Tag Archives: the wild rose press

August 5, 2026 · 5:28 am

Author Interview with Meg Benjamin ~  The Carrot Marmalade Murder #CozyMystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Meg Benjamin…

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

I grew up in the Midwest, but I’ve lived all over the country, from Seattle to Amherst, MA, to Lawton, OK. Hubs and I spent over twenty-five years in San Antonio, TX, before moving to Colorado. We live in the foothill suburbs outside Denver, but we go back to Texas often to visit kids (two sons) and grandkids (twins).

Tell us a little about how this book came about and how you came up with the title.

I wrote lots of romance novels before I tried my first cozy, The Pepper Peach Murder. I love the genre because it combines elements of romance (usually a love story is involved) and a mystery to be solved. The Carrot Marmalade Murder is number seven in the series, called Luscious Delights after my heroine’s jam making business, but like all the books in the series, it can be read on its own. My heroine, Roxy Constantine, has been working up to marrying her significant other, Nate Robicheaux, for a long time and this is the book where it all happens. Although not without a lot of bumps in the road. All the books in the series are named after a jam Roxy is working on. Carrot marmalade is actually a recipe developed in the Depression because carrots were cheaper to cook jam with than oranges. I actually made it (I make most of the jams that show up in my books), and it’s very good. Surprisingly enough, there are a lot of recipes out there, but I prefer the simple ones that feature just carrots, sugar, lemon juice, and maybe a little lemon zest.

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

I’ve gotten into the habit of doing business in the morning (emails, promo, etc.) and writing in the afternoon, usually while sitting in a comfortable chair with my iPad and my lap desk. There’s a great view from our family room; I can watch people and dogs walk by and grab a glass of tea from the kitchen when I want it. There are drawbacks: the iPad version of Word doesn’t always work and play well with the version on my computer. But I can usually wrestle it into shape, and I’m much happier writing in comfort.

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

Just about anything by Nora Roberts. I don’t know how she does it—around four full-length novels a year (counting the ones she does as JD Robb), and they’re all meticulously plotted and beautifully written. The woman’s a marvel, and I’m in awe.

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

Now I’m retired, but I taught college English and Communication for a lot of years. I enjoyed it, mostly. I taught in a professional writing program at a large state university, which meant I learned editing and document design (I actually was a copy editor in my spare time). I still know more about punctuation than is healthy for any one person, but I no longer can quote the Chicago Manual of Style from memory, which is a very good thing.

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

It’s so hard to choose just one book, but I’ll try to narrow it down. I love Sarah Smith’s The Vanished Child, because it’s a nearly perfect mystery romance that you can’t put down. All the way through the book, I kept asking myself what the solution to the mystery was, but I couldn’t quite figure it out and I was fascinated. I also love Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh—I reread it every year or so. It’s a well-nigh perfect enemies to lovers romance with a wonderful heroine and a hero who grows on you throughout Balogh’s Slightly series. My favorite childhood book is probably The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe because I was always a fan of fantasy and fairy tales.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read The Carrot Marmalade Murder?

I really hope you’ll all love Roxy and Nate the way I do. I enjoyed created Roxy and her world, and I wanted her to have a love who was worthy of her. I hope Nate fills the bill. I put them through a lot in this one, but I think they make it to the wedding in good shape. And they’re still friends with my favorite secondary characters, Susa Sondergaard and Ethan Fowler, although in the case of Ethan it’s a near thing.

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

I love regency romances (see Slightly Dangerous, above), and I’ve read so many of them that I recognize most of the period details that regency authors use—although why do characters use “stuck his spoon into the wall” to say someone died? I don’t have the patience to actually write one myself, though. The characters are necessarily hemmed in by lots of social conventions that they have to find a way to work around. That’s usually fun to read, but I imagine it’s a real chore to write.

What is your favorite quote?

Probably “Don’t look back; something might be gaining on you” from Satchel Paige.

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

My characters are all imaginary, although they have elements of people I know. I don’t think you can ever create a character out of thin air (although I guess you could create one based on clichés, but it wouldn’t necessarily be a good one). A friend of mine once gave a copy of my Venus In Blue Jeans to an acquaintance, who told her “Oh, this is based on people living in Fredericksburg. We all know the backstory.” I found that fascinating, since I didn’t and don’t know anyone in Fredericksburg, TX, or any Fredericksburg stories.

Roxy’s getting married, but murder may send the wedding off the rails.

Roxy and Nate are finally getting married, but murder wasn’t on the program. In the midst of her wedding prep, Roxy has to deal with Nate’s trouble-making ex who thinks she can rekindle their romance. But things get serious when the ex ends up dead in a Shavano back alley. Now Roxy needs to clear Nate’s name, sell her customers on her carrot marmalade, and find herself a wedding dress. All before it’s time to take a deep breath and confront her own wedding jitters.

Excerpt:

I headed back to the kitchen to get the next bunch of trays and platters ready to go.

Nate and Kevin picked up the hotel pans with meatballs and filo packets to place on the hot trays they already had in place. I followed with the artichoke dip and crostini. We were making good time, and the waitress for the night, Evie, had just arrived. Everything seemed to be falling into place. I felt like patting someone on the back.

“Nathan?”

I heard the woman’s voice as I stepped through the door behind Kevin. Ahead of us, Nate stopped dead in his tracks, which made it sort of difficult for Kevin and me to get around him and put our food on the table.

“Nathan? That is you, isn’t it?”

I turned toward the woman’s voice, noticing that Nate was staring rigidly toward the side of the room near the posters. As I watched, a tall blonde stepped forward with a brilliant smile.

Calling her a tall blonde doesn’t really do her justice, though. In her stocking feet, she was probably about my height, but she wasn’t in stocking feet at all. She wore bright green three-inch spike heels with open toes that showed purple toenails. The skirt of her vividly green minidress ended a good two inches above her knees, while the neckline dipped low across her considerable cleavage. Her tumble of curly hair was a kind of honey gold that I doubted very much was natural but looked terrific.

She was spectacular, and apparently, she knew Nate.

Buy links:

https://amzn.to/4pOWut1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-carrot-marmalade-murder-meg-benjamin/1150158636?ean=9781509266340

About the Author:

Meg Benjamin is an award-winning author of romance and cozy mysteries. Meg’s cozy mystery series, Luscious Delights from Wild Rose Press, concerns a jam-making sleuth based in the mythical small town of Shavano, Colorado. Her contemporary romance Konigsburg series is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Salt Box and Brewing Love trilogies are set in the Colorado Rockies (all are available from Entangled Publishing and from Meg’s indie line). Along with romance and cozies, Meg is also the author of the paranormal Ramos Family trilogy from Berkley InterMix and the Folk trilogy from Meg’s indie line. Meg’s books have won numerous awards, including an EPIC Award, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers, the Beanpot Award from the New England  Romance Writers, the Carly Crown Jewel of Books from the Mid-America Romance Authors, and the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1/ (personal)

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063609878239 (author)

Instagram: @meg_benjamin

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@meg_benjamin

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/meg-benjamin.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2869971.Meg_Benjamin

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/meg-benjamin

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Meg-Benjamin/author/B0030F12FY?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@megbenjamin1396

Website: http://www.MegBenjamin.com/

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July 27, 2026 · 5:00 am

Author Interview with Kay Jeffery ~ The Little Nun’s Silver Fox #HistoricalRomantasy

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Kay Jeffery…

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

Sometimes I look at my life and think I couldn’t have written a better story for myself. I grew up in the U.S. Deep South, a theater and arts kid who couldn’t get enough historical romance and stories about women with supernatural abilities. I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to move objects with my mind before realizing that, while that was never going to happen in real life, with words I could do anything.

British history became my jam, and a study abroad program in Cambridge persuaded me to make it my career. Through schooling and the teaching positions I took, I gradually worked my way northward to Appalachian Ohio. In my third year of teaching History at a liberal arts college, convinced I would never find my true love in such a small town, by some miracle I met a handsome, super-smart, dry-witted geologist who makes my heart thump. We married, blended our pet families, had kids, bought a house and a minivan, the whole shebang. Now I’ve got my fella, three teenagers, and three adorable and demanding cats.

Why did you choose this genre?

Thankfully someone invented the category Historical Romantasy to capture my fascination with history, romance, and fantasy in one genre. The idea for my Nuns and Barbarians series just came to me one day: magical island ruled by a mythical deity, cloistered women who are refugees from the medieval patriarchy, hot pseudo-Vikings, and sexy times. What could be better?

As a historian, I found writing accurate historical fiction to be a bit of a minefield. I wanted more freedom to invent, to blend, to be wildly inaccurate if the story or characters called for it. Romantasy allows for creative world-building, yet the historical outposts give me inspiration and structure. I love playing around with myths and legends, old rituals and vocabulary, and making something new from them. My stories are anchored in the past but have a modern sensibility. The more novels I write in this world I’ve constructed, the more depth it has, which has been incredibly rewarding. Sometimes the awful truth of contemporary reality is too much to bear, and then I tell my friends I’m headed off to my island where the women are in charge, their men support them unconditionally, and I control the weather.

Where did you get the idea for The Little Nun’s Silver Fox?

Confession: My favorite romance trope is shy librarian meets dangerous, compelling stranger. I knew the women of Adytum Abbey would have a library—it’s a convent! Old books contain so much magic in themselves, and this was a fantastic chance to delve more deeply into the island’s origin story deep in mythology.

The library setting provides access to all kinds of mysteries about the convent. Words have power, but the library assistant Grace doesn’t at first realize she can access that reservoir of strength for herself. A dreamer, she gets lost in stories and thinks of herself as small and insignificant. Her dangerous stranger, Ivar, though he’s a barbarian, had to have an interest in books himself to facilitate their meeting, and so I made him an older, wiser, cynical treasure-hunter. He knows the value of stories for showing him where to find glittery things, but the tale he and Grace uncover—and tell each other over the course of the novel—helps him see where the real treasure lies. This age-gap story is deliciously angsty with a high spice level.

What’s been unexpectedly fun about the Nuns and Barbarians series is the way the stories interconnect with each other. The Little Nun’s Silver Fox is the third in the series, though the books can be read in any order, and you can definitely start with this one if (like me) libraries are your thing. I created a real pickle for myself as an author by having all the events of the barbarian invasion occur within a three-day window. As a result, each novel is happening at the same time as the others, at least in the first five books. (The next two are in the pipeline, so stay tuned.) Readers should be able to pick up any of the first five books and start there. As they read the others, they’ll see crossover characters, different parts of the island backstory, and clues of a hidden conflict emerging. I hope readers find each book—no matter where they start—adds layers to their experience of this magical world.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read The Little Nun’s Silver Fox?

Ultimately, all my books are about the power of romantic love. When women and men come together as equals, that’s when the magic happens. The women of Adytum Abbey have ended up on the island because of oppressive circumstances. In the convent they’ve found how self-sufficient they can be—as independent, unique individuals with their own talents and desires.

When the barbarians arrive, these men realize that on this island they aren’t the ones in control. Violence gets them nowhere. Both men and women will have to respect each other and give a little in order to find how powerful they can be when they join forces. Mostly, I want readers to have a satisfying emotional experience that helps them believe that true love exists and that it can move mountains—both of which I believe with my whole heart.

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

My main trick for writing is making my body open up the laptop and click on the file without consulting whether my spirit is “feeling it” today. First body, then spirit—that has been the key to keeping writing progress going for me.

Life can be so distracting that I’ve discovered the value in retreating to what I call my “sensory deprivation chamber”: a library study room. I walk to the library with my writing materials, tea bags, and lunch; I take myself to a study room, make the tea, and open the laptop. I start with a goal of 1000 words per day. As the story takes off, my word-count goal expands. Sometimes it’s hard to get those words, and sometimes they flow. Either way, I show up and get to work. As my husband reminds me when I’ve had a slow day, it’s all progress.

A third strategy is walking a lot. Walking is conducive to thinking and daydreaming—especially if you leave the earbuds at home. If I’m stumped, I take a turn around the block or walk through the library stacks. I’m always telling stories in my head, and if I’ve got a novel underway, my brain will work on it while my feet are moving so I’m ready to write as soon as that laptop opens up. First body, then spirit.

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

“Reader, I married him.” It’s Jane Eyre. Of course, it’s Jane Eyre. The bookish governess and the dangerous anti-hero! The angst! The redemption! Did I mention the books? Though Jane seems meek, she is the driver of her story. Her fierce, independent spirit is never cowed, even as she chafes against social restrictions and the moral compromises her lover asks of her. She never forgets who she is—even when she forgets who she is!

When I was a teenager with a taste for bad boys, I loved Mr. Rochester. As a college student growing in feminist sensibility, I hated him. As a seasoned adult, I adore how Jane navigated her tortured romance with strength, passion, and a fundamental integrity. In the end, Rochester didn’t marry Jane, she married him. Ah. That’s the good stuff.

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

Any novel by Jennifer Crusie. She’s the first author I remember reading and thinking: I wish I had written this. Her stories have real emotional tension, along with relatable interpersonal conflicts. But the characters are vibrant, memorable, and so, so funny, just being themselves. The characters’ foibles drive the plot, which clips along at a brisk pace. Crusie’s sense of humor also comes through in her narrative voice, word choice, sentence structure—I’m not sure exactly how she does it, but it’s delightful. The humor accentuates the human drama. She teamed up with Bob Mayer on several books, and those two authors are a stellar combination, providing both male and female perspectives. Plus, there’s always a happily-ever-after, which is a must for me.

What is your favorite movie?

I have two favorites: The Princess Bride and Roxanne (the Steve Martin/Daryl Hannah version of Cyrano de Bergerac). I’ve always been drawn to fairytales, and these two fit the bill. Both of them are romances, in which the hero and heroine have to recognize each other through disguises necessitated by social pressures. The hero’s love in both is steadfast, as he falls for a woman who is strong, kind, and intelligent.

Both of them are comedic, not only in the sense of having a happy ending. They are genuinely funny. The humor comes from the characters’ distinct natures shining through as well as the unique storytelling tone—not to mention a good measure of slapstick. Yet these characters face real and terrible obstacles on the way to their fairytale conclusions. To me, they illustrate what J. R. R. Tolkien said about fairy stories: that they feel like tragedies until, in the end, eucatastrophe breaks through. True love never dies. Miracles can happen. Life and love can turn out …as you wish. (Couldn’t help myself.)

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

My love for both History and Romance often seems incongruous to people. As a romance novelist, my appreciation for the gritty realities of history— not only its triumphs but its tragedies and disappointments—can seem contrary to my penchant for a happy ending. I’m not into whitewashed histories that make everyone feel good. It’s important that we tell the truth about the past. If I tell someone I’ve just met that I’m a historian, I often get a grimace while they confess how much they hated History classes in school.

As a professional historian, I hid my love of bodice-ripper romances for a long time. When people find out I’m an avid romance reader, too, they often scratch their heads at the supposed unseriousness of my choice of reading material. Here’s the truth: I’m a historian because I gorged myself on historical romances from the time I was old enough to steal them from my mother’s bookshelf.

What History and Romance have in common is centering human relationships. I find people fascinating. We’re wonderful, frustrating, malicious, virtuous, selfish, generous, and absurd. We understand ourselves through the stories we tell, not only about what really happened in the past, but also what we wish could be true, for us and our society.

At a personal level, I’ll also say this: I dislike not knowing. Life is too full of uncertainty. I need to know the ending of the story before I begin. History and romance novels give me that.

What is your favorite quote?

My favorite quote is about history, books, and magic. In Cosmos, Carl Sagan said, “What an astonishing thing a book is. It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.”

Beautiful, poetic, and true. I think the library is calling me.

He’s hunting for treasure; she sparkles like sapphires.

Blurb:

Come away to an enchanted island where the nuns of Adytum Abbey have made their idyllic home . . . until a band of barbarians invades in search of forbidden treasure. 

The promise of one last treasure hunt lures experienced raider Ivar to Adytum Abbey, whose library holds clues to undiscovered riches as well as deeply buried mysteries about the island itself. Can shy librarian Sister Grace persuade Ivar that love is the greatest treasure of all—before it’s too late?

Excerpt:

Grace froze in her hiding spot, one delicate page of the book held between two fingers.

The pirates were here!

Somehow they had gained entry to the library, despite Alice locking it with the heavy key she kept tucked into her habit’s long pocket.

Over the thundering of her heart, Grace heard the two men having some kind of conversation with each other. One’s voice was quite low and rumbly; the other one was in the middle range and smooth as that second man exchanged words with the first. Hmm, nice.

His mellow voice sent a little shiver down her spine—and not from fear.

She heard the armoire door open and close with its distinctive creak, confirming that she’d been wise not to hide there. She couldn’t help but wonder with trepidation where they would search next. Her heart fluttered in her chest.

Grace knew it would be foolish to peek from her hiding spot in the low bookshelf. So foolish!

But the temptation was too much and, really, if she just pulled up this one little part of the sheet at the side and scrunched down so her head was resting on the bottom of the shelf, she’d be able to see them. If only for an instant.

Slowly, slowly, she closed the book and, holding it in her right hand, she extended the pointer finger of her left hand to raise the sheet …just …the tiniest …bit.

There! One of the men came into her view.

It had been so long since she’d seen a man that she’d practically forgotten what they were like. This one was enormous—were men always so large?—and dark haired. He had dressed entirely in black. He said more to the other man in his very deep voice, and Grace realized the smooth, shivery voice belonged to the other one, the one she couldn’t see. As Deep Voice moved farther into the room, the second man came into view, and Grace’s breath caught in her throat.

Though he was equally large, his hair was a striking silver, pulled back in a long braid woven through with a strand of leather. He spoke again in that really quite nice voice, turning his head just a bit, and a beam of sunlight lit up a crescent-shaped blue jewel embedded in his earlobe.

Grace’s eyes trailed over his body, the broad shoulders and barrel chest covered in the cream-colored linen of his shirt, open at the throat. As her gaze slipped down to his thick waist, she saw that his shirt was tucked into tight leather trousers. So very tight they are. Her eyes followed the length of strong thighs and calves that led down to booted feet. She noticed the weapon hanging from his belt, some kind of hatchet, and her blood chilled.

The weapon was a reminder that, despite his beauty, he was dangerous.

Buy links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GX2YYTX6?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_2&storeType=ebooks&qid=1781663933&sr=8-1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-little-nuns-silver-fox-kay-jeffery/1149947784?ean=9781509266029

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/251387510-the-little-nun-s-silver-fox

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Little-Nuns-Silver-Fox/Kay-Jeffery/9781509266029

https://wildrosepress.com/product/the-little-nuns-silver-fox

About the Author:

Award-winning author Kay Jeffery is a professional historian who loves stories. One day during her midlife crisis, Kay remembered that she’d always wanted to write romance novels. Her husband said, “I think you should do it.” Her kids were glad to have her (more or less) out of their business. Thrilled to have a stable lap for long periods of time, the cats discovered quickly that typing does not preclude scritches. And so Kay carved out pockets of time in between family life and her job to research such arcana as medieval love songs, Nordic swearwords, ancient Celtic rituals, obscure mythological divinities—and to weave them all together. The debut book in her Nuns and Barbarians series, Love Song for the Barbarian, won first place in the 2026 National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) contest, in the category of erotic fiction. Her writing builds a fantasy world where strong, intelligent, loyal, and courageous heroines and heroes find their way to each other, where dreams are realized, and where love always, always wins.

Website: https://kayjeffery.com

Instagram: kayjefferyauthor: https://www.instagram.com/kayjefferyauthor?igsh=cjdnZmZmMzhmMG80&utm_source=qr

Facebook: Kay Jeffery Author: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586302221655

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July 6, 2026 · 5:00 am

The Spotlight is On… Linda Griffin ~ Cherry Creek #HistoricalRomance

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Linda Griffith…

Is the romance Molly seeks in the gold country or did she leave it behind?

When her fiancé died, Eileen said, “Then I’m free,” words that her younger sister Molly didn’t understand and never forgot. In 1850s Ohio, a girl doesn’t have that many options, and marrying Andrew MacLeith may be the best she can hope for. He promises to cherish her, but they have to live with his parents, and he can’t even protect her from his mother’s sharp tongue. After a quarrel, Molly impulsively joins his gambler brother Hugh on a journey to the Pike’s Peak gold region. Perhaps the romance and freedom she longs for lie elsewhere. Or were they right under her nose all along?

Excerpt:

“When I get to Pike’s Peak,” he assured me, “I’ll send back more money than this to Ma and Pa and anybody I owe money to. But not to Andrew. He wouldn’t know how to spend it. You would, though, wouldn’t you, Molly?” he teased.

“Yes,” I said wistfully. My prospects were even more dismal than before. If he ran off to Kansas, he wouldn’t return for a long time, if he ever did. I was on the verge of tears again.

“Hey now, cheer up. Aren’t you glad of my good fortune?”

“Yes,” I said, although I wasn’t. I was envious.

“Do you mean to say it’s serious between you and Andrew?” he asked, frowning.

“I hate living here,” I burst out, as I had to Andrew. Complaining to his brother was wrong, but I was too unhappy to contain myself.

Hugh was briefly taken aback before he said, with his usual charming insouciance, “Come to Pike’s Peak with me, then.”

I didn’t think he meant it, and I was only half serious when I said, “I wish I could.” Decamping to Kansas would be an adventure and an escape, and it would teach Andrew a thing or two.

“Why can’t you?” he asked, making it sound almost logical “If you don’t like it here, what’s keeping you? Pike’s Peak is the future, the new Eldorado. Don’t you want a piece of it?”

“I couldn’t dig for gold,” I said. “And I don’t have any money.”

“I do,” he said. He fanned out his winnings. “Come on, Molly. It will be fun.”

Buy links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX2TH5Q5

https://books.apple.com/us/book/cherry-creek/id6762278970

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cherry-creek-linda-griffin/1149911267

https://www.audible.com/pd/Cherry-Creek-Audiobook/B0H2C7SHJP

https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/cherry-creek-unabridged/id6771821970

About the Author:

Linda Griffin knew she wanted to be a “book maker” as soon as she learned to read and wrote her first story at six. Her passion for the printed word also led her to a career with the San Diego Public Library. She retired to spend more time on her writing and has had work published in numerous literary journals. Cherry Creek is her eleventh book published by The Wild Rose Press. In addition to the three R’s—reading, writing, and research—she enjoys travel, movies, and Scrabble.

Website: https://www.lindagriffinauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindagriffin.author

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

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August 27, 2025 · 11:12 am

Hobby, Career, Passion ~ Why Zuri Loves Mixed Martial Arts by Dan Rice ~ New Release: Phantom Algebra #YAHorror

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Dan Rice…

Why Zuri Loves Mixed Martial Arts in my New Release: Phantom Algebra

When I took a crack at writing Phantom Algebra, I faced a couple of new challenges. First, the novel is a horror story, a ghost tale to be precise, which was something I had never tackled before in novel-length fiction. Sure, I had written a handful of short stories that fit into the creepiest of genres, but crafting an entire book in that genre felt like a monumental undertaking. This was especially true because I also faced a deadline, which was not the self-imposed kind. If I wanted the yarn to be part of The Wild Rose Press’s series, The Haunting of Pinedale High, I needed to produce a polished manuscript in a little over a year. Such a task usually takes me at least eighteen months.

Despite those challenges, I wanted to make my hero, Zuri Williams, distinct from the characters I had encountered in the horror genre. What quintessential passion could I give her to set her apart from the genre’s many heroes and final girls?

While brainstorming passions, I fondly recalled watching boxing with my father as a lad. He wasn’t much of a sports fan, but he did enjoy the pugilistic arts. This was back before mixed martial arts (MMA) had taken off and women’s boxing was rarely televised. But times have changed. MMA fighter Conor McGregor has helped make mixed martial arts more mainstream and become a sporting superstar. Fighters like Ronda Rousey have increased the prominence of the female side of the fight game. Social media is full of videos of female fighters battling with the same levels of passion and skill as their male counterparts. I thought, what if Zuri is an aspiring MMA fighter? That struck me as a suitably unique passion for a horror hero, and raised an awesome question. What will Zuri do when facing foes she can’t punch, kick, or grapple into submission?

So mixed martial arts became Zuri’s passion imparted to her by her estranged father, a former prizefighter turned gangland enforcer. Instead of studying algebra, Zuri obsessively watches clips of her hero, The Jade Tiger, battling it out in the octagon and dreaming of one day becoming a world champion herself. She will learn just as she can’t solve algebraic equations with her fists, some enemies, namely nasty poltergeists, can’t be dispelled with a high kick alone, no matter how expertly delivered.

Zuri and her mother settle in Pinedale, North Carolina, to start over. For years, they’ve been on the run from Zuri’s father, a retired boxer and full-time gangland enforcer.

In Pinedale, Zuri finds a gym where she can train in mixed martial arts to pursue her dream of becoming a champion fighter. At Pinedale High, she discovers friends among the outcasts, academic challenges, and something unexpected…ghosts.

When Zuri encounters a tween phantom haunting the library, her life is turned upside down and inside out as she attempts to help the spirit. This incurs the wrath of devils, living and dead. Zuri will need her martial arts prowess, heart, and the aid of friends to protect everyone she loves.

Excerpt:

After being sucker punched by Mason, Zuri had executed the advice to lead with straight right hands. As the oldster had said, Mason was fast, but she was faster, and for whatever reason, be it arrogance or laziness, the boy never raised his guard high enough to block her shots. Instead, he tried to dodge them, which he did sometimes, but not nearly enough. Her right hand crunched into his face time and time again, sending satisfying jolts up her arm into her shoulder. With gratification, she watched the maniacal glee fade from his eyes, and panic set in as he realized he was getting his ass whooped by a girl. Mr. Tito ended the sparring match after one round, not wanting Mason to get beat up with the tournament only weeks away.

But the revelation after the match had doused Zuri’s joy at showing up the bully. After berating Mason for his shoddy defense, Mr. Tito ambled over to help Zuri remove her gloves. Smelling of aftershave and sweat, he spoke as he worked. “You did good in there, Zuri. Maybe too good for Mason, but you taught him a hard lesson. Something I’ve been working on with him for months. Keep your hands up!”

“He does keep his left low,” Zuri agreed.

Tito wrenched the right glove off her hand and dropped it to the canvas. “The angles you throw the right hand are unorthodox. I’ve only seen it once before.” He looked her questioningly in the eyes. “Zuri Williams. You’re not Jake Williams’s daughter, are you?”

Zuri’s mouth dropped open. “Ummm…” What to say? She collapsed in on herself, shriveling like a raisin. Did she dare lie and risk being caught? Did Mr. Tito know her father? Would he phone Big Jake as soon as she left?

Buy link(s):

About the Author:

Dan Rice pens the young adult urban fantasy series The Allison Lee Chronicles and other speculative fiction, both short and long, in the wee hours of the morning. To discover more about Dan’s writing and keep tabs on his upcoming releases, check out his blog, join his newsletter, and follow him on BlueSky. His latest novel, the YA horror Phantom Algebra, releases on September 15, 2025.

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August 20, 2025 · 5:00 am

Author Interview with Susan Dalessandro ~ New Release: A Whisper In The Trees YA romance w/paranormal elements

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Susan Dalessandro…

Please tell us a little about yourself.  I’m from Bucks County, PA, a northwest suburb of Philadelphia. I still live here now. I have two grown sons and two dogs. I am a passionate runner and have been since I was seventeen.

Where did you get the idea for A Whisper In The Trees?  I love to write coming of age YA stories, and I wanted to show both the physical and emotional pressures that young runners go through. I ran cross-country in high-school and still run 6 days a week currently, so I have a lot of experience!  

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)? All of my books are YA contemporary with a romance subplot, but this one I wanted to add a paranormal element. I thought the woods created a great venue for that aspect of the book.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book? Honestly, it’s the marketing! Getting your book in front of people once it’s published. As to the writing itself, sometimes getting stuck in the middle of the story. I know where I want the story to go, but I’m not always sure how to best get there.

What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular? For this book, it was making the ghost story believable. As I mentioned above, I write YA contemporary (usually with a romance subplot), but I wanted to add a paranormal, ghostly element, because I thought if fit in perfectly with the story and I wanted to add some mystery to the woods. Hopefully, I’ve done that!

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it? I have an M.A. in Applied Math -I’ve always loved math and figuring out problems- and I work in Assessment Sciences. Yes, I love what I do and the people I work with. 

What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do? It’s probably running long distances. So many people say, ‘I hate running’, but I can’t live without it. It’s an integral part of who I am, and it helps me think and plot story lines as I run.

What was your first job? My first job was a lifeguard and swimming instructor for a summer day camp. Swimming is also a favorite of mine.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read A Whisper In The Trees? It’s important, no matter what age you are, to be true to yourself, be your real self.

Have you written any other books that are not published? I have a book I’m querying at present, ‘All The Secrets That Aren’t’, a YA romantic suspense.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination? Some of the characters are derived from real people and share some of their characteristics and qualities. Some are entirely fictional. 

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? It’s so important to be you, to be yourself, to not let anyone else define you.  

How much of the book is realistic? All of it, except for maybe the ghostly presence in the woods. Although, people claim to have had paranormal experiences, so maybe it’s not far-fetched.

How did your interest in writing originate? I’ve always had stories in my head, and I finally started writing them down.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work? I love Jennifer Armentrout. She writes both fantasy and contemporary. Her writing (especially her YA books) gives me all the feels, makes me care about the characters, and that, to me, is what I want to experience when I read a book.

Hard truths aren’t easy to run from

Excerpt:

I hug myself tightly and glance around. Nothing but leaves blowing in the dusty, hot breeze. Hot, not cold. It doesn’t change the fact I’m frozen inside like the last time. And I didn’t pass out at practice today. I was totally fine for our mile repeats. In fact, I killed them.

The chill leaves as quickly as it arrived, and I exhale, a dense vapor billowing from my mouth. I take off along the path and the song resonates in my head. Only this time the lyrics are sharper. Stronger.

My stomach clenches and I try to push the song out of my head, but it refuses to be silenced.

It taunts me.

Buy links: https://books2read.com/u/bQwQy0

About the Author:

I’m a lifelong lover of books and storytelling and hold an M.A. In Applied Math, a subject which finds its way into many of my stories.

I live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with my husband, two sons and two dogs. I gather story ideas as I run in the early mornings with my dogs. Running is the perfect environment for me to think and create. It’s also a central theme of many of my novels.

My debut novel, Complex Solutions, a YA coming of age thriller, released March 16, 2021, with Rhetoric Askew Publishing. As part of a group of authors in the Play Like A Girl shared world series, I released Strong Enough, a YA sports romance. My most recent book, A Whisper In The Trees, a YA romance with paranormal elements from The Wild Rose Press, released on June 30, 2025.  

https://authorsusandalessandro.com

dalessandrosusan27@yahoo.com

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August 19, 2025 · 5:00 am

Hobby/Career/Passion How an Apparel Career Led to a Writing Gig with  Susie Black & Death by Dreidel #CozyMystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Susie Black…

How an Apparel Career Led to a Writing Gig

Like the protagonist in my Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, I am a ladies’ swimwear sales executive. The most critically important skill a sales exec must have to succeed is to be a good storyteller. Fortunately, I’ve been telling stories since I learned how to talk. One thing I was told repeatedly as a sales executive was to know your product inside and out.  I heard the same thing when I started writing cozy mysteries: write what you know. If you don’t know it, either do the research and learn it, or don’t dare to write it. Whether you’re an author or a sales exec, you’re selling yourself, and readers, like buyers, can sniff out a phony in a heartbeat, and then you and whatever kind of story you’re telling are toast.

I came to write in the cozy mystery genre because I love solving puzzles. My parents would certainly confirm I have always asked a lot of questions, and I am naturally curious (some narrow-minded people say I am nosy…go figure…LOL). So, writing mysteries was the natural next step for me to take. Since I’d never written a novel before, the only thing I knew to do was to apply the same storytelling skills I’d successfully used hawking bikinis to writing a tale. It turns out that how you present an apparel line is the same way you write a story. Both have a beginning, a middle, an ending, and a point of view.

So, where did my story ideas come from? From the start of my career, I have kept a daily journal that chronicles the quirky, interesting, and often challenging people I’ve encountered as well as the crazy situations I’ve gotten myself into and out of. The protagonist of the Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Holly Schlivnik, is based on me. The journal entries are the foundation of all my writing for the stories that comprise the Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series. With a dollop of imagination, a pinch of angst, and a decades-long career chocked to the gills with juicy characters, I had more stories itching to be told in my daily journal than time to write them.

Who could push a sales exec to dream of murder and mayhem? Who else but a buyer?  After completing a rather challenging conversation with an important but difficult account, I imagined how good it would feel with my hands around her scrawny neck, squeezing the life out of her. While the notion of knocking off my annoying customers was wildly appealing, a horizontally striped prison uniform making my four-foot, eight-inch body look like a barbershop pole and a fire hydrant had a child wasn’t a pretty sight. The viable alternative?  Writing humorous murder mysteries set in the Los Angeles garment center. Brilliant and cathartic! In one fell swoop, eliminate a pain-in-the-patootie buyer, avoid life in prison, and still get the order. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Very interesting article, Susie. Thank you for sharing. And now, tell us about your book…

Brings a whole new meaning to a killer party.

Blurb:

Mermaid Swimwear President Holly Schlivnik attends an industry Hanukkah party to honor Rapido Swimwear CEO Leni Waxman as the Mount Cedars Hospital Woman of the Year. The guest of honor collapses and dies in the middle of the event. An autopsy confirms that Leni expired as a result of poisoning by coming in contact with a purposely contaminated dreidel. There is no shortage of suspects—Leni had no problem destroying anyone who threatened her position as the top dog in the swimwear industry. When Holly’s business partner is wrongly arrested for Leni’s murder, the irreverent sales exec can’t mind her own beeswax. The wise-cracking snoop sticks her nose everywhere it doesn’t belong to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, and nothing turns out how Holly thinks it will as she takes on a ruthless killer hellbent on revenge.

Excerpt:

I leaned over to Queenie and pointed to Leni. “Take a gander at Leni. Something’s wrong with her.”

Queenie followed my index finger with her eyes. “Yeah, she’s white as a ghost and perspiring.”

Gary snapped, “Maybe the old broad is nervous.”

Buddy took his seat and pointed to Leni. “Something is wrong with that woman.”

Mira shrugged. “Or perhaps the emotion of sharing the loss of her sister took its toll.”

Gary clucked his tongue. “Don’t let her fool you with her sad story about her sister. I wouldn’t be surprised if she made the whole thing up to add some dramatic context to her acceptance speech. Leni Waxman has a heart of stone, and only ice water runs in her veins. She is incapable of loving anybody but herself. She’s probably going through menopause and having one helluva hot flash.”

Seeming to rally after taking several restorative gulps of water, Leni tottered on unsteady feet over to a large glass-topped table piled high with door prizes. She pointed to the stack and said in a remarkably normal voice, “Okay, folks, the last thing on our party agenda is the auction of these wonderful door prizes donated by all you generous vendors. Dig down deep in your pockets and let’s see some high bids. The proceeds are going to buy a library of books for the daycare center in the new hospital wing.”

She leaned over to pick up the first item, but it slipped through her fingers. Leni bolted straight up and stumbled as she clutched her midsection and let out a blood-curdling scream. She gagged and vomited down the front of her dress. Leni fell forward and collapsed onto the table. The stunned crowd went as silent as a cemetery when the glass top shattered and the door prizes scattered across the ballroom floor.

Hadassah Waxman jumped up and screamed, “Oh My God, No!” Morty and Barry rushed to Leni, but Doctor Levinson pushed them away.  Levinson yelled, “Somebody call nine-one-one!” Then he sprang into action. He carefully pulled Leni out of the glass shards and laid her stiff-as-a-board body on her back. He held his palm over her mouth. She wasn’t breathing. He pressed his thumb first on the inside of her wrist and then on the bottom of her throat, but detected no pulse. He put his ear to Leni’s chest but didn’t hear a heartbeat. He commenced CPR, but she failed to respond.

Ten minutes later, two paramedics, pushing a stretcher loaded with life-saving gear and accompanied by a pair of LAPD uniforms, rushed into the ballroom. The hushed crowd held their breath as the medical first responders reached Levinson, still working desperately to revive Leni. The two pulled resuscitation equipment out and prepared to work on the supine guest of honor. The doctor’s shoulders slumped with defeat. Levinson’s eyes filled, and his voice cracked as he waved the two off.  “It’s too late. She’s gone.”

Naturally, I burst out laughing.

Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/m2jl7d

About the Author:

Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector and sailor. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

Looking for more? Contact Susie at:

Website: www.authorsusieblack.com

E-mail: mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com

Contact Links:

Blue Sky: @hollysusiewrites.bsky.social

Facebook: Susie Black, author of The Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series | Facebook

Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheHollySwimsuitMysterySeries

Instagram: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsusieblack-61941011

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hollysusie1/

X: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) / X

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August 11, 2025 · 5:10 am

10 Moments That Changed My Life by Mickey Flagg ~ New Release: Night of the Crescent Moon #Paranormal

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Mickey Flagg…

  1. Walking into Kindergarten. I couldn’t wait to let go of my mother’s hand and take a seat in that classroom. A love of learning led me to a BA in Music Ed, an MA in Education, an M. Ed in administration, and much, much more. Learning takes a lifetime and I’m still up for trying new things every day.
  2. The day I put my hands on a piano at age 4. I wasn’t allowed to touch the expensive piece of furniture, so I watched my sister’s lessons through a keyhole in an old-fashioned door. When no one looked, I’d run to the piano and play her lesson. I think I read music before I read words.
  3. The day the boy I had the biggest crush on taught me how to read and play chords on the piano. I was thirteen. He was sixteen. He had a photographic memory. I didn’t. He was on the football team. I couldn’t catch a football if I tried. But… Sitting so close together on the piano bench, torn between absolute adoration and a thirst for knowledge, I somehow managed to absorbed everything he taught me. Little did I know it would shape my future.
  4. The first audition for a speaking role in my high school’s musical. I had always been in the chorus, but in junior year, I tried out for a minor role. I won the lead and caught the acting bug. That experience changed my life. 
  5. The day I auditioned at NYU. On the spot, I was offered a full scholarship in music. Unfortunately, my parents wouldn’t let me go to school in NYC. But that validation of my abilities definitely changed my view of the world. 
  6. The day I stepped off the plane in London to study acting at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. After the summer session, I spent months traveling Europe, seeing places I had dreamed about, before returning to New Jersey. RADA’s classical training led to years of professional performances in the tri-state area. 
  7. The glorious births of my two children. Each one was different. My son’s labor took forever. My daughter’s was a breeze. I feel blessed that they were both born healthy and have grown into such wonderful, caring adults. I cherish them both.
  8. Taking a music teaching position in a local, large urban district. Life happens, right? I had taught in private schools and other school districts, but I needed to be closer to my two teenagers. So I took a position that had many challenges. It became a twenty-five year stay. My choruses were top-notch and a joy to prepare for performance. Then I was blessed to become an administrator in the same school for the last ten years of my education career.
  9. The day I looked at a blank word document on my laptop and decided to write a novel. Who knew, right? I thought I’d write a few pages and walk away. Instead, three novels poured out of me. They were published between 2008 and 2010 with The Wild Rose Press. But as I said, life happens, and with my new administrative duties, I stopped any form of creative writing.
  10. The day I retired. For twelve years, I’d written educational reports and evaluations. The rights for my three novels had reverted back to me. It took months of soul-searching before I opened them up ando read what I had written over a decade ago. So I cleaned them up. During those deep edits, I got the idea to continue the paranormal series. In 2022, I contracted the revised manuscripts, as well as Night of the Crescent Moon, with The Wild Rose Press, and I was able to work with my original editor. I’m thrilled that NOTCM won the Spring 2025 BookFest First Place Award for Paranormal Romance and took Second Place in Paranormal for the NEST (National Exelence in Story Telling) with the Central Region Oklahoma Writers. I never thought I’d have this exciting experience. But my life has overflowed with many blessings. I’ve had the unconditional support of family and friends through good times and bad. That kind of love is a gift that keeps on giving!  

Some wounds never heal

Martine, a good witch and ER nurse must enlist Lukas, a mystical warrior to save her patient who is under the spell of a dark witch from the Second Realm. But Martine pushed Lukas out of her life years ago, and he is the only person who can help save her patient. Martine is torn when Lukas agrees to return to the realm that holds terrifying memories for him. Even though many assist Lukas, Martine’s ask is complicated and dangerous. Can he save her patient from a fate worse than death? More importantly, can Martine open her heart to Lukas, or this time, shut him out forever? 

Night of the Crescent Moon Excerpt:

Lukas pushed off the kitchen chair, walked over with his arms wide and a warm smile complete with magnificent dimples. They held on to each other as if both had become lost in a mist of memories. Closing her eyes didn’t erase five years apart, nor the horrible way she ended their friendship. As if sensing her apprehension, his arms tightened across her back. The steady rise and fall of his chest as her head rested against him brought a strange comfort. Yet too many emotions blurred the lines, crashed into each other. Martine bit her lip, unable to focus. Lu looked happy. That’s all that mattered. And when he kissed her cheek, for the first time in a long time, she felt drawn to life again. 

“Christ, how I’ve missed you, M,” he whispered in her ear.

“I can’t believe you’re really here, Lu,” she replied still tight in his arms.

“For you, I’d have walked if necessary.”

Looking aside, she frowned. “Yeah, and swim across an ocean, too.”

“Like I’ve always said, for you, anything.” He held her shoulders as she pulled back, and his deep-blue eyes filled, his expression one of concern. “You’re so thin. It’s like you’re wasting away.” She glanced down, but he drew her close again. The last time they’d seen each other, she had been healthy and happy, convincing him how her new boyfriend would be her destiny, how they’d have a baby and live happily ever after. She hadn’t realized it until just now. “I’m so very sorry,” he whispered as if he read her thoughts.

Buy link(s): Night of the Crescent Moon (The Champion Chronicles Book 4) – Kindle edition by Flagg, M. . Paranormal Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

M. Flagg Bio

Mickey Flagg writes paranormal tales of passion with a twist of fate. Her mystical warriors, witches, and not-so-normal creatures of the night speak to the heart. She is an award-winning author in the genre of paranormal romance. Also published in the field of music education and in Still Standing, a web-magazine about loss and healing, Mickey is a member of Liberty States Fiction Writers, NJRW and NJ Author network. Oh, and she loves to edit, and then spend some quality down-time snuggling with her rescued Maine Coon. Find out more about her novels at www.mflagg-author.com

Social Media Links

Website info: http://mflagg-author.com

Facebook:    (1) M. Flagg | Facebook

Twitter: Michele Flagg (@flagg_michele) / Twitter   https://twitter.com/flagg_michele

Instagram: Instagram (Mickey Flagg)

Goodreads: Night of the Crescent Moon by M. Flagg | Goodreads

Amazon Author Page: Amazon.com: M. Flagg: books, biography, latest update

M. Flagg Books – BookBub

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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.

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Website:                      http://www.lyndareesauthor.com 

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June 17, 2025 · 12:30 pm

Author Interview with Margo Carey ~ Demon Amulet #UrbanFantasyRomance

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Margo Carey…

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

Originally from Marblehead, MA, I later moved to Rhode Island with my husband and son. New England holds a special place in my heart. It’s where my imagination led me to write. Today, we live in Southwest Florida with our black cat, Sammy. Though we enjoy riding our bikes, we gave up kayaking after a couple of scaly denizens followed us around then bumped my husband’s boat. However, the positive outweighs the negative. The view from my office is always green. No ice. No snow. My latest pastime is walking and recording ideas for my next book. I enjoy reading paranormal and anything witchy. My favorite TV shows are Elspeth and Tracker. Life is good.

Tell us a little about how you came to write Demon Amulet.

Demon Amulet is set in Newport, RI, one of my favorite places. I created the Watcher Clan series around a mysterious stone tower that some believe was built by the Knights Templar. If so, I wondered if there could be descendants. Might those relatives have psychic powers? When we lived there, my husband was an offshore lobsterman, and I spent a lot of time in the wharf area with wonderful little shops. My characters also love those touristy lanes. I chose the title, Demon Amulet, to reference the story’s lethal magic trinket. Although I had already done intensive research on the Knights Templar for the first book, I found this second book more difficult because I had to discover new ideas: conflicts, story arc, and goals. I do love Google Earth for my setting research. That and Pinterest for photos of people who look like my characters and for ideas on their outfits. Each book can stand alone which means different protagonists and villains. In my first book the protagonist is a young brunette unaware of her family or powers. Her antagonist is a dreamwalker. This second book revolves around a beautiful blonde cousin and a vicious warlock. For the third, a thirty-something redhead goes up against a traitorous member of the Templar council. Of course, each story has the necessary handsome and psychically powerful love interest.

Stone Tower and Me

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

When I’m looking for a setting, whether it be a house or neighborhood, I always picture someplace I’m familiar with. But, if I don’t know I use the internet.  The Brendani estate in this book is in an exclusive neighborhood. Although I’ve ridden by the driveways, I had to get a view of the homes and riverfront property via Google Earth. The apartment in the next book is my sister’s former abode. That way I can picture my characters as they move around.

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

Any one of the Harry Potter books.

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

“The Agony and the Ecstasy” by Irving Stone. A wonderful narrative about Michaelangelo.

What’s your favorite childhood book?

Nancy Drew. The beginning of my love of mysteries.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

As much as I’d hate a bad review, I do want to know what I’ve done or not done to upset a reader. Critiques can be painful, but they help you grow.

What is your favorite quote? 

“Nothing you do can change the past. Everything you do can change the future.” Anon.

Your most prized material possession and why?

A beautiful wood jewelry box. My son made it for me.

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

I’d be Lia Ferguson. She is beautiful, tough, and has a great sense of humor. Oh yes, and she has awesome psychic powers.

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

For me, a criticism I had trouble fixing was “Show. Don’t tell.” I still go back and look for it in my writing. What made me happy was someone telling me that they loved my characters. I also love my characters and try to make that come out on the page.

Tell us Your favorite…

Movie: See No Evil. Hear No Evil. A comedy with Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder

TV show from adulthood: NCIS

Food: Really good french fries

Sports team: Boston Red Sox

A cursed amulet. A deadly warlock.  An impossible love.

Excerpt:

Moonlight filtered through the clouds, bathing the Brendani property in swaths of soft light. Lia inhaled the sweet aroma of beach roses carried by the wind. A perfect evening. A shiver unrelated to the weather coursed through her. Would he be waiting?

Gravel crunched under her feet and the bite of chlorine teased her nose as she neared her destination. She paused for a moment to control her erratic breathing. Nerves? Ridiculous. No man had ever disturbed her.

The glow from the changing room lanterns almost reached the pool. The flickering shadows on the liquid grew into waves caused by the powerful strokes of the swimmer. Mesmerized by Aiden’s straining muscles, desire stirred in her belly.

She swallowed and strolled closer. “I see you made it.”

He stopped and looked up, unruffled. She knew he’d been aware of her. Watchers could always sense another’s approach. As the silence lengthened, she reached around to the back of her neck, undid a clasp, and let her cover-up slide down. Aiden’s sharp intake of breath made her skin tingle.

His eyes darkened as they raked over her body. A slow smile played across his face. “Coming in?”

The deep timbre of his voice ignited her desire. She paused for another moment to enjoy the heat simmering between them. Without breaking eye contact, she lowered herself to the pool’s edge and slipped in. The warm water covered all but her bikini top.

“Ooh!” she said as she gazed at him. “It feels so good.”

Her body responded to the naked desire blazing from his eyes. She swam past him to the deep end and turned. He hadn’t moved, but she felt his penetrating gaze follow her.

Poised there in waist-high water, Aiden resembled one of the ancient sea gods.

Buy link: Demon Amulet by Margo Carey

About the Author:

Margo Carey, an award-winning author, weaves tales of romance and supernatural intrigue. She began her career trying to write cozy mysteries, but the paranormal inevitably slipped in. Rather than fight her muse, she gave in to her pen’s inclination, changed her genre to Paranormal Romance, and titled her website, My Haunted Pen.

Her gripping novel Trace of Evil, a NEST finalist, immerses readers in a haunting romance in Salem, Massachusetts. After her move to Rhode Island, she penned The Convent House, the first in her Watcher Clan series that follows the perils and romance of psychically gifted descendants of the Knights Templar. Readers’ Favorite gave it a five-star review. The second book, Demon Amulet, will be out in June, 2025.

Margo now lives with her husband Paul and their unapologetically spoiled cat, Sammy, in South Florida. Will inspiration for her next book spring from the shadowy, gator-infested swamps where she and her husband kayak? Stay tuned.

MargoCarey.com

MargoCarey.HauntedPen@gmail.com

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May 19, 2025 · 8:45 am

The Spotlight is on Linda Griffin & Morgan’s Landing #Mystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Linda Griffin….

In the small Maryland town of Morgan’s Landing, fourteen-year-old Julie Morgan is living in comfort with her wealthy family. She disappears on her way to school after a spat with her twin sister. Detective Jim Brady, married and the father of two, has been on the Morgan’s Landing police force for twelve years. He identifies a few suspects in the girl’s disappearance—Is it the fired school janitor, a paroled sex offender, Julie’s computer teacher…or his own teenage son? Jim can’t believe his son could be involved, but his wife is convinced the boy is hiding something. He needs to find Julie before the worst happens—and keep the peace at home.

Excerpt:

 Heather was taking a math test when Mr. Scarlett, the vice principal, called her out in the hall to ask if she knew where Julie was. He was unusually stern.

“She has Phys Ed this period,” Heather said. Shouldn’t he know that?

“She’s not in class,” Mr. Scarlett said. “She wasn’t in Computer Applications first period, either. Your mother says she didn’t stay home sick.”

“No, she left before I did,” Heather said. She was mystified, and as the situation sank in, she experienced the first shudder of real fear. Julie liked school, and she would never cut classes. Their parents would kill them if they even thought of such a thing. They were not overly strict, but they were firm in their expectations that their daughters would always do the right thing.

She dug her cell phone, silenced during class, out of her purse, and dialed her sister’s number. It rang four times and went to voicemail. “It’s me,” she said. “Where are you? Call when you get this.”

****

“Julie Morgan is missing.” Jim Brady took the call at 10:30. He had been with the Morgan’s Landing Police Department for twelve years, and this was only his second missing person case. The first had involved a three-year-old boy who had wandered away and been found within the hour. He still remembered the emotions associated with that hour: the overwhelming anguish of the boy’s mother, the sharp desire to make sure his own son was safe. This time Colin was in school, and Jim resisted the urge to call Frances—of course the baby was safe with her.

Buy links:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/morgans-landing/id6743084781

https://www.audible.com/pd/Morgans-Landing-Audiobook/B0F7J4F8B6

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/morgans-landing-linda-griffin/1147054902

About the Author:

Linda Griffin knew she wanted to be a “book maker” as soon as she learned to read and wrote her first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” at the age of six. Her passion for the printed word also led me to a career with the San Diego Public Library. She retired to spend more time on her writing and has had stories of every length from short shorts to novellas published in numerous literary journals. Morgan’s Landing is her tenth novel published by the Wild Rose Press. In addition to the three R’s—reading, writing, and research—she enjoys travel, movies, Scrabble, and visiting museums and art galleries.

Website: https://www.lindagriffinauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindagriffin.author

Twitter: https://x.com/LindaGriffinA

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeBKs9SryUS6XNmTaFZgIDQ

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