Tag Archive for: Maze in Blue

Book Covers Are Like a Rose by Any Other Name

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Juliet in William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet proclaimed that “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  Although this is often taken to mean what’s in a name, I have discovered that the same can be said for book covers.  This month, Harlequin Worldwide Mystery is featuring a mass market version of my 2012 IPPY winning book Maze in Blue as a May book of the month. http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=51770&cid=337 .  Although the content of the book remains the same as the original, it has received a new cover:

Maze in Blue, a mystery set on the University of Michigan’s campus in the 1970’s, was first published in April 2011.  During book signings and talks, I described it as a book designed to be a beach, airplane, or night table read.  My goal was to write the type of book I enjoyed – a FUN read.  When it was first published, the cover design’s maize and blue colors hopefully resonated with Michigan fans.

In 2012, Maze in Blue received an Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY) so the book’s cover was redesigned to prominently display the award’s insignia.  This took care of people who bought the book online…those who bought it at a signing were rewarded with a sticker being placed over the award symbol.

Books normally have a short life span, but Maze in Blue has defied the odds – in its 2012 trade book and e-book editions and now Harlequin’s 2014 version, it continues to prove that no matter what the cover looks like, the book still is bringing enjoyment to readers. Truly, a rose by any other name……..

Murder with Ganache Triggers Memories of Our Daughter’s Wedding

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A few months ago, my husband and I lived through the insanity (with love) of our daughter getting married. The strategic planning and balancing of family, friends, and vendors was worse than plotting a novel. When I recently read Murder with Ganache:  A Key West Food Critic Mystery by Lucy Burdete (aka Roberta Isleib), I was reminded by its combination of mystery, romance, family conflict, food and recipes of just how smoothly our wedding weekend went. I found the book to be fun, witty and with just the right amount of clues to keep me guessing to the end.

In Murder with Ganache, Haley Snow, the food critic for Key Zest magazine, is juggling meeting her writing deadlines for restaurant reviews, doughnut and sticky bun tastings, and an article on the Hemingway cats while handling all of the details, include baking 200 cupcakes, for her best friend’s wedding.  Haley’s plate overflows when family drama and murder is added to it.

The summary blurb notes that Haley’s “parents come barreling down on the island like a category 3 hurricane and on the first night in town her stepbrother, Roby, disappears into the spring break party scene in Key West.  When Haley hears that two teenagers have stolen a jet ski, she sets aside her oven mitts and goes in search of Rory.  She finds him, barely conscious, but his female companion isn’t so lucky.  Now Haley has to let the cupcakes cool and assemble the sprinkles of clues to clear her stepbrother’s name – before someone else gets iced.”

Murder with Ganache is an enjoyable read and a well-constructed mystery that also manages to embrace family.  In addition, the book brings the quirkiness of Key West to life by including details such as the Hemingway House’s cats and the famous Courthouse Deli Bench (the bench has its own Facebook page).
Much as I enjoyed the memories that Murder with Ganache brought back, I’m really happy that our wedding weekend was comparably tame.

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Lucy Burdette (aka Roberta Isleib) is the author of twelve mysteries.  Murder with Ganache is the latest in the Key West series featuring food critic Haley Snow. She is a past president of Sisters in Crime.
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Debra H. Goldstein is the author of 2012 IPPY Award winning Maze in Blue, a mystery set on the University of Michigan’s campus in the 1970’s.  It has been selected as a Harlequin Worldwide Mystery book of the month for May 2014.  Who Dat? Dat the Indian Chief! is one of thirteen short stories in the newly released Mardi Gras Murder anthology.

Confessing Passions – Offering Fun

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Debra H. Goldstein
Confessing Passions –
Offering Fun 
by Debra H. Goldstein
I confess to two sinful passions:  shoes and books.  I’m a sucker for any pair of shoes that fit
me.  Luckily, size six AAA flat feet that are only comfortable in low heels limit the number of shoes with my name on them.  This allows me use
my money to indulge my second obsession – buying books, especially
mysteries.  Consequently, how could I say
no to marrying heels and murder every second and fourth Friday through The
Stiletto Gang’s blog?  It is a perfect
match for me J.
But then I started to worry about you.  What engages you?  Obviously, prattling about my love of shoes
and books will quickly bore you. So, what to write about?
Describing me can pretty much be summed up in a few words:  judge, litigator, author, wife, mother of
twins, step-mom, civic volunteer, transplanted Yankee and a woman who hates to
be pigeon-holed.  My writings are equally
diverse.  That’s why my personal blog is
called “It’s Not Always a Mystery.” (http://DebraHGoldstein.wordpress.com) 
Spending a lot of words telling you about how Harlequin Worldwide Mysteries
will be issuing my 2012 IPPY Award winning debut novel, Maze in Blue, a mystery set on the University of Michigan’s campus
in the 1970’s, as its May 2014 selection seems a waste of time because you can
read about that on my website, www.DebraHGoldstein.com.  The same holds true for introducing you to my non-fiction pieces including “More Hugs Less Fear” that was published by More Magazine online, my short
stories like “Legal Magic,” “Malicious Mischief,” “Grandma’s Garden” or this
month’s Bethlehem Writers Roundtable featured
story “A Political Cornucopia” (www.bwgwritersroundtable.com
).

I could share funny anecdotes about having four children, a
husband whose blood runs Crimson, how I reacted when my book publisher ceased
operations the week I was on my first Malice Domestic panel and had speaking
engagements lined up for the next six months or balancing my legal career with
writing, but I’d prefer to know what interests you.  Whether something personal from my website,
my Tom Sawyer philosophy, or why I think networking is almost as important as
getting words on paper are all possible topics. 

Let’s make this fun – I’ll spend the next few
days thinking about shoes and books while you take a look at my website and stories and leave me comments on The Stiletto Gang Blog about your preferred topics. As an incentive, I will randomly pick a name
and theme from your comments and send that person a free copy of Maze in Blue.  Check back on November 22 to see who won and what the blog topic turns out to be.

Contact: 
DHG@DebraHGoldstein.com
Personal Blog:  http://DebraHGoldstein.wordpress.com
or through website-DHG’s Blog
Twitter: @DebraHGoldstein    
Facebook: Debra Goldstein LinkedIn:  DebraHGoldstein