A Visit From Ann Gabhart

Ann Gabhart is back! We're celebrating her latest release, Murder Comes by Mail. Ann is one of my favorite authors, and she's also one I've had the privilege of meeting in person. With over a dozen books to her credit, this talented writer is sweet and witty and knows how to keep her audiences entertained. 

Welcome back, Ann. Congratulations on your latest book, Murder Comes by Mail! This is Book 2 in The Hidden Springs Mysteries, correct? What sparked the idea for this story? 

Murder Comes by Mail is my second Hidden Springs mystery. Most of the characters from Murder at the Courthouse show up again in this story. It’s often hard to nail down exactly what sparks a story idea. Sometimes an idea might explode like a burst of fireworks in the sky. Other times it might be more like the flicker of lightning bugs at dusk. You think you have it and then it disappears to show up across the yard. The idea for this book came from thinking about what would happen if what seemed a good act turned out to have bad consequences. Then it shifted to how does a normal person respond when evil begins trailing after him. 

Sounds interesting. I’ve heard these books referred to as cozy mysteries. How do you define the difference between a cozy and a regular mystery? 

A cozy mystery is generally a more light-hearted story. That might sound strange since we are talking about murder and nothing about murder should be considered light-hearted. But in a cozy mystery, the violence of the crime nearly always takes place off the page. Bodies are found. Readers don’t “witness” firsthand the murder. Also, in most cozies, the victim of the crime is either someone the reader has not gotten to know in the story and so has no attachment to the person or the victim is someone the reader doesn’t like and isn’t particularly sorry he or she is a victim. In thrillers and other mysteries, the victims might be a more sympathetic character. The reader might be right there when the murder happens on the page. 

Also, many times a cozy will have a small town setting or an animal friend to add atmosphere and perhaps a little levity to the story. Usually the main character is a female amateur sleuth with no connection to any law enforcement agency. That’s not true with my Hidden Springs mysteries, but sometimes rules are made to be broken.

Actually, I didn’t know all these rules when I was writing my cozy mysteries. I just came up with a character and a setting. Then I let murders happen. I did throw in those cats. That plus my small town setting pushed my books into the cozy mystery genre even though Murder Comes by Mail has more suspense than most cozies. 

Cats and suspense, sounds like a good combination. I’ve also heard that there are a “bevy of quirky characters” in this book. Do you have a few favorites among this gang?  

Quirky characters always seem to show up on the streets of small towns. It’s good to sprinkle a few of them into any story set in one of those small towns like Hidden Springs. In Murder Comes by Mail we might not have as many as in the first Hidden Springs mystery, Murder at the Courthouse, but there’s still the newspaper editor Hank always on the hunt for a headline story to sell his weekly newspaper issues. We have Aunt Lindy, and while I don’t consider her exactly quirky, she definitely has a unique personality. We have Reece Sheridan, the lawyer who’d rather be fishing. In the sheriff’s office, we have Betty Jean who keeps everything under control while she dreams of finding Mr. Perfect and getting married. Lester Stucker is still around as a deputy too. He’s a little like Barney in Mayberry and takes his job as school crossing officer very seriously. 

It seems as though your characters have "character". Looking forward to reading about them. Was there any particular portion that was especially difficult to write? 

A scene in the final chapter was a little hard for me to orchestrate. There is a physical struggle between my hero and the villain. One of my editors wanted to make the movements in that struggle clearer. So I had to rewrite that a couple of times. Then a different editor asked me to somehow work more about a cat into the story. So Grimalkin, Aunt Lindy’s cat, got more play in the climactic scene. 

Now I'm really looking forward to reading this one - the action scenes in your other books are very good. And I don't recall a cat in any of them! :) What’s on the horizon for you? Will The Hidden Springs Mystery series continue? 

At least one more murder will take place in Hidden Springs for my Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane to solve. Murder Is No Accident has a release date of March 14, 2017. We have some new characters and some familiar characters from the other stories in this one. When I was searching around for inspiration for a new mystery, I remembered an old house in our town that has one of those tower rooms. As a kid, I always wanted to go up in that room. And so, I decided to make that house the central part of my new mystery with a young girl sneaking up into that tower room and being a witness to what might be an accident. Or is it murder? And of course, we have a new cat, a calico named Miss Marble. 

I’m not sure if Hidden Springs is going to be more peaceful after Michael solves this new mystery. Right now, no more mysteries are in the works as I’m going back to my historical novel roots for the story I’m currently working on. But you never know. I might head back to Hidden Springs and stir up a little more trouble. 

I did a special promotion giveaway in my newsletter and asked readers if they would like to live in a town like Hidden Springs. One reader responded that she didn’t think she would like living in Hidden Springs. The crime rate was way too high. That comment made me smile because she was absolutely right. 

Well, I never thought about it like that! Too funny. Thanks so much for joining us. Wishing you many blessings your journey! :)

Thanks for having me over on your blog, Karen. Always fun to see what your readers have to say. So let me ask them a question. Did you read mysteries like the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew when you were a kid the way I did?



Ann's Bio 
 
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of many novels, including Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Love Comes Home, the 2015 Selah Book of Year winner. She’s also known for her Shaker novels and Heart of Hollyhill books. Now, as A.H. Gabhart, she is writing the Hidden Springs Mysteries set in a small town much like the Kentucky town where she grew up. Ann and her husband have three children and nine grandchildren and still enjoy country life on a farm near that small town. To find out more about Ann’s books or to follow her blog, visit her website. You can also join the conversation on her Facebook page. 


A Preview of Murder Comes by Mail 

 

Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane doesn’t particularly enjoy being touted as the hero of Hidden Springs after pulling a suicidal man back from the edge of the Eagle River bridge in front of dozens of witnesses–a few of whom caught the breathtaking moments with their cameras. But the media hype doesn’t last long as a new story pushes its way into the public consciousness of Hidden Springs’ concerned citizens. 

Photos of a dead girl arrive in the mail, and Michael becomes convinced she was murdered by the man he saved. With a killer one step ahead, things in Hidden Springs begin to unravel. Now Michael must protect the people he loves–because the killer could be targeting one of them next.

Readers will love racing along with Deputy Sheriff Keane as the clock ticks in this page-turner. Available at Amazon and other retailers.

Giveaway Info

Ann is giving away a copy of Murder Comes by Mail to one of my followers in the United States. Kindly note the following:

 
1) Please comment below, and leave your email address so I can contact you.  

2) I'd appreciate you following Write Now by Google Friend Connect or Facebook (see sidebar). 

3) Giveaway ends Thursday, August 11, 2016 at midnight Eastern Time. Winner will be notified by email and have 36 hours to respond or another name will be chosen.  


I'll leave you with Ann's question: 

Did you read mysteries like the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew when you were a kid the way I (Ann) did? 

Happy reading and writing,

Karen

Book Review - An Elegant Facade

An Elegant Facade

by Kristi Ann Hunter 
Bethany House Publishers 

Lady Georgina Hawthorne is perfect. At least, she appears to be. For years, she’s carefully planned her debut season. It must be flawless, and above all things, yield a wealthy husband. Nothing will deter her, not even her sister’s apparent interest in the Duke of Marshington, the man Georgina wishes to marry.

Even though Colin McCrae, a close friend of the Duke, holds no official title, he’s respected for his business acumen. Hailing originally from Scotland, he has numerous ventures in London and elsewhere, and is sought after for his wise business counsel. It’s 1813, after all, and progress in farming and industry knows no bounds.

Colin’s path intersects with Georgina’s more often than she would like. Matter of fact, their exchanges at social gatherings impact her thinking to the point where her conscience and Colin’s voice are interchangeable in her head. It’s maddening, really, for she knows he disapproves of her plan to snag a secure future with a rich husband, and she stumbles over Colin at every turn.

Georgina does her best to continue her quest, despite a distressing flaw that only she and her lady’s maid know about. Unfortunately, Colin is dangerously close to discovering her well-hidden secret. In the meantime, Colin wrestles with issues due to a rift with his father. He’s also frustrated with his growing attraction to Georgina, the socialite who seems as shallow as a puddle from a London rainstorm.  

About the time Georgina and Colin seem to establish a truce, events and emotions ramp up, and misunderstandings flourish again. Will Georgina find the right husband and the security she’s looking for? Will Colin make peace with his father? I won’t give too much away, but I will say that this book has a happy ending. Matter of fact, I believe the end was my favorite part.

An Elegant Façade offers a thought provoking and sweeping jaunt through the Regency period. The reader experiences everything from the elaborate estates of well-bred society to shady characters who use others for personal gain.  Ms. Hunter does an excellent job of creating an authentic story complete with an intricate plot and realistic characters. I must admit though, I didn’t like Georgina at first. She was spoiled with an agenda that only served her goals. It was interesting to watch her character grow through events and the perspective Colin offered her. Colin wasn’t perfect either, but much more likeable from the outset. The lessons they both experienced are timeless –self-deception, faith, life, love, and honor. It compelled me to look at my own life, whom I serve and what I deem as important. I’ll be watching for Book 3 in this series.

Please note: I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

If you happened to miss Monday's post, we discussed prewriting. I invite you to hop over and add your two cents! 

What are you reading this month?  

Happy weekend, 

Karen

The Value of Prewriting

When you hear the term prewritng, what comes to mind? Brainstorming? Research? Scattered notes on your desk? I'm sure we'd agree on the definition: the early stage of writing where idea formulation begins and blossoms. 

Recently while vacuuming and mentally sorting out an article idea, I recalled something a writing instructor told me. Her husband saw her sitting on the couch and asked if she was taking a break. She told him she was working - writing an article in her head. Her point for me was that a writer's life has numerous productive stages, whether done with pen and paper, on the computer screen, or in our heads.

This encouraged and helped me see the value of the prewriting and brainstorming stages. It's where our ideas are birthed and become a reality on the road to our destination: communicating with readers. 

Elizabeth King Humphrey had this to say about Creative Brainstorming on the Women on Writing blog:


"When teaching writing, I’ve often found that many students don’t seem to throw enough focus on each of the different steps involved in writing: pre-writing, writing, and revising. Creativity can play a part in all three stages. 

Certainly, if supported, the pre-writing stage can help a writer gain access to a variety of ideas that might not have appeared without taking the time. What happens when you approach your writing with a variety of questions or just space and time to grow your ideas? Often you get surprising answers that expand your choices even more. You’ve moved beyond the tip of the iceberg because your few ideas help to generate more ideas; your creative right side is engaged. A brainstorming session is born."


I have to agree. Writers are wired for thinking, which translates into writing. In the right balance, this is a good thing. It doesn't have to overwhelm. 

Prewriting keeps the mind active, offering material and insight for current and future projects. It sustains "continued education", helping us stretch our minds and strengthen the skills we need to keep moving forward.

In Other News 
 
Ann Gabhart visits us next week to discuss and give away a copy of her latest book, Murder Comes by Mail. Hope you can join us!

Congratulations to Susan P., winner of Carry Me Home by Dorothy Adamek in last week's interview and  giveaway! 


What kind of prewriting do you do? What are you writing this week? 

Happy writing,
Karen

A Visit with Dorothy Adamek

I'm delighted that Dorothy Adamek is here this week. Dotti and I met years ago through our blogs, and let me tell you, she's a treasure! She's a gifted writer, sweet friend, and a lovely Australian native who recently released her first novel, Carry Me Home. If you enjoy historical romance, I suggest you pick it up - it's a wonderful read. Dotti's giving away one copy, so check out the details below.

Welcome, Dotti! Thank you for coming to see us. Congratulations on your book, Carry Me Home! I enjoyed the story immensely. 

Thank you, for your kind invitation and warm welcome, Karen. I’ve held Write Now in high esteem for many years. It’s an honor to visit with you and your readers, and share some of my Aussie stories. 

Aww, you are so sweet, thank you! :) Your blog has always been a favorite of mine as well. One of the many things I enjoyed about your book was the setting. What made you choose Phillip Island, Australia? 

Phillip Island has been our family holiday destination for more than 40 years. Many of my childhood memories are of summers on the island and as soon as my own babies were able to sit up, they dipped straight into the Ventnor rock pools. 

This majestic volcanic outcrop, surrounded by picture perfect coastline, has charmed many over the centuries. Some years ago, a newspaper tribute captured some of the stories of the early island settlers. It included old photographs which only hinted at how life might have looked for those who chose to make Phillip Island their new home. I already had the love. And so began the wonder. 

I wondered what it would have been like to live on this remote island in its first decade of white settlement. How would people have arrived (without the bridge which now connects it to the mainland at San Remo)? What difficulties would they have faced in creating a new life? What comforts would they have enjoyed…or longed for? I wondered…who would choose to come here? And so I created one character, Australian Shadrach Jones, who chose for himself. And then I added English-born Finella Mayfield, for whom the choice had already been made by her father. I threw these two already troubled souls into each other’s midst, and watched how the wild weather, isolated location, and general mischief of life overturned their plans and dreams. 

And when I was done, I discovered it was not enough to stop with Shad and Finella. So much more of the island’s delicious history beckoned. So I find myself gladly marooned there, still…working on the next two books in the Blue Wren Shallows series. I am a happy castaway. Not just on this island, but trapped in a time I can only dream into existence. That’s where you’ll find me. Sifting through the remnants of lives once lived. Taking inspiration from those who pioneered a hard yet satisfying life, and fleshing out those who my imagination suggests might have walked among them. 

"A happy castaway" - I like that! This story captures all of the above and more. You paint lovely and realistic images for the reader. I also enjoyed getting to know your main characters, Finella Mayfield and Shadrach Jones. They are down to earth and easy to relate to. What traits do you admire most in them? Any that frustrated you while writing the story? 

I most admire Shadrach’s loyalty. He’s a man devoted to the care of his sister and will not walk away from the promises he’s made, no matter how hard they are to keep. I don’t mind his blue eyes, either! As far as Aussie heroes go, I think he’s a keeper! 

Newly arrived Finella is a young character, and while life has tested her before, her past tragedies have happened in the midst of family who loved and protected her. Readers are introduced to Finella when life has just taken most of what she thinks she needs to survive in her new Australian home. We meet her grappling with deep trauma. It takes her a little longer to sift through the layers of her identity, fashioned for her by her father, to fully understand who she is at heart and what she’s capable of. I most admire the way she takes Shadrach's sister, Molly, under her wing. The opportunity to teach Molly becomes the ground on which Finella experiences her deepest learning, and something I think a lot of us have discovered for ourselves - our best ‘learning' happens when we are in the thick of ‘teaching.’ 

I think you are right; learning through teaching is a great experience. How did the idea for Finella’s “Everlasting journal” come about? 

An Everlasting was more than a journal. It was a place for Victorian-Era women to record life with words, as well as botanical specimens they found along the way. Drying and pressing flowers promised they’d last forever. An ‘everlasting’ token. For Finella, her Everlasting was a book in which to collect new (to her) Australian flowers. Her Everlasting journal entries allowed me to write Finella’s story in first person and give my reader deeper insights to her struggles and discoveries. It became the place where she could dare voice her affection for Shadrach before she was ready to admit it out loud. 

I enjoyed its inclusion, and did find that it offered another interesting dimension. For those who aren’t familiar, Carry Me Home is Book 1 in the Blue Wren Shallows series. Can you give us a peek at Book 2? When do you expect it to be released? Looking forward to reading Book 2. :)

You are too kind! Thank you. Book Two in the Blue Wren Shallows series is Carry Me Away. In it, we see the continuation of Shadrach and Finella’s world, their newly built guesthouse, and we are introduced to new characters in their midst, Tom Darley and Ada Carmichael, the only survivors of the 1878 Black Swallow shipwreck. To be released in your Spring, (our Autumn) 2017. 

Sounds like another winner! You'll have to come back and see us when it releases. What advice would you give someone writing their first novel? 

Keep at it. Keep writing. Keep reading fiction in the genre you’ve chosen to write. And keep on reading writing craft books. Writing your first novel is a lot like writing every other one after that. It takes time and dedication. For fabulous editing techniques once your book is written, look to Margie Lawson for Deep Editing online workshops and lecture packets. You won’t regret the sharpening of your scenes when you employ Margie’s methods.

Thank you for joining us, Dotti! Wishing you abundant blessings on your journey. 

Thank you so much for allowing me to introduce Carry Me Home to your readers, Karen. I’m delighted to share my Australian stories with book lovers from all over the world.  If a trip to Australia is on your wish list, reading Carry Me Home may be your first step to visiting our beautiful shores. 

Dotti's daughter Sophie was the cover model

An Excerpt of Carry Me Home  

Finella Mayfield hates two things: liars and thieves. And she’s determined to marry a man who’s neither. Chasing her dead father’s dreams, the twenty–year-old English bride arrives in Australia in 1875 for an arranged marriage. Anticipating her future as village preacher’s wife, she records her thoughts in her Everlasting journal. But instead of her fiancé, Finella is met by Shadrach Jones, a poor farmer sent to collect her from the busy Melbourne pier.This is not what her father planned. And it’s only the beginning of the unraveling of Finella Mayfield ~ the bride with no groom. 

All Shadrach Jones longs for is rows of mustard and chicory. He’s busy growing a farm near the Phillip Island fishing village of Cowes, and caring for Molly, his simple sister. Far from the brutal life they remember with their ex-convict father, Shadrach’s building something new. But he’s also made a promise to a dying friend. To collect and marry the English girl destined to never be a preacher’s wife. Can Shadrach convince Finella she has a future with a farmer? Can he convince himself, knowing his family secrets will haunt their future?  Carry Me Home ~ Book 1 in the Blue Wren Shallows series. An Australian historical romance set in the pioneering ra of the 1870s, on Victoria’s majestic Phillip Island. 

Dotti's Bio 

Australian author, Dorothy Adamek, writes Displacement Fiction ~ the stories of people upended by tragedy and trauma, and their struggle to belong in their new worlds. Couched in romance, her fiction is set in the late Victorian era.  Author of the Blue Wren Shallows trilogy, she lives at Crabapple House in Melbourne with her Beloved and their three children, twenty fruit trees and Gilbert the Library Cat. A graduate of La Trobe University, Dorothy studied Literature, History and Education. She taught secondary school English and English As A Second Language. She loves black and white floors, collects blue and white china, and makes apricot jam every summer. Her favorite holiday destination is Phillip Island, the real life setting of Carry Me Home, book one in the Blue Wren Shallows trilogy. 

Find Dotti 

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My Review of Carry Me Home 

I was immersed into Carry Me Home's story immediately. Dorothy has a genuine knack for realistic, interesting characters and rich description. This, combined with an engaging plot, made it an absolute pleasure to read. If I'd not have known it was her debut novel I'd have guessed she'd written dozens of them already. This tale is a compelling combination of love, faith, and challenges - simply delightful! I look forward to Book 2. 

Giveaway Details 

Dotti is giving away an autographed copy of Carry Me Home to one of my followers. Kindly note the details:

1) Please comment below, leaving your email address so I can contact you. 

2) I'd appreciate you following Write Now by Google Friend Connect or Facebook (see sidebar). 
3) Giveaway ends Thursday, July 28, 2016 at midnight Eastern Time. Winner will be notified by email and have 36 hours to respond or another name will be chosen. 

Have you ever traveled to Australia? What's your dream vacation destination? What are you reading this week?

Happy reading and writing,

Karen