Introducing donalee Moulton as our newest BWL Mystery Author - Watch for the release of Hung out to Die

I recently – and wonderfully – completed my first mystery novel, then tentatively titled So, A Psychopath walked into a bar. I quickly discovered that the novel would not stand alone. A synopsis was required. As a freelance journalist and communications specialist, I’ve put together a lifetime of pitches and proposals. Still, I spent some time reading up on what makes a successful synopsis. Then I wrote my own.

My synopsis does not follow the traditional pattern, but most of the required elements are there. I wondered if this would pass muster. Overall, the people I shared the synopsis with liked it. One person didn’t like it at all and said it would never pass muster with publishers. I took a long hard look and, respectfully, disagreed.

This was nerve-wracking. I knew it would be easier to simply follow the path well taken, but I felt I needed to branch out. I entered a shorter version of my synopsis in the Synopsis Skirmish contest – and won. The judge (one of my favorite people) had this to say: The author’s handling of voice in this synopsis is so powerful, it made me want to read the novel right away. The synopsis is unusual and intriguing—a winning combination.

When the acquisitions editor at BWL (another of my favorite people) reached out to me requesting a full copy of my manuscript, she noted, “We were quite taken with your synopsis.”

The synopsis issue has driven home to me the need to listen to yourself, that inner voice that knows you better than anyone. At the same time, it has taught me more about flexibility and being open to feedback. There is nothing as helpful as constructive criticism (whether accepted or not) and editors are worth their weight in gold.

I thought I’d share my synopsis – my very first – with you. I’d love to know what you think.

 

Synopsis

So, A psychopath walked into a bar: A Riel Brava Mystery

By donalee Moulton

 

Let’s start with the obvious.

Meet Riel Brava. Attractive. Razor-sharp. Ambitious.

Riel, born and bred in Santa Barbara, California, has been transplanted to Nova Scotia where he is CEO of the Canadian Cannabis Corporation (CCC). It’s business as usual until Riel finds the company’s comptroller hanging by a thread. Actually, several threads. It doesn’t take the police long to determine all is not as it appears.

 

Let’s dive beneath the surface.

Meet Riel Brava. Observant. Cautious. Psychopathic.

Not the Dexter-Hannibal Lecter-Norman Bates kind of psychopath. The kind who live and work among us, mostly unnoticed, often successful, always on full alert their differences will be uncovered. Riel is personable, even charming. He’s keen to understand how the human mind works, so he’ll blend in. After all, his goal is to be president of the United States. (An aspiration that will feature in future books.)

 

Let’s talk plot.

So Norm Bedwell has apparently hanged himself in his office at CCC. Emphasis on apparently. It takes Detective Lin Raynes mere minutes to suspect the obvious is deceiving and what appears to be death by suicide is actually a murder. Over the course of 13 chapters (there is also an introductory chapter), he works to uncover and discover who would want Bedwell dead and how they could have pulled the murder off. 

He’s not alone. In an unusual pairing, Raynes and Riel work together to chase down leads – the bully who tortured Bedwell’s son at school, the mysterious orange truck that belongs to no CCC employee but was parked in the company lot the night Bedwell was murdered, the employee, who despite stringent security measures, has managed to steal weed from CCC and start a healthy little illegal business.

Raynes manages to engage Riel, albeit reluctantly, in the hunt for Bedwell’s killer, and in the process, the seeds of an unexpected and unusual friendship are sown. (These seeds will blossom in subsequent books.)

Various motives are explored through a number of suspects – revenge, fear, greed – but ultimately, it’s love that becomes the reason Norm Bedwell no longer lives. Unfortunately, the evidence is circumstantial. Raynes and Riel concoct a scheme to draw a confession out of the killer, but that plan is never put into place. Instead, Riel finds himself on the receiving end of a rifle in the ribs and a long drive to the middle of Nowhere, Nova Scotia. 

 

Let’s look at the core cast of returning characters. You’ll like them all.

Tiffany Brava. Riel’s wife and loyal supporter. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, Tiffany knows Riel is not quite like everyone else – and why. For now, that door is closed. What’s openly obvious is her affection for her husband, her loyalty, and her acumen. Don’t count Tiffany out as the dumb blonde. Oh yes, she’s vegan. 

 

Franklin Raynes. The Halifax Police Department’s lead detective on this case is Black, quintessentially Nova Scotian, and a consummate charmer. He can read the room and respond accordingly. He takes a shine to Riel, and also realizes how helpful the psychopath can be in solving this case. (Yes, Lin Raynes is privy to Riel’s deepest secret, but he doesn’t admit it to his new friend – just yet.) Oh yeah, Raynes also does this thing with his left eyebrow.

Senator John Williams. Tiffany’s dad | Riel’s father-in-law is the Democratic Senator for District 19. A seasoned and senior politician, Williams is a co-owner of CCC, although it’s not an asset he talks about with constituents. He’s brusque, except where his daughter is concerned, and well connected, even in Canada.

Zahra Bashir. A practising Muslim and savvy TV reporter who’s always on the lookout for the inside scoop. Bashir makes many of the other characters very nervous despite her friendly demeanor.

David Clements. The recreational cannabis sector in Canada is heavily regulated. Clements is the federal DOJ’s contact for Riel. Their relationship is one of power and powerful expectations. Clements holds that power. A minor character, Clements plays an important role. He’s the first person to use a special word.

There are other characters introduced in this book who will also return but play a smaller role in this mystery.

 

Let’s look at the cast of characters in the book. You won’t like them all.

Faye Bedwell, distraught and disrespected wife of Norm Bedwell

Bran Bedwell, the Bedwell’s 12-year-old son who takes a liking to Riel. Good grief.

Thorne, media consultant and very protective of Riel

The bully and his parents.

The poor sod who owns the orange truck.

The killer.

 

What’s familiar about So, A psychopath walked into a bar to make mystery fans feel at home

·         It’s fast-paced.

·         It lays out a path of breadcrumbs that lead, ultimately, to the killer. First, of course, the path branches off in several misdirections.

·         It creates suspense.

·         It builds understanding and affection for key characters.

·         It leaves readers wanting more.  

 

What’s novel about the book to make the mystery stand apart and readers turning pages

·         It introduces a unique character that, ironically, we empathize with

·         It’s funny as hell

·         It’s written by an award-winning journalist who knows both how to tell a story and how to use words to maximum effect

 

 

Riel Brava: Vital Statistics

Height: 6’1

Weight: 165 pounds

Waist: 35 inches

Age: 37

Spouse: Tiffany, the vegan

Job: CEO, Canadian Cannabis Corp.

Location: Elmsdale, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ambition: President of the United States of America

Favorite food: Donairs (definitely not vegan)

Top personality trait:  Psychopath

Burning question: What the hell’s a chunderf**k

 

 

 

 

Counting the Beans by Priscilla Brown

 

 

Counting the Beans

by Priscilla Brown

  

https://wwwww.books2read.com/Class-Act 

 Gina's new boss is holding a secret she has a right to know. 

Will he spill the beans?

 In the vegetable aisle at my local supermarket, I came across the treasurer of a local organisation to which I belong. In this capacity as bean counter in chief, she has to know how many beans make five. And counting was exactly what she was doing, making hard work of putting runner beans one by one into her brown paper bag. Maybe she wanted to be sure each family member would receive a precise number. This bean counter completed her arithmetic, leaving the space for me to grab three handfuls which I knew from experience was the perfect amount for my kitchen.

 Any kind of grocery shopping is for me a fairly mindless occupation, and while continuing around the aisles I remembered how runner beans had figured in my childhood. My father grew them in what was known as the 'kitchen garden'. My mother used to send me as a young child to pick them, adding Mind you count them. Perhaps she really needed to know the exact number, or else she was encouraging me to use my number skills. In primary school, we grew beans in  jar as a science experiment. I don't remember, and probably never understood, why. As homework, I had to grow one in a jar and write up its progress. My mother was not impressed when I used one of her jars she reserved for jam  making. And probably my teacher was not impressed when my bean failed to do anything except shrivel up. Bottom of the class - again!

 

May you enjoy growing and/or eating beans. And, of course, enjoy reading . Best wishes, Priscilla.

https://bwlpublishing.ca

 https://prscillabrownauthor.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Famous Authors and Famous Words by Eden Monroe

 

Visit Eden Monroe's author page for book and purchase options

Famous authors and their famous words … and the unusual places in which they were written.

It was interesting to discover where some very well known authors chose to tap their genius, and a few might surprise you. From the confines of a coffin to a luxurious Victorian bathtub complete with fresh fruit, the jewels of their imagination were polished to perfection.

For most authors, famous or otherwise, the best place is the quietest place, while others find their muse in the midst of everyday commotion – some even seek it to start the flow of their creative juices. For me it was the silence and sweet smell of a summer haymow. That’s where I wrote my first novel, Dare To Inherit, and I was certainly not alone while there. Watching nearby with curious intent was a whole sisterhood of barn cats of various sizes and descriptions. However it could only ever be a short-lived writing space because when the fields begin to ripen the mow is quickly restocked - with no room for authors.

A café was the now famous choice of J K Rowling while creating a good portion of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. And Dame Edith Sitwell prepared for her day’s writing by lying, until inspired, in an actual coffin. And how about Sir Walter Scott? One of his most famous poems, Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field, came about while riding horseback in the hills not far from Edinburgh, Scotland. Said the much-celebrated bard himself: “I had many a grand gallop among these braes when I was thinking of Marmion.”

As I Lay Dying is the epic Southern Gothic novel by one of the all-time greats, 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature winner, William Faulkner. It was written in a most surprising place, a power plant, where Faulkner was working as a supervisor during the night shift. And the incomparable Maya Angelou wrote in rented hotel rooms where she created her magnificent brand of magic. British spy novelist John le Carré often wrote while riding trains, while Gertrude Stein, American writer, poet and playwright, equally inspired by motion it seems, put pen and paper to good use in her Model T.

Charles Dickens usually chose a more traditional spot to write some of the best literature ever written, classic novels such as The Pickwick Papers, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield and more, and that was while sitting at his desk. In fact his own desk and chair were so vital to his creative process that he’d have the pair shipped to him during extended absences from home. For Virginia Woolf, considered one of the foremost modernists of the Twentieth Century, it was a much-loved old armchair in a basement storage room, and Agatha Christie’s legendary mystery plots were sorted out while sitting in a large Victorian bathtub - eating fresh plump apples.

Stephen King is said to have used the laundry room in the family’s doublewide trailer during the early days of his writing career, at least that’s where Carrie was written on a makeshift desk wedged between the washer and dryer. And Charlotte Webb’s E. B. White often chose his own busy living room with his family around him to write his masterpieces, pointing out: “A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.”

In addition to a particular space, there were also favourite writing times preferred by many famous authors. It’s said that Hemmingway was inspired by the first light of morning. For Mark Twain, who wrote every day, it was after tucking away a generous meal at the breakfast table that held him until it was time for dinner. During the intervening hours he wrote, and if his family should need him, “they would blow a loud horn and he would come.”

George Bernard Shaw also liked to write during the day and presumably only when the sun was shining. To accomplish that he chose a most unique setting to create his Pygmalion, a custom-made rotating hut in his backyard. The why of such a contraption is simple, Shaw liked to write while sitting in the direct path of the sun and the rotating hut accomplished that.

Every author knows what suits them best and they instinctively gravitate toward that. Personally I like to lose myself in the world I’m creating, and ideally with no interruptions. Unfortunately even one interruption can put the brakes on a delicious creative flow. Sometimes it stops it altogether if the interruption is prolonged, although it’s something that we as authors must routinely rise above. Other times of course nothing can stop the rush of a good story when all we can do is work at breakneck speed to capture it as quickly as it’s coming to us. I sometimes write in longhand and such was the case with Storms in the Valley, book two of the Emerald Valley Ranch series. That story told itself, I was just along for the ride. All I had to do was get it down on paper and I still remember my pen racing across the page, enjoying the story as it unfolded.

The sounds of nature, such as wind, birdsong, the hooting of an owl or the scream of seagulls, rain, thunder, a babbling brook, ocean waves breaking on a pebbled beach, and on and on, are not interruptions at all but rather an accompanying natural orchestra that can help set the scene. In some cases there can be a little too much nature, such as a young bear stretched out under the deck of my tiny cottage on a hot afternoon. That’s where I went to write, and as it turns out it’s also where the bear went to sleep, so I left quietly and so did the bear at some point.

I named my tiny cottage that sits by the side of a lake, Birch Petal, nestled as it is in a stand of handsome white and yellow birch trees. Michael created this space for me - a little think tank where I could write, and many years before that he’d actually built the beautiful three-acre lake itself. The view from the Birch Petal deck never failed to inspire me.

No matter where writers may write - or when, all authors aspire to be famous. It’s the storyteller in us, and the audience we seek to entertain. And no matter the level of our success, most authors write for that one special someone in their life. I wrote for my beloved Michael.   He will always be my inspiration, an enormous and integral part of my journey as an author. He was a knowledgeable resource, an indispensible critic and always, my greatest champion.

Windego, and other Monsters

Fly Away Snow Goose

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WINDEGO: An evil spirit of the northland, a monstrous creature who comes prowling in winter, hungry for human flesh; it is remorseless, pitiless. 

If the year was a lean one, winter was a hard time for the hunter/gatherers who lived in the NWT. The People would leave their summer camps in small groups and scatter into the vast emptiness, away from the lakes and rivers where they'd all come together as a tribe to trade and celebrate the fat season of summe. Our of necessity, they'd change their tribal, summer way of life to retreat to live in isolation, hunting and trapping the range around them, away from others who were now engaged in the same thing. Sometimes, it did not go well; the hunters were not lucky; the game was scarce or had changed from their accustomed paths of migration. 

Then, the spectre of starvation haunted the isolated camps, and sometimes people were driven to desperate measures in order to survive. A man who had eaten his family in order to stay alive, was said to have "gone  Windego." Such a primal sin was viewed with horror, so a monster was created to explain this counter-cultural behavior. A few of those stories came to be written down in early colonial times, but the oral versions were well known to those who were exposed to the fierce winters, who sometimes had experienced, first-hand, hunger and the awful struggle to survive. 

It is said the Windego eats his own lips and checks, so his skull is always partially visible, and he arrives surrounded by a stench so horrible that it even overpowers the bitter winter wind.  People, driven to this extremity, were believed to have been taken over by this dreadful being, and that was the reason they had committed the unholy crime of cannibalism.  In fact, during the 19th Century, early Canadian psychologists defined "going Windego" as a "culturally based" disorder.

(Thunderbird--well known to the Northern First Nations--

among the Tlicho, Thunderbird was referred to indirectly, as "Father."

He's one of the good guys.)

Today, the Windego is, in some quarters, viewed as a cryptid. Wikipeidia defines cryptids as "animals that cryptozoologists believe may exist somewhere in the wild, but are not believed to exist by mainstream science." Cryptozoology primarily looks at anecdotes and blurry photos, the sort of  claims rejected by the scientific community. These monsters now feature in YouTube videos in all manner of ghastly forms, but this vision of the Windego is of only passing interest to me.

"Windego" appears to me--not as a myth created by "superstitious 1st Nation's People," --but as an acutely observed form of human personality disorder. I didn't figure this out on my own, but by listening to Buffy Sainte Marie's song called "Priests of the Golden Bull." 

She makes a connection with the storied monster and the unfettered greed and disregard for the cooperative behavior which holds together our societies. Look around. The Dark Triad personality, (where a subject possesses a toxic combo of Narcissism, Michiavellianism and Psychopathy) is having a good run these days among CEO's, Tech Bros, politicians, and the sort of "religous" figures who live in gated mansions and always need their followers to send more money. 

In a world where it's considered smart to get rich while ignoring the human suffering or the irreparable harm pursuit of this quarter's profits causes a community -- or the arm done to the water, the air, or the planet -- Ms. Sainte Marie sees the ever-hungry, cannibalistic Windigo. The "Greed is Good," mentality is on display everywhere. 

Take a look at ever so many modern companies, their successes measured by how many jobs they've eliminated, or how they've stolen pension funds from retirees in the course of a merger, or how many rural communities they have destroyed, for instance, building a petrochemical refinery or an industrial pig farm next door to a small town which doesn't have the clout to fight back. 

"Gentrification" in cities raises rents until the essential workers--those who run the store checkouts, clean the buildings and streets, teach and/or care for children and seniors, can no longer afford to live close to where they are employed. Other casualties include small entrepreneurial businesses of all kinds, from restaurants and local bars, to independent bookshops and corner convenience stores.

Today's Windego doesn't just live in the deep woods. These days, he (or she) is seen as a "celebrity," on our television screens, and all over the internet and Twitter. Many are even elected to high public office. Worst of all, their "Not my brother's keeper" attitude is now held up to young people as the smart way to live. 

Instead of dwelling on psychos and cannibals, instead, let's take this time of All Hallows, All Saints and All Souls to find some peace and to give thanks: to remember our ancestors, our friends, mentors, and family who have passed beyond the veil. Let's also remember our honored dead, the kind of people who served and helped, rather than injured, the common folks of our communities and our country. 

~~Juliet Waldron 

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Zombies, Pumpkins, and Spooky Stories, What's not to Love About Halloween? By Connie Vines

 I’ve written about my love of Halloween, my fondness for Classic Universal  Studio Monster movies, and my belief that the novel "Dracula" is a tortured love 💕story.

If Halloween is your fun-kid-friendly holiday, you're probably familiar with many exciting and spooky facts. But we've got some Halloween trivia questions and answers that will entertain your guests and your trick-or-treaters if they dare to ask. 🎃🦇👻🧛

🐺 Black and orange were deliberately chosen as Halloween colors because of the fall-winter connection the day represents. Orange symbolizes the warmth of autumn and the last of the harvest season, while Black represents the cold, dark, and long winter.

🎃Pumpkins are technically a fruit. Pumpkins are members of the gourd family, including cucumbers, cantaloupe, zucchini, and melons. 

TRUE OR FALSE, WOMEN USED TO PERFORM SPOOKY RITUALS AIMED AT FINDING THEIR FUTURE HUSBANDS?

Answer: True.  

Women used to perform "rituals" to help them find their future husbands. 

🍎 Women tossed apple peels over their shoulders, hoping they'd see the shape of their future hubby's initials on the ground. 

🕯 Another involved a woman standing in front of a mirror in a dark room and holding up a candle to see their future husband's face. 😨 (too scary for me!)

I also enjoy baking 😋. Pumpkin Bread? No. Banana Bread 🍌🍞 because..well, a bunch ripens so very quickly! Halloween Cookies will be in tomorrow's oven.

I hope you enjoyed the Halloween Trivia featured today.

Remember:

Smashwords is holding a Super(natural) Sale on all BWL books this month!!

Load up your cart 🙋🛒and 'treat' yourself with Howling good reads!

Reviews for "Here Today, Zombie Tomorrow"

Alive, Steampunk novelist Meredith Misso worked hard at living the perfect SoCal celeb life. Now that she is a Zombie, it’s all about the make-up, non-vegan lifestyle, and her soon-to-be ex, who somehow managed to Velcro himself back into her life.

Novella length: “Quirky, Sassy, and Fun! ~Authors Den Review

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First Line: “You and Elvis have done a great job on this house,” Meredith said as her older sister led the way downstairs toward the kitchen, where the tour began.

Review:

Meredith Misso, a thirty-two-year-old raised from the dead and living undead for the last six months, goes through a heck of a time pretending to be something she no longer is, so she breaks off her longtime relationship. Viktor, her ex, has his own reasons for throwing in the towel.

Ms. Vines writes quite a fun spin on the supernatural, the romance, the break-up, and the surprises, all leading to a happy ending. An excellent page-turner, captivating and humorous, and it left me smiling. I would enjoy reading another of Ms. Vines’ books. 

Eat, Drink, and Be Scary!

Happy Halloween 

Connie

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/vinesbwl

https://bookswelove.net/vines-connie/