Maxine Douglas's Blog

Labor Day weekend, aka the last camping weekend of the season. At least it is in my home state of Wisconsin. The two biggest weekends for camping there are Memorial Day and Labor Day. Whether you tent camp or have the comforts of an RV/camper, I hope you’ve enjoyed the last hurrah of summer before fall really sets in.

And speaking of fall, it’s finally football season! While pre-season is over for the NFL, the season has started for college football. And while it wasn’t spectacular, my Wisconsin Badgers have a win under their belts. Coach Fickle is in his third year, and let's hope the term “the third time is the charm” is true this season and the Badgers return to their winning ways.

Did you grab those deals and steals this weekend? This could be the last big sale on some items before those tariffs kick in and we, the consumer, start paying for them. I’m waiting for the savings to start for the upcoming holiday season.

It's #BookQW!!!
RINGS OF PARADISE: She’s chasing the story of a lifetime—he’s the headline she never saw coming.
"Khristen visualized smoke coming out of his nostrils as . . . ." Continue reading: https://bit.ly/41xobM2

I got a publication date for ETERNALLY YOURS! Yes, it’s a little more than two years out, but that’s okay. I’m looking forward to seeing the cover, doing the edits, and bringing new life to this older story. So, watch around this time in 2027 for more information.

Well, back to work. I am 95% done with DECEITFUL PROMISES, and plan to have it done by the end of the week. Of course, that’s if life doesn’t have any surprises for me like it does sometimes. LOL

Have a great week! Get your pumpkin spice beverage; I have mine next to me this morning, and open a good book to lose yourself in.

I can never thank you enough for continuing to read these snippets into my life as an author. I hope I haven’t bored you too much with them. 😊 After all, other people's lives are never as glamorous as we may think.

May your ereader or bookshelf overflow with great books to read!

Maxine

Blog: https://maxinedouglasauthor.blogspot....

BODY SNATCHED

Welcome Ana Diamond to Book Treasure Tuesday!

Introduction  

Hi, I’m Ana. I write cozy mysteries when I’m not at work in the medical field. I’ve been with The Wild Rose Press since 2021, which has been amazing. I shop too much and I have two rescue cats.

My latest news is I have a new cozy mystery release called Body Snatched. It’s a mystery set in a funeral home in a small town with a touch of romance. This is book 2 in the Body Conscious series. For research, I used the Internet and I read articles written by morticians describing how and why they do what they do. I came out of the other end knowing a lot about the process of embalming a person. Working in the medical field also helps.

The best place to find all my books, social media accounts and contact is my website www.anadiamondauthor.com.

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Heat Level: PG-13

In a town full of secrets, who will come out alive?

What’s worse than losing a body from a funeral home? Losing two. But mortician and amateur sleuth, Lily Reynolds has a hunch. The new visitor in town, Rick Drakon, may have charmed his way into her life but she’s not fooled by his smooth talking ways. Problem is, Rick is a long-time friend of Lily’s new husband, Detective James Rivers. While James is busy convincing her to look elsewhere, Lily embarks on a dangerous path toward uncovering the truth. Will this case come between the couple or will Lily find herself closer to evil than ever before?



Excerpt  

Black River reminded James of one thing: murder.  

Hidden in dense foliage, the river stretched out far beyond his view and also happened to be a perfect spot to dump a body. He had no doubt there had been many missing people over the years who wound up weighed down by rocks at the bottom of the river until their flesh disintegrated into nothing.  

His boss, Donald Abrams had a bad habit of telling him about their worst cases, probably to freak him out. The sicko with the garden of people floating upright like weeds was particularly gruesome. The chills he got from that one made the hairs on his neck stand up. However, since Manorview’s crime rate was low, James wasn’t entirely sure if the stories were folklore or not.  

“Congrats on your last case. I heard you’re a big boss detective now,” Rick said as he reeled in his empty line.  

James impaled a worm on his hook and swung the line out into the water. “Thanks. I wouldn’t say big boss though. More like maybe I’ll get to keep my job.”  

“Have you ever caught anything here?” Rick asked.   “No, but I hear there’s trout.”  

And bodies.  

Body Snatched is available in Ebook and Print
♥ Books2Read


Interview Questions    

1. Do you write full time? No, I have a full time job, which means it takes me along time to produce a manuscript. Maybe in the future I can go part time . . . fingers crossed.

2. What is your writing process? I’m a panster. I’m usually inspired by a setting or maybe I’m interested in exploring a trope and then I go from there.

3. When you have writer’s block how do you break free? Writer’s block for me happens when I don’t know how to resolve an issue or the pace has slowed down in a chapter. What works for me is to think about the next big exciting scene and work towards it. Taking a break helps too.


Social Media / Contact  

You can contact Ana at any of links below.

♥ Website ♥ Facebook ♥ Instagram ♥ TikTok ♥ Twitter


Thank you for spending time with Ana and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday!
 
Hugs~
Maxine
Award-Winning Author

RED RIVER CROSSING: Men of the Double K 2019 IDA Winner—Historical Novel
ELIZABETH: Widows of Blessings Valley 2019 IDA Finalist—Inspirational
THE MARSHAL’S BRIDE 2017 IDA Finalist—Short Historical
AUDIOBOOKS: Audiobook Cinema / Amazon / Kobo / Chirp
NEW RELEASE: HANNAH’S DISCOVERY
NEW THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: GINGERBREAD INN 

 THE SECRET OF JACARANDA

Welcome Jude Bayton to Book Treasure Tuesday!

Introduction

I’m Jude Bayton, and I’m originally from Kingston-Upon-Thames, near London, in the county of Surrey. I was an army brat, and got to live in Africa, Germany, Yemen, Scotland and Wales.

I now live in Oklahoma. My husband and I have four sons between us, three grandsons and one granddaughter. We also have a very spoiled Blue Heeler named Scout.

My latest book was released on October 15th – it’s called The Secret of Jacaranda and it is the fifth book in my Secret set.

My Secret books are all Historical Mysteries set in Europe and the current book is set in British East Africa. They are in the Gothic style of Victoria Holt, Daphne du Maurier and Phyllis Whitney, all favourites of mine.

Although my subject matter covers many topics, the books are clean.

Genre: Historical Mysteries
Heat Level: Clean

Where everyone has a Secret to keep…

Under the threat of imminent imprisonment, Julia Rossington escapes England and flees to East Africa, where a new job and a better life may await. Living at Jacaranda, a farm owned by intriguing Nick Fleming, Julia embraces her role as nanny to a motherless baby. Life in the wild African bush brings Julia contentment, spoiled only by the open hostility of Nick’s beautiful housekeeper, who fiercely guards the memory of Nick’s murdered wife, Amelia.

The African continent is in uproar. The Boer War rages in South Africa, and ivory and diamonds are smuggled to distant shores as the grip of the British Empire falters. When a member of Julia’s community is murdered, speculation is that Amelia Fleming’s killer is still at large. But Julia has greater concerns, when a face from the past unexpectedly arrives in the area and threatens to expose Julia’s true reason for leaving England.

The killer strikes again, with Jacaranda coming under direct attack. Julia wants to stop running away. This promising new life is something worth fighting for. Yet standing her ground will inevitably make her a target, placing her squarely in the path of danger. Ultimately Julia will learn the hardest lesson of all—Survival.*

Excerpt  

His eyes settled on me, and I was struck by how handsome I found him. The dark, brooding manner intrigued me more than I cared to admit. I was forgetting myself.

He shrugged. “I feel it my moral duty to look out for you. You are naïve about the way of life here. It is far different than anything you’ve experienced. This country changes people. Most of us are not who others think we are. Herr Schmitt is no exception.”

“If that’s true, then who are you, Nick?”

His gaze still held mine, and the atmosphere between us suddenly felt charged with tension. His expression softened momentarily, and his eyes were silver in the gaslight. I could almost hear him think as his countenance underwent a myriad of subtle changes. Was he choosing how honest he was prepared to be with me? Could he remove that solid barrier forcing people away?

Then the mask slipped back into place, and the moment was gone.  

The Secret of Jacaranda is available in eBook and Print

♥ Amazon


Research Tidbits

There was a lot! Though I lived in Africa, I was a child, with a child’s memories. This helped the book seem authentic, but I had to check on many facts about the culture, and of course use the native language, Swahili, throughout the story.

One interesting tidbit was the discovery of a famous American named Frederick Burnham. He was an adventurer who also had a distinguished military career, and was hired by Queen Victoria to aid the British in South Africa during the Boer War.

Interview Questions

1. Do deadlines help or hinder your muse?

I find that deadlines do help me with self-discipline. It is so easy to get distracted by life, family and chores! But I will focus when I know I’m short on time.

2. What’s your favorite genre to read?  

My favourite genre to read is mystery. Historical is my favourite, but I love contemporary too. I am partial to stories set in Europe because I can identify with them so much.

3. What was your first published work and when was it published?

My first book was published in 2020 by the Wild Rose Press. It is called, The Secret of Mowbray Manor.

Social Media / Contact

Learn about all of Jude’s books on her website, and also her author page on Amazon.
♥ Website ♥ Twitter ♥ Facebook ♥ Instagram ♥ Linked In ♥ Amazon Author Page

Thank you for spending time with Jude and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday!

Hugs~
Maxine
Award-Winning Author
RED RIVER CROSSING: Men of the Double K 2019 IDA Winner—Historical Novel
ELIZABETH: Widows of Blessings Valley 2019 IDA Finalist—Inspirational
THE MARSHAL’S BRIDE 2017 IDA Finalist—Short Historical

AUDIOBOOKS: Audiobook Cinema / Amazon / Kobo / Chirp

SUMMER RELEASE: HANNAH’S DISCOVERY

NEW THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: GINGERBREAD INN

  

THE HEART THAT RETURNS Welcome Kit McKenna to Book Treasure Tuesday!  Introduction  Hey, y’all! My name is Kit McKenna and I am a born and raised Okie gal and have lived in Oklahoma my whole life except for a brief detour to hang out in the mountains. I’ve worn a lot of hats in my life, including being a server, factory worker, salesperson, nightclub manager, office administrator, state drone, and business owner. I toyed with the idea of writing for several years and had a novel that I rewrote the first 50,000 words of at least a million times. Okay, okay, that’s a bit of a stretch. It was probably more like 50 times.  In late 2021, I decided to get serious about it because I was tired of reading books about perky, perfect, barely legal heroines. The folks in my books are of a variety of ages and from a variety of vocations and economic statuses. The one thing they have in common is that they all have their own demons, drama, and challenges to overcome. I recently started publishing my books and my newest release – The Heart That Returns – is available for pre-order. This is book 3 in the Oklahoma Skies Romance series. The series follows the lives and loves of the Cross/Goodnight/Priddy clan and is set against the backdrop of Oklahoma.  Sneak Peek   All Sorrows Are Less – All Sorrows Are Less is Book #1 in the series and follows Miriam Cross. At age 7 she’s labeled as cursed by her family’s religious cult. Twelve years later she makes an immense sacrifice to protect her family and is rewarded by being cast out. Just when she thinks there’s no hope, she finds a new home and meets Luke Goodnight. Will he be able to keep her safe when her past comes knocking on the door? 

Paint the Earth Red – Book #2 in the series is about Heather and Sean. We meet Luke’s cousin Heather in Book #1. As a Sheriff’s Deputy, she stumbles across a mystery and crosses path with Sean, an Agent with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. For Heather, it’s loathe at first sight. Will they be able to join together and trust each other and solve the mystery, or will it all fall apart with deadly consequences? 

Genre: Small-town romance/Romantic suspenseHeat Level: HOT! 18+ only

 

The Heart That Returns – We’re introduced to Heather’s sister Veronica, or Roni for short, in the previous book. In Book #3, Veronica Priddy was only trying to do a good thing by reuniting a grandson with his dying grandfather. However, the grandson turned out to be nothing like what she'd hoped. Instead of a joyful reunion, an even deeper wedge is driven between the two men.

In the midst of saying goodbye to her friend, she meets a man who could be her everything, until he walks away leaving her with more questions than answers. Although things didn’t go according to plan, she did all she could and resolves to soothe her wounded heart and fulfill her dreams of a family on her own despite losing out on love once again.
Takoda Nomee knew he'd be hurting Veronica by walking away. He adores her, but he had no choice. He can only do what needs to be done while hoping someday to return to her and get the chance to win her heart once and for all.  But you know what they say, no good deed goes unpunished and Veronica becomes the target of an unhinged man who feels he's been wronged and is intent on vengeance. Will they be able to join together again before everything burns to the ground?

The Heart That Returns is available in Kindle and Paperback.

Research Tidbits  I LOVE doing research! When I first started writing this series, I spent a lot of time down in southern Oklahoma roaming around the areas mentioned in the books. From the Wichita Mountains to Pontotoc County, I poked around taking pictures and soaking in the ambiance of the environment.  In The Heart That Returns, there are more references to Native American words from both the Chickasaw and Absaroka nations. With Takoda’s arrival, I spent a lot of time reading up on the Absaroka people and the Crow Reservation. 
Interview Questions  

 

1. Is there a genre of book you would like to write but haven’t yet?

 

Yes! Actually, that first book I started and only got ¾ of the way done is still floating out there in the ether of my brain. It’s an Urban Fantasy series that follows two sisters who suddenly discover that the world they thought was real isn’t and their whole lives have been a lie.   One of the characters from that Urban Fantasy book appears in Paint the Earth Red but you’ll have to wait to see who. I know, I’m a total tease!   It will see the light of day, but there are a few other books to get out of my gray matter first. 
2. If you had to choose one person to have dinner with, who would it be? And why?  

 

If I could choose anyone living or dead, I’d choose my daddy. He was tragically killed in a car accident when my mom was pregnant with me, so we never met. I’d love the opportunity to meet him and hang out even if only for a few hours over a meal.   3. What is your writing process?

 

I am a total Plantser! I do plan somewhat, but mostly my planning consists of the characters living in my head for a while before I start to write. They have entire lives in my brain, I think about them, dream about them, and envision them. When it’s time, I sit down and pour it all out on the page. I do keep a series “bible” on a spreadsheet so I can keep things straight (mostly ages) but otherwise, I don’t outline or do any of those complicated POV sheet thingies. For me, it bogs me down and anytime I’ve tried to plan, my characters have revolted and tossed the plan out the window by the time I get a quarter of the way in.

 

I am a total Plantser! I do plan somewhat, but mostly my planning consists of the characters living in my head for a while before I start to write. They have entire lives in my brain, I think about them, dream about them, and envision them. When it’s time, I sit down and pour it all out on the page. I do keep a series “bible” on a spreadsheet so I can keep things straight (mostly ages) but otherwise, I don’t outline or do any of those complicated POV sheet thingies. For me, it bogs me down and anytime I’ve tried to plan, my characters have revolted and tossed the plan out the window by the time I get a quarter of the way in.

  Social Media / Contact  

Readers and groups can contact Kit through email or message her through Facebook.   ♥ Email ♥ Website ♥ Facebook  ♥ Instagram

  Thank you for spending time with Kit and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday!   Hugs~ Maxine Award-Winning Author RED RIVER CROSSING: Men of the Double K 2019 IDA Winner—Historical Novel ELIZABETH: Widows of Blessings Valley 2019 IDA Finalist—Inspirational THE MARSHAL’S BRIDE 2017 IDA Finalist—Short Historical AUDIOBOOKS: Audiobook Cinema / Amazon / Kobo / Chirp

NEW RELEASE: HANNAH’S DISCOVERY PRE-ORDER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: GINGERBREAD INN

THE HEART THAT RETURNS
Welcome Kit McKenna to Book Treasure Tuesday! 

Introduction  

Hey, y’all! My name is Kit McKenna and I am a born and raised Okie gal and have lived in Oklahoma my whole life except for a brief detour to hang out in the mountains. I’ve worn a lot of hats in my life, including being a server, factory worker, salesperson, nightclub manager, office administrator, state drone, and business owner. I toyed with the idea of writing for several years and had a novel that I rewrote the first 50,000 words of at least a million times. Okay, okay, that’s a bit of a stretch. It was probably more like 50 times.  In late 2021, I decided to get serious about it because I was tired of reading books about perky, perfect, barely legal heroines. The folks in my books are of a variety of ages and from a variety of vocations and economic statuses. The one thing they have in common is that they all have their own demons, drama, and challenges to overcome. I recently started publishing my books and my newest release – The Heart That Returns – is available for pre-order. This is book 3 in the Oklahoma Skies Romance series. The series follows the lives and loves of the Cross/Goodnight/Priddy clan and is set against the backdrop of Oklahoma. 

Sneak Peek  

All Sorrows Are Less – All Sorrows Are Less is Book #1 in the series and follows Miriam Cross. At age 7 she’s labeled as cursed by her family’s religious cult. Twelve years later she makes an immense sacrifice to protect her family and is rewarded by being cast out. Just when she thinks there’s no hope, she finds a new home and meets Luke Goodnight. Will he be able to keep her safe when her past comes knocking on the door? 

Paint the Earth Red – Book #2 in the series is about Heather and Sean. We meet Luke’s cousin Heather in Book #1. As a Sheriff’s Deputy, she stumbles across a mystery and crosses path with Sean, an Agent with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. For Heather, it’s loathe at first sight. Will they be able to join together and trust each other and solve the mystery, or will it all fall apart with deadly consequences? 

Genre: Small-town romance/Romantic suspense
Heat Level: HOT! 18+ only

 

The Heart That Returns – We’re introduced to Heather’s sister Veronica, or Roni for short, in the previous book. In Book #3, Veronica Priddy was only trying to do a good thing by reuniting a grandson with his dying grandfather. However, the grandson turned out to be nothing like what she'd hoped. Instead of a joyful reunion, an even deeper wedge is driven between the two men.

In the midst of saying goodbye to her friend, she meets a man who could be her everything, until he walks away leaving her with more questions than answers. Although things didn’t go according to plan, she did all she could and resolves to soothe her wounded heart and fulfill her dreams of a family on her own despite losing out on love once again.
Takoda Nomee knew he'd be hurting Veronica by walking away. He adores her, but he had no choice. He can only do what needs to be done while hoping someday to return to her and get the chance to win her heart once and for all.  But you know what they say, no good deed goes unpunished and Veronica becomes the target of an unhinged man who feels he's been wronged and is intent on vengeance. Will they be able to join together again before everything burns to the ground?

The Heart That Returns is available in Kindle and Paperback.

Research Tidbits  I LOVE doing research! When I first started writing this series, I spent a lot of time down in southern Oklahoma roaming around the areas mentioned in the books. From the Wichita Mountains to Pontotoc County, I poked around taking pictures and soaking in the ambiance of the environment.  In The Heart That Returns, there are more references to Native American words from both the Chickasaw and Absaroka nations. With Takoda’s arrival, I spent a lot of time reading up on the Absaroka people and the Crow Reservation. 
Interview Questions  

 

1. Is there a genre of book you would like to write but haven’t yet?

 

Yes! Actually, that first book I started and only got ¾ of the way done is still floating out there in the ether of my brain. It’s an Urban Fantasy series that follows two sisters who suddenly discover that the world they thought was real isn’t and their whole lives have been a lie.   One of the characters from that Urban Fantasy book appears in Paint the Earth Red but you’ll have to wait to see who. I know, I’m a total tease!   It will see the light of day, but there are a few other books to get out of my gray matter first. 
2. If you had to choose one person to have dinner with, who would it be? And why?  

 

If I could choose anyone living or dead, I’d choose my daddy. He was tragically killed in a car accident when my mom was pregnant with me, so we never met. I’d love the opportunity to meet him and hang out even if only for a few hours over a meal.   3. What is your writing process?

 

I am a total Plantser! I do plan somewhat, but mostly my planning consists of the characters living in my head for a while before I start to write. They have entire lives in my brain, I think about them, dream about them, and envision them. When it’s time, I sit down and pour it all out on the page. I do keep a series “bible” on a spreadsheet so I can keep things straight (mostly ages) but otherwise, I don’t outline or do any of those complicated POV sheet thingies. For me, it bogs me down and anytime I’ve tried to plan, my characters have revolted and tossed the plan out the window by the time I get a quarter of the way in.

 

I am a total Plantser! I do plan somewhat, but mostly my planning consists of the characters living in my head for a while before I start to write. They have entire lives in my brain, I think about them, dream about them, and envision them. When it’s time, I sit down and pour it all out on the page. I do keep a series “bible” on a spreadsheet so I can keep things straight (mostly ages) but otherwise, I don’t outline or do any of those complicated POV sheet thingies. For me, it bogs me down and anytime I’ve tried to plan, my characters have revolted and tossed the plan out the window by the time I get a quarter of the way in.

  Social Media / Contact  

Readers and groups can contact Kit through email or message her through Facebook.   ♥ Email ♥ Website ♥ Facebook  ♥ Instagram

  Thank you for spending time with Kit and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday!   Hugs~ Maxine Award-Winning Author RED RIVER CROSSING: Men of the Double K 2019 IDA Winner—Historical Novel ELIZABETH: Widows of Blessings Valley 2019 IDA Finalist—Inspirational THE MARSHAL’S BRIDE 2017 IDA Finalist—Short Historical AUDIOBOOKS: Audiobook Cinema / Amazon / Kobo / Chirp

NEW RELEASE: HANNAH’S DISCOVERY PRE-ORDER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: GINGERBREAD INN

KYLEIGH’S COWBOY

Welcome Pamela S Thibodeaux to Book Treasure Tuesday!

Introduction

I am a mother, grandmother, and author of “Inspirational with an Edge!”™ women’s/romantic fiction and creative nonfiction.

Sneak Peek

After several months of fits and starts, Kyleigh’s Cowboy is finally here!
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Heat Level: Subtle     



She’s attempting to start a new life. He’s roamed for more than a decade. Can they let go of the past and grab hold of the future?

Seven years after the death of her husband, Kyleigh Winters turned their old vacation home into a brand new guest ranch. Not willing to join the ranks of lonely women trolling the bars or online in search of a man, Kyleigh is sure if God wishes her to have another husband, He’ll send the perfect someone in His own time. But will she be open to the possibility of new love when He does?

Searching for a place that calls to his soul, Lance Stevens has been a roaming cowboy for ten years since retiring from the Marines. He finds that sanctuary the moment he drives through the Silver Star’s gate and meeting the lovely owner speaks to more than his soul. Will he open to the healing power of love?

Get Pamela Thibodeaux's second chance romance novella today and see how love and faith conquers all.

Excerpt

  “Mercy.”

  Admiration laced Ramona’s voice. Kyleigh glanced at her daughter then turned to see what she gawked at. Her son-in-law, flanked by a cowboy, strolled toward them. Her heart did an irrational little twirl, pulse scrambled into high gear. Kyleigh bit back her own murmur of appreciation of the lean physique, muscled forearms and bulging biceps poured into the shirt stretched across a broad chest. Her fingers itched to stroke the salt and pepper hair peeking out from under his hat and curled over his collar. Smooth shaven for the most part, the man’s tanned cheeks hinted at a five o’clock shadow just below the surface. Sexy.Kyleigh shook herself mentally as the two men approached.

  “I think we’ve found our wrangler.” Robert said. “Ladies, meet Lance Stevens. Lance, my wife, Ramona Evans and…” He grinned and bowed low, then rose with a flourish of one arm toward Kyleigh. “Mistress of the Silver Star, my mother-in-law, Kyleigh Winters.”

  Eyes the color of dark roasted coffee swept over her in a gaze as potent as a caress, then locked with hers. Lance tipped his hat and grinned. A dimple creased his cheek. “Ma’am,” he drawled.  

Kyleigh’s Cowboy is available in Ebook and Print.

♥ Amazon ♥ Other Online Retailers   

Research Tidbits

      I’m not a fan of research which is why I write contemporary romance LOL! Sometimes I’ll research an area where my book is set but this one is in the Texas Hill country as most of mine are. I’ve lived, worked, and travelled the Hill Country for many years so describing the area is easy. Kyleigh and Lance visit Lost Maples State Natural Area which I have hiked before. And it’s a beautiful place.

Interview Questions

1.    Is there a genre of book you would like to write but haven't yet?
 
Sometimes I think I’d like to write traditional romance with steamy love scenes. I started one but haven’t had the time or inclination to finish it.
2.  Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story, or do they develop as you write?

Not at all. I’m 100% pantster when it comes to my stories. A scene may flash in my mind or a character shows up and starts talking to me. Sometimes I overhear a snippet of conversation and off I go.

3.  What are your hobbies?

READING, Dancing, Walking, Hiking, Horseback Riding. Swimming (in a pool where I can see what’s in there with me LOL!) I love being outdoors so camping could be listed as a favorite hobby as well as travelling.

Social Media / Contact

Readers can contact Pamela through her email! Which she welcomes gladly! Pamela also has a newsletter and is also on Facebook and Twitter as well as other social outlets.

♥ Website ♥ Email ♥ Blog ♥ Newsletter ♥ Facebook ♥ Twitter ♥ Pinterest ♥ Instagram

♥ Goodreads♥LinkedIn ♥ Amazon Author Page

♥ BookBub

Thank you for spending time with Pamela and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday!

  Hugs~
Maxine
Award-Winning Author

RED RIVER CROSSING: Men of the Double K 2019 IDA Winner—Historical Novel
ELIZABETH: Widows of Blessings Valley 2019 IDA Finalist—Inspirational
THE MARSHAL’S BRIDE 2017 IDA Finalist—Short Historical
AUDIOBOOKS: Barr26 / Audiobook Cinema / Amazon / Kobo / Chirp

NEW RELEASE: HANNAH’S DISCOVERY

PRE-ORDER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: GINGERBREAD INN

PECULIAR ACTIVITIES

Welcome Mark Edward Jones toBook Treasure Tuesday!

 

Introduction

 I retired in 2017 after thirty-three years of working in higher education finance. I grew up in Duncan, Oklahoma, then attended the University of Oklahoma, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science and public administration. My wife and I have three grown children, and we celebrated our fortieth anniversary in November 2021. Mystery/suspense/international intrigue novels are my favorite reads, and I’ve found a niche with medieval murder mysteries, noting it’s interesting to see the lifestyles from other eras and how crimes were solved. My favorite music includes Elvis, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Boz Scaggs (among others). Shadowed Souls, Detective Henry Ike Pierce series, part II, releases on Halloween this year.

Sneak Peek  Peculiar Activities (Detective Henry Ike Pierce, book 1) released October 6, 2021.Genre: Mystery/Suspense with paranormal elementsHeat Level: Subtle 

A murder in a park, and a new detective finds an old conspiracy.

Excerpt   Eddie Stone stepped toward the fence, then cleared off another area. Five gray markers appeared, all said UNKNOWN and JANUARY 1995. “These are the five homicide victims we told you about.”

Those deaths came into focus like a cold slap. “Why couldn’t you identify them?” I asked.

“No heads, hands, or feet.”

“Excuse me?”

“Whoever did this kept the skulls, hands, and feet.

With no teeth and no fingerprints, we had nothing else sophisticated enough to help us.”

“No guesses even? A missing person’s report?” “Nope. We found a connection, though.”

“To what?”

“To each other, it seemed. The victims were male, all wore brown leather jackets, and the damnedest thing—a piece of Orehnjaca was stuck in the breast pocket of each victim.”

“Oren Jaka? I’ve never heard that word.”

He grinned. “I hadn’t either. It’s a Serbian bread dessert. A nut roll or something.”

“These murders sound more like mob hits.”

“Bingo. We’ve thought similarly over the years but couldn’t connect it to local gangs.” A blast of north wind shuffled the leaves, covering the headstones again. “I don’t think it’s only a local issue, and neither does the director.”

 Peculiar Activities is available in ebook, print, and audio. ♥ Amazon

Research Tidbits   The story’s setting is on Maui, and I have been there several times. For me, it has definitely been better to write what you know.

Interview Questions

1.    Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you?

Yes. Critique partners have helped me to see things I cannot, not only grammatical and punctuation errors, but the consistency of characters’ actions, linking scenes, and logic issues.   2.  Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer? Or still do?

  I try to write/edit/market full time now. I worked in the budget/financial areas of the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma for over thirty years before retiring in 2017. I had little time before to write. Now, it’s a matter of discipline to sit down each day and do something related to writing.   3.  What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants, or a combination of both?

  A combination of both. A general outline helps me keep on track and reduce my inclination for a sagging middle. Complete pantsing is too unstructured, and I will wallow in the story, put it aside, and tend to overedit. A strict outline never held up for me as the story evolved. After a few chapters, I would either reconstruct the outline or pitch it aside, and I’d rather spend my time writing instead of constructing outlines.   Social Media / Contact  

Mark has an ‘updates’ section on his website, many updates he publishes on Facebook, and does try keep up on Twitter. Readers can contact Mark through his email link below.   ♥ Website ♥ Email ♥ Facebook ♥ Instagram♥Goodreads ♥ Twitter ♥ Newsletter

  Thank you for spending time with Mark and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday!   Hugs~ Maxine Award-Winning Author RED RIVER CROSSING: Men of the Double K 2019 IDA Winner—Historical Novel ELIZABETH: Widows of Blessings Valley 2019 IDA Finalist—Inspirational THE MARSHAL’S BRIDE 2017 IDA Finalist—Short Historical AUDIOBOOKS: Audiobook Cinema / Amazon/ Kobo/ Chirp

NEW RELEASE: HANNAH’S DISCOVERY PRE-ORDER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: GINGERBREAD INN   

BURIED HEARTS

 Welcome Diana Stout toBook Treasure Tuesday! 

Introduction  

I’m Diana Stout, and I live in the historic community of Marshall, Michigan. With 15 years of teaching experience (classes for writers), at mid-life, I became a non-traditional college student. My goal was to teach accredited classes. I became an English professor of writing classes, which allowed me to marry my two passions of writing and helping others become better writers.

Today, I write full-time and still help writers become better writers through presentations, workshops, and classes. In early 2015, I created Sharpened Pencils Productions LLC, from which I publish my books:  screenplays, novels, novellas, and nonfiction that includes a cookbook and the first of my how-to series.

My newest release is Buried Hearts: A Laurel Ridge Novella (Book 4). The series involves 7 books, where 9 of the 14 characters are classmates and another 3 are best friends. Additionally, there’s a VW beetle that was fished out of the lake in Book 1 (Shattered Dreams)and so began the mystery that touches each book in the series.

Because the characters are in and out of each other’s stories, my spreadsheet became mammoth, making it both fun and difficult—especially when I had someone in two places at the same time! I’ve spent so much time with these characters, they’ve become good friends that I’d love to hang out with. If only. 

 

A quick rundown of the series published so far.

Shattered Dreams #1 – High school sweethearts, Mason and Shelley, meet 12 years later and the sparks still fly, but Shelley won’t cooperate. Soon, both are shocked to learn the truth of their high school breakup and who was responsible. Is it too late to rekindle the love once shared or will their dreams be shattered forever?

Burning Desire #2– Once a bubbly teenager, as a senior Eddie (Edwina) Taylor withdrew, spurning everyone, keeping a secret that could destroy her. Now a decade later, when firefighter Aaron Rhett Sinclair Renoux—a man who hates liars—investigates a fire in her grandmother’s farmhouse, she’s guarded, fearing he has the potential to blow up her world completely.

Arrested Pleasures #3 –

Genre: Small-town romance Heat Level: subtle (thoughts & banter) 

He’s an academic archeologist who digs up the past. She’s an on-the-road psychic balloonist who lives in the clouds. Can they meet in the middle and shed their walled-up exteriors to expose hidden longings and buried hearts?

 Excerpt

     “Would—”

     “I read you? Wanting to discover your future so you can satisfy your parents?”

     He snorted and laughed. “That’ll never happen. Not in my lifetime. Mom just likes to be contrary.”

     “She wants to be right.”

     “Remind me to never try to surprise you.”

     “You already have, with dinner, this conversation.” She paused, cocking her head, looking at him. “You’ll end up married much to her delight.”

     “How—”

     “I see you at the altar, surrounded by friends—”

     “What does she look like? Can you see her?”

     “No.”

     “What about you? Will you get married?”

     “I never get that sense about myself. Besides, I’m a realist. People marry for selfish reasons. Money. Security. Status. Power.—”

     “So, what’s my reason for getting married?” he asked.

     “Love.”

     “Not lust? Isn’t that what attracts us to each other?”

     A statement and phrase she always touted, too.

     He continued. “You’re right. I want to be one of those who marries for love. Otherwise, count me out. Mother will just have to be unhappy.”

The series is available as eBooks only through Amazon, but once the series is completed, the series will appear in one print book made available at all bookstores.

♥ Amazon

Research Tidbits

     Because the series takes place in 15 days and is the same 15 days for each book, as I was writing the second book, I realized I needed to track who was where at what time of day and who was with them so that I didn't have someone in two places. I knew a sharp reader would call me out. The spreadsheet I created was mammoth when printed—12 sheets of paper taped together.

     Once I had everyone in position properly, I typed up each day's activities per each book into one long outline/story log document.

      From there, I decided to write the first draft of all the books before I published #2 to ensure I hadn't written myself into a corner that I couldn't fix. I'm glad I wrote those first drafts because I encountered logistical errors that did need fixing in several books that weren't on the spreadsheet.

Interview Questions

1. When you have writer’s block how do you break free?

At one time, I had what I thought was severe writer’s block. Now, I no longer believe in it. I write about how I came to destroy that writing myth in my Finding Your Fire & Keeping It Hot book, and what I do now to avoid from ever having that situation happen again.

2. What type of book have you always wanted to write?

Ever since watching Somewhere in Time, The Two Lives of Jenny Logan, and reading Constance O’Day Flannery’s romance time-travel books, I’ve wanted to write a time-travel story. I’ve had a story in mind but am still working out the plot. In my mind’s eye, I see it as a screenplay, but that’s not to say I couldn’t write it as a book, too.

3. Please describe your writing environment.

I live in a small 520 sq. ft. one-bedroom apartment where my living room is my office, where I’m surrounded by books. An environment I saw in my mind’s eye decades before it occurred, even while I was married!  

Social Media / Contact

Readers and groups can contact Diana through email or message her through Facebook. Diana’s website contains links to her three blogs, newsletter, and social media.

♥ Email ♥ Blogs/Website ♥ Facebook ♥ Twitter ♥ Instagram ♥ Pinterest 

♥ Goodreads ♥ BookBub ♥ Newsletter
Thank you for spending time with Diana and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday!

Hugs~

Maxine Award-Winning Author RED RIVER CROSSING: Men of the Double K 2019 IDA Winner—Historical Novel ELIZABETH: Widows of Blessings Valley 2019 IDA Finalist—Inspirational THE MARSHAL’S BRIDE 2017 IDA Finalist—Short Historical AUDIOBOOKS: Audiobook Cinema / Amazon / Kobo / Chirp

NEW RELEASE: HANNAH’S DISCOVERY PRE-ORDER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: GINGERBREAD INN

BURIED HEARTS

Welcome Diana Stout to Book Treasure Tuesday! 

Introduction

I’m Diana Stout, and I live in the historic community of Marshall, Michigan. With 15 years of teaching experience (classes for writers), at mid-life, I became a non-traditional college student. My goal was to teach accredited classes. I became an English professor of writing classes, which allowed me to marry my two passions of writing and helping others become better writers.

Today, I write full-time and still help writers become better writers through presentations, workshops, and classes. In early 2015, I created Sharpened Pencils Productions LLC, from which I publish my books:  screenplays, novels, novellas, and nonfiction that includes a cookbook and the first of my how-to series.

My newest release is Buried Hearts: A Laurel Ridge Novella (Book 4). The series involves 7 books, where 9 of the 14 characters are classmates and another 3 are best friends. Additionally, there’s a VW beetle that was fished out of the lake in Book 1 (Shattered Dreams)and so began the mystery that touches each book in the series.

Because the characters are in and out of each other’s stories, my spreadsheet became mammoth, making it both fun and difficult—especially when I had someone in two places at the same time! I’ve spent so much time with these characters, they’ve become good friends that I’d love to hang out with. If only. 

A quick rundown of the series published so far.

Shattered Dreams #1 – High school sweethearts, Mason and Shelley, meet 12 years later and the sparks still fly, but Shelley won’t cooperate. Soon, both are shocked to learn the truth of their high school breakup and who was responsible. Is it too late to rekindle the love once shared or will their dreams be shattered forever?

Burning Desire #2 – Once a bubbly teenager, as a senior Eddie (Edwina) Taylor withdrew, spurning everyone, keeping a secret that could destroy her. Now a decade later, when firefighter Aaron Rhett Sinclair Renoux—a man who hates liars—investigates a fire in her grandmother’s farmhouse, she’s guarded, fearing he has the potential to blow up her world completely.

Arrested Pleasures #3 – Can Cutter, the bad boy womanizer of Laurel Ridge, ever win the heart of game warden Annie Martin, who’d rather see him in handcuffs? They had dated once in high school and once was enough for Annie, and now they’ve best friends. Can Cutter ever get beyond the friend zone?

Genre: Small-town romance 
Heat Level: subtle (thoughts & banter) 


He’s an academic archeologist who digs up the past. She’s an on-the-road psychic balloonist who lives in the clouds. Can they meet in the middle and shed their walled-up exteriors to expose hidden longings and buried hearts?

Excerpt

     “Would—”
     “I read you? Wanting to discover your future so you can satisfy your parents?”
     He snorted and laughed. “That’ll never happen. Not in my lifetime. Mom just likes to be contrary.”
     “She wants to be right.”
     “Remind me to never try to surprise you.”
     “You already have, with dinner, this conversation.” She paused, cocking her head, looking at him. “You’ll end up married much to her delight.”
     “How—”
     “I see you at the altar, surrounded by friends—”
     “What does she look like? Can you see her?”
     “No.”
     “What about you? Will you get married?”
     “I never get that sense about myself. Besides, I’m a realist. People marry for selfish reasons. Money. Security. Status. Power.—”
     “So, what’s my reason for getting married?” he asked.
     “Love.”
     “Not lust? Isn’t that what attracts us to each other?”
     A statement and phrase she always touted, too.
     He continued. “You’re right. I want to be one of those who marries for love. Otherwise, count me out. Mother will just have to be unhappy.”

The series is available as eBooks only through Amazon, but once the series is completed, the series will appear in one print book made available at all bookstores.
♥ Amazon

Research Tidbits

     Because the series takes place in 15 days and is the same 15 days for each book, as I was writing the second book, I realized I needed to track who was where at what time of day and who was with them so that I didn't have someone in two places. I knew a sharp reader would call me out. The spreadsheet I created was mammoth when printed—12 sheets of paper taped together.
     Once I had everyone in position properly, I typed up each day's activities per each book into one long outline/story log document.
      From there, I decided to write the first draft of all the books before I published #2 to ensure I hadn't written myself into a corner that I couldn't fix. I'm glad I wrote those first drafts because I encountered logistical errors that did need fixing in several books that weren't on the spreadsheet.

Interview Questions

1. When you have writer’s block how do you break free?

At one time, I had what I thought was severe writer’s block. Now, I no longer believe in it. I write about how I came to destroy that writing myth in my Finding Your Fire & Keeping It Hot book, and what I do now to avoid from ever having that situation happen again.

2. What type of book have you always wanted to write?

Ever since watching Somewhere in Time, The Two Lives of Jenny Logan, and reading Constance O’Day Flannery’s romance time-travel books, I’ve wanted to write a time-travel story. I’ve had a story in mind but am still working out the plot. In my mind’s eye, I see it as a screenplay, but that’s not to say I couldn’t write it as a book, too.

3. Please describe your writing environment.

I live in a small 520 sq. ft. one-bedroom apartment where my living room is my office, where I’m surrounded by books. An environment I saw in my mind’s eye decades before it occurred, even while I was married!  

Social Media / Contact

Readers and groups can contact Diana through email or message her through Facebook. Diana’s website contains links to her three blogs, newsletter, and social media.

♥ Email ♥ Blogs/Website ♥ Facebook ♥ Twitter ♥ Instagram ♥ Pinterest ♥ Goodreads
♥ BookBub ♥ Newsletter

Thank you for spending time with Diana and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday!

Hugs~
Maxine
Award-Winning Author
RED RIVER CROSSING: Men of the Double K 2019 IDA Winner—Historical Novel
ELIZABETH: Widows of Blessings Valley 2019 IDA Finalist—Inspirational
THE MARSHAL’S BRIDE 2017 IDA Finalist—Short Historical
AUDIOBOOKS: Audiobook Cinema / Amazon / Kobo / Chirp

NEW RELEASE: HANNAH’S DISCOVERY 
PRE-ORDER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: GINGERBREAD INN

TREVOR’S TORMENT

Welcome F. Tilly Brownne to

Book Treasure Tuesday!   Introduction        I write fiction under the name F. Tilly Brownne. I just released my first book in July 2022, titled Audrey’s Search. I’m getting ready to release its sequel, Trevor’s Torment. These books are part of The Reclusive Man series, and part two of that series: Hers to Redeem.     I also have many more titles coming up: Magi Cottage in the Holiday Cottage series and a book in the new Christmas Ridge Romance series, both coming in November. Then more books scheduled in 2023.     But I haven’t always been a romance writer. Until now, I’ve been writing nonfiction books and articles (psst: under my real name Dianne E. Butts). And I’m a screenwriter. My screenplays have placed in some pretty big contests, and I’ve produced and directed a few award-winning short films.     When I’m not writing (which isn’t often!), I enjoy riding my motorcycle with my husband, Hal. We ride with the Christian Motorcyclists Association. I also enjoy photography and tinkering in my flower gardens, but they are often neglected and overgrown because I’m working on some writing deadline! Sneak Peek        I’m super excited that my second book, a historical romance, Trevor’s Torment, will release in the next few months. It’s the sequel to my debut novel, Audrey’s Search, which came out July 6, 2022, in the Reclusive Man series. Both stories center on two sisters in the late 1860’s who hire on with a widower and his two kids to pay their way west with a wagon train. The first story focuses on Audrey Stillman, then the sisters get separated. In this second book, Francine, travels on to Colorado in Trevor’s Torment, which is in Part 2 of the Reclusive Man series: “Hers to Redeem.”  Genre: historical romance with a Christian thread Heat Level: clean and wholesome, subtle touching 

Trevor lives alone in a forest to protect others from his curse…until Francine needs his healing power. Can love break a curse?  In this sequel to Audrey’s Search, return to follow Audrey's sister, Francine Stillman, to Fairplay, Colorado, where the mysterious gray horse’s reappearance helps the Sweeneys and Trouble the dog. When Trouble gets injured, Francine seeks help from a reclusive man, Trevor Kayne, who lives alone in the forest and is said to heal animals. Can Trevor save Trouble? And when the worst happens, can Francine save Trevor? Discover the mysterious man tormented by a curse who is hers to redeem.  If you enjoyed Audrey’s Search, you’ll love Trevor’s Torment. Coming this holiday season. Pre-order below.
Excerpt  
Greta continued talking. “This isn’t a whiteout like I’ve heard described. With those, the wind blows the snow and everything is white.” Mac rubbed his chin. “Well, this surely can’t seem much different.”  Junior ventured out further away from the wagon. His image started to fade as if into nothingness.Mac looked after him. “Don’t go too far, son.” “I know, Papa. But I can still hear your voice clear as a bell.” That sound started up again in the distance. A cry in the wilderness. A moan. From a man? Or a beast? She couldn’t tell.Francine spun around, straining to see into the white surrounding them. “Don’t you hear that?”Junior came walking back toward them out of the mist. It might insult his young manhood for her to say it, but the boy looked like he’d seen a ghost. He and all the others stopped, listening.The sound came from her left, from where the dark evergreens stretching southward had been visible minutes ago. No, wait. It came from straight ahead. She turned around, looking, listening. Around and around. Her eyes strained, trying to penetrate the mist, to see…something. Anything. She failed. All around she could see nothing but white.
 Trevor’s Torment is available in ebook.♥ Amazon Research Tidbits       I had to do a lot of research about the telegram service in the western U.S. in 1870. I needed my heroine, Francine, in Fairplay, Colorado, to send a telegram to her sister, Audrey, back in Kansas asking her to do some investigating for her. I didn’t think that would be a problem, but boy, trying to figure out where the nearest telegraph was available turned out to be harder than expected.      I did learn that the telegraph service only lasted a few years before it was outdated by the telephone, but not by 1870 when my story takes place.         I also learned that telegraph lines ran along the railroad lines.      When I found a map that showed a railroad spur that went from Como up to Alma, Colorado, which today is about 6 miles north of Fairplay, I decided I’d set a telegraph office there. I also found a photo of a telegraph office called the Alpine tunnel telegraph station on the “Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad.” Fairplay sits on the edge of South Park, so I imagined Alma could have a similar-looking station.      That all took me hours of research, but I needed a not-too-distant telegraph office for my story!       Oh, and by the way. Have I mentioned I used to live in Fairplay?   Interview Questions  1. What was your first published work and when was it published? 

My first publication was an opinion column in a weekly Christian denominational magazine, The Lookout, on December 29, 1991. The first Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, was in progress and my article was titled, “Should We Really Pray for Peace?” I’ve since published around 300 articles and short fiction in print publications and contributed to 21 books including Chicken Soup for the Soul books. I’ve published six nonfiction books under my nonfiction-writing name, Dianne E. Butts. 

2. What is the best and worst advice you have ever received? 

Worst Advice:Never outline – it destroys your creativity.

 

OMG. So. Not. True. Outlining explodes my creativity! I have so many unusable, unpublishable not-quite-finished novels in my computer from trying the “just start and write” and “write from the seat of your pants” theory. I wasted years (decades, really) trying to do it the way “everyone” said I should. Finally, I threw that out the window and started doing it the way I felt I needed to.

 

Frankly, it was when I started studying screenwriting, which led to studying story structure, that I began to figure out what I needed in order to write a successful story. Once I found my process, I’ve gotten faster and faster at developing and writing stories and I’m loving it.

 

Best advice:Comes from me and grew out of that worst advice experience: Trust your instincts. We each know in our gut what we need, what works for us and what doesn’t. Trust that. Yes, we need to learn from others and that helps tremendously, but we can sense when something we’re hearing just won’t work for us. We need to listen to ourselves and know it’s okay to disregard even the best-intended advice in order to do what works for us.

 

Now I outline every story before I write a word. This enables me to move around the outline and add in amazing ideas, set up themes and gags that will pay off later, and I don’t have to keep going back and rewriting large portions when I have a great idea. I develop my characters and their conflicts and motivations before I ever start writing. This process works well for me. I’m able to create what I think are far deeper emotional and thematic stories and write them much faster, which I dearly love because I feel I have a lot of making up to do after being stalled for so many years.

 3. What type of book have you always wanted to write? 

I have a fictional story about a small group of people who discover they’re living in the End Times described in the Bible. Unfortunately, the majority of people around them don’t believe that. My little group ends up going off grid and on the run from authorities to survive.

 

I wrote the first book in 1999 and it didn’t go over well with a few first-readers. Kind of a perfect storm of discouragement caused me to shelve the project, but the story has never left me. I’m a better and more confident writer now. I didn’t agree with those readers then, but I trusted them more than I trusted myself.

 

I now believe those books were ahead of their time. They are even more timely now. I really want to write them, and I’ve begun rewriting the first one. It began as a three-book series, but now I believe it can be much more. I’d like to write the “side stories” of each of the twelve main characters as novellas, then write the main series of books as well.

 

I have several deadlines coming up that are keeping me busy, but my mind is turning and developing this story and I can’t wait to write it.

  Social Media / Contact  Currently, Dianne E. Butts’s fiction, which she writes under the pen name, F. Tilly Brownne, is housed on her main website. There’s a Contact form under the “More” menu where readers can contact Dianne. You can sign up for her newsletter at the link below. ♥ Website ♥ Facebook ♥ Twitter ♥ Email ♥ Newsletter Signup ♥ Find All Social Links Here

Thank you for spending time with F. Tilly and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday! 
Hugs~Maxine