Category: New Releases

Posted in Dogs, New Releases, Spotlight

Spotlight for How to Train Your Hooman: A Field Guide by Finn the Dog and Gwen Romack

Posted on by Debbie

Rescue dog shares his best tips for training ‘hoomans’ in hilarious new book 

From the author of the beloved series, The Finn Chronicles, comes a new book that will make a wonderful gift for your Valentine, Mother’s Day or any dog-lover in your life.

Finn’s description starts, “Dog friends, do you feel like your hoomans aren’t giving you the five-star service you deserve? This guide is for all the dogs out there wishing your hoomans would serve you better. Improve your standard of living today with How to Train your Hooman, a field guide. Pawket-sized for doggos on the go and in the field and chock-full of proven strategies for getting your hooman to do what you want when you want it! This handy guide covers things like getting off on the right paw with your new hooman, a hooman user’s guide, sleeping arrangements, appropriate training strategies, retaliation techniques, and more!”

Using the same sarcastic wit from his other books, Finn shares all he’s learned from training his difficult but lovable rescue hoomans in this irreverent and hilarious training guide. If you’ve ever been owned by a dog, you’ll relate to this book, laugh like crazy and be captivated by its charms.

Even the illustrations are funny! Here’s an example from his chapter on getting your “hooman” to provide effective “walkies”

Get it now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or through most indie bookstores. You can also order a custom pawtographed copy on Finn’s website. www.thefinnchronicles.com

This would make a lovely gift for the spring holidays! You can also follow Finn on his social media to keep the fun going!

About the Author:

This is Finn and Gwen’s third book together. Finn’s dutiful transcriber, Gwen Romack (aka The Squishy One), is a Maryland native and proud Delaware resident, avid dog lover, and rescue volunteer. Gwen and her husband Evan (aka The Hairy One) initially agreed to foster Finn to work on some behavior issues and get him ready for a furever family. She began posting Finn’s weekly updates on social media as a way to help prospective adopters fall in love with Finn. But it became clear pretty quickly that Finn was already home. The posts had become so popular that she decided to continue sharing Finn’s view of life as a dog rescuing his difficult hoomans. When her corporate job as an ethics, compliance and anti-corruption officer was eliminated in the early days of the COVID pandemic, Gwen decided it was time to develop Finn’s funny updates into books for everyone to enjoy.

Since the first book, The Finn Chronicles: Year One, was published in July 2020, Finn has brought laughter and joy to fans in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, Argentina, Cambodia, the Philippines, Brazil and even the Swiss Alps. The Finn Chronicles: Year Two followed shortly after and both books reached best-seller status and hot new release status on Amazon’s charts. His fans also enjoy his daily antics through social media.

As Finn’s popularity grew and the books took off, Finn’s fans started asking for more. Finn’s latest book is a “How to Train Your Hooman, a field guide” for dogs everywhere trying to train and manage their hoomans. It’s full of proven strategies and techniques for wrangling hoomans to do what dogs want! Anyone who’s ever been owned by a dog will relate and laugh out loud.

Finn and Gwen also spend time volunteering in schools by offering interactive and engaging Zoom guest-teaching sessions. The students learn about developing a character’s persona, inspirational child authors, how to write and publish a book, how to do a wiggle-butt dance break, and more. Learn more at: www.thefinnchronicles.com  and https://linktr.ee/gwenromack

Also available by Finn and Gwen, the two books in The Finn Chronicles series.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3fOCKA8

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/317DFHE

Posted in Blog Tour, Interview, New Releases

Interview of V.M. Burns and Spotlight for her new release, A Tourist’s Guide to Murder

Posted on by Debbie

I’d like to welcome V. M. Burns (Valerie Burns) from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Ruff Drafts.

How long have you been published Valerie and what titles and/or series have you published and with which publisher? Have you self-published any titles? Please give details.

My first book, The Plot is Murder was published in 2017. I have 3 series:

Mystery Bookshop Mystery Series, Kensington

  The Plot is Murder, November 2017

  Read Herring Hunt, April 2018

  The Novel Art of Murder, November 2018

  Wed, Read, & Dead, April 2019

  Bookmarked for Murder, November 2019

  A Tourist’s Guide to Murder, January 2020

 

RJ Franklin Mystery Series, Camel Press

  Travellin’ Shoes, July 2018

  Motherless Child, September 2019

  Steal Away, October 2020

 

A Dog Club Mystery Series, Lyrical

  In the Dog House, August 2018

  The Puppy Who Knew Too Much, February 2019

  Bark if it’s Murder, August 2019

  Paw and Order, August 2020

  Sit, Stay, Slay, December 2020

Congratulations! That’s quite a list.  Tell us a little bit about your books —  any upcoming releases or your current work-in-progress.

I write cozy mysteries. My Mystery Bookshop Mystery Series is set in Southwestern Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan. The protagonist, Samantha Washington was a high school English teacher who dreamed of quitting her job and opening a mystery bookshop. After her husband dies, she sells her house and takes the insurance money and follows their shared dream. However, owning a mystery bookshop wasn’t Sam’s only dream. She also dreamed of writing British historic cozy mysteries. This series is unique in that it features two mysteries in each book. Readers get to solve the contemporary mystery Sam is living through, and the British historic cozy that she is writing.

That sounds great. I’m also a cozy mystery writer of the Cobble Cove mystery series featuring a librarian and a library cat, but I also write standalones and other genres.

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?

As a writer, I want to create entertaining, well-written mysteries that readers will enjoy. I’m not perfect and I’m constantly working to improve my craft and become a better writer. One of the best things that I have done to achieve my goal was getting my Masters in Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. The program helped me tremendously, but I know that I have much more to learn. So, I continue to take seminars, workshops, and courses to learn as much as I can. I read books on craft, as well as mysteries by other authors. Finally, I challenge myself in various ways to stretch and try new techniques. I hope to get better with each book I write.

Those are excellent goals. I agree that as writers, we need to keep learning, writing, and improving.

What type of reader are you hoping to attract?  Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?

I think readers who like puzzles will enjoy cozy mysteries. Basically, that’s what cozy mysteries are. The reader is reading a story. Throughout the story, the author is dropping clues to help solve the puzzle to figure out whodunit. The author is also leaving red herrings (false clues) which may throw you off track. It’s up to the reader to put the pieces together and figure out whodunit by the end of the book. Cozy mysteries are considered “clean mysteries,” with no sex, bad words, and no graphic violence. Therefore, they appeal to people from all age groups.

Very true. Cozies have a wide audience.

What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?

Keep writing and don’t give up. Getting published rarely happens quickly. The road to publication is long, bumpy, and filled with potholes, roadblocks, dead ends, and detours. However, if you stay the course and don’t give up, then you will reach the end.

Perfect advice. Writers need to be persistent and a little stubborn to reach their goals. I’m still trying to find an agent as I continue to write and publish books and stories.

What particular challenges and struggles did you face before first becoming published?

I think the biggest challenge I faced before I was published was in figuring out the publishing maze. Most publishers won’t accept manuscripts which aren’t submitted by an agent. Finding an agent can be like you’re on the quest to find the Holy Grail. Each agent wants something different (ie 10 pages and a synopsis, first 3 chapters, first 50 pages, first 50 pages and a plot summary, etc.). After you navigate the maze and send the query, then the waiting game starts. It can take months before you receive a rejection with no idea why. It was a long process for me, but perseverance paid off in the end.

I’ve experienced that myself and am still hoping my perseverance pays off with signing for an agent in the future.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?

I’m a member of Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime.

Great groups. I’m also a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.

What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

As you might guess from my book covers, I’m heavily involved with dogs. When I was younger, I used to compete with my poodles (Coco and Cash) in canine obedience and agility. Both of my dogs were registered with Therapy Dogs International and made monthly visits to nursing homes and hospitals. I also enjoy baking and eating. And, I love reading cozy mysteries.

That’s nice that your dogs are therapy dogs. My parents had poodles when I was young, and they also had German Shepherds when I was growing up along with lots of cats, my favorite pets. I currently have 3 cats whom I’ve featured in my writing. I enjoy including both cats and dogs in my books and stories.

What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?

I love writing, but there are a lot of components to being an author which don’t involve writing and there doesn’t seem to be a guide on how or what to do. My biggest challenge is in staying on top of my social media feeds. I struggle with how to engage with readers on Twitter and Instagram (and all of the other forms of social media). However, I believe you can teach an old dog new tricks, so I’m working on it.

LOL. You’re right on target with that. Working full time as a librarian, I find it difficult to juggle all the non-writing parts of being an author and still have time to write, but I think I’m getting a handle on it by prioritizing duties and keeping a strict calendar.

What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?

I love reading cozies and as a writer, I enjoy creating them. I love putting clues and red herrings together and trying to weave a plot that will (hopefully) entertain and intrigue the reader.

It’s true that it’s beneficial to write what you know and what you enjoy reading because that will be attractive to readers who like the same types of stories.

Can you share a short excerpt from your latest title or upcoming release?

“Attention.” I clinked my knife against my glass. “Attention.” Unfortunately, no one listened, and the chatter got louder rather than softer.

My sister Jenna Rutherford leaned close and whispered into my ear, “Does the phrase ‘herding cats’ mean anything to you?”

I glanced down the table. My boyfriend, Frank Patterson, had reserved space for us in the upper level of his restaurant. Initially, I attributed the upper area seating to the fact that it was Friday night and the lower level of the restaurant and bar was full, so he was providing us space in the not-quite-open-to-the-public section to give us a quiet place to dine. However, after watching and listening, I suspected the seating arrangements had more to do with preserving the sanity of his paying customers.

Thanks for sharing an interesting excerpt. Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you or your books?

When an author is traditionally published, they don’t have control over many aspects of the publishing process (eg book prices, release dates, alternate formats). Most of those decisions are made by the publisher, not the author. However, I have been pleased that my publisher, Kensington Press, has made all of the books in my Mystery Bookshop series available in large print and all of the books in the Dog Club series are available in audiobook format. Making books available in multiple formats is more than a personal preference or convenience. It is vitally important for visually impaired book lovers to have access to books.

Those are good points. I currently publish with two Indie publishers who publish my books in various formats from eBook and paperbacks to large type, audio, and hardcover.

Please list your social media links, website, blog, etc.

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/v-m-burns

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

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

Twitter:https://twitter.com/vmburns

Website:  vmburns.com

Thanks so much for the interview, Valerie. I’m sharing your new release’s blog tour and giveaway below.


A Tourist’s Guide to Murder (Mystery Bookshop)
by V.M. Burns

About A Tourist’s Guide to Murder


A Tourist’s Guide to Murder (Mystery Bookshop)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Publisher: Kensington (January 26, 2021)
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1496728955
ISBN-13: 978-1496728951]
Digital ASIN: B087YRY1S4

While visiting the land of Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes, bookstore owner and amateur sleuth Samantha Washington finds herself on a tragical mystery tour . . .

Sam joins Nana Jo and her Shady Acres Retirement Village friends Irma, Dorothy, and Ruby Mae on a weeklong trip to London, England, to experience the Peabody Mystery Lovers Tour. The chance to see the sights and walk the streets that inspired Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle is a dream come true for Sam—and a perfect way to celebrate her new publishing contract as a mystery author.

But between visits to Jack the Ripper’s Whitechapel district and 221B Baker Street, Major Horace Peabody is found dead, supposedly of natural causes. Despite his employer’s unfortunate demise, the tour guide insists on keeping calm and carrying on—until another tourist on their trip also dies under mysterious circumstances. Now it’s up to Sam and the Shady Acres ladies to mix and mingle among their fellow mystery lovers, find a motive, and turn up a murderer . . .

About V.M. Burns

V.M. (Valerie) Burns was born and raised in the Midwestern United States. She currently resides in the warmer region of the country in East Tennessee with her two poodles. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. Valerie is the author of the RJ Franklin Mysteries, the Dog Club Mysteries, and the Agatha Award-nominated Mystery Bookshop Mystery series.

Author Links

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/v-m-burns

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/burnsvm

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vmburns

Website: vmburns.com

Purchase Links

Apple – Amazon – Google – Kobo – Nook – BAM – Bookshop.org – Hudson Booksellers – IndieBound – Target

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 21 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

January 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

January 21 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

January 22 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW, GUEST POST

January 22 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 22 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

January 23 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 23 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 24 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW

January 24 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT

January 25 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, GUEST POST

January 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 25 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

January 26 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT

January 26 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW

January 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 27 – Island Confidential – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 28 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW

January 28 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW

January 29 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Books to the Ceiling – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 30 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 30 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 31 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 31 – Baroness’ Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

January 31 – My Journey Back – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

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, Blog Tour, and Giveaway for Grand Openings Can Be Murder, A Bean to Bar Mystery by Amber Royer

Posted on by Debbie


Grand Openings Can Be Murder (Bean to Bar Mysteries)
by Amber Royer

About Grand Openings Can Be Murder

Grand Openings Can Be Murder (Bean to Bar Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Golden Tip Press (February 2, 2021)
Paperback: 266 pages
ISBN-10: 1952854083
ISBN-13: 978-1952854088
Digital ASIN: B08JLFHD7N

Felicity Koerber has had a rough year. She’s moving back to Galveston Island and opening a bean to bar chocolate factory, fulfilling a dream she and her late husband, Kevin, had shared. Craft chocolate means a chance to travel the world, meeting with farmers and bringing back beans she can turn into little blocks of happiness, right close to home and family.

She thinks trouble has walked into her carefully re-built world when puddle-jump pilot Logan Hanlon shows up at her grand opening to order custom chocolates. Then one of her employees drops dead at the party, and Felicity’s one-who-got-away ex-boyfriend – who’s now a cop – thinks Felicity is a suspect. As the murder victim’s life becomes more and more of a mystery, Felicity realizes that if she’s going to clear her name in time to save her business, she might need Logan’s help. Though she’s not sure if she’s ready to let anyone into her life – even if it is to protect her from being the killer’s next victim. For Felicity, Galveston is all about history, and a love-hate relationship with the ocean, which keeps threatening to deliver another hurricane – right into the middle of her investigation. Can she figure it out before all the clues get washed away?

About Amber Royer

Amber Royer writes the CHOCOVERSE comic telenovela-style foodie-inspired space opera series, and the BEAN TO BAR MYSTERIES. She is also the author of STORY LIKE A JOURNALIST: A WORKBOOK FOR NOVELISTS, which boils down her writing knowledge into an actionable plan involving over 100 worksheets to build a comprehensive story plan for your novel. She blogs about creative writing techniques and all things chocolate at www.amberroyer.com. She also teaches creative writing for both UT Arlington Continuing Education and Writing Workshops Dallas. If you are very nice to her, she might make you cupcakes.

Author Links

Website: http://www.amberroyer.com

Blog: http://amberroyer.com/blog/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Amber.Royer.Author/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoA_29HV2nPmRnox9LPVanw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amber_royer

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Amber-Royer/e/B00PFV4CGM

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8144619.Amber_Royer

Purchase Links
Amazon – Barnes and Noble – Kobo – Apple Books – Indie Bookshop

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 20 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

January 20 – My Journey Back – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 21 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 21 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

January 22 – Brooke Blogs – RECIPE WITH SPOTLIGHT

January 22 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

January 23 – I Read What You Write – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 24 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 25 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

January 26 – Celticlady’s Review – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

January 27 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 28 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST

January 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 30 – Diane Reviews Books – GUEST POST

January 30 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

January 31 – Maureen’s Musings – RECIPE WITH SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Posted in Cozy Mystery, New Releases, Reviews

Review of Bait and Witch, A Witch Way Librarian Mystery by Angela M. Sanders

Posted on by Debbie

*****5 star Review

The first of the new Witch Way Librarian paranormal cozy mystery series by Angela M. Sanders is a treat for bibliophiles and those who enjoy cozies featuring witches, cats, and libraries. The main character, Josie, doesn’t know she’s a witch until she runs away from a dangerous situation to a small town in Oregon. Accepting a job as a librarian at the Wilfred Library, she discovers that books and a black cat named Rodney respond to her in magical ways. As Josie is caught up in a murder investigation and the possibility that she may lose her new job when the library is replaced by a community center, she becomes attracted to a man who may be a killer and the cause of the library’s sale. Strange things continue to happen to her that culminate in her learning the truth about herself and Sam Wilfred. I found this a fun read full of charm, magic, and surprises and look forward to the next book in the series.

Read my interview with Rodney the cat when I featured this book’s blog tour on my library cat’s blog. https://wp.me/p7XcB0-15t

Posted in holidays, New Releases

Happy Holidays and Wishes for a Better New Year

Posted on 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.

 

 

Posted in Blog Tour, New Releases, Reviews

New Ebook and $20 Giveaway

Posted on by Debbie

I’m proud to announce that Pet Posts: The Cat Chats , is now available in Ebook as well as paperback and is free for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers. This cat book features full-color photos and stories narrated by two of my current felines and two who have passed to the Rainbow Bridge. The “tails” that are told are informative about health topics ranging from feline diabetes, asthma, hyperthyroidism, and more. There are also short stories, a poem, and links to articles and blogs about cats. If you or someone on your holiday list is a cat lover, this is a purr-fect book.

Pet Posts is also on blog tour until December 23rd with a $20 giveaway. The tour can be followed from the host blog, Silver Dagger Book Tours.

Here is the review from Our Town Book Reviews:

Not just an enjoyable book or collection of cat articles to read but also an informative read.

This book is also well-written and well put together. Although it contains a lot of information about cat illnesses and the treatment of them, as well as cat behaviors, it flows like a story. Never dry and what I’ll call “academic”. To make this happen the author has written some of the chapters or articles with the POV being one of the cats.

This book could be titled All About Cats. However, there must be 100 books with that title. So “Pet Posts” is fine, but it is the everything you need to know about cats book. From appetite loss and illness to the best snuggly beds. All told to you by a cat. What more expertise could you get?

Debbie De Louise has many books published. Many have cats in them, some fictional and some not but all have excellent reviews.

Don’t miss this book that makes a great gift for you or a cat lover on your holiday list. The eBook is free on KindleUnlimited and less than $5 for the eBook. The paperback is also now on sale for $1 less.

Posted in Blog Tour, Cats, New Releases

Win An Amazon Gift Card and Learn More About My New Book, Pet Posts: The Cat Chats

Posted on by Debbie

My new release, Pet Posts: The Cat Chats, is on blog tour through December 23rd. You can win an Amazon gift card by following the tour and entering the giveaway. You’ll also read some excerpts, guest posts, and reviews about the book which will make a purr-fect gift for cat lovers . . . . or for yourself.

Pet Posts: The Cat Chats Schedule

Dec 13

Kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours

Nicole’s Book Musings

Drako’s Den

Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Dec 14

Mochas, Mysteries and Meows  – GUEST POST

Binding Addiction

Literary Gold

Scrupulous Dreams

Dec 15

@theenchantedshelf

A Pinch of Bookdust

Craving Lovely Books

The Bookshelf Fairy

Dec 16

Our Town Book Reviews  – REVIEW

Character Madness and Musings

Girl with Pen

Twisted Book Ramblings

Dec 17

Inside the Insanity – GUEST POST

Bedazzled By Books

Insane Books

Dec 18

My Plans Are Booked

Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin’

Midnight Book Reader

Dec 19

The Sexy Nerd ‘Revue’

Books all things paranormal and romance

Musings From An Addicted Reader

Dec 20

IndiePowerd by No Sweat Graphics

Books, Authors, Blogs

T’s Stuff

Dec 21

4covert2overt ☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ – GUEST POST

Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read

Sylv.net

Dec 22

All the Ups and Downs   – GUEST POST

❧Defining Ways❧

Indie Author Book Reviews

The Faerie Review

Dec 23

Valerie Ullmer | Romance Author

ⒾⓃⓉⓇⓄⓈⓅⒺⒸⓉⒾⓋⒺ ⓅⓇⒺⓈⓈ

Teatime and Books

The Book Dragon

Also, don’t forget that 4 of my ebooks are on sale for 99 cents the entire month of December.

Celebrating Christmas with My Characters

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Sneaky’s Christmas Mystery

The Missing Mistletoe

Posted in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, Interview, New Releases

Guest Post, Blog Tour, and Giveaway for Grounds for Murder, A Coffee Lover’s Mystery by Tara Lush

Posted on by Debbie

As a real-life journalist in Florida, I’ve written about the shady side of my sunny state for years.

Political corruption, terrible crime, shenanigans at tiki bars, alligators, naked guys with machetes, cockroaches in unmentionable places…nothing shocks me. The cliché of ‘Florida Man’ is a reality here, one that I’ve written too many times to count.

I’ve considered writing crime fiction for years, and entertained the thought of doing true crime. But that seemed a little too close to my day job and I wanted to drift away from the darkness of hard news. My first forays into fiction were contemporary romances, and almost all were set in Florida. But crime lurked in my mind, and in 2019, I sat down and finally plotted a murder mystery.

As I scribbled my first cozy, I imagined a slightly less-dysfunctional tropical paradise than the real thing, one that was loosely based on the events I’ve covered in my twenty-plus years as a reporter in Florida. Of course, it had to have the hallmarks of a cozy — no gore, no swearing, no sex — which was a bit of a change from my romances. But I had a blast plotting the book, and discovered that cozies are really my jam, writing-wise.

I created a fictional island in the Gulf of Mexico, chock full of eccentric characters. Devil’s Beach is where gossipy old hippies mingle with reformed mafiosos. Where the local newspaper writes stories about chicken nuggets shaped like manatees. Where a handsome Instagram-famous barista is found dead and no one bats an eye when a laid off journalist tries to figure out how the barista spent his final hours.

I also wanted a gentle anchor to the book, and that’s why I set the story in the coffee shop of my dreams. It’s called Perkatory, a place decorated in weathered wood and sky-blue accents, with the best coffee in Florida. I imagined readers cracking open a book at a café a block from the beach while on vacation, and kept that image in my mind as I wrote.

Drawing inspiration from decades of covering crime, I plotted my murder. Interestingly, the victim in Grounds for Murder is similar to — but also the opposite of — the hero I wrote in my first romance novel. Both are Italian, handsome and playboys. The difference is, one ended up dead, while the romance hero fell in love. Fiction works in strange ways, doesn’t it?

It wasn’t the only reference to my past.

From the stilted language of cop-speak to wrangling over deadlines with editors, I used details from newspaper stories to seed clues into my fictional story. And the suspects, those were easy — they are all based on people I’ve covered in the past, folks who stood out as true characters.

I believe that for my Florida peeps, they’ll recognize many of the places, stories and details in the book. And for you non-Florida folks, I’m hopeful you’ll read my book and feel like you’re on a beach vacation.

ABOUT GROUNDS FOR MURDER: Barista Lana Lewis’s sleuthing may land her in a latte trouble as Tara Lush launches her new Coffee Shop mysteries.

When Lana Lewis’ best — and most difficult — employee abruptly quits and goes to work for the competition just days before the Sunshine State Barista Championship, her café’s chances of winning the contest are creamed. In front of a gossipy crowd in the small Florida town of Devil’s Beach, Lana’s normally calm demeanor heats to a boil when she runs into the arrogant java slinger. Of course, Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci has a slick explanation for jumping ship. But when he’s found dead the next morning under a palm tree in the alley behind Lana’s café, she becomes the prime suspect.

Even the island’s handsome police chief isn’t quite certain of her innocence. But Lana isn’t the only one in town who was angry with Fabrizio. Jilted lovers, a shrimp boat captain, and a surfer with ties to the mob are all suspects as trouble brews on the beach.

With her stoned, hippie dad, a Shih Tzu named Stanley, and a new, curious barista sporting a punk rock aesthetic at her side, Lana’s prepared to turn up the heat to catch the real killer. After all, she is a former award-winning reporter. As scandal hangs over her beachside café, can Lana clear her name and win the championship — or will she come to a bitter end?

LINK: books2read.com/u/4A7KLA

SOCIAL:

Website: www.taralush.com

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

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

BIO: Tara Lush is a Rita Award finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow, and a George C. Polk Award winning journalist. For the past decade, she’s been a reporter with the Associated Press, covering crime, alligators, natural disasters, and politics.

She also writes contemporary romance set in tropical locations under her real name, Tamara Lush. A fan of vintage pulp-fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, and 1980s fashion, she lives with her husband and two dogs on the Gulf coast.


Grounds for Murder (A Coffee Lover’s Mystery)
by Tara Lush

About Grounds for Murder

Grounds for Murder (A Coffee Lover’s Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (December 8, 2020)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1643856189
ISBN-13: 978-1643856186
Digital ASIN: B0871KTTMC

When Lana Lewis’ best — and most difficult — employee abruptly quits and goes to work for the competition just days before the Sunshine State Barista Championship, her café’s chances of winning the contest are creamed. In front of a gossipy crowd in the small Florida town of Devil’s Beach, Lana’s normally calm demeanor heats to a boil when she runs into the arrogant java slinger. Of course, Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci has a slick explanation for jumping ship. But when he’s found dead the next morning under a palm tree in the alley behind Lana’s café, she becomes the prime suspect.

Even the island’s handsome police chief isn’t quite certain of her innocence. But Lana isn’t the only one in town who was angry with Fabrizio. Jilted lovers, a shrimp boat captain, and a surfer with ties to the mob are all suspects as trouble brews on the beach.

With her stoned, hippie dad, a Shih Tzu named Stanley, and a new, curious barista sporting a punk rock aesthetic at her side, Lana’s prepared to turn up the heat to catch the real killer.

After all, she is a former award-winning reporter. As scandal hangs over her beachside café, can Lana clear her name and win the championship — or will she come to a bitter end?

About Tara Lush

Tara Lush is a Rita Award finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow, and a George C. Polk Award-winning journalist. For the past decade, she’s been a reporter with the Associated Press, covering crime, alligators, natural disasters, and politics. She also writes contemporary romance set in tropical locations. A fan of vintage pulp-fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, and 1980s fashion, she lives with her husband and two dogs on the Gulf coast.

Author Links

WEB: www.taralush.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/LushBooks

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20274256.Tara_Lush

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lush_books/

Purchase Links

AMAZON – KOBO – BARNES AND NOBLE – ITUNES – INDIEBOUND

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 8 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

December 8 – Maureen’s Musings – RECIPE POST

December 9 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

December 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

December 10 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

December 10 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW

December 10 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

December 12 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW

December 12 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 12 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

December 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 13 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

December 14 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 14 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

December 14 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 15 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE POST

December 15 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

December 16 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT

December 16 – eBook Addicts – RECIPE POST

December 16 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

December 17 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

December 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Posted in Blog Tour, Freebies and Special Offers, New Releases

The Best Laid Plans – New Book and Blog Tour Update

Posted on by Debbie

In my December News, I mentioned that I was publishing a non-fiction cat book, Pet Posts: the Cat Chats, this month and that it would be on blog tour starting today, December 9. I’ve been working on this book for several months. It’s a compilation of articles and blog posts written from the points of view of two of my previous and two of my current cats about feline health, behavior, and other topics. The book also features a large number of cat photos to illustrate the chapters. I had all hopes to have it complete this month. In fact, I originally had a blog tour scheduled in November. However, things didn’t turn out as I expected. I’m still hoping to have this book published shortly, but I’ve had to reschedule the tour to start this Sunday, December 13. I’m thankful that Maia from Silverdagger Book Tours and the book bloggers who signed up for the tour have been so accommodating, and I hope that my readers also understand the technical and other issues involved that often delay publishing a book. I know that other writers will empathize.

I look forward to announcing my new release, and fingers (and paws) crossed, book tour.

***UPDATE: Book has been approved by Amazon. Purchase link coming soon. Tour details announced soon.

In the meantime, please check out my 99-cent stocking stuffers available through December 31.

Celebrating Christmas with My Characters (a Cobble Cove cozy mystery short eBook)

Between a Rock and a Hard Place (Cobble Cove Book #2)

Sneaky’s Christmas Mystery (a Cobble Cove cozy mystery short eBook)

The Missing Mistletoe (paranormal romance)

 

Posted in Books, Cat Writers' Association, Freebies and Special Offers, New Releases

December News: Stocking Stuffers and a New Release

Posted on by Debbie

It’s hard to believe the holiday season is already here, and a new year is on its way. I know most of us are hoping 2021 is better than 2020. I certainly am. While we look forward to better days, we can make the most of the holidays by keeping our hopes and spirits high. One good way to do this is to relax with holiday reads. For the whole month of December, starting December 1, four of my holiday stories and books will cost less than a dollar. You can get all 4 eBooks for less than $5. Check out these stocking stuffers for yourself or someone on your gift list.

Here’s a peek inside each stocking.

Sneaky’s Christmas Mystery

Purchase Link: mybook.to/sneakyxmas

My award-winning Christmas story featuring the characters from my Cobble Cove cozy mystery series, Sneaky’s Christmas Mystery, won the 2019 MUSE Medallion from the Cat Writers’ Association. Who killed the pet store owner? Can Sneaky, the Siamese, help Alicia solve this mystery before Christmas Day?

Celebrating Christmas with My Characters

Purchase Link: mybook.to/XmasCharacters

Celebrating Christmas with My Characters introduces the characters from my Cobble Cove series. As the characters gather in the library of the Cobble Inn, each one has a gift for their author, and I have a gift for each of them.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Purchase Link: mybook.to/CobbleCove2

This 2nd book of the series takes place in Cobble Cove and also New York City during the holidays.

The Missing Mistletoe

Purchase Link: mybook.to/missingmistletoe

While not a part of the Cobble Cove series, this is a holiday time-travel mystery with a touch of romance taking place in San Francisco during the time of the Great Earthquake.

As you stuff your stockings with this great deal, keep your eye out for my new release, my first non-fiction book, Pet Posts: The Cat Chats publishing in early December and on blog tour from December 9 to December 23 with a $20 Amazon gift card giveaway. Information will be posted on this blog and on my social media channels.