BOOKS WE LOVE BLURBATHON

Here's Sheila Claydon's latest:

In a rut, and with her love life at an all time low, Claire Harris makes a New Year’s resolution to join an Internet dating agency. Her challenge is twelve dates or twelve months, whichever comes first, unless she is lucky enough to meet Mister Right along the way. On her final date, and convinced that only frogs are left in the dating pool, she is relieved that it’s nearly over…until she meets enigmatic American, Daniel Marchant. The only problem is, his brother has set him up, and Daniel makes it very clear that he’s not interested in dating anyone at all. He is looking for someone to work in his developing conservation research company though, and when he discovers that Claire has the photographic and cataloguing skills he needs, he offers her a dream job in Florida.

But Dolphin Key is not as idyllic as it seems. There are too many secrets and too much heartache. And Claire has her own secrets as well. Not that she is going to share them with anyone, least of all with Daniel, because he must never know he has stolen her heart.

Wonderful story! The story had me from the start to finish, this book was an emotionally good story that had a great romance with humor entwined. I believe anyone who reads this book will enjoy it (LadyAtlantis)

Perfect warming read for a grey,cold winter day Another heart warming romance from Sheila Claydon. (Liz)

 

Learn more about Sheila's characters and her books at: http://sheilaclaydon.com or http://amzn.to/LJMM16

BOOKS WE LOVE BLURBATHON

Running Scared by Cheryl Wright

Emma Larkin is running for her life – nowhere is safe.

Stalked by her husband's killers, and desperate to protect her young daughter, Emma must find what the killers are looking for before she becomes their next victim.

When undercover cop, Gary Bedford, planned a relaxing break, he hadn’t counted on bumping into Emma. Now he can't resist the temptation to discover all her secrets.

But should Emma trust her life and heart to Gary Bedford?

Can they solve the mystery surrounding her husband’s death – and uncover his deadly secret?

….

"Oh wow. Could not stop reading this. Was on pins and needles through the entire book . Wonderful story and very well written. Looking forward to more books by this fantastic writer!" ~ D. Gilman

“A great fast paced light suspense romance captivating the reader in a plot of many twists and turns. You will not want to put this book down until the end when all is revealed.” ~ Claudia R.

….

Learn more about Cheryl’s characters and her books at: http://www.cheryl-wright.com

And do check back to learn all about Sheila Claydon’s books on February 1st!

BOOKS WE LOVE BLURBATHON

 My Mozart, a new release from Juliet Waldron, author of the highly acclaimed Mozart's Wife.

Mozart was her teacher, her mentor, her rescuer--and, finally, fatally, her lover. ..

At dawn, in the marble palace of a Prince, a nine-year-old sings for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, then at the peak of his career. Always delighted by musical children, he accepts Nanina as a pupil. Gifted, intense and imaginative, she sees the great "Kapellmeister Mozart” as an avatar of Orpheus and her own, personal divinity.

His lessons are irregular and playful, but the teacher/pupil bond grows strong. Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro premieres, and Nanina, now twelve, is given a solo part. For her, this is the beginning of a long stage career. For Mozart, it marks the start of his ruin. His greatest works will be composed in poverty and obscurity.

During the composer’s last summer, his wife has left him. Chronically in debt and suffering the emotional isolation of genius, he takes refuge with his disreputable Volksoper friends, who want him to write a “peasant opera” for their audience. Nanina, now grown, and still in love with Mozart, is among their number. As he seeks solace among the women of the Volksoper, the charms of his young fan become increasingly alluring. No one, least of all the composer, understands the depth of her obsession or how a brief affair will permanently alter her life.
Buy Page: My Mozart

BOOKS WE LOVE BLURBATHON

Finally got this (I think)! All the authors at Books We Love are simultaneously posting one author's work on their blogs. Here goes with Margaret Tanner and her award-winning book, Savage Possession.

In 2008, with a title of Storm Girl, Savage Possession was a Semi-Finalist in the Amazon Break Through Novel Award.

A sweeping tale of love’s triumph over tragedy and treachery in frontier Australia.
A mistaken identity opens the door for Martin Mulvaney to take his revenge on the granddaughter of his mortal enemy.

An old Scottish feud, a love that should never have happened, and a series of extraordinary coincidences traps two lovers in a family feud that threatens to destroy their love, if not their lives.
Click on the image for a quick trip to the buy page at Amazon! An amazing writer, our Margaret.

I HAVE BECOME A PROMOTING 'HO!

Never did I think I would see the day when I would shamelessly push, promote, advertise, and in general, throw myself on the mercy of the eWinds out there. Between the Alvarez Family and the Persephone Cole Mystery Series, I hawk like a barker for a 3rd-rate carnival.
Facebook and I are close pals. I'm even learning how it works. I tweet like nobody's business. If I could afford to hire a plane whose duff dragged a long sign overhead promoting my books, I would. Maybe even a dirigible. Roadsign, anyone?
And I used to have so much pride. But pride doesn't get you sales, nosirree. I have discovered that maybe I'll never do the sales of Agatha Christie or Janet Evanovitch, but if I sit still and wait for the fates to do it for me, it might never...okay, will never happen at any level.
Man oh, man. I had no idea that being a writer involved so much of this end of the stick! It seems now the luxury of writing is the actual writing, itself!
Any thoughts on this, dear writing pals?
And before we leave, here's my buy page at Amazon, just to keep this 'ho thing going!!

http://www.amazon.com/Heather-Haven/e/B004QL22UK/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1355071938&sr=1-2-ent

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Jingle All The Way!

I love Christmas. Always have. Ever since I found out the tubby guy in the red suit did NOT give me those presents once a year, I’ve been on a high. Let’s face it, Santa’s a little weird. Definitely someone my doctor would want to talk to about his weight. Further, what’s with the white trim, fella? Everybody knows when you’re a short zaftig person, the last thing you need is white fur running horizontally around your belly. I mean, come on. Talk about no clue.

When it’s all said and done, I really like it that my mom, a single, struggling mother of two, always managed to put something under that tree year after year. True, often it was a pair of much needed shoes, socks, or underwear. Occasionally, though, it was the gift of gold - new skates, a book, and once, when I turned fourteen, a portable typewriter. My childhood, you see, took place during the Punic Wars, when a computer or iPad was just a gleam in a yet-to-be-born entrepreneurial eye.

I remember opening up that typewriter like it was yesterday. The goldest of gold. Small enough to haul around with you wherever you went. The very thing for a fledgling, young writer. Ah, the prose, the poetry, the stories that typewriter helped me write! I wish I had it now; it was pure magic.

I believe the act of giving is Christmas. It’s all of us when we’re at our best. We don’t need those we love to sit on our knee and rattle off a wish list. We know their heart’s desires, just as they know ours. If we can make those desires a reality, we will. Christmas is love, hope, and the giving of ourselves.

So yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And he’s you.

 

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And moving on to a plug, have you heard about my latest book out? Right in the holiday spirit, if you like a dead body or two!! See below!



 

Persephone Cole and the Christmas Killings Conundrum

In late December, 1942, Persephone (Percy) Cole, one of Manhattan's first female PIs, has been hired to find out who killed a Santa Land elf and left the body in the storefront window of a swank 5th Avenue jewelry store. Was it the spoiled heiress whose big buck handbag was found on the scene? Or was it the rat who broke out of the big house to settle a score? Shortly after, the corpse of the Christmas Angel is discovered stuffed in Mrs. Santa's workshop. Will Santa Claus be next? With a penchant for Marlene Dietrich suits, pistachio nuts and fedora hats, this working mother finds diamonds to the left of her, diamonds to the right, and skullduggery aplenty. Armed with her noodle and a WW I German Mauser, Percy is determined to solve these crimes or it just might be the 'kiss off' for Christmas.



My latest offering!

 

Buy page for Persephone Cole and the Christmas Killings Conundrum:

http://www.amazon.com/Persephone-Christmas-Killings-Conundrum-ebook/dp/B009OUMNMA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352588210&sr=1-1&keywords=persephone+cole+and+the+christmas+killing+conundrum

 

Tagged: The Next Big Thing - Find Out What I'm Working On!

I’ve been tagged in a blog game called The Next Big Thing. The game involves authors answering questions about their work in progress (aka WIP). So I am “it” for the moment, and I am off to the 20th century, 1942, to be exact, to talk about a murder taking place under the Big Top. Come along with me back to the Ringling Brothers Circus and World War II! Leave a comment, if you like!

Here we go. . . my answers to the OFFICIAL “Ten Questions for The Next Big Thing”:

1. What is the working title of your book?

Death of a Clown

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?

This book started with the circus memories of my mother, around whom I’ve created the protagonist, Jeri Deane. The cover to the right is a real picture of my mother sitting on the trunk of an elephant in the early 1940s. This picture has a nameless clown extending his arms to Mom. This started my crafty, murderous mind working. What if this clown got murdered? Could Jeri solve the crime? Well, why not, I asked myself?  At that point, I was off and away.

I would like to add that to my knowledge, no murders have taken place in the circus. However, one of the characters in the book says: “There’s never been a murder under the Big Top before. Unless you count Miss Brassy’s Performing Poodles. That act could kill a group of Shriners.”

3. What genre does your book fall under?

Mystery noir. It has humor and is very fast paced with everything taking place in less than three days, but there’s a definite noir feel about it.

 4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

That should only happen, but we’ll go with the scenario. The protagonist, Jeri Deane, is only 24-years old. There aren’t many established actresses out there to do the role at that age. They’d have to find someone new. Ah! If only Catherine Zeta Jones were a few years younger, she’d be perfect. And Brad Pitt would be a great Whitey.

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Under the canvas sky of the Big Top no one talks about their past, but murder has a way of bringing deadly secrets out into the open.

6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

This is the first time I’m going to do it My Way. A writing buddy and close friend, Baird Nuckolls, and I are forming a publishing company called The Wives of Bath Press. Death of a Clown will make its debut sometime in January.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Six years, on and off. It was a bear. I changed POVs from 3rd to 1st, half-way through. Then after I completed the novel, and it came in at 85K, I went back and changed tenses from past to present. That took months. But I believe I finally got it right.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Probably similar to Like Water for Elephants, although I have deliberately not read the book nor seen the movie. I don’t want to be accused of lifting anything, even accidentally. 

 9. Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I was inspired by my mother, who was a performer at Ringling Brothers Circus. The history, coupled with her stories and love of the circus, were a true inspiration for me. The Big Top was at its zenith during the 40s. That was its golden age, if you will. There were 51 elephants, thousands of other animals, and nearly 2000 people involved in the Big Top. The circus was a traveling city going from town to town on one of the longest trains ever riding the railroad tracks. It was often bigger than most of the towns it visited. Mom had an amazing life there. Furthermore, that’s where she met and married my father. He was an elephant trainer.

10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

This is a real account of the day to day lives of circus people during that era ,colored significantly by the outbreak of the war. It was like no other place, no other time, and I believe the novel has that feel. Mom has many journals and photos of then and since I’ve been hearing these stories since I was a child, I feel as if I was really there. It’s an insider’s look at the world of the Big Top. Plus you get a helluva mystery, if you don’t mind my saying!

-----------------------------------

Well that’s it and it’s been a lot of fun. Thanks again to Camille Minichino for tagging me. Camille is in many ways one of my mentors. She's as nice a lady as she is a good writer.

I am about to pass the torch on to writers whose work and style I admire. I wonder what their next BIG thing is? Let's see together!!

Chastity Bush, author of A Taste of Terror and other fine novels

Mhare Fraser, debut novel working title Of Mermaids and Mockingbirds

Andrew Kloak, debut novel, Working the Glass, out soon

Diana Montane, I Would Find a Girl Walking, about serial killer Gerald Stano

BairdNuckolls, acclaimed writer of short stories, children's books, and other genres

Please visit their blogs. They will be publishing their answers to the questions between the October 29th and November 4th

 Next week I'll ask each of these delightful people to guest on my blog, writing about anything they want. That should be fun!!

Message for the tagged authors and interested others:
Rules of the Next Big Thing
***Use this format for your post
***Answer the ten questions about your current WIP (work in progress)
***Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.
Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing:
What is your working title of your book?
Where did the idea come from for the book?
What genre does your book fall under?
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Include the link of who tagged you and this explanation for the people you have tagged.
Be sure to line up your five people in advance.