Welcome to May. I hope it will be kind to us and bring us closer to kicking this Covid 19 Virus to the curb. This month’s question:
Has any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn’t expect? If so, did it surprise you?
Every author has to deal with bad reviews, and that’s hard when all you get are two stars and no review. You can’t please everyone, but I was surprised when i got one that said I love sci-fi and the book was a contemporary very much earthbound romance. Sometimes, the reviews are just mean with comments like Don’t buy this book. I hated it.
In one review, the reader said he found it too easy to identify the killer, so when I edited and revised to book, I made sure that wouldn’t happen again.
What about you? What has a reader said that surprised you?
Welcome to the first post Tuesday Tales post for the month of May. Tuesday Tales’ authors share their ongoing writing work with you, but eventually, a book gets too close to the end and they have to pull it not to give too much away. Because of that, this will be the last post from The White Dahlia. The book will be available this month.
Here’s your last peek. Enjoy!
Beth took a deep breath to steady herself. She’d watched Rob, Trevor, and Chad all conduct meetings like this. The key was to give everyone time to talk, but to make sure only one person spoke at a time. Everybody’s input was important, and a seemingly random observation often led to a breakthrough.
She reached for her laptop, connected it to the Smartboard, and called up the file she’d updated earlier. The spreadsheet was now several pages thick, and she’d added a timeline and a flowchart as well as a page devoted to the Jack Ogden murders and another to Adam Colchester’s escape. At the moment, both were limited to the bare bones of the cases, not because she didn’t have enough information, but because she was swimming in it, not knowing where the information was sound or where it devolved into figurative sharks ready to pounce and destroy the few real leads she had.
The door opened and Rob, Morelli, and Agatha entered. She should probably call him Vince, but Morelli just seemed to come easier. They’d just settled in chairs with their coffee in hand when Sam wheeled himself into the room. She’d forgotten to mention that to Al. Sam had his limitations, but he was the best damn computer guru the FBI had, although Serena and Troy, the last to arrive, could probably give him a run for his money.
Once everyone was seated, Beth stood and came around her desk. Al took the last seat at the table, moving closer to Agatha to give Sam space.
“Thank you all for agreeing to be volunteered for this case,” she began. “Earlier, Lisa provided you with an update on Adam Colchester’s escape from jail and the connection among the various branches of this case. Chad will be here tonight. He needs to stop in Washington to speak to a couple of people. Hopefully, he’ll have more for us then. I’ll take you quickly through what we have now. If you have anything to add, don’t hesitate.” Knowing the information was critical, she took her time. When she’d finished, she dropped into her chair. “Any questions?”
“I’ve got one,” Rob said. “If Michael and Rafe are running the show, we know they aren’t doing this alone. The brother-in-law is probably in it as well as the nephew, but they aren’t disposable. So they need Enforcers—a steady supply of them with the way bodies are dropping. So who’s helping them? Have they found Pierce’s former trainees?”
That’s it. Next week, I’ll have something new. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales
For all of my friends celebrating Pascha, also known as Orthodox Easter, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. May you be blessed with fine weather, good health, and the Father’s protection and love.
I’m excited this morning because I’ve finally finished the last book in the Harvester Files series and it’s ready for you. As I tweak and polish, I hope you’ll find this book as enjoyable, and maybe a little disturbing as you did the first three. Book Four, The White Dahlia will be released May 10, 2021!
It started with an idea for a story. Top investigators try to stop a madman and his followers from murdering millions and imposing their fanatic beliefs on others. Just when you think it can’t get worse, it does. There’s always a new Harvester waiting to pick up where the other left off!
The first book, The White Carnation introduced the cult.
Romantic thriller
He’s watching, waiting… The last person disgraced reporter Faye Lewis wants back in her life is Detective Rob Halliday, her former fiancé, the man she blames for ruining her career and breaking her heart. But when she discovers her best friend’s mother murdered, she doesn’t hesitate to call him. Breaking up with Faye after she unjustly accused him of sabotaging her career was a crippling personal blow for Rob, but he coped by burying himself in his work. For the past year, his team has been hunting the Harvester, a serial killer who ritualistically murders new mothers and vanishes with their infants. What Rob doesn’t need is another case, especially one involving his ex-fiancée. But, when the killer’s newest victim resembles Faye, all bets are off. When Faye is assaulted in her own apartment, Rob realizes that not only are these cases connected, Faye may be the key to finding the elusive killer, providing Rob can keep her out of the maniac’s hands. Realizing her vulnerability, Faye agrees to set aside their past to work the case together, but the more they investigate, the more complex the situation becomes. The mad man has an agenda, one that involves Faye. Can they catch the Harvester before he finds Faye and reaps another prize?
Then came book two, The White Lily where the Prophet became more visible.
Romantic thriller
He’s back and he’s angry. Last year, the Harvester taskforce dealt the killer and the New Horizon Commune a bitter blow, but the mastermind known as The Prophet escaped. Now, he’s back to recover what he considers stolen property. FBI cult specialist Lilith Munroe lives in dread that one day the man who tortured her when a case went bad will find her again. Leaving her sanctuary in DC to join the Harvester taskforce in Boston is her version of hell. But what choice does she have? The Harvester is kidnapping babies, and Lilith’s profiling skills may mean the difference between life and death for society’s most innocent. Australian millionaire and Interpol agent, Jacob Andrews, former member of the New Horizon Commune, returns to the United States searching for his sister. Mistaken for his twin brother, he’s arrested. Instead of the happy reunion he expects with his sister, he discovers she is dead and all signs point to his twin’s involvement. Fueled by a need for revenge against The Prophet, the man who left him for dead years ago, Jacob agrees to assist the task force, knowing his skills and knowledge are critical in finding his former cult leader before the man implements his plan to kill millions. Uneasy partners, Jacob and Lilith must learn to trust each other to find the monster as they fight their growing attraction. When Lilith’s greatest fears materialize, can Jacob set aside his own rage to save the woman he loves?
But they weren’t done yet at the Prophet got ready to make his move in The White Iris.
Romantic thriller
Time’s running out for Special Agent Trevor Clark and the Harvester Task Force. No closer to discovering the Prophet’s secret identity. Trevor channels all of his energy into re-examining the clues to the Great Burning. As the Prophet and his newest Harvester make good on the second plague and the body count escalates, Trevor is convinced they will be facing a biological threat. In uncharted territory, he looks to the CDC and virologist Dr. Julie Swift for answers, but their past relationship won’t make it easy. Two years ago, Julie ended their engagement after what she saw as Trevor’s lies and betrayal. Unable to move on, she’s focused her efforts on her career. When Trevor asks for help and her superior authorizes it, she has no choice but to agree, a decision that may cost her not only her heart but her life. On the run, knowing a killer may be after her, trusting the man who hurt her isn’t easy, but when his Great Burning turns out to be a potential pandemic, Julie sets aside her emotions to stop the monster. Hiding in the wilds of Alaska, she waits and watches, searching for a vaccine to prevent the greatest epidemic since the Spanish flu. Julie puts her heart and her life into the hands of the only man who may be able to bring down The Prophet before he unleashes Armageddon. Will she lose them both, or will Trevor keep his promises this time?
With the threat and the cult eliminated, it should be over, but not quite. Not everyone was accounted for and while it’s taken them time to resurface, when they do, it’s worse than even in The White Dahlia.
Romantic Thriller
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Michael and Rafe Colchester escaped death in Alaska and eluded the FBI in Reno when the Harvester Task Force took down the Prophet and his son Adam, putting an end to the threat of the Great Burning. Beth Reynolds, a member of the task force vowed to get them all, but with a trail as cold as the one they had, she had no choice but to go back to Boston. Unable to pick up the pieces of her life there, constantly on the lookout for those who’d served the Prophet, she joined NYPD, hoping the change would help her heal. Called a hero after stopping a crazed shooter in Central Park, she’s slowly getting it together again … until a vicious murder brings it all back. Recognizing the victim whose organs and blood are missing as a Missing Person, she calls for help.
Al Foster moved from St. Louis and joined the NYPD after his ex-wife went missing. He recognizes the body as one of his cold cases. With Beth’s insight, he begins to see things from her point of view and realizes his ex-wife could well have been one of this serial killer’s victims, making solving the case a joint FBI-NYPD operation. But where does the stalker find his prey with its specific blood type?
When forensic evidence points to the fact that this killer may be one of the Colchesters, the case becomes personal for both of them. As he works with her, Al must fight his growing attraction for the woman determined to bring down the Colchesters at all costs, but with Beth possessing all of the qualities they require in a woman, will she get them before they get her?
We’ve made it to the last letter of the alphabet and the end of April. I pray you’ll all have a lovely, safe year.
Today’s last cocktail is brought to you by the letter Z. The Zombie is what my brother-in-law would call panty remover. It’s okay. The one and only time I had one was on my honeymoon.
I’m old and that’s obvious these days. So, let me introduce you to the Zombies of my era.
Make It Your Own
Ingredients
1/2 oz. white rum
1 1/2 oz. golden rum
1 oz. dark rum
1/2 oz. 151-proof rum
1 oz. lime juice
1 tsp. pineapple juice
1 tsp. papaya juice
1 tsp. superfine sugar
Mix It
Stir together all the ingredients except the 151. Pour the mixture into a 14-ounce glass three-fourths full of cracked ice. Float the 151 as a lid by pouring it into a spoon and gently dipping it under the surface of the drink. Garnish with mint (either straight or dipped in lime juice and then superfine sugar) and/or fruit.
Enjoy, but you might just want one!
And as I say goodbye for another year here’s another look at the Zombies
Only two letters to go in this year’s challenge. I’ve enjoyed researching the cocktails and while not all of them will make it into books and series, it’s been an interesting activity.
Today’s cocktail comes from the letter Y. This particular drink is called a Yellow Bird and always reminds of of the great times I had on Caribbean cruises. The music brings back so many memories.
I love island music and steel drums.
Take a minute to sit back and relax.
Make It Your Own
Ingredients:
1 oz Bacardi Light Rum 1/4 oz Galliano 1/4 oz Creme de Banana 2 oz Orange Juice 1 oz Pineapple Juice
Mix It
Blend all ingredients together. Pour over ice. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.
Enjoy!
Come back tomorrow for the last post in the 2021 challenge, the letter Z
Well, we’re down to the last three letters of the alphabet, those seldom used ones that rarely start words. I was convinced that this was where i would run into trouble if the other letters didn’t do it first.
Today’s drink brought to you by the letter X is a Xaviera. Have you ever had one of those orange cappuccinos from those International Coffee powders? Well, essentially this is the delicious, iced, alcoholic version of it.
It’s a great way to finish off a meal with friends. Add the whipped cream and gold sugar beads, and it’s also a stand-in for dessert!
Make It Your Own
Ingredients
1/2 oz Amaretto 3/4 oz Triple Sec 3/4 oz Coffee Liqueur 1 oz Whipping Cream (optional)
Mix It
Shake briefly with a glassful of crushed ice in a double-cocktail glass. Garnish with a slice of orange and a cherry, add short straws, and serve.
That’s it! Enjoy.
Be here tomorrow for the treat waiting for you from the letter Y
Here we are again with another cocktail for you to try. Today’s alcoholic treat comes from the letter W. Yesterday I mentioned that this week I’ll finish the last book in the Harvester files series, but the series started with the first book, The White Carnation set in Boston, Massachusetts.
He’s watching, waiting… The last person disgraced reporter Faye Lewis wants back in her life is Detective Rob Halliday, her former fiancé, the man she blames for ruining her career and breaking her heart. But when she discovers her best friend’s mother murdered, she doesn’t hesitate to call him. Breaking up with Faye after she unjustly accused him of sabotaging her career was a crippling personal blow for Rob, but he coped by burying himself in his work. For the past year, his team has been hunting the Harvester, a serial killer who ritualistically murders new mothers and vanishes with their infants. What Rob doesn’t need is another case, especially one involving his ex-fiancée. But, when the killer’s newest victim resembles Faye, all bets are off. When Faye is assaulted in her own apartment, Rob realizes that not only are these cases connected, Faye may be the key to finding the elusive killer, providing Rob can keep her out of the maniac’s hands. Realizing her vulnerability, Faye agrees to set aside their past to work the case together, but the more they investigate, the more complex the situation becomes. The mad man has an agenda, one that involves Faye. Can they catch the Harvester before he finds Faye and reaps another prize?
So, in honor of the novel’s setting, today’s cocktail from the letter W is the Ward 8. According to Wikipedia, in 1898 Democratic political czar Martin M. Lomasney hoped to capture a seat in the state’s legislature, the General Court of Massachusetts. Lomasney held considerable power in the city for nearly 50 years. The story goes that the drink was created to honor his election, and the city’s Ward 8 which historically delivered him a winning margin. In 1915 the Santa Clara Company registered “Ward 8” as a trademark with the United States Patent Office claiming use since November 1912 and published a notice that they would prosecute any infringement. During prohibition the Daily Boston Globe reported that the drink was believed to have originated at the “old” and abandoned Quincy House. Competing, but unfounded myths abound in print and on the Internet. One story reports that it originated in New York in an area known for political corruption, another that the cocktail is a traditional drink of the Scots Guards. Following the end of prohibition, Locke-Ober reopened its bar using this recipe.
Make It Your Own
Ingredients
2 ounces rye whiskey 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice 1/2 ounce fresh orange juice 1 teaspoon grenadine Maraschino cherry (optional)
Mix It
Shake the rye whiskey, lemon juice, orange juice and grenadine with ice; then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a maraschino cherry, if desired.
Originally the drink was decorated with a small paper Massachusetts flag.
In all honesty, by now I truly expected that this COVID thing would be under control and we would all be looking at some kind of normal. I guess like Beth says in the story, “there is no normal now. I doubt there ever will be.”
Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales, the weekly blog where authors share their works in progress with you. Our word prompt is BONES. I chose the singular. Enjoy.
“Come on, Mitch. Throw us a bone. What has he said?” Al cajoled.
“Oh no. You need to read it yourself to fully appreciate it.”
She opened a door in the far wall, and it shut behind her.
“Great,” Beth muttered. “If it’s as bad as Mitch implies, maybe I’ll let you have a crack at him first.”
What she would like to do was throw him in a cell and toss away the key, but dungeons were hard to find these days. She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples.
“Headache’s back?” Mitch asked, stepping into the room with her purse and a large duffel bag.
“Yeah, but maybe I just need to eat. Is that the article?”
“Yeah.”
Mitch handed her the folded newspaper.
Beth opened the paper, the headline jumping out at her. She read aloud.
“Murder, Mayhem, Madness, and Silence, by Jack Ogden. I swear he gets more melodramatic with every report,” she said. “Does he have any facts or is it all purple prose again?”
“You tell me, Special Agent Reynolds. It’s your case.”
Beth cocked her head and continued to read.
“New York City is in the grip of madness. The heat? The full moon? Killer drugs? No one knows—or do they? Do we have a modern-day Jack the Ripper preying on men and women alike? It may well be, and his methods are like nothing this city has ever seen.”
“A modern day Jack the Ripper is an interesting comparison,” Al said, stopping her. “The man was never caught, but he was believed to have surgical abilities and eviscerated his victims. Well, you may not like it, but it is closer to the truth than werewolves.”
“Too close,” she mumbled.
“Thursday night the mutilated body of a woman, a number four burned into her body, was found next to a dumpster in Brownsville, definitely not an accident.”
She stopped reading and scowled. “How the hell does he know about the brand? It was in my report to Ned, the same report I emailed to you, Al, and to Major Crimes. Chuck sent it to Amanda, and she forwarded it to Chad. Have we been hacked? How else could that information have gotten out?”
“I don’t know,” Al said, “but I suppose someone who can manipulate the dark web and use it to sell organs is capable of hacking a government website.”
That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales
Well, here we are. It’s the last week of April and the last week of this year’s blog challenge. I’ve had fun checking out various posts. It’s also my last week to finish my newest suspense thriller, The White Dahlia. Have you ever wanted something badly but found the thing just out of your reach? That’s how I feel about this book. I’ve had to shelve it so many times to take care of something else, I was afraid I would never get it done.
Today, the cocktail of the day is courtesy of the letter V. Now we’ve all heard of vampires. Even Sesame Street had one in the Count. Of course the most famous of all used to be Dracula, but he’s been replaced by replaced so many others, including the entire family who owns the Hotel Transylvania. Vampires may not exist, but there are thousands of real people who call them selves Sanguinarians. You’ll have to read The White Dahlia to learn more about them. In honor of all the would-be vamps out there, I give you the
Make It Your Own
Ingredients
2 ounces of Tequila (one ounce per glass) 1 cup of ice cubes 1 cup of tomato juice 1/2 teaspoon of sriracha sauce 1/2 cup or orange juice 1/2 cup of grapefruit juice 2 wedges of fresh pink grapefruit 2 wedges of fresh orange
Mix It
Makes two drinks
Add the ice cubes and pour the tequila (one ounce) per glass. Then add the sriracha sauce to the tomato juice and stir. This cocktail is all about layering so start with the first layer pouring some of the tomato juice, then add the orange juice and finally the grapefruit juice. Garnish with a wedge of fresh grapefruit and a wedge of sweet orange. Sip slowly and enjoy.
I’ll have to include this drink in my next Punisher book.
Come back tomorrow to see what the letter W has to offer.
Good morning! I hope this Sunday finds you safe and healthy. The sky is cloudy here today, but there is a promise of warmth in the air. Why not warm up on the inside, too? Laugher is the best medicine. The amazing authors of the Author’s Billboard know that and have created the ideal series for whatever ails you. Here’s a quick peek at the three currently available for only 99 cents USD each, free on Kindle Unlimited.
The First Romantic Comedy Set from THE AUTHORS’ BILLBOARD!
Enjoy EIGHT side-splitting tales of love and screw-ups from this international slate of USA Today and NY Times Bestselling Authors.
Undeterred by misadventures and challenges, these strong-willed ladies take life and love by the ears, embracing the men they have chosen through good times and bad. Furious ex-wives – ghosts and angels with their own agendas – the challenges of PTSD and imaginary friends – even Cupid, chickens, and a bumper crop of marijuana won’t get in the way of true love for these wacky, wonderful women. You can call them cute. Just don’t call them crazy.
SIX BRAND NEW Side-splitting Romantic Comedies plus two read-tested surprise titles by Eight New York Times and USA Today Bestselling and Award-Winning Authors, CUTE BUT CRAZY 2 – DITZY DUDES is the follow-up boxset to the Bestselling Cute But Crazy – Wacky, Wonderful Women.
Get ready for another Romantic Comedy box set from the fabulous Authors’ Billboard gang. Come get acquainted with these charming and sexy Ditzy Dudes and the ladies they bring Happy (and tickle-bone funny) Ever Afters to.
Now, the ABB brings you its newest addition to the Cute But Crazy Series
A fake husband, a color-blind painter, a pair of frustrated nudists, crazy neighbors, a cowboy doctor, a tipsy pig and more.
Laugh at their antics as they bring love and joy into UNIQUE AND UNPREDICTABLE adventuress.
Enjoy fun-filled stories with diverse settings. From an English garden to the shores of Sicily, a billionaire’s lair to the Tucson desert with a stopover for a glass of dandelion wine at Algonquin Park, Canada.
Grab your Kindle and get ready for a laugh-filled ride into the world of make-believe in this Romantic Comedy Box Set created by nine New York Times, USA Today, and Award-winning authors of THE AUTHORS’ BILLBOARD. Here’s a look at what’s inside!
Susan Jean Ricci – The Charming Chameleon: Can karma inspire a mismatched couple to forgo masquerading and reveal their true selves for love?
Dani Haviland – The Wizard of Odds: Two co-workers take on an impossible challenge and wind up with a menagerie of unusual animals looking for a second chance in the desert. Will the mismatched couples get one, too?
Mona Risk – Husband for a Week: Sicilian vendetta, fake husband, and an irascible matchmaking grandmother complicate their lives. Can love conquer all?
Leanne Banks – Cowboy MD: Could he cure what ails her?
Susanne Matthews – The Tipsy Pig: A socialite, a recluse, and a tipsy pig—the perfect recipe for romance?
Katy Walters – Love Your Neighbor: Moving into a new neighborhood has more challenges – and nuts – than they thought possible.
Angela Stevens – Whitewash: The Tricks of the Trade: What could go wrong when a Pinterest addict lets a color-blind painter and decorator fix up her dream home?
Patrice Wilton – Night Music: A little magic can make anything happen in South Beach.
Stephanie Queen – Small Town Hot Shot Bride: Will Tammy foolishly get swept up by charming out-of-towner Roark and his runaway train attraction? Or will she derail him for good?
Living the Dream 