Winter’s Child {+ Giveaway}

◊ WINTER’S CHILD by Margaret Coel

◊ Series: Wind River Mystery, Book #20

◊ Hardcover: 304 pages

◊ Genre: Cozy Murder Mystery

◊ Publisher: Berkley (September 6, 2016)

◊ Language: English

◊ ISBN-10: 0425280322

◊ ISBN-13: 978-0425280324

SYNOPSIS:

          Margaret Coel’s New York Times bestselling series continues as Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden and Father John O’Malley discover that a centuries-old mystery is tied to a modern-day crime on the Wind River Reservation…
 

In the midst of a blizzard, Myra and Eldon Little Shield found an abandoned baby on their doorstep and brought her inside. Five years later, no one has come back to claim the little girl now known as Mary Anne Little Shield. But now that she’s old enough to start school, her foster parents fear social services will take her—a white child—away from them.

Determined to adopt Mary Anne, the Little Shields hire lawyer Clint Hopkins, who wants Vicky as co-counsel on the case. But before their meeting can take place, a black truck deliberately runs Hopkins down in the street.

Enlisting Father John to help investigate who would kill to stop the child’s adoption, Vicky unravels a connection between the five-year-old girl and a missing alcoholic Arapaho wanted for robbery—only to uncover one of the darkest secrets in Wind River’s history…

Author Margaret Coel gives readers a good blend of how Native Americans and the Caucasian world relate to one another in her Wind River Mystery series. She takes readers deep into the lives of Native Americans and their way of life as she shows the white man’s world around them.

A portion of WINTER’S CHILD has a basis in real events making the story even more plausible. The reader is drawn into a number of storylines that intersect several times before coming together in an electrifying conclusion. Coel artfully moves between past and present to make a well-balanced tale.

The characters are realistic, likable and well-developed. The story moves at a quick pace holding your attention with twists and unexpected surprises. The Wind River Reservation and surrounding area are brought to life through Coel’s vivid descriptions and rich details.

Filled with suspense and intrigue, this story can be read on its own. Mystery buffs will enjoy the doubt Coel weaves into her story along with a good dose of loyalty, friendship and a touch of romance.

Winter’s Child by Margaret Coel, A Wind River Mystery (Book #20), Berkley, @2016, ISBN: 978-0425280324, Hardcover, 304 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks to the wonderful folks at Penguin Random House, I have a print copy of WINTER’S CHILD by Margaret Coel to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Sunday, Sept. 18.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends to make sure the notification email doesn’t end up there. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decided for whatever reason you don’t want to win (which is fine), once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Do you enjoy stories that feature Native Americans and their traditions? 

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The Man Who Fell From the Sky {+ Giveaway}

It’s a pleasure to tell you about THE MAN WHO FELL FROM THE SKY by Margaret Coel, the latest installment in the fascinating Wind River Mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime. 

To celebrate the release, Berkley is giving away a print copy of THE MAN WHO FELL FROM THE SKY to a lucky visitor to Thoughts in Progress. Be sure to see the end of the post for more details on the giveaway.

Here’s my thoughts on this intriguing story.

THE MAN WHO FELL FROM THE SKY by Margaret Coel

Combining history, Arapaho culture and mystery is what author Margaret Coel does best.

THE MAN WHO FELL FROM THE SKY is a great example of how she blends all these elements, and much more, into an enthralling murder mystery that will hold you captive from beginning to end.

Coel’s eye for detail and vivid descriptions quickly draw you into the story. Her well-developed characters are likable and realistic adding layers to the story. It’s Coel’s way of relating history and Arapaho traditions with fiction that enhances the story making it come alive.

In this latest installment, Coel draws on the legend of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to heighten the intrigue. Her main characters, Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden and Father John O’Malley, deal with murder and secrets as a lost treasure of Butch Cassidy’s plays a key role in a murder on the Wind River Reservation.

It appears Robert Walking Bear may have died accidentally when his body is found in a lake in the Wind River mountains. However, the victim had been searching for Butch Cassidy’s buried loot and he was using a map believed to have been drawn by the legendary Hole in the Wall gang leader himself. It seems there’s a lot of people who want to find that treasure too.

Weaving the present with the past, Coel takes readers on a wild ride filled with suspense, secrets and historical tidbits. She also mixes in a dash of romantic undertone.

THE MAN WHO FELL FROM THE SKY is a fascinating mystery that moves at a quick pace. This is a story that will be hard to put down once you turn that first page.

Author Margaret Coel’s website can be found HERE.

The Man Who Fell From the Sky by Margaret Coel, A Wind River Mystery Book #19, Berkley, @2015, ISBN: 978-0425280300, Hardcover, 304 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one print copy of THE MAN WHO FELL FROM THE SKY and is open to residents of the U.S. The deadline will end at 12 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.

Thanks so much for visiting today. Do you enjoy books that have Native American traditions and cultures blended in? Do you enjoy stories where the author weaves bits of history in?

*This post contains affiliate links.

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Author Margaret Coel: What I’m Not Thinking

I’m excited today to welcome author Margaret Coel to Thoughts in Progress to talk about her writing and her recent release, NIGHT OF THE WHITE BUFFALO, the latest installment in her Wind River Mystery series.

Margaret’s series is one of my favorites as she explores Native American life and culture. Her work draws me in much like that of the late great author Tony Hillerman. Here’s a brief description of NIGHT OF THE WHITE BUFFALO.

In the latest Wind River novel, Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden and Father John O’Malley confront a ruthless killer in the wake of a miraculous event.  
            A mysterious penitent confesses to murder, and then flees the confessional before Father John can identify him. Two months later, Vicky discovers rancher Dennis Carey shot dead in his truck along Blue Sky Highway. With the tragic news comes the exposure of an astonishing secret: the most sacred creature in Native American mythology, a white buffalo calf, was recently born on Carey’s ranch.
          Making national headlines, the miraculous animal draws a flood of pilgrims to the reservation, frustrating an already difficult investigation. As visitors throw the reservation into turmoil, Vicky and Father John try to unravel the strange events surrounding both Carey’s murder and the recent disappearances of three cowboys from his ranch.
          It could be coincidence, given the nomadic life of the cowboy trade, but when one of them fails to appear in court to testify on an assault charge, Vicky wonders if Arnie Walkfast and his Arapaho buddies are guilty of more than just assault. And at the back of Father John’s mind is the voice from the man in the confessional: I killed a man… 

Now please join me in giving a warm welcome to Margaret and she talks about what she’s not thinking about. Welcome, Margaret.

I’m on my way to an author event where the hostess is known for asking authors what they think about as they write books. I can’t wait to hear what I’m going to say. 

What was I thinking when I wrote NIGHT OF THE WHITE BUFFALO? I know what I was not thinking and what I am never thinking as I write. 

I am not thinking about the words I type on the screen. Sometimes the words don’t make any sense. I don’t care. Sometimes I can’t find the exact word to fit the situation, so I type a series of X’s and write on. I am not thinking about grammar, which was why, years ago, I had to learn how to turn off that horrible function that corrects grammar before I killed it. (I do write mystery novels.) I am not thinking about whether whatever I’m writing should be in another chapter. In short I am not cutting, editing and polishing my first venture into a story. Which means I will have a one word answer to the question. 

What was I thinking about? The story.
 
From the moment I turn on the screen and type Chapter One, I am lost in the story. The house could burn down. I’m not sure when I might notice. A blizzard could rage outside, but if my story is set in the hot summer, I am mopping the sweat from my brow. Out my window may be a view of the rooftops of Boulder, but what I see are the wide open plains of the Wind River reservation. For NIGHT OF THE WHITE BUFFALO, I saw the buffalo herd out in the sage-studded pasture. I saw the dam sheltering her baby, and I saw the baby—a white buffalo calf that resembled a lamb. I saw the crowds and crowds of visitors flooding the reservation to see the most sacred of all the creatures.
 
I saw the cowboys working on the ranch, and I saw what happened to them before the reader did. I saw Vicky Holden in court defending a client who might be a killer. I saw Father John O’Malley in the confessional listening to a penitent say: I killed a man.  

A novel is always about story, and authors enter into the story in different ways. For me, writing is like watching a play. Actors enter stage right, say and do something and make their exits, while I type away, recording every move and word. I live the lives of all the characters simultaneously, laughing and crying when they do (I’ve shed a lot of tears over my keyboard), plotting revenge or forcing myself to do the right thing, making a general mess of my characters’ lives, then trying to extricate them (and myself) from the mess. 

Non-writers may think writing is lonely work. Writers sit all day in front of a computer, no fellow office workers around, no one to shoot the bull with over the water cooler. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are never alone. We are surrounded all day by fascinating people who talk and act up and do all sorts of wonderfully interesting and surprising things.
 
That’s because writers are telling the story to ourselves. I have no patience for the so-called post-modern, minimalist, theme-driven novels—or whatever tag may be current in literary circles--because they have abandoned story. And story is what we live by, what connects us to other human beings and helps us to make sense of our own lives. All great novels tell great stories.

Only after I have safety tucked the first draft away in my computer do I allow myself to step away from the story and take a more objective look. I move out of the creative—and fun—side of my brain into the practical, critical side and I become an editor. I edit the plot to make sure it makes sense, I check and recheck the facts. I change the words, always looking for the exact, the most precise word to convey my meaning. I move things around. Sometimes I move whole chapters. And I delete any thing that is superfluous, that isn’t absolutely crucial to—you got it! The story.

I spend weeks doing all of this so that, when the novel is finished, it is not the pretty words or a complicated style or a new novel-writing technique that might stop the reader in mid page. It is the story, just the story carrying the reader through to the end.
 
Margaret, thanks so much for stopping by today and sharing this look at what’s going on while you’re writing. As readers we do tend to think of writing as a lonely art, but I can see where that’s not the case. Now let me share a bit of background on Margaret.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Margaret Coel is the New York Times best-selling author of the acclaimed Wind River mystery series set among the Arapahos on Wyoming's Wind River Reservation and featuring Jesuit priest Father John O'Malley and Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden. 

She is a native Coloradan who hails from a pioneer Colorado family. The West — the mountains, plains, and vast spaces — are in her bones, she says. She moved out of Colorado on two occasions — to attend Marquette University and to spend a couple of years in Alaska. Both times she couldn't wait to get back.

Along with the Wind River mystery series, Margaret is the author of five non-fiction books, including the award-winning Chief Left Hand, published by the University of Oklahoma Press. This biography of an Arapaho chief and history of the Arapahos in Colorado has never gone out of print. The Colorado Historical Society has included both Chief Left Hand and Margaret's memoir-history of railroading in Colorado, Goin' Railroading (which she wrote with her father, Samuel F. Speas) among the best 100 books on Colorado history. 

Margaret writes in a small study in her home on a hillside in Boulder. The window frames a view of the Rocky Mountains and the almost-always blue sky. A herd of deer are usually grazing just outside, and one summer a couple of years ago, a mountain lion made its home closeby.

For more on Margaret and her writing, please visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Margaret’s visit. What is it that holds you attention to a story? Is it the writer’s style, the theme of the story or just the essence of where the writer is taking you on that particular journey?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Buffalo Bill’s Dead Now, Author Margaret Coel Visits

Today (Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012) is the release date for BUFFALO BILL’S DEAD NOW, the 15th book in the Wind River Mystery series by New York Times bestselling author Margaret Coel and I’m thrilled to have Margaret visiting with us to launch her new book.

Margaret’s acclaimed Wind River Mystery series is set among the Arapahos on Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation. It features Jesuit priest Father John O’Malley and Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden.

Here’s a brief synopsis of BUFFALO BILL’S DEAD NOW: 
After more than 120 years, the regalia worn by Arapaho Chief Black Heart in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show were supposed to be returned to his people. But the cartons containing the relics were empty when they arrived at the Arapaho museum. Rancher and Indian artifact collector Trevor Pratt had them shipped from Germany and believes thieves must have stolen them en route.

Vicki and Father John suspect Trevor knows more about the theft than he’s telling—a suspicion that’s confirmed when they witness a car speeding from his home and he’s found murdered inside. To find the killer, they must first uncover the truth about a blood feud between two Arapaho families—and the original theft of Black Heart’s possessions dating back more than a century. 
 
Margaret is here to tell us ‘Why Buffalo Bill.’

Where do you get ideas? This is every authors most FAQ. An idea could have been lifted right out of the front pages, but readers still ask. When Willie Nelson was asked where he got ideas for his songs, he said that ideas exist in the universe, and from time to time one falls into his head. Seems to me, that about says it all. 

So Buffalo Bill fell into my head. As a historian, I’m a little gaga over history. I like writing mysteries woven around history with eerily connected crimes  in the past and in the present. And Father John O’Malley and Vicky Holden must figure out what happened in the past before they can solve the present crime. Since Arapahos once lived on the central plains—Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas—the bloody history of this area was their history. The gold rush, deluge of easterners across Indian lands, wars, massacres, destruction of the buffalo and the Indian way of life—Arapahos were there for all of it. 

As was William F. Cody, known as Buffalo Bill. Scout, buffalo hunter, Indian fighter. You name it, he did it. But here’s the thing: the Plains Indians respected Buffalo Bill. He fought them, but he fought fairly. He was a warrior, and warriors respect other warriors, even enemies.  

Later, with the tribes on reservations, poverty-stricken and miserable, Buffalo Bill reappeared in their lives. He had formed a spectacular extravaganza which he called the Wild West. For twenty years, this extravaganza would travel the nation and Europe. He was the greatest entertainer of his time. But he didn’t just entertain. He educated millions of spectators  about the conquest of the American West. For that, he needed Indians, because without them, there could be no show about the West. In the 1889-1890 season, a hundred Arapahos joined Buffalo Bill and the Wild West. Traveled across Europe, saw sights they had never dreamed they might see, met people they could only imagine, such as the Pope. 

For some time I had been mulling over the idea of writing a mystery that moved between the present on the Wind River Reservation and the time that Arapahos spent with Buffalo Bill, but I  was having trouble conjuring up past and present crimes for Father John and Vicky to solve. Then I happened to read about the value of Indian artifacts from the Wild West. Most of the artifacts are in museums, but collectors pay handsome prices for the few pieces occasionally on the market. 

It struck me that Arapaho artifacts would be especially valuable because of their rarity. While other tribes, such as the Sioux, spent years with Buffalo Bill, a large number of Arapahos were with the show only in 1889-1890. That gave me the idea for past and present crimes: the theft of artifacts, and the willingness of villains—past and present-- to kill for them. BUFFALO BILL’S DEAD NOW was on its way. 

Margaret, thanks for this intriguing insight into how your book came about. I like the remark from Willie too. That does say a lot.

Now here’s a bit of background on Margaret. She is a native Coloradan who hails from a pioneer Colorado family. The West — the mountains, plains, and vast spaces — are in her bones, she says. She moved out of Colorado on two occasions — to attend Marquette University and to spend a couple of years in Alaska. Both times she couldn't wait to get back.

Along with the Wind River mystery series, Margaret is the author of five non-fiction books, including the award-winning CHIEF LEFT HAND, published by the University of Oklahoma Press. This biography of an Arapaho chief and history of the Arapahos in Colorado has never gone out of print. The Colorado Historical Society has included both CHIEF LEFT HAND and Margaret's memoir-history of railroading in Colorado, GOIN’ RAILROADING (which she wrote with her father, Samuel F. Speas) among the best 100 books on Colorado history.

Her articles on the West have appeared in the New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, American Heritage of Invention & Technology, Creativity! and many other publications. Speaking engagements on the people and places she loves best have taken her around the country and as far away as Australia. She visits the Wind River Reservation every year, "just to catch up with my Arapaho friends."

She writes in a small study in her home on a hillside in Boulder. The window frames a view of the Rocky Mountains and the almost-always blue sky. A herd of deer are usually grazing just outside, and one summer a couple of years ago, a mountain lion made its home close by. "Every day,” she says, "I drink in the West."

For more on Margaret and her writing, visit her website at www.margaretcoel.com

Do you enjoy books that weave mysteries around actual history? Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Happy Labor Day (or Monday)

                                     

For many across the country today is a day of celebrating. It’s the last major holiday of the summer. It’s a day to celebrate the economic and social contributions workers make to our lives.

Here’s wishing everyone a safe, happy, and fun Labor Day celebration with family and friends. If you’re not celebrating Labor Day, I still wish you a safe, happy and fun day to celebrate life with those you love.

Please drop back tomorrow when author Margaret Coel joins us with her latest Wind River Mystery release, BUFFALO BILL’S DEAD NOW. She’ll be talking about ‘Why Buffalo Bill.’ It’s always a pleasure to have you visit. Thanks so much and Happy Labor Day!!

The Perfect Suspect and Train Dreams

Ever get tired of reading books from the same genre all the time?

I wouldn’t say I get tired of reading them, I just find I don’t seem to have as much enthusiasm when I read too many back to back. I enjoy the variety of switching from one genre to another. It makes each read more refreshing to me. 

With that in mind I have two completely different style books to share with you today. The first is a novel of suspense and intrigue, while the second is a novella of poignant fiction almost a memoir.

THE PERFECT SUSPECT by Margaret Coel

Reading a murder mystery, the reader tries to discover the killer’s identify before the author reveals it near the end of the book.

With THE PERFECT SUSPECT, author Margaret Coel has given readers a new challenge. She reveals the killer at the start and keeps readers guessing how and when the killer will finally be caught.

Here’s the blurb that sparked my interest: A scream renders the early morning quiet of an upscale Denver neighborhood when David Mathews, the wildly popular candidate for governor, is found murdered. It quickly becomes a high-profile homicide and local investigators are pressured to make an arrest. When David’s estranged wife, Sydney, is arrested for first-degree homicide, journalist Catherine McLeod receives an anonymous phone call from a woman who claims she saw the real killer leave the scene of the crime and it was not Sydney. Because the caller is afraid to confide in the police, Catherine risks her career—and her life— to uncover the truth and find another witness who can identify the candidate’s real murderer: Detective Ryan Beckman, the lead investigator in the case.

 

Pitting a reporter against a murdering detective leads to suspense, intrigue and a gripping story. The author’s writing is smooth and flowing as it draws you further into the plot with the turn of each page. While you know who the killer is, it’s a fascinating story of cat-and-mouse as you guess how the killer will finally be brought to justice. The twist at the end may surprise you.

The story deals with three independent women who face life’s adversities in very different ways - the killer, the reporter and the witness. Two of the women, McLeod and Beckman, are strong and determine. It’s a case of good, evil and one trying to do the right thing.

THE PERFECT SUSPECT is a sequel to BLOOD MEMORY, but is a stand alone read. 

The Perfect Suspect by Margaret Coel, A Catherine McLeod Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, @2011, ISBN: 978-0-425-24348-0, Hardcover, 304 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

TRAIN DREAMS: A NOVELLA by Denis Johnson

TRAIN DREAMS begins with the attempted murder of a ‘Chinaman’ in the American West before the turn of the 20th century.

Young day laborer Robert Grainier has joined with some of his fellow workers who are attempting to throw a Chinese worker off a bridge for allegedly stealing. The man breaks free while screaming at the men in his native language. Grainier feels certain the ‘Chinaman’ has cursed them all.

From there the story follows the few triumphs and many defeats Grainier faces throughout the course of his life. He works as a logger, a bridge builder, and as a freight hauler. He loses his wife and baby daughter to a great fire that sweep the area just hours before he returned from a logging job.

The novella tells of various people and situations Grainier encounters. It tells of the harsh life many faced. It also tells of how the landscape of the west changed, as well as the changes the people experienced. It talks of Grainier’s first airplane ride, his seeing the world’s fattest man and his encounter with the ‘wolf girl.’

The story is rich in history and Will Patton’s powerful narration adds great emotion to the story. Patton gives each character in this tale great depth.

TRAIN DREAMS is a short audio, but well worth listening to. The characters will stay with you long after the story ends. 

Train Dreams: A Novella by Denis Johnson, Read by Will Patton, Macmillan Audio, @2011, ISBN: 9781427213778, Unabridged, 2 CDs, Run time: 2½ hours

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.