Eileen Bell – update on the third book in a series

Eileen Bell has been featured previously several times on Reading Recommendations, first in Jan. 2014 as part of The Apocalyptic Four, then with news about the first two books in her Marie Jenner Mystery series, here and here. She’s back now to tell us about the third book in this series, just being released.

Stalking the Dead
by E.C. Bell
Published by Tyche Books
Genre: Paranormal Mystery, 3rd in a series

Marie Jenner is going home.

When Marie’s slightly-more-than-boss, James Lavall, decides it is vital that he speak to her mother, face to face, about Marie and all her secrets, she follows him to Fort McMurray.

What Marie doesn’t realize is that her stalkery ex-boyfriend, Arnie Stillwell, has gone home, too. And he’s managed to get himself killed just about the time James rolled into town, making James “a person of interest” in the Stillwell murder investigation.

Marie’s going to have to figure out who really killed Arnie to get James off. She’s also going to have to figure out a safe way to move Arnie’s spirit on to the next plane of existence, because the last thing she needs is for him to go all stalkery on her now that he’s dead.

Murder can really put a kink in a Jenner family reunion.

“Stalking the Dead is an entertaining mash up of a thrilling PI novel with a creepy ghost story set in the rough oil town of Fort McMurray. Genre-bending doesn’t get any better than this.”
Wayne Arthurson, Author of the Fall From Grace and other novels in the Leo Desroches crime series.

Where to purchase Eileen’s novel:
Ebook and Print:
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Ebook only:
Kobo
Tyche Books

Bob Van Laerhoven – Stories of Inspiration anthology

Bob Van Laerhoven has been previously featured several times on Reading Recommendations. He’s here now to tell us of him inclusion in a new anthology of mystery writers.

Stories of Inspiration: Mystery Fiction Edition
mystery fiction writers trace their journeys from starting point to finished work
Volume 1
edited by Suzanne Fox
Published by Stories of You Books
Genre: Anthology of non-fiction

Where do works of mystery fiction find their starting points? How are those seeds, sources and inspirations transformed into a well crafted, compelling story? Why is murder such an enduring starting point for fiction? How do elements such as setting, period and milieu help drive and define mystery writers?

Collecting insights from both established authors and new voices and reflecting mystery moods from the cozy to the chilling, Stories of Inspiration: Mystery Fiction Edition charts the often surprising journey from an original point of departure to a finished mystery novel.

Illuminating the writing of exceptional authors, celebrating one of fiction’s most long- and deeply loved genres, and illuminating the nature of the creative process itself, Stories of Inspiration: Mystery Fiction Edition will appeal to readers of literature and fiction, lovers of mystery, and writers seeking inspiration for their own work.

Contributors include:
Diana Bretherick, Frances Brody, Elizabeth Buhmann, Nancy J. Cohen, Christine Goff, Steven Gore, Erin Hart, Linda Hengerer, James Tate Hill. Andrew Hughes, D.E. Ireland, J. Sydney Jones, M.R.C. Kasasian, Jennifer Kincheloe, Mary Lawrence, John Mackie, ​Edith Maxwell, Grant McKenzie, Camille Minichino, Joe Moore & Lynn Sholes, Toby Neal, Chris Nickson, Ann Parker, Eliot Pattison, Michael Ransom, Holly Robinson, Barbara Ross, Joanna Campbell Slan, Maggie Toussaint, Wendy Tyson, Bob van Laerhoven, Tina Whittle, Michael Wiley, Max Wirestone, Michael Zolezzi.

Bob Van Laerhoven says: I’m honored to have been invited to contribute, as the only Belgian author, to this American anthology of essays on writing mysteries, from inspiration to the final result.

Where to purchase:
Amazon
Stories of You Books

Susan Calder

Susan Calder

What is your latest release and what genre is it? Ten Days in Summer, murder mystery

Quick description: While Calgary, Alberta, celebrates its 10-day Stampede festival, insurance adjuster Paula Savard investigates a suspicious building fire that caused the death of a hoarder.

Brief biography:
I am a Calgary writer, who grew up in Montreal. I have published two mystery novels, Deadly Fall (Touchwood Editions) and Ten Days in Summer (Books We Love Ltd.), books 1 & 2 of my series set in Calgary, Alberta. My short stories have won contests and been published in magazines and anthologies. I have taught fiction writing courses and workshops at the Alexandra Writers Centre Society. I’m a member of Crime Writers of Canada and serve on the board of Calgary’s When Words Collide Festival for Readers and Writers. When I’m not occupied with writing, you’ll likely find me travelling or hiking.

Links to buy Susan’s book:
You can purchase Ten Days in Summer online through:
Chapters/Indigo Books
Amazon
In Canada, you can also find the novel at your local bookstore, or place an order for it there.

Susan’s promo links:
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Facebook Page Ten Days in Summer
Linkedin

What are you working on now?
Book 3 of the Paula Savard Mystery Series. In the depths of a Calgary winter, Paula investigates a hit and run accident that killed a woman and seriously injured her husband.

Susan’s reading recommendation:
The Bloodline Artifacts: Extraterrestrial Connections by Howie Erickson. I am not a big reader of sci-fi adventure novels, so I was surprised by how much I was drawn into this book. Once I got used to the character and place shifts, I could follow the story easily. I found the characters sympathetic and interesting and loved the varied settings and the historical connection to the first Christian apostles. The story held my interest to the end and left me looking forward to the sequel when it is published. I recommend this book to readers, like me, who enjoyed The Da Vinci Code.

And here’s Susan with “books by two Susans” from July 2012 … Here’s what Susan had to say in her email then: I took the picture at the start of Stampede and was looking for a mix of Island and Calgary Stampede – hence the island shirt and straw cowboy hat, purchased in Mexico. As you had suggested, I included both of our books.

Thanks, Susan!

Amy M. Reade – a new novel update

Amy M. Reade has previously been featured on Reading Recommendations in April 2015 and April 2016. She returns now to tell us about a new mystery novel.

The House on Candlewick Lane
by Amy M. Reade
Published by Lyrical Underground
Genre: Fiction, Mystery/Suspense

It is every parent’s worst nightmare. Greer Dobbins’ daughter has been kidnapped—and spirited across the Atlantic to a hiding place in Scotland. Greer will do anything to find her, but the streets of Edinburgh hide a thousand secrets—including some she’d rather not face.

Art historian Dr. Greer Dobbins thought her ex-husband, Neill, had his gambling addiction under control. But in fact he was spiraling deeper and deeper into debt. When a group of shady lenders threatens to harm the divorced couple’s five-year-old daughter if he doesn’t pay up, a desperate Neill abducts the girl and flees to his native Scotland. Though the trail seems cold, Greer refuses to give up and embarks on a frantic search through the medieval alleys of Edinburgh—a city as beguiling as it is dangerous. But as the nightmare thickens with cryptic messages and a mysterious attack, Greer herself will become a target, along with everyone she holds dear.

Where to purchase Amy’s book:
Amy’s website

Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent

What is your latest release and what genre is it? The latest book, apart from the graphic novels, was Lands of Exile: But’n’Ben, written with Stuart France. It is the seventh book featuring the adventures of Don and Wen as they delve into the mysteries and history of Albion.

Genre? This is where it all falls down. At least I got my name right. I know we are supposed to write within nice, neat categories … and preferably popular ones to boot … We couldn’t call it fiction as it is based on our own adventures in the ancient landscape. Nor could we call it factual because, at least as far as I know, we are not being pursued by the police for the abduction of a standing stone …

We listed it under travel, because that, at least, was accurate.

Quick description: Ben is in prison, which is rather unfair. It hadn’t been his idea to steal the standing stone. If only he hadn’t gone back for the gun …

Don and Wen, the true culprits, are heading north. As they follow a trail of arcane signs, they are unaware that they are being pursued by the best the police force can muster.

Which, thought WPC Kraas, eyeing her new partner as he fished yet another pork pie out of his pocket, wasn’t much.

Brief biography:
Sue Vincent is a Yorkshire born writer, painter and award winning poet. She is also one of the Directors of The Silent Eye, a modern Mystery School. Sue lives in Buckinghamshire, England, having been stranded there due to an unfortunate incident with a pin, a map and a blindfold; a temporary glitch of some twenty years duration. She has a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion; that hidden country of the heart that is the backdrop for many of her books, particularly those co-authored with Stuart France. She is currently owned by a small dog who also blogs and who gets all the fan mail.

Links to buy Sue’s book:
Amazon.com
Amazon UK

Sue’s promo links:
Daily Echo Blog
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Twitter
Facebook
Linkedin
Google+
Pinterest
Goodreads

What are you working on now?
The current preoccupation is a five-act sacred drama for the Silent Eye’s annual workshop in April. It tells of how the power of the Old Ones was withdrawn from the stone circles and standing stones when the land was threatened by invaders and how the stones sleep, awaiting the time when they will be reawakened.

It is a symbolic story, such as were used in the Mystery Schools of long ago, to explore the story of the soul’s voyage through eternity.

When that is written, the next book will be Bean Sidhe, the second book in the Lands of Exile series, where Don and Wen head off to explore the sacred sites of Ireland.

Sue’s reading recommendation:
I have been re-reading Alan Richardson’s On Winsley Hill. It is the story of an old light and a new love that is, perhaps, as old as the land itself. Alan’s style soars through passages of otherworldly beauty to the earthiest of humour. He writes with a deep love of the land, a genuine knowledge of the human mind and soul and a gleam of mischief in his eye.

Although he is perhaps best known for his biographies of such major figures in the esoteric world as Dion Fortune, Aleister Crowley and William G. Gray, his fiction is delightful, sometimes wickedly funny and always has an underlying current of old wisdom. This is a man who knows what he writes.

S.K. Nicholls – update on a new novel

Happy Birthday, S.K. Nicholls!

S.K. Nicholls has been previously promoted on Reading Recommendations. She’s back now to tell us about a book recently published, the first in a new detective series.

Naked Alliances: A Richard Noggin Novel (The Naked Eye Series Volume 1)
by S.K. Nicholls
Publisher: Brave Blue Heron Books
Genre: Crime fiction

When a young immigrant woman and an exotic dancer are forced to flee men with guns and have no place to hide, Richard Noggin, P.I., can’t turn his back—even if helping out makes him a target. Richard plans to impress an aspiring politician by taking on a big white-collar case that could take him from the streets to an air-conditioned office. Instead,he’s handed a cold case and quickly finds himself sucked into a shadowy world of sex, secrets and…murder. Marked for a bullet and stretched thin by his investigations, Richard reluctantly teams up with the unlikely, brassy custodian of the young woman on the run. With bodies piling up, Richard and his companion are forced to go undercover in a most unlikely locale: the Leisure Lagoon, a nudist resort. Going undercover in this instance will mean going uncovered…but lives are at stake—and this Naked Eye will have to juggle to keep his balls in the air and connect the dots before anyone else is murdered. As his pulse-quickening quest for answers leads from the dark corners of Orlando’s Little Saigon to the sunny exposure of the Leisure Lagoon, Richard will be put to the test. Just how much will this Naked Eye have to bear…or bare? The heat is on in this quirky Sunshine State crime thriller.

**From smt: I had the opportunity to beta-read and provide suggestions on this novel almost a couple of years ago now, and thought at the time that this was going to be a great novel once it was published. Since publication, I received a complimentary copy and reread. I’m happy to say that this novel is now better than I expected it could be! Well done, S.K. Nicholls! You are sure to find many new readers and fans for this detective series! Congratulations!

Where to purchase and for more information:
S.K. Nicholls’s blog and website
Amazon
Now also available in an Audible edition!

Mike Martin – update on a new novel in the Sgt. Windflower Series

Mike Martin has returned to Reading Recommendations to tell us about a new novel in his Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series. Mike has previously been featured several times
on this blog.

A Long Ways From Home
by Mike Martin
Genre: Mystery

Author Mike Martin is pleased to announce the release of his new book in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series, A Long Ways from Home. This new mystery continues the adventures of Sgt. Windflower as he tries to solve crime and experience the joy and the sadness of life in small Newfoundland communities.

A weekend visit to picturesque Newfoundland by a large crew of outlaw bikers leaves behind another mess for Sgt. Windflower to clean up. This time he’s facing violence, murder, mystery and intrigue. This adventure has Windflower questioning everything he thought he knew. There are troubles on the home front, cutbacks in the policing budget, old friends leaving and new ones not quite here yet. Windflower is seeking to find answers in territory that is both dangerous and unfamiliar.

This installment in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series has our hero dashing all over the beautiful little island of Newfoundland. Along the way he never wavers in his pursuit of justice. But he still tries to find a way to enjoy the natural beauty that lays all around him, and to bring out the best from everybody he meets.
A Long Ways from Home is about more than just homicides or the dirty dealings of outlaw bikers. It is also about helping people and communities face up to and overcome new and very difficult challenges. Windflower relies on his friends and allies, including some four-legged ones, to help him and them find the answers. He also discovers that we are never really alone, even when we are a long ways from home.

Book one of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series, The Walker on the Cape was published in 2012. Book two, The Body on the T was published in 2013. Book three, Beneath the Surface, was published in 2014. Book four, A Twist of Fortune was published in 2015.

Book Details:
A Long Ways from Home
By Mike Martin
Publisher: Friesen Press
ISBN: 978-1-4602-9200-6
Pages: 378
Genre: Mystery

About The Author:
Mike Martin was born in Newfoundland on the East Coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a long-time freelance writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand. He is the author of Change the Things You Can: Dealing with Difficult People and has written a number of short stories that have been published in various publications including Canadian Stories and Downhome Magazine.

Where to purchase:
Amazon
Amazon Canada
Amazon UK
Chapters/indigo
itunes
Friesen Press
Barnes and Noble

For more information …

Danika Stone

Author’s full name Danika Stone

What is your latest release and what genre is it? Edge of Wild, published by Stonehouse, May 2016, is a thriller

Quick description: Transplanted from New York City to the tiny mountain town of Waterton, Alberta with the task of saving a floundering new hotel, Rich Evans is desperate to return to the city as soon as he can. The locals seem unusually hostile towards his efforts, or maybe even menacing, and was that a cougar on his door-step last night? As Rich begins to wonder whether his predecessor disappeared of his own accord, he finds himself strongly drawn to Louise Newman, the garage mechanic who is fixing his suddenly unreliable BMW, and the only person in Waterton who doesn’t seem desperate to run him out of town. As Rich works on the hotel, the town is torn apart by a series of gruesome, unsolved murders. With Louise as his only ally in a town that seems set against him, Rich can’t help but wonder: will he be the next victim?

Brief biography:
Danika Stone is an author, artist, and educator who discovered a passion for writing fiction while in the throes of her Masters thesis. A self-declared bibliophile, Danika now writes novels for both adults (Edge of Wild, The Intaglio Series and Ctrl Z) and teens (All the Feels). When not writing, Danika can be found hiking in the Rockies, planning grand adventures, and spending far too much time online. She lives with her husband, three sons, and a houseful of imaginary characters in a windy corner of Alberta, Canada.

Links to buy Danika’s book:
Stonehouse Publishing
Amazon

Danika’s promo links:
Website 1 (DK Stone)
Website 2 (Danika Stone)
Twitter
Tumblr
Facebook

What are you working on now?
I’m currently editing the sequel to Edge of Wild, another murder-mystery set in Waterton called Hinterland. It follows Rich’s trial, and gives insight into the history of Louise Newman.

Danika’s reading recommendation:
One of my all-time favorite non-fiction books is On Writing by Stephen King. Whenever I am in the midst of editing hell, I return to it. It gives me perspective when few other things do.

Amy M. Reade – update on a new novel

Amy M. Reade was previously featured on Reading Recommendations in April 2015. She’s back now to tell us about a new novel being released today!

House of the Hanging Jade
by Amy M. Reade
Published by Lyrical Underground (Kensington Publishing)

A dark presence had invaded the Jorgensens’ house. On a spectacular bluff overlooking the Pacific, something evil, something wary and watchful, had shattered the peace.

Tired of the cold winters in Washington, D.C. and disturbed by her increasingly obsessive boyfriend, Kailani Kanaka savors her move back to her native Big Island of Hawaii. She also finds a new job as personal chef for the Jorgensen family. The gentle caress of the Hawaiian trade winds, the soft sigh of the swaying palm trees, and the stunning blue waters of the Pacific lull her into a sense of calm at the House of Hanging Jade—an idyll that quickly fades as it becomes apparent that dark secrets lurk within her new home. Furtive whispers in the night, a terrifying shark attack, and the discovery of a dead body leave Kailani shaken and afraid. But it’s the unexpected appearance of her ex-boyfriend, tracking her every move and demanding she return to him, that has her fearing for her life …

Where to purchase Amy’s book:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
KOBO
Kensington Publishing
iTunes

Janice Spina – Reading Recommendation Revisited

Janice Spina has been a guest on Reading Recommendations several times – first in May 2014, then she returned for two updates in Dec. 2014 and Oct. 2015. I’ve now invited Janice to become part of the Reading Recommendations Revisited group of Authors, because of her enthusiastic promotion of me, my work, this blog, and the many other Authors who are writing and publishing independently – from around the world! Janice is a valuable member of this writing community and I thank her for the support she’s given to “all a we”, as they say on Bequia!!

RRR: Since your first promotion on RR, what have you been doing?

JS: Before I answer this question I want to express my gratitude to Susan Toy of RR who has been a wonderful support to me. She has tirelessly continued to post updates about my work. For her kindness and unending support I am truly grateful!

Since my first promotion on RR I have published three more children’s books, PS-Grade 3, Jesse the Precocious Polar Bear, Broose the Moose on the Loose, and Sebastian Meets Marvin the Monkey.

I am currently working on a paranormal/mystery/romance, How Far Is Heaven, which I hope to publish this month or next. My husband, John, who is my illustrator, is working on my new children’s book about a cat. Book 3 of Davey & Derek Junior Detective Series is in its early stages as is a mystery/romance novel. I plan to publish Davey & Derek books 3 & 4 this year and the novel in 2017. I have a YA fantasy that needs serious editing which will be another project that I will undertake in 2017. A girl’s detective/mystery series is running around in my head for 2017 also.

Writing keeps me quite busy but I do spend time posting on my blog JemsBooks writing about my books, helpful tips for authors, guest posts, author interviews, supporting authors, and my travels.

On my website I offer copy editing services for authors. My credentials and references are listed at my website.

I am an avid reader and book reviewer on Amazon and Goodreads. If you look me up there you will see that I have read extensively and gave myself a reading challenge of 125 books for 2016. In the past few years I have surpassed each of my goals. My reading preferences are eclectic, from children’s books to mystery, thrillers, fantasy and historical fiction. Since I have a long list at present on my TBR list (to be read) I cannot promise to take on any more books for review at this time though.

RRR: What else have you been doing, outside of the writing?
JS: Hobbies: When I can I crochet hats, scarves, afghans, cowls, and amigarumis (animals & other characters) for my grandchildren during the winter months. This gives me a break from my writing and makes my grandchildren happy. That is what makes me happy too.

I plan to keep writing, entertaining and educating children about the importance of reading while teaching them important life lessons and family values.

Children are my main goal in my writing. I have donated my books to libraries and as gifts during Christmas. I recently blogged when asked for help obtaining books by the Civitain group in Arizona that helps special needs children to get up to their reading levels. This post was extremely well received and many authors have donated books to the Civitain group – 31 books at this time. I was thrilled to send copies of all my books to these children. It was a sincere pleasure to assist this group in procuring the books they needed. I thank all my fellow authors for their kindness and generosity in taking part in this needy cause.

I am happy to help any group that needs assistance in spreading the word about their group if it aids children in any way.

RRR: Is there one marketing tip or trick you discovered while promoting your own books that worked particularly well and that you’d like to share with other authors?
JS: I did a guest post on Chris The Story Reading Ape‘s blog about social media needs for authors. Here is the link in case you want to read the complete post.

I have found that when new or aspiring authors are just starting out they need to get their names and work out there on social media. That means starting a website and blog, signing up for FB, Twitter and other sites. Visit, follow and leave comments on other blogs and you will find that these bloggers will respond in kind and follow back. Helping others to promote their work will bring more followers to your blog. I have met so many wonderful people online through social media and many have become good friends and my wonderful support system, such as Susan Toy. It has been a joy to work together with other authors on group promotions and blog hops, etc. I have learned and grown with each new interaction. I look forward to many more rewarding experiences.

RRR: Please recommend three other authors whose work you have “discovered” or rediscovered this past year.
JS: Being an avid reader I have been fortunate to have met some creative and talented authors. There are so many of these authors’ books I have enjoyed and find it difficult to choose just three. If you will indulge me I will list three but also others that I have enjoyed.

These authors I list have many books to choose from and I have read a few of each of theirs. I have a good feel as to their distinctive writing styles. Here are my thoughts.

Robert K. Swisher, Jr. is a creative author who incorporates his wonderful sense of humor into his entertaining stories. His stories are eclectic and unforgettable. Robert’s Facebook Page.

Robert Thornhill is a talented author of the Lady Justice Series who mixes mystery/detective stories with humor. His characters are fascinating, well defined, memorable and fun to read. Robert’s Amazon Author Page.

These two authors I have recently discovered and only read one of each of their books.

Christoph Fischer is a talented storyteller of epic proportion. I read his incredible book, The Luck of the Weissensteiners, that tells an unforgettable tale of life during wartime for a family trying to survive. He reminds me of best-selling author Jeffrey Archer. Christoph on Amazon.

Mae Clair is a creative author who knows how to weave a tale of mystery and suspense. I look forward to reading more from her. Mae on Amazon.

Some more of my favorite authors are Sally G. Cronin, Nicholas Rossis, Peter Cimino and, Don Massenzio. I could go on and on about many more wonderful authors. (Sally, Nicholas and Don have all been featured on Reading Recommendations!)

Thank you, Susan Toy, for inviting me here today to your fabulous blog. A special thank you for all that you do for me and other authors to help promote our work.

My slogan is: Reading Gives You Wings to Fly! Happy reading everyone!

Blessings to all!
Janice

Thank you, Janice!