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May All Your Dreams Come True In 2020! Let's get the New Year off to a terrific start! I am away this holiday season visiting with my amazing family, but the regular Coffee Chat author interviews will be back starting January 8, 2020.
Hope to see you then! Ally Shields Have a Wonderful Christmas Holiday! Pentatonix: Mary Did You Know? https://youtu.be/ifCWN5pJGIEBless Us One and All... Christmas Eve in Olde Town Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through Olde Town, Not a creature was stirring nor making a sound. The werewolves were running all night through the woods, The demons were hiding their faces in hoods. The elves all were dancing; the dwarves were so merry, The nymphs were excited and so very cheery. With Ari, Andreas and Rayne altogether, The town was all settled, snug in the cold weather. When out of the sky with a light pure and bright Came a dragon so bold glowing gold and pure white. Ari dashed across town, stopped on a dime, If the dragon was hostile, she couldn't get there in time. The children were gathered in the town square Singing and dancing, their thoughts without care. When what did their wondering eyes behold But the dragon that stories had once foretold.  With scales of pure gold, and eyes oh so green
They knew in a moment it was the Dragon's queen. She'd come to bring presents, to those old and young, To recapture the stories that once had been sung. Of a beautiful princess who had fallen in love With a handsome dragon from the clouds far above And every Christmas she brought back her joy By sharing her gifts with each girl and boy. When Ari arrived, Rayne and Andreas close by, The queen pulled out a bag and undid the tie. She dropped all the toys at Ari's feet So they could surprise every child with a treat. Then blowing snowflakes out of her nose, The dragon winked boldly, or so the story goes, And spreading her wings, she rose to the sky "Merry Christmas to all, and I bid you Good-Bye!" Ally Shields (2013, reposted 2019))  ‘Tis the Season for a Little Bite on the Neck: Christmas Vampire Books Vampires are not what you typically associate with Christmas. But a friend asked me to name my favorite Christmas book about vampires, and I couldn’t do it! Not a single title came to mind, so I went looking. There aren’t a whole lot, and even less that other readers recommend. Most are holiday novellas, but I actually found a few I’d read. Some I even liked. Maybe one of these will provide you with a quick holiday vampire fix! :) So, here goes...  The Bite Before Christmas by Lynsay Sands and Jeaniene Frost. Two novellas featuring familiar faces from their popular Argeneau family and Night Huntress series. Loved one of these stories. https://www.amazon.com/Bite-Before-Christmas-Argeneau-Vampire-ebook/dp/B005DIB72E  All I want for Christmas is a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks (Love at Stake, Book 5) ~ Working as a bodyguard for the undead can make you want all the wrong things under the mistletoe. https://www.amazon.com/Want-Christmas-Vampire-Love-Stake/dp/006111846X  Christmas Moon by J.R. Rain (A Vampire for Hire novella) ~ This Christmas, Samantha Moon's world is about to be rocked... https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Moon-Vampire-Hire-Book-ebook/dp/B006HHDYPS  Vampire for Christmas by Felicity Heaton. A Christmas novella. Can a demon hunter and a vampire find love during the holidays? A cute story (4.1 stars on Amazon), and it’s free! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AM59T6  A Vampire for Christmas, an anthology of four stories by Laurie London, Michele Hauf, Caridad Pineiro, and Alexis Morgan. Vampires looking for love in the most magical season of the year. A nice collection and way to meet new authors. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373776446/  Real Vampires Take a Bite Out of Christmas by Gerry Bartlett ~ A short, quirky novella for fans of the Real Vampires series. https://www.amazon.com/Real-Vampires-Take-Bite-Christmas-ebook/dp/B00ICBY1MC There you have it! If I’ve missed some great vampire Christmas reads, tell me about them in the comments! Have a Terrific Holiday! Ally Shields  Welcome, Booklovers! My critique partner, Kath Boyd Marsh, is taking over the blog this week, and she LOVES dragons. So I thought I'd let this little guy be our logo! :) Okay, Kath, it's all yours... This is Kath Boyd Marsh. I write Young Adult and Middle Grade fantasy and humor from my 27th or 28th home (I misplaced my calculator, so I’m unsure.) Dragons inhabit my office and my stories. And that brings us to my topic.  Writing Places? Where I write is important. Sometimes I do write in waiting rooms. Oddly easy to do, unless the people around me are very interesting. But day to day my writing is done at home. It starts in my office where all the office dragons inspire my writing. Almost every story I’ve ever written has at least one dragon. Well, the project I’m working on now that started at NANO this year doesn’t. But I’m a Panster, and it’s too soon to be sure. But sometimes I need to get away from all those dragon eyes.  Thanks to my trusty laptop I have some great options. There’s the gazebo, now that nesting season is over and the little bird is finished with it. I don’t think I bother the possum who lives under it. I’m a pretty quiet writer. Hmm, there is a dragon on top. How about the porch while the dogs play in their corral? This rarely works, because of Hank, our 70# part pit bull mostly lap dog. He needs a lot of attention. Not to mention the view from the porch over the valley below is awesome. Hank and I spend a lot of time taking it in. Okay, what about the table on the patio? Good one. No view of the valley. No dragons, and Hank is napping. There’s just a clear view of the woods where the bear lives … Next.  Inside. The bedroom downstairs. Two normal windows with less of the spectacular view. The cats will follow. It only takes about fifteen minutes for them to wear out the jump up and down from the window over the desk. Then they’ll form the SleepingCatPile on the bed. Write fast before Zoe wakes up, heads off to find her stuffed duck, and returns yowling for praise for hunting, killing, and dragging back a stuffed toy nearly as big as she is. There is no such thing as enough praise in a cat’s eyes. The SleepingCatPile re-forms, and if I’m really quiet I can sneak upstairs to my bedroom. Nice and quiet, and … another concentration-breaking view out over the ridges to the mountain. Head down, look at the laptop. Soon, the cats will find me. Which means they will start over with the: check out the desk, the laptop, the window. Three cats, one space to examine, and the lamp is always in danger. Do they swish their tails on purpose to knock it over?Back to my office. The dragons will guard my writing space, and my computer faces a wall of bookshelves. I can get lost in my words. And only two cats will follow. One will sleep in the antique trunk on top of a dragon throw. One will snore in the chair by the big window. Did I just see the bear in the back woods through that big window?  I’ll start over tomorrow, Pre-dawn! Downstairs in the living room with my back to the windows and the views. Uh, oh. The sun is rising! I have to watch! ARGH! Kath kathboydmarshauthor.com lettersfromearth.blogspot.com  The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard-http://amzn.to/2c6IOH4, Dragon Bonded- https://amzn.to/2MMNhhF The Pendragon Crystal from the Dragons and Witches anthology- http://amzn.to/2nOX8tv) Perilous Princesses- https://amzn.to/2In05gn . Bubbles and Smush: Closet Monsters - https://amzn.to/2mW7OrJ Bubbles and Smush: Trick or Treats- https://amzn.to/2mWjf2C Bubbles and Smush: Dragon Rescue: https://amzn.to/2lQSRas  Happy Holiday Season, Booklovers! I can’t believe it’s December already. We’re in the middle of shopping and baking and holiday plans, but there’s always time for books (and coffee!). This week’s guest is mystery author Heather Weidner, bringing us her featured book, Glitter, Glam and Contraband. Welcome, Heather. How do you take your coffee? HW: I drink iced coffee (even in the winter) with a lot of cream/milk. My team teases me because I have a little coffee with my cream. Ally: As long as it has that coffee taste, I’m sure it’s fantastic. While I prepare our drinks, please introduce yourself to readers.  BIO: Glitter, Glam, and Contraband is Heather Weidner’s third novel in the Delanie Fitzgerald series. Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, and Deadly Southern Charm. Her novellas appear in The Mutt Mysteries series. She is a member of Sisters in Crime – Central Virginia, Guppies, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers. Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers. Heather earned her BA in English from Virginia Wesleyan University and her MA in American literature from the University of Richmond. Through the years, she has been a technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. Ally: Tell me something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I’m a CK (Cop’s Kid). My dad, now retired, is my best law enforcement resource. And I didn’t realize that other families didn’t talk about crime and murder at the dinner table until I was a teenager.” Contacts: Website and Blog: http://www.heatherweidner.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherWeidner1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherWeidnerAuthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_mystery_writer/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121854.Heather_Weidner Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HeatherBWeidner/ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-weidner-d6430278-c5c9-4b10-b911-340828fc7003 INTERVIEW: Ally: How did you get that first book or story published? HW: My first mystery short story was published in a Sisters in Crime anthology, Virginia is for Mysteries. It was my first publication credit, and I learned so much working with all the other talented authors. Ally: Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book? HW: I do. I send all of my novels to a professional editor after they have been reviewed by my critique group and beta readers. For the traditionally published works, that’s just the beginning. The work goes through the editorial process at the publishers, too. Ally: Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds? HW: They all came with names, and I knew what they looked like. In the Delanie series, Chaz was supposed to be just a client in the first book, but my readers really liked him, warts and all. Chaz’s role has expanded, and he’s been in all three books. He grows on you after a while. Ally: Do you know the book’s ending before you start writing? HW: I think I know. I start out with a pretty detailed outline, but when I start writing, the story takes off. Sometimes, the endings have varied a little from the original outline. Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given? HW: Mary Burton gave me the best writing advice. It was to write your next book. Marketing and book promotion take up a great deal of an author’s time, but in the end, it’s all about writing the next book and making it the best it can be. Ally: Tell us about your reading habits. Favorite genres. Books read per month, year? Print or ebooks? Current favorites? HW: I read a lot, mostly mystery, thriller, and suspense, but I do like history and biography. I read about 3-4 books a month. I read a lot more when I wasn’t writing. My favorite authors are Lee Childs, John Berry, John Grisham, Lisa Scottoline, Sherry Harris, Rhys Bowen, Louise Penny, Agatha Christie, and Janet Evanovich. Ally: Do the people in your real life show up in your writing? HW: Nobody is safe around me. I’m always jotting down ideas and bits of dialogue, and they often end up in stories and novels. I also write where I know. All of my mysteries are set in Virginia. The stories are fiction, but the places are real. Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!). HW: I love mysteries. I think readers should read anything by Sherry Harris, Amy Reade, Rhys Bowen, K. L. Murphy, Lisa Scottoline, and Diane Vallere. Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date? HW: I am working on a cozy mystery series set outside of Charlottesville, VA. I also have a novella coming out in the spring in the dog-themed, Mutt Mystery series. Ally: Which of the short answers questions did you pick? HW:
Ally: Thank you for spending time with us, Heather. Before you hurry off to shopping, please show us your featured book.  Glitter, Glam, and Contraband (Delanie Fitzgerald series #3) Genre: Mystery/humor Rating: PG Private investigator, Delanie Fitzgerald, and her computer hacker partner, Duncan Reynolds, are back for more sleuthing in Glitter, Glam and Contraband. In this fast-paced mystery, the Falcon Investigations team is hired to find out who is stealing from the talent at a local drag show. Delanie gets more than she bargains for and a few makeup tips in the process. Meanwhile, a mysterious sound in the ceiling of her office vexes Delanie. She uses her sleuthing skills to track down the source and uncover a creepy contraband operation. Glitter, Glam, and Contraband features a strong female sleuth with a knack for getting herself in and out of humorous situations like helping sleezy strip club owner, Chaz Smith on his quest to become Richmond’s next mayor, tracking down missing reptiles, and uncovering hidden valuables from a 100-year-old crime with a Poe connection. Book Links for featured book: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Glitter-Glam-Contraband-Delanie-Fitzgerald/dp/099945983X/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=heather+weidner&qid=1573726545&sr=8-3 Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/glitter-glam-and-contraband/id1487475119?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/glitter-glam-and-contraband-heather-weidner/1134862421?ean=2940163591978 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/glitter-glam-and-contraband Other Books on Amazon: www.amazon.com/s?k=B00HOYR0MQ&ref=nb_sb_noss  Welcome, Booklovers! Are those of you in the US ready for Turkey Day (and all the trimmings)? I am. While we wait, I want you to meet cozy mystery author Nancy Good! Nice to have you visit us, Nancy. What may I get you to drink? NG: I don't drink coffee, although I loved chocolate tasting coffee years ago. Now I drink herbal teas, or even plain hot water with steamed soy milk or almond milk. Starbucks will actually prepare that. Ally: We always have great tea on hand. While I prepare my coffee and your tea, please tell our readers something about yourself.  About the Author: I'm a lifelong Manhattan resident and think biking along the Hudson River is the best place to be. I had a bestselling non-fiction book years ago when publishers sent you to expensive hotels like the Four Seasons on book tours. I appeared on Oprah and CNN among other shows to promote How to Love a Difficult Man. It sold widely and was translated into 12 languages. I'm in two NYC choruses and get to sing in places like Carnegie Hall. Backstage at Carnegie is a maze of rooms on many floors. As I'm finding my way to a free bathroom on a quiet floor down a long hallway, I've thought that this would be a good place for a murder. I am on the search for a long haired mix or maincoon cat, as my wonderful cat passed away recently. Cats are my muse, they keep late night hours like I do. And they don't talk, usually. Killer Calories is my first mystery and the first in the Melanie Deming Manhattan Mystery series. Contact the Author: Website: https://www.nancygood.com or just nancygood.com FB: facebook.com/nancygoodauthor Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nancy-good INTERVIEW: Ally: What do you find most rewarding about a writing career? Most negative or frustrating? NG: There are so many rewards and equally so many frustrations. Creating fiction, and for me, humor, gives me a sense of well being and excitement like nothing else can. As Elizabeth Gilbert said, it’s big magic. With mysteries, I can solve a problem that I can’t solve in real life. And of course have a happy ending. The negatives are definitely the promotion which is so internet and technology dependent. There’s a lot of frustration with that as well. Writing can be frustrating and hard but there’s a great payoff in the end. That’s not necessarily true with book promotion. I do enjoy doing book readings and hope to do more of those. Readings are enjoyable when others enjoy the humor and suspense. Ally: Do you know the book’s ending before you start writing? NG: I don’t know the ending of a book before I start. I have an idea and the first chapter almost writes itself. The ending comes somewhere in the middle of the book, as if I’m investigating all the suspects and seeing who is most likely to have done it. Ally: Do you read reviews of your books? NG: Definitely. I learn a lot about how another person sees the book. What they found important is always enlightening. Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!). DB: Rhys Bowen is a funny, wonderful mystery writer. Any of her series are good. I also like her novels about WWII, like The Tuscan Child. But her Royal Spyness Mysteries are so much fun. I’ve learned a lot from her. Susan Isaacs and her bestseller Compromising Positions provided inspiration for Killer Calories. John Grisham is great and does incredible research. I loved Camino Island, about the theft of priceless Fitzgerald manuscripts. There are so many fun and creative mystery writers. Hard to pick out three. Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date? NG: Book Number 2 in the Melanie Deming Manhattan Mystery Series is almost half done. Killer Condo, a murder during an Open House for a four million dollar condo. Real estate is priceless and deadly on Park Avenue. Ally: Which of the short answer questions did you choose? DB:
Ally: Thanks for visiting with us during this busy holiday. Before you rush off to celebrate with family/friends, please show us your featured book.  Killer Calories (Melanie Deming Manhattan Mystery #1) Genre/key words: Cozy mystery/female amateur sleuth/humor/mild romantic suspense/chick-lit From bestselling author of the Difficult Man books comes a new Manhattan mystery series. This is book one in the series Spend time in the Big Apple with wise-cracking amateur sleuth Melanie Deming, as she follows clues from glamorous Park Avenue mansions to gritty soup kitchens. Melanie's a snarky writer and health fanatic who shockingly discovers the body of her good-looking co-worker. She's no Lois Lane and is scared of every germ, yet Melanie must have justice for her friend. Devon, a blue-eyed hard-to-resist journalist, wants Melanie for a screenplay about the murder, and more. Melanie can have the success she's dreamed of and a man of her dreams, but she could lose her marriage and her life searching for a killer who now threatens her. Why couldn't she be satisfied with a normal job and the boring life her husband wants? Underneath all the zany fun are some astute observations on marriage, the super rich, and class differences. Read first chapter Buy at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo, Google Play Kirkus Review: “The inaugural adventure of a perky, plucky...screenwriter and secret sleuth. Good has a knack for spinning humor ...and clever banter..It also touches on...the unmet desires of urban housewives. A thoroughly entertaining character-driven mystery...” Read the full review HERE  Happy Wednesday, Booklovers! I'm turning over the blog today to cozy mystery writer Lois Winston and the main character of her crafting mystery series, Anatasia Pollack. Welcome, Lois! Take it away.... Ask Me Some Questions, I’ll Tell You No Lies…Maybe By Lois Winston I’m currently on a blog tour to promote the release of Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide, the eighth book in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series. As such, I’ve been doing quite a few interviews. Author interviews are usually pretty standard. Most focus on questions about why the author decided to become an author, where she gets her ideas, why she chose a certain genre, and whether she’s a “pantser” or a “plotter.” Every now and then, though, an interviewer asks some unique questions. My most unique interview was back in 2013 for a UK blog by RLL. Who is RLL? Beats me. The person seems to want to remain anonymous and only goes by those three initials. He or she was promoting something called Read Tuesday, and I was invited to take part. I have no recollection of how we connected. However, while cleaning out some old computer files, I recently came across my answers to the twenty questions the interviewer asked and thought I’d share five of them with you. RLL: Fire rages in your house. Everyone is safe, but you. You decide to smash through the window, shielding your face with a book. What is the book? Lois: Fahrenheit 451 (sorry, couldn’t resist!) RLL: Who’d win in a fight between Count Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster? If, you know, you were writing that scene. Lois: Personally, I don’t care who would win. I have no “stake” in this fight. RLL: You must introduce a plot-twist. Evil twin or luggage mix-up? Lois: Evil twin who mixes up the luggage. RLL: You are at sea in a lifeboat, with the barest chance of surviving the raging storm. There’s one opportunity to save a character, drifting by this scene. Do you save the idealistic hero or the tragic villain? Lois: Neither. I’d save the plucky heroine. RLL: You build a secret passage into your story. Where? Lois: Behind the refrigerator. No one ever looks there. After reading through these questions and my answers to them, I began to wonder how Anastasia might think I’d answer them. So I asked her. Here are her answers: Lois: Fire rages through my house. Everyone is safe, but me. I smash through the window, shielding my face with a book. What book did I grab? Anastasia: Book? Forget it. You’d grab your laptop. The two of you are joined at the hip. Lois: Who’d win in a fight between Count Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster? If, you know, I was writing that scene. Anastasia: I think you should ask me who wins in a fight between my mother and mother-in-law. You always have them exchanging barbs. Why not put them in an MMA arena? Lois: Really? You’d have me subject your mother to that? Anastasia: I’m kidding! But if you ever do write Mama and Lucille into a knock-down/drag-out battle, you’d better make sure Mama wins. Lois: Duly noted. Perhaps we should move on to the next question. Anastasia: Go for it. Lois: I have to introduce a plot-twist. Let’s forget the evil twin and luggage mix-up. Any ideas? Anastasia: You could have me win the lottery. Lois: You do realize that would mean the end of the series, don’t you? Anastasia: Hey, a girl can dream, can’t she? Lois: I’m going to skip the raging storm at sea question. I know which character you’d gladly sacrifice. Anastasia: You know I’d never act on one of my mother-in-law fantasies. You’ve written me to be too nice—or too much the martyr—I’m still trying to figure out your motivation for permanently sticking me with Lucille. Lois: It’s called character conflict. Anastasia: I could do with a little less conflict in my life, no thanks to you. Lois: I’m changing up the secret passage question as well. Instead of where I’d place it, where do you think it should lead? Anastasia: Anywhere that wouldn’t include dead bodies and killers. Lois: I suppose it’s a good thing I don’t write paranormal or time-travel mysteries, then. You’d walk through that passage and never come back. Anastasia: Of course I would! You didn’t write a clueless dummy of a sleuth, just a reluctant one.  Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 8 Two and a half weeks ago magazine crafts editor Anastasia Pollack arrived home to find Ira Pollack, her half-brother-in-law, had blinged out her home with enough Christmas lights to rival Rockefeller Center. Now he’s crammed her small yard with enormous cavorting inflatable characters. She and photojournalist boyfriend and possible spy Zack Barnes pack up the unwanted lawn decorations to return to Ira. They arrive to find his yard the scene of an over-the-top Christmas extravaganza. His neighbors are not happy with the animatronics, laser light show, and blaring music creating traffic jams on their normally quiet street. One of them expresses his displeasure with his fists before running off. In the excitement, the deflated lawn ornaments are never returned to Ira. The next morning Anastasia once again heads to his house before work to drop them off. When she arrives, she discovers Ira’s attacker dead in Santa’s sleigh. Ira becomes the prime suspect in the man’s murder and begs Anastasia to help clear his name. But Anastasia has promised her sons she’ll keep her nose out of police business. What’s a reluctant amateur sleuth to do? Buy Links: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VG2QZXV/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=Handmade+Ho-Ho+Homicide&qid=1563673299&s=gateway&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=loiswins-20&linkId=cbd92af3c45b1134cb5408cc8450e3b4&language=en_US Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/handmade-ho-ho-homicide Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/handmade-ho-ho-homicide-lois-winston/1132607263?ean=2940163093748 iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/handmade-ho-ho-homicide/id1473711082  About the Author: USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. Author Contacts: Website: www.loiswinston.com Newsletter sign-up: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z1z1u5 Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/anasleuth Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/722763.Lois_Winston Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lois-winston  New Release! Turkey Basted to Death (Book 2.5) Series Title: The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series Genre: Cozy Mystery Release Date: Nov. 15, 2019 Blurb: Welcome to Leavensport, Ohio where DEATH takes a delicious turn! Thanksgiving is here, and Jolie Tucker has had quite the year! She is ready to sit back and relax with family and friends. But this is Leavensport, OH—so get ready for intense therapy sessions, dysfunctional family holiday gatherings, uninvited guests, and an inner-city teen advocate found DEAD—stabbed in the ear with the turkey baster! Links to purchase book: Amazon: http://authl.it/b8o All other e-platforms: https://books2read.com/u/ba2YM8 EXCERPT: Chapter One Monday, 11/25/19 Therapy journal prompt #1: Why am I going to therapy, and what do I hope to accomplish? Honestly, I’m not enjoying therapy at all. I don’t know why I thought it was supposed to be enjoyable. Tabitha is nice enough, but it’s so weird discussing the darkest corners of my life with a complete stranger. Not to mention, I try to NOT think about those things—but Tabitha wants me to dredge it all up. I might tell her I’m quitting. I kind of don’t think it’s helpful to rehash the past. I can’t understand how unburying past trauma can help me have a happier future. It’s definitely not helping me have a happier now. Ugh, and Thanksgiving is this Thursday. For reals? I’m so not in the holiday mood. Since Keith finished the police academy and works for Teddy, it seems like his life is one big ball of happiness. I can feel him trying to nudge us back into dating like we did in high school—it’s so rough because I consider him an amazing friend. We grew up together, dated, then worked through the hurt I put him through to become friends again. He was the one who was honest with me about Meiser—or whatever his real name is–last summer. I need his friendship, but I don’t know how to make that clear to him without hurting him again. Speaking of Meiser, I HATE that when I see him, I still have tingles rush up and down my body. My stupid hoo-hah needs to get itself under control—as well as my heart. Logically, I know I can’t be with a man who built the foundation of our relationship on lies. This is exactly what my bio father did with me from the time I was a toddler into my early teen years. Tabitha says those are the years when humans develop social and familial norms from observing the behaviors and environments around them. No wonder half the time I can’t stand men, and can’t make a relationship work for the life of me! Sometimes I think Ava has it all figured out. Maybe if I was into women, I could make a relationship work? Maybe not? Trust. I have so few people I trust. I don’t know how to change that. Well, I guess, for now, I’ll continue avoiding Mick. Maybe quitting the therapy thing isn’t such a great idea. At least this is one therapeutic homework assignment that’s done. Time for cuddles in bed with the kitties, then sleep! Testing out more turkey Dutch cast-iron recipes in the morning. * * * The times are for sure a-changing. This time last year, I actually thought I was ready to maybe try dating again. I jumped on that topsy-turvy carnival ride called love—and I feel like I was at the top of the ride and fell off flat on my face. That’s where I am now. Eating pavement. “Aren’t you supposed to be picking up your family at the airport now?” I asked Ava. “They aren’t getting in until later tonight. Papa wanted to finish up some last-minute work so he could enjoy the holiday,” Ava said while testing out the fifth turkey recipe we had tried that week. It’s Thanksgiving this Thursday, and with Ava’s family coming back to Leavensport, we decided to rent out the Community Center, and the majority of the village is having Thanksgiving dinner together. All of the restaurants in town are contributing to the dinner, and many of the villagers are making lots of food–like a potluck. I’d been testing out multiple turkey recipes for the big day. We were doing taste tests at the restaurant so the villagers could choose their favorites and sharing the remainder of the turkeys with the homeless shelter in Tri-City. So far, the Cajun turkey was a big hit as well the smokehouse turkey and the honey turkey with lemon and sage. “Is your therapist going to be at the Thanksgiving gathering?” Ava asked. “I don’t know. Why?” I asked sharply, tapping my foot in annoyance. “Isn’t that a conflict of interest? The two of you can’t have dinner together, can you?” Ava scowled at my tone and took two steps back. If only I could have seen my face at that moment. “She is my counselor, not my parole officer.” “Yeah, I know that. I’m just asking if it’s a conflict of interest. Geesh!” Ava’s voice shot up three octaves. “You and my family know I’m seeing her. It’s not a secret, but I’m not posting it on social media or anything. Everything I say is confidential. It’s not like she will sit at the table and blab everything I’ve told her.” Ava’s glare made me realize that my hands were on my hips, and I must have been giving her a look, not to mention I had used the “duh” tone with her. She was not happy with me at the moment. “You know what, forget it! I hope she does you some good. Your moods have been all over the place lately,” Ava harrumphed. Flinching, I reached out and lightly touched her arm. “I’m sorry. I know I have been kind of . . . emotionally erratic. Honestly, I don’t know if she will be there or not. If she is, I doubt I will talk to her much. She’s nice enough, but we’re not friends. Also, it is awkward living in a small village and seeing her all over the place. Truthfully, we tend to avoid each other when out in public. Which makes it weird sometimes.” “I can understand that.” “Are you excited to see your family finally?” I changed the topic. “I’m nervous. We’ve never been away from each other for this long. What if they’ve changed a lot or if I’ve changed a lot? My mom is still doing that manipulative dance, being passive-aggressive about me deciding not to move with them,” Ava said. “Don’t worry. They’ll be thrilled to see you!” I hoped I was right. The Martinez family put high expectations on their children. I remember when Ava told her mom she wanted to start the restaurant with me. Sophia wanted a spreadsheet of all expenses and profits and how much salary we planned to take in on the first year. We were five. “Uh, Miss Jolie, you will want to come to front?” Our cook Carlos popped his head into the kitchen. Ava followed me out. “Hello, Mayor Nalini, how can we help you?” I greeted him. “Hi, ladies. Any thoughts about the Thanksgiving gathering?” He rubbed the back of his neck and seemed to be having difficulty meeting my gaze. Ava and I raised our eyebrows at each other. “Nope, just been testing out different recipes for turkeys. We’ve been working on the menu and did taste tests all last week.” “Okay, that’s great. And Ava, excited to see your family?” the mayor asked. “Sure, it will be good to see them again.” She fumbled with her hands. “Is there a problem?” I asked. “What? Problem? No—of course not.” The mayor shifted. “Actually, Ava, wouldn’t you rather have a nice private dinner seeing that you and your family haven’t had time together for a while?” “Nooo.” Ava drug out the word. “They can’t stay long, and this will make things easier on them to be able to see everyone in town all at once. We will have time to visit with just our family for a little while before they leave.” “What is going on, Mayor?” I asked. Mayor Nalini was the one who was dead set on this big community holiday gathering after all. He came and pleaded with us in October to take on the majority of the catering for the event. Now he was acting odd. “I just got off the phone with Mayor Cardinal in Tri-City,” he began. Oh no, I felt my heart sink into my chest. Whatever he was about to say could not be good news.  About the Author: Moving into her second decade working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in her The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers, educational writing, marketing consultant work with authors, and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her eight cats. Author Contacts: Website: www.jodirath.com FB Author page: @authorjodirath or https://www.facebook.com/authorjodirath/ Twitter: @jodirath Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jodi-rath Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard Newsletter link to A Mystery A Month—sign up for my monthly newsletter to receive a free Mystery a Month and a chance to win prizes for those who guess the right answers! http://eepurl.com/dIfXdb |
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