Month: September 2020

Posted in Blog Tour, Guest Post

Guest Post Interview and Blog Tour for the Dana Mulder Suspense Series by N. Gray

Posted on by Debbie

Why I Can’t Stop Reading

Guest Post by N. Gray

What inspired you to write this book?

I write in 3 genres; Urban fantasy, Horror and Thriller. I’d started a series in each except for Thriller and after researching I got the idea to write four books.

What can we expect from you in the future?

More in each genre. I like to alternate between the three genres to keep me from getting bored

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?

Not yet. I’m currently working on those.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Deadly Pattern?

Dana Mulder was an analyst for the FBI but after her encounter with Travis, she became a Private Investigator where she didn’t need danger pay. She’s clever but also afraid after her attack even though she comes across as brave. But as much as she knows she shouldn’t be doing some things; she always gets herself into trouble.

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?

I’m a panster and I write on the edge of my seat, so I come up with my characters on the go. I have a broad outline of what I want but the detail happens when I sit behind my pc and type.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

How Dana grows and becomes the woman she was always meant to be.

Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?

Dana is one for justice and serving the law, but every once in a while, she bends her rules to get the bad guy behind bars.

Travis on the other hand takes justice into his own hands and kills people he thinks are bad, and not necessarily are.

How did you come up with the title of your first novel?

I was looking for something analytical because Dana was an analyst, and Travis kills in patterns—to him, even though it’s not as clear to others.

Who designed your book covers?

My hubby. I can do it to a point. Then he takes over and makes them better.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No, I love my books and they’re all professionally edited.

Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

That it’s hard to write thrillers. The novella was relatively quick, but the three books took time. Thriller stories progress slowly which is hard for me to write—I have a short attention span and if I get bored I’m afraid my readers will too–so I prefer to write fast-paced stories.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Ooh, tough one, I hadn’t considered anyone yet. Perhaps Mila Kunis, she looks small and fragile but when pushed she will fight back.

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

My thriller series are quick reads yet are satisfying and a thrilling ride.

How did you come up with name of this book?

I guess I came up with the plot and title at the same time. I can’t explain it, they just come to me.

What is your favorite part of this book and why?

When we learn more about Travis –I think I’ve created a likeable killer.

If you could spend time with a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?

I would spend it with Travis and ask him questions about his childhood and what really happened. (hint, you learn more about him in the 3rd book)

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

My imagination, but it’s also a combination of research into serial killers.

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

They hijack the story; I never know where it’s going to go until I sit down and write it.

Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.

Dana is in all of us, we don’t like bad things happening to those we love and are always up for the challenge. And, we love solving mysteries, putting one bad guy away after the other.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

Yes, I’ve written a few that I need to go back and edit and perhaps publish once I’m done with the thriller series.

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

For Dana’s books, a rose scented candle. For Travis’s novella, sandalwood.

What did you edit out of this book?

For the first book (Deadly Pattern) nothing, I made a few tweaks here and there but it’s the original story. Now the second book (Devil Mountain) is a different story, I rewrote about twenty-thousand words; I didn’t like where the story was going and didn’t think the readers would appreciate it. I love the way it turned out now. And at the time of writing this, I’m about eighty percent through Chasing Evil, and it’s getting pretty exciting.

Is there a writer which brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?

Stephen King and Patricia Cornwell. I’ve read almost all of their books. I enjoy their writing style and how they keep coming up with new stories.

Fun Facts/Behind the Scenes/Did You Know?’-type tidbits about the author, the book or the writing process of the book.

I’m ambidextrous. As I write one book, I’m always thinking of the next book to write. I’m a shy introvert (unless you’ve known me for like fifteen years, only then do I come out of my shell). I love hearing that readers have enjoyed my books—it really makes me glad.

Deadly
Pattern
The
Dana Mulder Suspense Series Book 1
by
N Gray
Genre:
Thriller, Suspense

Deadly Patterns
reveal disturbing truths. 

My name is Dana, I’m
a private investigator and hired to find a missing woman.
Thinking it would be a straightforward case like all my others,
instead, I’m thrust into a web of kidnappings, deceit, and murder.

The investigation
leads me to a prominent doctor who abducts his patients after their
surgery, but all the evidence is circumstantial. With the help of my
detective brother and his partner, we discover more bodies and link
cold cases where we establish a similar MO.

During the
investigation, the man who left me for dead is back and wants more.

Can I solve the
mystery before we find another body, and before I become the target
of a savage maniac intent on making me his?

A fast-paced
suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and spine-chilling
suspense, DEADLY PATTERN is book #1 in a gripping new series
that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

**Only
.99 cents!!**

Goodreads
* Amazon

 

Devil
Mountain

The
Dana Mulder Suspense Series Book 2

 

Devil Mountain
reveals hidden secrets, suspicion, and murder.

I’m asked to
assist in the search for Johnny’s sister only to discover
she’s dead and her two daughters are missing. To make matters
worse, I unearth the remains of someone connected to the
man hunting me down.

Can I solve the
murder before Travis strikes again, or will he finally get what he
wants?

A fast-paced
suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and spine-chilling
suspense, DEVIL MOUNTAIN is book #2 in a gripping new series
that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

**Only
.99 cents!!**

Goodreads
* Amazon

Chasing
Evil

The
Dana Mulder Suspense Series Book 3

 

Travis is bent on
keeping me as his trophy, but the tables have turned and I’m hunting
him.

Travis is still
after me. His cat and mouse game will never end until one of us is
dead. All I know is it’s time to take my life back.

Which of us will
survive?

A fast-paced
suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and spine-chilling
suspense, CHASING EVIL is book #3 in a gripping new series
that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

**Only
.99 cents!!**

Goodreads
* Amazon

**Get
the Prequel, Night Crawler, in the Notorious Minds box set for only
.99cents!!**

Goodreads
* Books2Read

 

N Gray is a South
African author living in Cape Town. During the day, she is a
spreadsheet wizard, creating dashboards, and tables with trending
analysis in search of any anomalies. (Yes, she still has a day
job). At night, she types on her curved keyboard creating
fictional characters that some may love, and others you want to kill
yourself. And for fun, she goes to the beach with her daughter
and hubby, or take the fur babies for a walk.

She writes in
multiple genres; her first three books are collections of short
stories ranging from light horror to paranormal and a thriller.

In 2019, she
released her first full-length novel, Ulysses Exposed, centering
around Blaire Thorne, an assassin with amnesia who hunts and kills
the monsters in Sterling Meadow.

In 2020, she
joined other USA Today Bestselling authors to produce the
Notorious Minds Boxset. Her contribution, Nightcrawler, is
exclusive to this boxset and is the prequel to her Dana Mulder
thriller series.

Website
* Facebook * Twitter
* Instagram *
Bookbub * Amazon
* Goodreads

 

Follow
the tour HERE
for special content and a giveaway!

$20 Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Posted in author news, Cats, New Releases

October Author News: New Cozy Mystery, Cat Book, Sale, Blog Tours, and More

Posted on by Debbie

October is one of my favorite months. It also seems to be the busiest. My daughter’s birthday is this month, and I also adopted my two cats in October. This year, I have two new books releasing in October, two short stories in an anthology, and a sale on my psychological mystery.

As September closes, the 99-cent sale starts for Sea Scope, my mystery about a lighthouse and family secrets. It runs from September 30 to October 4. If you haven’t read this book yet, grab it at this great price.

Sarah Collins needs an escape. Mourning her brother’s death and the impending breakup of her marriage, she returns to her childhood home in South Carolina, where her family operated an inn.

Sarah hasn’t been back to Sea Scope for twenty years; not since she and her brother Glen discovered a body by the nearby lighthouse. She never understood why her parents left Sea Scope so suddenly, or the reasons behind her father’s suicide.

After Sarah returns to the inn, she faces long-buried memories, text messages and strange clues. Something is not right in Sea Scope. Reunited with people from her past, she tries to figure out what’s going on in her childhood home.

When past and present collide, Sarah must face truths about her family, and what happened that summer day by the lighthouse. But will she survive to tell the tale?

Also, on September 30, the Red Penguin Collection Science Fiction anthology, What Lies Beyond, will be released featuring two of my stories, “The Felindae Mission” and “Mirror Image.”

The 5th book of my Cobble Cove cozy mystery series, No Gravestone Unturned, will be published by Solstice Publishing just in time for Halloween. The blog tour and giveaway for this book will run from October 28 to November 8 on Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

It’s October in Cobble Cove, and Alicia is busy preparing for the library’s Halloween party when she learns that John’s aunt from Florida has died and that John’s cousins and their spouses are coming to town to bury their mother. The day after the funeral, the caretaker’s son is found dead by John’s grandfather’s gravestone, from a blow on the head. The only witness seems to be Sneaky the library cat, who, having left the library, turned up at Alicia’s door with blood and dirt on him.

As Alicia, Gilly, and Sheriff Ramsay investigate, a generation of family secrets is uncovered. Are one of the guests staying at the inn a killer? Will the humans solve the crime, and can Sneaky, Kittykai, and Salem, the inn’s guest cat, team up to help?

Last but not least, I’m publishing a non-fiction cat book, Pet Posts: The Cat Chats. There will also be a blog tour for this book in early November.

Ever wonder what cats are thinking? If your cats could write a blog, what would they talk about? In this collection, you’ll meet Debbie De Louise’s current cats and two from the past who share their everyday activities, health concerns, behavior issues, and more. Floppy relates his hospital experience, gives advice about taking pills, and discusses feline diabetes. His younger sister, Holly, talks about her weight issues, describes how she made the change from a feral to a house cat, and even writes a fictional story featuring her fur and human family members. Harry talks about the merits and perils of being a black cat, shares his bad habit of wire and shoelace chewing, and even gives tips about how to cope with a crisis. His sister Hermione reveals her fascination with high and low places, discusses how she mastered the cat flap door, and even reviews the Cat Writers’ Association conference. If there’s a feline in your home or you enjoy reading about these quirky, beautiful, wise, and inspirational creatures, you’ll find these fur-st person tails from the cats’ points of view a purrfect read.

Keep your eyes on this blog and on my social media sites for more information about my upcoming new releases and the blog tours.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deblibrarian

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_Louise

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2bIHdaQ

All Author: https://allauthor.com/author/debbiedelouise/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbie_writer/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiedelouise/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/debbie-de-louise

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/debbiedelouise

Debbie’s Character’s Chat Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/748912598599469/

Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.com

Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog: https://Sneakylibrarycat.wordpress.com

Posted in Cozy Mystery, Guest Post

Guest Post and Blog Tour for Pharaoh’s Forgery, A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler

Posted on by Debbie

Inspiration for a Vacation Mystery

Who likes to go on vacation? Raise your hand. Yeah, me too.

Raise your hand if you had a vacation canceled due to the pandemic. Yeah, me too. This year was supposed to be the year hubs and I were set to go to Ireland for our 20th Anniversary. Thanks to COVID, we will not be going on that adventure.

Once the pandemic took hold and travel came to a grinding halt, I was pleased that I had the forethought to place the fourth Karina Cardinal mystery, Pharaoh’s Forgery, in sunny Cancun, Mexico. Readers looking to take a vacation through books can head out to the beach with Karina. Granted her trip is a little less vacationy and a little more thriller, but she does get some fun in the sun.

As a quick aside—pharaohs come from Egypt, however over the past century their treasures have been scattered throughout the world ending up in museums and private collections. With that in mind, I decided to place Karina’s adventure at a pyramid a little closer to her home, El Castillo at Chichén Itzá. This provides the reader a look at one ancient civilization while blending in a story line with anther.

Before I sat down to write this mystery, I pulled out photo albums, journals, and letters to take a trip down memory lane.

The first time I visited Mexico was during high school when I participated in an exchange program organized by my Spanish teacher. It was the first year the program happened, and, along with four other students, we flew to the capital city of the Yucatán Peninsula called Mérida. We experienced the culture by staying with a Mexican family, visited Mexico’s historic ruins like Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, and took some classes at the local Universidad. One of my favorite memories was the day we spent on the beach. The girls were offered a ride by some opportunistic fellows who wanted to take us out on their speed boat. We were willing and started to swim out to their shiny yellow boat. However, our mother-hen Spanish teacher was having none of it. She shooed them off with her pointer finger and some sharp Spanish. We shrugged and took it in stride. In retrospect, we probably scared the daylights out of her, though we didn’t mean too. I can’t imagine being in charge of four naïve teenage girls in bikinis up for an escapade.

I have loads of wonderful memories of that trip, but one of the best things to come from the program was the lasting friendships. One of the hosts had a son about our age, and one night he held a party for us. I gained three new pen pals at that party, and eventually two of them came to visit me in Washington, D.C. But, once we went off to college the friendships petered off, the way things do. However, thanks to social media we reconnected about twenty years later. Less than a month after I joined Facebook, one of my pen pals located me, and now I’m back in touch with all three. We’ve talked about families, jobs, and major life upheaval. I’ve been back to Mexico half a dozen times since my first time. They’ve all been sunny, warm, and wonderful. However, nothing compares to the first time, where I was first introduced to the Mexican culture, and gained friendships that lasted over thirty years.

Pharaoh’s Forgery: Karina Goes on Vacation
(Karina Cardinal Mystery)
by Ellen Butler

About Pharaoh’s Forgery


Pharaoh’s Forgery: Karina Goes on Vacation (Karina Cardinal Mystery)
Cozy Mystery / Women’s Adventure Fiction
4th in Series
Publisher: Power to the Pen (September 16, 2020)
Print Length: 212 pages
ASIN: B087HD8LF6

Margaritas, mayhem, and murder. Too bad her only defense is a cocktail umbrella.

After some of Karina Cardinal’s recent adventures—her lover Mike Finnegan would call them scrapes, jams, or pickles—she’s more than ready to blow this D.C. pop stand for a short girls’ trip to Mexico. Until Jillian’s roller skate wreck blows their plan out of the water. With Jilly injured and Mike working, her fellow lobbyist Rodrigo volunteers to share some sun, sand, and margaritas in Cancun. It’s tough to relax, though, knowing what’s in her suitcase. A package she promised to hand off to Mrs. Thundermuffin in Mexico.

Mrs. T’s evasive maneuvers around Karina’s questions wave more red flags than a bullfighter, leaving Karina no choice but to take a peek. Okay, so it’s not a kilo of something illegal. It’s an Egyptian death mask that turns out to be a magnet for crooks, conmen, kidnappers, and outright killers.

When the situation explodes into chaos, Karina and Rodrigo are lucky to have friends in the right place—at their backs. But they’re in one hell of a jam. And they could be going home in something tackier than a souvenir t-shirt—more like a body bag.

About Ellen Butler

Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series and award-winning historical suspense, The Brass Compass. Fans who enjoy the suspense of Melinda Leigh and the humor of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum will fall in love with Butler’s Karina Cardinal. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. The Brass Compass has won multiple awards for historical fiction and is compared to such bestselling novels as Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale. Butler is a member of Sister’s in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Office of Strategic Services Society. She is an admitted chocoholic and confesses to a penchant for shoe shopping. Ellen lives with her family in the suburbs of Washington, DC.

You can find Ellen at:

Website ~ www.EllenButler.net

Facebook ~ www.facebook.com/EllenButlerBooks

Twitter ~ @EButlerBooks

Instagram~@ebutlerbooks

Goodreads ~ www.goodreads.com/EllenButlerBooks

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 21 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 21 – Baroness’ Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW

September 23 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW

September 23 – Dee-Scoveries – SPOTLIGHT

September 23 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 24 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW

September 24 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

September 25 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

September 25 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

September 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 26 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

September 27 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

September 27 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Posted in pets

Remember Me Thursday, A Day to Celebrate Rescue Pets

Posted on by Debbie

Remember Me Thursday falls on September 24. This is the day we honor rescue pets and encourage pet adoption. Last year, I posted the adoption story of my cats, Harry and Hermione, from  the Golden Paw Society Rescue. You can read it here. This year, I recommend Second-Chance Cats: True Stories of the Cats We Rescue and the Cats Who Rescue Us. Harry and Hermione’s story was published in this book along with that of other rescue cats.

There are many ways to get involved in this special day.

1. Post on social media using #SeeTheLight and #RememberMeThursday.

On September 24, let’s make sure everyone who opens their social media accounts sees a message about pet adoption! Encourage your fans to post by sharing your personal rescue story or one of our ready-made graphics. Here are a few to get you started! Check out our Blogger Resource page for more shareables, blogger badges, customizable photo frames and more.

2. Enter the #RememberMeThursday Contest.

You and your fans can win big for a favorite pet adoption organization by entering the #RememberMeThursday Contest! There are two ways to enter:

  • Submit your pet’s photo and story to our contest page.
  • Post a picture of your pet on social media using the hashtags#RememberMeThursday and #SeeTheLight.

(Don’t forget to nominate a favorite shelter or rescue!)

Here’s the link to Harry and Hermione’s story that was entered in the contest: https://woobox.com/gto2v9/gallery/UlHsP8jf3wc

3. Join the Remember Me Thursday Virtual Global Candle Lighting Ceremony.

This one-of-a-kind Zoom event will unite animal rescue advocates from all over the world.
DATE: Thursday, September 24, 2020
TIME: 9 a.m. Pacific Time
WHERE: Virtually on Zoom

4. Take the Remember Me Thursday quiz!

Help your fans and followers learn more about Remember Me Thursday by sharing this fun quiz! Everyone who completes the quiz will be entered for a chance to win rad Remember Me Thursday gear so they can show off their love of rescue pets.

Posted in Guest Post

Guest Post for Murder in Devil’s Cove, A Book Magic Mystery by Melissa Bourbon

Posted on by Debbie

It’s my pleasure to feature Melissa Bourbon’s guest post, blog tour, and giveaway for her first Book Magic Mystery, Murder on Devil’s Cove.

Guest Post

I’m always excited to have a new book out, and even more excited when I’m launching a new series. With Murder in Devil’s Cove, though, I feel as giddy as I did when my very first book came out back in 2008.

I’ve been giving it a lot of thought, trying to figure out why this book and series is making me feel this way. When it comes right down to it, there are 8 reasons (possibly more, but these are the 8 that came to mind):

  1. I love the Outer Banks and the North Carolina coast. It’s so beautiful. To set a book there has been so fun!
  2. My family and I are huge Tolkien fans. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are all-time favorites. When it came to naming my heroine/sleuth for the Book Magic mysteries, I immediately came up with Pippin. It’s my nod to Tolkien, and it fits her. Pippin’s father in the series is also a huge Tolkien fan, hence naming his children Pippin and Grey (after Gandalf).
  3. The entire concept of bibliomancy is so intriguing and fun. Pippin uses it to help her solve crimes. It’s so interpretive, and coming up with passages to guide her was challenging and took me back to my English major days of analyzing text.
  4. This is a collaborative book series, and that has also made writing this a blast. I’m talking more about this on another blog tour stop, so follow along!
  5. Devil’s Cove has all the great things I love in a small town. There’s The Open Door, which is the bookshop, Devil’s Brew, the coffee shop/café, a taco shop, a clock shop, and so much more. There’s even a shop devoted just to Olive Oil! Oh my gosh, do I love strong olive oil.
  6. My heroine’s potential love interest, Jamie McAdams, is a brainiac, and I love this about him. He’s got two daughters, co-owns the bookshop with his grandad, has a PhD, and is a blast to write.
  7. Pippin and Grey are twins who are spreading their wings and separating from one another. Pippin is a reluctant reader—crazy since she’s this bibliomancer.
  8. There’s a dog! Not just a dog, a precious Vizsla who has a secret of her own. I won’t spoil it here.

As you can see, there are a lot of reasons why I adore this book, and can’t wait to continue writing the series. I hope you’ll give it a read. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

Happy reading,

Melissa

About Murder In Devil’s Cove


Murder in Devil’s Cove: (A Book Magic Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Lake House Press (September 22, 2020)
Number of Pages: Approx 300
Digital ASIN: B088J48JY8

Two best-selling authors, one magical universe.

In the Book Magic Mystery Series, best-selling authors Melissa Bourbon and Wendy Lyn Watson bring you the story of cousins Pippin Lane Hawthorne and Cora Lane. The cousins live on opposite coasts (Pippin in Devil’s Cove, North Carolina, and Cora in Laurel Point, Oregon), but they share the family gift of bibliomancy: the ability to foresee the future and unravel the past with the help of the books we love. Join Pippin and Cora as they use their otherworldly power to solve mysteries in their respective worlds.

Every book tells two stories—one written on the pages with pen and ink, and one woven into the paper, a story of the soul. The Lane women have the gift of bibliomancy. They can read both.

But Cassie Lane doesn’t see this as a gift. For her, it is a curse because the book magic comes with a price–the Lane women die young and the men are lost to the sea. As soon as she’s able, she leaves Laurel Point, Oregon, running from her past and her fate, ending up in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. There she meets Leo Hawthorne and lives a perfect life with him in an old Sea Captain’s house.

Perfect, that is, until an old book foretells the future, and the curse that has plagued the Lane women comes true for Cassie.

Twenty years later, Cassie and Leo’s children, twins Pippin and Grey, are back in Devil’s Cove. Long forgotten secrets surface and an old crime comes to light. Now Pippin must learn how to be a bibliomancer if she is to discover the truth about her father and continue his effort to stop the curse.

About Melissa Bourbon

Melissa Bourbon is the national bestselling author of nineteen mystery books, including the brand new collaborative Book Magic mysteries, the Lola Cruz Mysteries, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series, and the Bread Shop Mysteries, written as Winnie Archer. She is a former middle school English teacher who gave up the classroom in order to live in her imagination full time. Melissa, a California native who has lived in Texas and Colorado, now calls the southeast home. She hikes, practices yoga, cooks, and is slowly but surely discovering all the great restaurants in the Carolinas. Since four of her five amazing kids are living their lives, scattered throughout the country, her dogs, Bean, the pug, Dobby, the chug, and Jasper, a cattle dog/lab keep her company while she writes. Melissa lives in North Carolina with her educator husband, Carlos, and their youngest son. She is beyond fortunate to be living the life of her dreams.

Author Links

Website – https://melissabourbon.com/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/melissabourbonbooks/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookWarriors

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MelissaBourbonWinnieArcherBooks

Purchase Link – Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 21 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

September 22 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

September 23 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 24 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

September 25 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

September 26 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 27 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 28 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

September 29 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 30 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 30 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 1 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

October 1 – eBook Addicts – REVIEW

October 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 3 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW

October 4 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

October 4 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Posted in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, New Releases

Spotlight and Giveaway for 15 Minutes of Flame, A Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery by Christin Brecher

Posted on by Debbie

15 Minutes of Flame (Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery)
by Christin Brecher

About 15 Minutes of Flame


15 Minutes of Flame (Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Kensington (August 25, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1496721438
ISBN-13: 978-1496721433
Digital ASIN: B082WR2LH6

As Stella Wright’s Nantucket candle store thrives, her knack for solving mysteries burns equally bright—especially when a Halloween haunted house uncovers evidence of a centuries-old murder . . .

When Stella’s friend inherits a creaky, abandoned home in Nantucket, she knows it’s the perfect setting for the town’s annual Halloween fundraiser. A deserted, boarded-up building on the property—once used as a candle-making shop—adds to the creepy ambiance. But as Stella explores the shack’s dilapidated walls, she discovers a terrible secret: the skeleton of a Quaker woman, wrapped in blood-soaked clothing and hidden deep within a stone hearth . . .

While police investigate, Stella wastes no time asking for help from friends with long ties to Nantucket’s intricate history. The key to the murder may lie within a scorching 18th century love triangle that pit two best friends against one another over a dubious man. But before the case is solved, another life will be claimed—leaving Stella to wonder who in Nantucket is friend, and who is foe . . .

About Christin Brecher

Christin Brecher was born and raised in NYC, where her family and many childhood friends still reside. As such, she feels she is as much of a small-town girl as any. The idea to write the Nantucket Candle Maker series sprang from her life-long connection to the small island off the coast of Massachusetts. Spending summers there as a child, Christin read from her family’s library of mystery novels, after which she began to imagine stories inspired by the island’s whaling heyday, its notoriously foggy nights, and during long bike rides to the beach. After many years in marketing for the publishing industry, followed by years raising her children, Murder’s No Votive Confidence is Christin’s debut novel. Visit her at www.christinbrecher.com.
Author Links
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Google Play – IndieBound –

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September 15 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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September 21 – eBook addicts – REVIEW

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Posted in Cover Reveal, Cozy Mystery, Cozy Series

Cover Reveal for No Gravestone Unturned: Cobble Cove Book #5

Posted on by Debbie

Coming soon from Solstice Publishing, No Gravestone Unturned, the 5th Cozy Mystery in my Cobble Cove series.

Blurb:

It’s October in Cobble Cove, and Alicia is busy preparing for the library’s Halloween party when she learns that John’s aunt from Florida has died and that John’s cousins and their spouses are coming to town to bury their mother. The day after the funeral, the caretaker’s son is found dead by John’s grandfather’s gravestone, from a blow on the head. The only witness seems to be Sneaky the library cat, who, having left the library, turned up at Alicia’s door with blood and dirt on him.

As Alicia, Gilly, and Sheriff Ramsay investigate, a generation of family secrets is uncovered. Are one of the guests staying at the inn a killer? Will the humans solve the crime, and can Sneaky, Kittykai, and Salem, the inn’s guest cat, team up to help?

Have you read the 4 full-length books in the series and the three short eBooks? Find them and my other books here.

Posted in Cozy Mystery, New Releases

Spotlight for The Funeral Murder, A PIP Inc. Mystery by Nancy Lynn Jarvis

Posted on by Debbie

The Funeral Murder A PIP Inc. Mystery
by Nancy Lynn Jarvis

About The Funeral Murder


The Funeral Murder A PIP Inc. Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher: Good Read Mysteries, An Imprint of Good Read Publishers
Number of Pages: 248
ISBN-10: 0997366761
ISBN-13: 978-0997366761
Digital – ASIN : B08H8JG1BX

In The Glass House, the first book in the PIP Inc. Mysteries series Pat Pirard, recently downsized Santa Cruz Law Librarian, needed to find a new job in a hurry. She printed business cards announcing she was Private Investigator Pat and crossed her fingers, hoping she could earn enough money working for attorneys as a PI to survive.

Pat’s first investigation went well, so she’s excited when she gets a call from an estate attorney who offers her a second job. The attorney tells Pat his client died at a funeral and he needs help sorting out who is entitled to inherit her estate.

Pat quickly discovers the dead woman’s past is as complicated as her estate. And when an autopsy indicates she had two deadly toxins in her body when she died, Pat’s new case becomes not only complicated, but dangerous.

About Nancy Lynn Jarvis

Nancy Lynn Jarvis left the real estate profession after she started having so much fun writing the Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries series that she let her license lapse. She’s enjoyed writing about Regan and her husband, Tom, but decided it was time to do a new series.

PIP Inc. introduces protagonist downsized law librarian and not-quite-licensed Private Investigator Pat Pirard. “The Funeral Murder” is the second book in the series.

After earning a BA in behavioral science from San Jose State University, Nancy worked in the advertising department of the San Jose Mercury News. A move to Santa Cruz meant a new job as a librarian and later a stint as the business manager for Shakespeare/Santa Cruz at UCSC.

Currently, she’s enjoying being a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Santa Cruz Women of Mystery.

Author Links

Website https://www.nancylynnjarvis.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SantaCruzBooksforyou

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash

Purchase Link – Amazon –

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Posted in Cozy Mystery, Spotlight

Spotlight for Checked Out for Murder: A Haunted Library Mystery by Allison Brook

Posted on by Debbie

Checked Out for Murder: A Haunted Library Mystery
by Allison Brook

About Checked Out for Murder


Checked Out for Murder: A Haunted Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (September 8, 2020)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 164385447X
ISBN-13: 978-1643854472
Digital ASIN: B082738ZNV

Carrie Singleton and Evelyn the ghost sleuth the slayings of a starlet and a star-crossed psychic in Agatha Award nominee Allison Brook’s fourth Haunted Library mystery.

Daphne Marriott strolls into Clover Ridge and informs librarian Carrie Singleton that she’s a psychic. But had she foreseen what fate awaited her, Daphne would have steered clear of the quaint Connecticut town. Evelyn, the library ghost, tells Carrie that there’s more to Daphne than she lets on.

The mysterious woman grew up in Clover Ridge with her no-good dad, who apparently met his end at the hands of Daphne’s brother, Billy. Still, Daphne proves a welcome distraction when Carrie’s overbearing mother hits town. Mom’s much younger husband, Tom, is in a movie that’s lensing locally, and she’s there to keep an eye on him: Tom’s costar, sultry Ilana Reingold, is also his ex-fiancée, and there’s no denying the chemistry is still there. Soon after mingling with the moviemakers at a meet-and-greet, Daphne is found dead.

Carrie and Evelyn investigate, assisted by bushy-tailed library cat Smoky Joe. But the suspect list could overflow the library shelves. Has Billy killed another relative? Is their long-missing mother involved? Or Daphne’s mean ex-husband? Carrie’s sure she knows who committed the crime, but can she bind together the clues before the culprit Dewey-decimates the town?

About Allison Brook

A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook she writes the Haunted Library series. DEATH OVERDUE, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series and the Twin Lakes series.

Check out Sneaky the Library Cat’s interview of Smoky Joe from Allison Brook’s first Haunted Library Mystery, Death Overdue:  https://wp.me/p7XcB0-jN

Check out my Interview of Marilyn (Allison) where she talks about Read and Gone, her second Haunted Library Mystery: https://wp.me/p6m4z7-1KU

Author Links

Website: http://www.marilynlevinson.com

Amazon: http://bit.ly/Amazon_MarilynLevinson

Facebook: http://bit.ly/MarilynLevinson_Facebook

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/Goodreads_MarilynLevinson

Twitter: @MarilynLevinson; @AllisonBrookML

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/allison-brook

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marilev4/

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 8 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

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Posted in Guest Post

Guest Post about Online Marketing by Hayley Zelda

Posted on by Debbie


How To Do Online Marketing For Your Book

While many authors have spent years studying how to improve the craft of writing, few study the very important craft of marketing. I put together this post to share some tips on book marketing for authors looking to market their book online. Let’s face it, unless you’re J.K. Rowling or Stephen King, you’re not going to land a major publishing deal and have an army of sales people promoting your book for you. This means that it’s going to be up to you to find ways to get people to read your book. There are all sorts of tools and tactics available for self-published authors, but I’ve listed some of my favorite tools below for creating interest in your book. Keep in mind, you don’t have to use all of these tools, just pick and choose from them as you see fit.

1. Try working with influencers

If you want to sell more books, you’ve got to get the attention of influencers in your genre.  These influencers could be authors, bloggers, podcasters, Twitter personalities, etc. Try to work with influencers who have a lot of followers and get your book in front of as many people as possible. You can try contacting influencers on social media or sending them an email.

What works best for you will depend on the influencer. Some of them may not even want your book, but they could be willing to mention your book on their blog, podcast, or twitter account. Most of the time you’ll have to give them a free copy of your book in exchange for mentioning it.

If you have an ebook, then you can create your own landing page for your book and send people to it when they pre-order the book.  For instance, you can use Amazon’s product page creator, give the URL to your influencers, and they can send people there to order the book when it’s released.

2. Create a podcast, Youtube channel, or blog

If you want to make a living off of your writing, then one of the best things that you can do is to create a following of people who like your work and will buy your future books. The easiest way to do this is to create a blog, podcast, or YouTube channel where you can regularly post new content that will interest your target market. The more popular you get, the more people you can reach and the more people will buy your book.

3. Focus on creating quality content

What kind of content works best for building an online audience? I’d have to say that educational content is the best kind of content. People who are interested in buying and reading your book are probably the same people who want to improve themselves and increase their knowledge about a subject. If you’re an author, then you know all about writing. Try to create content that is both entertaining and educational. This is a great way to get your book in front of the right people who are likely to buy it. If you don’t have an audience on your site to share content to, look at other writing sites or blogs to contribute to. Start by targeting smaller blogs and sites to contribute to like Wired For Youth and then climb up the ladder to larger ones.

4. Use Amazon’s free services to promote your book

Authors can list their books on Amazon for free and they’ll even display a custom cover for your book if you have one. They’ll also put your book in front of people who are searching for books in your genre and people who click the “also bought” buttons.  Amazon will also give you the ability to drive free traffic to your book’s landing page.  This will help you build a list of people interested in your book and they’ll be notified when your book is released.

There are also other free services that Amazon offers to authors such as the Amazon Author Central account and KDP Select. I encourage you to take advantage of everything that Amazon has to offer to you to promote your book.

5. Create a website for your book

If you have a personal brand, then you can build an audience with a blog that you own.  You can also build a website for your book or both. You can use your site to drive traffic to Amazon and it can also help you create a following of people who like your writing and want to hear about your future releases. It’s a lot of work, but it’s very rewarding.

6. Test Facebook Ads

If you have an existing audience on Facebook, then you can use Facebook ads to promote your book to that audience. You can create an audience of people who like your Facebook page and target them with ads on Facebook. It won’t cost very much to do and you can test how your ads are performing to see which ones are bringing you the most sales. You can learn more about Facebook Ads for authors here.

7. Leverage your email list

People who follow you online are your biggest fans. You can tell them about your new book when it’s released and ask them to pre-order it or leave a review.  You can also use your email list to promote your book to your fans and it won’t cost you anything. You can also try using an autoresponder service like Aweber to send emails to your list. 

8. Get your book into brick and mortar stores

If you have a physical book and you’re selling it locally, then the best way to sell more of your books is to get it on a shelf in a bookstore or to ask them to order it for you.  Contact the local bookstores to see if you can set up a book signing at their store.

9. Setup a book trailer

People tend to consume video content more than anything else on the web. Make a book trailer that tells people about the plot of your book or what inspired you to write the book. You can get a couple of friends to star in it or you can make one yourself.  Use Youtube to promote your book to people who like watching book trailers.

10. Leverage multimedia fiction

If you have a book, then you can leverage it by including multimedia content. You can create a web app, graphic novel, board game, mobile app, etc. to create more interest in your book. For instance, you could create a web app that is based on the themes of your book and your audience can play with it for free.  You could even include an ad for your book in the app. You can also try a multimedia fiction site like Commaful.

11. Create promotional products for your book

Promotional products such as t-shirts, mugs, posters, etc. are an easy way to promote your book to people who have a habit of collecting these kinds of things.  You can offer the items as prizes on a giveaway, get them printed with your book cover, or you can sell them on your website or Amazon. 

I hope that you’ve found some useful information in this post about how to market your book online.  It takes a lot of work, but it’s worth the effort when you land your first big client and make a nice chunk of change for your efforts. If you want to sell more books, then you’ll have to get the attention of your target audience and the best way to do that is to get your book in front of people online.

About the Author

Hayley Zelda is a writer and marketer at heart. She’s written on all the major writing platforms and worked with a number of self-published authors on marketing books to the YA audience.