Guest Post by Shay West

About the book:

Alexis Davenport is learning to come to grips with her ability to travel through time, but she still hasn’t been able to stop the evil Drifter and his Master from trying to alter the past.

When she travels back to ancient Egypt, Alex gets a most unexpected surprise; she meets someone who can help her figure out how to use her powers, another Traveler like herself.
But can Alex learn how to control her gift before Drifter finds a way to stop her from meddling in his Master’s plans?

Twisted Reflections is the highly anticipated book two in The Adventures of Alexis Davenport series.

Guest Post:

Time Travel

I have always been fascinated with the idea of time travel. It would be so amazing to travel back in time and observe how people really lived. It’s one thing to use archaeological evidence to hypothesize about how people lived in the past, but to actually be able to observe them going about their daily lives, or to see what their homes looked like and what they ate would be so incredible.

Ah, to see Rome and watch the gladiators perform in the Coliseum, or walk through the streets of an ancient Egyptian city, or watch as druids built Stonehenge. How many mysteries would be solved if only we could travel back in time? Kind of makes me wish the Doctor would arrive with his TARDIS and whisk me off to see something no other modern human has ever seen.

Of course, there is always the danger of screwing up the time line. It could spell disaster if an innocent act by a time traveler inadvertently altered the course of history. The repercussions could be disastrous. This is what makes me thankful that no one has managed to invent a time travel device.

In my Adventures of Alexis Davenport series, fifteen-year-old Alex has the unsavory task of protecting the time line from someone trying to alter the past. Not only that, she also has to deal with all of the other things a teenager has to deal with. This poor girl has a lot on her plate! But she’s spunky with a side of sass thrown in for good measure and can handle anything that comes her way.

About the author:

Shay West was born in Longmont, Colorado and earned a doctorate degree in Human Medical Genetics from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical. Dr. West currently lives in Grand Junction, Coloarado with her two cats. When not writing novels, she plays with plushie microbes and teaches biology classes at Colorado Mesa University. She is the author of the Portals of Destiny series and the Adventures of Alexis Davenport series. She has also been published in several anthologies: Battlespace (military sci-fi), Orange Karen: Tribute to a Warrior (fundraiser), and Ancient New (steampunk/fantasy).

You can find Dr. West and more of her work at Shay-West.com.

 
Connect with Shay:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Goodreads

Buy the book:

Amazon  | Barnes & Noble | iTunes  

Featured Author: Wendy Tyson

CLP Blog Tours brings Wendy Tyson here today to talk about the second book in her Campbell Mystery series, Deadly Assets.

About the book:

An eccentric Italian heiress from the Finger Lakes. An eighteen-year-old pop star from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Allison Campbell’s latest clients seem worlds apart in every respect, except one: Both women disappear on the same day. And Allison’s colleague Vaughn is the last to have seen each.

Allison’s search for a connection uncovers an intricate web of family secrets, corporate transgressions and an age-old rivalry that crosses continents. The closer Allison gets to the truth, the deadlier her quest becomes. All paths lead back to a sinister Finger Lakes estate and the suicide of a woman thirty years earlier. Allison soon realizes the lives of her clients and the safety of those closest to her aren’t the only things at stake.

Interview with Wendy Tyson

Wendy, what’s the story behind the title of your book? 

A great deal of thought went into choosing the title for Deadly Assets. It was originally called Murderous Looks, but after the book was finished, my editor at Henery Press and I decided we needed a new title. We wanted something that reflected the overall story, the main character’s occupation (image consultant) and that also worked with the cover image.  After brainstorming dozens of potential titles, we both felt Deadly Assets nailed it.

Do you have another job outside of writing? 

I do! I’m an ERISA attorney, which, in my case, means I work on retirement plans. Before that, I practiced corporate and securities law, and before law school I was a therapist in a residential treatment program. Working full-time while writing has its challenges, but my experiences have definitely influenced my ideas. A background in law and psychology can come in handy when you’re plotting murders!

I can see that. How do you get to know your characters? 

I live with them for a long time before I start writing. I think about them while I’m driving, cleaning, exercising and cooking. I do free-writing in spiral notebooks to flesh out their likes, dislikes, histories and motivations. I try to capture the way they look in my mind. Sometimes I’ll live with a character this way for months, or even years. Even after I’ve written a first draft, I’ll go back and free-write about a particular character, especially if I feel like he or she is flat, or if I’m having trouble identifying their motivations or subsequent actions. I think for many authors, characters become like real people. Eventually, I’ll get to a point where my characters enter my dreams — or I’ll see something and find myself thinking “Oh, Allison would like that!”

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

I enjoy writing all of them, but I really like writing Mia. Whereas most of the characters in the Campbell series have reinvented themselves to be more successful, Mia has done the opposite.  At one point, she had it all: the big house on the Philadelphia Main Line, a successful career as an image consultant, a family. After losing her adult daughter in a tragic accident, she gave it all up and moved to a house in the country—alone. When we meet her in Killer Image, she’s still battling the demons of her recent past, but by Deadly Assets, she’s re-discovering a Mia who is completely different from the woman she once was. Mia’s brave and smart and doesn’t care what people think about her or her choices. I have a blast with her.

What would your main character say about you?

Oh, wow — she’d say, “Sweetheart, you could use a few sessions with an image consultant.  Call Vaughn and make an appointment!”

You get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose? 

Helen Mirren. Probably a little below her pay grade, but I love her voice.

Why dream if you aren't going to dream big? What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)? 

Ann Rice’s Queen of the Damned. It’s a signed paperback copy. I saw Ann Rice speak recently at ThrillerFest and then had the opportunity to attend her book signing. I’ve read many of her novels already, but was inspired to re-read this one after meeting her.  She’s lovely!

What’s your favorite candy bar?

Almond Joy!  While growing up, I detested coconut, but now I love it.
 
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

The French Alps. We spent a few weeks in Chamonix, France two summers ago and we loved it. The views, the food, the ready access to Italy, Switzerland, and other parts of France, and the numerous outdoor activities ... very beautiful and peaceful. 

And finally - what are you working on now?  

Several projects! I’m currently writing the third Campbell novel, Dying Brand—look for it in May 2015. I’m also writing a second mystery series — the Delilah Percy Powers series — which features a team of four female private investigators: a displaced cowgirl, a former nun, a militant homemaker, and an ex-stripper. The first novel in that series, The Seduction of Miriam Cross (E-Lit Books), came out last fall, and I’m now writing the second book in the series, The Initiation of Carolyn Wu. And finally, I’m working on a standalone thriller set on the island of Corfu, Greece.

Excerpt from Deadly Assets

The hawk fell from the sky like a bomb, its body graceless in death.  It plummeted through a canopy of oaks, their foliage laced with the vestiges of afternoon sun, and landed just feet from Allison’s bumper in a limp, twisted heap. Heart racing, Allison slammed on the brakes.  She bolted out of the car in time to see a young woman emerge from the forest.  The woman wore a rifle slung over one shoulder, a rucksack across the other. A wild mane of black hair flew behind her like a cape.

“That one's mine,” the woman shouted. “Don't touch it!”

Allison glanced down at the dead hawk with equal parts sympathy and disgust. She certainly had no intention of touching it. 

“Bastard's murdered a dozen chickens in two weeks.  Damn thing had it coming.” The woman leaned down, grabbed the bird by the throat and shoved it into the canvas satchel. Finished, she looked up at Allison as though registering for the first time the presence of a stranger on her property. “Who are you?”

“Allison Campbell.  The image consultant.”  Allison started to hold out her hand, but with a second look at the rifle, opted instead for a friendly nod.

The woman harrumphed a hello, wiped her hands on her jeans, and gestured toward the house behind them. “I suppose you're here for Francesca.”

“Is she ready for me?”

The woman shrugged. She was in her late twenties, lean and muscular, and now that she was closer, Allison could see the face beneath the hair. Beautiful features–dark almond-shaped eyes, a regal nose, full lips, and high, defined cheekbones–clashed with an almost savage indifference. 

Allison tore her gaze from the woman with the gun and looked around at her surroundings, too startled by the bird to have taken in the Benini estate–the home of her potential client, Francesca Benini–before now.  The house lay sprawled across a hilltop, fronted by woodland that sloped down to the angry edge of Cayuga Lake. A winding driveway meandered its way up the hill, ending in a semi-circle in front of the house. The town of Ithaca was visible in the distance, an urban island in a sea of forest and farmland.

The house itself stood as testament to Benini Enterprises’ dwindling finances. A dilapidated three-winged monstrosity with a triple gabled front, a look-out tower and multiple entries, its wood trim was in desperate need of paint. Small patches of stucco had disappeared off the fascia, leaving scars like pockmarks across the broad facade. The building’s height blocked out the sun and shadows slashed across a yard that was unkempt around the edges.
               
It was a warm August day. Storm clouds bruised the distant skies, and a sticky breeze offered no relief from the heat.  Allison wiped the sweat beading along her brow.  Her attention now back on the young woman, she asked, “And you are?” 

But before the woman could respond, the front door flung open and a tall, athletic-looking man in his early forties came down the steps toward them. He was slim, with broad shoulders and narrow hips, and his movements were quick and elegant, especially for a man of his height. A day or two’s worth of stubble gave a rakish air to a strong nose, sharp cheekbones and smooth olive skin. And, most noticeable of all, were his cerulean-colored eyes, which pierced Allison's own with a knife-like gaze.

He flashed Allison an apologetic smile. “Please ignore my sister, Maria. I’m Alessandro Benini. Most people call me Alex.” He held out his hand. “You must be here for my aunt.  Let’s get you inside where it’s cool.” To Maria, he said, “Don't just stand there gawking. Do something with that bird.”

About the author:


Wendy Tyson is a corporate lawyer and former therapist whose background has inspired her mysteries and thrillers.  She’s the author of three crime novels.  Her latest, Deadly Assets, the second Allison Campbell mystery, was released on July 22. The first Campbell novel, Killer Image, was named by Examiner.com as one of the ten best mysteries for book clubs in 2014. She’s also written The Seduction of Miriam Cross. Wendy lives near Philadelphia with her husband, three sons, and two muses, dogs Molly and Driggs.


Connect with Wendy:


Website | Twitter | Facebook

Buy the Book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo  

Books by Wendy Tyson:

Killer Image (Campbell Mystery No. 1) |
Deadly Assets (Campbell Mystery No. 2)
The Seduction of Miriam Cross

Featured Author: Tammy Kaehler

Guest Post: Write What You Like

by Tammy Kaehler

We’ve all heard the old adage “write what you know,” haven’t we? Well, I think it’s hooey. That’s right, I said it. Hooey.

First of all, how does that work for mystery writers? How many people in real life actually stumble over corpses all the time? (I’m not counting those in a relevant profession.) How many caterers, coffee shop owners, veterinarians, or racecar drivers really have to solve whodunits every couple months? How many of us normal people end up in a dramatic clinch where we unmask a killer that cops and PIs can’t catch?

None of us.

I heard Jean M. Auel speak a couple years ago, and I was reassured to hear her scoff at the old saying. “Don’t write what you know,” she admonished, “write what you want to learn about.” Given the wild success of The Clan of the Cave Bear and the rest of her Earth’s Children series, I’m listening to her.

Besides, wanting to learn more about racing is part of why I created my Kate Reilly Racing Mystery Series. I’ve always liked knowing how something works, whether it’s an event, show, system, or organization. When I got an inside look at the racing world, I knew I had to share my fascination with others. So I started researching, I started asking questions of anyone who’d answer, and I went to racing school. I learned about it.

Of course, if you look deeper, maybe “write what you know” isn’t entirely hooey. Maybe there’s some truth to it.

Because here’s the catch. Sure, the main elements of my mystery series are foreign to me—I don’t typically find dead bodies, catch murderers, or race cars. (Nor am I 24.) But I am female, I do work in an environment that’s more male than female, and I’ve definitely cultivated the ability to blend in with the guys to succeed. That means I can apply my experiences and my attitudes to a young racecar driver who gets stuck in some alarming situations. There’s comfort in having something in common with my protagonist.

On the other hand, not being exactly like Kate is exciting. For me, the best part about creating fictional characters is that through them I can explore the boundaries of what challenges or frightens me. I can experience the highs and lows of winning a race or finding a friend dead—from the safety of my office chair. I like when my writing efforts push me outside of my comfort zone. On one occasion that meant I drove a racecar around a track for three days, learning what it meant to race. On another, I challenged myself to set an entire mystery novel (Avoidable Contact) in the span of 25 hours.

So I think that means we need new sayings. No more only “write what you know.” How about “write what interests you,” “write what scares you” (I wonder if this is what Stephen King does?), or “write what makes you think”? Maybe you prefer Jean Auel’s advice, “Write what you want to learn about.”

Me? I’m adopting “write what you like” and “write what challenges you” as my twin mottoes. What do you choose?

About the author:

Tammy Kaehler’s career in marketing and technical writing landed her in the world of automobile racing, which inspired her with its blend of drama, competition, and friendly people. Mystery fans and racing insiders alike praised the first two Kate Reilly Racing Mysteries, Dead Man’s Switch and Braking Points, and she takes readers back behind the wheel for the third time in Avoidable Contact. Tammy works as a technical writer in the Los Angeles area, where she lives with her husband and many cars. Find out more at www.tammykaehler.com.

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Check out Tammy's latest book:

Racecar driver Kate Reilly is suited up and ready for the start of the legendary 24 Hours of Daytona. But what’s ahead will test her will and nerve more than any other endurance race.

Even before the green flag waves over Daytona International Speedway, Kate receives word her boyfriend Stuart is fighting for his life after a hit-and-run earlier in the day. Still reeling from that news, Kate must absorb other shocks in the race’s opening hours, including an on-track accident with tragic consequences and an eyewitness who claims Stuart was run down deliberately by someone from the race paddock.

Alternating stints behind the wheel of her Corvette race car with stretches of quizzing colleagues and searching for clues, Kate taps every possible source—friend, foe, and family—to find out who’s after Stuart and why. As the race clock counts down to zero hour, Kate must come to terms with her own fears about the past and decide who she’s willing to trust. Only then can she identify who’s willing to kill to keep a secret buried—and stop them before they lash out again.

Featured Author: Christa Nardi

About the book: 

Sheridan Hendley is a professor and psychologist, not a sleuth. When her colleague at Cold Creek College, Adam Millberg, is murdered, she is charged with helping the Detective assigned to the case. Immediately, her good friend becomes the prime suspect and Sheridan is motivated to help solve the case and prove Kim isn’t guilty. It also becomes apparent that Sheridan is attracted to the handsome detective. As Sheridan tries to implement the crisis plan on campus and connect all the people in Adam’s life, she finds out that many women have a motive for Adam’s murder. Slashed tires are the first indication that Sheridan’s involvement is obviously making someone nervous.

Interview with Christa Nardi 

How long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I’ve probably been writing since elementary school. First, it was those assigned creative writing tasks, and then for fun.  I always wrote stories and then in high school also wrote poetry.  Since then, most of my writing has been nonfiction and more technical in nature (e.g. textbooks), but occasionally I would jot down an idea or two.

How did you come up with the title of your book?

My first thought for a title was Murder is Academic, but I did a quick search and found that title already used several times. That was a bummer. I had come up with the name of the small town and college because I liked the alliteration, so I used that for the title instead.

Do you have another job outside of writing?

Yes, I do. As noted in the bio, like Sheridan, I am a professor and a psychologist.  Thankfully, this is not a true story, not even close.

How did you create the plot for this book?

I started with some basic ideas and then identified the characters. To some extent, the characters almost develop themselves.  They have a role to play in the story – either a key role or a ‘red herring’ role or just an annoyance. They evolve along with the story.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

Max. He represents the ivory tower stereotype and the old boy network. He is intelligent, smart, productive, and has a good heart but sometimes lacks common sense.  Although a scientist in his work, when it comes to social interactions, he is quick to jump to conclusions. He fully expects that others will defer to him and that makes others crazy.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people? 

Wayne is inspired by a few of the men I dated when I was single and much younger. Though I never dated a dentist, I recall a few who only could talk about their job (boring), as well as a few who didn’t quite get the message to move on.

Are you like any of your characters?

I am most like Sheridan, but she is probably my “ideal” self.  We share the curiosity, the analytic thinking, and the desire to solve a puzzle.  On the other hand, Sheridan  is a bit more contemplative and more grounded than I am; she isn’t as reactive and she’s never grouchy. She’s also a bit more social.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

One of my favorite scenes is the one when Brett wants to interview Max and Max tries to put him off because he is too busy with his research, like his research is more important than a murder investigation. 

Who are your favorite authors?


Of current cozy mystery writers, I always look forward to the next one in the series by Vanessa Gray Bartal (Lacy Steele mystery series), Kassandra Lamb (Kate Huntington mystery series), Debra Burroughs (Paradise Valley Mysteries), Ellen Crosby (Wine Country Mysteries), and of course Janet Evanovich. But there are so many great writers out there, it is really hard to pick favorites.

How long is your to-be-read pile?

As of today, I have about 200+ on my kindle that I haven’t read and a few I still need to write reviews on. Then there is the stack of paperbacks in my nightstand ...  and the ones I have marked in Goodreads ...  I am very glad when Amazon points out that I have already bought a book since I cannot remember all the ones already on the kindle but not read yet.

Do you have a routine for writing?

I start with a basic idea, a basic plot and key characters.  So in Murder at Cold Creek College, I started with Sheridan, Kim, and Mitch, and then Adam Millberg. With a back story developed (at least in my mind), I set the stage and put down ideas, write a scene or two. The next time I write, I start at the beginning again, and edit, elaborate, and continue the story line. Sometimes I have an idea for a later scene, write it, and then weave it in where it fits best. 

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

Some place relatively quiet, usually at home. I have pulled out paper and pen on a plane or an early morning on vacation when I’m the only one awake when an idea came to me. Most of the time though, I “write” on my laptop.

What three books have you read recently and would recommend?

My three favorites of the last several months would be Zero Hero (Kassandra Lamb), Harbor of Lies (Debra Burroughs), and Scandals, Secrets and Murder (Maggie Sefton) – reviews can be found on my blog, Christa Reads and Writes.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love to read – mystery, cozy mystery, romance, and scifi/fantasy.  I also love to garden and spend many hours working in mine. When not writing, reading or gardening, I am likely doing jigsaw puzzles or logic puzzles.

What are you working on now?

Murder in the Arboretum (Cold Creek #2).  I had hoped to have it completed for release in July, and I am close! I hope to get it to Beta readers in the next few weeks for their feedback, and then final edits. 

About the author: 

Christa Nardi is and always has been an avid reader.  Her favorite authors have shifted from Carolyn Keene and Earl Stanley Gardner to more contemporary mystery/crime authors over time, but mystery/crime along with romance are her preferred choices for leisure reading. Christa also has been a long time writer, from poetry and short stories growing up to technical, research, and nonfiction in her professional life. With Murder at Cold Creek College, Christa is joining many other reader/writers in writing one genre she enjoys reading – the cozy mystery. Christa Nardi is a pen name for a real life professor/psychologist from the Northeast.

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Featured Author: Lynn Cahoon

About the book:

In the California coastal town of South Cove, history is one of its many tourist attractions—until it becomes deadly ...

Jill Gardner, proprietor of Coffee, Books, and More, has discovered that the old stone wall on her property might be a centuries-old mission worthy of being declared a landmark. But Craig Morgan, the obnoxious owner of South Cove’s most popular tourist spot, The Castle, makes it his business to contest her claim. When Morgan is found murdered at The Castle shortly after a heated argument with Jill, even her detective boyfriend has to ask her for an alibi. Jill decides she must find the real murderer to clear her name. But when the killer comes for her, she’ll need to jump from historic preservation to self-preservation ...

Interview with Lynn Cahoon

Do you have another job outside of writing?

Yes. In the day job, I’m a cube-dwelling administrative powerhouse working in the transportation field. Great benefits including insurance and employer match into a 401K. Being an adult now, I think of those things. 

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

Actually, it’s Sadie Michaels. She knows her path in life, has a strong faith, is raising a son on her own, and in one of the future books, I’m so totally going to mess with her life.

Are you like any of your characters?

I’m like a lot of my characters. I wanted to be an attorney (Jill actually was). I want to travel the world (like Aunt Jackie did). I guess like any author, we leave a piece of us in all our characters.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

Unraveled- paper
Frozen Heat – audio (I commute)
Lean In – Hardback (for work)
The Newcomer –paper (Robyn Hall)


Your last meal would be ...

Fish and chips. Or potato soup. Or both. I make a mean pumpkin cheesecake. Do I really have to choose?

No, if it's your last meal you can have all three. Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

Great question. Definitely the library. That way when a patron comes up, I can pretend I’m researching rather than just reading and they’ll have to leave me alone. Introvert, me?

I'm with you! If you were given the day off and you can do anything but write, what would you do?

Visit the art museum. Have an upscale lunch, then walk around Forest Park.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

Positive thinking creates a doorway through which opportunity loves to walk.

What three books have you read recently and would recommend?

Loving Robyn Carr’s Thunder Point series
Heart Shaped Box, by Joe Hill
Shadow of Night, by Deborah Harkness

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Ride 4-wheelers with my husband – our newest hobby.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

NYC or the beach.

What are you working on now?

Book 4 of the Tourist Trap Mysteries ... Deadline’s coming up. 

Don't miss Guidebook to Murder, book #1 of the Tourist Trap mysteries

About the author:

Lynn Cahoon’s a multi-published author. An Idaho native, her stories focus around the depth and experience of small town life and love. Lynn’s published in Chicken Soup anthologies, explored controversial stories for the confessional magazines, short stories in Women’s World, and contemporary romantic fiction. Currently, she’s living in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. She lives with her husband and four fur babies.


Connect with Lynn:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author page

Buy the book:
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Featured Author: Bonnie Glee

Bonnie Glee is my guest today, and she's here with her novel Satin Murder, published by Safkhet Publishing.

About the book:

Sallee Anderson is a wealthy, somewhat naive, socialite living in the Seattle area in the late 1950’s, who suddenly finds herself a forty-year old widow, the beneficiary of a multi-million dollar shipping company, and the prime suspect in her almost ex-husband Seth Anderson’s murder.  How could she be so neglectful as to misplace the .25 she bought after their separation? How could she not be aware that someone was constantly following her? One thing her gifted discernment did tell her was that her overly caring brother, suddenly by her side, had ulterior motives.

While trying so hard to stay out of the limelight, she is suddenly confronted at a dinner party with someone who could reveal her tiny little secret. She couldn’t suddenly faint because that very person would be at her side in a flash, and the social section in the local Seattle Times would have a hey-day.
She relies heavily on two alias, Nell her best friend and Max the shipping business lawyer. Both rush to her side with motives of their own.

The story weaves through trials with her family, friends, even her loyal housekeeper, and her never tiring, recently acquired personal investigator, Ryan.

Interview with Bonnie Glee

How long have you been writing, and how did you start?

Let me see how far back my memory can go. Grade school I guess is when my right brain began to make up stories, young love stories that classmates would gather around during lunch and recess to hear the next revealing chapter. The desire was somehow always there, though it was years before I took myself seriously.

I wrote a letter to the editor and they printed it; unleashing my buried need. I began sitting at my kitchen table as the sun rose over the Wasatch mountains writing snippets of Today Because before our four, soon to become five, children scurried out of bed.

As the children grew, I became a single mom working full time as a grocery clerk and with so many emotions whirling I began writing poetry on any scrap of register tape or torn paper bag I could find. I joined the League of Utah Writers and the Utah State Poetry Society and hoped for Tuesday nights off so I could attend their meetings (the kids loved being at the local roller skating rink next door to the library while I learned from some of the best). Small, but encouraging publications of short stories, poetry, and articles began to happen.

When my oldest son was called on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he asked if I wanted to buy his computer. What joy. Every morning at 5:00 a.m. we met and became the best of friends. I wrote my first novel on that computer, then lost the entire manuscript until just six years ago when I was going through some boxes after moving, looked inside an old briefcase, and there it was. Still trying to find a publication home for this one.

I took a challenge from a newspaper article to write a book during the month of November nearly five years ago, and that is when Silent Memories aka Sallee’s Secret aka Satin Murder was born.

I live in a quiet, friendly, book loving neighborhood near the Wasatch mountains with my life’s companion, Joe, where we plan to enjoy working for a couple more years while watching grandchildren grow and become beautiful people like their parents, camp, fish, hunt, golf, and cook delicious dinners together.

What’s the story behind the title of your book? 

Pretty funny really . . . the first working title was Silent Memories because some of the characters are only children trying to find their way in life. The second working title was Sallee’s Secret because my main character, Sallee has secrets. Then other characters held secrets too; then my publisher, Safkhet Publishing, wisely put my novel into their suspense division and suggested we find a new title. A former co-worker who had read and edited my manuscript, Aimee Frances, came to my aid and suggested, ‘Murder in White Satin Gloves’ thus Satin Murder is now the lasting title.

How did you create the plot for this book? 

It came from a family story about an Aunt whose husband was murdered by his partner. I planned to carry on with that plot, but my characters soon told me different.

How do you get to know your characters?

By following them along the paths they tell me.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

I love them all, but Sallee’s brother took me to thoughts that never would have been my own.

Is your book based on real events?

Someone in a poetry class once told me "everything has already been written," I nearly gave up writing but then decided, perhaps so, but not written my way.

One of your characters has just found out you’re about to kill him off. He/she decides to beat you to the punch. How would he kill you?

By taking away my computer, my journal, and the right side of my brain.


With what five real people would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore? 

My librarian friend, Sue; my mother if she were alive; my neighbor, Liz Goodell who reads constantly; my cousin, Karey, e-book fanatic; and my Joe.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book. 

Sallee arrives home ready to relax only to find police cars parked on all sides. The anxiety she endures when a search warrant is flung in her face while policemen are violating her possessions and how her wish for some saving grace to suddenly appear happens.

Who are your favorite authors?

Pearl S. Buck and Belva Plain
.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)? 

Two, really. One is My Name was Five and Little White Lies and Butterflies both in e-book form on my iPad.

What’s one pet peeve you have when you read? 

Way too many sub-characters.


Do you have a routine for writing? 

While still working part-time, I write in the afternoons.

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?

My hearts says the Bible like Corrie ten Boom, author of The Hiding Place and my mind says Evergreen, which has been my greatest example of an exceptional novel.

You’re leaving your country for a year. What’s the last meal (or food) you would want to have before leaving?

Our Friday date--night homemade burgers and cheesy fries with a very cold coke.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

A library. I’d be too tempted to spend all my earnings at a bookstore.

You’re given the day off, and you can do anything but write. What would you do? 

Have Coke-thirty with family, or friends.

You can be any fictional character for one day. Who would you be? 

Scarlet OHara from Gone With the Wind.

What would your dream office look like? 

Just like the one I have now, cozy and endearing but with a new computer.

How did you find Safkhet Publishing and how long did your query process take? 

The process has taken over two years. I could have vanity published several times but after the last offer was $7000 upon signing and another $7000 upon release, I made up my mind to hold on to the dream of a traditional publisher. I sent my query to Safkhet after reading of them on Preditors and Editors Inc.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

“Life holds special magic for those who dare to DREAM.” I saw it framed on the wall of an office I visited.

What’s your favorite candy bar?

Dark Chocolate Milky Way.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

Mackinac Island, Michigan for the summer and Hawaii for the winters.

What are you working on now? 

I have two novels I’m writing and continuing to submit a previously finished novel. I plan to present a book of my poetry to each of our children on their 50th birthday.

About the author:

Bonnie Glee is a freelance writer who enjoys membership in the League of Utah Writers and the Utah State Poetry Society with previous leadership positions in both. Her publications include a short story "Pigtails" in the Cache Valley Magazine, poetry in Utah Sings: Volumes Seven and Eleven, and other publications; essays in the Healing Ministry, Not Everybody Can Cry, Wasatch Woman, Life After Motherhood; and human interest articles printed in the Logan Herald Journal, Kirk Peterson: Paradise’s Professional Jockey, and the Pied-Piper Marsha Anderson and the Gingerbread Kids. In 2012, she won Honorable Mention for her poem "Where is Comfort" sponsored by Whitmore Library. September 1, 2014 will be the release date of her first novel, Satin Murder by Safkhet Publishing.
She lives in Cottonwood Heights, Utah with her husband Joe, is the mother of five children and two chosen children, 20 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.


Connect with Bonnie:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Spotlight on: Kristi Belcamino

for

Blessed are the Meek

on Tour August 2014

About the book:

A rash of high-profile murders all point to reporter Gabriella Giovanni's boyfriend, Detective Sean Donovan, when investigators uncover a single link in the deaths: Annalisa Cruz. A decade ago, Cruz seduced Donovan away from a life as a monk, and though their relationship soured long ago … her passion for him has not.

As the investigation continues, it becomes increasingly clear that any man who gets involved with Cruz soon ends up dead, including a dot-com millionaire, the mayor of San Francisco, and a police officer. Donovan, the only man to have dated Cruz and survived, is arrested for the murders and dubbed a jealous ex, leaving Gabriella scrambling to find the real killer without ending up as the next body headed for the morgue.

Gabriella's search ultimately unearths a dark secret that Donovan had intended to take to the grave. Faced with the knowledge of this terrible truth, Gabriella must tie the past and present together to clear Donovan's name.

About the author:

Kristi Belcamino is a writer, photographer, and artist who also bakes a tasty biscotti. In her former life, as an award-winning crime reporter at newspapers in California, she flew over Big Sur in an FA-18 jet with the Blue Angels, raced a Dodge Viper at Laguna Seca, watched autopsies, and conversed with serial killers. During her decade covering crime, Belcamino wrote and reported about many high-profile cases including the Laci Peterson murder and Chandra Levy disappearance. She has appeared on Inside Edition and local television shows. She now writes fiction and works part-time as a reporter covering the police beat for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Her work has appeared in such prominent publications as Salon, the Miami Herald, San Jose Mercury News, and Chicago Tribune.


Connect with Kristi:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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