Last winter I took my writing in a totally new direction. I attended a two day, play writing course. By the end of it I had adapted a short story of mine, which had won first prize in a flash fiction writing contest in Ascent Aspirations Magazine, into a half hour stage play. Last spring, I entered my play in the Port Alberni Fringe. This summer I produced and directed my play on stage in front of a audience. During those months, I discovered this whole process is not easy.
I needed a male and a female lead actor and I asked two people who had been in plays in our local theatre. They both agreed and I sent them copies of the play. We met for a first run through with each of us discussing how we saw the characters. Their interpretations of their characters attitude and actions were sometimes different from mine but other than a few places where I thought a certain delivery was needed, I let them play the part as they wanted. Through our many rehearsals with the props, which my husband, Mike was in charge of, the characters evolved and took shape as we discovered better ways for them to move, react, and relate.
I also needed actors for a party scene and I approached friends and co-workers. Even though I told them that they would only be on stage a few minutes, that all they had to do was listen to the main male character beak off about what a great writer he was, and that they had no lines, most of them declined saying there was no way they would ever get up on stage in front of an audience. Some agreed so I gave them the times of our next two rehearsals; most never showed up. I kept asking people: my cats' vet, the owner of a new store in town, the man who donated some of the props with no success. We ended up with two who came regularly and one who showed up once. It looked like Mike and I would be making our acting debut. I was beginning to worry. Maybe I would have to drag up some of the audience members.
On the evening of the first presentation, two of the three who had attended the rehearsals, two actors from another play, and I made up the party attendees. For the Saturday matinee, one of the three, two actors from another play, two members of my dragon boat team, a theatre volunteer, and myself were the partiers.
One thing I did learn was that for the Fringe, where plays are being presented one after the other, having a lot of props is not a good idea. Because I was showing a story instead of telling it, we had over forty props, some large ones being a fridge, stove, desk, computer, sewing machine, two chairs and table, and smaller ones being duster, broom, envelope, pen, paper, material, boxes, wine bottle and glasses, and many more. The play after mine had only two chairs, two tables a desk, a laundry basket and some beer bottles. Another play I watched had tea cups and teddy bears.
The first evening there were four plays, mine being the first. That was perfect because it gave us time to set up the scene. However, at the end we had get our props off the stage so that the next play could get their props on for their showing. Our actors became stage hands and everything disappeared backstage quickly. The same thing happened on Saturday afternoon.
One thing I did learn was that while I had written the words, I was at the mercy of the actors to show up for rehearsals, learn the lines and deliver those lines on stage. My female lead was off book (I got to know some of the terms) quickly but my male lead had trouble remembering his lines and missed some rehearsals.
Putting on a stage play is not like making a movie, you can't go back and redo a scene. When asked, the way I put it is 'opening night did not go as rehearsed'. To be honest, it wasn't even close. The male actor kept forgetting his lines or changing them which threw off the female actor, as well as, the lighting guy and Mike, who had to operate a smoke machine.
The Saturday afternoon presentation was much better. He still missed many of his lines but the audience laughed where they were supposed to and understood, and laughed and clapped at, the twisted ending. I was elated and hearing that laughter made the whole process worthwhile. I would like to write another play for next year, however, I will keep the props to a minimum and have the actors tell the story rather than show the story.
While there were problems and mishaps on getting my play to the stage the most memorable one is about the wine bottle. We needed a wine bottle for our opening scene so I rinsed one out and filled it with water. We used it for our first on stage rehearsal and then put it with the rest of the props. For our dress rehearsal the next evening, it was not where I had left it. I looked everywhere and then had to substitute a beer bottle. We joked that hopefully the person who took it wasn't using it as a hostess gift at a fancy dinner. I found another bottle for opening night. At the end of the evening, I discovered the first bottle by a door, empty. If that person drank it he must have thought it was the weakest, worst tasting wine ever made.
Joan Donaldson-Yarmey
The Books of The Travelling Detective Series, now available in a boxed set
Illegally Dead
The Only Shadow In The House
Whistler's Murder
http://thetravellingdetectiveseries.blogspot.com/
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Writng, Directing, and Producing a Stage Play by Joan Donaldson-Yarmey
I was born in New Westminster B.C. and raised in Edmonton.I have worked as a bartender, cashier, bank teller, bookkkeeper, printing press operator, meat wrapper, gold prospector, house renovator, and nursing attendant. I have had numerous travel and historical articles published and wrote seven travel books on Alberta, B.C. and the Yukon and Alaska that were published through Lone Pine Publishing in Edmonton.
One of my favourite pasttimes is reading especially mystery novels and I have now turned my writing skills to fiction. However, I have not ventured far from my writing roots. The main character in my Travelling Detective Series is a travel writer who somehow manages to get drawn into solving mysteries while she is researching her articles for travel magazines. This way, the reader is able to take the book on holidays and solve a mystery at the same time.
Illegally Dead is the first novel of the series and The Only Shadow In The House is the second. The third Whistler's Murder came out in August 2011 as an e-book through Books We Love. It can be purchased as an e-book and a paperback through Amazon.
i live on a small acreage in the Alberni Valley on Vancouver Island.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
JUMPSTART AND GET WRITING BY RITA KARNOPP
“So you have such a positive attitude, how do you give
yourself a jumpstart to get writing?”
The other day I was asked this question, and I decided would be a great
blogging subject. How do we push
ourselves into our offices to write?
Heaven forbid there are enough distractions and other things you could
be doing – besides sitting in your quiet office, all alone, with your thoughts
and a white screen staring back at you.
Exactly how do we give ourselves the strength to say it’s time to write?
I truly believe us writers are special people. Yep we truly are! I think the hardest things for us are our other responsibilities. We have family, friends, housework, the JOB, yard, cooking, shopping, and of course church (in my case) and the hubby. The list goes on and on. In between all those responsibilities and distractions we must ‘make’ the time to write.
I don’t know if you’re like me – BUT – the other ‘stuff’ must be done in order for me to concentrate on what I really want to do, write. It’s not a hobby or what I do for fun. Let’s face it, we love to write – but it is work.
So I need the house clean, the dishes done, the bills paid, and even my office must be clean before I can sit in front of my computer. Now that’s a bit easier these days since my kids are out of the nest. J But I started writing when my kids were three and five+ so there you have it, I understand it both ways.
I don’t recommend three cups of coffee so you feel awake – that will just give you the jitters and make you feel unsettled. A nice glass of ice water (or flavored – no calorie water) is what I recommend. Get it right away so you don’t have an excuse to ‘leave’ your office and get side-tracked. Yep, I know all the tricks … or mistakes. You might even fix yourself a plate of celery sticks, carrot sticks, or even pea pods so you don’t get the chocolate cravings.
If you tell yourself you ‘should’ be writing, yet you’re sitting on the couch trying to muster up the energy and drive to go write – ask yourself one thing – “What is my deadline date?” What? You don’t have a deadline date? That is not good! You MUST have goals and deadline dates or you’ll never accomplish what you want in life. That doesn’t just apply to writing, but in this case it does.
You need to sit down and look at your work in progress and answer these questions:
· What genre are you writing?
· World count for this work?
· How many chapters will you have?
· Now- how long does it take you to write a chapter?
· Add a month in for unexpected distractions/responsibilities.
· What is your writing schedule?
· Finally – what is the deadline date to finish your book?
You do this one thing and I guarantee you’ll get more books written than you’ve ever done before. I always correlate it to this. If you were planning to go on a trip to Montana, you know you’d get maps and plot it out, you’d look at places to stop along the way to enjoy, there are hotels, costs to estimate, car to get in shape for the trip, etc. If you just jumped in your car you might end up in Alaska! Well, planning to write your next book is pretty much the same thing.
Don’t treat your writing like a ‘hobby.’ I hate it when people say, “that is such a nice hobby.” I stop them and say, “This isn’t a hobby - it’s too much work for that. Writing is my passion and I do it because it’s something I love and it gives me a feeling of accomplishment. Don’t accept negativity – it will start making you feel negative – and you’ll start treating your writing like a hobby. Once you start doing that, you won’t have the drive and excitement to go to your office and write.
Think about your story while making breakfast, working at the office, going for your daily walks (or like me up Sander’s Hill twice a day during my breaks – it’s a humdinger). Work out ideas, plots, and twists before you even get to your office. By the time your ‘scheduled’ writing time approaches – you will be raring to go and you’ll be itching to sit down and start typing.
Get your background music going and you're READY! One thing I always do, to get myself back into my story, is to read the last two pages. This helps me get into the characters; where are they, who are they talking to, and what is their current situation? That way I can continue without missing a beat from where I left off.
Next thing you know – two hours have passed and you’re shocked how many pages you just finished. When you push away from the computer you’ll have a feeling of satisfaction and pride. You are suddenly anxious and excited to write again tomorrow! You can do this . . . day after day. Oh – and book after book! J
You can find Rita Karnopp at: http://ritakarnopp.com
RITA KARNOPP, Author ~ Writing Montana History - Past ~ Present ~ Future
(email) ritakarnopp@bresnan.net
(publisher) http://bookswelove.net
(blog) http://mizging.blogspot.com
I truly believe us writers are special people. Yep we truly are! I think the hardest things for us are our other responsibilities. We have family, friends, housework, the JOB, yard, cooking, shopping, and of course church (in my case) and the hubby. The list goes on and on. In between all those responsibilities and distractions we must ‘make’ the time to write.
I don’t know if you’re like me – BUT – the other ‘stuff’ must be done in order for me to concentrate on what I really want to do, write. It’s not a hobby or what I do for fun. Let’s face it, we love to write – but it is work.
So I need the house clean, the dishes done, the bills paid, and even my office must be clean before I can sit in front of my computer. Now that’s a bit easier these days since my kids are out of the nest. J But I started writing when my kids were three and five+ so there you have it, I understand it both ways.
I don’t recommend three cups of coffee so you feel awake – that will just give you the jitters and make you feel unsettled. A nice glass of ice water (or flavored – no calorie water) is what I recommend. Get it right away so you don’t have an excuse to ‘leave’ your office and get side-tracked. Yep, I know all the tricks … or mistakes. You might even fix yourself a plate of celery sticks, carrot sticks, or even pea pods so you don’t get the chocolate cravings.
If you tell yourself you ‘should’ be writing, yet you’re sitting on the couch trying to muster up the energy and drive to go write – ask yourself one thing – “What is my deadline date?” What? You don’t have a deadline date? That is not good! You MUST have goals and deadline dates or you’ll never accomplish what you want in life. That doesn’t just apply to writing, but in this case it does.
You need to sit down and look at your work in progress and answer these questions:
· What genre are you writing?
· World count for this work?
· How many chapters will you have?
· Now- how long does it take you to write a chapter?
· Add a month in for unexpected distractions/responsibilities.
· What is your writing schedule?
· Finally – what is the deadline date to finish your book?
You do this one thing and I guarantee you’ll get more books written than you’ve ever done before. I always correlate it to this. If you were planning to go on a trip to Montana, you know you’d get maps and plot it out, you’d look at places to stop along the way to enjoy, there are hotels, costs to estimate, car to get in shape for the trip, etc. If you just jumped in your car you might end up in Alaska! Well, planning to write your next book is pretty much the same thing.
Don’t treat your writing like a ‘hobby.’ I hate it when people say, “that is such a nice hobby.” I stop them and say, “This isn’t a hobby - it’s too much work for that. Writing is my passion and I do it because it’s something I love and it gives me a feeling of accomplishment. Don’t accept negativity – it will start making you feel negative – and you’ll start treating your writing like a hobby. Once you start doing that, you won’t have the drive and excitement to go to your office and write.
Think about your story while making breakfast, working at the office, going for your daily walks (or like me up Sander’s Hill twice a day during my breaks – it’s a humdinger). Work out ideas, plots, and twists before you even get to your office. By the time your ‘scheduled’ writing time approaches – you will be raring to go and you’ll be itching to sit down and start typing.
Get your background music going and you're READY! One thing I always do, to get myself back into my story, is to read the last two pages. This helps me get into the characters; where are they, who are they talking to, and what is their current situation? That way I can continue without missing a beat from where I left off.
Next thing you know – two hours have passed and you’re shocked how many pages you just finished. When you push away from the computer you’ll have a feeling of satisfaction and pride. You are suddenly anxious and excited to write again tomorrow! You can do this . . . day after day. Oh – and book after book! J
You can find Rita Karnopp at: http://ritakarnopp.com
RITA KARNOPP, Author ~ Writing Montana History - Past ~ Present ~ Future
(email) ritakarnopp@bresnan.net
(publisher) http://bookswelove.net
(blog) http://mizging.blogspot.com
Watch for Rita
Karnopp’s next book ~ Whispering Spirits
Summer Timber Wolf, Nii’ówa Ómahkapi'si, is disenchanted with life in general. Ashamed of being Blackfeet, yet broke and
alone, she goes to Browning, the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana she swore
she’d never return to or call home.
Angry with
her decision to quit college, her parents give her the task of caring for her
eighty-year-old grandmother, Kimi’Aki, Secret Woman. It sounds like an easy alternative to getting
a job.
By the time
Summer realizes this means she’ll be living in the mountains in the ways of the
old ones, in a tipi, with no more modern support greater than a boiling pot,
it’s too late to go back.
In this primitive
setting she realizes there’s more to being Blackfeet than just being called
Indian. Although she fights anything to
do with her ancestry, she is quickly caught up in a world of whispering spirits
and a journey that teaches we must understand and find pride in where we’ve
come from . . . in order to know where we’re going.
I would say writing is my passion . . . I see a story in just about every situation. I love Native American history and all the lessons it has to offer.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Words Perfect ie: the perfect words by Karla Stover
I’ve been thinking about words, lately. Many’s the time
someone in my writers' critique group has said, “I don’t think the character
would say that.”
For years the only thing I collected was words. I told
people it was because I didn’t have to dust them. Of course, poverty played a part.Without using a thesaurus, my
husband and I came up with nearly a dozen different names for freeways, and
then we turned to other words and forgot freeways, autobahns, interstates, etc.
No matter; it was the hunt that that was fun.
I listen to NPR every time I’m in the car as a way to study
words and dialogue for my writing and am surprised how many educated people
still use “like” and “you know.” (When I was in Toastmasters, we counted “ums”
as a way to make the speaker aware of them). David Sedaris was talking last
week and he peppered his conversation with “you know.” Very off-putting, I must
say. I don’t buy his books and don’t know if I will, now, not that his sales
will reflect my lack of purchases. When I got home, I tried researching these
two conversation fillers but the best I came up with was the movies, Valleygirl and Clueless are the probable culprits. However, I wonder if they
should be used in writing contemporary dialogue.
I write articles for a monthly magazine and was asked to do
a profile on a local antiques store. They call themselves an antique
store—no S. My editor said I was nit picking but honestly,
the store isn’t that old.
I love words that create atmosphere: Whose woods these are, I think I know, his house is in the village, though,
he will not see me stopping here to watch his woods fill up with snow. Though and snow and know, such long
drawn out words and so effective in creating a somnolent scene. Or, Once upon a midnight dreary, while I
pondered weak and weary . . . Don’t you just love dreary and weary? My
writing isn’t particular dependent on mood-creating words; what I need is
snappy dialogue. That’s a tricky one. As T.S. Eliot said, “Last year’s words
belong to last year’s language,” and as a writer, I don’t want my books
dated by the expressions my characters use.
On the rare occasion I’m not listening to NPR, I listen to music
and try correcting the grammar. I don’t
get no satisfaction . . .” “If I was a rich man . . .” And yet, in their
contexts, the words work. “Any satisfaction” sounds weird. Also, Mick Jagger
can pull it off; I don’t think Michael Buble ′ could. Now, when I’m writing, I
work hard to make my dialogue—grammar faux
pas and all—fit the character.
And one last thought: I have been reading Acton Bell—Anne Bronte,
that is—and nowhere does she use the expression: Ever so. I am guilty of using
it in my own historical fiction and will not again. Or, to quote Poe again, I
will use it Never more.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
For Us Oldies.... by Cheryl Wright
As they say, it's a bitch getting old.
But what can you do? For me it's learning to live with my limitations, while at the same time, trying to keep feeling young. (Yeah, right. With three teenagers living in the same house!)
It has recently dawned on me that I'm slowly nudging toward the big six oh. Not something I'm looking forward to, but at least its a couple of years off yet.
Still, I find more and more when I'm making cards that some of the images remind me of my lost youth. So I was quite pleased to learn there's a stamp company whose images depict those of, shall we say, ahem, later years.
I was quite shocked to discover they've been around for almost 27 years, but I only learned of them just a few weeks ago. Yikes!
Immediately I ordered two of their fun sets, and below is my first attempt at the set I've received so far.
(For those inquisitive minds, the company is Art Impressions, and this particular set is called Party Girls - from the 'girlfriends' range.)
It's probably wishful thinking, but I like to think this will be me and some of my friends in a few years time. Still having fun, still enjoying life to the full.
(I'll be the one with the blower, annoying the heck out of everyone else!)
I had a lot of fun coloring this image using Copic markers (which are a craft/artist product), despite it taking around forty minutes. I find the coloring process very relaxing, so it's totally worthwhile.
Hopefully, by the time I blog next month, my second set will have arrived. It has a lot more coloring to be done, but I'm certain the result will be worth the time spent.
Til next time,
p.s. I have a giveaway running at the moment. Go here to check out the gorgeous custom-made keychain you could win. There's also a custom-made necklace up for grabs!
Links:
My website: www.cheryl-wright.com
Blog: www.cheryl-wright.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherylwrightauthor
Make sure you join my Facebook page as I run regular giveaways for followers!
But what can you do? For me it's learning to live with my limitations, while at the same time, trying to keep feeling young. (Yeah, right. With three teenagers living in the same house!)
It has recently dawned on me that I'm slowly nudging toward the big six oh. Not something I'm looking forward to, but at least its a couple of years off yet.
Still, I find more and more when I'm making cards that some of the images remind me of my lost youth. So I was quite pleased to learn there's a stamp company whose images depict those of, shall we say, ahem, later years.
I was quite shocked to discover they've been around for almost 27 years, but I only learned of them just a few weeks ago. Yikes!
Immediately I ordered two of their fun sets, and below is my first attempt at the set I've received so far.
(For those inquisitive minds, the company is Art Impressions, and this particular set is called Party Girls - from the 'girlfriends' range.)
It's probably wishful thinking, but I like to think this will be me and some of my friends in a few years time. Still having fun, still enjoying life to the full.
(I'll be the one with the blower, annoying the heck out of everyone else!)
I had a lot of fun coloring this image using Copic markers (which are a craft/artist product), despite it taking around forty minutes. I find the coloring process very relaxing, so it's totally worthwhile.
Hopefully, by the time I blog next month, my second set will have arrived. It has a lot more coloring to be done, but I'm certain the result will be worth the time spent.
Til next time,
p.s. I have a giveaway running at the moment. Go here to check out the gorgeous custom-made keychain you could win. There's also a custom-made necklace up for grabs!
Links:
My website: www.cheryl-wright.com
Blog: www.cheryl-wright.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherylwrightauthor
Make sure you join my Facebook page as I run regular giveaways for followers!
Multi-published author, Cheryl Wright, former secretary, debt collector, account manager, writing instructor, and shopping tour hostess, loves reading. She writes romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and the occasional comedy.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia, and is married with two adult children and has six grandchildren. When she’s not writing, she can be found in her craft room making greeting cards.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Sharing the Dream – by Tia Dani
As
part of the "Inside Books We Love" blog, we hope to create interesting information that isn't full of
self-promo, but will give our readers a chance to know who we really
are. They'll discover how we work and play, learn how we struggle with balancing our everyday lives, how we draw our
stories out of our heads, then finish them into a well-loved published book. And we do it all without losing our precious friendship.
Who are we?
First and foremost we are a dedicated writing team
who loves playing with words, creating "What Ifs", and are
following a shared dream.
We are wives, moms, and grandmas.
We didn't start out to be a writing team, but the
process evolved over time during our friendship. We met in 2002 at a local RWA
chapter and after several years passed we wrote and submitted a short story together just to
have some fun. To our delight the story sold. From then on we kicked our writing into high gear and found a way
to stick to a writing schedule, plus stay motivated to complete and submit a full manuscript. Also we decided working together might be a fun way to learn all
the technology of submitting and editing online. We don't know about you, but
we find it more fun when you work with a buddy.
While having all this fun we discovered something
else about ourselves. We have this unique quality of being more than friends
sharing common interests. We understand each other. We think alike, and often
finish each other's sentences without missing a beat. Yet, we still maintain
our individuality. It's these differences which makes our writing strong. Beverly
(who writes as Dani) has the uncanny ability to bring out the perfect "What
If?" scenarios that can make a great story tick. Christine (Tia of our
team) excels in arranging all those "What Ifs" into a semblance of
order. Tia calls it stacking the dominoes, (Future workshop).
Writing stories together is more than just being
co-authors for us. Team writing, as with any type of business partnership,
takes a lot of trust in each other and a strong commitment to the partnership.
It's hard work, but for us, we couldn't imagine doing it any other way.
Time's Enduring Love
By Tia Dani
Libby Strammon believed her life was on track. A
young woman of the tumultuous 1960's, she worked hard to fulfill her dream of
becoming a doctor so she could open a practice in the small Kansas farming
community where she was raised. But when a perilous storm sweeps her back a
hundred years into the past she is forced to rely on her instincts while
navigating the changed world that a hundred years difference has wrought.
Kansas Volunteer, Lieutenant Matthew Dome's magnetic
attraction to the slightly odd woman who appeared out of nowhere wars with past
promises made—promises he'd failed to keep. He yearns to have the fascinating
spitfire by his side, but can't let go of the past and his guilt long enough to
convince himself she belongs in his life.
When circumstances send Libby and Matthew into
danger, and a buried secret is revealed, Libby races against time to choose
between returning to the 20th century she is familiar with or remain with
Matthew who loves her but failed her once before?
"I was excited to read a novel from two authors
I consider friends/mentor, both exceptional women in their own right have
together created a novel worth the read! Quick paced, delightful banter,
enjoyable characters, and an entertaining plot. Absolutely loved it. I couldn't
stop reading it until I was done completely. Highly recommended for anyone who
enjoys romance with historical background settings. Can't wait to read their
next novel." ~A.S. Johnson, author~ Amazon, 5 Stars
If you're interested in learning more about Tia
Dani, please visit our website and friend us on Facebook.
Thanks for stopping by,
Tia Dani
Saturday, July 5, 2014
My Own Action Hero by Jamie Hill
Family movie night recently and I chose White House Down featuring Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx. I'd been wanting to see it since last summer (my how the time does fly!) and it finally came on HBO so I remembered (a key issue!) and we watched it. I have to say, I really enjoyed it.
One of my favorite movies is Air Force One starring Harrison Ford and a cast of thousands, and this newer presidential flick was very similar in nature. Sure, you have to suspend belief a few times, but it was fun and the dialog between Tatum and Foxx made me laugh out loud. (Kind of like the dialog between Steve MaGarrett and Dano on the new Hawaii 5-0. Love it!)
Afterwards I was thinking that Channing Tatum would make a good Jack Dunlevy, the lead in my romantic suspense book Family Secrets. Sexy, tough yet tender when it comes to children, and when people are down on him and thinking the worst, he comes through in the end with flying colors. Channing's character in White House Down is the perfect Jack. *sigh*
(I understand Channing played a stripper in Magic Mike. That is definitely not Jack, but just for research purposes I might have to check the movie out...)
I've got plenty more to say on my own action heroes, so stop back next month and I'll expand--with photos!
Family Secrets
by Jamie Hill
As
if stumbling over a dead body isn't enough, Crystal Cartwright finds
herself playing surrogate mother to two small boys when their
father--her neighbor--doesn't come home. The kids aren't much trouble,
but the thieves, drug dealers and kidnappers they're about to encounter
are.
Detective Jack Dunlevy, a cop down on his luck, draws the cases no one else wants. A simple investigation involving a dead homeless man quickly changes as Crystal enlists Jack's help with the children. Drawn into a mystery that none of them could have anticipated, they're faced with a situation that will change their lives forever.
Detective Jack Dunlevy, a cop down on his luck, draws the cases no one else wants. A simple investigation involving a dead homeless man quickly changes as Crystal enlists Jack's help with the children. Drawn into a mystery that none of them could have anticipated, they're faced with a situation that will change their lives forever.
"Ms.
Hill is a genius! The plot line was AMAZING. It was action packed and
kept me on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. Ms. Hill has
become a favorite author of mine and I consider her to be an automatic
add to my "to be read list". If you are a serious suspense loving reader
who loves to form bonds with the characters, this is definitely the
book for you! I loved it and can't wait to read more of Ms. Hill's
books, she has the gift of knowing what the reader wants and then
hitting you with an ending you certainly don't expect. Two thumbs up!" ~
Val, You Gotta Read Reviews, 5 Stars
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right now you can get my entire 'A Cop in the Family' series in one Triple Threat volume for only 99 cents (or $1.99, depending on when you read this.)
Check it out here, and see if you don't agree. Channing would make a great Jack!
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Wild Blue Mysteries
It's hard to believe it's been an entire year since The Bookstore Lady was first released. Even more amazing my second book The Mystery Lady was released earlier this year and yet a third book awaits in the wings.
The Wild Blue Detective Agency began with Danny Walker, a police officer, and Leo Blue, retired soldier, who began the agency in order to go undercover and stop a ruthless criminal named Maddox. In trying to take Maddox down, Danny Walker needs to track Paulina Chourney, Maddox's mistress.
Lovely, blonde Paulina escapes Maddox and arrives in the fictional small town of Packham, praying the men she worked for would never think to look for her in a small town. She gives herself a total makeover, changes her name to Katie Mullins, then makes a deal on a little bookstore she renovates and breathes new life into. Fate (and her real estate agent) brings her to rent a room in an elderly lady's home and Katie is thrust into a local writing group, successfully fading into anonymity.
That is, until Danny Walker wanders into town to visit family and figures out who she is.
And now for a taste of The Bookstore Lady. Enjoy!
Dunnsforth’s
body lay on the beach. His legs bobbed on the waves of Lake Erie entwined in
the blue and silver scarf clutched in his left hand. The late afternoon sun
cast strange shadows over his ashen face. Shoe prints dented the mud where
Dunnsforth and his shooter had stepped off the rocks.
Danny
held his breath while the forensics guys pulled the corpse higher onto the
rocks. He knew that scarf. Paulina wore it to Maddox’s party the night before. Did
she have it when they drove back into the city? Whoever shot him wore high-heeled
shoes, which eliminated the males at the party. Although, Al Duvall had potential.
If he wore a disguise and shaved his moustache, he would make a passable woman.
“Shit.”
Bobby Holland was tall and tanned. Both he and Danny joined the Newville Police
ten years earlier, but were only paired up two years ago to investigate DMR.
“You’d think a classy guy like this could get shot somewhere nice and sunny. I
could really use a tropical vacation about now.”
“Same
here.” Danny grimaced. The day was a blur of paperwork, evidence gathering and
now body collection. “Looks like he took a souvenir from whoever shot him. It
looks like the scarf Paulina wore last night.”
“Shot
in the right temple. You sure this isn’t a suicide?”
“With
Maddox involved? No way.” Danny glanced toward the glass, brick and steel
building, Maddox’s summer cottage, the site of the festivities less than
twenty-four hours earlier.
He
ran a hand through his hair, grateful he didn’t have to wear his disguise for
much longer. The shaggy blond wig and beard itched and gave him a rash. He
loved undercover work, but hated the makeup.
“Did
someone pick up Paulina this morning? We’ll need her statement to make things
stick against Maddox and the others. Keep her away from the others.”
Bobby
hesitated. “That’s a problem. Oswald got into a fender bender. By the time he
got to the motel, Paulina was gone. He went to her apartment but—”
“Let
me guess. She skipped town, which means we can’t eliminate her as a suspect
since she might have caught up to our vic.” Danny frowned. “Unless you think
there’s another body out there.”
“I
think it’s worth a look. DMR’s offices are secured, Maddox’s house locked up
and some of the people we arrested last night are already out on bail. There
are a lot of loose cannons running around.”
One
of the forensics investigators picked something off the scarf with tweezers.
“Any of your suspects have long blonde hair?”
Bobby
chuckled. “Five or six.”
Danny
sighed. “Paulina was the only one wearing a scarf like that though.”
“Shit.”
Bobby’s smile faded. “You really think she’s the shooter?”
“Anything’s
possible. We need to find her.”
Hope you enjoy reading The Bookstore Lady!
Diane Bator
Website: http://penspaintsandpaper.com
Blog: http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Stay tuned for The Mystery Lady!
Prolific author, Editor, Associate Publisher, and Book Coach. Also mom of three grown ups and two fur babies.
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