Tag Archive for: Evelyn David

Taking Chances

/in /by

By Evelyn David

I’m not much of a risk taker. I like sure things. I tend to
err on the side of caution. I hope I’m not a fuddy-duddy, but I tend to stick
to the familiar. That extends to my reading habits.

As you might imagine, I like mysteries. I tend to prefer
traditional mysteries or cozies because as legendary writer Carolyn Hart once
said, in the worlds she create, “the good guys always win.”

But I just finished a three-book historical romance series
that I adored. The only mystery was whether the couple I was rooting for would
be together at the end – and the answer was a resounding yes. Hardships and
complications were rampant, but believable, but the good guys and gals did win.

Maybe it is the difficult times we are currently in, but it
was heartening to read about joint efforts, compromise, and a fundamental
belief that love can triumph. Maybe I just needed some “happily ever
after.”

Thanks to Serena B. Miller, the author of the trilogy I just
finished: The Measure of Katie Calloway; Under a Blackberry Moon ; and A Promise to Love. (Read them in that order, even though book 3 was published
before book 2.) Besides the lovely romances, I learned a little history about life in Michigan in the post-Civil War years.

But besides delighting in these stories, I also found myself
tempted to try a new genre in my own writing. We’ve always included a bit of
romance in the Mac Sullivan and Brianna books. But as I finished Ms. Miller’s tomes,
I wondered if we might shift the emphasis in a new Evelyn David book, with more
romance and less mystery.

We’ve got a lot on our plates right now. We’re finishing a
new Brianna mystery (that definitely has some romance). But maybe it’s time to
take a chance on something new. Kind of exciting – which is what I often forget
about risks. Sometimes they’re just fun.

Marian, the Northern half of Evelyn David (off to find a
roller coaster?)

—————
 

Evelyn David’s Mysteries 

Audible    iTunes

Audible    iTunes

 

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 – Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)

Sullivan Investigations Mystery series
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords


Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

Change Ain’t Easy

/in /by

by Evelyn David

 
For the past six months I’ve kvetched, whined, worried, and conversely
delighted in and even laughed at all the changes in my life. All were for the
good in the long run, but that’s not to say, that most didn’t involve serious
hard work.

To recap the last six months:

We prepped, put on the market, and sold our home of 24 years

We bought another home, after a ragged month of haggling
over minor details (them, not us)

We moved on a day that topped 95 degrees

We had the house painted and a few minor repairs completed while we
lived in this new house

Then:
Son number two announced that he’d gotten a fantastic job
opportunity. Only downside, at least for this devoted grandma, is that no
longer will adorable grandkids be 45 minutes away. Instead they were moving to…wait
for it…Paris.
Yes, I know, I shouldn’t whine about Paris, but
do you know how far away Paris
is and how much I loathe flying? They move after the first of the year.

Son number three also announced that he had gotten a
fantastic job opportunity, only downside is that instead of living 25 minutes
away, he would now be living in Seattle.
See objections above.

Then there were the glorious moments:

In May, adorable grandson was born. He is the child of son
number one and his wonderful wife.

In September, son number three announced his engagement to a
wonderful woman.

And ten days later, adorable granddaughter #2 was born (to
son number 2 and his wonderful wife who are moving to Paris).

Seriously, can you keep up? I can’t.

So, with all this change in my real life, I am now faced
with another move, this time a virtual one, in my mystery writing life. The
Stiletto Gang, of which we are proud founders, is moving to Facebook. It’s an
easier way to connect to readers.

Writing this blog has been a lovely way to memorialize some
special moments in our personal and professional lives, as well as to get off
our chests some issues we feel need addressing. And you know what? We still
plan to do that – just on Facebook. If you haven’t already, please “like”
our new page, The Stiletto Gang. Stop by, chat, and catch up on all that’s
happening with our gang.

All best wishes,

Marian, the Northern, frazzled half of Evelyn David

 

_________________

Evelyn David’s Mysteries 
 
 
Audible    iTunes

Audible    iTunes
 

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 – Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)

Sullivan Investigations Mystery series
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords


Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

Pedaling As Fast As I Can

/in /by

This has turned into a really busy September for
both halves of Evelyn David. We’re all about moving households, roof repairs,
new appliances, audiobooks, babies, family obligations, and when we get a spare
minute – writing.

Oh, and did I mention that I can barely type with
my left hand because of shoulder pain or maybe it’s more like arm pain since it
starts at my neck and runs around my shoulder to just below my elbow? But my fingers
and wrist are fine. So probably not carpel tunnel. Another few days of wearing
a heating pad and walking around smelling of Icy Hot may have me visiting my
doctor. I’m sure he’s going to say stop using the computer for a week and then
call me. Like that’s going to happen. Almost everything thing I do now is done
via a computer.

I’ve replaced a hot water heater and a washing
machine this past month. I’m not sure what else can break down but with an old
house, each day is an adventure.

Did I mention that I visited the dentist two weeks
ago? I have a crown that he installed a couple of months ago that is very
temperature sensitive. He x-rayed it and thinks “his crown” looks perfect.  He’s given me 50/50 odds on the need for a
root canal. Perhaps I have a hairline crack in my tooth? Right. I’m not feeling lucky. 

Thanks for letting me vent. 

Now back to the writing. My co-author and I are
writing a new Brianna Sullivan Mystery – volume 11 of the paranormal mystery
series. Despite all the things that are going on in our personal lives, I think
we might be writing the best Brianna yet. If you haven’t read Lottawatah
Fireworks (volume 10 of the series) this would be a good time. The new book, untitled at this time, brings closure to a mystery introduced in an earlier volume.
 
For the next two weeks the e-book version of our
stand-alone mystery Zoned for Murder is on sale for 99 cents.  Don’t miss this bargain. 

Note: On a happy note, new episodes of Foyle’s War
are airing on PBS. It’s my light at the end of the week!  

Rhonda
aka The Southern Half of Evelyn David


—————
 

Evelyn David’s Mysteries 

Audible    iTunes

Audible    iTunes

 

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 – Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)

Sullivan Investigations Mystery series
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords


Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

Missing

/in /by


By Evelyn David

My muse has taken a hike – like in the Himalayas.
I’ve lost my MoJo, my ability to create murder and mayhem at will. It’s not
that I can’t think of delightful ways to kill off villains – in real life and
fictionally. But it seems I have misplaced my ability to create a coherent
storyline, one that won’t leave readers scratching their heads and wondering
what the heck happened, if anything.

In my defense, I’ve got lots of good reasons why the muse
went missing. Real life intruded and the poor thing probably felt neglected. No
attention was paid to the tiny bursts of inspiration she’d proffer. “Hey,
how about a story about a neighbor who was an Elvis impersonator. Or “How
about a murder victim who mumbled ‘Camelot’ with his last breath.” But after
I’d ignored enough hints about getting back to work, I suspect my muse headed
off to someone else who would appreciate a clever inspiration of whodunnit. Heck,
she’s probably feasting at Stephen King’s house right this minute – and I don’t
blame her a bit.

The Master of Terror understands. Stephen King once said
that the “scariest moment is always just before you start [writing]. After
that, things can only get better.” But of course, that assumes you can start.
Sue Grafton, mistress of the alphabetic mysteries, was blunt: “I carry a
notebook with me everywhere. But that’s only the first step. Ideas are easy.
It’s the execution of ideas that really separates the sheep from the
goats.”

And Mary Heaton Vorse, activist and journalist, was even
blunter: “The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants
to the seat of the chair.”

So I’m putting out the welcome mat, baking some chocolate
chip cookies (for the muse and me), and following the immortal advice of James
Thurber: “Don’t get it right, just get it written.”

Break’s over; time to get back to work.

Marian, the Northern half of Evelyn David

 

—————
 

Evelyn David’s Mysteries 

Audible    iTunes

Audible    iTunes

 

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 – Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)

Sullivan Investigations Mystery series
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords


Zoned for Murder – stand-alone mystery
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords
Trade Paperback


Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Days of Awe

/in /by

These are the Days of Awe. The period between Rosh Hashonah,
the Jewish New Year that began last Wednesday evening, and Yom Kippur, the Day
of Atonement, which will start this Friday night. It’s a time of reflection, of
repentance, of prayer.

The liturgy is full of powerful images. Several times during
the 25 hours of the holiday, a time when we fast, we repeat The Al-Chet, the
prayer of confession. We recite a long list of sins, asking forgiveness for
those we have done knowingly AND unknowingly. We ask God to “pardon us,
forgive us, atone for us.” But the prayer also tells us how “Teshuvah,
Tefilla and Tzedakah,” repentance, prayer, and charity are the ways we are
forgiven. Simply reciting the words do not give you a metaphorical “free get
out of jail card.” Words must be accompanied by action. Thought must
become deed.

I went to a lecture a few weeks ago, given by the brilliant
liturgist Lawrence Hoffman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_A._Hoffman).
He urged his audience to move beyond the simple translation of the words we
recite. To move beyond the image of God marking in a celestial accounting book, who will
live and who will die in the coming year. But instead to focus on the kind of life you will lead in the
coming year. If you knew that your time on this earth were to end this year, were you
leading the meaningful, thoughtful, loving kind of life you would want?

Whether you are Jewish or not, I think that is a question
for each of us, applicable whether it’s the Days of Awe or not. It makes us
focus on what’s important, prioritize how we spend our time, and insures that
we keep true to those values we know to be the bedrock of our lives.

May you be inscribed in the Book of Life, with best wishes
for a healthy, happy, meaningful new year. 

Marian, the Northern half of Evelyn David

—————
 

Evelyn David’s Mysteries 

Audible    iTunes

Audible    iTunes

 

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 – Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)

Sullivan Investigations Mystery series
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords


Zoned for Murder – stand-alone mystery
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords
Trade Paperback


Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

Happy Labor Day from Evelyn David

/in /by
 
 
 

Enjoy the Holiday!   

 
From a funeral home make-up artist, to a small town reporter, to a psychic doing ghostly social work,
our characters work hard for their money.
Check out our mysteries – available in 
e-book, trade paperback, and now two in audiobook formats!
 

Audible    iTunes

Audible    iTunes

 

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 – Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)

Sullivan Investigations Mystery series
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords


Zoned for Murder – stand-alone mystery
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords
Trade Paperback


Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

As Summer Winds Down

/in /by

News from the Southern Half of Evelyn David

This week I’m traveling to St. Louis for my day job. I’ve
made the six-plus-hour drive multiple times in the past – sometimes to visit
libraries for book promotions, but more often for meetings with other states on
coal mining and reclamation. I’ve worked for 29 years at the Oklahoma
Department of Mines, first as a surface coal mine inspector and later as the
Coal Program Director. As a state regulator by day and mystery writer at night,
it’s very easy for me to tell you which I prefer. Writing is a great escape
from dealing with mining permits and enforcement actions. Plus murder is not
only allowed, but expected in the mystery world.

 
While I’m in St. Louis, I’ll continue to write in the
evenings with my trusty laptop. Currently my co-author and I are working on two new writing projects,
trying to get a third audiobook published, and continuing with the promotion of
our latest mysteries – MURDER DOUBLES BACK and LOTTAWATAH FIREWORKS. Both of
these books are frankly the best we’ve ever written. It seems that with writing like
most things, the more you do, the better you get at it.  

When we first started out writing fiction together, we had
to spend a lot of time on the mechanics of the process and now ten years down
the road, the mechanics are a minor worry, the characters and plot are the focus!
I mentioned two new writing projects – one is the eleventh book in the Brianna
Sullivan Mysteries series and the other is a stand-alone mystery which we’ve
been mulling over in our heads for a couple of years. Now’s the time to stretch our wings
and give it a try. It will be set on a ranch in southeastern Oklahoma with a young
female protagonist. I can’t talk too much about it now or I’ll screw up our plot
bunny “mojo.” Seriously! It’s true that sometimes you can ruin a
story by discussing it too much before getting it down in print.

We’re so pleased to have the first books in our two long-running series available now as audiobooks – I TRY NOT TO DRIVE PAST CEMETERIES
and MURDER OFF THE BOOKS. We found terrific narrators and the end results are
exceptional – even if we say so ourselves. Look for them at Amazon and iTunes. We
anticipate the second book in the Brianna Sullivan Mysteries, THE DOG DAYS OF
SUMMER IN LOTTAWATAH, to be out as an audiobook by October.
 
Hope you have had a great summer of reading and/or listening to mysteries!

Audible    iTunes

Audible    iTunes

 

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 – Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)

Sullivan Investigations Mystery series
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

Zoned for Murder – stand-alone mystery
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords
Trade Paperback

Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

For Your Viewing Pleasure

/in /by

By Evelyn David


When I was a teenager, I was a television addict. If there
had been a 12-step program, my mother would have sent me to daily meetings. She
staged an intervention the day she left the house at 7 in the morning, returned
at 10 at night, and it was apparent that I hadn’t left my spot on the couch in
front of the TV the entire day.

She quietly took in the scene, walked over to the
television, and turned it off. Mom was from South Carolina and when under stress, her
accent re-emerged in full force.

“I believe you’ve had enough.” Picture one of the
women from Steel Magnolias uttering the phrase.

I couldn’t imagine what she was talking about. Too much TV?
Despite the fact that cable hadn’t yet entered the scene, I still had an endless
array of choices for viewing pleasure. Soap operas, game shows, dramas,
comedies, and of course, reruns, lots and lots of reruns.

I bring up my sordid past because a few days ago the
Southern half of this writing duo urged me to watch her very favorite show,
Major Crimes. She was pretty sure I’d be interested because it featured actors
from Classic TV shows of yesteryear.

I quietly informed her that I didn’t currently have a working
television in the house (since corrected).

If only Mom, the original Evelyn, could see me now.

The truth is, since The West Wing went off the air, I
haven’t had any “Must See TV.” With the exception of the news, I watch
almost nothing in “real time.” The DVR, included in my cable package,
has made recording shows a snap, even for a non-techie like myself.  Even if I’m available to catch a show when
it first airs, I prefer to watch the DVR version. Skipping commercials is
worth the wait. Dancing with the Stars is more fun when I can fast-forward through the contestants I can’t stand, and focus on what brilliant choreography Derek Hough and Mark Ballas have created. Netflix and Amazon Prime have added to the ease of skipping entire seasons of a show, then binge-ing on episodes over a weekend.

Am I looking forward to the Fall season? A couple of shows have caught my eye. Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar in The Crazy Ones might be worth a look; I’m hooked on Scandal, and I love a British series, Doc Martin. Any show you suggest I add to my DVR schedule?

Marian, the Northern half of Evelyn David

Sullivan Investigations Mystery
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 – Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)

I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries, the first book in our Brianna Sullivan Mysteries series, is now available as an audio book at Amazon through Audible.com and at iTunes. We were very lucky to obtain the services of a wonderful narrator, Wendy Tremont King. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that Wendy will be available to be the voice of Brianna Sullivan for the entire series. We’ve discovered that Brianna’s adventures in Lottawatah, Oklahoma, are perfect for the audio book format!



Zoned for Murder – stand-alone mystery

Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Art of the Move

/in /by

by Evelyn David

At long last, we moved. I’ve been talking about it, planning
for it, and then going through the process of culling, donating, tossing, and
packing for what seems like eternity, so that the actual move was almost
anti-climatic. No time for sentiment when it’s 100 degrees, 200% humidity, and
the truck is a-waiting. To my old house: See You, it’s been great.

To the New One: um, pardon me, but you looked like you were
pristine and perfect when I bought you; now that I’m living here, you’ve got
more than your fair share of problems.

On the other hand, don’t we all?

I’ve found in life that often what I fear will be the big
problem – isn’t; and what I thought would be a snap is a totally unexpected disaster.
For example, when our oldest son was in kindergarten, at a private school that
was known for its child-centered philosophy and for which we were paying a
fortune which we didn’t have – we got a full-price offer on our house. At last
we could move so that my husband’s commute to his new job, close to 2 hours
each way, would be eliminated.

I obsessed over moving my firstborn during the school year,
convinced that I was about to inflict unfixable psychic damage that would
require years of therapy. (What can I say? I’m a writer, I tend to be overly
dramatic). But sadly, it’s the truth. I was terrified about the short- and
long-term effects on child number one.

So of course, I paid zero attention to the two-year old, who
was a happy-go-lucky, walked at ten months, toilet-trained himself at 20 months,
sprite.

You know the end of the story. Son number one headed off to
public school and announced he’d always hated the fancy-schmancy private
school. Son number two became a 30-pound permanent weight on my leg, regressed
totally, and left me wondering just how dumb I could be to so totally misread
the cues about both kids. OY.

For this move, I had no kids to worry about – but I did have
a very aged dog who is very particular about her toilet habits. (Why does any
move involve me worrying about bathroom habits?). So she spent the first week
of the move with her doctor, to avoid the chaos of the move (and the quick trip
we took to son number two’s graduation from his MFA program – and yes, he did
grow up unscathed from that “traumatic” period of his life). We
brought Clio home on Monday and spent the next 24 hours walking around our
neighborhood trying to entice her to “do her business.” She’s pickier
than Queen Elizabeth about her throne. But finally, she has found a few spots
that suit her – and other than that, she’s eating, sleeping, and begging for
treats like normal. It’s quite possible that she prefers this house to the old
one for the same reason my husband does – no steps. Both suffer from aging
knees.

So I’m moved in and have one zillion boxes, workmen, and
house problems to deal with. But I’m also more than ready to move on to some
murder and mayhem – fictional of course.

Marian, the Northern, unsettled, but getting there, half of
Evelyn David

 

I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries, the first book in our Brianna Sullivan Mysteries series, is now available as an audio book at Amazon through Audible.com and at iTunes.

 

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 – Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)

Sullivan Investigations Mystery series
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

Zoned for Murder – stand-alone mystery
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords
Trade Paperback

Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

What Do You Hear?

/in /by

One of my favorite lines from the television series Battlestar Galactica is when Admiral Adama, wanting to know the status of the fleet, asks Starbuck, “What do you hear?” Her standard answer when conveying the message that all was well was, “Sir, nothing but the rain.”

Well Stiletto Faithful, we’ve been hearing nothing but the rain too. All is well in Evelyn David’s world. This spring and summer we’ve held the Cylons at bay and managed to produce two new mysteries, and just this past week, an audio book. All is going very well!

I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries, the first book in our Brianna Sullivan Mysteries series, is now available as an audio book at Amazon through Audible.com and at iTunes. We were very lucky to obtain the services of a wonderful narrator, Wendy Tremont King. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that Wendy will be available to be the voice of Brianna Sullivan for the entire series. We’ve discovered that Brianna’s adventures in Lottawatah, Oklahoma, are perfect for the audio book format!

Hell on wheels or a psychic in a travel trailer? Brianna Sullivan gave up her job finding missing luggage for the airlines in order to seek the freedom of the open road. Her first stop? The small town of Lottawatah, Oklahoma. Using her psychic abilities, Brianna takes on a multitude of jobs to earn gas money, help out the local police detective, and direct some troubled souls towards the light.

The tenth book in the series has just been published in e-book and trade paperback. Lottawatah Fireworks continues the spooky, yet funny saga of reluctant psychic Brianna Sullivan as she solves mysteries, romances the local police detective, and directs ghosts towards their final destination. A little darker in theme than previous books, Lottawatah Fireworks takes Brianna on an emotional journey that stretches the bounds of friendship and love.

In Lottawatah Fireworks, Brianna’s fiancé surprises
her by buying a ramshackle hunting lodge, ready to call it home. The cabin
comes complete with no plumbing, no electricity, and the ghost of a recent
murder victim. It’s up to Brianna to find the truth of who killed the man and
why.

Lottawatah Fireworks (The Ghosts of Lottawatah, Volume 3) is a paperback compendium of the three most recent adventures including: Good Grief in Lottawatah, Summer Lightning in Lottawatah, and Lottawatah Fireworks.

Not to leave out the news of our other mystery series – you know the one with the “big” dog? Yes, Mac and Whiskey are back! Don’t miss Murder Doubles Back! An old cold case heats up for Mac and his team as they search for a teen who has been missing more than ten years.

Private detective Mac Sullivan has
been haunted by the case of Amanda Norman, a teenage girl who disappeared into
thin air during a class trip. But someone is determined to stir the embers of
that cold case. Each year Mac receives a postcard that asks a simple question:
Where is Amanda Norman? This year, Mac decides he will answer the question once
and for all in Murder Doubles Back.

Admiral Adama’s standard response to Starbuck’s “Nothing but the rain” was, “Then grab your gun and bring in the cat.” Cat and gun aside, we hope all is right in your world and that you are enjoying your summer reading! Leave a comment and tell us “what you hear.”

Evelyn David

Sullivan Investigations Mystery
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Audio Book
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 – Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)

Zoned for Murder – stand-alone mystery

Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords