It’s also been so fun running parties and creating a community with such amazing authors surrounding romance and adventure and a little bit of the magic of love. 

Find Holland: 

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HollandRae 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/196337010993469 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaeRomance 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollandraeromance/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rubymayqueen?lang=en 

HollandRae.com 

Practically Persuaded in Pittsburgh by JB Schroeder

Blurb:

In this friends-to-lovers, interracial story with a small-town feel, Sadie agrees to a fake marriage for a good cause, but she has to fess up about other plans when Jake begins playing for keeps!

Amazon and Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/34jiNht

A few favorite lines from the story:

“Are you offering me some kind of partnership? Just spit it out already.” Sadie didn’t have time for this, and Jake was cracked if he thought she had any kind of capital for some kind of family-ruining buyout. “I’m going to be late.”

“No—it’s bigger than that.” Jake sucked in a big breath. “I’m asking you to marry me.”

Sadie’s mouth dropped open. Her heart stuttered with shock and then recovered, as if Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage had appeared and then vanished all in the space of a second.

She barked out a laugh—because really, what other way was there to react? “You are out of your mind.”

“I’m completely serious.”

She scrunched up her face and peered at him. His hair was mussed, but his eyes were clear and he wasn’t muttering or drooling or frothing. Not drugs, not a psychotic episode, not even sleepwalking.

And sadly, most definitely not some romantic notion blown out of proportion as a result of one heart-stopping kiss seven years ago.

Fun Fact: I grew up in Pittsburgh but the Strip District has had a complete blossoming since I’ve been gone!

Most Difficult Thing: Keeping everyone excited and motivated!

Best Thing: The camaraderie and sharing of ideas.

www.JBSchroederAuthor.com

www.facebook.com/JBSchroederAuthor

www.instagram.com/jbschroederauthor/

www.goodreads.com/JBSchroeder

Sure to Fall in Sedona by Julie Strauss

Blurb:

Tiffani Lemmen worked hard to get clean. If she can stay out of trouble and away from men, she’ll inherit her grandmother’s fortune.

Danny Ibanez is the most promising young cop on the South Sedona police force. The law is black and white, and when you’re the son of the most crooked cop in Arizona, you follow the rules. All of them. The last thing Danny plans to do is fall for an ex-junkie with a criminal past.

Resisting each other is impossible. Falling in love with cost them everything.

Buy Link: https://amzn.to/34JUJ7s

Favorite lines:

She hit the water back-first. The basin was deeper than she expected, and the water came up over her face. The cold surprised her, and she opened her mouth to gasp. Water filled her mouth, and she choked on it. Suddenly, time sped up, and she struggled to stand up. Her clothes had grown heavy and waterlogged, and her flip-flops had fallen off, so her bare feet couldn’t get purchase on the slippery tiled bottom. She managed to struggle over onto her hands and knees, coughing and spitting out water.

She looked up at the two young men in front of the statue, who had stopped mid-makeout to gaze at her.

“Well,” observed one of them, “that’s one way to find your true love.”

Fun fact about the story:

After I wrote the initial draft of “Sure to Fall in Sedona,” I sent it to a cop friend of mine. She replied, “Did you actually research police work? Have you ever met a cop? Have you ever even seen a cop show?” I had to admit the truth: all I really know about police work was that one time I’d been out to lunch with a girlfriend of mine and their was a bachelor party in the room next to us and a stripper in a cop uniform showed up and stripped down to his g-string. I corrected the actual police work in the book, but I left in a few cracks about ogling handsome men in uniform. Like I’m gonna pass up that opportunity!

The most difficult part of writing with other authors: I admire the other writers so much, and I was pretty sure they made a mistake when they invited me to join them. I was (and still am!) afraid that I could never match their level of excellence.

The BEST part about writing with other authors: I loved that we were all working with similar parameters and coming up with such different stories. I think the experience made me a better writer.

Contact Links:

Website/Instagram/Podcast

 

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June 8, 2021 · 8:07 am

Free Range Killers & Murder Unrehearsed by Roxanne Dunn

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Roxanne Dunne…..

Free Range Killers

Bad things—sometimes very bad things—happen to good people. And killers do go free.

I once worked with an intelligent, fun-loving woman who was putting herself through grad school. She finished her degree and went to work for a large, well-known organization where she discovered what she believed to be an illegal diversion of funds into someone’s private pocket. Believing in justice with all her heart, she began to gather evidence. After receiving warnings to leave it alone, she contacted some of us, her old colleagues, to tell us what was going on. She wanted us to know in case something happened to her.

Someone broke into her home and stole the evidence she had amassed, and shortly afterward, she was murdered. Her killer has never been found.

This story simmers in the back of my mind. So far, I haven’t found the courage to write it.

The fact is, a lot of people get away with murder. To get an idea of how many, I searched the web, and on the DC.gov website, found closure rates for the Metropolitan Police Department. (https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/homicide-closure-rates) They posted a chart showing that in fourteen of sixteen years (2003 through 2018), somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of murderers got away. Their closure rate was above 80 percent in only two years.

How do they define closure? A suspect must have been arrested, charged, and turned over to the court for prosecution. Or, alternatively, a suspect must be identified, located, and with enough evidence to support prosecution, but unable to be prosecuted due to circumstances beyond the control of the law, such as death.

So, murderers who were tried and not convicted or who were unable to be prosecuted should be added to the 20 to 40 percent who got away. That’s a lot.

I think about the victims’ friends and families; how sad, impotent, and frustrated they feel.

So, why do I enjoy reading and writing murder mysteries?

In fiction, as writers, when we make bad things happen to our characters, we give them allies, resources, and strengths they never knew they had. We grant them endurance and courage to get up every morning and face whatever must be faced and not cave. Because of their goodness, justice triumphs. The bad guys get their what they deserve. Finally, when their tribulations are over, we give them happy endings.

And I go to bed at night believing that justice will prevail; knowing that most of the time, good things happen to good people.

*******

Wow, Roxanne. Fascinating. I heard a little while back that nearly 40% of murders go unsolved, and I was shocked, but it’s true. So sorry about the woman who was murdered. Tragic. Thanks for being my guest today!

Heather Shelton has man problems: an unfaithful lover, a mysterious stranger, and a psychopathic killer.

Matt stopped. His mouth hung open for a few beats. “What are you doing here?”

The darkest parts of me, those that I kept stuffed way down inside surged to the surface. My face burned with indignation. I was Kate the Shrew at her best. “How dare you! You and your pretty little Live Like King Tut fable. You kiss me and tell me you liked it. You say you are my biggest fan. You pretend to bare your soul. You think I can’t figure out what’s going on? All you want is for me to believe that you’re a good guy, so you can leave me hanging out for a pack of wolves. So I can end up as dead as Mariella. Well, damn you all to hell!”

Slick as spit, Matt reached out and took my hands. “It’s not like that.”

I wrenched away. “Keep away from me, you – you Judas!”

 Kindle:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DHJ6TG7/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Barnes and Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-unrehearsed-roxanne-dunn/1137387167?ean=2940162985846 

Kobo:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/murder-unrehearsed 

https://seaportbooks.com/

https://www.thewildrosepress.com/books/murder-unrehearsed 

and via my website: www.roxannedunn.com

Roxanne Dunn has studied writing in Paris and Seattle, and writes the galley column for Pacific Yachting magazine. Murder Unrehearsed is her first novel.

She is a physical therapist, a foodie, a fanatic about good chocolate, and a private pilot. She lived aboard an old wood motor yacht for seventeen years, and in her dreams, is a famous author, a pianist of renown, an acceptable water-color artist, and a globe-trotting yogini.

Contacts:

www.roxannedunn.com

https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.dunn.127

https://twitter.com/roxanne_dunn

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June 2, 2021 · 9:30 am

#HobbyCareerPassion: Debby Grahl ~ Sundae My Love ~ at Sand Lake, Where Ghosts Bring Two Lovers Back Together ~ #WRPgrp #Blog #AHAgrp

Welcome to my weekly feature where authors share about the hobbies, careers, or passions of their characters.

I’m pleased to introduce today’s guest, Debby Grahl…

Sundae My Love – at Sand Lake, Where Ghosts Bring  Two Lovers Back Together   Hi, I’m Samantha Murray, and Sundae My Love is the story of my family’s ice cream business. The Murrays have called Sand Lake, in the Irish Hills of Michigan, home since the nineteen fifties. After my grandparents retired, I took over the running of the Dairy Delight. Lake-goers have enjoyed our Neapolitan Nectar milk shake for generations, but now Zack Hunter, the love of my life and the man who broke my heart, is back in town and threatens my business. Hey there, I’m Zack Hunter, and I also grew up on Sand Lake. I left to go to college out west and have returned with a degree in architecture. You see, my grandparents built Frontier Town, a tourist attraction near the lake. The buildings have stood empty for years, and it’s been my dream to restore them and add an old-fashioned ice cream shop. The problem is the land I need to use adjoins the Dairy Delight. I have to confess I messed up pretty badly and hurt Samantha when I left. But I’ve realized my mistake, and I’m home and plan on winning back the woman I love. When Wild Rose Press requested stories for their Two Scoops or One anthology, I knew my family’s home on Sand Lake was the perfect setting. Even though I’ve changed the characters’ names, the people actually exist. The house, built in the late nineteenth century, is as I describe, including the ghosts. I haven’t seen them, but, along with my cousins, we’ve heard them. Doors slam, floorboards creak, and footsteps go up and down the stairs. Across the lake on US 12, there’s a drive-up ice cream shop, and down the road the empty buildings of a frontier town still stand. When I was young, my cousins and I would sit in the saloon wearing our western shirts and moccasins drinking root beer. We’d hop on the stagecoach which was always held up by outlaws.  The Irish Hills is a rural area in southeast Michigan. There’s farm land, a number of lakes, woods of maples and oaks and dogwoods. I now live on Hilton Head Island, SC, but each summer I go home to the lake where I enjoy spending time with all my cousins, going out for ice cream, and reminiscing about growing up in such a beautiful place. Can ancestral ghosts bring Samantha and Zack back together to fulfill all their dreams? Sundae My Love Blurb As manager of the Dairy Delight, Samantha Murray is dismayed to discover her past love is back and plans on building a rival business next door. Zack Hunter returns to Sand Lake to win back Samantha and fulfill his grandfather’s dreams by restoring Frontier Town, a tourist attraction once owned by his grandparents, and adding an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. Samantha is heartbroken over Zack’s past betrayal and struggles, conflicted over the love she can’t deny, but resolved to stop his building plans. Zack is torn between his love for Samantha and his determination to follow through with his grandfather’s legacy. Convinced the two are desperately in need of help, the family ghosts intervene to bring them together and solve their differences. Sundae My Love excerpt In the living room, a female shape materialized. Her     long dress swirled around her ankles, and the heels of  her high button shoes tapped across the hardwood floor. “Good grief, Angus, I wanted you to make them meet on  the lake, not have Zack run Samantha down,” Patricia Murray said with exasperation. In a Queen Anne style chair, a male form appeared. “Patricia, it wasn’t my fault. Thaddeus was sitting next  to Zack and took control of the wheel.” He removed his pipe from his shirt pocket. Puffs of translucent smoke soon filled the room. “But it worked out.” Hands on her hips, Patricia glowered. “Worked out! Are you kidding? What should have been a romantic reunion has made Samantha even more upset.” Patricia shook her head. “Samantha and Zack are perfect for  each other. It’s beyond me why that boy broke her heart and now is making matters worse by threatening the  Dairy Delight.” She narrowed her eyes. “You don’t seem too surprised over Zack’s plans. Did you already know about this?” Angus squirmed in his seat. “Ah, well.” “You did. Angus Murray, I can see it in your eyes. You’ve known all about this and didn’t tell me. This is why you’ve been gone so much lately. I’ll bet you and Thaddeus have been over there watching every move he’s made.” “The boy is doing a top-rate job restoring the buildings. I can’t tell you how pleased Thaddeus is. You  know how much that place meant to him.” “What about Zack’s disregard for Samantha and the  Dairy Delight?” “Patricia, we’ve watched over our family for three generations. And no matter what problem occurs, they manage to work it out.” Patricia threw up her arms in exasperation. “Sometimes situations need to be helped along. Samantha is on her way to confront Zack. Go over there and see what happens.” “You want me to spy on my great-great-granddaughter?” “Yes. It’s for her own good.”  “Why don’t you go?” “Because Thaddeus is your friend, not mine.      Besides, I promised Virginia Bradly I’d visit this afternoon. You know how lonely she gets when her  family is gone.” Angus sighed, then stood. He placed his pipe in his pocket, adjusted his suspenders, straightened his bow tie, kissed his wife’s cheek, and vanished.   Amazon Author Page — https://www.amazon.com/Debby-Grahl/e/B00B34HM26   Bio: Debby lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband, David. Besides writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach and a glass of wine at sunset. Her favorite places to visit are New Orleans, New York City, Captiva Island in Florida, the Cotswolds of England, and her home state of Michigan. She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder mysteries, time travel, and, of course, romance. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books. Sundae My Love, in the Two Scoops or One anthology from The Wild Rose Press, will be  released June 30. Her other books  are Mountain Blaze, His Magic Touch, Decorated to Death, Rue Toulouse, and The Silver Crescent. Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/debbygrahlauthor?ref=br_rs  

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