Category Archives: The process

A Room For Murder by Michele Pariza Wacek

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Meet Charlie. Better known as “Aunt Charlie” from the award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She’s back, making teas and solving cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in Redemption, Wisconsin.

A Room For Murder
Charlie Kingsley Mysteries Book 5
by Michele Pariza Wacek
Genre: Cozy Mystery

A Room For Murder For is Book 4 in The Charlie Kingsley Cozy Novella series by USA Today bestselling author Michele PW (Pariza Wacek). Ideal for cozy mystery fans, especially readers who love clean, twisty and funny cozy mysteries that include tea, pets, baking, small towns and quirky side characters.

Charlie’s very first case!

Normally Darla, the ghost that haunts the Redemption Inn, behaves herself. Relatively speaking.

Nancy, the owner of the Redemption Inn, swears that Darla is harmless. At least, mostly harmless. Maybe she plays a few pranks on some unsuspecting guests, but it’s all in good fun.

Until one of the hotel guests is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, and Darla is the one who’s blamed.

With the threat of guests cancelling and her business on the line, Nancy turns to Charlie to help find the real culprit so Darla can rest in peace.

Meet Charlie. Better known as “Aunt Charlie” from the award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She’s back, making teas and solving cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in Redemption, Wisconsin.

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A USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but now she does spend much of her time writing stories. Mystery stories, to be exact. They’re clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn’t enough, she posts lots of fun things on her blog, including short stories, puzzles, recipes and more, at MPWNovels.com.

Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and still visits regularly, but she herself escaped the cold and now lives in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she’s an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she’s not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)

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Would you like a chance to win one of two print copies of A Room For Murder or a $20 Amazon Gift Card?

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Chapter 1

“Excuse me … do you know where I might find books on local ghost stories?”

I looked up from the murder mystery I was contemplating buying to discover a Robert Redford lookalike smiling at me. In fact, he looked so much like Redford, I had to blink several times to make sure the famous actor himself didn’t just happen to stroll into a random bookstore in Redemption, Wisconsin.

“Um, the books by local authors are over there,” I said, pointed in the general direction. “Although I don’t actually work here.”

His smile became sheepish, which made him even more appealing. “Yeah, I figured you didn’t. But I can’t seem to find anyone who DOES work here, and you seemed like you might know your way around the store, so …” he tilted his head and shrugged.

He had a point. The employees at Quoth the Raven, the new and used bookstore we were currently shopping in, weren’t around a lot. I suspected it was because they hired a lot of high school students who seemed to wander away from their posts more often than not. It didn’t matter so much for me, unless I wanted to pay for something, but I could see how frustrating it would be to visitors or tourists, which this man appeared to be.

I tucked the book under my arm and smiled at him. “Come on. I can show you the section.”

His expression was relieved. “Oh, thank you. I appreciate the help, although I didn’t mean to disturb your shopping.”

“No problem. I was pretty much done anyway,” I said as I led him down one of the aisles.

“I’m Julian, by the way,” he volunteered.

So, definitely not Robert, unless Julian was his incognito name. “Charlie,” I said. “Local ghost stories, huh? Any particular one you’re interested in?”

I was expecting him to mention my house, as it was supposedly the most haunted house in Redemption. And that’s saying something, as Redemption was known as a haunted town. But the man surprised me. “Yes. The ghost at the Redemption Inn.”

I looked at him in surprise. “The Redemption Inn?” I had stayed at the Redemption Inn for a couple of months when I first moved to town, and I didn’t remember anything about a ghost.

“Yeah, her name is … Deborah? Diane?” He furrowed his brow. “I can’t remember. It’s not a real common name.”

“Have you seen this ghost?” I asked, half-jokingly, but his expression was serious.

“I’ve had a few…encounters.” He seemed hesitant to say more, and instead shot me that sheepish smile again. “I guess she only reveals herself to men.”

“Really?” A ghost that only showed itself to men. Maybe that was why I hadn’t seen her when I was living there. “Why is that?”

“I’m not sure. That’s why I was hoping to find a book about her.”

“What did Nancy say?” Nancy, the owner of the Redemption Inn, was also a friend of mine.

“Just that she liked men.” He let out a laugh. “Now, granted, she was in the middle of getting breakfast out, but I thought rather than bug her further, I would see if I could do my own research.”

“So, you’ve actually seen this ghost?” I asked again.

“Let’s just say I’ve seen something,” he said with a smile, though I sensed the conversation was making him uncomfortable. “Something strange is going on in that hotel.”

As much as I wanted to ask more questions, it was clear he didn’t want to talk about it. “Well, here’s the section,” I said lightly, gesturing to a shelf of books. “As you can see, there are a lot of books about all the various Redemption ghosts. I’m not sure if there are any specifically about the Redemption Inn ghost, though.”

He examined the titles, pulling one out. “That’s okay. It might be kind of fun to learn about all the ghosts living here.” He winked at me. “Maybe I’ll even go for a ghost walk. Or tour.”

Was he flirting with me? I couldn’t be sure, although it didn’t matter anyway. I had sworn off men. Two failed relationships were more than enough for me.

“Julian! There you are.” A woman who was once pretty but not aging well came around the corner. Her chestnut-brown hair curled around her face, looking suspiciously like the results of a perm, and her dark-brown eyes were heavily made up. She stopped dead when she saw me, her eyes shifting between Julian and me. “I didn’t realize you found a friend.”

“Nina, this is Charlie,” Julian said, holding up the book. He seemed nonplussed at Nina’s reaction. “She helped me find a book on local ghost legends.”

She came closer to peer at the cover, a sour look on her face that she tried to hide with a forced smile. “Oh, so we’re finally going to learn Darla’s story.”

Julian snapped his fingers. “Darla. That’s her name.” He grinned at me. “I told you it was uncommon.”

“You did,” I said, feeling a little uncomfortable as I took a step back. Nina’s eyes seemed to be boring into the back of my head, and the adage, “If looks could kill” kept drifting through my head. “I should probably get going,” I said, holding up my book. “I hope you get your answers.”

“So do we,” Nina said. She had moved closer to Julian and put one hand on his arm.

“You have no idea,” Julian said. “Nancy keeps insisting that Darla is harmless, and maybe she is, but boy is it irritating. If nothing else, I need a decent night’s sleep.”

“Wow, I had no idea.” Again, I wondered how I had heard nothing about Darla. I was going to have to ask Nancy about her, for sure.

“Yeah, Darla is quite the mischievous ghost,” Nina said, patting Julian’s arm. “And she has excellent taste.”

Julian flashed her a quick smile that didn’t reach his eyes as he took a few steps away from her. “You might not say that if she was haunting you,” he said lightly.

There was a strange tension in the air as Nina stared at him, her expression frozen. I hadn’t quite figured out if they were dating or married, but either way, something seemed off with them.

“I better go,” I said, walking away quickly. “Enjoy your stay in Redemption.”

I barely heard their answer as I strode toward the cashier. At least I had one thing to be grateful for—since they were tourists, it was highly unlikely I would see them again.

I am happy to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about

NOW AVAILABLE: FINDING EVERDAL!

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Celeste epitomizes high school success: top grades, head cheerleader, even dating the star quarterback. Life couldn’t be better with a picture-perfect family and college on the horizon. But as she drifts off to sleep on the eve of her 17th birthday, Celeste never fathoms waking up over 1,000 years in the future.

Transported to a world both unfamiliar and strangely linked to her own, Celeste discovers she’s the heir to a royal lineage and her mother is a long-lost princess. Yet as secrets unravel and familial rifts emerge, the once harmonious facade of her family begins to splinter.

Navigating impossible choices, Celeste’s journey becomes a quest for self-discovery and strength. In the chaos, she discovers the power within her identity, the importance of family, and the treasures of genuine friendships. Embark on Celeste’s journey as she boldly faces the mysteries ahead, shaping her fate with courage and unwavering determination.

Nina has always been creative, be it art, theatre, film – anything but singing – you don’t want to hear that! She earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Military Science from Eastern Michigan University where she spent most of her time either on stage, rappelling down buildings, or working one of three jobs. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, like so many other actors, in pursuit of her dreams.

She started writing short stories in 2008. Since then, her dreams have gotten bigger and her storytelling ability has gotten better. Her first novel Awaken (the Blood Angel Series) was published in 2012. Since then, she has completed the Blood Angel Series with Beginnings, Revenge, and Pursuit, published the SECTOR C trilogy (The Chosen, The Hunted, and The Bridge), released a stand-alone interactive fantasy novel called The Beast Within, and just published Finding Everdal a portal-fantasy novel which takes readers over 1,000 years into the future.

Nina loves helping other writers discover their voice and has written a series of books designed to help authors of all ages find their way through the writing process. Check out JUST WRITE, SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK, #WRITINGPROMPTS, and The Invisible You on Amazon today.

In her day-to-day life, Nina is a North Alabama real estate agent, but she has done everything from perform on stage, television, and film to firing an M16 machine gun, jumped out of a C130 aircraft, and given birth – TWICE – but she always returns to her writing.

Though she’ll forever be a Michigan girl at heart, she now lives in the south with her husband and two beautiful children. If she’s not working on her latest story, you can find her playing with her kids, lounging with a good book, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to Starbucks coffee.

Join her online following on Twitter @Nina_Soden and Instagram @Nina_Soden, visit her online at http://www.ninasoden.com and on youtube at www.youtube.com/c/ninasoden

Disclosure: As part of the Amazon affiliate program, I earn a commission for all sales connected with the links within this post. All profits earned are used for the purposes of writing, editing, designing, formatting, and publishing more books.

Finding Everdal

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Celeste epitomizes high school success: top grades, head cheerleader, even dating the star quarterback. Life couldn’t be better with a picture-perfect family and college on the horizon. But as she drifts off to sleep on the eve of her 17th birthday, Celeste never fathoms waking up over 1,000 years in the future.

Transported to a world both unfamiliar and strangely linked to her own, Celeste discovers she’s the heir to a royal lineage and her mother is a long-lost princess. Yet as secrets unravel and familial rifts emerge, the once harmonious facade of her family begins to splinter.

Navigating impossible choices, Celeste’s journey becomes a quest for self-discovery and strength. In the chaos, she discovers the power within her identity, the importance of family, and the treasures of genuine friendships. Embark on Celeste’s journey as she boldly faces the mysteries ahead, shaping her fate with courage and unwavering determination.

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Order your copy/copies, please complete the form below to include your complete contact information and the number of copies you are ordering. Each book is $15 which includes your autographed copy and shipping & handling fees. Once the form is completed and submitted, you will select the number of copies again in the payment form and proceed to pay with PayPal. Your book(s) will be shipped once your order is received and paid.

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Teen/YA Fantasy Novel by Nina Soden By pre-ordering your copy, you are acknowledging that you understand this novel has not yet been released and that once published, you will receive an autographed copy. Price includes book purchase and shipping costs.

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Bryan Asbury ~ Author Interview

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Bryan Asbury was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado. Growing up, he was heavily inspired by Stephen King, as well as “Tales From the Crypt” and “The Twilight Zone.” He is currently a regular contributor for “The Chilling Tales For Dark Nights Network” and has had five of his stories adapted into podcast productions. He’s been featured in the Pueblo Chieftain, a local southern Colorado newspaper, as well as local bookstores and libraries, and recently his book can be found on the shelves of Barnes and Noble in Colorado. His writing style is distinctive and often strays from traditional horror by also combining comedy and suspense with a focus on twisted endings. He continues to try and expand his portfolio and aspires to eventually adapt his stories into movies or television shows.

Check out our interview on YouTube:

NOTE: The Correct Spelling of Bryan’s last name is ASBURY not ASHBURY!

Check out His books below!

(Click on the cover images to order your copy)

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.)

Bryan Asbury’s first collection of short stories features four of his best “spine-chilling tales” (The Pueblo Chieftain). He often combines suspense, thriller, horror and comedy into one, that truly delivers a unique writing style that is all his own. His stories have even been adapted into full-scale podcast productions that have been aired globally. These tales will leave you with an unsettling feeling long after the last page.

After a successful attorney has a chance encounter with a homeless man outside of a grocery store, his life takes a tragic and disturbing turn. A terrifying tale about the darkside of giving and receiving.

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Keeping Your Writing Different – Guest Post by Mitch Maiman

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How Do You Keep Your Writing Different?

Mitch Maiman- author of “Every Third Night”

     The key to keep your writing “different” is being loyal and true to yourself. We are all singular individuals, and writers are no exception. We think differently, react differently, and compose our prose differently. Writing is simply transmitting the ideas that are filtered out by your brain and expressing them in flowing sentences and appropriate words. Since no two brains are alike, your fiction can only be uniquely yours, unless you violate the cardinal rule of composition and try to mimic another author’s style or live up to some biased standard that you have encountered. Just be yourself. Don’t use words that you wouldn’t use in your everyday language. Don’t invent fancy phrases that you have never heard in your entire life. And when you try to project yourself into one of your character’s mindsets, don’t deviate too far from your own paradigm. Every character must make sense to you, even if they are deviant or crazy. At times, we all are. For instance, if one of your characters is a murderer, imagine yourself as that criminal and write what you might do in a given situation. If another one is psychopath, become psychotic in your thought and transmit how your own brain interprets that pathology. Don’t let your characters become foreign to you. Intrinsically break them down through your own lens, and recite their plights in your own vernacular.

     Then there is style. Develop your own style. There is no cookbook recipe, and no blueprint that must be followed. In my own experience, I found myself ending almost every chapter with a one-line paragraph, usually an open-ended but definitive statement. Something the reader can really mull over. At first, I thought that might not be wise, that it was possibly too repetitive. But since every chapter seemed to be ending that way, I realized that this mode of writing was truly my style. It was my way of connecting my subplots, and entice the reader to continue uninterrupted to embellish my novel and move rapidly on to the next chapter. It became one my signature modalities. So, I adopted it, instead of worrying about what a critic might think. If your writing keeps leading you down a certain path, do not be afraid. That is your distinction. You may try to improve upon it and fine tune its presentation, but do not abandon it. You may become well- known for that very same tendency.

     Finally, the ratio between your works DIALOG among the characters versus NARRATIVE text is another key element that helps distinguish one’s literary expression. Some say that too much dialog might read like a screenplay or television series, OR, too much narrative might become boring literary fiction and drag on too long. Hogwash. Every interaction, every point in plot development might call for a different strategy, and your novel might vacillate between the two depending on particular circumstances. Dialog provides the reader with the most dramatic moments, and well-written narrative must support the plots essence. Don’t be overly aware of the blend between the two, any more than you should count the words in your book. It is the quality of your account that matters, and the realism that you can impart to your audience. Any part of the book might favor one or the other. Just write it as you feel it, and the pages will reflect your honesty.

    And the clarity that results from your effort will result in great fiction.

_____

EVERY THIRD NIGHT

“Every Third Night” is an eye-opening yet poignant story that is set in a busy, dehumanizing and unyielding New York City residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1984. It brings the reader into the real world of medicine at a time of limited supervision and brutal duty hours through the vantage points of young physicians enduring stressful conflicts and volatile relationships.

Protagonist and chief resident Jimmy Zito seemingly has it all- brilliant clinical skills, handsome, a talented teacher, and a gorgeous girlfriend to boot- but a troubled past and a rash of new conflicts leave him struggling to survive in this, his last month of training. He desperately tries to guide his fellow residents through their own personal traumas, but is not nearly as well equipped to handle the pressure as others might think, especially considering the toxic and exhaustive work schedule, unchecked aberrant behavior of attending physicians, and the highly competitive and emotional demands of Ob-Gyn.

Intern Henry Deluca grapples with the consequences of a horrific surgical complication that he feels responsible for. Co-chief resident Greta Greenberg struggles with her personal dilemma in a busy abortion clinic. Best friend Mike O’Rourke is driven to madness by an unreasonable superior’s callousness concerning a dying patient with ovarian cancer. And Kim Clark, Jimmy’s occult but obvious love interest, is at wits end after constantly being tortured by her sadistic Chairman. Jimmy’s ultra-needy girlfriend and stubborn father do not make things any easier. The intertwined subplots all mesh together and come crashing down when an unexpected, dramatic and haunting mishap leaves the program reeling and Jimmy’s life forever transformed.

Purchase A Copy Here

AUTHOR BIO

Dr. Mitchell Maiman became a physician at age twenty-four and is now retired. As a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology and sub-specialist in Gynecologic Oncology, he has had a distinguished academic, clinical and research career in medicine and served as both a Director of Gynecologic Oncology and Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at major New York City based university hospitals. He has been recognized for his numerous educational contributions in the field and his devotion and commitment to the teaching of residents and fellows.

Mitch lives with his wife, Dr. Judy Levy, in Long Island, New York and is an avid tennis player and practitioner of yoga. They first met during their residency training. This is his first novel.

Roni Faciane ~ Author Interview

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Roni was left to fight a fight that few could win. She filled with rage holding her baby now covered in bruises, praying to a God that wouldn’t protect her. She pushed back murderous plots in her head. After all, her son and daughter relied on her training to dispense justice—not revenge. Defending her baby, she took her beating in front of a judge and vowed to make them pay. Five years later, she would again face that same system. This time she was a huntress of fugitives—a bounty hunter. A newfound badge of redemption propelled her into the spotlight. Exploited, threatened and sued, she continued her mission. But she found her biggest challenge in the case of human trafficking, the deaths of six young women, and two serial killers.

Roni tells her riveting story in RUBBER BULLETS a memoir!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

WATCH THE INTERVIEW BELOW!

ORDER RUBBER BULLETS HERE!

Mirror of Emotions by Ali Ashhar

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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

Mirror of Emotions is a melange of every phase that life encounters you with. This book shall take you on the erratic path on this journey of life and readers can expect an exhilarated persona of themselves disentangling the complexities they keep battling with during different phases of life. 

Ali Ashhar is poet and content writer currently residing in Kanpur, India. He is the award-winning author of poetry collection, Mirror of Emotions. He has co-authored three international anthologies. He also contributes his poems and articles to literary journals and newspapers. His works have been published in Eve Poetry Magazine, Indian Periodical, Indian Review, My Voice Canada and Good Morning Kashmir. 

Life becomes more of 

what you hold inside

rather than what transpired outside. 

~ Poem by Ali Ashhar

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The Christine Stewart Time Travel Adventure Series

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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

No Way Home

A Christine Stewart Time Travel Adventure Book 1

by Christy Cooper-Burnett

Genre: Time Travel, SciFi, Historical Fantasy

2020 California Author Project Winner – Adult Fiction

2020 PenCraft Award Winner – Science Fiction

“An action-packed time-travel adventure that will leave you thirsting for the sequel.” –Sublime Book Review

“A brilliant and thought-provoking book that readers who love tales of time travel will find fascinating.” –Authors Reading

Christine Stewart is a regular woman just doing her job when she gets stranded in history. When she gets up for the day, her plan is simple: go to work, travel back in time to the year 1867 in Oklahoma to deport a cyber-criminal, then head back to her time in 2070 Los Angeles and get ready to go on vacation with her son, Michael.

Then the system goes down and she-and dozens of other transporters around the world-are stranded in the past with minimal training and no supplies.

Just when she thinks things can’t get any more dangerous, she is cast further back in time and thousands of miles away.

As her goals shift from simply getting home to something much more dire to all of humanity, Christine must step outside of herself, work as part of a team, and ultimately make the choice between what it easy and what is right. Even if it costs her everything-including her one chance of ever getting home.

Goodreads * Amazon

Finding Home

A Christine Stewart Time Travel Adventure Book 2

An exiled prisoner. A desperate woman. A time travel agent willing to break the rules.

Malcolm Aldred is starting over in 1868, Oklahoma. There’s just one problem—he’s an exiled prisoner from 2070.

In 2071, Los Angeles, housewife Hannah Cole is desperate to escape her abusive husband, and begs Cyber Criminal Enforcement Agent Christine Stewart to send her somewhere, anywhere, in history. When Christine agrees to send Hannah to 1868, neither woman has any idea the events that sets in motion.

Malcolm and Hannah adapt to pioneer life in an untamed world full of danger and unimaginable hardships, but falling for each other was never part of the plan. When a deadly hunter tracks Hannah to 1868, fate intervenes and catapults her back to Colonial America, threatening to destroy their future before it ever begins.

Can Christine save Hannah in time or will they both be lost to history forever?

Goodreads * Amazon

Escaping Home

A Christine Stewart Time Travel Adventure Book 3

United States, 2072

With the country under the threat of war, a group of time-traveling government agents devise a risky plan to keep their families safe. But transporting hundreds of years to the past and blending in may prove much more dangerous than they expected.

Cyber Criminal Enforcement Agent Christine Stewart has been to the past before and thinks she knows what to expect. She couldn’t be more wrong.

Life in the eighteenth century is anything but ideal, especially when they learn a rogue agent with plans to strike it rich follows them back in time. Armed with a modern-day weapon, the agent may disrupt the timeline in the most disastrous way and alter history as they know it.

Now they’re refugees in their own homeland, and how they proceed will determine their fate. Will they crash and burn in their race to stop the defector before it’s too late?

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Christy Cooper-Burnett is an award-winning author based in California with a degree in Administration of Justice. After retiring early from the new home construction industry, she now divides her time between northern and southern California.

She has one grown son who inspired her to write her award-winning debut novel, No Way Home. She began her writing career later in life, but once she started she couldn’t stop. Her work focuses on creating relatable stories and characters that transcend genres and encourage readers to imagine what they would do if thrown into the unique, imaginative situations her protagonists end up in.

Christy’s debut novel, No Way Home, was the recipient of the 2020 California Author Project award in the Adult Fiction category, the 2020 PenCraft Award in the Science Fiction category, a 2021 Literary Titan Gold Medal Award and a finalist position in the 2021 International Book Awards, Science Fiction category. Her second novel, Finding Home released June 17, 2021, and early praise has already garnered several five-star reviews and her second Literary Titan Gold Medal Award. The third book in the Christine Stewart Time Travel Adventure series, Escaping Home, is an Indies Today recommended read and is set to launch on November 18, 2021.

You can learn more about Christy, subscribe to her mailing list for news and book deals or contact

her at www.christycooperburnett.com.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Would you like a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell us something about yourself and how you became an author?

I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on. My mother and grandmother were avid readers, and my grandmother was also an editor. Despite my lifelong love of books, I didn’t consider writing until I was in my late 50’s. I had a dream about a woman trapped in the past and in my dream, I was typing the story on my grandmother’s old typewriter. The dream stayed with me into the following day, and I mentioned it to my son. He thought it sounded like a great story and suggested I write a book based on the plot. I had never considered writing, but with his encouragement I started to put together an outline. I wrote on my lunch hours at work, and on weekends. When I had a story put together, I knew I should have a professional editor give it a once over. My friends were eager to read it, and I wanted to have the best version of it to give them. The editor I used was a former acquisitions editor for a publisher and told me it ticked all the boxes, and in her previous position she would have picked up my story. She encouraged me to send it out to small presses who accepted unsolicited manuscripts. No one was more surprised than me when I received four offers for the book. I eventually signed with a small publisher in Texas, Black Rose Writing. I have since published two more books in the series with them and just signed a contract for the first book in a new series, due out next September.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I signed my first contract with Black Rose Writing. It was a surreal moment for me, and one that will stay with me forever. It was the best feeling in the world to know that my book was entertaining enough for a publisher to take a chance on with an unknown author.

Which of your novels can you imagine being made into a movie?

Since my books are part of a trilogy with the same characters, all of them! After three books with these characters, I feel I know them so well, I can imagine all of them translating to the screen.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in No Way Home, Finding Home and Escaping Home?

The protagonist, Christine Stewart was the most crucial for me. She is a regular, forty-something woman just doing her job when extraordinary circumstances turn her world upside down. She is somewhat anti-social by nature, so having to make connections to stay alive goes against every cell in her being. But she knows in order to get home and see her son again, she will do whatever it takes. By the end of No Way Home, she has evolved. It remains a daily struggle for her, but she tries to make a change for the better. She found a best friend for the first time since she was a young girl and learns to put someone else first. Christine has a need to try to save everyone, but in the final installment of the series, Escaping Home, she comes full circle and gets her happy ending. Just not in a way she ever expected.

What can we expect form you in the future?

I’ve just signed a contract for a new book which will be out next September. It is another time travel series, packed with adventure and action. Without giving away too much, here is a little teaser.

They always say, “Be careful what you wish for.”

I wish I had been careful.

I could’ve easily sold my time travel technology for billons and walked away. Instead, I chose to take the elite on vacations deep into the past, to a time and place of their choice.

But when a big-time motion picture company hired me, I sold my soul.

What was supposed to be a few days in the nineteenth century with two of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities goes horribly awry. Now America’s hottest starlet is dead, and Jack the Ripper is on the loose in modern-day America.

And it’s all my fault.

I was foolish enough to let the most ruthless serial killer in history slip out of the past. Am I smart enough to send him packing?

Is there a writer whose brain you would love to pick for advice? Wo would that be and why?

Actually, Tom McCaffrey, the best-selling author of The Claire Trilogy (The Wise Ass, An Alien Appeal, Kissing My Ass Goodbye) is a dear friend of mine. I have access to his brain and pick it often. Not only is he a very talented writer, but he is one of the funniest people I know, and an all-around good guy. Every writer needs a “Tom”.

Meet Author Leslie Wolfe #AuthorInterview

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Leslie Wolfe is a bestselling author whose novels break the mold of traditional thrillers. She creates unforgettable, brilliant, strong women heroes who deliver fast-paced, satisfying suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology.

Leslie released the first novel, Executive, in October 2011. Since then, she has written many more, continuing to break down barriers of traditional thrillers. Her style of fast-paced suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology, has made Leslie one of the most read authors in the genre and she has created an array of unforgettable, brilliant and strong women heroes along the way.

A recently released standalone and an addictive, heart-stopping psychological thriller, The Girl You Killed will appeal to fans of The Undoing, The Silent Patient, or Little Fires Everywhere. Reminiscent of the television drama Criminal Minds, her series of books featuring the fierce and relentless FBI Agent Tess Winnett would be of great interest to readers of James Patterson, Melinda Leigh, and David Baldacci crime thrillers. Fans of Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni suspenseful mysteries would love the Las Vegas Crime series, featuring the tension-filled relationship between Baxter and Holt. Finally, her Alex Hoffmann series of political and espionage action adventure will enthrall readers of Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, and Lee Child.

Leslie has received much acclaim for her work, including inquiries from Hollywood, and her books offer something that is different and tangible, with readers becoming invested in not only the main characters and plot but also with the ruthless minds of the killers she creates.

A complete list of Leslie’s titles is available at LeslieWolfe.com/books.

Leslie enjoys engaging with readers every day and would love to hear from you. Become an insider: gain early access to previews of Leslie’s new novels.

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Q&A with Leslie Wolfe

When the body of a teenage girl is found under the water curtains of the Blackwater River Falls, Detective Kay Sharp is called to the scene. Surrounded by snowy peaks and a forest alive with the colors of fall, the victim floats in the water, a hand-carved locket around her neck.

The locket seems strangely familiar. Digging into cold cases, Kay discovers that three-year-old Rose Harrelson was wearing it when she vanished fourteen years ago. In the middle of the night, the little girl’s bedroom—with Mickey Mouse on the wall and a hanging baby mobile—was suddenly empty. The unsolved case still haunts the town.

But the teenager they have found has been dead for only a few hours. If the girl in the river is Rose, where has she been, and who has been hiding her all this time? If she is someone else, why is she wearing the locket, and what happened to the missing child from all those years ago?

Kay knows she must solve the kidnapping in order to untangle the mystery of the dead body. As she unearths a web of lies and deceit spun for decades, the close-knit community will never be the same. And Kay will find herself facing a truly terrifying killer…

Beneath Blackwater River  shines a light on the staggering implications of parental abuse and its life-long consequences in the lives of the abused. Sometimes, the abused turns into the abuser and such the cycle of abuse continues. In many known cases of serial homicide in the United States, the killer’s early life was one of appalling abuse endured at the hands of a parent or immediate family member.

  • What would readers remember after they finish reading the book?

They will remember that many times, appearances can be deceiving. Sometimes, refusing to dig deeper under the ornate masks worn by predators in our midst could lead to lives being threatened and lost. I also hope readers will regard parental abuse with a renewed interest, given its long-term, potentially deadly consequences. As my readers have grown accustomed to, the parental abuse in my book isn’t physical. It’s entirely psychological, but even if the scars aren’t visible to the naked eye it doesn’t mean they’re not there.

  • Your writing style is fast, filled with dialogue, almost at the expense of descriptives and narratives. Why is that?

This is how human beings interact, especially when under pressure or stress. We stop paying attention to our surroundings, and focus on the task at hand. People interact with one another, talk to one another, and have feelings for one another and for everything we do. That’s what I’m focused on, rather than specifying each article of clothing someone wears, or the color of the flower vase in an office somewhere. This technique isn’t necessarily good or bad; just somewhat different from mainstream.

  •  What’s the biggest compliment you received from a fan?

It’s when readers tell me they stay up all night to finish the book, because they couldn’t put it down. That’s music to my ears J Like any other artist and entertainer, I thrive knowing that I deliver that escape into the fictional world in a grasping, gritty, and memorable way.

  • You mentioned science, technology, psychology. How do you keep it real?

I do extensive amounts of research for my work, and I’m fascinated by what I have the opportunity to learn. Additionally, sections of my books go through a process of validation at the hands of several fantastic partners who are law enforcement officers, attorneys, scientists, doctors in medicine. In Dawn Girl, for example, there are sections that speak about using certain plant extracts and animal venoms to achieve certain goals. Despite the extensive research, my hands were shaking a little as I wrote them, metaphorically speaking, and I was relieved when my research “passed scientific review.”

  • Do you do any book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?

Apart from social media and email interactions, I’m a veritable recluse. Email is the best and quickest way to reach me, and I was fortunate to build true friendships with readers over email. The majority of my readers ask me when’s the next book coming out, not when I’m getting out of the house, so I get the hint and keep on writing.

  • Is this book a first in a series and going to be continued?

This book is the second in the Kay Sharp Series, a story centered on a certain family and its layered dysfunction. There are two other books published in the series. So far, this series has been very well received by the readers, and my fans have been adamant: they want more. Therefore, in the future there will be more books to enjoy in the Kay Sharp Series.

Until then, the Tess Winnett Series features FBI Special Agent Tess Winnett in a series of eight (so far) gripping crime thrillers you won’t be able to put down. The first title in that series is Dawn Girl, but all books can be read as standalones.

Baxter & Holt is a three-book series featuring two Las Vegas detectives who trust each other with their lives, only not with their deepest, darkest secrets. Start this engrossing series with Las Vegas Girl.

Alex Hoffmann is an action-adventure series featuring a young and smart heroine and her team of private investigators. They follow their cases wherever those might take them, even if that means behind enemy lines, in five engrossing thrillers that will remind you of James Bond and Jack Reacher. The book that will get you started on this adventure is Executive.

Meet Shakuita Johnson, author of Wicked Crimson

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Shakuita Johnson is a 34-year-old Psychology major. When she isn’t going to school or working, she is doing what she loves most. Writing. She started writing in middle school. She would write poetry in her room or the middle of the night. Then she was introduced to short stories in a creative writing course her senior year. Her love for paranormal and supernatural started with R.L. Stine Goosebumps books and TV shows, Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles, and Christopher Pike books. She is an avid reader with over 100 books on her bookshelf and 1000 plus on her iPad. She also loved to watch Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer with her mom.

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Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

I have always enjoyed writing. I wrote a lot of poetry in high school, but I didn’t start writing my first book until the end of 2011 and published it Dec. 2013! I served 8 years in the United States Air Force. After that I moved to Boston to work on my Master’s in Public Admin. I’m currently back in my hometown. I’m a Scorpio. I enjoy music and the arts. I’m the oldest of brothers. I have 3 biological and 2 stepbrothers. I have 11 nieces and nephews and currently child-free.

Tell us something really interesting that’s happened to you!

When I was working in the military a chain-link fence almost fell on top of me. It was like something out of Final Destination. I moved out of the way just in time. No one else was around and it probably would have been a while before someone found me and I don’t even remember if I had my phone on me or not.

What are you passionate about these days?

These days I’m passionate about crafting. I make journals and notebooks because I’m obsessed with also buying them. I thought if I could make them myself it would lessen my spending but that was a lie. I still buy notebooks and the raw materials to make journals and I believe I’ve spent even more money on it.

What inspired you to write this book?

I’m super into anime and I decided to do something along those lines with paranormal. So, I decided to write a book about a fox yokai or Kitsune as they are referred as in Japan.

Where did you come up with the names in the story?

I decided to use Japanese names since the setting is Japan-like and there are some really beautiful names and their meanings can vary depending on what characters are used when writing them.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I have so many projects but I def will be finishing my first series that started with the first book I wrote. I have other series/trilogies I have started and some I need to start. I have some erotic shorts I need to finish, and I plan to possibly do a shared world if I can get the interest.

Who designed your book covers?

My book covers are mostly designed by Daria Brennan of https://beegraphica.com. Its been great seeing her grow in her craft from the first book cover she’s done for me til the most recent ones she’s designed. I have also used L.M. Adams, and three other cover designers.

Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.

It’s def something different from the norm. I try to stay away from what’s considered mainstream and write something outside the box. It seems lately everything follows the same formula, and I don’t like to read things that read like every other book. I like diversity and stories that push the envelope. I like to think that I write stories like that. I write what I would want to read. There is nothing wrong with reading the same sort of stories but I like writing off beat things and I write for those who are of the same mind.

What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?

This is hard but I’d say:

Anne Rice

R.L. Stine

V.C. Andrews

Christopher Pike

Shelly Laurenston

Kresley Cole

Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice

Patricia Briggs

L.M. Adams

Kim Harrison

There are many more I read but I find myself rereading these authors and I’ve def read Queen of the Damned dozens of times.

What book do you think everyone should read?

A Child Called It. It really highlights some of the things children suffer at the hands of those who are supposed to love them and how lacking our resources still are when it comes to the safety and welfare of children that are really in danger.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since at least high school that I can remember. I took a creative writing class where I also wrote my first short stories but before that it was mostly poetry, and I journaled a lot.

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?

Yes, my favorite is paranormal followed by fantasy

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading manga and light novels. There are so many I don’t know how I keep up. But the last book I read was The Call of Crows series by Shelly Laurenston. Some of the manga I’m reading are:

Tokyo Revengers

The Time I Reincarnated As A Slime

My Hero Academia

Unromantic

Ring

Counterattack of Pregnancy

My Weird Roommate

Equipoise