Author: Frankie Bow

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Spotlight: Dearly Departed by Hy Conrad

Fanny and Amy Abel, the dynamic mother-and-daughter owners of a NYC travel agency, have just booked their biggest trip yet. But with danger in the air, the itinerary may include murder…

Paisley MacGregor, a maid to the rich, made a dying request to send all of her wealthy employers on a first-class wake to spread her ashes around the world. Amy has her suspicions about these “mourners,” especially when one has a life-threatening “accident” at the first stop in Paris. And when a mysterious American stranger tagging along with the group has his ticket punched in the shadow of the Taj Mahal, Amy knows she may have a killer on her tour.
Who was this stranger, and what’s the connection to someone in her group? Digging for clues while continuing on with the trip is a lot for Amy to manage, especially when another mourner has a possibly fatal encounter with a Hawaiian volcano. Back in the States, Fanny and Amy start to piece together a secret worth killing for, but someone is hot on their trail, and ready to send them on a one-way trip—to the morgue!

About The Author  
Hy Conrad has made a career out of light mystery, earning a Scribe Award and garnering three Edgar nominations. Along the way, he developed a horde of popular games and interactive films, hundreds of short stories and a dozen books of solvable mysteries, published in over a dozen different languages. In the world of TV, he is best known for his eight seasons as a writer and co-executive producer for the ground-breaking series “Monk.”
Most recently, Hy has turned to novels, authoring the final four books in the popular “Monk” novels and creating a new series, “Amy’s Travel Mysteries” published by Kensington Books. The first Amy mystery, “Toured to Death”, hit the shelves in February, 2015.
He lives in Key West with his partner and two miniature schnauzers.

 

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Interview and Giveaway: Deirdre Verne, Drawing Blood

CeCe Prentice returns with her band of Dumpster-diving pals in this fast-paced mystery that puts the eco-friendly heroine back on top—of a pile of trash.

>>>Enter here to win a copy of Drawing Blood<<<

Q: Deirdre, thanks for stopping by! Anyone who is a college professor and a mystery author is bound to be a fascinating individual, of course, but you are also a college blogger. What does that entail? How  does blogging tie into your other two identities? 
A: For me, blogging is like a literary work-out. It keeps me on my toes! The hard part about blogging is the pressure to post fresh material as often as possible. I realized early on that the constant search for ideas would be a challenge. That’s where my students come in. In 2012, I decided to blog about my college experience because every day is different and my students are a wonderful source of material. They also love to pitch me topics for which I’m eternally grateful.
Q: Is CeCe Prentice, the first eco-friendly sleuth, based on anyone you know in real life?
A: CeCe’s eco-friendly philosophies are not based on anyone I know personally. I was, however, eager to incorporate a trend in my series, and that’s how CeCe ended up a Freegan. I really enjoy the research and I’m certainly more environmentally aware than when I started the series.
 
BookCover
 
 
Q: What kind of research did you do for Drawing Blood? Did you have to immerse yourself in painting, the recycling industry, the freegan movement, or anything else? Were there surprises or unexpected findings?
A: I highly recommend taking a tour of your local recycling center. Following your garbage from your curb to its next destination is enlightening and highly educational. Much of what I learned, I’ve incorporated in Drawing Blood.
When I started my research, I was most surprised about the ingenuity recycling inspires – not simply technical advances but the genuine creativity in repurposing used items. I adore scrolling through sites like Pinterest and Esty for ideas. I recently watched a video in which a pair of boy’s underwear were turned into a woman’s tank top. A bit extreme, but something CeCe would love.
Q:  Will CeCe change as the series proceeds? Where will you allow her and the other characters to evolve, and what will you keep constant?
A: In my first book, Drawing Conclusions, CeCe struggled with family relationships. I think it’s only fair that I allow CeCe a chance to reconnect with her extended family. It won’t be perfect, but I enjoy seeing CeCe work through her issues. She’s got a soft-side, but it’s up to me to develop it without losing her spark.
Q: I would have loved to see an advice blog like yours when I was a college student. One of the questions you’ve mentioned you get is, “if I sit in the front row will I get a better grade?” Now in my experience students who sit in the front row do get better grades, but is that just because the more conscientious students choose to sit there? If a bad student moved  to the front row, would s/he become a good student? I’ve observed a similar issue with baseball caps; students who wear ball caps to class average a full grade point lower than their hatless peers. Will they do better if they take their hats off?
A: Good question! Over the years I’ve asked ‘back-row’ students to move forward as it inevitably has a quantifiable impact on their grade. There’s nowhere to hide in the front row and once a student makes the decision to move forward, they can’t help but become engaged.
The baseball cap is also an issue if students use the cap as armor. Everyone deserves a bad hair day. But when the baseball cap becomes an emotional defense, it’s time to let your scalp shine and your grades rise.
Q: Your website is gorgeous and very easy to navigate!  Who designed it, and what did you tell them you wanted? 
A: Thank you! I’m very proud of my website. I used a Westchester-based company, Outboostmedia.com, and they were very good at incorporating my vision.
On the topic of authors and websites, I don’t think readers Google terms like ‘mystery writers’ and expect to find a good book. If a reader wants to search for a new book they will most likely go to Amazon or check-out a blog like yours. Therefore, I didn’t expect a reader to find me through a Google search. However, when a reader searches on my name and links to my site, I wanted to make sure the visuals had impact.
Q: Do use your experiences in book marketing when you teach your marketing classes? 
A: After teaching for sixteen years, I couldn’t be more pleased to refresh my classes with real-life experience. A basic marketing course includes a lesson on how products get into the hands of consumers. Now, I love showing students how a manuscript (a stack of paper) is packaged into a book and then makes its way to a shelf.
Q: Do your students know you’re a mystery author? What do they think about it? 
A: It seems everyone is surprised I’m a mystery author because I teach business classes and not literature. As I explain to my students, I’ve invented a product that just happens to be literary.
Q: What’s next for you and for CeCe? 
A: I currently live in Westchester County, NY, but my books take place on Long Island where I grew up. CeCe and I are currently searching locations for the next crime.
If you are wondering how this all happens, I typically pick up my mother on a Sunday morning for literary support. We drive around our favorite haunts for inspiration! Stay tuned to see where we place CeCe next.

 

About The Author  
Deirdre Verne (Scarsdale, NY) is a college professor and an active college blogger. A writer for the millennium crowd, Deirdre’s interest in green living inspired her to create an off-the-grid character who Dumpster dives her way though a suspense-filled mystery series. A member of Sisters in Crime, Deirdre’s short stories appear in all three New York chapter anthologies –Murder New York Style, Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices and Family Matters.
 
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What activities make us happiest? (I'm impressed that people stopped to answer the survey…)

A survey of tens of thousands of people conducted over five years has revealed the 33 activities that make people the happiest.At the top was making love, followed by concerts and the theatre, sport and gardening.
To study everyday happiness, researchers created a smartphone app which ‘dinged’ at random points during the day to ask how they were feeling and what they were doing.
Dr George MacKerron, who created the app, which is called ‘Mappiness’, said:
“Mappiness is interesting because it quizzes people in the moment, before they get a chance to reach for their rose-tinted glasses.
For example, it is common to hear people say that they enjoy their work, but the Mappiness data show that people are happier doing almost anything other than working.
Although we may be positive about our jobs when reflecting on the meaning and purpose they give us, and the money they provide, actually engaging in paid work comes at a significant psychological cost.
It appears that work is highly negatively associated with momentary wellbeing: work really is disutility, as economists have traditionally assumed. At any given moment, we would rather be doing almost anything else.”
Palastexamen-SongDynastie-Kaiser
Below is the full list of activities that made people happy.
The percentages indicated the average increase in happiness levels from engaging in that activity:

  1. Intimacy, making love 14.20%
  2. Theatre, dance, concert 9.29%
  3. Exhibition, museum, library 8.77%
  4. Sports, running, exercise 8.12%
  5. Gardening, allotment 7.83%
  6. Singing, performing 6.95%
  7. Talking, chatting, socialising 6.38%
  8. Birdwatching, nature watching 6.28%
  9. Walking, hiking 6.18%
  10. Hunting, fishing 5.82%
  11. Drinking alcohol 5.73%
  12. Hobbies, arts, crafts 5.53%
  13. Meditating, religious activities 4.95%
  14. Match, sporting event 4.39%
  15. Childcare, playing with children 4.10%
  16. Pet care, playing with pets 3.63%
  17. Listening to music 3.56%
  18. Other games, puzzles 3.07%
  19. Shopping, errands 2.74%
  20. Gambling, betting 2.62%
  21. Watching TV, film 2.55%
  22. Computer games, iPhone games 2.39%
  23. Eating, snacking 2.38%
  24. Cooking, preparing food 2.14%
  25. Drinking tea/coffee 1.83%
  26. Reading 1.47%
  27. Listening to speech/podcast 1.41%
  28. Washing, dressing, grooming 1.18%
  29. Sleeping, resting, relaxing 1.08%
  30. Smoking 0.69%
  31. Browsing the Internet 0.59%
  32. Texting, email, social media 0.56%
  33. Housework, chores, DIY 0.65%

Down at the bottom of the list were the seven activities that made people the least happy:

  1. Travelling, commuting -1.47%
  2. In a meeting, seminar, class -1.50%
  3. Admin, finances, organising -2.45%
  4. Waiting, queueing -3.51%
  5. Care or help for adults -4.30%
  6. Working, studying -5.43%
  7. Sick in bed -20.4%

The study was published in The Economic Journal (Bryson & MacKerron, 2015).
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Interview and Giveaway: Marla Bradeen, author of Murder in White Sands

One dead body, one interrupted marriage proposal, and too many suspects to count.
On the night of her engagement, Rae Lynn Dobbs stumbles across a dead body on the beach of White Sands, Florida. Not only does she recognize the murder victim as one of the retirement-home residents where she serves dinner, but it looks increasingly likely that someone there also killed him.
To her fiancé’s dismay, Rae Lynn launches her own investigation. Between the gossipy widows, the home’s last surviving bachelor, and her coworkers, Rae Lynn doesn’t have any shortage of suspects. But the more she learns, the more it seems anyone could be guilty. And if she doesn’t find out “whodunit” quickly, her fiancé might just become fed up enough to leave.

 

 
Rae Lynn Dobbs has just accepted her boyfriend Caleb’s marriage proposal (and the hideous ring that accompanies it) when the couple come upon a body face-down in the sand. When the deceased turns out to be someone Rae Lynn knows, she finds herself compelled to try to solve the case herself, which causes more than a few difficulties in both her personal and her work life.
Murder in White Sands is a fun (and funny) read.  Rae Lynn, the narrator and main character, is sympathetic without being saccharine. A retirement-home worker, Rae-Lynn can be understandably exasperated with her demanding boss, her pillock of a fiance, and her sometimes-tedious job, but she’s unfailingly kind to the elderly residents of the White Sands Retirement Village.
The murder was well-plotted, deftly interwoven with other plot elements. While the murderer’s identity wasn’t obvious at all before the reveal, it made sense in retrospect, striking the perfect balance between too much foreshadowing and too little. One of my favorite elements of the book was Rae Lynn’s ongoing struggle to be balance truth and tact on the topic of her fiance’s taste in wedding jewelry. I envisioned the ring as looking something like this

except with cats’ paws instead of human hands.
The various plotlines in this sweet and good-natured story wrap up nicely. If I were to make any suggestion, it would be to shorten the first chapter and jump right into the second, with its entertaining description of Rae Lynn’s encounter with White Sands’ finest.
Murder in White Sands is a funny, readable cozy mystery with a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended for readers who are looking for a light, funny, and engaging mystery with a likable protagonist.

 
Q: Marla, thanks for stopping by! I really enjoyed reading Murder in White Sands. For those who haven’t yet read it, tell us about your protagonist, Rae Lynn.
A: Rae Lynn Dobbs is a 36-year-old retirement home waitress who has just gotten engaged when she finds the dead body of one of the home residents. She’s a little curious by nature, but who wouldn’t be if someone they knew died mysteriously? She doesn’t like cats, and she really doesn’t like engagement rings that feature cat paws. Overall, she’s basically a good person who wants to do what’s right.
Q: How much of you is in Rae Lynn? How would you feel about her if you met her in real life?
A: Rae Lynn is similar to me in the way she thinks. We’re both sarcastic. I used to be a waitress in a retirement home too, so we share that. However, I didn’t set out to model her after me, and we differ in a lot of respects too (I love cats, for the record). If we met in real life, I’m sure we’d get along great. Since I have control over everything she does, I could make her fold my laundry, wash dishes, etc. Seriously though, I’m fond of all my protagonists. If they weren’t fictional, they would be the type of people I’d like to hang out with.
Q: Do your characters change and evolve throughout consecutive books, or do you prefer to write stand-alones?
A: My novels are all stand-alones. I do like my main characters to evolve somewhat throughout their individual stories, even if that’s just to become more aware of themselves and their own motives. I mean, there has to be more to life than finding dead bodies, right?
Q: Have you ever thought of killing someone that you know in real life–on the pages of a murder mystery, I mean?
A: Never! Everyone I murder is completely fictional (in name, anyway).
Q: How true to life is the town of White Sands? 
A: White Sands is a fictional town, but it’s roughly based on Sarasota, Florida. The original setting was going to be Sarasota, but the story needed more of a small-town feel so I made up a place. For my novels that take place in real cities, I try to stay true to the city layout, but I make up most businesses. I will say though, when my Seattle characters drive around, traffic moves much more quickly than it does in real life.
Q: When the movie or TV series is made, who plays the major parts?
A: I’m going to really date myself here because I don’t watch much TV and I have no idea what a lot of the recently famous actors look like. Personally, I love Sandra Bullock, and I think she’d be great as Rae Lynn (although I think she’d be great in any role). Betty White would be fantastic as one of the retirement home residents. She has the right mix of energy and humor. That said though, I’d really like to see a lot of unknowns cast. As an indie author I know how hard it is to gain public attention, and I’d love for my book’s movie version to pave the way for some lesser-known actors. Now if only someone offered to buy the film rights!
Q: What’s the worst and best advice you’ve heard or received as an author?
A: This is a tough one because I’ve learned so much from other authors since I started self-publishing. I suppose the best advice would be to write every day, whether you feel like it or not. Establishing a routine is the only way I can ever finish a book. I haven’t really received any bad advice. I’ve tried a lot of things that haven’t been very effective, but I think that’s part of the process of figuring out what works for you and your stories.

About The Author  

Marla Bradeen previously worked as a software consultant and analyst. In 2012, she gave up a traditional job for no other reason than to have more time to pursue personal interests, such as sleeping in late and taking naps. Although she misses seeing regular deposits into her bank account, she hasn’t once regretted that decision.
She didn’t initially intend to begin writing novels, but after several weeks of doing nothing, she realized sleeping all day isn’t as easy or enjoyable as her cats led her to believe. Over the ensuing months, she wrote Lethal Injection, which she self-published in 2013.
Join her readers’ group to receive a free copy of her cozy, chick-lit mystery novel Lost Witness: http://hyperurl.co/rg2
Keep up with Marla

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New on Kindle Worlds: Swamp Team Three goes to a New Orleans romance convention

How did the members of Swamp Team Three end up at a romance writers’ convention in New Orleans?Gertie wants to advance her budding career as a romance author;  Fortune needs a break from her complicated personal life; and Ida Belle doesn’t think the other two should go out unsupervised.
But when Ida Belle runs into someone from her past, it becomes clear that not everyone at the American Romance and Erotica Authors’ Conference will end up “happily ever after.”

 
Once Upon a Murder is the sequel to Sinful Science, and the second installment of the Hair Extensions and Homicide adventures on Kindle Worlds.

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Passion, Paradise, Murder: Ten Tales of Mystery from Hawaii

From the Big Island to Kauai, the far side of Maui to the bustling streets of Honolulu, experience paradise in all its glory…and darkness. This collection of ten stories brings out the beauty of the islands, the passion of the tropics, and, yes, murder. Join ten writers who love the islands and want you to savor the tropics while benefiting literacy in Hawaii. Join Terry Ambrose, JoAnn Bassett, Gail Baugniet, Frankie Bow, Lorna Collins (editor), Kay Hadashi, Laurie Hanan, Jill Marie Landis, AJ Llewellyn, Toby Neal, and CW Schutter for Paradise, Passion, Murder.Available now for Kindle, and coming soon to Audible!
Cover design by pen2ink.com
Cover design by pen2ink.com

 

In this anthology: 

Murder on the Road to Hana | Terry Ambrose
Lei Lady Lei | JoAnn Bassett
Crime of Dispassion |Gail M. Baugniet
Trust Fall |Frankie Bow
Thoroughly Dead | Kay Hadashi
Alewa Park: A Louise Golden Mystery |Laurie Hanan
Curse of the Lost Tiki | Jill Marie Landis
Ke Ahi Pio’ole | AJ Llewellyn
Clipped Wings | Toby Neal
Danny’s Tale The Untold Story | CW Schutter

100% of proceeds will benefit Read Aloud America.

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Plain Dead by Emma Miller

When a newspaperman is murdered in the Amish community of Stone Mill, Pennsylvania, Rachel Mast digs up the dirt to find out who wanted to bury the lead…

Although she left her Old Order Amish ways in her youth, Rachel discovered corporate life in the English world to be complicated and unfulfilling. Having returned to Stone Mill, she’s happy to be running her own B&B. But she’s also learning—in more ways than one—that the past is not always so easily left behind.
After local newspaperman Bill Billingsly is found gagged and tied to his front porch, left to freeze overnight in a snowstorm, Detective Evan Parks—Rachel’s beau—uncovers a file of scandalous information Billingsly intended to publish, including a record of Rachel pleading no contest to charges of corporate misconduct. Though Evan is certain of her innocence, it’s up to Rachel to find the real killer. A closer examination of the victim’s unpublished report leads Rachel to believe the Amish community is far from sinless. But if she’s not careful her obituary might be the next to appear in print…
 
About The Author  
Emma Miller is the author of Redeeming Grace and Anna’s Gift.  She lives with her family in Kent County, Delaware

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THE MUSUBI MURDER August 2015 Amazon / B&N /Powell’s /Audible / iTunes