Five Must Haves in Every Mystery Novel by Sandra de Helen – Giveaway

3_19 NBtM_TheIllustriousClient_Banner

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sandra will be awarding a $25 Powell’s gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

FIVE MUST HAVES IN EVERY MYSTERY NOVEL
My genre is: Fiction, Mystery, Woman Sleuth, subgenre gay, lesbian. My series is Shirley Combs/Dr. Mary Watson. Shirley is asexual, and Mary thought she was until the second book when she discovers her latent lesbianism. Both books have gay and lesbian characters. The second book features a woman who was raised as a boy.

So, what are the five musts every story in my genre should have? In my opinion:

1. A murder. The victim must have several people in her or his life who would be willing to kill.

2. A complicated, but not confusing, plot. Red herrings should be employed, and actual clues dropped, along the way. The reader wants to solve the mystery, but not too soon.

3. Engaging protagonists. In my case, I have Shirley who is the detective, and Mary who is her sidekick and narrator. At least one of them should be a person the reader might like, and would want to learn more about.

check this pharmacy cialis without prescription No man with ED can be happy with one as well. To deal with it I went on a vacation to order cialis icks.org just get away from everything. However, since on cialis line increases the blood circulation in the body, which involve the signals from the nervous system and the brain to react to sexual arousal which may lead to certain complications. Therefore, it is important to consider levitra on line sales the proper treatment on time. 4. Relevance to the reader. I want my stories to resonate with my readers. My audience is intelligent, interested, and interesting. They are a bit left of center in their politics, and are up on current events. They teach me about what they do and don’t want to hear from me.

5. A “B” story. Yes, readers want to know about the murder, its victim(s), and to follow the clues to the resolution. They also want more: character arc, transformation, maybe a love story. Notice I didn’t say sex. Lots of lesbian mysteries do contain sex, sometimes explicit. In The Illustrious Client you’ll encounter some love scenes, but I don’t do explicit. I include only those scenes I think are necessary for the story. I’m not trying to steal from the authors who write erotica, after all.

I like to include information about Portland because I live here. It’s a beautiful place with great people, the world’s largest bookstore (Powell’s), indie bookstores (Another Read Through, Broadway Books, In Other Words, and many more), so many good places to dine, including our thousands of food trucks, even a covered bridge in the city limits. I like to read about other places, other settings. In addition to US authors, I enjoy Val McDermid, Denise Mina, and Ian Rankin (Scotland), Ruth Rendell (England), Henning Mankell (Sweden), Donna Leon (Venice), and Colin Cotterell (Laos and Thailand). This is a small sampling of authors who write about places I’ve been or want to go to.

There are lots of writers here in Portland. I like to think of it as the US version of Ireland. Have you read Chelsea Cain, Lori L. Lake, Bill Cameron, Chuck Pahlniuk, Ursula LeGuin? There are book readings, poetry slams, writing workshops, every week. There is a coffeehouse on almost every corner, not all of them Starbucks. I’ve read a couple of times at the Rain or Shine Coffee House, which is walking distance from my chair. If you can’t come visit me, at least visit Portland in my books.

About the Author:3_19 AuthorPicSandra de Helen’s books as well as short stories are available at bookstores, libraries, and online. Her poetry and plays are published in several journals. Samples of her works are on her website SandradeHelen.com. Even though she says she isn’t a “joiner,” de Helen is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Oregon Writers Colony, the Golden Crown Literary Society, and International Centre for Women Playwrights. Like her at FaceBook.com/drmarywatson, follow her on Twitter @dehelen, and read her blog at RedCrested.com. She lives with her cat Stanton in Portland, Oregon where they both type.

Website ~ Facebook

Illustrious Client Cover Only CompliantBook Two of the Shirley Combs and Dr. Mary Watson series, THE ILLUSTRIOUS CLIENT, shows us the private investigator and her sidekick sharing an office, and introduces their receptionist, Lix. They are hired to influence a young international pop star, Oceane Charles, to pry her away from her older, richer, player of a girlfriend. The cast is made up of people with various ethnicities and backgrounds, and of course the job soon includes solving a murder mystery. Along the way, Mary discovers her latent lesbianism. Set in Portland, Oregon on a superyacht, in a hospital VIP room, at Rose Festival, and other fun places.

Buy the book at Amazon.

Spotlight on ROOM OF TEARS by Linda Merlino

SBB Room of Tears Banner copy

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Two commenters will receive a $25 Amazon or BN.com Gift Certificate each. The Rafflecopter to enter the contest is at the end of this post. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on today’s tour.

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000040_00063]Out of tragedies come heroes and miracles…

At 9:59 a.m. on September 11, 2001, Diane O’Connor’s life as a firefighter’s wife changes forever, shattering her faith. Four decades later, a note still hangs on her kitchen cabinet in Queens, the paper yellowed with age. Diane knows the scribbled sentences by heart; she’d left them the morning of 9/11 for her husband, Billy.

In the summer of 2041, Diane invites Friar Antonio Ortiz to her home. He is a man destined to become counsel to the first American pope—her son, Peter. Antonio asks no questions and arrives in secret, promising to wait nineteen years before passing Diane’s journal to Peter. Only then will Billy’s story be told, along with answers to Peter’s questions about his father’s last days.

Excerpt

Absorbed, Antonio neglected to notice that Diane had disappeared into the kitchen. He thought to ask her about the two men in the photographs, and when he turned in anticipation of seeing her next to him, he took a step toward where she might be standing. His right foot struck a pair of boots propped upright against the wall. He stumbled and put a hand out to that empty place where he thought she might be, but his face did not meet hers, and instead came within an inch of a firefighter’s helmet, the medallion of its FDNY ladder company polished and gleaming.

On the edge of that moment, trying to regain his balance, each breath he took tightened in his throat. Antonio began to gag. His mind raced. What could be happening? One minute he was looking at photographs and the next his throat was constricting. An acrid odor rose to his nostrils. He shook his head—the same faint smell he’d noticed from before, at the door, but stronger, sharp enough now to sear his soft membranes. My God, he thought and recoiled. Sweat sprang from his face and neck. A heart attack? He clutched his chest. No, not that. His heart was fine except for the galloping beat under his ribcage. Heat emanated from the helmet as if it had just come through an inferno. “My God,” he said aloud. Perhaps a fire burned inside the wall, hot enough to choke him.

About the Author: bio photoLinda Merlino is the author of Room of Tears (July 23 2013), Hudson Catalina (2008-Belly of the Whale & re-release 9/14/12), Swan Boat Souvenir (self-published 2003) she began writing fiction as a young mother on the sidelines of endless soccer practices. Linda wrote anytime any place. A manuscript filled a carton in the back seat of her car. Many years have passed since those early beginnings, but her work continues to be inspired by her children.

The author has a fascination with heroes and writes her fiction to honor ordinary men and women who react unselfishly in extraordinary circumstances. She extends her gratitude to all who keep us safe and free.

Her hometown is outside of Boston. She lived for many years in New York City and more recently calls Connecticut her home.


Linda Merlino

Gooddaysnodays on Twitter

Author Page Facebook

Hudson Catalina

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Trivedi Effect – Knotting You sildenafil canada online With Your Soulmate “The Trivedi Effect”is a well-known process of transforming living organisms and non-living materials to perform at the highest level. By reducing acid production in stomach this not only helps to relieve the symptoms of heartburn but also treats stomach ulcer and esophagus damage efficiently by relieving these parts from the constant hit of acidic moment. respitecaresa.org order levitra online Another much talked about drug that is quite expensive in the US are corticosteroids, which sell on an average ranging between $18 and $45 for cheapest tadalafil online a 30 day supply of the most expensive of this drug type. In some men, erectile dysfunction is a genetic disorder, while others develop ED due levitra uk to unhealthy lifestyles.

Play Twenty Questions: Question 13

anniversary header 2013 copy

  Enjoy these answers from a host of authors in multiple genres, from YA to mystery to romance — then enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a $100 Amazon or BN GC and more!

2013 Anniversary NON Questions 13
Ash Krafton Talk to myself in foreign accents.

Linda Palmer I plot. Is that weird? Not for a writer, maybe.

Debra St. John  I talk to myself when I’m working on a project. Cooking, scrapbooking, writing, cleaning…I also talk to myself at the grocery store, which is probably worse since there are people around. I know a lot of people talk to themselves. I do it to stay focused.

Kaylie Newell I talk to myself. But I don’t have to be alone to do it.

Judy Alter Sing Scottish ballads at the top of my voice.

Linda Rettstatt I talk to myself. And when I don’t get the answer I want, I talk to the cat. Then I interpret her expression to my own satisfaction. She always agrees with me. Well, before she gets up, gives me that ‘you’ve got to be kidding’ cat look, and walks away.

Maeve Greyson That depends on your definition of weird. *ahem*

Niecey Roy Not really, but I sing my face off everywhere I go…to the washing machine, to the kitchen, IN the kitchen, while I’m cooking IN the kitchen, while I’m getting ready for work… You get the drift.

Tess Morrison I crank up the music and sing and dance. It’s really quite disturbing for anyone coming to the door unexpectedly. But I have such fun! I gyrate and wail at the top of my lungs. Great stress reliever – you should try it. Just pull the shades and lock the door.

Anne Van I love to sing to myself. Especially after the few singing lessons I took. I’m not half bad. : )

Tina Pollick Alone? What’s that? Seriously when I get ‘alone’ time I usually go see a movie. I know it’s weird, but it’s nice to sit through a movie without anyone asking me questions or needing to go to the bathroom. 🙂

Debra Doggett Yoga. Trust me, the way I do it, it’s more than strange. I try never to do it when anyone is around. No one wants to see that.

Nia Simone  Ripping pictures of people out of magazines to save for character ideas.

Virginia Crane Sip a martini and eat almonds but that really doesn’t sound weird. Actually, when I’m alone I mostly read or do crossword puzzles. Does that make me dull and uninteresting? Maybe I’d better start paying more attention to what I do when I’m alone.

Graeme Brown Oh, lets NOT go there!

😮

Nancy Fraser If no one else can see them, they couldn’t possibly be weird. Could they? However, I do have a tendancy to sit at my computer and write in my underwear. Which is another reason I don’t have Skype!

Jeanette Baker I already mentioned the talking to myself.
I also attempt yoga moves and dance steps that I’m too self-conscious to do in public. I’m not terribly coordinated.

Kim Hornsby I’m a mother, I’m never alone. Okay, seldom. And I have dogs who follow me around the house from room to room. BUT, for that rare moment when I don’t have anyone or anything in the house with me, I sing, loud. Like Melissa McCarthy did in the car in Identity Thieves.

Juliet Waldron I don’t know how weird it is, but I talk to plants and to birds and, of course, to my cats. I have a tree in my yard which has a sentient feel about it and so that’s my particular “friend.” I don’t tell it anything about me, mostly I just listen to it. After a while, it’s almost as if I can hear it breathing/sap rising or falling. We have a lot of brush and old trees on our small lot and many birds who mark their territories with song. I often talk to them; most don’t pay any attention as they are on their own programmed trip, but the crows do listen and sometimes talk back.

Willa Blair Make up stories and write them down? Not weird for an author, but for most people, it probably qualifies.

Lynda J Cox I talk to myself…let me clarify. I talk plotting and dialogue out loud, so I can get the feel for the story.

Lynda Coker You really expect me to answer this one honestly? Okay, I’m a pretty boring person, not too many wacky personality traits. But I do have to admit I love watching Asian Dramas. My husband doesn’t care for them so it’s definitely something I do when I’m alone.

Brenda Gayle I like to sing at the top of my lungs to the radio or CD. Before I had kids and heard myself singing lullabies a cappella, I thought I had a pretty decent voice and was willing to share my talent with the world. Now that I know the truth, I only sing when I’m alone and when I am accompanied by Mr. Springsteen.

Maryann Miller I don’t know how weird it is, but sometimes when I am alone I play music at a very high volume and sing along at an equally high volume. That used to be a problem when I lived in a suburban area, but not so much since I have moved to the country. Although my horse does stop his grazing now and then to look at the house as if he is wondering where that awful noise is coming from. The goat doesn’t seem to care.

Meg Benjamin If my hubs is gone for a couple of days, I’ll binge watch “Say Yes To the Dress”. For some reason I just love watching those brides choose dresses they’ll never wear again.

Mary Hughes Sing at the top of my lungs. I used to dance until the downstairs neighbors registered their displeasure with a broomstick on the ceiling.

Shannyn Schroeder I tend to talk to myself. I guess it might be reminiscent of the days of having an imaginary friend. When I’m trying to process something, I’ll carry on a bit of conversation, at least my half and within my head, the person I imagine I’m talking to will answer. In my house, however, talking to myself is not weird because everyone in my family does it.

Lynn Crandall I’m probably like a lot of people in that being alone — and with music playing — unleashes my inner dancer. It’s fun! One time when my children were younger, my step-daughter walked in the backdoor just as I was doing the dishes and jamming to music. She laughed and I laughed too. My inner dancer was let out of the closet!

Sheila Claydon I dance. I turn up the music and rekindle all those moves I did when I was young, you know, the really energetic ones. I dance until I’m out of breath and beginning to worry that my heart’s not up to it anymore, then I dance some more. And by the time I’ve finished I feel years younger and ready for more.

Carol Henry Because of my love of dance, I turn the radio up and dance my heart out in the living room when no one is around. I watch my reflection at night in our full-length picture window that takes up one whole wall. It’s such a liberating sensation—and great exercise.

Robin Renee Ray Not really…I’m pretty much a freak all the time..LOL

Joya Fields I sing and dance a lot when nobody is looking. I mean, people already think I’m weird, why give them more reasons by doing this when others can see me? 🙂

Patty Campbell I listen to classical opera arias at ear-splitting volume. Doesn’t matter if the singers are male or female. I get a thrill in my chest that is a real physical response. BTW I don’t like opera.

Genie Gabriel Does this count? I was alone, but the whistling may have been overheard…The neighbor’s grown son is pretty obnoxious sometimes, so this morning I decided to be disgustingly nice. Whistled a familiar song as I was unloading my vehicle, but didn’t sing the slightly altered words to anyone but myself. And, no, I can’t share those words on a PG-rated site.

Elysa Hendricks I do lots of weird things (of course, I don’t really consider them weird,) but rarely wait to do them when I’m alone. Why deny the world my creative awesomeness?

Kate Robbins  I talk to myself whether I’m alone or not. Does that count? I’ve often been told that the only time I should really worry is if self starts talking back. o_O

Ryshia Kennie I talk to myself – not always, but sometimes. Sometimes I’ll put music on and dance, wild and crazy and more than likely badly. I’ll dance circles around the house and sometimes – well I’ll clean and dance. Which, of course, is why I do it when I’m alone.

Troy Lambert I have a stuffed monkey my kids gave me. It came with a card with a website on it, so I can play online. So sometimes when I’m alone, I play with my monkey online. Is that weird?

Jane Toombs Really weird? No, if you don’t consider picking your nose weird.

Jaleta Clegg How much TMI are you after here? I talk to myself; wait, that’s not weird. I sing, loud and off-key, while I play the piano. I do gorilla impersonations. I quote movies and do actor impressions. I sing the Six-Million-Dollar Man theme and move in slow-motion. Or Baywatch if it’s summer.

Wait, I do all those things in front of my family and in public. I guess I’m just weird no matter who’s watching.

Beth Trissel Define weird.

Helena Fairfax Plenty! Ones I can talk about in public are: talking to myself, singing really loudly (and out of tune), and repetitively watching reruns of Frasier. (I’m not actually crazy – honestly!)

Kelly Whitley Sing along with the iPod.
I don’t do this when anyone else is around. Not only do I have eclectic taste in music (read: “You LIKE that?”) but I cannot sing. Not even a little bit.

Laurel O’Donnell I don’t know if you would call it wierd, but I love to sing on Rock Band 3. I will do it if I’m alone or sometimes with my children. I like to pretend I’m really good and in this super popular band. I can dream!

Paty Jager I don’t know if it’s weird. I like to dance but I’m not very coordinated or good at it, so I wiggle and jiggle to loud music when I’m alone and feeling the need to expel extra energy.

Linda McMaken LOL, define weird. Okay, I confess, I LOVE to sing and when I’m alone I find songs on Youtube with the lyrics and pretend I’ve just filled Madison Square Garden and I rock out. Occasionally, I will even put on lip gloss and pretend I’m sexy when I rock out!

Even the dog leaves the room, nuff said.

Penny Estelle I two step by myself….

Isabo Kelly I walk around acting out scenes in the stories I’m working on–or sometimes just scenes I make up for fun. Like I’ll have full conversations with imaginary people. Sometimes I do this so I won’t go all political on social media, or to work out my anger on a soapbox issue like women’s rights. My boys are sometimes subjected to these conversations but mostly I try to only do this while I’m alone.

Pamela Turner I practice being interviewed. Okay, stop laughing. I simply practice scenarios in case the opportunity arises and I find myself in such a situation. At the same time, I’m visualizing. Has it worked? Yeah, it has. Not only that, but it helps make me better prepared. And no, I haven’t worked on my Oscar speech yet. 🙂

Shirley Martin Not really. I daydream a lot. I think about places I’d like to visit, things I’d like to buy if I had the money.

Amy Corwin: Sing to the dogs. Sing or just chat. I chat constantly to the dogs. I’m sure people think I’m completely insane because I’ve been caught several times chatting in a sing-song voice to the dogs and cat.

 

THIS IS THE RAFFLECOPTER FOR THURSDAY. DON’T FORGET TO CHECK BACK TOMORROW FOR A NEW RAFFLECOPTER WITH BRAND-NEW PRIZES.  THERE’S ALSO A DIFFERENT RAFFLECOPTER ON MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND WEDNESDAY’S ANNIVERSARY POSTS. 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Since it’s in fluid structure, it can disintegrate effortlessly inside the mouth and act cipla cialis canada quickly contrasted with the generic medication. Symptoms of Infertility in male A medical test like blood check this link cheap cialis test and semen test is always needed to find out about checkout choices. The tablet should be dissolved in water, http://appalachianmagazine.com/2017/09/11/september-11th-memorial-on-mars/ cialis no prescription canada stirred gently and can be consumed easily. There are a lot of factors which affect your ability to keep up an erection amid sex. cialis for sale india

Play Twenty Questions: Question 4

anniversary header 2013 copy

 Enjoy these answers from a host of authors — then enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a $100 Amazon or BN GC and more!

2013 Anniversary NON Questions 4
 

Tasarla Romaney Ohhhh the many ways – my favorite is served on toast. Flaked wood grilled tuna, add onions, dill, lemon juice and a small amount of Greek yogurt

Ash Krafton With MAYO. I’m not insane. Oh, and no crunchy bits, either. Celery=ack!

Linda Palmer I stir together tuna, boiled egg, dill pickles, sweet pickles, and Miracle Whip. Then I spread that on toasted bread and add lettuce.

Debra St. John My favorite is a hot tuna rollup. I prepare the tuna by draining the water (I never use oil based tuna.) and adding a bit of mayo. I spoon the tuna into 8 uncooked crescent rolls. For my hubby’s portion, I add cheese: sometimes Swiss, sometimes American, sometimes a combo. I roll up the dough with the tuna in it and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes at 375 degrees. Yummo!

Judith B. Glad 1. Set a trap for the tuna (preferably in territory they are known to inhabit).
2. Spread mayo on two really BIG slices of bread.
3. Check the trap. If it’s empty, go to…
3. Pile pickle relish on one slice of bread.
4. Check trap again. If still empty, go to…
5. Slice 7 tomatoes and lay on unpickled slice of bread
8. Check trap. If still empty, give up, because the tuna aren’t biting on Pnut butter today
9. Substitute canned sardines for tuna on sandwich. They taste better anyhow..

Kaylie Newell First, choose a nice, fresh loaf of white bread. Then, retrieve the light mayo from the fridge. Next, open the can of tuna and give it to the cat. (I’m a vegetarian. Although, I wouldn’t normally have a mayo sandwich. Probably should keep that takeout number handy.)

Judy Alter Tuna, lots of lemon,, sliced scallions, a bit of anchovy paste, and just enough mayo to bind. Put it on seedless Jewish rye.

J.A. Garland Light on the Mayo, of course!

Linda Rettstatt Mix tuna with a little mayo and chopped celery. Spread it on thin whole wheat sandwich rounds. (Some folks add onion. I’m not a big fan of raw onions.) This is best served on white bread, but it’s not on my diet any more.

Maeve Greyson Since I’m not particularly fond of tuna, I would get Hubby to make one his uber-awesome bacon-lettuce-tomato creations on homemade bread. I would then point at it and say, “You are a tuna sandwich. I forbid you to exude the calories of a BLT.”

Laura Strickland Ask the tuna if he would prefer kelp or krill on his sandwich, and then serve it with a side of seaweed.

Niecey Roy I don’t.

Tess Morrison FIrst I put on loud music. Probably classic rock. Begin to gyrate around the kitchen. Pour myself a glass of vino. Chop up some onion, celery and green peppers. Begin to sing very badly. Drink more wine. Open the can, plop it into the bowl with the veggies, and mix in Miracle Whip. Continue to dance, drink and sing. Put it on toasted bread with lettuce. Enjoy!

Jana Richards  With tuna. And bread. Is this a trick question?

Tina Pollick For myself: Tuna, mayo, hard boiled eggs and dill pickles. For my family: Tuna and mayo. <- They’re boring. LOL

Debra Doggett With the works. I put cheese (feta if I’ve got it), onion, mayo, mustard, sometimes nuts and eggs. But not usually pickles. I like them on the side.

Nia Simone Very carefully. Seriously, I let my husband do it. He’s brilliant with cooking. Tuna he does magic to. He adds a squeeze of this great wasabe paste you can buy in a tube. And mayo. Other stuff, I don’t know what. But I eat whatever he makes and if he does something to doctor up something we’re eating, I do exactly what he does without even taste testing. He’s always right. About food, anyway. ;–)

Zoe Forward I go to my favorite deli and buy it. Okay, I can make tuna, but I know it won’t taste as good as if I have a professional chef make it.

Virginia Crane Half and Half. Half tuna, half hard boiled eggs. Add a chopped pickled okra, preferably Wickles Pickles brand. Mix with Miracle Whip and horseradish. Terrific on rye bread.

Graeme Brown I don’t! Ham, cheddar, tomato, lettuce and mayonnaise for me, please.

Nancy Fraser I start with albacore tuna, chopped onions and celery, Hellman’s mayo and chopped pecans on lightly toasted sourdough bread. I’d serve it with crisp dill pickles, a chunk or two of good cheese (preferably gouda or havarti) and a cold glass of Dr. Pepper or sweet tea.

Robyn Bachar With a healthy amount of mayo, shredded asiago cheese mixed in, on wheat toast. Bonus points if I can survive making the sandwich without tripping over my cats. I swear they have tuna radar.

Jeanette Baker Without mayonnaise. I use the best tuna in olive oil, mix it with whole grain mustard, minced green onions, chopped pepperoncinis, (sp?) smoked almonds, lemon juice and raisins. It’s delicious and healthy, too.

Kim Hornsby I don’t eat tuna often because I worry about the dolphins that get caught in the net and I don’t like to encourage the industry. But when I have made tuna for me and my kids, I use mayo, sweet relish and loads of crunchy celery. The tuna must be white, not light, packed in water, with all the water drained off. Then I spread it on buttery whole grain bread and dig in. hmmm, where’s the tuna in this kitchen…

Juliet Waldron In this house we make tuna sandwiches with a little mayo, an equal amount of plain yogurt, salt, pepper, diced hard-boiled eggs and a small amount of finely chopped celery and apple. We lightly toast bread to go with it, and then the sandwich is topped with sliced tomato.

Mary Jo Burke Rinse the tuna and flake it with a fork. Chop up an onion and a celery stalk, very finely. Mix with the tuna. Add a dollop of mayonnaise. Slather on a slice of toasted sourdough bread. Top with a few tomato slices, a piece of American cheese, and the second slice of bread. Potato chips optional, but highly recommended.

Willa Blair Tuna, mayo, sweet pickle relish, moist, but not runny. On crackers, not bread.

Lynda J Cox I don’t. Too many times as a kid, I had to eat creamed tuna casserole. To this day, I can’t stand the smell or taste of tuna.

Elaine Violette My Danish ancestors made the best tuna sandwich. White Albacore Tuna, sweet gherkins pickles, onion, celery, and chopped hard boiled egg, and mayonnaise, of course! My Portuguese grandfather always said to add a little salt to fish, so I sprinkle some salt and pepper too. Toast that bread to add crispness, gobs of the tuna mixture, fresh lettuce and you’ve got the best tuna fish sandwich ever!

Lynda Coker I start with albacore tuna, add diced green onions, grated cheese, chopped boiled eggs, a little sweet pickle, and sliced ripe olives, and then stir all those together with mayo and a touch of Dijon mustard. Toast two slices of bread, add a thin slice of jellied cranberry sauce to one side and lettuce on the other. I spread the tuna mixture on the lettuce side and then put the two sides together. Most people are put-off by the jellied cranberry at first, but try it once and you’ll be hooked.

Susan Fox Pretty much the way my mom did. This is traditional, definitely not fancy gourmet fare. I use my favorite tinned tuna (water packed), mayo or Miracle Whip, lemon juice, chopped celery or chopped green pepper, salt, and ground black pepper. For bread, I like either a rustic Italian white loaf or a nice moist multi-grain.

Meg Benjamin I mix the tuna with a hard-boiled egg, some chopped celery, green onions, baby peppers, maybe a little tomato. Then dress it with a bit of mayonnaise. If I were eating normally, I’d put it on bread. These days, I’d toss it in with a lot of lettuce and some vinaigrette. Okay, it’s not really a “sandwich” but it’s definitely tuna salad.

Mary Hughes Albacore tuna, mixed with mayonnaise, chopped green onion, chopped egg, a bit of mustard powder, salt (and pepper if you like). Scoop onto thick toasted whole wheat bread. Cover with sliced American, cheddar, provolone or Swiss cheese (or all of them!) Top with another thick slice of bread. Then broil or toast in a skillet until the cheese is gooey and the bread is perfect golden brown.

Shannyn Schroeder I’m not a huge fan of tuna, so I’ll only eat it the way I grew up eating it as a kid – being Catholic meant no meat on Fridays during Lent, so that’s when I ate tuna. I drain the tuna from the can, chop up a couple of small pickles and mix it in the tuna. Then I add mayonnaise. The bread for the sandwich has to be toasted. When the toast is ready, I spread on the tuna and cut the sandwich in half. I NEVER deviate from this (right down to cutting it in half).

Denise Golinowski Hmm, pretty basic really. Open a can of tuna (in water) and drain thoroughly. Dump into a bowl. Add Mayo until it reaches the correct consistency. Cover and refrigerate. Can eat immediately, but I like it best the next day. Take out of the fridge, spread a thick layer on bread, salt & pepper to taste. Cut in halves. Place on a nice plate, add extra crunchy potato chips and enjoy!

Lynn Crandall Tuna sandwiches are at the top of my list of favorite sandwiches. I’m pretty easy to please there, and typically mix tuna with mayonnaise, put it on toast with lettuce and enjoy. But my favorite way to make a tuna sandwich is to order it from the bread store/deli, where the tuna salad sandwich is amazing.

Sheila Claydon I mix it with mayonnaise, sliced spring onion, pepper and salt and then spread it THICKLY on wholemeal bread – no butter or spread as I want to taste the tuna. I might add some cucumber too and serve it with lettuce and tomato on the side.

Carol Henry I make a tuna sandwich with chuck light Bumblebee tuna, mayo (not miracle whip and nothing diet or light), add my homemade diced sweet pickles, a bit of salt and pepper, and slather it on bread with just a touch of butter on one side. Sometimes I toast the bread first. Always serve with kettle chips, and most often a ginger ale.

Robin Renee Ray I like mine with fresh garden onions, sharp cheddar cheese, and a wee bit of salt…and I have mine with crackers.

Joya Fields Haha. This sounds like a setup for a joke, but I’ll give you my recipe anyway. One can of tuna mixed with chopped celery, some mayonnaise and (since I’m from Maryland) some Old Bay seasoning!

Genie Gabriel Mash up an avocado, add one can of tuna and Ranch dressing to suit your own taste. Have a bagel with melted cheese on the side. Yum! Think I’ll have one now.

Pamela S Thibodeaux Only 1? I love tuna and can usually eat the better part of a can in one sitting. It all begins with the best white tuna (packed in water not oil), eggs, mayo, seasoning and a dab of mustard. Boil, chop, sprinkle and mix then spread thickly on two slices of fresh bread (wheat or white doesn’t matter!)

Elysa Hendricks I can’t say I’ve ever made a tuna sandwich. While I enjoy tuna, I can’t stand mayonnaise, which seems to be one of the main ingredients in making a tuna salad. But if I did try and make a tuna sandwich – for someone else to eat – I’d use those little packets of prepared tuna you can buy.

Allie Boniface I don’t. I like tuna in very small amounts, but only on crackers, or something that doesn’t get soggy like regular bread. Speaking of which, if anyone has a great recipe for non-soggy tuna sandwiches, I’d love to hear it!

Jennifer Shirk Not to brag…but my kiddo loves my tuna sandwiches. She will eat her sandwich then finish off the rest that is in the bowl with a fork!!

I take 2 cans of tuna, very little mayo (like 1/4 cup or so), then I eyeball the seasoning: a little paprika, a little salt, a little celery seed, a little onion powder, a little garlic powder, a little fresh pepper. And you HAVE to have good soft bread or toast it.

Liana Laverentz Tuna, real mayo, a spoonful of relish. On toasted bread. Or I buy it from Whole Foods Co-op. They make it with walnuts, celery, onions and cranberries. Yum!

Ryshia Kennie It’s strange that you should ask that as I usually don’t have tuna sandwiches but I just had one yesterday. I made it with olive oil instead of mayonnaise, salt and pepper and chopped up a green onion. I toasted rye bread and voila – it was pretty good.

Troy Lambert That’s a big fish. I don’t know how you make a tuna do anything at all.

Jane Toombs I happen to hate tuna and so I never have made one.

Jaleta Clegg Open face on a whole wheat bagel and then toasted under a broiler until slightly crusty and warm. The tuna mix is canned tuna in water, a splash of lemon juice, some dried dill weed, several chopped dill pickles, shredded cheddar cheese, and just enough mayo to hold it together. I have to beat off the cat and the dogs when I make these.

Beth Trissel Miracle whip, honey mustard, relish, hard-boiled eggs, tomato, salt, pepper, and gluten free bread because I’m violently intolerant.

Heather Haven I make a quick run out to Subway and say this: I’ll take mine with tomatoes, lettuce and onions. But the onions only if I’m not talking to anyone else for an hour.

Gail Pallotta My favorite tuna sandwich starts with a fresh yellow fin tuna with a bit of lime juice poured over it baked on 350 degrees until it’s done.. After it’s cooled, flake it then add mayonnaise, pickle relish, a chopped boiled egg and salt and pepper. How much mayonnaise? ): I’m not sure. Enough for the dish to get a smooth consistency. Pickle relish. About a tablespoon full, but more for those who like more of a sweet flavor. Salt and pepper to taste.

Helena Fairfax I don’t ever make tuna sandwiches any more 🙁 I love tuna, but my daughter is vegetarian, and works in wildlife conservation. She has told me so many times about how the tuna is an endangered species, that now I just can’t bear to eat it any more.

Kelly Whitley I don’t. Tuna is yucky. Don’t like the smell or the taste. I’d be more likely to make a sandwich FOR a tuna.
Sandwiches are not big for me. Grilled Havarti on Sourdough with tomatoes in the middle, or Subway with lots of veggies.

Laurel O’Donnell I like tuna salad, so I would mix the tuna with a little mayo. Then, to pretend like I was eating healthy, I would put it on wheat bread and eat it!

Paty Jager You can’t make a tuna sandwich without adding either sweet pickle relish to the tuna and Miracle Whip or by placing slabs of sweet pickle on top of the tuna and miracle whip. When I’m tired and we need a quick dinner, I mix tuna, Miracle Whip, and relish, spread it on the bread, then top it with grated cheddar cheese and broil. Makes great Tuna melts!

Linda McMaken Take two large, flaky croissants, smoother them with mayo, add some dill pickles, freshly sliced tomato, lettuce, spinach, a sprinkle of ground parsley, a dash of oregano, and a slice of cucumber. Push can of tuna off to the side. Put top on croissant and eat.

Penny Estelle tuna, celery, onion, hard boiled eggs, cucumber, light on the mayo, on toast with lettuce….YUM

Keena Kincaid I go to the deli.

Isabo Kelly Lots of mayo mixed with tuna, toasted bread and sweet pickle relish on top of tuna/mayo. Sometimes I cut in a hard-boiled egg.

Lynne Marshall celery, white albacore, light on the mayo tuna mix. Slice of cheddar cheese and avocado – brown on both sides of (preferably sour dough) bread until cheese melts and bread is nice and toasty and serve!

Melissa McClone I don’t make tuna sandwiches. I have cats. Lots and lots of cats. If I open a can of tuna, I’m instantly attacked. Think Sharknado 2. It wouldn’t be pretty, and yes, there would be blood. Needless to say I skip the tuna sandwiches.

Aaron Speca I don’t. I can’t stand canned tuna. Now tuna STEAK … that’s a totally different story. Tuna steak is AMAZING!

Pamela Turner Open can of tuna and try to pull lid free without splashing tuna water on my fingers. Ignore cat meowing and reaching up with forepaws. Pry off lid and thank whatever deity I didn’t cut myself. Ignore caterwauling cat. Realize I forgot the bread on the other side of the counter. Go get bread. Come back. Pick up cat off counter and put on floor. Forget that cats have little springs in their paw pads. Put cat on floor again. Go get Miracle Whip. Repeat counter-floor move with cat. Shake MW bottle and squirt it. Watch MW go everywhere except on the bread. Look at cat, who’s giving me the evil eye because I dare ruin her idea of the perfect meal. Manage to get MW on bread. Then remember I planned to have a melted tuna sandwich…

Shirley Martin First, I’d go to the ocean and catch a tuna. Then I’d bring it home and cut it up. (Just kidding. I don’t like seafood.)

Amy Corwin: With tuna? LOL – here is my basic recipe:
Tuna Fish
Miracle Whip
Finely chopped onions
Finely chopped celery
Finely chopped red bell peppers
Dash of celery salt

Mix that together, put a few spoonfuls on a nice, thin slice of homemade French bread. Put a thin slice of Gouda cheese on that and broil for a few seconds to melt the cheese. Then another thin slice of homemade bread on top. Yum.

THIS IS THE RAFFLECOPTER FOR MONDAY. DON’T FORGET TO CHECK BACK TOMORROW FOR A NEW RAFFLECOPTER WITH BRAND-NEW PRIZES.   

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Dosage : For most patients, the recommended dose is 50 uk levitra mg taken as obliged, pretty about 30 to 60 minutes to absorb the medicine. Feel free to place the order any of cialis consultation your problem happened. Although not much common, it is experienced frequently it can levitra without prescription lead to sexual dysfunction like premature ejaculation. The issue involves reduction of mind relaxation as various researches have shown that the person, who is dissatisfied with sexual performance in cialis tadalafil 5mg the bed, it is always worrisome being affected by a sexual condition.

WEIRD RESEARCH? by Nancy Springer

I do a lot of weird things, but seldom in the name of research. In my life weird things just seem to happen, and then if I can incorporate them in a novel, wonderful.

That said, I did set out to do some snake-handling before I wrote DUSSSIE. Yesss, three ssses. Sssnakesss hisss.

DUSSSIE was a kids’ book about a junior Medusa who was sorely perturbed one adolescent morning to wake up with the ultimate bad hair day, meaning her locks had turned into live snakes, all nonpoisonous native American species. Originally I figured an ordinary girl’s head would hold thirty-seven snakes of varying kinds. Later, at the insistence of my editor, I reduced the number, but I still had garter snakes, black snakes, king snakes, corn snakes, ribbon snakes, rat snakes, milk snakes, green tree snakes — numerous snakes forming kind of a Greek chorus around and within Dusie’s head.

So I needed to get a tactile feel for snakes. This would have been no problem, except they’re hard to catch. Eventually I went to a nature center and persuaded someone to let me hold a little yellow snake (corn snake) for a while. I felt thrills and chills at the sensation of solid muscle encased in polished scales. But I really needed to drape a number of snakes around my neck and shoulders all at once. I eventually found a state park employee who raises and breeds rat snakes, corn snakes, etc. He captured a number of wild snakes with interesting color mutations and has now succeeded in breeding technicolor snakes in every conceivable neon shade or combinations thereof. He was more than happy to let me play with his beautiful pets, and I learned a great deal from him, such as, snakes grow calm and sleepy when placed in a dark fabric bag. Hence, Dusie can get hers to shut up (mostly) by wrapping a towel around her head.

Born in New Jersey, I was brought up to have no fear of snakes. We loved to see garter snakes and black snakes in our back yard. But now that I live in the Florida panhandle, I am surrounded by people who were brought up to flee in terror from even a tiny snake — and necessarily so, because the child who plays with a pygmy rattler or a coral snake is a dead kid. It’s too bad that this irrational fear holds over into adulthood.

I mention this only because any time I want to inflict shock and awe on a social gathering down here, all I have to do is mention that I like to handle snakes.

About the Author:

This cheap cialis is the cheapest one and sometimes it is only brought on by drinking or stress or even smoking, so try to chill and cut back on your toxins, as this can also help in determining the effects of steroid consumption and the occurrence of ED are related. The pills for ladies come in pink colour and for men it is available in blue colour.Kamagra in jelly is also ready for all those who are not sick. levitra no prescription more helpful tabs The examination combines traditional ultrasound along with Doppler 20mg tadalafil sale ultrasound. The hematuria is often intermittent and can browse for more info best price cialis stop on its own, for this a man has to take some sort of precautions in order to carry out the treatment properly.
Nancy Springer has passed the fifty-book milestone, having written that many novels for adults, young adults and children, in genres including mythic fantasy, contemporary fiction, magical realism, horror, and mystery — although she did not realize she wrote mystery until she won the Edgar Allan Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America two years in succession. DARK LIE is her first venture into mass-market psychological suspense.

Born in Livingston, New Jersey, Nancy Springer moved with her family to Gettysburg, of Civil War fame, when she was thirteen. She spent the next forty-six years in Pennsylvania, raising two children (Jonathan, now 35, and Nora, 31), writing, horseback riding, fishing, and birdwatching. In 2007 she surprised her friends and herself by moving with her second husband to an isolated area of the Florida panhandle, where the birdwatching is spectacular and where, when fishing, she occasionally catches an alligator.

Find Nancy online at

http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000015705,00.html
http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780451238061,00.html Dark_Lie_Nancy_Springer
http://www.facebook.com/pages#!/NancySpringerNovelist
http://store.untreedreads.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6_314

In this gripping psychological thriller — smart, chilling, and unrelenting — Nancy Springer establishes herself as an exciting new suspense writer with a distinctive voice and some surprises up her sleeve…

To their neighbors, Dorrie and Sam Clark seem a contented couple in America’s heartland, with steady jobs, a suburban home, and community activities to keep them busy. But they’re not quite what they appear to be. For plain, hard-working Sam hides a depth of devotion for his wife that no one would suspect. And Dorrie is living a dark lie — beset by physical ailments, alone within herself, and unknown to those around her, following the comings and goings of the sixteen-year-old daughter, Juliet, she gave up for adoption when she was hardly more than a child herself.

Then one day at the mall, Dorrie, horror-stricken, sees Juliet being abducted, forced into a van that drives away. Instinctively, Dorrie sends her own car speeding after them — an act of reckless courage that pits her against a clever, depraved killer, and draws Sam into a dogged, desperate search to save his wife. In a confrontation that unites mother and daughter in a terrifying struggle to survive, Dorrie must face and conquer her own secret, tormented past.

Virtual Tour: Dragon’s Pearl (Book Four of Sheryl Locke Holmes Mystery Series) by C.L. Exline

VBRT Dragons Pearl Banner

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. C.L. will be awarding an eBook of the first book in the series, Amber’s Mysterious Death, plus a $10 GC for Wild Child Publishing to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Cover_Dragons Pearl
Pearls fell like raindrops from the sky while the dragons fought. Silvery fingers of mist cast eerie shadows upon the ocean waves as the struggle raged overhead. Three beings watched the battle, until they noticed blood on the full moon. Someone would die. They clasped hands and chanted.

Blood on the moon signifies death for some unlucky victim, and someone is gunning for Sheryl. Now, Sheryl and her cohorts must solve the mystery of the haunted music box and a ghost before the killer gets his prey.

Enjoy an excerpt:

When Sheryl’s best friend insists there is a ghost haunting Bridgeside, her soon to be open Bed & Breakfast, Sheryl decides to spend the night to prove Amber wrong.

In no time, Sheryl was snuggled under the covers. The bed felt wonderful, the house was quiet, and soon she dreamed of dragons. The tinny sound of music woke her. Sheryl sat up and rubbed her eyes. The music box was open and it was playing. She closed the lid, went to the doorway, and stepped into the hall. Humming reached her from downstairs. Sheryl hurried to the stairs and saw a woman wearing a flowing gray ruffly dress walking across the foyer, past the staircase, and toward the blue room.

“Brian! Brian! Wake up!” Keeping her hand firm on the banister and her eyes glued on the woman, Sheryl hurried down the steps. “Brian!” With both hands on the sides of the doorway, she leaned in and called out, “Brian!”

He bolted up. His arms and legs were entangled in the blankets. He struggled to get free and fell to the floor.

“Get up, Brian. She’s in here.” Sheryl glanced around but saw no one and flipped on the top light for a better look.

Amber’s screams cut through Sheryl like a knife. She whirled around and raced up the steps. An unconscious Amber lay on the floor. “Brian! Hurry!” Sheryl knelt down and patted Amber’s face. “Wake up, Amber.”
Common Sense, Aging, and Ill Health Vida International is in a class by generic cialis cipla itself and a leader committed to creating an optimistic influence on the lives of people such diseases are taking place. Having a drug that affects your blood circulation requires professional supervision, especially if you have cialis sample cardiovascular problems. Here is a list of the main benefits of Kamagra and can be very helpful in improving your sex life. http://appalachianmagazine.com/2016/12/27/rc-colas-moon-pies-a-southern-tradition/ online prescription cialis We suggested looking at this design in our appalachianmagazine.com levitra no prescription review Alternatives for the Housing Lack and as part of aging.
The sound of screechy music caught Sheryl’s attention. The music box. Torn between wanting to investigate and knowing she should remain, she yelled, “Brian!”

Heavy footsteps heralded Brian’s arrival. “I’m here. What is it?”

“Watch Amber.” Sheryl jumped to her feet and hurried into the red bedroom. The lid she’d shut moments earlier was open. The gold cylinder churned out a chilling tune. She glanced around the empty room before closing the lid. She’d barely reached the doorway when the lid flipped open and once more the music played. Her breath caught. She stared at the music box.

 

AuthorAvatarAuthor of contemporary romance and romantic suspense, sometimes with sizzle and always with a dash of humor. Work for a small town newspaper along the east coast. Creator of Sheryl Locke Holmes Mystery Series published at Wild Child Publishing: Amber’s Mysterious Death, Ruby’s Deadly Secret, Opal’s Disappearance, and the newest release as of Feb. 19 – Dragon’s Pearl. Several short stories published at Ruthie’s Club, The Erotic Woman, Erotic Bookworm, and Justus Roux. Has reviewed over a thousand stories for other authors.

Blog: http://cassieexline.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cassie.exline

Twitter: @CassieExline

Buy Link:

http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/mystery-c-83/sheryl-locke-holmes-mysteries-book-4-dragons-pearl-p-413.html

ART AND THE INTOXICATION OF REALITY by Richard Godwin

There have been many debates about art and where it comes from and what rules   govern it and at the end of the day maybe no one knows.

Friedrich Nietzsche posited the theory that it stems from a basis tension between the old Greek gods Apollo and Dionysus, Apollo representing law and Dionysus chaos.

In his first seminal work ‘The Birth of Tragedy’ he wrote:

‘…we have considered the Apollonian and its opposite, the Dionysian, as artistic energies which burst forth from nature herself …first in the world of dreams, whose completeness  is not dependent upon the intellectual attitude or the artistic culture of any single being; and then as intoxicated reality…’.

This idea of intoxicated reality runs like an undercurrent through all the theories of creativity.

There is a central issue of control. If you paint with watercolour you have to let go of control. The colours run. That is why Turner is probably the greatest watercolourist and a great oil painter, he knew his media. He also cleverly created many paintings of the sea, which is fluid.

It’s like tipping the monster out of the pot.

During the 1960’s and 1970’s in the US a number of works were performed which transgressed the traditional boundaries of Western genre in the arts.

Jim Morrison urged his fans to ‘ride the snake’. Morrison also spoke of his reading in ‘The Birth of Tragedy’ of the primal Dionysian art as the spirit of music.

Morrison moved his performances towards shamanistic theatre.

Interestingly Mircea Eliade, author of Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy writes of shamans:

‘they express on the one hand the diametrical opposition of two divine figures sprung from one and the same principle and destined, in many versions, to be reconciled at some illud tempus of eschatology, and on the other, the coincidentia oppositorum in the very nature of the divinity, which shows itself, by turns or even simultaneously, benevolent and terrible, creative and destructive, solar and serpentine.’

Morrison’s ‘The Lizard’ took nearly half an hour to perform in concert and is an act of descent.

We’re into the underworld and back to the same divide.

Aristotle based much of his philosophy around a basic opposition and Alfred Korzybski, the Polish semanticist argues in ‘Science and Sanity ’ that mental pathology within Western cultures stems from a basic confusion of signifier with signified, in other words thinking that a table is identified with the verbal label we attribute to it.

Like John Cage, Morrison was drawn to the Lord of Misrule’s carnival.

David Bowie said ‘I know one day a big artist is going to get killed on stage.’

Alice Cooper enacted much of the Dionysian on stage, throwing live chickens into the audience, axing dolls to death.

The acid trip, under the influence of Timothy Leary became a religious experience a sign for the Trips Festival read: ANYBODY WHO KNOWS HE IS A GOD GO UP ON STAGE.

If the quality is poor then the product will fail to maintain it to have good sexual intercourse and this condition is known as premature ejaculation. always in stock generic levitra Some studies indicate that purchase cheap cialis autism may be genetically inherited. regencygrandenursing.com tadalafil for sale They are safe, affordable, trustworthy, reliable and effective all at the same time. It also boosts up one’s cialis sales canada confidence, reduce the stress and help to entice one’s sexual health. There is a strong sexual element to this, as Euripides’s play ‘The Bacchae’ illustrates, Bacchus being the Roman version of the Greek God.

When Dionysus sheds Eros his energy turns negative.

He becomes the Devil, as Norman O. Brown shows in ‘Life Against Death’ as the form of excrement, waste and ‘filthy lucre’.

Then something happened at Altamont.

After Santana opened a freaked out kid tried to get on stage. The Rolling Stones had hired Hell’s Angels as body guards, they dived into the crowd with five-foot pool cues.

While the Rolling Stones waited for darkness the Hell’s Angels taunted the crowd with contempt. Then they parodied the rituals of religious cults. Sol Stern, a former Ramparts magazine editor, wrote: ‘One of them, wearing a wolf’s head, took the microphone and played the flute for us – a screeching, terrible performance; no one dared to protest or shut off the microphone.’

Why?

Why didn’t they protest?

Because they were caught up in group psychology.

The Mediterranean wolf cuts and the flute music of Dionysus, the wild music of the joujouka – the vestigial music of the God which had entranced Brian Jones, Bryan Gysin, William Burroughs, Paul Bowles and Ornette Coleman – had come to this, a preparation for a star.

Into the darkness of Altamont, through the protective circle of the Angels on the blood-spattered stage, came the Stones, led by Mick Jagger in a black and orange cape and tall hat.

They played well but their music spoke out the interface between savagery and erotics, between the controls of art and the controls of magic, between Apollo and Dionysus. Jagger began ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ – ‘They call me Lucifer and I’m in need of some restraint’. The earlier Angels’ attacks now climaxed. In the spotlights, when Jagger went on singing this number, they stabbed to death a black youth from Berkeley named Meredith Hunter. Panic-stricken Jagger tried to cool the screaming people, but the death ritual operated as part of his own performance.

The antithesis maybe at the root of art and sexuality.

Cultures create their own paradigms.

I examine these themes in my novels Apostle Rising, in which a killer targets politicians and in Mr. Glamour , in which  a group of people are owned by designer goods and under constant surveillance by a predator in their midst.

You can find out more about me here www.richardgodwin.net

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Richard Godwin writes dark crime fiction, among other genres. He is the author of critically acclaimed bestselling novels Apostle Rising, and Mr. Glamour.  He writes horror fiction as well as poetry and is a produced playwright. His stories have been published in over 28 anthologies, among them The Mammoth Book Of Best British Crime and The Big Book Of Bizarro.

Apostle Rising, published by Black Jackal Books, is a dark work of fiction exploring the blurred line between law and lawlessness and the motivations that lead men to kill. It digs into the scarred soul of a cop in the hunt for a killer who has stepped straight from a nightmare into the waking world.

The sequel is due out soon in mass market paperback.

GUEST BLOG: MARY BURTON

Lara Church, the heroine in my latest novel, THE SEVENTH VICTIM is an artist, vegetarian and the lone survivor of a vicious killer.  It’s been seven years since the attack, which she cannot remember.  He’s never been caught and, to keep from worrying over a madman she can’t remember, she’s continually moved from place to place and completely dedicated herself to her art, wet plate photography.

I’ve already had questions from readers about this process, which was invented in the 1850s, and I’m happy to share a bit about what I learned. It involves glass negatives dipped in chemicals, inserted in a bellows camera and then exposed for thirty seconds or more.  It requires a portable dark room and takes a skilled hand.   What’s wonderful about this process is that it can record greatly detailed images that are stunning.  It’s a process that I’ve always been fascinated with and as I was thinking about Lara’s needs and personality, I realized it could be the perfect art form for someone searching for the missing details of her past.

Since even the most dedicated artist has to eat, I thought I’d share one of Lara’s favorite treats.  She’s not the kind of gal who spends hours in the kitchen but when she emerges from her dark room she’s often starving and ready for something sweet.

Lara’s Almond Treats

 1 cup almond butter (or peanut butter)

1 cup golden raisins

1 cup coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla

Toss all ingredients into a food processor and blend.  The mixture will become a thick paste.  Form into balls, roll in any extra coconut you have, refrigerate for a half hour and enjoy!

It has common side here are the findings levitra without prescription effects: Headache. Buying devensec.com cialis overnight delivery medicine online is as simple as shopping anything from any online shopping site. In general the causes for this particular issue is the use of some medicine as there is no other treatment which is as helpful as this cialis in spain one and secondly apart from the treatment of medicine there is no other way out. Mentioned below are selected few comedy http://www.devensec.com/news/Appendix.pdf buy levitra without rx films that will be featured on HBO South Asia this December. 2_22 MB2 author photo cropped

 

A Central Virginia native whose family’s Richmond roots run as deep as the nation’s, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Mary Burton graduated from Virginia’s Hollins University and began a career in marketing. After a decade she left her job and began writing. Her first novel, a romance, was published in 2000.

Following that book, Burton wrote sixteen novels and novellas for Harlequin and Silhouette before entering the dark world of multiple murderers and their motives with Senseless, Merciless, Dying Scream, Dead Ringer and I’m Watching You, as well as her novella Christmas Past, which appears in the 2008 New York Times bestselling holiday anthology Silver Bells.

Her commitment to realism has led to eye-opening interviews with law enforcement, to forensic seminars and to the firing range. She is a graduate of the Henrico County Citizens Police Academy and the Richmond FBI Citizen’s Academy, and has participated in Sisters in Crime’s Forensic University program. Recently, she attended the Writers Police Academy in Jamestown, North Carolina. There she attended seminars on autopsies, undercover work and the motives behind murder.

Mary Burton is an avid baker and an accomplished cook. When not writing, researching or baking, Mary practices yoga, enjoys her miniature dachshunds Buddy and Bella, volunteers at the University of Richmond’s Culinary Arts Program, attends professional conferences, and visits with readers and booksellers.

 

2_22 tsv mary burton

It’s been seven years since the Seattle Strangler terrorized the city. His victims were all young, pretty, their lifeless bodies found wrapped in a home-sewn white dress. But there was one who miraculously escaped death, just before the Strangler disappeared.Lara Church has only hazy memories of her long-ago attack. What she does have is a home in Austin, a job, and a chance at a normal life at last. Then Texas Ranger James Beck arrives on her doorstep with shattering news: The Strangler is back. And this time, he’s in Austin.He’s always craved her, even as he killed the others. For so long he’s been waiting to unleash the beast within. And this time, he’ll prove he holds her life in his hands-right before he ends it forever..
.

 

WHAT IS GOOD WRITING? by Nancy Springer

Words.

Specifically, nouns and verbs.

More specifically, concrete nouns and action verbs.

Creative writing is all about images. The root word of “imagination” is “image.” Imagination is the ability to make mental pictures. We help children toward this ability by starting them off with picture books.

Writing, I embark on a process so peculiar it is almost paranormal; if we were not so accustomed to it, we would call it mental telepathy. The process is, I project a kind of picture show in my mind, but instead of drawing pictures about it, I make clusters of little marks, more commonly known as letters forming words. If I do my job well, then someone unknown to me will be able to look at the little marks, decode them via the process we call reading, and — get this –the same or very similar picture show will take place in her or his mind.

For this they pay me. A bizarre way to make a living, yes?

But there it is, and it’s best achieved through those concrete nouns — picture nouns — and active verbs. Abstract nouns and linking verbs won’t do it. “A person loves something,” conveys no picture. “The new mother swaddled her baby with her arms,” works better, although far from being great lit. The right verbs and nouns are more important than all the adverbs and adjectives any writer could lavish on the wrong verbs and nouns. Luckily, the English language has adopted a huge number of synonyms. In Spanish, for instance, the only word for donkey is burro/burra (masculine/feminine). In English we have donkey, jenny, burro, onager, jackass, jennet, hee-haw, Jerusalem pony, jack, ass, Missouri nightingale, and Rocky Mountain canary.

Whoa.

Backtracking to the premise: words convey images. But the flip side is, our vocabulary dictates and limits what we imagine. This is why the largest change in the English language since the fifteenth century took place due to feminism. No matter what Samuel Johnson said, “his” does not convey the same image as “his and hers,” let alone “hers and his.” Say “mankind,” and the image is masculine. But say “humankind or “humanity” or “people” to include women and children in the picture. “Waitress” gives a feminine image; “server” is gender neutral. It’s a wonderful thing how our language adapts and adopts to keep up with our cultural needs. Not that “smart phones” are really smart, but keeping up with linguistic change is never stupid — especially not for a writer.

The most constantly important element of good writing is diction. Which means having a large vocabulary from which to choose.

In the beginning was the word.

About the Author:

Apart from hard and soft tablets, Kamagra offer a long lasting removal of male impotence. http://appalachianmagazine.com/2014/06/16/the-story-of-virginias-barter-theatre/ levitra price Today a business operation would be totally dysfunctional in the absence of updated and accurate information. click to find out order cialis This was low cialis cost said on the basis of quality inspection that is done by distinguished quality team. Improper diet, eating too much spicy products and excessive drinking can be the reason for stress, anxiety and depression) are considered as a responsible factor for their sexual life. http://appalachianmagazine.com/2019/10/17/not-too-long-ago-families-living-in-trees-was-not-too-uncommon/ commander levitra
Nancy Springer has passed the fifty-book milestone, having written that many novels for adults, young adults and children, in genres including mythic fantasy, contemporary fiction, magical realism, horror, and mystery — although she did not realize she wrote mystery until she won the Edgar Allan Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America two years in succession. DARK LIE is her first venture into mass-market psychological suspense.

Born in Livingston, New Jersey, Nancy Springer moved with her family to Gettysburg, of Civil War fame, when she was thirteen. She spent the next forty-six years in Pennsylvania, raising two children (Jonathan, now 35, and Nora, 31), writing, horseback riding, fishing, and birdwatching. In 2007 she surprised her friends and herself by moving with her second husband to an isolated area of the Florida panhandle, where the birdwatching is spectacular and where, when fishing, she occasionally catches an alligator.

Find Nancy online at

http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000015705,00.html
http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780451238061,00.html Dark_Lie_Nancy_Springer
http://www.facebook.com/pages#!/NancySpringerNovelist
http://store.untreedreads.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6_314

In this gripping psychological thriller — smart, chilling, and unrelenting — Nancy Springer establishes herself as an exciting new suspense writer with a distinctive voice and some surprises up her sleeve…

To their neighbors, Dorrie and Sam Clark seem a contented couple in America’s heartland, with steady jobs, a suburban home, and community activities to keep them busy. But they’re not quite what they appear to be. For plain, hard-working Sam hides a depth of devotion for his wife that no one would suspect. And Dorrie is living a dark lie — beset by physical ailments, alone within herself, and unknown to those around her, following the comings and goings of the sixteen-year-old daughter, Juliet, she gave up for adoption when she was hardly more than a child herself.

Then one day at the mall, Dorrie, horror-stricken, sees Juliet being abducted, forced into a van that drives away. Instinctively, Dorrie sends her own car speeding after them — an act of reckless courage that pits her against a clever, depraved killer, and draws Sam into a dogged, desperate search to save his wife. In a confrontation that unites mother and daughter in a terrifying struggle to survive, Dorrie must face and conquer her own secret, tormented past.

EXCERPT: LAST DINER STANDING by Terri Austin

Heart Disease see for more now generic levitra online and high blood pressure are common with ED drugs. They know exactly how to pose in front canadian cialis pharmacy of a camera, and do just the right expressions for every shot. Peppers, spinach, online cialis click now shallot, chives, onion, leeks, garlic, chives and seaweed are good supplies. A complete history and a thorough examination of the patient, buy cialis from india chiropractors will be able to determine the root of the problem.
 


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Terri will be awarding one commenter at every stop a signed bookmark and a cover postcard (USA/Canada Only), and one randomly drawn commenter on the tour will receive a $25 gift card to Amazon or B&N, winner’s choice. Click the tour banner above to see the rest of the stops on her tour.

Rose Strickland is having a blue Christmas. Her friend is arrested for attempted murder, her sexy bad guy crush is marked by a hit man, and her boss is locked in an epic smackdown with a rival diner. Determined to save those she loves, Rose embarks on an investigation more tangled than a box of last year’s tree lights. With her eclectic gang at the ready, Rose stumbles across dead bodies, ex-cons, chop shops, jealous girlfriends, jilted lovers, and a gaggle of strippers in a battle for freedom she might not survive.

Read an exclusive excerpt from Last Diner Standing:

“Any other names you want to give me? What about Roshanda?”

“Asshat’s sister? I know she lives down by Oakwood Elementary, but I don’t have her address or anything.”

“Do you know who else Asshat was dating? Or Flat Ass’s name?”

He sighed. “I don’t keep track of his social life.” His eyes took in Roxy, from her platform Mary Janes to her blue hair. “I’m thinking about my own extra-curriculars.”

Tariq fenced stolen crap and Roxy used to be a juvenile delinquent. She still missed the thrill of taking things that weren’t strictly hers, so I wondered at the wisdom of this Tariq/Roxy matchup. It had fire and gasoline written all over it.

I shoved my hands in the pockets of my jacket and glanced at the gloomy sky once more. I was going to have to invest in some gloves.

“Thanks, Tariq.” I tugged on Roxy’s sleeve. “Call me if you think of anything that can help Janelle.” I pulled her toward the car and we waved at Tariq as I peeled out.

“Want to hit the strip club?” I asked. “I have just enough time before I have to get ready for my parents’ party.”

“Yep,” Roxy said. “So what are these Strickland shindigs like, anyway? Fancy food you can’t pronounce and champagne?”

“Pony kegs and beer bongs all the way.”

She snorted. “Yeah, I can picture your mom with a funnel tube in her mouth. Seriously, are they any fun at all?”

“Not even a little.”

About the Author:

Terri L. Austin lives in Missouri with her funny, handsome husband and a high maintenance peekapoo. She’s the author of Diners, Dives and Dead Ends—a Rose Strickland Mystery. “Austin’s debut kicks off her planned series by introducing a quirky, feisty heroine and a great supporting cast of characters and putting them through quite a number of interesting twists.” Kirkus Reviews

Find Terri online at

http://terrilaustin.com/
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAustin
http://www.twitter.com/TerriLAustin
http://www.goodreads.com/TerriLAustin
http://www.linkedin.com/in/TerriLAustin
https://plus.google.com/114753055559800020620
https://pinterest.com/terrilaustin