FEATURED AUTHOR: MARLA COOPER

ABOUT THE BOOK

Kelsey McKenna has planned out every detail of her client's destination wedding in San Miguel de Allende. But what she hadn't planned on was a bridesmaid dropping dead in the middle of the ceremony.

When the bride's sister is arrested for murder, the mother of the bride demands that Kelsey fix the matter at once. Although Kelsey is pretty sure investigating a murder isn't in her contract, crossing the well connected Mrs. Abernathy could be a career-killer.

Before she can leave Mexico and get back to planning weddings, Kelsey will have to deal with stubborn detectives, late-night death threats—and guests who didn't even RSVP.

INTERVIEW WITH MARLA COOPER

Marla, do you write every day?
I do, but not on purpose. I’ve never been a believer in the maxim that a writer must write, every single day, period. I think you have to go out and live your life sometimes so that you have things to write about. That said, my day job is writing, and I do a lot of writing to promote my book (like this blog!) so I find that most days I do, in fact, end up writing something. 

What's your favorite thing about the writing process?
I think it’s the sense of discovery. I love when something surprises me. I am a plotter by nature, but I keep it loose because I love that moment when you write something and you’re like, “Where did *that* come from?!” I had a character in Terror in Taffeta who came so naturally that a line of dialogue would just appear on the page, and I’d literally laugh out loud because I couldn’t believe she’d said it. That’s where the magic happens.

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?
The main branch of the New York City Public Library is absolutely amazing. More specifically, the Rose Main Reading Room, which opened in 1911 and (one could assume) looks pretty much like it did back then. When I was working on Terror in Taffeta, I took a couple of hours out of my vacation to go write there, and it’s magical. It’s been closed for renovations for a couple of years, but it’s supposed to re-open this fall. Time to plan another trip!

What do you love about where you live?
My husband and I moved from San Francisco to Oakland six years ago. At the time, I thought we’d still hang out in San Francisco and just keep our stuff over in Oakland, but I fell in love with it almost instantly. It’s a lot more chill than SF, and it’s really come into its own in the last few years, so there’s lots of stuff to do. But the thing that took me totally by surprise is our regional park that’s almost 2,000 acres of old-growth redwood trees. There are tons of different hiking trails, and it’s pretty amazing to have that practically in my backyard.

What is the wallpaper on your computer’s desktop?
It’s a picture I took when I was in San Miguel de Allende, where my book is set. There was a little antique shop a few blocks from the main square, and they had a table set up with a vintage typewriter and an enormous coiled snake, with a carved wooden angel hovering in the background. I’m sure this is a metaphor for something to do with writing, but I haven’t come up with it yet!

Do you procrastinate?
Can I get back to you on that? It depends on how much I have to do, actually. When I’m busy, I tend to be super focused and can knock things off my to-do list like a ninja. When I’m not busy, it seems like there’s all the time in the world, so it’s easier to put things off—until they start to pile up and then suddenly I’m busy again! 

What is your writing style?
I would say breezy and conversational. My mystery series is first-person, so you get a fairly uncensored look at the inside of my main character’s brain. And even when I’m doing my day job, which is marketing and advertising copywriting, I tend to gravitate toward projects where I can talk like a real person instead of, say, technical writing or business-to-business, both of which are packed with jargon and make very little sense to the average human. 


What do you like to do when there’s nothing to do?
One of my favorite diversions is playing the ukulele. Why the ukulele? Because I have never played a musical instrument in my life, and the ukulele is about as easy as it gets (with the possible exception of maracas, which don’t sound as satisfying if you’re not in a mambo band). I like that it uses a completely different part of my brain, plus, unlike so many other creative endeavors, there’s no evidence of your failure, like the lopsided vases I had to toss in the trash that were the by-product of my ill-advised attempt at wheel-thrown pottery.

What are you working on now?
I’m just wrapping up edits on the second book in the Destination Wedding Planner Mystery series. It’s set in the California wine country, and it’s called Dying on the Vine. Also? Mastering “Dream a Little Dream of Me” on the ukulele.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
The aforementioned book two gave me fits. I went down a wrong path for a while and had to ditch several chapters, and I had days where I wondered why I had ever agreed to write a mystery. Plus when you’re writing your second book you’re acutely aware that people are actually going to read it—as opposed to Terror in Taffeta, which I mostly wrote to amuse myself. But eventually it worked itself out, and now that it’s done I can look back on it and laugh.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As a freelance writer, Marla Cooper has written all sorts of things, from advertising copy to travel guidebooks to the occasional haiku. But it was while ghostwriting a nonfiction guide to destination weddings that she found inspiration for her current series starring destination wedding planner Kelsey McKenna. Originally hailing from Texas, Marla lives in Oakland, California, with her husband and her polydactyl tuxedo cat.

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

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble


 

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SPOTLIGHT ON CHERYL HOLLON

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a treasure hunt leads to deadly plunder, it’s up to glass shop owner Savannah Webb and her trusty investigative posse to map out the true motives of a killer . . .

It’s the dog days of summer in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Webb’s Glass Shop proprietor Savannah Webb has an eco-friendly plan to help locals escape the heat–a recyclable bottle-crafting workshop taught by reticent store manager Amanda Blake. Turns out, the class is a bigger smash than expected, thanks in part to a pair of staggeringly old bottles brought in by snorkeler Martin Lane . . .

Linked to a storied pirate shipwreck, the relics definitely pique Savannah’s interest. But intrigue turns to shock when Martin’s lifeless body washes ashore the next morning, another glass artifact tucked in his dive bag. With cell phone records connecting Amanda to the drowning, Savannah must voyage through unchartered territory to exonerate her colleague and capture the twisted criminal behind Martin’s death . . .

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING . . .

Although stained glass work and restoration is likely not something I will ever take up, still I find it fascinating and love to read about the process and the beauty of the results. Author Cheryl Hollon has thoroughly researched and experienced this topic, and makes the enthusiasm, sometimes even obsession, of her character artisans so easy to comprehend. ~Mallory Heart’s Cozies



Cheryl Hollon once again brings a novel so fun and entertaining that you get pulled in from the start.
 ~Shelley’s Book Case

I found the mystery interesting and liked the slow unraveling. It’s not that the pace or the mystery itself is slow but more that as readers we start out knowing almost nothing so there’s so much to learn and figure out.
 ~I Wish I Lived In a Library

As always, Ms. Hollon has written as excellent mystery. Detailed, riveting, and a hard one to guess! I was happily stumped all the way to the reveal.
 ~Lisa K’s Book Reviews

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cheryl Hollon now writes full-time after she left an engineering career of designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind her house in St. Petersburg, Florida, Cheryl and her husband design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass, and painted glass artworks.



Connect with Cheryl:
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

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FEAURED AUTHOR: KATHERINE PRAIRIE

ABOUT THE BOOK

Deep in a Columbia River valley rocked by violence and tightly controlled by a U.S.-Canada military force, geologist Alex Graham joins the search for a suspected toxic spill as the victim count rises. But the lethal contamination is no accident.

INTERVIEW WITH KATHERINE PRAIRIE

What's your favorite thing about the writing process?
When I start a novel, I create a basic outline of my main plot and then I let my imagination take over. I never really know where my characters will take me or exactly what subplots might develop, so it’s like I start a new adventure every day.

Do you have a writing routine?
I like to get started early in the morning, and I usually pick-up where I left off without reviewing the previous day’s work. Sometimes I’ll write for the entire day, but most of the time I write for 3-4 hours, and then spend the rest of the day editing or working on promotional stuff. And I almost always have a cat in my lap!

What do you think is hardest aspect of writing a book?
Laying out a timeline that works. In my mind, I picture how the story works, but when I actually start writing, I’ll find that I need more/less time for something than I thought. It took me several weeks to sort out the timeline for a section of Thirst because of its fast pace, and I had to rewrite several scenes to make everything fit together just right. 

What’s more important – characters or plot?
I think plot is more important overall because it acts as the backbone of my story, and once it’s in place, my characters are free to create rich, interesting scenes.  

What’s the oldest thing you own and still use?
An enameled cast iron Le Creuset pot that I bought 35 years ago. It’s the perfect risotto pot, and although its interior is scratched and discolored, it’s still going strong.   

What do you love about where you live?
Vancouver, British Columbia gives me the ocean at my doorstep with the smell of salt air and the cry of seagulls, but it’s also only a few hours from the mountains. It’s an energetic, lively city with interesting neighborhoods, restaurants, art galleries and museums, so there’s never a shortage of things to do.

What's your favorite treat for movie night?
Without popcorn, a movie just isn’t the same. 

What is your superpower?
I’m a cat whisperer. I love cats, and they seem to know it, so I become quick friends even with strays.


Where is your favorite place to visit?
That’s a tough question to answer, because I have so many favorites! I’ll happily hop a plane to visit big cities like New York or London for the arts and culture, but I also love Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park for its dinosaur bone beds and Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim National park for its pounding surf. Of all of them, New York is the one that I’ve been to the most often, and I even called it home for a few months. 

Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
Mostly I draw from other people I’ve met for my characters, but a few of my own bad traits show up from time-to-time. Alex Graham and I share a tendency to be a little too impulsive, and Thirst’s Dr. Eric Keenan works too much, which is something I’m always trying to keep in check.  

Have you ever killed off a character fictionally, as revenge for something someone did in real life?
Believe me, I’ve thought about it, but so far these scenes haven’t made their way into my thrillers. However, I have taken out my revenge by making things harder for my characters. Corporal Nathan Taylor is one such character–I really put the poor man through the ringer in Thirst!

What’s in your refrigerator right now?
Cherries, blueberries, and fresh peaches from the Canadian Okanagan Valley. Lots of veggies and all the ingredients for anything Greek: feta cheese, pine nuts, yogurt and black olives. And of course, there’s always a bottle of white wine!

What is the most daring thing you've done?
My very first time in a kayak, I paddled the icy waters of Antarctica. There were leopard seals nearby and they have been known to attack kayaks so I was a little freaked out, but the experience was exhilarating!

What would your main character say about you?
Alex Graham would say that I’m a damn good geologist but I spend too much time in the office and I should join her out in the field searching for gold, silver and the like.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
My author biography because I’m not very good at talking about myself. I’m fine in an interview like this one, but if you give me a blank canvas and ask me to come up with a thousand words about myself I more or less freeze.


Who is your favorite fictional character?
Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon. This artist who is a Mossad agent is an incredibly rich character, and I find him very compelling.


What’s one thing that very few people know about you?
I was only sixteen when I won a public speaking contest that rewarded me with a week in New York at the United Nations with other North American high school students. It doesn’t come up much because it happened so very long ago, but it was a pivotal moment in my life. 

What’s your favorite song?
"Hotel California" by the Eagles, both because of the great music and also because I just love the line “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” It comes to mind anytime I’ve faced with a frustrating, logic-defying situation. I had one this week, when I tried to cancel an airline ticket. I could hit the cancel button as often as I liked, but it never did anything but retrieve the ticket details!


What is your favorite movie?
Dr. Zhivago. I especially love the icy, winter scenes, and Omar Sharif and Julie Christie make the story come alive. 


What are you working on now?
The second Alex Graham suspense thriller which will take our intrepid geologist to Brazil and beyond. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katherine Prairie, a geologist and IT specialist, stepped away from the international petroleum industry to follow her passion for writing. An avid traveler with an insatiable curiosity, you never know where you’ll find her next! But most days, she’s in Vancouver, Canada quietly plotting murder and mayhem under the watchful eye of a cat. THIRST, a thriller featuring geologist Alex Graham, is her first novel.

Connect with Katherine:
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

FEATURED AUTHOR: M C DOMOVITCH

ABOUT THE BOOK

When successful model Ciara Cain wakes up in hospital, remembering nothing of the weeks she has been missing, her only clues are the ugly words carved into her skin. According to the police she was a victim of the Cutter, a serial killer who has already murdered three women. For her protection the police and her doctors give a press conference, announcing that because her amnesia is organically caused, her memory loss is permanent. But, whether her memory returns or not is anybody’s guess.
Overnight, Ciara’s glamorous life is gone. Her scars have killed both her modelling career and her relationship with her rich boyfriend. With nothing to keep her in New York, she returns to her home town of Seattle, moves in with her sister and goes about building a new life. But when her sister lets it slip that Ciara’s memory is returning, the killer comes after her again. If Ciara is to stay alive, she must keep one step ahead of the Cutter.

INTERVIEW WITH M C DOMOVITCH

How did you get started writing?
I remember writing stories when I was still in grade school, and knowing even back then that I wanted to be a writer. But like many authors, I suffered from a terrible case of the “Who do I think I am to imagine I can write a book?” So it wasn’t until I reached a certain birthday and realized if I didn’t start now, I would never achieve my dream.

What's your favorite thing about the writing process?
What I enjoy the most is when it all comes together at the end. That’s when I see the story works. I also really enjoy rereading the manuscript after putting it down for a few weeks. I do this to get a fresh look at it, so I can catch whatever details I may have wrong. At that point the story feels new again. I really like that.

Do you have a writing routine?
I try to write every day and mostly do. However, when my husband and I travel, I put away my writing for the week or two we are away. But the cost is the awful block I invariably come back to. It often takes me up to a week before I can get back into it properly.

What do you wish you’d done differently when you first started the publishing process?
My one regret is I wish I’d started years earlier.

What’s more important—characters or plot?
Character. If the reader doesn’t care about the character, they won’t care about the story.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I love Facebook. I could spend hours on it, which is a bad, bad thing. I have to give myself a limit, no more than half an hour in the morning. Then on to work.

What’s one thing you never leave the house without?
A notebook and a pencil. That way I can take notes whenever I get a great idea I’m afraid of forgetting. Sometimes it can be as little as a description of an unusual character I notice, and that I think would be good for one of my next novels.

What do you love about where you live?
I am fortunate to have three homes. My husband and I have an ocean-side farm on the West Coast where we spend our summers. We also have a home in Key Largo where we winter. The rest of the time we live in Toronto, Canada. I have a small writing nook in each place. At the farm I have a she shed. The woman’s version of a man cave. It’s very simple, but it’s far enough from the house that my husband can’t just walk into the room every couple of minutes with an anecdote to share. In our other two homes, I have a small corner near the TV room.

What’s your favorite thing to do on date night?
I love going out to dinner with my husband. We don’t do it nearly often enough. The main reason is that I have celiac disease and 90% of the time, when we go out I get a terrible attack. For that reason we mainly eat at home. Having said that, we have a couple of “safe” restaurants where we go. It’s amazing how a difference in atmosphere gets us talking as if we were just dating again. We always go home feeling romantic.


Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
First let me state that, no, I have never killed anyone. No, I do not stalk, terrify or torture anyone. But other than that, sure, I’ll give my characters a few of my traits, good and bad. But mainly good, since I’m a pretty nice person.

What’s one thing that drives you crazy?
I can’t stand looking at a mess. It drives me insane. Seeing something out of place makes it really difficult for me to concentrate. When I write, I am forever, jumping up to close a cabinet door, wipe a counter or fluff up a cushion after my husband. If you ask him what drives him crazy, I’d hazard a guess that it’s that I am forever tidying up after him.

What’s your favorite/most visited Internet site?
Dog-rescue sites. I am addicted to them. I have two dogs, one of which is a rescue and I’m trying to convince my husband to get a third dog. I give a portion of my earnings to dog rescue organizations, particularly the Soi Dog Rescue Organization and the Yulin Dog Rescue Organization. I also give to the SPCA.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
Man plans. God laughs.


Do you have any hidden talents?
I would like to say singing, but I’d be lying. I have the worse voice. Took me years to accept it.


Describe yourself in 5 words.

Creative, funny, sociable, generous, driven.


What is your favorite movie?
My all-time favorite movie is Shawshank Redemption which was written by Stephen King. He is a wonderful author. For all his popularity, he doesn’t get nearly the recognition he deserves for the quality of his writing.


What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on the sequel to Scar Tissue. This one is named Seeing Evil and is due out in November.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M C Domovitch is the author of nine novels, four of which were published under the name of Carol Ann Martin (by Penguin), another two under the name Monique Domovitch (by Carina Press). The other three are published as M C Domovitch, Scorpio Rising, The Sting of the Scorpio (Both now republished in one single tome), and Scar Tissue. The decision to use a different pen name was based on her departure from cozy mysteries and entering the Romance and Romantic Suspense genres.

Before becoming an author, Monique had multiple careers, beginning with modeling. She won a modeling contest in the 70s and became one of Canada's top models. After retiring from the fashion industry, she studied finance and joined an investment company. This led to a new career as host of her own television show about investing, with the television network, WTN. Following her retirement from finance, she decided to pursue her true passion, writing. At a writing workshop at San Diego's Writers' Conference, one of her unpublished books caught the eye of a publisher and of an agent. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Domovitch lives with her physician husband and their dogs. They divide their time between homes in Victoria and Toronto Canada and Key Largo Florida.

Connect with Monique:
Website  |  
Facebook  | 
Twitter  |  Goodreads  

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iTunes

FEATURED: RILEY GEDDINGS AND GOOD EBOOKS

Today, I'm happy to tell you about a fantastic website and its founder, Riley Geddings. Authors and readers will love Good eBooks™, where the motto is: "Bringing Authors & Readers Together Since 2012 
(Not Your Everyday, Boring Website!)" Check it out, if you haven't already, and sign up for the free features the site offers.

ABOUT GOOD EBOOKS:

Good eBooks™ is not only one of the fastest-growing websites on the Internet, but is also very unique !

Why is  Good eBooks™ so different? Most web sites associated with eBooks and books merely display hundreds of book covers pointing the visitor to Amazon Kindle! Let's face it, most of us are capable of shopping there on our own. We can visit Amazon and we can do searches for any book or eBook, category, or author ourselves.

Good eBooks™ has a very good Google search rank, too. When one enters search the key "good ebooks," Google displays us on page 1, near the top! (Our bragging rights!)

At Good eBooks™, we go the extra mile for our eBook and book lovers and for our authors too. We have thousands of repeat customers and over 7,500 associated author friends!

Good eBooks™ advertising writers range from emerging to best-selling authors, which means you have access to an extreme range of good books!

This also means you, our valued customer, have access to a unique niche of fresh, new titles, which you can't find on Amazon, or any other giant book store, all in one place. We have done all the "donkey work" and have assembled a gold mine of new Books for your selections.

Good eBooks™ has recently expanded its operation to include sales in the British Isles, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France. These books can be purchased in local currency as well. So now we are truly global, international, world-wide!

The latest winner from Good eBooks™ is the expansion into Canada. Now our Canadian author friends are advertising their writings with us on Amazon Canada!

Our analytics reports show us that well over 50% of our website visitors are repeat viewers . . . thank you ! This tells us we are doing what you want us to do!

We post new titles in all categories almost every day for your perusal.

Interview with Riley Geddings

Riley, tell us about Good eBooks.net.
The primary purpose of our website is to promote books & eBooks for all authors.
Currently, Good eBooks™ is associated with well over 1,000 authors of all writing levels.



In addition, Good eBooks™ presents these writings to our thousands of faithful customers. Over half of our visitors are repeat customers because they know we will offer them new, fresh reads every day.

Good eBooks also strives to be a good source for useful and helpful information such as good links, news, and articles for authors and readers alike.



Good eBooks™ is the best meeting place to bring readers and authors together!

What do you hope to accomplish with this site? 
For GoodeBooks Readers:
Good eBooks™ not only provides the reader with a wide gamut of good eBooks and books, but also provides an unlimited selection of fresh, new eBook and good book titles by fresh, new authors! We have over 1,000 author associates who constantly offer you a broad selection of titles.



Good eBooks™ offers you these unique eBooks and books all in one place, because we have 8 webpages dedicated totally FREE for eBook and book promotion for all authors. This service is offered absolutely FREE as one aspect of our passion to assist all authors with their marketing. The outcome is perfect for the author as well as the reader.



Good eBooks™ has something for all readers . . . "Biblical Gold" pages, which contain wonderful inspirational Christian eBooks and books from our associate Inspirational authors. In addition, we have eBooks and books for children at "Kidz World"!



We have expanded our viewer's selection of eBooks and books, with a poetic page - "World of Poetry".

For Good eBooks™ Writers:
As you know, if you have visited us before, we have a mission, one aspect of which is to assist all authors, especially upcoming emerging authors with their marketing endeavors.



Good eBooks™ maintains a good number of free book-promoting web pages.



If these webpages become fully booked, we offer a very low-cost alternative, which allows an author to place 3-month ads for a reasonable price-range. These ads currently run on up to 17 non-free webpages, linking direct to Amazon, giving you maximum exposure!



In addition, we have a popular, global, Barnes & Noble shopping center, "Shop Barnes & Noble," for authors who have books on B&N ! 

All of your eBook and book ads are full-color, book-cover, and link to Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, and Barnes & Noble Nook direct.

Why did you start Good eBooks™?
Good eBooks™ MISSION:

Because I am a writer and author of published eBooks, I know first-hand that marketing those eBooks is not easy. It has been estimated that 50,000 new eBooks are published every day and counting.



Our Good eBooks™ website has adopted a policy, or mission, if you will, to assist all authors by creating book-cover, promotional advertising for their eBooks/books.

What can authors do on the site?
Authors can promote their books with book-cover, direct-link ads on Good eBooks™.
There are 8 free areas and 4 low-budget areas for them to post ads.

What can readers do on the site?
Our readers know they can find fresh, new titles and authors. Over 50% of our customers
are return book buyers.

What makes this site different from others?
The fast-growing Good eBooks™ website is totally different! Good eBooks™ not only provides the reader with a wide gamut of good eBooks and books, but also provides an unlimited selection of fresh, new eBook and good book titles by fresh, new authors! We have over 1,000 author associates, who constantly offer you a broad selection of titles.



Good eBooks™ offers you these unique eBooks and books all in one place, because we have 8 webpages dedicated totally FREE for eBook and book promotion for all authors. This service is offered absolutely FREE as one aspect of our passion to assist all authors with their marketing. The outcome is perfect for the author as well as the reader.


And at Good eBooks™, you will find four(4) major book sellers at our book shopping centers.

Riley, tell everybody a little about yourself—the mastermind behind Good eBooks.
I am happily married to Maggie Geddings and together have co-authored several eBooks. We are currently writing the Unknown Island Chronicles, a series of thrilling, adventure-fiction ebooks. The first ebook in the series, Unknown Island Paradise was published in October, 2012. The second ebook in the series, Unknown Island Paradise 2 was published in November, 2012; and both are available for purchase at all major online book stores. The third ebook in the series is in process and should be published soon.

As a boy of 12, I started painting in high school, under a great art teacher who saw my potential and gave me top grades. As a young adult, I studied oil painting under a noted art teacher in North Carolina. Living in Florida, the natural beauty is endless and provides unlimited subject matter for my paintings. Most of my work is inspired from actual scenes in Florida and was developed in an effort to stress the importance of saving the Florida Everglades! I'm featured on dozens of well-known international art and artist's Internet websites, and I've produced many commissioned projects for art lovers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Spain; and I've been involved in large commercial projects as the exclusive artist as well.

I started my adult career as a professional software programmer/analyst. This enabled me to develop my own websites, which in turn provided me with an avenue to pursue my ambition to become a writer and publisher. With the advent and popularity of eBooks, I was ready, willing, and able to launch my dream of becoming a published author. 

In the same way that I created my artistic masterpieces, I also had a desire to create literary masterpieces—and thus a new author was born. I recognized that a hidden force was moving within me to urge me in this new direction. I call upon this same force to lead me and to guide me to wield my words wisely.

I served my country by enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard, where my duties led me to work on a top-secret joint venture project between the USA and England, sailing on a cutter in the Caribbean Sea. During that special mission, I went ashore on numerous tropical islands in the Bermuda Triangle, some of which were uninhabited. It was during those halcyon days that I developed a love for all aspects of tropical island life which ultimately laid the groundwork for my writing the Unknown Island Chronicles series.

What books do you currently have published?
Past Present Future, and 2 Deep-Romance eBooks co-authored with Maggie:



What do you like to do best—write, paint, or work on the website?
It appears now that my time is required in this sequence:
1.    Website
2.    Write
3.    I no longer paint, but do still sell Giclee prints.

What do you know now that you wish you knew then?
I would have concentrated on helping authors with their book marketing
via my website earlier.

What’s your favorite/most visited Internet site? (Besides Good eBooks!)
Google Search.

What’s in your refrigerator right now?
Goodies which Maggie and I like!

What is the most daring thing you've done?
As a 3-year-old boy, I was dared to jump on an old piece of roofing tin on the ground.
When I did, to my surprise, it covered an old, abandoned country well, and I fell
45 feet to the water. The tin I jumped on followed me down and sliced my head open.
My father was lowered down by strong ropes and rescued me, a miracle for sure!

Wow. What is the stupidest thing you've ever done (or did you just mention it?!)?
Too many to mention here!

What choices in life would you like to have a redo on?
Mostly on the things I failed to do—such as scuba diving (did snorkeling),
small aircraft pilot, hang gliding and traveling the world.

Do you have any marketing tips for indie authors, besides taking part in Good eBooks?
Yes, writing and publishing your book is the easiest, but marketing is an art and a school of hard knocks which take long experience to conquer. You must have patience!

What's next for you personally and for Good eBooks?
More of the same.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/SITE ADMINISTRATOR

Ebook author Riley Geddings was born en route to Florida—and now makes his home in Carrollwood Village, Florida. He is married to his lovely English wife, Maggie Geddings and together they co-author and publish eBooks. Riley enjoys writing, especially thrilling-adventure fiction ebooks. Maggie enjoys writing the deep, passionate, erotic, love-making scenarios, which are found throughout their books.

In addition to creating scenes with the written word, he has been a very successful Florida Landscape artist, creating scenes of beauty in art. His forte is painting the natural, endless beauty of the Florida Everglades.

Having had a career as a professional software programmer/analyst enables him to develop his own websites, which in turn provides him with an avenue to pursue his ambition to be a writer and publisher. With the advent and popularity of eBooks, Riley is ready, willing, and able to fulfill his dream of becoming a published author.

He recognizes that a hidden force is moving within him to urge him in this direction, and he calls upon this same force to lead him and to guide him to wield his words wisely.

Connect with Riley:
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FEATURED AUTHOR: JENNIFER DAVID HESSE

ABOUT THE BOOK

As the Summer Solstice approaches in idyllic Edindale, Illinois, attorney Keli Milanni isn't feeling the magic. She's about to land in a cauldron of hot water at work. Good thing she has her private practice to fall back on—as a Wiccan. She'll just have to summon her inner Goddess and set the world to
rights . . .

Midsummer Eve is meant for gratitude and celebration, but Keli is not in her typically upbeat mood. The family of a recently deceased client is blaming her for the loss of a Shakespearean heirloom worth millions, and Keli's career may be on the line. With both a Renaissance Faire and a literary convention in town, Edindale is rife with suspicious characters, and the intrepid attorney decides to tap into her unique skills to crack the case . . .

But Keli weaves a tangled web when her investigation brings her up-close and personal with her suspects--including sexy Wes Callahan, her client's grandson. The tattooed bartender could be the man she's been looking for in more ways than one. As the sun sets on the mystical holiday, Keli will need just a touch of the divine to ferret out the real villain and return Edindale, and her heart, to a state of perfect harmony . . .

INTERVIEW WITH JENNIFER DAVID HESSE

How did you get started writing?
I loved making up stories as a kid and acting them out with my siblings and friends. And I read voraciously pretty much as soon as I learned the alphabet. That’s probably why writing came easily for me in school. I majored in English in college and often kept a journal as an adult. Yet, for some reason it didn’t occur to me to pursue writing professionally until after I’d already chosen another career path. Still, I kept feeling a call to write. Finally, a few years ago, I decided to go for it. I wrote Midsummer Night's Mischief with the intention of having it published, one way or another. Ultimately, this led to a three-book publishing deal with Kensington—with hopefully more to follow!

Do you write every day?
I should . . . but, I confess that I don’t. Sometimes I miss a day here and there. But when deadlines loom, then I'm less likely to skip a day!

How often do you read?
Generally every day. I read on my commute to and from my day job, as well as in spare non-writing moments at home. So many books, so little time . . .

Is writing your dream job?
For sure. Becoming a published author is a dream come true!

How do you feel about Facebook?
It’s a love-hate thing. Overall, I think Facebook is a great resource. It's a wonderful, easy way to keep in touch with far-away friends and family. But it’s also crazy-making. I wish there were a built-in time limit on it, like: “This web page will self-destruct in 5-4-3-2 . . . ”

That's an excellent idea. What’s one thing you never leave the house without?
A pen. I can always scrounge up some paper, but a pen is a must. You never know when inspiration will strike!

What do you love about where you live?
I love the diversity in Chicago. Multiculturalism is the norm here, but I still find it cool to ride the train with people from dozens of different nationalities every day. So, of course, there’s a rich variety of languages, foods, and cultural celebrations throughout the city. However, I do like to head downstate now and then to visit family and enjoy a slower pace. There’s much to love about Southern Illinois too (which is where my books take place), including an abundance of natural areas to explore.
 
Would you rather be a movie star, sports star, or rock star?
Movie star. I think acting would be fun, much like telling a story. Plus, in filming you get do-overs if you mess up!

How do you like your pizza?
Thin and crispy crust, with loads of veggies—especially mushrooms and onions. (Unlike my main character, I’m not vegan, though I am a vegetarian. I admire vegans, but I’m not quite ready to give up cheese!)

What would you do for a Klondike bar?
Hmm, I do have quite the sweet tooth. I’d be willing to dance like Elaine on Seinfeld. What’s a little public embarrassment compared to a frozen chocolate-covered treat?

Good point. What are you working on now?
I’m writing book #3 in the Wiccan Wheel Mystery series. The publishing process is so interesting. Before book #1 was even released, book #2 was written and in editing, and book #3 was underway. It’s a lot of work, but it’s still loads of fun!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mystery writer and environmental lawyer Jennifer David Hesse is the author of the Wiccan Wheel Mysteries, a series of cozy mysteries that take place around the holidays in the Wheel of the Year. Born and raised in Central Illinois, Jennifer earned her undergraduate degree as an English major from Eastern Illinois University and her law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. After an eight-year stint in New York, she now makes her home in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago with her husband and daughter. When she’s not writing, Jennifer enjoys yoga, hiking, and movie night with her family.


Connect with Jennifer:
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Blog  |  
Facebook  |  Twitter  |   Goodreads


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HEROES & HOOLIGANS IN GOOSE PIMPLE JUNCTION

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Goose Pimple Junction is just recovering from a kidnapping and a murder, its first major crimes in years, when trouble begins anew. Life is turned upside down in the quirky little Southern town with the arrival of several shifty hooligans: A philandering husband intent on getting his wife back, another murderer loose in town, a stalker intent on frightening Martha Maye, and a thief who’s stealing the town blind of their pumpkins, pies, and peace. Together, they’re scaring the living daylights out of the residents and keeping the new police chief busier than a set of jumper cables at a redneck picnic. Suddenly, he has his hands full trying to apprehend a killer, stop a stalker, and fight his feelings for the damsel in distress.

Heroes & Hooligans is the second book in the Goose Pimple Junction mystery series.

EXCERPT FROM HEROES & HOOLIGANS IN GOOSE PIMPLE JUNCTION

Chapter 1

Marry in haste, repent in leisure. ~Southern Proverb


Lenny drove to his neighborhood bar with the windows wide open and Johnny Cash blaring on the radio, but he was oblivious to both. He was thinking about the phone conversation he’d just had with his ten-year-old daughter Carrie. It made him crazy the way her mother’s family called her “Butterbean.” What kind of a name was that for a child? But today he was crazy for a whole new reason. Jealousy and anger tore through him faster than small-town gossip. His daughter had spilled everything, and just when he thought he’d finally gotten a break, she said, “Mama kinda had a boyfriend but not anymore.” And: “Mama was kidnapped, but she’s back now.”

He pulled into the parking lot of the bar thinking, Boyfriend? We literally aren’t even divorced yet and she had a boyfriend? He pounded his fist against the steering wheel. He knew she’d been cheating on him. And now she’d done it right in front of their daughter. No doubt about it, he was going to have to do something about this Martha Maye situation.

Pulling into a primo spot at the front door, he looked up at the old rusty sign that had been over the entrance for years: TEETOTALERS AIN'T WELCOME HERE. He winced at the loud screech announcing his car door opening, followed by the same screech when he slammed it shut. He glanced around the parking lot and saw the same cars that were there every night. His feet crunched on the gravel as he walked, and he remembered waking up three months earlier and slowly realizing his wife and daughter weren’t there.

The familiar bacon and coffee smells were gone. Cartoons weren’t blaring on the TV. His wife’s clothes were missing, along with his daughter’s, her teddy bear, and her dolls. The bookshelves were dotted with bare spots where Martha Maye’s favorite knickknacks and paddywhacks had been. And then he saw the note on the kitchen table that said she was divorcing him and that he shouldn’t try to find them. The realization that she’d left him in the middle of the night and taken their daughter seared through him like a red-hot poker.

Pretty stealthy for a woman who could literally be outwitted by a jar of marshmallow fluff. If she thinks she can literally run out on me and then humiliate me by going out with some scumbag before we’re even divorced, she has another think coming. I’ll show her. I’ll put on the charm and win her back.

Country music blasted as he opened the door, turned his head, and spit in disgust. She literally can’t be let her out by herself. Just look where it got her: kidnapped and almost killed.

His daughter had told him they’d been staying at his mother-in-law’s house. He should have figured. He’d always known Louetta to be a meddlesome old biddy. She lied to me when I called looking for my wife and daughter. She aided and abetted a woman leaving her husband. She allowed nefarious suitors to court my wife. Both of them must have literally stopped to think and forgotten how to start again.
And then there was his no-account, good-for-nothing brother who, upon learning of the impending divorce, wanted to know if Lenny would mind if he dated Martha Maye. Boy, I’m gonna slap you so hard, when you quit rolling your clothes’ll literally be outta style. My baby brother and my wife. Yeah. Over my dead body. How could he even ask such a thing? Both of them were nothing but a bunch of backstabbing traitors.

He hitched up his jeans under his overflowing beer belly, swaggered into the bar, and ordered a Colt 45. The jukebox was playing, “I Want a Beer as Cold as My Ex-Wife’s Heart,” and he thought that was pretty darn perfect for his life at the moment.

Looking around the room, he spotted a hot blonde giving him the eye. He sucked in his gut—a move that didn’t yield the desired result—and looked back, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. She brazenly smiled back at him.

How dare Martha Maye leave me? I can literally get any woman I want. And two on Saturday.
A football star in high school, homecoming king, and voted best looking his senior year, Lenny was used to women coming onto him, not leaving him. He put the bottle to his lips and downed half of it.

That woman was literally lucky to have me. Sure, I’ve put on a little weight, but only in the gut. I practically have to fight women off with a stick. Looking around the room again, he saw female eyes on him from several tables in the room. Yessirree, sir, I still got it.

Lenny started to lift his bottle to his mouth again but halted midway when two men sat down heavily on barstools on either side of him; they looked capable of eating their young. Both men were muscular and tough. One was as tall as a telephone pole. One was as short as a gnat’s tail. The taller man had black eyes under bushy eyebrows, and the other man wore aviator sunglasses on a flat, wide nose. He pushed the glasses to the top of his head to give Lenny his best glare.

“We’ve been looking all over Hell and half of Georgia for you, boy.” Eyebrows scooted his stool in close, crowding Lenny.

“Shoot.” Lenny’s hand automatically moved to his ankle holster, checking for his knife. “That don’t surprise me none. You literally couldn’t find oil with a dipstick.”

“Solly says he’s had about enough of you,” Eyebrows said.

“Yeah,” Mr. Gnat joined in, “he’s had about enough of you.”

Lenny snorted. “You can tell Solly to blow it out his butt,” Lenny said boldly, more boldly than he felt. He shelled a peanut, popped it in his mouth, and threw the shell into Mr. Gnat’s face.

“Solly says not to let you off the hook this time.”

“Yeah, not to let you off the hook.” Mr. Gnat’s left eye twitched.

“What’s with Mr. Echo over here?” Lenny pointed his thumb at the short man.

The telephone pole ignored him and said, “Solly says you’ve screwed him over for the last time.”

“Yeah, the last time.”

“I didn’t screw him over the first time.” Lenny drained his bottle. He felt like his mouth was full of cotton. “Solly wouldn’t tell the truth to save his life from dying.” Lenny tried to stand up, but the men had him penned in.

“You can’t talk about Solly that way.”

“Yeah, not that way,” Mr. Gnat echoed.

Eyebrows looked behind Lenny to his friend. “This boy has the mental agility of a soap dish, Joey.”

“Yeah, a soap dish.”

Lenny leaned in real close to Joey, who said, “Whatta you think you’re doing?”

“Just wondered if I got close enough if I could literally hear the ocean.”

“Boy, what you need is an education,” Eyebrows said.

“Yeah, an edj-ee-cation.” Gnat strung the word out.

The men grabbed Lenny’s arms, lifting him off his stool. The song on the jukebox had ended, and Lenny heard the crunch of peanut shells as the men propelled him toward the door.

“Boys, y’all best not be messing with me,” Lenny snapped, trying to break free.

“That’s mighty big talk for a punk like you.” They stepped aside as someone came through the door, and then they threw Lenny through it. He landed on the ground but sprang right back to his feet, his dukes up, ready to fight.

Eyebrows was fast. He knocked Lenny to the ground again with a left hook. Joey followed up with two kicks to the ribs.

Lenny pulled himself into a ball, both to protect himself from further harm and to have better access to his ankle holster. But Joey saw the knife and kicked it away as Lenny drew it from his pants leg.

The men both grabbed Lenny by an arm again, pulling him upright, and Eyebrows punched him in the gut, causing him to double over. They double-teamed him and left him on the ground bloody and beaten, as cars whizzed past on the road in front of the bar.

Right before Lenny passed out, he thought: Tomorrow I’ll pack up and head for Goose Pimple Junction to reclaim what’s rightfully mine. I’ll literally be a devoted husband and father and get my family back. I ain’t gonna let that woman leave me. Nobody leaves Lenny Applewhite.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Metz is the author of the Goose Pimple Junction mystery series. She is a former first grade teacher and the mother of two sons. When not actively engaged in writing, enjoying her family, or surfing Facebook or Pinterest, Amy can usually be found with a mixing spoon, camera, or book in one hand and a glass of sweet tea in the other. Amy lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Connect with Amy:
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