Is There a Signed Book in Your Future?
Happy Thursday, everyone! No better way to spend a Thursday than telling my readers that Dru’s Book Musing interviewed Laurel Beacham today over on the blog. Fun stuff! And Laurel kept back nothing! To top that, one lucky commenter on the blog will win a Signed Copy of BRONZED BETRAYALS too. So if you want a chance at a signed copy of the book, be sure to CLICK HERE to get to the Dru’s Book Musing blog. Leave a comment, and you could be the winner of the latest in the Bodies of Art Mysteries. Good Luck!
Friday Sneak Peeks — Bronzed Betrayals Chapter 3
Happy Friday, Everyone! Ready for some weekend reading? I’ve put the third chapter of Bronzed Betrayals up on Wattpad, and it’s ready a sneak peek, just Click Here If you missed either Chapter One or Chapter Two, you’ll find links to those on a Previous Blog Post–click here Hope everyone enjoys the sneak peek! Happy Weekend Reading, Everyone! .
What’s New and Free Wednesday Edition–
If you want to read the early chapters of BRONZED BETRAYALS while it’s still in preorder, just stop by Wattpad ahead of the title’s release date. This week, I’ve added an excerpt of Chapter One on Wattpad, and in the coming weeks I’ll be adding Chapter Two and Chapter Three. Stop by and see what kind of trouble Laurel and the gang get into this time. BRONZED BETRAYALS on Wattpad .
Freebie & Bargain Fridays–Holiday Edition
Is everyone getting busy? No matter how busy we are, it’s important we find ways to relax in the middle of the rush. Personally, my favorite way is to kick back, put my feet up on my ottoman (or snuggled under a warm comforter) and read. Especially seasonal reads that writers have put out especially for the holidays and at a savings, to thank me for being a reader or to gift new readers so they can try new series at a discount–or free. I’ll start by tooting my own horn since I added a free Bodies of Art Christmas story featuring Laurel Beacham & Jack Hawkes. Laurel does a little crime thwarting on Oxford Street in London in her own inimitable way. Short and seasonal. You can Read it Here. Next, here’s a reader extravaganza, with some of your favorite cozy mystery authors either giving away or discounting about 70 books Read more…
Excuse Me While I Change My Hat
This has been one exciting week. Nothing like a new book release to have all my friends come out, send congratulations, and tell their friends about my new book. I am so very grateful for that. For authors, release week leaves us to the point of almost walking in our sleep–it’s exciting, but completely exhaustng. There are so many things for authors to do All At The Same Time, and trying to keep up makes us long for the kind of promo teams James Patterson and Stephen King employ. But most of us do not make the kind of revenues those bigname authors get, so we happily jump in and change hats to whatever other job(s) we have to do besides writing. Even more exciting, to celebrate the release of ABSTRACT ALIASES, my publisher has discounted COUNTERFEIT CONSPIRACIES to just 99¢ until Sunday night. This is the first time Henery Press has discounted one Read more…
Friday Peek Behind the Scenes
I turned in a blog post recently on what I do with stories and scenes that don’t necessarily make it into whatever book I’m currently working on. That got me thinking about ways books and stories have changed. In particular, I thought about the original opener for Counterfeit Conspiracies. While most of the original opener still makes up over half of the first chapter, the whole “reclamation” scene that starts the book now wasn’t even an idea for a long time. The book originally started with this: This line is still in the first chapter, but the book was originally written to start with this line when she was in the castillo and trying to work through the party to find the contact who was supposed to give her the snuffbox. She was feeling ill at ease about the way things were going, and wishing she had some backup. But even after adding the Read more…
Giveaway Chance and Excerpt
Want to win a Kindle copy of Counterfeit Conspiracies? New contest going with 10 copies up for grabs in an Amazon giveaway. Click this Counterfeit Conspiracies giveaway link and see if you’re one of the random winners. Good luck! Contest ends St. Patrick’s Day–March 17th. In the meantime, here’s a short excerpt if you want to check the book out first. On this return visit—my acquisition finale—I slid into the darkened gallery. The circular space, lit only by the minimal luminosity filtering through a half-dozen narrow arched windows, allowed my shadow to mix with those already in residence. Night vision goggles allowed the glorious set of Rembrandts and French Impressionists to glow alongside the beauty I came to liberate. It was a vibrant seascape, circa 1821, and a breathtaking scene of energy and Read more…
Tales of an Almost Art Class Dropout
In high school art class, I understood the principles, knew trivia on every artist, loved composition and atmosphere—but rarely turned in a project that wasn’t a disaster. I had the same art teacher from ninth until twelfth grade. Senior year, she looked at my latest what-the-heck-is-that? project and asked, “Why in the world did you choose to take this class for four years?” Yes, I chose to take the elective that humbled me on a daily basis. It didn’t matter if my work wasn’t displayed. Nothing beat watching my classmates—who were good at every medium—create beautiful original works. I was everyone’s audience. The kid who nearly didn’t get assignments completed because she was so busy marveling over the genius spilling out around her. I discovered art history classes in college. We discussed theory and design elements, but I never had to pick up a paintbrush or charcoal. In my element, Read more…
Tuesday Travel Tips–February Edition
I’m already planning a trip to Left Coast Crime at the end of this month, and I can’t wait. I’m channeling my inner Laurel Beacham to remember all the tips to make going from point A to point B more memorable. First up, I booked my late-February flight in August, and not only got a great price, but the flight is nonstop, too. I would have paid more for nonstop alone, but instead I got exactly what I needed at a discount. Beyond that, here are a few more ways you can save money–and maybe time, too–for your next trip. Subscribe to airline newsletters, so when they’re running a lightning sale you get immediate notice via email or on your phone. I try to fly Southwest every chance I can to build up miles (though I always check other carriers for better deals), and getting the Southwest e-newsletters helps me Read more…
Stuff Builds Characters
I revamped out my office this weekend, exchanging one desk for another. My dog loves it because she can take over every inch of the middle of my office floor (and is doing so right now. And snoring). But this changeover got me thinking about a kind of quiz I do each time I start brainstorming characters for my series. Since I’m a week away from the Henery Press release of Counterfeit Conspiracies and Marked Masters, I thought I’d spend a few minutes today talking about how “stuff” builds Laurel Beacham’s character. Laurel Beacham is likely to keep…things that fit in her huge purse and help her get into and out of trouble on a daily basis as she attempts to keep art masterpieces from disappearing into the “ether.” In her public persona, she’s more likely to use her cell phone to connect with someone who can provide the “open sesame” she needs Read more…
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