Author Interview and Book Giveaway: Nancy Lynn Jarvis



Hi all. Today author Nancy Lynn Jarvis is stopping by for an interview and giveaway. Please read on for details about her latest book in her PIP Inc Mystery Series called Dearly Beloved Departed and also for info on how to win an e-copy.

About the book:
Ms. Jarvis presents a fun and engagingly written mystery in Dearly Beloved Departed, the fourth book in the PIP Inc. Mysteries. This intriguing story lures the reader forward with plot twists and the intriguingly convergent thinking of Pat Pirard, not to mention her ensemble of endearing friends. ~ Dannye Williamsen, author of Brita Madison Paranormal Mysteries



Q: Welcome to my blog Nancy, please tell us a bit about yourself.
A: I’m a registered Gezzerette who didn’t start writing until I was fifty-eight. I don’t want any of you out there reading this who think you’re too old to start a writing career to give up. Once I started writing, I had so much fun doing it that it became an addiction. So far I‘ve written a seven-book series, Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries, a stand-alone novel, Mags and the AARP Gang, and a little insider’s book called The Truth About Hosting Airbnb. I also gave editing a try, publishing two wildly different books, Cozy Food: 128 Cozy Mystery Writers Share Their Favorite Recipes and an anthology titled Santa Cruz Weird.

The cookbook and anthology were great fun to do and introduced me to many delightful fellow writers, but editing isn’t one of my strengths so right now I’m working on a new series, PIP Inc. Mysteries. Book four in the series, Dearly Beloved Departed has come out recently and I’d like to give one of you a free e-copy of it.

Do I write from life? Sort of. I was a realtor for many years so the real estate stories in my mysteries are fact-based even if the murders aren’t. I was an Airbnb host for a little more than three years and received over fifty emails from all over the world asking if I was okay after the CZU Fire which ended that adventure. For the PIP Inc. Mysteries, which stands for Private Investigator Pat, I borrowed a friend’s identity. The only really different book was Mags. She is an imaginary character who more or less dedicated her story as I typed it. (Characters talking to their writers is a common occurrence and does not mean we’re crazy.)

Q: What would you say is your strength as a writer?
A: I still feel odd referring to myself as a writer. I’m a storyteller, a skill I learned from my Irish grandmother and perfected making up bedtime stories for my children when they were young. Telling stories and seeing how they piece together is my greatest strength.

Q: How long does it take you to write a book?
A: Except for The Corpse’s Secret Life which I wrote during the time I was displaced and then living in a house undergoing reconstruction post-fire, books usually take about five months to get ready for beta readers. After that it takes another couple of months to work with editors and make changes and corrections.

Q: Who are your favorite authors and what strikes you the most about their work?
A: I read broadly so I’m going to narrow your questions down to just mysteries, if I may. I like classic British authors like Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers and my new favorite, Richard Osman. They rely more on intrigue, subtle clues, and complex relationships rather than graphic violence and action which, as a cozy mystery writer, appeals to me.

Q: What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
A: Hands down rocky road.

Links:
Amazon Author Page
Facebook
Goodreads

About the author:
Nancy is a happily former Realtor. Without a license to hold her back, she is free to share her opinions about all things real estate especially in Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries. She’s had a checkered career past: she’s worked for the San Jose Mercury News, been a librarian, photo archivist, and been the business manager of Shakespeare/Santa Cruz.
Her work history reflects her philosophy: people should try something radically different every few years.



Thank you for stopping by Nancy! I enjoyed this interview. That’s great advice about not thinking it’s too late to begin writing. Best of luck with your books!

Giveaway Details
To enter to win an e-copy of Dearly Beloved Departed leave a comment on this post and please include your email address. A winner will be announced here on April 4th. Good luck!

Book Spotlight/Author Interview: The Lady and Her Quill by Ruth A. Casie




Hello everyone. TGIF! Please welcome author Ruth Casie as she stops by today to chat about her newest book The Lady and Her Quill How pretty is the cover? This is the start to her The Ladies of Sommer by the Sea series. I enjoy Regency romance and this series sounds wonderful. Please read on to learn a bit more about the author and to read an excerpt. There’s also a chance to win a $25.00 Amazon gift card below.

author interview:

Hi Everyone! I’m Ruth A. Casie. For me, Fall is the beginning of the holiday season, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas , and Chanukkah. They are all filled with fun and good cheer. For the holidays, my children and grandchildren all move back home, and we have awesome celebration. I have my fingers and toes crossed our son and his wife and their new baby will be in from Massachusetts for our celebration this year.

For those who don’t know me… USA Today Bestselling Author of sweet small-town contemporary romance – Havenport Romance and historical romance – The Stelton Legacy, Pirates of Britannia, and The Druid Knight series. And a NEW Regency Romance Series – The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea releasing this November! I’m Passionate for Happy Ever Afters I Dance When I Cook My Sudoku Book is in the Bathroom. I live in Northern New Jersey with my husband. I have three children and three grandchildren.

What is your recent release all about, some details please?
I’m so excited. My new story The Lady and Her Quill, releases November 16.
Her mind kept telling her to stop loving him, but her heart couldn’t let him go.

Renowned author Lady Alicia Hartley has lost her muse after a bad review. She blames it all on the author J.C. Melrose. A chance encounter with a handsome, witty Justin Caulfield has her heart racing, and her muse seemingly back. Is he her savior or her worst nightmare?
He didn’t see the turbulent ocean. He was too busy dealing with a different tempest.

The recently retired Captain Justin Caulfield is facing his own demons. As gifted author J.C. Melrose, his stories honor men who died at the hand of one man. His only focus is to avenge their deaths, that is, until he meets and falls in love with Lady Alicia.

The two authors take on a writing challenge based on a story of stolen gold taken from the newspaper headlines all to determine the better writer. While researching the story, Lady Alicia is captured by the thieves’ ringleader, Captain Caulfield’s emesis. Can Lady Alicia turn this mystery into an award-winning story? Can Justin save his real-life heroine? Can they both overcome their own challenges for a happily ever after?

The Lady and Her Quill is Book One of my new Regency series, The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea Welcome to Sommer-by-the-Sea, a vibrant village nestled on the rugged northeast coast of England, 15 miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne. Here, the world is centered on the country village and the lives of the landowning and professional families. Sommer-by-the-Sea is populated with aristocrats, gentry, self-made men, shop owners, local workers, and servants, a cross-section of the people of the time. Steeped in history dating back as far as the Vikings, the villagers are proud and celebrate their heritage.

Everyone from the elite summer residents to the year-round residence keep businesses flourishing and gossip thriving. As with any small town, there are challenges and successes, secrets, disagreements, and feuds. There is no shortage of romance, mystery, drama, and even a murder or two.

Graduates of the Sommer-by-the-Sea Female Seminary have a unique education. Along with the usual studies available, the head mistress has nurtured each woman’s innate ability and helped them develop into the women they are today. This shared unique experience has kept the graduates close.

Each lady has her own story to tell as she is called to action and must demonstrate she is smart, strong and sensible and must challenge the accepted definition of a “woman’s place.” For these women, arranged or political marriages will not do. If she chooses a husband, it will be for love, on her own terms, and with a man who will accept her as a partner.

What or who inspired you as a writer?
I never imagined myself a writer although I always had stories in my head. On my long trips overseas (especially the year I filled my passport and before e-readers) I was a voracious reader. Romance stories were quick reads and on trips to Asia I could finish two books before the plane landed. I read Jude Deveraux, Julie Garwood, Beatrice Small, Johanna Lindsey, Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels, Tasha Alexander, Kathryn LeVeque, and Eliza Knight. I also read Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy. You can throw in Conan-Doyle too. All of these writers have influenced my style. I enjoy a good love story with a dash of adventure.

So, always having stories in your head and reading good ones was a jumping off point for me. When a friend of mine said she was writing a romance story. I offered to brainstorm with her and be her Beta reader. One thing led to another, and we decided to both write stories and sell them as a series. Life got in the way for her, but I went on to write my book. That was ten years ago. I remember all the well-wishes when I left my day job. I told them I wasn’t retiring from banking I was retiring to writing. I have never been so happier and felt more fulfilled.


What do you love best about being a writer?
I love those ‘aha’ moments when your character takes the pen (or keyboard) from you and tells you writes. In The Lady and Her Quill, I didn’t find out until I was half-way through my rough draft that Captain Caulfield’s nemesis had an active part in this story. When I was editing it gave me lots of opportunities to exploit. I loved it!


What is your typical writing day like?
I found there are two times of the day when I have bursts of writing energy, 8am and 4pm. I think it’s a hold-over from my day job. With my To-Do list in hand, I started the day knocking off those items. The second burst of energy was the push to get all those items completed and… create the following day’s list. It has remained much the same.

I usually do marketing and graphics tasks after lunch. I try not to work after dinner. I prefer to spend that time with my husband. Although, when I’m on a deadline, my schedule is solely focused on the book. EXCEPT this past several weeks. We have a new grandson and Logan Max took preference.

Nana and Poppop went to Boston to meet, hold, kiss, feed and yes, even change diapers!

Where do you usually write?

We’re empty nesters. I waited a year after our last child moved into their own apartment then transformed the room into an executive office. I do most of my writing there on my desktop computer. With my laptop there were times when I would wonder into the den, the living room, kitchen, or the deck. In the winter, I enjoy writing in the living room with the fireplace on with a large cup of hot tea (or a cold glass of wine).


Do you have other creative outlets? Beside ballroom dancing I do counted-cross stitch. I have lots of project that I’ve hung around the house. I also have a lot of half-finished ones in the closet (hanging head in shame). My new hobby is creative paper folding. I make some of my own swag.


What is your next project?

I am finishing THE LADY AND THE SPY, Book Two in this series. This story is about an English widow, a Russian spy, and top Napoleon supporter. The story takes place in February 1815 when Napoleon escapes from Elba Island. A list of Napoleon supports located across Europe is up for grabs. The English and Russians want it. Napoleon wants it destroyed.


Where can we find you?
Website: http://www.ruthacasie.com
Email: mailto:ruth@ruthacasie.com
Blog: http://www.ruthacasie.blogspot.com
Google+ https://plus.google.com/+RuthSeitelman
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RuthACasie
FB Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/RuthACasie
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ruthacasie/







book excerpt:

“How did the tower prevent you from acquiring a fine Scottish brogue?”
“It was during a nine-week siege by Scottish invaders in 1644. They made all sorts of demands. But the people wouldn’t agree to any of them. There were skirmishes and fights. Your ancestors, forgive me Captain, but they were not a nice lot, stole the grain and scared the wild stock so there was no milk from the cows or eggs from the chickens. The villagers fought back valiantly and took prisoners.”
“It’s an unfortunate part of war,” he said softly.
“The invaders took whatever they wanted and when there was nothing left to take, they demanded more. They wanted gold. But the mayor stood firm. The only item of value in the cathedral was the treasured chalice. He wouldn’t surrender the relic.”

“So how did the tower save the good people of Sommer-by-the-Sea?” he asked. “Patience, I’m coming to that.” She placed her hand on his arm.
Her brief touch made him more aware of her standing at his side than he wanted to admit. Her playful banter charmed him. He enjoyed her tale, and her telling even more.
She leaned in as if she told him the greatest secret. Her large hazel eyes grew bigger when she spoke, and her smile sparkled. He found himself hanging on her every word.
“The Scottish men who came here, not your direct forbearers I’m sure, threatened if the mayor didn’t give them the gold chalice, they would bombard the tower. Gold? There was no gold chalice, especially in the 1600s. The relic’s value was in what it symbolized in the religious ritual, not the substance of which it was made. But I digress. The attackers made their threat, and our mayor Sir John Whitaker developed a plan.” She lowered her voice intriguing him even more.

“Your forbearers suffered their losses. I’m sorry to tell you some lost their lives and others well they became guests of the mayor. He provided quarters for them at Sommer Castle, in the dungeon, deep underground. “The deeper they went into the ground, the greater the stink of wet, pungent mildew. Black mold grew across the walls and parts of the floor. Despite the smell, they were forced to go on. At the bottom, they came to a door. The door opened onto what appeared to be a stone forest, a broad, pillared hall with stone columns as large as tree trunks.”

“It sounds frightening.” Her eyes twinkled as she artfully painted the picture with words. The story enchanted him, but not as much as the enchantress.
“The dungeon was horrifying. Thick cobwebs filled the corners of the room. Wisps of webbing hung from the ceiling and waved in the stale air. The room held a curious array of tools. Winches and levers projected from every wall, and chains with handles dangle from the ceiling. Manacles were set into the walls. One set of manacles was broken open. This is where the men were held.”

Alicia’s voice had taken on a lost, distant sound reminding him of men who relived their battlefield experiences. His concern grew to alarm. Strong men had crumbled under less. “When were you there last?” he asked as he gently took her hand.

“I haven’t been there in many years.”
He lifted her chin with the crook of his finger. The urge to kiss her was all consuming. He wanted to kiss away the pained expression in her eyes and bring back the warm smile to her now pale face. Instead, they spoke not a word and let their eyes convey what they couldn’t.


GIVEAWAY:

CLICK HERE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN AMAZON $25.00 GIFT CARD

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Special thanks to Caffeinated PR!



about the author:

RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author of historical swashbuckling action-adventures and contemporary romance with enough action to keep you turning pages. Her stories feature strong women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. She lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at an international bank where she was a product/marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now-writing romance. She hopes her stories become your favorite adventures.

Author Interview and Spotlight: Mary Keliikoa

derailed
Good morning everyone. Today I have an author interview with Mary Keliikoa to share.  First a bit about her latest book, Derailed. How cool is the cover? I have not read this one yet but it sounds like a great start to a new series.

By Mary Keliikoa
Camel Press; May 12, 2020
Trade paperback: $15.95
Pages: 236
You haven’t heard of private detective Kelly Pruett yet, but she’s about to join ranks of
mystery’s most clever and crafty female sleuths, such as Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum or Alexander McCall Smith’s Precious Ramotswe.
Pruett reflects the real dilemmas of modern women in DERAILED: A P.I. Kelly Pruett
Mystery (Camel Press; May 12, 2020). Pruett must balance between being a single mother to her deaf daughter and following in her father’s footsteps as a private investigator.
After years of being her father’s apprentice, Pruett has inherited the family private detective agency. Dad never trained her for a major murder investigation; serving divorce papers and long stakeouts with her basset hound are more her speed. Her ex-husband—and his mother—think her work is too risky. But detective work is in her blood; puzzles are her passion. When a grieving mother begs her to investigate her daughter’s death, how can she refuse?
As Kelly sets out to prove herself, and find something to call her own outside of marriage and motherhood, she realizes she’s being stalked. Taking a frying pan to the face jars her into the realization that she’s stronger than anyone believes—even herself. Dad wasn’t the only Pruett with pit bull tendencies when it comes to solving a case, including one with ties to Portland’s BDSM subculture. As sordid secrets emerge, she must decide: is justice worth it?

Here’s what readers are saying:

“It’s that perfect blend of personal and professional that makes Derailed a welcome addition to the genre. I can’t wait to follow both Kelly and Keliikoa’s careers.”—Kellye Garrett, Anthony, Agatha, and Lefty Award-winning author, Hollywood Homicide

“Derailed has it all: an engaging heroine, a twisty, twisted crime, and plenty of food for thought about families and their secrets. I loved this debut and can’t wait to read about Kelly Pruett’s next case.”— Kristen Lepionka, Shamus Award-winning author, the Roxane Weary mystery series

“Mary Keliikoa’s debut novel is an important addition to the PI genre – strong with voice, a compelling protagonist in KellyPruett, and unforgettable family secrets. Derailed was hard to put down – and I can’t wait to read the next book in this crackling new series.” — Alex Segura, author, Blackout and Miami Midnight

Onto the author interview….(these questions were provided by the publisher for this post, I have not read the book yet myself) 

Q. You have owned several businesses in the past. Do you keep a finger in business or is writing now your full-time occupation?
A. I am the VP of a distribution company my husband and I have owned for 19 years, and I continue to work a few hours most week days. I enjoy the connection with our staff, we employ nearly 40 people. But I’m also very blessed to set my own schedule and writing is a big part of every day.
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Interview with Nancy Warren author of The Vampire Knitting Club

Hello everyone, please join me in welcoming Nancy Warren to my blog today as she stops by to answers a few interview questions. I am thrilled to have her! I read her book The Vampire Knitting Club and enjoyed it very much. It is the start of a paranormal cozy series set around a knitting store in Oxford.

vamp

Book Details:
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Published by: Ambleside Publishing
Publication Date: September 2018
Number of Pages: 250

Purchase Links: Amazon Goodreads

Please read on for the interview….

Welcome to my blog Nancy and thank you for stopping by. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Thank you for having me! I’m a Canadian, originally from Vancouver, though I’ve lived mainly in the UK for the past few years. Last year I got my MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa university. Our classes were held in Corsham Court, a Tudor manor house with peacocks on the lawn. It was magical. (Also the setting for Rafe Crosyer’s home, which we visit in book 2, Stitches and Witches.) I’ve always been an avid reader and I love to travel.

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Author Spotlight and Interview: Drake Vaughn

authorinterview

Hello all. I have author Drake Vaughn stopping in today for an interview. It is always interesting to find out about the author behind the work.

Drake’s latest book is called When the Devil Climbs. Please read on for the interview…

BW: Welcome to my blog Drake, please tell us about yourself.

DV: I’m a horror author whose “crinkled fiction” is a blend of the thrilling macabre, dark humor, and supernatural madness with a heavy psychological bent. I enjoy writing about the shadowy, gruesome corners of the human experience and eerie tales of the occult.

 

BW: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

DV: I started as a passionate reader, which helped cement an interest in telling my own stories. As a child, I created a book in the second grade about the death of a crayon, so I guess I always had a morbid curiosity. I also enjoyed cartooning in school where I’d draw caricatures of the teachers in goofy situations. I’d pass them around to get laughs, mostly from the girls, so I guess that was a strong motivation as well. Mostly, I enjoy the exploring of ideas that speculative fiction offers.

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