4 BOOK REVIEWS FOR AUGUST #FridayReads

The goal I set for myself was to read and review 71 books between Oct., 2015 and Oct. 2016. Including the four books reviewed below, I've read 46 books, 65%, and submitted the reviews to my Goodreads "My Books" page. With 25 more books to read before October 22, 2016, I'd better get cracking!

The books I read in August are:

JUST ADD WATER Jinx Schwartz

Jinx has written an entire series of "JUST" novels that I look forward to reading. I don't think she's finished with the series yet, so I can rest easy, knowing it will be some time before I reach the end.

In JUST ADD WATER, I met and sailed with Hetta Coffee as she edged her way into a new life of living on the water. How many times have you wished you could make a clean slate of your life and start over, with you in the driver's seat? Expectations of independence are much more lax now for women. But it wasn't that many (decades) ago that men did most of the driving. That's why it can be so much fun for readers of a certain age to immerse themselves into the story.

Just imagine the wind in your hair as you take control of the wheel of your very own yacht. That's independence!

Can't wait to dive into JUST ADD SALT!

*****     *****     *****

THE IMMACULATE by Marian McMahon Stanley

I was lucky to win a copy of THE IMMACULATE in a blogsite contest giveaway earlier this year. After receiving the book in the mail, it took some time for me to add it to my schedule. When I found a few days open, I sat to read the book and finished in less than two days. To me, that is a sign of a well-written novel. The story line is straightforward and the characters are delightfully fleshed out and likeable. Even the villains are 3-dimensional in their un-likeability.

What I especially appreciated about the story was how the protagonist related to the other characters, on a unique and individual basis. As the main character, Rosaria O'Reilly had an emotional connection to every situation and the sensitivity she portrayed in each scene grounded the story in reality.

*****     *****     *****

THE LIFE WE BURY by Allen Eskens

This book was recommended to me by my sister. It deals with a grittier topic than I was expecting, that of a man convicted of the crime of rape and murder who has been released from prison during his last months before dying. The Netflex series Making of a Murderer comes to mind while reading the story. But the project assigned to the protagonist, Joe Talbert, is to interview this stranger and write a short biography of the man. Of course, the plot thickens as Joe does his research and interviews the man.

Ultimately, the story gives readers an opportunity for inner debate on where they stand concerning certain issues arising in today's society. Granted, during an election year, we have no lack of issues to consider, but this one is more hypothetical and therefore more of an
exercise. Without being personally invested in the final decision, the story can also be entertaining for the reader.

*****     *****     *****

and

THE CITY & YTIC EHT by China Mieville

This is a book club choice for the group that meets at Coffee Talk in Kaimuki on the first Saturday of each month. This book, chosen by David Jones, helps to illustrate just how diverse our selections are from month to month.

I'm not sure I could have made it through this novel without the help of an online chapter-by-chapter synopsis. I certainly recommend that a reader consult an in depth synopsis before tackling the story unless you are already a great fan of eccentric world building and appreciate learning all the intricate details as the story unfolds.

In the world of THE CITY & YTIC EHT, best-selling author China Mieville takes us on a tour of two cities which overlap one other. These are not two dimensions, existing side by side, but two cities existing simultaneously on the same spot with residents of each expected to ignore the other. This is, of course, a simplistic explanation of a world that grows increasingly complicated as the story evolves.

This story presented many unusual twists. The mystery aspect of the plot is almost incidental as the reader is given ongoing updates of how these particular worlds work, or in some cases don't work. Big Brother is definitely involved, regardless how the story unfolds. One thing is certain, the book club choice will make for interesting discussion.

*****     *****     *****

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4756053.Gail_M_Baugniet



X is for Xploration With AleX AtoZChallenge

The theme of my 2014 A-to-Z Blog Challenge is BLUES, PUPUS, and REVIEWS.

Monday & Wednesday - REVIEWS: mini-style book reviews 

Alex J. Cavanaugh’s novel CassaFire, the second in his Sci-Fi Cassa series, is a story about exploration. His protagonist flies a shuttle for remote, deep space exploration. 

 

 

After reading CassaFire, I felt that Alex had shown exceptional insight into the exploration of the universe and into the development of relationships among co-explorers, and between romantic interests. 

My favorite genre is Mystery, and what could be more mysterious than outer space, the infinite galaxies; twinkling stars that have already expired; and exhaustive black holes. Excavating secrets presents an exciting plot line. In CassaFire, unlocking a secret could mean discovering a lost civilization, or a powerful weapon. 

CassaStar, the first in the series, and CassaStorm are both now on my TBR list. (My reading group book pick for May is The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov, so I'm really going Sci-Fi these days.)

 

You can visit Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Amazon Author page here:

http://www.amazon.com/Alex-J.-Cavanaugh/e/B0061DX89K/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1398648774&sr=1-1

or

Hop over to his blog site for the 2014 XYZ portion of Arlee Bird’s excellent (AtoZ Challenge) adventure:

http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

 

MARKETING THROUGH the SET-BACKS

 

It is the first Wednesday of the month and time for the Insecure Writers Support Group, a group of writers I've watched from afar for some months and finally joined last month. Insecurity doesn't always display itself surrounded by pink neon lights. It creeps up or jumps out of closets at the most inopportune time. Marketing brings it on for me.

Do you know what is harder than marketing a novel? Continuing to market a novel after you get a less-than-stellar book review or when someone points out a seemingly “fatal flaw” in your published story.

It doesn’t matter how expert I’ve become at rationalizing, I still wake up in the early morning hours trying to justify my work so I can confidently move forward again.



The difficulty of merging into
marketing mode again

It wouldn’t be so bad if I'd gained some traction with a time-tested marketing strategy. But doing the actual writing puts me so far into the brake-down lane that it is difficult to get back up to speed and merge into marketing mode again.

One area of social media that feels more like a game to me though is Pinterest. When I came across a suggestion (from Lori Sailiata on Google+  http://bit.ly/1i0kMr4 ) about using the picture boards to market my novels, a thought popped into my mind almost in the form of a dialogue bubble:

Soon I was having fun again, knowing the hours “wasted” gathering relevant photographs was actually strategic marketing time well-spent. Compiling the boards has also rekindled my interest in the characters and story plotlines, so my marketing is more focused on significant scenes. 

One of the new boards, for my novel DEADLY AS NATURE, is available for viewing on Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1fnJsYH 

How do you get past that “sinking feeling” after hitting a stumbling block in marketing?

SETTING AND ACCOMPLISHING GOALS

November was a busy month for me. I participated in NaNoWriMo2013 and am a WINNER; co-published an anthology of stories by 13 authors; and put the finishing touches on the novel I started during last year's NaNoWriMo and will publish at the end of this week, December 7, which is my protagonist’s birth date.

Accomplishing that many projects took some interesting juggling of time. Each morning I was up and writing before six o'clock to get in my quota of words for the NaNoWriMo manuscript. I didn’t always reach my goal, but there was always the Saturday write-ins at Ward Warehouse’s Paina Cafe in Honolulu. The camaraderie, and pasta at The Spaghetti Factory during break, helped me move the story forward and reach my word count of 50,000 words on November 29th.

Several hours each day were spent on editing, revising, and formatting my third novel in the Pepper Bibeau mystery series, WITH FIERY VENGEANCE Anger Burns Deep. With assistance and encouragement from critters, beta readers, and editor, I was able to mold the NaNoWriMo2012 manuscript into an exciting story that I am proud to publish.

The anthology, MYSTERY IN PARADISE 13 Tales of Suspense, was a group project with local writers. The short stories are mysteries set in Hawaii:  

From cozy mystery to classic crime, from gumshoe to urban noir, MYSTERY IN PARADISE is a collection of twisted, heart-pumping tales of suspense in all its guises. These 13 utterly unforgettable stories by 13 of the hottest authors to hit Hawai`i’s literary scene are sure to leave you with chicken skin as they take you on a ride through the seamier side of Paradise.

The e-Book is available NOW on Amazon,

and the trade book is coming soon!

http://amzn.to/1hjXOxo

 

 

Is this mynah bird to die for?

Special thanks go out to contributing author, Laurie Hanan,

for photographing the scenes and designing the cover for

MYSTERY IN PARADISE

13 Tales of Suspense

 

Interview with YA Mystery Author Cheryl Linn Martin

FAST FORWARD interviews focus on an author’s second novel in a mystery series. Today’s guest is author Cheryl Linn Martin who sets her Young Adult/Middle Grade novels in the tropical state of Hawaii. One book reviewer says, “Cheryl Martin has a divine gift for writing wholesome fiction for young people."

Author Cheryl Linn Martin

Cheryl grew up in Southern Oregon and earned a BA with honors in Recreation and Park Management from the University of Oregon. After years of working with and teaching kids, she is now writing for Middle Grades. Her childhood love of Nancy Drew sparked a never-ending appreciation for mysteries, and her sun-worshipping spirit led her to the Hawaiian Islands for a year while she attended The University of Hawaii.

Fast Forward: Thank you for participating in this interview, Cheryl. As you know, a story’s protagonist often reflects an author’s personality, or displays characteristics the author has chosen to explore. Your YA series protagonist is Leilani Akamai, of The Hawaiian Island Detective Club. Can you please share with us some of the back story that defines your protagonist but isn’t included in the published novels, and also give a description of Menehunes? 

Cheryl Linn Martin: Leilani Akamai is 13 years old and a bit unsure of herself. I think that’s the way most new teenagers feel! She may appear confident when it comes to investigating and water sports (especially surfing), but she has her doubts. 

She’s very proud of her heritage and loves that she takes after her Hawaiian father. He was involved in law enforcement and hopes to someday follow in his footsteps. She misses him very much. 

Menehunes Missing is about a town event, The Menehune Hunt where statues of Hawaii’s treasured little people are hidden around the area. Participants pay an entry fee to get clues and participate in the hunt as a fundraiser for the schools. The kids of the HIDC decide to participate because they figure they’re pretty good at solving mysteries. Soon they discover that the statues are actually being taken from their hiding places—a new mystery for the HIDC! 

Fast Forward: After writing the first novel in a series, it seems that subsequent novels would flow out fully formed. The author has the basics down: format for the storyline; a feel for the proper number of plot lines and chapters; techniques for creating a charismatic protagonist and supporting characters; secrets to making the antagonist likeable; and guidelines for adding conflict right up to and through the denouement. How has writing become easier for you; and what remains as difficult now as when you wrote the first novel? 

Cheryl Linn Martin: I know the characters fairly well now, which makes writing them much easier, although, like all of us, characters can be full of surprises—no one knows someone totally. My characters do surprise me at times! 

The most difficult part of continuing a series (especially in a mystery) is coming up with new ways of spying on people, getting clues, getting from place to place as they need to and new predicaments for the kids! 

Fast Forward: To hold a reader’s attention, a series protagonist must continue to grow or change in each novel. In Sue Grafton’s ABC series, her protagonist does not age (much), or get married, but she expands her knowledge of the job and discovers family relatives who are woven into the storyline. Without revealing any spoilers, how has your protagonist developed or changed from Book #1? 

Cheryl Linn Martin: In Pineapples in Peril (book one of the HIDC), Leilani does not want her little brother, Kimo, tagging along with her and her friends. But she discovers some wonderful things about him, and even though Kimo will always be her annoying little brother, she realizes by book two, how much help he’s been. He helps with the clues in The Menehune Hunt and is “in training” to become part of the detective club! 

Fast Forward: A series requires the presence of a continuing main character. Often, however, there is another recurring character. The almost infinite pairings of protagonists with guy/girl Fridays or wingmen could claim its own category on Jeopardy. In your series, Cheryl, who are the other members of The Hawaiian Island Detective Club and what are their main roles within the plot of Menehunes Missing? 

Cheryl Linn Martin: Kimo is huge in Menehunes Missing, helping figure out clues and even providing a diversion when the kids need to get to some evidence. Maile and Sam are Leilani’s best friends (since kindergarten sand-box days) and support her in her schemes—diversions, spying, interrogations and stake-outs. When Leilani doubts herself, Maile and Sam come to her rescue in support! 

Fast Forward: Researching a new novel takes the author on a journey to many new places, whether through books, movies, newspapers, or physical travel. What did you most enjoy about the research process of your second novel, Menehunes Missing, and where did your research take you? 

Cheryl Linn Martin: My research involves mostly Hawaiian things—even though I knew about The Menehune, I still did some research to learn more. I also did research on foods, a few Hawaii locations, and casts (Leilani gets her cast removed in this book.) I always do a lot of observing of some very special people in my life to put together some supporting characters—my favorite part of research and developing characters! 

And then there was my trip to Maui to do some research on some of the areas on the island—now that’s fun research!!

 

Where can fans of your novels find you and your books on the Internet? 

Amazon (Pineapples in Peril, Menehunes Missing and for Kindle)

http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/1938388151

 

Barnes and Noble (Pineapples in Peril and for Nook)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hawaiian-island-detective-club-cheryl-linn-martin/1111143437?ean=9781938388156 

Barnes and Noble (Menehunes Missing)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/menehunes-missing-cheryl-martin/1112546982?ean=9781938388248 

Order Signed Copies Through Me

cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com 

Website: http://www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Book Three, Ukuleles Undercover, releases on August 6, 2013

 

SinC/Hawaii: A Group of Sisters & Misters!

Sisters in Crime/Hawaii, a group of readers and authors, will participate as exhibitors at the Hawaii Book and Music Festival next week-end, May 18-19, 2013, on the grounds of Honolulu Hale. At our booth, local members will offer information about our organization and promote Sisters in Crime, both SinC, Inc. the International Organization http://www.sistersincrime.org/ and the SinC/Hawaii Chapter http://sisters-in-crimehawaii.blogspot.com/p/home.html. Member authors will display their published novels and have books available for purchase.

Honolulu Arts Beat, a popular Hawaii blog site, lists the participating SinC/Hawaii authors and their books. You can visit the site at: http://www.honoluluartsbeat.com/Honolulu_Arts_Beat/Book_%26_Music_Fest.html 

The Hawaii Book and Music Festival website lists all of the authors who will appear at the Author Pavilions on Saturday May 18 and Sunday May 19. The website for listings, times, and site map is: http://hawaiibookandmusicfestival.com/

 

 

Sisters in Crime/Hawaii has been invited to present a panel discussion at the Author Pavilion Mauka on Saturday, May 18 at 1 p.m.  The panel discussion topic is “Why Do Men Join Sisters in Crime?” It will be a lively 55 minutes with time for audience questions.

 

Please join authors Ray Pace, Laurie Hanan, Gene Parola, and Gail Baugniet at

Hawaii Book and Music Festival and learn why Sisters in Crime/Hawaii is

a group of Sisters and Misters!

 

 

 

Week #6 of The Next Big Thing

The original design for
DIFFERENT IN DEGREE

Welcome back! Here’s a recap of the plan:

***Answer the ten questions (below) about your current WIP (Work In Progress).

***Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.

It’s that simple.

I’ve chosen to answer one question per week with the best intentions of having my second novel published by the time I post the final question.

Here is Question #6 of The Next Big Thing:

TNBT: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

GAIL: My second novel, Different in Degree, is “The Next Big Thing” for me and a “Work In Progress”. I published my first novel in 2011, submitting it in e-book format to Smashwords and Amazon for Kindle. CreateSpace printed the p-book which is for sale at my gift shop and through various other outlets.

I will continue to self-publish and market my novels in The Pepper Bibeau Mystery series.

While self-publishing may not be the ideal path for everyone, it is the perfect solution for me. I am able to move forward at my own pace. Also, the total experience of the journey out-shines any prize at rainbow’s end.

AND NOW, five awesome writers with roots to Hawaii whose work you want to watch:

1. Patricia Moran http://patricialmorin.com/

2. Gene Parola http://www.geneparola.com/

3. Rosemary and Larry Mild http://www.magicile.com/

4. Douglas Corleone http://www.thebigthrill.org/2012/07/last-lawyer-standing-by-douglas-corleone/

5. Lori Sailiata http://larabritt.com/2012/08/03/toastmasters-3701/

Full set of questions for The Next Big Thing Interview. 

What is the working title of your book?

Where did the idea come from for the book?

What genre does your book fall under?

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

The Next Big Thing

Laurie Hanan, author of the Louise Golden mystery series, has invited me to participate in a blog event: The Next Big Thing (TNBT). ). Laurie was invited to TNBT by Toby Neal, author of Blood Orchid (The Lei Crime Series). The event consists of 10 questions about your current WIP (Work in Progress.) Here’s the plan:

A. Answer the ten TNBT questions listed below about your current WIP (Work In Progress)

B. Tag five other writers and link their blogs so we can all hop over and read their answers.

It’s that simple. 

The handbook, Writing Mysteries, edited by Sue Grafton, lists the rules of mystery writing and which ones can be bent. The only one I actually break is having more than two characters in a scene. For the rules of The Next Big Thing, I will definitely tag five other writers and link to their blogs so you can hop over and check out their sites. I am tweeking the other rule by dividing up the questions. I will answer one question per week, tag five more writers, and include links to their sites. My goal is to transform my WIP into a published work between now and week 10.

Here is Question #1 of The Next Big Thing:

TNBT: What is the title of your book/WIP? 

GAIL: The short title of the second novel in my Pepper Bibeau Mystery Series is Different in Degree. Laurie Hanan said in her TNBT interview, “All the titles in the Louise Golden mystery series come from songs, and refer to Paradise or Heaven.” The titles of my novels are best described as ‘axiom paraphrases’. My first novel is FOR EVERY ACTION There Are Consequences. The full title of my second novel is Identical in Nature, DIFFERENT IN DEGREE. 

This is my personal rendering of a book cover for Different in Degree. My first novel has a stark white background with a black silhouette of Chicago’s skyline and blood dripping down to form the skyline’s shadow. I decided to stick with the same color scheme. The book cover for Different in Degree represents several facets of the novel: 

1. Similarities and Contrasts of Characters

2. Change of seasons within the story

3. Family tree and Genealogy plot influence

4. The Protagonist’s home states - Hawaii and Wisconsin 

Though I want to use this cover, that step of the publishing process is in the future. Editing the completed manuscript for Different in Degree is the current step! 

And now, five awesome writers whose work you want to watch:

http://westoftheequator.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/the-next-big-thing/ Laurie Hanan (Traditional Mystery)

http://www.tobyneal.net/2012/06/23/the-next-big-thing/ Toby Neal (Crime Suspense)

http://www.virtual-zen.com/liz_logic  Elizabeth Egerton Wilder(Historical Novel)

http://kenhoss.blogspot.com/ Kenneth Hoss (Police Procedural)

http://www.karin-kaufman.blogspot.com/ Karen Kaufman (Mystery) 

Here is the full list of The Next Big Thing questions for you to copy and paste to your blog along with your answers. Just tag five awesome writers and add their links so we can all follow along.

1.  What is the title of your book/WIP?

2.  Where did the idea for the book come from?

3.  What genre would your book fall under?

4.  Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

5.  What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

6.  Is your book published or represented?

7.  How long did it take you to write?

8.  What other books within your genre would you compare it to?

9.  Which authors inspired you to write this book?

10. Tell us anything else that might pique our interest in your book.

Procrastination Means Never Having to Say "I'm Early"



New Year's Fireworks at
Magic Island, Honolulu

Happy New Year to you, and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2012. (As you can see, putting an end to procrastination is not one of my resolutions for this year.)

2011 was an exciting year for me. I turned an ambitious goal into a reality when I published my first novel. Each New Year's Day offers the possibility of exciting new experiences, and opportunities for accomplishments once only imagined. My writing transported me from the isolated existence of creating a suspenseful story to the world of publishing and marketing the novel.

The extended process reinforced an important adage, that successful writing includes the side component of reading. In a recent interview, one (to remain unnamed) author disagreed with the importance of reading. He (my arbitrary choice of pronoun) stated it wasn’t necessarily time well-spent to read when he could be using that time to write.

In my experience though, reading keeps me grounded, informed, aware, and alive. Novels entertain me. Newspaper articles tie me to a teeming, ever-growing and changing society of ideas. Non-fiction stimulates my mind, allowing me to transform my own thoughts into written words.

2012 is a bright new canvas, its blank face offering a tantalizing challenge. This year, my updated ‘Resolution List’ has all the usual suspects: lose weight, exercise more, eat well, smile often, and enjoy life. At the top of the list are my main goals for the year ahead: polish and publish Book #2 in the Pepper Bibeau mystery series; continue marketing my novels; and start writing the next one. While working on these goals, I intend to smile . . . often.

What is at the top of your list?

FAST FIVE Interview with Author Karin Kaufman

Today’s guest is Karin Kaufman, author of The Witch Tree. Though I have been researching the multiple branches of my family tree since 1998, my interest in mystery novels extends far beyond that date to my preteens. After discovering Karin’s novel, a mystery with a genealogist for the main character, how could I resist? Karin and I have been trading comments on Twitter ever since.

http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Tree-Denning-Mystery-ebook/dp/B005CSNGQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327450899&sr=8-1

FAST FIVE: Karin, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview today. Rather than an “elevator pitch” of 140 characters (#hashtags included) can you share with us a more detailed account of The Witch Tree and your research for the novel?

KARIN KAUFMAN: Those hashtags take up a lot of space, don’t they? My mystery is about Anna Denning, a thirty-something genealogist who discovers that a client’s family tree holds the key to a murder. She’s also a widow who’s still grieving the loss of her husband. Throughout most of the novel, she swings between grief and anger—the latter directed at God. When her life is threatened, that anger finds an outlet, giving her the strength to protect herself.

When I decided to write The Witch Tree, it was a no-brainer for me to make my protagonist a genealogist. I’ve been researching my family tree for more than ten years now, so I was comfortable with the subject. Plus, it’s a natural for mysteries. Genealogical research is similar to detective work: you gather a multitude of puzzle pieces and try to fit them together. Often, one small clue is the solution—the piece that allows all the other pieces to fall into place.

FAST FIVE: You have drawn an interesting parallel between genealogical research and detective work, that of gathering and piecing together clues to form a more complete picture. Another similarity between detectives and genealogists is in the resolute way they approach their job, whether to locate a missing ancestor or to nail the guilty party. In The Witch Tree, is “the job” the most important part of your protagonist’s life?

KARIN KAUFMAN: No, Anna’s work as a genealogist is just the catalyst. It gets her into trouble and, in the end, gets her out of trouble. As much as I love genealogy, I didn’t want it to be the focus of the story. I wanted anyone who likes mysteries to be able to enjoy my book. There’s genealogy talk in the book, and the murderer is discovered through genealogy, but the important parts of the book—the characters, their relationships, their struggles—have nothing to do with genealogy.

Still, like all genealogists, Anna loves to dig for and connect clues, and that makes her a good amateur sleuth. She’s tenacious in her work and her life. When she’s thrown into a dangerous situation, she discovers she’s more courageous than she thought she was. And what she considers her weaknesses—her occasional sharp tongue, her past involvement with wicca—turn out to be her strengths.

FAST FIVE: The Mystery/Suspense genre is the focus of Fast Five interviews, but what unique twist makes your novel stand out?

KARIN KAUFMAN: First, it’s a Christian mystery, and believe it or not, there aren’t that many Christian mysteries. Lots of Christian romances and even horror novels, but not so many mysteries.

Second, my protagonist begs to differ with those who think being a Christian means being a doormat. She not only stands up for herself, but in confrontations with decidedly antagonistic people, she stands up for her faith. (Usually with a sense of humor.) I find this tough-mindedness lacking in a lot of Christian fiction. Christian characters often limp through their stories, not wanting to raise any hackles or offend anyone.



FAST FIVE: How does your main character’s profession draw her into suspenseful situations, (murder, for instance?)

KARIN KAUFMAN: Where do I begin? When you explore a person’s genealogy, you can find out almost anything! It’s not all about your parents, grandparents, and so on. It’s about estates and wills, marriages and divorces, natural and unnatural deaths, houses bought and sold, schools attended and occupations held—the list is almost endless. If you start digging into someone’s family tree, there’s no telling what you might find.

FAST FIVE: Oh, so true, Karin! Your comment, “If you start digging into someone’s family tree, there’s no telling what you might find,” is an eerily accurate foreshadowing of the second novel in my mystery series. Is your novel, The Witch Tree, part of a series, and are you working on a sequel?

KARIN KAUFMAN: Yes, it’s part of a series. Definitely. And I’m currently working on the second book. The same Colorado mountain town and same returning cast of characters—Anna and her friends, as well as her dog Jackson. (I’ve received some lovely comments about Jackson, and I’m so glad readers have taken to him. I’m a dog lover, and there was no way I was going to write a book featuring a dogless protagonist!)

FAST FIVE: I think a protagonist who loves dogs automatically registers in a reader’s mind as honest and trustworthy. Include me with your other readers who appreciated that you wrote Jackson into the story. The following is not a Fast Five question, more an “if/then” scenario: If Paris is not an option, then where would you most like to spend your time writing and why.

KARIN KAUFMAN: Actually, I wouldn’t want to spend my time writing in Paris, or being in Paris at all. (Does that sound crazy?) I’d love to write in an adobe house outside Santa Fe or Taos, New Mexico. Northern New Mexico both soothes and invigorates me—the perfect frame of mind for writing. I also wouldn’t mind writing in a shockingly expensive lodge-style house in the Colorado mountains.

FAST FIVE: Another stimulating hideaway to add to my wish list! Thank you for sharing your insiders’ knowledge of genealogical research and the process of creating a like-minded protagonist, Karin. You have offered an insightful look into the personality of your main character and given us much food for thought about research, animal lovers, and your expensive taste in lodging! I am on your list of readers who are looking forward to the sequel of The Witch Tree. 

For more information about The Witch Tree and author Karin Kaufman, please visit:

Website: http://karinkaufman.com/

Blog: http://karin-kaufman.blogspot.com/

Facebook author page:  https://www.facebook.com/authorkarinkaufman

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-witch-tree-karin-kaufman/1104309714?ean=2940012778796&itm=1&usri=karin+kaufman

Thumbnail Thoughts on 22 Cherry-Picked Titles Part 1

Can you pick a favorite?

As part of my CHERRIES JUBILEE book blog tour, I am serving up “thumbnail thoughts” on 22 "cherry-picked" e-books: eleven today and eleven more tomorrow. All are Kindle e-books; most are recently published first novels, many are by independent/self-published authors. My eclectic choices range from romantic comedy to mystery, thriller to memoir, no erotica. I admit that book titles disproportionately influenced my selections.

Each entry consists of a book title; author name; an opening line or heading; and ~ in 22 words or less ~ an incentive for choosing the book. After sorting through over 300 e-books with the word cherry or cherries in the title, I eagerly added 22 titles to my e-reader TBR list. I hope you enjoy reading my CHERRIES JUBILEE “thumbnail thoughts” as much as I enjoyed gathering them.

1. THE CHERRY BLOSSOM and THE PARANG by Geoff Anderson. Opening line: A group of tanned children set up a row of rattan rings on stakes and practised with their blowpipes.
Intrigued and challenged by the title, I have chosen to read this book first ~ to learn the meaning of the word parang.

2. WITH A CHERRY ON TOP by Dee Carney. 1st sentence: "A whirling dervish who somehow made the rolled-into-one aroma of peach cobbler, chocolate chip cookies and key lime pie smell good, barged into Emory's office."
Romantic-comedy with a capital C. When plump exec-chef Keira's job is on the chopping block, will she take it lying down ... err ...

3. WHO GAVE ME THE CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES? by John O. Long. Title of Chapter One: "1989 - The baby was planned, but the kitten was not."
Zany stories about a family of 6 growing up in North Carolina; includes cotillion cooties, zucchini Elvis and ice-cold zombies in togas.

4. THE CHERRY TREE by Bob Lockett. 1st sentence: "High up on the moors surrounding the city of Sheffield there is a Cherry Tree."
A story of marital infidelity, corporate boredom, and the power of nature over common sense.

5. SCENT OF CHERRY by Patty Hardin. Opening sentence: "The scent of cherry pipe tobacco drifts through Angela Caot's kitchen as she prepares to paint the walls."
She doesn't smoke, certainly not a pipe. Who is trying to tell her something and what is the message?

6. BENEATH THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS by Kathy Flanary Nelson and Bera Ellis Moss. Opening lines: "It was March. The Weeping Cherry Blossom had begun to sprout new blooms and that is when Brielle's father purchased the plat of land."
Kerry has lost her sister to cancer and becomes obsessed with the afterlife only to find herself existing between earth and heaven.

7. A BOWL OF CHERRIES: A Memoir by Tekla Dennison Miller. Opening line: "When I heard the first explosion, vibrations shot through my body."
A celebration of triumphs despite adversities ranging from suicide, a tragic accident, domestic violence, kidnapping, and poverty.

8. THE CHERRY PIT by Donald Harington. This is not a first-novel but the first on this author’s list. Some of Mr. Harington’s other unique book titles are: Lightning Bug; The Cockroaches of Stay More; Butterfly Weed; and Thirteen Albatrosses.

9. BARE FEET and CHERRY PIE by Cissy Hasell. "Laws matter little ~ when love finds a way.
In Alabama, you are not allowed to drive while barefoot. Worse, in Kansas it's illegal to put ice cream on cherry pie.

10. CHERRY HEAVEN by L.J. Adlington. The narrator describes a difficult lesson, that "you only find out what the Rules are when you break them."
A sequel, ten years after a war, this book was first published in Great Britain in 2007 by Hodder Children's Books.

11. CAN SHE BAKE A CHERRY PIE? by Jaye Watson. No opening sentence needed, the title's question caught my attention. Add to that its genre: A Novel Byte Mystery. Finally, for the cherry on the top: the title page lists the home of Uncial Press as Aloha, Oregon. 'Nuff said.

Which title did you pick as your favorite?