Interview and Giveaway for Southern Superstitions by B. J. Robinson

CONGRATULATIONS TO

CAROLYN WINNER OF

"SOUTHERN SUPERSTITIONS"

 I am so excited to welcome B. J. Robinson to Sleuths and Suspects for an interview. She has graciously offered to give a copy of her book "Southern Superstitions" for a giveaway, just follow the instructions at the end of the interview. Here we go!

INTERVIEW

1.            Tell us a little about yourself. I'm an avid reader and passionate writer, and I've been writing and publishing since my first story about my pet dog was published in the third grade in a local newspaper. My husband and I live in Florida with our two girls, Honi, a golden retriever, and Sunflower, a golden cocker spaniel. Sunflower is a character in Last Resort, my 2011 debut inspirational romantic suspense novel. My work includes dogs and pets for animal lovers. I love both dogs and cats, and we have a shelter cat named Frankie. I believe books bring people together, and I treasure my wonderful readers, critique partners, and friends I've met through my love of writing and books. My children are all grown and have made me a grandmother multiple times. I am blessed with children, grandchildren, pets, a husband, and faith. Writing is my passion, and Jesus is my best friend. To God be the glory.

2.            Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on. Southern Superstitions is my most recently published novel, a romantic suspense set in Louisiana. A Favorite Line: It was faith in God that would bring her husband home. Even a lucky penny or a dime declared, In God we trust. It's getting great reviews on Amazon. Here's a short blurb:

Prayer versus Southern superstitions when a woman's husband mysteriously disappears in the swamp on a deer-hunting trip. As steamy as the hot, thick, sticky heat of Louisiana, this page-turner will keep readers in suspense, as the author spins a tale of love, loss, superstition, pain, heartache, and faith in God. Reviewer Kathy Boswell says, "Very good! She never gives up hope that Andy will return to her someday. She puts it all in God's hands like she's done every crisis in her life. She knows He will take care of this for her." God and the power of prayer versus Southern superstitions. Through belief, faith, hard work, the power of prayer, and God's help, this powerful, moving story is a thought-provoking Christian romantic suspense about a young couple who fall in love, but have to change her mother's mind in more ways than one, if their relationship is to survive. Can Andy convince June there's more to their relationship than friends? Will he win the approval of Mrs. Myrtle, her mother, and can love survive strawberry season and an April flood? Will June be able to give Andy a child?

3.        Why did you choose this particular genre? I write inspirational romantic suspense because I grew up on Nancy Drew mysteries and have always been a romantic. This genre allows me to combine the mystery, suspense, intrigue, and romance.

4.         What was your journey to publication like? It's been a long, hard road. I've always loved books, reading, and writing, and I've published lots of shorter works like poems, short stories, articles, and devotionals, but Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. out of California is the publisher who was willing to accept my work without an agent. Thanks to their wonderful team, I will have a total of four novels published by October 2012. One Rainy Summer, a YA novel releases October 11. The other three are all inspirational romantic suspense novels. If readers are interested, they can check out my Desert Breeze Author Page for a complete bio that provides information about my publishing history.

5.       What is a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now? A favorite new read is Everglades by Petie McCarly. I just reviewed it on my blog. I'm reading Eva Marie Everson's new Cedar Key title Waiting for Sunrise. I've read the first in the series Chasing Sunsets, and I enjoy her novels. She also wrote This Fine Life and Things Left Unspoken. I've read and reviewed them all. Another favorite author is Naomi Musch. I love her historical novels The Green Veil and The Red Fury.

6.            What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it? I just finished editing Whispering Cypress. It releases August 11 and is a romantic suspense set in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Here is a short blurb: You'll never have peace here. Leave the past where it belongs, or it will ruin you.

Spring Showers stared at the cutout newspaper letters pasted on a sheet of typing paper. Her heart pounded harder than any nail gun, and she placed her hand over her chest as if to still it. Nothing about the rundown campground prepared her for such a threat. Who could possibly care if she restored it?

After a decade of no contact, she purchases the campground a man from her past dreams of owning and hires him to repair and remodel the cabins. She still has feelings for him, and the sparks are still there -- smoldering like embers from a left-over campfire. A male friend from the city visits and trouble brews. A girl is attacked. Hackett is arrested. Did authorities arrest the right man? The girl is pregnant -- who is the father?

7.            What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication? Learn all you can from those who've gone before you. Join a good critique group. You can learn as much from them as from taking writing classes, and it's lots cheaper. Do take writing classes if you can afford it and want to improve your skills and hone your craft. I've taken a couple classes through Long Ridge Writers Group and the Apprentice and Journeyman classes with Christian Writers Guild. I've honed skills through American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and my critique groups. I've also gained so much knowledge by working with my in-house editors through my publisher, Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. in California, such as formatting and editing to meet deadlines. Another tip is to take advantage of all the wonderful writing books on the market. I have a list on my blog of ones I've used.

8.       Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us? There's an entire lists of books I used and would recommend on my blog if you scroll. To break writer's block, I recommend Natalie Goldberg's WRITING DOWN THE BONES. She has two others as well. Donald Mass has a book and a workbook Writing the Breakout Novel. There are many excellent books to help you hone your skills and craft. Check them out at my blog. I've used them.

9.            Is there anything you’d like to tell us we haven’t covered? June from Southern Superstitions would say, "It was faith in God that would bring her husband home. Even a lucky penny or a dime declared, In God we trust." Rod, June's son in Southern Superstitions would say, "The way those cypress knees stuck out of the shallow water, like protruding nubs, they reminded him of his grandmother's warning finger wagging in his face. They could tear a hole in the bottom of a boat. Thank God my boat survived the lick. Maybe that's what happened to Dad."

Book trailer for Last Resort

Southern Superstitions on Amazon 

Book trailer for Southern Superstitions

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

My blog

My Facebook page

Amazon

Other: My Author Page

FOR A CHANCE TO WIN "SOUTHERN SUPERSTITIONS," PLEASE:

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HAPPY READING!

DEBORAH MALONE

Review of Love in Disguise

In Love in Disguise, Carol Cox skillfully weaves description throughout the novel with just enough detail that moves the story forward; I could easily picture the setting and didn’t feel the need to skim over description. Cox’s characters were likeable, and she maintained conflict throughout the story. 

Love in Disguise is set mainly in Arizona. Young Ellie Moore takes a job with the Pinkerton Detective Agency and must solve a case involving stolen silver from local mining. Along the way, Ellie must disguise her identity, which complicates her interactions with handsome mine owner, Steven Pierce. 

This story will appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction and mysteries.

For more information on giveaways related to this novel, please visit http://authorcarolcox.com/giveaways/

If you would like to read the first chapter of the novel, please visit http://thestorybeginnings.blogspot.com/2012/06/love-in-disguise.html

Please note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

 The authors of this blog are Amazon.com affiliates. Sometimes, we will include links in our blog posts. When visitors to this site purchase items from Amazon.com using links in our posts, the authors of this blog earn a percentage of the sales.

Today I'd like to welcome Traci Hilton to Sleuths and Suspects. She graciously agreed to let me interview her. Here we go.

I guess you like living in Portland since you set your story there. I love Portland! I live just across the river from Portland now (housing costs being what they were when we were house hunting.). I set the stories here because it is so easy to write what you know. Mitzy’s Portland rings true for locals and folks who have visited, but it is fictionalized to suit my story.

If I were to visit you, where's the first place you'd take me? Powell’s City of Books, without hesitation. It is the best book store in the whole world. It’s also becoming a pretty popular online bookstore. (Powells.com.) We would be very Portlandy about the trip too and take the light rail. When I was a teenager Portland had Yellow Bikes. I can’t remember what patron paid for them, but some kindly soul bought dozens of bikes, painted them yellow, and left them all over downtown for people to ride for free. Of course they were just vandalized and stolen. But for while they lasted, they were a blast. When I think of a true Portland experience bikes, mass transit, downtown, and Powell’s all come immediately to mind. There is also a series of trails that skirts downtown, gorgeous uphill forest hiking in the middle of the city. It leads to our town’s one historically preserved mansion, the Pittock Mansion. That’s a great bit of Portland to share with visitors as well. Okay, last thing to visit in Portland…I’d probably have to take you to the Columbia River Gorge. It’s as beautiful as anything you saw in The Lord of the Rings.

  What's your favorite thing to do on a rainy day? Curl up in a blanket with a cup of tea and a good book—even better if there is bread baking! Of course if I did that every time it rained I’d never get anything done.

Where's your favorite place to visit when you leave town? I had the good luck to marry a Midwestern boy. I highly recommend the practice. When I leave town it is almost always to go back to Kansas to visit family. I really love the blue skies and wide open spaces. My husband is from a town called Buhler that has an adorable Main Street. Great shops, a gallery, and a fantastic café. His family actually lives on Main Street so we can leave the kids in the sunshiny back yard with the menfolk while we girls go shopping. If I can name drop just a little bit, Buhler is a hop and skip over to Hutchinson where my family goes to church with Kim Vogal Sawyer. She’s a great friend of my mom-in-law, and was the first person to tell me about the fantastic ACFW!

How did you pick being a real estate agent for your character? When I was brainstorming ideas for a mystery I knew I wanted three things: a theme that would hit a nerve with readers. I wrote Foreclosed in 2009 so what better than a housing crash tie in? I also wanted an amateur sleuth who had a natural reason to run into people in crisis. In this economy it seems like a for sale sign and a family crisis go hand in hand. I also wanted something that could easily develop into a series. Nothing better for a series than a job where you are constantly meeting new people.

Tell us a little about Mitzy. Right before I wrote Foreclosed I read every early Agatha Christy that was in my library. I really loved her spunky, confident heroines of the 1920’s and wanted Mitzy to be something like that. She’s been criticized for being not entirely likeable, since she is rich, tall, blonde, and beautiful. But she does have faults. She has a tendency to mouth off to the wrong people at the wrong time. She’s also about a decade behind the curve style-wise, but doesn’t notice. Her real struggle comes with trying to solve her problems in her own strength rather than relying on God.

Tell us about your new story. The Tangle Saga will be released in just about a month. It’s a whodunit in space and I am sooo excited about it! I’ve always wanted to write sci-fi but am frankly too girly. I don’t know about rail guns and fighter ships. But my brother does, and since he can write me under the table, I convinced him to collaborate. In a nutshell, The General’s daughter is charged with finding her underage brother and sister who have disappeared from the space station at the edge of the galaxy. The fourth Mitzy Neuhaus Mystery should be coming this winter as well. Thanks so much for letting me talk with you about the two towns I love, my dear Mitzy, and The Tangle Saga!

You're welcome. So glad you visited us at Sleuths and Suspects. Bio Traci Tyne Hilton is an award winning playwright from Portland, Oregon. Traci earned a degree in History from Portland State University and still lives in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest. She has written grant proposals, blogs, essays on etymology, Bible studies, Sunday School curriculum, novels, short stories, history essays, and plays. She hopes to do many more of the above, God willing and the creek don't rise. More of Traci's work can be found at tracihilton.com About Foreclosed Mitzy Neuhaus is the top selling Realtor in Portland, but even her office is dead in this economy. Foreclosed is the word no homeowner wants to hear and Mitzy is determined to save the incredible mansion on her street from that fate. But with the homeowner desperate to keep Mitzy away from his property and Alonzo, the dangerously hot rival investor trying to snatch it out from under her, Mitzy knows she has to work fast, or the economy won't be the only thing dead... Foreclosed is available as an ebook and paperback at Amazon.com http://amzn.to/bifsN1

Review of Double Exposure

Double Exposure by Susan Sleeman is a well-thought out romantic suspense story, published by Harlequin (Love Inspired Suspense). The heroine, Jennie Buchanan is a photographer with a big heart and a past she’d like to keep secret. When Jennie receives death threats, Ethan Justice, Jennie’s ex-boyfriend enters her life. While dealing with past feelings, the two race to discover and stop the person behind the threats. 

While anyone who enjoys romantic suspense will like this book, I really felt a deep connection to the story because the topic of adoption is mentioned, and my husband and I recently became certified to foster-to-adopt. Susan handled the topic well. 

For a chance to win Susan’s book, please visit www.thesuspensezone.com/contests/current-contests/

To learn more about the author, please visit her Web site, www.susansleeman.com.

Please note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own. 

 The authors of this blog are Amazon.com affiliates. Sometimes, we will include links in our blog posts. When visitors to this site purchase items from Amazon.com using links in our posts, the authors of this blog earn a percentage of the sales. 

Interview with Jordyn Redwood and Giveaway of Proof

JR: Heidi, thanks so much for hosting me here today. I'm looking forward to getting to know your readers!

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START WRITING?

JR: I don't know if I ever made a conscious decision to start writing. Storytelling has always been a part of me. An outlet to keep the characters quiet in my mind. Now, the decision to pursue publication was a very conscious one and born out of frustration at not achieving what I wanted to in my nursing career.

 

WHAT AUTHORS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE?

JR: I'm a huge Dean Koontz fan and would really love if he could write another book on writing. I would love to have his descriptive authority. I like the suspense style of James Patterson, Harlen Coban and Linwood Barclay. If at any point I was compared to one of these authors, I will melt into a puddle of tears.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING AUTHORS?

JR: Early in my writing journey, I found it hard to find my own sense of discernment. I would constantly ask others to review my work and then feel like I had to change everything that they wanted changed. Well, at that point, it wasn't my story anymore and I was essentially a ghost writer. For years, I was perpetually stuck on the first 30,000 words and never making any forward progress. What I eventually did was decide that the first draft was all mine. No other eyes would see it. It would simply be about getting the words on the page and having a finished book. After that, then it is the time to seek the advice of a few trusted people, to strengthen what you have. It takes time to learn which elements should be kept (regardless of who is telling you to cut them out) and which are good to let go.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR MEDICAL BLOG.

JR: Redwood's Medical Edge is designed to help contemporary and historical novelists write medically accurate fiction. When thinking about building my author platform, I really struggled with what I could do that would be unique. There were so many voices, much better than mine, doing extremely well with blogs on writing, blogs on faith and blogs on the Christian (insert topic of choice here).

What I found myself doing was answering medical questions for other writers, a lot, and loving it. Not only have I been in nursing for nearly 20 years, but I've been a long time teacher of advanced resuscitation classes and love reading medical stuff for fun. Hence, a blog was born that I felt could really help writers ferret out these medical issues.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR "REAL JOB." HOW DOES IT INFLUENCE YOUR WRITING?

JR: Currently, I work as a pediatric ER nurse. I don't know if I could do one job without the other. Nursing gives me fodder for the stories I tell and writing gives me an outlet for the tough emotional situations I encounter on a daily basis. 

WHAT DOES YOUR WRITING SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE?

JR: I don't have a set writing schedule because my work days are never the same two days a week. Yes, I still work weekends and holidays. So, I do a monthly word count goal. I designate certain days to be writing days to help meet that goal. Also on writing days, I'll try to do one-three blog posts and one marketing activity.

At night, I'm generally reading two hours before I go to bed. This may be research but is generally the fiction books on my TBR list.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE.

JR: Proof examines the real life possibility of DNA testing actually setting a guilty criminal free. Lilly Reeves is the fifth known victim of a merciless serial rapist. Though she correctly identifies her assailant to the police, DNA testing clears him. Lilly knows to regain her life she must prove his guilt by unraveling his DNA mystery.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND IN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE A STORY?

JR: I am a research nut. I love to research and can get easily sidetracked looking up information or reading more books than I probably need to get all the nuances right that I want to. I find it hard to say I'm going to spend this much time researching and then just write the novel. I research before and during and probably don't stop until the book is with the publisher for their edits.

WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR RESEARCH?

JR: So many things are interesting to me. The DNA mystery in my first novel is very intriguing-- especially knowing that it could actually happen. Also, the current research into medical applications for spider venom is amazing. I know-- I'm a little strange.

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?

JR: Great question and a little hard to answer. I wrote two "books" in high school. Looking back, they may be termed more novellas as I'm sure the word length is not what would be required of a novel. I'd written a partial novel early in my adult writing career that was very much a learning piece. The idea was soundly rejected as being too controversial and the plot was an utter mess and I put it on the proverbial back burner. I was just trying to accomplish too much. That being said, I've written two full length novels that are scheduled for publication and actively working on a third. 

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME WHEN YOU'RE NOT WRITING?

JR: I do have a very creative spirit. I'm also a quilter and a cross-stitcher. I love to make handmade gifts for my friends and family and am looking forward to passing down these skills to my two, beautiful daughters. I am a book junkie so if you're in a hurry-- quilt stores and books stores are a bad place to take me.

HOW CAN READERS CONTACT YOU AND/OR LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WRITING?

JR: They can find me at www.jordynredwood.net. I love to hear from readers and you can reach me via e-mail at jredwood1@gmail.com.

 

Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by day, suspense novelist by night. Her debut medical thriller, Proof, examines the real life possibility of DNA testing setting a guilty criminal free. It has been endorsed by the likes of Lynette Eason, Dr. Harry Kraus, and Rick Acker to name a few. You can find out more about Jordyn by visiting her blog: www.redwoodsmedicaledge.com and website: www.jordynredwood.net.

Dr. Lilly Reeves is a young, accomplished ER physician with her whole life ahead of her. But that life instantly changes when she becomes the fifth victim of a serial rapist. Believing it's the only way to recover her reputation and secure peace for herself, Lilly sets out to find--and punish--her assailant. Sporting a mysterious tattoo and unusually colored eyes, the rapist should be easy to identify. He even leaves what police would consider solid evidence. But when Lilly believes she has found him, DNA testing clears him as a suspect. How can she prove he is guilty, if science says he is not?

Jordyn is giving away a paperback copy of her book, Proof. 

To enter the giveaway, 

(1) be (or become) a follower of Sleuths and Suspects  

(2) leave a comment for Jordyn

(3) be a resident of the U.S.

The giveaway ends on June 16th. A winner will be announced on June 17th.

Interview and Giveaway with Kathryn Bain

THE WINNER FOR "BREATHLESS"

IS

ANITA
(Anita will have one week to respond then a new winner will be picked)

Please welcome Kathryn Bain to Sleuths and Suspects. She has graciously offered an e-book giveaway of her latest novel "Breathless." Without furthur ado lets get started!

Lydia Frederickson is afraid to answer her telephone. Widowed and alone, she only wants to get through another anniversary of her husband’s death without falling to pieces, but a stalker isn’t making that goal easy. The disturbing calls are becoming increasingly personal and threatening, and everyone who knows her is suspect. The only person she knows isn’t making the calls is her new ponytailed, tattooed—and breathtakingly handsome— minister, Matthew Winters.

Former narcotics agent-turned-minister Matthew Winters knows he’s not what the town expected in their new pastor, but he’s up for the challenge. What he doesn’t expect is the sudden attraction he feels for parishioner Lydia Frederickson. When he discovers she’s the victim of a stalker, he feels God’s intervention has led him—both a cop and a preacher—to her. Matthew knows he’s falling for the beautiful widow, but a secret from his past may undermine their future.

Show More

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Kathryn J. Bain has been writing for over ten years now. Her first release Breathless came out January 13, 2012. Her novella Game of Hearts was released on March 1, 2012. Her third book Catch Your Breath will be released later this year. She has two daughters, and is the former President of Florida Sisters in Crime. Currently, she is the Public Relations Director and Membership Director for Ancient City Romance Authors. To survive and pay bills, she has been a paralegal for over twenty years and works for an attorney who specializes in elder law. She moved from Idaho to Jacksonville, Florida in 1983 and has lived in the sunshine since.                                                            

INTERVIEW WITH KATHRYN:

 1.       Tell us a little about yourself. I’m an old white woman who sits around her house all day writing books and hanging with a dog. Okay, okay. I’m also a paralegal so I do get out some. I’m a transplanted Idahoan. I came to Florida and the white beaches to get away from the cold. I’ve been writing for ten years and finally got a contract in 2011. For a while, I thought I might be wasting my time. I’m also very comma challenged, so please excuse my misplaced commas, or commas that don’t exist in places they should.

2.       Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on. My book Breathless is a romantic suspense book starring a widowed heroine who has a stalker and a motorcycle riding tattooed preacher who was a former DEA agent.

3.       Why did you choose this particular genre? I love suspense and mystery. It’s my favorite thing to read. And throwing in a guy on a motorbike just made it all that much more fun for me.

4.       What was your journey to publication like? Long. I first started doing screen plays, but I wasn’t any good. Then I figured I’d do children’s books. They’re only 30 pages, how hard can they be to write? Some days I need to screw my head on straight. Finally someone said to write what you read, and a light bulb appeared above my head.

5.       What is a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now? I’m a Janet Evanovich fan. I love the Stephanie Plum series. I still laugh when I reread the books. I also enjoy C.J. Box. His Joe Pickett series is wonderful. I just finished reading The Face of Fear by Dean Koontz. I told someone I wanted to read something that put me on the edge of my seat and they suggested this book. I’ve never read Mr. Koontz before, but am now an instant fan.

6.       What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it? I have a humorous mystery going through my critique group right now. Her name is Trúble. That’s “trouble” with a French twist. Here’s my first paragraph:

Why does this always happen to me? It’s hard enough to keep God’s commandments, at least the easy ones, without running into someone who’s died. It’s like I attract them. Maybe I should find a support group. “Hi, my name is Trúble Lawrence, and I find dead bodies.”

7.       What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication? Join a writing group. They’re invaluable for information and learning.

8.       Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us? One of the best books I’ve ever read is a short one called “First Chapters” by Elizabeth Sinclair.  It’s very helpful in telling how to keep a reader interested from the first line.

9.       Is there anything you’d like to tell us we haven’t covered? No, I think that about covers it, especially the old white woman part.

10.   Please let us know where we can find you on the web. www.kathrynjbain.com and I have a fan page on Facebook under Kathryn J. Bain.

Kathryn thank you so much for visiting us. I've learned more about you and as always it pays to be persistant. I'm sure many people will enjoy "Breathless."

Deborah Malone

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE:

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                                                  HAPPY READING!

Interview with Diane Moore/Review of Love Thy Neighbor

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START WRITING?

My parents' love for travel and adventure inspired my love for writing. Beautiful landscapes combined with  meeting all sorts of people motivated me to want to share those experiences. Also growing up in a diverse multicultural home -- my paternal grandparents were from Germany and my maternal grandparents were from Italy -- made me hyper aware of different cultures, allowing me to understand and to enjoy variety and want to share the good and different of each culture. In college, I studied abroad in Mexico City which again gave me an appreciation for a different culture.

WHAT AUTHORS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE?

John for his simple writing style that covers a broad range of topics, and I get a kick out of how he refers to himself as "the one Jesus loved most"; Patricia Cornwall for her attention to detail and great storytelling; Franz Kafka for his ability to create bizarre scenarios from what otherwise appear to be normal daily tasks; and Woody Allen because when I read his book, I felt like he was in the same room with me narrating the whole time.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING AUTHORS?

Make your top priority telling a good story, attend the ACFW conferences and join writers' groups that offer positive networking experiences.

HOW HAS YOUR JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE INFLUENCED YOUR FICTION WRITING?

My journalism experience provides an abundance of material for my fiction writing. As assistant editor for the San Antonio Medical Gazette, I was the lead investigative reporter. Working with forensic psychiatrists, medical examiners and following nurse and doctor impostors taught me a lot about the criminal mind. As the saying goes, "truth is stranger than fiction," so some of my characters' personality traits are gleaned from those experiences.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND IN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE A STORY?

I spend at least one third of my time in research before writing a story and an additional one third during writing.

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN? 

Three and a half, but only two that are currently published. "Love Thy Neighbor" and I co-wrote a non-fiction book entitled "Ridding Yourself of Bad Breath."  I'm halfway done with my next book in this series, which is set in Florence, Italy. Deirdre and Stuart work together to solve a murder mystery entangled with a conspiracy that pours into Europe's centuries-old wineries.

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME WHEN YOU'RE NOT WRITING?

I like to spend time with family and friends and to meet people and help them feel good about themselves. As a practicing cosmetologist and skincare specialist, I do that everyday. My husband and Family Love to read, worship and travel together, recently we returned from Spain and Morocco and are heading to Hawaii.  I have two active and athletic teenage daughters and two active and athletic adult sons, so when I'm not watching them play sports, we are usually doing something athletic or nature-bound together.

HOW CAN READERS CONTACT YOU AND/OR LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WRITING?

www.dianemoorewriter.com

Or my salon at www.beautiwithdiane.com

REVIEW OF LOVE THY NEIGHBOR

Love thy Neighbor is the story about a newspaper reported named Deirdre Morgan who is the prime suspect in the murder of her neighbor, who was found stabbed to death. Along the way, Deidre encounters Detective Stuart Beaumont, who is on a quest to unravel the details of the murder. As the case progresses, so do romantic feelings between Deirdre and Stuart. 

I enjoyed the characters and appreciated how the author wove her personal knowledge of martial arts into the story. Also, I liked how the author wove her subplots together.

Love thy Neighbor is written by Diane Moore and published by Parson Place Press.

For more information on the author, please visit her Website, http://www.dianemoorewriter.com/. Specifically, to read an excerpt from the book, please visit http://www.dianemoorewriter.com/3.html.

Please note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own. 

 The authors of this blog are Amazon.com affiliates. Sometimes, we will include links in our blog posts. When visitors to this site purchase items from Amazon.com using links in our posts, the authors of this blog earn a percentage of the sales. 

Interview with Nike Chillemi

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START WRITING?

Writing always came easy to me as a means of self-expression. As a preteen and teenage girl I wrote all the requisite poems filled with angst. My poor parents had to sit through my overly dramatic poetry readings. But it's only been in the last six to seven years that I thought of writing fiction for publication. About five years ago, I got really serious about it. I thought I had something the Lord wanted me to say. A message that should be said and could be said in fiction.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO WRITING CRIME FICTION, IN PARTICULAR?

Historically, I believe crime fiction has a basic morality to it. In fact, I think the entire genre comes out of the ethos of the Christian west. In crime fiction the hero, traditionally, is the good guy and he or she is hunting the bad guy. The bad guy is usually brought to justice by the end of the story. As a Christian writer, this appeals to me. I also enjoy figuring out what clues to imbed in the story, but in such a way that the reader can't figure them out until the very end.

WHAT AUTHORS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE?

James Scott Bell was perhaps the first Christian thriller author who influenced me. Then Robert Liparulo, J. Mark Bertrand, Steven James, Sibella Giorello, Eric Wilson, and Ted Dekker. I've gone ga-ga over all of them...written reviews about their novels, plastered Facebook and Twitter with raves. I'm very loyal to writers who stimulate my mind and engage my spirit. I also have a few general market crime fiction authors who have influenced me: Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, Barbara Parker, Lee Child.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING AUTHORS?

Keep writing. Don't worry about what it looks like on the page, not in the first draft anyway. Get a story written and put "the end" on it. Join a good critique group like the ones American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) have going. And read the top writers in your genre, the ones who have won literary contests and who are best sellers.                               

ARE YOU A PLOTTER OR A PANTSER?

I'm a combination of the two. I keep a file of prospective story ideas. At the moment I've got about fifty possible stories, most of them so horrid they will never see the light of day. However, there are a handful that I add to and develop. Eventually I will have complete synopsis, sometimes quite a long and detailed synopsis. But it's not even close to an outline. Outlining is way too plotter for me. I take that detailed synopsis and start writing seat of the pants. I do keep a file, which is a summary of finished chapters. I'll note details that might be useful later in the story. That way I won't have to go back and reread an entire chapter to check on a detail.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT RELEASE.

Goodbye Noel, the second in the Sanctuary Point series, released in December. The story unfolds during the Christmas and New Year's vacation (1946/47) on the south shore of Long Island, NY. Even though it's set at this time, it can be read at any time of year. It's about new beginnings, rising out of the ashes and starting again. It's about friends and loved ones helping each other. It's about honesty in a love relationship, about trust and fidelity. 

Perilous Shadows, the third novel in the series will release in mid-July of this year. It's set in August of 1947 and opens with the murder of a college coed.

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT IN YOUR

STORIES? (AND WHY)

I like all of the heroes and heroines in my novels. If I had to choose, it would be either Katrina Lenart or Det. Ian Daltry in Goodbye Noel. Of the two, I'd have to choose Katrina. She is beautiful and smart. One of the most endearing things about her is the love she shows for an orphaned infant whose mother was the first murder victim. Katrina also has a deep faith, nothing surface.

WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR RESEARCH?

In the first novel, Burning Hearts, my hero Lorne Kincade had been an operative on secret missions for General George Patton in France during WWII. The most interesting thing I learned was that not only did General Patton orchestrate such covert missions, but that in Germany he also tried to sneak an entire tank detachment behind enemy lines.

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?

I've written three novels in the Sanctuary Point series. Burning Hearts and Goodbye Noel are already out. The third one, Perilous Shadows will release this July. There will be a fourth novel in the series, but readers will have to wait for that one. I also have a contemporary romantic thriller, Network Then Die, which will release toward the end of this year. So, you see, I've been quite busy.

 

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Interview with Teric Darken

Interview with edgy fiction author, Teric Darken.

 

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START WRITING?

It's always been in my blood. I used to write short stories as a kid, and when in high school, I found it to be a great way to relieve myself of all the teen angst. The whole she-bang simply kept snowballing, and... Here I am.

WHAT AUTHORS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE?

Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti, Robert Liparulo, C.S. Lewis, Stephen King, Dean Koontz...

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT RELEASE.

Disc jockey Carter "The Cart-Man" Jackson has been climbing the stairway to heaven - keeping his life as simple as possible by living from one song to the next. He had the world by the tail, coming from a family of power, prestige and politics... until he let it all go.

Killer Queen is burning up the highway to hell - terrorizing a town in her crimson-red stilettos by holding random men at gunpoint. She had nothing except a dad who abused her... and now she has nothing to lose.

KILL FM 100 is the visual soundtrack of two opposing lives colliding head-on at a destined radio station. As Killer Queen puts the DJ under the gun during his night shift, she begins to question who the real hostage is as she confronts the demons of her past. And as the DJ shines his light into her darkened world, a few shadows of his own begin to loom from his closet.

A full-throttle storyline, injected with one of the most unique twists ever unleashed, KILL FM 100 is the thriller that reads like a soundtrack.

The Night Shift Edition features ten extra chapters not found in the original storyline. My newest offering, U-TURN KiLLuR (Death Row Edition) is lurking right around the corner.

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?

Four books total: KILL FM 100 (Night Shift Edition), U-TURN KiLLuR (Death Row Edition), Wickflicker, and my completed and forthcoming middle-grade readers book, The Sisterly Shenanigans of Doopie Piper and Sissy Pants, which will be released under my given name. (Note: The first editions of KILL FM 100 and U-TURN KiLLuR are not included.)

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME WHEN YOU'RE NOT WRITING?

Playing music and hanging out with my wife and children.

HOW CAN READERS CONTACT YOU AND/OR LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WRITING?

E-mail: tericdarken@yahoo.com

Website: www.tericdarken.com

Blog: www.tericdarken.blogspot.com

Interview with B.J. Robinson

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START WRITING?

My third grade teacher submitted a pet story about my dog to the local newspaper, and it was published. This motivated me to write. In later years, my first college essay was published in another local newspaper, and my first penned short story won first prize in Southeastern Louisiana University's fiction-writing competition and was published in their literary magazine, Gambit. This served as validation for me, and I continued to pen poems, short stories, and articles. I developed Southern Superstitions from that prize-winning short story years later. I wrote devotionals and had 12 published in one year. My early success spurred me to continue, and the Lord placed inspiring people along life's path to help encourage me with my writing journey, such as my college creative-writing teacher, my American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) critique group, my Long Ridge writing instructor, and my Christian Writers Guild mentor. I continue to strive to hone my skills and further develop my craft. Learning is a lifelong process.
 

WHAT AUTHORS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE?

I love Jerry B. Jenkins, Lynn Austin, Eva Marie Everson, and Chris Fabry. Naomi Musch and Shawna K. Williams are two colleagues at Desert Breeze who inspire me the most. I love their writing styles, and the recent authors who have influenced me are those two. As an avid reader, there are too many to name, but I devour books over the summer months. Though I read and review books year round, I have more time for reading during the summer.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING AUTHORS?

Write what you know and love. Get your story down on paper. Join a great critique group and be ready to edit, layer, and rewrite. When you have finished your story for the first time, you have a rough draft, a great start, but you're not finished. Put the work-in-progress (WIP) away for awhile. Go back to it with fresh eyes and you'll do a much better job of editing and layering. You need conflict, or you don't have a story. Don't be afraid to allow your characters to go through an obstacle course. Continue to hone your skills and craft. Attend writing workshops and conferences. Online classes are offered. I enjoyed taking mine with Christian Writers Guild (CWG).

WHAT DOES YOUR WRITING SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE?

I write every chance I get, in my spare time, since I work Monday through Friday. I'm a morning person and that's when I do my best writing. I write weekends, holidays, summer vacations, and early mornings. If I'm pushed for a deadline, I write evenings and at night.  

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT RELEASE.

My most recent release, Southern Superstitions, published January 15, 2012, by Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc., is a sweet inspirational romantic suspense novel set in Louisiana, developed from my first prize-winning short story in fiction-writing competition at Southeastern Louisiana University in 1988.

Prayer versus Southern superstitions when a woman's husband mysteriously disappears in the swamp on a deer-hunting trip. As steamy as the hot, thick, sticky heat of Louisiana, this page-turner will keep readers in suspense, as the author spins a tale of love, loss, superstition, pain, heartache, and faith in God. Reviewer Kathy Boswell says, "Very good! She never gives up hope that Andy will return to her someday. She puts it all in God's hands like she's done every crisis in her life. She knows He will take care of this for her." God and the power of prayer versus Southern superstitions. Through belief, faith, hard work, the power of prayer, and God's help, this powerful, moving story is a thought-provoking Christian romantic suspense about a young couple who fall in love, but have to change her mother's mind in more ways than one, if their relationship is to survive. Can Andy convince June there's more to their relationship than friends? Will he win the approval of Mrs. Myrtle, her mother, and can love survive strawberry season and an April flood? Will June be able to give Andy a child? 

Favorite sentences: It was faith in God that would bring her husband home. Even a lucky penny or dime declared, "In God we trust."

Author Shawna K. Williams endorses Southern Superstitions by B. J. Robinson. She says, “Southern Superstitions  is an inspirational story that’s full of personality, as well as intricacy in the way it explores the complexities of family and the conflict between faith and luck. Barbara does a great job at pulling together the deeply rooted superstitions of the South and entwining them into a suspenseful tale of faith, romance and endurance. I especially enjoyed the setting and culture of the deep South."

Click here to view Book Trailer

 

Excerpt:

Rod joined the search party to help investigate his dad's disappearance. It'd disbanded at

nightfall and picked up the search again at daybreak, but they'd found no sign of his dad. Rod

guided a canoe deep into the marshes and swamps. He'd hunted with his father many times in

these wetlands so he knew where to check. No word or sign of his father made the cold,

Christmas season stab like an ice pick, and his heart ached for his mother, left alone.

He slid the canoe through a wall of cypress trees, deeper and deeper into the heart of the

swamp. He figured his father headed for the hills. White cranes flew from the cypress limbs. The

canoe hit a cypress knee, and Rod gently eased it around a few more. The way they stuck out of

the shallow water, like protruding nubs, they reminded him of his grandmother's warning finger

wagging in his face. They could tear a hole in the bottom of a boat. Thank God my boat survived

the lick. Maybe that's what happened to Dad.

Finally, after twelve hours of searching, Rod spotted his dad's pirogue on the side of the

hill, where they'd hunted the previous year. He tied his canoe to a tree limb. "Dad!" He raced to

the dome tent and unzipped the door. "Dad?" The tent looked as if his dad made camp, but hadn't

yet used it. The sleeping bag was still rolled up in a corner. The butt of his dad's 30-30 stuck out

from under a sleeping bag. The supplies were still there. Outside, there was no sign of a

campfire. It looked as though he never got to hunt. There was no sign of him. Where was he?

Rod picked up the rifle and carried it back to his canoe. He left the other items in case his

dad returned looking for them.

They searched until dark. Rod dreaded giving his mother the disappointing news. She'd

worry even more, because the pirogue was in perfect condition and so was the tent. No leaking

pirogue kept him from coming home. The campsite looked peaceful and serene, not like anything

bad had happened, but still there was no sign of his father.

Mom's on pins and needles, yet she clings to her faith and trust in God. I hear her

faithfully pray for Dad's safe return. Maybe she won't fall apart when she hears the news but oh,

how I dread having to tell her.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND IN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE A STORY?

That depends on what type of novel I'm writing and where it's set. When I wrote Southern Superstitions, I had to do very little research since I'm familiar with the areas I wrote about. I lived in Louisiana, and I'm a Florida transplant, so I can write about those areas. I also write about areas I've vacationed in and part of my research is done while traveling and visiting. If I'm writing about a place I haven't lived or visited, it requires more research. Since I don't write pure historical fiction, I don't complete as much research as someone who does. I may have to research certain items from time to time.

WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR RESEARCH?

I've learned research can be fun. While writing Southern Superstitions I discovered Louisiana had its own Alcatraz. The state prison is called "The Alcatraz of the South" or "The Farm," but until I read about it, I wasn't aware of its nicknames. I'd heard of Alcatraz and even read about it in books in school, but I'd lived in Louisiana most of my life unaware we had our own. I'd always heard it referred to as Angola. I did very little research for this novel, so this was the most interesting new fact. I wrote most of the novel from previous life experience, such as picking strawberries as a teen to earn extra spending money. I picked them before school in the morning for a local schoolteacher and on my aunt's strawberry farm in Springfield, Louisiana, on Saturdays. As an adult, I gained experience picking edible mushrooms and other edible plants in the woods and hunting box turtles, so I didn't have to research those areas. I chose to write about what I knew to create realistic fiction.

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?

I have two published at this time, Last Resort and Southern Superstitions, one releasing August 15, and another releasing October 15. The first three are all inspirational, romantic suspense. The last one is a YA. My novels are available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Kobo, Sony, etc.

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME WHEN YOU'RE NOT WRITING?

Reading. I'm an avid reader and when I'm not working on my own WIP, I'm reading another author's great book. I review them on my blog and Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com, etc. I also submit them to Long Ridge Writers Group where they gain exposure in a weekly newsletter. I enjoy gardening, traveling, camping, and visiting theme parks.

HOW CAN READERS CONTACT YOU AND/OR LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WRITING?

Please visit me at my blog where I review books and post updates about my own, http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com. Blog readers have an opportunity to win free books from time-to-time by commenting on the posts. I'm also on Facebook,

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1120677589&ref=tn_tnmn.

B.J. Robinson is a multi-published, award-winning author of two Christian romantic suspense novels, Southern Superstitions and Last Resort. She makes her home in Florida with her husband and pets, blessed with children, grandchildren, and faith. She's an avid reader and passionate writer. Visit her at http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com. Visit her author page at http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/BJRobinson/Page.bok