Interview and Book Giveaway with Creston Mapes

by Jeff Reynolds

 
Today, I have the opportunity to interview Creston Mapes, who has his sixth novel out. Details about the book giveaway are below. And 

WE HAVE WINNERS!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO SHEILA DEETH, HEIDI GLICK, AND JACKIE LAYTON!

Jeff Reynolds: Welcome to Sleuths and Suspects, Creston. To start things off, I'd like to hear about how you came to Christ.

Creston Mapes: I grew up going to church, but lived quite a wild life through high school and college. When I was about 28 I moved to Atlanta for a new job and was overwhelmed by the stress and pressure involved with my new, unfamiliar duties/responsibilities.

That pressure came to a boiling point when I was on a client trip to Fort Lauderdale. I was in the middle of some 20 back-to-back research-gathering interviews and had what I call an out-of-body experience. It was as if I was floating above myself and I became so anxious that I had to leave the conference room. Even when I returned home I was still stressed to the max.

The following Monday I went to see my doctor. He put me through a battery of tests and determined it was all stress/anxiety. He wanted to put me on meds, but I told him—not yet. I got home and told me wife, “We need to go to church.” As it turns out, that foundation I had of going to church has planted a seed in me so that, when I hit rock bottom, I knew Who to turn to for help. Soon after I surrendered my life to Christ and have been on that journey since then.

JR: Your web-site mentions that for the past 30 years you've been a reporter, corporate copywriter, creative director, and freelance writer. What were those experiences like?

CM: Fantastic! I loved the immediacy and camaraderie of the newspaper business. When I got into corporate copywriting, I had the pleasure of traveling the country to visit various colleges for whom I wrote admissions materials.

Then I went out on my own as a freelancer some 22 years ago and have so enjoyed being independent, and working on marketing for fine companies such as Chick-fil-A, etc. I’ve also had the opportunity to ghost-write/edit seven non-fiction books for various pastors and personalities who wanted their stories told.

JR: You've just released the second of your Crittendon Files. Could you tell us about the series and especially about your new story?CM:  The first book in the new series is Fear Has a Name. It is a tale that follows journalist Jack Crittendon as he fights to protect his family from a stalker’s terrifying schemes, while he investigates a pastor’s mysterious disappearance. With his family’s safety on the line, Jack realizes there are secrets behind “Christian” walls—secrets with painful, deadly implications. He must find the faith to trust a God who allows inconceivable trials, and the courage to guard his family, with danger exploding at every turn.
The second book and new release is Poison Town. It continues Jack and Pam’s journey as Jack stumbles into a hornets’ nest when his long-time mechanic falls ill. The man’s family and neighbors blame a manufacturing plant for numerous deaths on the poor side of Trenton City, Ohio. But when Jack investigates, he and his friends feel the deadly sting of those involved. Finding answers before more people die won’t be easy. Especially since another kind of poison, a shadow from the past, threatens to destroy his marriage and his family.

JR:  You've also written another two part series and a stand alone novel. Are there any key differences between them, or are they fairly similar?

CM: Very different. My first two novels, Dark Star and Full Tilt, deal with mega-millionaire rock star Everett Lester who is charged with the murder of his personal psychic. During his trial, he receives letters from a young lady from Kansas who is not a fan, but who has committed to praying for Everett and his salvation. These are thrillers. My best-selling book Nobody is a murder mystery based in Las Vegas: 

When reporter Hudson Ambrose hears an early morning call on his police scanner about an injured person at a bus stop on Las Vegas Boulevard, he rushes to the scene to get the scoop.
 
His world is blown off its axis when he discovers a murdered homeless man with a bankbook in his pocket showing a balance of almost one million dollars. Should he wait for the police, knowing the case will get lost in reams of red tape, or swipe the bankbook and take the investigation—and perhaps a chunk of the money—into his own hands?
 
With sirens bearing down on the scene, Hudson makes an impulse decision that whisks him on a frantic search for answers, not only about the mysterious man in the black Converse high-tops, but about the lost soul lurking within himself.
 
Uncovering bizarre links between a plane crash, a Las Vegas pit boss, a dirty cop, and a widowed Atlanta business mogul, Hudson is forced to find out, who was Chester Holte, what was he doing on the streets, and why are his homeless friends convinced he was an angel in disguise?
JR:  What approaches do you have in your research? Also, are you more of an outliner or a blank pager?

CM: I write very organically, from the seat of the pants, day-to-day, minute-by-minute. That approach results in twists and turns I never even saw coming. I like to get to know my characters as I go, put them in tension-filled situations, and see how they would respond in real life? The research I do as necessary when it arises. However, for Nobody my publisher sent me to Las Vegas for three days to ‘research.’ I toured the homeless community, soup kitchens, clinics, etc. And of course the posh hotels and casinos.

JR:  What changes have there been over your three decades of pecking away at the keyboard, both in terms of writing and the society you're writing in?

CM: Large corporations have really come to trust freelancers like me who know how to communicate, and who know how to deliver on time and handle the business side of things.

In the publishing world, ebooks have changed everything. I don’t like that many small, independent book stores have been forced to close. Traditional publishers have taken a hit and have had to learn to change a great deal -- and are still learning, and must hire people who can lead the way in a tech-savvy industry.

As far as society goes, I am disappointed but not shocked at how the values of Americans are plummeting. From top government officials to TV and music, our Godly moorings are crumbling. But what do you expect. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Me included. It’s only by His grace I found Him. But this is why it’s important writers like me continue produce excellent literature that is thrilling, yet clean -- and also has a powerful spiritual message.

JR:  Thank you for your time. How can we keep up with what's going on with your writing?

CM: I’ll give you three ways and thank you so much, Jeff:

www.CrestonMapes.com
www.Twitter.com/CrestonMapes
www.Facebook.com/Creston.Mapes

Jeff Reynolds to readers:
So now it's time for the book giveaway. Creston would like to give away three e-books of any format of Poison Town.  Three easy steps (no excuse for missing any of them).

1. Leave a comment.
2. Leave your e-mail address. You can spell it out, like AuntDotKahm(at)Ant(dot)com.
3. Creston mentioned he feels its important, with godly moorings crumbling, to produce excellent literature. What is your calling and contribution in this world where the foundations are being shaken?

Interview and book Giveaway with John Faubion

by Jeff Reynolds

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO JENNA OKS!

Out of nineteen novels I've read last year and about the same the previous year, there are many I'd highly recommend. However, the two best, in my opinion, are The Last Plea Bargain by Randy Singer and Friend Me by John Faubion. To put it in comparison, the former is the eleventh (and best) by my favorite author -- the latter is a debut album.

I've had the honor of meeting John at a writer's conference here in Indianapolis a little over two years ago, and also through us being a part of the Indiana Chapter of the ACFW. I've had the honor of being an influencer for Friend Me, which has just hit the shelves. And it's a privilege to give away a copy -- see details on the bottom.

 Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome to Sleuths and Suspects, John. The blurb on your book mentioned you had served as a missionary in Asia, and then became a senior software developer for a large chain. I'd like to hear about what you did in Asia, and how you ended up in two seemingly different careers.

John Faubion: I became a Christian when I was twenty years old. At that time my wife Janet and I were in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I was in the Air Force, working at a Minuteman ballistic missile base. There in Cheyenne, I heard the Gospel for the first time. On May 9, 1965, Janet and I trusted the Lord together. We never looked back.
The next year I found myself in South Vietnam with the Air Force, where I saw idolatry for the first time. I told the Lord that if He ever wanted me to come back as a missionary, then I would do it. By 1974, we had finished Bible college and our family returned to Vietnam to begin missionary work. After the Vietnam War ended, we spent some time in Guam, and then went on to Taiwan where we began a Chinese ministry.

Janet went to be with the Lord in the end of 1989, the result of an unexpected brain aneurysm. We had three daughters then, and I was devastated. I knew God had a purpose in my life, but I was so lonely without her. God graciously gave me a second wife, a loving and godly woman, with whom I returned to China in 1991, and we began a ministry in Beijing.

Beth and I had two more children together, a boy and a girl. I found I had another young family on my hands. So after nearly 30 years of missionary work, I returned to the United States with my family in 1999. That’s when I took the job I have now, working as a software designer for a large corporation.
And for anyone else reading this, and wondering, yes I still enjoy speaking Chinese.

JR:  Your debut novel, Friend Me, has just been released -- definitely one of the best suspense stories I've ever read. Would you like to tell us about it?

JF: Sure I would. The storyline itself came out of a software design meeting that I was in back in 2010. I was sitting around with a bunch of other software designers, and one of the guys said that all the great ideas already been done. I guess that set me to thinking about what someone in my position could do — I mean in terms of software — that would really be new, and could actually generate a little income.

I came up with the idea of a website that would offer a virtual friend experience. Like in the book, the service would provide the user an opportunity to build a virtual friend… Not a real person, but someone who would be just as good as real. I guess what sparked the idea was the great number of people that are on Facebook and other social media sites, always looking for friends. Of course the great fear that people who use these social media platforms have, is that they’ll reveal too much about themselves. Everyone knows that the Internet has a long memory. Once you put something online, it’s out there forever. That scares a lot of people, and it should.

So my idea was to let the user build him or herself a virtual friend, one who would be entirely unique to himself, and completely private. No one else would ever know what you discussed. You could share your dreams, your hopes, even your weaknesses. That virtual friend would always understand, always be encouraging, always be supportive.

When I got home that night, I brought the idea to my wife. I was pretty excited about it because I knew that all the technology to accomplish this already existed. The only thing was, no one had brought it all together yet. It would be an ambitious project, but who knew? It might be the next Facebook.

Her reaction both surprised, and disappointed me a little bit. She started by telling me all the things that could go wrong with a website like that. People resurrecting lost children, husbands, fathers, mothers… There would be no end to it. Plus, she said, women would start creating boyfriends, men would start creating girlfriends, and there was no telling how far that would go. As we talked, I realized she was right.

She said, “You’ve always wanted to write a book, so why don’t you write about that? Don’t do the software. Write it as a story.”

So that’s what I did.

JR:  The villain is one of the most memorable characters I've ever read. I know it's not unlike asking a magician for the secrets of his trick, but how did you do it?

JF: As I began to write the Melissa character in Friend Me, I’ve wanted her to be someone with whom the readers would feel sympathetic, and at the same time revulsed. A character so evil that she cared only about herself. But at the same time, a character so needy, that the reader would wish for her success. I wanted the reader to be constantly conflicted — being on the one hand wanting her to succeed, and on the other hand fervently hoping she would not.

This will sound ridiculous, but there’s one scene in Friend Me that brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. I won’t tell you which one it is, but I’ll say that it’s one in which Melissa and Scott are the only players. I guess that’s an example of getting into your characters. Friend Me has three main characters, Scott, Rachel, and Melissa. Which one do you think the strongest?

JR:  Actually, I'll answer your question "Yes," though in different ways. But let me get to a question I used to ask regularly and gave it a little bit of a breather, but you don't get that break. Do you consider yourself more of an outliner, or more of a blank pager?

JF: I’m a blank pager. I tried really hard to work with a structured outline, and I found that all it did to me was constrain me and leave me wondering if I was doing things right.

Now, that’s not to say that I don’t believe in a structure at all. I do. I know how I want my story to begin, and I know how I want it to end. Well, sort of how I want it to end. I do leave the details until the last minute, because I like to be surprised myself. The problem is the middle. A common complaint from editors is that the story will have a sagging middle. Of course lots of us have sagging middles, but that’s another story.

JR:  Your book is being published by an established company, Howard Books (a division of Simon and Schuster), but I know enough to know that the author is still a part of the marketing team. What are you doing to market your book?

JF:  Another good question. There are all kinds of advantages to going with an established company. I will say confidently that the Lord has really blessed me in putting me together with Howard Books, particularly as a newbie author. Having your book published by a big house means that without lifting a finger, there are multitudes of marketing and sales people with established relationships in hundreds of retail outlets promoting your book for you. Friend Me is already being carried by Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Apple iBooks, Christian Books, Sam’s Club Online, and so many places that I could never reached by myself. I’m so thankful for that.

On the other hand, I’m also doing all I can do on my own to publicize the book. I hired a publicity company to do about 70 blog tours on my behalf. I’ve got a Facebook party coming up. I send multiple tweets and updates every day. I comment on reviews. I’m on Goodreads. I hear these are things that authors have to do, and until I know differently, I’m going to do my best with them.

Yes, doing all that costs money. Here’s how I look at that. Before anybody had looked at Friend Me, I hired an editor to help me with it. Even though it was expensive, I treated that expense is an investment in myself. The result was a better book. Now, from the publisher’s advance, I’m able to reinvest some of that in publicity. I think we have to take a far look, a long view, at this sort of expense. That is, plan with a long-term goal in mind. The Chinese call that a yuan guang.

JR:  What writers do you enjoy reading?

JF:  My favorite suspense novel of all time was the one that influenced me most, when I was just twelve years old. It is The Power, by Frank M. Robinson. The Power is not even close to being a Christian book, but it so intrigued me that I can say confidently that God used it to set me on the road of seeking to know Him.

In the current thriller genre, I like Lee Child and a few others. The problem with most secular fiction is that it is so replete with profanity and graphic sex. It can be repelling to the point where you simply have to walk away from it. Along with others, I want to be a person that offers an alternative to that, while still providing quality, enjoyable fiction.

JR:  When looking at the world, what concerns do you have, and what is your part in being a solution?

JF:  I have a friend, not a Christian, reading Friend Me right now. He has a small poster in his cubicle that says, “Jesus is coming. Hide your porn.” He, along with others I know, are strongly anti-God.
 
So here we are, texting back and forth, and he’s reading Friend Me. He says that he was skeptical about reading anything Christian. I told him one of my big goals was to provide a story that would be a crossover novel, one that could be enjoyed by both Christians and non-believers. One without profanity or graphic sex. He said that generally he liked the graphic novels, but went on to say how surprised he was to be enjoying mine.

That’s the kind of engagement with the world that I want. Novels that introduce the unbeliever to a Christian world view on the one hand, and let the believer feel at home on the other. So, we write first to please Almighty God, and then the reader.

JR:  What's next on your writing agenda? And are you considering writing a non-fiction book about your missions or software experiences?

JF:  I’m working on two novels, about one-third to one-half done with each.

One is about a family of serial killers that spans a hundred years, begun by a failed missionary to the Pawnee Indians. The have a cultic church that they use as a vehicle for their human sacrifice (emulating the old Pawnee sacrifice). Scott Douglas (from Friend Me) is sent to try and locate a missing girl, the daughter of one of the employees at Know-You AI. And yes, that’s the same company where Melissa worked.

The second (tentatively titled, Follow Me) is about a pastor who is told by a departing evil spirit that if he is forced to leave, he will destroy the man’s wife and daughters. Shortly after, the young pastor dies, leaving his wife wondering, “Who will protect us now?” Of course, there is a strong antagonist who seeks her out. A “Son of Sam” type. Ultimately, only a miracle of God can save her and the girls.

JR:  Thank you for your time, John. How can we learn more about you and your writing?

JF:  Finally an easy question!  http://www.christiansuspense.com  .
Thanks a lot for inviting me, Jeff.

Jeff Reynolds to the reader: If you'd like to win a copy of Friend Me, there are three steps:
1. Leave a comment.
2. Include your e-mail address (you can spell out "at" and "dot", such as AuntDotKahm(at)Ant(dot)com.
3. Tell us what you think the scariest thing about modern techonology is.

Review of Rescue Team

Rescue Team by Candace Calvert is a medical thriller. In this second book of the Grace Medical series, Kate Callison is the acting ER director of Austin Grace Hospital. Her job is a tough one, as the previous director has disappeared, the hospital has been receiving bad press, and Kate's popularity among the staff is waning. As a result of her job, Kate’s path crosses with search and rescue volunteer, Wes Tanner. Both carry baggage from their pasts, which comes into play as the plot unfolds. Calvert does a good job of interweaving the past with the present and tying together the subplots. This book should appeal to those who enjoy romantic suspense and/or medical thrillers. 

To learn more about the author, please visit her Website, http://www.candacecalvert.com/. Also, consider reading a free preview on Amazon. 

The Parchmen Preacher Interview

Please welcome Michael Thompson, author of The Parchmen Preacher. I stayed up until 2 in the morning reading this book. Like Michael says it's a combination of cozy and suspense. It's set during a time when living was much simpler and I found that refreshing. Without further ado let's get on to the interview with Michael. Check out Michael's book on Amazon.com. It is on special now for $3.49.

1.           Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in my mother’s own bed in a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, Yazoo County, Mississippi. Four older brothers, no sisters. My best friend was my horse, Missy.

Graduated from Ole Miss. Married Tempe Adams. Military intelligence duty followed, and then graduate school—University of South Carolina, for a masters degree in mass communication. Founded Thompson & Company ad agency in 1977. It grew to 87 employees and two cities over thirty years, while we added three boys to our family. Tempe and I have been married for forty-four years. I sold the agency in 2011, anxious to write Christian novels full-time. DAVID—The Illustrated Novel, Volumes 1 & 2 were the first. (Vol 2 was awarded Best Graphic Novel of 2011 by the INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS, USA Book Awards). I also love to paint—oils and acrylics mostly. I’m a licensed large sailboat captain, having sailed to most all of the Caribbean Islands. I’m part of Kairos Prison Ministry, and recruit for Cuban door-to-door evangelism short-term mission trips.

2.           Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on.

Martha, Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist, Satan, and Jesus are key figures in this 1950s small town, good-versus-evil allegory of Christ’s ministry—The Parchman Preacher. This is the first in my Solo Ladies Bible Study series. It’s a cross genre of cozy mystery with a southern female amateur sleuth; comic relief in the midst of malevolent schemes, murder and suspense are prevalent themes. Underneath it all is an allegory of Christ’s ministry.

3.           Why did you choose this particular genre?

It came to me in a dream. The morning after, I dropped the sci-fi novel I had been working on and began to write The Parchman Preacher. (True story!)

4.           What was your journey to publication like?

Sort of like Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress … like Christian’s search for the Celestial City, wrought with plenty of despondent sloughs and consternations along the way. In my case, it has culminated in no agents; finally, I settled on a “Pay for Play” publisher. Frankly, it was and still is a humbling journey. And an experience that brought reality front and center. There is a plethora—more like a glut—of writers, each seeking to promote their work to potential agents. The agents? They’re overwhelmed by the fifteen-queries-a-day routine. (My manuscript still hasn’t been read by a potential agent.) Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not whining. This is just the way it is in the publishing industry. It’s important to face reality. To face facts. And then, if you’re resilient enough, have enough perseverance and talent, and with work that can speak for itself, it might just find a home with an exuberant agent who’ll work to sign you up with a traditional publisher. I’m still searching for an agent. Even then, we authors will need to execute our platforms in order to reach that proverbial tipping point where some event, some endorsement, some article, some breakthrough, takes our work to a wider audience.  Like all of us, Bunyans’s Christian needed many helpers along the way.

5.           What is a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now?

Life of Pi, and several of Sue Grafton’s Alphabet series. Grafton is an excellent writer. Right now I’m reading a lot of cozy mystery series: Teri Blackstock, Stephanie Bond, Ellery Adams, Brandilyn Collins, et al. 

6.           What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it?

The sequel to The Parchman Preacher. It’s a 75,051 word completed manuscript. It’s called The Parchman Redeemer. Not sure what you mean by a “little peek inside,” so let me just use an excerpt from one un-paid reviewer (ForeWord Clarion Reviews): “The Parchman Redeemer offers a tantalizing murder mystery filled with chilling explorations of hypocrisy, true faith, and small-town secrets. It’s about sin and redemption. It’s about the search for truth, in both the physical and spiritual realms. And it’s all wrapped up in a puzzle that keeps even skeptics on their toes. The writing is compelling with a plot that grows ever thicker and offers even ardent mystery fans delightfully unexpected twists and turns. The intrigue is well developed with well-placed clues and cliffhangers. The characters are multidimensional and fascinating. The faith themes are so masterfully woven in that those who aren’t religious should simply find the novel to be top-notch suspense.” ~~ Diane Gardner, 
 ForeWord Clarion Reviews. The complete review, along with other unpaid reviews can be found on my web site—www.ParchmanPreacher.com.

7.           What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication?

Find an established author who’ll read your ms; ask them to introduce it to an agent who specializes in your genre. If that’s not possible, ask them the write a blurb for the back cover and self-publish the work through one of the “Pay for Play” off-shoots of the large traditional publishing houses. Take the book to writing conventions where agents are in attendance. Network. Keep writing. Keep promoting. Keep the faith.

8.           Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us?

Sign up with Media Bistro’s Master Novel Writing Courses. Also, James Scott Bell’s site has a wonderful little program called Knockout Novel. It’s almost as if he were there with you as you contemplate characters, plots, settings, etc. His little software program pushes you to make your writing better. There are other helpful sites. Search, and you shall find. 

9.           Is there anything you’d like to tell us we haven’t covered?

Buy Blake Snyder’s Save The Cat book. While it’s written mostly for screenplay writers, it’s an excellent little book that’ll help with ACT I, II, and III. Novels are very similar to movie scripts.

10.       Please let us know where we can find you on the web.

www.ParchmanPreacher.com. www.shepking.com.  @mhthompsonsr

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.

The Rosetti Curse by Tina Russo

I just finished reading The Rosetti Curse by Tina Russo, and I wanted to share my thoughts with you.

I met Tina Russo Radcliffe on Seekerville a few years ago. She cares about others who want to become published authors and is generous with her time.

Tina writes romantic comedy as Tina Russo and inspirational romance as Tina Radcliffe. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona. She served our country as a Specialist 4th Class in the U.S .Army. She is a woman of many talents doing everything from a registered nurse to a library cataloger to a pharmacy clerk, and now she writes full-time at home. You can reach her tinarusso.com or tinaradcliffe.com


The Rosetti Curse is a pure delight if you like romantic suspense. The characters are believable and likeable. The chemistry between the hero and heroine is electric. I was pulled in from the first page. This story will make you smile frequently and maybe cry once or twice.

If you want an enjoyable read with a touch of authentic Italian ambiance, this is the book for you. The love the characters have for each other will draw you in, and you'll cheer for the hero and heroine through the book.


Tessa Rosetti has lived under the shadow of a curse placed on her family three generations earlier. Three generations of women buried the men they love and confirmed Tessa’s belief in the Rosetti Curse.

Thomas Riley, a cop from Los Angeles, arrives home to settle his grandmother's estate in Silver Ridge, Colorado.
The first night home he breaks his leg in an explosion at the local biscotti factory that belongs to Tessa's new step-father.

Riley and Tessa grew up across the street from each other and renew their bond. Together they battle a curse that leads them on a journey of true love.

Here's a link to make it even easier for you to read this wonderful book. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Dog Tags Ebook Giveaway

I'm giving away an ebook copy of Dog Tags. 


Tonja Saylor is the winner of the giveaway. I will contact her shortly. Thanks to everyone else for participating! 

Blurb: 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?

To be entered in the giveaway, please do the following:

(1) In a brief comment, tell me about your favorite animal (could be real or fictional). 

(2) Leave your email address. You may spell it out to avoid spam. So, for example, yourname(at)gmail(dot)com.

The winner will be chosen at random and announced on January 13th, 2014. The winner will be contacted and will have one week to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Interview and Giveaway with Gail Pallotta

CONGRATULATIONS CAROL

WINNER OF STOPPED COLD

Welcome Gail. We are so pleased to have you with us on Sleuths and Suspects. Gail and I belong to the same writer's group and I'm happy to share about her new book on our blog. Be a follower and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Gail's book. Be sure and leave your email so we can contact you if you win. Without further ado let's learn more about Gail.

Tell us a little about yourself.  I’m a wife, Mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. I’ve been a Sunday school teacher, a swim-team coordinator and an after-school literary instructor. My husband says I write because I have pretend people running around in my head, and they have to get out.

Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on. Stopped Cold is a teen mystery with a touch of romance and spiritual talk. The Christian message is: we don’t have to be number one of God to love us. The book’s set in a small town in the North Carolina Mountains, but things aren’t what they seem in peaceful Mistville.

 

The heroine, Margaret McWhorter, enjoys a laid-back Freshman year in high school flirting with Jimmy Willmore, swimming and hanging out with friends—until that day. Her brother, Sean, suffers a stroke from taking a steroid. Now he’s lying unconscious in a hospital. Margaret’s angry at her dad for pushing Sean to be a great quarterback, but a fire of hatred burns inside her to make the criminals pay.

Looking for justice, she takes Jimmy and her best friend, Emily, through a twisted, drug-filled sub-culture. A clue sends them deep into the woods behind the school where they overhear drug dealers discuss Sean.

Time and time again they walk a treacherous path and come face to face with danger. Even the cop on the case can’t stop them from investigating. All the while Margaret really wants to cure Sean, heal the hate inside, and open her heart to love.

Why did you choose this particular genre? First of all, I wanted to write a fun book. As a youngster I loved mysteries, especially when the kids, like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, solved the case. My book’s reminiscent of those amateur sleuths.

The message rattled around in my head for a long time. Over the years I’ve seen instances when not being number one created great pain for a child or young adult. Whether the pressure came from within, peers, siblings or parents, the need to be “better than everyone else” rather than “the best one could be” often hurt and sometimes led to destruction. We don’t have to be number one for God to love us. He’s given each of us a gift or gifts to use for Him.

What are a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now? I’m not a genre person.There’s only one book I’ve ever read that I didn’t like. That was because if offered no hope. Other than that, I just like books. I recently finished Blind Justice by James Scott Bell. A couple classics I like are An American Tragedy and Of Human Bondage. As for romance, Pride and Prejudice. Other books that come to mind are The Kite Runner and I Heard the Owl Call My Name. I could go on…

 

What are you working on now? I have several projects, all adult, all Christian. One’s a romance about a woman who has a mysterious illness, and another, a dystopian book.

 

What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication? Keep writing, learning about the craft and follow where God leads.

 

Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us? I recommend Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell. I’ve received lots of advice and help from The American Christian Fiction Writers.

 

Is there anything you’d like to tell us we haven’t covered? Thank you for having me on your fun blog!

Please let us know where we can find you on the web. 

My Web Site, http://www.gailpallotta.com   

My facebook page, Authors and More, https://www.facebook.com/authorsandmore  

My blog, http://www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com

Clash of the Titles, http://www.clashofthetitles.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

Deborah Malone’s first novel Death in Dahlonega, finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Category Five writing contest! Deborah was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in First Novel category. She has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published, and her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails,” edited by Olin Jackson. She is a member of the Georgia Writer’s Association as well as Advanced Writer’s and Speakers Association. As a current member of the American Christian Fiction Writer she has established a blog where she reviews Christian Fiction.  

 

Recommended Novels I've Read In 2013!

by Jeff Reynolds

I know. It's not Christmas, but I want to beat the rush on the top ten lists. And of course, mine may not be as authoritative as others -- some of my partners in crime on this blog may have read more than I have!

Also, this is a list of thirtten novels that I've read this year. Some of these have been out from previous years. In fact, one of the books I've read which I didn't put on the list was written the year I was born.

This year I've had the pleasure of reading nineteen novels, as well as several non-fiction books. Fourteen of those fall are either mystery (six) or suspense (eight). Only two may not qualify as Christian books (both mysteries), but neither of those would be objectionable -- the author of one of those books was interviewed this year on this blog (not byme), and the other was the one I referred to above -- if I told you the author, you wouldn't worry about reading it.

I was going to make it ten and give five mysteries and five suspense. Problem. I have a tie for fifth place on the suspense list. So I decided to pass along the thirteen novels I enjoyed the most. I'll give a brief blurb about each.

I thought of putting them in order, but opted to instead put them in alphabetic order by author. Ready?

1. Cat Among The Pigeons by Agatha Christie (Mystery). Yes, this was the one as old (or maybe older) than me. Interesting blend of espionage with typical Christie mystery. I did see the David Suchet movie version, so I knew a lot of the twists, and that might have kept it from being my favorite. Still, I enjoyed it.
2. Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales by Randy Singer (Suspense). His latest book. I'm still reading this one, by the way -- will probably finish it this week. If you remember, I interviewed Singer earlier this year.
3. Death of a Highland Heavyweight by Jayne Self (Mystery). I had the pleasure of interviewing the author around this time last year. One of the most enjoyable books I've read this year -- you may be laughing too hard to figure out who did it!
4. Dog Tags by Heidi Glick (Suspense). If you haven't read this one yet, shame on you! Go straight to Amazon or some other site and get a copy of this, or I'll sick a Schipperke on you! I had the privilege of interviewing the author on this blog.
5. The Final Crumpet by Ron and Janet Benrey (Mystery). Second in their Royal Tunbridge Mystery series.
6. Friend Me by John Faubion (Suspense). This one won't make many (if any) 2013 book lists, because it won't be available to the public till February. I had the privilege of reading an advance copy, and I'd be surprised if this doesn't make several 2014 lists. Written by a fellow member of the Indiana ACFW chapter.
7. Fusion Fire by Kathy Tyers (Speculative). Many would call this science fiction, but I believe it's more science fantasy. Still, I loved reading this book and the first story of the series, Firebird. Great Christian symbolism in the story.
8. The Last Plea Bargain by Randy Singer (Suspense). This is one of Singer's two best stories. It's got so many twists your jaw will drop at the end. Mine did. Very well crafted story.
9. Murder A Capella by James Callan and Diane Bailey (Mystery). I've enjoyed several mysteries, but when it comes to being one that surprises you yet leaves enough clues you're kicking yourself over missed ones, this is the best I've read in years. Even though I've seen a couple of Christian reviews (including an interview with Mr. Callan on this blog), I wouldn't call it a Christian book, but it's not one that would make a Christian uncomfortable.
10. The Next Target by Nikki Arana (Suspense). I like suspense, but I don't always enjoy suspense -- it gets me too worked up, too worried about the characters. This is an example of that. Good themes in the book. The author was interviewed late last year on this blog (not by me).
11. Nowhere To Run by Amy Wallace (Suspense). Second of her Place of Refuge series. I discovered Wallace when I read her Defenders of Hope trilogy. Hidden in Plain Sight, the first of this series, didn't impress me as much as the other stories, but this one (which I'm still reading) is closer to the other set in style. I interviewed Amy on this blog earlier this year.
12. Rules For Murder by Julianna Deering (Mystery). I had the privilege of being an influencer for this story, and also for interviewing her on this blog this year.
13. An Unholy Communion by Donna Fletcher Crow (Mystery). Crow's Monastery Murders is my favorite mystery series, and Father Anthony is one of my favorite characters. This was my favorite of the series -- it involves a youth pigrimage in Wales.

 Hope you enjoyed this list. How many of these have you read? Any of these going on your reading list? What would be on your list?

And I hope you won't be disappointed to find out this will be my last blog until next year.

Interview and Book Giveaway With Debbie Malone

by Jeff Reynolds

 

My victim ... er, interviewee this month is a familiar name to this blog. I have the honor of interviewing my fellow contributor Debbie Malone.  The latest installment of her Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mysteries is hot off the presses, and we're giving away a copy -- see rules below.

Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome to Sleuths and Suspects, Debbie. As if you need a welcome. Could you tell us about how you came to faith in Christ, and how that tied in with your writing journey?
Debbie Malone:  Thank you for having me as a guest Jeff. I love your interviewing style. Now on to the question. I actually grew up in the church. My parents made sure we were there every time the doors were open so this gave me a good grounding. I have a little story about writing Christian fiction. I had always wanted to write it, but didn’t even know it existed until I came upon a Margaret Daley book. When I read it I knew that was what I was looking for. I’d already completed my first manuscript so I rewrote it as Christian fiction. I joined American Christian Fiction Writers and now I have three published books.

JR:  I'm in complete suspense in how you'd answer this question: Would you be interested in telling us about the mystery series you've written and especially the newest installment?

DM:  Does a duck like june bugs? Trixie Montgomery is the main character and her sidekick and best friend is Dee Dee Lamont. Trixie is a writer for a magazine and is sent on assignments to different towns. It seems everywhere they go a dead body turns up and Trixie and Dee Dee must find the person who committed the dastardly deed. Trixie’s eccentric great-aunt, Nana, joins in on the fun. With Nana around there’s never a dull moment. For instance she gets a tattoo in Terror on Tybee Island.

Terror on Tybee Island takes place on the beautiful Tybee Island off of Savannah. Trixie, Dee Dee, Nana and Trixie’s mother Betty Jo go for a relaxing vacation on the island. Betty Jo’s friend puts them up in her bed and breakfast. It turns out to be anything but relaxing when Trixie finds a body in the sand behind the house. Betty Jo’s friend, Laura, is accused of the murder. So of course Trixie and Dee Dee must come to the rescue when Betty Jo begs them to help Laura. They run into quite a few suspects as they attend a taping of Paula Deen’s cooking, a trip to the Mercer-Williams house, and a pirate festival.

During the festival Nana is kidnapped and you’ll have to read the book to see if Trixie and Dee Dee arrive in time to save her.

JR:  You've always been a mystery lover. If you could have lunch with three fictional detectives (at the same time), who would you select and why?

DM: Oh, I love this question. Of course, the first one would be Jessica Fletcher. Hummm, I need to think a moment. Matlock is a lawyer, but he solves crimes so I think I’d like to meet him. Okay I’ve got the third one, well actually there are two of them, but I’d like to meet the guys from Psych. I guess this shows I like to watch TV mysteries.

JR:  Writing is the fun and easy part of writing. Finding a publisher and marketing: Not as much, are they? How have you handled these challenges? Any tips? Any mistakes to avoid?

DM: Marketing is essential to have a successful book. You have to learn to put yourself out there and that’s hard for most people. Some of the places I’ve gone to are books clubs, libraries, writer’s groups, spoken at writer’s conferences, etc. The thing with marketing is you have to find a balance, because you’ve got to save time to write. A great book on marketing is Stress Free Marketing by Renea Winchester. It’s simple to read and chock full of good advice.

JR:  Besides your fiction series, you've written and photographed for the historical magazine "Georgia  Backroads." If someone asked you to pick one of your articles from this magazine to read, which would you select? Also, do your articles come out of your research for your novels? Or does your research for your articles give you ideas for your novel?

DM:  Another great question Jeff. I guess my favorite article was “Chasing the General” and was my very first article to be published. The General was a train the Yankees came down and stoleright under our noses. But we did get it back and most of the villains were hung. Not that I’m happy they were hung.

My research from my articles over the years has been a tremendous help with my novels in giving me ideals and also history to include in my novels.

JR:  You're a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Georgia Writer's Association. What are the strengths of these groups, and how have each contributed to your writing?

DM:  I can’t say enough about ACFW. I stumbled upon it and I’m so glad I did. I don’t believe I’d be published today if it weren't for the support I got from fellow members. This is an on-line group and they give courses, have a critique group and have loops where you can ask any question about writing. I’ve met so many wonderful Christian writers. I could go on and on - but I won’t. :)

GWA has a lot going on too. They have a class every month on some form of writing. They also have a great conference every year called “Red Clay.” The only downfall to GWA is that you have to travel to the classes and I have to drive about an hour to get to them. But I’ve found them to be very informative.

JR:  You mentioned in one of your previous interviews that you returned to college in your '40's and graduated at the age of 45. When you returned, was it to the same major? What was it like, and were there any lessons from that which applied to your writing?

DM:  Well, I earned a degree in Human Services which is a mix of psychology and sociology. It was very different returning as an adult. I think I appreciated the opportunity to learn much more than as a young adult. I took a creative writing course and that sparked a flame in me to write. I’d always wanted to, but never took the time to sit down and do it. So I’m thankful that my writing came from that class I took.

JR:  Thank you for your time. Before I let you go, where can we find you online (besides here, of course)? And could you give us a little description of each site?

DM:  Thank you for having me as a guest Jeff it’s been fun talking with you.

You can find me at www.cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com This is where several of us cozy writer’s get together and take turns posting on the blog every day. There are a variety of topics.

Also, www.deborahsbutterflyjorney.blogspot.com This is my personal blog where I post interviews, giveaways and articles about writing.

My website is www.deborah-malone.com

Last, but not least I’m on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

Jeff Reynolds to the reader:  Time for the giveaway of Terror On Tybee Island. Three steps to win the book:

1. Leave a Comment
2. Leave your e-mail (too many forget this step).
3. I'll ask you a variation of a question I asked Debbie. If you had a choice of fictitious detectives to sit down and have a meal with (more than one would make the discussion more interesting, but one is fine), who would you select?