Nicola Furlong- Twelve Question Tuesday

Nicola Furlong water color

1.  Please tell me the three most important things people should know about you.

1.     I dig playing old-timers’ hockey, gardening, reading/writing/listening/watching mysteries and eating chocolate fudge.

2.      My family is large and Catholic, so I’ve got the T-shirt on sharing, squabbling, screaming and lack of seclusion.

3.      Do not get between me and anything chocolate.

2.  Are you a dog person or a cat person?

·         Love them both. My life is currently immeasurably enhanced by a sweet giant of a Yorkshire Terrier, a spunky mixed Maltie/Shihtzu and an amazing rescued Himalayan cat.

3.  Tea or coffee?

·         True to my British/Irish heritage, make mine a cuppa black tea and have you got any chocolate biscuits?

4.  Boxers, briefs, boxer-briefs, or commando? (Either what you prefer or what you prefer on others.)

·         Love boxers every which way.

5.  What was the first thing you ever wrote?

·         Uncertain but most likely a plea for more chocolate. Older siblings would have cleaned me out.

6.  When did you finally decide to call yourself a writer?

·         With my first byline in the local newspaper on a personal essay about putting my first car out to pasture.  I knew then I could play with words as skillfully as with balls, pucks and bats.

7.  Which of your works are you most proud to have written?

·         My multimedia online version of my supernatural thriller, Unnatural States, because it involved working with my creative partner and a dozen actors and combining words with videos, music, sound effects and photographs to create a new, thrilling reading experience.

8.  What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?

·         Running home from a construction site—hemorrhaging blood—when I was a kid, after I split open the top of my head. Got a gnarly skull from the resulting twenty-five fat stitches. Will make it dead easy to ID my body.

9.  How did you end up getting published?

·         I started with personal essays in local papers and then had my first murder mystery, Teed Off! published in 1996.

10.  Would you be food or fighter if the zombie apocalypse were to happen?

·         Oh, I love competition and scary, supernatural stuff so I’d be out there battling. It’s only a flesh wound, after all.

11.  What is the most daring thing you have ever done?

·         Dedicating a year and thousands of dollars into developing the multimedia version of Unnatural States…in 2009 when mixing videos and sound with reading was bold and daunting. Fortunately, the work was an absolute gas and the reading experience exhilarating.

12.  Would you rather be rich or famous--and you could only have one-- and why?  The fame would be based on something good, not something like being the best serial killer or anything like that.

·         Rather have the dough than the glam, thanks. The cash might last whereas the fame will be fleet footed.

Book Blurb:

TEED OFF!

Crackling with wit and suspense, TEED OFF! delivers three holes in one: a complex and engrossing murder mystery, a fascinating glimpse into professional golf and a complicated and poignant family dynamic. When coroner Riley Quinn tees off an investigation into the suspicious death of her boss and brother-in-law, she finds herself sand-wedged by a villainous environmental group, a mysterious Japanese consortium and her estranged sister. In order to catch a cunning and ruthless murderer, Riley must face a nasty past she thought dead and buried. The chocoholic club pro quickly discovers that not all bad lies are on the golf course; unfortunately, sometimes they’re much closer to home.

BIO:

Nicola pens mystery and inspirational novels, creates interactive iPad books, podcasts about genre writing, publishes ebooks and produces promotional book trailers, when she's not playing Old-Timer’s hockey, growing blue poppies or eating chocolate fudge. She is also the co-creator of Quillr®, a new multimedia storytelling platform. Nicola lives in small town on southern Vancouver Island, BC Canada.

Please contact Nicola at:

 Website: http://www.nicolafurlong.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicola-Furlong/34074157845

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/novelnicola/

Mary Montague Sikes: Twelve Question Tuesday

Barnes and Noble Book Signing 

Today I am excited to welcome Mary Montague Sikes to Twelve Question Tuesday. 

1.  Please tell me the three most important things people should know about you.
1. I love to take and to teach artist workshops. Whenever possible, I like to include elements involving artists in my writing.  

2. Physical fitness is especially important to me. I've belonged to a Fitness Center for years and take group classes three or four times a week. I especially like Zumba and just started taking Shockwave which is the newest fad in fitness.  

3. Travel is my passion. Just give me a ticket and a great and fun destination, and I'm off in a heartbeat!

2.  Are you a dog person or a cat person?
Cat

3.  Tea or coffee? 
Neither. I drink Max, often four a day!

4.  Boxers, briefs, boxer-briefs, or commando? (Either what you prefer or what you prefer on others.)
Briefs. What's commando? 
(Note from me- commando is in the buff. Nude. Nada.)

5.  What was the first thing you ever wrote?
The first piece I remember is a poem about George Washington I wrote when I was in third grade. At the time, we lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the childhood home of Washington.

6.  When did you finally decide to call yourself a writer? 
When I was in high school, I was school reporter for the local newspaper and editor of the high school paper. I considered myself a writer then!

7.  Which of your works are you most proud to have written? 
My coffee table book, Hotels to Remember, was quite a project and was years in the making. I loved visiting and photographing these special places. Putting it all together with my publisher, Billie Johnson, was fun and tedious. Then she did a great job with the eventual layout and all the rest. It's a beautiful book, complete with an elegant French-fold dustcover and gold print on black linen cover.

8.  What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you? 
In Guadeloupe, our resort unit was entered in the middle of the night, and all our money and both passports were taken. We couldn't even make a telephone call. Being in a foreign country without a passport and no money is not a good thing!

9.  How did you end up getting published?
While attending a Romance Writers of America convention in Anaheim, California, I mentioned my interest in writing the hotels book to an agent who was then connected with Billie. Thus began the book, Hotels to Remember, and the publication of my romance novel, Hearts Across Forever prior to that. Hearts Across Forever was Oak Tree's first Timeless Love.

10.  Would you be food or fighter if the zombie apocalypse were to happen?
I don't know.

11.  What is the most daring thing you have ever done?
Interesting question. I don't consider myself a daring person, so I have to think about this. The night we were robbed in Guadeloupe in the middle of the night while sleeping in our resort unit, my husband and I went wandering all over the island by foot in the dark searching for our belongings. That was pretty daring, we realized later. Also, we did some pretty daring things while in Trinidad, including riding in a small boat through ocean waters to get to our resort on a small island off the coast. That's part of the fictionalized story in my novel, Night Watch.

12.  Would you rather be rich or famous--and you could only have one-- and why?  The fame would be based on something good, not something like being the best serial killer or anything like that.
Famous. Riches are fleeting and easily lost. Fame has more potential for good and for future recognition.

BY THE AUTHOR:
 
Although this is not my latest book, I have been promoting A RAINBOW FOR CHRISTMAS recently because it was released at a time when it didn't receive appropriate attention.

A RAINBOW FOR CHRISTMAS is an historical romance set in 1869. After the unexpected deaths of her brother and sister-in-law, Meg undertakes a journey alone with Eliza, her six-year-old niece. They are traveling on a wagon train from Missouri to Denver, Colorado where Meg will meet the man her father has arranged for her to marry in a deal to save the family farm. Along the way, both Meg and Eliza grow very fond of Cade Russell, the wagon master.  Meg is eventually torn between honoring her promise to her father or following her heart.

I was inspired to write this story after visiting mountain towns in Colorado with a wealth of mining history. While there, I purchased an array of books telling the stories of early settlers in the area. I was especially intrigued by a volume of diary entries made by women who crossed the prairie on wagon trains. My book won first place for young adult fiction in the Virginia Press Women 2012 Communications Contest.

My next book project is DRAGONFLIES IN THE MORNING, which will be released in early 2014.

Thank you, Holli, for having me as your guest. I've enjoyed your interview questions.



Find out more about Mary Montague Sikes at:  

www.marymontaguesikes.com 

http://marymontaguesikes.blogspot.com

Thonie Hevron: Twelve Question Tuesday

Thonie Hevron

Today I am excited to welcome Thonie Hevron to Twelve Question Tuesday. 

1. Please tell me the three most important things people should know about you.
First, that I believe in God; second, I love my husband and the life we’ve built together, third, writing is in my DNA. I couldn’t stop if I wanted.

2.  Are you a dog person or a cat person? 
Both, actually. Both serve the different needs of my personality. Currently, I have two senior rescue mutts and no kitties. And, I have a horse that I love to bits (sorry for the pun!)

3.  Tea or coffee?
Coffee, hopefully Gevalia or Eight o’Clock. But a nice cuppa Earl Grey is wonderful, too.

4.  Boxers, briefs, boxer-briefs, or commando? (Either what you prefer or what you prefer on others.)
Yikes, TMI! I only go commando while kayaking--I’ll leave it at that.

5.  What was the first thing you ever wrote?
“How the Leopard Got Its Spots” in the fifth grade. I think it started as an assignment but I really loved it and was proud of that story. It set me on this path.


6. When did you finally decide to call yourself a writer?
When I retired, I finally found--no, made--the time to publish and market my book. My husband supported my efforts and took over a lot of the home responsibilities. But the turning point, in my mind, was in 2012, when I won the Public Safety Writers Association (PSWA) Third Place for Best Unpublished Novel. I felt like I’d earned the respect of my peers and could call myself a writer.

7. Which of your works are you most proud to have written? 
I am proudest of my most recent novel, INTENT TO HOLD. I hope to have it published by late summer of 2014. It was my best effort so far and it won me a publishing contract in a contest. My writing improves daily, mostly with help from my critique group--exceptional writers all--and Redwood Writers, the local chapter of California Writers Club. Both offer practical support and encouragement to me (and to all the members). POSSESSION FOR SALE, my next book, will be even better.

8. What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
When I was 18, my cousin and I were driving in deep in the forests of Northern California when we realized we were lost. This is before cell phones or GPS. I got my car stuck in some mud so we had to walk for miles in the dark until we could find a telephone to call her dad. There’s a story there.

9. How did you end up getting published?
I won a contest. After I finished INTENT TO HOLD, continually struck out with agent queries. Trying a different tack, I entered it in three contests. It won in the contest I was hoping for--a publishing contract.

10. Would you be food or fighter if the zombie apocalypse were to happen?
A fighter, no matter what kind of apocalyptic event.

11. What is the most daring thing you have ever done?
Zip-lining is on my bucket list as well as a balloon ride over the Wine Country, but the riskiest thing I ever did was self-publish. I resisted it for years but at one point, with an agent rejection letter in my hand, I decided I had nothing to lose. Putting your work “out there” was scary but I believed in myself and knew the work was good quality. I just did it and am proud of the product.

12. Would you rather be rich or famous--and you could only have one-- and why? The fame would be based on something good, not something like being the best serial killer or anything like that. 
No easy answer here. I’d like to be famous for writing good quality stories but like most writers, I tend to shy away from the spotlight. Money’s always nice but there is no intrinsic value if you don’t share it. Then, if I had lots of money, would I write? You bet!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Ryan answers a call from his estranged wife in Mexico to help find her kidnapped brother. When he and his partner Meredith Ryan arrive, they find the crime is not as simple as they were told. Betrayed and caught by the police, they are expelled from Mexico. Returning to Puerto Vallarta by boat at night, Nick and Meredith battle nature, Federales, crime cartels and even Nick’s own family to rescue his brother-in-law. To complicate their mission, Nick must face the end of his marriage while Meredith hasn’t yet put her own nightmares to rest.

Blog  Just the Facts, Ma'am 

Website http://www.thoniehevron.com/

Purchase on Amazon  By Force or Fear

Marja McGraw- Twelve Question Tuesday

Today I am excited to welcome Marja McGraw to Twelve Question Tuesday.

1.  Please tell me the three most important things people should know about you.
I’m a klutz. If you see me coming, give me plenty of room. I’ll go out of my way to stick up for what I believe in. I talk a good game, but I don’t really have a lot of self-confidence, so please be kind. 

2.  Are you a dog person or a cat person?
I’m definitely a dog person. We have two Yellow Labrador Retrievers, and they’re outstanding dogs, although they don’t always listen too well. I’ve had dogs most of my adult life and adored each of them for different reasons. I had a miniature toy poodle once who actually saved my daughter and I from an intruder who cut the phone lines and tried to break into the house during the night. (Short version of the story.)

3.  Tea or coffee?
Definitely tea. I love the smell of coffee in the morning, but I’ve never developed a taste for it.

4.  Boxers, briefs, boxer-briefs, or commando? 
LOL None of the above. I’m a girl, after all. 

5.  What was the first thing you ever wrote?
A story for creative writing class in middle school, or as we called it, Jr. High School. A teacher in another class read it aloud to her students and I was shocked, but smiled all the way home from school that day. It was about a dog. There’s that Dog Person coming out in me again. Then I grew up and wrote a terrible book called, Summer’s Ghost. Never published it, but I used the title in another book I wrote.

6.  When did you finally decide to call yourself a writer?
When my first book was published. I don’t like pushy people, and yet I’m pushy because it’s the first thing I tell people about myself. Almost without fail they ask if I write children’s books. Um, no, mysteries. I guess I need a new, grittier look or something. Maybe if I spike my hair?

7.  Which of your works are you most proud to have written?
That’s a tough question. I guess I’d have to say Old Murders Never Die (which is about being stranded in a ghost town). No, on second thought it might be They Call Me Ace (funny stuff). Then again, it might be What Are the Odds? which is my current WIP. I guess they all hold a special place in my heart.

8.  What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
I was quite young I moved into a new apartment. When I walked into the kitchen and stepped on the tile, blood squirted up around the edges. I had horrible visions of a dead body buried under the floor. I ran to a neighbor’s apartment and she ran back with me. She, too, thought it was blood. We were about to call the police when someone else showed up, and it turned out it was rust from a water leak. Oh, brother! Was I ever embarrassed!

And then there was a stalker situation. Oh, and facing a rattle snake up front and personal. Watching the police walk through my home with guns drawn after someone broke in. You could only see their silhouettes through the shades. Hmm. I’ve got a bunch of scariest moments. Then there was the guy who cut the phone lines. The scariest is one I don’t talk about.

Is it any wonder I chose to write mysteries?

 9.  How did you end up getting published?
Persistence and determination. I’m nothing, if not tenacious. Sometimes that can be considered a fault, but in this case it paid off. Writing a readable book didn’t hurt, either.

10.  Would you be food or fighter if the zombie apocalypse were to happen?
I’m laughing over this question. I’d definitely be a fighter, once I got over the shock of seeing a real live zombie. Guess I should rethink my wording. Real live zombie?

11.  What is the most daring thing you have ever done?
I’m not really a very exciting person, so that’s another tough question. I don’t know if it’s daring, but when I worked in law enforcement I once had to search a ladies room for a bomb, with no training. (Many years ago when things were different.) Daring? I’m terrified of flying, so every time I get on an airplane I’m doing something daring.

12.  Would you rather be rich or famous--and you could only have one-- and why?  The fame would be based on something good, not something like being the best serial killer or anything like that.
I’d rather be famous. That would mean people are reading my books. I can’t imagine what it would be like for my name to be a household word. (Can you tell I’m all about books?)

Holli, Thank you for inviting me to visit your site today. Your questions were a lot of fun.

FROM THE WRITER:
 
BLURB:

The Bogey Man – A Sandi Webster Mystery (recently re-released)
Imagine you’re a young female P.I., it’s the early morning hours and you’re watching the motel room of an errant husband. The angry wife shows up and blows your cover, and the husband comes after you. Now imagine Humphrey Bogart comes to your rescue – but the actor has been dead since 1957.

Website:          http://www.marjamcgraw.com/

Blog:               http://blog.marjamcgraw.com/ (Updated weekly)

Amazon:          http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marja%20mcgraw&sprefix=marja+mc%2Cstripbooks%2C212&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Amarja%20mcgraw

Lorna Collins- Twelve Question Tuesday

Today I am excited to welcome Lorna Collins to Twelve Question Tuesday.

1.  Please tell me the three most important things people should know about you.
I am a control freak and perfectionist, which may make me a better editor and writer.  I’ve been married to the same man for 48 years and plan to spend as long as I can with him.  I love people, which may also contribute to the reality of my characters. (Larry says I collect friends like others collect stamps!)

2.  Are you a dog person or a cat person?
I must confess, I’m a cat person although we are currently petless by choice.

3.  Tea or coffee?
Coffee, decaf, black. 

4.  Boxers, briefs, boxer-briefs, or commando? (Either what you prefer or what you prefer on others.)
Briefs (on Larry, of course).

5.  What was the first thing you ever wrote?
A poem in about third grade. 

6.  When did you finally decide to call yourself a writer?
Not until after our first book was published, although I’d done technical writing for years.
 
7.  Which of your works are you most proud to have written?
It’s a little like asking which child you love most. My current answer would be The Memory Keeper, our current WIP. We’ve spent about two years doing the research. Oh and of course our memoir, 31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park.

8.  What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
We were in the old city of Jerusalem being shoved along in a crush of humanity. I was terrified I’d trip and be trampled. 

9.  How did you end up getting published?
After having a couple of agents express interest and then tell us they weren’t, after holding the manuscript for months, we decided to subsidy publish in order to expedite publishing. Our subsequent books were published by independent, royalty-paying publishers.

10.  Would you be food or fighter if the zombie apocalypse were to happen?
I’m such a wuss, I’d probably end up being food.

11.  What is the most daring thing you have ever done?
Giving up the best job I’d ever had to join my husband in Japan to help build the Universal Studios Japan theme park. At least we got our first book out of the adventure!

12.  Would you rather be rich or famous--and you could only have one-- and why?  The fame would be based on something good, not something like being the best serial killer or anything like that.
Probably rich just because of all the good I could do for others.
 
Ghost Writer by Lorna Collins

When unemployed computer programmer Nan Burton inherits a California beach cottage from her great-great-aunt, she’s delighted. But she’s in for a huge surprise: The house is haunted by the ghost of famous romance writer Max Murdoch (pen name Maxine DuBois) who insists Nan complete his last novel, threatening to keep her from sleeping until she agrees. The ensuing clash pits youth against the long-dead but still egotistical author with humorous and moving results.


All our books can be published from the publishers as well as on Amazon, Kindle, Nook, etc. 

Links and trailers are all on our website http://www.lornalarry.com.


You can find Lorna's blog at: http://lornacollins-author.blogspot.com/

Kay Kendall- Twelve Question Tuesday

Today I am excited to welcome writer Kay Kendall to Twelve Question Tuesday. 

1.  Please tell me the three most important things people should know about you.
Half of my family is from Texas, the other from Kansas, and I once lived in Canada for 22 years with my Canadian husband. We’ve been homesteaded happily in Texas since 1990, and he said just yesterday that he calls himself an American. That said, each of us has dual US-Canadian citizenship, as does our son. Gosh, I think that’s more than a mere three things. I lost count.

2.  Are you a dog person or a cat person?
I’m a dog person. I’ve lived with a few cats over the years but am terribly allergic to them anyway. Dogs I can relate to. Cats, not so much, and besides, just thinking about them makes me wheeze and sneeze.

3.  Tea or coffee?
Coffee, big time! When I was in grad school, I remember one day I drank 17 cups of java. I don’t drink that much now but the mugs are bigger. I also try to drink two cups of green tea daily for my health. I’m working on living to 100 and green tea is supposed to help. If you think that I might slosh when I walk around, then you would be correct.

4.  Boxers, briefs, boxer-briefs, or commando?
Assuming I know what you mean by the term “boxer-briefs,” those are the ones I prefer on my husband. Commando style makes me want to giggle.

5.  What was the first thing you ever wrote?
I wrote and illustrated my own version of Clement Moore’s wonderful “Night Before Christmas” when I was about age seven.

6.  When did you finally decide to call yourself a writer?
I began writing fiction about twelve years ago. After two years, while shopping at a Whole Foods, I spotted a mug painted with words from Henry David Thoreau, aimed straight at my heart. “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” I bought that mug and drank from it for five more years as I wrote and wrote and wrote. It took that long for me to acknowledge that being a writer was my heart’s desire and another year before I could call myself a writer. Now I call myself an author, because my debut mystery was published last spring. That is the best part, being a published author.

7.  Which of your works are you most proud to have written?
I’ve written two novels. One is a literary coming-of-age story, now safely squirreled away in a drawer. The second is my debut mystery Desolation Row. I can’t choose between the two. It’s like trying to choose your favorite child. I love both novels for different reasons.

8.  What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
In college I was riding my bicycle down a path, barreling down a slight hill, when my brakes failed and I couldn’t stop before zooming onto a busy street. There were cars coming toward me on my right, but I whizzed by in time to not get scrunched. Scared me to death.

9.  How did you end up getting published?
I sent the manuscript of Desolation Row to several agents and three publishers that would take un-agented submissions. Many American agents and some publishers are not keen to take books set outside of the United States, and they definitely didn’t see my Canadian setting as a plus. The publisher I ended up with, however, had already issued books that have Canadian content. Once I saw that on their web page, I knew that Stairway Press of Seattle would be a good fit for my book. The Stairway people are a joy to work with, and because my publisher Ken Coffman runs his operation like a writers’ cooperative, I had input into how my book turned out physically.

10.  Would you be food or fighter if the zombie apocalypse were to happen?
Definitely I’d fight. Nobody or nothing is going to eat ME! I’m the happy eater around here! 

11.  What is the most daring thing you have ever done?
As I am answering these questions, thinking about my life as a writer, I must say that the most daring thing I’ve done is to put myself out into the world as a writer. It takes guts to send your baby/book out into the world, knowing that lots of people will sling mud and say your book is the stupidest thing they’ve ever read. So far my reviews online after been terrific, knock on wood. This week, though, a few worse reviews for the audio version popped up, but those comments sound like they are from younger readers who expected something different from what I write. Anyway, I’ve heard many very famous authors say how down they get about bad comments, so I know I’m in good company and it is well worth the risk.

12.  Would you rather be rich or famous--and you could only have one-- and why?  The fame would be based on something good, not something like being the best serial killer or anything like that.
Forced to pick, I’d much rather be famous. I would go further and choose to be famous for being an author whose books people love to read. Why not rich? That’s easy. Lots of rich people lead very unhappy lives and grow mean and nasty and very, very selfish. Enough said.



BLURB


In 1968 a young bride from Texas uses her CIA-honed skills to catch the real killer when her husband lands in a Canadian jail for murdering the draft-resisting son of a United States senator.

Alone and ill-equipped to negotiate in a foreign country, Austin launches her own investigation into the murder. Austin must find the real killer or risk losing everything. Her love--and her life--are on the line.

MY LINKS


https://www.facebook.com/KayKendallAuthor
http://www.kaykendallauthor.com
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6080853.Kay_Kendall

I Tweet from @kaylee_kendall
I blog twice a month from The Stiletto Gang, beginning in November: http://thestilettogang.blogspot.com/


My debut mystery Desolation Row is available in three formats: paperback, E book, and audio book.

My publisher Stairway Press will mail copies of my book ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD FOR FREE. See
http://www.stairwaypress.com/bookstore/desolation-row/
http://www.amazon.com/Kay-Kendall/e/B00BVUMUD8/
http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Desolation-Row-Audiobook/B00EIOUUMC/ref=a_cat_Myste_c6_1_t


BIO


Kay Kendall is an international award-winning public relations executive who lives in Texas with her husband, five house rabbits, and spaniel Wills. A fan of historical mysteries, she set her debut mystery during the Vietnam War, a key conflict of last century not overrun with novels. Published by Stairway Press of Seattle, Desolation Row features Austin Starr, a young bride who turns amateur sleuth when her husband is jailed in Canada for murdering the draft-resisting son of a United States senator. Kay is now writing the sequel, Rainy Day Women, that centers on the death of a women’s liberation leader.