Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Currently Reading...
I just started reading Death by Didgeridoo by Barbara Venkataraman. This book is the first in the Jamie Quinn Mystery series. Death by Didgeridoo is a short book, more of a novella, that introduces Jamie Quinn, a lawyer who practices family law. Jamie is still reeling from the death of her mother when her aunt calls pleading for help. Jamie's cousin Adam has just been arrested for murder! Will Jamie, who knows nothing about criminal law, be able to help?
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
A Living History Museum Interview & Review
I'm so happy to welcome Amanda Flower back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Amanda has visited previously talking about her Amish Quilt Shop Mystery series, Appleseed Creek Mystery series and her Andi Boggs Novels. Today we talk about her brand new series, The Living History Museum Mystery series.
Kathy: With The Final Reveille, you start a new series. While your previous mysteries have centered around Amish communities the Living History Museum Mystery series does not. Was there a reason for this departure?
AF: I wrote the proposal for The Final Reveille before my two Amish series sold. The Amish novels sold very quickly, and the Living History Museum Mysteries had to be put on hold. I'm thrilled to be finally writing it.
Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this series?
AF: Yes. When I was in college, I worked at a living history museum for one summer. I knew it was the perfect setting for a cozy mystery.
Kathy: I've always loved the idea of time travel. I'm pretty much come to grips with the fact that while I can't "really" go back in time I can "sort of go back in certain time periods" with the help of living museums. I'm fortunate in that I have the Genesee Country Village and Museum close by so that I can easily take a trip to a 19th century American village. How did you decide to make a living museum the scene for your new mystery series?
AF: I have been waiting to write a cozy set at a living history museum even since I work at one. Finally, I got the chance when Midnight Ink bought the idea.
Kathy: Is Barton Farm based on a real living museum?
AF: Nope, but it's based on several that I know.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite part of a living museum? For me it's a toss up between seeing the animals and trying my hand at some sort of craft as well as seeing anything about the Shakers or any other 19th century Utopian society or religious group-a particular interest of mine.
AF: I like to see the people in period dress and the ones who refuse to break character no matter what. That's dedication to your work. You will see some instances of that in the series.
Kathy: Civil War reenactments are quite popular. Have you ever attended one?
AF: I have. I have been to several reenactments and find them so interesting. It's an fascinating hobby to be sure.
Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Kelsey?
AF: Yes, Kelsey will be back in two more novels. Book two, The Final Tap, releases May 2016 and centers around the maple sugaring season in Ohio. I'm not sure what book three will be yet.
Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?
AF: Sure! I have three books coming in October 2015. My upcoming books are:
Murder, Plainly Read, Amish Quilt Shop Mystery #4 written as Isabella Alan
Andi Unstoppable, Andi Boggs #3, a mystery for kids
An Amish Christmas at North Star, a four part anthology that includes a novella by me
******************************************************************************
Review
The Final Reveille by Amanda Flower
The First Living History Museum Mystery
Kelsey Cambridge is the director of Barton Farms, a living history museum in Ohio. For the past two years Kelsey, who lives on the farm with her father and young son, has brought new ideas, and increased crowds to the museum with the financial help of benefactress Cynthia Cherry. Things become worrisome when Maxwell Cherry, Cynthia's son, who has no interest in history and thinks donating to the museum is a waste of time, tells Kelsey that his mother is ill and he'll be taking over her foundation's charitable work...and will stop funding the museum. As if Kelsey doesn't have enough to worry about with the current Civil War reenactment on museum grounds! Things get worse when Maxwell's body is found in the village and Kelsey becomes prime suspect in his murder. Searching for answers to clear her name Kelsey also faces her ex-husbands threats over custody of their son, a suspicious Civil War medic, a detective who seems to have it out for her, and several people who had cause to murder the unpleasant Maxwell Cherry!
This book is the first in the Living History Museum series and it's off to a great start. I love living history museums and am lucky enough to have the Genesee Country Village and Museum nearby. So I was thrilled to see this new series. Amanda Flower has captured the ambiance of living history museums with her docents who stay in character (even with annoying teenagers trying to get them to break character), the featured activities of the town ( I'd like to make a brick), and the added excitement, and trials, of having civil war reenactors about! Not only that, she has crafted a finely tuned mystery. We have interesting suspects and I enjoyed not knowing quite who to trust.
Amanda Flower combines a love of history and the importance of family into a fresh mystery novel complete with engaging characters and interesting facts set against a background of 19th century living in a 21st century world.
Kathy: With The Final Reveille, you start a new series. While your previous mysteries have centered around Amish communities the Living History Museum Mystery series does not. Was there a reason for this departure?
AF: I wrote the proposal for The Final Reveille before my two Amish series sold. The Amish novels sold very quickly, and the Living History Museum Mysteries had to be put on hold. I'm thrilled to be finally writing it.
Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this series?
AF: Yes. When I was in college, I worked at a living history museum for one summer. I knew it was the perfect setting for a cozy mystery.
Kathy: I've always loved the idea of time travel. I'm pretty much come to grips with the fact that while I can't "really" go back in time I can "sort of go back in certain time periods" with the help of living museums. I'm fortunate in that I have the Genesee Country Village and Museum close by so that I can easily take a trip to a 19th century American village. How did you decide to make a living museum the scene for your new mystery series?
AF: I have been waiting to write a cozy set at a living history museum even since I work at one. Finally, I got the chance when Midnight Ink bought the idea.
Kathy: Is Barton Farm based on a real living museum?
AF: Nope, but it's based on several that I know.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite part of a living museum? For me it's a toss up between seeing the animals and trying my hand at some sort of craft as well as seeing anything about the Shakers or any other 19th century Utopian society or religious group-a particular interest of mine.
AF: I like to see the people in period dress and the ones who refuse to break character no matter what. That's dedication to your work. You will see some instances of that in the series.
Kathy: Civil War reenactments are quite popular. Have you ever attended one?
AF: I have. I have been to several reenactments and find them so interesting. It's an fascinating hobby to be sure.
Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Kelsey?
AF: Yes, Kelsey will be back in two more novels. Book two, The Final Tap, releases May 2016 and centers around the maple sugaring season in Ohio. I'm not sure what book three will be yet.
Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?
AF: Sure! I have three books coming in October 2015. My upcoming books are:
Murder, Plainly Read, Amish Quilt Shop Mystery #4 written as Isabella Alan
Andi Unstoppable, Andi Boggs #3, a mystery for kids
An Amish Christmas at North Star, a four part anthology that includes a novella by me
******************************************************************************
Review
The Final Reveille by Amanda Flower
The First Living History Museum Mystery
Kelsey Cambridge is the director of Barton Farms, a living history museum in Ohio. For the past two years Kelsey, who lives on the farm with her father and young son, has brought new ideas, and increased crowds to the museum with the financial help of benefactress Cynthia Cherry. Things become worrisome when Maxwell Cherry, Cynthia's son, who has no interest in history and thinks donating to the museum is a waste of time, tells Kelsey that his mother is ill and he'll be taking over her foundation's charitable work...and will stop funding the museum. As if Kelsey doesn't have enough to worry about with the current Civil War reenactment on museum grounds! Things get worse when Maxwell's body is found in the village and Kelsey becomes prime suspect in his murder. Searching for answers to clear her name Kelsey also faces her ex-husbands threats over custody of their son, a suspicious Civil War medic, a detective who seems to have it out for her, and several people who had cause to murder the unpleasant Maxwell Cherry!
This book is the first in the Living History Museum series and it's off to a great start. I love living history museums and am lucky enough to have the Genesee Country Village and Museum nearby. So I was thrilled to see this new series. Amanda Flower has captured the ambiance of living history museums with her docents who stay in character (even with annoying teenagers trying to get them to break character), the featured activities of the town ( I'd like to make a brick), and the added excitement, and trials, of having civil war reenactors about! Not only that, she has crafted a finely tuned mystery. We have interesting suspects and I enjoyed not knowing quite who to trust.
Amanda Flower combines a love of history and the importance of family into a fresh mystery novel complete with engaging characters and interesting facts set against a background of 19th century living in a 21st century world.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Oh Fudge! An Interview & Giveaway
I'm pleased to welcome Nancy Coco to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Nancy pens the Candy Coated Mystery series. Oh Say Can You Fudge is the third book in the series and was just released April 28th.
Kathy: You write your Candy Coated Mystery series under the name Nancy Coco. I must ask-is Coco used to remind readers of cocoa, and consequently chocolate and fudge?
NC: Yes, actually the pen name was created for that purpose and we thought it was a cute reminder. It's always good to have fun with everything you do. Don't you think?
Kathy: Setting is so important, especially in a cozy series. How did Mackinac Island come to be the location of the Candy Coated Mystery series?
NC: I grew up in Michigan and we traveled over the Mackinaw bridge to vacation in the upper peninsula in the summers. My mom knew the area very well and I thought it would be the perfect setting for a cozy series. I contacted The Island Book store and was surprised that they didn't have a series set there. So we ran a contest with their readers on what the protagonist of the series should do and Fudge maker was number one. That was how the series was born.
Kathy: I love fudge. I make my own at Christmas time, but happily buy it from other locations through the year, especially those unique flavors. Do you have a favorite fudge flavor? Is there one you always have to have or do you prefer variety?
NC: I love fudge, too! Oh I could never pick a favorite fudge flavor. Every time I go into a candy store and see a new flavor I have to try it. I get a lot of my recipe ideas from people. They tell me, "I'd love to try a fudge with pepper in it or key lime" and so I create a fudge. The 21 and over fudges came from a request for fudge made with Captain Morgan rum. The recipe with the best reaction from my taste testers was the pecan pie recipe in Oh Say Can You Fudge- people were fighting over the crumbs.
Kathy: Oh Say Can You Fudge is set around the Fourth of July. Although I don't really celebrate Independence Day now, when I was a kid the 4th of July was a big deal. I remember picnics, parades, and fireworks. Do you celebrate this holiday? Have those celebrations changed since you were young?
NC: Yes, I love the holiday. Picnics and fireworks. When we were young we'd get to stay up late to watch the fireworks and to play with sparklers. My own children loved the screaming chicken fireworks that I wrote about in the book. It's a fun time.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
NC: I loved "Murder She Wrote" and was always an avid fan of traditional mysteries. I had the pleasure of studying mysteries for my Master's program and I learned a lot from great cozy authors like Victoria Thompson who writes the Gaslight series.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
NC: Yes, I wrote a couple of sweet historical romance series that are still available on Amazon.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
NC: Oh, gosh, Okay - I write the Kensington Candy-Coated series as Nancy Coco. It's a fun series set on the Island Time forgot - where there are no cars allowed and people walk, bike or take a horse drawn taxi around the island. Then I write the Gluten-free Baker's Treat mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime. This fun series is set in OilTop, KS. The protagonist is running a gluten free bakery in the middle of wheat country, managing her huge, nosey family and trying to rebuild her life after her divorce. My favorite character in that series is Toni's Grandma Ruth based not so loosely on my own Grandma Ruth. I also write a third series- the Perfect Proposal series for Berkley Prime Crime. In this series, Pepper Pomeroy runs a proposal planning business and finds that sometimes love is complicated by murder.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
NC: No- no favorites. I love them all. They are family to me.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
NC: My mother inspired the Candy coated series. The gluten-free series was inspired by my own diagnoses of celiac disease and the trouble I had finding good gluten free baked goods and Julie Hyzy inspired the Perfect Proposal series.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
NC: The most magical thing about writing is sharing it with readers. Something happens when I pull a story out of my mind and you recreate it in yours. There's a connection and a magic in the process that I adore.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
NC: I would be honored to meet: Jane Austen, Emily Dickinson, Margaret Atwood and Laura Ingalls Wilder What are you currently reading? I follow drusbookmusing.com - she lists all the newest cozies and I try to read them all.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
NC: I love to bake and make candy and read and paint and hike and I have a sock making kit, but I've not opened it yet.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
NC: butter, eggs, honey and cocoa.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
NC: Yes, I'm working on book four in the Candy coated series, book three in the Perfect Proposal series and book one in a brand new series to be announced.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
NC: Sharing the stories in my head. :D
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Kathy: You write your Candy Coated Mystery series under the name Nancy Coco. I must ask-is Coco used to remind readers of cocoa, and consequently chocolate and fudge?
NC: Yes, actually the pen name was created for that purpose and we thought it was a cute reminder. It's always good to have fun with everything you do. Don't you think?
Kathy: Setting is so important, especially in a cozy series. How did Mackinac Island come to be the location of the Candy Coated Mystery series?
NC: I grew up in Michigan and we traveled over the Mackinaw bridge to vacation in the upper peninsula in the summers. My mom knew the area very well and I thought it would be the perfect setting for a cozy series. I contacted The Island Book store and was surprised that they didn't have a series set there. So we ran a contest with their readers on what the protagonist of the series should do and Fudge maker was number one. That was how the series was born.
Kathy: I love fudge. I make my own at Christmas time, but happily buy it from other locations through the year, especially those unique flavors. Do you have a favorite fudge flavor? Is there one you always have to have or do you prefer variety?
NC: I love fudge, too! Oh I could never pick a favorite fudge flavor. Every time I go into a candy store and see a new flavor I have to try it. I get a lot of my recipe ideas from people. They tell me, "I'd love to try a fudge with pepper in it or key lime" and so I create a fudge. The 21 and over fudges came from a request for fudge made with Captain Morgan rum. The recipe with the best reaction from my taste testers was the pecan pie recipe in Oh Say Can You Fudge- people were fighting over the crumbs.
Kathy: Oh Say Can You Fudge is set around the Fourth of July. Although I don't really celebrate Independence Day now, when I was a kid the 4th of July was a big deal. I remember picnics, parades, and fireworks. Do you celebrate this holiday? Have those celebrations changed since you were young?
NC: Yes, I love the holiday. Picnics and fireworks. When we were young we'd get to stay up late to watch the fireworks and to play with sparklers. My own children loved the screaming chicken fireworks that I wrote about in the book. It's a fun time.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
NC: I loved "Murder She Wrote" and was always an avid fan of traditional mysteries. I had the pleasure of studying mysteries for my Master's program and I learned a lot from great cozy authors like Victoria Thompson who writes the Gaslight series.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
NC: Yes, I wrote a couple of sweet historical romance series that are still available on Amazon.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
NC: Oh, gosh, Okay - I write the Kensington Candy-Coated series as Nancy Coco. It's a fun series set on the Island Time forgot - where there are no cars allowed and people walk, bike or take a horse drawn taxi around the island. Then I write the Gluten-free Baker's Treat mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime. This fun series is set in OilTop, KS. The protagonist is running a gluten free bakery in the middle of wheat country, managing her huge, nosey family and trying to rebuild her life after her divorce. My favorite character in that series is Toni's Grandma Ruth based not so loosely on my own Grandma Ruth. I also write a third series- the Perfect Proposal series for Berkley Prime Crime. In this series, Pepper Pomeroy runs a proposal planning business and finds that sometimes love is complicated by murder.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
NC: No- no favorites. I love them all. They are family to me.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
NC: My mother inspired the Candy coated series. The gluten-free series was inspired by my own diagnoses of celiac disease and the trouble I had finding good gluten free baked goods and Julie Hyzy inspired the Perfect Proposal series.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
NC: The most magical thing about writing is sharing it with readers. Something happens when I pull a story out of my mind and you recreate it in yours. There's a connection and a magic in the process that I adore.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
NC: I would be honored to meet: Jane Austen, Emily Dickinson, Margaret Atwood and Laura Ingalls Wilder What are you currently reading? I follow drusbookmusing.com - she lists all the newest cozies and I try to read them all.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
NC: I love to bake and make candy and read and paint and hike and I have a sock making kit, but I've not opened it yet.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
NC: butter, eggs, honey and cocoa.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
NC: Yes, I'm working on book four in the Candy coated series, book three in the Perfect Proposal series and book one in a brand new series to be announced.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
NC: Sharing the stories in my head. :D
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, May 8, 2015
Review & Giveaway - Ming Tea Murder
Review
Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs
The 16th Tea Shop Mystery
Theodosia Browning has once again become embroiled in a murder.
Theodosia and the gang are back. Theo is attending the exclusive black tie opening gala for the Gibbes Museum. It's not quite her cup of tea, even though the museum is exhibiting an 18th century Chinese tea house. But she's there to support her boyfriend, Max, the public relations director for the museum. Festivities grind to a halt when Theo discovers the murdered body of a major museum donor. Things get even stickier when Max gets fired! Theo is determined to set things right and prove Max isn't the killer-even if he did publicly fight with the dead man, days, then minutes, before the murder. There are plenty of other suspects though-the wife, the girlfriend, the business partner...Theodosia is sure to explore all the possibilities, while brewing up tea and serving the delightful delicacies of the Indigo Tea Shop.
Laura Childs brings us the civility of tea, the historic charm of a Chinese tea house, and the upper echelon of Charleston Society in Ming Tea Murder. She also shows us the unseemliness of these patrons of the arts. Our murder victim had, not only a wife, but a mistress -each of whom knew the other- and each of whom had serious issues with the not so dearly departed. We also have Elliot Kern, the unpleasant director of the Gribbes Museum who finds in Max the perfect Scapegoat. We also get to meet the victim's business partner, who has become quite chummy with the widow Charlotte.
Determined to not only prove Max's innocence, but get his job at the museum back, Theo starts talking with the players in this deadly game and even teams up with the most assuredly lower class reporter Bill Glass. With the assistance of Drayton, the support of Haley, and love of Earl Grey Theodosia buckles down to solve another case.
Ming Tea Murder is another solid entry to Laura Childs Tea Shop Mystery series. With plenty of suspects to consider, new characters to entertain (Aunt Acid makes me smirk) and the comforting background of the Indigo Tea Shop, Laura Childs gives us another view of Charleston Society, one where museums, tea, and murder, go hand in hand.
Recipes and Tea Time Tips included.
Laura Childs has graciously offered a copy of Ming Tea Murder for two of my readers! If you'd like a chance to receive your very own copy all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite type of tea. Leave your comment no later than 11:59 pm EDT May 10th 2015 and be sure to leave your e-mail address as well so that I may contact you should you win! Good luck!
Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs
The 16th Tea Shop Mystery
Theodosia Browning has once again become embroiled in a murder.
Theodosia and the gang are back. Theo is attending the exclusive black tie opening gala for the Gibbes Museum. It's not quite her cup of tea, even though the museum is exhibiting an 18th century Chinese tea house. But she's there to support her boyfriend, Max, the public relations director for the museum. Festivities grind to a halt when Theo discovers the murdered body of a major museum donor. Things get even stickier when Max gets fired! Theo is determined to set things right and prove Max isn't the killer-even if he did publicly fight with the dead man, days, then minutes, before the murder. There are plenty of other suspects though-the wife, the girlfriend, the business partner...Theodosia is sure to explore all the possibilities, while brewing up tea and serving the delightful delicacies of the Indigo Tea Shop.
Laura Childs brings us the civility of tea, the historic charm of a Chinese tea house, and the upper echelon of Charleston Society in Ming Tea Murder. She also shows us the unseemliness of these patrons of the arts. Our murder victim had, not only a wife, but a mistress -each of whom knew the other- and each of whom had serious issues with the not so dearly departed. We also have Elliot Kern, the unpleasant director of the Gribbes Museum who finds in Max the perfect Scapegoat. We also get to meet the victim's business partner, who has become quite chummy with the widow Charlotte.
Determined to not only prove Max's innocence, but get his job at the museum back, Theo starts talking with the players in this deadly game and even teams up with the most assuredly lower class reporter Bill Glass. With the assistance of Drayton, the support of Haley, and love of Earl Grey Theodosia buckles down to solve another case.
Ming Tea Murder is another solid entry to Laura Childs Tea Shop Mystery series. With plenty of suspects to consider, new characters to entertain (Aunt Acid makes me smirk) and the comforting background of the Indigo Tea Shop, Laura Childs gives us another view of Charleston Society, one where museums, tea, and murder, go hand in hand.
Recipes and Tea Time Tips included.
Laura Childs has graciously offered a copy of Ming Tea Murder for two of my readers! If you'd like a chance to receive your very own copy all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite type of tea. Leave your comment no later than 11:59 pm EDT May 10th 2015 and be sure to leave your e-mail address as well so that I may contact you should you win! Good luck!
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Currently Reading...
I'm currently reading The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards. This book is not a cozy mystery, but it's about the genesis of them. The Golden Age of Murder is a highly researched book of non fiction about the Detection Club. Founded in the late 1920s, the group was "an elite social network of writers". Some of the greatest writers of detective fiction of all time were members of this exclusive club. Giving details about the club itself, Edwards also tells the stories of some of his members-whose lives could be just as mysterious as their novels. I was aware of the true life disappearance of Agatha Christie (of course, I know what happened to her as well-she was recovering from investigating a series of murders caused by a Vespiform), but was unfamiliar with the lives of some of the other members of this Club, Dorothy L. Sayers, G. K. Chesterton, and Anthony Berkeley, for example. I'm enjoying learning more about the people who set the standard for this amazing genre!
To see a glimpse of how I learned what really happened to Agatha Christie check out this video:
To see a glimpse of how I learned what really happened to Agatha Christie check out this video:
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Spotlight & Giveaway - The Last Witness
The Last Witness
by Jerry Amernic
on Tour May 2015
The year is 2039, and Jack Fisher is the last living survivor of the Holocaust. Set in a world that is abysmally complacent about events of the last century, Jack is a 100-year-old man whose worst memories took place before he was 5. His story hearkens back to the Jewish ghetto of his birth and to Auschwitz where, as a little boy, he had to fend for himself to survive after losing his family. Jack becomes the central figure in a missing-person investigation when his granddaughter suddenly disappears. While assisting police, he finds himself in danger and must reach into the darkest corners of his memory to come out alive.
Book Details:
Genre: Historical Thriller
Published by: Story Merchant Books
Publication Date: October 29th 2014
Number of Pages: 334
ISBN: 9780990421658
Purchase Links:
Read an excerpt:
Chapter 1
New York City, 2035
He was a tough sort. Ninety-five years old with elastic skin stretched across his bones like taut canvas, he was supposed to be an easy mark. Fragile and weak. A pushover. Albert Freedman lived by himself in a flat on the upper East Side, and when they came for him they didn’t expect any trouble. Albert knew something wasn’t right when the second one walked in, but the voice was soft and reassuring.
“We’re here to change your palm reader,” he said through the door. We’re doing all the apartments on your floor today and you’re the first. It won’t take five minutes.”
“You’re here to change my what?”
“Your palm reader.”
“I donno what yer talkin’ about. Go away!”
“You don’t understand. There’s a problem with the sensor. You know, the thing that opens your door when you put your hand in front of it? The palm reader?”
“What?”
“It scans your hand. Your print. Then it lets you in.”
Nothing.
“Look,” the man said, more softly now. “Mr. Freedman? You are Albert Freedman, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I realize you don’t want to be bothered but this is for your security. It’s like putting a new lock on the door.”
“A new lock?”
“That’s right. The sensor in your palm reader is ten years old.”
“It is?”
“The year’s inscribed on the side of the door. It says 2025. See for yourself.”
Albert looked, but he didn’t see anything. His eyes weren’t good. “Where does it say that?” he said.
“On the side of the door. It might be hard to read. The numbers are small.”
“Where are they?”
“Trust me. The thing is ten years old and it’s not working right. But we have new ones now that are much better. But it’s not only that. You see there was a break-in last week and they want everyone’s palm reader changed. That’s why we’re here. You’re the first one on our list, Mr. Freedman. We’ll be done in five minutes. Can we come in?”
“Five minutes you say?”
“That’s all it takes.”
He started jiggling the latch from the inside and then he stopped. “Wait a minute. Why am I the first one? This isn’t the first flat on the floor. You should be down at the end of the hall. Unless you’re doing it alphabetically and then you wouldn’t be starting with me. Why am I the first one?”
He was ninety-five years old. He wasn’t supposed to be asking questions like that. He was just supposed to open the door so they could kill him and make it look like a robbery.
There was an audible sigh from outside the door. “Look Mr. Freedman. It's like this. Doing all these sensors isn’t going to be much fun for us but the landlord said you’re a nice guy and we thought we’d start with you.”
At first nothing and then the jiggling from inside the door started again.
“All right. Come in. But make it fast.”
Albert released the latch that was linked to a sensor that had nothing wrong with it in a building where there had been no break-ins the past week, the past month or the past year. The first man through the door was short and slight, thirtyish with close-cropped hair and a soothing voice. He had a tattoo on his arm that looked like a snake, and if Albert had seen that he wouldn’t have opened the door. But then it was too late.
“Thank you,” the man said with a disarming smile.
The one behind him, younger and bigger with straggly hair and brown skin, burst through the door and pushed Albert out of the way. Old Albert fell against the wall and managed to brace himself with his hand, but the sudden impact jarred his wrist. The arthritis. Then the girl appeared, tall and skinny, dressed in black. Albert never got a good look at their faces, but it didn’t matter. He would be dead before they left.
“Where do you keep the money?” the girl screamed at him. “Tell us!
The small slim man with the snake on his arm turned, retreated into the hallway and closed the door behind him. In his hand was a little gadget with a screen on it. He touched the screen and a list of names came up. He ran his fingertip over the last name – Albert Freedman’s name – and it disappeared. Then he was gone.
The girl began riffling through Albert’s cupboards and drawers. Albert was confused. He didn’t get many visitors.
“Where do you keep the money?” the girl said again.
“What do you want?”
“Your money!”
The man who was now inside Albert’s flat didn’t waste any time. He came for him with his fists clenched. He hit him in the face and knocked him to the floor. Albert fell on his side, his hip, but was close enough to the door so he could reach behind it for his cane. The one with the heavy metal handle. He always kept it there.
Blood dripping from his nose, he scrambled to his knees, brought the cane back over his head, and with every ounce of strength he had walloped the intruder or thief or whatever he was across the ankles. There was a loud cry, but Albert wasn’t finished. He got to his feet, straightened up, and brought his cane back a second time. Now he turned on the girl and landed that metal handle square on the back of her shoulders.
“I’ll kill you both!” he said.
But Albert was old and the man was enraged now. He tore the cane from Albert’s hands and started hitting him with it. He hit him on the head. He hit him on the chest. He hit him on the arms. Albert tried to shield himself with his flailing hands, but the blows were relentless. They kept coming and coming and coming. The girl was going through his drawers, throwing everything she found on the floor. Albert always kept his place neat and he didn’t like that, but he could barely see through his eyes now.
“Here’s his wallet,” she said. “Get it over with.”
The beating took less than a minute. Albert, barely conscious, lay on the floor, bloodied and battered to a pulp, a near corpse of broken bones. He couldn’t move and the only thing to feel was pain. The man with the brown skin and straggly hair turned him over so he was face down and all there was to see was the cold dusty floor. It was the last thing Albert would see in his ninety-five years. He sniffed at the acrid air as a knee went deep into his back and the cane came up under his chin. Albert gurgled a few times, there was a crack, and his body went limp.
New York City, 2035
He was a tough sort. Ninety-five years old with elastic skin stretched across his bones like taut canvas, he was supposed to be an easy mark. Fragile and weak. A pushover. Albert Freedman lived by himself in a flat on the upper East Side, and when they came for him they didn’t expect any trouble. Albert knew something wasn’t right when the second one walked in, but the voice was soft and reassuring.
“We’re here to change your palm reader,” he said through the door. We’re doing all the apartments on your floor today and you’re the first. It won’t take five minutes.”
“You’re here to change my what?”
“Your palm reader.”
“I donno what yer talkin’ about. Go away!”
“You don’t understand. There’s a problem with the sensor. You know, the thing that opens your door when you put your hand in front of it? The palm reader?”
“What?”
“It scans your hand. Your print. Then it lets you in.”
Nothing.
“Look,” the man said, more softly now. “Mr. Freedman? You are Albert Freedman, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I realize you don’t want to be bothered but this is for your security. It’s like putting a new lock on the door.”
“A new lock?”
“That’s right. The sensor in your palm reader is ten years old.”
“It is?”
“The year’s inscribed on the side of the door. It says 2025. See for yourself.”
Albert looked, but he didn’t see anything. His eyes weren’t good. “Where does it say that?” he said.
“On the side of the door. It might be hard to read. The numbers are small.”
“Where are they?”
“Trust me. The thing is ten years old and it’s not working right. But we have new ones now that are much better. But it’s not only that. You see there was a break-in last week and they want everyone’s palm reader changed. That’s why we’re here. You’re the first one on our list, Mr. Freedman. We’ll be done in five minutes. Can we come in?”
“Five minutes you say?”
“That’s all it takes.”
He started jiggling the latch from the inside and then he stopped. “Wait a minute. Why am I the first one? This isn’t the first flat on the floor. You should be down at the end of the hall. Unless you’re doing it alphabetically and then you wouldn’t be starting with me. Why am I the first one?”
He was ninety-five years old. He wasn’t supposed to be asking questions like that. He was just supposed to open the door so they could kill him and make it look like a robbery.
There was an audible sigh from outside the door. “Look Mr. Freedman. It's like this. Doing all these sensors isn’t going to be much fun for us but the landlord said you’re a nice guy and we thought we’d start with you.”
At first nothing and then the jiggling from inside the door started again.
“All right. Come in. But make it fast.”
Albert released the latch that was linked to a sensor that had nothing wrong with it in a building where there had been no break-ins the past week, the past month or the past year. The first man through the door was short and slight, thirtyish with close-cropped hair and a soothing voice. He had a tattoo on his arm that looked like a snake, and if Albert had seen that he wouldn’t have opened the door. But then it was too late.
“Thank you,” the man said with a disarming smile.
The one behind him, younger and bigger with straggly hair and brown skin, burst through the door and pushed Albert out of the way. Old Albert fell against the wall and managed to brace himself with his hand, but the sudden impact jarred his wrist. The arthritis. Then the girl appeared, tall and skinny, dressed in black. Albert never got a good look at their faces, but it didn’t matter. He would be dead before they left.
“Where do you keep the money?” the girl screamed at him. “Tell us!
The small slim man with the snake on his arm turned, retreated into the hallway and closed the door behind him. In his hand was a little gadget with a screen on it. He touched the screen and a list of names came up. He ran his fingertip over the last name – Albert Freedman’s name – and it disappeared. Then he was gone.
The girl began riffling through Albert’s cupboards and drawers. Albert was confused. He didn’t get many visitors.
“Where do you keep the money?” the girl said again.
“What do you want?”
“Your money!”
The man who was now inside Albert’s flat didn’t waste any time. He came for him with his fists clenched. He hit him in the face and knocked him to the floor. Albert fell on his side, his hip, but was close enough to the door so he could reach behind it for his cane. The one with the heavy metal handle. He always kept it there.
Blood dripping from his nose, he scrambled to his knees, brought the cane back over his head, and with every ounce of strength he had walloped the intruder or thief or whatever he was across the ankles. There was a loud cry, but Albert wasn’t finished. He got to his feet, straightened up, and brought his cane back a second time. Now he turned on the girl and landed that metal handle square on the back of her shoulders.
“I’ll kill you both!” he said.
But Albert was old and the man was enraged now. He tore the cane from Albert’s hands and started hitting him with it. He hit him on the head. He hit him on the chest. He hit him on the arms. Albert tried to shield himself with his flailing hands, but the blows were relentless. They kept coming and coming and coming. The girl was going through his drawers, throwing everything she found on the floor. Albert always kept his place neat and he didn’t like that, but he could barely see through his eyes now.
“Here’s his wallet,” she said. “Get it over with.”
The beating took less than a minute. Albert, barely conscious, lay on the floor, bloodied and battered to a pulp, a near corpse of broken bones. He couldn’t move and the only thing to feel was pain. The man with the brown skin and straggly hair turned him over so he was face down and all there was to see was the cold dusty floor. It was the last thing Albert would see in his ninety-five years. He sniffed at the acrid air as a knee went deep into his back and the cane came up under his chin. Albert gurgled a few times, there was a crack, and his body went limp.
JUST RELEASED!
QUMRAN
In historical flashbacks, we see him as a young archeology student who helps discover the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran, just off the Dead Sea, and it happens when the State of Israel is being created. Later, he gets involved with investigating the legends of the Holy Grail and Holy Shroud of Turin, and each time out another Arab-Israeli war is tearing the Middle East apart. Throw in his close friend who is a brilliant Egyptian pathologist, along with his Israeli research assistant and his wife who is an authority on ancient languages and you have a foursome standing against the world. But the new discovery must be studied in secret. Or all Hell will break loose.
Author Bio:
Jerry Amernic is a Toronto writer who has been a newspaper reporter and correspondent, newspaper columnist, feature writer for magazines, teacher of journalism, and media consultant. His first book 'Victims: The Orphans of Justice' was a true story about a former police officer whose eldest daughter was murdered and who became a leading advocate for crime victims. This resulted in Jerry’s column about the justice system for The Toronto Sun. More recently Jerry co-authored 'Duty - The Life of a Cop' with Julian Fantino, the highest-profile police officer Canada has ever produced and now a member of the Canadian Cabinet. In fiction, Jerry’s first novel 'Gift of the Bambino' was praised by The Wall Street Journal in the U.S., The Globe and Mail in Canada, and others. His latest novel is the historical thriller 'The Last Witness'. Just released is the biblical-historical thriller 'Qumran'.
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This is a giveaway hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours for Jerry Amernic. There will be ONE U.S. or Canadian winner. The giveaway begins on May 1st, 2015 and runs through June 12th, 2015. a Rafflecopter giveawaySo what exactly was the Holocaust and D-Day?
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Sunday, May 3, 2015
A Lowcountry Interview
I'm happy to welcome Susan M. Boyer to the blog today. Susan writes the Liz Talbot Mystery series. Lowcountry Boneyeard is the third in the series and was released April 21st.
Kathy: Location plays a big part in mysteries. Why did you choose South Carolina as the setting of your series?
Kathy: Location plays a big part in mysteries. Why did you choose South Carolina as the setting of your series?
SB: I grew up in North Carolina, but our vacations were always along the South Carolina coast. I’ve always adored the beach. When I married my husband, I moved to South Carolina, and we’ve lived in the Upstate for many years. We also lived for a while in Mt. Pleasant, near Charleston. It was during this time that the idea of using the area as my literary landscape really came together.
Kathy: Spirits play a role in your series, and I'm not talking about bourbon. How did you decide to incorporate ghosts in your series?
SB: The Charleston area has a rich tradition of ghosts and other supernatural entities. In one sense, their inclusion is part of the setting. This aspect also developed from Liz’s character. She has an over-developed sense of responsibility. She wants to make everything all right for everyone. When I was mulling what made her that way, I discovered that a close friend of hers had died when she was young, and she felt responsible, not in the literal sense, but in the sense that perhaps she could’ve prevented it. Once I had that storyline developed, it occurred to me that Liz was haunted by this tragedy. Since she lives in the Lowcountry, it seemed natural to make this haunting literal.
Kathy: Have you ever had a ghostly encounter?
SB: I believe I have, several times in fact. Others may find explanations that better suit their philosophies. But I’m a believer.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
SB: I love small towns, my family, good food, crazy relatives, a good laugh, and mysteries. I also enjoy these elements in books.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
SB: Not currently, but who knows what the future holds. I read very eclectically. I may decide to write a time traveling shape-shifter romance.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
SB: Private Investigator Liz Talbot works out of her home on Stella Maris, an island near Charleston, South Carolina. Each book in the series represents a different case for Liz.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
SB: Liz would have to be my favorite character. She and I are very close, and while she’s definitely not me, we do have some things in common.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
SB: Each book has its own inspiration, but the series as a whole was born out of my love for mystery series with strong female protagonists and my love of the South Carolina lowcountry.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
SB: I never really thought about not publishing it. The decision to write full time came with the goal of publication.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
SB: This is such a hard question for me. There are just too many possibilities. Can I throw a big party and invite all the living ones I know? I love hanging out with other authors.
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
SB: The Deep End, by Julie Mulhern
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
SB: I read—a lot. I love spending time with family and friends, and often that leads to us breaking out the karaoke machine.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
SB: Greek yogurt, blueberries, brie cheese, Champagne.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
SB: I’m planning on many more adventures for Liz Talbot. Next up is Lowcountry Bordello, which comes out in November.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
SB: I love creating these puzzles and then figuring out how Liz will solve them.
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