Tag Archives: romantic suspense

July 14, 2025 · 9:07 am

10 Moments That Changed My Life with Lynda Rees ~ New Release: The Attic

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Lynda Rees, The Murder Guru, with…

1.         In our tiny coal mining town near Hazard, Kentucky, every man I knew was either a coal miner or a retired miner. My first memories are of moving into a bigger house than the two-room cottage we lived in. I recall vividly asking my dad about a conversation he and my uncle had as they moved our furniture inside. He explained what a president was and that Eisenhour had been elected the new one. This sparked my interest in the world outside of our home.

2.         Mommy disappeared for a few days and thrilled me when she returned with my new infant  brother. In my mind Ernie was my baby, though I was only four-years old at the time. We are forever connected in our souls, though he is no longer on this earth.

3.         As a child, I was free to roam the hills and holler where we lived. The neighbors were family and friends. I knew to beware of rattlesnakes and copperheads but had no fear of anything or anyone. My days consisted of visits to the homes of friends and family, finally ending at my grandparents’ farm, where I followed and learned from them as we did whatever chores made up their schedule.

4.         At the age of four, I learned to read with my grandpa, Daddy Lida, sitting on the porch, each of us deep into our Bibles. He was infinitely patient when I asked him to explain confusing words.

5.         We moved to Indiana for a summer when I was five. I had my first experience riding a bus instead of walking the mile to school in my Kentucky home. Indianapolis was my first big city. Suddenly confined to a tiny yard and not allowed to venture on my own, I learned I should be wary of strangers. It was a shock to me.

6.         We moved to Cincinnati when I was in the third grade. Talk about culture shock! I became ‘the new kid’ with a funny accent. I learned if you laugh at yourself, others stop bullying you and give you a chance to become friends.

7.         I fell in love with the boy across the street. He was a few years older and didn’t notice me until my pigtails were gone and I developed a girlish figure. He nearly scared me to death when after our first date, he told his mother he was going to marry me someday. He wasn’t wrong. Hunky Hubby and I have been happily married for fifty-two years.

8.         I’d given up on being a mother when I became pregnant. The births of my miracle son and sixteen months later my beautiful daughter were the most wonderful days of my life. I’ve achieved many notable things in my lifetime, but raising my family has been the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. They are my heart.

9.         I am so fortunate. My children are the best people I know. They also graced me with the greatest gift ever—three grandchildren, each bringing their own special gifts.

10.       Writing is my second career. After thirty-six years in the corporate world as a marketing and global transportation manager in a Fortune 500 company, I turned my focus to publishing my stories. My biggest thrills:

1) A fan told me she was on a waiting list at the library to read my newest publication.

2) A fan told me she reads every book I write, and that I have changed her life for the better. Wow! What a compliment. It humbles me.

GIVEAWAY!!! I would love to provide a reader who comments and joins my VIP group (link below) the giveaway of an eBook copy of my latest book.

Join my VIP group at: https://preview.mailerlite.com/t1a6j6

Love is a dangerous mystery. Enjoy the ride!

Rehabbers Charli Owens and fiancé, Eli Lange, remodel an historic mansion suspected of being haunted.

Secret tunnels, hidden chambers, unexplained happenings, and a killer on the loose ignite Charli’s curiosity. Enlisting her ex-rock-and-roll singer grandmother’s help, she delves into clues police ignore.

Unravelling the property’s notorious history, they become embroiled in a murder case and a major criminal operation that puts Charli’s life in danger.

Rehabbers Charli Owens and fiancé, Eli Lange, remodel an historic mansion suspected of being haunted.

Secret tunnels, hidden chambers, unexplained happenings, and a killer on the loose ignite Charli’s curiosity. Enlisting her ex-rock-and-roll singer grandmother’s help, she delves into clues police ignore.

Unravelling the property’s notorious history, they become embroiled in a murder case and a major criminal operation that puts Charli’s life in danger.

Excerpt:

Chapter One

She showered in the mansion’s crude, plastic, one piece bathroom stall, trying her best to wash guilt and terror from her pale skin. Red goo on her flesh mingled with water flow, her tears, and then drizzled in streaks down her legs into the rusty drain. The warmth eased her sore muscles. She closed her eyes, trying to block out memories straining to take possession of her spirit. Someone stole part of her soul. She desperately wanted it back.

She puffed an exhale and inhaled fresh oxygen to cleanse her insides. Her heart ached in her chest, trying to burst free. She held her breath for a count of four, then breathed in for a count of eight. She held it, counted slowly to four, and then breathed out to the count of six, repeating the process four times. With each repetition, her heartbeat slowed more. She’d learned the technique eased anxiety when it struck.

She scrubbed her hair for the third time with lilac scented shampoo, still pulling bits of dried leaves and twigs from the long, blonde tresses. She’d finally gotten used to the shade, which looked oddly natural on her. The lilac scent helped remove the crude odor of his heavy cologne—clearly an attempt to postpone bathing—combined with foul-smelling breath tinted with alcohol, onions, and tobacco.

She still sensed his rough, calloused grip on her bruised arms. Her hips burned from scrubbing where welts had developed from the friction of her jeans being ripped down.

She forced visions away to still her pulse and avoid another panic attack. The flow of water cooled, reminding her she’d showered long enough. She’d exhausted the supply of heated liquid from the inadequate, ancient, hot water tank.

After stepping out of the rickety stall onto a towel, she buffed her flesh with soft terry, continuing to rid herself of memories she certainly would dream about later.

She mustn’t catch a cold. The Lord knew she had enough problems. Besides, she couldn’t afford the cost of a doctor or the attention such a visit might bring to her.

A noise from the street signaled the slam of a vehicle door in front of the building. She gazed through grime undoubtedly accumulated over at least a decade of neglect on the thick pane. Voices drifted upward to her high observatory.

“Oh, crap, I’ve got to get this mess cleaned up…quickly.” She scrambled to finish drying, slid her slightly damp body into sweats and donned a tee shirt she’d brought to the bathroom. She’d been diligent about returning personal care items after they were used to the tote she’d carried them in so she could make quick work of it. Nasty clothing was crammed inside. Her tattered hoodie missed a zipper pull.

“Well, it’s trash.” Should she keep it? “Nope. You’re gone, baby.” She might like the jacket, but not the recollections that came with it.

She snatched her things and rushed to the safety of her private sanctuary.

Buy link(s):

Pre-Sale 5/8/25                Launch 7/16/25

Sale Links:

AMZ

Amazon.com: The Attic (A Flip or Flop Mystery Book 1) eBook : Rees, Lynda : Books

B&N  (ebook)           The Attic by Lynda Rees | eBook | Barnes & Noble®

            (paperback)   The Attic by Lynda Rees, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

UNIVERSAL LINK:  https://books2read.com/u/4E1DEE

Also available in audiobook at:

DIRECT         https://payhip.com/b/VN1Tl

NOOK            https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-attic-lynda-rees/1146582031

Libro.FM       https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781960763013

STORYTEL   https://www.storytel.com/se/sv/books/the-attic-a-flip-or-flop-mystery-9835875

GooglePlay                                                                                                                                                    https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Lynda_Rees_The_Attic?id=AQAAAEDyWCIYwM

KOBO/WM   https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/attic-the-1

HOOPLA       https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/17553736

BIO: LYNDA REES, THE MURDER GURU

Lynda Rees is a multi-award-winning storyteller, horse farmer, born in Eastern Kentucky. This coal miner’s daughter, part-Cherokee Indian author’s writing is influenced by growing up in the area when Newport prospered as a mecca for gambling and sin. Her fascination with history’s effect on today’s lives works its way into her written pages.

Having traveled the world working with heads of industries, foreign governments, and business leaders during a marketing and global transportation corporate career, this free-spirited adventurer turned her workaholic tendencies to following her passion for writing.

Lynda received accolades from KILLER NASHVILLE, SILVER FALCION READER’S CHOICE TOP PICK AWARD for both Fresh Starts, Dirty Money and Flip or Flop, Murder House; from PFTH; RITA for debut novels in two genres, Gold Lust Conspiracy and romantic suspense, Parsley, Sage, Rose, Mary & Wine, Book 1 of The Bloodline Series, set in Kentucky horse country and from and Imaginarium for her 2022 launched Operation Second Chance. She’s also published in MG, children’s picture books and non-fiction.

Join my VIP group at: https://preview.mailerlite.com/t1a6j6

Website:                      http://www.lyndareesauthor.com 

Follow me on social media at:

Twitter            https://twitter.com/LyndaReesauthor

Facebook        https://www.facebook.com/lynda.rees.author/

YouTube         https://bit.ly/2HmSA9M

AllAuthor        https://allauthor.com/author/lyndarees/

Bookbub         https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lynda-rees

Goodreads      https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17187400.Lynda_Rees

Instagram:       Lynda Rees (@lyndareesauthor) • Instagram photos and videos

Pinterest:         https://www.pinterest.com/lyndareesauthor/pins/

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March 19, 2025 · 12:10 pm

Author Interview with C. Becker ~ New Release: Embracing Euphoria #RomanticSuspense

Please help me welcome today’s guest, C. Becker…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

Thank you for having me today on your blog! I grew up with my eight siblings on a small farm in western Pennsylvania, but now live in West Virginia with my husband, daughter, and thirteen-year-old Jack Russell. My three older children have graduated from school and are living on their own.

Tell us a little about your process in writing your book.

When I started writing the Euphoria trilogy, I had never written in the adult genre before. All my other books had been children’s stories. I chose romantic suspense because I like to read romances, and I wanted to see how difficult it would be to write an adult novel. I also thought it would be cool to incorporate medical topics in the book, as I worked in a clinical lab for several years and had a medical background. I honestly hadn’t realized the amount of research writing a book would take, but learning is so satisfying and I wanted to make the story as realistic as possible. The most difficult aspect about drafting the third book Embracing Euphoria was finding the fine line between giving out too much information from previous books in the trilogy and not enough. I had to go back twice to rewrite entire sections. Besides the rewrites, getting the story back into the editor’s queue in their busy schedule takes time. Whoever said patience is a virtue knew what they were talking about! I’m lucky my editor is very patient, too.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?

I keep busy with different jobs. Currently I’m a musician working with two churches as the music director and organist. I also worked as a substitute teacher for over ten years. Before having my family, I worked as a medical technologist in a hospital laboratory. I joke with my sister that I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. LOL!

Do you collect anything?

Rocks and Pokémon cards.

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

Cooking, cleaning, and household obligations. Often people assume when you write you can still spend your time doing everything in addition to your writing. If I worked in an office out of the home, I’d have eight hours of uninterrupted writing. Only in my dreams!

What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?

My favorite book of all time is “Remember When” by Judith McNaught. I love how she shows emotions like pain and desire in her writing. I also like how McNaught brings in recurring characters from books. My favorite childhood book was The Secret Seven series by Enid Blyton. I read almost the entire series in elementary school. I became a fan of mysteries after reading those books.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

No review.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

I’ve written a middle-grade novel, but haven’t had time to pursue a publisher for it yet. The book was recognized last year in a state writing contest. I’ve also written a holiday screen play that I hope to find a home for this year.

If you could spend time with a character from your book, whom would it be? And what would you do during that day? (PG-13 please 🙂

I’d hang out with the main character Hailey Langley and shadow her in her biochemistry lab analyzing Euphoria. If I were lucky enough, I’d follow her around in an undercover case and then hit the gym with her.

How did you come up with the title?

I used the word Euphoria throughout my trilogy, including this final book Embracing Euphoria. Euphoria has a double meaning . First, it’s the name of the drug used in the first book that gets unleashed into the public. The protagonist in the book Finding Euphoria also longs to find happiness from the guilt she’s had for giving her first-born son up for adoption. In the second book, Saving Euphoria, the protagonist holds on to any happiness she has left after she believes her husband succumbed to a fire. The roots from the Euphoria shrub are used to derive the mind-altering drug she is unknowingly taking, and her scientist friend is trying to save his dying Euphoria plant. In Embracing Euphoria, the protagonist needs to find a Euphoria shrub after she learns the plant’s flowers hold the key to regenerating her husband’s skin. She also convinces her husband to accept his condition and their relationship, even if he can’t be healed.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Love and relationships aren’t easy, but you need to continue living and embrace the positive that exists all around you.

Your favorite…

Movie            August Rush

Music            Contemporary Christian

Place you’ve visited        Florence, Italy

Place you’d like to visit             Australia

TV show from childhood         Little House on the Prairie

TV show from adulthood         Guiding Light soap opera

Food              Chocolate cake

Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television?

Board games –Bananagrams and Big Boggle

Thank you for joining me today. I enjoyed getting to know you. Please tell us about your book.

Blurb:

Hailey Langley tries to wrap her mind around the news her husband survived a fire she thought had killed him. Before she can search for him, Hailey has a promise to keep that takes her to Colombia where she must face the drug lord behind her husband’s attack.

Mark Langley is suffering from his own plight and insecurities, including burns and PTSD. Beneath Mark’s scarred exterior is a man seeking acceptance from a wife he refuses to see. Uncertain if he will ever reunite with his family, Mark struggles through his therapies, hopeful an experimental drug from the Euphoria plant will heal his scars.

When another villain from Colombia seeks revenge, Hailey and Mark must learn to trust and love again as they battle their newest threat and find their way back to each other.

Excerpt:

Mark breathed in his wife’s delicate feminine scent, taking in every beguiling curve of her body. Dang! Hailey was sexier than when they first met. Even her soft snores heated his blood. He should’ve brought her here weeks ago. After sharing a bed again, he’d do whatever it took to recover and return home.

The shuttle bus would arrive in an hour. He’d wait another five minutes to calm his erection before he prepped for therapy.

He licked his lips. The sweetness of Hailey’s honeyed kisses the previous night still lingered. They hadn’t made love; the last time he’d slept with Hailey had been almost a year ago. He couldn’t push her. Depending on her response to his disfigurement, that element of their marriage might never happen again.

He raised his gloved hand to touch her cheek but then lowered it. Better take things slowly. For now, lying next to her was enough.

Bruce’s suspicions had been correct about Hailey encountering hardship in Colombia. Twice during the night, Hailey cried out Mendoza’s name.

Mark had comforted her, smoothing her hair, whispering, “I’m here, honey.”

He ground his teeth. He should kill that bastard for tormenting her. Thank God she was safe now. Back in the US, away from the Mendoza family.

Hailey’s eyelashes fluttered, and a smile spread across her face. “Good morning. What time is it?”

“Quarter after eight.” He leaned over and kissed her. God, her sweet lips tasted delicious. He nibbled on her lips again. Like a hummingbird feeding on nectar. “You can use the bathroom first. I’ll ask the therapist to change my pressure garments at the clinic. I leave at nine. I won’t have much time for breakfast.”

She snuggled closer into his arms. “Give me another minute with you. Before the outside world takes over.”

His pulse raced. Maybe their relationship hadn’t changed that much.

Buy links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Euphoria-C-Becker-ebook/dp/B0DSG8XQ3X

B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embracing-euphoria-c-becker/1146791353

BAM:  https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509259809

The Wild Rose Press: https://wildrosepress.com/product/embracing-euphoria/

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/pt/book/embracing-euphoria/id6740242033

Kobo: https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=9781509259809

IndieBound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/embracing-euphoria-c-becker/22206508

About the Author:

C. Becker is a romance suspense writer, musician, and lover of crafts. She has a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology and worked in the clinical hospital setting until she began raising a family. As her children grew older, she never outgrew the attraction of using science in everyday life. She turned to teaching, music, and eventually to writing stories. She considers herself a “jack of all trades,” and readily admits she is a “master of none.” Yes, she even does home improvement projects! Becker has published three romance suspense novels in the Euphoria trilogy, several poems, and over a dozen children’s books (under Colleen Driscoll). Becker enjoys hanging out with her family and Jack Russell, playing the piano, reading, traveling, and gardening.

Contact Links:

Email: cbeckerauthor@gmail.com

Website address: http://cbeckerauthor.com/

Twitter https://twitter.com/cbeckerauthor

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CBeckerauthor/

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

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19026691.C_Becker

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March 17, 2025 · 5:41 am

Interview with M. S. Spencer ~ Latest Release: In the Crosshairs: The Body on Leffis Key #Cozymystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, M.S. Spencer…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I once counted up the number of significant moves in my life…and stopped at twenty-five. I have lived or traveled in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the US, Central America, and South America. Florida has been my home for the last eleven years. Hurricane Helene arrived in September 2024 and flooded the bungalow built by my parents-in-law, so I am currently in a rented apartment with a fabulous view of Sarasota Bay and not much else to recommend it.

By June, 2025 I will have published eighteen romantic suspense and mystery novels, the first released in 2009. I hold degrees in Anthropology, Middle East Studies, and Library Science. I’ve worked as a librarian, anthropologist, research assistant, Congressional aide, speechwriter, and nonprofit director. I have two children, an exuberant granddaughter, and currently divide my time between the Gulf Coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine.

Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?

I’m featuring my latest release, In the Crosshairs: the Body on Leffis Key, a Florida mystery. Like several of my books, I take as a premise something that is in the news. In this case, I’d been following the concerning trend of Chinese purchases of US farmland. I wound it into the plotline. As the news cycle moved on I was afraid that particular issue wouldn’t be relevant any more, and then bingo—it’s in the news again! The story I’m working on now had to do with offshore wind farms. It’s only in first draft so I kind of hope it continues to be controversial!

What book have you read that you wish you had written?

The Late George Apley, by J. P. Marquand (1937). It was so intricately woven between time periods. An amazing book.

What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?

That’s easy: snakes. I love snakes. Most humans have a primal fear of snakes. I did not get that gene, nor did my daughter, who had a sweet little scarlet kingsnake named Phoebe. They are not slimy or slippery or scary. I find them beautiful and they do make lovely pets.

Do you collect anything?

Oh my God, I used to collect all kinds of stuff. I had miniature porcelain figurines, rocks, stamps, coins, Wizard of Oz books, elephants, and more. The final straw was when I decided to collect the shells of cooked lobsters. My mother came into my room and gagged. Who knew old seafood shells stank?

What was your first job?

There was the life-guarding job at 15, but my first real job was as assistant to a professor who was writing a bibliography of works on Ethiopia in the Library of Congress. I had a desk in the library and two stack passes—which are more valuable than gold to a scholar. I could actually go in to the stacks of the greatest library in the world and browse.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?

It would have to be Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice for its perfect prose, but I do love Douglas Adams’ A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy because it’s irreverent, funny, and original. My favorite children’s book was Frank Stockton’s The Queen’s Museum & Other Fanciful Tales, which includes such gems as “The Gryphon & the Minor Canon” and “The Bee-man of Orn.” I have the copy that belonged to my grandmother, which I read till the cover fell off.

What is your favorite quote?

“Shirley, you are one silly bitch.” This is from the movie Shirley Valentine starring Pauline Collins. It’s about a middle-aged British housewife who goes to Greece on holiday & rediscovers herself. Whenever she gets overly dramatic or introspective, she tells herself this.

Your most prized material possession? Why?

My grandfather clock. My ancestor brought it from England around 1880, at which time it was already over 100 years old. It is a simple, yellow-pine box, but represents centuries of Spencer history.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

Yes. In the heady days before computers and thumb drives, I wrote a novel set in Yorktown and Williamsburg about the murder of the first female director of the Environmental Protection Agency. I had an agent and the manuscript was well on its way when two things happened. First, my agent decided to quit agenting. Then my husband, in a spring-cleaning frenzy, threw out the one copy. That was 17 years ago. I left the dream behind.

Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

Prince Charles was visiting the University of Chicago & I met him. Meryl Streep was a dorm-mate at Vassar. Working at the US Senate meant that I met famous senators and other politicians on a regular basis, plus visiting dignitaries and hearing participants. I had my picture taken with Charlton Heston and met Paul Newman.

Your favorite…

Movie: Ninotchka, the only Greta Garbo movie in which she laughs.

Music: Opera

Place you’ve visited: Too many—Paris, Istanbul, the Amazon, Egypt

Place you’d like to visit: Galapagos Islands

TV show from childhood: Have Gun Will Travel

TV show from adulthood: Death in Paradise

Food: Bacon cheeseburger with lots of lettuce

Sports team: Minnesota Vikings

Thanks so much for the interesting interview. I would have been sick about that manuscript being thrown out! And, wow…snakes. Yeah, not my favorite thing. Eek!

Please tell us about your book…

Someone is killing people with a crossbow—who will be next?

Palmer Lind, recovering from the sudden death of her husband, embarks on a bird-watching trek to the Gulf Coast of Florida. One hot day on Leffis Key she comes upon—not the life bird she was hoping for—but a floating corpse. The handsome beach bum who appears on the scene at the same time seems to have even more secrets than the dead man.

His story begins to unravel as the pair search for answers to a growing pile of dead bodies. Spies, radical environmentalists, and wealthy businessmen circle around each other in a complex dance. Which one is lying? What do a seemingly random group of individuals have in common, other than being targeted by a crossbow?

Excerpt:

Palmer climbed into the bass boat, and Hooper pushed it back in the water. They motored after the skiff. Hooper gazed over Palmer’s head, his expression unreadable. She studied him. Dusty blond hair cut short, but not short enough to lose the wave. Luminescent gray eyes whose brooding depths reminded her of a sea captain far from home or a world-weary traveler. His gnarly hands plus the five o’clock shadow on his chin attested to his beach bum status. She checked out the filthy shorts and ragged shirt barely concealing the tanned chest. He must live alone. The thought had a curious effect on her. A kind of warmish, softish feeling, a feeling she was not in the habit of having, at least not since Peter died.

His eyes dropped to hers. “Like what you see?”

Her momentary embarrassment was swiftly replaced by irritation. “You could use a wash and brush up.”

His cheeks tightened. “Last I checked you weren’t my mother.”

“True. I’m not your wife either, but one or the other should take a hand with you.”

A spasm crossed his face. Then he attempted a wry grin. “Since I currently have neither, perhaps you could do the honors.”

She sucked in a breath. “Sorry, just passing through.” Yikes. Did he think I was flirting with him?

“Oh. Well, then.” They had reached the dock. He cranked the engine down. “Hop out and I’ll tie up.”

Palmer ran over their conversation, trying to tease out any misleading statements she had made. How to explain that I’m not in the market—not so soon after Peter… She regarded the man at the tiller. Something about him… Am I attracted to him? No, it was something else, something enigmatic about him… He looked startled when he saw the dead man’s face. And he had hesitated when the patrolman asked his name. He also acted cagey when I called him a native. Why? Could he be a fugitive from justice? She sized him up. “So…what’s your real name and who are you really?”

Buy links:

Amazon  Barnes&Noble  ITunes  Kobo  Google

Books2Read  WildRosePress    AmazonCA   AmazonUK

About the Author

Librarian, anthropologist, research assistant, Congressional aide, speechwriter, nonprofit director—M. S. Spencer has lived or traveled in five of the seven continents and holds degrees in Anthropology, Middle East Studies, and Library Science. In June 2025 she will have published eighteen mystery or romantic suspense novels. She has two children, an exuberant granddaughter, and currently divides her time between the Gulf Coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine.

Blog: https://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msspencermysteries

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/msspencerauthor

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/msspencer
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/msspencerauthor/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-s-spencer

Shepherd: https://shepherd.com/search/author/21204

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002ZOEUC8

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November 18, 2024 · 3:50 pm

Author Interview with AA DaSilva ~ New Release: Periphery / Sci-fi Romance

Please help me welcome today’s guest, AA DaSilva…

Welcome, AA…Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

Thank you, Alicia, for having me on your blog today!

Born and raised in New England, my kids now attend the same schools I did growing up, and I’m happy about that. I enjoy traveling, but New England will always be home to me. After my husband retired from the Army in 2010, we settled into the Massachusetts town we both grew up in and started a family. We are blessed with two sons and a shih tzu named Didi (who clearly thinks she’s a human).  

Where did you get the idea for PERIPHERY?

The idea for Periphery brewed in my mind for decades. Growing up, I read a few books from my mother’s library about near-death experiences, and my father has a degree in philosophy, which led us to engage in a lot of existential conversations under the stars. Once I learned about the concept of the multiverse, my imagination exploded. It was a potential answer to the question I’d often pondered on about whether decision or fate determines our destiny.

Periphery was written to explore the weight of our choices—can changing one choice change everything? With that insight comes a new question to ponder: Are we given different scenarios, different choices, and ultimately different outcomes, that test our character, our strength, our virtue, all during a set of lifetimes within a multiverse? And, with that concept in mind, is it possible to seek and love the same soul across lifetimes?

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?

I work as a clinical laboratory technician at a local hospital, and I absolutely love what I do. As a generalist, I work in the hematology, chemistry and microbiology departments where I examine blood films under the microscope, work-up blood cultures, run blood analyses on automated instruments, and perform COVID PCR testing.  Though I work behind the scenes in the laboratory, being part of the patient’s diagnostic care team is both challenging and rewarding.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read your book?

I hope Periphery is will linger in the mind of those who read it, prompting self-examination of our choices, our destiny, and our soul’s journey through life and death. The big takeaway is that our past doesn’t define us, but our ability to love and continue moving forward does.  

What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?

I’d love to see Ana de Armas as Charlotte Cardoza, Rege Jean Page as Jared Cardoza, Idris Elba as General Mitch Cardoza, and Chris Hemsworth as Simon Donovan.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

No matter what you’ve been through, it’s never too late to choose a new path in life.

Your favorite…

Movie- Meet Joe Black

Music- I have a huge eclectic playlist ranging from classical to rock to alternative to rap. What I listen to depends on my mood, but I’m a sucker for angsty, moody music.

Place you’ve visited-  Nationally: Fort Lauderdale, Internationally: Israel

Place you’d like to visit-Norway

Thank you, AA…I enjoyed getting to know you…now, please tell us about your book!

A tragic accident. A miraculous resuscitation. A catastrophic secret. One choice can change everything.

When a young widow falls for a mysteriously familiar stranger, she’s targeted by an agency intent on exploiting the ability gained after her near-death experience. When offered a chance to reconnect with her late husband, things get complicated…and dangerous.

Blurb

 Charlotte barely survived the accident that killed her husband four years ago. Resuscitated a savant, she struggles to find meaning in her survival. When she meets Simon, a mysteriously familiar stranger, they are drawn to each other with undeniable magnetism. But Simon is contracted to a black-ops agency.

With the agency on her heels, and Simon claiming her heart, Charlotte’s past and future collide when she’s offered a chance to reconnect with her late husband.

As secrets are revealed, motives uncovered, and alliances are formed, Charlotte must choose…between the fate of the world and the fate of her heart.

Excerpt:

Sy turned to face me, and his gaze went from my eyes down to my lips. “I believe everything, no matter how painful or tragic, happens for a reason. Whether we like it or not, we have to go out and find our own healing, our own happiness, down whatever path the universe opens for us.”

I nodded, his statement resonating deeply with my own tragic story. “So, what’d you do?”

He looked away and shrugged. “I was honorably discharged after that, and Jeff’s now in the reserves.” He laughed. “Now I’m stuck working with him and nearly cutting my arm off in the process because he’s a slob, and forgets to throw away old blades.”

He lifted his arm, now un-bandaged and scabbed over, a far cry from the angry wound I’d cared for last week.

“Wow, Sy. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“I don’t believe in luck.”

“What do you believe in, then?”

“Destiny.” He winked at me and smiled.

This time, it was my gaze that dropped to his lips as he spoke. I took a deep breath, then looked up at him.

He leaned toward me, and I grasped the door handle. “Thanks for today.” I quickly opened the door and nearly stumbled out of the car.

He leaned back into his seat and chuckled. “Anytime, Charlotte.”

After he left, I showered and put on my pajamas, then snuggled into bed deliciously sore from the run. I hugged the covers tight around my body, and fell into a deep dreamless sleep, the type of sleep that had eluded me for the past several years.

Buy links:

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/author/aadasilva

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/periphery-aa-dasilva/1146224882

TWRP: https://wildrosepress.com/product/periphery/

GIVEAWAY!!!

Bookmojo is running the rafflecopter and I’ll be notified who wins 1/31. I’ll mail the package to the winner. Details below:

✦✤✦ Open to United States shipping addresses only. 

✦✤✦ Giveaway ends January 31, 2025 @ 11:59pm EST. The prize will be awarded shortly thereafter. 

✦✤✦ One winner will be chosen to receive a PR box with a signed copy of Periphery by AA DaSilva.

✦✤✦ This giveaway is administered by BookMojo on behalf of the author. The author will be solely responsible for prize distribution.

The giveaway has begun and runs through until January 31st. Giveaway Landing Page Link: https://book-mojo.com/periphery/ 

About the Author:

Born and raised in New England, AA DaSilva holds a degree in clinical laboratory science and brings her love of science and writing together via science fiction. When she’s not writing or identifying cells under a microscope, she can be found with a book in one hand, and a cup of iced coffee in the other. She resides in Massachusetts with her husband, two sons, and pup Didi (who looks suspiciously like an Ewok). Her debut novel, Periphery, is a science fiction love story that explores fate, strength, and the choices that determine our destiny, and was awarded the Literary Titan Gold Award. Book two in AA DaSilva’s Periphery series, titled The Bleed-Through Effect, is forthcoming in 2025 from The Wild Rose Press. For the latest updates on new releases, events, and giveaways sign up for email updates at aadasilva.com and follow her on socials.

x.com/aadasilva1

instagram.com/aadasilva11

Facebook.com/authoraadasilva

Tiktok.com/@aadasilva11

WEBSITE: Aadasilva.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51913414.AA_DaSilva

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September 6, 2024 · 8:00 am

Author Interview with  Steve Rush ~ New Release: Lethal Impulse #CrimeThriller #wrpbks

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Steve Rush…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

My wife and I live in a place one person claimed got hotter after sunset than in the middle of the sunny afternoon—Metro Atlanta, Georgia. Georgian since birth. Family scattered in Georgia, Florida and Minnesota. I enjoy the outdoors and beg for winter, which seems to avoid us most years.

Where did you get the idea for Lethal Impulse?

The idea came from my background of growing up in a minister’s home and tenure investigating homicides and employment in a medical examiner’s office, which led to a forensic consulting job with national travel and investigations and plethora of ideas for novels, including Lethal Impulse.

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?

I love crime fiction and suspense/thriller novels and movies. I enjoy writing in this genre for the challenge it offers in adding suspense, red herrings, and unexpected twists.

Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc., you’d like to share?

The main character, Neil Caldera, comes from a diverse family, completed forensics and theology majors in college and sought a career at NYPD. Lethal Impulse opens with his officer-involved shooting in which a bullet from Neil’s pistol kills a New York crime boss’s daughter. Fallout led to his move to a small town once named, “The Best Place to Live in Georgia,” and an encounter with a vengeful killer.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book? What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?

I am a pantser. I outlined my first novel and changed much of what I had written in the process. I felt it best to let creativity take over. When I reach a sticking point, I ask, What if? I had written about 2,000 words of Lethal Impulse when our consulting business shut down. I wrote 10,000 words a month for seven months. For the effort, I had a finished novel, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Lethal Impulse?

I want them to experience the characters’ highs and lows the way I did while writing their story and hope they approve of the way I fulfilled my promises to them. My objective is to transform readers into fans. I’ll do my best to live up to their expectations.

What book have you read that you wish you had written?

The Husband, Dean Koontz.

What is your favorite quote?

“I have a perfect cure for a sore throat: cut it.” ― Alfred Hitchcock

Have you written any other books that are not published?

I have three manuscripts ready for submission. One is the first book one of a planned three-book series. My thriller, After Her Deceit, the sequel in a two-book series is scheduled for release on October 1st. The same publisher has another two-book crime-thriller series planned for release in 2025.

What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

Toughest: did not resonate with the characters. Best: great dialogue.

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

I give life to characters and place them in true-to-life situations and watch their reactions and responses. A few I will create based on a person’s unique name. I always ask permission and portray those characters as good people.

How much of the book is realistic?

I’m all-in when it comes to offering readers an impression of reality and adhere to self-imposed standards of authenticity, believability and credibility based on my experience as a forensic investigator. I research settings for accuracy in real towns or ones based on real places.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Dean Koontz, a master wordsmith.

Thank you for the interesting interview. Crime Thriller is my favorite genre, and I also love Dean Koontz. And I love that quote from Hitchcock. 😀 Now, please tell us about your book…

Blurb:

He’s riddled with guilt. She’s annoyed with the status quo.

The death of a crime boss’s daughter forces Detective Neil Caldera to leave NYC. He seeks refuge in the tranquil embrace of a small town, where he finds himself entangled in the labyrinth of a teenage girl’s murder.

Tess Fleishman’s pale skin and extreme weight loss portrays a disease she wants others to see. While inside, a compulsion for Neil fuels her passion to have him, or destroy him.

Excerpt:

Neil had observed enough crime scenes to identify the familiar sight and smell of blood. Light revealed blood on three of the four walls and on a few boards overhead.

He strode to the rear space amidst various farm implements. The flashlight beam revealed nothing unanticipated to the right. The light revealed more to him than he foresaw. Happenstance played no role in the display now before him. The artist’s rendition displayed evidence of a warped mind. Malevolence flaunted in the form of a portrait painted with blood.

Neil widened the beam of light with a left twist of the flashlight’s head. Shock jolted him. The likeness on the barn wall stared back at him with remarkable resemblance.

“Holy mother of Moses. I understand why you didn’t want to come back.”

Neil looked at the front and rear doors. Light from an approaching vehicle rose on the front of the barn. Gaps around the door allowed enough streaks of light through to make shadows look as if the light infused them with life. The vehicle continued onward. Every shadow around Neil returned to stationary ominous forms. He half-turned toward the front and listened. The whine of tires on pavement diminished. Silence again filled the barn.

The hinges squawked against Neil’s shove on the right-side door. Chad turned his head in Neil’s direction. He was sitting on the ground with his back to the weathered wood. Knees drawn up, arms wrapped around them and his right hand clamped on his left wrist.

“It’s you.” Chad shuddered, tilted his head toward the barn. “In there. The picture on the wall looks like you.”

Neil glanced inside. The image renewed in his mind. “Is that the reason you called me? To have me look at someone’s depravity smeared on a barn wall?”

Chad shook his head. “No, sir.”

“Then why?”

“I know what you did.”

Buy links:

amazon.com/dp/B0DCC8KC8Y/thewildrosepr-20

Lethal Impulse – The Wild Rose Press Inc

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Lethal%20Impulse-

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781509258130

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=9781509258130

https://play.google.com/store/search?c=books&q=9781509258130&c=books

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509258123

https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=9781509258123

https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=9781509258123

About the Author:

Steve Rush is an award-winning author whose experience includes tenure as homicide detective and chief forensic investigator for a national consulting firm. He worked with the late Joseph L. Burton, M.D, under whom he mastered his skills, and investigated many deaths alongside Dr. Jan Garavaglia of Dr. G: Medical Examiner fame.

Steve’s book Kill Your Characters; Crime Scene Tips for Writers was named finalist in the 2023 Silver Falchion Award for Best Nonfiction and Honorable Mention in the 2023 Readers’ Favorite Awards. Lethal Impulse won the 2022 Public Safety Writing Association’s Writing Competition for an unpublished novel, longlisted in the 2022 Page Turner Awards and joint first prize in the 2020 Chillzee KiMo T-E-N Contest.

He lives in Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife Sharon.

Visit his website: https://www.steverush.org

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-rush-a20302149/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5217876

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March 6, 2024 · 7:30 am

Author Interview withRosemary Kubli ~ Gullible #RomanticSuspense #Blog #WRPbks

Please help me welcome author Rosemary Kubli…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I was born and raised in northeast Ohio in the industrial city of Youngstown. After receiving my degree in Communication Arts, I was hired by a major retail chain to conduct new hire training. One day, at an inter-departmental meeting, I met this handsome guy with gorgeous blue eyes who, eighteen months later, became my husband. A few years into our marriage, a job transfer sent us to southern California where both our sons were born. Seven years later, that same job sent us back to northeast Ohio where we’ve lived ever since. Our older son and his family now live in Wisconsin, and our younger son and his fiance live in the Los Angeles area. Thank goodness for the luxury of keeping in touch through video calls and for the convenience of long-distance traveling! Until a few years ago we always had a cat or two wandering around the house, but we are currently a pet-free household.

Where did you get the idea for Gullible?

The idea for Gullible came to me as I was walking home from a neighbor’s house one summer evening a few years ago. Although my original idea was much different from the novel I ended up writing, the two main characters remained the same. I wanted the story to be about a female con artist and the target of her latest scheme, a wealthy man who collects valuable antiques. As I was researching the types of antiques the male character would have in his collection, I came across a YouTube video about the Singing Bird Pistols and knew immediately that I wanted these extremely rare treasures to be the focal point of my story. The ideas started snowballing after that, and before I knew it, Gullible was born.

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?

Suspense, crime novels, and mysteries are my favorite genres to read and, as it turns out, they are also my favorite genres to write. I’ve tried my hand at writing other types of stories, such as women’s fiction, but I didn’t have the same interest and enthusiasm for those projects. That’s not to say that, if I come up with a great idea for a story, I won’t write something in a different genre in the future. For now, though, I’ll stick with romantic suspense.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Gullible?

I want readers to have found Gullible to be one of those books they couldn’t stop reading but, at the same time, didn’t want the story to end. Those are the novels that occupy a permanent space on your bookshelf.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

Let’s be realistic—not everyone is going to fall in love with Gullible, and I’m okay with that. We are all entitled to speak our minds and I firmly believe that everyone’s opinion counts. However, for those who didn’t find Gullible to be an enjoyable read, I would appreciate receiving an insightful critique telling me why they didn’t like the story. My experience so far has been that poor ratings are accompanied with a snarky comment, or no comment is given at all. Perhaps these unsatisfied readers don’t realize that their honest feedback might serve to help me become a better writer.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

I like to laugh and to make people laugh, so one of these days I would love to try writing a romantic comedy or a tongue-in-cheek women’s fiction novel.

If you could be a character in any of your books, who would you be?

I would be Louise, the retired kindergarten teacher who cares for the widower Patrick’s four-year-old son Oliver. What a perfect job she has! She’s great with children, so caring for Oliver is more a pleasure than a chore, and she has full rein to manage the household for Patrick in the absence of his deceased wife. She’s performing a job she loves, she’s treated like a member of the family, and for her dedication she receives generous compensation. That’s what I call a win-win situation.

If you could spend time with a character from your book, whom would it be? And what would you do during that day? (PG-13 please 🙂)

I don’t need to think twice about this answer! I’d love to spend a day in the kitchen with Carmella Ricci, Siena’s grandmother. Carmella would give me lessons on how to make her favorite Italian dishes—and maybe teach me a few Italian phrases at the same time. I’d also pump her for details on what Siena was like as a child.

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

All my characters are unique, but they all have snippets of personalities and traits I’ve borrowed from family and friends. What better way to make my fictional characters jump off the page than to model them after people whom I’ve known for years?

What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?

Definitely Veronica! Her constant need for attention, her backstabbing, her habit of making everything about her, and the way she manipulates Jonathan would drive me crazy after only five minutes. She’s that character you love to hate.

Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

When we lived in Southern California I brushed elbows with a few TV personalities, but the most famous person I ever met is Bill Clinton—although it was more of a shake of his hand in greeting than truly “meeting” him. While campaigning for Hillary in 2016, Bill and his entourage made a stop near the bank I was working for at the time in Downtown Youngstown. I was at the front of the crowd when he stepped off the campaign bus and he made a beeline straight for me. (I always joke that he picked the best-looking woman in the crowd!) Now, regardless of your political leanings, he is a former president and deserves our respect. I should have been poised and gracious and said, “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. President.” Instead, nervous at being caught off guard, I blurted out, “Nice to meet ya, Bill!” I will never live down the embarrassment! And why didn’t I think to get a selfie with him?

Even the most cunning femme fatale has her weakness.

Blurb:

Siena Ricci is shrewd, seductive, and an expert in the art of deception. Masking her identity behind the guise of Marie Lacroix, a specialist in antiques and objets d’art, she swindles her employer’s wealthy clients out of their valuable possessions. She hasn’t yet met the man she can’t manipulate, but then the con she’s playing on Jonathan Woodward has only just begun.

Jonathan proves to be an easy mark, but he’s also enticingly irresistible. As their relationship heats up, her plot to steal his multi-million-dollar antique treasures begins to unravel. Noticing a subtle change in Jonathan’s demeanor, Marie questions whether she’s still in control of the con or if she’s blindly become the gullible victim of her own scheme.

Excerpt:

Marie entered the crowded restaurant at half past six. She spotted Gus sitting at the isolated table against the back wall, their usual spot.

“Welcome to Maestro. Do you have a reservation?” The young hostess was new and didn’t recognize Marie as a frequent patron of the establishment.

“Actually, I’m meeting someone,” Marie explained as she brushed past the girl. More than a few heads turned when Marie entered the dining area, and the chatter dropped a decibel or two as she wound her way across the room. Her lips curled into a sly grin. Nice to know she hadn’t yet lost her touch.

Gus stood as Marie approached the table. “Hey, doll,” he said, his endearment accompanied by a light kiss on her cheek.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said. “The auction ran longer than expected.”

“Not a problem.” Gus spoke with an accent that had been cultivated in the Bronx and a voice that was damaged by too many cigarettes. “I ordered you an Old Fashioned.” He slid the whiskey glass in her direction.

“Thanks. Why am I not surprised to find a drink waiting for me?” Marie smiled affectionately at Gus as she swirled the liquor around the ice cube to blend the flavors.

“I enjoy spoiling you. Always have.”

They clinked their glasses together. “Salute!”

A confirmed bachelor in his late fifties, Gus’s light brown hair was thinning and graying at the temples, but he could still win over the ladies with his rugged good looks and smooth mannerisms. He and Marie’s father, Dominic Ricci, grew up in the same neighborhood and were often mistaken for brothers. When Marie and her sister were born, Gus was the only person Dominic considered to fulfill the role of godfather to his daughters. Marie adored Gus and, in Dominic’s absence, relied on him for counsel and guidance. Their inherent bond had also proved to be a good foundation for their mutual business dealings.

The waiter set a plate of piping hot calamari with a side of marinara sauce on their table.

“Thanks, Manny.” Gus winked at the waiter, a gesture Marie recognized as his customary way of conveying his gratitude.

“That was quick,” Marie commented.

“I told Manny to serve the appetizer as soon as you arrived.” Gus placed a few calamari on Marie’s plate before serving himself.

Marie dipped a piece into the marinara. “I’m starving,” she said, taking her first bite. “I skipped lunch today. Too busy.”

“My guess is you probably skipped breakfast, too.” Gus swallowed his food before continuing. “You can’t survive on coffee alone, doll. You’re thin enough as it is.”

“You know my motto. A woman can never be too thin, too beautiful, nor too wealthy.”

“Well, you’ve got the first two covered,” Gus declared as he took a sip of his scotch. “And, I may have a plan to help you with the third.”

Buy link(s):

Amazon: www.amazon.com/Gullible-Rosemary-Kubli/dp/150924851X

Barnes and Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gullible-rosemary-kubli/1143179526

Google Books: www.google.com/books/edition/Gullible/wb24zwEACAAJ?hl=en

Books-A-Million: www.booksamillion.com/search?filter=&id=8786302200244&query=ROSEMARY%20KUBLI

Target:

www.target.com/p/gullible-by-rosemary-kubli-paperback/-/A-89141304#lnk=sametab

Walmart:

www.walmart.com/ip/Gullible-Paperback9781509248513/2433615314?from=%2Fsearch

About the Author:

Rosemary Kubli writes the type of books she loves to read – intrigue and suspense mixed with a pinch of romance and a clever plot twist or two. Her professional experiences run the gamut from Human Resources and training to accounting and banking, with publishing being her most recent endeavor. Aside from the seven years she lived in southern California, she has always called the northeast corner of Ohio her home. Discover more about Rosemary by visiting her website – www.rosemarykubli.com.

Social Media Links:

Facebook   Rosemary Kubli – Author | Facebook

Instagram   www.instagram.com/koobswrites/

Goodreads:  www.goodreads.com/book/show/124954326-gullible

BookBub:  www.bookbub.com/profile/rosemary-kubli

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January 3, 2024 · 9:52 am

Author Interview with Patricia McAlexander  ~ New Release: The Last Golden Isle ~ #RomanticSuspense #ParanormalPsychicRomance #Blog

Good morning and Happy 2024! Please help me welcome Patricia McAlexander…

Hi, Patricia. Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets? 

I am from Johnstown, New York, a small town in the foothills of the Adirondacks. I earned a BA from the University of New York at Albany, an MA from Columbia University, and a PhD from The University of Wisconsin, Madison, all in English. Athens, Georgia, became my home when my husband took a position in the English department at The University of Georgia, and I soon found a teaching position at the University also. Our son was born here and now lives in nearby Sandy Springs. I have retired, but continue to teach classes for The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). I also enjoy hiking, photography, and, of course, writing fiction.

Where did you get the idea(s) for The Last Golden Isle?

The basic idea for the plot came from a little novel I’d written as a high school student about a Northern girl who goes to spend the summer with her pen pal in Virginia and discovers her family has dangerous secrets. The idea for the setting came from a visit to Tybee Island, one of Georgia’s “golden isles” off the coast. I loved its sandy beaches, sea shells, dolphins, and gorgeous sunrises. The idea for the “spiritual guide” character came from a friend whose Brazilian son-in law and his family had such a “guide.” Being fascinated by the description, I incorporated a similar character in the novel.

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?

All of my novels so far can be described as are romantic suspense. I like romance, but also like to spice it up with drama—an escaped convict, drug dealers, psychological trauma. I think such elements add to the intensity of the relationships described.

Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?

I remember thinking when I was maybe two thirds through writing The Last Golden Isle that I had “written myself into a corner” (like the proverbial “painting yourself into as corner”).  I didn’t know how to get my characters out of their dilemma, and lay awake at night thinking about it—sometimes turning on the light and jotting down ideas as to what I could do. Finally, with the help of Google research, the Facebook site “Cops and Writers,” and those night sessions, I came up with the last third of the novel.

 How much of The Last Golden Isle is realistic? 

I know fantasy and “romantasy” (I’ve just heard that last term) have become very popular now as readers seek escape, but when I write “romantic suspense” I try to keep the story in the real world. I think realistic stories can be as much of an escape as fantasy, perhaps more so. The Last Golden Isle is based on actual experiences (first and second-hand), observation, and non-fiction sources such as newspaper articles. It might be argued that  “happily ever after” endings like those in my novels are not realistic, but as an author, I try to make them so.

Are your characters based on real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

My characters are often inspired by real people—or a mix of real people—that I’ve known or heard about at various times in my life, including public figures.  But imagination plays a major role as I put them into action in the novels.

What book have you read that you wish you had written?

I wish I had written Circe by Madelaine Miller. I loved the way she retold so many  classical Greek myths, making the gods, demi-gods, and goddesses come to life in a believably human way. My mother was a Latin teacher, and my sister and I grew up hearing many of those myths. Miller’s novel gave them new details and life.  I would love to have done what Miller did—tell the stories from the point of view of one of the mythical female characters, relating realistic psychology to the tales. And of course, I’d want to write as beautifully as Miller did.

What was your first job?

In the nineteenth and much of the twentieth century, my hometown, Johnstown, New York, was a center of the glove-making industry.  My first full-time job was working in a glove factory for two summers in the 1960s. I met some fascinating, admirable, strong women there as we worked around the “blackedging table”—painting the white seams on black leather gloves with a black dye. I wrote up a memoir of those two summers and sent it to the Johnstown Historical Society, which had put out a call for such material. The glove factories have all closed now.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?

I’m retired, but I taught composition and grammar at The University of Georgia in a program preparing students for their college writing courses. I loved it. We read short stories and memoirs as inspiration for some of their assigned essays—pieces by Alice Walker, Dick Gregory, Flannery O’Connor, and Mary Hood, for example. They say reading good writing helps with one’s own writing, and I think this proved true for the students in my courses.

How did your interest in writing originate? 

Being a writer must have been in my genes, and my family supported my interest. My father let me type stories on his typewriter beginning when I was five years old, and my mother patiently (most of the time) spelled words for me when I asked her to—which was often.  I illustrated my “books” with crude crayon drawings—I was never very good at art—and fastened the pages together with safety pins. My younger sister eagerly read these books when they were finished. And for the record, today she is a chief reader and editor of my fiction. 

What do your friends think of your writing?

My friends are some of my biggest fans, and I appreciate them greatly. They write reviews of my books, invite me to speak at their book clubs, tell me they can’t wait for my next book. I  know they helped make The Last Golden Isle an Amazon Best Seller for those wonderful hours last December.

She came to escape her past—and found her future.

Excerpt:

Reaching the island, she turned on her GPS and keyed in her uncle’s address. The system’s confident female voice guided her over circuitous roads until she reached a wide concrete drive blocked with closed wrought iron gates. The GPS told her, “You have reached your destination.” She didn’t remember those gates. They were like those at the entrances to exclusive communities. Then, seeing the sign Sanderson Estates, she realized that this was such a community—the one her uncle had established since her last visit.

She pulled up to the gates and stopped. A tall, well-built, very tan young man in a white Oxford shirt and jeans—a security guard—came out of a small brick building beside the drive. Clean shaven, with dark curls cropped short and strong, even features, he reminded her of the statue pictured on the cover of her high school Latin textbook. She lowered her window, and he looked in at her, examining her with direct gray eyes. He held a clipboard and had a gun tucked into his belt.

Her hands grew cold. “I’m Clare Matthews, Sally Sanderson’s cousin. They know I’m coming.”

He looked at the clipboard, unsmiling. “You have some identification, Miss?”

Buy link(s):

https://www.amazon.com/Last-Golden-Isle-Patricia-McAlexander/dp/1509251995/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-golden-isle-patricia-mcalexander/1144163217?ean=9781509251995

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-last-golden-isle/id6468095788

About the Author:

As mentioned earlier, I grew up in Johnstown, New York and earned degrees in English from the University of New York at Albany, Columbia University, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Now retired from the faculty of the University of Georgia, I’ve published four contemporary romantic suspense novels—Stranger in the Storm, Shadows of Doubt, and The Student in Classroom 6,and  the latest, The Last Golden Isle, released December 11, 2023.My short story “Falling,” which came in second in the Atlanta, Georgia, Writers Club’s 2021 Terry Kay Prize for Fiction, was published in the Fall 2022 issue of the online journal Knot (https://www.knotliteraturemagazine.com/patricia-mcalexander ).  I live in Athens, Georgia with my husband, also a retired UGA professor.

Email: mcalexanderpatricia@gmail.com

Website: https://patriciamcalexander.weebly.com 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/patriciamcalexander/

Facebook: facebook.com/patriciamcalexanderwriter/

X (Twitter):  https://twitter.com/PatMcAlexWriter

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November 29, 2023 · 9:01 am

Broome Enigma / Romantic Suspense by Meryl Brown Tobin

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Meryl Brown Tobin with her new release…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I am an Australian and live with my husband in regional Victoria, Australia between bush and coast. We think we live in Paradise.

Living in our place is like living in a bird hide. We have counted over 80 different species of birds within a kilometer of our home. Each morning we put out seed on our balcony and usually crimson rosellas and rainbow lorikeets come in to be fed. Sometimes a grey shrike thrush, a dove, sulphur-crested cockatoos, galahs and occasionally king parrots come in. In late October a small strange bird with stripes across its chest came in. A friend who illustrated a bird guide book identified my photos of it as a shining bronze cuckoo. Magic!

We also have other wildlife as ‘pets’. At least five different black swamp wallabies live on our small property and accept us as other fauna. When we pass, they stop eating grass or browsing on trees, watch us walk by and then resume eating. Sometimes we see an echidna, a blue tongue lizard, one of the four different sorts of snakes we have here––copperhead, red-bellied black, brown and tiger––lizards and skinks and the odd fox.

Where did you get the idea for ‘Broome Enigma’?

My family and I have visited Broome in Western Australia a number of times and love it. The setting came first and then we met a young man there who seemed so out of place as a maintenance man at a holiday park that I played the ‘What If…?’ game. In time the answers formed and I came up with a hero whose past life was shrouded in mystery.

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?

I’d written lots of short stories about human relationships and several novelettes and novels, but none published. Here I had set out to write a love story but the rest evolved until the suspense became as important as the love relationship.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book? What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?

Getting the start right is very important and also giving back-story without info dumping. Hinting at violence rather than showing it in this novel was also difficult. I deplore violence and could not and would not write graphic descriptions of it. However, for realism, there had to be some unpleasant situations.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Broome Enigma?  

Apart from sharing the adventures and travels of pleasant people who have faced up to and overcome serious challenges, I hope readers will not only have enjoyed the read but also have grown along with the characters and had insights into their own challenges.

Your most prized material possession? Why?

Probably my computer because it has become almost an extension of me. It is in my DNA that I have to write. 

Have you written any other books that are not published?

My first novel was a very amateurish one though it had a noble motive behind it. Its two main characters were Australian identical twin young men who were called up in the conscription lottery to fight in Vietnam. One saw himself as fighting a just war, while the other, a conscientious objector, refused to participate in what he saw as an unjust war. Both young men put forward their arguments to each other and friends and family to justify their stands.

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

Both. For instance, the hero of ‘Broome Engima’ was inspired by a goodlooking young man I once saw working in a holiday village.  Dressed only in jeans and sandals and shifting around sprinklers, he had shoulder-length hair, was perfectly tanned and looked as though he had just stepped off a film set about surfers. However, he did not ooze the personality I would expect to match. He did not smile and had a ‘damped down’ personality. That prompted me to wonder how someone like him came to be working in a holiday village. Eventually I came up with a back story.

How did you come up with the title? 

Because the setting was so important to the story and because the hero’s past life was shrouded in mystery, the title popped into my head early on.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

While my main motive for writing is that my story is ‘a good read’, I would like readers to enjoy the emotional rollercoaster experienced by the two main characters, especially the heroine as the book is through her point of view. However, if there is a message it is to treat others with respect and that all relationships, even when participants in them disagree, can be respectful.

How did your interest in writing originate?

I think it must be innate. I’ve always loved school and loved writing. When I was about eight, I joined children’s clubs run by two newspapers and entered their competitions and contributed material.

On a working holiday in Australia’s cosmopolitan Outback town of Broome in 1986, Jodie, a young book designer and artist is open to romance and adventure.

At the holiday village where she is staying, she meets Joe, a young man who works there. Despite the strong attraction between them, the many unknowns about his earlier life keep them apart. To try to uncover his mysterious past, they travel to Perth and back to Broome and are drawn into not only bizarre but also dangerous situations.

Is Joe the person she thinks he is, or is he some alter ego? Can Jodie and Joe stop their relationship from developing until they have answers and know if he is free to love her?

Excerpt:

A big gust of wind rocked the van and flung Jodie hard against Joe.

He pushed her off.

“Joe, it’s me, Jodie! Wake up, wake up!”

“Jodie, is that you?” He threw his arms around her and buried his head in her chest.

She brushed his hair back from his sweating face. “Take it easy, Joe. Take deep breaths. It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”

He stopped shaking and pulled back from her. “What’s happening?”

“It’s the cyclone. Don’t you remember?”

Another huge gust shook the van and sent Jodie sprawling on Joe’s bunk and into the wall. “Ow, that hurt!” She picked herself up and rubbed her head.

The van rocked violently again. Joe and Jodie grabbed for handholds.

“Quick, come into my bed with me, Joe. It will be safer there.” Tripping and feeling their way along the wall, the two made their way to the double bed and clambered in.

Her breathing coming in short spasms, she lay on her back and took deep breaths. The storm whined and screeched about her, and the roof creaked and scraped.

“Oh, my god, the roof’s going to take off any minute!”

Joe’s arms enveloped her. “Hush, everything will be all right. But will you be okay if we have to make a run for it?”

“Yes.” She let out a sob. “But I like our chances better in here than out there.”

Joe kissed her forehead. He pulled her closer and they lay locked against each other while the storm raged around them.

Buy links:

Broome Enigma : Tobin, Meryl Brown: Amazon.com.au: Books

  1. Amazon.co.jp: Broome Enigma : Tobin, Meryl Brown: Foreign Language Books (Japan)
  • Amazon (France)

Broome Enigma (English Edition) eBook : Tobin, Meryl Brown : Amazon.fr: Boutique Kindle

  1. Better Read than Dead (Sydney)

Welcome to BRTD – Better Read Than Dead Bookstore Newtown

  1. Barnes & Noble (USA)

Broome Enigma by Meryl Brown Tobin, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

  1. Booktopia  (Australia)

https://www.booktopia.com.au/broome-enigma-meryl-brown-tobin/book/9781509250639.html

  1. ThriftBooks (USA)
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/broome-enigma/51028362/item/61510947/#idiq=61510947&edition=69970320
  1. Brown’s Books  (UK)

https://www.brownsbfs.co.uk/Product/Tobin-Meryl-Brown/Broome-Enigma/9781509250639

  1. Goodreads
  2. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199746026-broome-enigma
  1. 17.Mighty Ape(NZ)

https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/broome-enigma/38222278

  1. https://www.bol.com/be/nl/p/broome-enigma/9300000163632008/ (Netherlands)
  1. Walmart (Sacramento)

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Broome-Enigma-Paperback-9781509250639/5067638128

About the author:

Meryl Brown Tobin, is an Australian writer. She writes short and long fiction for adults and children, non-fiction, especially travel, poetry and educational puzzles. She has had 21 books published.  These include puzzle/activity books, black-line masters books of educational puzzles, work books for primary students, a travel book, a children’s picture storybook, a poetry collection and a haiku collection with four other poets. In total nearly 300,000 copies of her first four puzzle books were sold in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Hundreds of her poems and puzzles, scores of her short stories and travel and other articles, and some cartoons have appeared in more than 150 magazines, newspapers and anthologies in Australia and elsewhere, including the US. ‘Broome Enigma’ is her debut novel and more novels are in the pipeline.

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November 27, 2023 · 8:12 am

#AuthorInterview ~ From The First Moment, Sullivan Boys Series Book 6 ~ Romantic Suspense by K.M. Daughters #Blog #Wrpbks

I am more than delighted to welcome these lovely ladies to my blog on their release day. I have had the pleasure of editing several novels by them and, not only is their writing fabulous, they are a joy to work with. Happy release day, ladies!

Thank you so much for hosting us on book launch day! We’d love to answer any questions, including personal questions, that your Followers might pose.

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets? 

We’re sisters, and each other’s only siblings, born and raised in Rutherford, New Jersey, a small suburban town about thirteen miles from New York City. Our dad, Michael (Mickey) died when we were teenagers and our mom, Katherine (Kay) died when we were in our early forties. Neither lived to see us realize our dream of becoming published authors. We honor their memories with our pen name: we’re (K.)atherine’s and (M.)ichael’s Daughters.

Pat, the oldest sister, is married to Nick, has three children, two granddaughters and two grandsons. Pat lives in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. Kathie is married to Tom, has two sons, four granddaughters and one grandson. Kathie lives on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This explains our settings in our Sisters of the Legend Trilogy, Reunion For The First Time, etc.

Pat has no pets. Kathie rescues Boston Terriers. Franklin is her Boston Terrier mix. K.M. Daughters LOVES Franklin.

Where did you get the idea for From The First Moment?

The title sprang from Mike and Amy’s history of loving each other from the first moment they met. 

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?

Yes, we’ve written romantic suspense in our Sullivan Boys Series and love the genre. Bringing back the Sullivan Boys next generation is like a loving family reunion for us.

Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?  

Finishing this book was an unprecedented joy for us. We love writing together and our process alternating chapters always brings unexpected plot twists and surprises. But the real-life plot twist for us when we were about halfway through writing our first draft was Pat’s diagnosis with ovarian cancer. After we complete every first draft of a novel, we get together for a read through. This read through was beyond joyful. After six rounds of chemotherapy and extensive surgery, Pat was cancer free.

Are there any tricks, habits or superstitions you have when creating a story?

We give each other a charm for our “K.M. Daughters bracelets” engraved with the name of each book after a completed read through. We’re starting to run out of links. J

What book have you read that you wish you had written?

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom

What do you dislike that most people wouldn’t understand?

No matter how cold it is outside, neither of us can stand wearing socks under the covers. AND the covers can’t be too swaddled around our feet, either.

Do you collect anything?

Seashells and sea glass if you ask Kathie – Pat only has a few from sister-time visits to OBX. Both of us collect autographed books.

What was your first job?

Cashiers at Shop Rite Supermarket in our hometown.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

No review. Absolutely, we choose no review. If either of us doesn’t enjoy a book, or in the rare cases if we don’t like it enough to finish, we never give the author a bad review recognizing how hard it is to write a novel. Our grandmother’s life philosophy stuck: if you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all.

What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

We attended a Fiction Novel writing course at the University of Iowa’s Writers Workshop. It was SERIOUS. We had to supply ten pages of a manuscript to workshop attendees for their critiques. Thankfully, no one criticized our ability per se but clearly, they didn’t consider romance writers serious. “Does everybody have to be beautiful?”

The best compliment is hearing that a Reader “can’t wait” for our next book. We’ve heard that a lot pending the release of From The First Moment. We are excited that Sullivan Boys Series fans have missed the family.

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

All our characters are fictional, but we often name secondary characters after real people. Secondary characters named Kay and Mickey always have roles in our books in honor of our parents.

How did your interest in writing originate?

Our dad wrote children’s stories for us when we were kids. So, the writing bug was inherited.

Can first love last forever for Mike and Amy?

Amy Jordan Sullivan returns to Chicago from her home in the Hollywood Hills for a starring role in a run of the musical Grease. She moved seven years ago to establish her now successful acting career leaving her first love behind. CPD Homicide Detective Michael Sullivan Lynch heads the next generation of Sullivans in law enforcement. Mike is a rising star on the force and he’s happy with his career and his life in Chicago until Amy returns home reawakening feelings that he thought he’s buried. Can first love last forever for Mike and Amy? Only if Mike can stop the Hollywood City Studios killer. 

Excerpt:      

“How has this already gotten out to the media?”

“You’re kidding right? All those cellphone videos? It was probably on TMZ before the coroner even got to the lot. MJ ran into Ryder’s arms when he appeared at the door. I’m happy he’s here for her.”

A tear ran down her cheek. He wiped it away with his thumb. “Aw, don’t cry, Ames. I’m here for you. I’ll get to the bottom of all this.”

“Why, Mike? Why would anyone want to harm MJ?”

“I don’t know, but I’ll find out. I contacted your dad requesting involvement in the case. He must have talked with Flynn who has a history working with the LAPD. Small world. Flynn knows the lead detective. I’m on the investigative team officially. I have a meeting with the lead detective first thing in the morning.”

“MJ said she wants to resume shooting tomorrow if the police let her. I’ll have an early start to the day, too.”

“I don’t see any reason why you can’t go back to work – if MJ adds a heavy security presence. I’ll talk to her before I leave for my meeting in the morning. She needs to close the set and post guards at all studio access points. I’m still concerned about her exposure.”

“I know. I’m sure she’ll listen to you.”

He huffed a laugh. “Have you met my sister?”

Mike stroked Amy’s silken hair. “Get some sleep, sweetheart. I’ll keep you safe.”

Buy links: Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/First-Moment-Sullivan-Boys/dp/1509252975/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13YWMCQ09MIOK&keywords=from+the+first+moment+by+k.m.+daughters&qid=1698435651&sprefix=From+The+First+Moment%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/from-the-first-moment-k-m-daughters/1144094989?ean=9781509252978

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/from-the-first-moment/id6467134024

About the authors:

K.M. Daughters is the penname for team writers and sisters, Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare. The penname is dedicated to the memory of their parents, “K”ay and “M”ickey Lynch. K.M. Daughters is the author of 17 best-selling and award-winning romance genre, mainstream fiction and Christian fiction novels. The “Daughters” are wives, mothers and grandmothers residing in the Chicago suburbs and on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Visitors are most welcome at http://www.kmdaughters.com

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August 1, 2023 · 9:54 am

Author Interview with ML Barrs ~ Upcoming Release:  Parallel Secrets #ContemporaryMystery

Please help me welcome ML Barrs with an interesting interview and her debut novel, coming soon…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I was born in San Francisco and have called at least forty places home—almost half of those by the time I was twenty. My husband Jon and I have been together since we met in college in 1978. We’re now settled in Lacey, WA, between our daughter in Portland and our son and his family in Seattle. We have two adorable, witty, talented granddaughters. We currently have no pets, but I spend a lot of time filling birdbaths and feeders and caring for houseplants.

Where did you get the idea for Parallel Secrets?

My protagonist, TV journalist Vicky Robeson, has lived in my mind for decades. The idea for this particular story was sparked by the woman who served us breakfast while on a road trip through Arizona. My attention was captured by her striking looks, efficiency, and grace as she waited tables. As we drove away, I said to my husband that she would make a great character in a book. She was the genesis of Sam, the secretive owner of the diner in Parallel Secrets.

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?

I’ve loved mysteries ever since I read the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys stories as a child. It fascinates me how disparate, seemingly unrelated events and pieces of people’s lives fit together.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?

Accepting that I need to put readers first, and that I can’t expect them to follow along as I hop from one point of view to another.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it? 

I worked in local television for decades, starting as a rookie reporter before moving into management. I loved the people, the adrenaline, the satisfaction of serving the community. My last news job was News Director of a station in Dallas, the fifth largest TV market in the country. I left there to be General Manager of a station in Sacramento. I’m now retired, but still an avid consumer of news.

What was your first job?

I had a lot of jobs around the house, being the oldest girl in a large family. The first outside job I had was picking strawberries. Terrible, backbreaking work. On my best day I made twelve dollars. Even back in the seventies that was lousy money.

What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?

Vicky: A thirty-something Sigourney Weaver. Pete: a forty-year old Sam Elliott.

If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be?

My fully loaded Kindle, an inexhaustible battery charger, and sunglass-readers.

Is there one subject you would never write about? What is it?

I’m not going to tell you (Haha).

Have you written any other books that are not published?

Yes, a memoir.

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

I thought of real people’s physical appearance (and a few personality traits) as I developed each character.

Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

Clint Eastwood. I hired a reporter/anchorwoman who later married (and divorced) him.

How did you come up with the title?

It popped into my head during a writing class taught by PNWA (Pacific Northwest Writers Association)’s president, Pam Binder. She challenged us to come up with book titles on the spot, and that was one of mine. Much of the story actually evolved from the title.

How much of the book is realistic?

Other than the fictional town of Walkers Corner, the geographic and historic references are true, as are considerations about journalism and privacy.

Everyone has secrets. Some will kill to keep theirs hidden.

After a young girl goes missing, former TV crime reporter Vicky Robeson joins the search with the help of her attractive new love interest. They take his RV to a tiny town in rural Missouri that’s filled with odd characters and darker secrets. But Vicky has secrets of her own. She believes this kidnapped girl may be linked to a case she reported on nine years ago, when a mystery child was found walking on levee, bloody and unable to speak. Back then, Vicky failed to follow up clues only she knew. Now, she has a chance to redeem herself.
As she uncovers secrets, it becomes clear someone will kill to keep them hidden.

Excerpt:

Vicky wasn’t entirely proud she’d find opportunity in a kidnapping, but this was also the perfect time to follow up on the levee girl mystery and find out, once and for all, whether her actions affected whatever became of little Lisa Dee.

Pete passed an old station wagon. “I checked out Google Earth. It’s mostly swamp and wild land outside town. Maybe she just got lost.”

“Don’t think so. She disappeared from in front of her house.”

“Do you think the cops will talk to you?”

 “Hope so. It’ll be different not working for a news station.” Vicky’s voice was light, though her lips tightened and her gut clenched. “It’s been a few years, but I still know people.” 

“Sounds good.” Pete didn’t seem to notice her disquiet. He was usually attuned to her moods, one of the many things she enjoyed about him. She had never liked so many things in one man before. Now, however, he apparently had something else on his mind.

“There’s not a lot to see right around Walkers Corner. I might take a couple of side trips to Civil War sites.”

“Good. You should. I’ll be busy.” Besides, she’d rather not have anyone, not even Pete—or especially not Pete—looking over her shoulder as she poked around in the past. Her past.

Pre-order HERE  

About the Author:

Maria Lynn Barrs is one of thirteen children—the first girl, with three older brothers—a birth order she believes shaped her essence by the time she was eight. A girl’s gotta be a bit pugnacious to get along in that environment. Amid the chaos of fourteen people living in a mobile home (not a double-wide), she turned fifteen, dropped out of school, and ran away from home. Being homeless, then working minimum wage jobs quickly grew old. She earned a GED and went to college, where she met her husband, the father of their two beloved now-grown children. She started in television news as a reporter, eventually working her way up to news director and general manager before deciding what she really wanted to do is write mysteries.

http://www.mlbarrs.com

mlbarrs@outlook.com

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