Happy December!
There’s so much to be excited about this month. Christmas is just a few weeks away and in a few short days, BEAUTY AND THE DECEASED will be released!
Doesn’t the cover just give you all the warm, summery beach vibes we’ll be dreaming of in a few weeks? Well, if you live in snow country, you’re probably dreaming of beach weather right now. But where I am in Connecticut, those feelings start to surface in January, when winter really hits. I’ll just stare at my book cover. 🙂
I really enjoyed writing this installment of the Resale Boutique Mystery series. It was so enjoyable hanging out with the Lucky Cove gang after being away for a few months. There’s a lot of stuff packed into this book, from a life-altering secret to backstabbing beauty influencers behaving badly.
Today I’m sharing an excerpt with you and I’m sharing the details on a pre-release giveaway! Read to the end!
Have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by today.
EXCERPT:
Kelly Quinn knew three things for
sure her first full summer back home in Lucky Cove. One—summer people were good
for business. Two—reconnecting with her cousin was just what she needed to help
deal with…well, see number three. Three—getting over a breakup is hard when you
see the guy practically every day.
She
leaned closer to the mirror and applied a swipe of her new favorite lipstick,
Beachy Nude by Define Beauty. The up-and-coming cosmetics company had been her
cousin’s brainchild. Becky Quinn’s obsession with makeup in her teen years had
paid off.
Kelly
dropped the lipstick into her vintage Gucci clutch she used as a cosmetics bag.
It had been a little treat to herself after the breakup from her boyfriend.
Luckily the consignment website she purchased it from had a payment plan. She
grappled around for her concealer and finally found the tube.
Dabbing
on the Define Beauty’s concealer, she knew something else for certain. And it
made her belly quiver.
Family
secrets that bubbled below the surface could suddenly erupt, swallowing
everyone involved. Including someone like her who only knew merely about the
secret.
Too
bad her concealer didn’t work on things like heartbreaks and secrets. She would
have purchased a vat full.
A
dramatic meow drew her attention from the dresser’s mirror to the floor where
her orange cat, Howard, sat staring up at her. He meowed again and ratcheted up
the drama that time. She glanced at her watch and sighed. Right on time.
The
furball had a schedule, and heaven forbid there was any deviation. After all,
his first nap of the morning would be after breakfast.
“Okay,
okay. I’m almost done.” She stepped back from the dresser and gave a final look
at her outfit. She nodded approvingly at her gray wide-leg linen blend pants
topped with a black cotton shell and paired with block-heeled sandals. It was a
fashionable yet comfortable outfit for the day ahead. Before she opened her
shop, the Lucky Cove Resale Boutique, she had an appointment with a new
consignor. According to the woman’s sister-in-law, who worked with Kelly, Camille
Donovan had a ton of clothes to sell.
Kelly’s
lips curled up into a smile. She loved clients like Camille. And she needed
more of them.
Another
meow, this time louder and more urgent, alerted Kelly to her cat’s growing
impatience with her dawdling. Over time, she’d learned to decipher his various
sounds and body language. It would have been a whole lot easier if he’d come
with a manual when she inherited him from her granny. Manuals would have helped
with the boutique and her apartment too. Oh, and she couldn’t forget
relationships. A how-to guide on how to repair broken relationships would have
been beneficial. Alas, there was no handbook on life. It looked like she, along
with everyone else, was learning as she went along.
She
zipped the cosmetics bag and carried it out of the bedroom with Howard right on
her heels. When she stopped at the small table in the hall between the coat
closet and the door, he gave her a questionable look.
Exactly
who owned whom?
“I’m
only dropping this into my tote,” she reassured her feline.
Her
cell phone chimed, and she slipped it out from its pocket in the bag. Another
meow prompted her to walk and read the text simultaneously.
Wish
you were here.
Isn’t this gorgeous?
Kelly
smiled at the photo of the sunrise her cousin Becky had sent. Lucky Cove didn’t
have long stretches of beach that neighboring towns had, but it rivaled them in
beauty and tranquilness. Her hometown wasn’t a flashy summer village where
people vacationed to be seen. Families and overstressed city-dwellers flocked
to the town to recharge, not to be followed around by paparazzi.
She
typed a reply as she entered the kitchen and nearly tripped over Howard. He was
getting excited about his breakfast.
Can’t
wait to see the house.
* * *
GIVEAWAY INFO:
I am giving away a prize perfect for cozy reading fashionistas.
A $10.00 gift card to TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Home Goods.
Three first-in series books perfect for your fashionable cozy reading this winter.
MURDER WEARS A LITTLE BLACK DRESS, Resale Boutique Mystery series, by Debra Sennefelder
A FASHIONABLE FATE, Rosa The Cuban Psychic Mystery series, by illeana Munoz-Renfroe
BURDEN OF PROOF, Bonnie & Clyde Mystery series, by JulieAnn Lindsey
A 100% canvas tote perfect for groceries, book hauls and outings. The tote measures 14.5”x20”x7”
A Ghiradelli hot cocoa and chocolate gift set with mug.
The value of this prize package is just under $80.00. Would you like a chance at receiving it?
“I am always happy to get an invite to read a new book by Author Debra Sennefelder. If this is a new series for you don’t hesitate to jump on anywhere.” ~My Reading Journeys
Just add BEAUTY AND THE DECEASED to your 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 Want To Read shelf and let me know in the comments. And if you feel like it, please share.
Feel free to tag friends you think would be interested in reading BEAUTY AND THE DECEASED.
FYI, this contest isn’t affiliated or endorsed by FB or Instagram and the winner will be randomly selected. Contest ends Dec.13, 2021 Winner will be notified by Dec. 15, 2021.
*shipment to US addresses only.
Debra Sennefelder is the
author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series.
She lives and writes in Connecticut. When she’s not writing, she enjoys baking,
exercising and taking long walks with her Shih-Tzu, Connie. You can keep in touch
with Debra through her website, on Facebook and Instagram.
Homework or Not, Why I Attend Book Clubs
/in Uncategorized/by Donnell Ann BellDoes anyone remember in our school-age years when our
instructors handed out assignments and we had X amount of time to complete? Sometimes
students had a week. Often, work was due the next day. Many times, I felt
ill-prepared and handed in work I considered less than my best. On those days I
was left with a dry mouth and a pounding heart as our teachers collected our
homework. And don’t even get me started on the pop quiz!
I don’t miss those days at all, although when it comes to
writing books, that same tendency seems to follow when I turn in a novel. Maybe
just one more read-through. Do the characters work? Does the goal, motivation,
and conflict hold up, and did I get rid of any dreaded plot holes? Thank goodness for critique partners and
editors!
Some call what I’m talking about a perfectionist quality,
which during a period where books are getting written faster and faster, can be
detrimental to a writer. For that reason, a nose-to-the- grindstone mentality
and fearless creating has to come first in my world.
Still, I want to be supportive to my fellow authors. In
Sisters in Crime Colorado, we have a program called Book Club where we Zoom and
discuss our fellow chapter mate’s books. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about
the myriad talent among us, and what the author had in mind when writing the novel.
I used to get that same dry mouth, pounding heart feeling I
had in school when I attended—especially if I hadn’t finished or even read the
book.
No more. These authors are as busy as I am, and I’m sure
they are grateful for a peer just showing up. This isn’t completely altruistic
on my part. I often sign off adding their books to the top of my To Be Read
pile.
I want to tell you about a few authors I have read AFTER I
attended book club: Margaret Mizushima’s
Striking Range, J.v.L Bell’s The Lucky
Hat Mine, Becky Clark’s, Punning with Scissors, George Cramer, The Mona Lisa
Sisters, and Ann Dominguez’s The Match, and just last weekend Author Theresa
Crater, Into the City of Light.
Attending Book Club and listening to the author talk about
the passion that went into the novel whets my appetite for reading the book
better than a back cover blurb. Thanks to book club, I’ve learned about K-9
dogs, crossword puzzles, family history, a physician’s residency, action adventure
and magical realism. Thanks to book club I’ve traveled through Colorado now and
in its history, through Europe, Chicago. I’ve learned about Tibet, Peru and
Chile. Do I feel guilty if I can’t read the book before book club? Of course. I
feel equally guilty when I can’t attend all the book clubs of my fellow
authors.
Ideally, I make it up to them afterward. Number one, I’m
there to support them, and I sign off fascinated.
Did you ever experience that sickening feeling of being not
ready? Do you enjoy book clubs?
About the Author:
author, including finalist in the 2020 Colorado Book Award, and the 2021 New
Mexico-Arizona Book Awards for her first straight suspense Black Pearl.
Book two is on her editor’s desk and she’s working on Book Three. You can learn
more about her other romantic suspense books or find her on Facebook, Twitter, or Bookbub. Sign
up for her newsletter at www.donnellannbell.com
An Open Letter to Stiletto Gang Readers from Debra H. Goldstein
/in Uncategorized/by DebraDear Stiletto Gang Readers,
I’m one of those people who still writes Holiday Letters
and shoves them into my Seasons Greetings cards that are sent to friends I
haven’t seen in years, but still feel close to. You are a different breed of
folks, but I, as well as the other members of the Stiletto Gang, have a special
affinity with you.
You fulfill our dreams by reading the words we write. At
the very moment we feel down or lost, one of you posts a good review, sends a
postcard or e-mail, or makes a social media comment that lifts our spirits up.
Your support of our work keeps us actively involved in an unpredictable
business world.
It is a world of editor and publisher subjectivity balanced
by dollar signs. Very few of us become New York Times bestselling
authors, but you give us the incentive to continue writing even if our expenses
outweigh our profits. All writers want to make money, but the reality is that they
don’t. In fact, many authors could make far more by ignoring the voices in
their heads that demand to be expressed. Are we insane or, as some think,
simply stupid?
I think the answer boils down to one word: passion. We have
a passion to write that can’t be quelled. Luckily, when it does dim, you
rekindle it. Thank you and happy holidays. Debra
3 Colors Cover Reveal
/in New Release/by Bethany Mainesby Bethany Maines
3 Colors Trilogy Launches!
For a little over a year, I’ve been feverishly working on the series of books that would become the 3 Colors Trilogy. These action-packed paranormal romances feature a trio of siblings Azure, Ochre, and Scarlet as they find love and face danger from evil warlocks. While not traditional mysteries in the sense that no one is trying to solve a murder – each book finds the romantic leads trying to puzzle out out who is targeting them and why. These quick steamy reads are the most fun I’ve had writing in a long time. The couples are swoon-worthy, funny, and who doesn’t love werewolves?
How to Write the Heming…Way
One part of writing this series that has been interesting has been working with a beta reading service. Because this isn’t my usual genre, I used a service to supply beta readers I didn’t know to read the initial completed manuscript. The readers then answered a short survey of questions that I provided. It was amazingly insightful, but also nerve wracking! Handing over a partially edited book to a stranger for feedback… whew! The first time, my nerves were tested and I may have had to Hemingway (aka drink!) my way through the first reading of their responses. But the were all quite kind to me and provided many useful data points.
Coming Soon!
The series is now complete and I’ll be utilizing a quick release strategy for the trilogy—releasing them one month a part in February, March and April of 2022. Fans won’t have to wait for the next installment. Want to learn more about my Supernatural world? Check out the links below!
Learn More: https://bethanymaines.com/supernaturals/
Bethany Maines is the award-winning author of the Carrie Mae Mysteries, San Juan Islands Mysteries, Shark Santoyo Crime Series, and numerous short stories. When she’s not traveling to exotic lands, or kicking some serious butt with her black belt in karate, she can be found chasing her daughter or glued to the computer working on her next novel. You can also catch up with her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and BookBub.
To Find a Monarch
/in Uncategorized/by Kathryn LaneBy Kathryn Lane
Mexico, my country of origin, is a cultural
paradise. I always experience a nostalgic yearning for the traditions I grew up
with, especially during the last quarter of the year, which is rich with
festivities. Starting in September, we have holidays that spill over into
multiple days, like the 15th and 16th of September,
independence day. Posada time, from December 16th through the 24th,
brings out families from entire neighborhoods where revelers of all ages gather
in candle-lit processions singing Christmas carols along the streets until they
arrive at the host house for that evening. At the designated home, the carolers
sing “Para Pedir Posada” to reenact Mary and Joseph’s journey into Bethlehem
asking for shelter before the birth of Jesus. The hosts, after several stanzas,
invite the revelers in for food, drink, and games for the kiddos.
Wonderful as Christmas and Independence
celebrations are, it’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on November 1st
and 2nd, that makes my soul yearn for a trip to the state of
Michoacan.
When I was twelve, my mother took me to Lake Pátzcuaro
to experience a vigil in a cemetery where townsfolk would commune with their departed
loved ones by sharing music, dance, food, and drinks.
I’ve never forgotten the scene when we arrived.
Lake Pátzcuaro’s famed butterfly net fishermen, their canoes filled with bright
orange cempasúchil, or marigolds, floated on the lake like a colorful flower
market. The marigolds, like rays of sun dropped along the way, to lead the ancestors’
spirits into town where ofrendas, or altars, awaited them in the private homes
of their earthly relatives.
We climbed into a vividly decorated canoe to
navigate to Janitzio, the largest
island. On the way, Mother told me Día de los Muertos is a truly Mexican tradition, a legacy of indigenous Aztec practices. The
Aztecs recognized that death was part of the continuity of life. Yet Pátzcuaro
is P’urhépecha¹
territory, the other powerful Mesoamerican empire, the one the
Aztecs never conquered.
The two empires fought many battles. Yet, the Purépecha integrated the Day of
the Dead as their own.
We were mid-lake when a
butterfly brushed its brilliant orange-red wings with black veins on the golden
marigolds. The fisherman smiled, saying, “Está perdido este ancestro. Debe tener familia en
Rosario o Angangueo.”
Mother agreed the
butterfly was lost and had overflown its winter home near mountain villages. She
explained that monarchs migrate yearly from Canada and the US to the high elevations
of Michoacán where they cluster on oyamel
trees to spend the winter. They start arriving at the end of October,
coinciding with the Day of the Dead celebrations. The local people believe the
butterflies are the spirits of their ancestors returning home.
I remember asking if we would
visit the monarchs.
“Another year,” she said.
Yet, we never trekked to
the monarch’s overwintering sites. When I see a butterfly, it reminds me of that
trip we never took.
My brother, Jorge Lane, is
a nature photographer and monarchs are one of his favorite subjects. He’s
visited several sanctuaries to photograph them.
Carlos Gottfried, a butterfly
conservationist in Mexico, said: “When you stand in a Monarch butterfly
sanctuary, your soul is shaken and your life is changed.”
Gottfried’s quote
beckons me to find monarchs overwintering on Oyamel firs to fulfill that trip
never taken.
¹ Also
known as the Tarascan.
For fun articles on Mexican holidays, you can purchase: The Insider’s Guide to the Best Mexican Holidays. It will be available in Kindle format on Amazon on December 17, 2021. Nineteen authors, including yours truly, contributed articles.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE AT STILETTO GANG!!!
Photo
credits:
Monarca
Encantadora© by
Jorge J. Lane
Rosario
Monarca© by Jorge J. Lane
It’s Release Month for BEAUTY AND THE DECEASED
/in Uncategorized/by Debra SennefelderHappy December!
There’s so much to be excited about this month. Christmas is just a few weeks away and in a few short days, BEAUTY AND THE DECEASED will be released!
Doesn’t the cover just give you all the warm, summery beach vibes we’ll be dreaming of in a few weeks? Well, if you live in snow country, you’re probably dreaming of beach weather right now. But where I am in Connecticut, those feelings start to surface in January, when winter really hits. I’ll just stare at my book cover. 🙂
I really enjoyed writing this installment of the Resale Boutique Mystery series. It was so enjoyable hanging out with the Lucky Cove gang after being away for a few months. There’s a lot of stuff packed into this book, from a life-altering secret to backstabbing beauty influencers behaving badly.
Today I’m sharing an excerpt with you and I’m sharing the details on a pre-release giveaway! Read to the end!
Have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by today.
EXCERPT:
Kelly Quinn knew three things for
sure her first full summer back home in Lucky Cove. One—summer people were good
for business. Two—reconnecting with her cousin was just what she needed to help
deal with…well, see number three. Three—getting over a breakup is hard when you
see the guy practically every day.
She
leaned closer to the mirror and applied a swipe of her new favorite lipstick,
Beachy Nude by Define Beauty. The up-and-coming cosmetics company had been her
cousin’s brainchild. Becky Quinn’s obsession with makeup in her teen years had
paid off.
Kelly
dropped the lipstick into her vintage Gucci clutch she used as a cosmetics bag.
It had been a little treat to herself after the breakup from her boyfriend.
Luckily the consignment website she purchased it from had a payment plan. She
grappled around for her concealer and finally found the tube.
Dabbing
on the Define Beauty’s concealer, she knew something else for certain. And it
made her belly quiver.
Family
secrets that bubbled below the surface could suddenly erupt, swallowing
everyone involved. Including someone like her who only knew merely about the
secret.
Too
bad her concealer didn’t work on things like heartbreaks and secrets. She would
have purchased a vat full.
A
dramatic meow drew her attention from the dresser’s mirror to the floor where
her orange cat, Howard, sat staring up at her. He meowed again and ratcheted up
the drama that time. She glanced at her watch and sighed. Right on time.
The
furball had a schedule, and heaven forbid there was any deviation. After all,
his first nap of the morning would be after breakfast.
“Okay,
okay. I’m almost done.” She stepped back from the dresser and gave a final look
at her outfit. She nodded approvingly at her gray wide-leg linen blend pants
topped with a black cotton shell and paired with block-heeled sandals. It was a
fashionable yet comfortable outfit for the day ahead. Before she opened her
shop, the Lucky Cove Resale Boutique, she had an appointment with a new
consignor. According to the woman’s sister-in-law, who worked with Kelly, Camille
Donovan had a ton of clothes to sell.
Kelly’s
lips curled up into a smile. She loved clients like Camille. And she needed
more of them.
Another
meow, this time louder and more urgent, alerted Kelly to her cat’s growing
impatience with her dawdling. Over time, she’d learned to decipher his various
sounds and body language. It would have been a whole lot easier if he’d come
with a manual when she inherited him from her granny. Manuals would have helped
with the boutique and her apartment too. Oh, and she couldn’t forget
relationships. A how-to guide on how to repair broken relationships would have
been beneficial. Alas, there was no handbook on life. It looked like she, along
with everyone else, was learning as she went along.
She
zipped the cosmetics bag and carried it out of the bedroom with Howard right on
her heels. When she stopped at the small table in the hall between the coat
closet and the door, he gave her a questionable look.
Exactly
who owned whom?
“I’m
only dropping this into my tote,” she reassured her feline.
Her
cell phone chimed, and she slipped it out from its pocket in the bag. Another
meow prompted her to walk and read the text simultaneously.
Wish
you were here.
Isn’t this gorgeous?
Kelly
smiled at the photo of the sunrise her cousin Becky had sent. Lucky Cove didn’t
have long stretches of beach that neighboring towns had, but it rivaled them in
beauty and tranquilness. Her hometown wasn’t a flashy summer village where
people vacationed to be seen. Families and overstressed city-dwellers flocked
to the town to recharge, not to be followed around by paparazzi.
She
typed a reply as she entered the kitchen and nearly tripped over Howard. He was
getting excited about his breakfast.
Can’t
wait to see the house.
* * *
GIVEAWAY INFO:
Debra Sennefelder is the
author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series.
She lives and writes in Connecticut. When she’s not writing, she enjoys baking,
exercising and taking long walks with her Shih-Tzu, Connie. You can keep in touch
with Debra through her website, on Facebook and Instagram.
Holiday Books & Movies
/in Uncategorized/by The Stiletto Gangby Sparkle Abbey
It’s hard to believe that it’s December but here we are. Some of us are looking forward to big family gatherings for the first time and a while and others are planning something much more low key for the holidays. Some of us have Christmas shopping done and others have not even begun. Some of us love holiday books and movies and others are…meh.
What’s your view?
We love holiday movies but we both lean toward classic movies. And actually we share the same favorite of the season – “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
We simply can’t let the holidays go by without at least one viewing. (Maybe more than one because we’re certain our families need to see it again, too.)
And then there are other great classics.
Here are some that top our list:
And more recently films such as “The Man Who Invented Christmas” and “The Holiday” also make the list.
We also love holiday-themed books though our taste there runs a bit more to crime. Mary Higgins Clark comes to mind as favorites over the years. Her website has a list of MHC Christmas Books.
There are several resources if you’re looking for ideas. Bibliofile provided this list of the 50 Best Christmas Mysteries and our go-to is always Janet Rudolph’s Mystery Fanfare for recommendations and the most complete listings. Here’s the recent list of Hanukah Crime Fiction.
Just like movies we all have different tastes in books and just like you all, we’re always looking for new recommendations. So we’d like to hear from you.
What’s your favorite holiday movie and your (most recent) favorite holiday-themed book?
Sparkle Abbey is actually two people, Mary Lee Ashford and Anita Carter, who write the national best-selling Pampered Pets cozy mystery series. They are friends as well as neighbors so they often get together and plot ways to commit murder. (But don’t tell the other neighbors.)
They love to hear from readers and can be found on Facebook,and Twitter their favorite social media sites. Also, if you want to make sure you get updates, sign up for their newsletter via the SparkleAbbey.com website.
Thankful!
/in Uncategorized/by TK ThorneWriter, humanist,
dog-mom, horse servant and cat-slave,
Lover of solitude
and the company of good friends,
new places, new ideas
and old wisdom.
Hope you had a great day yesterday with those you love, celebrating all the things you are thankful for. I am grateful for many things, family and friends in particular. But this year I am also thankful to have a new member of our family.
This is Nicki-Jones in February of this year (2021) when she arrived from a
“kill lot” (next step dog food in Mexico) in Louisiana to a quarantine
pasture. She was lame and had a large wicked scar on the front of her left back leg and a patterned scarring on the back of the other leg that makes me think she got tangle in barbed wire at some point. The circular sticker on her withers was her lot #. She had a brand under her mane from the track, so I was able to confirm that she was a 16 year-old Standardbred. She was sweet, but had no idea what a treat was or even that eating out of a human hand was a possibility, which speaks to her former life as a work horse—pulling a sulky (a one-person cart) on a pacer race track and then with the Amish, where I assume she pulled a cart or wagon. I don’t know how long she had been at the kill lot, but they don’t keep them long because feeding her is an expense.
We
took her in with another mare to give our gelding a companion and her a safe place to
grow older and get loved on. Never thought I would be riding her! But she put on weight and gloss and healed up and definitely knows what a treat is now! Her coat even changed from brown to black this summer.
This is the first time I’ve been on her. Wasn’t sure what she would do, as I don’t know if she’s ever had anyone on her back, only pulled things. She caught on quickly, though, and I was really happy on this beautiful day to be in the saddle! It’s been a long time for the old lady on the top. Not sure Nicki-Jones felt the same way, but hoping we have some adventures ahead of us on the trails and lots of years to get to know each other and to be thankful for.
Blessings on this day of thankfulness by Juliana Aragon Fatula
/in Author Life/by Juliana Aragon FatulaDear Reader,
Today, I give thanks to all of my loved ones for putting up with me and my cantankerous irreverent unholy magic. ha.
I never knew my European ancestors or my Indigenous ancestors but in my research I discovered that many indigenous women married white men and had children that were mixed blood.
I married a white man and we did not have any children but our relationship has been of a mixed race marriage and we have made it work for 30 years. I’m thankful for him and his Slovak ancestors that made his DNA.
I’m thankful for my father’s DNA that gave me my Navajo and Pueblo ancestors. And my mother’s DNA that gave me Ute and Navajo ancestors.
I am a mixed blood Mexican Indian. A Chicana from Southern Colorado. I’m thankful for all of my ancestors, European and Indigenous that made me into the human being that loves all people of all colors, races, religions and ethnicities.
This holiday remember where you come from and be thankful that you live in a country that believes in Democracy. At least if we can keep it.
Thank you readers for taking time out of your busy holiday to read my blog and listen to my stories. I’m thankful for you.
No One Ever Promised Life Would Be Fair
/in Uncategorized/by Lois WinstonBy Lois Winston
I graduated college (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, if you believe my kids) with a degree in graphic design and illustration and went to work as an art director at a small ad agency. Big title. Tiny paycheck. I was the one and only artist on staff, so I really didn’t direct anyone.
One day I was complaining about the unfairness of something to our office manager, and she said, “Lois, no one ever promised life would be fair.”
That conversation took place so long ago that I don’t even remember the names of all my coworkers, but her words have stuck with me. Over the years I’ve had some hard times while others around me have had great success. I have a relative who I’ve often said could step in caca and have it turn into gold. Some people have that kind of luck. Me? Well, let’s just say I’ve never won more than $7 on a lottery ticket. Get the picture?
I’m constantly reminded of that coworker’s words when I look down the long and winding road of my life as a published author. No one ever promised life would be fair. The outside world (those millions and millions of people who know nothing about publishing) thinks every published author is pulling in the kind of big bucks that James Patterson, Stephen King, and J.K. Rowling make. Friends and relatives expect you to give them free books because after all, you’re a published author and can afford it. (I can hear the laughter coming from all the published authors reading this blog post.)
The hard truth is that most published authors can’t afford to quit their day jobs. And that includes many authors I know who have hit the NY Times bestseller list. Factoring in the hours most of us devote to crafting each novel, then promoting it, we’d make more money per hour asking, “Do you want fries with that?”
So why do we do it?
We write because we can’t not write. (Pardon the double-negative.) Yes, it’s hard work, often filled with disappointment: You can’t sell what you consider your break-out book. Your last royalty check was less than three figures. Your publisher drops you. Your foray into indie publishing has resulted in sales that might sustain your Starbucks habit—if you’re lucky.
And still, we continue to write. Because you we can’t not write.
No one ever said life would be fair–or easy, but the struggle makes us stronger. And better. We keep writing. Keep honing our craft. Maybe someday luck will be on our side, and we’ll reap the rewards of all that hard work. One thing is for certain, though, if we give up, we’ll never succeed.
As a gift to my readers, for a limited time the 2-ebook set of Christmas-themed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, featuring Drop Dead Ornaments and Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide, is available for only .99 cents. Click here for Buy Links.
~*~
USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.
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Grateful for Audiobooks!
/in Uncategorized/by The Stiletto GangBy Lynn McPherson
My first audiobook is finally out in the world! I’m so excited to share with readers that they can now listen to the first Izzy Walsh Mystery, The Girls’ Weekend Murder. As an author, it is an absolute delight to hear your words read aloud by a professional narrator–even more exciting than I’d imagined.
The timing couldn’t be better either with Thanksgiving two days away. I have so much to be grateful for, my audiobook is only adding to the lengthy list.
I hope everyone is able to spend time with loved ones, enjoy a wonderful meal, and have a relaxing holiday weekend.
Here is a little about my first audiobook, described as a mixture of Murder, She Wrote and I Love Lucy…
An oceanfront estate in the beautiful New England town of Twin Oaks is the ideal setting for Isabelle Walsh and her close-knit group of friends to celebrate their annual girls’ weekend in 1953.
While off to a promising start, the weekend quickly goes awry as murder interrupts the fun and the hostess is accused of the shocking crime. Izzy quickly realizes it is up to her to save her innocent friend and bring the murderer to light.
Keen intuition and quick wit are Izzy’s only tools. She must use them to find the dark truth before the killer brings her investigation to a dead stop…
Happy Thanksgiving Readers!!!