Guest Blogging & a 99 cent #sale

Today, I'm delighted to participate in N.N. Light's Book Starter Series, featuring the first book in my Alex O'Hara PI mystery series, The Case of the Bygone Brother.

Hop on over to see why I enjoyed writing Alex's character.

 https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/the-case-of-the-bygone-brother-bss

The Case of the Bygone Brother is on for 99 cents until Sunday.

#IWSG: October 2021

 

Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world!

The awesome co-hosts for the October 6 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, J Lenni Dorner, Cathrina Constantine, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Mary Aalgaard!

This month's question:  In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?

Violence, cruelty, despair. I want my readers to smile (or laugh) while reading my stories. Though there are suspenseful moments, the stories always have satisfying endings. There’s enough violence and sadness in real life. Does that mean I write escapist stories? Definitely. In my stories, as in real life, I rarely use the F-word. Sometimes, it feels necessary but not often.

In real life, I’m writing again. Little bits. I went to the first meeting of my local writers’ group since before covid. The critique of my WIP spurred me into delving into my MC’s motivation. Since this is the 4^th book in a series, I didn’t think I needed to bother. Wrong! So, I’m grateful for the input.

Tomorrow, I’m participating in N.N. Light’s Cozy Mystery Bookish Event, highlighting The Case of the Bygone Brother, 1^st in the Alex O’Hara mystery series. In honor of that event, Bygone Brother is on sale for 99 cents. BTW, there's a prize.

Blurb:

Alex O’Hara finally gets a case that will give her bottom line a much needed boost. She might even be able to change her diet from ramen noodles to prime rib. All she has to do is track down a man who’s been missing for over ten years. Piece of cake . . . until an old flame arrives and a mugger roughs her up with orders to back off. 

Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Smashwords

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today.

Happy Writing!

IWSG: Quit Writing?

 

Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world!

The awesome co-hosts for the July 7 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Victoria Marie Lees, Chemist Ken, and Louise – Fundy Blue!

This month's (optional) question: What would make you quit writing?

When I saw the question, I wondered if it had been written just for me. I tell myself and others, with regard to writing one of several unfinished novels, that I'm on hiatus. Some of you may remember the Lil Abner character, Joe Bifspik, the guy under a cloud.

credit: www.bookofjoe.com

That's me. Over two months ago, my oven went out. I called for repair, of course, but thanks to the computer chip shortage, the needed part was on order. Last week, the dishwasher joined the oven and quit working. In the meantime, I broke my wrist, which is now healed, thank goodness. Also during this time, Hubs was in the hospital, then in rehab, home, in the hospital, and, as I write this, he's waiting transport to rehab. Did you know an excess of calcium is dangerous? It can make you so weak you fall. Again and again. Our doc said this (hospital, rehab, home, hospital . . .) could be our new normal. 

Writing? What's that?

I apologize for last month when I visited so very few of you. I'll try to do better this month. Maybe while waiting as the repair guy fixes my oven and dishwasher. I'll bet I could take my computer to rehab while visiting my sleeping husband. (Another thing excess calcium does is make the person fatigued.) Meanwhile, the docs are still trying to figure out what is causing all this calcium in his blood. They can treat the results, but until they know what's causing it, it will keep coming back. 

That's my tale of woe for this month. If all that doesn't make me quit writing, I'm not sure what would. At times, I feel like a fraud for being in a "writers" group, since my writing is non-existent, except for our monthly blog. And, sometimes, the Weekend Writing Warriors. Oh, and a monthly post at Paranormal Romantics. Hey, I am writing, if only a little.

I hope you have a great writing month. Maybe that cloud over my head will go somewhere else by next month.

By the way, two of my books are in Smashwords' Summer Sale, each is the beginning book in a series and each is available for 99 cents.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/489085

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/259950

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today.

Read an Ebook Week #Sale

https://www.smashwords.com/books/category/1/newest/1

I'm excited to participate in this year's Read an Ebook Week sponsored by Smashwords. 

I love the phrase associated with this promo, "Lose Yourself in a Good Book." Books have transported me to the past, the future, and all around the universe. I've often lost myself in a good book. Hubs will say something, I'll agree (uh huh), then ask what he said. Frustrates him to no end. LOL I love to read before sleep. Since writing is my job, my time is flexible. Reading well into the early morning isn't a problem. Often, I can't put down that book until the end.

I chose two of my books to put on sale (half off) for this week. Click on the title to be taken to the site.

The Pilot: the first book in the Outer Rim series.

Science Fiction Romance

There's no place like home and he just stole hers. Cargo hauler, risk taker Celera d'Enfaden must work with rule-bound Administrator Trevarr Jovano to save her brother from a galactic gangster.

The Case of the Bygone Brother: the first book in the Alex O'Hara mystery series

Small Town . . . Big Case.

Alex O’Hara finally gets a case that will give her bottom line a much needed boost. She might even be able to change her diet from ramen noodles to prime rib. All she has to do is track down a man who’s been missing for over ten years. Piece of cake . . . until an old flame arrives and a mugger roughs her up with orders to back off.

You can browse for more books here. There has to be thousands of books listed for sale.

No matter what book you choose to read this week, have fun, enjoy . . . lose yourself in that book.

I'll be back on Wednesday for Insecure Writers Support Group, a fun blog hop.

Have a great week.

#WeWriWa - #Sunday: Bygone Brother - Killer's Mom

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

This is the last snippet from my PI mystery, The Case of the Bygone Brother, a contemporary cozy, that takes place in a small Lake Michigan resort town. Alex (Alexandra) O'Hara has taken over her dad's investigation agency, struggling to keep it going. Alex and Nick are surveilling a client's husband. This snippet picks up with Alex escaping over the fence after peeking in the basement window.

On the other side of the fence, practically nose-to-nose with me, stood Mother Nature’s idea of a joke--the monster dog, a cross between a rag mop and a small beagle. Nick and I scrambled back to the car.

Inside, I started laughing and Nick said, “Killer?”

That set me off again, “Don’t make me laugh or I’ll pee my pants,” I groaned—I couldn’t believe I said that.

I sobered quickly and, as I started the car, I said, “So much for catching my client’s husband doing the hanky-panky.”

“You didn’t get pictures? You have got to be kidding, after all that, you—”

“No hanky-panky—” shooting him a gloating look “—more like the waltz.”

“Say again.”

“Killer’s mother is a dance instructor.

Alex O’Hara finally gets a case that will give her bottom line a much needed boost. She might even be able to change her diet from ramen noodles to prime rib. All she has to do is track down a man who’s been missing for over ten years. Piece of cake . . . until an old flame arrives and a mugger roughs her up with orders to back off.

Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ ARe ~ Barnes and Noble~ Smashwords ~ Amazon UK

Be sure to check out the other authors.  

#WeWriWa #8Sunday - Bygone Brother - Caught

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

I'm continuing with a snippet from my PI mystery, The Case of the Bygone Brother, a contemporary cozy, that takes place in a small Lake Michigan resort town. Alex (Alexandra) O'Hara has taken over her dad's investigation agency, struggling to keep it going.  In this snippet, Alex and Nick are surveilling Mr. Yoder's activities, with Alex peeking in the basement window.

While I gaped at the sight in the basement, the back door opened and a woman said, “Hurry up, Killer, do your business and get back in here.”

Killer? Time to make tracks before some monster dog discovered a trespasser. I slowly straightened, keeping my back to the wall, and edged behind the bushes—without making noise or quick motions. As I put my toe into the fence link, vicious barking close by—real close by—spurred me up, then Killer grabbed the hem of my jeans.

As the dog tugged, Nick grabbed the back of my sweatshirt and started to haul me over. The bent tops of the chain links dug into my stomach. Killer hung on a moment longer then landed with a whimper before baying like a hound who’d treed his prey, while I lost my balance and landed on top of Nick—just like that time in the office.

“We have to stop meeting like this,” he whispered.

Alex O’Hara finally gets a case that will give her bottom line a much needed boost. She might even be able to change her diet from ramen noodles to prime rib. All she has to do is track down a man who’s been missing for over ten years. Piece of cake . . . until an old flame arrives and a mugger roughs her up with orders to back off.

Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ ARe ~ Barnes and Noble~ Smashwords ~ Amazon UK

Be sure to check out the other authors.  

#WeWriWa #8Sunday - Bygone Brother

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I'm continuing with a snippet from my PI mystery, The Case of the Bygone Brother, a contemporary cozy, that takes place in a small Lake Michigan resort town. Alex (Alexandra) O'Hara has taken over her dad's investigation agency, struggling to keep it going.  This snippet picks up with the older client in Alex's office.

When Mrs. Yoder finally took the visitor’s chair, I breathed a silent prayer of thanks. She was convinced her husband was running around on her—no wonder she nearly bolted out the door. Her perception of Nick and me playing hanky-panky in the office must have been a painful reminder of what she thought her husband was doing.

“Can you check the bank and credit card statements?” I asked.

“That seems so . . . underhanded, like I don’t trust him.”

I gave her a long look until she said, “I guess I don’t trust him if I’m coming to you.”

“What time does he leave so I can follow him?”

“F-Follow him?”

What? Did she think I’d look into my crystal ball and ‘see’ her husband fooling around?

Alex O’Hara finally gets a case that will give her bottom line a much needed boost. She might even be able to change her diet from ramen noodles to prime rib. All she has to do is track down a man who’s been missing for over ten years. Piece of cake . . . until an old flame arrives and a mugger roughs her up with orders to back off.

Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ ARe ~ Barnes and Noble~ Smashwords ~ Amazon UK

 

Be sure to check out the other authors.  

#WeWriWa - #8Sunday: The Case of the Bygone Brother

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

The snippet this weekend is from my PI mystery, The Case of the Bygone Brother, a contemporary cozy takes place in a small Lake Michigan resort town, similar to the one where I live. Alex (Alexandra) O'Hara has taken over her dad's investigation agency, struggling to keep it going. Last week, she fell off the filing cabinet and landed on top of Nick. A potential client came in. This snippet picks up a few minutes later.

 

Mrs. Yoder, an attractive woman in her mid-seventies who hadn’t let age keep her from being trim and stylish, lingered in the doorway to my office, disapproval fairly shouting from her. “I believe I have made a mistake.”

I put on the matching jacket to my gray skirt, saying, “Ma’am?”

“The, uh, scene I interrupted . . .” She pursed her lips, giving me that ‘you Jezebel’ look, yet I saw hesitation in her expression, too, and uncertainty.

“I apologize, I fell off the cabinet and he caught—” Pop’s caveat zinged through my brain, never explain, never complain. “Appearances aren’t always what they seem, but I will understand if you choose to go elsewhere.” Please don’t, I need the work.

Alex O’Hara finally gets a case that will give her bottom line a much needed boost. She might even be able to change her diet from ramen noodles to prime rib. All she has to do is track down a man who’s been missing for over ten years. Piece of cake . . . until an old flame arrives and a mugger roughs her up with orders to back off.

Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ ARe ~ Barnes and Noble~ Smashwords ~ Amazon UK

 

Be sure to check out the other authors.  

#WeWriWa - #8Sunday - The Case of the Bygone Brother

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

The snippet this weekend is from my PI mystery, The Case of the Bygone Brother, a contemporary cozy takes place in a small Lake Michigan resort town, similar to the one where I live. Alex (Alexandra) O'Hara has taken over her dad's investigation agency, struggling to keep it going. When Nick Palzetti, son of her dad's partner, returns, he finds her lying across the top of a filing cabinet and tries to help her down.

         “Gotcha,” Nick said, a half sec before we tumbled to the hardwood floor. He must have twisted because I landed on top of him, which had to hurt--with my height, I’m no light-weight.

“Another fine mess you’ve gotten me into,” I said as I hooked a hank of hair behind my ear and propped my elbow on his chest. 

"Hel-lo?” an older woman’s voice warbled from the outer office, “Is anyone here?”

My one o’clock was early. Don’t come investigating, lady, I prayed as I scrambled to my feet. When my stocking-clad foot slid on the polished floor, Nick grabbed me to keep me from falling, and I flopped face down on top of him instead of the floor.

“Oh, dear. Am I interrupting something?”

Alex O’Hara finally gets a case that will give her bottom line a much needed boost. She might even be able to change her diet from ramen noodles to prime rib. All she has to do is track down a man who’s been missing for over ten years. Piece of cake . . . until an old flame arrives and a mugger roughs her up with orders to back off.

Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ ARe ~ Barnes and Noble~ Smashwords ~ Amazon UK

 

Be sure to check out the other authors.  

#WeWriWa - #8SentenceSunday - The Case of the Bygone Brother

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday time, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Writers share an 8 to10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

New month, new book. The snippet this weekend is from my PI mystery, The Case of the Bygone Brother. It's a contemporary cozy that takes place in a small Lake Michigan resort town. Alex (Alexandra) O'Hara has taken over her dad's investigation agency and is struggling to keep it going. 

“Hello, gorgeous.”

I whacked my head on the display shelf. Well, what would you do if you were lying across the top of a four-drawer lateral file cabinet, and your arm—yardstick attached—was wedged between the wall and the cabinet, trying to retrieve the license renewal application that if you mangled, crushed or couldn’t get would mean the end of your business, and the ex-love-of-your-life stood in the doorway looking at your butt?

As I wiggled back and sideways across the long cabinet, I felt my skirt ride up. Of all days to wear a skirt. With my foot, I searched for the desk chair I’d climbed to get on top of the cabinet. I’d kicked off my high heels before standing on the chair, probably the only smart thing I’d done so far.

In that loose-limbed, cocky manner I once thought scary, sexy, and so cool, Nick Palzetti stood in the doorway to the spare office. He even dressed the same in a black leather jacket, black knit shirt, and jeans that molded his hips. Lordy, he could still make my mouth go dry.

“Red panties, you naughty girl.”

Alex O’Hara finally gets a case that will give her bottom line a much needed boost. She might even be able to change her diet from ramen noodles to prime rib. All she has to do is track down a man who’s been missing for over ten years. Piece of cake . . . until an old flame arrives and a mugger roughs her up with orders to back off.

Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ ARe ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Smashwords ~ Amazon UK

 

Be sure to check out the other authors.  

#IWSG: Opportunities

It's the first Wednesday and time for the Insecure Writers Support Group, whose mission is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. And thanks to this month's awesome hosts: Murees Dupe, Alexia Chamberlynn, Chemist Ken, and Heather Gardner!

When you get an email about an opportunity to promote your work, do you pounce on it right away and sign up? Or do you flag the email intending to return and forget until it’s too late? Like me.

Recently, I read the email and, despite nine million other things I needed to do—I immediately signed up for two (yes, two!) opportunities to promote my books.

The first opportunity came from Smashwords to their authors who write mysteries. Did I want to serialize The Case of the Bygone Brother on Wattpad? There would be extra promotion from Wattpad, as well as from Smashwords. How could I refuse? (Well, I could have by not responding.) I have several other books partially serialized on Wattpad, so I thought why not? The promotion started a week ago Tuesday. Since then I’ve uploaded eight chapters and gained thirty-nine followers. Thirty-nine doesn’t sound like many, but I’d be happy if a couple of them got tired of waiting for the next chapter and bought the book. Or once the book is finished and they liked it, they could purchase the next book in the series. Here’s the link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/72359159-the-case-of-the-bygone-brother-an-alex-o%27hara

The second opportunity came from a group to which I belong, the Science FictionRomance Brigade. A couple of enterprising authors threw out the idea of making an anthology of the first chapters of sci-fi romance novels. They were hoping to produce two volumes—one sweet and one spicy. Almost overnight they had enough authors sign up for four volumes! Ten authors in each volume. What a lot of choices! A taste for readers to see what they like before buying. At the end of each first chapter, there’s a buy link for easy purchase. Best of all, each volume of this anthology, Portals, is free. My sci-fi romance The Pilot (An Outer Rim Novel) is in Volume 2, which was released yesterday. Portals: Volume 2 can be “purchased” (it’s free) at the following:

Amazon: https://amzn.com/B01G7RXDY4

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/por...

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/e...

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/po...

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/pr... 

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books...

The deal with Wattpad cost me nothing, while a small voluntary contribution helped with the cover cost of Portals. So for little money, I took the opportunities to get my books in front of readers. Will it pay out in the form of additional purchases? I hope so. But like most promotion, it’s hard to tell what works.

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today.

Memorial Day

Because it's my turn at The Roses of Prose today, please hop on over there to read my post on today's holiday. http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com/2016/05/memorial-day-2016-by-diane-burton.html

Also, the serialization of The Case of the Bygone Brother continues on Wattpad.  https://www.wattpad.com/story/72359159-the-case-of-the-bygone-brother-an-alex-o%27hara

Enjoy the holiday. Please remember the reason--honoring those who died protecting our freedom.

Exciting News: #Free Books

I know it's Tuesday. I didn't lose a day and I didn't forget to post Monday Morning Musing. I waited until today to share some exciting news.

Thanks to a Smashwords promotion, my first PI mystery, The Case of the Bygone Brother, is being serialized on Wattpad. Starting today, you can read a chapter a week. Bygone Brother was my first venture into writing a mystery. If you've read any of my books--or this blog--you know I don't write graphic violence (thriller-type). Nor do I write hard-boiled detective stories. Soft-boiled is more like it. And I can't resist adding humor. Definitely not slasher stories. I had a lot of fun writing Bygone Brother. Since it's written in Alex's point of view, it was like I'm her. All the things I've wanted to say or do, I could say/do as Alex. Smart-aleck comments, following clues into dangerous places, etc. As I mentioned, I had so much fun writing Bygone Brother, I had to write a second book,The Case of the Fabulous Fiance.  Currently, I'm writing the third book, The Case of the Meddling Mama.

If you haven't read The Case of the Bygone Brother, here's your chance. If you enjoy the first chapter(s) and can't wait to find out what happens next, you can download your copy from Smashwords.

More great news! PORTALS Volume 2 IS available. FREE You can read the first chapter of my science fiction romance, The Pilot (An Outer Rim Novel), along with first chapters from nine other sci-fi romances. A great way to discover new authors--or new books by familiar authors.

PORTALS vol 2 is available at
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/portals-14
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/639100
IBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/portals/id1117074551…
GP: https://play.google.com/…/boo…/details/Alison_Aimes_Portals…
NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/1123847955;jsessionid=DF2A9…
** Amazon: https://amzn.com/B01G7RXDY4
ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-portalsvolumetwo-2045466-153.html
** Wait until Amazon lowers the price to free.

So lots of free books coming your way. Happy Reading!