Retired science teacher Seffi Wardwell is making herself a new home on the Maine coast. She has a flower garden to keep up to the stiff local standards, a tough job ahead breaking down the locals’ suspicion of outsiders and making friends—and a distressing tendency to find herself in the middle of murder investigations.
Edited Out blurb:
Working part-time at the local inn is fun, until everything goes sideways. When a uniformly disliked writer-in-residence turns up dead, the local police ask Seffi to use her botanical knowledge to figure out what killed her. And could she hurry up, before the inn’s business tanks, and takes the bakery down with it?
Author Bio:
Rebecca M. Douglass has lived, worked, and hiked around the American west for more years than she’ll admit, while raising two children to adulthood and dreaming up interesting ways to bump people off. Thanks to good friends in Maine, she has also spent time on the other side of the country and has fallen in love with that coast. Since retiring from work at the library, the author of the Ninja Librarian series for younger readers and the Pismawallops PTA mystery series lives in Seattle, where she is writing the Seffi Wardwell mysteries. She has also had short stories published in a variety of magazines and anthologies. When she isn’t writing, Ms. Douglass likes to go hiking and backpacking or to travel to discover new places or revisit old favorites, including the Sierra Nevada mountains, the desert Southwest, and of course Maine, where so many of the best cozy mysteries are found.
They’ve been alive forever. They’ve been bored for some time. And now they’re showing it.
Congratulations to Ronel Janse van Vuuren on the completion of her dark fantasy series, Irascible Immortals!
Smoke on the Water
Immortals + Boredom = Catastrophe
Something old and dangerous is awake and influencing the immortals to act in ways they’d only imagined.
First, small things like Odin, Anubis and Mab going on separate vacations and leaving their seats of power open for the taking. Then, Yue Lao, Cupid, Bast, Apollo and a Kitsune messing with the lives and memories of mortals. It grows to pandemonium when Pan and Poseidon upend the world, creating the Warp – and a free-for-all where it comes to the immortals’ wildest fantasies. Especially the twisted fantasies of Baba Yaga and her Nightmares, Morrígan and her love of War, and Isis who has no qualms unleashing hell on Earth to get Osiris back, plunging mortals even deeper into danger.
Thankfully, some immortals are older and wiser than others, catching on that everything isn’t as it seems… But damage control, trying to avoid the Apocalypse of all realms, and discovering who the ancient evil is, takes more magic, wit, and sacrifice than they could’ve dreamt possible. Can the unlikely grouping of Hel, Aphrodite, Set, Thor, Loki, Apollo, Freyja, Ra and Ammit save the realms?
Scroll up to buy now and enjoy the hilarity, disaster and more that ensues when bored immortals let loose.
When I heard that each book is a 30-minute read, I needed to learn more.
Let’s talk about your creation of the series. Did I read correctly that each book is a 30-minute read? If so, how did you choose that format? That sounds unique and interesting.
I was talking to my optometrist about reading whichever series I was bingeing at the time, and she said she had like five minutes a day to devote to reading which meant that long books and series just didn’t work for her. Which got me thinking about how much punch a short story can give in a limited amount of time…
I had already written “Breaking the Habit” and submitted it to an anthology. (The first three books are featured in the “Grumpy Old Gods” anthologies.) From there, it was easy to build the world and the characters that inhabit it. Going from various gods and immortals being bored and just having a bit too much fun messing with humans to bringing about destruction was just a case of indulging my inner psychopath. LOL. I was listening to a Nightwish album and “Symphony of Destruction” came up and it just clicked: Pan and Poseidon clean up their domains, cause havoc among humans, and whatever happens next isn’t their problem.
Various gods and goddesses vied for my attention, so I wrote about the ones I’ve always wanted to write about (like Isis reuniting with Osiris).
At first, it only built to no-one doing anything to fix the Warp (the result of Pan and Poseidon’s competition) and adding to the mayhem. But after a while, I realised that I didn’t like things hanging there without any conclusion. That’s when I wrote a couple of stories to end the series and published them all together in “Smoke on the Water”. I stuck with the short format (which I recently heard is called a “mosaic novel”) so even in the collected edition, each story can still be read on its own.
Going from mayhem to fixing it, meant finding an antagonist behind it all. It was fun finding someone that is even more powerful than ancient gods like Ra. It also worked well with foreshadowing I (unintentionally) added in the first book.
We live in a world with short attention spans, limited free time, and a lot of competition for said attention and time, so we need to work with what we have.
I used my warped sense of humour, the need to focus on fixing Climate Change, and remembering that we should live and not just exist, to add different layers to this series.
It was a fun experiment in length, character POV, and world-building.
Award-winning Dark Fantasy author Ronel Janse van Vuuren writes about kick-ass heroines, the duality of being human and loves to use folklore to underscore her point.
She’s a Rottweiler pack leader, chicken wrangler and horse servant.
All of her books are available for purchase from major online retailers.
“Cavanaugh returns to the world of his Cassa Series…for a fourth inventive space opera.” – Publisher’s Weekly
His world is unraveling…
Bassan’s father is stepping down from command. His best friend almost dies when Bassan freezes. Now, he’s being sent across the galaxy to speak at an important conference. Despite saving the eleven races years ago, he’s paralyzed by doubt. Could things get any worse?
Once there, new acquaintance Zendar convinces Bassan to visit his planet for a humanitarian mission. Bassan’s special connection to ancient technology is the key to saving Zendar’s people. One problem though—it’s a prisoner planet.
On Ugar, he discovers things aren’t so straightforward. As each truth reveals itself, the situation grows more desperate. If he can’t find the right answers, he might die along with Zendar’s people. Can Bassan summon the courage to be a hero again?
Congratulations to Nancee! I’m reading this now and enjoying the characterization. Great series!
Synopsis
Still reeling from the tragic deaths of his wife and daughter, Matt Tyler trudges through life, caring for his young son, managing his cantankerous father, and working as much as he can. Despite his best efforts, bills are piling up and his vindictive in-laws seem determined to take Luke away from him.
Things change when he stumbles upon Sammie Morgan—with a car that won’t run and her mother’s ashes in the backseat. Best friends growing up, Matt and Sammie have spent years apart following very different paths. Now they’ve both run out of options. Without a dime in her pocket, Sammie has nowhere to go. And Matt lacks the stable home life he needs to fight his former in-laws.
Their hasty solution? A marriage of convenience.
But how convenient will this reintroduction be if it means Matt and Sammie have to relive the most painful parts of their past?
During the day, Nancee works as a nurse/counselor in the field of addiction. This supports her coffee and reading habit. Nights are spent writing paranormal and contemporary romances with a serrated edge. Readers say her stories are character driven and full of angst with humor. She is represented by Stephanie Phillips of SBR Media.
Congratulations to Ellen Jaconson on the release of the third novel in her cozy mystery series! I’m reading it now and enjoying the wacky characters.
Poisoned by the Pier Now Available!
Poisoned by the Pier, the third book in the Mollie McGhie Cozy Sailing Mystery series, is now available in ebook, paperback, and large print. Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Google Play When Mollie’s husband signs the two of them up for an extreme diet, she’s not amused. When someone ends up poisoned by a cake, things get even worse. While she tries to identify the killer, Coconut Cove’s annual boating festival is in full swing. In between getting ready for her first sailing race and cheating on her diet, Mollie and her cat, Mrs. Moto, uncover clues, interview suspects, and do their best to avoid rutabagas. Can Mollie nab the killer before someone else is poisoned? If you like quirky characters, adorable cats, and plenty of chocolate, you’ll love this cozy mystery. Pick up a copy of Poisoned by the Pier and laugh out loud from the first page to the last.
New to the Series?
If you’re new to the series, you might want to start with Murder at the Marina. Now’s the perfect opportunity as the ebook is on sale for 99c/99p for a limited time. Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Google Play
About the Author
Ellen Jacobson lives on a sailboat with her husband and an imaginary cat named Simon. When she isn’t working on boat projects or seeking out deserted islands, she writes cozy mysteries and sci-fi/fantasy stories. Connect with Ellen on her Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | BookBub | Blog You can also sign up for Ellen’s newsletter !
Congratulations to the awesome Nancee Cain on her new cover and release! I love this series, and I like the sound of book #6.
Release Date: July 11, 2019
Cover Design: Shannon M. Lumetta
Synopsis
Still reeling from the tragic deaths of his wife and daughter, Matt Tyler trudges through life, caring for his young son, managing his cantankerous father, and working as much as he can. Despite his best efforts, bills are piling up and his vindictive in-laws seem determined to take Luke away from him.
Things change when he stumbles upon Sammie Morgan—with a car that won’t run and her mother’s ashes in the backseat. Best friends growing up, Matt and Sammie have spent years apart following very different paths. Now they’ve both run out of options. Without a dime in her pocket, Sammie has nowhere to go. And Matt lacks the stable home life he needs to fight his former in-laws.
Their hasty solution? A marriage of convenience.
But how convenient will this reintroduction be if it means Matt and Sammie have to relive the most painful parts of their past?
“Would you like Sammie to stay here?” Matt asked his son.
Luke continued to pet the cat, whose tail was now flicking. “Sure. She makes good pancakes. Is she your girlfriend?” “I, uh, guess you’d call her that.” Matt stayed his hand, and the cat jumped off the step with an agitated tail swish. Rufus picked up his head but soon returned to his nap.
“I have two girlfriends: Angela and Kenzie.” Luke turned his attention to his trucks.
“Two, huh? That could cause you a heap of hurt, son.”
“Nah, Pa told me it was good not to get tied down to just one girl. He calls it playing the field. Girls are all the same anyways.”
Great, Pa’s offering dating advice to my four-year-old. “No, they’re not. They’re like flowers—kinda the same but different. And you need to handle ’em gently.”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t want to hurt their feelings.”
“What kind of flower was Mommy?”
Memories of Karen flashed like a newsreel—laughing at the dinner table, crying when Elizabeth started school, playing in her parents’ pool with the kids, and holed up in a dark room not talking.
“Mommy was an orchid. She was beautiful but had to be handled with care.”
“Lizbeth?”
“I’d say she was a daisy, bright and cheerful.”
“What about Sammie?”
“Sammie’s a sunflower. She strong and a survivor. The point is, they’re all flowers, all beautiful in their own way, and you have to take care of them differently. So be careful with Angela and Kenzie. Okay? You don’t want to hurt their feelings. And really? Being friends is a lot easier than dealing with girlfriends. Trust me on that one.”
“Okay.”
“Anyway, Sammie’s gonna stay here and help me take care of you.”
“Like Mommy?”
Guilt engulfed him. Oh shit. What’s gonna happen to Luke if Sam leaves? What if this doesn’t work out?
“Uh, kind of, yes. You know your mother loved you more than anything in this world, right?”
Luke gazed up at him and smiled. “She loved me lots and lots. Lizbeth did, too. Even when I went in her room.”
Matt blinked back tears. In the midst of the epic fights that used to spring up between his children, he never once thought, I’ll miss this pandemonium. But he did. Every damn day. The house was too quiet without his daughter.
As if sensing his mood, Luke stopped playing and crawled into his lap, hugging him. “Don’t be sad, Daddy. Sammie will take care of you, too.”
“Okay.” He smiled against his son’s hair and held him for a few minutes longer.
Now Available
The Resurrection of Dylan McAthie (Pine Bluff – Book 1) – FREE
During the day, Nancee works as a nurse/counselor in the field of addiction. This supports her coffee and reading habit. Nights are spent writing paranormal and contemporary romances with a serrated edge. Readers say her stories are character driven and full of angst with humor. She is represented by Stephanie Phillips of SBR Media.
Hiding behind her wigs and heavy makeup, Jinx Howell masks her insecurities—which even she doesn’t understand—with bravado, slashing through life with reckless abandon. Lonely, but unwilling to get close to anyone, she finds the ideal solution: a hook-up with the campus’s most notorious heartbreaker.
In similar fashion, Mark “Two-Time” MacGregor protects his heart and keeps himself unencumbered through a string of one-night stands. A chance meeting with the edgy Jinx in a dark alley seems like destiny. She claims to want sex with no ties, making her perfect. Like attracts like. But this girl with a switchblade has more hang-ups than he does, which is a hell of a lot.When tragedy strikes, Mark’s hit-and-run lifestyle takes a backseat to his need to protect the broken girl whose secrets are unraveling. Along the way, both of them will find their truths unmasked. Can they forge a real relationship, or will they give up on their romance as jinxed?
Here’s my review! I loved it.
The Reinvention of Jinx Howell by Nancee Cain My rating: 5 of 5 stars Pixie Addict Meets Codependent Scot This series is full of damaged souls trying to find love, and in the fifth novel, petite blond artist with a horrible family secret, Jinx, makes grieving bartender/accountant, Mark, rethink his two-timing ways. The addict and her codependent lover both reinvent themselves in the Southern setting. The winding path of Jinx and Mark’s relationship is one step forward, five steps back. At times their misconnections are frustrating, though they are quite realistic. But the depth of feeling and understanding between them keeps them going, leading the reader to cheer for their triumphs. It was amusing when Jinx’s big dog, Winston, rushes in to save her in the midst of rough sex with Mark. When her tears surprise her afterwards, Mark tells her, It’s normal. Tears and orgasms, sometimes laughter–they’re great tension relievers. You’ve been through hell the past few days. You’re okay. Trust me.” Mark really wants to help Jinx, but saying words like these can’t heal her. Her trust has been shot to hell by a childhood trauma (that she doesn’t fully remember), and in no way does she believe that she is okay. Nancee Cain’s writing keeps getting better. I loved phrases like The suffocating civility between them was like a blackout shade on the light of their true emotions. Here, Mark muses about the push/pull between him and Jinx: His mind had kept straying back to the girl with whiskey-colored eyes and a shitload of issues. He’d never met anyone as fucked up as she was, and for some damn reason, he was drawn to her.
He busied himself filling popcorn bowls and setting up the bar. Thinking about work was better than thinking about feelings. And pixies. Work made sense. Feelings and pixies were a mystery.
Not once did Jinx glance toward the bar as she embraced Ava and then Derrick–or rather, they embraced her. She stood ramrod straight, giving Ava an awkward pat on the back. Hell, no wonder he was attracted to her. She was as ill at ease with relationships as he was. It was pure physics. Like attracts like. Nancee Cain has an in-depth understanding of addiction and recovery, like when formerly suppressed emotions surface once the addictive behaviors stop: She bit her lip to keep from crying. And hated herself for being so emotional. Not numbing her problems with alcohol had flipped the switch on her inner crybaby. He was going to leave. Not that she could blame him. Her problems were too difficult to deal with, or she herself was . . . Her parents had told her that often enough. The title of this story reminds me of the Madonna Reinvention Tour, which was so bad that some concert-goers renamed it “The Refund Tour”. You will not want a refund after you buy this book, I’ll tell you!
During the day, Nancee works as a counselor/nurse in the field of addiction to support her coffee and reading habit. Nights are spent writing paranormal and contemporary romances with a serrated edge. Authors are her rock stars, and she’s been known to stalk a few for an autograph, but not in a scary, Stephen King way. Her husband swears her To-Be-Read list on her e-reader qualifies her as a certifiable book hoarder. Always looking to try something new, she dreams of being an extra in a Bollywood film, or a tattoo artist. (Her lack of rhythm and artistic ability may put a damper on both of these dreams.)
Release Date: February 22, 2019Cover Designer: Shannon Lumetta
Hiding behind her wigs and heavy makeup, Jinx Howell masks her insecurities—which even she doesn’t understand—with bravado, slashing through life with reckless abandon. Lonely, but unwilling to get close to anyone, she finds the ideal solution: a hook-up with the campus’s most notorious heartbreaker.
In similar fashion, Mark “Two-Time” MacGregor protects his heart and keeps himself unencumbered through a string of one-night stands. A chance meeting with the edgy Jinx in a dark alley seems like destiny. She claims to want sex with no ties, making her perfect. Like attracts like. But this girl with a switchblade has more hang-ups than he does, which is a hell of a lot.
When tragedy strikes, Mark’s hit-and-run lifestyle takes a backseat to his need to protect the broken girl whose secrets are unraveling. Along the way, both of them will find their truths unmasked. Can they forge a real relationship, or will they give up on their romance as jinxed?
During the day, Nancee works as a counselor/nurse in the field of addiction to support her coffee and reading habit. Nights are spent writing paranormal and contemporary romances with a serrated edge. Authors are her rock stars, and she’s been known to stalk a few for an autograph, but not in a scary, Stephen King way. Her husband swears her To-Be-Read list on her e-reader qualifies her as a certifiable book hoarder. Always looking to try something new, she dreams of being an extra in a Bollywood film, or a tattoo artist. (Her lack of rhythm and artistic ability may put a damper on both of these dreams.)
Congratulations to my awesome pub-sister, Debra Anastasia, on her upcoming release, LOCK!
What a powerful, artful cover. Leave a comment about the cover or blurb to enter to win an ARC of Lock.
LOCK
I met her among the chaos of a gang fight – one that I inadvertently started.
Ember.
Beautiful, feisty, and passionate. And the sister of Mercy, an infamous assassin.
We fell for each other, hard. Until forces outside of our control intervened.
Now, she’s a prisoner, doing everything she can to keep her family safe. And I’m her guard, doing everything I can to set her free. I’d take a bullet for her…Hell, I’d take a few.
In this dark, twisted world, we only have each other. But I have to wonder, is that enough?
Jennifer Lane Books 