Introducing You To: Kathleen Marple Kalb
It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Kathleen Marple Kalb, a fellow Short Mystery Fiction Society member, and her newest Ella Shane Mystery. A FATAL RECEPTION is the fourth in the series, and first at new home Level Best Books.
Title: A FATAL RECEPTION
About the book: The latest installment in the highly-praised series featuring an Irish-Jewish tenement orphan who found fame and fortune as a Gilded Age opera diva famous for singing male soprano roles finds Ella Shane finally ready to marry her Duke. But they’ll confront a murder, a shipwreck, a questionable Polish prince and more complications before they head off into wedded bliss.
About the author: Kathleen Marple Kalb describes herself as an Author/Anchor/Mom…not in that order. An award-winning weekend anchor at New York’s 1010 WINS Radio, she writes short stories and novels including A Fatal Reception and the Old Stuff series, both from Level Best Books. As Nikki Knight, she writes the Grace the Hit Mom and Vermont Radio mysteries. Her stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Weekly, and others, and been short-listed for Derringer and Black Orchid Novella Awards. She’s currently the Vice President of the Short Mystery Fiction Society and a co-VP of the New York/Tri-State Chapter of Sisters in Crime. She, her husband, and son live in a Connecticut house owned by their cat. Find her at Cozy Mysteries with Diverse Cast (kathleenmarplekalb.com)
Introducing You To: Mike Martin, Author
I’ve known Mike Martin for some time, and worked alongside him on the Crime Writers of Canada Board of Directors. Today, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to the latest book in his Award-winning Sgt. Windflower Mystery series.
Title: Better Safe Than Sorry
About the book: Better Safe Than Sorry is Book 14 in this light mystery series that is set in beautiful Grand Bank on the easternmost tip of Canada. Another rollicking adventure with Windflower and the gang as they fight crime and still manage to find time for family, friends, good food and good times.
About the author: Mike Martin is the author of now 14 books in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series. He is also a former Chair and active member of Crime Writers of Canada. You can follow Sgt. Windflower Mysteries on Facebook at facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore
Larceny & Last Chances Cover Reveal (and a jigsaw puzzle)
I’ve become a bit obsessed with jigsaw puzzles lately, finally having a kitchen island to leave one on the go, while I can also cook or watch TV at the same time. I usually do 1,000-piece puzzles and I love the ones from Cobble Hill, which are as beautiful as they are difficult.
Now…Cobble Hill isn’t about to make a puzzle from one of my book covers but that doesn’t mean I can’t, so with the aid of Jigsaw Planet, I’ve created a 60-piece online jigsaw puzzle for Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense: LARCENY JIGSAW
The fourth Superior Shores Anthology comes out on June 18th — but it’s available for pre-order in e-book now at all (or at least most of) the usual suspects.
In the meantime…have fun solving the jigsaw puzzle, which should end up looking like this:
PS: Let me know how long it took you!!
PPS: If you’re a Nook reader, the first three anthologies are 75% off through May but only if you enter BNPANTHO75 at Barnes & Noble checkout.
Introducing You To: James M. Jackson, Author
It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Jim and his latest thriller. We first met online as part of the Guppy Chapter of Sisters in Crime and met in person in Raleigh, North Carolina at the 2015 Bouchercon conference. I’ve been a fan of his Seamus McCree series ever since, and was a proud endorser of Ant Farm (the series prequel).
Title: Hijacked Legacy (Seamus McCree #8)
About the book:
What you don’t know can kill you.
The Happy Reaper, notorious for his chilling efficiency and “Results Guaranteed” calling card, escapes prison. Instead of killing Seamus McCree on sight, as he has promised he would do, he offers a diabolical bargain with a heart-stopping proviso. To live, Seamus must help the Happy Reaper find and eliminate the upstart impostor who’s trashing the assassin’s reputation.
And Seamus must act quickly. Should the Happy Reaper’s bad heart give out or any harm come to him, the criminal underworld will wreak carnage on Seamus . . . and his loved ones.
Can Seamus outsmart the impostor and appease the Happy Reaper without staining his soul with blood? The only thing Seamus knows for sure is that time is running out for him and his family.
About the author: Jim is a past president of the Guppy Chapter of Sisters in Crime and author of the Seamus McCree Series. Here’s the link to his bio, in which he likens himself to a Mid-century Modern House. (He said it, not me!)
Finding YOUR Path to Publication: Upcoming Presentations
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I’m excited to announce two upcoming presentations on Finding YOUR Path to Publication. The first is virtual via Zoom, and is hosted by the Barrie Public Library. You don’t need to be a patron of the Barrie PL, but you do need to pre-register.
Where: Barrie Public Library (via Zoom)
When: Wednesday, April 10, 6:30-7:30 ET
Other: You do not need to be a patron of the Barrie Public Library, but you do need to pre-register
Registration: Free! Click on link.
The second is my first LIVE, in-person presentation since pre-Covid, and I couldn’t be happier that it’s in my new hometown of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario.
Where: James L. McIntyre Centennial Library, 50 East St., Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 3C3 (705-759-5230)
When: Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Registration: Free! Pre-registration is encouraged as seating may be limited.
Visit my Presentations page to find out more about what you can expect.
Introducing You To: Sydney Leigh, Author
It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Lynn McPherson, writing as Sydney Leigh, and her new cozy mystery, PERIL IN PINK. Lynn and I served on the Crime Writers of Canada Board of Directors together and she was a wonderful support to me during my time as Chair. Her new book has been described as Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building. Now that sounds like a lot of fun!
Title: Peril In Pink (A Hudson Valley B & B Mystery)
ABOUT PERIL IN PINK: Everything is coming up rosé for innkeeper Jess Byrne until a murder on opening weekend gives her B&B’s killer vibe a whole new meaning.
It’s the grand opening of The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley, and owner Jess Byrne has prepared the ultimate, Insta-worthy welcome, complete with her ex-boyfriend—reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong—performing live. As guests check in and mimosas are poured, Lars arrives with his stepdad-turned-manager Bob in tow. But things go south when Bob is found dead, and Lars is the prime suspect.
After a desperate plea from Lars, and knowing the reputation of her B&B is at stake, Jess agrees to help clear Lars’ name, but the more she digs, the less sure she is that he’s innocent. Especially when he’s found at the scene of another murder.
With the guests under lockdown, the B&B in the press for all the wrong reasons, and a killer on the loose, Jess is in over her head. With the help of her best friend and business partner Kat, Jess is determined to uncover the truth before Lars is put behind bars and The Pearl is permanently cancelled.
About the author: Lynn McPherson has had a myriad of jobs, from running a small business to teaching English across the globe. She has travelled the world solo, where her daring spirit has led her to jump out of airplanes, dive with sharks, and learn she would never master a surfboard. Lynn served on the Board of Directors for Crime Writers of Canada from 2019-2021. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers. Lynn writes under the pseudonym Sydney Leigh and has a new cozy mystery, Peril in Pink, coming out with Crooked Lane in March 2024. Find out more at https://sydneyleighbooks.com/
Larceny & Last Chances: Official Author List
It’s my pleasure to announce the authors who will be included in the fourth Superior Shores Press anthology. Larceny & Last Chances: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense is tentatively scheduled for June 2024 release. Stay tuned for updates!
Christina Boufis
John Bukowski
Brenda Chapman
Susan Daly
Wil A. Emerson
Tracy Falenwolfe
Kate Fellowes
Molly Wills Fraser
Gina X. Grant
Karen Grose
Wendy Harrison
Julie Hastrup
Larry M. Keeton
Charlie Kondek
Edward Lodi
Bethany Maines
Gregory Meece
Cate Moyle
Judy Penz Sheluk
KM Rockwood
Kevin R. Tipple
Robert Weibezahl
Making the Move
In January 2020, my Events page listed 18 author events, everything from local libraries, military book clubs, and outdoor fairs, to Left Coast Crime San Diego. And then COVID-19 hit in March and one by one, every event was cancelled.
As authors, we learned to pivot. Zoom became our platform of choice, and book launches and conferences went from in-person to virtual. What can I say? For the most part, we’re a resilient bunch, a quality strengthened with every rejection or not-so-nice book review.
COVID-19 also made me realize that my 8-hour drive from Southern Ontario to our camp/cottage/waterfront home (what you call it really depends on where you live) was even less pleasant when stopping for a quick break meant finding a nearby woods, public bathrooms closed. Let’s just say that Gibbs and I had a bonding moment on one of those trips!
Fast forward to 2022, and having spent more time in Northern Ontario than Southern Ontario, we decided to sell our house in New Tecumseth. I’m not from there (born and raised in Toronto and lived a few places since) but I’d grown to love the area. Even so, it was time to move on…which meant moving. I donated, sold, gave away or otherwise disposed of many of our possessions, stored the rest (we all know how that turned out…and if you don’t, here’s a link to It’s Been a Heckuva Summer) and moved to the camp/cottage/waterfront home on the lake.
Lake living is fabulous. In the summer. In the fall. In the spring (if you can miss “bug season”). Not so much in the winter when the nearest town is 45 minutes away and you’re talking Northern Ontario. One winter there had me convinced I needed a place “in town” — in this case, Sault Ste. Marie, O
ntario. It took some doing, but we finally found a lovely bungalow in a nice part of the city, only a 10 minute walk to the St. Mary’s River (which also serves as the Canada/US border). The close proximity of both places allows us to split our time in both places, though my husband tends to spend more time at the lake, and I tend to spend more time in town. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all of that.
I’ve adjusted well to life in the North, made a few friends, established different routines, met some wonderful authors and artists. Every day offers a new beginning, and I’m grateful for each one.
And yes, I’m still writing. Stay tuned…the best is yet to come.
PS: Be sure to check out my EVENTS page. I have a Zoom presentation for the Barrie Public Library coming in April (free, and you don’t need to be a BPL patron, but you need to pre-register) and I’ll be going to Killer Nashville in August.
Shameless Self Promotion: Step-by-Step Publishing Guides
In 2023, I released two books on publishing. The first, Finding YOUR Path to Publication (May 2023) and the second, Self-publishing: The Ins & Outs of Going Indie (December 2023) have garnered great reviews and respectable sales. I could have left it at that, but it’s been suggested that a box set of the two books (offered at a slight discount in bundle form) would be welcome by many.
I thought about that. Both my Glass Dolphin and Marketville Mystery box sets have done remarkably well, and while it would take a few hours and the expense of new cover art, I decided to go for it. The end result is Step-by-Step Publishing Guides: Books 1 & 2, priced at $9.99 USD/CAD (e-book) and $24.99 USD/CAD (paperback). Compare that to $5.99 USD / $6.99 CAD (e-book) and $18.99 USD / $19.99 CAD (paperback) for the individual titles and it’s a considerable savings.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Whether you’re an aspiring author, a traditionally published author considering a change, or merely curious, Step-by-Step Publishing Guides is a must-have reference book covering everything from business basics and publishing platforms to post-publication sales and marketing strategies.
This two-volume box set includes Finding YOUR Path to Publication and Self-publishing: The Ins & Outs of Going Indie. Inside you’ll find an honest, unbiased look at the pros and cons of five publishing paths: traditional, independent, hybrid, self-publishing, and social publishing, as well as an in-depth look at self-publishing, all while guiding you through the process—one easy-to-understand step at a time.
“Highly recommended must-read for writers at any stage in their career.”—Brenda Chapman, Author of the Hunter and Tate Mysteries
“Answers all the questions you didn’t know you had.”—Lisa Tucker, The Book Cover, The Borderline Radio Soo
“Rich with pro tips from an experienced author who has run the gamut and succeeded.”—Keenan Powell, Multi-nominated author of Implied Consent
“Great both for newbies and old hands. I learned a lot!”— C.J. Shane, author of Letty Valdez, Cat Miranda, and Iron Horse mysteries
Introducing You To: Virginia Kelly, Author
It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Virginia Kelly, and her first mystery, TANGLED SECRETS: A GABI ESPINOSA MYSTERY, released January 2024. Her previous eight published titles are romantic suspense novels. Virginia is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Guppy Chapter of Sisters in Crime.
Title: Tangled Secrets: A Gabby Espinosa Mystery (Turner’s Crossroads, Book 1)
About the book: Turner’s Crossroads, where nothing happens… Until it does.
Reeling from her husband’s murder, librarian Gabriela Espinosa took her young daughter and sought refuge in the perceived safety of her tiny hometown in the Florida Panhandle. Six years later, the murder of her best friend shatters her sense of security and threatens the walls Gabi built to protect herself from grief.
Suspicion falls on an old friend of her late father’s. Though the man is troubled, Gabi believes he’s incapable of violence. In his defense, she begins asking questions which put her at odds with the local sheriff’s department and a mysterious new deputy.
As she uncovers a tangle of complicated relationships, there’s a second murder. With fear resonating through the town’s sleepy façade, Gabi confronts a dark past that lays bare Turner’s Crossroads’ secrets, putting her, and her daughter, in danger.
About the author: Virginia Kelly is the author of romantic suspense, romantic adventure, and most recently, mystery. Her novels have been nominated for several awards including the RWA Golden Heart, the Holt Medallion, the Golden Quill, the Aspen Gold, and the National Reader’s Choice Award. An academic librarian, Virginia is a native of Peru and lives in Florida with her family. She’s a travel buff, loves to hike, and pretends to be a somewhat passable photographer. To learn more about Virginia and her books, visit her website at http://virginiakelly.net.