Guest: CHRYS FEY #NewRelease A FIGHTING CHANCE

 My friend CHRYS FEY is back with her latest release. I've read all of Chrys'  books and was so happy that a secondary character finally gets his story. Thorn's the police officer who is essential to saving Donovan and Beth in the other Disaster Crimes stories.

 

Diane Asked: What inspired you to write A Fighting Chance?

 

Chrys Fey’s Answer: Thorn did. When a character shows up more and more, demanding attention, you have to do it, you have to give it to him. When that same character reveals new things about himself, you have to follow through and uncover even more. When that character meets another character, and it’s as though cupid struck him in his heart, you gotta give him a romance. When that character melts you, you have to see if he’ll melt readers. When that character is so sweet and funny and adorable and strong and dependable, you have no choice but to make him a hero of his own book so he can continue to reveal more things about him, fall in love, and melt everyone around. When that character has struggles, you must help him through it. And when that character could have a happy ending, but first you have to write, damn it, you gotta write it! There’s no other choice.

So, yeah…Thorn inspired me to write A Fighting Chance. He demanded it, and I had no other choice. But I was happy about that. 😊

 

 

Pages: 154

Genre: Romantic-Suspense

Heat Rating: Hot

 

BLURB:

*A FIGHTING CHANCE is Book 6 in the Disaster Crimes series, but it’s a spin-off featuring a new couple, so it can be read as a standalone.*

Thorn has loved Amanda from afar, giving her whatever she needs as a survivor of abuse—space, protection, and stability. He yearns to give her more, though, to share his feelings, kiss her, love her, but he's worried the truth will frighten her away.

And Amanda is afraid. She’s scared of her attraction for Thorn. Most of all, she’s terrified of her ex-boyfriend, who is lurking nearby where no one can find him. When she grows closer to Thorn, Damon retaliates, jeopardizing their happy ending.

Up against an abusive ex and Mother Nature, do Thorn and Amanda have a fighting chance?

 

Book Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes

 

EXCERPT:

Amanda looked up from the current list of up-to-date payments for classes. A movement outside the glass storefront caught her eye. She tilted her head to see a man coming up the sidewalk from the side where the picnic bench sat. Through the vertical blinds, she glimpsed a square face—a short, rugged beard and long, dark hair pulled into a man bun. Her breath fled from her lungs. Her body went from icy cold to flaming hot in the span of a millisecond. She dropped to the floor and slid under the counter, beneath the ledge where they put their purses and cell phones.

“What—” Beth peeked at the windows. Then she snapped her fingers at April and pointed at the stools.

April jumped into action. She pushed the stools in so they blocked Amanda. The bell attached to the door jingled as April removed the jacket she wore and draped it across the stools, creating a curtain to shield Amanda.

From a crack, Amanda watched Beth move to stand in front of the twins, who were in their walkers playing peacefully. “I’m sorry, but we’re going to be closing.”

“I don’t give a shit. I’m here for Amanda.”

The sound of Damon’s voice had her heart beating even harder. That voice had haunted her nightmares, had come back to life in her memories.

Beth cocked her head to the side. “Who? There’s no one by that name here.”

“Don’t bullshit me. I know she works here.”

His voice was closer now.

 

 

***FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME***

THE DISASTER CURSE

 

 

Book Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes

Author’s Note: I wrote The Disaster Curse to answer a few lingering questions readers may have after reading A Fighting Chance, and to tie the whole series together with a neat, shiny, perfect little bow. Plus, there was one disaster that I hadn’t written about yet. *wink*

 

 

The Disaster Crimes Series:

*The Crime Before the Storm (prequel)

Hurricane Crimes (novella, #1)

Seismic Crimes (#2)

Lightning Crimes (free short, #2.5)

Tsunami Crimes (#3)

Flaming Crimes (#4)

Frozen Crimes (#5)

A Fighting Chance (spin-off, #6)

The Disaster Curse (short story, #7)

*Free exclusive story to newsletter subscribers.

 

 

***LAUNCHING A WEBSITE***

TheFightingChance.org is a website dedicated to domestic violence and sexual assault awareness. Inspired by the Disaster Crimes series.

 

 

***GIVEAWAY***

Prizes: Hurricane Crimes (Disaster Crimes 1) and Seismic Crimes (Disaster Crimes 2) eBooks (mobi or epub), Hurricane Crimes Playing Cards, Girl Boss Sign, and a Volcanic Blast Scented Candle

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Chrys Fey is author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept that blends disasters, crimes, and romance. She runs the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Book Club on Goodreads and edits for Dancing Lemur Press. https://www.chrysfey.com

Author Links:

 Newsletter / Website / Facebook Group /Blog / BookBub

Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

 

 

 

#WeWriWa - The Case of the Fabulous Fiancé: Good Riddance to Nick

 Welcome to the Weekend Writing Warriors 

I'm sharing a snippet from the 2nd Alex O'Hara mystery novel, The Case of the Fabulous Fiancé. Alex is a P.I. in the small Lake Michigan resort town. She's not as financially desperate as she was in the first novel, thanks to the Feds who rewarded her for capturing an assassin.

Blurb:

She’s at it again. Alex O’Hara just can’t say no to a new investigation. What do a 45-year-old boyfriend, a deadbeat dad, and a teenage runaway have in common? All new cases. With no receptionist, phone and internet problems, and her own boyfriend in the wind, Alex has no idea how she’ll manage. But the question for the past three months is why did Nick disappear. Is this the end of O’Hara & Palzetti? 

Snippet:  

Dottie shut up for as long as it took to jog across the drawbridge over the Red Oak River that led out to Lake Michigan. As we headed down to the windswept beach, we angled between the orange snowfences.

“Let’s get back to Nick,” she said.

“No. He’s gone, and good riddance to him.”

As we passed Bonnie Bernacki’s Bed and Breakfast, she blew a raspberry.

“What was that for?”

Blabbermouth Bonnie—the bane of our existence since middle school—hadn’t done anything lately . . . that I knew of.

“She stopped me at Meijer’s and asked me about you and Nick. Right there in the produce aisle, and she made sure her voice carried.”

 

And the rest of the scene:

I groaned. So far, only three people knew for sure he’d left—Dottie, her husband Jim, since she couldn’t keep anything from him, and Dan Hoesen, Far Haven’s police chief. I’d managed to put off the nosy parkers who didn’t need to know the details of my love life. My former love life.

“Are you going antiquing tomorrow?” I asked.

Dottie loved to hit the antique shops on Saturdays. Me, I’d rather sleep in. Maybe if I got her talking about her weekend plans, she’d stop the questions about Nick.

“Of course, wanna come?”

“I have to work.”

At the Point, where the summer cottages began, we turned around. I was thankful she’d gotten off the subject of Nick the Rat.

“He loves you, Lexie.”

“I told you not to talk about him. That subject is verboten.”

“C’mon, Lex. I know he loves you. I saw it in his face when he—”

“That’s it. You’re on your own.”

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ B&N ~ Smashwords

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. Stay safe and have a great week!

 

#IWSG: A New Year

 

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 January 6 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren , J Lenni Dorner, Gwen Gardner Sandra Cox, and Louise - Fundy Blue!

January 6 question - Being a writer, when you're reading someone else's work, what stops you from finishing a book/throws you out of the story/frustrates you the most about other people's books?

Bad grammar, spelling errors, typos. A few here and there are understandable. As often as I (and others) proof my stories, I'll still find a mistake after the book is published. But frequent errors tell me the book wasn't proofed well. That yanks me out of the story.

So, how is 2021 shaping up for you? After a year of little writing, I decided I had to get back to it. I set my goal for January, to start with, to write a paragraph a day. Baby steps. Even if I only have ten minutes before bed and haven't written yet, I can open the file and write one paragraph. 

I just gave you my key--open the file. Once the file is open, I have to read the previous page to get back into the story. Writing one paragraph is no pressure. What's happened in the past 5 days of 2021? I've written more than a paragraph each day. Actually, I've averaged over 200 words/day. The lack of expectation makes it easy. Takes away the pressure. Hopefully, I can keep up my pace or at least one paragraph a day.

Hope. That's my key word for 2021. I wrote about hope in my post on Paranormal Romantics. Hope is what's keeping me going. Hope for a better year.

I hope you have a good month.

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.

WeWriWa - The Fabulous Fiancé: Don't Go There

 Welcome to the Weekend Writing Warriors 

Happy New Year, all. After a 5-month hiatus, I'm back and starting the new year right. One of my goals is to rejoin WeWriWa. I've missed you guys and your stories. My apologies for leaving you hanging back in July. My life was in turmoil. Consequently, The Spy is in limbo. 

I'm sharing a snippet from the 2nd Alex O'Hara mystery novel, The Case of the Fabulous Fiancé. Alex is a P.I. in the small Lake Michigan resort town. She's not as financially desperate as she was in the first novel, thanks to the Feds who rewarded her for capturing an assassin.

Blurb:

She’s at it again. Alex O’Hara just can’t say no to a new investigation. What do a 45-year-old boyfriend, a deadbeat dad, and a teenage runaway have in common? All new cases. With no receptionist, phone and internet problems, and her own boyfriend in the wind, Alex has no idea how she’ll manage. But the question for the past three months is why did Nick disappear. Is this the end of O’Hara & Palzetti? 

Snippet: 

“Lexie, hold up.”

I looked around to see who was calling me by my childhood name—as if I didn’t recognize her voice. A watery sun shone through the trees of Riverside Park. I’d been on autopilot on my morning run since leaving downtown Far Haven. When I looked over my shoulder, I tripped on a tree root. Klutzy Alex O’Hara strikes again.

Windmilling my arms, I righted myself before doing a face plant in the snow. Dottie Matthews, in bright red sweats and a gray vest with fluorescent green stripes, staggered up to me.

“Hey, girl.” Dottie leaned over, hands on her knees, and panted. “Were you ignoring me?”

I jogged in place. “No. Just thinking.”

“About Nick? Have you heard from him yet?”

“Don’t go there, Dottie.”

My best friend since kindergarten knew all my secrets regarding Nick “The Rat” Palzetti. She knew more than she should about his return last October and my falling in love with him. With interrogation techniques honed on three preschoolers, she also knew about his disappearance over two months ago.

And a little more:

“Any news from Chief Hoesen?” she asked.

“I told you before. No. Now stop asking.”

“You have to give me more than that.”

“No, I don’t.”

She didn’t need to know he’d check hospitals and morgues in a fifty-mile radius from Far Haven. And on his own time. Our chief of police could be discreet when he wanted to.

“C’mon . . . what did your . . . investigation . . . turn up?” Her words came out in clumps. She was getting winded. “I can’t believe . . .he left you on Christmas Eve—”

“I know exactly when he left, Dorothy.”

“—and on your—”

“If you keep talking, I’m going to leave you in the dust.”

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ B&N ~ Smashwords

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. Stay safe and have a great week!

 

Guest: ALICIA DEAN New Release: BLOOD AND BREAKFAST

 Welcome to my friend Alicia Dean who has a new release.

 Hello…Alicia Dean here. Myself and twelve other authors (13 total, get it? 😊) each wrote a spooky, suspenseful story in the ‘A Friday the 13^th Story’ series. They are stand-alone but have recurring threads and they were all released on Friday, November 13^th.

My contribution to the series is titled Blood and Breakfast. Check it out below. And be sure to check out my contest where you can win an Amazon gift card! Find details here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCUDvF4YrTa1YzADCvrQIWbK8Q6Ro7Gnb0yRxxl3Kg2Fkd-Q/viewform?usp=sf_link (Contest ends Dec 15, 2020)

Fun Fact:

 

I was plotting my story and trying to figure out why a normal family man would suddenly snap and murder his family. I realized that hallucinations could cause people to do crazy things, so I researched what could make people hallucinate. I discovered that the plant, jimson weed, can cause serious hallucinations. I also wanted to incorporate some kind of an authentic local legend in my story, so I researched legends in various states and came across the Devil’s Footrock in Rhode Island.  I was able to mesh the two–jimson weed and the Devil’s Footrock–to come up with how the husband/father in my story lost his mind and killed his family. It’s so much fun when ideas click and make a story come together. Here’s a photo of Devil’s Foot Rock:

Earlier this year, I had the idea about writing Friday the 13th themed stories. I gathered a group of 13 authors and asked them to each write a 'horror/suspense' story to be released on the final Friday the 13th in 2020, November 13th. We discussed how the stories should be stand-alone but should contain recurring threads I found an article about a superstition that people with 13 letters in their name had 'the devil's luck' and that many serial killers had 13 letters in their name (Charles Manson, Osama Bin Laden, Jack the Ripper, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy, Saddam Hussein, and Albert De Salvo.) So, one of the threads we used was that the victims should each have 13 letters in their name. (although, in my story, each character had 13 letters in their name so as not to give a hint as to who the victims would be if readers knew ahead of time about the 13 letters). It made sense to me that the victims would have 13 letters in their name since they most definitely had bad luck--or 'the devil's luck'.  We created a fun contest where readers had the opportunity to guess the connections and the winner would receive a free book from each of the 13 authors. Now that the contest is over, I can share the other connections: Each story had 13 chapters. A broken mirror had to play a role in each story, although it could be a very minor role. And, finally, a murder had to occur on Friday the 13th. We all had fun creating these stories and incorporating the threads. We hope readers have as much fun reading them!

https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Breakfast-Friday-13th-Story-ebook/dp/B08NF5GH9C/

 

 

Blurb:

 

Determined to boost the sagging ratings of her internet radio show, “A Dark Place,” murder junkie Sasha Gillette checks into the Talley House Bed and Breakfast in North Kingston, Rhode Island. She and her co-host plan to broadcast an episode about the murders that took place there thirteen years earlier on a Friday the 13th, when a man butchered his entire family.

Not long after Sasha arrives, the other guests begin to disappear. Has a killer from the past resurfaced or is there a copycat on the loose?

One of the lone survivors, Sasha finds herself trapped with a sadistic killer and, suddenly, murder isn’t as much fun as she thought.

Excerpt:

“I’m going to look for her. It’s not okay that she’s been gone for hours when she said she’d be back in thirty minutes. Do you know where she was taking her walk?”

“I-in the woods.”

“Well, of course she was,” I muttered. “Agnes, do you have a flashlight I can borrow? And maybe something I can use for a weapon?”

Agnes nodded. “I’ll get you a flashlight. I have a hammer.”

Dorset rose as well. “I’ll go with you.” He cut his gaze to Bradley, but the dufus just sat there without volunteering to help. “Nothing, old chap? Not going to offer to come along?”

“I should stay here in case she comes back,” Bradley murmured but he didn’t look at them. Was he afraid…or feeling guilty?

 I shivered when we stepped outside, drawing my hoodie tighter around my body. The nearly half full moon hovered in the cloudy sky behind the branches of a Tulip tree. Lightning flashed, illuminating the back yard. The icy air held the scent of rain. “We need to hurry,” I told Dorset. “It looks like it might storm.”

He nodded. “I’d say let’s split up to cover more ground, but with one flashlight and hammer, and with the odd happenings lately, maybe we should stick together.”

“Agreed.” My teeth chattered, though it wasn’t all that cold.

We walked along the wood line, shouting for Macy, shining the flashlight between the trees. Nothing. As if by mutual agreement, we entered the woods. I shuddered, not only concerned about a potential maniac, but also leery of whatever creatures might be scurrying around at my feet. I was a city girl and didn’t even own a pet. I was not okay with encountering an animal, of any kind.

We searched for another half hour with no sign of Macy. We were deep into the woods when the sky opened up and doused us with buckets of rain. Thunder rumbled and more lightning flashed. We gave up and hurried back to the house.

The others were waiting for us.

“Anything?” Bradley asked, his voice high-pitched with anxiety. He seemed much more concerned about Macy than he had been about his wife.

“Not a sign,” I said. “We need to call the police.”

“I did.” Agnes was seated in the forest green wing chair in the corner of the library. “They took the information but said she’s an adult and can leave any time she wants.” She rose. “We waited dinner for you. Let’s eat.”

A pall hung over the room as we ate in silence, the air thick with fear and confusion.

Afterward, I excused myself and headed upstairs, anxiety weighing on me. I had an overwhelming feeling that I wouldn’t sleep a wink. Nor would anyone else.

 

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Please like Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/Fri13thShortStories

 

All stories in the Friday the 13^th series:

 

Links to Evil by Rolynn Anderson

Till Death by Maureen Bonatch

Blood and Breakfast by Alicia Dean

Retribution by D.J. FitzSimons

Shattered Reflections by Tamrie Foxtail

A Deadly Game by Jannine Gallant

Dead to Rights by Margo Hoornstra

In the Still of the Night by Callie Hutton

Glimpse, the Dinner Guest by Stephen B. King

Scorned by Anna Kittrell

Vanity Kills by Dianne McCartney

Fatal Legacy by Krysta Scott

Azrael’s Chosen by Leah St. James

 

Bio:

Alicia Dean began writing stories as a child. At age 10, she wrote her first ever romance (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley, and who shared the name of Elvis’ character in the movie, Tickle Me), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Alicia is from Moore, Oklahoma and now lives in Edmond. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley (she almost always works in a mention of him into her stories) and watching (and rewatching) her favorite televisions shows like Ozark, Dexter, Justified, Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, and Vampire Diaries. Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Stephen King, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

 

Email: Alicia@AliciaDean.com

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAliciaDean/

Twitter: @Alicia_Dean_

Instagram: AliciaDeanAuthor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alicia-dean

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

 

 

#IWSG: When Are You Most Productive?

 

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 December 2 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Sylvia Ney, Liesbet @ Roaming About Cathrina Constantine, and Natalie Aguirre!

December 2 question - Are there months or times of the year that you are more productive with your writing than other months, and why?

I'm more productive when the sun is shining. In Michigan, that eliminates November and February, the two dreariest months of the year. The Great Lakes affect the weather. Not just lake-effect snow, which is tremendous, but the lakes bring clouds. 

Like many people, I'm affected by the lack of sunshine. That's when my productivity plummets. A sunny day makes me feel like I have a ton of energy. Usually, my writing increases. I say "usually." This year, my mind has been scattered. I know I'm not alone in this. I can't seem to focus.

However . . .

Tara Tyler started a blog hop called "30 Days of Gratitude." I joined. I figured I needed to focus on positivity and think about the good things in my life. Every day I posted I thought about what I have to be grateful for. Such a great reminder. The blog hop ended on the day before Thanksgiving. That made me more grateful than ever because, despite covid and not seeing my family as much as I wanted to, I had a lot to be thankful for.

I'm very grateful to Tara for another reason. I wrote every day for 30 days. For someone who hasn't written much all year, this was big. It was also encouraging. It lifted me out of the doldrums, reminding me I needed something to spur me on. A goal for each day. I need to keep it going. I'd like finish 2020 on a high point instead of the quasi-depression I'd fallen into.

I hope all of you are staying safe. That you stay safe through the holidays. See you next year. 

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.