#NewRelease: C'Mon Inn Mystery Trilogy - Now Available on Amazon

    New box set.  Get all three books in one!  Check it out...    

Paradise Down:

Aloha Nicholás! But will this be a hello or a goodbye?

When Lucia Santerez returns home to Hawaii to help her brother Nicholás with his new dive shop, she learns Nicholás has disappeared--and someone doesn't want him found. 

Enlisting the aid of hunky vacationing firefighter, Brandon Matthews, gets them the wrong kind of attention. They discover what lies under the water off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Kaua`i could make you rich or get you killed.

Paradise Dead:

Hawaii - paradise or a death trap? 

Ten friends gather in Kauai to fulfill the final wish of an old friend - the scattering of his ashes. One by one, they are beset by accidents. 

Are they really accidents?

Or could something more sinister be at play?

Paradise Drift:

A fiery explosion sets a new course for the passengers on a charter boat.

What is intended as a relaxing vacation for three childhood friends and their partners becomes a fiery inferno and not everyone will escape.

When the survivors gather a year later, they find themselves involved in a surprising investigation into the events of the prior year.

Will anyone’s life ever be the same?

C'Mon Inn Mystery Novellas - Now Available on Amazon

They're here - now available in ebook format as single books.

Paradise Down ~ Paradise Dead ~ Paradise Drift

Paradise Down
 Aloha Nicholás! But will this be a hello or a goodbye?

When Lucia Santerez returns home to Hawaii to help her brother Nicholás with his new dive shop, she learns Nicholás has disappeared--and someone doesn't want him found.

Enlisting the aid of hunky vacationing firefighter, Brandon Matthews, gets them the wrong kind of attention. They discover what lies under the water off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Kaua`i could make you rich or get you killed.

Paradise Dead
 Hawaii - paradise or a death trap?

Ten friends gather in Kauai to fulfill the final wish of an old friend - the scattering of his ashes. One by one, they are beset by accidents.

Are they really accidents?

Or could something more sinister be at play?

Paradise Drift
 A fiery explosion sets a new course for the passengers on a charter boat.

What is intended as a relaxing vacation for three childhood friends and their partners becomes a fiery inferno and not everyone will escape.

When the survivors gather a year later, they find themselves involved in a surprising investigation into the events of the prior year.

Will anyone’s life ever be the same?

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All available to read for free with an Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription.

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Soon to be available as a box set, plus all three stories in a print book.
Watch for updates.

New Book, Launch Party, & Giveaways!

Mark your calendars for February 20th - that's the launch day for all the above new Lei Crime Kindle World books, including mine, Paradise Drift. The launch party will be on Facebook and party prizes will be randomly selected from those who post comments on the posts. [Note: you will have 24 hours to post, so no excuses about work!]

In addition, I will randomly select one person from those who comments on my posts for this handcrafted gift (no, not made by me).

HAWAIIAN GREEN SEA TURTLES

The most common sea turtle species in Hawaii is by far the Hawaiian green sea turtle (honu). They are regularly found resting under underwater ledges, basking on beaches, and nibbling on algae in shallow waters. The average shell length of an adult honu is 3-4 feet and they weigh ~250 pounds, but they can grow to a weight of 500 pounds.is 4-5 feet long and weighs 250 pounds, although they can grow as large as 500 pounds.

A little more about the prize:
Handcrafted 100% in The Copper State (Arizona USA) with attention given to every detail. Many are brought to life with bends and creases to the designs. No two are exactly the same as inherent ingredients in the copper along with the verdigris application technique and local desert weather conditions all play a part in creating the unique patina of each ornament. Not just for Christmas trees, these artful copper creations command instant attention and add panache to any space year-round! Measures 5.25 x 3.75 less hanger. Bonus: Mini suction cup included!

Just a few ideas:
   • Hang on a window or mirror with a suction cup
   • Use as a unique napkin ring gift for dinner guests
   • Drape one over the neck of a wine bottle
   • Gift wrap accent
   • Candle accent

A little excerpt from my upcoming novella, Paradise Drift:

Their conversations were interrupted by a massive explosion sending a fireball high up in the night sky, lighting the surrounding area. Even as far away as they were, the inevitable concussion was overwhelming.

Everyone looked up when Peter approached. “I’m sorry guys. I just called the Coast Guard. Captain Leach isn’t answering the phone.” He put his arm around Bobbi. “I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

She gulped and nodded. “It’s okay. He got away on the inflatable. He just forgot the sat phone. He’s okay,” she kept repeating. “He’s okay, I know it.”

Angeline seemed to finally realize what this all meant. “My Arty? Where’s my Arty?” She collapsed onto the sand crying as everyone looked on helplessly, already consumed in comforting each other.

An early reader review:
"I loved it! Your use of the main group of people & the new people was awesome! It was a mystery, romance & funny commentary all the way throughout the story."

One more chance for a special prize - help Name That Kitten & Name That Puppy in the  Lei Crime Kindle World Story, Called to Protect, by Amy Shojai, the final book in her trilogy. The two folks with winning suggestions will get an advance digital of CALLED TO PROTECT, their names in the acknowledgements, and bragging rights. CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY, so hurry and enter your suggestions!

Want to stay up to date with news about all the current and future Lei Crime Kindle World books? Join in the fun on Facebook, become a member the Lei Crime KW Ohana group!

It's All About Balance

This isn't the first time I've written on this topic. It's one everyone deals with at some point in their life. Balance. Family, friends, work, play, hobbies. How to balance it all?

I'm retired. This should be easy, right? Why do I still find it hard? Husband, cruising, motorcycling, travel, family, friends, writing - it never ends. Setting priorities. That's all it takes.

Of course, now there is Facebook (perfect way to stay in touch with family and friends while traveling), Google+, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Then factor in web sites and blogging, although I have cut way back. Since we are no longer living in Ecuador, I don't have to post on that blog. But I still have our personal blog, Our Prime Years, as well as this blog. And readers aren't happy if they don't have something to read.

Write? Oh yeah, I did finish the first draft of my children's short stories but it will be May before I get a chance to edit them. Why? Because I'm currently finishing the first draft of my new novella, Whispers in Paradise, for the Lei Crime Series Kindle World. Then the month of April is Camp NaNoWriMo and I'll be tackling the first draft of the third in my Klondike Mystery series, Almost a Touch.

Phew! Think I'll go take a nap.

#IWSG for April 2016: Fear

It's hard to believe, but it's time for my monthly IWSG post. Every month seems to pass by faster and faster. What is IWSG? Direct from their site:

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!

The theme for this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group is FEAR.

I haven't written or published a new book since Barely a Spark in September 2013. During the last three weeks I have been writing feverously, working hard to get the first draft of a novella done. Titled Whispers in Paradise, it will be part of the Lei Crime Series Kindle World.

So what's the problem? FEAR. Fear that it won't be any good. Fear that I'm rushing it. Fear that I can't write a full-length novel anymore.

Are my sentences too short? Am I giving my characters room to grow? Is there enough action? Is there enough dialogue? Is there too much dialogue? Am I painting an image of the setting, Hawaii? Am I doing justice to the other novellas already published? Am I doing justice to the original series? Will I finish the first draft in time to start writing Almost a Touch during the April Camp NaNoWriMo?

FEAR!

What am I writing?

I have two weeks before I start Camp NaNoWriMo where/when I plan to write most of the first draft of my next Klondike Mystery, "Almost a Touch". What to do with these two weeks? Two weeks without a husband in the house (he's off on a motorcycle trip to Maryland to see family).

No problem. Last year I was invited by one of my favorite authors, Toby Neal, to write a book for her then new Lei Crime Kindle World. I was still living in Ecuador, knee deep in several projects and had to decline but took a raincheck on the offer.

What is a Kindle World? This explains it the best... "a digital publishing platform where writers can publish fan fiction under official licenses." And the Lei Crime Kindle World is an exciting one.

"Hawaii is palm trees, black sand and blue water—but for policewoman Lei Texeira, there’s a dark side to paradise. Lei has overcome a scarred past to make a life for herself as a cop, but often the cases she works activate wounds and complications from her tangled family history. Lei is affected deeply by her cases even as she solves them with persistence, obsession, and intuition. She falls in love with Michael Stevens, the charismatic detective she works with, and they make a life solving crime in contemporary Hawaii with all its beauty and deadliness. Many crime solving stories remain to be written."

Fast forward to early this year, I was approached again by Toby and the more I thought about it, the more excited I got. I didn't have to write a full novel. It could be a short story or a novella. Late one night, my brain ran rampant. I woke with the basis for what I hope will be a trilogy of novellas for this Kindle World. All three will involve some area of popular tourism in Hawaii; the first will involve scuba diving, the second will involve cruise ships and the third the ever popular luau.

The titles currently are planned to be:

• "Whispers in Paradise"
• "Sparks in Paradise"
• "Touched in Paradise"

Anyone notice a familiar trend here? LOL!

If you haven't read any of Toby's Lei Crime series, try out the first book. I was hooked immediately.

Blood Orchids

So I have been busy the last couple of days, doing a lot of research about Hawaii in order to determine the book's setting as well as a lot of research about a lot of other 'things' Hawaiian. So far I have over 5000 words written and I will be working feverously to get the first draft done before the end of the month. Wish me luck!