Jennifer Chase holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s in criminology. She’s a member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists. She is an award-winning author, freelance writer, and a criminologist. She has authored four crime fiction, thriller novels and a non-fiction book screenwriting book. Currently, she resides in California where she is at work on her next book. Today, Jennifer Chase discusses her book, 'Dark Mind'. What is the main premise of this book? Dark Mind takes readers on a crime adventure with vigilante detective Emily Stone who hunts serial killers and child abductors covertly under the radar. She shadows police investigations and secretly submits all of her carefully compiled evidence to the detective(s) in charge via an untraceable email. The newest case takes her to the beautiful island of Kauai where she’s put to the ultimate test of her profiling and investigative skills of tracking a brutal, sadistic serial killer deep into the jungles. How long did it take you to write it? I spent one to two months creating an outline, which ultimately becomes my first choppy draft. From that point, it took another two to four months of writing and rewrites to complete the book. It takes an average of six months to write one of my crime thrillers. Who’s your favorite character in it? That’s easy! I enjoyed creating the main character of Emily Stone for an ongoing series. It was a writing process for quite some time before I decided to introduce her to readers. She’s definitely tougher and smarter than I am, but I wanted to make her wonderfully flawed with her mission to find serial killers. Where and when do you prefer to do your writing? I write mostly in my home office. It’s quiet and I find that I can get more writing done in my scheduled blocks of time rather than in a public place like a coffee bar. In the summer months, sometimes I take my laptop or notebook outdoors for fresh air and writing. When reading, do you prefer eBook or paperback? A year ago, I would have definitely said paperback. For the most part, I still prefer them. I bought an Amazon Kindle last year and I really love the ease and less clutter of it. So I’m torn at times, but for reading entertainment I choose an ebook and for my more technical and non-fiction books I prefer paper. Do you ever write in your PJ’s? Who told you? You bet I write in my PJs in the mornings when I don’t have appointments or important errands to run. Barefoot and in my PJs is like the comfort food of writing. The more comfortable, flannel with silly prints on them the better. Anyone have a line on adult flannel SpongeBob pajamas? So do you like to cook? I’ve never really enjoyed cooking as a daily task, but recently I’ve found out that I don’t tolerate wheat or gluten well. I’m not diagnosed with the related disease, but now without it I’m feeling better with more energy. Without pastas and breads I’d go completely crazy, so I’ve been in the kitchen cooking more and I’ve found that I do enjoy it once I’ve made peace with it. What’s your favorite ice cream? Ice cream is my sweet vice. My favorite flavors are chocolate chip and butter pecan tied in first place. Do you have pets? Do you have a picture of them you can share? Yes, my life wouldn’t be complete without my four-legged buddies. I have two Labrador retrievers (would love more) and two cats. My labs keep me balanced and make sure that I take plenty of much needed writing breaks. Since writing about serial killers can be dark at times, my dogs lighten things up with fun and high energy. If your book was made into a TV series or Movie, what actors would you like to see playing your characters? I love this question! There are so many wonderful actors out there, but my dream players would be… Angelina Jolie as Emily Stone Johnny Depp as Rick Lopez Matthew McConaughey as Jordan Smith Hey, remember I did say dream actors.
If you were to attend a St. Patrick’s Day Party, which one thing would you never leave behind and why? A green derby A walking stick A pot of gold A mug of green beer A Rainbow Luck O the Irish A Leprechaun First, I was going to say a walking stick for protection against bad guys on the way home from the party, but I’d have to say a rainbow because everything in life gets better with a rainbow. Bless the Irish! Where can your readers stalk you? I welcome questions and comments! Author Blog
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Writer Andy Holloman has been scribbling stories since a young age (according to reliable sources). "Shades of Gray" is his first published novel and grew out of his experiences as a travel agency owner many moons ago. He was fascinated with the true story of a client of the business that was murdered. Suspecting her line of work was drug smuggling, a story sprouted in his over-active imagination - How far would a desperate person go to save their child and their business. He is the father of three and happily married for 20 years. A graduate of UNC-CH, he lives in the Raleigh, NC area and is busy carpooling, keeping his wife happy, and attending his kids sporting events. He loves the great outdoors in NC, is an avid reader, and a social media goofball. Most evenings, he can be found tapping on his well-worn keyboard as he "births" his next novel. Today, Andy Holloman talks about his writing and his Thriller ‘Shades of Gray’. What is the main premise of this book? To what lengths will a father go to save his child and his failing businessHow long did it take you to write it? I began writing in 2003 and continued until I considered the book finished, which took 2.5 years. Then I put the MS on a shelf and revised it when I received interest from a publisher, which all happened about Feb. of 2011. So I would estimate a total of approx. 3 years. Who’s your favorite character in it? I tend to enjoy the "bad" guys the most and thus my favorite character is my baddie, Jamel Scott. When reading, do you prefer eBook or paperback?
I prefer paperback. However, I received a Kindle a few months ago an eBooks may soon become my favorite. What projects are you currently working on? I don't have any new novels in progress right now. What is something that surprised you about being an author? I was surprised how much "re-writing" is involved in writing a novel. I hadn't envisioned that this process (for me) would take up just as much time as the actual drafting of the book. What one word describes how you feel when you write? Energized. Who designed this cover? A great friend, Matt Taft who is a very talented graphic designer. Also, my sister is a painter and the background is her work. Can you tell us about an early childhood memory? Tent camping in Vermont with my family on the way to the Worlds Fair in Montreal in 1967. Do you ever write in your PJ’s? Yes, except when I'm writing in a coffee shop! What are your pet peeves? People giving answers to questions when they really should be saying they "Don't know". What’s your favorite beverage? Mountain Dew. The Official Soft Drink of the South. *wink* So do you like to cook? Yes. I do most of the cooking for my family. What’s your favorite ice cream? Ben and Jerry's Cookie Dough. Do you normally eat breakfast, or do you skip it and get straight to work? Yes, usually a bagel. What is something you never leave home without (apart from keys, money and phone)? Gotta have my glasses now that I'm approaching 50! Do you sleep in or get up early? My sleep schedule revolves around getting my kids off to school. Sometimes I sleep in on Sundays. Which do you use most for writing on, laptop or desktop? Laptop. What's your favorite gadget? Love my Iphone. Where and when do you prefer to do your writing? I typically write after my children are in bed (after 9pm) and on Sundays. I prefer to write at home. What are your thoughts on receiving book reviews... the good and the bad? Book reviews are very important to me. I crave feedback regardless of whether it is favorable or not. If you were deserted on an island, who are three famous people you would want with you? The Dalai Lama, Steven Speilberg, and Scarlett Johansson (for scenery). What’s your bucket vacation? 3 weeks camping across Australia. Your favorite quote? "I don't like writing. I like - having written." Gloria Steinem (probably). List three books you’ve just recently read and would recommend. The Ninth District by Dorow The Road by Mccarthy Replay by Grimwood If your book was made into a TV series or Movie, what actors would you like to see playing your characters? Main Character (John Manning) - Phillip Seymour Hoffman Wanda - Jada Pinkett Smith Where can your readers stalk you? www.AndyHolloman.com or Twitter @AndyHolloman In 1995, after half a lifetime of plausible excuses, JJ Toner began to write. Encouraged by some modest early success with his short stories, he went on to write novels. His first novel found a home on the garden compost heap; the second and third are historical fiction both waiting for extensive edits. Only the fourth and an anthology of shorts have been published so far. He lives in Ireland with his wife and youngest son. Today, JJ Toner discusses his book, 'St Patrick’s Day Special'. How long did it take you to write your book? Including the work of my editor and several rewrites : Exactly 2 years Who’s your favorite character in it? Dessie Bonnar, the snitch. This is a guy who dresses well, but always looks untidy. He has disobedient hair. He has no obvious profession and seems to spend all his time at the bar in The Bleeding Horse, his favorite pub. He has a wicked streak and an irrepressible sense of humor. What projects are you currently working on? Doing battle with Ben Jordan 2, the sequel. I sneak a short story in every now and then. What one word describes how you feel when you write? Panic Who designed the cover? Anya Kelleye with a lot of input from me. I’m not happy with it, though, and planning a change soon. Do you ever write in your PJ’s? No. I like to write in the nude but can’t afford the heating. What are your pet peeves? The cost of central heating. Writers who can’t construct a decent plot. Writers who break the basic rules, like head-hopping or tense-changing or stupid saidisms. Indie writers who rush into print without paying for any proper structural edits. Indie writers who call themselves editing professionals just because they have published one or two books. Don’t get me started! Do you normally eat breakfast, of do you skip it and get straight to work? Straight to work. No time to waste. If you were deserted on an island, who are 3 famous people you would want with you? David Baboulene, Chuck Lorre and Stephen King. David Baboulene has written the best ever instructional book on writing, called The Story Book. What is your favorite quote? From the moment I picked up your book until I put it down again, I couldn’t stop laughing. I can’t wait to read it. Groucho Marx If you were to attend a St. Patrick’s Day Party, which one thing would you never leave behind and why? A pot of gold for obvious reasons. Where can your readers stalk you? http://www.jjtoner.net Pat Bertram is a native of Colorado. When the traditional publishers stopped publishing her favorite type of book — character and story driven novels that can’t easily be slotted into a genre — she decided to write her own. Second Wind Publishing liked her style and published four of Bertram’s books: ‘Light Bringer’, ‘Daughter Am I’, ‘More Deaths Than One’, and ‘A Spark of Heavenly Fire’. What is the main premise of Daughter Am I? When twenty-five-year-old Mary Stuart learns she inherited a farm from her recently murdered grandparents-grandparents her father claimed had died before she was born-she becomes obsessed with finding out who they were and why someone wanted them dead. Along the way she accumulates a crew of feisty octogenarians-former gangsters and friends of her grandfather. She meets and falls in love Tim Olson, whose grandfather shared a deadly secret with her great-grandfather. Now Mary and Tim need to stay one step ahead of the killer who is desperate to dig up that secret. How long did it take you to write it? I developed the idea for Daughter Am I in a single day, but I had to finish the book I was working on at the time, so I didn’t actually begin writing Daughter Am I until several months after I got the initial idea. It took me a year to write, and then another year to edit. Who’s your favorite character in it? That is a hard question! All the octogenarian gangsters in Daughter Am I are my favorites in their own way. There’s Teach, who sells bullets he claims came from the shoot-out at the O.K. Corral. There’s Kid Rags, who still works as a forger. There’s Happy, a trigger-happy ex-wheelman for the mob, whose hands shake so much he can barely aim let alone shoot. That’s only three of the octogenarians -- there are seven feisty old gangsters all together. Well, six gangsters and one ex-showgirl. What projects are you currently working on? I’m currently collaborating on writing a novel online with eight other Second Wind authors. We each write from the POV of a different character, and follow that character throughout the story. In the first story, a little girl’s body was found in the desert, but who killed her? We won’t know until the book is finished! You can find this project at http://rubiconranch.wordpress.com I hope you will check it out! What is something that surprised you about being an author? The most surprising part for me is that I know how to write. For many years, my life was shadowed by the sadness of having no innate talent for writing. I’m not being modest -- I really couldn’t write anything worth reading. When I decided to write despite that lack, I set out to learn everything I could about developing a readable story. Most of the how-to books confused the heck out of me -- the authors would talk about rising conflicts and motivation/reaction units, and I didn’t have a clue what they meant. It’s only recently that I realized I actually know what I’m doing. What one word describes how you feel when you write? Intent. Who designed this cover? I did! I took the photo while I was out walking one day, and then tweaked the color. I’m pleased with the result. Which do you use most for writing on, laptop or desktop? Okay, I admit it: I am a closet pencilphile. Seems silly, I know, in this electronic age, but I write in pencil on loose-leaf paper. There. I've outed myself. I feel so much better now. I am not being contrary. I do have reasons. I have a better mind/writing connection using pencil and paper than I have with a keyboard; a mechanical pencil is easier on my fingers than pen, and paper is easier on my eyes than a computer screen. But I do use a laptop for blog posts and interviews and such. Where and when do you prefer to do your writing? For me, fiction writing is largely a matter of thinking, of trying to see the situation, of figuring out the right word or phrase that puts me where I need to be so the words can flow. I can do this better late at night, in bed, clipboard propped against my knees or on a pillow than sitting at a desk. If, as Mel Gibson said, "A movie is like public dreaming," then novels are like shared dreaming, and where better to dream than in a comfortable bed? Your favorite quote: “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.” -- Goethe If you were to attend a St. Patrick’s Day Party, which one thing would you never leave behind and why? I’d take the Luck O’ the Irish. With a bit of luck, I could get whatever I wanted, including gold. And anyway, luck weighs a heck of a lot less than a pot of gold and is easier to carry with you. Where can your readers stalk you? I have a website -- http://patbertram.com -- where I post important information, including the first chapters of each of my books, but the best way to keep up with me, my writing, and my life on a daily basis is by way of Bertram’s Blog. http://ptbertram.wordpress.com All my books are available both in print and in ebook format. You can get them online at Second Wind Publishing, Amazon, B&N and Smashwords. Smashwords is great! The books are available in all ebook formats, including palm reading devices, and you can download the first 20-30% free! Helen Hanson writes thrillers about desperate people with a high-tech bent. Hackers. The CIA. Industry titans. Guys on sailboats. Mobsters. Their personal maelstroms pit them against unrelenting forces willing to kill. Throughout the journey, they try to find some truth, a little humor, and their humanity — from either end of the trigger. While Helen writes about the power hungry, she genuinely mistrusts anyone who wants to rule the world. Helen directed operations for high-tech manufacturers of semiconductors, video games, software, and computers. Her reluctant education behind the Redwood Curtain culminated in a B.S. in Business Administration with concentrated studies in Computer Science. She also learned to play a mean game of hacky sack. She is a licensed private pilot with a ticket for single-engine aircraft. Helen and her husband spent their first anniversary with their flight instructor studying for the FAA practical. If you were a passenger on a 737 trying to land at SJC in 1995, she sends her most sincere apologies. Really. Born in fly-over country, Helen has lived on both coasts, near both borders, and at several locations in between. She lettered in tennis, worked as a machinist, and saw the Clash at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium sometime in the eighties. She currently lives amid the bricks of Texas with her husband, son, and a dog that composes music with squeaky toys. Today, Helen speaks with us about her Thriller ‘Dark Pool’. What is the main premise of this book? Forty Billion Reasons to Kill By this time in her life, Maggie Fender expected to be on her way to law school. Instead she’s far from any degree, waiting tables to support her teenage half-brother and their ailing father. With early onset Alzheimer’s, her father’s lucid moments are few and unpredictable. Her brother’s legal defense for felony hacking charges strained their finances to a snap. In spite of the conviction, he claims he was framed. But now that he’s on parole, he also claims their father is sending them messages. Maggie’s tired of the struggle, but she’s everybody’s legal guardian. Slowing down will lead to disaster. She can hustle. Or face financial ruin. This isn’t the life she envisioned. In the news, disgraced hedge fund manager Patty O’Mara awaits trial for bilking investors out of forty billion dollars. The legendary dark pool wizard offered phenomenal profits until the SEC examined his books. Then they discovered O’Mara didn’t make any legitimate trades on the market. O’Mara ran his hedge fund the way Charles Ponzi and Bernie Madoff ran theirs. It was all a fraud. One wealthy investor rallies the troop of irate victims by hiring a noted private investigator to find the missing pot of gold. A Russian mobster, out thirty million in cash, prefers to search for the money alone and without witnesses. Their competing efforts sift the same set of facts. So why are they interested in Maggie Fender’s incoherent father? While SEC officials try to rebuild credibility for allowing the financial scandal to rage unchecked, the private investigator and the Russian mobster vie to answer a solitary question: What happened to all that money? Who’s your favorite character in it? I won’t call her my favorite as it might hurt Travis’ feelings, but I admire Maggie Fender. She’s not Wonder Woman. Her family burdens occasionally make her cranky, frustrated, and even resentful, but she’s taking care of business and her family as best she can. I think she’s an everyday her-o. What projects are you currently working on? My protagonists could be you or me–people thrust into peril because of someone else’s yearning. This time I’m writing about the man who entices the world to buy Viagra. Meet Baxter Cruise: spammer for hire. He spews garbage into your inbox to put himself through college. His cozy world of lattes and wi-fi hot spots is about to explode. What one word describes how you feel when you write? Seriously? Only one word for a writer? Can’t be done. What are your pet peeves? My dog, Maela, is a herder, and anyone outside of our pack peeves her. Consequently, dog parks are currently not an option. She loves squeaky toys, but pouts when we don’t want to play. She’ll place a squeaky toy on my chair and repeatedly ram her nose into it to entice me. Lately, we’ve been watching the Dog Whisperer to understand all her peeves. The show makes her nervous. Oh? You meant my peeves? Sorry. So, do you like to cook? I’m an awesome special events cook. Prime rib on the rotisserie. Smoked turkey (okay my husband makes this one). Homemade Caesar salad. Yes, you must use real anchovies. Cranberry cheesecake. Tart and sweet–the perfect combination. Flourless chocolate cake (recipe from The Fish Market in the SF Bay area). Grilled portabellas with parmesan. Artichoke risotto. Caprese salad. Mmmmm. Daily cook, not so much. I reheat a lot. As the youngest of seven, I didn’t know how to make any recipe in smaller than Army chow-hall proportions. I’ve learned to make big batches and stow portions for the future. I heart my freezer. What is something you never leave home without (apart from keys, money and phone)? Pen and paper. The ideas for my stories, the threads and twists, usually come to me when my brain isn’t focused on the actual writing. Typing into a smart phone doesn’t offer the same sensation. I’ll see a person react to a situation or overhear snippets of a conversation, and suddenly I have an idea that I need to capture. If I don’t use it on my current project, I store it for consideration in a different work. I record mannerisms, interesting phrases, and occasionally something diabolical comes to mind. Do you have pets? Do you have a picture of them you can share? When we brought Maela home from the shelter, she was stressed, losing hair, and exhausted. She slept almost non-stop for twenty four hours in her new pillow bed. My husband went out for an errand and returned to the house laughing because she looked ferocious through the window.
The Before picture on the left is her shelter photo. That was the dog we thought we’d brought home. The After picture on the right is the result of sleep, security, and a hearty meal. What's your favorite gadget? The Swiss Army knife–affectionately known as the SAK since my days behind the Redwood Curtain. Mine has no less than twenty six tools. I’ve used it to pick my own front door lock, saw branches for hot dogs skewers, and focus sunbeams to a flaming pinpoint upon dry tinder. Or ants. I hate ants. The Swiss Army knife even played a role in my marital bliss. My future husband stopped by my office to troubleshoot a computer problem. He wanted to open the computer case but didn’t have any tools. I offered him the use of my trusty SAK fully equipped with both regular and Philips screwdrivers. Apparently, I won points for resourcefulness. What’s your bucket vacation? If I was forced to travel in a bucket, I would not want to go over Niagara Falls. Not in a box. Not with the jocks. Not in a barrel. Not with a Daryl. My bucket would require a multi-colored hot-air balloon lofting overhead so we could fly over the falls. I’d also take a bucket seat in a Ferrari Enzo to cruise the coast of Italy. If I can’t go anywhere, a bucket full of red wine works. If you were to attend a St. Patrick’s Day Party, which one thing would you never leave behind and why? I would bring a mug of green beer for two reasons. First: A Filipino friend of mine married an Irishman, and we happened to be at a party together one night. Being a gentleman, her husband offered to get me a drink from the bar. I requested a glass of water. My choice seemed to perturb him. When he returned with my water, I asked if I had offended him. He replied, “It’s damned embarrassing for an Irishman to be at the bar asking for a glass of water.” Yes, that’s a true story. Second: I like beer. Alaskan Amber on tap. There’s none better. Sadly, they don’t sell it in Texas. Where can your readers stalk you? I’m highly stalkable online: Amazon ~ iBooks ~ Amazon UK ~ Nook ~ XinXii facebook ~ My IAN Page ~ WebSite ~ twitter ~ Goodreads In real life, please remember that I’m half Sicilian, I own a killer dog beast (note the After photo above), and I live in Texas. Where even our little old ladies are packing heat! . . . Carolyn Arnold is the author of several novels in various genres. Her mystery novels 'Ties That Bind' and 'Justified' have reached best seller status on Amazon United States for Kindle. Her FBI thriller Eleven released November 2011 made it on The Miami Books Examiner's 'Top 12 Fiction Books of 2011' list. She was born in 1976 in a rural town of Ontario, Canada. She currently lives with her husband, and two beagles in a city near the well-known Canadian center Toronto. Today, Carolyn discusses her book, 'ELEVEN'. What is the main premise of this book? Eleven Rooms. Ten Bodies. One Empty Grave. Brandon Fisher never expected this when he signed up as a Special Agent for the FBI. Working in the shadow of Supervisory Special Agent Jack Harper of the Behavioral Analysis Unit his career seemed set. But when the team is called to a small rural town where the remains of ten victims are found in an underground bunker, buried in an unusual way, Brandon knows he'll never return to his normal life. With one empty grave, and the case touching close to home, he fears he's become the target of a psychotic serial killer who wants to make him number eleven. Only thing is, everything Brandon thinks he knows is far from the truth. Who’s your favorite character in it?
It is hard to pick. Brandon is eager to please his new boss Special Agent Jack Harper. He’s strong but possesses vulnerabilities – he wants to prove himself valuable to his team, and stand out. He has fears, such as claustrophobia, which make him human. He has a wife he loves, but from whom the years and career decisions have torn him from. Jack Harper can be gruff around the edges. He’s tough on his team, but it’s only because he wants to make them the best at their job. He knows what they’re capable of even if they don’t. And even though he can come across uncaring and stern at times, he would die for his team. He’s almost like your grumpy grandfather. You can be upset with him at times, but you can’t help but love him. What projects are you currently working on? Currently, I’m writing the fourth in the Madison Knight series and I’m about to start edit rounds on the third in the series to get ready to send to an editor. What one word describes how you feel when you write? Liberated. Do you ever write in your PJs? All the time! Is there another way? Who designed this cover? My husband did actually. He’s a graphic designer by trade. He took the concept of my book and made it visual. He also offers this service to other indie and self-published authors. For more information and how to contact him, click here. Where and when do you prefer to do your writing? I prefer to do my writing in the morning before the day job, and on weekends. There’s no limitation on weekends and I just let the words flow, and the keys fly. My office is a nightmare…it’s one of those rooms you toss stuff in and close the door LOL So I do most of my writing at the dining table. There are a lot of windows in the room so it’s nice and bright. Your thoughts on receiving book reviews - the good and the bad - Oh, book reviews. I think the author has to remember reviews are the expressed opinion of one individual. A bad review doesn’t mean you’re a bad author just as a great review doesn’t mean you’re the next best thing. I’ve found in life there’s always a balance – a good day, a bad day, a good review, a bad review. Of course, I would be remiss not to say I love it when I hear from a reader who loved a book of mine! It makes my day. And on the flipside a review which isn’t as glowing, can bring me down. But an author has to stop focusing on the reviews and focus on what they love to do – write. Write for themselves and write for those who love their work. Think of this way too: you don’t love every book you read so you can’t expect everyone will love yours. If you can accept this, you’ll have a realistic view on reviews. What’s your bucket vacation? Has to be Australia! I don’t know. I hate planes and this would be the furthest point for me! And I don’t want to go to live it up in a resort either (although I definitely loved being pampered so go figure and hate camping). I want to be put to work on the outback, which is very ironic because I HATE spiders (they have HUGE ones there). I tell my husband this would be the only place I’d ever consider facing this fear in the face. Your favorite quote – Dream big, or don’t bother. If you were to attend a St. Patrick’s Day Party, which one thing would you never leave behind and why? A Leprechaun – he would bring me luck anywhere I went. Where can your readers stalk you? Amazon Author Page Website Blog To celebrate the release of Sibel Hodge's third Amber Fox mystery, she's giving away 10 ebook copies! About Voodoo Deadly... Feisty insurance investigator Amber Fox is back in her deadliest case ever… When Chantal Langton, the daughter of a famous voodoo high priestess, goes missing, is it a simple case of a rich girl running off for some adventure, or is there something far more sinister going on? Soon Amber’s slap bang in the middle of voodoo curses, a trail of missing women, and a labyrinth of deceit. And, if that wasn’t enough, to add more distraction to the case, her ex-fiancé-turned boss-turned fiancé again is pressing her to set the wedding date. Can Amber find Chantal and hunt down a cold-blooded killer before her life comes crashing down around her? Praise for previous Amber Fox mysteries: "If you like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum I think you will really like Amber Fox - I know I do." Martha's Bookshelf "Amber Fox is a modern, career-driven woman who seems to be a cross between Kinsey Milhone and Gracie Hart (Miss Congeniality). I enjoyed the great mixture of action adventure and slapstick. I found myself chuckling out loud and on one occasion snorting water out my nose." Coffee Time Romance & More Amber Fox was hilarious with her tough as nails outer persona and her hysterical one-liners that were frequently laugh out loud funny.I definately recommend picking this book up!!" The Caffeinated Diva reads... "Amber Fox is the kind of strong lead female character with a great sarcastic wit that I love to read." To Read, Perchance to Dream "Ms. Hodge has written a funny and suspenseful story much in the style of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books. The plot is fast moving and the dialogue very witty." Coffee Time Romance & More Head on over to her blog for a chance to win! Diana Rivers and "The Surgeon’s Blade" Mystery-suspense-thriller writer, Faith Mortimer is delighted to add book three to her best-selling Diana Rivers mystery thriller series. This latest novel, "The Surgeon’s Blade" is more chilling, tense and is described as a ‘real corker of a read’. When nursing sister, Libby Hunter wakes up in hospital following a traumatic sailing accident she discovers two deeply disturbing things. One - she has lost her memory and two – the stranger, (Nigel) whom she finds sitting by her bedside when she awakes claims to be her fiancé. During her hospital stay, Libby regains most of her memory, except the bizarre thing is she cannot remember ever being engaged to surgeon, Nigel. Against her will Nigel persuades Libby into agreeing to move in with him. Working on instinct she finds excuses to put him off until she is completely sure of her true feelings. During a series of attacks on nurses in London and Southampton, Libby finds herself in great danger when her home is broken into one night. Who is the intruder and does he plan on harming her?And is this connected in any way to the recent attacks on nursing staff.Will Libbybe the attacker’s latest targeted victim? Distressed Libby turns to pilot, Robert for help and understanding, but is he as respectable and kind as he appears to be? Is her fiancé, Nigel trustworthy, especially when his ex-wife, Stella enters the scene and Libby suspects them of rekindling their relationship? The night time intrusion to Libby’s house sets in motion a downwards spiral of cataclysmic and terrifying events, culminating in our favourite sleuth, Diana Rivers stepping in to help solve the case in this chilling mystery thriller. For a glimpse of early reviews please go to: Amazon Customer 5 Star Reviews About the author: Faith Mortimer was born in Manchester and educated in Singapore, Malaya and Hampshire, England. She qualified as a Registered nurse and after some years changed careers to oversee a number of travel and sport related companies. In 2005, Faith decided to read for a science degree with The Open University. She believes that the dedication and stamina needed to sit for a degree gave her the confidence to finish writing her first novel. January 2009 saw the publication of, "The Crossing". This novel is based on a true incident and Faith thoroughly enjoyed the six months or so research that went into the book and the 18 months writing and editing. In spring 2011 Faith published her second novel, "The Assassins' Village", a murder mystery set in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus. This novel was chosen as best book #1 on the Harper Collins/Authonomy site out of over 8000 books during November 2009. (Excerpt from the review can be found under Faith’s Amazon author page). Available in paperback and eBook. Summer 2011, "Children of The Plantation" was published. This is the second in the bestselling Diana Rivers’s mystery series. This time the story is set in exotic Malaysia. "Children of The Plantation"was Amazon’s number 1 in movers and Shakers for 48 hours during October 2011. Faith is thrilled with, "The Surgeon’s Blade", book number three in her mystery thriller series and sincerely hopes you will be too. Please note any of the books of the series can be read in any order. Please take a look at the stunning reviews for all Faith's books under each book heading. Almost all reviews are 4 & 5 stars! Available in paperback and eBook. For updates on Faith’s books and regular blog posts please go to: http://www.faithmortimerauthor.com/ Thank you for taking the time to read through this and a huge thank you to my dedicated readers and followers to whom I owe so much. Bestselling chick lit author Sibel Hodge is back with her latest novel! Based on her own experiences with infertility and two attempts at IVF, Sibel Hodge’s The Baby Trap will have you laughing and crying at the ups and downs of modern baby-making… About The Baby Trap… When Gina turns thirty-three her body clock unexpectedly begins clanging in her ear with annoying persistence. The only problem is, having a baby isn’t as easy as she thought. Whether she’s feng shui-ing the house to death with fertility symbols, throwing out her husband’s tight boxers in favour of baggies, swapping wine and chocolate for green tea and yams, popping fertility drugs like M&M’s, or having sex so precision-timed it makes international warfare manoeuvres look unorganized, her life is turned upside down. And when nothing seems to be working, her quest for the B-word turns into an obsession. Can Gina stay sane, get pregnant, and keep her marriage together? Or will her baby trail become a baby trap? About Sibel Hodge… Sibel Hodge is the author of bestselling romantic comedy Fourteen Days Later. She has 8 cats and 1 husband. In her spare time, she’s Wonder Woman! When she’s not out saving the world from dastardly demons, she writes quirky chick lit with a hefty dose of screwball comedy. Her other books include, My Perfect Wedding, The Fashion Police (Amber Fox Mystery), Be Careful What You Wish For (Amber Fox Mystery), and How to Dump Your Boyfriend in the Men’s Room (and other short stories). Her work has been shortlisted for the Harry Bowling Prize 2008, Highly Commended by the Yeovil Literary Prize 2009, Runner up in the Chapter One Promotions Novel Comp 2009, and nominated Best Novel with Romantic Elements in 2010 by The Romance Reviews. Her novella Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave has been listed as one of the Top 40 Books About Human Rights by Accredited Online Colleges. Praise for her books…
"Yet another winner by Sibel who is fast becoming my favourite 'chick-lit' author" Wistful Kimmie's Book Reviews "Sibel Hodge has perfect comedic timing" Lisa Lim, author of Confessions of a Call Centre Gal "Ms. Hodge is rapidly becoming a favorite of mine." Coffee Time Romance & More "Sibel Hodge does it again!" Geeky Girl Reviews "Sibel Hodge has a way of writing that really makes the characters come to life" Can’t Put It Down Review Blog In celebration of the release, Sibel is giving away 10 ebook copies of The Baby Trap on her blog. Head on over to enter! Today is launch day for a fun new Science Fiction author, Catrina Taylor. Her debut novel is titled, Xarrok: Birth of an Empire. This incredible story tells the tale of a society that forms from the desire to leave war, and forge a new life for themselves. Book one lays out the history of its founders, leading into a creative tale of love, betrayal and second chances. Today’s post includes part of an interview with the author, a sample of the book and is a contributing post to a fun scavenger hunt that will award 3 people a free copy of the book. Scavenger Hunt Here’s how to play: Read the interview questions and the samples, then go to The Writing Network.com and answer the 5 questions OR the 2 bonus questions accurately and win a free copy of the first novel in the Xarrok series: Birth of an Empire part 1. At the end of the sample on each site will be a link to the next post and then to the home of the Scavenger Hunt. Now, onto the interview questions: Who's providing the soundtrack? What music inspires you? Music … that’s a fun question. My musical tastes are very eclectic. I’ve got a play list of music on YouTube that ranges from Madonna to Queen to the 80’s hair bands and the 90’s boy groups. There’s today’s music thrown in there too, and some influences from other countries, thanks to my global internet influences. Who is your favorite author right now? Favorite right now… well, I’ve recently absorbed the Portal Series by Sarah Barnard and I love her work. So, I guess right now, that’s my favorite author, but there are so many more I need to read. What is your favorite sports game and why? Oh… this is easy, Baseball. I love the game, playing and watching. My dad would catch NY Mets baseball games every chance possible while I was growing up. Then in 1986, when they won the World Series, I realized I actually liked the sport to enjoy the sport. I’ve missed most of the 2011 season though. I had this book thing going on. Excerpt from Chapter 1 of Birth of an Empire - Book 1:
She ran into the house and to the bedroom of her master and her master’s husband. Kala threw herself at the feet of the woman who sat on her balcony. "Please, master, I must know something." The woman, smiled warmly at the young girl at her feet, "What is it child? What brings you so urgently to me?" "I want to know if it is true that the Xenonian council has allowed for deception in the war." Kala hoped upon hope that the Dentonian was wrong. That what she heard from him was not the truth. Her master frowned but nodded, "Yes, Kala. War is very ugly and we must protect our people by any means necessary." She then smiled warmly to her young servant, "But you have nothing to worry after. You are safe here, in our home. War will not come to Xenonia." The facts disturbed her, but she refused to let it be obvious. Kala stood, "I will prepare dinner." "Good. Thank you my dear. When you are done with your chores this evening, I would be interested in learning what prompted that question. You may go now." The older woman with streaks of gray through her hair, sat perfectly poised in her chair and waited until Kala departed. Kala curtsied slightly, "Thank you." She turned and went about her chores, her mind fixated on the conversation held across light years. She avoided the conversation about war with her master that night, and several times over the next number of months. She also avoided contacting Yatrell. She just couldn’t bear the idea that her people were so ruthless and talking to him only showed that to her. He reached to her a handful of times, but most she dismissed repeatedly. One day, while she was in her girl’s room, cleaning, he reached out to her again. She was very uncomfortable and afraid someone would notice so he kept the conversation short and mentioned that things were changing around him. He told her that she should be careful who she trusts. Kala dismissed his concerns quickly by explaining that her master assured her the war would not come to Xenonia so there was nothing for her to be concerned with. Not long after that conversation, Kala became a topic of discussion at her home. A young suitor came calling for her. They were of the same age and Kala did enjoy his company but he couldn’t afford to purchase her freedom. She accepted this as she was expected to, however she still felt a loss over it. As she was crying again one night, missing this young man’s company, she found she accidently projected her crying across light years again. You can find the book through major retailers including: Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. Learn more about the universe around Xarrok at http://Xarrok.com and please follow me on twitter @TheLadyWrites. Your next stop for the scavenger hunt is right here: http://mirabooks.wordpress.com/ |
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