Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi
As the Roaring Twenties crumble into the Great Depression, Virginia Kingsley, owner of New York's swankiest and most popular speakeasy, Bacchanal, learns her baby nephew has been kidnapped. Is she somehow involved? His movie star father and her niece must set aside their differences to work with Virginia and her shady contacts to find the stolen child. A Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who befriends the mother may hold a key to the mystery.
Chapter 2
Abby turned the van into the long driveway, drove down to the garage, and parked. From the house, she could hear loud, welcoming barks and scratching at the door as she hurried up the steps. “All right, all right, I’m coming,” she called, fumbling with her key in the sticking lock and pushing on the old, warped wood.
A moment later, she burst into the kitchen and a large, tail-wagging fur ball catapulted across the floor at her, almost knocking her legs out from under her. “Yes, yes, I’m glad to see you, too.” She laughed, stroking the joyous animal’s head, scratching behind the silky ears. “Come on, Muttie; let’s go out for a quick walk. You’ve been cooped up long enough.” From a hook inside a utility closet, she took down a leash and fastened it to the dog’s collar, and they both bounded down the back steps, two at a time.
It was a warm, sunny afternoon, and Abby enjoyed the walk almost as much as Muttie did. She watched the dog playfully dive under bushes, pushing her nose into piles of leaves hoping to flush out a bird or squirrel. Abby had never been sorry she had taken the animal home with her the day it had turned up at the shop. A skinny, frightened stray with a hurt paw, but with the most beautiful, big, soulful brown eyes Abby had ever seen. It had been love at first sight for both of them. Abby said the dog looked like a shepherd crossed with a spaniel. Max and Mildred, her helpers in the shop, both said she looked like a big mutt. Muttie. The name had stuck, and Muttie had become Abby’s constant companion, always closer than a shadow. Today, she stood watching the dog sniff around the base of a towering oak tree barking, excitedly at a squirrel chattering and scolding from a limb far above her. Yes, she thought, Muttie came into her life like everything else-suddenly without warning.
When her grandmother had been stricken with a stroke and died unexpectedly, Abby had been devastated. Her grandmother had raised her, taken her in after the fatal accident that had claimed the lives of her parents. The old house on Oak Lane in Westfield had been the only home she had known, and she had stayed.
She had stayed not because she had to, but because she loved it and wanted to. Her years growing up there had filled her with happy memories. Her grandmother always had been there for her, guiding her through her shy, awkward stages until she blossomed into a bubbling, confident teenager. Always a good student with a keen love for learning, Abby was at the top of her class her senior year at Westfield High. She had been accepted to several Ivy League colleges, but in the end she had chosen State to be closer to home. She’d wanted to be able to spend weekends with her grandmother. And when, after four years, she’d graduated with honors, she again had chosen State for her master’s degree. The art history department had offered a fine program focusing on antiques and period furniture design. But her grandmother had urged her to study abroad for a semester, and when she was accepted by the Sorbonne she reluctantly agreed.
The months she spent in Paris had been glorious. Every course at the Sorbonne opened her eyes to new wonders in art. Her days flew by, filled not only by fascinating classes but also with wonderful bicycling trips through the rural French countryside and sightseeing excursions to the many quaint villages outside the city. And of course, she spent hours and hours roaming through the Louvre, awed by the museum’s vast collections of the world’s most famous old masters. She never tired of exploring the many galleries and, on each visit, discovered something new to appreciate in some painting or sculpture. She marveled at the Titians, Rembrandts, and her special favorite, Leonardo da Vinci.
Writing home to her grandmother, Abby recounted her first glimpse of his most famous portrait. “The Mona Lisa is more captivating than I dreamed she could be,” she enthused. “Her mysterious half smile fascinates me. I can stand for a very long time studying her enigmatic face, wondering what secrets hide behind her darkly veiled gaze.”
But it was Paris, the enchanting city itself, that had captured her heart, and when the term was over she’d vowed to return one day.
Abby smiled ruefully remembering that vow today as she watched Muttie tugging vigorously on the leash, nose quivering with the sweet autumn scents in the air. “Paris. I haven’t forgotten my dream. I’ll get there. I’m just not sure how or when. But one day, I will, Muttie,” she said aloud as she turned back toward the long driveway up to the house.
The phone was ringing when they bounded up the back steps, and Abby dropped the leash as she hurried to answer it.
Mildred’s crisp Cockney accent came across the line. “Just checking to see if you need a bit of a hand, love—that is, if you’ve done the usual, packed the van with auction treasures.”
“Oh, Mildred, you know me too well.” Abby laughed. “Only one piece today—a gift from me to me. But it’s a beauty, and I will need a hand getting it into the house. If Max is free, I’d be grateful for his help.”
“Right. Send him along straightaway. And, Abby, I’m glad you got something for yourself this time. You deserve it. You work much too hard. A young lass like you should be steppin’ out for fun,” the older woman chided gently.
“You know I love my work. It’s my fun. But I did splurge today, Mildred. Wait till you see it. I found my desk. It’s just what I’ve been looking for—the period and style I wanted. And in good condition too. A real treasure. How soon can Max get here?”
“He’s watchin’ the tellie. I’ll just pop along and ask ’im.” Moments later, Mildred was back on the line. “Be over straightaway he says. And if you might be fixin’ a cup of tea later, I’ll be ridin’ along with ’im.”
“Perfect. Tea it is. Come as soon as you can. I can’t wait to show you my find.”
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Genre - Biographies & Memoirs
Rating – PG-13
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What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life? Publishing 3 books and two novellas. I think that’s kind of cool. J
What is your favorite color? Blue. No Green. No blue. (again, sound of ogre throwing me off of a cliff)
What is your favorite food? Nachos
What’s your favorite place in the entire world? Seattle. Copenhagen. Central Germany.
How has your upbringing influenced your writing? Not sure. Possibly keeps me from doing anything blasphemous.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? Yep. I was a freshman in high school. I loved Beowulf. And I thought I could write stuff like that too. So, I started dabbling with stories in high school.
When and why did you begin writing? I put it off for like ten years. I sang in a band for a long time, still do once a year. But I wrote lyrics for a long time. Then one day, at a funeral, I bumped into old teachers and professors. They asked if I was still writing stories. I told them I’d kind of let that go. They told me it was a shame because I was good. So at that moment, I picked it back up.
How long have you been writing? 22 Years
When did you first know you could be a writer? About a year ago.
What inspires you to write and why? I get inspiration from things around me, places I go, people I meet. I don’t get inspired daily but I write daily. If you wait for inspiration you’ll never finish anything.
What genre are you most comfortable writing? Oddly, Sci-fi now. I didn’t think it would be, but it is.
What inspired you to write your first book? A trip to a mysterious, ancient rock wall called Fort Mountain down in Chatsworth, Georgia.
Who or what influenced your writing once you began? Steve Berry, Clive Cussler, Dan Brown.
What made you want to be a writer? Great hours. Ok, the creation of something is cool too.
When you wake up, does it seem like your dreams were real? Maybe they were.
Imagine if Stephanie Meyer and Suzanne Collins sat down together to write an up-tempo, action packed sci-fi thriller featuring terrifying nightmares, an evil emperor, a beautiful princess, and gladtiator games on another planet.
That’s The Dream Rider, the newest release from Ernest Dempsey, the author who brought you The Secret of the Stones and The Cleric’s Vault.
Falling from buildings, being attacked by terrifying strangers, and ghostly hands that strangle in the night are just some of the fears The Dream Rider must overcome.
Finn McClaren is an average college student, mediocre in every possible way, until one day, when strange men try to kill him. Finn wakes up in his dorm room to realize the whole thing was just a dream. Or was it?
The nightmares continue, forcing Finn to face his deepest fears until one night, he stops running and fights back. When he awakens, he is no longer in his dorm room, but on a strange planet on the other side of the galaxy.
After being arrested, Finn is thrust into an underground prison where the inmates are forced to fight to the death in the arena games. While there, he learns he has incredible powers, and of the true reason he has come to the alien world.
The Dream Rider is a fun, fast-paced, science fiction adventure that also asks serious questions about our fears, self-esteem, beliefs, and facing challenges in life.
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Genre – Science Fiction
Rating – PG13
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Connect with Ernest Dempsey on Facebook & Twitter
Website http://ernestdempsey.net/
Karma by Nikki Sex
Sometimes love has nothing to do with luck, and everything to do with karma…
Marcy Paget worked full-time putting her husband through University. When he finally became a success, he dumped her for a trophy wife more than ten years younger, leaving Marcy to raise their four year old daughter on her own.
Even though Marcy knows she is better off alone than with a cheating husband who doesn't love her, she is still struggling to make ends meet.
When an ethical dilemma presents itself she makes a choice - never realizing the incredible karmic chain of events that will follow her decision. . .
Five Mistakes Writers Make When Querying Publishers
You’ve made them. I’ve made them. Sue and Joe down the street have made them. Here are 5 things that publishers cringe at:
1. This book right here is the next best seller!
Nobody can predict whether or not your book will become a bestseller or how long it will stay on the charts. Enthusiasm is important, but if you feel that strongly about your book, you might want to rephrase your exclamation into something like this. “I have begun to build a marketing platform to reach as many readers as possible. I fully intend on working with my publisher, for the long haul, to make this manuscript shine.” If any part of that statement is untrue, you might want to revisit your motives for writing and what your intentions actually are.
2. I’m the next J.K. Rowling!
Again, your enthusiasm is admirable, but a narcissistic writer is something most publishers, editors, and agents will shy away from. Don’t compare yourself to J.K. Rowling unless you ARE J. K. Rowling. However, if she is your literary idol, reach out to her. Let her read your book and ask for an endorsement. THAT is the only time it is acceptable to name-drop in a query letter. So after developing a rapport with Ms. Rowling and gaining an endorsement for your book, you might put this in your query letter. “Though this is my debut novel, I feel my writing style most closely resembles Ms. J.K. Rowling. In fact, she has endorsed this novel. Here is that endorsement. Xxxxxxx.”
3. If you don’t accept my manuscript, I’m going to tell all of my writer friends not to publish with you.
Threats and blackmail attempts travel faster through the literary community than good news EVER will. If you feel you have to threaten to get people to read your work, again, revisit your motives for writing. Perhaps read a book on bullying. So if you threaten Joe Doe at Penguin, you can bet your bottom dollar that will stick with him and he’ll warn his friends at Harvest House, 5 Prince, and Viking, too. When your manuscript is turned down (which it will be if you threaten the publisher), you have just sunk your literary ship because when your name appears in the inboxes/mailboxes at Harvest House, 5 Prince, and Viking – it will be deleted.
4. I have already pre-sold 1,000 copies of this book, so the sooner you publish it, the sooner you and I will both be making money!
Don’t write to get rich or you won’t succeed. Get your motives in place before querying. Agents and Publishers were readers before they became successful and that is what that is where their hearts will always be first and foremost. What they want to see is people who LOVE to write books others will LOVE to read become successful. Money comes last. Passion for writing comes first. Plus, fine-tune your marketing skills. Build a platform, but don’t presale books. Ever.
5. This book sucks, it’s about my life and my life sucks. So don’t judge me.
Ouch. Approach and sell your project with the enthusiasm it took to get you through the writing process to a finished product. Make your project shine – trust me, when you get through the edits, you’ll see exactly how special it is.
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Genre - Romantic Historical Fiction
Rating – PG
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Blur by Kristen Middleton
Danger lurks in the dead of night...
Seventeen year old Nikki and her twin brother, Nathan, move to the small town of Shore Lake to start over after their mother is brutally attacked. When a missing teenager washes up on shore during their first night at the cabin and there are whispers of vampires in Shore Lake, Nikki begins to realize that there are things roaming in the darkness that are far more sinister than what they left behind in the city.
