New Release -- BLUE SPRINGS by John D. Nesbitt

Wilf Kasmire is surprised to hear from his ex-girlfriend, Dawn Jenkins—and even more puzzled when she asks if she can stay with him “for a while.” The note of worry in her tone has Wilf agreeing—against his better judgment, but also wondering if she’s in trouble. Her stay with Wilf is cut short when she disappears without a note—and Wilf realizes he was right to be concerned.

When another young woman’s body is found nearby their small Wyoming town, Wilf knows he’s got to assure himself of Dawn’s safety. But as time goes by, the clues he finds tell him otherwise. Now, someone’s after Wilf, too, and he’s determined to discover if the would-be murderer is the same man who has abducted Dawn.

With little help from the local authorities, Wilf must stand alone against the man he believes is involved in a drug ring—a criminal who is likely responsible for at least two killings. A man who intends to murder Wilf, as well. But the need to know what happened to Dawn burns hot, and Wilf Kasmire is not one to admit defeat. Can he survive long enough to piece together the evidence he needs to bring the murderer down first? Nothing is certain in BLUE SPRINGS…

“Nesbitt is a true artist” — Western American Literature

EXCERPT

     Wilf pulled in parallel to the curb in front of the sheriff’s office. In the parking lot next to the building, two patrol cars and a white Jeep Cherokee, all with foot-high yellow-and-black lettering, sat with their noses lined up even. Past the vehicles, a man in uniform stood smoking a cigarette. Beyond him, the sidewalk led past the two-story part of the building that held the jail. Wilf remembered seeing prisoners in orange outfits walk that way toward the courthouse, and he was glad not to see them now.
     He got out of his pickup, waved to the cop, and went in the front door of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department. Inside, he waited at a glass reception window until a hefty woman pushed herself away from a desk and came to the counter.
     “How can I help you?”
     “I’d like to report a missing person.”

     

HAWKING YOUR WARES, by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer

Twenty-three years ago, while my husband was working in Japan, I got up in the middle of the night and sat at his computer. I didn’t know anything about computers beyond the very basics; I didn’t really know how to type, for that matter. But a sentence had come into my head. A first sentence. The first first sentence, with many more to follow, though I didn’t know that at the time. I only knew that I was compelled to write this one down. When the sun rose on a new day, I had forty-five pages of what was to be my first book. Several months later, it had grown into four-hundred-and-fifty, over 100,000 words, the final ones being “the end.”

According to everything I’d read about being a writer, now it was time for me to begin hawking the book to publishers. It wasn’t really “hawking” at first; in fact it was more like baring my soul to strangers. I had created this wonderful thing and wanted to share it with the world, to gently lay the baby kitten of my immagination at the feet of those who would appreciate it. I was in for some serious reality checks. After time, I learned that selling a book was like selling anything else: part enthusiasm, part good advertising, and part being louder than everyone else in the room.

That book was never published, but I didn’t mind. As long as I remained unpublished, I could write anything I pleased with no deadlines, restraints, or obligations. Then came my Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series, and life has never been the same. I can’t just write my stories anymore: I need to blog and use social media, tweet and post. I have launches and book signing events. I take part in large book shows with multiple authors. I dress the part, wearing cat-print clothing and furry ears, a crazy cat lady costume. It’s fun, draws people’s attention, and is an integral part of “hawking my wares.” 

The term “hawker” comes from the 16th century or before and was originally defined as a traveling street vendor.  The verb “to hawk” means “to offer for sale in a very vigorous, public fashion, especially by calling out loudly in the street.” I don’t actually sell in the streets, but some of the big shows such as the international cat show I’ve been doing this weekend can feel that way. As people walk by, I shove a promotional postcard into their hand and give them the 1-sentence book pitch: …more trouble than a cat in catnip! It works. They stop. They talk. I tell them what a cozy cat mystery is and they tell me about their cats. Sometimes they buy, and I’ve achieved my goal: to lay that kitten of my imagination, if not at their feet, at least on or near their bookshelf.

Check out more blogs by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer at:

Mollie Hunt: Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and more

Happy reading!

Research: The R Word

RESEARCH: THE R WORD

Research for any book is essential. Even if I’m writing a romantic novel, descriptions for settings need to be accurate and protagonist flaws need to be realistic. Having the book’s setting in wet Seattle is vastly different from the desert landscape of Phoenix. Writing about a character with claustrophobia will certainly have different symptoms from one with a drinking problem.

If the plot revolves on the use of technology, I’d better know what I’m talking about or readers will correct me. If a character uses a gun, descriptions and uses need to be as accurate as I can possibly make them. Writing western romance makes it important to know a thing or two about horses. My last book was about a horse trainer who was injured while training a wild horse. Since horse training is not one of my talents, I needed to understand the process to describe it as if I’ve been training all my life. 

Research kicks into high gear when I’m writing historical fiction. I’m on book two of my World War II series about the wartime experiences of a young embassy secretary in military intelligence. My protagonist began her adventures in London at the end of the war, so it was mandatory that I understood the events, speech, dress and food from that time and place. I was lucky to have the diary of a young woman who was in London at that very time and was able to extrapolate her experiences to enrich my fictional story.

Now that my protagonist is in Oslo, Norway, details about life after the German occupation become paramount. I’ve never been to Norway, but after months of research, I feel I know the place intimately. That does not necessarily translate to flowing prose or an interesting story. Combining story with research is a neat trick to pull it off without the dreaded Information Dump. There’s so much you, the author, want to include, but it needs to serve the story, not the other way around.

So the R word with its close ally L (library) go hand in hand when you’re writing anything. Sure it’s good to write what you know, but face it—we don’t know everything.

www.jeanneharrell.com

jeanneharrellauthor@gmail.com

You are the author by Michael Gonzales

Halloween is behind us, Thanksgiving is directly ahead, and Christmas, wonderful Christmas, is soon to follow.

But then…then comes the specter of the new year. Looking back at 2017, with all of its ups and downs, its good, and its bad, is, nevertheless, somewhat comforting because we know how it turned out.

2018, on the other hand, is the great unknown. It is the blank page faced by the writer.

Remember…the page does not write the story, the story teller does.

What will you write onto the yet empty pages of the coming year? Will it be a comedy, a tragedy? Whatever happens it won’t be fiction, even if you're abducted by Gabernites from the planet…ah…Gab, if it actually happens to you…then it ain’t fiction.

Perhaps you’ll come into vast wealth? Discover a pirate treasure, the lost gold of the Inca, or win Publishers Clearing House!

You might just live an action adventure, visit strange places, and distant lands.

This next orbital rotation just might be your year for romance.

Just remember, you must be the writer, the captain of your ship, the commander of your fate (where have I read that?).

As the writer sits before the blank page, or the blank monitor, he or she has a concept in mind, perhaps the story is all sketched out and the plot solidified. However, as the story unfolds the writer is bombarded with new ideas and concepts. Outside influences will act upon his mind, and the story will morph.

When finished, the author may not have the story the author intended, not at all, but as the author reads the finished work she may find she is not at all displeased with the story.

This then is the ultimate goal, to be pleased with your story. For unlike the pages in the writer’s computer that allows her to edit, even re-write whole chapters at a time, the pages of a new year are indelible, each is a chapter of our life’s book, that in the end, we, the author, must find to have been fulfilling.

And, oh…there is only one reviewer whose opinion counts.

  

Read books I and II of The Unborn Galaxy -- before the release of book III, Across a Sea of Stars.

https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Moon-Rising-Unborn-Galaxy-ebook/dp/B01CBNSAEG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Broken-Moon-Unborn-Galaxy/dp/1540645681/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Web site:  http://www.mikegonzalesauthor.com/home.html

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Not a Grammar Nazi

We all know them, those people who live to correct the grammar mistakes of others - preferably on public forums such as Facebook and Twitter. They are known collectively as Grammar Nazis and have the ability to suck the joy out of almost anything by focusing on what was most likely a mistake.

I came across an awesome tweet one day which included a pop culture reference which just pushed the awesomeness to another level. The tweet (which of course I can't find again) had countless likes, retweets, and comments. I was shocked to find that most of the comments focused on the one grammatical error in the tweet instead of the amazing overall content. (If I remember correctly it was "whose" instead of "who's".) I just wanted to shake people and scream "You're missing the point!" It's no harder to use your 140 characters to give the originator of the tweet kudos for creativity than it is to point out a mistake that they are (now) well aware of. However, Twitter doesn't allow for editing of tweets so the originator's only option is to delete it or just deal with the negativity.

We have an "instant messaging" feature at work that we can use to contact other employees. One of my coworkers knows that I'm an author (most don't) and she told me one day that she is always nervous about messaging me because she's worried about making some sort of mistake. I (hopefully) assured her that I'm not one to nit pick which may seem to be an odd trait for a writer.

So, am I saying that good grammar isn't important? Not at all. When I send a book off to an editor, I'm going to make sure that it is as perfect as I can make it. I also know when I get that book back, the editor will have found simple grammatical mistakes that I overlooked. It's easy to miss our own mistakes, especially when we have been working on the same manuscript for any length of time. After a while, the brain sees what it expects to see instead of what is actually there. This is why editors are so important.

So, if my passion involves the use of words and grammar why am I not a grammar nazi? Simple:

1. Everybody makes mistakes - even those so fond of policing others.

2. Autocorrect is the great equalizer. Anyone who uses a smartphone or tablet is well acquainted with typing a message and hitting send only to realize that autocorrect reared its ugly head and made changes - sometimes rather embarrassing ones.

I fell victim to autocorrect this morning. I typed up a tweet, proofread it, sent it, and moved on with life. A couple of hours later I realized that in spite of proofreading there was a typo in the tweet. *sigh* How did I miss the error? It was an example of what I mentioned earlier - I saw what I expected to see instead of what was actually there.

There, their, they're. It's just a mistake, not the end of the world.

On another note, while I am not one to be offended by any and every thing, I actually am not fond of the use of the term "nazi" in this context. I feel that it somewhat demeans the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust but that's a topic for another post.

So, are you a grammar nazi? Be honest. I won't tell. ;-)

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New Release -- Second Chance Dreams by Agnes Alexander

 A Coverton Mills Romance Book 2

All of Jude Winslow’s friends know he avoids politicians and preachers. Enter widow, Kay Littleton, a US Senator who has no idea about his feelings. Her occupation isn’t talked about when she comes to Coverton Mills to visit her nephew. When Jude comes to the Parker farm to help fight a barn fire, he meets Kay and falls for the tiny woman on sight. After giving his heart, he feels betrayed when he learns she’s a politician.

As much in love as he and she both are, Kay can’t understand why he rejects her. Knowing there is nothing else she can do to change his mind, she gives up her dream of retiring to North Carolina. Then a secret letter is found that changes everything.

EXCERPT

     “Jude Winslow, I can’t believe you said that.” Mavis Parker rolled her brown eyes at him, then looked at her husband. “Can you, Neil?”
     “I can believe he said it, but I can’t believe he believes it,” Neil replied. “It might sound okay in theory, but in real life it’d never work.”
     “I disagree with both of you,” Jude said as he stretched his long legs out in front of him. “I think it’d work as well as anything else. Look at all the people who’re divorced and they dated their spouse for months and sometimes for years before getting married.”
     “That may be true, but to marry a perfect stranger can’t be the answer. I don’t care how you slice it. I still say it’d never work.” Neil shook his head at Jude. “Man, I’d hate to marry a woman I didn’t know. Why, I’ve known Mavis since we were kids and she still baffles me, at times. A stranger would be impossible to figure out.”

     

Three New Releases by Linda Swift, LET NOTHING YOU DISMAY, THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, and PROMISES ON THE WIND

Kala's position as tour guide at a Kentucky Welcome Center isn't enough to cope with huge debts left by her late husband's illness, but she manages to make ends meet, until she has car trouble. To save on future repairs, she enrolls in a basic auto-care class. 

Rex is a handsome, part-time instructor whose broken heart needs repairing, too. After recently losing his important job and family, he has sworn never to get involved with another woman.

Kala discounts her growing attraction to Rex when she learns he is years younger, until the winter storm of the century throws them together. When the Interstate closes down, Kala opens her home to a houseful of strangers. Despite fire, flood, and friction, she creates an old-fashioned holiday rich in the true spirit of Christmas. In the process, will Kala and Rex discover the greatest gift of all?

Once in love, Leigh and Russell are maneuvered into spending time together during the Christmas holidays. Recovering from a tragedy, Leigh vows never to be responsible for a child again while Russell faces deciding custody of his two daughters after his ex-wife remarries.

Even as their attraction flares once more, how can they possibly overcome the obstacles life has placed between them? Then toss an arsonist, a lovable Labrador, and an unwanted stepfather into the situation... 

Will the twelve days of Christmas be time enough to sort it all out?

Heart-warming Civil War Tales

A Season of MiraclesCaroline Ross, a Confederate widow, desperately seeks medical help for her little son in the Union Army camp. 

John Oldham, a soldier disowned by his family for choosing the wrong side, comes to her aid. 

As they keep a vigil for days at Danny's bedside, a close relationship develops between them. John longs for a family and wants to make Caroline and Danny his own. Will his wish come true in this season of miracles?

• ♥ •

A Season for Love Elizabeth Harper, a recent widow, is in danger of losing her home and livelihood to her late husband's brother who is claiming legal ownership.

Matthew Sutton, a homeless wounded veteran, takes on her cause when he agrees to become her husband to stop Fred Harper's takeover. Elizabeth and Matthew have no intentions of falling in love, but love happens. Can she convince him that she looks beyond his past allegiance and useless arm and loves the man he has become?

• ♥ •

A Season to Forgive Enid Sutton is resigned to remaining single and caring for her dictatorial father in the aftermath of the Civil War. When Judge Sutton suffers a heart attack, Enid sends for his estranged son who returns and brings his new family with him.

Ben Taylor arrives to claim his deceased aunt's property and convert the mansion into a school for freedmen, but his plans go awry.