… which I hope is good luck for both my readers and me! Thanks for inviting me to blog here again, Fresh Fiction. Since I last visited in January of this year, I’ve had four books published: TEACUP TURBULENCE, my last Pet Rescue mystery for Berkley Prime Crime; UNTAMED WOLF and LOYAL WOLF, both Harlequin Nocturnes in my Alpha Force miniseries about a covert military unit of shapeshifters; and now… LOST UNDER A LADDER, my first Superstition Mystery! LOST UNDER A LADDER is being published by Midnight Ink. It introduces protagonist Rory Chasen, who, with her adorable black and white spaniel-terrier mix Pluckie, visits Destiny, California, a town where superstitions reign. Why do they go to Destiny? Because Rory’s beloved fiancé Warren died a few minutes after walking under a ladder, and she needs closure. And the only way she can achieve it is to determine whether superstitions are real. Maybe. Soon after they reach Destiny, Pluckie insists that Rory enter the back room of the Lucky Dog Boutique. There, they find Martha Jallopia, the shop’s owner, lying on the floor. Martha is ill but conscious. She says she knows she is going to be fine since black and white dogs…

We’re delighted to meet all of you here at Fresh Fiction. This has been a great year for the Murder, She Wrote series of mysteries. It’s our 25th anniversary! There are now 42 books in the series which is based on the popular television series starring Angela Lansbury. The 43rd is written and at the publisher. While the show stopped production years ago (although you can see episodes in syndication on many cable services), you can still follow the exploits of our intrepid amateur sleuth as she trips over bodies and stays one step ahead of the police in tracking down murderers. Each book is an original mystery that finds Jessica Fletcher solving crimes all over the world, as well as in her beloved Cabot Cove, Maine. The latest book, DEATH OF A BLUE BLOOD (October 2014), brings readers to the Cotswolds, a part of the charming English countryside with rolling hills of farms and villages, thatched cottages and quaint pubs, and Castorbrook Castle, home to the Earl and Countess of Norrance. The lord and lady of the manor have invited Jessica Fletcher and her dear friend Scotland Yard Inspector George Sutherland to be their guests at a New Year’s…

Forewarned is forearmed, especially when it comes to Major Jack Ballentyne, the hero in HARD TO FORGET. A man who’s motto is: The end justifies the means, and f*ck the collateral damage. Yes, he’s somewhat lacking on the conscience front, but he has his reasons. He’s a Special Agent for a start. With the British Intelligence Service. Tasked with leading a particularly dangerous unit of men unofficially known as ‘The Assassins’. A motley crew of rule breakers whose activities are ‘plausibly deniable’ by necessity. Back to forewarned…Jack’s not exactly communicative, he’s more a man of action, (vengeful action) so here are a few subjects best avoided should you chance to engage him in conversation. 1. Shooting Lowry. It’s an incident he’d rather forget. 2. Having Lowry court marshaled. Another incident he’d rather forget. 3. His twin, Richard. These two brothers took ‘sibling rivalry’ to the extreme, and the consequences were devastating. 4. Climbing or Base Jumping. Two activities guaranteed to raise the hairs on Jack’s neck fast. (see Caution 3 above) 5. Patient Peter. A serial killer so foul, even Jack’s cast-iron stomach churns. 6. Trust. Jack has a few issues having experienced the whip-lick sting of betrayal. 7. The…

While I’m in my writing cave, I thought it’d be a good idea to check in on #Squidge and see what he’s been up to… Squidge attended #HMK2014, that Hot Mojave Knights book convention this past weekend in Las Vegas, NV with my assistant, Kelly Oakes,  and proceeded to enjoy himself while I wasn’t around to keep him in line. Here are the highlights of his weekend: Upon checking in to the hotel, Squidge immediately claimed his side of the bed. Did you know he snores? And he’s quite the bed hog. Kelly left Squidge in charge of selling tickets to the Naughty PJ Party and the cash drawer came up a little short, I think he has a slight gambling problem. Squidge helped the Authors Write Hand team get ready for the party, by playing hide and seek inside the Pink Camo bags donated by author Sharon Hamilton. Squidge and 50 of his closest friends attended the event and caused all kinds of a ruckus. The highlight of the evening by far was when Squidge decided to take the “hot potato” for a test drive. This naughty game included a latex body part and lube, played in “hot potato”…

A few words on Food and Mystery from Laura Childs, author of GOSSAMER GHOST, a Scrapbooking Mystery set in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Have you ever visited New Orleans? I sure hope you have, because the entire Big Easy is a food lover’s paradise. You’ve got your jambalaya and gumbo, in varieties that include andouille sausage, crayfish, chicken, turtle, and, well . . . you name it, you’re sure to find it in New Orleans. Enjoy mud bugs? That’s crawfish, of course, so delightful and juicy. And there are oyster bars galore where you can grab a bottle of hot sauce (Liquid Storm or Saucy Wench, anyone?) and slurp tasty, sweet mollusks to your heart’s content. For upscale dining Galatoire’s in the French Quarter is a must. If you have your own waiter (the regulars do) you’ll doubly enjoy your crabmeat maison, poisson meuniere amandine, and filet béarnaise. Or head over to Brennan’s for flaming bananas foster, the Café du Monde for sinful beignets, Antoine’s for sizzling hot oysters Rockefeller, or Emeril’s or Commander’s Palace for anything. (Yes, it’s all quite fantastic.) Pop in to any number of music or jazz festivals and enjoy the street food –…