Mysterical-E

Author Snapshot

Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays Reading!
But You Can Do It Anytime!

Time to get out the peppermint cocoa, light the fire and snuggle up with a good book or e-book to make the season bright! I've included an assortment of fun themed reads and a couple non-Christmas selections to keep you burning the midnight oil. (Just be sure to hit the sack early on Dec. 24th so you don't disturb you-know-who's arrival!)

First off, let's have a little chat with prolific author Evelyn David, actually the writing team of authors Marian Edelman Borden and Rhonda Dossett. The women have authored both short and long fiction in two series, beginning with their first mysteries, MURDER OFF THE BOOKS and MURDER TAKES THE CAKE.

The two writers met in an Internet writers' forum nearly a decade ago, decided to try collaborating and with the first story, realized they'd found their niche. "The response from the Internet community was so positive that we continued to write short stories together," says Borden. "It was like taking an online class in creative writing. We learned about characterization, dialogue, point of view, pacing, all the technical aspects of what makes a good story."

While, like most writers and many readers, the women love holding and reading print books, they have embraced digital publishing. "We are proud to be a part of the e-book revolution," Borden says. "While it has added burdens to our work, designing and formatting each book, it's also given us more editorial freedom and the ability to see our work in virtual print much faster than traditional publishing. We're delighted that the Brianna Sullivan e-book mystery series has captured such a broad audience. Our e-books have renewed interest in our first two print books, which we now have made available in digital formats."

"We aren't abandoning traditional publishing," she adds. "There's still a place for both print and digital books. As one expert pointed out, we still have live theater, even with the advent of television and movies. So it is with print and digital books. The question will become how much of a market will print books maintain, and what genres are most likely to succeed in print formats. We're not sure of the answers. We hope we can exist in both worlds. But by self-publishing our books, we feel we have regained some control of our literary lives."

The duo just released their Christmas novella, MOONLIGHTING AT THE MALL: Twas the week before Christmas, And all through the Mall, A Thief was stealing jewelry, Time to give Mac Sullivan a call! Sullivan, hardboiled ex-cop and newly-minted private detective, goes undercover as Santa Claus to find the mall thief who is brazenly robbing local jewelry stores. He's got more help than he wants with girlfriend and funeral home makeup artist Rachel Brenner posing as Mrs. Claus, septuagenarian Edgar as a less-believable Elf; and Whiskey, his Irish wolfhound, stealing the show as Rudolph. Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/MoonKindle - BN.com: http://tinyurl.com/MoonNook – Smashwords (all formats): http://tinyurl.com/MoonSmash

OtherChristmasy-Holiday Reads:

Author Deb Baker recently released a new 15,000 word novella featuring Gertie Johnson from her Backwoods Adventures series. In MURDER TRIMS THE TREE, when Gertie and her cohorts decide to do their court-ordered community service at the local assisted living home during the Christmas season, they get more than they (plea) bargained for. http://www.debbakerbooks.com/ -Nook: http://tinyurl.com/8y9qtv8

The new anthology, X IS FOR XMAS (Wildside Press) offers 10 stories, old and new, by 10 authors designed to "spike your eggnog, trim your tree and add a dash of spice to your Christmas Cheer.
Some of the selections include "Ho Ho Homicide," starring Sue Ann Jaffarian's amateur sleuth Odelia Grey in a nightmare mall visit. Lillian Stewart Carl shares her take on Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in "A Stake of Holly." Elizabeth Zelvin shares her story, "Death Will Trim Your Tree." There are also classics from Wilkie Collins, Zorro creator Johnston McCulley and pulp hero William G. Bogart. (Interesting is that B&N's cover (shown above) is completely different - Nook: http://tinyurl.com/8335npd) – Copia: http://tinyurl.com/6tn6gt3.

Author Patty G. Henderson is behind a new anthology aimed at helping homeless cats. DARK THINGS II: CAT CRIMES: Tales of Feline Mayhem and Murder (Volume 2) is a collection of tales featuring feline mayhem, murder and dastardly deeds. Vampire cats. Scoundrel cats. Daring cats. Killer cats. Cats you don't want in your worst nightmares and cats you might want on your side against evil. All proceeds from sales go to several cat sanctuaries across the USA. Enjoy over 21 cat "tails" and support a cat charity!
Print: http://tinyurl.com/7e259le - Coming soon in Kindle and eBook formats.

Features stories by Mary V. Welk, Patricia Harrington, Jim Silvestri, Patty G. Henderson, Peter Medeiros, Kelli A. Wilkins, David Perlmutter, MJ Williamz, Edward DeGeorge, Shanna Germain, G. Elmer Munson, Fred Skolnik, James S. Dorr, Marian Allen, Jodi S. Watts, Margaret Phillips, Nat Burns, Ken Goldman, Anna Sykora and J.D. Revezzo, with an intro by Robert W. Walker. Print:

In anticipation of her new scrapbook mystery, READY, SCRAP, SHOOT coming out in May, author Joanna Campbell Slan is ambitiously offering a new story each month on Kindle until then.
In the 7,000-word novella, KIKI LOWENSTEIN AND THE SECRET SANTA, when a grumpy customer needs a “miracle,” Kiki provides it…with surprising results. Includes recipe and craft tips. Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/chz9eoz

In BK Stevens' short story, LITTLE DUMBER BOY, (Untreed Reads), Will's aunt wants him to spend some time with his estranged son at Christmas. All Will wants is to knock off his girlfriend's husband and collect a share of the life insurance policy, but the perfect crime can really ruin your holiday... http://tinyurl.com/6schvuk

In my short story, CHRISTMAS AT THE NORTH POLE COMPOUND by Christine Verstraete, it's not all Fa-la-la and Ho-Ho-Ho at the North Pole Compound when Santa's elves find someone's stolen the gifts! Can Chief Elf Investigator Finius Flaherty crack the case by Dec. 24th and save Christmas? http://www.cverstraete.com - Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/2fbd7zl - Smashwords (all formats): http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/107338

Notable Non-Holiday Reads:

Authors Mary Reed and Eric Mayer continue their unique historical series featuring John the Lord Chamberlain with NINE FOR THE DEVIL, coming in March 2012. It is the year 548 and Emperor Justinian orders Lord Chamberlain to find the murderer of Empress Theodora – or suffer the consequences. There is no sign of foul play, but many of the aristocrats at the imperial court had good reason to want Theodora dead... and even John's friends are acting strangely... http://home.earthlink.net/~maywrite/ - Poisoned Pen Press: http://www.poisonedpenpress.com/nine-for-the-devil/

A trio of Austin authors offers up a compilation of horror, mystery, and urban fantasy short stories with a distinctly dark side in ALL THINGS DARK AND DASTARDLY. Authors include: Kaye George, an Agatha nominated short story writer and the author of the gritty novel, CHOKE; Steven E. Metze, who wrote THE ZOMBIE MONOLOGUES; and Mary Ann Loesch, author of the award-winning urban fantasy, NEPHILIM.
Blog: http://allthingsdarkanddastardly.blogspot.com/ - Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/7b4dvug – Smashwords (all formats): http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/96249