Today’s exclusive interview is with Vicki Batman, who writes in a genre close to my heart, romantic comedy/mystery. Her latest book is titled, Temporarily Insane. True to her love of mystery, she reveals that she lives “in a big state.” Here’s a blurb of her book, available as an ebook and paperback: Bad job. Wrong love. And Murder. Hattie Cooks takes a job at an accounting firm where mishaps and murders are definitely fishy. Tell us something(s) about the book that the blurb doesn’t reveal: The heroine is gifted with her favorite chocolate as birthday gifts. A lot of chocolate. What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? I received this review: “Temporarily Insane,” is an unpredictable combination of humor, romance, and mystery. Hattie Cooks is smart and sharp-witted. The author takes the reader right into Hattie’s head from the very first page and readers are with her every step of the way. Because I fell into writing through reading, I have always wondered how I measure up against writers who studied writing. "Smart and sharp-witted" definitely are nice to hear. If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet (have met)? Dick Francis-whom I did meet at a book signing, however, has since passed. The novels are fast-paced and have a good glimpse into the horse-racing business in England. If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? This question always floors me. I don't know. Right now, a favorite actor is Tom Hardy; however, he isn't my hero. I'm just clueless. When and why did you decide to become a writer? Actually, I'd secretly harbored the desire, but didn't act on it until a friend challenged me. She read what I'd done, solemnly handed back the draft, and said, "Keep going." So I did and am forever grateful. What books influenced you growing up? My reading has always gravitated toward mysteries. Just like a lot of readers, I began with Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, to Rebecca. Then my mom introduced me to Emilie Loring romances. I found Mary Stewart's romantic suspense books in my twenties and regularly reread them. What are you working on next and when do you expect it to be on the shelves? I cut my teeth in writing a lot of romantic comedy short stories. The latest is in the Season of Promises holiday anthology, "The Littlest Angel." Are you traditionally published or self-published and why? I'm what is called hybrid. I am traditionally published and indie pubbed. Kinda like the stock market – "don't put all your eggs in one basket." Do you belong to any writer’s groups? I belong to RWA and several of their online chapters. I also belong to the Plotting Princesses, Sisterhood of Suspense, and Guppies. RWA helped me become a writer. The Princesses supports me in the process. If you were going to dabble in a different genre, what would it be and why? I dabbled with a very sexy romance, however, truly my voice is in humor. Therefore, I'm best stuck in romantic comedy. Where can readers find you? Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/p/more-about-me.html Facebook: http://bit.ly/293iZIz Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman/ Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814608.Vicki_Batman/ Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman LinkedIn:http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=116288777&trk=hb_tab_pro_top/ Email: vlmbatman@hotmail.com Giveaway at: https://sisterhoodofsuspense.com/giveaways Vicki was kind enough to share an excerpt from Temporarily Insane:
Trixie had some nerve. “Stop it, Hattie!” Her reprimand, the one which had shot a stabbing pain to my right eye, sounded terribly out of character, like she had little patience for me. Ordinarily, she was the nicest person I knew, didn’t have a mean bone in her body. The kind who rescued animals, picked up trash at Sommerville Park, and prepared food for the elderly. Not today. I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms across my chest in a school girl flaunt. Trixie tilted forward in her desk chair, her bosom almost resting on her desk. “This nonsense has to end. Your moan sounded like an obscure breed of a bizarre...untamed...wounded animal.” She returned to an upright and seated position and in tiny increments, rotated her chair from side-to-side, waiting for me to say something not stupid. In truth, Trixie had pounded the nail on the head. I had nothing to add. My whole life had turned into an obscure, bizarre, bad reflection of itself, thus wounding me to my core. I sighed and pouted an if only. Don’t go there. My fun sister friend owned the employment agency Jobs Inc., and on occasion, she’d happily assisted me in finding temporary work since my dream job had been flushed down the proverbial toilet a few months back, thus soiling my picture-perfect life. For this newest assignment she’d located, I’d be employed as an administrative assistant for the managing partner at Northside, Lancaster, and Brookside, Certified Public Accountants, headquartered in my hometown of Sommerville. At first, she’d sounded oh-so pleasant when we began our yak about the opportunity. “Think accounting,” she’d teased, followed by a small chuckle. Her laugh had spoken volumes of Encyclopedia Britannica proportions. Copyright 2016 Vicki Batman. Reprinted with Permission.
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Today’s exclusive interview is with author and MTW2017 participant Anne Carmichael, who lives and writes in Lexington, Kentucky. Her newest mystery/romance is titled, Elderhaus. Here’s something to whet your literary appetite: Gertrude spent the better part of her adult life scouring Europe for Helmut Klingenfelter, the father who vanished not only from her life and that of her mother’s, but had forsaken everyone in his past. With midlife looming on the horizon, Gertie made the decision to stop chasing the ghosts of the past and return to her childhood home of Pitch Pine, where she purchased a century-old house at 1211 Castle Lane sight unseen. Elderhaus, as it came to be known, had a mysterious past of its own, one that would threaten more than Gertrude’s desire to find happiness. Tell us something(s) about the book that the blurb doesn’t reveal: Gertie is a confirmed introvert. She would rather spend time with animals than people. When she finally has a fling with a gorgeous man, everyone warns her that becoming involved with the Haskell family could cost her everything. What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? There’s only one review for Elderhaus at this time; however only the e-book has only recently been released. Of my other six books, the 60+ five-star reviews for Magoo Who: Life Through My Eyes and the reader’s plea to make it a series (4 books) motivated me to keep pursuing writing as a career. If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet (have met)? No contest – Ernest Hemingway. I like his writing. I love his devil-may-care attitude and lifestyle. If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? Amanda Peet – Gertie Klingenfelter (our protagonist, Jewish heritage, late 30’s. Loved her in ‘Something’s Gotta Give’) Lisa Kudrow – Sally Jaeger (no filter, loyal friend, innkeeper) Trey Haskell – Stephen Amell (antagonist, contractor on Elderhaus remodel, son of steel mogul) Noah Myers – James Franco (law school fail, veterinarian, has crushed on Gertie since grade school) What is the main conflict in your book? Secondary conflicts? 1. Gertie’s father walked out when she was just five years old. She spent most of her adult life scouring Germany for him, since both her mother’s and father’s family had fled Germany during WWII. He’d never shown either her mother or her any affection and he’d never discussed his past. She wanted answers. 2. Gertie bought Elderhaus, (a century-old Victorian house in her hometown of Pitch Pine, PA) sight unseen while still in Europe. Her Realtor hired Trey Haskell, local contractor, to do the repairs on the house. Trey was rugged and drop-dead gorgeous, but when Gertie began an affair with him, everyone warned her of the dangers of becoming involved with his powerful family. What is your favorite quote from the book and why? John Lennon’s quote begins this story: ‘Life is what happens when you’re busy making plans.’ The quote is applicable not only to the main character in the book, but to the book’s author as well. I had never given any thought whatsoever to writing books. It fell into my lap, as though it were my destiny. I wanted badly to retire because all my friends were retiring, but knew that since my divorce, I really couldn’t financially manage it. Then I saw a blind cat (Magoo Who: The Blind Kitty Who Stole My Heart) on Facebook. Goo already had thousands of fans and I thought his story would make a great book. Goo was two years old and blind. He had been wandering the streets of South Philly since birth everyone wondered how he could possibly have survived. Something urged me to approach his owners and ask if they’d be interested in doing a book and the rest is history! I created characters from the other animals he encountered during those two lost years and ‘Magoo Who: Life Through My Eyes’ became the first book in what would be a series of four books that launched my writing career. So Lennon’s quote was not only applicable to my heroine, but to me as well. What are you working on next and when do you expect it to be on the shelves? My next book is called The Manifest. I hope to have it out by the end of 2017. What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of publishing today? I would love to have begun my writing career when the big publishing houses paid upfront for a book, promoted it and the author and paid for everything. Today, unless you’re a Mary Higgins Clark, you pretty much do your own marketing, which leaves little time for writing. Are you traditionally published or self-published and why? My first two books were ‘traditionally’ published in that the publisher absorbed all the costs of editing, printing, etc. I still did my own promotions. I am now considered ‘self-published’, but the same publisher still edits, proofs and formats and I still do all the marketing; the difference being that I pay for those services. If you were going to dabble in a different genre, what would it be and why? ‘Elderhaus’ is my first foray away from all-ages, 150-page animal books. This is my first, full-length adult novel. I’ve spent two years writing and tweaking it. I really felt the need to challenge myself, use my mind and write books with more depth. I did feel that I needed to gradually transition my current reader base, who are primarily animal-lovers. I touched on my original concept for ‘Elderhaus’, which was to be about senior dogs. Elderhaus means ‘old house’ in German, so it was to be a book about an old house dedicated to saving old dogs. I had done books about cats, horses and polar bears. There are several senior dogs that show up one at a time and are rescued by the heroine and they’re woven into the story in other ways, but they’re not the focus of the book. Having now immersed myself in the mystery genre, I’m very excited about the freedoms I will have during the writing of The Manifest. Anne was kind enough to share an excerpt of Elderhaus with us:
PROLOGUE “This cannot be happening,” muttered Gertrude Klingenfelter to herself and any of the dozen FBI agents swarming throughout her home. “This stuff happens on cop shows or in some booming metropolis…certainly not in Pitch Pine, Pennsylvania and certainly not to me! My plan was simple. I would move back to Pitch Pine, buy a house on the Historic Preservation List and spend the remaining half of my life puttering about and restoring the house to its original glory. Of course, I did it all backwards. I bought the house online and then went home to Pitch Pine for the big reveal. The ad said ‘as is’, but who knew that meant ‘uninhabitable’ as the contractor soon told me. I believe that was right before I fell through the front porch. I’m forty-three years old for cripes sake. I foolishly squandered away the best part of my life searching for the father who abandoned us when I was five years old…five feckin years old. She began to mutter a string of obscenities that her rigid upbringing should not have allowed her to use but use them she did, and with some regularity. “I’ve never had a relationship with anyone that lasted five years since then,” she said bitterly as she threw her clothes and makeup into suitcases. She played the remainder of the soliloquy in her head. This is supposed to be my dream home. It was in shambles when I bought it. Now the house is finished…or it was before the Feds ripped out the walls and floors; but now my life is in shambles. I have no idea how I’m ever going to be able to step foot in this house again. Gertie extended the handles on two large, gun-metal gray suitcases and dragged them bouncing from one step to the next, the wheels spinning the bags out of control. Undaunted, she just yanked on them ever more violently as if the clattering noise seemed to articulate the turbulence churning within her. Her overnight bag, which was intended to hang cross-body style, slid around onto her back and the wide strap threatened to choke the life out of her. The heavy suitcase slammed into the screen door, pulling her backwards and she collapsed onto the front porch. That’s when the dam burst and spewed forth thirty-eight years of backlogged tears that had been building since the night Helmut Klingenfelter drove away and left Gertie and her mother, Anyaleise, irrevocably alone. Today’s exclusive interview is with author and MTW-2017 participant Lois Winston, who lives in my neck of the woods, New York City. Her most recent novel is titled, Literally Dead, An Empty Nest Mystery (Book 2), a cozy mystery available both as a paperback and an e-book. Here’s the blurb: After her last disastrous episode as an amateur sleuth, Gracie Elliott is back. The budding romance writer has spent the past year crafting her first novel. Her hard work and determination pay off when her manuscript wins the Cream of the Crop award, a contest for unpublished writers, sponsored by the Society of American Romance Authors. First place entitles her to attend the organization’s annual conference, normally open only to published authors. With husband Blake in tow, a starry-eyed Gracie experiences the ultimate fan-girl moment upon entering the hotel. Her favorite authors are everywhere. However, within minutes she learns Lovinia Darling, the Queen of Romance, is hardly the embodiment of the sweet heroines she creates. Gracie realizes she’s stepped into a romance vipers’ den of backstabbing, deceit, and plagiarism, but she finds a friend and mentor in bestselling author Paisley Prentiss. Hours later, when Gracie discovers Lovinia’s body in the hotel stairwell, a victim of an apparent fall, Gracie is not convinced her death was an accident. Too many other authors had reason to want Lovinia dead. Ignoring Blake’s advice to “let the police handle it,” Gracie, aided by Paisley, begins her own investigation into the death. Romance has never been so deadly. This sounds like so much fun! Tell us something you didn’t include in the blurb: The series is my way of paying homage to the William Powell/Myrna Loy Thin Man movies of the 30’s and 40’s but with a modern day twist—my sleuth is the wife. What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? My favorite comment was one that I never get tired of hearing about any of my books. The reviewer said she couldn’t put the book down. That always puts a huge smile on my face, even on the worst days. If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet (have met)? I would love to meet Agatha Christie and get her to confess to what really happened in December 1926 when she went missing for eleven days. Unfortunately, she took the truth about that mystery to her grave. If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? Gracie Elliott: Amy Adams Blake Elliott: Hugh Jackman What books influenced you growing up? When I was twelve years old, I read Peyton Place (without parental knowledge.) That’s when I learned that sex wasn’t just something married couples did one time when they wanted to have a baby. I also thought the act was performed standing up, with the husband and wife facing each other, and took all of a second or two. (I was a very precocious child but at the same time quite naïve about some things!) What gave you the idea to write this book? Over the years I’ve attended many writing conferences, both as an author and an agent. The stories I could tell! Well, actually I have told many of them in Literally Dead. In some ways the book is a roman a clef. However, my lips are sealed as to which elements are gleaned from real life and which spring from my imagination. What are you working on next and when do you expect it to be on the shelves? I’m currently working on the sixth book in my critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, which will be available this summer. What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of publishing today? My favorite part of being published is when readers tell me they love my books. It makes all those times I’m ready to bash my head against the keyboard worthwhile. My least favorite part is promoting my books. Once upon a time publishers promoted their authors. Nowadays, for everyone other then the Stephen Kings, James Pattersons, and Nora Roberts of the world, authors have to promote themselves and their books with little or no help from their publishers. Writers should be writing, not working as unpaid publicists, marketers, and sales people. Are you traditionally published or self-published and why? Traditional vs. self-publishing is one of the themes I explore in Literally Dead. First, let me say I prefer the term indie or independently published to self-published, which conjures up a time when vanity presses preyed upon desperate writers. I was traditionally published for my first five books. For awhile I was considered a hybrid author (both traditionally and indie published.) Now I’m totally indie. Much of it has to do with my answer to the previous question. If publishers expect their authors to take on the responsibility and cost of promotion, why should authors only receive royalties of 10% of the selling price of their books? (BTW, once upon a time royalties were based on the retail price of the book, not the price sold to distributors.) Too often authors have become indentured servants to their publishers. By going indie we take control of our careers. What advice do you have for other writers based on your experience? When Grandma Penelope and Great-aunt Martha gush that you’re the best writer they’ve ever read, don’t let it go to your head. Chances are you’re not going to wind up on the NY Times Bestseller List within weeks of submitting your book to a publisher—if ever. There are very few overnight successes. Building a career takes time—often years and years of revisions and rejection letters. If you’re not willing to put in the time or you’re writing because you think it’s a quick way to earn a large amount of money, walk away. Very few authors make enough from their writing to be able to support themselves. (Another theme I explore in Literally Dead.) Any Upcoming Promotions/Giveaways/Events We Should Know About? I reward my fans by doing periodic giveaways through my newsletter. Readers can sign up at: https://www.MyAuthorBiz.com/ENewsletter.php?acct=LW2467152513 Website: www.loiswinston.com Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth Lois was kind enough to share an excerpt with us from Literally Dead: The wheels of my suitcase couldn’t spin fast enough as I pushed through the revolving door of the Crown Jewel Hotel in midtown Manhattan. Once inside the lobby, I stopped short and gazed awestruck, soaking in the writerly atmosphere. My heart pounded so fast I could hear it reverberating in my ears. Or maybe that was the din of the voices from hundreds of romance authors filling the forty-story marble and glass atrium. My eyes bugged out as I scoped the room. “Oh my God, Blake!” I reached for my husband’s hand and squeezed it. “That’s Liz Phillips,” I released my grip on my suitcase handle and pointed in the direction of the bar off to my right. “And Elise Robertson.” “Friends of yours?” asked my husband. “I wish! They’re two of the most successful romance writers in the world. I can’t believe I’m standing only a few yards away from them!” Talk about a fan girl moment! One more superstar sighting and I just might need a brown paper bag to ward off imminent hyperventilation. “Hurry!” I pulled him along, nearly tripping over my Kate Spades as I race-walked toward the shortest of several lines that serpentined from the hotel registration desk around the chic silver, white, and gray lobby. Blake grabbed me, preventing me from executing a face plant. Then he spun me around and settled his hands on my shoulders. Lowering his head until our foreheads nearly touched, he said, “I know you’re excited, Gracie, but take a deep breath. Slow down. The conference doesn’t start for several hours. You’re not going to miss anything.” I humored him by continuing at a jog instead of a sprint until I reached the back of the line. “I can’t believe I’m here!” I squealed, bouncing on the balls of my feet. A year of slaving over my manuscript had finally paid off. “Just think, by this time next year I’ll probably be returning as Gracie Elliott, published romance author.” “Don’t you mean Emma Carlyle?” “Right. Sorry.” Since Blake didn’t think the stuffy old academics of the university governing board would take too kindly to a faculty wife writing sensuous romances—not that my writing rose anywhere near Fifty Shades level—I’d promised to publish under a pseudonym. Thus, Gracie Elliott would become Emma Carlyle on bookstore shelves. “Besides, aren’t you forgetting something?” “Like what?” “You need to sell your book first.” Leave it to Mr. Logical to burst my bubble. “Yes, of course, but I’m sure I’ll have plenty of offers here at the conference. After all, I’m the winner of the Society of American Romance Author’s Cream of the Crop writing competition. That’s a huge award. You should be excited for me, Blake. And proud of my accomplishment.” “I am excited for you, sweetheart, and I’ve always been proud of you. You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. You set yourself a goal, and you work until you accomplish it.” He pecked my cheek. “I just don’t want to see you disappointed.” “Why would I be disappointed? You just said I always accomplish my goals, didn’t you?” “Yes, but some goals take longer than others. Did winning this contest guarantee you a publishing contract?” “No, but—” “The win gives you the opportunity to attend this writing conference, nothing more. Let’s keep everything in perspective, okay?” “Fine. But you’re going to eat those practical words of yours by the end of these three days.” “I’d love nothing better than to see you prove me wrong.” We inched our way up in line. “Notice anything odd?” he asked above the cacophony of conversations around us. I glanced up at my husband, then around the massive lobby. “Odd?” Although this was my first writing conference, I’d attended my share of business conferences and conventions over the years. Prior to the industry downsizing that outsourced my job as a fabric designer overseas and left me jobless and pension-less, I’d spent many hours cooling my Kate Spades and Christian Louboutins in long, slow-moving hotel check-in lines. “Not really.” “It’s a veritable estrogen brigade here, Gracie!” My normally unflappable husband suddenly looked like the clueless hero of a fish-out-of-water romance novel. Copyright 2016 Lois Winston. Reprinted with Permission. Today’s exclusive interview is with author and MTW_2017 participant Joynell Schultz, but many know her as ‘Joy’ –the name she says she uses “when I’m not listed as an author or completing legal documents.” Joy hails from Rhinelander, Wisconsin and her most recent novel is Love, Lies & Clones, a book of Speculative Fiction meshed with Mystery and a touch of romance. It’s available in both Kindle and paperback versions via this link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXTGIZL Here’s a sneak peek at the storyline: June never asked to be cloned from her mother’s DNA. She didn’t ask for the faulty heart that beats in her chest either. She made a life for herself as a college professor, but what she really wants is the same as everyone else: a human connection. But how can she connect to someone when her heart’s next beat could be the last? When her estranged father shows up on her doorstep, warning her that he’s being forced back into the illegal human cloning world and she’s in danger, she dismisses him as paranoid. That’s until he disappears. The police are not prepared to confront a conspiracy this large, especially with a serial killer on the loose. When approached by an AWOL soldier, insisting her father’s disappearance is linked to his brother’s odd behavior, she doesn’t trust him. She’s been taught her whole life not to trust anyone. With time running out, she must avoid abduction attempts, untangle the web of lies, and above all else, hide her taboo origins. Can June trust someone with her secret… and her heart? Tell us something(s) about the book that the blurb doesn’t reveal: My main character, June, believes she has a faulty heart because the woman she was cloned from--her mother who is also her father’s dead wife--died of a heart attack at 32 years old. June’s an avid runner as a way to keep her heart healthy. The heart issue makes her sometimes disregard the danger she faces because she thinks she’ll die in a few years anyway. Any Upcoming Promotions/Giveaways/Events We Should Know About? February 12th through the 19th, Love, Lies & Clones will be on sale for 99 cents for Kindle. What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? I keep being told Love, Lies & Clones is a page-turner and they can’t put it down. Then, I get asked when the sequel is coming out. It’s one thing to be told your book was enjoyable or good, but it’s another when your readers can’t put it down and want more. Being my first novel, I was really nervous about reader feedback. If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet (have met) and why? Michael Crichton. His writing inspired me since childhood. I love the mix of science, especially medicine, integrated with our normal world—the world around us. He was a physician and used his expertise throughout his stories. Another thing I really like is he wrote across multiple genres. In fact, many of his books didn’t fit into one specific category. Speculative Fiction/Science Fiction, Thriller, Action & Adventure, etc. If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? Hmmm. I have two main characters. June would be Jennifer Lawrence… well, the blond version of her. Elliot would be Ben Affleck… if only he was 10 years younger. This is a terribly difficult question since I don’t follow pop culture closely. What other jobs have you held (even what you’re doing currently)? Okay: Nerd alert. ;-) I’m a pharmacist. I always try to incorporate a little of this into everything I write. In Love, Lies & Clones, there are tranquilizer darts, medical cloning, and some sedatives. In my current novel I’m writing, one of my main characters is an emergency medicine physician and there are a few medications mentioned. What gave you the idea to write this book? The idea formed and stayed in the back of my mind since 2003 when the cloned sheep, Dolly, died. I often wondered, what would happen if they cloned humans, and what ethical issues would the humans face? My argument was always that they’d be as human as you and me. That sparked this story. What is the main conflict in your book? Secondary conflicts? The main conflict is June’s father disappears. She tries to get the police to help, but she can’t tell them her dad’s involvement in human cloning—since it’s illegal in her world. Since the police don’t know everything about her dad, and they are occupied hunting down a serial killer, June sets out to find her father herself. Oh, then June becomes the target, with the serial killer on her tail. The secondary conflict is Elliot, an AWOL military man, is missing his brother. He feels June maybe able to help locate him. June doesn’t want him tagging along, as she doesn’t trust him and can’t tell him her secret. He’s persistent and won’t leave her alone… plus, she’s attracted to him, but has sworn off men since she knows her heart’s faulty. She won’t break anyone’s heart. What is your favorite quote from the book? “My father always said to take our secret to my grave… I didn’t realize I may also take it to his.” This is my favorite because it sums up her moral dilemma with staying loyal to her father and doing what is needed to keep him safe. What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of publishing today? My favorite and least favorite aspects of publishing are the same. There are SO many books on the market. Choices are fantastic for a reader. If you want to read about a one-eyed furry red alien that lives in a cave in Canada, there may be a book about that out there. But the problem is that if you wrote this book, you have to wait for this one person to come along and find it. The market is flooded and unless you’re lucky, built a huge fan base, or have written one of the most exceptional novels ever, it’s hard to get noticed. Are you traditionally published or self-published and why? Self-published. Writing is my hobby. I really enjoy doing it, but don’t want the pressures of it being my bread and butter. Writing is hard enough without adding financial stress to the process. Self-publishing cuts the wait time and not being at the mercy of literary gate-keepers. I also wanted the experience of managing every aspect of the novel writing process. I wrote the story, designed the cover, created a publishing company, published it, and now am discovering marketing and promotion. All of which, I’ve learned so much and wouldn’t trade it for anything. Well…except for a chance to take a few years off of work and travel the world. Nah, not even that. If you were going to dabble in a different genre, what would it be and why? I dabble in so many genres already that I end up struggling to define what genre each of my novels fall into. Love, Lies & Clones, my only published book so far, falls into science fiction / mystery even a little thriller near the end. I have another near publication that’s fantasy / mystery. I then have more of a chick-lit / superhero one in first draft format. All of them have some underlying “clean” romance laced throughout. So, I don’t stick to one genre… Other than being under the speculative fiction umbrella. Oh, I also grew up living at a zoo (okay, bring on the jokes), so I consider writing a non-fiction memoir about some of the crazy stories of my childhood. Joy was kind enough to share an excerpt from Love, Lies and Clones below:
Chapter 1 Six in the morning wasn’t the time for visitors, but Thursday disagreed with me. Before my intercom chirped, he sprang off my bed and rushed to the front door with his tail wagging. “What is it?” I snatched my uniTab from my nightstand while trying to keep up with my furry companion. The way his entire hind end swayed in rhythm to his tail made me smile. His ears were at full attention, which for a Vizsla-lab mix was saying something. The man’s image on the uniTab’s screen made me stop. With a shaky hand, I rubbed my eyes. It couldn’t be. Shit. My father had found me. Despite a new pair of glasses, his chocolate brown eyes and round face gave him away. My heart thumped, and I forgot to breathe as memories of our last encounter flooded my thoughts. Was it too late to crawl back into bed and burrow beneath the covers? Thursday barked and bounded around me, while I took a deep breath. Tou can do this, June. I touched ‘speak’ on the display. “What do you want? It’s been three years.” “May I come in?” His words were polite, yet his voice was edgier than I remembered. “This isn’t a good time.” It would never be a good time, especially not today. “I have to go to work in an hour, and I need to get ready.” My father looked at me like only a father could—one eyebrow raised and head cocked. It reminded me of how he used to wait for me to spill whatever mischief I had been hiding from him when I was a kid. It appeared the look still worked on me as an adult. With a heavy sigh, I clicked ‘unlock’ as I walked to greet him. As I opened my door, Thursday pushed his way through to sniff the guest. My father rubbed my dog’s head and strolled across my living room into the kitchen, sitting down at the round pine table. I fought the urge to cross my arms over my chest. Nothing like making yourself at home. He seemed younger. Sure, he sported a few more gray hairs and a couple of extra crow’s feet wrinkles, but he looked good. The last time I saw him, though, he was downing a bottle of cheap whisky. I scrutinized the sixty-some-year-old man, examining him for bloodshot eyes, glazed expression, or a flushed face. Nothing. Was he sober? I focused on the scents in the room, picking up the faint odor of lemon from my recently scrubbed floors, but no alcohol. His clothes appeared clean. Wrinkles ran deep in his plaid shirt, but he hadn’t been this put together since I was a child. Keeping the table between us, I leaned against the kitchen countertop and realized how small my duplex truly was. My finger rubbed a worn spot on the laminate while I waited for him to talk. “Who’s this?” He ruffled the light reddish brown fur behind Thursday’s ears. My fingertip heated from rubbing the counter, and I pulled away. “How’d you find me?” “I have my ways,” he said. My jaw tightened. “Forget it then. Let’s get to the point. Why are you here?” “There’s no easy way to say this.” He exhaled and ran a hand through his short hair. “You need to get out of town.” I laughed. “That’s ridiculous. I don’t think so.” “Sit down.” He eyed the kitchen chair across from him. “I don’t have time for this.” “Too bad. Sit down.” “Can’t you call me later?” “This is too important.” His voice was firm and, like always, his eyes avoided my face. “Sit down.” I felt like a child again, even though I hadn’t lived with him in twelve years. I plopped down and folded my arms across my chest. He still didn’t look at me. “I’ve been asked to help with another cloning project.” “So? Why should I leave town because of that?” “I’m going to say no.” His words were calm and firm. “I still don’t understand.” “I’m afraid of what they’ll do to make me help them.” “What who’ll do?” “That doesn’t matter.” “You’re paranoid.” Images from my childhood surfaced. “I’m not paranoid.” I stood up and pushed my chair in harder than intended. “You’ve always been paranoid.” I glanced at the time on my universal oven. “I need to shower and get to work. I’m not leaving town. I have a career, bills to pay, and a life. I can’t just pick up and leave.” Copyright 2016 Joynell Schultz. Reprinted with permission. Todays’ exclusive interview is with novelist and MTW_2017 participant, Morgan C. Talbot. Morgan lives and writes in Walla Walla, WA and her newest release is titled, Nine Feet Under (Caching Out Book 3). It’s a Traditional/Cozy Mystery, available in paperback, .epub, and .mobi formats. Here’s a blurb from the book which was named a Big Al's Books & Pals 2014 Readers' Choice Awards: Mystery Nominee: Margarita and Bindi have big plans for the Fourth of July, involving borrowed bicycles, a geocaching power trail, live podcasts, and plenty of fun. But their day quickly goes awry when they stumble upon what looks like a murder in progress. Strange rivalries and secret alliances test Margarita’s puzzle-solving skills, and Bindi suffers a rather painful setback when she comes face to face with someone she never thought she’d see again. The overly stoic sheriff can’t be in two places at once, so the girls need to figure out whodunit and rescue the next potential victim before the explosive finale. Tell us something(s) about the book that the blurb doesn’t reveal: Willamette Valley heat waves don’t get that hot, but the humidity can be pestilential, and A/C is not a universal luxury in small towns more accustomed to days of fog and rain. I tossed my main characters out-of-doors on such a broiling day so they could try to solve a murder mystery in the same conditions I experienced during the summers of my childhood. Additionally, one of the other characters is based on a real person—something I almost never do. What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? Offbeat Vagabond reviewed the book and said “Every time I thought I was right, she threw [me] for a loop.” I always try to leave enough clues that the killer is obvious only in retrospect, and it seems like I nailed it again with Nine Feet Under. If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet (have met)? Agatha Christie. I want to ask her for tips on notebook organization. She’s known to have had dozens of notebooks throughout her lifetime, one in most rooms of her house at any given time, so she could jot down story ideas as they came to her. I do something very similar, but I want to pick her brain on what she did after she wrote them down. Did she cross-reference? Bookmark her favorites? How did she organize them so she could pull from them and create future books? I’m desperately curious to know if she had a more efficient method of corralling her ideas than I currently use. If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? Honestly, I’m terrible at thinking this way. I have no idea which actors would be good for the roles of my characters. Their faces don’t match the faces in my head, and I think typecasting is an unfortunate thing to be avoided, so I don’t want to borrow people from cozy mystery movies I’ve seen on the HMM channel. And I have nominal aphasia, so I’m particularly terrible with names when put on the spot. If this event were ever to take place for real, I’d leave all of this up to my casting director. What other jobs have you held (even what you’re doing currently): I ran a hay baler one summer—that was awesome. Worked in a large hospital business office for a few years. I loved working in a professional laundry in the Napa Valley—such efficient machinery. I’ve also been a content editor for a small press, and I currently write books at whatever pace I can maintain, while juggling school-age kids and medical issues. What gave you the idea to write this book? I enjoy the hobby of geocaching. Honing the skill of spotting things that are disguised in plain sight was so much fun! And I’ve always loved reading mysteries. The two concepts merged in my head, and when I realized no one had written any geocaching mystery books, I decided to try my hand. Geocachers are always so excited to find fiction books that deal with their specific hobby, and that makes me happy. What are you working on next and when do you expect it to be on the shelves? My next series is culinary/cozy in nature: the Moorehaven Mysteries series. The first installment, Smugglers & Scones, will be out in early February of 2017. The series follows a B&B owner in a small Oregon Coast town known for its world-famous mystery writer, A. Raymond Moore, who used to live in the Victorian mansion that became the B&B. My plots have a current timeline and a historical one, and there’s always yummy recipes in the back. I’m writing the second book now, and it’s making me hungry. Are you traditionally published or self-published and why? I’m a hybrid author. My mystery novels are published through a small press, and I have five self-published epic fantasy novels, in two series. Both methods give me different benefits and freedoms, and I enjoy seeing more than one aspect of being published. What advice do you have for other writers based on your experience? Never follow someone else’s guidelines purely because you think that’s How It’s Supposed to Go. Being a writer is art with a bit of magic mixed in. If there were one perfect method to fame and riches, we’d all be doing it. There is no one right way. And someone else’s right way may be perfectly wrong for you. Don’t break yourself trying to meet someone else’s definition of success. If you were going to dabble in a different genre, what would it be and why? My first genre was epic fantasy. In fact, until February 2017 I’ll have more fantasy books published than mystery books. I was introduced to epic fantasy novels in high school, and I fell in love with the perfectly endless possibility of other worlds, magic systems, and as many cultures and creatures as I could conceive of. I have another eight-book fantasy series brewing in the back of my mind, but it still needs plenty of work before I’ll feel ready to write it. In the meantime, I’m focused on the mystery side of my writing, hanging out on the breezy Oregon Coast and creating clever murderers and delicious recipes. And somehow, all this fits together seamlessly in my head. Where Can Readers Find You? I’m on Facebook and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/MorganCTalbot/ https://twitter.com/MorganCTalbot And here is my website: Mysteriouser and Mysteriouser Today, for the Literary Exhibitionist exclusive interview, I’m speaking with Kaye George, a novelist and MTW_2017 participant who lives in Knoxville, TN. Her newest book is Death on the Trek, an alternate prehistory mystery. I asked her to summarize the plot, since this is a genre that is new to me: The Neanderthal tribe of Enga Dancing Flower must trek south to flee the approaching glacier, but the distance is long and the food is scarce. When a venerable elder drowns crossing a flooded river, Enga suspects that it was not an accident, and that a murderer travels with them. Sounds great. Tell me something that the blurb doesn’t reveal: This is the second in my People of the Wind series. I’ve used North America for the setting of the books, although Neanderthals were unlikely to have ever lived there. I did that because I love the mega-fauna in North America of 30,000 years ago. The mega-fauna didn’t disappear until about 10,000 years ago, but the Neanderthals, as a recognizable separate people, were gone about 28,000 years ago. My goal in writing this series is to let everyone who doesn’t already know that recent discoveries have drastically changed old perceptions of these people, at the same time as providing an entertaining read and a mystery puzzle. What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? Why? My favorite comment is one that several people have made (including a couple of agents who didn’t take on the project because they said they didn’t know how to sell it), that my books are better than Jean Auel’s. How could I not like that? If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet? One I would like to know would be Charles Dickens, if I could only pick one. If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? That’s a tough question! Neanderthals are physically different from modern man, so a lot of movie magic would have to happen, to make them look wider and stronger. Maybe Ben Affleck could play Tog Flint Shaper, so I could meet him. For the same reason, I’d like Abigail Spencer from the TV show, “Timeless,” to play Enga Dancing Flower. On second thought, I’ll have her co-star, Matt Lanter or Tog. Enga has flaming red hair and Tog is dark-eyed, but that shouldn’t be a problem for Hollywood. What other jobs have you held (even what you’re doing currently): I’ve done tons of different things, but my second favorite job (writing is my first) was being a contract computer programmer. I told one of my bosses that, at that time with kids still in the house, my favorite thing to do after they all got off to school was to sit and have a second cup of tea and work crossword puzzles in the paper. And there I was, I told her, having tea and working gigantic puzzles, and being paid for it. What gave you the idea to write this book? The incredible new discoveries about Neanderthals. Some of them have been because of the sequencing of a genome belonging to one and some have been because of new excavations. As I delved into the research for this project, I found out that almost every theory and every interpretation of new discoveries are argued from at least two angles. This gives me the freedom to pick the theory that suits my purposes. The discovery of flowers with a body has been said to mean that they their dead with ceremony. This also infers some organized spiritual beliefs. I chose for them to bury only the tribe leaders like this, and for them to be developing spiritual beliefs over the span of several books. What percent Neanderthal are your own genes, if I might be so bold as to ask? I’m 2.9 percent according to the 23 And Me test. Everyone who has European ancestry is between 1 and 4 percent Neanderthal, the result of interbreeding long. long ago. I love the thought that I carry them around with me. Wow, that begs the question as to whether or not you were offended by the old Geico Cavemen commercials, but I digress. Are you traditionally published or self-published and why? Yes. I self-publish one series, have two series published by small presses, and was lucky enough to land a series with Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin Random House). Why? I guess it just happened that way. My self-published series was with a small press, but I was unhappy there, so I took it back after one book and put out two more myself. The two small press series were queried and didn’t find agents, but found homes with Barking Rain Press and Untreed Reads. I’m very happy with both of them. I’m grateful to all three of my publishers for getting my books out there. What former author training/writing have you had, if any? I did take fiction writing courses at Northwestern University, eons ago when I attended there. I graduated with a major in Russian Studies, but that’s a whole ‘nother story. More recently, when I decided to write full time, I’ve taken online courses from Margie Lawson, Mary Buckham, as well as many others through the Guppies Chapter of Sisters in Crime. I’ve also attended, in person, weekend workshops with Mary Buckham and with Donald Maass. Do you belong to any writer’s groups? Which ones and how have they helped you? I belong to the above-mentioned Guppies. It’s the online chapter of Sisters in Crime, originally formed by unpublished writers to help each other get published. It’s been a great help to my writing career. I’ve served as treasurer and as president. When I’ve lived where there was a local Sisters in Crime chapter, I’ve belonged to those, too, and miss being where there is one! I also belong to the Short Mystery Fiction Society, a big help to my short story writing. I’m a member in absentia of the Austin Mystery Writers, a critique group I belonged to when we lived there. What conferences have you attended and what value have you found in attending conferences? Ever since my first one at least 12 years ago, I’ve attended Malice Domestic. The networking is fun and valuable. I love meeting people I’ve only previously connected with online. It’s also a great time to sit and talk with other writers, for ideas and inspiration and support. I’ve also attending a couple of Left Coast Crime conferences, and several others that have gone by the wayside. I’ve loved all of them. Where can Readers Find You? I’ll be participating in Mystery Thriller Week on February 15, 16, and 17. On the 15th, I’ll give away Choke, the first book in the Imogene Duckworthy humorous Texas mystery series. On the 16th, I’ll give away Eine Kleine Murder, the first in the Cressa Carraway Musical Mysteries. And on the 17th, I’ll give away Death in the Time of Ice, which is the first in the People of the Wind series. Kaye was kind enough to share an excerpt of Death on the Trek with us:
Enga Dancing Flower watched the progress of the boy who was making his way down the hill from the Holy Cave. This was the last time he would bring the fire from the small mountain to the Paved Place for the nightly meeting in their long-time home, the last time he, or any of the tribe, would ever visit the Holy Cave. For many seasons, it had been the task of Akkal to tend both the permanent fire in the Holy Cave and the community fire in the village. When rain sometimes put out that fire, the black-haired Fire Tender diligently prepared the pit at the center of the meeting place and brought new fire down before the next meeting time. The warm and cold times cycled, as they always did, and the most warm time was coming. The night breath of Mother Sky held only a trace of chill. The birds in the woods surrounding the village were making soft peeps while they bedded down so that they could rise up again with Sister Sun, completing that cycle, and sing at full voice. The fire Akkal carried lit his face from below, its light throwing flickering shadows across his young features and glinting off his long dark hair and eyes. Smoke trailed after him. The leader of the tribe, Hama, the Most High Female, had summoned them after they ate their evening meal, as usual. But this was far from the usual meeting. The meal had only been a few bites and that was not usual either. Although it took place at the normal time, soon after Sister Sun disappeared, this meeting was different. The tribe knew that this was their last time of no sun in the place most of them had lived for all their days. At new sun, they would depart. Most of the huge mammoth they had always hunted had fled. Moons ago, before this last dark season, a group of males had journeyed far enough to see the gigantic, looming field of Great Ice. It was moving, very slowly, but the movement was toward them. The animals the Hamapa tribe depended on, which were mostly mammoth, were scattering. Some had migrated toward the ice, onto the barren, frozen land that lay before it, in its path. The tribe could not live in that place. Some animals had fled to places with more warmth. That was where they would go. This decision had been made after much discussion and pondering. The decision had not been easy, but all were satisfied that it must be so. They must depart. Every heart was heavy, every brow worried, even though they knew it was a necessary thing they would do. Everyone, males, females, children, had spent their time packing up what they would be able to carry with them. At new sun they would depart. Enga felt the heavy sorrow. Even though each one cloaked every thought in the darkest colors of night, their grief was heavy enough to drip through. Enga looked up, almost expecting to see a black cloud of dark thoughts above the gathering. Mother Sky looked down on them with her many twinkling eyes. Brother Moon, almost at his fullest, seemed to smile and say he would be with them on their travels. The fire pit sent out a familiar warmth and the comforting smell of smoke, as it always did. These were not enough to lift the spirits of Enga. Hama stood. Before she was elected leader, her name had been Rho Lion Hunter because she had killed a lion by herself. She was thick of body with dark, intelligent eyes. She sent out a public thought, bathed in brightest red so that everyone could receive it in their minds. Singer will sing a Song of Asking for our long journey so that the Spirits will be kind as we travel. Lakala Rippling Water, the Singer, started with a Song of Blessing to Mother Sky. Her voice, usually confident and fluid, wavered with fright. When she finished, she next sent a Song of Asking into the night air. She gained strength, tilting her head upward so that her trilling notes surely reached to Mother Sky and beyond, to her child, the Most High Spirit Dakadaga. The Singer asked for safety, strength, guidance, and success in finding a new home for the tribe. Today’s exclusive interview with with author and MTW_2017 participant, Sherrie Whaley Frontz who writes as S.W. Frontz. Sherrie hails from Johnson City, Tennessee and her most recent book is titled, Don’t Look Back (Book Two in the Land’s End Series. It’s available in both Kindle and paperback formats. Let’s take a sneak peek at the blurb: Last autumn Sheriff Andy Patrick rescued his wife, Samantha, after she was kidnapped by Matt Ruiz. Samantha has retreated into a protective shell, afraid to leave home and pushing away the people who love her. Her daughter enlists the help of family friend, Kellyn. Kellyn has plenty of experience dealing with victims of sexual crimes. Kellyn comes to Land’s End to help Samantha, but she brings trouble with her. By saving Samantha, will Kellyn be able to save herself? Tell us something(s) about the book that the blurb doesn’t reveal: One of the villains in the book actually does a good deed. I’m not going to say more, I don’t want to give away any secrets. Any Upcoming Promotions/Giveaways/Events We Should Know About? December 19-January 19: Goodreads giveaway for Don’t Look Back What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? A reviewer said that my story kept her on the edge of her seat. It made me feel good because that’s what I want to do. If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet (have met) and why? Margaret Mitchell. She wrote Gone with the Wind. Do I need to say more? If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? Kelly Giddish as Kellyn, Tom Selleck as Blake, Jason Beghe as Dalton, Molly Hagan as Sam and Enrique Iglesias as Madison When and why did you decide to become a writer? My parents gave me a portable typewriter for Christmas when I was 12. I started a novel then but never finished. I wrote short stories and poems throughout my teens. Life took over and it wasn’t until about four years ago a good friend and author convinced me to start writing again. I began working on my first novel, When the Morning Comes, in 2013, but I kept changing it and putting it away until early 2016. I focused and I finally finished and published When the Morning Comes (Book One in the Land’s End Series) in late April of 2016. What other jobs have you held? I was a secretary for 10 years, then a sales agent for 3 and I’ve been a homemaker for 21 years. What are you working on next and when do you expect it to be on the shelves? I’m working on Book three, as yet untitled and I hope to publish by May of 2017 Are you traditionally published or self-published and why? Self-published. I can set my own deadlines. Do you belong to any writer’s groups? Which ones and how have they helped you? I just recently joined the Mystery Thriller Week group. Everyone that I’ve had contact with has been super supportive. If you were going to dabble in a different genre, what would it be? Southern humor Today’s exclusive interview is with novelist and MTW_2017 participant, Judy Penz Sheluk. Writing from her home in Toronto, Judy’s most recent mystery is Skeletons in the Attic: A Marketville Mystery #1 (August 2016, Imajin Books), which is available in both Kindle and paperback formats. Here’s the blurb: What goes on behind closed doors doesn’t always stay there… Calamity (Callie) Barnstable isn’t surprised to learn she’s the sole beneficiary of her late father’s estate, though she is shocked to discover she has inherited a house in the town of Marketville—a house she didn’t know existed. However, there are conditions attached to Callie’s inheritance: she must move to Marketville, live in the house, and solve her mother’s murder. Callie’s not keen on dredging up a thirty-year-old mystery, but if she doesn’t do it, there’s a scheming psychic named Misty Rivers who is more than happy to expose the Barnstable family secrets. Determined to thwart Misty and fulfill her father’s wishes, Callie accepts the challenge. But is she ready to face the skeletons hidden in the attic? Tell us something about the book that the blurb doesn’t reveal: Arabella Carpenter, one of the major characters in The Hanged Man’s Noose, the first book in my Glass Dolphin Mystery series, has a role in Skeletons. It was fun to include a crossover character. What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? The most exciting was a surprise review by Dru Ann Love of Dru’s Book Musings. She’s an icon in the mystery community and while she hosts an author a day, she seldom reviews books and doesn’t accept review requests. When she wrote on her blog that she loved Skeletons, it made my day, week, and month. If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet/have met? There are so many! Truman Capote, because In Cold Blood is one of the finest works of crime non-fiction, and I’d like to know what it was like pre-internet, to research and write. Sue Grafton, Tana French, Michael Connelly, John Sandford because their books take me to another place...I could go on and on! If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? Jennifer Lawrence as Calamity (Callie) Barnstable, the protagonist in Skeletons. Chris Noth as Leith Hampton, the lawyer. Bradley Cooper as Royce Ashford, neighbor and love interest. What gave you the idea to write this book? The idea for Skeletons in the Attic came to me while I waited with my husband, Mike, in our lawyer's office. We were there to update our wills, and his Goldendoodle kept us company while our lawyer was detained at court. The opening scenes of this book are culled directly from that experience. Let that be your takeaway from this: everything that happens in a writer's life may end up in one of their stories. Do you have pets? I have a 14 month-old Golden Retriever, Gibbs (named after Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS). He is my fourth Golden, and as a kid I had a Golden mix. I love the breed (though not the dog hair!). My previous dogs were Sandy (mix), Einstein (named after the dog in Dean Koontz’s Watchers), Ranger, and Copper. Copper was 12 ½ when he died, and I’d forgotten how crazy puppies can be, but Gibbs is coming along nicely. I can’t imagine a house without a dog. Are you traditionally published or self-published and why? Both my novels are traditionally published, though with two different publishers. I made that decision because I have two series and I didn’t want to place on my books in one publisher’s basket. I have two short story collections that I self-published. They are small collections, which I basically put out to test-drive how to do it. It was incredibly easy. I have an idea for a novella series. I think I will self-publish, but I’m not sure. First I have to write it! What conferences have you attended and what value have you found in attending conferences? My first writer’s conference was Bloody Words in Toronto, 2012 and 2014. I was unpublished at the time and learned a lot. Unfortunately 2014 was the last year for Bloody Words. In 2015, I attended Bouchercon in Raleigh, NC, as a debut author, and in 2016, Malice Domestic in Bethesda, MD as a debut author. They are very different – Bouchercon is huge and Malice is more intimate – but both were very worthwhile. If you attend thinking you will sell enough books for the money spent, you will be very disappointed. It’s more about making connections, getting your name out there, and learning more about the business. Where Can Readers Find You? You can find me at www.judypenzsheluk.com, where I blog about the writing life and interview and showcase other authors. You can also find me on Goodreads, Pinterest, Twitter (@JudyPenzSheluk), Amazon, and on my Facebook author page (Judy Penz Sheluk) Judy was kind enough to share an excerpt of Skeletons in the Attic below:
Leith let out a theatrical courtroom sigh, well practiced but over the top for his audience of one. “You haven’t really been listening, have you, Calamity?” I was forced to admit I had not, although he now had my undivided attention. Marketville was a commuter community about an hour north of Toronto, the sort of town where families with two kids, a collie, and a cat moved to looking for a bigger house, a better school, and soccer fields. It didn’t sound much like me, or my father. “You’re saying my father owned a house in Marketville? I don’t understand. Why didn’t he live there?” Leith shrugged. “It seems he couldn’t bear to part with it, and he couldn’t stand living in it. He’s been renting it out since 1986.” The year my mother had left. I’d been six. I tried to remember a house in Marketville. Nothing came to mind. Even my memories of my mother were vague. “The house has gone through some hard times, what with tenants coming and going over the years,” Leith continued. “I’ve done my best to manage the property for a modest monthly maintenance fee, but not living nearby…” He colored slightly and I wondered just how modest that fee had been. I glanced back at the photo of his vibrant young family and suspected such treasures did not come cheap. There was probably alimony for the other trophy wives as well. I decided to let it go. My father had trusted him. That had to be enough. “So you’re saying I’ve inherited a fixer-upper.” “I suppose you could put it that way, although your father had recently hired a company to make some basic improvements when the last tenant moved out.” He flipped through his notes in the folder. “Royce Contracting and Property Management. I gather the owner of the company, Royce Ashford, lives next door. But I’m not sure much, if anything, has been done to the house yet. Naturally all work would have stopped following your father’s death.” “You said he wanted me to move into the house? When was he going to tell me?” “I think the initial plan was that your father was going to move back in there. But of course now—” “Now that he’s dead, you think he wanted me to move there?” “Actually, it’s more than wanted, Calamity. It’s a provision of the will that you move into Sixteen Snapdragon Circle for a period of one year. After that time, you are free to do what you wish with it. Go back to renting it, continue to live there, or sell it.” “And if I decide to sell it?” “Homes in that area of Marketville typically sell quickly and for a decent price, certainly several times your parents’ original investment back in 1979. You’d have to put in some elbow grease, not to mention some basic renovations, but your father left you some money for that as well.” “He had money set aside? Enough for renovations?” I thought about the shabby townhouse, the threadbare carpets, the flannel sheet covering holes in the fabric of the ancient olive green brocade sofa. I always thought my dad was frugal because he had to be. It never occurred to me he was squirreling away money to fix up a house I didn’t even know existed. “About a hundred thousand dollars, although only half of that is allocated to renovation. The balance of fifty thousand would be paid to you in weekly installments while you lived there rent-free. Certainly enough for you to take a year off work and fulfill the other requirement.” Fifty thousand dollars. Almost twice what I made in a single year at my call center job at the bank. Leaving there would definitely not be a hardship. And my month-to-month lease would be easy enough to break with thirty days notice. “What’s the other requirement?” Leith leaned back in his chair and let out another one of his theatrical sighs. I got the impression he didn’t really approve of the condition. “Your father wants you to find out who murdered your mother. And he believes the clues may be hidden in the Marketville house.” Copyright 2016 Judy Penz Sheluk. Reprinted with permission. Today’s exclusive interview is definitely my most long-distance author dialogue! Armaan Singh Dhillon lives in New Delhi, India and his most recent novel, A Nazi War Criminal in India is a Mystery/Thriller that’s available in both Kindle and paperback editions. Here’s the blurb: Just after the end of World War II, Adolf Eichmann’s best man, Alois Brunner, fled to West Germany, then Egypt, and finally lived in Syria with the help of the government in return for his sharing of the torture techniques the Nazis used during their Reich. But did he actually die there? Simon Wiesenthal claims that yes, he died there when the civil war started, but the location of his grave was unknown. But there is no substantial proof of his death! What if, to avoid the Civil War and any threats to his life, Alois Brunner never died and in fact fled to India with the help of his contacts in the Syrian Government? Alois Brunner comes to India with a new identity and settles down in New Delhi in a locality where he meets a college student (Rohan) and befriends him. Does Rohan discover his real identity? What manipulations and betrayals occur? Tell us something(s) about the book that the blurb doesn’t reveal: There is Rohan’s girlfriend who is not directly a part of the story but plays in the background of it. She is ‘used’ by Rohan during stressful times. What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? Why? Someone told me, “Man, I can’t believe that you connected a Nazi guy to an Indian college student.” I believe that it was the most difficult part and something that has never been done before. If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet/have met? No one in particular. Though I would love to meet all those who have passed away many years back. I’m sure they must have had something in mind that would have taught me many things that I otherwise would never be able to know. If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? Rohan - Vivaan Shah Alois Brunner - Naseeruddin Shah Dhruv - A New Actor (Unknown) Girlfriend - Alia Bhatt Army Officer - Jimmy Shergill Professor - Anupam Kher Mom - Dimple Kapadia What gave you the idea to write this book? Nazis have always fascinated me. Although I strongly believe that whatever they did during their regime was wrong and I condemn it, the way they controlled everyone and everything--their uniforms, banners, salute and their way of acting towards an issue--was just unique and different which mesmerized me. The movies that I have watched related to Nazis have always made me want to write something of my own. So relating Nazis to India was a big task but I worked on it for a very long time and came up with this story. And I do believe that I have done justice to the whole concept of my story. What is your favorite quote from the book and why? “I believe that some birds are not meant to be imprisoned. And you just cannot see them when they fly away as their feathers are just too bright. I hope for a peaceful life for that old man.” Because this is when Rohan realizes that not everything will go according to him and shows a sign of recovery. What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of publishing today? In today’s world it is very easy to get published. As far as you have a well-written novel, no barrier should come your way. Also, self-publishing has made it even easier. Though, due to high number of published works, it is harder to get your book out there. In fact, the main work starts after your book is published, with marketing, promotion etc. What advice do you have for other writers based on your experience? This is my first book and I’ve yet to learn a lot from experienced writers but I can tell one thing for sure--there will always be people who will tell you to write what people love to read. DON’T LISTEN TO THEM. Do not kill your creativity. Write what you want to. And do not think twice before writing on a specific topic. After all, it’s your point of view, your story! If your work is good, people will read it! Have confidence in yourself, the rest will follow. Never Stop. Keep Writing. All the best. Where Can My Readers Find You? For all the promotions/giveaways/events, updates will be made on my Facebook, Goodreads and Amazon author page Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cdtArmaan Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16232436.Armaan_Singh_Dhillon Amazon Author Page: http://www.www.amazon.com/author/armaandhillon E-mail: armaan619hbk@gmail.com Here is an excerpt from A Nazi War Criminal in India that Armaan was kind enough to share:
CHAPTER 1 The Remnant Me 21st July 2011 I was tired, exhausted and my mind didn’t seem to work at all. I stared down at the cigarette grasped effortlessly by my fingers. I debated with myself whether or not to smoke it, but eventually gave in to my craving for that nicotine hit and decided to light it in just a bit. I didn’t even realise that I had reached my college after walking for 15 kilometres on an extremely sunny day. I looked up consciously for the first time since I started walking from “that” house. I was sweaty and thirsty. There were a few acquaintances who said “Hi” and “Kaisa hai Rohan Ahluwalia” to me, to which all I could respond was, with mere expressionless stares. I saw a board which said that the renowned film director ‘Ayush Mehra’ is visiting our college to present a motivational speech. I looked at it for a few seconds and later walked towards the college auditorium where the event was to take place. Suddenly someone patted my back with a little force. I looked back and saw that it was Mehak Kapoor, my girlfriend? My senses seemed too occupied to figure out my exact bonds around. It was a muddled day for me, especially after what I saw and read in “that” house. Mehak said “You bastard, I knew you will never call me after I visited your place”. I looked at her cautiously and silently. “Are you going to say something or not?” she sounded quite noticeably exasperated. “No”, was the only word I uttered. I couldn’t get my own mind together, and was far capable of dealing with anyone else. Mehak left, her eyes filled with rage. I looked down at my right hand and saw the cigarette still sitting between my fingers. I had forgotten to light it. I went outside the auditorium and walked to a secluded corner which was used as a smoking area for people out there. I frisked into my pocket and realized I had a lighter, lit up my cigarette and took an exceptionally long drag. A guy next to me, who was smoking a joint, got taken aback while looking at the way I took the drag. “Bhai, are you alright?” he asked with an inquisitive voice. “Yes”, I whispered in doubt, “I guess”. “Hmm” he started to enjoy his joint again. I took a couple of drags more and threw the cigarette bud into a bin. I started walking towards the auditorium and reached there, noticing that there was a long queue to get inside. I stepped behind a nerdy girl who was holding a book in her hand and was impatient to get inside. After waiting for twenty minutes behind her I saw my friend Dhruv Kashyap standing near the entrance door and luckily he saw me too and waived his hand at me. He asked me to come in front and made me enter just along with him since he knew one of the event managers. He asked me to sit in the first few rows of the auditorium along with him where the stage was unobstructed and I could clearly see it. One podium was kept at a distance of a few steps from the table and chairs where the guests were supposed to be seated within half-an-hour. There was quite a commotion among students to watch and listen to such a big name of the Indian film industry speak live before them. It was going to be all about different aspects of life through his personal experiences. “I thought you would skip this event and will be doing some shit with that bastard, who got my best friend, my brother killed” Dhruv said to me with the most hateful expression that I had ever seen on his face. I knew that he was not wrong. I kept quiet for a while and then replied “Whatever happened was tragic and I hate that guy for all that he did to us”. After a few minutes, the Dean arrived inside the auditorium with the guest of honour, the man himself, Ayush Mehra. He came along with two of the more familiar faces of the industry who are not known much for their work but instead just familiar because they were friends to Ayush. Everybody in the audience welcomed them warmly with a standing applause. Within no time the Dean of our college started speaking about the event and introduced Ayush to the students. He greeted him with a bouquet and requested him to speak a few words for the student of our prestigious college. Ayush got up from his chair and walked towards the podium, one could clearly make out that he was a humble gentleman by his body language and walking gesture. “Good Afternoon friends”, Ayush said. Everybody in the audience responded positively. Ayush started speaking about himself when he was in a similar phase of life as we were and within no time he got into serious topics like career management, professional growth, financial stability, etc. I was very impressed by his views on these topics. A statement he gave just before ending his forty eight minute speech duly caught my attention. It clearly depicted him to be a typical business man while he spoke, but trustable one. “I’m an explorer and by that I mean about exploring new stories everywhere I travel. I am sure, you people at such age have a variety of experiences to share with me here as well. I would be highly obliged if some of you will show up to me for telling your experiences which you believe could end up in a film. My office gates are always open for such people.” Ayush said. I got stuck to this statement of his and I was not sure but something inside me kept on telling me that Rohan you have to visit this person soon. “But visit?” I asked myself in doubt. I’ll end up revealing everything about what happened with me in the last couple of days. I have to make a plan of some sort where I deliver the story to him without revealing my identity. 2016 Armaan Dhillon. Reprinted with permission. Today exclusive interview is with author/Mystery Thriller Week participant Elena Hartwell. Elena lives in Seattle and her most recently published book is “One Dead, Two to Go.” This novel is available as a paperback, as an e-book/i-book (Kindle/Nook) and as an Audible audiobook. In this mystery, Private Investigator Edwina “Eddie Shoes” Schultz’s most recent job has her parked outside a seedy Bellingham hotel, photographing her quarry as he kisses his mistress goodbye. This is the last anyone will see of the woman … alive. Then her client disappears and Eddie finds herself knee-deep in dangerous company. Spurred on by her card-counting, poker-playing mother who has shown up on her doorstep fresh from the shenanigans that got her kicked out of Vegas, Eddie has to wonder, is her client the latest victim? Or the killer? Here’s what Elena told us about the book and about the writing life in general: Tell us something(s) about the book that the blurb doesn’t reveal: If Sue Grafton and James Rockford had a love child, it would be private investigator Eddie Shoes. Any Upcoming Promotions/Giveaways/Events We Should Know About? Currently, there is a Goodreads Giveaway, which runs through January 10. Plus, I have a blog tour starting January 23. You can visit my Events Page for more information: http://elenahartwell.blogspot.com/p/mystery-loves-company-book-tour.html What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book? “Avid Alphabet series connoisseurs should flock to this kick-off series.” —Roberta Gordon for InD'Tale Magazine. I loved this review comment because Sue Grafton inspired me as a teenager, and continues to inspire me today. She showed the world that women can be private eyes and mystery novelists in a way that felt groundbreaking. Being compared to her and Janet Evanovich are two of my favorite comments. If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet (have met) and why? Shakespeare. I’d like to know how he did what he did with language (he invented so many new words) how he produced the sheer volume of material he did, and how his life and writing career entwined. If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters? Charisma Carpenter for Eddie. She’s quirky and the right ethnic mix to play a Latina/Jew. For her mother Chava, I can picture Ellen Degeneres. Chava has to be funny. What is the main conflict in your book? Secondary conflicts? On the surface, it’s about a private investigator chasing a killer. Under the surface, it’s about a woman learning to relate to her mother as an adult and deal with her feelings of responsibility to others. Eddie has to learn where she draws the line regardless of loyalty. What tidbits did you leave out of the book? I left out much of Eddie’s backstory, especially her relationship with her mentor, who committed suicide. More of those details will come out over the course of the series. One thing I’m learning in working on a series is how to have arcs for individual books and across multiple books. What are you working on next and when do you expect it to be on the shelves? Two Heads Are Deader Than One, April 15, 2017. Are you traditionally published or self-published and why? I’m published with Camel Press. I’m happy to be traditionally published. My publisher has the ability to get me reviewed in places that aren’t available to self-published authors. I can also be carried in any library or bookstore, which sometimes won’t carry self-published authors. I have fantastic editors and staff to handle cover designs, postcards, and other marketing materials. What former author training/writing have you had, if any? I have worked in the theater as a playwright for over twenty years. What conferences have you attended and what value have you found in attending conferences, if any? I love conferences. I have attended several. It’s a great way to get yourself and your books in front of readers and network with other authors. My favorite is ThrillerFest, put on by International Thriller Writers (they include mysteries, not just thrillers). They have a terrific program for debut authors, which supported me during my first year as an author. I’m currently the Debut Author Program Chair, so I’m thrilled to be able to pay that support forward to the class coming in behind me. Elena was kind enough to share an excerpt from "One Dead, Two to Go" below: The loud pounding shouldn’t have come as a surprise. After all, the police weren’t used to people slamming doors in their faces, and that’s who I’d just locked out of my office. “Eddie? What the—? Open the door.” Chance Parker’s voice hadn’t changed. It was still low, but carried a weight to it like every word he spoke mattered. I leaned against the glass with the hope my heart wouldn’t leap out of my chest and splatter on the ground at my, or worse yet his, feet. The next rap was a knuckle on the glass, instead of the wood frame of the door. The sharp sound of it pulled me out of my panic, and I wrenched the door back open. Just like ripping off a bandage, best to get it over with quick. “Sorry about that. I thought I heard the phone ring,” I said, my response inexplicable even to myself. The woman with Chance looked at me like I might be certifiable; he just looked amused. I’m not sure which expression annoyed me more. “Mind if we come in? We have a few questions for you,” Chance said, though it was clear he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. The “we” included Detective Kate Jarek, who introduced herself and said, “I understand you two know each other.” “We do,” I said, looking to Chance to see if he planned to fill me in on what he’d told her about our history. Chance rubbed the side of his cheek as if checking for stubble. It was an action I remembered well—an unconscious gesture he made when he didn’t know exactly how he wanted to respond. Chance was careful with his words, as if they were valuable and he might accidentally drop one he couldn’t afford to lose. “Down in Seattle,” he said. His eyes held mine, and for an instant I thought he might say more. Something was there in the softness of his gaze, but that brief moment of connection passed and he glossed over a complicated relationship with that single sentence. I told myself he couldn’t do anything else. Even if it might have felt good to hear he forgave me, now wasn’t the time. Maybe we could see each other again soon. Alone. And I could find a way to make amends. “Come on in,” I said, standing aside to let the two of them through the door. I shut it behind them, taking a deep breath before I turned around to face them. Chance began to pace, his nervous energy filling the room. From the way he averted his gaze from the two of us, I could tell his mind was now focused solely on whatever brought him to my door. I respected that about him. His attention would be directed at you for a moment—intense, all consuming—then he’d turn outward again, as his work took precedence. Chance was taller than Kate by at least six inches. I could look him in the eye if I were wearing tall shoes, so he stood just over six feet. His hair was brown, but if we were outside, sunlight would glint off red highlights. His eyes were the color of dark chocolate—that satiny look it took on when you melted it on the stove to make some delicious, fattening dessert you knew you shouldn’t eat but couldn’t help yourself from making. “What can I do for you?” I asked, curious about why a Seattle detective—and my old flame—had appeared on my doorstep up here in Bellingham. “We’ve got some questions about Deirdre Fox,” Kate said. That certainly threw me for a loop. I don’t know what I thought they might question me about, but Deirdre Fox wasn’t even in the top ten. Copyright 2016 Elena Hartwell, Camel Press |
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