Sunday Salon: Half-Price Homicide by Elaine Viets

If it wasn’t for bad luck, Helen Hawthorne won’t have any luck at all.

At least that’s the way it seems most of the time as Helen changes from one dead-end job to the next trying to stay one step ahead of her womanizing leech of an ex-husband, Rob. Helen is the heroine in HALF-PRICE HOMICIDE, author Elaine Viet’s latest installment in the Dead-End Job Mystery series.

Helen’s current job is at a high-end clothing consignment shop in South Florida. Vera, the shop owner, buys and re-sales designer apparel that is to die for in more ways than one.

A customer is found hanging by a Gucci scarf in the shop’s dressing room. The list of suspects includes the victim’s developer husband and a female county commissioner, as well as a neighbor from Helen’s apartment complex.

With the police turning the shop upside down looking for clues and no customers browsing through the racks, Vera ask Helen to solve the murder so life can go back to normal. As Helen works on the list of suspects, another murder victim is found. This time it’s her neighbor that was in the shop and a suspect in the first murder.

Helen’s unusual group of eclectic friends from the apartment complex returns including apartment owner, Margery, whose love of outlandish outfits and chain smoking habits are a stable force in Helen’s life.

To add to Helen’s stress, her mother had a heart attack with complications shortly after stopping Helen’s wedding and had to be hospitalized. When her condition takes a turn for the worse, Helen has to return to St. Louis to lay her mother to rest. While in St. Louis, Helen and her sister deal with their step father, Lawn Boy Larry, who tries to skimp on the funeral to save the money for himself.

Helen starts making arrangements to get her life back on track and legal. But, before she can her ex-husband turns up. Rob’s reappearance causes Helen more heartache and worries, even endangering the future of her young nephew.

Some how in the midst of all the craziness, including an attempt on Helen’s life; she and her true love, Phil, try a second time to get married.

From the first introduction to the chic consignment shop to the thunderstorm on the beach at the end, author Elaine Viets takes the reader on a whirlwind ride of fun, excitement, mystery and suspense. Follow Helen as she tracks her way through the list of high society suspects, political intrigue, and porcelain pineapples. 

HALF-PRICE HOMICIDE is a stand alone book, although it is the ninth installment in the mystery series. First-time readers of the series won’t be left wondering what’s going on, but they will want to know all the crazy jobs Helen has had before along with all the mishaps she finds herself in.

Fans of the series will be reunited with some old friends and introduced to several new ones. In addition, they may find that the curse of Apartment 2C could be changing.

For a fun time in a hot city, check out HALF-PRICE HOMICIDE. You‘ll never look at designer labels quite the same.

For more information on author Elaine Viets or the Dead-End Job Mystery series, check out www.elaineviets.com or Break Through Promotions

Half-Price Homicide, A Dead-End Job Mystery by Elaine Viets, Obsidian Mysteries, @2010, ISBN: 978-0-451-22989-2, Hardcover, 264 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.

House of Dreams

Ever plan or design your dream house?

Maybe you have and maybe you’ve been fortunate enough to have built it.

For me, I'm still dreaming and my dream home changes depending on my mood. If I won the lottery and could build my dream house, I’d probably drive the contractor crazy changing things. However, there are some things that stay constant.

First, I’d finally have a library. A place to showcase all my books instead of packing them in boxes. The elements of the room change some, but I want a bay window with a window seat, a fireplace, a big comfortable chair, and lots and lots of shelves.

Second is the kitchen. It changes from modern to rustic to Southwestern to….you get the picture. I would have lots of cabinets, windows for growing herbs, and lots of counter space. I don’t always get along with technology, but I love kitchen gadgets. The kitchen would be warm and inviting - the main place family and friends gathers.

Third would be the master bathroom. There would be lots of cabinet space, a large vanity, and a large shower. What changes is the bathtub. It goes from a sunken tub to a claw foot tub to a large standard tub and back again.

The remainder of the rooms in the house would all fall in place.

Descriptions of homes are included in many stories. Sometimes the home or rooms of the house are a major part of the story. Other times they are minor but are mentioned to give background and more information about the character.

As a reader I like to find out more about the homes of the characters as long as it doesn’t go into too much extreme detail. I don’t have to know what type of crown molding is around the door unless a piece of that wood is going to wind up in the skull of a victim or it's a element of the character's story. But reading how the protagonist's kitchen looks can sometimes give you a glimpse of their personality.

Do you include descriptions of your characters’ homes or certain rooms in your stories? Do these descriptions include bits of your dream home or do your characters determine how their homes will look?

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Woohoo, more giveaway winners to announce. I'm running late selecting the two winners of Meredith Duran’s WICKED BECOMES YOU. Using Random.org congratulations goes to Venus D. of Hawaii and Marg (please send me an e-mail with your name and address). Thanks to everyone who commented on Meredith’s post.

Tomorrow is Sunday Salon and I hope to share a review of a new cozy murder mystery with you. Have a wonderful Saturday and enjoy some time for yourself.

Guest Blogger, Grace Coopersmith

Please join me in welcoming author Grace Coopersmith as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.

Grace makes her contemporary fiction debut with a humorous and poignant romantic tale of a finicky young socialite. Here’s a brief synopsis: “In NANCY’S THEORY OF STYLE (which goes on sale May 18) Nancy Carrington-Chambers struggles to find fulfillment after abandoning all the trappings of her seemingly perfect life—but never giving up her style.
 
Nancy Edith Carrington-Chambers was born into the right family, studied at the best schools, befriended the popular crowd, dressed to the nines, and married the ideal man in Todd Chambers. But a year into her marriage, she realizes the dream house she built with Todd is more of a tacky nightmare. Unable to live there a moment longer, Nancy escapes to the elegant apartment owned by her family in San Francisco's posh Pacific Heights. Taking a break from her once flawless storybook marriage, Nancy dedicates herself to her event planning business, Froth, and hires the assistant she has always coveted: a gorgeous, impeccably groomed, gay, British man, Derek.
 
While Nancy is busy preparing for San Francisco society’s most exclusive fundraiser, her eccentric cousin flits off to Greece—and without any warning leaves her precocious four-year-old daughter Eugenia in Nancy’s care. With Derek’s help, Nancy is able to make a new life for herself and Eugenia. But Nancy can’t help worrying that she's becoming too attached to the girl… and far too attracted to her assistant. And at the moment that should be Nancy's biggest success, her world comes crashing down.
 
Grace dropped by today to talk about writing with “Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.”

Sir Donald Wolfit, a Shakespearean actor who passed away in 1968, is attributed with saying on his deathbed, “Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.” As someone who writes primarily (but not exclusively) humorous fiction, my tendency is to make jokes about my own work. I think it’s more comfortable for a humorist to be self-deprecating. We’re used to be the kids in the back of the room, placed there to be minimally distracting in our constant quest to make our classmates laugh.

Because when we do cause others to laugh, oh, la, the feeling is utterly delicious.

The challenge is to make the laughter spontaneous and natural. Our humor must appear to be effortless, and I think that’s why people assume that we’re not as passionate about our writing as someone who chooses to write tragic stories. No, we work hard, but we prefer to give others those moments of joy that can be had with a funny story.

My character, Nancy, is the girl you love to hate. She’s pretty, privileged, judgmental, and self-centered. She separates from her increasingly boorish husband to work on her event planning company, Froth. She leaves their horrible McMansion in a half-abandoned development and returns to her chic bachelorette apartment in San Francisco’s posh Pacific Heights.

The very first thing she does is hire an assistant to help her resurrect one of the city’s most venerated fundraisers. Her assistant, Derek, is impeccably dressed, British, gorgeous, and gay. Things are going well, when Nancy’s irresponsible cousin abandons her four-year-old in Nancy’s care. Somehow, Nancy, her assistant, and the child begin to forge a sort of family.

Nancy begins to let go of the tight control she’s had on the details of her life. Little by little, we learn that Nancy’s life has not been the “lovely, lovely” image she projects. It is more like a beautiful piece of glass that has a slight crack. The crack is only visible when you hold the glass to the light, but it is enough to make the glass much more fragile than it appears to be. (Yes, I stole that image from Henry James, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.)

When Derek asks Nancy why she puts on parties, she says, “Something magical happens when the ambience is right and people are celebrating. It’s momentary and elusive, but as glorious as a butterfly. I want to think that creating that shared joy is important.”

And that’s why I love writing stories that make people laugh and feel happy – I want to think that creating a shared joy is important.

Grace, thanks for sharing this background on your writing. It gives us more insight into the character of Nancy.

For more information on Grace and her writing, check out her website at www.gracecoopersmith.com

To Text Or Not To Text

On any given day do you text once, twice, or more?

As a general rule, I don’ t text. I do, however, occasionally answer text messages. I rarely ever send out a text first. I think texting is great especially when you have to communicate with someone who is say in a hospital or other place that a ringing phone wouldn’t be appropriate.

I have nothing against texting except my eye sight. The screen and the key pad are just too small for me to do it quickly and continuously like some do. I know, if I did it more I’d probably get faster and better at it, but ….

There’s been a lot of talk in the news lately about texting and driving. Around our state (Georgia), many schools are promoting petitions for the students and teachers, as well as parents, to sign saying they won’t text and drive.

That’s all well and good. I think it’s great, but isn’t it just good old fashion common sense not to text and drive? I can’t image trying to drive and type at the same time. Maybe I’m just getting old.

There was also a question in the news recently about policemen using their laptops and driving. The officer in charge said his officers would continue to use their laptops and drive because the computers were mounted at eye level and won’t interfere with their driving. I have friends who are cops, but I don’t agree with that decision. Looks like it could cause them to wreck just as easy as the average driver texting. Okay, I won’t go off on a rant here.

I will end this rambling by telling you why I even got to thinking about texting and driving.

My new phone notifies me when I get an e-mail and I’m able to check it from my phone. I was in the grocery store this week when my phone beeped that I had a new e-mail. I began checking to see what it was as I continued down the aisle with my cart. I heard a man speak loudly and looked up to see he was speaking to his daughter in front of me.

She had stopped and he was telling her to move. I had almost run into her with my shopping cart because I was busy checking my e-mail and not looking where I was going. No one was hurt and we had a good laugh especially after I told him maybe there should be a law against me walking and checking my e-mail much less texting.

Anyone else get carried away with the wonders of modern technology and almost have a mishap?

Yeah, I have winners to announce. Five lucky people won a copy of Paula Quinn’s RAVISHED BY A HIGHLANDER. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest. Congratulations goes to: Johnannah B. of Virginia, Dawn M. of Oklahoma, Stacey S. of California, Cheryl M. of Canada, and Sue K. of Indiana. 

Be sure to check out the current giveaways and enter.Tomorrow's guest blogger will be Grace Coopersmith, author of NANCY'S THEORY OF STYLE.

Guest Blogger, R.C. Ryan

I’m please to welcome New York Times bestselling author R.C. Ryan back to Thoughts in Progress today as the special guest blogger on her blog tour with the next installment in her series.

MONTANA DESTINY is the second installment in the McCord trilogy featuring three rugged, sexy cowboy cousins. MONTANA LEGACY was the first book in the series.

Thanks to R.C., Anna and the folks at the Hachette Book Group, I have five copies of MONTANA DESTINY to give away. Please see the giveaway details at the end of her post.

Here’s a brief synopsis of the latest book, “Emergency medic Marilee Trainor likes her freedom and lives for trouble. But when she stumbles upon a clue to the legendary McCord gold, she 's suddenly in a mysterious killer's sights--and the arms of irresistible playboy Wyatt McCord. This McCord cousin has been everywhere, yet the ranch is the only place he feels at home. Now Marilee's courage and independence make him want to protect her, win her heart, and finally settle down. But trust is the one thing Wyatt and Marilee can't easily give. And their survival and everything they cherish depends on whether they can surrender to each other--to fight for their…”

R.C. stopped by today to talk about her western romance series. During a BlogTalk radio interview on her first tour I asked why she made the McCords cousins instead of brothers. For this tour I asked why one of the cousins wasn’t a female.

I enjoy writing series about families. Most of them are brothers and sisters. But in this particular series I felt that cousins worked better than brothers, since they would bring diverse backgrounds and family histories with them. 

Brothers wouldn't have been separated at such a young age, wouldn't have had different sets of parents, and such different life experiences. I thought those different backgrounds would add color and flavor to my characters. 
 
I've been asked why I don't have a female cousin in this mix. One of the cousins could have been female. That would have worked as well as three male cousins. 

Honestly, I just didn't think of it at the time. In my mind, I saw them as a band of brothers, only closer. Best friends, raised in the same household until their separation, and forced to work very hard at re-establishing that old bond now that they were reunited as adults.
 
These three, with such very different backgrounds and temperaments, just worked well for me. I had such a great time telling their stories. I hope all of you had as much pleasure reading about them.

R.C., thanks so much for guest blogging here today. I can see where cousins work better than brothers would have. Looking forward to seeing what’s next for the McCords.

Now for the giveaway, I have five copies of MONTANA DESTINY (ISBN: 9780446548632) to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. The deadline for entering the giveaway is 8 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, May 25. To enter, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with “Win Destiny” in the subject line and include your name and address in the body of the e-mail.

Fair or Partly Cloudy

Rain, shine, fog, hot, cold - do you have a favorite season or a favorite climate?

Me, I usually go for sunshine and warm weather as my favorite type of season, but I sometimes enjoy a rainy afternoon since I find it's a great time to read.

Our unusual weather and kind words from Michele at Southern City Mysteries about my Saturday post got me to thinking. I know it's a scary concept, but it does happen from time to time so I decided to run with it. :)

Lately we’ve had some crazy weather. Granted, our weather hasn’t been bad compared to what other people are experiencing. However, it's still crazy. Last week it was 90 degrees, yesterday it was in the mid 50s and raining, and today it’s suppose to be in the upper 70s and cloudy. Old-timers call this Blackberry Winter because the blackberries are blooming.

I’ve never given a lot of thought to the weather, except in the winter when snow is being predicted (but that’s a topic for another post). I usually just check to see if I’m going to need a raincoat or a sweater the next day. Aside from checking the local weather, the only place I checked was Texas where my

best friend lives. She travels some for her job so when she’s going on a trip I keep an eye on the weather where she going.

Now I look at weather differently. With blogging friends all over the states and the world, when bad weather strikes I begin to wonder and worry if my new friends are effected.

The one thing I hadn’t given much thought to is the seasons of the year where everyone is. An example - we are close to the end of spring here in Georgia with the first day of summer not far away. Charamine from Wagging Tales mentioned she’s in Australia where the chilly weather is starting to sit in. Louise Perry said Mother’s Day they woke to five inches of snow in Canada where she lives and were expecting a hard frost last night.

While I may be getting ready for summer, some of you are getting ready for winter or may already be experiencing it. So what season are you in? What is the weather like where you are? Has it been normal or unusual weather?

Speaking of weather, do you include it in your writing? Does it play a major role or just a minor footnote?

Some stories have to have weather included. How many times have you read, “It was a dark and stormy night”? And think about “that noise that goes bump in the night.” It’s not as scary if it’s 3 in the afternoon and the sun is shinning when you hear that bump.

Weather effects our daily lives so it just goes to reason that it would effect the characters we love to read about. Planning any major weather disasters for your characters and WIP?

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Remember today is the deadline for the RAVISHED BY A HIGHLANDER giveaway. Be sure to get your e-mail entry in by 8 p.m. (EST). 
 

Mondays - Blue or Gold?

Do you view Monday as a good day to bring anew and accomplish goals for the coming week or is Monday a bad day when you have to get back to the grind of work leaving the carefree weekend behind?

For me, it’s a little of both. I try to use Monday as my day to really get organized for the week concerning things that I know have to be done. It usually doesn’t work, but at least I keep trying. One day, who knows, I might actually make it.

Today I’m going to do a little round-up of sorts. I have the Mother’s Day Romance Giveaway winners to announce and I also have three new audio books to offer as giveaways. I’ve signed up to do reviews on these audios, as well as two others. This will be my first audio reviews, not that they would be not much different than reviewing a book.

First up, the winners of the Mother’s Day Romance Giveaway. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest. Congratulations to these winners: Doreen R. of Canada, Amber D. of MI, and Kay from My Random Acts of Reading. They each won a package containing six titles from Romance Forever section of the Hachette Book Group. The titles include: MONTANA DESTINY by R.C. Ryan, RAVISHED BY A HIGHLANDER by Paula Quinn, STILL THE ONE by Robin Wells, DESIRE ME by Robyn DeHart, KNIGHT OF PASSION by Margaret Mallory, and TO SURRENDER TO A ROGUE by Cara Elliott.

Next, thanks to Anna and the folks at Hachette Audio, have three copies of each of the following audio books to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be used, as pre Hachette’s requirements. The deadline to enter will be at 8 p.m. (EST) on Friday, May 28. To enter, just send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with “Win” and the book title in the subject line. Include your name and mailing address in the body of the e-mail. In case, you’re new to my giveaways, I don’t share or use the mailing addresses for anything other than submitting them to Hachette if you win.  

The audio books are all unabridged, cover several different genres, and include:

GOD NEVER BLINKS by Regina Brett (ISBN: 9781607881681) and read by the author.

Already an internet phenomenon, these wise and insightful lessons by popular newspaper columnist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Regina Brett will make you see the possibilities in your life in a whole new way.

When Regina Brett turned 50, she wrote a column on the 50 lessons life had taught her. She reflected on all she had learned through becoming a single parent, looking for love in all the wrong places, working on her relationship with God, battling cancer and making peace with a difficult childhood. It became one of the most popular columns ever published in the newspaper, and since then the 50 lessons have been emailed to hundreds of thousands of people.

Brett now takes the 50 lessons and expounds on them in essays that are deeply personal. From "Don't take yourself too seriously-Nobody else does" to "Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift," these lessons will strike a chord with anyone who has ever gone through tough times--and haven't we all?

MEN AND DOGS by Katie Crouch (ISBN: 978160788134) and read by Gabra Zackman.

In April of 1985, Buzz Legare went fishing. The next day all that was found was his boat and his waiting, faithful dog.

Twenty years later, his daughter Hannah still finds hope in believing, alone among her family, that he's still alive somewhere. She has a smart husband, a thriving business, a beautiful home in San Francisco-and a huge hole in her troubled heart. True to her trademark talent for self-sabotage, she finds herself one starry night climbing up the fire escape in a desperate (and drunken) attempt to win back her own husband--and failing disastrously.

Slightly worse for the wear, Hannah returns to Charleston to salve her wounds. There, old loves, unrepented crimes, and family legends are stirred up from the dust. Hannah's brother Palmer, the stoic with a secret of his own, cannot dissuade her from a manic search to uncover clues to the past, and they will both face shocking discoveries that lead them to reconcile their very different notions of loyalty and blind faith.

As she did so memorably in her bestselling debut, Girls in Trucks, Katie Crouch has created another great voice--spiky, tender, and hilarious--in the screwball heroine Hannah Legare. Much like Julia Roberts in My Best Friend's Wedding, Hannah follows the misguided impulses of a heart that's in the right place.

DELIVER US FROM EVIL by David Baldacci (ISBN: 9781600249648) and read by Ron McLarty.

In South America a 96-year-old man of great wealth reads a book late one night and an hour later he lies dead in his bed, the secrets of his past starkly revealed. Six months later another mystery man lies dead at the bottom of his pool in a villa in Provence. This time, however, there's a witness at the scene: Shaw, the shadowy operative from The Whole Truth, who barely escapes with his life. Meanwhile, a half a world away, photojournalist Katie James is working on a story of international importance.

Okay, how’s your Monday going so far? Do you have a plan in place? If you’re a writer, do you ever have your characters worrying about what day it is or put any emphasis on the week in your writing?

Sunday Salon: Rumor Has It by Jill Mansell

I was intrigued when I read the blurb about RUMOR HAS IT.

Newly single Tilly Cole impulsively moves to a small town, only to find she's arrived in a hotbed of gossip, intrigue, and rampant rivalry for the most desirable man—Jack Lucas, whose reputation is beyond bad. Tilly has no intention of becoming another notch on his bedpost. But she finds the thoughtful, caring guy she comes to value as a friend doesn't seem to fit the town's playboy image. Should she listen to her friends or her heart? Is Tilly being mature and sensible—or running away from the love of her life?

After reading the book, I don’t think the blurb really does the book complete justice. Don't get me wrong, it’s a good blurb and gets your attention. However, there is so much more going on with the other characters that’s not mentioned.

There are several basic storylines happening at the same time. Author Jill Mansell has a unique way of intertwining all the storylines so they flow smoothly from one to the next and back again naturally.

Besides the fascinating story of Tilly and her attraction to the town’s Casanova, Jack; you have her best friend Erin, who owns a consignment dress shop. Erin falls for Fergus, who is estranged from Stella. Their story is funny, outrageous, sweet and touching. To have Erin’s grace would be amazing.

Next you have Tilly’s new box, Max, and his 13-year-old daughter, Lou. Max owns an interior design company and is gay. Lou is a typical teenager with moments of grownup wisdom.

Also in the mix is Max’s ex-wife, Kaye, a Hollywood actress. Kaye finds herself in a wee bit of trouble in the states, returns to Roxborough and soon has the attention of a “stalker” from New York.

All of this may sound a little confusing, but not to worry. RUMOR HAS IT is a delightful read from the opening line until the last word with no confusing bumps along the way.

If you enjoy YOU’VE GOT MAIL or SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, you don’t want to miss this book. It will have you laughing out loud, shaking your head in disbelief, stunned at some of the outrageous behavior, and even shedding a tear or two of joy and sorrow. This may be a chick-lit book, but I think male readers will enjoy it too. They just may not tell anyone they’ve read it.

As for the central figure, Tilly. She’s a wonderful character. She has the normal faults and concerns we all have. She does, however, find herself in some unusual circumstances from time to time.

When you need a relaxing, fun book to help you unwind and have a laugh or two, reach for RUMOR HAS IT. You won’t go wrong.

Rumor Has It by Jill Mansell, Sourcebooks Landmark, @2010, ISBN: 978-1-4022-3750-8, Paperback, 416 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.

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Where Are You?

Think for just a minute about where you are right now reading this and where I was when I wrote this (Georgia, USA).

When I think of the internet like that, I’m amazed by technology. Not that technology and I get along that well. And yes, I know there is that little thing called a telephone that connects people around the world.

But with the internet we are “communicating” and it’s not costing us an arm and a leg and our first born (maybe just a hand for DSL). It’s fun, it’s fast and you can visit all over the world in a matter of minutes without having to change out of your pjs or worry how your hair looks.

With that in mind, let me tell you about a new blog I recently found in the U.K. called Bah! to cancer. This blog is hosted by Stephanie who is a breast cancer survivor having been diagnosis in November 2008. Stephanie has a most inspiring approach to her disease.

Stephanie has launched the Bah! Brilliant Book Bonanza where she has “a big pile of great books in the corner of my living room just waiting for a new home.” Check out her May 4 post to find out about the books and how to get one. (The donation amount is $3 in American funds.)

One thing I also learned recently is to be sure to get to know a new blog before you assume anything. I found another great blog - Fifi flowers - and love the look of it. Fifi has some of the most beautiful paintings with a French flair. I assumed she was in Paris. She’s in Southern California. You just never know. Be sure to drop by and see why I thought France. I found both of these great new blogs through the wonderful blog of Talli Roland.

I’m thrilled that I’ve new friends from all over the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France, India, the U.K. and Siberia to name a few places. I’ve thought of adding one of those maps that shows where visitors are from but I’m not sure.

One thing I’ve got to find is a time zone map of the world. That way I can keep up with what time it is in other parts of the world when I’m online.

I'd like to say a special thanks to Rayna at Coffee Rings Everywhere for awarding me the Sunshine Award this week. If you haven't been by Rayna's site, but sure to stop by there. You won't be disappointed. She has a very entertaining blog and gives an in depth look at life in India. Thanks Rayna.

I have a review of a great book coming up tomorrow and on Monday I’ll have some new giveaways to announce, as well as the winners of the Mother’s Day giveaway (still time to enter).

Thanks for stopping by yesterday. I wasn't around due to a very crazy day at work (remember I said technology and I don't get along). But I do appreciate everyone who came by and I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to visit your blogs as I wanted to. Hope you enjoy your world travel today. No problem with checking in luggage, no worry that the flight will be delayed, and no stranger hogging the armrest. Just relax, reach for your favorite beverage and start your trip. So, where are you as you’re reading this?

Guest Blogger, Douglas Corleone

Please join me in welcoming award-winning author Douglas Corleone as the special guest blogger today here at Thoughts in Progress.

Douglas won the 2009 Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Crime Novel award for his book, ONE MAN’S PARADISE, which was released on April 27.

Douglas stopped by today to talk about his book and writing.

I was about to share my thoughts on using Hawaii as the setting for my new thriller series featuring Honolulu criminal defense lawyer Kevin Corvelli, but then I became distracted (as I often do) by something on the Internet. It was a review of my debut novel ONE MAN’S PARADISE, placed on the outstanding local literary website, Hawaii Book Blog.

Let me begin by saying, it was a very nice review and I’m damn proud of it. The reviewer exceeded my expectations by exploring the novel in such depth that I found myself reading the piece twice online, before finally printing the review out in order to dissect it. If only all reviews were given this much thought, I might actually know what I’d like to read next. 

The reviewer also accomplished something else: she made me think. How so? One of her few complaints about the novel (found among her many compliments) was that she found some secondary local characters to be token stereotypes. “It’s unfortunate,” the reviewer says, “that the locals (read: Hawaiians) Corvelli seems to gravitate toward are typically ‘troubled’ or came off as working class: bartenders, doormen, drug dealers/users, and so forth.” 

Of course, I respectfully disagree with this assessment; it wholly ignores a vital Native Hawaiian Homicide Detective named John Tatupu and does a disservice to those who work in the service industry, which contributes tremendously to Hawaii’s economy. But it does bring forward an interesting debate: how should writers of crime fiction navigate the minefields of race and ethnicity in today’s climate? 

Literature, crime or otherwise, is a vital part of any culture. And while fiction itself is by its very definition a lie, I think we as writers would be doing our culture a disservice by putting on a pair of rose-colored glasses before we sit down to write. Generally, any story presents a microcosm of the society it is set in. Of course, given time and page constraints, the novel is more like a snapshot of that microcosm. ONE MAN’S PARADISE is no exception. 

If one were to dive into the archives of the Honolulu Advertiser, he or she would find that many problems affecting Native Hawaiians today parallel many of the problems facing Native Americans on the mainland. Poverty and unemployment are two such issues. Drug use is another. As writers, should we ignore such issues entirely, or do we have an obligation to present existing injustices in the hope that they will no longer be ignored by others?

Where must the crime writer draw the line in terms of political correctness? For every “bad” guy presented in a novel, need there be a “good” guy of the same ethnicity to cancel him out? And how should we handle these characters who are neither good nor bad, but who live in the gray area most human beings exist in? I would suggest that all of the characters portrayed in ONE MAN’S PARADISE live in that gray area, be they professional, “working class,” or criminal.

Ultimately, this important issue is for readers to decide, because they are the ones who buy books. But I would suggest to crime writers to think twice before changing every flawed character’s name to Smith in order to avoid controversy. We are not a nation of Smiths, and we are certainly not a world of Smiths. Ethnicity is a dimension of character we must not avoid. There is good and bad in every culture, and if a writer somehow fails to concoct the perfect mix, let him know, but continue to enjoy the story. The good guys may very well be lurking just off-camera, waiting to play their roles in the sequel.     

Douglas, thanks for guest blogging here today. You’ve brought up a very interesting point about characters and their flaws. Definitely something to ponder.

For more information on Douglas, checkout his website .

Guest Blogger, Robin Wells

I’m pleased to introduce author Robin Wells as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress as she stops on her blog tour.

Robin’s current release is STILL THE ONE. Thanks to her, Anna and the Hachette Book Group, I have five copies to giveaway. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway guidelines.

Robin has stopped by today to talk about what her writing process is like.
 
It all starts with an idea. Anything can spur it -- a newspaper article, a snippet of overhear conversation, a billboard, a place I drive past, a song on the radio, a Sunday sermon, a friend’s remark....

The idea for Still the One came to me as I was writing the book Between the Sheets. Katie was the best friend of the heroine in Between the Sheets, and she just grew on me. She owned the hair salon in Chartreuse, Louisiana, and her husband was in Iraq. It wasn’t a part of that story, but in the back of my mind, I knew that Katie’s husband wouldn’t make it back.  

Once an idea captures me, I start playing around with it, developing the character, asking myself what else could happen, how the character would react, what the character would feel and why. For me, it’s all about the characters.
 
The actual beginning-a-book process is messy and disorganized at first. I just sit down and write down ideas --- some of which I’ll keep, some of which I’ll throw out--- and play around with opening scenes. After a while, it starts to coalesce into a story.
 

I write the first three chapters, then stop and write a five-to-ten page synopsis of the book. The synopsis is my road map, although I’ve been known to take major detours from it.
 

I usually write in the mornings-- most often in my home office, but sometimes at coffee shops or the library. I usually write on my laptop, but sometimes I’ll write in longhand in bed or in the bathtub. There’s something freeing about that-- it seems like it’s not really writing, so it’s easier to play around with the story. 

During a first draft, I’ll sort of clean up the copy as I go--I start out each morning by re-reading and fixing what I wrote the day before-- but I try to save major changes for what I call my surgical draft. After I finish the book, I’ll go back through and do a big, bloody revision, where I cut things out and put new things in and move stuff around. After that, I’ll go through it maybe five or six more times before I show it to someone else.  If I have time, my husband reads it.  If I’m fighting a deadline, I send it right to my editor.

How do you research a story like this?
 
The internet is the most wonderful research tool  ever invented. You can find out anything you want to know on the internet--- or at least find the names of books and people that have the information you need. 

What do you hope readers take away from this book?
 
I hope they take away the importance of forgiveness-- of others, and of themselves. I also hope they take away an increased sensitivity to how everyone’s motivations and perceptions are colored by their personal histories. If we knew each other’s backstories, we would judge each other a lot less harshly.
  
Most of all, I hope this book gives readers a fresh appreciation for the relationships in their lives and leaves them with a renewed sense of hope. To read an excerpt or download a list of discussion questions, visit my website at robinwells.com. 

Robin, thanks so much for guest blogging today. It’s always interesting to find out an author’s writing process and how they go about researching for their writing.

Now for the giveaway, I have five copies of STILL THE ONE to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. The deadline for entering the giveaway is Tuesday, May 18. To enter, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with “WIN STILL THE ONE” in the subject line and include your name and address in the body of the e-mail.

Here’s a brief synopsis of STILL THE ONE: “After Katie Charmaine's husband is killed in Iraq, all she has left is a closet full of his clothes, a few pictures, and fond memories. She not only lost her love, but her last chance to have the children she's always wanted. Until Zack Ferguson shows up in town . . . with the daughter Katie gave up for adoption nearly seventeen years ago.

Zack Ferguson has never forgotten Katie, or the one magical night they spent together. Seeing her again brings up a tidal wave of emotions: regret over the way he left her, anger at the secret she kept, and desire he hasn't felt in years. But he's in town for Gracie. Their daughter is sixteen, angry at the world, and-worst of all-pregnant. She needs the love of her two parents now more than ever. Can these three forgive the hurts of the past and open their hearts to each other?”

Guest Blogger, Paula Quinn

Please join me in welcoming author Paula Quinn as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress as part of her blog tour.

Paula’s latest release is RAVISHED BY A HIGHLANDER. Thanks to Paula, Anna and the Hachette Book Group I’m able to offer five copies of the book. Please see the giveaway guidelines at the end of the post.

Paula is here to talk about her writing and why she writes historicals.
 
I’ve always loved the past. Even as a kid, history was my favorite subject in school. Maybe it has to do with my astrological sign (Cancer). They say us crabs live and learn our lessons from yesterday and while I hate being lumped into such a generic mold, I am, in fact, inspired by past events and by the lessons those events have taught us. Whenever possible I try to incorporate real historical facts and people into my books. England’s kings, for some reason, really get my muse up and about. I don’t love them all, but I love reading and writing about them—and I love the heroes of their garrisons even more. These guys are tough, alpha males who have looked down the length of a bloody sword, saw death and grinned in its ugly face.

They’re not mad, as laughing down the barrel of a gun might be considered in a contemporary. They’re warriors who are use to fighting a foot apart. Romantic? It certainly is when these same men lose their valiant hearts to lady. Sure, there are heroic modern men who are just as courageous, just as drool-worthy when they fall in love—or are heedlessly trying not to. But I prefer a castle setting, where the sound of a destrier’s hooves signals a knight’s return and sets his beloved’s heart to thrashing with anticipation.
 
And who says ‘beloved’ anymore anyway? If ever a more romantic word was uttered, I haven’t heard it. Which brings me to another reason I write historicals. My heroes get bloody but they’re honorable and chivalrous, with knightly values—even the rogues. Well, most of them. I like sappy, old-fashioned tales of love. The kind that makes you wait for that touch, that kiss, until you sigh right along with the heroine and dream about yourself being kissed the same way. I’m all for good, hot sex between the H&H, but if it’s the desert at the end of the satisfying meal, then let’s delight in the toppings. Passion, emotion, devotion, commitment. It’s the whipped cream, the cherry, and the nuts. In today’s market, unless you’re writing inspirational romance, the first sex scene on page 275 isn’t going to cut it.  In today’s world, it’s less believable than in an historical.
 
One thing I do love about the present is that publishers are no longer looking for the typical damsel in distress waiting to be rescued. Historical women were strong and brave enough to face armies. Remember Queen Elizabeth and Joan of Arc? Don’t get me wrong, I’m a full-blooded, crybaby romantic. I like a guy who is strong and brave enough to rescue his woman, and a woman who is skilled and courageous enough to rescue her man.
 
So what’s your favorite characteristic in a hero or heroine? Are there any other time periods you would like to see in a romance that aren't out there?

Paula, thanks so much for stopping by and giving us a glimpse at why you write historicals. Here’s a brief blurb about RAVISHED BY A HIGHLANDER: “Davina Montgomery is no ordinary English lady. For her own protection, she's been locked away from society, her true identity the Crown's most closely guarded secret. Until a shocking betrayal--and a bold rescue--land her in the arms of a fierce Highlander, a powerful warrior whose searing gaze and tantalizing touch awaken her body and soul.

As the firstborn son of a powerful Scottish laird, Robert MacGregor has no loyalty to the English throne, but he's not the kind of man to leave a woman in distress, even if she is English. He vows to deliver Davina to safety, unharmed and untouched. Yet one stolen kiss leaves them both smoldering with desire...and desperate for more. With Davina's secret threatening to destroy his clan, Rob must choose between everything he holds dear and the one woman he can't live without.”

Now for the giveaway, I have five copies of RAVISHED BY A HIGHLANDER to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. The deadline for entering the giveaway is Tuesday, May 11. To enter, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with “WIN Ravished” in the subject line and include your name and address in the body of the e-mail.

For more information on Paula check out her website.

Watch What You Wish For!

Why is it we want what we can’t have and when we do get it, we’re not sure what to do with it or why we wanted it in the first place?

Totally confused and it’s not even Monday anymore. First, let me say I’ve been blessed with wonderful authors doing guest posts for me. I’ve enjoyed each one I’ve hosted and look forward to the ones yet to come. By hosting the authors I not only find out about a great new book I haven’t had the chance to read yet, but also get background on the author and/or the book. That’s an added plus to me.

Having said that I realized last week that I missed posting about different topics, not that I have such vast wisdom to share. At the time something had popped in my head and I thought “that would make a great blog topic.” However, I knew I had several authors scheduled and wouldn’t be able to write about it for a few days. That’s when I realized I missed just posting.

But as brilliant as the thought was to post about, did I jot it down to use later? Of course not. Now I can’t remember for the life of me what it was. So that brings me to the last part of the question. Now that I have an opening where I can post, I have nothing of value to say.

I got what I wanted, but now I wish I had an author visiting to share wonderful information about a new book.

I will take this opportunity to thank VR at VR Barkowski for awarding me this Sweet Blog Award. If you haven’t stopped by her blog, please do so. She has such interesting and entertaining post. In addition, she always shares links of other bloggers who are hosting challenges and contests. Thanks VR for the award. I’d like to pass it on  to Terry at Terry's Place, Joanne at Whole Latte Life, and Margot at Confessions of a Mystery Novelist... Be sure to check out these blogs too. They are well worth the visit.

I’d almost forgot to tell you Hannibal the Crawfish is doing well and still living up to his namesake. I put another small crawfish with him last week thinking maybe this time he’d just like some company. Wrong, won’t be doing that again.

I have a number of great authors lined up to guest post this week and several will be giving away copies of their newest releases. Be sure to stop back and check them out. A reminder the Mother’s Day giveaway deadline is Sunday, May 9. I know it would be a belated gift for Mother’s Day, but still a nice surprise.

What have you wished for, gotten and then wished you hadn’t wish for it or gotten it?

Guest Blogger, James Boyle

Join me in welcoming author James Boyle as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress as he makes a stop on his first Virtual Blog Tour.

Boyle is the author of NI’IL, THE AWAKENING. Here’s a brief description of it:

“When several people are brutally killed in the town of Placerton, on the isolated Oregon coast, most locals think a rogue bear or cougar is roaming the forested hills near town. Police Chief Dan Connor is not so sure. He has witnessed some very strange things lately, such as disembodied voices, muttering a strange foreign language and an old Indian man who seems to be near every crime scene, but disappears before he can be questioned.
Dan's investigation takes him to the local Sihketunnai Indians and their legend of the Ni'il, magical shamans charged with maintaining the balance between humans and the natural world. According to the elders, one of the Ni'il is responsible for the murders and intends to kill everyone in the community. It is Dan's job to stop it. It sounds unbelievable, but is the only explanation that fit the facts. As a violent Pacific storm crashes ashore, cutting the town off from the outside world, Dan finds himself entering a strange world of myth and magic that was not covered in his police training. He must use all his wits and new-found powers to save himself and his community from the Ni'il.”
James has stopped by today to talk about “fear fiction.”

I saw a woman I know the other day. She said she was reading my novel. “It gave me nightmares last night,” she said.

I was so proud.

I write horror fiction and its cousins, suspense and urban fantasy. Most of my writing though deals with horror, the things that go bump in the night. Why, you may ask, Why dwell on the darkest aspects of this life we're given to lead?

First of all, it's the kind of fiction I like to read. I've read at least some of all of them: Washington Irving, Edgar A. Poe, King, Straub, Barker, and Rice. It is the kind of story I naturally gravitate to, therefore it is the kind of story I write.

And face it, if done well, horror is like no other genre. It touches a primal something that's leftover from the days of scrounging for food on the savannah, while trying to avoid becoming something else's food. When afraid, we are alive. Our senses work on overdrive. We can hear every sound around us, see details we'd normally gloss over, smell the grass growing. Adrenaline fills our bloodstream and time slows to a crawl. We are actively, consciously, living each moment.

Then, when the danger has passed and we have survived, there is catharsis. Life is sweeter when we have nearly lost it.

So I like the fear fiction. I enjoy fear fiction. If doing this means exploring the dark side of our existence, then so be it. There are plenty of very talented writers out there who are exploring the light side and doing a much better job than I could probably do. I will stay here in the dark.
 
Join me?

James, thanks for stopping by today and sharing this with us. There are times when I do venture into the dark side to read suspense and the occasional horror fiction. Thou, I try not to read those right before going to bed.

For more on James stop by his website. Does anyone else venture into the dark side for a read of suspense or horror fiction?