Today I Welcome Author Patrick Carr

Hello Patrick and welcome to my blog. Thank you for taking the time to interview with me today. Please tell us about yourself.

I was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. I have been told this was not my fault. As an Air Force brat, I experienced a change in locale every three years until my father retired to Tennessee. I saw more of the world on my own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. I graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and have worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. My day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. I currently make my home in Nashville with my wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons I think are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future I would like to be a jazz pianist. I think writing about myself in the third person is kind of weird.


Please tell me about your novel. Who or what was your inspiration behind it?

 I read a verse in the Bible that said “God is in the lot.” My mind kind of took off with it. “A Cast of Stones” is the story of a world where casting lots is how the church operates. Add to this backdrop a king who’s about to die without an heir. Into this comes, Errol, a drunkard who gets caught up in the inevitable war for power that’s about to erupt.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What was the biggest compliment? Did those change how or what you did in your next novel?

 The toughest criticism is always from someone who doesn’t bother to read the whole book and then complains about what wasn’t explained. That seems a bit unfair. Harsh criticism doesn’t bother me so much because it presents an opportunity to refine my writing. I think most people are trying to give an honest opinion so it’s important to understand why they don’t like something. The best compliment I’ve gotten so far was from someone who’s been in publishing for quite a while. He said I was his new favorite author. I read that email whenever I’m going through a spell where I can’t seem to get the words right.

What has been your favorite part of being an author? What has been your least favorite?

My favorite part of being an author is the same as being a writer, telling a story. What’s awesome is getting to share it with a wider audience. My least favorite is the need to “put myself out there” as part of the marketing effort. Talking about myself isn’t nearly as fun as talking through my characters.

Which is your favorite character in your book and why?

 Errol. He’s flawed, but refuses to just sit down and die. There’s a poignant courage to him that I admire.

 Besides writing and reading, what is your most favorite thing to do?

 Hanging out with my family. Mary and I are so blessed to have children that we genuinely like to be around. They play music, so every day in our house is like a free concert.

What do you listen to when you write? Do you find one type of music over another that inspires you to write? Why?

 I listen to instrumental music. Christofori’s Dream, Enya, and Bill Evans are at the top of the list. I can’t listen to anything with lyrics in it. I just end up putting the lyrics into my book.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What was the biggest compliment? Did those change how or what you did in your next novel?

The toughest criticism is always from someone who doesn’t bother to read the whole book and then complains about what wasn’t explained. That seems a bit unfair. Harsh criticism doesn’t bother me so much because it presents an opportunity to refine my writing. I think most people are trying to give an honest opinion so it’s important to understand why they don’t like something. The best compliment I’ve gotten so far was from someone who’s been in publishing for quite a while. He said I was his new favorite author. I read that email whenever I’m going through a spell where I can’t seem to get the words right.

Compared to when you first started writing, have you notice any big changes in your writing style or how you write compared from then to now? 

Over time, my first drafts have become more fluid. I’d like to think that’s because I’ve grown as a writer, but it might be because I’ve spent so much time on the keyboard that my fingers do a better job of keeping up with my brain. My style is still pretty much the same, but I try to do a better job of concentrating on staying “in voice” of whichever POV character I’m currently using.

Who are your favorite authors?

 In no particular order: Robert Jordan, David Eddings, Jim Butcher, Raymond Feist, Stephen R. Donaldson, J.R.R. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis.

What do you look for in a book when you sit down to read for fun? 

Good writing. Fiction or non-fiction, it doesn’t matter. I’ve done so much editing on my own stuff that if the writing is less than good, it’s too difficult to wade through it. In a way, that’s a shame because it’s limited the series I’ve been wanting to finish.

Is there anything else that you would like to share or say to those who will read this interview?

Thanks for reading. You make books like “A Cast of Stones” possible. I really appreciate it.

A Cast of Stones by Patrick Carr
ISBN: 978-0764210433
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Softcover (432 pages)

Book blurb:

An Epic Medieval Saga Fantasy Readers
Will Love

In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and 
grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.

Purchase the book: Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Contact the author: Website | Facebook

Today I Welcome Author Heather Burch

Good morning, Heather. Welcome to my blog. Thank you for joining me this morning. Please tell us a little about yourself.


I write paranormal young adult novels for Zondervan, Harper Collins Publishing. My YA novel Halflings released to critical acclaim in January 2012. Guardian, book two in the Halflings Series released in October 2012. The series has garnered praise from USA Today, VOYA Magazine, Booklist Magazine, Romantic Times and Publishers Weekly. I am an X-Men fan and a hopeless romantic, I wanted to tell a story of extraordinary young people. I lives in Florida where I write full time and have conversations with fictional teenagers. Every. Single. Day.
 

Please tell me about your novel. Who or what was your inspiration behind it?

The Halflings Series is the story of Nikki Youngblood, a seventeen-year-old girl who is rescued in the woods by three hotties. The three are Mace, Raven and Vine, the Halflings. And they’re one part angel, one part trouble. Nikki is linked to a madman and is being hunted by both humans and demons. What’s a girl to do? When Nikki’s parents are gunned down, the Halflings know they must protect her at all costs. With an uber-rich uncle—who is flying pretty high on the freak flag—and a whole lot of uncertainty about the world she’s always known, Nikki has to learn to flow in this new world of angels and demons.

My two sons were a huge inspiration for Mace and Raven. They are total opposites and best friends. I loved diving into the dynamic between them. When the idea for Halflings hit me, I couldn’t get away from it. It was keeping me up at night. I knew I HAD to write this story. I’m so glad I did!

What are some of your favorite genres to read and to write?

I tend to love anything with a lot of action and adventure. Suspense is great too, but I don’t like to be scared, so with suspense, it depends on why it’s suspenseful. I also love a great romance. Huh, I guess that’s why I usually try to blend all of those into my stories.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What was the biggest compliment? Did those change how or what you did in your next novel?

Singular bits of criticism, like in a review, you can’t take to heart. Maybe a person has had a really bad day and they’re taking it all out on you. But when I see a criticism repeated in a few review, then I really look at it. As an author, you have to be really careful of “changing” to suit what others want. If you have 15 people, you will have 15 varying opinions. You simply can’t please everyone. And you will drive yourself mad trying.

The biggest compliment was from a fourteen-year-old girl who had only read one book in her whole life. She read Halflings in one day, then read Guardian the following day. That was an amazing compliment—my writing touched her and helped her tap into the reader inside.

When you sit down to write, do you do it the old-fashioned way with pen and paper or do you use a computer? Do you prefer one way or the other?

I miss my pen and paper.  Now it’s all by the computer—which is great—but I miss the intimacy of pen in hand. The reason I do everything by computer now, is simply for efficiency. Less time involved.

Compared to when you first started writing, have you notice any big changes in your writing style or how you write compared from then to now?

Oh boy! And honestly, I think any author should. There are so many nuances to writing that you don’t know as a reader. You have to learn those things by doing them. My voice has become stronger. But in essence, it is very similar. Just better. More solid and more categorically mine. I also use a different writing style for different books. I’m working on a epic love story right now and the voice is totally different than the one I use in Halflings. (I hope people will still love me.)

What do you look for in a book when you sit down to read for fun?

Something that sucks me right in. I can really get into anything if it’s well written and I can hear the author’s voice.

What has been your favorite part of being an author? What has been your least favorite?

There are so many things about being an author that make me feel like the luckiest person on the planet. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a ton of work too. But I love the work. The best is signing books for people. When I was on book tour and went around the country meeting people … wow. It was just amazing. That also brings me to the hardest part. Being away from my family while I travel. My husband and two boys are totally self-sufficient when I’m gone, but I miss them. Terribly.

When you walk into a book store, where do you head to first? Why?

I always go straight to the YA department and see if Halflings and Guardian are on the shelf. That is, if I don’t stop at the coffee shop first. Two times when my series was on bestseller lists, I didn’t know until I spotted them in bookstores. Eeeep! Like Christmas!

Did you get to quit your day job and become an author or do you still have a day job and writing is something you do for fun? If you still have a day job, what is it?

When I finished writing my first book, my husband sat me down and said, “You’ve spent your life helping build other people’s kingdoms. It’s time for you to follow your dream and build your kingdom.” We agreed that I would quit my job and stay home and write. It was a huge commitment, took 40,000.00 a year out of our budget. We became a one car family. That sacrifice made me EXTREMELY motivated to write. I treated it like a day job. I wrote every day, 8-10 hours a day. It took two or three years before I sold my first book.

What is your favorite junk food vice?

Oh, I love chocolate. No, you don’t understand, I mean I REALLY love chocolate. Dark chocolate. From where I’m sitting now, I can see three different dark chocolate stashes around the room.

On a typical weekend, what can we find you doing? Who are you with?

Two Saturdays a month I am at writer’s groups. When I’m not, I’m with my husband and boys. We are doing the hiking, camping thing a little bit right now and it’s super fun! We also love theme parks. Since we are just a couple hours from Disney, Univeral Studios and Busch Gardens, we tend to spend quite a few weekends a year at one of the parks.

What genre are you most looking forward to exploring during your writing career? Why?

Two, actually. YA, of course. I love writing in this genre. Also, as I said, I love a soul-mate epic love story. These are the types of books I love to read, so it’s what I think about most story-wise.

Who was your current novel dedicated to? Any particular reason?

Guardian, book two in the series is out now and I dedicated it to … The women in my life. My mom—because she always told me to reach high and do my best. My mother-in-law who really encouraged me to write. And my sister-in-law who is my best friend and also a writer.

Halflings by Heather Burch
ISBN: 978-0310728184
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Hardcover (288 pages)

Book blurb:

After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret---and the wings that come with. A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys' powers, as well as her role in a scientist's dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world. 

Guardian by Heather Burch
ISBN: 978-0310728214
Publisher:  Zondervan
Hardcover (320 pages)
Book blurb:

Vigilance. The mission to safeguard Nikki Youngblood depends on the fragile alliance of two half-angel, half-human guardians, both struggling with intense feelings for the girl who has been assigned to their care. Mace, steadfast and deeply in love, wants to protect Nikki at all costs, while Raven's loyalty to Nikki finds him advocating for her independence and battling his own darker inclinations. At the same time, Nikki finds it harder and harder to choose between the two heavenly beings she may never have. Dangers intensify, and tensions between Mace and Raven flare as the purpose of their mission becomes clear. Can their defenses hold up to master manipulator Damon Vessler and the powerful secret he holds regarding Nikki's heritage? Can anyone protect Nikki from her true purpose and destiny?

Avenger by Heather Burch
ISBN: 978-0310728245
Publisher: Zondervan
Hardcover (304 pages)
Book blurb:

Praise for the series: 'Sure to appeal to fans of both star-crossed lovers and Stephenie Meyer.' -- Booklist 'A well-written, thoroughly thought-out, and utterly addicting read.' -- USA Today Sometimes the Truth Comes with a Price Nikki knew Damon Vessler would not let his prized creation go easily---she simply never imagined the lengths he'd go to get her back into his clutches, and turn Nikki's heart toward darkness. A Seeker at her heels, trained on her blood, Nikki flees with Raven alongside her for protection, while Mace and the other Halflings fight the battle that has erupted on earth. But even as the two boys she loves fight for her, she knows the battle will be hers to win. Determined to uncover the secrets of her past, and exactly how she fits into Vessler's twisted plans, Nikki sets off on her own, and soon discovers facing hellacious beasts is nothing compared to the decision she will need to make. One that could change not only the war, and her relationship with Mace and Raven, but her future with the Throne.

Purchase the books here: Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Contact the author here: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Pay It Forward....

This year I am participating in "Pay-It-Forward" and here is this year's start: The first five people to comment on this status will receive from me, sometime this year, a gift! It could be a book, baked goods, a gift card, or whatever else I come up with. The deal is, it will be a surprise! There will likely be no warning and it will happen whenever the mood strikes me. The catch? Those five people MUST make the same offer and follow through with it. (Those who comment- please also email  me your mailing  address) Looking forward to Paying it Forward! I invite you to join me!

Meet Author Stephanie Jackson

Hello Stephanie and welcome to my blog. Thank you for taking the time to interview with me this afternoon. Why don't you start by telling the readers a little about yourself?

My name is Stephanie Jackson; I prefer to go by Steph. I'm the youngest in a set of quadruplets and I also have two older brothers (they are not twins). My sisters and I have written and published our debut novel, the first of a four-part series, entitled Two Pair: A Quadruple or Nothing Story in September a few days before we turned 20.

I then ventured off and published my own book, the first in a three book series entitled Lasso Me A Mom - A Bluebonnet Novel in late September a few days after I turned 20. So I'm probably one of the only people who can say they published a book when they were 19 and 20.


Please tell me about your novel. Who or what was your inspiration behind it?
Lasso Me a Mom is a story about trust, family, and acceptance. Cassie McGregor and Nikki Turner are two people who never really got along and are forced into a situation that will change their views on each other.

The story for Lasso Me a Mom came to me from a dream. In the dream, Lasso Me a Mom was a movie and I was watching it in theaters. Nancy McKeon (Facts of Life, Sonny with a Chance, The Division), my favorite actress, played one of the two leads Cassie McGregor. She became my inspiration/template for the character Cassie. After I woke up from that dream, I knew I had a great story to tell and I started writing the same morning. Originally the title of this book was going to be called 'Cassie and Nikki' but I felt that it was too plain and too simple.

Lasso Me a Mom – A Bluebonnet Novel is the first in a three book series. I’m currently working on the sequel.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What was the biggest compliment? Did those change how or what you did in your next novel?

Well I haven’t gotten much criticism yet. One thing I wish I heard earlier is the “rule” when you use a comma or a period to punctuate the end of dialogue. I was never taught when to use one over the other.

As for the biggest compliment I’ve gotten so far, is that I have made a few readers cry. I’ve always known that I could make a reader laugh but I never thought in a million years that I would have made someone cry especially from my first published book. I shared the news with everyone I talked to.

When you sit down to write, do you do it the old-fashioned way with pen and paper or do you use a computer? Do you prefer one way or the other?

I write on my computer. My hand cramps up easily and I type super fast. I prefer typing on my computer because I can save the files in tons of places whereas if I lost the notebook I was writing in, I’d have to start all over.

When you walk into a book store, where do you head to first? Why?

That’s a tossup between mangas and journals. always been a big fan of mangas ever since I read my first one which was Sailor Moon. And I always buy new journals to reflect on my day.

Did you get to quit your day job and become an author or do you still have a day job and writing is something you do for fun? If you still have a day job, what is it?

No, I didn’t quit my day job. I’m actually a current junior in college. I study, go to classes, and go to work. I find time in between all of that to write.

Did you have any teacher in school that encouraged you to write? Did you take their advice?

Yes, my 6th grade English teacher got me into writing. She was supportive in day one and made me really believe I was creative enough to try. Yes, I took their advice and it pushed me to publish my first book.

What do you listen to when you write? Do you find one type of music over another that inspires you to write? Why?

I listen to Celine Dion specifically her song ‘One Heart’, because it was the song that inspired me to write Lasso Me a Mom because I believe it could be “the song” or the “theme song” for the series or for Cassie and Nikki in general.

What authors inspired you to write this particular novel? Why?

Denise Hunter and Colleen Coble. I read Denise’s Big Sky Romance series and Colleen’s Lonestar Angel series and I fell in love with ranching stories and lifestyles that I decided to tackle the subject myself. However, I did a lot of research to make sure I kept things as accurate as possible.

Is there anything else that you would like to share or say to those who will read this interview?

Yes; Lasso Me a Mom is my first solo published work. I have another book series out that I’m working on with my sisters. We’re quadruplets. The first book is entitled: Two Pair – A Quadruple or Nothing Story and we are currently working in the sequel entitled: Four of a Kind – A Quadruple or Nothing Story. It is a four book series.

Two Pair – A Quadruple or Nothing is available on Amazon.

Which is your favorite character in your book and why?

I’m actually stuck between Nikki and Cloud. I chose Nikki because she doesn’t take crap from anyone and she is very witty and sarcastic and I love those types of people. I also really like Cloud because he has all of the characteristics I’m sure a teenage girl would want plus he knows how to tame Nikki and calm her down.

Lasso Me a Mom by Stephanie Jackson
ASIN:  B009HX2R9I
 Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
E-book

Book blurb: 

Nikki Turner has it all: she’s an honor student, has a popular boyfriend and is a star dancer. However; never is there a time that a smile crosses her face. With a constant frown and a sharp tongue, she doesn’t let anyone get a rise out of her, especially her teacher Cassie McGregor.

When it is revealed that Nikki is homeless and in the foster care system, Cassie, who is a certified foster mother, is chosen to be her temporary guardian, an agreement they both object from the start. As their animosity begins to deplete, Nikki and Cassie realize that what they’ve always wanted just might bring them closer.

This is the first book by Stephanie Jackson (one of the four co-authors of Two Pair: A Quadruple or Nothing Story).

Read a review here: AskDavid

Purchase the book here:  Amazon 

Contact the author here:  Goodreads | Facebook | Blog

Sliding Beneath the Surface by Doug Dillon

Sliding Beneath the Surface by Doug Dillon
ISBN: 978-0983368410
Publisher: Old St. Augustine Publications
Softcover (294 pages)
E-book

Book synopsis:

A new resident of America's oldest and most haunted city, St. Augustine, Florida, fifteen-year-old Jeff Golden suddenly finds himself up to his eyeballs in frightening paranormal experiences. At the end of his rope in trying to figure out what is happening to him, Jeff decides to rely on his friend Carla Rodriguez, and Lobo, an old Native American shaman, for help.

Despite this guidance, things get even worse. Jeff's spine tingling encounters increase in number and intensity at an alarming rate, scaring him even more. Eventually, he makes the startling discovery that unresolved circumstances involving a bloody event directly out of Florida's distant past threatens his sanity and possibly his life.

Finally, overwhelmed by forces he cannot understand or control, Jeff's world shifts from frightening to downright terrifying. In desperation, and on Lobo's advice, he leaps headlong into the unknown in order to save himself. What Jeff discovers though is that he has entered a level of reality he is completely unprepared to handle while unwittingly dragging Carla with him.

Like all the books in THE ST. AUGUSTINE TRILOGY, the premise for Sliding Beneath the Surface is simply this: You create your own reality.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for the purpose of review. The review is my honest opinion and I was not paid for this service. 

Sliding Beneath the Surface is not my typical read, but I must say that Doug Dillon certainly has a way of capturing your attention and drawing you into the book. I liked how Doug not only introduces you to the characters but pulls you in as though you were old friends. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters Jeff, Carla and Lobo. Lobo, I must say makes you think of the old coot that you knew from your childhood. Every town has one. It's pretty creepy how he seems to know things before they happen and what someone is thinking. Without giving anything away, there were some pretty strange occurrences that happen throughout the story.

 Sliding Beneath the Surface is a combination historical fiction story crossed with something out of the paranormal. This is a book was nothing short of extraordinary. Doug pulls you right into the story from the very first chapter and keeps you until the very end. He has an incredible story-telling ability and writes an incredible yet interesting story. I look forward to reading more books by Doug. If you enjoy reading a good book, I definitely recommend reading this one.

I give this book 4.5 stars out of a total of 5.

About the author:

Doug Dillon has been writing for adults and young people since 1984, especially in the paranormal realm. An award winning educator, he spent many years as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and coordinator of programs for high-risk students. Prentice Hall, Harcourt, Mitchell Lane Publishers, Boys' Life magazine, Learning Magazine and The Orlando Sentinel have all published his work. Doug Dillon's personal experiences with the paranormal help give his books the solid feel of a real life supernatural adventure. The nonfiction book Doug and his wife wrote a number of years ago titled, An Explosion of Being: An American Family's Journey into the Psychic, backs up his claim of such firsthand knowledge.

Purchase the book: Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Contact the author: Facebook | Website

Interview with Florence Osmund

Good evening, Florence. Thanks for taking the time out to interview with me today. Please tell me about your novel. Who or what was your inspiration behind it?

“The Coach House” begins in 1945 Chicago. Newlyweds Marie and Richard Marchetti have the perfect life together. Or at least it seems until Marie discovers he secretly attends a mobster’s funeral. And when she inadvertently interrupts a meeting between Richard and his so-called business associates, he causes her to fall down the basement steps, compelling her to run for her life. Ending up in Atchison, Kansas, Marie quickly starts a new life for herself in a coach house apartment. Ironically, it is the discovery of the identity of her real father and his ethnicity that changes her life more than Richard ever could.

Years before I started writing novels, I jotted down anything and everything that I thought I could use in a storyline. Then, when I was ready to write, I retrieved those hundreds of scraps of paper, sorted through them, put them in piles, and lo and behold, a story emerged. So when you ask who or what inspired me, I have to say it was family, friends, and strangers saying and doing a vast array of different things.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What was the biggest compliment? Did those change how or what you did in your next novel?

In the beginning, I had a difficult time with sticking to one POV (Point of View). I cringed every time my editor wrote “POV” in the margin—which meant she wanted me to remove something I wrote that came from another character’s perspective. Since my book was written in third person limited from the protagonist’s POV, I couldn’t allow the reader to know more than the protagonist. Hard lesson for me to learn.

The best compliment I’ve received actually started out sounding more like a complaint. “I’m mad at you, Florence. I picked up your book yesterday and couldn’t put it down. Stayed up way past my bedtime two nights in a row, and now I’m dog tired.”

Compared to when you first started writing, have you notice any big changes in your writing style or how you write compared from then to now?

I broke every rule in the book when I first began writing, and so to help other novice writers avoid the same mistakes I made, I devote my website to new author advice--advice I wish I had received before I started writing. The biggest change in my writing style has to do with “show, don’t tell.” Before I was aware of this golden rule of writing, I wrote the story from a bird’s eye view. Now I allow the reader to experience each scene through showing the character’s actions rather than telling the reader what to believe.

What do you look for in a book when you sit down to read for fun?

I prefer characters who confront conflict in thought-provoking ways and who are multi-dimensional, unique, strong, imperfect, and slightly unpredictable.

Did you get to quit your day job and become an author or do you still have a day job and writing is something you do for fun? If you still have a day job, what is it?

I knew throughout my entire adult life that I wanted to write novels when I retired. When I lost my job at the age of 59, I decided to get an early start on my second career as a writer. Best decision I ever made.

Besides writing and reading, what is your most favorite thing to do?

I love theater, and fortunately for me, Chicago has become quite the theater town. I also like rummaging through antique stores and touring old homes and mansions throughout the U.S.

We all have our little things when it comes to reading, is there anything that bugs you when you read a novel? What is it?

What bugs me when I read a novel is when I have to keep track of a long list of characters in order to follow the storyline. If I have to refer back to an earlier chapter to remind me who a character is, I get frustrated.

Who was your current novel dedicated to? Any particular reason?

I dedicated my first book to my parents to whom I owe everything.

Who are your favorite authors?

I look up to Dennis Lehane for his incredible ability to tell a story, and to Nicholas Sparks for his in-depth character development.

Which is your favorite character in your book and why?

Marie Marchetti, the protagonist in “The Coach House,” is a young woman in the 1940s who, after fleeing from her husband who gets mixed up with an unsavory cast of characters, tries to uncover the truth about herself when she suddenly finds her ethnicity under question. While there are other likeable characters in the book, I favor Marie because she’s strong enough to triumph over adversity, but has a vulnerable side to her as well.

The Coach House by Florence Osmund

The Coach House by Florence Osmund
ISBN: 978-1467946513
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
Softcover (366 pages)
E-book

Book Synopsis:

Marie Marchetti has what appears to be the perfect life: she’s beautiful, smart, successful—and recently married to medical equipment salesman Richard, her equal in many aspects. But the idea of creating a perfect family halts abruptly shortly after their wedding. Mistrustful of her husband’s late night phone calls, cryptic receipts hidden in the basement, and the gun in his desk drawer, Marie’s suspicions of something amiss are confirmed when she inadvertently interrupts a meeting between Richard and his so-called business associates in their living room. Enraged, he causes her to fall down the basement steps, compelling Marie to run for her life. Ending up in Atchison, Kansas, Marie sets up a new life for herself as she meets Karen Franklin, a woman who would become her lifelong best friend, and rents a coach house apartment behind a three-story Victorian home. But her attempts at a new life are fraught with the fear that Richard will show up at any time—and who knows what he’ll do? Ironically, it is the discovery of the identity of her real father and his ethnicity that unexpectedly changes her life forever. Forcing her protagonist to let go of old conventions to forge new, healthier ones, Osmund tears open layers of confusion, anger, fear, and shame that are universal to the human experience of catharsis and growth. With extraordinary insight into our most basic need for trust and connection, The Coach House expertly builds tension as it tears open our primal instincts for survival and community.

About the author:

Florence Osmund grew up in an old Victorian home in Libertyville, Illinois, complete with a coach house, the same house she used as inspiration for her first two books. She earned her master’s degree from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and has obtained more than three decades of experience in corporate America. Osmund currently resides in Chicago where she is working on her third novel.

Purchase the book here: Amazon

Contact the author:  Website | Facebook | Blog

Ties that Bind by Carolyn Arnold

Welcome my guest Carolyn Arnold, author of the Madison Knight series, and the Brandon Fisher FBI series.  Today, she’s going to tell us about the Madison Knight series.

What is the Madison Knight series?

First of all, it is designed as a stand-alone mystery series, which means you can read these books out of order and still pick up on the series' characters and story line.

Major Crimes Detective Madison Knight, fueled by determination to find justice for the victims, is a strong, independent female amidst a career dominated by men.  If you love a strong protagonist lead, I invite you to meet Madison for yourself.

To find out more about Madison Knight, you can also peek inside her psyche in a fictional piece written just for this purpose, or read her interview with a real life police officer.

How many are books are currently available in the series?

Three novels.  In order:

TIES THAT BIND

Meet Madison Knight as she and partner must pull together to stop a potential serial killer.

JUSTIFIED

See the softer side of Madison Knight in Justified as she's assigned to a case on Christmas Eve.

SACRIFICE

Madison must risk all, including her career, to bring a killer to justice.

Would you like to share some more information on the first in the series, TIES THAT BIND, and an excerpt?

Absolutely. 

This is the book overview:

Detective Madison Knight concluded the case of a strangled woman an isolated incident. But when another woman's body is found in a park killed with the same line of neckties, she realizes they're dealing with something more serious.

Despite mounting pressure from the Sergeant and Chief to close the case even if it means putting an innocent man behind bars, and a partner who is more interested in saving his marriage than stopping a potential serial killer, Madison may have to go it alone if there's not going to be another victim.

Excerpt of TIES THAT BIND: 

Chapter 3

He sat there, in his 1995 Honda Civic, sweating profusely.  Its air conditioner hadn’t worked for years.  A real piece of sh** actually but perfect for the crappy life he had going.  He combed his fingers through his hair and caught his reflection in the rear-view mirror.

Last night had changed him—whether for the good or for the bad remained to be seen.  All he knew was his eyes had changed, revealing the darker side of his character.  He rolled his shoulders forward in an effort to dislodge the growing tension and took a cleansing breath that brought with it a waft of the cigarette that burned in the car’s ashtray.

He had parked down the street close enough to observe the activity at 36 Bay Street yet far enough away to be left alone.  At least he had hoped so.  Cruisers were parked out front of the house, and about forty-eight minutes ago, a department-issued SUV pulled to a quick stop.

He picked up the cigarette, tapped it in the ashtray.  He took pride in getting all this attention for his work.  Statistically it was nothing special.  Another dead young lady.  People would move on.  They always did.

It was the city’s thirtieth murder of the year.  He knew this only because he had been brushing up on his statistics.  He was just like that, a gatherer of facts, of useless information.  But maybe someday his fact-finding and attention to detail would prove beneficial. 

He wiped his forehead.  The sweat trickled down and stung his nose.  It was still tender to the touch.  The old man at the bar had a strong right hook.  He closed his eyes for an instant.  When he opened them, a Crown Vic pulled to a stop in front of the house.  He straightened up.

A woman of average height, probably about five-five, with blonde hair walked toward the yellow tape.  But her looks didn’t have his attention.  It was her determined stride that garnered his respect.  And she looked familiar to him and now he knew exactly why—Detective Madison Knight.

She had made headlines for putting Russian Czar Dimitre Petrov behind bars, but the glory didn’t last for long.  His power couldn’t be weakened and the detective proved powerless to stop another murder.

He felt flattered with her on the investigation.  An adrenaline rush built within him.  He could feel the energy in his veins, his heartbeat pounding in his ears, and the subsequent strain to draw in a satisfying breath.

Tap, tap.

Knuckles against glass.  His driver side window to be exact.  He felt his heart take pause, his breath shorten further, as he surmised who it would be.  Slowly lifting his eyes to look at the intrusion on his reflections, his suspicion was confirmed.  It was an officer.

Stay calm, play it cool.

He drew the cigarette to his lips and took a drag on it.  Damn, his nose hurt so much when he sucked back on it, he had to fight wincing.  Leaving it perched between his fingers, he directed his attention to the cop who motioned for him to put the window down.

“I’m going to have to ask you to move your vehicle.”

Good thing for his dark-tinted glasses or maybe this cop would see right through him.  “Sure.”  He could feel himself shaking.  More adrenaline now infused with fear.

“Are you alright sir?”  The police officer bent over, looked into the car.

Following his gaze to the unsteady hand holding the cigarette, he forced himself to raise it for another drag.  It shook the entire way.  “Yeah, I’m fine…”  Her lifeless eyes flashed though his mind.  He coughed for the dual purpose of clearing his throat and for the hope it would somehow dislodge his recollections.  “Sure…I…I’ll get out of your way immediately.”

The cop’s facial reaction made him nervous.  Had he seen through the entire facade?  Was his guilt that obvious?

“All units confirm a secured perimeter.”  The voice was monotone.

The officer ignored his radio.  “What happened to your nose?”

What was this uniform out to prove?  He forced another cough, attempting to re-direct the conversation.  He made himself take another drag and form-pressed a smile to conceal the pain.  His words escaped through gritted teeth.  “Bar fight.”  He tapped the cigarette in the ashtray.

The officer nodded but didn’t look too convinced.  It felt like the man’s eyes were condemning him.

“I need you to move your car.”  The officer’s flattened palm drummed on the roof.  “And try to keep yourself out of trouble.”

Too late, Officer…too late.

Want to read more?  You’ll have to purchase Carolyn Arnold’s book.  Speaking of which, where can we find TIES THAT BIND?

It is available via Amazon in Kindle and print.

Amazon Kindle US

Amazon Kindle UK

Coming soon to Barnes & Noble!

You may also find out more about Carolyn Arnold and her books at:  http://carolynarnold.net