Website and Blog of Debbie De Louise, Author, Retired Librarian, and Cat Lover
Author: Debbie
I'm a retired librarian and the award-winning author of the Cobble Cove, Buttercup Bend, and SOUP THE SUPERNATURAL KITTEN cozy mystery series and other novels, short stories, poems, articles, and a novella. My books include CLOUDY RAINBOW, REASON TO DIE, SEA SCOPE, MEMORY MAKERS, TIME'S RELATIVE, MEOWS AND PURRS, MEMORIES AND MEOWS, A MIXED BAG OF CAT TAILS, and A MYSTERY BOX OF CAT TAILS.
My Cobble Cove cozy mystery series published by Solstice Publishing consist of 6 books: A STONE'S THROW, BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, WRITTEN IN STONE, LOVE ON THE ROCKS, NO GRAVESTONE UNTURNED, and ROCK A BYE BYE BABY. My standalone short story collection featuring the Cobble Cove characters is SNEAKY'S SUPERNATURAL MYSTERY AND OTHER COBBLE COVE STORIES. My Buttercup Bend series published by Next Chapter Publishing includes THE CASE OF THE CAT CRAZY LADY, THE CASE OF THE PARROT LOVING PROFESSOR, THE CASE OF THE LLAMA RAISING LIBRARIAN, THE CASE OF THE WHALE WATCHING WEDDING PLANNER, THE CASE OF THE REPTILE RESCUING RESCEPTIONIST, and the forthcoming CASE OF THE BULLFIGHTING BUILDER.
I've also written a paranormal romance, CLOUDY RAINBOW, and short stories of various genres published as eBooks and in anthologies published by the Red Penguin Collection. My poetry appears in the Nassau County Voices in Verse and the Bard's Annual. My latest book is SUITCASE STORIES, a collection of mostly mystery short stories. My forthcoming standalone gothic mystery is LOOKING FOR LUCY.
I'm a member of Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Cat Writers' Association. I live in South Carolina with my husband, daughter, and 3 cats.
This week’s blog challenge is on the topic of My Bookshelf/Latest Reads. Sophia Valentine of Lifestyle and Literature created this challenge (see graphic for topics and dates if you have a blog and would like to participate. If you’re a reader, I’m sure you’ll enjoy learning about some of the great participating authors).
I actually have several bookshelves in my home. What do you expect from a librarian who is also an author? Even though I borrow many books from the library, I have a large collection of my own. My bed’s headboard actually holds some paperbacks, and there’s room in my bureau’s shelves. I also decorate my bookcases with knick knacks and curios, most of them cat-related.
Of course, my own books, Cloudy Rainbow and a Stone’s Throw, have prominent spots on my bedroom bookshelf as well as the Cat Crimes in Time anthology in which my short mystery, Stitches in Time, appears.
My bookshelves are not limited to the space in my house. I also have a virtual bookshelf on my Kindle Fire with many books waiting to be read including ebooks by fellow Limitless Publishing authors.
Since I write for and edit my library’s Staff Picks newsletter, I need to review at least one book a month, and I usually try to review two. I used to be a much more voracious reader, but my reading time is limited by the hours I spend writing and promoting my own books. Occasionally, I ask my cat, Oliver, for help choosing what to read next from my huge TBR pile. My latest choices are pictured below. I just began “House of Dreams” by Kate Lord Brown, one of my newest favorite authors. Her previous book, The Perfume Garden, was a page-turner.
If you’re interested in learning more about me and my books, I’d love to connect with you on the following sites:
Mother’s Day has always been a special holiday for me even before I became a mother because my birthday lands on it about every seven years. My husband’s birthday, two days later, is the same way. I guess we were both special Mother’s Day gifts to our mothers when we were born. I arrived the day after Mother’s Day on Monday, the 9th of May. I recall my mother saying I just missed being in the newspaper as a Mother’s Day baby. My older brother tells me there was snow on the ground that day, although most of the birthdays I remember were rainy. This year my day is predicted to be nice after a week of rain.
My daughter painted me a pretty bowl for Mother’s Day, and my husband bought me an Apple Watch that is also part of my birthday present. He made waffles for breakfast and cooked dinner. I also received a beautiful vase of flowers from both of them. I visited with my mother and brought her some candy and a basket of flowers in her favorite purple color from all of us.
Me and My Second mom, my Mother-in-law, Carol
I am blessed to have had two mothers in my life and also to be a mother when there was a time I never believed that would happen. My mother-in-law, Carol, to whom I dedicated my book, A Stone’s Throw, passed away from Cancer two years ago. She was a wonderful lady, and I considered her my second mother. I still miss her greatly. I remember how much she helped me after my daughter was born and was always there for me. Like my own mother, she was only 17 when she married and did not have an easy life, but she raised five kids and had many grandchildren and a few great grandchildren when she passed away too young at 71. My mother just turned 88. She’s in a nursing home but doing well so far despite being confined to a wheelchair and suffering from dementia.
My beautiful baby, Holly, in her Christening dressMy lovely daughter, Holly at 11
My daughter came along when I had despaired of ever becoming a mother. My husband and I waited a long time before we decided to have children because we married late but were still establishing our careers and paying off college loans. By the time it seemed right to start a family, some obstacles stood in our way. I became pregnant a few times but miscarried each baby. The first one required a D & C because the heart beat had stopped after nearly 8 weeks, but my body wouldn’t let the fetus go. Neither could my heart. In my sorrow, I found the strength to try again. After another miscarriage, this one earlier and not as traumatic, I questioned if I should keep pursuing my dream of motherhood.
Each Mother’s Day that passed was painful when I saw other mothers with their children. Then, miraculously, I became pregnant again. I was so afraid something would go wrong. When I started bleeding just two months into the pregnancy, I thought for sure I’d lose the child again. My doctor assured me it was normal and that all was well. Seven months later, my water broke unexpectedly one morning the week before Halloween. I panicked fearing that it was too soon when my baby wasn’t expected until early December. Luckily, my daughter was born healthy at almost 5 pounds. She had to stay in the hospital for ten days, but we were assured she was fine. She’s nearly a teenager now and taller than I am.
While I’m thankful for my Mother’s Day gifts, I’m more thankful for the love and memories, for the time I can share with my mother and my daughter. That’s what I celebrate most on Mother’s Day and all year long.
I’m very excited to participate in the blog challenge Sophia Valentine of Lifestyle and Literature created (see graphic for topics and dates if you have a blog and would like to participate. If you’re a reader, I’m sure you’ll enjoy learning about some of the great participating authors).
My Writing Room is the first subject of this new blog challenge, and I find it challenging indeed because I don’t have a writing room at this point or beautiful photos to share with you of to-die-for offices or dens that some other authors do. I get up at 5 a.m. each morning to write (a little later on weekends or when I’m off from work). My computer is set up on my kitchen table which is good access so I can have my coffee and eat breakfast as I write (although I do get crumbs in the keyboard sometimes that frustrates my husband to no end).
The other place I do a lot of writing, if only mental writing, is in my bed at night curled up around my Siamese cat Oliver (which also irritates my husband). I mull over the next scene of my book in my sleep and, when I wake up, I am ready to write. Occasionally, my other cat, Stripey, lends me a paw typing on his laptop.
One day I may have an official office with windows all around overlooking a beautiful garden or the seashore.
For now, until my book “A Stone’s Throw” or one of my forthcoming ones becomes a bestseller, I am typing at the table like a starving artist literally because while food is within my reach, I’m still trying to stay on my diet. On the other hand, when I get a touch of writer’s block, a handy piece of dark chocolate always seems to do the trick to help get the words flowing again.
If I did have a writing room, it would be a cross between a library and a peaceful retreat. I’d move the Kittendales calendar featuring hunky men holding kittens from my bedroom to feature on one of the walls, and my books (the current two I’ve published and the next 100 I have in my mind and plan to write when I have time) will fill several bookcases along with my favorite authors, Nora Roberts, Mary Higgins Clark, Jodi Picoult, and Sandra Brown. The only problem is with all the bookcases and the calendar, I wouldn’t have much room for windows, and I’d have to have at least one with a window seat where my cats could sit while I composed my masterpieces and looked out at the flowers or the sea.
Instead of filling this blog post with photos of my writing room, I’ve filled it with photos of my dream writing rooms. If you’d like to support this starving writer so she can afford a writing room of her own, please order my book through any of the following links. I’d also love you to connect with me on the social media sites listed after.
Welcome to the Library Lounge where I interview fellow authors. Today, I am chatting with Ayden K. Morgen aka A.K. Morgen from Little Rock, Arkansas.
Thanks for joining me, Ayden. Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable.
How long have you been publishing and what titles have you published? Have you self-published any titles or published with another publisher? Please give details.
Close woman portrait with the world reflected in her eyes.
That’s great. I understand that All Over You is releasing today. Can you tell us a little bit about it as well as what genre you write and your other books?
I write romance as well as fantasy with strong romantic elements. All Over You is a New Adult romance, featuring Ivy Kendall and Cameron Lewis. Ivy is a kindergarten teacher who finds her life unraveling around her when a catfish steals her identity and lures a college student into an online relationship and, ultimately, to his death. Cameron (Cam), a San Francisco detective, has to help her clear her name…and convince her that giving him a chance won’t drag him down with her. That’s easier said than done when Fake Ivy has made sure that the real Ivy looks guilty! The book is a very steamy standalone companion to the All Falls Down duo.
In addition to All Over You, I also have Rapture coming out later this year, which will complete the Teplo Trilogy. FLAME, the third book in a New Adult urban fantasy series centered around Norse mythology, will release early next year, followed by the second book in the War Scrolls series.
Sounds great. How would you describe your goals as a writer? What do you hope to achieve in the next few years? What are you planning to do to reach these goals?
My goal as a writer is to spread a little love and share the things that matter to me. I work in the Criminal Justice/Social Services fields, so a lot of my novels feature characters in the same fields…law enforcement officers, federal agents, and even those accused of a or victimized by crime. Others deal with the mythology I grew up devouring. I love getting to share those perspectives and stories with readers while giving them a well-earned HEA! Ultimately, I would love to write full-time, and am working toward that goal every day through writing and author branding.
I also feature characters that are either librarians, researchers, or authors, as I am in my novels. It’s interestintg that you mention mythology because I loved reading them as a child, too, but haven’t included them in any of my books. Like you, I would love to work full-time in the future.
Close woman portrait with the world reflected in her eyes.
What type of reader are you hoping to attract? Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?
Readers who love romance, heat, suspense, and HEAs are sure to find something they enjoy in my fictional worlds. So are those who love a little angst, flawed characters, and a dose of reality. I don’t shy away from putting characters into tough situations and letting them find their way together. That’s part of what love and relationships are all about, right?
Exactly. You sure have your target audience pegged.
What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?
Don’t give up! There will always be someone out there who doesn’t like what you write or how you write it. That’s perfectly fine, because there will also always be those out there who love what you have to say and how you say it. I’ve had people tell me that they hated X, and then had others come along immediately after and tell me that’s exactly what they loved about the story. Rejection and bad reviews are inevitable, so don’t let them discourage you.
I agree completely. Persistance is an important trait for an author. You need to have faith in yourself and your writing and, as you said, realize that not everyone will love it but that’s the way it is with every book.
What particular challenges and struggles did you face before first becoming published?
Quite honestly, I didn’t ever plan to publish. My mom badgered me into it, and I had a very different experience than most. I sent out my first query in late 2011, and 3 months later, I had my first contract offer, followed by another soon thereafter. That’s not the norm, so I always kind of feel like I lucked into publishing initially. I’ve put in a lot of hard work and sleepless nights since, but yeah, I definitely got lucky to begin with!
Yes, that’s unusual. I think I became published rather quickly myself once I started concentrating on submitting material, although I’d had a few rejections but nothing close to what some authors receive.
Have you taken any writing or publishing classes? If so, please provide information about them and if you feel they helped you further your professional skills.
I took a creative writing course as a kid, and various lit courses in high school, but I haven’t taken any classes since. I did help TA College Composition I and II in college and grad school, so that helped strengthen my knowledge of the technical and mechanical side of writing, I think.
What hobbies and interests do you have besides writing?
I’m a huge hockey fan, especially when it comes to the Chicago Blackhawks. Hockey season is a little frightening around my house…there’s a lot of screaming at the television and dancing involved. I’m also a big fan of mythology, ballet, action movies, and causing mischief. I also work as a 911 Dispatcher for my county, so I don’t have a lot of free time between my two careers, but when I do, I spend as much as possible just hanging out with my husband of twelve years and my family and friends.
What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?
I love inspiring others and telling the stories that rattle around in my brain. Knowing that my words have helped someone else through a difficult situation or time is so rewarding. I love that! My least favorite part of being an author is how much work goes into things like marketing and branding and the whole business side of things. I spend as much time on those responsibilities as I do writing…it can be pretty exhausting!
I hear you. I feel the same way. Marketing and promoting are so important, and yet authors are usually not experienced with them and prefer to write which is just as important.
Can you please list your social media links, website, blog, etc. so readers can connect with you.
My daughter and husband both share an interest in Japanese anime. When I saw a Japanese festival advertised a few weeks ago that was taking place at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, I thought it might interest them. Although I am not a fan of anime, the event known as Sakura Matsuri is also known for its spring celebration featuring the blooming of cherry trees. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden has hosted it for 35 years.
This was the first time my family and I attended Sakura Matsuri or even visited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Because we were warned on the garden’s website that the event becomes very crowded, we started our day early and arrived there before the gates opened. Since we’d also purchased our tickets online, we were able to use an express entrance, but the event didn’t start until 10, so we still ended up waiting.
Checking the program that was online and also listed in the brochure distributed at the festival, most of the shows my daughter wanted to attend, which included cosplay discussions, were taking place on the Osborne Garden’s J-Lounge Stage later in the morning. Since we had some time, we checked out some other areas of the gardens including the lovely Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden before heading to the main attraction — the cherry esplanade lined with cherry trees where visitors took photos among the beautiful pink blossoms. We also strolled down the lilac walk where the flowers’ heavenly perfume scent surrounded us.
We stopped for an early lunch at the Visitor Center where my husband ordered a Bento box of chicken teriyaki and my daughter just opted for a hamburger. I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but also tried the delicious pocky chocolate sticks with my daughter and got hooked on them.
In the Osborne Garden, the azaleas were also in full bloom. As we walked, we saw performers as well as visitors in costumes that ranged from Japanese geisha girls to anime characters my daughter enjoyed naming.
Circling the Osborne Garden were vendors selling Japanese items and souvenirs. As a lover of all things cat, the table displaying kitties with solar-powered wagging tales was a big drawer to me. Although the Yura-Yura cats were costly, I couldn’t leave without choosing one. I also purchased a Tenugui, a Japanese cotton towel, that has many purposes including hanging for decoration. There were an assortment of choices featuring the vibrant art, and I was able to find one with ninja cats, cherry blossoms, and a pagoda to remind me of my time at the Sakura Matsuri festival. My daughter, also a big souvenir shopper, found a hat headband that appealed to her that was also more than we’d planned to spend.
After watching a few shows including a funny Japanese comic named Rio Koike, the festival was getting very crowded, so we decided to leave. On our way out the gates, my daughter commented that she’d had a great day because it featured her two loves — nature and anime.
If you’ve never been to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens or to a Sakura Matsuri festival, I would recommend both. We had a beautiful spring day and, although we missed some of the other attractions — the bonsai and doll museums as well as the tea ceremonies and other demonstrations and exhibits, we look forward to visiting another time.
It happens every year. Before my birthday, I know a dozens gifts I can use, but as the time to celebrate grows closer, I can’t think of one thing that I actually want. My husband, a last-minute shopper who nevertheless likes to present me with gifts early, starts to email me links to suggestions a month before.
This year, as that special day approaches on May 9th, he proposed buying me an Apple Watch because he thinks I would like one. He offered to take me shopping to look at some, and I agreed. But, before committing, I considered other things I might want instead. After all, Apple watches aren’t cheap and, although I’m worth the expense one day a year, there might be something even better I might like.
I rack my brain but, of course, I come up with nothing. Sure, I could use anything to do with writing which is my current passion. I already purchased myself a gift, the “Get a Book Deal 101” course given by Kathy Ver Eecke that I hope will help me land an agent for my work-in-progress. I can always use new clothes, especially since I’ve gone down ten sizes and lost over 60 pounds since last year on Jenny Craig. It’s probably best then that I avoid my favorite Black Forest birthday cake, but maybe I can splurge on a healthful dinner atSeasons 52, a restaurant my husband and I had dinner at for our anniversary last July and vowed to try again but have yet to do so. Speaking of food, it just so happens I’ve been invited by a co-worker to a lunch buffet at an Kiran Palace, an Indian restaurant, on my birthday. Since it’s a cuisine I have yet to sample, I’m looking forward to a new culinary experience. Maybe I can check it off my bucket list. That night I’ll be attending a concert when my daughter sings in the chorus for the Middle School concert.
So what else would I want for my birthday? Another year of good health is always welcome. Enough money to pay my bills is also nice. My pre-teen daughter talking to me for more than five minutes and agreeing with just one thing I say would be awesome. Even cooler would be her dad taking me out for a date night. If I think bigger, winning the lottery would be a super gift. Being able to control time so I have just as much as I need to complete everything I want and need to do would be another perfect present. Getting on the New York Times Bestseller list would be the icing on my cake.
Fantasies aside, I really have everything I need already, but I’ll try the Apple Watch, anyway. By the way, my husband’s birthday is just two days after mine, but I’m not asking him what he wants.
Here are a few links to birthday gift ideas for those who are stumped as to what to give their spouses, parents, friends, or even what to ask for themselves:
An annual spring tradition that my daughter and I participate in is the Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s Girls Go the Distance 2-mile Walk-a-thon at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. This event is more than a walk-a-thon. Each girl who participates receives a lovely patch designed by a fellow girl scout along with a t-shirt. Tables manned by various groups offer fun crafts and activities. There are even a few shops offering girl scout items for sale. Lunch and lots of water are also provided.
The best part of the walk-a-thon is walking as a team or as individuals through the lovely grounds of Old Bethpage Village Restoration, an historical tourist attraction with period buildings and farms from the 19th century. Guides who volunteer here wear old-fashioned costumes and are always happy to give impromptu tours, demonstrations, and history lessons.
Every year we’ve participated, luck along with the sun, has shined on this event. This year, April 17th, was no exception. The weather was perfect with bright sunshine and temperatures in the mid to high 60’s. My daughter, a Cadette, had invited a non-girl scout friend to join us. Her friend was considered a tagalong which is a term girl scouts use for siblings and friends of girl scouts who attend an event along with the girl scout. Both young ladies were excited about a new addition to the walk-a-thon this year — a scavenger hunt throughout the village.
The day began with an opening address at 10 a.m. after we checked in that included some music and dancing to get everyone in an active mood. All proceeds from the event go toward supporting the Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s Healthy Living Initiatives.
The walk-a-thon and scavenger hunt began at 10:30. We joined the crowd following a map we’d received showing where each building was located that contained information to help solve the quote on the back page of the Scavenger Hunt Guide. The clues involved letters, some of which had to be decoded using a key found in the guide. When all the buildings were visited and the letters placed in the proper spots, the quote was revealed. The final part of the hunt was to use modern technology to find out who had used the quote first. My daughter Googled the answer with my cell phone, and she and her friend both earned the prize patch for solving the scavenger hunt.
Afterwards, we spent some time at the activity fair stands where local organizations provided information on their services and offerings and there were a variety of arts and crafts tables. There was face painting at the Garvies Point Museum stand that also had a nice flyer for spring break events. The three of us took the smelly challenge at the Old Westbury Gardens table trying to sniff out the identity of the three plants located there. I guessed two of them, but my daughter and her friend guessed all three. We all received “I’m so Nosey” temporary tattoos.
We wrapped up the day by having lunch with the healthy food provided and served by volunteers. My daughter and her friend ate their salads, bread sticks, and fruit under a tree like a picnic, and I sat on a nearby bench with my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and banana.
We were all a little tired when the event ended but had enjoyed the beautiful day and the fun activities. We are looking forward to attending again next year
For five hundred years I have feasted on the blood of the innocent.
For centuries I have seduced beautiful victims into my bed.
And all this time, I have never gone without…
I am Zachariah…
While enduring endless days as an immortal, only one urge soothes my savage need.
Blood.
I have consumed countless humans—I have witnessed mountains of corpses piled beneath my feet. But none more significant than the woman I once loved.
My heart was not the only one she captured, but it would be the last…
An inferior creature turned her heart against me—Adam. Such a pathetic identity to be named after the original creation of God, and always besting me in life. But in death—I am king.
I am far more treacherous.
I should be feared.
I demand to be remembered.
And I am, for being known as the immortal who slayed the woman we both loved, and my rampage continues…
Now in the scorching desert, I find prey well worth the chase…
Samantha.
And my interest in this mortal runs deep. Adam has pursued me over the globe in search of revenge—but his own weaknesses have made him vulnerable. He’s taken to the striking mortal, which means only one thing.
She will be my next target.
But this time, not for the taste of blood. I will take her as my own mate, and neither Adam, or anyone else, will stop me…
— MEET THE AUTHOR OFRED NIGHT!—
Hello! I’m RK Close, author of the ‘Vampire Files Trilogy’. ‘Red Night’ is the first book in the series. I write paranormal-romance & urban-fantasy with a hint of darkness and a dash of humor. Creating characters that my readers will fear, fall in love with, despise or cheer for, is what I love most about writing.
Ann Rice gets all the credit for my vampire addiction which started in my early twenties. Like so many others, I fell in love with her vampires first.
Originally from Kentucky, I’ve lived most of my life in Arizona where I met and married my true love. We were late to the game so we knocked out three ankle-biters in quick succession. We often joke that parenthood saved us from ourselves. Now we need to be saved from parenthood. *just kidding* We love our darling spawn.
When I’m not writing, I’m taking care of a busy family, dragging my butt to CrossFit, thinking about my stories or spending time with family and friends. My dream is to sell enough books to hire someone to clean our house and cook our meals. Okay, maybe that’s my family’s dream. I tend to get a little obsessed when I write.
Truthfully, I would love the opportunity to pull you into my world of strong independent females, mysterious vampires, noble hunters, hungry werewolves and seductive yet deadly fae. If you like paranormal-romance in a modern-urban setting with plenty of romantic tension, mystery and suspense, then my novels were written for you.
When Gabriella Woods finds matches from a gentlemen’s club in her fiancé’s pocket, her suspicions require a search for answers.
At the club, she realizes it’s not her fiancé’s fidelity that can’t be trusted…
It’s her own.
Darion Milano is daring, intriguing, and unpredictable…
Unable to get him out of her head—and against Darion’s explicit warning—
Gabi begins a torrid affair. No longer fighting the urge to enter the depth of his dark and mysterious lifestyle, she indulges in his most intimate desires.
They become the most exciting, wild, infatuated couple everybody knows.
Until his confession changes everything…
Her heart is telling her to stay.
Her instinct is telling her to run.
She can never match his outrageous ex-wife and become the fun, fearless woman he craves…
★★ WHAT EARLY REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HIS CONFESSION★★
“His Confession was a surprisingly engaging read with believable characters who were easy to connect with.It dealt with subjects a little different to what I’m used to, but the author did a great job of pulling me into her world.” – Mia Hoddell, YA/NA author.
“His Confession pulled me through from the first paragraph! The enigmatic Darion practically leapt off the pages and I could picture his every move and facial expression clear as day in my head! This story is definitely one to add to your “want-to-read” list-especially if you love a captivating plot as well as scenes so hot that they fog up your glasses. I don’t want to say too much and spoil it for future readers but DARION and GABI put Christian and Ana to SHAME! Enough said. LOL.” – Kiarra M. Taylor, contemporary romance author of THE QUARTER CHANGE.
“I loved it and I’m excited to read more to find out what happens. Darion is a great guy who was hurt badly and doesn’t know how to handle, which in steps Gabi. Love love love her! Hopefully she fights for him! When does the next book come out, as I’m dying to know what comes next! I also hope the girls get their own stories.” – Susan Flynn, Beta reader Writers club.
“S. Valentine does an exquisite job at creating a dynamic between two characters, both from different worlds, that goes beyond a physical attraction. His Confession is book one in The Black Door Trilogy. It is a fast paced story that is full of hotness and anticipation that heats you up from your head to your toes. Gabi, is tired of always playing it safe. Darion, has demons that he can no longer control. When these two get together, boundaries are pushed, control is tested and emotions run wild.” – AV. Scott, author of High Heels & New York.
“A brilliant book which leaves you wondering what happened in Darion’s past that has left him so wary and so afraid to put himself and his heart out there not to mention to put his faith and trust in Gabi, the one woman whose managed to penetrate the walls he’s built. I can’t wait for book 2 and I’m hoping that Darion and Gabi can overcome the obstacles that stand in front of them, including Eva, Darion’s ex wife.” – Rebecca Barber, author Nobody’s Obligation.
★★ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ★★
Valentine grew up in England. Studying English language and literature, as well as law, she worked in a solicitors for many years before moving to Spain. She does however still visit the UK, which in a way, will always be home.
Returning to her lifelong passion of writing books, she’s also a weekly columnist for The Ibizan newspaper on: lifestyle and fashion. Her other interests include reading, shopping and a nice glass of wine. She’s a social media addict, and loves connecting with new people.
Read, Listen, Explore. The New Age of Cozy Mystery…
This interactive component is for the first book in the Marjorie Gardens Mystery series, Dial QR for Murder. View landmarks and settings that appear in the novel, and join Isis Ferrelli on the early days of her investigation with an audio-visual tour.
This module contains:
♦ Sightseeing images
♦ Tourist information
♦ Written excerpts from Dial QR for Murder
♦ Audio excerpts read by Author A. E. H. Veenman. (You’ll also hear the correct pronunciation of her last name!)
♦ Scenes from the upcoming Digital Age Cozy, “Prepped for the Kill” Book 2
♦ And an Overview of the Marjorie Gardens Mystery series with Video Trailer
Find a quiet corner and put on your headphones…experience the:
This week’s blog challenge is on the topic of My Bookshelf/Latest Reads. Sophia Valentine of Lifestyle and Literature created this challenge (see graphic for topics and dates if you have a blog and would like to participate. If you’re a reader, I’m sure you’ll enjoy learning about some of the great participating authors).
I actually have several bookshelves in my home. What do you expect from a librarian who is also an author? Even though I borrow many books from the library, I have a large collection of my own. My bed’s headboard actually holds some paperbacks, and there’s room in my bureau’s shelves. I also decorate my bookcases with knick knacks and curios, most of them cat-related.
Of course, my own books, Cloudy Rainbow and a Stone’s Throw, have prominent spots on my bedroom bookshelf as well as the Cat Crimes in Time anthology in which my short mystery, Stitches in Time, appears.
Mother’s Day has always been a special holiday for me even before I became a mother because my birthday lands on it about every seven years. My husband’s birthday, two days later, is the same way. I guess we were both special Mother’s Day gifts to our mothers when we were born. I arrived the day after Mother’s Day on Monday, the 9th of May. I recall my mother saying I just missed being in the newspaper as a Mother’s Day baby. My older brother tells me there was snow on the ground that day, although most of the birthdays I remember were rainy. This year my day is predicted to be nice after a week of rain.
Ruff Drafts 