We are thrilled to announce that all of our Canadian Historical Brides novels have been released as fully Accessible Audio Books. They are available from all major audiobook retailers, including ACX Audible, Findaway Voices, Kobo, Apple.
Visit our Brides webpage for more information and to purchase in Digital, Print or Audio formats.
https://bookswelove.net/authors/canadian-historical-brides-collection/
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The same question has been asked about Will, the hero. As I don't play golf, how do I know about greenskeepers and golf clubs? Well all I can say about that is thank goodness for the Internet, and thanks, too, to the people I know who do play golf and have entertained me at their club in the past.
There have been questions, as well, about the castle, and the remains of the friary. Have I visited them? Are they in Mapleby or have I imported them from elsewhere? The answer is both yes and no. I have visited them.They are in my Mapleby. But anyone searching wouldn't find them because the geography has changed a bit in 800 years!
Many a Moon has garnered more questions than any other book I've written, and I love it that readers have invested so much of themselves into the story. It has also prompted me to revisit all my other books because nearly every one of them is set in a place I've visited. Once, a long time ago, someone told me my books were like a ticket to romance. It was a lovely phrase which I have often adopted when promoting them, but it is only now that I realise it really is true. Because the chaos in airports around the world is making it is so difficult to travel anywhere at the moment, I am staying at home, but a quick look at all the covers of my books has taken me back to many of the places I have visited, places and experiences which have given me so much pleasure as well as real inspiration: New Zealand, Australia, Italy, America, France, the Canary Islands, Russia, and then all those places in the UK from London to the Home Counties, from the North West coast to the South, to Wales and Scotland, to villages and towns and cities. It really has been a journey and one that I can take again any time I look at one of my books. Readers can as well if they want to buy a ticket to romance.
Release days are big evens for authors, editors and publishers...a lovely combination of Birthday (yay, we pushed another one out into the world!),
Graduation (from a dream, to a seed of an idea, to a storyline with vibrant characters leading the way, and all along, research and rewrite, rewrite, rewrite!)
I am the author of two mystery novels, Deadly Fall and Ten Days in Summer, both set in Calgary, AB, and featuring insurance adjuster sleuth Paula Savard. My short stories have won contests and appeared in magazines and anthologies, most recently in Writing Menopause, Long Lunch/Quick Reads and AB Negative. I belong to the Alexandra Writers Centre Society, Crime Writers of Canada and the Writers Guild of Alberta and serve on the board of When Words Collide Festival for Readers and Writers. A native of Montreal, I live in Calgary, where I love hiking in our nearby Rocky Mountains.
Visit Karla Stover's BWL author page to order books
In the Maltese Falcon, detective Sam Spade tells Bridgid O'Shaughnessy about Charles Flitcraft, a Tacoma, WA. real estate man. Flitcraft was married, had two sons, and lived in the suburbs, and enjoyed playing golf. One day in 1922, as he left his office for lunch, he passed a construction site from which abeam fell. It hit the sidewalk and sent a piece of concrete into the air and grazed Flitcraft's cheek. The dazed man felt he had cheated a random, accidental death, and that in "sensibly ordering his life" he was actually out of step with it. That afternoon, he disappeared.
Five years later, when Hammett was working for a detective agency, Mrs. Flitcraft went to the office and told him someone who looked a lot like her husband had been seen in Spokane and was living under the name Charles Pearce. Sure enough, an investigation showed that Pearce and Flitcraft were one and the same. Pearce said he had a new wife and son, owned an automobile dealership, lived in the suburbs and played golf.
What fascinated Hammett was the randomness of live-changing events. Flitcraft had adjusted to a falling beam and when no more fell he adjusted to that, too.
The Flitcraft story is now considered a parable and is the most critically discussed part of any of Hammett's works.
Researchers have found it hard to dig up information about Dashiell Hammett's life because the terminally ill, constantly broke, alcoholic recluse, and lover of playwright / author Lillian Hellman never saved any personal papers. Most of their sources come from letters he wrote to others. The closest he came to writing an autobiography was a piece he started but never finished called Tulip. In it, the protagonist is a former writer who admits his personal life was full of random incidents.
It is believed Hammett worked for the Pinkerton Agency in Baltimore. He said he had been involved in a Montana miner's strike. From there, he went into the army, then it was back to the Pinkerton Agency, this time in the Spokane, WA office. However, he was only there for six months, having comedown with tuberculosis. Hammett ended up in the Cushman Hospital adjacent to Tacoma. There, along with other patients, he played poker, drank, took boat trips on Commencement Bay,, ate out, roamed around downtown Tacoma, and flirted with nurses, one of who he married. He lived apart from his family when the TB flared up but supported them when he could. He wrote one Thin Man book, some short stories featuring Sam Spade, some movie scripts, a comic strip called Secret Agent X-9, and some short stories in which he revisited Puget Sound.
In 1921, all of Spokane's real estate men listed in 1919 had moved onto other things, and one man Mr. George L. Darley had disappeared. There was, however, a Mr. Frank Darley living a few blocks away from Dashiell Hammett.
Baker, Barbara - BWL Publishing Inc. (bookswelove.net)
Stories
Behind Names – By Barbara Baker
Naming characters is like
naming children and there are so many ways to select the right one: Google, TV
shows, Apps which rank names by popularity - the list is endless.
But in
1958, when I popped out, those options didn’t exist. I was Mom and Dad’s second
child, and they were sure I would be Johanne Wilhelm. They didn’t even have a
girl name selected. In fact, when the nurse told Dad I was an 8 lb 12 oz healthy
girl his response was, “Are you sure? She’s supposed to be a boy.”
The
nurse assured him I was a girl.
What
a dilemma. Back then, babies couldn’t leave the hospital till they were named
so Mom asked the nurse if she had any suggestions.
After
thinking about it for a while the nurse said, “How about Barbara, Barbara Ann. Like
Barbara Ann Scott, the Olympic figure skater who won the gold medal for
Canada.”
Growing
up, I never expected to have an actual connection with the Barbara Ann
Scott.
Being
who she was, I knew I couldn’t send an email or a typed letter. This had to be
handwritten. With my favourite pen, I used my best cursive writing skills; o’s round
as bubbles, everything slanted the same direction and equal spaces between each
word. It had to be perfect. When I finished, I thanked her for listening,
folded it into three equal parts and sealed it away with a stamp stuck square
in the corner.
Neat.
Proper. Appropriate.
Weeks
later the red light was blinking on my answering machine. I tapped the button,
and a lively, clear voice filled the room. I recognized her right away. It was Barbara
Ann Scott. She said she hoped she had the correct number to leave a message for
Barbara Baker.
“Yes,
you do!” I danced a jig right in front of the phone while I listened to her
message.
She
thanked me for the letter and told me she too was thrilled to run the Olympic Torch.
She closed off with well wishes and said good-bye.
I
played the message a hundred times. I phoned and emailed all my friends to
share the news. How gracious of her to take
the time out of her day and call me. And how lucky am I that Mom’s nurse picked
a great name.
How
I named Jillian, my main character in SUMMER OF LIES, is a mystery to me. I didn’t
know a Jillian. I didn’t use Google. None of my kid’s friends were named
Jillian. So how did I pick it? I have no idea. The name jumped on the page and
stuck and now I can’t imagine calling her anything else.
How
did you get your name? How do you name your characters?
Summer
of Lies: Baker, Barbara:9780228615774: Books - Amazon.ca
Smashwords – About
Barbara Baker, author of 'Summer of Lies'
Barbara Wackerle
Baker | Facebook
Barbara Wackerle Baker
(@bbaker.write)
So summer has sprung and I have been up to my eyeballs in projects. As I said last month, I won second place in a long fiction competition, and was invited to read aloud at a local University. It was fun. Many eyerolls were had when I finished, because thanks to liquid courage, I attempted to read a smexy passage with all the ardour that the piece required.
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| hur hur! |
But I wasn't fazed! In fact, I have been told on multiple occassions that I am pretty good when it comes to reading aloud? Why? Well, because frankly I don't give a *$5^%. There! I said it--kinda--I just don't care. Now my husband, who sat in the front row to listen to me read? Well, he might have cared a little, but all in all it was fun to stand in front of everyone, get an award and a cheque, then read a bunch of *pron* to a crowd of people I don't know.
I honestly gotta give it to the judges though. They had good taste! And no, of course I'm not biased.
In other news--and before I get in trouble with the moderators for being too risque--I have finally finished penning another novel! Whoot. Together, my co-author and I have finally finished the first draft of Ballroom Riot 2--title pending. It feels good to finish a work in progress...
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| I should have used this gif earlier... |
And also, I am going to PEI this summer! Whoot! How fortuitous. I shall spend all my time at libraries and in the fields sniffing the potatoes, and buried beneath the red, sandy beaches getting a feel for my island neighbours!
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| and also paying to leave :/ |
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| Get it? Because it will never happen... *cries* T_T But then again... neither will Winds of Winter, right George? |
I hate writing introductions because my first thought it how can I make this as extra as possible. Honestly, I'm not that interesting. I write books sometimes and hang out with my family and eat nacho's on Friday nights when my daughter goes to her Grandparent's house. Sometimes I dress spooky, but lately because of Covid (yeah... Covid. Right...) I've become too fluffy to fit into my goth clothes. I'm married. I like comics, and I like sleeping in, though I rarely get to do it these days.
I have many hobbies, which I indulge between books or when I need to think about a story. One of them is woodworking.
We had a magnificent poplar in our backyard. When Hubby planted the little twig twenty-five years, we never expected it would grow three times the height of our house, but it did. Some of its leaves were bigger than my hand with my fingers outstretched. In the fall, we raked forever, to the delight of my little granddaughter who loved jumping in the huge pile. We filled many orange bags with them, then with a black marker, I drew Jack O'Lantern on them. Easy Halloween decorations!
I peeled the bark, sanded the logs, carved a design on them, then stained and treated them. For months, my garage smelled like cut wood. Here they are: Owl, Wolf, Bear, Squirrel, and Rabbit. My granddaughter decided the Owl was hers LOL
I don't know how long the stools will last, but hopefully, they will withstand many Canadian winters. In the meantime, they add charm to the backyard -- and they were fun to make.
Stay safe!
JS
I grew up in Shawinigan, a small French Canadian town, attended military college, married a young officer, and raised three spirited children. Over the years, I enjoyed many wonderful postings in many different regions of Canada.
After my children left the nest, I began writing. Three years later, I captured my dream of becoming a published author with my underwater novel “Salvaged”.
Many of my romantic suspense novels are set in Canada or feature Canadian characters. One of my latest series also involves time travel.
I'm not sure where time flew, but decades later, I ended up writing under the Northern Lights in Alberta while spoiling a gorgeous little granddaughter.
Eileen O’Finlan was a member of the Worcester Writers Workshop for many years and now hosts a writing group at her home in Holden.
Kelegeen, published by BWL Publishing, is her debut novel. She is currently working on the sequel to be titled Erin's Children set in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Eileen is a holds a Bachelor’s Degree in history and a Master’s Degree in pastoral ministry.
When not writing or working her full-time job, Eileen facilitates online courses for the University of Dayton, Ohio.
NEW RELEASES FOR JUNE 2022
Now available from your favorite booksellers - click the book cover to purchase
The Simper Augustus, most famous tulip in history may or may not have actually existed, but to the industry in Holland it is legend worth exploring and to Professor Jacob Dirksen it is worth recreating. Once he has the correct hybrid, he takes the information to the largest tulip growing area outside Holland to sell it. When he is found dead in a tulip field, several agencies from the Dutch and US government get involved. Max Maxwell is given the mission of tracking the professor from the day he arrived until his death. He finds the good professor may have more than tulips on his mind when he came to Seattle, WA.
Writing Historical Fiction
There is a hypothesis that there are only
seven basic plots. This should not deter novelists, who can devise their own
special twists in the tale and write from the heart.
What is Historical Fiction? The
Historical Novel Society’s definition is: ‘The novel must have been written at
least fifty years after the event, described, or written by someone who was not
alive at the time, and who therefore only approached them by research.’
I think novelists, who set their books in
times past, are under an obligation to readers to transport them into another
time based on fact. My characters, other than historical figures, are
imaginary. To ground my novels, I weave real events into my plots and themes.
To recreate days gone by, I study non-fiction and, before covid, visited places
of historical interest, including museums.
There are many excellent novelists who
write, historical fiction and genre historical romance, etc. Unfortunately,
there are others who cause me, and, presumably, other readers, to suspend
belief. I was torn between shock and hysterical laughter when I read a medieval
romance in which, the hero, a knight in full armour, galloped to a castle to
rescue a proverbial maiden in distress. Without putting aside his shield and
weapons, he flung himself off his horse and scaled stone walls with no
handholds or footholds. He then climbed through a window - impossible as a
castle in that era only had narrow apertures. When he gained access through the
mythical window, not affected by her ideal the fair heroine asked: ‘Would you
like some eggs and bacon and a nice cup of tea,’ as though she were offering
him a modern-day English breakfast. The sense of the ridiculous overcame me. I
lost faith in the author and did not read on.
Of course, the above is an extreme
example from a novel accepted by a mainstream publisher. However, I am
frequently disappointed by 21st characters dressed in costume, who have little
in common with those who lived in previous eras. Over the centuries, emotions,
anger, hate, jealousy, love etc., have not changed, but attitudes, clothes, the
way of life and speech has. A historical novelist should study these and do
their best to verify the facts.
Misnamed characters also make me pause
when reading. The first pages of a medieval novel held my attention until I
reached the part when the heroine’s name was Wendy, which, J. M. Barry invented
for his novel Peter Pan. I daresay I’m not the only historical novelist, who agonises
over characters’ names. I recommend The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian
Names, an invaluable resource.
In conclusion, a skilful historical
novelist should hold the readers’ attention from the first page to the last and
take them into the realm of fiction on an accurate, enjoyable journey.
http;//bwlpublishing.ca/morris-rosemary
The River, Waterfalls, and the Writing Life by S. L.
Carlson
I am S. L. Carlson, a proud and grateful BWL Publishing
Inc. author. My books can be viewed and purchased by visiting https://www.bookswelove.net/carlson-s-l
Waterfalls in northern Wisconsin flow
best in May, when most of the snow has melted and the rains have begun filling
the rivers. May is also a time before mosquitoes, thick enough to carry off a
human, start to immerge, and before tourists start crowding in. It was an
adventure.
Locating waterfalls was mostly tentative. I had two paper maps open on my lap, as well as a sightseeing book of Wisconsin, as well as a brochure on waterfalls in two counties. Even so, directions were not always clear, and our time limited. Finding a waterfall was all a matter of trust: my husband trusting me to get us into the approximate area; me trusting maps and books which sometimes contradicted; trusting signs with no further directions of where to go, but having to take our best guesses. Sometimes, physical signs to reach it were antiquated and/or vague.
Sometimes, physical signs to reach it were antiquated and/or vague.
The river above the more major falls
often runs deep, swift, and silent. Then comes the continuous tumble of water.
(Earplugs were recommended for one.) After the churning and bubbling ceases below
the falls, the river once again runs quietly.
Part II:
My writing life, writing a novel, is
like a river. It can start with an idea, like a spring bubbling up in a high meadow.
As the idea develops, the story-stream widens into a river with more characters,
action and plot, running deeper and faster. I start writing faster as I feel
the story coming to life. I must admit that there are times when I write blind,
not sure where the river is going. Sometimes a tributary leads me to backwater
or a still pond. Do I block it off or ignore it, or is it interesting enough to
keep in? Always, though, I must backtrack to return to the writing river, to the
essence of the story.
My river tumbles as whitewater over rocks with various conflicts in the story.
There are twists and turns in the
river I can’t always see around. I mean…which the reader can’t see around. There
are areas with towering cliffs on each side, evidence of erosion from the many authors
before me, carving the way for me to follow. Then comes the climax, the rushing,
tumbling, crashing to below. But follow the river downstream, and it continues
on, silent and calm.
From the bubbling beginnings of a story
idea, my novels develop into the deep and silent river flow, gathering more and
more speed, to the sound and expectation and excitement of the dramatic climax,
the waterfall, finally concluding with the quiet, satisfactory story ending.
May each book you read follow to
the thrill of the river and waterfall adventure.
S. L. Carlson Blog & Website: https://authorslcarlson.wordpress.com
BWL Inc. Publisher Author Page: https://www.bookswelove.net/carlson-s-l
Born in MI; lived in 6 other states, now back in WQI. Teaching and writing have been my greatest careers. (WRONG! Being a wife and mom are so far ahead of these two. But following those, these careers rule.)
The week of May 24 to May 28, I had the honor and priviledge to be a part of the Maple Leaf Mystery Conference! I'm happy to say it was all online because we had mystery writers not only from all over Canada, but from around the world! Panels that discussed True Crime, Cozy Mystery, Comedy in Mystery, Romance in Mystery, Thrillers, Short Mystery Stories... Sixteen sessions in all! WHEW!
AND everyone who registered got a great Murder She Tote bag. How cute is that?
We got to hear one on one
interviews with accomplished mystery writers Maureen Jennings, Ian Rankin, Rick
Mofina, Iona Whishaw, and Vicki Delaney. We were also introduced to new novels
by Mike Martin (one of the organizers) as well as Mary Jane Maffini. Each had excerpts read by friends of theirs Robert Way and Terri Tomchyshyn.
Here is the link from this past
conference should you want to take a peek! https://writers-first.com/maple-leaf-mystery-conference/
I was a part of the Cozy Corner
Panel and found it interesting when our moderator, Lynn McPherson, read a
definition of mysteries condensed from the Bookends Literary Agency blog https://bookendsliterary.com/cozy-mysteries-v-traditional-mysteries/ :
Cozy mysteries can be
defined by the word used to describe them. They are cozy and everything that
word conjures in your mind. Think of warm tea, comfy chairs, cuddly pets, a
soft newly knitted blanket and warm, freshly baked pasteries. That's a cozy.
When you read one, you feel like you're being embraced by a world you want to
be in. A cozy is almost always and amateur sleuth, but an amateur sleuth isn't
always cozy.
In an Amateur sleuth, a
regular citizen (non-professional detective) decides to find the real killer
(the hallmark of any good amateur sleuth.)
Traditional mysteries
probably have the broadest definition. They can be amateur sleuths or official
investigators, they can be a little darker or light and funny. What they aren't
is suspense or cozy. They tend to fall somewhere in between. Typically and
amateur sleuth who is not cozy will fall into the area of traditional mystery.
In traditional mystery, you'll also see a faster pace and maybe a little more
blood and guts, but nothing that would compare to what a suspense might offer.
By definition, my Wild
Blue Mysteries walk the line between cozies and more traditional
mystery. While there are detectives involved, it's usually the amateur detectives
(Katie and Lucy) who dig in to help solve the mysteries.
Crime
Writers of Canada (CWC) also announced the winners for the 2022 Crime Writers
of Canada Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing. Started in 1984, the
annual Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence, then known as the Arthur
Ellis Awards, recognizes the best in mystery, crime, and suspense fiction, and
crime nonfiction by Canadian authors. The presentation of the
winners can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjSQew_DnnA
Prolific author, Editor, Associate Publisher, and Book Coach. Also mom of three grown ups and two fur babies.
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