Monday, December 30, 2019

Middle Grade Monday: The Mad Wolf's Daughter (Audiobook)

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Title: The Mad Wolf's Daughter
Author: Diane Magras; read by Joshua Manning
Publication Info: Listening Library, 2018. Original by Kathy Dawson books. 288 pages.
Source: Library digital resources

Publisher's Blurb:

One dark night, Drest's sheltered life on a remote Scottish headland is shattered when invading knights capture her family, but leave Drest behind. Her father, the Mad Wolf of the North, and her beloved brothers are a fearsome war-band, but now Drest is the only one who can save them. So she starts off on a wild rescue attempt, taking a wounded invader along as a hostage.

Hunted by a bandit with a dark link to her family's past, aided by a witch whom she rescues from the stake, Drest travels through unwelcoming villages, desolate forests, and haunted towns. Every time she faces a challenge, her five brothers speak to her in her mind about courage and her role in the war-band. But on her journey, Drest learns that the war-band is legendary for terrorizing the land. If she frees them, they'll not hesitate to hurt the gentle knight who's become her friend.

Drest thought that all she wanted was her family back; now she has to wonder what their freedom would really mean. Is she her father's daughter or is it time to become her own legend?


My Review: 
This was one of those books I picked somewhat randomly--I needed something to listen to, and just browsed the "historical children's fiction" section of my library's Overdrive catalog. The blurb sounded kind of intriguing, so I gave it a go, not expecting a lot. I was pleasantly surprised.

The story is well-written, and a great deal more nuanced than I expected. I thought it would be a pretty straightforward adventure with a bunch of fighting and excitement. It certainly had all that. But it also had a more serious side, as Drest has to face the reality of just what her father is, and the consequences of her own actions. Helping her hostage survive brings her to another question about her own family and beliefs. I loved that she is thinking and seeing things, even her beloved family, in a new and more complex light.

The audio book was as well-executed as the story, and this was one of those audio books that makes me do more chores--because I listen while doing things like clean house, and I didn't want to stop.

My Recommendation:
A very promising start to a series, with some violence but appropriate for kids maybe 10 or 11 and up, as nothing is graphic. Lots of appeal as the publisher notes for those who like Tamora Pierce's strong heroines.

FTC Disclosure: I checked The Mad Wolf's Daughter out of my library, and received nothing from the writer or publisher for my honest review. The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

Happy New Year to you all! Be sure to check out the Smashwords sale and stock up for your winter reading!

Monday, December 23, 2019

#Fi50: Behind the Curtain

Before I get to our Fiction in 50 post, a quick announcement: Watch for the Smashwords End of Year Sale, running from December 25 to January 1. All of my books are enrolled at 50% off--which means that any that are usually 99 cents are free, so when the stockings are empty and no one bought you a book, head on over and check it out. And while you're at it, don't forget to pick up a copy of The Christmas Question, the Pismawallops PTA holiday novella!

And have some happy holidays!


###

Fiction in 50 has been a regular feature in the last week of every month here for several years now. It was founded by Bruce the Bookshelf Gargoyle, and when he retired from blogging in 2017 I decided to take over the hop. Now, I'm throwing in the towel. I really enjoy writing these ultra-short stories, and reading those Jemima Pett writes. But the hop has no traction, no momentum and (navigating way from hackneyed metaphors to the concrete problem), no members. Today's post is the last official Fi50 post. So... if you want to participate, time is running out! Read the instructions below and hammer out your 50 words!
    Fiction in 50 NEW BUTTON

What is #Fi50? In the words of founder Bruce Gargoyle, "Fiction in 50: think of it as the anti-NaNoWriMo experience!" Pack a beginning, middle and end of story into 50 words or less (bonus points for hitting exactly 50 words).


The rules for participation are simple:
1. Create a piece of fictional writing in 50 words or less, ideally using the prompt as title or theme or inspiration.
That’s it!  But for those who wish to challenge themselves further, here’s an additional rule:
2. Post your piece of flash fiction on your blog or (for those poor blog-less souls) add it as a comment on the Ninja Librarian’s post for everyone to enjoy.  
For those thrill-seekers who really like to go the extra mile (ie: perfectionists):
3. Add the nifty little picture above to your post (credit for which goes entirely to ideflex over at acrossthebored.com) or create your own Fi50 meme pic….
and 
4. Link back here so others can jump on the mini-fic bandwagon.
The December prompt is: 

Behind the Curtain

Sofia had to know.

She ought to be sleeping so Santa could come. Instead, she’d crept downstairs and hidden herself behind the curtain. Now she waited.

Her parents found her there in the morning, after a frantic search. Sound asleep behind the floor-length curtain, clutching a sleigh bell, and smiling.
 ###


Have a bookish Christmas and a literary New Year, from the Ninja Librarian! 


©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2019
As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated!

Friday, December 20, 2019

Mystery Review: Dead in the Dinghy by Ellen Jacobson

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Title: Dead in the Dinghy (Mollie McGhee Sailing Mystery #4)
Author: Ellen Jacobson
Publication Info: Dec. 13, 2019
Source: ARC from the author

Publisher's Blurb:
What would you do if your husband became obsessed with turning your cat into an internet sensation?

Mollie McGhie is excited about the Coconut Cove regatta. She’s looking forward to sailing to Destiny Key, enjoying the Fourth of July festivities, and dressing her cat, Mrs. Moto, up in adorable costumes for her hubby’s crazy new YouTube channel. Instead, they lose the race, get caught in a dangerous storm, and find a dead body in their dinghy.

The local chief of police claims that it was an accidental death, but Mollie is convinced that a murder took place. During her investigation, Mollie gets drawn into the local art community, worries that her cat is going to turn into a diva, learns more about the mysterious Destiny Key, and even does a waitressing gig in exchange for bacon.

Can Mollie prove that someone was murdered in her dinghy or will this heinous crime be covered up?
 

My Review:  

I have been a beta reader for the author on other books, but this one I read for the first time after publication. The author gifted me with an ARC but the decision to review is my own, as are the opinions offered.

I have found this to be a fun series, and this new book was no exception. Jacobson's humor comes through in a delightful way, so that we get plenty of laughs even as the body count piles up (well, piling up is a bit of an exaggeration. Mollie would understand). The story is fast-paced and the plot intricate enough to maintain interest. Knowing Mollie's propensity for jumping to conclusions I get a kick out of watching her blunder her way to the solution.

I've enjoyed seeing the characters in these books grow and develop and become ever more human, changing from over-the-top caricatures without losing their delightful absurdity. I'm happy to see that Mollie is become more resigned to her sailing life, and doubly happy to learn something of what it's like to live on board (I don't think there's enough room for me!).

My Recommendation:

This is a quick, fun read perfect for mental vacations. In fact, I strongly recommend it as a means of escape if the holiday excesses start to get you down. It's a double bonus if you live in a cold climate, as the book will whisk you off to the warmth of Florida, without the humidity or the bugs. Support authors: buy books this Christmas :)


FTC Disclosure: I was given an electronic ARC of Dead in the Dinghy. The decision to provide an honest review of the book is my own, and I received nothing further from the writer or publisher. The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

Friday, December 13, 2019

Writer's Wednesday comes on Friday this week

 Since this was the posting week for the WEP challenge, I shifted my update to Friday.

Before we get to the writer's update, how about some blog updates? Regular readers may have noticed that I'm not doing very many reviews anymore. (Actually, since I haven't all year, you may not remember I ever did). For some reason--travel, moving, writing novels, and too much social media--I haven't been reading as much this year. When I do, I often don't feel like writing reviews. So I don't, unless I've committed to do so (I have books from a number of you that I need to read and review, per my promises!).

For now, I'm happy to do occasional reviews, some photo posts, keep talking about writing, and maybe get back to writing flash fiction now and again.

Writer's Update:
With NaNo over, the temptation to just kind of stop is great. We have to resist! I have pushed on another two or three thousand words (which also involved deleting a thousand or so) to get a more or less complete draft of Death By Donut. That is to say, it's still 12K short, and has a bunch of things I need to fill in to make the story really work, but it has a beginning, middle, and fairly satisfying end. I've taken a few days off from that MS, to write my WEP story and to do final edits, format, and publish The Christmas Question. Oh, and to write the newsletter to go with that!

While I'm doing all this, we will be traveling from our low-key stay in Santa Fe to a kayaking adventure in Tampa, which will lead to even less work on anything. Sometimes, you just have to accept it's a vacation. On the other hand, I recently heard about a challenge--to write at least 100 words for 100 days. If I count my journal, I can probably do that!

Cool display at the the Santa Fe Folkart Museum--another distraction!.

And... Let's celebrate the announcement of the winners of the 2019 IWSG Anthology Contest! (Including, ahem, yours truly).


Coming May 5, 2020 –
Voyagers: The Third Ghost

Middle grade historical/adventure
Featuring these stories and authors:

The Third Ghost – Yvonne Ventresca
Winter Days – Katharina Kolata
Feathered Fire – Roland Clarke
The Ghosts of Pompeii – Sherry Ellis
Dare Double Dare – Louise MacBeath Barbour
The Blind Ship – Bish Denham
A World of Trouble – Rebecca M. Douglass
The Orchard – Beth Anderson Schuck
Return to Cahokia – L.T. Ward
Simon Grey and the Yamamba – Charles Kowalski

We’d like to thank our amazing judges:
Elizabeth S. Craig, author and honorary judge
Dianne K. Salerni, author
Lynda Dietz, editor
S.A. Larsen, author
Rachna Chhabria, author
Lindsay Davis Auld, agent – Writers House
Tonja Drecker, author
David Powers King, author

Journey into the past…

Will the third ghost be found before fires take more lives? Can everyone be warned before Pompeii is buried again? What happens if a blizzard traps a family in East Germany? Will the Firebird help Soviet sisters outwit evil during WWII? And sneaking off to see the first aeroplane–what could go wrong?
Ten authors explore the past, sending their young protagonists on harrowing adventures. Featuring the talents of Yvonne Ventresca, Katharina Gerlach, Roland Clarke, Sherry Ellis, Rebecca M. Douglass, Bish Denham, Charles Kowalski, Louise M. Barbour, Beth Anderson Schuck, and L.T. Ward.
Hand-picked by a panel of agents, authors, and editors, these ten tales will take readers on a voyage of wonder into history. Get ready for an exciting ride!

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Flash Fiction--WEP: Footprints


It's that time, a little early this month because of the holidays. I put off writing my story to the last minute, hoping for inspiration. You get to decide if I got it :)

WEP/IWSG challenges are open to all.
On the 1st of the challenge month, there will be a get-your-thinking-caps on post. The badge will include the dates of the challenge and the winner’s prize.
Going forward, the InLinkz sign up will open on the third Wednesday and close 3 days later. Participants link up with the DLs.
Team members collate a SHORTLIST and Nick Wilford judges WINNER, RUNNER UP and ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD.
The BEST COMMENTER AWARD will continue, shared by different people, so keep on reading wonderful people!

And look who won the Commenter Award this time!
https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/


Xavier Xanthum may deserve a little explanation. I invented him years ago for an X post in the A to Z blogging challenge, and kind of fell in love with my absurd space explorer. He's a bit of a dweeb, a bit of a nerd, and a loner who isn't always sure if that's by choice or necessity. His best friend is his ship's AI.

Xavier Xanthum, Space Explorer: Footprints

Footprints: A Xavier Xanthum Adventure

Xavier Xanthum  studied the ground beneath the Wanderlust with a scowl, and grunted.

“What is troubling you, Captain?” Larry asked. The AI materialized his floating eyeballs so they could peer into the vidscreen along with the space explorer.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” Xavier said. “You aren’t fooling anyone. I know you do your seeing with the hull-mount cameras.”

“Does it not give you comfort to know that I am also studying the situation?”

“No.” Xavier tore his gaze from the screen long enough to glance at his semi-real companion. “Yes. I’m glad you’re looking. I don’t need the eyeballs to know that. Anyway, this isn’t that kind of situation. I just was hoping for something more… interesting.”

Larry directed his eyeballs back to the screen, and appeared to consider the view of the land beneath them. “It may be lacking variety,” he pointed out, “but it looks… safe.”

Xavier sighed. “It does. Safe, and boring, and not likely to be profitable. Still, we’re here, so I suppose I should go down and investigate. Any signs of life?” He waited patiently while Larry did a complete scan of both the records and all his instruments.

“No life reported above single-cell organisms. Nothing on my sensors. The planet has been visited by three previous explorers, none of whom found anything of worth. Why have we come here?”

“I was going to ask you that. Three previous explorers?” They argued for a few minutes over who was responsible for wasting their time with such a planet.

Larry ended the argument. “I need a few hours in the upper atmosphere to recharge certain systems. You may as well go down. It looks like a nice beach.”

Still grumbling and griping, Xavier prepared himself for the descent to the planet.

“Take your swim trunks,” Larry advised. “The atmosphere and water check out as healthy for humans.”

“It’s uninhabited. Why would I need swim trunks?”

#

An hour or two later, Xavier climbed out of the landing pod and stretched. The air felt flat, with no plants or animals to create smells. The land was an endless expanse of dark sand, eroded from the distant volcanic mounds, heaped into low dunes along the shore as far as he could see. It was pretty, in a bleak sort of way.

Xavier touched his radio. “I’m going for a swim, then taking a look around. You can track me while I’m swimming.”

The space pilot skinned out of his flight jumper and shoes, and headed for the water. The sand was hot, so he ran a little. The water was the perfect temperature, and he began to think the planet ought to be worth developing as a resort.

Tired of swimming, he decided to walk along the beach a ways, to see if he could spot any landscape features more interesting than the volcanoes. He stayed on the damp edge of the beach to avoid the hot sand.

Xavier was perhaps a kilometer from his landing pod when he stopped, staring at the ground.

Footprints.

He looked behind him. His own prints led in a straight line back to the landing pod. These led up to the dunes. The prints were humanoid, and there were at least three of them. Xavier decided he was naked, rather than nude.

“Larry? Can you get me out of here?” He asked it before remembering that his comms connection was in his jumpsuit. He’d been too cheap to get it implanted. Well, there was nothing to panic over. He’d just turn around and head back…

Three women appeared over a small dune. Without plants or anything to provide perspective, he’d not known there were dunes high enough to hide a person, let alone a trio of them, and their ship? Why didn’t Larry know these women were here?

And why hadn’t he worn his swim trunks?

The women wore swim suits. There were three women in swimsuits walking towards him, and it had been ages since Xavier had taken shore leave anywhere with such creatures. For a moment he froze.

The one on the right, a blonde he was pretty sure was stunning, opened her mouth. To speak to him, or to scream at the sight of a naked man? Or to laugh?

Feeling inadequate as well as under-dressed, Xavier did the only thing he could.

He turned and ran for the water. It had been a while, but he was pretty sure he could swim a mile back to his pod.

For the first hundred meters, the swim felt great. Xavier paused after a while to check that he was getting away. Three heads plowed through the water, three sets of arms flashing in the sunlight. Xavier thought he was a good swimmer, but they were better. How long had they been on this planet, practicing, lying in wait for an unsuspecting space explorer?

For a moment he hesitated. Maybe they were marooned and needed help? Maybe he should stop and talk?

Why weren’t they calling to him, then? If they needed help, they’d be shouting at him about it.

Those three sleek bodies, carving through the water towards him… Xavier panicked again.

He swam for the shore and surfed up onto the beach. Staggering out of the water, he broke into a run.

His pursuers caught him a dozen yards from the pod.

#

If Xavier suffered a fate worse than death, he didn’t seem to mind. A long time later, he entered the pod, not seeming to notice that the beach was now empty of all but himself.

“Larry, you knew those women were down there. Why didn’t you warn me?”

The AI sounded far more smug than a machine should. “I did suggest you wear your swim trunks.”

Xavier didn’t press the point. He was asleep.

Larry hummed a bit as he navigated the pod back to the Wanderlust, no end pleased with himself.

###

STATE YOUR FEEDBACK PREFERENCES

990 words; FCA


©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2019
As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated!

Friday, December 6, 2019

It's here at last!

The exciting 4th installment in the Pismawallops PTA Mystery series is here!

An earthquake… a pile of books… and a corpse. JJ McGregor and the Pismawallop PTA are back on the job, desperate to find the killer before the library takes the fall.
 


The library can save your life… can it kill you, too?
JJ has a new job at the library, which ought to make her happy. But with all those books to shelve, the PTA to run, and a 16-year-old son to raise, there’s never enough time to spend with her sweetheart, police chief Ron Karlson. That’s especially true with Thanksgiving on the horizon and her mother coming to visit, not to mention the PTA’s Holiday Bazaar looming ahead.

When things turn deadly in the library stacks, JJ needs some answers fast, before she loses her job—or her life. She’s determined to learn everything about the victim, and for once the library doesn’t hold all the answers. JJ and Kitty may have to face the ultimate peril: a visit to Mrs. Halsey, the oldest—and crankiest—person on the island.

The Pismawallops PTA Mysteries: Cozy little murders, done with humor
Number of Pages — 284
Smashwords: ISBN 9780463465875
Paperback: ISBN: 9781691111701 
ASIN: B07XFBJW3B




Purchase Links: AmazonApple Books – Smashwords:- Kobo –  B&N
Those are for ebooks. The paperback will be available soon. Very soon, unless I messed up again.

Hurry--the special pre-release prices won't last past Christmas!

Check out the blog tour, for reviews, interviews, and a chance to win a paperback copy of the book!
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
December 2 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
December 2 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
December 3 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST
December 5 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 5 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW
December 6 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT
December 7 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 8 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT
December 8 – Brianne’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
December 9 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 10 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 10 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
December 11 – Jemima Pett, Author – REVIEW & CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 12 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 13 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
December 13 – This Is My Truth Now – SPOTLIGHT
December 13 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

And speaking of Christmas... 
For my newsletter subscribers, a sweet holiday story, coming with your December newsletter! Sign up by December 15 to be sure you get your free copy! (Available for purchase after Dec. 20).



Wishing you all health, happiness, and time to read as we head into the holiday season!

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

IWSG: Living the Writer Dream--Releasing a book



Picture
 
The first Wednesday of every month is the Insecure Writer's Support Group posting day, where writers can express their 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! Check it out here and join if you want support with your writing. 
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!


Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 


Remember, the question is optional! 
December 4 question - Let's play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve? 
 

The awesome co-hosts for the December 4 posting of the IWSG are Tonja Drecker, Beverly Stowe McClure, Nicki Elson, Fundy Blue, and Tyrean Martinson!
Be sure to drop by and show them some love! 
Before I get to the question, here's my monthly accounting for myself: 
First, the huge news: my story, A World of Trouble, will be in the new IWSG Anthology! I've been sitting on this news for three weeks and am so excited to be able to share it at last! I'll share more on that as soon as I have it.
Second, I had a very productive NaNo month, averaging 2200 words/day. I wrote every single day all month, and only dropped below my personal goal of 2000 words/day 5 times. I am continuing to write, as the novel wasn't complete on the 30th (as when are they ever?). I did, however, break 66,000 words on a final-afternoon write-in.
Third, and maybe most important: Book 4 in the Pismawallops PTA mystery series is out on Friday! The ebooks are available for pre-order, and the paperback should be ready very soon after.
You can find anything at your local library… even a corpse?

When things turn deadly in the library stacks, JJ needs some answers fast, before she loses her job—or her life. She’s determined to learn everything about the victim, and for once the library doesn’t hold all the answers. JJ and Kitty may have to face the ultimate peril: a visit to Mrs. Halsey, the oldest—and crankiest—person on the island. 


Pre-order ebooks now at: 
Fourth: The Christmas Question, a PPTA novella, is almost ready, and a download link will be included in my December newsletter, on or around the 15th (or maybe the 20th...). Those who subscribe to the newsletter before then will get it free... after the 20th, it will be on sale at the usual places.



With all that, I don't think there's room to answer the question--except that looking at this, I think I'm living the writer dream :)

Monday, December 2, 2019

Cozy Review: Bookmarked for Murder

We are delighted to feature a book-themed mystery here today!

Bookmarked for Murder (Mystery Bookshop) by V.M. Burns

About Bookmarked for Murder

 
Title: Bookmarked for Murder (Mystery Bookshop) Cozy Mystery 5th in Series  
Author: V.M. Burns
Publishing info: Kensington (November 26, 2019) 
Paperback: 256 pages 
ISBN-10: 1496718313 
ISBN-13: 978-1496718310
 Digital ASIN: B07P9MR138 
  
Publisher's Blurb:
Amateur sleuth Samantha Washington’s shopping trip to Chicago takes a deadly detour when a man is murdered on her bus . . .
After some post-Christmas retail therapy in the Windy City, mystery bookshop owner and historical whodunit novelist Sam Washington is returning home to North Harbor, Michigan, on a chartered bus. With Nana Jo and her gal pals Irma, Dorothy, and Ruby Mae from Shady Acres Retirement Village along for the ride, it's a lively trip. But one passenger is not so lively—a gentleman Irma befriended is found dead in his seat after an unscheduled stop. The ladies immediately shift gears to find out who punched his ticket, while Sam slips into the driver's seat to make sure Nana Jo and her crew steer clear of fatal conclusions . . .

My Review: 
I have mixed feelings about this one. I thought it was an interesting story, with good characters, and a mystery worth puzzling over. At the same time, there were some issues with the writing. In the end, I decided to give it a pass on those, as it was an unedited proof, and hope that they will be cleaned up in the final draft and do justice to a good story.

Sam is an engaging sleuth, though I did wonder at times about how little time she seemed to need to spend working in her bookstore. The only bookstore owners I know are chained to their shops 24/7. That doesn't allow for a lot of sleuthing, though, so we'll forgive the author for stretching reality a bit. Sam is nicely human, with insecurities, over-confidence, and cleverness in about the right proportions. She makes at least one dumb move, but gets away with it.

I did have a hunch about the killer before the end, but would have said the same if it had proven to be a couple of others, so I can't say it was too obvious. The mystery is well put-together.

Honestly, the characters I really loved were Nana Jo and her cohort of feisty old ladies. This may reflect my age, or it may reflect that those are the characters that are developed in the most interesting way. Read it and draw your own conclusion about that!

My Recommendation:
This is a solid addition to the cozy mystery genre, with a touch of romance (but delightfully free of excessive angst about that romance). Nab it for a quick, fun holiday read. As the 5th in the series, I felt a bit at sea right at first, but the book has enough of the back-story to stand on its own.

FTC Disclosure: I received an ARC of Bookmarked for Murder from Great Escapes Free Book Tours, and received nothing further from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

About V.M. Burns

V.M. Burns was born in Northwestern Indiana and spent many years in Southwestern Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. She is a lover of dogs, British historic cozies, and scones with clotted cream. After many years in the Midwest, she went in search of milder winters and currently lives in Eastern Tennessee with her poodles. Her debut novel, The Plot is Murder was nominated for a 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime. Readers can learn more by visiting her website at vmburns.com
Author Links:  
Website: http://www.vmburns.com/  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vmburnsbooks/
Twitter: @vmburns

Purchase Links – AmazonBarnes & NobleIndieBoundBooks-A-MillionHudson Booksellers - Kobo
TOUR PARTICIPANTS  
December 2 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT  
December 2 – The Ninja Librarian -REVIEW  
December 2 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT  
December 3 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
December 3 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW  
December 4 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW  
December 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT  
December 5 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW  
December 5 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT  
December 6 – The Book's the Thing - REVIEW  
December 6 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – REVIEW
December 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT  
December 7 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW  
December 8 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW  
December 9 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW  
December 9 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW  
December 10 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT  
December 10 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – REVIEW  
December 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW  
December 11 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT  
December 12 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT  
December 12 – The Book Diva's Reads – SPOTLIGHT  
December 13 – Book Club Librarian- REVIEW  
December 13 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT  

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

This tour has a Rafflecopter Giveaway!
: a Rafflecopter giveaway  
 

Friday, November 29, 2019

#Fi50: Forging Ahead

Fiction in 50 has been a regular feature in the last week of every month here for several years now. It was founded by Bruce the Bookshelf Gargoyle, and when he retired from blogging in 2017 I decided to take over the hop. Now, I'm throwing in the towel. I really enjoy writing these ultra-short stories, and reading those Jemima Pett writes. But the hop has no traction, no momentum and (navigating way from hackneyed metaphors to the concrete problem), no members. The December post will be the last official Fi50 post. So... if you want to participate, time is running out! Read the instructions below and hammer out your 50 words!
 
    Fiction in 50 NEW BUTTON

What is #Fi50? In the words of founder Bruce Gargoyle, "Fiction in 50: think of it as the anti-NaNoWriMo experience!" Pack a beginning, middle and end of story into 50 words or less (bonus points for hitting exactly 50 words).

The rules for participation are simple:
1. Create a piece of fictional writing in 50 words or less, ideally using the prompt as title or theme or inspiration.
That’s it!  But for those who wish to challenge themselves further, here’s an additional rule:
2. Post your piece of flash fiction on your blog or (for those poor blog-less souls) add it as a comment on the Ninja Librarian’s post for everyone to enjoy.  
For those thrill-seekers who really like to go the extra mile (ie: perfectionists):
3. Add the nifty little picture above to your post (credit for which goes entirely to ideflex over at acrossthebored.com) or create your own Fi50 meme pic….
and 
4. Link back here so others can jump on the mini-fic bandwagon.


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The November prompt is...

Forging Ahead



“Officer Smith, I'm promoting you to a new department.”

“Yessir.”

“Report to Higgins in the Detective Division.”

“I do seem to be forging ahead with my career, sir.”

“Funny you should put it that way…”

“Sir?”

“They want you to work on the MoneyCo case.”

“Embezzlement, isn’t it, sir?”

“Forgery.”

 ###


Yes, I'm that sort. I used my 50 words to create a bad pun. Hope you enjoyed it anyway!

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Writer's Wednesday: NaNo Update #3

... And a Happy Thanksgiving!

 

With only four days left in the official NaNo month, how's your writing? I've hit the "winner" mark and kept going. I feel like I've been struggling with the book, though I've been able to hit my word goal almost every day. The strange thing is... I've been getting those words in the evening. I have always believed myself to be a morning person, and that I'm usually pretty much incapable of thought by evening. And yet here I've been, day after day frittering away my mornings, and finally sitting down in the evenings and writing like a mad thing. And it works.

So am I no longer a morning person? Or has procrastination reached a new peak?

As for the outline that was going to make it a breeze, well, I am still more or less on the outline but the writing is coming hard in any case.

Stats:
Around 57,000 words
Attended three write-ins, where the peer pressure really helped
Several gallons of coffee.


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Saturday, November 23, 2019

Photo Friday: Tongariro National Park, New Zealand

Yes, I know, Photo Friday is happening on Saturday this week. I've been very busy writing that new novel! This will probably be the last of the reports from New Zealand, freeing me to start in on the travels we've done in the US since returning!

As we made our way up the North Island to meet our flight home from Aukland, we were able to explore one of the most striking New Zealand landscapes: Tongariro National Park. Picking just enough photos for a blog post was very, very hard.

New Zealand's oldest National Park, Tongariro is also a World Heritage site preserving Maori culture. We would look into some of that later. For our time in the park, we merely tried to be sensitive about hiking around a mountain sacred to the Maori people (Ngauruhoe). The Tongariro Northern Circuit, most of which we hiked, starts out between Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe, and circles the latter. Part of the hike, along the northern side of Ngauruhoe, is also part of the insanely popular Tongariro Crossing, which has justifiably (but regrettably) been touted as one of the best dayhikes in the world. As a result, even in the late-season when we were there (April), the crowds on the Crossing are dismaying.

Our departure was delayed for a day by high winds, which closed the high saddle over Red Crater, intended to be part of our first day's hike. We were able to cobble together a trip going the other direction, starting a day later, however.

We started under clear skies, though the wind was chilly. A mile or two brought us to the impressive Taranaki Falls, where the creek drops off the edge of a lava flow.
Taranaki Falls, a nice dayhike from Whakapapa Village
Not far from the falls, we caught up with the front, and the sun and wind changed to... snow and wind.
Ruapehu came and went behind us as the snow-flurries moved in and out.
About ten miles brought us to Waihohonu Hut, where we could watch the sun set on both Ngaurahoe and Ruapehu. The views, combined with the amenities of the very new hut, made this one of the two best we stayed in during our whole time in NZ.
Sunset and fresh snow on Ngauruhoe
Sunset colors snow both old and new on Ruapehu
Not surprisingly, the night was cold (the hut, however, was fairly warm, thanks to an efficient wood stove). In the morning, everything was frosted (including the steps up to the outhouses--watch out!).
Waihohonu Hut, with solar panels, view windows, and a lot of frost.
The ground that had been wet from the storm the previous afternoon froze. In places, long, delicate crystals formed under the surface, pushing the outer layer of dirt aside.
2" long ice crystals in the dirt
Morning light on Ngauruhoe reflected in the windows of the hut.

The next day's hike was quite a bit shorter, but the views started as soon as we'd climbed out of the trees, and they basically didn't stop. We topped out the ridge above the hut and enjoyed the sweeping view of Ruapehu (which at the time we thought might be our last).

After dropping through a beautiful forest (where we were protected from the wind on that frosty morning, and the birds were singing--something we didn't hear much of on this tramp), we climbed another ridge, and began crossing the vast moonscape that surrounds Ngauruhoe on at least two sides.
Note the line of blue poles telling us where to go.
The hike was shorter in miles, but the scenery and the ups and downs through the volcanic landscape meant it still took us all morning. We reached the Oturere hut in time for lunch, and to be almost the first to arrive, as most people were hiking the other direction (and thus had a much longer and harder hike).
Another hut in a stunning setting, though in contrast to the previous hut, this one was small, dark, and crowded, and you had to go outside to enjoy the views.
In an effort to beat the dayhikers who would be climbing over Red Crater on the Tongariro Crossing (as many of 5000 in peak season; we would count about 1000 that day), we started as soon as it was light. That also meant hiking though an other-worldly landscape under low morning sun.
First man on Mars?
As the sun rose, so did we, drawing ever closer to the steaming vents at the saddle by the Emerald Lakes.

A detour to the Blue Lake, a kilometer off our route, had us approaching the mountain and the Emerald Lakes across a lava field.
Looking over Red Crater to the volcano, which last erupted in 1977. We saw wisps of steam coming from vents near the summit (for the record, Seattle's Mt. Rainier also has steam coming from vents on the summit).
The Emerald Lakes lived up to their names, turned brilliant green by the minerals washed out of the steam vents. They are sacred, so are not to be swum in, but it would be foolish to do so in any case (due to the minerals), as well as probably destructive of their beauty.
The track up the cinder cone (Red Crater) looks benign, but is actually very steep, and the cinders are loose and deep. It's a workout!
We finally summitted Red Crater not long after the first wave of (most fit and/or most early-rising) dayhikers arrived. It would have been nice to be there ahead of them, but we couldn't quite do it.
Into the crater. If you see anything other than an old steam vent, for shame!
Looking NE, we could see past the Blue Lake to the much larger (and lower) Lake Taupo, sometimes called the Tahoe of NZ. You can just make out water and islands beyond the hill.

Heading down the other side, we had ample opportunity to note how many of the people struggling up were probably in over their heads. The signs in the outhouses do their best to filter out those people and prevent the need for rescues (an effort that keeps the number of rescues to... two per week).
As we were going down, opposite the direction of the dayhikers, it was comforting to know that the easy part was starting.
By the time we were getting near the Mangatepopo hut (and a half hour beyond it, the car park where we hoped to pick up a ride), the shuttles had long since dropped off their last passengers, and we had the track more or less to ourselves again. That gave us the chance to contemplate the minerals turning the water on this side of the mountain red-orange, rather than green.

The end of a long hike.

We had to wait a little while, but found some hikers willing to give us a lift back to our car. Another six miles of walking would have taken us there under our own power, but somehow our feet said no.


I'll leave you with a very hopeful sign! There are too few places in NZ (and thus anywhere in the world) where you might need a warning sign about kiwis crossing the road. We didn't see or hear any where we hiked, but it's good to know they are out there, in the more kiwi-friendly parts of the park!

©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2019
As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated!