Celebrating Women’s Fiction Day 2021

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

First established by WFWA (Women’s Fiction Writers Association) in 2019, this day celebrates the authors, readers, bookstores, and fans of the women’s fiction genre.

WFWA describes women’s fiction as “layered stories in which the plot is driven by the main character’s emotional journey. The driving force of women’s fiction is the protagonist’s journey toward a more fulfilled self.”

The female protagonists in these novels take matters into their own hands and shape their own futures. Famous examples include Offred in The Handmaid’s Tale, Jo in Little Women, Scarlett O’Hara and Melanie Hamilton in Gone with the Wind.

Some of my personal favorites include Queen of the Owls by Barbara Linn Probst, The Time Gatherer by Rachel Dacus, Recipe for a Perfect Life by Karma Brown, and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet.

To celebrate, I’m offering free ebooks of No More Secrets on all Amazon platforms.

Blurb

Angelica Delfino takes a special interest in the lives of her three nieces, whom she affectionately calls the daughters of her heart. Sensing that each woman is harboring a troubling—possibly even a toxic— secret, Angelica decides to share her secrets, secrets she had planned to take to the grave. Spellbound, her nieces listen to an incredulous tale of forbidden love, tragic loss, and reinvention that spans six decades across two continents. It is the classic immigrant story upended: an Italian widow’s transformative journey amid the most unlikely of circumstances.

Inspired by Angelica’s example, the younger women share their “First World” problems and, in the process, revisit their relationships and set themselves free.

But one heart-breaking secret remains untold…

Excerpt

As Angelica read the document, she heard several sighs emanating from Bellastrega. While she had grown to like this young woman and trust her judgment when it came to wellness, Angelica was not prepared to abandon her plans. Three women needed to be rescued.

“What if they don’t come?” Bellastrega asked.

“They will come,” Angelica said, smiling confidently.

“It’s still winter, and the roads around here can be treacherous.”

“That won’t stop them.” Angelica smiled at Bellastrega’s discomfort with winter driving. Fearless in her talk, the psychic dreaded going out at any hint of snow. “Not to worry. They’re Northern Ontario girls.”

Bellastrega waved her hands. “So, they get up here, and you share your secrets. Then what?”

“They begin to heal.”

“You can’t expect to solve all their problems in one weekend,” Bellastrega said in a gentler tone. “If you’re not careful, you’ll send them running to their mothers, who won’t hesitate to create unnecessary stress for you.”

From the start, Bellastrega had been determined to eradicate all the unnecessary stress in Angelica’s life. Did she really think she could create a lasting magic bubble?

Since receiving the positive medical report, Bellastrega had redoubled her efforts and started to plan spring and summer excursions. She had added to her meager wardrobe and purchased several decorative items for her room. Each day, she was settling in and becoming more comfortable in her role as a companion. The beautiful thirty-five-year-old woman with Arctic-blue eyes and a stormy past had found sanctuary in Angelica’s house.

Angelica’s thoughts traveled back six decades to her encounter with another set of Arctic-blue eyes. But that woman had been much older and more realistic in her expectations.

“Are you all right?” Bellastrega asked.

“I’m fine,” Angelica said, returning to the present. “I want to start the process. The rest will be up to them.” Angelica felt a sudden wave of fatigue, one she hadn’t experienced in months. This argument was growing old, and she no longer wished to justify her motives. Why couldn’t Bellastrega let it go?

Book Trailer

***Free ebooks – Monday, June 7 to Thursday, June 10***

Amazon (CA) | Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (AU)

Book Blast: Truffle Me Not

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome husband-and-wife team, M. K. Scott. Today, they are sharing their new release, Truffle Me Not.

Blurb

The future of Cupid’s Catering Company hangs in the balance. With a rival bakery, owned by the queen of all mean, rich girls, Della is at a distinct disadvantage.

Della hinges her financial future on winning the local truffle contest. As if there wasn’t enough on her mind, additional problems arise, including missing cats, jewel thieves, and her desperate attempt to find the incredibly kind man who’d lent her hand when she had tire trouble.

Can she solve all these problems and find time to whip up a cookbook at the same time?

Excerpt

Even before she picked up the phone, she felt apprehensive. Why call when she’d see her mother at the bakery in less than thirty minutes. “Hello, Mother. I’m almost in the car.”

“Good! I need your help.” Mabel rushed the words together, forcing Della to decipher the bunched words before answering.

For most of her life, her mother had helped Della. Sometimes, almost too much, which came from being a surprise baby to a couple who had given up hope on having children. As the only child, Della felt obliged to be the best she could be after one of her school mates pointed out her parents had invested all their hopes and dreams in her. A staggering responsibility for a primary school-aged child to handle, but she had dealt with it.

“What’s wrong?”

“I need a jeweled cat collar. Red. Lots of rhinestones.”

“Mom…” she stretched out the word, making it into more of a question.

“Buy whatever styles they have. We can return the ones that don’t work.”

Even though her brain might not function at its full capacity without coffee first, almost anyone could deduce an incident occurred involving Prince Purrfection of the jeweled collar. There was a good chance Tony could be the culprit.

“Ah, did Tony hurt Prince? Did Prince hurt Tony? What’s up with the collar?”

Her mother inhaled audibly. “Time is of the essence. Vanessa is going to start looking for her cat once the storm passes. I need a new collar on the feline diva before I push him out the door. Tony thinks I’ve gone traitor by even letting her into the house.”

Author Bio and Links

M. K. Scott is the husband and wife writing team behind The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries and The Talking Dog Detective Agency. Morgan K Wyatt is the general wordsmith, while her husband, Scott, is the grammar hammer and physics specialist. He uses his engineering skills to explain how fast a body falls when pushed over a cliff and various other felonious activities. The Internet and experts in the field provide forensic information, while the recipes and B and B details require a more hands-on approach. Morgan’s daughter, who manages a hotel, provides guest horror stories to fuel the plot lines. The couple’s dog, Chance, is the inspiration behind Jasper, Donna’s dog. Overall, both are fun series to create and read.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon

***The book will be on sale for $0.99 on the day of the tour.***

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Truffle-Cupids-Catering-Company-Book-ebook/dp/B08Y771ZR8

Giveaway

M.K. Scott will be awarding a $40 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Find out more here.

Follow M.K. Scott on the rest of their Goddess Fish tour here.

Make Pigs Fly

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.

In his book, Life is in the Transitions, Bruce Feiler writes about the power of positive language and transformative personal stories. Here’s one of my favorite excerpts:

The novelist John Steinbeck had a quirky logo he drew after signing his name. It was a pig with wings. He called it Pigasus, which he wrote out in Greek letters. Late in his life, he accompanied the illustration with the Latin words Ad Astra Per Alia Porci, which he translated (incorrectly, it turns out) as “to the stars on the wings of a pig.” His explanation: We must all try to attain the heavens, even though we are bound to the earth.

For half a millennium, the expression when pigs fly has been used in multiple languages to mean a circumstance so improbable that its completion is nearly impossible. It’s a figure of speech known as an adynaton, a way of saying something that will never happen. Steinbeck adopted this phrase because he had been told by a naysayer professor that he would be an author “when pigs fly.”

More recently, neuroscientists have discovered that imagining this kind of unimaginable outcome is vital to recovering from a life interrupted. The more we are able to conjure up a future that seems out of reach—I will find another job, I will laugh once more, I will love again—the more we’re able to advance toward it. A big reason is mirror neurons, the part of our brains that mimic the actions we observe. When we see someone jump, laugh, or cry, our brains imitate the same activity.

The same mirroring happens with stories we tell. If we tell ourselves we will get better, or calmer, or happier, our minds will begin to simulate that outcome. This response doesn’t mean we’ll achieve these results right away, but it does mean we set in motion that possibility.

Steinbeck was right: We can make pigs fly.

Source: Life is in the Transitions by Bruce Feiler, p. 290.

Cover Reveal: Aiden

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to reveal the cover of Peggy Jaeger’s next novel…

Blurb

Lexi Buckley wants answers about her younger sister’s death. The police have labeled it a suicide, but Lexi doesn’t believe it. Stymied in her investigation, she doesn’t know where to turn next. After a chance encounter with a private investigator, she thinks her prayers have been answered.

Aiden Keane has never been an answer to a prayer before, but he agrees to help Lexi. A quirky combo of brains and beauty, the pixie blonde makes him feel things no professional ever should for a client.

When their investigation puts Lexi’s life in jeopardy, her safety becomes his number one priority. The hard part is not falling for her.

Excerpt

Were you close with your sister?” Aiden asked.

Not the way we should have been. Not at the end.

“We had a sizable age difference between us. Almost ten years. I was the big sis. The oldest.” Her lips trembled when she pulled them into a sad line. Rolling her eyes she added, “The bossy one, according to her. She was the baby and took full advantage of her status from the moment she realized it.”

“And rightly so.” The corners of his eyes crinkled. “I’m the youngest of my brothers and I’ll can tell you with one hundred percent honesty, my oldest brother is the bossiest one of us. I think it comes with birth order. Although he takes his so called right uber-seriously. Especially at work.”

This time her grin was steadier. “What kind of business do you all own together?”

“We a run a private security company.”

“Security?”

“Personal bodyguards, if a client needs protection from something. Background checks for employers. Mostly we do investigations.”

“What, like private eyes? Like on television?”

He laughed. “Nothing so glamorous. The fast cars and hot babes are all fantasy. It’s a lot of boring research, computer work, and surveillance, but yeah, you could say I’m a private eye.”

Lexi’s entire mood turned on his words. The sorrow flew, the hurt dissolved. Even her nervous trivia-speak went dormant. She sat bolt upright, her knees bumping against the tabletop when she shifted. Excitement shot from her system as she turned her body, placed a hand across his forearm and declared, “Oh, my God. You’re the answer to my prayers.”

A PRIDE OF BROTHERS: RICK is available now across all digital media and in print: https://books2read.com/u/38RV7O

Spotlight on Facets of the Past

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome psychiatrist and author Monique Gliozzi. Today, Monique shares life wisdom and her new release, Facets of the Past.

Dear Joanne,

First and foremost, I would like to thank you for hosting my latest novella Facets of the Past on your tour. I’d like to share a few tips that I’ve found useful in navigating through life thus far, by using a couple of the examples recommended. Here we go!

A philosophy that I adopted from both my parents, is that life is to be lived to the fullest, as one cannot anticipate what the future holds despite our best intentions in planning for it. One of their tips which I’d love to impart is namely, don’t stagnate, rather find a special interest /hobby which brings joy and fulfilment. In my case, the first hobby was learning to ride a motorcycle which I enjoy to this day. Living in Perth (Australia) lends itself to long leisurely rides all year round thanks to the mild climate. This was soon followed in my late thirties by learning how to fly an aircraft. This proved more involved, with all the exams and flight assessments to get the required skills for each license. It was a tough road, but tenacity pays off eventually- thus tip number two is never give up!

A follow-on from this is tip number three – surround yourself with good people who are willing to provide support needed during trying times. My flight instructor was instrumental in giving me tips of his trade even after I myself obtained a commercial license and instructor rating. Thanks Mike!

In order to stay in shape and healthy (especially in order to pass the rigorous annual aviation medical), good nutrition is essential. Having travelled extensively growing up, due to my father’s work, I’ve been able to experience different cultures and cuisines. Japanese and Italian are my favourite, but really, I’m not too fussy. I love cooking and experimenting with different recipes so much so that I may write a book one day, titled “Monique’s Cuisine” – just kidding, I prefer staying with the fast paced suspenseful narratives. Tip number four, incorporating a healthy diet and being adventurous in the kitchen involving family in the preparation of a meal, can bring great pleasure.

We all have a favourite actor/movie so for tips number five and six: always try and kill two birds with one stone – if possible, watch a favourite show with your idol as the main protagonist to get a double dose of pleasure. One of my favourite actors is Meryl Streep, and her interpretation of Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada is phenomenal.

As an author, one of my main concerns starting out was how to maintain a certain level of creativity, in order to please my audience. Firstly (tip number seven), it’s important to join a writer’s group where one can share one’s work and obtain constructive feedback, but also earn a sense of fellowship with other authors. I’ve learned so much from those in my group who are a lively, enthusiastic bunch – always encouraging no matter what. Secondly (tip number eight), don’t be shy about trying different things. Remember as an artist one feeds creativity through new challenges and approaches. I adopt a different technique for each of my narratives. Facets of the Past was born out of a short story written for my writer’s group. My most embarrassing moment as an author was when I set out to share a short tale with my group, only to find after a panicked search in my portfolio, that I’d left it behind. Ooops! Well (tip number nine), a good sense of humour goes a long way – I ended up telling a couple of jokes instead. The last tip for you avid readers is most importantly to embrace the set of skills you have and be creative where you can.

I hope you enjoyed this lengthy blog and have gained insight beyond my author’s Bio, into what keeps me writing.

Blurb

When Hank Gild is given the opportunity to take up his dream job, he accepts the offer with excitement. As a tour guide at the historical imperial castle on Lake Starnberg, Hank delights his guests with stories of the late Bavarian emperor-his antics, his precious artifacts and the mystery shrouding his death in 1886. But it seems that not all the castle’s visitors are of pure heart. Before long, Hank is forced down a path of greed, deception and danger with no way out. A once happy and simple life unexpectedly becomes a treacherous nightmare. Who can he trust? Can Hank save himself before learning the ultimate lesson?

Excerpt

The beauty of my surroundings was captivating, but in truth, I was growing slightly more anxious by this lengthy wait. Composing myself, I took note of a harpsichord on the north side of the room. King Ludwig’s favorite composer had been Richard Wagner. Moving closer, I was tempted to reach out and play a note, but instead gently rested my fingers on the ivory keys, trying to imagine this very space filled with the classical music of a genius.

Behind the instrument hung another gold gilded work, this one a tapestry of majestic colors showing the ultimate royal scene: the king’s coronation. Intrigued by the workmanship, I decided to inspect it closer. Leaving the trusty green carpet, I trod quietly onto the marble floor, and gently ran my hand over the heavy but soft fabric. It was pure silk. For a brief moment, my imagination took hold. I sighed heavily, allowing the coronation to unfold in my mind’s eye. Overcome with an unusual sense of sympathy and intrigue by the king’s life and mysterious death, I felt a sudden intense urge to look behind the work of art.

What was it concealing? True to my sense of adventure, I was determined to find out. Lifting the cloth slightly away from the wall, I spied a narrow secret door. I reached for the small brass handle and tried to open it.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Rakuten Kobo | Smashwords | Apple Books

Author Bio and Links

Born in Dublin, Dr Monique Gliozzi, a graduate from the University of Western Australia medical school, has a keen interest in forensic sciences and psychiatry. She works as a psychiatrist in Perth, with ties to the UWA School of Psychiatry, where she has had a role as a senior clinical lecturer. Her love for teaching granted her a nomination for an Excellence in Teaching Award in 2016.

Monique also holds an interest in aviation. She trained at the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia, where she obtained a commercial pilot licence. Following this, Monique completed her instructor rating and is now working on a casual basis as a senior flight instructor.

Monique rekindled her passion for writing starting with the fictional thriller Foresight, followed by Hunted and ghostly encounters in Vestige. Her latest book, Diversity, is a compilation of entertaining short stories of different genres.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Giveaway

Monique Gliozzi will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Find out more here.

Follow Monique on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.

On Sale – Arresting Mason and Arresting Jeremiah

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

For the first time ever, both Arresting Mason and Arresting Jeremiah are on sale for $2.99 each.

This romantic suspense series features smokin’ hot sex scenes, bad boy heroes, and badass heroines who fight their own battles and keep their men on their toes.

Now is the perfect time to catch up with these books since they’re half off! Find them on sale at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple/iBooks.

Limited Time Only – May 14 to May 28, 2021

TODAY is the last day!

Arresting Mason (Arresting Onyx Book 1)

– Their chance encounter resulted in a steamy affair, but will his former gang and a parole officer tear them apart?

Blurb

Once you’re in a prison gang, you’re in it for life. That’s what Mason Harding thought until the boss accepted his resignation. After the State releases him on parole, a sexy divorcée behind the wheel of a car almost ends his life quicker than a shank. His chance encounter with Mia Eddison results in a night of passion, but her brother—his parole officer—catches them together and doesn’t approve.

Mia falls hard for the cocky ex-con, but not because of his chiseled body. She vows to break through his walls and discover his secrets, but never expects those secrets to threaten her life.

When members of an organized crime ring kidnap Mia to force Mason’s return to the gang, he goes up against an old friend to save the woman he loves. Will his sacrifice be enough or will everything fall apart in a blaze of gunfire?

Add to Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39005064-arresting-mason

Check it out on BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/books/arresting-mason-by-amber-daulton

Arresting Mason – Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple/iBooks | Universal Link

Arresting Jeremiah (Arresting Onyx Book 2)

– When threats escalate, will Jim and Calista succumb, or fight for a love they can’t deny?

Blurb

Injured Parole Officer Jeremiah “Jim” Borden never expected Calista Barlow, the sassy blonde waitress he’s craved for months, to ring his doorbell. She slips into his heart—and his bed—but he’s obsessed with a gangland investigation that threatens his career and maybe even his life.

Calista doesn’t trust easily, not with a daughter to protect and the stalker who keeps calling her. After her violent ex-boyfriend returns, she finds solace in Jim’s arms.
Jim may have to forego his need for answers to protect the ready-made family he adores, but how will he and Calista escape an unseen enemy that is always one step ahead of them?

Add to Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55223686-arresting-jeremiah

Check it out on BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/books/arresting-jeremiah-arresting-onyx-book-2-by-amber-daulton

Arresting Jeremiah – Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple/iBooks | Universal Link

About the Author

Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through The Wild Rose Press, Books to Go Now, and Daulton Publishing, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.

Universal link for Social Media – https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton

Hobby or Identity?

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.

Here is a thought-provoking reflection from Gordon Duncan of the Authors Community:

You can’t live on the street corner of inspiration.

As an artist, speaker, author, or creative, we love inspiration. It’s when the moment strikes, and we can barely make it to the computer, the canvas, or the blank piece of paper.

However, living on that corner often means that our work is created slowly or not at all.

Additionally, there are parts of creating that rarely enjoy moments of inspiration. For example, has anyone ever been inspired to edit their book? Maybe, but rarely.

No, the hidden secret behind creativity is that it is hard work. In fact, inspiration’s best friend is creativity.

It’s like the old adage, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” For the artist, it should be, “The harder I work, the more inspired I get.”

To get us there, here are a couple of tips to help you supplement your inspiration with some sweat:

One: Schedule writing time weekly, and even daily, if you can. Prolific authors like John Maxwell and Stephen King writer everyday…every day.

Two: Create consequences and benefits for your deadlines. A deadline is only a deadline if it has consequence. Otherwise, it’s a wish. Let’s say you want to have 100 pages written by the end of the month. If you hit that number, take yourself and someone you love out to a nice dinner. If you don’t hit it, then deny yourself that extra coffee or that movie you were going to see. It doesn’t have to be painful, but it does need to be consequential.

Three: Seek out accountability. This one is huge. Very few of us have the drive of a Maxwell or King. Entrusting a friend to keep you accountable or enlisting the services of a coach will help. Give them the right to speak honestly into your life. Give them the freedom to be blunt with you.

Four: Make a decision. Is your art a hobby or an identity? Is it something you do here and there or is it part of who you are? If it is part of who you are, then you have to organize your time towards those things. Hobbies are things you just pick up here or there.

Note: I encourage authors and other creatives to visit the Authors Community website.

Miracles Never Cease!

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome back multi-published author Susan Hanniford Crowley. Today, Susan shares the miracles in her life and her upcoming release, Lady Fallon’s Dragons.

Here’s Susan!

Thank you for hosting me on your amazing blog, Joanne. Being here is always so much fun.

A friend of mine brought up the topic of miracles, and it caught my breath. As my life has been one filled with miracles. Some are obvious. Others are subtle.

*Recently, I fought breast cancer with the help of God, dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff. So far, we’ve won.

*My husband is still with us after having a heart transplant in 1990.

*I have two daughters and three grandchildren.

*My tenth book, Lady Fallon’s Dragons, the first in a young adult and teen series of contemporary dragons is about to come out in a matter of days.

I normally write vampire adventure romance with love and heroism as the focus. To check out those and the other books I’ve written, visit my Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Hanniford-Crowley/e/B004YXOGXG If you click Follow, Amazon will send you an email when my new book is out.

Writing Lady Fallon’s Dragons actually happened many years ago. After too much conflicting advice from professionals, I put it on a shelf. My editor never forgot. Neither did my critique partner or my beta readers.

In 2019, in the chemotherapy infusion room, I finished reviewing the edits for The Vampire with a Blanket of Stars. It came out the week after my surgery. Then my editor recommended I review past versions of Lady Fallon’s Dragons.

The dear! She kept all the prior versions. In my dreams, dragons flew again. So began the great rewrite. It has a sweet (no sex) romance in it.

Blurb

A wondrous tale of contemporary dragons and a young woman fighting for her life!

Eighteen-year-old Aleasya gazed briefly at each person in this exclusive area of the plane. Carefully she put her carry-on in the overhead before taking refuge in her personal suite near the window.

Tears poured down her face in endless silent rivers. Not able to stand it another minute, Aleasya sat up and took her tablet out of her tote. She searched for New York City news. It wasn’t the first story but it was there, the footage of the car being pulled out of the water. The car door was pried open. For the briefest of seconds, she saw her father’s hand with the ring showing the Fallon crest.

They were supposed to meet for dinner. When the time came and went, she called. Every time the phone went to voicemail. It didn’t make sense, her father always picked up on her calls no matter how busy.

Now she knew he would never call her back. In her head, she heard his voice. “Run, Sya Bear, run.” She sobbed, shaking so much that it hurt.

Aleasya gave the dragon prayer ring on her right forefinger a spin. I need help! Danger is closing in on me!

Excerpt

Alice took her over to a table where a dark blue cloth covered a birdcage. “This,” she said, “is a Lyra.”

With a sweep of her hand, she pulled off the cover revealing what seemed at first glance to be a small blue and gold bird.

Aleasya looked again. With her heart caught in her throat, she couldn’t breathe only gasp. She couldn’t believe her eyes, and couldn’t take her eyes off it. How could it be true? How could she believe? Looking right at the creature, how dare she not?

“Are you all right, my dear?” Alice asked.

Aleasya nodded and gave her ring a spin. The ring hummed. Remembering her father made her feel grounded.

“You’re wearing a dragon prayer ring!”

“Yes, it was a gift from my father. He got it on a trip to Tibet. It has two parts; the outer part spins.” Returning to the subject at hand, she asked, “Is it really a dragon?”

“It is,” Alice answered. “Hush, it’s waking. You want to be polite now. After all, you’re just meeting.” The little animal stirred and stretched out its wings. These weren’t feathered golden wings but smooth and stretched like a bat. Tiny bright blue scales covered the body and head. Gold talons gripped the bars of the birdcage, and two golden eyes now fixed on her. The small creature hopped over to the closest bar.

When Aleasya stepped closer for a better look, the dragon tilted its head.

The beauty and wonder of what only could be a dragon transfixed her. Here was the creature of her dreams. Everything she knew to be real said this couldn’t be happening. But her heart knew better, and Aleasya fell completely in love with this perfectly wonderful being. She couldn’t stop trembling with excitement.

The dragon trembled too.

“The Lyra is the smallest known dragon in the world,” Alice continued. “They are nearly extinct in the wild, found in only a few remote locations. The Lyra is famous for its song, which is said to give the listener pure ecstasy. This Lyra has not sung since arriving in my store. The legends say that when a bond is made between the Lyra and its human companion, the Lyra will love that person with great devotion all of its natural life. Although small, it is fierce in protecting its companion. The Lyra loves its human so much, that if it is rejected, it will die from a broken heart.”

A tiny but long forked tongue flicked through the cage bars and licked Aleasya’s hand. It was exactly like her dreams. Her gaze locked with the dragon’s, and something deep inside clicked. But she was afraid.

*Lady Fallon’s Dragons is coming soon to eBook stores and to Amazon Print. Look for the announcements on her Website, Blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Susan’s books are available here:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | Walmart Books

Spotlight on Four Cuts Too Many

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome multi-published author Debra Goldstein. Today, Debra shares interesting facts about her protagonist, Sarah Blair, and her new release, Four Cuts Too Many.

Here’s Debra!

I’m delighted to be visiting Joanne Guidoccio’s blog. Because Four Cuts Too Many is the fourth book in Kensington’s Sarah Blair mystery series, I thought it would be fun to address Ten Points of Comparison between Sarah Blair and me.

1. Although Sarah Blair seems real, she is a fictional character. I’m not.

2. Sarah Blair is a twin. She is tall, with great-bodied dark hair. Her sister, Emily, a former cheerleader, has thin blond hair. I am the mother of boy-girl twins, who are as different as night and day. When people ask about them, I explain that I had a litter. My twins and I have great hair.

3. Sarah Blair married at eighteen, divorced by twenty-eight, and is trying to find her way in life. I didn’t get married until I was thirty, but we’re still hanging in there.

4. The only job Sarah could find after her divorce was as a receptionist/secretary for lawyer, Harlan Endicott. Although her skills and confidence have improved since One Taste Too Many, the first book in the series, she still isn’t the most proficient secretary. I have been timed as typing ninety-nine words per minute.

5. Sarah isn’t sure what she wants to do with her life. Although she knows some things she doesn’t like and plays with the idea of going back to school, having dropped out of college after only two weeks to get married, she’s uncertain what career and personal paths to choose. Her twin sister, Emily, knew from childhood that she wanted to be a chef. Emily’s focus was graduation, culinary school, and finding good jobs that would enable her to move up in the restaurant industry.

I’m goal oriented, but I’ve learned to follow my passion. When I graduated college early, I had two goals: get a job in publishing and become a Jeopardy contestant. In case things didn’t work out, I looked for a job by day, but typed law school applications by night. Eight months later, having accomplished my two goals, I went to law school. My first job was doing international tax, but I realized I hated working with numbers, so I switched to a more people-oriented area. For twelve years, I was a labor litigator for the U.S. Department of Labor and then I was appointed as a federal Administrative Law Judge. On the side, I wrote boring briefs and opinions. I talked about writing creatively but didn’t. Eventually I followed my passion. Six books, forty plus short stories later, I’m enjoying my second childhood.

6. Unlike Emily, Sarah finds being in the kitchen more frightening than murder. I feel the same way. I have cooked more during the pandemic than in thirty-seven years of marriage. In doing so, I have caught the interior of the oven on fire, blown the computer brain of the stove/oven, and showered the cabinets, stove-top, and floor in hot oil (I mixed up tsp and tbsp and then added more olive oil to the non-stick frying pan).

7. By Four Cuts Too Many, Sarah is part-owner of Southwind restaurant, with Emily and Emily’s boyfriend, Marcus. Emily and Marcus are fantastic chefs and Emily has a head for the business aspects of running the business. Sarah owns the building that the restaurant is in. Although I understand business issues, I don’t have ownership in any restaurant. To write the Sarah Blair series accurately, several of my friends took me behind the scenes of their restaurants. For Four Cuts Too Many, one specifically taught me about knives and knife cuts.

8. Sarah Blair is devoted to her Siamese cat, RahRah, and her more recently acquired rescue pup, Fluffy. RahRah runs the roost, but also provides Sarah with comfort and often acts as a sounding board. Although we had dogs as pets, never a cat. Consequently, I spent time researching how my friends interact with their cats.

9. Sarah has a propensity for finding bodies. In Four Cuts Too Many, Grace, a friend of Sarah’s who teaches knife skills at the community college, has a run-in with her department chair. When he is found dead, Grace is the prime suspect. Although I have taught new judges and often teach writing related subjects, no one, as yet, has died on my watch.

10. Sarah Blair’s life revolves around family and friends. Consequently, whether it is her twin, their colorful mother, Maybelle, or a friend, Sarah puts their well-being first. I do the same.

Blurb

Sarah Blair gets an education in slicing and dicing when someone in culinary school serves up a main corpse in Wheaton, Alabama . . .

Between working as a law firm receptionist, reluctantly pitching in as co-owner of her twin sister’s restaurant, and caretaking for her regal Siamese RahRah and rescue dog Fluffy, Sarah has no time to enjoy life’s finer things. Divorced and sort-of dating, she’s considering going back to school. But as a somewhat competent sleuth, Sarah’s more suited for criminal justice than learning how many ways she can burn a meal.

Although she wouldn’t mind learning some knife skills from her sous chef, Grace Winston. An adjunct instructor who teaches cutlery expertise in cooking college, Grace is considering accepting an executive chef’s position offered by Jane Clark, Sarah’s business rival—and her late ex-husband’s lover. But Grace’s future lands in hot water when the school’s director is found dead with one of her knives in his back. To clear her friend’s name, there’s no time to mince words. Sarah must sharpen her own skills at uncovering an elusive killer . . .

Includes quick and easy recipes!

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Bio

Judge Debra H. Goldstein writes Kensington’s Sarah Blair mystery series (Four Cuts Too Many, Three Treats Too Many, Two Bites Too Many, One Taste Too Many). She also authored Should Have Played Poker and IPPY Award winning Maze in Blue. Her short stories and novels have been named as Agatha, Anthony, Derringer, and Silver Falchion finalists. Debra serves on the national board of Mystery Writers of America and is president of SEMWA. She previously was on Sisters in Crime’s national board and president of SinC’s Guppy Chapter.

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