Patricia Gligor's Mixed Messages

Susan, I’m happy to be here today.

It's nice to have you over, Patricia. Please give us a brief bio, and include something about yourself that readers might be surprised to learn.

Well, let’s see. I write mystery novels but I’ve worked as an administrative assistant, the sole proprietor of a résumé writing service and the manager of a sporting goods department. (A girl has to have money to buy chocolate. J)

Those who don’t know me might be surprised to learn that I love guns and target shooting. (Those who do know me will tell you that I’ll probably never be sharpshooter of the month.) My father introduced me to guns when I was young. He took me to turkey shoots, which I thought were the greatest things. Of course, the first time I went, I was worried that we would be shooting at real turkeys! When I saw the paper targets and he explained the process, I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Where do you live, and how has your environment affected your writing?

I grew up and still live on the west side of Cincinnati. When I was a young girl, I read Judy Bolton and Nancy Drew mysteries constantly and I developed quite an imagination. We lived in an old house with a big woods behind it, the perfect setting for mystery. I was naturally curious and I loved to explore. I would make up stories about our house, the imaginary people who used to live there, the woods and the neighborhood.

Give a short synop of your book.

Mixed Messages:

There’s a serial killer attacking women in their homes on the west side of Cincinnati. It’s the week of Halloween and Ann Kern is struggling with several issues. Her primary concern is her marriage which, like her west side neighborhood, is in jeopardy.

When she receives a series of ominous biblical quotes, she grows nervous and suspicious of everyone, including her own husband. Several bizarre and frightening events take place, including Ann’s discovery of a handmade tombstone marked with her name, which pushes her close to the edge. Will she be the Westwood Strangler’s next victim?

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

Yes. Mixed Messages will be available April 17^th at Amazon.com and Postmortem-press.com/.

What do you think is the greatest lesson you’ve learned about writing so far? What advice can you give other writers?

The greatest lesson I’ve learned about writing (and it cost me a lot in time and frustration) is that, when you send a manuscript out to an agent or publisher, the first thing they’ll do is Google your name. If you haven’t worked hard to create an online presence, in all likelihood, your work will be rejected. I have a feeling that, if Margaret Mitchell lived in these times and hadn’t marketed herself, Gone With the Wind probably would not have been published!

As to advice to new writers, I would caution them to be absolutely 100% sure their book is the best they can make it before they send it out to an agent or a publisher. It’s crucial to have other writers read your work first. If at all possible, join a critique group and pay close attention to the suggestions of the other writers. If you’re truly open-minded when they give you constructive criticisms but remember to trust your own instincts, you’ll make the right decisions in your writing.

We all know how important promoting our work has become. How do you get the word out both off and online?

Fortunately, no one would ever accuse me of being shy so getting the word out offline comes easily and naturally to me; I tell everyone! Online is another story. Truthfully, I had no idea where to start until I submitted a query last year to Sunny Frazier, the Acquisitions Editor for Oak Tree Press. When she Googled my name and came up with a big, fat zero, Sunny was kind enough to invite me to join her Posse, an online writing/marketing group composed of other mystery writers. She has guided me through the whole process and, thanks to her and the other members, I now have an established online presence.

Can you tell us your writing goals/projects for 2012 or beyond?

April 15th, the book launch event will take place for Mixed Messages so there’s a lot of work to do for that and, of course, I’ll be working diligently to promote my book. I also plan to finish the rewriting and proofing of Unfinished Business, the second novel in my Malone Mystery Series. Then, I’ll work on plotting and outlining the third book and, time permitting, start writing the first draft by the end of the year.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

I belong to several sites including Face Book and I have a website where I post every week. I hope your readers will stop by. http://pat-writersforum.blogspot.com/

Thank you for inviting me to be here today, Susan. It’s been a lot of fun!

My pleasure, Patricia. Here's a link, folks: http://www.postmortem-press.com/mixed.php

Kathleen Ball: Callie's Heart

A voracious reader, Kathleen Ball quickly discovered the world of romance novels and she knew she was home. Kathleen wrote her first book two years ago. She was shocked to find out that people loved what she wrote. All of Kathleen's novels are award winners. Callie's Heart is her first published novel. It is the first book in The Lasso Springs Series. Kathleen lives in Texas. She moved there from Rochester, New York and is having the time of her life exploring Texas culture. Kathleen is married to her wonderful husband Bruce and they have one son, Steven. They just welcomed new additions to their family, a new daughter in law, Brittany and her cute as a button son, Colt.

She feels blessed to be supported in her writing by her family and friends.

Welcome, Kathleen. 

Where do you live, and how has your environment affected your writing?

I live in Fort Worth, Texas. I moved here from New York six years ago. I never thought I'd ride a horse and hand out in stables but I do.

How many books have you written?

I have written five novels.

Give a short synop of your most recently published book.

Callie Daniels' mother has one dying wish. She wants neighboring rancher, Garrett O'Neill, to marry her seventeen year old daughter. It's not supposed to be a conventional marriage. Garrett O'Neill would keep Callie's ranch safe and Callie would go away to college.                                                      

Four years later, Callie comes home with stars in her eyes and happily ever after in her heart. She plans to make their marriage real until finds the new housekeeper, Sylvie in Garrett's arms.

Heartbroken, Callie takes off to her own house, which they closed up four years ago. She stays there with Old Henry, a longtime friend and ranch hand, until her new horse injures her. Garrett forces Callie to move back in to his house.

Callie finally gets her heart's desire. Alone in a line shack, they make sweet love for the first time. Unfortunately the love light is gone from Garret's eyes the next morning.

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

Callie's Heart will be available April 1st as an ebook.

What do you think is the greatest lesson you’ve learned about writing so far? What advice can you give other writers?

Join writing groups online, writers are the nicest people I've met. Believe in yourself, give yourself a pat on the back when you meet a goal, whether it's a certain word count or finishing your novel. We don't get raises or Atta boys from bosses. We have to congratulate ourselves.

We all know how important promoting our work has become. How do you get the word out both off and online?

While I was writing, I made friends and I watched. An online presence is a must. A website, facebook, booktown, twitter. There are more. Share other's work on your sites. Buy their books and review them. Learn how to use twitter and build up a following. Retweet other's tweets. I'm hoping that all the time I took networking will pay off. 

Can you tell us your writing goals/projects for 2012 or beyond?

Callie's Heart is available in April. Texas Haven in June. Ryelee's Cowboy in August. Lone Star Joy in September and Stetson's Storm in February 2013.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

www.kathleenballromance.com

http://www.facebook.com/kathleen.ball1?ref=tn_tnmn

The long or short of it?

As I edit and rewrite portions of my latest project, The Goose Parade of Old Dickeywood, I made the decision to shorten chapters, some of the longer ones now divided into four or five chapters. Long chapters bug me, and make me tired, both in my own writing and when I'm reading other books. Shorter chapters give me a chance to grab another cup of hot tea, take a walk, and perhaps do a household chore while I mull over what I've just read. I like that.

Instead of having long chapters with endless scenes separated by some sort of spacer, I whacked away at my own pages and made new chapters where it seemed obvious to do so.

I wonder how you feel about it as a reader. As a writer. As an editor. As a publisher. Does it matter?  Please give feedback in the comments section.

Carolina Girls

Marni Graff, affectionately known as Auntie M, honored some other Carolina gals on her blog. Hope you enjoy, and thanks, Marni. The Blue Virgin was eloquently written.

Auntiemwrites's Weblog

Carolina Girls Sunday, Mar 25 2012

great read and writerslow country, murder, romance, suspense, Williamsburg murdersauntiemwrites12:03 am

Auntie M had the good fortune to meet a lively bunch of “low country” North and South Carolina authors a few weeks ago at the Cape Fear Crime Festival. She came home loaded down with new books to interest readers. Here are a few you might want to check out:

Sin Creek is Susan Whitfi eld’s fourth mystery featuring North Carolina SBI agent Logan Hunter.

Logan is called from her bridal shower to attend the crime scene of a murdered woman, found on the nature preserve on the campus of UNC-Wilmington. Maeve Smoltz’s badly beaten, naked body has been shredded... with a razor-sharp Sawzall....

Contrary to her parents impression, the preliminary examination by the coroner shows Maeve to have been highly sexually active. A search of her room reveals pricey boots, a Prada bag and Jimmy Choo shoes she couldn’t possibly have afforded on her meager salary from the college canteen.

Maeve’s roommate, Antonella Beaujue-Dufour, sets Logan’s instincts on edge, and the girl’s evasiveness coupled with the people she hangs out with soon plunge Logan into the heart of an investigation that reveals a pornography business built on deceit and coercion. Logan manages to squeeze in her beach wedding to the love of her life, Chase Railey, also an SBI agent, with the help of her two best friends. But that doesn’t stop her from tracking down an unstable killer as the deaths mount up.

Whitfield captures coastal NC area details just right. The storyline will capture your attention, but nothing will prepare you for the dramatic ending that will irrevocably change Logan’s life.

Whitfield has done a ton of research into the chilling aspects of the porn business and how it endangers the lives of young women on college campuses. A former high school administrator, the story was one that has lingered in her mind since hearing from one of her students how her older sister coped with college life by her lucrative sideline. Whitfield, a lifelong NC resident, also compiled recipes from mystery writers for the cookbook Killer Recipes. Its proceeds go to cancer research. Learn more about Susan and her book on www.susanwhitfieldonline.com.

In Dear Killer, Linda Lovely has given us a protagonist who has been sorely lacking from today’s mystery world: an attractive 52 year-old, woman who wants a relationship and all that entails. After retiring from military intelligence, widow Marley Clark has chosen to security on South Carolina’s low country Dear Island to keep busy.

On night patrol, she notices the pool gates have been left open at the Dolphin Club and sees a pile of clothing on a chair beside the Jacuzzi. The naked man floating in the spa has apparently drowned, but Marley still tries to resuscitate him, even as she realizes the dead man is a friend, Stew Hartwell.

It’s only when she’s waiting for help to arrive that she notices carrots, celery and whole onions bobbing in the water with him. Trying to take in the confusing scene, she sees a trail of folded towels, pointing to a message scrawled in the sand: “STEWED.”

This is only the first grizzly pun a sadistic killer will use as the killings continue. Marley soon becomes the liasion on the case with the lead investigator on the case, Deputy Braden Mann. It doesn’t hurt matters that romance sizzles between the two as the investigation ratchets up.

Marley’s independent streak but soft heart soon lead her deeper into the web of suspects on this small island. Her courage and skills will be put to the test as she and Braden are both put in jeopardy in their race to find a killer.

Sprinkled with a lively sense of humor and characters, Marley is a delightful creation and one to watch for in future offerings. Iowa native Lovely has been in the south for over thirty years and brings her readers a dose of Gullah history and a firm sense of place. You can read about Linda on her website: www.lindalovely.com.

Ellis Vidler’s romantic suspense Cold Comfort starts off with a bang. She takes us to Virginia, where Claire Spencer runs her aptly-named Williamsburg Christmas shop, Mistletoe. The charming shop has been written up in Southern Living, which proves to be an important plot point down the road.

Still recovering from a broken engagement and the death of her mother, Claire’s entire world is hit with a heavy dose of violence when she’s mugged in her own driveway.

Her house and the shop are burglarized shortly after, and still sporting the stitches in her scalp from her mugger, Claire agrees to contact her assistant’s brother, Ray, who offers up the help of his own friend, Ben Riley.

Riley clearly isn’t happy to be involved, but he owes Ray a favor and reluctantly agrees to meet with Claire. When he has to keep Claire from being run over in the alley behind her shop, he starts to take the menace in her life seriously.

It soon becomes obvious that hired goons are trying to murder Claire, but neither she nor Riley can find a motive or a reason for someone to want her dead. As they try to search her history and follow clues, they also try to ignore the chemistry between them, complicating matters as they track down her killer who seems to know their movements before they make them.

Vidler moves the action around and never lets up on the chase, with characters who are vivid and well-rounded. This is an action-packed romance with a fast pace that doesn’t let up.

Even when the reader thinks they know what’s happening, Vidler manages to throw in one more twist. And when we think it’s over, it’s really not.

You can read more about Ellis and her two other novels at: www.ellisvidler.com.

For all the details and more about Marni (Auntie M), please visit her at AuntieMWrites.

Robert P. Bennett's Enabling Novels

Former social worker turned writer, Robert Bennett, focuses on the needs of society’s disenfranchised. His articles span a wide range of topics. His fiction is grounded in real world events and technologies and his own philosophical concerns. He’s spoken to physical therapy students, church members and senior citizens, and appeared on several radio programs. Contact him through www.enablingwords.com  

Welcome to the blog, Robert.

How many books have you written?

I’ve written two books in my Blind Traveler mystery series, plus a short story. Currently I am beginning to put together an outline for book 3 in the series. I’ve also written a fictionalized account (unpublished thus far) of my experiences in a physical rehabilitation hospital. It’s called Footfalls. Finally, I’ve got an (unpublished) nonfiction book about martial arts for people with disabilities.

Give a short synop of your most recently published book.

The year is 2021. Natural forces have changed our world. As the Earth's magnetic poles have shifted, pressure on the planet’s mantle layer is building. The bottom line . . . earthquakes now wreak havoc in areas they have never occurred before.

In Mexico, members of an archaeological team investigate the remains of an ancient village uncovered by a quake; racing to prove their theories about the civilization that once lived there. But, disaster strikes when the accidental destruction of an artifact unleashes a worldwide agricultural plague.

Halfway across the continent, Douglas Abledan, a blind computer technologist, embarks on a long anticipated vacation. On the plane to Chicago, he meets world-renowned agricultural pathologist Cara Cordelia. Little do either of them know she has been targeted for murder.

In this stand-alone sequel to his critically acclaimed "Blind Traveler Down a Dark River," author Robert P. Bennett continues to bring us suspense and intrigue while exploring a world of the not too distant future. While society struggles with the impact of natural changes, the advancement of new technology enables a blind man to investigate a murder.

What sets your book apart from others?

First and foremost, my protagonist is a blind man who is unpitiable. My stories show the struggles, and achievements, of a person with a disability who is just trying to have as normal a life as he can while at the same time becoming a magnet for tragic events and criminal activities that he feels driven to resolve. Throughout the stories I try to show that, though a person may have a condition which society deems a disability, his life is pretty much the same as able-bodied people.

Secondly, I use my stories as a way to discuss real environmentally/ecologically sensitive issues. Also, they are set in the not too distant future so that I can discuss some of today’s more interesting up and coming technologies.

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?  The best buy link for my current book is http://tinyurl.com/rpb-btb-Omni

Both my books, and my short story, are in ebook only, available in all current electronic formats

What advice can you give other writers?

 I’ve learned there is no such thing as fiction. Everything we are, everything we do, is a part of the stories that we create. They are the lifeblood of our creativity and our ideas. I’ve also learned that the old adage “write what you know” really should be “write what you can learn about” since, in my opinion, the creative process is about exploration and education, as is all of life.

We all know how important promoting our work has become. How do you get the word out both off and online?

Social media seems to be all the rage these days. I’ve gotten myself a place on as many of these networks as I can think of (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc). Also, word of mouth is very important. As my friends and family can attest, I never let an opportunity to discuss my work go by unnoticed. I leave business cards and flyers wherever I go.

Can you tell us your writing goals/projects for 2012 or beyond?

I’m currently working on book 3 of my Blind Traveler mystery series, and planning several related short stories.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

My website (www.enablingwords.com) and my blog (http://abledan.wordpress.com/).

Thanks for the interview, Robert.  

Margaret Millmore's Doppelganger Experiment revisited

Margaret A. Millmore is back to talk more about her novel, Doppelganger Experiment.

Margaret was born and raised in Southern California and moved to San Francisco in 1991. She currently resides there with her husband. She is the grandniece of Irish author Benedict Kiely and the second cousin of Irish author Sharon Owens. She’s written two flash fiction stories for Bay Area artist Kenny Mencher (The Welcome Home and Untitled-Luke N. Goode). She and her husband are avid travelers and would love to live outside of London some day.

Welcome back, Margaret. Has San Franciso affected your writing?

I’m not sure how the environment has affected my writing, but I enjoy using the city as base for my stories.

How many books have you written?

I’ve written three books in total, but only one is currently published.

Give a short synop of your published book.

Doppelganger Experiment:

After more than four weeks in a coma, Jane woke up to find several things wrong; she didn’t remember the last three years, she was married to a man she didn’t know, and frightening dreams were infiltrating her sleep. But were they dreams or memories? As she struggles to recapture a life she doesn’t remember she discovers clues that lead to flashes of memories and the discovery of horrific experiments that end in murder... and something worse than murder.  A psychological thriller based in San Francisco.

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

Both formats are available.

What do you think is the greatest lesson you’ve learned about writing so far? What advice can you give other writers?

Nothing is more exciting than a good review, it lifts your spirits and justifies all the hard work you put into your novel. However, there are always bad reviews, and they can be devastating…if you let them…

For the first few months after Doppelganger Experiment was published, I was receiving 4 and 5 star reviews, pure heaven. But then I began to receive some ‘not so good’ reviews, needless to say, it was pretty disheartening. I think as human beings, it’s instinctual to lay blame on anyone but ourselves, after reading the reviews, I wanted to do just that. But I couldn’t, I wrote the book, I made the mistakes and they were mine, I owned them and it was up to me to fix them.

I did the only thing I could think of, I asked my publisher to pull the book, have it re-edited and then I too went through it with a fine tooth comb and made additional edits and revisions. I also published 2 star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads (2 stars as to not skew the existing review status); I did this so that the readers would know that I heard them, that I respect them and that I wanted to make it right! Is the book better now? I truly hope so. I think I’ve learned a great deal from this experience, and I hope it’s made me a better writer.

Good for you, Margaret. I applaud you.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

They can check my website and follow me on Facebook and Twitter

www.margaretmillmore.com

http://www.margaretmillmore.com/featured_authors

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002915649470                             

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/margaret-millmore/4/a6b/6a9

Margaret, thanks for coming back and sharing that story with us. Folks interested in the first interview with Margaret will find it in the archived blogs.

Buy links:
http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/margaretmillmore.htm
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/margaret-millmore?store=book&r=1
http://www.amazon.com/Doppelganger-Experiment-Margaret-Millmore/dp/1937593207/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318857839&sr=8-1#_

Laurie Stevens: The Dark Before Dawn

Laurie Stevens has written for the stage ("Follow Your Dreams"), the screen (Chris Isaak's Guide to Jazz Fest) and a novel, The Dark Before Dawn, the first in a psycho-thriller/detective series based in Los Angeles. It was awarded the Kirkus Star and named to Kirkus Review's Best of 2011. Psychology and forensics interest her immensely so the book is rich with both. Lauire and her husband once snuck into the L.A. morgue to do research on the book and one of her favorite pastimes is to pick the brains of therapists. "Believe me, they love to talk like anyone else! I'm sure most of the officers at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Malibu substation think I'm insane, but I do get a lot of good information there."

I bet you do, Laurie;-) I usually do my best sleeping in the dark before dawn, but I have a feeling your book will change that. LOL.

Where do you live, and how has your environment affected your writing?

I live near the Santa Monica Mountains outside of Los Angeles and I love exploring those hills. It's the perfect setting for the book - being so close to a huge metropolis and yet filled with nature, beauty and the nearby ocean.  The people you encounter run the gamut from New Age artsy canyon people to movie stars and deluxe snobs to suburban soccer moms. Add all of these types to an abandoned movie set or an historical adobe found in the mountains, and I get much fodder for my muse.

How many books have you written?

Shhh. I've written 2 but The Dark Before Dawn is the first published.

Give a short synop of each book, please.

The first, Autumn Leaves is about my grandfather and I. He was a European war orphan at 13 years old, who eventually made a success of himself. Me, a silly 20-something filled with angst, used his stories of survival to put in perspective my own American upbringing, and used his advice to get through a difficult decade of self-discovery.

The Dark Before Dawn revolves around Los Angeles Sheriff's detective, Gabriel McRay, who is fired from his job for police brutality.  When a serial killer begins leaving personal notes on the bodies of his victims addressed to Gabriel, he is reinstated in the hopes of "luring" in the killer. It soon becomes apparent that the killer's identity lies within the blocked memory of a trauma from Gabriel's own childhood. Gabriel then must run two parallel investigations. The first: a dark journey into the terrifying recollections of his past and the second: the hunt for a serial killer who seems to know more about Gabriel, than he knows himself.

What sets your book apart from others?

Readers ask me about the research I did, especially from the psychological aspect.  Then many of them will usually divulge something deeply personal that affected their lives, which makes me surmise that the book encourages folks to delve into their own darkness in order to "see the light."  Maybe it's a sort of demented self-help book.

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

Oh yes, in all formats.

Here are links:

 http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Before-Dawn-Laurie-Stevens/dp/1456450115/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328209066&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/The-Dark-Before-Dawn-ebook/dp/B005FM2F38/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1328209066&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dark-before-dawn-laurie-stevens/1104216079?ean=9781456450113&itm=4&usri=the+dark+before+dawn

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dark-before-dawn-laurie-stevens/1104216079?ean=2940011460289&format=nook-book&itm=4&usri=the+dark+before+dawn

What do you think is the greatest lesson you’ve learned about writing so far? What advice can you give other writers?

Forget the invisible judge looking over your shoulder.  Accept the fact you are a creative artist and writing is what you do, no matter what. Embrace the creative soul you are - revel in it.  It's a gift. If you work to make your work the best it can be - the cream will rise to the top.

Can you tell us your writing goals/projects for 2012 or beyond?

This year, the second in the series will be released: Deep into Dusk.

Meanwhile, The Dark Before Dawn has been approached by a film company for option, so we'll see how that goes.

Wow! Lucky you.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

Website: http://www.lauriestevensbooks.com

Follow me on (http://twitter.com/#!/LaurieStevens1)

Twitter

and please Like the Fan Page!( http://www.facebook.com/lauriestevensbooks)
Facebook  

Thanks Susan, for the opportunity to appear on your site!

Nice to have you over, Laurie. I wish you continued success, and let us know if there's a movie in your future.