A Perfect Fit for Baci Perugina!

Posted on May 24, 2019 by Joanne Guidoccio

When a book blogger asked me to compare the Gilda Greco Mystery Series to chocolate, I had no problems coming up with the perfect answer: Baci Perguina, the most famous chocolate brand in Italy and popular with Italians worldwide.

Perugina’s signature recipe includes whipped milk chocolate, gianduia filling, and chopped hazelnuts all in bittersweet chocolate. Each bacio (kiss) comes individually wrapped in silver and blue packaging and hugged by a poetic love note.

The three books in the series—A Season for Killing Blondes, Too Many Women in the Room, A Different Kind of Reunion—contain romantic elements, humor, and bittersweet moments. A perfect fit for Baci Perugina!

Continue reading on the Sisterhood of Suspense blog.

At Indigo Guelph

Posted on June 17, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

Yesterday, I participated in a book signing at Indigo Guelph. I enjoyed meeting with the many readers and wannabe writers who stopped to chat and express an interest in my cozy mysteries and paranormal romances. As always, creative conversations are lively and full of surprises.

A special thanks to Events Manager Earl Townsend for organizing this event.

Attention: Canadian Readers

Print copies of A Different Kind of Reunion are now available at Indigo.

On Erin Radio 91.7 FM

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

Last month, I participated in an interview with Music Director and Producer Phil Taylor on Erin Radio 91.7 FM.

We chatted about my writing journey, cozy mysteries, and paranormal romances. I also shared excerpts from A Season for Killing Blondes, Too Many Women in the Room, and A Different Kind of Reunion.

The interview aired at 10 p.m. on Easter Sunday. You can listen here.

Note: There are two musical breaks during the 30-minute program.

Audiobook Release: A Season for Killing Blondes

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m thrilled to announce the release of this audiobook!

Written by: Joanne Guidoccio
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Narrated by: Eliza Huberth

Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins

Genre: Mystery

Release date: 2018-03-05

Language: English

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

You can now listen to this book wherever you are and with any of your devices. If you take advantage of a 30-day free trial with Audible, your first audiobook is free. You can keep the audiobook if you decide to cancel at the end of the month. Find out more here.

Blurb

Hours before the opening of her career counseling practice, Gilda Greco discovers the dead body of golden girl Carrie Ann Godfrey, neatly arranged in the dumpster outside her office. Gilda’s life and budding career are stalled as Detective Carlo Fantin, her former high school crush, conducts the investigation.

When three more dead blondes turn up all brutally strangled and deposited near Gilda’s favorite haunts, she is pegged as a prime suspect for the murders. Frustrated by Carlo’s chilly detective persona and the mean girl antics of Carrie Ann’s meddling relatives, Gilda decides to launch her own investigation. She discovers a gaggle of suspects, among them a yoga instructor in need of anger management training, a lecherous photographer, and fourteen ex-boyfriends.

As the puzzle pieces fall into place, shocking revelations emerge, forcing Gilda to confront the envy and deceit she has long overlooked.

Buy Links

Amazon (Canada) | Amazon (United States) | Audible

Idea → Sticky Idea → Premise

Posted on March 3, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

Writers can find inspiration almost anywhere, and they don’t have to go too far to find those ideas. Checking Twitter or Facebook feeds, reading a daily newspaper, watching a television program, visiting an art gallery, eavesdropping on conversations…

Which ideas work best?

Sticky ideas…those ideas that simply won’t go away.

Once that idea takes root, it’s like a song that you can’t get out of your head. You wake up thinking about it, dream about it, and fantasize about it. You can even imagine the A-list actors who will star in the screenplay based on your novel. You may seek validation from family and friends: “Don’t you think that would make a great novel?” Unfortunately, too many ideas remain fantasies and don’t make it to the next step: transforming an idea into a premise.

Continue reading on the Sisterhood of Suspense blog.

New Contract!

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Joanne Guidoccio

20014660_s Yesterday, my contract for A Different Kind of Reunion was finalized by Editor Kinan Werdski and Publisher Rhonda Penders of The Wild Rose Press.

This is the third book in the Gilda Greco Mystery Series and includes characters from A Season for Killing Blondes and Too Many Women in the Room.

Several new characters are introduced, among them a silver fox constable and seven of Gilda Greco’s former students.

Logline

Determined to solve the murder of a former student and prevent another tragedy, a teacher agrees to participate in a psychic-led reunion.

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Coming Spring 2018!

Living Vicariously Through My Protagonist

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Joanne Guidoccio

In the spring of 2001, I enrolled in the Career Development Practitioner Program at Conestoga College in nearby Kitchener, Ontario. After meeting with the course director, I sat down and meticulously planned the next seven years of my life.

I would continue teaching full-time during the day and take one online course each trimester. I even selected the order so that the more demanding courses would be taken during the summer months. Upon completion of the program, I would spend two summers interning in preparation for retirement and the launch of ReCareering, a counseling practice that would cater to boomers.

That was the fantasy.

The reality was very different.

Continue reading on Maggie King’s blog.

Featured on Writers Who Kill

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Joanne Guidoccio

Grace Topping is interviewing me about my writing and cancer journeys, the Gilda Greco Mystery Series, and the Mediterranean Trilogy.

Drop by the Writers Who Kill blog.

The Back Story

Posted on June 23, 2017 by Joanne Guidoccio

Once I get the initial spark of an idea, I like to play around with a What-If scenario and after much deliberation come up with a title for the novel. Only then can I start writing the first draft.

That MO worked well for Book 1 of the Gilda Greco Mystery Series:

Spark: Dead blondes turn up in dumpsters throughout the city.

What if… A woman wins a $19 million lottery and then returns to her hometown, only to find herself the primary suspect in the murders of four blondes. Can she prove her innocence and solve this case before it’s too late?

Title: A Season for Killing Blondes

Book 2 presented a challenge. I toyed with several storylines about a Greek restaurant, a charismatic chef, two murders, and a group of women who didn’t always get along. Frustrated with these disjoint elements, I turned my attention to shorter pieces and hoped that inspiration would soon arrive.

It came from an unlikely source.

Continue reading on the Mysteriastis blog.

At Chapters Guelph

Posted on June 4, 2017 by Joanne Guidoccio

Thanks to Events Manager Earl Townsend and Chapters Guelph for hosting me on Saturday. I was happy to be part of the “Canada 150” celebrations and enjoyed chatting with readers and wannabe writers.