holidays – Ruff Drafts

Blog Tour and Giveaway for The Great Tree: A Christmas Fable by Able Barrett

Posted on November 28, 2022November 28, 2022 by Debbie

Andrew and his older brother Nicholas were separated as children.

Nicholas had been snatched away by the Prince of Darkness, and Andrew had all but given up hope, but now their mother is ill, and he’s determined to reunite them before she passes – despite her objections.

With his dog Jenny by his side, Andrew sets out on an epic and perilous crusade well beyond his wildest imagination, facing evil protectors, giant wolves, dark magic, Sorcerers, Goblins, and even the Prince of Darkness himself.

Then there’s The Great Tree.

It’s enormous, with a presence that’s nearly impossible to describe…

And it’s clearly the heart of the kingdom of the wicked Sorcerer.

This is the setting for the adventure story that changed Christmas forever!

Young people and adults of all ages will enjoy this thrilling fable in the same way we’ve enjoyed other great Christmas stories of the past.

Jenny the dog is based on a very real Jenny, the author’s vision of a true warrior – who has her own inspiring story that he’s happy to share with anyone who asks.

EXCERPT

The room at the inn had a window that faced the Great Tree with the castle by its side. As Andrew gazed through the window at the castle, his mind wandered back to his mother, who was at home sick with the deadly fever. Although she wanted to see her lost son one more time before she passed, she insisted that Andrew not look for him, for it was much too dangerous. She made Andrew promise that he would not venture off and search for his brother. Andrew agreed not to.

Andrew was now looking for his brother, Nicholas, in defiance of his mother’s wishes. He had made up his mind that he could not live with himself if he did not try. He understood his mother’s concern, but he felt he had to do what he thought was right. He lied to his mother out of love for her and because he did not want her worrying about him on his quest. Right or wrong, it was the way he felt about it. Nicholas had been abducted by an evil Sorcerer, an evil wizard of sorts, when they were both very young. Nicholas was his older brother. Andrew had been searching for Nicholas for weeks; he was now at a small mountain village where he had hoped to find Nicholas and bring him back to his mother before she died.

With Jenny at his side, Andrew, weary from his lengthy travels, fell soundly asleep while gazing at the castle in the distance.

All proceeds from the sale of The Great Tree go to The Last Road Dog Animal Sanctuary to rescue unadoptable dogs, cats, and horses, an approved 501 (c)(3) Animal Public Welfare Charity that greatly appreciates the ongoing support of readers like you!Author Bio:

Able Barrett is a former Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney and U.S. Department of Justice Organized Crime Strike Force Prosecutor who shamelessly admits he loves animals more than most people, and he’s the manager of The Last Road Dog Animal Sanctuary.

Author Links:

Website: www.thelastroaddog.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TLRDSANCTUARY

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blkdogr4/

Purchase and Review Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BGK2ZNJF

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60553311-the-great-tree

CONTEST

For a chance to win these great giveaways, comment on this blog how an animal has been important in your life. The deadline for the contest is Thursday, December 1.

A signed copy of the book
Donation of $50 to The Last Road dog Animal Sanctuary in the winner’s name or a friend or family they wish give it in as a gift
The short video “The Journey” download
TLRD Water Bottle
Pet backpack carrier

Birthdays, Cozy Mystery, Freebies and Special Offers, holidays

Mother’s Day/Birthday Sale and Two New Book Cover Reveals

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Debbie

A Stone’s Throw, the first book of my Cobble Cove cozy mystery series, is on sale for Mother’s Day weekend, Friday, May 6 through my birthday on Monday, May 9.

Check out the reviews:

*****5-stars “A Stone’s Throw is an engaging mystery and I was hooked from page one. At first, the ease and flow of the writing and the well-rounded characters kept my interest. Soon, the suspense took over and drew me in completely.”

*****5-stars “There are twists and turns which will throw you off–the ending will astonish you!”

*****5-stars “Just loved this story and characters.”

*****5-stars “Superb read that I highly recommend. Looking forward to continuing the books.”

*****5-stars “I read this book in a little over 2 days because I had to get answers. I simply couldn’t put it down. I just know you will love this book as much as I did.”

Pick up your free copy here: mybook.to/Stonesthrow2

Keep an eye out for updates on my two upcoming new releases, Sneaky’s Supernatural Mystery and Other Cobble Cove Stories, and The Case of the Cat Crazy Lady, the first book of my Buttercup Bend cozy mystery series.

Have a great Mother’s Day weekend!

holidays

Happy New Year! Let’s Think Positive Thoughts for 2022

Posted on January 1, 2022January 1, 2022 by Debbie

I had high hopes for 2021, and things started to look better until recently when new variants of COVID appeared and are now rampant again worldwide. I don’t want to get into politics or discussions about vaccines or masks. I just want to send my wishes and prayers for a better 2022. The pandemic is only one of the issues that’s troubling the world right now. There are terrible weather-related disasters – tornados, earthquakes, forest fires and more. There are shootings and bombings, and other forms of violence. Yet there is still beauty everywhere. The sun rises and sunsets; the oceans, babies’ smiles; kittens and puppies; a really enjoyable book, TV show, or movie; chocolate. If we can focus on the positives, it will help us cope with all the negatives. Please comment on some of your favorite things that you look forward to in 2022.

Have you made any plans for next year? Travel is still questionable as are large gatherings, but maybe you have some personal goals, a project you’d like to complete, an exercise routine you’d like to start, a diet (don’t we all want to start one of those after the holidays?), or some other new hobby or endeavor. For me, I hope to write and publish more books and also work on improving my craft and growing as an author. I haven’t given up my quest to find an agent to represent my work, but I realize that takes time. I’ve decided, with the help of newsletter subscribers, to submit to one of my publishers the book that I was querying to agents for a long time. This will be the start of a new cozy mystery series featuring the owner of a pet cemetery and shelter who becomes an amateur sleuth when the “cat crazy” lady in her small town is murdered. But I’ve also just finished writing a standalone book that I want to edit and query to agents. I have several other projects that I hope to complete, if not in 2022, then another year. My focus, though, will be on my writing which means I’ll spend less time on social media.

I want to thank you all for reading this blog. I’m trying to post more book reviews of both Indie and popular titles. I’ll also continue to post my updates, sales, and other author news, but less often as I need to focus on my writing.

A reminder that the holiday sale for my four cozy mysteries is running through January 4. For more information and details on how to purchase these books, please read this blog post: https://wp.me/p6m4z7-3pA

If you’d like to be included in my newsletter and aren’t yet a subscriber, you can sign up at https://debbiedelouise.com or contact me to ask to join my list. The newsletter comes out monthly and more often for special sales and announcements. I choose a winner from my active subscribers each month for a giveaway, post photos of subscriber’s pets, and feature character spotlights from my books.

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy 2022. Think positive, keep your goals in mind, be thankful for your friends, loved ones, and pets . . . and smile.

Anthology, holidays

Review: ‘Tis the Seasons: Poems for Your Holiday Spirit edited by J.K. Larkin

Posted on November 22, 2021 by Debbie

*****5 stars

This holiday poetry anthology is part of the Red Penguin collection of books edited by J.K. Larkin. It contains 36 poems by various authors that reflect the wonder, joy, and nostalgia of the holiday season. Some poems are funny; others are sad, but they all deal with holiday feelings and experiences.

Some of my favorite poems include David Lange’s “Needle in the Corner,” a poem with a sad twist; J.S. Manino’s “Thrill Before Christmas” which is a clever takeoff of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” song; Lisa Diaz Meyer’s “Merry Christmas Eve (Grandpa’s Walk); Linda Trott Dickman’s “Still Proceeding”; the funny “A Kiss Under the Mistletoe” by Gary S. Watkins; and two poems that deal with the pandemic: “A Pandemic Christmas” by Meldoy Lipford and “Bright Nights” by Kathryn Sadakierski. My short poem “Advent” is also featured.

I can heartily recommend this collection to get you into the holiday spirit. It’s available as a paperback or eBook and also free for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers. Pick up a copy at https://amzn.to/30QiuvO.

Birthdays, Freebies and Special Offers, holidays

Mother’s Day/Birthday Sale

Posted on May 7, 2021 by Debbie

It happens every 7 years. My birthday falls on Mother’s Day. 2021 is one of those years. To celebrate my joint Mother’s Day birthday, I’m offering two of my books free and one at the special sale price of 99 cent. All 3 books will be on sale from May 7 to May 10.

Widowed librarian Alicia Fairmont needs answers…

After her husband is killed in a hit and run accident, Alicia travels upstate to his hometown of Cobble Cove, New York. She hopes to locate his estranged family and shed light on his mysterious past. Anticipating staying only a weekend, her visit is extended when she accepts a job at the town’s library.

Secrets stretch decades into the past…

Assisted by handsome newspaper publisher and aspiring novelist, John McKinney, Alicia discovers a connection between her absent in-laws and a secret John’s father has kept for over sixty years. Her investigation is interrupted when she receives word her house has burned and arson is suspected, sending her rushing back to Long Island, accompanied by John.

Back in Cobble Cove, cryptic clues are uncovered…

When Alicia returns, she finds a strange diary, confiscated letters, and a digital audio device containing a recording made the day her husband was killed. Anonymous notes warn Alicia to leave town, but she can’t turn her back on the mystery—or her attraction to John. As the pieces fall into place, evidence points to John’s involvement in her husband’s accident. The past and present threaten to collide, and Alicia confronts her fears…

Has she fallen in love with her husband’s killer?

Get your free book here:
mybook.to/Stonesthrow2

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?

Get this book on sale here:
mybook.to/CobbleCove2

Someone is strangling disabled people in the small town of Baxter, Connecticut. Detective Courtney Lang and her ex-partner and ex-lover, wheelchair-bound Bill Thompson, are paired up again and put in charge of the investigation. During the course of their search, Courtney uncovers information that points toward a connection between the murders and an unsolved series of muggings by a masked man, the same man who shot and disabled Bill a year ago on the night he proposed marriage to her.

Complicating matters for Courtney is her guilt about Thompson’s shooting, her affair with her new partner, Mark Farrell, and her unresolved feelings over the deaths of her mother and sister who perished in a fire while she was away from home.

As the deaths accrue and the “Handicapped Strangler” as the killer is coined by the press continues to rampage the town adding victims of different ages, sex, and disabilities to the murder count, Courtney discovers a clue that could crack open the case but may put her and Bill’s life in jeopardy.
Get this book on sale here:
mybook.to/RTD

Thanks to those who followed the blog tour for TIME’S RELATIVE, my new time-travel thriller. The cover has been chosen by AllAuthor to run in the May Cover of the Month Contest. Voting to include it in the second round ends on May 7. If you like this cover and think it could be a winner, please vote here: https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/11629/

holidays, Romances

Twice the Love with Two Free Romances for Valentine’s Day Weekend

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Debbie

Do you enjoy reading romances in February? I have two love stories on sale this weekend to help you celebrate Valentine’s Day. My contemporary romance, Saving Snow White, and my historical romance, the Seashell and the Stone, are both free all weekend. The Seashell and the Stone is free through Monday, February 15. Saving Snow White is free through Tuesday, February 16.

Purchase link: http://mybook.to/Seashell

Preparing for her wedding day at Seashells Inn, the Victorian Cape May Inn that has been in her family for generations, Ginny Dixon reads her great-great grandmother’s diary and discovers a secret going back to the 1880’s that may impact her future.

Purchase Link: http://mybook.to/savingsnowwhite

A summer reunion ignites romance.

Amy Palmer, home from veterinary school on summer break, is reunited with her best friend, Tom Tremont, when the two of them end up working as assistants at the local veterinary clinic. Amy who once hoped for more than friendship with Tom, discovers that he now has a girlfriend. However, on the day of the summer Solstice, a special cat brings them together in a new way.

Besides my free books, I’d like to recommend some of my favorite romance reads that should be available at your local library.

The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (historical romance)

Time and Again by Jack Finney (time-travel romance)

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes (contemporary romance)

The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux (Paranormal romance)

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (time-travel romance)

While I haven’t read Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books, I’m currently watching the series on Netflix and enjoying it very much. I also haven’t had the pleasure of reading Debbie Macomber’s sweet romances, but I know that they are popular, as well as Danielle Steel’s romances.

holidays, New Year's

Welcoming 2021 with Hopes, Dreams, and Goals

Posted on January 1, 2021January 25, 2021 by Debbie

This has been a tough year, and one that we were all glad to see end.

In my holiday blog post (https://wp.me/p6m4z7-2W6) I spoke about some challenges and triumphs I’ve encountered this past year. For New Year’s, I’d like to share my goals for 2021 and would love to hear yours. Goals are hopes and dreams put into action and are more important than resolutions because they’re within our control. Here are my top 3:

Goal 1: Diet and Exercise:

I’ve been on the Jenny Craig diet for several years now and have been exercising daily with Leslie Sansone’s Walk-at-Home videos; and, although I’m over 70 pounds lower than when I started, I’d still like to lose at least 15 pounds more. The holidays are a tough time to diet, and I’m a big snacker. I enjoy sweets especially chocolates. While I don’t expect to lose much over the winter, I’ve signed up for a virtual fitness challenge from a company called Run the Edge. My challenge, Run the Year 2021, is a year-long exercise challenge beginning January 1st where participants can run, walk, or step their way to a goal they set from 1,000 to 2021 “miles.” In December I’d also participated in the Run from 2020–Zoom into 2021 Challenge to run/walk 100 miles until January 1st. I came in 4th place out of 156 virtual participants with 131.01 miles walked. It’s a great motivation to keep fit.

Goal 2: Writing Projects

I have a ton of writing projects in various stages of development. I’ve recently resurrected a time-travel novel that I would like to edit and publish. I’m also considering a sequel to Sea Scope which was so well received and won a silver medal from Reader’s Favorite and placed as a finalist in TopShelf Magazine’s 2020 Awards contest (the eBook is on sale for 99 cents until January 3). Of course, I have plans for a 6th Cobble Cove cozy mystery, although I may publish a spring Sneaky the Library Cat story first. I may also try my hand at another non-fiction book after Pet Posts: The Cat Chats. I have an idea for this but will keep it to myself for now, although I can say that it will involve cats.

Goal 3: Continuing Education

As a librarian and an author, I know the value of lifetime learning. I’m hoping to take more online writing courses and attend virtual and, if available, in-person conferences. In addition, I’ll be leading a Zoom writing group for my library called First Draft Writer’s Club that kicks off this January and a virtual book club called Fun with Fiction that will feature monthly reading themes. I plan to share information from those groups in upcoming posts. In February, Long Island University’s Alumni Association, has asked me to host a one-hour zoom writing workshop, From Blogs to Books: Publishing for Pleasure or Profit, where I’ll be discussing various types of writing and publishing. The writing group, book club, and workshop will be open to all but will require registration. I’ll post details about them in a future blog and share on my Facebook author page.

Thank you all for your support this year. I wish you a happy, safe, and healthy New Year, and best wishes for accomplishing all your goals for 2021.

holidays, New Releases

Happy Holidays and Wishes for a Better New Year

Posted on December 20, 2020January 17, 2021 by Debbie

This has been a tough year. As some of you know, I lost a long-time friend and a sweet, elderly homebound patron to COVID. I know some of you have also lost friends, relatives, and co-workers. We’ve all also lost many other things — group gatherings, family events, businesses that have closed, etc. Hope is on the horizon in the form of a vaccine, but it may take a while before the effects are evident. In the meantime, we hope and pray that 2021 is better.

Although we’ve lost a lot, we have gained some things. We’ve gained knowledge of how to connect online through programs such as Zoom, we’ve found ways to occupy ourselves during lockdown and make the most of a bad situation. Personally, I’ve been lucky that my husband, daughter, and I have stayed safe. I’ve published 3 books this year, Memory Makers, No Gravestone Unturned (Cobble Cove #5), and Pet Posts: The Cat Chats.

My short science fiction stories, “The Felindae Mission” and “Mirror Image” appeared in the Red Penguin Collection, What Lies Below.

I had 3 poems published in anthologies: “Window Cats” in the 2020 Nassau County Voices in Verse; “Poetry Contest” in the 2020 Bard’s Annual; and “Advent” in the ‘Tis the Seasons anthology published by Red Penguin Books.

In 2020, I also won two awards – the Cat Writers’ Association’s Muse Medallion for my eBook, Sneaky’s Christmas Mystery (on sale for 99 cents through the end of December), and a 5-star silver medal from Readers Favorite for my psychological mystery, Sea Scope.

One thing that has kept me sane through these difficult times has been my family, pets, and the support of fellow authors and readers. I wish you all a happy and healthy holiday and much brighter days in the New Year.

holidays

My Thankful Post to Readers, Fellow Writers, Family, and Friends

Posted on November 26, 2020 by Debbie

This has been a tough year and one that’s hard to find things to be thankful for, but if you reflect on the people in your life, I’m sure you’ll find many. I’m thankful for my husband, daughter, and cats, my relatives, friends, and co-workers at the library, my church, neighbors, and community, my readers, social media followers, my publishers, and fellow authors, my doctors, dentist, and veterinarian. The authors whose books I enjoy reading, the actors whose shows I like watching, the sunrise and sunset, nature, God, and all the animals and wildlife that inhabit the Earth.

While I’m thankful for the things I have and the people I know, I’m also thankful for the things I had and the people I knew. I’m thankful for my parents who are gone but who loved, raised, and taught me how to treat and care for others and for all the pets I lost through the years who brought me so much joy while they were part of my life. I’m thankful for a friend I lost from COVID this year who inspired me by her faith.

Thanksgiving isn’t about Pilgrims and Indians dining together or stuffing yourself on turkey and sides. It’s about giving thanks for those people and things you take for granted every day or don’t realize the value of. It’s also about being the person others are thankful for knowing and doing the things that people are thankful you do.

I wish you all a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving. While this may not be the year you travel to relatives or have a large family gathering, it can still be a year full of giving thanks.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Celebrating Christmas with my Characters, Cozy Mysteries, Freebies and Special Offers, holidays

3 FREE Books to Celebrate Christmas in July

Posted on July 17, 2020July 17, 2020 by Debbie

Stay cool and enjoy 3 Free holiday and winter eBooks.

(Free July 17 – 21)

Celebrating Christmas with My Characters

The characters from my 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 and second book of the series.