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Sunscreen Shower A Detective Kev Dixit Novel 2 by J.P. Rieger Genre: Crime Mystery, Dark Comedy
Baltimore Police Detective Kev Dixit is being stalked by a psychopath. He’s also saving lives and solving crimes. And he’s late for dinner. Dixit temporarily heads the Criminal Investigation Division, a real stress inducer. Aided by humorless partners and eccentric high school friends, he investigates two vexing cases. Spouses are found shot to death in their home. Murder-suicide is the obvious call, considering one spouse had just cleaned out the couple’s joint accounts the day before. But all is not as it seems when Forensics takes a closer look at the victims’ DNA. Later, Dixit and his assigned mentee investigate a car bombing. What kind of person would viciously murder a likeable gym rat? Oh, and that murder-suicide. It reminded Dixit of an earlier investigation, back when he was a mere newbie detective. One where he worked tirelessly to solve a string of increasingly vicious serial attacks on single women. One where he barely escaped with his life.
J. Paul (J.P) Rieger is a born and bred Baltimorean and mostly retired Maryland attorney. He’s the author of Clonk!, a police farce set in Baltimore and published in 2023 by Apprentice House Press (Loyola University-Baltimore). Clonk! was a finalist in 2023’s CIBA Mark Twain Award for Humor and Satire. He’s also author of The Case Files of Roderick Misely, Consultant, a 2013 mystery novel featuring a wannabe lawyer anti-hero. His third novel, The Big Comb Over, a slipstream fantasy/ comedy of manners, was a finalist in 2023’s Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Sunscreen Shower, a Detective Kev Dixit Novel is Paul’s fourth novel and a sequel to Clonk! Paul and his spouse lives in Towson, Maryland, a Baltimore suburb. Chek out his website: jpaulrieger.net.
I’m still learning as a writer. There’s something new to learn every day. But I can at least provide some practical advice for the new author. First, only write when you feel in the mood, when it will be a fun experience. There’s no point in forcing yourself to engage in a “creative” activity when you’re not in a creative mood. If your writing becomes so popular that you find yourself writing constantly, that’s fantastic and its own reward. Until then, chill out and keep it fun! Don’t get obsessed with outlines. If, like me, you do better by writing down various “scenes,” or perhaps series of phrases or snippets of proposed dialog, go for it. Just let the novel organize itself. Enjoy what you are doing, your way! Write your book in any order you please. If you’re in the mood to work on a specific section or “scene,” just do it. Don’t give away your book to people who have not asked for it. I know, this is a tough proposition. Your inclination is to the contrary. But giving away your unrequested book virtually guarantees that the recipient will avoid you in the future. Not because they dislike you. Only because they haven’t read your book and would be embarrassed to admit it. Or worse, some may have actually read it and disliked it. Giving a book away only to someone who requests it is a safe strategy. Lastly, the new author must accept the possibility that, besides a loved one or two, no one may actually read their book. I know. Quite depressing, right? The novice must ask: “If absolutely no one reads what I am writing, would I continue writing?” If the answer is not, “yes,” the novice writer should consider some other artistic outlet.
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Donna M. Zadunajsky started out writing children’s books before she wrote and published her first novel, Broken Promises, in June 2012. She since has written several more novels and her first novella, HELP ME! Book 1 in the series, which is about teen suicide and bullying.
Her third novel Family Secrets, “Secrets and Second Chances”, which is the first in a series she is writing, was given a publishing contract through California Times Publishing.
Tell No One by Donna M. Zadunajsky Genre: Psychological Thriller
Mia Barnes rubbed her fingers across the scars on her wrists. No matter how hard she tried, she would never forget what happened to her. The night her whole life changed. The night he took everything from her.
Judith Barnes couldn’t shake the vivid memories of that night. The night she found her daughter near death. Since that day, all she wanted was to know why. Why her daughter thought her life wasn’t worth living.
A story of family, love, and grief. How far will a mother go to find out the truth? How far will a daughter go to hide it? What happens when the truth comes out?
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Where were you born/grew up at? I was born in Warren, Ohio but raised in Bristolville, Ohio
If you knew you’d die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day? With my daughter doing whatever she wanted and most likely browse some bookstores.
Who is your hero and why? My hero has always been my dad. I have looked up to him since I was little. He has always amazed me by his strength and the way he had always taken care of us. He’s generous and kindhearted and can never say no to anyone even if he has a lot on his plate. He has always been a hard worker.
What are you passionate about these days? I am passionate about my writing. I want to learn and write well, so my readers will continue to read my novels.
What do you do to unwind and relax? I go for walks if the weather is good and I love, love to read. You will always find me with a book in my bag.
Describe yourself in 5 words or less! Kind, caring, trustworthy, devoted, and hardworking.
When did you first consider yourself a writer? When I wrote my first novel in 2012, though it has always been a dream of mine since I was a teenager. My face always stuck in a Stephen King book.
Do you have a favorite movie? Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie? THAT NIGHT but would love a series done with my Craven Falls series. THE DEAD GIRL UNDER THE BLEACHERS, BURIED SECRETS, and THE BODY IN THE ROAD.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? Stitch
What inspired you to write this book? The character Mia was in my novel THAT NIGHT and I wasn’t thinking at the time to further her story until the very end of writing THAT NIGHT. She just kept playing in my head to tell her story.
What can we expect from you in the future? I’m working on a new adult novel. This one is focused on domestic violence.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Tell No One? Mia had something happen to her and she felt that suicide was the way out. Before she considered suicide, she had a great life and a loving boyfriend who adored her. Judith, the mother, has always spent her time working instead of making her family a priority. She also had past trauma from her father that still haunts her.
Where did you come up with the names in the story? I love the name Mia and as for the mother, Judith seemed to fit because of her past and career. Trevor is the boyfriend. I wanted to have some unique names along with some original names.
How did you come up with the title of your first novel? The original name for the title was Sea-Blue Eyes, but when I was looking for a book cover the title just didn’t work for me anymore and that’s when I came up with Tell No One. Which definitely fit the plot of the story.
Who designed your book covers? Warrendesign
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? No, I actually had changed a lot in the book because I had been away from writing the book that the plot and characters changed and I feel that the book it so much better than when I was first writing the novel.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination? From my imagination.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story? My characters always hijack my story and make it into their own.
What are your top 10 favorite books/authors? Stephen King, Robyn Harding, Nicholas Sparks, Heather Gudenkauf, Lisa Scottoline, Liane Moriarty, B.A. Paris, Mary Kubica, Shari Lapena, Ruth Ware, Stephen King.
What book do you think everyone should read? The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
How long have you been writing? I have been writing since 2005
Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write? Most of them come when I am writing.
Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre? Mystery/suspense, Thrillers
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Silence, because I can’t think and focus if there is a lot of noise around me.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time? One book, sometimes when I’m writing a book another idea for a different book will come to me, which happened when I wrote the novel THE DEAD GIRL UNDER THE BLEACHERS. The second book came to me, even though I wasn’t going to make it a series. It turned into a 3-book series. The Carven Falls series
Pen, typewriter or computer? Computer
What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision? I love to make up stories and loved to read growing up. Yes I still enjoy writing so it was the right decision for me.
What are you currently reading? Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? I write more of original stories.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? I wish I would have focused more in school and pursued writing at a younger age.
How long on average does it take you to write a book? If I have the time, usually a year.
The floorboards creaked and moaned as I climbed the stairs to the second floor. Stopping at the top, I glanced at the two closed doors to my left: the furthest being Mia’s bedroom. My son Ethan had left for college two weeks ago. I didn’t hear anything but the storm outside, which meant that no one was home but me. Once in my bedroom, I closed the door and walked into the bathroom. The hot steaming shower caressed my body, relaxing my muscles. The stress of the day went washing down the drain. It felt good to be home. Minutes later, dressed in comfy clothes, I left the bedroom. I stood at the top of the stairs, staring down the hall at Mia’s bedroom door again. I wasn’t sure what was bothering me. Positive that no one was home, but something stirred inside me. My motherly instincts setting in, making me feel like something was wrong. I positioned my foot on the first step and stopped. A soft banging came from down the hall near Mia’s bedroom. I had told Scott several times that the pipes were making noises and needed to be looked at. I grabbed the banister, turned, and made my way down the hall toward Mia’s bedroom, flicking on the hall lights as I went. Placing my ear against the door, I listened. Mia didn’t like it when I came into her room unannounced. A fight I grudgingly lost multiple times. I hated fighting with her, so I agreed to give her some space. Some independence. Being a mother was hard, especially these days when disciplining your child was frowned upon. Not that I ever hit my children. There it was again but not as subtle as before. “Mia,” I whispered, tapping a knuckle against the door. “Are you home?” Nothing. Thunder boomed, rattling the windows all around me. I jumped at the sharp crack of lightning, then the lights went out, leaving me in darkness. “Shit!” I blinked several times, waiting for my eyes to adjust. My cell phone. Where was my phone? Patting my pockets, I felt the hard case. I pulled the phone out and tapped the flashlight icon. Light illuminated. Placing my hand on the doorknob, I turned, and found it locked. I stretched my arm above my head, sliding my fingers along the frame until I felt the key. It was something Scott and I agreed to do for emergencies if we needed to get inside the room. Just in case the kids forgot that they had locked the door before falling asleep. Even though as their parents we had protested against the door being locked in the first place. I was once a teenager too and wanted nothing more than my space from my parents. But still, we frowned upon the door being locked. Though, if Scott were the one knocking, Mia wouldn’t hesitate to let her dad inside. I hesitated, gripping the key in my hand. Once I opened the door there was no turning back. I wasn’t in the mood to fight with Mia which we seemed to do constantly since we had gotten back from our family trip to the Bahamas. I tried to get her to talk to me several times when we were on vacation and after we arrived back home, but she wouldn’t have anything to do with me. Wouldn’t even let me in her room. I thought maybe her, and Trevor had broken up, and she just wanted to hide in her room with her heartache. But that thought defused when he came to pick her up to go to the mall that next day. The key slipped from my shaky hand and onto the floor. Kneeling, I grasped the key between my fingers and placed it into the lock. I closed my eyes and swallowed, waiting for the click as I turned the key to the right. “You’re not doing anything wrong,” I whispered to myself. “You’re just checking to see if she’s home, oh and to check the pipes for leakage.” The hinges squeaked, echoing through the upstairs hall as I pushed the door open. My eyes drifted around the room, landing on the pink duvet I had bought her when she was seven which lay across the bed with a dark pink throw on the end. The pillows on her bed were upright and fluffed. Mia was good at making her bed and keeping her room clean compared to Ethan, my mind noted. My eyes scanned the room, focusing on the desk in the corner which sat vacant. Mia wasn’t here. I moved around the room, stopping by the window overlooking the street below. The clouds moved quickly by, and the rain ceased, leaving the ground saturated and the streets flooded. A burst of light shot across the sky, making me jump again. I let out a small laugh, allowing my shoulders to sink beneath my T-shirt. “It’s just the storm, Judith. Chill out.” Truth was, I hated everything about storms. I feared the darkness, especially when the power went out. Consequently, due to my childhood. Using the flashlight to guide my way, I moved toward the closet and peeked inside. My hand automatically went for the light switch, forgetting for a second that the electricity had gone out. I scanned the closet. Stuffed teddy bears lined the shelf along the ceiling. Shoes laid in a heap near the back corner and clothes hung haphazardly off the hangers. My OCD taking charge, I stepped inside and began straightening her clothes. Neat and tidy just the way I liked it. Plop, plop. My ears perked. The sound came from the other side of the wall. Or in the wall. Could it be the pipes? Were they leaking? “Just great,” I muttered. “Where was Scott when I needed him?” I was always making things out to be more than they were; something my husband constantly expressed to me. I walked out of the closet and stood outside the closed bathroom door. Like before, I placed my hand on the knob. Was Mia home after all? I didn’t hear the shower running. No sound of Mia moving around on the other side of the door, recalling that she usually played music when she took a bath or a shower. My stomach twisted into a knot, dreading a fight with Mia for intruding on her privacy. Call it mother’s intuition, but something didn’t feel right. I turned the knob, finding it unlocked, and pushed the door open. My legs buckled and I dropped to my knees onto the tiled floor.
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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.
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.)
“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
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.
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.
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.
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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Autographed Copy of Finding Everdal
Teen/YA Fantasy Novel by Nina Soden
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Why I Chose to Start a Fiction Podcast as an Author by Alyanna Poe
As an indie horror author, I’m always looking for new ways to promote my work. Having watched the first season of Only Murders in the Building, it got me thinking. There are people that listen to true crime podcasts so thoroughly that they have maps, notes, and theories about the cases they listen to. Only problem is, I’ve got no connections to get details about cases, but I do have a head full of stories.
This birthed the idea of the Indicted Fiction Podcast. I thought, “True crime but make it fiction.” I didn’t want to use the same format as a true crime podcast because who wants to listen to a fake case? Not to mention, the idea allowed for many mistakes. I couldn’t imagine writing a fake crime and investigation just to have a listener tell me it’s not possible and the whole case is clearly a sham. So came the audio diary idea.
Season one of Indicted Fiction is called “Adam’s Murder.” Can you guess what it’s about? Each episode of the podcast is a chapter of the book I wrote under the same name, and once the last podcast episode airs, the book will be published. Abigail Drummer must work through her grief as she investigates the murder of her brother, keeping an audio diary as she points a finger at everyone she knows. I play the character I wrote, Abigail Drummer. While planning out the idea, I figured an audio diary format leaves me so much creative space. Listeners have told me that she has a quirky awkwardness about her youth and that she’s very relatable and emotional. I’ve never taken an acting or voice over class, and I think the only reason I’m able to convey this emotion is because I wrote the story and it’s so close to me. In 2020 I lost my own brother. In Adam’s Murder I worked through a lot of grief and feelings of guilt, and narrating that work only amplified my emotions. I think in episode three you can actually hear me crying.
The benefit of narrating your own story is that you understand where to emphasize the words, where to show emotion, and how your character sounds. Abby is awkward. She’s introverted and so unsure about the world around her. Sure, a voice actor would be able to convey this, but I think my listeners/readers are not only making a connection to Abby but also to me.
Another great benefit is, I was able to do this on a budget, and I can promote this podcast in places I could never promote my books because it’s free. Listeners get a taste of my writing and then can check out my other books or buy the book once it’s published. Not to mention, the podcast is sort of acting as a book launch, building excitement for the publication of the book.
So far, despite having a mic that’s not great and a set up that would make any voice actor cringe, I’ve gotten great feedback. Every week people are excited for a new episode, and I’m so proud of myself for having spread myself into new territory as an author.
I think any writer could benefit from a fiction podcast. Whether you do a short story per week, add sound effects, or narrate from third person, it’s all doable.
For anyone interested, Indicted Fiction: Adam’s Murder is available to read on my blog and to listen to on my website, YouTube, and Spotify. And if all goes well, season two of Indicted Fiction will be available to my patrons on Patreon only and will follow a serial killer in prison telling her stories of murder and why she did it.
Author Alyanna Poe: an author from Northern California with a knack for horror. Poe has been writing since a young age and self-published her first horror novel at eighteen years old. Many ask what her real name is, only to be surprised that she is a born Poe with relations to the great Edgar Allan Poe. She frequently posts interviews with small businesses and authors like herself, short fiction, and articles about writing and marketing to her website authoralyannapoe.com
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.
WORKING TITLE: Everdal
GENRE: YA/NA Fantasy
Status: First Draft Complete
Days in current Status: To Many
Days of actual writing: 25
Current Word Count: 64,223
Current Chapter Count Complete: 19
NEXT STEPS: Re-writes - Estimated completion date: unknown
The 1st draft is FINALLY done!
Well, its done.
I’m not going to lie, its an ugly first draft, but its done.
I think the story has great bones and the characters are fun… relatable… and likeable, for the most part. wink-wink…
I can’t wait to dig in and get started on the re-writes.
NINA SODEN – #TheRedheadedAuthor Speaks… I’ll be sharing readings of some of my micro-stories; talking about my experiences as an indie author; the writing process, self-publishing, marketing ins and outs, and my latest work(s) in progress. I’ll also be interviewing other guest authors to bring in a different perspective.
WORKING TITLE: Everdal
GENRE: YA/NA Fantasy
Status: Writing First Draft
Days in current Status: 93
Days of actual writing: 19
Current Word Count: 40,890
Current Chapter Count Complete: 16
NEXT STEPS: Complete first draft - Estimated completion date: 5/31/2021
What Happened?!?!
I haven't written a single word in two weeks...
My minds been muddled.
My mouth has gone dry.
My eyes can't see and my body aches.
Words come in overloading waterfalls.
Images crowd my vision.
Time passes to quickly and I can't catch up.
Tonight, I tell myself.
Tomorrow, I say.
14 days gone already, how many more can I chance?!
WORKING TITLE: Everdal
GENRE: YA/NA Fantasy
Status: Writing First Draft
Days in current Status: 79
Days of actual writing: 19
Current Word Count: 40,890
Current Chapter Count Complete: 16
NEXT STEPS: Complete first draft - Estimated completion date: 5/31/2021
The End…
I am usually a chronological writer. Meaning, I write from the beginning of a story to the end.Every now and then, a scene pops into my mind out of order and I quickly type it up so I don’t forget it, but usually I type my stories in order. So, you can imagine my surprise when I recently typed the final chapter of my latest work in progress… at least five chapters early. I’ve never known what was going to happen so soon into the writing process. To be perfectly honest, I’m excited and a bit weirded out. I’m not sure I want to know the ending so soon… I’m not sure how I feel about it, other than to know that it is the right ending for this particular book. I don’t even know how we get there yet. But, I have a feeling its going to be a crazy, exciting, and bumpy ride. I can’t wait to share this adventure with all of you.
Nina Soden 