Interview with Cynthia Harrison - 12 Days of SinC Christmas

Who is Cynthia Harrison?

Cynthia Harrison has been publishing her work since she was the star reporter for the Cardinal newspaper at West Jr. High in Taylor, Michigan. She has a twin love of reading and writing, which highlights the various genres her novels represent: romance, mystery, and now a step into her comfort genre: historical romance, which allows the 60-something author short escapes from our ever-changing tech heavy world.

"I have a couple of degrees in English Literature, but read sweet Regencies in my younger years, kept reading them as a treat every Christmas and then I went back to them full-on for the two long years of COVID. This saved my sanity." 

After retiring from a twenty year teaching career, she has relocated with her husband of almost forty years to the Florida Gulf Coast. 

Releasing December 18th: Christmas Courtship

Helena Beaumont’s debut into Regency society has not gone as planned. She wants to marry and rescue her mother from a madhouse for genteel ladies, but her bookish nature saw the ton label her a shy bluestocking. Her father insists she marry well or join her mother in banishment. Her second chance comes at a Christmas house party where she is reunited with Julian, Earl of Harrington after once waltzing with him in London.

Julian also has parents who pressure him to marry for the sake of his estate. As he trades quips with Helena, they form a friendship and agree to a marriage of convenience.

Then Helena's newly returned mother harshly rejects the couple's plans to marry. And Helena learns she needs Julian more than ever.

HOW TO WIN A BOOK

Say "hi" in the comments. That’s it. Introduce yourself here on my friend page and you win the book of your choice. You will need to send me the title you select, your home address for a print copy and your email address for an e-book. The format of the book is your choice from the books below. One book per person. USA addresses only. I will send notification to the winners next Thursday.

Funny story…my new book, releasing December 18, is not a mystery. And it’s only available as an e-book. While I ease into historical romance, I will offer my mystery novel, Blue Lake Christmas Mystery. It concerns a college grad moving north to bring a small town newspaper online. She really wants to be a true crime writer, but she loves the idea of a paycheck so she becomes a journalist. Then someone gets murdered at a holiday party and she becomes an investigative journalist by default. There’s a romance, too.

I also offer the first two of my Florida mystery series, Jane in St. Pete and Body on the Bayou. Jane is a recent widow who decides to retire from her art lecture career and move to Florida. A handsome police detective enlists her aid in the murder of an outsider artist in her neighborhood. Body on the Bayou continues Jane’s art expert partnership with the St. Pete police detective when the lady who owns expensive art and lives the penthouse is killed. Jane stumbles upon her body laid out on the Bayou that winds through the condo property where Jane lives. Yes, these books also have a splash of romance. I’m still at work on the third book in this series, having been side-tracked by historical romance.

The Interview: 

Where do you get your ideas? 

Never the same place twice. I lot of things I write about are relationships. Romantic and otherwise. I’m interested in people and their problems. My senses are always putting out feelers for a good problem that I can make much much worse. I was told by so many people not to write a COVID book because everyone is sick of that reality. I did write COVID in to the book I was working on, but in revision I was able to cut all of it. The book is better because of that. 

What are you working on now? 

Well, it’s funny. In the last interview, I had just written Jane in St Pete and was looking forward to it being published. I’ve written three books since then. Well, two and a half. I am working on the third “Jane” book. I hope it comes out next year. 

I also noticed that at the time I was “reading” a lot of Regencies. Well, I wrote one! It’s due to release December 18. It’s a Christmas novella (about 40 thousand words) so it will be e-book only. It’s up on Amazon and all the internet places for pre-sale and best part, it’s only $2.99.

How did that happen?

It’s one of those synchronic things. The universe stepped in and pointed me in a new direction. In other words, my publisher put out a call for Regency stories which they’d bring out under the name “Christmas in the Castle.” So I contacted my editor and she said I am one of a very few contemporary writers she edits. She usually edits historicals and she encouraged me to write the Regency. The process was so joyful. My editor wondered if I’d write another. Yes, yes I will! But I had to finish my Jane in St Pete trilogy. Because I love Jane and I want her to have her happy ending. 

Is writing always such a messy process?

Yes. Yes it is. But I love it anyway. Because life is messy too!

To learn more about Cynthia, visit: https://atbwriters.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-prolific-cynthia-harrison.html

Socials:

Website:   https://cynthiaharrison.com/

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

Virtual Launch Party with Lisa Malice - 12 Days of SinC Christmas

On the 10th Day of Christmas, my Sisters in Crime are helping me celebrate the release of the PAPERBACK edition of LEST SHE FORGET, my bestselling, award-winning debut novel!

You can share in the joy of this VIRTUAL LAUNCH PARTY and win 1 of 10 FREE copies of my book (your CHOICE of hard copy, paperback, audiobook, or eBook).

How? There are 3 ways to earn up to 5 CONTEST ENTRIES: 

• Go to my website (www.LisaMalice.com), click on BOOK REVIEWS, then COPY & PASTE a review that speaks to you to the COMMENTS section of this post. (1 Contest Entry)
• Add YOUR OWN REVIEW to the COMMENTS section of this post -- just a word or two is fine (this assumes that you’ve already read LEST SHE FORGET).    (1 Contest Entry)        
• SHARE THIS POST with your friends with a few words encouraging them to read the comments and consider buying their LEST SHE FORGET for the readers on their holiday gift list. (THIS OPTION is worth 3 CONTEST ENTRIES!)

Easy! And a great way to win a special gift for someone this holiday season, including yourself!

CONTEST ENDS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15

Winners contacted Monday, December 16

Interview with Gwen Mayo - 12 Days of SinC Christmas

 

Who is Gwen Mayo?

Gwen Mayo is a history junkie who grew up in the hills of Eastern Kentucky.  Her home state’s colorful past forms the backdrop for her Nessa Donnelly mysteries, Circle of Dishonor and Concealed in Ash. The series is set during the turbulent political upheaval of post-Civil War Kentucky at a time when Kentuckians were often confronted with murder.

She teamed up with humorist Sarah E. Glenn to write the Three Snowbirds travel mysteries set in the 1920s. Murder on the Mullet Express, Murder at the Million Dollar Pier, and Ybor City Blues are available wherever books are sold. The fourth Three Snowbirds mystery, Mustering Out, is coming soon.

Gwen is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, an active member of the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and a member of the Derby Rotten Scoundrels Chapter of Sisters in Crime and the Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime. Her short stories have appeared in anthologies, in webzines, and in micro-fiction collections.  

The Giveaway:

On December 5th and 6th, the Kindle version of Murder on the Mullet Express will be free. 

We also have a brand new audiobook for this novel! Sarah Glenn is giving away a copy of the audiobook on December 6th. Visit her blog tomorrow to learn how to enter the drawing for a free download of the audiobook version of Murder on the Mullet Express.

The Interview:

1. What genre do you write in, and what drew you to that genre? Do you aspire to write in another genre? If so, which one(s)?

I write historical mysteries because I love the genre and the history. Classic whodunits are puzzles with key pieces hidden in plain sight. Using my brain to become a detective, follow clues, avoid misdirection, and find the truth is a wonderful experience. Exploring another time and place makes historical mystery the ultimate escape.

2. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

My current Three Snowbirds mystery, Ybor City Blues, is the third book in the series, which I co-write with Sarah E. Glenn. I wrote two historical thrillers in the Nessa Donnelly series, set in Kentucky during the 1870s. I have also written dozens of short stories, some in conjunction with Sarah, including one in the anthology, Paradise is Deadly – Gripping Tales from Florida’s Gulf Coast. 

It's hard to choose a favorite book. They are all pieces of me. I suppose it would have to be my first book, Circle of Dishonor. 

I had written a few short stories with my cross-dressing detective, Nessa Donnelly. 

The idea of writing a full-length novel was daunting. It took a little pressure and a lot of encouragement from my Sisters in Crime chapter in Kentucky to get me to attempt a book. 

It took lots of pressure and much laughter to get me to let my boss become the doctor in my book. The character of Dr. Haydon is not only named for him but was completely rewritten with him in mind. 

He died of cancer shortly after the book was released. I will never forget the look on his face when he held the first copy up and told everyone in the room that he was going to live forever.

3. What's your approach to writing? Are you a plotter, or do you let your story unfold and the characters present themselves (Pantser)?

I am a plotter. I start with a brief outline of what I intend to write. The outline does get shifted some as the story progresses. Characters get their own ideas of what they should do, but the bare bones of the story remain. I also write from beginning to end, which is really hard when you team up with a writing partner who is a pantser, who starts writing with whatever scene she likes and fixes everything when the story is off track. It has made for some interesting conversations.

4. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

Healing. It would be amazing to have the power to stop pain, ease suffering, and mend the damage life throws at us.  

5. Since it’s the holidays, what’s your favorite holiday food?

Just one? That is so unfair. The holidays are all about getting together for fun and fabulous food. Turkey is the star at Thanksgiving; not just the bird and turkey gravy, but my father’s turkey dumplings and Sarah’s grandmother’s stuffing rely on rich turkey broth. My younger sister’s broccoli casserole and her pumpkin rolls are also big favorites. 

As for Christmas, I have a dozen amazing cookie recipes, one for chocolate pecan pie and the best old-fashioned peanut butter fudge recipe around. Over twenty years ago, I started a new family tradition by roasting a full prime rib for the Christmas dinner and serving it with a side of orzo thick with fresh spinach and toasted pine nuts. The other sides vary depending on who’s coming and what their favorite foods are, but the mingled aroma of Christmas in our kitchen makes every mouth water.

There is no way that I can pick just one favorite holiday food. Can you?

6. Tell us about your current work in progress.

I am working on book 4 in the Three Snowbirds series, Mustering Out. Cornelia is ready to retire, but a series of unexplainable deaths among the lung patients brings out the detective in her. The provost officers in charge of the case look no further than Cornelia’s hand-picked successor but Cornelia knows Ruth would never harm a patient. Her efforts to find the real killer threaten to turn her retirement party into a wake as Cornelia, Teddy, and Uncle Percival race against time to discover the angle of death roaming the halls of Fitzsimmons General Hospital. 

Lightning Round – Just for fun:

1. Holiday pies --- apple or pumpkin: Apple, if those are the choices. I prefer Pecan.

2. Morning person or night owl:         Night Owl

3. Beach or Mountains: Beach in spring, mountains in the fall

4. City or Country: Country

5. Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream: Vanilla

6. Favorite Movie: The Princess Bride

7. Last book Read: Hop Scot by Catriona McPherson

8. Print, audio, or ebook: Print, I’m old school (maybe just old)

Other books by Gwen Mayo:

Murder at the Million Dollar Pier - co-written with Sarah E. Glenn.

Ybor City Blues -  co-written with Sarah E. Glenn.

Circle of Dishonor - a Nessa Donnelly story.

Concealed in Ash - a Nessa Donnelly story.

Short Stories:

"Bolita and Blues" - Paradise is Deadly: Gripping Tales from Florida’s Gulf Coast -  co-written with Sarah E. Glenn

"Special Label" - Mystery with a Splash of Bourbon

"Two Old Crows" - co-written with Sarah E. Glenn for Mystery with a Splash of Bourbon

"The Odds Are Always Uneven" -  co-written with Sarah E. Glenn for Hoosier Hoops and Hijinks

Learn more about Gwen Mayo at:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p/Gwen-Mayo-Author-100063602106093/

Author page - https://gwenmayo.weebly.com/

Interview with Harold Emanuel – 12 Days of Sisters in Crime Christmas

Who is Harold Emanuel?

Harold teaches Information Technology at Hillsborough Community College in Ruskin, Florida.  He lives with his wife, Katherine, in Sun City Center, Florida. He is also an author who writes in two genres: cozy murder mysteries and historical fiction. His Lionel Trevor/Tech Squad series follows Professor Lionel Trevor and six students in a community college forensic technology workshop as they solve murders using forensic technology.

His latest novel, Aliyah – A Jewish Family Saga, follows sixteen-year-old Lazar Hermanski and fourteen- year-old Daria Solov, who survive the 1881 Warsaw pogrom, endure a perilous journey in steerage, and arrive, penniless, in New York. Lazar and Daria marry, start a family, and create a new life for themselves, balancing the needs of their new country’s culture with their desire to maintain the Jewish traditions they love. Throughout the story, family members participate in historical events, such as the 1899 Newsboys’ strike, the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, and the sinking of the Lusitania, and interact with historical figures such as Fiorello LaGuardia, Fanny Brice, and Al Smith.

The Giveaway:

You can go to Amazon.com on December 5 and 6 to download a free copy of Harold Emanuel's collection of murder mystery stories, Murder in the Sunset Years, on Kindle.

The Interview:

What inspired you to switch genres?

Aliyah – A Jewish Family Saga was inspired by stories I heard growing up about my own family’s immigrant experience on the Lower East Side in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. I read many novels about immigrants on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. They all began and ended in the same locale, and in the late 19th Century.  I wanted a story that shows a family prospering and moving from the Lower East Side to Upper Manhattan and the outer boroughs, like my family did. 

Where do you get your inspiration for your stories?

I get my inspiration from history. I place my characters, members of the Hermanski family, at the center of historical events and I have them interact with historical characters. For example, Lazar and Fiorello LaGuardia work on Ellis Island as translators. Lazar’s daughter works at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on the day of the fire.

Can you give us some insight into what makes your main characters tick?

Family cohesion. The Hermanski family faces many obstacles adjusting to a new country and culture and learning a new language. They face these hurdles as a family, supporting each other against the outside forces tugging at them. 

Tell us about your current work in progress.

I am working on a sequel to Aliyah – A Jewish Family Saga, tentatively titled The Saga Continues. It follows Lazar and Daria, their son, Marvin, daughter, Nellie, and Marvin’s children, twins Peter and Ariel, through the Roaring '20s, the 1930s Depression, and World War Two.

What book are you currently reading?

Broadcast Hysteria by A. Brad Schwartz. It chronicles the evening of October 30, 1938. On that date, Orson Welles’ broadcast of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds on CBS radio’s Mercury Theatre convinced thousands of people we were being invaded by Martians. I plan to have the characters in The Saga Continues in the middle of the hysteria which occurred during and following the broadcast. 

Lightning round questions - Just for fun

Print book, eBook, or audiobook - Print Book

Favorite Movie – Funny Girl

Last Book Read – The Bonus Army by Paul Dickson and Thomas B. Allen

Tea or Coffee – Coffee

Beach or Mountains – Beach

Morning person or night person – Morning person

Sweet or Salty snacks – Sweet 

Find Harold Emanuel online:

Website: Haroldemanuel.com

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

Interview with Cheryl Hollon - 12 Days of SinC Christmas

Who is Cheryl Hollon?

Cheryl Hollon writes full-time after leaving an engineering career designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. She combines a love of writing with a passion for oil painting and creating glass art in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

Cheryl is a Past President of the Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime, a member of Florida Mystery Writers of America, a member of International Thriller Writers, and co-chair of SleuthFest 2024. She regularly attends SleuthFest in Florida, Malice Domestic in DC, and ThrillerFest in NYC. You will also find her at Left Coast Crime and Bouchercon, wherever they are being held.

The Giveaway:

In eastern Kentucky, Miranda Trent runs a unique tour company called Paint & Shine, but sometimes the peaceful mountains play host to murder.

To celebrate, I’m giving away my latest paperback, "Death a Sketch," a Paint and Shine Mystery. 

For a chance to win (US Addresses only) sign up for my newsletter at my website during this promotion. www.cherylhollon.com 

I'll select a winner on December 13th and email you to ask for your postal address. Have a wonderful holiday season!

The Interview:

What genre do you write and what drew you to that genre? I write in the Cozy Mystery genre because I wanted both my mother and granddaughter to be able to enjoy my books.

Do you aspire to write in another genre? If so, which ones? I’m polishing a new manuscript in the Historical Mystery genre based on my early engineering career.

What time of the day do you write and where is your favorite place to write? I am an early morning writer and am usually at my laptop by 7:30 in the morning. I have a small desk in our second bedroom with a view.

How many books have you written? I have nine books that have been traditionally published and two more that are out on submission.

What comes first—story or character? For me, the protagonist always comes first, and then I put her in difficult situations.

What famous author do you wish would be your mentor? Louise Penny has had an exciting career and seems such a gentle caring person.

What are your favorite holiday foods? Roast Turkey, Dressing, Buttery Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce (freshly made not from the can) and pecan pie with vanilla ice cream

Lightning Round - Just for fun:

Tea or Coffee: Coffee

Morning person or Night owl: Morning lark with occasional insomnia.

Beach or Mountains: Mountains

City or Country: I love both since I am from Eastern Kentucky but love my apartment in downtown Saint Petersburg, Florida

Ice Cream: Ben and Jerry’s Vanilla!

Cake or Pie: Pecan Pie

Last Book Read: The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

Cheryl Hollon's Books:

Webb's Glass Shop mysteries - 6 books

Paint and Shine mysteries - 3 books

Social Media:

Website * BookBub * Facebook * X/Twitter * Instagram * Bluesky

Interview with Teresa Michael - 12 Days of SinC Christmas

 

Who is Teresa Michael?

Teresa Michael, an award-winning author for her Mariposa Café Mystery Series, with Murder in Mariposa Beach earning the Firebird Book Award. A lover of reading, writing, and travel, Teresa has explored 49 states and managed the US Archery Team in two Olympic Games. She's a past president of the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime and a member of Mystery Writers of America. Teresa lives in Sarasota, FL, with her husband. Murder with a Terrace View – A Harrington House Mystery, the first book in her new series, was recently released. Someday, she’ll visit that 50^th state.  Connect with her on Facebook at TeresaMichael- Author or visit her website at https://teresamichaelwrites.pubsitepro.com.

What's her newest book?

MURDER WITH A TERRACE VIEW

In Murder with a Terrace View, Molly Harrington's peaceful life running a B&B is shattered when a local author is found dead. As she delves into the mystery, she uncovers a web of secrets tied to her family's past. With a spectral ally and a budding romance with the detective, Molly navigates a world of intrigue and danger. This gripping tale blends mystery, romance, and the paranormal, promising a cozy whodunit that keeps you guessing till the end.

·       Amazon Amazon.com : Murder with a Terrace View

·       Barnes and Noble - Murder with a Terrace View: A Harrington House Mystery by Teresa Michael, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

 

I heard there was going to be a giveaway.

-- You're right!

Free book:  Mistletoe and Missing Persons is free on Amazon Kindle on December 1^st & 2^nd

Free Short Stories:  Sign up for my newsletter and get the first two short stories in the Mariposa Café and Bakery Origin Stories collection. Sign up here. Contact Us - Teresa Michael.

And now ... the interview!

1. What genre do you write in, and what drew you to that genre? Do you aspire to write in another genre? If so, which one(s)?

I write in the mystery genre because I like to read mysteries, suspense, and thrillers. My favorite TV shows and movies are nearly always mysteries or suspense with some romance thrown in. I love the puzzle, figuring out who did it and why. I want to try writing a thriller, maybe a heart-throbbing romance, or maybe combine the two. 

2. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

My current release, Murder with a Terrace View, is the first book in the Harrington House Mysteries. I’ve written four books in the Mariposa Café Mystery series. I have a small volume of short stories that are a prequel to that series. These stories were originally my senior thesis, which required me to write three interconnected short stories. During the pandemic, I pulled them out, updated them, and published them as the Mariposa Café and Bakery Origin Stories. They are great giveaways at events. In addition, I wrote a novelette titled Indian Rock, set in Eastern Kentucky, where I spent summers with my grandmother and aunt. I also have a story in the anthology, Paradise is Deadly – Gripping Tales from Florida’s Gulf Coast. 

It's hard to choose a favorite book because each one has a special significance in its own way. For example, Murder in Mariposa Beach is special because it was the first novel-length book I wrote and published. Indian Rock is special because it is the one most closely based on truth—except for the dead body. I did not find a dead body when I was 12 years old. 

3. What's your approach to writing? Are you a plotter or do you let your story unfold and the characters present themselves (Pantser)?

I’m sort of a hybrid.  I’ve tried outlining, but it doesn’t really work for me.  I’m a pantser in that I let the characters take me where they want to go, but I go into the project after thinking about the characters and the situation, researching, and writing down scene notes. In writing mysteries, I need to keep track of timelines, clues, red herrings, and where I’ve left those little breadcrumbs that lead up to the resolution. I can’t keep them all in my head. There’s too much rattling around up there already.  In 2020, I wrote a blog post about plotters and pantsers. You can read it here: Are you a plotter, pantser, or something else - Teresa Michael

4. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

Invisibility. I could be the proverbial fly on the wall if I were invisible. I get some of the best ideas and one-liners from overheard conversations. Can you imagine what you could learn if you were invisible? Think about it.

5. Since it’s the holidays, what’s your favorite holiday food?

The holidays are all about food! For Thanksgiving, it’s the turkey. We’ve gone to my son’s house the last few years, where he and his brother-in-law have a turkey cook-off. One turkey is traditionally roasted in the oven, and the second is cooked another way, for example, on the grill. Then we have a taste test!

Our most recent tradition for Christmas has been my husband’s prime rib and Yorkshire pudding. 

6. Tell us about your current work in progress.

I am working on book 2 in the Harrington House Mystery series. I am about three-quarters of the way through and coming down to the big reveal.  In this one, Molly and her friend, Rick Owens, the death investigator, find a dead wedding planner while at a country club event. The working title is Murder in the Rose Garden, but I’m not sure if that will remain the title. I’m taking title ideas if you have one. If I choose your idea, you’ll get a prize.

Lightning Round – Just for fun

1. Holiday pies --- apple or pumpkin: Pumpkin

2. Morning person or night owl: Night Owl

3. Beach or Mountains: Beach but I like the mountains too

4. City or Country: Suburbs – close to the city but not too far out

5. Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream: Vanilla with chocolate syrup

6. Favorite Movie: Casablanca

7. Last book Read: The Waiting by Michael Connelly

8. Print, audio, or ebook: All three – I usually have 1 of each going all the time

Other Books by Teresa Michael

The Mariposa Café Mystery Series

·      Murder in Mariposa Beach  https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Mariposa-Beach-Cafe-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07KPKYVTG

·      Mistletoe and Missing Persons https://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Missing-Persons-Mariposa-Holiday-ebook/dp/B081Y2FHYN

·      Deception in Mariposa Beach  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HNJW3YH

·      Redemption in Mariposa Beach https://www.amazon.com/Redemption-Mariposa-Beach-Cafe-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0B35DNX3L/

·      Mariposa Café and Bakery Origin Stories https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RC55PQW/

Other Works:

·      Indian Rock   https://www.amazon.com/Indian-Rock-Teresa-Michael-ebook/dp/B07T3FHLRY

·      Paradise is Deadly – Gripping Tales from Florida’s Gulf Coast – an anthology from the Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime - Paradise is Deadly Gripping Tales from Florida's Gulf Coast: Dingwall, Wendy, Reed, Martha, Ryan, Barbara: 9781949281248: Amazon.com: Books

Want to follow Teresa?

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresamichael1/

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18633273.Teresa_Michael

Or, you can follow #patioreading on Instagram and Facebook to see what and who she's reading.

Starting December 1st - FLGC Sisters in Crime Holiday Promotion Begins!

 

Over the first 12 days of December, one member of the Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime will be featured on my blog each day, as well as on the chapter's Facebook page. Come back here each day to see who's featured!

Guest Post: Erica Miner, Redone, Re-Published, and Rebooted

What is it like to have a series redone, re-published, and rebooted? This was a whole new experience for mystery writer Erica Miner, and the journey was an unexpected one.

 

I have often thought that having a book released is akin to giving birth. As writers, we first conceive of the idea. Then comes the gestation period, where the concept grows, changes, becomes an ever-better version of itself. Rewrites follow rewrites, edits upon edits. After a very long, difficult labor, your baby novel is born. Whew, what a process!

 

For those of us who were unfortunate enough to go through that experience in the middle of the pandemic, the journey became even more challenging. For me, it took an unexpected turn.

 

My original concept was to write a murder mystery that took place at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where I had been a violinist for 21 years. I found a traditional publisher and drew upon my experiences at the Met, adding large doses of my wicked imagination, and Murder in the Pit was born. Readers requested a sequel, and I delivered one that took place at Santa Fe Opera. My “Opera Mystery” series was created. San Francisco Opera asked me to write another that took place at that venerable institution, and another sequel was published.

 

Then, the pandemic happened.

 

The San Francisco novel languished in e-book only, with no print version. I was at a loss. My Puget Sound Sisters in Crime colleagues sent me to the wonderful local organization, Washington Lawyers for the Arts, who advised me to get back my rights and find another publisher.

 

I lucked out. Level Best Books offered me a contract to re-publish all three books, with different titles and covers. I then went to work adding changes: new plot points, updates and more. Et voilà: the first book in the series is now about to be reborn as Aria for Murder, releasing Oct. 28. New sequels will be published in 2023 and 2024. That’s what I call great family planning!

Violinist turned author ERICA MINER now has a multi-faceted career as an award-winning author, screenwriter, journalist and lecturer.

Erica’s lectures, seminars and workshops have received kudos throughout California and the Pacific Northwest, and she has won top ratings as a special lecturer for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. An active contributor to OperaPulse.com and LAOpus.com, she also contributed a monthly Power of Journaling article series for the National Association of Baby Boomer Women newsletter. Other writings have appeared in Vision Magazine, WORD San Diego, Istanbul Our City, and numerous E-zines. Erica’s lecture topics include “The Art of Self- Re-invention,” “Journaling: The Write Way to Write Fiction,” “Solving the Mystery of Mystery Writing,” and “Opera Meets Hollywood.” Details about Erica’s novels, screenplays and lectures can be found on her website.

Sign up for Erica's newsletter at https://ericaminer.com/email_signup.php 

 

ARIA FOR MURDER

 

 

Prologue

 

Chi eÌ morto, voi, o il vecchio?

Che domanda da bestia! Il vecchio.

Who’s dead, you or the old man?

What an idiotic question! The old man.

—Mozart, Don Giovanni, Act I

 

 

Collateral damage. Sometimes it just can’t be avoided.

 

That was what his partner had told him. When you’re trying to kill someone, other people can get in the way. It’s not planned. It just happens. Though the Metropolitan Opera’s orchestra pit was the largest in the world, when the orchestration of an opera was vast, as in Wagner or Strauss, things could get quite crowded for the one hundred or so musicians squeezed together there. Tonight’s Verdi was no exception. Grand opera at its loftiest, with plenty of brass, extra strings, and the like. He would do his best to hit his target precisely. But it wasn’t an exact science. And if, under pressure, he was slightly off, well...

 

Tanto peggio, as they say in French.

 

He chortled to himself. Everyone in the Met knew “tanto peggio” was Italian, not French.

 

He salivated with anticipation as he lovingly cleaned his VAL Russian sniper rifle with its special bronze-bristled brush, and oiled and lubricated the ammunition chamber with the fine-spray One Shot gun cleaner and a cotton swab. He picked up the last tiny fragments of powder residue with an alcohol patch threaded through a needle attached to the brush. Then he polished the entire instrument with one of his special-order McAlister microfiber gun cleaning cloths.

 

If you look after your firearm, when the time comes, it will look after you.

 

And what better time for an assassination than opening night at the Met?

 

Copyright © 2022, Erica Miner

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: ‎Level Best Books (October 28, 2022)

Language: ‎ English

Paperback: ‎ 254 pages

ISBN-10: ‎ 1685121985

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1685121983

Item Weight: ‎ 13.4 ounces

Dimensions: ‎ 6 x 0.58 x 9 inches

Pre-orders at: https://www.amazon.com/Aria-Murder-Julia-Kogan-Mystery/dp/1685121985/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= 

Interview: Carol Preflatish, Author of Witch Hunt

Welcome to a thrilling blog tour perfect for the Fall season and those who love mysteries!  Enjoy all of the stops on the Nathan Perry Mysteries Blog Tour featuring Witch Hunt, by Carol Preflatish! This blog tour will be taking place from Monday, October 3rd, to Sunday, October 9th!

The Witch Hunt Blog Tour includes reviews, guest posts, and interviews, so don’t miss any of the activities taking place on the participating blog sites!

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When did you know you wanted to be an author?

Even in elementary school, I loved writing stories. In both high school and college, I took every writing class I could. After I got married, got a full-time job, and then started a family, I sort of forgot about writing for a while.  In 1999, my goal for the Millennium was to see if I could write a book. I succeeded and was hooked again, but it took me two more books, and not until 2010 before I became published.

Which part of the research did you enjoy the most?

I love everything about research, probably a little too much. Most of my research is done online and once I start, if I’m not careful, I find I’ve spent too much time on it. I write a police procedural mystery series, so my other source for researching technical things is YouTube. Again, if I’m not careful, I find I’ve gone down that rabbit hole. I also have a pretty good library of books about writing mysteries, police procedures, different weapons, and forensics. I also rely on a couple online writing groups that have both mystery writers and police officers as members that will answer questions.

What inspired you to create Nathan Perry?

When I was in college, I actually was interested in becoming a police officer. Subsequently, I got hooked on the late Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone books. I loved the city cop coming to the small town to be the police chief. The location in Massachusetts was beautiful choice, and the characters were so likeable. It actually caused me to stop writing romantic suspense to start writing my mystery series. My main character, Nathan Perry has left the Army and comes back to his hometown to become the first police detective in the department. I am using the fictional town of Mystic, Massachusetts, which is modeled after Salem, Massachusetts.

What would you define as literary success?

I think different authors would define it differently. Some would say it’s getting an agent and then being published by one of the Big Five publishers in New York City. I’m happy being signed with a small press. Counting my romantic suspense and non-fiction, I’ve written and published twelve books. I count that as a success.

So, you're an author. Which authors do you enjoy reading?

As I mentioned, I love the Robert B. Parker books. I also really like both of the Private and Instinct series by James Patterson, and I don’t think I’ve ever read a Lisa Gardner thriller that I didn’t love. 

Thank you for stopping by!

About the author: Carol Preflatish, from southern Indiana, is the author of the Nathan Perry Mystery Series, as well as several romantic suspense novels, and two non-fiction books. When she’s not writing, she loves to read, watch Indianapolis Colts football, and do just about anything outdoors.

An avid photographer, Carol has had many photos published in her local newspaper, as well as in “Golf Journal,” the official publication of the United States Golf Association. A few little-known facts about Carol are that she’s a licensed amateur radio operator, and is a collector of celebrity autographs, stamps, and coins.

You can learn more about Carol by visiting her web page at http://CarolPre.com

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Book Synopsis for Witch Hunt: Is it 1692 all over again?

When a millionaire’s daughter is found hanging from a tree in the Mystic, Massachusetts cemetery, witchcraft is suspected. Police detective Nathan Perry is assigned the case and works closely with an attractive female private investigator hired by the father to find who murdered his daughter.

Mystic is known for its history of witchcraft in the area. It’s what brings tourists to town, and when another murder occurs, there is rising pressure on Nathan to solve the case quickly.

Nathan’s investigation pulls him into an unfamiliar world rife with covens, magic, and lore to find the killer.  A small town gripped in fear is depending on him to prevail.  

Witch Hunt is a stand-alone novel that is part of the Nathan Perry Mystery Series.

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Author Links:

Website: http://CarolPre.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarolPreflatish

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

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Tour Schedule and Activities

10/3    The Scribblings of Sarah E. Glenn     https://saraheglenn.blogspot.com/ Author Interview

10/4    The Seventh Star Blog           https://www.theseventhstarblog.com/Guest Post

10/5    Jazzy Book Reviews    https://www.jazzybookreviews.com/ Author Interview

10/6    BookBekAdventures  https://www.bookbekadventures.Wordpress.com Review

10/7    Sapphyria's Books     https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/ Review

10/8    The Book Lover's Boudoir     https://thebookloversboudoir.wordpress.com Review

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Purchase links for Witch Hunt:

eBook Links

Kindle Version: https://www.amazon.com/Witch-Hunt-Nathan-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09SXB8K7M/

Nook Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/witch-hunt-carol-preflatish/1141024472?ean=2940160885889

Print Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Witch-Hunt-Carol-Preflatish/dp/1736812564/

Barnes and Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/witch-hunt-carol-preflatish/1141018691?ean=9781736812563

Interview: Leslie Wheeler, author of Wolf Bog

An award-winning author of books about American history and biographies, Leslie Wheeler has written two mystery series. Her Berkshire Hilltown Mysteries launched with Rattlesnake Hill and continue with Shuntoll Road and Wolf Bog. Her Miranda Lewis Living History Mysteries debuted with Murder at Plimoth Plantation and continue with Murder at Gettysburg and Murder at Spouters Point. Her mystery short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies. Leslie is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, and a founding member of the New England Crime Bake Committee. She divides her time between Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Berkshires, where she writes in a house overlooking a pond.

 

When did you know you wanted to be an author? 

I knew I wanted to be an author when I was in elementary school after a brief flirtation with the idea of becoming a ballerina. I gave up that idea because I wasn’t coordinated enough. Writing, on the other hand, was something that I enjoyed and that I was good at. I loved telling stories and listening to others tell them. I either wrote the stories down or sang them while swinging on a swing—a favorite outdoor activity—or riding in the car. I sang made-up songs to keep my spirits up when my mother drove me to appointments with an orthodontist, who was not a nice person. 

Which part of the research did you enjoy the most? 

The part of the research I enjoyed the most was visiting a site that figures in the novel. As the title, Wolf Bog, suggests, important action takes place at a bog. Although there’s a large area of wetlands with lakes and a swamp in my Berkshire town of New Marlborough, Massachusetts upon which my fictional town is based, there are no bogs. Fortunately, I found one, the Hawley Bog, which is located just across the border in Franklin County. Hawley bog consists of a large expanse of floating plant matter, mostly sphagnum moss, that’s apparently 30-feet deep. It’s called a quaking bog, because it actually moves, though thankfully I felt no earthquake-strength tremors as I strolled along the boardwalk that extends into it. Interspersed with the plant matter, I saw patches of black water—black because that’s the color of bog soil, or peat. Carnivorous plants like the dark purple pitcher plant that lures its insect prey with its brilliant color only to trap and devour it also caught my attention. These plants rely on insects for nourishment that the highly acidic peat doesn’t provide. All in all, it was fascinating to view such a distinctive landscape. 

What inspired you to create your “hero”?

I had to create a new hero for what became my Berkshire Hilltown Mystery series when the hero of my previous series turned down the job. This happened in a scene where she was supposed to kiss a certain man, and flat-out refused. When I got over my shock—after all, I was supposed to be in charge here—I realized it was her way of telling me she didn’t belong in the book, and I needed to create another character for my hero. Thus, was born Kathryn Stinson, a woman in her early thirties with a somewhat troubled past, who works as a curator of prints and photographs at a small private library in Boston, a position a neighbor of mine held. In the first book in the series, Rattlesnake Hill, she comes to the Berkshires on a deeply personal quest, involving an old family photo, only to fall for a possible murderer. And that possible murderer is the man she kisses! 

What would you define as literary success? 

I would definite literary success as gaining recognition from authors I admire, having a large following among the reading public, and of course, selling lots of books. 

So, you're an author. Which authors do you enjoy reading? 

As a mystery author, I tend to read lots of books in the genre. Favorite authors include Daphne du Maurier, Sharyn McCrumb, Ann Cleeves (especially her Shetland series), Hallie Ephron, Barbara Ross, Edwin Hill, Sarah Smith, and William Martin. Non-mystery authors I enjoy are Jane Austen, Edith Wharton (especially her two Berkshire novels, Summer and Ethan Frome) and Ann Patchett (for her essays as well as novels).

Thanks for visiting with us!

Wolf Bog

by Leslie Wheeler

July 1-31, 2022 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

It’s August in the Berkshires, and the area is suffering from a terrible drought. As wetlands dry up, the perfectly preserved body of a local man, missing for forty years, is discovered in Wolf Bog by a group of hikers that includes Kathryn Stinson. Who was he and what was his relationship with close friend Charlotte Hinckley, also on the hike, that would make Charlotte become distraught and blame herself for his death? Kathryn’s search for answers leads her to the discovery of fabulous parties held at the mansion up the hill from her rental house, where local teenagers like the deceased mingled with the offspring of the wealthy. Other questions dog the arrival of a woman claiming to be the daughter Charlotte gave up for adoption long ago. But is she really Charlotte’s daughter, and if not, what’s her game? Once again, Kathryn’s quest for the truth puts her in grave danger.

Praise for Wolf Bog:

“Wheeler’s deep sense of place—the Berkshires—illuminates a deftly woven plot and a quirky cast of characters that will keep you glued to the pages until the last stunning revelation. It’s always a pleasure to be in the hands of a pro.”

Kate Flora, Edgar and Anthony nominated author

“When a long-lost teenager turns up dead, a cold case turns into hot murder. A deliciously intriguing Berkshire mystery.”

Sarah Smith, Agatha Award-winning author
of The Vanished Child and Crimes and Survivors

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery/Amateur Sleuth/Suspense
Published by: Encircle Publishing
Publication Date: July 6, 2022
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 164599385X (ISBN-13: 978-1645993858)
Series: A Berkshire Hilltown Mystery, #3
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Read an excerpt:

Charlotte’s brow furrowed as she stared at the bog. “There’s something down there. A dead animal or…?” She raised her binoculars to get a better look.

“Where?” Wally asked. She pointed to a spot on the peat at the edge of the water. Wally had barely lifted his binoculars when Charlotte cried, “Oh, my God, it’s a body!” And took off toward it.

“No, don’t go there!” Wally grabbed at her, but she eluded him. When Charlotte was almost to the body−−if that’s what it was−−she began to sink into the bog. She waved her arms and twisted her legs, trying desperately to get out, but her struggles only made her sink deeper.

Kathryn’s heart seized. They had to rescue Charlotte, but how without getting stuck themselves? Brushing past Wally, Steve started down the slope. Wally caught him, pulled him back, and handed him over to Hal Phelps. “You stay put. Everyone else, too. I’ve had experience hiking around this bog, and I think I can get her out. Stop struggling and try to keep calm,” he called down to Charlotte. “Help is on the way.”

Wally made his way carefully to where Charlotte stood, caught in the mire. He tested each step before putting his full weight on it, backtracking when he deemed the ground too soft. When he was a few yards away, he stopped.

“This is as far as I can safely come,” he told Charlotte. He extended his hiking pole and she grabbed it. Then, on his instructions, she slowly and with great effort lifted first one leg, then the other out of the muck and onto the ground behind her. Wally guided her back to the others, following the same zigzag pattern he’d made when descending. Charlotte went with him reluctantly. She kept glancing back over her shoulder at what she’d seen at the water’s edge.

Kathryn trained her binoculars on that spot. Gradually an image came into focus. A body was embedded in the peat. The skin was a dark, reddish brown, but otherwise, it was perfectly preserved. Bile rose in her throat.

Charlotte moved close to Kathryn. “You see him, don’t you?” Her face was white, her eyes wide and staring.

“See who?” Wally demanded.

“Denny,” Charlotte said. “You must’ve seen him, too.”

“I saw something that appears to be a body, but--” Wally said.

“So there really is a dead person down there?” Betty asked.

“It looks that way,” Wally said grimly. “But let’s not panic. I’m going to try to reach Chief Lapsley, though I doubt I’ll get reception here. We’ll probably have to leave the area before I can.”

“We can’t just leave Denny here to die,” Charlotte wailed.

“Charlotte,” Wally said with a pained expression, “whoever is down there is already dead.”

She flinched, as if he’d slapped her across the face. “No! I’m telling you Denny’s alive.” She glared at him, then her defiant expression changed to one of uncertainty. “Dead or alive, I’m to blame. I’m staying here with him.”

***

Excerpt from Wolf Bog by Leslie Wheeler. Copyright 2022 by Leslie Wheeler. Reproduced with permission from Leslie Wheeler. All rights reserved.

 

 

Catch Up With Leslie:

www.LeslieWheeler.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @lesliewheeler1
Twitter - @Leslie_Wheeler
Facebook - @LeslieWheelerAuthor

 

 

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