Here's Carrie!

An essay from Linda O. Johnston

I would like to introduce you to Carrie Kennersly, featured in the Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries. The first in the series, Bite the Biscuit, is a May release.

Carrie, a dog lover, veterinary technician and more, recently bought a bakery in the town of Knobcone Heights, California, and converted it into two shops. One is Barkery and Biscuits, where she bakes and sells healthy gourmet treats for dogs. Next to it is Icing on the Cake, where she bakes and sells delightful human desserts. 

Carrie's proud of both, especially the Barkery. There, she prepares dog treats that she developed as a vet tech, while having her own dog Biscuit, a golden toy poodle-terrier mix, hang out with her in the shop. In Icing, she uses some of the former shop owner's favorite recipes, purchased along with her store.

Although most people in town are happy about the new stores, Myra Ethman, wife of a member of one of the town's preeminent families, is not. She considers it competition to the pet supply store she bought for her husband to keep the wealthy man occupied while she runs a lakeside resort. At Carrie's store opening party, Myra insults Carrie and her products--and guess who's a major suspect when Myra is murdered that night. Carrie must clear her name while running her stores and still working part-time as a vet tech.

So, yes, Carrie is one busy lady. And she—and Biscuit—have more stories to come, too.

Bite the Biscuit is available online and in bookstores now!

"Jim Grant and Me..."

An Essay by Colin Campbell

Jim Grant isn’t a badass, tough-as-nails cop. He’d rather talk you down instead of get into a fight. He isn’t a tough guy, he just gets into tough situations. If you were to ask how the character came to me I’d say, Jim Grant is me. Apart from the getting into tough situations part. I used to avoid tough situations like the plague.  Back when I served with the West Yorkshire Police.

Grant has certainly struggled to find a quiet life since he transferred to the States. Partly that’s because he always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time but mostly it’s because he won’t take no for an answer and he never backs down. His theory is; people are less likely to hit a man who’s smiling at them. Even less likely if he can get them to smile back. And if they’re smiling they’re less likely to see it coming when he slaps them, smacks them and brings them to justice.

Taking Grant back to his roots in Snake Pass just goes to prove the point. He was never any good at turning a blind eye, even when that’s exactly what he told young Jamie Hope to do when he was off duty. Because if you’re a badass tough-as-nails cop you’re never off duty. Oh, did I say Grant wasn’t one of those. I must have been joking.

Snake Pass is available online and in bookstores now—and don't miss any of the other Resurrection Man Novels!

Midnight Ink Monthly: September Edition

Midnight Ink Monthly's September Edition featured an essay from author Nina Milton. Check it out below.

Can a Shaman Find a Serial Killer?

Sabbie Dare walked into my life one day, as if she was already a fully-formed person.  That doesn't happen to me as a writer very often, and I grabbed the chance to write about this spunky twenty-eight-year-old.  She helped me create the Shaman Mystery series.

I'd been practicing shamanic techniques for a few years, and knew quite a few shaman who had set up a therapy business rather like Sabbie's.  They loved their work, despite the irregular hours and the terrible pay, but I could see that they never knew who would walk into their therapy rooms next. People who visit a shaman have all sorts of troubles . . . and can be hiding desperate secrets.  

In the first of the series, In the Moors, a man called Cliff Houghton starts seeing Sabbie Dare about his depression . . . and his terrible obsession with a series of child killings.  In the second, Unraveled Visions, Sabbie is approached by Mirela Brouviche, a young Romany from Bulgaria, who's frightend and alone after the disappearance of her sister.  

Each situation throws Sabbie into jeopardy, but she uses her shamanic visions—and her sound common sense—to help her get to the root of a mystery.  What I love the most about her is that once she has a whiff of the answers, she does not let go, however menacing things get.  

              

Learn more about Sabbie in Unraveled Visions by Nina Milton, available  now!

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