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Author Events

February 12, 2020/in Uncategorized/by Bethany Maines

by Bethany Maines

Like the Olympics author readings are cause for applause (from the audience), tears (usually from the author over their story), and gasps of surprise (like when someone literally falls out of their chair). Unlike the Olympics, these events usually go better with alcohol.

I recently participated in Noir at the Bar Seattle a quarterly reading event that brings together a variety of authors to share their work. The entire purpose of the evening is to delight the audience with tales of crime, murder and debauchery. And the latest event was no exception. From serial killing teenagers to con men and a very threatening masseuse each tale took the listeners down a different dark alley. Located at the aptly named Alibi Room at Seattle’s Pike place market (near the gum wall, for those who have been) the venue provided excellent atmosphere.

I enjoy the opportunity to read in public, but this wasn’t always the case. It’s nerve wracking to reveal any artistic work to the judgement of the public, but then having to be the vehicle for that art, whether it’s dance or some other type performance, puts the judgement not just on the work itself, but on the performer. Or in other words, you’re all staring at meeeeeeeee!

What has helped me is to realize that the act of reading is separate from the story itself. I can have the perfect story, but if I biff the performance then no one will know. In order to present my beautiful baby story to the world in the best way I must ovary up and give it a proper introduction. Fortunately, my introduction for Tammy Loves Derek, a happy-go-lucky tale of gold-digging and revenge went well. Perhaps in the future I will be able to find it a nice publication to match it up with. But I will definitely be looking forward to the next opportunity to share my words with an audience.

Bethany Maines is the award-winning author of the Carrie Mae Mysteries, San Juan Islands Mysteries, Shark Santoyo Crime Series, and numerous short stories. When she’s not traveling to exotic lands, or kicking some serious butt with her black belt in karate, she can be found chasing her daughter or glued to the computer working on her next novel. You can also catch up with her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and BookBub.

Noir at the Bar

January 9, 2019/in Uncategorized/by Bethany Maines

by Bethany Maines

This week I’m engaging in a local Seattle event called Noir at the Bar. There are several of these around the country—they’re a collection of live readings from crime writers with a few open mic slots at the end. I don’t do crime exactly. I’m more action-adventure / mystery. If you’re wondering about the distinction, I would say that the crime genre usually involves a higher body count and more depression and alcoholism.

A public reading is a difficult beast to master. The story or piece has to fit the time allotted and it has to be satisfying to the audience. Just reading a chunk of my latest work in progress wouldn’t be helpful for the audience. There wouldn’t be enough set up and no conclusion. It’s OK to leave the audience wanting more and pondering the deeper meaning. Leaving them just plain confused and wondering what the point was is not acceptable. Also, the piece has to be somewhat performed. Simply reading is more than a little bit boring, unless you have a Morgan Freeman voice. In which case, congratulations, read whatever you want. But I don’t sound remotely like Morgan Freeman, so I have to work a little harder.

For this event I’ve written a more crime oriented piece involving plastic couch covers, cupcakes and a husband who wishes he hadn’t popped home for a nooner. It’s got some rather naughty words and I’m hoping I don’t stumble over them. It’s my feeling that if you’re going to swear in public you should do it with authority. Although, I have to admit that while dropping an F-bomb doesn’t scare me, but somehow the line about tampons has me intimidated. Wish me luck!

Try out a crime-tinged adventure from Bethany Maines.
Shark’s Instinct – $1.99 – Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Kobo – iBook

Fresh out of prison and fresh out of luck, twenty-something Shark wants back into The Organization. But when Geier, the mob boss with a cruel sense of humor, sends Shark to the suburbs to find out who’s been skimming his take, Shark realizes he’s going to need more than his gun and an attitude to succeed. With the clock ticking, Shark accepts the help of the mysterious teenage fixer, Peregrine Hays, and embarks on a scheme that could line his pockets, land him the girl and cement his reputation with the gang—if he makes it out alive.

Bethany
Maines is the author of the Carrie Mae Mystery Series, San Juan Islands Mysteries, Shark Santoyo Crime Series, and numerous
short stories. When she’s not traveling to exotic lands, or kicking some
serious butt with her fourth degree black belt in karate, she can be found
chasing her daughter or glued to the computer working on her next novel. You
can also catch up with her on YouTube,
Twitter and Facebook.

A Sneak Peek at My New Mystery

November 19, 2014/in Uncategorized/by Kay Kendall

By Kay Kendall

Today
marks a red letter day for me. I sent the manuscript of my second Austin Starr
mystery to my publisher, Stairway Press of Seattle. Part of my celebration is
sharing with you a short excerpt from the book, RAINY DAY WOMEN, to be
published in June 2015.

The
tale is set in 1969, when my amateur sleuth Austin Starr is now the harried
young mother of a three-month-old son. Despite her family duties—to husband and
son—and the demands of her grad student career, she rushes to the aid of her
best friend, Larissa. She is a prime suspect in the murder of the leader of her
women’s liberation group in Vancouver. Soon another member of a women’s group
in Seattle is killed. Austin must find the real killer before her friend is
jailed for murder.

In
the excerpt below, Austin questions Mia, a friend of the dead women’s
liberation leader, Shona. I hope you dig
the sixties atmosphere, when in my book the Pacific Northwest is drenched in
blood, not rain, for a change.

*******

“I’m busting to
know what you think of him. Tell me.” I guess my voice got loud because two
passersby gawked at us.

Mia rolled her eyes to the heavens. “More questions.” A heavy sigh escaped her lips. “Jack always said I was ballsy. Of course, I took that as a
compliment. He doesn’t like wimps. The problem with Jack and me, however, was
that we were competitors.”

“At
what?” I said.

“We
competed for Shona’s time, attention, and affection. Jack and I never talked
about it, but my sense is we both knew what was going on. He worked at getting
under my skin, and he succeeded. Jack belittled everything I did, called me
‘poor little rich girl.’ He was jealous of my wealthy family, but I wouldn’t let
Shona tell him how I’d been sexually abused.”

“Sounds
tricky for you to put up with. What happened when he succeeded in getting under
your skin. How did you react?”

She
ran her hands through her short hair and gazed across the street at the tall
trees on campus. I let her drown in her own thoughts for a while, hoping she’d
come out with something useful in solving the puzzle of two deaths. Or, at the
least, one—Shona’s.

After
a few moments, she turned to me and took off her sunglasses. “Once Jack and I
came to blows at a party, and I was the one who ended up throwing the first
punch. He was a drinker, and I did dope. In my experience, our two types don’t
mix well. That night he was ragging on me about being rich, and I had reached
my limit. I drew back my arm, aiming for his arrogant mug, but Shona jumped
between us. I pulled the punch, and it hit her shoulder instead, but not a hard
blow. Jack cackled in triumph and started pushing my buttons again, making
nasty taunts. With Shona there, I pulled my punches in general and just stomped
off.”

“Then
I guess you won’t have an unbiased answer to my next question.”

“Go
ahead,” she said. “Shoot.”

“Could
Jack have murdered Shona, and perhaps Bethany, too?”

“My
honest opinion?”

“Yes,
please.”

“Jack could be the murderer.” Mia stopped and
put her sunglasses back on. “Absolutely, and there is no doubt in my mind.”

*******

Kay Kendall set her debut novel, DESOLATION ROW–AN AUSTIN STARR
MYSTERY in 1968. The sequel is Rainy Day Women, will be out in
2015. Her amateur sleuth Austin Starr must prove her best
friend didn’t murder women’s liberation activists in Seattle and
Vancouver. A fan of historical mysteries, Kay wants to do for the 1960s what
novelist Jacqueline Winspear accomplishes for England in the 930s–write
atmospheric mysteries that capture the spirit of the age. Kay is also an
award-winning international PR executive who lives in Texas with her husband,
three house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. Terribly allergic to the bunnies, she
loves them anyway! Her book titles show she’s a Bob Dylan buff too.

*******

Permission Granted

January 13, 2014/in Uncategorized/by The Stiletto Gang

By Evelyn David

One of the things I’m finally realizing, and sadly it’s
taken me way too long to reach this conclusion, is that I need to stop
apologizing for being me. I certainly have given that lecture more times than I
can count as my kids were growing up. Encouraging them to be independent; “own”
their accomplishments; have their own opinions; acknowledge their fears – and never apologize for their
emotions. But I can talk the talk better than I can walk the walk. I’ve spent
way too much time hiding or putting on a brave face or making fun of myself for
my own preferences and fears.

Now one can say, fake it until you make it. And that’s
certainly true in many situations. But in this particular case, I’m talking
about experiences in life that are optional. Or in my case, I’m talking about
fear of flying. I hate it. The only way I get on an airplane and not make a
total fool of myself is by taking drugs.

And I do that. Several times a year, I have to fly. If the
distance is at all drive-able, I always opt for car over plane. No need to tell
me that the risk of an accident in a car is so much higher than air travel. I
know all the stats and they are meaningless in the face of fear. But in order
to see my sons, one of whom lives in Seattle, the other soon to live in Paris – I’ve got to fly.

But here’s the part that I’m finally realizing. I don’t have to like it. I don’t have to get over it. Sure, it might be
nice if I did, but that doesn’t seem to be happening. I finally came to terms with: “This is
who I am. I have other stellar qualities I hope, but if I have this particular
fear, stop trying to tease me about it, talk me out of it, or point out how
silly it is.” Most fears aren’t logical. If they were, we’d all be
bungee-jumping off Mt.
Rainier.

Do you have a fear which others think silly? What, if
anything, have you done about it?

By the way, did I mention that I am scared to death of
snakes? There I said it!

Marian, the scaredy-cat half of Evelyn David

Evelyn David’s Mysteries

Audible iTunes

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

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 Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Doubles Back Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

Change Ain’t Easy

October 14, 2013/in Uncategorized/by The Stiletto Gang

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