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.

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!

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.


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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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!!! 



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).



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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First Tuesday = new books!

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

For 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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Olivia 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.

Amazon 
Kindle 
Nook 
Barnes & Noble 

Kobo

iTunes

Watch the video!     Visit Ellery's website.

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Haunted 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.

Kindle
Nook

iTunes

Kobo

Sony          Visit E.J.'s website!
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Swans not swimming!

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



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.



Will there be swans in one of my upcoming books?  (You better believe it!)
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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.

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:

The 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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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:

Amanda 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.

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.

I 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!

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.



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



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




So, what's happening in your world?
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A Booktown Bonanza!

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

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At 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.

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

Meet little Sarah Jane!

I seem to update my website a lot (or maybe it just seems that way), but yesterday I got off my duff and added an excerpt for NOT THE KILLING TYPE (which will be out in a mere three weeks).  I also added a picture of one of the new characters in the series.

Meet Sarah Jane.



I won't say more -- don't want to spoil anything for you.  Let's just say that Tricia isn't as thrilled to meet this little girl as the person who gives her to Tricia.  (Can you guess who that might be? And can you guess who she's named after?)

It’s November in Stoneham, NH, and time for the 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.

My latest releases ...

I've stepped out of my mystery comfort zone and am writing in another genre. I'm pleased to announce the Tales of Telenia fantasy series, featuring astronaut Amanda Shelton.

Whoa! That is a departure ... fantasy. Well, I call it a cross between fantasy lite and space opera ... and I may have it labeled all wrong. All I know is that one day Amanda stepped forward and demanded I tell her story.

When a spatial rift causes Amanda Shelton’s space shuttle to crash land on an unknown planet, she awakens to find herself locked in a cell with a tutor charged with teaching her an alien language. Crown Prince Paxdon is determined to scavenge not only her ship, but any technology he can squeeze from her brain to vanquish his enemies in a neighboring province.  But just who is Amanda’s real adversary; the warriors in the north or the people of Telenia?

Available for:  Kindle ~ Nook ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords

(Click here for an excerpt.)

and in the follow-up ...

Life takes an unexpected turn when Prince Paxdon bans Amanda Shelton from Telenia’s Summer Palace, but that’s just the first step in an incredible journey that has her leading the province’s oppressed women into a life of self-sufficiency. The threat of war remains, and others are watching her every move as Amanda leaves the safety and security of the rural north and ventures to the capital city where she faces peril and life altering decisions.  Will her future be a life of luxury or despair?

Available for:  Kindle ~ Nook ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords

I wrote these books while on several vacations ... and hope to have another one written by next winter.  (Now, where should I go on vacation to do that?) It'll be called TREACHERY.

Both books will soon be available for Sony and iTunes.

Like my mysteries and other shorts, these stories are character-driven.  I hope you'll take a chance on Amanda.

Thanks!
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Easter ... the best time to read a Christmas story!

If timing is everything, why am I publishing a Christmas story just in time for Easter?  You got me.  But if you like a little sweet romance in your life, you might like my latest short story. (Written while I was on vacation in January...when the holidays were still fresh on my mind.)

Here's the blurb: 

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?

It's only 99¢ and available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Smashwords.  (Soon to show up on Sony and iTunes.)

I hope you'll give Judi's story a try.

Thank you!

Coming to an iPod near you ...

Dead In Red, the second book in the Jeff Resnick Mystery series, is on its way to becoming an audiobook.  It's currently awaiting final approval before distribution, which should be within the next 10-14 days.  Don't worry, I'll be shouting from the roofs when it's available, so you'll know for sure when it's finally available.

In the meantime, there's a newish cover.  Those of you who read the original hardcover edition will notice that ... hey, it has the same elements.  Yup.  The red shoe is back in all its glory.  (However, I have no plans to bring this version to the trade paperback edition. Audio editions often have different covers than the print versions.)

Meanwhile, those of you who've read the book will remember that Jeff surprised Maggie with a Silver Stallion.  What's a silver stallion?  It's one of the best gin cocktails you can drink on a hot summer's day. (Yeah, I do realize we're still in the depths of winter -- but spring is on the way!)

How do you make a Silver Stallion?
1 1/2 ounces of gin
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
ice
Club Soda

Fill a tall glass (or a big wine glass) with ice.  Pour in the gin; add the ice cream; top the glass with club soda.  Give it a stir and sip.

Ahhhh...heaven in a glass.

When Jeff's behind the bar, you can bet it's 5 o'clock somewhere!

New Book Tuesday! Try these out!

Well, what do you know--it's the first Tuesday of the month, and that means a whole new crop of cozy mysteries from my publisher, Berkley Prime Crime.

Up first, is from my good friend Ellery Adams, the 2nd book in her Charmed Pie Shop Mysteries, PEACH PIES AND ALIBIS.

Ella Mae LeFaye’s Charmed Pie Shoppe is wildly popular in Havenwood, Georgia—which is not surprising since Ella Mae can lace her baked goods with enchantments. The shop’s extraordinary success seems destined to continue when Ella Mae meets an engaged couple who hire her to handle the dessert buffet at their wedding.

But Ella Mae has a lot on her plate. She is also searching for the origin of her magical powers—and hoping to determine if the spark of attraction she feels for the handsome Hugh Dylan is authentic or just her new abilities gone awry.

Then Ella Mae discovers a high-standing member of the community dead, and a wedding guest becomes seriously ill at the event she’s catering. Now she’ll have to use all her sleuthing skills and culinary talents to prove her pies don’t contain a killer ingredient . . .

Amazon      Barnes & Noble      
Kindle         Nook          
          
And from Victoria  Abbott (the writing team of Mary Jane Maffini and her daughter Victoria), THE CHRISTIE CURSE.  If you love Mary Jane's Charlotte Adams organizing mysteries, you'll love this one, too.

In 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared—making headlines across the world—only to show up eleven days later at a spa under an assumed name. During those eleven days, did she have time to write a play?

Jordan Kelly needs a new job and a new place to live. She’s back in Harrison Falls, New York, living with her not so law-abiding uncles, in debt thanks to a credit card–stealing ex and pending grad school loans.

Enter the perfect job, a research position that includes room and board, which will allow her to spend her days hunting down rare mysteries for an avid book collector. There’s just one problem: her employer, Vera Van Alst—the most hated citizen of Harrison Falls.

Jordan’s first assignment is to track down a rumored Agatha Christie play. It seems easy enough, but Jordan soon finds out that her predecessor was killed while looking for it, and there is still someone out there willing to murder to keep the play out of Vera’s hands. Jordan’s new job is good…but is it worth her life?
 
Amazon      Barnes & Noble     
Kindle         Nook    
                
 They're wonderful books and I know you'll enjoy them!
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Let's toast to the winner!

First things first:  The winner of the Katie Bonner/Victoria Square teacup contest is:  Cherie Estok.

Winners of the Goody Bags are: Lorie Mink, Jessie Dimovski, Carla Rotmans, Candace Vachon, Madlyn Hilton, Pat Stacey, and Susan DeGraaf.

I'll be mailing them out tomorrow.

Did you missing my blog February 18th?  In it, I talked about the little figurines mentioned in Sentenced to Death, the Dolly Dolittles.  Even though no one asked, I've decided that I'd like to do more of that kind of blog post.  Why?  After 8 years of blogging, I've pretty much exhausted things about myself.  But I can wax poetically for years to come when it comes to my characters.

In the coming weeks, I'm going to try to set up a schedule for regular posts on the Victoria Square, Booktown, and Jeff Resnick mysteries.  Today, the Jeff Resnick Mysteries are on deck, and mostly because I've started a new Facebook page to celebrate the series.  Come on over and LIKE Jeff.

Jeff works as a bartender in a little hole-in-the-wall sports bar called THE WHOLE NINE YARDS on Main Street in Synder, NY.  It's mostly a beer joint, but occasionally someone comes in and orders a cocktail.  If I wandered in, I'd likely order a gin martini.  (I'm old fashioned.  That's a martini in my book--nothing with sickly-sweet flavored liqueurs.  Ick!)

At The Whole Nine Yards, you're going to get the traditional 2-to-1 version:

1 1/2 ounces of gin (well, unless you specify*)
1/2 ounce dry vermouth**

Stir (or shake) the vermouth and gin over ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a martini glass.  Serve with a twist of lemon peel or (preferably) 2 queen olives skewered by a toothpick.

Voila!  You've got a traditional martini.  (Yum!)

What drink would you order?





*I like Gordon's Gin, but the English version--not the kind we get here in the states.  Too bad about that actually.

**Noel Coward was reported to have said that the ideal martini should be made by "filling a glass with gin then waving it in the general direction of Italy."  (Source:  Wikipedia) Added side note: earlier this year I got to see Coward's home and gravesite.
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Teacup contest -- will you win?

I'm always trying to engage my readers in a little conversation.  So lately I've been posting "a teacup a day" on my Lorraine Bartlett author page.  (BTW, I also have Facebook pages for Lorna Barrett, L.L. Bartlett, and the Jeff Resnick Mysteries (although that one is under construction right now).  I'd LOVE it if you'd come and like them.  Thanks!)

Readers seem to like the teacups.  LIke this one:


and this one:


My character, Katie Bonner of the Victoria Square Mysteries, always aspired to be an innkeeper, and one who served afternoon tea.  Since she isn't yet an inkeeper, she patronizes the teashop on Victoria Square.

All this talk of teacups gave me an idea about author giveaways.  I'm not fond of giving books away, but I do like to reward my readers for their loyalty and support.  (You guys are great.)

So, I'm going to give away this teacup (BELOW):
 


In addition to the teacup, I'll send out 5 Goody Bags full of bookmarks, postcards, and buttons to the runners up.

 Enter now for a chance to win! 

Tell me the name of the tea shop in my first Victoria Square Mystery, A Crafty Killing.   Email your answer to me at:  LLB @ LLBartlett.com  (remember to close up those spaces).  Be sure to include your snail mall address so I can mail the prizes.  (P.S.  Those not already on my mailing list will be added--and you'll receive a postcard when my next book is out.)

BONUS QUESTION:  The names of the owners. (The winner will get the cup AND a goody bag!)

DO NOT put your answer in the blog comments. 

YOU WILL NOT WIN.

You have until midnight on Thursday, February 28th, to enter the contest.  Mr. L will choose the winners from a hat, and they will be announced on Friday, March 1st.

Good Luck!
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Apple says I've got a break-out book!

Earlier today two of my friends sent me an email they got from Apple which FEATURED MY BOOK, DEAD IN RED!  (Thank you Leann Sweeney and Sandra Parshall!)  Needless to say, I'm absolutely GOBSMACKED!

I knew the book was doing well at the iBookstore (iTunes) but I had no idea they would pronounce the book a break-out!

(Pardon me while I take a short break to dance around my office.)
For those of you who buy your e-books from the iBookstore, you can find the book at this direct link.

You can learn more about the Breakout Books promotion at the Smashwords Blog.

(By the way, Dead In Red will soon be available as an audiobook, and will also be available from iTunes.)

Will you help me spread the word about DEAD IN RED?

E.J. Copperman's true confession ...

By E.J. Copperman

It bugs me when people ask me what I read. There. I said it.

Mind you, I don’t think the question is the least bit rude or inappropriate. Actually, I consider it natural that if a reader likes an author’s work, she might wonder what the author reads for fun—maybe even as a possible source of new writers, or an affirmation of the reader’s own taste. It’s something that authors get asked, and I should have an answer prepared in advance.

Except, I don’t.

The sad truth of the matter is that I’m a very bad representative of the publishing business in general and the crime fiction publishing business in particular. I should probably be shunned, exiled, or at the very least subjected to a finger wagging. I do not promote the industry the way I should.

I honestly don’t read very much, and when I do, it’s rarely a mystery novel.

Now, that wasn’t always the case. I was a voracious reader from childhood on, and some of my favorite authors were mystery and crime fiction writers all the way from Agatha Christie to Robert Crais. I read Lee Child and Robert B. Paker. I was inspired by Donald J. Sobol when I was a kid and by Dashiell Hammett when I was in college.

But now I write for a living. And unlike, say, all the other authors in existence, I have found that by the end of the day, my eyes have seen enough words, and can see no more. My brain overloads. I can’t concentrate on someone else’s story. I’m still turning my own over and over in my troubled head.

I will often tell those who ask that I don’t read while I’m writing (which is pretty much all the time, anyway) because I’m concerned that I will subconsciously “pick up” some phrase or plot turn and forget where the idea came from in time to include it in my own work. While that is at least nominally true, it’s not a really deep concern, and the fact is that if I wanted to read other crime fiction authors (like Lorraine, for example), I could be reasonably sure I wouldn’t steal from them. Certainly not purposefully.

There are other reasons I don’t read the way I used to: Now that I am a published author, I’ve been to conferences and conventions, panels and discussions, with other authors.  A number of them have become cherished friends (like Lorraine, for example). If I’m asked who I read, and I mention one and not another, I’ll feel badly about omitting a friend. The friend might actually never find out about it, and in most cases wouldn’t mind at all, but I would be mortified at having slighted someone I care about. So I don’t mention names.

At the core of it, I really don’t read very many books these days. I read newspapers, and I read screens, and I quite often will read whatever it is I’m typing out on my keyboard every day, just to make sure I’m not repeating myself or making some hideous error. I put my all into the books I write. And I do read sometimes. In the car on the way to a teaching gig in Philadelphia every week, I will listen to audiobooks. But reading for pleasure at the end of the night? I’m exhausted. I’m overloaded on words. I just can’t do it.

I know. I’m a terrible author and a worse person. Feel free to snub me. Wag your finger. I’ll understand.

But if someone asks you who you read, if you could mention my name…
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E.J. Copperman is the author of CHANCE OF A GHOST, the latest in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series, which published February 5. You can find out more at www.ejcopperman.com

CHANCE OF A GHOST:  Even with a blizzard bearing down on New Jersey, Alison can count on at least two guests—Paul and Maxie, the stubborn ghosts who share her shore town inn. Then there’s her widowed mother, who hasn’t just been seeing ghosts, she’s been secretly dating one: Alison’s father. But when he stands her up three times in a row, something’s wrong. Is he a lost soul…or a missing apparition?

Their only lead is an overdramatic spirit—stage name Lawrence Laurentz—who doesn’t take direction well and won’t talk until they find his killer. Alison will reluctantly play the part of PI, but when the clues take a sinister turn, the writing is on the wall: If Alison can’t keep a level head, this will be her father’s final act—and maybe her own.

Can you buy a Dolly Dolittle? Uh ... probably not.

I recently got a letter from a reader asking about the Dolly Dolittle figurines mentioned in Sentenced to Death. (Booktown Mystery #5.) She wanted to know if they were real, and if so, where she could buy them.

Well, they're real.  They're not called Dolly Dolittle, and I have no idea where someone would buy them.
 

In the book I described them this way: Dolly Dolittle was an angel in Victorian garb. The cover shot showed a little girl in pastel blue, with a white fur collar. Her hands were thrust in a furry muff to match the collar, and the entire figurine was covered in iridescent sparkles.

As you can see, I was (sort of) describing the figurine/ornament (they have pink ribbons should one want to hang them on a Christmas tree). Here she is in a bigger size.


And here's her darling sister.


I remember that I saw four of them, but for some reason felt I'd already blown enough money on Christmas that year, so I didn't purchase the other two.  Now I could kick myself.  They're marked MADE IN CHINA, but with no manufacturer's name.

I must confess, when I became a published author, I thought I'd get a lot of questions about my books such as this one.  Hasn't happened--but it still could.

Is there something about any of my other books you'd like to know about.  PLEASE feel free to ask.  I love to talk about my characters.  (It's a lot more interesting than talking about myself.  They lead much more exciting lives than me.  After all, I sit in front of a computer all day giving them these adventures.)
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One Hot Murder released today!

Happy Book Day to me,
Happy Book Day to me,
Happy Book Day One Hot Murder,
Happy Book Day to me!

At long last, the third Victoria Square book is available today.

At the height of the heat wave, a tragic fire strikes Victoria Square. Wood U, a small store selling wooden gifts and small furniture, is destroyed. But the fire may just be a smokescreen—for murder. Because a body is found among the charred wreckage—and the victim didn’t die from smoke inhalation. He was shot. Now Katie Bonnier is determined to smoke out a cold-hearted killer…
 
To order your copy, click one of the following links:
Barnes & Noble ~ Nook
Amazon ~ Kindle
Books A Million
Indigo / Chapters
Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide!)
iTunes
IndieBound

Want to read more about Katie Bonner and the rest of the gang from Victoria Square?  Check out my website.

Happy reading!

One week and counting!

Weeeee!  Just one week stands between me and book launch day for ONE HOT MURDER.  The postcards will be going out on Wednesday.  If you don't receive one and want to for the next book out (which will be NOT THE KILLING TYPE in July), sign up for my mailing list.  You can do it right here on this blog (scroll down -- you'll see the sign-up form on the right) and join. 

I don't know about you, but it's been cold enough that I'm longing for summer heat -- and that's just when ONE HOT MURDER takes place.  To refresh your memory, here's a brief description of the book. 

At the height of the heat wave, a tragic fire strikes Victoria Square. Wood U, a small store selling wooden gifts and small furniture, is destroyed. But the fire may just be a smokescreen—for murder. Because a body is found among the charred wreckage—and the victim didn’t die from smoke inhalation. He was shot. Now Katie Bonnier is determined to smoke out a cold-hearted killer…

To pre-order your copy, click one of the following links:

Barnes & Noble ~ Nook
Amazon ~ Kindle
Books A Million
Indigo / Chapters
Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide!)
iTunes
IndieBound

Happy reading!
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And the winner is ...

If you recall, a couple of weeks ago, I initiated a call for titles for Booktown Mystery #8.

Wow--what a great contest.  I had over 40 entrants and 155 title suggestions.  I like that kind of enthusiasm!

I picked out my 14 favorites and sent them to my editor.  We've disagreed on titles before, but this time we both picked the same one.

Booktown #8 will be call (unless the marketing department changes their mind at the last minute):  BOOK CLUBBED.

The winner of the Haven't Got a Clue coffee (tea, or cocoa) mug is:  Kate Towery

Having a title is a big step, and helps make the big push toward the novel's completion a lot easier.

Thank you everyone who entered the contest. 
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All wall full of holiday greetings!

Back in early December, I lamented the fact that not as many people send out Christmas/holiday cards as they used to.  I may not receive as many as I used to, but I did receive quite a few from my readers.  (YAY!)

They came from as far away as the Netherlands and Australia.  A couple were beautiful handmade cards.

Some of them came after the holidays (or was it just that I didn't get butt in gear and get to the post office in time to get them before the holidays?), but all were a joy to receive.  Do you see your card among them?

My heart-felt thanks to everyone who sent me a card.  I love them all!