Author of paranormal and romantic suspense. Follow her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alicia-Dean/131939826889437) or twiiter (https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_)
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Tammy D Walker sharing her new release, Down to Earth (The Daw County Sisters Mysteries)
Blurb: Stacey Hengesbach has enough to worry about with a pecan harvest, festival preparations, and a daughter who’s eager to leave their tiny hometown all needing her attention. So when a radio antenna tower falls, seriously injuring its owner, she’s willing to believe it’s an accident like everyone else in the county does, including the sheriff. But then another antenna tower falls, this time on her best friend’s cafe while they’re inside. With the help of her family, friends old and new, and the local ham radio club, Stacey races to solve the mystery of the falling antennas before another one comes crashing down.
Bad Weather and Good Community: Storms, Radio, and Cozy Mysteries
Lightning flashes. Thunder shakes the house. In a cascade of noise, emergency alert texts clash with the wind howling just outside and the warning sirens wailing a block away. My family and I gather in a safe place in our house, an interior room with no windows.
Once inside the room, I grab one of the radios I’ve stashed there earlier, knowing we might have severe weather. Beside the hand-crank weather band radio with its USB charger and light is my other go-to in an emergency: my hand held radio with the local amateur repeater frequencies programmed in it.
While my husband looks up weather radar on his laptop and one of the kids tunes into our local NOAA all hazards radio stations, I’ll listen to the frequencies area weather spotters might use to report local hail, high winds, and tornadoes. Living in an area where we can–and do–get severe weather that develops quickly, I’m grateful that we have good coverage from our news outlets about storms so that we can stay safe. And hearing the reports from trained storm spotters nearby gives us an even clearer picture of what we could prepare ourselves for when clouds and rain have us in the dark, sometimes literally, should the power go out.
We often think of radio as just a technology, or as a one-way medium, as in the stations that broadcast news on the AM bands and music on FM. But for me, radio is far more than that. Radio is about community. While much of that community is focused on entertainment–music and sports, for instance–there’s a significant number of radio enthusiasts whose interests lie in how we can use the technology to help people stay safe in different kinds of crises.
So when I started writing Down to Earth, the second novel in my cozy crime series, The Daw County Sisters Mysteries, I wanted to bring radio in as a way to explore community. Because, after all, community is at the heart of cozy mysteries, in the way people come together, are driven apart, and return to each other again.
For Stacey, the main character, radio is tied to serving the people around her through the activities of the amateur radio club she’s in. It’s also integral to her sense of home, through nostalgia for a now-closed music station she loved in high school as well as her curiosity about a new enigma showing up on the FM band. And, since this is a mystery, a fallen radio antenna tower kicks off the central question of the book: who sees communication as a threat and why?
Back home in Dallas, when the storms clear, I’ll put away our emergency weather radio for later. My hand held radio goes back in its charger on my writing desk. And, like Stacey, I know that when I need it, radio will be there, providing weather reports, entertainment, and a medium through which I can connect with others who want to serve our community.
Bio: Tammy D. Walker writes cozy crime novels, and her latest from The Wild Rose Press is Down to Earth, the second in her Daw County Sisters Mysteries series. When she’s not crafting mysteries or poems, she’s probably reading, teaching, trying to find far-away stations on her shortwave radios, dreaming about travel, writing letters, or spending time with her family. Find out more at her website: https://www.tammydwalker.com/
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Kim Janine Ligon…
FIBER FANATIC
Thank you, Alicia, for the opportunity to share a bit about mystery, romance, and my passion for all things fiber on your blog today. I have been practicing the needle arts—crochet, knitting, embroidery, cross stitch, tatting, chicken scratch, and needlepoint since I was nine years old. I’ve never been one to sit and simply watch TV. My hands need to be busy and needlework is better than snacking. I usually have two or three projects going on at one time from knitting socks to crocheting baby blankets to cross stitch. My long-suffering husband refers to the area around my recliner in the den as my “nest”. At the end of the evening I have something to show for my time instead more pounds on the scale.
Shortly before I retired a made a list I titled “What Kim Is Going To Do When She Retires”. It included writing and publishing novels which came true in 2022 when I published my first cozy mystery with sweet, wholesome romance with The Wild Rose Press. In July this year, my third novel came out and in December I have a Christmas novel coming out. All of them are with The Wild Rose Press and my extraordinary editor, Dianne Rich. Mark that item off my list!
Another item was to learn how to spin—fiber into yarn, not the exercise bike kind. Five months after I retired, we made the trek north to buy my spinning wheel. And I made my first purchase of beautiful fiber. Little did I know that buying fiber is addictive. The beautiful colors, soft fibers. Exotic fibers like musk ox, buffalo, chinchilla. Walking through a fiber shop has an almost hypnotic effect on me. Everything is calling my name saying “Take me home.” Many of them are in tubs in my work room waiting to be spun!
I brought the spinning wheel home after a twenty minute lesson in the shop. Learning to spin is like learning to drive a car…in the middle of a three lane highway…going seventy miles an hour…and needing to change lanes. It is multitasking at its highest level.
Successful spinning means pumping the pedals at a consistent speed fast enough to twist the fiber onto the bobbin but not too fast or the fiber will escape your hands. At the same time you are holding the twist in check with your left hand while feeding the perfect amount of fiber to the ongoing twist so your yarn is a consistent thickness. My first efforts definitely created a thick-n-thin yarn—perfect sized yarn interspersed with clumps of too much in the feed. Another item off the list!
Once you get the rhythm down it is a relaxing process that allows me to work out plot problems while I’m spinning. I’ve made sweaters for friends and family from my homespun and after my sister-in-law gave me a loom for my birthday, scarves for everyone. Many of my characters have been bitten by the fiber bug too. I try to write and spin every day.
Wow, Kim…I wish I had that talent. It does sound relaxing and being able to make beautiful things for yourself and others would be awesome. Thank you for joining me today. Now, please tell us about your book…
BLURB:
Why are teenage mothers dying in the Garland Regional E.R. instead of delivering healthy babies for adoption at The Obstetrical Center? Something is seriously wrong. On her physician’s advice, Garland’s CEO Evelyn Langford reluctantly takes a long scheduled vacation for her fiftieth birthday leaving her team to conduct an investigation into Obstetrical Center.
Evelyn’s efforts to investigate the problem are hampered by her complicated relationships with her secretive brother, Frank, her subordinates, and, surprisingly, FBI Special Agent Rance Thompson, a new acquaintance, who comes to the small town to investigate possible links between the childbirth deaths and a string of teenage girl disappearances.
Will Frank’s increasingly erratic behavior and the growing attraction between Evelyn and the younger agent further complicate discovering the truth about the dying girls?
EXCERPT:
“You needn’t yell. I can hear you. The patient mumbled something to Dr. Merrick right before she died. She said ‘Doc, not me again, don’t. Please, I can’t. Please don’t.’ Does that make any sense to you?”
The physician hesitated a moment. “Why ask me? How would I know why a dying girl, who lied about who she was, said anything? She was probably delirious. Why do you think it has something to do with me?”
“She said not me again. I thought since she was your patient you might have some insight into her situation. Had she given birth at your center before?”
The physician hesitated a moment. “Why ask me? How would I know why a dying girl, who lied about who she was, said anything? She was probably delirious. Why do you think it has something to do with me?”
“She said not me again. I thought since she was your patient you might have some insight into her situation. Had she given birth at your center before?”
“How would I know off the top of my head? Hundreds of mothers have been through here. I haven’t memorized all their names, faces, and personal situations.”
Kim Ligon has been writing stories for most of her life—some on paper and some only in her head. She has lots of source material growing up as the oldest child in a large family in a small town in Wisconsin. Her father was a veterinarian so there were not only lots of children around, but all manner of house pets and farm animals too. Her love of reading comes from her mother who was seldom seen sitting down without a book in her hand. After a demanding career in healthcare information technology, she is now getting to do all the creative things she loves—spinning, knitting, crocheting, creating buildings on her husband’s model railroad and writing her stories to share with you. She lives with her chief encourager and personal romantic hero, her husband of almost forever, in Alabama. Please follow her further adventures at www.spinningromance.com or email her at kimjanine@spinningromance.com Enjoy!
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Susie Black with her Hobby, Career, Passion Post: The Philatelist: How Stamp Collecting Made Me a Better Writer…
I have been an avid philatelist since I was twelve years old. What is a philatelist? It’s a fancy word for a stamp collector. My introduction to stamp collecting was with a birthday gift of an album filled with stamps from one of my mother’s cousins. While the stamps fascinated me, other than attaching them to an envelope, I didn’t know much more about them. I took the album to a neighborhood coin and stamp store to see if the proprietor could teach me about stamp collecting. The first time I walked into that store, a magical world opened up for me that impacted my life in more ways than I could ever have imagined.
I credit my lifelong love affair with stamps and their influence on my writing to the generous, knowledgeable store proprietor. Every Friday after school, I went home to collect my weekly allowance and stamp album and then rode my bicycle to the stamp store.
Always wearing a jeweler’s loupe and a magnifying glass on a lanyard around his neck, Mr. Albin was so willing to answer all your questions, teach you everything you wanted to learn, and exuded so much enthusiasm about his chosen field, that even the most skeptical customer couldn’t help but become a fan. He was a wonderful teacher who taught me the proper way to handle and evaluate the quality of stamps.
After making my selections, I’d bring them to the proprietor to ring up, and that’s when the magic began. He had a story for every stamp, and his vivid descriptions made the stamps come alive. With one commemorating the casualties of our Civil War, his eyes filled as he whispered, as though praying in a Chapel. With another celebrating the end of slavery, he spoke with the fervor of a preacher. No matter what the story, he told it like a novel with a beginning, a middle, an ending, and a point of view. He told each story his special way; taking his time, slowly building up to the cliffhanger, and dramatically pausing right before the climax. Talk about pacing and how to build tension up to the finale. Mr. Albin had it down pat. He was my tour director on weekly adventures with stamps serving as the tickets for the ride.
I incorporated my hobby into a key scene in Death by Jelly Beans, my latest mystery. The stamp collector protagonist encountered a murder suspect’s spouse at a stamp store, which set another murder in motion. My view of the world and people play a major role in the writing style I learned from a marvelous man every Friday afternoon who led me by the hand on the continuing adventure of a lifetime through stamps.
Very interesting how you became involved in stamp collecting. Thank you for sharing. Now, please tell us about your book…
Mermaid Swimwear President Holly Schlivnik discovers the Bainbridge Department Store Easter Bunny slumped over dead and obnoxious swimwear buyer Sue Ellen Magee is arrested for the crime. Despite her differences with the nasty buyer, Holly is convinced the Queen of Mean didn’t do it. The wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to nail the real killer. But the trail has more twists than a pretzel and more turns than a rollercoaster. And nothing turns out how Holly thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent on revenge.
Excerpt:
The door to Sue Ellen’s office flew open and a six-foot tall rabbit I’d later learn named Pedro Conejo, President of Rent a Rabbit Characters, stalked out and bowled me over as I tried vainly to get out of his way.
The messenger bag containing samples and the presentation information fell off my shoulder and bounced across the room. The flap of the unzipped messenger bag flipped open, scattering everything inside it from one end of the room to the other.
The rabbit gripped the two ears atop the head with his paws. He ripped the headpiece straight up and off with a furious jerk and shoved it under his right armpit. He turned, faced Sue Ellen’s open door, and screamed loud enough for anyone at the mart three blocks away to hear. “You can’t prove a damned thing. Think you’ll get away with this? We have a contract. I’ll get you fired for this; you bitch!”
Then the rabbit removed the left paw of his costume with his teeth and gave Sue Ellen the middle finger salute. He hurdled over my prone body splayed out on the floor and stomped out of the office without so much as an apology for knocking me over, let alone an offer to help me up.
I sat up and poked my extremities to make sure nothing more than my pride had been injured. Satisfied my body, if not my self-respect, remained in one piece, I shook myself to get out the kinks the way my standard poodle Siggie does after a bath. I stretched as far as possible and grabbed the messenger bag. I spent the next five minutes crawling on all fours around the room, stuffing everything back inside the case. Note to self: Next time, zip the damned bag closed.
As I shoved the last sample back in the messenger bag, Sue Ellen’s assistant came out of the buyer’s office and observed me sprawled across the floor. I bit the inside of my cheek not to laugh as Abby deadpanned. “Sue Ellen will see you now.”
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.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Mitra De Souza
Thank you for joining me, Mitra. Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I grew up in San Diego County and currently live there with my husband, two kids and two big fluff ball rescue dogs. We lived in Trinidad and Tobago for 16 years (my husband is from there) and moved back to Southern California in 2018. In addition to being an author, I work full time at a local community college.
Where did you get the idea for THE FRAGILE?
I woke up one morning with the idea and knew I had to write it. The concept really spoke to me as a highly sensitive and empathic person. I wanted to reframe sensitivity as a strength and let young people know that who they are is more than okay. I really like how the main character learns to embrace her own inner strength.
Why did you choose this genre?
I love reading and writing speculative fiction. Growing up, I enjoyed watching The Twilight Zone and reading Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles. With respect to writing speculative fiction, I love the freedom to imagine “what if’s” and to think outside the box. Most of what I write has at least some speculative element. I gravitate to YA fiction because I’ve spent the last 25 years working with young adults as an educator.
What do you dislike that most people wouldn’t understand?
I really dislike soda/soft drinks (especially Coke/Pepsi).
Do you collect anything?
I have a collection of keychains from various countries and states that people have given me. It started when I worked at The University of the West Indies, and students would go home over break and want to bring me back something from their islands. Key chains are relatively cheap and easy to find so I’d usually request one of those. So, my collection started with islands from throughout the Caribbean, but has grown to keychains from all over the world. It’s cool because the collection represents all the places that people I care about have been.
What was your first job?
Serving frozen yogurt at TCBY for $4 an hour.
What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?
My full-time job, but I need that to live. Despite enjoying my job, I look forward to when I can retire and spend my days writing.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read THE FRAGILE?
I hope readers feel seen and inspired to fully embrace their unique selves. I’d also love to spark conversations about how we can make the world a better place.
Would you rather have a bad review or no review?
It depends on why the review is “bad.” If they simply say they hate the book or give it a 1 star without any reason, I would definitely prefer no review. However, if the review contains constructive feedback that would be more helpful than no review.
What is your favorite quote?
“Justice is what love looks like in public.”- Cornell West
How did you come up with the title?
The title came to me one morning along with the idea for the book. In the book, children are called “Fragiles” because they are highly sensitive. Society often equates sensitivity with being weak and fragile, and the books seeks to reframe this.
Your favorite…
Movie – The Shawshank Redemption and Free Guy
Music – We Close our Eyes by Oingo Boingo
Place you’ve visited – Cuba
Place you’d like to visit – Barcelona
Food – grapes and fries (but not at the same time)
Thank you for the interesting interview…you’re right, I don’t understand how you don’t like soda, Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke are my jam 🙂 Now, please tell us about your book…
TAG LINE: An institutionalized teen with debilitating empathy and the secret ability to transfer feelings into people with her hands must choose between her longing to be cured and her will to fight back against a man bent on destroying everyone like her.
BLURB
Seventeen-year-old Maya is a Fragile—someone deemed too weak to function in society —and has spent the last decade institutionalized at the Academy for the Rehabilitation of Children. Maya wants nothing more than to be cured of her neurotic hypersensitivity which causes her to experience the pain and emotions of others. Instead, she begins to have vivid nightmares where she connects with a young girl’s trauma, leading her to uncover a plot to destroy the empathy centers in children’s brains.
Desperate to escape the girl’s pain, Maya learns she has the ability to transfer feelings into people with her hands when she accidentally hurts her best friend, Jacob. Lacking faith in her new ability, Maya must choose between fighting a man bent on destroying everyone like her, and finally being free from the burden of empathy.
In doing so, she might discover that she’s not so fragile after all…
Excerpt:
One summer evening about a year before her assessment, [Maya] watched the neighborhood boys catch fireflies. The jars lit up like lanterns as the sky faded into darkness. To her horror, the tallest boy with messy blond hair took a firefly between his fingers and smashed it until his fingers glowed with the firefly’s light. As the other boys gathered around to try, she screamed at them to stop. But they just laughed and continued to crush the fireflies. She lunged at the blond boy who shoved her to the ground. While the other boys laughed, one spat at her and mumbled “stupid Fragile” under his breath. Her bruises healed, but the words left a permanent scar.
Mitra has loved to write for as long as she can remember. In elementary school, she used to tape her short stories to the back of her chair for her classmates to read. She is drawn to stories that encourage people to view the world from a new perspective. When she lived in Trinidad and Tobago, she authored a series of children’s books published by a local NGO to foster empathy and promote animal welfare. She currently resides in San Diego with her husband, two kids and two big rescue dogs who think they’re still puppies. When she isn’t writing, she loves walking on the beach, laughing uncontrollably with her kids, and continuing her quest to find the perfect mango.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Frankie Sutton…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
Hey, I’m Frankie from Detroit. Aside from being an author, my other creative ventures have been singing, acting, and making animated music videos (AMVs) on YouTube. You can still see those videos under Simmian7.
Where did you get the idea for your book?
I started Trembles of the Heart as a challenge to write a novella. During research for story setting—I stumbled across some wild Utah Facts that meshed so well with the story. Did you know the official state dessert is Jello. And the MC in Trembles of the Heart often uses ‘Code Jello’ as an alert to an oncoming seizure. And her LI attends college in the same city (Odgen), which I discovered was a top-rated place to get EMT training—the exact career he chooses in the story.
Do you collect anything?
Shot Glasses from around the world and from TV shows. Some of them are oddly shaped.
What was your first job?
Back when products like Avon and Candlelight products were popular and many people had events in their houses for them…I worked for a lady who was a top seller for Candlelight.
Would you rather have a bad review or no review?
Yes, it’s proof that someone read my book and was moved enough to write their experience with my book on the internet.
What is your favorite quote?
It’s like someone is calling out to me. Writing it all down…it’s like I’m calling back to them. (quote from August Rush, but used for my writing)
What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with?
Tom Hanks. Even though he only played a character, he still had to act out those scenes on Castaway.
If you could be a character in any of your books, who would you be?
Shae Taizer (Vampiric Crush, available 10-2-24). If I had her portal ability, I could travel to Japan and Italy without enduring those long, cramped flights.
What do your friends and family think of your writing?
My Gramma (RIP Gramma) was the first to believe I would be published. But the rest of my family is just as excited.
Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
I’ve met and worked with a few celebrities. But if I had to pick one…then, Lewis Black, a popular comedian. After attending his performance, we did the meet-and-greet. The venue said no cameras, so we left ours in the car. But after seeing so many using their cameras to get a pic with Lewis, my dad offered to get ours. The venue stated if he left, he couldn’t get back in. And passing it to Mum through the front door was vetoed. Lewis overheard our conversation and his reply made the whole line laugh. I cannot share exactly what he said, cuz he used a word often favored by Samuel L. Jackson. LOL
Your favorite…
Movie –Rise of the Guardians
Music – techno music
Place you’d like to visit – Japan, but I would NOT survive the plane ride, way too long
TV show from childhood – Silverhawks, Voltron, Transformers (only the 80s version), TMNT (the 80s cartoon)
TV show from adulthood –Dark Angel, American Gothic, The Odyssey (Canadian show), The OA
Sports team – any Japanese team from the Little League World Series
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? TV, because it’s something I can do by myself.
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I enjoyed the interview…thank you for being my guest. Please tell us about your book…
Blurb:
Jessica has 3 secrets: crushing on Mason, epilepsy, & the doctor who killed her mom. Admitting the first 2 weren’t so bad—friends become lovers despite her escalating seizures. Her 3rd secret means justice for her mother, even if it destroys Mason’s mentorship & their hearts.
Excerpt:
Crayon drawings on my bedroom walls made way for more advanced paintings in various mediums—such as oil, pastel, or acrylic. My eyes drifted over the familiar surroundings—cheesy romance novels overflowing the bookshelf, the vanity covered in art supplies, and the framed paintings lining the walls. I sat at my small desk, pushed aside a couple of notebooks for school, and rested my elbow in the empty space. I held the phone to my ear. “Helen?”
“You gone to your room, eh?”
She’s been in my home almost as much as her own.
“Yeah.”
“How’s the new painting coming along?”
I glanced at the half-finished canvas propped on my easel in the center of the room. “It’s getting there. Still needs some work, but I like how it’s turning out.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” Helen said. “So…have you told Mason yet?”
“I saw him in the book section at the mall.”
“You need to tell him, Jess. This has gone on too long.” The disappointment in her voice was unmistakable.
“It’s just…I don’t know how he’ll react, you know? And what if he doesn’t feel the same way?” I sighed. “He’s with Daisy, anyway.”
Frankie Sutton, born within a Motown/Detroit community, was raised on creativity—starting with music. Her love of reading and writing developed during her school years. However, at the beginning of her high school years, she entered into the world of fan fiction and role-playing games—experimenting with many styles of writing, including poems and scriptwriting. When not writing, she loves bonding with her miniature schnauzer. Frankie embraces her life as a Motown Michigander, ready to share her large imagination with the world.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Tracy Tripp…
What book have you read that you wish you had written?
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. I love this story because of the boy’s firm belief in a connection with a higher power and that his life has purpose no matter what the people of the world believe about him. I don’t know how to go about my day without believing there is a higher purpose in everything that happens, even if circumstances don’t make sense at the moment. I have written about stalkers, murderers, adulterers—all sorts of sinful stuff that could destroy a person, but even in my books, there must be a transition in character, a growth that comes out of the horrible deeds. The bad had to eventually serve a purpose. I can’t say that in my life, I don’t have doubts and don’t get frustrated when things don’t go my way, but each morning, I try to reset my mind and strengthen my belief in a higher power and my purpose.
What’s the main thing you could eliminate in your life that would give you more writing time?
Tough question. My writing distractions come in so many forms.
Family—I sit down to write and one of them will call with a need or to chat. Since they are the most important part of my life, I plan on keeping them and the distractions they bring.
Tennis/Exercise—Yes, at times, I play too much, but I firmly believe that exercise and socialization are essential to happiness, so I can’t give it up completely.
Cleaning my house is a necessary evil. I would gladly give this up if my husband allowed me to use a cleaning service.
Meaningless scrolling of my phone—Definitely my meaningless scrolling when bored or having a writer’s block moment should not happen.
How did you come up with the title of your latest book?
My latest book is a crime fiction/murder mystery about a serial killer titled White Noise Whispers. I had a tough time coming up with a title. When this one came to mind, I did not intend to keep it until I met a man on a plane. I was writing on my computer, and toward the end of the flight, the man next to me said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I couldn’t help but notice your title. We used to call the noise in our heads during battle white noise. We discussed the book briefly, and he said he served in Vietnam. The conversation contributed in two ways to the finished product. I kept the name because it resonated with the veteran flying beside me, and the conversation made me empathize with the characters in my story even more. This man’s pain was still evident many years after the battle had ended. When I asked if he would like to be a beta reader, he said that maybe it would help him. There was still so much sadness in his voice. As I wrote about the war scenes, I thought of this stranger on the plane and the wounds he still experienced. I hope my story shows respect for all our veterans and for all they went through fighting for our freedoms.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read White Noise Whispers?
First, with all my books, I want readers to be entertained and then want to tell someone about the story. Second, I hope they felt inspired, healed, or understood somehow because of the characters and storyline within the pages of my book.
How did your interest in writing originate?
Good question. Sometimes, the fact that I write surprises even me. I don’t feel like I have a writer’s personality because writers spend much time alone in their thoughts. I have a very social side, but through time, I have discovered that I also enjoy the reflective side of my mind. Looking back, though, I remember writing even as a child. When I was about ten, I wrote a corny love story called Ice Balls or something similar. It was my only romance story, and it ended with balls of ice falling, which was supposed to be magical. Apparently, I had never heard of hail.
How much of your book is realistic?
I can’t think of any part of White Noise Whispers that is realistic to my own life. The storyline came about differently than my other books. While writing Something Like a Dream and the sequel, Awaken, I searched for a beta reader to help me with the CIA parts. I met Edward Mickolus, a retired CIA officer and prolific writer who graciously agreed to read my story. He immediately changed the letters CIA to FBI and has been a writer friend ever since. After completing those novels, Ed asked me if I would be interested in writing a story with the premise of an investigator solving crimes by hearing voices in a walkie-talkie. I could take the story anywhere I wanted. I took it to the Second Battle of Fallujah, a task requiring much research. On the other hand, my newest novel in the editing phase, Broken Pieces, is about a murder on a farm. Being that I grew up on a dairy farm in New York, I was able to draw a great deal from real-life experiences. This made the writing of the story flow a bit easier, but I do enjoy researching and learning about new subject areas that relate to my stories.
Do you have another occupation other than writer? If so, what is it, and do you like it?
I am a former science and language arts teacher currently substituting mainly in middle schools. If you have raised children, you know that not every day with middle schoolers is lovely. That’s how I feel about subbing in a classroom full of them. When I have a great class and can teach the material, I love it and miss my days of having a classroom. On other days, I leave ready to retire and spend the rest of my life creating stories in the quiet of my home.
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Thank you for the interesting interview, Tracy. Now, about your book…
Blurb:
In the deserts of Iraq, a Marine falls in love with an embedded journalist who questions the war. As he battles with the horrific actions he must commit in the line of duty, the love for the journalist twists into something much darker and sends him spiraling on a path of destruction. Years after the war ends, Detective Jim Castile frantically searches for a serial killer. Each clue brings him dangerously closer to home. When the patient’s and the detective’s worlds collide, Jim Castille’s life is forever changed.
Buy Link:
About the Author:
Tracy Tripp grew up in Upstate New York, where she earned her bachelor’s at the State University at Oswego and master’s degree in education at Buffalo State College, both with a concentration in English. After years of teaching, she decided to stay home with her three children and follow her passion for writing. Tracy has written five novels: Parting Gifts,Still Life, Something Like a Dream,Awaken, and White Noise Whispers. She has also written two children’s books; The Wealthy Frog and Sammy the Snowman. Tracy is a substitute teacher for grades K-12 and enjoys playing tennis in her free time. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband and three children. Read more about her works at tracytripp.com.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Joy M. Ross…
Hello Joy…happy to have you as my guest. Please tell us a bit about how the book came to be…
The idea for “The Secret of the Ugly Brooch” came about soon after a beloved aunt passed away, and I had my first exposure to a legal will. That, and numerous murder mysteries which were always my interest, led me to consider: could a will designate the estate go to whoever attended the deceased’s funeral? I questioned an attorney friend and received a “possible”, so I ran with it.
The original title was “Lucky Day”. As the story progressed, the characters kept referring to the brooch as “ugly” and I thought that sounded more intriguing. So, actually, the characters helped name the book.
This is my debut novel, and I am writing a follow up. The cozy mystery genre has always held my interest. I read them all (just finished a great fantasy novel, a debut also), but I always return to mystery. I love a bit of romance in there as well, and there has to be a happy ending, and hopefully, a cliff hanger.
The most difficult thing about writing, anything I have written, is finding the time. Life has this annoying tendency to scream things like, “Pay your bills! Wash the dishes, do the laundry! Your car tag renewal is due today!” I find a schedule helps a lot, and if I can just get a little written, it’s better than nothing written.
Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
I am a retired insurance investigator. Research, investigation, is part of my DNA. I love it all. Stress of the job, workload, caused me to go ahead and retire. Then Covid came along, I wanted out of the house but didn’t want to return to insurance and the stress of claims. I wanted part time, anad contact with people. I work part time as a cashier, and if things are a little quiet and people are chatty, it’s amazing the things you can learn.
What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?
I have a tee shirt that I love, and I wear it a lot for inspiration. I don’t wear it in public because what exposure it has, people don’t get it. It’s a black cat with big eyes, holding up a bloody butcher knife, and the caption is “What?” I think it’s both funny and gruesome.
Do you collect anything?
When I travel, I collect useful souvenirs. Potholders, beach towels, and take lots of pictures.
What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?
My part time cashier job. I really like it, and it gives me exposure to everyday people. Recently, I was injured (broke left ankle and a bone in my right foot so both feet damaged) and so I am off work, and finding that no obligations to go anywhere at a certain time is very liberating! But I also need that little extra income.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read your book?
A little escape, a smile, just enjoy the read. Nothing heavy here.
What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?
Lacey Chabert as Emma, Matt Bomer as Mike. The O’Malleys are modeled after a real-life aunt and uncle (although they weren’t Irish). Jason Strahan possibly as Joseph Malone. Emma is modeled after my daughter, and Emma’s physical description is much the same as my daughter. Tina is modeled after my daughter’s best friend and her personality matches the character, while the description does not.
The name Nancy Karroll, the nurse, came as a result of a conversation with a coworker. I had a customer constantly confusing the name of a body shop, and the receptionist confusing her name. The two intermingled and kept coming out as Nancy Karroll for the customer. I told the receptionist, if I ever write a book, Nancy Karroll will be in it.
Would you rather have a bad review or no review?
I hate to say it, but a bad review. It would hurt, but my first boss taught me to let things roll off and not bring me down. A bad review would tell me what one person thinks, and I could learn from it.
What do your friends and family think of your writing?
They have been very supportive, and often tell me they are proud of me. My husband, who passed in 2023, was supportive but one of my strongest critics. He encouraged me, gave me the tools I needed, to strengthen my writing. One of his last presents to me was a beautiful thesaurus.
How much of the book is realistic?
The Secret of the Ugly Brooch is set in Grove, Oklahoma. The Grand Lake of the Cherokees runs through the town and is a beautiful setting. My husband and I would go there occasionally for the day, and I often meet a friend from Springfield there, to enjoy a day of flea marketing, shopping, eating, and just catching up.
So, the town is real, as are a couple of landmarks mentioned. After that, it’s all fiction.
How did your interest in writing originate?
I have been a ferocious reader since I learned how to read. Bookworm, nose in a book, you name it, that was me. My first complete novel was written on a manual typewriter, then finished on an electric (my husband gifted me for Christmas). It resides in a worn brown folder in a drawer somewhere. Besides the sequel to Ugly Brooch that I’m working on now, I have two other novels started, but put on hold for the second Ugly Brooch.
Thank you so much for stopping by today. I enjoyed the interview. I love the t-shirt, LOL. Just my kind of humor.By the way, I’m an Okie too! 🙂
After Emma witnesses a theft and murder, she hides from the killer, but circumstances cause her to be thrown into a life of luxury and secrets.
She feels safe, hidden away in her secluded estate. Detective Mike Wells keeps tabs on her and soon discovers that she is not only in danger but is about to be the center of attention. Interesting and enjoyable characters surround Emma and Mike, and while their attraction grows, so does the tension as the evil comes closer to home.
Joy M. Ross was raised in Missouri, and she says the “Show Me” philosophy is still part of her roots. However, she has lived in Oklahoma long enough, she considers herself an “Okie”. She lives on a small ranchette and enjoys gardening and outdoor dog activities with her two terriers and a chocolate lab, who found her and settled in, not the other way around. A temperamental tuxedo cat rounds out her household.
Church activities, her critique group, and a part time cashier job keep her busy, and she travels when possible. Family lives in another state, so road trips are often on the calendar.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Shaelynn Long…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I’m originally from Coleman, Michigan, which is a small town in the central part of the Lower Peninsula. I currently live in Boyne City, Michigan, which is another small town, but I’m a lot further north! My partner, our son, and I moved up here a few years ago for a job opportunity, and there are some days I can’t believe it’s real. It’s such a great place to live, and our three dogs enjoy the space we’ve been able to acquire.
Tell us a little about how the book came to be…
Fury’s Fate was born out of a writing exercise I was doing to work on descriptions, but I just fell absolutely in love with the main character, Olivia. I set her story aside for many years, though, as I worked to establish my career and start my family. I’ve always written fantasy and knew that was where this book belonged—I just needed to create the right world.
In the midst of a neurodivergent obsession with Greek mythology, I found so many myths that really helped me to not only create this world but a deep backstory for Olivia, who is one of the three ancient Furies (the Alekto). In my gut, I suddenly knew where she belonged. Using a lot of the research that I did, I pieced together even more of who Olivia is, and her current life-state (which is the catalyst for the actions we see her taking in the book) became not only real to me but also something I wanted to explore. One question really bugged me: What happens if an immortal being experiences what we humans call “a mid-life crisis”? Unfortunately for Olivia, the book ends up showcasing what happens.
The most difficult thing about the writing of this book is that it was the first novel-length manuscript I’ve tried to tackle. I’ve written poetry, creative nonfiction, and short stories, but the scale of this project was daunting!
Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
I’m an English instructor at a community college, and I adore it. I’m lucky enough to teach writing, literature, and creative writing, and it’s just… it’s the best job in the world. I love working with learners. They bring so much energy and light to my life, and there’s nothing more fulfilling to me than hearing them speak confidently about themselves as writers and readers. Teaching can be really hard—there are days it feels impossible—but it’s such important work, and I am so grateful that it’s what I do for a living.
What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?
This might be a really expected answer now that you know what I do for a living, but my favorite novel is Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. Her ability to write damaged characters capable of growth was superb. No one’s perfect in her world—they’re far from it, and I think it can be hard as a writer to not want our darlings to make the right decisions and say the right words. But characters are so much more interesting when they make mistakes. What’s strange about my love for the novel, though, is that I hated it the first time I read it. I picked it up several years later and could not, for the life of me, figure out what I thought was wrong with it. It was so good! But that had such a fantastic impact on my thinking about books. I’m not afraid to put down a book and return later to see if I feel differently about it.
My favorite childhood book was The Secret Garden. It had everything! There was a sad main character with an attitude, a mystery to unravel, slightly scary things occurring, trauma. I just fell in love with it. I own several copies of it now, and I had the gate to the garden (as it looks in my mind) tattooed on my arm a few years ago.
What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?
Casting my books like they’re films/movies is actually something I do to start writing. It gives me a concrete image to write with that I’ve found to be really helpful.
Here’s the cast of Fury’s Fate (if I was lucky enough for this novel to be made into a movie):
Olivia: Megan Fox
Gabrielle: Kat Dennings
Leslie: Anya Taylor-Joy
Evangeline: Maggie Q
Demetrius: Djimon Hounsou
The Fates: Brenda Song
Allison: Rachelle Lefevre
Alex: Theo James
Fabian: Michael Malarkey
Your most prized material possession? Why?
I have a silver pinky ring from my paternal grandmother that I received after she passed away. It’s very simple—just a silver band—but it reminds me of her. She was a force to be reckoned with. An absolute ball of energy, that woman. Her work ethic, her sass, her stubbornness, and her grace—I just want to embody even a scrap of it. I miss her.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
I have! I have written a book of poetry that will be out in early 2026. Wild Ink, who published Fury’s Fate, is also publishing this. It’s called wild thing. It explores the feral nature of human beings, revealing vulnerability, heartache, confidence, and ultimately, what it’s like being a female-presenting human doing what they have to in order to survive.
I’ve also recently written a romantasy, tentatively titled Court of the Unwanted. Its future is a bit up in the air right now, in terms of where it’ll land, but I’m describing it as spicy Hunger Games with fairies.
Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
Emmy Rossum and Emma Kenney, who were very kind and gracious enough to take a photo with me. I was in Chicago for a work conference, and we’d taken a dinner break at a restaurant. I looked up and saw someone walk in—and I just knew they seemed familiar. Then she was joined by Emma Kenney! Turns out they were in Chicago filming “Shameless.” I spent the rest of the meal trying to work up the confidence to say hello to them. Looking back, as lovely as it was to meet both of them, I feel bad that I interrupted dinner. The poor girls were just trying to eat.
How did you come up with the title?
My editor, Brittany McMunn. I’d given the book a tentative title, as one does, but the vibes weren’t right, so Brittany tossed a few ideas at me. Fury’s Fate was one of them. I liked the alliteration and the word play with the idea of “fury,” since Olivia is both a fury and pretty angry. It felt right, so I went with it.
Your favorite…
Movie: The 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice. Total comfort film.
Music: Currently? Sleep Token. All day. Generally? It’s a very long list. Here are a few loves: Trixie Mattel, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Lifehouse, Rocky Votolato, Billie Eilish, Fletcher, The Pretty Reckless, Yungblud, MGK.
Place you’d like to visit: If I’m being realistic, Los Angeles, CA. My brother lives there, and I’ve never visited. But if we’re talking bucket list locations, I desperately want to visit Ireland.
TV show from adulthood: New Girl or Lost Girl. Both are comfort shows.
Food: Potatoes. What a fabulous food. So versatile. Delicious.
Sports team: My kid’s soccer club. I’m not really into sports, per se, but I love seeing how into soccer my son has gotten. I’m even sort of learning the rules.
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? TV.
I enjoyed the interview…thank you for being my guest. Potatoes definitely are a versatile food. 🙂And, so cool that you met Emma and Emmy and they were gracious.
The bodies piling up in Detroit were a problem. Humans were asking too many questions. How could they not? Spectacularly vicious crimes were splashed across their screens. They were an imaginative species, the humans, and their imaginations were rapidly removing the cloak we’d hidden ourselves under. Beyond that, too many people had disappeared or been turned against their will for The Twelve to ignore what was happening. As one of the three Furies, I was to send Roland’s spirit to Tartarus, one of the Hell realms—a place for the spirits of Creatures who had been deemed unworthy of Earth.
We did not feel regret, nor did we feel pity. It was not our way. We were created to exist as an arm of Justice, and so we did.
I felt nothing as I stared at Roland. It was not a cold nothingness like what I often felt; this nothingness cleared my mind and readied it for what it might see when I reached out to the vampire. For true judgment, I needed the clarity. Seconds later, after I’d sifted through his mind, I knew what was necessary. There was no bringing Roland back from the edge. He’d made his decision and plunged himself into the madness that too often consumed those of his kind. The victims this vampire had strewn about throughout the years were too clearly seen as I peered inside. In his memories, I heard their cries, saw their tears, and felt their fear as he attacked without mercy.
With a cruel smile I knew had spread across my features, showing off the length of my incisors, I moved.
Almost instantly, I was behind Roland, pulling him from the bed and away from the young woman. I pushed him to his knees. Though I was deadly, I hardly looked it, and I welcomed the surprise he felt at my strength. The Creature populations knew we existed, but many did not recognize the faces we wore until it was too late.
For thousands of years, through thousands of lifetimes, that had been my duty as the Alekto, alongside my sisters, the Megaera and the Tisiphone. In this era, we were known as Olivia, Leslie, and Gabrielle Beckett—a trio of assassins, to put it simply—to be guided and guarded by the also-immortal Guardian, Evangeline. We, the Furies, gleefully delivered justice. Our Guardian kept us safe and gave us a point of contact should we need to speak with the Steward, or, if all Hell broke loose, The Twelve.
We attempted to disguise ourselves anew in each century. The Twelve quietly called us forth from the depths so long ago that I had no memory of when or where it all began. We were molded into what was required. So it was, and so it must be.
I felt Roland try to turn and look at me. He quickly reassessed his assumptions, and I smiled maliciously. I was a living nightmare, a horror story told to newborn vampires in hopes of curbing the bloodthirst that haunted them. I was sure my entrance allowed Roland to convince himself I was nothing more than a rogue vampire looking to claim riches and territory. The underestimation was a common mistake—one I almost relished. It made my job that much easier. I nestled into the cold, dark abyss of my soul and welcomed the familiarity.
There was no need to ready myself for what duty called on me to do. In that dark part of my being, I celebrated.
Shaelynn Long is a 2023 Pushcart Prize nominee. Their fantasy novel, Fury’s Fate, debuted from Wild Ink Publishing in 2023. That project is currently being turned into an audiobook! Shaelynn is also partnering with Wild Ink Publishing on a 2025 fairy tale anthology, titled Wickedness & Wonder.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, J.J. Ranson…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I love a good story. As a voracious reader, I usually know a terrific book within the first few pages. (Don’t you?) I’m still pinching myself about my first (then second) book contract with an honest-to-goodness publisher. I spent the bulk of my work life in education — public schools, community college, and university. When not writing fiction, I write on Medium.com about faith, graphic design tutorials, minimalism, and other topics. I also play a bit on the piano and putter around in my garden. My favorite destination is the beach or anywhere there’s lots of water. I’m the mother of three adult children I thoroughly enjoy hanging out with. I’m a widow, and live in Virginia with two elderly rescue dogs. My alma mater is Virginia Commonwealth University where I earned three degrees.
Where did you get the idea for She Danced Anyway?
I wrote a story scene to a writing prompt about music. I listened to Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and created a character named Elizabeth and set her in New York City during the Roaring Twenties.
Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?
I read a lot of historical fiction, so this was a natural genre choice for me.
What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?
I find it difficult at times to keep the writing momentum going, especially when a story line starts to drag. Just keeping the writing flow going is my best tactic, and I fix the messes later.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
My second novel, His Christmas Muse, will release on December 9, 2024. It’s a contemporary Christmas romance set in Richmond, Virginia. I’m currently working on book two of that tw0-book series.
What book have you read that you wish you had written?
I recently read Shelley Read’s debut novel, Go As A River. I was moved by this story of human pain and resilience told in a beautiful literary style I could only dream of achieving.
Do you collect anything?
Sometimes, I wish I didn’t have collections! Our things so often own us, rather than the other way around. That said, I love pottery and porcelain. I enjoy eating off lovely dishes. I especially love Royal Albert’s Old Country Roses china. I also inherited a few interesting collections from my husband –cars, stamps, lighthouses. I’m keeping the lighthouses!
What was your first job?
I started babysitting at about age 12. When I turned 16, I became a salesgirl at a department store at the mall. That job fed my love for fashion, even though I was trying hard to save for college.
What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?
I’m retired, so I shouldn’t have any major impediments to writing. My procrastination habit is probably the greatest stealer of writing time. Most writers would likely say something similar.
What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?
She Danced Anyway is set in the 1920s, which makes casting my main characters surprisingly easy. Mackenzie Foy would play Elizabeth Alter. Elizabeth’s best friend Jocelyn would be played by Olivia Cooke. I can see Matt Bomer playing the jazz musician George.
What is your favorite quote?
Thomas Jefferson told John Adams, “I cannot live without books.”
Your favorite…
Music –Classical and Country (the older stuff).
Place you’d like to visit – Italy (all of it!)
TV show from childhood – The Monkees
Food — chocolate
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? – Games. I’d rather play a game than watch TV any day.
No one thinks Elizabeth Alter can manage independent living, and even she questions a future of eating only toast. She watches friends test society’s boundaries, desperate for similar courage to push back.
She loves dancing, but the city’s harridans and preachers want promiscuous dancing, wild jazz, and skimpy dresses ended and send the police often.
In 1920s New York City. Elizabeth works at the public library. She befriends co-worker James, to whom she introduces the delight of dancing. James imagines a traditional future, while Elizabeth dreams of dancing and living alone.
After a violent altercation with her mother, Elizabeth flees to her grandmother. She meets George, a piano player, and embarks on a tumultuous flirtation.
Caught in the crosshairs of society’s narrow expectations, will Elizabeth chase her dreams? Or will her own heart conspire against her?
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I grew up and still live in the PNW, so clearly I love it here! I have a twin sister, who is a huge supporter and is often my first reader for everything (thank you)! I also have an older sister, am married, and have a son in elementary school. Growing up with a neurotic cat cemented my love of cats early on, so I always have cats in my household. If you want to see photos, please check out my Instagram @cebrownauthor.
Where did you get the idea for Seeing Gray?
I work in schools and enjoy writing for teens. I was really interested in touching on topics in my book that aren’t always talked about, like losing a loved one. Zoey, the main character in Seeing Gray, is drawn into the magical world by grief and her need for vengeance against the demon who killed her mother. It’s a world she’d always wanted to be a part of, but was kept hidden from by her parents. Once I had that main idea, I worked on brainstorming more ideas until I had an outline for my story. I used to be a pantser (I didn’t do any prep work first), but a few years ago I changed my writing style. I now loosely map out the entire book before writing, but I let my characters take me in new directions if they choose.
What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?
The most difficult thing about writing a book is finding enough time to do everything. Most people believe being an author just means writing a book, but there is so much more. There is developmental editing, copy editing, querying, creating a website, doing a newsletter, setting up Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs), creating and engaging in social media, publishing, etc. All while writing the next book (and often multiple next books in different stages at the same time). Most of us have full-time jobs and families as well. While exciting, it can be exhausting too.
Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
I have been a School Counselor for many years. I love the variability of my job and that I get to engage with and help teens on a daily basis. While it sometimes requires long hours, every day is different and I get to meet a lot of interesting people.
What do you dislike that most people wouldn’t understand?
I dislike dolls. As a kid I received a gorgeous porcelain doll from a relative and my older sister promptly told me a horror story about how that doll would come to life at night and scratch my eyes out. I spent every night terrified that doll was going to come and get me until my older sister finally told me the truth. Unfortunately, the damage was done, and I still am not a fan of dolls.
What was your first job?
I was a lifeguard. I love water and was always at the pool growing up. I was on the swim team and the diving team and my older sister was a lifeguard so it made sense to become a junior lifeguard and then a lifeguard. It was a fun first job. The sign at one of the pools read, “Welcome to our ool. Notice there is no ‘p’ in it. Please keep it that way.”Still makes me smile. Even back then I loved a good play on words.
What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?
My commute. It’s about an hour each way. When COVID hit I gained two extra hours in my day by teleworking and it was absolutely amazing. I used that extra time for my writing and was able to accomplish so much! I’ve debated trying to find an online job now that we’re back to normal schedules so I can continue to work remotely, but being a school counselor doesn’t work well with being remote, and I would miss engaging with the kids in person.
What is your favorite quote?
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. -Wayne Gretzky
The first book I ever pitched was picked up by Wild Rose Press and is being published! That never would have happened if I hadn’t been convinced by a friend to put my work out there and enter a contest, shocking myself when I placed. Take that chance on yourself and see what you can achieve!
Have you written any other books that are not published?
I have written six books but only one, Seeing Gray, is currently being published. The first book I wrote was a wonderful experience and I learned a lot, but it was a hot mess and will likely never see the light of day. My second book was pretty decent but I need to fix the saggy middle before I’d consider publishing it. Seeing Gray was my third and I’ve since written three other books, although some still need to be edited. One of the books is a Middle Grade Fantasy. When I received my publishing contract for Seeing Gray, my son really wanted to read it, but was too young. I promised I’d write him a different book instead, and he asked me to write a book about a troll and a dog (we were walking over a bridge at the time). He then helped me come up with different ideas for the book, and he was one of the first people to read it and give feedback.
What do your friends and family think of your writing?
Most of the time when I tell someone I write and am having a book published they automatically assume it’s a non-fiction book having something to do with counseling. It’s been fun surprising people. I’ve never been secretive about my writing, but I guess I don’t talk about it as much outside of my writing friends as I thought I did. So far, people have been very supportive.
How did you come up with the title?
One of the main magical items in Seeing Gray is a ring with three stones: Gray, white, and black. No spoilers, so I can’t give more details, but the title was inspired by the ring. The book also has a sub theme around accepting everyone equally. Specifically in the book you’ll discover that certain races are treated differently by the Others as that is how they were brought up to treat them, but Zoey, not being raised to think of anyone in a particular way, sees everyone as being equal. I like the idea of having in the title the notion that we shouldn’t just look at things, but should focus on actually seeing them.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I don’t have a favorite author as there are way too many that I love, but I distinctly remember reading the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb. I absolutely loved her characters and wanted to be able to write characters that resonated with other people the way her characters resonated with me.
Your favorite…
Place you’ve visited- I studied abroad in Greece and absolutely loved it
Place you’d like to visit- Egypt, I’ve always wanted to see the pyramids
TV show from childhood- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Food- Pizza
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? Board games! I adore board games and played a lot of them growing up. A particular favorite was always Scrabble.
“Over the course of this novel, Brown presents a thrilling coming-of-age adventure story in a compelling urban fantasy setting…Excellent worldbuilding conjures an ideal backdrop for plenty of action and misadventures…A fast-paced fantasy with a bold lead character and a well-developed fictional world.” –Kirkus Reviews
She can see them, but now they can see her too.
Blurb:
Celestials have been killing Seers for centuries, as prophesy states that a Seer will overthrow Celestial rule. Worried for Zoey’s safety, her parents forbid her from registering as a Seer and interacting with the Celestials, Fae, and Demons who hide among humankind. Zoey is forced to wear a necklace that hides magic from her and conceals her magic from them.
Witness to her mother’s murder at the hands of a Demon, Zoey vows to track down her mother’s killer and make him pay. Embracing her magic, Zoey is brought deeper into the mythical world by an unlikely ally and wonders if perhaps her parents were right to keep her out of it.
Will she avenge her mother’s death, or will she meet the same untimely fate?
Excerpt:
My heart stopped. Hidden in the shadows was a large shape. No, not large—massive. Hunched over, it was a tight fit under the bridge. The two yellow eyes were set in a mud-brown face with a huge potato nose. Floppy ears topped the head, and an immense belly protruded, as well as two curved tusks. I opened my mouth to say something, and no sound came. I swallowed. A low growl came from under the bridge, shaking the ground I was sitting on. I slipped and slid a few feet before catching myself, my side now covered in mud and my foot stuck in a squelching pile of goo. I hoped it was mud. It smelled awful. I somehow had kept hold of my notebook, but my pencil was long gone. I scrambled up the hill half crawling, fingers digging into the grass, terror making me shake. When I was at the top of the hill, I ducked back under the fence and then stopped, notebook pressed to my chest, and waited. No sounds came from behind me. Hands trembling, I shoved my notebook into my bag, grateful it had remained slung over my shoulder.
No pursuit, no more growls. Should I go back? I debated, but the growl made me think that might be a bad idea. He or she had clearly not wanted me there. Was I breaking some sort of rule and invading its territory? The troll had just appeared. Had they come through a portal? Maybe they were just passing through.
So, trolls. They exist. Check. I’d have to draw it when I got home and record what I knew. God, I wish I wasn’t such a scaredy-cat. Before Mom died, the sight of the troll wouldn’t have terrified me. I used to love to See strange creatures when I caught a glimpse. Now, anything larger than a cat sent my heart racing into overdrive and made me break out in a cold sweat. Not a full-blown panic attack, but close. Damn it. Gritting my teeth, I reached into my bag and grabbed the brownie I’d saved from lunch. Everyone liked brownies, right? I ducked under the fence, put my bag on the ground, and crept back down the hill.
C.E. Brown has lived most of her life in the Pacific Northwest, close to family and friends. She loves to travel, always searching for magical places to help inspire creativity. C.E. attests that she has a very patient and understanding husband, a wildly creative son, and three crazy cats—one steals her shoes, another steals her food, and the third is a sweetly neurotic old man who can’t decide if he’d prefer to be pet or left alone. C.E. didn’t find her passion for writing until she began wrangling kids as a school counselor, but then the writing bug bit and she’s been writing ever since.
Author Alicia Dean 