Book Tour: Shattered Dreams by: Abbie Roads

Shattered Dreams
Abbie Roads
(Beautiful Nightmare, #3)
Publication date: July 11th 2023
Genres: Adult, Dark Romance, Romance

A crooked cop. Corruption. A woman convicted of murder. A man determined to prove her innocence.

When Helena Grayse is released from prison, all she wants is to say a final goodbye to her old life. But when a man finds her trespassing on his property, instead of turning her in, he takes her in. Accepts her. Loves her.

But someone decides to serve Helena with a death sentence.

Shattered Dreams is the third book in Abbie Roads’ Beautiful Nightmare Series of dark romantic thrillers. It features a felon heroine who never thought she deserved love. If you devour true crime and romance novels then you’ll love a series that combines both in a roller-coaster ride of danger, mind games, and swoon worthy love.

Buy this dangerously dark romance today!

Trigger warning: Depictions of SA and violence.

Previously Published under the title Never Let Me Fall.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

Author Bio:

Abbie Roads is the best-selling author of the Fatal Dreams Series and the Fatal Truth Series. Her novels have been finalists in many prestigious contests including The Golden Heart, The Greater Detroit Booksellers Best, The Oklahoma National Readers’ Choice Award, The Write Touch, The Strut Your Stuff Contest, The Aspen Gold Contest, The Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, The Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award, The Midnight Sun, The Kathryn Hayes Contest, The Chanticleer, The Daphne du Maurier, The National Readers’ Choice Award, The New England Readers’ Choice Contest, The Beverly Award, and The Maggie Award. Her debut novel Race the Darkness was Publishers Weekly Top 10 Pick for Fall and Never Let Me Fall is an Amazon Editor’s Pick.

By day Abbie Roads is a mental health counselor always focusing on the bright side. By night she writes on the dark side, putting her characters through the wringer before she gives them their happily-ever-after. She loves a good inspirational quote and is a fan of true crime.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
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Top 10 Books I’d want to read before I died... 

• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
• Tuesday’s with Morrie by Mitch Albom
• The entire Hannibal Lecter Series by Thomas Harris—a re-read
• The entire Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi—need to read the last book.
• The entire Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward—I’m a few books behind.
• The entire Four Horseman Series by Laura Thalassa—a re-read
• The entire Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas—a re-read.
• The entire Ice Planet Barbarians Series by Ruby Dixon—I’m a few books behind.
• Golden Dynasty by Kristen Ashley—despite all the trigger warnings, it’s one of my favorite books.
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee—a re-read.

See what I did there... I’d be too busy reading ALL the books in the series to die. 

Okay. Okay. Okay. I cheated a little. Lol.

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Interview with Duffy Brown author of Tandem Demise

I recently had the chance to sit down with author Duffy Brown and talk to her about her latest book Tandem Demise.  So I think you will enjoy it as much as I did!

How did you come to write cozy mysteries?

I used to write romance. I wrote for Harlequin and Kensington until my editor said my stories were more mystery than romance and I realized I liked writing the mystery part much more than the romance. I love Janet Evanovich! I love the humor and the setting and decided I wanted to make readers laugh too. I work at a consignment shop and they say write what you know so I started the Consignment Shop mysteries. Then I took a trip to Mackinac Island and knew I wanted to set a series there. Cycle Path...take off on psychopath...was born.

Who Inspires your books?

Everyone and everything. So often I’m talking to someone and they say something funny or tell me what happened to that that is hugely entertaining and I always say…that’s going in a book! Inspiration is everywhere. I want to have fun things happen and still have a murder mystery. I do that by killing off the bad guy or gal, the one who has it coming. This also gives me a ton of suspects as everyone is doing the happy dance this person is toast. The settings are so inspiring. Anyone who visits Savannah or Mackinac Island has surely wanted to set a story there. Savannah is so, so, so haunted and Mackinac Island with no cars and big horses and bikes is made for a terrific mystery.

Do you have a favorite character or book?

Auntie KiKi from my Consignment Shop series is the auntie we all should have in our lives. She jumps firsts then thinks about where she’ll land. To KiKi, family is everything. She’s a southern belle with lots of spunk. She says all the things I wish I’d said in tough spots. She’s married to a heart surgeon that everyone calls Doc Putter because he carries a putter everywhere. Two of the most fun characters ever, they write themselves.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Writers are always writing. LOL Also, I have 4 grandkids and work at the Snooty Fox consignment shop. There are never enough hours in a day. I do love watching Midsomer Murders and Father Brown. Anything Sherlock and I’m IN! My license plate is Shrlok 1 and Shrlok 2.

What made you decide on the cycle mysteries? Was it the location or the whole riding bikes around?

Everything about Mackinac is so much fun. That there are no cars and rotten cell phone service adds a lot on intrigue all by itself. Also that the only way to and from the island is ferry service is terrific. Once the last ferry leaves you are stuck on the island. And in the dead of winter there is no ferry service. Gotta love that for a good mystery. There are only 500 fulltime residents on the island and the rest tourists makes for a very close group of friends.

If you were stuck on a deserted island what are three things you would have with you out of anything?

Well, I’d like to have my husband. He’s one of those guys that if they had a toothpick and a knife they’d build you a bridge. My husband could get us off the island for sure. LOL But if it’s just me I’d want books. You can find out how to do anything in books. That way I could survive and be entertained. And what good is live without diet Coke and of course I want paper and pencil to write. I cannot imagine life without writing.

Do you have any new books out or coming out you'd like to share with my readers?

Tandem Demise, book 3 in the Cycle Path mysteries just came out. I’m starting on book 6, Wedding Day and Foul Play, of the Consignment Shop mysteries. Thanks so much for asking.

Author Biography:

Duffy Brown loves anything with a mystery. While others girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, Duffy longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. She is a National Bestselling author and now conjures up who-done-it stories of her very own. She has two series the Consignment Shop Mysteries set in Savannah along with rescue pup Bruce Willis and the Cycle Path Mysteries set on Mackinac Island with judgmental cats Cleveland and Bambino.

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Interview: Debra Sennefelder author of The Uninvited Corpse & Giveaway

Recently I had the chance to sit down with Debra Sennefelder whose new  book The Univited Corpse is coming out and had a chance to visit with Community Bookstop and give us some insight into her.

What genre do you write?

I write cozy mysteries.

How did you come to write cozy mysteries?

The first cozy I read was Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. Then I discovered Diane Mott Davidson and Katherine Hall Page in my local bookstore. I was hooked on cozies since then.

What is your favorite character to write about?  

I love writing a strong female character who is pushed out of her comfort zone to find justice.

Do you have a favorite villain in any of your books?  One that stood out more than others?

I don’t have a favorite villain. I do have one villain I feel the most sorry for and that villain is in THE UNINVITED CORPSE. Unfortunately, I can’t much more without giving away who the villain is.

Who inspires your books?

There is no one in particular. I’m always inspired by other authors and by my critique partner. I’m also inspired by snippets of conversation, news headlines and day-to-day life. Book 2 in my Food Blogger mystery series was inspired by an event that happened at a neighbor’s house one Sunday afternoon. Inspiration is everywhere for writers.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I love to bake and cook, so you’ll find me in my kitchen a lot when I’m not writing. I also love to exercise. A good workout helps clears my head and sometimes it helps come up with an idea. I love to take walks with my two Shih-Tzus, Susie & Billy.

Do you have any new books coming out or books you want to share here?

The Uninvited Corpse, book 1 in the Food Blogger Mystery series, is my debut novel and releases on March 27th. In January 2019 I’ll have a new book, Murder Wears a Little Black Dress, released and it’s the first book in a new series, Resale Boutique mysteries.

What was one of your dreams when you were a child?

To be a published author.

Do you have a favorite drink?

Coffee.

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could take three things with you what would they be?

Mascara. Coffee. Sunblock. Lots of sunblock. I burn.

Thank you for taking the time to do this!

Your welcome thank you for stopping by Community Bookstop and sharing yourself with all of us!

GIVEAWAY:

I have one copy of this book to giveaway this copy is a physical book and is open to USA residents only all you have to do is tell me your favorite cozy author there is no right answer just wondering which ones people like also please include your email address!

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Interview with Laura Childs author of Egg Drop Dead

Interview with Laura Childs,

author of the just-released-in-paperback Egg Drop Dead

What genre do you write?

I’m in what’s called the “cozy” genre – and I write this way for a reason. I think many women are tired of thriller-killer-slasher-type books. These books focus on violence against women – and women simply don’t want that on their nighttime reading tables. They’re looking for a respite, a story where the female characters are smart, savvy, and caring. Cozies by nature are mysteries that feature a sort of “bloodless murder” and where the bad guy (or girl) is brought to justice in the end.

How did you come to write cozies?

Even though I was CEO of an advertising agency, I began writing fiction on evenings and weekends. Over the course of three years I turned out three screenplays and two thrillers. The screenplays all got looked at by Hollywood production companies that eventually passed, the novels never got published.  Then I took one more shot. I wrote a first chapter and a forty-page outline called Death by Darjeeling, what would be my first Tea Shop Mystery. That book not only got published, it hit big time – enough so that I could sell my ad agency and become a full time mystery writer. Now I’m thrilled to say that I’ve written more than forty novels with three more in the works!

What is your favorite character to write about?

I just adore Suzanne, the main character in my Cackleberry Club Mysteries. She’s a smart, savvy entrepreneur who lost her husband and then found love later in life. She’s also a clever lady who can step in and unravel a good murder mystery.

Do you have a favorite villain in any of your books?

I love all my villains. I always try to make them extremely duplicitous – definitely on the spectrum of being a sociopath. That way, they can play a role as a major character but are eventually unmasked and brought to justice in the end.

What inspires your books?

Absolute fear. Fear of not coming up with a good story. Fear of missing a publishing deadline.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I’m always writing. Besides the Cackleberry Club Mysteries, I write the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and the Afton Tangler Thriller series.

Well, actually, when I have a bit of free time I like to travel and read. 

Do you have any new books coming out or books you want to share?

I sure do. Egg Drop Dead was just released in paperback, then I have Plum Tea Crazy (Tea Shop Mystery) coming out in March 2018, Glitter Bomb (Scrapbook Mystery) the following October, and Eggs on Ice (Cackleberry) in December.

Do you have a favorite drink?

Since I’m often writing about tea, I’m usually drinking it, too!

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could take three things with you, what would they be?

A toothbrush, fishing line, and a water purifying kit. Wait, that’s way too practical. How about lip gloss, a Chanel jacket, and diamond earrings?

BIO:

Laura Childs is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, New Orleans Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show. She is married to Dr. Bob, a professor of Chinese and Japanese art history, enjoys travel, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Find out more at www.laurachilds.com

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Interview: Mary Ellen Hughes author of A Fatal Collection

Interview with Mary Ellen Hughes author of A Fatal Collection

What genre do you write?

I write mysteries. The sub-genre is traditional or cozy.

How did you come to write mysteries?

First of all, I’ve always loved mysteries, so that was an automatic choice. But I’ve never been a cop, or a P.I., so writing from the perspective of an amateur detective seemed the way to go. Plus, I could add in the protagonist’s occupation, friends, a few recipes here and there, and so on, which appealed to me.

What is your favorite character to write about?

I enjoy writing the crabby kind of character, someone who agitates things and sometimes muddies the waters when the protagonist is trying to figure things out. 

Do you have a favorite villain in any of your books? One that stood out more than others?

Well, I won’t name villains, which might spoil things for some readers, so I’ll just say that my favorite kind of villain is the two-faced one, who comes across as lovable, or terribly helpful when in fact they were watching and waiting to do dastardly things. Having said that, I’ve occasionally created a villain who was so dislikeable that some readers automatically dismissed him or her as being too obvious.

Who inspires your books?

I’m inspired by many, many authors, who, after reading their work, make me want to run to my laptop and do my best. But my other inspiration comes from the readers who write to tell me what a particular book of mine meant to them—how it perhaps helped get them through a difficult time, or inspired them to let go of an old grudge, something that one of my villains couldn’t manage to do, and so on. That means so much to me and keeps me going.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Since writing keeps me indoors so much, I love to get outside as much as I can. Gardening or just walking through a woodsy area is great. I also enjoy doubles tennis for the exercise and sociability.

Do you have any new books coming out or books you want to share here?

A Fatal Collection will be released very soon! It begins my new Keepsake Cove mystery series.

What was one of your dreams when you were a child?

One of my dreams was to be a competitive figure skater. I grew up in Wisconsin, where skating was very popular and available. It never happened, but maybe I’ll write about a figure skater someday.

Do you have a favorite drink?

Not really. Water, more than anything else.

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could take three things with you what would they be?

A manual on How to Survive on a Desert Island, an advice book on How to Be Rescued from a Desert Island, and a huge box of chocolate.

Thank you Mary Ellen for taking the time to be interviewed for my blog!
Thank you, Paula!

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Interview: Vicki Delany author of Hark The Herald Angels Slay & The Cat of The Baskervilles

Interview with Vicki Delany author of Hark The Herald Angels Slay & The Cat of The Baskervilles

What genre do you write?

I write crime novels. In the past I have written historical mysteries, standalone psychological suspense, and police procedurals, but these days I’m pretty much just writing cozies. 

How did you come to write said cozies?

For the cozies, I was offered a chance to write a work-for-hire from Berkley for a very cozy series, the Lighthouse Library books (written under the name of Eva Gates). I found that I loved writing them, and got more contracts under my own name. Now I also write the Year Round Christmas series for Berkley and the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series for Crooked Lane. 

What is your favorite character to write about?  

I love all my cozy characters, but I guess I love Gemma Doyle from the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop the best.  She has a Sherlock-like mind, meaning she’s super intelligent, highly observant, has a very good memory. It also means she can be lacking in some of the finer points of social skills and can seem to be a scatterbrain at times. But she has a good heart and always tries to do the right thing. 

Do you have a favorite villain in any of your books?  One that stood out more than others?

Moriarty, the cat in the Sherlock Holmes books.  Being a house cat, he can’t get up to much trouble or do much damage, but he certainly wants to! 

Who inspires your books? 

I like to think any sort of good writing inspires me. Specifically, I got into cozies by reading people like Kate Carlisle, Jenn McKinlay, Victoria Abbott. 

What do you do when your not writing?

Not a whole lot! I write three books a year, sometimes more if I do an adult literacy novella as well. I enjoy my little house in the country. In the summer I have a garden and a pool. I like to travel: next up is London and Iceland, and in March it’s Malaysia. I am the co-organizer of the Women Killing It Festival held Labour Day weekend.  

Do you have any new books coming out or books you want to share here? 

Hark the Herald Angels Slay, the third Year Round Christmas mystery, will be released on Nov. 28. This time it’s Christmas in July and Santa comes to Rudolph, New York to have his summer vacation on the lake.  

What was one of your dreams when you were a child? 

To travel the world. And I’ve been lucky enough to do much of that. 

Do you have a favorite drink? 

I have been known to have a sip of Sauvignon Blanc on occasion. 

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could take three things with you what would they be?  

An electronic book reader loaded with hundreds of books. Plenty of sunscreen. A box of matches so I can cook all the fish I expect to catch.  

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Interview: Julie Chase Author of Cat Got Your Secrets

What genre do you write?

I write cozy mysteries and romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue.

How did you come to write cozies & Harlequin Intrique?

 I fell in love with Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books and the Harlequin Intrigue line. I knew I wanted to write those kinds of stories, so now I do.

Who is your favorite character to write about? 

This would be like choosing a favorite child. I can’t. I love them all for different reasons. I love writing about Lacy in the Kitty Couture Mysteries because she has such spunk and a giant heart for people, animals and her community.

Who inspires your books? 

My mind is a busy place. Stories just pile up there and eventually spill out. My stories aren’t inspired by anyone. They’re more likely the result of nearly two decades of sleep deprivation.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Mostly, I manage the lives of my three super-busy non-driving children, husband and puppy. I also consume vats of black coffee and say how tired I am quite often.

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take? 

Sunscreen, a tent, food rations … I’m just kidding. I have no idea. I’m a total indoor cat who wouldn’t survive an hour on a deserted island.
Thank you,
Paula



Cat Got Your Secrets, Kitty Couture Mystery, book 3

Lacy Marie Crocker has settled into a comfortable groove back home in New Orleans, and with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, she’s busier than ever running a thriving pet boutique, helping her mother organize the upcoming National Pet Pageant, and untangling her complicated love life. But when delivering a king-sized order of dreidel-shaped doggy biscuits for a Saint Berdoodle’s bark-mitzvah, Lacy stumbles into yet another murder scene―and the last person to see the victim alive was her own father.

It’s up to Lacy to clear her dad’s name from the suspect list before Detective Jack Oliver has to cage him for good. But just when she starts pawing at the truth, she receives a threatening letter from a mysterious blackmailer bent on silencing her with her own secrets. And Lacy’s not the only one with bones in her closet.

Time’s running out in this deadly cat-and-mouse game in Cat Got Your Secrets, the delightfully funny third novel in Julie Chase’s Kitty Couture mystery series, perfect for “all those feline fanciers who love to read Rita Mae Brown” (Suspense Magazine).

About the author:

Julie Chase is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three spunky children. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), and Sisters in Crime (SinC). She is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Julie also writes as Julie Anne Lindsey.

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Interview: Connie De Marco author of All Signs Point to Murder

What genre do you write?

I write mysteries, traditional mysteries, but I also like to incorporate thriller elements, the kinds of things that hopefully will keep readers turning pages, and even better, on the edge of their seats.  Those are the kinds of books I enjoy reading, so I do my best to create those stories for my readers.  My amateur sleuth protagonist(s) always seem to get themselves into lots of trouble as they attempt to solve the crimes.  

My earlier series, the Soup Lovers’ Mysteries, written as Connie Archer, is set in a small village in Vermont where Lucky Jamieson runs the By the Spoonful Soup Shop.  Lucky has risked her life to save a criminal from suicide, rescued a woman from a fiery death, been kidnapped and barely escaped and saved a young girl from certain death and dismemberment.  

Julia Bonatti in the Zodiac Mysteries manages to get herself into hot water too.  In The Madness of Mercury, the first book in the series, she speaks out against a religious cult and becomes the target of an evil preacher.  In the second book in the series, All Signs Point to Murder, well . . . you’ll just have to read the final scenes.  If I say more, it might be a spoiler.  

How did you come to write (said) genre?

Well, like a lot of crime writers, I fell in love with mysteries at an early age.  Of course, I read Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and the Hardy Boys, then graduated to meatier stuff like Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie.  It didn’t stop there.  I can’t imagine writing anything else.  I like every aspect of mysteries and thrillers -- plots that twist and turn, adventures, crimes, thrills and chills and characters that offer psychological depth.  It’s far more interesting to create a villain with gray areas to his or her psyche, or a murderer with a perfectly plausible reason for committing a crime, especially characters with whom a reader can identify, or even feel sympathy for.  Even people who do bad things have a logic to their reasoning.  

Who is your favorite character to write about?

Oh, it’s hard to pick just one, but I do have my favorites.  Jack, Lucky’s grandfather in the Soup Lover’s Mysteries, is very close to my heart.  First, because he’s the dearest man in the world and secondly, because he’s very eccentric.  He’s a Navy vet and insists upon telling time by the bells.  His granddaughter Lucky is the only one who can translate.  

In the Zodiac Mysteries, I guess I’d have to say Nikolai.  He’s a secondary character who appears in every book but he’s very unusual.  He speaks with a broad Russian accent, he’s very charming, and his work involves past life regression hypnosis and exorcizing demons.  Nikolai is larger than life, maybe over the top, but quite convinced the world is in great need of his talents.  Nikolai always makes me smile when I write about him.  

Who inspires your books?

If you mean, which writers do I admire, then I’d have to say many, perhaps too many to count.  I love to read Tana French’s mysteries.  They’re full of atmosphere with wonderful Irish turns of phrase, plots that are simple and chillingly elegant.  The Ann Cleeves’ books are fascinating.  Not just her stories, but the mood she’s able to create, especially in the Shetland series.  Dorothy Sayers’ books are wonderful classics and she was a master of plot in the sense of the traditional mystery.  I’ve fallen in love with a lot of the Danish and Scandinavian writers and when I’m in a bookstore, I always look for authors I’ve never heard of.  I’m always fascinated by other writers’ stories and the journeys they offer.  

The Zodiac Mysteries were inspired by the years I spent living in San Francisco.  Not only is it a beautiful place, but it’s a city of many faces.  Sunny and windy one moment, dank and foggy the next, full of dark alleyways and secret staircases.  There’s always something new to discover there, and the funny thing is, I’ve learned more about the city and its history writing this series, than I ever knew when I lived there.  Perhaps it takes distance or time to really appreciate certain things.

Most of all, I wanted an unusual protagonist to carry these stories.  Julia Bonatti is an astrologer whose life took an abrupt turn when her fiancé was killed in a hit and run accident.  She wasn’t able to pick up the threads of her former life and astrology offered her solace and comfort at a terrible time.  It wasn’t a profession she had ever considered, but she did discover that she’s quite good at helping her clients.  She certainly never thought murder or solving crimes would be part of her practice, but somehow her clients bring their problems to her doorstep and inevitably, she’s pulled into the investigation.  

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I’m laughing at this question!  I guess I’d have to admit I spend my free time reading other authors.  There’s so much to learn and it’s a process that should never stop.  I think the best way to continue to develop is to take lessons from the books of other writers.  I also love to watch foreign crime dramas, in films or TV.  I love all the series on PBS, which are for the most part, British.  But I also love productions of the Scandinavian and Danish and Icelandic writers.  It’s a chance to view crime through the eyes of another culture.  

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take

Water.  Books.  More books.

Thanks for inviting me today, Paula ~ happy reading!

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Interview: Killer Music by: Tammy L. Grace

What genre do you write?

 I write in the mystery and women’s fiction genres.

? I’ve always loved reading mysteries and solving puzzles, so when I began my career as a novelist, I knew I wanted to write a mystery.  As it turned out, the first storyline that came to me was one involving several different women and their emotional journeys.  These stories became my Hometown Harbor Series. After writing several of them, I turned my attention to a private detective mystery series with my Cooper Harrington Detective Novels.

Who is your favorite character to write about?  Coop is one of my favorite characters to write about.  He’s funny and has enough quirks to keep him interesting.  He’s also smart and focused on solving the case.

Who inspires your books?

I get inspiration for my work by visiting places.  A trip to Nashville inspired the Cooper Harrington Detective Novels.  I also take bits and pieces from people I observe in everyday life and incorporate them into my work.  I think authors have to enjoy people watching.  Listening and observing those around me are the things that usually spark an idea for a character trait or storyline.  

I also grew up with my dad being in law enforcement all my life, so stories of crime and mischief were, and still are, topics of conversations.  I always run technical and legal details by him to get his advice.

What do you do when you’re not writing?  

I’ve always been an avid reader and when I finish writing a project I reward myself by binge-reading all the things I’ve missed over the past several months when I’ve been focused on work.  I enjoy movies, walking, baking, and spending time with friends and family along with my own trusty golden retriever.

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take? 

I’d take an expert in getting off a deserted island, so when I was ready to come home I could.  In addition, I’d have to have books to read to occupy my time.  If I could only take one, it would need to be a thick one, like the Outlander.  I’d also be lost with paper and pens…and I could use them to send a message in a bottle if my expert failed.

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Interview with Tonya Kappes author of A Ghostly Reunion

Recently I had a chance to sit down with the wonderful author Tonya Kappes as she has written another Emma Raines mystery.  Tonya is definitely one busy gal but she had time to answer some questions.  Thank you Tonya for stopping by.

What genre do you write?

 I write in the cozy mystery genre with some humor and southern charm.

How did you come to write (said) genre? 

I love reading mystery. I love putting clues together and tying them together. It feels natural to me and I love that. I’m beyond lucky I can write something I love.

Who is your favorite character to write about? 

I love Emma Lee Raines, in the series. She’s a strong woman that hold her family, friends, and community dear to her.

Who inspires your books?

Everyday life inspires me. 

What do you do when you’re not writing? 

I spend a lot of time baking, cooking and with  my family. 

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take? 

The Bible, my husband, ereader!

Author Bio:

About the Author
For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been self-publishing her numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plotlines and quirky characters, but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans. Be sure to check out Tonya’s website for upcoming events and news and to sign up for her newsletter! Tonyakappes.com

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BOTM January: Interview with Larissa Reinhart

Recently I had a chance to sit down with the great author Larissa Reinhart author of the Cherry Tucker mysteries and the new book 15 minutes!  Thank you so much for joining me today! Thanks so much for the interview! 

What genre do you write?

I write humorous mysteries and romantic comedies. They cross over into cozy mysteries and women’s fiction/chick lit.

Tell us something that readers might not know about you?

I have a sister who is afraid of goats. She was cornered by goats in a petting zoo as a kid and has a phobia now. When I put Tater in the first Cherry Tucker book, PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY, it was kind of an inside joke. Now I get sent goat memes and videos every day on Facebook and my sweet readers send me goat gifts (so does my mother). I don’t know if she’ll ever forgive me.

How did you come to write cozy mysteries? Who are your inspirations?

In middle or high school, I began reading Agatha Christie, Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters, and Mary Stewart (not really a cozy writer but a great suspense/thriller writer). I think they were my earliest inspirations. Later, I got hooked on Martha Grimes, Nancy Martin, Charlaine Harris, and the more comedic mystery/romance writers like Janet Evanovich, Meg Cabot, and Jennifer Crusie. Now I’m all about Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiassen. I tend to binge-read authors.

What is your favorite character to write about?

A character who has troubled ethics (not morality) but who’s trying to do the right thing. I love redemptive characters.

What do you do when your not writing?

Raising two girls and all the things that go with that. On the weekends, we like to get out and about to see and do things. Particularly because we’re living in Japan, but in Georgia we did, too. I don’t have much time to do anything else although between 10 and midnight, I’m binge-watching some Netflix series and reading.

How did you come to write books?

I’ve always written stories, beginning in early grade school—I even won a national award through the Girl Scouts in 4th or 5th grade. I tried working for a newspaper in high school, even had my own column, but I hated journalism. I gave up on writing as a career, although in college I took creative writing for fun. I eventually went into teaching, but continued creating stories in my head until finally, six or seven years ago, I wasn’t working and my children were in school and I attempted writing again. In a year I had a completed manuscript and the beginnings of Portrait of a Dead Guy. It feels like a calling. I have too many story ideas to quit.

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take with you?

Bear Grylls, a satellite phone, and a boat.

That was a lot of fun! Thanks!

Author Bio:

A 2015 Georgia Author of the Year Best Mystery finalist, Larissa writes the Cherry Tucker Mystery and Maizie Albright Star Detective series. The first in the Cherry Tucker series, Portrait of a Dead Guy, is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, 2012 The Emily finalist, and 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. She loves books, food, and travel in any and all combinations.

Her family and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit, live in Nagoya, Japan, but they still call Georgia home. You can see them on HGTV’s House Hunters International “Living for the Weekend in Nagoya” episode. Visit her website, find her chatting on Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads, and sign up for her newsletter at http://smarturl.it/larissanewsletter.

If you enjoy her books, please leave a review. She sends you virtual hugs and undying gratitude for your support!

Social Media Links: 

http://larissareinhart.com/

Newsletter signup: http://smarturl.it/larissanewsletter

Official: http://www.facebook.com/RisWrites

Friend me: https://www.facebook.com/larissareinhartwriter

Watch me: http://instagram.com/larissareinhart

Follow me: https://twitter.com/LarissaReinhart

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Follow my books: http://smarturl.it/LarissaBookbub

15 MINUTES, Maizie Albright Star Detective, releases January 24th.

#10days #findthewoman #getthejob #doNOTfallinlove

“Maizie Albright is the kind of fresh, fun, and feisty ‘star detective’ I love spending time with, a kind of Nancy Drew meets Lucy Ricardo. Move over, Janet Evanovich. Reinhart is my new ‘star mystery writer!’”

— Penny Warner, Author of Death of a Chocolate Cheater and The Code Busters Club

#WannaBeDetective 

When ex-teen star Maizie Albright returns to her Southern hometown of Black Pine, Georgia, she hoped to rid herself of Hollywood tabloid and reality show hell for a new career as a private investigator. Instead, Hollyweird follows her home. Maizie’s costar crushing, but now for her gumshoe boss. Her stage-monster mother still demands screen time. Her latest rival wants her kicked off the set, preferably back to a California prison.

By entangling herself in a missing person's case, she must reprise her most famous role. The job will demand a performance of a lifetime. But this time, the stakes are real and may prove deadly.

Download the first four chapters for free (with no signup) on Bookfunnel here: http://bookhip.com/FDHSBH

Links to 15 MINUTES:

Kindle: http://smarturl.it/15MinKindle

Nook: http://smarturl.it/15MinBN

Kobo: http://smarturl.it/15MinKobo

iBooks: http://smarturl.it/15MiniBooks

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Interview: Kate Dyer-Seeley

Recently I had a chance to sit down and interview Kate Dyer-Seeley who has written the book First Degree Mudder.  Thank you Kate for stopping by Community Bookstop!

What genre do you write?

I write modern mysteries featuring a young journalist who wants to be a serious investigative reporter, but she can’t get a job because newspapers are dying so she bills herself as an outdoor adventurer in order to land a job writing for Northwest Extreme Magazine. Only in reality she loves all things pink, vintage fashion, and her idea of sport is climbing onto the couch without spilling her latte.

I really enjoying getting to take a bit of a new slant on the genre by incorporating the outdoors. Each book in the series includes an adventure guide and scenic tour so that readers can actually visit the places in the books. You don’t have to be an extreme athlete to read the series. Armchair adventurers are very welcome!

How did you come to write cozy mysteries?

I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. One summer when I was twelve or thirteen I read all of Agatha Christie’s books, so mysteries have always been my favorite. My dad was an English teacher and used to edit every story or article I wrote with his red pen. I would think that I had written something wonderful. However when he handed back my work it was bloodied with red pen. I used to get so frustrated with his red pen, but now I appreciate that he was my first editor and really helped strengthen my writing from a young age.

I had always wanted to write a mystery, but knew that I had to write what I know. One summer my family and I were hiking in the Columbia River Gorge and bumped into a young woman wearing bright pink hiking boots. She was totally out of place on the trail with a bunch of burly, bearded hiking men. I couldn’t get her out of my head, so eventually she became Meg. I’m very familiar with the outdoors and have lived in the Pacific Northwest for my entire life so it felt natural to set a mystery here.

Who is your favorite character to write about?

Meg has a very wise grandmother, Gam, who is her mentor and spiritual advisor in the books. Gam is a Reiki healer and communes with nature and the animals. She helps ground Meg and gives her gentle nudging when Meg stumbles. I love getting to explore their relationship. There’s something so special about a grandmother and granddaughter. It’s not just a one-way relationship either. They have things to learn and teach one another and I’m looking forward to developing that even more as the series continues.

Who inspires your books?

The Pacific Northwest! It’s such a stunning and unique part of the world. I literally simply have to step outside to get inspiration. When I’m working on a new book I’ll often take a notebook, pen, and my camera and spend a few days jotting down how the forest smells or snapping pictures of the gorge and mountains.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I love to hike. We are surrounded by forests and parks here in this corner of the world, so I spend a lot of time outside. I also love to swim, bake, and read. Portland, Oregon is known for its coffee and microbrew culture which I have weaved into the books. That means you can also find me sipping a cold beer or a steaming latte. All in the name of research, of course.

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take?

The complete works of Jane Austen

Sunscreen

A lifetime supply of coffee

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Interview: Lois Winston author of Literally Dead

Recently I had a chance to sit down with Lois Winston the author of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries and The Empty Next Mysteries.  Thank you Lois Winston for stopping by today.

What genre do you write?

For the last six years I’ve concentrated on writing two different humorous amateur sleuth mystery series, the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries and the Empty Nest Mysteries. Prior to that I wrote romance, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction. I’ve also written one middle grade book and several nonfiction books.

How did you come to write cozy humorous genre?

I was writing dark, gritty romantic suspense, but life had gotten too real, and I found myself spending a lot of time staring at a blinking cursor on a blank screen. My agent suggested I try my hand at writing humorous cozy or amateur sleuth mysteries instead of romantic suspense. I fell in love with the genre and have never looked back.

Who is your favorite character to write about?

Tough question. I don’t know that I have one favorite character that I write. I have fun with both of my sleuths, but I also enjoy creating various secondary characters. And I really enjoy writing characters readers love to hate. Lovinia Darling, the victim in Literally Dead, is one such character. She’s a bully with an over-the-top diva personality—the perfect murder victim because everyone hates her.

Who inspires your books?

Because truth is stranger than fiction, many of my characters are an amalgam of people I’ve known or observed over the years. I love taking various traits from different people and combining them to create my characters. The same is true for my plots. Most of them spring from actual events I’ve either experienced or read about in the news. I then play the “what if” game, giving the events a unique spin that works with my series and characters.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I can’t sing, I can’t act, and I can’t dance, but I love Broadway musicals. So when I have the money, you’ll find me sitting in the

audience, living vicariously through the performers up on the stage.

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take?

An unlimited source of power, a refrigerator stocked with food, and MacGyver. Between the power source and MacGyver, I wouldn’t be on the island very long and while I was there, I’d have plenty to eat.

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Interview: Cathy Ace Author of The Corpse with the Ruby Lips

Recently I had a chance to sit down and talk to Cathy Ace the author of The Cait Morgan Mysteries and the WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries.  Thank you for taking the time to visit us Cathy!
    

What genre do you write?

I write crime fiction – on the broad spectrum of “cozy crime”, I’d say I write traditional mysteries rather than very cozy ones…think Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh. I always write “closed circle” mysteries, where only a small number of people could have “dunnit”.

How did you come to write crime fiction?

It’s what I grew up reading – my mum was a real Christie fan, so it’s no surprise I devoured her collection of books when I’d “outgrown” Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.

Who is your favorite character to write about?

I write two distinctly different series of books – the WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries (which feature a quartet of softly-boiled professional female investigators who run their business out of a converted barn in the grounds of a a stately home in Wales) and the Cait Morgan Mysteries, which feature a professor of criminal psychology with a love of all things foodie! Today I’m cheering the launch of the eighth book in my Cait Morgan Mystery series, and I have to admit I have a soft spot for Cait. She’s a lot like me – though I don’t have all her flaws….but then neither does she have all mine, so I suppose we’re even. Like me she was born and raised in Wales (she even grew up on the same street as me and when to the schools I attended, if you can believe that!) and, also like me, she migrated to Canada and lives in British Columbia. Another thing we have in common is our love of travel – each of Cait’s adventures takes place in a different country…and it seems she’s following in my footsteps in even this regard. In THE CORPSE WITH THE RUBY LIPS Cait finds herself in Budapest, Hungary – a stunning city with a dark history, where I have spent a good deal of time over the years.

Who inspires your books?

I’m fortunate that my mum is still alive, and she’s the person (in my heart) I write for. Still an

enthusiastic reader of traditional mysteries, she’s happy to give feedback during my writing process and proudly borrows all my books from her local library.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

To be honest, writing is a pretty all-consuming way of life, but, when I’m not at my desk I’m likely to be in the garden. I’m so fortunate to live on acreage, and my husband and I actively garden about three of our five acres, so there’s always something to do, whatever the season. I especially enjoy pulling up weeds while I plot, or thinking about my victim/s when I’m decapitating dandelions (which I only do when there are plenty of other blooms in the garden to keep the local bees happy!).

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take?

Oh heck – this is a tough one! First off, I’d like a huge supply of water-purifying tablets and meal-replacement bars etc. so I can be sure I’ll survive while I’m trying to work out how to collect water and food for the longer-haul, if that’s okay? Secondly, I suppose I’m not going to surprise anyone when I say my choice would be to have a laptop with a year’s-worth of battery, back-up disks and internet access (not so I could escape, but so I could write and research the books I’d have the peace and quiet to work on) or – failing that – an endless supply of pens and paper would do! Finally, I’d opt for a copy of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare – because most of the truths about the human condition are contained therein, and his work would inspire me while I sat alone contemplating the universe. 

Thank you,Paula

Thanks so much for having me along.  Your welcome Cathy thank you for stopping by Community Bookstop today!

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