Laura Vosika
1. I hear you have pets and other animals in your Blue Bells Chronicles. Tell us about the novels in this time-travel series.
Bluebells of Scotland blurb:
Shawn Kleiner has it all: money, fame, a skyrocketing career as an international musical phenomenon, his beautiful girlfriend Amy, and all the women he wants—until the night Amy has enough and abandons him in a Scottish castle. He wakes to find himself mistaken for Niall Campbell, medieval Highland warrior. Soon after, he is sent shimmying down a wind-torn castle wall into a dangerous cross-country trek with Niall’s tempting, but knife-wielding fiancée, pursued by English soldiers and a Scottish traitor who want Niall dead.
Thrown forward in time, Niall Campell learns history’s horrifying account of his own death and of the Scots’ slaughter at Bannockburn. Undaunted, he navigates the roiled waters of Shawn’s life—pregnant girlfriend, amorous fans, enemies, gambling debts—seeking a way to leap back across time to save his people, especially his beloved Allene. But he finds himself liking Shawn’s life…
The Minstrel Boy blurb:
On a misty night in the Scottish Highlands, Shawn Kleiner, a womanizing modern American musician, and Niall Campbell, devout medieval warrior, both fall asleep in the tower of Glenmirril Castle, seven centuries apart. They wake up in each other’s time.
In The Minstrel Boy, Shawn’s girlfriend Amy resigns her position with the orchestra and stays behind in Scotland to trace Niall’s fate through historical records. What she finds is not answers, but more questions. Niall Campbell, a man larger than life, who recovers miraculously from multiple injuries, walks through walls, and appears in two places at once—fact or myth? The thieving MacDougalls built a gallows to hang Niall—was it used? Why is the cop assigned to Shawn’s case pursuing her long after the files are closed? And what can she tell the police and everyone in the orchestra? They want answers, and unlike Shawn, she’s not good at lying. But she can’t tell them the truth: they’ll never find him. Because Shawn Kleiner, the notorious twenty-first century musical phenomenon, is dead.
The Water is Wide blurb:
World-renowned musician Shawn Kleiner vanished in the night among the ruins of a Scottish castle. While the world searches, one woman, the mother of his child, knows the truth: he is trapped seven hundred years in the past. While they struggle to reunite across the centuries, an unseen shadow crosses their path—an evil that will threaten the life of a child prophesied to protect history. An evil from the past walks today….
Westering Home blurb:
Two years in medieval Scotland will change a man. A month in the modern world will tempt him back. Some people don’t want Shawn to change, while others can’t believe he has. Modern life is not the haven he imagined. The orchestra has a new star, and Amy has found new love—he may still lose her to the stalwart Angus. He is guilt-ridden over leaving Niall to an unknown fate while he escaped to safety in Amy’s 21st-century arms. But his life of music turns dark as he learns a medieval foe stalks Amy and his son. Living and fighting alongside Niall, the Laird, Hugh, Robert the Bruce, and Scotland’s greatest hero, James Douglas, Shawn learned honor, virtue, and strength. Will they be enough to win back Amy and save his son? Because history and the whole world depend on it.
The Battle is O’er blurb:
Shawn means self and Kleiner means centered, one of Shawn’s (many) ex-girlfriends proclaimed. Two years in medieval Scotland will change a man—and make him see what his ways have cost him. Safely back in his own time, Shawn is steadily regaining all he lost—his career as a world-traveling musician, the son he feared he would never know, and finally, maybe—even Amy’s heart. But as he does, he learns of the dangers still lurking in fourteenth century Scotland: to Niall, who will pay the price for the deed Shawn committed; to his own son, the subject of prophecy and an ancient letter predicting a fateful battle; even danger to the whole world as the Butcher of Berwick uses his knowledge of the future to destroy it. In this gripping conclusion to The Blue Bells Chronicles, Shawn faces the ultimate test. His selfishness once cost him everything. His newfound selflessness may do the same.
NOTE: The Buy Links for the Blue Bells Chronicles, as well as Laura’s other books, are on her Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/4bEwF8i
2. Why did you add pets to this series?
The series couldn’t exist without a wealth of animals. The medieval world lived much more closely with them than we do—horses, cows (which were much smaller then, than in our modern world), chickens, wolves, and the hunting hounds that roamed Glenmirril Castle. I greatly enjoyed Shawn having to learn to ride a horse and handle the Laird’s birds of prey. The Laird’s “great hunting hounds” are best seen in today’s Irish Wolfhound, which is partially the descendant of the wolfhounds of medieval times, renowned for…well, hunting wolves!
These wonderful dogs nearly died out in the late 1700s and 1800s. Captain George Augustus Graham built them up again by breeding the last remaining ones with some of the world’s biggest dogs: the Borzoi (or Russian Wolfhound), the Scottish deerhound, Great Danes, and mastiffs. His aim was to breed a dog that matched the historical description of a tall, powerful, rough-coated dog. Today’s Irish Wolfhound is the world’s tallest dog, though not the largest by weight.
I sought to be as authentic as possible in my writing of the medieval world. To that end, I’ve hiked hills in medieval leather boots, play and own several medieval instruments, and have a decent collection of medieval weapons hanging on my walls. I also set out to find an Irish Wolfhound, which is how Liadan came into my life. Having had Golden Retrievers previously, it was something to see an 87-pound puppy step over the back of my couch on her first day home with us! It certainly gave me a better feel for what it is to live with such a large dog. She only grew to be 110 pounds, which, for a wolfhound makes her the runt of the litter.
Still, when I sat at the stool at my kitchen counter writing, she could easily poke my shoulder with her nose, looking for attention. If she chose to stand on her hind legs with her paws on my shoulder, she looked down on me. Strong? Yes, she was definitely strong! She was also exceptionally loyal and loving. My retrievers seemed to care mainly that they had food and a ball tossed for them, and they were content. Liadan, by contrast, seemed like a child, in her active love for me and for “her” kids. She had a very gentle nature. At times, she came with me when I gave talks on medieval Scotland and seemed to take great delight in meeting those in the audience—as they took great delight in her!
In our last four years with Liadan, we lived on acreage first in Duluth and then in Tennessee. She raced ahead of us as we roamed through our northern woods but never strayed far and came when called. As I made my rounds caring for our chickens, rabbits, and sheep on our homestead, she loved going nose to nose with the rabbits and coming into the field with me when I fed the sheep. When her back legs began to give out and I could no longer let her go up and down our steep Tennessee hills with me, she whined incessantly until I came back, hating to be left behind.
Irish Wolfhounds live, on average, only 6-8 years. We were lucky to have her until she was almost 11. In one last example of how she loved her family, she seemed to know in the fall that the grown kids were coming to visit for Thanksgiving and Christmas. When the last of them left after Christmas, she seemed to know they wouldn’t be back soon, and she immediately went even more quickly downhill. I firmly believe she hung on to see as many as she could one last time. We put her to rest on January 6, 2025. I sought out this wonderful girl because of the dogs in my book, and she has truly been one of the really wonderful parts of my life.
You can see pictures from her life at Liadan’s Tribute: https://youtu.be/k7prN-XkVbQ?si=5zIaCln2n3hCE9eq
3. What other books have you written?
My husband and I together put out a collection of essays and poems on the topic of love, and also a book called The Saint in the Cellar, which is the story of a young boy with a vivid imagination, whose parents are overly busy with their careers. When they move to a historic home in St. Paul, MN, he discovers a mysterious monk living in a room in the basement. Is he just imagining things—or is this the miracle his parents need?
I’ve written Cooking with Rabbit, in the hopes of encouraging a return to eating this very healthy meat, and also Food and Feast in the World of the Blue Bells Chronicles, which I call “NOT a cookbook,” although it features over 100 recipes paired to scenes from the series. Many of the recipes are taken from historical cookbooks dating to medieval times. The book also gives some history behind the story:
I’m currently working on two books about our change from suburban living to greater self-sufficiency (High on Spirit Mountain and Up Above the Hollers), as well as my new Ivy Leake Mystery series, about a young widow who writes mysteries while traveling the country with her 16-year-old son, River. Part of the fun of the books is that I take all the character names from the names of towns in whatever state Ivy and River are in.
4. Tell us about your kudos or reviews.
I’ve been very happy with my reviews, pulling in numerous 5-star reviews and comparisons to Diana Gabaldon (and Dostoevsky!).
Some of the aspects of my books readers especially love are the historical accuracy—down to the weather, the battles, specific documented trips made by a bishop, and even the recently discovered sewer under the ancient town of Carlisle; the vividness of the music throughout the story; and the people of the Blue Bells World, saying how real they are—even the minor characters, how they seem like people they might meet in real life.
5. How do you promote your books?
I spend about an hour a day on various social media, either posting or connecting with podcasters and bloggers, often doing cross-promotions. In the beginning, my books got a huge boost from a month-long blog tour that drew a lot of attention.
I keep a blog with articles documenting The History Behind the Story, and the music of Shawn’s orchestra and Niall’s time, but has also now branched out into articles I write as I learn more about all aspects of homesteading, which my husband and I have been doing for a bit over four years now. So, you might find articles about how Bannockburn was won by Robert the Bruce, a famous piece of trombone music, or the health benefits of cayenne pepper! I’ve recently hit 10,000 views in two weeks, so apparently a few people are enjoying the articles!
6. Where can readers learn more about your books and connect with you online?
Website: www.LauraVosika.com
Blog: www.bluebellstrilogy.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/laura.vosika.author
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Laura-Vosika/author/B09NPF2HN9
Books and Brews: www.booksandbrews.net
Email Signup: Gabriel’s Horn Press [https://gmail.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0c2306d07d529ddff1ade5c28&id=7267518900]
MARCIA: Thank you, Laura, for being my April interviewee! Your books and blog sound fascinating.
MONTHLY BLOG EBOOK CONTEST! Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks!
Each month, I’ll randomly pick one blog commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!
Tim Holland
1. I hear you have a black Labrador Retriever in your Sidney Lake Lowcountry Mysteries. Tell us about the series.
The Rising Tide is the first book in the series and introduces all the main characters: Prof. Sidney Lake, soon-to-retire professor of Victorian Lit.; Tillie James, Lake’s Gullah housekeeper from the Lowcountry islands; Mickey, Lake’s black lab and partner that serves as his sounding board for his theories and ideas; and Hattie Ryan, Lake’s associate at the college who doesn’t put up with his pompous approach to the police and others in authority. The book also introduces the reader to the Gullah people and culture and explores their history and language.
Praise for The Rising Tide: “You may want to pick up this really good mystery set in the Lowcountry. I really enjoyed it.” — Ellen C. Priest, Editor/publisher, Summerville, South Carolina Journal Scene
The Rising Tide is available in ebook and paperback.
Amazon paperback buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Rising-Tide-Sidney-Lowcountry-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FJ6SJ3S2/
The Murder of Amos Dunn is the second book. Here we have a mystery where both Tillie James and Mickey shine, as they lead Prof. Lake in directions he and the police had not thought of. Amos Dunn is a successful Black man from the North, who has done very well for himself in the Lowcountry town of Morgan and is found dead in his store. The police chalk it up to a simple robbery gone wrong but not Tillie, who questions a notebook Amos was known to always on his person and was not found on his body.
Praise for The Murder of Amos Dunn: “This is a great read and my favorite mystery for 2020.” — Kale on Books
The Murder of Amos Dunn is available in ebook and paperback.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Amos-Dunn-Tim-Holland/dp/1961548410
Deception is the third in the series. When Sidney Lake learned the author’s copy of Anne Brontë’s novel The Tenant of Wildfell Hall had been stolen, he firmly believed he would never see it again, much less hold it in his hands. But there it was. In the hands of an appraiser at the National Arts and Crafts Show. Could it be the same three-volume first edition of the book or a forgery? The Lowcountry of South Carolina takes center stage as Sidney Lake and Tillie James pursue the answers to questions not everyone wants asked.
Praise for Deception: “I rate Deception 4 out of 4 stars. The book was an engaging, entertaining, enlightening, and intriguing one. It is one of the best mystery novels I have read.” — Ziggy, Official Reviewer for The On-Line Book Club
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Deception-Sidney-Lake-Lowcountry-Mystery/dp/1953434789/
Deception Barnes & Noble paperback buy link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deception-timothy-holland/1141774831?ean=9781953434784
December Rain is the fourth in the mystery series. Here we have the ultimate puzzle. It begins in the year 1718 in colonial Charles Town, South Carolina, where the reader is introduced to a mixture of real and historical characters. The story is told in alternating chapters between the history ones and current day ones (where crimes and murders are taking place). It covers the happenings during the early slavery of the Gullah people, King Georges War, The French and Indian War, The American Revolution, the battle between the Rebels and the Loyalists before and after the revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and finally merges with the current time, where the search for a killer continues.
(NOTE: I ‘ve been asked to participate in Jamestown, VA’s 250-year celebration, where I will feature December Rain.)
Praise for December Rain: “It’s very good, and the history background makes it a standout.” — Mary Skinner, former director of English program at Oceanside School System, Oceanside, New York.
December Rain is available in ebook and paperback.
Amazon paperback buy link: https://www.amazon.com/December-Rain-Sidney-Lowcountry-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CVFL7GJQ
2. Why did you add a black lab to this series?
Mickey (legal name, Mrs. Micawber), is the black Labrador Retriever who often steals center stage in the series. One of the models for Mickey is Sophie, my Chocolate Lab, who shares the sofa with me in my office as I write. Sophie also helps do the laundry as her job is to go to the bathrooms and find any used clothing she can and bring it to me in the laundry room.
The first model for Mickey was another Lab Retriever of mine named Cassie. She was given a tag to wear that designated her as the “Official Greeter” for the community. Sadly, she passed away at 14.
While most postal carriers are wary of dogs, Chris (the mailman), Cassie, and Sophie were best of friends. Sophie would even go into his truck to pick up the mail directly from him before he had a chance to put in into the mailbox.
3. What was the inspiration for this series?
I began writing about the Lowcountry of South Carolina about twenty years ago while I lived in Beaufort, SC. As part of my community activities for Clemson’s Senior Leadership Program, I was asked to create a Beaufort Heritage Day program. My first outreach was to Marquetta Goodwine, the founder of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition. I asked her to give a talk on the Gullah heritage that permeates everything in the region. She was shocked. No one had ever asked a member of the Gullah community to participate in a heritage program. It was then I decided to begin work on a mystery novel that would make the Gullah people and the Lowcountry of South Carolina its center. And so, The Rising Tide was created. Tillie James, the Gullah housekeeper turned entrepreneur, grew as a much-loved character. The positive response resulted in the writing of the three following novels and another one in the planning stage.
Blue Fortune Enterprises (BFE) under their Cactus Mystery imprint (https://blue-fortune.com/cactus-mystery-press) is the publisher of the latest Sidney Lake mystery, December Rain and is reissuing the first three novels. Sidney Lake and Tillie James are not finished, however, as there are more stories yet to be told.
4. What other books have you written?
BFE will also be the publisher of my new Matt Donovan mystery novels, the first of which, An Impulse for Murder, will be out in the Fall of 2026.
Matt Donovan is a retired NYPD detective who previously headed the White Collar Crime Division. He now has a consulting company that is on retainer to a firm that validates private investments, not vetted by the SEC, for their suitability as investments in retirement and general market portfolios. In An Impulse for Murder, there’s an apparent murder of an arrogant, mysterious, wealthy investment manager in Suffolk, VA, who was peddling participations in a real estate project. Matt Donovan, who’s a student of philosophy and a devotee of Plato’s Republic, evaluates suspects by using the habits and characterizations Plato describes in great detail of the Immoral Man.
What the Mirror Doesn’t See was my second novel:
It is 1993, the banking world is in turmoil, and in NJ, there is outright panic. The big New York banks and emerging regionals are gobbling up everything in the state. The Fed has opened the floodgates, and traditional banking ethics are disappearing.
At a used book sale, Jim Fairmont, a career banker having worked for First State Bank for more than twenty-five years, finds a blank, signed invoice belonging to an auto parts supplier. The document is contained in a box of books donated by Larry McBride, a new-breed, brash, former New York banker.
Jim begins to investigate McBride’s relationships with some of First State’s customers. What he uncovers is much bigger than he ever imagined. His discoveries put him in the sights of New Jersey’s underworld, who are determined to protect McBride and his clients, putting not only Jim’s life in danger, but those of his close associates’ as well.
Praise for What the Mirror Doesn’t See: “I found it educational, entertaining, and hard to put down.” — Regan Murphy, The Review Team of Jones and Murphy
What the Mirror Doesn’t See Amazon paperback buy link: https://www.amazon.com/What-Mirror-Doesnt-See-Holland/dp/1626948712
5. Where can readers learn more about you and your books?
I’m a featured author at the Williamsburg Book Festival on March 7 and the Suffolk Authors Festival on March 14. And here is my website: https://www.Tim-Holland.com
WIN A “SIDNEY LAKE” MYSTERY: Tim will give away an ebook of The Rising Tide to one lucky commenter on his interview! So don’t forget to comment below!
Thank you, Tim, for being my March interviewee! I always enjoy learning about new-to-me mystery series.
MONTHLY BLOG EBOOK CONTEST! Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks!
Each month, I’ll randomly pick one blog commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!
Karen McCullough
1. Hi, Karen ! I hear you have pets featured in your most recent cozy mysteries. Tell us about the book and series.
The Market Center Mysteries series is now up to four novels set at a fictional large convention center in Washington, D.C. The sleuth/main character is Heather McNeil, who is officially the assistant to the director of the center, and unofficially the chief peacekeeper and complaint collector. Her ability to listen, soothe ruffled feathers, and find solutions to problems helps keep the events held at the Center running smoothly. Those same qualities mean she’s in the perfect position to solve the crime when murder crashes the events.
The most recent book in the series, Unleashed for Murder is set at a pet products trade show, which means lots of pet references and even a few cameos for various furry (and a few non-furry) friends.
Blurb: Murder crashes the pet products trade show…
The Pet Palace booth is the undisputed crown jewel of the pet products trade show, and its owners, two retired pro football players, bring their own brand of star power to the sale of high-end, luxury gear. When one of them dies at the show, however, he leaves behind jealous competitors, angry suppliers, a line of women he pumped for information and then ghosted, and a fiancée he may not even have known about.
Heather McNeil’s job as assistant to the director of the D.C. Market and Commerce Center is mostly about keeping events running smoothly, dealing with disputes, accidents, and conflict. She never signed on for solving murders, but sometimes it’s part of the job, too.
Amidst the plethora of cozy canine couture, upscale pet feeding stations, slick kitty litter boxes, and unmentionable lizard foods, Heather has to sort through the human emotions at play and follow the clues to a killer, all while dealing with her own personal heartbreak.
My favorite scene in the book involves a pet fashion show, which doesn’t go entirely to script. But here is a description of the booth that is a main player in the story:
Large, complex, creative, and elaborate booths weren’t unusual at some of the bigger trade show events held here in the Market Center. I’d even seen a couple of other displays that emulated castles. But I wasn’t expecting it at a pet products trade show.
Although the booth was still being put together, the general outline and pieces already in place offered a pretty good idea of the final display. The area comprised eight standard ten-by-ten-foot spaces at the back of the aisle.
Faux brick columns, probably eight feet tall, gaudily decorated with red and gold swirls, stood at the four corners with two more in between on each side. The back wall, which separated the booth from the long rear aisle, was surfaced with faux stone, leaving openings for display screens or banners yet to be installed. Tapestries threaded in red and gold hung between some of the columns, showing representations of throne-shaped pet beds, feeding stations that looked like miniature banquet tables, and carriers fit for a king—or a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
The company logo blessed the top of each column, showing a stylized dog, cat, and guinea pig in a group, each wearing a crown.
Buy links for Unleashed for Murder:
Amazon (print and ebook): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FVG552CL
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unleashed-for-murder-karen-mccullough/1148502547
Other ebook formats: https://books2read.com/u/bMvkV5
2. Why did you add pets to this series?
My dog, Gremlin. He passed away many years ago but lives on in my heart.
I worked as an editor for several trade publications serving a number of different industries. But my first job was with a journal that covered the pet products industry, and the very first trade show I ever attended was for pet products. I can still remember that event. And I remember thinking afterward that it would make a perfect setting for a murder mystery. It has a limited time frame, closed event, high stakes, and a group of exhibitors who know each other well and are sometimes friends, enemies, or even lovers.
I hesitated for a while to do a pet products trade show, fearing some people or events might come uncomfortably close to the actual thing. But enough time has passed now that I don’t think that is very likely anymore. And I’m careful to be sure I don’t use real names or events I do remember.
My family has had a number of pets over the years – a dog, a cat, a parakeet, a rabbit, and more hamsters than I can remember. The companionship and joy they bring is too good not to work into a story.
3. What other books have you written?
Over the course of a thirty-some year writing career, I’ve published close to two dozen novels, in a variety of genres including mystery, romance, fantasy, paranormal, and thriller, and even more shorter works in an equal range of genres. You can find out more about all my work at my website: https://www.kmccullough.com.
4. Tell us about your kudos or reviews.
I’ve been fortunate to win or final in a number of writing contests over the years. My very first was being named a semi-finalist in the (science fiction) Writers of the Future contest, back sometime in the 1980s. Since then I’ve won a Bould Award (for short fiction) and an EPIC Ebook Award for Fantasy, and I’ve been a finalist in the Daphne, Prism, Lories, and International Digital Awards contests.
I’ve gotten some pretty good reviews, too. Most of my books have four- and five-star ratings on Amazon.
5. How do you promote your books?
Not very well, in truth. I have a newsletter that goes out irregularly, when I have news worth sharing, which usually means every couple of months. You can sign up for it on my website. I post regularly on Facebook and Blue Sky, and I’m trying to get better with Instagram. I’ve done some advertising on both Facebook and Amazon. Both of those worked well for me a few years ago, but as more and more people have started doing it, the return has gotten less and less.
6. Where can readers learn more about your book and connect with you online?
I try to keep my website https://www.kmccullough.com updated with the latest news and events. My most active social media presence is on Facebook. I post on Facebook and my blog regularly, usually several times a week.
Links:
Website: https://www.kmccullough.com
Blog: https://www.kmccullough.com/kblog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kgmccullough
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenMcCulloughAuthor
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/karenmccullough.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kgmccullough12/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kgmccullough/
Amazon Author Site: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-McCullough/author/B0043TJ870
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/karen-mccullough
MARCIA: Thank you, Karen, for being my February interviewee! I love cozy mysteries and look forward to reading yours!
MONTHLY BLOG EBOOK CONTEST! Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks!
Each month, I’ll randomly pick one blog commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!
D E Woolbright
1. I hear you have mysteries featuring a Southern ornithologist. Tell us about the series.
The series is called “The Benjamin Miles Mysteries.” The protagonist, who prefers to go by Miles, is a Southern ornithologist who investigates birds, but stumbles across murders.
The first book, The Elvis Bird, begins with Miles alone in a dark audio lab, listening to recordings made by a Cornell University team that were collected in the Okefenokee Swamp. Miles is searching for the distinctive kent-call or double-knock of the now presumed extinct, ivory-billed woodpecker. Instead of kent-calls, Miles overhears a human conversation, a gunshot, and a splash. He inquires about a possible murder from his Ithaca, New York office, but apparently, no one has been murdered. Frustrated, he decides to fly home to Georgia to investigate a murder that may not have occurred and a bird that may not exist. The Elvis Bird is part mystery, part love story, and one-hundred percent Southern.
In the second book, Death of a Golden Bird, Miles travels to California at the request of his 
old professor, Baz Chapman, to address a meeting of the Field Ornithologists of the Pacific. Miles’ ulterior motive for the trip is a chance to reconnect with Susan Swail, a mathematics professor at Stanford, and his love interest from book one. Baz also has an ulterior motive for inviting Miles to California: he wants Miles to take up his research on golden eagles. Baz has documented that golden eagles are dying at an alarming rate because the state has approved major wind farm construction in the Pacific Flyway. Miles is soon drawn into a mystery that involves possible corruption in the state government and an eccentric billionaire who aims to connect all of California with magnetic trains powered by the world’s largest wind turbines.
I am in the middle of writing the third book in the series, A Charm of Hummingbirds. The setting for this novel is Washington, D.C. Readers can expect to learn a bit about hummingbirds and the imagined political shenanigans of lobbyists in Washington. The book will appear in the spring of 2026.
2. Why did you add a dog to the second book?
I’m a big fan of Andrew Cartmel, the British author who writes The Vinyl Detective series of mysteries. Cartmel is a cat-lover in real life and writes about his protagonist’s two cats in each book. It got me thinking about my own novel. Could a pet help the story along? In Death of a Golden Bird, Miles is competing with Susan’s fiancé, Peter, for her attention. Peter, has gifted Susan a terrier named Asta. I thought it could be insightful to see how Asta interacts with Peter and Miles as Susan is making up her mind about these two men. Asta also has a small part in finding the evidence needed to solve the mystery.
3. Why did you decide to self-publish?
After a forty-year career teaching mathematics and computer science, I came to serious writing rather late. I took a creative writing class at Merton College, Oxford, and my desire to write fiction was ignited. I’ve spent years practicing, and finally produced The Elvis Bird after learning about the real-life search for ivory-billed woodpeckers in Arkansas. I began to shop the book with agents and found the process encouraging. My plans to publish were thwarted by the discovery that I had stage-four intestinal cancer.
With what seemed like limited time to live, I decided to skip the Kubler-Ross stages of grief and jump to a celebration of the life I had been given and joy for each day that comes along. My daughter suggested self-publishing the novel, and I decided she was right: it was a wonderful way to get the book into the world. Three years after the initial diagnosis of cancer, I am still in the world and writing. I don’t seem to have cancer at the moment. For that, I am joyful and blessed.
In looking back at my experience, I believe that self-publishing can be an excellent choice for a young writer. It gives them a chance to write, improve, and see their books in the world. With diligence, a young writer can develop an audience over time as they improve the quality of their books and develop a brand.
4. How do you promote your books?
With each new book, I throw a celebration. It’s held at the Springer Opera House, the State Theatre of Georgia. I invite everyone I know, and it’s open to anyone interested in the book. We have lots of food and drinks. It’s a chance to thank my friends for their prayers and kind deeds. After speaking briefly about the new book and reading a few paragraphs, I sign books as everyone mingles.
In the Venn diagram of mystery lovers and bird lovers, there is a large intersection of readers. I decided to advertise my books in Living Bird Magazine, published by Cornell University, and in Bird Watching Magazine. This is fairly expensive, but the risk reflects my belief that the books are worth reading and that there are people in the world who would enjoy them. My goal is modest: I try to break even. I have found it a very effective way of promoting book sales.
I occasionally speak at bird groups, including the Georgia Audubon Society Bookclub. I promoted my books with that group, and they included my books in their reading list.
I have two websites:
- dewoolbright.com – my publishing site that lists all my books.
- punctiliousprogrammer.com – my blog and teaching site for IBM Assembly Language. The blog has a substantial number of readers, and I have promoted my mysteries there.
5. Where can readers buy your books and connect with you online?
The best way to connect with me is by email: woolbright_david@icloud.com
You can see links to purchase my books at DEWoolbright.com and my books are also available at Amazon in several formats.
6. Do you have a dog?
Rocco is the shelter dog we bought several years after losing our sweet schnauzer. I named him after the fabulous Italian detective Rocco Schiavonne in Ice Cold Murders. Here he is, solving the mystery of how he can spend more time on my lap.
MARCIA: Thank you, D. E., for being my January interviewee!
MONTHLY BLOG EBOOK CONTEST! Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks!
Each month, I’ll randomly pick one blog commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!
Valona Jones/Maggie Toussaint
1. Hi, Valona (aka Maggie)! I hear you have a cat in your paranormal cozy mysteries. Tell us about the series.
Yes, I do have a cat in my latest series, A Magic Candle Shop Mystery series. But first, thank you, Marcia James, for inviting me to appear on your site.
NOTE: Here are the first four books in the series:
There is a brother and sister pair of black cats. Harley, the larger male cat, claims my amateur sleuth, Tabby Quigsly, as his person, while Luna, his sibling cat, is quite attached to Tabby’s twin, Sage Winslow. Both Tabby and Sage are psychic in that they can give or take energy from others. Along with that, Tabby can read the aura of a person. That’s the energy field around each living thing that’s usually invisible to human eyes.
On four previous occasions, Tabby has been involved in solving homicides that the police haven’t been able to close. Tabby has no specific training in solving crimes, but she’s very good at solving puzzles. She sees a crime as a big puzzle and once she sorts through the pieces or clues in this case, she discovers new evidence that helps solve the case. Harley the cat plays a key role in comforting Tabby. They have an emotional connection, and he always knows when she needs him.
2. Why did you add cats to this series?
While pets are expected in cozy mysteries, I have always loved being around pets. My kids had pets, including fish, hermit crabs, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, and a horse, though the horse had the personality of a big dog. I personally enjoy the loving attention of cats and dogs and seem to be a pet magnet. It’s my belief that many cozy mystery readers have pets, and that they like people (or characters) with pets. Further, pet people trust others (people and characters) who have pets. Having a pet, especially a savvy cat in a mystery, is an automatic “yes” check mark for cozy readers. The real question is: why wouldn’t I add a cat to this series?
3. What other books have you written?
My most recent book, Flamed Out, in A Magic Candle Shop Mystery series, is my 30th book of genre fiction. I’ve traipsed through several genres so far, including romantic suspense and science fiction, before landing firmly in the mystery realm. I’ve also ventured into a subset of cozy mysteries, paranormal cozies, of late. I enjoy writing characters who have a little something extra to give them a leg-up on law enforcement types.
Flamed Out Book Blurb:
Supernatural intrigue, a web of lies, and deadly secrets
When a loyal customer begs Tabby Quigsly to look into her uncle’s suspicious death, Tabby can’t say no—even if the police rule it an accident. Dr. Willim Rosemont, a respected psychiatrist, took a fatal tumble down Savannah’s infamous Stone Stairs of Death, but the five people who were with him that night all claim to have seen nothing.
Tabby’s ties to the case run deep—friends, frenemies, and even her husband’s best friend are among the witnesses. Then she uncovers a chilling truth: Rosemont was part of Savannah’s hidden Paranormal Council—the very group Tabby’s been hiding from all her life.
As the August heat rises, so does the pressure. Tabby’s new marriage is reeling from revelations about her husband’s shocking powers, her psychic gifts are spiraling, and the killer is closing in.
Can she unravel the mystery before everything—including her freedom—goes up in flames?
Flamed Out Buy Links:
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLW15JCB
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flamed-out-valona-jones/1148023680?ean=2940182462754
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/flamed-out?sId=4819101e-5b1f-45c1-917c-cbca5eec55c4
Apple iBook: https://books.apple.com/us/book/flamed-out/id6749814072
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1829482
Flamed Out Trade Paperback: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Flamed-Out-Magic-Candle-Mystery/dp/B0FRMGHRKX
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flamed-out-valona-jones/1148023680?ean=9798992357127
My sleuths have been pet walkers, accountants, scientists, caterers, candlemakers, newspaper reporters and more. For a list of all my books in series order, check out the printable book list on my website at: https://maggietoussaint.com/pdf/printable-booklist.pdf
4. Tell us about your kudos or reviews.
My books have been reviewed by Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, MidWest Book Review, and all manner of book bloggers and reader reviews. Defining characteristics of my body of work are: fast-paced plots, amateur sleuth solves a homicide, and a romantic subplot is included.
Here are a few review snips from FLAMED OUT’s recent Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour:
“Flamed Out offers a spellbinding conclusion to the Magic Candle Mystery series. This fast-paced novel provides an action-filled conclusion to this fantastic mystery series.” ~Storybook Lady
“Flamed Out delivers a sizzling mix of magical intrigue, a twisty murder case, and high-stakes personal revelations that set a new standard for the Magic Candle Shop Mystery series.” ~Books to the Ceiling
“I really enjoyed everything. Ms. Jones has a fantastic imagination, and I love her writing style.”~Baroness’ Book Trove
“Flamed Out is the fifth, and final, wonderful book in the Magic Candle Shop Mysteries. I love the characters in this series and am sad to see them go. I have enjoyed Tabby, Sage, and Quiq, along with the rest of the characters. This series is amazing and I’m happy I can revisit these books and characters anytime I want.”~Sapphyria’s Books
5. How do you promote your books?
I send out a monthly newsletter to subscribers, along with using social media platforms such as Facebook, X, and LinkedIn to promote sales and new releases. I network through my professional organizations of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. I also am a founding member of an eight-member author’s co-op, where we’ve pooled our talents to create a website that touts our books and connects with readers. Last but not least, I encourage readers to leave reviews because that directly helps other readers find good books.
6. Where can readers learn more about your book and connect with you online?
Maggie Toussaint’s Links:
Website URL is https://MaggieToussaint.com
Newsletter signup: https://maggietoussaint.com/newsletter-signup.php
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaggieToussaintAuthor
Book Lovers Bench: https://bookloversbench.com/maggie-toussaint/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maggie-toussaint
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaggieToussaint
X: https://www.x.com/MaggieToussaint
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/maggie-toussaint/30/1a5/572/
Amazon author page, Maggie: https://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Toussaint/e/B004SB0Y1C
Valona Jones’s Links:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/ValonaJonesAuthor
Amazon author page link: https://amazon.com/author/valonajones/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22140872.Valona_Jones
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valona-jones
MARCIA: Thank you, Valona (aka Maggie!), for being my December interviewee! I love cozy mysteries and look forward to reading yours!
MONTHLY BLOG EBOOK CONTEST! Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks!
Each month, I’ll randomly pick one blog commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!
Brian Thiem
1. I hear you have pets in your mystery, The Mudflats Murder Club. Tell us about the book/series.
The Mudflats Murder Club is the first book in the eight-book Mudflats Murder Club Mysteries series. Yes, an eight-book series! My agent negotiated a four-book series last year, based upon the manuscript of the first book. The Mudflats Murder Club did so well, my publisher went back to my agent and asked for four more books. My agent reminds me to never complain about having to write eight books, because thousands of authors would love to have that problem.
The Mudflats Murder Club blurb:
Solving murders was not part of Sean Tanner’s retirement plan.
Former homicide detective and recently widowed Sean Tanner has settled into Spartina Island’s private retirement community, hoping to find solace after his wife’s death in their chosen paradise. He soon finds himself drawn into the Mudflats Murder Club, an enthusiastic group of retired detectives, prosecutors, and forensic experts who are engrossed in solving the 38-year-old unsolved murder of Theresa Goldberg.
But the quiet of the community is shattered when Sean’s neighbor, Nancy Russo, is found dead in her home. Ignited by the crime, the club jumps into the fray, much to the annoyance of Sergeant Charlotte “Charlie” Nash, the lead detective spearheading the murder investigation. When Sean and his cohorts uncover a shocking connection between Nancy’s murder and their long-standing cold case, everything they thought they knew goes up in flames.
Amidst rising tensions and thrilling discoveries, Sean and Charlie must confront their doubts about each other—and acknowledge their reliance on the team—to outsmart a killer who’s closer than they ever imagined.
Here are some author quotes:
“Totally charming and completely relatable…I’m dubbing it Only Murders in the Mudflats! What a winner!” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author
“A sophisticated, pulsing, persistent police procedural with multiple whodunnits and secrets that come at you from all angles…A highly satisfying read.” —Chris Bauer, author of the Maximum Risk series
“…I loved the people, the place, the detection process—and the hint of romance!” —Jane K. Cleland, Agatha Award-winning author
“Sometimes the cop can’t quit the job. Sometimes the job won’t let them…This is a must read series!” —Bruce Robert Coffin, bestselling author of Crimson Thaw
“Recommend to fans of Richard Osman and Robert Thorogood.” —Booklist
The Mudflats Murder Club buy link: Amazon.com: The Mudflats Murder Club (Mudflats Murder Club Mysteries, 1): 9781648756283: Thiem, Brian: Books
2. Why did you add pets to this series?
My first series featured an Oakland Police Department Homicide Investigator, something I knew a lot about, since I did that myself for many years. Sergeant Matt Sinclair was all cop. He lived and breathed Homicide. He was divorced and lived in an apartment, a place he could maintain with a minimum of effort, so he could live the job. It would not be fair to a dog if Matt had one and left her alone for days at a time, while he was busy solving crimes and locking up criminals.
In my new series, one of my two main characters is Sean Tanner. He’s a retired detective, living in an active adult community in the tropical paradise of Spartina Island. Sean spent a career having to be a tough guy, but he’s old enough now that he no longer has to pretend he’s tough. He’s widowed and lives alone. Well, except for Annie, his Yellow Lab. All dog lovers know that a man who has a yellow lab is a softy at heart. Sean can still exude a tough outer shell, but deep down inside, he’s sensitive and caring.
Annie is Sean’s companion and his sounding board. Sean can share his deepest thoughts, sorrows, and fears with Annie, and she never judges. Although Sean works with the local sheriff’s cold case team, he’s never far from his house, so he can usually stop in to feed Annie, take her out to do her business, and take her for long walks. In those rare times when Sean’s in the midst of a murder investigation and can’t get home, he has an assortment of friends in his retirement community who love to step in to take care of Annie.
I have a real yellow lab named Annie. She’s thirteen now, but in my series, the fictional Annie is younger, and she’ll never age. Don’t we all wish our dogs stayed young forever? Before Annie, I had another yellow lab named Amber. She lived until fourteen, and I was a wreck when it was time to put her to sleep. Annie has been with me from the beginning of my writing life. She has a dog bed by my desk (and in the living room and bedroom) and has been by my side as I wrote every rough draft, every rewrite, every edit, and all of these blogs and articles.
Charlotte “Charlie” Nash is the second protagonist/point-of-view character in my series. Charlie is a sergeant with the local sheriff’s department on Spartina Island. She’s divorced, and a blend of Southern belle and bad-ass detective. She lives in an Antebellum mansion with her mother, who wishes the era of Scarlet O’Hara had never passed. Charlie has a Tonkinese cat (a mix of Siamese and Burmese) named Lexi.
There’s a Tonkinese named Lexi that lives in my house also, but that Lexi belongs to my wife. I don’t have a cat—my wife does. Okay, that’s our inside joke, because most evenings (like right now as I write this), Lexi is curled up on the leather sofa in my office, even though my wife (the owner of the cat) is downstairs.
3, What other books have you written?
My first series had three books, Red Line, Thrill Kill, and Shallow Grave. The hardback and softcover versions are out of print, although they can be found through secondary booksellers, but they will be available as e-books forever.
I’ve already completed the next two books in the Mudflats Murder Club series. A Killer in the Cordgrass will come out in February 2026, and A Death in the Deluge will be available in July 2026. Both are available for preorder now. Every book in the series will be available as E-book, print (softcover only at this time), and audio.
4. Tell us about your kudos or reviews.
Shortly after The Mudflats Murder Club was published, it climbed to the Top New Release in Mystery Series on Amazon and stayed there for weeks.
5. How do you promote your books?
I fortunately have a publisher with an amazing marketing strategy. Although what I do locally is a fraction of what my publisher is doing on the national level, I have had feature articles about my series and about me, as a writer, in several local magazines and newspapers. I had a successful book launch event and have done numerous author events, talks, and book signings since the first book was published in late August.
I’m a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, and Island Writers Network. In the next month or so, I’m headlining Meet the Author at Sun City Hilton Head, moderating a panel of authors at the local library, and will be the guest speaker for a chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
6. Where can readers learn more about your books and connect with you online?
Readers can connect with me through my website: www.BrianThiem.com, where they can find upcoming events and sign up for my newsletter.
I’m most active on the social media sites of Facebook and Instagram, where I can be found at:
MARCIA: Thank you, Brian, for being my November interviewee!
MONTHLY BLOG EBOOK CONTEST! Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks!
Each month, I’ll randomly pick one blog commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!
Jeffrey Hammerhead Philips
1. I hear your latest book, The Past That Kills, features a quarter-blood Cherokee in it and his spirit animal is a crow. Tell us about the book.
This is the first book of a new series. It takes place on the plateau on Tennessee and features John “Fat Bear” Kole, Mary Beth Couper (known as Coup), Menno Simmons Miller, (an excommunicated Mennonite who distills moonshine). And the crow.
Sheriff Coup is called to Devil’s Mountain to rescue a lost child. In the process she discovers a twelve-year-old skeleton and identifies the bones as Aletha, the wife of Miller. Mixed in with the bones is one of the only two gems known as the Tarpon Diamonds. Miller requests Fat Bear as his lawyer. Coup describes Fat Bear as the most miserable son-of-a-bitch she has ever met.
Fat Bear’s grandfather, the local Cherokee Elder, warns him about getting involved. He must obey his spirit animal. Reluctantly, Fat Bear takes the case to defend Miller and solve the mystery of the diamonds.
The deeper Fat Bear goes into the investigation of Aletha’s murder, the more evidence he finds indicating Miller is guilty. To complicate matters, he and Coup develop a fiery relationship which could affect the investigation.
As Coup and Fat Bear follow a trail of death, religious beliefs, ancient customs, and old mountain rituals, they must heed Grandfather’s warning that Uktena, a dragon-like horned serpent, has transformed into human form and will destroy them both.
Piecing the evidence together, Coup and Fat Bear enter Devil’s Cave to find the truth. But first, they must get past the Uktena.
Fat Bear’s spirit animal, the crow, weaves in and out of the story. And leaves the reader wondering, did events happen as a quintessence or was the crow the driver.
The Past That Kills Buy Link: Amazon.com : the past that kills
2. Why did you choose a crow for his spirit animal?
If you think of all the grand animals that fit into the story–eagle, lion, bear, horse–the crow is often thought of as the lowest animal. The Cherokee people hold a deep respect for birds, viewing them as sacred messengers and symbols of the spirit world. Birds often serve as guides. But the crow is seen as a symbol of transformation, intelligence, and adaptability.
The hero of any great story must be clever and resourceful. So, I felt the crow was the most suited for Fat Bear.
I do not believe I chose the crow to be in this story, but the crow told me to include him. It started when I was comprehending the path of the characters, when I gazed out my window and there was a flock of crows. And those crows never left. No matter where I went on the ranch, they followed me, and it seemed that one was always staring at me.
I cannot remember a time when I didn’t have any animals in my life. Starting as a toddler, our family had a dog and cat. As a teenager, pet dog. When I became an underwater dive guide leading tourists to the coral reefs, fish, eels, crustaceans, rays, turtles, and sharks always seemed to tag along. They acted like they were happy to see me again as I was of them. Today, my wife has two horses, Tuff, and Spice Girl, who are an integral part of our daily life.
I do not think we can live without animals in our lives.
As I wrote this, I watched two different flocks of turkeys prance around the backyard. I am blessed with the wildlife that surrounds me.
3. What other books have you written?
My first two novels are underwater murder mysteries. The third one is a thriller. If you like scuba diving or the ocean life, or the underwater world, I think you would enjoy them.
Murder on Devil Ray Reef: While diving on Jesse Stoker’s boat, Cassandra, a local radio personality awaiting contact with extraterrestrials, disappears. Stoker considers her a hoaxster but allowed the charter because the bank is ready to repossess his vessel.
Cassandra’s body is found three days later, but the M.E. finds she’s only been dead for five hours. Once it’s known that Stoker filled her tank and she died from oxygen poisoning, he becomes the prime suspect. He’s never lost a diver before, doesn’t believe in alien abduction, and doesn’t believe she just died. To clear his name, stop a wrongful death suit, and save his livelihood, Stoker must figure out where Cassandra spent the missing days and find her killer.
Murder on Devil Ray Reef Buy Link: Amazon.com : murder on devil ray reef
Death at Obeah’s Fire: Dive boat owner Jesse Stoker watches his best friend hop a non-stop flight for an unexpected trip home to the Bahamas out islands. But when the twin engine plane lands on the remote spit of land an hour later, that friend, Captain Symonette, has vanished. Fearful of reporting his disappearance to the local authorities, Symonette’s frantic wife pleads with Stoker to travel to the islands to search for the man.
Accompanied by his sometime-girlfriend Jade, Stoker boards the Seascape for a stealthy voyage to an outer island where superstition and voodoo permeate every aspect of daily life. While searching for the truth about Symonette’s fate, Stoker and Jade learn curses can be real. They soon find that long-lost gold and a decades-old murder are all tied to the mystery of Obeah’s Fire.
Death at Obeah’s Fire Buy Link: Amazon.com : death at obeah’s fire
Azrael’s Blade: A paranoid recluse believes America has lost its way. A weapon called Azrael’s Blade will change that.
When Pete Marlin, a contraband smuggler in the Bahamas, witnesses a helicopter gun down a yacht, he rescues a passenger with a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist. The man’s dying words: “Get the briefcase to the Patriot and save the country.”
Jaicy Lupe believes in country first and only, a motto passed down through her family. She’s a top-notch federal agent, but she’s been bumped from agency to agency for being a bit too trigger-happy. She has one chance to prove herself: collect a briefcase, disarm the contents, and turn over the weapon.
Marlin has good reasons not to trust the government. Jaicy has good reasons not to trust Marlin. But he has the briefcase. He knows the treacherous waters of the Bahamas. A nuclear-armed drone is targeted at the vast oil storage facility that fuels Miami’s ports.
If they can’t figure out how to work together–millions will die.
Azrael’s Blade Buy Link: Amazon.com : azrael’s blade
4. Tell us about your kudos or reviews.
The only important ones to me are those from my readers. Thank you all.
5. How do you promote your books?
The best word to answer that question is: poorly.
Every year, I am a part of Killer Nashville and are on several panels, and my books are in their bookstore. If you have never attended the conference, I recommend it. It will bump your writing up several notches. Plus, it’s a great place to meet agents and editors and new writing friends. It could happen to you and me.
Our local bookstore, Plenty on the Spring, has Words and Wine, which they ask me to be a part of. Also, I attend many library events.
I found the best place to have book signings is at bars. From my experience, sober people do not buy books, intoxicated ones do.
6. Where can readers learn more about your books and connect with you online?
Website: www.JeffreyPhilips.com
Facebook: Jeffrey Philips and Jeffrey Hammerhead Philips
Instagram: Jeffrey.hammerhead.philips
Goodreads: Jeffrey Hammerhead Philips
Amazon: Jeffrey Hammerhead Philips
Link to Jeffrey’s reader newsletter: Newsletter – JEFFREY HAMMERHEAD PHILIPS
WIN A SIGNED COPY OF ONE OF JEFFREY’S BOOKS!
One lucky commenter on Jeffrey’s interview will win one of his books–winner’s choice! So don’t forget to comment below!
MARCIA: Thank you, Jeffrey, for being my October interviewee!
MONTHLY BLOG EBOOK CONTEST! Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks!
Each month, I’ll randomly pick one blog commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!
Dianne L. Hagan
1. I hear you have pets, as well as wild animals, in your multicultural mystery series. Tell us about the books.
I write “A Cadence Mystery” series. Six books are available and book 7 is with my editor and due to be released in December 2025. Cadence, located in the Finger Lakes region of New York, is a fictional Utopian community established in 1789 on sacred Seneca land, gifted by the Todadaho, the spiritual leader of the Six Nations of the Iroquois. This is a place where everyone is welcome, and people live in harmony with one another and with nature. The town is governed based on the Onondaga principles of equality, respect, collaboration, and unity.
But bad actors had been trying to destroy the town since its beginning. After a horrific race massacre in 1921 that left hundreds dead and hundreds more fleeing, the town agrees in a secret covenant to go into hiding for 100 years, when it is hoped that the country will have reconciled its racist past.
The stories pick up in 2021, when certain conditions of the covenant are met with the arrival of the three main characters in the book: Marian Greene, the narrator; her husband, Lester; and Enoch Shenendoah, who becomes the couple’s close friend and neighbor.
The books are character-driven cozy mysteries with strong elements of thriller/suspense, folklore, social justice commentary, and Gothic horror. Literary Titan compared my books to Louise Penny’s “Three Pines” series and Julia Spencer-Fleming’s “Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries,” while a reader review compared Fallen Deer [book 6 of the series] to Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Many of the stories, as I mentioned, explore the myths and legends of the First Nations People of the Americas and Africa. These are cultures that hold animals in high esteem, and animals play important roles in the Cadence stories. For example, Enoch Shenandoah has a Maine coon cat named Jí:hah, which is the Onondaga word for dog, who might or might not be a reincarnated tiger. His pet dog, Ęhní’da’, the Onondaga word for moon, is a silver-haired terrier who sometimes assists in solving crimes. Enoch, who is Onondaga, is known in the community for his special relationship and bond with animals. He’s assisted animals in crossing over and communicates with them.
Wild animals play important roles in the stories, too, and include Clear-Eyed bear, a bear with cataracts who may or may not be the reincarnation of Sheriff Craig Lawton, who dies in Stony Place (book 3), an eagle, an owl, deer, and in book 7 (yet to be released), bats. All the animals serve as warnings, messengers, or protectors, as Seneca Lake, or Assiniki, the Seneca name, releases the secrets it has witnessed. Each secret released is part of Cadence’s tragic past but is also connected to the secrets and tragedies of the present.
I’d like to highlight three of the books in the series:
Fallen Deer (A Cadence Mystery, book #6) blurb:
A penumbral lunar eclipse of the worm moon is imminent in Cadence where the spring rain is constant and the chill in the air is palpable. Lester Greene and Enoch Shenandoah are called to an emergency at the Hill Place Resort. Marian Greene decides to run errands. She is stopped in her tracks by a deer. And a dead body. When Police Chief George Powless receives a report that there are monsters in the woods, and two more bodies are discovered, chaos ensues. The community of Cadence is left to wonder once again what secret the lake is about to reveal. Will Cadence be destroyed when the secret is revealed, or will it be saved?
As far as the role of animals in the story, deer and the el cadejo of Guatemalan folklore play important roles, both as metaphors and as helpers/messengers to the people of Cadence, a sanctuary town. The town needs all the help it can get in discovering who the real bad guys are when two busloads of immigrants are sent to Cadence from one of the red border states. A secret from the past is revealed and connected to one of the passengers. The community is about to learn that the sins of the past cannot be buried and forgotten.
It’s sold on Amazon and Audible. You can purchase it here: https://tinyurl.com/25sk4r5n
Stony Place (A Cadence Mystery, book #3) blurb:
As dawn breaks on July 2, 2023, two brothers steal a vintage car, load it with assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and drive two hours to Cadence to start a race war. Their fantasy of mayhem and notoriety brings anguish and loss to the multicultural, inclusive community. Seneca Lake, known for millennia as Assiniki, or Stony Place, by the Seneca tribe, dredges up a shameful history of Cadence. Or perhaps it is the Great Serpent who orchestrates the shocking revelation. Once again, Marian and Lester Greene, Enoch Shenandoah, and their family, friends, and neighbors must rise to the challenge or lose everyone they love and the town they’ve committed to keeping safe.
This book introduces Ęhní’da’. He stops the brothers from finishing their deadly mission and teams up with Jí:hah to prevent Enoch Shenandoah from making a fatal decision.
You can purchase it here: https://tinyurl.com/3hxnxff7
Stone Coat Man (A Cadence Mystery, #4) blurb:
“What could possibly happen?” Marian Greene quips to husband Lester, as she sets out for a quiet walk in the woods. But life in Cadence is neither quiet nor easy. Stunned after a fall, Marian stumbles upon a mutilated corpse. Kneeling beside the corpse is a menacing giant. Is the ogre a figment of her imagination, or is it the Genoskwa, the mythical creature of Seneca legend?
Gunfire, a second body, and two missing people ignite a community-wide search for the answer. When hidden truths and secret agreements are uncovered, the Greenes and their friends are soon confronting their own demons and wondering, “Who is the real monster?”
In this book, Ęhní’da’ is with Marian when she goes on her walk but runs off to visit an old friend, causing Marian’s fall. He plays a crucial role in solving the mystery, too. Clear-Eyed bear is awoken from his state of torpor by nefarious characters. He serves as a protector in this book and others.
You can purchase it here: https://tinyurl.com/mu8r83jx
My cover drawings are done by Brad Jimmerson, a Seneca Nation artist. He brings my imaginings to life with his line drawings, and several of the book covers feature animals. AI covers are popular, but I’d rather stay authentic and unique, just like Cadence and the people and animals who live there.
You can purchase all “A Cadence Mystery” books here, including The Rightful Future (A Cadence Mystery, #1), The Eagle Speaks (A Cadence Mystery, #2), Improbable Future (A Cadence Mystery, # 5), and Creature of Secret Sorrows (A Cadence Mystery, #7) [to be released in December 2025]:
2. Why did you add pets to this book?
I’ve had pets my whole life. The neighbors called my childhood home The Liuzzi Menagerie. We had a cat and dog, of course. My Australian mother loved birds, so we had canaries, parakeets, and green parrots. We called them budgies. I had rabbits. We had pet turtles and goldfish. And we had a pet caiman. He wasn’t much fun.
My oldest brother was a psychology major, and when it came time to put down his lab rat, he brought him home instead and gave him to me. I named him Ratso and smuggled him into my dorm room when I went to college.
When our four-year-old twin daughters asked my husband and me for a cat, we ended up with Zara, a tabby who mostly terrorized us with her demands. I told my husband we couldn’t give her away, when he said she was mean and might seriously injure one of us. “What should I do?” I quipped. “Place a classified ad that reads, ‘Vicious cat needs good home?’”
Zara insisted we ruined her life when we brought China, our Shar-Pei, home. She made sure to remind us daily. But the two of them joined forces one evening on pizza night. China pushed the kitchen door open, and Zara jumped up on the counter to grab slices. Then, they made a run for the basement with their stash.
Our most recent pet, Ru, was a silver mini schnauzer. He was a man-about-town type, but he loved his people, especially his mama, and every night he and I would do floor time before bed. He never met a human he didn’t like, and he wore ties with panache. He kept an inventory of his toys, tossed our bed if he were angry at us, and was the only dog my mother-in-law wasn’t afraid of. She would pet him for hours. We lost Ru four years ago, when he was 15, but we still talk about him often and miss him so much. He lives on in spirit as Ęhní’da’. Here’s a pic of my handsome boy. He cut his eyes at me because he’d just come from the groomer and wasn’t happy. I know, what’s not to love?
Like my mother, I love birds. I don’t go to the beach to sunbathe. I go to photograph birds. An Eastern bluebird honors us with visits each morning. He goes from window to window searching for us. Sometimes he joins us at the dining room window, eating his worm while we eat breakfast. We talk to him, and he has a lot to say. Yes, I talk to animals and they talk back. The birders claim he’s seeing his reflection and being territorial, but we don’t believe that. Otherwise, why would he look for us? Share a meal with us? Here’s a pic of him. What a beautiful bird.
3. What other books have you written?
My two memoirs are also available on Amazon and Audible:
Another Day in Post-Racial America: To Mothers of the Black Lives Matter Movement, With Love blurb:
Dedicated to the mothers of the Black Lives Matter Movement, and set among the stories of unarmed black men, women, and children who were victims of excessive use of force and racial bias, Liuzzi Hagan’s memoir is a candid, emotionally intimate account of the devastating personal effects of politically motivated and systematized racism in America. She is white; her husband is Black. They have mixed-race twin daughters. Their relationship spans over forty years. As both a witness to and a target of racial bias, her stories, ranging from microaggressions to the truly terrifying, are told in vivid and affecting detail. Interwoven throughout the stories are appeals for empathy and insight, as well as suggestions on how to dismantle systemic racism and change the race narrative to make America safer, egalitarian, and a place where black lives matter. This is a story of shock, outrage, heartbreak, forbearance, love, and hope for her family, for the families who lost loved ones to racially motivated violence, and for America. It includes discussion questions for classrooms and book clubs.
Named one of the Best Black Lives Matter Books and Audiobooks by BookAuthority, and a semi-finalist in the North Street Book Prize 2020, you can purchase it here: https://tinyurl.com/2vem22ma
American Dreaming: A Memoir of Interracial Love, Estrangement, and Race Equality blurb:
In a country that can’t seem to close the divide between Black and white Americans, Dianne and Ronald’s enduring love shows how. In the 1940s, Liuzzi Hagan’s father, Frank, an Italian-American, met Ruth, an Australian of Irish descent, in Ryde, Australia, where he was stationed during World War II. They married and settled in Albany, New York, where Frank’s family refused to accept a foreigner into their fold. Much like our country today, the resulting division, vitriol, and isolation were overwhelming for the couple, and their relationship disintegrated into arguments and alcoholism.
Thirty years later, in 1976, their daughter, Dianne, met Ronald, who is Black, during their freshman year of college at Syracuse University. Against external judgments, threats of violence, and her family’s strong disapproval, they fell deeply in love. Unlike her parents, Dianne and Ronald found solace, equality, acceptance, and a peaceful reconciliation in their relationship–a lesson for America on healing the racial divide. Liuzzi Hagan artfully weaves the stories of two generations, who struggle against convention, with dreams, commentary about the state of systemic racism and race relations in America, and an intimate portrayal of fractured family relations.
Winner of an Honorable Mention in the Writer’s Digest 29th Annual Self-Published Book Awards. You can purchase it here: https://tinyurl.com/4j53aymb
4. Tell us about your kudos or reviews.
A Cadence Mystery is the winner of five Literary Titan five-star Gold Book Awards and four American Fiction Finalist Awards. Here’s what reviewers and critics are saying about A Cadence Mystery:
“What I love most is how effortlessly Hagan blends cozy small-town dynamics with high-stakes suspense. The relationships feel real—warm, complicated, and filled with the kind of teasing and deep loyalty that makes the town of Cadence feel like home. Every character feels like someone you’d meet in real life.” Literary Titan
“Small-town mysteries are nothing new, but Cadence certainly is, as are the inhabitants. It’s not simply a novel set in a small town, but a murder mystery, and not just a mystery, but one about long-buried (but still simmering) slights. It’s also a tale of community, spite, legacy, and, beyond anything else, healing. Hagan’s characters are realistic and vivid. The cast is lively and multigenerational. And Cadence, the town, is another character of sorts, the secretive kind who, when she finally does give up a secret, keeps a dozen more.” Booklife Prize
“A gripping, emotionally rich, and culturally aware mystery that exemplifies character-driven storytelling at its finest.” Reader Review
“Hagan’s ability to balance a deeply personal story of survival with a pulse-pounding mystery is exceptional.” Reader Review
5. How does the inclusion of animals help you deliver your main message to readers?
The animals in my books are not props. They’re active participants in the stories. But they also represent truth, wisdom, knowledge, intuition, and trust. When Clear-Eyed bear nudges a shoulder with his messy snout, the receivers of his gesture must have trust that he is there to protect them. The mythical monsters that visit Cadence represent fear, secrets, distrust, sorrow, and the dark tragedies of the past and inside the hearts and minds of certain characters.
What I hope my stories convey is that although we may have cultural differences and different perspectives, one thing we share is our history. It connects us more than separates us. Much of our history is brutal and unforgiving. The legacy of colonization and subjugation hangs over us like a shroud. But I believe we can reconcile our past and heal the wounds it caused, as the characters in my books are learning to do as each awful secret from the past is revealed.
Cadence is a place that values and promotes stewardship of one another and of nature and the earth. They do that by treating everyone with respect; acknowledging each individual’s agency, which is the ability to make decisions and to act independently; and by believing that they’re on this journey together. They include, nurture, and support one another along the way, especially during the difficult times. Those simple acts can make the world a better, kinder, and more forgiving and accepting place. A place like Cadence.
Animals deserve the same respect and stewardship. They serve important roles in keeping our earth vital. We should honor them for their contributions, in the wider world, and personally in our lives. Our pets offer us unconditional love, emotional support, and joy. They teach children empathy and how to nurture and appreciate others. Some people claim animals have no souls. I beg to differ. Just like I know our Eastern blue bird is coming to visit us, not to stare at his reflection. We’re his people. And he’s ours.
6. Where can readers learn more about your books and connect with you online?
Website: https://diannelhaganauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DianneLiuzziHagan
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17598423.Dianne_Liuzzi_Hagan
Amazon Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/author/diannelhagan
WIN A Dianne L. Hagan Book!
One lucky commenter on Dianne’s interview will win one of her books—winner’s choice! So don’t forget to comment below!
MARCIA: Thank you, Dianne, for being my September interviewee!
MONTHLY BLOG EBOOK CONTEST! Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks!
Each month, I’ll randomly pick one blog commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!
Roxie Fiste
1. I hear you have a talking pony in your children’s books, along with Ali, the puffball. Tell us about the books.
The first book is Ali’s Big Adventure, and the newest is Ali and the Ganderwat.
They are part of my new series, “Ali’s Adventures!”
Ali’s Big Adventure book blurb:
In a magical land, a curious boy named Mika meets Ali—a legendary puffball who’s lost, far from home. Determined to help, Mika joins forces with a talking pony named Scout–together they set off on a whimsical journey through woodland forests, scorching deserts, and a mysterious sand palace. Along the way, they face unexpected challenges, heartwarming surprises, and discover that even the smallest act of kindness can light the pathway home.
Universal link for Ali’s Big Adventure: https://mybook.to/s2VABR
In the second book, Ali gets into a lot more predicaments as he’s trying to control his bounce. He faces fears and doubts while learning someone different isn’t scary.
Ali and the Ganderwat book blurb:
Ali the puffball is trying hard to control his bounce—but it’s not easy! After one wild leap lands him stuck in tree vines, he needs help. When his dad calls a giant Ganderwat, Ali’s terrified. But sometimes, learning control means letting go of fear…and accepting help from someone different than yourself. Ages 4 – 9 years.
Universal link to Ali and the Ganderwat: https://mybook.to/aiTBkg
When I was in high school, I came up with Ali, the puffball, for a picture book assignment in my art design class. After a dream about a horse in the desert, I created Scout! (It might have been the song I listened to before going to bed, “Horse With No Name!”). Needless to say Scout became a talking pony!
My little brother’s imaginary friend was the inspiration for the character Mika. Together they discover determination, creativity, and resilience saves the day.
This is the new Ali’s Big Adventure cover coming soon:
2. Why did you add Scout the pony to this book?
I am a very visual person–I enjoy getting out into the woodlands for inspiration. Music is very much a part of my creativity as well. Together they spark my imagination into stories or art. And I love animals, especially horses and kitties. I grew up using crayons to draw pictures of horses from age three. A photographer came through my neighborhood offering photos with children sitting on his pony–I was bitten by my first love! The four-legged kind!
It scared my dad that I showed no fear around horses. To protect me, he got me a model horse (which I still have), that became an obsession. At one time I had over 3,000 model horses. Of course I had to have a pony in my books.
After my daughter turned six, we have always had a cat. All of them have been rescues with big personalities. Watching their antics has given me ideas on how Ali might have adventures. Our latest kitty is Isabel–we call her Izzie!
3. Are you writing the third book in the series?
Absolutely! The third book is in development, but I have had a few projects that I need to do before going full bore into the story. I know what characters will be in the book, and most of the storyline, which I’m very excited about. Ali is searching for his friends, Mika and Scout, when he runs into a very odd creature! Hmmm… I won’t say more, but I think kids will really like it.
4. Tell us about your kudos or reviews.
Ali’s Big Adventure was featured in Publishers Weekly magazine last year with a very nice write-up. This year, it has received an honorable mention from Purple Dragon Awards. I just received the notice this week!
5. How do you promote your books?
Currently, I’m promoting through Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, podcasts, in-person author talks, book fairs, and other live events. Pretty exhausting but fun!
6. Where can readers learn more about your books and connect with you online?
My website is https://RoxieFiste.com where parents can visit with kids to learn about me, my characters, the books, and an email they can sign up for newsletters, etc.
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/roxiefiste
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47709267.Roxie_Fiste
All Author Interview: https://allauthor.com/interview/roxief/
UK Magazine Review: https://readershouse.co.uk/exploring-imagination-with-roxie-fiste/
Make Your Day Richer Interview: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMP7C61RhMk/?igsh=NGY4N3Zoem81enR3
Instagram: Instagram.com/roxie_fiste
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@deepender345?_t=ZT-8yFQ3NXWRvD&_r=1
X: @EternityEdg3
Pinterest: https://pin.it/3wfW1gJGG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555282757069
MARCIA: Thank you, Roxie, for being my August interviewee!
MONTHLY BLOG EBOOK CONTEST! Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks!
Each month, I’ll randomly pick one blog commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!
Barbara Lohr
1. I hear you have a dog in your novel. Tell us about Coming Home to You.
Coming Home to You is the first of seven books in the “Man from Yesterday” series, which is set in a beach community in Michigan.
BLURB: Ten years after leaving Gull Harbor and going through a divorce, family duty brings Kate Kennedy home. She discovers the boy she was crazy about in high school is determined to change their small town. Not good. But Cole and his sweet little girl steal her heart. It’s summer in Gull Harbor where the beaches are wide, memories run deep and love is in the air…although some try to fight it.
Coming Home to You is now FREE on Kindle Unlimited, and the ebook, usually $3.99, is only 99 cents on Amazon in July! Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X5Y6A8E
2. Why did you add a dog to this book?
I’ve always thought that men who have pets are especially kind. In the story, Cole is one of those guys. His dog Priscilla is a Harlequin Great Dane, and Prissy has her own sly comments to make about what’s going on in the book. Readers seem to enjoy those.
NOTE: Here’s a photo of Priscilla from the back cover of Coming Home to You…
My husband and I had a Harlequin Great Dane at the time. Her name was Parfait, so adding her was a natural. Although Parfait is now gone, we still have Hombre our male cat, who is often my inspiration.
3. What other books have you written?
Right now, I have five series. Most of them like the “Man from Yesterday” series are sweet romance. However, my latest series takes place in Charlevoix, Michigan, and is women’s fiction.
Another fun book that has a pet in it is The Christmas Cruise. In it, a young princess brings her dachshund on board her father’s cruise ship against his orders. The heroine discovers 
Clara and Shatzi in the laundry. She believes Clara’s tale about her mean father, which isn’t of course true at all. But Shatzi was a lot of fun and served a purpose.
: Here’s a photo of Clara and Shatzi from The Christmas Cruise…
The Christmas Cruise Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JYBV8KR
4. Tell us about your kudos.
Most recent awards:
2024: Christmas in Charlevoix—Finalist, Women’s Fiction.
2024: Her Christmas Wish—1st Place, Inspirational Fiction, National Excellence in Story Telling.
2022 Holt Medallion: The Christmas Cruise—Virginia Romance Writers, Award of Merit Finalist.
2019: Christmas Dreams and Santa Schemes—1st Place, National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards.
Other awards can be found on my website: https://www.barbaralohrauthor.com/awards.html
5. How do you promote your books?
My monthly newsletter is an important vehicle. Right now, I have about 5,000 readers on that list. You can sign up for that by going to my website, first page: https://www.BarbaraLohrAuthor.com/
Funnel and Story Origin have been helpful for author swaps and group promotions. Sometimes I take out ads: Bookbub, Book Cave, etc. Usually every month, I put one of my books on sale and I promote it.
6. Where can readers learn more about your books and connect with you online?
Website: https://www.BarbaraLohrAuthor.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/barbaralohrauthor
CONTEST: One lucky commenter on this interview will WIN a Coming Home to You paperback!!
MARCIA: Thank you, Barbara, for being my July interviewee! I love your romances!
MONTHLY BLOG EBOOK CONTEST! Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks!
Each month, I’ll randomly pick one blog commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!