Dazed and Confused

Breaking the mold -- my latest series

I've stepped out of my mystery comfort zone and am writing in another genre. I'm pleased to announce the Tales of Telenia fantasy series, featuring astronaut Amanda Shelton.

Whoa! That is a departure ... fantasy. Well, I call it a cross between fantasy lite and space opera ... and I may have it labeled all wrong. All I know is that one day Amanda stepped forward and demanded I tell her story. 

When a spatial rift causes Amanda Shelton’s space shuttle to crash land on an unknown planet, she awakens to find herself locked in a cell with a tutor charged with teaching her an alien language. Crown Prince Paxdon is determined to scavenge not only her ship, but any technology he can squeeze from her brain to vanquish his enemies in a neighboring province.  But just who is Amanda’s real adversary; the warriors in the north or the people of Telenia?

Available for:  Kindle ~ Nook ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords

(Click here for an excerpt.)

and in the follow-up ...

Life takes an unexpected turn when Prince Paxdon bans Amanda Shelton from Telenia’s Summer Palace, but that’s just the first step in an incredible journey that has her leading the province’s oppressed women into a life of self-sufficiency. The threat of war remains, and others are watching her every move as Amanda leaves the safety and security of the rural north and ventures to the capital city where she faces peril and life altering decisions.  Will her future be a life of luxury or despair?

Available for:  Kindle ~ Nook ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords

I wrote these books while on several vacations ... and hope to have another one written by next winter.  (Now, where should I go on vacation to do that?) It'll be called TREACHERY.

Both books will soon be available for Sony and iTunes.

Like my mysteries and other shorts, these stories are character-driven.  I hope you'll take a chance on Amanda.

Thanks!

Announcing The Story Sisters

Well, what do you know.  I've gone and joined up with Deb Baker and Julie Hyzy and we've formed The Story Sisters.  Right now we're a Facebook LIKE Page, but on April 24th we'll be launching something much bigger.  We hope you'll stay tuned to our upcoming announcements.

If you're on Facebook, you can LIKE our page by clicking this link.

Thank you!

And the winner is ...

The Nook Simple Touch contest has ended.  The winners of the 5 goody bags are:

Elizabeth Adams
Juanita Bason
Patrick Cuff
Sarah Moran
Lindsey Powers


and the winner of the Nook Simple Touch e reader is:

Linda Osborn

Congratulations to all!

Timing is everything...or not....

And if timing is everything, why am I publishing a Christmas story just in time for Easter?  You got me.  But if you like a little sweet romance in your life, you might like my latest short story. (Written while I was on vacation in January.)

Here's the blurb: 

Christmas used to be a joyous time for Judi Straub, but that was before her parents passed away and her siblings became too busy to socialize with their old maid sister. Holidays spent with friends were a nightmare. Then one late December Judi won an all-expense-paid trip to Puerto Rico where Harry Powell swept her off her feet.  But her fantasy of happily-ever-after was quickly derailed.  Would Judi always have a Blue Christmas?

It's only 99¢ and available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Smashwords.  (Soon to show up on Sony and iTunes.)

I hope you'll give Judi's story a try. Thank you!

Bottoms Up!

While Jeff Resnick (from my Jeff Resnick Mystery series) is a bartender, today's drink recipe actually comes from Recipes To Die For: A Victoria Square Cookbook.  In it, Katie included a signature drink for all the people from Victoria Square or Artisans Alley who contributed to the cookbook.

Since we're talking mysteries, here ... today's drink is the Corpse Reviver, something apparently is needed in Amherst, NY, McKinlay Mill, NY and Stoneham, NH:

¾ ounce Pernod
champagne
lemon Juice

Pour the Pernod into a champagne flute, fill with champagne, sprinkle on a little lemon juice. Voila!

Yield: 1 serving

What will you be drinking at happy hour?

COMING TO AN AUDIO PLAYER NEAR YOU...

Dead In Red, 2nd book in the Jeff Resnick Mystery series, is on its way to becoming an audiobook.  It's currently awaiting final approval before distribution, which should be within the next 10-14 days.  Don't worry, I'll be shouting from the roofs when it's available, so you'll know for sure when it's finally available.

In the meantime, there's a newish cover.  Those of you who read the original hardcover edition will notice that ... hey, it has the same elements.  Yup.  The red shoe is back in all its glory.  (However, I have no plans to bring this version to the trade paperback edition. Audio editions often have different covers than the print versions.)

Meanwhile, those of you who've read the book will remember that Jeff surprised Maggie with a Silver Stallion.  What's a silver stallion?  It's one of the best gin cocktails you can drink on a hot summer's day. (Yeah, I do realize we're still in the depths of winter -- but spring is on the way!)

How do you make a Silver Stallion?

1 1/2 ounces of gin
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
ice
Club Soda

Fill a tall glass (or a big wine glass) with ice.  Pour in the gin; add the ice cream; top the glass with club soda.  Give it a stir and sip.

Ahhhh...heaven in a glass.

When Jeff's behind the bar, you can bet it's 5 o'clock somewhere!

A Horse Of A Different Color

In Sentenced to Death, we're introduced to a new character:  Michele Fowler, owner of the Foxleigh Gallery, where David Black exhibits his masterpiece of metal, a beautiful welded gate titled TRIUMPH.  It was based on an Albert Paley sculpture I'd seen in the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester some years ago.  While I've looked at Mr. Paley's website, I've never been able to find a picture of the magnificent sculpture described in the book (and if you saw it, you'd be just as impressed as me).

Here's another breathtaking pair of gates he did.

Meanwhile, Angelica is interested in some bronze horse sculptures done by an artist who also just happens to live in my hometown, Dan Malczewski, and I happen to own two of his sculptures. (He specializes in these fantastic horses and sells them in galleries in Philadelphia and Chicago, as well as here in Rochester.)  At the end of the story, Angelica buys one of the horses to give as a gift.

The little guy below is only 6 inches high, but isn't he magnificent?  He was a Christmas gift from Mr. L.

I also have his larger brother, who stands 9 inches high and is 17 inches long.  He was a birthday gift from Mr. L.  (I think you'll agree that Mr. L has wonderful taste.)

I'll be talking about other aspects of the Booktown Books (hopefully) every Wednesday for the foreseable future.  I'll hope you'll drop in.  (And let me know if you have any questions about the Booktown books--I'd be happy to answer them.)

New-Book Tuesday! Try These Out!

Well, what do you know--it's the first Tuesday of the month, and that means a whole new crop of cozy mysteries from my publisher, Berkley Prime Crime.

Up first, is from my good friend Ellery Adams, the 2nd book in her Charmed Pie Shop Mysteries, PEACH PIES AND ALIBIS

Ella Mae LeFaye’s Charmed Pie Shoppe is wildly popular in Havenwood, Georgia—which is not surprising since Ella Mae can lace her baked goods with enchantments. The shop’s extraordinary success seems destined to continue when Ella Mae meets an engaged couple who hire her to handle the dessert buffet at their wedding.

But Ella Mae has a lot on her plate. She is also searching for the origin of her magical powers—and hoping to determine if the spark of attraction she feels for the handsome Hugh Dylan is authentic or just her new abilities gone awry.

Then Ella Mae discovers a high-standing member of the community dead, and a wedding guest becomes seriously ill at the event she’s catering. Now she’ll have to use all her sleuthing skills and culinary talents to prove her pies don’t contain a killer ingredient . . .

Amazon      Barnes & Noble      
Kindle         Nook                     

And from Victoria  Abbott (the writing team of Mary Jane Maffini and her daughter Victoria), THE CHRISTIE CURSE.  If you love Mary Jane's Charlotte Adams organizing mysteries, you'll love this one, too.

In 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared—making headlines across the world—only to show up eleven days later at a spa under an assumed name. During those eleven days, did she have time to write a play?

Jordan Kelly needs a new job and a new place to live. She’s back in Harrison Falls, New York, living with her not so law-abiding uncles, in debt thanks to a credit card–stealing ex and pending grad school loans.

Enter the perfect job, a research position that includes room and board, which will allow her to spend her days hunting down rare mysteries for an avid book collector. There’s just one problem: her employer, Vera Van Alst—the most hated citizen of Harrison Falls.

Jordan’s first assignment is to track down a rumored Agatha Christie play. It seems easy enough, but Jordan soon finds out that her predecessor was killed while looking for it, and there is still someone out there willing to murder to keep the play out of Vera’s hands. Jordan’s new job is good…but is it worth her life?

Amazon      Barnes & Noble     
Kindle         Nook                     

 They're wonderful books and I know you'll enjoy them!

And the winner is ... and other ideas

First things first:  The winner of the Katie Bonner/Victoria Square teacup contest is:  Cherie Estok.

Winners of the Goody Bags are: Lorie Mink, Jessie Dimovski, Carla Rotmans, Candace Vachon, Madlyn Hilton, Pat Stacey, and Susan DeGraaf. 

I'll be mailing them out tomorrow.

Did you missing my blog February 18th?  In it, I talked about the little figurines mentioned in Sentenced to Death, the Dolly Dolittles.  Even though no one asked, I've decided that I'd like to do more of that kind of blog post.  Why?  After 8 years of blogging, I've pretty much exhausted things about myself.  But I can wax poetically for years to come when it comes to my characters. 

In the coming weeks, I'm going to try to set up a schedule for regular posts on the Victoria Square, Booktown, and Jeff Resnick mysteries.  Today, the Jeff Resnick Mysteries are on deck, and mostly because I've started a new Facebook page to celebrate the series.  Come on over and LIKE Jeff.

Jeff works as a bartender in a little hole-in-the-wall sports bar called THE WHOLE NINE YARDS on Main Street in Synder, NY.  It's mostly a beer joint, but occasionally someone comes in and orders a cocktail.  If I wandered in, I'd likely order a gin martini.  (I'm old fashioned.  That's a martini in my book--nothing with sickly-sweet flavored liqueurs.  Ick!)

At The Whole Nine Yards, you're going to get the traditional 2-to-1 version:

1 1/2 ounces of gin (well, unless you specify*)
1/2 ounce dry vermouth**

Stir (or shake) the vermouth and gin over ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a martini glass.  Serve with a twist of lemon peel or (preferably) 2 queen olives skewered by a toothpick.

Voila!  You've got a traditional martini.  (Yum!)

What drink would you order?

*I like Gordon's Gin, but the English version--not the kind we get here in the states.  Too bad about that actually.

**Noel Coward was reported to have said that the ideal martini should be made by "filling a glass with gin then waving it in the general direction of Italy."  (Source:  Wikipedia) Added side note: earlier this year I got to see Coward's home and gravesite.

Teacup contest -- enter now!

I'm always trying to engage my readers in a little conversation.  So lately I've been posting "a teacup a day" on my Lorraine Bartlett author page.  (BTW, I also have Facebook pages for Lorna Barrett, L.L. Bartlett, and the Jeff Resnick Mysteries (although that one is under construction right now).  I'd LOVE it if you'd come and like them.  Thanks!)

Readers seem to like the teacups.  LIke this one:

and this one:

My character, Katie Bonner of the Victoria Square Mysteries, always aspired to be an innkeeper, and one who served afternoon tea.  Since she isn't yet an inkeeper, she patronizes the teashop on Victoria Square.

All this talk of teacups gave me an idea about author giveaways.  I'm not fond of giving books away, but I do like to reward my readers for their loyalty and support.  (You guys are great.)

So, I'm going to give away this teacup (BELOW):

 

 

In addition to the teacup, I'll send out 5 Goody Bags full of bookmarks, postcards, and buttons to the runners up.

 Enter now for a chance to win! 

Tell me the name of the tea shop in my first Victoria Square Mystery, A Crafty Killing.   Email your answer to me at:  LLB @ LLBartlett.com  (remember to close up those spaces).  Be sure to include your snail mall address so I can mail the prizes.  (P.S.  Those not already on my mailing list will be added--and you'll receive a postcard when my next book is out.)

BONUS QUESTION:  The names of the owners. (The winner will get the cup AND a goody bag!)

DO NOT put your answer in the blog comments. 

YOU WILL NOT WIN.

You have until midnight on Thursday, February 28th, to enter the contest.  Mr. L will choose the winners from a hat, and they will be announced on Friday, March 1st.

Good Luck!

Apple says I've got a break-out book!

it a break-out! 

(Pardon me while I take a short break to dance around my office.)

For those of you who buy your e-books from the iBookstore, you can find the book at this direct link.

You can learn more about the Breakout Books promotion at the Smashwords Blog.

(By the way, Dead In Red will soon be available as an audiobook, and will also be available from iTunes.)

Will you help me spread the word about DEAD IN RED?

E.J. Copperman's shocking shame ... well, not really

By E.J. Copperman

It bugs me when people ask me what I read. There. I said it.

Mind you, I don’t think the question is the least bit rude or inappropriate. Actually, I consider it natural that if a reader likes an author’s work, she might wonder what the author reads for fun—maybe even as a possible source of new writers, or an affirmation of the reader’s own taste. It’s something that authors get asked, and I should have an answer prepared in advance.

Except, I don’t.

The sad truth of the matter is that I’m a very bad representative of the publishing business in general and the crime fiction publishing business in particular. I should probably be shunned, exiled, or at the very least subjected to a finger wagging. I do not promote the industry the way I should.

I honestly don’t read very much, and when I do, it’s rarely a mystery novel.

Now, that wasn’t always the case. I was a voracious reader from childhood on, and some of my favorite authors were mystery and crime fiction writers all the way from Agatha Christie to Robert Crais. I read Lee Child and Robert B. Paker. I was inspired by Donald J. Sobol when I was a kid and by Dashiell Hammett when I was in college.

But now I write for a living. And unlike, say, all the other authors in existence, I have found that by the end of the day, my eyes have seen enough words, and can see no more. My brain overloads. I can’t concentrate on someone else’s story. I’m still turning my own over and over in my troubled head.

I will often tell those who ask that I don’t read while I’m writing (which is pretty much all the time, anyway) because I’m concerned that I will subconsciously “pick up” some phrase or plot turn and forget where the idea came from in time to include it in my own work. While that is at least nominally true, it’s not a really deep concern, and the fact is that if I wanted to read other crime fiction authors (like Lorraine, for example), I could be reasonably sure I wouldn’t steal from them. Certainly not purposefully.

There are other reasons I don’t read the way I used to: Now that I am a published author, I’ve been to conferences and conventions, panels and discussions, with other authors.  A number of them have become cherished friends (like Lorraine, for example). If I’m asked who I read, and I mention one and not another, I’ll feel badly about omitting a friend. The friend might actually never find out about it, and in most cases wouldn’t mind at all, but I would be mortified at having slighted someone I care about. So I don’t mention names.

At the core of it, I really don’t read very many books these days. I read newspapers, and I read screens, and I quite often will read whatever it is I’m typing out on my keyboard every day, just to make sure I’m not repeating myself or making some hideous error. I put my all into the books I write. And I do read sometimes. In the car on the way to a teaching gig in Philadelphia every week, I will listen to audiobooks. But reading for pleasure at the end of the night? I’m exhausted. I’m overloaded on words. I just can’t do it.

I know. I’m a terrible author and a worse person. Feel free to snub me. Wag your finger. I’ll understand.

But if someone asks you who you read, if you could mention my name…
=======================================
E.J. Copperman is the author of CHANCE OF A GHOST, the latest in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series, which published February 5. You can find out more at www.ejcopperman.com

Chance of a Ghost: 
Even with a blizzard bearing down on New Jersey, Alison can count on at least two guests—Paul and Maxie, the stubborn ghosts who share her shore town inn. Then there’s her widowed mother, who hasn’t just been seeing ghosts, she’s been secretly dating one: Alison’s father. But when he stands her up three times in a row, something’s wrong. Is he a lost soul…or a missing apparition?

Their only lead is an overdramatic spirit—stage name Lawrence Laurentz—who doesn’t take direction well and won’t talk until they find his killer. Alison will reluctantly play the part of PI, but when the clues take a sinister turn, the writing is on the wall: If Alison can’t keep a level head, this will be her father’s final act—and maybe her own.

Can you buy a Dolly Dolittle?

I recently got a letter from a reader asking about the Dolly Dolittle figurines mentioned in Sentenced to Death. (Booktown Mystery #5.) She wanted to know if they were real, and if so, where she could buy them.

Well, they're real.  They're not called Dolly Dolittle, and I have no idea where someone would buy them.

 

In the book I described them this way: Dolly Dolittle was an angel in Victorian garb. The cover shot showed a little girl in pastel blue, with a white fur collar. Her hands were thrust in a furry muff to match the collar, and the entire figurine was covered in iridescent sparkles.

As you can see, I was (sort of) describing the figurine/ornament (they have pink ribbons should one want to hang them on a Christmas tree). Here she is in a bigger size.

And here's her darling sister. 

I remember that I saw four of them, but for some reason felt I'd already blown enough money on Christmas that year, so I didn't purchase the other two.  Now I could kick myself.  They're marked MADE IN CHINA, but with no manufacturer's name.

I must confess, when I became a published author, I thought I'd get a lot of questions about my books such as this one.  Hasn't happened--but it still could.

Is there something about any of my other books you'd like to know about.  PLEASE feel free to ask.  I love to talk about my characters.  (It's a lot more interesting than talking about myself.  They lead much more exciting lives than me.  After all, I sit in front of a computer all day giving them these adventures.)

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day -- and THANK YOU!

Happy Valentine's Day to all my readers.  Thank you for getting ONE HOT MURDER on the New York Times Bestsellers List at #16.  And congratulations to my pal Lucy Arlington for her second Novel Idea Mystery, EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK, hitting the list at #23.

Love you guys!

Happy Book Day to me!

Happy Book Day to me,
Happy Book Day to me,
Happy Book Day One Hot Murder,
Happy Book Day to me!

At long last, the third Victoria Square book is available today.

At the height of the heat wave, a tragic fire strikes Victoria Square. Wood U, a small store selling wooden gifts and small furniture, is destroyed. But the fire may just be a smokescreen—for murder. Because a body is found among the charred wreckage—and the victim didn’t die from smoke inhalation. He was shot. Now Katie Bonnier is determined to smoke out a cold-hearted killer…
 
To order your copy, click one of the following links:
Barnes & Noble ~ Nook
Amazon ~ Kindle
Books A Million
Indigo / Chapters
Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide!)
iTunes
IndieBound

Want to find out more about Katie Bonner and the rest of the gang from Victoria Square?  Check out my website.

Happy reading!