Character Interview with MacKenzie Fraser of Susan Wingate's HOW THE DEER MOON HUNGERS

Character Interview Day! Today's guest is MacKenzie Fraser from inside the pages of HOW THE DEER MOON HUNGERS by Susan Wingate.  It is a pleasure to have her with us at The Literary Nook!

What is your name?

My name is MacKenzie Fraser.

What do you look like?

Nothing stellar but not bad either. Mousy blonde hair. I look more like my Mom than my sister does.

Where are you today and what are you doing?

I’m out on False Bay Road sitting on a split-rail fence waiting for the moon to show up.

Describe the outside of your home.

The yard needs mowing and the roof needs someone to come out to remove the moss. The paint’s okay if you don’t mind the mold growing up near the roof and the decks need washing. My Mom can’t do everything by herself. I help sometimes but I’m taking summer school before I head off to Seattle for college.

You come face to face with your worst enemy. How do you react?

I call in The Incredible Hulk. ‘Nuff said.

You keep a photo album of memories from your lifetime. If you could only keep one photo, which one would that be?

That’s easy. The one of my little sister, Tessa. She was riding round and round in our circular driveway.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I’m a teenager. Nothing fun happens in the morning.

A police officer stops you for a minor violation. What violation is that and how do you react?

Not again!

What is your favorite piece of clothing?

My Doc Maartens.

Open your wallet, purse, or briefcase. What do you find?

An old scrunchy of Tessa’s. I always kept one in my backpack just in case she wanted me to put her hair up into a ponytail.

How do you feel about mortality?

We all die. Like Tessa. Sometimes I hope I’ll go sooner so that I can see her again. But mostly I think about what my future will be so I guess I’ll have to wait.

What scares you?

Mean people. Deceitful people. And drunk drivers.

How would your parents describe you?

I’m all they have now that Tessa’s…you know. So they think I’m awesome. Although Mom still cries all the time.

What’s the last thing you do before you go to bed at night?

I say my prayers and then say “Goodnight” to Tessa.

Who is your best friend?

I don’t have one right now since Gemma’s betrayal. I think it’s best I don’t have one. Especially with college looming. Just as well. Maybe I’ll find a new best friend in college. Someone adult and honest.

Who is your worse enemy?

I can’t even say her name. She’s the worst person I’ve ever known. I’m still in therapy about it so I don’t want to think about it. Okay?

Are you faith-oriented?

“Faith-oriented?” Is that what people are saying these days? Okay. Yeah. Sure. I’m faith-oriented. I believe in God and Jesus and the Holy Ghost, who I call Asher, like the tribe in Israel.

Are you married or in a relationship?

I’m only eighteen! Give me some time, will ya?! LOL.

Do you have children?

Pfft!!! LOL. See previous Q, por favor!

Where is your favorite hangout?

Roy’s Coffee Shop used to be until Tessa’s accident. I guess I’ll have to find a new one like a new best friend.

You are at the zoo. What is your favorite animal?

I’m not at the zoo but I’ll tell you my favorite animal. It’s the felinus minimus. 😊 If I were at the zoo, my favorite animal there would be the felinus maximus. 😊

If there was one thing you could change about yourself, what would that be?

That my sister isn’t bugging me all the time now. I would change that. That I had my sister back.

About the Book  

For those who enjoy reading books like Where the Crawdads Sing and My Sister’s Keeper
MACKENZIE FRASER witnesses a drunk driver mow down her seven-year-old sister and her mother blames her. Then she ends up in juvie on a trumped-up drug charge. Now she’s in the fight of her life…on the inside! And she’s losing.

HOW THE DEER MOON HUNGERS is a coming of age story about loss, grief, and the power of love.

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08676VMT3

 

About the Author 

Susan Wingate is a #1 Amazon bestselling award-winning author of over fifteen novels. Susan writes across fiction and nonfiction genres and often sets her stories in the Pacific Northwest where she is the president of a local authors association. She writes full-time and lives in Washington State with her husband, Bob.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: www.susanwingate.com
Blog:    www.susanwingate.com/blog
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/susanwingate
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorsusanwingate

Slow Down Book Teaser Trailer

We're happy to host Lee Matthew Goldberg's Slow Down Book Teaser Trailer today!

About the Book:

Title: SLOW DOWN
Author: Lee Matthew Goldberg
Publisher: All Due Respect
Pages: 270
Genre: Thriller/Noir

BOOK BLURB:

How far would you go to make your dreams come true? For budding writer and filmmaker Noah Spaeth, being a Production Assistant in director Dominick’s Bambach’s new avant-garde film isn’t enough. Neither is watching Dominick have an affair with the lead actress, the gorgeous but troubled Nevie Wyeth. For Noah’s dream is to get both the film and Nevie in the end, whatever the cost. And this obsession may soon become a reality once Dominick’s spurned wife Isadora reveals her femme fatale nature with a seductive plot to get rid of her husband for good.

Slow Down, a cross between the noir styling of James M. Cain and the dark satire of Bret Easton Ellis, is a thrilling page-turner that holds a mirror up to a media-saturated society that is constantly searching for the fastest way to get ahead, regardless of consequences.

Here’s what readers are saying about Slow Down!

“Slow Down is a frenetic first novel…full of unedifying characters scrambling for the elusive, perhaps imaginary, brass ring.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Lee Matthew Goldberg writes like a young Bret Easton Ellis doing a line of uncut Denis Johnson off the back of a public urinal. Memorable in the best possible way, also mostly illegal, Goldberg’s Slow Down is a mad man’s tour of Manhattan’s vices, follies, and ultimate betrayals.”
–Urban Waite, author of The Terror of Living and Sometimes the Wolf

“What would happen if one of Raymond Chandler’s 1940’s femme fatales were to join forces with one of Jay McInerney’s enfant terribles? Lee Matthew Goldberg wrings every delectable trope imaginable out of this mashup while still managing a fresh spin. A writer to watch out for.”
–David Kukoff, author of Children of the Canyon

“Slow Down starts fast and gets faster quick, gunning through yellow streetlights on its way to a full collision with your shattered soul. Lee Matthew Goldberg takes on the American Zeitgeist in this stunning debut.”
–Stephen Jay Schwartz, LA Times bestselling author of Boulevard and Beat

“Slow Down is a brilliant rush of a work charting the rise and fall of Noah and other pretentious losers. Savor this book.”
—Foreword Reviews

“Dark and hard-boiled writing that grabs you by the throat. Slow Down is one of those rare novels that’s so good you want it to go on forever!”
–Nick Pengelley, author of Ryder: An Ayesha Ryder Novel

“The plot takes off…there’s no denying it’s fun to watch rich snots destroy themselves.”
—Booklist

“Goldberg’s portrayal of the New York demimonde is one of the book’s strengths and brings to mind Bret Easton Ellis’ Less Than Zero. He also succeeds in marshalling a complicated plot.”
—CrimeFictionLover.com

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/3dmv8UU

About the Author

Lee Matthew Goldberg is the author of the novels THE DESIRE CARD, THE MENTOR, and SLOW DOWN. He has been published in multiple languages and nominated for the 2018 Prix du Polar. The second book in the Desire Card series, PREY NO MORE, is forthcoming, along with his Alaskan Gold Rush novel THE ANCESTOR. He is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Fringe, dedicated to publishing fiction that’s outside-of-the-box. His pilots and screenplays have been finalists in Script Pipeline, Book Pipeline, Stage 32, We Screenplay, the New York Screenplay, Screencraft, and the Hollywood Screenplay contests. After graduating with an MFA from the New School, his writing has also appeared in the anthology DIRTY BOULEVARD, The Millions, Cagibi, The Montreal Review, The Adirondack Review, The New Plains Review, Underwood Press, Monologging and others. He is the co-curator of The Guerrilla Lit Reading Series and lives in New York City.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: http://www.leematthewgoldberg.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LeeMatthewG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leemgol
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/leematthewgoldberg

The Summoned Ones: Book 1 of Flight to Bericea Series Book Teaser Trailer!

We're happy to host Darryl A. Woods' THE SUMMONED ONES BOOK 1 OF FLIGHT TO BERICEA Book Teaser Trailer today!

About the Book:

Title: The Summoned Ones, Book 1 of Flight to Bericea
Author: Darryl A. Woods
Publisher: Brelsford Ridge Publishing
Pages: 336
Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy

BOOK BLURB:

Can a group of college-aged friends from a small Kentucky town actually be the Summoned Ones of prophecy, called to a strange world filled with magic and devastated by war? Can they save the lives of the desperate inhabitants and help them defeat a wicked tyrant? Their epic journey will push them to the limits of their endurance. This unlikely group will discover truths about themselves and experience another world beyond their imagination.

During their journey, they will explore this new world, discover new talents and previously hidden abilities, develop friendships with people they couldn’t have dreamed possible, and will be forced to take actions they would have never considered in any less dire circumstances.

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2JOJ4K7

 Barnes & Noble → https://bit.ly/2RlMkAK

Kobo → https://bit.ly/3aTEYMX
Fishpond → https://bit.ly/3e9IDs2

About the Author

Darryl Woods is a storyteller who hones his craft entertaining coworkers. He also enjoys regaling family and friends with stories of his upbringing in rural Ohio, of the motorized contraptions his father fabricated, and of the timber cutting and sawmill work he did with his father-in-law. With an appetite for reading fantasy, it was inevitable he would choose to write about an epic journey in a world dominated by magic and sword fighting.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website Address: http://darrylawoods.com/
Newsletter: http://darrylawoods.com/newsletter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DarrylAWoods
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Darryl-A-Woods-Storyteller-and-Author-104898847706876/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomdarrylawoods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrylawoods/

Character Interview with Balsy Dewitt of Emilio Corsetti III's 35 MILES FROM SHORE

Character Interview Day! Today's guest is Balsy Dewitt from inside the pages of 35 MILES FROM SHORE by Emilio Corsetti III.  It is a pleasure to have him with us at The Literary Nook!

What is your name? Balsey DeWitt. My wife never liked my first name, so she always called me by my middle name of Dean.

What do you look like? I’m almost 87 years old right now, but when this happened, I was a young 37. I was an airline pilot. If you’re picturing Tom Cruise or Matt Damon, you’d be wrong.

Where are you today and what are you doing? I’m at home in upstate New York living in the house I built.

Describe the outside of your home. A wooded area full of wildflowers, trees, and leaves.

You come face to face with your worse enemy. How do you react? I still have dreams about that day. What could I have done differently? Why did this happen? Why did we have to lose those two little girls? It’s been nearly fifty years.

You keep a photo album of memories from your lifetime. If you could only keep one photo, which one would that be? It would probably be a picture of me in my United Airlines uniform.

Are you a morning person or a night owl? Morning.

A police officer stops you for a minor violation. What violation is that and how do you react? Having an expired license plate. Yes sir, I’ll take care of it as soon as I can.

What is your favorite piece of clothing? Really? How about my pajamas.

Do you have any phobias? What are they and how intense are they? How have they impacted your life? For the longest time I dreaded having to relive that day. It wasn’t until I told my story to the author and got it all off my chest that I was finally able to accept and forgive myself.

Open your wallet, purse, or briefcase. What do you find? A few dollars that I happily give to my grandkids.

You move into a new home. What's the first thing you buy for it? A nice chair.

How do you feel about mortality? It’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately. I survived an accident that took the lives of twenty-three people, including two young girls aged four or five. I think about Maragareth Abraham, the twenty-four-year-old flight attendant, who didn’t survive. I’m lucky to be here, but I do think about those twenty-three people.

What scares you? Knowing that people still blame me for what happened.

How would your parents describe you? Conscientious and ambitious.

What’s the last thing you do before you go to bed at night? I say a prayer.

Who is your best friend? My wife Edith. She stood by me all this time.

Who is your worse enemy? Memories

Are you faith-oriented? Yes.

Are you married or in a relationship? Happily married.

Do you have children? Two

Where is your favorite hangout? Hawaii

You are at the zoo. What is your favorite animal? The penguin. I’ve been told that I sometimes walk like a penguin.

You just woke up to find that war has been declared. What’s the first thing you would do? Pray for everyone involved.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A pilot.

If there was one thing you could change about yourself, what would that be? It would have to be my first name. Balsey, really? What were they thinking.

About the Book  

On May 2, 1970, a DC-9 jet departed New York’s JFK international airport en route to the tropical island of St. Maarten. The flight ended four hours and thirty-four minutes later in the shark-infested waters of the Caribbean. The subsequent rescue of survivors involved the Coast Guard, Navy, and Marines. In this gripping account of that fateful day, author Emilio Corsetti puts the reader inside the cabin, the cockpit, and the rescue helicopters as the crews struggle against the weather to rescue the survivors who have only their life vests and a lone escape chute to keep them afloat.

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/39zbKBq

 Barnes & Noble → https://bit.ly/39HL7dz

 

About the Author 

Emilio Corsetti III is a professional pilot and author. Emilio has written for both regional and national publications including the Chicago Tribune, Multimedia Producer, and Professional Pilot magazine. Emilio’s first book 35 Miles From Shore: The Ditching and Rescue of ALM Flight 980 tells the true story of an airline ditching in the Caribbean Sea and the efforts to rescue those who survived.

Emilio’s latest release Scapegoat: A Flight Crew’s Journey from Heroes to Villains to Redemption tells the true story of an airline crew wrongly blamed for causing a near-fatal accident and the captain’s decades-long battle to clear his name. Emilio is a graduate of St. Louis University. He and his wife Lynn reside in Dallas, TX.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website Address: https://www.EmilioCorsetti.com
Blog: https://www.35milesfromshore.com (dedicated website)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilioCorsetti 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Emilio.Corsetti.III

Q&A: Alison Neuman, Author of HOME

Alison Neuman is a writer, author, choreographer, and dance artist, who is passionate about sharing underrepresented voices. She holds a Bachelor’s of Applied Communications Degree, a diploma in Professional Writing, and a Master of Arts degree with a focus on Educational Studies.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: www.alisonneuman.ca
Blog: http://www.alisonneuman.ca/blog/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Alison_Neuman
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alisonneuman.ca
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4375290.Alison_Neuman

Thanks for this interview, Alison.  Congratulations on your new book! Would you say it’s been a rocky road for you in regards to getting your book written and published or pretty much smooth sailing?  Can you tell us about your journey?

Thank you for having me on your blog. The process of writing Home, the last installment of my Friends and Family Series, was challenging, and I wasn’t sure if the series would ever be finished after my mom passed away two years ago. Throughout my entire life, my mom was always there with me. Through all my hospitalizations and doctors' appointments, she was my sense of home. My family had a love for reading, and many a night when I was a small child and in and out of the hospital, my mom would read to me before I fell asleep. My mom always made time to read, and when I was older, we would silently read together.

As macular degeneration stole my mom's vision and made it challenging to read, I started reading out loud to her. While the activity was reversed, we could still share our love of reading. In the last few years, my mom had dementia, and we were her caregivers. I wanted to share my writing, my love and appreciation for all she had done. I started the first book in the series called Don't Eat Family, about a cat (Fluffy) who meets a mouse (Levi) experiencing a disability, and they become friends. My mom’s childhood pet inspired the cat, and the mouse is the literary character I wished I had to identify with when I was a child experiencing a disability. The follow-up book, Help From Friends, was about ability and adventures between friends. Home, explores the journey of memories and friendships as Fluffy brings her friend Levi and his family back to the safety of her family home. As I was writing this book and still grieving from losing my mom, it made me realize that wherever I was, my mom was always my home and I will always carry her with me.

Home is being launched before Mother’s Day because this book is my gift for her. I hope this book and the series will be shared with parents and their children and grow a love of reading.

If you were to pen your own autobiography, what might the title be?

Searching for My Life or Pushing Through would be some potential autobiography titles.

When not writing, what do you like to do for relaxation and/or fun?

When not writing, I love to spend time with my family and friends, read, dance, craft, bake, and be outside.

What makes your book stand out from the rest?

My book stands out from the rest because there is a strong character that is experiencing a disability and not a negative plot point for the main character. All of the artwork in the book is comprised of paintings that were done with sketches, paints, and special paper, versus digitally on a computer.

If your book was put in the holiday section of the store, what holiday would that be and why?

Home would go in the Mother’s Day section of the store because the series is for sharing with family.

Would you consider turning your book into a series or has that already been done?

Home is part of the Friends and Family series.

When you were young, did you ever see writing as a career or full-time profession?

As a child, I loved books, but I never thought of a career as an author despite the fact I have written my entire life.

Did any of your books get rejected by publishers?

Yes, Ice Rose – A Young Adult Spy Novel and Searching For Normal: A Memoir were both rejected numerous times before finding their current publishers.

What is your view on co-authoring books; have you done any?

I would love to co-author a book and share the writing and publishing journey with another author. Being able to have an additional view and writing skillset to include in the creation of the manuscript would be beneficial. Not to mention, having a second person to work in tandem on book promotions would be fun.

What’s next for you?

My next project, which I have worked on for a few years, is my manuscript entitled Hindsight. It is about a young woman, Olivia, who is experiencing a disability and balancing University and work, grieving the loss of a parent, and searching for love. She begins researching a story for her university paper and discovers a secret that, when revealed, will threaten not only her life but also her family and love.

About HOME

Fluffy, the cat, knew the minute she met Levi that he would become fast friends with the friendly mouse using a special wheelchair. In the third installment of their adventures, join Fluffy, Levi, and his family on their final leg of adventure to find their forever homes together.

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2Va96Ox

Smashwords → https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1015552

Q&A: J. Richman, Author of A MAN'S LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS

J. Richman is the author of A MAN’S LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS, a collection of thoughts about life, relationships, and humanity.

Richman’s work history includes his service as an undercover intelligence officer in the US Air Force; later, he established a thriving business in real estate investment. For 16 years, Richman owned and operated Modify My Mortgage, a company that worked with homeowners to prevent foreclosures. His business success allowed Richman the time to pursue his passions, which included serving as the president of Nova, a workshop that provided work and life skills training for clients with disabilities; cofounding A Way Across, a drop-in center for teenagers with emotional and substance abuse problems; and fundraising for several more public service groups.

Richman enjoys writing and editing at night after allowing his ideas to blossom and expand during the day. The author is married with three sons and five grandsons.

Visit his website at http://www.amanslatenightthoughts.com/.

When did you come up with the idea to write your book?

This book was not a book for over 10 years as it beginnings was a journal of my daily thoughts that over time became more interesting as I found I had a talent reducing long meaningful thoughts into very a short concise thoughts. I included these thoughts in my commutations to friends and they responded that they caused them  to rethink some of reactions to their errors and those of their family members.

A better understanding of our human frailties and add self-compassion relieve a lot of stress and reduce self anger and anger for others.

As the numbers of thoughts added one on another to over 200 and the idea of a book was born.

Who is your publisher and how did you find them or did you self-publish?

My publisher is Dorrance Publishing has a 100 year history helping author self publish.

Is there anything that surprised you about getting your first book published?

Everything was a surprise. They had never seen a book of 344 short concise original thoughts by one author and it turns out no one had---Having a completely different soon caught interest of some radio shows and the title of  A Man’s Later Night Thoughts piqued the interest of women.

Do you believe a book cover plays an important role in the selling process?

The book cover must catch the eye and my cover shows a park at night with the title and a thoughts.

How hard was it to write a book like this and do you have any tips that you could pass on which would make the journey easier for other writers?

Problems occur when we confuse how a women looks for who she is----

What’s one fact about your book that would surprise people?

To understand we are all prone to errors and self compassion for our self and other leads to less self anger and anger for others.

Finally, what message are you trying to get across with your book?

Holding on to anger is like holding a rope pulling you to oblivion…save yourself…let go !!!

 

About A MAN'S LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS

A MAN’S LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS by J. Richman is a creative and life-affirming collection of ponderings that expose the deep thoughts and feelings of a man who has lived a life full of diverse

experiences and challenges. This uniquely constructed compilation of more than 300 reflections focuses on several areas of living, including intimate relationships and acceptance of human frailty, as well as the author’s internal conflicts.

A MAN’S LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS homes in on the complications inherent in intimate relationships from the opening pages of the book: “Problems accrue when we confuse how a woman looks with who she is.” Richman brings the perspective of a mature man to the lessons on love presented in the book, including, “Exploitation of another depreciates both parties,” and “The reason we fall in love with flawed people is that that’s the only kind of people there are.”

In addition to offering a brief study of intimate relationships, A MAN’S LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS probes human frailty and offers readers guidance in accepting this fact. “We must learn to be strong enough to be gentle,” brings into focus the need to deliberately work at treating people well. The author also encourages readers to show self-compassion when dealing with their own baggage: “Sometimes it’s difficult to see beyond the wreckage of our lives, but we must! Take heart! We are more than our mistakes.”

In A MAN’S LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS, Richman further challenges readers to take the reins of their lives when he says, “Name those things that you would do if you had no fear then do something about it.” He offers words of caution regarding political rhetoric: “Beware of politicians who whip up emotions to make us suspicious of others unlike us.” And rounds the book out by sharing his internal conflicts: “The world has bent me more than I have bent it”; “too often my logical mind and my emotional mind are hostile enemies”; “every time I look in the mirror, I expect to see a younger man.”

A MAN’S LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS began as a series of notes that Richman wrote to himself. “I found that if I do not write out my true, and often painful, thoughts and feelings, I do not deal with them.” Richman wishes a book like this one had been available when he was a boy because the knowledge enclosed could have assisted him in navigating his teenage and young adult years. He hopes A MAN’S LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS will assure men that they are not alone in their quiet musings. For women, Richman believes the book will provide a window into men’s unexpressed emotions.

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2RVEoqX

 Barnes & Noble → https://bit.ly/3b7HaRo

 

Q&A: Jennifer Chase, Author of FLOWERS ON HER GRAVE

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.  She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://authorjenniferchase.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JChaseNovelist
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferChase/

Thanks for this interview, Jennifer.  Congratulations on your new book! Would you say it’s been a rocky road for you in regards to getting your book written and published or pretty much smooth sailing?  Can you tell us about your journey?

This book, Flowers On Her Grave, moved smoothly. But, that hasn’t always been the case. I’ve been working for almost ten years independently publishing, which has been a bumpy road. About a year ago, I was approached by Bookouture and my Detective Katie Scott Thrillers were published and hardships and frustrations began to lessen, which allowed for this book to sail through the process with little tensions. 

If you were to pen your own autobiography, what might the title be?

Life & Times of Author Jennifer Chase: Jump Into the Deep End of the Pool

When not writing, what do you like to do for relaxation and/or fun?

I love to read of course. But whenever I can, I love to be outdoors walking, hiking, training with my dog, or just spending time at the beach.

What makes your book stand out from the rest?

The police procedural and crime fiction genres are saturated out there—that’s for sure. However, from the responses I’ve been receiving from readers, they tell me that it’s refreshing that my heroine Detective Katie Scott is not only smart, but flawed. More specifically, she suffers from PTSD. She’s a veteran, and must handle the stresses of police investigations. Of course, everyone loves a dog in the story—there’s a black German shepherd too.

Can you give us the very first page of your book so that we can get a glimpse inside?

PROLOGUE

The dense forest remained isolated. It was deserted. The sun was perched straight up in the sky and scorched the ground. The dry earth was thirsty for the first season’s rainfall. A soft rustle in the trees indicated that there were birds and other small varmints making it their homes protecting them from the harsh weather and roaming predators.

Stepping from the main hiking trail, the park ranger took a moment to catch his breath and to stomp the caked dirt from his hiking boots. He regretted almost immediately that he didn’t bring an extra bottle of water as the heat intensified. Relieved that he had reached the camping area where the grad student had stayed, he began his routine search.

The static from his walkie-talkie interrupted the natural quiet. “Rob, are you there yet? Over.”

Pressing the button, he replied. “Just got here. Over.”

“See anything? Over,” said one of the other rangers from headquarters.

Rob saw blue shreds of fabric intertwined in the low lying bushes. He curiously walked over to them, leaned down, and pulled one of the long pieces of fabric between his fingers out of the brush. Several dark droplets had spattered the end of the fabric. He followed a trail as he examined the other nearby pieces which looked the same.

“Rob? You there? Over,” headquarters asked again.

“I’ll get back to you. Over,” he said securing the walkie-talkie to his belt.

“10-4. Over and out.” And then the radio went quiet.

Rob turned and began searching the nearby area. “Hello?” he said loudly hoping for a response. “Hello?” he said again—this time louder. “Cynthia? Cynthia Andrews?”

No response.

Rob scanned every tree and bush within the vicinity, but there was no sign of the grad student. He began to think that the worried family hadn’t been mistaken with their concerns, but there had to be a logical explanation as to why she hadn’t contacted them in several days.

He let out a sigh. A breeze ignited in the air and blew around him rustling the leaves and pushing up some dust clouds. And that’s when he saw it. He stopped. Taking a moment to re-focus his eyes, he saw what was left of a tent. Moving his hand to his holstered gun, Rob readied himself for what, or who, he was about to encounter.

*

If your book was put in the holiday section of the store, what holiday would that be and why?

Love this question! I would say Fourth of July. Since my main character was in the military as an explosives K9 handler, there are many shocking and light up the sky moments. Many things in the story makes readers feel like they are in a whirlwind of fireworks.

Would you consider turning your book into a series or has that already been done?

Yes, the Detective Katie Scott thrillers are part of a series.

When you were young, did you ever see writing as a career or full-time profession?

I loved books and read whenever I could. When I was young, it was actually a large part of my life. No, I don’t think I ever thought about writing as a full-time profession.

Did any of your books get rejected by publishers?

Early in my career of writing, I did send out manuscripts as well as screenplays, and received rejections. It didn’t stop me and I didn’t want to slow down to wait for a publisher, so I pushed full speed ahead as an independent author.

What is your view on co-authoring books; have you done any?

I have not co-authored a book. It’s not something I’m looking for in my career; however, I may co-write a couple of books with retired law enforcement officers. You’ll just have to wait and see what comes next ;)

What’s next for you?

For me, I’m currently working on the fourth Detective Katie Scott Thriller. I also have some of my previous series that I’m working on whenever I can. You can find out all the details at my blog www.authorjenniferchase.com

Thank you so much for the wonderful interview opportunity.

About FLOWERS ON HER GRAVE

On the floor, amongst the piles of freshly pressed laundry, lay the woman’s lifeless body, her pale yellow nightdress soaked in blood. 

“I didn’t do it…” came a whisper from the corner of the room. 

Detective Katie Scott has never seen two people more in love than her aunt and uncle as they danced on the decking the night of their wedding anniversary party. But the next morning, when Katie finds her aunt’s body sprawled across the floor, that perfect image is shattered forever.

All fingers point to Katie’s uncle, Pine Valley’s beloved sheriff and protector – after all, his prints are all over the antique knife found at the scene. Grieving, but certain of her uncle’s innocence, Katie is consigned to the cold case division after she’s discovered searching the house for clues. Does someone want to keep her as far away from this investigation as possible?

Ignoring warnings from her team, Katie digs into her uncle’s old case files and discovers photographs of the body of a young girl found tied to a tree after a hike in search of a rare flower. Her body is covered with the same unusual lacerations her aunt suffered. Katie knows it can’t be a coincidence, but every lead she follows takes her to a dead end.

Moments before the sheriff is arrested, Katie realizes that a single piece of thread she found at the crime scene could be the missing link that will stitch old crimes to new. But how can she prove her uncle’s innocence without throwing herself directly into the line of fire? She doesn’t have a choice, he’s the only family she has left

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2IOsQQW

Book Blast: The Demolition of Democracy by Ted Bagley

 

Inside the Book:

Title: The Demolition of Democracy

Author: Ted Bagley

Publisher: XLibrisUS

Genre: Political Science

Format: Ebook/Paperback/Hardcover

This work is a synopsis of how I, from my research, feel that this current administration and its behavior, policies, and attack on the democratic foundation of the country could be the undoing of the US as we know it today

Purchase Here

Meet the Author:

The author is writing his fourth novel ,The Demolition of Democracy, to give substance to what he sees as a threat to the stability of our country by the current Trump administration.

Giveaway

Ted is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
• This giveaway begins April 27 and ends on May 8.
• Winners will be contacted via email on May 9.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway >>

Tour Schedule

Monday, April 27

The Literary Nook
Write and Take Flight

Tuesday, April 28
My Bookish Pleasures
Harmonious Publicity

Wednesday, April 29
Confessions of an Eccentric Bookaholic
From Paperback to Leatherbound

Thursday, April 30
A Book Lover
Voodoo Princess

Friday, May 1
Book Bloggin Princess
The Book Czar

Monday, May 4
The Book Refuge
Review From Here

Tuesday, May 5
A Title Wave
A Taste of My Mind

Wednesday, May 6
Lover of Literature
C'est La T

Thursday, May 7
All Inclusive Retort
Fiction to Fruition

Friday, May 8
The Hype and the Hoopla
The Revolving Bookshelf