It’s always an honor when I get to introduce a ‘new-to-me’ author to y’all as it’s fun to learn about the writer and their books. Today I’d like to welcome author J.L. Greger to Thoughts in Progress. She’s going to talk about ‘Science in Fiction,’ as well as share a bit about her books.
Welcome, J.L.
Do readers want science in their fiction?
In 2013, at least fifteen TV shows featured realistic portrayals of science, medicine or technology. Before I continue, I should define realistic. Real labs can’t provide analyses instantly as shown on TV, and most scientists don’t have perfect hair. Even so, the popularity of TV shows suggests viewers, and presumably readers, like bits of science in their fiction.
Fiction that focuses on realistic science is called “science in fiction,” not science fiction. Many of the writers of science in fiction, like me, were or are practicing physicians or scientists. In one sense, this isn’t a new phenomenon. Arthur Conan Doyle and Robin Cook were physicians.
What’s important in science in fiction?
Accuracy. In my third novel, my heroine Sara Almquist learns silver miners in Bolivia carry little food or water into the mines. In order to endure the pain caused by thirst, hunger, and heavy exertion at a high altitude (13,000 feet), they chew coca leaves. The active ingredients in coca leaves and its derivative cocaine are not analgesics that dull pain. They are stimulants and help users ignore pain. Accordingly I named the book IGNORE THE PAIN not Dull the Pain.
In case you think the facts seem a bit dry, here’s a synopsis of the action. Sara Almquist couldn’t say no when invited to be the epidemiologist on a public health mission in Bolivia. Soon someone from her past is chasing her through the Witches’ Market of La Paz and on to the silver mines of Potosí. Unfortunately, she can’t trust her new colleagues, especially the charming Xave Zack, because they might be under the control of the coca industry. Worst still she’s not only put herself in danger but also her sister, Linda, back in New Mexico.
Excitement. As a biologist, who regularly reads scientific journals, I am amazed how easily a few mutations can change a fairly benign flu virus into a virulent one. A variant of the common H1N1 flu virus killed three percent of the world’s population between 1918-20, and the wrong mutation to a flu virus today could kill millions if scientists weren’t prepared.
In COMING FLU, a new flu virus hits a small, walled community near the Rio Grande. A quarantine is declared because experimental vaccines and antivirals are ineffective against this flu mutation. Epidemiologist Sara Almquists pries into the lives or everyone in the community looking for way to slow the spread of the flu. She finds promising clues - maybe too many.
Relevant science. Almost all Americans are interested in easy ways to lose weight. Scientist know fat animals (including humans) lose weight when their gut bacteria are altered, but scientists don’t know which of the 15,000 to 36,000 species of bacteria in the gut are important. I thought descriptions of this research (based on current ongoing studies) would be intriguing, maybe slightly funny, to readers.
In MURDER: A NEW WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT, a diet doctor is found dead after she charges her partner with recklessly endangering the lives of obese subjects in their clinical trials. Linda Almquist, the associate dean in the medical school, must protect the subjects in the clinical trial, while she searches for a sophisticated killer who knows a lot about drugs.
Would you like to read a science in fiction novel?
BTW, Bug, my Japanese Chin dog and character in all three of my novels, says hello to Traveler, the resident cat at Thoughts in Progress.
J.L., thanks for joining us today and sharing this difference in science fiction and science in fiction. All three books sounds like they are quite intriguing ‘science in fiction’ stories. And, Traveler sends a hello back to Bug.
Now for a bit of background on J.L.
J.L. Greger is no longer a professor in the biological sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, instead she’s putting tidbits of science into her medical mystery/suspense novels.
For more on J.L. and her writing, visit her website, check out her blog, JL Greger’s Bugs, and her Amazon link.
Thanks so much for stopping by today and visiting with J.L. Had you ever considered the difference in ‘science fiction’ and science in the fiction’ writing?
*This post contains affiliate links.
Author Bailey Cates is on tour with her recent release, SOME ENCHANTED ÉCLAIR, and I’m delighted to welcome here back to Thoughts in Progress.
Bailey will talk about doing research for her book and in celebration of the release, is giving away one copy of SOME ENCHANTED ÉCLAIR to a lucky visitor. Please see the end of the post for more details.
Here’s a brief description of the book:
FLOUR POWER
When Hollywood invades Savannah’s historic district to film a Revolutionary War movie, magical baker Katie Lightfoot, and her witches’ coven, the Spellbook Club, take a break from casting spells for casting calls. One of the witches snags a part as an extra, while Katie’s firefighter boyfriend, Declan, acts as on-set security. Katie and her aunt Lucy decide to stay out of the action, but after the movie’s “fixer” fires the caterer, the Honeybee Bakery comes to the rescue, working their magic to keep the hungry crew happy.
But when someone fixes the fixer—permanently—and a spooky psychic predicts Katie will find the killer, the charming baker and her fellow conjurers step in to sift through the suspects…before someone else winds up on the cutting room floor….
Please join me in welcoming Bailey as she talks research.
SOME ENCHANTED ÉCLAIR is the fourth Katie Lightfoot adventure in Savannah, Georgia. She's still a relatively new witch, but in her first year since moving to the South from Akron, Ohio, she's learned a lot. Like her aunt Lucy, Katie is a hedgewitch, sometimes called a natural or green witch, whose talents lie in kitchen and garden magic. She and Lucy use their knowledge of herbs and spices to infuse the yummy pastries at the Honeybee Bakery with good intentions for love, prosperity, health, peace and more.
The other members of the spellbook club have been teaching Katie their own specialties, too: moon magic and tarot magic, flower and color magic, along with basic spell casting and divination. Katie has also learned that she's a catalyst, which adds a little kick to the others' spells, and Detective Franklin Taite also revealed to her in Bewitched, Bothered and Biscotti that she's something called a lightwitch. However, Taite seems to have disappeared, so she's still trying to find out just what a lightwitch is. In part it seems to mean that she finds more than her share of dead bodies -- specifically murder victims that have some kind of connection to the paranormal.
In SOME ENCHANTED ÉCLAIR, Katie and Lucy are staying clear of the historical movie being filmed on Reynolds Square -- at least until the production coordinator asks them to feed the cast and crew. Sure enough, the first time Katie ventures onto the set there's a fatal stabbing. The more she looks into the circumstances surrounding the victim, the more it becomes evident that some kind of dark magic is involved.
At first she thinks the paranormal connection might involve the psychic who travels with the lead actress. Ursula Banford can contact spirits who have passed to the other side, and in the course of Katie's investigation she passes on messages from some surprising sources. But can they be trusted? Since moving to Savannah, Katie has come to believe in things she never dreamed could be real, but she's not naive enough to simply take someone at their word when they say they can talk to dead people. Whether or not Ursula is the genuine article, there are plenty of other suspects for Katie and the spellbook club to ferret out.
Researching SOME ENCHANTED ÉCLAIR was, quite frankly, a blast. Along with the research I usually do for this series regarding Savannah, other settings, food, weather, and gardening in the South, I took the chance to read up on the Revolutionary War and consulted with an independent filmmaker. Plus, for the first time in my life, I went to not one, but two psychics.
I love my job.
Another aspect of writing the Magical Bakery Mysteries is ... the baking, of course! In other books I've researched some classic Southern recipes (like Coca Cola Cake) and come up with my own version to offer in the back of the books.
For ÉCLAIR, I learned how to make choux pastry, and boy am I glad I did because it's not only delicious but incredibly versatile. Éclairs can be both savory and sweet, and the pastry can be used for cream puffs and even fried into something like a donut. However, it can be a bit tricky (unlike Katie, I failed the first time I tried it), so rather than try to tell readers how to make choux, I fell back on some of my everyday favorites -- which just happen to be on the Honeybee menu. One is a gluten-free peanut butter cookie recipe that I've made for years -- fast, easy, and great for sudden cravings. The other is a carrot and apple cake recipe I've honed to my personal idea of perfection. I do so hope others love it as much as I do.
Next up is the fifth Magical Bakery Mystery. It's currently untitled, but I can tell you it involves pie, voodoo ... and a sprinkling of romance!
Bailey, thanks for joining us and giving us a look at your research. I think I’d like the baking research aspect the best.
Now let me tell you a bit of background about Bailey.
New York Times bestselling author Bailey Cates believes magic is all around us if we only look for it. She studied philosophy, English and history and has held a variety of positions ranging from driver's license examiner to soap maker. She traveled the world as a localization program manager for Microsoft, but now sticks close to home where she writes two mystery series, tends to a dozen garden beds, bakes up a storm and plays the occasional round of golf.
Having apprenticed with a master herbalist for a year, she's prone to concocting teas and tinctures for family and friends from the stash of herbs stored in the corner cabinet in her office. She owns a working spinning wheel and is on a first name basis with several alpacas and two sheep with questionable dispositions.
The author of the Magical Bakery Mysteries, she also writes the Home Crafting Mysteries as Cricket McRae.
For more on Bailey (aka Cricket), visit her website and connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
This giveaway is for one print copy of SOME ENCHANTED ÉCLAIR. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end Wednesday, July 30.
To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and following the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load, so please be patient. The winner from this giveaway will have 72 hours to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. The email will have ‘Thoughts in Progress Bailey Cate’s Tour’ in the subject line, just so you know what to watch for (in case it goes into your spam folder).
Thanks so much for stopping by today and visiting with Bailey. Do you think you’d enjoy doing research on baking and/or research on historic sites?
*This post contains affiliate links.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
It’s a treat to once again be participating in one of author Merry Jones’s Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. Merry joins us today to celebrate the recent release of ELECTIVE PROCEDURES, the second installment in her Elle Harrison Thriller series.
Merry will be talking about combining fortune telling and cosmetic surgery as key elements in her story and I’ll share my thoughts on her latest release. In addition, thanks to Merry and the lovely folks at Partners in Crime, I have a print copy of ELECTIVE PROCEDURES to give away. Please see the end of the post for more details.
First here’s a brief synopsis of the new thriller:
Elle Harrison has taken a leave of absence to mourn the death of her husband Charlie.
Her friend Becky takes her out to dinner to cheer her up and, on impulse, drags her into a fortune teller's shop. The fortune teller predicts that Elle will travel and meet a new man. She also says that Elle is surrounded by a dark aura that draws the dead to her.
Elle dismissed the predictions as hogwash. But then her friend Jen takes her, Becky and another friend, Susan, to Mexico where she is getting lost cost cosmetic surgery. Elle is attracted to and asked out by Jen's surgeon, Alain DuBois. And Elle finds a woman hanging onto the balcony next to hers by her fingertips. Elle tries to save her and fails, almost dying in the process.
All of the fortune teller's predictions have come true. And, as the week progresses, more of Alain DuBois' patients are gruesomely killed, Jen is attacked, Elle is nearly murdered, and the spirit of her dead husband Charlie keeps appearing to her.
Who is trying to kill Dr. DuBois' patients--And why? Who is trying to murder Elle? Why does she keep seeing Charlie--Is she nuts? Or is his spirit really trying to protect her?
ELECTIVE PROCEDURES makes a week in Mexico into a chilling page turner, full of twists and unexpected developments, as well as a face lift or two.
Please join me in welcoming Merry back to Thoughts in Progress.
Merry, how did you come to combine fortune telling and cosmetic surgery to play key elements in your mystery and what was it like doing research for this story?
Protagonist Elle Harrison walks the line when it comes to reality. She floats into her thoughts when stressed. Sometimes she thinks she’s talking to her dead husband. As a character, Elle deals not just with standard suspense elements (murder and other crimes), but also with the supernatural—or its possibility.
In ELECTIVE PROCEDURES, Elle continues to deal with both. She bumps up against murders and crimes. She tries (but fails) to save a woman from falling off a balcony. She finds another woman stabbed to death. She is attacked. Her friend is almost killed.
Danger and violence, though, are not all that Elle has to contend with. There’s an added layer here: Because a fortune teller has foreshadowed peril, warning Elle of imminent danger and saying that she is surrounded by death, the murders resonate, echoing her predictions. And because Elle has dismissed the fortune teller as a scammer and a fraud, Elle’s own doubts about what is vs. isn’t “real” increase as the predictions continue to come true.
The fortune teller creates a new layer of suspense and uncertainty. The questions Elle faces aren’t just “Who are the killers” and “How can I escape?” They’re also, “Do I really attract the dead?” and, “Is my aura actually stained with blood?” The fortune teller is a vehicle of the supernatural, allowing ELECTIVE PROCEDURES to raise more gooseflesh than a standard “whodunit.”
With each of my books, I set out to learn something new and hope others will learn something by reading them. ELECTIVE PROCEDURES presents information about cosmetic surgery and body dysmorphic disorder, a not uncommon condition in which physical self images are distorted.
In our culture, self-esteem is often closely linked to physical appearance. And every year, in order to improve their physical appearances, hundreds if not thousands of Americans travel abroad for inexpensive cosmetic surgery, which is not covered by most insurance policies. I pictured a foreign clinic providing cosmetic surgery to people unsatisfied with their looks. It seemed to beg—no, to scream, “Let me be a setting for a suspense novel!”
I conducted online research about the cost and availability of common procedures. I also read up on the processes of face lifts, breast augmentations/reductions, nose jobs (rhinoplasties), and tummy tucks. I learned about the recovery process for each, looked at photos detailing the surgeries, realized there are good reasons I never went to medical school, and spoke to people who’d had these procedures done, asking about their experiences. I also researched surgery “addicts,” and the various reasons some patients are never satisfied with their appearances, even after “successful” plastic surgery.
My hope is that ELECTIVE PROCEDURES will raise questions about our emphasis on physical appearance and its repercussions. Most of all, though, hope readers are grabbed by Elle’s harrowing tale of obsession, betrayal, murder and revenge.
Merry, thanks for joining us and sharing this insight into your book. You’ve definitely given us something to think about when it comes to cosmetic surgery and its effect on people.
Now a little background on Merry.
Merry Jones has written the Elle Harrison suspense novels (THE TROUBLE WITH CHARLIE, ELECTIVE PROCEDURES), the Harper Jennings thrillers (SUMMER SESSION, BEHIND THE WALLS, WINTER BREAK, OUTSIDE EDEN, and this fall, IN THE WOODS), and the Zoe Hays mysteries (THE NANNY MURDERS, THE RIVER KILLINGS, DEADLY NEIGHBORS, THE BORROWED AND BLUE MURDERS). She has also written humor (including I LOVE HIM, BUT...) and non-fiction (including BIRTHMOTHERS: Women who relinquished babies for adoption tell their stories).
Merry taught college creative writing for fifteen years. Her work has been translated into seven languages, and appeared in many magazines, including GLAMOUR. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, The Authors Guild, International Thriller Writers, and The Philadelphia Liars Club.
The mother of two grown daughters, she lives outside Philadelphia with her husband.
For more on Merry and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.
Now my thoughts ……….
Cosmetic surgery leads to deadly consequences in author Merry Jones’s latest thriller, ELECTIVE PROCEDURES.
Elle Harrison is still feeling a loss after the death of her cheating soon-to-be ex-husband, Charlie. Not quite sure why she’s still mourning, Elle is trying to get her life back on track.
When her friend Jen decides to have cosmetic surgery done in Mexico, she takes Elle and two of their other friends, Becky and Susan, along. Their first night in the plush hotel, Elle sees a woman in the next suite dangling from her balcony. She tries to help, but the woman falls to her death.
As Elle searches for answers, she see glimpses of her dead husband around the area. A fortune teller had told her she had an aura that dead spirits were drawn to.
As the story unfolds, Jen’s surgeon takes an interest in Elle, who discovers another surgery patient dead. Getting closer to the truth surrounding the deaths, Elle finds her own life in danger.
The author has blended humor and suspense into an intriguing read that flows quickly. The characters are well-developed and the author gives them traits/habits readers can relate to.
With an eye for detail, Jones draws readers into the story with rich descriptions of the beach setting. The twists and surprises along the way captivate the reader’s attention.
ELECTIVE PROCEDURES is the second installment in the Elle Harrison Thriller series, but can be read on its own. In this thriller mystery, with a touch of chick lit, Jones has blended all the elements together for a tantalizing story.
Elective Procedures by Merry Jones, Elle Harrison Thriller Book #2, Oceanview Publishing, @2014, ISBN: 978-1608091164, Paperback, 288 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.
To read more about Merry and her latest work, drop by the following blogs participating in her tour.
6/29 ~ Interview @ Suspense Magazine Blog Talk Radio 10 am PST/1 pm EST
7/01 ~ Interview & Review @ Words by Webb
7/03 ~ Interview @ Lauries Thoughts and Reviews
7/07 ~ Guest Post @ Writers and Authors
7/08 ~ Review & Giveaway @ Deal Sharing Aunt
7/09 ~ Interview & Showcase @ CMash Reads
7/10 ~ Showcase @ Ryder Islingtons Blog
7/14 ~ Review @ Bless Their Hearts Mom
7/15 ~ Review @ Celtic Lady Reviews
7/16 Showcase @ The Opinionated Me
7/17 ~ Showcase @ A Blue Million Books
7/18 ~ Review @ Marys Cup of Tea
7/22 ~ Showcase @ The Reading Frenzy
7/24 ~ Review @ 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
7/25 ~ Showcase @ Books Books and More Books
7/28 ~ Showcase, Review, & Giveaway @ The Wormhole Book Blog
7/29 ~ Review @ Wall-to-Wall Books
7/30 ~ Review @ Deco My Heart
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
This giveaway is for one print copy of ELECTIVE PROCEDURES. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end Tuesday, July 29.
To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and following the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load, so please be patient. The winner from this giveaway will have 72 hours to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. The email will have ‘Thoughts in Progress Merry Jones’s Tour’ in the subject line, just so you know what to watch for (in case it goes into your spam folder).
Thanks so much for dropping by today during Merry’s visit. What are your thoughts on cosmetic surgery? Have you had any done or would you every have any done?
*This post contains affiliate links.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
It’s always a pleasure to welcome you here and share my thoughts on the latest books I’ve read. Today is no exception as I have two delightful, romance-flavored, feel-good stories to tell you about.
Author Carolyn Brown creates characters so charming and likable you wish they were real friends and neighbors.
In the latest and last installment in her Cowboys and Brides series, Brown brings the circle to a close by giving the last of the four cowboys his special story. HOW TO MARRY A COWBOY focuses on Mason Harper, his two wholly-terror twin girls, and their wish for a mama.
When the girls, Gabby and Lily, find Annie Rose Boudreaux asleep on their front porch swing, they think their father has given them a mama for their ninth birthday. Well, she was wearing a tattered wedding gown and they had been wishing and asking really hard.
Annie Rose is desperate to stay under the radar as her life could depend on it. When she gets the chance to care for the two adorable little girls, she can’t resist. A former nurse, Annie Rose can handle whatever the twins come up with. As she begins to settle into the role of ‘Mama Nanny,’ the sparks between her and Mason heat up, but her past could blow everything apart.
Mason hasn’t had a serious relationship or even deep feelings for anyone since his wife died eight years ago. As he begins to have feelings for Annie Rose, he also has a load of guilty to deal with. His daughters have to come first, no matter the cost.
The story is a fun mix of romance, humor, a touch of suspense, loyalty, family and friendship. It flows smoothly and at a steady pace. The small town setting creates an atmosphere of fun and family.
Brown once again delivers sexy cowboys and feisty cowgirls in a hot and steamy read you won’t be able to put down. The antics of the twins, blended with the sizzling attraction between Mason and Annie Rose, makes for an excellent feel-good read that will have you smiling when you’re not laughing out loud.
HOW TO MARRY A COWBOY is the fourth installment in the Cowboys and Brides series, but can be read on its own. References to other couples from the series won’t leave new readers in the dark, but it might just entice them to read the entire collection.
How to Marry a Cowboy by Carolyn Brown, Cowboys and Brides Book #4, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2014, ISBN: 978-1402280559, Paperback, 352 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.
People are not always as they seem as the main characters in author Michele Summers’s latest release, FIND MY WAY HOME, discover.
In this first installment in the author’s Harmony Homecomings series, interior designer Bertie Anderson loves her hometown of Harmony, NC, but can’t wait to move to Atlanta and start her dream job for a major design company. Finishing her last job in Harmony, Bertie learns the old Victorian house she loves has been bought.
When Bertie is given the challenge of renovating the old Victorian in three months to receive a huge fee plus bonus, she can’t resist. The bonus will not only keep her out financially, but she can also help one of her only beloved charities.
Retired tennis pro Keith Morgan has moved to Harmony to save his relationship with his daughter. Leaving the bright lights, fast living and hot women in Miami was the right thing to do. Keith’s had enough drama from his late wife.
When Bertie and Keith are thrown together due to the renovation project, sparks and tempers begin to fly. Despite their strong attraction to each other, the pair is determined to go their separate ways. But their family and the residents of Harmony have something to say about that.
FIND MY WAY HOME is a hilarious, feel-good story that will tug on your heart strings, while leaving in you stitches from laughing. The author has created warm and likable characters. The small-town setting pulls you in for a family atmosphere.
The story moves at a quick pace and has a number of twists along the way. The romance sizzles as the story unfolds. Harmony has a lot to offer and this delightful read is just the beginning.
Find My Way Home by Michele Summers, Harmony Homecomings Book #1, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2014, ISBN: 978-1402293559, Paperback, 352 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 so much for stopping by today. I hope I’ve enticed you to check out these charming stories. What’s on your reading list today?
*This post contains affiliate links.
I’m delighted today to be able to
participate in New York Times bestselling author Richard North
Patterson’s Rock Star PRLC Release Event
for EDEN IN WINTER, the latest installment in his Blaine Family
Saga.
With this release event, Patterson is sharing an
excerpt from his latest novel. In addition, to celebrate the release one lucky
visitor to Thoughts in Progress can win not one, but two of Patterson’s books in
this saga. Please see the end of the post for more details.
Longtime and new fans of Patterson’s novels have
found themselves delighted by the first-tier literary gifts with which Patterson
has rendered the Blaine Family Saga—beginning with FALL FROM
GRACE, continued with LOSS OF INNOCENCE
(trade paperback out in June), and now concluding with a stunning flourish in
EDEN IN WINTER.
In this much-anticipated new novel (which can be
read as a standalone), Patterson brings all his gifts of intricate narrative and
superbly drawn, psychologically complex characterization to bear on Adam
Blaine’s attempt to come to grips with his father’s death and salvage what
remains of the bonds between his family members. As long-buried secrets and
grudges rise to the surface, Adam will realize that only by confronting and
transcending the past can he claim a different life.
Here’s a brief synopsis of EDEN IN WINTER:
The bestselling, breathtaking
Blaine Trilogy concludes as one family faces its dark secrets and looks toward
an uncertain future from the icy winter cliff sides of Martha’s
Vineyard!
EDEN IN WINTER
represents the height of achievement for one of America’s most prolific
and beloved modern authors. From the picturesque coastline of Martha’s Vineyard
to the violence-ridden recesses of Afghanistan and back again, Richard North
Patterson hits every note perfectly as he propels this family drama to its final
satisfying scene.
Two months after the suspicious
and much-publicized death of his father on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, it
is taking all of Adam Blaine’s character to suture the deep wounds – both within
his family and himself – torn open by the tragedy.
Moreover, as the court inquest
into Benjamin Blaine’s death continues, it is taking all of Adam’s cunning to
protect those closest to him from figures who still suspect that Adam’s father
was murdered by one of his kin.
But the sternest test of all is
Adam’s proximity to Carla Pacelli – his late father’s mistress; and a woman who,
despite being pivotal to his family’s plight, Adam finds himself increasingly
drawn to.
The closer he gets to this
beautiful, mysterious woman, the further Adam feels from his troubles. Yet the
closer he also comes to revealing the secrets he’s strived to conceal, and
condemning the people he’s fought so hard to protect.
EDEN IN WINTER can be found on
Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and
you can add it to your Goodreads.
The Blaine Family
Saga:
FALL FROM GRACE –
Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
LOSS OF INNOCENCE –
Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Now here’s an excerpt from EDEN IN WINTER for your reading pleasure.
Excerpt
Chapter One
For three days, Adam Blaine and his family had
entered the Dukes County Courthouse, a modest two- story brick structure with
white trim and doors, and passed through a double door to a spiral stair-case
that rose to the courtroom itself.
Its new carpets were a rich blue, lending it a
certain majesty augmented by the high ceilings and four fluted chandeliers. From
the raised mahogany bench, framed by the flags of the United States and the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Judge Aaron Carr presided.
At a desk below him the court reporter, a young
woman with long blond hair and a grave expression, transcribed the proceedings;
still lower were the tables for the prosecutor and the witness’s counsel. Black
and white photographs of judges, some gazing out from the recesses of the 19th
century, gave the room a further aura of gravity. But to Adam, the pallid walls
and scarred benches where his family sat watching bespoke a certain world
weariness, decades of human missteps and misdeeds, and, on occasion, tragedies—
traffic tickets, theft, assault, divorce, domestic violence and, less frequent,
a fatal accident. Murder came to this courtroom every thirty years or so. Now
his family was trapped here, suspected of killing one of its own.
On a wall, a schoolroom style clock marked the
agonizing pas-sage of time, its second hand twitching from mark to mark. Though
four tall windows on each side admitted light, it was dulled by lowering clouds
and a steady rain that streaked the glass. Gloom seeping into his soul, Adam
could only watch, gripped by the fore-boding that his careful plan to conceal
the truth would evaporate before his eyes.
His father sat in the witness stand, preparing to
deny what Adam alone knew to be true. The stakes for his family were reflected
by the media clustered outside, denied entrance to the medical examiner’s
inquest into the death of Benjamin Blaine, the most famous novelist of his time.
A man as arrogant as he was gifted, a great sailor, adventurer, and womanizer,
the man everyone believed to be Adam’s father. Another lie to be
concealed.
The degree to which Adam’s mother and brother
grasped these perils differed. Sitting to Adam’s right, Teddy Blaine was an
uneasy mix of worry and gratitude, knowing only that, if this witness were
believed, the inquest would clear him of murder. Clarice Blaine understood much
more. With a characteristic exercise of will, she projected an aura of patrician
calm, as perfectly maintained as her blond, tinted hair, which, even now, helped
preserve the beauty of her youth. Beneath which, Adam now understood, lived the
fear that had consumed her since the day he was born.
On the stand was Benjamin Blaine’s brother, Jack— a
man in his late sixties, with stooped shoulders and silvered hair, whose long
face was relieved from homeliness by an aura of modesty and kindness. The only
person who knew all that Adam knew, and bore for them both the burden of burying
it.
With an unwonted look of wariness, Jack faced his
interrogator, District Attorney George Hanley, a bulky figure whose white hair
and mustache marked him as Jack’s contemporary. From the front bench, Sergeant
Sean Mallory, the ascetic, sharp- eyed homicide inspector for the Massachusetts
State Police, studied Jack fixedly. So, too, did Jack’s lawyer, Avram Gold, a
Blaine family friend and, of more import, an eminent law professor and defender
of hard cases for more than forty years. Adam could not help but wonder if Gold
knew, or sensed, how much hatred festered beneath the surface, and how much more
was at risk in the next few moments than Jack Blaine’s freedom.
As Gold had explained to Adam, on Martha’s Vineyard
the medical examiner’s inquest was invoked in the rarest of cases— a high-
profile death where the circumstances were ambiguous, the media pressure
unrelenting, the stakes for public officials high. Its modern genesis was the
Chappaquiddick incident— the death of a young woman; the fate of a potential
president; a swarm of media; a politically ambitious district attorney. In these
circumstances, Gold went on, the authorities had needed an investigative tool to
determine whether to impanel a grand jury. But, as Gold had trenchantly added,
“No one intended for that tragedy to happen. Whereas a lot of people think
someone in your family decided that your father deserved to die.”
Though Judge Carr had broad discretion to conduct
the hearing, certain rules protected the witnesses and, especially, the person
who might be charged. The inquest was closed; the potential subject— in this
case, Jack Blaine— could be represented by counsel. The judge could bar all
others from attending, though an exception was some-times made for the next of
kin of the deceased— as the judge had for Clarice, Teddy, and Adam, who had
already given their testimony. But only Teddy, Adam was painfully aware, had
told the truth as he understood it. The other three Blaines had committed, or
were about to commit, their own separate acts of perjury or omission.
For Adam Blaine, knowing this, the wait for the
judge’s final report would be excruciating. The report could precipitate a grand
jury, and then a trial, with Jack or Teddy accused of murder. But whatever the
result, it would be Adam who had caused it.
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR:
 |
| Author Richard Patterson |
Richard North Patterson is the author of twenty
bestselling novels, including Loss of Innocence, Exile, Degree of
Guilt, and Silent Witness. He has served as an Assistant
Attorney General for the State of Ohio; a trial attorney for the Securities
& Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.; and was the SEC’s liaison to the
Watergate Special Prosecutor.
More recently, Patterson was a partner in the San
Francisco office of McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen, now Bingham McCutchen
LLP, before retiring from practice in 1993.
He has appeared on Good Morning America,
Hardball, and The CBS Morning Show, and his articles on politics,
literature, and law have been published in The London Times, Wall Street
Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, San
Francisco Chronicle, and San Jose Mercury News.
Patterson lives in Martha's Vineyard, Cabo San
Lucas, and San Francisco with his wife, Dr. Nancy Clair.
For more on Patterson and his writing, visit his
website and connect with him
on Goodreads, Facebook and his
Amazon Author Page.
GIVEAWAY
DETAILS:
This giveaway is for one hardcover or digital copy
of EDEN IN WINTER and Rock Star PRLC is also offering LOSS
OF INNOCENCE (the previous installment in the series) in
paperback. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end Monday, July
28.
To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget
below and following the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load,
so please be patient. The winner from this giveaway will have 72 hours to
respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. The email will
have ‘Thoughts in Progress Richard North Patterson’s Tour’ in the subject line,
just so you know what to watch for (in case it goes into your spam
folder
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you enjoy
stories where each family member is given their own book or had you rather
everyone’s story be tied up neatly in one major book?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I’m delighted to be a part of author Cathi Stoler’s Tribute Books Blog Tour for her recent release, THE HARD WAY, the third installment in her Laurel and Helen New York Mystery series.
This part of the tour will include my thoughts on this intriguing mystery, a brief bio of Cathi and a chance for you to win an amazing giveaway. To follow the rest of Cathi’s tour, click HERE. More details on the giveaway are at the end of the post, but first here’s some background on Cathi.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cathi Stoler’s mysteries feature PI Helen McCorkendale and magazine editor, Laurel Imperiole. THE HARD WAY is the third book in the series. The first, TELLING LIES, took on the subject of stolen Nazi art. Book 2, KEEPING SECRETS, delved into the subject of hidden identity.
Cathi’s short stories include: “Magda,” in the Criminal Element Anthology Malfeasance Occasional: Girl Trouble, “Out of Luck,” in the Anthology, Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices, “Fatal Flaw,” a finalist for the Derringer for Best Short Story and “Money Never Sleeps” both published at Beat to A Pulp.
Cathi is working on a novella, Nick of Time, which features International gambler, Nick Donahue. She is also starting a new series, Bar None, A Murder On The Rocks Mystery, with female bar owner, Jude Dillane.
Cathi is a member of the New York/Tri State chapter of Sisters In Crime. She is also a member of Mystery Writers of America.
For more on Cathi and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on the Women of Mystery blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and THE HARD WAY Goodreads site. In addition, you can check out THE HARD WAY blog tour site and find Tribute Books Blog Tours on Facebook.
THE HARD WAY (ISBN: 978-1603819497) was released April 15, 2014, by Camel Press. The 280-page book is available in eBook and paperback format and can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.
Now my thoughts ……
Author Cathi Stoler takes you by the hand, leads you into a winter wonderland Vegas-style atmosphere and then down the path to a fascinating murder mystery.
New York P.I. Helen McCorkendale and her boyfriend, Mike, are VIP guest at the elaborate new Vegas casino and hotel, January, owned by Helen’s childhood friend, Jimmy Scanlan. They spend the weekend rubbing elbows with the rich and famous.
Back in New York, Helen has her friend, Laurel Imperiole, Senior Editor at Women Now Magazine, host a contest for her readers. The grand prize is a weekend trip to Jimmy’s hotel.
Things begin to get strange when the winner, Dawn Chapman, a Cincinnati jewelry store employee, denies entering the contest and doesn’t want to go. Finally convinced to go, Dawn has a shocking reaction when she arrived at the hotel and sees the International Diamond Dealers Consortium is meeting there. A short time later, Jimmy discovers Dawn dead by the pool. She’s been poisoned with cyanide and diamond dust.
It turns out there may have been more to Dawn than everyone knew. However, with Jimmy as a suspect and his hotel on the line, Helen and Laurel are determined to find the truth and the killer no matter what.
The author has created a story that is loaded with suspense, action and adventure. It moves quickly and is an easy read. The characters are likable and realistic.
Even though THE HARD DAY is the third installment in the Laurel and Helen New York Mystery series, it can be read on its own. There is enough backstory that new readers are left in the dark and returning fans get to catch up with favorite characters.
A murder mystery with eloquent Vegas-style twists and turns, Stoler’s latest release will have you guessing until the end.
The Hard Way by Cathi Stoker, Laurel and Helen New York Mystery Book #3, Camel Press, @2014, ISBN: 978-1603819497, Paperback, 280 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me as part of the author’s virtual book tour 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 a $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash and is tour-wide.
To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and following the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load, so please be patient.
Thanks so much for visiting today during Cathi’s tour stop. Do you think Vegas is a good backdrop for a murder mystery?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
