Hywela Lyn: mystery

at 1:00 pm

I'm really pleased to welcome Anne Albert to my blog today. Make yourself at home, and do help yourself to something refreshing while I ask you a few questions.

So tell us, when did you start writing?

AA: I’ve been writing for ever. It began as snail mail letters to friends and family members. I’d write pages to my husband’s grandmother and she always said I should be a writer. I never took her seriously because in my mind, ordinary people did not write books! Then, many years later, it occurred to me that perhaps I could. I had no idea how to write a full length novel, but I was determined my story would have a dead body, puzzle to solve and fun, memorable characters!

HL: What have you learned about writing since you were published that surprised you the most?

AA: When I first began writing, I took the advice of several published authors who advised beginners to keep track of how long it took them to write a book. I did this and found it takes 6-8 intensive weeks to write the first draft. Now that I’m published, I’ve come to realize it’s outdated and no longer applies. The world of publishing has changed dramatically. Now, most authors must promote themselves and their books online via websites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. This chews up huge hunks of time and greatly reduces the number of hours devoted solely to writing. Had I known this earlier, I would not be so far behind on deadline!

HL: What’s you’re writing process? Has it changed since writing your first book?

AA: I’m a pantser, but I’m certainly not a free-wheeling, free-spirited pantser! The first scene has to feel just ‘right’ before I can move on to writing the rest of the story. I write 10 to 20 versions of the first scene. Most are variations on a theme, and the process is often two steps forward and one back, but I’ve learned to accept it. This is how I write (and how I’ve written five books – three unpublished and two released by Vanilla Heart Publishing). Has it changed? My editor requested a synopsis for book number three last spring so she could design the cover. I gladly provided it, and then began to write the story. I’m ashamed to say I am fighting this book tooth and nail. It feels all wrong! I hate feeling confined and vow never to repeat this mistake again. My wonderful editor will just have to wait…hmmm, perhaps I’m more of a free spirit that I thought!

HL: If you were an animal, which one do you think you would be, and why?

Definitely, a cat. I love their independent spirit. They tolerate humans, but can never be truly tamed or controlled. They’re playful, self-indulgent, and smart. They lounge wherever they please, groom themselves regularly and religiously and make me smile. I particularly enjoy this Youtube video dedicated to cats. It’s not an endorsement, it’s just a fun watch!

HL: Aw, how cute! Tell us about your latest release.

AA: FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL is set the week before Christmas when the stress of the holidays is enough to frazzle anyone’s nerves. Tensions increase when a friend begs Muriel to team up with a sexy private investigator to find a missing woman. Forced to deal with an embezzler, kidnapper, and femme fatale is bad enough, but add Muriel’s zany yet loveable family to the mix and their desire to win the coveted D-DAY (Death Defying Act of the Year) Award, and the situation can only get worse. This cozy, comedic mystery is recipient of the prestigious 2011 Holt Medallion Award of Merit.

What are readers saying? “Anne K. Albert's…wit shines through this lightly suspenseful novel and her characters ring sweet and true. Can't wait to read more about Muriel, Frank and the rest of the gang.” ~ Amazon

“Laugh out loud funny in places, and that's my favorite kind of book. I was totally entertained by Frank, Incense and Muriel.” ~ author Marja McGraw

HL: Well, sadly we're nearly at the end of our interview. Before we read an excerpt from Frank, Incense and Muriel, tell us where can readers reach you online?

AA: They can visit my website http://www.AnneKAlbert.com/ and blogs http://anne-k-albert.blogspot.com/ and http://muriel-reeves-mysteries.blogspot.com. I’m also on Facebook www.facebook.com/annekalbert and Twitter www.twitter.com/AnneKAlbert.
USA buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Frank-Incense-and-Muriel-ebook/dp/B004CLYDRO/
UK buy link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Frank-Incense-and-Muriel-ebook/dp/B004CLYDRO

Thanks for featuring me!

Frank, Incense and Muriel
EXCERPT:

“Remember Rachel Queen?” Frankie asked.

I felt my eyes bug out of my head. That’s what this was all about?

“The girl who asked you to the Sadie Hawkins Dance?” I asked. “The one who spent more time with you behind the bleachers than on the dance floor?”

“Whoo-hoo! I always knew you were jealous of her.”

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. The only thing worse than a twenty-eight-year-old woman who still had the audacity to blush, is a know-it-all macho jerk who just happened to be right.

I had been jealous of Rachel. Probably still was if I stopped to think about it. The blond, curvaceous cheerleader may have struggled to get a passing grade in every subject but lunch, but she never failed to get the attention of the male species. Or more importantly, one in particular. Imbedded inside my brain for all eternity was an image of her and Frankie locked lip-to-lip and hip-to-hip at the only school dance I ever attended.

Brushing away the memory to the recesses of my mind, I plucked an imaginary piece of lint from the sleeve of my sweater.

Frankie rubbed his palms together. “Invite me inside, Muriel. Listen to what I have to say. If you decide you don’t want to help in the investigation, I’ll leave. I’ll even promise never to darken your doorstep again.”

Although the prospect of his never darkening my doorstep again greatly appealed to me, my brain focused on the one word I suspect he knew all along I would be unable to dismiss.

“Investigation?” I heard myself ask. “What investigation?”

“I’m a private investigator. I’ve been hired to find Rachel.”

“And you have proof of this? The part about you being a PI, I mean?”

Pulling a small leather case from his inside breast pocket, he flipped it open and held it up for me to read. In bold, black print was the name Salerno Investigations beside his photograph. Below a local address, phone, fax, email, and website information. As far as I could tell, it looked legit.

Returning the identification to his pocket, he arched a brow. “Well? Are you going to invite me in, or what?”

I asked myself that very same question, and then slowly stepped back to open the door. I had a sinking feeling I was making the biggest mistake of my life. I wanted to blame it on my morbid curiosity about Rachel and what had become of her, but I knew I’d be kidding myself. My interest lay solely in Frankie.
And he knew it.

Bio: Anne K. Albert’s award winning stories chill the spine, warm the heart and soothe the soul…all with a delightful touch of humor. A member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and married to her high school sweetheart for more than a quarter of a century, it's a given she'd write mystery and romantic suspense. When not writing she loves to travel, visit friends and family, and of course, read using ‘Threegio’ her cherished and much beloved Kindle 3G!

What an intriguing excerpt, this sounds like such a great read! Thanks again for a fascinating interview, Anne, and wishing you much success in the future.

'STARQUEST' 'CHILDREN OF THE MIST' (The sequel to Starquest) Dancing With Fate 'Freeread':'A BARGAIN WITH DEATH 'STARQUEST' 'CHILDREN OF THE MIST' (The sequel to Starquest) Dancing With Fate 'Freeread':'A BARGAIN WITH DEATH'

Also available on Kindle

at 4:20 pm

HL: I'm absolutely delighted to have my dear friend, fellow author and crit partner, Miss Mae, as my special guest today. Miss Mae writes amazing, edge-of-your-seat mystery romances, scintillating children's fantasy stories about the whacky 'Gumdrop Island', and is now branching out into Science Fiction Romance, as well as writing articles and designing book covers - is their any end to this amazing lady's talent? You can see some of her books above, with the covers she designed herself. She also designed the gorgeous cover for my own story 'Dancing With Fate', (which you can see in the sidebar on the right.) Anyway, without further ado, let me hand you over to Miss Mae herself!

M.M.: Hello to everyone, and a huge “thank you” to Lyn for having me over to guest today. (If you’ve not read one of her books, you don’t know what you’re missing! Grab a copy of “Starquest” today and start reading!)

Shall we begin with introductions? I’m Miss Mae, and I write romantic mysteries. I prefer the word ‘mysteries’ as opposed to ‘suspense’. Why, you ask? Well, I don’t know. I just do! J

I reside in the US, in the south. I love the movie, “Gone With the Wind” (rrrr Rhett Bulter!), and since the heroine, Scarlett, was always called “Miss”, a proper southern address for proper southern young ladies, you understand, I chose my pen name to reflect that distinction. Sometimes I also use the initials MM. Marilyn Monroe was often ascribed this way. Though, of course, I might be confused with that glamorous Hollywood starlet, I assure you we are not the one and same!

So, what would you prefer I chat about? My books? Nah, you can visit my website (www.missmaesite.com) to find more information on those. My book covers? (yes, I do design some.) My alter ego cleverly named M.M.? (note the periods) Ah, again, more information available at this site (www.mishapsofgumdropisland.webs.com) What about my newest trailers? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4Rid0mbs1M and also

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nPhAn3PqvY&NR=1

(Editor's note - you can also see both these thrilling trailers at the foot of this post! Well worth a look.)

Miss Mae's 'Champ'

Hmm. You know we can discuss animals, as in what pets do you cherish and share your life with? I am an animal enthusiast, and feature a weekly segment at my blog. Doggy Tales now has an official badge/star for guests to display! (Your appearance is indeed solicited!)

But, however, if you’d prefer more of the Southern charm, like snacking on a slice of pecan pie while relaxing beneath the shade of delicately scented magnolia blooms, may I offer you a plate? While you’re at it, why not partake of a jug…I mean, a glass of my Grandpappy Beauregard’s ‘what-knocked-me-upside-o’-the-head’ Lemonade. Believe me, after one taste of this tart (that’s putting it mildly) and throat-clutching, black-eyed, savagely defended family recipe, (“Cousin Jethro, where you goin’ wit’ that exilir? Auntie Sal, quick! Quick! Trip ‘im wit’ yer parasaw!”) you’ll be always, and forever, concretely footed into the world of Miss Mae!

Blurb for “Catch Me If You Can”:

Washed ashore a South Carolina beach, Lois Steinberg learns her shelter, an old plantation house, was scheduled to host a 'Catch Me' game convention. When the cook is found murdered, questions mount as quickly as bodies. Who is the villain? None of the guests know each other except for their love of the game - right? But it's not a game Lois seeks to solve. It's the saving of her life.

Excerpt:

“Better?”

They were only inches apart. Victor watched her with eyes so dark the pupils disappeared. She tried to move, she wanted to look away, but she couldn’t drop her gaze. She saw him flick his eyes toward her mouth.

“I—it…” Blood rushing to beat against her eardrums, she couldn’t hear her own words.

Searching gaze scorching her flesh, he tilted her chin up with the tip of an index finger. “Who are you, Lois Steinberg?”

“What?” The breath hitched in her throat.

“Tell me about you.” His husky whisper stirred the hair at her temple. “I want to learn everything there is.”

Finally able to lower her lids, she pulled away. “Believe me, you don’t. I’m as boring as mud.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

“We really should follow B.J.” She tugged her hand from his warm grasp, but his followed. Victor glanced down and chuckled.

“Wait a minute. You’re caught in my watchband.” He raised their attached wrists, his fingers tickling where they fumbled at her shirt cuff. To get a closer look, he leaned toward her and bent his head. Lois drank in the allure of how the ceiling light extracted a purple sheen from the depths of his thick raven hair.

“Spiced apple,” she murmured, not realizing she voiced her thoughts.

“Huh?” He jerked his head up. Their noses almost bumped.

“Nothing.” Heart thudding out of rhythm, Lois drew back as far as she dared without falling off balance.

“You mean Jenna’s complimentary shampoo?” He grinned. “Not what I would’ve chosen.”

The humor in his deep voice, the tenderness of his concern, and the magnetism of his very presence combined in one overwhelming punch. Senses threatening a mutiny, Lois struggled to retain a semblance of self-control. Averting her eyes, she reminded him, “I’m wearing Tia’s blouse. So, be careful.”

“Yeah.” He gave a slight frown and returned his attention to working the fabric loose. “Your clothes were made by a fancy New York designer.”

“I bought them second hand,” she said a bit too defensively.

“Hmm.” Not sounding convinced, Victor stated, “Your accent is definitely not southern. So,” he regarded her with open curiosity, “where are you from?”

“No one particular area. I—I travel a lot.”

“With your job?”

“Not necessarily. Look, can’t you hurry?”

“You want me to tear your borrowed shirt?”

“No.” She gave a resigned sigh. “But do you have to make me feel like you’re giving me the third degree?”

“If you don’t wanna chat,” he drawled, once again giving a deliberate perusal of her mouth, “we can do something else.”

Blurb for “Through a Glass Darkly”:

Computer viruses no longer exist, yet Vexen’s medical transport is held hostage by one. The hologram engineered to combat the deadly program develops an identity crisis. An alien intruder is discovered stowed away in the cargo bay. And the evil reptilian Delphan demands immediate surrender of her ship. Can anything else possibly go wrong?

Excerpt:

“Working from this secondary control is like treading through muddy water.” Frowning in thought, he rubbed an absent-minded thumb down the side of his chin. Vexen watched the silken hairs of his bronze beard part beneath the nail, memory of how it felt to brush her lips against those soft, wiry strands ratcheting her pulse to an unsteady rhythm. With an effort, she yanked her thoughts back to the urgency of the moment as Leland announced, “I need to be with DELLA. I’m beaming over.”

“You can’t!” she protested. “We’re still within range of those gamma rays. I won’t be able to secure your signal.”

“I’m the closest thing that you have as any kind of expert, Vexen. But I need hands-on with DELLA. I’m sending the beaming coordinates.”

“No.” She slapped her fist against the panel, then, her gaze locked with his, she inhaled a deep, ragged breath. “Listen to me. If you think I’m going to take a chance of your atoms being vaporized in those rays--” She bit her lip to try and halt the hideous image that threatened to burst onto her mind’s eye. “Forget it. Remard and I will fight this together.”

“The two of you can’t do it alone.” Features softening, he waited for her to comment. But Vexen forced a brave smile. “I’m going to shut off the coms now so I can concentrate on Remard. See you later, darling.”

“No! Vexan!” As if realizing her seriousness, Leland reached out an imploring hand. “Damn you, all right, you win.” He released a heavy sigh. “Let me send a hologram. I can program it with everything I know.”

“Can it make it through the rays?” Hope, like a downy feather, tickled beneath her breast.

“It’ll come across at a lower frequency. There should be no problems. I’m punching in the coordinates. But to maneuver through the ship, he’ll need to wear a MR. Got one ready?”

“Uh--wait.” She fumbled beneath the console, hunting through the drawer of miscellaneous items until she spotted the Mini-Receiver. “Yes. Here’s one.” She flipped the ‘on’ button and placed it next to the monitor. A flash of movement from screen four showed her that Remard stole into the hallway leading to the cargo bay. She tensed, wondering what he might discover once he entered the area. “Beaming. Now.” Leland’s voice drew her attention back to the MR.

Softly hued, differing colored light swirled like an eddy above the object. The colors merged, blending into a solitary outline. A form reminiscent of Leland flickered, and then faded.

“More power!” she called out, trying to keep one eye on the MR while she directed the other at Remard.

“The virus has adapted to the block I engineered.” Leland’s monitor blurred, then his image reappeared. Fury shone in his charcoal tinted eyes. “It’s interfering with navigation again and trying to send you closer to the sun. There’s only one thing I know to do before--” His screen went black.

“Leland!” Vexen sped her fingers over the controls in a vain attempt to reach him. “What? What were you going to do?”

A low hum issued from the MR. Colors swirled again, brighter, more sharply defined. They collided into one solid mass, and then with a loud explosion of static, an impression of Leland stood before her.

HL: Thank you so much Miss Mae, it's been such a pleasure to have you as my guest, and to have this little insight into your world - and readers - if you haven't caught up with this wonderful author's books yet, visit her site at www.missmaesite.com where you will also be able to read her blog, crammed full of interesting articles, not least her Doggy Tales! There are also links and more details about all her books.

Author · at 8:30 am

Yesterday I reviewed Killian McRae's thrilling and thought provoking novel 12.21.12.

I'm delighted to have Killian herself here today to talk about some of the research she did while writing 12.21.12

Over to you, Killian.

From Amun-Ra to Zipacna and back again: Researching across cultures and across time

Many thanks to Hywela Lyn for hosting this stop on the blog tour.

Ever heard of the book “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert Pirsig? Chances are, if you haven’t, the title has taken you aback. Two competing images may come to mind: the first, a scruffy-haired, bandana-wearing, leather-clad Hell’s Angel; the second, a wrapped-in-orange, balder-than-a-baby, thin-framed Eastern monk. They don’t exactly fit, do they? Like some incomplete set “one of these things is not like the other,” your mind searches to connect their realms of existence, finding a bridge that makes their pairing make sense.

But what brings these seemingly divergent beings together is what is so basic in the commonality that not only do they share it, but it’s a constant of human nature: the nature of existence.

When I try to explain what my book is about, I often find myself saying, “It’s sort of The Mummy meets Tomb Raider meets The Da Vinci Code, with a little splash of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”

“All in one book?”

I nod. “Yup, one book.”

The reason I’m able to hit upon so many cultures in 12.21.12 (including Ancient Egypt/Rome, Olmecs, Maya, and modern Western Civilization) is because in my scope of experience and in my research, I focused on what these cultures shared rather than what made them different. All civilizations have sought to understand the mechanics of the world around them as well as themselves. What they were able to reach consensus on was that most things in nature had a pattern of regularity, whereas people in their talents, weaknesses and temperaments were highly diverse. That both Mesopotamian and Mesoamerican civilizations, then, should have developed polytheistic religions in which many of their gods and goddesses bore stark resemblances is not so surprising.

Ancient Egyptian resources, both academic and casual, are ample. Mesoamerican resources, however, are fewer and far between. Again, because my research base for the Olmec was limited, I delved into its study with the intent to focus only on that in common with Egypt. Unfortunately, I learned that very little is known about the Olmec, especially when compared with the more contemporary Maya, Inca and Aztecs. However, what was interesting is that most researchers believe the Olmec served as a proto-society for both the Aztec and Maya. Insofar as cultural similarities exist between the two, much of this is believed to be due to the example created by the Olmec.

Olmec Pyramid

For an author of fiction, this sort of ambiguity could not have been more fortunate. In writing 12.21.12, I was able to paint around the edges of truth, and to generate or extrapolate my world’s realty. The best fiction is grounded in truth, even if the truth is somewhat fictional. As Robert Prisig said, "For every fact there is an infinity of hypotheses."

BLURB

The Death of Cleopatra - Juan Luna, 1881

Archaeologist Sheppard Smyth has staked his career and the honorable memory of his deceased wife and partner on proving his widely-panned theory: Cleopatra VII, last ruler of Ancient Egypt, was murdered. When a statue of the doomed queen is discovered in an Olmec excavation site in Mexico, Shep rushes to investigate and, hopefully, find the proof that has evaded him for so long. Soon, he finds himself in the middle of the rivalry between the sexy, enigmatic international thief, Victoria Kent, and infamous rumored Russian mobster, Dmitri Kronastia. Both hold pieces to the puzzle that will finally shed light on Cleopatra's death, as they vie for Shep's trust and assistance.

As he is drawn further into their world of ancient gods, supernatural powers, and alternative history, little does Shep know that the fate of all humanity may hinge on his ability to discover the truth in between Victoria and Dmitris' fragmented claims and hidden identities. Working to decode the past while in order to save the future, Shep becomes a common pawn played by forces working to see out a quest older than the pyramids and cloaked by the Mayan prophecy of 12.21.12.

  EXCERPT

       “Do you think I’ve had it poisoned?” Octavian asked with a snicker.

    Sekhmet leaned forward and smirked. In one fell swoop, she raised the goblet to her lips and downed the entirety of its contents.

    "I know you did, Octavian,” she returned as she lowered the goblet, smacking her palette. “Cyanide, I would wager. Enough to kill a man. Luckily for me, I am no man.”

    She let the goblet fall, the metal clang on the floor alerting the guards standing right outside the doorway. They ran in, their pila at the ready. With a wave of his hand, Octavian dismissed them.

    “She will not harm me,” he assured them. With reluctance, the soldiers eased and exited. “You would find no fault in my efforts,” he added to Sekhmet.

    “Indeed, Caesar, I would be insulted if you had attempted anything less.”

     Octavian understood; if it were to be a battle of wits, they were too equally matched. Whatever tolerance the woman’s body had to the poison, it meant likely that any measure of pain short of death would have no influence on her. All that was left was to hear her out.

    “Your name, Lady?”

    “I have many, sire. Your father by law called me as do the people of this land: Sekhmet.”

    Octavian chuckled, sitting back in his chair and raising his own goblet to his mouth. “Yes, he spoke of you. Consort of the queen, he said. Quite the scandal, if word of this ever reached Rome. Tell me, is it not heretical to take on the name of a goddess?”

“No more so than to take on the title of Caesar.”

BIO

Born and raised in rural Michigan, Killian used the local library- a single room in a her village's firehouse- as an escape to visit distant worlds, meet brave heroes, learn of classic mythologies, and develop a lifelong love of learning and reading.

Though she had written three novels before graduating high school, she never thought of trying to publish until much later in life. 12.21.12 was her first published work, released in late 2010. A second work due out in Fall 2011, "A Love by Any Measure," is a historical romance set in 1860's Ireland.

Killian is a member of Stanford University's Writer's Certificate program and PRO member of RWA. Her other interests include musicology and history. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area.

Thank you so much for a fascinating insight into your equally fascinating novel, Killian. I am so glad to have been able to read it and I can recommend it highly - readers, if you like a mystery/SF/thriller/romance put it at the top of your wish list now! (And please don't forget to leave a comment if you have a moment, every comment on Killiane's tour will make you elligible for the draw.)

Find Killian at her: