Monday, December 30, 2013

Sweet memories on Quality Street

Currend Q Street jarOne of the great things I love about the holidays is ... Quality Street.

When I was a kid, you only got some of these wonderful chocolates if you went to England or Canada. (We had relatives in England, and we went to Canada!)

When Mr. L and I first started dating, he visited friends in Canada and asked what he could get his first generation American sweetheart.  They said, "Quality Street."  Boy, did he win points.

So, is it any wonder that I collect Quality Street tins?

These are the four oldest tins in my collection. (I have nine.)

Vintage quality street tins-sm

Nowadays, you can get Quality Street in the US.  They're now made by Nestles (and I'm sure many people will say they aren't half as good as they used to be), but I still love them because they evoke such sweet memories.

My brother gave me a jar of them for Christmas and I decided to see just how much one of the old tins can hold.  Not much, it turns out.  (About a third of the jar.)

Tin w candy-sm
Aren't they gorgeous?

Did you get candy for Christmas?
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Sunday, December 29, 2013

Need an ereader? Try Kobo -- and visit their 50% off sale!

A lot of people carp about Amazon and say they are going to take over the world.  (Hmm...Amazon ... drones ... maybe they will.)  I want to support all e book distributors because they have changed the lives of so many midlist authors.  We can now make a living wage, and that's nothing to sneeze at.

I'm really pulling for Kobo. Kobo is small ... but really, very large.  They sell their readers all over the world and, unlike Amazon, the only thing they are ebooks!

L n M_smKobo has been very good to me. They frequently offer me the opportunity to get my name out there by letting me put certain of my books on sale.  I've had a hard time getting the word out because the sales are usually country specific.  Right now one of my books is on sale at Kobo for 50% off in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

If you've got a Kobo reader, maybe you'll want to try Love & Murder.  It's half price ($1.49) until the end of the year (That's Dec. 31st.)

Love & Murder, by Lorraine Bartlett (and her alter ego L.L. Bartlett), explores the highs and lows of love, and humanity. This sampler will give you an idea of the kinds of themes she explores in her New York Times bestselling novels. The collection contains seven stories: Abused: A Daughter's Story, Cold Case, An Unconditional Love, We're So Sorry, Uncle Albert, Prisoner of Love, and Blue Christmas.

Here's the linkUse the coupon Code at Checkout:  50COUPON

Several of my friends have books in the sale, too:

Doranna Durgin's fantasy novels Wolverine's Daughter & Dun Lady's Jess

Tonya Thomas's women's fiction collection of short stories:  The Edge and I

Maryann Miller's suspense novel, One Small Victory

Kobo-touchIf you're in the US and you'd like to try out a Kobo reader (they're quite nice), you can do so at your local independent bookstore.  They have one for only $79. 

Try it. You'll like it!


Friday, December 27, 2013

Foodie Friday: Rosemary Harris and Hoppin' John!

Ro Harrisby guest blogger Rosemary Harris

I know...for the last six weeks, ever since Thanksgiving, you've been baking and cooking up a storm. You probably have enough leftovers to last well into the new year. And perhaps even (as I do) a few extra pounds.

But here's one dish that legend says you really should make and eat on New Year's Day. The origins of the legend are fuzzy but eating Hoppin' John on New Year's Day is supposed to bring a year of prosperity and good luck. Don't ask me why but - hey, who doesn't want to start the year with a little edge?

Hot_DawgWhat is it? A super, simple rice and peas dish that's flexible enough to fit anyone's taste. The rice and the black-eyed peas (or peas or beans of your choice) are the only constants. Almost any green veggie--kale, swiss chard, collard, turnip or mustard greens can be added. The peas or beans are supposed to represent coins and the greens---well, can you say greenbacks?

Here's a basic recipe.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped ham (optional)
1 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 pound black-eyed peas, soaked overnight and rinsed
1 quart chicken stock
Bay leaf
1 teaspoon dry thyme leaves
Salt, black pepper, and cayenne
3 cups steamed white rice

Directions

Heat oil in a large soup pot, add ham and sear on all sides. Add onion, celery, green pepper, and garlic, cook until onion is translucent. Add the black-eyed peas, stock, bay leaves, thyme, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the peas are creamy and tender, stir occasionally. If the liquid evaporates, add more water or stock.  Seasoning to taste and serve over rice.

Tweak to make it your own, and have a Happy--and prosperous--New Year!

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Bitches of brooklynAfter several careers in book retailing, publishing, direct marketing, and video/television/public television, Rosemary Harris traded in her pumps for a yellow legal pad and a stack of pencils and started writing the first book in her Dirty Business mystery series, the Agatha and Anthony-nominated Pushing Up Daisies.  Rosemary's latest book, The Bitches of Brooklyn, is the first in a new series.

Check out Rosemary's website.  Find her on Facebook and Twitter, too!

Thursday, December 26, 2013

What are you doing this Boxing Day???



Happy Boxing Day to all. What a great day to relax, have fun, read a good boodk, watch a video or two, and eat loads of leftovers.

We wanted Santa to have a safe trip on Christmas Eve, so instead of leaving him a martini, we left him some martini cut-out cookies.  Yum!  (We'll try to polish off the rest of the cookies during the next week or so.)

Martini cookies-sm

Evolution-SMAnd yesterday, Evolution: Jeff Resnick's Backstory went live.  This collection of 11 short stories explores how Jeff and his brother Richard met, lived together, and what forces forged them into the men they are today.  They're not mysteries, more character sketches that explain why they react the way they have in the novels.  If you like Jeff, I hope you'll give his backstory a try.

Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords

MOTM-ebook.sm-1And, don't forget, the first Jeff Resnick Mystery, Murder On The Mind,  is FREE on all e formats.

Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Kobo | Sony | Smashwords

Have a great day!  (How are you spending it?)
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Friday, December 13, 2013

Foodie Friday: Whole lotta baking going on!

What is it about the holidays that makes us want to eat more cookies (than usual)?

I found a great recipe for dipped coconut shortbread.  (Mmmmm.)  It's been hanging around for so long, I have no idea where I got it from, but it's GOOD.

3/4 cut butter (no substitutes)
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup flaked coconut
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon shortning

In a mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.  Combine flower and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Stir in coconut.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness.  Cut with a 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter.  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 300F for 20-25 minutes or until edges begin to brown.  Cool on wire racks.

Eat and enjoy!

In a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips and shortening.  Remove from the heat; dip cookies halfway into chocolate.  Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheet until set.  Yield:  about 2 dozen.

Recipes to die for w mixer-smLooking for a cute little cookbook as a stocking stuffer?  Look no further:  Recipes to Die For.
Trade Paperback:  http://tinyurl.com/9j8page
Kindle:  http://tinyurl.com/mcmrtlf
iBooks:  http://tinyurl.com/mxabj7f
Kobo:  http://tinyurl.com/m5pnuml
Nook:  http://tinyurl.com/6ncwq7c
Sony:  http://tinyurl.com/k3o7aaa
Smashwords:  http://tinyurl.com/l77fwfj

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Booktown Mysteries as Audiobooks!

I just about burst with pride when my editor first told me that the Booktown Mysteries were going to be produced as audiobooks.  (We won't talk about how devastated I was when he told me they'd discontinued the audio series due to lack of sales.)  The first five books are available in Audio and narrated by the fabulous Cassandra Campbell.  Oh, how I wish I could have heard her perform Murder On The Half Shelf and Not The Killing Type, but again... we won't go there.

Still, the books are a lot of fun to listen to and if you're into audiobooks, maybe you'll give them a try.
Here's the graphic Mr. L made to help promote them.  The background could be New Hampshire.  Note the road in the forefront -- to remind you to listen to audiobooks while you're on a long road trip.  (Works just as well in a train or a plane, too!)

Audiobooks

For more information on these audiobooks, please feel free to check out the audio page on my website.

If you haven't yet joined Audible, you can often get your first audiobook for Free!  (Check out their site by clicking this link.)
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Monday, December 9, 2013

Hankering for Holiday Stories?

This time of year, I like to immerce myself in holiday stuff ... cuz, like--it's fun!  Often in the evenings I'll pick up a favorite holiday book and reread it. (And I've got a bunch of them on my shelves.)

I've also written a few holiday stories.  In case you're interested, they are:
Humbug.smNow, if you haven't read my Jeff Resnick books, then this one won't make a whole lot of sense.  (And if you haven't read Jeff, why not?  The first book, Murder On The Mind, is FREE in all e-formats.  Don't have an e-reader?  Read it on your computer with a free app (from Kindle or Nook), on your smartphone, or tablet.)  It comes directly after the 4th novel, Cheated By Death.  Here's the blurb:

It's Christmas Day, and Richard and Brenda are off to warmer climes, leaving Jeff and Maggie to spend Christmas dinner with Maggie's family. But the Brennan clan has not rolled out the welcome mat for Jeff. It'll be a Christmas to remember . . . but who wants to? 

 Kindle | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Sony | Smashwords

Uncle_Albert_Cover.sm

 The Nichols family is all in a tizzy when it's discovered their penny-pinching Uncle Albert is worth millions, and decide he has overstayed his worldly welcome. But can they bump off the old man and get away with it?


 Kindle | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Sony | Smashwords


Blue_Christmas-smAs any adult child who has taken care of an ailing parent can attest, it's hard and heartbreaking.  That's why I have such a soft spot in my heart for the heroine of Blue Christmas.

Christmas used to be a joyous time for Judi Straub, but that was before her parents passed away and her siblings became too busy to socialize with their old maid sister. Holidays spent with friends were a nightmare. Then one late December Judi won an all-expense-paid trip to Puerto Rico where Harry Powell swept her off her feet.  But her fantasy of happily-ever-after was quickly derailed.  Would Judi always have a Blue Christmas?

Kindle | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Sony | Smashwords

(They're just 99¢ for all e readers.)
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Friday, December 6, 2013

Foodie Friday Alert: Easiest candy recipe on the planet!

Hot_DawgAnd in my continuing quest to gain weight during the holiday season, I bring you one of the very best and easiest recipes on the face of the planet.  Simply Crackers Toffee that was featured in Booktown #6, Murder On The Half Shelf.

Ingredients:
One “sleeve” of saltine crackers (about 35)
2 sticks butter (1 cup)
1 cup brown sugar
1 11.5 ounce package of chocolate chips*
¾ cups chopped walnuts* (optional)

Saltine candy1Directions:  Line a baking tray with foil and cover with saltine crackers. Boil butter and brown sugar for 3 minutes until frothy. Pour over the crackers.

Bake at 400° for 5 minutes. The butter/sugar mixture will bubble. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let set for five minutes. Spread chocolate with spatula, and sprinkle with nuts. (Gently press the nuts into the chocolate.) Refrigerate at least 1 hour; break into pieces. (Refrigerate the leftovers . . . if there are any.)

 *I use milk chocolate chips, but you can vary the recipe with semi-sweet chocolate and even peanut butter-flavored chips.
Saltine candy2
Care to share YOUR favorite Christmas candy recipe?
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Thursday, December 5, 2013

Video -- gotta love it!

I love book trailer videos  I have a bunch of them.  You can check them out for:

Bookmarked For Death (Booktown #2)
Chapter & Hearse (Booktown #4)

A Crafty Killing (Victoria Square #1)
Recipes To Die For (A Victoria Square Cookbook)

Tales Of Telenia #1: Threshold

Dead In Red (Jeff Resnick Mystery #2)
Dark Waters (Jeff Resnick Mystery #6)

... and my good friend Kelly McClymer has made a video for the Incredible Indie Authors Stop Texting and Start Listening campaign.  Check it out!


AudioPromoFBLorraineB

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Brand new!

The second novel in the Book Collector Mystery series by my friend Mary Jane Maffini and her daughter, Victoria, written under the name Victoria Abbott.

Sayers swindleJordan Kelly is delighted to make money tracking down rare and valuable mystery novels for her employer, Vera Van Alst, an avid collector and the most difficult woman in  Harrison Falls, New York. But now her boss’s complete set of Dorothy Sayers is missing, and finding them may lead Jordan to a murder suitable for Sayers’s esteemed sleuth, Lord Peter Wimsey…

When Jordan manages to locate her boss’s missing books, they are in the possession of Randolph Adams, an elderly man in a nearby town. Offering a valuable Hemingway first edition as an incentive, Jordan thinks she’s about to seal the deal—but some of Randolph’s relatives think he should hold out for more.

Then the entire family disappears—and a dead body shows up.  It’s up to Jordan to collect the clues—and make sure a killer gets booked.

Available:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Kindle | iBooks | Kobo | Nook

Missed the first book?  It's The Christie Curse!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Don't Text and Drive--Listen to an Audiobook!

Texting and driving is probably the most dangerous thing anyone can do, and yet it happens all the time.  That's why ten authors (myself included) have banded together to to help make the holiday roads safer -- and more fun -- this season.

AudioPromoFBLorraineB

Not only are we encouraging our readers to listen to audiobooks, but we're also holding a contest.

Contest

We're offering 30 audiobooks via a Facebook contest.  Here's the link.  (I'm offering copies of Room at the Inn, the 3rd book in the Jeff Resnick Mystery series.  (The coziest of the bunch.))

Click this link to take you to our Facebook page.

Let's make this holiday season the safest ever!
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Friday, November 29, 2013

Foodie Friday recipe of the week!

Hot_DawgNow that the Thanksgiving feast is over, it's time to start thinking about Christmas and all the wonderful food that goes with it.

Okay, maybe not a hot dog -- but for me there are a number of things that are a must during the holiday season, and oddly enough, chocolate chip cookies are among them.  (It's the only time of year I make them.)

So, what's my favorite cc recipe?  Why the Nestles toll house recipe, of course.

Ingredients
 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Cookies 11 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
 3/4 cup granulated sugar
 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnut nuts (optional)

Directions
PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

PAN COOKIE VARIATION: Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare dough as above. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Makes 4 dozen bars.

IStock_000005394934XSmallSLICE AND BAKE COOKIE VARIATION:
PREPARE dough as above. Divide in half; wrap in waxed paper. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Shape each half into 15-inch log; wrap in wax paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.* Preheat oven to 375° F. Cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices; place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

* May be stored in refrigerator for up to 1 week or in freezer for up to 8 weeks (like that's likely to happen).

Care to share YOUR favorite cookie recipe?
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Friday, November 22, 2013

Presenting: Betsy Ruth!

When I first decided to write about my characters having a baby, I knew it would be a little girl.  And then I saw the ad....

Let me back up for a second.  Two of my characters in the Jeff Resnick Mysteries are in an interracial marriage:  Brenda Stanley and Richard Alpert.  These pictures were drawn by a friend of mine (Pam Loomis) to illustrate a story I wrote way back when that featured the two of them.  (I was writing about these characters years before I wrote Jeff's story.)  The original hangs over my desk. (Pam was into comic book style at the time, and she really was good at it.  That's not zipatone, that stippling was all hand-done. Um, Brenda is actually a LOT shorter than Richard.)
Richard_&_Brenda
Because it's taken so long for the series to get out there, Poor Brenda has been pregnant for a l-o-n-g time.  And finally in Dark Waters, she has their baby: Betsy Ruth (named after Richard's mother (Elizabeth) and Brenda's deceased twin sister (Ruth)).

Back in the early 1990s (tells you how long I'd been planning this), I saw the same ad over and over again in "country" magazines for a doll by Ann Timmerman; Cherry Pie, from the Portraits of a Perfect Wold Collection.

Cherry_Pie

As soon as I saw it, I knew I'd found Betsy Ruth.  And ... I bought her.  Betsy (and her Adirondack chair with her little bowl of cherries) lives in a glass box in my library (so she doesn't get dusty. Isn't she just darling?!).

Of course, I already have a short story in mind starring Betsy and Jeff ... and it's not a mystery.  I've actually been planning it for about ... oh, a decade.  And one of these days I'm going to write it.

So, what do you think about Betsy Ruth?
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Thursday, November 21, 2013

Pet Peeve Thursday: Sorry, wrong number!

Wront numberOkay, getting a call from someone who misdials is not the end of the world.  We get them all the time.  A local pediatrician's office is one number different from ours.  I can't tell you how many times we get calls about 8 am when parents with sick kids try to call in and get an appointment or a prescription called in. 

If we're not by the phone, the answering machine takes it. Now, you'd think if you were calling for something as important as a sick kid, you might listen to the recorded message which does NOT say: So-And-So Pediatrics, or Dr. So-And-Sos office.  Nooooooo!  They go right ahead and leave a message giving their name (but usually no return number) asking for a call back.  Ain't gonna happen.

And then there's the SCARY wrong number.  The one that comes in the middle of the night, or way too early in the morning when you know it ain't going to be Mr. L's sister or my brother calling.  That's the call you don't want.  That someone is ill or dying.  (Been there, done that.  Will never recover from it.)  The false alarm is just as jarring.

The other day, we got a call at 6:14 am. Normally I'm up at that time.  On that morning, I'd been awake half the night, and had finally dropped off to sleep less than an hour earlier.  After being jarred awake, I fumbled to find the phone, picked it up and, yup--it was for the pediatrician's office--only this time it was a doctor from one of the local hospitals looking to track down a patient's primary care physician.

No going back to sleep for me, but I found myself still shaking from that rude (scary) awakening for another five minutes.

Rant over. 

What's bugging you today?
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Monday, November 18, 2013

Tricia goes to Japan!

Last month I got an email from my agent asking:  "Did we know the Booktown Mysteries had been sold to a Japanese publisher?"

No, we didn't.  Why?  Because when it comes to these things, the author is ALWAYS the last to know. (And apparently her agent, too.)  We only found out about it on the Royalty Statement. 

Despite that negativity, the cover for the book is actually very cute.  In some ways, it's better than some of the covers my primary publisher has been giving me.  (See last week's semi rant.)  It's sort of Manga, but very true to the description of Haven't Got a Clue.  Miss Marple better resembles the cat in the book.  (It was only when I contacted the artist for my US covers and gave her pictures of Miss Marple that she has been portrayed correctly, and she's done a marvelous job considering the very few good pictures I have of my dear girl Cori.)  Mind you, I have no problem with the quality of the art on my original covers.  I'm lucky to have the supremely talented Teresa Fasolino do them.  Unfortunately, she MUST do what the Marketing Department tells her to do.  (Including garish colors.)

I'm actually quite thrilled to say a book of mine has been translated into another language.  And Japanese books are so cool.  They read from right to left and in columns--so different than us westerners.

I'm pretty sure that the Japanese publisher came to us and not the other way around. After all, the series has been around since 2008 and and this is the first foreign sale.  (Do you think Janet Evanovich waits that long?)  I'd much rather be able to say "Translated into 20 languages" than "Translated into ONE language." 

I just hope more foreign publishers find the series and say, "I'd love to bring this series to our readers."

Well, a girl can dream.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

So, when's a crime novel NOT a crime novel?

By Guest Blogger E.J. Copperman
In explaining why my new book would not be reviewed by a specific venue recently, I was told that the venue in question “only reviews crime fiction,” and so mine did not qualify.

Now, keep in mind that we’re talking about a novel in which there are two murders, and the bulk of the pages are spent investigating those incidents and bringing the perpetrator(s) to justice. I didn’t ask why the reviewer I was conversing with didn’t classify such a story as “crime fiction,” because I really didn’t need to ask. I knew why.

Some of the characters in my series are ghosts. That’s why.

Living deedThere are times that being classified as one type of story or another can actually be helpful to a book in finding readers. Some people, I’m sure, read my first Haunted Guesthouse novel NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEED because it has ghost characters.

And on another occasion recently, I was asked what kind of series the Haunted Guesthouse books might represent. Without thinking, I gave the stock answer; “paranormal humorous cozy,” I said, although I don’t see how talking like that is going to solve anything. The person asking lit up, “Cool!” And wrote down the name of the book for future reference.
So it doesn’t have to be a bad thing to be defined by sub-sub-genre.

Amazon, which is not the de facto arbiter of all things that can be sold legally in the United States (and many other places) classifies THE THRILL OF THE HAUNT in the following manner: Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Ghosts. Of course.

On those rare occasions when I think of my books as anything but stories that I hope people will like, I would probably classify them as comedy mysteries. The fact that two of the continuing are deceased really doesn’t enter into it for me.

I write Paul and Maxie. I write them as people who are able to float around, move through solid objects, contact other beings like themselves through a form of telepathy, and generally make my first-person narrator’s life miserable, which is exactly what they are intended to do. As my friend Ian Abrams says, “Nobody wants to watch your character have a nice day.”

Yeah, they’re ghosts. Of course they are; I designed them to be from the beginning. That was the idea. Does the fact that there’s an element of the “paranormal” in the books negate the whole rest of the story? I don’t think so.

It’s a reviewer’s prerogative to comment or not comment on any book ever written, and I respect that. But there are times when I bristle a little at the concept of being shoehorned into one little box or another because others don’t see past the accepted definitions.

Luckily, Lorraine offers the chance to let off a little steam.

What's bugging you today?
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Thrill of the hauntE.J. Copperman writes the Haunted Guesthouse series, whose latest installment THE THRILL OF THE HAUNT was published on November 5. You can classify it any way you want. Next year, E.J. will team with Jeff Cohen to write a series about a sleuth with Asperger’s Syndrome for Midnight Ink. And there’ll be another Haunted Guesthouse book. Thank goodness there’s just no getting rid of some people.

E.J.'s Website:  www.ejcopperman.com
His blog:  Sliced Bread
Twitter: @ejcop
Facebook: E.J. Copperman

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

The past comes to life ...

Have you ever wondered what makes some of your favorite characters the people they are in books and movies?

I got my writing start wondering just that.  First I played with the original Star Trek characters. Then I moved on to other TV shows and movies.  Then Mr. L said, "Hey, why are you wasting your time doing that when you could go pro?" Eleven years later, I finally sold my first novel, Murder On The Mind, the first Jeff Resnick Mystery (which, incidentally is STILL FREE for all e formats).

Writing the first four books in that series was a learning experience--and it was mostly learning who these characters were.  I was writing those four books similtaneously, so that if something happened in the 4th book, I could go back to the first to lay the groundwork. (You probably wondered what I was doing during those 11 years, eh?) I tried to understand why Jeff did some of the (rather odd) things he did.  I was very unsure of myself as a storyteller, and a number of published writers in my local writing group were generous with their critiques.  One of them really stood out.  While reading Cheated by Death, I was asked, "How long has this man had an eating disorder?"  A what?

And then she went on to point out several areas in the book where clearly Jeff's relationship with food is at odds.  It was then I realized it was a thread through the previous books as well--something I hadn't even noticed. The idea fascinated me, and I wrote a short story to explore the issue.  I wrote short stories to explore other areas of his past, too.  I've told a number of readers about the stories, and they've encouraged me to publish them.

The stories are not mysteries.  They're about a boy struggling to grow up, and the very rocky relationship he has with his older brother. They help explain why the two were estranged for eighteen years, and hopefully contain the seeds of their fierce friendship to come.

003(18)As I write this, I'm still polishing some of the stories I'd left unfinished.  Here are the (tentative) titles and here is the cover (does it make you want to read the stories?):

First Contact
Betty’s Dead
One-on-One
Resnick’s Revenge
The First Noel
Food For Thought
The Turning Point
Happy Birthday
Leaving On A Jet Plane
Reunion

The book will be available on Christmas Day.  I hope to have a pre-sale button available by December 1st.  I'll keep you posted.

Don't forget, tomorrow my writer pal E.J. Copperman regales us with another of his Pet Peeves. Don't miss it!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

A little love ... or murder?

Yesterday I showed you my latest cover from my NY publisher.  How about my latest cover from my favorite publisher -- me!

It's a new title.  Well, the title is new, but the stories inside this collection of stories may not be new to some of you.  If cost has been an issue for you NOT to read my short stories, fear not.  Now you can read 7 for the price of 3.  (Such a deal!)

This one comes out under my Lorraine and LL Bartlett names because ... well, there're stories from both those names.  The tome is called LOVE & MURDER and I'd be very happy if you'd give it a try.


L&M_med Why LOVE & MURDER? Because the stories are mostly sweet romances or murder mysteries. Read the story descriptions and see if they don't light your fire.

Abused: A Daughter’s Story:  Emily Miller knew her life was about to change forever the day her mother said, "I'm pregnant." She'd hear those words again and again--and with every pregnancy Emily's father changed from bad to worse. For years the Miller family suffered through his rages. It took a terrible loss for the family to regroup, and all the love Emily can muster to save her siblings.

Cold Case . . . the short story that inspired the 4th Jeff Resnick book, BOUND BY SUGGESTION. Psychic Jeff Resnick has no expectations when investigating the disappearance of a four-year-old, until he confronts the mind responsible--a shattering experience for all involved.

An Unconditional Love:  A one-night stand changes Leslie Turner's life forever when she discovers she's pregnant. Keeping the child means losing her business. Even more devastating, the baby is born with a disfiguring birth defect. Her carefully planned life falls apart . . . until years later when she once again meets her baby's father. Can they ever be a family?

We’re So Sorry, Uncle Albert:  The Nichols family is all in a tizzy when it's discovered their penny-pinching Uncle Albert is worth millions, and decide he has overstayed his worldly welcome. But can they bump off the old man and get away with it?

Love Heals:  It's the most romantic night of the year and Diana Mason is alone.  She broke up with her boyfriend because he wanted a playmate not a soul mate, but it's someone else who haunts her thoughts on the most romantic of holidays.  Is there a chance he's thinking of her, too?

Prisoner of Love:  Rhonda Roberts went looking for love in all the wrong places, and found it through an ad in the personals section of her local newspaper. Family and friends think she's crazy when she becomes engaged to a convicted felon, and the lengths she'll go to see him set free.

Blue Christmas: Christmas used to be a joyous time for Judi Straub, but that was before her parents passed away and her siblings became too busy to socialize with their old maid sister. Holidays spent with friends were a nightmare. Then one late December Judi won an all-expense-paid trip to Puerto Rico where Harry Powell swept her off her feet. But her fantasy of happily-ever-after was quickly derailed. Would Judi always have a Blue Christmas?

Should you be eager to purchase this delightful box set (not in a box) you can find it:

Kindle | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords (and coming soon to iBook and Sony)

Stay tuned:  Tomorrow I'll be telling you about my next release, which comes out Christmas Day!  (Another new cover!)  Don't miss it!  And Thursday, E.J. Copperman has another pet peeve to share.
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Monday, November 11, 2013

Cover news or woes?

Whew!  I was out of town for three weeks and it's taken me nearly two to catch up.  But I'm back, writing, thinking about the holidays ... and hoping I will find more things to blog about in the near future.

First up, a while back my editor sent me the cover for Book Clubbed, which is the 8th Booktown Mystery and scheduled to be released on July 1, 2014.

Oh, dear. That was my first reaction. 

And then, Oh, NO!!! 

BookClubbed(1)

My eyes!  That wall is blinding me!!!

Needless to say, I was not happy about the cover,  After much discussion with my editor and agent, the Marketing Department came up with this revision (which I did not see for another month).

Book clubbed yellow

It's better, but ...

At any rate, I promise the book is better than its cover.  Should you wish to pre-order you can do so:
Amazon | Kindle  and apparently not anywhere else ... yet.  But stay tuned!

And speaking of which, tomorrow and Wednesday, I'll unveil some covers that I truly DO love.  And on Pet Peeve Thursday, my very good friend E.J. Copperman will visit to delight us with something else that gets under his skin. 

Promise you'll come back, now!
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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

First Tuesday = new books!

First Tuesday means new books are out.  YAY! First up is mine.  Dark Waters, Jeff Resnick Mystery #6.

DARK_WATERS_SmFor Jeff Resnick, the trouble starts with a near-death experience.  Brenda's family comes to visit and one of them reminds Jeff of the thugs who mugged him. His brother has taken possession of an expensive boat.  The yacht holds a deadly secret, one destined to turn his world upside down. Will Jeff solve the puzzle before his vision of near death becomes a reality?

Amazon 
Kindle   
Nook
Kobo
iTunes 
Sony
Smashwords 


Watch the Video!
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POISONED PROSEOlivia Limoges thought gathering some of the most renowned storytellers in one place would be a nice, simple way for herself and the Bayside Book Writers to appreciate their talents. But things take a dark turn when the most famous storyteller in the nation—the captivating performer Violetta Devereaux—announces onstage that she will meet her end in Oyster Bay. When Violetta is discovered murdered after the show, everyone involved with the retreat becomes a suspect. There are rumors that Violetta, who grew up in extreme poverty in the Appalachian Mountains, possessed an invaluable treasure. Now Chief Rawlings and the Bayside Book Writers must work at a frenzied pace to solve the crime before someone closes the book on them.

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An open spookHaunted guesthouse owner Alison Kerby may have only recently discovered her ability to communicate with ghosts, but for her mother Loretta, it’s been a lifelong gift. As Alison prepares her Jersey Shore guesthouse for what promises to be a huge storm, Loretta helps out by tackling a different issue when the winds blow in an unexpected visitor: the ghost of Sgt. Robert Elliot. His request? Help him find the POW bracelet from the Vietnam War that bears his name. But no sooner does Elliot make his appeal than he suddenly disappears, cutting off contact, and leaving Loretta to wonder...why here? Why now? And why the vanishing act?

The answers begin to materialize when Alison’s lone remaining guest shows up unwittingly holding a clue to the case—on his wrist. A coincidence? Hardly. And Loretta has good reason to believe that the sergeant’s spirit has a secret he’s yet to share. Something he’s been holding on to for more than forty years. Something he’s dying to put to rest.
Sony          Visit E.J.'s website!
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Monday, August 19, 2013

Swans not swimming!

So there we were driving down one of the back roads and came upon this jolly little family.

Swans_1

I was a bit concerned, because I'd heard that swans will charge if they feel their babies are in danger, but this Mom (or Dad) didn't seem to mind us taking a few pictures.

Swans_2

Will there be swans in one of my upcoming books?  (You better believe it!)
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Friday, August 16, 2013

DARK_WATERS-title only

I'm absolutely thrilled to annouce that the Kindle edition of DARK WATERS, the next book in the Jeff Resnick Mystery series, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.  (The book will be released on October 1st. And fear not--the Trade Paperback edition will be available for pre-order in the next few days.)

I feel extremely lucky that Amazon offered me this exciting opportunity.  Pre-orders are what make or break a book in terms of bestsellers list.  Will I hit one of lists because of it?  Probably not, but this will certainly help give the book a welcome boost.

And I'm going to tease you, too.  To see the blurb and the fantastic cover done by Pat Ryan Graphics (and let me tell you, it may be the very best cover I've ever had), you'll have to go visit Amazon.

Then...come back here and tell me what you think.  (It's okay, the Amazon link above will open a new window so you don't even have to lose this one.)

All I can tell you is, I'm one very happy author.  And what would make me even happier is for you to pre-order and then read DARK WATERS.




Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Hot off the press!

I love it when friends have a new book out. It's almost as much fun as ME having a new book out!


 Leslie Budewitz's first published novel, Death Al Dente:

Death al denteThe town of Jewel Bay, Montana—known as a Food Lovers'' Village—is obsessed with homegrown and homemade Montana fare. So when Erin Murphy takes over her family's century-old general store, she turns it into a boutique market filled with local delicacies. But Erin's freshly booming business might go rotten when a former employee turns up dead…

Murphy's Mercantile, known as the Merc, has been a staple in Jewel Bay for over a hundred years. To celebrate their recent makeover as a gourmet food market, Erin has organized a town festival, Festa di Pasta, featuring the culinary goods of Jewel Bay's finest—including her mother Fresca's delicious Italian specialties.

But Erin's sweet success is soured when the shop's former manager, Claudette, is found dead behind the Merc on the Festa's opening night. With rival chef James Angelo stirring up rumors that Fresca's sauce recipes were stolen from Claudette, Erin's mother is under close scrutiny. Now Erin will have to hunt down some new suspects, or both her family and her store might wind up in hot water….

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kindle ~ Nook

Happy Reading!
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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

A summer adventure story for summer reading!

Sometimes a character just marches up and say, "WRITE MY STORY."  That's what happened to me with Amanda Shelton and my (so-far) two Tales of Telenia fantasy-adventure novels. I wrote them while on vacation (two different vacations) as an amusement.  I sat poolside, starting from about 9 am until 6 pm and just wrote all day.  And I enjoyed it. A summer story for summer!

I thought my readers would enjoy them, too.  I think SOME readers (not necessarily those who read my mystries) will eventually love them, although so far it's been a tough sell. Changing genres always is.

Last week, my friend Doranna Durgin and I (aided and abetted by friends Leann Sweeney and Julie Hyzy) worked on a new blurb for the first book. Here it is:

THRESHOLD-medAmanda Shelton is clever, adventurous, and tough—and she'll have to be, because she's crash landed on a world where her saviors might well be her enemies. It takes fierce determination to keep the people of this frightening and unfamiliar place from stealing her shuttle technology, or imprisoning her while they do it. Yet what she knows could save countless innocent lives—including those who keep this world safe. Facing this test of spirit will take everything Amanda has...if she survives at all.


Click here for the video and buy links (she said, being optimistic).

Read the reviews on Amazon.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Summer Tea Party: Stories and winners

My friends Leann Sweeney, Jennifer Stanley (also known as Ellery Adams) and I recently held a contest for our readers.  The prizes?  Two lovely teacups and/or five tea bag holders.

Tea parties and pretty bone china tea cups have a special place in our hearts.  For me, just gazing at the pretty patterns, and the delicate cups (in many shapes and sizes) takes me to a more peaceful, beautiful place. A place where you can enjoy your surroundings, and partake of a lovely custom of taking tea.

Grandma_cpI collect teacups, and have a collection of about 30 or so.  (I posted all of them on my Facebook author page earlier this year.  Go have a look--but you'll have to scroll back through several months worth of posts.) I'm lucky enough to have inherited a lovely tea set from my grandmother, and my mother gave me her Royal Albert Silver Maple tea set.  I love them both, but must admit I'm afraid to use my grandmother's cups and saucers.  So few of the cups survived.

Leann talked about her collection:  "As a child of an alcoholic mother, I sought beauty in my life anywhere I could find it. We lived in England when I was a toddler and my parents collected bone china, Wedgwood, Dresden and Hummels while we were there. They also bought a lovely small display case. Once we were back in the states, my sister arrived in the world. As we both grew, we would spend hours staring at those small pieces of china. We loved what they represented--a lovely party, a time where people were polite and civil and smiled over a cup of tea. We longed for peace in our lives even as children.

"Those beautiful tea cups and figurines took on special significance because we couldn't touch them, just as we couldn't touch my mother's heart and make her well. But we could wish. Today, we own them all and display them proudly. Part of my new home is designed with a built-in display case, as well as cabinets with glass fronts so we can continue to honor these lovely remembrances."
We wanted to share the rembrances from some of our readers.

Our first prize winner for the Floral cup is Karen K. from Rochester, NH.  Karen told us:  As a child I had a great-aunt that had a tea cup collection, and I remember the beautiful but dainty cups and saucers with great fondness.  This contest would be just the thing to start a collection of my own.

The winner of the Roses cup is:  Vicky H. from Garden Grove, CA.  Vicki said:  "My favorite tea cup is one that has 'sister' (written) on it. They are part of a set (the other has brother on it.)  They belonged to my father's step-dad and when my grandmother passed away. The brother one went  to my brother and the sister one went to my sister. When she passed away a few years ago at 47, I got it, so it not only reminds me of my grandmother and step-grandfather, but of my sister."

Our red or white tea bag holders go to the following readers, who also shared a tea-time memory:

Gloria W. from Boeme, TX:  "I have a cup and saucer from my grandmother’s china.  She was an avid gardener and always had the most beautiful flowers."

Lynn Marie S. from Goshen, CT:  "My children love me to make loose leaf tea so we can do tea leaf readings like Harry Potter!"

Katherine C. from Oxon Hill, MD:  "I remember my 'Elegant Aunt,' who always served afternoon tea in a similar pattern to Floral.  I was four so it was milky tea, but I was allowed to drink from that beautiful cup."

Mary C. from Blaine, MN:  "Shortly after I graduated from college (1973) my mother gave me a teapot that was decorated with a floral pattern.  The teapot was stoneware, from a local gift shop, and nothing specia,but I liked the floral decoration because it had several different types of flowers in addition to the standard rose."

Marguerite G. of Meeker, OK:  "I have a set of children's china tea cups that my great grandmother gave to me.  I can remember many happy hours sharing "cups of tea" with her and my grandmother!"

Those getting an assortment of our bookmarks are:

Mari R., Maple Grove, MN
Adrienne J., West Babylon, NY
Toni M., Claudville, VA
Terri A., Michigan City, IN
Renae D., Worthington, MN
Jane S., Chicago, IL
Mary I., River Vale, NJ
Gwen B., Katy, TX
Heather H., Spotsylvania, VA
Jennifer W., Glenolden, PA
Brooke B., Neffs, OH
Beth M., Chicago Park, CA
Michele H., Bethany Beach, DE
Debbie C., Casselberry, FL
Tonja M., Orrville, OH
Suzanne H., Mobile, AL
Congratulations and thank you to all who entered our summer tea party contest!

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Mushrooms, anyone?

You may have noticed I'm not blogging as much as I used to.  The truth is, after eight years ... I've run out of things to say. Not that I was ever the most interesting person in the world. Let's face it; I'm a writer.  I earn my keep by vicariously living fictional lives.  (And it's fun!)

But once in a while something interesting or odd crops up, and I'll blog about it.

Like my front yard.  We've had a LOT of rain here in Rha-Cha-Cha of late and for the first time since I've lived in this house (20 years) we've got a trail of mushrooms under the trees in the front yard.

Mushroom trail

Those below look big enough for brownies, gnomes, fairies, or hobbits to live under.

4 mushrooms

This guy here is trying to grow as big as a dinner plate.


Big mushroom

So, what's happening in your world?
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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

A Booktown Bonanza!

NottheKillingType-SM
Hot off the press:  NOT THE KILLING TYPE, Booktown Mystery #7

It’s time for the Stoneham, NH Chamber of Commerce elections. The race is already heated, as the longtime Chamber president is being challenged by a former lover—Tricia’s sister Angelica. Then Stan Berry throws his hat in ring. Unfortunately, it’s not there for long when he’s found murdered. Tricia soon uncovers a ballot box full of lies and betrayals, and a Chamber full of people who had grudges against the victim.

Kirkus said: "Barrett continues her winning ways with another mystery chock full of interesting suspects and a surprising denouement."

The Richmond Time Dispatch said:  "Barrett lays out a key 'clue' that will have readers thinking they know the villain's identity. But don't become too confident. The best-selling author has pulled off surprises through this series, and 'Not the Killing Type' is another entertaining entry.

Amazon ~ Kindle     B&N ~ Nook     IndieBound


half shelf-MMPB-sm 2At long last Murder on the Half Shelf is available in paperback.

Pippa and Jon Comfort’s Sheer Comfort Inn opens its doors in a week and the couple has offered some locals a free night as a trial run. What should have been a pleasant overnight stay for Tricia Miles becomes a nightmare when she makes two startling discoveries: Pippa’s murdered body in the backyard, and that Pippa’s husband Jon is actually Harry Tyler, a man Tricia loved—and believed dead—for nearly twenty years.

Amazon ~ Kindle     B&N ~ Nook     Kobo    iTunes    Sony    IndieBound


P.S. What if you arrive at your favorite bookstore and can't find the books on the shelves? Summer is a busy time and the books could be hiding in a box they haven't had a chance to open. So ask. They'll get the book for you!  Thanks.

Have a long drive ahead of you?  Listen to the Booktown Mysteries on audio!
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HAPPY READING!