Prose and Cons in Brantford

L-R Fred Thursfield, Catherine Astolfo, Rick Blechta, Joanne Guidoccio, Scott Stockdale

L-R Fred Thursfield, Catherine Astolfo, Rick Blechta, Joanne Guidoccio, Scott Stockdale

Can a crime writer go too far?

This was the theme of Saturday’s panel discussion on “Prose and Cons” in Brantford, Ontario. I participated, along with four other published mystery and crime authors: Catherine Astolfo, Rick Blechta, Scott Stockdale, and Fred Thursfield.

The hour-long discussion flew by as we answered thought-provoking questions about the perils of presenting perfect crimes, morally appropriate happy endings, and our own personal boundaries regarding writing choices. We also welcomed questions from the audience.

Thanks to Programs and Outreach Coordinator Robin Harding for organizing this event, one of six in the Mystery Month series at the Brantford Public Library.


We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips

I’m excited to be part of this extraordinary venture organized by USA Today Bestselling Author Lois Winston.

You can pre-order the eBook for 99 cents and receive your copy on October 30. A portion of proceeds will be donated to No Kid Hungry.

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Description

Have you ever wished you could find more time to do the things you want to do, rather than just doing the things you have to do? Most authors juggle day jobs and family responsibilities along with their writing. Because they need to find time to write, they look for ways to save time in other aspects of their lives.

Cooking often takes up a huge chunk of time. In We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips you’ll find easy, nutritious recipes for meat, poultry, pasta, soup, stew, chili, and vegetarian meals. All of the recipes require a minimum of prep time, freeing you up to read, exercise, garden, craft, write, spend more time with family, or whatever.

Within the pages of We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips you’ll be introduced to authors who write a wide range of fiction—everything from mystery to romance to speculative fiction to books for children, young adults, and new adults—and some who write nonfiction. Some of the authors write sweet; others write steamy. Some write cozy; others write tense thrillers.

Some are debut authors with only one published book; others are multi-published and have had long publishing careers. Some are New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors who may or may not be familiar to you, but being a bestselling author doesn’t mean they still don’t have to juggle their day job along with their writing.

The authors who contributed to this book are a rather creative and resourceful bunch when it comes to carving out time from their busy lives. So in addition to timesaving recipes, within the pages of this book you’ll find timesaving and organizational tips for other aspects of your life. And if you happen to be a writer, you’ll also find a plethora of great ideas to help you organize your writing life.

Authors who contributed to this book include: Lisa Alber, Reggi Allder, Judy Alter, Krista Ames, Rose Anderson, Cori Lynn Arnold, Judy Baker, Beverley Bateman, Donnell Ann Bell, Paula Gail Benson, Kris Bock, Maureen Bonatch, Ava Bradley, Susan Breen, Lida Bushloper, Michelle Markey Butler, Ashlyn Chase, Judy Copek, Maya Corrigan, Mariposa Cruz, Melinda Curtis, Lesley A. Diehl, Conda V. Douglas, Nancy Eady, Helena Fairfax, Jennifer Faye, Flo Fitzpatrick, Kit Frazier, Shelley Freydont, Mariana Gabrielle, Rosie Genova, Marni Graff, Joanne Guidoccio, Margaret S. Hamilton, L.C. Hayden, Linda Gordon Hengerer, Heather Hiestand, R.Franklin James, Kathryn Jane, M.M. Jaye, Elizabeth John, Stacy Juba, Gemma Juliana, Carol Goodman Kaufman, Melissa Keir, Kay Kendall, A.R. Kennedy, Lynn Kinnaman, Marie Laval, B.V. Lawson, Claudia Lefeve, Alice Loweecey, Cynthia Luhrs, Sandra Masters, Lisa Q. Mathews, J.M. Maurer, Sandra McGregor, Kathy McIntosh, Claire A. Murray, Ann Myers, Tara Neale, Stacey Joy Netzel, Jayne Ormerod, Alice Orr, Laurel Peterson, Irene Peterson, Pepper Phillips, Caridad Pineiro, Kathryn Quick, Renée Reynolds, Josie Riviera, Elizabeth Rose, C.A. Rowland, Cindy Sample, Sharleen Scott, Terry Shames, Susan C. Shea, Judy Penz Sheluk, Joanna Campbell Slan, Karen Rose Smith, Lynette Sofras, Kaye Spencer, Skye Taylor, Lourdes Venard, Lea Wait, Regan Walker, Lois Winston, and Aubrey Wynne.

Buy Links

Amazon Canada | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Australia

The Coming of Arabella – Now Available for Pre-order!

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Blurb

On the day of her engagement party, an ex-mermaid’s life is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of another mermaid—a sister she has never known. Under normal circumstances, Barbara Davies would be overjoyed, but her special day is already wrought with tension. While Barbara is not the first mermaid from the Mediterranean kingdom to settle in small town Ontario, she has yet to reveal her origins to her fiancé. So when Arabella, the gorgeous sister whose disturbing black eyes banished her to the island of Crete, saunters into her life, clutching the arm of Barbara’s discarded lover, a powder keg of emotion is released.

Relationships falter and careers stall as envy stirs in the hearts of the sisters. On the verge of meltdown after her fiancé leaves Canada for a teaching job in Vermont, Barbara flees to Arizona hoping for a reprieve. There, she finds solace at a retreat for ex-mermaids and a second chance at love with a charismatic preacher. As she contemplates a new life in the desert paradise of Sedona, shocking secrets emerge and tragedy strikes. A stronger and wiser Barbara rises up to face these new challenges and embrace the best parts of her mermaid heritage.

Excerpt

Arabella’s eyes blazed like burning embers of coal. “You don’t know or what to know what I capable of.” She snapped her fingers. “I can discredit you just like that.”

Barbara laughed. “Discredit me without discrediting yourself? I’d like to see you try that.”

As Arabella got closer, Barbara could smell that flowery scent she had always associated with Belinda. It did not suit Arabella in the least. The younger woman needed a muskier scent, one that would blend in better with her predatory nature.

“You’ve already lost Graham and Gwen. Mama and Paul are on my side. Do you want to lose Sharon as well?”

“There’s nothing you can do or say that will turn Sharon or anyone else in this office against me,” Barbara said. “So, don’t waste your breath.” While she maintained a tight smile and spoke in an even tone, Barbara could hear her pulse pounding as tremors of anger shot through her limbs. She wanted desperately to sit down but would not give Arabella any more physical advantages.

Arabella smiled smugly. “Sharon doesn’t like secrets or people who keep them. I wonder how she would react if I told her about your . . . our origins.”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

Arabella shrugged. “I don’t care one way or another. Stewart is encouraging me to write about our lives. He thinks it has the makings of a bestseller.” She laughed. “In addition to the erotica, of course.”

She’s bluffing. Barbara ignored the intrusive thought as memories of Stewart rushed back. He was the consummate businessman and enjoyed being on the cusp of the latest trend. His artist clients produced edgy and controversial art that had been rejected by more conservative agents. Vast stores of family money allowed Stewart to be more daring and sometimes even provocative. What could be more daring and provocative than a mermaid wife?

Buy Links

Amazon (Canada) | Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (Australia)

To celebrate the upcoming release of The Coming of Arabella, I’m offering a Rafflecopter giveaway for 5 free eBooks.

Enter here.


Cover Reveal: The Coming of Arabella

I am thrilled to share this cover with you today!

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Blurb

On the day of her engagement party, an ex-mermaid’s life is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of another mermaid—a sister she has never known. Under normal circumstances, Barbara Davies would be overjoyed, but her special day is already wrought with tension. While Barbara is not the first mermaid from the Mediterranean kingdom to settle in small town Ontario, she has yet to reveal her origins to her fiancé. So when Arabella, the gorgeous sister whose disturbing black eyes banished her to the island of Crete, saunters into her life, clutching the arm of Barbara’s discarded lover, a powder keg of emotion is released.

Relationships falter and careers stall as envy stirs in the hearts of the sisters. On the verge of meltdown after her fiancé leaves Canada for a teaching job in Vermont, Barbara flees to Arizona hoping for a reprieve. There, she finds solace at a retreat for ex-mermaids and a second chance at love with a charismatic preacher. As she contemplates a new life in the desert paradise of Sedona, shocking secrets emerge and tragedy strikes. A stronger and wiser Barbara rises up to face these new challenges and embrace the best parts of her mermaid heritage.

goodreads

Enter the Giveaway – You could win a $10 Starbucks gift card.

Coming August 19, 2015


Touring with Great Escapes

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I’m so excited to start my tour with Great Escapes. For the next two weeks, I’ll share posts, spotlights and interviews at selected blogs. When you visit, remember to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway – you could win a $25 Amazon gift card.

Check daily for link updates.

June 17 – Babs Book Bistro
June 18 – Tea and A Book
June 19 – Chloe Gets A Clue
June 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy
June 22 – Jane Reads
June 23 – A Blue Million Books
June 24 – Frankie Bow
June 26 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
June 27 – Brooke Blogs
June 28 – StoreyBook Reviews
June 29 – Deal Sharing Aunt
June 30 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

A Season for Killing Blondes Release Day!

A Season for Killing Blondes is officially available today!

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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 US | Amazon UK | Amazon Australia | Kobo

The Wild Rose Press | Chapters/Indigo | Barnes & Noble

Thanks to the following bloggers for participating in today’s release.

Nights of Passion
Padme’s Library
NerdyChampagne
Alice’s Book Wonderland
Flame Resistant Udies Romance Reviews
Steamy Book Momma
Lovin’ Danger blog
Us Girls & A Book
Craves the Angst Book Blog
Ogitchida Kwe’s Book Blog
A Dirty Book Affair
A Bibliophobia Anonymous Book Reviews
My Life Loves and Passion
JBiggarBlog
Undercover Book Reviews
RoloPoloBookBlog
Books and Authors
Em & M Books
Marie’s Cozy Corner
Page By Page Inside-Out Reviews & Promotion
Happily Ever Chapter
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
LibriAmoriMiei

Special thanks to Book Partners in Crime Promotions!