Category Archives: General

General

It’s A Right Cozy Christmas Crime! #ARIGHTCOZYCHRISTMASCRIME

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What better to whet your appetite for the festive season, than a seasonal read. In this case, it’s a collection of short stories all with the same theme – crime! Kick back and grab a cuppa and we’ll get down to business with A Right Cozy Christmas Crime.

Right Cozy Christmas Crime

Wendy J. Jones was the brainchild, and through her company, Scott and Lawson have gathered a diverse group of crime writers to put this first in a series of cozy crimes together.

Right Cozy Christmas Crime

Blurb

Step into a world where twinkling lights and holiday cheer are accompanied by Christmas puddings and a dash of intrigue. A Right Cozy Christmas Crime brings together thirteen festive mysteries where annual traditions are intertwined with shadowy secrets. From a historic Scottish Castle hiding a chilling truth, to the bustling streets of Lagos filled with more than just Christmas shoppers, each tale sparkles with holiday warmth while unravelling a deliciously puzzling mystery. It’s time to put your feet up, sip hot cocoa and join our detectives as they ensure justice is served. Perfect for lovers of cozy mysteries with a holiday twist.

My Review

I loved this collection of short stories. I could dip in and out as time permitted. The stories were interesting, and there was quite a collection of characters involved. Past and present timelines and a range of locations made for a fun read in the lead-up to the festive season.

Oh, and at the end? A recipe!

Buy Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DKG4TP9Q

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY 

Scott and Lawson Publishing, situated in the heart of Dundee, Scotland, is a beacon for literary enthusiasts. The company publishes captivating cosy mystery anthologies, transporting readers to quaint locales filled with intrigue and charm. In addition they specialise in non-fiction books tailored for writers seeking to hone their craft, the company offers invaluable insights and guidance fiction aficionados are also catered to with thrilling narratives that keep them on the edge of their seats. With a commitment to quality and a passion for storytelling, Scott and Lawson Publishing is a cornerstone of the Scottish literary landscape.

A Right Cozy Christmas Crime Features 13 Short Stories written by

Wendy H. Jones
Linda Mather
Sue Cook
Melicity Pope
Marti M. Mcnair
Sheena MacLeod
Pauline Tait
Gulia Fancelli Clifford
Dianne Ascroft
Gillian DuffStella Oni
Alex Greyson
Sophy Smythe

WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

 

https://www.wendyhjones.com

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Wendy-H.-Jones/author/B00OABSKH0

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Dianne-Ascroft/author/B002BOCBKA

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/LINDA-MATHER/author/B095CQWLDY

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Pauline-Tait/author/B01MU5U020

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Sheena-Macleod/author/B01N32QPOJ

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Stella-Oni/author/B08MV9TP6P

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Alex-Greyson/author/B0DKJXNW16

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Sue-Cook/author/B0BG8X6L37

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Gillian-Duff/author/B06XBTXG14

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Marti-M.-McNair/author/B0CK8JM7FQ

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Sophy-Smythe/author/B08YNV7ZTF

 

General

Death at a Shetland Festival by Marsali Taylor #DEATHATASHETLANDFESTIVAL

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I’m pleased to be able to host Marsali Taylor once again. This time, it’s about her latest Shetland offering, Death at a Shetland Festival.

Death at a Shetland Festival

Death at a Shetland Festival
Blurb

Crowds are gathered for a concert at Shetland’s renowned folk music festival when there’s a shocking discovery – international folk legend Fintan Foley has been stabbed backstage. Sailing sleuth Cass Lynch and her partner DI Gavin Macrae are in the audience and must untangle a complicated case where nothing is quite what it seems. Cass soon discovers that Foley’s smiling stage persona concealed links with Shetland. He’d worked here in the 80s, the days when oil brought wealth to the islands. Has a long-buried secret risen to the surface – and will it make Cass a target for a cold-blooded killer?

My Review

This is the second Shetland book by Marsali Taylor I’ve read. It certainly didn’t disappoint.

The title tells you exactly what happened, but the whodunnit is the best part of the book. I loved the dual timeline aspect, with the segment from 1981 coming from a diary from back in the day.

Cass and her partner, Gavin, a policeman, are at the festival where the murder takes place. She fancies herself a modern Miss Marple, and that’s when the fun begins.

Every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist came and sent me backtracking yet again.

I hope this author continues with the series because it’s a cracking good one.

HOW TO BUY

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Shetland-Festival-Marsali-Taylor/dp/1035400650/

About Marsali Taylor

Death at a Shetland Festival
Marsali Taylor grew up near Edinburgh, and came to Shetland as a newly-qualified teacher. She is currently a part-time teacher on Shetland’s scenic west side, living with her husband and two Shetland ponies. Marsali is a qualified STGA tourist-guide who is fascinated by history, and has published plays in Shetland’s distinctive dialect, as well as a history of women’s suffrage in Shetland. She’s also a keen sailor who enjoys exploring in her own 8m yacht, and an active member of her local drama group.

Social Media Links

Author Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/MarsaliTaylorAuthor/

Website – https://www.marsalitaylor.co.uk

Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marsali-Taylor/e/B0034PACI8/

General

WHISPERS THROUGH TIME Publication Day!

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It’s publication day for WHISPERS THROUGH TIME! Yay!

Here’s a look at the cover.

WHISPERS THROUGH TIME

Blurb

A historic Canadian property becomes the canvas for a tale that spans generations. In 1914, a tragedy unfolded, leaving scars that linger far beyond the passage of time.

In 1947, a visionary purchases the haunted remnants, seeking a new beginning for his family, but his young daughter senses a ghost from the far past.

In the present, urban explorers unlock the secrets of the past while running a web design company. Photographs and sketches capture the essence of the property, documenting the whispers of spirits from another era.

As the explorers navigate the abandoned corridors and forgotten chambers, the photographs unveil subtle anomalies until supernatural phenomena manifest that defy explanation.

Amidst the subtle changes in decor and the flickering candle flames frozen in time, the explorers find themselves entangled in a mystery transcending the boundaries of the living and the dead, forcing the urban explorers to confront the unresolved secrets that echo through the corridors of time.

Is a structure just that, or can it house remnants of horror, pain and sin? The urban explorers find they must confront the unresolved secrets that echo through the corridors of time.

Buy Link

You can buy WHISPERS THROUGH TIME from your favourite online bookstore at this link:  Books2Read.

 

#cover, Carol Wyer, cover reveal, Crime/Thriller, General, Novel covers, Novels

Detective Kate Young series by #CarolWyer

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Nobody can get into the mind of an erratic killer—except an unpredictable detective.

When a young man is found lying on a station platform with a hole in his head, DI Kate Young is called in to investigate the grisly murder. But the killing is no one-off. As bodies start to pile up, she is faced with what might be an impossible task—to hunt down a ruthless killer on a seemingly random rampage.

Meanwhile, Kate has her own demons to battle as she struggles to come to terms with her husband’s death. And she is hell-bent on exposing corruption within the force and bringing Superintendent John Dickson to justice. But with the trail of deception running deeper—and closer to home—than she could ever have imagined, she no longer knows who she can trust.

With her grip on reality slipping, Kate realises that maybe she and the killer are not so different after all. But time is running out and Kate is low on options. Can she catch the killer before she loses everything?

And now for the moment you’ve been waiting for. The cover for book 3 in the DI Kate Young series – A Life for A Life.

Detective

Out March 15th Available to pre order now.

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Detective-Kate-Young-Book-ebook

US: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Detective-Kate-Young-Book-ebook

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Life-Detective-Kate-Young-Book-ebook

“WOW! Gritty and tense. DI Kate Young is an exciting new lead character I can’t wait to see more of in this compelling series.” —K. L. Slater, bestselling author of Little Whispers and The Apartment

General, Little Shop of Borrows, Novels, Suzy Turner, Winterbourne Witches

The Little Shop of Borrows by Suzy Turner

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The Little Shop of Borrows is the first full-length novel in the Winterbourne witches series.
little shop of borrows

Blurb

After spending a year perfecting his knitting skills in the Peruvian mountains, Taren Winn-Jones returns to England to transform his late Nanna’s house into a yarn shop. But when he discovers it has quite literally vanished, he doesn’t know what to do. Luckily for him, he has just befriended a strange young woman heading to the mysterious hamlet of Willow Tree Farm…

Sadie Thornton is following her father’s instructions. “If I disappear, you must find your way to the Winterbournes of Willow Tree Farm.” Well, her father has gone, so she’s had no choice but to leave the Tibetan monks behind and fly halfway across the world to start afresh with a family harbouring a badly kept secret—that they are, in fact, witches.

When it becomes apparent that a murder has been committed, a house has been stolen, and ghosts are hanging around, three generations of the Winterbournes will do everything in their power to protect their new friends and if that means waging a war against Cinnamon Grove’s obnoxious Mayor, then so be it.

Little Shop of Borrows is the first full-length novel in The Winterbourne Witches series. If you like quirky characters, magical mysteries and moments that will have you laughing out loud, then you’ll love Suzy Turner’s Little Shop of Borrows.

Buy Links

Little Shop of Borrows – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LSFY2TD

A short, prequel novella, Willow Tree Farm, is available on Amazon for FREE.

Willow Tree Farm – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L43BJM4

My Review

A house that’s larger on the inside than it appears. A quirky family. Meet the Winterbournes of Willow Tree Farm! Should I mention they’re witches? Not wart-covered and casting evil spells requiring ‘eye of newt’ and other ghastly ingredients. These are good witches who use their powers to help people.

I loved this book! The characters were well-developed and likeable. Even the obnoxious Mayor has some redeeming qualities and is the perfect candidate for the Winterbournes to use their powers.

And then there’s the Power of Three, but I won’t say any more than that. If you want to find out, you’ll have to read Little Shop of Borrows.

About Suzy

little shop of borrows

Suzy Turner wrote her first chick lit novel in her early twenties, but it wasn’t until much later that she decided to focus on writing full time. It was during a visit to Canada in 2009 when the ravens within the dark eerie forests of British Columbia called to her. The story of Lilly Taylor was born soon after and the first novel in The Raven Witch Saga was created. Suzy has since published several more urban fantasy books and contemporary women’s novels.

Having lived in Portugal since childhood, Suzy, who is originally from Yorkshire in England, loves to travel. She finds inspiration wherever she goes. Old decrepit buildings, graveyards, cathedrals and castles are just a few of the things that can be found within the worlds of her urban fantasy books, and her contemporary women’s fiction novels are filled with fun friendships, ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances and quirky characters you’d want as friends.

Suzy lives in the Algarve with her husband, three cats and a dog, where she does yoga every morning and bookish stuff for pretty much the rest of the day!

For more books and updates, visit www.suzyturner.com

You can follow Suzy at these links:

Website: www.suzyturner.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/suzyturnerbooks
Instagram: www.instagram.com/suzyturner
Twitter: www.twitter.com/suzy_turner
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/suzyturnerbooks

 

 

#Canada, #RealLife, #sweetromance, Gastown, General, It Happened in Gastown, It Happened on Dufferin Terrace, novella, Novels, Travel, Vancouver

Progress Report ~ It Happened in Gastown #sweetromance

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progress report

Progress Report

I’ve been conspicuously absent from my blog, so I thought it was about time I got my skates on and wrote a post. This one is a progress report on my work-in-progress – It Happened in Gastown.

The book is written. Yay! There could be an epilogue but that can be written and edited separately.

Currently, this episode of the “It Happened” series is longer than the first (It Happened on Dufferin Terrace), but that’s okay. Many series have different length books in them. Harry Potter comes to mind.

It Happened in Gastown has been through Grammarly – copied and pasted from Scrivener one scene at at a time – and corrections made in both applications.

Next, I compiled the entire document to word format (.docx) using Scrivener and imported it to Autocrit. That process wasn’t without its challenges. It seems the version of Safari I’m running on my MacBook Air and Autocrit didn’t like each other. Only a portion of my document loaded. Nothing past chapter 15 and there are 21 chapters in total.

Thanks to Kevin at Autocrit, that problem is sorted and I’m happily editing away using Chrome. Again, I’m making the changes in both applications so if something goes pear-shaped (as things sometimes do), I’ll have an up-to-date copy.

The Office 365 version of Word has the ability to read your manuscript back to you, but since I don’t have that version, I depend on either Scrivener or Natural Reader to do this step for me. The beauty of doing it in Scrivener is the corrections only need to be made once.

Finally, it’s off to my readers who will undoubtedly pick out errors that slipped through the cracks.

My plan is to post a cover reveal at some point during this process with pre-order links for kindle and kobo.

If you would be interested in hosting a cover reveal for It Happened in Gastown, leave a comment and I’ll get back to you with the details.

 

Aberdeen, character interview, Fireside chat, General, King Park Press, Psychological Thriller, romantic suspense, YESTERDAY TODAY ALWAYS

Please welcome Katherine and Jared from YESTERDAY TODAY ALWAYS

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Today, I have the pleasure of not just one guest in the “hot seat” for a fireside chat, but two. Katherine Murphy-Whithorn and Jared Martin, from Melanie Robertson-King’s novel, YESTERDAY TODAY ALWAYS, are with me here today.

Can you tell us a bit about YESTERDAY TODAY ALWAYS?

Katherine: Unbeknownst to me, I have a stalker. I thought he was just a poor homeless bloke, plenty of them in Aberdeen, so never paid much attention to him.  That’s it. In a nutshell, it’s a psychological, romantic suspense, thriller.

I understand you met under somewhat unusual circumstances. What can you tell us about that?

Jared: I still have the mark on the top of my foot where she rammed a spike heel down on me. *chuckles*

Katherine: It wasn’t that bad. * swats playfully at his arm* I was looking at CDs in HMV and backed up to move away from the bin. I didn’t know Jared was behind me and I trod on his foot. He’s never let me forget it.

I imagine it was rather painful at the time.

Jared: If she’d been half an inch closer to my toes, she would have hit the steel cap in my work boots, and I wouldn’t have felt a thing. *winks at Kat*

What do you do for a living?

Katherine: I own a bookstore on Exchequer Row – As the Pages Turn – you might have heard of it? *far away look crosses her face*

Jared: I work offshore on the Alba Ecosse platform.

After a long time apart, you recently found each other again. How?

Katherine: I had sent my part-timer, Melissa, up to the corner of Shiprow and Union Street to collect the new chalkboard sign, so it didn’t get nicked like the old one. I advertise our shop up there because of the increased foot traffic.

Jared: I happened along, onshore for a few weeks, and saw her struggling with it, so I offered to carry it for her.

Back up one second. Katherine, you just said you advertise our shop. Earlier you said you owned.

Katherine: *takes a deep breath* My husband, and I started the business before he was killed in the London Bombings when he was off on a book buying trip.

I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry for your loss. *leans over and rubs the back of Katherine’s left hand*

Jared, before I interrupted you, you were saying?

Yeah. I picked up the sign and carried it down the street and into the shop. Poor kid never have managed on her own. It’s a heavy sucker.

Katherine: You could have knocked me over with a feather I was so gobsmacked to hear Jared’s voice and see his face. I didn’t think I would ever see him again.

If you don’t mind me asking, how did you fall apart in the beginning?

Katherine: My father was high up in the Royal Bank of Scotland. My parents didn’t approve of mine and Jared’s relationship, so when the chance came to get me away from Aberdeen, he accepted the position in Canada. They dragged me off kicking and screaming.

Jared: Didn’t approve was an understatement. Back then, I was living in a grotty bedsit trying to work my way through school. Not only was I from the wrong side of Aberdeen, I was from the wrong side of the border.

I thought I detected an English accent. What part of England?

Jared: North Yorkshire.

Recently, Melanie redesigned the cover of the book. Can you show us?

Katherine: *brings up the image on her iPad*  This one is different from the print version. While it was beautiful, it didn’t quite pull off the theme of the book – the psychological thriller aspect. This new design says it so much better.

Katherine
Yes, it is quite a powerful image.

Fire and blood are both red, making it associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love. It’s also an emotionally intense colour.

In contrast, the hint of yellow reveals freshness, happiness, positivity, clarity, energy, optimism, enlightenment, remembrance, intellect, honour, loyalty, and joy, but also cowardice and deceit.

Melanie’s name in stand-alone white on red grabs the reader. The relationship of colours works well together. This book is going to the top of my TBR list.

Did I hear the book is nominated for an award?

Katherine: The 2019 Reader’s Choice Award in the thriller category. Reader’s Choice Awards in the thriller category which you’ll find on page 9. I’d love it if you voted for this book. It is a cracker.

The trailer for it is amazing. Do you think your readers would like to watch?

Blurb

Who is stalking Katherine and why?

Still reeling from the death of her husband in the London Bombings, Katherine builds a wall around her heart to prevent further hurt.

In a serendipitous moment her first love, Jared Martin walks back into her life. Old feelings are rekindled, but as their second-chance-relationship develops, another cruel twist of fate strikes. The helicopter Jared is a passenger on ditches in the North Sea.

Who, if anyone, will survive the ordeal? Is fate still not done its dirty deeds?

Will a reckless moment from her past come back to haunt her?

Contains adult content, violence, and strong language. 18+ recommended.

Where can YESTERDAY TODAY ALWAYS be purchased?

amazon

kobo


Books a Million


Barnes and Noble (print & nook)

iBooks

Diesel

Thank you, Katherine and Jared, for stopping by Celtic Connexions. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you.
Thanks for stopping by everyone. I hope you enjoyed the second in what I hope will be a number of fireside chats with characters from Melanie’s books.
General

D is for Dublin ~ 2018 #AtoZ Challenge

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D is for Dublin

D is for Dublin

2018 #AtoZ Challenge

Day 4 and we’re catching a flight to Ireland – Dublin to be precise.

Dublin is located on the east coast and is the capital of the Republic of Ireland. During the week of Easter, 1916, the aptly named Easter Risings took place. Launched by Irish Republicans, it was to break away from British rule and form their independent nation.

D is for Dublin
By Keogh Brothers Ltd., photographers [1] [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons

Dublin is home to the Jameson Distillery and the Guinness brewery.

General

C is for Calgary ~ 2018 #AtoZ Challenge

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C is for Calgary

C is for Calgary

2018 #AtoZ Challenge

We’re staying in Canada today but are headed west. “Go west young man” as the saying went. Although, to be more politically correct these days, I guess it should say ‘young people’. Anyway, we’re off to the province of Alberta and the city of Calgary.

Home of the famous Calgary Stampede and host to the 1988 Winter Olympics, Calgary is a cosmopolitan city which can attribute its growth to the Canadian oil industy.

It’s nickname is “Cowtown”.

General, Holidays

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

St. Patrick's Day

In previous years, I’ve had a virtual party on occasions such as this. Well, life got in the way and I’ve had to dig out a short post from a few years ago, and resurrect it.

For all you Irish folk or descendants of Irish folk or anyone who likes to get together and listen to good music and drink green beer…

St. Patrick's Day

May the luck o’ the Irish be with you.

St. Patrick's Day