Magic at Ochre Court, A Gilded Newport Mystery by Alyssa Maxwell

Ok, the title of my July release is actually Murder at Ochre Court, but I almost didn’t write this book—at least not the way I would have wanted to—if not for a little magic that happened on our annual trip to Newport two years ago. You see, Ochre Court, the summer “cottage” set on the famous Cliff Walk that used to belong to the Goelet family, is now the administrative building of Salve Regina University, and it’s not open to tours. That doesn’t stop people from trying, of course, and tourists trickle in all day long, only to be told no, you can’t see the inside of the house, but The Breakers is just a short trek up the road and they’ll welcome you with open arms.

Thus did my hopeful attempt to see Ochre Court begin that September afternoon, with the very nice woman at the front desk explaining the deal – as in, no deal. Nope, can’t let you in. What did I do? I kept talking. Desperately. I told her I was writing this book, you see, part of my series, maybe you’ve heard of it? blah, blah, blah… I suppose I pleaded just a little, and I guess I wore her down, because she reluctantly gave us permission to quickly snap some pictures of the ground floor. The ground floor is an astounding feat of architecture, I might add, and we might have gone away satisfied. But while my husband snapped those pictures, I kept talking, and suddenly I stumbled upon the magic word: our last name, along with my husband’s family ties to Newport. Well! Turns out this lovely woman is a very good friend of my brother- and sister-in-law’s. Et voila!

The next thing we knew, she was locking up her desk, and we embarked on a guided tour from nearly top to bottom, including riding in the elevator built in the 1890s. Thanks to her, we learned some way cool insider info about the house – such as the owner, Odgen Goelet, designing the upper garden with a railing curved like a ship’s bow in order to keep his sea-faring wife happy here in Newport. She liked to travel, he didn’t so much. She could stand at the railing, look out over the ocean, and pretend she was on her way to Europe. I don’t think it worked very well, but he tried. There’s also the carved image of Bacchus between the double fireplaces in the dining room, whose nose guests used to rub for good luck. Yes, we rubbed! And then there are the mirrored closet doors in the attic, which play a role in my story. . .

These, and more, are all things I’d never have known if not for that bit of magic on that beautiful fall day. So, I learned several things from the experience. One, when up against a wall, start talking and keep talking. Two, never underestimate the adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” And three, believe in magic, because from time to time, magical things DO happen!

Come to think of it, this is kind of magical: in celebration of the release of Murder at Ochre Court, which is book six in the series, the first book, Murder at The Breakers, is a Monthly Kindle Deal! That means it’s only $2.99 all month long at Amazon. So, if you haven’t read any of the series yet, here’s your chance to give it a try. Also, comment below for a chance to win a signed, hardcover copy of Murder at Ochre Court! (U.S. residents only, due to shipping costs). Winner will be chosen randomly.

Alyssa Maxwell knew from an early age that she wanted to be a novelist. Growing up in New England and traveling to Great Britain fueled a passion for history, while a love of puzzles drew her to the mystery genre. She is the author of The Gilded Newport Mysteries and A Lady and Lady’s Maid Mysteries. She and her husband reside in Florida, where she is a member of the Mystery Writers of American-Florida Chapter and the Florida Romance Writers.

http://alyssamaxwell.com

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https://www.facebook.com/gildednewport/

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What Bumps Me Out Of A Story?

Coming Summer 2018

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual practices that nourish the soul and celebrates the journey from relationship to romance.

What bumps me out of a story?

Unsympathetic characters

Outrageous, unbelievable story line

ERRORS: Even in a well-edited book whether indie or traditionally published a few errors happen and even Errors happen but ERRORS mean the author didn’t care enough to use spell-check, to have someone who knows grammar and punctuation read the story, etc. And if the author doesn’t care, why should I?

And there are those errors of punctuation and grammar but the worst error is in the information in the story-line. That means the author didn’t care enough about the story to be sure it was accurate. Something as simple as the time of year flowers bloom will pull me out of a story.

I love to read historical romance and most recently I picked up two books by authors I’ve read and enjoyed before. One book I managed to finish – at least the characters and plot held my interest enough.

The other book? It’s in my “recycle at used book store” pile.

The beauty of Scotland

Both are by well-known and skilled story-tellers. I’m sure the setting, etc. is accurate as both are familiar with Scotland, where the stories take place.

However, both books have a plethora of Scottish dialect. Not a few “donna” or “ken” or “aye” or “nay” but virtually every sentence spoken by a Scottish character has at least one if not numerous words.

I’m not talking about the use of Gaelic. I think that adds to the atmosphere of a story. I’m talking about idiomatic language as if I’m going to forget between one sentence and the next that the character is Scottish. I can only assume that, as both authors are traditionally published, that someone in the publishing houses decided to batter the reader with Scottish dialect as if that is a good thing.

Before I purchase another Scottish romance (one of my favorite genres), I’ll read a few pages ahead of time.

Available Now!

And, if you are interested in learning a simple process to find solutions to issues that are interfering with the quality of your life, check out my latest non-fiction book Staying Sane in a Crazy World.

Do you ever feel as if the world around you is tumbling out of control and there is nothing you can do to make your world a better place?

Do you ever wish there was?

Staying Sane in a Crazy World may help guide you toward stopping the tumbling and choosing how to take effective control of your life.

The reality is there is no One answer that fits all but we each have Our answer.

In this short guide, Judith Ashley leads you through a straight-forward process that allows you to find Your answers. Answers you’ll use to craft a Personal Staying Sane Plan that will help you regain and keep your balance whenever the world around you is out-of-whack.

Staying Sane is now available at your favorite e-retailer.

Learn more about Judith's The Sacred Women’s Circle series at JudithAshleyRomance.com

Follow Judith on Twitter: JudithAshley19

Check out Judith’s Windtree Press author page.

You can also find Judith on FB! 

© 2018 Judith Ashley

What I Do To Refill My Creative Pantry by Dora Bramden

As an author, being creative is an ingredient to what I do. But what happens when the inspiration runs out. I go get some. Just like refilling the pantry I go and get my fill of the world so I can come back and write about it.

Lots of writers that I’ve listened to speak about their routine include a daily walk. I groan at the idea but actually walking is very nice. I like to look around me and see what’s in other people’s gardens or look at nature in parks and observe the people who cross my path.

But a daily walk isn’t as  restoring as having a whole day away from the computer and the four walls of my study. Years ago, I began taking a day for myself once a week. I called it Dora Day because I needed time to think about what gave me pleasure. I didn’t do dishes, cook the dinner or worry about teenagers' or my partner's concerns. They had me every other day but not Dora Day. If an emergency wasn’t worthy of an Ambulance or the Fire brigade I didn’t need to know about it. Dad could handle it.

After starting Dora Day my productivity skyrocketed. I wrote massive word counts. Now that my children are adults, I can take the time to think or do what ever I want but I must remember to do it. If I don’t the inspiration dries up. That is the trigger for me to take an excursion and have an adhoc Dora Day.

But what do I do on these days? I go to places that make me feel inspired and immersed in beauty. For me that is a garden or a gallery. The National Gallery Victoria is my favorite art destination. I park in an all-day car park and walk to the gallery. After visiting the historic fashions and the romantic painters I walk across the bridge for an early lunch at the Hopetoun Tearooms (early to beat the crowd). The afternoon includes a saunter up and down the Royal Arcade which is filled with artisan boutiques. Window shopping in curio shops, or tasting the treats from chocolate specialists Koko Black are some favorite stops. Perhaps a browse in Myer or David Jones to see the latest fashions before heading back to the car.

Another favorite place near the Melbourne City Center is the Fitzroy Gardens. It has a story book atmosphere because of the attractions found there but it’s free entry and there are banks of flowering shrubs and annuals to enjoy. Captain Cook’s cottage sits in the grounds, I don’t worry about going through it every time but I do love to stroll around this heritage cottage. Lunch in the Pavilion Cafe, located in the middle of the gardens, is always delicious and from there it’s a short stroll to the fairy tree and the miniature village. The most magical part of the visit for me, is spending some time in the Conservatory. It’s a wonderland of flowering plants. A distinctly Victorian feel is evoked with the strategic placement of cast iron benches and a bridge over a goldfish pond.  Lacy maiden hair fern fronds soften the natural rock borders and the towering glass house arched windows provide a classic backdrop. In-between is filled with seasonal plantings, fountains and statues. A wonderland that I always find hard to leave.

I guess it’s no wonder I come home feeling so refreshed from these excursions that fill my creative pantry. I suppose we all have special places that call us back again and again. These are the places that replenish our creativity and it pays to heed their call. In fact I think I hear them calling me right now.

Dora Bramden writes contemporary romance
Healing Love, Passionate Romance

You can find out more about Dora and her books at her website.

Keep Me Reading…Please

By Robin Weaver

Being a writer, and especially being a critique partner, tends to make “escape reading” pretty tough. Subconsciously, the trained author instinctively seeks out character flaws, lack of motivation, point-of-view shifts, etc. etc. etc.  So, to escape my inner editor and truly escape, I need something interesting. And please, pretty please, make interesting last more than five pages.  The word’s gotten out that the author must capture the reader’s attention in the first five pages, but what seems to have gotten lost in mutation, is… if the story starts to drag after page six, I’m still going to toss the book in the trashcan—be it a real or digital rubbish bin.

It goes without saying that really interesting characters with realistic goals and difficult problems to solve are the basis for any good novel. That said, a quirky story that transports me out of my normal world will make me forget I ever owned an editor hat. Think Forrest Gump. He didn’t exactly have a goal, and his motivations were at best, hazy, but the POV is extremely clear.

While it’s probably true there are a limited number of novel plots, the standard story-line doesn’t preclude “completely different approaches.” And by completely different I don’t mean blue aliens who can shift into skunks and find stinky portals to alternate forests with purple trees—that’s been done and redone in some fashion since War of the Worlds.I’m talking different like Italo Calvino’s If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler.  This is a novel about reading a novel, only the reader (aka, you) keeps getting interrupted by other novels. The story begins after a printer’s error where you return to the bookstore to select another book… May sound confusing, but the tale kept me reading.

Another kind of different is The Insides, by Jeremy P. Bushnell.  The books blurb instantly transports you into the unusual:

Ollie Krueger is a punk magician-turned-butcher who dreams of returning home to the husband and son she lost. Maja is a psychic mercenary hired to track down a very special knife that happens to be in the possession of Ollie's rival and co-worker. As the intrigue ramps up, it becomes clear that the story's minor players are willing to put any number of lives at risk for one magical artifact.

I’ll be the first to admit, not everyone has my limited attention span. And even with my need for the different and the bizarre, there’s still a place for the classic boy-meets-girl love story … Even if she’s blue and he’s red and they can’t be together because the shape-shifting skunk has blocked the mailbox portal.

We are truly blessed to live in a world where so many books are available in so many different types of media. So whatever keeps your reading, find it and keep reading.

Happy Fourth of July!

Robin

Keith Thomas Walker’s Election Day: Falling in Love with History

Note: Election Day by Keith Thomas Walker is the eighth book in the Decades: A Journey of African American Romance series. This series consists of 12 books, each set in one of 12 decades between 1900 and 2010. Each story focuses on the romance between African American protagonists, but also embraces the African American experience within that decade. Join the journey on our Facebook page, http://bit.ly/2z9sMrd.

Greetings!

My name is Keith Thomas Walker. I’m the author of more than a couple dozen novels. I mostly write romance, but I’ve written suspense, Christian fiction, young adult and poetry, too.

Election Day is my first historical romance, and I had a lot of fun with it. For me, this is a little surprising because I hated history when I was in school. Most of my history classes seemed to require rote memorization to pass; all of those dates and names and places. I find that style of learning very unappealing. But as an adult, I’ve fallen in love with history. I can study wars and the Civil Rights Movement for hours and never get bored. I think this is because I no longer have to memorize everything I read!

Here’s my blurb for Election Day: Despite legal efforts to integrate schools, black students continue to struggle with separate and unequal environments in 1970. Leo Davis, an ambitious mayoral candidate, seeks to close a dark chapter in Overbrook Meadows’ history, but the opposition is fierce. Falling for his campaign manager was never part of the plan. Leo and Carla must fight for their love, their safety, and the future of their beloved city.

While writing this book, I did a good amount of research on the trials and tribulations this country faced with school integration. A lot of what I read was disheartening; to know how hard segregationists fought to avoid doing what’s right. They protested the black students when they tried to attend school. They harassed and even murdered our leaders. Governor George Wallace of Alabama gave his infamous inaugural speech, saying, “In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.”

With opposition from as far up as the governor’s office, you can see why it took more than 20 years to get some of the southern cities to comply with court orders. The Supreme Court decided segregated schools were illegal in 1954, and they were still ruling on segregation lawsuits as late as 1974. The federal government is the only reason some southern cities and states finally integrated their schools. Governors like Wallace could complain all they wanted, but when the president is against you and he sends troops from the National Guard to protect students, good will eventually triumph over evil.

But not all of the Supreme Court’s rulings were helpful. I find it troubling that in the 1970s the court began to reverse a lot of the positive changes they brought to the schools and universities. In 1978, the court ruled affirmative action was unconstitutional. In 1991, the court ruled it was not its plan to maintain integration “in perpetuity,” which made it easier for schools to abandon their desegregation efforts. In 2002, a report from Harvard’s Civil Rights Project concluded that America’s schools were resegregating. In 2003, the study found that schools were more segregated in 2000 than in 1970 when busing for desegregation began.

About Keith Thomas Walker

Website

www.keithwalkerbooks.com

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https://twitter.com/kwalkerbooks

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https://www.instagram.com/keithwalkerbooks

Dissecting a Book by Paty Jager

This month at Romancing the Genres we are writing about what we like and don't like in a book.

The books that catch my attention and draw me in are ones that have engaging characters either the main characters or secondary. I have to like and want to be in the company of these characters throughout the length of the book or story. Nora Roberts and LaVyrle Spencer were the first romance authors I read that pulled me in with their characters. I loved and still love the Irish Sister Trilogy  Born in Fire, Born in Ice, Born in Shame. Not only did the characters pull me in, but the setting (Ireland) captivated me. With LaVyrle Spencer her characters were real with real life problems. That's the type of historical and contemporary books I like to write.

An intriguing plot will also draw me in. I just purchased a book because an excerpt that was posted on Facebook had the character traveling to an area near me where I've been. I wanted to see just how much of this area would be used in the book and it helped that the title was The Archaeologist and the Spirit Catchers by Randy Brown. Yes, the spirits piqued my attention. I wondered if it would be Native American spirits or... So far it doesn't appear to be Native American spirits but the characters have kept me reading. They are unique in their heritage of "discovering trapped spirits and setting them free".

The other thing that will keep me reading a book is learning something. A different culture, a historical occurrence,  or a good mystery that I want to discover how it is solved.

What I don't care for in a book are flat characters or over the top characters. If they are paranormal I still want to see the humanity in them or a sense of humor. Something that makes me think of them as personable.  I also and this is just my opinion- I don't like alpha main characters. I think it comes from being pushed around by my father who wanted to prove he was alpha. I don't like that in a hero. But again, it is my preference. Others LOVE them.

My other stop reading flag is if I encounter more than three instances of wrong facts. Calling the withers on a horse the fetlock, the wrong Indian tribe or anything that I know is wrong. The instance of using shoot for chute in a contemporary western. Those little things will cause me to not finish reading the book and not trust another book from the same author. Typos if there are only a few in the whole book don't bother me. If there are more than two per chapter, I get annoyed that they didn't make sure it was their best effort and will stop reading.

That's about all I can think of that for my likes and dislikes when I read a book.

Book 2, Love Me Anyway, of the Tumbling Creek Ranch series is available by pre-order and will release this Thursday and starting July 9th, book 1, 8 Seconds to Love, in the series will be only $0.99 for the month to celebrate the release of Love Me Anyway.

Love Me Anyway

Book 2

Tumbling Creek Ranch Series

Melanie Trask ran away from an abusive husband and is hiding at a remote dude ranch. When she and the ranch owner can no longer deny their feelings, he offers to help her divorce her husband. But she has one more secret she hasn’t revealed…

Brett Wallis has fallen hard for the quiet, competent woman who landed at his ranch when he needed help. But will he be able to choose between Melanie or the ranch when he discovers the truth behind her secrecy?

Universal buy link:  https://www.books2read.com/u/mgLl7q 

8 Seconds to Love

Book1

Tumbling Creek Ranch series

Lacey Wallis has put blood, sweat, and tears into her dream of making it to the National Finals Rodeo and isn’t about to let an injury stop her. However, she didn’t expect the ER nurse to be the man she had a crush on years ago, or to discover that crush hadn’t been one-sided.

Jared McIntyre lived through loving and the death of one thrill-seeking woman, and wasn’t about to let that happen again. Especially not to Lacey. But that would mean he’d have to allow himself to love again.  

Which will it be, a life-long dream, or the love of a lifetime?

Universal book link: https://www.books2read.com/u/b5M1Ep

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 32 novels, 8 novellas, and numerous anthologies of murder mystery and western romance. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters.This is what Romance Junkies has to say about the Tumbling Creek Ranch series: “There are twists and turns to the story with a nice flow and a depth to the characters. The vivid scenic descriptions made me feel like I was there… I hope to return to Tumbling Creek Ranch over and over again.”

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