Author Archives: Joanne Guidoccio

Location, Location, Location…

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome Soul Mate author Rachel Sharpe. Today, Rachel shares the rationale behind the location of Bitter Retribution, Book 2 in the Jordan James, PI Series.

Here’s Rachel!

To me, there is something magical about snow. Maybe it’s because of its connection to Christmastime. Maybe it’s because it signifies purity. Or maybe it’s because when you’re from New Orleans, it’s a rare sight.

Whatever the case, I have always loved snow. When I decided that Bitter Retribution, book three of the Jordan James, PI series, would involve Hollywood actors and a sensational murder suited for the big screen, I had a choice – I could set the story on a sound stage in Burbank, or I could move it elsewhere, on location.

When I made the decision the setting would be on location, I couldn’t imagine a better place to have it than the Colorado Rockies in the snow. The idea of a senseless murder happening in such a beautiful place gives an added layer to the tale, a visual as memorable as any in a crime show drama.

And while I still love snow, Jordan’s latest case reminds us of one thing – much can be hidden beneath the pure, white snow…

Blurb

“What started out as a star-studded vacation has turned into a sensational avalanche…”

When private investigator Jordan James decided to join her best friend on the set of her hit television series in the Rocky Mountains, she had no idea she would become a key player in a murder mystery more suited for the big screen than the slopes. With one actor dead and a killer on the loose, can Jordan uncover the culprit before another victim makes headlines on Hollywood Minute?

Excerpt

“Don’t let your tears flow,” she insisted passionately from the screen. I glanced up and saw Roch and Nikole embracing while the KGB closed in on them. Slowly, a crescendo of brass arose as Roch and Nikole fought gallantly to their deaths. The credits began and I glanced at the clock. It was ten.

“What garbage,” I laughed aloud, grinning at the thought of meeting Roch Turner the next afternoon. I turned off the television and stretched. Yawning, I walked into my bedroom. After doing one more double-check, I was satisfied I had not forgotten anything. I got ready for bed before climbing beneath my heavy, down comforter and closing my eyes. Sighing contentedly, I thought with excitement about seeing Heather for the first time in six months, skiing in the Rockies, and watching a hit sitcom being filmed. This is going to be the best Thanksgiving ever, I thought happily. pushing images of Rick from my mind.

As I succumbed to the tranquility of slumber, eagerly awaiting a much-needed vacation, I had no idea of the depth and complexity of the situation in which I would soon be enmeshed. I had no idea of the sheer magnitude of the vendetta in which I would find myself, a senseless dispute which began years before my own birth. If I had, I would have ripped my flight itinerary up into a million tiny pieces and stayed in the warm haven of my bed.

About the Author

Rachel Sharpe is the author of the Jordan James, PI series. Although born and raised in the South, “Yankee” relatives first led Rachel to historic New England, which she has come to consider her second home and is the setting for the series.

After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in English, Rachel began dedicating her free time to her childhood passion, writing, and in the fall of 2013, she signed with Soul Mate Publishing. An active member of Sisters In Crime, Rachel currently resides with her husband and children in the Greater New Orleans area.

Check Out Rachel’s Sites to Keep Up with Jordan James!!!

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Free on Kindle … May 25 … May 26 … May 27

Get your copy here!


10 Tips How to Choose a Good Book

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome copywriter and content creator Emily Watts to the Power of 10 series. Today, Emily shares tips on selecting books to read.

Here’s Emily!

There’s nothing better than laying back on a sun lounger and reading a good book. But what’s the one book you should read? Mystery, thriller, suspense or romance book? To help you choose, we have rounded up the top tips to find great new books to read for your next vacation.

Tip 1: Questions

You can use ask the following questions to narrow your list of good books to read:

First of all, figure out what genre of book is your favourite: adventure, mystery, or realistic fiction. You can find other popular genres here.

Further, ask yourself, what are you looking for in a good book?

Tip 2: Recommendations

The sheer number of the books makes it hard to choose. But you can ask your friends, coaches, even people on the street, or small bookstores owners for recommendations. Simply start with the question: what’s one book that you absolutely loved and you think other people should read? Generally, you will get excellent recommendations.

Tip 3: Reviews

A book review should help you choose a good next book to read. First of all, you will probably read the bestseller reviews that most publications or monthly magazines recommend paying attention to. This way, you will check out what new books are popular and why. Though, some book reviews are simply created to promote authors, working as a massive ad and online disinformation campaign. So if you actually desire to get a bestseller, you need to know reliable sources.

Tip 4: Book-club

If you are a bookworm, you can join a club with like-minded people. It is a great option to experience unique format of discussions and find a motivation to read new books. You will easily meet new friends who enjoy the same genres as you, and they will recommend interesting books to read and discuss.

Tip 5: Reading list

After research, you can make a list where you highlight the priority books and, also, you can keep adding new items to it. This will help you to review:

What authors or books you’ve already read.

What works you actually want to read.

It’s an excellent way when you do not have much time to search for books you may like or when you don’t know how to choose a book.

Tip 6: e-Books

You can visit the Gutenburg.org or Gutenburg.ca services that offer tons of free electronic books to upload. As well, you can print the books or simply read them from laptop or iPad pro. Additionally, if you are a student, you can check a school/university libraries that could have its own electronic books sites. You can google reading lists and quickly find the best books to read in each category.

Tip 7: Bookstores and libraries

At the bookstore, you can also read some random books overviews and a few pages to clear up the quality of writing. Sometimes, book-store staff or library enthusiasts tend to help pick the correct book. You can start a talk with them to get right recommendations. They will help to choose a book, providing guidance on new and classic literature.

Tip 8: Amazon’s lists

The Amazon website provides the book lists that you can use to find interesting books. Where or how to start? You can check the Hot New Releases page and find popular categories. You will quickly determine the next book to buy and certainly make a long wish list of authors to read on Amazon.

Tip 9: Tools to use

There are plenty of online tools that can help you with your choice. You start with the What Should I Read Next tool. So, the service does what its name says: it offers you overviews and recommends books. This tool will tell you what to read based on what you finished like title or author.

Tip 10: Read Classics

The Penguin’s Classics collection is so impressive and can quickly help you stretch your bookshelves with numerous stories. You can also check the Selected Poems in Penguin Classics and read anything you like. If you love Austen and Fitzgerald, that’s a place to search, but you’ve got to be aware of what’s happening in publishing with the *living* authors.

Bio: Emily Watts

Hi! I’m Emily Watts. I’m a copywriter and content creator from Australia. I personally think a crucial sign of a great book if it passes the test of time. I usually check the books via online search and Amazon and put them in my Wish Lists or similar lists for some time before reading it. This way I can filter out many temporary impulses. When I apply this method, the quality of the books raises significantly. Additionally, I check the Amazon lists as it’s something I actually do on a regular basis. I made my Book folder with all bookmarks I found in my browser. It also includes all the books I wish to check. If you do not have much time and want to write a good book review or essay, you can check AustralianWritings.


Life is Like a Cup of Coffee

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

Earlier this month, I shared a Zen parable about a cup of tea. I’ve decided to give equal time to coffee drinkers. This YouTube video is one of my favorites, especially at this time of the year. The professor reminds me of Sister Leona Spencer and David Campbell, two educators who inspired me to pursue a teaching career.


Movie Review: Book Club

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Four iconic actresses—Candice Bergen, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Mary Steenburgen—come together in this breezy movie about relationships, aging, and sexuality.

Each actress plays a role closely tied to her own persona: High-strung Diane (Diane Keaton) is dealing with recent widowhood, Vivian (Jane Fonda) enjoys her short flings and independence, Sharon (Candice Bergen) plays a cynical, long-divorced federal judge, and Carol (Mary Steenburgen) is experiencing a slump in her marriage.

After starting to read Fifty Shades of Grey, their book club selection, the women’s lives are turned upside down.

While traveling to visit her two condescending daughters, Diane stumbles over a dashing stranger (Andy Garcia), almost knocks him out as she tries to retrieve anti-anxiety pills, and when a loud noise frightens her, she grabs his crotch to steady herself. Sparks fly and soon the twosome is inseparable.

Carol’s attempts to revive her sex life with her husband (Craig T. Nelson) lead to several cringe-worthy conversations and an embarrassing encounter with a female constable.

Bold and confident Vivian succumbs to the advances of a younger lover (Don Johnson) from her past. Sharon, played with aplomb by Candice Bergen, stole the show with her witticisms, no-nonsense judgments, struggles with Spanx, and online dating adventures. I could easily have watched an entire 104 minutes of this particular subplot.

Definitely light fare but worth seeing and noting the underlying message: If you’re feeling stuck or stagnant, take responsibility and shake up your life.


On Tour with A Different Kind of Reunion

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Starting tomorrow and continuing until the middle of June, twenty-four of my author friends will host me on their blogs. I will be sharing posts, excerpts, and recipes with wonderful companions who have provided support and encouragement on my writing journey.

I’m hoping you’ll visit their blogs and enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway. You could win a $10 Amazon gift card.

Check daily for link updates.

May 18 – Mysteriastis Blog
May 18 – Nancy Lee Badger
May 21 – Word Wranglers
May 22 – Jacquie Biggar
May 23 – Mrs N
May 23 – Ally Shields
May 25 – Notes from a Romantic’s Heart
May 25 – Carly’s View
May 28 – Brenda Whiteside
May 29 – Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers
May 30 – Romancing the Book Blog
June 1 – Claire Gem
June 2 – Writers Who Kill Blog
June 4 – Kristina Stanley
June 5 – Sue James
June 5 – Sharon Wray
June 8 – Anna Dowdall
June 8 – Sisterhood of Suspense Blog
June 10 – That’s What I’m Talking About Blog
June 11 – Vicki Batman
June 12 – Sorchia’s Universe
June 13 – Peggy Jaeger
June 14 – Just Romantic Suspense Blog
June 15 – Buried Under Books Blog


Inspiration from Paulo Coelho

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

The Alchemist, a magical allegory about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from Spain to Egypt in search of treasure, is one of my go-to books whenever I need a strong dose of inspiration. Over 65 million copies have been sold, and it is the most translated book in history.

In 2014, author Paulo Coelho celebrated the 25th anniversary of this phenomenon. When he appeared on Super Soul Sunday (September 8) with Oprah Winfrey, I taped the telecast.

Here are some of his observations and insights:

We all have a personal legend. And the key behind that legend is enthusiasm. We need to ask ourselves what gives us enthusiasm, keeping in mind that we betray our personal legend whenever we do something without enthusiasm.

We become fluent in the language of the world by daring, and we learn this language by paying attention and making mistakes. Omens and signs are everywhere. We need to look at everything as if we are seeing it for the first time.

Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.

The heart is like a flower. It can be very brave or easily hurt.

Always listen to your heart, even when it scares you.

Before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve moved toward that dream. That’s the point at which most people give up. It’s the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one “dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.”

Small Town Girl

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome Soul Mate author Janeen Swart to the Second Act Series. Today, Janeen shares her journey from small town girl to multi-published author and her new release, The Hidden Truth.

Here’s Janeen!

Growing up in a small town in Indiana may have been the best experience or the worst depending on your viewpoint. For me, it was the best. My two sisters and I were raised with strict traditional values and rules for the life of a Christian. It was felt that one shouldn’t do anything on Sunday except attend church twice, rest, read your Bible and maybe visit with friends after church. Most of our friends would not have any alcohol in their homes and when the adults visited quite often the topic of discussion was about religion or the politics of the church or the Christian School. Dad was a deacon several times and on the first board for the beginning of the DeMotte Christian School.

Once I left for college, my horizons expanded giving me the chance to see many different viewpoints. I wanted to do it all; visit France (my intended major, French), work at the UN, and travel to see the world. But guess what? After my freshman year, I met the love of my life and we made plans for me to switch colleges and marry after my sophomore year. That meant commuting to finish my classes and moving back to that same small town in Indiana, on a farm no less. However, living in the same area, did not mean going back to the strict life-style of my youth. Our sons were fortunate to grow up within a different focus on Christianity.

Since my career plans had changed dramatically, at first I was at a loss as to what I wanted as my major. My husband suggested teaching, something I had never thought I wanted to do, but as I got into the education classes, it became another love. I taught for twenty-five years and enjoyed every minute. (Oh, is it okay to lie in a blog?) While teaching and reading many children’s books, there was always that little voice that said, maybe I could write books as good as these. But of course, life moves on and there was never enough time in a day with a full time job, being secretary for our business, two busy boys to care for, and various animals, too.

After retiring from teaching at age fifty-five, it was time to move forward with my dream of writing. I took two online courses from The Institute of Children’s Literature and a Children’s Writing Course through Indiana University Northwest. Now I thought I was ready and would soon see my stories in print. Not immediately, but after many rejection letters, A DOG AND HIS BOY, was published through a small Christian publisher. I self-published my other five children’s books using Create Space. During this same time I had joined an online critique group and through that group, my young adult novel, THE HIDDEN TRUTH, became a reality. I submitted it to Soul Mate Publishers and was ecstatic when I received my contract to publish it as an e-book. My experience with the Soul Mate authors has been awesome.

So, coming back to my first statement about growing up in a small, rather traditional town, has it affected my writing? Yes, definitely. I could never write erotica or use sexual scenes in my books. I would feel silly doing that. Not that I haven’t read books with that content and enjoyed them, but for me it’s not a writing option. So, the best advice I can give to those who want to begin to write is be true to yourself, and then, have fun with your writing. Maybe, just maybe, you will become one of those best-selling authors we see featured in the bookstores.

Blurb

After being struck by lightning while jogging, Clara’s dreams cause her to question the issues of DNA changes, cloning, and genetically modifying food. In her dreams she visits an environmentally perfect world where an angel-like being tells her to watch for a sign.

While Clara searches for answers, her boyfriend, Brian, becomes active in demonstrations against a local biophysics company, named aptly, New Nature. Clara convinces her Science Club to begin a project to confront this company to make them more accountable. She and John, a new friend, vow to do their part, using peaceful strategies.

Brian’s jealousy results in several uncomfortable incidents between the three teens. Things go awry when a few of the Science Club members go beyond simple investigation by breaking into New Nature, then later sabotaging the company’s biosphere.

What’s even more troublesome is the fact that Clara suspects her ex may be the one behind the crimes.

Relationships and beliefs are tested as Clara searches out the truth. In the end, her questions are answered, but at a cost, she hadn’t anticipated.

buynow

Where to find Janeen…

Website | Facebook | Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest | BookBub

Joanne here!

I’m always happy to feature a fellow educator on this blog. Thanks for sharing your inspiring journey, Janeen.