Month: October 2024

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It’s Almost Here! Edwards Investigations – The Rimer File

  By Uncategorized

Only two more days until you can join Annie McGregor in her quest to become a private investigator.

 

 

It was time to turn the tables, go hunting, and to visit as many of Ian’s old haunts as possible. If anyone could track him down, it was she.

The man outside tossing a bag into the garbage bin looked familiar, but Annie couldn’t place him. There were lots of residents in the building she hadn’t met. She’d probably passed him in the hallway or shared the elevator with him. He spared her a sideways glance and a nod and nothing more. He didn’t seem to recognize her, either.

Nothing unusual happened on the stroll to the shop, but Annie didn’t allow herself to relax. If Ian had hired Lucky, he might have another accomplice in place. Her revolver tucked into the small of her back and covered by the oversize blouse was cold against her skin and reassured her she was ready for anything.

Annie had exchanged pleasantries with the elderly female clerk at the store on several trips, The lady, involved in her normal game of solitaire, studied the playing cards and barely gave Annie a glance. The store smelled like old people, and the racks held a colorful selection in styles Annie’s deceased grandmother had worn. Nothing she’d ever choose for herself, which made them perfect for the occasion.

The bell over the door rang, and from the far corner, Annie peered around a stack of brightly colored flowered blouses to check out the newcomer. At first glance, he looked like the man by the garbage can, but his silhouette reminded her of someone else. She ducked behind the rack. What the hell was Mike doing here?

She had two options. Three, when she thought about it. Slip out the rear door. Hide until Mike gave up, deciding she wasn’t there, and left. Confront him.

She slithered through the clothing racks until she was back-to-back with him as he held up a brown suit that appeared to be several sizes too small. “The brown isn’t bad, but it won’t hide that Dick Tracy profile, Mr. Edwards,” she said, pretending to browse through a rack of polyester pants with elastic waistbands.

“And you need to change your perfume, Ms. McGregor,” he replied.

Coming November 2nd to major e-book retailers.
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Forever Learning #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

What subject would you like to learn more about?

Every day is an opportunity to learn something new.

Here in Pennsylvania, PA, as well as many other states, college tuition is free for senior citizens. (They still have to pay for books and other fees.) After retirement, I looked forward to the opportunity to take classes in my abundance of free time. Well, neither has happened. The free time or the classes.

That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped learning. Buying an old house comes with lots of unexpected minor challenges. I know more about sump pumps than I ever imagined or wanted. I also am learning new things about growing flowers and keeping them away from the local wildlife, especially deer. (Although I didn’t know that rabbits and squirrels would eat electrical wires. That was an interesting lesson.)

What would I choose to learn?

Bird watching in the spring of the year is fun. Lots of migratory birds travel through here. I have several books about identifying birds, but often can’t also get a picture of them good enough to use. I need a better camera on my phone—shoot, I need a new phone—or a few lessons on photography.

I’m always trying to learn new things about writing to improve my stories. It’s probably a bad thing, but I’ve stopped chasing down every seminar that promises to make publicity a breeze. I swear, selling your book is all luck. (Speaking of which, Edwards Investigations – The Rimer File releases Nov. 2nd!)

I keep learning new things about the community I moved to after retirement and the folks who live here. I figure if I plan to live the rest of my life here, I should put some effort into being a part of it.

All those are just part of my daily life. One thing I’d like to dive into more is linguistics. I’d love to know more about language and how it develops. I’ve seen enough changes in my own life, but I’m curious about the history of words. (When did you first hear the term AI?)

What do our other authors want to learn? Check out their posts to find out my following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe

Oct 28, 2024

What subject would you like to learn more about?

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

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Edwards Investigations – The Rimer File Cover

  By Uncategorized

The 80s. Pittsburgh, PA. A man’s world.

All Annie McGregor wanted was to nail a cheating husband and prove herself worthy of being more than a glorified bookkeeper.

What she found when she opened the back door of the bar-of-the-night was so much more than she bargained for. A mutilated body that bore an eerie resemblance to her ex, and a stint in handcuffs.

Maybe becoming a private investigator wasn’t in the cards. Even with the guidance of her boss, Mike Edwards, and the other investigators of the Edwards Agency, Annie struggled to close a case. Add in her run-ins with the local cops, and things got messy.

Then bullets started flying. What really had her worried was that the second one wouldn’t miss.

 

It’s almost here!

If you follow my newsletter, you’ve already seen the cover, another fine creation from my cover artist, K.M. Guth. She had fun with this one, putting in as many clues to the story as she could. But first, q quick excerpt.

Still, Coulson swept the apartment to make sure there were no unexpected visitors before allowing Annie to enter. She waited patiently by the front door while he checked her bedroom and the closets.

“All clear,” he reported when he returned. “You should be safe for the night, unless you invite me to stay.”

He reached out and touched her cheek. “Tell me to go home, Annie.”

She understood the offer and was tempted. It had been a long time since she’d shared her bed. He’d be a fine way to break her celibacy streak. But common sense shot that down.

“I had fun tonight, Coulson, but go home. That doesn’t mean you can’t come back another time.”

“You’re a smart woman, Annie McGregor.” He started to leave but stopped with his hand on the doorknob. “Don’t let Mike give you a hard time. He’s your boss, not your father.”

And now, the cover.


It’s different than anything she’s created for me and I love it. I’m looking forward to having a physical copy in my hands.

Thanks for stopping by! As always, please stay safe until the next time.

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What Would A Ghost Read? #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

 

Oct 21, 2024

Stolen from a X (twitter) post: Which genre do you think ghosts prefer: mystery, thriller, horror, fairytale, or magical realism?

How about none of the above?

So, I’m a ghost. The last thing I’d want to read is most of the genres listed. Mystery and thrillers might be acceptable, but I would avoid horror. There’d be enough of that among my fellow ghosts. You know, like the guy down the hall, poisoned by his mother-in-law. The lady across the street killed in a riot. (I never have figured out which year. She doesn’t remember. She keeps mixing up three different possibilities.) The old man, a few doors down, murdered by his brother and hacked up in little pieces to be put in various garbage bins. (He still hasn’t found some parts. He’s missing three fingers on his left hand.)

I want to read biographies and autobiographies of people who were my contemporaries. Get the dirt on them. You know, which politician was having an affair with which actress. (Or actresses.) Which police chief was on the take from which Mafia boss. Get the low-down on the guy who ran the orphanage and hired the kids out as servants and pocketed all the money.

Image by Dorothe from Pixabay

Now, you’d think I’d want to read histories.

Nope. Those things are so white-washed they’re worthless. I want the dirt. All the things we gossiped about, but could never prove.

 When I get bored or run out of my primary choices of books to read, I’ll fall back on a cozy mystery or a romance. It would be fun to compare how the books written in my time are different from the modern-day ones.

I’m haunting an old house converted into apartments, where no one messes with the small attic. There’s a large collection of books there. Heck, it even hosts a stack of National Geographic. (And a few Playboys, but we won’t talk about them.) And with the folks moving in and out, I rarely run out of fresh material to read. {I’m sorry, Suzie Q, that I kept moving the bookmark in the biography of Queen Elizabeth you were reading, but I wanted to get to the good parts.) Not like poor Mabel next door. Her house was converted into offices for an accounting firm a few years back. Boring. When she has the energy, she comes and hangs out with me, even if we do nothing but read. Those days are fewer, because the accountants are sucking the life (what’s left of it) right out of her.

I’m not stuck in my house 24/7

Sometimes, when  the atmospheric conditions are favorable and the veil is thin, I make a trip to the library a few blocks away. Of course, I can’t take any books home with me, but I found a quiet little corner where no one goes where I can sit (well, float above a chair) and read. (And hide the book there so no one checks it out.) I’m only a little sorry about confusing the librarians.

What do you think ghosts love to read? Let me know in the comments. And don’t forget to check out what the other authors on this hop think by following the links to their blog.

As always, until next time, please stay safe!

P.S. It’s not a ghost story. Edwards Investigations, The Rimer File, will be released November 2nd. Check back for more info!

Oct 21, 2024

Stolen from a X (twitter) post: Which genre do you think ghosts prefer: mystery, thriller, horror, fairytale, or magical realism?

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

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Favorite Muppet Character #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Oct 14, 2024

Some time ago, we revealed which Muppet character we look like the most.

Now, tell us who/what is your favorite Muppet character? (From any series or movie.)

Jim Henson was a genius. He created so many great characters. Sure, some were mostly in the background (Doozers in Fraggle Rock) but others shared center stage with an entire cast. (Think Sesame Street.)

I’ve always been fond of the old men in the balcony in the Muppet Show. (Statler and Waldorf.) But they aren’t my favorites. They helped me define my sense of sarcasm. As much as I love the Count, and don’t think he got the attention he deserved, he’s not my pick for this post. (I would have loved to see him count in base 2 or base 16.) The Dark Crystal was a great production, but didn’t touch me like other Henson efforts.

But I do have a favorite.

He’s a rather odd choice for a writer, since he mainly communicates in grunts. On the drums, he’s a genius. I’m talking about Animal, of course.

By Disney.com, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40292333

His needs are simple. Sex, sleep, food, and drums. Not necessarily in that order. Even with his limitations, he became the most popular performer of the Electric Mayhem band. I suspect it is his simplicity that attracts the audience. There’s no hidden agenda, no manipulation, no stabbing  someone in the back. That’s what drew me in.

Do you have a favorite Muppet?

Tell us about it in the comments. And to find out who/what the other authors choose, follow the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Oct 14, 2024

Some time ago, we revealed which Muppet character we look like the most. Now, tell us Who/what is your favorite Muppet character? (From any series or movie.)

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Welcome To Edwards Investigations, The Rimer Files

  By Uncategorized

Did you catch my newsletter?

What? You missed it? Quick – head to the right and sign up now!

But the big news is no secret. My new book is finished, and off to the experts to get it formatted for publication. 

It wasn’t an auspicious beginning:

All Annie McGregor wanted was to nail a cheating husband and prove herself worthy of being more than a glorified bookkeeper.

What she found when she opened the back door of the bar-of-the-night was so much more than she bargained for. A mutilated body that bore an eerie resemblance to her ex, and a stint in handcuffs.

But it was the mid 1980s, and was still a man’s world. Maybe becoming a private investigator wasn’t in the cards. Even with the guidance of her boss, Mike Edwards, and the other investigators of the Edwards Agency, Annie struggled to close a case. Add in her run-ins with the local cops, and things got messy.

Then bullets started flying. What really had her worried was that the second one wouldn’t miss.

I’m shooting for a release date of November 2nd.

But my cover artist is out of town, and my formatter was affected by both recent hurricanes, so I won’t make a promise. Speaking of the cover, the front is ready, and I’ll be sharing it soon.

While you’re waiting, here’s an excerpt:

“You never change, do you, bitch?” a man’s voice said.

It was the voice of her nightmares. Annie closed her book, took a deep breath, and prepared for the confrontation. “Go away, Ian.”

“Not a chance. You owe me, and I’m here to collect.”

Her gun was in her purse and the bar too crowded to use it safely. She studied her ex and mentally listed what else she had at hand that could be used as a weapon. Prison hadn’t done him any favors. His boyish good looks were gone, replaced with the face of a man with too many scars and pockmarks. The crude crucifix tattoo on his neck didn’t help.

To even the playing field, Annie slid out of the chair and stood, her feet planted slightly apart, ready for action. She didn’t have time to settle in before Ian pulled back his arm. She anticipated what was coming, having been on the receiving end of his fist too many times.

Her swivel wasn’t fast enough. His knuckles grazed her cheek, and she staggered back a step. The old Annie would have crumpled. This Annie didn’t. She balled her hands together and swung. It was liberating. She’d never fought back.

 

The story has been over a decade in the making. But this version bears little resemblance to the first. I like to say it is more of a tribute to that story, rather than a revision.

I’m really looking forward to sharing this book. Stay tuned for more information.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Choosing A Color Scheme #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Oct 7, 2024

Do you favor certain color schemes for your book covers?

This will be a short post because I leave the design choices of my covers to my cover artist, K.M. Guth.

And I lost internet last night after a major thunderstorm blew through our area. Plus she is on vacation and overseas!

Anyway, I am always amazed at what she comes up with for my covers. There is a different scheme for each series.

The Free Wolves series features strong, bright, colors. Since the books feature action, the colors reflect that. And how she finds the perfect images for the cover models amazes me.

She went a totally different direction for the Harmony Duprie stories. Instead of repeating the background, she chose muted colors with subtle background pattens (you have to look closely.)

Then, for the Jake Hennessey books, although they are tied to the Harmony books, she designed covers that were reflective of the main character’s personality.

The cover of my new book, Edwards Investigations, The Rimer Files, hearkens back to the era in which is takes place. (1985-ish) I can’t show it here, but it’s coming soon. Let’s just say she did a marvelous job of picking elements of the story to add to the design.

I know a few of the authors on this hop design their own covers, so I am looking forward to their posts. Check them put by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe!

Oct 7, 2024

Do you favor certain color schemes for your book covers?

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Tales of the Dark #IWSG

  By IWSG
 

It’s the first Wednesday of October, and time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group post.

 
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!
 
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
 
The awesome co-hosts for the  October 2 posting of the IWSG are Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jacqui Murray, and Natalie Aguirre!
 

October 2 question – Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What’s your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine.

 
I’m not a big fan of ghost stories. I’ve come close to the edge of the other side a few too many times to be comfortable with them. But the one that has always fascinated me is what I call the wanderer. Others may call him the walking man. The story has variations in many places across the United States, from Pennsylvania to Wyoming to Oregon.
 
But the basis is always the same. The man (well, almost all the stories I’ve heard make it a man, not a woman) seen on the side of the road. Sometimes he’s hitchhiking, many times just walking. He may be a figure of goodness, but most often he’s to be feared, a cautionary tale about not picking up hitchhikers. He’s always ragged, skinny, with wild eyes.
 
He’s been the basis for stories and statues. A solitary man, alone in the night, in the shadows, almost always older. One tale speculates he’s looking for his wife who was killed in a car accident. If you turn to get a second look, he’s gone. Seemingly, only a figment of your imagination.
 
What happens if you stop and talk to him? Offer a ride? The tales differ from place to place. Most often, he simply vanishes.  Or you do, and no one knows what happened.
 
He’s a modern-day ghost story and I’ve never heard what older tale he spawned from. If you know, tell me in the comments. Of course, some tales warn that even talking about him can be a bad omen. Does that extend to writing about him on the internet?
 
To hear more ghostly tales, follow the links below. And, as always, until next time, please stay safe.