Blogging Authors

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Devil and Dayna Dalton by Brit Lunden @britlunden #bookspotlight

Title: THE DEVIL AND DAYNA DALTON
Author: Brit Lunden
Publisher: Chelshire, Inc.
Pages: 128
Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Reporter Dayna Dalton's reputation has been ruined since birth. The daughter of wild child, Becky Dalton, is expected to follow her mother's footsteps; never given a chance to prove she's different. Dana's been in love with Clay Finnes since she was a teenager. Her unrequited love for Sheriff Finnes leaves her empty. He's happily married and unavailable. Instead, Dayna finds herself stuck in the revolving door of bad relationships. But this is Bulwark, Georgia, a town where strange things are always happening. Dayna is doomed to this loveless life until she can find someone who will appreciate the depth of her character. Can she overcome her fears and look beyond her own perceptions to accept a greater love?

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2oemkM6

_____________________

MEET THE AUTHOR

Brit Lunden is a prolific author who’s written over 50 books in assorted genres under different pen names. Bulwark was her first effort in adult fiction and was chosen by several of her fellow authors as the basis for a new series, A Bulwark Anthology. Using her characters, they are creating new denizens in spin-off stories to this bizarre town. Brit Lunden lives on Long Island in a house full of helpful ghosts.

wEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS

Website → www.britlunden.com

Blog → https://britlunden.blogspot.com

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BritLunden

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/britlunden

Thursday, November 21, 2019

FREE EBOOK: Every Reasonable Doubt by Pamela Samuels Young @authorpsy #freeebook

thewriterslife 12:00 AM 0 Comments

EVERY REASONABLE DOUBT

PAMELA SAMUELS YOUNG

* MYSTERY/LEGAL THRILLER *

Title: Every Reasonable Doubt
Author: Pamela Samuels Young
Publisher: Goldman House Publishing
File Size: 722 KB
Genre: Mystery/Legal Thriller

When attorneys Vernetta Henderson and Neddy McClain are tapped to take on the biggest case of their careers, they are less than thrilled about working together. Their strained relationship, however, is the least of their problems. Their socialite client—charged with the brutal murder of her husband—is demanding an immediate dismissal of the case. But a ruthless prosecutor is determined to make sure that doesn’t happen. Forced to fight a common enemy, the two women close ranks and, in the process, develop a bond that sees them through the uncertainties of trial, the pain of betrayal and pressures neither could have imagined.

cLICK BELOw TO GET YOUR FREE COPY!

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2WNlraB

______________________

______________________

Prologue

If Max Montgomery ever had to commit to monogamy to save his wife’s life, she would just have to come back and haunt him from the afterlife.

Max rested his forearm on the registration desk as his eyes anxiously crisscrossed the lobby of the Beverly Hills Ritz-Carlton. He watched as people milled about, dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns. He made eye contact with a short, brown-skinned cutie who sashayed by in a dress so tight he could see the faint outline of her thong. Max smiled. She smiled back. Too bad he was already about to get laid. Otherwise, he definitely would’ve taken the time to follow up on that.

“Here’s your key, Mr. Montgomery,” said a cherub-faced girl with a shrill voice. “You’ll be in room 502. One of our most elegant suites.”

When he reached for the key, his fingertips accidentally brushed her hand and she nervously looked away. She wants me, Max thought. But she was way too young for his taste.

He thanked her and headed for the bank of elevators in the rear of the lobby. Max tapped the elevator button and the car to his left instantly glided open. Some of the tension eased from his body once he was safely inside. He had waited nearly a week for this night and his wait was almost over.

The anonymous invitation to a “private evening of intimacy” had intrigued him and he had immediately decided to accept. No questions asked. A man like Max didn’t make hasty decisions very often. On the rare occasion that he did, it was only because he was banking on a huge payoff.

Max stepped off the elevator, studied the sign directly in front of him, then turned left down a long hallway. He walked with a distinctive, self-assured stride, like a male model taking a slow stroll down the catwalk. He stopped in front of a door near the end of the hallway and fished the plastic card key from his breast pocket.

A huge smile of anticipation spread across his face as he entered the lavish suite. The place was a classy ensemble of muted colors, luxurious fabrics, and calming scents. From the flowing silk curtains to the massive mahogany sleigh bed to the sleek suede comforter, everything in the room spelled class with a capital C. And that pleased him.

Max made his way over to a nightstand near the window, his feet sinking into the plush, caramel-colored carpet with every step. He examined a champagne bottle sitting near an antique lamp. Dom Pérignon, vintage 1995. Definitely his style. He only hoped his host was familiar with some of his more erotic personal preferences.

The sight of a red teddy hanging from the corner of the headboard triggered a twinge of arousal that warmed him inside. He rubbed the soft fabric between his fingers, smiled again, then tossed it onto the bed. On the floor near the nightstand was a large wicker basket with three packages of rose petals, twelve scented candles, two champagne glasses, and a book of matches. He set the basket on the bed and read the fancy gold card inside. It provided additional instructions for the evening.

Max glanced at his watch. He didn’t have much time. He scooped up the basket with one hand, began undoing his tie with the other and proceeded into the bathroom. It was just as dazzling as the rest of the suite. The marble floor, the shiny granite countertop, the extravagant gold fixtures were all symbols of an affluent lifestyle Max knew well.

As the card commanded, Max filled the oversized Jacuzzi tub with water, sprinkled it with the rose petals and positioned the candles about the room. He lit each one, then turned off the lights to admire his handiwork. Yes, yes, yes. He was about to have himself one big ball.

Max ripped up both the invitation and the card and flushed them down the toilet. A married man could never be too careful. Just as he was about to head back into the bedroom, the enormous mirror on the wall directly across from the tub stopped him in his tracks. Max grinned. He would get to watch.

Marching into the bedroom, he stripped off his Hugo Boss suit and draped it over the back of an armchair near the bed, making sure his pants were carefully folded along the crease line. After removing the rest of his clothes, he grabbed the champagne bottle and strutted naked into the bathroom, where he eased into the steaming hot water and waited.

All day long he had tried to figure out who his freaky little hostess might be. He had instantly ruled out Janice. A single parent with three kids didn’t have the time, not to mention the energy, to plan something this elaborate. She could barely escape from her solo law practice for their once-a-week lunchtime romps. That left Paula, a stewardess who had served him on a flight to New York three months earlier, and Natasha, the big-breasted Swede who was temping as a receptionist at his firm’s Newport Beach office. She had straight out boned him with her eyes when he walked up to the reception desk to find out her name. Yeah, both Paula and Natasha were kinky enough to plan something like this.

Max poured himself a glass of champagne and took a slow, satisfying sip. The air jets pelting his back with spurts of water felt great. He closed his eyes and slowly twisted his head to the left as far as it would go, then repeated the move on the opposite side. The muscles along the base of his neck felt like dense, knotted fists. Maybe she would give him a massage afterward.

At the sound of the hotel room door opening, Max bolted forward, causing rose petals to splash onto the floor. He could feel his pulse racing as he waited for his mystery date to appear, and when she did not, he settled back into the tub and tried to calm himself down. She was probably just slipping into that sexy little teddy. He was so hard now he had to fight the urge to jack himself off.

Max reached for the champagne bottle to refill his glass just as a sharp, searing pain attacked his left temple. He hoped it wasn’t another migraine. There was a time when he could almost will them away if he concentrated hard enough. But that wasn’t working anymore. He sat the bottle back down. He would wait and share the rest with her.

Max leaned back, sucked in a long, deep breath, and closed his eyes for several seconds. When he reopened them, he could not focus. A thick curtain of haze had suddenly filled the room. He tried to sit up, but his head felt heavier than a bowling ball and fell backward, slamming hard against the tiled wall. He was now blind, dizzy, and in excruciating pain.

By the time the bathroom door opened, Max could feel the presence of someone else in the room. He could even hear a voice. A voice he was too dazed to place, speaking words he could not quite make out. Max had never had a migraine like this one before. He tried to speak, but his lips spewed nothing but gibberish. Had the champagne been spiked?

Without warning, a powerful jolt of pain pierced the right side of Max’s chest at the same time that his head seemed to explode.

His visitor, hovering over him now, plunged a knife deep into Max’s chest, then repeated the motion. A second time, a third time, a fourth time. The stabbing continued until the rose petals disappeared into a pool of deep, dark red.

______________________

Award-winning author and attorney Pamela Samuels Young writes mysteries that matter. Dubbed “John Grisham with a sister’s twist” by one reviewer, Pamela’s fast-paced novels often tackle important social issues.

Her most recent legal thriller, Failure to Protect, takes on the bullying epidemic and its devastating aftermath. Pamela won the prestigious NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Fiction for her thriller Anybody’s Daughter, which provides a realistic look inside the world of child sex trafficking. Her courtroom drama Abuse of Discretion centers around a troubling teen sexting case. #Anybody’s Daughter and #Abuse of Discretion are young adult editions of the two books. A young adult version of Failure to Protect goes on sale in December 2019.

Pamela also writes dangerously sassy romantic suspense under the pen name Sassy Sinclair. Her first foray into the romance genre, Unlawful Desires (2017), was awarded Best Erotic Romance by Romance Slam Jam. Her second book, Unlawful Seduction (2018), was honored as a finalist in Romance Writers of America/Passionate Ink’s Passionate Plume contest in the Best Contemporary Erotica category.

The prolific writer is a frequent speaker on the topics of sex trafficking, bullying, online safety, fiction writing, self-empowerment, and pursuing your passion. To invite Pamela to your book club meeting or to read excerpts of her books, visit www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com and www.sassysinclair.com .

website & Social links

Website: www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorpsy

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

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

# Free eBooks

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Character Interview: Save Him's Ray Catlin #savehim @wmhayes_author #characterinterview

thewriterslife 5:28 AM 0 Comments

We are really excited to have Ray Catlin here with us today at Blogging Authors! Ray comes from the inside pages of William M. Hayes' new book, SAVE HIM. Take it away, Ray!

What is your name? Ray Catlin

What do you look like? 6’1”, dark hair, green eyes, athletic build

Where are you today and what are you doing? I am at my home in my man-cave watching a football game with my brother-in-law, John.

You come face to face with your worse enemy. How do you react? I’m trained in Special Forces, it would entirely depend on his intentions.

How would your parents describe you? Loyal

Who is your best friend? John Adams

Are you faith-oriented? Very much so.

Are you married or in a relationship? I am married to my high school sweetheart, and John’s sister, Kate.

Do you have children? Not yet but hoping!

Inside the Book

Title: SAVE HIM
Author: William M. Hayes
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 245
Genre: Military Faith-based Thriller

Rydel Scott, a brilliant scientist working at a secret military lab, accidentally discovers a form of time travel while working on a project designed to save wounded soldiers in the field. Rydel’s sister, a woman of faith, tells Rydel on her deathbed that she has received a message from God. The message—save Jesus Christ from the cross.

And Rydel Scott travels back in time to do just that.

It is believed even the smallest change to the past can cause catastrophic repercussions for future generations. An elite military unit is sent back in time to hunt Rydel down before he can alter history and possibly kill millions in the process.

The unit and its commanding officers, Colonel John Adams and Unit Commander Ray Catlin, become divided. Catlin, a devout Catholic, claims he witnessed a miracle by Jesus upon arrival in Jerusalem and fervently believes in Rydel’s mission. Adams hasn’t believed in God since he was a boy and his only concern is the safety of the people in the present. They must now choose between the fate of Christ and the fate of present-day mankind.

They must decide if they will Save Him.

Order Your Copy below

Amazon → https://tinyurl.com/y3veph29

Barnes & Noble → https://tinyurl.com/y4rw4sgm

_____________________

meet the author

William M. Hayes lives with his beautiful family in a small suburb in New York. His passion for writing became apparent in his twenties, and he dreams of retiring to a secluded beach house where he can write all day.

website & social links

Website → www.williammhayes.com

Twitter → https://twitter.com/WMHayes_Author

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/WilliamMHayesAuthor/

# CHARACTER INTERVIEWS

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Story Behind Witchwood and Seabound by Ethan Proud #guest

thewriterslife 7:55 AM 0 Comments

The Story Behind Witchwood and Seabound

By Ethan Proud

Artemisia the woodswitch and Sheriff Ruckstead face the anger of a goddess and cross a dangerous demon while on a mission to save their town from a pair of ravenous werewolves in Witchwood!

Witchwood is my fifth book (and sixth if you count the novella Seabound) and initially it was the hardest to start-but once the ball got rolling, it didn’t stop! It only took me three months which beat my previous record of six.

While most of my books start ‘organically’-an idea gestates in my mind and slowly unravels, Witchwood was a little different. My younger brother suggested I try my hand at horror after reading Vengeance, the second book in the Rebellion Trilogy. The trilogy is co-wrote by my older brother Lincoln. I decided to give it a go and settled on a plot centered on a witch. After mulling it over, I decided she would have an uneasy alliance with the sheriff in order to save their town from werewolves. I kicked around the idea for a few weeks wondering how I was ever going to make it an original piece. Reluctantly I sat down and cranked out the first few chapters and ideas started popping into my head one after the other.

The first move was to make werewolves a creation of Mond, the Goddess of the Moon. The setting of Witchwood is largely the town of Northgate and the surrounding forests, upon which I drew on my experience of living in small towns. I picked a western vibe to smear into the dark fantasy plotline (didn’t quite hit the horror genre nail on the head, but so be it). From there it spiraled into summoning demons, interplanal travel, and a novella packed with more gods, monsters, and pirates!

Originally I didn’t plan on writing the novella, but after reading Witchwood, my mom asked me what happened to one of the characters who was left in a bit of a sticky situation. I went back to the drawing board and wrote Seabound.

Ethan Proud was raised in Pinedale, Wyoming and that is where he fell in love with reading, writing, and the outdoors. He published his first series the Rebellion Trilogy with his older brother, Lincoln. Ethan is an avid adventurer, whether it is on the page or in nature and when he is not writing or reading he can be found backpacking, rock climbing, or snowboarding.

website & SOcial Links

Website → www.proudbrotherswriting.com

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/proudbrotherswriting

Title: WITCHWOOD AND SEABOUND
Author: Ethan Proud
Publisher: Proud Brothers Publishing
Pages: 492
Genre: Fantasy

Gripping and tense, Witchwood tells the tale of a witch and sheriff turned unlikely allies to stop the town of Northgate from being destroyed by dark forces.

Sheriff Ruckstead reluctantly asks his nemesis Artemisia Corax, the woodwitch, for help when a string of murders unsolvable by mundane means occurs in one night. As he cooperates with the witch, his reputation is called into question and he faces conflict with one of the wealthier business families of Northgate.

While Sheriff Ruckstead faces his own challenges, Artemisia discovers that she will need aid in bringing the murderers to justice and enlists the support of a demon. When the interplanal denizen escapes her control, she finds that she and Ruckstead have more on their plates than they bargained for. Including the wrath of a goddess.

Order YOur COpy

Amazon → https://amzn.to/32j3ZMi

# Guest Posts

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Story Behind EmpowerEd by Jennifer Oneal Price @jennoprice #guest

thewriterslife 6:19 AM 0 Comments

The Story Behind EmpowerEd

By Jennifer Oneal Price

EmpowerEd: Using Real Case Examples to Look Deeper into IEP Management is a
resource book for parents who are tired of fighting with the school district to get an
appropriate education for their child. As an attorney in private practice, I spend part of
each day answering telephone calls and questions from parents who are frustrated over
what their school is or is not doing for their child’s education. I have a disability rights
practice, which includes a niche in special education law. My journey into this area of
law, and ultimately the book, began as a prosecutor in the juvenile division.

A typical day in the family courthouse consisted of hallways filled with parents and
children, all waiting anxiously to have their cases heard. Family dynamics can play a
significant role in why a juvenile is actually in the juvenile court system. Another factor
that some people don’t realize can be whether a person has a disability. Disabilities can
play a factor in the juvenile court process because if a child has a behavioral disability,
like ADHD, or a neurological/development disability like autism, certain things
throughout the day may trigger conduct from them the teachers feel they can’t handle.
Since many schools have juvenile probation officers and/or police officers within the
school, it can become that much easier for a teacher to involve law enforcement in the
situation, as opposed to trying to diffuse it, alone.

I left a District Attorney’s Office after seeing worst-case scenarios in juvenile court: when
learning accommodations were not made, or plans were not implemented for children
with disabilities. I realized that while these were similar stories told from different
situations, the common thread in all of them was either IEP or 504 Service Agreement
management. After I decided to go into private practice to focus on representing children
with disabilities, I quickly learned there was a lack of information by many parents and
educational advocates. At the same time, there was a constant desire for information and
specifically, legal updates. That is why I decided to write this book. It is meant to be a
guide and a starting point to understanding how to be a more effective advocate for your
child’s educational rights. When I would speak at parent groups, providing legal updates,
the parents were grateful but still weren’t sure exactly how to use the information for
their situation. This book was designed to require parents to think more critically and
analytically about their situation, as well as understand how the school district is
thinking. In understanding things from the school district’s perspective, parents can better
strategize how to best advocate to get better results.

The book uses real court case examples to show the practical side of how courts have
ruled on familiar issues. In the end, the goal is to set parents up for their child’s
educational success. Some of the points the book addresses are: Child Find; Setting up
the IEP for success; and Bullying.

Jennifer Price is a special education attorney in the Pittsburgh metro area who has received awards for her legal skills and advocacy. As a former prosecutor, Attorney Price is very familiar with the courts and believes in making sure every child has an opportunity to succeed both in school and in life. Her boutique law firm provides services protecting and defending against abuses of the criminal justice system, as well as the educational systems. With 10 years of experience, Attorney Price’s advocacy has resulted in successes, including getting criminal charges withdrawn, preventing children from getting expelled out of school and federal civil rights lawsuits. Aa a speaker, she has presented at seminars and workshops and has also made regular television appearances for her legal opinions.

★WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS: ★

Website → www.jenniferpricelaw.com

Twitter → twitter.com/jennoprice

Title: EMPOWERED: USING REAL CASE EXAMPLES TO LOOK DEEPER INTO IEP MANAGEMENT
Author: Jennifer Oneal Price
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 107
Genre: Nonfiction

BOOK BLURB:

This book outlines the progressive steps taken to address the educational needs of an exceptional child. From the Child Find process to filing a Due Process complaint, courts have addressed many legal issues. This book goes through court cases on some key issues from 2018 with an included workbook-style composition section after the cases. Parents and educational advocates will be able to read the cases and use the Thought Questions and composition space to take notes to better analyze their own case and advocate for their child’s educational rights.

★★★★★ORDER YOUR COPY★★★★★

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2q0Ql2Q

# Guest Posts

Thursday, November 7, 2019

How To Write for Fun by TG Wolff @tg_wolff #writing

thewriterslife 4:46 AM 0 Comments

How to Write for Fun

By TG Wolff @tg_wolff

Everyone has a different reason for writing, but one thing should be universal: writing is fun. For many, the mandatory writing on uninteresting subjects forced on us from elementary school on up has left a bitter taste in the preverbal writing mouth. It’s akin to my distaste of plaid after twelve years of Catholic school even though I haven’t worn a schoolgirl’s skirt for thirty years. But fear not, you can overcome the rigid constraints of noun-verb-noun and intro paragraph-body-summary paragraph. It may be hard to overcome the Pavlovian habits, but it won’t be painful.

So, here’s the secret of how to write for fun…write like nobody’s going to read it.

Counterintuitive, right? Well, I’m sure you’ve heard these other popular sayings…

Dance like no one is watching, sing like no one is listening, work like you don’t need the money, love like you’ve never been hurt.

Writing, like any another other form of art, is personal. Which means how you do it is completely unique to you. When you feel like you have to follow certain rules, or if you worry about how nameless, faceless readers will react, you stifle the very part of you need for good writing. Ergo, put aside all the rules and write like nobody’s going to read it.

If it’s a funny scene, make yourself laugh. If you don’t, nobody else will.

If it’s a sad scene, make yourself cry. If you don’t, nobody else will.

If it’s a thrilling scene, make your adrenaline pump. If you don’t, everyone else will be bored.

If it’s a sexy scene, make yourself…well, you get the picture.

True story, in one of my books, the soon-to-be ex-wife of my main character dies and he has to go back to arrange the funeral. He comes back from the funeral determined to walk away from a budding romance. My editor told me I had to write the funeral scene, without it, the hero’s actions weren’t believable. It took me three days to figure out how to frame the funeral of a failed love affair, but I did. When I wrote it, I cried so hard, I gave myself a headache that lasted for three hours! The husband laughed with me, not at me (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)

I started writing to entertain myself. I was doing a lot of driving for my day job and found the radio just didn’t hold my attention. I began playing with characters in my head, which evolved into storylines. I wrote them down when I could, often in 20-30 minute spurts. Much of writing is in the figuring out of what is to be said. Some people “figure” in front of a keyboard. For me, it happens everywhere else. Walking the dog. Swimming. Chilling on the back porch. Driving across the Midwest. Writing is my reward at the end of a long day and where I go to play when life is heavy.

I had over ten manuscripts completed before a friend dared me to see if I could get published. In my opinion, one of the reasons my story connect with people is they were written to entertain me, and by doing that, they entertain others. Here’s an example from my newest release, WIDOW’S RUN. The chapter is title Wanted: Sophisticated Slut, Must Have Three-Inch Heels.

The stiletto heels of my knee-high boots clicked as I stepped onto small islands of concrete adrift in a sea of rubble. The city long ago forgot this patch of nowhere existed, leaving it to reclamation by feral beasts of all species. My target was the squat building wearing a mish-mash of sixties, nineties, and Y2K renovations. Looked like everybody ran out of money before the job was done. Still, the building stood when others had fallen, surviving the urban apocalypse like a cockroach without the good sense to die. Around the joint, an ad-hoc parking lot took over the space demoed buildings left behind. Crushed glass sprinkled across the parking lot like sugar on a donut, glistening under the happy-ass afternoon sun. The Hideaway.

Yeah, it was hidden…like a zit on the tip of a nose.

It was fun to put myself in the role of an ex-CIA agent going into a seedy bar to do a little side job I got blackmailed into. How would I walk? What would I be walking on? What would the place feel like? How would it smell? I pulled on my attitude and let my fingers fly.

There is a lot of advice out there for writers and so I’ll add mine. Start by figuring out what type of writer you are. If you like to go to the grocery store and winging it, you’re a pantser—some who writes by the seat of their pants. You’ll likely find your fun in the spontaneity of creation. Tell that critical angel on our shoulder to come back during editing and set the words free. There’s nothing that can’t be fixed in editing and you just may be amazed at where you end up.

If you meticulously plan out meals, organize your list, and then ruthlessly consult it at the story, you’re a plotter. You’ll likely find your fun in the development of order. Whether you outline, storyboard, or make notes, creating the tool will give you a sense of completion and satisfaction. Then sit down, with a smile on your face, connect the dots and color in the scene. There’s nothing that can’t be fixed in editing and you just may be amazed at where you end up. (I feel like I just read that somewhere.)

Here are a few things you may be asking yourself and my answers.

Q: What if I write for fun and the first draft sucks?

A: The first draft will suck; that’s what first drafts do. That doesn’t mean the story sucks, it means you’re ready for editing. Expect several rounds of edits for content and for copy. With each round, the story will get tighter and better.

Q: What if I write for fun and nobody else likes it?

A: What will actually happen is there will be a small number of people who thinks it’s horrible and a small number of people who think it’s perfect. The truth is somewhere in between. Readers have a broad taste spectrum. You won’t please everyone. Trying will drive you crazy and ruin your self-esteem. Know what you want your story to be, then challenge the haters to explain what didn’t work for them and critically evaluate to determine 1) if it is valid and 2) if it needs to be fixed. Challenge the lovers to make it better by asking open ended questions like

· Did the story make you (laugh, cry, angry, etc” if yes, where)

· Were you bored anywhere? If yes, where

· Were you confused at any point? If yes, about what?

Q: What if I write for fun and I can’t get an agent or publisher?

A: You’ll be in good company, but you’ll be richer for having enjoyed creating the story. There are two times in life you can do whatever you want: when you have nothing and when you have everything. You have nothing to lose…enjoy it.

Q: I have a story that is really important to me and I want to tell it well, should I write it for fun?

A: Yes, but not first. Writing is art, but it’s also a skill. Your third story will be twice as good as your first for the experience of editing and feedback. Your sixth story will be twice as good as your third as you hone your style and process. You don’t expect to paint like Leonardo when you’ve never picked up a brush, have the same expectation with writing. Write. Enjoy. Learn. Grow. Repeat.

Writing Prompt: You are four years old and just came home after the best weekend ever with your grandparents, describe it to your parents.

About the Author

TG Wolff writes thrillers and mysteries that play within the gray area between good and bad, right and wrong. Cause and effect drive the stories, drawing from 20+ years’ experience in Civil Engineering, where “cause” is more often a symptom of a bigger, more challenging problem. Diverse characters mirror the complexities of real life and real people, balanced with a healthy dose of entertainment. TG Wolff holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering and is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

★ WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS: ★

Website → www.tgwolff.com

Twitter → @tg_wolff

Facebook → www.Facebook.com/tina.wolff.125

About the Book:

Title: WIDOW’S RUN
Author: TG Wolff
Publisher: Down & Out Books
Pages: 236
Genre: Mystery/Thriller

BOOK BLURB:

One night in Rome. One car. One dead scientist. Italian police investigate, but in the end, all they have are kind words for the new widow. Months later, a video emerges challenging the facts. Had he stepped into traffic, or was he pushed? The widow returns to the police, where there are more kind words but no answers. Exit the widow.

Enter Diamond. One name for a woman with one purpose. Resurrecting her CIA cover, she follows the shaky video down the rabbit hole. Her widow’s run unearths a plethora of suspects: the small-time crook, the mule-loving rancher, the lady in waiting, the Russian bookseller, the soon-to-be priest. Following the stink greed leaves in its wake reveals big lies and ugly truths. Murder is filthy business. Good thing Diamond likes playing dirty.

"TG Wolff's novel is for crime-fiction fans who like it action-packed and hard-edged. Written with feisty panache, it introduces Diamond, one of the most aggressive, ill-tempered, and wholly irresistible heroines to ever swagger across the page." --David Housewright, Edgar Award-winning author of Dead Man's Mistress

★★★★★ORDER YOUR COPY★★★★★

Amazon → https://tinyurl.com/y3eaf8ro

# Guest Posts

20 Questions with Mike Martin, Author of 'Christmas in Newfoundland' @mike54martin #20Questions

thewriterslife 12:00 AM 0 Comments

Today's guest is Mike Martin, author of the mystery/memoir, CHRISTMAS IN NEWFOUNDLAND. Mike is here today to answer 20 questions about his life, writing and goals.

1. Are you a morning writer or a night writer? Morning

2. Do you outline or are you a pantster? Pantser

3. Which comes first – plot or character? Character

4. Noise or quiet when working on your manuscript? Quiet

5. Favorite TV show? Murdoch Mysteries

6. Favorite type of music? Classic rock

7. Favorite craft besides writing? Gardening

8. Do you play a musical instrument? No

9. Single or married? Single

10. Children or no? 2
11. Pets? Dog
12. Favorite place to write? Office
13. Favorite restaurant? Al’s Steakhouse
14. Do you work outside the home? No
15. What was the name of the last movie you saw? Downton Abbey
16. Favorite outdoor activity? Walking
17. Pet peeve? None
18. Your goal in life? Keep living well
19. Your most exciting moment? Birth of both children
20. The love of your life? Joan Riggs

Mike Martin was born in Newfoundland on the East Coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. The Walker on the Cape was his first full fiction book and the premiere of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series. Other books in the series include The Body on the T, Beneath the Surface, A Twist of Fortune and A Long Ways from Home, which was shortlisted for the Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award as the best light mystery of the year. A Tangled Web was released in 2017 and the newest book in the series.is Darkest Before the Dawn which won the Bony Blithe Award in 2019. A new book in the series, Fire, Fog and Water is being released in October.

Mike is currently Chair of the Board of Crime Writers of Canada, a national organization promoting Canadian crime and mystery writers.

website & social links

Website → www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com

Twitter Link: → http://ww.twitter.com/mike54martin

Facebook→https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/

Title: CHRISTMAS IN NEWFOUNDLAND: MEMORIES AND MYSTERIES
Author: Mike Martin
Publisher: Ottawa Press and Publishing
Pages: 113
Genre: Mystery/Memoir

From the author of the award-winning Sgt. Windflower Mysteries comes “Christmas in Newfoundland: Memories and Mysteries,” a welcome addition to the Sgt. Windflower family of books.

Christmas in Newfoundland is a special time. In the depths of long winter nights memories are made and stories are told. Of Christmas by candlelight and horse and buggy rides to church. Of shopping on Water Street in St. John’s before malls and the Internet.

In later years, Sgt. Windflower came to work and then to stay in the quiet town of Grand Bank by the Atlantic Ocean where the salt air froze in the wind and the Mounties were welcomed to warm themselves by every fire.

Come and warm yourself by the fire and hear their stories. Some memories and some mysteries. Enjoy some holiday time with Sgt. Windflower and all the familiar characters that you’d come to know and love. Good food, good friends and always another chair at the table.

order your copy below

Amazon → https://tinyurl.com/y39fby3r

# 20 Questions

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Back Story: JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED by Preston Howard #backstory

thewriterslife 12:00 AM 0 Comments

Back Story: Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

by Preston Howard

November 8, 2016 was the date that made me first think about our book, the day when Donald Trump was elected. After the topsy turvy Republican campaign and his election, I knew that he was fodder for a book; I just didn’t realize how much of a target he would be for insult and comical relief. Then, I thought it might be a clever idea to juxtapose the possibility of assassinating the president or instead, three corrupt Austin TX police detectives who my alter ego, Preston Howard, saved from a capital murder charge ten years before.

The use of a red herring seemed to work well in the development of the plot. This story is my first stab into a noir crime thriller…a very different writing experience than my first autobiographical fiction novel, The Sheltering Palms/

I am, of course, a little nervous about my several references to the possible assassination of the president and a visit from the Secret Service; they might haul me down to their office for an interrogation. Will they water board me? Actually, the Secret Service showed up in my book, a comical scene. If the grey men form the Deep State do show up for a visit, maybe it would sell more books!

In this new book, I needed a counterpoint, someone who could play off the story and Preston Howard, and thus provide a different perspective of his many issues: retirement, divorce, obsession with murder, alcoholism, and a love interest. I spoke with my daughter Anne Howard, she bought into the idea, and became my co-author. Anne also becomes embroiled in Preston’s murder plot, along with two other people.

The issues of alcohol addiction, and the exciting criminal trial of the three police detectives required the assistance of people who specialized in alcoholism, criminal law, and police investigations (the latter two related to the trial of the three corrupt detectives). My good friends Susan Gay, lawyer Greg Zaney, and detective Anthony Nelson came through like champs, filling me in on information about which I was sadly deficient.

In my first novel----The Sheltering Palms-----there was no female love interest because it didn’t fit the storyline. In the Justice Delayed book, it melded well with the plot. The lady’s name is George; and I actually met a woman called George at my local gym, just like in the book. I felt George would spice up the plot a bit, and she did for sure. As far as the prototype for her, I actually met her, just like in the book, at a gym. I used her physical features as the construct for her character, and then added a whole lot of pizazz to her personality, none of which applies to her…I think. Fortunately, the real George enjoyed the book and still speaks to me.

After finishing my second novel, I have truly gotten the bug to continue sitting on my laptop and cranking out more stories. What a pleasure to dream up ideas and put them into words!

meet the author

Preston Howard has retired from his rewarding profession as a labor lawyer, where he represented law enforcement officers not only in Texas but across the country. As a renowned expert, he spoke at meetings and conferences about topical labor law issues not only in the United States, but in other countries as well. He now lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he spends his time writing novels.
His first book, “The Sheltering Palms,” was highly praised. One reviewer said, “…had me hooked right from the start.” Another person wrote, “…storytelling at its best.”
His latest effort, “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied,” tracks his struggles with retirement: a divorce from his wife, alcoholism, and thoughts of murder either of the president or three corrupt police offices he represented ten years before. As he wrestles with these concerns, he also dips his foot into the dating scene, meeting an attractive senior lady. As in his first novel, Preston Howard’s observations about the human condition are hilarious and on point.

website & social links

Website → https://prestonhowardauthor.com

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/prestonhowardauthor/

inside the book

Title: JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED
Author: Preston Howard & Anne Howard
Publisher: PHP
Pages: 335
Genre: Noir Crime Thriller

Retired attorney Preston Howard obsesses about the newly elected, bombastic and narcissistic president, and three corrupt Austin police officers whom he represented and saved from capital murder charges and execution ten years before. After his wife divorces him and his drinking reaches gargantuan proportions, Howard’s thoughts turn to murderous impulses as the only way he can stamp out one, or both of his fixations. Howard and his co-author, daughter Anne Howard, tell the story, often with hilarious observations, of compulsion, addiction, love, and in the end, the search for justice.

Praise:
“I thought Preston Howard’s first book was terrific, but Justice Delayed is Justice Denied is a home run! One of the best books I’ve read in years.” – John P. Davis, Knoxville, Tennessee
“Preston Howard’s writing and insights into politics and the legal system keep getting better and better. Justice Delayed is hilarious and on point!” – Amy Margulies, Austin, Texas

order your copy below

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2oPsovi

# BACK STORIES

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

New Release! My Billionaire Fake Fiance by Linda West #newrelease

thewriterslife 12:00 AM 0 Comments

MY BILLIONAIRE FAKE FIANCE

Linda West
* Contemporary Romance *

Title: MY BILLIONAIRE FAKE FIANCE
Author: Linda West
Publisher: Morning Mayan Publishing
Pages: 300
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Holiday Romance

He needs a fiance to seal the deal. She needs a Christmas miracle to save her home.
When tree activist Allie Archer is forced to strike up a deal with her nemesis the heir to Somerset Industries, the flurries of fate have a completely different plan than the one she counted on…

order your copy below

Amazon → https://tinyurl.com/y4ujbn2c

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teaser

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excerpt

"Now, I really did mean to keep my mouth shut. I certainly wasn't going to bring up the rainforest or the fact that Somerset Industries killed more trees for stupid boxes than anyone, and that directly impacted global warming. 

No.I was going to be the perfect, quiet well-heeled fiancé. But since I am neither well-heeled nor a fiancé, it was only a matter of time before I would mess up even with the best intentions..."

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about The Author

Linda West is a multiple Amazon bestseller in clean wholesome and funny romance. Born near Niagara Falls NY Linda knows snow and small towns:)) She loves cats, books and her family. Her Kissing Bridge Series features six adorable stand-alone holiday romances set in a Vermont quaint mountain town where love and magical recipes are featured. Her latest release – My Billionaire Fake Fiance is an enemy to lovers Christmas romance that will leave you smiling and clapping. Simply romantic and filled with holiday joy sure to bring a smile to your heart.