Cathy Spencer's Blog

I'm thrilled that my holiday-themed mystery, Tidings of Murder and Woe, was chosen to be part of Kobo's big eBook sale. From Friday, November 21 to Monday, November 24, you'll be able to buy great reads at binge-worthy prices. Look for me in the full MYSTERY list on Page 3! Here's the link to Kobo's sale.

Christmascan be murder on families, especially when your mother is Julia Moreland, theCEO of a big oil company. Julia has a secret she’s about to announce to thepress, but someone is sending her threatening notes, warning her to keep hermouth shut. 

AnnaNolan’s boss, Magdalena, is dating Julia’s stepson. Soon Magdalena is asking forAnna’s help to keep her boyfriend out of jail. But Anna doesn’t want to getinvolved. Two criminal investigations in one year are already more than hernerves can handle. 

Still, curiosity is her downfall and sticking her nose in where it isn’t wanted her forte, so how can Anna refuse?

I've finished tweaking the manuscript for my new historical mystery novel, and I will say that I'm happy with the result. Historical novels involve a lot of research, especially when one is set in a real town, but I think they're worth the extra work due to the interest in earlier times. In this case, the setting is Kentville, Nova Scotia in 1927, when Prohibition was in force in the province. I was inspired to set the novel in Kentville after reading that there were 14 drinking establishments in Kentville during Prohibition, thereby earning it the nickname "the Devil's Half Acre." Kentville was a bustling retail and manufacturing centre for the Annapolis Valley in those days, particularly because it was the operational headquarters for the Dominion Atlantic Railway, which linked the province from Yarmouth to Halifax. The Provincial Sanatorium, which cared for Nova Scotia's tuberculosis patients, was also located there, as was an agricultural experimentation station funded by the federal government. 

The heroine of my story is a young jazz-age flapper who moves from the high life in Toronto to a much quieter life in Kentville. However, with speakeasies, bootleggers, haute couture fashion, and a missing woman case surrounding her, the ever-resourceful Eveline Gruen soon finds plenty of excitement!

One of my resources was Canada's "Mayfair" magazine from 1927. Here's a picture of the cover from October of that year as an example.

The Smashwords Read an Ebook Week sale is live!You'll find all of my books on sale or free at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...

Happy Read an Ebook Week! To help you find a book to celebrate, you can find my entire collection at a promotional price at @Smashwords from March 2 - March 8. Find my books and many more at https://www.smashwords.com/ebookweek #ebookweek25 #Smashwords

Now is your best chance to find my book collection on sale at 25% off at the Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale. You'll also find thousands of books by other authors on sale. Check us out now and save on some wonderful summer (or winter) reads.

Whether July means Summer or Winter in your part of the world, Smashwords wants to celebrate with a giant ebook sale. My books will all be on sale at 25% off, except for Framed for Murder, which will continue to be free. Stay tuned for links in time for the sale, which may include over 100,000 ebooks from the Smashwords authors. This is a global, month-long indie culture joy fest, connecting indie authors with voracious readers who love indie books! I hope to see you there.

I'm writing an historical novel concerning a young woman who moves from Toronto to small town Kentville, Nova Scotia in 1927. It will be a fish-out-of-water story, until it evolves into a mystery. Flappers, speak easies, gangsters - it should be a lot of fun!

I've just seen a FB post with some beautiful Roaring Twenties-style cloche hats that my heroine, Evelyn Gruen, would be delighted to wear. And who wouldn't? 

Thank you to Andrei Niculescu for contributing these pictures to the "Art Deco, Art Nouveau & 20.(late 19.) Century Decoratif Arts Share Group" on Facebook.

Now is your best chance to find my books for free or at great promotional prices as part of Smashwords giant End of Year Sale! Find my books and many more at https://smashwords.com/shelves/promos through the end of 2023. 

Meanwhile, I'd like to wish you all a relaxing, healthy, and happy holiday season, and a remarkable 2024.

 

I’m excited to announce that all of my books will be promoted at Smashwords for the month of July as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! Be sure to follow me for more updates and links to the promotion for my books and many more! #SWSale2023 #Smashwords

 My holiday mystery, Tidings of Murder and Woe, is available as part of the Smashwords 2022 End of Year Sale!

Take advantage of amazing promotions on thousands of indie titles throughout December. Find your next favorite book at https://smashwords.com/shelves/promos.
Be sure to bookmark Smashwords for more great book promos and the largest indie bookstore on the internet! 
#SmashwordsEOYSale #smashwords #ebook #sale #books2read #indiebooks