FEATURED AUTHOR: CHRISTA NARDI

ABOUT THE BOOK 

An amateur sleuth, Sheridan Hendley jumps at the chance to work with the defense when a favorite waitress is arrested for the murder of her ex-husband. Determined to prove Zoe’s innocence Sheridan probes into the victim’s past and why he chose to return to Cold Creek 15 years after the divorce. Personalities clash and Zoe’s family closes ranks as Sheridan attempts to unlock the carefully kept secrets of the family that owns and operates the Grill. The closer she gets to finding the truth, the more her own life might be in danger – a situation that strains her increasingly serious relationship with Detective Brett McMann.

INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTA NARDI

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

How did you come up with the title of your book?
This is the third in the series and each of the others started with Murder at or Murder in . . . The setting for this one is the family-owned restaurant in small town Cold Creek – the Grill.

Do you have another job outside of writing?
Yes, I do. As noted in the bio, like Sheridan, I am a professor and a psychologist.  Thankfully, the stories are all fiction – I’ve no experience with dead bodies or the other characters in the story.

How did you create the plot for this book?
I started with some basic ideas and, of course, the personalities and relationships from the first two in the series. It seemed a bit of a stretch for another dead body to be on the college campus so I needed another location that fit with the setting I’d created – the Grill.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?
Max is still my favorite. He represents the ivory tower stereotype and the old boy network. He is intelligent, smart, productive, and has a good heart, but sometimes lacks common sense. Although a scientist in his work, when it comes to social interactions, he is quick to jump to conclusions. He fully expects that others will defer to him and that makes others crazy. He has the melodrama of an adolescent but spouts science.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people? 
I think the characters are all conglomerates of people I’ve known at some point, and then exaggerated like a caricature. 

Are you like any of your characters?
I am most like Sheridan, but she is probably my “ideal” self. We share the curiosity, the analytic thinking, and the desire to solve a puzzle. On the other hand, Sheridan is a bit more contemplative and more grounded than I am. She’s never grouchy and she’s more social.

Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
I do allow Sheridan to be ‘human’ but she has much better self-control than I do and is also better at finding the silver lining.

Who are your favorite authors?

Of current cozy mystery writers, I always look forward to the next one in the series by Vanessa Gray Bartal (Lacy Steele Mystery Series), Kassandra Lamb (Kate Huntington Mystery Series), Ellen Crosby (Wine Country Mysteries) and, of course, Amy Metz (Goose Pimple Junction Mysteries). I recently started reading Dianne Harman too. But there are so many great writers out there, it is really hard to pick favorites.

I'm honored to be on your list! How long is your to-be-read pile?
As of today, I have about 300+ on my Kindle that I haven’t read and a few I still need to write reviews on. Then there is the stack of paperbacks in my nightstand . . . and the ones I have marked in Goodreads . . . I am very glad when Amazon points out that I have already bought a book since I cannot remember all the ones already on the Kindle but not read yet.

Do you have a routine for writing?
(I wish.) I start with a basic idea, a basic plot and key characters, and write – how long I write depends on the demands of my day job and family. The next time I write, I start at the beginning again, and edit, elaborate, and continue the story line. Sometimes I have an idea for a later scene, write it, and then weave it in where it fits best. I envy those who can sit and write 2,000 words at a time and know exactly where their story is going and how to accomplish it (and write multiple books per year).

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

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

How often do you tweet?
More than I should. I only started tweeting about a year ago and, like most of the Internet and social media, it is a huge black hole – I go to Twitter and time just disappears . . . I retweet a LOT and try to support my fellow indie authors.

You're very good about that! How do you feel about Facebook?
Again, I think it’s very easy to spend way too much time on FB. On the other hand, I have learned a lot about self-publishing and marketing through one of the FB groups – Clean Indie Reads. It’s a great group of authors, all very supportive and helpful. Unlike many others, I don’t tend to post anything ‘personal’ but I enjoy the interaction around writing.

What’s your favorite beverage?
That’s an easy one – Diet Coke (not Coke Zero and definitely not Pepsi!). All my caffeine comes from Diet Coke since I don’t drink coffee. When we go on vacation, before we leave, my husband figures out the closest place to find Diet Coke.

What are you working on now?
The fourth in the series – title TBD. I also have an idea for a new series and started the first of that one (title also TBD). The grand plan is that come fall, both will be done, but we shall see . . . 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christa Nardi is and always has been an avid reader. Her favorite authors have shifted from Carolyn Keene and Earl Stanley Gardner to more contemporary mystery/crime authors over time, but mystery/crime along with romance and scifi/fantasy are her preferred choices for leisure reading. Christa also has been a long time writer from poetry and short stories to the Cold Creek series, Christa has joined many other reader/writers in writing one genre she enjoys reading – the cozy mystery. The series started with Murder at Cold Creek College; Murder in the Arboretum is the second in the series. Murder at the Grill is the third. Christa Nardi is a pen name for a real life professor/psychologist from the Northeast who is well published in nonfiction and technical venues.


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

Buy the book:
Amazon 

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SPOTLIGHT ON: SKIING IS MURDER

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING 

. . . a fast read, and endearing . . . ~Mallory Heart’s Cozies


Another great installment with Sean & Sara.
 ~Storeybook Reviews


I liked that we only knew what the McKinley’s knew as they discovered information. I enjoyed putting the puzzle together along side them.
 ~Laura’s Interests

        
I could not wait to read a new book of this series, these cozy mystery are short but very exciting with two great private investigators. The plot kept me on edge from start to finish. I was excited each time I got to turn the page. 
~LibriAmoriMiei


There are a number of ‘out of the ordinary’ aspects to this cozy mystery – and that’s a good thing, as it helps keep the genre ‘fresh.’
 ~Back Porchervations

        
I like Sean and Sara. Their characters are easy to get along with and I love their relationship. They’re both intelligent and work well together.
 ~Brooke Blogs


Filled with colorful characters and an intriguing mystery which takes advantage of its winter wonderland type setting, Skiing is Murder is a fine addition to an established series and can be enjoyed on its own. 
~Queen of All She Reads


ABOUT THE BOOK

They’re ready to hit the slopes when things go downhill . . .

Sean and Sara were supposed to have a relaxing vacation in Vail, but it all goes up in a puff of powder when there’s a suspicious death on the mountain. And the deceased is not just anyone; it’s Adrian Blackwell, a two-time Olympic skiing gold medalist.

Rumor has it that Adrian died in a skiing accident, but he was too skilled for Sara to accept it as fact. Though she’s convinced Adrian was murdered and she’s itching to find the killer, she doesn’t want to disappoint Sean by ruining his ski trip.

Sean has never had the ability to say no to Sara before, but this time he comes close. It takes a call from their PI firm back in Albany to change his mind. A job’s come in to investigate Adrian’s death, and his agent is the one footing the bill, leaving Sean with more questions than answers.

Yet one major problem remains: their New York State PI licenses hold no legal authority in Colorado. But they still can’t help but look into Adrian’s death on the sly. This case will definitely involve some underhanded tactics, all while trying to dodge the local police during the course of the investigation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carolyn Arnold is the international bestselling and award-winning author of the Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher, and McKinley Mystery series. She is the only author with POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town, but that never kept her from dreaming big. On par with her large dreams is her overactive imagination that conjures up killers and cases to solve. She currently lives outside Toronto with her husband and two beagles, Max and Chelsea. She is also a member of Crime Writers of Canada.

Connect with Carolyn:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Buy the book:
Amazon US     Amazon UK        Barnes & Noble      Apple iBooks          Kobo

FEATURED AUTHOR: LEA WAIT

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Mary Clough discovers a piece of valuable medieval needlepoint under the eaves of her colonial Maine home, Angie Curtis and the Mainely Needlepointers agree to trace its origins. But someone will kill for that embroidery, and their murder will unravel Haven Harbor, Maine.

INTERVIEW WITH LEA WAIT

Lea, what's your favorite thing about the writing process? I will admit . . . I love doing research. In Thread and Gone, I had the fun of taking a Maine legend – based in fact – that centers around my own home (did a Maine sea captain try to rescue Marie Antoinette?) and tie it to today . . . and to Tudor England. I also love editing . . . trying to make each scene, and each sentence, as strong as I can.  What’s challenging? That dreaded first draft!

Agreed! Do you have a writing routine?
I’m not a morning person. So on a normal day I get up about 7, have breakfast, post on Facebook and check emails and social media, write blogs, arrange appearances, etc . . . and after lunch I write for several hours. Usually I edit the chapter(s) I wrote the day before, and try to write ten pages. Sometimes I write fewer pages . . . sometimes (close to deadlines!) I write more. Then after dinner, I do research for my next book.

Do you write every day?
Most of the time, yes. I take days off from writing when I’m speaking somewhere, or have family visiting.

How often do you read?
Every day – magazines, newspapers, nonfiction as background research for another book, and sometimes, as a reward, I read fiction. I used to read more for fun before I was published!


What do you think makes a good story?
I love individualistic characters who have secrets and back stories that are revealed slowly … and who have motivations for everything they do, even if they’re making cookies. A good story is fast-paced, includes conflict, and the unexpected (but not impossible) and is well-resolved. Most of all, it keeps readers turning pages. I hope my books do that.

What books do you currently have published?
Thread And Gone is the third in my Mainely Needlepoint series (after Twisted Threads and Threads Of Evidence.) I also write the (currently) seven-book Shadows Antique print series, about an antique print dealer who solves crimes, and who wants to adopt as a single parent. (Two things I’ve done.) The most recent in that series is Shadows On A Maine Christmas. I also write historical novels for ages eight and up set in 19th century Maine, and last summer my Living And Writing On The Coast Of Maine was published – a group of wry essays about being a writer married to an artist, living full-time in Maine. It also includes a section on what I’ve learned about being an author. I’ll have two more mysteries published in 2016.

If you could only watch one television station for a year, what would it be?
Would have to be CNN. You may not be able to tell from my books, but I’m a political junky!

How often do you tweet?
Never. I do Facebook and Goodreads . . . probably should do more social media, but at the moment I’m choosing to write more books instead!

How do you feel about Facebook?
At first I was intimidated by Facebook, but now I love it. I post about reading, writing, living in Maine . . . and I love connecting with my fans – and with my far-flung relatives! I may be sitting in front of my computer, but I feel as though I’m not alone. I have friends all over the world.

What five things would you never want to live without?
I live in Maine, remember?  Flannel shirts. Fleece lined bedroom slipper boots. (I wear them ‘year round!) Books (and bookcases – every room in my house is full of them.) Red Rose tea bags. And Tootsie Roll Pops, for when the writing gets tough!

What’s one thing you never leave the house without?
My small notebook, in case I think of a piece of dialog, or a plot twist, that I can use in one of the books I’m working on. If I don’t write it down immediately, I lose it.

What do you love about where you live?
I live on one of the many Maine peninsulas, across the street from a deep-water tidal  river, ten miles from the sea. I love the smell of mud flats in the summertime, and sea air in the afternoon. I love the crinkly ice that forms on the edges of the river at low tide in the winter, and the ice floes and sea smoke. I love all sorts of seafood – including, of course, lobster. (Lobster club sandwich? The best!) And I love the history of living in a house built in 1774, in a state that is older than that.  


What’s your favorite thing to do/favorite place to go on date night?
In the summer I’m very happy to sit on my porch overlooking the river, with the man that I love (we’ve known each other since 1968, but we’ve only been married 12 years) and talk, and sip wine, and nibble some cheese and crackers or maybe some hummus. Sometimes neighbors stop by to share the view and some libations. That’s about perfect. This time of year, a seafood dinner in a restaurant with a fireplace sounds very tempting!

What’s your favorite fast food?
A lobster roll, of course!


What’s your favorite beverage?
Tea during the day. I love Dry Sack sherry, and my favorite cocktail is a Sidecar – F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda drank them, so I feel in good company. And I’ll never refuse champagne!

What is one of your happiest moments?
The two highlights I immediately think of is the moment I met my first daughter, who was four years old. We were at Kennedy Airport and she’d just arrived from Thailand. All I could think of was “She’s so beautiful! And tiny!” And the moment I was offered my first book contract, for Stopping to Home, a book for ages 8 and up set in 1806 Maine. I was at a writers’ conference, and I basically floated for the rest of the day. Then I called my best friend, talked for an hour, and then – what else? Went to the hotel bar and ordered champagne. A magical day.

What do you like to do when there’s nothing to do?
What? There are times like that?? When? Where?

What is the most daring thing you've done?
I smuggled drugs into Calcutta, India! (And other forbidden supplies, too, because India doesn’t allow importing goods they make themselves.) I flew to Calcutta to meet and bring home one of my daughters and another child being adopted in the United States. My daughter was ten years old, had worked in a home for dying children since she was four, and was more scared than I was! The drugs and other items (about a thousand pounds of everything from aspirin to boys’ underwear to balloons to barrettes and incubator parts) were donations to missions and orphanages in and near Calcutta.

What is the stupidest thing you've ever done?
Given myself a home permanent when I was in high school. Some of my hair fell out, and the rest just . . . frizzled. You’d have to look very hard to find a picture of me taken in high school!

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
William Jennings Bryan: “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for; it I a thing to be achieved.”

What’s one thing that very few people know about you?
I have a dreadful voice, but I know the lyrics to thousands of songs. My husband, children, grandchildren . . . all refuse to listen. So sometimes I sing in elevators and when I’m driving alone!


What are you working on now?
I’m writing the fourth in the Mainely Needlepint series, Dangling by a Thread, in which the Needlepointers get involved with a man called “The Solitary” who lives alone on a Maine island where Grand Cormorants, a threatened species, nest. It will be published next fall.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Maine author Lea Wait writes the (now 3-book) Mainely Needlepoint series, which began with Twisted Threads a year ago. She also writes the Shadows Antique Print Mystery series and historical novels for young people aged 8 and up. Lea is a fourth generation antique dealer, and adopted four older Asian children as a single parent. Now she is married to artist Bob Thomas and writes and speaks full-time.

Connect with Lea:
Website  | 
 Blog  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  

Buy the book:
Amazon 

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FEATURED AUTHOR: TRACY WEBER

ABOUT THE BOOK

Yoga instructor Kate Davidson is about to discover that when it comes to murder, there’s no place like om. When she agrees to teach doga — yoga for dogs — at a fundraiser for Dogma, a local animal rescue, Kate believes the only real damage will be to her reputation. But when an animal rights protest at the event leads to a suspicious fire and a drowning, a few downward-facing dogs will be the least of Kate’s problems . . .

The police arrest Dharma, a woman claiming to be Kate’s estranged mother, and charge her with murder. To prove Dharma’s innocence, Kate, her boyfriend Michael, and her German shepherd sidekick Bella dive deeply into the worlds of animal activism, organizational politics, and the dangerous obsessions that drive them.

And if solving a murder weren't complicated enough, Kate will also have to decide whether or not to reconcile with the estranged mother who abandoned her over thirty years ago. Not to mention having to contend with an almost-bankrupt animal rescue, a cantankerous crow, an unwanted pigeon houseguest, and a rabbit in a doga class. What could possibly go wrong?

INTERVIEW WITH TRACY WEBER

Tracy, how did you get started writing and when did you become an “author?”
I started writing a yoga blog in 2011, but the idea to write the Downward Dog Mystery series came to me a few months earlier on a rainy Seattle evening, while in the middle of a brutal workout at my favorite health club. I was pedaling away, reading a Susan Conant novel to distract myself from the evil exercise bike, when a quote in Black Ribbon about crazy dog people made me burst out loud laughing. I knew I’d found my author soul mate.  Someone who truly got me.

I went home, looked her up online, and stumbled across a site about cozy mysteries. As I read about hundreds of other wonderful cozy mystery series, I began to wonder: What would happen if a yoga teacher with a crazy dog like mine got mixed up in murder? Kate Davidson and Bella popped into my head a few days later. The rest is history.

How long is your to-be-read list?
Massively long. Unbelievably long. And getting longer every day. I have two crammed bookcases with boxes of books stacked next to them, and I keep buying more! Amazon is quickly becoming the means to my bankruptcy. I used to read at least two books a week, but now most of my reading time is spent writing. I do work in a book every few weeks, but that’s nothing like what I used to read.

What books do you currently have published?
The first three books in my Downward Dog Mystery series, which are:
Murder Strikes a Pose
A Killer Retreat
Karma’s a Killer

I have a contract for a minimum of six books in the series, and the fourth one, tentatively titled A Fatal Twist is currently at my editor.

You have a day job . . . how do you find time to write?
I’m lucky. I own my own business, so I’m able to work any eighteen hours a day I want. Seriously, sometimes it feels that way. My writing ebbs and flows based on the other competing priorities of my life. Sometimes several weeks will go by without my having time to write a word. Other times I write nonstop. I’m most creative late at night, which drives my husband crazy.

The short answer is that there’s never enough time to write, so I write whenever I can.

How often do you tweet?
I’m a Twidiot. So although I have a thousand or so followers (which is tiny in Twitterville) I rarely send anything out. Hanging out at Twitter feels like sitting in front of a stream of billboards to me, probably because I don’t know how to use it. Lots of authors love Twitter.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I love Facebook. It’s allowed me to reconnect with long-lost friends, stay in touch with my family, and get to know my readers. And who couldn’t love all of those cute puppy pictures? I’m not so sure it’s a very good marketing venue, but it’s great for growing community, which is what I’m all about. If any of your readers want to friend me, I’d love it. Because I’m all about community, I use my personal feed more than my author page, but you can find me at either. 

What five things would you never want to live without?
•    My dog
•    My hubby
•    A computer with Internet access
•    Champagne
•    Good books

What's your relationship with your TV remote?
I hate remotes! If I can find them — a big if — I can never figure out which remote goes to which device. And since when does a TV remote need more buttons than an airplane control panel? I miss the days when we actually stood up to change channels.

I’m beginning to sound like my grandmother, aren’t I?

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
I mentioned the Susan Conant quote earlier, so I’ll share it here:

“Universal dilemma of the real dog person: You leave the dog home, you worry what will happen to him when you’re out. You take the dog with you, you worry that something will happen to him when he’s alone in the car . . . The solution, of course, is to keep the dog at your side twenty-four hours a day, every day, but then you worry that your constant presence is making the dog neurotically dependent, and besides, you can’t go anyplace that doesn’t allow dogs, so you can’t go to work or get your hair cut or go to the dentist. And then, of course, you feel guilty because, after all, doesn’t your wonderful dog deserve a better owner than this poverty-stricken, shaggy-headed slob with decayed teeth? Meanwhile, the dog doesn’t worry about anything. Why should he? That’s what he has you for, and for obvious reasons, he trusts you completely.” 
― Susan Conant, Black Ribbon

I tell you, that woman gets me.


Besides Susan Conant, who would you invite to a dinner party if you could invite anyone in the world?

Stephen King, Mary Daheim, Doctor Seuss, Edgar Allan Poe, and Santa Clause. I mean seriously. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?

Yes it would. If you had to choose a cliche about life, what would it be?
“Don’t sweat the small stuff. And it’s all small stuff.”

Lightning round:
Cake or frosting? Frosting!
Laptop or desktop? Laptop on a docking station that turns it into a desktop.  ;-)
Chevy Chase or Bill Murray? Chevy Chase
Emailing or texting? Emailing. I’ve never sent a text. See, I do sound like my grandmother!
Indoors or outdoors? Outdoors — as long as it’s sunny.
Tea: sweet or unsweet? Unsweet.
Plane, train, or automobile? Plane. Life’s too short to be stuck in traffic.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tracy Weber is the author of the award-winning Downward Dog Mysteries series. The first book in the series, Murder Strikes a Pose, won the Maxwell Award for Fiction and was nominated for the Agatha award for Best First Novel.
A certified yoga therapist, Tracy is the owner of Whole Life Yoga, a Seattle yoga studio, as well as the creator and director of Whole Life Yoga’s teacher training program. She loves sharing her passion for yoga and animals in any way possible.
Tracy and her husband Marc live in Seattle with their challenging yet amazing German shepherd, Tasha. When she’s not writing, Tracy spends her time teaching yoga, walking Tasha, and sipping Blackthorn cider at her favorite ale house. 


Connect with Tracy:
Website |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

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FEATURED AUTHOR: RACHEL DUNNING

ABOUT THE BOOK

I pay my debts, and I expect others to.

I was raised in the slums of London, I knew nothing of privilege. My father was murdered when I was seventeen. Morty figured my father's passing meant I would automatically take on dad's debts. I refused.

And I paid for that refusal.

So did my sister.

So now I fight. All I know how to do is fight. The best cash is in the states, so that's where I am now. A big fish called Vito came along offering me a "favor" when I arrived.

Another debt.

I paid for that one too.

I knew Kyla Hensley would be trouble when I met her. But I wanted her. I could see through the falsehood of her wannabe-slutty clothes and her sexy legs. So I chased her.

Besides, trouble is my middle name.

Kyla Hensley
I was brought up in privilege, but I lacked everything else. My father is a business tycoon who buys and sells and doesn't care who gets rolled over in the process.

I never knew my mother, and all I have of her is a photo with a note scrawled on the back in French saying "I'm sorry." The only Female Figure I had growing up is my dad's wife who is a bleach blond with seven boob jobs. We never bonded.

I drink. I party. I meet guys.

But I wasn't always like that.

I've had a string of lovers in the last few years, the worst and most recent of which was Vince Somerset. My best friend Vera was dating a guy called Rory Cansoom who is the opposite of Vince in so many ways, and yet so the same.

She and I hit the road for spring break, getting away from the two college psychos and just trying to have some fun.

But there's a funny thing about trouble, the more you run from it, the more it finds you.
Which is when I met the Debt Collector.

It was only supposed to be sex. He made that clear. I made that clear.

That's all it was supposed to be.

I never expected to fall in love. I never expected to fall so deeply, madly, uncomfortably in love with a man who is wrong, so wrong for me.

And yet . . . so unbelievably right.

Content Warning:
Not intended for readers under the age of seventeen.

INTERVIEW WITH RACHEL DUNNING

Rachel, what's your favorite thing about the writing process?
“Getting to know” my characters. I confess, I get a little emotionally involved in them. And by the time the story is done, each one feels like a long-lost friend (or enemy) that I think about for months after the book is finished.

Do you have a writing routine?
I grind away. When I’m not writing, I can put it aside, but once I get going on a story it becomes an obsession. I just can’t let it go. I wake up early (when I can) and start writing. I write late. I neglect duties at home . . . until the story is done and I can finally take a breather. If I don’t do it this way I tend to lose the feel of the story and it’s harder to pick it up later.

What’s more important – characters or plot?
Characters. No doubt.

How often do you read?
Not often enough! In desperation, I tend to listen to audio books while cooking or doing chores, just to stay on top of my reading schedule.

What do you think makes a good story?
Characters you can love.

What books do you currently have published?
Naive Mistakes Series
Finding North
East Rising
West-End Boys
Deep South
Truthful Lies Trilogy
Know Me
Find Me
Need Me

Johnny Series
Johnny
Losing Johnny
Taking Johnny
Claiming Johnny

Mind Games Series
His Mind Games
Her Mind Games

Standalones
Like You
Red-Hot Blues

What do you know now that you wish you knew then?
Complex plots lose the reader.
Nothing beats a likeable character.

Is writing your dream job?
Absolutely.


What is the worst job you’ve ever had? What did it teach you?
Haha - too many to mention. It taught me that if I was ever going to be happy in this life, I’d be telling stories and not doing telesales. LOL.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I loathe it.

For what would you like to be remembered?
Beautiful stories.

What’s your favorite beverage?
Non-Alcoholic beer. (“Beck’s Blue”)

What is one of your happiest moments?
The first five-star review I ever got. Moments later, I got a scathing one-star. It didn’t even faze me. I was on cloud nine. I still think about that first review. I don’t think that person realizes how much it still motivates me when things get down. (That review is here in case you want to see it!)

What’s your least favorite chore?
Cleaning. I just hate it. I hate it. I have no words to express how much I hate it. (But I do love cooking.)


Would you rather be a movie star, sports star, or rock star?
Rock star.


Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
I used to more than I do now. But I do my best to make the main characters loveable and kind and people I’d really like to be friends with.

Do you procrastinate?
On my taxes? Yes.
On my writing? No.

What’s one thing that drives you crazy?
Taxes.

What would your main character say about you?
“Stop telling us what to do!”

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?
I love the Nashville library. So elegant, so quiet, such a beautiful place to just sit and relax and read.

If you had to choose a cliché about life, what would it be?
Shit happens.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Dunning hit the scene in August 2013 and is the author of the highly praised Naive Mistakes Series, Truthful Lies Trilogy, Johnny Series and the paranormal romance series, Mind Games.

A prolific writer, she sticks to stories where Alpha Males aren’t pricks and where women have guts.

She’s lived on two different continents, speaks three different languages, and met the love of her life on the internet. In other words, romance is in her blood.



Connect with Rachel:
Website  |  
Facebook   |  
Twitter  |  Goodreads

Buy the book:
Amazon US  |  Amazon UK   |  Amazon Canada  |  iTunes  |  Smashwords  |  Barnes & Noble

FEATURED AUTHOR: COLLEEN J. SHOGAN

ABOUT THE BOOK

Life is good for Kit Marshall. She’s a staffer in D.C. for a popular senator, and she lives with an adoring beagle and a brainy boyfriend with a trust fund. Then, one morning, Kit arrives at the office early and finds her boss, Senator Langsford, impaled by a stainless steel replica of an Army attack helicopter. Panicked, she pulls the weapon out of his chest and instantly becomes the prime suspect in his murder. Circumstances back Kit’s claim of innocence, but her photograph has gone viral, and the heat won’t be off until the killer is found. Well-loved though the senator was, suspects abound. Langsford had begun to vote with his conscience, which meant he was often at odds with his party. Not only had the senator decided to quash the ambitions of a major military contractor, but his likely successor is a congressman he trounced in the last election. Then there’s the suspiciously dry-eyed Widow Langsford. Kit’s tabloid infamy horrifies her boyfriend’s upper-crust family, and it could destroy her career. However, she and her free-spirited friend Meg have a more pressing reason to play sleuth. The police are clueless in more ways than one, and Kit worries that the next task on the killer’s agenda will be to end her life. Book 1 in the Washington Whodunit series.

INTERVIEW WITH COLLEEN J. SHOGAN

Colleen, how did you get started writing?
I’ve been a mystery reader since I was six years old. One day, I took a walk in my Washington, D.C. suburban neighborhood and came up with the plot for Stabbing in the Senate. When I got home, I wrote it down as an outline. I told my husband about it, and he encouraged me to try to write the book. It took me two years to complete the manuscript, but I did it!

What's your favorite thing about the writing process?
Creating a world in which I control the fictional characters. Washington, D.C. is an unpredictable place and not much is totally in your control. But when you write fiction, you’re in charge of your characters’ destinies and I like that.

How long is your to-be-read list?
Too long!  The problem is that now I have less time to read because I’m always writing or promoting my book in my so-called “free time” outside my pretty demanding day job at the Library of Congress.

What books do you currently have published?
Stabbing in the Senate is the first in the Washington Whodunit series. Stay tuned for more installments. I also published a book on the presidency with Texas A&M press when I was a professor at George Mason University.

You have a day job . . . how do you find time to write?
It can be challenging. I only have time to write about an hour a day during the week. It takes a lot of discipline to make sure I stick with it. I don’t spend a lot of time just lounging around. I’m always working – from 8:00 am until 9:00 pm. I’ve kept these hours since graduate school so I’m used to it by now.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I admit I really like Facebook. It’s a way for me to keep in contact with friends who don’t live near me. I’m on it every day – first thing in the morning and in the evening before bedtime.

What scares you the most?
Snakes! They truly terrify me.

If you had a swear jar, would it be full?
Yes. Just ask my colleagues at the Library of Congress.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I like time alone but I get my energy from people, so I am likely an extrovert.

What's your relationship with your TV remote?
I’m constantly hiding it so my dog doesn’t steal it and chew it up! He’s destroyed at least ten of them.

What is the most daring thing you've done?
When I was growing up in Pittsburgh, I worked at an amusement park called Kennywood. In the morning before the park opened, I’d often test the “bungee” jump ride at the park. I look back at that ride, which is still at the park today, and I wonder how I mustered the courage to do that.

What choices in life would you like to have a redo on?
I wish I had studied abroad in college. I loved attending Boston College and spending time with my friends there, so I never pursued a year or semester abroad program. Looking back on it, spending extended time in a foreign country would have been an amazing opportunity.

What would your main character say about you?
She might be a little intimidated at first, but I think she’d grow to like me!

What’s the worst thing someone has said about your writing? How did you deal with it?
One editor said that Stabbing in the Senate seemed like Nancy Drew went to Washington! She said it as a negative comment, but quite frankly, I love Nancy Drew.


Who would you invite to a dinner party if you could invite anyone in the world?
Steve Jobs. Unfortunately, he’s dead, so it would be pretty amazing.


What's your relationship with your cell phone?
I’m on it all the time. My iPhones are an extension of me.


How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
Six to seven.

What is your favorite movie?
Woody Allen’s Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Do you sweat the small stuff?
Not as much as I used to. However, quite frankly, if you don’t sweat the small stuff, you’re not going to be very successful. Small stuff matters.

What are you working on now?
Book 3 of the Washington Whodunit series.

Lightning round:
Cake or frosting? Frosting
Laptop or desktop? Laptop
Chevy Chase or Bill Murray? Chevy Chase
Emailing or texting? Hard choice. But probably texting.
Indoors or outdoors? Outdoors
Tea: sweet or unsweet? Sweet
Plane, train, or automobile? Plane

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Colleen J. Shogan is the Deputy Director of the Congressional Research Service (CRS) at the Library of Congress. She is a former Senate staffer who started reading mysteries at the age of six. A political scientist by training, Colleen has taught American government at George Mason University, Georgetown, and Penn. Stabbing in the Senate is her first novel.

Connect with Colleen:
Website  |  
Facebook  |  
Twitter  |  Goodreads

Buy the book:
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FEATURED AUTHOR: ANNETTE DRAKE

ABOUT THE BOOK

Joni Harte knew her first job out of college would be tough, but she didn’t expect it to be murder.

With the ink mostly dry on her journalism degree, Joni accepts the position of news reporter and photographer for The Ogallala Gazette. She’s tasked with chronicling all of the goings-on of the quirky characters who inhabit this small Missouri town.

While investigating the identity of the first murder victim, Joni makes an enemy of the local sheriff. Worse, she catches the attention of a violent stalker who promises to cure Joni of her curiosity.

As the Ogallala County Fair comes to an end, Joni must uncover the truth before she comes to hers.

INTERVIEW WITH ANNETTE DRAKE

Annette, how did you get started writing?
My goal is to tell stories. I remember making up a song about the American Civil War on my brother’s discarded guitar at age six. So, I think I was born wanting to tell stories. Writing? I love to read, so it’s a natural progression to love to write.

What's your favorite thing about the writing process?
A couple things: when I’m writing a first draft and I create a scene that has me both laughing and crying at the same time. I love that! I also love reading a book I’ve written long after it’s been published and still finding a small sense of satisfaction in it. When one of those moments happen, I’m content.

Do you have a writing routine?
Well, sort of. I have insomnia, and that helps establish a writing routine. But, generally, I try to spend at least one hour a day writing. I also try to leave myself bread crumbs: a Post-it note saying, tomorrow, I’ll write this scene.

Do you write every day?
No. I don’t. My career might be further along if I did. But I don’t.

What do you wish you’d done differently when you first started the publishing process?
Oh, gosh. To do it again, I would have forgotten querying agents and publishers and self-published all of my books. Author Hugh Howey talked about this as renting versus owning a house. I think no one has as much invested as the author, and so, no one can do as much to promote a book as the author.

What do you think is hardest aspect of writing a book?
Editing. Revising. Killing your darlings. Yes, it’s a smashingly witty phrase. Alas, it makes no sense and does not jibe with the tone of the book. Down comes the hatchet!

What’s more important – characters or plot?
I wouldn’t dream of saying both. The answer: character. Every. Single. Time. Without a strong, likeable character, I don’t think readers care about the book. Recently, I watched a major Hollywood blockbuster movie, and I didn’t finish it because I found all of the characters repugnant. I was actually rooting for the enemy. For me, as a reader and a writer, I must care about the characters.

How often do you read?
Every day.

What is your writing style?
Hmm. I might say it’s informal. I do not write in first person. That just feels too intimate to me. After all, this isn’t my story; it’s my character’s story. I write different genres, or I sure try to, so I think my writing style depends on the genre. But one thing I always try to do: hook my reader. When a reader stops reading a book, for me, that’s a huge fail. When I hear, I couldn’t put it down, I do a little dance. Kind of a mambo-tap dance thing.

What do you think makes a good story?
Great characters make great stories. The end.

What books do you currently have published?
I have five: Three romances: Celebration House, A Year with Geno and A Beautiful Day in Alaska (novella). I published what I’m calling a middle-grade novel in 2014; it’s entitled Bone Girl. In October, I published Death Goes to the County Fair, my first cozy mystery.

What do you know now that you wish you knew then?
I would have self-published my debut novel, Celebration House. Hindsight offers a beautiful view.

Is writing your dream job?
Yes and no. While I do love writing and I intend to eventually write full-time, I also find a lot of inspiration in my day job. I think they complement one another well.

Do you have any marketing tips you could pass on to indie authors?
I’m a big advocate of promoting other writers as your promote your own work. For about a year, I ran an “Author Spotlight” feature, and I found a lot of satisfaction in that. Time constraints have ended that project, but I did enjoy it. And I think readers learned about my books from reading a blog post about the authors they followed. It was a win-win. Starting in 2016, I hope to host fellow authors again on various blog tours.

If you could only watch one television station for a year, what would it be?
The Food Network. I love cooking shows! No, I do not cook.

How often do you tweet?
Once a month, maybe.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I can’t say it’s sold a lot of my books, but I enjoy posting my successes and my challenges. I probably post something a couple times a week.

For what would you like to be remembered?
One of the surprises of this journey is how my meager success encourages others to pursue their passions. I love that! I love when people learn I’m an author, and it spurs them to write themselves or pursue a passion, like auditioning for their community theater. I hope I inspire other day-jobbers to make time in their lives for their art in whatever form.

What scares you the most?
Probably like every parent, the death of one of my children.

Would you make a good character in a book?
No. I’m boring. And cowardly.

What five things would you never want to live without?
1.    Coffee
2.    Coffee creamer
3.    Sweetener for my coffee
4.    Milk for my coffee
5.    Bailey’s Irish Cream

What do you love about where you live?
I love the view. We can see the port of Everett from out front porch. I’m also within walking distance of my job, and I LOVE that. I love walking to work. I’ve never had that luxury before.

What’s your favorite thing to do/favorite place to go on date night?
I don’t have enough of those with my husband to know.

What's your favorite treat for movie night?
It’s two days after Christmas, and I’m completely fooded out. I may never eat again. Ever.

What's the biggest lie you ever told?
I love you.

What’s your favorite fast food?
We seldom eat out. But I visit Starbucks often. Does that count?

What’s your favorite beverage?
Coffee. I start every day with a huge cup and wonder why my heart is racing later.

What drives you crazy?
When I’m reading a mystery, and the author gives few or no clues. What the heck? How am I supposed to figure this one out? Or, when the villain turns out to be crazy, and that explains everything. Nope. Not buying it. I think the villain is the most important character in the book. He or she has to give the protagonist enough of a challenge to keep me turning pages. And crazy doesn’t do it for me.

What is your superpower?
The ability to delete the word “very” in everything I write. I abhor adverbs.

Name one thing you’re really good at and one thing you’re really bad at.
I’m good at calming people. I’m bad at calming myself.

What do you wish you could do?
Despite the beautiful view I now have, I want to live on a farm and write full-time. I want to look out my kitchen window and see my horse in her paddock. I want to grow huge tomatoes, okra and sunflowers. I want to put off turning on my kitchen light because I know my donkey will see it and start braying, demanding his breakfast. Yes. A farm is in my future. I’m just not there yet.

What is one of your happiest moments?
Bone Girl was published in March of 2014. In May, I received an email from a young girl. She had read my book and was writing a book report on it for school. She had a few questions. That reader-to-writer connect still pleases me.

What do you like to do when there’s nothing to do?
Sleep! I love sleeping. Unfortunately, I’m not very good at it. But I do enjoy it.

Where is your favorite place to visit?
The Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. It was the motivation behind my first cozy mystery.

What would you name your autobiography?
“No. Seriously.”

What’s your least favorite chore?
I hate clipping my rabbits’ toenails. Hate it. I’d rather take a beating.

Would you rather be a movie star, sports star, or rock star?
Movie star, of course!

Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
Yes! Absolutely. But as I write more books – I’m working on #6 – I don’t have so many to choose from anymore. Fortunately, there’s always self-doubt.

What’s one thing that drives you crazy?
Just one? No way. Here’s a couple: overflowing trash cans, distracted drivers on their cell phones, politicians, bankers, and bullies.

What’s your favorite/most visited Internet site?
As a writer, I really like KBoards. I find the authors who post there are knowledgeable and willing to share. I really appreciate them.

What’s in your refrigerator right now?
Milk and coffee creamer. I keep the Bailey’s in the cabinet.

What is the most daring thing you've done?
When I was 18, I applied for a work permit and traveled to the United Kingdom for the summer. I had about $120 in my pocket – that’s about 75 pounds. I quickly ran out of money. Learning of my financial worries, a girlfriend sent me money. The day I went to the post office to collect it, I had no money left and could not pay for my hotel room that night. When the clerk said there was nothing for me, I asked him to check again. Success! Her letter and the oh-so-desperately money were there for me.

What is the stupidest thing you've ever done?
Please see the above!

What choices in life would you like to have a redo on?
Hmm...with two ex-husbands, gosh, let me think. Actually, I am of the mind frame that looking back on our lives is a waste of time. I think for much of my life, I’ve lived in the past, and really, it wasn’t that great of a past. I don’t want to do that anymore. I am the person I am, the writer I am, because of my bad decisions. It’s part of me. I accept it. I think that kind of self acceptance begins in your 40s.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
My family is super sick of hearing this, but, hey, you asked:
“I cannot hear your words, sir, for so loudly do your actions speak.”

What would your main character say about you?
Joni Harte, the main character in my cozy mystery, is a journalist who just graduated from college. I kind of think she would say of me, “Gosh. She’s really old.”

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
When I was writing my middle-grade novel, Bone Girl, I had to describe a beginning band Christmas concert. It’s been many years since I’ve attended one of my children’s concerts, so I went searching for YouTube videos. What I found delighted me! I wrote the scene, and the narrator of the audiobook, Darryl Hughes Kurylo, said the scene was one of his favorites.

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?
It’s my local library, and they have a great kid’s section. My young son is a ravenous reader – he goes through a book in two days at the most. So, we are there a lot. The children’s librarian knows us by name now.

Who is your favorite fictional character?
Atticus Finch. I love gentle, quiet men. Who cook.

If you had a talk show who would your dream guest be?
Mark Twain. Can you hear him commenting on our current political climate? Also, I think Agatha Christie would be an entertaining guest.

What’s one thing that very few people know about you?
I’m an introvert. My favorite three words: Let’s stay home. Wait. Maybe people do know that.

You have a personal chef for the night. What would you ask him to prepare?
Confession time: I do have my own personal chef. It’s my husband. He’s an amazing cook and will fix whatever I ask him to. He’s indulged my requests for many things, including Mississippi Mud Cake for my birthday and low-calorie recipes when I diet. But he has limits. He once said to me, “Annette, I love you, but I will not eat fat-free sour cream for you.” Boundaries. They make marriages work. Or so I’m told.

How do you like your pizza?

We don’t eat pizza a lot, but we like the take-home-and-bake variety. I am partial to a thin crust vegetarian. Yummy!

What is the wallpaper on your computer’s desktop?
My rescue mare, Lacy. Want to see her picture?

Do you have any hidden talents?
I can control electricity. Okay. I wish I could control electricity. Hidden talents? Occasionally, my wit awakens, and I can make my husband laugh a deep belly laugh. That’s a good minute in my day.

Describe yourself in 5 words.
Cheerful. Imaginative. Kind. Hopeful. Determined.

What’s your favorite song?
Favorite? Hmm. Maybe "Emily’s Reel" as played by Mark O’Connor. I love bluegrass, and I play the fiddle – badly.

What’s your biggest pet peeve about writing?
Revising and editing, but it’s got to be done. As my writing career grows, I’ve been able to afford the services of a professional copy editor and a proofreader. Not doing it all myself is so great!

What would you do for a Klondike bar?
A stand-up comedy routine at my local comedy club. I’m already putting together my three minutes of material. When do we meet for the hand-off?

At the show. What is your favorite movie?
I love Steve Martin’s movie, Bowfinger. My kids and I actually quote the lines to one another.

Do you have a favorite book?
To Kill A Mockingbird.


If you had to choose a cliché about life, what would it be?
You get what you focus on.

What are you working on now?
I just finished writing my first screenplay – the adaptation of my middle grade novel, Bone Girl. Now, I am writing the two sequels to Celebration House. I plan to indie-publish both books in 2016.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Annette Drake is a multi-genre author whose work is character-driven and celebrates the law of unintended consequences. She is the author of four novels and one novella.

Her first cozy mystery, Death Goes to the County Fair – An Ogallala Mystery, premiered on October 15th.

Annette makes her home in Washington state. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, she loves ferry rides, basset hounds and bakeries. She does not camp. If she can help it.

Connect with Annette:
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads 

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