A Spark of Imagination

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She’s been a finalist in a number of contests. Today, she reveals how one bit of quirkiness managed to get into her latest novel. It’s a fun read.  I think you’ll enjoy it.

It first started with a love of guinea pigs. When my sons were young, we had several furry pets. The first to join the family was Fluffy. We didn’t know a lot about raising guinea pigs at the time. We placed our new pet in a glass aquarium so we could easily watch the new addition to the family. Our standard poodle would sit for hours on end watching the guinea pig. We called it “‘Fluffyvision”.  🙂

Unfortunately, Fluffy wasn’t as healthy as we thought, and she didn’t last overly long. My sons were soon asking for a replacement. Next came Squeakers. When we were bringing her home in the van, she squeaked the whole way, which is how she got her name. She was an incredibly intelligent guinea pig who knew to run to the refrigerator, and when opened, which drawer held the carrots – one of her favorite treats. She lived for many years. When she made an untimely demise, we went to the pet store and found two more guinea pigs – Checkers and Cocoa. By this time my sons were in high school.

One day I had a photo frame on my entrance hall table. I’d recently purchased the frame and hadn’t decided what to put in it yet. The frame came with a photo of a woman in it. One of my sons asked me who it was, and I teasingly said, “That’s your great Aunt Gertrude. She lives in Texas on a guinea pig ranch.” We spun all kinds of stories about the factitious family member.

So, when it came time to write the third book in my current series, I told my sons that the heroine’s name was Gertrude. They immediately encouraged me to somehow add guinea pigs to the story. I didn’t know if it was a feasible option since my books are set in the 19th Century. I started researching to see if it was a possibility. I learned about Queen Elizabeth I who had a guinea pig when she was a little girl. Some sites even mentioned the exotic pet trade in Virginia as early as 1627. I had enough information to know I could in fact include guinea pigs into my story.

Here’s a sneak peek at the back cover of my new book, Wooing Gertrude:

Enoch Valentine has given up finding peace for his past mistakes. He throws everything he has into being the new part-time deputy in Burrton Springs, Kansas while maintaining the foreman position at a local horse ranch. But when trouble stirs on the ranch, he questions whether he’s the right man for either job.

Peace has been elusive for most of Gertrude Miller’s life, especially under the oppressiveness of an overbearing mother. She takes matters into her own hands and sends for a potential husband, while also opening her own dress shop. Gertrude hopes to build a future where she’ll find peace and happiness.

Will either of them ever be able to find peace?

Thanks, Jodie, for giving us a peek into how some “quirkiness” got into one of you novels.  And I must add, Wooing Gertrude is available now on Amazon And dear reader, please leave Jodie a comment, maybe on how some little bit sneaks into one of your novels.  Thanks.  jim

Here’s where you can find Jodie online:

Jodie Wolfe is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW). She’s been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at  .www.jodiewolfe.com

The tough life of the writer: case #1,477

One of the goals for many new writers is to get an editor at one of the big, New York publishers to read their manuscript.  Lo and behold, my first book got just such a read.  Acceptance day was indeed a joyous day.

Some weeks later, I received a letter from the editor.  Not one of those canned letters: “This just doesn’t fit our current publishing schedule.” No, this was a personal letter.  He was quick to say he would not be considering my book for publication. But, he was willing to give me a reason.

It was too unrealistic.  Well, it was a murder mystery, set mainly in New York, and involving a highly prized professional athlete. I quickly scanned the story in my mind looking for this problem. What was unrealistic? Fortunately, the editor was kind enough to explain his objection. And I had to read it three times to come to grips with his objection regarding realism. He said, and I quote, “You have this person talking to his computer.”

Unrealistic?  Perhaps, I should have said, “Yelling at the computer.”   Or maybe screaming at the inanimate, pain in the neck, machine. Maybe a threat to toss it in the rubbish bin if it displayed another 401 error,  or the simple, and very helpful, “Something went wrong.” That might be more realistic.

Was this editor from the dark ages? Had he ever used a computer?  Perhaps the victim in my murder mystery should have been a computer – or an editor.

But this man was the gatekeeper for a large New York book publisher.  And for that particular company, I was locked out.  My central character was too unrealistic. Who could identify with him?

I finally decided that this was a 107-year-old editor who thought computers read holes punched into paper tape and why would I even have a human interact with a machine? Perhaps I should have labeled the book as fantasy.

Scrap that book. Begin on the next book. And let the writer stay silent if he had a beef with his machine.

A true story, highlighting the tough life of a writer.  Care to comment?

An Unusual Anthology

Here’s a blog from another member of the Underground Authors. I think you’ll enjoy this bit from Joe Congel.

My Journey into Magnolia Bluff, Texas started as a fan. I loved the idea of a group of authors getting together to promote and support each other’s work. I was also intrigued with their group name. They are collectively known as The Underground Authors. I’d already had a great experience with this concept as a member of the WolfPackAuthors, another group of talented writers who banded together to promote and support each other’s work. As a member of the WolfPackAuthors we branched out from just promoting our individual writing into collectively putting together two short story anthologies.

The Underground Authors did the same thing. They put together a collection of short stories all centered around one theme–a single picture of a boat. Then, of course, came the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. A mystery/crime series that spans several sub-genres within that category. Everything from cozy mystery to psychological thrillers.

I read every book as soon as it was available. There were nine titles released during the first year. I loved the diversity of the stories and the writing styles that each author brought to the table. And I wasn’t alone. There were a lot of other readers that also looked forward to each new book. The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series was a hit.

Somewhere along the way, the group decided to expand as they geared up for the second year of the series. I received an email from CW Hawes asking me if I would be interested in joining The Underground Authors and writing a book for the series. I jumped at the chance.

And now, my offering for year two of the series is being released this month, September 18th.

It’s currently on pre-order for a limited time price of just 99¢. Second Chances: Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles, Book 17

You can get your copy here: SECOND CHANCES

You can also get the entire series by clicking here: Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles

Here is the blurb:

Retired New York Police Detective, Brandon Turner wanted to move as far away from the Big Apple as possible.

Pointing a finger at a map, he ends up in Magnolia Bluff, a small town in the Texas Hill Country.

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy to retire here as he’d hoped. While exploring a park with his dog and the real-estate agent showing him the property, they discover a body. They report the death and, as far as Turner is concerned, that’s where it ends. But it’s not that simple.

This body was not the first. There were others and all the evidence points to drugs. The local police are not savvy enough to solve these crimes on their own and ask Turner for help. But the former detective has other ideas. He intends to leave his past life where it belongs… in the past. But he soon realizes that he just can’t stay away from the case. Vowing not to work with the local detective, Turner begins his own investigation, putting himself, his dog, and the woman he just met in danger.

Can Turner and the local police set aside their differences long enough to stop a potential drug ring from destroying more lives? The town’s residents are counting on it. As for Turner, he just wants to solve the case as soon as possible so he can start enjoying his retirement.

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I hope you’ll give Second Chances a try. It’s a little bit cozy and a little bit not. I think you’ll enjoy it. I know I enjoyed writing it.

The Elevator Pitch

Today, we have a guest post from a talented, award winning writer, Elaine Faber. She Elaine Faberhas a number of mysteries published, including a four-book series centered around a cat who can actually solve crimes, and a three book series set during World War II.  She’s multi-published in magazines and over twenty anthologies. But today she’s telling us a little about her latest mystery, The Spirit Woman of Lockleer Mountain.  It weaves together mysteries about a secret government installation, a missing sister who may have amnesia, drug sales to teenagers, and sightings a illusive woman in a flowing green dress with a mountain lion, who just might be the legendary Native American Spirit Women.

And as you can see below, Elaine has an excellent sense of humor. You can expect to see some of that in this delightful book. And this book has a great cover that sells!

The blurb on the back of my latest mystery, “The Spirit Woman of Lockleer Mountainbriefly outlines the storyline. ‘While the government plans to build a secret facility, housing tract, and big box store that will easily put the local merchants out of business, someone is selling drugs to the teenagers on the nearby Native American reservation…

 In addition, the frequent  sightings of a mysterious woman in a flowing green dress accompanied by a mountain lion has Deputy Sheriff Nate Darling wondering if she is his missing sister, out of her mind and running with a mountain lion, or is she the legendary Native American Spirit Woman sent to help the troubled town?”

As an author, I always hold out hope for the chance to catch the attention of the big publishing house, but these days, agents are only interested in working with someone famous or possessing a platform of 10,000. We, of lesser fame and fortune must resort to Indie Publishing and self-promotion. Beyond writing a compelling plot and interesting dialogue, we must master the skills of publicist, bookkeeper, full time blogger, cover artist, and skilled orator, always keeping an eye open for opportunities to sell a book we happen to have handy in a large canvas bag.

I’ve become passably competent at most of the above skills, but I recently learned of another talent to master…In the off chance that I should run into that elusive literary agent on an elevator, or sipping a Carmel Macchiato at Starbucks, I must have memorized what is called in the publishing world, an “elevator pitch.” Once I have the agent’s momentary attention, I must deliver a compelling ‘hook,” and within sixty seconds, convince him everyone from a Texas cowboy to a New York stockbroker will buy my book with his last green dollar, and that it will become a Best Seller.

I have practiced my ‘elevator pitch’ in front of a three-way mirror and perfected where to smile, when to pause for special effect, and when to use hand motions to emphasize the final sentence.

Unfortunately, I fear if I should ever be fortunate enough to find myself on that much discussed elevator, in spite of good intentions and hours of practice, I expect the conversation would more likely go something like this.

Uh… You’re that Random House guy, right! Wait. Let me push this button and stop the elevator. I never thought… I have some notes here somewhere. Where is that paper? Well, never mind. I wrote a book, see? You’re not going anywhere special, right? About that book I wrote… You’re gonna love it. It’s called The Spirit Woman of Lockleer Mountain. Do you like cats? There’s a mountain lion. That’s a cat, right? This lady goes missing in an accident and then there’s a mountain lion and a Native American spirit woman shows up. So, about this cat…see….

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The Spirit Woman of Lockleer Mountain is available at Amazon in e-book for $3.99.  http://tinyurl.com/y7rp7f3x

Elaine Faber is a member of Sisters in Crime, Cat Writers Association, and Northern California Publishers and Authors. Her short stories have appeared in national magazines.  Please leave a comment.  Click on “Leave a Reply” just below. We will respond.  Thanks.

 

Why Forensic Accounting Makes for Good Mystery

Today’s guest blogger is Leeann Betts, a pen name for Donna Schlachter.  Leeann writes contemporary romantic suspense. Missing Deposits is the eleventh title in her cozy mystery series.  Leeann and Donna have published more than thirty novellas and full-length novels.  They are active in American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime and other groups.  Today, she talks about forensic accounting and the mystery, and gives us a chance to receive a free book.

And this is how she started and how she got to forensic accounting.

When I sat down 15 years ago to see if I had one book in me, I had no clue where to start.

And now, all this time and more than 30 books later, every time I face the blank page, it’s the same. Where to start?

I’m an avid reader of mysteries, particularly what is now known as cozy mysteries, but at the time were simply called Agatha Christie-like mysteries. If you mentioned the name “Jessica Fletcher”, and said your books were like that TV show, everybody knew exactly what you meant. Amateur sleuth, small-town settings that eventually expanded into New York City and major locations around the world, and a personal reason to solve the crime—usually a friend or relative was the victim or the suspect.

That was my basis. But I wanted a main character more like—well, like me. I didn’t have any idea how a teacher thought—Jessica. Or an older woman in a hamlet in England—Miss Marple. Or a retired detective from Belgium—Hercules Poirot.

I needed someone I could relate to. That hadn’t been done to death. No pun intended.

So I went to the library, and started strolling through the children’s section on occupation. And the word Forensic jumped out at me. CSI and NCIS were hot shows at the time, so I picked it up. And that’s where I learned about Forensic Accounting. In the days when I was in college and in the business workforce, we called those guys the Auditors or the Inspectors. They came in and went through all our work to make certain we were doing it correctly. To make certain nobody was embezzling funds. To ascertain clients’ trust funds were secure.

Being a forensic accountant requires specialized training, and involves ferreting out financial information, understanding its implications, and applying that understanding to the situation. It also means preparing reports, spilling the beans on somebody, and testifying in court.

While a lot of people think accountants are boring, Carly Turnquist is out to prove them wrong.

And in case you think forensic accounting can’t be an exciting or important job, just remember: Al Capone was imprisoned for tax evasion by the 1930’s equivalent of a forensic accountant.

Question: When you read a series, do you have to start at the first book, or can you still enjoy the series if you pick and choose?  Leave a comment for a chance to receive a free copy of this book.

About Missing Deposits:

When a rancher discovers copper on his property, he learns that mining can be dangerous business. Can Mike and Carly figure out who the killer is, or will they end up buried in an unmarked grave in western Colorado?

We will randomly choose from amongst the comments for a free print (US only) or ebook (winner’s choice) copy of Missing Deposits.

Paul Paris won a free book by commenting on last week’s blog.  You could be the winner this week – IF you leave a comment. And you can get entered EACH time you leave a comment. 

Website: www.LeeannBetts.com Receive a free ebook just for signing up for our quarterly newsletter.

Blog: http://www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com

Books: Amazon http://amzn.to/2dHfgCE  and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2z5ecP8

The Story Behind the Story

This week’s guest blogger is June Foster, an award-winning author who began her writing career in an RV roaming around the USA with her husband, Joe. She brags about visiting a location before it becomes the setting in her next contemporary romance or romantic suspense. To date, June has 17 novels published.

Dreams Deferred is inspired by the true-to-life story of my great grandfather and great grandmother. I chose to set it in contemporary times. Nevertheless, I borrowed many of the story elements from the true story.

Frances Mathew Halbedl grew up in the European Austrian Empire and followed tradition in which the oldest son became a priest in his family’s Catholic faith. After being ordained in Moravia, he immigrated to the United States in 1866 to serve in a parish in the state of Louisiana.

My aunt and mother always told the story of how one Sunday while saying mass, he spotted a young teen, much younger than my Mary Louise. He waited several years for her to grow up then stepped down from the priesthood to marry her. I wish I knew some of those rich details of their courtship, but since I don’t, I fictionalized their romance.

They later moved to San Antonio, Texas, and had five children, three girls and two boys—Ida, Mamie, Alice, Roy, and Clifton, who was my grandfather. Just for fun in one scene, I imagined that Matt had a dream he was riding in a car with Mary Louise and the three youngest kids. In my story, the dream helped him realize how much he loved Mary Louise.

Mathew taught music both in the public school and privately. Later he became the first principal of a high school in San Antonio. In December of 2005, my husband and I visited San Antonio and looked up Matthew and Mary Louise’s house. The large, two-story home is still there on Roseborough Drive. We weren’t able to go in because it’s a private residence. But I had so much fun envisioning Matt and ML’s lives as they lived there with their children.

We also visited Clifton Halbedl’s home, which I remember from childhood. I also had the address for Mamie’s home, and we were able to go inside. A gracious lady who spoke no English invited us in. I have tons of pictures and hope to share them on my blog.

In the story, Matt gets a job at Jefferson High School. This is patterned after Thomas Jefferson High School where my mother went to school. Her name was Mary Louise, as well, named for her grandmother.

If I’ve learned anything from writing this book, I wish I’d probed for more information when my mother and aunt were still alive, but I’m grateful for what I do know.

Brief Blurb on Dreams Deferred

Father Matt Hall wants to serve the Lord. School teacher Mary Louise Graham needs freedom from her unforgivable past. They never expect to fall in love.

You can find June at:  junefoster.com.

You can find Dreams Deferred at:  https://tinyurl.com/y3g555tz

Lovely Night to Die

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Lovely Night to Die is a new thriller novella from Caleb Pirtle III.  If you know his work, you know that Caleb is a terrific storyteller.  And he can pull you into a scene and your heart will be racing.  Here’s a brief … Continue reading

A Deadly Dissolution, The Story Behind the Story

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Today’s guest is Leeann Betts.  She writes cozy mysteries and Deadly Dissolution is number eight of her By the Numbers series. She’s also written a devotional for accountants, bookkeepers, and financial folk, Counting the Days, and with her real-life persona, … Continue reading

The World Ends Tomorrow

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Author Eliade Muldovan asks several interesting questions.  Give it a read, and then feel free to make your own comments Where is humankind heading? First question: Did human consciousness change along centuries and millennia? Disrespect for our environment, religious intolerance, … Continue reading

A Slippery Slope

Political Dirty Trick

For some time, I had been contemplating writing a story about a basically good person who is convinced to step over the line. Once over that line, the slope gets slippery. And it only gets slipperier as he or she moves.

I had intended to name the book, The Slippery Slope.

After watching national politics, I thought I might write a story about a political dirty trick. Please note, I was not, and am still not, taking sides. There were questionable activities on all sides. I had, and have, no political agenda in any of my writing. But authors need a background for the stories, and a real one works well if you are not writing fantasy.

Asking the important question for writers (What if?),  what if something went terribly wrong? There was an unexpected outcome.

Eventually, these two ideas came together to form the basis for Political Dirty Trick.

A woman who is a very law-abiding citizen gets talked into participating in a political dirty trick, or a podirt as they call it in the book. And then something goes wrong. She has crossed the line with this podirt. She is on the slippery slope. And it is so much more difficult to hold your ground, your normal behavior, when on a slippery slope.

In keeping with this theme of unexpected things, as I neared completion of the book, I discovered that an author I know was also completing a book and she had titled it, “A Slippery Slope.”  She assured me she would have no problem if I named my book the same.  But after some thought, I decided I would not do that. Rooting around for a title, I eventually came up with Political Dirty Trick.

It is set in Texas politics because all of my Crystal Moore suspense books are set in east Texas. Even when Crystal goes into the jungles of Mexico to rescue two young girls held captive (A Silver Medallion), much of the book takes place in east Texas. I doubt any political dirty tricks are ever employed in Texas politics. But, this is fiction, so I can take those liberties.

Political Dirty Trick will be released May 14, 2018. It is a nice suspense book with no basis in truth. But I believe you will enjoy the colorful characters, the suspense of keeping Crystal alive, and discovering what a dramatic affect this podirt had on a number of lives and an election.

Political Dirty Trick is on NetGalley, a site where readers can get a copy of the book with the expectation they will leave a review on Amazon and/or GoodReads.  NetGalley expects you to be a blogger, librarian, teacher, or what they call a “professional reader.”  That is, someone who will report on books to their readers. If you are interested, here is the link:  https://www.netgalley.com/widget/137928/redeem/f7beb8ab2448a2ffc3585a6b6b346f1fe652d229ebee86c662ca849d1a568266

The Kindle edition of Political Dirty Trick can be pre-ordered now on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/2pIHMqs

Cover decision this week – between:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please comment on the covers, what you like and do not like.  And, feel free to leave a comment on the danger of stepping on a slippery slope.