CHRISTMAS FICTION SCAVENGER HUNT, STOP #9

WELCOME TO THE CHRISTMAS FICTION SCAVENGER HUNT

If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to collect the clues through all the stops, in order (beginning here at Stop #1), so you can enter to win  our grand prize!

The hunt begins on Friday, 12/8 right here on this page!

There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt--you have all weekend. So take your time, reading the unique posts along the way; our hope is that you discover new authors/new books and learn new things about them. The hunt ends on Monday, 12/11 at midnight EST.

Submit your entry for the grand prizes by collecting the CLUE on each author’s scavenger hunt post and submitting your answer in the Rafflecopter format the final stop. Many authors are offering additional prizes along the way!

Bio:

Heidi Glick has a B.A. in biology from Cedarville University, a Master of Technical Communication from Utah State University, and a passion for writing Christian fiction. Additionally, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers and has written two articles for Intercom. Before becoming a suspense writer, Heidi taught science to middle and high school students and edited science documents. Heidi resides in rural Northwest Ohio with her husband, two children, and six pets.

Inspiration for my Christmas novella:

Several years ago, I moved from the greater Cincinnati area to rural Northwest Ohio. Though I set my latest novel in Cincinnati Ohio, I decided to set 12 Days, my Christmas romantic suspense novella, in a fictional setting based on my current county. Last fall, I had the privilege to attend my local sheriff's office's citizen's academy and learn more about law enforcement in my county.

 

I would recommend this type of event to other suspense authors and readers. Many counties offer such an experience. The sheriff’s office held the event at the local justice center and lasted several weeks. Each week, a deputy would cover a different topic. While there, I visited the communications room where dispatchers answer 9-1-1 calls; toured the corrections/jail area, including the intake area near the sally port; met a local K9 dog before he retired;  and used a police LIDAR gun to check the speed of a vehicle. I had fun meeting other attendees and getting to know more about my local sheriff's office.

 

Later, I decided to make the hero of 12 Days a former employee of the local sheriff's office. Also, I invented local folklore surrounding the disappearance of county residents years earlier and wove that into the story.

 

12 Days is available through all major online retailers and is currently on sale at Amazon.com and pelicanbookgroup.com for 99 cents (as of 11/28/23). Please check pricing before purchasing.

 

Blurb:

Scott Newton retires from the sheriff's office after a fellow officer is killed. Wracked by sorrow and the need for justice, Scott grows distant from his girlfriend, aspiring crime writer, Lindsay Billings. But, when Lindsay goes missing, and Scott discovers her research on the missing person cases thought to be the work of a serial murderer known as the Christmas Killer, Scott vows to find her at all costs. Police have never found the bodies of the people who went missing many Christmases ago, and Lindsay won't become just another statistic.

Then, someone kills again in Blanchardville. Police locate a corpse atop one of seven inflatable swans on a pond, and another body in a pear tree. Scott receives odd texts from Lindsay's phone and deduces they're from the killer.

In order to save Lindsay, Scott agrees to meet the madman and play his game. As time runs out, Scott must learn to trust in God again, no matter what.

Here are the Stop #9 basics:

The novella is available from Amazon, Pelican Book Group, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, and Kobo.

Clue to write down: is the reason for the season.

Link to stop #10, the Next Stop on the Loop:

form at the final stop

2023 Pelican Book Group Christmas Holiday Extravaganza Titles by Various Authors

This year, I wanted to feature several of Pelican Book Group's 2023 Christmas Holiday Extravaganza releases. The titles will be released through Amazon and pelicanbookgroup.com on November 1st. 
 
Romantic Suspense:

Carole of the Bells by Clare Revell

Purchase link: https://a.co/d/7A0056L

Blurb:

Carole Quelch's secret must remain hidden at all costs. The price so far has been her home and her career. Terrified it' ll cost her even more, she hasn' t left town or been home in years.
Idris Owen teaches at the same school as Carole. When he finds her in the music room playing the hand bells after school, he nicknames her Carole of the bells and convinces his reclusive co-worker to help teach his class a piece for the school Christmas concert.

There is something about Carole that Idris finds intriguing, but she is hiding something. While he feels an undeniable attraction, he isn't willing to allow love to enter the equation when she obviously doesn't trust him enough to share her past.

But, secrets never stay hidden for long. When this one comes to light, everything will change.

Author bio:

Clare is a British author. She lives in a small town in England with her husband, whom she married in 1992, and some of her now grownup children. Writing from a early childhood and encouraged by her teachers, she graduated from rewriting fairy stories through fanfiction to using her own original characters and enjoys writing an eclectic mix of romance, crime fiction and children's stories. When she's not writing, she can be found reading, crocheting or doing the many piles of laundry the occupants of her house manage to make. Or being annoyed by the cat and dog.

Her books are based in the UK, with a couple of exceptions, thus, although the spelling may be American, the books contain British language and terminology.

The first draft of every novel is hand written.

She can be found at:

http://clarerevell.com
https://www.facebook.com/ClareRevellAuthor
https://twitter.com/ClareRevell
http://telscha.blogspot.co.uk/

My review:

I enjoyed this romantic suspense story about two teachers. My husband and I watch several shows on BritBox, so as I read along, I pictured British actors saying the dialogue. British author Clare Revell did a good job of equally balancing suspense with romance in this story involving two teachers—Carole Quelch and Idris Owen. I liked that the characters were imperfect and relatable. Revell fans will appreciate the Easter eggs (from her Ellery and York series) that she includes in this story.

I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.

 
Underneath the Christmas Tree by Clare Revell

Purchase link: https://a.co/d/2uIU1C0

Blurb:

When Violet Noble begins her new job as council events planner in Winkfield Green, she' s horrified to learn she has twenty days to organize the, as yet unplanned, Christmas Fayre— and it won't be easy. All the files regarding previous events have disappeared, along with most of the decorations. She needs a miracle, but what she gets instead the council' s maintenance man, carpenter and all-around fix-it guy— Derek Xenon.

When Violet turns to Derek for help with the Christmas Fayre, his first instinct is to say no. His regular job is demanding enough without adding the resident damsel in distress to his workload. However, he' s never one to turn down a challenge— even one from Christmas obsessed out-of-towner, and especially when someone seems to want Violet's plans to fail.
Will Violet' s vision of Christmas ever come to fruition, or will she throw in the stocking?

My review: 

This is a cute and humorous romantic suspense tale involving Violet Noble, an events planner, and Derek Xenon, carpenter and maintenance man. Poor Violet is new in town, and bad things mysteriously keep happening to her as she tries to plan a Christmas fayre. Are the incidences coincidence or something more? Once again, Revell fans will appreciate the Easter eggs (from her Ellery and York series) that she includes in this story.

I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.

12 Days by Heidi Glick

Purchase link: https://a.co/d/4Hy0tAw

Blurb:

Scott Newton retires from the sheriff' s office after a fellow officer is killed. Wracked by sorrow and the need for justice, Scott grows distant from his girlfriend, aspiring crime writer, Lindsay Billings. But, when Lindsay goes missing, and Scott discovers her research on the missing person cases thought to be the work of a serial murderer known as the Christmas Killer, Scott vows to find her at all costs. Police have never found the bodies of the people who went missing many Christmases ago, and Lindsay won't become just another statistic.

Then, someone kills again in Blanchardville. Police locate a corpse atop one of seven inflatable swans on a pond, and another body in a pear tree. Scott receives odd texts from Lindsay's phone and deduces they're from the killer.

In order to save Lindsay, Scott agrees to meet the madman and play his game. As time runs out, Scott must learn to trust in God again, no matter what.

 
Romance:

Cactus for Christmas by Karen Malley

Purchase link: https://a.co/d/amhbmYx

Blurb:

Lucy loves her familiar Christmas traditions. But this year, they' re all thrown out the window when she drops everything to drive across the country to care for her sister in Phoenix, Arizona. So much for a white Christmas!

Between her anxious dog, her sister' s thieving kitten, and a way too attractive ice cream truck driver, will she learn that trying something new might just be what God has planned?

Author bio:

Karen is an author of Christian fiction. She lives in Southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. She works full time as a scientist, but enjoys writing in her spare time. When not writing (with her left hand), she enjoys camping, hiking, playing board games, and especially reading! She loves reading faith-based stories, because we can all use a happy ending.

Karen loves to hear from her readers. You can connect with her on her website:

 www.KarenMalley.com.

My review:

I liked that this delightful, faith-filled, Christmas-themed romance contained lead characters who were older, proving that romance isn’t just for young people. Lucy is a widow who lives in Pennsylvania. Eventually, she ends up in Arizona for the holidays, where she meets Noah, an ice cream truck driver.

I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.

Christmas in Vermont by Regina Andrews

Purchase link: https://a.co/d/fbJazi2

Blurb:

Returning home to Holly Berry Village and beginning her career as an Estate gemologist, puts Christal Birchwood completely in her comfort zone. But when she meets the new town physician, Cole Townsend, the barriers she has created around herself quickly begin to shatter and fall.

Will she trust her faith enough to carry her into a sparkling, new beginning? And will Cole be able to trust his heart to love again?

Author Bio:

Award-winning author Regina Andrews, a resident of Providence, RI, grew up in the nearby seaside village of Barrington. After graduating from Providence College she attended the University of Delaware, eventually earning her master's Degree in American Civilization from Brown University. The author of numerous works, Regina is currently working on the Sterling Lakes Series. In November 2010, Destiny's Designs won the AKW Books 2010 eBook of the Year award for Fiction. Her hobbies include travel, museums, theater, reading, music singing and gardening.

Regina is involved in numerous community organizations, and is a radio host for In-Sight, an association for the visually impaired. She and her husband share their home with a semi-feral cat named Queen Tiana, whom they rescued from a shelter.

My review: 

I really liked the original characters in this sweet, Christmas-themed romance set in Holly Berry Village, Vermont. The female main character, Christal Birchwood, is a gemologist who studied in Switzerland, and doesn’t like to step outside her comfort zone. The male main character, Cole Townsend, is a doctor who was formerly a pastor and missionary, who is trying to get over personal heartbreak.

I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.

Christmas in Garland by LoRee Peery

Purchase link: https://a.co/d/ibxNAtg

Blurb:

Pepper Rainwater is thriving in newfound faith, blooming love, and her own Christmas house. But the appearance of her mother brings back all the ugliness of growing up in a storage unit. Can she face family issues from a new perspective and forgive her parents for the past?

The discovery of Foxx Haven' s true beginnings shatter his sense of security. For the first time, he questions his father' s love and deals with getting to know his birth mother. Did God really plan this mess for his life? He' s such a wreck inside, how can he be the man of faith Pepper deserves?
Their mothers bring challenges and time constraints on Pepper and Foxx. He longs to show his love, she yearns to bask in his attention. How will they help their widowed mothers, make life easier for one another, heal appropriately, and look toward a brighter future?

About the author:

I am thankful my mother read to me, enabling me to read at age four. Life is as hard as it is pleasurable and I love to read stories about true-to-life characters. The desire to write should never be ignored, I am so glad I kept returning to the blank page. I am blessed to live under God's redeeming grace, and to experience Nebraska's sense of place.

My review:

I liked how the characters (Pepper Rainwater and Foxx Haven) in this sweet, Christmas-themed romance were imperfect, and yet, they still followed God. This is a cute holiday romance with a strong faith message about forgiveness and reconciliation.

I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.

The Hope of Christmas by Carol James 

Purchase link:

https://a.co/d/gZnpFlx

Blurb:

Cameron Blake has everything a man could want. Or so it appears. But in the dark of night, the contents of an old manila envelope remind him that the one thing he truly wants is beyond his reach.
Kristin Hansen returns home after a messy break-up. While her parents think she' s returned to recuperate after surgery on a broken arm, she' s actually escaping from an abusive relationship.
When the pastor of a local church recruits Kristin and Cameron to supervise the building of the church' s float for the upcoming Christmas parade, their hidden secrets are exposed. Cam sees in Kristin what he truly desires... but knows he can never have.

As Christmas nears, can Kristin help him find the thing that' s eluded him all these years? The one thing his heart truly desires? Hope.

Author bio:

Streams in the Wasteland, Redemptive Romance by Carol James:
Carol is an author of inspirational fiction. She lives in Lilburn, Georgia, a small town outside of Atlanta, with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell "Terrorist," Zoe.

Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she'd been encouraged by the works of other authors of inspirational fiction.
Retired from her "real" job, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, volunteering at a nearby school, and serving in the production department at her church.

She is also a soccer fan extraordinaire and keeps her DVR busy recording Atlanta United and English Premier League games.

And, most days in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.

Follow her on social media: 

www.carol-james.com
Facebook.com/CarolJamesAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/caroljamesauthor
https://twitter.com/CarolJamesAuth
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19149238.Carol_James
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carol-james
Visit her website at: www.carol-james.com Sign up for her newsletter and receive a free short story.

My review:

I liked the premise of this hope-filled romance set in Texas—the notion of someone receiving the same gift for ten years in a row. I also enjoyed the meet cute between Kristin Hansen and Cameron Blake. Romance fans who are looking for a holiday-themed read should enjoy this story!

I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.

 
To view all of the covers for the Christmas titles, visit my Pinterest board: 
https://www.pinterest.com/sheglick/christmas-extravaganza-2023/
 

Dog Tags Giveaway

We recently gave thanks for our veterans on Memorial Day, so I'm giving away an e-copy of Dog Tags, which features a fictional veteran.

About the book....

When disabled ex-Marine Mark Graham reconnects with his best friend’s sister, he finds himself falling in love. But Beth Martindale’s presence is a constant reminder of events he’d rather forget. Mark wants to move forward, but the secrets surrounding her brother’s death as well as his own confinement to a wheelchair threaten to tear them apart. When a psychopath who calls himself The Knight fixates on Beth, Mark is determined to give her the protection he failed to give her brother on the battlefield, yet he discovers that a wheelchair isn’t the only impediment he has to keeping Beth safe. Will terror win or can Mark find the strength of mind and body to rescue Beth and find his own redemption?

Book Trailer

About me....

What am I working on?

My first book was a suspense novel from Pelican Book Group, so I’m definitely working on something different this time.

I’m currently co-authoring an infertility devotional for Chalfont. My fellow co-authors include Donna Winters, Julie Arduini, Paula Mowery, Kym McNabney, and Elizabeth Maddrey.  

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

The devotional is written by six authors, and before we started the project, we looked at the available devotionals and discussed how ours should differ. We definitely wanted to provide readers with encouragement and to avoid sounding patronizing.

Why do I write what I do?

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 tells us God comforts us so that we can comfort others. I’m co-authoring this devotional with the hope of sharing comfort and encouragement with women experiencing infertility.

How does your writing process work?

For this project, the group of co-authors divided the work into sections, and we’ve edited round-robin style. 

Author Bio

Heidi Glick has a B.A. in biology, a minor in Bible from Cedarville University, and a passion for writing Christian fiction. Additionally, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and has written two articles for Intercom. Heidi’s debut suspense novel, Dog Tags, was released in June 2013. 

Author Interview

Link to interview by Fay Lamb in which I discuss the grief experienced by the characters of Dog Tags, as well as my own.

E-book Giveaway

1. Leave a comment about this blog post. 

2. Leave your email address. If you are concerned about spam, please spell out your email address, for example, yourname(at)gmail(dot)com. 

A winner will be announced on June 14, 2014. 

Meet the Sleuths And Suspects Contributors!

by Jeff Reynolds

For my first blog of the year, I thought you might like to get to know the people who contribute regularly. True, you have gotten to know a little bit of Heidi from my interview with her and the four interviews of Deborah Malone (one by me, the other three by Deborah), but you might want to know a little more.

So here is my interview with the Sleuths and Suspects Angels. I'll let them decide who fits in each role, and I'll of course take the John Bosley role (I always loved his portrayal by David Doyle).

Q. Tell us a little about yourself: Area you live, marital status, how you came to Christ, how long you've been blogging with Sleuths & Suspects,  and what you'd be doing with your freetime if you weren't writing? 
Heidi Glick:  My husband and I live in a Cincinnati, OH suburb. We've been married for 14 years and have a son. I came to Christ at en early age after hearing the Gospel at Sunday School. I've been blogging at S&S since the very beginning. If I wasn't writing, I'd be spending time with my family.
Jackie Layton:  I live in Wilmore, KY. I have one terrific husband, two wonderful sons, a super daughter-in-law and two beautiful granddaughters. If I wasn't writing, I'd exercise more, read more, and probably golf with my husband. 
Deborah Malone:  I'm the youngest of three children. I have two older brothers, Curtis and Bill. My Dad was born in Opelika, Ala. and when he was a young man moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to work for General Electric. Then he met my mother. After having the two boys, Dad was transferred to North Georgia in 1953. I was born in 1954. I often wonder what my life would have been like if we'd stayed in Cincinnati. I have a ton of cousins who lived there. However I'm happy to be a born and bred Southerner. My parents both attended church and I can't remember a time we didn't go. It was natural I'd follow in their footsteps. If I wasn't writing I'd be taking photographs. I love macro photography!  
Jeff Reynolds: My wife, Becky -- we celebrated our 30th last July -- have lived in Orange County California, Phoenix Arizona, Valley Nebraska (a 2000 person town 20 miles west of Omaha), Bowling Green Kentucky, and Nashville Tennessee before moving to Indianapolis in '95. I became a Christian in '79 at a 2nd Chapter of Acts concert during my third semester at a Bible College in Phoenix: yes, that school taught the true Gospel, but I needed the gospel presented a little different for the Spirit to work. I've been blogging with S&S since last September. If I wasn't writing -- there's a lot I might be doing. Besides being a writer, I'm a songwriter, an ordained minister, a closet politician who's considered running for office, a Distinguished Toastmaster who's thought of starting a radio program, and an unabashed zoo-oholic -- Becky and I have been to over 40 zoos/wild animal parks.
Q. What is your writing genre, and what do you have published? 
HG: My genre is suspense. My debut novel, Dog Tags, was released in June 2013. I also have written two technical writing articles for Intercom. Currently, I'm working on a contemporary fiction short story set in Georgia.  
JL:  My favorite genre is romantic suspense. I'm not published. Biggest writing accomplishment was coming in second place in the romance section of the Category 5 contest.  
DM:  My genre is Cozy Mysteries. Cozies are a subgenre of Mysteries and are light in nature. The murder takes place off stage and the sleuth is an amateur person. I have three books published: Death in Dahlonega, Murder in Marietta, and Terror on Tybee Island. 
JR:  Fiction-wise, I'm an unpublished mystery writer, thought I've tried my hand at suspense recently and while younger have tried writing adventure and science fiction. I do have ideas for some novels that would be historical romance, science fiction, and fantasy, as well as mystery and suspense. However, I have had several letters to the editor published in both the Nashville Tennessean and the Indianapolis Star.
Q. Name your writing heroes both in and out of your genre. 
HG: Frank Peretti seems like a down-to-earth guy. I'd like to meet him sometime. I've enjoyed his novels. In terms of my style, Ted Dekker has influenced my writing the most. As for writing heroes, I look up to Sarah Sundin, who writes outside of my genre. I love her novels because she ensures every word is purposeful. I read a lot of books, and even with bestsellers, I tend to skim certain parts. But not with Sundin's writing. Also, she does a great job with character arcs.  
JL:  Writing heroes? Brandilyn Collins without a doubt. She is so kind and encouraging. I really admire her talent and always look forward to her next book. 
DM:  The writer that influenced me most was Anne George who wrote southern cozy mysteries. 
JR:  In genre, my hero definitely is Agatha Christie, with honorable mention going to Ellery Queen in print and to the Ellery Queen, Nero Wolfe, and Murder She Wrote TV series. Outside of genre, my heroes include Peretti (Christian speculative), Allistair MacLean (adventure), John R. Cooper (young adult baseball stories from several decades ago), Randy Singer (Christian legal suspense), and Kathy Tyers (Christian speculative).
Q. Which of your S&S blogs have been the most memorable, either because of how much fun it was writing it or because of how much fun it wasn't writing it? 
HG: My review of the last book in the Discarded Heroes series was memorable because I was sad the series ended but also because Ronie Kendig commented on the post. That was very cool. I have to admit; I was pretty excited.
 
JL:  I've met some great people through S&S, but I enjoyed posting about Tina Russo's story, The Rosetti Curse. 
DM:  I don't know if this is appropriate, but I enjoyed the ones where I interviewed myself:) Our readers are going to know me for sure, but I love doing giveaways. 
JR:  I'll share a couple that hit the most memorable. The first was when I interviewed Randy Singer last February. That interview was as enjoyable as reading one of his books. The second wasn't as fun -- it was hearing the times of testing Wanda Dyson has been through recently.
Q. What is your greatest concern in your life/society/etc., and what would it look like if you wrote a novel on that theme? Would you be crossing into another genre to write it? 
HG:  I can only choose one? I don't know that I'd say it's my greatest concern, but a concern of mine is human trafficking. I started a suspense novel set in Mexico that deals with the topic. Also, at some point, I'd like to incorporate the topic of infertility into my writing because I've experienced it firsthand and I'd like to encourage others.
 
JL:  My greatest concern is spreading the message of Jesus Christ. If I wrote a novel with this theme, I'd want to do something different than traditional missionary. I think I'd like to have a character travel to Europe for another purpose and go from there.

DM:  I miss the simple way of life we had when I was growing up. I'd love to write a story in that setting and yes, I'd probably go outside my genre.

JR:  I have a two-fold concern that is not completely unrelated. The first is for Christians to be more rooted in Scripture, trusting God's Word more than man's interpretations of God's Word. The second -- partially sparked by Becky's and my involvement with Voice of the Martyrs -- is that Christians in the United States are well on the road to persecution. Actually, my first mystery book focuses on the first issue by looking at the field of apologetics (defending the faith), and the follow up would be looking at persecution.
Q. What does 2014 look like for you, writing (including blogging) and otherwise? 
HG: Family life is keeping me busy, which is good. I write a little here and there as I can. I'm hoping to finish my contemporary short fiction story and another suspense novel this year.  
JL:  I hope to write the third story in my Kentucky Suspense trilogy. I plan to enter more contests this year, and I'd love to have an agent. 
DM:  Wow - this is a great question. I've been contemplating this myself. I've already wrote a fourth book in the Trixie Montgomery series, so this will be coming out in the fall of 2014. I'm working on a brand new series with new characters. It will also be a cozy mystery series. It is hard to go from one series to another, so I've been struggling with this.
 
JR:  That is a good question. Currently, the fiction writing fire is very low if not extinguished for the moment, so the above mentioned persecution mystery may be a fatality.  I still will be blogging here. I do have a thought for a non-fiction book. I'm still involved some with Toastmasters, want to start a men's prayer group, and Becky and I are talking about a mission trip. I did think of running for office, but I don't feel that's what I should be doing.

Q. I'd like to thank the three ladies for their time. The other guy? I'm not so sure about him. 
HG:  This was fun!  
JL:  Jeff, I can't wait to learn more about you all. This is a great idea!  
DM:  Oh we love our Jeff:) Thank you for being a part of Sleuths and Suspects. 
JR: I'm grateful to be a part of this blog. It's a nice thing to be doing when I'm not working or sleeping.

Interview and book giveaway with author Heidi Glick.

(Why does that name sound familiar?)

by Jeff Reynolds

WE HAVE A WINNER FOR THE BOOK GIVEAWAY
CONGRATULATIONS TO MARY ZANDER

I'm sure the name and photo of my interviewee are familiar to those who regularly frequent this blog. It's my delight to interview co-contributer Heidi Glick.

But first, a little backstory. (Or should I wait till the middle of the section of the blog before dumping any backstory? Sorry. A writer's joke.) A couple of years ago I joined ACFW and joined the large critique group. My favorite stories to critique had titles like Ten Degrees From Normal, Fuller Island, The Letter, and Dog Tags -- written by Heidi Glick and Jackie Layton. Thus, it was an honor when I was asked to join these ladies and Deb on this blog.

A lucky reader will be winning a copy of Heidi's book Dog Tags. More info at the end of this interview.

Jeff Reynolds:  Heidi, welcome to Sleuths and Suspects. As if you've never been on this blog before. I know this is an eventful year for you. I believe your second most exciting achievement of 2013 is the release of Dog Tags, your first novel. Please give us a story summary. What inspired it?

Heidi Glick:  The story is about a marine, the woman he loves, and the stalker who is obsessed with her.

At first, Dog Tags started out as a romance novella. I subbed it to a publisher, and it was rejected. But the story wasn't ready for publication. I revamped it as a suspense novel. I wanted a hero with real struggles, and I wanted a villain who would capitalize on the hero's weaknesses. The book's themes include forgiveness, loss, and fear. Because these are common themes that most people deal with, I'm hoping that the book will speak to many readers. In 2011, my father died from ALS, and so I've used that experience to help me write this book as well as another work in progress (Ten Degrees from Normal).


 JR:  You might disagree with me, but I believe the real star of your novel is Sparky. Could you tell us about him and his real life counterpart? Is he involved in the marketing of the book? If I remember correctly, he had been interviewed once, correct?

HG:  In the novel, the hero owns a Schipperke named Sparky. In real life, I have a Schipperke named Sparky. He is a rambunctious dog, hence the name. He is involved in the marketing of the book. You are correct. I did interview him once:  http://queencityquill.blogspot.com/2012/09/interview-with-schip.html

JR:  Are you an outliner, a blank pager, or somewhere in between?

HG:  I'm somewhere in between but more of an outliner. I'm a planner by nature, and so I like an outline. When I first started out as a writer, I was more of a blank pager, but as I studied the craft of writing, I found that outlines save me time because I rewrite less when using an outline. Nonetheless, I still like to allow my characters to speak to me, and I like a few surprises.

 JR:  I've had the honor of critiquing this and a couple of your other stories in the ACFW's large critique group. Could you share how both the critiques of others on your writing and your critiques on your writing peers have helped your work on Dog Tags?

HG:  Singlehandedly, crits have helped me grow the most as a writer. I would not be published were it not for the crits of others. Other writers showed me areas of improvement.

JR:  People compare finishing and releasing a book with childbirth. Which brings me to your most exciting achievement of 2013. Would you like to tell us about that? How does this affect your writing and marketing? What is Sparky's take on this?


HG:  Let's back up a year. In 2012, I signed a contract with a publisher, but even more exciting than that was finding out I was pregnant (after infertility). In Februrary 2013, I gave birth to Aaron Samuel Glick. For more info. on the miracle baby:  I'm leaving my job to spend time at home with my son. He is my priority right now, so writing takes a backseat, which is fine with me. I still jot down ideas and work on writing while he naps, but I am allowing myself time to enjoy being a mother. Sparky whimpers when Aaron cries and likes to rush into the nursery to check on the baby. 

JR:  Okay, enough about the important things in life and back to writing. Am I correct that you have three blogs that you work on? Could you tell us about these, and how do they help you develop as a writer?

HG:  The Ohio State Parks blog is about some of my experiences visiting Ohio State Parks with my dogs. The Queen City Quill is a hodgepodge (posts on writing, authors, book reviews, etc.). Sleuths and Suspects is about mysteries, suspense, romantic suspense, thrillers, and anything related (book reviews, author interviews, and book giveaways).

JR:  I know you've been working on a couple of other stories. Do you work on multiple stories at the same time? How do you prioritize which one to focus on? Is there any "separation anxiety" with the stories you set on the shelf?

HG:  Sometimes I work on multiple stories at once. I prioritize by working on the story that I'd like to submit to a publisher next. So for example, I love working on my "Ten Degrees" novel, but I need to work on the Dog Tags sequel/spin off. I feel separation anxiety from the Ten Degrees characters.

JR:  Thank you for your time. Please share any websites you have, and any other information you'd like us to know.

HG:  I'd be glad to. Here they are:

• http://heidiglickbooks.com
• http://sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com
• http://queencityquill.blogspot.com
• http://buckeyebeautyparksofsouthwestohio.blogspot.com
• http://www.facebook.com/authorheidiglick
• http://twitter.com/sheglick
• http://pinterest.com/sheglick

Also check out the trailer for Dog Tags at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRQPwihJMrI

 Jeff back, talking to the reader. If you'd like to win a copy of Dog Tags (and who in their right mind wouldn't?), then there are four things you need to do.

1. Leave a comment on the blog. (That sounds tough, doesn't it?)
2. Become a follower of this blog. (Oh boy, I know how to make things difficult, don't I?)
3. Include your e-mail address (Is it my imagination each one gets harder?)
4. Now for the real challenge. Heidi has mentioned her Schipperke. Which out-of-the ordinary breeds of dog, or breeds of cats, interest you the most?