Note: The winner of the copy of DELIGHTFUL is Linda L. Congratulations to Linda and thanks to all who entered the contest.
It’s my pleasure to be participating in not one, but two amazing blog events today – the DELIGHTFUL Blog Tour for author Adrianne Lee and author Kate Meader’s HOT AND BOTHERED Release Week Blitz.
Both ladies are joining us today to talk about their tantalizing releases and to offer awesome giveaways. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.
First, I’d like to welcome Adrianne Lee and tell you a bit about DELIGHTFUL, the latest installment in her fun Big Sky Pie Novel series.
About DELIGHTFUL:
Ice Erickksen has "one-night stand" written all over him. Once he's finished shooting the Big Sky Pie reality show, this hot-as-hell TV producer is going to hightail it out of Montana and return to his glamorous life in L.A. But Ice gets into hot water when one of the goodies in the pie shop-a delightful blonde with marriage on her mind-burns up the camera lens.
Andrea Lovette, the manager of the shop, always picks the bad boys. But after her divorce, she's determined to find the good family man that her two young sons deserve. Although Andrea's body sizzles whenever Ice is near, she knows in her heart that he's not marriage material. Then why does the bad boy still seem like such a good idea?
About Adrianne Lee:
Adrianne Lee lives with her husband of many, many years on the
beautiful Olympic Peninsula in Washington State in a pole barn building her husband transformed into an upstairs apartment with a shop below for his hot rods.
Adrianne creates her stories on her laptop, in her recliner with her adopted cat, Spooky, curled between her calves, snoozing. Over thirty years of summer vacationing in the Flat Head Lake area near Kalispell and Glacier Park has given her a love for all things Montana.
For more on Adrianne and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
DELIGHTFUL is available at the following sites:
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes.
Now I’d like to welcome Kate and tell you a bit about HOT AND BOTHERED, the latest installment in her amusing Hot in the Kitchen series.
About HOT AND BOTHERED:
Although her baby boy keeps her plate full, Jules Kilroy is ready to take her love life off the back burner. Despite a bevy of eligible bachelors, it's her best friend, Taddeo DeLuca, who is fueling her hormones with a generous serving of his mouth-watering Italian sexiness. But Jules learned her lesson once before when she went in for a kiss, only to have Tad reject her. She's vowed never to blur the lines again . . . After a lifetime of excuses and false starts, Tad has finally opened a wine bar, a deal made even sweeter when Jules joins his staff. Lovers come and go, and he's had his share, but friendships like theirs last forever. Still, ever since he tasted her luscious lips, he can't stop fantasizing about what could be. Then she joins an online dating site-and the thought of his Jules with another man makes Tad's blood boil. Even if he gets burned, Tad can't stop himself from turning up the heat this time.
About Kate Meader:
Kate Meader writes contemporary romance that serves up delicious food, sexy heroes, and heroines with a dash of sass.
Originally from Ireland, she now makes her home in Chicago, a city made for food, romance, and laughter - and where she met her own sexy hero. When not writing about men who cook and the women who drool over them, she works in an academic library.
For more on Kate and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.
HOT AND BOTHERED is available at the following sites:
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes.
As an extra bonus, Kate is sharing an excerpt from HOT AND BOTHERED:
“Tip your chin up—yeah, just like that.” Click. “Now lean forward, lemme see those puppies.”
“Lili,” came the slightly embarrassed reply. Jules.
“Come on, don’t be shy. You have an amazing figure and—oh, perfect. Hold that.” Click.
Tad’s heart thudded insanely fast. He crept a few inches forward until he had cleared the pillar with his gaze. Lili had her back to him, shielding her subject, but he got a very healthy view of shapely legs inadequately covered by something red and soft-looking.
“You know, if you ever felt comfortable enough to go bare, I’d love to photograph you.”
Jules snorted. “I can see Jack’s face now.”
His cousin laughed. “We could insist he put it up in the dining room at Sarriette. He’d be so torn between wanting to encourage my art and being totally skeeved out.”
Girly giggles ensued.
My wild days are behind me,” Jules said on the downside of a laugh. “You wouldn’t believe some of the shenanigans I got up to back in London.” He heard her breathy sigh of reminiscence and strained to hear what salacious details might follow. This London version of Jules sounded like a woman he’d like to know.
“Oh, yeah? Spill, girl.”
“Well, there was one time I jumped in a fountain and stripped down to my—”
“Hey, cuz,” Lili said to him, a sly smile quirking one corner of her mouth. “How long have you been there?”
He patted the pillar he had just been leaning against/hiding behind like they were great pals. “Just got here.”
Lili’s smile turned slyer. “Didn’t expect you.”
“Do I need an excuse to come see my favorite cousin?” It came out a touch testy.
“Not at all. I just thought you’d be busy stroking your Cabs and Pinots.”
“Only do that on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Should I leave?”
“No, we’re just finishing up.” Lili sat at her iMac and hooked up the camera with a cable.
“All right?” Jules asked, almost shyly, as though they barely knew each other and in a way it felt like he was looking at her anew. The dress she wore was one he hadn’t seen before, a cherry-red, draped affair. One of those wrap-around deals that separated her breasts and flared over her waist. Not especially sexy but…
In that dress, she looked like she should be running the PTA, then going down on her husband in the Subaru in the school parking lot. Thankfully, that was years off because Evan was just an ankle biter… unless she hooked up with some lonely widower who already had school-age kids. Damn, that was a real possibility. He bet those websites were crawling with lonely widower fathers.
He was having problems catching his breath, a hitch that extended to his cock, which suddenly needed breathing room. To be perfectly honest, if Lili wasn’t there, he would be seriously considering unwrapping that dress and exploring the finely curved gift underneath. Jules stared back, probably wondering why he was ogling her like a just-released convict who hadn’t seen a woman during his fifteen and a third in the clink.
“Hey,” he said, finally responding to her greeting of about ten minutes back. He diverted his eyes away from her breasts to a good twelve inches north. Women 101. They preferred when you looked at their faces.
“Getting your photo taken?” he mumbled in a clear case of graduating summa cum laude from the School of the Freaking Obvious. His IQ had just dipped a hundred points.
“Uh huh. For my profile.” She blushed, and that’s when he noticed that she was wearing a lot of eye make-up. The smoky, sexy eyes that you saw on magazine models. She had done something different with her hair, too. It was tousled, fuck-me hair.
“My glamour shot, as Lili calls it,” she said with an eye roll. Can you believe what they’re trying to make me do?
His body clenched and he willed it to relax. Her glamour shot. She may as well have painted a sign: Come All Takers, Get Your Hot Mama Here. Lord knew he was trying to stop staring at her but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from all those damn curves.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“No,” he snapped, and then softer, “It’s all good.”
“I’ll just get changed,” she muttered, swaying away to the cover of an ornamental screen in the corner.
He blinked to get his brain in the groove and made inane chitchat with Lili about the plans for Tony and Frankie’s wedding anniversary party. If his parents had still been here it would have also been their anniversary. The couples had married in a double wedding extravaganza thirty-five years ago. He shoved that to the back of his mind with the rest of the shit he had succeeded in burying.
He was an absolute expert at it by now.
Jules walked out from behind the screen, pulling up the zip of her sweatshirt, but not so fast that he missed the sweet swell of her breasts in something thin and stretchy. Come on!
“Could I see how it came out?” she asked Lili as she set a suit bag over a chair.
“Sure.” His cousin clickity-clicked her screen.
Tad stole another glance at Jules. He couldn’t not look at her. A pearly pink glow had washed her cheeks and she looked so damn fine, he wanted to lick every inch of her. He turned back to the screen and what he saw wasn’t much better.
She looked fucking gorgeous.
Well, she always looked gorgeous, whether she was in baggy sweats or a frayed tee that had seen better days. Even when she looked like she was falling asleep on her feet, she never failed to look amazing to him.
Now she looked amazing to the world.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
As a part of Adrianne’s tour, she’s offering one print copy of DELIGHTFUL to a lucky visitor to Thoughts. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and no post office box addresses can be accepted.
To enter this giveaway, just answer the question below in the comments. Be sure to include a valid email address with your comment, if one is not available in your profile. “What is your favorite pie?”
The deadline for entering the contest will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Friday, March 14. The winner will be selected by Random.Org and I will notify the winner by email with the subject line ‘Thoughts in Progress Delightful.’ The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the email with their mailing information or to notify me they’ve already won the book elsewhere. If there isn’t a response in 72 hours, a new winner will be selected.
BTW if you’d like extra entries in the giveaway, tweet about the giveaway (return and share the link), share it on Facebook (return and share the link) and pin it on Pinterest (return and share the link).
Remember, answer the following question for a chance to win a copy of DELIGHTFUL: “What is your favorite pie?”
To enter the awesome giveaway Kate is offering, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below. Thanks so much for visiting today and I hope we’ve tempted your reading taste buds with these yummy new releases.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Note: The winner of this giveaway is Sue E. Congratulations to Sue and thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway.
I’m delighted to be participating in author Molly MacRae’s virtual blog tour for her recent release, SPINNING IN HER GRAVE, the latest installment in her tantalizing Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries.
Molly joins us today to talk about what it’s like to write her mystery series set in a small town. I’m also sharing my thoughts on this charming cozy murder mystery. In addition, thanks to Molly and the lovely Danielle at Penguin Group, I have a print copy of SPINNING IN HER GRAVE to giveaway to a lucky visitor to Thoughts. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.
First, here’s a brief synopsis of SPINNING IN HER GRAVE:
Kath Rutledge is settling in as the owner of the Weaver’s Cat, a fiber and fabric shop in Blue Plum, Tennessee. But nothing, not even the ghost haunting her shop, prepares her for the mystery that will leave the whole town spinning....
It’s time for Blue Plum’s annual historical festival, and everyone—including Kath and her spunky fiber and needlework group, TGIF—is getting in on the action. Expert spinners are being gathered, and a businessman has approached Kath about using the second-floor windows of her store for part of a reenactment. But the reenactment ends in real-life bloodshed when local baker Reva Louise Snapp is shot—with a bullet from a modern-day gun.
Kath has her theories about who wanted to end Reva Louise’s life. But there’s also talk of a sniper stalking Blue Plum, and Kath’s shop is suspected to be the murderer’s hideout. Now Kath, her TGIF pals, and the gloomy ghost, Geneva, must unravel the mystery quickly, or someone else might be left hanging by a thread....
Now Molly joins us to talk about writing a series set in a small town. Welcome, Molly.
What’s it like to write a mystery series set in a small town? It’s like having the coolest set of blocks to play with that you can imagine—complete with action figures and accessories!
For my Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries, I took my blocks and built Blue Plum, Tennessee, borrowing the best parts of my favorite small towns for inspiration. The streets crisscross a creek (with fish) that meanders through town. The courthouse is there, and the library (with real books,) and if my action figures get hungry they can stop by Mel’s on Main, the best café in town (with real pastries in the bakery case—that you can smell!) And then, of course, there’s the fiber and fabric shop called the Weaver’s Cat. It’s in a three-story, antebellum brick row house and it comes with gorgeous yarns, flosses, quilting fabric, needles, notions, spinning, dying, and weaving supplies, and a window seat in the study up in the attic. And I get to play with all of it!
Kath Rutledge is the main action figure for the series. She’s new in Blue Plum, but getting settled, and she’s playing nicely with her friends. There’s Ardis, her shop manager; Mel, who owns the café; Thea, the librarian; Joe, the fisherman; Joe’s brother Clod, the sheriff’s deputy; Argyle the cat; and Geneva the ghost. Each of their mystery stories comes with an Action Figure & Accessories bonus pack, too. For SPINNING IN HER GRAVE, their latest adventure, the bonus pack includes a baker, a piano salesman, working spinning wheels, a bass boat, and a piglet that really squeals.
In this story, everyone is getting ready for the annual heritage festival called Blue Plum Preserves. Oh—and the bonus pack also includes pavilion tents, a music stage to set up on the courthouse steps, banjos, a high wheel bicycle, and antique rifles. Fun! (Although the rifles are a little disturbing.)
This business of writing a small town mystery takes a love for micro-scale world building and playing with dolls. It takes a love for something else, too—something related to the love for driving little cars around the streets and creating window displays at the Weaver’s Cat. But this goes beyond a love for picking paint for other people’s kitchens or dressing some of the action figures with questionable taste. A key part of writing mysteries is a love for meddling in other peoples’ lives.
I set Blue Plum up so that it’s just right—add trees, porch swings, a festival on a pretty summer weekend where people are having a good time—and then I start tinkering, tweaking, and tossing problems at them. What if the piano salesman is directing a piece of street theater involving guns? What if he approaches Kath and asks if one of his actors can hide in the Weaver’s Cat and shoot blank rounds from a second-story window? What if she says no, but someone does it anyway, the rounds aren’t blank, and the baker dies? What if Clod, the sheriff’s deputy, still thinks Kath might be interested in him? What if Geneva, the ghost, discovers she’s afraid of ghosts? Do you see what I mean? Why can’t I leave these poor people alone?
People might assume, after reading SPINNING IN HER GRAVE, or the first two books in the series, that I spin, dye, weave, or knit regularly and well. Especially knit, because the action figures belonging to TGIF (Thank Goodness It’s Fiber) challenged themselves to knit 1,000 baby hats by the end of the year and they’re always talking about self-striping yarn and other knitter stuff. I do knit, in a rudimentary way, and I’ve done a bit of weaving, spinning, and dyeing. But what I really like to do with knitting needles (or spindles or shuttles or crochet hooks) is poke around in the lives of my action figures, gum up the works, and see what happens. I’m not mean, though, except for killing one or two people in each book. These are cozy mysteries, after all, and I care about my action figures. Even the poor things who do end up dead—bless their hearts.
So, what’s it like to write a mystery series set in a small town? For me, it’s a great way to knit (or spin, weave, or dye) vicariously. It’s a way to indulge my meddling gene safely. And it’s just plain fun.
Molly, thanks so much for joining us today and sharing this look at writing a small town setting. I like your take on what it’s like. It does sounds like a lot of fun.
Now here’s a bit of background on Molly.
Molly MacRae spent twenty years in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Upper East Tennessee, where she managed The Book Place, an independent bookstore; may it rest in peace. Before the lure of books hooked her, she was curator of the history museum in Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town.
Molly lives with her family in Champaign, Illinois, where she connects children with books at the public library.
For more on Molly and her writing, visit her website, connect with her at Killer Characters on the 23rd of each month, visit with her at Amy Alessio's award-winning Vintage Cookbooks & Crafts blog on the first Monday of each month, and connect with her on Facebook and Pinterest.
TOUR PARTICIPANTS:
You can also follow Molly on her tour by visiting the following blogs:
03/03/14 - The Qwillery- Guest Post, Giveaway
03/05/14 - Lesa’s Book Critiques- Review, Giveaway
03/05/14 - Stuff and Nonsense- Guest Post, Giveaway
03/06/14 - A Prairie Girl Reads- Review
03/07/14 - Socrates’ Book Reviews- Guest Post, Giveaway
03/11/14 - Debbie’s Book Bag- Review, Giveaway
03/11/14 - Mochas, Mysteries, and Meows- Guest Post- Giveaway
03/12/14 - Gotta Write Network- Review, Guest Post
03/13/14 - Everyday Life of a Mama and Wife- Review
03/14/14 - Reader to Reader- Review
03/29/14 - Lori’s Reading Corner- Guest Post, Giveaway
Here are my thoughts on this fun read.
Kath Rutledge, owner of the Weaver’s Cat, a fiber and fabric shop, was expecting the annual historical festival in Blue Plum to create extra work, potential customers, fun, and excitement. What she wasn’t expecting was to find a dead body.
The annual Blue Plum Preserves has been enhanced a bit this year with a large re-enactment playing out in town with men firing guns. Following one of the loud scenes, Kath walks outside her tent to discover Reva Louise Snapp has been shot.
Reva Louise has been helping her half-sister Mel out as a baker at Mel’s Café in town. Kath believes Reva Louise might have been helping herself with much more. With a killer on the loose, Kath and her energetic fiber and needlework group – better known as TGIF – begin unraveling the mystery before the killer claims another victim.
Author Molly MacRae has created a cast of zany and funny-loving characters that readers will adore. She combines the elements of a cozy mystery with a touch of paranormal by featuring a melancholy ghost, Geneva, who haunts the Weaver’s Cat and gives advice to Kath. The characters are well-developed and realistic.
The small town atmosphere draws readers in and holds them spellbound with the charming setting and quirky residents. The warmth and friendly-feel of the Weaver’s Cat adds depth to the story.
SPINNING IN HER GRAVE is the third installment in the Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery series, but can be read on its own. The charming characters and tantalizing mystery blended with the colorful fabric shop makes for an entertaining read.
Spinning in Her Grave by Molly MacRae, Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery Book #3, Obsidian , @2014, ISBN: 978-0451240644, Paperback, 352 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.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
This giveaway is for one print copy of SPINNING IN HER GRAVE. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only.
To enter this giveaway, just answer the question below in the comments. Be sure to include a valid email address with your comment, if one is not available in your profile. “Are you a member (or have you been a member) of a knitting or crocheting group?”
If you wish not to be entered in the contest, just say ‘Not entering’ and then comment all you’d like. I don’t want to discourage someone from commenting just because they don’t want to enter the contest.
The deadline for entering the contest will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, March 13. The winner will be selected by Random.Org and I will notify the winner by email with the subject line ‘Thoughts in Progress Spinning in Her Grave.’ The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the email with their mailing information or to notify me they’ve already won the book elsewhere. If there isn’t a response in 72 hours, a new winner will be selected.
BTW if you’d like extra entries in the giveaway, tweet about the giveaway (return and share the link), share it on Facebook (return and share the link) and pin it on Pinterest (return and share the link).
Thanks so much for dropping by and spending a bit of time with us. Remember, answer the following question for a chance to win a copy of SPINNING IN HER GRAVE: “Are you a member (or have you been a member) of a knitting or crocheting group?”
Note: The winner of this giveaway is Janie M. Congratulations to Janie and thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway.
When it comes to cozy murder mysteries, one of the first publishers I think of is Berkley Prime Crime. They have such a vast array of wonderful authors and intriguing books to keep a reader delighted 24/7.
Well, this year marks Berkley Prime Crime’s 20th anniversary and they are excited to say the least. To help spread the celebration, they are offering a special 20th anniversary Berkley Prime Crime tote bag filled with 5 of their cozies as a giveaway to a lucky visitor to Thoughts in Progress. Please see the end of the post for more details.
Here the celebration announcement from Berkley.
NEW YORK, NY – March 1, 2014 – Twenty years ago, in March 1994, Berkley Books introduced Berkley Prime Crime, a mass market mystery imprint that included five launch authors. This year, Berkley celebrates the 20th anniversary of Prime Crime with special author events and promotional giveaways.
In its first year, Berkley Prime Crime (BPC) published approximately forty titles, all mass market. In 2013, the imprint published 150 titles, including mass market originals, trade paperbacks, and hardcovers. Every year, BPC launches approximately 25-30 new series, including several house-owned franchises that editors have developed from idea to execution. In the past year, BPC debuted sixteen titles on the New York Times Bestsellers List (printed and extended lists combined), which comes out to more than one per month!
“When we launched Berkley Prime Crime in March 1994 I believed that the audience for the traditional or ‘cozy’ mystery was still largely underserved and untapped. Twenty years later I can say without reservation that this has proven to be correct and that Berkley Prime Crime has succeeded beyond my wildest expectations,” said Natalee Rosenstein, Vice President and Senior Executive Editor of Berkley.
This spring Berkley Prime Crime is hosting two events at mystery bookstores that have supported Berkley Prime Crime over the years. On March 13, Julie Hyzy, Miranda James, and Rebecca Hale will be at Murder by the Book in Houston, Texas. On March 25 the Poisoned Pen in Phoenix will host Margaret Coel, Carolyn Hart, Earlene Fowler, and Avery Aames.
Throughout the remainder of 2014, more events and promotional giveaways are planned, in addition to Berkley Prime Crime’s annual presence at mystery conventions BoucherCon and Malice Domestic.
You can find out more about Berkley Prime Crime titles and authors at The Crime Scene, our cozy mystery Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thecrimescenebooks.
About Penguin Group (USA)
Penguin Group (USA) LLC is one of the leading U.S. adult and children’s trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Viking, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, The Penguin Press, Riverhead Books, Dutton, Penguin Books, Berkley Books, Gotham Books, Portfolio, New American Library, Plume, Tarcher, Philomel, Grosset & Dunlap, Puffin, and Frederick Warne, among others. The Penguin Group (www.penguin.com) is a Penguin Random House company.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
This giveaway is for a special 20th anniversary Berkley Prime Crime tote bag filled with 5 of their cozies. The cozies included in the tote will be a mystery, but all will be Berkley Prime Crime titles.
To enter this giveaway, just answer the question below in the comments. Be sure to include a valid email address with your comment, if one is not available in your profile. “Do you have a favorite Berkley Prime Crime author, book or series (or many more than one)?”
If you wish not to be entered in the contest, just say ‘Not entering’ and then comment all you’d like. I don’t want to discourage someone from commenting just because they don’t want to enter the contest.
The deadline for entering the contest will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, March 12. The winner will be selected by Random.Org and I will notify the winner by email with the subject line ‘Thoughts in Progress Berkley Anniversary.’ The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the email with their mailing information or to notify me they’ve already won the book elsewhere. If there isn’t a response in 72 hours, a new winner will be selected.
BTW if you’d like extra entries in the giveaway, tweet about the giveaway (return and share the link), share it on Facebook (return and share the link) and pin it on Pinterest (return and share the link). For each entry you leave, you get an extra chance in the giveaway.
Thanks so much for dropping by and spending a bit of time with us. Remember, answer the following question for a chance to win a special 20th anniversary Berkley Prime Crime tote bag filled with 5 of their cozies, “Do you have a favorite Berkley Prime Crime author, book or series (or many more than one)?”
It’s my pleasure to welcome author Jack Getze here today as part of his Great Escape Virtual Book Tour for his recent release, BIG MONEY, the latest installment in his Austin Carr Mystery series.
As part of the tour, Jack has graciously answered some questions for me concerning his writing. In addition, he is giving away 2 e-Book copies of BIG MONEY to two lucky visitors to Thoughts in Progress and a special tour-wide giveaway. Please see the end of the post for details.
Here’s a brief synopsis of BIG MONEY (Austin Carr Mystery)
:
Publisher: Down & Out Books (January 12, 2014)
E-Book File Size: 884 KB
ASIN: B00HHAOZN4
Paperback: 218 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1937495671
In this jaunty follow-up to Big Numbers, ![clip_image001[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrg_OFHvugnHje7UychwX7g9TIf2_bZuzQ41657iClMa7WFFdyYUarVfhEF9dVrKBkAmRc8-DHrtdFvbZMLTuluxK_v-9jOaXE_Fp0P0hLwYESEmo_CAmVhzlg7X8vupeuCay3TOr/?imgmax=800 "clip_image001[1]")
a scruffy stockbroker returns to tangle with mobsters, women and his own big mouth.
The good news, as the story opens, is that the hero is in the company of a gorgeous naked lady.
The bad news is that she’s pointing a shotgun at him.
It’s a typical predicament for Austin Carr, a semi-shady New Jersey financial professional temporarily in charge of Shore Securities…He’s being extorted into opening a money-laundering account for local crime boss Bluefish; an auditor who was investigating his company has turned up murdered; a fetching state police captain figures he’s the key to her organized-crime probe; and his boss’s mother has been picked up for fixing her church bingo game.
Here’s what one reviewer had to say about the Austin Carr Mysteries:
Carr is continually getting into trouble over his weakness for breasts, his penchant for self-incriminating statements and his vestigial moral sensibility, which, like an appendix, makes itself felt at inconvenient times. — Kirkus Indie
Now here’s Jack to answer questions. Welcome, Jack.
Mason - As readers, we always wonder where book ideas come from and how characters come to be. What inspired you to create your protagonist Austin Carr?
Jack:
It's no coincidence the Austin Carr books are written in the first person. Moving to New Jersey from California was something of a shock for me, but using the telephone to solicit sales and feed my family -- after collecting information on the phone for The Los Angeles Times -- I found most distressing. I had to change and Austin is the butterfly that emerged from my cocoon. You can't hear it, but I'm laughing.
Mason - What is a typical writing day like for you?
Jack:
I love to start writing before the sun rises -- usually around 4 a.m. If I sleep much later, the dog jumps on my bed and demands to use the outside facilities -- my wife's flower garden. I make coffee, feed the cat and the dog, get to the computer about twenty minutes later. I check a few things on line -- You know, see what my Amazon sales numbers are, run my eyes over the email to see if Ron Howard wants me, that kind of thing -- then start writing. My fiction comes first, and I'll spend all day on it if I can. But these days authors have a lot of non-fiction to write for marketing purposes. I take many breaks -- to eat, do some housework, including most of the cooking for my wife and I -- but I basically write all day long and even into the night if my wife works late, or (like the day I'm answering your question) she's traveling. She does that a lot since I retired and started staying home.
Mason - Now that the book is out, what surprised you the most as you were writing it?
Jack:
The character Mama Bones. As usual with Austin's supporting cast, she began life as part of a story I'd heard since moving back to New Jersey -- a story about cheating on a church bingo game. I put the story in BIG MONEY early, thought I was probably done with her, but Angelina "Mama Bones" Bonacelli turned into a major player in Austin's life. Even more so in the next one, BIG MOJO. As an author I have to be careful -- it's my story and I can't let a character take over just because she's become extremely forceful. Someday she might have to start her own series, however. I cannot shut her up.
Mason - If you could write a book with any author (living or dead), who would it be and what type of book would you write?
Jack:
I'd love to write a book with the recently deceased Elmore Leonard, have him mark up my pages, teach me craft as we collaborated. As for what kind of book, I suppose I'd try to get Elmore to write a "big book," something we could pass off as world class thriller. He liked smaller stories about brave but unknown men. I loved every one I ever read -- thirty at least. But I wish he'd tackled a few blockbuster plots.
Mason - Most authors also enjoy reading. What was the last book you read and are you currently reading anything?
Jack:
At the crime writers convention Bouchercon this year a fellow I knew online stuck his new book from Stark House in my hands. I started on an airplane, mainly to pass the time, but got stuck in the characters, loved it to death, and read it straight through when I got home, much to the dismay of my family who hadn't seen me for a while. GRIND JOINT by Dana King. Wonderful cops and scary robbers. Very entertaining.
Finishing up BITCHES OF BROOKLYN by Rosemary Harris. Also very entertaining, although more in the humor category.
Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?
Jack:
Number three in the Austin Carr series, BIG MOJO, should be out before summer. Mama Bones and her son want revenge; Austin's best friend Luis and his new wife face her dangerous old boyfriend; and Austin gets lanced by Cupid's arrow. Or is this redhead just another pretty murderer?
Jack, thanks for joining us today and answering my questions. It’s always fun for me as a reader to learn how a story comes together and get a little insight into the writer.
Here’s a bit of background on Jack:
Former Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Getze is Fiction Editor for Anthony nominated Spinetingler Magazine, one of the internet’s oldest websites for noir, crime, and horror short stories. Through the Los Angeles Times/Washington Post News Syndicate, his news and feature stories were published in over five-hundred newspapers and periodicals worldwide.
His two screwball mysteries, BIG NUMBERS and BIG MONEY, are being reissued by DOWN & OUT BOOKS, with the new BIG MOJO to follow. His short stories have appeared in A Twist of Noir and Beat to a Pulp.
Jack is an Active Member of Mystery Writers of America’s New York Chapter.
For more on Jack and his writing, visit his website and connect with him on Goodreads.
TOUR PARTICIPANTS:
Jack is busy all this month with 28 stops in 31 days. Be sure to check out the following blogs to learn more about Jack, his writing and for additional chances to win.
March 1 – Mystery Playground - Interview, Giveaway
March 3 – Victoria's Pages of Romance - Spotlight
March 4 – rantin' ravin' and reading - Review, Interview, Giveaway
March 5 – Back Porchervations – Review, Giveaway
March 6 – Beth's Book Reviews - Guest Post, Giveaway
March 7 – Storeybook Reviews - Spotlight
March 8 – Kelly P's Blog - Interview
March 9 – A Chick Who Reads - Review
March 10 – Christa Reads and Writes - Review
March 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review
March 12 – fundinmental – Review - Giveaway
March 13 – readalot – Review
March 14 – Lori’s Reading Corner – Guest Post
March 15 – Books-n-Kisses - Review
March 16 –
March 17 – Omnimystery – Guest Post
March 18 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – Guest Post
March 19 – Deal Sharing Aunt - Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
March 20 – A Blue Million Books - Interview
March 21 – Teena in Toronto - Review
March 22 – Socrates' Book Review Blog - Review
March 23 – Reviews By Molly - Review, Giveaway
March 24 – Jane Reads - Review, Giveaway
March 25 – Darla King Series - Interview
March 26 –
March 27 – Chloe Gets A Clue - Interview
March 28 – Christy's Cozy Corners – Spotlight, Giveaway
March 29 –
March 30 – Brooke Blogs - Review, Giveaway
March 31 – Queen of All She Reads - Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
This giveaway is for two e-Book copies of BIG MONEY. The e-Books will be gifted through Amazon or Barnes and Noble, depending on the winner’s format choice.
To enter the giveaway for a digital copy of the book, just answer the question below in the comment section. Be sure to include your email address, if it isn’t included in your profile. If you wish not to be entered in the contest, just say ‘Not entering’ and then comment all you’d like. I don’t want to discourage someone from commenting just because they don’t want to enter the contest.
The deadline for entering the contest will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Monday, March 10. The winner will be selected by Random.Org and I will notify the winner by email with the subject line ‘Thoughts in Progress Big Money.’ The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the email with their mailing information or to notify me they’ve already won the book elsewhere. If there isn’t a response in 72 hours, a new winner will be selected.
BTW if you’d like extra entries in the giveaway, tweet about the giveaway (return and share the link), share it on Facebook (return and share the link) and pin it on Pinterest (return and share the link).
Remember, answer the following question for a chance to win a digital copy of BIG MONEY: “Do you like your protagonist with a good sense of humor or more serious minded?”
Thanks so much for dropping by and spending a bit of time with us. Now here’s the additional tour-wide giveaway. Just click on the Rafflecopter for a chance to win this awesome prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
One of my favorite cozy murder mystery series has a new installment coming out next week and I’m delighted to share my thoughts on it.
The folks in author Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mystery series always seem to have a lot going on, even if a dead body turns up now and then.
Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning isn’t a wine connoisseur, but she still enjoys attending a fancy wine-tasting party at the upscale Knighthall Winery. Theo and her tea expert, Drayton Conneley, are enjoying the evening when things turn sour – a dead body is discovered in the prize barrel of wine. It turns out to be Drew Knight, son of the winery owner, Jordan Knight.
Unhappy with the sheriff’s investigation, Jordan turns to his friend Drayton, asking for his and Theo’s help. As they being to ask questions, financial problems, marital woes, and unhappy family relationships surface. In time Theo helps the authorities locate the killer. But, then Theo isn’t sure this is the real killer.
Childs once again blends the cozy tea shop atmosphere with the adrenaline rush of searching for a killer. The characters are realistic, likable and easy for readers to relate to with their own faults and worries. The secondary characters add charm and depth to the story.
STEEPED IN EVIL moves at a steady pace. While you may guess some of the outcome, the road to the end has a few intriguing twists and turns. There is a good balance of suspense, mystery and humor throughout the book.
Childs’ eye for detail and rich descriptions places the reader in the heart of Charleston where the energy of the Church Street residents holds you spellbound. Her vivid portrayals bring the sights, sounds and smells of the tea shop off the pages and into the room with you. The charm and friendly atmosphere envelop you as you devour this tantalizing mystery.
The book concludes with delicious recipes, tea party suggestions and a sneak peak at Childs’ next installment in her Scrapbooking Mystery series. While this is the 15th installment in the Tea Shop Mystery series, it can be read on its own. A love of tea is not required to enjoy this charming cozy mystery, but it might just inspire you to give the beverage a try.
Author Laura Childs’ website is http://www.laurachilds.com/
Steeped in Evil by Laura Childs, Tea Shop Mystery Book #15, Berkley Prime Crime, @2014, ISBN: 978-0425252956, Hardcover, 320 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. STEEPED IN EVIL is out in bookstores Tuesday, March 4th. Has reading a book inspired you to try a new beverage or food? What about trying a new hobby like knitting or crocheting?
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