FEATURED AUTHOR: S. P. BROWN

ABOUT THE BOOK

Thirty-eight year old Dr. Madeline Alleyn is a successful professor of Celtic History in upstate New York, but she is haunted by her past and the decision she made years ago to abandon her husband after learning of his strange heritage. When she discovers that she’s pregnant with triplets, she makes the decision to run to protect her children and, inexplicably, her husband also. Now, after nearly eighteen years of vigilance, the destiny from which Madeline has tried to escape catches up with her. As her daughters begin to develop psychokinetic powers, an attempt to murder them is made to negate an ancient prophecy. Escaping the murder attempt in the night, the triplets suspect their fate is tied to some ancient stones and their mysterious grandmother. But as they seek answers, they have to run for their lives. People are after them, some to finish the failed murderous act and others to protect them. Along the way, they seek to solve the riddle of the Stones of Sumer, a mystery with startling implications for humanity . . .

Book Details:


Title: Veiled Memory


Author: S. P. Brown

Genre: Contemporary fantasy/sci-fi, paranormal thriller


Series: The Stonehenge Chronicles, book one

Publisher: Black Opal Books (April 27, 2018)

Print length: 370 pages

INTERVIEW WITH S.P. BROWN

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

Historian/professor with a dark secret tries desperately to protect her triplet daughters from their heritage. That’s the basic setup for the book, but as the title of the trilogy suggests it’s much, much more than that. The title is very meaningful and you discover its meaning about three quarters into the book. By the end of the trilogy the world will know the secret behind Stonehenge – how it was built, why.

Tell us about your series. Is this book a standalone, or do readers need to read the series in order? 

This is book one of The Stonehenge Chronicles, a story about the origin of the monoliths and their significance. But it’s much more than that as well.

Do you have another job outside of writing? 

College professor/administrator.

Who are you?

Stanley Paul Brown.

Where’s home for you? 

Starkville, Mississippi.

Where did you grow up?
Plaquemine, Louisiana.

What’s your favorite memory? 

Growing up, hunting with my dad.



What’s the dumbest purchase you’ve ever made?
Building a house in another state I eventually couldn’t/didn’t want to remain in.


What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned?
To be patient in life.

Who would you pick to write your biography?
My wife (an excellent writer).

What do you love about where you live?
Southern culture.



Have you been in any natural disasters?
Hurricanes.

What is the most daring thing you've done?
Built a beautiful house on 8 gorgeous Ozark acres. 


What is the stupidest thing you've ever done?
Built a beautiful house on 8 gorgeous Ozark acres and left it. Shouldn’t have moved there to begin with.

What’s one thing that you wish you knew as a teenager that you know now?
How to talk to girls? Not so hard, but then, well…

What’s one thing you wish your younger writer self knew?
That it was time to begin. Waited way too long.


What makes you bored?
Not having interesting things to do and a challenge.


What choices in life would you like to have a redo on?
Again, waiting too long to begin writing fiction.

What makes you excited?
Watching a great movie.

How did you meet your spouse?
Jogging at the local YMCA.

What are your most cherished mementoes?
Wedding pictures, other family pics.

If you could only save one thing from your house, what would it be?
If it faced utter destruction, my wedding pictures, provided everyone else is safe.

What brings you delight?
Sitting with my wife on our back porch swing with glasses of wine and watching the rain fall.
Strolling the beach at sunset with my wife to the sound of the constantly moving water. Contemplating the awesomeness of the God who created this awesome universe.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
“Because I told you so, that’s why!” -Vivian Cecile Lejeune Brown, my mother.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where in the world would it be?
Oxford, England. If not there, Miramar Beach, Florida.

What would you like people to say about you after you die?
Fair, honest, faithful.

What’s your favorite line from a book?
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.”

What would your main character say about you?
Puts me through too much pain!

How did you create the plot for this book?
I wanted to create a covert group with ancient origins and tie it to Stonehenge. I wanted to set the story, though, in modern times and ground it firmly to this world. So I call it a contemporary fantasy. I had always liked what Rowling did in her Harry Potter mythology, but she never delved into the origin story of her wizarding world. I wanted to create a very different, but at the same time, similar mythology. So I ground my ancient group to Stonehenge and surprisingly to a bible tale out of Genesis 6. I created a very large backstory that underpins my trilogy.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?
No none, though my wife is an academic historian, as is the MC in Veiled Memory.

Is your book based on real events?
No, but it is grounded to the real world, except all the psychokinesis going on in it.

Are you like any of your characters?
I would say no, I’m not.

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?
Explode my brain out with a mere thought.

With what five real people would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?
They would all be famous writers I could learn from – Grisham, Tolkien, Rowling, Pullman, Flynn. Two of which are dead.

Who are your favorite authors?
Michael Connelly, John Grisham, JRR Tolkien, Philip Pullman, Jim Butcher, Vince Flynn, JK Rowling.


What book are you currently reading and in what format?

Hardback – Rowling’s sixth HP. AGAIN.

What’s one pet peeve you have when you read?
In fiction, overusing italics as in going inside the character’s head in the first person. One famous writer I know does that constantly. It’s irritating.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?
In the morning after a workout and in my home office.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received about your writing?
Nice turn of phrase.

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?
LSU campus. One of the top 25 research libraries in the U.S.

You can be any fictional character for one day. Who would you be?
Frodo Baggins sailing into the west to the undying lands.

What’s the worst thing someone has said about your writing? How did you deal with it?
Freshman English comp. “Your writing is inept.” Worked hard. Got better.

What would your dream office look like?
Like something out of the works of JRR Tolkien, or perhaps an exact replica of his office.

What are you working on now?
The Ruby Ring. The sequel to Veiled Memory.

 

OTHER BOOKS BY S.P. BROWN:

The Legacy
Fallen Wizard

 

 



ABOUT THE AUTHOR


S. P. Brown, as a child, always had heroes. These were mostly in the form of his big brother and those populating the pages of Marvel Comics. Realizing he didn’t have the right stuff to be a superhero himself, he became a professor. Works of non-fiction followed, but the call of storytelling remained strong in him, and he answered that call. The Legacy, his debut novel, was the result. Veiled Memory and Fallen Wizard followed in short order.



Connect with the author:
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Black Opal Books 

FEATURED AUTHOR: LUCY BURDETTE

ABOUT THE BOOK


When a killer strikes just before flan time, beloved food critic Hayley Snow is forced to sniff out the killer before someone else bites the dust.

Hayley Snow, fiery food critic for Key Zest magazine, has just landed a ticket to one of the most prestigious events in Key West: a high-brow three-day conference at the Harry Truman Little White House. Even though she’ll be working the event helping her mother’s fledgling catering business, there’s plenty of spicy gossip to go around. But just before her mother’s decadent flan is put to the test, Key West’s most prized possession, Hemingway’s Nobel prize gold medal for The Old Man and the Sea, is discovered stolen from its case.

Unsavory suspicions point to Gabriel, a family friend and one of the new busboys working the event, who mysteriously goes missing moments later. Anxious to clear his name, Gabriel’s family enlists Hayley to help find him, but right as they begin their search, his body is found stabbed to death in the storeroom.

Hayley has no shortage of suspects to interrogate and very little time before the killer adds another victim to the menu in national bestselling author Lucy Burdette’s delectable eighth Key West Food Critic mystery, Death on the Menu.

Book Details:


Title: Death on the Menu

Author: Lucy Burdette

Genre: Mystery

Series: Key West Food Critic Mysteries, book 8

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (August 7, 2018)

Print length: 304 pages

On tour with: Great Escape Book Tours

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT WITH LUCY BURDETTE

A few of your favorite things: My elderly Australian shepherd, Tonka, my elderly gray cat Yoda, my (not-so-elderly) husband John, my plum blossom yoga pants.
Things you need to throw out: I swear I will never buy clothes again just because they are on sale! If I haven’t worn them in a year, they need to go. 


Things you love about writing: Rewriting and editing, typing “the end,” seeing the finished copy of a book, seeing the book in a bookstore, hearing from readers who read it and loved it!
Things you hate about writing: Writing the first draft--getting the story figured out--is so hard!

Things you love about where you live: The palm trees, the blue/green water around the island, the wonderful food, the interesting people, the history.
Things that make you want to move: Hurricane season, global warming and sea level rise, crowds of drunken tourists . . . 


Things you never want to run out of: I’m addicted to the Backyard Food Company’s candied jalapenos. I buy them whenever I see them. And good books!
Things you wish you’d never bought: See clothes on sale, above!


Favorite foods: Homemade cake (especially yellow with mocha icing), blueberries and peaches in season, café con leche from the Cuban Coffee Queen, fried shrimp, crab cakes.
Things that make you want to throw up: Liver and any other organ meats.

Things you’d walk a mile for: Having coffee or a chocolate milk shake with my friends or family, bookstores.
Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Politicians who lie and put themselves first.

Things you always put in your books: Food, restaurants, the Key West police department, my character’s houseboat, her tarot-card-reading friend, Lorenzo, happy endings.

Things you never put in your books: Violence and gore on the page, sex, ditto.

Things to say to an author: I loved your book! Your story made me think . . . made me want to go to Key West . . . made me hungry . . . made me laugh and cry. When is the next one coming? I bought a copy for all my friends. Would you be willing to talk with my book group?

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Can you give me a copy? When are you going to write a real book?

Favorite places you’ve been: Key West (of course), Paris, Australia, India, Connecticut shoreline, coast of Maine, New York City.

Places you never want to go to again: Any twelve lane highway full of frantic drivers!

Things that make you happy: Good food, animals, friends, good books, my family.

Things that drive you crazy: Woodchucks mowing down our beans and okra plants in the garden!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Clinical psychologist Lucy Burdette (aka Roberta Isleib) has published 16 mysteries, including the latest in the Key West food critic series, Death On The Menu (Crooked Lane Books, August 2018.) Her books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She's a member of Mystery Writers of America and a past president of Sisters in Crime. She blogs at Jungle Red Writers and shares her love for food with the culinary writers at Mystery Lovers Kitchen. She lives in Madison Connecticut and Key West Florida.


Connect with Lucy:
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  | 
Goodreads  |  Instagram

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Crooked Lane Books

FEATURED CHARACTER: LIBBY KLEIN’S GIAMPAOLO GUISEPPI LARUSSO

ABOUT THE BOOK

When her sleepwalking aunt is accused of committing murder, Poppy McAllister finds out there's no rest for the weary . . .
 


Between trying to get her gluten-free baking business off the ground and helping her aunt remodel her old Victorian into the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast in Cape May, New Jersey, Poppy is ready to call, “Mayday!” And now Aunt Ginny—who's a handful wide-awake—is sleepwalking on her new sleeping pill prescription and helping herself to neighbors’ snacks and knickknacks.



Even more alarming, a local humanitarian who worked with troubled teens is found murdered, and the police suspect the “Snack Bandit.” Other than a bad case of midnight munchies and some mild knickknack kleptomania, Aunt Ginny is harmless. Someone’s  trying to frame her. Poppy will need to work tirelessly to uncover the killer and put the case to rest—before Aunt Ginny has to trade in her B & B for a bunk bed behind bars . . .



Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!

Book Details:

Title: Midnight Snacks Are Murder

Author’s name: Libby Klein   

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Poppy McAllister Mysteries, book 2

Publisher: Kensington (July 31, 2018)

Print length: 304 pages 

On tour with: Great Escapes Book Tours

INTERVIEW WITH LIBBY KLEIN’S GIAMPAOLO GUISEPPI LARUSSO

Giampaolo, how did you first meet Libby?
I was minding my business, running my coffee shop and listening to some Dean, "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime," when a bright light came on and there was the sound of a keyboard clacking in the background. From that moment I knew I was not alone.

Want to dish about her?
Libby is a train wreck. She laughs at her own jokes, watches too many cat videos, and if you cut her she will bleed coffee. She is the hot mess, but I kind of like all of those things about her.

Why do you think that your life has ended up being in a book?
I think Libby’s obsession with coffee is how she found me. All those hours spent in cafes was bound to end up in a book one day. I like to think that I’m her dream man. I’m sexy, I’m suave, and I make perfetto cappuccino.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
My favorite scenes are the amore with Poppy.

Did you have a hard time convincing Libby to write any particular scenes for you?
No, but Libby stops very early. I want to see where things will go if she’d give us more time. What can I say, I am Italian, no?

What do you like to do when someone’s not reading about you?
I do not have a lot of free time. I have my coffee shop, and we stay busy all year even though Cape May is a seasonal resort town. I come from a grande famiglia, so I spend a lot of time trying to avoid drama. Plus, I have Henry, my five-year-old bambino. He is good boy, but handful. It’s been just the two of us for most of Henry’s life, so this is all he knows.
    
If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?
I would remove this how you say, deadbeat, Tim. We do not need him. Nobody likes this triangolo amoroso, or love triangle. Especially me.

Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?
The sun rises and sets on Poppy.  I call her my Bella because she is beautiful. I find myself thinking about her all the time. Her happiness is everything to me. And her Aunt Ginny is hilarious. I just want to make a latte, pull up a chair, and watch. She’s old enough to be my Nonna, but she can run in circles around me. I think you know how I feel about Tim, the “rivale.” Basta.

Do have any secret aspirations that Libby doesn’t know about?
Oh, si si si. But I cannot reveal them in case Libby might see.

What impression do you make on people when they first meet you?
Mostly the women, they throw themselves at me. I have had some interesting propositions, but I am not interested. They would just find out I am very boring anyway. They think I am some kind of playboy since I’m European. I just want to relax with a glass of wine and a good book, snuggled down with someone I love. Gia is a one-woman man.

What are you most afraid of?
Not being a good father. I lost my father when I was young. I would give anything to have him back. I am right here for Henry, and I do not want my business to get in the way of raising him and being there for him no matter what life throws his way.

What’s the best trait Libby has given you?
Libby understands that I’m sensitive without making me less manly, but she’s made me too good looking. It’s all the ladies notice. I am not a piece of meat.

What do you like best about Poppy?
Poppy is gorgeous. She has absolutely no poker face. Every emotion is on display. Her eyes are so expressive. You can see that she’s full of love just waiting to unleash it, but something holds her back. She cares about people very deeply. Even with the customers in the shop that she just met. If someone has an allergy she will find a way to make them something special, so they do not feel left out. She made Henry a special birthday cake when she barely knew him. She has had a few tough turns in life, but she is stronger than she knows. I wish she could love herself the way other people do. She thinks she needs to change before she will be beautiful. That is pazzo - insane. She is stunning. If she knew what she was doing to me she would bring the chaperone with her.

What’s Libby’s worst habit?
Libby checks social media constantly, so she can respond to her readers. Always with the Twitter and the Facebook. She needs to focus on writing the next book, so I can see if Poppy and I end up together. 


If your story were a movie, who would play you?
A great Italian actor like Raoul Bova.

Will you encourage Libby to write a sequel?
Libby is always thinking of ways to get Poppy and Aunt Ginny in trouble. I do not think she needs any encouragement.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Libby Klein graduated Lower Cape May Regional High School in the '80s. Her classes revolved mostly around the culinary sciences and theater, with the occasional nap in Chemistry. She has worked as a stay at home mom, climbing the ranks to the coveted position of Grandma. She also dabbles in the position of Vice President of a technology company which mostly involves bossing other people around, making spreadsheets, and taking out the trash. She writes culinary cozy mysteries from her Northern Virginia office while trying to keep her cat Figaro off her keyboard. Most of her hobbies revolve around eating and travel, and eating while traveling.

Connect with Libby:
Website  |  Cozy Mystery Crew  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |   Pinterest  |   Instagram  |  Amazon 

Buy the book:

Amazon  |  B&N  |  Kobo  |  Google Play  |  BookBub
 

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FEATURED AUTHOR: J. ALLEN WOLFRUM

ABOUT THE BOOK

Former Army helicopter pilot, Susan Turner is Selected as the next President of the United States. In order to avoid a nuclear war, she must overcome personal demons and learn to navigate the murky waters of international diplomacy.

Five years ago, the Dove Revolution changed the political structure of the United States. The President, Senate, and Congress are no longer elected by the public, they are Selected at random every two years.

A shadow organization known only as The Board, advances their sinister agenda by taking advantage of their anonymity and Susan’s tendency to make brash decisions. Blackmail, espionage, and murder are all in play as The Board manipulates geo-political events to spark a war between the Soviet Union and the United States.

With the help of her former Squadron Commander, General LeMae, Susan Turner attempts to lead the nation through these turbulent times while battling her own internal demons. Susan is a battle-hardened war veteran but she must learn what it takes to be a world leader. Nuclear war and the future of the human race hang in the balance.

Even when the President is selected at random, politics is still a dirty business. Opponents plan their attacks from the shadows, but you know what they say about the best laid plans.



Book Details:

Title: Selected

Author’s name: J. Allen Wolfrum

Genre: Political Thriller

Published: December 28, 2017

Print length: 328 page

On tour with: Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours








LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT WITH J. ALLEN WOLFRUM

A few of your favorite things: A 1969 VW Beetle that we nicknamed, “The Rat Rod,” Marine Corps challenge coin with my unit logo, my Birkenstocks, and the warm southern California sunshine.
Things you need to throw out: At least half of my current wardrobe, an old pair of hiking shoes with duct tape on the toe, and a binder of CD’s from the late 1990’s. Limp Bizkit used to be cool, I  swear :)



Things you need in order to write: I’m pretty low maintenance, all I need is a pair of headphones and some music as background noise. I tend to float between punk, heavy metal, and country. When I’m struggling for motivation, I like to start off my writing sessions with some old school Metallica. After a minute or two the music fades into the background.
Things that hamper your writing: I tend to take breaks right after I figure out what is going to happen next. In my head I think, ohh man, I got this thing figured out, I can just relax. In reality those small breaks end up being excuses to procrastinate. I try really hard to keep myself in the chair until I finished the chapter for the day. Some days are better than others. 



Things you love about writing: I like the blend of structure and creativity in  storytelling.
Things you hate about writing: A blank page. There is nothing worse than staring down a screen with nothing on it except Chapter 1. Once you get going it’s fine but that initial sense of panic hits me every time.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Writing :)


Hardest thing about being a writer: There are two things I find difficult. The first is finding the time. I still have a full-time day job, so creating the time to write a full-length novel is a challenge. The second is telling people that I write fiction. When you meet people for the first time they inevitably ask, “What do you do?” and I instinctively respond with my day job. It’s very hard to respond with, “I write fiction.”


Things you love about where you live: I live in the suburbs of San Diego, there’s a lot to love. The weather here is fantastic all year round. Even on some of the “cold” winter days, you can still walk outside in short and a t-shirt. We live within walking distance of a lake and twenty miles of mountain biking trails; the ability to take the kayak out on the lake or go for a mountain bike ride without getting in the car is amazing. Being close to the beach is also fantastic, being able to enjoy a sunset on the beach is a peaceful end to the day.
Things that make you want to move: At some point I’d like to own a gentleman’s farm with horses, cattle, and vegetable crops. That isn’t possible in San Diego, at least not until I win the lottery.



Something you wish you could do: I wish that I could draw. I’ve tried several time to learn and it’s painful.
Something you wish you’d never learned to do: I struggled with this question for a few moments and almost tapped out. I’m glad I stuck with it. I wish I had never learned to be an accountant. I went to college for accounting and worked as a Certified Public Accountant for several years. I was miserable the entire time. I’m not trying to throw shade on the accounting industry. Being a CPA is a dream job for some people–for me it was torture.

People you consider as heroes: Anyone who has found their north star and is pursuing it.

People with a big L on their foreheads: People who are negative. I cannot stand people who insist on pointing out the negativity of every situation they encounter.



Things you always put in your books: Humor.

Things you never put in your books: Extreme violence
.

Favorite genre: I’ve always been in love with Westerns. 

Books you would ban: I would never ban a book. But I dislike reading books with extreme violence. It just doesn’t sit right with me.

Best thing you’ve ever done: Figuring out that I want to be a writer.

Biggest mistake: Not putting more thought into my path after the Marine Corps. At the time I didn’t think about what I wanted to do, I settled for a path that I thought would be comfortable.

The last thing you did for the first time: Indoor skydiving.

Something you’ll never do again: Ride a bull.

EXCERPT FROM SELECTED

Susan Turner looked up through a haze of white dust and saw a group of men in black suits huddled around her body. The muffled ringing in her ears overpowered their voices. The men helped her to her feet and they ran as a group toward the entrance to the underground tunnel. Her hearing slowly returned, screams of panic in the hallway replacing the ringing. As they ran, she recognized the men surrounding her were Secret Service agents.
Four agents surrounded Susan as they jogged through the underground tunnel together. Ten yards into the tunnel, she slowed down. In mid-stride, she took off one heel at a time and returned to the pace of the group. There were no words exchanged; they moved together in focused silence. Four hundred yards down the tunnel, the group stopped at two large steel doors. The lead agent opened the doors and light from the helicopter pad above burst into the tunnel.
Before moving toward the helicopter, the agent standing behind Susan shouted into his headset, “Checkpoint Bravo. Waiting for clearance.” He nodded as the response came through and relayed the message to the group: “Let’s move.” They ran from the tunnel into the daylight and across the tarmac to the open doors of the helicopter.
The agent sitting across from Susan handed her a communications headset. “Ma’am, are you okay? Any injuries?” Susan wiped the sweat and dust from her face. “No, I’m fine. My family?”
“They’re safe. Your children were brought to a safe location under the Pentagon, and your parents are there with them.”
She nodded. “Is it over?”
He pursed his lips before responding, “I don’t know. I only heard snippets of radio chatter while we were on the way to the helipad.”
Susan leaned back in her seat, cupping her hands over her face and replaying the events in her mind. The group stayed in radio silence for the remainder of the brief flight. The helicopter landed at Andrews Air Force Base and the doors immediately opened. Susan and her security detail rushed across the tarmac and boarded the Boeing 747. She walked onto the plane in her bare feet. Jogging on concrete caused the pinky toe on her left foot to bleed. She left a trail of blood down the center aisle of Air Force One.

***

Excerpt from Selected by J. Allen Wolfrum.  Copyright © 2018 by J. Allen Wolfrum. Reproduced with permission from J. Allen Wolfrum. All rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. Allen Wolfrum is a fiction author and former Marine.  He served four years as a Marine Corps Infantryman in the most decorated Regiment in Marine Corps history. During Operation Iraqi Freedom he led an infantry squad on missions spanning from the oil fields of Southern Iraq to the streets of Baghdad.

After the Marine Corps, he spent the next fifteen years exploring life from several perspectives: press operator in a plastics factory, warehouse stocker, confused college student, Certified Public Accountant, bearded graduate student,  management consultant, and data analyst.

J. Allen Wolfrum's writing career began in 2017 with his debut novel, Selected.  He uses the unique combination of his Marine Corps, professional and life experience to create a realistic perspective on the political thriller genre. He lives in Southern California with his beautiful wife and two cats.
He writes a weekly short story series on his website.



Connect with the author:
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Buy the book:
Amazon 

FEATURED CHARACTER: TERRY AMBROSE'S WILSON McKENNA

ABOUT THE BOOK

Honolulu landlord Wilson McKenna can smell a scam from across the room. So when one of his tenants loses everything in a work-at-home scam involving a new perfume, he’s shocked. With his wedding just weeks away, McKenna has to make a tough decision. Does he evict a woman who’s down on her luck? Or take time out from wedding planning to help his tenant?

Turning the case over to his PI-in-training friend Chance Logan seems like the perfect solution—until Chance tells McKenna he needs a wingman for a visit to fragrance entrepreneur Skye Pilkington-Winchester. McKenna’s sure he can keep everyone happy by helping Chance this one time. But nothing is ever as easy as it seems, and soon McKenna’s up to his board shorts in hot water. His tenant’s simple fragrance scam might involve industrial espionage, Skye’s assistant is murdered, and McKenna’s bride-to-be accuses him of having cold feet.

As McKenna and Chance dig deeper, it seems so much of what they’re being told doesn’t pass the sniff test. And the only way to get his life back is to find the dead girl’s missing boyfriend, unmask a killer, and finish up in time for the wedding. Other than that, it’s just another day in paradise.

Book Details;

Title: The Scent of Waikiki

Author: Terry Ambrose

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Trouble in Paradise, book 9

Publisher: Satori (July 19, 2018)

Print Length: 330 pages

On tour with: Great Escapes Book Tours

ABOUT WILSON McKENNA

 McKenna is a former skip tracer who moved to Hawaii after losing his job and the woman he loved. After several years of being miserable, he found his purpose when one of his tenants got him involved in a murder investigation. He’s been chasing killers ever since and now works with Chance Logan, who wants to become a private investigator.

INTERVIEW WITH TERRY AMBROSE'S WILSON McKENNA

McKenna, how did you first meet Terry?
We met on a lovely summer day while he was visiting Kauai. He was looking out through the slats of the blinds at all that gorgeous sunshine and got the brilliant idea to write a mystery series about a broken-down, former skip tracer. He thought we hit it off right away. Me—not so much. I mean, who wants to hang out with a guy who knows exactly how to make you miserable?

Sounds like you might like to dish about him?
So glad you asked. Terry might think he’s in control of my stories, but he doesn’t get it. What happens on the page is my business. He keeps butting in and trying to make things worse for me. Personally, I think he’s got some sort of mental thing going on that he’s only happy when I’m not.

Why do you think that your life has ended up being in a book?
Because I keep winding up chasing down bad guys and all these mystery readers would rather read about it than go out and solve their own crimes.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
I don’t want to give away the good stuff, but my favorite scene was once my least favorite. I met this guy named Steward Johnson, and he decided to kidnap me so we could chase down a bad guy. I thought Steward was a nutcase at the time. Well, he probably is, but that’s another issue altogether. While I didn’t like careening around the streets of Honolulu, now that I look back on it, I can laugh about the whole thing. Sort of. Maybe not. You know what? I have a little planning to do. Call it a revenge trip for my writer. Anybody know a good stunt driver?

What do you like to do when someone's not reading about you?
I’m a landlord and have landlord stuff to do. Lately, it seems I have to do all of that in between books. So don’t think just because I’m not chasing some bad guy that I’m not busy. Besides, I’m getting married soon and that’s going to keep me busy for a while. I’m also thinking about starting an anti-junk mail service. For a small fee, we’ll follow the mail truck around and throw all the junk straight into a recycling bin. Nice, huh? My customers will have the ultimate in convenience and  peace of mind. They’ll never have to look at another piece of junk mail and it will all be properly recycled.

Brilliant! If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?
Anything? Well, I’d make myself taller, about ten years younger, and give me some of those kung fu voodoo moves my friend Chance Logan has. Come to think of it, I might just swap places with him. He’s got money, brains, and good looks. I love it. Somebody give me a pen, I’ve got rewrites to do.

Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?
It’s kind of like real life. I like my friends and don’t like the bad guys. My friend Chance and I get along really well. He and I banter back and forth and occasionally I even let him win a couple of those. And Benni, my bride-to-be is phenomenal. Of course, I’m head-over-heels in love with her and she’d probably beat the crap out of me if I didn’t say that. So, she’s phenomenal. Loving. Caring. Is that enough, honey? Looks like we’re good.

What impression do you make on people when they first meet you? How about after they've known you for a while?
When I first meet people, they usually think I’m a grumpy old coot. After they get to know me, they realize I’m not really that old.



Ha! Tell us about your best friend.
Chance Logan has turned into one of my good friends. On the plus side, he’s young, filthy rich, and wants to be a private investigator. He’s not without his faults, though. He’s been through a number of careers—most of which ended badly. The worst was probably when he decided he wanted to be an actor. He landed the role of leading man in an action-adventure movie, but then he got drunk one night, stole the studio’s helicopter from the set, and crashed it. Chance doesn’t like to talk about the incident for some reason, but I say let bygones be bygones. It’s not like he burned down the set . . . wait, maybe I’d better ask him about that.

What do you like best about Chance Logan?
Chance has lots of money. That makes him a great sidekick because it’s like traveling with a human ATM. In the old days, back when I was skip tracing, I had to pry information out of people in any number of ways. With Chance around, I just say, “Cash please.” Next thing you know, some guy who was reluctant to talk is singing like a lark.
Least?
The thing I like least about Chance might be his lock-picking skills. I mean, who spends two minutes working on a lock when you’re standing out in an open hallway? He needs to get it together because I’m too old to wear an orange jumpsuit. Have you ever thought about how much those things must itch on a hot summer day?

Describe where you live.
Honolulu is a typical big city in many ways. But it’s also distinctly Hawaiian because the mishmash of cultures that make up Hawaii all come together here. Of course, we have a fabulous beach, world-class shopping, and great restaurants—most of which I never bother with because we also have so many tourists. Let’s face it, those of us who live in paradise can do all the cool stuff anytime we want. The tourists only have a couple of weeks. As a result, we go about our daily lives trying to avoid the tourists who are having all the fun. Maybe we need a tourist-free day so us locals could enjoy the place once in a while.

Describe an average day in your life.
I’m a landlord so my typical day is pretty boring. The apartment complex I manage only has twenty units, so it’s not a huge job to deal with the tenants. I sometimes have to arrange for plumbers and pest exterminators and window washers. But by and large, I have time during a typical day to be inquisitive about any number of things, and that sometimes involves a murder.

What makes you stand out from any other characters in your genre?
You mean other than those loud aloha shirts we wear here in the islands? I’m funnier than most of those other amateur sleuths. And a lot of them are women. Don’t get me wrong, I’m getting ready to marry a woman. So I like women. But I’ve been known to be a tad snarky at times—okay, a lot snarky.

Will you encourage Terry to write a sequel?
Encourage? No. Demand? Now we’re talking. It’s expensive living in paradise. So if I’m going to stay here, he’s got to keep writing stories about me. On top of that, I kind of like the attention. I have fans . . . so that’s kind of fun. Imagine that—me—with fans.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Terry Ambrose is a former skip tracer who tracked down deadbeats for a living. He’s long since turned his talents to writing mysteries and thrillers. Several of his books have been award finalists and in 2014 his thriller, Con Game, won the San Diego Book Awards for Best Action-Thriller. He likes cool photography, funny mysteries, and finding the oddest things while walking on the beach. He’s currently working on the Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery series.

Connect with Terry:
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads 

Buy the book:
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FEATURED AUTHOR: CASSIDY SALEM

ABOUT THE BOOK

Adina can’t resist snooping when someone she knows turns up dead. Again.

When a colleague at a prestigious think tank meets a violent death, Adina’s not convinced any of the obvious suspects disliked him enough to want him dead. Can the young research assistant and a lovable rescue pup help the police put together the pieces of the puzzle?

Killer Reputation is the third mystery in the Adina Donati, Accidental Sleuth Series by Cassidy Salem. The books are standalone reads and can be read in any order.

Book Details:


Title: Killer Reputation

Author’s name: Cassidy Salem

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Adina Donati, Accidental Sleuth Book 3

Publisher: C. Salem (June 15, 2018)

Print length: 182 pages
On tour with: Great Escapes Book Tours




   

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT WITH CASSIDY SALEM

Things you love about writing: The opportunity to create characters who can be anything and everything you want them to be and do anything, including things as an author I might never dare to do.
Things you hate about writing: Outlining. I know it’s a good practice, but it doesn’t seem to work for me. When I tried to write to an outline, I found myself lacking motivation to write. After all, I already knew what would happen in the end. Over time, I have become more of pantser – I let the characters decide where the story will go.

Easiest thing about being a writer: There is nothing easy about being a writer.  It is hard work, challenging and satisfying, but not easy.
Hardest thing about being a writer: The pressure to publish more books. I am not a fast writer. Sometimes, I feel like I might be the slowest writer on earth.

 
Words that describe you: Optimistic, energetic, driven.
Words that describe you but you wish they didn’t: Klutzy, clumsy, obstinate. 

Favorite foods: Chocolate and cheese cake. And don’t get me started about the delights of chocolate cheese cake.
Things that make you want to throw up: The smell of pickles. Any kind of pickles. When we have company, my husband always asks one of our friends to put them out for me. 

Favorite music: I am a great fan of folk music and 70s rock, however I enjoy most genres of music.
Music that make your ears bleed: Off-key karaoke. I find it painful to listen to.  

Favorite beverage: Diet Coke. (Yes, I know it’s not good for me but it’s a hard habit to break.)
Something that gives you a pickle face: The smell of pickles! Baked beans, broccoli, and most cooked vegetables. (Hint: I am a picky eater).

People you consider as heroes: People who volunteer and take time to help others, even when they don’t have to.

People with a big L on their foreheads: Anyone who thinks it is okay to abuse helpless animals.  



Last best thing you ate: A wonderfully seasoned vegetarian lasagna. 

Last thing you regret eating: The ridiculously large portion of Reese’s Cheesecake I ordered  at the Cheesecake Factory when I visited San Francisco last month. Not because it wasn’t good. It was divine – I simply shouldn’t have finished it.

Things you always put in your books: Dogs. I love dogs and they can add color to any storyline.  
Things you never put in your books: When I started writing fiction, I made a conscious decision not to include any graphic descriptions of violence or sexual encounters in my books. 

Favorite places you’ve been: Norway. So many fjords and waterfalls, and all that lush greenery. Absolutely gorgeous.  

Places you never want to go to again: Athens. No offense to any Greek readers in the audience. I actually loved other parts of Greece. It’s just Athens was hot and crowded, and very polluted. My sinuses were not happy.

People you’d like to invite to dinner:  My extended family – a reunion of sorts. I actually have first cousins whom I have never met. Invitations aside, it’s not likely to ever happen as we are dispersed throughout the United States and abroad. But it would be cool.
People you’d cancel dinner on: Any politician running for office. 

Favorite things to do: Traveling and seeing new places, especially out in nature. Recently went on road trip to Southwestern U.S. and hiked in several National Parks in Utah, Arizona and Colorado – it was totally amazing. We even celebrated my birthday at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. 

Things you’d run through a fire wearing gasoline pants to get out of doing: Standing in front of a group of strangers naked, or undergoing any number of those unpleasant and/or invasive medical exams. 

Something you wish you could do: I always wanted to learn to speak five languages. This is probably why the main character in my books, Adina Donati, speaks English, Italian, Spanish, French, and Hebrew.
Something you wish you’d never learned to do: Play games on Facebook. I am too easily tempted by the likes of Candy Crush . . . 

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cassidy Salem has always been an avid reader. She is especially fond of mysteries (both cozy and traditional) and police procedurals. Over the years, her favorite mystery authors have included Agatha Christie, Kathy Reichs, Mary Higgins Clark, and John Grisham.

When she’s not reading, she enjoys music and spending time with family and friends, and travels with her husband and son whenever possible. Her travels have taken her to destinations throughout the United States, Europe, and Scandinavia.

Cassidy Salem is the author of the Adina Donati Mystery Series, which includes Think Murder, Dying for Data, and Killer Reputation. Cassidy co-authors, together with Christa Nardi, a YA mystery series, which includes The Mysterious Package, Mrs. Tedesco’s Missing Cookbook, The Misplaced Dog, and Malicious Mischief.


Connect with Cassidy:
Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon


Buy the book:

Amazon

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FEATURED AUTHOR: STEVEN MANCHESTER

ABOUT THE BOOK

The latest emotional rollercoaster of a novel from a master of tearjerkers and family fiction.



Mac Anderson holds life in the palm of his hand. He has a beautiful wife, three loving children, a comfortable home, and a successful career. Everything is perfect—or so it seems. Tragically, Mac is destined to learn that any sense of security can quickly prove false. Because an invisible enemy called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has invaded Mac’s fragile mind and it is about to drop him to his knees. He does all he can to conceal his inner chaos, but to no avail. Left to contend with ignorance, an insensitive justice system, and the struggles of an invisible disease, he loses everything—most importantly his family.



One shoebox might store an old pair of sneakers. Two shoeboxes might contain a lifetime of photographs. But in Three Shoeboxes, a father’s undying love may be just enough to make things right again.

Book Details:

Title: Three Shoeboxes

Author:  Steven Manchester

Genre: Women’s fiction

Publisher: Fiction Studio Books (June 12, 2018)

Print length: 285 pages

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT WITH STEVEN MANCHESTER

A few of your favorite things: My family, a sunny day with some time to write, kindness.
Things you need to throw out: Old regrets and fears
.

Things you need in order to write: Time (mostly), just a little bit of inspiration.
Things that hamper your writing:
 Lack of time (period).

Things you love about writing: Creating something that never existed; connecting with other people and reminding them that none of us is ever alone.
Things you hate about writing: The first twenty minutes are usually painful (sometimes, it’s hard work); and when I finish a book that I’ve grown to love the characters (it’s hard to say goodbye).

Hardest thing about being a writer: Selling yourself and your work (I’d prefer others do that); I don’t love the business side.

Easiest thing about being a writer:
 Writing!

Words that describe you: Empathetic, loyal, committed, determined, hard-working, kind.
Words that describe you but you wish they didn’t: Compulsive; intense.

Favorite foods: Seafood, pasta—and anything that relieves my terrible sweet tooth.
Things that make you want to throw up: Meat fat; Jell-O (must be a texture thing)

Favorite song: "The Dance" by Garth Brooks.
Music that make your ears bleed: Most rap.

Something you’re really good at:
 Making people laugh in person; making people cry in books (and horseshoes).
Something you’re really bad at: Drawing; cooking (though I wish I wasn’t)
.

Something you like to do:
 Visit Italy.
Something you wish you’d never done: Honestly—nothing; every step has gotten me to where I am.

Last best thing you ate: Lobster tacos
.
Last thing you regret eating: Ice cream (too much of it).

Things you’d walk a mile for: To spend time with my kids
Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Being in the company of people who talk about other people.

Things you always put in your books: Name of deceased family member and friends (to honor them).

Things you never put in your books: Anything that would hurt someone.

Things to say to an author: Thanks…and can I write a review for your latest book?

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I could write a book, too . . . if I had the time.

Favorite places you’ve been: Greece and Paris.

Places you never want to go to again: Iraq and Kuwait.

Best thing you’ve ever done: Marrying my wife, Paula

Biggest mistake: Hurting someone’s feelings (that’s always the biggest mistake).

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Went to war; worked in a prison for 10 years.

Something you chickened out from doing: Karaoke.

READ AN EXCERPT FROM THREE SHOEBOXES

Mac jumped up, panting like an obese dog suffering in a heat wave. His heart drummed out of his chest. Startled from a sound sleep, he didn’t know what was wrong. He leapt out of bed and stumbled toward the bathroom. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think. There’s something wrong, he finally thought, I…I need help. He searched frantically for an enemy. There was none. As he stared at the frightened man in the mirror, he considered calling out to his sleeping wife. She has enough to worry about with the kids, he thought, but was already hurrying toward her. “Jen,” he said in a strained whisper.
She stirred but didn’t open her eyes.
The constricted chest, sweaty face and shaking hands made Mac wonder whether he was standing at death’s door, cardiac arrest being his ticket in. I have to do something now, he thought, or I’m a goner. “Jen,” he said louder, shaking her shoulder.
One eye opened. She looked up at him.
“It’s happening again,” he said in a voice that could have belonged to a frightened little boy.
Jen shot up in bed. “What is it?”
“I…I can’t breathe. My heart keeps fluttering and I feel…”
“I’m calling an ambulance,” she said, fumbling for her cell phone.
“No,” he said instinctively, “it’ll scare the kids.”
She looked up at him like he was crazy.
“I’ll go to the emergency room right now!” Grabbing for a pair of pants, he started to slide into them.
Jen sprang out of the bed. “I’ll call my mom and have her come over to watch the kids. In the meantime, Jillian can…”
Mac shook his foggy head, halting her. “No, I’m okay to drive,” he said, trying to breathe normally.
“But babe,” she began to protest, fear glassing over her eyes.
“I’ll text you as soon as I get there,” he promised, “and then call you just as soon as they tell me what the hell’s going on.”
Jen’s eyes filled. “Oh Mac…”
He shot her a smile, at least he tried to, before rushing out of the house and hyperventilating all the way to the hospital.

⧝

I’m here, Mac texted Jen before shutting off the ringer on his phone.
The scowling intake nurse brought him right in at the mention of “chest pains.” Within minutes, the E.R. staff went to work like a well-choreographed NASCAR pit crew, simultaneously drawing blood while wiring his torso to a portable EKG machine.
As quickly as the team had responded, they filed out of the curtained room. A young nurse, yanking the sticky discs from Mac’s chest, feigned a smile. “Try to relax, Mr. Anderson. It may take a little bit before the doctor receives all of your test results.”
For what seemed like forever, Mac sat motionless on the hospital gurney, a white curtain drawn around him. I hope it isn’t my heart, he thought, the kids are still so young and they need…
“Who do we have in number four?” a female voice asked just outside of Mac’s alcove.
Mac froze to listen in.
“Some guy who came in complaining of chest pains,” another voice answered at a strained whisper. “Test results show nothing. Just another anxiety attack.”
No way, Mac thought, not knowing whether he should feel insulted or relieved.
“Like we have time to deal with that crap,” the first voice said. “Can you imagine if men had to give birth?”
Both ladies laughed.
No friggin’ way, Mac thought before picturing his wife’s frightened face. She must be worried sick. But I can’t call her without talking to the doctor. She’d…
The curtain snapped open, revealing a young man in a white lab coat with a stethoscope hanging around his neck.
This kid can’t be a doctor, Mac thought, the world suddenly feeling like it had been turned upside down.
“Your heart is fine, Mr. Anderson,” the doctor quickly reported, his eyes on his clipboard. “I’m fairly certain you suffered a panic attack.” He looked up and grinned, but even his smile was rushed. “Sometimes the symptoms can mirror serious physical ailments.”
Mac was confused, almost disappointed. So, what I experienced wasn’t serious? he asked in his head.
The young man scribbled something onto a small square pad, tore off the top sheet and handed it to Mac. “This’ll make you feel better,” he said, prescribing a sedative that promised to render Mac more useless than the alleged attack.
“Ummm…okay,” Mac said, his face burning red.
The doctor nodded. “Stress is the number one cause of these symptoms,” he concluded. “Do you have someone you can talk to?”
Mac returned the nod, thinking, I need to get the hell out of here. Although he appreciated the concern, he was mired in a state of disbelief. I’m a master of the corporate rat race, he thought, unable to accept the medicine man’s spiel. If anyone knows how to survive stress, it’s me.
“That’s great,” the doctor said, vanishing as quickly as he’d appeared.
My problem is physical, Mac confirmed in his head, it has to be. He finished tying his shoes.
Pulling back the curtain, he was met by the stare of several female nurses. He quickly applied his false mask of strength and smiled. A panic attack, he repeated to himself. When put into words, the possibility was chilling.
The nurses smiled back, each one of them wearing the same judgmental smirk.
With his jacket tucked under his arm, Mac started down the hallway. Sure, he thought, I have plenty of people I can talk to. He pulled open the door that led back into the crowded waiting room. That is, if I actually thought it was anxiety.

⧝

Mac sat in the parking lot for a few long minutes, attempting to process the strange events of the last several days. Although he felt physically tired, there weren’t any symptoms or residual effects of the awful episodes he’d experienced—not a trace of the paralyzing terror I felt. And they just came out of the blue. He shook his head. How can it not be physical? He thought about the current state of his life. Work is work, it’s always going to come with a level of stress, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary. He shook his head again. I just don’t get it. He grabbed his cell phone and called Jen. “Hi, it’s me.”
“Are you okay?” she asked, the worry in her voice making him feel worse.
“I’m fine, babe.”
“Fine?” she said, confused. “What did the doctor say?”
“He said it’s not my heart.”
“Oh, thank God.”
Her reaction—although completely understandable—struck him funny, making him feel like the boy who cried wolf.
“So what is it then?” she asked.
He hesitated, feeling oddly embarrassed to share the unbelievable diagnosis.
“Mac?”
“The doctor thinks it was a…a panic attack.”
This time, she paused. “A panic attack?” she repeated, clearly searching for more words. Then, as a born problem solver, she initiated her usual barrage of questions. “Did they give you something for it? Is there any follow up?”
“Yes, and maybe.”
“What does that mean?”
“He gave me pills that I’d rather not take if I don’t need to. And he suggested I go talk to someone.”
“Talk to someone? You mean like a therapist?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s what he meant.”
“Oh,” she said, obviously taken aback. “Then that’s exactly what you should do.”
“I don’t know…”
“Is there something bothering you I don’t know about, Mac,” she asked, “because you can talk to me, too, you know.”
“I know, babe. But there’s nothing bothering me, honest.” He took a deep breath. “For what it’s worth, I don’t buy the anxiety attack diagnosis.”
“Well, whatever you were feeling this morning was real enough, right? I could see it in your face. It wouldn’t hurt anything for you to go talk to someone.” She still sounded scared and he hated it.
“Maybe not,” he replied, appeasing her. In the back of his head, though, he was already contemplating how much he should continue to share with her—or protect her from. “I need to get to work,” he said.
“Why don’t you just take the day off and relax?” she suggested.
Here we go, he thought. “I wish I could, babe,” he said, “but we have way too much going on at the office right now.”
“And maybe that’s part of your problem,” she said.
“I’ll be fine, Jen,” he promised. “We’ll talk when I get home, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Love you,” he said.
“And I love you,” she said in a tone intended for him to remember it.

***

Excerpt from Three Shoeboxes by Steven Manchester.  Copyright © 2018 by Steven Manchester. Reproduced with permission from The Story Plant. All rights reserved.

OTHER BOOKS BY STEVEN MANCHESTER

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island, as well as the national bestsellers Ashes and The Changing Season, and the multi-award winning novels, Goodnight, Brian and The Thursday Night Club. He has written A Christmas Wish (Kindle exclusive), Wilbur Avenue (novelette), and Just in Time (novelette) while his work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning and BET's Nightly News. Three of Steven's short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and he is the produced playwright of Three Shoeboxes. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or their four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.

Connect with Steve:
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  | Amazon

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

Check out Steven's guest post and short story from May 2018 on A Blue Million Books.