Excerpt from Karen Stivali's Meant To Be

Daniel’s hand froze on the page the moment he saw it. It looked more like a candid photo than a drawing.

“That’s amazing,” he said, unable to take his eyes off it. “I can’t believe you drew this from memory.”

“I have a good memory.” She smiled.

“I’m speechless. Well, not literally speechless, as I’m babbling, but I don’t know what to say.” He turned to glance at Marienne and saw that she was blushing. “I had no idea I was this good looking.” He added, and she laughed, which was precisely what he wanted. He didn’t want her to be uncomfortable, at all, ever.

“Well,” she said. “There’s some artistic license.”

“Clearly,” he said. “And thank you, I’ve never looked better. Though I do look awfully sad. Is that how you see me?”

“I was going for introspective, not so much sad, but the night I drew that, yes, you did seem sad.”

“What night was that?” he asked.

“The night you came for dinner while I was baking all the Christmas cookies, the night you told me about your mom.”

“Then I’d say you captured that mood perfectly.” He looked back at the drawing, still amazed by how much it looked like him, only somehow better.

“But that’s not how I always see you. Turn the page.”

He laughed as the next drawing was also of him, this time with his head thrown back, eyes twinkling, mouth wide with laughter, right hand raised and woven through his hair. Once again he felt like he was looking at a photograph rather that a drawing. He looked at his own hand then at the drawing, she had captured it flawlessly. The expression, the pose, it was all unmistakably him. How did she do that without me posing for her?

“You’re amazing.” He was in awe, not only of her ability to put his image on paper with such beauty, but to see him with such clarity.

For an interview with Karen Stivali, and to find out where to connect with her, scroll down, go to the home page, or click here. Come back tomorrow to read a guest post by Karen.

Talking with Karen Stivali

I'm happy to have Karen Stivali here as part of her Chick Lit Plus Blog tour. Karen is talking about her novel, Meant To Be, which was released in August.
 

About the book:

Sometimes you’re already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one.

When NYU professor Daniel Gardner’s career-obsessed wife convinces him to move to the suburbs, he hopes it’s a first step toward starting the family he longs to have. Instead of domestic bliss he finds his neighbor, Marienne Valeti. She loves her freelance design job, but must contend with a growing sense of isolation created by her husband’s indifference. A penchant for good books, bad movies, and Marienne’s to-die-for brownies sparks a powerful bond between them. Passion simmers, but they resist its lure, surrendering only in the seclusion of their minds. Their friendship helps them weather every hardship, from divorce to widowhood, leaving them both secretly wondering if it can survive a first kiss.

Hi, Karen. Can you tell us how you came up with the title of your book?

I tossed around a bunch of different titles when I was trying to name this book and I kept coming back to Meant To Be. The title not only seemed to perfectly suit the book, which is about destiny and fate, but so many of my experiences while writing it seemed to echo the same sentiment. Things don’t always work out the way you expect them to, or the way you planned for them to---they work out the way they’re supposed to. They’re simply meant to be.

How would you describe your book in a tweet? (140 characters or less.)

Sometimes you’re already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one.

Only 99 characters. Excellent! Did you have any say in your cover art? What do you think of it?

Yes, I did. My publisher, Turquoise Morning Press, allows authors to have a bit of input regarding their cover art. It was very important to me that the friendship and closeness between Daniel and Marienne be portrayed on the cover. I love that the couple pictured is just walking through a park together, talking, not touching, yet their body language shows that they’re focused on one another and drawn together. It has the perfect feel for how I imagine them, and I like the fact that the image has more significance after you’ve read the book and understand their relationship.

How do you get to know your characters?

I think about them all the time. When I first come up with new characters I watch them in my head, like I’m spying on them or eavesdropping at a coffee shop. Once I see their story more clearly, I usually find that the characters start talking more and more. By the time I hear them chattering all the time I know it’s time to start writing down what they’re saying. If I need to know more about a character I’ll have them recall a memory and tell it to me. Imagining them in different scenarios, even if those aren’t things that will play out in the story, helps me to understand who they are and how they’ll act and react in any situation. I need to know all of that before I can really write about them. I need to be able to say with absolute certainty “that’s how he would react” or “oh, she’d never, ever do that.”

Sophie’s choice: Do you have a favorite of your characters?

It’s silly that I need to preface this answer by saying this, but I actually feel compelled to state that I really love all of my characters. That said, Daniel is my favorite character. He has starred in Meant To Be, its sequel Holding On, and the short stories All I Need (a prequel to Meant To Be) and White Wedding (a short in an upcoming anthology). I’ve written him more than any other character I’ve ever created, and he hasn’t stopped talking to me yet. There is nothing I don’t know about Daniel. All his faults. All his strengths. All his weaknesses. I adore writing him and will probably never be able to say with certainty that I’m done writing his stories.

When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?
Yes. I have to see an entire story play out in my head like a movie before I write it, so I always see the entire cast. Sometimes a scene with a bit character will actually come to me fairly early on in the process. I love seeing how my characters interact with people other than the main cast members. I think it’s very telling to watch people interact with co-workers or random people they might encounter in the course of a day.

I’m constantly on the lookout for new names. How do you name your characters?

I don’t have a particular method for choosing character names, but I do have a quirky rule. I can’t personally know anyone with that name. If I know someone with the name, I associate the name with the real person and that doesn’t work for me. I have to have names that belong strictly to my characters. The funny thing is that while I was writing several of my last few books I met people with the name of the main characters I was writing. That amused me, because it’s happened about five times now, but it didn’t interfere with the writing because my character had the name first.

What would your main character say about you?

He’d say, “Why must you torture me?” Then he’d forgive me because I let him have awesome sex, and I always laugh at his jokes.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people? Who?

No. No. No. People ask me that question all the time. I never ever base my characters on anyone---not on people I know personally and not even on movie stars or models. I take the word fiction very seriously, and when I create a character, it is someone I’ve completely formed in my mind, not someone I’ve imagined based on a real person.

Are you like any of your characters? How so?

There are bits and pieces of me in several of my characters. I bake compulsively like Marienne. I’m an insomniac and a worrier like Daniel. I attended NYU like several of my characters. Those are just tiny facets of who they are, though, they’re not based on me, they just have characteristics and experiences I’m familiar with so I know I’m getting those aspects right. For the most part my characters have habits/quirks/features/personalities that are nothing like me. I love writing characters who do and say things I never would because then I get to live vicariously through them. It’s one of the perks of being a writer. You can have your characters do or say whatever you want. 

I totally agree.

Do you have a routine for writing? Do you work better at night, in the afternoon, or in the morning?
I write off and on all day long, but I work best late at night. I’ve always been a night owl and I find my mind is sharpest and my head the clearest in the late evening or wee hours of the morning. I’m also an insomniac so this is a convenient combo and happens to be the only time my house is quiet, so it all works out well.

Where’s home for you?

Northern New England.

I love New England. Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where you live.

Weird thing: The name of my town is actually spelled wrong. Two hundred years ago when they were having the name carved into a stone it was spelled incorrectly and rather than pay to have it redone they just went with the wrong spelling.
Nice thing: It’s a mountaintop town that’s mostly wooded, has a waterfall and a scenic overlook where you can see for miles. And the people who live here are awesome. (Okay that’s two nice things---what can I say? I love where I live.)
Factual thing: The highest point in town is 1015 feet above sea level.

Is there anything in particular that you do to help the writing flow? Music? Acting out the scene? Long showers?

Long showers. Oh God, yes. I don’t know what it is about the shower that makes ideas come to me. Maybe because it’s the only place in the house where someone’s not likely to be talking to me or popping in with a question (although my cat does often stick his head into the shower and lick the wall---eww---he’s a weird kitten). Maybe it’s because I’m busy doing things that don’t require thought, like shampooing, so my mind is free to wander. Maybe it’s just the steam. Or maybe it’s that it’s the one place where I’m guaranteed not to have a pen and paper so I have to just let the story keep playing over and over in my head until I can get out and write it down. Whatever it is, I can say I’ve definitely come up with some of my very best scenes and ideas while showering. I really need to buy one of those waterproof shower notepad thingies. In fact, I think I’ll add that to my Christmas wishlist right now!

Attention Karen’s family! Did you take note? Only fourteen more shopping days left! Karen, what three books have you read recently and would recommend?

I have read and adored the three books in Tiffany Reisz’s Original Sinners series: The Siren, The Angel and The Prince. They’re all completely different and totally amazing. Detailed characters, intricately interwoven plots, heartbreakingly sad at times, laugh out loud funny other times. Beautiful prose with sharp, witty dialogue---I highly recommend them.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
In the rare moments when I’m not writing, I love to spend time with friends (in person or online), and I truly enjoy cooking and baking. Luckily I do all my writing at my kitchen desk, on my laptop, so I’m often cooking/baking, writing and online chatting all at once. I’m an excellent multi-tasker!

Last question that I'm sure your fans want to know: What are you working on now?

At the moment I’m working on four different projects. One is a contemporary romance with a tragic virgin hero---it’s a friends to lovers story with a very atypical path to romance. Another is a women’s fiction/contemporary romance starring Justine, one of the secondary characters in Meant To Be and Holding On. Justine isn’t the focus of either of those books, and I thought she deserved to have her story told.  The third is an erotic romance featuring a married couple trying to keep the spark alive in their marriage. The fourth is a super sekrit, so I can’t tell you more than the fact that it exists. I have about eight more ideas in my to-be-written notebook, I just have to find the time to write them.

Great. And I hope you'll come back soon and talk to us about Meant To Be's sequel Holding On.
About the author:

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details. 

Karen has published three erotic romances with Ellora’s Cave: Marry Me (June 2012), Long-Distance Lovers (co-written with Karen Booth, March 2012) and Always You (Passionate Plume First Place Novella Winner, RWA 2012).

Karen’s first full-length novel, Meant To Be, was released from Turquoise Morning Press on August 26, 2012. Its sequel, Holding On, was released on November 26, 2012. A prequel to these novels, the short story All I Need, appears in the Foreign Affairs Anthology (Turquoise Morning Press, August 2012).

Coming in 2013 Karen will have several contemporary romances releasing from Samhain Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press. The first of these, THEN, AGAIN will release from Samhain on May 23, 2013.


Connect with Karen:
Website   
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon author page
Amazon book page
RomanceEbooks

Barnes & Noble

Turquoise Morning Press

To read an excerpt of Meant To Be, click here.
To read a guest post by Karen, click here.

Alexa Grace Book Tour

About The Deadly Trilogy:



From bestselling new author Alexa Grace, The Deadly Trilogy, three books with non-stop suspense and a healthy dose of toe-curling passion will have you holding your breath from the first page to the last.



Deadly Offerings - Book One
Anne Mason thinks she’ll be safe living in the Midwest living on a wind farm left to her by her ex's mother. She may be dead wrong. Someone is dumping bodies in her corn field and telling Anne they are gifts—for her! And how can she be falling in love with the hot attorney who represented her ex-husband in their divorce proceedings? 



Deadly Deception - Book Two
Enter the disturbing world of illegal adoptions, baby trafficking and murder with new detective Lane Hansen and private investigator Frankie Douglas. Going undercover as husband and wife, Lane and Frankie struggle to keep their relationship strictly professional as their sizzling passion threatens to burn out of control. Can they keep passion in control long enough to take down two murderers? 



Deadly Relations - Book Three
Detective Jennifer Brennan, still haunted by her abduction five years before, devotes her life to serve and protect others. Love is the last thing on her mind, but will it find her after three young women go missing and are found murdered on her watch and she vows to find the killer — or die trying. 



Alexa Grace's Deadly Trilogy Boxed Set
With more than 600 five-star reviews, it's time for you to discover the three Deadly Trilogy books: Deadly Offerings, Deadly Deception and Deadly Relations.

Excerpt from Deadly Deception



“Lane, I know you’re ready to do undercover work, but with this case I need two cops who can pose as a married couple. Unfortunately, we’ve got three women on the team. One is built like a linebacker and the other two are pregnant."



“Sir, for this case, why don’t we go outside the department? I know a Private Investigator who can handle herself on a job like this."



Newly appointed Sheriff Tim Brennan’s brows drew together in a suspicious expression.

“What’s the PI’s name?”



“Frankie Douglas. I worked with her last year on the Charles Beatty serial killer case. She’s a former sharpshooter for the Army.” 



“Is this the same Frankie Douglas you shot?” 


Lane’s face flushed with the guilt he still felt about the shooting.


“Yes, sir. It was an accident. We were heading down the stairs of Beatty’s cellar to apprehend him when one of the steps gave way and when I fell my gun went off and hit Frankie.”



“Has Frankie Douglas done police work before?” 



“I heard she’s a former detective.”



“I think I’ve heard about her. Isn’t she a pretty tall blonde woman?” 



“Oh, she’s smokin’ hot. Think Victoria Secret hot.” 



“Is that right? Do you have a personal thing going with Ms. Douglas?” 



“No sir. Strictly professional.”

Of course, if he’d had a chance, he’d have made in personal in 2.5 seconds. 

Brennan glared at Lane then picked up his phone and dialed a number.

“Hello, Frankie, this is Uncle Tim. I may have a job for you. Would you please drop by my office?”



About the author:

Alexa Grace's journey started in March 2011 when the Sr. Director of Training & Development position she'd held for thirteen years was eliminated. A door closed but another one opened. She finally had the time to pursue her dream of writing books -- her dream since childhood. Her focus is now on writing riveting romantic suspense novels. 

Alexa earned two degrees from Indiana State University and currently lives in Florida. She's a member of Romance Writers of America (national) as well as the Florida Chapter. 
Alexa Grace is listed in the top ten of Amazon's Top 100 Most Popular Authors in the categories Romantic Suspense and Police Procedural. She was recently named one of the top 100 Indie authors by Kindle Review. A chapter is devoted to her in the book Interviews with Indie Authors by C. Ridgway and T. Ridgway. Her books Deadly Offerings, Deadly Deception, and Deadly Relations have consistently been listed in the top ten of Amazon's Top 100 Bestselling Romantic Suspense and Police Procedural Books. All three books are available in Alexa Grace's Deadly Trilogy Boxed Set. 

Her writing support team includes five Miniature Schnauzers, three of which are rescues. As a writer, she is fueled by Starbucks lattes, chocolate and emails from readers. 

Deadly Holiday, published in November 2012, is her holiday-themed romantic suspense novella, featuring all her Deadly Trilogy characters. 

Profile of Evil, the first book of the Profile Trilogy will be available in spring 2013.

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads 
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo Books

Excerpt from The Green Ticket

College junior Alex Abrams scores her dream job at the ripe age of twenty – manager to a successful salon and spa. Thrilled to finally have a real adult job, Alex enthusiastically jumps into the world of schedules, conference calls, and getting a massage when interviewing prospective employees. What she doesn’t expect are the very grown-up issues that comes with a demanding boss. Kevin Dohlman quickly becomes Alex’s worse nightmare – covering up his affairs, dealing with his enormous ego, and trying to protect her female staff from him becomes a full-time job in its own right. Alex has also befriended Kevin’s wife and co-owner, Dani, and is trying to keep Kevin’s secrets hidden from her. The situation only worsens when Kevin starts paying Alex off to make sure she keeps her insider knowledge to herself.

While struggling to keep her wits and stay happy with her new grown-up job, Alex is juggling college courses, a new love interest, and keeping up with her close group of girlfriends. When her roommate and best friend Lila gets offered an opportunity to move to Los Angeles and sign with an agent, Alex realizes her life truly is changing, and everyone around her – including herself –– is growing up.  Knowing she is faced with some hard decisions ahead, Alex struggles with keeping her job at Blissful. But does she really want to throw away what she dreamed of as a career – or will the secret-keeping for Kevin become too much to handle? The Green Ticket is a story about morals versus money, and how one young woman navigates the shaky line between the two.


Chapter 1

Bustling salon and spa seeking a full time manager to oversee daily operations. Job duties will include but will not be limited to: hiring and scheduling staff, assisting with appointment management, scheduling training opportunities, dealing with cash flow, marketing and advertising of the business, and ensuring salon and spa is run with class and enthusiasm. No experience in salon and spa business is required, but a business degree is preferred. Serious, enthusiastic, and hard-working individuals please email résumé and cover letter to danidohlman@blissfulsalonandspa.com. Hours will vary, pay is negotiable and based on experience.

I cracked my knuckles against my palm, tiny pops of the bad habit music to my ears. A manager at a salon and spa? This job listing was practically screaming my name. I didn’t have any experience with managing a salon–– or anywhere for that matter–– but I loved getting my hair done. And mani/pedis. And my bushy eyebrows needed a good hot wax job at least once every thirty days.

                I bookmarked the job listing, making a note on my daily to-do list sitting next to my laptop. Polish résumé, I scribbled, right after 60 minutes Pilates/yoga workout and finish cleaning kitchen.

                Lila burst through the door at that moment, her long blonde hair flying behind her. “We must work out tonight. Please come and motivate me. I’m getting my pictures taken in two weeks and I really need to drop some weight. And tone up. Look firm. Look good. The TV adds ten pounds, you know. Did you get your assignment done yet for Bater’s class? I need to work on that too.” Even though Lila Medlin had been my best friend for years, the speed at which she did everything still amazed me. I watched her beautiful virgin hair (she’s a natural blonde–– the bitch) barely make it past the doorframe before getting caught.

                “You’re in luck. I was going to do some Pilates and yoga tonight anyway. Just do it with me. That will help firm and tighten. Even though you know I don’t think you need it.”

                “When I fit into your size two jeans, I’ll finally start listening.” Lila walked into the kitchen, opening cabinets, then the refrigerator. “We have no food! Want to order a pizza or something? Ooh, maybe some wings? I’m craving hot sauce.”

                I walked into the kitchen behind her, peering into the depths of our pathetic excuse for a dorm fridge. “We have food. Here’s a bag of lettuce, some carrot sticks back here and croutons in the cabinet. I snagged some packets of ranch from the lounge yesterday. Voila–– let’s make a salad!”

                Lila pulled a face, reacting like I asked her to go on Survivor and eat cockroaches. “Uh, yeah. Salad sounds great if I was trying to starve myself, Alex. I’m craving real food, not rabbit food.”       
    
                I held my hands up in surrender. “You’re the one talking about toning and firming. I’m just saying a salad will give you better odds than buffalo wings.” I wasn’t going to mention the calorie count I had just estimated in my head.

                Lila dreamt of one day becoming an entertainment reporter and was itching for the chance to get out of Dodge–– or rather, Iowa. Lila and I had been best friends since we came to Kaufman College in Des Moines three years ago, and had been living together for two. We wanted to move out on our own and get a house, but neither of us had the financials to support that yet. Lila was saving every penny to put towards photography sessions, voice lessons and even acting classes. Her big goal was to head out to Los Angeles and somehow land an audition for Buzzworthy, the hottest celebrity news show at the moment. I supported her goal of being a reporter, though I had no idea how to help her achieve it.

                My goals weren’t as specific as Lila’s. Mainly, I wanted to be able to stand on my own two feet and stop relying on my sister for everything. Alicia was my big sister, married to Craig Bowersworth and living with their five kids in Seattle. Craig’s job as a political campaign manager led them to many places, but Alicia fell in love with Seattle the minute she laid eyes on the rainy landscape, so they put down roots there. Alicia was a stay at home mom, and with Craig’s income that he pulled in, money was not a worry for them. Alicia helped me stay financially afloat by sending me money each month. I held down stray jobs here and there, but still hadn’t quite figured out what I wanted to do when I graduated. I was studying Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship at college and still waiting to see which direction the wind would take me. 

                “Fine, fine, a salad it is. Can you whip one up for me quick? I need to put my face on before Joel comes over.”

                “What time is he stopping by?”

                “He said around five. He has some study group thing tonight so he wanted to drop by and see me before that.” Joel Lohrbach had been Lila’s boyfriend for just over year, starting when we were sophomores in college. Lila fell hard and fast for Joel, and the attraction still baffled me. Joel was short and geeky, with spiked black hair and big glasses that did not make a fashion statement, and always had his nose in a book. Lila was tall, blonde and gorgeous, with ambitions to live in sunny LA and schmooze with celebrities. Joel was not agreeable to Lila’s future plans and I had no idea what would happen to their relationship if Lila actually made it in the entertainment biz. I wouldn’t mind seeing them break up. I thought Joel was a dick to Lila more than a sweetheart. But she loved him, and who was I to say anything if my friend seemed happy. Enough.

                “Okay. Get your makeup on and we’ll eat some salad and change for the gym. And you can help me look at this job I’m thinking about applying for. Tell me if you get good vibes or not.” Lila always said she got “vibes” about certain things, such as if the elective I wanted to sign up for would be a brain buster or if the new Chinese restaurant in town had bugs in their food. And she’s usually pretty spot on.

                “No problem. Are you thinking about leaving Tastie’s again?” Lila’s voice was muffled as she shouted out from the bathroom.

                I put a healthy portion of lettuce in two plastic cereal bowls, quickly diced up the carrots and sprinkled those in, and shook the worn bag of croutons over the top. After smothering the salads with ranch dressing–– officially taking them from a healthy snack to a questionable one with the rich, calorie-laden topping–– I was satisfied. Finding two clean forks in our utensil drawer was somewhat of a challenge, since neither of us were big on washing dishes. After finally finding two, I took a seat at our two-person table shoved in the back corner of our minuscule kitchen and waited for Lila.

                “Did you hear me? Are you thinking about leaving Tastie’s?” Lila came back into the kitchen, her face glowing and her blue eyes popping, even though she looked like she had no makeup on. I had yet to master the natural look like she could–– wearing two tons of concealer, highlighter, blush, shadow, liner and mascara, and looking like she had just woken up. Mine always ended up looking like clown makeup when I would put the effort in.

                I dug into my salad, loading up my fork with lettuce and a crouton. “Yeah, just thinking about it, though. I’m getting tired of all my Friday and Saturday nights getting spent with sleazy guys. But the money is really helping me build up my savings account. I can’t live off Alicia forever.”

                “I know, but look how good you’re doing saving money. You won’t be a waitress forever.”

                “I wish I knew what I did want to be. How hard is it to figure out a career, especially as a junior in college? Shouldn’t I have this down already so I can stop taking all these electives?”

                “Some people need more time. You’ll figure it out. If you don’t by the time I hit the high road out of this state, just come to LA with me. You could probably find a job out there in a heartbeat.”

                “As what?”

                “A model! An actress! I could get all the exclusive scoops on which designer you’re wearing and who you’re making a sex tape with next. We could rule the world out there together. Come on, Alex! What do you think? Sounds good, huh?”

                “Lila, I won’t be making sex tapes with anyone in the foreseeable future. Or the unforeseeable future either, you perv.” I dug out the last crouton from the bottom of the bowl, crunching it between my teeth. “Besides, that lifestyle just isn’t for me. I don’t like being the center of attention. I would rather be behind the scenes.”

                “What about a movie director? Or a screenwriter?” Lila kept firing off suggestions, and while I appreciated her trying to help, I knew it would never work. I was a painfully shy child growing up, always hiding behind my sister and keeping to myself. Our mother, Lisa Abrams, died when I was five, Alicia fifteen. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer and by the time the doctors found it, the disease was too far gone. She was only thirty-three. I didn’t have a lot of memories from her, just little snippets–– like the way her perfume smelled and how she loved being outdoors. I remembered that she used to push me around in a red wagon all the time, around the block or sometimes all the way down to the convenience store if she needed something. I missed her terribly, but sometimes I thought it was just the idea of a having a mom that I missed most. I didn’t know her enough to miss Lisa the person, but I knew I missed Lisa the mom.

                Our father, Marcus Abrams, was madly in love with our mother. Alicia would tell me stories of how they would dance around the living room at night when they thought she was already asleep. How Marcus was the kind of guy who never missed her birthday or forgot flowers on their anniversary. My parents were high school sweethearts and married just weeks after graduation, welcoming Alicia eight months later. Marcus went a little crazy after she died, not being able to handle the grief. He tried hard to stick around and be a good dad, but left right after Alicia turned seventeen. I really didn’t miss him as much. My memories of him aren’t very good ones. After Mom passed away, he took up drinking too much whisky every night to hide the pain, and I remember him yelling at Alicia all the time. He wrote Alicia and myself a letter when he left, saying he couldn’t stand the physical reminders of Mom–– which apparently were us. He eventually remarried and now lives in Georgia with his new wife and her children. I hadn’t spoken to him since he left, and Alicia was no longer in contact with him, either.

                Alicia was my hero. We had an aunt and uncle that took us in for a year, until Alicia turned eighteen. After that, we moved to Des Moines from our hometown of Baruva, Illinois, population just under 1,000 and not much opportunity. Alicia secured a job at the capitol building, starting as a typist and working her way up to secretary, then an office manager. It was there that she met Craig Bowersworth, and they immediately fell in love and were married. Alicia worked her ass of as essentially a single mother for years, helping raise me, enrolling me in school, keeping me clothed and healthy. I loved my sister with all my heart and missed her terribly. I had thoughts of moving to Seattle to be close to her again, but I loved Kaufman College and Lila and my other friends and really wanted to make it on my own. I wanted to stop relying on her for tuition and rent money and health insurance.

                “Those are all great suggestions, just not for me. I was thinking about choosing a different major, maybe trying to narrow it down or something. Business is so broad, so general. Maybe that’s part of the problem.”

                Lila carried our bowls to the sink, adding some dish soap and running water over them to “let them soak.” Lila’s version of doing the dishes.  “That’s always a possibility. Let me look at the job quick that you mentioned. What was it for?”            

                “A manager at a spa and salon.”

                “That would be perfect for you! You love those places. And see ––your major could help you out here.”

                “Don’t get too excited. I can’t see a whole lot of owners putting an inexperienced twenty-year old in charge just because she loves getting pedicures.” I pulled up the bookmarked page and Lila started reading, running her eyes across the page.

                “Alex, are you kidding me? It says right here, ‘no experience required, business degree preferred.’ That’s you! What are you waiting for?”

                “First of all, a lot of job postings say they don’t need experienced people, but if someone walks in and has ten years working at a spa under their belt, they will get the job. And secondly, I don’t have a degree yet. Or have you forgotten that minor detail?”

                Lila shooed off my concerns with a wave of her hand. “Big deal. You’ve nailed every interview you have been on. You’re enthusiastic, hard-working, and personable. You have to at least apply for it. Just give it a chance. You’ll never know unless you go for it.”

                “I already put getting my résumé together on my to-do list for today.” I hesitated, weighing the pros and cons in my head. “And I do interview well.” I once landed a job as a hotel clerk, even though I interviewed in a mini-skirt. In my defense, I never meant to interview, or even apply for the job when I left my apartment on the way to the mall that day. I saw the Now Hiring sign from the road and decided to stop in for an application. The manager was there and not busy, so I filled out my app, did the interview, and scored the job the next day. “I’ll get it done by the end of the week,” I decided, causing Lila to squeal and clap her hands together. “But I’m not going to get overly optimistic about this. And I’m going to keep job hunting. Waitressing is just not for me anymore.”

                “I agree. I’m getting tired of it too. I feel like something positive could happen here. You’re focusing on getting a fab career, and I’m going to up my chances of getting discovered. I feel good. Things are about to change for us, Alex.”

                “I hope you’re right, my friend. I hope you’re right.”

Samantha March...

...is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up to date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and celebrity related. In 2011 she launched her independent publishing company Marching Ink and her debut novel Destined to Fail. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers.


Website
Blog
Facebook page
Twitter
Amazon: paperback  eBook


For more links, and to read an interview with Samantha, click here.

Talking with Samantha March

Today I’m happy to be talking with Samantha March about her newest novel, The Green Ticket. Welcome, Samantha. How did you come up with the title of your book?

I actually thought of the title in the very beginning stages of planning, which was the opposite of what happened with my first title, Destined to Fail. I envisioned the scene with my characters talking about “the green ticket” and that was also one of the first scenes that I wrote for the book.

Do you have another job outside of writing?

I sure do! I work full-time at a hospital in town, and then also besides writing I run ChickLitPlus.com, am the owner of CLP Blog Tours, and do freelance editing.

How do you write--with an outline, by the seat of your pants, or do you let your characters tell you what to write?

With my first book, it was very much write by the seat of my pants. I general plot, but no characters really carved out or anything in mind for chapters. With The Green Ticket, I had my main characters all thought out, I had ideas on how each chapter should begin and end, and there was basically no write by the seat of my pants! I’m curious to see what book three will bring!

Did you have any say in your cover art?

I had a great time with my cover. I had an idea – I wanted to see Alex on there and wanted money involved. My cover designer, Scarlett Rugers, was fabulous at taking those little ideas and turning them into my gorgeous cover!

How do you get to know your characters?

What I am trying with book three is interviewing my characters. I have a set of questions that range from what’s your favorite childhood memory to what car do you drive to what is a secret no one else knows. This is helping me tremendously in building a new cast of characters.

I’m constantly on the lookout for new names. How do you name your characters?

I google baby names! I typically know what I want their name to start with, so that helps narrow it down!

How do you handle criticism of your work?

I think it’s something to learn from. I really dislike when authors take the time to attack people that gave them criticism, which in the book blogging world I have seen way too much of. I will email or comment to the reviewers simply thanking them for giving me a chance. I firmly believe keeping it classy is the way to go, and that’s what I strive for.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I prefer to write in the morning, and I typically always stay in my office to help keep me focused and away from the TV.

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

Well, right now I am planning my wedding! I am getting married September 7, 2013 so I am working hard on my wedding checklist!

Congratulations! Besides a wedding, what's next?

Book number three! Not much yet to talk about though ;)

Thank you for being here, Samantha. Good luck with your new book, and with your wedding!


About the book: 

College junior Alex Abrams scores her dream job at the ripe age of twenty – manager to a successful salon and spa. Thrilled to finally have a real adult job, Alex enthusiastically jumps into the world of schedules, conference calls, and getting a massage when interviewing prospective employees. What she doesn’t expect are the very grown-up issues that comes with a demanding boss. Kevin Dohlman quickly becomes Alex’s worse nightmare – covering up his affairs, dealing with his enormous ego, and trying to protect her female staff from him becomes a full-time job in its own right. Alex has also befriended Kevin’s wife and co-owner, Dani, and is trying to keep Kevin’s secrets hidden from her. The situation only worsens when Kevin starts paying Alex off to make sure she keeps her insider knowledge to herself.

While struggling to keep her wits and stay happy with her new grown-up job, Alex is juggling college courses, a new love interest, and keeping up with her close group of girlfriends. When her roommate and best friend Lila gets offered an opportunity to move to Los Angeles and sign with an agent, Alex realizes her life truly is changing, and everyone around her – including herself –– is growing up.  Knowing she is faced with some hard decisions ahead, Alex struggles with keeping her job at Blissful. But does she really want to throw away what she dreamed of as a career – or will the secret-keeping for Kevin become too much to handle? The Green Ticket is a story about morals versus money, and how one young woman navigates the shaky line between the two.

About the author:

Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up to date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and celebrity related. In 2011 she launched her independent publishing company Marching Ink and her debut novel Destined to Fail. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers.

Where to find Samantha:
Website
Blog
Facebook page
Goodreads author page
Twitter
Amazon paperback  Ebook
Barnes & Noble eBook
Kobo eBook
Marching Ink

Talking with Kathleen Brooks

A few months ago, I met Kathleen Brooks at a Centre College alumni author event. Today I’m happy to have the author here to talk about her romantic suspense novel, A Bluegrass State of Mind. In addition to attending the same college and being a fellow Kentucky author, I was surprised to find how much we are alike. From the quirky characters in our fictional small southern towns, to both wanting to live in Charleston, South Carolina, to...well, this is her interview, so I’ll just say that after each of her answers, I found myself saying, oh my gosh—me too!




About the book:
See where the USA Today Bestselling Author Kathleen Brooks began!
 This is the first book in Kathleen Brooks' Best-Selling Bluegrass series.

 McKenna Mason, a New York City attorney with a love of all things Prada, is on the run from a group of powerful, dangerous men. McKenna turns to a teenage crush, Will Ashton, for help in starting a new life in beautiful horse country.

She finds that Will is now a handsome, successful racehorse farm owner. As the old flame is ignited, complications are aplenty in the form of a nasty ex-wife, an ex-boyfriend intent on killing her, and a feisty racehorse who refuses to race without a kiss. Can Will and McKenna cross the finish line together, and more importantly, alive?

Welcome, Kathleen.

Let’s get right to it. What do you like best about writing?

I love getting lost in my imaginary world of Keeneston, Kentucky. 



What’s your least favorite thing?

I hate that I sometimes get totally lost in the writing and let the laundry and dust pile up.

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?

I begin by creating an outline that lays out the beginning, middle and end. As I'm writing, I let the characters take over.

Characters really do make the best writers! What about cover art--I found my cover artist online and worked with her to produce the front and back book covers. Did you have any say in your cover art?

Yes, I hire my own cover artist. Her name is Calista Taylor, and she is wonderful. We work together to find the right combination that really embraces the story within. We laugh and have a great time with the process. This part is very exciting because you know it is getting very close to release at that point.

You’re so right. I was so excited to see the first draft of my cover, because it was like seeing the face of my “baby” for the first time. When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?

Yes, Bluegrass State of Mind is the first book of the Bluegrass series. Each of the books is set in the same town, so many of the secondary characters appear in each book. Also, as a reader, I always wanted to know what happened to my favorite characters after the book was done. So I always include updates on couples from past books in each new release.  There are always new characters brought into the new stories, but they are all created before I get into the writing process.

Again, I totally agree. I’m constantly on the lookout for new names. How do you name your characters?

Here in Kentucky, you get a variety of different names.  I have tried to infuse that in my stories.  My main characters all feature first names that I personally like. To get the last names, I typically look through online sources to find the best combination. But the most fun is picking Southern names and nicknames.  I have several double first names that seem to just roll off the tongue.  The nicknames are a result of funny life experiences.

Ditto, ditto, ditto! Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

I really enjoyed creating the scenes at the Kentucky Derby. It was so much fun to create a scene for the readers who may never get to experience the real thing.

Well, as a Louisvillian, the Kentucky Derby holds a special place in my heart. Is there anything in particular that you do to help the writing flow? Music? Acting out the scene? Long showers?


Yes, I have a playlist of music that is upbeat rock music. I also have to call my husband in to work out fight scenes and mental blocks during writing. He never knows what's about to happen when he walks in the room!

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


I absolutely love living in Central Kentucky.  But if I had to select a second place to live, I would choose Charleston, South Carolina.  I visit the area often and absolutely love the local food.  This history of the city is well preserved and celebrated by the residents.  The Southern flare is definitely a big plus for me. And you can't beat being so close to many wonderful beaches!

Last question--what are you working on now? 


I am currently working on my sixth book (the third in the Bluegrass Brothers series).  It does not have a title right now, but will soon.  I am anticipating a January 2013 release.

I know your fans are excited to hear that! Thank you so much for talking to me today, Kathleen.

I just want to mention the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway that Kathleen is sponsoring. Each day will feature different prizes which will be announced in that day’s post on her blog. Kathleen is giving away tons of books donated by some great authors. Prizes range from e-books, signed books, gift cards, and more! Visit Kathleen’s blog for the rules and more information, and the promotion is running on her Facebook page.

About the author:

Kathleen Brooks has garnered attention for her debut novel, Bluegrass State of Mind, as a new voice in romance with a warm Southern feel. Her books feature quirky small town characters you’ll feel like you’ve known forever, romance, humor, and mystery all mixed into one perfect glass of sweet tea. Kathleen is an animal lover who supports rescue organizations and other non-profit organizations whose goals are to protect and save our four-legged family members. Kathleen lives in Central Kentucky with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and a cat who thinks he’s a dog.

Find Kathleen:
Website
Blog 
Facebook page
Goodreads author page
Twitter
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Apple iBooks

Meet Sam Jenkins

Sam's latest book is Heroes & Lovers:

Sam Jenkins might say, “Falling in love is like catching a cold. It’s infectious and involuntary. Just don’t sneeze on any innocent people.”

Getting kidnapped and becoming infatuated with a married policeman never made TV reporter Rachel Williamson’s list of things to do before Christmas. But helping her friend, Sam Jenkins with a fraud investigation would be fun and get her an exclusive story.
Sam’s investigation put Rachel in the wrong place at the wrong time and her abduction by a mentally disturbed fan, ruined several days of her life.

When Jenkins learns Rachel has gone missing, he cancels holiday leaves, mobilizes the personnel at Prospect PD, and enlists his friends from the FBI to help find her.

During the early stages of the investigation, Sam develops several promising leads, but as they begin to fizzle, his prime suspect drops off the planet and all the resources of the FBI aren’t helping.

After a lucky break and a little old-fashioned pressure on an informant produce an important clue, the chief leads his team deep into the Smoky Mountains to rescue his friend. But after Rachel is once again safe at home, he finds their problems are far from over.


In October we talked with the author of the Sam Jenkins mystery series, Wayne Zurl, about his new book, Heroes & Lovers. Ever since then, I’ve been trying to get his main character, Sam Jenkins, to talk to me. I’m happy to say he’s finally here. Sam is a personable, laid back, affable man, who is remarkably a lot like Wayne. Sam is the police chief of Prospect, Tennessee and coincidentally, Wayne is a former police officer. Everybody likes Sam, and I think you will too. Grab a glass of sweet tea, and sit back and enjoy this interview with Sam Jenkins.


Sam, thank you so much for agreeing to talk to me. It’s a pleasure to meet you. How did you first meet your writer?

Wayne and I were born in Brooklyn, and around 1949, our parents moved east on Long Island. I met him again at a place called Goodrich Street School. From there it was uncanny--high school, a job and part-time college, then the Army, the police department, more college on the GI Bill, and then we retired. We never hung out together, but our paths always crossed. Occasionally, we’d work on something together. Now we’re retired and living in east Tennessee, and he wanted to become my Doctor Watson. You’d think he had his own war stories to tell. And I’m still waiting for my share of the royalties on these books. If you’re talking with him, refresh his memory.


He said he doesn’t know what you’re talking about. Sorry. I tried. I wouldn’t hold my breath on him coughing up any royalties. What is Wayne’s best trait?

I just told you how he’s welching on our business agreement, and now I’ll contradict myself. The man is honest to a fault--almost disgusting. I think he really believes that old Army motto: ‘Death before dishonor.’ I think he’s kinda nuts.


Well, maybe there’s hope for some royalties yet. Okay, now that we’ve been nice, give us some dirt. What’s his worst trait? Besides stiffing you with the royalties.

I’m afraid he suffers from the same shortcoming I have. He’s terminally impatient. And that can get a cop into trouble. I won’t mention that he drinks more than me, and I think he falls in love much too easily.


So Wayne’s as big a flirt as you are? Who gets whom into trouble with your flirting? Do you make Wayne write those scenes and dialogue or does he make you say and do those things?

Does he say I flirt?

Um...yeah...

I’m just being nice to people—and they happen to be women.

Mmm hmmm.

I get along with women better than men. And nobody likes a detective with a broomstick stuck--

Ho, ho, hold it right there, mister!

Would you answer questions or do a favor for someone who was stuffy or mean to you?

Well, no, I guess not...

I guess he’s just writing about what he sees. I’ll explain things and straighten him out.


Good luck with that. Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

The whole idea about the kidnapping and me accomplishing more than the FBI is something I’ll always love. But that scene in the cabin at Top O’ the World is what I’d like to see on film. Who do you think should play me in the movie? 


I love that scene too. I really do. Hmmm...who should play you in the movie...um...how about Billy Bob Thornton?

He’s a little off-beat and too short.


Clint Eastwood? Too old. 


Dennis Hopper?

He’s dead!

Oops. Really? How about Bruce Willis? 


Not a bad choice, but he’d have to get over the shaved head thing.


Wayne Zurl?

Hmmm. He knows how to act like a cop, but he doesn’t belong to the actors union. 


I don’t know. I’m terrible at casting. Hey, how about Mark Harmon? I think you’ve got it. 


Did you have a hard time convincing your author to write any particular scenes for you?

Wayne and the publisher weren’t crazy about telling the world I got a little carried away interrogating that miscreant Elrod Swaggerty. But that’s the way it happened. Hey, I’m only human and needed to get some answers. Andy Sipowitz has done worse on NYPD Blue.


For sure. I wouldn’t feel bad about it. I mean, it was Elrod, for Pete’s sake. Great name, by the way--Elrod. How did you come up with it? 


I was looking in a local phone book for character names. I made two columns of interesting possibilities, one for first names and one for surnames. Then I mixed and matched by sound and the character’s personality. Elrod Swaggerty had a ring to it.


It certainly does. What's the worst thing that's happened in your life--aside from meeting Elrod Swaggerty?

The third time I got wounded in Vietnam, I ended up in a hospital for almost a month. I was hurt, but so many guys there were in worse shape than me. The government must be totally sure we need to go to war before we charge in and waste young lives or cause kids to spend the rest of their lives disabled. I couldn’t have made a simple arrest with the amount of reasonable cause to believe they had when Bush said Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. With nothing more than a suspicion, based on unconfirmed intelligence, they started a war lasting more than ten years. Makes you wonder why. No one should be asked to fight for economic reasons. 


Agreed. And thank you for your service. Being a soldier and a policeman can be dangerous work. What are you most afraid of?

Losing my hair.


Ha! That’s cheating, but okay, I guess you’re fearless. What’s the best trait your author has given you?
He portrays me as my own man. I like that. Peer pressure, political pressure, taking the easy way out, isn’t as important as professionally doing the right thing. Wow—shades of King Arthur and Sir Galahad.

What’s the worst? 

I think he’s annoyed at himself, and he lays that impatience thing on me too. But I guess that’s true. Sometimes you’ve just got to make things happen.

Absolutely. Does Wayne know that patience is a virtue? 
Oh well, at this point, he’s probably not going to change, right? How do you feel about the life Wayne’s given you right now?

If nothing else, the old guy’s got a good memory and gets the facts straight. I like how he makes me look in print. In the PD we’d call it ‘good ink.’ I just hope he doesn’t think I owe him now. If he gets that idea, he’ll want to borrow my Austin-Healey.


Oh no. You can’t let that happen. What aspect of your author’s writing style do you like best?

He’s learned a lot from a guy named Robert B. Parker--the man who wrote the Spenser and Jesse Stone novels. Wayne tries to tell the stories in the fewest possible words with lots of realistic dialogue. I like that idea. 


Robert B. Parker is my hero. Sigh. And don't forget he wrote the Sunny Randall series too. You know what else you have in common with him? He set his stories in the town where he lived. You do that too with Prospect, Tennessee. Describe Prospect for us.

Prospect is the quintessential small American town. Clean streets, old trees, a town square, and a municipal building that looks like one of those great old Carnegie libraries. Hit one of the high spots, and you’ve got breathtaking views of mountains almost 7,000 feet tall. The sun doesn’t always shine, but it’s a nice place. And if you like really good-looking blondes, Prospect PD has the most beautiful desk sergeant on the planet. 


How can you be so sure? Have you met every desk sergeant on the planet? Never mind. What kind of trouble do you think Wayne will get you into next?

Right now he’s working on a book about my first--and only, I hope--venture into the world of country and western music. No, he doesn’t have me playing the banjo or singing. My buddy, the mayor, asks me to guard C.J. Profitt, his old school chum, who’s made it to the top of the Nashville charts. She’s back in Prospect for a benefit concert, and a group of right-wing nitwits have sent her several threatening letters. They take exception to her alternative lifestyle and want her out of town or else. With the help of a few others, keeping her safe wouldn’t be too difficult, but she doesn’t like me and refuses to cooperate. I can’t imagine why she hates me. 


She doesn’t like you? No way. Maybe she needs more time to get to know you. But you said “alternative lifestyle.” That might be the key word. Your flirting won’t work with her, will it? Into each life a little rain must fall... What kind of trouble will you get Wayne into next?


Wayne should stop spending so much time peddling his books on Facebook and Twitter. If he had more free time and any sense, he’d work cases with me. That’s the kind of trouble we’d call fun. We did it for twenty years in New York. There’s no reason to stop now. 


I totally agree. More writing, less social networking. Okay, tell the truth. Just between you and me, what do you think of the mayor of Prospect?

Ronnie Shields is a nice man, but he’s a politician. I can’t understand why people consider that a legitimate occupation and give prostitutes such a bad rap. 


That’s an interesting take on things. I’m gonna leave that one alone, though. Wayne is from Long Island, but he now lives near Knoxville, Tennessee. Is his dialect more Yankee or southern?

Wayne tries to cover his Nu Yawk accent. And he does a pretty good job until we get together with people from back home. Everyone speaks faster, uses the old expressions from on the block, and we all sound like we just stepped off Flatbush Avenue.


Ha! I knew it. But, Sam, you’re a southern boy. Tell the truth. You like sweet tea, don’t you?

I lived in South Hempstead once when Kate and I were first married. Even though I’ve been in Tennessee for twenty years, the sweetest thing I’ll drink is a Manhattan made with red vermouth.


For shame. Not liking sweet tea is a crime in my book. Are you amazed at the crime rate of Prospect, Tennessee?

Stunned. If you believe what Wayne writes, you’d think Prospect had a homicide rate greater than Detroit. But small towns can have their share of problems. Remember Jessica Fletcher in Cabot Cove, Maine? Those people dropped like flies. The reader has to remember these cases are transplanted from New York to Tennessee. We stay here because the taxes are low.


I prefer to think of Prospect as a hotbed of crime. If you ever need any help, give the Goose Pimple Junction chief of police, Johnny Butterfield, a call. He’ll be glad to hep ya. What case are you working on now, by the way?

Funny you asked. Just the other day, the resident OSI agent--beautiful woman named Roxy Wallace--walked into my office and asked me to help with a major case at McGhee-Tyson Air Base. That’s not my territory, but who could refuse someone like Roxy? I doubt we’ll need much time to clear this one, so Wayne can write one of his novelettes and get it published as an audio book. I like those. Kate and I listen to them when we take long drives.

I admit to listening to you a time or two on road trips, Sam.

Okay, Amy, we’ve played Twenty Questions, and now we’re finished. When you told me about that little place called Goose Pimple Junction, I checked the map. It’s not too far from Prospect. Come on, I’ll buy you lunch and you can tell me more about it. Oh, and thanks for inviting me here. I hope I’ve straightened out your fans and now they know Wayne’s not such a bad guy. 

Darlin’, they’re your fans. I don’t know though, you may have gotten Wayne into some hot water. But I can vouch for him. He’s a good guy and a good writer too.  So gwon, y’all—buy Heroes & Lovers. You’ll be glad you did. And yes, GPJ is purt near to Prospect. How about we gwon over to Slick & Junebug’s diner? And bring your wife, Kate. I always like talking to her. Thanks for being here, Sam. Come back when your next adventure hits the stands. And hey—let’s be careful out there.

About the author:

Wayne Zurl grew up on Long Island and retired after twenty years with the Suffolk County Police Department, one of the largest municipal law enforcement agencies in New York and the nation. For thirteen of those years he served as a section commander supervising investigators. He is a graduate of SUNY, Empire State College and served on active duty in the US Army during the Vietnam War and later in the reserves. Zurl left New York to live in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with his wife, Barbara.

Fifteen (15) of his Sam Jenkins mysteries have been produced as audio books and simultaneously published as eBooks. Ten (10) of these novelettes are now available in print under the titles of A Murder In Knoxville and Other Smoky Mountain Mysteries and Reenacting A Murder and Other Smoky Mountain Mysteries. Zurl’s first full-length novel, A New Prospect, was named best mystery at the 2011 Indie Book Awards, chosen as 1st Runner-Up from all Commercial Fiction at the 2012 Eric Hoffer Book Awards, and was nominated for a Montaigne Medal and First Horizon Book Award. His second novel, A Leprechaun's Lament, is available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle. A third full-length novel, Heroes & Lovers, was released on Sept 29, 2012.

For more information on Wayne’s Sam Jenkins mystery series see www.waynezurlbooks.net. You can read excerpts, reviews and endorsements, interviews, coming events, and see photos of the area where the stories take place.

Find Wayne and his books:

Facebook page
Goodreads author page
Twitter
Amazon author page 
Heroes & Lovers on Amazon
Heroes & Lovers on Barnes & Noble

Review

Heroes & Lovers is another Sam Jenkins mystery, and Wayne Zurl doesn't disappoint. The more we get to know Sam, the more we like him. He's a laid back type of hero, but he has his flaws. He also has a weakness for a pretty woman, which tends to get him in trouble from time to time because he has a beautiful wife waiting for him at home. But Sam is human, and life happens.

Wayne's characters are always likeable, and I'm a fan of the use of dialect. Wayne has the Tennessee speech down perfect. Being a retired police officer, he knows police procedure. And he's great at combining these elements and coming out with a good mystery. You read one Sam Jenkins story, and you'll want to read them all. The series is fictional, but the books always read like real life.

If you like well-developed characters, witty banter, and a good mystery, you'll love books by Wayne Zurl, and Heroes & Lovers is no exception. Highly enjoyable.