Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Valerie Massey Goree!

Talkshow Thursday:

Welcome Back, Valerie Massey Goree!

1.How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)? My basic plot often determines who my characters will be and what careers they might have. For instance, in Every Hidden Thing, Flynn, my hero has a legitimate and personal reason to be a realtor. My heroine, Jo, needed a job where she’d have the opportunity or misfortune to discover nefarious acts of the bad guys. And her job needed to be a stop-gap measure while she improved her financial situation. Working in her parent’s real estate company fit the bill.

I spend a long time searching for appropriate names for my main characters. I try to stay away from hard-to-pronounce names and I like the first and last names to have a certain cadence when said together. I have lists of names that I’ve gathered over time and of course, the internet is a great resource. In some of my stories, the character’s name even forms part of the plot.

2.What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include? For Every Hidden Thing, I interviewed a realtor, and although informative, not very exciting. However, I asked to speak to a detective at my local police station. That proved to be an eye-opener. I learned that my initial plan to have Jo find skeletons of young children on the property was not going to work. Sure, the discovery would have added to the suspense value, but as a crime scene, the property would have been off limits to her for a long time, months even. Although I couldn’t add that tidbit to the story, my idea to have Jo working in the house during the investigation would have been a big no-no.

3.Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym? Why or why not? Before my first novel was published, I did think about using a pseudonym because my last name is unusual. Sometimes people are hesitant to pronounce it. Gory? Goray? Gore? Yup. Gory is correct, as in gruesome and grisly! I thought Valerie Gray sounded nice, but I decided to stick with my real name which includes my maiden name, Valerie Massey Goree. 

4.How are your characters like you? Different? I try hard to make my characters very different from me, but one of my traits keeps popping up in my stories, especially with my heroines. I have Obsessive Compulsive tendencies. I like order and organization. I make lists, stick to routines, not much spontaneity. I plan trips to the minutest detail and don’t like it when outside influences interfere.

I have to make a concerted effort to keep my heroines from acting this way. One day, I’m going to write a story about a heroine who has OCD. I’ll describe how the characteristics negatively affected her life and what compensations she had to make. Of course, this will be based on my experiences.

Pixabay/Roger Mosley

5.How has your book changed since your first draft? This question was designed for Every Hidden Thing! I began the story many years ago and set it in Boerne, Texas, a town close to where we lived. However, when my husband retired, we moved to Washington State and lived on the Olympic Peninsula. I wrote two other novels, then decided to complete this story. I researched the area and changed the setting along with descriptions of the weather and scenery. My lush “backyard” was the perfect place for Jo and Flynn’s adventure.

Soon after our move, my husband was diagnosed with cancer, and he passed away two years later. I returned to Texas, but it was a while before I felt like delving into a fictitious world. When I was ready to write again, I briefly considered changing the setting back to Texas, but left Jo and Flynn in Washington.

In my original plot, Flynn, a former Marine would have suffered a severe injury while deployed, maybe even an amputation. So many veterans were being depicted in novels as having PTSD losing a limb and I wanted something different for my hero. I had recently experienced an injury that left me with nerve damage in my right leg, and footdrop, which means I can’t raise my right foot when I walk. I use a cane and have to be careful that I don’t trip. I made another change and gave Flynn my symptoms instead. No research needed!

6.How do you come up with storylines? Ideas for stories hit me at the oddest times. One day I was

Pixabay/
J. Garget

doing laundry and thought that an interesting first line for a story would be, “I’d been in the witness protection program for three years when…” That developed into Weep in the Night.

I used to take our dogs for walks along our country road. One of the properties we passed had numerous dogs, like maybe ten. Naturally, they serenaded us with their barking. One day as we passed the house, they didn’t bark. In fact, no dogs in sight, and my mind went straight to the first line of a story. “The dogs didn’t bark.” I have a trilogy planned and that will begin the second book.

7.What is one thing you wish you could do? I would love to be able to play a musical instrument, the piano or a guitar. I did take piano lessons for a semester at college, but hand-eye-coordination was not my friend. 

8.What is your next project? Way back in March, I met with my income tax preparer, a friend, and we discussed my plans for the year. I mentioned I wanted to travel to England again and stay in a cottage in a little village. She knew I was an author and suggested if I set a story there, I could use some of the expenses as a tax deduction. Great idea. I could take extensive notes and hundreds of photos and write the story when I returned.

Duh! I didn’t have to wait.

Pixabay/Ron Porter

I’ll be traveling to Scotland and England in August. Among other adventures, I’ll be staying in a village in the Cotswolds called Bourton-on-the-Water. The River Windrush flows through it, hence the name. Isn’t the internet wonderful for checking out faraway places? In doing research on Bourton-on-the-Water, I discovered the Fosse Way, an ancient Roman Road, runs close to the village. Other Roman ruins have been found there, too. Voila! Interesting facts that will play a major role in the plot.

The story is tentatively titled Where the Windrush Flows. It will be romantic suspense, as usual. I even contacted the owner of the cottage and she agreed for me to use the actual cottage in my novel and she provided some history of the place. I’ve named my characters, given them interesting careers as well as reasons for them to be in the village. The hero is staying in my cottage. I’m having so much fun writing this story.

Every Hidden Thing

While documenting needed repairs on a mansion, Jo makes a discovery that endangers her life. To complicate her plight, she uncovers a secret that could rip her family apart. Flynn, a co-worker, strives to keep her safe, however, a relationship from his past comes crashing back into his life and interferes in his efforts. Jo and Flynn are both scarred—one emotionally, one physically. As they work together and learn to trust each other, they find their perilous circumstances are intertwined, and culminate when a young man’s life is threatened.

Will they unravel the strands of intrigue in time to rescue the victim? Can they overcome their fear of commitment and foster their growing attraction for each other?

Purchase link: https://amzn.to/46WJacb  

Media links:
Sign up for my monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/VGJoinMyCommunity
https://www.valeriegoreeauthor.com
www.facebook.com/ValerieMasseyGoree
https://author.amazon.com/profile
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/valerie-massey-goree
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8318966-valerie

Wayback Wednesday: 1975

Wayback Wednesday: 1975

As mentioned previously, I enjoyed reliving the 1970s during my research for Dial S for Second Chances, part of the You Are on the Air series. The characters graduated from high school in 1978 which means they would have completed their freshman year in 1975.

January brought the guilty verdicts for John Mitchell, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman for their participation the Watergate scandal. A month later they would be sentenced between thirty months and eight years. Also in February, Margaret Thatcher would become Britain’s first female leader of a political party when she defeats Edward Heath for leadership in the UK Conservative Party. The Vietnam War continues.

On television, Lorne Michael’s “Saturday Night Live” airs and quickly gains a cult following. George

Carlin was the show’s first host and included cast members Dan Akroyd, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Laraine Newman. The format included a musical guest, political satire, and comedy sketches. Other TV debuts during the year are “Welcome Back, Kotter,” “Wonder Woman,” “One Day at a Time,” “The Jeffersons,” “Fawlty Towers,” and “Space 1999.”

In the fall, NBC would broadcast the now legendary 12-inning long sixth game of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds. The game ends with Boston catcher Carlton Fish’s home run to send the series to a seventh game.

Several musical celebrities made the news during the year, the first of whom would be Paul and Linda McCartney who were arrested after a routine traffic stop for carrying 6-8 ounces of marijuana. Robert Plant was in a serious car accident, putting the future of Led Zeppelin in doubt. John Lennon won his battle to remain in the United States after the New York Court of Appeals overturned his 1972 deportation order. Peter Gabriel leaves the British group Genesis, and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” goes to number one on the charts.

Hit songs for the year embraced a variety of styles with Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy,” The BeeGees “Jive Talking,” Captain and Tennille’s “Love Will Keep us Together,” KC and the Sunshine Band’s “Boogie Shoes,” Van McCoy and the Soul City Orchestra’s “The Hustle,” and Queen’s previously mention “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

What do you remember from 1975?

______________

Dial S for Second Chances

Can years of hurt and misunderstanding be transformed into a second chance at love?

Jade Williams agrees to be on the high school reunion committee because the-one-that-got-away is out of the country and won’t be home in time to attend the festivities. Now, he’s not only home, but joined the committee. Is it too late to back out or can she set aside forty-five years of regret and pretend she isn’t to blame for her broken heart?

One of the downsides of being rich means fielding requests for money and favors. But when an old high school buddy contacts Derek Milligan to be on the reunion committee as just one of the gang, no strings attached, he can’t resist. At the first meeting, he’s dismayed to find himself sitting next to his former high school sweetheart. He should be angry. Instead, he’s attracted. Can he risk his heart a second time?

Reunion festivities include calling into to WDES’s program No Errin’ for Love with fake relationship problems. When both use their real situation, the stakes are raised higher than either imagined.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Q0XlXG

Release Day: Dial S for Second Chances

 Release Day: Dial S for Second Chances

I had a GREAT time researching and writing this story. Why? Because my husband and I were high school sweethearts. Because we broke up several times, giving us several "second chances," the couple in the story graduated the year before we did (I like round numbers, so this is their 45th high school reunion), and I got to relive the 1970s.

I've been listening to 70s music since, well, the 70s, but dug even deeper, and it was fun to stumble on some of the one-hit wonders that haven't been heard in a while. I remembered many of the events of the time, but I was a self-absorbed teenager during that decade so there were a few I didn't know about.  The movies were fun to reminisce about because most involved being on dates. With one exception: Dad and I attended the premiere of Star Wars in 1977, standing in line with dozens of other people (sweet memory).

So if you'd like a blast from the past, grab your copy of Dial S for Second Chances: https://amzn.to/3CSp6tH

Here's the blurb:

Can years of hurt and misunderstanding be transformed into a second chance at love?

Jade Williams agrees to be on the high school reunion committee because the-one-that-got-away is out of the country and won’t be home in time to attend the festivities. Now, he’s not only home, but joined the committee. Is it too late to back out or can she set aside forty-five years of regret and pretend she isn’t to blame for her broken heart?

One of the downsides of being rich means fielding requests for money and favors. But when an old high school buddy contacts Derek Milligan to be on the reunion committee as just one of the gang, no strings attached, he can’t resist. At the first meeting, he’s dismayed to find himself sitting next to his former high school sweetheart. He should be angry. Instead, he’s attracted. Can he risk his heart a second time?

Reunion festivities include calling into to WDES’s program No Errin’ for Love with fake relationship problems. When both use their real situation, the stakes are raised higher than either imagined.

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Aubrey Taylor!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Back, Aubrey Taylor!

Hi Linda, thank you for having me again. I enjoyed our interview back in October, and I appreciate the opportunity to answer some questions we didn’t get to the first time around.

How do you develop your characters?

Character development is my absolute favorite part of writing. I get to know my characters over time, taking notice of anything that might blend well into their story. Sometimes, I end up with someone very different than I started out with. For example, I had encountered a villain named Lothar in a movie. I figured I could give that name to the unintelligent, woman-chasing comrade of one of my main characters, Jake Schmidt. The more I developed their interactions, I realized that deep down, my Lothar is a solid guy who looks out for Jake. At the same time, through my research I was learning a lot about things that went on in areas like Poland and East Prussia between the world wars, where the population was a mix of ethnicities. That information seemed to fit in well with who Lothar was becoming, and would give reasons for why he makes some of the choices that lead him to become the person he is in my WIP.

How are your characters like you? Different?

Aside from the fact that most of my characters are male, they are very much like me. Even if some of

them are incredibly energetic and friendly people, they all have a broody, serious side. Some of them are good at forcing themselves to be in the moment and have fun. Others, not so much. I’m the same way. Sometimes I can let my hair down and enjoy being around other people. Other times, I am so aloof people probably think I’m stuck up.

Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym?

If I had some foresight when I began the series, it would have been nice to publish under the last name of one of my German ancestors. Kniss, Schwarzmüller, Reiss, Mayer, Schmidt—there is a long list I could’ve chosen from. On the upside, a good friend once told me that Aubrey Taylor would make a great stage name!

What draws you to the time period about which you write? Why do you write in your particular genre?

Since I was 7, I have always been drawn to the world wars. God led me to focus on the German side of the story because in fiction, the average German soldier has always been buried under an assumption of evil. Yes, there were a lot of bad guys, but there were also a lot of good guys who happened to have been born in an evil time. I hope that my writing helps to vindicate men like these. It may also encourage readers to consider the sobering questions, “What would I really have done in those circumstances?” “What could I really have expected of my husband or my son?”

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why?

I’d love to dive deeper into both the historical aspect of Lothar’s backstory as well as some of the personal things that made him who he is in my WIP. I’ve also longed to give Chaplain Friedrich Schmidt his own book. Pieces of his backstory are contained in Sani: The German Medic and The Prodigal Sons, but someday I hope to write an epistolary filled with his letters, journal entries, and sermons from the years 1917 to 1944.

What is your next project?

I hope to publish Gott Mit Uns Book 3, The Rubicon, this fall. After that, I may take a break from writing to focus on other things and allow the ideas above to marinate for a while.

Thanks again for allowing me to share on your blog!

About Aubrey Taylor

After creating stories prolifically as a child, Aubrey has enjoyed a renewed interest in writing in her 40s. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and three children, and enjoys reading, playing music, crafting, sketching, exploring the outdoors, and traveling whenever possible. She is a lover of Jesus, the Bible, history, German culture, tea, and cats, and has a special heart for those who struggle with severe anxiety and depression.

Social Media Links

Website: www.aubreytaylorbooks.com
Blog: www.aubreytaylorbooks.com/blog
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o3k4f2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aubreytaylorbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aubreytaylorbooks/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aubtaybooks
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/aubrey-taylor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21846520.Aubrey_Taylor

Movie Monday: King Kong - 1976

Movie Monday: King Kong – 1976 Edition

As most of you know, I love movies and books from the 1930s and 1940s. Movies made prior to 1934 when the Motion Picture Association began to enforce the production code adopted in 1930 are especially entertaining. The 1933 movie King Kong was a box-office success and is now considered by some to be the greatest horror film of all time. Whether or not you agree, the Library of Congress has deemed it “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant” which means it will be preserved in the National Film Registry.

As is typical of Hollywood when a film is highly successful, it is followed by remakes. Thus, there

have been two more King Kong movies; one in 1976 and the other in 2005. Today, I’m going to focus on Dino DeLaurentis’s 1976 production, which despite its ensemble of Jeff Bridges, Jessica Lange, Charles Grodin, and Rene Auberjonis, did not perform as well as anticipated with box office receipts of “only” $90M (compared to Rocky which came out that same year and earned more than $225M). DeLaurentis had boasted the movie would surpass the previous year’s Jaws, and Paramount executives expected gross revenues of at least $150M.

According to a quote from screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, “We made a very deliberate attempt not to be anything like the original movie in tone or mood. Dino wanted it to be light and amusing, rather than portentous. We thought times had changed so much that audiences were more sophisticated. We hoped to do sensational things with advanced special effects on a big screen.” At least a few people thought they succeeded as the movie won Special Achievement Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

Meryl Streep and Barbra Streisand were both considered for the female lead. Sources indicate DeLaurentis didn’t think Streep pretty enough, and Streisand turned down the role that eventually went to Jessica Lange, a fashion model with no previous acting experience. The male lead went to Jeff Bridges who by the time he was cast had made multiple appearances with his father on Sea Hunt and the Lloyd Bridges Show as well as nearly one dozen movies.

Have you seen either version?

___________

Dial S for Second Chances

Can years of hurt and misunderstanding be transformed into a second chance at love?

Jade Williams agrees to be on the high school reunion committee because the-one-that-got-away is out of the country and won’t be home in time to attend the festivities. Now, he’s not only home, but joined the committee. Is it too late to back out or can she set aside forty-five years of regret and pretend she isn’t to blame for her broken heart?

One of the downsides of being rich means fielding requests for money and favors. But when an old high school buddy contacts Derek Milligan to be on the reunion committee as just one of the gang, no strings attached, he can’t resist. At the first meeting, he’s dismayed to find himself sitting next to his former high school sweetheart. He should be angry. Instead, he’s attracted. Can he risk his heart a second time?

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.to/439GZ1F

Fiction Friday: New Releases in Christian Fiction

July 2023 New Releases

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Contemporary Romance:
Dial S for Second Chances by Linda Shenton Matchett -- Jade Williams agrees to be on the high school reunion committee because the-one-that-got-away is out of the country and won’t be home in time to attend the festivities. Now, he’s not only home but joined the committee. Is it too late to back out or can she set aside forty-five years of regret and pretend she isn’t to blame for her broken heart? One of the downsides of being rich means fielding requests for money and favors. But when an old high school buddy contacts Derek Milligan to be on the reunion committee as just one of the gang, no strings attached, he can’t resist. At the first meeting, he’s dismayed to find himself sitting next to his former high school sweetheart. He should be angry. Instead, he’s attracted. Can he risk his heart a second time? (Contemporary Romance from Shortwave Press)

Fire and Ice by Carolyn Miller -- Hannah Wade's heart might've once been touched by a rancher's son, but her real passion has always been sports. Years later, when her sports career is cut short by injury and an opportunity arises to be one of Calgary's first female sports analysts, she jumps at the chance. Trouble is, some of the old dinosaurs she works with think she's only there to look good, add ratings, and stir controversy among the fiercely loyal hockey fans. She longs for the chance to prove herself, so when an opportunity comes along to interview newly traded defenseman Franklin James, she meets him. Or, more accurately, re-meets him. With disastrous effect. Can these two overcome prejudice and find a way forward? And what has faith - or the lack of - got to do with anything? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Sweet Romantic Fiction Editors’ Choice Christmas Collection by Barbara Britton, et. al. -- An editors' choice collection of Pelican Book Group's Christmas stories. Join the fun at Christmas and all the year through. (Contemporary Romance from White Rose Publishing (Pelican))

General Contemporary:
Room for Love by Marguerite Martin Gray -- God gave her peace then; maybe He’ll do it again. When Amy Lee’s son heads off to college, the bed and breakfast owner finds life even lonelier and emptier than she had after losing her husband. She needs something to occupy her mind and heart while she reinvents her life again. What more could she ask for than an after-school program for local children and a renewed interest in painting? Then the arrival of a professor of archeology shakes her world and makes her yearn for the way things were only a few short months ago. Still grieving the loss of his beloved wife, and ignoring the warnings and protests of his grown children, Professor Walker Standish escapes on a six-month sabbatical. His heart, barely beating these past months, jerks to. (General Contemporary from Celebrate Lit Publishing)

General Historical:
Rebecca by Shannon McNear -- Born the daughter of a Powhatan chieftain and a woman of unknown origins, Mato'aka enjoys a carefree life. When strange men from across the eastern waters appear near her home, she regards them at first as a mere curiosity. Soon, though, she finds herself torn between friendship with one of their leaders and the opinions and politics of her elders. Drawn to a young Englishman, John Rolfe, who has lost a wife and baby daughter, she shares his griefs. . .and perhaps something more. Could she have a future among the English of Jamestown, accepting their ways and even changing her name? Could her fate be a part of the lasting legacy of the Lost Colony of Roanoke? (General Historical from Barbour Publishing)

Historical Biblical:

Plagues and Papyrus: Egyptians by Christine Dillon -- What if life is built on the wrong foundation? Kheti and his family have farmed papyrus along the Nile for generations. He’s confident the gods of Egypt and the harmony maintained by the divine Pharaoh are the sources of his prosperity. Then he watches his beloved river turn to blood, his crops fail, and his nation descend into chaos. The Hebrew God wants his people released from slavery. When the gods remain silent and Pharaoh is powerless to stop the carnage, Kheti wrestles with which way to turn. Replant his flattened crops and cling to Egypt’s gods? Or forsake his roots to follow new friends and a new faith to a distant land? Could there be a place in God’s family for an Egyptian who kept God's people as slaves? (Historical Biblical from Links in the Chain Press)

Historical Romance:
A Summer at Thousand Island House by Susan G. Mathis -- She came to work with the children, not fall in love. Part-nanny, part entertainer, Addison Bell has always had an enduring love for children. So what better way to use her creative energy than to spend the summer nannying at the renowned Thousand Island House on Staple's Island? As Addi thrives in her work, she attracts the attention of the recreation pavilion's manager, Liam Donovan, as well as the handsome Navy Officer Lt. Worthington, a lighthouse inspector, hotel patron, and single father of mischievous little Jimmy. But when Jimmy goes missing, Addi finds both her job and her reputation in danger. How can she calm the churning waters of Liam, Lt. Worthington, and the President, clear her name, and avoid becoming the scorn of the Thousand Islands community?. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

Hoping for Treasure by Bettie Boswell -- A few months after Ginny and Scott's marriage begins, tragedy strikes when a miscarriage dashes their hopes of starting a family. As Ginny seeks comfort through a manuscript about her great-grandparent's unlikely post-WW 2 romance, she discovers secrets about her family and the Woodson House's hidden room. Ginny found the manuscript about her great-grandmother's romance hidden in a secret compartment in an old wooden desk, along with poems about Missy's life after the Civil War. When researching her musical, Ginny wondered if Samuel and Missy's romance led to marriage, but how did her grandmother come into possession of the poetry? As she and Scott read through the story, they find some comfort until Ginny's teaching position is threatened, if a tax levy doesn't pass. Scott helps campaign, but finds his own tenure threatened by the distraction. Can Scott and Ginny survive the trials that face them in their young marriage? (Historical Romance from Mt. Zion Ridge Press)

Over the Horizon by Penny Zeller -- A most unusual proposal...Alone in 1870s Idaho Territory, Paisley Abbott has nowhere to turn. With no other options, she finds herself consenting to an unconventional, but mutually beneficial agreement. During an unplanned return to his family’s farm, prodigal Tyler Shepherdson inherits three orphans. When Tyler finds a woman hiding in the back of his wagon, an idea begins to form and he makes a rash decision that results in perhaps one of the most spontaneous marriages of convenience ever. Despite an unorthodox beginning to their marriage, will Paisley and Tyler trust God as they forge ahead to create a home for three children? Will love arise from a desperate situation? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Uncharted Grace by Keely Brooke Keith An inherited orchard offers a fresh start in a new village for social butterfly Caroline Vestal. She believes Good Springs is where she will finally find a soulmate, but building a genuine relationship means being honest—even with the family secret that could ruin her new life before it begins. With his relaxed manner, professional expertise, and dapper appearance, physician Jedidiah Cotter makes a good first impression in his new village. Once the Good Springs elder council officially titles him, he can establish his career and be safe from the obligation to return to his crooked family’s business back home. But when the council unexpectedly stalls the process, Jedidiah must discover the cause and quickly find a cure. Though Caroline is smitten with the dashing new physician who lives across the road from the orchard house, his attraction to her drives him to ask questions she isn’t prepared to answer. If she trusts the wrong person with the shocking truth about her family’s past, she could lose the inheritance and the man she loves. (Historical Romance from Edenbrook Press)

Romance:
Sweet Romance for Every Season by Felicia Ferguson, et. al. -- So many sweet romance stories always take place over Christmas. We love an adorable kiss in the flurries of gentle snow. But it’s time some other holidays get a little love too. Set during every month of the year, this collection of sweet romances will have you swooning from early January to summer solstice to New Year’s Eve. Proving that a happily ever after can take place at any time of the year. An anthology from End Game Press authors, we are very proud to bring you their excellent stories! (Romance from End Game Press)

Romance Mystery:

Like Honey for the Bones by Brandy Heineman -- TWO HEARTS BROKEN ALONG THE SAME JAGGED EDGE MAKE A GRISLY DISCOVERY DEEP IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY Present Day. Solveig Borja fled Virginia to escape the guilt of one reckless night, and once she settles the family estate, she’s Norway-bound and never looking back. Meanwhile, Kyle Benton has come seeking asylum from past sins—which Solveig shatters even as their hopeless romance blooms. But when they discover a skeleton at Rice Caverns, its century-old mystery holds startling links to the here-and-now. 1919. The Great War is won. Gussie Rice longs for her beau's return from France, until she learns he’s confined at a stateside hospital and her closest confidant is part of the secret. Her bid for love sparks a confrontation that ricochets through time...Bad blood and escalating threats swirl around Solveig, and Kyle’s new life proves no haven from the old with his brother's killer trolling the shadows. As the past rears up, the cavern’s hidden places beckon with power to light their hope or to swallow them in utter darkness. (Romance Mystery, Independently Published)

Romance Novella:
His to Adore by Z. Peabody -- Elise Montgomery has always wanted to be a professional singer. Becoming one of the world’s greatest Gospel singers of all times, is more than a dream, it’s one of her life’s goals. Elise would sing for her supper in almost any venue she could, to pay her dues. Now comes her big break, to join a Gospel tour in New York. When Elise has a five-hour layover on her way to an awards show, Elise gets side-tracked by a tall, handsome cowboy. That night Elise makes one of the hardest decisions of her life when she walks away from her handsome cowboy. But that decision will come back full-circle four-years later. (Romance Novella from Z. Peabody Publishing)

His to Honor by Z. Peabody -- Braun Hartgrove, is a retired Army Ranger and detective with the Cody, Wyoming police department and a happy bachelor. After ten-years of serving his country, Braun is happy to settle into his life in his childhood town, enjoy his bachelorhood, and enjoy some nights with his military family at his favorite place, The Caverns. While attending his future brother-in-law’s bachelor party, Braun gets an unexpected surprise, one that he will later figure out, too late is his greatest blessing. Now the bachelors’ life doesn’t seem so enjoyable. But Braun needs to wait to claim his blessing, and wait he will, because what is his, only God can take away. (Romance Novella from Z. Peabody Publishing)

Science Fiction/Time Travel:
A Gilded Age Getaway by Stephania McGee -- Can one magical night of glamour in the past save their future? When Fiona Robinson imagined her life with Tyler, she dreamed of a grand adventure. Together. But after a decade of marriage, suburban seclusion, and stress from his job, she’s let the strain of being a stay-at-home mom of two toddlers squeeze all the fun out of their relationship. With pressure mounting at work and his homelife growing stale, Tyler’s fighting to recapture the joy in his marriage. But he can’t seem to do anything right, his job’s drained his energy, and his wife no longer resembles the fun-loving girl he married. Then Fiona’s mother presents them with an anniversary weekend getaway at a seaside B&B, and they hope it can rekindle their romance. But they never could have imagined their room would transport them to the Gilded Age in New York! Now, can one night at the famed Vanderbilt ball reignite their spark, or will they be stuck in a future neither of them expected? (Science Fiction/Time Travel, Independently Published)

Thriller/Suspense:
A Mountain Too Steep by Robin Patchen -- A car accident that might not be an accident at all. A murderer bent on revenge. And a woman desperate to keep her family together. She’s already lost her soul mate. She’ll do anything to protect her children.For the sake of her kids, Camilla Wright managed to survive after her husband's murder. When she’s awakened in the night with the news that her teenage son and nephew have been in a horrific car accident, she rushes to the hospital in a haze of shock and panic.The boys were supposed to be skiing in the mountains east of Salt Lake City. What were they doing so far west? More alarming, the wreck might not have been an accident at all.While Jeremy fights for his life, Camilla is running out of time to discover who lured her son and her nephew into the desert. With each new clue, the terrifying truth becomes clearer. Her husband’s killers are closing intenure threatened by the distraction. Can Scott and Ginny survive the trials that face them in their young marriage? (Thriller Suspense, Independently Published)

Thriller/Suspense/Crime:
No Child of Mine by Kelly S. Irvin -- When the remains of a young girl are found near the site of a foster child’s kidnapping, two colleagues risk their lives to bring one home and find justice for the other. The day a colleague’s eight-year-old foster child is kidnapped at a wedding reception, homicide detectives Deborah Smith and Alex Luna find the bones of a little girl not far from the abduction site. Both are determined to save the boy and solve a five-year-old murder, even as Deborah struggles to hang on to her newfound sobriety while Alex works to get a foothold in her life. The two detectives travel from the seamy underside of San Antonio's drug-dealing gang territory to the back roads of rural America where secrets fester in simple country homes. Their investigation rips off the bandage that covers the cracks in an overburdened, understaffed foster care system and reveals the painful reality that children are all too often battered, terrified victims of the people who should love them Deborah and Alex must risk everything--even their lives--to bring a little boy home safely and unmask a child's murderer. (Thriller/Suspense/Crime from Ally Press)

Thriller/Suspense/Romantic:
Defending the Witness by Sharee Stover -- To catch a killer…She must trust her protectors. After witnessing a murder at the hands of a notorious gang leader, Ayla DuPree is a marked woman sent straight to witness protection. But when her handler is killed and her safety compromised, she has no choice but to run—forcing US Marshal Chance Tavalla and his K-9 to chase her. Can Chance keep Ayla alive long enough to find safety and justice? (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

Frozen in Jeopardy by Melanie D. Snitker -- A routine stop turns deadly. When Police Officer Gabe Harrison and his K-9 partner, Loki, investigate a stranded vehicle during the fury of a winter storm, they unexpectedly uncover evidence of a drug shipment. Suddenly, gunfire erupts from the tree line, and Loki is hit. Gabe is forced to shoot the attacker before taking him into custody. With Loki in need of urgent medical care, Gabe races to the veterinarian, praying he'll get there in time. As the storm of the century howls through Destiny, Dr. Paige Wade decides to stay at her clinic to care for any animals that need help. Her quiet night takes a turn when her longtime friend brings in a prisoner along with his beloved dog suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite all the distractions, she'll do everything in her power to save Loki's life. With the storm raging outside and a violent gang intent on freeing the member Gabe has captured, Gabe and Paige must race against the clock to protect the clinic--and each other--until help arrives. (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic, Independently Published)

Unseen Danger by Jerusha Agen -- This woman and her K-9 protect others. Now who will protect them? After a brutal attack, it took Nevaeh Williams six years to rebuild her life. Now a security specialist at the Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency, she faces danger nearly every day. But when an old friend is targeted, her fragile stability begins to crumble. Celebrity bodyguard Branson Aaberg could lose more than his career if he fails to end the mysterious threat against his client. Soon he’s more concerned with rescuing the tough but vulnerable woman who joins his security team. Nevaeh is there to protect her friend, but what if she needs protection? What if the feeling she’s being watched isn’t the result of her traumatized imagination? If the danger is real, Nevaeh's only hope for survival may be the God powerful enough to defeat her worst enemy—the one she doesn't see before it's too late. (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic, Independently Published)

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

 

Talkshow Thursday: An Interview with Sally Carpenter

An Interview with Author Sally Carpenter

My latest book is The Highland Havoc Caper, a cozy mystery starring Sandy Fairfax, a former teen idol from the 1970s. He’s now 39 years old and dealing with a career comeback, an ex, two kids (his ex has custody), a new fiancée, and a mystery.

Is the book part of a series? Did you set out to write a series?

Yes, Highland is the sixth book in the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol mystery series. Most cozies are in a series, as readers want to keep following the characters. I knew that this would be a series from the outset and that eventually, Sandy would find a second wife. One advantage of a series is that I don’t have to create fresh principal characters from scratch with every book. The downside is keeping the characters from growing stale.

How are the characters like you and different?

Sandy and I only have a few things in common: we both live in Southern California, we’re both tall, we’ve both worked on a movie lot and we both drive red cars. He’s a man; I’m a woman. He’s wealthy; I’m not. He’s a terrific singer and dancer; I’m not, although I’m a better actor than he is. He’s divorced with kids; I’m unmarried. He’s a celebrity; I’m not. He doesn’t have pets; I have cats. Over his lifetime he’s traveled far more than I have. But I love the differences. Writing about someone like me would be dull.

What draws you to write in the time period you do?

Sandy’s books are set in 1993-94. He started in the entertainment industry when he was 18 years old

and starred in a TV show that ran from 1975 to 1979. If I set Sandy’s stories in modern times, he’d be 66, too old for a career comeback and the physical stunts I have him do.

What I like about writing in the past is no cell phones! If Sandy’s in trouble (which happens often), he can’t call for help. He can’t look up information on a computer; he must go out and talks to people.

What job prepared you to be a novelist?

After I moved to Los Angeles I worked as a page for Paramount Studios in Hollywood. The hardest work and best fun I ever had in a job. During the day the pages led the studio tours. In the evenings we ushered in the audiences for the sitcom shoots. I learned how movies and TV shows were put together—that information went into my second Sandy Fairfax book, The Sinister Sitcom Caper. Some of Sandy’s other stories are also set at a film studio, and I use Paramount as the guide.

What research did you do on this book?

The Highland Havoc Caper has a Scottish theme. Sandy’s real name is Ernest Farmington, so he had a Scottish heritage. I listened to Scottish songs on YouTube (I use them in the book). I looked up internet stores that sold kilts, since Sandy wears a kilt. I researched Scottish foods on the internet and some Scottish slang words (all clean) for one of the secondary characters. One of the settings is a Scottish castle, so I looked up real castles and designed my own. The county where I live has the annual Seaside Highland Games; I watched videos of the games online.

Why do you write in this particular genre?

Pixabay/Francoise Gisbert

I wasn’t always a mystery fan. That changed in 2008 at my day job at a community newspaper. One day a press release came across my desk regarding a panel of mystery authors appearing at a local library. Something in my head said, “You need to go to that.” I went, met other mystery writers, and started writing.

Mysteries provide a solid, logical structure to the plot. The protagonist keeps finding clues that lead to more information until he solves the mystery. Plot points build on each other. It’s also fun to keep the reader guessing until the end and confused by the red herrings.

What books are on our nightstand?

The genre book club at my library is reading is Pyramids (fantasy) by Terry Pratchett. I also have Sherlock Holmes in Orbit, stories of the great detective in science fiction settings, and I’m rereading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

What is the one thing you wish you could do?

Write full time.

What is your next project?

I’m working on a new science fiction/mystery series set on another planet. However, it might be difficult to do any research on location.

About The Highland Havoc Caper

Former pop star Sandy Fairfax engages in a dangerous hobby—amateur sleuthing. At the Seaside Highland Games in California, he and his teenage son, Chip, discover more than their heritage. In a castle transported from Scotland, they find a body bludgeoned with a curling stone. But when they go for help, the corpse vanishes. Without a body or even a name, how will Sandy find the killer? As he and Cinnamon plan their wedding, more bodies pile up. A piper plummets from the castle tower and into the ocean. Another body is found behind a Scottish pub in L.A. And when Sandy takes a guest role on the Spook Spotters TV show, the worried dad must keep Chip safe from an amorous young actress.

Social media links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sally.carpenter.54
Website: http://sandyfairfaxauthor.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sally-carpenter

Purchase The Highland Havoc Caper: https://amzn.to/3NbcJgP

Wayback Wednesday: 1976

Wayback Wednesday: 1976

Ten days until Dial S for Second Chances releases, so we’re headed back to the 70s! This time we’re visiting 1976. I finished my freshman year and my brother graduated from high school. America was celebrating her bi-centennial. Network television had a banner year with attaining critical and rating success with the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man, the Gerald Ford-Jimmy Carter presidential debates, the debut airing of Gone with the Wind, and the broadcast of the Montreal Olympics that drew an estimated one billion viewers worldwide.

The year saw a varied collection of new shows on TV, all of which did very well: Charlie’s Angles, The Bionic Woman, Laverne and Shirley, What’s Happening, Baa, Baa Black Sheep, Quincy, ME, and The Gong Show. Interestingly, as Quincy, ME debuted, Marcus Welby, MD was canceled. Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood was also canceled but would return in 1979.

In an effort to boost their ratings against the CBS Evening News, NBC finally made David Brinkley co-

WikiImages

anchor of the NBC Nightly News with John Chancellor after providing commentaries for several years. The first-ever vice-presidential debates took place in October between senators Bob Dole and Walter Mondale, and Barbara Walters makes a splash with her first interview special with guests Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Barbra Streisand, and Jon Peters.

The music industry seemed to put out an exceptional number of memorable hits such as Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart (Elton John), Shake, Shake, Shake (KC and the Sunshine Band), Afternoon Delight (Starland Vocal Band), Dancing Queen (ABBA), You Should be Dancing (BeeGees), Tonight’s the Night (Rod Stewart), If You Leave Me Now (Chicago), Night Moves (Bob Seeger), New Kid in Town (Eagles), and More than a Feeling (Boston).

On the other hand, the movie industry didn’t seem to do as well. Yes, Taxi Driver, a highly controversial film, Carrie, Rocky, and All the President’s Men were box office hits, but Ode to Billie Joe, Marathon Man, Murder by Death, King Kong, The Man Who Fell to Earth, and A Star is Born were met with mixed reception from critics and audiences.

courtesy army.mil

There seemed to be more good news than bad during the year: Clifford Alexander is confirmed as the first African-American Secretary of the US Army, the Cray-1, the first commercially developed supercomputer is released, Concorde service begins, Nadia Comaneci, a 14-year-old Romanian becomes the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 for her routine on the uneven bars at the Olympics, and Viking 1 successfully lands on marks taking the first close-up color photos of the planet’s surface.

How much do you remember of 1976?

_______________

Dial S for Second Chances:

Can years of hurt and misunderstanding be transformed into a second chance at love?

Jade Williams agrees to be on the high school reunion committee because the-one-that-got-away is out of the country and won’t be home in time to attend the festivities. Now, he’s not only home, but joined the committee. Is it too late to back out or can she set aside forty-five years of regret and pretend she isn’t to blame for her broken heart?

One of the downsides of being rich means fielding requests for money and favors. But when an old high school buddy contacts Derek Milligan to be on the reunion committee as just one of the gang, no strings attached, he can’t resist. At the first meeting, he’s dismayed to find himself sitting next to his former high school sweetheart. He should be angry. Instead, he’s attracted. Can he risk his heart a second time?

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.to/3PLZNkm