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All Blog Posts Tagged 'thriller' - Mom Bloggers Club 2014-12-27T10:55:10Z http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profiles/blog/feed?tag=thriller&xn_auth=no On the Spotlight: NINE PLANETS, by Greg Byrne (Christmas-themed science fiction thriller) tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-12-23:988554:BlogPost:1541307 2014-12-23T10:06:56.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani

 NINE PLANETS by Greg Byrne

SCIENCE FICTION

Publication date: November 30, 2014

$16.95 trade paperback, ISBN 978-1-940076-17-1

$6.95 E-book, ISBN 978-1-940076-18-8

Publication date: November 30, 2014

Publisher: Dragonwell Publishing

Distribution: Ingram Book Company…

NINE PLANETS by Greg Byrne

SCIENCE FICTION

Publication date: November 30, 2014

$16.95 trade paperback, ISBN 978-1-940076-17-1

$6.95 E-book, ISBN 978-1-940076-18-8

Publication date: November 30, 2014

Publisher: Dragonwell Publishing

Distribution: Ingram Book Company

 www.dragonwellpublishing.com

AMAZON

In the world of despair, Father Nick's Day is the only hope…

Peter Blackwell wakes from a coma into a world he doesn't recognize. Without memory or identity, all he has are nine random images. Nine planets. Eight he can see, although he does not understand them, but the impenetrable ninth is the secret that two opposing and hidden brotherhoods have been seeking for nearly two millennia. Pursued, betrayed, Blackwell has twelve days to unlock his Ninth Planet and prevent terminal worldwide suicide. And his only ally is a manic assassin sent to extract the secret and kill him.

NINE PLANETS is a debut Christmas-themed science fiction thriller from an Australian author.

About the author:

Greg Byrne is an English teacher, grammar consultant, and lecturer. He enjoys exploring places, ideas, history, languages and science, dinners with friends, watching his family grow, and living life's great adventure. His next projects are a young adult thriller with a twist, developing a grammar teaching system for schools, and writing a grammar text for ESL students. He lives in Perth, Western Australia, with his beloved wife and family and an overweight British Blue.

EXCERPT:

Father Nick's Day minus seventeen hundred years

The harbour town of Patara

Province of Lycia

late evening

The thought comes upon Nikolas so abruptly and with such potency that he halts, astonished, panting with fright.

Take his own life? Drive steel into his own belly?

He almost laughs to drive out such mischievous wickedness, but it persists.

Kill yourself, Nikolas. There is no hope.

Chills crevice into the parts of his body where until now were only the delights of wine and the many pleasures of food, for the party he has just farewelled was lavish and he spent much. So was his wine cup poisoned with some venom of despair? Were thieves and slavemasters even now following him? For certainly the riches of his parents, dead only this month gone, are substantial and tempting, and now they are his.

It is then that he notices the sudden silence of the streets of Patara—so strange! If pursuers are abroad, they are making no noise of it. Only Nikolas and the wind are out this night, and it troubles him.

Still, there is only a mile to his house, and certainly the morning sun after sleep will settle such afflictions of the soul. But perhaps, he ponders as he strides, it is the same bleak despair that killed Umit his friend barely two weeks ago. For even Umit's youth and great cheer and strength were not guard enough against hopelessness.

Nikolas is fighting the mad lust for steel and blood—his own—when he catches wind of something so wickedly foul it almost makes him retch. He turns, curious. Fish left to rot in a fisherman's net? He knows immediately it is not.

Not even the most odorous catch could threaten to overpower him so violently.

He stops for a moment, covering his mouth, distracted from knives. This is no quirk of the wind, not the product of natural decay or ferment. Nor the acrid stink of a forge. But nothing obvious presents itself. The moon, a rich coin of promise and plenty, stands a handspan or so over the Acropolis up on the hill. The town breathes. A dog barks once, as though watchful.

Curious, Nikolas thinks, but as he turns to go, a dark figure emerges from the alley he has just passed, out past the house of Besim the leather worker.

Nikolas stares, thinking for a moment it must be an unwashed fisherman returning home. Yet the figure casts no shadow, seems instead to suck in light. And the stink surges at him in a putrid tide. This is no fisherman. Thoughts of knives vanish. He should be away from this place with all speed. The figure sees him and stops.

Nikolas draws shocked breath and his muscles lock. Neither is it human, he is sure, nor even the tormented spirit of Umit. No living thing could cast out so much smoke, a vile cloud that shudders the night and stops Nikolas' breath.

Nikolas turns for home and hastens, very afraid.

But when he glances back at the next corner, in a blurred pounding of disbelief and panic and still half a mile from his house, the thing is following, and now it is gaining.

Nikolas rises to a sprint, though it is not much faster than he is already running. This is no common thief, that much is certain. And unless Nikolas can outrun it or hide, then he is sure his life will be forfeit as well, and he would rather take his own. He thinks of shouting, but the town seems bewitched, all too silent, dangerously so, and he doubts anyone will hear.

A hundred paces from his house, Nikolas turns the last corner, sees his house.

He is thinking how he will barricade his door and kindle fire to fight the thing off when, without any warning, his heart rises to a wild sprint, gallops at a rate he thinks must surely kill him, then slows. He stumbles, shocked, his chest swelling with space that it cannot possibly hold. His vision blurs.

The bark of a dog is cut off cleanly. Knife-clean. Without echo. The wind drops. Nikolas sucks air, stares frantically around and sees something he just doesn't believe.

Only about thirty paces behind him, the figure has paused midway through a stride. Amid the smoke and fume, now strangely still, a single leg extends in a peculiar and quite impossible jut. It cannot balance there, surely. But it is, as though the world has halted for a moment.

Nikolas listens, more than a little afraid. Why can he move when his pursuer cannot?

And there, deep below hearing, in resonant strata he cannot even guess at, the world adjusts its stride, reconsiders its rhythm, pauses.

The world has turned aside for a moment, Nikolas thinks.

And he has turned with it.
 Damaged Goods: A Detective Inspector White Caper - Written by Jack Everett and David Coles tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-12-16:988554:BlogPost:1538910 2014-12-16T19:15:09.000Z Susan Keefe http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/SusanKeefe
 Brilliantly gripping mystery.

Firstly, I have to say that if you are looking for a book to grab your attention right from page one and then keep you hooked right through to…

Brilliantly gripping mystery.

Firstly, I have to say that if you are looking for a book to grab your attention right from page one and then keep you hooked right through to the very end, then this is definitely the one for you.

Robert Cleghorn is a troubled man, with a past which makes him deadly. Ex-Special Forces and CIA, he is a highly trained, dangerous killing machine. However this is not all, war vet Robert has suffered brain damage, and has undergone extensive treatments which have left him with false memories of the past and the ability to suffer no remorse, a cruel and calculated killer.

Bubbling under the surface of this tortured mind is the injustice he believes his brother Alan has done to him, an infatuation with his sister-in-law Stephanie, and the firm belief that given the chance to talk to her, she will love him again. Then, whilst working for Alan at his home near Lake Kissimmee in Florida he snaps…

Whilst in the U.K. Detective inspector Stewart White is starting his new job in Leeds. As he settles in, and gets to know the officers, including the mysterious Shelly, a link is discovered between a series of seemingly random crimes. It soon becomes apparent that there is a deadly killer out there who must be caught quickly. But who are they searching for?

As communications hot up between American and the U.K., the true horror of the events in Florida unveil themselves and things begin to make sense. The killer has travelled to the U.K. on a false passport and is on a mission to right past wrongs, leaving a killing spree in his wake.

Following a trail across a snow clad Yorkshire, the police and the CIA are both desperate to stop this man, before he accomplishes his goal, but which one, if either will manage to do so?

This book was truly un-put-down-able, action packed with strong characters, an excellent plot, and plenty of twists and turns right until the last page. With such a brilliant storyline, I would love to see it made into a film. I cannot recommend it highly enough and look forward to reading more from these talented authors.

About the Authors:

JACK EVERETT is author and coauthor of a number of fantasy, science fiction, crime and thriller novels. Some are published, some are in progress and others are still in gestation. Jack also handcrafts stunning snooker cues and award-winning modern objets d'art from exotic and magnificently figured timbers. He collects books and playing cards though there is little space in a much overcrowded home. He dreams of having a bigger library, and hopes to one day have the extra room he dreams of.

DAVID COLES began writing fantasy and science fiction longer ago than he can now remember. His works have explored the local stars, killed off huge numbers of Roman legionaries, uncovered what happened to King Arthur and the Round Table—and hatched a few thriller plots. A founding member of the international Historical Novel Society, he has attended workshops run by Terry Pratchett and the late David Gemmel. David lives with his wife and a pet laptop in God's own county—Yorkshire in the UK—where he also designs and builds websites for friends and programs for fun.

About the book: Newly promoted Detective Inspector Stewart White starts off his career in Leeds with a seemingly random assortment of crimes. A rest area murder. A pub brawl. A missing person.

As the deadly crime spree escalates, White receives a chilling call from a Florida sheriff. A psychotic Special Forces veteran, Robert Cleghorn, has murdered his brother, assumed his identity—and is believed to be looking for his brother's vacationing wife in England.

Expertly trained to eliminate potential threats to his mission while covering his tracks, Cleghorn quickly proves to be just as elusive as his sister-in-law. Can D.I. White and his newly assigned police team find Stephanie Cleghorn before Robert does?

Authors Website:  http://www.archimedespresseuk.com/

Damaged Goods is available from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Damaged-Goods-Dectective-Inspector-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00QELYW76/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1418751530&sr=8-12&keywords=damaged+goods

and Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/damaged-goods-jack-everett/1120836888?ean=9781935460923

 Meet with Donna Galanti, author of 'A Hidden Element,' book 2 in The Element Trilogy tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-08-31:988554:BlogPost:1518127 2014-08-31T13:33:28.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani

 Donna Galanti writes murder and mystery with a dash of steam as well as middle grade adventure fiction. She is the author of books 1 and 2 in the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy, A Human Element andA Hidden Element, the short story collection The Dark Inside, and Joshua and The Lightning…

Donna Galanti writes murder and mystery with a dash of steam as well as middle grade adventure fiction. She is the author of books 1 and 2 in the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy, A Human Element andA Hidden Element, the short story collection The Dark Inside, and Joshua and The Lightning Road (Books 1 and 2, 2015). She's lived from England as a child, to Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer. She now lives in Pennsylvania with her family in an old farmhouse. It has lots of writing nooks, fireplaces, and stink bugs, but she's still wishing for a castle again—preferably with ghosts.

Website: www.ElementTrilogy.com
Blog: http://www.elementtrilogy.com/blog/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DonnaGalanti
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DonnaGalantiAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5767306.Donna_Galanti

Q: Congratulations on the release of your latest book, A Hidden Element. What was your inspiration for it?

A: A Hidden Element is book two in the Element Trilogy. The novel that I was stumped on…and a dream. My readers asked for a sequel and I said, never! Then one day I woke up with a vision of that second book. I dropped the psychological suspense novel I had over-plotted and was stuck on, and got to work right away on the sequel. There's a third and final one planned out, A Healing Element.

Q: Tell us something interesting about your protagonist.

A: Caleb lives an oppressed life. He has sons he can't be a father to, he can't choose who he loves, and he must carry out despicable acts just to survive. Yet Caleb finds he is pushed to the wall even further and must risk the very things he desires to save those he loves. Caleb is also a Watcher in a way, and Watchers are some of my favorite characters to write. Read an article I wrote about this theme.

Q: How was your creative process like during the writing of this book and how long did it take you to complete it? Did you face any bumps along the way?

A: I wrote this novel in a Write a Novel in 9 Months Class. We met once a week and it kept me accountable to get the story down in a certain time frame. One challenge was completely re-working some of the chapters to be in different voices from the original draft. I had to critically review each scene and really decide which character's point of view was best to tell that scene.

Q: How do you keep your narrative exciting throughout the creation of a novel?

A: I look at each chapter as a short story in itself. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end – and I love ending my chapters on cliffhangers that raise a question and (hopefully) beg the reader to keep turning the pages.

Q: Do you experience anxiety before sitting down to write? If yes, how do you handle it?

A: Each day I sit down is like starting with a blank page all over again, so yes, there is some anxiety. The day before I try to finish writing in the middle of a scene or paragraph, and not end a chapter. This way I can easily re-read the scene's intro and jump back into finishing it.

Q: What is your writing schedule like and how do you balance it with your other work and family time?

A: There are many days each week that my alarm is set for 4:30am. Early morning hours are my best writing time when the skies are dark and the world is asleep – and my mind is not yet filled with the details of daily life. During the school year my day ends at 3:30pm when I pick my son up from school but I have a very understanding husband! I often spend a weekend day writing all day at my favorite spot in my local Wegman's Café.

Q: How do you define success?

A: To me, success in writing is continuing to learn the writing craft, add it to my expanding toolbox, and apply all I learn along the way and see the fruits of that labor. Success in writing can also only truly come when you let go – let go of your ego that is. I believe that this is the biggest reason why I am published, have a wonderful agent as my champion, and have four books coming out in the next year. And this is the biggest reason I see writer's fail because they do not accept criticism and are not willing to do the hard work to make their writing better. To succeed you cannot think your writing is perfect or that your story can't change. You cannot take it personal when a developmental editor tears apart your manuscript for you to re-work. I love it! I am like – bring it on! Help me be a better writer. Why? Because I want to write a good book and then a better one and a better one. This writing business is hard. If it were easy everyone would be doing it. This writing business is not going to be easy – it's going to be worth it!

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring writers whose spouses or partners don't support their dreams of becoming an author?

A: Every writer has times when they hit lows in their writing and think, I can't do this! Every time I debate whether I should be a writer and tell myself that I should just update my resume and get a real full time job with an actual weekly paycheck so I can support my family better – I remember how I sat down and wrote my debut novel A Human Element without knowing anything about writing a book. And I remember how it came from my heart and came from the deep places inside me where I most love, where I most hurt.

And I know that no matter how much I think I suck at times – I KNOW THAT I AM A TRUE STORYTELLER. And this is what I was born to do. And if you think that, then that's what you need to follow. No matter how much you suck at times. No matter if others tell you that your writing sucks. Don't let the negative thoughts – or negative people – stop you from telling your stories. We need your stories. We need to tell our stories. Be the true storyteller you are. Visit my Writers Corner for inspiration and resources to help you keep writing.

Q: George Orwell once wrote: "Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand." Do you agree?

A: Yes! If we didn't have demons chasing us to write, why would we? Knowing what I know now about being an author I have to wonder if I would have gotten in this business at all. If someone told me all I would have to go through to get here I would have said "I can't do that! It's too hard and too long!" I'm grateful I was ignorant about it all when I started.

Q: Anything else you'd like to tell my readers?

A: I truly believe that something wonderful can come of something that threatens to break your spirit. I started writing books to survive the grief of my mother's death. She died from cancer five years ago. But here's the thing. If she were alive I would not have finished writing my first book – or any book. I would not be getting published. I took care of her in the final moments and when she passed away I knew I had to make my dream come true. For in passing away my mom gave me her own gift – the gift to follow my dream of becoming an author.

So every once in a while I say these words out loud. "Thank you, Mom." I let them hang in the air like a gift to her. She defined who I am and who I hope to be. And she was always my #1 champion and now I have be my own champion – like all of us writer so. So, I may have started writing books from grief but eventually my grief turned to peace and then joy at discovering what I love to do. Be a storyteller.

ABOUT A HIDDEN ELEMENT:

Evil lurks within…

When Caleb Madroc is used against his will as part of his father's plan to breed a secret community and infiltrate society with their unique powers, he vows to save his oppressed people and the two children kept from him. Seven years later, Laura and Ben Fieldstone's son is abducted, and they are forced to trust a madman's son who puts his life on the line to save them all. The enemy's desire to own them—or destroy them—leads to a survival showdown. Laura and Ben must risk everything to defeat a new nemesis that wants to rule the world with their son, and Caleb may be their only hope—if he survives. But must he sacrifice what he most desires to do so?

PRAISE FOR A HIDDEN ELEMENT:

"Chilling and dark…a twisty journey into another world." —J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of When Shadows Fall

"Fascinating…a haunting story…"—Rebecca Cantrell, New York Times bestselling author of The World Beneath

"Will keep you up long past your bedtime…a pulse-pounding read."—Allan Leverone,New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Final Vector

BUY THE ELEMENT TRILOGY BOOKS:

Purchase Book 2 in the Element Trilogy, A Hidden Element:http://amzn.to/1p1YD1o

Purchase Book 1 in the Element Trilogy, A Human Element:http://amzn.to/1mNcyCO
ON SALE NOW FOR JUST $.99cents!
 Cornered by Alan Brenham tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-07-15:988554:BlogPost:1510169 2014-07-15T13:01:44.000Z Susan Keefe http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/SusanKeefe
 New Release - A gripping crime thriller written by award winning Author Alan Brenham.

In Temple, Texas, Police Detective Matt Brady, assisted…

New Release - A gripping crime thriller written by award winning Author Alan Brenham.

In Temple, Texas, Police Detective Matt Brady, assisted by FBI Special Agent Steve Casani, is investigating the disappearances of five beautiful women. Desperate, with no leads and the number of missing women growing at an alarming pace, Matt is desperate for answers.

Everyone knows that the person we become in life can be affected in a moment, by a word, or circumstance. The paths we take as a result and their consequences are sometimes, only discovered after the passing of time. These life-changing moments or words, for some people are stamped in their mind forever, silently festering and waiting to emerge, bringing back memories, which cloud the present.

This book is even more enjoyable because, whilst writing it, the author has been able to draw from his wealth and variety of personal experience in police and law, among which is his time as a Temple patrol officer and, Assistant General Counsel for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

A brilliantly written compelling thriller, action packed, clever and with twists and turns which are guaranteed to keep the reader guessing until the very end.

Available from Amazon in Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Cornered-Alan-Breham/dp/1626941386/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405422096&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=Cornered+by+Alan+Brenham

 "Warning Shot" - Nick Seven, Book 3 by Tim Smith tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-01-04:988554:BlogPost:1475828 2014-01-04T13:55:40.000Z Susan Keefe http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/SusanKeefe
A fast paced action thriller.

Author Bio:

Tim Smith is an award-winning best selling author whose books range from romantic mystery/thrillers to contemporary…

A fast paced action thriller.

Author Bio:

Tim Smith is an award-winning best selling author whose books range from romantic mystery/thrillers to contemporary erotic romance. He is also an award-winning freelance photographer.

About the book:

Nick Seven and Felicia Hagens left the CIA for the laidback ease of the Florida Keys, leaving behind a life of intrigue. When Nick's former mentor becomes part of a conspiracy with international repercussions, Nick breaks his self-imposed exile to stop him. The case throws Nick and Felicia into a juggernaut of espionage, government cover-ups and political assassinations. Will they succeed in stopping the plan in time? Can their relationship survive another unwanted adventure?

Author's Website: www.timsmithauthor.com

In some lines of work, strong friendships develop between men, born of mutual respect, loyalty and trust. Having absolute faith that your partner will be watching your back can mean the difference between life and death in some professions.  Working for the CIA is one of these professions and   Nick Seven and his mentor Special Agent Gadge Harmon had such a relationship.

However, the repercussions of a stakeout in Brooklyn, New York one night in 2006 changed both their lives forever.

Now, years later, Nick has retired from the CIA and has settled in the Key Largo, Florida, with his beautiful sexy ex-spy girlfriend Felicia. Putting  the life of a spy behind him, Nick is happy, life is good as they say. Then one day he receives a surprise visit from Gadge's wife Verna, a woman who has never liked him.

From her, he sadly learns how life has been for his old friend and mentor. His last job before he retired was at the Guantanamo Bay facility overseeing the detainees. Gadge is a meticulous follower of the rules, and unfortunately he cannot come to terms with what he saw there, and the experience, she says, has changed him immeasurably. Verna is very worried and she thinks he is in self-destruct mode, however, after visiting him, Nick realises very quickly that there is more going on than meets the eye, Gadge is hiding something. But what is it?

He calls in the help of a trusted colleague, and with the assistance of his girlfriend, Felicia they battle to discover what is really happening, and what they can do to help his old friend and mentor. In their desperate search for answers they delve deep into hidden corners, however, nothing prepares them for the secrets they discover, a web of political intrigue, cover-ups and a conspiracy of international proportions.

I loved reading this fast moving thriller so much that I just could not put it down and finished it in one sitting. It was jam-packed full of action and excitement right from the start, a great story with many twists and turns to keep you guessing and some very explicit sexy scenes.

This is the first book I have read by this author, it was everything I could have asked for in a spy thriller and I shall certainly be looking out for his others.

Available from Amazon on Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/Warning-Shot-Nick-Seven-ebook/dp/B00FDJPKS0/ref=la_B002HDEN4M_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380064039&sr=1-12

This book will soon be available on Nook, Smashwords and All Romance E-books, among other sites.

 Lies to Die for (Max Larkin Detective Series) (Volume 2) by Todd M. Theide tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-12-12:988554:BlogPost:1471765 2013-12-12T17:46:31.000Z Susan Keefe http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/SusanKeefe
An excellent crime thriller.

About the book: Max Larkin and Je Fairlane are the top two detectives in Rockton Illinois. In Lies to Die for, the second book in the Max Larkin Detective series, they are in pursuit of a killer that is branding letters into the victim's bodies. Is it someone the victims know or is it just a random person taking out frustrations on the small community of Rockton? Max is fresh coming off of his one month suspension for…

An excellent crime thriller.

About the book: Max Larkin and Je Fairlane are the top two detectives in Rockton Illinois. In Lies to Die for, the second book in the Max Larkin Detective series, they are in pursuit of a killer that is branding letters into the victim's bodies. Is it someone the victims know or is it just a random person taking out frustrations on the small community of Rockton? Max is fresh coming off of his one month suspension for hiding things from his captain while Jesse has been holding down the fort during his absence. There hasn't been much crime in Rockton since the Time Killer killings but Captain Perry knows he's going to need his whole team working together to catch the person that killed a local college professor and his girlfriend. Just as the clues start to come together there's another murder. Max and Jesse find themselves disagreeing a lot as to who done it and why. This partnership is on the rocks and the town needs them now more than ever.

About Todd M Theide: Todd M. Thiede is the author of "Time Killer", a top 100 amazon best seller novel. "Time Killer" is a murder mystery set in the small town of Rockton, Illinois. The town is rocked by a serial killer on the loose and 2 young detectives get paired up to try and find him before he kills again. Todd would love to hear from you at www.toddthiede.com.

Review by Susan Keefe

Detective Max Larkin has just returned to work in the Rockton Police Department after being suspended for withholding information, following his solving of the 'Time Killer' murders with his partner Jesse.

Straight away, Captain Perry has another case for the partners to solve. Professor Lawrence Finestein has been found dead, under unusual circumstances. As the detectives' try to discover a motive, who was responsible, and what made the killer brand his victim, the need for answers becomes more urgent as other victims start to appear, each with the same calling card.

Unfortunately, Max and Jesse just do not seem to be able to agree when the killer is caught and soon a rift appears, one which must be healed for the sake of everybody. As the tension mounts, new discoveries are made and it's time for Max and Jesse put their differences aside and work together.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fast moving crime thriller. Right from page one it is action packed, with plenty of twists and turns, and a storyline, which keeps the reader guessing, right until the end.

An excellent second story in the Max Larkin Detective series, I look forward to reading more.

Available: from Amazon in Paperback http://www.amazon.com/Lies-Larkin-Detective-Series-Volume/dp/1492166472/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1386844636&sr=8-2&keywords=todd+thiede

 Price of Justice by Alan Brenham tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-12-02:988554:BlogPost:1469556 2013-12-02T13:44:11.000Z Susan Keefe http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/SusanKeefe
New Release - A gripping crime thriller.…

New Release - A gripping crime thriller.

About the Book:

His focus is on solving the murders—until the unthinkable happens…
 Recently widowed, Austin Police Detective Jason Scarsdale works to solve the murders of two pedophiles, while trying to be both mother and father to his five-year-old daughter. During his investigation, Scarsdale is forced to navigate between the crosshairs of two police commanders out to get him. Drawn to Austin Police Crime Analyst, Dani Mueller, who has also suffered tragedy, Scarsdale fights both his attraction and his suspicions that something just isn't right…

 She is hiding a secret, one that could not only cost her a job—it could end her life…
 Dani hides a deadly past. After her daughter was brutally murdered, Dani exacted her revenge then changed her name and fled to Austin. But if her secret ever gets out, she knows there is no place she can hide from the murderer's vicious family.

Pulled into a web of malice and deceit, Scarsdale and Dani discover the value of breaking the rules. Then just when they thought things couldn't get worse…they do.

About the Author:

 Alan Brenham is the pseudonym of Alan Behr, an American author and attorney. He served as a law enforcement officer before earning a law degree from Baylor University and worked as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney , and staff counsel for the Texas prison and parole agency for twenty-two years.His travels took him to several European and Middle Eastern countries, Alaska and almost every island in the Caribbean.

While working with the US military, he resided in Berlin, Germany for two years. Now, Alan and his wife, Lillian, live in the Austin, Texas area.

Review by Susan Keefe

Coming to terms with the loss of a love one is never easy. Regrets haunt P.D. Detective Jason Scarsdale, in the weeks following his young wife's death, especially since he blames himself.

When Scarsdale and his partner, Sean Harris of the Austin Police Departments, Sex Crimes Division are instructed to investigate a child molestation, they soon realize the case is far more involved than first appears. Their investigations lead them deep into a paedophile ring, whose tentacles reach far and wide, with repercussions which will affect them in ways they never could have foreseen.

When Jason becomes friendly with co-worker Dani Mueller he doesn't realize that she has her own hidden secrets which will affect his life more than he could have ever imagined.

Cleverly written, with believable characters and great attention to detail, the author has made full use of his in-depth experience in both police and law departments, to write a brilliant crime thriller.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this detailed and captivating story, which kept me guessing throughout with its twists and turns.

Available at Amazon in Paperback http://www.amazon.com/Price-Justice-Alan-Brenham/dp/1626940835/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1385987311&sr=8-2

and on Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Price-Justice-Alan-Brenham-ebook/dp/B00GYGDZ5G/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-2&qid=1385987311
 Wasp's Nest Roma Series Book Two by Gabriel Valjan tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-10-22:988554:BlogPost:1455765 2013-10-22T12:19:07.000Z Susan Keefe http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/SusanKeefe
Action packed thriller.

Publisher: Winter Goose Publishing

ISBN 13: 978-0988184534

Language: English - 294 pages.

About Wasp's Nest: In the highly anticipated sequel to Roma, Underground, Bianca returns to the U.S. for her former…

Action packed thriller.

Publisher: Winter Goose Publishing

ISBN 13: 978-0988184534

Language: English - 294 pages.

About Wasp's Nest: In the highly anticipated sequel to Roma, Underground, Bianca returns to the U.S. for her former employer, the covert organization Rendition, to investigate Cyril Sargent and Nasonia Pharmaceutical. Although ambivalent about the assignment and uneasy about her online "friend," Loki, she is enticed into researching what Sargent is doing with insect genetics that might upset the world of cancer research and treatment. Old friends Farrugia and Gennaro uncover a twisted conspiracy from their past and join Bianca in Boston where they will experience conflicted loyalties, question allies, and confront uncertain enemies, as they're drawn into the wasp's nest.

About Gabriel Valjan: Ronan Bennett short-listed Gabriel Valjan for the 2010 Fish Short Story Prize for his Boston noir, 'Back in the Day.' Gabriel's short stories and some of his poetry continue to appear in literary journals and online magazines. He recently won first prize in ZOUCH Magazine's inaugural Lit Bits Contest. He lives in New England. He is the author of the Roma Series, Book 1: Roma, Underground, Book 2: Wasp's Nest, and Book 3: Threading the Needle, available from his publisher, Winter Goose Publishing, and in paperback or digital format from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Gabriel can be contacted through his publicist, Rachel Anderson at email@example.com

Review by Susan Keefe

In this, the second book in the Roma Series, the story opens with Alabaster Black (alias Bianca Nerini) returning from Rome to Boston, Massachusetts, leaving behind her lover, Dante, and friends in Rome, Italy.

Rendition, her employer, a covert U.S. agency, has persuaded her to infiltrate Nasonia Pharmaceuticals, a drug manufacturing company owned by Cyril Sargent. Nasonia, is working on a revolutionary new drug using insect-based genetics to develop a new cancer-cure and Rendition want to know more.

Then, when Farrugia and Gennaro, her friends from the Rome, arrive in Boston for another reason, she discovers that leaving the past behind is not as simple as just getting on a plane; they bring some disturbing news for her, ghosts from the past have resurfaced...

I found Wasp's Nest a compelling reading, action-packed and with intriguing characters. The plot had plenty of twists and turns, some surprising secrets, and it kept me on the edge of my seat, guessing until the very end.

Gabriel Valjan includes a tantalising glimpse into Book 3 of the Roma Series, Threading the Needle which I had read first, but I realized that the author created each volume independent of each other.

Available from:

Amazon in Paperback http://www.amazon.com/Wasps-Nest-Gabriel-Valjan/dp/0988184532/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_pap?ie=UTF8&qid=1382357183&sr=8-1&keywords=wasps+nest+by+gabriel+valjan

Kindle here http://www.amazon.com/Wasps-Nest-Series-Gabriel-Valjan-ebook/dp/B00AG30TUM/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1382357273&sr=1-2&keywords=wasps+nest

Barnes & Noble in Paperback http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wasps-nest-gabriel-valjan/1117057227?ean=9780988184534

Nook Book http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wasps-nest-gabriel-valjan/1113729884?ean=2940015822762
 Dark Lullaby by Mayra Calvani tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-09-17:988554:BlogPost:1447099 2013-09-17T15:44:44.000Z Susan Keefe http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/SusanKeefe
A spine chilling horror story.

 About Mayra Calvani Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications such as The…

A spine chilling horror story.

 About Mayra Calvani Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications such as The Writer, Writer's Journal, Multicultural Review, and Bloomsbury Review, among many others. Represented by Serendipity Literary.

She lives in Belgium with her husband of 25+ years, 2 wonderful kids, and her two beloved pets. When she's not writing, reading, editing or reviewing, she enjoys walking her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Visit her website at www.MayraCalvani.com. For her children's books, visit www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com.

About Dark Lullaby  At a tavern one Friday night, astrophysicist Gabriel Diaz meets a mysterious young woman. Captivated by her beauty as well as her views on good and evil, he spends the next several days with her. After a while, however, he begins to notice a strangeness in her...especially the way she seems to take pleasure in toying with his conscience.

The young woman, Kamilah, invites him to Rize, Turkey, where she claims her family owns a cottage in the woods. In spite of his heavy workload and the disturbing visions and nightmares about his sister's baby that is due to be born soon, Gabriel agrees to go with her.

But nothing, not even the stunning beauty of the Black Sea, can disguise the horror of her nature...

In a place where death dwells and illusion and reality seem as one, Gabriel must now come to terms with his own demons in order to save his sister's unborn child, and ultimately, his own soul.

Dream Realm Awards Finalist!

Review by Susan Keefe

Tumbling into a second relationship straight after finishing one, is not a good idea, however who could have known that Gabriel Diaz, relaxing in a bar with an ex-girlfriend, would have his world turned upside down when the beautiful, mysterious Kamilah comes over and introduces herself, or could have foretold the incredible repercussions which were to follow.

From that night, they are inseparable, Gabriel is infatuated with Kamilah, and in turn, she seems fascinated by him. Although he is due to visit his sister for the birth of her baby, when Kamilah announces that she's decided to visit her homeland, Turkey, Gabriel decides to go with her.

When they arrive in Rize, Gabriel discovers another world, where things are not always what they seem, superstitions and folklore are rife and the locals appear strange and aloof, perhaps afraid.

They hike to Kamilah's remote cottage, high in the mountains, looking forward to a romantic holiday away from the world, but soon Gabriel discovers that things are not as they seem, the forest holds dark secrets. As the story unfolds, he finds himself doubting what he hears, or sees with his own eyes, even his sanity.

I loved this story, which started as a romance, then quickly evolved into a spine chilling horror, transporting you back to a land where folklore legends, based on truth are alive, and unimaginable creatures walk the earth.

Available from Amazon here http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Lullaby-ebook/dp/B005UI7FOG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379419977&sr=8-1&keywords=dark+lullaby+by+mayra+calvani

and Smashwords here https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94529
 Spotlight & First Chapter Reveal: BLACK WATER, by Rosemary McCracken tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-05-27:988554:BlogPost:1375456 2013-05-27T12:54:48.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani

BLACK WATER by Rosemary McCracken

A Pat Tierney Mystery – book 2

Suspense/Thriller

Imajin Books / Amazon

How…

BLACK WATER by Rosemary McCracken

A Pat Tierney Mystery – book 2

Suspense/Thriller

Imajin Books / Amazon

How strong is a mother's love?

When Pat Tierney's daughter, Tracy, asks her to help find Tracy's partner, Jamie Collins, their mother-daughter relationship is stretched to the limits. Pat heads out to cottage country where an elderly man, who killed Jamie's sister in an impaired driving accident ten years ago, has perished in a suspicious fire. Unfortunately, Jamie is the prime suspect.

Pat takes charge at the new branch her investment firm has opened in the seemingly idyllic community where Jamie grew up, and her search for Tracy's missing sweetheart takes her through a maze of fraud, drugs, bikers and murder.

Once again, Pat proves that family can always count on her.

—————————————————————————

PROLOGUE

I killed her sister. Can she forgive me?

Lyle gripped the wheel of the black minivan. Beside him, Ross was yakking about the AA meeting they'd just attended.

Will she help me?

A thaw earlier that week had left the highway clear, but the temperature had plummeted the night before. The minivan's heater was cranked up full blast.

"Crazy weather," Ross said. "One day, you figure it's time to dig out the summer clothes, next day it's colder than a witch's tit. Must be all that global warming crap."

Lyle sneezed and reached for a tissue in the box on his lap.

"Bless you," Ross said.

"Fine thing to come down with a cold today," Lyle grumbled.

"Yeah, like the missus was sayin'…"

Lyle tuned out Ross as they approached Braeloch. Told the Collins girl I was sorry. But that weren't enough for her. Wouldn't let it be. Told her I'd sic the law on her. She backed off then.

Lyle pulled up in front of Ross's bungalow. "Here you go."

"Thanks. Be seein' you next week, then." Ross stepped out the van and gave a wave. "Take care of that cold."

Lyle gave him a curt nod and drove back to the highway. He glanced at the dashboard clock. Almost nine. He'd made it back in good time from the six o'clock meeting.

Wish Ross wouldn't talk so much, but he's all right. Thank God for the AA fellas. Got me through the worst of it. Confession with Father Brisebois set me square with the Lord, but it wasn't the same as goin' over it with the guys. Father, he's a good man but he don't understand how the devil can live in a bottle. Pull you in and suck out your soul. The boys do, though. They been there.

Lyle slowed down as his headlights picked out the edge of his driveway.

She should've got the letter by now. She's gotta understand. She's gotta help me stop this thief from taking from good folks like Pearl. She's a big-shot lawyer now, so to catch a thief, that's her job.

He braked suddenly as he pulled into the driveway. He blinked and stared through the windshield.

The garage door was open.

No way. That sucker was down when I left. Gettin' old but I ain't senile.

He rolled down his window and stuck his head out. He squinted as he tried to see into the depths of the garage where the headlight beams didn't reach. Tools on the tool rack, snow blower, lawnmower. All in their proper places as far as he could tell.

"Anyone in there? Show yourself if you know what's good fer ya!"

He sneezed and reached for another tissue. Just what I need. Damn punks! He rolled up the window and pulled into the garage.

He heard a metallic clatter behind him as he got out of the minivan. He gasped as the wooden garage door slammed down with a thud. He made his way cautiously toward it in the pitch-black garage.

"Hey!" He pounded on the garage door. "Hey!"

He groped to find the chain for the overhead ceiling light and yanked it. In the bulb's dim glow, he saw a large stain on the floor.

What the…

He touched the walls. Damp.

He held his fingertips against his nose. Gasoline. With my cold, I couldn't smell it. The place is soaked in it.

He staggered as pain shot through him. He clutched his chest and bent over. Then he straightened, breathing deeply.

He heard a whoosh as he lurched toward the garage door. Flames licked its bottom and side edges. He fumbled for the metal handle then jerked his hand away when he found it. It was hot.

He groped in his jacket pockets, pulled out a pair of gloves and groaned. Wool. No insulation. No leather palms.

He slipped them on but he needed something more for protection. A rag. If I get it around the glove, maybe I can grab the handle.

He stumbled and reached out to the wall on his right. Gotta be one around here. If I could just…

He spilled the contents of a plastic storage box on the floor. Half-full paint and varnish cans clanked as they hit the concrete. No rags.

Flames danced on the door and surged up the walls. He groped for the van's door handle and pulled himself inside. s1 Get her started. Maybe I can crash through.

He fumbled for his key and stuck it into the ignition. He was about to start the engine when he gagged, clutched his chest and gasped in pain.

He slumped against the steering wheel, unable to lift his hand to the ignition. He knew that when the flames hit the gas tank, the minivan would become a fireball.

Lord, please make it quick.

CHAPTER ONE

I was chilled to the bone when I got home that evening. An Arctic air mass from Nunavut had moved into central Ontario and held the city of Toronto in a deep freeze. Cars refused to start. Streetcars broke down all over the city. Pedestrians hurried along in down-filled coats with scarves over their faces.

If spring was on its way, there was no sign of it that Friday in March.

Maxie, our golden retriever, greeted me at the door with a rapturous dance. She wanted to play, but I was in no mood for games. A note on the kitchen counter told me Laura had taken her for a walk before she headed out to a party to celebrate the beginning of winter break.

I crumpled up the note. Thank goodness for that! The last thing I wanted to do was walk a dog in sub-zero weather. Or make dinner. Tommy, my youngest, was with his grandmother that night so I had the evening to myself.

On the way to the phone to check voicemail, the hall mirror told me I looked as bedraggled as I felt. Shoulders slumped, mouth a thin slash across my tense face, short blonde hair stuck out like a scarecrow's. I looked every one of my forty-seven years. Maybe even a few more.

I pressed the button on the phone to activate unheard voicemail. "Good afternoon. This is Detective Inspector Stewart Foster of the Ontario Provincial Police. I'm trying to reach Tracy Tierney."

I swallowed back the panic that was rising inside me. What did the police want with my daughter?

"Ms. Tierney, we need to speak with you as soon as possible," the message continued. "I'm in Toronto today. Please give me a call at…"

I jotted down the phone number on a notepad, pressed a button to save the message and hung up.

Is Tracy in trouble? I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. The police wanted to speak to her, so she was alive and well. Nothing had happened to her. The call had something to do with her work. The year before, Tracy had finished law school and she was articling at a Bay Street firm. She must have asked the police for information. I needed to give her the message.

Tracy had moved out four weeks before, which was why I was feeling down. She was twenty-four years old, and I was all for her setting up a home of her own. It was how she'd left that bothered me.

The front door opened and a familiar voice called out, "Mom! You home?"

My heart did a flip-flop and I hurried into the hall.

Tracy had on her good black coat and a red cloche hat, and her cheeks were rosy from the cold. She held a casserole dish in her hands. She gave me a tentative smile.

I blinked back tears and studied my firstborn. Pretty, heart-shaped face. Serious brown eyes—my late husband Michael's eyes. I moved toward her, my arms outstretched. "Tracy, honey…"

She set down the dish on the deacon's bench and gave me a hug. "I missed you, Mom."

I wrapped my arms around her. Tracy is a petite girl. My younger daughter, Laura, towers over her.

I didn't want to let her go, but she pulled back. She took off her hat and shook her head. Wavy brown hair fell around her face. She picked up the dish on the bench. "Cassoulet. Jamie made it the other night. Have you eaten dinner?"

I moved away at the mention of Jamie—Jamie Collins, a lawyer at the firm where Tracy was spending her articling year. The woman my daughter had moved in with.

"Mom, we need to talk." She led the way into the kitchen.

I remembered the phone message from the police. "What's wrong?" I asked as I followed her.

"It's Jamie. Something's happened to her."

I was relieved that Tracy was all right. But as I looked at her troubled face, it hit me that this wasn't just a friend who was in trouble. Jamie was the special person in my daughter's life. Her partner. "What's happened?"

She sat down at the table and fixed her eyes on me. "On Wednesday, Jamie got a letter from a guy called Lyle Critchley. Made her really upset."

"Something to do with her work?"

"No. Jamie knew Critchley up north, where she grew up. Near Braeloch, one of those towns in cottage country."

"I didn't know she's from up there."

"How would you?" Her voice rose in irritation. "You haven't spent any time with her."

I looked up from my computer and saw Tracy and a striking woman with burgundy hair in the doorway to my office

"Mom, can we come in?"

"Of course." I got out of my chair as they came into the room.

Tracy took the woman's hand. "Mom, I want you to meet Jamie. Jamie Collins."

I took a step back. My daughter had been talking about Jamie for weeks. I'd assumed Jamie was a man.

Jamie held out a hand to me. "Tracy thought it was time we met."

I took her hand and looked at Tracy. She had a smile on her face.

My head was reeling. "Yes, well, I…" I struggled to find the right words.

Just then, Rose, my administrative assistant, came to the door. "Keith Kulas on the line, Pat."

My CEO. I dropped Jamie's hand and reached for the phone. Keith's call would give me time to adjust to this bombshell. "I have to take this."

The smile left Tracy's face and she stiffened. "We'll leave you to it, then." She took Jamie's arm. They walked out of the office without turning back.

My heart sank as I watched them leave.

I tried to make amends. Later that afternoon, I phoned Tracy, hoping to get a second chance. "Honey, please don't be mad. I had to take the call. It was important."

"More important than your daughter and her future?" she asked.

"Of course not. It's just…"

"Just what?"

Just too much to take in at the moment. I didn't say anything.

"Mom?" Tracy's voice rose in a mixture of anger and sorrow. "Say something."

The call had been a mistake. I should have waited, tried to get my mind¯my emotions¯around Tracy and Jamie.

"Mom? Are you still there?"

"Goodbye," I whispered.

"Wait! Mom¯"

I placed the receiver in the cradle and began to cry.

I had no inkling of Tracy's orientation. I'd always considered myself a champion of diversity—religious, racial and sexual. My business partner and friend, Stéphane Pratt, is openly gay. I have gay and lesbian clients. But it's easy to be open-minded until your kid comes out.

Three days after their visit to my office, Tracy moved into Jamie's condo. I threw myself into my work. I didn't tell my friends about Tracy. I didn't tell Devon, the man in my life. I hoped my daughter would get over her infatuation. At night, I tossed and turned in bed, sometimes crying into my pillow.

What had I done wrong?

"Listen to me, Mom," Tracy said. "I'm talking to you."

I looked at her. She was right. I hadn't given Jamie a chance. Sure, I phoned my daughter every couple of days to see how she was, but I called her at the office. I either got her voicemail-my messages went unanswered-or a curt response that she had to run off to an "important meeting."

"Ten years ago, Lyle Critchley killed Jamie's younger sister."

That got my attention.

"Drunk driving. Her family never forgave him."

I stared at her. I'd have trouble forgiving someone who'd mowed down one of my girls.

"And then, out of nowhere, he writes Jamie this letter. He wanted her help."

"Legal help?"

"I'm not sure. She'd run the letter through the shredder by the time I got home. She was that mad at him."

"I don't blame her."

Tracy looked surprised, then pleased. She seemed to relax a little. "She spent the rest of the evening on the computer. Yesterday morning, she called me at work and asked to borrow my car."

"She was going to see Lyle?"

"I don't know. She said she'd tell me all about it that evening, but she never came home and she hasn't called. She doesn't answer her cell. She didn't take her laptop with her, but I've sent her emails because she's probably hit an Internet café. She hasn't answered them. And I found a voicemail at home tonight from someone at her office who wanted to know if she was feeling better. She must've called in sick."

Her eyes grew large. "Mom, I watched the news when I got home today. There was a fire near Braeloch last night. Lyle Critchley was killed in it. The police found traces of an accelerant. They're calling it a murder."

I gripped Tracy's hand—hard. That was why the police had called her. Jamie had taken the Honda Civic that was registered in Tracy's name.

"She has your car," I said.

She pulled her hand away. "So? She doesn't have a car. Jamie's a greenie. Walks and bikes wherever she can."

"There's a voicemail for you from505 the OPP. Maybe they found your car and traced it to this address and phone number."

She went over to the phone and listened to the message. "They want to talk to me."

She turned to face me. "What if they've arrested Jamie? She and her family hated Lyle. But, Mom, she didn't…Jamie wouldn't hurt a fly."

"You'd better call them."

Tracy went to the phone, and I let Maxie out on the back deck. When I returned to the kitchen, she was leaving a voicemail message giving the number at the condo and her cell phone number.

"I'll heat up Jamie's cassoulet," I said when she got off the phone. "Vegetarian?" I assumed the environmentally conscious Jamie wouldn't eat meat.

Tracy gave me a little smile. "Of course. Beans, carrots, tomatoes. It's good."

First I'd heard that she liked vegetarian fare. But then I hadn't done a very good job of keeping up with her life, had I?

She sat down at the kitchen table. "Look, I handled it badly. I shouldn't have sprung Jamie on you at your office. I should have sat down with you and told you about us."

I turned on the microwave and sat down across from her.

She reached over and took my hand. "For a long time, I was pretty confused. I didn't even come out to myself until my first year at law school. But I've come to terms with who I am." She smiled. "And now it's wonderful to have Jamie in my life."

She squeezed my hand. "The old Tracy was unhappy because she was keeping a secret from you."

And I'd thought we had no secrets. I love my girls and I don't want them to keep things from me.

Something inside me shifted. I had to show Tracy that I was worthy of her trust. I decided that I'd get to know Jamie. If she was the one for Tracy, I'd stand by her choice.

"You've talked to Laura?" I asked.

"She's cool. Thinks I'm crazy not to be hot for guys, but it's my life, she says."

I had to smile at that. Laura had been boy-crazy since she was twelve.

Tracy touched my cheek. "Mom, I'm out. It's official. Do you good to talk to a friend¯or two."

My eyes started to tear up. Then the doorbell rang.

Through the front window I saw two men in overcoats on the porch. Both were tall and poised with apparent military bearing. A cold blast of air hit me when I opened the door. I pulled up the collar of my suit jacket. "Yes?"

1505″Ontario Provincial Police," the older of the two men said with a pronounced Scottish burr. He was in his late fifties, with a gray moustache and gray eyes sinking into the folds of skin around them. He showed me his badge. "I'm Detective Inspector Stewart Foster and this is Detective Lew Anders. We're looking for Tracy Tierney."

"I'm Tracy Tierney," my daughter said behind me.

"We have some questions to ask you. May we come in?"

Tracy was the first to speak when we were seated in the family room. "What's this about?" she asked.

Foster fixed his eyes on her. "Your car was found in Braeloch this morning."

I studied his face for a sign of what was coming, but he kept it neutral.

"Can you account for your whereabouts around nine last night?" he asked.

Tracy paused. "I got home at seven-thirty. I ate dinner then I watched some television."

Anders, a big, fair-haired man with a ruddy complexion, wrote this down in his notebook.

"You were home, too?" Foster asked me.

"Yes," I replied.

"I wasn't here," Tracy said. "This is my mother's home. I was at my place downtown."

"Tracy moved in with a friend a few weeks ago," I said. "They have a condo on The Esplanade."

He frowned. "The address on your car registration is here."

Tracy made a face. "I haven't got around to changing it," she mumbled.

I flashed her my no-nonsense look. Tracy is a lawyer. She should have done the paperwork.

"Was anyone with you last night?" he asked her.

"No. I was alone all evening."

"A man died in a fire in his garage last night," he said. "Outside the town of Braeloch in Glencoe Highlands Township. A car similar to yours was seen on his property earlier in the day. Can someone confirm that you were in Toronto last night?"

Tracy was thinking hard. "I was at the office till seven with a couple of lawyers. How long would it take me to get to Braeloch? Three hours? And I'd be caught in traffic leaving the city. I couldn't be there by nine."

"Then how did your car get to the parking lot in Braeloch?" he asked.

She just looked at him. The foolish girl was trying to cover up for Jamie.

"You have no idea how your car found its way to Braeloch?" he asked.

She looked down at her hands.

I'd had enough. My daughter was being treated as a suspect in a murder investigation. "Tracy lent her car to a friend yesterday."

She shot daggers at me with her glare. Foster sat up straighter on the sofa.

"Who is this friend?" he wanted to know.

She didn't reply.

"Ms. Tierney, we can charge you with obstructing a murder investigation. I will repeat my question. Who did you lend your car to yesterday?"

"Jamie Collins," she said.

"And where can we reach Mr. Collins?"

"Ms. Collins." She looked at him defiantly. "Jamie's the woman I live with. My partner."

"Is Ms. Collins at home right now?" he asked without missing a beat.

"I haven't seen her since yesterday morning." Her voice broke in mid-sentence.

Foster paused for a few moments. "Describe Ms. Collins."

"Jamie has red hair," she said. "Burgundy, I guess you'd call it."

Foster nodded at Anders who scribbled in his notebook.

"Tell them about the letter," I said.

If Tracy's look could have killed, I would have been six feet under. Foster nodded at Anders again.

"What about this letter, Ms. Tierney?"

She didn't answer for a few moments. "Jamie got a letter from Lyle Critchley," she said slowly. "He wanted her help."

"What kind of help?"

"I don't know. She'd put the letter through the shredder before I got in, and she spent the rest of the night on her computer."

"What day did this letter arrive?" Foster asked.

"Wednesday."

"And she drove up north in your car on Thursday?"

"Jamie called me at work yesterday and asked if she could use my car. She didn't say where she was going."

"You don't know where she is?"

"I told you I haven't spoken to her since yesterday morning. But I'll try the condo now."

She picked up the cordless phone on the end table and hit some buttons. "No one's answering."

Anders took down the address of the condo, Tracy's phone numbers and the names of the colleagues she was with on Thursday afternoon. He told her that forensics would check out her car, and she could pick it up at police headquarters in Orillia in a few days.

"And we'll need to take a look at Ms. Collins's home computers," Foster said.

"Right now?" Tracy asked. "I was about to have dinner with my mother."

"The sooner the better," Anders said. "This is a murder investigation."

Foster looked at his watch. "We'll meet you in your condo lobby at nine."

At the door, he handed Tracy his card. "Don't leave Toronto without letting us know."

When the door closed behind them, Tracy turned to me. Anger flashed in her eyes. "Now you've done it!"

I opened my mouth to protest when she spat out, "You've had it in for Jamie since you met her. So you told them she took my car and you told them about Lyle's letter."

"Tracy—"

"They'll charge her with killing him."

She held her hands over her face. I tried to put my arms around her, but she pushed me away. "We should have gotten married, then I wouldn't have to testify against her. We've been talking about it. We thought maybe this summer."

Marriage? That was news to me, but I'd been completely out of the loop. I gripped her elbow and led her back to the kitchen where I sat her down at the table. I pulled up a chair beside her.

"We had to tell the officers who drove your car up there," I said. "You know that. And it will all work out. I'm sure it was a coincidence that Jamie went up there on the day Lyle was killed. She'll turn up, and she'll tell them where she was and who she was with."

But my brave words belied my thoughts. Anger and other strong emotions can provoke anyone into a violent act. Even someone who wouldn't hurt a fly.

"I'm going to Braeloch," Tracy said through her tears.

"Tracy, the officers told you not to leave city without telling them."

"I don't care."

"And even if they gave you the go-ahead, they'd follow every move you made. They'd think you'd lead them to Jamie."

She brushed away her tears with the back of her hand. "But they wouldn't follow you. Mom, will you go up there and look for her? Tomorrow's Saturday. You'd have the weekend to find out what's going on. I'll come over tomorrow morning and stay here with Tommy."

I was about to say that if I found Jamie, I had no idea what I could do to help her. But Tracy's pleading eyes were cutting me to my very soul. I had to let her know that she could count on me. Any time. Like right now. It was important that I restore my daughter's faith in me.

I nodded. "I'll see what I can do."

I gave Jamie's cassoulet a few more minutes in the microwave. While the dish was spinning, Tracy phoned Jamie's mother in Braeloch and told her that I'd come by her home late the next morning. Veronica Collins said she hadn't heard from her daughter in more than a week.

When we sat down at the table, neither of us felt like eating. "Jamie went to see Lyle about something he told her in that letter," Tracy said, her eyes wide with concern. "So whoever killed him would want her out of the way, too."

I'd been thinking along those lines, but I didn't want to add to her worries. I told her the killer probably didn't know about the letter. "And whatever Lyle told Jamie might have nothing to do with why he was killed."

She didn't buy that. "She knows way too much."

"She's dropped out of sight to check up on what Lyle told her."

"Maybe. And thanks to you, the police are looking for her." She gave me a sidelong glance. "And when they find out about the feud between the Collins family and Lyle—"

"Feud?"

"There were a lot of bad feelings."

Of course there were. He killed the Collins girl.

"When they do, they won't look any farther for Lyle's killer."

We were going around in circles. "We don't know that," I said. "They may have several irons in the fire by now."

I pushed my chair back from the table. "I'll drive you over to the condo."

"What's Veronica like?" I asked Tracy when we were in the car.

"I've never met her. Tonight was the first time I spoke to her."

I couldn't believe my ears. Tracy had talked about marriage, but she'd never met her intended's family.

"Jamie doesn't go back to Braeloch much. Says it brings back memories of her sister…and Lyle. She took Veronica to New York this Christmas."

"At some point, you'll have to meet her."

"I guess. We'll probably drive up there this summer."

On your honeymoon?

 Alexandra Sokoloff Talks About her Latest Thriller, BLOOD MOON tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-05-13:988554:BlogPost:1372520 2013-05-13T19:33:26.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani
 Alexandra Sokoloff is the Thriller Award-winning and Bram Stoker, Anthony, and Black Quill award-nominated author of the supernatural thrillers THE HARROWING, THE PRICE, THE UNSEEN, BOOK OF SHADOWS, THE SHIFTERS, and THE SPACE BETWEEN, and the Top Ten Amazon bestselling Huntress/FBI thriller series (HUNTRESS MOON,…

Alexandra Sokoloff is the Thriller Award-winning and Bram Stoker, Anthony, and Black Quill award-nominated author of the supernatural thrillers THE HARROWING, THE PRICE, THE UNSEEN, BOOK OF SHADOWS, THE SHIFTERS, and THE SPACE BETWEEN, and the Top Ten Amazon bestselling Huntress/FBI thriller series (HUNTRESS MOON, BLOOD MOON), which has also been nominated for a Thriller Award for Best E Book Original Novel. The New York Times Book Review has called her a "daughter of Mary Shelley," and her books "Some of the most original and freshly unnerving work in the genre."

As a screenwriter she has sold original horror and thriller scripts and adapted novels for numerous Hollywood studios. She has also written two non-fiction writing workbooks: SCREENWRITING TRICKS FOR AUTHORS and WRITING LOVE, based on her internationally acclaimed workshops and blog, and has served on the Board of Directors of the WGA, west and the Board of the Mystery Writers of America.

Find the author on the web:

Website: http://alexandrasokoloff.com

Blog: http://www.screenwritingtricks.com

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/alexandra.sokoloff

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AlexSokoloff

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/axsokoloff/

About MOON BLOOD

Twenty-five years have passed since a savage killer terrorized California, massacring three ordinary families before disappearing without a trace.

 The haunted child who was the only surviving victim of his rampage is now wanted by the FBI for brutal crimes of her own, and Special Agent Matthew Roarke is on an interstate manhunt for her, despite his conflicted sympathies for her history and motives.

 But when his search for her unearths evidence of new family slayings, the dangerous woman Roarke seeks – and wants - may be his only hope of preventing another bloodbath.

Purchase links:

US http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Moon-Huntress-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B00CJ1EC5W

UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Moon-Huntress-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B00CJ1EC5W

DE http://www.amazon.de/Blood-Moon-Huntress-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B00CJ1EC5W

Q: Congratulations on the release of your latest book, Blood Moon. What was your inspiration for it?

A: The idea came to me at the San Francisco Bouchercon, always the most inspiring of the mystery conferences for me. One afternoon there were two back-to-back discussions with several of my favorite authors: Val McDermid interviewing Denise Mina, then Robert Crais interviewing Lee Child. (Can you even imagine...?)

There was a lot of priceless stuff in those two hours, but two things that really struck me from the McDermid/Mina chat were Val saying that crime fiction is the best way to explore societal issues, and Denise saying that she finds powerful inspiration in writing about what makes her angry.

Write about what makes you angry? It doesn't take me a millisecond's thought to make my list. Child sexual abuse is the top, no contest. Violence against women and children. Discrimination of any kind. Religious intolerance. War crimes. Genocide. Torture.

That anger has fueled a lot of my books and scripts over the years.

And then right after that, there was Lee Child talking about Reacher, one of my favorite fictional characters, and it got me thinking about what it would look like if a woman were doing what Reacher was doing. And that was it—instantly I had the whole story of Huntress Moon.

Q: Tell us something about your protagonist that my readers won't be able to resist.

A: He's torn between two women – one who will probably be fatal to him, the other who might be able to save him.

Q: How was your creative process like during the writing of this book and how long did it take you to complete it? Did you face any bumps along the way?

A: My usual creative process is to outline extensively using the story structure method I actually teach all over the country and in my Screenwriting Tricks for Authors workbooks - yes, I do take my own writing advice! The Huntress series is heavy on the forensics, so I also did quite a bit of research, including attending Lee Lofland's fantastic Writers Police Academy to get some hands-on forensics training and police procedure, and a local police citizens' academy as well. Blood Moon took about eight months to write. The real bump along the way was that I was prepping my house to sell it, and I did sell it during that time. I'm sure a lot of people will know what I mean when I say that was brutal! I'm hoping that book three in the series won't take quite as long, since there's no house-selling going on this time…

Q: How do you keep your narrative exciting throughout the creation of a novel?

A: I write in layers, so I'm not necessarily concerned with exciting narrative for the first few drafts. The first draft is to block out the story from beginning to end, to see how it works. Then I have to pull that draft into line. Then I start working on things like narrative and suspense and emotional tension until the book takes off with its own energy and ultimately people can't turn the pages fast enough. Or so I'm told!

Q: What is your writing schedule like and how do you balance it with your other work and family time?

A: I'm a full-time writer so it's my full-time work. I start by seven or eight a.m. and write for seven or eight hours a day, much more if I'm on an intense deadline. Some of those hours are business, of course. But I treat it like a job because it IS my job. One thing that is not like a regular job is that I change clothes a lot during the day. Some days I am quite dressed up. I need to entertain myself some way other than eating! As for the balance part, luckily my significant other is also a full-time novelist so long hours are understood. And rewarded…

Q: How do you define success?

A: Loving your work, loving the people around you, loving your environment, using your talent to make other people's lives better in some way.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring writers whose spouses or partners don't support their dreams of becoming an author?

A: Leave them. Who stays with someone like that? Unless you don't really want to be an author. In which case, they're on to you. Seriously, what is love if it's not about supporting your partner's dreams?

Q: Anything else you'd like to tell my readers?

A: Maybe I've given too much advice as it is. But you asked! Thanks so much for having me.
 Book Review: EQUITY of FEAR, by Rudy Mazzocchi tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-04-17:988554:BlogPost:1365677 2013-04-17T19:08:23.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani

 Once again author Rudy Mazzocchi ventures into the shadowy world of controversial medical technologies. In his first thriller, Equity of Evil, the author revealed a dark world involving abortion, human trafficking and organ cultures. In this his latest instalment and 2nd book in the series, Equity of Fear, he boldly delves into subjects of the…

Once again author Rudy Mazzocchi ventures into the shadowy world of controversial medical technologies. In his first thriller, Equity of Evil, the author revealed a dark world involving abortion, human trafficking and organ cultures. In this his latest instalment and 2nd book in the series, Equity of Fear, he boldly delves into subjects of the re-wiring of the brain to eliminate fear and the alteration of memory. Fascinating and terrifying stuff, to say the least.

Dr. Frank Moretti is CEO of Recon Innovations, a company that is developing a new technology designed to help millions of patients get rid of irrational fears, such as the fear of heights or darkness. He is also working on a neuroplasticity program designed to rewire the brain and restore the memory of Alzheimer's patients. It all sounds like the perfect way to contribute to science and help humanity.

However, the USA, Russia and Japan are secretly competing for this technology, for a nation that would be able to control fear and pain in the minds of the people would also be able to create a supreme, invincible army.

Roman Citrano, a member of the Recon Board of Directors (also the protagonist in book 1 of these series), warns his friend Frank about the possible sinister repercussions, but Frank decides to move forward and license the technology to other countries. For this purpose, he flies to Japan with his teenaged son Joey—a big mistake, for soon both fall into an evil vortex of international intrigue where sadistic, unscrupulous doctors experiment on orphan children in the name of science, and where father and son have to fight for their lives.

This was a great read! First of all, the science behind it, which the author so skillfully describes and explains, is both absorbing and horrifying. It truly reminds us of the two very different fac

ets of science and what can happen when greed, ambition, and plain and simple human nature get in the way.

The story moves pretty quickly in spite of all the 'science talk.' I really liked the three main characters, Frank, his son Joey, and Roman, and felt compelled to stick with them to see how they were going to get out of their difficult predicament. I especially enjoyed the character of Joey; he really added spunk to the dialogue and situations. The Japanese scientist villain is well rounded, and I appreciate the tact and responsibility of the author in describing the Asian culture in the book. The ending is satisfying and utterly surprising.

One last word of caution, Equity of Fear has some scenes that are quite violent and graphic in nature, so this isn't a read for those of you faint of heart.

Find out more on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Equity-Fear-EQUITY-Series-ebook/dp/B00C0HAUUG

View the original article on blogcritics.org

I reviewed this book as part of a publicity package and received compensation. However, this review is my honest opinion of the book.
 First Chapter Reveal: Shadows Over Paradise, by Anne K. Edwards tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-04-05:988554:BlogPost:1361988 2013-04-05T13:38:21.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani

Suspense

Available in ebook and paperback

Twilight Times Books

Shadows Over Paradise is peopled by…

Suspense

Available in ebook and paperback

Twilight Times Books

Shadows Over Paradise is peopled by complicated characters intent on achieving their own ends, some heedless of the cost to others. Action, excitement and tension galore, blended with a brooding house set on a volcanic island with soaring cliffs and few modern amenities, along with turbulent emotions offer a perfect catalyst for the storm that is about to break over the Mantuan Islands.

——————————————————————–

Chapter One

The cab discharged Julia and Captain Martinez on the waterfront where odors of oily brine, fish, and salt-seasoned wood perfumed the damp air. She wrinkled her nose in distaste at the stench of gasoline and diesel fuel coming from the dockside pumps. Stories and movies didn't portray the waterfront as it really was.

She peered closely at the boats tied to the dock as they danced slowly on their lines. One of them, a squat-bodied vessel, resembled a cross between the ocean-going tugs and converted fishing boats she'd seen on a trip to New York City harbor. Large old tires gently repelled the little ship from the pilings as the watery slap-slap of the tide crept in. Scarred woodwork and peeling paint scarcely showed in the growing dark. Below deck, sturdy engines chugged softly, gurgling exhaust. In the gloom created by the dock light, Julia could see faded letters on the prow "The Flighty Maid".

The Maid shared the dock with a charter boat that catered to tourists and several fishing boats. An inter-island ferry was tying up for the night. Out in the deep water of the harbor, a brightly lit cruise ship was anchored. On shore, a few late tourists sought out straggling locals for authentic island flavor.

Near a pile of unmarked crates a greasy-haired, unshaven man in a torn shirt emerged from the shadows. He walked with a seaman's swagger, swinging his muscular torso and arms from side to side. This rolling gait gave him the appearance of being larger than he actually was.

Captain Martinez stiffened at Julia's side as the man approached. His small, close-set eyes raked her in bold appraisal as he gave her a broken-toothed grin of approval. She looked away with a grimace.

Removing a red-banded cigarette from his lips, he said, "I gotta have a word, Martinez." Thrusting hanging hair from his round face with dirty fingers, he peered down at the shorter man. "The boss wants you." He exhaled a cloud into the air, then took another draw.

The acrid smoke drifted into Julia's face. She sneezed.

"I don't want to see the boss, Long," the captain said quietly, his hand slipping into the sagging pocket of his worn black leather jacket. "You understand?"

Long tapped the rough leather knife sheath on his belt. "I get whatcha mean, but the boss ain't gonna like it none." His light blue eyes narrowed. "And that gun yer carryin' won't give you much pertection." He crushed the smoke under his worn boot.

"Make sure you tell your boss what I said," Captain Martinez growled, straightening his shoulders. "I carry the gun to use on vermin."

Long's coarse face hardened as he gave the old sailor a look of hatred. "One of these days we'll have a long chat about that." The words sounded like a threat.

Julia sidled behind the captain when the man cast another leer in her direction and strutted away. Captain Martinez waited until he vanished around the crates before starting for the ship with her close on his heels.

"Who was that awful man?" she asked in a low voice.

"Just someone who had something to say," he said.

His curt manner stung, reminding her that she was an unwanted visitor.

The shadowy figure of another man lurked at the edge of the light beyond a pile of barrels. Tipping his dark cap to her, he departed behind Long.

At The Maid's berth, dockhands shifted cargo aboard. Julia trod carefully, her leather soles slippery on the aged wharf's wet surface. She envied Captain Martinez's surefootedness as he leaped aboard. He turned and stretched a hand toward her. "Easy now. Grab my hand."

Taking the gap between ship and pier in a jump, Julia landed clumsily at his side as the deck rose beneath her feet. She gripped his arm for support. The nearest dockside worker handed her luggage over the rail.

A tall sailor appeared from the hold as the laden cargo net swung out to hover above the open hatch. He quickly unloaded it, lowering heavy boxes one at a time to unseen hands below. The captain watched for a moment, before speaking, "Beau'll stow your bags in the passenger lounge. We'll be getting underway soon." Then, he moved off to supervise the tying down of a large crate on deck.

Julia watched with interest as Beau emptied the net, slammed the hatch, and shoved the bolt home. Was he the stepbrother Suzanne had adored from afar during their college years?

He came forward wordlessly to pick up her baggage, disappearing with it through a narrow door on the port side marked "Lounge".

Rebuffed by the chilly reserve of her first contacts in Marcora, Julia looked longingly at the dock as a second taxi stopped under the light. A black-haired woman in white got out and approached The Maid with obvious distaste. The cabbie followed to hand bags and boxes aboard.

"Andre?" Her throaty voice quavered slightly. She avoided Julia's curious gaze.

"Yes, Miss Isabelle." Captain Martinez extended a hand to her.

She came off the dock with a graceful movement, her white skirt flipping up to reveal long, shapely legs. Scanning the deck as if searching for someone, she spoke rapidly, before the captain could make introductions, "I'd like to go to the lounge. I've got a terrible headache." As she passed, Isabelle gave Julia a sly, malevolent glare.

Julia reacted instinctively to the hostility in those brown eyes. She turned away, head high, to show her contempt for such behavior. Why waste time trying to get acquainted?

Captain Martinez escorted Isabelle to the lounge with the courtesy due a queen. He reappeared in moments, muttering to himself, "That woman will drive us all crazy. Why I ever let myself get drawn into her schemes, I don't know."

He shook his head, growling orders to the dock hands to cast off the lines. Aggravation showed in the tautness of his prominent jaw as he spoke to Julia. "You should go inside, Miss. The sea's rough and the spray'll ruin your nice clothes."

"I'd prefer to remain on deck," she told him. Being alone was better than sharing the lounge with that snotty woman.

He nodded, touched his cap with a callused hand, and went up to the pilothouse.

The Maid was soon underway, engines murmuring farewell to Orinda. Once beyond the Marcora Harbor breakwater, the ship encountered rough seas. Windborne spray coated the deck with a skin of greasy-looking water. Clutching the dripping stern rail, Julia shivered as the wet penetrated her thin jacket. Her sightseeing guide had mentioned the rough currents around some of the islands, but she had never imagined this.

The lights of the city sank on the horizon. The Maid seemed pitifully small when measured against the waves. Julia desired nothing more than the feel of solid earth under her feet instead of pitching, wooden planking. Her stomach jerked in time to the movement of The Maid. The dark was all the more alarming because she could see nothing beyond the faint glow cast by the ship's running lights.

Julia's resolve to remain on deck weakened and died. Bested by nerves and weariness, chilled by the wind, she made her way hand over hand along the rail to climb the metal steps to the pilothouse where the captain stood behind the wheel.

"Captain, may I stay with you?" She tried to keep the tremor from her voice as she stepped uninvited through the doorway. His bluntness would be preferable to staying on deck or spending the trip confined with the woman he'd called Miss Isabelle.

His grunt was noncommittal as his eyes remained on the invisible horizon.

The motion of the ship caused the door to swing shut. "I'm sorry to be a bother," Julia apologized lamely, grabbing the rail in front of her as a surge staggered The Maid, "but I've never been on a boat at night."

"No matter," he said gruffly, drawing on his pipe as The Maid's engines resumed their even beat. "The current gets a bit rough at times."

"Please tell me about the islands." Anything to get her mind off those waves that could swallow the little boat in one gulp.

The lines on his brow deepened thoughtfully. "When I sailed a small trader, we had a spiel for the tourists. That do?" He exhaled slowly and watched the smoke be pulled through the open window.

"Yes." She closed her eyes against another roll of her stomach.

"The Islands were discovered in the seventeen eighties by a trader out of India who got blowed off course. Didn't stay too long. Took on water and sailed away. Later, traders out of the Orient made contact with the natives, followed by whalers, explorers, and missionaries. Weren't many natives left after their diseases got spread around."

She wondered at the hint of anger as he spoke. Was he a native?

He continued, "They had a King Kaluma killed by a French pirate named Avenduc. He claimed the islands as his own and set up a government with himself as king."

"What happened to Avenduc?"

"Spanish came. Killed him. They was pirates too. Gave the islands their name."

A wave passed under them. The Maid shuddered, seemed to hesitate, before plunging gamely on. Julia shut her eyes, waiting for her landlubber stomach to subside. She prayed the captain would soon tell her they'd reached their destination.

Captain Martinez fell silent, his attention on The Maid broken only to relight his pipe. For several minutes he seemed oblivious to Julia's presence, his thoughts gone like the wind-grabbed smoke.

At last, unable to bear the water-filled stillness any longer, she broke into his reverie. Returning to the subject of the islands, she hoped her interest sounded genuine. "When did the islands become a U.S. possession?"

"After World War Two. They're a tourist attraction these days. Lot of new hotels going up." His words were tinged with regret. "Time used to stand still in Mantua. Now we're being caught up in the rush to modernize. What was a paradise is going to disappear one day."

"How do the islanders make a living? Do they grow coconuts or pineapples?"

She blushed as her ignorance brought a wry smile to his lips. "We have pineapple and some sugar plantations. Many of us are fishermen or traders." He sucked on his pipe, then held it aloft, as if addressing it. "And there are the tourists. They're welcome, but too many stay. They put pressure on the natives who sell out without realizing they're betraying their children's heritage."

"When did the LaBoudries come to the islands?" She tried to think of other questions to keep him talking.

"Beau's grandfather came from France to take employment as a manager of the Duchense plantation and married the owner's daughter." His eyes took on a faraway look as though remembering a time gone by.

Julia could see the captain didn't like the changes occurring in the islands. She understood, but that was the way of the world. Change. Sometimes it brought good and sometimes, it didn't.

"Is Tiboo very big?" Suzanne's description of her island home came back in bits and pieces. Green mountains, few valleys, sparse population.

"Big enough." He gave the wheel a twist and suddenly she realized they had passed into much calmer water.

Julia breathed easier. She asked, "Is Ramon de Cordova from Mantua?" Suzanne's letter containing the invitation to share in the festivities had given no information about the groom.

Curiosity glinted in his eyes. "He comes from an old island family."

She sensed his skepticism. How, as a friend, could she not know about the man Suzanne intended to marry?

Captain Martinez withdrew into himself.

The ensuing silence told her much. Judging by the rigid set of his jaw, he did not view the impending nuptials with favor any more than he approved of her visit.

"You don't think Suzanne should be getting married, do you?" His manner showed that he was uncomfortable with the turn the conversation had taken.

He raised a shoulder and let it fall, his darkened profile giving no clue to his private thoughts. His eyes were fixed on something she couldn't see outside the range of the boat's dim lights. She tried to follow his gaze and saw only the reflected glow of gauges, one of which blinked steadily like the beat of a heart.

Abruptly, the throb of the motors slowed as the distant light of a single beam reached toward the ship. The moon sank out of sight behind the dark form of a tall, cone-shaped mountain as The Maid entered a harbor where glittering ripples performed a watery ballet of welcome.
 Profile: Meet Canadian Bestselling Author Cheryl Kaye Tardif tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-03-24:988554:BlogPost:1357776 2013-03-24T12:34:31.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani
An avid reader as a child, Cheryl Kaye Tardif grew up in Vancouver, Canada in a nurturing environment with a family who encouraged her creative side, surrounded with Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Bobbsey Twins series. During her teens, her favorite authors were Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Saul, and Danielle Steel.

At 14, Cheryl was already a consummate journalist, writing a weekly column for a small-town newspaper for…

An avid reader as a child, Cheryl Kaye Tardif grew up in Vancouver, Canada in a nurturing environment with a family who encouraged her creative side, surrounded with Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Bobbsey Twins series. During her teens, her favorite authors were Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Saul, and Danielle Steel.

At 14, Cheryl was already a consummate journalist, writing a weekly column for a small-town newspaper for $5 a week. Then in her late teens she made her decision: she was going to become a novelist.

Nowadays, Tardif modestly describes herself as a fulltime author, promoter, and publisher. Her highly-acclaimed bestsellers include Whale Song, The River, Divine Intervention, Divine Justice, Children of the Fog, and her latest, Submerged, among others. She also writes romance under her pen name, Cherish D'Angelo. In addition, she's a book marketing coach as well as owner and publisher of Imajin Books.

Tardif's strength as an author lies in digging into the emotions of her characters and reflecting that emotion back to readers so they connect deeply to the characters and story. Submerged was originally going to be pitched to some of the major publishers, but she and her agent decided on a different strategy. Since she wouldn't give up her rights for a small/medium type book deal, they decided that Imajin Books would publish her thriller and she'd do her best to help it sell. "Once we have high sales like I do for Children of the Fog, we plan to take both books to a major publisher and pursue a substantial deal," says the author. So far, it looks as though she's on the right tract, asSubmerged has already had over 49,000 downloads on Amazon during March 2013 alone.

For Submerged, Cheryl was inspired by a high-school friend who became addicted to painkillers while working as a paramedic. "With such a high stress job and seeing the things he must have witnessed, I wanted to explore a character with a similar life," states Tardif. "And I wanted to show that even though a person may make some wrong decisions in his or her life, it is never too late to turn a life around or find redemption."

Tardif is an admirably prolific writer. Submerged took only 6-8 weeks to write, making it the fastest novel this author has ever written, athough she started it over two years ago and had to set it aside while getting her publishing company off the ground.

Tardif creates her suspenseful stories in a beautiful office with periwinkle blue walls and two work stations with PCs, but most of the time she writes on her laptop while sitting on the recliner in the living room with her dog Chai. "Since my daughter is living with her fiancé, I have no small children at home, so it's very peaceful and conducive to writing," states the author.

Once a story has percolated in her mind for a while, she usually makes a few notes of key scenes for a novel. Then she starts writing. She sets word count goals every time she sits down to write, usually 3,000 words, and most often exceeds them. "I do edit while writing," states Tardif. "Often I'll read the previous chapter and edit it before carrying on with the story. This helps to get me back 'into' the plot. I'll often write late into the night or early morning. And it's not rare for me to write or edit for 2 days straight, without sleep. Once I'm 'in the zone,' I don't want to leave."

For Tardif, the rewards of being an author are two-fold. First, seeing her characters come to life in a story is very rewarding. But even more rewarding is receiving emails from readers who have enjoyed her books, especially when they get the often deeper meanings in her works—or when they say her work affected their lives in a positive way. "I love bringing my characters and their stories to life. Even more, I love when readers connect to these characters and stories."

Her advice to aspiring writers: "Determine if you want to put out a book as a hobby or write as a career author. Then learn everything there is to know about writing and publishing, and treat this like a business. Because that's what it is."

Tardif will be focusing on Imajin Books publications until this fall, when she'll be working at completing her next suspense thriller, Divine Sanctuary, book 3 in her Divine series. She now resides in Edmonton, Canada with her husband Marc and their family dog.

Find Cheryl Kaye Tardif on the web:

http://www.cherylktardif.com

Twitter.

Enter Cheryl's March Giveaway – 60 prizes!

Get SUBMERGED today.
 Book Review: Revelation: Book One of The "Revelation Trilogy" tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-02-14:988554:BlogPost:1342719 2013-02-14T03:00:00.000Z Irene Roth http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/IreneRoth
Revelation is a story that resembles Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code.  If you enjoyed that book you will certainly love this intriguing page turner too. It is a book about murder, betrayal, intrigue, and the holy church.

 Michael Gabriel Raphael is a devoted husband and father, enjoying a peaceful and fulfilling life. Then one day, one moment later, he is thrown into an abyss of frustration, torture, and suffering the likes of which is very hard to fathom.…

Revelation is a story that resembles Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code.  If you enjoyed that book you will certainly love this intriguing page turner too. It is a book about murder, betrayal, intrigue, and the holy church.

 Michael Gabriel Raphael is a devoted husband and father, enjoying a peaceful and fulfilling life. Then one day, one moment later, he is thrown into an abyss of frustration, torture, and suffering the likes of which is very hard to fathom. Accidents do happen, of course. But few accidents change the course of one's whole life like this one did for Michael.

 Michael's estranged daughter is abducted by the Cavalieri di Satana (Knights of Satan), a society of devil worshipers. The Cavalieri plans to possibly kill his daughter in a ritual to prevent the second coming of Christ. Michael is told by Nicholas Nevsky, a religious theologian from Rila Monastery in Bulgaria that his daughter is the Holy Vessel Jesus Christ. There is no apparent coincidence between Michael's last name and that of the Archangel Raphael. Is Michael's daughter who they think she is?

 Revelation is a unique intellectual thriller. It is violent, torturous, intriguing, and downright scary. The reader will be transported into this dark world of the Cavalieri. It is a nasty place indeed. How could such a good man end up there? How can he make it out?

 This book is the first in a series of three novels in the Revelation Trilogy. M. J. Marcini was an only child. He was forced to use his imagination to entertain himself. Now, drawing from his wealth of creativity which permeates his writing, Mancini has become one of the most identifiable and intriguing authors.

This review was first published on Blogcritics.
 Profile: Romantic Suspense Author Chris Karslen tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-02-05:988554:BlogPost:1339880 2013-02-05T19:12:11.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani
A native of Chicago, former police detective Chris Karslen grew up with a love of history and books. An only child, she spent a lot of time reading, developing 'fictional friends', and getting lost in the world of stories.

Naturally, her love of reading and books led to writing of her own, and when she retired from her police work she finally decided to fulfil her lifelong secret desire. In 2003, she sat down and wrote her first line—and she hasn't looked back since.…

A native of Chicago, former police detective Chris Karslen grew up with a love of history and books. An only child, she spent a lot of time reading, developing 'fictional friends', and getting lost in the world of stories.

Naturally, her love of reading and books led to writing of her own, and when she retired from her police work she finally decided to fulfil her lifelong secret desire. In 2003, she sat down and wrote her first line—and she hasn't looked back since.

Now a fulltime writer, her mission is to entertain readers with her stories. "I want to share my love of certain things, like places, history, and time travel. It's my way of saying, this is why I love England or Turkey or history, etc. I like using the characters to present a 'what if' question and have the reader join me in asking it to," states Karslen.

Karslen enjoys writing romance and adventure and her stories are full of action, mystery and suspense. Her latest novel, Byzantine Gold, is a romantic thriller set in Cyprus and the sequel to her first book in the series, Golden Chariot. For this series, she interweaves history and archaeology into her fiction. She's had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa, something that no doubt has had an influence on her work. However, besides her modern romantic thrillers set in exotic locations, she also writes time-travel historical romances.

"I am not a fast writer," says Karslen about her writing habits. "I have so much research with all my books that I start with an outline. That helps me set the parameters of the story. It also helps me to know what research I'm going to need the most and I can narrow what I have down. Once I begin writing, then the story changes as I go along. I'll see an event on the page and a question will arise and I'll build in a scene or character or problem that didn't occur when I worked on the outline."

Karslen tries to write every day and makes an effort to run errands and do other personal or household business in the morning and then sit down to write by midday. She writes until 5:00 or so. "That doesn't mean I write all I'd like to put on the page, but I try."

She advises aspiring authors to join a critique group, take classes, and go to conferences and seminars to learn the craft. She recommends the following books: Writing the Breakout Novel and The Fire in Fiction by Don Maass, and Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Deb Dixon.

She also advises to develop a tough skin and accept the fact that your early drafts may not be ready to submit right away. "Every new writer believes what they've written is perfect. Perhaps there's someone out there this is true for but I can't think of any. Hemingway said, 'There's no such thing as writing, only rewriting.'"

Her favorite authors include Bernard Cornwell, John Sandford, Michael Connelly, Joe Wambaugh, Julia Quinn, Julie Anne Long, and Deanna Raybourn. Among her favorite books you'll find The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay, Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice, The Saxon Tales by Bernard Cornwell, The Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn, the Pennyroyal Green series by Julie Anne Long, The Prey series and Virgil Flowers series by John Sandford, The Harry Bosch series by Mike Connelly and the Hollywood Station series by Joe Wambaugh.

Karslen lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse. Currently, she's finishing the third book in her Knights in Timeseries, which she hopes to release this late spring.

Learn more about Chris Karslen and her work on her website and blog.
 Book Review: Shot in the Dark by Jennifer Conner tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-01-20:988554:BlogPost:1333998 2013-01-20T19:40:14.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani
Jennifer Conner's latest romantic suspense is a thrilling, steaming read that will be enjoyed by fans of the genre.

Handsome, sharp-witted, and smartass Devan Burke is a detective working for the LAPD. In the evenings, he likes to keep himself wired up by ordering double espressos from the Naughty Latte stand's drive-through, especially because of  the…

Jennifer Conner's latest romantic suspense is a thrilling, steaming read that will be enjoyed by fans of the genre.

Handsome, sharp-witted, and smartass Devan Burke is a detective working for the LAPD. In the evenings, he likes to keep himself wired up by ordering double espressos from the Naughty Latte stand's drive-through, especially because of the pretty blond working there. Dev is a loner and blames himself for the death of a kid during a store shootout, during which he was also shot in the leg and, as a result, has been limping and using a cane since then.

Beautiful and just as sharp-witted and smartass as Dev, Luci Lombard is working at the Naughty Latte stand in order to support herself through school at the University of Chinese Culture and Health Studies.

One night, only a few minutes after Dev leaves the coffee stand, he receives a message that the place has just been robbed. Back at the stand, he finds a very distraught Luci lying on the floor with her hands tied behind her back. Fortunately, the assailant didn't have enough time to rape her. Although the robber was wearing a mask, she remembers he was wearing cowboy boots and tattoos on his arm: strange octagon symbols mixed into a vine. Dev offers to bring her to the hospital and then home.

Since she doesn't have medical insurance, he very generously pays for her medical bills. To show her appreciation, Luci decides to help Dev with his leg problem so he can get back in active duty. She believes his pain and limp could be improved with the aid of a chiropractor and holistic medicine. Though Dev is skeptical at first, he decides to let Luci help him. Thus, their relationship begins to evolve, rising in intensity as their feelings for each other deepen.

But the man with the tattoos isn't a simple robber. In fact, he's a member of the Mafia. And he hasn't forgotten Luci and is intent on finishing what he started…

Shot in the Dark is a light, quick, very entertaining read filled with lots of romance and lots of suspense. Having read Conner's work before, I know she has a soft spot for tortured, imperfect heroes with big hearts who at times suffer a disability. In this case, it's Dev's leg and how it affects his self image and self esteem, and how, with a smart and kind heroine, he outgrows those feelings of insecurity. Her heroines are intelligent and independent, yet feminine enough to turn to their heroes for protection when needed. A very nice combination. The story, which moves at a good pace, is mainly told from both from Dev's and Luci's points of view, separated by chapters, so the readers get to know the feelings and motivations of both characters. Some chapters are also told from the robber's point of view. If you're a fan of romantic suspense, you'll want to pick this one up.

You can find more about bestselling author Jennifer Conner and her romantic suspense novels from her website athttp://www.jenniferconnerbooks.com

Read more reviews and purchase the book from Amazon.

My review was first published in Blogcritics.
 Interview with Gabriel Valjan, author of Wasp's Nest tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-12-14:988554:BlogPost:1325425 2012-12-14T10:53:18.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani
My guest today is Gabriel Valjan, author of the Roma series, published by Winter Goose Publishing. The first book,Roma, Underground, came out earlier this year. The sequel, Wasp's Nest, was just released this week. The third installment is scheduled for August 2013.…

My guest today is Gabriel Valjan, author of the Roma series, published by Winter Goose Publishing. The first book,Roma, Underground, came out earlier this year. The sequel, Wasp's Nest, was just released this week. The third installment is scheduled for August 2013.

Valjan attended the University of Southern California for his undergraduate education and completed graduate school in England at the University of Leeds. Ronan Bennett short-listed him for the 2010 Fish Short Story Prize. Valjan's short stories continue to appear in print and online literary journals. He recently won ZOUCH Magazine's inaugural Lit Bits Contest. He lives in New England.

Find the author on the web: Website/blog / Winter Goose Publishing Author's page / Pinterest for Wasp's Nest

Wasp's Nest is available on Amazon Paperback / Barnes & Noble Paperback / Kindle / Nook

Read my review of Wasp's Nest on The Dark Phantom Review.

Thanks for this interview. Tell us a little about what got you into writing?

Like most things in my life the road was not always obvious or straight. I didn't always know that I wanted to be a writer. As a child I read voraciously, so I was quite awed, quite intimidated, by the great talents on the bookshelves at my local library. I began with a lot of self-doubt about my ability to sustain an idea, create multidimensional characters, and capture the tics of dialogue. I knew what I enjoyed in literature, understood to some degree how it all worked. I was convinced (still am) that nobody could teach the idea that starts a short story, a novel, or a poem. When I had set aside the initial excuses and insecurities, I discovered that I was having fun and I had stories within me.

What was your inspiration for Wasp's Nest?

After I wrote the first in the series, Roma, Underground, I knew that I had created my cast of characters. Two things happened then: one, I wanted to see how each of my characters would grow and evolve, interact with each other, the world around them, and bond emotionally; and two, I wanted to take my own sense of 'what if' thinking and create situations and see how my characters would negotiate them. I believe what makes my characters interesting is that they each of them has their own 'issues,' as we all do in life, but mixed in it all is a cultural collision of American and European. In Wasp's Nest, the 'what if' has to do with cancer research and technology. What if someone had a way of detecting cancer at the level of DNA and prevent cancer from occurring without chemotherapy, radiation, and disfiguring surgeries? Since the majority of us will die either from heart disease or some form of cancer, there is that 'what if.' And then there is the 'what if' in Wasp's Nest of the threat a potential cure poses to those industries that profit from chronic illness. I don't suggest that 'what if' is a pure either/or. Dance with the angel of a cure, but don't forget that the Devil was also once an angel.

For those readers who haven't read this or the first book yet, what is the blurb of the series as a whole and how many instalments are you planning?

I haven't committed to an exact number, but I had planned six novels. The overall arc of the series is watching friends learn how to love and trust each other, learn how to move within a morally compromised world. The main character Alabaster (or Bianca if you prefer her alias) is difficult to know, extremely intelligent, and dichotomous at times in her thinking. She sees things others do not, yet she struggles with intimacy and trusting another person. Dante, her boyfriend, is a nice guy, a little too patient with her at times. Farrugia is a stoical investigator with an edge to him. His peer Gennaro is a widower who has never forgiven himself for causing his wife's death. Alessandro has brains but picks the wrong women. Then there is Silvio, the ambitious and humorous interpreter. In Wasp's Nest, readers will be introduced to Diego Clemente, a garrulous, very Boston character. Throughout the Roma Series I try to infuse authentic Italian culture and food.

In this novel, you dive into the controversial world of biotechnology, genetics, and pharmaceutical companies. Is the theory about wasps, the methyl toolkit, and their connection to cancer in your story a real thing?

The Nasonia wasp is real. There are three species indigenous to the U.S. and a fourth was indeed discovered in Brewertown, New York. In the novel I mentioned Mendelian genetics, which should return readers to basic biology. I try to keep it simple. I address the reason why this wasp was selected and why the fruit fly is an imperfect model. The reader will discover that the Nasonia wasp is no pleasant creature, but what I said about its genetics is true; it is easy to study, easy to manipulate, but the 'what if' is that current research in Nasonia is devoted to the development of pesticides. The concept of the methyl toolkit is real. The 'what if' I propose is pointed at oncology. I don't think that it is misleading to say that we all have the potential for cancer. Women with a familial predisposition to cancer, for example, can be tested for the BRCA1 and HER2 genes for ovarian and breast cancers, respectively. A while back, the actress Christina Applegate tested positive for the BRCA1 gene, which was unexpressed, but she opted for a double mastectomy as a pre-emptive strike. This is an example where technology exists and the ethical debates begin. While some sophisticated ideas do exist in Wasp's Nest, I tried to not make them inaccessible. I believe readers are intelligent and seek intellectual engagement while they enjoy a story.

How much research did the book required?

I always do a great amount of research, but I hope that what I decide to include is articulate and not beyond the grasp of the reader, or so implausible that it is science fiction. I research technology online and in technical libraries. While I don't have a Ph.D, I've retained a working vocabulary from my scientific education. With the methyl toolkit I did speak with an immunologist and instructor who researches cancer and teaches at the graduate level. While I was remiss in thanking him in the Acknowledgements I had him in mind when I introduce readers to Portuguese food in Wasp's Nest. I should also mention that another form of research necessary to the Roma Series is cultural in nature. Two of my friends act as my editors. Dean proofreads all my work; and Claudio does the 'cultural editing.' Both men are far more knowledgeable in Italian than I. Claudio is a native speaker, a linguist, a journalist and a professional translator, with northern and southern Italian culture in his veins. While I can read Italian with respectable facility, only the native speaker can give you the authentic phrases and turns of phrase. This 'cultural editing' was crucial to the third novel, out in August 2013, since it deals with a volatile part of recent Italian history, with an unfortunate American connection.

I love the title, which of course suits the story well because it works on two levels. Did you come up with it right away or did you have to brainstorm?

I knew the title from the start. I had wanted to create a story in Boston. The title does work on many levels. It alludes to the insect, the Bostonian stereotype of the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, and the colloquial expression of getting into a mess, although I think the proper phrase has to do with a 'hornet's nest.' One of the particular joys with Wasp's Nestwas working with Winter Goose in designing the cover art. I should point out that the wasp on the cover is not a Nasoniacritter, but a yellow jacket wasp.

How long did it take you to write the novel and did you plot in advance?

I wrote Wasp's Nest in four to six weeks, BUT I spent longer editing and shaping it before I submitted it to Winter Goose, where it underwent more editing with James Logan. Fellow Winter Goose authors Jessica Kristie and Sherry Foley provided me with invaluable feedback and suggestions before James touched the manuscript. Jessica is a poet so her contribution around imagery was helpful. Sherry is the author of two Winter Goose thrillers: A Captive Heart andSwitched in Death. She taught me other "suspense tricks." I can't emphasize how helpful they were for both Wasp's Nest and for me as a writer. In terms of plotting, I knew where I was going with this novel. It did feel at times like "seat of your pants" writing, but I advocate getting the story down on paper and then editing afterwards.

What made you decide to make your main character a woman? Has this been challenging? If yes, in what way?

The genesis for the Alabaster character came from a dare. I was talking to a work colleague whom I've known for over ten years. Margaret knew that I was writing short stories at the time so she suggested that I try my hand at writing a female character. The result was a short story entitled "Alabaster." Yes, it is challenging to write out of gender and I would add that it is also difficult to write from a child's perspective. I have a deep respect for children's authors since they have to modulate story and vocabulary to their audience. I don't think writing from a female point of view is insurmountable. Research can get you the answers. The skill is in transforming the knowledge into believable action and dialogue.

In Book I, it was Rome. Now, it is Boston. In both novels your locations are fleshed out in vivid detail. How important is a sense of location in a story?

In the Roma series I try to make the location a character. We can take our environments for granted. Wasp's Nest takes place in Boston, the third, fourth, and fifth novels take place in Milan, Naples, and Boston. Cities change all the time: think of Whitman's Manhattan and New Jersey, T.S. Eliot's London, and Baudelaire's Paris. The modern metropolis provides a remarkable backdrop to our individual and social conflicts and pleasures.

How do you keep up with what's out there in terms of spy gadget technology?

I hope readers don't think that they are getting Jane Bond. John le Carré Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy proved that spy-craft is a slow game of chess. As I mentioned earlier, I read a lot so I read the geek articles whenever I find them, rummage in the libraries when an idea takes root, but in terms of gadgetry I think I use a remarkable device called the 'intelligent brain,' and it happens to belong to a woman.

As it's the case with book I, there's a lot of marvellous food description in Wasp's Nest.

Starving is not an option in Italy. How could you not love the food and the attitude of La Dolce Vita?

If you could narrow down the three main elements of a good spy story, what would they be?

Ambiguity. Misdirection. Movement. A story has to move; the pages have to turn. Ambiguity in character and motivation is true to life. Human beings are not selfless creatures; that is why I think altruism is a virtue. One of the joys of a good mystery is watching intelligent people being intelligent. This is damned difficult to write, since your protagonist has to be smart enough to spot something that neither the other characters nor your readers can see, even though it's right in front of them.

You also write poetry and short stories, having published many in literary journals. What do you find more enjoyable: working in a poem, a short story or a novel?

Each has its appeal. Poetry is a house with all the necessary language; and by its nature, not often natural language. The short story is an airplane with a short runway and flight is imminent or the plane crashes. The novel is an endurance race, where there are miles to go, numerous paths to take, but you have only so much water and food: use them wisely. For me poetry is intimate and personal. While I enjoy the short-fiction format, I have noticed that what was once acceptable – twenty to fifty pages is now impractical, with most stories clocking in at 5,000 words. Flash or micro fiction is challenging. Is it a story or a vignette? I've only had one flash-fiction piece published; it was a 111-word story that I did for a contest for ZOUCH Magazine.

Congratulations on winning first prize in ZOUCH Magazine's Lit Bit contest. Can you tell us about it?

I was searching for the "calls for submission" web pages and I saw page after page of requests for flash fiction. I felt dismayed but then I thought: What can I tell in a short, SHORT piece? I wrote one sentence that told a hero's journey. The brevity of the form drew upon my experience in writing poetry.

What's on the horizon for you?

I'm almost done writing the fifth book in the Roma Series. I'm trying to find a publisher for a three-volume noir series that I have written. It has two main characters, an American and a British woman, who are part of the American intelligence community. The novel starts in Vienna and continues in McCarthy-era Los Angeles and New York, highlighting the time, the mores, and the dark rivalry between the CIA and FBI.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with my readers?

Write because you love to write. No matter how great you think the writing is, please have someone edit it for you. Respect your reader and try to understand that not everyone will like you, that criticism, while an opinion, is an opportunity for improvement. If you find a writer that you like then write a balanced review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads. Last but not least – thank you for reading.

This interview originally appeared in Blogcritics.
 Book Review: Wasp's Nest by Gabriel Valjan tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-12-09:988554:BlogPost:1324081 2012-12-09T15:20:17.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani

In this the second installment of his Roma series, author Gabriel Valjan takes secret government analyst Alabaster Black from Rome to Boston to investigate Nasonia Pharmaceutical and its CEO, Cyril Sargent for Rendition, the covert government agency she works for.

 Nasonia uses advanced molecular biology and genetic sequencing…

In this the second installment of his Roma series, author Gabriel Valjan takes secret government analyst Alabaster Black from Rome to Boston to investigate Nasonia Pharmaceutical and its CEO, Cyril Sargent for Rendition, the covert government agency she works for.

Nasonia uses advanced molecular biology and genetic sequencing technology to target human diseases. Sargent, who's demonstrated lack of transparency in his dealings and unorthodox strategies in the past and who's named his new controversial venture after a group of wasps, claims that his company is in no way perverting the natural order of things or doing anything unethical. He also claims that his research with wasps might lead to developing a methyl toolkit to use against cancer.

Thus, it is up to Alabaster to figure out what's really going on and, because of her unnatural pattern recognition ability, she she soon gets hired by Sargent.

While this is going on, Alabaster is still being haunted by her last adventure in Rome in the form of a Bulgarian hit man set on killing her after a price has been put on her head. Old friends and a love interest from book I join in, adding further tension to the story as they uncover a twisted conspiracy.

I really enjoyed reading Wasp's Nest. In fact, I liked this book better than the first one. Somehow, I was able to feel closer to Alabaster: she's smart, bold and fearless yet has a soft side that is at times humorous. But mainly, I think it was the whole idea about DNA and wasps that did it for me. The information was fascinating. As Valjan did with Rome in his first book, Boston is fleshed out in vivid detail in this one, to the point where the setting becomes almost like a character. Also, as in the first book, the author goes into detail bringing Italian food to life–to the point where the reader has no other option but to love it. In short, an interesting, entertaining read. Recommended.

Read my interview with the author.

Purchase links:
Amazon Paperback
Barnes & Noble Paperback
Kindle / Nook

This review originally appeared in Blogcritics.
 Book Review: Serial Date, by D.V. Berkom tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-11-28:988554:BlogPost:1321128 2012-11-28T17:58:36.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani
Serial Date was a surprisingly entertaining read filled with witty writing and dark humor.

In an unexpected turn of fate, former assassin Leine Basso is offered a job working security in Los Angeles at a gigantic hit reality show called  Serial Date–where beautiful young women get to date ex-cons posing as serial killers. Though L.A.brings her bad memories, Leine…

Serial Date was a surprisingly entertaining read filled with witty writing and dark humor.

In an unexpected turn of fate, former assassin Leine Basso is offered a job working security in Los Angeles at a gigantic hit reality show called Serial Date–where beautiful young women get to date ex-cons posing as serial killers. Though L.A.brings her bad memories, Leine can't just ignore $2,000 a week, especially when she needs the money.

Already there's been one murder: one of the young women on the show was brutally mutilated and hidden in the prop closet, and it seems the killer will strike again. But is the killer one of the ex-cons or is he an outsider? Santiago Jensen, the handsome detective in charge of the case, isn't so sure, even though all evidence seems to point out to one of the 'bachelors.'

Soon, the police find a letter supposedly written by the killer, a letter that reveals a very focused agenda. Then, Leine's daughter is kidnapped by someone claiming to be the killer. Leine hasn't seen her in years because, unfortunately, her daughter doesn't want her in her life–a fact that tortures Leine every day of her existence.

In order to find her daughter, Leine must use her skills as an assassin and come to terms with her own identity, something that secretly terrifies her. Soon, a grim picture emerges: is the killer someone from her past set on revenge?

I thoroughly enjoyed Serial Date. The author has a distinct style that is witty, smart, and darkly humorous. The prose is sharp and gritty. I love satires and this one was no exception. I especially enjoyed all the subtle, indirect criticism of television and reality shows. I kept chuckling as I read.

The story is told in multiple points of view separated by chapters, so there's no distracting head switching. The pace is pretty quick with a fair share of exciting twists and turns. To add more flavor, Santiago and Leine provide a sprinkle of romance.

I have to admit, though, that the fact that Leine was a former assassin bothered me a lot in the beginning, even though the author stresses the fact that she killed criminals. I kept wondering if I was going to forgive her for that. Surprisingly, I did. Leine comes out as a very human character who is deeply sorry about her past and who wants to reconcile with her beloved daughter. This emotional subplot about her and her daughter really brought the story to a higher level for me.

Another thing I need to point out, just for those sensitive readers out there, is that there's a lot of foul language.

In short, I highly recommend Serial Date to those who enjoy murder mysteries with a touch of satire.

For more about the book visit: Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and Smashwords.com.

Visit the author's website.
 Romantic Suspense Author Kaylin McFarren Talks About SEVERED THREADS tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-11-26:988554:BlogPost:1320545 2012-11-26T19:00:48.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani
Please welcome my special guest, romantic suspense author Kaylin McFarren. I recently had the chance to read and review her latest novel, Severed Threads, and I have to say it is an entertaining, thrilling read. Kaylin was generous enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions about her book and her writing. I hope you'll enjoy the…

Please welcome my special guest, romantic suspense author Kaylin McFarren. I recently had the chance to read and review her latest novel, Severed Threads, and I have to say it is an entertaining, thrilling read. Kaylin was generous enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions about her book and her writing. I hope you'll enjoy the interview!

About the author

A native of California, Kaylin McFarren has traveled around the world and is now settled in Oregon.

As the director of a fine art gallery, she assisted in developing the careers of numerous visual artists who under her guidance gained recognition through promotional opportunities and in national publications. Eager to unleash and develop her own creativity, she has since channeled her energy toward writing novels. As a result, she has earned more than a dozen literary awards and was a 2008 finalist in the prestigious RWA® Golden Heart contest. She is a member of RWA, Rose City Romance Writers, and Willamette Writers.

Website: http://www.kaylinmcfarren.com

Thanks for this interview, Kaylin! Do you consider yourself a born writer?

Definitely. Since the age of eight, I've loved to write stories and have been filled with an active imagination.

What compelled you to start writing professionally?

Like many authors, I was originally inspired to write my first novel after reading a great book and seeing an amazing movie. Mine happened to be Memoirs of a Geisha and The Notebook, which will always be my favourites.

Severed Threads is full of romance, suspense and danger. What was the most challenging aspect of writing this romantic thriller?

The most difficult task to writing a suspense story is to keep the action moving while revealing character traits and emotions along the way. Severed Threads contains an array of characters and each serve their purpose in revealing a twisting and turning plot that ultimately leads to a pleasant resolve. However, keeping the voices of each person unique also proved to be a challenge.

Tell us something about your hero and heroine that my readers won't be able to resist.

Chase Cohen is a handsome, womanizing, thrill-seeking treasure hunter who has found his greatest challenge and true love in Rachel Lyons. But she doesn't trust Chase for good reasons and won't be easy to win over.no matter how hard he tries.

What did you find most fascinating while researching underwater archaeology and ancient Chinese treasures?

I had no idea how much gold had been lost at sea. According to Greg Stemm, co-founder and co-chairman of Odyssey, there's billions of dollars scattered beneath the ocean. However, much of the ocean floor is unexplored and unmapped and global imaging shows crushing depths ranging up to six miles. And there could even be gold or diamond mines that far surpass what anyone on earth could imagine. Since trade included priceless collectibles and dishware from China as well as gold and silver, these were lost along with ships that sank during storms and battles hundreds of years ago and many will never be recovered.at least not in our lifetime.

How long did it take you to write the novel and did you work from an outline?

It took me close to two years to write Severed Threads. This included the time needed to research details and edit my final manuscript. I typically create a synopsis and then write by the seat of my pants. I'm not big on storyboards and planning, as I'm too anxious to get my stories on paper.

What was the editing process like?

Although I tend to edit as I go, I eventually asked three published authors and two experienced readers to assist with my initial editing before hiring a professional editor to review my manuscript. After taking all of their advice into consideration, I fine-tuned my writing and sent it in for publication, hoping I'd done my best in creating a fast-paced, entertaining tale.

What advice would you give to first-time novelists who are just starting to market their books?

Spend a little extra time in researching your options. If you chose to approach a publishing house, be sure the agents you contact are experienced in your genre and have a great track record. If you decide to self-publish, be prepared to spend a little extra money and time in promoting your titles as well as yourself.

What's on the horizon for Kaylin McFarren?

I'm currently completing the second book in the Threads series - Buried Threads - and will be following this with a third - Banished Threads. I've enjoyed my characters so much in my first installment that I decided to take them on adventures around the world and have been urged to do so by readers who follow my stories.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with my readers?

Keep reading and if you enjoy the work created by an author, be sure to let them know. Your praise and support encourages every author to write!

Thanks, Kaylin!

Find out more about Severed Threads on Amazon.

View the original article on blogcritics.org
 Interview with Jack L. Brody, author of The Moroni Deception tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-09-12:988554:BlogPost:1294340 2012-09-12T07:34:29.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani
Please welcome my special guest, Jack L. Brody, author of the latest suspense thriller, The Moroni Deception. I had the opportunity to read it and you can find my review in Blogcritics. In this interview, Brody talks about the history behind the book and how difficult it was to dwell in Mormon controversy, among…

Please welcome my special guest, Jack L. Brody, author of the latest suspense thriller, The Moroni Deception. I had the opportunity to read it and you can find my review in Blogcritics. In this interview, Brody talks about the history behind the book and how difficult it was to dwell in Mormon controversy, among other things.

About the author:

Jack Brody is a writer, ex-military, and an avid traveler. After his Army stint and then deciding to pass on law school, he went to film school, wrote screenplays, and held a number of jobs which ran from everything to working for a newspaper for one day, to film production, to then going into real estate (with at least five others along the way). He's fascinated by history, politics, and architecture, all of which play a part in his novels (yes, he already has two more in the works). When not writing, he can often be found hiking with his two faithful dogs, occasionally breaking out the old BMW bike for a ride though the mountains, or playing volleyball or bar trivia with his friends. He divides his time between his home in the Southern Appalachians and wherever his passport will take him. After reading Jon Krakauer's bestselling "Under the Banner of Heaven," he was inspired to undertake a full year of research in preparation for the novel. Taking what he'd learned, along with a bit of imagination, the result was the conspiracy thriller, The Moroni Deception. Go to http://www.themoronideception.com/ for more information about the novel and to read the first chapters for free.

The Moroni Deception is your first novel. What made you decide to sit down and write it?

I'd written screenplays for a number of years, and had made several half-hearted attempts at a novel before, but not only was it was so different, but it was so much harder I found than writing a screenplay, so I had tended to give up pretty easily. The thing I ran into with screenplays, however, was the old Catch-22, that to sell a screenplay you have to have an agent, and to get an agent you have to have sold a screenplay. I won't go into a lot of details–for possible future legal actions which I may still take, but in my attempt to navigate around this agent obstacle, I sent my very best screenplay directly to two different director/producers. Both wound up–although it's not yet been proven in court– "borrowing" very large and significant portions of this screenplay, and went on to make two different movies where I got to see a lot of my work up on the big screen, but without a penny in compensation.

The second film even went on to make over $100 million, which was sadly ironic, because I had always jokingly referred to that script as my "$100 million dollar screenplay." Those episodes really kind of took the wind out of my sails, and so I thought I the next time, maybe I need to to write a novel, and that hopefully it would be easier to find an agent, who could then represent my 5 other screenplays. My first, well, I hate to call it an inspiration, but what spurred me on, believe it or not, was an episode of "South Park" –"All About Mormons." Like a lot of people, I had never really given the religion much thought and had always just kind of thought of it as one of the lesser know Protestant branches of Christianity. After having my interest sparked, I then went on to read Jon Krakauer's Under The Banner of Heaven. With all the sordid history, and some, what I found to be, rather odd beliefs and practices, I knew, there was a lot of potential there for a novel.

I found the history behind the story fascinating. Is the prophecy mentioned in the novel true?

I did, well, I won't say "tons," but literally, pounds of research, from all the books I went through, notes that I took, and reams that I printed off from my internet research. While I had some idea in the beginning of what my story would be–which at the time, started out having to do with a rogue FBI agent who was investigating the murder of his Mormon girlfriend who had broken away from one of the LDS's radical fundamentalist offshoots. As you can see after reading it, it's changed quite a bit from that. I then probably took close to a year of doing nothing but researching and taking notes, mostly of what seemed like fascinating items to further explore and perhaps later work into the story. As far as "The White Horse Prophecy" goes, I wish I could take credit, but Joseph Smith supposedly first came up with that in the 1840′s. There's actually a pretty good Wikipedia entry on the prophecy that gives a basic explanation. Mr. Romney has mostly dodged the question when asked about it, but I think back when he was running the first time, he said something along the lines that he considered the Prophecy to be a matter of "speculation and discussion by church members" and "not official church doctrine."

The novel deals with a negative aspect of religion, especially the Mormon religion. Was it difficult to deal with this aspect of the novel while working on it?

Definitely, because I never wanted to turn it into a screed against the religion, and I tried to say some positive things that I could find whenever appropriate in the story. I did, though, want to work in as many true beliefs and historical facts as I could and let the reader make up his or her own mind. Like Michael Chenault, the main character, as well as the writers of our Constitution, I firmly believe that everybody has the right to believe in, and practice their religion in whatever way they see fit. But on the other hand, if say, Tom Cruise, a well-known practicing Scientologist, was to run for President, I would have to take his religion and beliefs into account before I went into the voting booth.

How long did it take you to write it?

If I could condense all the time I spent, doing both the research and the writing, it would probably be about 2 and a half years. However, and unfortunately for me , that's not the way things work, especially when we're not only living out our lives, but trying to put bread on the table with our day job. So the true time it took stretched out to almost 5 and a half years. I started it more than a year prior to the election of 2008, which is how I remember.

Are you a disciplined writer?

In that, unlike most people, I wrote and completed a novel, yes. But when compared to other writers, definitely not. When I read about how a guy like Dan Brown gets up every morning at 4:30 or some ridiculous hour, does an hour of exercise, and then sits down to write for 4-5 straight hours, or 10-15 full pages, and I'm both impressed and amazed. My writing time has always generally been limited by how much energy–both physical and creative–that I had left at the end of a working day. I often found myself not beginning my writing until 11 at night, and then writing until 1 or sometimes 2 AM. And that, again, was not every night. I also for about a year, had a very real case of "writer's block" where no matter what I did or how hard I tried, I couldn't get anything substantial down on the page. I even went to a hypnotist, which didn't do a lot, and I almost gave up. Also during this time period, I had to deal with a heart attack at a relatively early age, which came completely out of the blue, and then after that, the year and a half long battle a best friend of mine had to endure in his losing fight with cancer.

Did you plot in advance? If yes, tell us about your plotting process.

Well, as I mentioned earlier, I started out with a completely different story. I don't even quite remember where along the way my protagonist turned into an investigative journalist, other than that I thought I wanted to create a character who solved his problems more with his brains than with what he was packing, which seemed to be so often the case with a lot of adventure/thriller protagonists I was reading at the time. With The Moroni Deception, which I think is fairly intricately plotted, a lot of the little details that I think made it that much better, came out along the way. I, of course had a general plot outline in my head, and then down on paper. And then when something else would pop into my head, I would see first if it worked, second, if it actually made the story better, and then if it would work into the overall conspiracy. The lead conspirators/villains I didn't settle on until probably two thirds of the way through that I was working on the book. But when I finally did settle on this person or persons who shall remain nameless, that's when I then went back and made little subtle changes starting from the beginning.

What reaction do you think or hope your story will have on the general reader? Do you think it'll create a controversy the way The DaVinci Code did?

Well, the reaction I've gotten so far from just about every reader I've spoken with, or heard from either by email or through their reviews, is that The Moroni Deception is a fast, fun, very topical read, especially with the current election going on. I guess I should mention that in addition to exploring the strange but true history of the LDS (Mormon) Church, the protagonist, Michael Chenault, is investigating the background of a candidate running for President, who is a Mormon Senator from Utah, who it appears will say or do just about anything to get elected. Comparisons have obviously been drawn to Gov. Romney, and I've even had the timing of the release questioned. But I really did just finally finish writing in mid July, and I'm pretty sure I had no idea five and a half years ago that Mr. Romney would be in the position to be our next President come this November. As far as controversy, I can imagine some old school LDS members maybe not being too happy with some of what is revealed, but I'm not making any of it up–like the White Horse Prophecy, or the secret brotherhood of vigilant assassins known as the Danites, and some of their beliefs, like for instance, how any man can become a god and one day live on his own planet.

Where is your book available?

With a brief bit of explanation, because it took me so long to finish the book, I realized that if I went the traditional route of trying to find an agent, and then a publisher, and then have the publisher finally release the book, it could take up to another 2 to 3 years. I thought the timing was right, with the current election and all the interest there has been in the Mormon religion over the last several years, as well as the fact that electronically delivered books appear to be the wave of the future, to just release it initially for Kindles and Nooks and the like. And then, who knows, hopefully, maybe a publisher might want to step in and release it in hardcopy if there appeared to be enough interest. So with that said, right now The Moroni Deception is available from Amazon for Kindles, at Barnes & Noble for their Nook, at the iBookstore for Ipad, as well as for Kobo, Copia, and soon supposedly for the Sony reader, as well at Gardners Books, Baker & Taylor, and e-BookPie.

Anything else you'd like to tell my readers?

I guess just that if you're a fan of thrillers like The Girl With The Dragon Tattooor The Da Vinci Code, or you're one of those readers who likes to learn a little something along the way as you're being entertained, then I think you're really going enjoy my book. As there is some sex, and quite a bit of violence, it may not be everyone's cup of tea, and despite the fact that most 12-year-olds probably know more about life than I did when I was 20, I still wouldn't recommend it for anybody under 17. Also, I wanted to thank you for the great questions.

Thank you for the great interview, Jack, and best of luck with your book!

My interview originally appeared in Blogcritics,http://blogcritics.org/books/article/holdworking-div-tags-interview-with-jack/
 Interview with Chris Karslen, author of GOLDEN CHARIOT tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-07-04:988554:BlogPost:1272007 2012-07-04T20:14:41.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani

 Chris Karslen was born and raised in Chicago. Her father was a history professor and her mother was, and is, a voracious reader. She grew up with a love of history and books. Her parents also loved travelling, a passion they passed onto her. Karslen wanted to see the place she read about, see the landand…

Chris Karslen was born and raised in Chicago. Her father was a history professor and her mother was, and is, a voracious reader. She grew up with a love of history and books. Her parents also loved travelling, a passion they passed onto her. Karslen wanted to see the place she read about, see the landand monuments from the time periods that fascinated her. She's had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

She's now a retired police detective who spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. Her desire to write came in her early teens. After she retired, she decided to pursue that dream. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse.

Thanks for this interview, Chris! When did your passion for thrillers and action/adventure fiction begin?

I don't know if I could put a specific timeframe to my interest. I can't remember a time it wasn't there. As a child, I loved the old horror movies where folks were chasing or running from the Mummy or Dracula etc. and the thrillers like North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Manchurian Candidate. When I got into my teens, James Bond became popular. I loved the movies and devoured Ian Fleming's books. Along that same vein, I enjoyed The Jackal, and Three Days of the Condor. Who didn't love Indiana Jones? Now, I can't wait to see movies like The Avengers, Iron Man, The Bourne Identity and still love the Bond movies.

When did you decide you wanted to become an author?

 I wanted to write since I was a teenager. But by the time I was ready for college I lacked the confidence to try so I went with the "safe" route and became a business major. Once I retired, I was ready to take a risk and live my dream.

Tell us about your latest novel, Golden Chariot.

The heroine, Charlotte Dashiell, is a nautical archaeologist. She's working on her Doctorate in that field. Her thesis is very controversial and approval by the Doctoral Committee for her thesis is at risk if she doesn't find evidence to support it. A shipwreck found off the coast of Turkey may hold her proof. She manages to obtain a position on the recovery team. En route, the Turkish government agent assigned to the wreck is murdered and she is on the scene at the time it occurred. Her close presence at the time of the crime coupled with a loose connection to a private collector of black market artifacts makes her a person of interest to the Turkish authorities. Atakan Vadim, the hero, is the Turkish agent sent to investigate her further. He becomes her dive partner. As the story progresses, he discovers smugglers plan to steal certain high value relics from the wreck and frame Charlotte for the theft. He also learns the thieves plan to murder her in the process. For her own safety, he presses her to leave the recovery team. She refuses. If she leaves, she loses all hope of finding proof of her thesis. Together, he and Charlotte work to find out who is behind the smuggling operation. During the course of the story, the relationship between the two turns from one of wariness and distrust to friendship, trust and love.

What made you decide to set it in Turkey?

 I love Turkey. I've visited several times. I knew after the first time, I would set a story there. It's such a fascinating country. In Istanbul, the exotic Ottoman architecture mixed with the modern immediately captures your interest. There's the hustle and bustle of the bazaars, which I enjoy, especially the Spice Market. It's a colourful place. You can't throw a rock in Turkey and not hit something historical. Their history goes back to the Bronze Age. Turkey's been part of the Hittite Empire, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire and a secular, independent modern nation. The people are nice. The food is excellent. The landscape is remarkable in its variance. There's the beautiful coastal area along the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean and the starkly different coastline on the Black Sea. The region of Cappadocia with its fairy chimneys and underground cities is other worldly in appearance. To the east are mountains and grassy plains.

Did you have to do a lot of research about police procedural there?

Not police procedural per se. Atakan is actually a representative of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. I was fortunate enough to have a contact/advisor who is an archaeological diver and Turkish. He told me that all legitimate archaeological sites in Turkey have a representative of the Ministry present to watch over the safety of the site and relics. I took some dramatic license and gave Atakan more police authority than he'd have in real life. For the SWAT operation, I did research weapons used by the Turkish authorities and how they would interact with our military stationed at Incirlik Air Force Base in Turkey to obtain intelligence information needed. Again, I was lucky. I have a friend who headed up a SWAT team for a major US city and who was a Marine reserve who served in Iraq and trained our soldiers in urban-crisis entries. My friend was familiar with how the flow of intelligence gathering is handled. He also advised me on some of the SWAT tactics.

There are a lot of Turkish words in the story. Do you speak Turkish?

 No. I'd like to learn. I do have the Rosetta Stone program for Turkish but it is an extremely difficult language. It uses the Latin alphabet that we are familiar with but the conjugation and pronunciation is not what you'd expect. My Turkish diver friend helped with the translation as did another Turkish friend who's a tour guide. I cannot understand it when spoken to me (rarely anyway). I am better at reading it and then I really only know some basic words and phrases.

I found the myth about Troy fascinating. To this day, do they know for a fact that Troy existed?

 Yes, Troy definitely existed. There have been archaeologists working the site for many decades. When we speak of Troy, it usually the kingdom associated with the Trojan War. At the time the war was supposed to have taken place, the kingdom was known as Wilusa and part of the Hittite Empire. Excavation at the site is ongoing and they have made some incredible discoveries in the last couple of decades. *I should mention that not all archaeologist/historians agree that the war occurred. Personally, I tend to believe those who do think it happened.

There are many underwater scenes in the story. Do you scuba dive?

 No, I don't dive. I had the benefit of an archaeological diver to advise me. I also did a lot of research on the subject and had books that documented many shipwreck recovery projects. The books had pages of pictures showing the divers working a wreck. I had pictures of the entire process from building the camp to cleaning the relics. Twice I've been to INA (Institute of Nautical Archaeology) in Bodrum, Turkey. I was given a tour of the facility and shown some of their photos, the conservation lab, the desalination tanks and the hard work and time involved in the piecing together of artifacts.

How long did it take you to write Golden Chariot?

Two and a half years, mainly because of the research. While I worked on one of my paranormal romances, I began the research for Golden Chariot. I'd done eighteen months of research before I wrote a single word. Then, I did several drafts over the next year before I was happy with the result.

Are you disciplined?

Yes, for the most part. I have to admit that I do have days when the smallest shiny object can distract meJ I do try to get some writing in at least 6 if not 7 days a week. I don't always get the number of pages done I want. Some days I consider it a success if I get a few paragraphs finished but I try to make an effort.

Describe a typical writing day for you.

 I try hard to get all my errands and appointments done in the morning. Then, I take a break and have a bite to eat. I am usually at my desk by 12:00 or 12:30. I work on promotion, answer emails and try to read at least a few chapters of stories from writer friends for review purposes. After that, I pull up my work in progress. I read the last few pages I wrote to get my head in the same place again. I spend the next 4 or 5 hours writing or rewriting as needed. That's a typical "good" day. Like I said, there are those days I spend hours writing, deleting… sighing…writing, deleting and again…sighing.

What is the most rewarding aspect of being an author?

 When a reader tells you how you've moved them or which character or scene they loved. It's so wonderful to have a reader say "I felt like I was there."

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

 Writing is hard work. You'll have days that are pure frustration, days that you can't seem to get three lines right. Keep at it. Keep studying the craft. Every workshop I attend, I take something useful away. If you're stuck on how to approach a scene, one thing I find that helps is to read a similar scene by an author you like. Analyze what you like about it and how they handled the scene and see if you can recreate the feel in your story with your spin.

What's on the horizon for Chris Karslen?

 I am currently working on book three of my Knights in Time series. The first two are: Heroes Live Forever and Journey in Time. This is a paranormal romance series. I hope to have my current story, Knight Blindness, done and ready for release later this year. I've also finished the draft of the sequel to Golden Chariot. I hope to have the final finished and ready to publish early next year.

This interview originally appeared in Blogcritics Magazine.
 Chris Karslen pens adventure novel set in Bodrum, Turkey tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-07-02:988554:BlogPost:1271185 2012-07-02T10:19:38.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani
Talented author Chris Karslen has written an action-packed adventure story set in exotic Turkey that will be relished by fans of underwater archaeology and lost treasures.

Our feisty protagonist, Charlotte Dashiell, is about to complete her doctorate in nautical archaeology. She travels to Bodrum, Turkey, to start a new excavation  for the Maritime…

Talented author Chris Karslen has written an action-packed adventure story set in exotic Turkey that will be relished by fans of underwater archaeology and lost treasures.

Our feisty protagonist, Charlotte Dashiell, is about to complete her doctorate in nautical archaeology. She travels to Bodrum, Turkey, to start a new excavation for the Maritime Institute of Archaeology and Research. In fact, she's there to investigate a wreck possibly associated with Troy. This is her dream come true, as she's always wanted to focus her research on shipwrecks located in the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean. Her field of interest, the Trojan War, is focused on that area. Her work there could mean the proof she needs for her theory: that the shipwreck contains the lost treasure of the king of Troy.

Unexpectedly, though, her boat is broadsided and the craft responsible mysteriously explodes. To make matters worse, the only man who has any answers goes missing and then is found dead. As a result, the local authorities don't believe her story—not only that, but they suspect her of criminal intent.

Our hero, Turkish archaeologist Atakan Vadim, is there to protect the relics and the integrity of the shipwreck. He's warm, genial and has a good sense of humor. However, with Charlotte he behaves cold and somber. He doesn't trust her one bit. For him, she means trouble in all the sense of the word. He also thinks her mad and an utter romantic because of her theory.

As tension escalates and more deaths happen, Charlotte knows she's in grave danger and should go back home, but there's no way she'll do that. If she does, she'll miss the chance to be part of the exploration. It could mean a break or make opportunity for her theory.

This is one of the most entertaining novels I've read in a long time. I loved the whole scenario of the exotic location and the underwater shipwreck, and also the connection to the enigma of the lost treasure of Troy. I've always been an avid fan of underwater archaeology, so this was right up my alley. Charlotte is a smart, sympathetic heroine. I also enjoyed the fact that the hero is Turkish and that the story is rich with local flavor. I lived in Turkey for five years and know the author did an excellent job with the setting, local customs, language and people. The historical facts and everything about the underwater exploration was fascinating. The villain was particularly terrifying in a cold blooded way. I highly recommend this novel to anybody who enjoys a good story full of action and adventure, especially those who love archaeology and/or are interested in Troy.

Purchase from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Chariot-ebook/dp/B007KNLC02

Purchase from B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/golden-chariot-chris-karlsen/1102118693

This review originally appeared in Blogcritics Magazine.
 The President Has Aids - Joan Meijer, Author tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-04-09:988554:BlogPost:1237532 2012-04-09T22:19:11.000Z Martha A. Cheves http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MarthaACheves
 The President Has Aids – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

Sure glad nothing bad happened to you, Sir," Metcalfe said, easing the older man back against the comfort of the leather seat. "Press'll eat it up," Ripley…

The President Has Aids – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

Sure glad nothing bad happened to you, Sir," Metcalfe said, easing the older man back against the comfort of the leather seat. "Press'll eat it up," Ripley laughed. "I bet it'll help my poll numbers." He coughed and a gout of frothy, bright red blood spilled down his chin and a spread in a widening stain over the front of his light blue shirt. The look, on Metcalfe's face was that of pure horror. He rapped on the window between the front and back of the limo, "Bill! Eagle is down. Eagle is down." The President looked confused. Even though he was aware of the codes in which his Secret Service spoke, he could not figure out what was happening. He knew he was Eagle, but he wasn't down. Down meant trouble and he wasn't in trouble. "Hand me a tissue would you Joel?" Harris Ripley said, preoccupied with the fact that he could feel something like spittle running down and tickling his chin. Annoyed at being soiled, he dabbed at his chin with the tissue. Blood smeared across his jaw, but he was still unaware that he had been shot.

Harris Ripley is the president of the United States. While leaving a the Washington Hilton Hotel after giving a speech to the UAW, a lone gunman opens fire at Ripley as well as several others within the group protecting him. Secret Service Agent Joel Metcalfe literally throws Ripley into the limo and lays on top of him acting as a human shield. But unknown to Metcalfe nor the President, it's too late. The President has been shot and neither realize this until after the limo pulls out heading for the Whitehouse.

Political reporter David McLaughlin was at the Hilton for this disastrous event in history but instead of being in a position to report he was in the nearest bar and had no idea as to what was taking place right before him. Instead of firing him, McLaughlin's publisher moved one of his most brilliant reporters to the Obit section where he runs into Dr. Reginald Hotchkiss. Dr. Hotchkiss is not only the husband of McLaughlin's ex-wife and step-father to his daughter but also a doctor of hematology. He has requested that McLaughlin call him later. He has some disturbing news that he feels must be made public. The meeting never takes place. Someone gets to Hotchkiss before McLaughlin.

The name The President Has Aids is a giveaway as to what the story builds up to but… the build-up is worth the read even if the title does give it away. The events and actions that take place to cover up the fact that The President Has Aids keep the pages turning. But who is behind this action? Is it the Vice President? The Surgeon General hopeful? The President's wife? Or is it the President himself? And how did the President contract Aids? I had my own suspicions and couldn't wait to see if I was right.

The President Has Aids is a very well written book that kept me hanging on to every word.

Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
 Bitten - Dan O'Brien, Author tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-03-06:988554:BlogPost:1220713 2012-03-06T20:48:25.000Z Martha A. Cheves http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MarthaACheves

Bitten – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and A Book and A Dish

"Agent Lauren Westlake. Yes, I know about you Agent…

Bitten – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and A Book and A Dish

"Agent Lauren Westlake. Yes, I know about you Agent Westlake. What are you an agent of I wonder?" posited the woman quizzically. "Right. So yeah, anyways. About the creature?" The woman folded her hands across her lap and sat back. "There are many creatures in this world, Lauren of the Lake Tribes of the West. My question is what are you an agent of? We all represent something in this world. What do you represent?" Lauren looked at the woman strangely, feeling claustrophobic. "I am an agent of the federal government," she replied mechanically. The woman was not convinced with the answer. "That is to say you are an agent of a rock, Lauren of the Lake Tribes of the West. Would you like me to read your life?" "My life? Lake Tribes of the West? I thought you had information about the creature." "I have information on a great many things, Agent Westlake. What information do you have for me? Nothing in this life is free. A cycle of reciprocity, surrounded and envelopes us, even if we do not see it." Lauren gripped the edge of the chair, lifting her body. "I think there has been a misunderstanding. I thought you had something to tell me…" The woman waved the agent down with a quick movement of her hands. "Let me begin then. I am called Hecate. I serve as the guide from this world. Not the only guide mind you, but a guide nonetheless. I am an agent of wisdom and of truth. And you, daughter of the Lake Tribes of the West, what are you an agent of?"

Federal Agent Lauren Westlake had been in Locke, Minnesota for just a few days and she is now conversing with a another crazy woman. The first was Madeline Leftwich who for years sat every night at the train station waiting on her mother to pick her up. Now Madeline is dead and the particulars of her death are what keeps Lauren in her seat as she listens to the puzzling comments coming from Hecate. Madeline, as well as another woman found at the lake, had both been murdered by what appears to be the same 'person.' Both were mutilated with patches of skin removed. After catching a glimpse of what Lauren believes to be the murderer, she is convinced it isn't a person she's perusing but a monster of some type. From what she saw, it's large and it's hairy. Definitely not human.

Dominic McManus has had his own encounter with Hecate. She has given him hope for the future. She has 'read his life' and assured him that there will be someone coming that will help him. But Dominic sees his time running out and needs help fast. Could Lauren possibly be the one he's been waiting on?

While reading Bitten, I felt as if I was reading a possible script for one of the supernatural shows on television involving vampires and werewolves. I also felt that it might even be a script for Criminal Minds. This book would fit both. The questions I kept asking myself as I read were – is this monster a werewolf? - is Dominic the monster? - could it really be just a crazy maniac? And then I would tell myself – if this book were made into a movie I would spend more time hiding my face from the screen as a got the heck scared out of me. Bitten is a true thriller!

 Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
 Compelling, exciting new thriller! My review of Hitler's Silver Box tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-02-05:988554:BlogPost:1203940 2012-02-05T10:45:56.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani

 Hitler's Silver Box is a compelling, exciting thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.

In a two-story Georgian…

Hitler's Silver Box is a compelling, exciting thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.

In a two-story Georgian house in one of Chicago's affluent suburbs, Max Bloomberg, an old bookseller, is brutally killed. Before murdering him, the killers burn his holy books and ask him for 'the box.' The old man refuses to give them any information. However, unbeknown to them, he's left his secret journal to his nephew.

Enters Dr. Bruce Starkman, Chief ER Resident at Chicago's Cook County Hospital. Bruce is crushed when he learns about his beloved uncle's unexpected murder. Although Bruce would like to accept the murder as an unfortunate turn of fate, he soon becomes suspicious. Why was Uncle Max, an orthodox Jew, cremated? Uncle Max would never have allowed cremation. Why was his bookstore vandalized? And why is a black Chevy following Bruce lately? The situation gets more complicated when he inherits a large sum of money and property from his uncle, suddenly making him a suspect.

Thus begins Bruce's search for the journal, and once he discovers it, the reader is transported to 1945 when Max was 23 years old and a prisoner at the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Tension escalates, innocent people are killed, and together with Miriam, a beautiful and extremely smart Israeli woman with military training, Bruce travels to Paris and the Czech Republic. It quickly becomes evident to Bruce that he must outwit the neo-Nazis and find the silver box his uncle built—and the secret document hidden within it—if he is to save the world from an imminent Nazi resurgence.

The premise is ambitious, the stakes are high. Hitler's Silver Box is a well-written novel full of non-stop action and suspense. The story is written from multiple points of view separated by chapters. From the beginning, I was hooked. The pace is quick and the scenes full of tension. There's a lot of dialogue and little exposition, thus propelling the action further. I especially found Max's journal engrossing and compelling, distressing and shocking. The horror of Max's story touched me at a profound level. It is one of those tales not easily forgotten. The journal adds depth and another dimension to the book. I also liked how the voice, pace and tone in the journal are different from the rest of the novel. The protagonist, Bruce Starkman, is sympathetic and I really enjoyed all his 'medical' insights; it's obvious the author is a medical doctor himself. Miriam, with her quick tongue, adds a lot of color and spunk to the scenes and I wish she had appeared much earlier in the story. I didn't care much about Bruce's ex-girlfriend, who's quite active in the beginning, though keeping in mind what happens to her, I suspect why the author didn't make her too likable.

In short, Hitler's Silver Box is a fast-moving, entertaining read and one of those books that would make a good film. Recommended.

Article first published as Book Review: Hitler's Silver Box by Allen Malnak on Blogcritics.
 Interview: Hitler's Silver Box by Dr. Allen Malnak tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-02-03:988554:BlogPost:1203090 2012-02-03T22:31:02.000Z Nicole Weaver http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/NicoleWeaver

It is with great pleasure I introduce Dr. Allen Malnak. Below is some background information on Dr. Malnak. After learning about him I was compelled to conduct an interview to find out more about his amazing book.

Following his internship and residency, Dr. Malnak served as chief of internal medicine at…

It is with great pleasure I introduce Dr. Allen Malnak. Below is some background information on Dr. Malnak. After learning about him I was compelled to conduct an interview to find out more about his amazing book.

Following his internship and residency, Dr. Malnak served as chief of internal medicine at U.S. Army Hospital, Fort Sill, OK, and then was a clinical investigator in liver disease at Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago. He was a board-certified internist in the Chicago area for more than 35 years. He was a clinical instructor at Chicago Medical School for eight years and an assistant clinical professor at the Stritch School of Medicine of Loyola University for 25 years. Dr. Malnak was medical director of a number of medical organizations, including Principle Health Care of Illinois and the emergency department of Chicago's Mount Sinai Hospital. His interest in the Holocaust was sparked by the fact that his father came to the USA from Lithuania at age 16, leaving behind a large family. All the men, women and children of that family were sent to a death camp by the Nazis and exterminated.

Thank you Nicole for interviewing me on my novel.

Can you explain why you wrote Hitler's Silver Box?

The project started while taking a local fiction writing course taught by an outstanding novelist and previous short story editor of "The New Yorker," Hollis Alpert. One of several topics for a short story was "A Silver Box." Perhaps because my father's entire Lithuanian family had been murdered by the Nazis, I wrote the story about a concentration camp prisoner who was forced to make a silver box as a birthday present for Hitler.

The teacher suggested it had the making of a novel, and I changed the protagonist to a nephew of the victim and while the silversmith's experience in the camp is told in his journal, basically the historical thriller is about a search for the box and it's horrendous contents with the young ER physician going up against present day Nazis, who are willing to torture or kill to get their hands on the silver box, which his uncle was able to bury near Prague as the Second World War was coming to an end some fifty years before the novel begins.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

The emergency room scene as well as a road accident scene were based on my personal experience. Also I suffer from claustrophobia in tunnels just like Bruce in the novel. While the scientific information that would result in a worldwide Nazi resurgence is fictional, it's based on many scientific endeavors actually ongoing during the war that Hitler counted on to eventually help the Nazis win.

What was your favorite chapter to write and why?

My favorite chapter was Chapter 35. It was the climactic chapter, and Bruce was in a very tight spot with the odds stacked against him. Figuring out if there was a way out required a great deal of thought. Bruce was wounded, bleeding, unarmed and trapped in a room against a vicious armed opponent.

The most difficult chapters for me to write were the two that made up Max Bloomberg's journal. Max is Bruce's uncle and the silversmith who was forced while a prisoner in Theresienstadt concentration camp to make the silver box. Many aspects of Max's fight for survival were gut wrenching. The provenance of the silver he had to use almost drove him and me mad.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learned a great deal about life in Theresienstadt concentration camp and despite the fact that it was not literally a death camp, prisoners were treated cruelly and often died of starvation as well as many diseases such as Typhus. Many victims were transferred from Theresienstadt, the so-called model concentration camp, to a death camp and murdered.

I also needed to learn a great deal about the art and craft of silversmithing, since the production and vile contents of the silver box was at the heart of the story.

Naturally, as happens with every author of a historical novel, one learns and reviews a great deal more about the era than is ever used in the actual writing. For example, I've always been interested in the psychology of Nazi physicians who were involved in a great deal of planning and carrying out of the concentration camp murders, as well as undertaking experiments on prisoners that were more torture than of medical value. I studied more about this topic and even wrote Bruce's reactions to it, but decided to totally remove it from this novel.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Despite what the world knows about the horrors of Nazi Germany, there still are in many communities of our great nation neo-Nazis, white supremacists and Ku Klux Klan members wanting nothing more than to finish what Hitler couldn't. Perhaps Hitler's Silver Box will throw a little light on just how devoted to evil these types are.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

My wife was and will always be my main support with her encouragement and love. Second to that are members of local writing groups. Their reactions and feedback is invaluable.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in Hitler's Silver Box?

Probably not.

What are your current projects?

I'm seriously considering a sequel. I purposely left some loose ends to keep the option open.

Do you have a website where readers can learn more about you?

www.hitler ssilverbox.com
The direct hyperlink to the novel's trailer is HERE

Please tell readers where one can purchase Hitler's Silver Box?

The book's website: www.hitlerssilverbox.com

amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, kobo.com and many local bookstores.

Dr. Malnak, thank you so much for doing this interview.

Nicole, it was my pleasure. Thank you.

 The Master Plan - Carol Costa, Author tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-01-20:988554:BlogPost:1194115 2012-01-20T23:12:13.000Z Martha A. Cheves http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MarthaACheves
 The Master Plan – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds – Desserts…

The Master Plan – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds – Desserts

Carmen and Cathy both stared at Casey. Finally Carmen spoke. "What is going on in that devious mind of yours Casey?" Casey laughed. "Forget it. It probably won't work." "Let us be the judge of that," Cathy told her. "Okay. We pool our money and one of us joins the country club. Once she's a member she starts socializing with the rich guys and snags herself a wealthy mate. She can also bring her two friends to the club for some of the activities and introduce them to her husband's rich friends." "That's absolutely brilliant" Carmen exclaimed. "Let's do it." "Wait a minute," Cathy said. "Where are we going to
 get twenty-five thousand dollars?" "From your bank," Carmen answered. "We'll take out a loan and after we marry the rich guys they can pay it off for us. Only I'm not the one who is going to join the club. Casey has to do it." And that is exactly what the 'three Cs' (Carmen, Cathy and Casey) did. They took out a loan to pay the application fee and Casey became the country club's newest member.

It didn't take long for her to hook up with Anthony (Tony) Hunter while Carmen and Cathy both found catches for themselves. It also wasn't long before Tony asked Casey to run off to Vegas with him to be married, which she did. But all good things must come to an end so after returning home, Casey decided to tell Tony about 'The Master Plan,' which is what the 3 Cs had named their plan. While hoping for his understanding, Casey instead was asked to leave. Casey gave Tony some time to calm down and then went back to the apartment in hopes of talking to him and making him understand. What she found when she got to the apartment soon became her worse nightmare.

Dana Sloan is an investigative reporter who seems to find herself mixed up in more than the usual 'who's ripping off the consumer' investigations. She seems to somehow stumble into a murder now and then. In The Master Plan she ends up being involved in three murders with a friend, Judy, and a co-worker, Casey, being involved in two of them. Her detective boyfriend Al Bruno is handling two of the cases and really doesn't want Dana involved. He has his own plans for Dana and they don't include risking your life to complete an investigation. His ideas for her are more on the line of her becoming a soccer/PTA mom.

The biggest conflict in their relationship is when Dana steps into Bruno's investigations or when Bruno withholds information Dana needs for her investigation and she is now involved in two. From what Dana has learned, she has come to the conclusion that all three murders are related. Bruno can't see it. He still feels that the wives of his 2 cases just might be guilty and since they don't know each other, the cases have no connections.

So… are they related? Will Dana be able to solve one, two or all three without getting herself killed? Will Casey and the 3Cs be able to pull off their little plan without being discovered? These were questions I carried all the way to the end. I usually have a list of my own suspects but with The Master Plan, I had none. I was really surprised to find out who killed who and why. I think you will too.

 Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
 An Interview with Dr. Allen Malnak, author of Hitler's Silver Box tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-01-19:988554:BlogPost:1192394 2012-01-19T11:53:10.000Z Mayra Calvani http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MayraCalvani
A board-certified internist, Dr. Allen Malnak served as chief of medicine at Fort Sill, OK, and was medical director of a number of organizations, including the Emergency Department of Chicago's Mount Sinai Hospital. During his long medical career in the Chicago area, he was also a clinical investigator in liver disease as well as an assistant clinical professor at the Stritch School of Medicine, and a practicing internist. Following…

A board-certified internist, Dr. Allen Malnak served as chief of medicine at Fort Sill, OK, and was medical director of a number of organizations, including the Emergency Department of Chicago's Mount Sinai Hospital. During his long medical career in the Chicago area, he was also a clinical investigator in liver disease as well as an assistant clinical professor at the Stritch School of Medicine, and a practicing internist. Following retirement, he and his wife Patricia moved to Bonita Springs, Florida. His interest in the Holocaust was sparked by the fact that all the men, women and children of his father's large Lithuanian family were sent to a death camp by the Nazis and murdered.

Thanks for this interview and congratulations on the release of your suspense thriller, Hitler's Silver Box. What compelled you to write this story?

When my father came to America in 1906 at age 16, he had only one distant relative in this country. He left behind in Kovno, Lithuania a large family, including his parents, eight brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles. They ranged in age from the elderly to babies.

Dad died of natural causes during the Second World War and immediately following the war, my late brother Lewis and I began to try to track down our father's European family. I was just 16 when the war ended. We wrote letters to everyone we could think of and after about a year received a detailed reply from the International Red Cross. Nazi records as well as witness reports indicated that all members of dad's family had been murdered either in or near Kovno or after transfer to a death camp. Every man, woman and child!

So, one entire side of my family was destroyed by the Nazis. Of course, I became interested in the Holocaust and began reading articles about it even during my high school and college years. During my internship at Chicago's Cook County Hospital, I read a short book, Doctors of Infamy, which covered many horrendous medical experiments performed on concentration camp prisoners by Nazi physicians. The book was so disturbing that after reading it, I tossed it into a garbage can. My next book on the subject was Elie Weisel's NIGHT. I then became occupied with my professional career as well as with my growing family for many years. When I reached the age of forty, I decided I owed it to my dead family members to engage in a real study of that terrible time. I then spent perhaps two or three years of my limited free time reading every book I could find on the Holocaust.

Years later, I retired from the practice and teaching of internal medicine, and my wife and I moved to Bonita Springs Florida. I noticed in the Naples Daily News an article describing a course in writing fiction being held at the Naples Philharmonic. The teacher was Hollis Alpert a well known novelist, biographer, short story editor as well as a movie critic.

I took classes with Hollis for a couple of years. He would give us assignments, often listing several subjects that we should use as the basis of a short story. He would critique each story and at the next weekly session read some of them to the class.

One topic I picked was titled "A Silver Box." For some reason, I decided to write it about a concentration camp prisoner at the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp who was forced by a Nazi colonel to make a silver box which would be a present for Adolph Hitler.

After reading the story in class, afterwards, Hollis suggested that this story could be expanded into a novel, and that started the process that eventually lead to Hitler's Silver Box—A Novel.

What parts of the novel are actual historical facts?

While Hitler's Silver Box—A Novel is a work of fiction, it's loosely based on the fact that during the Second World War, Nazi scientists worked up to the war's end on a multitude of secret weapons on which Hitler pinned his hopes for a last ditch victory.

These weapon systems ranged from very long range rockets that could be fired from underground bases to alternative physics, robotic warriors, new energy sources, radical germ warfare and of course, nuclear weapons.

In the novel, the facts were modified to suggest that many objects which were later called UFOs were also developed by Nazi scientists in concealed locations, and various secret laboratories were set up around the world including in areas of both Arctic and Antarctic wastes where explorers had never trekked.

What was your writing process like while working on this novel? Did you have a disciplined schedule?

Because of various acute and chronic illnesses, I could not keep to a writing schedule. I followed the mantra of "write—rewrite—get it right." Unlike many expert suggestions, I constantly re-edited my previous work, then edited it again and again.

From conception to typing 'The End,' how long did it take you?

About ten years.

The story takes the reader from Chicago to Paris to the Czech Republic. Did you travel to Europe as part of the research?

I have visited many countries in Europe and Paris is my favorite city in the world. I had many plans to visit the Czech Republic, but like Max in the book, health problems kept canceling the plans.

What was the hardest part of writing Hitler's Silver Box?

Dialogue and careful descriptions were difficult crafts to understand and learn, but the hardest part was describing the conditions that Max went through in the concentration camp using the "particular" silver, the provenance of which nearly drove him and me mad. The dramatic ER scenes were easier because they were based on my personal experiences. Since like Bruce in the novel, I also have claustrophobia in tunnels, writing that scene caused me some discomfort.

What's in the horizon for Allen Malnak?

If my health holds up, I just might write a sequel to Hitler's Silver Box. If the Spielberg types come sniffin; around to make the novel into a movie, well I just might be forced to interview Charlize Theron to see if she's "hot" enough to play Sari.

Any last words to my readers?

The incidents that pushed me to finish Hitler's Silver Box were linked to the website of one of our local newspapers. Two anonymous neo-Nazis constantly spewed their racist, ant-Semitic slurs, bragging about their continued worship of Adolph Hitler and the murderous Waffen SS, while denying every aspect of the Holocaust.

I'll close with a quote from a novelist, Jerry Ahern, who reviewed my book for "Gun World Magazine."

"Future generations have serious responsibilities, chief among these not to repeat past mistakes. Sadly, these days, there are still those who, out of ignorance or foul intentions, somehow revere the scourge that was National Socialism. That's why, it's good for the rest of us to get reminded from time to time, at least, how truly despicable the Nazis were."

Read more about the author and Hitler's Silver Box:

http://naples.floridaweekly.com/news/2012-01-12/PDF/Page_080.pdf

http://naples.floridaweekly.com/news/2012-01-12/PDF/Page_081.pdf

Website: www.hitlerssilverbox.com

Purchase from Amazon.

This article originally appeared in Blogcritics.