"Barely a Spark" - reviews

Thought I'd pass along a few reviews for Barely a Spark and Not a Whisper. I hope if you have read one of them, you'll take a minute to post a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Thank you!!

From James Noel, Quality Book Club Reviewer: Not a Whisper

What did you think about the ending? 

The ending was definitely a surprise but I did like the way it tied in with the rest of the story. I also especially liked that the author did not have an open ending for this book when it is part of a series.

What is the climax of the book and why?

When Cherie is in the interrogation room with Jazz and David. The opening of this chapter had me sitting at the edge of my seat. Was something going to happen? What was Cherie getting herself into? I'm sure other readers will feel the same way.

Who do you think the author intended to read this book and why? 

Anyone who likes a mystery set in a small town will fall in love with this book and its characters. Think Midsummer Murders. Everyone knows everyone and their dog. No incident goes undiscussed. In this book, the author introduces the breakfast club which offers the reader a spectator's seat to the happenings in the town. 

From Wm. Mosher: Barely a Spark

Barely a Spark of down time as I read this second installment to the Klondike Mysteries. The only thing is, given Donna' s hectic schedule, it is going to be a while until the third book is in our hands. I guess we'll just have to re-read the first two as we wait. 

A big thumbs up for characterizations, plotting, and pacing. The editing was a little rushed in places, but that is minor. Given the generally poor quality of self-published works, these are a pleasant find. More, please. 

From Jayelle: Barely a Spark

McNicols has continued her story of the little town of Klondike in this second book of the series. In it she has rounded out the characters in both towns, Klondike and Bradford. The mystery has continued and so have the love stories. Parents will sympathize with the problems of Janie and Kat as they struggle to raise their children alone and face the teen-age years. 

New characters have been introduced and readers will have to wait to see how new twists and turns with them will develop in the next book (which can't come soon enough). I highly recommend this book for the way it hold one's attention and for the entertainment value. But, through it all, the way the author brings one into the everyday life of police, firefighters and victims is a lesson in human behavior well done.

Do you have YOUR copy of The Klondike Mysteries yet?

FEATURED BOOK ~ Passions's Sacred Dance

Passions Sacred Dance
by Juli D. Revezzo [learn more]

Battling mounting debt, Stacy Macken is determined not to lose her historic art gallery. When Aaron Fielding appears and offers to help, she fights to keep the attraction sizzling between them from clouding her judgment. He may be her savior in disguise--but can she trust him?

Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help--even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.

If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years. Stacy and Aaron's budding love might only complicate things.

This book is only available at Amazon right now, and will be free September 24-28.

Juli's stories and novels:

Passion's Sacred Dance-- from The Wild Rose Press, Available at Amazon.

The Artist's Inheritance--Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords

Caitlin's Book of Shadows--Available at Amazon, Barnes and NobleHouse of Cards (Reign of Tarot #1)--Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords

Visiting Baxter Springs, KS - the setting for "Home Again"

We are on our Route 66 motorcycle trip and got a chance to visit Baxter Springs, KS, the town where I based both my short story, Lost and Found, as well as the novel, Home Again. It's been raining off and on since last night (we are staying in Miami, OK, 16 miles away) and grabbed a ride over during a break.

Unfortunately that break didn't last long enough for many local photos but we did take one outside the Cherokee Co. News-Advocate where we missed talking to the editor and one at the Johnston Public Library where I donated a copy of Home Again. We met Andrea Bresee, Assistant Director, plus the library cat!

What a treat...well, except for the rain. ;)

FEATURED BOOK ~ Her Sister's Murderer by Tabitha Short

Her Sister's Murderer
by Tabitha Short [learn more]

Genre: Psychological Thriller, young adult

Kate thought it was something they had left behind long ago when they moved nearly two-thousand miles away, but when her best friend Abby talks her into visiting a psychic, the mystery is reawakened. Twenty-one years ago, four years before she was even born, her older sister had disappeared from the front porch of their cousin’s home. Without witnesses and without any evidence, the case went cold.

Abby’s had a crush on Adam for nearly two years and is more than ecstatic when she finally catches his attention. Secretly Kate has liked him since sixth grade and when she learns he is taking a weekend trip to see his brother in the same town where her sister had disappeared, she goes along. As their forbidden romance blooms and betrayal weighs heavily on her heart, she finds herself face to face with her sister’s murderer.

Paperback and Ebook
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Ebook Only
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Indelibles Indie Life for September

This is the third month in the new monthly support group sponsored by The Indelibles, called Indie Life. We get to post anything we want in support of other independent authors.


 I Am ON THE ROAD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not all writers work at a desk or a cute little writing nook. Some work on lunch breaks in any spot they can grab. Others fend off sticky fingers and snotty noses as they scribble away. Desktop, laptop, notebook, journal and yes, even the old fashioned typewriter. Everyone has their favorite tools. Then there is me, a traveler. All I need is a laptop and a good Wi-Fi connection and I'm good to go.

Right now I am traveling on my Harley-Davidson Sportster, have been for about a week. I brought my ultra-laptop with me (Samsung) as well as my Verizon aircard and travel route (so hubby and I can share the connection). That said, most nights I'm too tired to write, barely able to handle basic correspondence.

How do you handle the interruptions of daily life in your writing, whether it's children, work, family or other obligations? Me? I'm retired...

AUTHOR INTERVIEW ~ Al Mosier: Writer and Composer

How long have you been writing?
AL: Since I was in elementary school, but I didn’t start seriously trying to write novels until I hit my forties.

Have you written any we might have heard of?
AL: Well, there was Gone With The Wind, Tom Sawyer, and The Hound of the Baskervilles... No? Seriously, like any author, you write some things as learning experiences before you get something publishable. I have a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea sequel tucked away in a drawer and have done some new Sherlock Holmes adventures as well. Those will probably never see the light of day! My first published book was Making Meghan in 2008.

Tell us a little about The Van Gogh Affair.
AL: Sure. It’s a mystery story with a Fine Arts theme. When a priceless Van Gogh painting is stolen, it's insurance investigator Alexander Dean's job to retrieve it. Dean is partnered with the museum's head of security, Lindsey Derringer, a move that he finds frustrating as well as challenging. It's an uneasy partnership that changes to one of mutual respect as the case progresses.

How did you come up with the idea?
AL: I had the two central characters already developed and was searching around for a plot to put them in. It so happened that my wife, Beth, and I took a trip to Paris last September. After visits to the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay, we decided to visit the Opera Garnier. We got lost and somehow the fine art aspect popped into my head while we were walking. From Paris, we took the high speed train to Amsterdam where they have that remarkable Van Gogh museum. That gave me the artist. By the way, you’ll find both Paris and Amsterdam figure importantly in the book. Can I write the trip off as a business expense?

You were a public school music teacher, right?  Why art and not music? 
AL: Right.  I taught elementary music in Reading, MA for twenty-one years. I’ve always loved visual art --some of my best friends are art teachers-- researching for the book gave me some great opportunities to visit museums, both local and international.  Besides, it would be difficult to steal a Beethoven Symphony, don’t you agree?

I guess it would at that.  How can people get your book?
AL: I’m so glad you asked that! The Van Gogh Affair has just been released for Kindle, so it’s available in that format from Amazon.com. If you like the feel of a real book in your hands, you can get the paperback version from lulu.com. Just type ‘Alan S. Mosier’ into the search box and it will bring you right to the page. My other novels, the next two books in the Dean & Derringer series and Making Meghan, are there as well.

Making Meghan? Another art novel? 
AL: Nope, not even close. I can’t really tell you too much about it without giving away a major plot point. I can tell you that it’s part thriller, part social commentary with a big serving of romance. It’s the story of a twenty-something man who unwittingly becomes involved with a clandestine government research project. I think its resolution is thought provoking.

Sounds interesting! Any words of advice to aspiring authors? 
AL: Keep writing. The more you do, the more you’ll learn about the craft. I’m learning every day I write. Choose good models. I love the way Robert B. Parker (Spenser series) writes dialog. I keep his style in mind as I write my own. Read, read, read!! Books are so amazing. The internet is great, but books are so much more satisfying. Here’s an important one. Write what you know. Don’t write about something you know nothing about. It never works. Trust me!

You’ve recorded a CD too, is that right?
AL: Yes! It’s called Child’s Play. It’s aimed at elementary aged kids and reinforces important messages about dedication, environment, self-esteem, and the importance of friendship. These are all songs I wrote for my students.

Thanks for your time and I hope you do well with the book.
AL: Thanks, nice of you to say that.  I hope people that get a chance to read The Van Gogh Affair enjoy the story. I certainly had a great time writing it.

---

Al Mosier loves to travel.  He’s been to Paris, London and Venice, but feels most at home on any island in the Caribbean with a name that starts with Saint. Above all, he likes a good mystery and is a former member of THE SPECKLED BAND OF BOSTON, the Boston branch of the national Sherlock Holmes society.

Al is a founding member of THE PARROT HEAD CLUB OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS, a Jimmy Buffett fan club. He is the creator of a a previous novel, MAKING MEGHAN, a mystery/thriller.  He has also recorded a cd of original music called CHILD’S PLAY, character building songs for children that he wrote for his students during his years as a music teacher.

THE VAN GOGH AFFAIR, combines the worlds of Mystery and Fine Art, two of Al’s favorite things and is available at Amazon (ebook) and Lulu (print)

Al lives outside of Boston with his wife Beth.

"Barely a Spark" is available on Amazon!

It's done, it's live - finally!! You can now purchase book two of the Klondike Mystery Series, Barely a Spark at Amazon. BUY NOW

Police Sergeant Jim Sanders has been appointed the Acting Police Chief while his boss takes a vacation in Montana. Jim thinks two weeks will be a breeze, crime isn't a big thing in the small town of Bradford, Pennsylvania.

Was it an accident? Maybe suicide? Or could it have been something more sinister. John Crocker was not a well liked man. He smoked too much, drank too much, and gambled too much. But even he had a family and they deserved to know the truth.

Small town Klondike, up the hill from Bradford, suddenly sees a spike in vandalism. Cabins ransacked, cars trashed - who is responsible? Summer tourist kids or someone more menacing?

Sometimes, two weeks can seem like a year...

Klondike Mysteries - Update!

I am in the midst of my final edits on "Barely a Spark" with inputs from my three editors/proofreaders. Still hoping to get it published on Amazon before we leave for our Route 66 trip (looks like we'll leave on Saturday). The early reviews have been very positive!

If you haven't read book one, "Not a Whisper", maybe it's time! You can find it at both Amazon (ebook/print) and Smashwords (ebook). Remember - you do NOT need to own a Kindle to read Amazon's ebooks. You can download a free reader app for your PC, laptop, tablet or smart phone HERE.

Latest review on "Not a Whisper":

New 5 star review on Amazon: 

"This is the first book in quite a while that was hard for me to put down. I stayed up entirely too late and just about drained the battery on my phone reading Donna B. McNicol's tale of murder, arson, kidnapping and, oh yes, a bit of romance. The ending was quite a surprise! Buy it. Read it. Wait impatiently for the next in the Klondike series."

~ Texas Yellow Rose

#IWSG for September

Time for another post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group, Alex Cavanaugh's creation for writers. The first Wednesday of every month, the participants write about what makes them insecure about their career/passion/vocation.

If you've been following me for very long, you know I've been working on the second in my Klondike Mystery series. I loved writing my first book. I had fun writing my first book.

I almost wrote way too many spoilers in my first draft of book two, something I hadn't considered. It's a fine line, how much to say about the first book - both the events and the characters. I left a few things hanging at the end of book one so spoilers aren't a good thing.

So for whatever reason I'm not as happy with this book as the first. I'm hoping that doesn't come through in the book but my beta readers seem to be enjoying it. Oh well, time will tell...hoping for publication before the end of September.

If you write in a series, do you always leave it hanging in some way? I'm thinking I won't do that again.

FEATURED BOOK ~ Arena Games: Legend of Petrova

Arena Games: Legend of Petrova
by Tabitha Short [read more]

Genre: High Fantasy, young adult

Arena Games: Legend of Petrova is a story about friendship, love, revenge, and betrayal.

Petrova the Pummeler is the warrior of all warriors, the master of the mystical orbs, until a fateful match leaves her damaged and unable to continue fighting as a warrior. Now she must take her place as a master in the Arena Games and train her own students to become Arena Warriors.

Along the way there are obstacles: A band of thieves and murderers, a journey through the gypsy magicked Wood of Gibbald, a little girl with many life-altering secrets, and dozens of competing warriors.

Paperback & Ebook
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Ebook Only:
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Traveling Route 66 - on the road for TWO MONTHS

Over two years in the planning, our Route 66 trip is finally happening. My husband and I will be riding our motorcycles from our home base in Tennessee to Chicago. From there we'll follow as much of the original Route 66 all the way to Santa Monica. We plan to take our time, sightseeing as much as we want and we should arrive at the end of the route by the end of September.

Then we will travel north on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH/US101), taking time to visit Yosemite National Park before heading back south for a weather dictated route home. Again, we plan to take our time but should arrive home no later than the end of October.

The month of November will be the busiest month of all, our preparation and packing for our move to Ecuador. Gulp!

So, you will see sporadic posts from me mixed in with guest posts from other authors. [If you are an author and wish to submit a post of your own featuring a current book, celebrating a new release, interviewing a character (or yourself) or even writing a guest post on an article of interest to writers and readers, just .