Even if you’re not Irish, I’d like to give you a St. Patrick’s Day gift. My cozy mystery story, Barking Up the Wrong Tree, is free today, March 17, through the weekend. Pick up your copy here: mybook.to/BarkTree
Would you like to help support a good cause? Red Penguin Books is publishing “Where Flowers Bloom: Poems and Essays of Strength, Hope, and Resilience,” to raise funds to aid the Ukraine people. They’re seeking submissions until March 25 and also have a Kickstarter campaign.
Thanks to those who voted for Hermione in America’s Favorite Pet Contest. She’s now #1 in her group but still needs more votes until 6 PM PDT time on March 17 to stay in the contest and enter the quarter finals.
You can vote once each day for free or buy votes that raise funds for the PAWS Foundation to help pets. Please make St. Patrick’s Day and St. Gertrude’s Day (Saint of Cats) lucky for Miss Hermione on March 17.
For less than a dollar, you can travel through time with a librarian, computer programmer, detective, and two cats. Book your trip here by February 27: http://mybook.to/timesrelative
It’s the fall of 1998, and librarian Samantha Stewart is looking for a new job. After seeing an ad for a high-paying position at a company called Virtual Software that entails research and travel, Sam investigates the company and learns that its president has gone missing, and that it’s currently being run by the vice-president Greg Parsons.
Before Sam makes it to the interview, she’s visited by a strange woman who introduces herself as Jane Oldsfield: a time traveler whose mission Greg Parsons is trying to prevent.
Sam ignores the woman and goes on the job interview anyway. Soon, she finds herself involved not only with Greg Parsons, but also Philip Montmart, a chain-smoking detective with a vendetta for his wife’s killer, and the time-traveling Oldsfield and her feline accomplice.
Witnessing world events that have yet to happen in her lifetime, including 9/11, Hurricane Sandy, Y2K hysteria and the COVID pandemic, can Samantha figure out Oldsfield’s plans?
Read what reviewers are saying:
*****Prepare yourself for a thrilling roller coaster ride of a story that will make you hold your breath as you flip the pages as fast as you can read them. Loved it!!
*****I loved the characters in this book.
*****A very fun, fast-moving story. I loved the author’s use of time-travel and “rules”, very original. Being an animal lover, I really liked the cats in the story. A good read!
Two of my books are on sale from Friday, February 11. to Monday, February 15. My romantic comedy novella, When Jack Trumps Ace, and my cozy mystery, Love on the Rocks, are only 99 cents on these dates.Purchase Link: mybook.to/Jackebook
Jackie Riordan’s in trouble . . .
When her jewel-thief father is caught in the middle of a heist, Jackie makes her getaway to his ex-jail pal’s apartment. a man called Ace, who lives in an upscale neighborhood of Chicago. What she doesn’t count on is falling in love with him and becoming his partner in crime. She also doesn’t expect to compete with Ace’s old flame or deal with his cat Roxie who causes her allergy attacks.
All bets are off . . .
After Jackie discovers clues left by her father which lead her to a treasure that Ace may have stolen, she contemplates her next move. Should she trust Ace and believe her father gave him the money, or head home to her mother, a religious hypocrite who would have no qualms about ratting out her own daughter to the cops?
Things that sparkle aren’t always Diamonds . . .
Before Jackie can decide who the good guys really are, she finds herself atop the Willis Tower carrying her father’s ashes in her pocket and aiding Ace in the largest jewelry heist of his life. Things go terribly wrong, and Jackie’s only choice seems to be to walk away from Ace or face imprisonment.
It’s February in the small town of Cobble Cove. Love is in the air . . . but so is murder!
When Alicia helps plan a Valentine’s Day Party at the Cobble Cove library that also includes a surprise for her newlywed friend, Gilly, things go wrong when a mysterious box of chocolates addressed to the director turns out laced with poison.
Clues Lead to A Dead Suspect
Although Alicia promised John she’ll no longer meddle in crime investigations, she and Gilly set out to find the person threatening Sheila who murdered the courier of the deadly candy. The three people they suspect include the professor from California who’s been romancing Sheila while she assists him with research for his book; the obnoxious patron Rhonda Kleisman who threw coffee at the director after refusing to pay for a damaged book; and a visiting widow staying at Gilly’s inn who’s unnaturally curious about Sheila and earns the nickname of Madame Defarge for her interest in knitting.
New Cat in Town
While Alicia and Gilly are trying to solve this new Cobble Cove mystery, Sneaky is introduced to Gilly’s new kitten, Kittykai, a calico she brought home from her honeymoon in Hawaii. It’s not like at first sight, but the two cats eventually become friends. They also both play a part in foiling the killer’s murder attempts, but will Alicia and Sheila survive unscathed?
My time-travel novel, Time’s Relative, is now available on audio. A limited number of free copies are available. Contact me for information.
I’m honored to be part of Solstice Publishing’s Twelve Days of Christmas Book Sale. Four of my holiday-themed cozy mysteries are on sale throughJanuary 4. in a previous post, I said that these books were discounted only on a certain day during the promotion. I’m sorry for the confusion. You can still get a copy of the following 4 books for 99 cents until January 5.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place .
Librarian Alicia McKinney has put the past behind her…
Two years ago, Alicia discovered both a terrible truth and lasting love with John McKinney in the small town of Cobble Cove, New York. Now a busy mother of twin babies and co-author of a mystery series, Alicia couldn’t be happier.
Alicia’s contentment and safety are challenged…
Walking home alone from the library, Alicia senses someone following her, and on more than one occasion, she believes she is being watched. Does she have a stalker? When the local gift shop is burglarized, the troubling event causes unrest among Alicia and the residents of the quiet town.
John and Alicia receive an offer they can’t refuse…When John’s sister offers to babysit while she and John take a much-needed vacation in New York City, Alicia is reluctant to leave her children because of the disturbances in Cobble Cove. John assures her the town is safe in the hands of Sheriff-elect Ramsay. Although Alicia’s experience with and dislike of the former Long Island detective don’t alleviate her concern, she and John take their trip.
Alicia faces her worst nightmare…
The McKinneys’ vacation is cut short when they learn their babies have been kidnapped and John’s sister shot. Alicia and John’s situation puts them between a rock and a hard place when the main suspect is found dead before the ransom is paid. In order to save their children, the McKinneys race against the clock to solve a mystery more puzzling than those found in their own books. Can they do it before time runs out?
The characters from my Cobble Cove cozy mysteries gather in the Cobble Cove library to celebrate the holidays. Each character receives a gift from me, the author, and Alicia, the main character, reads some excerpts from the first and second books in the series.
Richard Bright is a man with a plan. He’s an inventor who he wants to kill his wife with one of his inventions. He hopes to put his plan into effect on Christmas, but his invention isn’t quite perfected. Dealing with his wife isn’t an option, nor her two rambunctious kittens, Harry and Hermione. What sweetens the pot is her large inheritance and a pretty young woman who is now working at his shop. Will Richard’s plan to have his special gift ready in time pan out, or will it fizzle with some of his other unfinished projects?
Last but not least, my award-winning cozy, Sneaky’s Christmas Mystery
Another death has occurred in Cobble Cove near the holidays. This time, it’s the owner of the new pet store in town who was felled by a case of cat food that crushed his skull. Was it an accident, or murder? While the townspeople including the sheriff are divided in their opinions, Sneaky and Kittykai, the library and inn cats, sniff out the truth.
I’m honored to be part of Solstice Publishing’s Twelve Days of Christmas Book Sale. Four of my holiday-themed cozy mysteries are on sale for one-day only.
On Christmas, December 25, you can get a copy of Between a Rock and a Hard Place for 99 cents.
It’s the fall of 1998, and librarian Samantha Stewart is looking for a new job. After seeing an ad for a high-paying position at a company called Virtual Software that entails research and travel, Sam investigates the company and learns that its president has gone missing, and that it’s currently being run by the vice-president Greg Parsons.
Before Sam makes it to the interview, she’s visited by a strange woman who introduces herself as Jane Oldsfield: a time traveler whose mission Greg Parsons is trying to prevent.
Sam ignores the woman and goes on the job interview anyway. Soon, she finds herself involved not only with Greg Parsons, but also Philip Montmart, a chain-smoking detective with a vendetta for his wife’s killer, and the time-traveling Oldsfield and her feline accomplice.
Witnessing world events that have yet to happen in her lifetime, including 9/11, Hurricane Sandy, Y2K hysteria and the COVID pandemic, can Samantha figure out Oldsfield’s plans?
Read what reviewers are saying:
*****Prepare yourself for a thrilling roller coaster ride of a story that will make you hold your breath as you flip the pages as fast as you can read them. Loved it!!
As I mentioned in my December Author News, two of my cozy mystery eBooks are free Friday, December 3 through Monday, December 6.
Sneaky’s Christmas Mystery won the coveted Muse Medallion from the Cat Writers’ Association.
Another death has occurred in Cobble Cove near the holidays. This time, it’s the owner of the new pet store in town who was felled by a case of cat food that crushed his skull. Was it an accident, or murder? While the townspeople including the sheriff are divided in their opinions, Sneaky and Kittykai, the library and inn cats, sniff out the truth.
Here are some reviews:
SHORT AND SWEET
“A quick coffee break read that has you catching up not only on the humans but also the animal residents in a small town. The death of a new owner of a pet shop has divided the town. Was it an accident or was it murder?”
Celebrating Christmas with My Characters was the first Cobble Cove story. It introduces the characters from the first two books through the gifts they give their author (me).
The characters from Debbie De Louise’s Cobble Cove cozy mysteries gather in the Cobble Cove library to celebrate the holidays. Each character receives a gift from the author, and Alicia, the main character, reads some excerpts from the first book, A Stone’s Throw, and the new release, Between a Rock and a Hard Place.
Here are some reviews:
WHAT AN INTERESTING WAY TO INTRODUCE YOUR BOOKS! NOW I WANT TO READ THEM ALL!
“This short novel has served its purpose, with me at least. I now want to read these books in their entirety!”
FIVE STARS
“Love this author…another of her winning novels!”
Giveaway Link:
I hope you enjoy both of these seasonal stories and wish you all a very Happy and Healthy Holiday.
If eBooks aren’t your thing or you’re looking for print copies to give as gifts this season, I have a dozen suggestions. Some of these books are available in large print and hardcover, as well as paperback. I’ve included a short description of each with purchase links to Amazon and Bookshop.org that supports Indie Bookstores. Bookshop.org also has free shipping through Monday, November 29.
Cobble Cove Cozy Mystery Series: A Stone’s Throw, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Written in Stone,Love on the Rocks,, and No Gravestone Unturned.
Follow the adventures of Alicia, the librarian and Sneaky the library cat in the small, fictional upstate New York town of Cobble Cove, New York.
Individual titles are also available on Bookshop.org
My romance novella, When Jack Trumps Ace, makes a thoughtful gift for those who enjoy love stories featuring jewel thieves, a scavenger hunt, and a cat.
Reason to Die is my mystery thriller with cozy elements. It features a female detective, a serial killer of handicapped people in a small town, and a parrot.
My psychological mystery, Sea Scope, has won several awards, including a silver medal from Readers’ Favorites. It involves a murder near a lighthouse, family secrets, and features alternating timelines.
Memory Makersinvolves the clinical trial of a new memory drug and the woman who volunteers for it hoping to recall the face of the man who killed her sister.
Time’s Relativeis a time-travel tale that takes place in 1998. The main character is a librarian who accepts a job that turns out to allow her to travel to the past and future where she encounters Y2K, 9/11, and the COVID pandemic.
Meows and Purrs is a collection of cat poems that were inspired by the felines I’ve known and loved all my life. Some poems are funny; some are sad, but they all capture the beauty and intelligence of these creatures. A great gift for cat and poetry lovers.
I have three books on sale this December. My award-winning eBook, Sneaky’s Christmas Mystery and Celebrating Christmas with My Characters, the first Cobble Cove story are both free on Amazon from December 3 through December 6.
Also on sale for 99 cents rom December 17-21 is the eBook of my time-travel mystery, Time’s Relative. Please note that the sale for this book may not be posted until noon EST on the first day of the sale.
I’m proud to announce that my publisher, Next Chapter, will be reprinting my self-published cat book, Pet Posts: The Cat Chats. This book will soon be available in paperback, hardcover, large print, eBook, and on audio.
Also, in case you missed it, I appeared on Stephanie Larkin’s TV show, Between the Covers, with two other authors. I talk about my latest releases and read two poems from my collection of cat poetry.
In January, I’ll be sharing my writing and publishing plans for 2022. There will be a survey regarding this in my December newsletter, which will be emailed on December 1. Those who complete the survey will be eligible for a $10 gift card. If you’re not already a subscriber, you can sign up at https://debbiedelouise.com. Even if you don’t win the survey contest, I select a winner each month for a surprise gift from my active subscribers.
I’m proud to announce that the 5th book in my Cobble Cove story series has released today. Barking Up the Wrong Treefeatures the same characters from my cozy mystery series and a new mystery. This one involves a missing boy and a murdered teacher. It takes place in March 2020 and includes details about the COVID-19 pandemic. Fido, the Golden Retriever, is center stage in this story along with his cat character co-stars Sneaky, the library cat and KittyKai the calico inn cat. It’s available as an eBook.
My Cobble Cove Halloween cozy mystery, No Gravestone Unturned, is on sale for 99 cents through November 1. It’s a great book to read over the Halloween weekend featuring Sneaky, the library cat, and his special gal pal, KittyKai, the calico inn cat, along with special guest cat, Salem. This book features a “ghost” and a murder in a cemetery.
Another new release perfect for the Halloween season, Clues and Culprits, by the writers in the Indie Authors Group, is an anthology of mystery stories. It includes my story, “A Piece of the Pie.”
Pets on the Prowl, the forthcoming anthology from the Red Penguin Collection will feature my short story, “Murder Gone A-Stray.” This book will be available in print and as an eBook. It will also be free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Meows and Purrs, my collection of cat poems based on all the cats I’ve known and loved, is now available as in audio. Codes are still available for free copies. If you’re interested, please contact me at debbiewriter@yahoo.com asap and indicate if you’re a U.S. or U.K. reader.
On Friday, October 29, I’ll be taking over on the Cozy Mystery Village Facebook page from 1-2 pm EST. at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2662518460643435
There will be prizes, contests, and giveaways. Please drop by and join us.
My cat poetry book, Meows and Purrs: A Collection of Cat Poems, is on sale for 99 cents through October 28. The poems are inspired by my current and past cats. Some are funny; others are sad, but all reflect the beauty, intelligence, and special characteristics of these animals. Along with the poems, I’ve included photos and notes about the cats.
In addition to the eBook sale, I have some limited coupon codes for the free audiobook version. If you’d like one, send an email to me at debbiewriter@yahoo.com with the subject line: “Free Audiobook Offer” and let me know if you are from the U.S. or U.K.
Hermione enjoyed checking out the poem dedicated to her, “I Know a Calico.”
I know a calico who crosses her paws kneads soft blankets, pillows, and throws.
I know a calico with pretty green eyes a tri-color tail and the sweetest cry.
I know a calico who plays with toy coils bats them under chairs and around the floor.
I know a calico who purrs when you pet her perches in high places tops of closets and refrigerators.
I know a calico Who’s smart and wise when you take her photo, she closes her eyes.
I know a calico who growls at strangers by the door chatters when she hears birds call.
I know a calico with white boots and gloves a precious cat anyone would love.
I know a calico who deserves a poem She’s the one who lives in my home.
If you like cats and poems, this is a great collection for you and also makes a nice gift for a feline loving friend. For less than a dollar, you can’t go wrong. Pick up a copy at: http://mybook.to/mapddl
Even if you’re not Irish, I’d like to give you a St. Patrick’s Day gift. My cozy mystery story, Barking Up the Wrong Tree, is free today, March 17, through the weekend. Pick up your copy here: mybook.to/BarkTree
Ruff Drafts 