Fall

By Dru Ann Love

One of the things I love about living on the East Coast is we get to celebrate all four seasons. My favorite are Spring and Fall. It’s not too hot like Summer and it’s not too cold like Winter. Spring and Fall seasons give you the nice in between.

What I like most about Fall is the changing of the leaves. A walk in the part will have you staring at the lovely colorful leaves as they fall to the ground. When I was younger, I loved when they were all gathered in a pile and we got to jump smack dab in the middle of it. Did you do that as a youngster? Could I do that now, no way, first I couldn’t jump in in and second I would not be able to get up. But I do remember the freedom it gave me.

Fall is also good weather to sit in a chair, wrapped in a blanket and read the next scintillating mystery that have you in goose bumps, especially if it’s the latest thriller set at Halloween.

Speaking of Fall, there’s the two holidays: Halloween where there is no excuse for eating that Snicker bar, that Hershey kiss, that Dove bar, that jawbreaker (yeah, like that’s going to happen), that tootsie roll pop and especially Brach’s candy corn (accept no substitution, because Brach’s is the best). Best of all, you can also dress anyway you want and not be criticize…a mummy, sure; a superhero, sure; a Agatha Christie, solve that puzzle; a zombie, go for it; you can be anybody and have you fill of it.

Then there is Thanksgiving where you are given permission to eat all the food that the dieticians and/or nutritionist say you shouldn’t eat during the rest of the year. Want that turkey leg? Have at it. Want a thick slab of baked ham? Go for it. Want some dressing with gravy? Pour it over your food. Some macaroni salad? Put that scoop on your plate. Rice? Yep. Collard Greens? Put it right next to the white rice. Cranberry Sauce? Put it in that spot, right there. Candied Yams? Make sure to give me a slice of that pineapple. Baked macaroni and cheese? You betcha.

Then there’s dessert. Apple pie? Slice it up, please. Yellow cake with chocolate frosting? A thin slice, please. I don’t know where I have the room to eat it. Ice Cream? Right between my pie and cake. And don’t forget the pumpkin pie to go with my cup of hot beverage. And then Thanksgiving is over and now I can sleep for a week.

What’s your favorite thing about Fall?

Another Year Older and Counting Blessings

Yesterday was my birthday. The week leading up to it was
full of chaos and turmoil caused by one of those people who have no empathy or
conscience and walk around making life difficult for everyone. In the past, I
would have tried to convince this person how wrong it was to do the things she
was doing to others. I’m older and wiser now. These folks just don’t care, and
they will bend the very shape of reality to avoid admitting they were wrong or
made a mistake. Now, I pick my battles and try to keep all that toxicity away
from myself. I did everything I could to help the victims and then moved on.
In this past year, I have noticed a growing sense of
hostility and aggression out in the world around us—in politics, in traffic, in
most places I look. The only way I know to truly combat it is to try to counter
it with loving, peaceful acts and thoughts. But when so many around us are acting
out, it’s hard to keep thinking and acting in a positive manner.
One technique that helps me is to focus on gratitude and the
many blessings I’ve received. The angry people I know have received multitudes
of blessings, but somehow they remain oblivious to them and filled with
resentment and rage. Every day, I make a conscious choice not to be like them.
Sometimes all I can do to follow through on that choice is to avoid taking out
my irritation on everyone around me. Other days, I can contribute some peace
and joy to the atmosphere around me.
This year, all of my three children are living in their
hometown with me for the first time in fifteen years. That’s a huge blessing. I
have well-received novels that are selling well. This is a dream come true. I am making a living (of
sorts) by making up stories and writing them down. That’s another great
blessing.  The year began with health
scares for me and included more for two of my children, all of which came to
nothing—another blessing of major magnitude. And the list goes on and on.
I believe that, if those cutting off people in traffic or
committing hostile or underhanded acts against others in the workplace or
attacking others viciously on the internet would take a moment to look at their
lives, they, too, would find reasons for gratitude. As my grandmother used to
say, “Any day I can suck in breath and stand up on my own feet gives me reason
right there to be thankful.” It’s when we live blind to the miracles of our daily
lives that we turn sour and mean.
So I’m beginning this new personal year with gratitude and
recognition of the blessings that surround me, and I hope to continue in that
vein for the entire year. One thing I truly appreciate is this blog—the
wonderful women who are part of it with me and the great people who visit it
and connect with us.
What about you? Have you noticed the rise in uncivil
behavior lately? How do you deal with it? What are the things you’re grateful
for? What are your blessings and little and big miracles?
NOTE: Something I’m not happy about is my inability to
comment on this blog or reply to others’ comments right now. I’m trying to get
answers to this problem from Blogger, but until then, please note that, if you
leave a comment, I will respond to it on The Stiletto Gang Facebook page, which
does recognize my existence—at least at this moment.

Narwahl!!

by Bethany Maines

It seems like I’ve been thinking more about structure and
organization lately.  From trying
to tame my husbands hoarder tendencies, to how to enhance the drama in a novel,
everywhere I look it feels like everything needs more structure. 
To solve my husband’s “issue” I’ve decided that some of his
things need to go live out in the carport.  Which is a bit like telling a writer that some of their
favorite parts need to get axed from a manuscript.  First, you lead them along the path of logic and hope that they
decide for themselves that something has to go, and then eventually you just
blurt it out – “That doesn’t fit.” 
In my husband’s case, I mean, quite literally, we cannot fit anymore in
the spare bedroom.  In the case of
a manuscript it’s more like, “This doesn’t sound anything like the rest of your
book and it’s a bit of a tangent from the plot.  Do you really need it?” 
But some things do belong in the house.  It’s just that being buried in the
closet doesn’t exactly display them to their best advantage.  I’ve got this pretty well figured out
in my house.  I know what I like
and I have a pretty good idea of what would be useful to us.  (Hint: it’s bookcases, MORE bookcases.)
But in a book, it’s a little more difficult. Do I need this part about the narwhal?  (Hint: Yes, when it comes to narwahl’s
the answer is always yes.)  Ok, so
I need the narwhal, but would it look better over here?  Or maybe it would look better if I
removed this part about the teakettle that’s sitting next to it?  What makes for the biggest dramatic
reveal of a narwhal?  This is where
editors, beta readers, and interior decorators come in extremely handy.  With an educated eye they can tell you
what will create a focal point and what you should blur over.
But I suppose an “educated eye” is the key phrase
there.  Five years ago, I couldn’t
tell you with any certainty, what belonged in a book and what was something I
just happened to like.  The more I
read, the more clarity I get on what creates dramatic continuity and what
pieces, while possibly beautiful, funny, or perfect in their own right, don’t
belong in the manuscript.  Each
book is it’s own learning process, but each book does teach me something.  Hopefully, by the time I’m oh… say 95,
I’ll have this whole writing thing figured out.
Bethany Maines is the author of
the Carrie Mae Mystery series and Tales from the City of Destiny. You can also view the Carrie Mae youtube
video or catch up with her on Twitter and
Facebook.

Taking Chances

By Evelyn David

I’m not much of a risk taker. I like sure things. I tend to
err on the side of caution. I hope I’m not a fuddy-duddy, but I tend to stick
to the familiar. That extends to my reading habits.

As you might imagine, I like mysteries. I tend to prefer
traditional mysteries or cozies because as legendary writer Carolyn Hart once
said, in the worlds she create, “the good guys always win.”

But I just finished a three-book historical romance series
that I adored. The only mystery was whether the couple I was rooting for would
be together at the end – and the answer was a resounding yes. Hardships and
complications were rampant, but believable, but the good guys and gals did win.

Maybe it is the difficult times we are currently in, but it
was heartening to read about joint efforts, compromise, and a fundamental
belief that love can triumph. Maybe I just needed some “happily ever
after.”

Thanks to Serena B. Miller, the author of the trilogy I just
finished: The Measure of Katie Calloway; Under a Blackberry Moon ; and A Promise to Love. (Read them in that order, even though book 3 was published
before book 2.) Besides the lovely romances, I learned a little history about life in Michigan in the post-Civil War years.

But besides delighting in these stories, I also found myself
tempted to try a new genre in my own writing. We’ve always included a bit of
romance in the Mac Sullivan and Brianna books. But as I finished Ms. Miller’s tomes,
I wondered if we might shift the emphasis in a new Evelyn David book, with more
romance and less mystery.

We’ve got a lot on our plates right now. We’re finishing a
new Brianna mystery (that definitely has some romance). But maybe it’s time to
take a chance on something new. Kind of exciting – which is what I often forget
about risks. Sometimes they’re just fun.

Marian, the Northern half of Evelyn David (off to find a
roller coaster?)

—————
 

Evelyn David’s Mysteries 

Audible    iTunes

Audible    iTunes

 

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past CemeteriesKindleNookSmashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah KindleNookSmashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of LottawatahKindleNookSmashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- KindleNookSmashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – NookSmashwords
Lottawatah Twister – KindleNookSmashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – KindleNookSmashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – KindleNookSmashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle NookSmashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks – KindleNookSmashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 – Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)

Sullivan Investigations Mystery series
Murder Off the Books KindleNookSmashwordsTrade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake KindleNookSmashwords Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back KindleNookSmashwordsTrade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- KindleNookSmashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – KindleNookSmashwords


Romances
Love Lessons – KindleNookSmashwords

Actually, You Can Go Back

By Laura Bradford

“You can’t go back.”

That’s an expression I bet we’ve all heard at one point or another. But, honestly, other than the obvious time travel back into the past (where I’d revisit every moment of my daughters’ lives all over again if I could), I don’t think that statement is entirely true.

Four years ago, I moved to New York from my beloved St. Louis. I’ve been back to visit several times since and I pick back up with my friends as if no time has passed.

Eight years ago, I released my very first mystery in my very first series. Two years later, I released what I thought was the final tale for those original characters.

I was wrong.

After hearing from fans of that first series (which got a second lease on life last year when I got back the rights and re-released them with new covers/titles/prices on E-book), I finally decided to sit down with Elise Jenkins and Mitch Burns and see if they had more story potential.

They did.

And so, I went back.

Today’s official release of DEADLY AMBITION (book # 4 in the Jenkins & Burns Mysteries) givesnow, five years after we left them.

those fans a chance to see what Elise and Mitch are up to

They’re still living in Ocean Point, New Jersey (my fictional beachside town). Elise is still a reporter for the local paper, and Mitch is still a police detective. Oh, and they’re married now.

When it came time to consider a plot for the novella, I found the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy (Hurricane Geraldine in the book) a believable place to begin.

And the rest? Well, it all just fell into place like it does when I get together with old friends.

So if you’re looking for something quick to read this weekend, you might enjoy visiting with my old friends. They’re easy to get to know.

But in case you need a little more information, here’s a closer look:

In the aftermath of the most destructive hurricane to hit the Jersey Shore in a
century, Elise Burns and the other residents of Ocean Point are doing their best
to recover and rebuild, which is why the recent string of robberies hits
everyone especially hard. Fuming to catch the thief preying on those who have
already suffered so much, Detective Mitch Burns will stop at nothing to solve
the crimes.

When another robbery turns to murder and a college student
who’s interning at Elise’s newspaper is caught with the murder weapon in his
hand, Mitch is convinced it’s an open-and-shut case. Elise knows the brash and
ambitious aspiring reporter would go to any lengths to get a story, but was he a
killer? Following clues from the intern’s notebooks and her own reporter’s gut
sense, she sets out to track down a thief and a killer and exonerate a suspect
she doesn’t even like—even if she has to put herself in harm’s way to do it.

DEADLY AMBITION is available for 99 cents wherever E-books are sold.

Happy Reading!

~Laura

Better Late Than Not Getting Here at All

Yes, I did forget this was my day to post–but I had a sort of good reason.

I’ve been on a blog tour–one I planned myself–and things have been a bit chaotic.

Though I asked each blog host to email me when they received my post to email me back–and they did–when the time came for me to be on their blog–several had forgotten. One host couldn’t figure out how to post everything.

Right when the tour started, I traveled to Woodstock with my publisher. It was a road trip, from Central California to Portland OR. Beautiful scenery but not an easy drive. We arrived on the second day in time to set up our booth–not easy and probably more than I should have been doing. The next day we manned the booth, talked to a lot of people and sold a few books. That evening I had a big problem with my heart. It finally settled down and I was able to sleep.

The next day, more manning the booth, then at 4 we broke it down and hauled everything back to the car. We had a nice dinner, spent the night and got up early and headed back down through Oregon and he long, long state of CA, finally stopping for the night. We finally arrived home in mid-afternoon.

All during that time, I promoted my book tour as best I could on my iPad when I was able to get a wifi connection.

The following Friday I spoke to a book club and on Saturday hubby and I drove to Fresno (about an hour and 45 minutes way) for a book event in a really nice bookstore. That was fun. Sold some books. Had a great dinner and came home.

Last night I had some heart issues again. Went to the doc’s this a.m. Had an EKG and some blood tests, waiting on the results and have another doc apt. on Thursday.

Was supposed to do a big event on Saturday, but I’ve decided this old gal needs to slow down. I’ve always been used to going like a house afire–but it’s time to recognize that I can’t do that anymore.

I’ll have to think of some tamer things to do to promote the latest in my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series: Spirit Shapes.

If you like tales about haunted houses, ghosts and evil spirits–and even angels and demons, you’ll enjoy Spirit Shapes.


Marilyn

Change Ain’t Easy

by Evelyn David

 
For the past six months I’ve kvetched, whined, worried, and conversely
delighted in and even laughed at all the changes in my life. All were for the
good in the long run, but that’s not to say, that most didn’t involve serious
hard work.

To recap the last six months:

We prepped, put on the market, and sold our home of 24 years

We bought another home, after a ragged month of haggling
over minor details (them, not us)

We moved on a day that topped 95 degrees

We had the house painted and a few minor repairs completed while we
lived in this new house

Then:
Son number two announced that he’d gotten a fantastic job
opportunity. Only downside, at least for this devoted grandma, is that no
longer will adorable grandkids be 45 minutes away. Instead they were moving to…wait
for it…Paris.
Yes, I know, I shouldn’t whine about Paris, but
do you know how far away Paris
is and how much I loathe flying? They move after the first of the year.

Son number three also announced that he had gotten a
fantastic job opportunity, only downside is that instead of living 25 minutes
away, he would now be living in Seattle.
See objections above.

Then there were the glorious moments:

In May, adorable grandson was born. He is the child of son
number one and his wonderful wife.

In September, son number three announced his engagement to a
wonderful woman.

And ten days later, adorable granddaughter #2 was born (to
son number 2 and his wonderful wife who are moving to Paris).

Seriously, can you keep up? I can’t.

So, with all this change in my real life, I am now faced
with another move, this time a virtual one, in my mystery writing life. The
Stiletto Gang, of which we are proud founders, is moving to Facebook. It’s an
easier way to connect to readers.

Writing this blog has been a lovely way to memorialize some
special moments in our personal and professional lives, as well as to get off
our chests some issues we feel need addressing. And you know what? We still
plan to do that – just on Facebook. If you haven’t already, please “like”
our new page, The Stiletto Gang. Stop by, chat, and catch up on all that’s
happening with our gang.

All best wishes,

Marian, the Northern, frazzled half of Evelyn David

 

_________________

Evelyn David’s Mysteries 
 
 
Audible    iTunes

Audible    iTunes
 

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past CemeteriesKindleNookSmashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah KindleNookSmashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of LottawatahKindleNookSmashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- KindleNookSmashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – NookSmashwords
Lottawatah Twister – KindleNookSmashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – KindleNookSmashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – KindleNookSmashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle NookSmashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks – KindleNookSmashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 – Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)

Sullivan Investigations Mystery series
Murder Off the Books KindleNookSmashwordsTrade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake KindleNookSmashwords Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back KindleNookSmashwordsTrade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- KindleNookSmashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – KindleNookSmashwords


Romances
Love Lessons – KindleNookSmashwords

An Exception to the Rules of Perfect Timing

By Laura Spinella
Amazing how the second Friday of the month (my high-heel
post day) sneaks up on me! A quick blog, as
Clarabel and Robert, September 24, 1949

Mother is visiting this weekend. If
you know Mother, you also know that my hands are filled with dust mops and
disinfectant, and that I have no time to devote to cleverness or chatty banter.

So I will keep this blog simple and relevant, noting first
and foremost that the Stiletto Gang has expanded their social media horizons by
creating a Facebook page!  I’m excited
about this new venture, and hope it will offer greater opportunities for us to
interact with Stiletto Gang followers, as well as with each other.  Please come by and “like” us!
If you haven’t heard, I have a new book out in a few weeks, PERFECT
TIMING
! As excited as I am about the Stiletto Gang’s new digs, I’m
maybe a hair more stoked about this. Honestly? 
I believe the book’s existence can be traced to blood being drawn directly from
a vein—one in my neck. This is my second published novel, and I am excited to
share it with readers. One-thousand-and-one iterations later, the back cover
blurb goes like this:
There’s rock,
there’s a hard place, then there’s Aidan & Isabel

What’s a Jersey Girl to do when she moves to Catswallow,
Alabama? Isabel Lang finds the answer in friendship, an unlikely bond with the
musically gifted Aidan Roycroft. The two share everything from a first kiss to
startling family secrets. But when Aidan is accused of a violent crime these
inseparable friends flee to Las Vegas. The move seems like a jackpot win as a
long-awaited romance ignites and a major recording label offers Aidan a deal.
But Vegas luck doesn’t last when circumstance interferes and Isabel’s future
comes tumbling down.
Seven years later the past is history. That includes any
yesteryear bond with Aidan Roycroft—an entity better known as Aidan Royce,
Alabama’s own Springsteen. Isabel is busy running a radio station and closing
in on a commitment with Nate Potter, a guy who defines ideal. Life seems cozy
until new station management demands a sudden-death ratings grabber, putting
everyone’s future on the line. What should be a simple solution leads to a
stunning revelation as Isabel is forced to call on the past and the only rock
star she
knows.        
      
   
If that tickled your
reading fancy, you can pop over to Goodreads where there’s a giveaway going on,
courtesy of those nice folks at Penguin. 
If you’d like to read a little more now, you can find the first chapter
on my website 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Perfect Timing by Laura Spinella

Perfect Timing

by Laura Spinella

Giveaway ends November 09, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win


Wishing you all a
wonderful fall weekend! Many thanks for visiting with us at the Stiletto
Gang while I visit with Mother!


Laura Spinella, a RITA
finalist, is the author of the award-winning novel, BEAUTIFUL DISASTER. PERFECT
TIMING is available November 5th!  

Literary Genome Project?

by Bethany Maines         

As I was furiously hitting the “thumbs down” on Pandora this
morning, I wondered just how their stupid blankity, blank, blank, algorithms
could get my musical tastes so wrong. Pandora, for those unaware, is a free
music service that plays “stations” based on songs you select or “like.” I
doubt that I have ever “liked” an Audio Slave song, and even if I have, at no
point in my entire life, will I ever feel like Audio Slave at eight in the
morning.
An internet search reveals that Pandora algorithms ignore
such things as genre, artist, or what other members also like those songs.
Instead, they run of Music Genome technology that analyzes each song and
suggests songs that have similar characteristics. Which, in theory, is awesome.  At eight in the morning, it sucks major
hind tit.
But isn’t that the problem with algorithms? There is always
one more factor you wish the algorithm had been programmed to consider.
I used to read the newspaper movie reviews and I became
attuned to interpreting the reviewers taste to mine. A one star comedy was
really a two star comedy. A two star action movie was really four star
awesomeness. And a three star drama was a three star drama. The man really did
not fully embrace the action movie ethos. 
Finding a book to read is another exercise in mental
jujitsu. We all do it – weighing what we know about the author, the person
recommending the book, the book blurb, and any reviews, all before buying or
borrowing. All I really want is a book with minimal plot holes that makes me
laugh, fall in love, and thrill to moments of action. We need a Literature
Genome project! Something who can tell us all about the tone, the writing
quality and the basic je ne sais quoi of a book. Although, now that I think
about it – that may just be currently known as “a Librarian.”

The Stiletto Gang is now on Facebook!  Please come join us!
  
Bethany Maines is the author of
the Carrie Mae Mystery series and 
Tales from the City of Destiny. You can also view the Carrie Mae youtube
video or catch up with her on 
Twitter.