Award-winning mystery author CB Wilson is excited to announce the release of The Water Diamond, the second book in her popular Gem Hunters Mystery series.
When a legendary Art Deco bracelet vanishes during a gala at Phoenix’s historic Wrigley Mansion, diamond recovery specialist Taylor “Hunter” Hunter is called in to investigate. Her search leads to Catalina Island, where a century-old mystery, hidden clues, and a trail of secrets point to a treasure someone is willing to kill to protect.
Joining Hunter is fan-favorite Glimmer the Diamond Dog, a long-haired dachshund with an extraordinary talent for finding lost diamonds. Together, they follow clues through Avalon, the iconic Catalina Casino, and some of the island’s most beloved landmarks.
Described as “National Treasure meets Stephanie Plum on Catalina Island,”The Water Diamond combines treasure hunting, mystery, adventure, and a touch of humor in a fast-paced clean mystery.
Wilson, a GIA-trained gemologist and winner of the 2025 CIBA First Place Mystery & Mayhem Award for Puppied to Death, brings her expertise in gemstones and storytelling to every page.
To celebrate the release, Wilson has partnered with the Catalina Island Humane Society, donating a portion of book sales to support animal welfare efforts on the island.
The Water Diamond is available now in paperback and eBook through major online retailers. For more information, visit https://cbwilsonauthor.com
After devoting eleven years of marriage to Ben, her high school sweetheart, and stepping off the corporate ladder to raise their three children, Denise is ready to seize the reins of the career she always dreamed of. But as soon as she commits to step back into the professional world, Ben drops a bombshell that disrupts everything.
Suddenly, this once rock-solid couple finds themselves in a battle over ambition, identity, and whose turn it is to shine. As personal choices draw them further and further apart, they must confront their widening rift—a threat to the love they thought was unshakeable.
Can they rediscover the passion they once shared, or will their divergent paths pull them apart for good?
In Gilded Age New York, marriages are arranged to benefit the rich. Rose Marie Johnson expects her beau, an acceptable suitor and member of the Four Hundred, to propose marriage. When he chooses to wed another, her mother schemes to force Rosa into wedlock with a wealthy man twice her age.
With his true identity concealed, Miquel Vicario arrives in New York with dreams of achieving fame as a concert pianist and composer. The young Marqués wants to succeed before he is expected to return to Madrid, Spain by his next birthday to resume his royal duties.
Passion ignites when the two meet, but the ladies’ man isn’t looking for a wife, and the heiress must decide whether to accept an arranged marriage or run away.
Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of the love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy.
To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton, until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel is left wondering if she’ll be able to put the pieces of her life back together.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Karen Hulene Bartell…
Today is RELEASE DAY for INDIGO, and I’m so excited! Indigo is a fictional story based on true events. Basically, it’s what actually happened to a friend (and me) amplified by my imagination 😉
My parents moved often, so I’m from a little bit of everywhere. But I did live in Northern Wisconsin for a few years, and I chose that setting for Indigo. Now I live in the Piney Woods of Texas with my husband and *mews*–three rescued cats and a rescued CATahoula Leopard dog, who played a large role in the creation of Indigo.
I’d never written a story about cryptids before. (Fox Tale contained a shapeshifter, but that fact wasn’t as central to the story as were the characters themselves.) I got the idea for Indigo while walking my dog past a cemetery, where several odd occurrences happened. The title Indigo rhymes with windigo (the creature), and it happens to be the name of the nearest street. The story line for Indigo was born when a neighbor shared her experiences in another cemetery. Since this was my first writing attempt involving mythical creatures, the hardest part was making the legendary sound possible.
After encountering a Northwoods hunk, unscrupulous realtors, bloodthirsty prowlers, and a dysfunctional family, of which one member–according to windigo legends–never left, is Raluca at risk of losing her heart, her inheritance, or her mind?
Blurb:
Reeling after her fiancé dumps her, Raluca Olson inherits a rustic cabin from an unknown relative. Eerie incidents and rumors of a mythical windigo alarm her, but she’s determined to learn the truth about her dysfunctional family before she flips the property.
Despite unscrupulous realtors, bloodthirsty prowlers, and a devious ex, her life improves with a rescued puppy, and passion ignites when she meets Dylan McCoombs, but…
What does a demonic half-beast share with a psychosis and porphyria? Are monsters born or formed? Nature or nurture? Is a windigo spirit genetic? More importantly, does she carry the gene?
Excerpt:
A strong gust of wind wailed through the oak tree. The rusty sign over the cemetery’s entrance squeaked as it rocked back and forth. Then a series of quick knocks sounded–like rapping at a door.
“What was that?” I stopped so fast, my feet slid on the pebbles.
“Ghosts?” Bree gave a mischievous snort.
A swaying pine bough above a shelter caught my attention. “That or pinecones dropping on a metal roof.”
Close by was an imposing grave with an ornate headstone: Jacques Marchand 1803-1849. Large stone blocks marked the fenced-in plot’s four corners, and seven surrounding tombstones bore the same surname. “Wild guess…Marchand is a big name here?”
Heather nodded. “One of the area’s founding families…a few descendants still live nearby.” Pointing at the wide swathes of burned rubber on the asphalt, she lowered her voice. “Supposedly, a certain family member never left…”
“What do you mean?”
“Some say a ghost appears along this road at dusk. Others describe it as a hellhound. The driver swerves to avoid it, and the ghost / hound vanishes.”
“Some say…” I dipped my chin to mask my skepticism. “Urban legends?”
“Un-uh.” Shaking her head, Bree grinned. “Olivia made those marks. She’s my bestie, and no ghost or dog was involved–just a squirrel with a death wish–but that…” Bree pointed to a stone chair. “That’s the devil’s chair, and it’s legit.”
“Chair? You mean throne.” I gaped at the elaborate carving. “But since it faces the headstone, it’s probably for the family to sit and reflect.”
Heather agreed with a nod. “A mourning chair.”
“Maybe originally.” Bree shrugged. “But now, it’s where kids test their courage…especially at midnight.”
Her mother pursed her lips. “It’s there to pay your respects, not be an invitation to an initiation.”
“It’s legend tripping.” An impish gleam lit Bree’s eyes.
“Don’t get any ideas about nighttime dares, young lady.”
“Oh, mother…” What began as a disgusted groan blossomed into a delighted squeal as a four-by-four truck rumbled into view. Waving her arms, Bree flagged it to a stop. “Dylan!”
The pickup slowed as the driver lowered the passenger window. “Hello Bree, Heather.” He ducked, so the walkers could see his face, then with a slight nod, caught my gaze. “Headed into town?”
“Yeah, can you give us a ride?” Bree had already opened the cab door and claimed the front seat. “You coming, Mom?”
Heather started to speak, sighed, then turned toward me. “Want to join us for breakfast?”
“No, thanks, I’m just a coffee person.” I shook my head, not wanting to intrude. “Next time.”
“Have you met our property manager yet?” Climbing in the back, Heather addressed the driver. “Dylan, this is Raluca. She just moved into–”
“Winny Nelson’s cabin. I’ve been expecting you.” Nodding, he handed Bree a business card and motioning to pass it on. “Let me know if you need anything or have any questions.”
The girl brushed against his shoulder before handing me his card.
Dylan McCoombs…Pretending to skim his info, I surveyed the person. Thick, curly hair, square jaw, full lips, and gunmetal-blue-gray eyes. No wonder Bree’s crushing. “Will do. Thanks.”
With a wave, he signaled and pulled on the road.
Questions, huh? I scanned the card. What can you tell me about Winny Nelson?
The author of 29 published books and Indigo, Karen Hulene Bartell was born to rolling-stone parents who moved annually. Her earliest playmates were fictional friends in books. Paperbacks became her portable pals. Ghost stories kept her up at night–reading feverishly. Novels offered an imaginative escape, and she began her first novel at nine, learning the joys of creating her own HEAs. Professor emeritus of the University of Texas at Austin, she lives in the Texas Piney Woods with her husband and *mews*–three rescued cats and a rescued CATahoula Leopard dog.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Henry James Kaye…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Henry has produced six award-winning mysteries. Twelve Sinners, the first in the Malcolm Gee Mystery series, won Book Of The Year from the Florida Writers Association and Best Unpublished Mystery from Killer Nashville. The second in the series, Victim’s Voice, became available for purchase on May 13th. He’s also written multiple Collections, RPLA, and various anthology winners, including Most Dangerous Games. He speaks at conferences and offers classes. Henry lives in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, with his wife, Nancy, and menagerie of dogs and birds.
Where did you get the idea for Victim’s Voice?
It came to me in a dream.
Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?
I have a successful track record writing mysteries. Several award-winning novels
Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?
I love small Florida towns. I believe they have a tremendous amount of culture and color, which I try to present in my settings and characters
What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?
Dedicating the time to write and rewrite and rewrite. Having the patience to know that I won’t have a finished product for nice months (coincidence? Like Malcolm Gee says, ‘There’s no such thing as coincidence.’)
Are there any tricks, habits or superstitions you have when creating a story? It must have a happy, or semi-, happy ending and give the reader something to think about afterward.
Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
Retired and I love it.
What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?
When I was young my mother was very sick and after doctor/medicine bills we didn’t have much money. Consequently, we ate things from chickens and cows that you can’t find in today’s grocery stores. I still like to eat those items to remind me of how far I’ve come, plus, I consider them comfort food.
What do you dislike that most people wouldn’t understand?
I really hate being interrupted when I’m talking. To me, it’s rude and disrespectful to assume what you have to say is more important than what I have to say. Oh, and we all know what happens when you ‘ass-u-me’.
What was your first job?
My first job out of college was as a third shift computer operator for a steel company outside of Pittsburgh, PA.
What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?
Junk email and SPAM
What do you want readers to come away with after they read Victim’s Voice?
Just because we’re different from someone else, have differing beliefs, that doesn’t mean we can’t love one another. We don’t have to understand the difference, just be willing to accept that there is a difference and be respectful about it.
What is your favorite quote?
When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you need to do is quit digging – – – My dad
What do you want your tombstone to say?
The National Bank of Dad is now closed.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
In my early days of novel writing, I created a five-book series about a man who wins the lottery and decides to put that money to good use by helping those who can’t help themselves. I love the plots and messages, but the writing isn’t very good. I plan to revise those novels and publish them one day.
How did you come up with the title?
Valerie DeNardo, the protagonist’s real estate agent girlfriend keeps telling Malcolm that he has a God-given gift for solving murders and representing those who were once victim’s
How did your interest in writing originate?
I devoured the Doc Savage series as a kid. It allowed me to escape into a world that I wasn’t familiar with and I learned so many cool things. I just kept it up after that.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Jeffrey Deaver includes a lot of detail to support the actions his characters take.
Your favorite…
Movie – Rocky and Star Wars series
Music – 70s, 80s,90s
TV show – Jeopardy
Food – Italian and Seafood
Sports team – Anything from Pittsburgh
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? Board and card games…not much on TV
While helping his real estate agent girlfriend with a house showing, FBI Special Agent Malcolm Gee finds a decapitated head in a kitchen cabinet. Now what?
Excerpt:
Malcolm looked at the sky. “Chamber of Commerce weather. I love the Central Florida sunshine, particularly near the beach like this.”
“It’s too warm. My underarms are already damp. I don’t know how you can stand it in long pants and a sports coat.”
“Hazard of the job. You know I need the jacket to cover my firearm.”
“For God’s sake! You didn’t bring your gun, did you?”
He chose to ignore the mention of God and grinned. “Like the commercial says, ‘Never leave home without it.’ Well, I don’t leave home without my Beretta.”
She shook her head. “You’re not selling credit cards, and you’re not chasing a serial killer; you’re tagging along on a house showing. I don’t know why you need a gun. You men.” Valerie rolled her eyes.
The combination lock box on the front door rattled as Valerie spun its keys. “I hate these. It’s too easy for someone to shoulder-surf the combo and return later to clean the place out. I’ve heard horror stories about all the appliances and fixtures being stripped from a home in the middle of the night.”
The lockbox popped open with a click, revealing a single brass key. With practiced fingers, she extracted the key and unlocked the door. A gentle nudge with her foot swung it inward, and she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “You turn on every light you can find. I’ll open the blinds and set the AC.”
“Aye aye, Captain.” He threw a mock salute.
Two steps into the foyer, Valerie stopped. Malcolm halted so quickly behind her that he rose on his toes to avoid bumping into her.
She looked around. “God, what’s that smell? Did they not take the trash out?”
Malcolm sniffed and stiffened. He recognized the smell. He’d encountered it too often over his career.
Nothing good had ever come from it.
Instinctively, he grabbed her arm. “Don’t touch anything. Get in the car and drive to the corner. Stay there until I tell you to come back.”
“What’s wrong? Do you know what that smell is?”
He pulled her by the arm toward the door. “I’m going to find out. You need to leave. Don’t touch anything.”
“Ouch, let go, you’re hurting me.”
He didn’t stop pulling until she stepped onto the stoop, then shoved his car’s key fob into her palm.
“Malcolm, what’s wrong?”
He swung the door closed with his foot.
Valerie stood on the stoop and stared at the door that had just been shut in her face. She wasn’t sure what to think. Despite her protests, her boyfriend of a year had grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the house. Then he closed the door in her face.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Henry has produced six award-winning mysteries. Twelve Sinners, the first in the Malcolm Gee Mystery series, won Book Of The Year from the Florida Writers Association and Best Unpublished Mystery from Killer Nashville. The second in the series, Victim’s Voice, became available for purchase on May 13th. He’s also written multiple Collections, RPLA, and various anthology winners, including Most Dangerous Games. He speaks at conferences and offers classes. Henry lives in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, with his wife, Nancy, and menagerie of dogs and birds.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Patricia McAlexander…
“Researching My Ancestors for Second Wives”
(The nine members of the Kornmeyer family listed on the manifest of the Jane E. Williams, October 7, 1850)
On a January afternoon in 2018, I sat at a computer in the Heritage Room of the Athens-Clarke County Library in Athens, Georgia, excited as an image came up on Ancestry.com—the manifest listing the name, gender, age, and birthplace of each passenger arriving in New York Harbor from Rotterdam on the barque Jane E. Williams, on October 7, 1850. There I found the name of my great-great-grandfather: “Martin Kornmeyer (M) 38, Farmer, Baden.” Listed below were the names of those traveling with him:
Rosa Jackle (F) 28, Baden
Theresa Kornmeyer (F) 15, Baden
Martin Kornmeyer (M) 14, Baden
Peter Kornmeyer (M) 12, Baden
Joseph Kornmeyer (M ) 10, Baden
Gabriel Kornmeyer (M) 8, Baden
Phillip Kornmeyer (M) 6, Baden
Mathilda Kornmeyer (F) 4, Baden
The last seven names were, of course, his children. But the list raised several questions. Catholic Church records had listed the Kornmeyer family—which presumably would have been Martin, his wife Maria Ursula Uhl, and their seven children—as leaving the town of Böhringen, Baden, in 1848, on their way to the New World. But where was Martin’s wife? And who was Rosa Jackle? She was not another child—she was only ten years younger than Martin. Finally, passage across the Atlantic at that time took six to twelve weeks, so the Jane E. Williams must have left Rotterdam sometime in the late summer of 1850. What had happened to the family during the two years after they left Böhringen? And what were the stories of those children in America, especially the younger Martin Kornmeyer, my great-grandfather, and his daughter Emma, my grandmother, born there in 1877?
Left to me were only documents on Ancestry.com; a nineteenth-century painting of the Jane E. Williams that came upon Google; gravestones in a Boonville, New York, cemetery; passed-down family tales and mementos—old photographs, letters, yellowed newspaper articles; my grandmother’s two-stone topaz engagement ring. Realizing how little I knew about the lives of these ancestors, even with help from other descendants, I decided their full story could be told only as historical fiction. I would have to fill in the blanks with imagination.
So, with notes and photocopied documents at hand, I began to write Second Wives. I used mostly their real names, adhered to the timeline of actual events, and embedded into the novel family tales and mementoes. Even as the novel was in progress, I researched the historical background, traveled up the Rhine as the Kornmeyers must have on their journey from Baden to Rotterdam, and visited sites of family homes and graves in Boonville, New York, where they settled.
I’ve always felt that one of the rewards of writing is the process itself, but that was especially true with Second Wives, as those ancestors I never knew came to life for me. But even more rewarding is when I’m told they came to life for readers as well.
About:
Inspired by the author’s ancestors, this historical saga traces the lives of three generations through marriage, loss, and the possibility of renewal through a second love.
Excerpt:
Martin reached down, scooped up a handful of soil, and, opening his fist, showed it to her. “I’ve loved this land, worked this soil, all my life. It will always be a part of me. But the crops have failed too many times. The farm is mortgaged. We would lose it if we stayed longer. And you know the political situation here.” He let the soil sift through his fingers back to the ground. “I will find new land in America. It will be a better home there for Esther and our children and their children.”
Rosa recognized in his eyes, his voice, the kind of passion she’d seen in Johannes when he talked of politics, of revolution. She turned away to look out past the farmhouse and barn to the winter-barren land beyond. She thought of the ragged men in the cities, of their angry demonstrations, of what Johannes had said about America. She turned back. “Yes, I see why you have to go.” Pulling her hood back over her head, she began moving out into the wind. “And it’s time for me to go back to Stuttgart. I’ll find work there as a governess.”
“Rosa!” He reached out and took her arm. “Esther and I want you to come with us.”
Note: If you search for Second Wives on Amazon, for some reason the search bar has my name as Patricia ALEXANDER—they’ve omitted the Mc. They tell me it has to do with autocorrect and cannot be changed. Pay no attention. The book comes up anyway.
About the Author:
Originally from upstate New York, Patricia Jewell McAlexander earned degrees from the State University of New York at Albany, Columbia University, and The University of Wisconsin, Madison, all in English. It was in Madison that she met her Southerner husband, Hubert, a fellow graduate student. They made Athens, Georgia their home, raised their son there, and taught at the University of Georgia. After retiring, Patricia has had more time to garden and travel while renewing her interests in photography, history, and, most of all, writing fiction.. Since 2020 she has published four contemporary novels of romantic suspense—Stranger in the Storm, Shadows of Doubt, The Student in Classroom Six, and The Last Golden Isle. In her most recent novel, Second Wives, she combines the romance and psychological complexity of her previous works with family lore and genealogical research to create her first novel of historical fiction.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Darlene Fredette…
In Redford Falls, connections aren’t just made, they’re woven into the very fabric of the town. Every story in this seven‑book series celebrates the friendships that grow from chance encounters, the families who rally around one another, and the bonds that deepen in the most unexpected moments.
Set against the backdrop of a cozy mountain town, Redford Falls offers more than scenic views. The ski resort hums with excitement, the local restaurant and lounge buzz with familiar laughter, and the chocolate shop tempts residents and visitors alike with sweet indulgence. These places aren’t just settings; they’re gathering spots where relationships spark, heal, and flourish.
Each book invites readers to return to a community where second chances feel possible, every character has a place, every relationship matters, and every book feels like a return visit to friends you’ve missed.
A Redford Falls Story
Nestled in the heart of Redford Falls is a charming small town that captures the warmth of close-knit community life, where friendly faces greet you on Main Street and every shop holds a story. Redford Falls offers the perfect setting for heartwarming moments against a bustling ski resort, quaint local businesses, and the town’s picturesque park, complete with winding trails and cascading waterfalls. Whether it’s family bonds that grow stronger, friendships that withstand the test of time, twists that intrigue, or love that blooms in the most unexpected ways, this series celebrates the beauty of connection in a place where everyone feels at home.
One Sweet Christmas
More than a few pieces of chocolate are essential to fill this Scrooge’s heart with Christmas cheer.
Jackson Frost wanted to spend Christmas on a beach, instead, he’s home in snowy Redford Falls dressed in a Santa suit. Will the temptation of delectable chocolate and Candice Cane lure him to stay?
Winter’s Kiss
Her high heels flattened the snow, and his defences didn’t stand a chance.
As chilly glares between Danielle Lerato and Andrew Bailey thaw into cozy glances, Danielle suspects the town’s snowy landscape is warming more than her toes. Maybe this snowy wonderland isn’t a detour. Maybe it’s destiny.
Broken Branches
Some branches break, but where hearts once shattered, love dares to bloom again.
Years ago, a devastating family tragedy forced Maripier Nadeau to leave Redford Falls, leaving Tyler Kringle to pick up the pieces of their broken relationship. Now she’s returned, reigniting memories and emotions Tyler thought he had buried.
Secret Recipe
In the heat of the kitchen, one woman’s secret recipe blends danger, deception, and desire.
Jess Robinson is desperate for a fresh start, but an unexpected call drags her back into the dangerous world she thought she’d escaped. As drama simmers, Jess and Travis Cooper are caught in a game where Jess must execute the perfect con.
Legacy Lies Loyalty
When loyalty is tested, and lies run deep, the legacy they inherit could cost them everything.
A string of mysterious accidents pulls Jordan McKenzie into a web of danger. When long-buried secrets emerge, and danger looms, Jordan and Logan Crane must decide what—and who—is worth fighting for.
Derailed Hearts
With a matchmaking grandmother and a mythical rabbit at work, two hearts on a cross‑country train are destined to collide.
A cross-Canada train trip for Ethan Marley and his young daughter seems like the perfect fresh start—until Jenn Martini, a captivating woman on board, steals his breath. But Ethan and Jenn must decide whether the truth will shatter their fragile new beginning…or save their future.
Trickster
Can she heal the trickster before he breaks her heart?
Enchanted by his father’s feisty assistant, Eric Martini masks his heart. Convinced his destined future is already written in the stars—and doesn’t include Jade Parsons, will Eric and Jade find the courage to trust the mythical and smoky signs before their paths are severed forever?
Darlene Fredette is a multi-published author of contemporary women’s fiction that celebrates resilience, romance, and the small-town magic woven into ordinary days. Step inside her world for heartfelt stories, character-driven moments, a touch of charm, wit, twists, and just enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages. Residing on Canada’s scenic Atlantic Coast, where summers are too short and winters too long, she finds inspiration from family, nature, and the quiet moments that ignite the imagination, and enjoys life with her husband, daughter, and two large dogs.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Maria Imbalzano. I noticed I have a lot in common with her (favorite book, for one), but I cannot get on board with her favorite sports team. 😀
Hello Maria, welcome. Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
I am a retired divorce lawyer. I practiced law for 38 years and found it very fulfilling in that I was helping my clients get through a very difficult time in their lives. My experiences as a divorce attorney were instrumental in writing “Sworn to Collide.”
What was your first job?
When I was 14, I had a job as a candy girl at a movie theater. All my friends worked there and it was a blast. We saw every movie several times, ate as much popcorn as we wanted, and when all the patrons left and we were supposed to lock-up, we stayed and partied.
What’s your favorite book of all time and why?
“Gone With the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell. I loved learning about the history of the civil war but I also loved the romance aspect. The push and pull between Scarlett and Rhett kept me turning the pages. One of my daughter’s just bought me a leather-bound version with gold-edged pages for my birthday. I just started reading it again.
What’s your favorite childhood book?
“The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.” Although it’s a children’s story that follows a young prince who visits various planets, the author makes observations about life, love, and human relationships. We were just in France, where “Le Petit Prince” is very popular. I bought a copy for my grandchildren.
What is your favorite quote?
“Some women fear the fire. Some women simply become it.”
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
In the Sworn Sisters Series, the four girlfriends are based on my high school friends. I’m still very close with them today. The stories are not their stories, but some personality traits, backgrounds, and physical aspects are most definitely based on them.
Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
David Copperfield. I was at one of his performances many years ago (when he was young and very handsome) and he pulled me out of the audience to go up on stage with him. He performed some magic trick with a duck. He did give me a kiss at the end.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
While practicing divorce law for over 35 years, I saw the many reasons why people were willing to throw in the towel. Of course there were the affairs, money problems, and marrying for the wrong reasons. But many couples grew apart because they couldn’t or wouldn’t communicate effectively with each other. The reader will see this problem in “Sworn to Collide.” Communication is key in any relationship, and if one or both parties aren’t sharing what they need or want, the other person is never going to be able to provide it.
Your favorite…
Movie Pretty Woman
Music I love female artists from rock and roll (Janis Joplin, Melissa Ethridge) to country (Kacey Musgraves, Carly Pearce). My ITunes playlists are very diverse.
Place you’ve visited Amalfi Coast, Italy
Place you’d like to visit Thailand
TV show from childhood That Girl
TV show from adulthood Younger
Food Pizza
Sports team Yankees
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? Television
She thought she had it all—until she realized she’d lost herself
Excerpt:
After they finished opening their presents, I stuffed the discarded wrapping paper into a trash bag and turned to Ben. “Do you want to help make breakfast?”
His eyebrows shot up. “Sure.”
It had been months since we’d occupied the house together. Planning for today had set my nerves on end, but I wanted Christmas to continue to be special for the kids. Including him was a must, even if his presence brought back memories that hurt me to the core.
He followed me into the kitchen where I got busy taking out eggs, bacon, milk, and butter from the refrigerator.
“Jennifer is going to want pancakes, so can you get out the mix?”
He complied, and before long we were side by side at the counter, preparing a feast.
He cracked an egg and went to drop it into the bowl, but my hand got in the way, and the egg slid right over my wrist.
“Sorry.” He laughed despite his apology.
“You did that on purpose.” My eyes widened as I looked into his.
“I didn’t,” he protested, but he continued laughing.
I picked up the measuring cup with pancake flour and held it menacingly.
“What do you plan to do with that? If you dump it over my head, you’ll just have a mess to clean up.”
Instead, I blew against the top, right into his face.
His laughter rang through the kitchen and melted my heart.
“Perfect clown makeup. Who knew?”
I dusted off his cheek with my fingers, and our eyes met, all laughter gone for the moment. He held my wrist, keeping my hand there. Turning his face against it, he kissed my palm, sending electric currents through my veins. He inched closer, and his lips were a whisper away. I held my breath. Waiting. Wanting.
“Is breakfast ready yet?” Jennifer skipped into the kitchen with Johnny in tow.
“I’m hungry, Mom.” Johnny squeezed between us and clung to my leg.
I held in my frustration as I ducked down to hug him before getting back to work. “Just a little while longer.”
Disappointment wound through my being like a snake, but I had to tamp it down. Even with my resolve, regret streamed through every cell in my body and would most definitely last the entire day.
Maria Imbalzano is an award-winning contemporary author who writes about strong, independent women and the men who fall in love with them. She recently retired from the practice of law, but legal issues have a way of showing up in many of her novels. When not writing, she loves to travel both abroad and in the states. Maria lives in central New Jersey with her husband–not far from her two daughters. For more information about her books, please visit her website at http://mariaimbalzano.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Susan Howell…
Too Much Confidence? Or Not Enough?
“I don’t want to drive late at night in this storm,” she says. “I’ll wait until morning when it clears up.”
“I’ll drive. It’s no problem,” he says.
So what just happened here? Did she lack confidence? Or did he have too much?
People who study gendered behavior report that in situations often considered “masculine” (like driving at night through a storm, for instance) women tend to feel less confident, men more confident.
When I first heard of this tendency, I quickly decided that women need to work on this. After all, if we were more self-assured, we might take on more challenges without the hesitancy that undermines our efforts.
Then it occurred to me: Maybe women don’t have too little confidence; maybe men have too much. Outside of an emergency situation, maybe no one needs to drive through a storm at night. Maybe her caution is appropriate and he’s taking unnecessary risks.
Why are we quick to assume (okay, I was quick to assume) that when research points to differences in the way men and women do things, that women are the ones in error? Should the goal be to align the behavior of us women to the standard set by men? Wouldn’t it make more sense to gauge the appropriateness of a behavior on the likely outcome of the action rather than by whether it’s the “male” or “female” way of doing things?
Once aware of this tendency, I changed the way I presented gender differences in my classes, presenting them as just that – differences. I hoped to communicate that sometimes men get it right, sometimes women get it right. Sometimes we both get it right (or wrong) in different ways.
What’s your experience? Have you ever had the other gender held up as a standard to which you need to get in line? If so, how have you dealt with this? I’d love to see your comments!
When my husband and I were newlyweds, we lived in the city where he attended seminary. Although I looked forward to graduate training, I hadn’t yet determined where to go nor which program to pursue. It made sense, I told myself, for him to go first. He would study while I worked to support us and took time to choose a school and program for myself.
I had several friends in the same situation and spoke with them occasionally about my plans to attend school when my husband finished. I assumed they would do the same. After all, we had spent our college days studying and planning for the careers we would pursue. Why not follow through? More than one of them told me we couldn’t make plans yet since we didn’t know where God would call our husbands. We would have to wait and see.
My students will find it hard to imagine that, at first, I believed those words: I would have to wait and see. But it bothered me. I couldn’t let it go. I had studied hard and prayed for years about my professional plans. I read everything about psychology I could get my hands on. I pored over graduate school catalogs while I dreamed of the classes I would take, the skills I would hone, the clients I would treat. Was I supposed to wait and hope my husband would find a church close to a school with a graduate program in psychology?
I am happy to report that since I couldn’t let it go, I didn’t. One night I broached the topic with my husband. I told him that we had taken three years to invest in his life’s work and that before he took a church that would require a move, I wanted to get my master’s degree. I admit I felt a bit heretical. If he had asked me to defend my position, I’m not sure I could have. I just knew it felt right and needed to be said.
Imagine my surprise when he said, “Sure.”
Of course I should pursue my calling. And what would he do while I studied? We didn’t know. Just do what I had done for him, we supposed. Work in a job, either in his area or not depending on what he could find and put off better options until we could both relocate.
I was pleasantly surprised and, I admit, relieved. His commitment to my call equaled my commitment to his.
Bio: Dr. Susan Harris Howell is a psychologist and retired university professor. She is the author of Buried Talents, which focuses on the subtle ways women are discouraged from entering many male-dominated occupations. Buried Talents was named a winner in InterVarsity Press’s 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards. She is also the author of the novel, The Spirit of Vanderlaan, a cozy mystery set on a university campus. Susan and her husband have two grown children, a daughter-in-law, one adorable grandson, and an incorrigible beagle named Doc.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Diana Rubino, with a fascinating post, some fun facts and awesome photos. Oh, yes, and her book, which sounds like a well-researched, fabulous read.
NATHANIEL AND SOPHIA HAWTHORNE: OUR DESTINED BOND
Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne called themselves Adam and Eve as he suffered the shame of his family’s connection to the Salem Witch Trials.
Meet Diana
My passion for history and travel has taken me to every locale of my books and short stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Paris, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, Washington D.C. and New York. My urban fantasy romance, FAKIN’ IT, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. I’m a member of the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. My husband Chris and I own CostPro, an engineering firm based in Boston. In my spare time, I bicycle, golf, play my piano, devour books of any genre, and spend as much time as possible living the dream on my beloved Cape Cod.
About NATHANIEL AND SOPHIA HAWTHORNE
Salem, Massachusetts witnessed horrific and shameful events in 1692 that haunted the town for three centuries. Accused as witches, nineteen innocent people were hanged and one was pressed to death. Judge John Hathorne and Reverend Nicholas Noyes handed down the sentences. One victim, Sarah Good, cursed Noyes from the hanging tree: “If you take away my life, God will give you blood to drink!” She then set her eyes on Judge Hathorne. “I curse you and your acknowledged heirs for all time on this wicked earth!” Hathorne was not only Sarah Good’s merciless judge; he also fathered her son Peter and refused to acknowledge him.
In 1717, Nicholas Noyes choked on his own blood and died. Every generation after the judge continued to lose Hathorne land and money, prompting the rumor of a family curse. By the time his great great grandson Nathaniel was born, they faced poverty.
Ashamed of his ancestor, Nathaniel added the ‘w’ to his last name. His novels and stories explore his beliefs and fears of sin and evil, and he based many of his characters on overbearing Puritan rulers such as Judge Hathorne.
When Nathaniel first met Sophia Peabody, they experienced instantaneous mutual attraction. Sparks flew. He rose upon my eyes and soul a king among men by divine right, she wrote in her journal.
But to Sophia’s frustration, Nathaniel insisted they keep their romance secret for three years. He had his reasons, none of which made sense to Sophia. But knowing that he believed Sarah Good’s curse inflicted so much tragedy on his family over the centuries, she made it her mission to save him. Sarah was an ancestor of Sophia’s, making her and Nathaniel distant cousins—but she kept that to herself for the time being.
Sophia Peabody’s home next to Charter Street Burying Ground, resting place of Judge Hathorne, Salem, MA
Sophia suffered severe headaches as a result of childhood mercury treatments. She underwent routine mesmerizing sessions, a popular cure for many ailments. Spirits sometimes came to her when mesmerized, and as a spiritualist and medium, she was able to contact and communicate with spirits. She knew if she could reach Sarah and persuade her to forgive Judge Hathorne, Nathaniel would be free of his lifelong burden.
Sarah Good’s son Peter had kept a journal the family passed down to the Peabodys. Sophia sensed his presence every time she turned the brittle pages and read his words. John Hathorne’s legitimate son John also kept a journal, now in the Hawthorne family’s possession. Living on opposite sides of Salem in 1692, Peter and John wrote in vivid detail about how the Salem trials tormented them throughout their lives.
Nathaniel finally agreed to announce their engagement, and married Sophia on July 9, 1842. They moved into their first home, The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts. “Wanting nothing else but to spend the summer enjoying each other, we became Adam and Eve, alone in our Garden of Eden,” Sophia wrote in her journal.
The Old Manse, the Hawthornes’ first home as newlyweds
As success eluded Nathaniel, they lived on the verge of poverty. After being dismissed from his day job at the Salem Custom House, he wrote The Scarlet Letter, which finally gained him the recognition he deserved. But the curse he believed Sarah cast on his family still haunted him. In the book he asks for the curse to be lifted.
The House of the Seven Gables, Salem, MA, built in 1668
Sophia urged Nathaniel to write a novel about the house, knowing it would be cathartic for him. While they lived in Lenox, Nathaniel finished writing The House of the Seven Gables. The Gothic novel explored all his fears and trepidations about the curse. He told Sophia, “Writing it, and especially reading it aloud to you lifted a tremendous burden off my shoulders. I felt it physically leave me. I carried this inside me since my youth and couldn’t bring it out to face it. And I have you, and only you, to thank.”
But he did not believe the curse could be lifted.
Sophia invited renowned spiritualist John Spear to The Gables. She explained that she needed to complete one final step to convince Nathaniel the curse was lifted.
John Spear urged Nathaniel to forgive Judge Hathorne. “You don’t have to say it out loud,” John said. “Just forgive him in your heart.”
Nathaniel whispered his forgiveness.
John, Nathaniel and Sophia went to Judge Hathorne’s gravesite to give the journals proper burial.
Grave of Judge Hathorne, Charter Street Burial Ground, Salem, MA
Why I wrote FOR THE LOVE OF HAWTHORNE
I live near Salem and have been to all the Hawthorne landmarks there, and in Concord. The House of the Seven Gables has been my favorite house in the world since I’m a kid. I’ve always felt a strong spiritual connection to Salem, and always wanted to write one of my books set there, including the witch trials.
I read several of his books and stories, to get a better background on him. Nathaniel wrote from the heart, about his true beliefs, and his loathing of how the witch victims were treated. He did consider it disgraceful, and it certainly was. He added the ‘w’ to his last name to distance himself from the judge. That tormented him and his family all his life. It must have been cathartic to him to have his writing as his outlet.
I was fortunate to get a private tour of the House of the Seven Gables when I was writing the book; two of the guides, Ryan Conary and David Moffat, showed me around, and it was fabulous.
The Wayside, the only home the Hawthornes ever owned, in Concord, MA
Nathaniel added that room at the top for his writing studio
An excerpt from NATHANIEL AND SOPHIA HAWTHORNE (their visit to his cousin Susan Ingersoll at The House of the Seven Gables):
I went over to a curio cabinet and swept my eyes over the items on the shelves—a china doll wearing a calico dress, a stack of gold cups and saucers, a red and blue glass checkerboard propped up to display its surface…and a wooden hammer on the top shelf. Upon closer inspection, I saw it was a gavel that judges use in trials. Out of curiosity I picked it up and a shock ran through me as if electrified. Dear God, was it that gavel?
I dropped it to the rug. It landed with a thump. I bent to retrieve it. Somehow I knew it wouldn’t shock me this time—that was only an initial warning. “Something about it made me want to touch it, to pick it up and hold it.”
Nathaniel approached me. He stared at the gavel in my hand, horror darkening his eyes. His lips parted but no words emerged. I knew what he was thinking—the curse. He turned to his cousin, pointing at the gavel, his arm trembling.
Susan hurried over to us, took it from me and placed it back on the shelf. “Yes, it’s Judge Hathorne’s. What happened, Sophie? Are you all right?”
I looked down at my open hands, palms up. They burned as if I’d touched a hot poker. “That gavel—it carries something evil. Has anything happened to you with this, Susie?”
Nathaniel backed away and before Susan could answer me, he grasped her arm. “I begged you to get rid of that accursed thing! You know it shouldn’t be here!”
She looked from him to me, heaving a deep sigh. “I’m not inclined to dispose of it, Natty. It’s a family heirloom, notwithstanding its past.”
He gripped the chair, his face drained of color. “It’s downright evil. You know what he used that thing for.”
She held her hands up in surrender. “Very well, I’ll conceal it.” She took it off the shelf and slid it behind the checkerboard.
“That should not be in this house!” He stood his ground, his eyes fixed on the checkerboard as if it would melt in such close proximity to that horrid object.
“It’s fine there, Natty. It’s concealed from sight now.” She looked at me and gestured for me to sit again. I sat and gulped my sherry.
“Nathaniel’s always overcome with distress at the witch trials.” Susan explained what I already knew.
“And so should you be,” he cut in.
“If I must speak for Judge Hathorne, I heard stories of him from my grandfather.” Susan looked from Nathaniel to me. “The whole hysteria that caught up the judge was started by unscrupulous men to further their own riches. But spectral evidence was still admissible. No sane person could believe that blithery.”
Please help me welcome my friend and fellow Mystery on Lilac Lane series author, Maxine Douglas. Happy Release day, Maxine!!
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I am originally from Wisconsin, born and bred, but my late-husband and I moved to Oklahoma after I retired from my day job after nearly 30 years. I share my home with my shelter cat, turned cover model. Simon. Maybe I should say Simon’s shares HIS home with me. I have one son, two granddaughters, and two great-grandchildren.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read Art of Deception?
To never give up on love and finding your soulmate. In this story, it’s reconnecting with your soulmate. Sometimes fiction imitates life.
Would you rather have a bad review or no review?
I’d rather have a bad review simply because I know the book was read, or at least I hope it was. As a rule, I believe reading a book is subjective to the reader. Not every reader gets the same experience in their journey.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be?
Tough question! I would want plenty of paper and pencils, as well as the good book.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes! I am currently writing my next Friday the 13th story that is due to be released in November 13, 2026. In Lighthouse Cove where each sweep of the light reveals the past… and it’s waiting in the storm.
When a reclusive woman seeking solace in a storm-battered lighthouse witnesses a ghost ship emerging from the lake’s haunted past, she’s thrust into a supernatural battle with a cursed sailor torn between duty and redemption—before becomes her prison and the sea her grave. I will also be working on my second Friday the 13th story title Lighthouse Cove set to be released on November 13, 2026.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
When I first started writing way back when, I wrote what I knew and the people knew. Now I’d like to think that as much as my characters and their situations are fictional, they do carry a bit of me in them somewhere.
What do your friends and family think of your writing?
My family is very supportive, even if they haven’t read any of my books. My brothers and my son said they don’t want to know what goes on in my creative brain. LOL Several friends continuously buy and read my books, which warms my heart in the best way possible.
Your favorite…
Movie I have so many it’s hard to chose just one, but I do enjoy the Hallmark movies from time-to-time.
Music Country or classic rock from the 1960s-1990s
Place you’ve visited My late-husband and I travelled the US a lot from coast to coast.
TV show from childhood Walt Disney’s Zorro was my first Bonafide hero!
TV show from adulthood The Gilded Age, Outlander, Bridgerton, to name a few.
Sports team Why the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers Football
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? LOL All three!
Every masterpiece tells a story—this one whispers murder.
In the picturesque town of Wisteria, Wisconsin, gallery owner Skye Johnson loves celebrating local art and the friends who create it. When photographer Lucas Cooper agrees to show his new collection honoring his late mentor, Skye can’t wait to display it—until one photo reveals something strange. Hidden in the image of the old Hendrickson barn, where Lucas’s mentor was found dead, is a detail that doesn’t belong.
Someone has added a painted clue—a silent cry for help from a witness too afraid to speak. Now, Skye and Lucas must unravel the mystery brushstroke by brushstroke before the truth—and the artist—are buried for good.
Excerpt:
The gallery door swung open easily. Too easily.
Skye’s heart skipped. “Lucas…did you lock up when we left?”
“Yes,” he said immediately. “I always do.”
Inside, nothing looked disturbed at first glance. The photographs still lined the walls. The desk was tidy. The air smelled faintly of lemon cleaner and old wood. Then Skye saw it.
The barn photograph—the altered one—was gone.
Her breath left her in a rush. “It’s missing.”
Lucas crossed the room in three long strides. The empty hook on the wall swung slightly, as if it hadn’t yet settled.
“They only took that one,” he said, voice flat. “Not any of the others.”
Skye’s pulse thundered like a base drum. “Which means they didn’t want us studying it any longer.”
“Or they didn’t want anyone else seeing it,” Lucas added.
Her stomach twisted tightly. She turned slowly, scanning the room. “They came in again. While we were out talking to people.”
“And they knew exactly what to take,” Lucas said grimly.
Before she could respond, the bell over the door jingled and Skye jumped.
A man stood just inside the doorway, holding a large flat parcel wrapped in brown paper. He smiled, pleasant and forgettable.
“I’m looking for the gallery owner?” he said, walking toward the counter.
“That would be me,” Skye said cautiously.
“Delivery for submission review.” He handed it over. “There’s no name or addressed attached.”
Lucas frowned. “You didn’t mention expecting anything.”
“I wasn’t,” Skye said slowly, accepting the parcel. It was heavier than she expected.
The delivery man tipped an imaginary hat and left without another word. They stood in silence until the door shut.
“I don’t like this,” Lucas said.
“Neither do I.”
Skye carried the parcel to the desk and carefully unwrapped it. Her fingers trembled as the paper fell away.
The painting beneath made her gasp. It was the barn. Not a photograph; a painting. Dark, layered strokes. The same angle as Lucas’s photo. The same slant of light. And there, unmistakable in the shadows a human-shaped figure clearly watching.
Award-winning author, Maxine Douglas writes in many genres and found a love for western historical romance. A Wisconsin native, Maxine resides in Oklahoma. While Maxine may miss her family and friends in the north, she loves the mild winters Oklahoma has to offer.
Having found love in 2001 and then losing the love of her life in 2018 to cancer, Maxine hasn’t given up on believing in true love. She hopes that she expresses that feeling with every story she brings to life through her writing.
Maxine is a current member of the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. and its affiliations Central Region Oklahoma Writers and Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild. She is also a member of the Romance Writers of American, The Friends of the Chickasha Public Library, and serves as a Board Member on the Chickasha Area Arts Council.
Author Alicia Dean 
