FEATURED!

An awesome blogging friend, C. Lee McKenzie, author of some truly fabulous YA novels, and a blog called THE WRITE GAME has chosen me as Featured Author for the month of August. I am beyond honored, and truly thrilled for this great marketing opportunity.

WOW!

THANK YOU, LEE!

And she's sharing MY BOOKS!

THE SNOWMAN

It takes a true artist to pursue his victims in the art of seduction, and Stowy Jenkins is no exception, especially with blood as his medium.

Excerpt:

Reality Check

 The axe struck again and again. The surrounding snow-covered mountains echoed each chop. Muscles rippled, and sweat glistened on a bare chest, but with each strike, the tension eased from Steven’s body. Jena’s rejection and Reed’s continued dismissal from key crime scenes had him searching for answers, and the mountains of the Brooks Range was the place he always found them. His Uncle Sky Quinn’s cabin had always been a sanctuary. After his Uncle Atian was murdered, Quinn, an Inuit tracker, became Steven’s honorary uncle and took over as his mentor and trainer. But Quinn was much more than that to Steven, and while calling him uncle was a sign of respect, he knew Quinn thought of him as a son.

“I had several days’ work out here,” Quinn said when he handed Steven a bottle of water. “Appreciate your efforts. You remind me of Atian. He used to do the same thing when troubled.”

Steven grinned, drank half the bottle of water, and poured the rest over his head. “It’s just what I needed.”

“The water or the work?”

“Both.” Steven began stacking the wood.

Quinn picked up a couple pieces of wood and added them to the stack. They worked together in silence until Quinn asked, “What’s going on?”

Steven put the last of the wood on the pile. “There’s a monster killing young women in Anchorage.”

“Why do you think he’s doing it?”

“Because he can. Because he gets off on it. Because the bastard has the means.”

“So, he walks among ordinary folk, his evil cleverly hidden.”

“Exactly. How do I unmask the beast?”

“Make him come to you.”

“If I were his type that would make it easy,” Steven frowned. “But I think this monster means to make the state bleed.

“Such creatures are cunning. You need to make yourself known to the beast. Get in his way. But, remember, if you bait a grizzly, be prepared for a ferocious fight.”

AMAZON!

&

MURDER, MADNESS & LOVE

A killer plays cat and mouse with a young widow against the snowy backdrop of an Alaskan winter. 

MEMORIES OF MURDER

World damnation is a psychotic man’s goal, but two obstacles stand in his way, greed and a dedicated detective.

&

MURDER & OBSESSION

Flames burn between a hardboiled cop and a gifted artist, but soon extinguish as another man’s obsession ignites into an inferno of desire, driving him to destroy the object of his madness.

GET YOUR COPY AT AMAZON!

MURDER IS FREE!

AMAZON KINDLE

Just click this LINK!

3.9 out of 5 stars    171 customer reviews

Also,

I'm proud to announce that all 3 books

Murder, Madness & Love

Memories of Murder

Murder & Obsession

Will soon be available in AUDIO!

October 31, 2016

Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged

Piper Goodeve (Narrator)

The trilogy is complete and book 4 is on the way!

For your enjoyment, an unedited excerpt from book 4:

MOTIVE for MURDER

A Detective Quaid Mystery

CHAPTER I

APRIL IN HAWAII

"Where do you think you're going?" Steven threw the blankets back.

"I'm meeting Elliot for a run on the beach, you know, that thing I do every morning while you continue to dream," Sarah said.

Steven shook his head and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Damn, I miss our cabin in the woods."

"Really?" She finished fastening her hair into a ponytail and faced him, eyebrows furrowed. "Hawaii was your idea. Cabin fever, if I remember correctly. At least that's what you told Frank."

"I was wrong. At the cabin, we spent hours cuddling. Now you're up with the sun, and the bed is cold."

Sarah sat down beside him. "I miss that too."

He pulled her deeper into the bed, his naked body covering hers. Kissing passionately, she molded her body to his.

"Tell you what." She said after she caught her breath. "I'll make it a five-mile run, and after a quick shower, we'll continue." She smiled but pushed him away.

He fell back on the bed and sighed deeply. "Five miles? I'll bet you do fifteen, just to make me wait."

She nibbled his earlobe. "You’re the one determined to get me healthy. I'm doing all I can to fulfill your wish. I promise a quick run. You start the shower, and I'll be right back."

He sighed again but let her go and pulled on a pair of shorts. In the kitchen, he poured a cup of coffee, grabbed the paper from the front porch, and went to the patio to monitor her run. He never slept during her early morning excursions. While Elliott, her bodyguard and running partner, was always at her side, Steven kept his eye on the dunes and the rocks dotting the beach. He didn't expect trouble, but he was ready regardless of the serene setting that Hawaii offered.

They were on private land, with a private beach, but Steven never rested when Sarah was out of his sight. It had only been four months since the last threat, and he wasn't ready to trust there'd be no more. In December, he'd rescued her from a kidnapper, and a sniper determined to put a bullet in her head, but constant nightmares haunted his dreams.

Frank had convinced him to come to Hawaii and consult on a case while continuing the honeymoon. He'd promised Sarah a year of his time, and while he felt guilty for working, Sarah needed the sunshine. Their cabin in the Brooks Range was great, but she had continued to struggle with her health. The warmth of Hawaii changed all that. In less than a month, she was the picture of wellbeing and this new case was close to a solution.

Their suspect had made a huge mistake moving to Hawaii to continue his exploits. The killings had started in Los Angeles, in January, but moved to Hawaii in March. The killer made his victims eat their own body parts, sexually assaulted them, and eventually killed them. This creep's appetite knew only brutality and Frank wanted Steven's help to capture him. They were close and once the case wrapped up, Steven would take Sarah to Paris.

He sipped his coffee and caught sight of her and Elliott coming back up the beach. The phone rang and when he answered, Frank shouted at him. "Where's Sarah?"

"Running. Why?"

"Get her in the house. I'm on my way." Frank yelled.

Steven could hear the roar of a helicopter in the background. "What's happening, Frank?"

"Bardot. Rudy Bardot, Jarrod's brother, is alive. He's our serial killer, and he's after Sarah!"

Steven dropped the phone and grabbed his gun. Barefoot he took off for the beach.

Two seconds too late.

Rudy Bardot rested a sniper rifle on a dune. His targets were in view. Steven sighted the man just as Sarah and Elliott arrived at ground zero.

Before Steven could calm his breathing enough to shoot, a shot shredded the morning's tranquility!

Elliott always ran with his body blocking Sarah's in safety, but the shooter had prepared for that.

One shot and both Sarah and Elliott went down. The bullet had gone through Elliott's shoulder and hit Sarah.

Bardot dropped his gun, pulled a knife, and moved toward his victims. He wanted a souvenir. " Jolies oreilles," Bardot said. (Pretty ears.)

Steven fired . . .

The end!

Well, actually the beginning of book 4.

I hope I've enticed you to start with Murder, Madness & Love

Or if you've already read the trilogy,

I hope I've excited you about the next book

MOTIVE FOR MURDER!

FYI

I changed the title from Dark Motives to Motive for Murder.

I've always referred the first three books as my

 Murder Trilogy;

I thought it made sense to make it the

Murder Series

by keeping the word

Murder

in all the titles!

Do you agree?

LADY ENIGMATIC

When I envisioned Lady Enigmatic – this is how I saw her, not as a vampire but as a badass capable of riding a polar bear and leading an army. For some reason, all my alter egos have dark hair. 

To help introduce Lady Enigmatic to you, I've asked her to sit for an interview – not something she enjoys, but if presenting herself to the public will help her win The Joust, she's willing to play along.

Kate Beckinsale in Underworld Rise of the Lycans

You're a warrior, why do you love solving mysteries.

         I don't like secrets, and yet everyone has one, some minor but some deadly. I've always had the ability to sense a lie. It's aided me well in negotiations, but even better, during interrogations of the murderers I haul in.  

So, if I said, you don't have a snowballs chance in hell of winning The Joust, would that be a lie or the truth.

         Neither, it is your opinion. I am quite capable of winning The Joust on skill alone, but I may fail, as I am an unknown, from an unknown land. What will be will be, my fate is in the hands of the populace.

How did you get started telling tales of murder and mystery?

         Ever since I was a squire, on long excursions, we'd sit around the fire and exchange tales. I share stories of the beasts that hide in the shadows and covet our comforts.

Do you really have a pet dragon?

         You question the possibility.

(I thought she might slay me right there?) I … well, it's just that I've never seen a real dragon, I stuttered.

Then it is good I left him at home. I feared one of the Knights might make it their quest to defeat Maximillian. He is undefeated.

Undefeated? He fights – whom?

         He leads an army of Dragon Warriors, against the Abominable Ice Creatures in the Northland.

I see. (I didn't, not really, but I wasn't going to argue. She has the sharpest sword. I was going to ask her about the rumor of her being a cutpurse, a thief, but didn't want her to react and ask questions later. I'd also heard the other Knights started the rumor. Field competition?)

My last question – I understand you ride polar bears to practice for The Joust.

         Of course, they perform better on the ice and snow, but my horse is also trained well for the games here.

I shook her hand. Thank you for agreeing to an interview. I wish you all success today, and all week as the games continue.

         She bowed and strode away.

Gosh if only I could be a warrior with a pet dragon. Dream on Renee. Dream on.

Riddle Me This ~ Dueling Bards ~ Phasers ~ Unicorn Hunt ~ Who Roams Here? ~ Beware the Vortex ~ VelociRaffle ~ The Hero’s Dilemma ~Stockade Brigade ~ Hall of Doors ~ The Joust ~ Drench-a-Wench/Soak-a-Bloke

I'll be fighting it out as

Lady Enigmatic in The Joust hosted M. Pax

I hope you'll come along and cheer me on!

My Joust is today, but you can cheer me on all week.

Please mention Lady Enigmatic today and every day

to help her win The Joust

and earn a chance to win your own prize!

The magic words are:

Lady Enigmatic

Murder

Cutpurse (means thief)

Lady Enigmatic earn points when you use these magic words to cheer her on in your comments on the Joust page, and you're placed into a drawing to win a prize that day.

Such as!

Lady Enigmatic has an incredible story about a cutpurse involved in murder.

or

Lady Enigmatic solves murder mysteries, but she'll quickly play the cutpurse to win this Joust.

or

Lady Enigmatic is rumored to have been a former Cutpurse and may have committed murder.

Just copy and paste!

All commenters on this page, and who use these magic words on the Joust Page will be entered into a drawing to win a

$5 Amazon gift card.

Winners will be announced before midnight each day until the Joust is over.

There's a new winner every day!

Right here on my blog too!

The more times you comment using the magic words, the more entries you'll have!

Also, M Pax is giving away prizes too!


The Winner of the $5 Amazon Gift Card 
& and eBook copy of both Murder Mysteries

Murder, Madness & Love
and
Memories of Murder

for Monday is

Sia McKye

And for Tuesday is

Pat Hatt

CONGRATULATIONS!

Comment and you could win today!

(All gift cards will be issued after the Faire)

Murder, Madness & Love

 for .99 cents

in honor of 

THE JOUST

GOING THROUGH THE CHANGE

Meet Samantha Bryant today's guest author!

Take it away Samantha!


JUDGING MY OWN BOOK BY ITS COVER

A cover is a really important part of a book. What the cover looks like can have more to do with whether a reader decides to pick up your book than the words on the inside or the blurb on the back, especially when you’re a newb that no one has ever heard of!

That's a terrifying prospect as a writer, because, most usually (of course there are exceptions), we don't make our own covers. In fact, depending on your path to publishing, you, as author, might not get any say at all about what the cover looks like.

A bad cover can make the uphill climb of finding an audience that much harder. It's like birthing a beautiful and intelligent child, only to have someone else reject it as worthless because your child is wearing dirty or ugly clothing. I've seen several indie writers put out a book with a less-than-professional cover (usually a financial decision), then re-release it with a better one and see large changes in the kind of attention their book attracted.

My debut novel came out with Curiosity Quills Press on April 23, 2015. (I am perhaps, maybe, just a smidge excited about that). Curiosity Quills is a small, independent press. My contract with them gave me input on the cover, but no right of refusal and no requirement that they actually use my input.  So, I was on tenterhooks, waiting to see what my cover would look like.

You wanna see it?

I love it! And, boy was that a relief!  

The cover is by Polina Sapershteyn , a graphic designer in NYC that Curiosity Quills contracted for the work. (Here's her website if you want to check out some of her other work).

There are several things I love about this cover. 

First, the bright yellow is really eye catching. When I've seen it displayed onscreen on an Amazon search page, for example, I feel certain that anyone seeing it would at least glance that way because of the bright yellow. The image also instantly suggests humor and superhero, two important hints about the book on the inside of this cover. 

Second, Polina captured a lot of revealing details about threads of the book in this one image. The torso is thick in the waist, in a way that is not typical of superhero comics, but is completely normal for my menopausal characters. The costume is non-professional looking--the cape held on with a tied ribbon and the tunic consisting of a tee-shirt looking material that wrinkles across the breasts. That fits so well with Helen's thread in the story (she's the one who does eventually make herself a costume)! The image used on the center of the chest suggests gender and LGBTQ+ issues. That fits so well with Linda/Leonel's thread.

I was utterly amazed by how well Polina was able to represent my work, especially when you consider that she and I have never met and only made contact online after she'd already done my cover!  There's not much there from the ideas I submitted, except thematically. But, you know, she's a graphic artist. I'm not. Her ideas were better than mine. There's something to be said for trusting the judgment of professionals.

Now that my book is out there in some bookstores, competing for a potential buyer’s attention, with so many other books, I appreciate the eye-catching and story-representing cover all the more. I may be a little biased, but, judging this book by its cover, I’d say the reader is in for quite a ride.

Going Through the Change is going through a change in price for a couple of days in early August. On August 5^th and 6^th you can get the Kindle edition for free on Amazon. Check it out at: http://bitly.com/face-the-change

Samantha Bryant is a middle school Spanish teacher by day and a mom and novelist by night. That makes her a superhero all the time. Her debut novel, Going Through the Change: A Menopausal Superhero Novel is now for sale by Curiosity Quills. You can find her online on her blog,  Twitter, on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads, on the Curiosity Quills page, or on Google+. 

Thanks Samantha!

Have you ever judged a book by its cover and been pleasantly or horribly surprised?

*****

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