BOOK BITES: Concealed in Ash

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Nina Mansfield

If you’ve been following my posts, you know that one of these days I plan to write an epic historical mystery novel. I’ve even started the research. OK, that’s not entirely true. I’ve started thinking about the research though, and that’s got to count for something! In any case, today I welcome Gwen Mayo to tell us a little bit about her historical mystery CONCEALED IN ASH (Mystery and Horror, LLC, September 2015), and of course, share a recipe.

Who is your main character? Tell me about him/her.

Him/Her is a good lead in to my ex-Pinkerton. Ness/Nessa Donnelly is a her, posing as a him, and finding it hard to figure out who she is or what she wants.

What would Nessa choose for her last meal?

Nessa’s last meal would have to be outstanding, a full 1870’s dinner prepared by her housekeeper, Beulah. Fresh fruits and roasted nuts to start, carrot soup, trout with  cucumber dill sauce, b rests  of dove on walnut toast,  herb crusted lamb  with rosemary butter as  the entree,  roasted potatoes, green beans, chocolate bread  pudding  with hard sauce for dessert , then the cheeses  and sweet bites with her brandy.

How about you? What would you choose for your last meal?

I love good food, but I don’t think my last meal could compare with those of the 19th century. I would go for prime rib, mashed  potatoes, beef gravy, sugar snap peas and apple dumplings ala mode.

Why should someone bite into CONCEALED IN ASH?

Kentucky is struggling with financial ruin, a power vacuum, secret societies, racial tensions, and vigilantism. Add in a medical examiner with a passion for the latest inventions, a cross-dressing detective, a quirky professor/inventor and a love triangle and you have the ingredients for a deliciously wicked read.

Do you have a recipe you’d like to share?

I thought I would share my recipe for making an herb crust for almost any roasted entree including mushrooms or eggplant. The recipe could have been used in Beulah’s kitchen but is equally appreciated today.

HERB CRUST FOR ROASTED ENTREES

1) Three Tablespoons Herbs de Provence (chop finely):

  • 1 Tablespoon fresh Rosemary
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh Thyme
  • ½ Tablespoon fresh Marjoram
  • ½Tablespoon fresh Savory

2) One cup dried bread crumbs

3) Two cloves pressed garlic

4) Three tablespoons olive oil

5) One Teaspoon ground black pepper

Pat the meat dry and brush with the olive oil. Mix the remaining ingredients together and lightly press them in an even layer over the roast.

*Please note there is no salt in this recipe. I prefer to brine meats before roasting and additional salt is not needed. If you don’t brine, add salt to taste.

Well that is an incredible useful recipe. And your book has many of the ingredients I enjoy. I am certainly going to have to check it out!

You can learn more about Gwen Mayo on her website and you can find CONCEALED IN ASH on Amazon.

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Nancy Raven Smith on Inspiration…and a Giveaway!

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Nina Mansfield

I am thrilled to welcome fellow mystery writer Nancy Raven Smith today to discuss what inspires her. Leave a comment below to be entered to win one of two signed copies of her novel LAND SHARKS.

Thank you, Nina, for inviting me to do a guest post for your blog. It’s very exciting to be here where you have so many interesting discussions. You suggested I comment on what inspires me, which made me do some serious thinking.

I call what inspires me Murphy’s – and Nancy’s – Law.

It comes from who I am. I have a “hope for the best and prepare for the worst” mentality. I guess I got it from my mother who worried about everything. Then I developed it by managing large horse shows with over a thousand horses entered, running a farm, and working on film and television projects as a production coordinator. All jobs that require questioning everything and trying to anticipate what could, and usually will, go wrong.

I also had a job at the J Paul Getty Museum, and one of my tasks was to open mail in the director’s office and send anything suspicious to security. The Los Angeles Police Department even gave the museum staff training on how to recognize suspicious packages during the period of the mail bomber and the anthrax scare.

That started my brain looking for lies and frauds as well as what could go wrong. Now that I’m writing, I’ve found this to be extremely fertile ground to use in writing mysteries. It’s a mentality that has found a new purpose.

So when I hear an interesting story on the news, my mind starts asking things like – What did the reporter leave out of the story and what could have been done to avert this story, etc.? Then every so often there’s a story about a fraud and my brain goes into overdrive – how did the con work, what did someone hope to gain and what tripped them up?

Here’s an example of how that thinking worked for my current book, Land Sharks, A Swindle in Sumatra.

A mention on a news story about identity theft included a reference to a place called the Plastic Triangle. I had to know what that was. When I researched it I learned the Plastic Triangle is Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand. Fifteen or twenty years ago, it was where the majority of counterfeit credit cards were produced. It piqued my interest at the time, but I was busy on other projects. By the time I revisited the Plastic Triangle, it was too late. It was no longer the center of international credit card fraud as there were credit card counterfeiting rings in every major city in the world and it had become commonplace.

Then in 2014 I was following the tragic disappearance of the Malaysian Airlines jet and I read an article that said two of the men on board the plane were flying with stolen passports obtained in Thailand. The men were proven innocent of involvement in the disappearance of the plane, but I was intrigued again and did more research. It turned out that the Plastic Triangle had evolved. It was, and is now, the go-to-place to purchase counterfeit and stolen international identity papers and passports. Thailand alone reported over sixty thousand passports stolen in an eighteen month period from 2012 to 2013. Since Thailand is currently a huge international tourist destination, the majority of  those came from foreign tourists.

I thought this would be a great place for a mystery story and used it for the background story of Land Sharks – A Swindle in Sumatra. Several other frauds are included in the story, but I won’t reveal those and spoil the fun for readers.

The bad thing about my way of thinking is in my home life. Because I worry, I feel I have to warn my daughters of every danger possible. For years now, they’ve called me  Alarm-Alarm. So instead of warning them, I put my alarms into my stories and try to warn readers as well as entertain them. .

LAND SHARKS – A SWINDLE IN SUMATRA

A young heiress has disappeared in Sumatra with a mysterious new boyfriend. Her father fears she may have been kidnapped.

An American bank fraud investigator goes undercover to find the answer. The investigator’s job might be easier if she didn’t have to contend with her boss’s untrained son who has a crush on her and the unexpected appearance of an ex-boyfriend/con man who has his own secret agenda.

Land Sharks was recently named an Amazon/Kindle Scout Program Selection and will be available in mid December.

Nancy Raven Smith grew up in Virginia where she ran horse sport events. On her farm, she rescued horses, dogs and cats and is an advocate for animal rescue. Later in California, she traded her event experience for film work. and attended UCLA for screenwriting and novel writing. Her scripts have won numerous major awards. Raven Smith decided to write one idea as a novel and discovered a passion for writing mysteries.

 

 

Thank you so much for joining me today Nancy!I totally share your “hope for the best, prepare for the worst” mentality. I think, in part, it helps us with our mystery writing…where our characters often do face the worst!

Readers, please don’t forget to leave a comment below (by Wednesday, Dec. 16th) to be entered to win a copy of Land Sharks! All comments are moderated, so don’t worry if you don’t see yours pop up right away.

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BOOK BITES: Trail of Secrets

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Nina Mansfield

I last rode a horse on a trip to Costa Rica a few years ago. My husband and I watched a beautiful sunset from horseback. Before that, I think the last time I had been on a horse was when I was in college. But I’ve always wanted to be one of those people who rides horses on a regular basis. No wonder I can’t wait to read Laura Wolfe’s YA Mystery TRAIL OF SECRETS (Fire & Ice YA). I am so excited that she is here to share about the book, and a healthy vegan recipe!

Who is your main character? Tell me about her?

Brynlei is a sixteen year-old accomplished equestrian who has been diagnosed as a Highly-Sensitive Person (“HSP”). As an HSP, she absorbs the feelings of those around her and senses energy often missed by others. When she finally has the opportunity to attend the prestigious Foxwoode Riding Academy in northern Michigan, she hears a ghost story about a girl who vanished on a trail ride and is rumored to haunt Foxwoode. Brynlei becomes embroiled in a quest to discover the truth about the girl’s disappearance, while someone at Foxwoode seems to be trying to stop her.

What would Brynlei choose for her last meal?

Brynlei would choose her mom’s butterscotch-oatmeal cookies. Her mom runs a small baking business and the cookies remind Brynlei of home.

How about you? What would you choose for your last meal?

I would eat any pasta dish made by my husband. He never follows a recipe, but can whip up the most delicious pasta dishes on a moment’s notice. It must be his Italian upbringing!

Why should someone bite into TRAIL OF SECRETS?

TRAIL OF SECRETS is an ideal read for those craving a fast-paced mystery filled with plot twists. Horse-lovers will appreciate the riding scenes and the ongoing riding competition between the girls at the riding academy, but you do not need to be a horse-person to enjoy this book. Trail of Secrets is the first book in my Dark Horse Series.

Do you have a recipe you’d like to share?

Yes—Vegan Glo Bars from the Oh She Glows cookbook by Angela Liddon. Although Brynlei’s last meal would include her mom’s butterscotch-oatmeal cookies, I’m sharing another recipe Brynlei would like. Brynlei would love these vegan energy bars because she does not eat meat and, in Book 2, she convinces her mom to add a vegan line to her bakery business. Also, Brynlei is constantly on-the-go and could eat these bars on her way to the barn or for extra energy during one of her long horse show days. I like to make these bars during the holiday season, wrap them with saran wrap and pretty bows, and give them to friends and neighbors.

http://www.chatelaine.com/health/healthy-recipes-health/angela-liddon-vegan-energy-bar/

Ghosts, horses, secrets…I need to finish working on my current WIP so that I have time to read again!  And those energy bars sound like a healthy snack for everyone, even non-vegans! (After last week’s pink fudge, I need a healthy snack!)

You can connect with Laura on her website www.AuthorLauraWolfe.com and you can find her TRAIL OF SECRETS on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and directly from Fire & Ice YA.

Posted in Book Bites, Mystery Writing, Young Adult Books | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

BOOK BITES: Five-Alarm Fudge

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Nina Mansfield

It’s December, so it it is safe to say that we have entered the holiday season. During this time of year, I often find myself in picturesque Door County, Wisconsin, as that is where my husband’s family lives. For this reason, I am thrilled welcome Christine DeSmet today Not Even Joking. DeSmet is the author of the The Fudge Shop Mystery Series, which is set in a fictional town on Lake Michigan in Door County. Her latest book, FIVE-ALARM FUDGE (Penguin Random House/NAL/Obsidian, April 2015) sounds intriguing on so many levels. As does the today’s recipe: Cinderella Pink Fairy Tale Fudge.

Who is your main character? Tell me about her.

Ava Oosterling, 32, has recently returned to Door County, Wisconsin, after eight years away on the West Coast. With her Grandpa Gil, affectionately called Gilpa, she runs Oosterlings’ Live Bait, Bobbers, Belgian Fudge & Beer in fictional Fishers’ Harbor on the bay of Lake Michigan.

What would Ava Oosterling choose for her last meal?

Ava would choose booyah, which is a red Belgian stew made by family and neighbors over an outdoor fire at fall harvest festivals. Booyah typically contains chicken, and just about every vegetable from your garden that you have available. But it must be red to be authentic, most Belgians contend, so add tomatoes to the mix. Ava loves her family and friends and the culture of Door County, and that’s why she’d request that.

How about you? What would you choose for your last meal?

I hope I could have endless courses, of course! I would choose all manner of seafood and fish for my last meal, such as Wisconsin trout, perch, and Lake Michigan salmon.

Why should someone bite into FIVE-ALARM FUDGE?

FIVE-ALARM FUDGE is contemporary but it gives readers unusual tidbits about U.S. Belgian immigration history and the Great Fires that happened in 1871 on the same day in both Chicago and in the setting of my story in the Door County region. Over 2,000 people lost their lives in October of that year. This history is integral to solving the murder mystery. During those fires, some miracles also occurred, and my mystery recounts those miracles and also presents a miracle or two.

Do you have a recipe you’d like to share?

Ava’s signature fudge is the Cinderella Pink Fairy Tale Fudge, which is made with Door County cherries. This original recipe is simple to make, and it’s a cheery pink and red, perfect for the holiday season.

Cinderella Pink Fairy Tale Fudge. Photo courtesy of Christine DeSmet.

Cinderella Pink Fairy Tale Fudge (with Diamonds) Recipe

This easy, microwave recipe for a cherry-vanilla fudge is a favorite with my friends and coworkers. They like the “diamonds” they find in the fudge. (Leave out the diamonds if you don’t like the crunchy texture.)

Before you cook:  Prepare an 8×8-inch pan by lining it with wax paper so that the wax paper comes over the edges. Spray the paper lightly with nonstick vegetable cooking spray.

  •  3 cups white chocolate chips
  • 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup dried cherries (or can used canned whole tart cherries, chopped)
  • Red food coloring 
  • ½ cup edible white or clear glitter (large size) for “diamonds”
  • Pink or white luster dust (optional)

 Mix the chips and milk together and melt at medium power in the microwave for about 5 minutes. Stir and return to the microwave until fully melted. Stir in the vanilla and four or five (or more) drops of red food coloring to turn it pink. Just before pouring it into the pan, blend in ¼ cup of the glitter if you want diamonds inside the fudge. Then pour it into the pan. Sprinkle the top of the fudge with the rest of the “diamond” glitter.

Optional:  Before you sprinkle on the diamond glitter, first brush on luster dust, which is a very fine glittery edible powder you can buy in various colors. It’s best to apply luster dust with a small artist’s brush so that you don’t waste it; don’t try to shake it directly from its container onto your fudge or use your fingers. Sprinkle the rest of the “diamond” glitter on top of the luster dust.

Let your fudge sit for a few hours or overnight. When ready to cut, transfer it from its pan to a cutting board. Use a knife with a smooth blade or a fudge cutter. Cut into one-inch squares or any size you prefer.

I have to say, I never knew that fudge could be pink. Yum! And I can’t wait to read FIVE-ALARM FUDGE. It sounds like the perfect book for my next trip to Door County.

You can find out more about Christine DeSmet on her website www.ChristineDeSmet.com. and you can find FIVE-ALARM FUDGE on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound or at a bookstore near you.

 

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Creative Minds Profile #9: GARY GLAUBER

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Nina Mansfield

In the film Dead Poets Society, Mr. Keating, played by Robin Williams says, “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion.” I thought of this quote often as I read Gary Glauber’s SMALL CONSOLATIONS, an exquisite collection of poetry that captures so much of what it means to be a human being. I have had the pleasure of knowing Gary for a number of years now, and I am thrilled to welcome him to Not Even Joking today!

Gary Glauber is a poet, fiction writer, and teacher.  To celebrate National Poetry Month, he has twice taken part in found poetry challenges issued from Found Poetry Review (PoMoSco and Pulitzer Remix), creating a poem for each day in April according to prescribed prompts or directions.  He is widely published in venues both online and in print, and has received Pushcart and Best of the Net prize nominations. He champions the underdog and often composes to an obscure power pop soundtrack. His first collection, SMALL CONSOLATIONS (Aldrich Press) is now available on Amazon.com.  A chapbook, MEMORY MARRIES DESIRE, will be available from Finishing Line Press in March 2016.

Your poetry captures the details, desires and longings of life. Could you walk us through the process of writing one of your poems starting with that spark of inspiration?

Good writing always begins with storytelling.  My best narrative poetry comes from some seed of an idea that tells a story: it can be a specific character’s voice, an incident or event, a phrase or piece of dialogue.  I used to focus on short fiction and my transition to poetry reflects that still.  Like a good actor, you inhabit that voice or situation, find the emotional truths inherent to it, and try your best to capture it within the strictures of the written word. With luck, patience, and revision, the process sometimes works.  While the initial poems tend to come quickly, they evolve slowly over time, often accruing a trail of rejections and revisions along the way.  Trust the inspiration and the vision – the world often takes time to hear and understand the sounds of a new voice. 

How did SMALL CONSOLATIONS come about?

For several years, I had been writing and publishing short stories.  My transition to poetry coincided with my return to teaching.  I had less time to focus on longer works, and more exposure to a wide assortment of wonderful classical and contemporary poems that I could share inside the classroom.  I began to challenge myself to tell stories through the medium of poetry, and began to develop a number that I felt were strong enough to submit to literary magazines.  After many attempts, in December 2010, I had my first real poetry acceptance (for a sestina, actually). Over the next few years, I had more and more poems accepted and published (the current count is slightly under 200). I put together a full-length collection and started submitting to publishers and contests by early 2011.  That collection eventually became SMALL CONSOLATIONS, although I tinkered with what poems were included, and in what order.  After many rejections and honed iterations, the collection finally found a home with Karen Kelsay of Aldrich Press in summer 2014.  Ms. Kelsay is a talented writer who takes care in nurturing other writers’ work, bringing to the public a number of high quality collections.  Bringing the book to publication was a smooth collaboration, and in July 2015, it was made available to the public.

MEMORY MARRIES DESIRE is due out in March. What can we expect from this chapbook?

This chapbook is like a surprise gift, in a way. While the full-length collection has many of my older poems, this chapbook is comprised of newer works, and some that did not seem to fit into other collections. Some of those poems were inspired in part by Annie Dillard’s creative non-fiction collection, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, a text that students begrudgingly respect and outwardly loathe.  Dillard’s younger self’s questioning foray into nature is poetic, erudite, eclectic, and impressive, but students bemoan its lack of plot or action.  I found inspiration both from Dillard’s journey, and the ongoing challenge of teaching it to a generation of resistant students.  Several of these other chapbook poems are emotional or nostalgic, confronting ghosts and lovers, blurring the lines of reality and fantasy on the way toward the angst and/or humor of a new realization.  What you can expect is the ongoing evolution of the thinker as poet.

What else gets you up in the morning? What are you passionate about? And how does this influence your creative life? (or does it?)

I have an unending passion for the written word and music. My days are always a unique soundtrack of poetry, stories, fiction, articles, lyrics, and songs. I am also passionate about sharing my love of these things with others – hence the teaching career.  It all influences my creative life in ways that can be subtle or obvious – but each day’s experiences contribute to the whole.  As one gets to a certain age, one learns to let go of regrets and focus on gratitude instead.  While the rejections still sting at times, there is a willing surrender to the process.  With hard work comes eventual reward, and a readership that connects with one’s creations.     

You are also a teacher. What advice would you give to a young person who thinks they’d like to be a published poet?

Read as much as you can.  Be inspired by others.  Imitate styles en route to finding what works best for you.  Start to submit.  Revise often.  Try not to let rejection discourage you.  Keep writing.  It’s often a hard, lonely task.  But real writers know it is what they have to do, regardless.  Change the world one word at a time.

Thank you so much for sharing today, Gary. I have really enjoyed reading the poems in SMALL CONSOLATIONS. I find that so many of them show what it means to be human. And I am looking forward to getting my copy of MEMORY MARRIES DESIRE in March.

You can find SMALL CONSOLATIONS on Amazon, and MEMORY MARRIES DESIRE is currently available for pre-order from Finishing Line Press.

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Guest Post by Cathy Perkins: Falling For…

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Nina Mansfield

I am excited to welcome author Cathy Perkins to NOT EVEN JOKING today. Her post really got me thinking about my writing, my characters, my current WIP. She poses some wonderful (and for me, very timely) questions that will get you thinking too!

A fall road. Photo courtesy of Cathy Perkins.

Falling for…

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “fall”?  This time of year, I still automatically go with a Currier & Ives image of a perfect New England foliage explosion. Out here in the Pacific Northwest, fall is quieter. In town, yard trees are selected for spring flowers, summer shade, and fall color. Our mountain place leans toward towering evergreens, although we can do sepia tones quite nicely. (Le sigh – I keep planting Aspen and the deer keep eating them.)

“Fall” can conjure other images: People fall up and down the stairs, in and out of love. We choose to free-fall on carnival rides or in any number of outdoor sports. We enjoy the beauty of waterfalls and falling leaves.

Emotional falls can be beautiful, romantic, sad, painful, and exciting—or “d” all the above. Those emotional triggers seem fraught with so much more peril. A broken bone heals, but is a broken heart ever truly mended? What’s a writer to do? Remember the phrase going around for a while? Want to write? Open a vein and bleed onto the page. That’s emotional vulnerability.

Where are you with your next manuscript? You know, the one AFTER you sell your debut, where all of a sudden the pressures and expectations are different? Are you falling down or is everything falling into place?

I find with each novel I write that I’m stretching and growing as an author. In my current WIP, I’m struggling to knock my protagonist down emotionally. I’m taking bigger risks, digging deeper into the character. And in digging deeper, I’m risking revealing more of myself as I tap into my own emotional reserves.

In order to entice my readers to fall in love with my character, to follow her along and through her internal and external journeys, my character has to not just face down challenges, she has to fail—and fail big, falling flat on her face. She has to hit rock bottom and leave the reader wondering if she can get back up. As I push myself as a writer, I’m pushing this character to peel back layers, figure out what she really wants, and go for it, even if at times she’s hanging by her fingertips over a chasm that will kill her if she falls.

What about you? Fall/falling–love it or hate it? Are you taking risks—as an author or personally?

In my latest release, SO ABOUT THE MONEY, in order to uncover who killed her friend—and why—Holly Price has to risk being vulnerable with a man who hurt her emotionally in the past, but who’ll risk his life to save hers.

 

SO ABOUT THE MONEY by Cathy Perkins

When Holly Price trips over a friend’s dead body, her life takes a nosedive into a world of intrigue and danger. With an infinitely sexy cop—Holly’s pissed-off, jilted ex-fiancé—threatening to arrest her for the murder, the intrepid accountant must protect her future, her business…and her heart…by using her investigative skills to follow the money, before the killer decides CPA stands for Certified Pain in the Ass…and the next dead body is Holly’s.

 

 

An award-winning author, Cathy Perkins works in the financial industry, where she’s observed the hide-in-plain-sight skills employed by her villains. She writes predominantly financial-based mysteries but enjoys exploring the relationship aspect of her characters’ lives. A member of Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America (Kiss of Death chapter) and International Thriller Writers, she is a contributing editor for The Big Thrill, and handles the blog and social media for the ITW Debut Authors.

When not writing, she can be found doing battle with the beavers over the pond height or setting off on another travel adventure. Born and raised in South Carolina, the setting for CYPHER, HONOR CODE and THE PROFESSOR, she now lives in Washington with her husband, children, several dogs and the resident deer herd.

Connect with Cathy on her Website, on Facebook and on Twitter.

 

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Celebrating Debut Novelists at Crime Bake 2015

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Nina Mansfield

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the New England Crime Bake for the very first time. It was an incredible experience on so many levels, as I discussed in a blog post the other week.  One of the highlights was getting honored with fellow debut mystery novelists on Friday evening.

Debut novelists at the New England Crime Bake 2015. Photo by Mo Walsh.

I have to say, I feel like I am in some incredible company! Check out this list of the debutantes* and their novels, listed alphabetically by author’s last name.

THE TRAIL by Ray Anderson

A killer wanted for rape and murder escapes onto the Appalachian Trail. As he hikes north to refuge in Canada, he loses weight, grows a beard, and becomes unrecognizable. He weakens and begins killing women on the trail. A Gulf War vet with PSTD is also hiking the trail to try and walk off a tragedy he was responsible for in Iraq. He collides with the villain. The reader is taken on a frightful chase along the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.

 

COVER STORY by Brenda Buchanan

In Cover Story, Maine newspaper reporter Joe Gale’s vigorous coverage of a murder trial involving a member of a high-profile political family leads to a relentless campaign of intimidation by a shadowy force determined to keep the truth buried.

 

 

 

NO VIRGIN ISLAND by C. Michele Dorsey

Sabrina Salter traded a high-pressure job as a Boston meteorologist for life as an innkeeper on St. John. But storm clouds roll in when Sabrina finds Carter Johnson, her most attractive guest, tucked up in a hammock way past check-out time… and he’s not just dead to the world, he’s just plain dead, with a bullet hole in his chest. This isn’t the first time Sabrina has seen a dead body, and the island police are well aware of that. Thanks to her checkered history, not to mention the fact that she was the last person who saw Carter alive and far from entirely clothed, she finds herself marked as the prime suspect.

 

EMINENT CRIMES: A LEGAL THRILLER by Adelene Ellenberg

Do you own your land free and clear?  Think again, my friend.  Eminent Crimes: A Legal Thriller”  shows how eminent domain can be used by unscrupulous politicians AGAINST ANYONE at any time. Here,  Robert Jaston’s dairy farm is “taken” to site a casino. He says, “over my dead body!” and hires the only attorney who dares to challenge the establishment. Together, they discover:  Small Town Politics Can Be Murder.

 

FASHION GOES TO THE DOGS By Peggy Gaffney

SUSPENSE FOR THE DOG LOVER describes the first book in the Kate Killoy Mystery series Fashion Goes to the Dogs, or as some refer to it, DIE HARD meets BEST IN SHOW. While in NYC to show both her fashions designs and exhibit her Samoyed champion, mistaken identity sends Kate running from murderers.  Harry Foyle, a former FBI math geek, finds himself in a struggle to keep this sassy dog nut alive. Skilled in solving most problems using his brain or his gun, he discovers that protecting Kate is an equation whose solution may lead to an unexpected variable—love.

 

IDYLL THREATS by Stephanie Gayle

In the summer of 1997, Thomas Lynch arrives as the new chief of police in Idyll, Connecticut—a town where serious crimes can be counted on one hand. So no one is prepared when Cecilia North is found murdered on a golf course. By chance, Chief Lynch met her mere hours before she was killed. With that lead, the case should be a slam dunk. But there’s a problem. If Lynch tells his detectives about meeting the victim, he’ll reveal his greatest secret—he’s gay.

 

FETA ATTRACTION by Susannah Hardy

Georgie Nikolopatos manages the Bonaparte House, a Greek restaurant and historic landmark in beautiful upstate New York rumored to possess ghosts and hidden treasure. But when her husband disappears and her main competitor is found dead, it’s up to Georgie to solve a big fat Greek murder.

 

 

 

TAGGED FOR DEATH by Sherry Harris

After a successful day searching for garage sale treasures, Sarah finds a grisly surprise in one of her bags: two bloody shirts — one belongs to her ex-husband, CJ, and the other to the woman he slept with. Sarah thinks CJ’s a schmuck but she knows he’s not a killer. She sets out to clear his name but may have to bargain for her life.

 

 

 

PANE AND SUFFERING by Cheryl Hollon

To solve her father’s murder and save the family-owned glass shop, Savannah Webb must shatter a killer’s carefully constructed facade…

 

 

 

 

JUST KILLING TIME by Julianne Holmes

Ruth Clagan may be an expert clockmaker, but she’s always had a tendency to lose track of time. And when trying to solve a murder, every minute counts…

 

 

 

 

 

THE ALCHEMIST’S DAUGHTER by Mary Lawrence

Set in the final years of King Henry VIII’s reign, the daughter of an infamous alchemist must prove her innocence in a friend’s murder and uncover its connection to a quarantined ship before she is hanged at the gallows and London succumbs to the plague

 


 

SWIMMING ALONE By Nina Mansfield

The Sea Side Strangler is on the loose in Beach Point, where fifteen-year-old Cathy Banks is spending what she thinks will be a wretched summer. Just when she begins to make friends, and even finds a crush to drool over, her new friend Lauren vanishes.  When a body surfaces in Beach Point Bay, Cathy is forced to face the question:  has the Sea Side Strangler struck again?

 

 

CARDIAC ARREST by Lisa Q. Mathews

In glitzy Southwest Florida, clueless twenty-something party girl Summer Smythe and feisty senior widow Dorothy Westin team up to solve the murder of a heartbreaker cardiologist.  Base of operations: the Hibiscus Pointe Senior Living Community, where Summer is camping out in her late grandma’s condo. First book in the quirky mystery series The Ladies Smythe & Westin from Carina Press.

 

 

COLD HARD NEWS by Maureen Milliken

When the snow in a small Maine town start to melt, the town’s secrets begin to emerge. Bernie O’Dea, the editor of the Peaks Weekly Watcher, is jazzed to finally have a big story to cover when a body is found in a melting snowbank. But as spring turns into a long, hot, explosive summer in Redimere, Maine, the story gets bigger — maybe too big for Bernie to handle.  As the town is ripped in half, secrets are revealed, friends are betrayed and the body count rises, Bernie is forced to question her part in the town’s series of tragedy, a part that may cost her and others their lives.

NIGHT LIFE by David C. Taylor

Life for NYPD detective Michael Cassidy is black and Red all over in this thriller set during the McCarthy era of the 1950s. Mixing fictional and reality-based characters and providing a wealth of period detail, Taylor works in what has become time-honored fashion since Ragtime. But he works exceptionally well within that convention, and that of noir fiction, illuminating his characters and the times they’re living through in a lively, light-on-its-feet, agreeably no-nonsense fashion.

RED LINE by Brian Thiem

An authentic police procedural by a former homicide detective. When a teenager from a wealthy suburb is dumped at an inner city bus stop, homicide detective Matt Sinclair catches the case. It’s his first since being bumped to desk duty for a bust that went south… fast. With few leads and plenty of attention, it’s the worst kind of case to help him get back up to speed. And it only gets worse as the bodies start to pile up…and the killer is just getting started. Time is running out on Sinclair’s career, not to mention the people closest to him.

 

*I was unable to get in touch with all of the debutantes. If you were one of them, please contact me, and I will add your debut novel to this post.

 

 

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BOOK BITES: Bun for your Life

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Nina Mansfield

Around this time of year, I start spending a lot more time in the kitchen. Maybe it’s the cold weather. Maybe it’s the holidays. I actually baked muffins this week. They had spinach and chia seeds in them. I’m Not Even Joking. Sometimes I surprise myself. What does not surprise me is that I am totally interested in reading Karoline Barrett’s new cozy mystery, BUN FOR YOUR LIFE, released yesterday by Penguin/InterMix. Read on, and I think you will be interested too.

Who is the main character in BUN FOR YOUR LIFE? Tell me about her.

Molly Tyler, half owner of Bread and Batter Bakery, still lives in the small upstate New York town where she was born. When she discovers she has a knack for investigating murder, her life takes a turn for the interesting. Especially when a new detective moves into town.      

What would Molly choose for her last meal?

She’d go for vegetarian lasagna since she’s an ovo lacto vegetarian. For dessert, she’d favor a Lemon Bar cupcake.  

How about you? What would you choose for your last meal?

Black beans and rice, a nice crusty roll with real butter, and chocolate ice cream with marshmallow sauce on top. I spent most of my childhood in São Paulo, Brazil where I fell in love with rice and beans, and their bread. The ice cream probably needs no explanation!

Why should someone bite into BUN FOR YOUR LIFE?

BUN FOR YOUR LIFE is book one of my Bread and Batter cozy mystery series. If you love a good small-town mystery with humorous, quirky characters, lots of action, and a teeny-tiny dash of romance, this book is for you! Plus, as an E-book, it’s easy to download and take wherever you go.

Do you have a recipe you’d like to share?

Here’s a link to a bread recipe that Molly and I are sure everyone will love: Cheese & chive challah bread

Ooo, that recipe does look yummy. Buttered bread is really the best. And thank you so much for joining me today. One of these days, I would love to learn more about your time in Brazil. I visited Rio ages ago, and fell in love. Rice and beans are definitively a staple in my household.

You can learn more about Karoline Barrett on her website  karolinebarrett.com. And you can find BUN FOR YOUR LIFE available on both KINDLE and NOOK.

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Marilyn Meredith on Inspiration

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Nina Mansfield

I am excited to welcome fellow mystery author Marilyn Meredith to Not Even Joking today. This might sound silly, but I am really inspired by what inspires others. I’m not even joking! That’s why I have been asking my guest bloggers to tell me about what inspires them. Like me, Marilyn Meredith is often inspired by setting.

If we’re talking about overall, many things inspire me—my family and especially the little ones, a trip to the coast and viewing the Pacific Ocean, or the Sierra with the Giant Sequoias. I could go on and on. However, instead, I’m going to write about what inspires me in my writing.

I write two series: the Rocky Bluff P.D. mysteries and the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries. In both, the locations inspire me greatly. The Rocky Bluff series is set on the coast in Southern California in a fictional town located between Ventura and Santa Barbara. The area itself has given me many plot ideas.

Usually, the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series is set in the fictional mountain town of Bear Creek located in the Southern Sierra which also includes the Bear Creek Indian Reservation. However, with the latest book, Not as it Seems, Tempe and her husband Hutch travel to Morro Bay for their son’s wedding. I love that whole area along the coast and have visited often. Much of the inspiration for the plot itself came from setting.

Tempe is a Yokut Indian and often has visits from the supernatural, and it happens often in Not as it Seems when spirits of the Salinan and Chumash Indians give her confusing insights. Of course what I learned about these Indians was part of my inspiration for this story. So I suppose that research should be added to what inspires me.

Morro Rock plays a big part in this particular mystery, a place of both beauty and inspiration. I’ve visited often and always knew one day it would have a position of honor in one of my books.

Morro Rock and Trees. Photo Courtesy of Marilyn Meredith.

For me as an author, many places I’ve been have given me ideas and prompted me to include them in my writing. I suspect it is the same with many others.  After all, the setting is an important part of any book.

Not as it Seems by Marilyn Meredith

Tempe and Hutch travel to Morro Bay for son Blair’s wedding, but when the maid-of-honor disappears, Tempe tries to find her. The search is complicated by ghosts and Native spirits.

 

 

 

 

Marilyn Meredith lives in the foothills of the Southern Sierra, about 1000 feet lower than Tempe’s Bear Creek, but much resembles the fictional town and surroundings. She has nearly 40 books published, mostly mysteries. Besides writing, she loves to give presentations to writers’ groups. She’s on the board of the Public Safety Writers Association, and a member of Mystery Writers of America and three chapters of Sisters in Crime, including the Central Coast chapter. Visit Marilyn at  http://fictionforyou.com/ or her blog http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/

 

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New England Crime Bake: Cooking up the Inspiration

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Nina Mansfield

Ever since I first learned about the New England Crime Bake about ten years ago, I’ve wanted to attend. The conference is organized by the New England Chapters of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. Unfortunately, November has traditionally been a very busy month for me. But this year the stars aligned, and last Friday I hopped in my car and headed toward Dedham, Massachusetts. I’m so glad I did.

Rather than giving a synopsis of the entire conference, I will simply mention a few of my favorite moments. Otherwise, I could write like 12 different blog posts about this weekend, and I’m Not Even Joking! So here are some highlights:

BEING STAR STRUCK

OK, I have to admit, I was more than a little star struck being in the presence of conference guest of honor Elizabeth George. I went through a major Elizabeth George phase a number of years ago, when I read almost all of her books. I’m now starting to catch up on the ones I missed. The two times I spoke with her, I am sure I came across like a deranged fan.

THE FUTURE OF PUBLISHING: A CONVERSATION

On Friday night there was a great presentation on the future of publishing, featuring bookseller, editor and publisher Jim Huang, agent Victoria Skurnick and moderated by author and publisher Chris Knopf (who incidentally organized Connecticut CrimeCONN which I wrote about a couple of months ago.) The conversation was frank and  incredibly entertaining. The world of publishing is certainly changing, but there is hope for the future. People still want their stories!

AMAZING ADVICE FROM VETERAN WRITERS

There was quite a bit of amazing advice dispensed. One panel, The Body of Death: How Four Successful Writers Make it Work, moderated by Mystery Writers of America, New England Chapter President and conference co-chair Ray Daniel, was full of information. Below are a few nuggets of wisdom. I apologize in advance if I am misquoting. I was writing as fast as I could!

From L to R: Peter Abrahams, Ray Daniel, ElizabethGeorge, Gayle Lynds and Hallie Ephron.

Elizabeth George: “Nobody knows what’s going to stand the test of time.”

Hallie Ephron: “Be generous to other writers.”

Gayle Lynds: “Writing well is writing well.”

Peter Abrahams: “What’s the engine that drives the story?”

Elizabeth George also mentioned how she uses a computer that is not hooked up to the internet for her writing. I am totally going to do that.

I also love, love, LOVE that Hallie Ephron suggested taking an acting class in order to help with channeling emotions onto the page, and Gayle Lynds went on to discuss Stanislavsky. I have always been a firm believer that my background in the theater has helped me with my writing.

GETTING HONORED WITH FELLOW DEBUT NOVELISTS

Receiving my debut novelist ribbon from award winning mystery author Donna Andrews.

There were about twenty debut novelists honored at this year’s conference. I was one of them for my debut YA Mystery Swimming Alone. It felt really cool to be in some pretty fantastic company.

 

 

 

 

A SUITABLE VENGEANCE: WRITING UNTRADITIONAL HEROES

Moderated by the amazing Hank Phillippi Ryan, this may have been the most entertaining panel I attended, and that’s saying a lot because everything was so great. The authors discussed their nontraditional heroes, and by doing so, really taught us what it is that makes a compelling character. Plus, I have added some more great books to my TO READ  list:

Shannon Kirk also suggested reading The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout, PhD, which I will certainly do in the very near future.

FUN, FUN, FUN… and INSPIRATION

This is in me in my banquet costume: mysterious woman in black wig.

I had so many great conversations with fellow writers and mystery fans. And  I got some direction for my writing. I think I have figured out what my next major writing project will be. I even started to take some notes!

I could go on and on.  There were wonderful panels on writing historical mysteries and forensics, both major interests of mine. There was an extremely entertaining presentation about Cyber-Crime. There was an expert round table, where I got to ask Leslie Budewitz, president of Sisters in Crime, some legal questions for a novel I plan to write. Plus, there were many panels and workshops that I did not have time to attend. There was dancing. There was wine. There was some super yummy Sheppard’s pie.

Plenty of dancing going on at the banquet Saturday night.

Thank you to conference co-chairs Julie Hennrikus and Ray Daniel, everyone on the conference committee and all of the volunteers for an incredible weekend. My one regret is that it took me this long to get my butt to Crime Bake. I certainly hope that the stars align for me again next year.

 

 

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